Such contradictions leave observers perplexed and make it difficult to give a clear-cut answer to the question of democracy in Iran. Is Iran Ethnically and Religiously Homogeneous?
The Iranian society is characterized by diversity, given the different ethnic and religious backgrounds of its members. The main ethnic groups in Iran, according to the World Factbook, are: Persians (51 percent), Azeris (24 percent), Gilaki and Mazandarani (8 percent), Kurds (7 percent), and Arabs (3 percent). The remaining 7 percent consists of Baluchis, Lurs, Turkmens, Qashqai, Armenians, Persian Jews, Georgians, Assyrians, Circassians, Tats, Pashtuns, and others. While 89 percent of the population are Shiite Muslims, only 9 percent of the population are Sunnis. Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Christianity are recognized and protected by the state, and their adherents have representatives in parliament. In Iran, there are three minorities, in particular, that are the focus of much attention: Jews, Arabs, and Kurds. Since the victory of the Revolution, Dr. Mosad argues, Iranian Jews have been keen to express their support for if; a group of 500 Jews, headed by Grand Rabbi of the Iranian
