A/HRC/37/68/Add.1 committing an unlawful act, and it has no connection, whatsoever, with being affiliated to ethnic groups. Contrary to the allegation made in this paragraph, the strengthening of the literature and the language of the Iranian people is on the agenda of the Government, and this is supported by establishing Kurdish, Azeri and Arabic language and literature seats in the universities, as well as the establishment of cultural centers in the language of ethnic groups. Official reports of the Government on these activities are available. Thus, It is necessary to delete this paragraph in the final report. Reply to paragraph 70 The official and practical position of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the followers of this sect is the need to respect their beliefs and citizenship rights. In Iran, no one is merely following a belief or an opinion; on the other hand, no offense or crime is neglected because of the perpetrator’s affiliation to a specific group or sect. It should also be noted that, contrary to the allegations made in this paragraph, Yarsanis in Iran enjoy their full rights and protection and their books are licensed by the Ministry of Guidance, and even have a special publication entitled "Jeihoon". Observance of their beliefs has been to the extent that, in accordance with the directive of the Organization of the compulsory conscription (Nezam Vazifeh), the members of this sect are exempt from the obligation to shave their mustache during the military service. For other allegations contained in this paragraph, no document has not been found and thus they are deniable. Therefore, this paragraph should be deleted from the report. Reply to paragraph 71 Prosecuting crimes committed by Baha’is is not specific to the offences allegationed in this urgent appeal. Investigations show that since January 2016 to August 2017 more than tens of Baha’i citizens have been arrested on charges of issuing bad checks, malversation, capture, smuggling, acts contrary to public chastity, and so on. These citizens have been put to trial upon issuance of indictments. Also in several cases Baha’i citizens have filed complaints about one another for various offences. Also during this period two cases of child kidnapping and one case of murder of Baha’is have been reported. In these cases, like the cases of other citizens, transparent judicial proceedings were conducted, the kidnappers were arrested and the huge sums of money were restored. The court is issuing sentences for the accused. Therefore, ordering a number of offences relating to Baha’is and drawing the false conclusion that Baha���is are under systematic persecution, is an unacceptable measure. Unfortunately, the unfailing and extremist supports for Baha’is in Iran, by some Western governments, which are provided because of political motives, and are sometimes repeated by international organizations, have resulted in shocking abuses by some Baha’is. For instance, Ms. HaniehMudarresTehrani has asked her Baha’i relatives in Iran to forge a judicial indictment stating that she has been sentenced to capital punishment for charge of apostasy, so that she could use it to apply for an asylum in the United Nations office in Turkey. Here we shall present sufficient information regarding the Baha’is and respond to all the allegations that have been brought up in the correspondence, which will prove that the allegations are baseless: A. The general condition of Baha’is in Iran The citizenship rights of followers of different sects including Baha’is, as well as followers of religious minorities, are observed in Iran. Given that in Islamic teachings, inspection and inquisition of beliefs are severely prohibited and as it is stipulated in the article 23 of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Constitution that “inquisition of beliefs is forbidden, and no one is liable to molest and prosecution merely because of holding a certain belief”; despite numerous political and media propagandas, particularly by some Baha’i representatives, no one is jailed nor prosecuted purely on the basis of holding a certain belief. It must be noticed that repeating unfounded allegations cannot result in their acceptability. Based on the information which shall be presented below, in Iran Baha’is enjoy citizenship rights and numerous training, health, educational, and economic facilities; such that they have big economic corporations despite their small population and carry out importation and exportation activities. They have no poor populations. 29