HRANA – On July 3, security forces arrested Soheil Haghdoost, a Baha’i citizen living in Qaemshahr, at his home. Officers searched the residence and confiscated several personal items.
According to HRANA, eight agents from the Ministry of Intelligence and Public Security carried out the arrest, reportedly using force during the operation. A source close to Haghdoost’s family confirmed the incident and noted the seizure of personal belongings during the search.
Earlier this week, on Tuesday, July 1, Haghdoost’s wife, Raquel Ataeian, was also arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents.
As of this report, the reasons behind the couple’s arrests, their current whereabouts, and the charges they face remain undisclosed.
Haghdoost has previously faced legal persecution due to his Baha’i faith.
Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.
HRANA News Agency – On Tuesday, July 1, Raquel Ataeian, a Baha’i citizen residing in Qaemshahr, was arrested at her home by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location. Agents also confiscated several personal items belonging to her and her family.
The arrest was carried out by seven IRGC Intelligence agents who presented a judicial warrant before detaining Ms. Ataeian and searching her home.
A source close to the family confirmed the incident, telling HRANA: “This morning, seven IRGC Intelligence agents arrived at Ms. Ataeian’s residence with a judicial warrant. During the search, they seized religious books, mobile phones, and laptops belonging to her and her family.”
As of the time of this report, no information has been released about the charges against Ms. Ataeian, the reasons for her arrest, or her whereabouts.
Raquel Ataeian has previously faced security-related harassment due to her Baha’i faith.
Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.
HRANA News Agency – On the morning of Wednesday, June 25, Nazanin Abedini, a Baha’i citizen residing in Qaemshahr, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.
According to HRANA, Nazanin Abedini was arrested by security forces in Qaemshahr, Mazandaran province, without the presentation of a judicial warrant. Agents reportedly entered her home by climbing over the wall and breaking down the front door. After searching the house, they transferred her to an unknown location.
The reasons for her arrest and the charges against her remain unknown at the time of this report.
Nazanin Abedini is a children’s music instructor.
Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.
HRANA News Agency – Maryam Zabihi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Qaemshahr, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by the Criminal Court of this city.
Based on a verdict issued by Branch 104 of the Second Criminal Court of Qaemshahr, Mazandaran provinceو this Baha’i citizen was sentenced to 10 months in prison on the charge of “educational activities contrary to and disruptive of Islamic Sharia.” The court session addressing Ms. Zabihi’s charges was held on April 16, 2025, and the verdict was issued the same day.
Holding examination sessions for students of the unofficial Baha’i university of Iran at her private residence was cited as the basis for the charge against Ms. Zabihi.
On Monday, February 12, 2024, Maryam Zabihi’s home was searched by security forces. Officers confiscated all electronic devices, textbooks, laptops, and tablets belonging to five young Baha’is who were guests at her residence.
After Baha’is in Iran were barred from attending public universities due to their religious beliefs, the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) was established by the Iranian Baha’i community in 1987. This unofficial university, operating under highly restricted conditions with the help of volunteer professors, provides opportunities for Baha’i citizens to pursue higher education. Over the years, many professors and administrators associated with this educational system have faced judicial and security pressures.
According to the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between January 1, 2024, and December 20, 2024, a total of 157 reports were recorded in the category of religious and faith-based minority rights. Among these, Baha’is accounted for 67.54% of the reports, ranking as the most observed group in human rights monitoring.
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.
The Revolutionary Court sentenced Farnaz Nazeri, arrested in recent protests in Qaemshahr, to ten years in prison. She was also banned from leaving the country for two years.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Farnaz Nazeri was sentenced to imprisonment over protests.
On November 6, 2022, security forces arrested Nazeri in Qaemshahr. She was released on three-billion-toman bail temporarily until the end of legal proceedings.
An informed source told HRANA that her lawyer has not yet had access to the documents of her case.
Farnaz Nazeri is a painter and sculptor, and mother of two daughters.
Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19500 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, over protests, about 730 people have been sentenced to a total of about 12000 months imprisonment.
On August 31, 2022, intelligence agents arrested 14 Baha’is in Sari and Qaemshahr, Mazandaran Province.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 31, 2022, 14 Baha’is identified as Mahsa Fathi, Samieh Gholinejad, Negar Darabi, Basir Samimi, and Hengameh Alipour were arrested in Sari. Also, Afnaneh Naeimian, Mojir Samimi, Mani Gholinejad, Nazanin Goli, Sam Samimi, Sananz Hekmat Shoar, Bita Haghighi, Anis Senai, and Golin Falah were arrested in Qaemshahr.
All these individuals were transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence office in Sari.
The reasons for these arrests and the charges are unknown so far.
Protests have erupted across Iran after the government unexpectedly announced it is rationing petrol and increasing its price. The protests took place across the country following the decision of the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, at midnight of November 14, 2019, to cut petrol subsidies to raise funds for social assistance to the poor. Petrol price was increased to a minimum of 15,000 Rials per liter, 50% increase from the day before.
Nationwide protests in the last three days were in at least 48 cities such as: Ahvaz, Shooshtar, Dezful, Gachsaran, Abadan, Khorramshahr, Bandar Mahshahr, Rasht, Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Gorgan, Khorramabad, Qom, Ilam, Karaj, Sanandaj, Dorud, Qazvin, Arak, Mahdi Shahr, Garmsar, Shahroud, Najafabad, Mariwan, Tehran, Tabriz, Ardabil, Urmia, Saveh, Pasargadae, Qods (Qal’eh Hasan Khan), Varamin, Sari, Yasuj, Qaemshahr, Shahrekord, Malek Shahr, Parand, Damavand, Pol Dokhtar, Neyshabur, Sarepol Zahab, Kahnooj, Yazd, Bandar Bushehr, Bahmai, Shahriar, etc. They are still ongoing in several cities.
Peaceful demonstrations turned violent in Sanandaj, Mahshahr, and Shiraz, with online videos purporting to show police officers firing teargas at protesters and mobs setting fires. Several people were injured or killed in the first three days of protests as a result of the police’s direct shots. On November 17, 2019, students of Tehran University and Tabriz University protested inside the university. Shops at Tehran Grand Bazaar went on strike on November 17, 2019.
The protests started on November 15, 2019, and are still ongoing. The arrest of more than 1000 people across the country was confirmed. More than 150 banks and supermarkets were set on fire and a police officer was killed. Two Hawzas -a seminary where Shi’a Muslim clerics are educated- were set on fire in Shiraz and Kazerun. According to unconfirmed reports, at least 36 people were killed in Sirjan, Shiraz, Behbahan, Marivan, Khoramshahr, Isfahan, and Shahriar.
According to Fars News, protests were held in 100 cities and at least 100 banks and 57 supermarkets were set on fire. Based on this report, the number of protesters were 87400 from which 82200 are men and 5200 women. At least 1000 people were arrested. Yazd prosecutor confirmed the arrest of 40 people in the city of Yazd. Bam Prosecutor also confirmed the arrest of 15 people in the city of Bam. The prosecutor of Robat Karim confirmed the arrest of 34 protesters for vandalism. According to Mohammad Reza Amoui, Kermanshah’s chief of Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on November 16, Major Iraj Javaheri was killed fighting with protesters in Kermanshah. A journalist resided in Mariwan, Adnan Hasanpour, reported that security forces shot people directly and at least seven people were killed in Javanrud, one person was killed in Sanandaj, and several people were injured. According to unconfirmed reports, 15 of the killed people are identified as following:
Meisam Adgipour, Khaled Maniat, Ali Ghazlavy, Milad Hamidavi, Ali Boghlani, Hamzeh Savari, Mohammad Asafi Zargani, Ehsan Abdollahnejad, Mehdi Nikouei, Osman Naderi, Mehran Tak, Shahou Validi, Javad Nazari Fathabadi, Mehrdad Dashtizadeh, Mohammad Hossein Ghanavati.
Iran has almost completely shut off access to the internet across the country. On November 16, 2019, by the approval of the National Security Supreme Council, the government has completely blocked Internet access in Iran to stymie protests. Due to the internet shut down and the lack of access to freelance reporters and citizen journalists, confirming news about demonstrations and deaths is difficult. It also caused difficulty for Iranian citizens to have access to news agencies websites. On Monday, November 18, schools are closed in 17 cities across Iran:
Shiraz, Kazerun, Alborz, Fereydun, Fereydun Shahr, Farsan, Kuhrang, Laran, Taleqan, Astara, and Najafabad. In addition, universities are closed in Shiraz.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has backed petrol price increases claiming opponents of the Islamic Republic and foreign enemies were guilty of sabotage and not ordinary people. According to Khabar Online, Mojtaba Zonnour, a parliament member representing Qom, is collecting parliament members signatures to impeach Ali Larijani, the head of parliament. He gathered 50 signatures so far. Mohammad Qasim Osmani, a parliament member representing Bukan, filed his resignation and added that he resigned to announce that he was not involved in this decision [raising petrol price]. Today, with respect to Ayatollah Khamenei’s views, the Ministry of Intelligence announced that the protesters will face harsh punishments. Reportedly, people received threatening text messages in Khuzestan and Karaj from the prosecutor’s offices of their province. People were warned about attending protests and not to disturb public order and facilitate the abuse of opposition groups.
