Category: Religious Minorities

Baha’i Citizen Badi Khazei Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Badi Khazei, Baha'i citizen

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Baha’i citizen Badi Khazei to six years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i citizen Badi Khazei was sentenced to six years in prison.

According to this verdict, Khazei received five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for the first count, as the severest punishment, will be enforceable.

His lawyer has appealed against the decision to the court of appeals.

Khazei was arrested in Tehran by security forces. An informed source told HRANA that, last week, Khazei travelled to Tehran from Bandar Abbas for some administrative work. On October 7 or 8, several plainclothes agents arrested him in the street and took him to Great Tehran Penitentiary. Khazei was released on bail from Evin Prison on December 21, 2022.

 

Iran Protests: Yarsan Follower Sahar Fathi Arrested in Kermanshah

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Sahar Fathi, Yarsan, Yarsanism

Security forces arrested Sahar Fathi in Kermanshah at recent protests and took her to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Yarsan follower Sahar Fathi was arrested by security forces in Kermanshah.

An informed source told HRANA that Fathi was arrested for the second time during recent protests.

Yarsanism, Ahl-e Haqq is a syncretic religion founded by Sultan Sahak in the late 14th century in western Iran. As a religious minority, Yarsan followers are subjected to intimidation and prosecution by regime security and judicial systems.

Baha’i Mona Ghodrat Arrested in Yazd

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i arrest, Mona Ghodrat, Yazd

On December 19, 2022, security forces arrested Baha’i Mona Ghodrat in Yazd.

An informed source told HRANA that Ghodrat was arrested in the street and taken to IRGC’s detention facility. The agents also searched her home and confiscated some of her belonging.

Ghodrat is 39 years old and the mother of two children.

The reason for her arrest and the charges are still unknown.

Baha’i citizens are denied the right to exercise their religion. This systematic deprivation stands in violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which both affirm that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

According to unofficial reports, there are more than 300,000 Baha’is in Iran. While the constitution recognizes Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism as accepted religions (People of Book, as articulated in Sharia law), it denies recognizing the Baha’i faith, which conclusively leads to the systematic violation of their rights.

Baha’i Bardia Basiri Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Ayda Rasti, Bahais, Bardia Basiri, Tehran

On December 17, 2022, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Bardia Basiri at his home in Tehran. His wife, Ayda Rasti, is also detained. The intelligence agents searched his house and confiscated some of his belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 17, 2022, Baha’i Bardia Basiri was arrested by security forces in Tehran.

An informed source told HRANA that Aida Rasti got a severe nervous attack and was hospitalized when she found out about his husband’s arrest.

Earlier, Basiri had been interrogated following his wife’s arrest.

Ayda Rasti is still in detention in Qarchak Prison after 81 days. During her detention, she suffered from nervous problems and lost weight.

 

Baha’i Faraz Haghighatjoo Arrested in Shiraz

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i arrest, Baha'i citizen, Faraz Haghighatjoo, Shiraz

On December 10, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Faraz Haghighatjoo in Shiraz and took him to Adel-Abad Prison. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 10, 2022, Baha’i Faraz Haghighatjoo was arrested by security forces in Shiraz.

The reason for his arrest and the charges are still unknown.

 

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Baha’i Citizen Farbod Alavi Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i arrest, Baha'i citizen, Farbod Alavi

On December 4, 2022, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Farbod Alavi and jailed him in Evin Prison. The agents searched his house and confiscated some of his belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 4, 2022, Baha’i Farbod Alavi was arrested at his house in Tehran.

Alavi was allowed to call his family only after three days.

The reason for his arrest and the charges are still unknown.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian Constitution recognizes only Islam as the official religion, in addition to Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Bahai faith is not considered legitimate by the authorities, and the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Baha’i citizen Vesal Momtazi Arrested in Rasht

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i, Vesal Momtazi

On December 6, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Vesal Momtazi in Rasht and took him to Lakan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, Baha’i citizen Vesal Momtazi was arrested by security forces.

According to an informed source, the agents searched his house. In recent weeks, he was summoned and interrogated several times.

The reason for his arrest is still unknown.

 

Yarsan Civil Activist Seyyed-Karam Abbasi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Ahl-e Haqq, Seyyed-Karam Abbasi, Seyyed-Soroush Abbasi, Syeed-Amin Abbasi, Yarsan, Yarsanism

On December 1, 2022, security forces violently arrested Yarsan civil activist Seyyed-Karam Abbasi and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Yarsan civil activist Seyyed-Karam Abbasi was beaten and arrested by security forces.

One day before his arrest, his two brothers, Syeed-Amin and Seyyed-Soroush Abbasi and five other Yarsan followers were also arrested by the road police on the way to Bisotun, Kermanshah Province.

According to an informed source, all three brothers were beaten during the arrest; their houses were searched and damaged.

The reason for these arrests and their whereabouts are still unknown.

Yarsanism, Ahl-e Haqq is a syncretic religion founded by Sultan Sahak in the late 14th century in western Iran. As a religious minority, Yarsan followers are subjected to intimidation and prosecution by regime security and judicial systems.

 

Baha’i Individual Homayoun Khanlari Arrested in Rasht

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News, Religious Minorities

On November 29, 2022, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Homayoun Khanlari in Rasht, Gilan Province and took him to an undisclosed location. The agents searched his office and then his house and confiscated some of his belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on November 29, 2022, Baha’i Homayoun Khanlari was arrested at his house in Rasht, Gilan Province.

According to an informed source, his family’s frequent inquiries from judicial-security institutions about him have remained unanswered.

The reason for Khanlari’s arrest and his whereabouts are still unknown.

 

Baha’i citizen Sanaz Tafazoli Arrested in Mashhad

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Mashhad, Sanaz Tafazoli

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, the intelligence agents arrested Baha’i citizen Sanaz Tafazoli in Mashhad and took her to an undisclosed location. The agent searched her house and confiscated some of her and her son’s belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i citizen Sanaz Tafazoli was arrested in Mashhad.

After three days, Tafazoli’s whereabouts is still unknown.
She has faced other arrests and convictions on a prior occasion.