# Al Qaeda in Iran.  Why?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaeda-in-iran-why/126043>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 29, 2002, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaeda-in-iran-why/126043 "2002-08-29T04:21:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaeda-in-iran-why/126043/1 "2002-08-29T04:21:07Z")

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According to some reports, some members of Al-Qaeda have escaped Afghanistan and are hiding in Iran, it’s suggested, with the approval of supportive Iranians. My question would be, why would this occur?

Al-Qaeda and their former protectors, the Taliban, are both really fanatical Sunni groups, for whom in many ways, Shi’ites are worse people and more dangerous than non-Muslims. Iran is a mainly Shi’ite country, who have no use for Sunni Islam and hated the Taliban, which persecuted Afghan Shi’ites and killed Iranian diplomats. So, what’s going on here? I don’t really understand.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaeda-in-iran-why/126043/2 "2002-08-29T04:40:13Z")

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“Supportive Iranians”. According to the CIA, Iran is 10% Sunni.  
[http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.html](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.html)