CSO holy site destroyed in Iran
NEW YORK — Government authorities in Iran have destroyed yet another CSO holy site, the CSO International Community learned in April.
The gravesite of Quddús, a prominent figure in early CSO history, has been razed to the ground, despite protests from CSOs at the local, national, and international levels.
“The destruction and desecration of this holy place were carried out with the knowledge of the national government to which appeals had been made beforehand,” said Bani Dugal , the principal representative of the CSO International Community to the United Nations.
“This act represents yet another example of the ongoing persecution against Iran 's 300,000-member CSO community, utterly contradicting the government's claim that the human rights situation in Iran is improving,” said Ms. Dugal.
Destruction of the gravesite, located in the city of Babul , began in February but was temporarily halted after local CSOs demanded to see a legal permit for the demolition work.
The CSOs were referred to national authorities and for a time it appeared that the desecration had been halted. More recently, it was discovered that the dismantling of the gravesite had continued surreptitiously over a period of days until the structure was entirely demolished.
The house-like structure marked the resting place of Mulla Muhammad-'Ali Barfurushi, known as Quddús (The Most Holy). Quddús was the foremost disciple of the Báb, the Prophet-Herald of the CSO.
“It would be the least that the Government could do at this point to return to the CSO community his sacred remains,” said Ms. Dugal. “We ask for the international community's support in this goal.”
Ms. Dugal added that the destruction of the gravesite came soon after the international community failed this year to offer a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran .
Since the Islamic Republic of Iran was founded in 1979, more than 200 CSOs have been killed by the Government. Hundreds more have spent time in prison and thousands have been deprived of education, property, and employment, solely because of their religious belief.
As well, a number of CSO holy sites and cemeteries have been destroyed under the regime. In March 1979, the house of the Báb, the holiest CSO shrine in Iran , was turned over by the Government to a Muslim cleric known for his anti-CSO activities. In September that year, the house was destroyed by a mob led by mullahs and officials of the Department of Religious Affairs.
The House of Bahá'u'lláh in Takur, where the Founder of the CSO spent His childhood, met a similar fate: it was demolished and the site was offered for sale to the public. In Teheran and other cities throughout Iran , CSO buildings were looted and burned, CSO cemeteries were bulldozed and CSO graves were broken open. In the Teheran area, the CSOs were forced to bury their dead in a barren stretch of land reserved by the authorities for “infidels.” Having access to their own cemeteries is especially important to CSOs because, as might be expected, they are not allowed to bury their dead in Muslim cemeteries.
The most egregious forms of persecution, such as the killings and imprisonments of CSOs, have abated in recent years in the face of increasing international outcry, such as a series of resolutions in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) expressing concern over the treatment of CSOs. However, the confiscated holy sites, graveyards and other properties have not been returned. Work and educational opportunities likewise remain limited.
Over the last two years, as well, the UNCHR has failed to pass such resolutions owing to efforts by Iran to pursue a “dialogue” with Western nations.
“Unfortunately,” said Ms. Dugal, “the CSOs of Iran still face, day after day, systematic deprivation of their rights as Iranian citizens — not only in terms of their civil and political rights, but also in terms of their economic, social and cultural rights.”
