Source: www.hra-news.org
Translation by Iran Press Watch
HRANA News Agency – Pari Kargarian Marousti, Daniel Bani Nejad, both Baha’i citizens, along with another citizen, were detained by security forces, while they were together at Ms. Kargarian’s home in Marlik, Tehran. They were taken to an unknown location. Security forces raided the home of Ms. Kargarian and confiscated personal belongings, including mobile phones, electronics, pictures, books and works related to the Baha’i faith.
According to the HRANA news agency, the news arm of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Pari Kargarian Marousti, Daniel Bani Nejad, both Baha’i, along with Ismail Molaei, were arrested by security agents in Marlik, Tehran.
The arrest of these three citizens took place at Pari Kargarian’s house in Marlik, Tehran. At the same time as the arrests, security forces searched the home and confiscated some personal belongings, including cell phones, electronics and pictures, as well as books and work related to the Baha’i faith.
As of publication of this report, the reasons for their detention and whereabouts of these citizens are unknown.
Marlik region is a part of Tehran, which is also known as Marlik Karaj due to its proximity to Karaj.
Skyler Thompson, head of foreign relations for the Iranian Association of Human Rights Activists stated, “The organization strongly condemns acts of discrimination against religious minorities in Iran,” “We demand that Iran take concrete steps to ensure that Iranians, especially Baha’i citizens, can enjoy religious freedoms, including the freedom to practice their religion.”
Baha’i citizens in Iran are deprived of liberties of practicing their religious beliefs. This systematic deprivation of liberty occurs while Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights entitle any individual to freedom of religion and belief and also freedom to express it individually or collectively and in public or in private.
According to unofficial sources, there are more than 300,000 Baha’is in Iran, but Iran’s constitution only recognizes Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism and does not recognize the Baha’i faith. For this reason, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated over past years.
February 8, 2022 11:08 am
It is disappointing that people employed by the government of Iran are tasked with such a fruitless goal as the attempt to eradicate the Baha’i Faith from the land of Persia where it was born. What more beneficial work can be done in Iran than the work of kindness exhibited by these devoted souls who tirelessly seek to uplift the condition of all who are in need. There is never a gesture or word spoken against those who, with no cause, gather them into the prison system. There too, the generous Baha’is reach out to their fellow prisoners lending aid where they can. A selflessness taught by every religion is that which the Baha’is demonstrate, and this can be verified even by those guards who escort them to jail and this has been so for the hundred and seventy-seven years of the history of the Baha’i Faith in Iran. Lift the hand of oppression from these people and their light will shine for the benefit of all.