Source: humanrightsiniran.org
Translation by Iran Press Watch
May 22, 2017
Synopsys:
The business of Farhad Samadani, a Baha’i resident of Karaj in Alborz province, was closed and sealed from use by ten officers from the Office of Governmental Suspension and Disciplinary Punishments and his goods confiscated.
Report:
According to the Human Rights website in Iran, the vision and optical shop of Farhad Samadani, a Baha’i resident of Karaj in Alborz province, was sealed by the Office of Governmental Suspension and Disciplinary Punishments in the early morning of April 13, 2017.
An informed source reports: “The officers wanted to arrest Farhad Samadani, but they refrained from arresting him due to his physical illness and just confiscated his car instead.”
This source further added: “Upon further investigation of Mr. Samadani’s case, it was discovered that 528 types of eye glasses along with other equipment were confiscated and he must pay a penalty for dealing with contraband goods despite having invoices showing that he has legally purchased the confiscated items. Mr. Samadani presented these invoices to the officers from the custom agents, which proved the purchases were made legally and the confiscated items were not contraband goods. He not only has lost $10 million [IRR – Iranian Rial] in merchandise but also has to pay a penalty three times that amount.”
It has also been reported that at least ten other Baha’i-owned businesses have been sealed and closed in Karaj by governmental and other disciplinary officials in recent months.
Within the last year, more than 3,000 Baha’i-owned businesses have been shut down simply because of business closure during Baha’i holidays and the owners’ belief in the Baha’i Faith.[1]
Over the past few years, Baha’i-owned businesses have been shut down in different cities in Iran by the state agency of the Office of Public Places.
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[1] See, for example, related articles that report such forced closures here.
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