Targeted Spread of Disinformation by Islamic Republic Against Religious Minorities
The United States Commission has released targeted disinformation against religious minorities.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released a report stating that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s government systematically and deliberately spreads false and inaccurate information about religious and faith-based minorities, particularly Christian citizens.
The report, titled “Misinformation and Disinformation, Implications for Freedom of Religion and Belief,” notes that false and fabricated information about Sunni Muslims, Christians, Bahá’ís, Gonabadi Dervishes, and Jews in Iran is frequently disseminated through state media.
In the commission’s report, it states: “Iran’s government-affiliated media have falsely or without evidence claimed that Christian converts from Islam are part of a Zionist network endangering national security. Domestic media outlets publish anti-Christian statements from political and religious officials, and the consequences of this extend beyond mere speech and are clearly evident in court decisions against Christians by the government. Furthermore, the consequences of this are not limited to discourse alone and are completely visible in the decisions of government courts against Christians.”
Additionally, in documents hacked from the judiciary by a group calling itself “Justice for Ali,” a judge referenced statements by Ali Khamenei and sources of emulation to legitimize suppression. He quoted Ali Khamenei as saying that within the country, through various means, the foundations of people’s faith, especially among the young generation, are being undermined. From the spread of unbridled licentiousness and promiscuity to the promotion of false mysticism, promotion of Bahá’ísm, and promotion of home church networks—these are things that are being carried out today with the study, deliberation, and foresight of enemies of Islam.”
Beyond all this, in recent months, United Nations reporters asked Iranian authorities in a letter to provide detailed explanations regarding the legal and constitutional basis for the conviction of imprisoned Christians, the courts’ interpretation of vague charges of “action against national security” and “propaganda against the system” in the trials of Christian prisoners, and to demonstrate how these matters are compatible with international standards on freedom of religion and belief. However, unfortunately, the Islamic Republic’s government not only never responded to this request but also provided no documentation or evidence on the matter, only repeating the aforementioned charges.
The U.S. Commission’s report also states on this matter: “Such conduct narrows the space for religious freedom.” This report, which also references countries including China, Russia, Pakistan, and India, adds: “The dissemination of false claims about religious minorities represents a global challenge to freedom of religion or belief, as social media and the internet enable these claims to spread faster and more widely than ever before.”
