U.S. State Department Annual Religious Freedom Report: Persecution and Discrimination Against Christian Converts and Baha’is in Iran

The U.S. State Department’s annual religious freedom report was released on Tuesday in the presence of Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State of the United States. The report references the persecution of Christian converts and Baha’is in Iran, violations of religious freedoms in Saudi Arabia, and widespread religious prisoners in North Korea.

This detailed report, which addresses violations of religious freedom in many countries around the world, also states that the ethnic cleansing operations against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar have not yet ceased.

Mike Pompeo stated at this event: In societies where fundamental freedoms of religion, expression, press, and peaceful assembly are under attack, we witness conflict, instability, and terrorism. On the other hand, governments and societies that support these freedoms are safer, more stable, and more peaceful.

Pages 44 to 50 of the U.S. State Department report concern the status of religious freedom in Iran.

The report states that in Iran there are two types of treatment regarding religious freedom: officially recognized religions and religions that Iran does not officially recognize.

Followers of the Baha’i faith and those who have recently converted to Christianity—Christian converts—fall into the category of groups that Iran does not officially recognize.

The report states that although some Baha’is were released from prison last year, conversely, others have been arrested and imprisoned due to their religious beliefs. The report also states that discrimination in educational, social, and employment matters continues against these minorities.

The report states that Christian converts and leaders of house churches have been persecuted and harassed, and some have been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

In the annual religious freedom report, it is stated that the Iranian government has reached the capability to interpret religions in the online sphere and has thus posed a danger to internet users. The report also references the situation of Sepanta Niknam and his removal from the city council due to his Zoroastrian faith.

Sepanta Niknam, who was a member of the Yazd City Council for four years starting in 2013, was again elected to this council in the 2017 elections, but following a complaint by a hardline candidate who had not received the necessary votes to enter the council, Mr. Niknam’s membership in the Yazd City Council was suspended by an order of the Administrative Justice Court due to his being non-Muslim.

The report states that although the Hassan Rouhani government has promised to address certain matters related to religious freedom, no promises have yet been implemented in this area.

The report states that given the conditions in Iran, it is still recommended that Iran remain on the list of countries of “particular concern.”

The aforementioned report also references the continuing ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims and states that this cleansing process has not ceased.

In North Korea, according to this report, between 80,000 to 120,000 political prisoners are held in horrific prisons under very poor conditions for reasons related to religious beliefs.

In Pakistan, based on this report, 50 people were imprisoned last year on charges of “blasphemy,” and it is stated that among them, 17 have been sentenced to death.

Saudi Arabia has also been criticized for discrimination against the Shiite minority, but the report also welcomed the promises of the Saudi Crown Prince regarding the establishment of greater freedom.

Source: Radio Farda