May 14 marks the ninth anniversary of the Islamic Republic’s imprisonment, on trumped-up charges, of the Yaran, the seven-member group that traditionally governs Iran’s Baha’i. To Elliott Abrams, this event is far more significant than the sham presidential election that will be held five days later. (Free registration may be required.)
From the Iranian revolution in 1979 to this day, the [Iranian] regime has shown the Baha’i no mercy. The Iranian Baha’i community has faced continued oppression on the economic front and in the denial of educational opportunities. Last November, Iranian authorities shut down more than 100 Baha’i-owned businesses throughout Iran after those businesses were briefly shuttered by their owners to observe Baha’i holidays. In December and January alone, more than a dozen Baha’i students were kicked out of Iranian universities because of their faith. . . .
The unjust imprisonment of Baha’i continues, with new arrests by the Intelligence Ministry as recently as April. It is estimated that 80 to 90 Baha’i remain imprisoned in Iran solely due to their religious beliefs. The effort to smear the Baha’i and their religion continues as well, with thousands of anti-Baha’i articles running in Iranian media in the last twelve months. . . . Every year at this time, Baha’i organizations around the world try to draw attention to the plight of the Iranian community in general and especially to the imprisonment of its leadership. Inside Iran, any public demonstration or rally to demand their freedom would only result in more arrests. . . .
The bitter truth is that until far more international pressure hits Iran, or until the country’s regime is replaced by one freely chosen by the Iranian people, freedom of religion in Iran will remain a dream.
Read more on Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/iran/2017-05-08/no-mercy-iran-s-baha-i?cid=int-lea&pgtype=hpg