By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian has been elected as Iran’s new president, beating his hardline conservative rival Saeed Jalili, but it was unclear whether hardline policies toward minority Christians would change.
Despite his victory, Western concerns also remained about Iran’s policies toward Israel.
Election officials said Dr. Pezeshkian won the election after he secured 53.3 percent of the more than 30 million votes counted.
Jalili received 44.3 percent, according to official results.
The run-off came after no candidate secured a majority in the first round of the election on June 28. It saw a historically low voter turnout of 40 percent before improving somewhat on Friday when about 50 percent of voters bothered to cast their ballots.
The election was called after Iran’s previous president, Ebrahim Raisi, was killed in a helicopter crash in May, in which seven others also died.
Pezeshkian advocates moderate policies at home and limited engagement with the West despite only minimal exposure as a national political figure.
Yet the 69-year-old cardiac surgeon was the sole reformist approved to run after snap elections were called following the helicopter crash May helicopter.
MILLIONS OF VOTES
According to the country’s election headquarters, Dr. Pezeshkian netted 16.3 million votes, almost 3 million more than Jalili, his nearest rival, who trailed behind with about 13.5 million.
His victory over Iran’s conservatives comes at a critical time for the country as it faces heightened regional tensions over its support for groups deemed terrorist organizations targeting Israel and their allies.
Tehran also faces a standoff with the West over its nuclear program.
Concerns remained about whether minorities such as Christians, including converts from Islam, would receive more rights in the strict Islamic Republic.
Traditional Christian communities are only tolerated in Iran as long as they don’t worship openly or, read the Bible in Farsi, Iran’s language, or have any contact with Christians who have converted from Islam, Worthy News established.
“If you’re caught supporting converts, you may be sent to prison,” confirmed well-informed advocacy group Open Doors.
Conversion from Islam to Christianity is illegal in Iran, with the government viewing conversion as an “attempt by the West to undermine Islam and the Islamic government of Iran.”
HOUSE CHURCH CRACKDOWN
Anyone discovered to be a house church member can be charged with “a crime against national security,” which can lead to long prison sentences. Additionally, “Anyone arrested or detained can be tortured and abused while in jail,” said Open Doors, a view shared by other rights groups.
“Christian converts who left Islam can lose their inheritance, unmarried Christians can be forced into marriage to a Muslim, and married believers may be forced to divorce or face losing their children,” Open Doors added.
Open Doors has ranked Iran 9th on its annual World Watch List of 50 countries where it says Christians face the most persecution for their faith.
It was unclear whether Dr. Pezeshkian would allow more freedom for Christian believers.
However, he has been critical of Iran’s notorious Islamic morality police and caused a stir after promising “unity and cohesion” and an end to Iran’s “isolation” from the world.
He has also called for “constructive negotiations” with Western powers over a renewal of the faltering 2015 nuclear deal in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in return for an easing of Western sanctions.
His rival, Saeed Jalili, favored the status quo. The former nuclear negotiator enjoys strong support among Iran’s most religious communities, analysts said, though it was unclear whether his olive branch was extended to Christians and Israel.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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