The Islamic Republic of Iran has rejected the vast majority of substantive recommendations made by UN member states at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, including regarding its treatment of religious minorities.

Of the 346 recommendations made in its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Islamic Republic rejected 186, accepted 142 and “noted” a further 18.

And of the recommendations pertaining to the rights of religious minorities, the only recommendations that were accepted were the four that referenced broad “protection” of minority rights and two others that referred to the promotion of “tolerance” between religions. Another recommendation to “combat the spread of negative stereotypes against minority groups” was noted.

However, 26 recommendations relating directly to the treatment of minorities including Christians – and most highlighting the discrimination and persecution they experience – were rejected.

These recommendations included calls to provide all Iranians with freedom of religion or belief (FoRB); the rights to peaceful assembly and association; freedom of worship and expression; and to officially recognise all religious minorities – and not only Jews, Zoroastrians and Christians of Armenian and Assyrian ethnicity. (A list of these recommendations and the countries that made them can be found at the bottom of this article.)

The Islamic Republic’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, claimed yesterday at the presentation of Iran’s response to the recommendations that “all Iranian citizens enjoy civil, political and social rights without discrimination”, while “recognised religious minorities enjoy the freedom to practise their own religion and enjoy their own cultural and religious institutions”. 

In its official written response to the recommendations, the Islamic Republic said it had rejected recommendations “due to their manifest contradiction with existing laws or their reliance upon unfounded allegations and inappropriate language”.

It added that “freedom of worship and expression is … guaranteed in Articles 23, 24 and 26 of the Constitution”, while “followers of religious minorities are free to hold their religious and worship ceremonies”.

“About 300 churches, 16 synagogues and 78 Zoroastrian places of worship freely practice their religious duties in different parts of Iran,” the document added.

In January, Dr Khataza Gondwe of CSW noted at a joint side-event with Article18 held ahead of Iran’s UPR that while “the number of churches may be a reasonable approximation, not all were ‘operating without hinderance’”.

“Most of the 300-odd churches predate the 1979 Revolution,” she said. “It would have been more accurate if the Iranian authorities had also divulged how many of the churches are still able to function as worship centres. In addition, knowing how many of these churches were constructed after the Islamic Republic was established would serve as an important indicator of the situation of freedom of religion or belief in the country.”

The Islamic Republic also stated in its written response that 40 churches had been “reconstructed and renovated with the financial support of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, and 57 organizations and associations related to religious minorities pursue the religious issues of minorities and receive annual financial support from the government”.

A similar statement was made by the Assyrian MP who attended Iran’s UPR in January, Sharli Envieh, but no mention was made about the many church buildings that have been forcibly closed or repurposed, including the home of the former Anglican bishop of Iran and church of the murdered head of the Assemblies of God denomination in Iran. (You can read more about Article18’s side event in January and comparisons to the Islamic Republic’s own event here.)

Of the countries that were able to provide a verbal response yesterday, the representatives of Belgium and Albania both expressed regret that their recommendations – both of which called for an end to discrimination on religious grounds in Iran – had not been accepted.

Meanwhile, the representative of Minority Rights Group noted that Iran had rejected 85% of recommendations related to the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, saying: “Iran’s response to the UPR demonstrates a lack of acknowledgement that many of the issues of concern raised by states even exist … [including] torture in detention [and] discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities. 

“Iran flatly denies all of these well-documented pattern of violations. Denial of the mere existence of these problems constitute in itself an obstacle to accountability.”

The representative of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, meanwhile, noted that while Iran claimed to “recognise the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly”, it had “rejected 13 of 16 recommendations on freedom of expression, 11 of recommendations on freedom of assembly, and three of four recommendations on freedom of association”.

Recommendations related to religious minorities

Accepted

38.149 Continue initiatives in promoting dialogue, cooperation and tolerance between different cultures and religions (Armenia);

38.159 Continue to strengthen efforts in promoting religious tolerance to foster peaceful coexistence and social harmony (Sierra Leone);

38.56 Continue to strengthen normative and institutional human rights frameworks in line with international human rights obligations, especially as regards women, children, persons with disabilities and minority groups (Philippines);

38.296 Continue implementing its national policy particularly with regard to the social protection programmes that support women, children and minority rights (Cambodia);

38.332 Continue strengthening the protection and promotion of minority rights by ensuring their full and equal participation in all aspects of political, social and administrative life (Ethiopia);

38.334 Redouble efforts to promote and protect the rights of minorities (Japan).

Noted

38.333 Intensify efforts to combat the spread of negative stereotypes against minority groups and non-citizens (Congo);

Rejected

38.74 End all forms of discrimination and persecution on the basis of persons’ religion or belief (Greece);

38.75 Eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination on an ethnic or religious basis (France);

38.76 Review and repeal legislation and policies that discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief, sexual orientation and gender identity (New Zealand);

38.104 End the execution of death sentences and abolish the death penalty entirely, especially for political and religious offences and non-violent crimes such as drug offences and, most eminently, for minors (Germany);

38.157 Adjust national legislation, in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in order to ensure the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons regardless of religion and ethnicity (Ukraine);

38.153 Ensure freedom of worship and expression, respecting fundamental rights, and repeal provisions that violate them (Argentina);

38.324  End discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities (Germany);

38.325  Take measures necessary to combat discrimination against members of all ethnic or religious minorities and address the structural socioeconomic inequalities suffered by provinces inhabited mainly by these minorities (Switzerland);

38.328 End discrimination against all religious, ethnic and sexual minorities (Czechia);

38.329 Prohibit any form of discrimination and marginalization of ethnic and/or religious minorities and ensure their social inclusion and protection against all forms of violence (Mexico);

38.330 Ensure that the rights of all minorities in social and religious life are fully protected (Malta);

38.158 Bring the Iranian Constitution in line with international human rights law and ensure that all religious minorities, including the Baha’i, are recognized and can fully enjoy the right to freedom of religion or belief (Austria);

38.315 End the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, including Baha’i, Kurds, Ahwazi, Baloch and Turkmen (Luxembourg);

38.261 Abolish all laws, regulations and procedures that discriminate directly against all women and girls, especially towards Baha’i women who are arbitrarily arrested and detained and ensure their protection from further harassment (North Macedonia);

38.318 Adopt concrete measures to eliminate discrimination and enhance the protection of the human rights of the Baha’is and other minority communities in the country (Marshall Islands);

38.317 Guarantee religious freedom and freedom of conscience for minorities such as the Baha’i community, taking concrete measures to eliminate discrimination and improve their protection (Spain);

38.320 End persecution and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, including Baha’is (Albania);

38.321 Take the necessary measures to guarantee equal rights for all citizens and counter the discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, with particular regard to Baha’is (Italy);

38.322 End discrimination on any grounds, including against religious minorities such as the Baha’is (Estonia);

38.323 Ensure respect of the rights of religious minorities by ceasing all forms of discrimination and persecution of Baha’i and other religious communities (Lithuania);

38.319 Eliminate all forms of discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities, including Baha’is, Christians and Ahwazi Arabs, and ensure respect for their religious freedoms and cultural rights (Costa Rica);

38.326 Ensure that the constitutional and legislative order guarantees the enjoyment of all human rights on an equal basis to all religious minorities, including Baha’is, Christians, Jews and Muslims of every denomination on an equal basis (Belgium);

38.327 Repeal all laws and practices that discriminate against ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha’is, Ahwazi Arabs, Balochis, Kurds and Sunni Muslims, among others (Canada);

38.316 End the persecution of minorities and ensure equal access to education, employment and social services (Israel);

38.162 Revise existing legislation to ensure that it does not unduly restrict the exercise of freedom of assembly and expression in ways that are incompatible with international human rights law, especially by minority groups and journalists (Ghana);

38.77 Abolish discriminatory legal provisions against minorities and women and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Norway);