The population is 89% Shia Muslim, 10% Sunni (mostly Kurds) and 1% Zoroastrian, Bahai, Jewish or Christian.

ECONOMIST: The trials of everyday life

The Bahai faith is regarded as heretical by Iran's Shia establishment.

BBC: Top Iranian dissident threatened

Some reports claimed they had converted from Islam to Christianity or Bahai faith - potentially a capital offence in Iran as it is considered to be apostasy.

BBC: Iran accused of intimidating BBC Persian staff