Dokument #1312706
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
The following information was provided
during a 28 January 1997 telephone interview with a specialist on
Iran in England.
The source stated that conversion from
Islam to any other religion is not encouraged source added that
conversion to Zoroastrianism from Islam is currently in vogue
within the Iranian communities of Europe and North America.
In the 15 February 1997 issue of The
Dallas Morning News, Kevin Rafraf reports that
Iran officially recognizes Judaism,
Christianity and Zoroastrianism as religions whose members are
afforded legal protection. This verdict, however, means that an
adherent of one of these religions who had converted from Islam
could also be prosecuted and face the death penalty for
apostasy.
An APS Diplomat Recorder report of
23 June 1996 states that Iran was the location of the 6th World
Zoroastrian Congress in mid-1996.
For additional information on this subject,
please consult the attached documents.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
APS Diplomat Recorder. 23 June 1996.
"Zoroastrian Conference." (NEXIS)
The Dallas Morning News. 15
February 1997. Kevin Rafraf. "Persecution of Bahai's is Nothing New
in Iran." (NEXIS)
Specialist on Iran, England. 28 January
1997. Telephone interview.
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 25 March
1996. "Iranian Zoroastrian Celebrate Anniversary of Their Prophet."
(NEXIS)
APS Diplomat Recorder. 23 June
1996. "Zoroastrian Conference." (NEXIS)
The Dallas Morning News. 15
February 1997. Kevin Rafraf. "Persecution of Bahai's is Nothing New
in Iran." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 20 June 1996.
BC Cycle. "Zoroastrian Integrated Into Iranian Society, Says
Official." (NEXIS)
The Economist [New York]. 18
January 1997. "Bully-Boys at Work." (NEXIS)
_____. 23 July 1994. "Iran: Walk in
Fear." (NEXIS)
The Toronto Star. 21 September
1996. Final Edition. Raheel Raza. "Followers of Ancient Faith Adapt
to Adopted Cultures." (NEXIS)