In a measure to control people faithful to other religions and denominations, the Qom Theological Center has formed a committee to combat activities of members of religious minorities and schools.
Cleric Mohammad Hassan Nabavi, the center’s public relations deputy, noted, "combating deviant religions and denominations" was the reason behind the establishment of the so-called "Minority Committee" during the latest meeting of Friday prayer leaders from across the nation. According to this Qom Theological Center deputy, the "Minority Committee" was established at the center to undertake "cultural confrontation" of religious minorities and prevent the growth and spread of minority religions in Iran.
According to the unpublished remarks of Nabavi on the official theological center’s website, "In this respect, action groups dealing with Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Bahaism, Sufism, Wahhabism and new spiritual schools have been set up with the duty to culturally confront any conspiracy that is being undertaken." He added that the responsibility of the "Minority Committee" at the Qom seminary is to monitor the activities of members of religious minorities, especially with respect to their promotion of competing religions or beliefs, noting, "If these religions and denominations advertised against Shiism or acted in a way that undermined the principles of Islam or Shiism, we would become active to confront them."
This high ranking cleric at the Qom seminary did not expand on the nature of conspiracies that may be regarded by the "Qom Theological Center Minority Committee" as threats to the country's official religion. However, he accused religious minorities in Iran of communicating with foreigners, adding, "Religions and sects that are supported and empowered by agents outside the country to weaken the centrality of the Islamic regime would be culturally confronted." [...]
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