E/CN.4/1996/95/Add.2
page 12
minority and to the rights deriving from such recognition, as provided for in
article 13 of the Constitution, in particular, freedom to organize worship
according to their laws, religious teachings and customs.
49.
The Sunni representatives said that their religious instruction is
specifically suited to their beliefs and that information on other religions
was also provided. The Deputy Minister of Education said that Sunni teachers
took part in the preparation of religious textbooks.
50.
With regard to places of worship, the Special Rapporteur was informed
that there was no Sunni mosque in Tehran, even though the Sunni community
would like to finance the construction of its own place of worship.
As a
result of that situation, Sunni worshippers now go to a Pakistani school and a
Saudi club in Tehran for prayers. The Deputy Minister of Justice recalled
that, according to Islam, any Muslim could pray in any Muslim place of
worship, whether he was Shiite, Sunni or of another denomination. The Deputy
Minister of Legal and International Affairs said that there was no legal
prohibition on the construction of Sunni places of worship, that the Sunni
community was few in number in Tehran and that it had no difficulty in praying
in Shiite mosques.
51.
Referring to information that a Sunni place of worship had allegedly been
destroyed in Mashhad as part of an urban development programme, the Sunni
representatives and the authorities indicated that a discussion had been held
to determine whether it had been a mosque or a caravanserai. It finally
turned out that there had been no mosque, but that there were plans to build
one. The authorities also offered some land for the construction of a Sunni
mosque. The Government representatives said that Shiite and Sunni mosques in
Iran had been destroyed for the good of the population as part of urban
development plans and that the Sunni community had many mosques in Iran.
52.
The Adviser to the President on Sunni religious affairs emphasized that
there was no religious conflict between Shiites and Sunnis and said that there
were sometimes problems of smuggling and terrorism on Iran’s borders. He drew
attention to the presence of ultra-fanatic Sunnis, a problem that affected all
religions. He also said that there were no suspicions against the Sunnis,
especially because of their loyalty to the regime. The official
representatives said that they did not want the Sunni question to be used for
political purposes against Iran.
(b)
Other fields
53.
The Sunni representatives said that they did not encounter any obstacles
by the authorities in the political, socio-cultural, educational, professional
or other fields.
B.
Situation of other non-Muslim minorities
54.
The Special Rapporteur has given attention to the situation of both the
Baha’is and the Protestants.