Four Bahais Sentenced and Four Summoned for Questioning

HRANA News Agency – On December 17, the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad sentenced Mey Khalousi, Dari Amri, Shaqi Feda’i and Shayan Tafazzoli.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), they were charged with propaganda against the regime in the form of teaching the Bahai Faith. Continue reading “Four Bahais Sentenced and Four Summoned for Questioning”

Detention orders of three Bahais in Mashhad extended

HRANA News Agency – The temporary detention of three Bahais from Mashhad who have been held without trial since June 1 has been extended for another month.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mey Khalusi, Dari Amri and Shayan Tafazoli were arrested in the home of May Khalusi, and were at first held in Ministry of Intelligence interrogation facilities in Mashhad. Continue reading “Detention orders of three Bahais in Mashhad extended”

Saqi Feda’i rearrested in Mashhad

HRANA News Agency – Saqi Feda’i, a Bahai from Mashhad, has been summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence and arrested.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), she was first arrested by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence on July 8 this year, following a raid on a Bahai religious meeting in her home on June 1. Continue reading “Saqi Feda’i rearrested in Mashhad”

Shayan Tafazoli marooned in prison quarantine

HRANA News Agency – Shayan Tafazoli, who was arrested in Mashhad on June 1, 2014, when agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided a Bahai religious meeting, and who was transferred from the Ministry of Intelligence facilities to Vakilabad prison on August 2, is still being held in the prison’s quarantine unit.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mey Khalusi and Dari Amri, two Bahai women who were transferred from the Intelligence Office to Vakilabad Prison on the same day, were moved to the section for female prisoners of conscience on the following day.

The quarantine section is a short-term holding place for new prisoners, and lacks food and medical facilities. Prisoners usually remain there only one or two days.

It is notable that Mr. Tafazoli has not been tried, and the two-month detention order obtained by the Ministry of Intelligence has now expired. An informed Bahai source told HRANA that it is likely that the Ministry of Intelligence is planning to seek a new detention order for him.

Mr. Tafazoli was one of the Bahai youth arrested in February 2012, when police shut down a handicraft exhibition in Mashhad. He was held in Vailabad prison at that time. In July 2012 he was again arrested, and freed some 6 weeks later on bail. On November 27 he was sentenced to 6 months in prison for his handicrafts activities, which the review court reduced to a fine.

Three Baha’is in Mashhad transferred to Vakil Abad prison

HRANA News Agency – Authorities have moved Mey Khalusi, Dari Amri and Shayan Tafazoli from the Ministry of Intelligence facilities in Mashhad to the quarantine at Vakil Abad prison in the same city.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), in the next few days, they are likely to be transferred from quarantine to the sections for male and female prisoners of conscience. Continue reading “Three Baha’is in Mashhad transferred to Vakil Abad prison”

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More Than Fifty Baha’i Citizens Imprisoned in Iran

HRANA News Agency – While in various international gatherings and interviews conducted with foreign media, Iranian government officials continue to claim that no one is imprisoned in Iran because of their beliefs, according to official statistics, there are more than 50 Baha’i citizens either temporarily detained or serving prison terms in various cities throughout Iran.Additionally, there is at least the same number of Baha’i citizens waiting to be tried or sentenced in different cities all over the country.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), in various cities including Tehran, Karaj, Esfahan, Shiraz, Semnan, Mashhad, Urmia, Tabriz, Pars Abad, Ghaem Shahr, Babol, Sari, Kerman, Rafsanjan, Sanandaj, Yasuj and Kermanshah, there are a large number of Baha’i citizens who are in a legal state of limbo with their future uncertain.

All of these Baha’i citizens have been arrested, charged or convicted of propaganda against the regime by the virtue of their Baha’i faith or acting against the national security through attending religious Baha’i gatherings, membership in Baha’i organizations, managing Baha’i communities in cities or the whole country, or defending the rights of Baha’i citizens in Iran.

Baha’i citizens who are imprisoned in Iran’s official prisons or the detention centers operated by the Intelligence Agency include:

Evin Prison – Women’s Ward

1. Mahvash Sabet – Sentenced to 20 years in prison (Previous member of Iranian Baha’i Governing Council)
2. Fariba Kamalabadi – Sentenced to 20 years in prison (Previous member of Iranian Baha’i Governing Council)
3. Manijeh Nasrollahi – Sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison (Transferred from Semnan Prison)
4. Sahba Rezvani – Sentenced to 3 years and 1 months in prison (Transferred from Semnan Prison)
5. Susan Tabyaniyan – Sentenced to 1 ½ years in prison (Transferred from Semnan Prison)
6. Sholeh Taief – Sentenced to 1 year in prison (Transferred from Semnan Prison)

Evin Prison – Ward 350

7. Sama Norani – Sentenced to 1 year in prison
8. Payman Kashfi – Sentenced to 4 years in prisonArtin Ghazanfari – Sentenced to 1 year in prison

Evin Prison – Temporarily Detention / Interrogation

9. Kiumars Bahin-A’in – Transferred from Esfahan Prison
10. Shamim Bahin-A’in – Transferred from Esfahan Prison
11. Sina Ravankard – Transferred from Yasuj Prison
12. Parvaneh Behamin – Transferred from Yasuj Prison (A resident of Kata Village)
13. Behruz Behamin – Transferred from Shiraz Prison
14. Malieh Roozbehe (Roozkhosh) – Transferred from Shahravazlar in Fars Province
15. Behnoosh Dadgar – Transferred from Esfahan Prison
16. Kamran Mortezaie – Imprisoned in relation to Baha’i Provisional University
17. Vahid Mahmoudi – Imprisoned in relation to Baha’i Provisional University
18. Ramin Zibei – Imprisoned in relation to Baha’i Provisional University
19. Noshin Khadem – Imprisoned in relation to Baha’i Provisional University
20. Mahmoud Badavam – Imprisoned in relation to Baha’i Provisional University
21. Farhad Sadaghi – Imprisoned in relation to Baha’i Provisional University
22. Riyaz Sabhani – Probably imprisoned in relation to Baha’i Provisional University

Rajai Shahr Prison – Karaj

23. Jamal Aldin Khanjani – Sentenced to 20 years in prison (Previous member of Iranian Baha’i Governing Council)
24. Afif Naimi – Sentenced to 20 years in prison (Previous member of Iranian Baha’i Governing Council)
25. Behrooz Tavakoli – Sentenced to 20 years in prison (Previous member of Iranian Baha’i Governing Council)
26. Saied Rezaie – Sentenced to 20 years in prison (Previous member of Iranian Baha’i Governing Council)
27. Vahid Tizfahm – Sentenced to 20 years in prison (Previous member of Iranian Baha’i Governing Council)

Mashhad

28. Sima Eshraghi – Sentenced to 5 years in prison
29. Rezita Vaseghi – Sentenced to 5 years in prison (New case open)
30. Nahid Ghadiry – Sentenced to 5 years in prison (New case open)
31. Davar Nabilzadeh – Sentenced to 5 years in prison
32. Jalayer Vahdat – Sentenced to 5 years in prison
33. Kavyz Nozdehi – Sentenced to 2 years in prison
34. Sima Rajabiyan – Sentenced to 2 years in prison
35. Nasrin Ghadiri – Sentenced to 2 years in prison
36. Homman Bakhtavar – Sentenced to 2 years in prison
37. Dari Amri – Held in Mashhad Intelligence Agency Detention Center
38. Farhod Eshtiagh – Held in Mashhad Intelligence Agency Detention Center (Transferred from Esfahan Prison)

Semnan

39. Behfar Khanjani – Sentenced to 4 years in prison
40. Siamak Ayghani – Sentenced to 3 years in prison
41. Ali Ehsani – Sentenced to 2 years in prison

Khash

42. Mehran Bandi – Sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison (Transferred from Yazd Prison)

Sari

43. Tareh Taghizadeh – Sentenced to 22 months in prison
44. Samira Samiei – Sentenced to 6 months in prison

Amol

45. Houshang Fanaian – Sentenced to 4 years in prison

Shiraz

46. Raha Sabet – Sentenced to 4 years in prison

Esfahan

47. Vahid Misaghian – In temporary custody by Intelligence Agency
48. Shahnaz Talehi – In temporary custody by Intelligence Agency
49. Kayvan Dehghani – In temporary custody by Intelligence Agency
50. Navid Parvini – In temporary custody by Intelligence Agency
51. Negar Sobhanian – In temporary custody by Intelligence Agency
52. Farshid Badakhsh – In temporary custody by Intelligence Agency

Yasuj

53. Ali Bakhesh Bazr Afkan – Sentenced to 2 years and six months in prison

 

Baha’i and Muslim Citizens Arrested

HRANA News Agency – On the evening of June 20, 2011, six citizens from the city of Esfahan were arrested.

According to the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, a few hours ago, six individuals including three Baha’i citizens were arrested in Esfahan.The Baha’i citizens have been identified to be Katie Nik-a’in, Thamin Emani and Zhayna Enayati.

It has also been reported that
Thamin Emani is only sixteen years old.Security forces raided Thamin Emani’s house without showing a warrant and begin to beat and insult the residents when they demanded to see a court order.Thamin Emani was handcuffed after this violent confrontation.The charges or the whereabouts of those arrested are still unknown.

On June 20, 2011, another Baha’i citizen, Dari Amri, was also arrested in the city of Mashhad.Security forces raided Dari Amri’s house and seized her computer and camera.Additionally, two cell phones were also confiscated.One of the mobiles belonged to a guest who was present in the house during the raid.The security forces also searched the house of Dari Amri’s father-in-law.

On June 1, 2011, Anisa Dehghani, a Baha’i citizen, was arrested when she traveled from Esfahan to Mashhad.

During the winter of 2011, fifteen Baha’i citizens were arrested in Tehran, Esfahan, Mashhad, Kerman and Samnan.These individuals are all children’s rights activists and the members of a charity organization dedicated to helping children orphaned after the 2003 earthquake in Bam. During one of the arrests which took place in Kerman, three Muslim citizens who also helped this charity organization were detained.

In the last few weeks, fifteen other individuals were arrested in relation to a provisional university established for Baha’i citizens who are denied the opportunity to study at Iran’s higher education institutes.Farhad Amir, Dari Amri’s brother, and Zohreh Nik-a’in, Katie Nik-a’in’s sister, were amongst those detained for a few months and then released.