A/HRC/19/82 22. The case of Pastor Yousuf Naderkhani, who was sentenced to death for apostasy and evangelism, received considerable international attention. Arrested in October 2009, Pastor Naderkhani was found guilty and sentenced to death in September 2010. The death sentence was reportedly upheld by the Supreme Court, which added that, unless the accused decided to renounce Christianity, he would be executed by hanging. On 11 October 2011, however, the Supreme Court reportedly announced that the case was being re-examined owing to technicalities and that no final verdict had been passed.25 Earlier in October 2011, the Deputy Governor of Gilan Province laid new charges against Pastor Naderkhani, stating that he is not accused of converting people to Christianity but was rather guilty of crimes relating to security and of running a brothel.26 23. Reports of discrimination and restrictions, including travel bans, against members of Sunni Muslim sects also continued to be received. In November 2011, two Sunni scholars, Mufti Muhammad Qasim Qasimi and Mawlana Ahmad Noori, were prevented from travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj. Mr. Qasimi, the interim khateeb of Sunnis in Zahedan and editor-in-chief of Neday Islam magazine, was stopped at Zahedan International Airport, while Mr. Noori, a senior teacher of Dar-al Uloom Zahedan, was stopped at Tehran airport. Sunni scholars have long complained about restrictions on building mosques and houses of worships in Tehran and Esfahan, and also on offering Friday and Eid prayers in congregations. 24. Special procedures mandate holders continue to raise the issue of mistreatment and discrimination against members of the Baha’i community with the Iranian authorities. In a joint communication of 22 February 2011,27 the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the independent expert on minority issues expressed concern at the arrest and detention of 11 members of the Baha’i community in December 2010. In almost all cases, security agents reportedly searched their homes and confiscated books and other materials relating to the Baha’i faith. The mandate holders also expressed concern regarding the personal security of seven Baha’i community leaders, who were sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2011. On 23 October 2011, in a press conference, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief stressed that States are duty-bound to protect freedom of religion or belief, which is a fundamental human rights. He pointed out that the Islamic Republic of Iran had a policy of systematic persecution of persons belonging to the Baha’i faith, excluding them from the application of freedom of religion or belief by simply denying that their faith had the status of a religion.28 Iranian authorities regard Baha’ism as a political organization or cult, and stress that members of the organization have never obtained the required permit, which makes their activities illegal and against existing regulations.29 On 16 January 2012, the Head of the Yazd judiciary 25 26 27 28 29 ISNA, 11 October 2011. Available from www.isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News1867144&lang=p. PressTV, “Iran denies death penalty for convert”, 5 October 2011. Available from www.presstv.ir/detail/202870.html. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and Independent Expert on minority issues. A/HRC/18/51 Baha’i World News Service, “UN religious freedom expert: Iran is systematically persecuting Baha’is”, 23 October 2011. Available from http://news.bahai.org/story/862. Statement of Dr Mohammad Javad Larijani to the General Assembly, 21 November 2011. 9