Shiva Kashani-Nejad (Samieian) and Mojgan Samimi, Baha’i citizens residing in Rasht, have been sentenced by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht to two years and one day in prison, fines, and additional punishments.

Based on a ruling issued by Judge Mehdi Raskhi from Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, which was communicated to these citizens on Wednesday, September 4, both women were convicted of “educational activities and promoting the Baha’i faith.” Each was sentenced to two years and one day of imprisonment, a fine of 80,010,000 tomans, and five years of deprivation of social rights.

On July 19, 2023, Samimi and Kashani-Nejad (Samieian) were arrested by security forces at their homes and later released from Rasht’s Lakan Prison in August of that year on bail.

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.