on account of their religion.26 Over the years, the government used various tactics at different
stages of university admission process including application, entrance examination and
enrollment, to exclude Baha’is from education at colleges and universities. From a small number
of Baha’i students who have been able to register and start their studies at universities, the
majority have been expelled at some point before graduation.27 28
C. The Committee recommends that the Islamic Republic of Iran take steps to prevent
refusals of access and expulsions of students from such institutions based on their
belonging to the Baha’i community.
While it is technically possible to file discrimination complaints with the Administration
of Justice Court, the Article 90 Commission in the parliament, and the Oversight Bodies for the
exercise of Citizenship Rights in the country’s provincial courts, there is no evidence
that judicial actions are taken in response to complaints, including in cases of wrongful refusals
of access and expulsion of students from universities and vocational training institutions.29 Hate
crimes, such as motivated killings and desecration of cemeteries, particularly against Baha’is,
have not been investigated by the Iranian authorities, showcasing the limited access for Baha’is
to access justice.30 31 32
In light of the above and the current State policy of systematic and systemic discrimination
against members of the Baha’i faith, the Islamic Republic of Iran has not taken steps to prevent
refusals of access and expulsions of students from universities and vocational training
institutions based on their belonging to the Baha’i community.
Recommendation Status:
This recommendation has NOT been implemented.
26
https://undocs.org/A/74/188
https://www.en-hrana.org/22-iranian-bahais-were-denied-higher-education-in-september?hilite=%27Baha%27i%27
28
https://www.en-hrana.org/bahai-student-expelled-university?hilite=%27Baha%27i%27
29
Joint submission to the Human Rights Committee from All Human Rights for All in Iran, Association for Human Rights in
Kurdistan – Geneva, Association for the Human Rights of the Azerbaijani People in Iran, Iran Human Rights Documenttion
Center, OutRight International, Siamak Pourzand Foundation, Small Media, Impact Iran, 2020,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CCPR_NGO_IRN_42317_E.pdf
30
Joint submission to the Human Rights Committee from All Human Rights for All in Iran, Association for Human Rights in
Kurdistan – Geneva, Association for the Human Rights of the Azerbaijani People in Iran, Iran Human Rights Documenttion
Center, OutRight International, Siamak Pourzand Foundation, Small Media, Impact Iran, 2020,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CCPR_NGO_IRN_42317_E.pdf
31
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 18 July 2019,
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N19/222/62/PDF/N1922262.pdf?OpenElement
32
See more: Baha’i International Community, https://www.bic.org/focus-areas/situation-iranian-bahais/current-situation
27
4