HRANA – On Saturday, August 22, four Baha’i citizens, identified as Maral Roshani, Negar Badiei, Shima Sanaei, and Fakhereh Zahedi, were arrested in Sari. Yesterday, HRANA reported the arrest of Soraya Manouchehrzadeh, another Baha’i citizen residing in the city. Including her, the number of Baha’i citizens arrested in Sari has reached five.
According to HRANA, on Saturday, August 22, 2026, four additional Baha’i citizens were arrested in Sari.
HRANA has verified the identities of these citizens as Maral Roshani, Negar Badiei, Shima Sanaei, and Fakhereh Zahedi. According to information received by HRANA, Maral Roshani and Negar Badiei were arrested by Security Police officers and, after several hours of interrogation, were released at approximately 7:00 p.m. the same day. The two women were instructed to report to the relevant authorities next Saturday for further questioning.
Shima Sanaei and Fakhereh Zahedi were also arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents. In a phone call with their families, they stated that they are being held at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Sari, known as the “Keshouei” detention facility.
Yesterday, HRANA reported the arrest of Soraya Manouchehrzadeh, a Baha’i citizen residing in Sari. Ms. Manouchehrzadeh was also arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents and transferred to the Sari detention facility.
A source close to the family of one of these citizens confirmed the news to HRANA and said: “The judicial orders presented by the agents when they arrived were solely search warrants and did not include orders for the arrest of these citizens. Nevertheless, the agents proceeded to arrest them. During the interrogations of Maral Roshani and Negar Badiei, most of the questions focused on their professional activities and allegations that they had used their occupations to ‘promote the Baha’i faith.’ When agents went to the homes of these two citizens, four officers were present, including one female officer.”
The source further added: “The arrests of Soraya Manouchehrzadeh, Shima Sanaei, and Fakhereh Zahedi involved a larger number of security personnel. Approximately 14 agents, five private vehicles, and a representative of the prosecutor’s office were present during these arrests.”
Maral Roshani is a health and personal care products retailer; Negar Badiei is an English-language instructor; Soraya Manouchehrzadeh is a Montessori instructor; Shima Sanaei is a health and personal care products retailer; and Fakhereh Zahedi is a homemaker.
