?!Confronting dissidents and different religious beliefs; political opposition or ideological

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18: Everyone has the right to 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: Everyone has the right to 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.

In accordance with Article 12 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran: The official religion of Iran is Islam and the Twelver Ja‘fari school of [shi‘ī] religion. This principle shall remain eternally unchangeable. Other Islamic schools of thought, such as the Hanafi, Shafi‘i, Maliki, Hanbali, and Zaydi, are deserving of total respect and their followers are free to perform their own religious practices, religious education, and personal matters. They may practice their religious education, personal status, (marriage, divorce, inheritance, and bequest), in accordance with their own jurisprudence. The dispute over these matters is recognized in the courts. In any area where followers of these schools of thought are in the majority, local regulations, within the domain of the council’s jurisdictions, are set according to that school of thought so long as the rights of .the followers of other schools of religion are maintained

Regarding the dire situation of religions in the Islamic Republic, Friday prayer leader of Qom warns about the expansion of the churches in the homes. Human rights experts in the United Nations are concerned about the status of religious followers in Iran and the oppression against religious dissidents especially the Tariqat (Yarasan, Dervishes) is rising dramatically; with the rule of the Islamic Republic, the oppression against the followers of the Baha’i faith has continued steadily and the followers of this religion are faced with human tragedy; and they have been denied right to citizenship and other human rights.

Not only Baha’is, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Sunnis and other Islamic sects, such as Ahl al-Haq and Gonabadi dervishes, have been subjected to pressure and discrimination by the Islamic Republic of Iran, but also Shia religious intellectuals who nationals are also known to be despised.

Since the formation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, followers of other religions have been pressured and oppressed with every belief, not only the Persians of Christian and Baha’i descent but also of Sunnis and other Islamic sects descents, including the Dervishes of Kon’abadi were suppressed and oppressed.

No one is in the jurisdiction of the Velayat-e faqih, nor do they have the right to attend the community.

The religion of Islam has been made up of several branches, and on the other hand, there are different religions in Iran, but none of the followers of different religions in Iran have equal civil rights with that of Shiite Islam which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a preacher and broadcaster of, and therefore in accordance with Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

We, the members of the Committee for the Defense of the Rights of Religious Members, referring to Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights condemn such Islamic Jihad’s actions with followers and believers of other religions and religious dissidents and who violate the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Equal rights for all citizens in Iran.

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Center for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran

Committee for the Defense of the Rights of Religious Followers