A/HRC/22/56 beliefs; a majority of interviewees reported having been charged with national security crimes and/or propaganda against the State for religious activities. Several interviewees declared that they had been psychologically and physically tortured. Baha’is 1. 57. In its comments on the report of the Special Rapporteur submitted to the General Assembly (A/67/369), the Government stated that, despite the fact that the Baha’i faith was not a recognized religion in the country, its followers had equal rights under the law and that they could not be prosecuted or imprisoned for adhering to their beliefs. It maintained, however, that propagation of the Baha’i faith was in “breach of existing laws and regulations”, and that activities that constituted its proselytization disrupted public order, and could therefore be limited, in accordance with articles 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In its general comment No. 22, however, the Human Rights Committee emphasized that the teaching of religious beliefs was protected and that the practice and teaching of religion or belief included acts integral to the conduct by religious groups of their basic affairs, such as the freedom to establish seminaries or religious schools and the freedom to prepare and distribute religious texts or publications. 65 58. Reports were received that 110 Baha’is were currently detained in the Islamic Republic of Iran for having exercised their faith, including two women – Zohreh Nikayin (Tebyanian) and Taraneh Torabi (Ehsani) – who were reportedly nursing infants in prison. It was estimated that 133 Baha’is were currently awaiting a summons to serve their sentences, and that another 268 Bahai’s were awaiting trial. The authorities reportedly arrested at least 59 members from August to November 2012, some of whom have been released. Several sources reported that, since October 2012, authorities had raided the homes of at least 24 Baha’is and arrested 25 people in the city of Gorgon and its surrounding provincial areas, 10 of whom remained in custody at the end of the period under review. It was furthermore reported that Baha’is in the northern city of Semnan had been the focus of escalating and broad persecution over the past three years. Baha’is in Semnan have allegedly faced physical violence, arrests, arson and vandalism to their homes and grave sites. The majority of Baha’iowned businesses in Semnan and the northern city of Hamadan have reportedly been closed.66 59. Members of the Baha’i community are reportedly still being systematically deprived of a range of social and economic rights, including access to higher education. Informed sources have reported that authorities from three different universities expelled five Baha’i students in November 2012. Four of these students were reportedly offered the possibility of being readmitted if they denied or pledged to abandon their religious practices. The students were reportedly expelled for refusing the offer. 2. Christians 60. In its comments and observations on the report of the Special Rapporteur submitted to the General Assembly (A/67/369), the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran stressed that “recognition of Christianity by the Constitution … does not constitute judicial immunity” for its followers. The Special Rapporteur believes that Christians should not face sanctions for manifesting and practising their faith, and therefore remains concerned that Christians are 65 66 18 CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4, para. 4. “Inciting Hatred: the Bahá’ís of Semnan. A case study in religious hatred”, Baháí International Community, October 2012. Available from www.bic.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Bahais-of-SemnanReport.pdf.