US State Department's explicit condemnation of "repression of religious minorities"

Following the intensification of the repression of religious minorities and the arrest of Christian citizens, Washington condemned the policies of "repression of religious minorities" in Iran.

The US State Department has issued a new statement on the social media platform X, strongly condemning the new wave of repression, arrests, and harsh sentences against religious minorities in Iran. The statement, which has also received widespread international media coverage, emphasizes the Islamic Republic’s ongoing violations of religious freedom and directly addresses the cases of several Christian citizens who are imprisoned solely for their faith.

The statement reads: "No one should be imprisoned for their beliefs, whether they are Christians like Aida Najaflou, Nasser Noord-Goltepe, Joseph Shahbazian, and Lida Aleksani who are currently in prison for their faith, Baha'is, Kurds, Sunni Muslims, or other minorities."

The US State Department also emphasized, relying on universal human rights principles: "Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. We call for the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience and call on the Iranian government to respect the rights and dignity of all its citizens."

In recent years, numerous reports from human rights organizations, including the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom and Article 18, have shown that security pressures on Christian citizens have increased significantly. House arrests, heavy multi-year sentences, bans on house churches, and threats to families are just some of the methods used by security forces to restrict religious freedom.

The cases of individuals such as Nasser Noord Goltepe and Joseph Shahbazian, who were tried on vague and general charges such as “acting against national security” solely for attending a religious gathering, are clear examples of the transformation of religious faith into a security crime in the Islamic Republic’s judicial system. Reports also indicate severe psychological pressure and extensive restrictions on Aida Najaflou and Lida Aleksani during their detention and interrogation.

The Islamic Republic has consistently used the security labels of "threat to national security" and "propaganda against the regime" to criminalize the completely peaceful activities of Christian citizens. This is despite the fact that according to international law, including the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran has also signed, freedom of religion and freedom to participate in religious ceremonies are among the non-derogable rights of human beings.

Despite these commitments, Iranian security forces have labeled house churches as “illegal organizations” and subjected members to threats, arrests, and harsh sentences. Human rights experts have called this approach a clear example of gross violations of civil rights.

The systematic repression of religious minorities, including Iran's Christian community, has had far-reaching humanitarian consequences. Many Christian families have been torn apart, children have been separated from their 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 seriously damage the social fabric of Iran, a fabric that has always been defined by religious and cultural diversity.

A recent statement by the US State Department has once again drawn international attention to the critical state of religious freedom in Iran. The statement, along with numerous reports from human rights organizations, paints a clear picture of the systematic repression of religious minorities in the Islamic Republic, a repression that has intensified in recent years and has targeted Christian citizens more than ever.

As long as the Islamic Republic continues to criminalize faith and does not recognize the fundamental rights of its citizens, Iran will remain among the countries that violate religious freedom and are criticized by the international community.