Severe Attacks by Amoli Larijani, Makarem Shirazi, and Naqdi on Faezah Hashemi

Faezah Hashemi, a political activist, continues to face widespread backlash following her meeting with a Baha'i community leader in Iran. In the latest statements, the head of Iran's judiciary has described her actions as 'shameful,' while a cleric has called for her prosecution. Recently, a group of political and civil activists met with Fariba Kamalabadi, a jailed Baha'i leader who was granted a short leave after years in prison, and the release of photos from this meeting, particularly Faezah Hashemi's presence, has sparked significant controversy. Fariba Kamalabadi was among a group known as 'Yaran' who were arrested in 2008 for managing the Baha'i community in Iran. Many media outlets, websites, and conservative figures have harshly criticized Faezah Hashemi's actions and called for action against her. In recent remarks, Sadeq Amoli Larijani, the head of Iran's judiciary, referred to the Baha'i faith as 'a fabricated religion created by foreigners and colonizers' and claimed that 'Baha'i leaders are connected to foreign countries and receive security orders from them.' According to IRNA, he stated that 'unfortunately, some support the Baha'is by breaking norms, and those associated with the Islamic Republic who do so should be ashamed for supporting groups that oppose religion and faith.' Amoli Larijani implicitly hinted at the possibility of judicial action against this political activist, stating, 'As the judiciary, we will intervene where a criminal title arises, and if this norm-breaking reaches the level of criminal titles, we will take decisive action.' He emphasized that 'in this regard, we do not consider who is related to whom; we do our job.' Faezah Hashemi is the daughter of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of the Expediency Council, and a member of the Assembly of Experts. Conservatives have demanded a response from him regarding his daughter's meeting with a Baha'i leader. As reported by the 'Jomhouri Islami' newspaper, this prominent figure in the Islamic Republic stated, 'Faezah has made a serious mistake and must correct and compensate for it.' Meanwhile, Faezah Hashemi has stated, 'I have committed no wrongdoing and am not regretful.' Hours before the judiciary head's remarks, Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, a conservative cleric in Qom, called for judicial action and prosecution against Faezah Hashemi. According to ISNA, he stated, 'The meeting of the daughter of a well-known political figure with a leader of the criminal Baha'i sect is a crime and is subject to prosecution under Sharia law.' This cleric added, 'I was waiting to see if anyone would object, but unfortunately, I saw no news. Until today, I heard that her father made a mild objection, which is worth thanking.' Naser Makarem Shirazi said, 'But why did others remain silent? Is this not one of the clear immoral acts? Is there no place for forbidding the immoral? I strongly condemn such actions and believe this crime is subject to prosecution under Sharia law, as it strengthens the enemies of Islam and the regime.' He stated that 'the enemies of Islam' have always used the Baha'i faith 'as a tool' and that 'such actions may be a precursor to recognizing them.' The Islamic Republic of Iran does not recognize the Baha'i faith and refers to it as a 'deviant sect' that allegedly serves the goals of the U.S. and Israel. The crackdown on followers of this faith has intensified in Iran since the 1979 revolution, and according to published reports, Baha'is in Iran are deprived of the right to education at universities and employment in government positions. The Baha'i World Centre, the supreme decision-making body for Baha'is, is located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, and has been operational since 1963. Meanwhile, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, head of the Basij Organization, referred to Faezah Hashemi's meeting, stating, 'We must firmly stand against such threats and deviations, and anyone who befriends the Baha'is is a Baha'i themselves.' According to ISNA, he claimed, 'The work of the Baha'is before the revolution was to sustain the Shah's dominance over Iran, form the core of SAVAK, and commit mass killings of the people.' In this context, the 'Hamandishi' website, affiliated with hardline conservatives, reported that signatures were being collected from 'merchants and shopkeepers in Tehran's bazaar,' which are to be submitted to the Tehran prosecutor today, condemning Faezah Hashemi's meeting with a Baha'i leader and calling for 'legal and revolutionary action' against 'these actions contrary to the principles of the revolution and the Islamic system.'