In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of Racism in Iran in detail. From its origins to its relevance today, we will delve into every relevant aspect of Racism in Iran. We will discover its impact in different areas, as well as the implications it has on today's society. We will learn about the different opinions and approaches about Racism in Iran, and we will analyze its evolution over time. Without a doubt, Racism in Iran is a fascinating topic that deserves all our attention and reflection, so we invite you to immerse yourself in this article to discover everything behind Racism in Iran.
Racism in Iran encompasses various manifestations of racism between the inhabitants of the country. A UN panel in 2019 said "Arabs, Kurds, and other minorities in Iran face discrimination because of their ethnicity." In 2010, The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) of the UN urged Iran to tackle racism on Arab, Azeri, Balochi, and Kurdish communities and some communities of non-citizens.
Epithets such as Mush-Khor (lit. 'rodent eaters' in Persian) and Marmulak-Khor (lit. 'lizard eaters') are used for both Sunni and Shiite Arabs.
In 1926, the Azerbaijani language became prohibited in Iran for the first time. The head of the state at the time, Reza Shah appointed Dr. Mohseni as the chair of the "Cultural Office of Azerbaijan", who was infamous for his order:
Put donkey reins on whoever dares to speak Turkish in the classroom and throw them in the stable amongst the donkeys.
Tork-e Khar is a phrase traditionally used for Azerbaijanis and Turks, literally meaning the "Turkish donkey".
This is symptomatic of a tradition depicting Azerbaijanis negatively as tork-e khar ('Turkish donkeys'), i.e. rural and backward.