Bahá'í International Community: Murder of a Bahá'í in Yazd Motivated by Religious Hatred

The Bahá'í International Committee states that an Iranian Bahá'í citizen was murdered by two individuals with a knife, and one of the attackers claimed that the assault was carried out because of his beliefs and religion. In a statement released by the Bahá'í International Community on October 27, the victim, Farhang Amiri, a 63-year-old resident of Yazd, was identified, and the attack occurred on September 26. According to the statement, the assailants went to his residence on October 4 under the pretext of buying his car, but he was not home during the day. Consequently, they returned at night and severely injured him with knife wounds to his chest. Farhang Amiri reportedly died hours later in a hospital. Both attackers have been arrested; one was caught by a neighbor, and the other was apprehended by the police. One of the assailants stated in front of witnesses that he killed Farhang Amiri because he knew 'he was a Bahá'í.' News of Farhang Amiri's murder had previously been reported by some websites and media outlets. On the same date, Colonel Mohammad Reza Mazidi, a senior police commander in Yazd, told the ISNA news agency that 'initial police investigations determined that a physical altercation and a financial dispute of two million tomans over a car was the cause of this crime.' No further reports on the results of the police investigations have been publicly released. However, Bani Dougal, the representative of the Bahá'í International Committee at the United Nations, emphasized in the committee's statement that this incident is 'the result of the long-standing and targeted actions of the Islamic Republic officials in spreading hatred and inciting prejudice against Bahá'ís.' According to Bani Dougal, Yazd has been a site of persecution against the Bahá'í community, arbitrary arrests, and attacks on the homes and businesses of Bahá'ís over the years. The Bahá'í International Committee's statement regarding what is described as a 'hate crime' was released one day after the community reported that the repression of Bahá'ís in Iran has continued with increased intensity but in a more covert manner since Hassan Rouhani's administration took office. The committee expressed serious concern about the 'hate-mongering' by officials, institutions, and state and national media against Bahá'ís. This concern is not only expressed by the Bahá'í International Community; last spring, UN reporters also expressed concern about 'verbal attacks' and 'hostile remarks' by officials against Bahá'ís and the creation of 'hatred' against believers of this faith in Iran. The Islamic Republic does not recognize Bahá'í as a religion. This murder occurred in the Qasemabad neighborhood of Yazd, which is home to various religious groups, including Bahá'ís and Zoroastrians.