Category: Religious Minorities

Two Yarsan Believers Arrested in Kermanshah

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Faribrorz Shah-Ebrahimi, Khalil Alinejad, Seyed Farhad Zonnouri, Yarsanism

Fariborz Shah-Ebrahimi and Seyed Farhad Zonnouri, followers of the Yarsan belief, were apprehended by security forces in Sahneh, Kermanshah Province on May 23, 2023, as reported by Kurdpa.

The arrest reportedly took place at their residences in a forceful manner, without the presentation of any arrest warrant.

According to an informed source, these people were arrested at their residences violently. The agents reportedly did not show any arrest warrant.
This is not the first instance of their persecution for their religious beliefs and practices. On November 18, 2022, they were violently detained during the 21st annual commemoration of Khalil Alinejad, a Kurdish singer-songwriter, and were subsequently released on bail.

Yarsanism, also known as Ahl-e Haqq, is a syncretic religion that originated in western Iran during the late 14th century under the leadership of Sultan Sahak. As a religious minority, Yarsan followers often face intimidation and persecution at the hands of the security and judicial systems of the regime.

 

Bahai Citizen Payam Vali Sentenced to Nine Years and Nine Months in Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alborz province, Baha'i citizen, Karaj, Payam Vali

Bahai citizen Payam Vali has been sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison by the Alborz Court of Appeals, with six years to be served. Previously, he had received a 16-year prison sentence.

The verdict, issued on May 10, 2023, states that Vali was given six years for “collaboration with adversary countries,” three years and one month for “inciting people to commit violence,” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” The first count carries an enforceable six-year prison term under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.
Initially, in February 2023, Vali had been sentenced to ten, five, and one-year terms for the aforementioned charges, respectively.

On September 24, 2022, security forces arrested Vali at his house in Karaj, searched the house, and detained him in Rajai Shahr Prison.

According to HRANA annual report, from the full human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of 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.

Freedom of 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 practice religion freely, freedom of converting to a religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

 

Baha’i Enayatollah Naeimi Receives 15-Year Prison Sentence

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i communities, Bahais, Enayatollah Naeimi, Friends of Iran, Isfahan, Yaran e Iran

Enayatollah Naeimi, a Baha’i citizen, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, with 10 years to be enforced, by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. He was also fined and subjected to social deprivation.

The verdict was issued by Judge Morteza Barai, who found Naeimi guilty of “forming groups to act against national security” for which he received 10 years, and “propaganda against the regime,” for which he received five years. The evidence presented for these charges included Naeimi’s involvement with the Baha’i group “Yaran e Iran” or “Friends of Iran,” as well as his association with Baha’i communities in Israel

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, if the verdict is upheld on appeal, Naeimi will serve 10 years in prison for the first charge.
Naeimi was arrested by security forces on September 28, 2022, and his house, workplace, and garden in the Isfahan suburbs were searched. He was later released on bail from Isfahan Prison but now faces a lengthy prison sentence.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of 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. Baha’i 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.

 

Enayatollah Naeimi Arrested After Court Hearing

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News, Religious Minorities
Bahai, Enayatollah Naeimi, HRANA, Isfahan Prison, Yaran e Iran

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency- On May 6, 2023, Baha’i citizen Enayatollah Naeimi was arrested and taken to an undisclosed location after a court hearing held by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. The charges against Naeimi remain unknown.

Naeimi had previously been arrested on September 28, 2023, in Isfahan, during which security forces searched his house, workplace, and garden in the Isfahan suburbs. He was later released temporarily on bail from Isfahan Prison.
Naeimi was a member of the now-disbanded Baha’i group, “Yaran e Iran” or “Friends of Iran,” which catered to the spiritual and social needs of the Baha’i community.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of 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. Baha’i 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.

 

 

Three Baha’i Citizens Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Ataollah Zafar, Baha’i community, Bahais, HRANA, Mansour Amini, Shadi Shahidzadeh

HRANA, Human Rights Activists news agency–On May 1, 2023, three Baha’i citizens, Ataollah Zafar, Shadi Shahidzadeh, and Mansour Amini, were separately arrested and taken to undisclosed locations.

According to an informed source, this morning, May 1, three intelligence agents raided Zafar’s house and arrested him. During the raid, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his belongings.

Zafar, who is 78 years old, had previously served a one-year sentence starting in August 2022. He was released on bail on October 29, 2022, and his case was closed in March 2023 when he received a pardon.

Shahidzadeh was also arrested at her house in Tehran on the same day. In the days leading up to her arrest, she had been summoned by judicial authorities via SMS following her frequent inquiries about obtaining a burial permit for her grandmother.

Amini was arrested in his residence, and agents searched his house during the arrest.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is. The Baha’i community in Iran has been subjected to various forms of discrimination and persecution for decades. The Iranian government has imposed severe restrictions on Baha’is’ religious practices, education, employment, and civil rights.

 

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Two Baha’i Citizens Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Afif Naeimi, Baha'i arrests, Bahais, Ghezel Hesar prison, Golestan-e-Javid, Tehran, Valliollah Ghadamian, Yaran e Iran

HRANA, Human Rights Activists news agency– Two Baha’i citizens, Afif Naeimi (Naimi) and Valliollah Ghadamian, were arrested by security forces on April 29 and May 1, 2023, respectively.

According to a source close to Naimi’s family, on April 29, Naeimi and several of his relatives were gathered in a garden near Karaj when security forces raided the location and arrested Naeimi. He was then taken to Rajai Shahr Prison.

Naeimi is a former member of a now-disbanded Baha’i group known as the “Yaran e Iran” or “Friends of Iran” that addressed the spiritual and social needs of the Baha’i community.

n 2018, Naeimi was released from Ghezel Hesar prison after serving approximately 10 years in prison. However, on July 31, 2022, he was arrested again, and the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced him to seven years in prison in a legal case along with twelve other Baha’i co-defendants.

On May 1, 2023, Valliollah Ghadamin was also arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

On May 1, 2023, security forces also arrested Valliollah Ghadamian at his residence in Tehran and took him to an undisclosed location. Ghadamian is a member of a Baha’i association that maintains a Baha’i cemetery in Tehran known as Golestan-e-Javid. In recent days, regime officials have refused to issue burial permits to Baha’is in this cemetery.
The reason for these arrests is currently unknown.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is. The Baha’i community in Iran has been subjected to various forms of discrimination and persecution for decades. The Iranian government has imposed severe restrictions on Baha’is’ religious practices, education, employment, and civil rights.

 

 

Azerbaijani (Turk) Activist Mahmood Ojaghlou Indicted on New Charges

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News, Religious Minorities
Azerbaijan National Awakening group, Mahmood Ojaghlou, Tehran

On April 19, 2023, Azerbaijani (Turk) activist Mahmood Ojaghlou was indicted by the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Court on new charges. He has been in custody since his arrest on December 11, 2022, and is currently being held at Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 19, 2023Azerbaijani (Turk) activist Mahmood Ojaghlou was indicted on charges of “membership in Azerbaijan National Awakening group” and “disturbing public opinions to cause unrest.”

Ojaghlou has also been charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security” on December 12, 2022.
Ojaghlou has faced other arrests by security forces in the past.

 

Baha’i Citizen Nahaleh Shahidi Yazdi Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities

On March 28, 2023, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Nahaleh Shahidi Yazdi on her way from Karaj to Kerman and took her to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on March 28, 2023, Baha’i Nahaleh Shahidi Yazdi was arrested by security forces.

An informed source told HRANA, “Shahidi was arrested on her way from Karaj to Kerman.”

The reasons for her arrest and the detained location are still unknown.

Shahidi was arrested in March 2011 and then sentenced to two years in prison and one year of suspended imprisonment for her civil and children’s rights activities, such as holding literacy courses for children left out of schools after the Bam earthquake.

According to HRANA annual report, in 2022, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is.

Baha’i Citizen Parva Behdad Sentenced to Imprisonment and Additional Punishments

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Dolataad Prison, Isfahan, Parva Behdad

The Isfahan Revolutionary Court recently sentenced Baha’i citizen Parva Behdad to three years in prison, a ban from leaving the country for two years and other punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i citizen Parva Behdad was sentenced to three years in prison, a ban from leaving the country for two years, paying a fine and participating in a religion course for indoctrination.

On November 14, 2022, security forces arrested Behdad in Isfahan and detained her in solitary confinement for over 21 days. After that, she was jailed in Dolataad Prison. On December 18, 2022, she was released on bail.

The charges against her are still unknown.

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.

According to HRANA annual report, in 2022, from the total of human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is.

 

Yarsan Follower Kaveh Salimi Arrested

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News, Other, Religious Minorities
irgc, Kaveh Salimi, Kermanshah, the Yari religion, Yarsanism

On March 5, 2023, security forces arrested Kaveh Salimi at his home in Kermanshah and took her to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on March 5, 2023, Kaveh Salimi, a follower of the Yari religion, was arrested by security forces in Kermanshah.

The agents reportedly searched his house and confiscated some of his belongings.
In recent weeks, Salimi was summoned via phone to IRGC’s intelligence office and interrogated.
The reason for his arrest and whereabouts are still unknown.

Yarsanism, Ahl-e Haqq is a syncretic religion founded by Sultan Sahak in the late 14th century in western Iran. As a religious minority, Yarsan followers are subjected to intimidation and prosecution by regime security and judicial systems.