Concern Over New Wave of Bahai Arrests in Iran

A spokesperson for the Bahai World Community expressed concern over a new wave of arrests of Bahais in Iran.

Human Rights Campaign in Iran has cited statements by Diane Ala’i, spokesperson for the Bahai World Community, who stated that according to her information, during Ordibehesht month, one Bahai was arrested in Razavi Khorasan Province, one Bahai in Isfahan Province, and four Bahais in Alborz Province.

Ms. Ala’i said that although some of them were released a few days after their arrest, they face various charges.

According to Diane Ala’i, all of them were arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents at their homes following house searches and confiscation of their personal belongings, including mobile phones, laptops, iPads, computers, and Bahai religious books.

Ms. Ala’i states that the arrest and issuance of lengthy prison sentences for Bahais because of their religious beliefs has continued without interruption throughout the four decades of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s rule, but the recent pattern of arrests occurring in serial and successive waves has intensified the international Bahai community’s concerns about the situation of this minority within Iran.

Bahais in Iran have faced constant persecution, imprisonment, execution, and deprivation of citizenship rights by the government since the revolution.

In recent years, the summons and arrest of Bahais and their deprivation of education and employment have repeatedly made headlines. International human rights organizations and the United States Department of State have condemned the Islamic Republic’s treatment of Bahais and the violation of their citizenship rights.

Source: Voice of America