Source: www.en-hrana.org
On January 11, Baha’i citizen Saba Sefidi, resident of Tehran, was arrested after an appearance at Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the reason for Sefidi’s arrest and the charges against her are still unknown at the time of writing.
Regarding the prosecution and harassment of Baha’is by Iran’s regime, HRA Senior Advocacy Coordinator Skylar Thompson stated that HRA strongly condemned these discriminatory acts against religious minorities in Iran. She asked that the regime take action to ensure Iranian people, and particularly Baha’i citizens, are entitled to the freedom of religion and can perform religious acts freely.
According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.
The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.
January 14, 2022 7:19 pm
A world wonders at the unhappy circumstances in Iran as evidenced by its continuing missteps in arresting such kind and contributive persons as Saba Sefidi. All of our countries are experiencing a breakdown in deportment and orderliness and Iran especially cannot afford to disparage, imprison or simply sideline by the thousands the very people who are outstanding models of purity and bravery, honesty and faith. Like other countries, Iran, today, is a house of broken things and yet the willing hands to help repair the world are brought to a desperate state and frozen out of all participation because of the claims and statements of a few who wildly misrepresent their best citizens. It is to be hoped that Iran will grow in tolerance so that all those eager to help fix what needs repair can be allowed to help.