Tag: Neda Badakhsh

Appeals Court Upholds 90-Year Combined Prison Sentence for 10 Baha’i Women in Isfahan

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News, Religious Minorities
Arezu Sabhanian, Bahareh Lotfi, HRANA, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Neda Badakhsh, Negin Khademi, Parastoo Hakim, Shana Shoughifar, Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh

HRANA – The convictions of Negin Khademi, Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, Neda Badakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Shana Shoughifar, Arezoo Sobhanian, Parastoo Hakim, Bahareh Lotfi, and Neda Emadi, ten Baha’i women living in Isfahan, have been upheld in full by Branch 47 of the Isfahan Court of Appeals.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the women were initially sentenced by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court to a combined 90 years in prison, along with fines and complementary punishments, which have now been confirmed on appeal.

The ruling, issued on September 28, 2025, was delivered to their defense attorney. According to the verdict, the women were convicted of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” and “participation in deviant promotional and educational activities contrary to Islamic law.” These charges were based on activities such as organizing English, art, music, and yoga classes, and nature trips for children and teenagers, including both Iranian and Afghan participants.

Collectively, they were sentenced to 90 years in prison, 900 million tomans in fines, confiscation of property in favor of the state, and two-year bans on travel abroad and use of social media. Parts of the prison terms and fines were suspended.

A source close to the families told HRANA: “The appeals court session was held without prior notice and in the absence of the defendants. The verdict was issued in absentia and only communicated to their lawyer. The court labeled the case as ‘security-related and confidential.’”

In the initial trial held in October 2024, Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, and Negin Khademi each received 10 years in prison and 100 million tomans in fines, with one-third of the sentences suspended. Neda Badakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Shana Shoughifar, Parastoo Hakim, and Arezoo Sobhanian received similar sentences, with half of the imprisonment and fines suspended.

Neda Emadi and Bahareh Lotfi were each sentenced to five years in prison and 50 million tomans in fines, with four years of the prison term and half of the fine suspended.

As complementary punishments, all ten women were sentenced to the confiscation of seized belongings—including phones, laptops, digital devices, foreign currency, gold, and jewelry – two-year travel bans, and two-year bans on using social media.

The ten Baha’i women were arrested on October 23, 2023, by security forces in Isfahan and released on bail within two months from Dolatabad Prison. During detention, they reportedly endured psychological torture and threats of physical torture.

Yeganeh Agahi had previously been arrested before this case. Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, who was 19 years old at the time of her arrest, is the daughter of Arezoo Sobhanian, another defendant in the case.

Isfahan: 10 Baha’i Women Sentenced to a Total of 90 Years in Prison and Additional Punishments

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News
Arezoo Sobhanian, Bahareh Lotfi, Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Neda Badakhsh, Neda Emadi, Negin Khademi, Parastoo Hakim, Shana Shoughifar, Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh

Negin Khademi, Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, Neda Badakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Shana Shoughifar, Arezoo Sobhanian, Parastoo Hakim, Bahareh Lotfi, and Neda Emadi, 10 Baha’i women from Isfahan, have been collectively sentenced to 90 years in prison, fines, and additional penalties by the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan.

Based on a verdict recently issued by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Tavakoli and conveyed to the defendants via their lawyer, the women were convicted of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” and “participating in deviant educational and promotional activities against Islamic Sharia.” These activities included organizing English language, painting, music, yoga classes, and nature camps for Iranian and Afghan children and adolescents. In addition to the prison sentences, they were collectively fined 900 million tomans, had their personal assets confiscated by the state, and were banned from leaving the country or using social media for two years.

The court details for each individual are as follows:

  • Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, and Negin Khademi were each sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of 100 million tomans. One-third of their prison sentences and fines were suspended.
  • Neda Badakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Shana Shoughifar, Parastoo Hakim, and Arezoo Sobhanian were each sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of 100 million tomans. Half of their sentences and fines were suspended.
  • Neda Emadi and Bahareh Lotfi were each sentenced to 5 years in prison and a fine of 50 million tomans, with 4 years of their prison terms and half of their fines suspended.

In terms of supplementary punishments, each of these Baha’i citizens has had their confiscated assets, including mobile phones, laptops, digital devices, foreign currencies, gold, and jewelry, seized by the government. They were also banned from leaving the country and using social media for two years.

These 10 Baha’i women were arrested by security forces on October 23, 2023, and were gradually released from Dolatabad Prison in Isfahan on bail over the following two months.

Following the indictment, their court session took place on September 23, 2024, at Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court.

Yeganeh Agahi had a previous record of arrest, while Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, 19 years old, is the daughter of Arezou Sobhanian, another defendant in this case.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA reveal that in 2023, Judge Abolqasem Salavati has been involved in issuing verdicts in 80 cases that violate the human rights of defendants.

Isfahan: Indictment Issued for Ten Baha’i Women

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News, Religious Minorities
Arezoo Sobhanian, Bahareh Lotfi, Isfahan, Mojgan Shahrezaie, Neda Badakhsh, Neda Emadi, Negin Khademi, Parastoo Hakim, Shana Shoughifar, Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh

The indictment for ten Baha’i women residing in Isfahan, including Neda Badakhsh, Arezoo Sobhanian, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaie, Parastoo Hakim, Yeganeh Agahi, Bahareh Lotfi, Shana Shoughifar, Negin Khademi, and Neda Emadi, has been issued by the city’s Prosecutor’s Office.

The charges against Neda Badakhsh, 60, Arezou Sobhaniyan, 48, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, 20, Mojgan Shahrezaei, 32, Parastoo Hakim, 47, Yeganeh Agahi, 31, Bahareh Lotfi, 27, Shana Shoughifar, 27, Negin Khademi, 34, and Neda (Shahla) Emadi, 42, include “propaganda against the regime” and “engaging in propaganda/educational activities against Sharia of Islam.”

These ten Baha’i women were arrested by security forces on October 23, 2023, and released on bail from Dolatabad Prison in Isfahan at different times over two months. Among there people, Yeganeh Agahi has a previous record of arrest.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

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.

Arrest of 10 Baha’i Women in Isfahan Sparks Concern

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News, Religious Minorities
Arezoo Sobhanian, Bahareh Lotfi, HRANA, Isfahan, Mojgan Shah Rezaie, Neda Badakhsh, Neda Emadi, Negin Khademi, Parastoo Hakim, Shana Shoghifar, Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh

On October 23, 2023, security forces in Isfahan arrested ten Baha’i women, raising concerns about their well-being. The detained individuals are identified as Neda Badakhsh, Arezoo Sobhanian, Yeganeh Roohbakhsh, Mojgan Shah Rezaie, Parastoo Hakim, Yeganeh Agahi, Bahareh Lotfi, Shana Shoghifar, Negin Khademi, and Neda Emadi.

According to a Baha’i citizen who shared information with HRANA, Ministry of Intelligence agents conducted searches of the women’s residences and confiscated some of their belongings.

At present, the reasons for their arrest and the specific allegations against them remain undisclosed, raising questions and concerns about their situation.

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.