Peaceful co-existence with religious minorities, Iran’s strategy: Majlis speaker

Tehran, May 9, IRNA – Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani in a meeting with secretary generals of Assyrian Unions stressed that Iran’s strategy is peaceful coexistence with religious minorities.

According to the report of Majlis Media Department on Saturday, Larijani in a meeting with Assyrians and Chaldeans deputy in Majlis Unathan Bet Kolia and secretary generals of Assyrians Unions in Asia, Europe and USA said that Assyrians have always had an acceptable life in Iran.

Referring to the Assyrian situation in Iraq, Larijani said that during Saddam Hussein regime, Assyrians were oppressed.

He added that after Saddam era, the Americans did not behave correctly, either and after five years of American presence in Iraq, we still witness agitation in the region.

Bet Kolia, for his part, thanked Majlis Speaker for attending the meeting and said that whenever Assyrian society needed help, Islamic Republic of Iran has opened its door to them.

Referring to the problems of Assyrians residing in Iraq, Bet Kolia said that many of European and American countries have expressed sympathy with Assyrians, but the only country that has always tried to solve their problems has been Iran.

He continued, "We believe Iran is a model for nations' freedom and the evidence is the conditions whcih Iran has prepared for Assyrians to live here."

Bet Kolia reminded that church has always kept its position as a sacred place here and we have never witnessed disrespect to such places during Iran’s history.

The Assyrians deputy in Majlis said that Assyrians' conditions in Iraq compared with their situation in Iran show how much they have been under pressure and distress in the region.

Secretary generals of the Assyrians Unions in Asia, Europe and America also expressed their problems and difficulties of Assyrians societies in different parts of the world./end