Guidelines for how Iran must treat Armenian Christians

Iran Trade Point -: " iv. In the Magazine ‘Al Hukam’ Vol. II No. 47 of 1906, there appeared an article saying that the Russians in 1905 found an order of Hazrath Ali, in his own hand-writing which was in Koofi script. This was found in a monastry of Ardabail, cief town of Azer Baijaan. This letter was an amnesty deed to the monastry and the Christians of Ardabail. Translation of this deed appeared in the Russian newspapers and thence it was translated in the Turkish papers and in the Arabic Magazines of Cairo and Bairuth, and lots of commentating articles on the spirit of toleration and the treatment of conquered by Islam were written by the Russians and Arab Christians. Apparently from the Magazine Hablul Mateen it was translated by the Al Hukam.



In this deed Hazrath says that as a caliph and a ruler, he promises safety and security of life, property, honour, social status and religious freedom of Armanian Christians. This order should be obeyed by his officers and by his successors. The Christians should not be maltreated or looked down because they are non-Muslims. So long as they do not try to betray and injure the cause of the state or Islam they should not be molested and should be allowed to practice their religion and trades freely and openly. Islam teaches us to carry a message of peace with us and improve the status of society wherever we go and the best way to achieve this is to create amity, friendliness and concord between human-beings; therefor, Muslims should try to develop friendship of these people and should never resort to wrong use of power, force and arrogance. They should not be over-taxed, should not be humiliated and should not be forced out of their homes, lands and trades. Their priests should be treated with due respects, their monastries should be protected, they should be allowed to carry on their lectures, teachings and preachings as usual their religious ceremonies should not be prohibited. If they want to build their places of worship then fallow and ownerless lands should be allotted to them. One, who disobeys this order is fallow and ownerless lands should be allotted to them. One, who disobeys this order is going against the orders of God and the Holy prophet (A.S.) and will deserve His Wrath."