Escalating Economic Pressure on Iran’s Baha’is

With intensifying economic pressures on Iran’s Baha’i community, over one hundred of their businesses in various Iranian cities have been sealed due to closures during religious occasions.

According to a report by FCN, following the temporary closure of these establishments on the occasion of Baha’i religious holidays on November 1st and 2nd, coinciding with the 11th and 12th of Aban in the current calendar, governmental measures were taken against them.

Molud, a member of Iran’s Baha’i community, told FCN: “The prevention of Baha’i economic activity under various pretexts has intensified since last year. The sealing of business units under the guise of closures during Baha’i religious occasions is among these illegal measures against this community.”

This compatriot emphasizes that according to clause “b” of Article 28 of the Professional Guild System Law, owners of professional units can close their businesses at their own discretion for up to fifteen days without notifying legal authorities. Of course, according to this legal article, if such closure causes hardship or inconvenience to consumers, it will be subject to sealing.

Molud says: “It raises questions for us what hardship or inconvenience the closure of units like ‘Akbari Iron’ or ‘Security Systems,’ which were sealed in Babol due to closure in Ordibehesht of this year, caused to the people.

He reminds that last year, under this ostensibly legal pretext, the situation became so difficult for Baha’is that all professional units of the Baha’i community in Rafsanjan were sealed.

The International Baha’i Community, in a statement deploring these measures, has called on Iran’s President to end this economic suppression.