I know you were referring to people who are non-Muslim that have always been in Iran. (but were subjected under Islam)
Let me remind you that Iran is more like Hotel California than about our perception of being free to leave. If the mullahs or their representatives think you will badmouth Iran, you will not leave.
Let me remind you of our hostages that were there 444 days when Peanuts was POTUS.
Let me remind you that the “kind mullahs” fully intend to destroy Israel. That kind of hate is totally incompatible to sane “leadership”. /sarcasm
Remember there are major exporters of global terror. And Obozo just approved sending them enough uranium to make 10 nukes.
Lol. Most exiles “badmouth” the political situation in Iran... and plenty well educated Iranians leave Iran each year.
I know of exile/emigre Iranians travelling back and forth without hassle. The situation isn’t as bad as some assume.
Leaving Iran for minorities is also no big deal if they want. But the roughly 250,000 Armenians and Assyrians prefer a safe life within their communities in Iran whete they live since many centuries.
Too many in the US have a grossly distorted cartoonish view of Iran today. They imagine it as a mix of the situation 1979/1980 and the Taliban. Much has occured since the Revolution and war.
The regime is oppressive... but on a much more subtle and “modern” way than neighbouring “medieval”/tribal
societies. Iran could be compared to the 1980’s European Communist systems. Relatively modern, advanced society but hampered by corruption and a political ideology, which has evolved since 1979, but nontheless is ossified.
In any case the hyper-agressive stance by Israel, Saudi Arabia and the US neocon chickenhawks has stabilized the system... people rally to the flag. Also they see the chaos in Iraq/Syria and prefer stability. Also they see that ultra-oppressive regimes like Saudi Arabia get a free pass and note the hypocrisy of Western support of Sunni islamist rebels.
Even pro-West Iranians have now second thoughts about the good intentions of the West.
“I know you were referring to people who are non-Muslim that have always been in Iran. (but were subjected under Islam)”
Yes, I was referring specifically to your comment about “Neo-Janissaries”. They were subjected to Islam which Arabs brought to the country. But that doesn’t negate the fact that since, when they fought wars for Iran, it was their choice to defend their homeland (country), not defend the mullahs or Islam. And, they are still free leave if they wanted to.
Today, the reality is that religious minorities not only are able to worship freely, but also are given special privileges in line with their religion, rituals and beliefs (which muslim Iranians do not have), such as drinking alcohol, eating pork, and enforce their own religious laws within their own communities in Iran. But, yes, they have to adhere to the broader laws of Iran, in Iran, under mullahs regime (which are Islamic and under the Shah were mostly secular laws). The same applies if you are a citizen or resident of a country like Australia. You have to abide by the laws of Australia, whatever those may be.
“Badmouthing Iran” (I assume you mean being critical of Iran) won’t get you in trouble in Iran. Being politically active against the regime of mullahs will. There is a difference.
I am not suggesting at all that Mullahs are responsible leaders. But if we want to talk about religious minorities, terrorism, Islamic laws, human rights and freedom, you have to put that in context of many other ‘Islamic lands” in that region.