By bringing the murders of an Iranian Baha’i to justice, the new president of Iran can demonstrate the sincerity of his promise for improved human rights, said the Baha’i International Community in a statement to the 24^th session of the Human Rights Council.

“Three weeks ago, a Baha’i by the name of Mr. Ataollah Rezvani was shot in the back of the head in the city of Bandar Abbas in Iran,” said Simin Fahandej in a statement to the Council on 17 September 2013, explaining that the murder was clearly religiously motivated.

“Iran's new president, Mr. Hassan Rouhani, has promised to uphold human rights for the people of Iran,” said Ms. Fahandej, a representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva. “He must now show that his promises are genuine by not only investigating this religiously motivated crime but to uphold and respect the rights of all minorities in the country, as required by Iran's international obligations.  Those responsible must be held accountable and punished for this heinous act.”

Ms. Fahandej said the murder was related to hate speech from a senior cleric in Bandar Abbas.

"Baha’is in Iran are not only imprisoned because of their beliefs and deprived of many basic rights, including the rights to work and higher education, but hateful propaganda is spread against them both by the State-sponsored media and by religious leaders,” she said.

To read the full statement, click here.