Survey by Imam Sadiq University Institute; 71% of People Believe Discrimination Exists in Iran

The social analysis center "Meta" affiliated with Imam Sadiq University conducted a phone survey of 3,000 people across Iran, asking three questions about social discrimination. The results show that 71% of people consider the behavior of legal institutions to be "discriminatory." According to the survey results published by the Fars News Agency on its Telegram channel, people believe that "legal institutions treat those in positions of responsibility leniently and do not behave with them like they do with ordinary individuals." The survey indicates that nearly 40% of Iranian society views legal methods for obtaining rights as ineffective. The institute stated that there is a duality in this matter, and Iranian society is hesitant about the effectiveness of legal pathways, with university-educated individuals having less faith in legal routes. The survey also reveals that over 60% of the population considers having friends and acquaintances as the main factor in employment. Additionally, 20% believe that having aligned religious and political views is one of the main factors in "selection." Interestingly, only 15% of people believe in meritocracy in hiring. Discrimination in Iranian society, which has various dimensions, has also manifested in laws and regulations since the 1979 revolution, and the implementation of "selection"—a series of stages for reviewing individuals' beliefs and opinions to determine their qualifications and access to job opportunities—is one of the most significant grounds for discrimination against citizens.