2015 U.S. Report on Religious Freedoms: '380 Members of Religious Minorities in Iran are Imprisoned'

On Wednesday, August 10, the U.S. Department of State released its annual report on religious freedoms worldwide, reiterating the ongoing restrictions imposed on religious minorities in various countries, including Iran. The report highlights documented cases of continued religious intolerance and emphasizes that all countries are committed to respecting the religious freedom and beliefs of their people. Antony Blinken, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, began a press conference discussing the 2015 report on the state of religious freedoms globally by referencing the brutal murder of a 19-year-old Afghan citizen named 'Farkhunda Malekzadeh' by a group of extremists in Kabul, and cited other instances of violations of religious freedoms in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, while also stressing the role of non-state actors like the Islamic State in suppressing individuals who adhere to different beliefs. Blinken stated, 'Previously, the State Department's reports were limited to government actions, but now terrorist groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, and Boko Haram have also joined the ranks of major violators of religious freedoms.' In the section regarding religious restrictions in Iran, the report first mentions the execution of twenty individuals accused of 'waging war against God,' noting that among those executed were Sunni Kurdish Iranians. Additionally, several other Sunni prisoners, including clerics of this sect, are awaiting execution. The U.S. government report cites the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, stating that by the end of the previous year, at least 380 members of religious minorities were imprisoned in the Islamic Republic, including approximately 250 Sunni Muslims, 82 Bahá'ís, 26 Christian converts, 16 Sufis, and two Zoroastrians. The U.S. Department of State, quoting representatives of the Bahá'í faith in its annual report, stated that the Iranian government continues to prevent Bahá'í religious gatherings and normal activities of their institutions, harasses Bahá'í believers, and does not recognize their ownership of properties. The report also mentions that regarding Christians, especially Christian converts, exiled Iranians have reported that harassment and arrest of these converts occur at an disproportionate level. Antony Blinken emphasized that the United States firmly believes in religious freedom for all people. He stated, 'In the 21st century, the true wealth of countries lies in their human resources and their ability to utilize these capabilities while respecting freedom.' The Deputy Secretary of State added, 'Countries that can fully utilize their people's potential and invest in the health, comfort, and diversity of their communities will succeed in the 21st century.' The annual U.S. report also dedicates a section to the restrictions and trends of violations of religious freedoms in Saudi Arabia, condemning the intolerance of officials towards other religious believers. The report briefly mentions instances of violations of the religious rights of citizens in over twenty countries and notes that in 2015, the second-largest Catholic church was opened in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.