| Behbahan | |||||||||||||||
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{{Location map|Iran | |||||||||||||||
| label = Behbahan | lat = | long = | lat_deg=30 | lat_min=35 | lat_sec=30 | lat_dir=N | lon_deg=50 | lon_min=14 | lon_sec=45 | lon_dir=E | float = none | caption = | border = none | position = right | width = 250
}} |
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| Population (2005) | |||||||||||||||
| - Total | 96,836 | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | IRST (UTC+3:30) | ||||||||||||||
Behbahan (Persian: بهبهان) is a city in the Khuzestan province, Iran. Behbahan had an estimated population of 96,836 in 2005.[1] To the north of the city lie the ruins of the ancient city Arrajan, built during the Sassanian period, where important remnants from the Elamite era can be found. The people of Behbahan (Behbahanis) speak a Persian dialect distinct to their group, as well as Luri, and may still use words of Khuzi origin, the language of the original inhabitants of Khuzestan. Behbahanis claim various lines of descent: from the ancient peoples of Arrajan, the nobility, the Prophet Muhammad, or the Lurs. The inhabitants of the suburban districts are primarily of Lur background. The majority of Behbahanis are remains of Arrajan (Arjan) after the earthquake. People of Arrajan were originally Zoroastrian with a Jewish minority during the elamite period, and later on converted to Islam. The details of how or when they were forced to convert are unclear (see Encyclopedia Iranica, entry for Behbahan).
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