Tag: نویان حجازی

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence and Other Penalties Against Baha’i Citizen Noyan Hejazi

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Juybar, Lava Samimi, Noyan Hejazi, نویان حجازی

HRANA – The sentence of Noyan Hejazi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Juybar, to seven months and 16 days in prison, a fine, and deprivation of social rights has been upheld in full by Branch 9 of the Mazandaran Province Court of Appeals.

According to HRANA, the prison sentence and other penalties imposed on Noyan Hejazi have been upheld on appeal.

According to the appellate court ruling, Hejazi’s conviction for what authorities described as “promoting the Baha’i faith” was upheld, along with a fine of 122 million and 501 thousand tomans and deprivation of social rights for 10 years and one day. His sentence of seven months and 16 days of discretionary imprisonment on the charge of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran through cyberspace” was also upheld. The appellate ruling was issued on October 5, 2026, and declared final.

The ruling was signed by Shoja Zoghi and Ebrahim Arab Kheradmardi, judicial advisers to Branch 9 of the Mazandaran Province Court of Appeals.

On May 26, 2026, Noyan Hejazi had been sentenced to the aforementioned penalties by Branch 102 of the Criminal Court II of Juybar.

In late June of this year, Hejazi was arrested after visiting the Ministry of Intelligence office in Sari to retrieve his confiscated personal belongings. According to an earlier HRANA report, he was beaten during his arrest and subsequently transferred to a hospital due to his injuries, where he was hospitalized under the supervision of security forces. He was eventually released after some time.

On June 25, 2025, Hejazi was arrested at his home by security forces without a judicial warrant. He was later released on bail on August 3 of the same year.

His wife, Lava Samimi, was also arrested when she visited Kachouei Detention Center in Sari to inquire about her husband’s situation. She was released on bail some time later.

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.

Baha’i Citizen Nouyan Hejazi Arrested and Hospitalized After Alleged Beating by Intelligence Agents

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Nouyan Hejazi, نویان حجازی

HRANA – Nouyan Hejazi, a Baha’i resident of Sari, was arrested after appearing at the Ministry of Intelligence office in the city to retrieve personal belongings that had previously been confiscated. During his arrest, he was reportedly beaten and, due to the injuries he sustained, was transferred to a hospital. He is currently hospitalized under the supervision of security forces.

A source familiar with the situation and close to Hejazi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Yesterday, officers from the Ministry of Intelligence in Sari contacted this Baha’i citizen and asked him to visit their office to collect several personal items that had been confiscated during his previous arrest. After he appeared at the security institution, he was arrested and subjected to violence and physical assault.”

According to the source, Mr. Hejazi sustained injuries as a result of the beating and was transferred to a hospital later that same day. He remains hospitalized under the control and supervision of security agents.

In late-Mayof this year, Nouyan Hejazi was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Juybar to imprisonment, a monetary fine, and deprivation of certain social rights.

On June 25 of 2025, Hejazi was arrested at his home by security forces without the presentation of a judicial warrant. He was released on bail on August 3 of the same year.

His wife, Leva Samimi, was also arrested when she went to the Kachouei Detention Center in Sari to follow up on her husband’s situation. She was released on bail some time later.

Over the past decade, the Baha’i community in Iran has faced more security-related and judicial pressure than any other religious minority in the country. According to HRA’s annual reports, an average of 62.41% of all reported violations against religious minorities during the previous calendar year involved violations of the rights of Baha’i citizens.