Iran is on the List of first 10 Countries in the World to Persecute Christians
The arbitrary arrests and issuing unfair sentences and orders against Christians in regime of Islamic Republic of Iran just because to have their own beliefs and participate in the religious ceremonies especially house churches, is became an alarm for regime of Islamic Republic of Iran.
Despite, claims by the Government of Mr.Hassan Rouhani present president of Iran and his emphasize on christian rights but still the security approach, arbitrary arrest, repression and pressure on Iranian Christians are continuing and in the last year we have seen a new wave of violence and imprisonment sentences against Christians in Iran.
While Mr. Hassan Rouhani has repeatedly emphasized on the observance of Christians rights and in his slogans before his government get start and after the formation of the government has published a charter entitled of “Charter of Citizenship Rights” but none of the parts of this charter executed in Iran and remained just as a slogan.
In addition to arresting and violating rights to life, the Iranian regime systematically prohibits Christians rights to have peaceful assembly and association rights.
Due to the behaviors of intelligence agencies with christian citizens, Iran is became one of the worst countries in the world for christian community.
Unlike most of the countries in the middle east the Iranian Christians has always coexist well with the society and the majority of persecution reports is from the side of judiciary and subordinate institutions.
Arbitrary detentions, repression and pressure on Persian language churches are continuing while the tune of new government has been changed.
A group of Christians devotees gathered at the ceremony of Christmas and new year, are arrested by the intelligence agencies and also arresting of nine persons in Karaj city and Rasht city and trial them by following of Christian Zionist Movements which is an anti humanitarian act of Islamic Republic of Iran.
Beating and torturing of two sisters, Shima and Shokufeh Zangeneh in Ahvaz city and arresting of two other persons Farhad Behzadizadeh and Abdollah Yousefi Sheikh Robat just because of their beliefs and unfortunately threatened like Shima and Shokufeh to reveal the place of hiding Holy Bible books.
According to the international human rights documentation center and the universal decleration of the human rights, the rights to freedom of religion and dissemination of religious beliefs has been emphasized.
Therefore, such extra judiciary behaviors do not have a place in the charter of human rights based on the equality, peace and humanity.
The defence religions supporters committee members declares that, according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 1 (All are free and equal), Article 2 (No discrimination), Article 3 (The right to life and security for all ), Article 6 (Human value everywhere), Article 18 (The right to freedom of opinion)
Article 19 (The right to freedom of expression), all the activities of regime of Islamic Republic of Iran are violating of human rights and it’s due to the religious prejudices.
Human Rights Defense Association
Defense of Religions Followers Rights Committee
Translated by Mehrab Zarei
