Cultural heritage is not just a representation of history, but it also reflects different perspectives such as the ideologies of the people of that land, national achievements, romantic ideas, creativity, art, economy, and politics. This heritage, whether it be historical buildings, protected spaces and landscapes, is always at risk of destruction due to the passage of time, irresponsible actions of individuals, erosion, moisture, pollution, urbanization, group and mass tourism.

But deliberate destruction of cultural heritage is another story; the destroyers carry out this act with a clear and specific idea. Of course, this destruction of cultural heritage can also include issues such as genocide and forced migrations.

If we look without bias and prejudice at the destruction of a part of Iran’s cultural heritage, namely the Baha’is, we will see the true evidence of depriving the entire Iranian society of some cultural elements.

Contrary to popular belief, the destruction of Baha’i holy places in Iran is not only limited to the days after the victory of the revolution. This national oppression against the Baha’is of Iran has been carried out from the Qajar era until today. Unfortunately, this oppression has sometimes been accompanied by silence and at other times by encouragement from the Iranian society. Iranian governments have used the fate and lives of the Baha’is as a bargaining chip and have placed them under the control of their own interests and the clerical class, in order to gain control over the public opinion through the influence of the clerical class.

In the month of Ordibehesht in the year 1334, the Islamic philosopher, with the help of the soldiers who were busy destroying the “Haram al-Sharif”, kissed and embraced the commander-in-chief Timur Bakhtiar, the first leader of the Savaq, who struck the first blow with a hammer to this magnificent building.

After the victory of the February 1979 revolution and the establishment of a religious government in Iran, Bahá’ís were accused of supporting the Shah’s regime and were targeted by the new regime. The enmity towards Bahá’ís was deeply rooted and continuous, to the extent that even during the days of the revolution, alongside the destruction of government institutions, the destruction and burning of Bahá’í properties was not forgotten.

Under the protection of powerful clerics, the circle of destruction widened and, in addition to places with religious and cultural backgrounds, homes and cemeteries were not safe from the attacks. Many Baha’i locations were destroyed under false pretenses; although the new government was not directly involved in these events, its silence also encouraged these actions.

The destruction of the house of “Seyed Ali Mohammad Bab” in Shiraz and the house of “Bahaullah” on Bahai Street, are just a few examples of the destruction of the cultural heritage of the Bahai community.

While in Islam, respect for cemeteries and the deceased has been emphasized, and in some cases, even respect for non-believers who have passed away has been emphasized, Baha’i opponents have attacked Baha’i graves, breaking the stones and showing disrespect to the deceased. Among these destructions, the destruction of Baha’i cemeteries in Tehran, Yazd, and Najafabad can be mentioned, during which the Baha’i cemetery in Tehran was completely destroyed and a cultural center was built on it.

In 1386, the Baha’i community of Yazd announced that the Eternal Garden, the burial place of Baha’i souls, has once again been destroyed by heavy machinery or agricultural equipment for the umpteenth time in recent years. This is happening while for over twenty years, deceased Baha’i souls were laid to rest in this location, and the last burial ceremony took place less than a few months ago. Yet, in recent years, the sanctity and rights of these souls have been violated and attacked once again.

In 2008, in a similar action to the destruction of the Bahá’í cemetery (Golestan-e-Javid), the Bahá’í community in the city of Qa’emshahr in Mazandaran province was demolished; with the difference that this time the desecration was worse than before and nearly 80% of the graves were destroyed by a loader, leaving only a limited number of intact graves. In December 2008, a truck and a bulldozer, accompanied by a number of plainclothes personnel, entered the Bahá’í cemetery in Darzikola, Qa’emshahr, and collected the tombstones and leveled the ground. This process of destruction continues to this day. However, the intensification of anti-Bahá’í actions, such as arbitrary arrests and, in some cases, even the murder of Bahá’í citizens by unknown individuals, has led to less coverage of this issue by the media. In addition

This confrontation with the Baha’is has continued in a fluctuating manner until today. In the past few days, news has been published in the Iranian media that has attracted a lot of attention, the media’s attack against Baha’i buildings, especially the Versailles Palace in Tehran (the home of Habib Sabet Pasal), and another request from Hojat al-Islam Ramezani Pour, the Friday prayer leader of Rafsanjan, to expel Baha’i citizens from their city.

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A view of the Pasargad Palace.

Perhaps few have passed through Jardan Street and not seen the famous building “Saheb Pasal Palace” or the Versailles Palace of Tehran. A building with unique architecture that has remained from the Pahlavi era; a time when the lifestyle of the people of the West was mesmerizingly popular among the people of Iran. This special building is a symbol, a symbol of that era.

This building is located in one of the most expensive areas in northern Tehran, attracting the attention of many who are seeking profit from construction and building. However, this time, the Baha’is are also under attack. The coordinated attack of conservative media on the previous owner of this palace, Habib Sabat Pasal, a Baha’i merchant, industrialist, and entrepreneur, is aimed at diminishing the spiritual value of this structure in order to make it easier to destroy. These attacking media are well aware that a part of society is affected by this type of news and stands with them.

All of this is happening while cultural heritage experts describe the importance of this building in a way that it can be “nationally registered” and with a change of use, be transformed into a cultural or tourist destination. However, the efforts of cultural heritage supporters and architectural activists in Iran to register this house with the Cultural Heritage Organization to prevent its destruction have so far been unsuccessful, and it is possible that this building will be destroyed overnight.

Ahmad Mohit Tabatabaei, a Tehran-based expert and researcher in the field of cultural heritage, previously stated in an interview with Honar Online website that the reason for the silence of the past three decades regarding the Sabat Palace and the lack of information about it during these years is due to the fact that “this house was under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence for thirty years and no one knew about it or saw it.”

Sadeq Khalkhali, the ruler of the Revolutionary Courts, wrote in his memoir about this building: “…When I came out of Evin, I went straight to the most secluded houses I could find; the big houses called “Sabet Pasal”; from there, I called the Revolutionary Prosecutor and told him to arrest any drug traffickers he knew. It was not long before the basements and storerooms of the house were filled with prisoners.”

In the second news, the Imam of Rafsanjan has said that the residents of this city who are Baha’is – whom he refers to as “unclean” – must leave. Mr. Imam compares them to Jews (insulting the Jewish community) in order to show the wickedness of the Baha’is and says that some Jews also work in the city market, but their ruling is different from the deviant Baha’i sect; “According to the fatwa of the impure authorities, Baha’is are impure.” The Imam, based on the fatwa of the authorities, demands the expulsion of Baha’is from their homes and dwellings.

Iran’s multicultural society has always been famous for its religious and cultural tolerance, but this criticism has also entered a part of Iranian society that has been kind to the Baha’is for the past two hundred years. A deeper look at these two news can reveal that some are still trying to keep the fire of hatred against the Baha’is burning, a fire that sometimes has material interests behind it.

The spread of hatred from a tribune that should promote peace and human kindness only leads to the strengthening of violence in society. Which awakened conscience and awareness can call their fellow human beings impure and demand their exclusion from their homeland? Such statements, at the very least, prevent the presence and role of Baha’is in social arenas and have greatly diminished their presence thus far, which can have irreparable consequences on society.

In another perspective, perhaps these theorists of violence are thinking of preparing the minds of society for the approval of official laws against the Baha’is. Nowadays, when the name of order, society, and life is mentioned, the concept of government is unintentionally perceived in the mind. The reason for this perception is that the government is seen in all aspects of human life. People consider governments responsible for all their affairs and also expect them not to restrict their freedom. In other words, a modern human expects the government to be a servant, while also providing the means to fulfill that role and considering themselves bound by the demands of the law. Therefore, citizens are also expected to serve the government through these same laws that are enacted. When governments establish laws that oblige citizens to follow certain limits, they also have a duty to protect the rights of citizens.

Protecting the rights of all citizens and preserving their historical heritage is a part of the government’s duties. No modern state that has signed hundreds of international commitments can ignore the rights of minorities in favor of the interests of the majority.

In today’s world, no modern government wants its name to be associated with groups like the Islamic State (ISIS) and the Taliban, who are known for destroying cultural heritage and forcibly displacing people. If the Islamic Republic of Iran wants to play an effective role in regional and global equations, it must definitely adhere to its international commitments at the very least.