Fifty Businesses Closed down following Bahai Holy Day Observances

Source: hra-news.org/fa/religious-minorities/b-196

Translation by Iran Press Watch

Over fifty Bahai-run businesses were shut down on October 26, in Bandar Abbas, Kerman, Rafsanjan, and Jiroft. October 25 and 26 this year corresponded to the first and second day of Muharram in the Islamic lunar calendar — days on which Baha’is in the Islamic world celebrated the births of the Bab and Baha’u’llah. These businesses were shut down under the pretext that they were closed on the above-mentioned Baha’i holidays *.

* Baha’i businesses in Iran are required not to close for Baha’i holy days. See for example here: http://www.bic.org/media/Current-situation-Bahais-in-Iran, in which is stated in part:

“On 16 November 2012, the government authorities sealed all Baha’i businesses in Hamadan province. This day in the Muslim calendar marks a holy day for Baha’is, the anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, Founder of the Baha’i Faith. Some 32 stores and warehouses belonging to Baha’is were sealed by the authorities. Over the following days, the shop-owners were summoned to the Information Office of the Ministry of Intelligence in groups of three each day, and were asked to sign undertakings not to close their shops on Baha’i holy days.”