Iran Rejects US Report on Religious Freedom
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed an annual report by the US government on the religious freedom in Iran as unrealistic and biased, saying the politically motivated report presents a distorted and spiteful image of freedom of religions in the country.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Wednesday slammed the US Department of State’s report on religious freedom in Iran as an “unrealistic, baseless and biased” document that has been prepared to serve only political purposes.
“The report has once again presented a distorted and political image of the status of religious freedoms in the Islamic Republic of Iran along with wrong allegations, and is undoubtedly unacceptable and rejected,” the spokesperson added.
In order for the settlement of religious disputes, it is necessary to avoid politicization of religious issues and respect the followers of all divine religions, Qassemi said, deploring the US government for ignoring this fact and seeking instead to make political gains from the religious diversity in some countries.
Highlighting the constitutional right to religious freedom in Iran, the spokesperson hit back at the US government for its dark record of racial and religious discrimination, Islamophobia and xenophobia, as well as violent attacks and police brutality against Muslims.
“The US government is expected to take legal and practical measures as soon as possible to protect freedom of religion, and particularly make sure that Muslims’ rights are respected in the US, instead of judging the status of freedom of religion in other countries,” he concluded.