Baha’i Women’s Three-Year, Eight-Month Prison Sentences Upheld on Appeal

Source: www.en-hrana.org

In a recent ruling, the Court of Appeal in Razavi Khorasan Province upheld the three-year, eight-month sentences for Baha’i citizens Nasim Sabeti, Azita Foroughi, Rouya Ghane Ezabadi, and Soheila Ahmadi.

The lawyer has been informed that each of them received three years for “membership in groups to act against national security” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime,” with the initial verdict issued by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court.

Reports obtained by HRANA confirm that the court session took place without prior notice to the individuals involved and in the absence of their attorney.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities,, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes denying their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.