Tag: Ataollah Zafar

Baha’i Citizen Ataollah Zafar Returns to Evin Prison After Six-Month Suspension

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Ataollah Zafar, HRANA, Iman Afshari

Ataollah Zafar, an 80-year-old Baha’i citizen, returned to Evin Prison yesterday to serve the remainder of his two-year sentence, following a six-month suspension of his prison term.

According to HRANA, Mr. Zafar was taken back to Evin Prison on Wednesday, October 2, to complete his sentence after the temporary halt.

Zafar was first arrested by security forces on May 1, 2022. Shortly after his arrest, he was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility (Ward 209 of Evin Prison) to the prison’s general ward.

In July 2023, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, under Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Zafar to five years in prison for “membership in illegal groups aimed at disrupting national security.” The sentence was later reduced to two years by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.

Zafar has a history of previous arrests and convictions. He was released on bail from Evin Prison on October 29, 2022, after his sentence was suspended. In March 2023, his case was closed as part of a pardon.

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.

Four Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to Twelve Years on Appeal

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Ataollah Zafar, Evin Prison, HRANA, Mansour Amini, Shadi Shahidzadeh, Tehran Revolutionary Court, Valiollah Ghadamian

In a recent development, the Tehran Court of Appeal has issued a collective 12-year prison sentence to Baha’i citizens Shadi Shahidzadeh, Mansour Amini, Valiollah Ghadamian, and Ataollah Zafar.

Presiding over the case, Judge Abbasali Hoozan has pronounced the following sentences: Shahidzadeh will serve five years, while Zafar and Ghadamian will each serve two years, and Amini will face a three-year term.

It is worth noting that initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced all four individuals to five years in prison on charges of “membership in illegal groups aimed at disrupting national security.”

These Baha’i citizens were apprehended by security forces on May 1, 2023, and subsequently transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

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.

Four Baha’i Citizens Sentenced Each to Five Years in Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Ataollah Zafar, Bahais, Evin Prison, HRANA, Mansour Amini, Shadi Shahidzadeh, Valiollah Ghadamian, Ward 209 of Evin Prison

In a ruling by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Shadi Shahidzadeh, Mansour Amini, Valiollah Ghadamian, and Ataollah Zafar, four Baha’i citizens, have each been sentenced to five years in prison.

Judge Iman Afshar, presiding over the court, issued these sentences based on the charge of “membership in illegal groups to disrupt national security.” The court session took place on May 31, 2023.
According to a reliable source close to their families, who spoke to HRANA, despite starting their trial, they are still under interrogation as they are jailed in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

These Bahais were arrested by security forces on May 1, 2023, and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

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 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

Posted on by . .
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.

 

Appellate Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Baha’i Citizens Abbas Taef and Ataollah Zafar

Posted on by .
News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Abbas Taef, Ataollah Zafar, Baha'i, Baha'i arrests in Iran, Baha'i citizen, Baha'i citizens, baha'i citizens arrested, Freedom of religion, Judge Seyed Ahmad Zargar, Seyed Ahmad Zargar, Tehran, Tehran Court of Appeals

Branch 26 of the Tehran Court of Appeals recently upheld the primary court’s sentence for Baha’i citizens Abbas Taef and Ataollah Zafar.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 6, Branch 26 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided by Judge Seyed Ahmad Zargar, had sentenced each of these citizens to one year in prison on charges of “acting against national security through the administration and activity in the Baha’i sect”.

According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have beeen systematically violated for years.

This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation 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.

Below is the picture of the AppealsCourt verdict.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!