ICC Note: While negotiations between Iran and countries of the West have been at a highpoint in the past year, largely revolving around Iran’s nuclear program. One of the fundamental ways that Iran can demonstrate that they truly desire to have trustworthy negotiations and want to join the broader international community is by demonstrating a respect for religious freedoms for its minorities. From Iranian-American Pastor Saeed Abedini to hundreds of Baha’i, Iran is routinely cited as one of the most repressive countries in protection of fundamental rights. If they want to show there is a change, this is the place to begin.
By Doug Bandow
04/16/2014 Iran (American Spectator) – The United Nations Human Rights Council angered Iran by renewing the mandate of monitor Ahmed Shaheed, who has criticized Tehran’s abuses. His work remains vital as long as Iran violates its citizens’ most basic rights.
At the same time nuclear negotiations continue. Dealing with Tehran could turn into the Obama administration’s greatest foreign policy success or another disaster. If the interim Geneva agreement leads to permanent denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, President Barack Obama can claim an achievement nonpareil. If the effort collapses, he will look dangerously naïve.
Everything depends on whether Tehran, and not just President Hassan Rouhani, is serious. No surprise, many analysts — and more importantly, paladins of Capitol Hill — remain skeptical. And that doubt has fueled efforts to impose new sanctions, which would impede if not kill efforts to reach a final accord.
If Iran is serious about joining the community of nations, it should demonstrate that commitment in practical ways. One of the most important symbols of Iranian irresponsibility today is its ruthless persecution of religious minorities.
Many authoritarian regimes suppress political opponents — the one shared value among governments worldwide is staying in power. Far fewer seek to suppress the most basic exercise of human conscience. With an overwhelming Muslim majority, roughly 90 percent Shia, Iranian institutions will inevitably have an Islamic character. The government should not fear allowing those of other faiths to worship and live freely. There would be no more powerful reassurance for other nations of Tehran’s good intentions than for the Iranian authorities to respect religious liberty.
The most celebrated case of persecution today is Saeed Abedini, an American citizen born in Iran and sentenced to eight years in prison last year for “undermining national security” by the Iranian government. The idea that the 33-year-old father of two threatens the regime is ludicrous.
A Muslim convert to Christianity, he had been arrested and released on prior trips. His “crime” in Tehran’s view apparently was aiding house churches. He went to Iran in 2012 to set up an orphanage, with the government’s approval. Since then he was abused and tortured while held at Iran’s notorious Evin prison, and then transferred to Rajai Shahr prison, which may be even more dangerous. President Obama called for Abedini’s release. President Rouhani responded that he could not “interfere in the judicial process,” but left hope that the government might be able to “assist.”
Unfortunately, Abedini is merely the symbol of broader religious repression. As adherents of a historic faith recognized by the constitution, Christians nominally are free to worship. But that right is highly constrained, as Iran has emerged as one of the globe’s worst persecutors.
For instance, Tehran makes the World Watch List from Open Doors USA and the Hall of Shame from International Christian Concern. The European organization Human Rights Without Frontiers reported that Iran is one of the five top prison states for religious prisoners.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has routinely labeled Tehran as a Country as Particular Concern. The Commission’s 2013 report concluded: “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.” In its latest religious liberty report the State Department noted that Iran’s “constitution and other laws and policies do not protect religious freedom, and in practice, the government severely restricted religious freedom.”
Tehran’s brutal persecution has been getting worse. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran published a report on religious persecution last year, which noted that “In 2005, coinciding roughly with the election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian government ramped up its repression of Christian house churches, Persian-language Protestant churches, and converts. It has further intensified its efforts since 2010.”
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