Tag: Behzad Yazdani

Baha’i Couple Still Detained Without Charges in Shiraz

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Behzad Yazdani, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Romina Khazali, Shiraz

HRANA – Nearly one month after the arrest of Romina Khazali and her husband, Behzad Yazdani, this Baha’i couple residing in Shiraz remains in a state of uncertainty in Adel-Abad Prison in the city. Ms. Khazali, who suffers from multiple medical conditions, has been deprived of access to her necessary medications.

A source close to the couple’s family, confirming the news, told HRANA: “Before her arrest, Ms. Khazali had undergone stomach surgery and also suffered from conditions such as severe migraines, eye pressure, and back pain. In a recent brief call with her family, she said that her essential medications have run out. However, the medications sent by her family have not been accepted by prison authorities, which has heightened concerns about her health. Romina Khazali is only allowed a 30-second phone call with her family per week. She still does not have access to a phone card and has not been allowed to purchase items from the prison store.”

The source further added: “No interrogation session has been held for these individuals so far, and they remain unaware of the charges against them and the reasons for their arrest.”

Behzad Yazdani was arrested on the evening of March 28, 2026, and his wife, Romina Khazali, was arrested on March 29, 2026, by IRGC intelligence agents at their home in Shiraz.

Romina Khazali, a painter, and Behzad Yazdani, a translator and editor, are a Baha’i couple living in Shiraz and the parents of two teenage children, a daughter and a son.

Mahsa Sotoudeh, a Baha’i Citizen Living in Shiraz, Arrested

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Behzad Yazdani, irgc, RGC Intelligence, Romina Khazali, Shiraz, مهسا ستوده

HRANA – Mahsa Sotoudeh, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested yesterday by IRGC intelligence agents and transferred to an undisclosed location. The family home of this citizen was also searched by agents, and the electronic devices belonging to family members were confiscated.

Based on information received by HRANA, on Sunday, March 29, IRGC intelligence agents went to Mahsa Sotoudeh’s home. After searching the house and confiscating the electronic devices of family members, they arrested this Baha’i citizen.
As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding her place of detention or the charges brought against her.

According to an informed source, Ms. Sotoudeh’s family home is located next to the residence of Behzad Yazdani and Romina Khazali, the Baha’i citizens who were also arrested by security agents on Saturday and Sunday.

Over the past decade, the Baha’i community in Iran has been targeted by security and judicial pressure more than any other religious minority. A review of HRA’s annual reports shows that over the past year, an average of 62.41% of reports concerning religious minorities were related to violations of the rights of Baha’i citizens.

Baha’i Couple Behzad Yazdani and Romina Khazali Arrested in Shiraz

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Behzad Yazdani, Romina Khazali

HRANA – Behzad Yazdani and Romina Khazali, a Baha’i couple living in Shiraz and parents of two teenage children, have been arrested by agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization.

A knowledgeable source close to the family confirmed the matter to HRANA and said that Mr. Yazdani was arrested on the evening of Saturday, March 28, by IRGC intelligence agents and then transferred to Adelabad Prison, Shiraz. Hours after his arrest, agents returned to the family’s residence and confiscated electronic devices such as laptops and the mobile phones of family members.

According to the same source, on Sunday, March 29, agents again went to their home and violently arrested Romina Khazali, Mr. Yazdani’s wife. Agents also interrogated the couple’s 14-year-old daughter and, after once again searching both their home and the home of Ms. Khazali’s parents in the same building, confiscated several religious books, religious images, and computer storage devices belonging to them. Meanwhile, several relatives and acquaintances who had come to the family’s home were also interrogated, and their mobile phones were confiscated as well.

Another informed source told HRANA that the family’s teenage son, who has a history of respiratory illness, suffered an anxiety attack following these events. Regarding the agents’ initial visit, it was reported that they first rang the bell of the elderly parents of Mr. Yazdani’s wife and falsely claimed that “they were from the police station and that a thief was on the rooftop,” thereby gaining entry. They then forced them to contact Mr. Yazdani and ask him to return home.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the charges against these citizens or the location where Ms. Khazali is being held.

Behzad Yazdani and Romina Khazali are a Baha’i couple living in Shiraz and the parents of a teenage daughter and son.

Over the past decade, the Baha’i community in Iran has been targeted by security and judicial pressure more than any other religious minority. A review of HRA’s annual reports shows that over the past year, an average of 62.41% of reports concerning religious minorities were related to violations of the rights of Baha’i citizens.

22 Iranian Baha’is Were Denied Higher Education in September

Posted on by admin-hr
Religious Minorities
Aria Ehsani, Armaghan Enayati, Aylar Roshan Nahad, Baha'i, Behzad Yazdani, Dorsa Mostafavi, Ghazal Allahverdi Gorji, Mahsa Forouhari, Mahtab Khadem, Negar Ighani, Negin Foroughi, Noorieh Ferdosian, Rojan Ehsani, Rojin Kasiri, Sahand Shirazi, Seraj Safaryan, Shailin Aghili, Shamim Idelkhani, Sholeh Movafaghi Eyvali, Siavash Baloch Gherai, Students, Tara Ehsan, Taranom Kamali, Vafa Nobakht

At least 22 Baha’i students have reportedly been denied entry to universities in Iran despite successfully passing the national admissions test. These Baha’i applicants received a short message with the content: “Dear applicant, there is a flaw in your dossier. Please contact the Response Unit of the Appraisal Agency” when checking their test results online. Last year, at least 58 Baha’i students received the same message. Since 2006, this message has been used to inform several Baha’i students about rejection of their applications.

The 22 Baha’i students who have successfully passed the university entrance exam in 2019 but have been banned from higher education are identified by the Human Rights Activists News Agency as the following (name, city):

Seraj Safaryan (Sari), Tara Ehsan (Karaj), Rojin Kasiri (Karaj), Shamim Idelkhani (Ardabil), Sahand Shirazi (Tehran), Mahtab Khadem (Tehran), Armaghan Enayati (Semnan), Siavash Baloch Gherai (Mashhad), Shailin Aghili (Karaj), Negar Ighani (Shiraz), Rojan Ehsani (Kashan), Ghazal Allahverdi Gorji (Sari), Taranom Kamali (Shiraz), Negin Foroughi (Tehran), Dorsa Mostafavi (Tehran), Aria Ehsani (Karaj), Behzad Yazdani (Sari), Sholeh Movafaghi Eyvali (Sari), Mahsa Forouhari (Karaj), Vafa Nobakht (Sari), Aylar Roshan Nahad (Isfahan), and Noorieh Ferdosian (Isfahan)

Denying Baha’i students’ entry to universities in Iran is not an unprecedented matter. They have been systematically denied access to higher education by the Iranian government. Even dozens of Baha’is who have successfully passed the national examinations and other hurdles to continue their education at the university level have been forced to drop out, even several years into their programs.

Although unofficial sources estimate the Baha’i population of Iran at more than 300,000, Iran’s Constitution officially recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. The Baha’i faith is not acknowledged as an official religion by the Iranian government. As a result, the rights of Baha’is in Iran are systematically violated. Over the years, the government used various tactics at different stages of university admission process including application, entrance examination and enrollment, to exclude Baha’is from education at colleges and universities. From a small number of Baha’i students who have been able to register and start their studies at universities, the majority have been expelled at some point before graduation