More than 1000 years before the birth of Christ, followers of the Zoroastrian faith were worshipping fire and preaching free will.

But when their homeland Iran was attacked in the seventh century by Muslim invaders, they were massacred and persecuted. Many fled in search of religious freedom – and most landed on India's shores, where they became known as Parsis.

Yet India's last census in 2001 reported that there were less than 70,000 Parsis left. Lauren Farrow reports on the Parsis fight for survival and why their demise is creating rifts within the community.

Report: Lauren Farrow