Newly-released documentary evidence detailing “years of relentless oppression” suffered by the Baha’i community in Iran has been published by the Washington-based Baha’i International Community (BIC) this week, Track Persia reports.
A BIC website published thousands of official documents, reports, testimonials, and audio-visual material chronicling the “continuous, pervasive, state-sponsored persecution against the Baha’is of Iran, demonstrating the falsity of claims made by Iranian authorities that Baha’is are not discriminated against,” according to a statement by the group.
The archives include cases of imprisonment and execution, acts of violence, kidnapping, the burning and destruction of homes, confiscation of properties, and the spreading of hateful propaganda through the state media.
“The compelling accounts and documents on the website provide proof of the decades of systematic implementation of policies designed to suffocate an entire community,” said Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community.
Most documents in the archives are related to the years following the Islamic revolution in 1979, during which the Baha’is became subject to a new wave of intense persecution. Over 200 Baha’is were executed or disappeared without a trace, the statement read.
“Baha’is continue to be denied access to university education, excluded from employment in the public sector as well as numerous professions in the private sector, and denied benefits in the pension system. They are unjustly arrested, imprisoned, and sentenced to years in prison after trials lacking a due process of law,” it added.
The archives show the breadth of the persecution against the Baha’is, including cases of imprisonment and execution, acts of violence, kidnapping, the burning and destruction of homes, confiscation of properties, and the spreading of hateful propaganda through the state media.
“The compelling accounts and documents on the website,” explains Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community in Geneva, “provide proof of the decades of systematic implementation of policies designed to suffocate an entire community.”
Most documents in the archives are related to the years following the Islamic revolution in 1979, during which the Baha’is became subject to a new wave of intense persecution. Over 200 Baha’is were executed or disappeared without a trace.
And news about Bahai’s repression doesn’t seem to cease. According to HRANA, the news organization of Human Rights Activists in Iran, January 15, 2018, Faramarz (Hooshang) Sabetrasekhi, a Baha’i living in Karaj, was arrested and sent to prison by the Law Enforcement Office of the Governmental Sanctions Court of Alborz province. The arrest occurred when Mr. Sabetrasekhi appeared at the court, with his business associates and attorney, an attempt to inquire about payment of a 50 million touman fine ($15,000) which resulted following the unjustified forced closure and seal of his place of business, in November 2016, by government oversight officials. Upon his appearance, Sabetrasekhi was subjected to mistreatment by employees of the court and arrested.
Sabetrasekhi’s business has remained closed since November 2016; he and his business associates have not had the means to raise the funds to pay the fine. It should be noted that three members of the family of Sabetrasekhi were executed by the Iranian government during the early years of the revolution, due to their religious beliefs as Baha’is, including his brother, uncle, and brother-in-law.
After the execution of the family members of Sabetrasekhi in the village of Fereydoun in the vicinity of Isfahan due to being Baha’i, all his family’s properties were confiscated by the Iranian government and he was ultimately forced to leave due to the threat to his life.
It has been an established method, particularly in recent years, to prevent Baha’is from engaging in economic activity as a force leveraged against the followers of this religious minority. Forced business closures continue to be used by law enforcement and security agencies.
Baha’is continues to be denied access to university education, excluded from employment in the public sector as well as numerous professions in the private sector and denied benefits in the pension system. According to the “Not to Harass and Imprison the Baha’i Compatriots Campaign,” reports quoted from HARANA reveal that Sadaf Vojdani has been barred from continuing her studies due to her religious beliefs. Vojdani, a Baha’i student and 2017 freshman in the field of Architecture at the Razi University of Kermanshah, has been denied education due to her adherence to the Baha’i Faith. Vojdani was informed of the expulsion, and denial of access to further higher education, prior to the start of final exams.
According to Article 30 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic, all Iranian citizens have the right to higher education. Also, according to Article 23 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, “the investigation of individuals’ beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.” Despite the explicit right of the law, the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution policy is that Bahá’ís, in addition to being deprived of employment in government offices, are also denied university education.
Every year there are continuing reports of Baha’i citizens being expelled from or denied entry to Iranian universities. Even those on the verge of graduation have been subjected to expulsion from their universities. Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Baha’i citizens in Iran have been denied the freedoms associated with religious beliefs. UN human rights reporters on Iranian affairs have repeatedly challenged the Regime’s persecution of Baha’is, especially deprivation of Baha’i students of their right to education. Reports have made it a clear that this indicates Iran’s failure to respect human rights treaties.
They are unjustly arrested, imprisoned, and sentenced to years in prison after trials lacking a due process of law. The Baha’i faith is a small monotheistic religion which began in Iran in the 1800s and whose followers face regular persecution. According to unofficial sources in Iran, there are more than three hundred thousand Baha’is. The Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism. The Regime does not recognize the Baha’i Faith and has used this as justification for the systematic violation Baha’is’ rights in Iran.