Narrating Salafism: Sunni Marginalization and Authoritarian Religious Governance in Iranian Kurdistan

Abstract Salafism is an orthodox movement associated with political Islam that defines itself mainly through the negation of opposing ideologies and practices. Although a minority, Salafist movements have gained traction across parts of the Islamic world. This article examines an emerging branch of Salafism in Iranian Kurdistan (Known as Rojhelat). It employs narrative analysis to examine Sunni Kurds in Iran, with participants selected through purposive and maximum-variation sampling. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that Salafists advocate for a maximalist interpretation of Islam, envisioning a Quran-centric society where Da’wah and jihad are deemed essential for establishing an Islamic state. They attribute shifts in Islamic lifestyle and attire to the weakening of Da’wah , governmental neglect, Westernization, and the erosion of the family’s socializing role. While they promote a form of conditional tolerance toward other Islamic groups, as well as non-conforming Muslims and perceived hidden enemies, their distrust of the Islamic Republic of Iran remains pronounced, criticizing the regime for reducing religion to mere rituals and failing to recognize true Sunni Kurds. However, given their prioritization of resisting Western influence and the security constraints within Iran, Salafists have primarily concentrated their efforts on Islamic Da’wah rather than confrontation with the state.