Freedom of Religion in Iran

Freedom of religion in Iran is a debated subject. Iran is an Islamic republic —the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran mandates that the official religion of Iran is Islam (see Islam in Iran) and the Twelver Ja'fari school, and also mandates that other Islamic schools are to be accorded full respect, and their followers are free to act in accordance with their own jurisprudence in performing their religious rites. Iran recognizes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Irmic religious minority, and other religious minorities. Apostasy by a Muslim is punishable by death, although the definition of an apostate in Islam (and in Iran) is a Muslim who leaves Islam and actively makes a mockery of it. There have been cases of imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on religious beliefs.

The continuous presence of the country's pre-Islamic, non-Muslim communities, such as Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians, had accustomed the population to the participation of non-Muslims in society; however, government actions continue to create a threatening atmosphere for some religious minorities.