Islamic Republic Research Articles

Refugees and migrants in Iran: the Iran-Iraq war (1980–88) and the Intifada (1991)

Thus far, the literature around the Iran-Iraq War (1980 – 88) has not adequately attended to local histories, including the demographic and commercial changes in war-torn towns and their neighboring provinces, which accommodated an influx of refugees and evacuees. This article addresses this gap in the historiography and suggests new lines of inquiry and sources. By bringing together two historical events that are often described separately, the Iran-Iraq War and the Iraqi Intifada (1991), the piece centers the story of migrants and border dwellers, particularly in Khuzistan, the southwestern Iranian province bordering Iraq that Saddam Hussein invaded in 1980. I argue that through the 1980s-90s, Iran’s Islamic Republic struggled to fund organizations supporting internal and external refugees. Nevertheless, despite the pressure to stabilize Khuzistan, migrants and border dwellers continued to exert tremendous agency by building their own communities and assessing the feasibility of relocation.

Terrorism and Jihadism in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Although from the very beginning of its existence the Islamic Republic of Iran has been regularly accused of supporting international terrorism, including Sunni organizations, this phenomenon is also a significant and growing threat for Tehran itself. In recent years Iran has become a target for the Sunni jihadists, who have even announced that in the near future the Shi’ite regime in Tehran would collapse and the Islamic State would take over. At the same time Iran has to cope with more traditional threats, posed by ethnic separatists – mainly Arabs, Kurds and the Baloch people – as well as by the MEK (People’s Mujahedin of Iran).
 This paper analyzes main terrorism-related threats to contemporary Iran and to present both their causes and dynamics. The main argument of the paper is that although these challenges are mainly local (provincial), they have a potential to trigger a snowball effects and can weaken already a vulnerable stability of the Islamic Republic even further. Moreover, it is argued that decision-makers in Iran do not solve structural problems, but react with a further securitization. A risk is even higher now, when an increasing number of Iranians have become highly dissatisfied with their living conditions.

The Policy of Maximum Pressure on Iran. US Policy Objectives and Effects

The main goal of this paper is to examine the Trump administration’s maximum-pressure policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran. The main causes and rationale for withdrawing from the nuclear JCPOA are identified. In addition, the consequences of maximum pressure are addressed, which harm the so far failed JCPOA restoration negotiations. An additional thread in the article is a critical appraisal of the sanctions policy, which for decades has failed to deliver the results expected by the USA, which is an inhibiting factor in a dynamically changing international environment. Moreover, the costs to the US of sanctions pressure on Iran have been identified.

Bayesian spatial analysis of age differences and geographical variations in illicit-drug-related mortality in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Drug use disorders are significant social and public health concerns in the Islamic Republic of Iran; however, little is known about drug-related mortality. We quantified the spatial and age distribution of direct illicit-drug-related mortality in the Islamic Republic of Iran, to inform harm reduction policies and interventions. We modelled and mapped registered illicit-drug-related deaths from March 2016 to March 2017. Data were obtained from the Iranian Forensic Medicine Organization. Besag-York-Mollie models were fitted using Bayesian spatial analysis to estimate the relative risk of illicit-drug-related mortality across different provinces and age groups. There were 2203 registered illicit-drug-related deaths during the study period, 1289 (58.5%) occurred in people aged 20-39 years and among men (n = 2013; 91.4%). The overall relative risk (95% credible interval) of illicit-drug-related mortality in the provinces of Hamadan (3.37; 2.88-3.91), Kermanshah (1.90; 1.55-2.28), Tehran (1.80; 1.67-1.94), Lorestan (1.71; 1.37-2.09), Isfahan (1.40; 1.21-1.60), and Razavi Khorasan (1.18; 1.04-1.33) was significantly higher than in the rest of the country. We found evidence of age differences and spatial variations in illicit-drug-related mortality across different provinces in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Our findings highlight the urgent need to revisit existing drug-use treatment and harm reduction policies and ensure that overdose prevention programmes are adequately available for different age groups and settings.

Expression of Concern: Efficacy of Selenium and/or N-Acetyl-Cysteine for Improving Semen Parameters in Infertile Men: A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized Study.

No AccessJournal of UrologyExpression of Concern10 Jan 2023Expression of Concern: Efficacy of Selenium and/or N-Acetyl-Cysteine for Improving Semen Parameters in Infertile Men: A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized Studyis a expression-of-concern ofEfficacy of Selenium and/or N-Acetyl-Cysteine for Improving Semen Parameters in Infertile Men: A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized Study Mohammad Reza Safarinejad and Shiva Safarinejad Mohammad Reza SafarinejadMohammad Reza Safarinejad *Correspondence: P.O. Box 19395-1849, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran telephone: 0098 21 22454499; FAX: 0098 21 22456845; E-mail Address: [email protected] More articles by this author and Shiva SafarinejadShiva Safarinejad More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003113AboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail "Expression of Concern: Efficacy of Selenium and/or N-Acetyl-Cysteine for Improving Semen Parameters in Infertile Men: A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized Study." The Journal of Urology, Publish Ahead of Print, pp. – Study received human ethics committee approval. From the Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University (MC), Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsRelated articlesJournal of Urology16 Dec 2008Efficacy of Selenium and/or N-Acetyl-Cysteine for Improving Semen Parameters in Infertile Men: A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized Study Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Mohammad Reza Safarinejad *Correspondence: P.O. Box 19395-1849, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran telephone: 0098 21 22454499; FAX: 0098 21 22456845; E-mail Address: [email protected] More articles by this author Shiva Safarinejad More articles by this author Expand All Study received human ethics committee approval. Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Identification of the Gap in Pre-hospital Knowledge and Skills of the Red Crescent Society Rescuers of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Background: Natural and manmade disasters affect public health directly and indirectly. As statistics show, 31 of the 42 types of natural disasters in the world occur in Iran; therefore, preparation is necessary to effectively manage them. To this end, it is essential to train experienced and professional personnel to work in disaster fields. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the gaps in pre-hospital knowledge and skills among the rescuers of the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran to increase the effectiveness of pre-hospital training courses for rescuers across the country. Methods: This study was conducted with a descriptive qualitative method in two months through targeted in-depth interviews with the personnel of aid and relief centers, staff, volunteers, and pre-hospital skills training instructors of the Red Crescent Society. The inclusion criteria were having a bachelor’s degree or above and at least seven years of work experience (including teaching and responding to operations), as well as willingness to participate in the study. To determine the gaps in pre-hospital knowledge and skills in the Red Crescent society, the interviews were conducted in a semi-structured manner. A total of 31 interviews were conducted, which were written verbatim, and the codes were extracted manually. Finally, thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: After analyzing the text of the interviews, 98 codes were extracted, which after removing duplicate codes and reanalyzing, were divided into two categories of knowledge and skills, each of which had 10 subcategories. Conclusion: It seems that the pre-hospital theoretical and skill training courses of the Red Crescent Society failed to fill the knowledge and skill gaps identified in this research in terms of content and skills. Therefore, these courses can be revised based on the findings of this study. It is also necessary to identify the weight of each of the themes and investigate their impact on the efficiency of rescuers’ performance through a supplementary quantitative study, which we suggest as a topic for future research.

Analysis of the Indicators, Components, and Dimensions of the Effectiveness Model of Executive Coaching in the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran

INTRODUCTION: The use of executive coaching has become increasingly popular in the organizational world in the past few decades and is considered a key intervention that increases the capabilities of managers at the professional, individual, and organizational levels. This study aimed to identify the indicators, components, and dimensions of the effectiveness of executive coaching in the Red Crescent Society of Iran. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted based on an applied research method. The required data were collected using exploratory interviews with 20 experts and activists in the field of human resources education. The obtained data were then analyzed using conventional content analysis, as well as open, axial, and selective coding strategies. FINDINGS: According to the findings of the research, orientation, sociability, regularity, empowerment, personality traits, and infrastructure conditions are among the most important factors affecting executive coaching in the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Moreover, two new constructs, namely formal and informal institutions were identified for the first time in the coaching literature as effective factors in the development of executive coaching. CONCLUSION: This study paved the way for filling in some gaps in executive coaching literature. Unlike many previously conducted studies that have only evaluated the effectiveness of executive coaching, this study identified the set of factors related to the individual, organizational, and institutional levels, as well as infrastructural conditions affecting executive coaching. Moreover, the results led to the addition of two new constructs, such as formal and informal institutions, to the literature on coaching in general and executive coaching in particular.

Iran's Approach Towards Pakistan – Between Expectations and Reality

This article examines Iran’s policy towards its eastern neighbour, Pakistan. It argues that, despite significant differences and geopolitical challenges, cooperation between these two states is inevitable and that it will continue, regardless of international and domestic fluctuations. Iran, both as a monarchy until 1979 and then as an Islamic Republic, has considered Pakistan an important and valuable partner. However, this cooperation is unlikely to transform into a deep, strategic partnership: the national interests and goals of both states are too contradictory. Moreover, other factors – such as international sanctions, poor security, and lack of funds – hinder the development of relations. This paper covers two periods: that of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi before 1979 and of the Islamic Republic of Iran since. Three areas of cooperation have been analysed: political, economic and security.

Reducing educational poverty and failure to study by observing educational justice in the education system of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Background and Aim: Educational justice is the foundation of thought and culture in a society, forming a part of cultural justice, and facilitates individuals’ access to equal educational opportunities. The absence of educational justice slows the progress and development of human civilization and leads to the spread of class conflict, educational poverty, and school dropout. Therefore, this research compiles statistics on school dropouts and presents strategies to reduce poverty and dropout rates while maintaining educational justice. Methods: This research adopts a descriptive methodology and documentary analysis approach. Data have been collected by card-indexing from documentary sources such as articles, books, and credible domestic and international websites, as well as high-level documents including the Fundamental Transformation Document of Education and Training. Results: One of the essential indicators of justice-oriented policies is ensuring the opportunity for educational growth and equity for all people, regardless of gender, race, class, ethnicity, or color. Conclusion: The necessity of providing free and quality education and training for all individuals of school age is a fundamental concern referred to as educational justice. The existence of various challenges and obstacles in achieving this goal has led to inequalities and injustices.

The Shi'a movements and proxy groups in context of the Middle Eastern policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran

This article is dedicated to the role and significance of the Iranian proxy-groups in the system of international relations in the Middle East and national security structures of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The relevance of this work stems from significant increase of the Iranian influence in the region over the past ten years. The article includes research of the activity of Iranian proxies in specific countries (Lebanon, Syria, Iraq); analysis of their genesis and increasing political activity; research of their influence on the augment of conflict potential between Iran and Israel; analysis of these groups’ functions in the system of national security of Iran. The author of the article points out, among other factors, that the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon has considerably strengthened its positions in the recent years due to a number of reasons, first of all, the movement’s victory in the military conflict with Israel in 2006. The second reason is various political alliances and coalitions with other Lebanese parliamentary parties; the third one is considerable military experience obtained by Hezbollah in the civil war in Syria (2013–2019). The author also emphasizes Hezbollah’s significant influence in the military and political spheres of Iraq, which are held by the pro-Iranian “Al Khashd al Shaabi” created by Shi‘a parties. In conclusion, the author provides a review of these groups’s relations with Iran and their prospects. The Iranian proxy groups play a significant role in the national security of Iran. Taking Iran’s confrontation with the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia into account, these groups are providing deterrence against probable aggression of the US and Israel towards Iran.

Assistance to justice in the modern muslim model of criminal proceedings (on the example of criminal procedure legislation Islamic Republic of Afghanistan)

The article analyzes the institute for the promotion of justice in the Muslim system of law on the example of the criminal process of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (based on the Code of Criminal Procedure), but using the canons of the sacred religious scriptures. Within the framework of the conducted research, the conclusion is formulated that in the criminal process of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the persons assisting in the administration of justice should include a witness, an expert and an interpreter, a doctor and a specialist. It is noted that their procedural status is not fixed in the hotel rules, but at the same time, the existence of the rights, duties and responsibilities of these participants mentioned by the legislator in the Criminal Procedure Code of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is traced. It is established that the criminal procedure legislation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan does not allow to fully ensure the safety of persons assisting justice, since it is limited only to ensuring the safety of a witness (Chapter 7 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the IRA).

Iran’s Political Elite: Main Problems and Internal Conflicts

The article is devoted to the study of the structure of the Iranian political elite and of the contours of a new intra-elite balance that may arise after the departure of Ali Khamenei from the post of supreme leader. The author tries to identify those problems and challenges that threatens the structure of the socio-political system of the Islamic Republic in the current turbulent period, when, on the one hand, the global economic crisis is growing, and on the other hand, the Yalta-Potsdam system of international relations is changing. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that the role of Iran in our time has increased many times due to the intensification of the confrontation between the great powers. Moreover, this confrontation is also superimposed on the complex socio-political situation in Iran, which, theoretically, can lead to a significant transformation of the Iranian political elite. And in this regard, it is obvious that the country's foreign policy will be adjusted both under the influence of external factors and depending on the results of the struggle within the Iranian establishment and, accordingly, the formation of a new intra-elite architecture. Thus, the trends in the development of Russian-Iranian cooperation will be decisively influenced by the results of the ongoing rebalancing of the political elite of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The model of Ukrainian-Iranian relations: Establishment and decline

The relevance of the study is conditioned upon the sharp deterioration of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Islamic Republic of Iran against the background of the latter's cooperation with the russian federation, which could potentially result in the severance of all ties. The purpose of this research is to identify the main preconditions that contributed to the decline of relations between Ukraine and Iran. The main methods include logical analysis, functional analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, historical, formal and legal, etc. The study explored the history of diplomatic relations between the two countries since the beginning of the existence of independent Ukraine. The main events that were significant for both sides were considered. In particular, trade and economic relations were analysed, which consisted of exploring statistics on exports and imports of products. It allowed determination that Iran was among the top 10 exporters of Ukrainian products. The most important stage was to determine Iran's role in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the russian federation in 2022. The positions of representatives of the international community were considered, and data from American and Ukrainian intelligence agencies were presented, which demonstrated Iran's involvement in war crimes on the territory of Ukraine, and the possibility of future liability. Based on this, the main reason that called into question the possibility of further cooperation was identified. Notably, the severance of ties reduces Iran's status in the international arena. The practical value of the results obtained is to highlight the bilateralism of Iran's policy and to establish the necessity of further cooperation between Ukraine and this country

Military Ideology and Foreign Policy: A Constructivist Examination of the IRGC'S Ideological Influence

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pervades most aspects of life in post-revolutionary Iran. Ostensibly the regime’s security organisation, the IRGC’s political clout and economic heft enable it to extend its influence beyond security and into foreign policy. This study employs a constructivist perspective, casting light on the key elements of the IRGC’s identity, notably its religious discourse. In doing so, it develops our understanding of how the organisation’s beliefs and values affect the foreign policy agenda of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This article draws on IRGC press statements, ideological training materials and its constitutive charter in conjunction with an analysis of the organisation's behaviour to delineate an image of an organisation staunchly loyal to the total imperium of the ‘House of Leader’, and which buttresses the regime with its militant, violent and religiously hardline outlook. Working to promote rather than define Ayatollah Khamenei’s system of Islamic governance, the IRGC’s role is closer to that of enforcer and implementer than of autonomous agent of foreign policy. This article contributes to the wider literature on constructivist idealism by highlighting the importance of ideas as relational and performative elements of foreign policy.

Институт дачи клятвы (приведения к присяге) как мера стимулирования правдивых показаний

The article considers the legal institution of oath in foreign legal systems as a measure to encourage participants in criminal proceedings to give truthful testimony during judicial interrogation. The author uses the comparative and comparative legal analysis, a survey with an inferior alternative, and doctrinal analysis to compare the institution under discussion with other incentive measures and highlight its advantages. In the first part, the author highlights the domestic views on the legal incentive measures to encourage truthful testimony and dwells on their practical effectiveness and legitimacy in relation to individual participants in the criminal process. Analysing the legal measures proposed by Russian researchers, the author emphasizes that such measures, among other challenges, violate the rights of some participants in the criminal process (suspects, the accused). He also indicates some forensic shortcomings of the proposed measures, among which is the stimulation of errors in the perception of the event under investigation. According to the author, if the institution of oath has none of the described shortcomings, it indicates its viability. The second part of the article contains a normative comparative legal analysis of the legislation of foreign countries (Islamic Republic of Iran, Georgia, Germany, and the USA) in terms of the institution under consideration. The third part contains a justification from the standpoint of the domestic legal doctrine, as well as from the standpoint of psychology (taking into account the results of a survey with the effect of an inferior alternative), the possibility of introducing the institution of oath of a non-religious nature by participants in criminal proceedings during the interrogation in the trial as a measure encouraging truthful testimony. These testimonies will be “true” not from the persepctive of the subject of criminal procedural proof, but from the perspective of the interrogated person. In conclusion, the author speaks about the possibility of introducing a legal institution of a non-religious oath (swearing-in) in the Russian criminal process, at least, in the interrogation of participants in the criminal process at the stages of judicial proceedings in a criminal case.

Alleged Violations of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights; (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America)

165International Court of Justice — Jurisdiction — Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights, 1955 between Iran and the United States of America (“1955 Treaty”) — Article XXI of the 1955 Treaty — Jurisdiction ratione materiae — Whether real issue in dispute concerning the 1955 Treaty — Whether Iran’s claims actually concerning the decision of United States of America to withdraw from the JCPOA — Whether possible for a State’s conduct to breach more than one legal instrument at the same time — Effect of Iran’s invocation of the compromissory clause under the 1955 Treaty on the dispute settlement mechanism of the JCPOA — Whether the 1955 Treaty covering measures relating to trade between Iran and third countries — Interpretation of Articles IV, V, VII, VIII, IX and X of the 1955 Treaty — Territorial scope of certain provisions of the 1955 Treaty — Link between determination of the content of third country measures — Merits of the caseInternational Court of Justice — Admissibility of Iran’s application — Abuse of process — Exceptional circumstances — Whether exceptional circumstances could justify finding that Iran’s application was an abuse of process — Whether Iran’s application could lead to Iran gaining an illegitimate advantage — Whether a claim based on a valid title of jurisdiction could be an abuse of processTreaties — Interpretation — Application — Article XX(1)(b) and (d) of the 1955 Treaty — Measures relating to fissionable materials — Essential security interests — Whether objections under Article XX(1)(b) and (d) preliminary in character — Connection between Article XX(1)(b) and (d) and the examination at the merits stageEconomics, trade and finance — Economic sanctions — Sanctions imposed by the United States of America against Iran — Territorial extent — Whether capable of affecting rights under the Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights, 1955, between Iran and the United States of America — Jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice — Admissibility of application of Iran

Primary Health Care Model for Non-Communicable Diseases Management during COVID-19 Pandemic in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Given the importance of appropriate response to prevent and manage Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), this study aimed to analyze the state of NCDs services at the level of the PHC system during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the main strategies. In this qualitative study, first, the circulars and guides in Iran's PHC system from the beginning of the pandemic to the end of September 2020 were retrieved manually and by searching the internal websites of the Ministry of Health. All documents about decision-making or governance and coordination mechanisms for the provision of NCDs services were enrolled and analyzed. In the second phase, the status of service delivery for major NCDs was presented in a model, and finally, SWOT analysis was used to analyze the situation and determine the main strategies. 25 out of 199 circulars and guides were eligible and analyzed. In the crisis phase, most risk assessment, screening, and diagnosis services for NCDs have been suspended, and follow-up and care of patients with major NCDs were done by telephone. In the reopening phase, the general strategies and strategies to increase capacity and provide delayed care were adopted, and the PHC model of the provision of essential services for the major NCDs was developed in low-risk, intermediate and high-risk pandemic conditions. Finally, 16 main strategies were determined with the approach of integrating and focusing on essential services, considering vulnerable groups and the use of E-health technologies. The results indicate on interruption of NCDs services in the crisis phase while adopting strategies for responding to the pandemic. Revision of the COVID-19 guides with a particular focus on NCDs is recommended.

FEATURES OF ENSURING AND GUARANTEEING WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

The aim of the article is to examine the main problems of ensuring women’s rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In particular, the peculiarities of the legal status of Iranian women in the sphere of economy, education and in the reproductive sphere are considered. The legislative guarantee of women’s political rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran is analyzed. It has been proved that the main factor of changes in the gender issue is the normative and legal framework, because it officially establishes in all spheres of society the relevant norms of behavior aimed at respecting the rights of women and men. It was established that the main law in the country, despite the strong influence of the Koran, remains the Constitution (1979), which not only prescribes in detail the basic rights of women, but also defines the degree of government responsibility for ensuring women’s rights in all spheres of public life. However, in other legal documents, women’s rights in Iran are generally considered limited. It was revealed that Iran is still one of the UN member states that has not signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, 1979). Although Iran’s parliament passed a bill to join the convention in May 2003, the bill was rejected after being sent to the Guardian Council, which is responsible for approving new legislation in the country. The above-mentioned Council cites vague religious contradictions, being under pressure from conservatives in government. The country’s national legislation was found to contain many barriers for women to access basic rights in areas such as employment, marriage and citizenship. Although the situation of women’s rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran has improved recently, women continue to experience marginalization, violence and repression. According to the civil code of the country, where the rights of women in marriage and in the family are enshrined, the dominance of the man in the family is recorded. At the same time, the lack of legal instruments for the protection of women’s rights has created an atmosphere of impunity for acts of violence against women committed by men. It has been found that women from national minorities are in an extremely difficult situation in Iran, who often face intersectional discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, language or religion.

Comparing Dimensions and Components on the Rights of the Child in the International Convention and in the Upstream Documents of the Educational System Islamic Republic of Iran

Comparing Dimensions and Components on the Rights of the Child in the International Convention and in the Upstream Documents of the Educational System Islamic Republic of Iran

Роль религиозного и языкового факторов в интеграционной политике в Иране (ХХ – начало ХХI в.)

The article considers the role of religious and language factors in the integration policy in Iran both before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The analysis of the situation in the former period when the Pahlavi dynasty was in power in the country shows that at that time in the history of Iran there dominated the language factor, that is, the Persian lan-guage, with full respect for Islam, the dominant religion in the country. At the same time, after the Islamic Revolution the situation changes, and the religious factor comes to the fore, which occupies the dominant position to this day. As for the language factor, it is the Persian language rather than Arabic that plays a very important, but no longer leading role in the policy of national integration in modern Iranian society. The shift of the emphasis from Arabic to Persian appears to be quite ap-propriate and reasonable on the part of the Iranian authorities, since the Persian language symboliz-es the ancient Iranian culture; it is regarded as the second most important language of the Islamic world and is an important factor in the Sunni-Shia dialogue.