Minorities: From Zarif’s imaginary world to the reality of discrimination in the Islamic Republic 

Minorities: From Zarif’s imaginary world to the reality of discrimination in the Islamic Republic 

Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasises “positive discrimination” for women and minorities, but it is the Islamic Republic that has been the main source of discrimination and oppression.

Iran ‘election’: When minorities become ‘citizens’ for a few days

Iran ‘election’: When minorities become ‘citizens’ for a few days

Iran’s hand-picked presidential candidates have used some nice phrases in recent weeks about the rights and “dignity” of the people of Iran in general, and women and minorities in particular, but they have lacked any substance.

Mehdi Dibaj’s final defence

Mehdi Dibaj’s final defence

Rev Mehdi Dibaj’s final defence, before he was sentenced to death for “apostasy”, was published in full by The Times […]

‘Persecution of church members started first week of Revolution’

‘Persecution of church members started first week of Revolution’

As the 45th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution approaches, Article18 uses extracts from the book of the former bishop of […]

Religious minorities in Iran face cultural violence

Religious minorities in Iran face cultural violence

How education, art, urbanism and religious discourse have been weaponised by the Iranian state

10 rights Iranian Christians are denied on 75th anniversary of declaration

10 rights Iranian Christians are denied on 75th anniversary of declaration

On the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, here are 10 rights that have been denied to […]

‘Hezbollahis’ – the minority that rules over the majority in Iran

‘Hezbollahis’ – the minority that rules over the majority in Iran

“Iran belongs to Hezbollahis.” These words, from the director of a Quranic institute near the Iranian capital, broadcasted recently on […]

Challenges remain despite UK’s fast-tracking of Iranian asylum-seekers

Challenges remain despite UK’s fast-tracking of Iranian asylum-seekers

The director of an organisation that supports refugees in the UK, including Iranian Christians, has spoken to Article18 about the […]

‘Wherever we went, intelligence agents would follow our car and take pictures of us’

‘Wherever we went, intelligence agents would follow our car and take pictures of us’

“During my life in Tehran we were shadowed all the time by officers of the Ministry of Intelligence and the police,” says Iranian-Assyrian Christian Dabrina Bet-Tamraz.

‘Many Iranians don’t even know recognised religious communities are repressed’

‘Many Iranians don’t even know recognised religious communities are repressed’

“I faced oppression from a very early age,” explains Dabrina Bet-Tamraz, the daughter of Iranian-Assyrian church leaders.