Iraqi MP Hails Freedom Of Christians In Iran

Baghdad, Aug 17, IRNA – An Iraqi parliamentarian said Christians in Iran are quite free in conducting their religious rituals. Talking to IRNA on Sunday, Yunadem Kanna, one of the two Christian members of the Iraqi parliament, said despite the uneasy conditions in the Middle East which have severed life for the Christian minorities, Iran remains a safe haven for its Christian citizens. He said Christians in Iran were quite free to conduct their own religious rituals like other Iranians. Outlining the situation of Christians in the Middle East, he noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran fully safeguards the rights of ethnic and religious minorities and provides them all sorts of freedom to carry on with their religious rituals. He said there are no reports on alleged persecution, rights violations and breaches of religious freedom against Iranian Christians. Outlining the situation of Christians in Iraq, the lawmaker said presently about 150 thousand Christians have been evacuated from Ninava to seek refuge in Iraqˈs autonomous Kurdistan. According to Kanna, the evacuated Christians have been accommodated in schools and churches and are facing difficulties because of space shortage./end