A/HRC/7/10/Add.1 page 31 Observations 120. The Special Rapporteur is grateful for the Government’s response. She would like to take the opportunity to emphasize that freedom of religion or belief is not limited to members of registered religious communities and does not depend on the approval of recognized religious associations. Communication sent on 24 April 2007 121. The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government information she had received according to which Bahá’í students in several primary, middle and high schools across the Islamic Republic of Iran were subjected to harassment, vilification and other forms of abuse by their teachers and school administrators. These Bahá’í students have allegedly been forced to identify their religion and then they were insulted, degraded, threatened with expulsion and, in some cases, summarily dismissed from school. In January/February 2007 some 150 such incidents were reported from ten different cities across the country. At high school level, most attacks were directed against female students, i.e. 68 out of 76 reported incidents. Moreover, 94 out of 178 Bahá’í students accepted into universities for the current academic year are reported to have been summarily dismissed. Many of these students were told verbally that they had been expelled because of their adherence to the Bahá’í faith. 122. Furthermore, it was reported that Bihnam Saltanat Akhdari, an 85 year old Bahá’í woman, was murdered in her home on the night of 16 February 2007. She had been bound, gagged and brutally assaulted. The following night, Shah Baygum Diqhani, a 77 year old Bahá’í woman, was lured out of her home by a masked intruder and was attacked in her garden with a rake. Her screams caused the assailant to flee and she crawled to a neighbour's house. Although Mrs Diqhani received medical attention for broken hands, broken ribs, head injuries and critical damage to her kidneys and liver, she died 17 days later. Response from the Government dated 20 June 2007 123. The Government stated that the information required to enable the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to take the necessary action and pursue the case, such as details and particularities of the people referred to in the allegation letter, was lacking. The Government reiterated its willingness to cooperate with OHCHR and the Special Rapporteur, however, it wished to respectfully remind that letters of allegations lacking details should not have been included in the procedure. The Government requested further information regarding the students, schools and universities involved as well as address and the dates of the passing away of Ms. Akhdari and Ms. Diqhani, including any information on the legal action taken by the families and relatives of the deceased individuals. Observations 124. The Special Rapporteur is grateful for the Government’s response. She has provided details and further related allegations in a communication dated 12 February 2008 which will be covered in her next report summarizing the cases transmitted to Governments and replies received.