On January 14, 2009, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence searched the residences of eleven Baha’is in Tehran and detained six of them. During the search operation, agents seized religious books, portraits, personal computers and other personal items.
The detainees included Jinous Sobhani, Shahroukh Taef, Aziz Samandari, Payam Aghsani, Didar Raouf and Nima Haghar. Ms. Sobhani was a secretary in the Human Rights Defense Center and was arrested a few days following the closure of the Center.
On March 11, Iran Press Watch was happy to announce the release of 5 of these Baha’is: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2009/03/five-released/
Iran Press Watch has now learned that the authorities have asked for bail for the remaining prisoner in this group, Mr. Shahroukh Taef, which indicates that his release is in process through the judiciary.
Some 30 other Baha’is remain incarcerated throughout Iran, including seven leading Baha’is formerly known as Yaran [Friends in Iran].
Leave a Reply