Unyielding Persecution of Baha’i Women in Iran

Source: europeantimes.news

A Call for Global Solidarity and Action

By Juan Sanchez Gil

The persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran, towards women has been increasing rapidly. This article explores the occurrences of arrests, imprisonment and violations of human rights imposed on the Baha’i community. It sheds light on the strength and togetherness displayed by this marginalized group.

In the year the Iranian government has significantly escalated its efforts to suppress the Baha’i community. Dozens of Baha’is have been unjustly arrested, tried, summoned to begin prison sentences, or barred from accessing higher education or earning a livelihood. The Baha’i International Community reports that as many as 180 Baha’is have been targeted, including a 90-year-old man, Jamaloddin Khanjani, who was detained and interrogated for two weeks.

In the face of such adversity, the Baha’i community has responded with a powerful campaign, #OurStoryIsOne, emphasizing their shared struggle for equality and freedom. The campaign is a testament to their resilience and unity, demonstrating that the Iranian government’s attempts to sow division among the Baha’is have been futile.

The representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, Simin Fahandej, has criticized the Iranian government’s actions. She states, “By increasing the persecution against Baha’i women in Iran, the Iranian government is further demonstrating that all Iranians are facing the same struggle for equality and freedom.”

The #OurStoryIsOne campaign is a beacon of hope amid the relentless oppression. It underscores the unity of the Baha’i community and their shared vision of building a new Iran where everyone, regardless of faith, background, and gender, lives and prospers.

Despite the persecution by the Iranian government, the Baha’i community shows immense determination. Their resilience in the face of oppression is a powerful testament to their innocence and unwavering commitment to equality and freedom.

The global community cannot remain silent when confronted with violations of human rights. It is imperative to hold the government responsible for its actions and stand united with the Baha’i community.

The narrative of the Baha’i community in Iran exemplifies resilience, unity and an unwavering pursuit of equality and freedom. It serves as a reminder that the fight for human rights is far from over-emphasizing that solidarity is now more critical than ever before.

Additional information provided by the BIC on the 36 latest cases of persecution of Baha’is in Iran

• The 10 women arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Isfahan are Neda Badakhsh, Arezou Sobhanian, Yeganeh Rouhbakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaie, Parastou Hakim, Yeganeh Agahi, Bahareh Lotfi, Shana Shoghifar, Negin Khademi, and Neda Emadi, and took them to an unknown location.
• Ms. Shokoufeh Basiri, Mr. Ahmad Naimi and Mr. Iman Rashidi were also arrested and remain in the detention center of the Yazd Intelligence Department.
• Ms. Nasim Sabeti, Ms. Azita Foroughi, Ms Roya Ghane Ezzabadi and Ms Soheila Ahmadi, residents of Mashhad, were each sentenced to three years and eight months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of this city.
• Mrs Noushin Mesbah, a resident of Mashhad, was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison.
• The sentence of four years and one month and seventeen days of imprisonment and social deprivation of Mrs. Sousan Badavam was confirmed by the appeals court of Gilan province.
• Mr. Hasan Salehi, Mr. Vahid Dana and Mr. Saied Abedi were each sentenced to six years, one month and seventeen days of imprisonment under the supervision of the electronic system, fine and social exclusions by the first branch of Shiraz Revolutionary Court.
• Mr. Arsalan Yazdani, Mrs. Saiedeh Khozouei, Mr. Iraj Shakour, Mr. Pedram Abhar were sentenced to 6 years each, and Mrs. Samira Ebrahimi and Ms. Saba Sefidi were each sentenced to 4 years and 5 months in prison.