required to produce and prepare textbooks for teaching literature in ethnic languages until the end of secondary school in Iranian schools.22 It is not clear whether the Ministry of Education has decided to appeal the ruling or whether it will be implemented. 23 Further, ethnic and linguistic minorities face additional restrictions and intersectional discrimination due to their ethnicity and religion. Indeed, many elements of Iran’s domestic legal framework discriminate between Shia Muslims, Muslim and non-Muslim minorities, including recognized minorities.24 The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran names the Twelver Ja’fari School of Shia Islam as the state religion. Only Muslim minorities (including Sunnis), Zorostrian, Jewish and Christian Iranians are recognized under the Constitution.25 Although Article 19 of the Constitution protects the equal rights of “ethnic group or tribe” regardless or “color, race, language, and the like” it omits an explicit provision recognizing religion or belief as a protected characteristic against discrimination.26 Because there are no laws safeguarding the right of religious minorities to worship, maintain places of worship or assemble, the structural exclusion of other religious minorities leaves them without legal protection to manifest and practice their religion or belief, 27 effectively putting these communities, including children, at greater risk of discrimination, violence and persecution. 28 29 Additionally, while Article 14 of the Constitution states that the government and Muslims are “duty-bound to treat non-Muslims in conformity with ethical norms and the principles of Islamic justice and equity, and to respect their human rights.”30, it adds that “This principle applies to all who refrain from engaging in conspiracy or activity against Islam and the Islamic Republic of 22 Tasnim News Agency: < https://tn.ai/2229748 > Following an electoral promise of President Rouhani during his 2013 election campaign, the government announced in 2015 that a university program on Kurdish language and literature would be introduced at the University of Kurdistan in Sanandaj, which has been implemented now. A Similar program for ”Azerbaijani Turkish language“ was also announced for 2016 by the government, which is now launched.23 The government also announced in 2015 that Baluchi language courses would be introduced at the university of Sistan & Baluchistan, which has not been implemented yet. See: University of Kurdistan<https://uok.ac.ir/fa/faculties/literature/departments/kurdish.aspx > Tasnim News Agency: <https://tn.ai/1670519> Daneshjoo News Agency: <https://snn.ir/001kvb > 24 Joint submission to the Human Rights Committee from All Human Rights for All in Iran, Association for Human Rights in Kurdistan – Geneva, Association for the Human Rights of the Azerbaijani People in Iran, Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, OutRight International, Siamak Pourzand Foundation, Small Media, Impact Iran, 2020, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CCPR_NGO_IRN_42317_E.pdf 25 Articles 12 and 13 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wpcontent/uploads/constitution-english-1368.pdf 26 The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wpcontent/uploads/constitution-english-1368.pdf 27 The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, General Principles (Chapter I, Articles 1, 2 and 12):< http://www.iranchamber.com/government/laws/constitution.php> 28 Joint submission to the Human Rights Committee from All Human Rights for All in Iran, Association for Human Rights in Kurdistan – Geneva, Association for the Human Rights of the Azerbaijani People in Iran, Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, OutRight International, Siamak Pourzand Foundation, Small Media, Impact Iran, 2020, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CCPR_NGO_IRN_42317_E.pdf 29 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 18 July 2019, https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N19/222/62/PDF/N1922262.pdf?OpenElement 30 The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, General Principles (Chapter I, Article 14):< http://www.iranchamber.com/government/laws/constitution.php > 23 4