The Role of Identity and Ethnicity In IRI's Interaction with Russia's Shica Community

The number of the Shiites in Russia has been estimated to be from 600,000 (3% of the Muslims’ population of that country) up to 3000,000 (15%). No comprehensive study on the life of the Russian Shiites and the quality of their community has been conducted so far. Thus, the present article deals firstly with the number of Russian Shiites and the way they entered the regions wherein they dwell. Then, the quality of the life of the Shiites settling in Moscow, especially their jobs and their organizational groups is dealt with. Finally, we discuss the type of the Shiites’ relationship with the Russians and non-Shiite society there as well as the IRI’s policies in regard with them.