Elderly Residents of Bahai Nursing Home in Karaj Struggle to Stop Government Harassment and Pressure
Following efforts by the welfare organization and the Alborz Province facility administration to close a Bahai elderly care center in Karaj, the elderly residents protested by displaying placards demanding an end to these actions.
The Political Prisoners’ Defense Campaign website reported that after welfare officers failed to evict the elderly residents from the nursing home, they made another attempt last week with a prosecutor’s order to close the facility, but again failed to remove the Bahai elderly residents.
Meanwhile, images of elderly residents at the nursing home have been shared on social media showing their plea to stop the harassment of Bahais. In these images, the elderly are holding papers that read: “End the harassment and mistreatment of elderly Bahais in Iran (Karaj). This is our home.”
It was previously announced that the Karaj facility administration, on Thursday, June 27, attempted to evict the elderly residents and seal the premises of one of the Bahai elderly care centers in Golshar, but temporarily refrained from sealing the center due to the refusal of the elderly and staff to leave.
Following this action, Giti Charkhi Zarin, the director of this facility, has been summoned to appear before the Alborz Province prosecutor’s office on Sunday, June 30.
International human rights organizations and the United States government have repeatedly condemned the harassment and imprisonment of followers of religious minorities in Iran.
Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, spoke on Friday, June 21, during the unveiling of the annual religious freedom report and said that in Iran, the suppression of Bahais, Christians, and others continues to weigh on consciences.
Source: Voice of America
