Posted: 28 Aug 2009
The following news items were reported on the Persian page of Baha'i World News Service on August 26, 2009.
Hamadan (BWNS1):
Mrs. Mehrangiz Husayni, a resident of Hamadan, who was arrested last year on October 24, 2008, was convicted and has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment on the charge of "propagation of the Baha'i Faith", commenced her incarceration on August 16. [See IPW1]
Karaj (BWNS2):
The trial of Shahram Safajoo, who was summoned to the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Branch 28, on August 22, 2009, has been postponed to October 18, which coincides with the anticipated trial of the former Yaran ("Friends" – informal leaders of the Baha'i community of Iran). Mr. Safajoo was arrested on April 26, 2009, after his residence was searched; he was released on bail on May 18. [See IPW2]
Kashan (BWNS3):
On August 19, Mr. Vahid Haqiqi and his son, Sina, and Mrs. Mona Rouhani – all three residents of Kashan in the province of Isfahan – were summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence in their native town. They were arrested the next day, and released on August 22 after providing bail. [See IPW3]
Qa'emshahr (BWNS4):
Mr. Sohrab Laqa'i, a resident of Qa'emshahr, who was arrested on July 8, 2009, has been allowed only a single telephone conversation with his children ever since. The residence of Mr. Laqa'i was searched by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on January 4, 2009, along with the homes of four other Baha'is. [See IPW4].
Sari (BWNS5):
On August 18, 2009, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence raided the home of Mrs. Didar Hashemi, a resident of Sari in the province of Mazandaran, and confiscated certain personal items after a search of the home. The agents had a court order for the search of the building, but not for her arrest. They returned the following day and arrested Mrs. Hashemi. [See IPW5]
Yasuj (BWNS6):
Ali-Askar Ravanbakhsh and his wife, Zulaykha [Musavi-]Ravanbakhsh, who are residents of Mehryan, and Mrs. Ruhiyyih Yazdani (Bagha'i), a resident of Yasuj, were given family leave from prison starting on August 11 (see IPW6). The three Baha'is are completing their 4-year prison sentences, of which 2 years have been reduced to 5 years of probation. They were tried and found guilty on charges of "propagation [of speech] against the Islamic Republic" and "participation in the formation and organization of illegal groups". For the first charge they received 3 years, and for the second were sentenced to a one-year imprisonment. [Their sentence commenced October 28, 2008.]
Posted: 03 Sep 2009
The following report was filed by the online site of Human Rights Activists News Agency on Thursday, September 3, 2009:
A Baha'i couple was tried after a year on the charge of promotion of their religion.
On July 29, 2008, security agents went to the home of Fayzu'llah Qanvatian in the town of Ahwaz and after a research of the residence and confiscation of his books and personal items charged this family with "promotion of the Baha'i Faith" and "propaganda against the regime".
At the same time and while still at their home, security agents compelled Mr. Qanvatian and his wife, Mrs. Nushin Ruhani, to answer a series of written questions. They were then escorted to the interrogation office, where bail and surety was arranged for them and they were freed that day pending their trial.
During this past year, the couple have been summoned several more time and interrogated by officers of the Ministry of Intelligence.
The case of this couple was sent to the public prosecutor of the city of Ahwaz. During the court session, the prosecutor asked for maximum penalty under the law. The court then decided to pass the case to the city's Revolutionary Court for adjudication.
On August 31, the said court met and reviewed the case. It then announced that in days ahead it would rule on the merits of the charges and the case before it.
[Posted on Thursday, September 3, 2009, at hra-news. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
Posted: 29 Aug 2009
Earlier today, the following news was reported by the online site of Human Rights Activists News Agency:
Independent and reactionary elements have set on fire the farm-produce of a Baha'i.
On August 20, 2009, the farm products of Mirza Aqa Fanaian, who is the only Baha'i resident of the village of Darjazin, located 5 miles north of Semnan, was set on fire. These products consisted of barley and hay. Mr. Fanaian is an elderly person and this farm is the sole source of his livelihood and was valued at 10 million rial [equivalent of US$1,000].
The province of Semnan has seen considerable increase in anti-Baha'i activities during the current year by independent and reactionary forces. The Baha'i appeals to law enforcement agencies to prevent these elements from perpetrating these violent acts have not produced any results and have fallen on deaf ears.
[Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at hra-news. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
Posted: 29 Aug 2009
Iran Press Watch has previously reported on the arrest of Mr. Zabiu'llah Raufi, a Baha'i resident of Sanandaj (IPW). Further details are provided by the online site of Human Rights Activists News Agency on Saturday, August 29, 2009:
Mr. Zabiu'llah Raufi, a Baha'i resident of Sanandaj, has been given the sentence of a year imprisonment and exile to the town Minab [near Bandar Abbas in south of Iran].
On August 19, 2009, he was summoned before the Revolutionary Court and arrested at the same time. He continues to be incarcerated. It should be noted that the actual date that the court convened is not known, nor was he provided legal representation, or was there formal legal proceedings. It was at this trial that his sentence was communicated to him.
It should further be noted that in recent days, 18 friends and acquaintances of Mr. Raufi have been summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence of Sanandaj and they have been forced to sign assurances that they would not associate with the family of Mr. Raufi.
[Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at hra-news. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
Posted: 28 Aug 2009
Editor's Note: The following report was posted on Friday, August 28, 2009, by the Committee of Human Rights Reporters and appears below in translation:
The trial of three Baha'i citizens by the names of Vesal Yusufi, Payam Yusufi and Anvar Moslemi was convened on August 17.
The condition of Mrs. Vesal Yusufi has been reported as most worrisome. She is unable to stand and suffers greatly from pains in her stomach and back. Because of her grave condition, after the repeated insistence of her family during the past several days, the authorities have consented for a physician to see her.
According to various reports, her 18 year old son, Payam Yusufi, has been physically tortured in order to exact from him various confessions and to compel him to sign documents. So far, the files of these prisoners have not been shared with their lawyers and they remain in prison without charges formally brought against them. ... (Read the full story here)
[Posted on August 28, 2009, at: http://chrr.us/spip.php?article5224. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
Posted: 26 Aug 2009
On Saturday, August 22, 2009, Khabar Navard shared the following news, which appears below in translation:
In a continuation of the widespread arrests of Baha'is throughout Iran, on Wednesday, August 19, 2009, at 12:30 pm, five (5) agents in plain clothes raided the home of Mr. Vahid Haqiqi in Kashan. After they search his residence, agents confiscated his computer, CDs and various religious materials and took both Mr. Haqiqi and his 17-year old son, Sina, into custody. (Read the full story here)
Posted: 25 Aug 2009
On Saturday, August 22, 2009, Khabar Navard shared the following news, which appears below in translation:
In continuation of widespread arrests of Baha'is throughout Iran, Mrs. Mehrangiz Husayni was arrested in Hamadan. According to a court order issued on October 24, 2008, she was sentenced to a year incarceration and on August 16, 2009, was arrested by the security agents and conducted to prison to start her sentence.
The authorities have stated that the charge against her is, "propagation of the Baha'i Faith".
It should be noted that Iran claims freedom of expression for its citizens, but people are not at liberty to express their convictions. What is being charged by authorities against the Baha'is as "propaganda against the regime" is in reality free expression of beliefs and convictions, which Baha'is carry out despite the high cost of imprisonments, fines, and large property or cash bails.
[Source: Khabar Navard. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
Posted: 18 Aug 2009 04:06 PM PDT
Editor's Note: Iran Press Watch regrets that due to the pressure of work it failed to report on an important development in Semnan, as reported through Mihan site on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. For the sake of the completeness of our historical records, that report is now shared in translation:
In mid February 2009, Murteza Hamidi [presumably a Muslim] was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Semnan.
Previously, on December 15, 2008, his home was raided at the same time as the homes of 20 Baha'i families were attacked by agents of the same Ministry in a widespread operation.
The charge against Mr. Hamidi is "possession of Baha'i books and materials", and "relationship with Baha'is". It should be noted that his grandfather is a Baha'i, as are many other members of his family; therefore it is perfectly natural and understandable for Hamidi to have Baha'i printed materials in his possession and to have interactions with Baha'is.
Repeated efforts by his family to secure his freedom have remained futile, and Mr. Hamidi continues to languish in prison without any recourse. The other point that adds to the anxiety of this situation is that Mr. Hamidi and his family have been extensively pressured by the Ministry of Intelligence to file complaints against some Baha'i residents of Semnan for promoting the Baha'i Faith to him and his children. Through this method, the authorities hope to create a legal pretext for further harassment and persecution of the Baha'is of Semnan.
Is this effort not another step in an organized and systematic campaign to eliminate the Baha'is of Semnan? This would then be an effort which could serve as a dangerous and inhumane model for the rest of the nation to entirely eliminate the Baha'is.
[Posted on http://emails.mihanblog.com/post/125. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
A Baha'i Sentenced to Imprisonment
Posted: 18 Aug 2009
According to Human Rights Activists News Agency, the Revolutionary Court of Semnan has convicted a Baha'i resident to 18 months imprisonment.
According to the court ruling, Mrs. Susan Tebyanian[-Jabbari], a Baha'i resident of Semnan was convicted to 18 months imprisonment. In the course of her sentencing, the court noted that because of lack of appropriate facilities in Semnan (given her background), one of the prisons in Tehran would be designated for her by the court.
It should be noted her trial took place about a month ago, but the present ruling was issued and communicated on August 12.
[Source: August 18, 2009, hra-news]
The Persian page of the Baha'i World News Service provides further details:
On June 2, 2009, the trial of Mrs. Susan Tebyanian, a Baha'i of Semnan, took place. She had been arrested on April 27, 2009, and released on bail and surety on May 1. The court sentenced her to 18 months imprisonment on the following charges:
- Formation of illegal groups and societies associated with the Baha'i community under the pretext of "moral training classes"
- Membership in illegal groups and societies of the Baha'is, such as, "Education Committee", and "Committee for Training and Education"
- Propaganda against the regime and in support of the Baha'is, such as, local gatherings and associations.
[Source: BWNS. Translations by Iran Press Watch]
Posted: 18 Aug 2009
According to Baha'i World News Service, on July 29, 2009, the home of Mr. Nader Munzavi in Delijan, in the province of Makazi, was searched and his computer and Baha'i books were confiscated. Mr. Munzavi is the sole Baha'i resident of this small town. Last year, he was summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence for interrogations.
[Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at BWNS. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
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