By Hillary May

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=32514

Leonard Leo, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said USCIRF, since its creation by Congress in 1998, "has recommended that Iran be named a 'country of particular concern,' or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom."

The panel of witnesses included Leo, as well as Ali Afshari, a political activist, and Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council.

Testifying on the current state of religious freedom in Iran, Leo said the extremist Islamic regime has utilized harassment and physical attacks in repressing religious minorities, which include Baha'is and Sufi Muslims as well as Christians.