(HRA 6 june 2011) On Saturday and Sunday nights, June 4-5, 2011, security forces were dispatched to the houses of three Baha’i citizens in Babol and Babolsar, [Gilan Province], and arrested five individuals.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), equipped with guns and batons, intelligence agents accompanied by the police raided a Baha’i citizen’s house in Babolsar at 10:30pm while a special religious ceremony was being observed. Baha’i books and pictures were confiscated during this raid, and Misagh Laghai (76) and his daughter, Mahvand Laghai, were arrested. Additionally, using weapons such as batons and guns, security officers intimidated those attending this religious ceremony in order to force them to sign a commitment not to attend this Baha’i ritual again.
Furthermore, intelligence agents raided another Baha’i citizen’s house in Babolsar and after seizing religious books, pictures and a computer, arrested Nadia Farhadi (Imanian) and took her to an unknown location. Nadia Farhadi has been in charge of the provisional university for Baha’i citizens in Babolsar.
Similar to the above arrests, intelligence agents raided and searched another Baha’i citizen’s home on Sunday, June 5, 2011, and arrested the homeowners, Pejman Nikonajad and his wife, Sharareh Nikonajad. During this raid, the guests attending this Baha’i religious ceremony were beaten and forced to sign commitments not to attend such services again.
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July 9, 2011 8:40 am
In a note to the Editor, Mr Farhad Bassari corrects the location of Babol and Babolsar:
Dear Editor,
In your news item, Re: “Five Baha’i Citizen Arrested in Northern Iran” , right under the photos of 4 individuals, you mentioned that “Babol and Babolsar” are in “Gilan” province. Although later on you mentioned that Babol is in Mazandaran province, however note that both Babol, and Babolsar, are in Mazandaran province of Iran. While Babol is by the Babol River (Babel Loo), Babolsar is only 18-20Km away from Babol and located by the Caspian Sea (Darya-ye Mazandaran).
Actually, Babol used to be called “Barforoush”, where Quoddous comes from. This prosperous town/city, the commercial centre of Mazandaran, later on during Reza Shah’s regime was given a new name and since then it has become Babol. My grandfather, Dr Forough Bassari, used to be its first and only physician then!
Please correct that entry accordingly. Thank you.
HF “Farhad” Bassari
Professor
MBA Programme
China