Source: iranwire.com
Translation by Iran Press Watch
An informed source told IranWire that Parisa Sadeghi (Vahdati), a Baha’i citizen living in Tehran, has reported Evin Prison to serve her 6-month sentence.
This Baha’i citizen was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents at her home on October 18, 2017, during a celebration of the 200th birthday of the founder of the Baha’i Faith. Parisa Sadeghi (Vahdati), was released on bail from Evin Prison after 25 days of temporary detention.
Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Moghiseh, sentenced Ms. Sadeghi (Vahdati), to five years’ imprisonment on charges of running and membership in the Baha’i community, and up to one year ‘s imprisonment and a total of six years’ imprisonment for sharing information about the Baha’i Faith.
Following a retrial in Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals, the sentence was commuted to five years ‘imprisonment, and Ms. Sadeghi (Vahdati), was acquitted of propaganda charges. Finally, te Court of Administrative Justice reduced her sentence to six months’ imprisonment.
The Baha’is, the largest religious minority in Iran, have been systematically persecuted by the Islamic Republic over the past forty years and deprived of their most obvious citizenship rights.
December 30, 2021 12:28 pm
There is progress in the Court of Administrative Justice in trying to persuade the world that imprisoning Baha’is for their religious belief is tempered and rational and treated with judicious consideration after careful review. But what can one say about any court that applies any sentence whatever to religious belief when 2:256 says clearly, “There is no compulsion in religion, the right direction is clearly distinguished from the wrong.” And Parisa Sadeghi, a Baha’i who fearlessly and obediently accepted to go to prison when she was summoned by Judge Moghiseh to do so is clearly distinguished from a wrong doer. And who is the wrong doer when Parisa Sadeghi nobly conducts herself according to the verse 42:15: “Be steadfast as you are commanded, and do not follow their desires.” Surely, this brave woman is an example to all those jurists before whom she has appeared!