I recently got into an (unprovoked) argument about religious freedom in Iran, with my opponent insisting that non-Muslims are not hassled there. The only evidence I could think of was purely anecdotal from my Iranian friends and their families. Can anyone point me in the right direction aka to some articles about recent religious intolerance in Iran? I don’t want to turn this into a debate, I just want to win this argument.
friedo
April 28, 2003, 2:58pm
2
From the US State Dept International Religious Freedom Report for Iran :
The Constitution declares that the "official religion of Iran is Islam and the doctrine followed is that of “Ja’fari (Twelver) Shi’ism.” The Government restricts freedom of religion.
There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report. Members of the country’s religious minorities–including Baha’is, Jews, Christians, and Sufi Muslims–reported imprisonment, harassment, and intimidation based on their religious beliefs. At least four Baha’is were among those still imprisoned for reasons related to their faith, while eight Jews remained in prison after being convicted in 2000 for cooperating with a hostile government, belonging to an illegal organization, and recruiting members in an illegal organization.
Society is accustomed to the presence of non-Muslim communities, some of which predate Islam. However, government actions create a threatening atmosphere for some religious minorities, especially Baha’is, Jews, and evangelical Christians.
…
The Government restricts freedom of religion. The Constitution declares that the “official religion of Iran is Islam and the doctrine followed is that of Ja’fari (Twelver) Shi’ism.” It also states that “other Islamic denominations are to be accorded full respect,” and designates Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians as the only “recognized religious minorities,” which, “within the limits of the law,” are permitted to perform their religious rites and ceremonies and “to act according to their own canon in matters of personal affairs and religious education.” Although the Constitution states that “the investigation of individuals’ beliefs is forbidden” and that “no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief,” the adherents of religions not specifically protected under the Constitution do not enjoy freedom of activity. This situation most directly affects adherents of the Baha’i Faith. The Government regards the Baha’i community, whose faith originally derives from a strand of Islam, as a misguided or wayward “sect.” The Government fuels anti-Baha’i and anti-Jewish sentiment in the country for political purposes. Government officials have stated that the Baha’is “are not a religious minority, but a political organization which was associated with the Shah’s regime, is against the Iranian Revolution and engages in espionage activities.” However, government officials reportedly nonetheless have stated that, as individuals, all Baha’is are entitled to their beliefs and are protected under other articles of the Constitution as citizens.
For more details read the full report at the above link.
Also from Amnesty International’s 1998 Annual Report on Iran ,
Prisoners of conscience held during the year included at least 12 members of the Baha’i religious minority, four of whom were under sentence of death. In January the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences against Dhabihullah Mahrami and Musa Talibi. Reports suggested that although they had been charged with apostasy, they were convicted of espionage…
Shi’a religious leaders opposed to government policies, and scores of their followers, continued to be detained. Most were possible prisoners of conscience. Some were held without trial; others were imprisoned following unfair trials. At least three Grand Ayatollahs were believed to remain under house arrest, including Grand Ayatollah Sayed Hassan Tabataba’i-Qomi, who was reportedly denied access to medical treatment for heart disease. Ayatollah Ya’sub al-Din Rastgari also reportedly remained under house arrest (see Amnesty International Report 1997).