The Iranian government’s oppression of religious minorities was the focus of a side event during the 24^th session of the Human Rights Council.

The persecution of Baha’is, Christians, dervishes, secular Shias, Sunni Muslims, and members of the Yarsan religious minority were discussed by panelists from non-governmental organizations representing each group.

Simin Fahandej, a representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, spoke about the current situation of Baha’is in Iran, focusing on the ongoing campaign by the government to incite hatred against Baha’is in the news media, and the concurrent rise in violence and harassment that has been directed against them.

“Baha’is have always been portrayed as a source of all evil in Iran,” said Ms. Fahandej. “They are accused of being agents of foreign governments, among many other lies.”

Ms. Fahandej said, for example, that the BIC has documented 52 cases where Baha’is were tortured or held in solitary confinement in Iran since 2005.

“We have another 52 incidents where Baha’is that were physically assaulted, sometimes at the hands of officials and sometimes also by the hands of plainclothes or unidentified attackers,” she said. “Attacks have also been directed against Baha’i owned properties and we had 49 incidents of arson against Baha’i homes and shops.”

She also spoke about the government’s long running effort to marginalize and impoverish the Iranian Baha’i community by, among other things, denying Baha’is access to higher education.

The event was held 24 September 2013 at the Palais des Nations. Its formal title was “Religious Minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Other participants included Ali Mehrabi, representing the religious minority Yarsan; Gholamreza Fishtami, speaking on conditions of the dervishes; Majid Mohseni, addressing government policy on Shia secularists; Attieh Fard, giving reports on the status of Christians; and Mahdi Nakhl Ahmadi, speaking about the situation of Sunni Muslims.