Iran moves to deny Bahai minority from obtaining identity cards

New ID card regulation prevents the group from declaring their religious beliefs

Iranian lawmakers attend a session of parliament in Tehran, Iran July 16, 2019. Reuters 

Iran is preventing the country’s Bahai minority from obtaining a national identity card, in another setback to the persecuted group.

Authorities have removed the “other religions” option from the application process, meaning that those who belong to other faiths, including Bahais, could be deprived of basic civil rights.

Without an identity card, Bahais in Iran cannot apply for a loan, cash a cheque or buy property.

"The exclusion of the Iranian Bahai community from national identification cards is unconscionable, and we are disturbed to see how this action against the Bahais fits into a broader pattern of heightened persecution over the past few months," Anthony Vance, director of the US Bahai office of public affairs, told The National.

Apart from Islam, only Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism are recognised under Iranian law as religious entities.

The Bahai principles forbid people from lying about their religion. This means followers cannot apply for official documents and cannot claim they follow any of the three legally recognised religions.

Mr Vance urged the Iranian government to “reconsider this religiously motivated exclusion”.

He called on the international community to raise awareness about persecution against Iran’s Bahais, which has recently accelerated with a series of arrests, imprisonments and a court decision that paves the way for their property to be seized by the state because of their religious beliefs.

The UN says there are about 350,000 Bahai followers in Iran, making them the country’s biggest religious minority.

They say hundreds of followers have been jailed or executed since Iran’s revolution in 1979.

The Bahai faith was founded in Iran in 1844 and considers itself a universal religion. Iran’s Shiite religious establishment condemns the faith as heretical.

Violence against the minority group is not uncommon.

In Yemen, the group is also facing severe persecution. Several of its leaders are on trial in cases in Houthi rebel courts that have been condemned by the US and others as religious persecution.

More than 20 Bahais were accused of apostasy and espionage in a Sanaa court.