Editor’s Note: This is the story of Roofia Shahidi-Asdaghi. Her father, Mr. Ni’matu’llah Katibpur-Shahidi was arrested in Mashahd and transferred to the prison in Kashmar, where he was put to death with a firing squad…
Tagged By imprisoned
Imprisoned In Iran For Religious Belief
In a report released this month, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan governmental body, described a deteriorating situation regarding religious freedom in Iran — particularly for Baha’is, Evangelical Christians, and Sufi Muslims.…
Letter from Tehran's Khademin to Iran’s Attorney General
Editor’s Note: In March 2009, the Baha’i administration in Iran obeyed the wishes of their imprisoned leaders (formerly known as the Yaran) and terminated all their activities and seized functioning. Several of these local groups…
Some Baha’i Prisoners Released in Shiraz
Iran Press Watch was thrilled to learn through reliable sources in Iran that Haleh Houshmandi-Salehi and Afshin Ahsanian have been released on bail. As the readers may recall, Mrs. Houshmandi has had a history of…
Update on Two Baha’i Prisoners in Shiraz
Iran Press Watch has learned through its contacts in Iran that earlier today (Thursday, April 23, 2009), the authorities set bail of about $100,000 per prisoner for Haleh Houshmandi and Afshin Ahsanian. Since this is…
Imprisoned Baha'is Barred from Release despite Prosecutor's Ruling
The following report was received on Thursday, April 16, 2009 and is offered below in translation (sources cited at the end): Four Baha’is, namely, Mrs. Haleh Houshmandi, Mr. Kayvan Karami, Mr. Farhad Ma’sumi, and Mr.…
24-year old Baha’i Seized in Hamadan
Iran Press Watch has learned that a young Baha’i has been seized, possibly either arrested or kidnapped, in Hamadan. The source of this troubling news is Khabar Navard on Friday, April 10, 2009. Following is…
Baha’i Youth Arrested in Shiraz
On Thursday, April 9, 2009, Iran Press News reported in Persian the following report which is offered below in translation by Iran Press Watch. This report was filed by the Religious Committee of Human Rights…
Update on two Baha’i Prisoners in Mashhad
Iran Press News reported the following on Saturday, March 28, 2009: Two Baha’i citizens by names of Jalayer Vahdat and Sima Eshraqi were arrested on January 26, 2009, in Mashhad and as of this writing…
Iran moving to eradicate Baha’i faith
Washington, 19 February (IranVNC)—Iran is engaging in a “systematic” effort to “eradicate” the banned Baha’i faith in that country, a senior analyst at the US Commission on International Religious Freedom [USCIRF] told IranVNC yesterday. On…
Iran's Secret Purges
Two weeks have passed since I heard the alarming news: Aziz Samandari, my cousin in Tehran, was arrested in a pre-dawn raid by Iranian intelligence officials. To date, no formal charges have been framed, and…
The Baha’i Situation in Iran is Deteriorating!
Editor’s Note: Mrs. Kit Bigelow is the Director of External Affairs of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States. She was interviewed by Radio Farda’s reporter, Newsha Boghrati, and Iran Press…
Behrouz Tavakkoli – A Profile in Courage
By Naeim Tavakkoli Editor’s Note: Iran Press Watch is pleased to share the following profile of Behrouz Tavakkoli outlined by his son, Naeim. Mr. Tavakkoli is one of the seven members of the national body…
A New Persian Song from Iran Titled “Imprisoned”
Editor’s Note: As means of providing a forum for fostering artistic expressions of the Baha’i community of Iran, Iran Press Watch is pleased to share the following newly composed song titled “Imprisoned”. The moving words…
'Ashura Ceremonies and the Baha’is
By Akhtar Arjmandi Translated by Omid Ghaemmaghami [Translator’s Note: Akhtar Arjmandi maintains a blog dedicated to the defense of Iran’s Baha’i Community where she refutes attacks made against Baha’is in the Iranian press and in…
Intimidation of Baha’i Prisoners
Editor’s Note: The following was reported in Persian on Wednesday, 7 January 2009, by Iran Press News and Human Rights Activists of Iran: Two Baha’is incarcerated in Sari were reprimanded and humiliated for failing to…