Category: Religious Minorities

Baha’i Citizen Venus Maghsoudi Arrested in Urmia

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Urmia, Venus Maghsoudi, ونوس مقصودی

HRANA – Yesterday, November 11, Venus Maghsoudi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Urmia, was arrested by security forces at her home and taken to an undisclosed location. During the arrest, the agents searched the residence and confiscated some of her personal belongings as well as the mobile phones of her guests.

According to a source close to Maghsoudi’s family confirmed the arrest, stating: “This morning, several officers from the Urmia Intelligence Department entered Ms. Maghsoudi’s home and arrested her using violence.”

HRANA has learned that, in addition to searching her residence, the officers also searched the home of Ms. Maghsoudi’s mother, who lives downstairs and is currently ill and under medical treatment.

There is still no information about the charges against Ms. Maghsoudi or her current whereabouts.

Venus Maghsoudi, a Baha’i citizen living in Urmia, is the mother of two children, aged three and eleven.

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.

Mahnoush Abdollahi Sentenced to Prison by Appeals Court

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News, Religious Minorities
Adelabad Prison, Mahnoush Abdollahi, مهنوش عبداللهی

HRANA – Mahnoush Abdollahi, a resident of Shiraz, has been sentenced to nine years in prison by the Fars Province Court of Appeals, with six years of the sentence suspended.

According to HRANA, Ms. Abdollahi received a total prison sentence of nine years from the appeals court. Based on the verdict, she was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and four years suspended imprisonment on the charge of cultural, media, and promotional activities in support of the Israeli regime; one year in prison for propaganda against the regime; and two years of suspended imprisonment for insulting the sacred.

In the initial trial, Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court had sentenced her to five years in prison for cultural, media, and promotional activities in support of the Israeli regime, and one year in prison for propaganda against the regime.

In a separate part of her case, the Criminal Court sentenced her to two years of suspended imprisonment for insulting the sacred.

Ms. Abdollahi was arrested on July 2, 2025, and later released on July 14, 2025, from Adelabad Prison in Shiraz after posting bail of 2.5 billion tomans.

Mahnoush Abdollahi is 42 years old and resides in Shiraz.

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.

Leila Adalati, Baha’i Citizen, Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, irgc, Leila Adalati, Leila Edalati, Shiraz

HRANA – On Saturday, November 8, Leila Adalati (Bangaleh), a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and taken to an undisclosed location. At the same time, her home was searched by security agents.

Based on the information obtained by HRANA, Ms. Adalati was arrested at her private residence on Saturday, November 8, by IRGC intelligence agents. Her home was searched for more than four hours, during which a number of her personal belongings were confiscated.

So far, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for her arrest, the location of her detention, or the charges brought against her.

Leila Adalati (Bangaleh) is a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz.

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 Anisa Fanaeian Re-Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison After Retrial

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News, Religious Minorities
Anisa Fanaeian, Ataollah Rezvani, Baha'i citizen, انیسا فنائیان

HRANA – The prison sentence of Anisa Fanaeian, a Baha’i citizen, remained unchanged after the Supreme Court accepted her request for a retrial and referred the case to a parallel appellate branch. Branch 10 of the Semnan Province Court of Appeals has again sentenced her to eight years in prison.

Based on information received by HRANA, despite the Supreme Court’s acceptance of her retrial request, the parallel branch of the Semnan Court of Appeals has reissued the previous eight-year prison sentence against Ms. Fanaeian.

Anisa Fanaeian, who had previously served a prison term, was arrested in late August 2023 by security forces and released on bail some time later.

Earlier, in March 2024, the Semnan Revolutionary Court had sentenced her at the first instance to 10 years in prison for “forming a group with the intention of disrupting national security,” five years for “educational or promotional activities deemed deviant and contrary to Islam within the framework of a sect, group, or association,” a fine of 50 million tomans, and 15 years of deprivation of social rights (grade five). She was also sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.” Additionally, $4,350 -personal family property confiscated from her daughter’s room – was seized by the government.

In December 2024, Branch 7 of the Semnan Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Javad Raisi and counselor Ali Momeni, sentenced her to seven years in prison on the charge of “forming a group with the intention of disrupting national security,” and to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.” Applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the longest sentence, seven years, was enforceable.

On March 11, 2025, Ms. Fanaeian was arrested by security forces on a street in Semnan to serve her prison sentence and was transferred to Semnan Prison.

On October 2, 2025, following the Supreme Court’s acceptance of her retrial request, Anisa Fanaeian was released from Semnan Prison after posting bail.

It should be noted that Anisa Fanaeian is the niece of Ataollah Rezvani. As previously reported by HRANA, eleven years after the killing of Ataollah Rezvani, a Baha’i citizen, Branch One of the Juvenile Criminal Court of Hormozgan Province confirmed the occurrence of intentional homicide but rejected the family’s request for diyah (blood money) from the public fund (Beyt al-Mal) on the grounds of the victim’s Baha’i faith.

Shahram Fallah, Baha’i Citizen, Sentenced to Imprisonment and Exile

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News, Religious Minorities
Kerman, Kerman prison, Shahram Fallah, شهرام فلاح

HRANA – Shahram Fallah, a 64-year-old Baha’i citizen currently held in Kerman Prison, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Kerman Revolutionary Court to 13 years, 6 months, and 2 days in prison, along with one year of exile in Birjand County.

According to the verdict, Mr. Fallah received 7 years, 6 months, and 1 day in prison for allegedly conducting educational and proselytizing activities deemed “deviant and contrary to Islamic law” through “false religious claims” and “organizational ties with foreign entities.” He was also sentenced to 6 years and 1 day in prison for forming a group with the intent to disrupt national security.

Mr. Fallah was arrested on August 18, 2025, by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence at his home and subsequently transferred to Kerman Prison. During the arrest, security agents confiscated mobile phones belonging to his family members and guests, as well as several of his religious books and images.

A long-time target of state repression, Shahram Fallah has previously faced arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment due to his Baha’i faith.

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Baháʼís in Iran: Nine Homes Raided and Seven Citizens Arrested in a Single Day

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News, Religious Minorities
Adib Rahmani, Armaghan Enayati, Baháʼí community, Fahim Agahi, Hengameh Sharifi, HRANA, Matin Agahi, Negar Misaghian, Shakib Farzan

HRANA – In a new wave of security and judicial pressure against members of the Baháʼí community in Iran, on Monday, October 20, the homes of at least nine Baháʼí citizens in Tehran, Shiraz, Semnan, Zahedan, and Sari were raided by security forces.

Seven Baháʼí citizens, identified as Fahim Agahi, Matin Agahi, Hengameh Sharifi, Adib Rahmani, Negar Misaghian, Shakib Farzan, and Armaghan Enayati, were arrested.

According to HRANA, security forces carried out coordinated operations targeting Baháʼí citizens across several cities. In addition to the seven arrests, the homes of Saman Eslami in Zahedan and Aruna Kowsari in Tehran were also searched.

Security agents reportedly conducted full searches of the residences, seizing electronic equipment, communication devices, books, and personal belongings. Eyewitnesses said the raids were carried out in an atmosphere of intimidation and fear.

According to HRANA’s earlier report, Negar Misaghian and Mahboob Habibi were transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility (Plaque 100) in Shiraz following their arrest. The location of the other detainees remains unknown.

The reasons for the arrests and the charges against these seven Baháʼí citizens have not yet been disclosed, and HRANA continues to investigate.

Negar Misaghian and Mahboob Habibi have previously faced arrest and judicial harassment for their faith and related activities. Armaghan Enayati and Adib Rahmani were previously expelled from Iranian universities due to their Baháʼí beliefs.

These raids and arrests come amid an ongoing pattern of systematic persecution of Baháʼí citizens across Iran. In recent months, Baháʼís in various cities have faced repeated waves of arrest, property confiscation, business closures, and social exclusion under vague and recurring accusations such as “propaganda against the regime,” “acting against national security,” and “membership in an illegal group.”

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.

Arrest of Four Followers of the “Yamani” Movement

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News, Religious Minorities
and Abbas Fathiyeh, Hadi Gharadaghi, Mahdism, Mohammad-Reza Atoof, Seyed Hamed Miri, Yamani

HRANA – Seyed Hamed Miri, Hadi Gharadaghi, Mohammad-Reza Atoof, and Abbas Fathiyeh, followers of the “Yamani” movement, have been arrested by security forces and transferred to prison.

According to a report by Entekhab News, these individuals were serving prison sentences but had been released on furlough and failed to return to prison after their leave ended.

As of this report’s publication, no information has been obtained regarding their exact place of detention or the duration of their sentences.

Seyed Hamed Miri, Hadi Gharadaghi, and Abbas Fathiyeh have previously faced arrest and conviction in connection with their activities.

In Iran, individuals are frequently detained for claiming spiritual or religious connections to the Hidden Imam, a central figure in Shi’a Islam. The “Yamani” movement, led by Ahmad al-Hasan Yamani, promotes beliefs centered on Mahdism, a messianic doctrine within Shi’a Islam.

Iran’s security apparatus – particularly the Ministry of Intelligence – maintains specialized units tasked with suppressing religious, spiritual, and ideological groups that operate outside the state-sanctioned framework.

Urmia: Baha’i Citizen Zhinus Mohammad-Nezhad Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Urmia, Zhinus Mohammad-Nezhad, ژینوس محمد نژاد

HRANA – On Tuesday, October 14, Zhinus Mohammad-Nezhad, a Baha’i citizen residing in Urmia, was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and transferred to an undisclosed location. At the same time, her home and her parents’ residence were searched by the agents.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, her arrest took place on Tuesday, October 14, at her home on in Urmia, when Ministry of Intelligence agents detained her. Simultaneously, both her home and her elderly parents’ nearby residence were searched. During the searches, several personal belongings of the Mohammad-Nezhad family were confiscated.

So far, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for her arrest, her place of detention, or the charges brought against this Baha’i citizen.

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.

Afshin Haghighat, a Baha’i Citizen, Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Afshin Haghighat, Baha'i citizen, Shiraz, افشین حقیقت

HRANA – On October 14, Afshin Haghighat, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location. At the same time, his home was searched by agents, who confiscated several digital devices and religious books belonging to Mr. Haghighat and his family.

A source close to Haghighat’s family confirmed the arrest to HRANA, stating:
“On Tuesday, security agents came to the home of this Baha’i citizen in Shiraz and arrested him. His residence was simultaneously searched, and during the search, a number of digital devices and religious books belonging to him and his family were confiscated.”

As of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for the arrest, his place of detention, or the charges brought against this Baha’i citizen.

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 Fardin Bengaleh Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Fardin Bengaleh, فردین بنگاله

HRANA – On Tuesday, October 14, Fardin Bengaleh, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to a report received by HRANA, Mr. Bengaleh was arrested in Shiraz by security forces on Tuesday, October 14. So far, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest, the location of his detention, or the charges brought against him.

Fardin Bengaleh is a Baha’i citizen living in Shiraz.

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.