Religious Minorities Face Discrimination and Persecution in Iran

Last updated: 8 October 2026

Page 1 — Introduction and Context
In Iran, religious minorities live under systemic discrimination and persecution. Groups such as Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Sunni Muslims, and Zoroastrians face legal, social, and economic restrictions that deny them equal citizenship.

While the Iranian constitution recognises certain minority faiths, others — most notably the Baha’i community — remain unrecognised and criminalised. For many believers, exile or secrecy becomes the only way to practise their faith.

Page 2 — Historical and Political Background
Iran has a long history of religious diversity, with ancient Zoroastrian traditions and communities of Christians, Jews, and others predating Islam. However, since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the government has pursued a model of governance that privileges Shi’a Islam.

This has institutionalised discrimination against other faiths. Over the decades, laws and policies have restricted religious freedoms, while security forces have harassed and arrested members of minority groups.

Page 3 — Forms of Discrimination and Persecution
Religious minorities in Iran endure persecution in numerous ways:

- Legal restrictions: bans on Baha’i faith practices, discrimination against Sunnis in leadership roles.
- Arbitrary arrests: imprisonment of minority leaders and converts.
- Destruction of property: places of worship, cemeteries, and community centres targeted.
- Exclusion from education and jobs: particularly for Baha’is and Christians.
- Surveillance and harassment: constant monitoring of religious gatherings and families.

These practices deny minority communities equality, dignity, and freedom of belief.

Page 4 — Consequences for Citizens and Society
For minority individuals, persecution means trauma, exclusion, and the erosion of identity. Many families face poverty due to exclusion from jobs, while children are barred from higher education. Some are forced into exile, leaving behind communities fractured by repression.

For Iranian society, religious persecution undermines pluralism, deepens resentment, and isolates the nation from global norms of human rights. Internationally, Iran faces ongoing criticism for its treatment of religious minorities.

Page 5 — Solutions and Conclusion
Ensuring religious freedom in Iran requires significant reform and international engagement.

Key steps include:
- Legal equality: amend laws to guarantee freedom of religion for all citizens.
- Recognition: acknowledge unrecognised communities such as the Baha’is.
- Accountability: investigate and end abuses against minority groups.
- Education and employment: remove barriers to equal access for all faiths.
- International advocacy: expand asylum opportunities and pressure Iran to comply with human rights standards.

Until such changes are realised, Iran’s religious minorities will continue to face discrimination and persecution, their survival dependent on resilience, secrecy, or exile.