What happens when you subject a country to 40 years of draconian Sharia rule? A 99% Muslim country becomes 40% Muslim.
“Iran’s secular shift: new survey reveals huge changes in religious beliefs,” by Pooyan Tamimi Arab and Ammar Maleki, The Conversation, September 10, 2020:
…In June 2020, our research institute, the Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in IRAN (GAMAAN), conducted an online survey with the collaboration of Ladan Boroumand, co-founder of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran.
The results verify Iranian society’s unprecedented secularisation.
Reaching Iranians online
Iran’s census claims that 99.5% of the population are Muslim, a figure that hides the state’s active hostility toward irreligiosity, conversion and unrecognised religious minorities….
For our survey on religious belief in Iran, we targeted diverse digital channels after analysing which groups showed lower participation rates in our previous large-scale surveys. The link to the survey was shared by Kurdish, Arab, Sufi and other networks. And our research assistant successfully convinced Shia pro-regime channels to spread it among their followers, too. We reached mass audiences by sharing the survey on Instagram pages and Telegram channels, some of which had a few million followers.
After cleaning our data, we were left with a sample of almost 40,000 Iranians living in Iran. The sample was weighted and balanced to the target population of literate Iranians aged above 19, using five demographic variables and voting behaviour in the 2017 presidential elections.
A secular and diverse Iran
Our results reveal dramatic changes in Iranian religiosity, with an increase in secularisation and a diversity of faiths and beliefs. Compared with Iran’s 99.5% census figure, we found that only 40% identified as Muslim.
In contrast with state propaganda that portrays Iran as a Shia nation, only 32% explicitly identified as such, while 5% said they were Sunni Muslim and 3% Sufi Muslim. Another 9% said they were atheists, along with 7% who prefer the label of spirituality. Among the other selected religions, 8% said they were Zoroastrians – which we interpret as a reflection of Persian nationalism and a desire for an alternative to Islam, rather than strict adherence to the Zoroastrian faith – while 1.5% said they were Christian.
…We found that societal secularisation was also linked to a critical view of the religious governance system: 68% agreed that religious prescriptions should be excluded from legislation, even if believers hold a parliamentary majority, and 72% opposed the law mandating all women wear the hijab, the Islamic veil.
JohnTheRevelator says
That’s pretty enlightening, so the vast majority of Iranians are Atheists or non-religious, around 48% and most of the nation is non-Muslim. The solution is pretty obvious, they need to unite, organize and take down the regime which illegally stole power.
It would be nice if the US/Israel and other nations supported a democratic movement and provided arms to help take down the regime. Secularists would not be able to form a popular revolution because they will unleash the military on them. It’s not like the West where dissent is tolerated, so it will take brute force and stealth to take them out.
Reziac says
Be careful what you wish for.
Under the Shah, Iran was a secular and very westernized country. Then the US supported a “democratic” movement to take down the regime, and that’s what got us the fundamentalist-Islam Iran we so enjoy today.
Turkey too was formerly a secular westernized nation. Turkey’s Constitution used to say that if a dictator arose, the military was *required* to stage a coup and take him out. The recent coup attempt failed, Erdogan changed the rules, and now Turkey is stuck with his regime.
Direct democracy is mob rule (three wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner). Mob rule wins any time one faction is willing to use enough violence. These countries demonstrably have plenty of that sort — per these very stats, Iran still has about 38% who are willing to violently put down everyone else.
And the “Arab Spring” that put fundamentalists into power in so many Muslim nations… well, that was mostly Hillary’s State Dept sponsoring regime change at the behest of the Saudis (ie. the Muslim Brotherhood).
Point being, either the whole of the people themselves sufficiently support regime change, or it will not only fail, but will become worse (especially if there’s still a large faction who support the regime), and be very aware of who might be waiting in the wings.
If we have to enforce a new regime’s stability, that means we’d have to occupy the country. How’d that go in Afghanistan??
Westnan says
When Iranians get a vision of what they want to be the Mullahs will be unable to stop them.
They thought a return to religion would cure the unease of living under a kingdom, bring more equality, and restore them to a less complex world. It hasn’t worked, the “new” regime is worse than the former, and worldwide complex economic competition is here to stay.
Islam, an Arab religion, didn’t deliver on its promises and killed a generation of non-Arab men. The clock is ticking toward real democracy and the end of Islam as ruler in Iran.
barbaracvm1 says
Because the Shah would be one of DC puppets the US government interfered where they should not have.
gravenimage says
The US would have had to go to war in Iran for the unpopular, already ailing Shah–I don’t think this would have worked, even if we had been willing to do so.
toomanyhobbies says
WOW so they are not all sock puppets as we were led to believe…
Terry Gain says
This is great news. I am surprised that Iranians would participate in a survey regarding this issue, however that by itself is evidence of the waning strength of the regime.
I would be interested in answers to the following question. When did you cease believing in Islam and why?
Peter Buckley says
Confirmation of what I’ve been saying for years.
Because of the nature of Islam, it is now in an impossible situation:
If a muslim-majority society “goes Islamic” and wilingly imposes Sharia upon itself, “moderate muslims”, who have been lied to by their “scholars”, and (unwittingly) by their parents, now get to understand the true face of Islam. This is what has happpened in Iran, a relatively modern state in 1979. When this society eventually reverts to secular rule, which is not far off now, the true scale of apostasy will become clear. As I’ve been saying for years, Iran is no longer a “muslim country”.
On the other hand, (belief in) Islam also collapses in liberal Western countries, where muslims’ beliefs get challenged daily, and they live alongside infidels:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-pYPWc26Gk&t=157s
That doesn’t mean the violence will get any less in the SHORT term. However, jihad is not now being carried out in a systematic victorious way, as in the Islamic conquests, but in a desperate “we’ll take down as many as we can before we die” kind of way. Like a naughty schoolboy who’s been “found out”, it will lash out at those nearby.
Islam can now be defned as the religion of IMPOTENT RAGE.
Wellington says
I admire your optimism. More to the point, I think you have a very good chance of being correct.
James Lincoln says
Peter Buckley,
Excellent post, hope – beyond hope – that things turn out that way in the long run…
Now if the free world could break through Iranian Internet firewalls and show the people newsreels of their pre -1979 Iran…
David says
There are plenty of Iranians around to tell younger people about the Good Old Days.
David says
Terror attacks are futile, like a gnat bite on an elephant. They certainly don’t make anyone admire Islam.
The only way islam is increasing, is by high birth-rate, clearly supported by the EU and any countries that dish out ‘humanitarian benefits’. Rather like feeding cancer.
gravenimage says
Grimly, Jihad terror attacks do make some Infidels more apt to try to appease Islam. They are effective in this way.
Wellington says
Guaranteed that these statistics, and assuming they are accurate, will not make a dent in what Joe Biden and his foolish and clueless advisers what to do with Iran, which is reinstate the putrid Iran nuclear deal carried out by my choice for the worst President in American history, Barack Obama.
All this reminds me of the Democratic Party as far back as the 1980’s, which opposed President Reagan’s getting very tough with the Soviets—calling the USSR an “Evil Empire” (which it was), installing Pershing missiles to counter the SS 20s put into Eastern European satellites by the Soviets (and Reagan got blamed for this by the Democrats, not the Soviets, much as the Democrats want to blame Trump for the spread of Covid-19 while being completely silent on the Machiavellian calculations by the Chinese about this virus), Reagan courageously at the Reykjavik summit in 1986 refusing to compromise on SDI, et al.
I find it more and more difficult to find anything admirable about the Democratic Party. Certainly not now but even historically. One of its greatest faults over the past 150 years or so is wanting more and more government to solve problems, which it far more often than not does not. The Democratic Party has been the party of rebellion, of slavery, of the KKK, of Jim Crow, of excessive government, of unions out of control (e.g., the teachers’ unions which are desperate to stop competition by way of charter schools), of being excessively concerned with transgender rights (sorry, but this doesn’t register high on my list of important matters—why should it for anyone of sense and knowledge?), even finding certain pronouns sexist, et al. Sorry, but while I am not a great fan of the Republican Party, the Democratic Party lost me long, long ago.
Which gets me back to this article. Guaranteed that Joe Biden and his supporters (even literally it seems) will make the deal with the Iranian devil as Obama did if they achieve power. Ominous. But of course by January, if Biden is elected President (shudder), he probably wouldn’t even be able to find Iran on a world globe, let alone dealing with the oppressive regime effectively and optimally.
Have to say it. All those who will vote for Joe Biden are, at best, fools. Yes, this is the best I can say about such ridiculous, pathetic people.
James Lincoln says
Wellington says,
“All those who will vote for Joe Biden are, at best, fools. Yes, this is the best I can say about such ridiculous, pathetic people.”
After careful thought, 100% agree.
Perhaps Biden supporters vote more on emotion than Trump supporters.
Biden supporters somehow can’t get past the fact that Pres. Trump is – sometimes – crude, rude, offensive, and loud.
They somehow inexplicably forget the fact that he is *very* effective…
Reziac says
Because Trump stands up and says out loud what most of us wish we had the balls to say.
He is the boy who says, “But the Emperor isn’t wearing anything.”
drljr says
This is why people need to also understand Islam is not a religion. It is a theocracy dedicated to forcing people to worship the god Hubal. The Arabic word “allah”, a contraction of the Arabic phrase “al” (the) ilah” (god), references Hubal. The Iranian people would like to have their freedom and a real government of the people back and stop being ruled by a hostile government.
Wellington says
A “theocracy,” your very word, is demonstrative of religious control over a polity.
In brief, you have contradicted yourself.
Your turn if you care.
Ferd III says
drjr is right. It is a moon cult theocracy – theocratic power (cult power not religious).
Atheists can also impose a theocracy eg nazism or a set of cult beliefs (fish to fishermen, abiogenesis and the ‘science’ etc).
Good to find someone on here who understands what the Al Lah is – the moon deity of Mecca and Adolf Moh’s and family took care of his shrine. Satanic verses etc.
Well done drjr.
noun, plural the·oc·ra·cies.
a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God’s or deity’s laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities.
Wellington says
The definitions I have come across respecting the term “theocracy” pretty much say the same thing—a form of government run by priests in the name of some deity or deities, and which deity or deities may very well be false ones.
As such I do not see how atheists can establish a theocracy.
gravenimage says
A cult is just a small religion. The negative use of “cult” only became widespread in the 1960s and ’70s.
Islam is a religion by any definition–it is just an *evil* religion.
jimjfox says
Ferd III is illiterate about EVOLUTION. Please, read Darwin’s ‘On the Evolution of Species’ plus one of Richard Dawkins’ books on the subject. ‘Climbing Mount Improbable’, say, then you might avoid making a fool of yourself.
jimjfox says
Wellington & graven image correctly point out further inaccuracies in your post, Ferd III.
As a fundamentalist Christian it’s no surprise that your bigotry trots out the wearisome claims that atheists are by definition Nazis, that Darwin had a view on abiogenesis & there is a direct path from fish to human.
gravenimage says
A theocracy is the imposition of of religious law, drljr.
Peter Laitres says
I think using “Theocracy” is confusing. Islam is a socio-political movement that makes no distinction between government, education, religion or living in general. Its model is that of a Theocracy, no doubt, but it has the multi-millennia desert culture as its basis. Hence it is a shame and honor culture. Most westerners have no idea about how this works. Liberal use the compartmentalized social construct that we have, where the church, state, club, etc., are separate.
But when the Islamists say they are building a “community center,” they are telling the truth as it is for the ummah, but misleading Westerners as an Islamic “community center,” isn’t the Boy’s Club, it is a mosque.
European pagan says
Maybe when the old guy dies they can choose a new government. All the Iranian woman I talked with hated to wear hijab. There are a lot of people who are muslims on the paper but they are atheists.
peter says
No surprise ! You will starve to death at the minimum if you declare your apostasy in Iran . They are smart people . Survival is the name of the game !
rooare says
Islamic leaders like to claim Islam is the fastest growing religion, it may be the fastest growing forced religion yet take their foot of the necks of the people and they’d run not walk to the nearest exit.
Quazgaa says
Reminds me of the joke with the latest covid victims in Russia. They died while resisting treatment.
Rob R (Brit stuck in Britainistan) says
*adds Iran to his “list of countries that might be less Islamic than Britain in 5 or 10 years time”*
Better get learning Farsi I guess.
A.J. says
Don’t worry, you’ll find quite a lot of fluent English-speaking Iranians, if you ever visit. There are a lot of good people there.
gravenimage says
New survey: Only 40% of Iranians identify as Muslim, 72% disagree with mandatory hijab-wearing
………………….
Well, these figures are pretty amazing–especially if this many people are brave enough to admit this.
Ismail says
You are all deceiving yourself with statistics based on false premise.Your hatred for Islam and your wish for all.countries to toe your evil ways has blinded you
gravenimage says
Note that Ismail here doesn’t say in what way these statistics are incorrect. But then, when have pious Muslims ever felt they had to use reason or back up their claims with actual facts? Then, he does not say how freedom is evil–but this is indeed how most Muslims think.
jimjfox says
You’re correct about my hatred for Islam. It is the ONLY thing I hate, with good reason… I would prefer to live a life of freedom, fun and love for my fellow humans, ALL of which are forbidden to Muslims. Toeing the line enforced by threat of death is a uniquely ISLAMIC rule…
What a sad deluded fool you are, Ismail, under the thumb of Muhammad’s moon god!
Patrick Ludwig says
The interpretation that the 8 percent Zoroastrians (Zartushti) reflect a Persian Nationalism is imprecise if not erroneous.
You are Zartushti by birth only – ius sanguis prevails, conversion is not possible. 8 Percent is a very plausible number for the indigenous Zoroastrian population in modern Iran. In fact, the city of Yazd is even predominantly Zoroastrian.
Because of ius sanguis, Zartushti do not proselytize at all and are thus left in peace by the authorities. Most Iranian Zoroastrians are loyal – even fiercely loyal to Iran as a nation. Some are even members of the armed forces and well accepted.
It is however true, that many non Zartushti Iranians sympathise with the basic tenets of Zoroastrianism, which are highly moral and tolerant.
It is also true, that Zoroastrian symbols are used and worn by many sympathisers and also by Iranian nationalists. This wearing of these symbols which are readily available at most jewellers is widely tolerated by the authorities.
gravenimage says
Zoroastrianism clearly spread at one time.
FYI says
The Iranians deserve so much better than to be enslaved by islam.
To add insult to injury,allah is an ARAB god and it makes me laugh that the god of the Iranians doesn’t speak Farsi.
allah doesn’t relate to the Iranian language:it has to be in Arabic.
If the Iranians had the Judeo-Christian God they would have a Bible in FARSI because the Biblical God speaks ALL languages and exists for ALL people:so you can find a Bible in your own language.
The Biblical God is a universal God and so ALL languages are catered for.
{Chinese can read a Chinese Bible,Koreans can read a Korean Bible}
But not sad allah the Arab,the great Sultan in the Sky :alas,he only speaks Arabic.In fact allah doesn’t seem to think Arabs would be good at other languages.
“What!A FOREIGN TONGUE and an Arab?”
koran 41:44
If you are an Iranian compare this:
YHWH the Judeo-Christian Biblical God{Jewish,Christian}:speaks ALL languages,exists for ALL mankind,does not discriminate against people{Genesis 1:27: as they are made in God’s spiritual image}can be understood in ANY language {for your convenience}has 2 chief LOVE commandments and a Golden Rule{found in ANY Bible written in ANY language :Matthew 7 v 12}
VERSUS
allah the islamic koranic Arab god{muslim}:speaks only Arabic,exists only for his muslims{not non-muslims},discriminates against ALL non muslims{koran 98:6=’the WORST of created beings”},can only be understood through Arabic{for your inconvenience},MISSED the 2 chief LOVE commandments and the Golden Rule{not found in any koran}
Quazgaa says
I would be very wary of any deity telling me I should use, of all, only the language of a parasitic and predatory civilization, still living by rules going back to the Bronze Age.
Besides, I doubt God ever needed a language to pass down his will.
Quazgaa says
What’s the point of this?
Apostates, atheists or what have you, what iranians lack are a spine and cojones.
Without those, the mullahs and their arab invented kult will drive the iranian people into the ground.
As they say, the arab masters will fight their wars to the last iranian soldier.
job says
Freedom for the people of Iran.