Freedom and equality of religion Human rights in Iran

the constitution recognizes freedom of zoroastrian, jewish, , christian iranians perform religious rites , ceremonies, , accords non-shia muslims full respect (article 12). bahá í faith banned. islamic republic has stated baha or leadership organized establishment linked foreigners, zionists in particular, threaten iran. international federation human rights , others believe government s policy of persecution of bahá ís stems bahá í teachings challenging traditional islamic religious doctrines – particularly finality of muhammad s prophethood – , place bahá ís outside islamic faith. irreligious people not recognized , not have basic rights such education, becoming member of parliament etc.

hudud statutes grant different punishments muslims , non-muslims same crime. in case of adultery, example, muslim man convicted of committing adultery muslim woman receives 100 lashes; sentence non-muslim man convicted of adultery muslim woman death. in 2004, inequality of blood money (diyeh) eliminated, , amount paid perpetrator death or wounding christian, jew, or zoroastrian man, made same muslim. however, international religious freedom report reports baha not included in provision , blood considered mobah, (i.e. can spilled impunity).

freedom convert islam religion (apostasy) prohibited, , may punishable death. article 23 of constitution states, investigation of individuals beliefs forbidden, , no 1 may molested or taken task holding belief. article, 167, gives judges discretion deliver judgment on basis of authoritative islamic sources , authentic fatwa (rulings issued qualified clerical jurists). founder of islamic republic, islamic cleric ruhollah khomeini, grand ayatollah, ruled penalty conversion islam, or apostasy, death.

at least 2 iranians – hashem aghajari , hasan yousefi eshkevari – have been arrested , charged apostasy (though not executed), not converting faith statements and/or activities deemed courts of islamic republic in violation of islam, appear outsiders expressions of political/religious reformism. hashem aghajari, found guilty of apostasy speech urging iranians not blindly follow islamic clerics; hassan youssefi eshkevari charged apostasy attending reformist-oriented iran after elections conference in berlin germany disrupted anti-government demonstrators.

the small protestant christian minority in iran have been subject islamic government suspicion , hostility according human rights watch @ least in part because of readiness accept , seek out muslim converts western origins. in 1990s, 2 muslim converts christianity had become ministers sentenced death apostasy , other charges.