The Hindu : National : U.N. concern over treatment of Bahais in Iran

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Sunday, Apr 02, 2006

National

National

U.N. concern over treatment of Bahais in Iran

Special Correspondent

"Bahais have no right to practise their religion"

NEW DELHI: United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion Asma Jahangir said she was "highly concerned" at the information received about the treatment of the Bahai community members in Iran.

In a March 20 statement, the Special Rapporteur claimed that a "confidential" letter sent on October 29, 2005, by the Chairman of the Command Headquarters in Iran and addressed to a number of government agencies, had instructions to identify and monitor persons belonging to the Bahai faith.

"The Special Rapporteur is apprehensive about the initiative to monitor the activities of individuals merely because they adhere to a religion that differs from the State religion. She considers that such monitoring constitutes an impermissible and unacceptable interference with the rights of members of religious minorities," the U.N. release said.

According to the statement, the community has 3,00,000 to 3,50,000 adherents in the country. However, the Bahais were not recognised as a religious minority and did not have the right to practice their religion.

"She [Ms. Jahangir] calls on the Government of Iran to refrain from categorising individuals according to their religion and to ensure that members of all religious minorities are free to hold and practice their religious beliefs, without discrimination or fear," the statement said.

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