A dramatic intensification of persecution of Bahá’ís in the Iranian city of Semnan has been described as “distinctive and alarming” by the Bahá’í International Community. Dozens of attacks since 2009 against a large number of Semnan’s Bahá’ís have been carried out by officials, semi-official groups, and plainclothes agents.  At least 30 Bahá’ís have been arrested, with several now serving long prison sentences; homes and shops have been targeted by arsonists; and numerous Bahá’í-owned businesses have been shut down by authorities. Bahá’ís in the city are also facing ongoing harassment, marked by the close and constant [...] Read more »