Iranian Journal of Sociology

Abstract Despite the connection between religion and politics during the Islamic Republic of Iran and the active participation of Shiite clerics in politics, the political action of Sunni clerics in Kurdistan has taken on different aspects. The authors of the present study attempt to identify the forms of political action, the effective contexts and its consequences on the individual and social life of the clerics by analyzing the experiences and understandings of a sample of Sunni clerics in Sanandaj. This research is conducted using a grounded theory method. To do this, 27 clerics of  Sanandaj have been interviewed. Our results indicate that contexts such as "disruption of citizenship", "decline of religious and identity tolerance", "disruption of institutional relations", "political mistrust" and "limited available resources" have limited the arena for the political action of clerics in Sanandaj. Therefore, the clerics who were interviewed experience a feeling of political powerlessness and despite the political concern and the emphasis on political organization as the necessity of political activity, they are disappointed with the formal institutional channels to pursue their demands. They are politically isolated and disappointed with the ballot box, and inevitably, have turned to cultural actions. Political action for clerics has resulted in consequences such as "social deprivation" and "decline of public trust", which refers to the core category of "disruption and inequality in social recognition".
 
 

Abstract Iranian Call and Reform Organization is one of the active religious currents in Iranian  Kurdistan. This organization is one of the religious currents in  Kurdistan which is active in religious, cultural, and educational actions within the framework of the existing political system.  In the present study, to understand the experiences and perceptions of senior and active members, we interviewed 30 members, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Findings showed that because of the nationalist Kurds’ tendency towards ethnic identity, the weakness of the religions’ position in Kurdistan, cultural conflict in Kurdistan, and Sunnies’ insignificant power in Iran, the member of this organization try to participate in political actions.  In addition, modernity and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s legal frameworks work as facilitator contexts; and success in Islamic countries and Islamic currents’ activities in Kurdistan function as mediator conditions. To encounter the factors mentioned above, the members use strategies such as a convergence and action in the framework of the constitution, differentiation from other groups and Islamic currents. Also, the results showed that taking political actions among the organization’s members can be grouped under three heading: new traditionalism, moderate modernism, and modernism.    

Abstract The present study aims at investigating the relationship between ethnocentrism and religion among Iranian Kurds using a social-interpretative approach. The research methodology is qualitative and the data was obtained via in-depth interviews. The grounded theory was used for analyzing the findings. Based on qualitative-purposive sampling method and the theoretical saturation criterion, 31 Sunni and Shiite Kurdish residents of different cities of Kermanshah province participated in this research, and their perception and interpretation of ethnocentrism, and its relationship with religion were investigated and analyzed. Firstly, the collected data categorized into 53 basic concepts, 14 major categories and finally 2 core categories and was analyzed. Secondly, 28 concepts were obtained for Sunni Kurds, and broken down to 7 major categories , including integrated Kurdish identity, dissatisfaction with government, secular interpretation of religion, the preference of ethnicity to religion, alienation to the Iranian identity, the self-determination right, and the role of ethnic elites. Then they were categorized under one core category, "secular Kurdish nationalism". Furthermore, 25 concepts were obtained for the Shiite Kurds, and broken down to 7 categories, including Kurdish ethnic identity, Iranian national identity, dissatisfaction with government, compatibility of religion and ethnicity, emphasis on the cultural rights of Kurdish ethnic group, secular interpretation of religion, and the lack of historical consciousness. Finally, a core category entitled "cultural ethnocentrism" was defined for them. A comparison of different categories obtained for the two interviewed groups, Shiites and Sunnis, revealed that they show similarity in two categories "dissatisfaction with government" and "secular interpretation of religion", however in other cases such as the interpretation of Kurdish identity, Iranian identity, and the relationship between religion and ethnicity they show major differences.

Abstract During the recent years, suicide has increased dramatically among the Abdanani youths. To describing the experience and understanding suicide and phenomenal world and the consequences of this action is of great importance in gaining full knowledge of the world-life of the youths. This research is conducted based on qualitative method and existentialist phenomenology is used to carry out the field research; the data are analyzed using colaizzi method. The findings indicate that those who committed suicide have seen it as a facilitation, breaking with tradition, and escaping reality .Therefore, different feelings and understandings of suicide have developed among the subjects under study, ranging from accepting to rejecting suicide. The participants’ experience and understanding of phenomenal world, implies despair and continuity of calamities. Suicide has different consequences and effects on the organic body of those committing it which can be categorized under two main topics: “fragility of the physical body” and “phenomenal isolation of the body”. Semantic constructs suggest that those committing suicide are experiencing a complicated, unsafe and problematic world-life.

Abstract During the recent years, suicide has increased dramatically among the Abdanani youths. To describing the experience and understanding suicide and phenomenal world and the consequences of this action is of great importance in gaining full knowledge of the world-life of the youths. This research is conducted based on qualitative method and existentialist phenomenology is used to carry out the field research; the data are analyzed using colaizzi method. The findings indicate that those who committed suicide have seen it as a facilitation, breaking with tradition, and escaping reality .Therefore, different feelings and understandings of suicide have developed among the subjects under study, ranging from accepting to rejecting suicide. The participants’ experience and understanding of phenomenal world, implies despair and continuity of calamities. Suicide has different consequences and effects on the organic body of those committing it which can be categorized under two main topics: “fragility of the physical body” and “phenomenal isolation of the body”. Semantic constructs suggest that those committing suicide are experiencing a complicated, unsafe and problematic world-life.