Iran Violates Religious Freedoms

VOA ^ | May 12, 2008

[nuconvert]

Iran Violates Religious Freedoms

Iran is designated by the U.S. State Department as among the world’s top violators of religious freedom. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent body that does not speak for the U.S. government. But it is required by Congress to report to the U.S. Secretary of State every year on governments that abuse the religious liberty of their people.

Consistent with the annual State Department report on Religious Freedom, the recent Commission report says that the regime in Tehran "engages 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." Over the past year, according to the report, the Iranian government’s poor religious freedom record deteriorated, "especially for religious minorities and in particular for Baha’is, Sufi Muslims, and evangelical Christians." In addition, "heightened anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial rhetoric and activities by senior government officials have increased fear among Iran’s Jewish community."

A number of senior Shi’a religious leaders who oppose the tenets or practices of the Iranian government have also been targets of state repression, says the report. A case in point is Ayatollah Mohammad Kazemeni Boroujerdi, who opposes religious rule in Iran. He and a number of his followers were arrested and detained in October 2006. Ayatollah Boroujerdi was charged with the so-called crime of "sacrilege." It is believed that he and several of his followers remain in prison.

Freedom of religion is one of the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which Iran has ratified. The Declaration says, "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." Unfortunately, this is yet another international standard Iran has failed to live up to.

Freedom of religion is the very first protection offered in America’s Bill of Rights. But, says President George Bush, "Religious freedom belongs not to any one nation, but to the world."

President Bush has a message for those in Iran and elsewhere who suffer because of their religious beliefs: "You are not alone ... We work for the day when we can welcome you into the family of free nations. We pray that you and your children may one day know freedom in all things."

[353FMG]

“Iran is designated by the U.S. State Department as among the world’s top violators of religious freedom.”

Who else is on that list? Wouldn’t surprise me if Saudi was not on that list. After all, they’re our “friends”.

[LadyDoc]

well, at least in Iran I could carry a bible and show my face driving my ca down the street.

In Saudi these things would get me arrested.

[weegee]

Go back to the Clinton administration even and Saudi Arabia was not on the list. The excuse given was that there has never been religious freedom in Saudi Arabia.

I keep wondering when the world will speak out against the REAL apartheid in Saudi Arabia. Jimmy Carter is the mouthpiece of his Saudi masters and proclaims that Israel IS apartheid. Are there different rights and protections for Jews over non-Jews in Israel? Are non-Jews prohibited from bringing their religious texts into the country? Are non-Jewish religious centers prohibited by law? Is it a crime to convert away from Judaism? Is there a death penalty imposed on any non-Jew who'd dare enter "Jewis only" cities like the muslim-only cities of Mecca and Medina? Is there a death penalty sentenced on theologians who ask for more tolerance of other faiths? Has the nation officially taken on a policy of prohibiting members of a certain religion from entering the country?

This IS modern Saudi Arabia. Jimmy Carter is an antisemite and a tool.

[lewislynn]

Iran Violates Religious Freedoms

Don't they just violate freedom?...Period?

They can't violate freedoms that don't exist.

[nuconvert]

“A case in point is Ayatollah Mohammad Kazemeni Boroujerdi, who opposes religious rule in Iran.”

As does Grand Ayatollah Montazeri (who has been under house arrest)