Raids on Baha'i Homes in Karaj and Qazvin; Two Baha'i Citizens Arrested

Intelligence agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran raided the homes of 14 Baha'i citizens in the provinces of Alborz and Qazvin, arresting two of them. According to information received by Voice of America on Wednesday, February 20, at 7:30 AM on Tuesday, February 29, intelligence agents 'stormed' the home of Erfan Eshraghi, a Baha'i citizen residing in Karaj, and arrested him, taking him to an unknown location. According to a source close to Voice of America, the agents confiscated laptops belonging to Erfan Eshraghi, his wife, and daughters, as well as their mobile phones. The report states that the agents were in Mr. Eshraghi's home for an hour and took not only the family's electronic devices but also other items, including 'a number of religious books and photographs.' The source indicated that this Baha'i citizen has not yet contacted his relatives, and it is unclear in which detention center and under which agency he is being held. It is noteworthy that Erfan Eshraghi suffers from kidney stones and was supposed to go to the hospital for a lithotripsy procedure on the same day of his arrest, Tuesday, February 29, and the raid by intelligence forces occurred while he 'had gone to the parking lot to head to the hospital, but the agents prevented him and accompanied him inside the house.' Additionally, the website HRANA, a media outlet for human rights activists in Iran, reported on Wednesday that government agents searched the homes of several Baha'i citizens, including 'Payman Reza, Pejman Reza, Mehraneh Motlaq Arani (Reza), Nazila Riyasi, Nova Ansari, Nasim Ansari, Homa Shabanpour, Shamisa Shahbazian, Farhood Yazdani, Alis Timouri, Fariba Misaqhi, Sogand Rangaraz, Shoghi Tabiani, and Erfan Eshraghi' in the provinces of Alborz and Qazvin, confiscating their electronic devices and personal belongings related to the Baha'i faith. This human rights organization also reported that, in addition to Erfan Eshraghi, Fariba Misaqhi was also arrested in Qazvin. According to the report, informed sources stated that the homes of Payman and Pejman Reza and their mother are in a three-story building, and the agents 'searched all three units separately.' Furthermore, another informed source told HRANA that 'at 7:45 AM on Tuesday,' intelligence agents 'simultaneously entered the homes' of Nova and Nasim Ansari and 'began searching without any explanation.' Baha'i citizens have faced extensive discrimination since the 1979 revolution, including dismissal from government jobs, confiscation of property, closure of businesses, denial of education, and destruction of cemeteries. Also see: Arrest of 13 Baha'i citizens on charges of holding music and painting classes. According to the annual report of the 'International Religious Freedom Commission' last year, the repression, violence, discrimination, and social stigmatization by the government against Baha'i citizens have intensified. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has also expressed concern over the increased pressure on religious minorities in Iran and the Islamic Republic's campaign to arrest Baha'is. The Baha'i World Community reported on November 12 in a report titled 'Outsiders: Multifaceted Violence Against Baha'is in the Islamic Republic of Iran' that Shia clerics in Iran have labeled Baha'is as 'impure' since the formation of the Baha'i faith in an effort to 'justify their discrimination and oppression,' which has led to the historical repression of Baha'is in Iran. Also see: Global Baha'i community's protest against the violent arrest of Baha'i women in Isfahan. The daughter of Mahvash Sabat, a Baha'i prisoner, reports the deteriorating health condition of her mother after surgery. The repression of Baha'i women in Iran has been condemned by 125 members of the European Parliament. The Baha'i World Community has called for an investigation into the violations of Baha'i rights in Iran at the United Nations. The British Pen Association has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mahvash Sabat. Anisa Fanayan, a Baha'i citizen in Semnan province, has been sentenced to 8 years in prison.