Harassment of Baha’is is pervasive and becoming worse. In recent months, many, many incidents of the following types of persecution have been reported all across Iran:
- Arrests and detention, with imprisonment lasting for days, months, or years. In cases where the Baha’i is released, substantial bail is often required.
- Direct intimidation and questioning by authorities, sometimes with the use of high-intensity lights and physical mistreatment.
- Searches of homes and business, usually with Baha’i books and other items confiscated.
- School expulsions and harassment of schoolchildren.
- Prohibition on Baha’is attending universities.
- Court proceedings where Baha’is are accused of promoting propaganda against the government “for the benefit of the Bahaist sect.
- Monitoring of the bank accounts, movements, and activities of Baha’is, including official questioning of Baha’is requiring them to give information about their lives, actions, neighbors, etc.
- Denial or confiscation of business licenses.
- Denial of work opportunities in general.
- Denial of rightful inheritances to Baha’is.
- Physical assaults, and efforts to drive Baha’is out of towns and villages.
- Desecration and destruction of Baha’i cemeteries, and harassment over burial rights.
- Dissemination, including in official news media… >>>