U.S. Criticism of Religious Minority Rights Violations in Iran

The Vice President of the United States on Thursday referred to the violation of religious minority rights by the Islamic Republic, encouraging the people of Iran to pursue freedom and peace. Previously, the U.S. Secretary of State had also criticized the persecution of religious minorities in Iran. Mike Pence, the Vice President under Donald Trump, on August 4 at a State Department meeting on 'Advancing Religious Freedom', called the Islamic Republic 'the main state sponsor of terrorism' and stated: 'The people of Iran do not enjoy many freedoms, if they have any freedom at all, the least of which is freedom of religion.' Speaking before representatives from 80 countries in Washington, Mr. Pence emphasized the violation of religious minority rights in Iran, stating that religious minorities are imprisoned, persecuted, and in some cases killed. He noted that in 2016, the Islamic Republic executed 20 Kurdish citizens on charges of 'moharebeh' (waging war against God). The U.S. Vice President further added: 'The people of the United States have a message for the suffering people of Iran: Know that we are with you, even as we stand against the threats and wicked actions of your leaders in Tehran. We pray for you and encourage you, the good people of Iran, to courageously continue your path toward a free and peaceful future.' These remarks came just two days after Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, also criticized the situation of religious minorities in Iran. Mr. Pompeo, on August 2 in an article published on the American website 'USA Today', began his piece by referencing the execution of Mohammad Salas, a Gonabadi dervish, and emphasized that religious minorities are not tolerated by the Islamic Republic. He specifically pointed out the persecution of minorities in Iran and China, stating that this approach must end and called for universal participation in this regard. On August 1, the Secretary of State had expressed similar sentiments regarding religious minorities in Iran to Iranians residing in California. The U.S. State Department also expressed concern in its annual religious freedom report in June of this year regarding the status of religious minorities in Iran, criticizing the repression of Christian converts and Baha'is in Iran. At that time, the Iranian Foreign Ministry described the report as 'political, unrealistic, and unacceptable.'