@Hezam:
Im Pleased to hear that you found my post Usefull and I would Willingly try to answer your questions regarding Iran as far as would be able !
As i know/hear Iran treats Christians/Jews/Zarotoshtian ..etc equally excepting Sunni !
Before Answering this I need to know what exactly you mean by Inequality toward Sunnis
One unfortunate Fact for Certain in Iran is that Many ordinary Iranian shias do not have a True Image of "Sunnis" due to their lack of Information or Misinformations so the result might be being mistreated by some parts of the society , Many Iranians Cannot Differ a Maaleki Sunni from a Wahhabi , Many Iranians think all Sunnis were participating in the death of Prophet's Grandson , Hussein during the time of Yazid , and also there are some Iranians who simply dislike Sunnis becuase for them it is equal of being an Arab , and im sure you are aware of this Questionalble Blind Hate between "Arabs and Persians" !
But I do not think there would be any Systemiticaly Inequality Imposed directly on Sunnis , so if you are aware of anything specefic , please give me more details on it because I might be unaware of it .
Yes but since the Safawi (Jafari shia) came to Iran everythings changed,right ?
Let me first Tell you that As an Iranian I see what Happened during the time of safawis somewhat similiar to what happened During the Arabs Invasion !
Arabs toppled down the Sasanians Empire and Many Persians were Killed or enslaved during the process ; that might sound like an unforgivable shocking incident for Persian's Pride ; but Do I regret the Fact that I became a Muslim due to the defeat of a Persian Empire ? No , I am actually quite thankfull that such a thing happend as a Result , even if it was initially by force in some parts , and As you might know , unlike Spain , Iranians never Tried to Abandon Islam to go back to their Previous Religion (Zarotoshti) even after they got independant from Arabs .
The same thing can be said about the Safawis
One Fact to know is that the Founder of Safawia himself (Shah Ismael Safawi) could hardly be called a Persian (couldnt speak any Persian and his mothertongue was Turkish , He began his Monarchy in Tabriz a city in the north-west of Iran in the Azerbaijan Province) He had a Deep Hatred toward Sunnis because his father and brother were killed in a Shia-sunni fight (supposedly the actual reason of the fight was a piece of land between two Tribes ) , and Due to his Personal Hate he Started Mass Murdering of Those who were not Shia ,
He is Praised for Unitifying the country at a Chaotic State in our history but he is never mentioned as a "Good Person" due to his Savage Deeds !
but the most Important Figure of Safawia was "Shah Abbas Safawi" who Defeated Ottomans and Uzbeks in the west and east , and throw Portaguese into the sea in the south in a city now called "Bandar Abbas" or Port of Abbas !
When you look at this man's records in history, he was more than a Secular Ruler than a Religious one , and was only using the name of the religion as a tool of Justification (Same as many other Rulers at that time )
so ... Even though Iranians were initially converted from Shafei Sunni to Jafari Shiasm by force , but yet , after Iran was Conquered by Sunni Afghans in the end of the Safawia , they Mainly Kept their Belifs till now !
All of the above can make it Clear that the Accusation of Iranians following the "Safawi Shia" (As I heard a few times) is false one , while not even the Most Nationalist Iranians Ive talked to say they are proud of "Religious Actions" of Safawi kings !
They built Nice Buildings in Isfahan though
a Picture belived to be Shah Ismael Safawi - The founder of Safawia (Source Wiki):
a Map of Changes of Iran's Territories During the Time of Safawi (Source : Wiki)
"Kaakhe Chehel Sotoon (fourty Pillars Palace) in Isfahan - Built During the Safawia :
Ahmadi Najad ? where did he come from ?
The Governing system of Iran is a bit more Complicated than it Appears and becasue it has no other Example around the world it needs Unique Explanations on how the system works , which is a long story
But to make it Short :
Ahmainjead is the President of Iran he only runs the "goverment" ...
while The Supreme Leader (or as we call "Rahbar") who runs the main System is another man , "Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei" , who is in the Control of the Armed Forces (both the Army and Revoloutinary Gaurds Corps.) and final Solutions and Plans in the country . he was chosen as the Supreme leader by the "Sho'raye Khobregaan (Council of Experts)" after the death of the first Supreme leader of Iran "Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini" .
The Current Supreme Leader is ethnicialy Azeri and was born in Azerbaijan (north-west), but raised in Mashad (east)
If you want to know the background of Ahmadinjead as well he was Born in Semnan (Center) , and can be called Persian but there are rumers that he has a Jewish Background , I cant confrim or deny it though .
Ahwaz is just like Kurdistan...
Sorry I dont get it , From what Aspect !?
Arab exsists there even before 3000 years ago...please read about Arab history.
I never heard this before , I will check
but I also never heard of any War between Ancient Persians and Arabs of that Area (before Islam) , maybe they joined Iran peacefully ? Becasue as maps show that part was inside Boarders of Iran during that time .
I have a question,even if it's off topic but i don't have another one to ask but you,
Are Iranian people Shia (jafari) ? What percentage of Shia in Iran ?
Its ok , Feel Free to Ask
Yes , Shia of Iran are Jafari or Twelvth-Imami which is the most common form of the Shiasm .
According to International Statistics :
in Iran ...
99.5% Muslim : (91.2% Shia & 7.8% Sunni)
0.2% Christian
0.1% Jewish
0.1% Zarotoshti
0.1% Bahaii
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ps : I totally Agree with Hezam on his Comment about Israeli- US ties !
