According to the Human Rights Activist’s News Agency in Iran (HRANA), on Wednesday, November 5, five businesses belonging to Baha’i citizens were shuttered and seized by security agents in Chabahar, Sistan and Baluchistan province, for religious bias, by judicial order. Citizens are allowed to close their businesses for up to 3 days a year without any reason. However, the law does not apply to Baha’i citizens, and law enforcement agencies regularly shutter their place of business.
The names of these Baha’i citizens are Shamim Tohidi and Habibollah Tohidi, Ahmad Ali Shokati, who own eyeglass shops, Bahman Gholamrezaei electrician, Behzad Gholamrezaei, plumber, and Behrooz Gholamrezaei, ceramic tile maker.
On Wednesday, the Baha’I community businesses were closed in global celebration and observance of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Seyed Ali-Mohammad Shirazi, known as The Báb, missionary of the emergence of Bahá’u’lláh Baha’i Prophet and founder of the faith.
It should be noted that a security agency today admitted to the detention of a number of Baha’i citizens in Shiraz in connection with a ceremony in this regard.
Baha’i citizens, on the basis of their religious beliefs, close their places of worship for religious purposes. But law enforcement and security agencies seal their places of business despite the specific legal rights and citizenship rights of individuals in practice of their religious beliefs and how they manage their businesses.
The Baha’i Citizens’ Trade Centers were shuttered while under Article 5 (2) of the Trade Union Law, the owners of the trade union may close their trade unions for up to 5 days per year without the union’s knowledge.
Source » thefreeiranian