HRANA – Between August 22 and August 25, 2026, security forces searched a number of homes and businesses belonging to Baha’i citizens across seven provinces in Iran. During these operations, at least 11 citizens were arrested or sent to prison to serve previously imposed sentences, and significant amounts of their personal property, electronic devices, and work equipment were seized.
According to HRANA, a wave of arrests, searches of homes and businesses, and seizures of property belonging to Baha’i citizens has taken place in various parts of the country in recent days.
In this regard, on Thursday, August 27, the Baha’i International Community issued a statement announcing that these actions had taken place across seven provinces between August 22 and August 25, and that a total of 11 citizens had been arrested or sent to prison to serve previously imposed sentences. The organization also expressed concern over the extensive seizure of personal property and equipment used by these citizens to earn a living.
Simin Fahandej, the Baha’i International Community’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva, described the seizure of Baha’i citizens’ property in the report as “state theft in daylight” stating that government agents entering homes and confiscating jewelry, wedding rings, vehicles, and other personal belongings does not in itself make such actions lawful. She also pointed to the seizure of family savings, professional equipment, musical instruments, and even children’s toys, saying these actions have intensified economic pressure on Baha’i families.
Fahandej further called on Iranian authorities to end the practice of seizing property, assets, and equipment used by Baha’i citizens to support themselves, and to provide a means for confiscated property to be returned and for affected families to pursue effective legal remedies.
HRANA independently reported a number of these cases during the period in question.
On Saturday, August 22, Soraya Manouchehrzadeh, a Baha’i citizen residing in Sari, was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents. The agents climbed over the wall of her family home and entered without presenting a judicial warrant. They searched the residence and seized a number of books and electronic devices belonging to her and members of her family.
On the same day, four other Baha’i citizens, Maral Roshani, Negar Badiei, Shima Sanaei, and Fakhereh Zahedi, were arrested in Sari. Including Soraya Manouchehrzadeh, the number of Baha’i citizens arrested in the city at that time reached five. They were transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Sari, known as the “Keshouei” detention facility. A source close to the family of one of these citizens previously told HRANA that the warrants presented by the agents authorized only searches and did not include arrest orders. The Baha’i International Community also stated that approximately 14 agents, five vehicles, and a representative of the prosecutor’s office were involved in the arrests of Shima Sanaei and Fakhereh Zahedi.
Also on August 22, Arsalan Yazdani, a Baha’i citizen, was arrested by security forces in Tehran. At the time of his arrest, his mobile phone, laptop, and several personal belongings were also seized. The Baha’i International Community added in its report that he was arrested in the presence of his two children to begin serving his prison sentence.
On Sunday, August 23, Iman Rashidi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Yazd, was arrested after appearing at Branch 1 of the Enforcement of Judgments Office of the city’s Revolutionary Court and was sent to prison to serve his sentence. He had previously been sentenced to three years, six months, and one day of imprisonment, 15 years of deprivation of social rights, and a fine of 371 million rials.
On Monday, August 24, security agents searched the homes of Amin Tabianifard, Bahariyeh Askarinasab, and Nima Tabianifard, Baha’i citizens residing in Isfahan. At the same time, their family business was sealed, and a musical instrument-making workshop belonging to the family was completely emptied. Agents also seized several mobile phones, laptops, cash, foreign currency, a camera, musical equipment, gold, and jewelry. In additional details about the incident, the Baha’i International Community stated that more than 20 agents participated in the searches and that Nima Tabianifard’s two-year-old child was present during the search. The organization also reported the seizure of several handmade musical instruments and workshop machinery.
On the same date, the home of Keyhan Atefi and Fereshteh Atefi, a Baha’i couple in Isfahan, was also searched by Ministry of Intelligence agents. During the search, agents also seized a number of the couple’s personal belongings, their vehicle, and other property.
On Tuesday, August 25, Sarir Mowghen, a Baha’i citizen residing in Isfahan, was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents and transferred to Dowlatabad Prison in the city. At the same time, agents searched her family home and seized a number of personal and electronic items, cash, gold, and a piano. The Baha’i International Community added in its report that Mowghan had recently returned to Iran from abroad and that no explanation has yet been provided for the reason for her arrest.
Over the past decade, Iran’s Baha’i community has been subjected to security and judicial actions more frequently than any other religious minority in the country. A review of HRA’s annual report reveals that over the past year an average of 62.41% of reports concerning religious minorities involved violations of the civil rights of Baha’is.
