Population
66 million
Persian (65%)
Azari (25%)
Arab (4%)
Lors (2%),
Turkmen (2%)
Kurdish
Armenian
Jewish
Capital City
Tehran
Leadership
President
Hojjat-ol-Eslam Seyed
Mohammed Khatami
Religion
Shi'ite Muslim (89%)
Sunni Muslim (10%)
Zoroastrian
Jewish
Christian
Baha'i
Iran Ambassador
to the
U.S.
Director
Embassy of Pakistan
Interests Section of the
Islamic Republic of Iran
2209 Wisconsin
Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
Phone: (202) 965-4990
Fax: (202) 965-1073
Web:
www.daftar.org
BIO
According to the Constitution, Islam is the state religion. Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastranism are recog-
nized minority religions. The Bahai religion is not officially
recognized, however, as Bahai’s are considered to be Islamic
heretics. They therefore do not enjoy constitutional rights and
suffer severe persecution.
Everywhere, the citizen’s constitutional freedoms are crippled
by references to such vague considerations as ‘the need to
safeguard the interests of the state’. These qualifications allow
the authorities to impose their own interpretations on the
concepts concerned. The citizens’ freedom of expression ex-
cludes the freedom to shed doubt on the divine nature of Islam.
The Iranian constitution is based upon the interpretation of the
Koran and the Shariah (Islamic) law. According to this law,
the conversion of a Muslim to another religion is forbidden.
Muslims convicted of apostasy are eligible for the death penalty.
However, while proselytism is forbidden and apostasy is
punishable by death, Article 23 directs that “the investigation of
individuals’ beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested
or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.”
Since the Islamic revolution, Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian,
and Bahai minorities have suffered varying degrees of
discrimination, particularly in the area of employment and
education. Universities require applicants to pass “character
tests” in which officials analyze the background and ideology
of each applicant with their local religious authorities and
neighborhood groups. This process has allowed the state to
screen against those who were critical of the government’s
revolutionary policy. The government also requires applicants
to pass a test in Islamic theology, circumscribing the access
of most religious minorities to higher education. Applicants for
public sector employment are similarly required to meet certain
standards of adherence to Islamic orthodoxy.
Can you recommend
some
other Iran websites?
Churches and Christian training centers are routinely monitored and there has been widespread closure
of these institutions by the Ministry of Islamic Guidance (MIG), forcing many churches to go underground.
The Armenian and Assyrian churches have been allowed to stay open because their services are
conducted in the Armenian/Assyrian languages and because they have agreed to the government’s
demands forbidding Muslims and Muslim converts from attending the church services and refraining
from evangelism.
Circulation of Christian literature, including scripture in the Persian language, is banned. The office of the
Bible Society together with all Christian bookshops were closed in 1990. Several Christian leaders,
mostly converts from Islamic backgrounds, have been executed or assassinated. The deaths which
occurred in 1994 are particularly renowned and include Rev. Hussein Soodman, Mehdi Dibaj and
Bishop Haik.
Since many Iranians "disappear" for days, weeks, months or years, it is not always easy to track the
persecution of the Christian minority in Iran. Most Christians are afraid to report persecution. Only the
most severe incidents are recounted to church leaders or to the outside world and some are reported
months or years after they occurred, often by refugees who have fled Iran.
However, amidst this bleak picture there is hope. A group of church leaders and elders whom CSW
recently met with spoke of relatively free times compared to what has passed. They described Iran as
a nation ripe for harvest, with many people ready to hear and believe the gospel of Christ, and spoke
of people meeting Christ in dreams, visions and through healing. They articulated with surprise and
delight that Christians in other countries were eager to pray for them.
Instead of despairing at the climate of persecution, they were rejoicing, saying they were glad that the
construction of church buildings was forbidden, because this meant they could focus on church growth
through an underground cell system.
Overall Human Rights Situation
Iran has earned itself an appalling reputation on the subject of human rights. Arbitrary detention, torture,
disappearance, summary trial and execution are not uncommon.
The legal system is in bad need of reform and the press continues to be suppressed. Although the
parliament has tried to instigate reforms relating to the position of women, they have been met with
severe opposition.
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has appointed a Special Representative on Iran,
who submits reports to the Commission.