Imprisoned Baha’i Hanan Hashemi Pressured to Make Forced Confession

In a phone call, Imprisoned Baha’i individual Hanan Hashemi informed her family that she is under pressure by the interrogators to make a forced confession. She is currently at a detention facility belonging to the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i individual Hanan Hashemi is in custody and under pressure to make a  confession.

An informed source told Hrana that Hashemi told her family during a phone call that interrogators have told her that her release from prison will only happen if she makes a confession as they instruct. 

On July 19, 2022, security forces arrested Hashemi and four other Baha’is, Niloofar Hosseini, Misagh Manavipour, Bahyeh Manavipour, and Elhan Hashemi in Shiraz, of which Niloofar Hosseini and Elhan Hashemi have been released on bail.

The charges against these individuals are unknown so far.

Two Baha’is Released, Three Others Still in Custody

Two detained Baha’is Niloofar Hosseini and Elhan Hashemi were released on bail in Shiraz, while three others, Misagh Manavipour, Hanan Hashemi and Bahyeh Manavipour are still in custody. On July 19, 2022, intelligence agents arrested these individuals at their residence and took them to a detention facility known as Number 100 in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, three Baha’i citizens Misagh Manavipour, Hanan Hashemi and Bahyeh Manavipour are still in detention.

An informed source told HRANA that Misagh Manavipour has been granted bail but two others are still awaiting.

The charges against these individuals are unknown so far.

Three Detained Baha’is Released in Shiraz, Five Others Still Detained 

On July 26, 2022, three detained Baha’i residents of Shiraz, Shaghayegh Khaneh-Zarin, Negar Ighani and Zhila Sharafi Nasrabadi were released from prison on bail. 

Five other Baha’is, Niloofar Hosseini, Misagh Manavipour, Bahyeh Manavipour, Elhan Hashemi and Hanan Hashemi are still held at a detention facility known as Number 100 in Shiraz. These individuals had been arrested on July 19, 2022.

An informed source told HRANA that the detained individuals are still under interrogation and the charges against them are unknown so far. 

According to the Baha’i International Community (BIC), during the last month, 44 Baha’is were arrested, arraigned or imprisoned.

Bani Dugal, BIC’s Principal Representative to the United Nations said “Baha’is in Iran have experienced ongoing persecution for their beliefs over the last 44 years, But the present acceleration is beyond troubling”

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.

Eight Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Shiraz and Yazd

On July 19, security forces arrested three Baha’i residents of Yazd identified as Nematollah Shadpour, Nima Shadpour and Shafigh Eslami, searched their houses, and confiscated their personal belongings.

On the same day, five Baha’i individuals were also arrested in Shiraz, which HRANA has identified as Niloofar Hosseini, Bahyeh Manavipour, Misagh Manavipour, Elhan Hashemi, and Hanan Hashemi.

An informed source told HRANA that the authorities had also summoned Mishagh Manavipur’s sister.

Shaghayegh Khaneh-Zarin, Negar Ighani and Zhila Sharafi Nasrabadi had also been arrested in Shiraz and are still in detention. 

The reason for these arrests and the whereabouts of the above-mentioned individuals are unknown so far.