Religious issues and persecution – Monthly Digest September
Christians
Christian convert released after nearly five years in prison
Article 18 (30.09.2024) – A Christian convert whose only son died during his nearly five years in Evin Prison has been released after his 10-year sentence was reduced by a Tehran appeal court.
Mehdi Akbari, who goes by the name Yasser, was released yesterday after his sentence was reduced to four years and five months. (Yasser had been in prison for four years and nine months.)
He was met outside prison early yesterday afternoon by his family and friend and fellow Christian convert, Mehdi Rokhparvar, alongside whom he was initially sentenced and who was released from his own prison term last year.
Christian convert denied parole after ‘refusing forced confession’
Article 18 (27.09.2024) – A Christian convert serving a two-year sentence in Evin Prison on charges related to her Christian activities has been denied parole because she refused to record a forced confession and public disavowal of reports about her case, according to Persian-language news site Human Rights in Iran.
Laleh Saati, who is a former asylum-seeker, is eligible for parole, having served one-third of her sentence, which also includes a two-year travel ban following her release.
Iranian-Armenian pastor acquitted, released from 10-year prison sentence
Article 18 (16.09.2024) – A 62-year-old Iranian-Armenian pastor serving a 10-year prison sentence for leading a house-church has been acquitted and released after just over a year in Tehran’s Evin Prison.
Anooshavan Avedian was released last night, after his appeal was accepted at a hearing yesterday afternoon at Branch 21 of the Appeal Court of Tehran.
Anooshavan spent just over a year in prison, having been summoned to serve his sentence on the very same day that another Iranian-Armenian pastor, Joseph Shahbazian, was released from his own 10-year sentence.
Sister of convicted Christian converts detained by Ministry of Intelligence
Article 18 (16.09.2024) – A Christian convert arrested a week ago in the southern city of Shiraz is still being held in an infamous detention centre belonging to the Ministry of Intelligence.
Mojdeh Falahi, 36, whose two older sisters were arrested five years ago for their Christian activities, was arrested on 9 September at the prosecutor’s office in Shiraz, and has not been heard from since.
Article18 understands that she is being detained in the Pelak-e 100 detention centre, which is under the jurisdiction of Iran’s intelligence ministry.
USCIRF calls for international accountability on two-year anniversary of Masha Zhina Amini’s killing
USCIRF.gov (16.09.2024) – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today marks the two-year anniversary of Iranian security forces’ killing of Mahsa Zhina Amini for wearing “improper hijab.” Amini’s death on September 16, 2022 sparked nationwide protests in Iran against mandatory hijab laws and other religious freedom abuses. With the recent implementation of its Nour campaign, Iran has ramped up its violent crackdowns on protestors who peacefully call for greater religious freedom in the country.
“The U.S. government should support international efforts to hold the Iranian regime’s leadership accountable for grave violations of religious freedom,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Eric Ueland. “We urge the Biden administration to continue supporting the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran and to support a Security Council referral of the situation in Iran to the International Criminal Court for investigation of crimes against humanity against those asserting freedom of religion or belief.”
Iran’s ‘systematic’ disinformation about religious minorities risks ‘profound harms’ – report
Article 18 (02.09.2024) – The Iranian authorities’ “systematic” and “targeted” dissemination of disinformation about religious minorities, including Christians, has been highlighted in a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
The report, ‘Misinformation and Disinformation: Implications for Freedom of Religion of Belief’, released last month, says disinformation about Jews, Sunni Muslims, Gonabadi Sufis, Christian converts and Baha’is in Iran is “often” disseminated through state media.
Baha’is
Mahboob Habibi, a Baha’i citizen from Shiraz, arrested and charged
Iran Press Watch (30.09.2024) – On Saturday, September 28, Mahboob Habibi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in the city, known as House No 100.
A source close to Habibi’s family confirmed to HRANA: “Mahboob Habibi was arrested in the presence of his two-year-old child by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Shiraz.”
Baha’is Shahin Mavaddat and Soodabeh Mahdinzhad arrested in Gorgan
Iran Press Watch (25.09.2024) – On Monday, September 23, 2024, Baháʼí couple Shahin Mavaddat and Soodabeh Mahdinzhad, residents of Gorgan, were arrested by security forces at their home and taken to an undisclosed location. The agents also conducted a thorough search of their residence, seizing multiple electronic devices and religious books.
A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA: “On Monday, 10 Ministry of Intelligence agents arrived at the home of Shahin Mavaddat and Soodabeh Mahdinzhad with a search and arrest warrant. They detained the couple following a two-hour search, during which they confiscated mobile phones, personal electronic devices, Baháʼí religious texts, and the home’s CCTV system.”
Baha’i citizen Sepehr Naeimi sentenced to 24 months in prison
Iran Press Watch (25.09.2024) – Sepehr Jafari Naeimi, a Baha’i citizen from Yazd, has been sentenced in absentia to 24 months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Yazd. The charges against him stem from his social media posts about the death of Mahsa Amini and the Baha’i faith.
In a ruling issued on September 22 by Branch 1 of the Yazd Revolutionary Court, Naeimi received an eight-month prison sentence for “propaganda against the regime” and an additional 16 months for “insulting the Supreme Leader and the founder of the Islamic Republic.”
Baha’i Citizen Negar Misaghian arrested by Security Forces in Shiraz
Iran Press Watch (18.09.2024) – On Wednesday, September 18, Negar Misaghian, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Shiraz, known as House No 100.
A source close to Misaghian told HRANA, “At 1:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, September 18, several security agents came to Ms. Misaghian’s home, arrested her, and transferred her to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Shiraz, known as House No 100. The agents also searched the premises and confiscated several personal items, including her mobile phone, laptop, and passport.”
Three Baha’i citizens arrested in Tabriz
Iran Press Watch (18.09.2024) – On Monday, September 16, Azam Azmoudeh, a Baha’i citizen residing in Tabriz, was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence forces. With her arrest, the number of detained Baha’i citizens in Tabriz has risen to three. Sina Aghdasi and Iraj Noorseteh were also detained on the same day.
Azam Azmoudeh was arrested at her home by Tabriz Intelligence agents, who also conducted a search of her residence, confiscating several electronic devices. The circumstances surrounding her arrest remain unclear.
Anisa Samiian to Voice of America: The Islamic Republic accused me of “promoting the Bahá’í Faith” through “teaching piano.”
Iran Press watch (13.09.2024) – Anisa Samiian, a Bahá’í citizen whose several family members have been arrested and sentenced to imprisonment and other deprivations, shared details of the sentence issued for her mother, Shiva Kashani-Nejad, with Voice of America, saying that despite her love for her homeland, she was forced to leave Iran to prevent her young children from being left without a caretaker.
Last week, the Third Branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Rasht sentenced Shiva Kashani-Nejad and Mojgan Samimi, two Bahá’í citizens, to imprisonment, a fine, and deprivation of social rights.
Baha’i Citizens Shiva Kashani-Nejad and Mojgan Samimi sentenced to prison and other punishments
Iran Press Watch (05.09.2024) – Shiva Kashani-Nejad (Samieian) and Mojgan Samimi, Baha’i citizens residing in Rasht, have been sentenced by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht to two years and one day in prison, fines, and additional punishments.
Based on a ruling issued by Judge Mehdi Raskhi from Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, which was communicated to these citizens on Wednesday, September 4, both women were convicted of “educational activities and promoting the Baha’i faith.” Each was sentenced to two years and one day of imprisonment, a fine of 80,010,000 tomans, and five years of deprivation of social rights.