Launch of Archive on Bahá'í Persecution

The Bahá'í International Community office at the United Nations in Geneva has announced the launch of a website called "House of Documents on Bahá'í Persecution in Iran". According to the Bahá'í International Community in Geneva, this site provides, for the first time, thousands of official documents detailing numerous and ongoing executions, imprisonments, harassment, and generally the repression of Bahá'ís in Iran from the Qajar era to the present. The Bahá'í International Community states that more texts and audio-visual documents will gradually be added to this collection in English and Persian. The archive website, which includes a search engine, aims to document and archive the multiple instances of executions and killings of Bahá'ís, acts of violence, and discriminatory actions stemming from religious biases against this religious minority. "Simin Fahandej," a spokesperson for the Bahá'í International Community in Geneva, stated in an interview with Radio Farda that such an archive could be beneficial for researchers. Most of the documents in this archive pertain to the years following the 1979 revolution, although some documents also relate to the period before 1979. This website was initiated in response to the interest shown by researchers, journalists, filmmakers, and human rights activists regarding the situation of Bahá'ís in Iran, and its goal is to make these documents publicly accessible so that more individuals can research the status of Bahá'ís in Iran. "Simin Fahandej" noted that a section has been designated on the archive website for submitting documents regarding incidents against Bahá'ís. Considering the restrictions imposed by the Islamic Republic on internet access in Iran, she mentioned efforts to facilitate user access to the Bahá'í persecution archive website. The spokesperson also indicated that the website was launched in response to the interest of researchers, journalists, filmmakers, and human rights activists in the situation of Bahá'ís in Iran, aiming to make these documents publicly available for further research. The Islamic Republic sentenced seven Bahá'í leaders in Iran to long prison terms in 2010. According to statistics from the Bahá'í International Community in Geneva, over 200 Bahá'ís were killed or disappeared without a trace in the early years of the revolution, and hundreds were arrested, tortured, imprisoned, or expelled from work or universities. The Bahá'í International Community states that from the early formation of this faith in Iran (1844 to 1920), its followers were killed by the clergy and government and have always been targets of persecution and repression. In this context, six Bahá'í citizens in Sistan and Baluchestan were sentenced to prison, three Bahá'í citizens deprived of education received "five years in prison", Mahvash Sabet was awarded the "Courageous Writer" prize by the World Pen Association, eight Bahá'í citizens in Iran were sentenced to a total of 28 years in prison, and the organization prevented more than 70 Bahá'í citizens from entering universities. Mahvash Sabet, a leader of the Bahá'í community in Iran, was released after 10 years in prison, and there are concerns about the "deteriorating" conditions of Bahá'í prisoners in Iran.