Iran dismisses US criticism on religious freedom

Tehran Aug 17 (IANS) Iran s Foreign Ministry dismissed a recent annual report by the US government on the lack of religious freedom in the Islamic republic.

The Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi on Wednesday said that the US Department of State s report is "unrealistic baseless and biased" and the document has been prepared to serve only political purposes Xinhua news agency reported.

Qasemi said the report is "undoubtedly unacceptable" presenting "once again a distorted image of the status of religious freedom" in Iran with wrong allegations.

Qasemi hit back at the US government with what he called "the US dark record of racial and religious discrimination Islamophobia and xenophobia as well as violent attacks and police brutality against Muslims" Tasnim news agency reported.

He suggested that the US government take legal and practical measures to protect religious freedom itself and particularly make sure that Muslims rights are respected in the US instead of judging the status of religious freedom in other countries.

--IANS
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