Monthly report of violation against followers of religions in Iran – March 2020

Translation: Mehrab Zarei

Article 18 (The right to freedom of opinion)

Everyone has the right of freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19 (The right to freedom of expression)

Everyone has the right of freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

This report consists of statistical information about violation against the rights of followers of other religions in Iran until the end of Esfand 1398 (February 20th, 2020). This report has been presented statistically-analytically.

It is obvious that because of strict actions of Islamic Republic of Iran with the Human Rights activists especially in observation and reporting the Human Rights violations and also deprivation of free circulation of information and constantly refusal of Iran`s government to recognize an independent domain in civil activities, at the present time, reporting is very difficult and dangerous for many reporters and activists (whom are in prison or custody) and are facing a lot of limits.

Important Notice: the following report reflects only 20 to 30 percent of the reality in Iran.

The pressure on followers of other religions still continues:

The current authorities in Iran and its leaders are believing that some religious groups are the enemies of the country, because their religious beliefs may challenge the loyalty to the regime and under the pretext of preserving national and political security, they suppress the religious activities of other religions followers.

Detentions and targeted violence against the followers of other religions in Iran still continues by the security and judicial organizations of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In Iran, citizens on the basis of religion beliefs are divided into two official and non-official categories.

The Baha`i religion is one of the non-official religions in Iran which is under more pressures rather than other religions. The Baha`is are deprived of performing ritual rites, propagating their religion and teaching and educating in higher educational levels. At the present time, hundreds of Baha’i citizens are suffering from long prison terms in different jails of the country, including Semnan, Mashhad, Tehran, Karaj and other cities of Iran.

Official religions like Christianity have faced great limitations. The government only recognizes the Assyrian Christians, Armenian and Chaldean worships, preaching the gospel to Iranian is a crime, the Persian language people are forbidden to enter the churches, and churches are tasked to submit their members names to the Ministry of Intelligence, along with copies of their national identification card.

Based on the Article 13 and 26 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran Christianity in a recognized religion, and the right to pray or build a community has been given to the Christians but confrontation with the Protestant Christians who are believing in the gospel of their religion still continues, and domestic churches are facing widespread suppression.

Religious discrimination is strictly enforcing against the Sunni Muslims. They mostly are living in the boarder sides of the country, and are deprived of the right to build mosques and their religious rituals like Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha prayer in central areas as well as Tehran.

Even in some cases the destruction of the Sunni Mosques has been reported and These people are dealing with execution, detention and persecution. They are prohibited from hiring in governmental organizations. A prominent example is the Bijan Zolfaghar Nasab who was appointed to the Minister of Sports in the Hassan Rouhani government, but because he is Sunni they did not give him the vote to be selected for this position.

Sunni:

1. Based on Human Rights Association report: Marivan Karkouki, political Sunni religion prisoner, who is since last seven and half years in the prison, and term of his prison will get over on 11 April 2020 and he must get freed, but the authorities without any reason extend his prison term.
2. Based on Balooch activist Campaign: Two Sunni clergy (Hafez Abdolhay Aramesh) and (Saeid Aramesh), both are sentenced to 5 years in prison, but due to the Corona virus infection among the prisoners, temporary they have been freed.
3. Based on Herana: Iraj Soufi Mohammad, Sunni religion prisoner in Orumiyeh prison because of his uncertainty condition from 10 March 2020, start the food strike.
4. Based on Balooch activist Campaign: Molavi Abdolghayoum Aghal, Sunni clergy on 5 March 2020, has been summoned to the Rasak’s intelligence office.
5. Based on Human Rights Defense Association in Iran: Hamzeh Darvish, Sunni religion prisoner, who were in RajaiShahr prison and eight months ago transferred to the Rasht prison, he complained against insulting behavior of his interrogator, but on one has pay attention to him.
6. Based on Balooch activist Campaign: on 27 February 2020, the intelligence forces have been arrested a Sunni clergy Molavi Mohammad Ghalandarzehi in his house and until today there is no information about him.
7. Based on Herana: Jabar Ghaderi, sunni religion prisoner in Rajai Shahr prison, last five months he has injured by knife in prison and until today he is in solitary confinement.

The statistical report of violations against the Sunnis:

Baha`i:

1. Based on Herana: on 5 March 2020, Mitra Badrnejad a Baha’i citizen in Ahvaz prison, after one year of imprisonment, has been freed.
2. Based on Herana: There is only one month left from the prison term of Roha Imani a Baha’i prisoner and according to the rules, she is able to use her last month leave, but the authorities do not accept it.
3. Based on Herana: on 12 March, Vahed Kholousi a Baha’i citizen in Rajai Shahr prison has got the permission to leave the prison on bail.
4. Based on Herana: Niloufar Hakimi, Farzan Masoumi, Shahnaz Sabet, and Farhan Sabet, Baha’i prisoners once more all has been summoning to the revolutionary court.
5. Based on political Prisoners Defense Association: on 15 March 2020, Samin Maghsoudi a Baha’i citizen in Evin prison, who has sentenced to five years in prison has got permission to leave the prison.
6. Based on Herana: Twenty-one Baha’I citizens in Shiraz, the names are; Marjan Gholampour, Mojgan Gholampour, Farbod Shadman, Farzad Shadman, Parisa Rouhi Zadgan, Shamim Akhlaghi, Sahba Farahbakhsh, Sahba Moslehi, Ahdiyeh Enayati, Mahyar Sefidi, Shadi Sadegh Aghdam, Vargha Kaviyani, Soroush Ighani, Marik Eslami, Yekta Fahandezh, Nabil Tahzib, Samar Ashnaei, Rezvan Yazdani, Lala Shahi, Nasim Kashaniv, and Bahareh Nourozi all on 14 March 2020 has been summoning to the Shiraz revolution court.
7. Based on Herana: Elahe Samiezadeh, a Baha’i citizen in Shiraz, has been summoned to the Shiraz revolution court last week.
8. Based on Herana: Five Baha’i citizen Noushin Zanhari, Esmaeil Rousta, Behnamak Azizpour, Saeid Hasani, and Ramin Shirvani all has been summoned to the Shiraz revolution court.
9. Based on Herana: Farhad Fahandezh, Baha’i citizen, who has earlier sentenced to ten years in prison, after seven and half years on 16 March 2020 has got leave.
10. Based on Herana: on 17 March, Peyman Koushak Baghi, a Baha’I citizen in Evin prison has got leave.

The statistical report of violations against the Baha`is:

Christians:

1. Based on Herana: on 27 February, Esmaeil Maghrebi nezhad, Christian citizen in Shiraz has been sentenced two years in prison in Shiraz revolution court.
2. Based on Herana: on 26 February, Ramaeil Bethormoz, Christian citizen in Evin prison has got leave.

The statistical report of violations against the Christians:

Gonabadi Dervishes:

1. Based on Human Rights Defense Association in Iran: on 14, Amir Nouri, Bashir Riyahi, Dervish citizens in Tehran prison, after two years they got leave.
2. Based on political Defense Association in Iran: on 4 March, Reza Sigarchi a Dervish citizen in Ghazalhesar prison in Karaj, due to his uncertain health condition took to the prison’s clinic and after basic treatment send him again to his cell.

Followers of Other Religions:

1. Based on Kurdistan Human Rights Community Report: Dr. Ahmadian, a Yarsan activist, from Kermanshah, has got freed from prison on bail.
2. Based on Herana: Marjan Davari, researcher and translator which is in Qarchak prison in Varamain, and has sentenced with Karim Zargar together to the execution in revolution court, due to her father health condition, she has requested for a leave but the authorities did not accept it.

The statistical report of violations against the Followers of Other Religions: