14 Baha’i Adherents Were Collectively Sentenced to 69 Years and 8 Months of Imprisonment

Source: hengaw.net

A number of fourteen Baha’i members: Noushin Mesbah, Samira Ebrahimi, Saba Sefidi, Saeedeh Khozouei, Nasim Sabeti, Azita Foroughi, Roya Ghane Ezz Abadi, Soheila Ahmadi, Arsalan Yazdi, Iraj Shakour, Pedram Abhar, Hossein Salehi, Vahid Dana, and Saeed Abedi were collectively sentenced to 69 years and 8 months of discretionary custodial term and severe complementary punishment by the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic.

A report obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, indicates that Samira Ebrahimi, and Saba Sefide, were each recently sentenced to 4 years and 5 months of discretionary imprisonment. Arsalan Yazdi, Saeedeh Khozouei, and Iraj Shakour were each sentenced to six years of imprisonment. In total, they received 32 years and 10 months in detention.

Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolution Court, presided over by Judge Seyyed Ali Mazloum, has filed charges against these Tehranian Baha’i citizens. The accusations were “membership in groups that oppose the regime”, “dissemination of propaganda adverse to the Islamic Republic”, and “engagement in activities that are adversary or disrupt the holy Islam”.

According to the consolidation law, five years of imprisonment, their highest punishment for Arsalan Yazdi, Saeedeh Khozouei, Iraj Shakour, and Pedram Abhar, would be applicable. For Samira Ebrahimi and Saba Sefidi, both three years and five months of their highest punishment of discretionary custody would be applicable. These people were detained in 2021 and 2022 by security forces but were released permanently with extensive deposits until the completion of the trial.

On the other hand, Hassan Salehi, Vahid Dana, and Saeid Abedi, Shirazian Baha’i citizens, have each been sentenced to 2 years, 7 months, and 6 days of discretionary custody by Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolution Court for “membership in illegal groups with the intent of undermining national security.” Each was further sentenced to three years, six months, and one day of discretionary imprisonment under the monitoring of the electronic system in a 1000-meter radius around their settlement place for “propaganda efforts against Islamic Sharia”.

As complementary punishment, each of these Baha’i citizens received a monetary fine of 37 million and one hundred thousand toman, as well as a 15-year ban on some social rights.

Hassan Salehi, Vahid Dana, and Saeid Abedi were previously apprehended and sentenced by the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic for their activities.

Nasim Sabeti, Azita Foroughi, Roya Ghane Ezz Abadi, and Soheila Ahmadi, Baha’i citizens of Mashhad, were recently sentenced to three years in prison by the Revolution Court of Mashhad for “membership in groups with the intent of undermining security” and the addition of eight months of detention for “propaganda efforts against the Islamic Republic.”

According to the Consolidation Law, if the conviction is affirmed in the appeals court for each of these Baha’i women, three years of their highest punishment of imprisonment would be applicable.

Nasim Sabeti, Azita Foroughi, Roya Ghane Ezz Abadi, and Soheila Ahmadi were summoned to branch 903 of the Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office District 9 in August 2023. The proceedings regarding their allegations were conducted in September 2023 at Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolution Court.

On Monday, October 23, 2023, Noushin Mesbah, a Baha’i citizen, was sentenced by the 1st Branch of the Mashhad Revolution Court to 3 years of custody for “membership in the groups with the intent of undermining the security and order of the country” and for “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” to 8 months of discretionary imprisonment.

According to the Consolidation Law, if the conviction is affirmed in the appeal court for this Baha’i citizen woman, three years of her highest punishment of imprisonment would be applicable.

The Baha’i Faith was never officially acknowledged by the Islamic Republic. Prolonged imprisonment and harsh repression were imposed upon its members. Islamic Republic security forces have murdered, executed, or vanished hundreds of Baha’is to the present day. The Iranian government forces severe restrictions on Baha’i education and employment and even considers it illegal for them to operate a business.