Earlier this year, Iran’s hardliner media launched a vicious campaign against a group of peaceful protesters, labeling them Zionists and enemies of Iran. Among the outlets that published the claims were government-affiliated Fars News Agency, Dana.ir and Bibak News.
Smear tactics against demonstrators and minority religions are nothing new in Iran—Baha’is, Christians, Sufi Muslims and others are routinely denounced by newspapers and websites affiliated with the regime. But this attack stands out because the target of the criticism was a small group based in Norway.
Solidarity for Iranian Christians (SFK) stages regular demonstrations outside the Norwegian parliament and in front of the Iranian embassy in Oslo, calling for religious freedom, democracy and freedom of speech in Iran. Though many of the group fled Iran because of religious persecution, they were surprised by the allegations that they were spreading propaganda and hatred against Iran and its people.
One of the group’s spokesman and organizers, Hemaseh Bideli, says the move is unprecedented and sends a clear message to Iranians in exile: despite living outside the country, they are still being watched. It demonstrates, too, that government officials believe they are able to command control over people’s lives even if they don’t live and worship in Iran.
Iran has a long history of persecuting of religious minorities, and the SFK works to raise awareness of these violations, in Norway and internationally. They also support Christian Iranian asylum seekers in Norway, pressing the government to take these cases seriously and fully understand the dangers Christians face if their asylum applications are rejected and they are forced to return to Iran.
IranWire spoke to Hemaseh Bideli about the recent attacks on the SFK—and about what impact it has had on the group’s campaign.
What motivated you and the other members of SLK to protest outside the Iranian embassy and Norwegian parliament?
We want Iranians to have freedom to be able to choose their religious beliefs, to be able to attend to church and perform religious activities without the government’s involvement. We believe in democracy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religious and political activities in Iran.
Iranians are born Shia Muslims and can not change their religion. If they do, it is considered apostasy. There are churches in Iran but only Assyrians and Armenians can attend them on Sundays and sermons are only in their languages, not Farsi. These churches are not allowed to baptize Muslim-born Iranian believers, and cannot evangelize to Iran’s Muslim population. If they do, they are not protected and face arrest and charges. Examples include Bishop Haik Hovsepian-Mehr, Tateos Mikaelian and other Armenian Iranians. There are cameras inside places of worship (which are usually in people’s homes) and guards outside the door, monitoring those who attend services.
What is the group’s background? Are you all Iranians in exile?
We started our campaign about two years ago, and there are about 35 of us. The group consists of Iranian Christians who have lived in Norway for many years and Iranian Christian converts who fled Iran and sought asylum here in Norway. Some Norwegian Christians also attend. We are all very aware of the situation for Christians converts in Iran. Someone in the group reads out a letter calling for the Iranian regime to stop public executions and give Christians inside Iran religious freedom. Recent asylum seekers from Iran know the situation for Christians in Iran much better than those of us who have lived in Norway for a long time.
After protests in February, some Iranian media outlets published stories about you, along with photographs of some of your group. What impact did it have on your protests and other campaign work?
At first, we were very scared and shocked by the accusations. It shows that the regime is active outside Iran; it keeps close watch over our activities without showing itself. For some of us who have been living in exile for many years, this was a wake-up call. It was a reminder of who we are fighting against.
Overall, though, it’s had a positive impact. We continue to stand together, protest and make contact with Norwegian and other media on this matter and the situation for Iranian Christian converts in Iran. We also wrote a letter to the Norwegian parliament, the UDI (the country’s immigration department) and UNE (the department that deals with and decides on asylum cases).
We have become sharper and work harder to achieve our goals.
Can you explain why being labeled Zionists is so dangerous for you?
In the regime’s opinion Zionists have taken Palestine by force and are the Muslim world’s enemy. In the Islamic Republic, the word “Zionist” has a negative, very loaded meaning, expressing hate, hostility and condemnation towards the state of Israel.
We know who we are as individuals and as an active group. Our aims and actions speak for themselves. Labels cannot harm us, but accusations can. If you want to be politically active or fight for human rights, you are bound to get resistance. But now the regime has gone further, falsely accusing us of working for Zionists, being paid by Zionists and being a part of a Zionist worldwide agenda. In the Islamic Republic, you can face the death penalty if convicted of these crimes. If any one of our group sets foot in Iran, we can be arrested and stand trial. If the regime fabricates charges for those living outside the country, they will fabricate charges and evidence inside Iran.
Members of our group know prisoners in Iran who have prison sentences of between two and half years to six years; they attended the same home churches. Some have photographs showing how they were beaten when they were arrested. The regime fabricates charges in order to imprison and criminalize Christians—they punish those who convert by trying to make both society and their families reject them.
Though none of us travel to Iran on a regular basis—most of us cannot go back as long as the regime is in place—many have families living there. We are very much concerned for their safety. Up to now there has been no problem for loved ones back in Iran. But the danger is there. The regime can play that card if it wants to.
SFK works to bring international attention to the plight of persecuted Christians in Iran. What media attention or other campaign support do you receive?
Our first goal was to come together and do something for those who are persecuted and wrongly treated because of being Christian converts. We gathered in front of the Norwegian parliament and the Iranian embassy. We have reported on our activities to Mohabat news, posted videos of our gatherings on YouTube and worked with other Christian organizations. We ask other Iranians and human rights activists to stand with us. Our main focus has been here in Norway. But we would like to cooperate with other groups outside Norway to get more international attention.
The problem we often find is that people in democratic countries such as Norway are so used to freedom that they can’t comprehend what people in dictatorships have to endure. This is odd, since we all know what it was like in Nazi Germany and in East Germany after World War II—this happened not so long ago. Most ordinary people take it for granted that they can go out wearing any clothes they like, with their Bibles in their backpacks and purses. They can keep a Bible in their homes and attend church and religious meetings freely, without fear, and are able to speak their minds. We want people to realize that not having freedom leads to the extinction of humanity.
What is it like for Iranian Christians seeking asylum in Norway?
There are reports of Iranian Christians being attacked in refugee centers, where they live while waiting for their cases to come up. Some Muslim asylum seekers force their beliefs upon others. They want others to pray to Allah, fast and wear hijab. Three masked men stabbed one of our members in the liver. He had surgery earlier this month. There are big problems in Iran, but we also have issues in Norway. The Norwegian police have not made much effort to find the men responsible.
We support asylum seekers and appeal to Norwegian government departments to take cases from Iranians seriously. Iranians have been deported from Norway and face arrest and torture when they return to Iran. Christians often flee from Iran because the churches within their homes have been discovered and compromised. Their lives can be in danger if sent back, and this responsibility is on Norway.
Christians have been imprisoned for being a “threat to national security”. Why do you think the Iranian authorities have made these claims?
If the regime wants to punish you effectively they label you a “threat to national security”. They then have a legal hold over you and you can’t escape, not even through bribery. If we, as a group, are accused of spreading a worldwide Zionist agenda and promoting fear of Iran and Islam, it’s only natural that we’d be considered a threat. We want religious freedom for all Iranians, but this means the end of the Islamic regime and their suppression. The regime is very much aware of this and sees Christianity as a virus that has spread across Iran. One tactic for stopping this is by making serious claims. People take a lesson from this and many will decide not to be involved in something so dangerous. This latest claim is designed to destroy us —and it justifies the regime’s actions and beliefs. The regime is very clever. If Iranian Christians were imprisoned on the basis of apostasy, this would be much better. Both society and those affected would understand why they are being imprisoned: because of their faith, not because of any criminal activity. The international community would also know and condemn it. But when they succeed in forcing confessions out of Christians—and members of our group know of fellow worshipers who have been forced to confess—Iranians and the international community think of them as law-breakers and criminals. The regime knows how to fool people, and how to silence those who criticize them. It’s much easier to force someone to confess to crimes they haven’t committed and make sure they go to prison.
On March 13th, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation for human rights in Iran, published a report that documents that at least 49 Christians were in detention in the Islamic Republic as of January 2014. The report also states that Christians face “a similar pattern of persecution” to that faced by the Baha’i religious minority. In your view, what is the value of this kind of report? Is it helpful to minority religions based in Iran? Is it potentially harmful?
It’s very important to establish and acknowledge the situation for religious minorities in Iran—even though the statistics aren’t absolutely correct and we fear many more people are affected. Reports capture the attention of the international community. They raise the question of how to take action. They are valuable because we can use them as evidence, and so can governments. We sincerely hope that the Norwegian Immigration Office takes these reports very seriously and stops deporting Iranian Christian converts.
In February, Bahai’s Sarang Ettehadi and wife Nasim Ashraf were given prison sentences of five and one year respectively. How is this news received by Iran’s minority religious communities outside of Iran? How does it affect your work?
When we hear about the inhuman and undemocratic actions of the regime, it makes us very sad. As a group, we want to work and cooperate with others because we all have the same values and aims: freedom of speech, religion, and thought.
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