198 Sect Members Executed Since 1979, State Department Says : U.S. Assails Iran’s ‘Alarming’ Persecution of Bahais

The State Department, citing “alarming reports” of Iranian persecution of the Bahai religious community, called this week on the Islamic fundamentalist regime to end its repression.

The department issued a statement saying that since 1979, at least 198 members of the religious sect have been executed under the regime of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and that at last count 767 Bahais remain in Iranian prisons.

“We have again received alarming reports of the Khomeini regime’s severe persecution of Iran’s Bahai community,” the statement said.

It cited the case of Azizullah Ashjara, a 50-year-old Tabriz man reportedly executed by firing squad Nov. 19 after four years’ imprisonment.

“It is tragically ironic that Mr. Ashjara was executed on the very day the U.N. General Assembly opened its debate on religious persecution,” it said.

“We wish to take this occasion to reiterate what President Reagan said in May, 1983: ‘America and the world are increasingly alarmed and dismayed at the persecution and severe repression of the Bahais in Iran.’

“Furthermore, we call upon the Iranian authorities to abide by the declaration on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion and belief.”