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

Report Compilers: Seyed Shayan Hoseini Barzi, Sam Jabbari Kermani, Abas Rezaei Salarvand

Translation: Mehrab Zarei

Edit: Alireza Jahan Bin

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 Farvardin 1398 (April 20, 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 Political Prisoners Defense Campaign: Hesam Karmala Chaab, who were arrested last four years on 7 April 2020 has got freed.
2. Based on Herana: on 6 April 2020, Esmaeil Rashidi, a Sunni prisoner based on judiciary new regulations has got freed from RajaiShahr prison.
3. Based on Hengav Human Rights Association: Jabar Ghaderi, a Sunni prisoner in RajaiShahr prison on 1 April 2020 with reference to the Nowruz Amnesty has got freed.
4. Based on Hengav Human Rights Association: on 1 April 2020, Mokhtar Babajani a Sunni prisoner in RajaiShahr with reference to the Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis in the prison has got freed.
5. Based on Hengav Human Rights Association: on 1 April 2020, Yasin Ramezani a Sunni prisoner in RajaiShahr with reference to the Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis in the prison has got freed.
6. Based on Hengav Human Rights Association: on 1 April 2020, Reza Kamran a Sunni prisoner in RajaiShahr with reference to the Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis in the prison has got freed.
7. Based on Hengav Human Rights Association: on 1 April 2020, Ayoub Badri a Sunni prisoner in RajaiShahr with reference to the Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis in the prison has got freed.
8. Based on Balooch Activist Campaign: Hafez Abdolrashid, a Sunni clergy on 26 March 2020 has been arrested by intelligence forces in Mehrestan.

The statistical report of violations against the Sunnis:

Baha`i:

1. Based on Herana: Peyman Koushakbaghi, a Baha’i citizen in Evin prison who were on leave from 17 March 2020, with reference to the Nowruz Amnesty has got freed and he won’t return to the prison.
2. Based on Political Prisoners Defense Association: on 17 April 2020, Peyman Dameshghi a Baha’i citizen in Karaj prison based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.

The statistical report of violations against the Baha`is:

Christians:

1. Based on Herana and Mohabt News: Rokhsareh Ghanbari, a Christian citizen in Karaj prison has got furlough.
2. Based on Political Prisoners Defense Association and Mohabat News: on 12 April 2020, Fatemeh(Aylar) Bakhtari, a non-trinity’s Christian citizen, who were on leave, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty has got freed.

The statistical report of violations against the Christians:

Gonabadi Dervishes:

1. Based on Herana: on 19 April 2020, Babak Moradi, a Dervish prisoner but he has sentenced earlier to the banishment and he went to the Saravan city.
2. Based on Herana: Alireza Lak, a Dervish prisoner on 4 April 2020, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed from Qom prison.
3. Based on Herana: on 5 April 2020, Salehaldin Moradi, a Dervish prisoner in Shiraz prison, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
4. Based on Herana: on 1 April 2020, MohammadReza Darvishi, a Dervish prisoner in Ahvaz prison, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
5. Based on Herana: on 29 March 2020, Saied Khamoushi, a Dervish prisoner in Mashhad prison, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
6. Based on Herana: on 28 March 2020, Akbar(Kianoush) Biranvand, a Dervish prisoner in Tehran prison, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
7. Based on Herana: on 26 March 2020, Sadegh Aliyayi, a Dervish prisoner in Tehran prison, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
8. Based on Herana: on 25 March 2020, Milad Kakavand and Majid Moradi, Dervish prisoners in Khoramabad and Ilam prison, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
9. Based on Herana: on 23 March 2020, Mostafa Rahsepar, Rasoul Hoveyda, Jafar Ahmadi, Majid Rashidi, Reza Rezaei, Hasan Shahriza, Ahmad Irvani, Dervish prisoners in Tehran prison, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
10. Based on Herana: on 24 March 2020, Reza Entesari and Sina Entesari Dervish prisoners in Tehran prison, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
11. Based on Irna: Aliasghar Salari, a Dervish prisoner, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
12. Based on Irna: a Dervish prisoner, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
13. Based on Herana: on 22March 2020, Sekhavat Salimi, Javad Kamisabadi and Hadi Karimi Dervish prisoners in Tehran prison, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.
14. Based on Irna: Amir Nouri, a Dervish prisoner, based on judiciary Nowruz Amnesty and due to the Corona crisis has got freed.

The statistical report of violations against the Gonabadi Dervishes:

Followers of Other Religions:

1. Few of religious prisoners in Iran has got freed. They were in prison approximately from last three years due to the accusation of membership in Salafis groups. Their names are: Osman Baker, Sirvan Mahmoudi Aghdam, Saleh Khoshkalam, Yousef Gharanipour, Hedayat Alizadeh, Vafa Asadi, Mohammad Ghanbardoust, Hesam Darvishi, Akbar Omri, Avat Jahanbakht, Ebrahim Moradi and Farough Lavashlouei.
2. A religious prisoner in Orumiyeh prison due to his last 40 days of hunger strike has been transferred to the hospital.
3. Based on Herana: Amir Hosein Mirkhalil, a Mysticism follower has been sentenced to the 13 years in prison and 74 flogging by Tehran revolution court.
4. Soheil Arabi, religious prisoner in Tehran prison, started his hunger strike since April 3, 2020.

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