Nov 03

WHEN:

Nov 3rd 10:00am - Nov 3rd 11:00am

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

USCIRF Conversation: Iranian Government Propaganda Against Religious Minorities

Thursday, November 3, 2022
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
Virtual Event

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted a virtual discussion of USCIRF’s recent report on Iranian government propaganda and abuses against religious minorities, in light of the brutal crackdowns, arrests, and killings of peaceful protestors against the mandatory religious headscarf (hijab) laws.

Iran’s government uses both traditional and social media to incite intolerance against the country’s many religious minority communities, including Jews, Sunni Muslims, Gonabadi Sufis, Christian converts, and Baha’is. This propaganda promotes false narratives that Iranian religious minorities are disloyal and serves to justify the Iranian government’s ongoing and systematic crackdown on these groups.

The report, which draws on primary source Persian-language material, finds that Iran’s government commonly accuses religious minorities of having ties to foreign states and wishing to sow discord within the country. Iranian propaganda accuses Jews of being responsible for Iran’s economic problems and of being spies for Israel. Sunnis are framed as a demographic threat to the country’s Shi’a majority and therefore a national security threat. Iran’s propaganda falsely accuses Gonabadi Sufis of being a violent sect tied to foreign entities. It calls Christian converts members of a “Zionist evangelist cult” engaged in widespread security efforts against Iran. Baha’is are discussed as a deviant sect of Islam and a treasonous group with deviant moral practices. These messages serve to justify the Iranian government’s ongoing religious freedom violations.

USCIRF Commissioner Eric Ueland led the discussion with Shahin Milani, Executive Director of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center and author of the report.

Panelists

  • Eric Ueland, Commissioner, USCIRF
  • Shahin Milani, Executive Director, Iran Human Rights Documentation Center
     

Moderator

  • Scott Weiner, Supervisory Policy Analyst, USCIRF

 

This virtual event is open to the public and media. The video recording will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Azerbaijan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: July/25/2022

Date of Release: November/1/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Conscientious Objection Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Royal Karimov

Extra Bio Info:

Royal Karimov was detained for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On July 25, 2022, officers from the Gadabay District State Service for Mobilization and Conscription detained Karimov and brought him to the police station after summoning him for military service. Upon arriving to the office, Karimov conscientiously objected to military service and instead asked for a alternative civilian service. The following day, Karimov was taken to a military unit in Ganca.

On November 1, 2022, Karimov was released from the military unit in Ganca. 

Publicly Available Information:
 

Additional Name(s): Augustine Cui Tai, Agostino Cui Tai, 崔泰, 崔太

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: China

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: June/19/2020

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Cui Tai

Extra Bio Info:

Cui Tai is detained for his religious leadership role.

On June 19, 2020, police in Zhangjiakou municipality, Hebei province, detained Cui Tai, a Catholic bishop, reportedly in relation to his religious leadership activities as a bishop unrecognized by the government.

Publicly Available Information:
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