Tag: Baha’i citizen

Baha’i Citizen Elmira Rahmani Arrested in Isfahan

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Elmira Rahmani, Isfahan

On January 16, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Elmira Rahmani at her home in Isfahan and took her to an undisclosed location. The agents searched the house and confiscated some of her belonging.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 16, 2023, Baha’i citizen Elmira Rahmani was arrested in Isfahan.

Rahmani, age 28, is a resident of Isfahan and a professional musician.

The location where she is held and the allegation are still unknown.

According to the HRANA Annual Statistical Report of Human Rights Conditions in Iran, in 2022, 64% of the entire reports on the violation of religious minorities’ rights are about harassment, prosecution and conviction against Baha’is.

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.

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.

 

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.

 

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 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.

 

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Baha’i Individual Leili Karami Arrested in Shiraz

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Leili Karami, Mahsa Amini, Shiraz

On October 26, 2022, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Leily Karami at her house in Shiraz and transferred her to a detention facility known as House No 100. The agents searched her home and confiscated some of her personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i citizen Leily Karami was arrested at her house in Shiraz.

The reason for her arrest and the charge is still unknown.

 

 

Three Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Shiraz

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Negar Ighani, Shaghayegh Khaneh-Zarin, Zhila Sharafi Nasrabadi

On Sunday, June 26, 2022, three Baha’i citizens, Shaghayegh Khaneh-Zarin, Negar Ighani and Zhila Sharafi Nasrabadi were arrested by security forces in Shiraz and taken to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, June 26, 2022, security forces arrested three Baha’i individuals in Shiraz.

An informed source told HRANA that  Khane-Zarin’s father had a heart attack due to stress during  his daughter’s arrest and was hospitalized in Shiraz.”

The reason for these arrests and the charges are unknown so far.

Also, Negar Iqani was denied entry to the University Entrance Exam of 2019, even though she is an employee of the institution. 

Even though Iran’s law recognized the right to education indiscriminately for all citizens, the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution of Iran bars Baha’is from working at official institutions and participating in higher education.

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 Amin Zolfaghari Imprisoned in Yazd Prison 

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Amin Zolfaghari, Baha'i citizen, Hiwa Mehdi-Abadi, Mahbooneh Misaghian, Mitra Amir-Abadi, Yazd, Yazd Prison

On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Baha’i citizen Amin Zolfaghari was transferred to Yazd Prison to serve his eight-months sentence. Earlier, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Yazd had sentenced Zolfaghari to three years and four months term. On Appeal, this sentence was reduced to 8 months.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Baha’i citizen Amin Zolfaghari was sent to Yazd Prison to serve his sentence.

On May 21, 2020, the Ministry of Intelligence agents arrested Zolfaghari at his house in Yazd and transferred him to prison. On June 23, 2020, he was released on bail.  

Subsequently, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Yazd sentenced Zolfaghari and three other defendants, Mitra Amir-Abadi, Hiwa Mehdi-Abadi and Mahbooneh Misaghian, to 2 years and eight months in prison on the charge of “membership in anti-regime groups” and eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

The sentences against all four defendants were reduced to eight months during the appeal process.

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 Saeedeh Khozui Released on Bail after 43 Days of Detention 

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Araslan Yazdani, Baha'i citizen, Baha'i faith, Saeedeh Khozui

On Tuesday, Baha’i citizen Saeedeh Khozui was released on bail temporarily until the end of legal proceedings. She was held in Evin Prison for 43 days.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday morning, Baha’i citizen Saeedeh Khozui was released on a 2 billion tomans bail. She had been arrested on April 11, 2022.

Saeedeh Khozui is the mother of Arsalan Yazdani who was also arrested in Tehran on September 1, 2021, and transferred to a detention center in Evin Prison. On September 30, 2021, security forces searched his house and confiscated some of Mr. Yazdani’s belongings including his laptop, other electronic devices and documents. Subsequently, Arsalan Yazdani was released on bail on October 17, 2021.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, 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 Saeedeh Khozui in Detention 40 Days after Arrest

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Baha'i faith, Saeedeh Khozui

Baha’i citizen Saeedeh Khozui is still jailed in the detention facility A1, which is at the disposal of the IRGC Intelligence. On April 11, 2022, she was arrested after an appearance at Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i citizen Saeedeh Khozui has been in detention for 40 days under uncertain conditions.

On Thursday, May 19, in a phone call to her family, Khozui informed them that currently she is detained at an IRCGS detention facility A1. Khozui’s family had frequently inquired about her charges and whereabouts before, which was not responded to by the authorities.

Mrs Khozai suffers from migraine and the prison does not serve regular meals during the month of Ramadan, which makes her health conditions worse.

Saeedeh Khozui is the mother of Arsalan Yazdani who was arrested by security forces in Tehran on September 1, 2021, and transferred to a detention center in Evin Prison. On September 30, 2021, security forces searched his house and confiscated some of Mr. Yazdani’s belongings including his laptop, other electronic devices and documents. Subsequently, Arsalan Yazdani was released on bail on October 17, 2021. 

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, 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.