Religious Minorities in Iran

by Eliz Sanasarian

Overview

Eliz Sanasarian's book explores the political and ideological relationship between non-Muslim religious minorities in Iran and the state during the formative years of the Islamic Republic to the present day. Her analysis is based on a detailed examination of the history and experiences of the Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Jews, Zoroastrians, Bahais and Iranian Christians, and describes how these communities have responded to state policies regarding minorities. Many of her findings are constructed out of personal interviews with members of these communities. While the book is essentially an empirical study, it also highlights more general questions associated with exclusion and marginalization and the role of the state in defining these boundaries. This is an important and original book which will make a significant contribution to the literature on minorities and to the workings of the Islamic Republic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521029742
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/02/2006
Series:	Cambridge Middle East Studies , #13
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.55(d)
Lexile:	1460L (what's this?)

Table of Contents

List of illustrations; List of tables; Preface; Acknowledgements; Notes on transliteration and bibliography; Glossary; Introduction: an overview of politics and society; 1. Ethnic anatomy and politics of non-Muslim minorities; 2. The Assembly of Experts: debut in the year of destiny; 3. Policy sphere of recognized religious minorities; 4. Distinctions and designations as policy output; 5. Prevalent responses of recognized religious minorities; Conclusion: the perils of marginality; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Sanasarian provides a clear and unadulterated picture of the intimidation, discrimination, and persecution of Armenians, Assyrians, Baha'is, Chaldeans, Iranian Christian converts, Jews, and Zoroastrians under the rule of the Ayatollahs. This very valuable addition to the contemporary history of Iran thoroughly explores the political and ideological relationships between non-Muslim religious minorities and the state, a subject seldom covered by other scholars." Choice

"...makes significant contributions to Iranian studies, as well as to the general area of majority-minority relations." Human Rights Quarterly

"...original and significant...a great contribution to our field and offers much to our understanding of state-minority relations and minority responses. Religious Minorities in Iran should be well-received by specialists and non-specialists alike." Middle East Studies Association Bulletin

"...those wishing to better understand the dynamics of the relationship between Iran's Islamic government and the country's various non-Muslim groups will find in this work a wealth of informative detail not readily availbe elsewhere." Journal of the American Academy of Religion

From the Publisher