Actor Elnaz Norouzi on Iran: Like India, it was diverse and not exclusively Islamic
Iranian-German actor Elnaz Norozi compared Iran’s past to India’s diversity and talked about democracy, identity and the fear of returning home. His comment has sparked a new debate.
Iranian-German actor Elnaz Norouzi reiterated his views about Iran’s identity, saying, “Like India, Iran had people of different religions, cultures and communities. It was diverse.”
In a candid interview he further said, “Iran was never an Islamic country. People want democracy.” Bombay Times. His comments, made without hesitation, have once again sparked debate online, especially among expatriate communities and political commentators.
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What did he really say about the history of Iran?
Elnaz Norozi based his argument on the country’s pre-Islamic past. He said, “Iran was Persia and Persia was Eurasian. Iran was primarily Zoroastrian and was never an Islamic country.”
Drawing parallels with India’s pluralistic fabric, he said, “Like India, Iran too had people of different religions, cultures and communities.”
He also emphasized that previously Iranian society allowed more personal freedom. “It wasn’t just for Muslims. You were free to express yourself and dress how you wanted. Iran needs democracy to go back to that time,” he said.
How does she describe the current political system?
Norozi did not mince his words when speaking about the post-1979 structure. “People want democracy, not extremism,” he said, drawing a clear line between citizens and the ruling establishment.
He described the system as layered and interconnected. “Iran is complex. What the Islamic Republic has done in Iran is not just the creation of a Nicolas Maduro or a Saddam Hussein. There is the supreme leader, there are people and parties under him, there is Hezbollah, there is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), there is the Basij. They support and support the Houthis, Hamas. They are all interconnected.”
He also expressed confidence in the young generation. “Gen Z knows exactly what’s right for them,” he said, adding that some older Iranians acknowledge, “We had it great during the time of the Shah. It was secular and diverse.”
Why does she say she can’t return to Iran?
Norouzi acknowledged that her outspokenness came at a cost. She said, “I can’t step into Iran. If I do I think they will kill me.”
Reflecting on decades of unrest, he said, “The conflict has existed for more than 40 years. I remember everything.” His comments come after continued tensions over Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the 2022 protests.
Despite criticism, he has not softened his tone.
How does her global career shape her perspective?
Born in Iran, raised in Germany and now working extensively in India, Norozi works across cultures. Many viewers recognize him from the series tehranWhich touches on geopolitical tensions in the region.
He suggests that his lived experience informs his belief that Iran’s story is bigger than its current leadership. “Iran needs democracy to go back to that time,” she said, which she sees as a more secular and diverse era.