ICC Note: The latest report for USCIRF has identified Iran as a country seeing continuing and growing violations against religious minorities, including Christians, Baha’is  and Sunni Muslims. The systematic violations include harassment, arrests and imprisonment. Since the appointment of current President Hassan Rouhani, the number of people jailed for religious reason has increased significantly. For example from 2015 to 106 around 550 Christians have been incarcerated in Iran.

05/18/2016 Iran (FCNN): The United States Council for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) revealed in its latest report that the country of Iran is seeing continuing violations against religious freedom in the form of harassment, arrests, and imprisonment. In addition, Christians, Baha’is, and the minority Sunni Muslims are considered to be the religious groups that have experienced the most persecution.

“The government of Iran continues to engage in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, including prolonged detention, torture, and executions based primarily or entirely upon the religion of the accused,” the USCIRF report indicated.

Ever since the current President, Hassan Rouhani, rose into power, the number of individuals jailed for religious reasons have increased. Despite this, the administration has blatantly denied accusations that there have been violations on the human and religious freedom rights of people.

The USCIRF report demonstrated that from 2015 to 2016, around 550 Christians have been incarcerated. Furthermore, as of February of this year, there are at least 90 Christians who are still in jail or being detained because of their faith.

Iran is an Islamic Republic that follows a Shi’a Muslim theocracy. The government has instilled Islam-based laws that prevent people of different religions to exercise freely their internationally recognized rights to religious freedom.

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