Source: www.iranpressnews.com
Translation by Iran Press Watch
Confiscation of the property of a wealthy Baha’i family by the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order
As usual, the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order (EIKO, or simply Setad) is confiscating the property of Iranian citizens. Working with the Judicial System of the Islamic Republic, this organization has again repossessed the property of a Baha’i family, a portion of whose assets had been seized before.
A source informed about this seizure has told Kayhan of London: “Agents from the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order entered the residence of Mrs. Sharareh Farrokhzadi, the wife of Sirous Irannejad, in the Niavaran region of Tehran, and within 7 hours cleared the house of all their furniture and belongings and changed the ownership of the house to that organization!”
Sirous Irannejad, an Iranian entrepreneur and Baha’i residing in Tehran, spent some time in Evin Prison a short while after the revolution, and his property was confiscated at the time, like the property of many other Baha’i prisoners or those who had left Iran. After his release, the security agents did not leave Sirous Irannejad alone and harassed him repeatedly.
The Revolutionary Court issued an order to confiscate the property of this Baha’i family in September 2017, and that order was confirmed by the appeals court. The court order explicitly indicates that “Since it has been established that the above-named are Baha’is and are members of the perverse sect of Baha’ism, all their assets may be seized by the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order.”
After the passing of their father, Siamak and Rayan Irannejad were seeking to reverse the confiscation order when they were again subjected to harassment. However, they did not imagine that their family home would be confiscated by the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order along with their other assets.
The record of the confiscation of the property of Baha’i citizens in Iran over the last forty years is quite dark. During this period, not only the property of Baha’i but also the lives of hundreds of Baha’is have been threatened, and many have been executed. The government however, did not consider this sufficient, and so has tried to impose an economic siege and strangulation on them. The Islamic Republic has not shown mercy even on deceased Baha’is and their cemeteries, and is also subjecting Baha’i senior citizens to harassment.
Confiscation of institutions and companies owned by the Baha’i Community, all of which had considerable assets, is among the easiest ways to gain a fortune in the Islamic Republic. The government has confiscated not only the property of Baha’i institutions but also the personal assets of real people, and it continues to do so. In this regard, reference is made to the confiscation of the property of Hojabr Yazdani and Habibollah Sabet Pasal. Both of these individuals were among the largest Iranian entrepreneurs, whose presence in the market and trade boosted Iran’s economic power in the region. Despite this, their assets were confiscated by the revolutionaries and revolutionary organizations, including the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order, because they were Baha’is.
Confiscation of the property of Baha’is still continues, and the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order has always played a key role in doing this. A review of history reveals that this institution not only identifies itself as the beneficiary, but also in numerous cases it feels responsible to follow up on the confiscation of citizens’ property. An example of the follow up on the orders issued can be seen in the letter exchange between the head of the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order and the head of Judiciary of Kohgiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province. In this letter, the head of the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order in Kohgiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province notified the Head of the Judiciary in the Province that on 18 April 1994 an order had been issued by the Ecclesiastical Judge of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Yasouj and confirmed by the Supreme Leader to confiscate all the belongings of the Baha’is in the village of Kata. Among these belongings were the property of the Baha’is of this village, which continue to be in the hands of a number of Baha’is residing in the village, and therefore according to the contents of the order, action should be taken regarding the hand-over and change of ownership of this property to the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order.
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