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TEHERAN – The Iranian President’s Advisor on Ethnic and Religious Minorities said it was necessary to respect the rights of minorities in Iran, IRNA reported on Saturday.
“All the great heavenly messengers have come to invite people to respect morality and to submit to God’s commandment,” said Mamosta Abdolsalam Karimi at a meeting with representatives of religious minorities in parliament.
“All of us, adherents of monotheistic religions, must submit to God’s command. Since all the prophets of the divine religions were united in the observance of the principles and the observance of morality, it is advisable for us, the followers of the religions, to live peacefully and to deal with one another on the basis of justice and good morality ” Karimi explained.
Karimi also pointed to the declining birth rate in the country, saying the population decline in recent years requires serious attention.
The presidential adviser went on to say that the Islamic Revolution’s approach is justice-based and universal, so everything must be based on rationality and social justice, not on ethnic and sectarian sentiments and prejudices.
Karimi pointed out that religious minorities were at the side of their Shiite brothers in the uprisings that led to the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and in the fight against the invading Saddam army during the Holy Defense in the 1980s.
The adviser remarked: “Since all Iranian tribes and followers of monotheistic religions defended the borders of this Islamic homeland during the Revolution and the Holy Defense, we also firmly believe that under the constitution all dear Iranians of every race and religion should have a role in the Play administration of the country. “
The constitution is the national federation of all Iranians and added that the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran is the federation of all those who love this proud homeland and the new Islamic civilization.
“Therefore, according to the constitution, the participation of all Iranians must be observed; and on the other hand, all ethnicities, religions and sects must respect the constitution of the country. “
Mamousta Karimi added: “The demands of all Iranians, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the repeated declarations of the late Imam Khomeini and the Supreme Leader, must be prosecuted, and we are obliged to pursue legal claims.”
The advisor also emphasized that the problems and concerns of the followers of monotheistic religions would be examined in consultation with the MPs and that a suitable solution strategy would be developed in cooperation with the educated classes.
During the meeting, Robert Beglarian, MP for the Armenian Community in Isfahan and Southern Iran in Parliament said: “I was very happy to learn that the President had chosen an educated citizen from a religious minority as his advisor.”
“The view that religious minorities are an opportunity for us needs to be redefined and clarified,” Beglarian said, adding that the way monotheists view administration needs to be revised.
Homayoon Sameh Yeh, representative of the Jewish community in Parliament, also said, “We, the Jewish community, had several key demands which were positively answered, and we hope that the rest of our demands will be met through your efforts.”
He asked Karimi to appoint one of his religious minority advisors.
Sameh Yeh added, “Addressing the concerns and demands of religious minorities will create cohesion and strengthen the relationship between the religious community and the administration. In addition, such actions are in line with national interests and help the Islamic Republic of Iran in international bodies, (in particular) on human rights issues. “
Ara Shaverdian, a representative of the Armenians in Tehran and Northern Iran, also said: “Our main question is how this consultation will help the Armenian community and the followers of monotheistic religions. Is there support from the cultural and scientific centers for followers of monotheistic religions? “
In his address to Karimi, Shaverdian emphasized: “It is very gratifying that you belong to a religious minority and have been appointed as adviser to the President, and we hope that positive and effective action will be taken in this new era.”
“We expect from the administration and from this minority consultation that the human dignity and public rights of adherents of monotheistic religions are fully supported,” said Charlie Anviyeh Tekiyeh, representative of the Assyrian-Chaldean Christians in parliament.
For his part, Esfandiar Ekhtiari, the representative of the Zoroastrians in Parliament, remarked: “In general we are all, the representatives of the followers of monotheistic religions, with the system. Although our population is declining, and this is a grave alarm, the existing population is influential and important too. “
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