Iran arrests 9 members of Baha'i faith on charges of smuggling medicine, financial wrongdoing

Iran's intelligence ministry arrested nine members of Baha'i faith on charges of smuggling medicine and financial wrongdoing, state media reported on Monday.

State IRAN newspaper said arrested people, mostly members of one family, h roles in smuggling medicine though a network of dozens of pharmacies. It said y bribed medics to send clients to pharmacies and were involved in money laundering and tax evasion.

Iran bans Baha'i religion, which was founded in 1860s by a Persian nobleman considered a prophet by his followers, and from time to time has arrested and prosecuted members of faith on spying and security charges.

Muslims consider Prophet Muhamm highest and last prophet.

In 2013, Iran's Supreme Leer Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, urged Iranians to avoid all dealings with Baha'i. Khamenei's fatwa, or religious order, supported similar fatwas in past by or clerics.

In 2022, authorities arrested several members of faith on spying.

Baha'i say y've been persecuted by Shiite clerics in Iran since ir religion's founding — something that's grown more intense since 1979 Islamic Revolution.