Islam Is Losing Its Hold on Iranians

According to a specialist in Iranian politics Iranians are not as committed to Islam as Westerners might think. In an article in Real Clear World, the scholar Fariba Farsa writes that,

Iran has long been labeled an Islamic Republic—both politically and demographically—with official statistics claiming over 98% of its population adheres to Islam. However, beneath that surface lies a significant shift. After more than four decades of theocratic governance, Iran may no longer be an “Islamic-majority” society in spirit, belief, or identity—despite what the numbers say.

For decades, religious observance—like compulsory hijab, mandated prayers, and gender segregation—was enforced through coercion, surveillance, and punishment. The regime did not inspire devotion; it bred resentment.

This resentment is especially acute among the young,

For many young Iranians, Islam is synonymous with censorship, economic decay, and repression—not spirituality. It is not a path to meaning, but a mechanism of dominance.

So how does Farsa account for the statistic that shows 98% of Iranians are Muslims?

Official statistics in Iran do not reflect voluntary religious affiliation. Declaring “no religion” is dangerous, as apostasy carries severe punishments, including imprisonment or even the death penalty.

In practice, Islam is not chosen but inherited: a child born to Muslim parents is automatically considered Muslim and has no legal right to convert. Renouncing Islam or embracing another faith is criminalized.

As a result, millions of Iranians who no longer believe in Islam are still officially classified as Muslims. Western universities and institutions often repeat the regime’s claim that 98% of Iranians are Muslim, but this figure is misleading and fails to capture the profound secularization occurring within Iranian society.

Farsa cites an anonymous survey from 2020 of over 50,000 Iranians which reveals a different picture:

• 32% identified as Shi’a Muslim
• 9% as Sunni Muslim
• Nearly 50% identified as non-religious or having lost their religion
• Over 70% opposed religious laws, including compulsory hijab

These findings signal a profound shift: a society moving from post-Islamic character—even if its government remains theocratic.

Interested readers can find more at the link, but as Farsa says, "True belief must be freely chosen. Faith imposed by fear is not belief—it’s compliance." This is true whether the faith is religious or secular, such as the Marxist religion in communist countries. No one can be forced to believe anything and coercion only breeds resentment, cynicism, and rejection.

Hopefully, the end of forced compliance in Iran will come to a relatively non-violent conclusion, and soon.