Why are most (overseas) Iranians secular?

[Friend]

Whenever I meet Iranians and Afghans here during official meetings, usually women from Iranian embassy have always a scarf covering (partially) hair. Women from Afghan embassy - never.

It is because they are officials so officially the Iranians are bound by their laws which is a good thing. At the other hand there is no such law in Afghanistan so it is up to them whether they take the scarf or not.

[یاسمینه]

I've also noticed a condescending attitude towards Afghans from them.

hmm.. sounds like diplomacy language. It's so sad but Iranians I meet here (apart from those from embassy) openly treat Afghans as people of worse category.

[Hakim Khan Urgonai]

It is because they are officials so officially the Iranians are bound by their laws which is a good thing. At the other hand there is no such law in Afghanistan so it is up to them whether they take the scarf or not.

Yes, true.

Iranians don't like "Afghans" becuase they think all Afghans are Hazara. Apparently, Hazaras are undesirable immigrants in Iran.

[Friend]

Yes, true.

Iranians don't like "Afghans" becuase they think all Afghans are Hazara. Apparently, Hazaras are undesirable immigrants in Iran.

The Hazaras are probably shias so why wouldn't they want them ?

[Hakim Khan Urgonai]

The Hazaras are probably shias so why wouldn't they want them ?

They are Shia, thats why they are allowed in Iran in the first place.
But they suppossedly commit crimes and bring drugs and such.

[DMXX]

Whenever I meet Iranians and Afghans here during official meetings, usually women from Iranian embassy have always a scarf covering (partially) hair. Women from Afghan embassy - never.

The staff at Iranian embassies are expected to wear headscarfs at all embassy-related functions to represent the ideals of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Those headscarfs too are forced rather than an individual choice despite them being on foreign soil, as the Iranian embassy is legally an extension of the Islamic Republic of Iran. That is not an indication of the general "state of mind" amongst Iranian women.

DMXx,
My experience with Iranians is that they feel like Islam has been forced upon them. How true is this amongst the populace? I've also noticed a condescending attitude towards Afghans from them.

By and large, I'd say more Iranians do have those sentiments than not. Iranians are generally well-versed with their history and recall the manner in which Islam was used as a means to control the populace by the Safavids especially.

The manner in which Islam permeated across the plateau (passive and active force through taxation and killings) is far more tenuous issue, complicated by the fact that Iranians during the Sassanid era had grown weary of Zoroastrianism's interlocking with the politics of the time. Kartir, a Zoroastrian priest with considerable power, is reminiscent of today's ayatollahs.

When the Iranian Revolution took place over a generation ago, the people were mainly protesting against the Shah's regime rather than in favour of Khomeini. Every political opposition, both established and grassroots, had mobilised against what they perceived as the Shah's unjust rule. Iranians are generally reflective over those events and the sour taste of imposed "Islamism" (despite much of it not being Islamic) is ever-present.

Some modern Iranians do have a haughty attitude towards Afghans. The main determinant of this is socioeconomic status; even the chauvanistic ideations (i.e. "Iranians are more civilised than those Afghan peasants") are usually rooted in this, as Iranians tend to know about the various Afghan dynasties Persia quarrelled with until a few hundred years ago. There is also a tendency to cite the number of Persian empires that conquered Afghan territory as an indicator of cultural supremacy.
Those Iranians who express such sentiments are also usually from the larger cities, again tying it back to socioeconomic disparities between the average Iranian and Afghan immigrant.
Finally, there is a passive association between Afghans and the opioid abuse problem in Iran by some Iranians.

The issue is therefore predominantly due to status disparity rather than "race" (Iranians and Afghans generally fall under the same anthropological labels to begin with), religion or differences in culture.

hmm.. sounds like diplomacy language. It's so sad but Iranians I meet here (apart from those from embassy) openly treat Afghans as people of worse category.

I find that behaviour deplorable. Banter is one thing (like in all countries, stereotypes for a given province/region/ethnic group exist) but deliberately treating an entire group in such a manner is discriminatory. As with Pakhtuns, respect and hospitality are crucial aspects of Iranian mentality. As unfortunate as it is, Iranians harbouring such mentalities aren't a minority. Those with a positive view of Pakhtuns (such as myself), thankfully, aren't neither.

[یاسمینه]

Kabul was once known as the Paris of South/Central Asia. The women were very liberal from that region. Most embassies are staffed with Kabulis including the local consulate here. Your spot on.

I know. But here when you see together Iranian and Afghan ambassadors together such differencies make people realize that Afghanistan is not that horrible country if Afghan women can be seen in public without scarf. Here people still think that Afghan = talib and burqa is the first association with Afghan woman.

[Friend]

I know. But here when you see together Iranian and Afghan ambassadors together such differencies make people realize that Afghanistan is not that horrible country if Afghan women can be seen in public without scarf. Here people still think that Afghan = talib and burqa is the first association with Afghan woman.

What you see in the embassies and other official places are the non Pashtuns and other elites. They don't represent the 80% of Afghans.

[RevolutionThroughReason]

What you see in the embassies and other official places are the non Pashtuns and other elites. They don't represent the 80% of Afghans.

How do you know, did you check their ethnicity? don't tell me because "they speak Farsi" because we all know in Afghanistan many people speak Farsi, including Pashtuns

[یاسمینه]

If it comes to Polish-Iranian relationship - Iranians in the past really helped my country and I can't understand why now, due to political conditions that help seems to be almost forgotten.
If you are intrested - more here: http://www.parstimes.com/history/pol...us_russia.html

[یاسمینه]

How do you know, did you check their ethnicity? don't tell me because "they speak Farsi" because we all know in Afghanistan many people speak Farsi, including Pashtuns

I know their ethnicity - ambassador is a Pashtun.

[Hakim Khan Urgonai]

How do you know, did you check their ethnicity? don't tell me because "they speak Farsi" because we all know in Afghanistan many people speak Farsi, including Pashtuns

For me, only Pashto-speakers are Pashtun unless they can prove otherwise.
Otherwise means unless they are of Pashtun ancestry.

[یاسمینه]

Yes, true.

Iranians don't like "Afghans" becuase they think all Afghans are Hazara. Apparently, Hazaras are undesirable immigrants in Iran.

And Iran supports Hazara minority in Afghanistan in many ways.

[Nima Khan Abdali]

The Hazaras are probably shias so why wouldn't they want them ?

Everything is not measured with that. Most of the times one's attitude will procede his/her identity.

[Hakim Khan Urgonai]

And Iran supports Hazara minority in Afghanistan in many ways.

Because they are Shia.