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Friday Prayer Leader of Rafsanjan: Baha'is are Impure

Feb 2, 2026 February 2, 2026 1 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

The Friday Prayer Leader of Rafsanjan, Hojjatoleslam Abbas Ramazani Pour, has made derogatory remarks about Baha'is, labeling them as impure and calling for their expulsion from the city. This incident highlights ongoing discrimination against the Baha'i community in Iran and raises concerns about religious intolerance.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The derogatory remarks by a religious leader against the Baha'i community underscore ongoing religious intolerance in Iran.

👥 Key Players

Hojjatoleslam Abbas Ramazani Pour MENTIONED
Friday Prayer Leader of Rafsanjan
"As a religious leader, he influences public opinion and policy regarding religious minorities in Iran."
Bani Dougal MENTIONED
Representative of the international Baha'i community at the United Nations
"He advocates for the rights of the Baha'i community and brings international attention to their plight."
Simin Fahandej MENTIONED
Spokesperson for the international Baha'i community in Geneva
"She communicates the Baha'i community's concerns and experiences to the international community."

📰 What Happened

The Friday Prayer Leader of Rafsanjan made derogatory remarks about Baha'is, labeling them as impure and calling for their expulsion from the city. This statement reflects ongoing discrimination against the Baha'i community in Iran.

  • Hojjatoleslam Abbas Ramazani Pour declared that trading with Baha'is is forbidden.
  • The remarks were made during a Friday prayer sermon, indicating a public endorsement of discrimination.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This incident highlights the systemic discrimination faced by religious minorities in Iran, potentially leading to increased social tensions.
🌍 Regional: It may exacerbate sectarian divides within Iran and influence perceptions of religious tolerance in the region.
🌐 International: The remarks could draw condemnation from international human rights organizations and further isolate Iran diplomatically.

📚 Background

The Baha'i community in Iran has faced persecution since the religion's inception in the 19th century, with followers often denied basic rights and freedoms.

Religious intolerance in Iran Human rights violations against minorities
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The article presents a perspective from the international Baha'i community, which may emphasize human rights issues and discrimination.

The representative of the international Baha'i community at the United Nations stated that the Friday Prayer Leader of Rafsanjan has declared that "Baha'is are impure" and that trading with them is forbidden. According to Bani Dougal, Hojjatoleslam Abbas Ramazani Pour called for the expulsion of Baha'is from the city of Rafsanjan in his speech on Friday. Radio Farda, in an interview with Simin Fahandej, spokesperson for the international Baha'i community in Geneva, initially inquired about the recent statements made by the Friday Prayer Leader of Rafsanjan.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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