TEHRAN - The “political will” of the Supreme Leader and the government is that there should be no discrimination between the minority and the majority in Iran, a presidential adviser said on Oct. 5

Ali Younesi, the special assistant to president for ethnic and religious minority affairs, made the remarks in a meeting with Aziz Hasanovic, mufti of the Islamic community in Croatia, and his entourage which included a number of senior priests from Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches.

Yunesi said serious efforts have always been made to create division among followers of different religions and ethnic groups in Iran but all these plots have been averted because “the political will of the Leader and the Iranian government is that there must be no difference between the majority and the minority in the country.”

 Younesi also praised the peaceful co-existence among religious minorities in Croatia, saying, “In fact, coexistence of flowers of different religions in Croatia is favorable and exemplary and state officials and religious scholars should be thanked for creating such a situation.”

He also said there are also many religious and ethnic groups in Iran yet they have all been living together quite peacefully since the old times.

He added the Islamic Republic’s Constitution recognizes the rights of all minorities and followers of all divine faiths are quite free to practice their own religions.

“They are supported by the establishment and government”.

Leader Does Not Allow Discrimination against Minorities: Presidential Advisor 

 The “political will” of the Supreme Leader and the government is that there should be no discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities in Iran, a presidential advisor said on Oct. 5

Ali Younesi, special assistant to the president for ethnic and religious minority affairs, made the remarks in a meeting with Aziz Hasanovic, mufti of the Islamic community in Croatia, and his entourage which included a number of senior priests from Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches.

Yunesi said serious efforts have always been made to sow discord among followers of different religions and ethnic groups in Iran but all these plots have been averted because “the political will of the Leader and the Iranian government is that there must be no difference between the majority and the minority in the country.”

Younesi also praised the peaceful co-existence among religious minorities in Croatia, saying, “In fact, coexistence of followers of different religions in Croatia is favorable and exemplary, and state officials and religious scholars should be thanked for creating such a situation.”

There are also many religious and ethnic groups in Iran and they have all been living together quite peacefully since the old times, he noted.

The Islamic Republic’s Constitution recognizes the rights of all minorities, and followers of all divine faiths are quite free to practice their own religions, Younesi explained.

“They are supported by the establishment and government”.

Ali Younesi expresses hope that all countries take lessons from the favorable coexistence of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran and Croatia.

A tolerance of religious diversity is “deeply rooted and institutionalized” in Iran, noted Younesi, a former intelligence minister.

He expressed hope that all countries take lessons from the favorable coexistence of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran and Croatia.

For his part, Hasanovic said the purpose behind the visit of his entourage to Iran is to help launch dialogue between different religions.

Without dialogue there would be conflicts between religious groups therefore it is necessary to promote dialogue between them and there is “no alternative” to this, the Croatian mufti remarked.

“We are in Iran to announce to the world commitment to this principle (religious dialogue),” Hasanovic noted.

He added, “The idea of dialogue between religions is very important and we should try to generalize this dialogue and promote it to higher level.”