DOCSLIB.ORG

Christen Und Christinnen Im Iran

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Christen Und Christinnen Im Iran Christen und Christinnen im Iran Themenpapier Florian Lüthy 18 . Oktober 2005 Angaben zum Autor: Florian Lüthy ist Historiker mit dem Schwerpunkt Neuzeit. Er ist schon seit mehreren Jahren im Menschenrechtsbereich tätig und arbeitete bei verschi edenen s chweizerischen NGO. Von April bis September 2005 absolvierte Floria n Lüthy ein Berufspraktikum bei der Länderanal y- se der Schweizerischen Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH). Impressum HERAUSGEBERIN Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe SFH Postfach 8154, 3001 Bern Tel. 031 / 370 75 75 Fax 031 / 370 75 00 E-Mail: INFO@ osar.ch Internet: www.osar.ch PC -Konto: 30 -1085 -7 AUTOR Florian Lüthy SPRACHVERSIONEN deutsch, französisch PREIS Fr. 2 0. -- inkl. 2,4 Prozent MWSt., zuzgl. Versan dkosten COPYRIGHT © 20 05 Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe, Bern Kopieren und Abdruck unter Quellenangabe e rlaubt. Inhaltsverzeichnis Einleitung ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 4 1 Rec htliche Stellung von Nicht -Muslimen in Iran ................................ ........ 5 1.1 Bestimmungen gemäss Verfassung ................................ ...................... 5 1.2 Bestimmungen gemäss Strafgesetzbuch ................................ ............... 6 1.3 Bestimmungen gemäss Zivilgesetzbuch ................................ ................ 7 2 Angehörige traditioneller Kirchen ................................ .............................. 7 2.1 Armenische Christen ................................ ................................ ............ 8 2.2 Assyrische Christen ................................ ................................ ............. 9 2.3 Chaldäische Christen ................................ ................................ .......... 10 3 Angehörige neuerer kirchlicher Strömungen ................................ ............ 11 3.1 Protestanten ................................ ................................ ....................... 11 3.2 Evangelikale und Freikirchen ................................ ............................... 13 3.3 Zeugen Jehovas ................................ ................................ .................. 16 4 Konvertiten ................................ ................................ ................................ 16 5 Rechtsprechung ................................ ................................ ......................... 19 Einleitung Von den über 66 Millionen Einwohner Inne n der Islamischen Rep ublik Iran gehören etwa 300'000 Personen christlichen Konfessionen an. 1 Es handelt sich einerseits um An hängerInnen von seit mehreren Jahrhunderten im Ir an ansässigen traditionellen Kirchen wie der armenischen, der assyrischen und der chaldäischen Kirche und a n- dererseits um Mitglieder neuerer christlicher Bewegungen wie Protestanten, Evang e- likalen und freikirchlichen Gemeinden. In der iranischen Verfassung , die off iziell die Zwölferschia 2 als Staatsreligion festschreibt, werden einzelne religiöse Minderhe i- ten, so auch die Christen, offiziell vom Staat anerkannt. Eine Gruppenverfo lgung der christlichen Minderheit im Iran ist nicht festzustellen. Hingegen kan n eine Individua l- verfolgung der neueren christlichen Glaubensgruppi erungen beobachtet werden. Ein spezielles Gefährdungsprofil besteht für muslimische Iraner Innen , die zum Christe n- tum konvertiert sind. Konversionen erregen in der muslimisch -iranischen Öffe ntlic h- keit den Verdacht einer regimekritischen Ha ltung. Diese Gefahr erhöht sich, wenn Konvertit en zusätzlich Missionstätigkeiten, andere öffentliche Aktivit äten oder eine leitende Funktion in einer christlichen Ge meinde ausüben . Hinzu tritt die Mö glichkei t einer mittelbaren Verfolgung durch fanatische Muslime, da Konvertit en gemäss isl a- mischem Recht von allen Muslim en get ötet werden dürfen . Aufgrund sich häufender Asylgesuche von IranerInnen in der Schweiz, die ang eben, sich wegen ihrer Anhänger schaft zum Christentum im Iran bedroht respektive ve r- folgt zu fühlen , sowie einer nicht immer klaren Rechtsprechung oder widersprüchl i- cher Expertengutachten 3 hat sich die Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) zur A b- fassung eines Themenpapiers zur Gefährdungslage von Christen und Christinnen im Iran entschi eden. Der Bericht basier t auf Auswertungen von aktuell en , öffentlich zugänglichen Que l- len, Menschenrechtsberichten, Internetrecherchen sowie Expertenau skünften. Es muss an dieser Stelle explizit darauf hingewiesen w erden, dass es trotz intensiver Bemühungen nicht gelang, Expertenauskünfte beziehungsweise -inter views von A n- hänger Inne n christlicher Gemeinschaften aus dem Iran selbst einzuholen. E -Mails, Faxe sowie Telefonanfragen blieben zumeist unbeantwortet. Gemäss A uskunft wes t- licher Expe rten sei dies darauf zurückzuführen, dass Anhänger Innen des christlichen Glaubens im Iran davor zurückschreckten, mit Menschenrechtsorganisationen oder auch Personen, die sie selbst nicht persönlich kennen, über ihre Situation zu spr e- chen. 4 Eine ähnl iche Zurückhaltung war auch bei westlichen Vertretern von im Iran aktiven christli chen Gruppierungen zu verspüren. Informationen bezüglich der Lage vor Ort konnten aufgrund befürchteter Gefährdungen ihrer A nhänger Innen im Iran nicht weiter gegeben werden. Schliesslich wurde der Verfasser des vorliegenden Themenpapiers im Rahmen der Expertenbefragungen mehrfach geb eten, bei der Nennung von Namen, Ortschaften und von im Iran aktiven christlichen Gruppieru n- gen wegen der fragilen Lage vor Ort be sondere Vorsicht walten zu la ssen. 1 U.S. Department of State, Iran: International R eligious Freedom Report 2004, S. 1. 2 Zwölferschia oder Imamiten : eine der Hauptrichtungen der Schiiten . 3 Heindel, Wolfgang, Iran: Zur Verfolgung bei Konversion und Missionierung, in: Der Einzelentsche i- derbrief 06/02, Deutsc hes Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, S. 1. 4 Interview Dr. Mina Nima, School of Oriental and African Studies Lo ndon, 24. August 2005. Iran – Christen und Christinnen im Iran – Oktober 2005 Seite 4 von 20 Folgenden Personen sei für die wertvollen Informationen und Gespräche wä hrend der Recherchen sehr herzlich gedankt: Prof. Dr. Martin Tamcke, Professor für Ök u- menische Theologie an der Theologischen Fakultät der Georg -Augu st -Universität Gö ttingen; Dr. Nima Mina, Dozent für Persisch an der School of Oriental and African Studies, London; Ann Harrison, Amnesty Inter national, London; Ruth Juettner, Am nesty International, Sektion Deutschland ; Pfarrer Martin Affolderbach, Ha mbur g, Dr. Roxane Haag -Higuchi vom Lehrstuhl für Iranistik der Universität Ba mberg sowie Dr. Uwe Brocks, Sachverständiger des Deutschen Orient -Institutes, Ha mburg. 1 Rechtliche Stellung von Nicht -Muslim Inn en in Iran Im Islam werden das Judentum, das Christentum und die Religion der Sabier als Buchreligionen angesehen, deren AnhängerInnen gemäss islamischer Theologie nach islamischem Recht (Scharia) mit eingeschränkten Rechten im Gegensatz zu Polytheisten (Verehrung einer Vielzahl von Gottheiten und Geistern) ged uldet we r- den. 5 Die rechtliche Stellung von Nicht -Muslim Inn en in der iranischen Gesellschaft ist in ve rschiedenen Bereichen der Gesetzgebung des Irans festgelegt worden. Diese rechtlichen Prinzipien kommen auch heute noch regelmässig zur Anwendung. Z u- ständi g für die Aktivitäten religiöser Minderheiten im Iran ist das Ministerium für I s- lamische Kultur und Führung sowie das Ministerium für Geheimdienst und Siche r- heit, welche zusammen kommunale, r eligiöse sowie kulturelle Anlässe von Nicht - Muslim Inn en im Iran s treng überwachen. 6 1.1 Bestimmungen gemäss Verfassung Artikel 12 der iranischen Verfassung bestimmt den Islam und spezifisch die schiit i- sche Glaubensschule der Zwölferschia als Staatsreligion. Artikel 13 b enennt die vom Staat anerkannten religiösen Min derheite n ( Zoroastrier, Juden und Christen ). Di ese drei Glaubensrichtungen geniessen innerhalb des gesetzl ichen Rahmens das Recht auf freie Ausübung ihrer religiösen Riten sowie Zeremonien und ihre Anhäng erInnen dürfen sich in persönlichen und glaubensspezifische n Belangen gemäss ihrer relig i- ösen Vo rschriften verhalten. Bei Verschwörung oder anderen Aktiv itäten gegen den Islam und die Islamische Republik Iran verlieren die Anhänger der religiösen Mi n- derheiten diese Rec hte. 7 Gemäss der Verfassung können ausschliess lich Muslime Ämter in der iran ischen Exekutive besetzen. Auch andere Posten in der Verwaltung, im Richte ramt sowie höhere Offiziersränge in der iranischen Armee bleiben Nichtmuslimen unzugän glich. 5 Gemäss islamischer Auffassung beruhen Buchreligionen auf ursprünglichen göttlichen Offenbaru n- gen (heiligen Büc hern: Thora, Psalmen, Evangelium u. a.), welche aber von ihren AnhängerInnen im Laufe der Zeit verfälscht worden seien. 6 U.S. Department of State, Iran: International R eligious Freedom Report 2004, S. 2. 7 Iran Constitution, Quelle: www.oefre.unibe.ch/l aw/icl/ir00000_.html , Artikel 14 (Zugriff: 20. Septe m- ber 2005). Iran – Christen und Christinnen im Iran – Oktober 2005 Seite 5 von 20 Vertreter anerkannter religiöser Minderheiten können nicht regulär ins Parlament gewählt werden, sondern haben nur die Möglichkeit, sich für einen der für sie rese r- vierten Sitze zu bewerben. 8 Ein Sitz ist für die Zoroastrier bestimmt, einer für j ü- dischstämmige Iraner, einer gemeinsam für assyrische und chaldäische Chri sten sowie ein Sitz für armenische Christen im Norden und einer für diejenigen im Süden des Landes. 9 Nicht -Muslime können auch nicht Mitglieder
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2004 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor February 28, 2005
    Iran Page 1 of 20 Iran Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2004 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor February 28, 2005 The Islamic Republic of Iran [note 1] is a constitutional, theocratic republic in which Shi'a Muslim clergy dominate the key power structures. Article Four of the Constitution states that "All laws and regulations…shall be based on Islamic principles." Government legitimacy is based on the twin pillars of popular sovereignty (Article Six) and the rule of the Supreme Jurisconsulate (Article Five). The unelected Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i, dominates a tricameral division of power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Khamene'i directly controls the armed forces and exercises indirect control over the internal security forces, the judiciary, and other key institutions. The executive branch was headed by President Mohammad Khatami, who won a second 4-year term in June 2001, with 77 percent of the popular vote in a multiparty election. The legislative branch featured a popularly elected 290-seat Islamic Consultative Assembly, Majlis, which develops and passes legislation, and an unelected 12-member Council of Guardians, which reviews all legislation passed by the Majlis for adherence to Islamic and constitutional principles and also has the duty of screening Majlis candidates for eligibility. Conservative candidates won a majority of seats in the February Seventh Majlis election that was widely perceived as neither free nor fair, due to the Council of Guardians' exclusion of thousands of qualified candidates. The 34-member Expediency Council is empowered to resolve legislative impasses between the Council of Guardians and the Majlis.
    [Show full text]
  • IRAN Executive Summary the Constitution and Other Laws And
    IRAN Executive Summary The constitution and other laws and policies do not protect religious freedom and in practice, the government severely restricted religious freedom. The government’s respect for and protection of the right to religious freedom continued to deteriorate. Reports of government imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on religious beliefs continued during the year. The constitution states that Ja’afari (Twelver) Shia Islam is the official state religion. It provides that “other Islamic denominations are to be accorded full respect” and officially recognizes only three non-Islamic religious groups--Zoroastrians, Christians, and Jews--as religious minorities. These three religions are allowed to practice freely under the constitution as long as their members do not proselytize; however, Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remained jailed and sentenced to death for practicing his faith. While not discussed in the constitution, the government considers Baha’is to be apostates and defines the Baha’i Faith as a political “sect.” The government prohibits Baha’is from teaching and practicing their faith and subjects them to many forms of discrimination that followers of other religions do not face. Government rhetoric and actions created a threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shia religious groups, most notably for Baha’is, as well as for Sufi Muslims, evangelical Christians, Jews, and Shia groups that did not share the government’s official religious views. Baha’i and Christian groups reported arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and confiscation of property. During the year, government- controlled broadcast and print media intensified negative campaigns against religious minorities, particularly Baha’is. All religious minorities suffered varying degrees of officially sanctioned discrimination, particularly in the areas of employment, education, and housing.
    [Show full text]
  • 17 December 2007)
    071543239 [2007] RRTA 335 (17 December 2007) DECISION RECORD RRT CASE NUMBER: 071543239 COUNTRY OF REFERENCE: Iran TRIBUNAL MEMBER: Wendy Boddison DATE DECISION SIGNED: 17 December 2007 PLACE OF DECISION: Melbourne DECISION: The Tribunal remits the matter for reconsideration with the direction that the applicant satisfies s.36(2)(a) of the Migration Act, being a person to whom Australia has protection obligations under the Refugees Convention. STATEMENT OF DECISION AND REASONS APPLICATION FOR REVIEW This is an application for review of a decision made by a delegate of the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship to refuse to grant the applicant a Protection (Class XA) visa under s.65 of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act). The applicant, who claims to be a citizen of Iran, arrived in Australia and applied to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for a Protection (Class XA) visa. The delegate decided to refuse to grant the visa and notified the applicant of the decision and his review rights by letter. The delegate refused the visa application on the basis that the applicant is not a person to whom Australia has protection obligations under the Refugees Convention. The applicant applied to the Tribunal for review of the delegate’s decision. The Tribunal finds that the delegate’s decision is an RRT-reviewable decision under s.411(1)(c) of the Act. The Tribunal finds that the applicant has made a valid application for review under s.412 of the Act. RELEVANT LAW Under s.65(1) a visa may be granted only if the decision maker is satisfied that the prescribed criteria for the visa have been satisfied.
    [Show full text]
  • Can Religious Pluralism Survive?
    THE PLIGHT OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES: CAN RELIGIOUS PLURALISM SURVIVE? HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION JUNE 30, 2006 Serial No. 109–202 Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/international—relations U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 28–430PDF WASHINGTON : 2006 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Mar 21 2002 16:45 Oct 11, 2006 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 F:\WORK\AGI\063006\28430.000 HINTREL1 PsN: SHIRL COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois, Chairman JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa TOM LANTOS, California CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, HOWARD L. BERMAN, California Vice Chairman GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York DAN BURTON, Indiana ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American ELTON GALLEGLY, California Samoa ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey DANA ROHRABACHER, California SHERROD BROWN, Ohio EDWARD R. ROYCE, California BRAD SHERMAN, California PETER T. KING, New York ROBERT WEXLER, Florida STEVE CHABOT, Ohio ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts RON PAUL, Texas GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York DARRELL ISSA, California BARBARA LEE, California JEFF FLAKE, Arizona JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia EARL BLUMENAUER, Oregon MARK GREEN, Wisconsin SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada JERRY WELLER, Illinois GRACE F.
    [Show full text]
  • Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2006 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor March 6, 2007
    Iran* Page 1 of 24 Iran* Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2006 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor March 6, 2007 The Islamic Republic of Iran, with a population of approximately 68 million, is a constitutional, theocratic republic in which Shi'a Muslim clergy dominate the key power structures. Article Four of the constitution states that "All laws and regulations…shall be based on Islamic principles." Government legitimacy is based on the twin pillars of popular sovereignty (Article Six) and the rule of the Supreme Jurisconsulate, or Supreme Leader (Article Five). The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dominated the tricameral structure of government (legislative, executive, and judicial branches). He was not directly elected but chosen by an elected body of religious leaders, the Assembly of Experts. Khamenei directly controlled the armed forces and exercised indirect control over the internal security forces, the judiciary, and other key institutions. Hardline conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the presidency in June 2005 in an election widely viewed as neither free nor fair. The legislative branch is the popularly elected 290-seat Islamic Consultative Assembly, or Majles. An unelected 12-member Guardian Council reviewed all legislation passed by the Majles for adherence to Islamic and constitutional principles and also screened presidential and Majles candidates for eligibility. The Majles was dominated by conservatives, due in part to the Guardian Council's extensive screening of candidates in the 2004 Majles elections. Prior to the June 2005 presidential elections, the Guardian Council excluded all but eight of the 1,014 candidates who registered, including all women.
    [Show full text]
  • The Persecuted Church Prayer Devotional the Persecuted Church Prayer Devotional Interceding for the Suffering Church
    pcpd.pdf 14/5/07 15:33:19 THE PERSECUTED CHURCH PRAYER DEVOTIONAL PRAYER THE PERSECUTED CHURCH THE PERSECUTED CHURCH PRAYER DEVOTIONAL INTERCEDING FOR THE SUFFERING CHURCH More Christians were martyred in the twentieth century than all previous centuries combined, and this onslaught has continued unabated into the new century. As Christians, it is our duty to be knowledgeable and to take action on behalf of those who are persecuted. One of the most essential actions we can take is to C stand in the gap by being on our knees in prayer. M The Persecuted Church Prayer Devotional lists over sixty Y countries in desperate need of prayer. It describes the past and CM present situation in each country and the challenges and MY opportunities for the future. Once well informed, you can use the CY INTERCEDING FOR THE SUFFERING CHURCH prayer points at the end of each country to help you focus on CMY specific areas of intercession. K This excellent resource will equip and mobilize Christians worldwide to take part in the lives of the persecuted church through prayer. BEVERLY J. PEGUES is the co-founder and president of the WINDOW INTERNATIONAL J. Pegues Beverly NETWORK, a Christian organization developed to inform, equip, and mobilize networks of prayer around the globe for the 10/40 Window. Beverly is a gifted and passionate speaker at conferences, churches, and retreats nationally and internationally. Beverly is an ordained minister with New Life Church in Colorado Springs where she resides. Missions / Prayer ISBN 978-1-932805-90-1 Beverly J. Pegues www.authenticbooks.com persecuted church prayer devo.ini i 5/11/2007 5:22:38 PM persecuted church prayer devo.iniii iii 5/11/2007 5:22:39 PM Authentic Publishing We welcome your questions and comments.
    [Show full text]
  • New Government Fails to Address Dire Human Rights Situation
    TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction. ............................................................................................................... 1 2. Repression of minorities ............................................................................................ 2 2.1 Ethnic Minorities ................................................................................................. 3 Minorities other than those referred to below, such as Baluchis, Turkmen, and nomads also suffer similar kinds of discrimination, but Amnesty International has not received information on specific human rights violations against members of these groups since President Ahmadinejad’s election ....................... 3 2.1.1 Arabs ............................................................................................................. 3 2.1.2 Kurds ............................................................................................................. 8 2.1.3 Azeri Turks ................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Religious Minorities ........................................................................................... 15 2.2.1 Christians .................................................................................................... 15 2.2.2 Baha’is ........................................................................................................ 16 3. Human Rights Defenders ......................................................................................... 19
    [Show full text]
  • 0800670 [2008] RRTA 147 (1 May 2008)
    0800670 [2008] RRTA 147 (1 May 2008) DECISION RECORD RRT CASE NUMBER: 0800670 COUNTRY OF REFERENCE: Iran TRIBUNAL MEMBER: Jennifer Ellis DATE DECISION SIGNED: 1 May 2008 PLACE OF DECISION: Melbourne DECISION: The Tribunal remits the matter for reconsideration with the following directions: (i) that the first named applicant satisfies s.36(2)(a) of the Migration Act, being a person to whom Australia has protection obligations under the Refugees Convention; and (ii) that the second and third named applicants satisfy s.36(2)(b)(i) of the Migration Act, being the dependants of the first named applicant. STATEMENT OF DECISION AND REASONS APPLICATION FOR REVIEW 1. This is an application for review of decisions made by a delegate of the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship to refuse to grant the applicants Protection (Class XA) visas under s.65 of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act). 2. The applicants, who claim to be citizens of Iran, arrived in Australia and applied to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for Protection (Class XA) visas. The delegate decided to refuse to grant the visas and notified the applicants of the decision and their review rights by letter. 3. The delegate refused the visa application on the basis that the first named applicant is not a person to whom Australia has protection obligations under the Refugees Convention. 4. The applicants applied to the Tribunal for review of the delegate’s decisions. 5. The Tribunal finds that the delegate’s decision is an RRT-reviewable decision under s.411(1)(c) of the Act.
    [Show full text]
  • World Directory of Minorities
    World Directory of Minorities Middle East MRG Directory –> Iran –> Christians Print Page Close Window Christians Profile The figure for the total number of Christians in Iran (of all denominations) has been estimated at between 200,000 and 250,000. The Armenians, Assyrians and Chaldeans represent the more traditional religious groupings in Iran and they constitute over 90% of Iran's Christian population. They do not carry out any missionary activities and this stance has proven critical to their survival. Iran's Christians may be categorised as ‘ethnic Christians' and ‘non-ethnic Christians', the former including Armenians, Assyrians and Chaldeans' and the latter primarily constituting Protestants and evangelicals. Historical context Armenians have lived in Iran for around four centuries. Several hundred thousand Armenians were brought to Iran from Armenia in the early seventeenth century by Shah Abbas for political and economic reasons, as merchants and artisans. Armenian Christians have their two representatives in the Iranian Parliament, in accordance with the Iranian Constitution. One seat is reserved for Armenians resident in Tehran and northern Iran, the other for Isfahan and southern Iran. The population of Armenians in Iran before the revolution was estimated at 300,000 and their population in the year 2000 at 150,000 by their own Archbishop Babian, though some quote the higher figure of 200,000). Many emigrated to Armenia after the revolution. Those that have remained have gone to some effort to insist on their good relations with the Iranian government, an example being the MP of the Armenians of northern Iran reportedly condemning UN censure of Iran for its treatment of religious minorities as being politically motivated, stating that the difficulties of religious minorities in Iran were less than those facing minorities in European countries and that domestic legal channels can be used to resolve any difficulties.
    [Show full text]
  • Council of Europe European Court of Human Rights
    COUNCIL OF EUROPE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS APPLICATION N° 40270/08 APPLICATION N° 36009/08 R. B. G. and Others M. B. and Others Applicants, Applicants, v. v. TURKEY TURKEY Respondent. Respondent. WRITTEN OBSERVATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE Filed on 13 APRIL 2009 0 The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) is an international non-for-profit law firm focusing on the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Europe and worldwide. The ECLJ is involved in numerous cases before national and international jurisdictions and Human Rights protection systems. The ECLJ has a special consultative status with ECOSOC and is accredited to the European Parliament. In these observations, the ECLJ submits a factual presentation of the plight of Muslims who have converted to Christianity in Iran, termed “apostasy,” and does not address the specific facts of this case or its Applicants. ECLJ first presents an overview of Iran’s current constitutional and statutory provisions for religious freedom; these observations detail the provisions and ramifications of Iran’s new Penal Code Article 225, regulating apostasy. ECLJ’s observations next discuss a number of recent cases involving Iranian “apostates” decided by national jurisdictions. Finally, ECLJ presents recent reports of persecution against “apostates” in Iran. I. Current Constitutional and Statutory Provisions in Iran The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran 1 recognizes Islam as the official religion 2 and requires that all laws and regulations conform to Islamic principles. 3 Concerning freedom of thought, conscience and religion, article 23 of the Constitution provides that the “investigation of individuals’ beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.” 4 This provision must be interpreted in accordance with Islamic principles applying to non-Muslims: “[T]he government .
    [Show full text]
  • Report on International Religious Freedom 2006: Iran
    Iran Page 1 of 9 Iran International Religious Freedom Report 2006 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor The constitution declares 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 a further deterioration of the extremely poor status of respect for religious freedom during the reporting period, most notably for Baha'is and Sufi Muslims. The country's religious minorities include Sunni and Sufi Muslims, Baha'is, Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians. There were reports of imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on religious beliefs. Government actions and rhetoric created a threatening atmosphere for nearly all religious minorities, especially Baha'is and Sufi Muslims. To a lesser extent, Zoroastrians, evangelical Christians, and the small Jewish community were also targets of government harassment. Government-controlled media, including broadcasting and print, intensified negative campaigns against religious minorities – particularly the Baha'is – following the June 2005 election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The U.S. government makes clear its objections to the Government's harsh and oppressive treatment of religious minorities through public statements, support for relevant U.N. and nongovernmental organization (NGO) efforts, as well as diplomatic initiatives towards states where religious freedom is a concern. Since 1999 the Secretary of State has designated Iran as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act for its particularly egregious violations of religious freedom. In 2003, the U.N. General Assembly passed Resolution 58/195 on the human rights situation in the country; it expressed serious concern about the continued discrimination against religious minorities by the Government.
    [Show full text]
  • Märtyrer 2006 Das Jahrbuch Zur Christenverfolgung Heute Idea-Dokumentation 9/2006 Studien Zur Religionsfreiheit Studies in Religious Freedom
    Die Ausgabe 2006 des Jahrbuches ‚Märtyrer‘ enthält neben theologischen Beiträgen von Prof. Manfred Seitz, Präses i. R. Manfred Kock u. a. und politischen Beiträgen zur Bedeutung des Menschenrechtes auf Religionsfreiheit von Prof. Thomas Schirrmacher Märtyrer 2006 und zum Verhältnis von Religion und Staat von Thomas Zimmermanns vor allem ausführliche Lageberichte zu den beiden Schwerpunktländern des Weltweiten Gebetstages für verfolgte Christen Iran (Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe) und Das Jahrbuch zur Nordkorea (Bericht an den US-Senat), sowie zum Irak (UN-Flüchtlingskommis-sar), zur Dokumentation Türkei (Prof. Grulich) und zu Israel samt den Palästinensischen Autonomiegebieten - (Johannes Gerlof, KEP). Max Klingberg beschreibt in seinem jährlichen Bericht die Christenverfolgung Lage der Religionsfreiheit und der Christenverfolgung weltweit. idea „Die Alternative wird in Zukunft nicht sein, ob wir alle Staaten und Religionen heute dafür gewinnen können, ganz darauf zu verzichten, andere Menschen für ihre herausgegeben von Religion zu gewinnen, also ob es uns gelingt im Sinne areligiöser Menschen ganz auf Mission zu verzichten – als würde der Atheismus nicht ebenso missionarisch Max Klingberg, Thomas Schirrmacher und Ron Kubsch weltweit verbreitet. Die Alternative wird sein, ob wir alle Staaten und Religionen dafür gewinnen können, friedliche Missionsarbeit untereinander zu ermöglichen, und dafür auf jeden gewaltmäßigen oder gesellschaftlichen Druck zu verzichten, oder ob die Ausbreitung und Sicherung der Religionen statt durch Mission
    [Show full text]