A/HRC/28/70 Dervishes was “arbitrary” and outside the scope of the Islamic Republic’s states policies. He also added that harsh treatment of the community that occurred in the past was contrary to the country’s interest, and that it has not been repeated. 103. On 25 February, plainclothes forces, without a warrant, apparently arrested Mr. Saleh Moradi, a Gonabadi Dervish, possibly to serve a prior sentence.80 2. Baha’is 104. Despite statements from high-ranking officials that Baha’is are entitled to citizenship rights, they continue to face discrimination, arrest, and arbitrary detention in connection with their religion. Between September and December 2014, security forces in the cities of Esfahan, Tehran, Shiraz, Hamedan, Karaj, and Semnan reportedly arrested at least 20 Baha’is. In February 2015, it was reported that four of these 20 individuals had been summoned to serve sentences (including Ms. Fariba Ashtari,)81 bringing the total number of imprisoned Baha’is to over 100. 105. Discriminatory restrictions increased with regard to the burial of Baha’is in cemeteries across the country. Authorities in the city of Semnan have reportedly discouraged families from inscribing epitaphs on tombstones, allowing inscriptions to only include first and last names, and dates of birth and death. Authorities have also restricted the construction of additional buildings to accommodate burials in the Baha’i cemetery there. In at least three cases, Iranian authorities have also delayed the burial of Baha’is in the cities of Tabriz and Ahvaz.82 106. Baha’i students also faced discrimination in the 2014-2015 national entrance exam for institutions of higher education. Mr. Shadan Shirazi, a Bahá’í student who took the national mathematics exam and placed 113th out of an estimated million students, was reportedly barred from registering at the public university. The Special Rapporteur welcomes statements by officials inviting Baha’i students to submit complaints of violations of their rights to the High Council for Human Rights.83 107. Incitement against Baha’is also continued this past year. On 15 December 2014, Ayatollah Bojnourdi, a high-ranking cleric and a former member of Supreme Judicial Council, stated that “we never say that Baha’is have the right to education; Baha’is don’t even have citizenship rights.”84 After negative reactions, he later clarified that only Baha’is “who cooperate with Israel” or “advocate against Islam” are not entitled to citizenship rights, and that they still have human rights even though they cannot take advantage of “privileges,” such as going to university in Iran.85 108. In 2011, Mr. Behnam Roghani, a shop-owner in Esfahan’s bazaar, converted to the Bahai faith and began distributing DVDs and pamphlets about his faith. He reportedly received threatening mail from unknown individuals, which lead to his decision to leave the country on 26 June 2012. In 2013, he produced a documentary about violations of the rights of Baha’is in Iran. He has also worked on various campaigns to address the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran. In July 2014, Mr. Roghani claims he received a copy of a threatening 80 81 82 83 84 85 42 http://www.majzooban.org/en/sufi-news/6589-saleh-moradi,-a-gonabadi-dervish-of-shiraz,arrested.html. https://hra-news.org/en/fariba-ashtari-begins-2-year-sentence-yazd-prison. Information submitted to the Special Rapporteur by the Baha’i Community in December 2014. http://www.ilna.ir/news/news.cfm?id=157330. http://www.ilna.ir/news/news.cfm?id=157330. http://www.tasnimnews.com/Home/Single/592485.