HRANA News Agency – The Association of Optometry Manufacturers and Sellers in Tehran held its eighth trade fair, the Optics Exhibition, in Wessal Avenue on December 16 to 19.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), eighty business took part. Not only were Bahai-run optometry importers and sellers barred from the exhibition, participants were also told to dismiss any Bahai employees they might have. Continue reading “Bahais Banned from the Optometry Sector in Tehran”

HRANA News Agency – Mohammad Mousavi-Bodjnordi, who heads Iran’s civil rights watchdog and is considered close to President Hassan Rouhani,told the state-run Fars News agency that Iran’s Baha’is minority have no civil rights in the regime because their beliefs are contrary to Islam.

“The Baha’i belief is contrary to Islam. In Iran, Baha’is have no civil rights and in particular, they do not have the right to study.” Civil rights are defined as in line with the beliefs of Ayatollah Khomeini, Mousavi-Bodjnordi said. Continue reading “Another Iranian Cleric Reiterates: No Civil Rights Possible for Bahais”

HRANA News Agency – In a December 2 meeting with provincial officials, the Friday Prayer leader of Rafsanjan, Hojjat-al-Islam Abbas Ramadanipour said that there were a number of “sects” in the province, and because people were ignorant they were able to live and work among ordinary people, without being recognized.

According to the report of HRANA quoting from Fars New Agency , he said that a number of Jews were also working in the city bazaar, but the difference between them and the Bahais was, that the Bahais are “unclean.” Continue reading “Friday Prayer Leader in Rafsanjan proposes expelling all Bahais”

HRANA News Agency – On November 22, agents in plain clothes staged simultaneous raids on the homes of several Bahais in the city of Najafabad, in Iran’s Isfahan province, and the town of Vila Shahr, in Mazandaran province.

According to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), they seized laptops, computers, and religious books, images and CDs. They also went to a mushroom-growing facility in Vila Shahr, belonging to one of the Bahais there, Mr. Haqiri, where they broke some windows, turned off the heaters, and sealed the doors. Continue reading “Bahais face Home raids and closures in Najafabad and Vila Shahr”

HRANA News Agency – Early in the morning of November 18, the local officials who supervise public places closed four Bahai-run shops in Nashtarud, a district centre on Iran’s Caspian coast.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), there was no written explanation or prior notice. The four businesses were owned by two Bahais, Mr. Abu-Alfazli and Mr. Mohsennezhad. Continue reading “Four Bahai shops closed in Nashtarud, more closures expected”

HRANA News Agency – Over fifty Bahai-run businesses in Iran were shut down on October 26, in Bandar Abbas, Kerman, Rajsanjan, and Jiroft (the city formerly known as Sabzevaran).

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), these cities all lie in the South-east of Iran. October 25 and 26 this year corresponded to the first and second day of Muharram in the Islamic lunar calendar — days on which Bahais in the Islamic world celebrated the births of the Bab and Baha’u’llah. Continue reading “Fifty businesses closed down following Bahai Holy Day observances”

HRANA News Agency – “Nika Kholusi” and “Nava Kholusi” two Bahai sisters have been released on the bail of 6 Milliard Rials after 185 of arrest.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), these two Bahai Iranians living in Mashhad were arrested on 26^th September 2012 by the intelligence agents of Mashhad, are released after 185 days on the bail. They have been released on 30^th March 2013 on the bail of 3 Milliard Rials for each of them.