Iran has used turmoil following the disputed presidential elections last year to step up persecution of minority Baha'is, a religion not recognised by the Islamic republic, a leading rights group said on Wednesday.

Five Baha'is were arrested on unspecified charges this month and seven went on trial last month on charges of spying and collaborating with Israel, Iranian media have said.
 

In a statement, New York-based Human Rights Watch named a total of 13 arrested on Feb. 10 and 11. It said that according to the Baha'i International Community, 60 Baha'is are in detention, while 90 have been released awaiting trial.
 

One Baha'i is among 16 being tried in connection with opposition protests that turned violent on Dec. 27, Iranian media have said.
 

Exiled Baha'i leaders say hundreds of followers have been jailed and executed since 1979, while the government denies it has detained or executed any Baha'is over their religion.
 

"The Iranian government seems to be using the post-election unrest as a cover for targeting the Baha'i community," Joe Stork, HRW's deputy Middle East and North Africa director, said.
 

"These arrests are only the latest chapter in the government's systematic persecution of the Baha'i,"he added.

Internal tensions
Iran has witnessed its worst internal strife since the 1979 Islamic revolution as supporters of opposition candidates who lost to hard line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad take to the streets, leading to violent clashes with security forces.
 

Most of the thousands detained have been freed, but more than 80 were jailed for up to 15 years and five sentenced to death.
 

The Baha'i faith was founded by an Iranian nobleman in the 19th century and more than 300,000 live there today. Their spiritual home lies in Israel since its founder Baha'ullah was buried a part of Palestine that became part of the Jewish state.

Retaliation plan
Iran and Israel have been arch enemies since 1979 and Iran has said it will retaliate if Israel directs a military strike against its nuclear energy facilities.
 

A diplomatic stand-off between Iran and Western governments which fear that Tehran wants to build nuclear weapons has heated up in recent months.
 

Iran's Shi'ite religious establishment considers the faith a heretical offshoot of Islam. Baha'is say discrimination limits access to education and employment.
 

Source: Reuters