Synopsis
The disastrous consequences of divisive racial policies based on mastery of Aryan race, in the first half of twentieth century, motivated Iranian scholars and intellectuals to devise a new account of the Iranian civilization, one that based on “good deeds and good behaviour” narrative of the Persian civilization, identified tolerance and humanitarianism as the essence of “continuous co-existence” of Iranian religious and ethnic groups throughout the history.
In this civilization narrative, Iran, instead of being home to “pure Aryan race”, was identified as the “cross road of western and eastern civilization” and birthplace of mysticism as well as some of the “finest intellectual creation” and compassionate and tolerant mystical literature.
Thus “the teachings of Zand and Avesta”, mystical literature, along with “courteous hospitality”, manifested in a unified composite culture, was used in the 8th amendment of the constitution to declare: “all citizens of Iran are equal before the law.”