Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RPODUBAI124
2009-03-18 12:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Iran RPO Dubai
Cable title:  

IRAN: RELIGIOUS MINORITIES COMPLAIN OF IRIG DISCRIMINATION

Tags:  PHUM PGOV IR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2658
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHDIR #0124/01 0771243
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 181243Z MAR 09
FM RPO DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0369
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0303
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDIR/RPO DUBAI 0370
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RPO DUBAI 000124 

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/18/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV IR
SUBJECT: IRAN: RELIGIOUS MINORITIES COMPLAIN OF IRIG DISCRIMINATION

DUBAI 00000124 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Ramin Asgard, Director, Iran Regional Presence
Office, DOS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RPO DUBAI 000124

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/18/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV IR
SUBJECT: IRAN: RELIGIOUS MINORITIES COMPLAIN OF IRIG DISCRIMINATION

DUBAI 00000124 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Ramin Asgard, Director, Iran Regional Presence
Office, DOS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) Summary: The IRIG has engaged in a distinct effort to
separate minorities from the larger, Muslim society, according
to members of Iran's Zoroastrian and Armenian Christian
communities who recently spoke to IRPO. Iran's efforts,
seemingly intended to ensure that Iran is first and foremost a
country for Muslims and that Muslims do not convert to other
religions, have limited the minorities' engagement with the
broader society. And although minorities reported few instances
of overt discrimination from their countrymen, the IRIG's effort
has had its consequences, including: emigration, economic
disadvantage, and psychological hardship. The minorities
dismissed the importance of their Majles representatives, were
generally uninterested in the June presidential election, and
pessimistic that their situation would soon improve. End Summary.




2. (C) IRPO officers spoke separately with two Armenian
Christians and two Zoroastrians in late 2008 and early 2009. Of
the Armenian Christians, one lives in Tehran and owns a pizza
restaurant while the other emigrated from Iran and lives in the
UAE. Of the Zoroastrians, one lives in Shiraz and formerly
chaired a Shiraz council of Zoroastrians, and the other is a
housewife in Tehran.



Keeping Minorities "In a Box"




3. (C) Since the Revolution, Iran's religious minorities have
perceived that the IRIG has set about separating the religious
minorities from the majority, Shia population. The Zoroastrian
from Shiraz explained that Iran now is first and foremost a
country for Muslims and religious minorities are constantly
reminded of this reality. For instance, all Zoroastrians carry
a card identifying them as Zoroastrians. Minority-owned
restaurants have to be identified as such so Muslims can avoid
eating there, if they choose. The Zoroastrian housewife
recounted a time when her son accompanied a Muslim friend into a
mosque and thereafter received a letter instructing him to never
do so again. Religious minorities are also pressured to prevent
Muslims from converting. The Zoroastrian from Shiraz said this

pressure was the only overt interference from the government.
As a result, they turn away all Muslims curious about their
faith.




4. (C) The IRIG's employment restrictions are another element of
the religious minorities' separation from the broader society;
these restrictions also cause emigration from Iran. The
Zoroastrian housewife said Zoroastrians cannot become teachers
or work in the military. Additionally, she assumed that all
government jobs were unavailable to Zoroastrians, though she was
not sure. Her son immigrated to the US because he could not find
work in Iran. The Armenian Christian from the UAE said the poor
economic prospects drive many minorities away from Iran.




5. (C) Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians' official recognition
in the Iranian constitution does afford the minorities certain
rights, such as the right to practice their religion, elect
their own representatives to the Majles, and manage their own
"personal affairs and religious education." In practice,
constitutional recognition does confer some privileges
unavailable even to Muslims. An Armenian Christian sports club,
for instance, creates a "normal space" where men and women can
socialize, women can be unveiled, and boys and girls can swim in
a pool together. But these protections often reinforce their
separation from the Muslim majority. The sports complex further
"isolates" Christians from the Muslims. Armenian schools use
Armenian rather than Farsi and at home Armenians also speak
their own language, resulting in a distinct accent when they
speak Farsi, according to the Armenian Christian living in the
UAE.




6. (C) Despite the regime's efforts, contact between the
religious minorities and Muslims does continue, and the
minorities reported few instances of discrimination from their
countrymen. The Armenian Christian pizza restaurant owner said
90% of his customers are Muslims-who, amusingly, rarely hesitate

DUBAI 00000124 002.2 OF 002


before ordering pork-based toppings for their pizza-but some do
avoid the restaurant because it is run by non-Muslims. (Note:
Our contact said he acquiesces to such request for pork toppings
but under no circumstances would he serve alcohol. He said the
punishment for serving alcohol would probably be a fine,
six-month restaurant closure, and flogging.) The Armenian
Christian living in the UAE claimed that just as many (possibly
more) people eat at Armenian restaurants as a means of rejecting
the government's attempt to isolate the community as choose to
avoid the establishment for the same reason.



Pessimistic about the Future




7. (C) Our interlocutors were pessimistic that the conditions
they face in Iran would change; they generally dismissed the
importance of their representatives in the Majles and expressed
little enthusiasm for the June presidential election. The
Zoroastrian from Shiraz complained that their Majles
representative has little influence and that it was almost
expected that he remain silent. The Armenian Christian
restaurant owner echoed the same point. An acquaintance of
Gevork Vartan, an Armenian Christian Majles member, said Vartan
is trying to broaden his participation in general Majles
activities to show that Armenian MPs can represent Iran and
Iranians, not just the small Armenian Christian community.




8. (C) Iran's June presidential election also held little
interest; even with former president Khatami in the mix.
Although he had not yet declared his candidacy at the time of
the conversation, the Zoroastrian housewife was not supportive
of Khatami, explaining that he had not accomplished anything in
his eight years as president. The Armenian Christian restaurant
owner said he does not vote at all-a decision he described as a
silent protest against the IRIG. Of our interlocutors, only the
Zoroastrian from Shiraz planned to vote. And he votes, he said,
out of fear the government will punish Zoroastrians if they do
not participate in the election. He offered a similar
explanation for why he never speaks out against the injustices
he sees-he doesn't want to create more trouble for Zoroastrians.
Similarly, leaders of the Armenian Christian community
encourage voting in parliamentary election because they fear
that if Armenian Christians do not participate, the IRIG will
strip them of their Majles seats.



Comment:




9. (C) The Zoroastrian and Christian populations in Iran face
fewer problems than Baha'is-a point our interlocutors were quick
to make themselves. And in many respects, the minorities'
problems are not unique but are instead shared by all Iranians.
Iranians of all stripes face economic challenges and emigrate to
find better economic opportunities. Iranians generally are also
pessimistic about the future and do not expect to benefit from
increased freedom or political rights with the current regime in
place. Still, the minorities are not on equal footing with
their Muslim counterparts. The minorities have fewer avenues for
employment and the IRIG has pushed the minorities to the side in
favor of Shia Muslims. But rather than push for greater rights
and greater acceptance from the IRIG, the minorities have turned
to silent protest and assimilation to avoid making their
situation worse. And many simply leave Iran. The Armenian
Christian in the UAE said the most important factor motivating
emigration is the sense that "Iran is paralyzed" and thus offers
no opportunity or hope to young people. The lack of hope-the
sense that life is simply harder for minorities in Iran-was a
constant refrain. The minority populations will likely continue
to dwindle via emigration or otherwise. With an air of bitter
resignation, the Armenian Christian restaurant owner explained
that he and his wife do not have children because they do not
want to raise kids in Iran's Muslim-first society.
ASGARD