14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Discrimination against Sunnis: It is difficult to distinguish whether the cause of discrimination is religious or ethnic, since most Sunnis are also members of ethnic minorities ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21223]

"During the reporting period, many Sunnis claimed that the Government discriminated against them. It was difficult to distinguish whether the cause of discrimination was religious or ethnic, since most Sunnis are also members of ethnic minorities.

Sunnis cited the absence of a Sunni mosque in Tehran, despite the presence of more than one million adherents there, as a prominent example. Sunni leaders reported bans on Sunni religious literature and teachings in public schools, even in predominantly Sunni areas. Sunnis also claimed there was a lack of Sunni representation in government-appointed positions in the provinces where they form a majority, such as Kurdistan and Khuzestan Province, as well as their inability to obtain senior governmental positions. In addition, Sunnis charged that the government-owned Broadcast Corporation's program, Voice and Vision, airs programming which is insulting to them.

Sunni Majlis representatives assert that government discrimination led to the lack of Sunni presence in the executive and judicial branches, especially in higher-ranking positions in embassies, universities, and other institutions, as well as anti-Sunni propaganda in the mass media, books, and publications."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Detentions and torture of Sunni clerics; restrictions on their ability to practice their faith ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21279]

"Non-Shi'a religious leaders reported abuse, including detentions and torture of Sunni clerics, as well as other widespread restrictions on their ability to practice their faith. They also reported bans on Sunni teachings in public schools and Sunni religious literature.

Residents of provinces with large Sunni populations, including Kurdistan, Khuzestan, and Sistan-va-Baluchestan, reported discrimination and lack of resources, but it was difficult to determine what was ethnic-based discrimination and what was religious-based."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Reports of killings of senior Sunni clerics in recent years: 3 Sunni clerics killed during 2007 ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21427]

"The Government was allegedly responsible for the killing of Sunni clerics in recent years. Sunni leaders reported abuses, including detentions and torture of Sunni clerics, and an unconfirmed report of a suspicious death of a Sunni cleric who had defied orders not to return to the mosque after his release from prison.

There were reports of three killings of senior clerics during 2007, including the June 24, 2007 killing of Hesham Saymary, in the ethnically-Arab dominated province of Khuzestan. It is not known whether the Government had any role in those killings."

Document(s): Open document

04.03.2007 - Source: Minority Rights Group International

Annual report on current situation of Sunni Arabs ("State of the World's Minorities 2007") [ID 22397]

"Sunni Arabs make up around 5 per cent of the Iranian population and are concentrated in the southwestern, oil-rich province of Khuzistan along the Iraqi border.

Over 2006, sectarian civil war in Iraq has led to enhanced calls for Sunni Arab autonomy within Iran, and even independence. Human Rights Watch reported rioting in April 2005 among Sunni Arabs in Khuzistan following a purported letter from a presidential adviser that recommended dispersal of the Arab population.

The violence between protesters and police was followed by a series of bombings attributed to Sunni Arab activists in Tehran and Ahwaz in June and October 2005, and January 2006, which killed some 20 people and injured many more. Renewed confrontation between Sunni Arab protesters and Iranian police in March 2006 resulted in three deaths and hundreds of arrests."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Discrimination against Sunni muslims ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17639]

"Sunni Muslims are the largest religious minority in the country, claiming a membership of approximately five and a half million (eight percent of the population), consisting mostly of Turkmen, Arabs, Baluchs, and Kurds living in the Southwest, Southeast, and Northwest. The constitution provides Sunni Muslims a large degree of religious freedom, although it forbids a Sunni Muslim from becoming president. Sunnis claimed that the Government discriminated against them; however, it was difficult to distinguish whether the cause of discrimination was religious or ethnic since most Sunnis were also members of ethnic minorities. Sunnis cited the lack of a Sunni mosque in Tehran, despite the presence of more than one million adherents there, as a prominent example of this discrimination. Sunni leaders reported bans on Sunni religious literature and Sunni teachings in public schools, even in predominantly Sunni areas. Sunnis also claimed there was a lack of Sunni representation in appointed offices in provinces where they form a majority, such as Kurdistan and Khuzestan province, as well as their reported inability to obtain senior governmental positions. In addition, Sunnis charged that the Broadcast Corporation's program Voice and Vision, airs programming which were insulting to them.

In April 2004 Sunni majlis representatives sent a letter to Supreme Leader Khamene'i decrying the lack of Sunni presence in the executive and judiciary branches of government, especially in higher-ranking positions in embassies, universities, and other institutions. They called on Khamene'i to issue a decree halting anti-Sunni propaganda in the mass media, books, and publications; the measure would include the state-run media. The Sunni representatives also requested adherence to the constitutional articles ensuring equal treatment of all ethnic groups."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Numerous Sunni clerics killed in recent years ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17657]

"[...] Numerous Sunni clerics were killed in recent years, some allegedly by government agents. While the exact reason for their killings was unknown, most Sunni Muslims in the country belonged to ethnic minorities who historically suffered abuses by the Government. During this reporting period, Sunni leaders reported abuses, including detentions and torture of Sunni clerics, and an unconfirmed report of a suspicious death of a Sunni cleric who had defied orders not to return to the mosque after his release from prison. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Restrictions and descrimination against Sunni muslims ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17786]

"Sunni Muslims encounter religious discrimination at the local, provincial, and national levels. Religious leaders reported widespread restrictions on their practice and abuses, including detentions and torture of Sunni clerics. They also reported bans on Sunni teachings in public schools and Sunni religious literature. The residents of provinces with large Sunni populations, including Kurdistan, Khuzestan, and Sistan-va Baluchistan report discrimination and lack of resources, but it is difficult to determine what is ethnic-based discrimination and what is religious-based."

Document(s): Open document

08.2005 - Source: Freedom House

Religious freedom ("Freedom in the World 2005") [#41317],  [ID 8836]

"[...]Sunnis enjoy equal rights under the law, but there are some indications of discrimination, such as the absence of a Sunni mosque in the Iranian capital and the paucity of Sunnis in senior government offices. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

10.03.2005 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Public protest of Sunni parliamentarians ("Iran: Human Rights Concerns for the 61st Session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights") [#29917],  [ID 8837]

"Also, in a rare public protest, eighteen Sunni parliamentarians wrote to the authorities in July 2003 to criticize the treatment of the Sunni Muslim community and the refusal to allow construction of a mosque in Tehran that would serve that community."

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Treatment of Sunni Muslims ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29525],  [ID 8838]

"[...]Sunni Muslims are the largest religious minority in the country. The Constitution provides Sunni Muslims a large degree of religious freedom, although, for example, it forbids a Sunni Muslim from becoming President. In practice, Sunni Muslims claimed that the Government discriminated against Sunnis, although it was hard to distinguish whether the cause for discrimination was religious or ethnic, since most Sunnis are also ethnic minorities. Sunnis cited the lack of a Sunni mosque in the nation's capital, Tehran, despite the presence of over a million Sunnis living there, as a prominent example of this discrimination. Sunnis also have cited as proof of discrimination the lack of Sunni representation in appointed offices in provinces where Sunnis form a majority, such as Kordestan Province, and also the reported inability of Sunnis to obtain senior governmental positions. Sunnis also have charged that the state broadcasting company, Voice and Vision, aired programs insulting to Sunnis.

In April, Sunni Majlis representatives sent a letter to Supreme Leader Khameneni, decrying the lack of Sunni presence in the executive and judiciary branch of government, especially in higher-ranking positions in embassies, universities, and other institutions. They called on Khamenei to halt anti-Sunni propaganda in the mass media, books, publications, and the state-run media; they also requested adherence to the constitutional articles ensuring equal treatment of all ethnic groups. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

13.01.2005 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Minorities ("World report 2005") [#28233],  [ID 8839]

"[...]Iran’s ethnic and religious minorities remain subject to discrimination and, in some cases, persecution. The Baha’i community continues to be denied permission to worship or engage in communal affairs in a public manner. In a rare public protest, eighteen Sunni parliamentarians wrote to the authorities in July 2003 to criticize the treatment of the Sunni Muslim community and the refusal to allow construction of a mosque in Tehran that would serve that community. The Baluchi minority, who are mostly Sunni and live in the border province of Sistan and Baluchistan, continue to suffer from lack of representation in local government and have experienced a heavy military presence in the region. In December 2003, tensions between the local population and the Revolutionary Guards led to large demonstrations in Saravan, in Baluchistan province. In the ensuing clashes between demonstrators and the police at least five people were killed.[...]"

Document(s): Open document

05.12.2003 - Source: BBC News

Baluchistan province: 5 people killed in clashes between demonstrators and police ("'Five dead in Iran riot'") [#18109],  [ID 8840]

Document(s): Open document

10.2002 - Source: UK Home Office

UK Home Office: Sunnis are in theory the largest religious minority in Iran, but are not recognised as a minority; occasional clashes between Sunnis and Shi'as ("Country Assessment - October 2002") [#9556],  [ID 8841]

"5.48. Sunnis are in theory the largest religious minority in Iran, but are not recognised as a minority as they are part of the same Islamic family as the majority, the Shi'a Muslims. Sunni Muslims are largely drawn from the Kurdish, Arab, Turkoman, Baluchi and other ethnic minorities. They live mainly in the southern provinces of Sistan/Baluchistan and Khorassan. The area is economically poor, with limited developmental prospects. Of the occasional clashes between the Sunnis and the Shi'as in areas of mixed population, most have been in west Azerbaijan and in Sistan/Baluchistan. Sunnis also have accused the state broadcasting company of airing programming insulting to Sunnis. There have been instances where Sunni clerics have been killed in recent years, some allegedly by government agents although it is unclear exactly how serious the situation is."

Document(s): Open document

16.01.2002 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

Allegation of Government control over Sunni theological teaching in Kurdistan ("Report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, prepared by the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights, Mr. Maurice Danby Copithorne, pursuant to Commission resolution 2001/17 (E/CN.4/2002/42)") [#5732],  [ID 8842]

"72. In earlier reports, the Special Representative has described the complaints of the Sunnis
about the discrimination they face (see for example his interim report to the General Assembly
A/56/278, paras. 74-75). He would recall his earlier comment that underdevelopment seems to
coincide with those areas of the country in which Sunnis are in the majority.
73. The Special Representative has now received an allegation of Government control over
Sunni theological teaching in Kurdistan through an organization called “Great Islamic Centre in
the West”, located in Sanandaj. All Sunni students reportedly have to register with the Centre
and the Government determines the place of teaching, the subjects, the number of students and
the salaries of the teachers. Such matters should clearly be in the hands of the Sunnis
themselves."

Document(s): sr-irn-0102.pdf
Open document