Iran

Religious Freedom World Report

Prepared by the International Coalition for Religious Freedom

Iran

Iran is ruled by an authoritarian Shi’ite Muslim clergy, led by Ayatollah Ali Khameini. The Constitution declares Islam the official religion. The government restricts freedom of religion for other Muslim sects and religious minorities including Christians. Eighty-nine percent of the people are Shi'a Muslim, ten percent are Sunni Muslim, and one percent are Baha’i, Christian, Zoroastrian, or Jewish .

There are systematic violations of human rights in Iran. The government is listed as a supporter of international terrorism. It calls for the destruction of Israel and provides financial and political support for Palestinian extremist groups and the militant Islamist movement.

The Baha'i faith is considered to be a heretical sect and has been brutally persecuted in an effort to eliminate it. Baha’i's are prohibited from teaching or practicing their faith or maintaining links to Baha’is abroad. Baha’i students are not allowed to attend universities. Their property has been confiscated, including cemeteries and holy sites. Hundreds, and perhaps thousands of Bahai's have been killed since the 1979 fundamentalist revolution.

The constitution recognizes Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism as minority faiths, but their activities are closely monitored and restricted. Non-Muslims may not proselytize to Muslims. Muslims who convert to another faith may be subject to the death penalty. Muslim converts to Christianity have been imprisoned and murdered. Christians are not allowed to publish literature in Persian. Most church services that are allowed are in Armenian or Assyrian.

Jews, Zoroastrians, and Christians (primarily Armenians and Assyrians) are granted some civil rights and elect representatives to reserved Parliamentary seats. According to reports, members of these faiths are free to practice their religion and instruct their children but the government interferes with the administration of their schools. Some members of these faiths have been victims of harassment, persecution, and extra-judicial killing.

The Unification Church maintained a successful mission to Iran prior to the Islamic Revolution. As the Revolution progressed, missionaries were forced to flee, members were imprisoned and , in some cases, tortured. The church was forced underground, and visitors to members’ homes faced fears of being reported to authorities. Although a small movement continues to exist, most of its leaders have gone into exile, and evangelism has been severely curtailed.