HRANA – From March 21 to October 22, 2026, at least 118 Baha’i citizens, including 60 women and 58 men, have faced security and judicial measures across 11 provinces in Iran. These measures included arrests, prison sentences, property confiscations, home searches, business closures, and restrictions on access to education.

According to HRANA, data collected during the first seven months of the Iranian year 1405 (March 21–October 22, 2026) indicates that these measures extended beyond arrests and prison sentences. In several cases, they also affected the family lives, property, economic activities, and access to education of Baha’i citizens. The highest numbers of identified individuals affected were recorded in Fars and Yazd provinces, with 25 each, followed by Mazandaran Province, with 23.

Security and Judicial Measures at a Glance

In this report, figures referring to individuals are based on identified Baha’i citizens, unless explicitly described as “cases” or “incidents.” A single individual may appear in more than one category, such as arrest, home search, or sentencing.

Geographic Distribution of Security and Judicial Measures Across 11 Provinces

The security and judicial measures documented during this period affected Baha’i citizens across 11 provinces in Iran. Fars and Yazd recorded the highest numbers of identified individuals, with 25 each, followed by Mazandaran with 23.

In Fars Province, particularly in Shiraz, arrests and home searches were among the most frequently documented measures. In Yazd, in addition to arrests and prison sentences, reports documented group summonses, home searches, confiscation of mobile phones, and security interventions in private gatherings.

In Mazandaran, the collective case involving 12 residents of Qaem Shahr was among the most prominent judicial cases during this period. In Isfahan, documented measures included home searches, seizure of vehicles and property, confiscation of work equipment, and closure of businesses. In Tehran, prison sentences, deprivation of social rights, fines, and property confiscations were recorded.

Arrest of 32 Baha’i Citizens from March to October

During this period, HRANA documented the initial arrests of 32 Baha’i citizens. This figure does not include individuals who were arrested and transferred to prison solely to serve previously imposed prison sentences.

The first documented arrest during this period took place on March 21, involving Yasmin Rahmardeh in Yazd. Two days later, Shayan Abadi was arrested in Kerman.

In Fars Province, arrests of Baha’i citizens began in the first days of the Iranian calendar year. Behzad Yazdani and Romina Khazali, Mahsa Sotoudeh, Behzad Basiri and Mandana Sotoudeh, Anqa Siavashi, and Sara Sepehri were among those arrested in Shiraz during this month. In Mazandaran, Minou Andakhs, a Baha’i resident of Sari, was also arrested during this period.

In April and May, Vafa Kashefi was arrested in Mashhad, Riyaz Behrad in Karaj, and Romina Goli in Sari. Farideh Abdi Yazdi
was also arrested in Shahin Shahr, Isfahan Province. In May and June, the arrests of Parsa Najafi and Noyan Hejazi were documented.

In Yazd, Flora Samadani and Ahmad Naeimi were arrested in May and June, respectively. Both were subsequently released on bail, but legal proceedings against them continued, and prison sentences were issued against both in October.

On June 23, Sima Sabto, Nahid Falahati, and Saeed Hassani were arrested in Shiraz. Sima Sabto and Nahid Falahati were later released on bail.

On August 22, five Baha’i citizens, Soraya Manouchehrzadeh, Shima Sanaei, and Fakhereh Zahedi, along with Negar Badiei and Maral Roshani,were arrested in Sari. They were transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Sari, known as the “Keshouei” Detention Center.

During Soraya Manouchehrzadeh’s arrest, security agents also searched her family home and confiscated several books and electronic devices belonging to her and her family members. According to a source close to the family of one of the detainees, the warrants presented by the agents authorized only home searches and did not include arrest warrants.

Arrests of Baha’i citizens continued in Isfahan and Shiraz during August and September. On August 25, Sarir Mowghen was arrested in Isfahan and transferred to Dowlatabad Prison. At the same time, security agents searched his family home and confiscated personal belongings, electronic devices, cash, gold, and a piano.

During the same month, Elham Khalas was also arrested in Isfahan and later released after undergoing interrogation and being formally informed of the charges against her. On September 14, Sarina Zaeri, Barbad Sepehri, and Arshia Jaberi were arrested in Shiraz and transferred to the “Soroush” Detention Center.

In September and October, Zhila Sadeghi, also known as Mowghen, was arrested in Shiraz.

Court Hearings Held for Baha’i Citizens

According to data collected from March 21 to October 22, 2026, court hearings were documented in cases involving 27 Baha’i citizens. This figure represents the number of individuals whose cases involved court hearings, rather than the number of separate hearings, as several individuals may have been tried in a joint case, or a single individual’s case may have been heard over multiple sessions.

One of the most significant cases during this period involved court hearings for 12 Baha’i residents of Qaem Shahr at the Revolutionary Court of Sari. The hearings took place on August 1, 2, and 3, 2026, at Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sari. The court subsequently issued its verdict on August 20. The defendants in this case were Raquel Ataeian, Keyumars Akbari, Sohrab Loghaei, Zahra Golabian, Banafsheh Asadian, Fouad Loghaei, Anahita Koushkbaghi, Nasim Samimi, Hossein Fanaeian, Emilia Fanaeian, Melody Samimi, and Soheil Haghdoost.

In Kerman, the court hearing for Borna Naeimi was held via video conference at the city’s Revolutionary Court on May 25, 2026. According to the published report, the charges against him included “acting against national security and forming a group with the intent to overthrow the government.” The collected data also documented a court hearing for Peyvand Naeimi on September 18.

In Tehran, a hearing in the case of Afshin Heyratian was held on July 18 at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. The final hearing in the case of Artin Ghazanfari, a Baha’i citizen held at the Greater Tehran Penitentiary, was also held on September 29 at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

In Mashhad, a court hearing for Vafa Kashefi was held on August 29 at the city’s Revolutionary Court. He was subsequently sentenced to six years in prison, part of which was suspended.

Other documented cases involved court hearings for Mitra Bandi Amirabadi, Shideh Tavakoli, Amin Imanian, Arman Misaghian, Moein Mohammadi-Dehaj, Romina Goli, Noyan Hejazi, Barsa Maleki, Hengameh Sharifinia, and Payam Faridian. However, the exact dates of these hearings were not specified in the information available to HRANA and have therefore not been included in this report.

Prison Sentences Issued and Upheld: More Than 155 Years for 30 Baha’i Citizens

According to the collected data, prison sentences totaling 155 years, 10 months, and 9 days were issued or upheld against 30 Baha’i citizens. This figure represents the combined length of the documented sentences and does not necessarily reflect the actual prison time to be served. In some cases, portions of the sentences were suspended, while in others, legal provisions governing multiple offenses mean that only the most severe sentence is enforceable.

In addition to prison sentences, 20 Baha’i citizens received a combined total of 149 years and one day of deprivation of social rights. Other documented penalties included fines, property confiscation, travel bans, prohibitions on participation in groups and organizations, permanent dismissal from government and public service positions, and deprivation of certain social and civil rights.

Prison Sentences and Property Confiscations in Tehran

In Tehran, Afshin Heyratian was sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. The charges against him included “forming an illegal group,” “propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law,” “assembly and collusion,” and “unlawful acquisition of property.”

The court also imposed a fine of 330 million tomans. Additionally, on the charge of “unlawful acquisition of property,” the court sentenced him to two years in prison and a fine equivalent to twice the amount of $1,000 he had received, totaling $2,000. Under the provisions governing multiple offenses, if the verdict is upheld on appeal, only the most severe sentence of 12 years in prison will be enforceable.

In another case, Hengameh Sharifinia, Fouad Abdolghaffari, and Fahim Agahi were sentenced to 15, 10, and 10 years in prison, respectively, by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati.

In addition to imprisonment, the sentences imposed on these three Baha’i citizens included bans on participation in groups and organizations, travel bans, and property confiscation. Hengameh Sharifinia was also sentenced to 10 years of deprivation of social rights.

In the case of Shideh Tavakoli, another Baha’i resident of Tehran, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, imposed a total prison sentence of 11 years, a permanent ban on employment in government and public service positions, and a fine of 330 million tomans.

The court also ordered the confiscation of two properties belonging to her in Tehran, valued at 18.7 billion tomans, along with some of her personal belongings, including electronic devices, books, and religious jewelry.

In another case, Arman Misaghian was sentenced to two years of discretionary imprisonment by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Ali Mazloum. He was also prohibited from driving, signing commercial documents, and participating in groups for two years.

Collective Sentencing of Baha’i Citizens in Mazandaran

In Mazandaran, one of the most significant judicial cases during this period involved prison sentences issued against 12 Baha’i residents of Qaem Shahr.

According to the verdict issued on August 20, 2026, Raquel Ataeian, Keyumars Akbari, Sohrab Loghaei, Zahra Golabian, Banafsheh Asadian, Fouad Loghaei, Anahita Koushkbaghi, Nasim Samimi, Hossein Fanaeian, Emilia Fanaeian, Melody Samimi, and Soheil Haghdoost were convicted by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sari, presided over by Judge Ammar Ramezani.

Raquel Ataeian was sentenced to four years of discretionary imprisonment and 10 years of deprivation of social rights. Each of the other 11 Baha’i citizens received two years and 15 days of discretionary imprisonment and six years of deprivation of social rights. The combined sentences in this case amount to 26 years and 165 days of discretionary imprisonment and 76 years of deprivation of social rights.

In the same province, Faranak Zabihi was sentenced to two years and one day in prison and two years of deprivation of social rights by Judge Reza Majazi of the Revolutionary Court of Qaem Shahr.

Additionally, the Mazandaran Court of Appeals upheld the one-year prison sentence of Amin Imanian. Romina Goli, who had previously been arrested in April–May and whose home had been searched, was sentenced by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Sari to five years, seven months, and 16 days of discretionary imprisonment and 10 years of deprivation of social rights.

In Juybar, Noyan Hejazi was sentenced to seven months and 16 days in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” He was also sentenced to a fine of 122,501,000 tomans and 10 years and one day of deprivation of social rights for what authorities described as promoting the Baha’i faith.

Judicial Sentences in Yazd, Isfahan, and Mashhad

In Yazd, Moein Mohammadi-Dehaj was sentenced by Branch 1 of the city’s Revolutionary Court to a total of 16 years, seven months, and 18 days of discretionary imprisonment, 10 years of deprivation of social rights, and permanent dismissal from government and public service positions. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, only the most severe sentence of 12 years, six months, and one day in prison will be enforceable.

Mitra Bandi Amirabadi was also sentenced to five years in prison and 10 years of deprivation of social rights.

In the same province, Flora Samadani and Ahmad Naeimi, a Baha’i couple residing in Yazd, were sentenced to three years and one day and six months and one day in prison, respectively, under a verdict issued on October 12, 2026. Both had previously been arrested in April–May and May–June, respectively, and were later released on bail.

In Isfahan, the appeals court upheld the sentence against Roya Ostovar in full. She had been sentenced to a total of six years in prison, 15 years of deprivation of social rights, and a fine on charges related to educational and promotional activities and publishing content online. The amount of the fine was not specified in the available information.

In Mashhad, Barsa Maleki was sentenced to two years and one day in prison, a fine of 80 million tomans, and six years of deprivation of social rights.

Vafa Kashefi was also sentenced to six years in prison in the same city, with two years and six months of the sentence suspended.

In another case, the prison sentence of Payam Faridian, who had previously been sentenced to three years in prison, was reduced to two years on appeal.

Enforcement of Prison Sentences: 17 Baha’i Citizens Transferred to Prison

Alongside initial arrests and the issuance of new sentences, authorities continued to enforce previously imposed prison sentences against Baha’i citizens during the first seven months of the Iranian year 1405. According to the collected data, 17 Baha’i citizens were transferred to prison during this period to serve their sentences.

In April–May, Didar Ahmadi, Boshra Mostafavi, and Elena Naeimi were sent to prison in Rafsanjan to serve their sentences. Anisa Fanaeian and Nahaleh Shahidi Yazdi were also among the Baha’i citizens transferred to prison during this period to serve their sentences.

On August 22, Arsalan Yazdani was arrested in Karaj to serve a prison sentence imposed on him in December 2023. During his arrest, authorities also confiscated several of his personal belongings and electronic devices.

On August 23, Iman Rashidi was arrested after appearing at Branch 1 of the Sentence Enforcement Office of the Yazd Revolutionary Court and was transferred to prison to serve his sentence. He had previously been sentenced to three years, six months, and one day of discretionary imprisonment, 15 years of deprivation of social rights, and a fine of 371 million rials.

On August 31, Babak Zeinali, Sahba Taef, Fouad Taefi, Shervin Shabrokh, and Ali Bagherkashi were arrested in Karaj and transferred to prison to serve their one-year sentences.

In Tehran, Iraj Shakour and Pedram Abhar were sent to prison on September 6 to serve their respective five-year sentences. Four days later, Saba Safidi was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin to serve her sentence.

Parisa Eslami in Karaj and Forough Ram in Zahedan were also transferred to prison to serve their sentences. Forough Ram was arrested and sent to prison on October 13 to begin serving her sentence.

Home Searches: Security Measures Extend to Family Members and Residences

Home searches were among the most frequently documented measures against Baha’i citizens during the first seven months of the Iranian year 1405. Individual records documented home searches involving 35 identified Baha’i citizens. In addition, reports indicated that authorities searched the homes of three unidentified Baha’i citizens in Yazd, as well as family properties and business premises.

In Fars Province, during April–May, authorities searched the homes of Faramarz Naddafian and Parivash Naddafian, a Baha’i couple residing in Shiraz, as well as the home of Afsaneh Jazzabi, also known as Rasekhi. In August–September, the homes of Rahmatollah Sabet and Parvaneh Sabet in Shiraz were also searched.

On September 20, security agents searched homes associated with Pejman Zare, Nazanin Nikoo-Seresht, Mina Zare, Mahshid Zare, Mahboubeh Zare, and Parham Zare in Shiraz. According to the documented information, these measures affected members of the same family, and in some cases, their separate residences were searched. Five of these individuals, Nazanin Nikouseresht, Mina Zare, Mahshid Zare, Mahboubeh Zare, and Parham Zare, were also summoned on September 23.

In Mazandaran Province, Romina Goli’s home was searched during her arrest in April–May. Authorities also searched Soraya Manouchehrzadeh’s home during her arrest in August. In August–September, the home of Parisa Naseri in Qaem Shahr was also searched.

In Isfahan, on August 24, authorities searched the homes of Amin Tabyanifard, Bahariyeh Askarinasab, and Nima Tabyanifard. These measures extended beyond residential properties to include the family’s business premises and work equipment.

On the same day, authorities searched the home of Keyhan Atefi and Fereshteh Atefi, a Baha’i couple residing in Isfahan, and seized some of their belongings and their vehicle.

On September 6, authorities also searched the homes of Sohrab Mazloumi, Rahman Aghababaei, and Keyvan Dehghani in Isfahan. Other documented cases in the province included searches of the home of Saeed Azimi and the home of Sarir Mowghen, which was searched during his arrest.

Group Security Measures and Pressure on Baha’i Citizens in Yazd

In Yazd Province, security measures during this period extended beyond arrests and prison sentences to include group summonses, home searches, confiscation of mobile phones, and interventions in private gatherings.

According to a detailed report on security and judicial measures against Baha’i citizens in Yazd, approximately 50 Baha’i citizens gathered on March 28, 2026, to share ash, a traditional Iranian soup, in keeping with a local custom. Agents from the Ministry of Intelligence arrived at the location and dispersed the gathering.

During the intervention, agents confiscated the attendees’ mobile phones. According to the published report, no judicial warrant was presented when the phones were seized. Despite follow-up efforts by those present, the devices had not been returned to their owners as of the publication of the detailed report.

In June–July, approximately 12 participants in the gathering were summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence for interrogation. Six additional instances of summonses and interrogations of Baha’i citizens were documented in August–September. Together, these amounted to approximately 18 instances of summonses. However, because the identities of all those involved were not known, the figure cannot be considered equivalent to 18 distinct individuals.

In addition to these group incidents, Sama Ghadirzadeh was summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence in Yazd on September 1, while Nava Bahamin was interrogated by the same agency the following day.

On August 26, authorities searched the home of Shahrokh Nasiri in Yazd and confiscated the mobile phones of six guests present at the residence.

Also in August–September, authorities searched the homes of three other Baha’i citizens in the city and confiscated several mobile phones and books found at the residences.

On September 13, security agents searched the home of Majid Ghane and confiscated several mobile phones, a laptop, books, pictures, and items associated with the Baha’i faith. The agents also took his personal vehicle.

According to the documented information, 10 young Baha’i individuals were present at the residence during the search and were engaged in a book-reading session. Agents confiscated their mobile phones as well.

One of those present was Parnia Basiri, who was taken to her own residence. After searching her home, agents confiscated mobile phones belonging to family members and items associated with the Baha’i faith.

The collected data also documented a search of Mehran Basiri’s home on the same date.

Searches of the Amiri Family’s Homes and Farm

On September 27, 2026, marking the tenth anniversary of the murder of Farhang Amiri, a Baha’i citizen from Yazd, approximately 40 security agents arrived at his family home. The agents searched the residence and confiscated mobile phones, personal belongings, and items associated with the Baha’i faith.

That same night, security agents also searched the homes of Payam Amiri, Neda Amiri, and Maziar Motahed, members of the same family, and confiscated some of their personal belongings. Four days later, on October 1, security agents also searched the family’s farm.

Continued Home Searches and Confiscation of Mobile Phones in October

On October 15, security agents searched the home of Soheil Rouhanifard in Yazd and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

On October 19, authorities searched the homes of Milad Aghdasi, Samieh Gholinejad, and Bahar Bahifar in Yazd. During the search of Bahar Bahifar’s home, agents damaged household items, causing damage to her personal property.

On the same day, security agents confronted a group of Baha’i citizens at a café in Yazd and confiscated their mobile phones. Among the identified individuals whose phones were seized were Shahin Daneshnia, Romina Pourmoradi, Kamyab Raei, Hania Talei, Altaf Ghane, and Parnia Basiri.

Parnia Basiri had previously been subjected to a home search and the confiscation of her family’s belongings in September.

Property Seizures, Confiscation of Work Equipment, and Economic Pressure

During home searches and other security operations, authorities confiscated or seized various items, including mobile phones, laptops, computers, books, documents, cash, foreign currency, gold and jewelry, vehicles, musical instruments, and work equipment. In some cases, the confiscations extended beyond the belongings of the homeowners, with agents also seizing mobile phones belonging to guests or other family members.

One notable example involved the Tabiani family in Isfahan. On August 24, security agents searched the homes of family members, emptied their musical instrument-making workshop, and confiscated tools, equipment, and machinery used to manufacture musical instruments.

Authorities also searched a musical instrument retail store belonging to the family and sealed the premises under a judicial order. In this case, the measures extended beyond personal belongings to include the tools and facilities used by family members for their professional activities.

In the case of Keyhan Atefi and Fereshteh Atefi, reports also documented the seizure of their vehicle and several personal belongings, in addition to the search of their home.

In Yazd Province, numerous cases of mobile phone confiscation were documented during home searches, private gatherings, and an incident at a café. These included the seizure of Majid Ghane’s vehicle and the confiscation of electronic equipment and personal belongings belonging to other Baha’i citizens.

This report distinguishes between the seizure of property during security operations and property confiscation ordered by a court. Accordingly, the seizure of mobile phones, vehicles, work equipment, or other belongings during searches does not, in itself, indicate that a judicial confiscation order has been issued.

By contrast, in the cases of Shideh Tavakoli and Hengameh Sharifinia, Fouad Abdolghaffari, and Fahim Agahi, property confiscation was documented as part of the judicial sentences imposed against them.

Denial of Access to Education

Kamyar Malaki, a Baha’i student in Birjand, was expelled from university and denied access to education on the grounds of “failure to meet general eligibility requirements.”

Similarly, Kamand Rouhi, a Baha’i student in Yazd, was barred from continuing her education and attending university. According to available information, university officials cited her adherence to the Baha’i faith as the reason for this restriction.

Methodology and Notes on the Statistics

In calculating the total number of individuals, each identified Baha’i citizen was counted only once among the 118 individuals, even if multiple security or judicial measures were documented against them. Group incidents in which the identities of all participants were not known were examined separately and were not added to the total number of individuals because of the possibility of overlap with individual reports.

The figure of 32 arrests includes only initial arrests during the reporting period. Individuals who were arrested and transferred to prison solely to serve previously imposed sentences were not included in this figure. Similarly, the figure of 27 individuals in the court hearings section represents the number of people whose cases involved documented court hearings, rather than 27 separate hearings.

The combined total of 155 years, 10 months, and 9 days of imprisonment represents the sentences issued or upheld during this period and does not necessarily correspond to the actual prison time to be served. In some cases, portions of sentences were suspended, while in others, legal provisions governing multiple offenses mean that only the most severe sentence is enforceable.

Regarding home searches, individual records documented searches involving 35 identified Baha’i citizens and three unidentified individuals in Yazd. Because a single operation may have involved several family members or multiple locations, each documented “case of a home search” should not necessarily be considered a separate operation. This report also distinguishes between the seizure or confiscation of belongings during security operations and property confiscation ordered by a court.

Human Rights Context

Despite its long-standing presence in Iran, the Baha’i community is not recognized as a religious minority under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic. Laws and practices in Iran have subjected Baha’i citizens to restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, access to higher education, employment, and economic activities. Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the arbitrary arrest and prosecution of Baha’i citizens, the confiscation of their property, and violations of their fundamental rights.

The measures documented in this report raise concerns regarding several fundamental rights, including freedom of religion and belief, the right to a fair trial, respect for private and family life, property rights, the right to work, and equal access to education. Prosecuting individuals for their religious activities, denying them educational opportunities because of their beliefs, and restricting their employment may constitute discrimination based on religion or belief.

According to HRA’s 2025 annual report, violations of Baha’i citizens’ rights accounted for 62.4% of all documented reports concerning religious minorities in Iran.