The concept of equality from the perspective of Ayatollah Khamenei with an emphasis on the rights of religious minorities

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Candidate Political Science, Imam Khomeini International University/Qazvin /Iran

2 Assistant Professor and Faculty Member, Department of Political Science, Imam Khomeini International University

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the concept of equality in the thought of Ayatollah Khamenei, with a particular focus on the rights of religious minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The central research question is: What dimensions does the Supreme Leader’s understanding of equality encompass within the framework of religious minority rights, and how is it articulated?
Methodology: The research employs a mixed-methods qualitative–quantitative content analysis approach, structured according to T. H. Marshall’s theoretical framework of citizenship across three domains: civil, political, and social rights. The statistical population consists of Ayatollah Khamenei’s speeches, statements, and written communications from 1994 to 2025 (1373–1403 SH). Purposive sampling was applied, selecting only those documents that explicitly or implicitly address the concepts of “equality,” “religious minority,” “citizenship rights,” and “social justice.” A total of 47 documents were analyzed, with 1,693 relevant coded textual units extracted.
Findings: The findings indicate that: (1) Equality, in Ayatollah Khamenei’s view, is rooted in the inherent dignity of human beings and grounded in Quranic and hadith-based teachings; (2) Upholding the rights of religious minorities is not only a religious obligation but also a societal necessity essential for national stability, unity, and collective security; and (3) Religious minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran genuinely enjoy political and civil rights—including active participation in the Iran-Iraq War, parliamentary representation, and the right to swear oaths on their own sacred texts. Furthermore, Ayatollah Khamenei considers respect for religious rituals, freedom of belief, and the creation of a culturally secure environment as fundamental rights for minorities, albeit conditioned upon loyalty to the Islamic system.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that Ayatollah Khamenei regards the rights of religious minorities as an inseparable component of social justice.

Keywords

References

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