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Iran Intends to Annihilate Bahais: Representative to UN

Politics Materials 2 June 2008 18:52 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 2 June /corr. Trend D.Khatinoglu / Despite that the Government of Iran connects the mass arrests of Bahais in the Country with 'the national security', it has not provided any concrete facts for it. "The Government of Iran intends to annihilate Bahais in the Country for their ideas," the representative of Bahais community to the UN, Diane Alai, reported to Trend .

According to the information provided by the Bahais community, over the last month, at least 12 Bahais were arrested in Iran. On 28 May BBC reported that there are seven people - leaders of Bahais - amongst those arrested, and arrest of the Iranian citizens supporting these views is continuing. However, the Iranian officials state that the arrest of the Bahais is linked with national security. Arrest commenced two weeks after explosion in Shiraz city on 12 April.

"Mass arrest of the Bahais in Iran is not anyhow linked the issue of international security," Alai said on 30 May by telephone from Geneva.

According to her, the Government of Iran repeatedly arrested the Bahais formerly as well. Those arrested who promised to accept Islam were not brought to court, but those who stayed adhered to their views were released under huge amount security. Alai said that since the Iranian Revolution (1979), hundreds of Bahais were executed due to their ideas. "The Government of Iran denies that it weighs upon Bahais due to their views, but un to now, has not indicated any facts on violation of Country's national security by the Bahais. Article 18 of the International Convention on Human Rights, which Iran has joined as well, specifies 'freedom of belief. Therefore, Tehran's pressure on the Bahais is illegal," Alai said.

"Amnesty International Organization, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Luiza Arbur, UN Rapporteur on Human Rights and Freedom of Religion, Asma Jahangir, and other organizations devised a plan of proposals for the Iranian Government to cease pressure on the Bahais. We believe that the Iranian side will accept these proposals," representative of Bahais community to the UN said.

In 1844 religion of Bahais appeared in Iran's city of Shiraz. Bahais consider Baba Bahaddin as their Prophet. According to the data provided by the Bahais community in Iran, currently seven million Bahais reside around the world, with 300,000 Bahais in Iran.

After Iranian Revolution, especially in 80s, at least 200 Bahais were executed. Currently Funds on fighting against the Bahais function in Iran. One of the religious leaders of Iran, Huseynli Muntaziri, highlighted injustice of pressure on Bahais and required to respectfully approach its citizens.

The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]

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