Beyond Bigotry: Unpacking the Iran-Israel Narrative By Yassim Dukawuya
The ongoing discourse surrounding Iran and Israel often devolves into simplistic, emotionally charged arguments fueled by misinformation and, frankly, bigotry. It’s time to peel back the layers of misconception and examine the facts, not through the distorting lens of religious sentiment, but with a commitment to justice, equity, and fairness.
Let’s start with some basic truths that are frequently overlooked. Iran is not an Arab country; its population is predominantly Persian. This distinction is crucial, yet so often ignored in the rush to paint broad, inaccurate strokes. Similarly, Israel is not a Christian state; it is predominantly Jewish. The practice of Judaism, not Christianity, defines the religious landscape for the majority of its citizens. While both Christianity and Islam are present, they remain minority religions within Israel, with a greater number of Muslims than Christians.
Conversely, Iran, often stereotyped as monolithically Muslim, actually has a larger Christian population than Israel. This fact alone should challenge any simplistic “us vs. them” narrative based purely on religious affiliation. And for those who assume a pervasive Arab identity in the region, consider this: there are more Arabs in Israel than there are Christians. Furthermore, the linguistic reality in Iran is that while a minority speaks Arabic, the dominant language is Persian.
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Another critical point to grasp is the internal dynamics of the Muslim world. Iran is a leader of the Shia-dominated Muslims, a sect with significant theological and historical disagreements with Sunni Islamic doctrine, which is largely led by Saudi Arabia. Reducing the complexities of this relationship to a simple “Muslim bloc” versus “non-Muslim bloc” is a disservice to the nuances of geopolitical realities.
This brings me to the crux of the matter. If your support for Israel stems solely from a belief that it’s a Christian country, or because of its mention in the Bible, you are missing the point entirely. Likewise, if your allegiance to Iran is based merely on the assumption that they are Arabs or predominantly Muslim, you are equally misguided.
When support is divorced from the principles of who is right or wrong, who breaks international laws, or who upholds justice, equity, and fairness, and instead rooted in religious sentiments, it becomes a dangerous form of bigotry. This kind of thinking strips away our shared humanity. It prioritizes religious affiliation over fundamental principles of justice, leading to a world where “Humanity First” is tragically replaced by narrow, prejudiced loyalties.
It’s time to move beyond these simplistic and often bigoted interpretations. The challenges and complexities of the Iran-Israel relationship demand a nuanced understanding, one that prioritizes facts, justice, and our collective humanity above all else.
Yassim Dukawuya writes from Kofar Famfo, Kano City
