HRANA – Behzad Yazdani and Romina Khazali, a Baha’i couple living in Shiraz and parents of two teenage children, have been arrested by agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization.

A knowledgeable source close to the family confirmed the matter to HRANA and said that Mr. Yazdani was arrested on the evening of Saturday, March 28, by IRGC intelligence agents and then transferred to Adelabad Prison, Shiraz. Hours after his arrest, agents returned to the family’s residence and confiscated electronic devices such as laptops and the mobile phones of family members.

According to the same source, on Sunday, March 29, agents again went to their home and violently arrested Romina Khazali, Mr. Yazdani’s wife. Agents also interrogated the couple’s 14-year-old daughter and, after once again searching both their home and the home of Ms. Khazali’s parents in the same building, confiscated several religious books, religious images, and computer storage devices belonging to them. Meanwhile, several relatives and acquaintances who had come to the family’s home were also interrogated, and their mobile phones were confiscated as well.

Another informed source told HRANA that the family’s teenage son, who has a history of respiratory illness, suffered an anxiety attack following these events. Regarding the agents’ initial visit, it was reported that they first rang the bell of the elderly parents of Mr. Yazdani’s wife and falsely claimed that “they were from the police station and that a thief was on the rooftop,” thereby gaining entry. They then forced them to contact Mr. Yazdani and ask him to return home.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the charges against these citizens or the location where Ms. Khazali is being held.

Behzad Yazdani and Romina Khazali are a Baha’i couple living in Shiraz and the parents of a teenage daughter and son.

Over the past decade, the Baha’i community in Iran has been targeted by security and judicial pressure more than any other religious minority. A review of HRA’s annual reports shows that over the past year, an average of 62.41% of reports concerning religious minorities were related to violations of the rights of Baha’i citizens.