Article 13 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran provides that the Zoroastrians, Jewish and Christians religious minorities “are free to perform their religious rites and ceremonies, and to act according to their own canon in matters of personal affairs and religious education” as long as it is “within the framework of the law.”50 On the other hand, there are no laws protecting the right of unrecognized religious minorities to ensure the religious moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions. The Ministry of Education determines the religious curricula of public schools, which must all include a course on Shia Islamic teachings. All curricula must include a course on Shia Islamic teaching although Sunnis and members from recognized religious minorities may take separate courses on their religious beliefs. While pupils from recognized minority faiths have access to religious instruction designed by members of their religious communities (but approved by the Ministry of Education), those from unrecognized faiths are obliged to study only Shia Islam.51 In 2017, children of parents and guardians from the Christian minority have reportedly been threatened to be expelled from their school if they refused to study Shia Islam.52 Teachings of Sunni religion in some public schools has reportedly been banned, even those located in predominantly Sunni areas.53 Yet, the Human Rights Committee has noted that “public education that includes instruction in a particular religion or belief is inconsistent with article18.4 unless provision is made for non-discriminatory exemptions or alternatives that would accommodate the wishes of parents and guardians.”54 Such imposition of Shia Islam education as exemplified above is therefore inconsistent with the ICCPR. Article 8 of the Charter of the Citizen’s rights stipulates that “The Government shall refrain from adopting any decision and taking any action that leads to the widening of the class divide, undue discrimination or deprivation of citizen’s rights” including in the context of educational opportunities. Additionally, during its last UPR review session the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran affirmed that minorities were free to choose their schools.55 Yet, following a new ministry initiative entitled Project Mehr, the Minister of Education Mohsen Haji-Mirzaei announced on September 11th, 2019 that “If students say that they follow a faith other than the country’s official religions and this is seen as proselytizing, they cannot continue attending 50 The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran English translation, http://www.iranchamber.com/government/laws/constitution_ch01.php 51 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Iran, U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-reporton-international-religious-freedom/iran/ 52 Christian Solidarity Worldwide, http://www.csw.org.uk/2017/09/07/news/3694/article.html 53 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Iran, U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-reporton-international-religious-freedom/iran/ 54 https://www.refworld.org/docid/453883fb22.html 55 Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Islamic Republic of Iran, 27 December 2019, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/43/12 8