Several Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Marlik, Tehran

Hrana News Agency – Pari Kargar Marvasti, Danial Bani Nejad, Baha’i citizens along with another citizen, were arrested by security forces at Ms. Kargar’s residence in Marlik, Tehran and transferred to an unknown location. During the search of Pari Kargar’s home, security forces confiscated some personal items including mobile phones, electronic devices, photographs, books and materials related to the Baha’i faith and took them away.

According to Hrana News Agency, the news outlet of the Iranian human rights activists network, Pari Kargar Marvasti, Danial Bani Nejad, two Baha’i citizens along with Ismail Molai, were arrested by security officials in Marlik, Tehran.

The arrest of these three citizens took place at Pari Kargar’s residence in Marlik, Tehran. Security forces, simultaneously with the arrest of these citizens and during the search of the residence, confiscated some personal items including mobile phones, electronic devices, photographs, books and materials related to the Baha’i faith and took them away.

As of the time of reporting, there is no information available regarding the reasons for the arrest and the place of detention of these citizens.

Marlik is an area of Tehran that is also known as Marlik Karaj due to its proximity to Karaj.

Skyler Thompson, head of foreign relations for the Iranian human rights activists network, regarding this news stated: “This organization strongly condemns discriminatory practices against religious minorities in Iran. We call on Iran to take concrete steps to ensure that Iranians, particularly Baha’i citizens, can enjoy religious freedoms, including the free practice of their chosen religious activities.”

Baha’i citizens in Iran are deprived of freedoms related to religious beliefs. This systematic deprivation occurs despite Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom to change religion or belief and the freedom to manifest such religion or belief individually or in association with others, publicly or privately.

Based on unofficial sources in Iran, there are over 300,000 Baha’is, however Iran’s Constitution only recognizes Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism and does not recognize the Baha’i faith. For this reason, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated over the past years.

Source: Hrana