Continued Detention of 4 Baháʼí Citizens in Shiraz

Source: www.hra-news.org

Translation by Iran Press Watch

HRANA News Agency – Vahid Sabet, Vahid Masoumi, Rozita Eslami, and Elham Haghighatjou, four Baháʼí citizens residing in Shiraz, remain in limbo 20 days after their arrest. During this time, they have had only one brief phone call with their families.

Since their arrest, these individuals have only had a two-minute phone call with their families, and Ms. Eslami and Ms. Haghighatjou were permitted a short meeting with their children. A source close to the family of one of these Baháʼí citizens confirmed the report to HRANA, stating that the Intelligence Ministry’s intervention has restricted visitation rights. The lack of information regarding their situation has heightened the concerns of their families and loved ones.

As of the time this report was written, no details have been released about the reasons for their arrest or the charges against them.

Vahid Sabet, Vahid Masoumi, Rozita Eslami, and Elham Haghighatjou, Baháʼí citizens residing in Shiraz, were arrested on November 11, 2024, by security forces. Among them, Vahid Masoumi, Rozita Eslami, and Elham Haghighatjou were subsequently transferred to the Intelligence Ministry’s detention center in the city, known as “Block 100.”

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.