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Isfahan: 10 Baha’i Women Sentenced to a Total of 90 Years in Prison and Additional Punishments

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News
Arezoo Sobhanian, Bahareh Lotfi, Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Neda Badakhsh, Neda Emadi, Negin Khademi, Parastoo Hakim, Shana Shoughifar, Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh

Negin Khademi, Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, Neda Badakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Shana Shoughifar, Arezoo Sobhanian, Parastoo Hakim, Bahareh Lotfi, and Neda Emadi, 10 Baha’i women from Isfahan, have been collectively sentenced to 90 years in prison, fines, and additional penalties by the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan.

Based on a verdict recently issued by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Tavakoli and conveyed to the defendants via their lawyer, the women were convicted of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” and “participating in deviant educational and promotional activities against Islamic Sharia.” These activities included organizing English language, painting, music, yoga classes, and nature camps for Iranian and Afghan children and adolescents. In addition to the prison sentences, they were collectively fined 900 million tomans, had their personal assets confiscated by the state, and were banned from leaving the country or using social media for two years.

The court details for each individual are as follows:

  • Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, and Negin Khademi were each sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of 100 million tomans. One-third of their prison sentences and fines were suspended.
  • Neda Badakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Shana Shoughifar, Parastoo Hakim, and Arezoo Sobhanian were each sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of 100 million tomans. Half of their sentences and fines were suspended.
  • Neda Emadi and Bahareh Lotfi were each sentenced to 5 years in prison and a fine of 50 million tomans, with 4 years of their prison terms and half of their fines suspended.

In terms of supplementary punishments, each of these Baha’i citizens has had their confiscated assets, including mobile phones, laptops, digital devices, foreign currencies, gold, and jewelry, seized by the government. They were also banned from leaving the country and using social media for two years.

These 10 Baha’i women were arrested by security forces on October 23, 2023, and were gradually released from Dolatabad Prison in Isfahan on bail over the following two months.

Following the indictment, their court session took place on September 23, 2024, at Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court.

Yeganeh Agahi had a previous record of arrest, while Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, 19 years old, is the daughter of Arezou Sobhanian, another defendant in this case.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA reveal that in 2023, Judge Abolqasem Salavati has been involved in issuing verdicts in 80 cases that violate the human rights of defendants.

Morteza Parvin and Taher Naghavi Sentenced to a Total of 12 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abolqasem Salavati, HRANA, Morteza Parvin, Reza Asadi Naderabadi, Taher Naghavi, Taher Naqavi

Morteza Parvin, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, and Taher Naghavi (Naqavi), a defense attorney, have been sentenced to a combined total of 12 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

According to the ruling issued by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, both individuals received one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime” and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.” In addition, Mr. Naghavi has been banned from leaving the country for two years and stripped of social rights and political party membership for two years.

A source close to Naghavi’s family informed HRANA that he was recently scheduled to be transferred to a hospital for medical examinations. However, the transfer was blocked when he refused to wear a prison uniform and use handcuffs and leg cuffs.

Both Mr. Parvin and Mr. Naghavi were arrested by security forces on February 6, 2024, and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.

On July 13, a hearing was held to address the charges against Mr. Naghavi at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. His final court session took place in late September. Recently, Naghavi faced new charges initiated by prison authorities, including “disruption of public order” and “insulting prison officers.” A few weeks ago, an officer at Evin Prison, identified as Reza Asadi Naderabadi, physically assaulted Mr. Naghavi following a verbal altercation, after which Naghavi was transferred to Evin’s quarantine section.

In late May, a court session was also held to examine the charges against Parvin related to the joint case with Naghavi at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Salar Taher Afshar Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Abolqasem Salavati, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Behnam Babashpour, Evin Prison, Saeed Jamalzadeh, Salar Taher Afshar, Vadud Asadi

Salar Taher Afshar, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, has been sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The sentence was issued based on charges of “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security.”

In a recent post on his personal page, Mr. Taher Afshar confirmed that he was informed of his sentence in person.

His trial, along with that of fellow activist Vadud Asadi, took place on May 21, 2023, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati. Both individuals faced charges in Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Earlier, on April 20, a preliminary hearing was held for Mr. Taher Afshar and three other Azerbaijani-Turk activists—Vadud Asadi, Saeed Jamalzadeh, and Behnam Babashpour—at Branch 5 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office.

Mr. Taher Afshar was arrested by security forces in Urmia on February 6, 2024. He was then transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, a section managed by the Ministry of Intelligence, where he remained in detention for 22 days before being released on bail.

In a previous case, he was sentenced to six months in prison by Branch 2 of the Tabriz Revolutionary Court. After serving part of that sentence, he has been under electronic monitoring with restrictions on his movement outside of prison. Recently, Mr. Taher Afshar was barred from employment with the Snapp platform due to a “disqualification” issued by Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (NAJA).

Three Prisoners Executed in Isfahan and Shiraz Prisons

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Executions, News
Abbas Karimi, Adelabad Prison, Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Mohsen Mokhtari, Shiraz

The death sentences of three prisoners, each convicted of murder in separate cases, were recently carried out in Dastgerd Prison of Isfahan and Adelabad Prison of Shiraz, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The executed prisoners were identified as Mohsen Mokhtari from Shiraz, Abbas Karimi, a 36-year-old father of two, and Mohammad Ali Najafi, a 35-year-old father of one from Shahin Shahr.

The executions of Najafi and Karimi took place on Thursday, October 17, 2024, in Dastgerd Prison, while Mokhtari was executed a day earlier on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz.

Najafi had been arrested three years ago and Karimi earlier, both on separate murder charges, before being sentenced to death by the judiciary. Mokhtari, who had been in custody for five years following a murder charge, was sentenced to death as well. He had been held in Ward 10 of Adelabad Prison prior to his execution.

According to data compiled by HRANA, Adelabad Prison carried out 49 executions in 2023, ranking fifth among prisons in Iran, followed by Dastgerd Prison with 35 executions. For a detailed analysis of execution statistics across the country, refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report.

Report on the Latest Status of Political Prisoner Saeideh Ghorbanali in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Saeideh Ghorbanali, Shahriar, Tehran

Saeideh (Bahareh) Ghorbanali, a political prisoner, is currently serving a two-year prison sentence in Evin Prison, as upheld by the Tehran Court of Appeals. Her transfer to the women’s ward occurred on September 7, 2024, following her arrest to serve this sentence.

According to a source close to Ghorbanali’s family, who confirmed the details to HRANA, Ghorbanali has recently been denied in-person visits with her family by direct order of the prison warden.

Ghorbanali’s legal troubles began in early 2019 when she was first arrested by security forces in Shahriar. Shortly after her initial detention, she was released on bail.

She later faced trial alongside nine others in a joint case at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In late 2019, Ghorbanali was sentenced to three years in prison on charges including “assembly and collusion against national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic and the Supreme Leader.”

In May 2020, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Zargar, upheld her sentence. However, under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, only the severest charge is applied, making Ghorbanali subject to two years of imprisonment.

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Baha’i Citizen Faraz Razavian Sentenced to Prison and Other Penalties

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News, Religious Minorities
Faraz Razavian, Mojgan Samimi

Faraz Razavian, a Baha’i citizen, has been sentenced by the Rasht Revolutionary Court to two years and one day in prison, along with a fine and social restrictions.

According to the verdict from Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, Razavian has been sentenced to two years and one day of imprisonment, a fine of 80 million Tomans (approximately $1,500), and five years of deprivation of social rights.

A source close to Razavian’s family confirmed to HRANA that he had not been previously arrested or interrogated. The source explained that during a recent trial for Razavian’s mother, Mojgan Samimi, at the same court, Faraz Razavian was unexpectedly named as a defendant. Both Razavian and his mother were sentenced for engaging in educational activities and promoting the Baha’i faith. After Razavian’s lawyer requested a separate hearing, the court convened again but reissued the same sentence.

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.

Two Prisoners Executed in Qazvin Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Nourmorad Garavand, Qazvin prison, Sanjari

At dawn today, October 17, two prisoners who had been previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Qazvin Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoners as Nourmorad Garavand and Sanjari (first name unknown). These individuals had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially confirmed by prison authorities or other relevant institutions.

he reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Two Prisoners Executed in Hamedan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Hamedan prison, Rasoul Feli, Rasoul Fili

At dawn on October 16, two prisoners, including a woman, were executed in Hamedan Prison after being sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

HRANA has identified one of the executed prisoners as Rasoul Fili. Both individuals had been arrested on drug charges and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

As of this report, the executions have not been officially confirmed by prison authorities or other relevant institutions.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Nasrin Shakarami Arrested in Khorramabad

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Freedom of Expression, News
Khorramabad, Nasrin Shakarami, Nika Shakarami, Tehran

On October 16, Nasrin Shakarami, the mother of Nika Shakarami—who was killed during the 2022 nationwide protests—was arrested in Khorramabad.

Her daughter, Aida Shakarami, confirmed the arrest but stated that the reason for the detention and any charges against Nasrin remain unclear. As of now, Nasrin’s location is also unknown.

Nika Shakarami, a 17-year-old from Khorramabad, lost her life during the 2022 protests in Tehran. Behesht Zahra Cemetery later attributed her death to “multiple injuries caused by blunt force trauma.”

Six Political Activists Sentenced to Over 50 Years in Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, and Araz Aman, Ayaz Seyfkhah, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Bagher Haji-Zadeh, Hossein Piri, Kamal Nouri, Salavati

Kamal Nouri, Ayaz Seyfkhah, Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, Bagher Haji-Zadeh, Hossein Piri, and Araz Aman, all Azerbaijani-Turk activists, have been sentenced to a combined 53 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

The verdict, issued on Wednesday, October 16, by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, details the following sentences:

  • Hossein Piri: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim: One year for “propaganda against the regime” and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Araz Aman, Ayaz Seyfkhah, and Bagher Haji-Zadeh: Each sentenced to eight years for “espionage” and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Kamal Nouri: Three years, with two years of his sentence suspended.

Nouri, Seyfkhah, Azimi Ghadim, Haji-Zadeh, and Aman were arrested by security forces in February of last year and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.