Source: www.hra-news.org
Translation by Iran Press Watch
HRANA News Agency – On Monday, November 8, 2021, six businesses own by Baha’i citizens in Qaemshahr were sealed by the agents of the Places Administration. These businesses were placed under seal following their owners’ observance of a two-day Baha’i religious holiday.
According to the HRANA news agency, the news organ of the Iranian Association of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, November 8, 2021, the business premises of six Baha’i citizens in Qaemshahr were sealed by agents of the Places Administration.
HRANA has been able to confirm sealed businesses are owned by Nima Noukhah (Puppet and Children’s Play), Nabat Asadi, (Eyeglasses Repair), Soheil Babaei (Sanitary Ware), Kourosh Rezaei (Refrigerator and Air Conditioner Repair), and Maziar Abbasi (Paint and Construction Materials), Mr. Akbari (Welding and Ironworks). Authorities sealed the business when the owners, in accordance with their Faith, attempted to close in observance of their Holy Days.
Baha’is, in accordance with their religious beliefs, suspend work and close their places of business in observance of Baha’i Holy Days, of which there are 9 days scattered throughout the year. Law enforcement and security forces have made it a practice to routinely seal the businesses of owners who close shop on Baha’i Holy Days. This is part of ongoing economic pressure on the Baha’i community, despite this forced closure of being in direct violation of Item B of Article 28 of Commercial Union Law, which states that business owners may close their place of business for up to 15 days a year without informing the union.
It is worth mentioning that in 2014, the businesses of a number of Baha’i citizens in Mazandaran province, including the Baha’is of Qaemshahr, were sealed by the order of the Places Administration. Some of these places of business has been prevented from re-opening, despite the passage of 6 years.
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