Editing Persecution (section)

===Zoroastrians===
{{main|Persecution of Zoroastrians}}
{{Category see also|Anti-Zoroastrianism}}
[[File:A_Zoroastrian_Family_Teheran_1910.JPG|right|thumb|A Zoroastrian family in&nbsp;[[Qajar dynasty|Qajar]]&nbsp;Iran about 1910.]]
[[Persecution of Zoroastrians]] is the religious persecution inflicted upon the followers of the [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] faith. The persecution of Zoroastrians occurred throughout the religion's history. The discrimination and harassment began in the form of sparse violence and [[Forced conversion to Islam|forced conversions]]. [[Muslims]] are recorded to have destroyed [[fire temples]]. Zoroastrians living under [[Muslim]] rule were required to pay a tax called [[jizya]].<ref name=hou100>{{Cite book | last =Houtsma | first =Martijn Theodoor | title =First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913-1936: E.J.Brill's| publisher =BRILL |year=1936 | id =9789004097964 | isbn =90-04-09796-1 |volume=2 |page=100}}</ref>
 
Zoroastrian [[fire temple|places of worship]] were desecrated, [[fire temple]]s were destroyed and mosques were built in their place. Many libraries were [[book burning|burned]] and much of their cultural heritage was lost. Gradually an increasing number of laws were passed which regulated Zoroastrian behavior and limited their ability to participate in society. Over time, the persecution of Zoroastrians became more common and widespread, and the number of believers decreased by force significantly.<ref name=hou100 />

Most were forced to convert due to the systematic abuse and discrimination inflicted upon them by followers of [[Islam]]. Once a Zoroastrian family was forced to convert to [[Islam]], the children were sent to an [[Madrasa|Islamic school]] to learn [[Arabic]] and study the teachings of [[Islam]], as a result some of these people lost their Zoroastrian faith. However, under the [[Samanids]], who were Zoroastrian converts to Islam, the [[Persian language]] flourished. On occasion, the Zoroastrian clergy assisted Muslims in attacks against those whom they deemed Zoroastrian heretics.<ref name=hou100 />

A Zoroastrian astrologer named [[Mulla Gushtasp]] predicted the fall of the [[Zand dynasty]] to the Qajar army in Kerman. Because of Gushtasp's forecast, the Zoroastrians of Kerman were spared by the conquering army of [[Mohammad Khan Qajar|Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar]]. Despite the aforementioned favorable incident, the Zoroastrians during the [[Qajar dynasty]] remained in agony and their population continued to decline. Even during the rule of Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of the dynasty, many Zoroastrians were killed and some were taken as captives to [[Azerbaijan]].<ref name=sh21>{{Citation|last =Shahmardan|first =Rashid|title =History of Zoroastrians past Sasanians |page=125}}</ref> Zoroastrians regard the Qajar period as one of their worst.<ref name=price111>{{Citation|last =Price|first =Massoume |title =Iran's diverse peoples: a reference sourcebook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzpdq679oJwC&pg=PP1|page=205|year=2005|edition=Illustrated|publisher =ABC-CLIO |isbn=9781576079935}}</ref> During the&nbsp;[[Qajar dynasty]], religious persecution of the Zoroastrians was rampant. Due to the increasing contacts with influential&nbsp;[[Parsi people|Parsi]]&nbsp;philanthropists such as&nbsp;[[Maneckji Limji Hataria]], many Zoroastrians left [[Iran]] for [[India]]. There, they formed the second major Indian Zoroastrian community known as the&nbsp;[[Irani (India)|Iranis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/zoroastrianism-02-arab-conquest-to-modern|title=ZOROASTRIANISM ii. Arab Conquest to Modern – Encyclopaedia Iranica|website=www.iranicaonline.org|access-date=2020-04-03}}</ref>