Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

The Associated Press reported today that authorities have ordered Iran’s largest-circulation newspaper, Hamshahri, to close after it published an advertisement containing a photograph of a Baha’i temple. The AP wire story provided an overview of the ongoing persecution of Baha’is in Iran, including mention of the seven Baha’i leaders who have yet to face trial [...]

Today, the U.N. General Assembly issued a strong condemnation of human rights violations in Iran, including violations against Baha’is. The resolution, which was approved in the Third Committee of the U.N. General assembly by a vote of 74-48, expressed “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran” [...]

The Pacific News Center today reported that the Guam Senate has passed resolution 148, urging the U.S. government to “push for Iran to release members of the friends of Iran and to cease persecuting the Baha’i community of Iran.”

U.S. Representative Mark Kirk mentioned the Baha’is of Iran during remarks at the U.S. Institute of Peace on November 4. After reading the names of 10 Iranian Baha’is currently imprisoned for their beliefs, Rep. Kirk said, I say their names out loud today because no matter how hard the Iranian regime tries to silence these [...]