Egregious and Persistent Violations of Religious Freedom in Iran Condemned

A U.S. Commission statement condemned egregious and persistent violations of religious freedom in Iran.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a statement on Friday, November 8 (November 18 in the Iranian calendar) condemning egregious and persistent violations of religious freedom.

The statement from the U.S. Commission came four days after the execution of Arvin Ghahremani, a 20-year-old Jewish youth from Kermanshah. Iran’s judiciary had sentenced him to death on charges of intentional murder in a group altercation when he was 18 years old, and his execution was carried out on the morning of Monday, November 5 (in the Iranian calendar). However, the judicial authorities did not inform Arvin’s family and lawyers about the execution beforehand.

According to Islamic jurisprudential law and Article 310 of the Islamic Penal Code, a Muslim person is not subject to retaliation if they kill a non-Muslim, but a non-Muslim is executed if they kill a Muslim person.

The U.S. Commission, which had written in its annual report about torture, abuse, and suppression of protesters, including children, in Iran, also reported on continued severe violations of the rights of religious minorities, including Christians, particularly those who have converted from Islam to Christianity. The Commission had previously released a report warning about the systematic and deliberate provision of false and fabricated information by the Iranian government regarding religious and sectarian minorities.

Now, four days after Arvin Ghahremani’s execution, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has issued a statement in response to executions in Iran. In the statement, while referencing recent human rights violations in Iran, including the detention of Aho Dariayee, a student protester against mandatory hijab, pressures on Narges Mohammadi, a human rights defender, and harassment of Bahai citizens, it called on the Biden administration to fully implement the “Mahsa Act.”

According to this law, the U.S. government applies targeted sanctions against senior Iranian officials and key institutions responsible for human rights violations such as violations of religious or belief freedoms. The U.S. Commission also called on the American government to designate the Islamic Republic of Iran as a country of “particular concern” due to systematic and egregious violations of religious freedoms.

Susie Gellman, the U.S. Commissioner on International Religious Freedom, in response to Arvin Ghahremani’s execution, while condemning his execution, stated: “This is an egregious violation of religious freedom that demonstrates the perilous situation of Jews in Iran.”