A Sunni Community Thrives in Shia Iran
- Dr. Shehnaz Haqqani Interviewer of Dr. S. Mahendrarajah
- Dr. Shivan Mahendrarajah Interviewee
- online
- License: New Books Network
Shivan Mahendrarajah’s book, The Sufi Saint of Jam: History, Religion, and Politics of a Sunni Shrine in Shi‘i Iran (Cambridge University Press, 2021) explores the history, religion, politics, and architecture of Ahmad-i-Jam’s shrine, located in eastern Iran. Sunni shrine and community have thrived for over 900 years. This is of particular relevance given prevailing assumptions about Iran’s alleged sectarian and intolerant Shi‘i theocracy.