On Iran and religious freedom

In light of the recent "holocaust revisionist" conference in Teheran I thought it would be interesting to take a look on the host country itself.

Iran, a country which, according to president Ahmadinejad, holds the conference to show its support for freedom of speech, is a country with something far from a clean slate.

Every year State department publishes a report on global religious freedom, describing, in detail the situation in almost every country in the world. the part covering Iran is far from short.
The report opens up with "The constitution declares the 'official religion of Iran is Islam, and the doctrine followed is that of Ja'fari (Twelver) Shi'ism.' The Government restricts freedom of religion."

Biggest concern in the media is the jewish situation, but they are far from the only minority harshly treated by the Islamic regime. Baha'is, a religion formed in the early 19th century, preaching understanding and unification between different beliefs, together with Sufi muslims are perhaps the most persecuted of minorities. Other minorities such as the Sunni Muslims, Zoroastrians and christians are also reported being mistreated on a regular basis.

"The country's religious minorities include Sunni and Sufi Muslims, Baha'is, Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians. There were reports of imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on religious beliefs."

"The Government severely restricts freedom of religion. The constitution declares the "official religion of Iran is Islam and the doctrine followed is that of Ja'fari (Twelver) Shi'ism." All laws and regulations must be consistent with the official interpretation of the Shari'a (Islamic law). The constitution states that "within the limits of the law," Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians are the only recognized religious minorities who are guaranteed freedom to practice their religion; however, members of these recognized minority religious groups have reported imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on their religious beliefs."

Media often point out that religious minoritis do have some rights and that they even hold some places in parliament. What media neglects to tell is that these seats are reserved for religious minorities and consists of five of the 270 sets in the majlis.

"5 of a total 270 seats in the majlis are reserved for religious minorities. Three of these seats are reserved for members of the Christian faith, including two seats for the country's Armenian Christians, and one for Assyrians and Chaldeans. There is also one seat for a member of the Jewish faith, and one for a member of the Zoroastrian faith. While members of the Sunni Muslim minority do not have reserved seats in the majlis, they were allowed to serve in the body."

Apart from that religious minorities are prohibited to hold senior military or official places. All religious groups are barred from being elected president.

In the areas of employment, education and housing the different minorities suffers from various degrees off officially sanctioned discrimination. Laws controlling the publication of religious texts, other than shiamuslim.

Since the revolution in 1979 the government has confiscated large numbers of private and business properties belonging to Baha'is, as well as religious material. Numerous Baha'i homes reportedly were seized and handed over to an agency of Supreme Leader Khamene'i. More than 200 Baha'is have been killed, 15 disappeared and were presumed dead, and more than 10,000 Baha'is were dismissed from government and university jobs. In the report follows a detailed list of examples of government harassment.

Jews and Christians are not as harshly treated as the Baha'is. They are allowed to acquired passports and to travel abroad but are denied multiple exit visas and are required to obtain clearance and to pay additional fees before each trip abroad.

In 2004 government controlled television station Sahar 1 begun airing For You, Palestine, or Zahra's Blue Eyes, set in Israel and the West Bank. this strongly anti Israel series depicted Israeli government, military, and civilian personnel harvesting organs from Palestinian children for the benefit of Israeli officials.
This is only one of the milder propaganda television series.

Sahar 1 also broadcast Hizbollah produced Al-Shalat portrayed Jewish persons as being responsible for most the world's problems, by conspiring to achieve political and economic domination over the world.

In 2005 many Iranian Newspapers celebrated the 100 year anniversary on the anti-semetic publication Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Jewish leaders reportedly were reluctant to draw attention to official mistreatment of their community due to fear of government reprisal. However on April 13 Representative Moris Motamed, who represents Jews in the majlis, joined by the speaker of the majlis, complained that the state television was broadcasting anti-Semitic programs.

"According to the press, Motamed claimed that 'insulting Jews and attributing false things to them in television serials over the past twelve years has not only hurt the feelings of the Jewish community but has also led to the emigration of a considerable percentage of the Jewish community.' There were indications that anti-Semitic content in broadcasting decreased after these complaints."

Following President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad winning election in 2005 negative reporting of religious minorities intensified, mainly via government controlled media.

"In September 2005, Ayatollah Hossein Nouri-Hamedani, as Islamic scholar in Qom, reportedly called for a crackdown on Sufi groups, labeling them a 'danger to Islam'.

...


On November 21 2005, the domestic press quoted Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the Guardian Council, publicly attacking non-Muslims, calling them "sinful animals" and "corrupt". The remark was widely criticized in the country, and the majles representative of the Zoroastrian community publicly condemned his remarks and was consequently charged with the "dissemination of false information, slander, and insult." At year's end, no case had been pursued against him."

According to Human Rights Watch, respect for human rights in Iran, especially freedom of expression and opinion, deteriorated considerably in 2005. The government routinely uses torture and ill-treatment in detention, including prolonged solitary confinement, to punish dissidents. The judiciary, which is accountable to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has been at the center of many serious human rights violations.

House of freedom Rated Iran 6 on a scale of 1-7 where one represented most free and seven most controlled.

In March 2006 the U.N. General Assembly adopted Resolution 60/171 expressing serious concern about the continued discrimination and human rights violations against religious minorities by the Government. Also in March 2006, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief issued a statement of concern about the treatment of the Baha'i community in the country. The Special Rapporteur's statement claimed that Supreme Leader Khamene'i has instructed security officials to identify and compile information on Baha'is.

Up until the revolution in 1979 Iran was one of the most promising countries in the world. In its long history Iranians contributed significantly to the current understanding of astronomy, nature, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy. To mention just a few, Persians first discovered Algebra, invented the wind mill and found medical uses of alcohol. I wonder what would have happened if the US didn't overthrow Dr. Mossadegh s govrement in 1953.

I believe that the extremist state formed in 1979 will just be a small parenthesis in the great history of Iran. You frequently hear reports of unrest, particularly from the younger generation studying in universities. And in light of the recent crack down on online bloggers in Iran I feel that time is drawing near.

Raven