Persecution Index 10: Iran

Sinister turn of affairs in Iran where the plight of the unfortunate Baha'is, persecuted there for a century and a half, worsens. Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahid Tizfahm, all prominent members of the faith, have been arrested. In addition, Mahvash Sabet has been held in custody since 5 March this year after she was summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence to answer questions, ostensibly about the burial of an individual in the Baha'i cemetery in that city.

Since 1978, more than 200 Baha'is have been executed by the Iranian government. Hundreds more have been imprisoned and tortured, and tens of thousands have been deprived of jobs, pensions, businesses, and educational opportunities.

The seven Baha'is arrested in the latest crackdown are the 'Friends'. They have co-ordinating the activities of the Baha'is in Iran on behalf of members of the faith, as any formal organisation for the religion is outlawed.

A spokesman for the organisation said: 'Six of the seven were summarily arrested in raids by the Iranian authorities conducted in the early hours of 14 May. Officers of the Intelligence Ministry in Tehran entered their homes and conducted extensive searches. All six were arrested and taken to Evin Prison in Tehran. The seventh has been held in custody since 5 March this year.'

Until 1980, community in Iran was guided by an elected council known as the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Iran. In August 1980, all nine members of the assembly were abducted and disappeared without a trace. In December 1981, eight members of a reconstituted Assembly were executed.

Comments

[Michael]

Thanks for consistently keeping us informed about this issue - with far more dramatic natural and man made disasters occuring every week the Iranian regime hopes that no-one will notice its quiet, constant and systematic repression of the Baha'is. It's crucial that voices like yours are heard to be speaking out about it.

[SAM]

Once more, thank you for such a good text. I only hope more and more bloggers start defending this matter online.

Thank you!