religion or belief, leading to a large number of arrests.26 Charges notably included “Christianity mission” and “disturbing public opinion”. 27 According to the Human Rights Committee “freedom to “have or to adopt” a religion or belief necessarily entails the freedom to choose a religion or belief, including the right to replace one’s current religion or belief with another or to adopt atheistic views, as well as the right to retain one’s religion or belief”.28 The constant threat of persecution may well amount to attempts from the Iranian State to prevent individuals from converting to a religion or belief. Considering the above, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has not ensured the compatibility of any new legislation adopted by the Iranian Parliament with international human rights law. There is no readily available information that might suggest that international human rights law is being considered by the Iranian Parliament when legislation is adopted. Recommendation Status: This recommendation has NOT been implemented. 26 Joint submission to the Human Rights Committee from The World Evangelical Alliance, Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Middle East Concern, Article 18, 29 May 2020 , https://articleeighteen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/F3430b2020-JointReport_Iran_HRCttee_ListOfIssues-dragged-1.pdf 27 Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) https://www.en-hrana.org/a-christian-citizen-was-arrested-and-another-waswent-into-exile 28 UN Human Rights Committee (HRC), CCPR General Comment No. 22: Article 18 (Freedom of Thought, Conscience or Religion), 30 July 1993, CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/453883fb22.html 5