Prohibition of Baha'i Organizational and Propaganda Activities in Iran Under the Law on Adding Two Articles to the Law on Punishments and Deterrent Punishments (499 and repeated 500)

In 1399 H.S. (2020) the law of adding two articles to the fifth book of the Islamic Penal Code (punishments and deterrent punishments) was approved in principle 123 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran . According to Article 500, if "in the form of a sect, group, population or the like and the use of mind control methods and psychological instincts", "any deviant educational or propaganda activity contrary to or contrary to the holy law of Islam" is carried out, facing the punishment. According to that law , "Financing or any other kind of material support of the groups subject to this article" and "communication of the groups subject to this article with abroad to receive support or organizational guidance” will increase the punishment. This article analyzes the propaganda and organizational activities of the Baha'is in Iran in the content of this law, and examines the position of the propaganda of official religious minorities and groups such as the Baha'is from the perspective of the Iranian Constitution and international law treaties. According to the teachings and texts approved in the writings of the Bahai Leaders and the orders of its organisation and accepted works of the Baha'is, it has been shown that the content of the planned Baha'i propaganda, which is done with the intention of converting the religion and thought of Iranians to Bahaism, is a clear example of prohibited actions. The Baha'i organization in Iran is also an example of a group with criminal activities within the framework of this law, which uses the support of foreign relations in order to attack the official religion of the country, attack the rules and Sharia and weaken the official religion of the country, and Attempts are being made to strike at the government and disrupt the public order of the country.