Iranians in Spain
Encyclopedia
Iranians in Spain do not form a very large population, but they have a history going back for over a millennium.
later claimed the Iranians of Spain preferred to live in Granada
because of its similarity to their homeland. However, the impetus for modern Iranian immigration to Spain came largely from the 1979 Iranian Revolution
, as a result of which some Iranians came to Spain as political refugees.
, which may be attributed to the fact that most Iranians in Spain are political, rather than economic migrants.
Migration history
Muhammad ibn Zakariya ar-Razi wrote in the 10th century that some Iranians had already settled in Spain, and Ibn BattutaIbn Battuta
Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta , or simply Ibn Battuta, also known as Shams ad–Din , was a Muslim Moroccan Berber explorer, known for his extensive travels published in the Rihla...
later claimed the Iranians of Spain preferred to live in Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
because of its similarity to their homeland. However, the impetus for modern Iranian immigration to Spain came largely from the 1979 Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, as a result of which some Iranians came to Spain as political refugees.
Demography
A 1992 survey found that 31.7% worked in administrative jobs, 18.2% were professionals or technicians, 25.7% worked in trade, and another 11% worked in agriculture. The vast majority were between 25–54 years of age, and only one-fifth were women. This is actually a relatively large proportion of women compared to other Muslim migrant communities in SpainIslam in Spain
Islam in Spain has had a fundamental presence in the culture and history of the nation. The religion was present in modern Spanish soil from 711 until 1492 under the rule of the Arabs and Moors of al-Andalus. For key historical dates, see Timeline of the Muslim presence in the Iberian peninsula...
, which may be attributed to the fact that most Iranians in Spain are political, rather than economic migrants.