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.]
September 12, 2009 2:47 am
Isn’t it strange?!!
Those in the inner circle, hold top positions by lying about their education, pretending they have degrees from Oxford or other reputable universities. Even when their deception is uncovered, they still hold their top positions.
And then, these authorities have problem with a Baha’i holding private English class in their own home!!!!
September 14, 2009 11:18 am
The Iranian authorities must have very little indeed with which to blame Baha’is if they arrest them for the mere study of English. This is another example of trumped up charges made against a defenseless peace-loving minority. Shame!
September 15, 2009 12:51 am
This is just a manifestation of IRI’s plan to paralyze the Baha’i community financially. The IRI hopes that Baha’is will convert to Islam if they have nothing to eat. That is the plan. But they do not know that Baha’is consider themselves the heirs to those resisting in the Shaykh Tabarsi Fortress; they managed to live on cooked grass for months.