10 Baha'i Women Arrested Simultaneously in Isfahan

Radio Farda has learned that security agents in Isfahan have arrested 10 Baha'i women in their homes. According to informed sources in an interview with Radio Farda, security agents arrested Mojgan Pourshafie, Nasrin Khademi, Azita Rezvani-Khah, Bashari Motahar, Sara Shakib, Roya Azadkhush, Shourangiz Bahamin, Sanaz Rasteh, Maryam Khorsandi, and Firoozeh Rastinejad at 6 AM on Wednesday, January 23. These arrests were made without presenting a judicial order, and the reasons for the arrests have not been disclosed by the security agents. The first branch of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan had previously sentenced 15 Baha'i women to five years in prison, a travel ban, a fine of 50 million tomans, and deprivation of social rights for 'participating in misleading promotional and educational activities contrary to Islamic law' on May 17 this year. The authorities at Evin Prison have prevented the issuance of a 'non-punitive' ruling for Mahvash Sabet. The appellate court of Isfahan province confirmed the sentences of 13 of these individuals, including the 10 women arrested on Wednesday, on December 10, and sentenced two other Baha'i women to pay 50 million tomans. Informed sources told Radio Farda that these Baha'i women were arrested without prior notification of any order for their execution. The arrests of these citizens were carried out with intimidation and threats to their neighbors to remain silent about the matter. The treatment of Baha'i women living in Isfahan has significantly increased over the past year. Radio Farda reported on October 23, 2023, that 10 other Baha'i women were arrested by security agencies in Isfahan and were released after about two months from the women's prison in Isfahan. UN experts have warned about the systematic repression of Baha'i women in Iran. The first branch of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan sentenced eight of these women to 10 years in prison and a fine of 100 million tomans, while two others received five years in prison and a fine of 50 million tomans on October 21 this year. According to Radio Farda's findings, these women have endured various forms of 'psychological torture' and 'threats of physical torture' during their detention, including threats of 'rape, sexual assault, nail pulling, sitting on an electric chair, and scalding with boiling water.' 18 UN reporters and experts emphasized in a letter on July 31 this year that they are subjected to double oppression due to 'being women and being Baha'is.' Despite the presence of 300,000 Baha'is in Iran, the Islamic Republic does not recognize the Baha'i faith, and Iranian officials have repeatedly labeled Baha'is as 'spies and enemies,' issuing numerous death sentences, arrests, imprisonments, and deprivations of education and business, as well as destruction of homes and cemeteries against followers of this faith over the past four decades.