Iran

Ongoing latent tensions of an ethnic-religious character, together with tensions between Shi'a Muslim conservatism and Westernised secular influences.

Iran is 90% Shi’a Muslim, 8% Sunni (Kurds, Baluchis, Turkmen and Arabs) and 2% religious minorities (Christian Armenians, Jews, Baha’is).

Up to the fall of the Shah in 1978, there was simmering friction between embattled Muslims and Western secular influences - both capitalist and socialist. This was reversed in the Revolution, in which socialist radicals were suppressed and killed by the new Shi'a hierarchy led by Ayatollah Khomeini, or by extremist sub-groups.

Problems for minorities arose after the 1978 Islamic Revolution, though religious tolerance does exist (for example toward Jews). Discrimination tends to occur less officially, taking the shape of land confiscations, denial of state employment or other rights, affecting mainly Kurdistan, Baluchistan and Arab Khuzestan.

Since the Islamic revolution, 200 Baha’is have been executed or killed, and Baha’is suffer the worst discrimination (described as political counter-revolutionaries), while Christian minorities complain of harassment.

Links:

Wikipedia: Religious Minorities in Iran
VOAnews: Baha'is in Iran
Christian Solidarity: Iran