Property of Bahá’í Citizen in Qaemshahr Confiscated ‘in Favor of Imam’s Executive Headquarters’
Hrana News Agency, which covers human rights issues, reported that on December 23, the special court for Article 49 of the Iranian Constitution in Mazandaran ruled to confiscate the property of Sheida Taeed, a Bahá’í citizen residing in Qaemshahr, in favor of the “Imam’s Executive Headquarters.”
The Imam’s Executive Headquarters, under the supervision of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, had its wealth estimated at over 95 billion dollars in 2013.
Hrana announced on Monday, December 27, that the ruling was issued based on “the fatwa of religious authorities” stating “the illegitimacy of Bahá’í property.”
Ms. Taeed was arrested at her home on the first day of September of this year but was released on September 12 after posting bail from one of the city’s security detention centers. Her court hearing was held in November of this year. Apparently, Ms. Taeed was arrested and tried solely on the charge of being Bahá’í. The special court for Article 49 of the Constitution in Mazandaran did not bring any other charges against her.
Skyler Thompson, foreign relations director of the Human Rights Activists in Iran collective, said regarding this news to Hrana: “This organization strongly condemns discriminatory actions against religious minorities in Iran. We call on Iran to take concrete steps to ensure that Iranians, particularly Bahá’í citizens, can enjoy religious freedoms, including the free practice of their chosen religion.”
Bahá’ís in Iran face widespread pressure and discrimination, and many have been killed in physical attacks or in prison. Additionally, a large number of Bahá’ís living in Iran have been detained, some have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, and their properties and places have been seized by institutions of the Islamic Republic.
Source: Radio Farda
