Iran requires religious minorities to wear identification badges

Washington D.C., May 21, 2006 / 22:00 pm

Iran has passed a law requiring Jews, Christians and other religious minorities to wear markings on their clothing identifying them as non-Muslims:

"This only proves that the worst in human history does repeat itself,” said Rev. Rob Schenck, in reference to the Nazis who required the same. Rev. Schenck is president of the National Clergy Council in Washington, DC, and is coordinator of an ongoing dialogue between American Evangelicals and Moroccan Muslims.

“Christians must speak out loudly and immediately to denounce this atrocious action,” he continued in a statement. “We were silent too long during the 1930s and millions were murdered as a result.”

Representing thousands of Christian clergy, Rev. Schenck urged President George Bush, Secretary Condoleeza Rice and Congress “to take swift and severe action against Iran and enforce the most dire consequences should the country enact this supremely inhuman decree.”

He also urged "all people of conscience in Iran and outside to resist this egregious violation of human rights and take whatever action necessary to rescue those in danger.”

“May God have mercy and spare us the horror of 60 and 70 years ago,” he stated

Rev. Schenck is a board member of the Evangelical Church Alliance and an advisor to the Institute on Religion and Public Policy. He spoke Friday at Gloucester County Community Church in New Jersey.