The visit that the “Islam” workgroup (GTI) of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference recently made to Iran has proved positive. According to the head of the delegation of bishops, Msgr. Pierre Bürcher, “The priorities fixed for this journey were realized in practice: the meeting with the Christian minorities and the dialogue with Muslim exponents of the ICRO, the organization of Islamic culture and relations”. The workgroup “was able to ascertain the quality of the welcome given to it in Iran and the opportunities given to it to visit religious communities and historic sites of major importance, such as the Mar’ashi library at Quom, the mosque of the Imam, and the Zoroastrian temple at Ispahan”. But at the same time, says the communiqué of the workgroup, released at the end of its visit, “it was also able to ascertain the presence of difficulties. Freedom of religion, in fact, should not be limited just to freedom of worship”. To realize what is prescribed by international law in terms of the political and civil rights of religious communities, the Swiss delegation and its Iranian counterpart have asked for material aid from their respective States. “A first concrete result will be the publication in Iran of a document, in two languages, containing a report of the meetings between ICRO and the GTI”.
