Review of Iran's Cultural Diversity Legislation after Revolution
Posted: 10 Jan 2013
Date Written: January 9, 2013
Abstract
The people and nation of Iran has a history of thousands of years with various tribes, mathhab and religions sustaining all types of difficulties, wars and conflicts throughout history. Based on the latest census in 2006, the population of Iranian ethnic groups includes 65% Persians, 18% Turks 18%, 6% Lurs, 7% Kurds, 2% Balouches, and 2% Arabs. The most important step of the Islamic Republic of Iran after revolution was establishing the constitution and attending to ethnic management in 1979. The main slogan of Iran’s constitution is unity in diversity. The Iranian parliament and the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution are the centers which ratify new rules for diversity of ethnics groups in Iran. This paper reviews Iran’s ethnic management laws and legislations founded in constitution or by different governmental organizations after the Iranian revolution. It discusses the overall approach of ratified legislation by these institutions. Finding focuses and gaps in approved rules is the other part of this survey. Inevitably, governments have to respect all ethnic communities and answer all their legitimate requests. In addition, authorities have to improve their competence by developing rules and distinguishing requests from threats.
Keywords: Iran’s ethnic groups, Iranian revolution, cultural diversity, ethnic management
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