First note that Turkey (Turks) and Iran (Persians) are NOT Arab Countries. In fact Arabs report vast discrimination in Iran!
Iran has a thriving Jewish community.
It is the largest in the ME after Israel.
This is actually true, but for one reason! The Shah didn't expell the Jews like the Arabs states did in '48, '67 and '73!
But you are right that they do alright. Even though they are still discriminated against jobs and where they can live, there are Jewish School (which require them to attend on the Shabhath), Jewish community centers and Temples! There is even a constitutional requirement that the Iranian Parliament has at least 1 Jewish representative.
But don't go crazy bud, there are only 10-15K Jews in the country. Not even a percent of a percent!
Egypt and Turkey both have very large Christian communities that number in the millions.
Egypt is 90% Muslim (78 Mil) and 10% Christian (8 mil), but the Christian population has been decreasing for years.
Turkey: LOL Nice Try Sunni!
Turkey while technically secular, its 99% Muslim (mostly Sunni Muslims) and the 1% is made up of Christians, Jews. So in a country of 72 mil only 720,000 are religious minorties
3 main minorites groups: Greek Orthodox Christians, Armenian Orthodox Christians, and Jews. Some numbers: religious groups include approximately 65,000 Armenian Orthodox Christians (
and we know how the Turks treat Armenians), 23,000 Jews, and up to 4,000 Greek Orthodox Christians. There also are approximately 10,000 Baha'is; an estimated 15,000 Syrian Orthodox (Syriac) Christians; 5,000 Yezidis; 3,300 Jehovah's Witnesses; 3,000
But Minorities complain of rabid discrimination:
There were reports of societal abuses and discrimination based on religious belief or practice. Violent attacks and threats against non-Muslims during the reporting period created an atmosphere of pressure and diminished freedom for some non-Muslim communities. Although proselytizing is legal in the country, some Muslims, Christians, and Baha'is faced a few restrictions and occasional harassment for alleged proselytizing or unauthorized meetings. The Government continued to oppose "Islamic fundamentalism." Authorities continued their broad ban on wearing Muslim religious headscarves in government offices, universities, and schools (upheld by the European Court of Human Rights); a 2006 court ruling, some argue, has extended this ban to the private sphere.
Religious minorities said they were effectively blocked from careers in state institutions because of their faith. Christians, Baha'is, and some Muslims faced societal suspicion and mistrust, and more radical Islamist elements continued to express anti-Semitic sentiments. Additionally, persons wishing to convert from Islam to another religion sometimes experienced social harassment and violence from relatives and neighbors.
Turkey
Funny that Turkey is supposed to be one of the shining lights in the Muslim world, but its 99% Islamic!
- even though there are multiple communities there? Whoa....
