US Once Again Accuses Iran of Suppressing ‘Religious Freedoms’
The U.S. State Department released its annual report on the state of religious freedoms worldwide on Wednesday, October 22, in which it once again criticized the Iranian government’s policy of suppressing the religious freedoms of Iranian citizens and enumerated numerous instances of religious discrimination.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, while presenting this report which covers the year 2015, once again emphasized that focus on the necessity of religious freedoms constitutes one of the priorities of American foreign policy.
He stressed the continued religious restrictions resulting from the policies of certain governments, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, and stated that many of these policies, such as criminalizing religious activities, threats and intimidation, enforcing laws related to apostasy and blasphemy, insulting sacred beliefs, prohibiting the choice of religion, or implementing restrictions on religious organizations, clearly violate citizens’ freedoms.
Mr. Kerry, referring to the role of non-state groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, which in 2014 committed the most heinous violations of religious freedoms and other human rights, stated that the absence of government response in confronting these groups, or delays and inadequacy in facing their actions, has serious consequences for people living under very restrictive conditions whose freedom to perform their religious duties is accompanied by continuous interference.
The U.S. State Department report is devoted to examining violations of religious freedoms in various countries during the year 2014.
Discrimination Against Religious Minorities
In examining the conditions in Iran regarding religious restrictions, the report states that the Islamic Republic government continues to execute and imprison religious minorities under the charges of “enmity with God” and “propaganda against Islam,” and in the sphere of government services, in employment, education, and housing, it discriminates against them.
Statements and actions by government officials have created a threatening atmosphere against all non-Shiite Iranians and particularly against Bahá’ís, and state-controlled media, as well as print publications, have continued an anti-religious minority campaign.
The report adds that in Iran, non-Muslims face numerous social discriminations that are supported and sustained by the government. Religious and political leaders constantly make defamatory statements against these groups.
There are numerous reports of difficulties faced by Bahá’ís at various social levels throughout Iran, and non-Bahá’í employers, under pressure from the government, refrain from hiring Bahá’ís and, if employed, dismiss them from their jobs.
Shiite clergy, in their worship ceremonies, curse Sufis, and throughout Iran their activities are deemed unacceptable both in society and in private circles.
The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, on Tuesday, while enumerating numerous cases of violation of religious freedoms in Iran, also referred to other restrictions and stated: “The constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran does not allow its Muslim citizens to freely choose their religion and faith, or to adopt another religion.”
He also stated that the government even carefully monitors the statements and declarations of senior clergy. The leader of the Islamic Republic oversees a special clerical court for this purpose, which examines charges against clergy. In addition to these matters, the government remains the interpreter and determiner of Islamic religious concepts and forces citizens of every religion and denomination to observe strict religious laws and regulations, justifying all of this in the name of religion.
Executions on Charges of Enmity with God
The U.S. State Department’s annual report on the state of religious freedoms refers to several examples of violations of Iranian rights and, among other things, emphasizes that according to a credible non-governmental organization’s report, during the past year, at least 24 Iranian citizens were executed under the charge of “enmity with God.”
The report adds that under this same charge, the Islamic Republic government has executed political opponents and peaceful protesters.
At the end of this lengthy report, America has stated that in the absence of diplomatic relations with Iran, the United States, using various channels including the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and even through imposing sanctions, has asked the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect the religious rights of its citizens and observe their religious freedoms.
