The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Policies toward the Baloch as a Religious Minority

Year 2020, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 88 - 107, 30.06.2020

Hadi Gamshadzehifar Abdol Moghset Bani Kamal

Abstract

This study investigates the ethno-religious approach of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It specifically examines the religious policy of the Iranian government towards its Baloch-Sunni ethno-religious minority. Based upon field work, purposive interviews, newspapers, and reports by international reputable “organizations”, it analyzes the ethno-religious policies of the Islamic Republic in the light of ‘separation’, ‘accommodation’, and ‘assimilation’ approaches. The study finds that, although Iran is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country, its political system is deeply influenced by Shia ideology. The political system uses an assimilationist approach and tries to assimilate the Baloch-Sunni into Shia Persain dominated ethno-religious group. The study is a significant case in point on how one Muslim sect, which is itself a minority in the larger pool of mainstream Sunni Muslim World, is treating a national Muslim religious minority, which is part of the mainstream Sunni Mulsim world.

Keywords

Iran, Shi’ism, Sunnism, Ethnicity, Sects, Baloch

İran İslam Cumhuriyeti’nin Beluclara Yönelik Dini Azınlık Politikaları

Abstract

Bu çalışma İran İslam Cumhuriyeti'nin etnik-dini yaklaşımını araştırmaktadır. Çalışma özellikle
İran hükümetinin Baloch-Sünni etnik-dini azınlığa karşı dini politikasını incelemektedir. Saha
çalışması, amaçlı röportajlar, gazeteler ve uluslararası saygın “örgütler” in raporlarına
dayanarak, İslam Cumhuriyeti'nin etno-dini politikalarını “ayrılık”, “uzlaştırma” ve “asimilasyon”
yaklaşımları ışığında analiz eder. Çalışma, İran'ın çok dinli ve çok etnik gruptan oluşan bir ülke
olmasına rağmen, politik sisteminin Şii ideolojisinden derinden etkilendiğini ortaya koyuyor.
Siyasi sistem asimilasyonist bir yaklaşım kullanmaktadır ve Baloch-Sünni'leri Şii Persain egemen
etno-dini gruba asimile etmeye çalışır. Çalışma ana akım Sünni Müslüman Dünyasının daha
büyük havuzunda kendisi bir azınlık olan bir Müslüman mezhebinin, ana akım Sünni Müslüman
dünyasının bir parçası olan ulusal bir Müslüman dini azınlığa nasıl davrandığı konusunda önemli
bir örnektir.

Keywords

İran, Şiilik, Sünnilik, Etnisite, Mezhepler, Beluclar

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