TEHRAN , Iran ( CNN ) -- A group of Iranian intellectuals released a public apology this week for what they say is a long history of the country 's mistreatment of members of the Baha ' i faith . The letter lists 11 reasons why its signatories are ashamed of the past treatment of Baha'is . The apology -- titled , `` We are ashamed '' -- was published on the Web site Iranian.com and was signed by 42 Iranian professionals , all of whom do not live in Iran . `` As Iranian human beings , we are ashamed for what has been perpetrated upon the Baha'is in the last century and a half in Iran , '' the letter says . In the letter , the group detailed incidents of violence and discrimination that it says the Iranian government has perpetrated against Baha'is . The Islamic republic has been condemned by human-rights activists and governments across the globe for its treatment of members of the Baha ' i faith . The Baha ' i movement has said that six of its followers were arrested in January in Tehran , including one who works with Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi , the lawyer and activist . Seven leaders of the group arrested in 2008 also remain in jail . Members of Baha ' i -- who say they are targeted in the predominantly Shiite nation because of their faith -- have faced arrests and other oppression over the years . They say the persecution is part of a pattern that began in 1979 . That 's when the monarchy of the Shah of Iran was toppled and an Islamic republic was created . Baha ' i -- regarded as the largest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran -- claims to have 5 million members across the globe and about 300,000 in Iran . The European Parliament passed a resolution in January that criticized Iran 's treatment of Baha'is . The U.S. State Department also criticized Iran 's treatment of Baha ' i followers in a report last year . CNN 's Roya Shadravan contributed to this report .
Iranian intellectuals publish letter of apology to members of the Baha ' i faith . The apology details alleged offences by the government against them . Baha ' i members say followers have been arrested , jailed for their faith .