Tag: Yazd

Yazd Blogger Hamidreza Naeimabadi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamidreza Naeimabadi, Yazd, حمیدرضا نعیم آبادی

HRANA– Hamidreza Naeimabadi, a satirical blogger from Yazd, has been arrested by the city’s security police. At the same time, a judicial order has been issued to suspend his Instagram page and restrict his use of social media.

Sources confirmed to HRANA that since his arrest, Mr. Naeimabadi has had no contact with his relatives.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Office of the Yazd Judiciary, without revealing his identity, announced the arrest of a “satirical blogger from Yazd,” accusing him of publishing content “contrary to legal and moral principles” and “insulting freight drivers” on social media.

According to the Judiciary’s statement, “the accused was detained by order of the case investigator through the security police and, after being transferred to the prosecutor’s office, was taken into custody under an appropriate judicial order.” Additionally, an order was issued to suspend his Instagram page and impose restrictions on his online activity.

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.

Homes of Six Baha’i Citizens Raided in Yazd

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News, Religious Minorities
Bahais, Farrokh Shadpour, Ghodrat Mirzaei, HRANA, Jamal Ghadirzadeh, Manouchehr Sobhani, Ramin Jiveh, Taraz Amiri, Yazd

HRANA News Agency – On the evening of Thursday, May 22, security forces raided the homes of six Baha’i citizens in Yazd.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, agents from the Yazd branch of the Ministry of Intelligence conducted the coordinated raids on Thursday evening. Security forces searched the homes of Ramin Jiveh, Jamal Ghadirzadeh, and Ghodrat Mirzaei, and later targeted the residences of Manouchehr Sobhani, Farrokh Shadpour, and Taraz Amiri. During the raids, agents confiscated personal belongings including Baha’i religious books, mobile phones, and laptops.

It is worth noting that Jamal Ghadirzadeh is currently facing legal proceedings related to his Baha’i faith and 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.

Five Prisoners Executed in Yazd Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Yazd, Yazd Prison, Zabol

HRANA News Agency – On Wednesday, May 21, the death sentences of five prisoners previously convicted on charges related to drug offenses and murder were carried out in Yazd Prison.

Their identities have been confirmed by HRANA as: Nourweis Achkizahi from Zabol, Javad Rezaei, Reza Beigi, Vali Shahrbabaki, and Mohammadreza Dehghan Dehnouri, 38 years old.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Achkizehi had been arrested six years ago and Mr. Beigi at an earlier date, both on drug-related charges, and were sentenced to death. Mr. Rezaei and Mr. Shahrbabaki had been detained five years ago, and Mr. Dehghan Dehnouri earlier, all on murder charges in separate cases, and were also sentenced to death.

As of the time of this report, the execution of these individuals has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Baha’i Citizen Sepehr Naeimi Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Ahmad Naeimi, HRANA, Sepehr Jafari Naeimi, Yazd

Sepehr Jafari Naeimi, a Baha’i citizen from Yazd, has been sentenced in absentia to 24 months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Yazd. The charges against him stem from his social media posts about the death of Mahsa Amini and the Baha’i faith.

In a ruling issued on September 22 by Branch 1 of the Yazd Revolutionary Court, Naeimi received an eight-month prison sentence for “propaganda against the regime” and an additional 16 months for “insulting the Supreme Leader and the founder of the Islamic Republic.”

A source close to Naeimi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating, “The charges against Mr. Naeimi are based on posts shared on his Instagram page related to Mahsa Amini’s death and the Baha’i faith.”

In early 2023, Naeimi was summoned to the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for questioning regarding his social media content and was released after interrogation. In December 2023, he was summoned again to the Yazd Prosecutor’s Office in connection with the same case and was released on bail following further questioning.

Sepehr Jafari Naeimi, 24-year-old resident of Yazd, is the son of Ahmad Naeimi, who also has faced judicial issues in the past.

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Baha’i Citizen Ahmad Naeimi Arrested in Yazd

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News, Religious Minorities
Ahmad Naeimi, HRAHA, Yazd

On October 5, 2023, Ministry of Intelligence agents apprehended Baha’i citizen Ahmad Naeimi (Naeemi) in Yazd and subsequently transported him to a detention facility.

According to a source closely connected to Naeimi’s family who informed HRANA, two agents detained Naeimi at his workplace. As of now, the exact reasons for his arrest and the specific allegations against him remain undisclosed.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

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 Iman Rashidi Detained in Yazd

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Iman Rashidi, Yazd

Iman Rashidi, a Baha’i citizen, was taken into custody on October 5, 2023, by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence in Yazd, and subsequently transported to an undisclosed detention facility.

According to a source close to his family, HRANA has learned that Rashidi’s wife was leaving their residence when she was confronted and encircled by intelligence agents. Under duress, she was compelled to lead the agents to Mr. Rashidi’s location, resulting in his arrest.

During the operation, the agents also conducted a search of his residence and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

As of now, the reasons behind Rashidi’s arrest and the specific allegations against him remain unknown.

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.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Abbas Lisani’s Exile Term Extended

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News, Religious Minorities
Abbas Lesani, Abbas Lisani, Ardabil, Yazd

The Ardabil Court of Appeals has extended the mandatory residence period in Yazd for Azerbaijani-Turk activist Abbas Lisani (Lesani) by one-third.

Branch 1 of the Ardabil Court of Appeals made this decision due to allegations that Lisani had violated the terms of his exile.

In a previous retrial, Branch 1 of Iran’s Supreme Court had sentenced Lisani to eight years in prison and two years of exile in Yazd County. This sentence was based on charges of “creating and leading groups with the intent of undermining national security.” However, he was acquitted of the charge of “acting against national security,” for which he had initially received a five-year prison sentence.

Lisani was placed in exile after his release from Ardabil prison on February 21, 2023.

Lisani has a long history of arrests and convictions stemming from his peaceful activism.

Four Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Yazd

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizens, HRANA, Jamal Ghadirzadeh, Mojgan Basiri, Shokoofeh Basiri, Vida Ahrari, Yazd

On Sunday, October 1, 2023, security forces detained Baha’i citizens Vida Ahrari, Mojgan Basiri, Shokoofeh Basiri, and Jamal Ghadirzadeh in Yazd and transferred them to undisclosed locations.

According to an insider source who informed HRANA, these individuals were guests at Mrs. Basiri’s residence when security agents conducted a raid and apprehended them. Additionally, searches were carried out at the residences of all four Baha’i individuals.

The motives behind their arrests, as well as their current whereabouts, remain unknown.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

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.

 

Teacher Union Activist Mohammad-Sadegh Fahimi Arrested in Yazd

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Freedom of Expression, News
Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Mohammad-Sadegh Fahimi, Yazd

Teacher union activist Mohammad-Sadegh Fahimi was arrested in Yazd following pensioners’ protest rallies. The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations reported his detention and transfer to an undisclosed facility. It has been confirmed that Fahimi was apprehended by security forces at his residence.

The specific cause for Fahimi’s arrest and the allegations against him remain unknown at this time.

Fahimi is an active member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association in Yazd Province.