In 399 BC, Socrates, an Athenian soldier and philosopher, was executed for preaching different views towards divinity than the incumbent government. Whilst one may argue that the world has changed significantly from 399 BC, today, 2,240 years later, persecution of minority communities with different views towards divinity remains prevalent throughout the world. The persecution of Baha’i followers in Iran substantiates that notion.

THE BAHA’IS

A relatively young religion, the roots of the Baha’i faith can be traced back to the 19th century. In 1850, Sayyed Shirazi, also known as the “Báb,” was executed along with his followers by the Iranian government for proclaiming that God will send a new prophet. In 1863, Mírzá Núrí, also known as “Baha’u’lla,” identified himself as the prophet mentioned in Báb’s prophecy and spent his life writing the text now considered as the sacred text of the faith. Mirza was succeeded by his son, Abdu’l-Bahá, who spent his life preaching the teachings of his father in Europe and North America. From a theological perspective, the Baha’i faith operates inclusively, viewing Abraham, Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Mohammed, Moses, and Zoroaster all as prophets who unfurled one religion on the instructions of God. Currently, there are approximately 8.5 million Baha’i followers across the world.

THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK

In terms of Iran’s domestic legislation, article 13 of Iran’s constitution states that "Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians are considered the only recognized religious minorities” in the country. The civil rights of these minorities are, at least constitutionally, protected by article 14 of Iran’s constitution, which provides that “the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Muslims are required to treat the non-Muslim individuals with good conduct”. The absence of constitutional recognition of Baha’is as a religious minority in Iran has aided in their persecution, despite their being the largest minority in the country.

Insofar as Iran’s international obligations are concerned, the state became accountable for safeguarding the civil rights of all its citizens by ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1975. However, Iran’s ratification of the ICCPR did not cease the persecution of Baha’is, transgressing two ICCPR articles in particular. First, article 18, which provides that each member state must provide its citizens with the “freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching”. Second, article 27, which provides that in “those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language.”

PERSECUTION IN IRAN

Historical accounts of Baha’i persecution in Iran go back to the mid-19th century. However, “since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, the Baha’i community there has been systematically harassed and persecuted”. For instance, during the Iranian revolution, the Báb’s house – a place of significant importance and respect for Baha’i followers – was destroyed. In February 1982, Hojatolislam Qaza’I, a religious magistrate, stated that “there is not the least place for Baha’ism and Baha’is” in Iran whilst giving an interview to a local newspaper. He later ordered the execution of 22 Baha’is in the same month. In the same year, across October and November, more than 80 Baha’is were arbitrarily arrested – the grounds of their arrests remain confidential to this day and some of these individuals were eventually executed. In June 1983, Mona Mahmoudinejad, a 17-year-old Baha’i woman, was executed along with nine other women for trying to educate Baha’i children.

The persecution continued into the 1990s. In February 1990, the Iranian government decided to reduce the sentences of many prisoners to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the Iranian revolution, however, Baha’i prisoners were excluded from this.  In November 1993, two Baha’i men were sentenced to death for “engaging in Baha’i activities”. In January 1996, Zabihullah Mahrami, an individual who converted back to the Baha’i faith after initially giving it up to avoid harassment, was sentenced to death for doing so.

Even in the 21st century, the Baha’i community continues to be persecuted in Iran. They are “not permitted to meet, to hold religious ceremonies or to practice their religion communally. Baha’i buildings, sites and centres have been confiscated and closed; private and business property of individual Baha’is has been confiscated, and Baha’is have been dismissed from government posts and schools”. It is common for Baha’i students to be refused admission into Iranian universities for following their faith. Even deceased Baha’is are not immune from degradation with bodies of popular Baha’is being excavated, cemeteries destroyed, and continuous depletion in the space available for the burial of Baha’i people.

Whilst the international community has tried to unveil the state of Baha’is in Iran, it has never taken out an intense campaign against it. In 2019, Javid Rehman – a UN rights expert in Iran, concluded his report on the situation of human rights in Iran by stating that whilst “the Islamic Republic of Iran no longer executes Baha’is solely on the basis of their religion. The constant threat of raids, arrests and detention or imprisonment, however, remain the main features of the country’s persecution of Baha’is”. Similarly, Amnesty International’s report in 2021 on the state of human rights in the world provided that in Iran, “The authorities continued to commit widespread and systematic human rights violations against members of the Baha’i minority, including forcible closure of businesses, confiscation of property, bans on employment in the public sector, denial of access to higher education and hate speech campaigns on state media”. However, the absence of the international community’s focus on this matter has left the Baha’i community in Iran at the mercy of their oppressors and given that six Baha’i Iranians were imprisoned for raising awareness regarding their faith in May 2021, it would not be anytime soon that they are given the right to live with dignity.

Sartaz graduated with a First-Class LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Hertfordshire and aims to practice as a public law barrister in the future. He is currently working as a Paralegal for a class action firm and has volunteered for the following organisations in the past: Citizens Advice, Shelter UK, and the Hertfordshire Law Clinic. His commitment towards pro bono services earned him the LawWorks and Attorney General Award for the ''best contribution by an individual'' in 2020.

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