Category: Religious Minorities

Behrad Azargan, Baha’i Artist, Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison on Appeal

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News, Religious Minorities
Abdolqassem Salavati, Behrad Azargan, بهراد آذرگان

Behrad Azargan, a Baha’i musician residing in Tehran, has had his prison sentence reduced to seven years by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals in Tehran Province. He had previously been sentenced at the primary trial to 11 years in prison, confiscation of seized belongings, a two-year ban on online activities, and a travel ban.

Under the ruling delivered by Branch 36 and conveyed to Mr. Azargan, he was sentenced to five years in prison for “engaging in educational or promotional activities deemed deviant to Islamic Sharia under the guise of sects, groups, or similar entities” and two years for “spreading falsehoods.”

Previously, Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Judge Salavati, had sentenced him to five years for the above-mentioned charge, four years for “membership in anti-regime groups,” and two years for “spreading falsehoods.” The court also ordered that items seized during the raid on his home be confiscated for the state. Furthermore, Azargan was banned for two years from online activities and from leaving the country.

On July 2, 2024, Azargan’s home in Tehran was searched by security agents, who confiscated personal belongings, including his phone and laptop.

On August 3, he was arrested after appearing before the Third Branch of the Prosecutor’s Office for Security for questioning regarding charges of “propaganda against the regime.” He was later released from Evin Prison on bail.

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.

Toomaj Aryankia Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Christian Azadegan Party, Karaj, Toomaj Aryankia, Toumaj Aryankia

Toomaj Aryankia, a Christian convert, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and a 2-year ban on social activities by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj.

According to HRANA, citing Mohabat News, Mr. Aryankia was convicted by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj, presided over by Judge Mostafa Narimani. He was charged with “propaganda against the Islamic Republic,” “collaboration with hostile governments,” and “membership in anti-regime groups.”

The report states that Aryankia’s request for retrial was rejected by the judge, prompting him to appeal the verdict. He is currently awaiting the appellate court’s decision.

The Christian convert was arrested on October 24, 2022, after his home was searched by security forces, who confiscated copies of the “Bible” and some personal items. He was released shortly after on a bail of 5 billion tomans.

Toomaj Aryankia, a member of the “Christian Azadegan Party (AMA)” and the “Pan-Iranist” group, has previously faced security-related confrontations due to his activities.

Several Followers of a Religious Movement Arrested in Torbat Heydariyeh

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News, Religious Minorities
Torbat Heydariyeh, Yamani

The Public Prosecutor of Torbat Heydariyeh, Razavi Khorasan province, announced the arrest of several followers of the “Yamani” movement in the city. Their residences and workplaces were searched, and some personal belongings were confiscated during the operation.

According to HRANA, quoting IRNA, the detainees were accused of promoting beliefs related to Mahdism through online sessions and recruiting individuals, particularly youth, to their cause.

Prosecutor Mohammad-Hossein Hassannejad did not specify the number or identities of the detainees but stated that the arrests were part of a coordinated operation by intelligence agencies.

He added that various items, including digital media production equipment, symbols of the movement, dozens of books, brochures, and flags, were confiscated during the searches.

Each year, individuals in Iran are arrested for claiming spiritual connections to the Mahdi, the Twelfth Imam of Shia Islam. Among these groups, the Yamani movement, led by Ahmad al-Hassan Yamani, stands out for its prominent activities and claims centered on Mahdism.

The Iranian government’s intelligence apparatus, particularly the Ministry of Intelligence, actively targets religious, spiritual, and ideological groups that fall outside its accepted ideological framework.

Three Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Shiraz

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News, Religious Minorities
Elham Haghighatjou, HRANA, Rozita Eslami, Shiraz, Vahid Masoumi

On November 10, Vahid Masoumi, Rozita Eslami, and Elham Haghighatjou, Baha’i citizens residing in Shiraz, were arrested by security forces and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as “House No 100.”

According to reports received by HRANA, Mr. Masoumi was arrested by Intelligence Ministry agents while leaving his home and taken to the facility. During the arrest, the agents searched his vehicle and residence, seizing several personal belongings, including electronic devices, books, and family photos.

Ms. Eslami was also arrested at her residence following a search of the premises.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the charges against the three detainees.

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.

Baha’is Vahid Sabet Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Elham Haghighatjou, Rozita Eslami, Shiraz, Vahid Masoumi, Vahid Sabet

Yesterday, November 10, Vahid Sabet, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by security forces in this city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

HRANA has confirmed the identity of the individual as “Vahid Sabet, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz.”

As of the time of this report, no information is available about his whereabouts or the charges against him.

Additionally, three other Baha’i citizens in Shiraz — Rozita Eslami, Elham Haghighatjou, and Vahid Masoumi — were also arrested yesterday by security forces. Following their detention, they were transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as “House No 100.”

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.

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Three Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Isfahan

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i, Isfahan, Parsa Dehghani, Pedram Dehghani, Rashid Dehghani, Tehran, Tiran

On Saturday, November 2, security forces arrested three Baha’i citizens—Rashid Dehghani, Pedram Dehghani, and Parsa Dehghani—in the city of Tiran, Isfahan, and transferred them to an undisclosed location, according to Radio Farda. Rashid and Pedram are residents of Tehran, while Parsa resides in Karaj.

The three had traveled to Tiran in Isfahan to attend a Baha’i religious celebration, during which security forces detained them along with eight other Baha’i attendees. While the eight others have since been released, there is still no information on the whereabouts or condition of Rashid, Pedram, and Parsa Dehghani.

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.

Behrad Azargan, Baha’i Musician, Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i, Behrad Azargan, Evin Prison, HRANA, Tehran, بهراد آذرگان

Behrad Azargan, a Baha’i musician residing in Tehran, has been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to 11 years in prison, in addition to the confiscation of his seized belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced Azargan to five years in prison for “engaging in educational or promotional activities against Sharia of Islam” through affiliation with a sect or similar group, four years for “membership in anti-regime groups,” and two years for “spreading false information.” Additionally, the court ordered the confiscation of items seized from his home and imposed a two-year ban on his use of social media and travel abroad.

The court session addressing Azargan’s case was held on October 6.

Azargan’s home was raided on July 3 by security agents, who seized several personal items, including his phone and laptop.

He was subsequently detained on August 4 after appearing at the Third Branch of the Security Prosecutor’s Office to defend himself against charges of anti-regime propaganda. He was later released on bail from Evin Prison.

Death Sentences of Four Sunni Prisoners Finalized, Case Referred for Execution

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Executions, News, Religious Minorities
Abdolghani Shahbakhsh, Abdolrahim Ghanbarzehi Gorgij, armed rebellion, Eido Shahbakhsh, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Rahim Mirbaloch, Soleiman Shahbakhsh

The death sentences of four Sunni prisoners—Eido Shahbakhsh, Abdolghani Shahbakhsh, Abdolrahim Ghanbarzehi Gorgij (Rahim Mirbaloch), and Soleiman Shahbakhsh—have been confirmed by Branch 32 of the Supreme Court and referred to Branch 1 of the Tehran Security Prosecutor’s Office for execution. They are currently held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

On February 4, 2024, Judge Mohammadreza Amuzad Khalili of Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced these men to death, accusing them of armed rebellion through membership in opposition groups and armed uprising against the regime. Their death sentences were later upheld by the Supreme Court following their appeal.

HRANA’s investigation into their case reveals significant rights violations during their imprisonment. The prisoners faced extreme pressure from security agencies, including denial of legal representation, prolonged solitary confinement, physical and psychological torture, and deprivation of basic rights such as family visits and phone calls.

Since 2012, following the initial arrests of Eido and Abdolghani Shahbakhsh, court hearings have been irregular. Despite initial acquittals by the Zahedan Revolutionary Court, objections by security agencies led to the re-arrest of the defendants in 2016 and continued prosecution.

A source close to Abdolrahim Ghanbarzehi’s family told HRANA that he was subjected to severe physical and psychological pressure during solitary confinement and was coerced into making confessions while in the IRGC’s Salman Detention Center in Zahedan, in violation of Article 38 of Iran’s Constitution and international anti-torture conventions.

A key issue in this case has been the frequent transfer of case files between courts in Zahedan and Tehran, causing delays and uncertainty for the defendants. Despite multiple requests for regular hearings and proper defense, initial acquittals were overturned due to pressure from security agencies, leading to their eventual death sentences.

With the Supreme Court now confirming their death sentences, the case has entered a critical phase, with the execution possibly imminent. The families of the prisoners maintain their innocence and argue that the judicial process has been fraught with serious human rights violations.

Baha’is in Kerman: Paridokht Shojaei Summoned to Serve Prison Sentence, Four Others Acquitted

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News, Religious Minorities
Behnam Pour-Ahmari, Foad Shaker Arkani, Kerman prison, Paridokht Shojaei, Shahram Fallah, Yekta Fallah

Paridokht Shojaei Baghini, a Baha’i citizen from Kerman, has been summoned to the Kerman Prison Enforcement Branch to serve her two-year and one-month prison sentence. Meanwhile, four other Baha’i citizens—Foad Shaker Arkani, Shahram Fallah, Yekta Fallah, and Behnam Pour-Ahmari—who were tried alongside her, have been acquitted by the Court of Appeals.

According to information received by HRANA, Ms. Shojaei was contacted via phone and instructed to report to the prison authorities to begin serving her sentence. A Baha’i resident of Kerman, familiar with the case, confirmed the news, stating: “Yekta Fallah, Foad Shaker Arkani, Behnam Pour-Ahmari, and Shahram Fallah were acquitted during the appeals process. Only Ms. Shojaei was sentenced to imprisonment and social restrictions, and she has been repeatedly summoned in recent days to begin serving her time.”

The five Baha’i citizens were initially arrested in July 2023 at the residence of Shahram Fallah. During the arrest, security officers searched Mr. Fallah’s home and the vehicles of his guests, confiscating personal items, including their mobile phones. Foad Shaker Arkani and Behnam Pour-Ahmari were released later that month, while Shahram Fallah, Yekta Fallah, and Paridokht Shojaei were released on bail in early August.

The first court hearing in their case took place on February 3, 2024, followed by a second hearing in early April 2024, where the defendants were sentenced to fines and social restrictions. However, in an unclear legal process, the court’s ruling against Ms. Shojaei was overturned, and she was subsequently informed in absentia of her revised sentence: two years and one month in prison, along with a five-year ban on social rights. This sentence was later upheld by the Court of Appeals after she filed an appeal.

Two Baha’i Women in Babol Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison and Social Restrictions

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News, Religious Minorities
Babol, HRANA, Mohammad Sadegh Akbari, Niusha Badiei Sabet, Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan, Tehran

Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan and Niusha Badiei Sabet, two Baha’i citizens, have been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison, along with additional social restrictions, by Branch 1 of the Babol Revolutionary Court.

In the court’s ruling, delivered to the defendants today, each was sentenced to five years in prison, with time served during pre-trial detention considered. Additionally, both women have been banned from all educational and training activities for 18 months. They were convicted of “engaging in educational or promotional activities contrary to the sacred Sharia of Islam.”

Eid Mohammadzadegan and Badiei Sabet were arrested on August 15, 2023, at Mohammadzadegan’s residence in Babol by security forces, who did not present a judicial warrant. The two were eventually released on bail on September 11, 2023, from Babol Prison.

Mohammad Sadegh Akbari, head of the judiciary in Mazandaran Province, had previously justified the closure of two schools and ten educational and sports centers in Babol by claiming these institutions were promoting the Baha’i faith. He also mentioned the arrest of two individuals, describing them as “prominent Baha’i instructors in Iran.”

However, a reliable source refuted these claims, telling HRANA, “Only four kindergartens were involved, at most. No religious promotion occurred in these centers; the focus was solely on children’s education, with parents present at all times.”

Niusha Badiei Sabet, 39, a psychologist, translator, and resident of Tehran, has faced previous arrests and judicial encounters due to her faith.