Neglected Research with Neglected Data: Barriers and Opportunities in Research on Sunni Muslims in Contemporary Iran

Abstract This article presents a comprehensive review of the extant scholarship on Iranian Sunnis, highlighting the challenges inherent in researching Iran's sociopolitical periphery—a region often marginalized yet essential for understanding the country's broader dynamics. In this context, the article explores the primary challenges of researching this topic, particularly the securitization of research within Iran's already securitized Kurdish and Baluchi borderlands, where the majority of Sunnis reside. Central to this study is the introduction of a dataset derived from meticulous research on the Sunni presence on social media, which serves as a valuable resource for social scientists studying confessional and ethnic minority dynamics in Iran and the broader Islamic community. This study provides direct insights into the socio‐religious life of Iranian Sunnis through the perspectives of their religious leaders, offering an insight into the community's internal discourse. The study examines available data beneficial for future research, focusing on primary sources created by Sunni communities. It includes a systematic analysis of approximately 100 Instagram pages managed by Iranian Sunnis, capturing the diverse dynamics within these communities. The study concludes that the proliferation of communication tools has created a new ‘territory’ for the Sunni communities, enhancing the influence of Sunni religious elites in Iranian Baluchistan and facilitating broader communication of their purposes. Initial examinations of selected data reveal a wide range of Iranian online Sunni communities, many of which are institutionally linked to mosques, madrasas, Sufi groups, or tribes. However, there are individuals acting more or less independently, operating outside the shadow of the social media networks of established institutions.