The United Nations has condemned Iran for violations against the Baha’i community, particularly regarding their rights to burial. Professor Nazila Ghanea criticized Iran’s denial of systematic cemetery desecrations, highlighting broader persecution against religious minorities. Recent reports indicate ongoing restrictions affecting Baha’i cemeteries in multiple Iranian cities, prompting international concern and condemnation.
On March 11, 2025, the Iranian government faced condemnation from the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Professor Nazila Ghanea. In her remarks, she highlighted the Islamic Republic’s ongoing violations of the Baha’is’ rights to bury their deceased, particularly in light of a report detailing these injustices published by the UN.
During the UN Human Rights Council session, an Iranian representative challenged the findings of the Special Rapporteur’s report A/HRC/58/49, which stated that Baha’is were being obstructed from using available cemetery land for burials. The Iranian government is accused of employing misleading statements to divert attention from its discriminatory practices towards the Baha’i community.
Professor Ghanea emphasized the broader context of persecution against religious minorities in Iran. She remarked, “One cannot hide behind claims that a cemetery is private, to sideline state obligations in relation to its largest non-Muslim religious minority community, the Baha’is in Iran.” She further noted the systemic destruction and delay of Baha’i burials due to unwarranted obstacles raised by authorities.
Simin Fahandej, the Baha’i International Community’s representative to the UN, highlighted that the denial of dignity in death exemplifies a broader cultural cleansing of the Baha’i identity in Iran. Recent occurrences over the past year include desecration and interference with Baha’i cemeteries in over 14 major cities, where rights to burial have been systematically violated.
Canada also expressed its support during the UN session, voicing concerns over the lack of respect for funeral rituals and the demolition of religious sites. For 46 years, since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Baha’is have endured significant oppression, including restrictions on their burial rights and forced dispossession of cemetery locations.
These actions reflect a systematic campaign against the Baha’i community, outlined in a confidential policy document issued in 1991 by Iran’s Supreme Leader, detailing a strategy to impede the community’s development and existence. The Baha’is continue to face arbitrary detentions, cultural suppression, and violence, prompting calls for international accountability regarding these human rights violations.
The Iranian government’s actions against the Baha’i community are part of a longstanding campaign to suppress their rights, particularly concerning burial practices. The UN’s condemnation and the support from international bodies underscore the urgent need for accountability. The systematic destruction of Baha’i cemeteries and denial of dignified treatment in death represent significant human rights violations. Ongoing advocacy is essential to promote the rights and wellbeing of the Baha’is in Iran.
Original Source: iranpresswatch.org
