Anisa Fanayan, a Baha'i citizen, sentenced to 16 years in prison

On Sunday, March 10, the Semnan Revolutionary Court sentenced Anisa Fanayan, a Baha'i citizen, to 16 years in prison, a fine, social rights deprivation, and confiscation of property. According to the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, HRANA, hearings for this Baha'i citizen's charges were held on December 27 and February 5 of this year, and ultimately, Branch 1 of the Semnan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Ali Eythari, sentenced her to 10 years in prison for "forming a group aimed at undermining national security." Ms. Fanayan was also sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of 50 million tomans for "educational or promotional activities contrary to or disruptive to the sacred Islamic law in the form of a sect, group, association, or similar," and finally, to one year in prison for "propaganda against the regime." Additionally, HRANA reported that $4,350 worth of personal belongings of this Baha'i citizen, confiscated from her daughter's room, has been seized in favor of the government. If the appeals court confirms this ruling, the harsher punishment of 10 years in prison will be enforceable. This Baha'i citizen residing in Semnan, who has a history of imprisonment, was arrested by security forces in late August and released on bail in mid-September. Meanwhile, the Hengaw human rights organization reported on March 8, in a report marking International Women's Day, that 17% of women arrested last year across Iran were Baha'i activists. Baha'is, who are among the largest non-Muslim religious minorities in Iran, have been systematically persecuted since the 1979 revolution. According to the annual report on "International Religious Freedom" for 2022, published by the U.S. Department of State's Office of Religious Freedom, the repression, violence, discrimination, and social stigmatization by the Islamic Republic against Baha'i community members in Iran have intensified. Hengaw: Last year in Iran, at least 22 women were executed and 325 women activists were arrested. The global Baha'i community: The Islamic Republic must stop the cultural cleansing of the Baha'i community. Exclusive: Yekta Fahendaj Saadi is in limbo at Adelabad prison in Shiraz. A Baha'i woman in Shiraz was "prohibited from leaving" and arrested by the "IRGC intelligence." Keyvan Rahimian, a imprisoned Baha'i citizen, was sentenced to 9 years in prison. The Supreme Court rejected the request for retrial of Sanaz Tafazoli, a imprisoned Baha'i citizen. Pressure on Baha'is in Iran: A citizen was arrested and transferred to prison in Shiraz. Three Baha'i citizens in Bojnourd were sentenced to prison and fined.