May 4, 2010
HRA News Agency –Calendar of Human Rights Abuse of Baha’is, March and April 2010
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Category: Religious Minorities
Five Baha’i Citizen Arrested in Northern Iran
HRANA News Agency – On Saturday and Sunday nights, June 4-5, 2011, security forces were dispatched to the houses of three Baha’i citizens in Babol and Babolsar, [Gilan Province], and arrested five individuals.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), equipped with guns and batons, intelligence agents accompanied by the police raided a Baha’i citizen’s house in Babolsar at 10:30pm while a special religious ceremony was being observed.Baha’i books and pictures were confiscated during this raid, and Misagh Laghai (76) and his daughter, Mahvand Laghai, were arrested.Additionally, using weapons such as batons and guns, security officers intimidated those attending this religious ceremony in order to force them to sign a commitment not to attend this Baha’i ritual again.
Furthermore, intelligence agents raided another Baha’i citizen’s house in Babolsar and after seizing religious books, pictures and a computer, arrested Nadia Farhadi (Imanian) and took her to an unknown location.Nadia Farhadi has been in charge of the provisional university for Baha’i citizens in Babolsar.
Similar to the above arrests, intelligence agents raided and searched another Baha’i citizen’s home on Sunday, June 5, 2011, and arrested the homeowners, Pejman Nikonajad and his wife, Sharareh Nikonajad.During this raid, the guests attending this Baha’i religious ceremony were beaten and forced to sign commitments not to attend such services again.
Christian Priest, Behnam Irani, Arrested
HRANA News Agency – On Tuesday, May 31, 2011, security forces raided Behnam Irani’s house in Karaj and arrested him.Behnam Irani is a Christian priest.
During the arrest, security forces assaulted and insulted Behnam Irani in front of his wife and two young children and placed him in handcuffs before taking him away.Previously, Behnam Irani had been summoned to report to Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj within twenty days in order to begin serving his one year sentence.It is not clear why this Christian priest was beaten and arrested before his deadline was reached.
According to a report by Rahsa News, judicial authorities have informed Behnam Irani that after he spends one year in prison, his five year suspended sentence will begin.
Behnam Irani is a Christian priest who was initially arrested in 2006 and sentenced to a five-year suspended prison term.Four years later, in 2010, he was detained again and released after posting a bail approximately equivalent to $9,500.Subsequently, Behnam Irani was sentenced to a year in prison, but this sentence was reduced by two months as a result of an objection filed by his attorney.
Report Compiled on Economic Pressures on Baha’is
May 5, 2010
HRA News Agency – A report received recently from Iran provides details on a few cases of economic pressure put on the Bahá’ís. It is necessary to note that there are undoubtedly many more such incidents that have gone unreported. According to HRANA,The business license of Mr. Manouchehr Ighanian of Tehran, who owns an optical shop, has not been renewed and he has been sent a warning letter by the Opticians’ Trade Union to close up his shop. Mr. Ighanian has submitted an objection letter to the Trade Union along with appropriate documents. No information bearing on the outcome of his legal action is available at this time.
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At Least Fifteen Baha’i Citizens Summoned and Detained
HRANA News Agency – This morning, with search and arrest warrants, Iran’s Intelligence Agency raided the houses of at least fifteen Baha’i citizens, detained some of them, and seized their personal properties.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the majority of those detained are students attending a provisional university established for Baha’i citizens who are denied the opportunity to study at Iran’s higher education institutes.
The names of nine detainees are as follows:
- Kamran Mortezai
- Vahid Mokhtari
- Mahmoud Badavam
- Aminollah Mostaqim
- Favod Moqadam
- Shahin Negari
- Afrooz Farmanbardari
- Sohail Fanbari
- Ramin Zibae
Additionally, Mehran Behmradi and Aghae Talei have been summoned to report to the Intelligence Agency in Shiraz by Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
Baha’i Student Threatened with Expulsion
May 5, 2010
HRA News Agency –Mr.FariborzMiraki of Tehran, pre-university preparatory year:following the religious studies teacher’s insultingandridiculing the Faith and Bahá’ís, students became curious and asked questions fromMr. Miraki to which he provided answers.
Baha’i Citizen Arrested in Karaj
HRANA News Agency – On Wednesday, May 12, 2011, after being summoned and arraigned by Karaj’s Revolutionary Court, Ruhollah Zibahi, a Baha’i citizen from Karaj, was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), in December 2010, Ruhollah Zibahi’s house was searched, and he was told not to leave town until his arraignment. He has been charged acting against national security.
Although Ruhollah Zibahi’s family has posted his bail in the amount of approximately $50,000, he hasn’t been released so far.
Security Forces Raided the Home of a Baha’i Citizen in Yazd
May 7, 2010
HRA News Agency –On 29 April 2010, the home ofMr. Majid Islamiof Yazd was searched by Intelligence Ministry agents and his personal belongings, including his computer, and Bahá’í books and material were confiscated.
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Shutting Down Baha’i Citizen’s business in Abadan
HRANA – By a notice from ” Union of Retail workers & Manufacturers , Gold & Silver & Clock & Glasses” the business of a Baha’i citizen in Abadan was shut down.
According to the HRANA reporters, News Organization for Human Rights Activists in Iran, following continuous pressure on the Iranian Baha’i citizens, the business of a Baha’i citizen called “Hedayatollah Rezaei” living in Abadan ,(an optic shop), was shut down by a verdict and he was prohibited from working.
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Mahdi Foroutan, a newly turned Christians, was temporarily released from Evin prison
Hrana – On the evening of Saturday 20 April, Mahdi Foroutan a new Christian was temporarily released on bail after 105 days of detention in Evin prison.
According to HRANA Reporters, Human Rights News Agency of Iran, Mahdi Foroutan, was released by providing his house ownership, worth 50 million Toman, as bail to the judiciary and thereafter the letter of his release to Evin prison authorities.
In the early hours of Sunday 5 Day 1389 Mahdi Foroutan had been arrested by four Militia men at his father’s house.
Meanwhile, while arresting him security forces had searched the house thoroughly and seized a number of his personal belongings such as computers, books, CD’s which none of them were returned after his release.
It is important to mention that another New Christian called “Farshid Fathi” who was arrested at the same time as Mahdi Foroutan along several other new Christians in Iran is still detained in Evin prison.
Apparently the judicial authorities have issued a very high bail for his release and based on his family’s inability to pay the bail; he has to stay in detention.
It should be mentioned that there are two people with similar names as “Mahdi Foroutan”, which one of them belongs to a Dissident religious groups (Non-Trinitarians), whose court was held along with some other people of his group in Shiraz during last few days.