WASHINGTON — A new State Department report has found that religious freedom is on the decline in Iran.
Officials said all of the non-Muslim
minorities in Iran, including Bahais and Jews, were affected.
The State Department cited Iran and Saudi Arabia as two of eight
countries regarded as those of "particular concern." The other countries
were Burma, China, Eritrea, North Korea, Sudan and Vietnam.
Religious freedom has improved in Saudi Arabia, U.S. ambassador John Hanford, responsible for
international religious freedom, said.
Over the last two years, the Bush administration has twice waived sanctions
imposed on the kingdom in connection with its record on religious rights.
The
sanctions were to have included restrictions on U.S. arms exports.
The department did not report any change in Saudi policy, which allows
only the practice of the Wahabi sect of Islam. Instead, the report cited
calls of tolerance by King Abdullah and other Saudi officials.
"There generally was no change in the status of religious freedom during
the reporting period," the report said. "However, the government identified
and confirmed its policies with regard to religious practice and tolerance
in a number of key areas. The government continued a campaign against
religious extremism, and top officials, including the king, continued to
call for the promotion of tolerance."
The department report released on Sept. 15 asserted that religious
freedom was deteriorating in Iran. Bahais and
Sufi Muslims in Iran have not been permitted to practice their faith.
"While democracy and respect for basic freedoms have gained ground
throughout the world, many governments still pay no more than lip service to
their responsibilities under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
other international agreements," Hanford said.
"We hope this report will serve as a source of encouragement for those
whose plight is documented in this report," Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice said.
"We see things moving in the right direction," Hanford said.
The department report said Israel was restricting Palestinian rights to
places of worship. The report cited security restrictions on Palestinian
entry to Jerusalem's Temple Mount, the scenes of severe rioting.
The Palestinian Authority was also accused of violating the rights of
Christians. The report said the PA was working with criminals to seize land
from Christians.
