U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: Concerned About Intensified Pressure on Religious Minorities in Iran

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a statement commemorating the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in the custody of the Islamic Republic of Iran's police, expressing concern over the intensified pressure on religious minorities in Iran and the detention of their leaders. The statement noted that Mahsa Amini's death sparked nationwide protests in Iran against mandatory hijab laws and numerous other instances of religious freedom violations. In response to these protests, the Iranian government has targeted minority communities, including Baha'is, Christians, and Sunnis, and has suppressed women and girls who peacefully oppose the government's interpretations of Islam. Suzy Gelman, a commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, called for the U.S. government to reaffirm its commitment to supporting Iranians who risk their lives to demand freedom of religion or belief. She also urged Congress to implement the bipartisan amendment known as the 'Lautenberg Amendment' to facilitate legal pathways for Iranian religious minorities fleeing government persecution. The statement from this U.S. agency also referenced the 'brutal violence' of the Iranian government, including against minors and sexual assaults on them. It also mentioned the increased pressure on Christians in Iran, stating that Assyrian community leaders were told not to support protests. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reported that many Sunni religious leaders, including those calling for peaceful dialogue between protesters and the government, have also been detained by the Islamic Republic, and the campaign against Baha'is has intensified again. Eric Ueland, a commissioner of this agency, described the detention of religious leaders, especially the renewed detention of Baha'i leaders in Iran, as 'extremely concerning.' He urged the Biden administration to impose more multilateral sanctions to hold Iranian leaders accountable for unjustifiable violations of religious freedom and to support a United Nations Security Council resolution to refer the Islamic Republic of Iran's case to the International Criminal Court. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recently published a report detailing the state of religious freedom in Iran following the protests of 2022. In its 2023 annual report, it recommended to the U.S. Department of State that the Islamic Republic of Iran be designated as a 'country of particular concern' due to systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedoms. This commission held a hearing in January 2023 on religious freedom and women's rights in Iran. The list of victims of religious freedom or belief from this agency includes nearly 200 individuals currently detained in Iran. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent entity from the U.S. federal government established in 1998 under the 'International Religious Freedom Act' to promote human rights in religious freedom as a key principle of U.S. foreign policy. President Joe Biden also issued a statement on Friday, September 15, marking the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. In this statement, Biden emphasized the continued commitment of Iranian citizens to this movement and their struggle for a free and democratic future despite government violence, stating that Iranians will determine their own country's fate, but the U.S. will remain committed to standing by them and will provide tools to empower them to defend their future. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Friday, September 15, that the thirteenth round of U.S. sanctions is being imposed in response to the 'brutal suppression of protests by the regime.' The statement, published on the official website of the U.S. Department of State, noted that the U.S. is also taking steps to impose visa restrictions on 13 Iranian officials and others involved in the detention or killing of peaceful protesters or obstructing their rights to freedom of expression or assembly. Blinken stated that since Mahsa Amini's death and the subsequent protests, visa restrictions have been imposed on 40 Iranian officials and others for their involvement in the suppression of peaceful protesters. The Secretary of State said, 'A year ago, the tragic and senseless death of Mahsa in the custody of the so-called 'morality police' of Iran sparked protests across Iran that faced unimaginable violence, mass arrests, systematic internet disruptions, and censorship by the Iranian regime.' The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the 'Mahsa Law' with 410 votes in favor and three against. This law will require the government to sanction senior officials of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Khamenei, for 'suppressing the protests of the Iranian people' and 'violating human rights.' Mawlawi Abdulhamid stated: 'The awakening of the Iranian nation is the beginning of victory; Mahsa's death was painful for all people.' On the anniversary of Mahsa, the U.S. sanctioned 25 Iranian individuals, three government-supported media outlets, and one internet company. The anniversary of Mahsa: Exclusive; Javide Rahman: A very 'disastrous' year in terms of human rights violations. The anniversary of Mahsa: The U.S. sanctioned dozens of officials and entities responsible for the violent suppression of protesters. The statement from the President of the United States on the anniversary of Mahsa: We will remain committed to standing by the people of Iran.