Four Baha’i Citizens Were Sent to Bushehr Prison to Endure Imprisonment

Source: www.hra-news.org

Translation by Iran Press Watch

HRANA News Agency – Mino Riyazati, Ehteram Sheikhi, Farideh Jaberi, and Asadullah Jaberi, four Baha’i citizens residing in Bushehr, were taken into custody on Saturday, January 25, after appearing at the city’s judiciary ruling enforcement, and were taken to Bushehr Prison unit to serve sentences previously handed down by the city’s Revolutionary Court. The sentencing included three years in prison and a two-year ban from leaving the country.

According to HRANA, Iran Human Rights Activists’ News Agency, on Saturday, January 25, Mino Riazati, Ehtram Sheikhi, Farideh Jaberi, and Asadullah Jaberi the Baha’i citizens residing in Bushehr after arriving at the city’s judiciary ruling enforcement unit were arrested and were transferred to Bushehr Prison to endure imprisonment

These Baha’i citizens were previously detained by security forces along with three other Baha’is, Emad Jaberi, Farrokh-Lagha Faramarzi, and Pooneh Nasheri, on February 13, 2018.   In addition to the arrest, security forces performed thorough searches of their homes and personal belongings. Laptops, books, flash drives, external hard drives, and family albums were seized. Ehtram Sheikhi, Asadullah Jaberi, Farideh Jaberi, and Mino Riyazati were released on bail on March 13, 2018 on a bail of 250 million Tomans[1], pending the end of the proceedings.

Mino Riazati, Asadollah Jaberi, Ehteram Sheikhi, Farideh Jaberi, Emad Jaberi, Farrokh-Lagha Faramarzi, and Puneh Nasheri were each tried on charges of “membership in the misguided Baha’i sect and gang to disrupt the security of the country.” According to the verdict in the lower court, each was convicted to 3 years in prison and two-year ban from leaving the country. After appeal, the verdict was upheld by the Bushehr Provincial Appeals Court.

Baha’i citizens in Iran are deprived of their freedoms related to religious beliefs, while being systematically deprived of their right to freedom of religion and to change their religion according to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The freedom to express it individually or collectively, in public or in secret.

According to unofficial sources, there are more than 300,000 Baha’is in Iran, but the Iranian constitution only recognizes Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism and does not recognize the Baha’i faith. For this reason, Baha’is’ rights in Iran have been systematically violated over the years.

[1] Approximately equals to $ 59,579