ICC Note: While Iranian president Hassan Rouhani was making headlines at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the sidelines of the meeting highlighted the abuse of Christians still taking place under Rouhani’s watch. A briefing was delivered to the Council that highlighted the numerous cases of abuse and highlighted how they are in direct violation of not just international agreements which Iran has ratified, but also Iran’s own constitution.
10/14/2013 Iran (World Watch Monitor) – Iran’s continued mistreatment of its Christian minority was raised at a recent meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Attieh Fard, a lawyer specialising in human rights, urged President Hassan Rouhani to make good on his promises to the United Nations in New York by releasing the 42 Christians known to be in jail and the 45 awaiting trial.
Fard said these figures represent only known cases and that the number is likely to be much higher, but that many have remained silent due to threats by the government.
In doing so, she said in her Sept. 24 report, the government had infringed its national and international legal obligations.
At least 300 Christians have been arrested in the past three years in Iran, with the most common charges being actions against public security and propaganda against the regime. Many of these Christians were arrested while taking part in “house churches”, small meetings of Christians who gather to worship and pray together.
“In bringing about these charges against Christians, both the government and the judiciary have made an error of law and fact because Christian gatherings either at homes or churches are mainly formed for Christians to worship together and to read and study the Bible, not to change the regime, and they do not have a goal of any political activity. So these are wrong judgments,” said Fard.
Fard added that similar gatherings were run by Shia Muslims, who meet together in groups to study the Qur’an and pray, but that these meetings had not been judged to have been a threat to national security.
Fard said that some Christians who are imprisoned are forced to listen to the Qur’an and put under “great pressure” to convert to Islam.
She said that many some of them are tortured and have their possessions confiscated. Then after they are released, they often lose the right to education or employment.
Article 26 of the Iranian Constitution gives the right to religious minorities, including Christians, to form societies and to meet together. As such, Fard said house churches are legitimate entities.
…
[Full Story]