Iranian Security Forces Seize Baha'i-Owned Lands

About 200 security personnel have stormed the village of Ahmadabad in northern Iran, confiscating nearly 40 hectares of Baha'i-owned lands.

According to reports, on Sunday, personnel from the Natural Resources Organization, accompanied by dozens of special unit officers and intelligence forces, conducted a raid on Ahmadabad village.

The officers seized mobile phones from village residents, preventing them from communicating and capturing footage. Since Sunday evening, the local inhabitants have been prohibited from moving in and out and the roads have been blocked, impeding the movement of local residents.

Reports indicate that the security forces intensified their actions on Monday, targeting the agricultural lands and fields of the villagers.

A statement was issued by 147 political and civil activists condemning the recent wave of ruthless suppression by the Islamic Republic. Prominent figures such as Mehrangiz Kar, Mansoureh Shojaee, and Reza Alijani are among the signatories.

They highlight the systematic deprivation of Baha'is' civil rights under the religious dictatorship, citing issues such as the lack of basic rights like marriage registration, education, and employment. The statement also condemns the forced displacement of some Baha'is to desolate areas, the seizure of properties belonging to impoverished Baha'i villagers, and arbitrary detentions and harsh judicial sentences based on unfounded and false accusations.

Unofficial sources estimate that over 300,000 Baha'is live in Iran. However, the Islamic Republic's constitution officially recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.

Baha'is constitute the largest religious minority in Iran and have been systematically targeted for persecution since the 1979 revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic.