State forces demolished the homes of three Iranian Bahai families on August 2 in Roshan Kouh village in Sari, northern Iran. According to the Human Rights News Agency, the demolition was carried out without any previous warning. The homes belonged to Navid Derakhshan, Sabetian, and Enayati. Navid and Enayati were not in their homes when it was demolished.
Aug. 2 – Mazandaran Province, N #Iran
Yesterday, the homes of three Bahai families were demolished by agents in Roshan Koh Village, leaving them without shelter.
The regime has persecuted Bahais since it took power 42yrs ago as a matter of state policy. pic.twitter.com/98iD0jN6cz— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) August 3, 2021
An informed source close to the Bahai citizens said the Natural Resources Department had claimed that 14 pieces of land in Roshan Kouh village were forests before and the Bahais have occupied the land, changing it to farming land and constructing on it. The source added that they wanted to take the land back, even though the Bahais were living there for over 70 years.
The Roshan Kouh village residents are mostly Bahai Iranians.
“In previous years, they tried to make us leave the village. Construction is easy in nearby villages, but the residents of this village are not given permits just because they are Bahai,” the source said.
Previously on September 21, 2020, a meeting was held with representatives of state security and municipality agents. Confidential documents were later released showing that the meeting held decisions to increase suppression of religious minorities, especially Bahais and Dervishes.
Iranian Bahais persecuted systematically
Unofficial sources say that there are more than 300,000 people following the Bahai Faith in Iran. However, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran only recognizes Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism and does not recognize Bahaism.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, Iranian Bahais have been systematically persecuted as a matter of government policy. During the first decade of this persecution, more than 200 of Iran’s Bahais were killed or executed. Hundreds more were tortured or imprisoned, and tens of thousands lost jobs, access to education, and other rights – all solely because of their religious belief.
The persecution of Iran’s Bahais is still ongoing with dozens of Bahais languishing in prisons throughout Iran.
Source » irannewswire