Category: Religious Minorities

Raquel Ataeian, Baha’i Citizen, Arrested by Security Forces

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Qaemshahr

HRANA News Agency – On Tuesday, July 1, Raquel Ataeian, a Baha’i citizen residing in Qaemshahr, was arrested at her home by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location. Agents also confiscated several personal items belonging to her and her family.

The arrest was carried out by seven IRGC Intelligence agents who presented a judicial warrant before detaining Ms. Ataeian and searching her home.

A source close to the family confirmed the incident, telling HRANA: “This morning, seven IRGC Intelligence agents arrived at Ms. Ataeian’s residence with a judicial warrant. During the search, they seized religious books, mobile phones, and laptops belonging to her and her family.”

As of the time of this report, no information has been released about the charges against Ms. Ataeian, the reasons for her arrest, or her whereabouts.

Raquel Ataeian has previously faced security-related harassment due to her Baha’i faith.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Baha’i Citizen Sahba Mohammadi Arrested in Birjand

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Birjand, HRANA, Sahba Mohammadi

HRANA News Agency – On Saturday, June 28, security agents from the Ministry of Intelligence arrested Sahba Mohammadi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Birjand, at her home and transferred her to an undisclosed location. Authorities also confiscated some of her personal and electronic belongings.

According to information received by HRANA, agents arrested Ms. Mohammadi around 7 a.m. on Saturday at her residence. During the raid, they searched her home and seized several personal items, including her mobile phone, laptop, and Baha’i literature.

As of the time of this report, the reasons for her arrest, her whereabouts, and the charges against her remain unknown.

Sahba Mohammadi is 25 years old and resides in Birjand.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Interrogation of 35 Jewish Citizens in Tehran and Shiraz

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Iranian-Jewish citizens, Tehran Jewish Association, Tehran. Shiraz

HRANA News Agency – Since the early hours of Monday, June 23, security forces have summoned at least 35 Jewish citizens in the cities of Tehran and Shiraz to security centers and interrogated them.

According to a source close to the families, the officers mainly questioned these individuals about their family contacts with relatives in Israel and emphasized that they should refrain from any phone or internet communication abroad for the time being.

This wave of summonses, unfolding amid heightened military tensions between Iran and Israel, marks one of the largest such incidents since the early years following the 1979 Revolution. The move starkly contradicts the Islamic Republic’s official narrative of providing “equal rights for Iranian-Jewish citizens.” While authorities have long sought to portray Iranian Jews as secure and fully integrated citizens, sources close to the community report “unprecedented pressure” in recent weeks.

These actions are also linked to earlier legislation. In November 2011, the Iranian Parliament passed the “Law on Intensifying Punishment for Travel to Israel,” which imposes two to five years of imprisonment and three to five years of passport ineligibility on any Iranian citizen who travels to Israel. Many Iranian Jews maintain religious and familial ties with relatives in Israel, making travel between the two countries common—an activity now facing heightened surveillance and restriction.

The Tehran Jewish Association has so far avoided issuing an official response. However, a senior member of the Iranian Jewish community, speaking anonymously to HRANA, stated: “We’ve seen limited summonses during previous crises, but the current scale is unprecedented and has raised serious concerns about the psychological and social well-being of our community.”

As of this report’s publication, judicial and security officials have yet to explain the reasons behind or outcomes of the interrogations. Some families say officials tried to offer reassurance, claiming the intent was not to pressure the community but to gather information and “prevent crimes” in the wake of the Iran-Israel conflict. Still, human rights lawyers caution that these actions may amount to “discrimination based on religion and ethnicity” and stand in violation of Iran’s international obligations.

According to an unofficial 2021 census, Iran’s Jewish population is estimated at fewer than 10,000. With many having relatives in Israel due to mass emigration after the revolution, experts warn that a mix of security pressure and restrictive travel laws increasingly threatens their ability to maintain family connections.

 

Nazanin Abedini, Baha’i Citizen, Arrested in Qaemshahr

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Nazanin Abedini, Qaemshahr, نازنین عابدینی

HRANA News Agency – On the morning of Wednesday, June 25, Nazanin Abedini, a Baha’i citizen residing in Qaemshahr, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, Nazanin Abedini was arrested by security forces in Qaemshahr, Mazandaran province, without the presentation of a judicial warrant. Agents reportedly entered her home by climbing over the wall and breaking down the front door. After searching the house, they transferred her to an unknown location.

The reasons for her arrest and the charges against her remain unknown at the time of this report.

Nazanin Abedini is a children’s music instructor.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Baha’i Citizen Nouyan Hejazi Arrested in Juybar County

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News, Religious Minorities
Bahai arrested, HRANA, Juybar, Nouyan Hejazi

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, June 25, Nouyan Hejazi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Juybar, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Hejazi was arrested by security forces at his private residence without a judicial warrant and taken to an undisclosed location. During the arrest, agents searched his home and confiscated several personal items, including his and his wife’s mobile phones, laptop, and Baha’i books.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA and said: “There were ten agents, and it’s unclear how they entered the house. The first moment Nouyan and his wife encountered the agents was in their bedroom, and the agents woke them up early in the morning.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for his arrest, his place of detention, and the charges against this Baha’i citizen remain unknown.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

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Baha’i Citizen Arman Nikaein Arrested in Shiraz

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News, Religious Minorities
Arman Nikaein, Baha'i citizen, HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Qeshm, Shiraz

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, June 23, Arman Nikaein, a Baha’i citizen, was arrested in Shiraz and taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to Nikaein’s family told HRANA that around 10 IRGC intelligence agents raided the Momtazian family home in Shiraz on Monday night. During the operation, agents searched the property, confiscated electronic devices from those present, and arrested Nikaein—who is the family’s son-in-law—without presenting a court warrant.

The source added that Mr. Nikaein’s mother suffered a nervous breakdown during the raid and was transported to a hospital by ambulance due to the severity of her condition.

As of this report, the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Arman Nikaein, who resides in Qeshm, is a Baha’i composer and music instructor.

Iman Rahmat Panah, Baha’i Citizen, Arrested in Shiraz

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Iman Rahmat Panah, Shiraz

HRANA News Agency – On Sunday, June 22, Iman Rahmat Panah, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by security forces and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in the city, known as “Plaque 100.”

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Rahmat Panah was arrested at 11 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, by eight security agents at his private residence, in the presence of his children. The agents also searched the premises and confiscated several personal belongings, including mobile phones, a laptop, and his Baha’i books.

A source close to the Rahmat Panah family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Following repeated inquiries by the family to judicial and security authorities, it was eventually confirmed that Mr. Rahmat Panah had been transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Shiraz, known as Plaque 100.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

Iman Rahmat Panah has previously faced arrest and legal action due to his activities.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Appeals Court Upholds 51-Year Prison Sentences for Three Baha’i Citizens

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News, Religious Minorities
Bahais, Nematollah Shadpour, Nima Shadpour, Shafigh Eslami, Yazd

HRANA News Agency – The prison sentences of Ne’matollah Shadpour, Nima Shadpour, and Shafigh Eslami, three Baha’i citizens residing in Yazd, have been upheld in full by the Appeals Court of Yazd Province. These individuals were initially sentenced by the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts of Yazd County to a combined total of 51 years in prison.

In the initial trial, Shafigh Eslami was sentenced to 17 years by the Criminal Court and an additional two years and seven months by the Revolutionary Court. Nima Shadpour received 15 years from the Criminal Court and two years and seven months from the Revolutionary Court. Ne’matollah Shadpour was sentenced to 10 years by the Criminal Court and three years and ten months by the Revolutionary Court. These sentences were issued on March 5, 2025, by Branch 2 of the Yazd Revolutionary Court and Branch 105 of the Yazd Criminal Court.

The charges against them include “membership in groups and organizations opposed to the regime” and “propaganda against the Islamic Republic.” Additional accusations include “insulting the Supreme Leader,” “blasphemy,” and “collecting classified information with the intent to disrupt national security.”

On July 19, 2022, Ne’matollah Shadpour, Nima Shadpour, and Shafigh Eslami were arrested by security forces and later released on bail.

Six Baha’i Women in Hamedan Sentenced to a Total of 38 Years and 11 Months in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Atefeh Zahedi, Bahais, Farideh Ayoubi, Hamedan, HRANA, Neda Mohebi, Noora Ayoubi, Zarrindokht Ahadzadeh, Zhaleh Rezaei

HRANA – six Baha’i women residing in Hamedan—have been collectively sentenced to 38 years and 11 months in prison by Branch 2 of the Hamedan Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the sentences were recently issued and formally communicated to the defendants. The charges include “membership in the Baha’i community” and “teaching and promoting activities deemed contrary to Islamic principles.”

The details of the verdict for each individual are as follows:

  • Neda Mohebi was sentenced to five years in prison for teaching and promoting the Baha’i faith, and an additional two years and eight months for membership in the Baha’i community. Three years of her sentence have been suspended for five years.

  • Atefeh Zahedi, Farideh Ayoubi, Noora Ayoubi, Zarrindokht Ahadzadeh, and Zhaleh Rezaei were each sentenced to two years and eight months for Baha’i community membership, and three years and seven months for promoting activities against Islamic law. For Noora Ayoubi, Ahadzadeh, and Rezaei, two years of their prison sentences were suspended for five years.

All six were previously released on bail in December 2023 after being detained by security forces on November 7, 2023. They were held in The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Hamedan. Security forces also searched the homes of Zhaleh Rezaei and Farideh Ayoubi following their arrests.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Ongoing Detention of 19 “Yamani” Followers in Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alireza Salim Kaviani, Amin-Akbari, Amir Zohan, Amir Zorami, Emad Eftetahi, Ghasem Hatami, Hamed Nejad-Nik, HRANA, IRGC forces, Mashhad, Mohammad Hossein Nazarnajhad, Mohammad Kazem Fathi, Mostafa Tavana, Reza Ghiasi, Sajjad Rezvan, Seyed Ali Hosseini, Seyed Yahya Tarrahomi, Vakilabad prison, Yamani

HRANA News Agency – Nineteen individuals affiliated with the “Yamani” religious movement, remain in legal limbo in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, one week after their arrest.

These detainees are Amir Zorami, Amin Akbari, Reza Ghiasi, Amir Zohan, Seyed Yahya Tarrahomi, Hamed Nejad-Nik, Emad Eftetahi, Alireza Salim Kaviani, Ghasem Hatami, Seyed Ali Hosseini, Sajjad Rezvan, Mohammad Hossein Nazarnajhad, Mostafa Tavana, Mohammad Kazem Fathi, and five others.

Based on information received by HRANA, these individuals were arrested by IRGC forces while attending a religious gathering.

As of the time of this report, no information has been released regarding the charges brought against these citizens.

Every year in Iran, individuals are arrested merely for claiming a connection to the Shi’a messianic figure, the Hidden Imam. The “Yemeni” movement, led by Ahmad al-Hasan Yamani, operates based on messianic claims related to Mahdism.

Iran’s security apparatus—particularly the Ministry of Intelligence—maintains dedicated divisions tasked with confronting religions, spiritual groups, and ideological-religious communities that do not align with the state’s official ideology.