Persecution and Toleration in Islamic Iran

Eliz Sanasarian examines religious minorities in Iran through a comprehensive analysis spanning pre-revolutionary and post-revolutionary periods. The book focuses on five minority groups: Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Bahá'ís and Sunni Muslims. Through interviews, media coverage, and government documents, Sanasarian traces the shifting policies and treatment of religious minorities under different Iranian regimes. The research covers discrimination in areas like education, employment, property rights, and religious practice. The narrative follows key developments from the Constitutional Revolution of 1906 through the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and into the 1990s. Sanasarian documents both official policies and unofficial pressures faced by minority communities during these periods of change. This study raises fundamental questions about religious freedom, minority rights, and the relationship between Islamic governance and pluralism. The work contributes to broader discussions about human rights and religious coexistence in theocratic states.

Readers note this book provides detailed documentation of religious minorities in Iran after 1979, particularly focusing on Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians and Baha'is. Multiple reviewers highlight the statistical data and archival research. Liked: - Deep analysis of legal policies affecting minorities - First-hand interviews with minority community members - Clear organization by religious group - Balance between academic rigor and readability Disliked: - Limited exploration of pre-1979 conditions - Some chapters rely heavily on secondary sources - Academic language makes parts dense for general readers - Higher cost limits accessibility ($48 paperback) Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (6 ratings) LibraryThing: 4/5 (3 ratings) One academic reviewer on H-Net noted: "The strength lies in the meticulous documentation of systematic discrimination, while maintaining scholarly objectivity." Several readers mentioned wishing for more personal narratives to supplement the policy analysis.

Religious Minorities in Iran by Eliz Sanasarian A comprehensive examination of religious minority communities in Iran from the 1979 Revolution through modern times.

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🔹 The author examines how Iran's religious minorities (including Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Bahá'ís) adapted and survived under the Islamic Republic after the 1979 revolution. 🔹 Eliz Sanasarian conducted extensive fieldwork in Iran during the 1990s, gathering first-hand accounts from religious minority communities during a particularly sensitive period. 🔹 Despite constitutional recognition and protection for some religious minorities (Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians), the book reveals how unofficial discrimination and social pressures affected their daily lives. 🔹 The Bahá'í community faced the harshest persecution among religious minorities in Iran, with members being excluded from universities, government positions, and facing systematic discrimination not experienced by other groups. 🔹 The book demonstrates how religious minorities in Iran developed survival strategies by creating internal support networks and maintaining low public profiles while preserving their religious identities.