Among other non-Catholics speaking at the Synod, there was an Iranian Ayatollah, Ayatollah Mohaghegh, and Catholic National Register interviewed him. I don't think his views are interesting at all, because Iranian propaganda is so important across the world, that we all know what are they. Anyway, it's interesting to see the brainwashing the mullahcracy has done, even in "intellectuals":

Ayatollah MOHAGHEGH

"Q: Muslims who convert to Christianity are reported to suffer restrictions in Iran [Note from the interviewer: some say they are treated as renegades and traitors to Islam].

A: Freedom to choose a religion is one thing, conversion is something else. You need to differentiate between them. What does conversion mean? If I’m a Christian, for example, and after one or two years suddenly I declare that I am now outside the faith and tell everyone that they shouldn’t be a Christian, that Christianity is a hateful religion, then any Christian person would be bothered by such statements.

Q: Yet they should still be free to make them?

A: If conversion means taking action against Islam, then it’s not permissible. You are not allowed to take action against Islam by propaganda. We don’t allow such acts to be made against Christianity in Iran either.

He also says that if a person converts to another religion and "keeps it private", there is no problem. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "freedom of religion is defined as the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance". So, he is really contradicting himseld, specially after a pastor has been condemned to death because he converted from Islam (Note: so, no news!).

Q: The relationship between Islam and politics is a close one, particularly in Iran. Just how close are you to the political class in the country?