Increased Pressures on the Baha'is of Tonekabon
Posted: 23 Apr 2009
In the days leading up to Naw-Ruz, March 21, agents of Ministry of Intelligence raided and searched the home of Mr. Mishel Ismaelpour, one of the Baha'is of Tonekabon (see attached map). A few days later, he was summoned to the Information Office of the same Ministry and interrogated, but was allowed to leave.
On Tuesday, April 21, 2009, a certain Mr. Ghulami of the above-mentioned Information Office summoned this Baha'i again, and from 8:30 in the morning until 12:30 in the afternoon he was questioned. Afterwards, he was sent to court under guard, where the prosecutor issued a temporary arrest order. He was then brought back again to the same Information Office.
When Mr. Ismaelpour's family inquired of his whereabouts and condition, the Information Office refused to give a satisfactory response. That same afternoon, around 5 PM, he was sent to the prison facility of the Central Information Office in Sari.
According to the prosecutor in this case and contradictory statements by officials at the Information and Intelligence Office, Mr. Ismaelpour had not fully cooperated with officials in providing information about his beliefs. It was for this reason, and to complete his file, that he was sent to Sari.
Current Baha'i Prisoners in Iran
Posted: 24 Apr 2009
Periodically, Iran Press Watch publishes a list of Baha'i prisoners in Iran who remain incarcerated because of their religious belief. At the present time, there are 49 Baha'i prisoners throughout Iran. The Date of incarceration and the url of report for each prisoner is provided next to each name
Babol
- Mushafeq Samandari (Apr 14, 2009) here
Mashhad
Qa'emshahr
- Masoud Atayian (Nov 17, 2008) here
- Taraneh Sanai, (Jan 18, 2009) here
- Shahnaz Sa'adati, (Jan 18, 2009) here
- Amelia Fanaian, (Jan 18, 2009) here
- Anisa Fanaian (Jan 18, 2009) here
- Farzaneh Ahmadzadegan (Jan 18, 2009) here
Sari
- Simin Garaji, (2008), here
- 'Ali Ahmadi, (2008) here
- Changiz Derakhshnian, (2008) here
- Masoud Ataian, (2008) here
- Siyamak Ibrahimi-Nia, (2008) here
- Fayzu'llah Rushan (Apr 2008) here
- Fuad Naeimi (Apr 2008) here
- Zia Allah-Vardi (Oct 18, 2008) here
- Sonya Allah-Vardi (Oct 18, 2008) here
- Anvar Moslemi (Nov 22, 2008) here
- Soheila Motllebi (Nov 22, 2008) here
- Firouzeh Yegan (Jan 10, 2009) here
- Pegah Sanai, (Jan 10, 2009) here
- Torreh Taqi-Zadeh (Feb 15, 2009) here
Semnan
- Mr. Adel Fanaian (Jan 4, 2009) here
- Mr. Taher Eskandarian (Jan 4, 2009) here
- Mr. Abbas Nurani (Jan 4, 2009) here
- Mrs. Sahba Rezvani (Dec 15, 2009) here
- Pooya Tebyanian (Mar 9, 2009) here
- Ali Ehsani (Apr 6, 2009) here
Shiraz
- Sasan Taqva (Nov 2007) here
- Raha Sabet (Nov 2007) here
- Haleh Rouhi (Nov 2007) here
- Mehran Karami (Feb 2009) here
- Haleh Houshmani (Mar 18, 2009) here
- Farham Masumi (Mar 18, 2009) here
- Afshin Ahsanian (Apr 8, 2009) here
Tehran
- Vahid Tizfahm, (May 2008) here
- Mahvash Sabet, (Mar 2008) here
- Jamaleddin Khanjani, (May 2008) here
- Saeid Rezai, (May 2008) here
- Fariba Kamalabadi, (May 2008) here
- Afif Naimi, (May 2008) here
- Behrouz Tavakkoli, (May 2008) here
Tonekabon
- Badi'u'llah Fazli
- Mishel Ismaelpour (Apr 21, 2009) here
Yasuj
- Ali-Askar Ravanbakhsh, (Oct 28, 2008) here
- Zulaykha Musavi, (Oct 28, 2008) here
- Ruhiyyih Yazdani, (Oct 28, 2008) here
Yazd
Mehran Bandi, (Aug 28, 2008) here
Coordinated Efforts to Suppress the Baha'is in Northern Iran
Posted: 24 Apr 2009
The following report was posted in Persian by Iran Press News on Friday, April 24, 2009, and appears below in translation. The original media outlet for this news was Shumal News, which reports on events in the northern Iran.
A gathering of seminarians and religious leaders took place yesterday in Chalus in the Office of Islamic Propaganda, which operates under the auspices of Qom's seminaries.
Hujjatu'l-Islam Hakim spoke at this gathering and said, "Faulty management principles in certain organizations must be repaired."
The chief of the Ministry of Intelligence in Mazandaran province spoke about the danger of the spread of Baha'ism and Christianity. He said, "Officials and eminent figures in each town must become completely unified in extinguishing such threats [posed by the Baha'is and Christians], and hand in hand must educate the people about the danger in these groups and in this regard must become fully united."
Hujjatu'l-Islam Hakim added, "Almost all the Baha'i leaders in the town of Chalus have been arrested, imprisoned or exiled. However, there is no clear [legislated] law for confronting the Baha'is."
The chief of the Ministry of Intelligence in Mazandaran province referred to the role of the seminarians and stated, "Seminary students must guide the people through propaganda and cultural activities, and prevent them from being attracted to Ahl-e Haqq, Baha'ism and Christianity."
[Source: http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/057915.htm. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
Recent Atrocities against the Baha'is of Shiraz
Posted: 24 Apr 2009
Editor's Note: The Baha'is of Shiraz have kindly shared a report with Iran Press Watch about recent attacks perpetrated against them, which appears below in translation. Most of these events have previously been reported on the pages of Iran Press Watch, but publication of the following summary was deemed beneficial. Media outlets are encouraged to republish this report.
February 20
- Agents of the Ministry of Intelligence went to the home of Mr. Kayvan Karami; after a search of the residence and confiscation of some personal property, they arrested Mr. Karami. After his family contacted the authorities, they were told, "The reason for his arrest is his contact with someone who recently became a Baha'i; in this regard, Mr. Karami is expected to answer certain questions."
- The person accused of converting to the Baha'i Faith had also been arrested some time earlier, but was released on March 18. Mr. Karami continues to remain incarcerated, even though his family was told that he would be released on bail prior to year-end [March 21].
March 14
- Authorities went to the home of Mr. Farham Masumi and searched his residence.
- On the same day, the authorities went to the home of Haleh Houshmandi, but behaved very differently. They knew that she was away from Shiraz, and so approached the home of a neighbor who lived on the floor below the Houshmandis. The authorities presented themselves as postmen, but when an elderly woman opened the door, they pushed inside. While shouting abuse and insults, they entered the residence en masse. They disconnected the phone line, and by threatening the household they managed to get the key for the Houshmandi's residence, which had been entrusted to that family. The authorities completely disregarded the repeated request of the family to show legal authorization to enter the Houshmandis' home - confining themselves to spouting abuse and insults. The agents gathered the entire household in one place and locked them in that room. They searched the residence, and without anyone being allowed to raise an objection, confiscated a large quantity of personal effects. They forced the family to sign an inventory of what they had taken, but the inventory list only showed a small fraction of items taken from the residence.
- Farham Masumi was arrested the same morning, but was released by the afternoon.
March 16
- The agents had left a message for Mrs. Houshmandi to present herself to Pelak 100 (Ministry of Intelligence) upon her return. She went to that office on March 16, but was dismissed.
March 17
- Both Haleh Houshmandi and Kayvan Karami were asked to present themselves at the Ministry of Intelligence at 8 AM on the following day, March 18.
March 18
- The above-named Baha'is continue to be imprisoned to this date. They are kept in isolation and under extremely harsh conditions. No information has been given to their families about the duration of their arrest. When Haleh Houshmandi's mother inquired about the charges against her daughter, the authorities stated the charges consisted of: (1) propagation of the Baha'i religion, and (2) activities pertaining to her previous arrest. It should be noted that these two Baha'is are among the 54 Baha'i youth arrested two years ago because of their humanitarian activities promoting hygiene and literacy among deprived young population of Shiraz. As result of that arrest, they received one-year suspended sentences and forced participation in Islamic training classes.
- Authorities had indicated that Mr. Karami would be released prior to Naw-Ruz (March 21), but he continues to this date to be imprisoned in solitary confinement.
April 4
- The Prosecutor General of Fars province wrote a letter to the investigator in charge of the above-mentioned cases and instructed that they should be released on bail. Nevertheless, from that date the families have been confronted by inhumane and cruel attacks by the same investigator, who absolutely refuses to comply with the instruction of the Prosecutor General.
- Since April 4, the families of the imprisoned Baha'is continue to receive threatening phone calls by the Ministry of Intelligence, and in many instances these calls include obscene and insulting language.
- The authorities refuse to allow the prisoners to have visitors.
- During the 3 phone calls that the Baha'i prisoners have been allowed, it has been clear that they are under great physical and emotional stress. The worrisome point is the condition of Haleh Houshmandi, who suffers from a serious heart ailment, but no medical personnel have been allowed to visit her.
Update on Baha'i Prisoners in Shiraz
Posted: 22 Apr 2009 02:51 PM PDT
Iran Press Watch has learned through reliable contacts in Iran that Raha Sabet and Haleh Ruhi have been granted a temporary leave from prison for 5 days, and there is a possibility that this family-visit might be renewed for another 5 days. (For background on their situation see, http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2008/09/latest-status-of-3-imprisoned-youth/, and search for names in the site's archives.)
During these few days that Raha Sabet and Haleh Ruhi are on family-visit leave (customary for long-term prisoners in Iran), they have transferred Haleh Houshmandi-Salehi to their room, which is a little better than her own extremely small cell.
Yesterday, April 21, 2009, the family of Haleh Houshmandi was able to meet with her in prison for 4 minutes from behind the glass and by phone. She looked pale and was breathing with difficulty due to the continuation of her heart aliment.
The authorities have not granted a leave to Sasan Taqva. Sources in Iran report that Sasan suffers from pain in his leg and has a severe toothache. It is not clear if he has received the necessary medical attention.
Iran Press Watch has also learned that potentially there will be some positive developments to report by tomorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of these innocent Baha'i prisoners and we call on all the people of good will to whisper a pray that the anticipated positive news would be realized by tomorrow.
A Short Note on Yahya Hedayati
Posted: 22 Apr 2009
On April 21, 2009, Iran Press Watch reported on recent attacks on the home of Mr. Yahya Hedayati (see, http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2009/04/semnan-residence/). One of the kind readers has provided some background information on this Baha'i resident of Semnan, which appears below in translation.
Yahya is originally from Sangsar and a son of Ismael Hedayati. Ismael had another younger son, who was killed in an accident. Yahya was an active and energetic Baha'i and a member of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Sangsar when the authorities decided to arrest him for his Baha'i activities. Since they were unable to find Yahya, they seized his father, Ismael, and incarcerated him in Semnan. By exerting such inhumane pressure on the family, they were able to locate Yahya within a short period of time and arrest him in Tehran.
In the early part of this decade, Yayha was imprisoned for four and a half years, first in Semnan and then in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. One of his cellmates in Evin was Adel Fanaian who is currently imprisoned in Semnan.
It should be mentioned that when Yahya Hedayati was arrested, he was engaged to Johar, but because of his sentence was unable to marry her until his release.
Posted: 25 Apr 2009
Iran's New Year commenced on March 21, and it is off to a disturbing start for the Baha'is of that land. During this month, considerable hardships, harassment and violations of human and civil rights were brought against the beleaguered Baha'is of Iran.
The following is a summary report of the events occurring in the month just concluded, based on a report published in Persian and translated by Iran Press Watch:
March 23
- On condition of surety and bail, Adel Fanaian, Taher Eskandarian and Abbas Nurani were permitted a 4-day leave from Semnan's prison, where they are completing their 6-month sentence.
- Because of this leave, the judge has now ordered that until further notice, these three Baha'is have been deprived of the privilege of meeting with their family face-to-face, and may only visit with them from behind the prison windows.
- Mrs. Sahba Rezvani, who is another Baha'i prisoner in Semnan, remains barred from customary leave.
March 30
- In Yazd, three agents of the Ministry of Intelligence raided the home of Behnam Rouhanifar' after a thorough search of the residence, they confiscated his personal computer and a number of CDs.
- Mr. Rouhanifar is completing a 4-year suspended sentence.
March 31
- While parked, Payman Shadman's automobile in Semnan was severely damaged by paint, and the word "Baha'i" was painted on its side.
April 24
- The place of work of Payman Shadman was vandalized by painting insults and threats against the Baha'is on its walls. These graffiti were reported to the police, who so far have taken no action whatsoever.
April 4
- After 70 days of solitary confinement during which he was held incommunicado, Jalayer Vahdat was given a 5-minute meeting with his mother at the prison of the Ministry of Intelligence.
- While coming out of her car near her sister's residence, Miss Sahba Khademi was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Hamadan. She was released on bail 10 days later, on April 14.
April 5
Three Baha'i residents of Mashhad, namely Nasrin Qadiri, Nahid Qadiri and Sima Rajabian, were summoned and interrogated by the Revolutionary Branch of the Ministry of Intelligence. They were released afterwards.
April 6
Ali Ehsani, a Baha'i resident of Semnan, was summoned for interrogation by the Ministry of Intelligence and then arrested.
April 7
Three Baha'i residents of Mashhad by the names of Kaviz Nuzdahi, Human Bakhtavar and Davar Nabilzadeh were called in by the Information Office of the town's Revolutionary Court; after interrogation they were allowed to leave.
April 8
Afshin Ahsanian, a resident of Shiraz, along with his father, was summoned to the Information Office of Shiraz, where the father was allowed to leave, but Afshin Ahsanian was arrested and remains incarcerated to this date.
April 9
In the middle of night, windows at the home of Yahya Hedayati, a Baha'i resident of Semnan, were broken while the family was sleeping within. It appears this attack was made by unknown assailants on motorbikes. The same attack took place on two more occasions up to April 16. Police and security agencies have taken no action to respond to these attacks or search for the perpetrators.
April 11
- The homes of Sorour Sorourian, Samira Ayubi and Payman Aqdasi in Hamadan were searched by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence, and the above-mentioned Baha'is were arrested. Three days later, these Baha'is were released on condition of bail.
- Three Baha'i residents of Mashhad, namely Ruzita Vaseqi, Nura Nabilzadeh, and Mahsa Aqdasizadeh were called in by the Revolutionary Court, which were questioned and released them.
April 13
Some Baha'i websites were infiltrated by Iranian authorities.
April 14
- Agents of the Information Office of Babol raided the home of Mushafeq Samandari; after a search of the residence, they confiscated his computer, printer, scanner, CDs and some of his books. Mr. Samandari was arrested as well.
- Haleh Houshmandi, a Baha'i resident of Shiraz, who has been incarcerated since March 18, experienced an acute heart condition as a result of being deprived of her medications. Prison officials continue to prevent her from obtaining the necessary medications. Because of her health situation, the Prosecutor General of Shiraz issued an order for her release on condition of bail, but the Ministry of Intelligence has overruled this order and keeps Mrs. Houshmandi imprisoned.
- Three more Baha'is of Mashhad, namely Babak Ruhi, Suhayl Nasirzadeh and Ezzatu'llah Ahmadian, were summoned to the Information Office of the Revolutionary Court; after interrogation they were released.
List of Baha'is Currently in Prison
In addition to the above-mentioned imprisoned Baha'is, the following Baha'is have been incarcerated solely because of their religious faith since last year:
Mehran Bandi in Yazd
Puya Tebyanian, Semnan
Sasan Taqva, Shiraz
Vahid Tizfahm, Tehran (one of the Yaran)
Raha Sabet, Shiraz
Mahvash Sabet, Tehran (one of the Yaran)
Jamal Khanjani, Tehran (one of the Yaran)
Said Rezai, Tehran (one of the Yaran)
Fariba Kamalabadi, Tehran (one of the Yaran)
Ali-Askar Ravanbakhsh, Yasuj
Haleh Ruhi, Shiraz
Fayzu'llah Rushan, Sari
Zulaykha Musavi, Yasuj
Fuad Naeimi, Sari
Afif Naeimi, Tehran (one of the Yaran)
Ruhiyyih Yazdani, Yasuj
Behrouz Tavakkoli, Tehran (one of the Yaran)
Sima Eshraqi, Mashhad
Badi'u'llah Fazli, Tonekabon
Mehran Karami, Shiraz
[Source: http://www.negah64.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1046&Itemid=21. Translation by Iran press Watch
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