Iran Condemns US Meeting Statement on Religious Freedom

Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed a statement released in a ministerial meeting on religious freedom hosted by the US State Department, saying the allegations raised against Iran in the statement are based on false and biased information.

News ID: 71477

Date: 31 July 2018 - 10:31

TEHRAN (Defapress) – Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Monday condemned the statement of the ‘Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom’ meeting held by the US State Department that claims there is a “terrible religious freedom situation” in Iran.

One of the anti-Iran statements in the Washington meeting signed by US, Canada, Djibouti, Kosovo, and the United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of discrimination against religious minorities.

In his response, Qassemi slammed the anti-Iran statement as brazen interference in the internal affairs of the Islamic Republic and one that is based on incorrect, biased and unreal data.

“The US and others that violate and ignore the most natural and basic human rights are in no position to make biased and one-sided judgments on other countries with cultural diversity,” he added.

Highlighting the freedom of religion guaranteed by Iran’s Constitution, the spokesman said, “Iran’s history has always witnessed the peaceful co-existence of diverse religions, and currently, all monotheistic religions in Iran enjoy full civil rights and are actively represented in the Parliament and other elected bodies.”

He also condemned US Vice President Mike Pence’s “imaginary analysis” on freedom of religion in Iran, saying that Iranians with all religions and ethnicities have freely performed their religious rites in sanctuaries across the country throughout history.

message end/