Judiciary Rejects Litigation of 17 Bahai citizens
The lawsuit brought by 17 Bahai citizens in Kerman objecting to the forced shut down of their businesses has been rejected.
According to HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency, the businesses of these Bahai citizens were shut down by the order of the security council of the province because these citizens had closed their business on Bahai holidays.
Previously, 22 Bahai citizens in Urmia brought the same lawsuit which was rejected.
According to Islamic Republic law, businesses can be closed up to 15 days for religious reasons.
The Bahais are a well-known religious minority in Iran who have been systematically discriminated against by the Islamic Republic. They are not recognized as a religion by the Islamic Republic and are regularly arrested, denied education, and employment. According to law, if it is proven that a person is Bahai (religion is asked in registration forms) they must be denied education. Many Bahai leaders were executed after the Islamic Revolution.