After several false starts and the virtual elimination of the Safavid family itself, the Safavids were able to defeat the Ak-Koyünlu in 1501, take over their capital of Tabriz and dominate Azerbaijan. One of the first acts of the victor, Shah Ismail I (1501-24), was to declare the 'Twelver' form of Shiism to be the state religion, despite the predominance of Sunni Muslims in the newly acquired territory. A conversion campaign was launched.
Quiring-Zoche, R. Āq Qoyunlū. Encyclopedia Iranica. Дата обращения: 29 октября 2009. (недоступная ссылка)
Оригинальный текст (англ.)
The argument that there was a clear-cut contrast between the Sunnism of the Āq Qoyunlū and the Shiʿism of the Qara Qoyunlū and the Ṣafawīya rests mainly on later Safavid sources and must be considered doubtful.
Virtually the entire population is Muslim. Between 80 and 85 percent of Muslims are Sunni and 15 to 19 percent, Shia. The minority Shia are economically disadvantaged and frequently subjected to discrimination.
However, the most recent demographic study conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a Beirut-based research firm, indicate 27 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim, 27 percent Shi'a Muslim, 21 percent Maronite Christian, eight percent Greek Orthodox, five percent Druze, and five percent Greek Catholic, with the remaining seven percent belonging to smaller Christian denominations.
However, the most recent demographic study conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a Beirut-based research firm, indicate 27 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim, 27 percent Shi'a Muslim, 21 percent Maronite Christian, eight percent Greek Orthodox, five percent Druze, and five percent Greek Catholic, with the remaining seven percent belonging to smaller Christian denominations.
Virtually the entire population is Muslim. Between 80 and 85 percent of Muslims are Sunni and 15 to 19 percent, Shia. The minority Shia are economically disadvantaged and frequently subjected to discrimination.
After several false starts and the virtual elimination of the Safavid family itself, the Safavids were able to defeat the Ak-Koyünlu in 1501, take over their capital of Tabriz and dominate Azerbaijan. One of the first acts of the victor, Shah Ismail I (1501-24), was to declare the 'Twelver' form of Shiism to be the state religion, despite the predominance of Sunni Muslims in the newly acquired territory. A conversion campaign was launched.
