NEW CAMPAIGN - MARCH 2009!

Change the future of thousands of persecuted Christians and Baha’is in Iran!

In 2008, a draft bill called the “Islamic penal code” was initially approved at a first stage vote by the Iranian Parliament – there were 196 votes for and just seven against.

If the proposed new bill becomes law, any man who leaves the Islamic faith would face the death penalty and women would receive life imprisonment.

Imposing the death penalty for changing your religion blatantly violates one of the most fundamental human rights as laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Article 18 of the UDHR states:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance”.

Essentially, this means that everyone should have the right to think and believe what they want, and to be able to express those beliefs without fear of persecution or repression. This right is even part of Iran’s own constitution, which states that no one may be molested simply for his or her beliefs. Yet, few politicians or clerics in Iran see any contradiction between a law authorising the death penalty for changing religion and the rights outlined in Iran’s constitution.

There has been little public protest in Iran against this proposed bill.

There has been very little international interest in Iran’s intention to launch a campaign of religious persecution.

The European Union has not said much (on this bill).

The United Nations has said nothing.

And the parliamentary vote has hardly been reported in the mainstream media.

But, with your help, this can change!