Iranian migration to Thailand(Persian:مهاجرات ایرانیان به تایلند,romanized:Mohājerat-e Irāniyān be Tāyland) began as early as the 17th century. Thai citizens of Iranian background or descent may be called in Thai:Khaek Ma-ngon(Thai:แขกมะหง่น, แขกมะหง่อน),Khaek Mahon(Thai:แขกมห่น, แขกมะห่น) orKhaek Chaosen(Thai:แขกเจ้าเซน;"Shia Muslim" ). There is a community of Thai people of Iranian descent who still practiceShia Islamin many districts throughoutBangkok,such asYan Nawa,Bueng Kum,Saphan Sung,andMin Buri,as well as parts ofChachoengsao Province.[2]
During theAyutthaya Kingdomperiod, the Iranian community in Thailand consisted primarily of merchants. They are recorded in some memoirs of their fellow merchants, theDutch East India Company,as well as in theSafine-ye Solaymani( "Ship of Solayman" ), an account of a Persian embassy to KingNarai.[3]Some descendants of Iranians from the Ayutthaya period converted to Buddhism, and continued to retain influence in Thai public life to the present day; one prominent example is theBunnagfamily, whose ancestor "Shaykh Ahmad"is said to have come fromQomand arrived at Ayutthaya in 1602.[4]Shaykh Ahmad crushed and defeated Japanese merchants who attempted a coup against the Thai king in 1611.[5]
The presence of Iranians in Thailand came to be felt within the commerce, art, architecture, and culture of Thailand. Pieces of Thai architecture, art, and literature sometimes incorporated Persian-style icons, motifs, and more.[6]
In recent years, Thailand has become a popular destination for Iranianmedical tourists.[7]However, due to numerous incidents ofmethamphetaminesmuggling, Iranians coming to Thailand fall under heavy suspicion from police.[8]
An Iranian Cultural Center exists in Bangkok;[9]the Center convenes Persian language classes[10]and facilitates translations of Iranian works[11]into the Thai language.
Marcinkowski, M. Ismail (2005),From Isfahan to Ayutthaya: Contacts between Iran and Siam in the 17th Century,Singapore: Pustaka Nasional,ISBN978-9971-77-491-2
