Questions for Khatami
Will His 'Dialogue' on Faith Mention Iran's Intolerance?
The Washington Post, September 7, 2006

By Felice D. Gaer and Nina Shea

There is a troubling irony in inviting former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami to speak today at the National Cathedral on the role the Abrahamic faiths can play in shaping peace in the world. In his own country, Khatami held office as president from 1997 to 2005 while religious minorities - including Jews, Christians, Sunni and Sufi Muslims, Bahais, dissident Shiite Muslims and Zoroastrians - faced systematic harassment, discrimination, imprisonment, torture and even execution because of their religious beliefs. During Khatami's term, Iranian officials persecuted reformers, students, labor activists and journalists for "insulting Islam" and publishing materials deemed to deviate from Islamic standards.

In 1998 student protests were followed by severe repression, and a series of extrajudicial murders of dissidents were committed in the years thereafter. In 2004 the U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of expression concluded that charges against those detained for criticism of the government "lack any objective criteria" and are open to arbitrary interpretation by the judiciary. Women of all faiths have also suffered discrimination and repression.

Because of these recurring and egregious violations of religious freedom, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom continues to recommend that Iran be included on the State Department's list of "countries of particular concern." Since 1999 secretaries of state in both the Clinton and Bush administrations have agreed. Iran was initially placed on this list during Khatami's tenure as president. The commission's 2006 annual report and the State Department's annual International Religious Freedom Report conclusively demonstrate that Iran's egregious, systematic violations of religious freedom did not significantly diminish during Khatami's administration.

Against that backdrop, we are prompted to ask whether President Khatami plans to use the pulpit at the National Cathedral to denounce and express regret for these offenses. Such a step would go a long way toward facilitating reconciliation among his own countrymen and women, as well as among the Abrahamic faiths.

We also note that the cathedral's description of the event mentions Khatami's call for a "dialogue of civilizations." Certainly it is useful to urge clergy and leaders in the West and throughout the world to respect a diversity of views, beliefs and cultures. We wish to inquire whether Khatami will use his address at the National Cathedral to call upon clerics in his own country to respect the universally guaranteed right to freedom of religion and belief, as well as the rights of those who hold diverse views and beliefs.

Furthermore, unconditioned "dialogue" between Iran and the West is precisely what is being urged by Iran's current president at this time as an alternative to its compliance with U.N. resolutions regarding weapons of mass destruction. Khatami's address at the cathedral on this very topic of "dialogue" could easily be manipulated to make it appear that the cathedral is giving the moral high ground to Iran on this critical issue. Dialogue and discussion require that more than one voice be heard.

It appears that the cathedral is providing a public platform to an individual who was responsible for implementing and administering policies that resulted in the severe persecution of religious minorities as well as dissident voices within Iran's own Shiite community. Chief among these victimized groups are the very Abrahamic faiths he will discuss in his address.

The National Cathedral is one of America's most significant moral symbols. It is a place where national leaders have been laid to rest, and it is where the nation grieved for the victims of Sept. 11, 2001. It is a place where the people - despite political differences - have come together to mourn, reflect and unify. It is a place where those from diverse faiths and backgrounds gather to worship. It is imperative that those responsible for the National Cathedral, as the caretakers of one of America's national symbols, preserve its unique role and not allow it to be misused or manipulated. The commission fears that Khatami's address, in its announced format, jeopardizes this important tradition and may ultimately undermine the cathedral's critical national role.

In the final analysis, it would be a tragic oversight for the former leader of Iran to be invited to give a lecture on these specific topics in such a prominent place of worship without being questioned openly and seriously on both the nature of diversity and the legacies of his own record on human rights and religious freedom.

Felice D. Gaer is chair and Nina Shea vice chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2006

Contact:
Angela Stephens, Assistant Communications Director,
(202) 523-3240, ext. 14

WASHINGTON-Felice D. Gaer, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent, bipartisan federal agency, today called on the National Cathedral to ensure that former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is questioned about his own record on human rights and religious freedom when he speaks at the National Cathedral Sept. 7.

In a letter to Reverend Canon John Peterson of the National Cathedral's Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation (full text below), Gaer pointed out the irony of inviting Mr. Khatami to speak on the role of the Abrahamic faiths in the peace process when, in his own country, Mr. Khatami presided as President while religious minorities-including Jews, Christians, Sunni and Sufi Muslims, Baha'is, dissident Shia Muslims, and others-faced systematic harassment, discrimination, imprisonment, torture, and even execution based on their religious beliefs.

Commissioner Gaer called for Mr. Khatami to be questioned openly and asked whether the Cathedral forum will ensure that Mr. Khatami is asked pressing questions about cultural tolerance, dialogue, and respect for human rights in his own country.

Mr. Khatami is the highest-ranking Iranian official to be granted a visa to the United States since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

The full text of the letter follows:

Dear Canon Peterson:

I write regarding the planned address of former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami at the National Cathedral.

I serve as Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent, bipartisan federal body tasked with monitoring violations of freedom of religion throughout the world. The Commission has followed with great interest the Cathedral's recent announcement regarding President Khatami's address and would like to present a few questions and suggestions regarding the event.

The National Cathedral's press release correctly notes that the Cathedral is "an important platform for dialogue and discussion." It states that Mr. Khatami is being invited to give a speech about the role that "Abrahamic faiths can play in shaping peace throughout the world," and describes him "as a man of peace and moderation."

he Commission believes there is a troubling irony in inviting Mr. Khatami to speak on this topic. In his own country, Mr. Khatami presided as President while religious minorities - including Jews, Christians, Sunni and Sufi Muslims, Baha'is, dissident Shia Muslims, and others - faced systematic harassment, discrimination, imprisonment, torture, and even execution based on their religious beliefs. During his term, Iranian officials persecuted reformers, students, labor activists, and journalists for "insulting Islam" and publishing materials deemed to deviate from Islamic standards.

In 1998, student protests were followed by severe repression, and a series of extrajudicial murders of dissidents followed in the years thereafter. In 2004, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression concluded that charges against those detained for criticism of the government "lack any objective criteria" and are open to arbitrary interpretation by the judiciary. Women of all faiths have also suffered discrimination and repression.

Because of these recurring and egregious violations of religious freedom, the Commission continues to recommend that Iran be included in the U.S. State Department's list of "countries of particular concern." Since 1999, Secretaries of State from both the Clinton and Bush administrations have agreed. Iran was initially placed on this list during Khatami's tenure as President. The Commission's 2006 Annual Report and the State Department's International Religious Freedom Report conclusively demonstrate that Iran's egregious, systematic violations of religious freedom did not significantly improve during Mr. Khatami's administration.

Against that backdrop, we are prompted to ask if President Khatami plans to use the pulpit at the National Cathedral to denounce and express regret for these offenses. Such a step would go a long way toward facilitating reconciliation among his own countrymen and women, as well as among the Abrahamic faiths.

We also note that the Cathedral's press release mentions Mr. Khatami's call for a "dialogue of civilizations." Certainly, it is useful to urge clergy and leaders in the West and throughout the world to respect a diversity of views, beliefs, and cultures. We wish to inquire whether Mr. Khatami will use his address at the National Cathedral to call upon clerics in his own country to respect the universally guaranteed right to freedom of religion and belief, as well as the rights of those who hold diverse views and beliefs.

Furthermore, unconditioned "dialogue" between Iran and the West is precisely what is being urged by Iran's current president at this time as an alternative to its compliance with UN resolutions regarding weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Khatami's address at the Cathedral on this very topic of "dialogue" could easily be manipulated to make it appear that the Cathedral is conferring the moral high ground to Iran on this critical issue.

Dialogue and discussion require that more than one voice is heard. It also demands what the UN-sponsored Alliance of Civilizations calls "responsibility" among the participants. In that light, will the National Cathedral ensure an opportunity for countervailing voices at the lecture? Will there be respondents? Will the Cathedral forum ensure that Mr. Khatami is asked pressing questions about cultural tolerance, dialogue, and respect for human rights in his own country?

To be candid, it appears that the Cathedral is providing a public platform to an individual who was responsible for implementing and administering policies that resulted in the severe persecution of religious minorities as well as dissident voices within Iran's own Shiite community. Chief among these victimized groups are the very Abrahamic faiths he will discuss in his address.

The National Cathedral is one of America's most significant moral symbols. It is a place where national leaders have been laid to rest and it is where the nation grieved the victims of September 11. It is a place where our nation-despite political differences-has come together to mourn, reflect, and unify. It is a place where people from diverse faiths and backgrounds gather to worship. As the caretakers of one of America's national symbols, it is imperative that those responsible for the National Cathedral preserve its unique role, and not allow it to be misused or manipulated. The Commission fears that Khatami's address, in its announced format, jeopardizes this important tradition and may ultimately undermine the Cathedral's critical national role.

With these concerns in mind, the Commission urges the Cathedral to provide a public respondent who can facilitate a genuine dialogue. Should you wish, the Commission would be pleased to play such a role.

In the final analysis, it would be a tragic oversight for the former leader of Iran to be invited to give a lecture on these specific topics in such a prominent place of worship without being questioned openly and seriously on both the nature of diversity and the legacies of his own record on human rights and religious freedom.

I very much appreciate your willingness to consider these questions and look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Felice D. Gaer
Chair

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2006

Contact:
Angela Stephens, Assistant Communications Director,
(202) 523-3240, ext. 14

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed the reported release of Roman Catholic Bishop An Shuxin and urged the People's Republic of China to free other imprisoned religious leaders. Reports indicate that Bishop An has received permission to resume his pastoral work but remains under Chinese government surveillance.

"Bishop An's release is an important-but long overdue-step from Chinese authorities," said Felice Gaer, Chair of the Commission. "We hope it will be followed by the release of numerous Catholic clergy and other religious leaders who refuse to submit to Chinese government control over their religious beliefs and practices."

Chinese authorities arrested Bishop An in 1996 during a larger crackdown on religious activities in Heibei Province. According to the Cardinal Kung Foundation, Chinese authorities permitted An to leave prison only once during his decade-long incarceration for a brief visit with his ailing mother. An serves as the Auxiliary Bishop to Bishop Su Zhimin, was also arrested in 1996 and has not been seen in public since 1997.

During its August 2005 visit to China, a delegation from the Commission raised the cases of Bishop An and Bishop Su in official meetings with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Administration on Religious Affairs. In a written response from the Chinese government on August 31, 2005, authorities refused to acknowledge the arrests, stating only that "the relevant department did not detain or punish them."

"The Commission continues to voice profound concern over the incarceration of Bishop Su Zhimin, Bishop Jia Zhiguo and four other Roman Catholic bishops who remain imprisoned, along with several priests and nuns," noted Gaer. "We urge Chinese leaders to be more candid in the future and to provide access and a full accounting of the whereabouts and treatment of political and religious prisoners when the U.S. government raises such inquiries. This could advance confidence in the utility of diplomatic communications between our two countries. "

Though encouraging, An's release occurs against the backdrop of continuing restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China, including the systematic harassment, arrest and imprisonment of unregistered Protestants and Catholics, Tibetan Buddhists, Uighur Muslims and practitioners of Falun Gong. Chinese authorities also continue to harass and intimidate Chinese attorneys and other local activists who attempt to use the law to uphold the rights of religious believers to worship freely.

"Human rights remain crucial within the broader context of U.S.-China relations," observed Gaer. "Improvements in the area of religious freedom will help bring China into line with its international obligation and strengthen ties between our two countries."

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

Felice D. Gaer, Chair

• Michael Cromartie, Vice Chair Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Vice Chair Nina Shea, Vice Chair Preeta D. BansalArchbishop Charles J. ChaputKhaled Abou El FadlRichard D. LandBishop Ricardo RamirezAmbassador John V. Hanford III,Ex-Officio Joseph R. Crapa, Executive Director