A/HRC/10/8/Add.1 page 26 Observations 92. The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has not received a reply from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning the above mentioned allegations. She would like to refer to the general comment No. 22 (1993) of the Human Rights Committee which states that “Article 18.2 [of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights] bars coercion that would impair the right to have or adopt a religion or belief, including the use of threat of physical force or penal sanctions to compel believers or non-believers to adhere to their religious beliefs and congregations, to recant their religion or belief or to convert. Policies or practices having the same intention or effect, such as, for example, those restricting access to education, medical care, employment or the rights guaranteed by article 25 and other provisions of the Covenant, are similarly inconsistent with article 18.2”. In addition, she also would like to make reference to her most recent report to the Human Rights Council (see A/HRC/10/8, paras. 29-62) which raises the issue of discrimination based on religion or belief and its impact on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to education (see paras. 49-51). Urgent appeal sent on 19 May 2008 jointly with the Chairperson of the Working Group on arbitrary detention, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the Independent Expert on minority issues 93. The Special Procedures mandate holders brought to the attention of the Government information they had received concerning the arrest and continued detention of Ms. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mr. Vahid Tizfahm and Ms. Mahvash Sabet, who are residents of Teheran. Reportedly, these seven members of a group that coordinates the Bahá’í community’s religious and administrative affairs in Iran had been arrested and were detained in Evin prison in Teheran. On 14 May 2008, officers of the Intelligence Ministry in Teheran entered the homes of Ms. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. These six Bahá’í members were subsequently arrested and brought to Evin prison where they joined the acting Secretary for their informal national-level coordinating group, Ms. Mahvash Sabet. Ms. Sabet had been held in custody since 5 March 2008 when she was summoned to Mashhad by the Intelligence Ministry to answer questions related to the burial of an individual in the Bahá’í cemetery in that city. The Special Procedures mandate holders expressed the fear that these seven Bahá’í members were arrested because of their religious beliefs or their peaceful activities on behalf of the Bahá’í community. Observations 94. The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has not received a reply from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning the above mentioned allegations. She followed-up this case and transmitted further allegations in her communication sent to the Government on 17 October 2008 (please see below in paras. 101-112). The Special Rapporteur is very much concerned about the arrest and detention of the seven members of a group that coordinates the Bahá’í community’s religious and administrative affairs in the Islamic Republic of Iran. She would like to take this opportunity to refer to General Assembly resolution 63/181 which “[r]ecognizes with concern the situation of persons in vulnerable situations, including persons