Information about people from Iran

Working with new and emerging
communities: A guide
Sheet
8
Information about people from Iran
This information sheet is general in
nature. It provides some background
about what has been happening to
cause people to leave Iran, as well as
information about culture, ethnicities
and religions. Its purpose is to develop a
better understanding of new and emerging
communities from Iran and consequently,
improve access to services and service
quality for clients from these communities.
Iran’s culture and traditions date back to
ancient Persia. Unlike many countries in the
region, Iran has maintained its independence
for much of its history. The country became
known as Iran in 1935.
Iran has been an Islamic Republic since 1979
following the Iranian revolution, when a
monarchy was overthrown and a theocratic
system of government was established. Shi’a
Muslim clergy and political leaders vetted by
the clergy are dominant. The legal system is
based on Islamic law.
People from Iran have come to NSW as
humanitarian and family entrants since 1979.
What has been happening in Iran?
Iran was at war with Iraq from 1980-1988,
and experienced heavy casualties. Iran has
also experienced ongoing international
sanctions. Although presently there is neither
war nor civil war, the treatment of ethnic,
cultural, and religious minorities and women
continues to attract the concern of human
rights observers, with widespread reports
of persecution, repression and exclusion.
Minority communities include Arabs, Azeris,
Balochs, Kurds, Christians, Sunni Muslims,
Shi’a Muslim sects and Baha’i.
Iran has large populations of long-term
Iraqi and Afghan refugees, who experience
persecution and restriction of access to
housing, health, education, and employment.
From 2009 to 2011, protests against the
Iranian regime resulted in widespread arrests
and persecution, including pro-reform
politicians, lawyers, journalists, writers,
students, academics and their families.
The major ethnic, cultural and
religious groups in Iran
Iran is home to a large number of minority
groups whose identity cuts across ethnic,
linguistic and religious lines.
Ethnicity in Iran
Persian
Azeri or Iranian Azerbaijanis
Kurds
Gilaki and Mazandarani
Arabs incl Ahwazi Arabs
Lur
Baloch
Turkman and and Turkic
groups
Others including Assyrian,
Armenian, Mandaean and
Faili Kurds
For more information about these groups, see the Resources and
references page at the Legal Aid NSW website at www.legalaid.nsw.
gov.au/publications Click on Factsheets and resources and select the
topic Culturally diverse people.
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Information about people from Iran
Language
Ethnicity
Main Language
Persians
Farsi
Azeris
Azeri
Kurds
Many Kurdish dialects
including Kirmanji
Gilaki and
Mazandarani
Gilaki, Mazandarani and
Farsi
Ahwazi Arabs*
Arabic and Farsi
Faili Kurds*
Distinct Kurdish dialect
Mandaeans
Farsi
*Ahwazi Arabs live on the border with Iraq and experience
persecution. Faili Kurds are a stateless people and unlike
other Kurdish people are Shi’a Muslims. Both Iraq and Iran
claim they are citizens of the other country.
Other languages include Arabic, Lur, Balochi,
Turkic dialects, Assyrian and Armenian.
Literacy is estimated at about 77% of the
population over 15 years of age, with 83.5%
for men and 70.4% for women.
Religions
Aspects of the Persian cultural heritage come
from the traditions of the Zoroastrians, who
practise the pre-Islamic religion of ancient
Persia.
The majority of Iranians are Muslims. Shi’a
Muslims represent around 89% of the
population and include Persians and Azeri
people. Iran’s Sunni Muslim population
(about 9%) are mainly Kurds, Ahwazi Arabs,
Tajiks, Turkmen and Balochs.
Baha’i is the largest non-Muslim religion. It
is illegal in Iran and its members experience
persecution, with many leaving the country.
Other religious groups are Jews, Christians,
Zoroastrians and Mandaeans. Christianity,
Judaism and Zoroastrian religions are
recognised under the constitution. Their
followers are free to worship, but are
restricted in civil and political rights.
Assyrians and Armenians are Christian
(mainly Catholic and Apostolic). Armenians
are the largest Christian population in Iran.
People from Iran in NSW
NSW has currently received more people
from Iran than other Australian states. The
Iranian born population in NSW is diverse
with people coming from different regions,
social groups or classes, religions and ethnic
groups. Some groups may have initially settled
in other states and moved to NSW.
Most people who have come from Iran
between 2003 and 2013 are Persian and are
Shi’a Muslims. After that, the largest groups
from Iran are Kurdish people, Mandaeans, and
people of the Baha’i faith. Smaller minorities
include Armenians, Assyrians, Balochs, Ahwazi
Arabs and other Arabs, Azeri, Tajik, Turkic
groups and Faili Kurds. Exact numbers who
have settled in NSW are unclear. There
are smaller numbers of Zoroastrian and
Christians (Chaldean, Assyrian and Armenian).
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Working with new and emerging
communities: A guide
The Iranian born population in NSW is diverse, with people coming from
different regions, social groups or classes, religions and ethnic groups.
Generally, people from Iran live in:
• Western Sydney (especially Parramatta,
Holroyd, Blacktown, Auburn);
• South West Sydney (Fairfield, Liverpool);
• North and North West Sydney (including
Baulkham Hills, Hornsby, Ryde and the
lower north shore of Sydney).
Regionally, the largest numbers are in
Wollongong followed by the Hunter, Central
Coast/Wyong, Coffs Harbour and the Riverina,
including Wagga Wagga.
Mandaean and Assyrian people have settled
in Fairfield and Liverpool, and there is a small
Baloch population in Wollongong and an
Ahwazi Arab population in South West Sydney.
Other groups tend to be spread throughout
the above suburbs and regions.
Language assistance
There are many dialects spoken by people who
have come from Iran. Most people from Iran
will understand Farsi (Persian).
There are reasonable numbers of Farsi/Persian
interpreters available. As many dialects are
spoken among Kurdish people, they may
not understand the dialects of other Kurds.
Although most Kurds will understand Farsi/
Persian, it is important to check with them first. Currently, the National Accreditation Authority
for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) lists
very limited numbers of Assyrian, Armenian
and Kurdish interpreters and no Azeri, Balochi
or Turkmen. Azeri and Turkic people usually
understand Turkish or Persian, but may have
regional preferences.
Many interpreters, community and bilingual
workers speak both Farsi and Dari. Clients may
prefer a person from their country of origin
(for example Iran for Farsi; Afghanistan for
Dari). Iranians may have more difficulty with
Dari than Afghans have with Farsi. The written
languages of Farsi and Dari are quite similar,
and often written material is labelled as Farsi/
Dari.
Education and literacy will vary, depending
on whether people are from rural or urban
areas, as well as by social class, ethnicity and
education level. As with all refugee populations,
education may have been disrupted or denied.
Literacy in a person’s own language may have
an impact on the levels of language assistance
needed.
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Working with new and emerging communities: A guide
Disclaimer
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responsibility for errors and omissions. All contact details and websites are provided for convenience and are
not an endorsement of the organisations or their services.
You may copy, print, distribute, download and otherwise freely deal with this work for a non-profit purpose as
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November 2013
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