Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community

Iran Press Watch
Documenting the Persecution of the Baha’i Commu



Baha’i Cemetery Ruined for the 18th Time
Posted: 21 Sep 2009 06:44 PM PDT
On Sunday, September 20, 2009, the Committee of Human Rights Reporters posted the following news, which appears below in translation:
From September 6 through September 10, using large trucks and bulldozers, a number of unknown individuals destroyed and excavated the Baha’i Cemetery of Najafabad and Vilashahr [near Isfahan].
The cemetery, which belongs to the Baha’is of Najafabad and Vilashahr, and which is known as Gulestan Javid [“eternal garden”], is situated about 9 miles from Najafabad. This land was given to the Baha’is of Najafabad and Vilashahr in the winter of 1995; it has been attacked 18 times since them. It has been reported that 119 graves are located in this cemetery – 95 are in the first section and 24 more are in the second section.
According to reports by eyewitnesses, when Baha’is visited the cemetery on Thursday, September 10, 2009, they were confronted with a destroyed cemetery and excavated land. The entire first section and portions of section 2 of this cemetery had been excavated, and large craters and earth-mounds were created. In some segments, the earth had been removed to the depth of over a yard, and in other segments earth had been brought in from other areas and piled up in long rows as high as 10 yards.
Moreover, parking lots located on the northern and southern parts of cemetery were also excavated up to 35 yards from the graves, and large craters and mounds were created in them.
It should be noted that tracks from bulldozers and large trucks were clearly evident throughout the cemetery and surrounding land. In addition, the remains of previously destroyed facilities that had included water tanks were taken away from the property.
It should be noted that the previous Baha’i cemetery of this region was thoroughly destroyed and eradicated in 1984.
According to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
Despite the fact that Iran is a signatory of this Universal Declaration, for the past 30 years Baha’is have been deprived of the most basic rights, such as the right to individual dignity and personal security – and even their cemeteries in many different towns have been attacked and destroyed.
Below are a series of photographs showing before and after the latest destruction of the Baha’i cemetery of Najafabad and Vilashahr.
[Posted on Sunday, September 20, 2009, at: http://chrr.us/spip.php?article5776. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]

4 Baha’i Prisoners Released Posted: 11 Sep 2009 05:10 PM PDT The online site of Khabar Navard has reported the following on Friday, September 11, 2009, which appears below in translation: Mrs. Didar Hashemi, Mrs. Vesal Yusufi and Payam Yusufi were released from prison in Sari on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Mr. Anvar Moslemi was also released from Sari’s prison on Wednesday, September 9 after a 300,000 tuman [equivalent of US$300] surety was posted. [Posted on Friday, September 11, 2009, at Khabar Navard. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]

Forced Closure of Baha’i Businesses Posted: 11 Sep 2009 01:44 PM PDT As reported previously by Iran Press Watch(IPW1, IPW2 and IPW3), on July 8, 2009, around 4 pm in the afternoon, four agents of the Information office of the Ministry of Intelligence of the city of Sari, in Province of Mazandaran, visited the optical store of Sohrab Laqa’i and detained him. The following update is provided by the online site of Human Rights Activists News Agency: According to a report by the Baha’i Committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran, towards the end of last week, agents of the Public Properties went to the optical shop of Sohrab Laqa’i, a Baha’i prisoner, and without presenting any evidence, proceeded to close and seal that business location. Afterwards, the same agents went to the shop of Mr. Laqa’i’s wife, Mrs. Zahra Golabian, and closed that business as well. It should be noted that Sohrab Laqa’i was arrested at the place of his work on July 8 by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence of Sari on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” He was kept at the incarceration center of the same Ministry. After 38 days in solitary confinement in Shahid Kachouie detention center, he was transferred to the general prison facility of Qa’emshahr. Despite continual efforts of his lawyer and family, he continues to languish in prison. It should be noted that security agents had previously threatened this prisoner of conscience with the closure of his business. [Posted on Thursday, September 10, 2009, at hra-news and hra-iran. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]

New Form of Discrimination Posted: 11 Sep 2009 12:50 PM PDT The following news was posted on the site of Khabar Navard and Bah19 on Tuesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 10, 2009, respectively, and appears below in translation: In Iran, even giving private language lessons by Baha’is is now a crime. Last year, security and municipality agents raided the home of Dariush Latifi in Kashan and after a thorough search of the residence, confiscated various booklets and tapes that help teach English language. Afterwards, Mr. Latifi and his wife, Marjan Abu’l-Fazli, were routinely summoned and illegally interrogated. Authorities insisted that this couple could not hold private English training classes in their home, unless they had received a special Educational and Training permit. This interrogation and harassment has intensified and escalated during the past year. However, the law indicates that no one is required to have a permit for giving private lessons. In fact, since the beginning of Islamic Revolution, when all Baha’is were discharged from governmental jobs, giving private tutorials and training is one way that Baha’is have earned a living. And now in Kashan this legal right is being violated and trampled by those responsible to uphold the law. Posted on Khabar Navard and Bah19. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]

Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community

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Baha’i Tried by the Revolutionary Court Posted: 05 Sep 2009 02:04 PM PDT On Saturday, September 5, 2009,Human Rights Activists News Agency reported the following news, which appears below in translation. For previous reference to this case on Iran Press Watch, please consult: here A Baha’i prisoner was tried by the Revolutionary Court on security charges. Shahram Chiniyan-Miyanduab was tried by Branch 31 of Revolutionary Court of the town of Ray, with Mr. Zendeh-Del being the presiding judge. Mr. Chiniyan is a Baha’i and arrested in January by police units in Ray, first because of personal complaints by several individuals. Later additional security charges were brought up against him and he was transferred into the custody of the Ministry of Intelligence. In the course of his trial, the prosecutor read the following charges against him: “activities against the regime”, “membership in illegal groups”, “claim to Mihdi [the Promised One of Islam]”, and “insulting religious sanctities”. Mr. Chiniyan’s lawyer rejected these charges and said they were baseless. The court will issue its ruling during the coming week. It should be noted that after the conclusion of the trial, the aforementioned Mr. Chiniyan was taken the quarantined section the Evin prison, where in accordance with the law, he would be kept for 3 days. This section is notoriously without a proper hygienic environment and lacks basic standards of health. Moreover, while incarcerated, prisoners must observe the Islamic law and are compelled to fast. [Iran is presently observing the fasting month of Ramadan – translator.] [Posted on Saturday, September 5, 2009 at: http://hra-news.info/news/4733.aspx. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]