Human Rights Watch: The Islamic Republic has increased the detention of Baha'is

Human Rights Watch states that the Islamic Republic has increased the detention of followers of the Baha'i faith in various parts of Iran over the past two months. The Iranian constitution does not recognize Baha'is as a religious minority, and the security forces of the Islamic Republic continuously target them for harassment and detention due to their beliefs, destroying their cemeteries. Baha'is are also prevented from studying at universities in Iran, and they are expelled from educational institutions and government offices. According to a recent report from Human Rights Watch, during August and September of this year, 20 Baha'i citizens were detained 'without clear charges' in different cities across the country. Human Rights Watch reports that, according to a source that provided this information, among the 20 detained Baha'is, 12 were arrested in Shiraz, with 'four of them currently held in the Ministry of Intelligence detention center.' The organization also cites the Iran Human Rights Campaign, stating that in addition to these individuals, 11 other Baha'is were arrested in the provinces of Isfahan and Alborz from August 23 to September 23 and transferred to the Shiraz detention center. The names of these individuals include Bahareh Zaini, Sepideh Rouhani, Afshin Bolbolan, Milad Dardaan, Anousheh Rayneh, Farhang Sahba, and Foujan Rashidi in the city of Baharestan in Isfahan province, and Peyman Ma'navy, Kianoush Salmanzadeh, Maryam Ghafarmanesh, and Jamileh Pakrou in the city of Karaj in Alborz province. The source that provided this information to Human Rights Watch expressed 'ignorance' about the charges against the detainees. The report also mentions the detention of Mahdi Hajati, a member of the Shiraz City Council, who was imprisoned for 10 days after tweeting that he was trying to secure the release of the detained Baha'is in the city. Mr. Hajati tweeted on September 25 that 'I have tried every avenue in the past 10 days to secure the release of two detained Baha'i friends, but I have not succeeded. Our generation must not spare any effort in reforming judicial procedures and other matters that threaten social justice while standing against foreign enemies.' Michael Page, the deputy director of the Middle East division of Human Rights Watch, described the detention of 20 Baha'is in August and September in Iran 'without providing any explanation' as indicative of the level of 'intolerance' the Islamic Republic has towards the Baha'i community in Iran. According to the deputy director, 'Iranian officials continue their campaign of threats and harassment when they detain an elected official [Mahdi Hajati] who had the courage to express solidarity with his Baha'i compatriots.' Page added that 'for four decades, the judiciary and security organizations of Iran have violated the most fundamental rights of the Baha'i community in Iran.' He called on Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, and his cabinet members to 'stop pretending to be irresponsible in the persecution of Baha'is and put an end to this rights violation.' While the Islamic Republic continues to harass Baha'i citizens, according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran has also joined, freedom of religion includes 'the freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief of one's choice, and the freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in worship, observance, practice, and teaching.' In Iran, in addition to Baha'is, Christian converts, Sunni Muslims, and Gonabadi dervishes are also persecuted by the government and face negative scrutiny, being prevented from practicing their worship. Recently, multiple reports have emerged regarding the suppression and harassment of Baha'is in areas controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi Shiites in Yemen.