President Rouhani's Adviser on Ethnic and Religious Minorities' Affairs, says, "We, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, do not allow any individual or group to invite people to other sects or religions. We consider this dangerous for people and therefore illegal."
Mohabat News – Pointing to Iran's diversity of ethnicity and religion, Ali Younesi, President Rouhani's Adviser on Ethnic and Religious Minorities' Affairs, said, "Everyone is free to practice his/her own faith, but no one has the right to promote his/her faith."
Mr. Younesi said in an interview with Revolutionary Guards-backed Fars News Agency, "We do not allow any individual or group to invite people to sects or religions other than Islam. We consider this dangerous for people and therefore illegal. They can be busy with their own business. However, it is not acceptable, for instance, if a Christian invites a Muslim to Christianity."
Ali Younesi, former Minister of Intelligence in President Khatami's administration, stressed that evangelical activities are illegal in Iran and all such activities must be stopped.
This is the most direct public statement from an official in President Rouhani's cabinet against evangelical activities.
The Iranian government actively promotes Islam in other countries where Christianity is the dominant religion, but does not want the reverse to happen inside its own borders.
In his presidential campaign, Hassan Rouhani promised to grant more freedom should he be elected. After President Rouhani took office, not only did the situation of Human Rights not improve, but it even regressed.
Islamic views are highly regarded in the Iranian government. This leaves no room for non-Islamic faiths to exist. Followers of such faiths are also deprived of their most basic right of expressing themselves.
Based on President Rouhani's promises in his presidential campaign, Iranian ethnic and religious minorities hoped that their civil rights would be restored. Rouhani's government has failed these groups of Iranians so far.