Category: Religious Minorities

Report on the Arrest of Christian Convert Somayeh Rajabi in Babol

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News, Religious Minorities
Babol, HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Sari, Somayeh Rajabi

HRANA News Agency – On the evening of Thursday, February 6, 2025, security forces raided a gathering of dozens of Christian converts in Gatab, a town in Babol County, and arrested Somayeh Rajabi, a Christian convert, transferring her to prison.

According to HRANA, citing Mohabat News, agents from the IRGC Intelligence in Babol stormed the gathering, where around 80 Christian converts were present.

Rajabi was arrested during the raid and, one day later, informed her family in a brief phone call that she had been transferred to a prison in Sari.

Reports indicate that security forces treated the attendees harshly and confiscated all religious books, musical instruments, and digital devices.

No information is currently available regarding the charges against Rajabi.

Notably, while Christianity is officially recognized as a minority religion in Iran, security agencies view the conversion of Muslims to Christianity as a highly sensitive matter and respond with severe crackdowns on those involved in religious activism.

The persecution of Christian converts in Iran persists despite Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirm every individual’s right to freedom of religion, including the right to change their faith and to practice it openly or privately, alone or in community with others.

Christian Citizens Naser Navard Goltapeh and Joseph Shahbazian Arrested in Tehran

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News, Religious Minorities
Evin Prison, Joseph Shahbazian, Naser Navard Goltapeh, Parand, revolutionary court, Tehran, ژوزف شهبازیان, ناصر نورد گل تپه

HRANA News Agency – On Thursday, February 6, Naser Navard Goltapeh and Joseph Shahbazian, two Christian citizens residing in Tehran Province, were arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents and transferred to Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, quoting Article 18 News Outlet, the arrests took place in the early morning of February 6, 2025. Intelligence agents raided Naser Navard Goltapeh’s residence in Parand and Joseph Shahbazian’s home in Tehran, detaining both individuals. Following their arrest, they were taken to Evin Prison, where Goltapeh has since gone on a hunger strike in protest.

As of the time of this report, no information has been disclosed regarding the charges against them.

Both Goltapeh and Shahbazian have previously been arrested and imprisoned due to their religious beliefs and activities.

Joseph Shahbazian was sentenced to 10 years in prison and additional social restrictions by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on May 29, 2022, on charges of “establishing a house church and acting against national security.” This verdict was upheld by the Tehran Court of Appeals in August 2022. He was subsequently arrested on September 8, 2022, and transferred to Evin Prison. However, in February 2023, Iran’s Supreme Court overturned his conviction due to a “lack of sufficient evidence proving his leadership role,” leading to his release in September 2023.

Naser Navard Goltapeh was previously arrested in July 2016 during a private gathering and was later sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of “establishing a house church.” He served his sentence in Evin Prison from 2017 without any furlough, and multiple requests for a retrial or conditional release were denied. After serving more than half of his sentence, he was released in October 2022.

Notably, while Christianity is officially recognized as a minority religion in Iran, security agencies view the conversion of Muslims to Christianity as a highly sensitive matter and respond with severe crackdowns on those involved in religious activism.

The persecution of Christian converts in Iran persists despite Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirm every individual’s right to freedom of religion, including the right to change their faith and to practice it openly or privately, alone or in community with others.

Several Members of a Religious Group Arrested in Javanrud

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News, Other, Religious Minorities
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Javanrud, Kermanshah

HRANA News Agency – The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Javanrud has announced the arrest of several members of a religious group in northwestern Kermanshah by security forces in the province.

According to IRNA, the Javanrud prosecutor, without revealing the identities or charges of the detainees, described them as members of a “widespread Salafi-Takfiri network.” The report provides no details on the number of those arrested or their whereabouts.

Notably, in recent weeks, IRGC Intelligence forces carried out two separate operations in Kermanshah, leading to the arrest of members of another religious group.

Thirteen Baha’i Citizens Arrested by the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Isfahan

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i faith, Bahais, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Isfahan

HRANA News Agency – The IRGC Intelligence Organization in Isfahan has announced the arrest of 13 Baha’i citizens for allegedly promoting and teaching beliefs associated with the Baha’i faith.

According to HRANA, quoting ISNA, in a statement released today, the IRGC Intelligence Organization claimed that the arrests were made due to the promotion and teaching of Baha’i beliefs among children and teenagers through virtual classes. the IRGC Intelligence, without disclosing the identities or whereabouts of the detainees, alleged that these individuals engaged in actions such as “altering Islamic lifestyles through promoting promiscuity, dog walking, intermingling of girls and boys.”

It is worth noting that HRANA previously reported on the imprisonment of 10 Baha’i women in Isfahan, but it remains unclear whether the ISNA report refers to these individuals or to other Baha’i citizens recently arrested in the city.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between January 1, 2024, and December 20, 2024, a total of 157 reports were recorded in the category of religious and faith-based minority rights. Among these, Baha’is accounted for 67.54% of the reports, ranking as the most observed group in human rights monitoring.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both 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.

10 Baha’i Women Transferred to Dolatabad Prison in Isfahan to Serve Sentences

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News, Religious Minorities
Azita Rezvanikhah, Baha'i women, Baharestan, Boshra Motahar, Dolatabad Prison, Firoozeh Rasti-Nejad, Isfahan, Maryam Khorsandi, Mojgan Pourshafe Ardestani, Nasrin Khademi Qahfarrokhi, Roya Azad Khosh, Sanaz Rasteh, Sara Shakib, Shurangiz Bahamin

HRANA News Agency – Today, January 24, 2025, ten Baha’i women, identified as Nasrin Khademi Qahfarrokhi, Roya Azad-Khosh, Sara Shakib, Boshra Motahar, Mojgan Pourshafe Ardestani, Maryam Khorsandi, Shurangiz Bahamin, Sanaz Rasteh, Firoozeh Rasti-Nejad, and Azita Rezvanikhah, were detained and transferred to Dolatabad Prison in Isfahan to serve their prison sentences.

According to HRANA, all residents of Baharestan, Isfahan, were arrested this morning by security forces. The agents reportedly entered their homes, creating fear and in some cases scaling walls to gain access.

These women were previously arrested on April 25, 2021, along with several other Baha’i residents of Baharestan. They were released on bail next month. In May, 2024, they were sentenced by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court to prison terms, fines, social restrictions, and travel bans. However, their case was sent back to the lower court for review due to procedural issues.

Following a retrial and a second appeal, Branch 37 of the Isfahan Appeals Court sentenced each of the 10 women to five years in prison, a fine of 50 million tomans, five years of social service restrictions, and a two-year travel ban.

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Increased Pressure on Baluch and Arab Communities: 49 Citizens Arrested in Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan

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Ethnic Minorities, News, Religious Minorities
Arab citizen, Baluch, ethnic rights, Khuzestan, Sistan & Baluchestan

HRANA News Agency – In recent days, Iranian security forces have conducted widespread, simultaneous arrests of dozens of Baluch and Arab citizens in the Khuzestan and Sistan & Baluchestan provinces, long regarded as hotspots of human rights tensions and repression. These mass arrests signal escalating pressures on the residents of these regions, once again underscoring the systemic violations of the rights of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran.

To date, the identities of 49 detainees have been verified, but the reasons for their arrests and the whereabouts of many remain unknown. This report aims to shed light on the scale of these incidents and the condition of those detained.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the arrests took place in areas predominantly inhabited by diverse ethnic and religious groups, who continue to face significant human rights challenges. Local sources report increasing restrictions and intensifying pressures on Baluch and Arab citizens, further complicating daily life for these communities.

Arrests in Sistan-Baluchestan

The identities of 19 detainees in this province have been confirmed:

. Mir Khan Naroui
. Iman Naroui
. Milad Naroui (two individuals with the same name)
. Mehrshad Naroui
. Mohammad Naroui
. Fazl-Ahmad Naroui
. Farshid Naroui
. Safar Naroui
. Abdolhakim Bandour
. Abdolhamid Bandour
. Iman Dahmardeh
. Yasin Naroui
. Mehdi Naroui
. Azin Naroui
. Aminollah Naroui
. Mohsen Naroui
. Musa Naroui
. Majid Naroui

Arrests in Khuzestan

HRANA has identified 30 detainees in this province:

. Saeed Esmail Mazraeh
. Ahlam Abeyyat (Bandar)
. Ayoub Gheibipour
. Reza Heidari
. Javad Heidari
. Ali Savari
. Foad Mousavi
. Javad Afri
. Yasin Silavi
. Ali Koroushat
. Mohammad Naseri
. Younes Ghorbavi
. Reza Zahiri
. Hashem Mousavi
. Khaled Amouri
. Ali Amouri
. Mohammad Amouri
. Milad Bahri
. Sadegh Mansouri
. Mansour Jassemi
. Ahmad Jalali
. Hossein Saeidi
. Saeed Fallahi
. Ahmad Khaledi
. Ayoub Tarafi
. Yousef Saeedi
. Mohammad Ayashi
. Ali Savari
. Mohammad Shakhitipour (Abeyyat)
. Saeed Doraghi

The reasons for these arrests and the current whereabouts of many detainees remain unclear. Local sources suggest that the actual number of arrests may exceed official reports, and efforts to identify additional detainees are ongoing.

The mass arrests of Baluch and Arab citizens in Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan reflect an intensification of repression against these communities. These actions not only violate fundamental human rights but also exacerbate the challenges faced by people in these regions. This situation underscores the urgent need for international human rights organizations and the global community to address these violations. Given the gravity of the situation, legal and diplomatic pressure to prevent the continuation of such actions is more critical than ever.

According to data from the Department of Statistics and Publications of HRA in 2024, Khuzestan Province ranked second in reported human rights violations by Iran’s regime, trailing only Tehran Province. Despite being sixteenth in population, Sistan and Baluchestan Province ranked fifth in this grim tally, underscoring the disproportionate level of violations in the region.

Christian Convert Ghazal Marzban Sentenced to Prison, Flogging, and Additional Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Evin Prison, Ghazal Marzban, HRANA, Iman Afshari

Ghazal Marzban, a Christian convert detained in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to six months in prison, 74 lashes, and supplementary penalties by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, citing Hyrakani, Ms. Marzban was convicted of “propaganda against the regime” and “appearing in public without a hijab.” The ruling, issued by Judge Iman Afshari, stipulates that one-third of the six-month prison sentence is enforceable, with the remaining portion suspended. Additionally, she has been sentenced to 74 lashes and a five-year ban on mobile phone use as supplementary punishment.

In protest against her ongoing detention and judicial uncertainty, Ms. Marzban began a hunger strike on December 22, which she ended after six days.

A convert to Catholic Christianity, Ms. Marzban was arrested on November 5 near Tehran’s Vali-e-Asr Square for chanting protest slogans. After being held at the Vozara Detention Center, she was transferred to Evin Prison’s women’s ward on November 7.

A source previously informed HRANA, “Ms. Marzban spoke out in the crowd, appealing to Pope Francis about the widespread poverty and oppression in Iran, urging him to respond to the actions of the Iranian government. Her arrest was unrelated to her faith and was solely due to her public protest.”

Ghazal Marzban Jorshari, 41, is a law graduate and a resident of Tehran.

Court of Appeals Issues Sentences for 15 Baháʼí Citizens in Isfahan Province

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News, Religious Minorities
Azita Rezvani-Khah, Boshra Motahar, Farkhondeh Rezvan Pey, Firoozeh Rastinejad, Isfahan, Maryam Khorsandi, Mojgan Pourshafe Ardestani, Nasrin Khademi Ghaqarakhi, Nooshin Hemmat, Roya Azadkhosh, Sanaz Rasteh, Sara Shakib, Sholeh Ashouri, Shurangiz Bahamin

The Court of Appeals of Isfahan Province has issued the sentences of 15 Baháʼí citizens residing in Baharestan, Isfahan Province.

The original sentences, which included imprisonment and monetary fines, were confirmed for Mojgan Pourshafe Ardestani, Nasrin Khademi Ghaqarakhi, Azita Rezvani Khah, Sholeh Ashouri, Boshra Motahar, Sara Shakib, Roya Azadkhosh, Nooshin Hemmat, Shurangiz Bahamin, Sanaz Rasteh, Maryam Khorsandi, Farkhandeh Rezvan Pey, and Firoozeh Rastinejad. However, Samira Shakib and Mojdeh Bahamin were only fined, with their prison sentences revoked.

Branch 37 of the Court of Appeals issued its decision on November 20. The final ruling, recently communicated to their attorneys, confirmed the original sentences for 13 individuals while modifying those of two others.

Previously, these individuals were each sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan to 5 years in prison, a fine of 50 million tomans, 5 years of social service restrictions, and a 2-year travel ban in May 2024. The charges stem from allegations of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” and “participation in promotional and educational activities contrary to Islamic law.”

Among the defendants, 11 individuals were detained in 2021 and later released on bail. Security forces had also raided the homes of Mojdeh Bahamin, Farkhandeh Rezvan Pey, Boshra Motahar, and Samira Shakib during the investigation.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both 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 Arshia Behin-Ayin Arrested in Isfahan

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News, Religious Minorities
Arshia Behin-Ayin, HRANA, Isfahan, ارشیا بهین آیین

On December 6, 2024, Arshia Behin-Ayin, a 36-year-old Baha’i citizen from Isfahan, was arrested by security forces and transferred to Dastgerd Prison.

According to a source who spoke to HRANA, the arrest occurred violently during a Baha’i ceremony on the outskirts of Isfahan. Agents from the Isfahan Intelligence Department, equipped with cameras and microphones, disrupted the gathering, used intimidation and physical force, and confiscated the mobile phones of attendees.

The source also reported that before being removed from the scene, Mr. Behin-Ayin was tied to a pole in an open area by the agents, further escalating the intimidation.

This incident marks another instance of the systemic targeting of Baha’i citizens in Iran for their religious beliefs. Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both 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.

Arrest of Javad Amini, a Christian Convert, in Nowshahr

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News, Religious Minorities
Christian Citizen, Christian convert, IRGC Intelligence, Javad Amini, Nowshahr, جواد امینی

On November 17, IRGC Intelligence agents arrested Javad Amini, a Christian convert, in Nowshahr, Mazandaran province, and transferred him to a detention facility in Sari. The arrest, reported by Article Eighteen News Outlet, is believed to be linked to his religious beliefs.

Following the arrest, agents raided Amini’s home, interrogating his wife and 10-year-old daughter in a tense and distressing environment.

According to the report, Mr. Amini is one of 12 Christian converts implicated in a joint legal case currently under review by the Nowshahr Revolutionary Court.

This is not the first time Mr. Amini has faced harassment. During the Christmas season last year, security forces searched his home and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

Christian converts in Iran are subject to severe restrictions, widespread security pressures, and systemic discrimination. They frequently face arbitrary arrests, exclusion from educational and employment opportunities, and workplace bias. These actions constitute blatant violations of human rights and the fundamental freedom of religion.