Tag: Iran

According to thereligionfaqs, Iran is a country with a long and rich religious history. The majority of Iranians are Shia Muslims, making up around 89% of the population. The remaining 11% follow Sunni Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and other religions. While Islam is the official religion of the country and is practiced by the majority of Iranians, religious freedom is guaranteed under Iranian law. The Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes five officially-sanctioned religions: Shia Islam, Sunni Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism. Additionally, members of these faiths are free to practice their religion without fear of persecution or discrimination. However, adherents to other faiths such as Baha’i are often subject to restrictions on their religious practices. Shia Islam has been the dominant faith in Iran since the 16th century when it was declared the official religion by Safavid dynasty rulers. The Shia branch of Islam emphasizes spiritual leadership by clerics known as mullahs and marjas who interpret Islamic law for followers. Shiite Muslims in Iran observe specific rituals such as self-flagellation during Muharram and mourning processions for Imam Husayn during Ashura ceremonies throughout each year in commemoration of key events in Shi’a history. Sunni Muslims make up a smaller portion of Iran’s population but still play an important role in Iranian society due to their presence in border regions such as Sistan-Baluchestan Province where they make up a large portion of the population. Sunnis also have representation in politics through members elected to parliament from these areas and those appointed to government positions from minority communities living within Iran’s borders such as Kurds and Azerbaijanis who primarily follow Sunni traditions. In addition to its two major branches—Shia and Sunni—Islam in Iran also includes various Sufi orders which have had an influence on Iranian culture for centuries through their mysticism-infused teachings which have had an influence on Persian literature and music among other aspects of Iranian culture. In 2011, Iran was a country of immense potential and complexity. It had a population of over 75 million people and was home to a variety of ethnicities and religions. The majority of the population was Shiite Muslim and the official language was Persian. Iran’s economy had been experiencing steady growth since the mid-1990s, with an average annual growth rate of 5%. This economic growth led to increased investment in infrastructure and technology, which improved access to education and health care for many citizens. Despite this progress, Iran still faced numerous challenges such as poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy, gender inequality and environmental degradation. The government worked to address these issues through social welfare programs aimed at improving living standards and reducing disparities between rich and poor communities. In 2011, Iran had become an increasingly important player on the global stage thanks to its strategic location in the Middle East and its vast oil reserves. It had also become heavily involved in regional politics as well as international negotiations concerning its nuclear program. This increased focus on diplomacy meant that Iran’s economic prospects were looking brighter than ever before. Check physicscat for Iran in 2013.