'IRAN ON THE THRESHOLD OF YEAR 2000' "Government and Religion"   10.00am - 7.00pm Sunday February 9, 1997 10.00am - 7.00pm Monday February 10, 1997   Assembly Hall London University - SOAS Thornaugh Street, London, WC1   Farsi Session: Mr. Shahrokh Vafadari ? Researcher England Mr. Arman Roshdi ? Representative of the Iranian Christian Community England Mr. Ghassem Fazeli ? Researcher, France Dr Shapur Rasekh ? UNESCO consultant Switzerland Dr Hossein Khalighi ? Lecturer Sweden Dr Ezatollah Homayounfar ? Lecturer & Author ? Switzerland Mr. Hossein Zahiri Mehrabadi ? Researcher France Dr Akram Mirhosseini ? Head of Society of Iranian Women for Democracy France Dr Abdolghafar Ahmadi ? Researcher England Mr. Majid Golpour ? Researcher, France Dr Ali Reza Nourizadeh ? Journalist & Researcher England Dr Mehdi Haeri ? Lecturer & Researcher Germany Dr Farhad Khosrokhavar ? Sociologist & Lecturer France English Session: Dr Robert Gleeve ? Lecturer ? England Mr. Faleh Abdol Jabar ? Researcher ? England Mr. Ali Massoud-Ansari ?PhD Student, SOAS England Open Discussions Chair: Dr Hossein Ladjevardi     This conference was convened jointly with the Centre of Near and Middle Eastern studies, SOAS ? London University. It was one of the most sensitive topics so far for discussion considering the present situation in Iran and its religious government. ACI invited representatives from all practised religions in Iran and they discussed their particular problems historically and at present under a constitution which is based on Shia? Islam also declared as Iran?s official religion. The conference opened with a historical look at Zoroastrianism ? one of the oldest religions in Iran and went on to hear about Baha'ism. The conference then opened up into general topics regarding the role of religion and government and how they can co-exist within the society. Important topics of discussion included: 1. Religion is a matter of personal choice and that people?s morality and ethics is a matter between the individual and his god and not with the government.   2. The emphasis on being Iranian regardless of religion. The fact that all Iranians must be equal in the eyes of the law and must not be persecuted or become a second class citizen with reduced rights because of their religion. Religion must not become a tool of superiority.   3. The emphasis on the point that religion, faith, language or colour of skin must not be a factor in determining the future of Iran and its people. All Iranians must have equal rights and the right to progress and a safe living.   Other speakers addressed the issue of ?Velayat Faghih? were there is an absolute ruler whose legitimacy is from God and not elected by the people. Supporters of Velayat Faghih point out that it is an article in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran therefore it is also the will of the nation. This lead to some very lively interesting discussions. But as always the tolerant atmosphere of the conference, which has become a hallmark of ACI?s activities, allowed audience and speakers alike to listen to each other and argue their points logically and patiently. ACI ? London February 1997