Statement by a number of Christians protesting the denial of education to Christians
A group of former Christian prisoners and their family members issued a statement on the occasion of World Education Day protesting the violation of the right to education of Christians in schools and universities. In their statement, these citizens stated that, contrary to international obligations and the constitution of the Islamic Republic, many citizens are deprived of the right to education simply because of their Christian beliefs.
According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, a number of former Christian prisoners and their family members reacted to the violation of these citizens' right to education in a statement on the occasion of World Education Day.
The signatories stated in their statement that, contrary to international obligations and the constitution of the Islamic Republic, many citizens are denied the right to education simply because of their Christian beliefs. They also called the Islamic Republic an enemy of science, wisdom, free thought, and the pen and book.
Pointing out that Christians in Iran are considered an unofficial religious minority and that the deprivation of the right to education is just one of their violated rights, these individuals wrote in their statement: “According to Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Articles 1 and 4 of the Convention against Discrimination in Education, and even Article 30 and Paragraph 1 of Article 43 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic, the right to education and training is recognized for ‘everyone.’ Unfortunately, the Islamic Republic of Iran, contrary to its international obligations and its own constitution, expels us Persian-speaking Christians and our children from school and university and deprives us of a written document that would prove our deprivation.”
These Christians also pointed out in their statement the negative effects of depriving Christian citizens of education, stating that violating the right to education and indifference to it deprives society of the potential to cultivate specialists, and its consequences will affect the entire society.
Former Christian prisoners and their family members concluded by declaring: “Regardless of ideological boundaries and personal and group interests, in order to free ourselves from evil and build a future for not only Christians but also every individual with any thought, whether from the current or future generations, let us not remain silent regarding the deprivation of Persian-speaking Christians from the right to education.”
Names of signatories in alphabetical order:
Amin Afshar Nadari, Milad Eqani, Manijeh Bagheri, Gilda Bordbar, Mostafa Bordbar, Donya Javideh, Shapour Jozi, Payam Khuraman, Sam Khosravi, Fariba Dalir, Parastu Zariftash, Mohsen Aliabadi Ravari, Farshid Fathi, Sahab Fazli (mother of Naser Noord Gol Tappeh), Kavian Fallah Mohammadi, Maryam Fallahi, Shorosh (Sorosh) Mohammadi, Mari Mohammadi, Ali (Parsa) Mostafaei, Reza (Davood) Nejat Sabet
It is worth mentioning that this statement was prepared by the Kahma movement. The “Church is the Right of Christians (Kahma)” campaign began its activities in 2018 with the efforts of a group of Christians and civil activists. The main theme and content of this campaign is the need to stop violence against Christians, and it advances this by raising one of the major problems of Christians (namely, deprivation of church and security).
It is worth noting that despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority by law, the security services follow the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and deal with activists in this field with force.
The treatment of Christians in Iran is taking place despite the fact that, according to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of religion and to change their religion with conviction, as well as the freedom to manifest it, individually or in community with others and in public or private.
Source: HRANA
