Iranian Believers Are Being Unjustly Persecuted

The Iranian Government is notorious for its intolerant approach to beliefs or religions that do not comply with the system of their government. 

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light has members and believers in many different parts of the world – including Iran.

Unfortunately, the government was unable to respect the choice of these citizens of theirs to believe in this religion. The Iranian Government made the unfortunate and unjust decision to persecute and arrest these believers, regardless of their total innocence from any crime, and irrespective even of the ages of the members.

On the 15th of December 2022, 15 Iranian members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light were arrested and taken to the Evin Prison of Iran. The group was targeted because of their belief in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, and have been scheduled to appear in front of the Clergy Court in Tehran.

Two of the 15 men had already been previously jailed because of their faith in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, although they have no criminal record.

Three others are minors, and two are women. The passports of four of them have also been confiscated.

We as a religion and as a peace-loving people who believe in God and in the God-given right for every individual to choose their religion, are outraged that these innocent believers are being treated with such oppression and abuse, men, women and children alike.

We demand the immediate release of our members in Iran, and urge all international human rights organisations to address this gross violation of human rights and freedom of belief at the hands of the Iranian government.

We are concerned over the safety and life of this group who have been labelled as heretics and infidels in Iran, we are also concerned over the safety of the two detained Iranian women who, as part of their belief in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light do not wear the headscarf. They based this choice on the fact that the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light teaches that the head covering is optional and not obligatory.

Our members in Iran have been subjected to all forms of religious discrimination, imprisonment, and torture at the hands of the Iranian police for no crime committed, but for simply exercising their most basic human right to believe in what they want to believe in.