Search of three Baha'i homes in Isfahan
After raiding the home of a Baha'i family and searching their belongings, IRGC intelligence agents sealed off the family's son's carpentry workshop. The youngest member of the family was also arrested, and his whereabouts are unknown.
Security and social pressures on the Baha’is of Iran continue. On Sunday, May 4, the residence of a Baha’i family, including a grandmother, child, and grandchild, in Isfahan was simultaneously searched by IRGC intelligence forces. The HRANA news agency writes that the business of Shahzad Hosseini, the son of the family, was also inspected and sealed on the same day, and he was asked to report to IRGC intelligence on May 7.
HRANA writes that Shayan Hosseini, the family's grandson, was arrested on Monday, May 5, and his whereabouts are unknown.
The website's report quoted a source close to the Hosseini family as saying: "On Sunday afternoon, three groups of IRGC intelligence agents, who introduced themselves as Corona agents, raided and broke doors and windows, searching and seizing personal property... After Shahzad Hosseini learned over the phone that their elderly mother's house had been raided, he went there and found out that the agents had entered his mother's house by breaking the window and the net. Mrs. Hosseini went into shock and lost consciousness for a while... At his mother's house, Shahzad Hosseini realized that they had also raided his and his son's house at the same time."
The source added that the IRGC intelligence, at the same time as breaking the locks on the doors of Shahzad Hosseini's carpentry workshop, entered his workplace and confiscated his tools along with the wood: "A report of this action was given to the local police station, accompanied by the workshop's neighbors."
HRANA, citing the same source, writes that the next day, Shahzad Hosseini's son, who had gone to the location to lock up the carpentry workshop, was confronted by IRGC intelligence agents: "The carpentry workshop was sealed after being evacuated and the remaining equipment was confiscated, and the agents took Shayan Hosseini away after confiscating his car and cell phone."
A history of repression
Followers of the Baha'i faith have been under pressure and intimidation since the Islamic Republic came to power in Iran, and are denied many of their civil rights, including the right to education or employment in government agencies. Many Baha'is are self-employed, but their shops are also raided and their businesses sealed.
Baha'is live under the pressure of arbitrary arrests, harassment, and the destruction of their cemeteries and homes. In November 2018, the body of a Baha'i citizen was dug up from a grave and dumped in the deserts around Damavand.
Recently, the option “other religions” was removed from the form for issuing a new national ID card, and applicants must be believers in one of the four official religions: Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. This situation means forcing Baha’is to lie; while in this religion, lying about religious beliefs is taboo. Deprivation of a national ID card also means deprivation of a passport, bank card, driver’s license, and many other permits.
A few months ago, there was an attempt to seal off a Baha'i nursing home.
Pressures are not only on the Baha'i community, but attention to their rights also does not go unanswered. For example, in 2018, Mehdi Hajati, a member of the Shiraz City Council, was arrested on charges of supporting two Baha'i citizens who were being prosecuted.
The most common charge the Iranian government has leveled against Baha’is is “espionage.” At least 200 Baha’is were executed on this charge early in the revolution. The Baha’i International Community says persecution of followers of the faith has increased under Rouhani’s government. Many Baha’is have fled the country due to social and security pressures.
Source: DW
