Explicit Condemnation of “Persecution of Religious Minorities” by U.S. State Department
Following intensified persecution of religious minorities and the arrest of Christian citizens, Washington condemned policies of “persecution of religious minorities” in Iran.
The U.S. State Department issued a new statement on social media platform X, strongly condemning a new wave of pressure, arrests, and severe sentences against religious minorities in Iran. The statement, which also received extensive coverage in international media, emphasized the continuous violation of religious freedom by the Islamic Republic and directly referenced cases of several Christian citizens who remain imprisoned solely because of their faith.
The statement reads: “No one should be imprisoned because of their beliefs, whether they are Christians like Aida Najaflou, Nasser Navard Gol Tapeh, Joseph Shahbazian, and Leida Alikhani who are currently imprisoned for their faith, or Bahai’s, Jews, Sunni Muslims, and other minorities.”
The U.S. State Department also emphasized, citing universal human rights principles: “Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. We call for the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience and urge the Iranian government to respect the rights and dignity of all its citizens.”
In recent years, multiple reports from human rights organizations, including the “United States Commission on International Religious Freedom” and “Article 18,” show that security pressures on Christian citizens have increased significantly. Home arrests, heavy multi-year sentences, prohibition of home churches, and threats to families are only part of the methods security forces use to prevent religious freedom.
Cases of individuals such as Nasser Navard Gol Tapeh and Joseph Shahbazian, who were tried on vague charges such as “action against national security” merely for holding religious gatherings, exemplify the clear conversion of religious faith into a security crime in the Islamic Republic’s judicial system. Additionally, reports indicate severe psychological pressures and extensive restrictions on Aida Najaflou and Leida Alikhani during their detention and interrogation.
The Islamic Republic has consistently used “threat to national security” and “propaganda against the system” as security labels to criminalize completely peaceful activities of Christian citizens. This is while according to international laws, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran has also signed, freedom of religion and freedom to participate in religious ceremonies are among inalienable human rights.
Despite these commitments, Iran’s security forces have identified house churches as “illegal organizations” and subjected members to threats, arrests, and severe sentences. Human rights experts consider this approach a clear example of gross violation of civil rights.
Organized persecution of religious minorities, including Iran’s Christian community, has had extensive humanitarian consequences. Many Christian families have been torn apart, children have been separated from parents, and dozens of families have been forced to leave the country due to security pressures.
These actions not only violate the fundamental rights of Christian citizens but also cause serious damage to Iran’s social fabric; a fabric that has always been defined by religious and cultural diversity.
The recent statement by the U.S. State Department has once again drawn the international community’s attention to the critical situation of religious freedom in Iran. This statement, along with multiple reports from human rights organizations, presents a clear picture of systematic persecution of religious minorities in the Islamic Republic; persecution that has intensified in recent years and has particularly targeted Christian citizens.
As long as the Islamic Republic continues to criminalize faith and fails to recognize the fundamental rights of its citizens, Iran will remain among countries that violate religious freedom and are subject to international criticism.
