Iran announced on Monday (August 1st) that it had arrested several individuals belonging to the state-banned Baha'i religious minority, accusing them of spying in connection with Israel and spreading their faith.
"
The Ministry of Intelligence has arrested a number of members of the central core of the Baha'i Spy Party
," the ministry said in a statement.
The Baha'is follow the teachings of Bahaullah, born in Iran in 1817, whom they consider a prophet and founder of their faith.
The Baha'i community claims to have more than seven million followers worldwide.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, where Shiism is the state religion, grants freedom of worship to certain minorities.
But adherents of the Baha'i faith are seen as heretics and "
spies
" tied to Israel, Tehran's sworn enemy, because their historic world headquarters are in Haifa.
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The defendants "
were directly linked to the Zionist center known as Beit-ol-Adl
" (the House of Justice), the text added, alluding to the supreme authority of the Baha'i community.
They were "
entrusted with the mission
" of "
disseminating the Baha'i teachings
" and "
infiltrating educational centers, especially kindergartens across the country
", the text said.
In 2018, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling on Tehran to end "
harassment
", "
intimidation
", and "
arbitrary arrests and detentions ".
of religious minorities and to release Baha'is imprisoned for their religious affiliation.
