Retrial of 15 Baha’i Women in Isfahan Revolutionary Court on Charges of Educational and Promotional Activities Against Islamic Law

Source: www.en-hrana.org

Fifteen Baha’i citizens from Baharestan, Isfahan, have once again been tried in the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan. Previously, this case had been returned from the Isfahan Court of Appeals to the Revolutionary Court for correction of deficiencies.

The retrial session took place today, Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in the First Branch of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. Those on trial include Mojgan Pourshafe Ardestani, Nasrin Khademi Qahfarrokh, Azita Rezvani-Khah, Sholeh Ashouri, Mojdeh Bahamin, Bashra Motahar, Sara Shakib, Samira Shakib, Roya Azad Khosh, Nooshin Hemmat, Shurangiz Bahamin, Sanaz Rasteh, Maryam Khorsandi, Farkhandeh Rezvan Pay, and Firoozeh Rastinejad, all of whom are Baha’i citizens residing in Isfahan. They are facing charges of “educational/promotional activities against Islamic law.”

This case was initially sent to the Court of Appeals after a verdict was issued in the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court a few weeks ago. However, the Court of Appeals identified flaws and returned the case to the Revolutionary Court for corrections.

In late May 2024, these fifteen Baha’i women were sentenced by the same branch to five years of imprisonment, paying a fine, five years of deprivation from social services, and a two-year travel ban, all for the same charges of “educational/promotional activities against Islamic law.”

Among these individuals, Roya Azad Khosh, Azita Rezvani-Khah, Sara Shakib, Sanaz Rasteh, Sholeh Ashouri, Shurangiz Bahamin, Firoozeh Rastinejad, Maryam Khorsandi, Mojgan Pourshafe, Nasrin Khademi, and Nooshin Hemmat were arrested in 2021 and later released on bail.

Additionally, the homes of Bahamin, Rezvan Pay, Motahhar, and Samira Shakib had previously been searched by security forces.

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 the denial of 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.