Bahá’í World/Volume 28/Current Situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran
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The Bahá’í International Community
presented this statement to the F iffy-Sixth Session OfIhe United Nations Comim’ssion on Human Rights, held in Geneva,
20 MarC/2728 April 2000.
CURRENT
SITUATION OF THE
BAHMS IN IRAN
F or twenty years, the Bahá’í International Community has taken the floor to share with the Commission information about the plight of the peace—loving Bahá’í community in Iran.
The situation of the Bahá’í community is now at an important crossroad. Although we are beginning to see signs of positive developments in the Islamic Republic, we are, as yet, unable to document any improvement in the actual situation of the Bahá’ís. They are still targets of overt atrocities, and they continue to suffer under the burden of more subtle forms of discrimination such as economic strangulation and denial of access to higher education.
Imprisonments and Death Sentences As of 1 March 2000, twelve Bahá’ís are being held in prison because of their religious beliefs; five of those have been sentenced to death. It is clear that the charges brought against all twelve prisoners—including those awaiting execution—are based solely on their membership in the Bahá’í community.
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Although the Iranian Government has stated on numerous occasions that the situation in Iran has improved, we have recently been informed of three more death sentences imposed on Bahá’ís in the city of Mashhad.
On 3 February 2000, two prisoners, Mr. Sirus DhabihiMuqaddam and Mr. Hedayat Kashifi—Najafabadi, were informed orally that their death sentences had been confirmed. At the same time Mr. Ata’u’llah Hamid Nasirizadih was informed that his sentence of ten years’ imprisonment had also been confirmed. All three sentences were upheld despite assurances to the contrary given by the Iranian Government to the Special Representative on Iran, Mr. Maurice D. Copithorne.
The third death sentence was imposed by the same court on Mr. Manuchehr Khulusi, who was arrested in Birjand some eight months ago and subsequently transferred to the prison in Mashhad. It is not known what charges were brought against Mr. Khulusi, but it is clear that he was arrested because of his Bahá’í activities.
Requirements for the Restoration of the Bahá’í Community
As you can see, the situation of the Bahá’í community has not improved and “remains of serious concern,” to use the terms of the Special Representative in his last interim report to the General Assembly in 1999.
In light of the facts we have shared in this brief statementall of which are amply documented in Mr. Copithorne’s report to the current session of the Commission—we must once again call upon the Commission to intercede on behalf of this beleaguered community. Mr. Abdelfattah Amor’s report (E/CN.4/1996/95 /Add.2), issued after his Visit to Iran in 1996, describes with clarity the situation of the Bahá’ís and specifies a comprehensive set of measures that the Government should take to remedy that situation.
Mr. Amor calls on the Government of Iran to grant the Bahá’ís the following:
freedom to bury their dead freedom of movement ' no impediment to access to education or employment
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BAHA‘lS m IRAN: CURRENT S ITUATIQN
' security of the person and physical integrity civil rights and, in particular, the freedom to manifest their belief
° the review and setting aside of the death sentences (we call also for the release of these prisoners) return of community properties and compensation for the destruction of places of worship
' equal treatment by the judiciary equal rights for all, regardless of their beliefs or the community to which they belong
' reestablishment of Bahá’í institutions.
We would like to emphasize that reestablishment of Bahá’í institutions is particularly critical, as they constitute the core around which Bahá’í community life revolves. Because the Bahá’í Faith has no clergy, the arbitrary dissolution of these institutions, ordered by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1983, was equivalent to abolishing cardinals, bishops, and parish priests in Christian communities. These institutions not only guide the community and nurture the individual members, but they perform such canonical functions as marriages and burials.
In our View the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is able, if it wishes, to find ways within existing laws and regulations, to accord Bahá’ís the same freedoms enjoyed by all other Iranian citizens. For example, measures were recently taken by the Government of Iran which make it possible for married Bahá’í couples to be registered as husband and wife. This step should also allow such couples to register children of their marriage.
Appeal to the Commission
We now appeal to the Commission to look into ways of assuring that all of the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance and the Special Representative on Iran are systematically implemented. In this respect, it may be helpful to develop a timetable for monitoring purposes, in consultation with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We are convinced that a speedy implementation ofthese recommendations is the key
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to the full emancipation of the Bahá’í community in the land of its birth.
We would like to remind the Commission that the Bahá’í community poses no threat to the Iranian authorities. The principles of the Bahá’í Faith require that Bahá’ís, wherever they reside, be obedient to their government and avoid partisan political involvement, subversive activity and all forms of Violence. Moreover, the Bahá’í community in Iran is not and Will not be aligned with any government, ideology, or opposition movement.
The Bahá’ís seek no special privileges. They desire only their rights under the lntemational Bill of Human Rights, of Which Iran is a signatory, including the right to life, the right to profess and practice their religion, the right to liberty and security of person, and the right to education and work.
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