Pompeo: In Iran, Not Only Religious Minorities, But Anyone Who Supports Them Is Persecuted

Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, said: In Iran, not only religious minorities, but anyone who supports them is subjected to harassment and persecution.

The US Secretary of State on Thursday, July 27, during a meeting on advancing religious freedoms and while criticizing the situation of minority rights in Iran, said: The Islamic Republic imprisoned a city council representative for pursuing the detention of two Baha’is.

Mr. Pompeo added: In Iran, the Islamic Republic does not even allow religious minorities to have their own kindergarten.

This week, from Tuesday to Thursday, the US State Department in Washington is hosting the second “Religious Freedom” meeting with representatives from 115 countries, which according to “Sam Brownback,” US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, is “the largest meeting in this field.”

“Sam Brownback” mentioned Iran’s religious freedom situation at a press conference last week and said the Islamic Republic of Iran has one of the worst records in violating religious freedom. Religious minorities such as Christians, Jews, Baha’is, Zoroastrians, Dervishes, and even Sunni Muslims face harassment, torture, and imprisonment because of their beliefs.

He said that the Islamic Republic was not invited to this meeting, and we hope that one day they will accept and acknowledge it, and we are confident enough to allow other religions to operate and work together in peace.

This is the second meeting on advancing religious freedom. Last August, the first meeting was held with representatives from 80 countries.

Source: Voice of America