A joint conference organized by the municipality, the IRGC, and Basij of Khorramshahr, which introduced Zoroastrianism as one of the 'deviant sects,' has faced protests from Zoroastrians and their representative in Parliament. The website 'Amordad,' a news and analytical platform for Zoroastrians in Iran, reported on July 16 that Zoroastrianism was placed alongside Wahhabism and Yemeni sects in this conference. Esfandiar Ekhtiari, the representative of Iranian Zoroastrians in Parliament, expressed regret in a letter to the mayor of Khorramshahr about the holding of such a 'divisive conference' with government funding. In his letter, Mr. Ekhtiari stated that 'while the right to pursue this matter in competent authorities is reserved, it is necessary to prevent such gatherings as soon as possible.' IRNA also reported that Mohammad Davayifar, the mayor of Khorramshahr, is expected to provide further explanations to Esfandiar Ekhtiari in a letter. Meanwhile, the Khorramshahr municipality announced on July 18 that it was 'unaware of the organization and content of this conference.' The announcement stated that 'the Khorramshahr municipality always considers respecting the religions specified in Article 13 of the Constitution as its inherent, religious, and national duty.' Zoroastrians are monotheists who worship 'Ahura Mazda.' They pray in special fire temples and believe that fire is a symbol of God's purity. Although Zoroastrians are recognized as one of the religious minorities in the Islamic Republic's Constitution, some reports indicate an increase in unofficial pressures on them over the past three decades. Recently, Zoroastrians in Iran also expressed their objections regarding the non-registration of their religion in census forms during the national census. Simultaneously, the representative of Zoroastrians in Parliament also requested the correction of deficiencies in Zoroastrian statistics in a letter to Reza Kazemi, the secretary of the General Population and Housing Census of 2006 at the Statistical Center. Some officials of the Republic, despite the fact that Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Judaism are mentioned as official religions in the law, consider followers of other religions as 'infidels and non-believers.' Among these officials is Ahmad Jannati, the secretary of the Guardian Council, who stated during a congress named 'Martyr Commanders' that 'humans other than Muslims are the same animals that roam the earth and cause corruption.'
Zoroastrians Protest Anti-Zoroastrian Conference in Khuzestan
Zoroastrians in Iran are protesting a conference in Khuzestan that labeled their religion as a 'deviant sect.' The event, organized with government support, has drawn criticism from Zoroastrian representatives, highlighting ongoing tensions regarding religious minority rights in Iran. This incident underscores the challenges faced by Zoroastrians and other religious minorities in the country.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A conference in Khorramshahr labeled Zoroastrianism as a 'deviant sect,' sparking protests from Zoroastrians and their parliamentary representative. The event was reportedly organized by local government and military entities.
- The conference equated Zoroastrianism with other sects deemed 'deviant.'
- The Khorramshahr municipality claimed ignorance of the conference's content.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, and its followers in Iran are constitutionally recognized but face societal pressures.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%