Concluding Observations Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4 para
78(c)
Full recommendation:
End the practice of identifying Baha’i children in schools and intimidating and expelling children
on account of their religion.
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
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”.2 On the other hand, there are no
laws protecting the rights of unrecognised 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 recognised religious minorities may take separate
courses on their religious beliefs. While pupils from recognised minority faiths have access to
religious instruction designed by members of their religious communities (but approved by the
Ministry of Education), those from unrecognised faiths are obliged to study only Shia Islam.3 4
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.5 Teachings of
Sunni religion in some public schools has reportedly been banned, even those located in
predominantly Sunni areas.6 Reports of Baha’i schoolchildren experiencing exclusion,
harassment and abuse are regular.7 In July 2020, a secondary school student was reportedly
expelled from their school after mentioning they were a member of the Baha’i faith.8
1
CRC.28.1.S.2.1; CRC.30.1.S.1
CRC.30.1.P.2; CRC.30.1.P.4
CRC.30.1.O.3
2
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran English translation,
http://www.iranchamber.com/government/laws/constitution_ch01.php
3
Faith and Future, 2018, https://faithandafuture.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Faith_and_a_Future_HR.pdf
4
2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Iran, U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-reporton-international-religious-freedom/iran/
5
Christian Solidarity Worldwide, http://www.csw.org.uk/2017/09/07/news/3694/article.html
6
2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Iran, U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-reporton-international-religious-freedom/iran/
7
Faith and Future, 2018, https://faithandafuture.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Faith_and_a_Future_HR.pdf
8
Center for Human Rights in Iran, 2020, https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2020/07/bahai-youth-expelled-from-secondaryschool-for-gifted-students-solely-due-to-his-faith/ (For more information also see Baha'is
1