E/CN.4/1992/52 page 36 business properties such as houses and farms have been arbitrarily confiscated and sold at government auctions or put up for sale, most recently in the city of Yazd, without any consideration of the appeals of the Baha'is concerned. A number of widows and elderly persons are said to have been evicted from their homes. Many Baha'i-owned administrative centres, holy places, historical sites, cemeteries and other assets continue to be confiscated or have been destroyed. As a religious community, Baha'is reportedly continue to be regarded as members of the 'misguided Baha'i sect', are denied [the right] to freely express their religious beliefs, the right of assembly and the right to maintain their religious administrative institutions. Baha'is are allowed to assemble only in limited numbers in private homes. All community property such as places of worship allegedly remains confiscated, they are not allowed to elect their leaders or organize administrative institutions to govern community affairs or operate religious schools. In January 1991, members of the Baha'i faith in Karaj, Mashhad, Sari and other cities were notified by the Ministry of Security and Information to stop educating their children in Baha'i spiritual and moral values and such classes were reportedly closed throughout the country by mid-January. It has been alleged that Baha'is continue to be imprisoned because of their religion and that over 40 individual Baha'is were detained for periods from 12 hours to 120 days in 1990. In June 1991, three persons were arrested in Shiraz for refusing to promise that the Baha'i community in that city would cease to practice its faith. Thirty-one Baha'is were reportedly detained during the first six months of 1991 and the following five Baha'is were allegedly imprisoned as of 15 September 1991: 1. Mr. Muhammad Dihgan (Shiraz) 2. Mr. Habibu'llah Hakimi (Shiraz) 3. Mr. Bakhshu'llah Mithaqi (Karaj labour camp) 4. Mr. Kayvan Khalajabadi (either in Gohardasht-Karaj or Evin-Tehran) 5. Mr. Bihnam Mithaqi (either in Gohardasht-Karaj or Evin-Tehran) Baha'i marriages and divorces are allegedly not legally recognized and Baha'i children have difficulties in obtaining legal documents and inheritance as a result of being considered as illegitimate and are deprived of the right to inheritance from Muslim parents or relatives. Baha'is are said to be denied access to colleges and universities and cannot be employed by university faculties. When applying for passports, Baha'is are reportedly treated rudely and are invited orally to recant their religion in order to obtain a new passport or have their current ones renewed or extended. It has been alleged that out of 380 applications for passports by Baha'is in 1990, only 61 passports had been issued, mostly to sick and elderly persons. No passports were allegedly issued to Baha'is since March 1991 and 400 applications were awaiting to be processed as of June 1991.