Arrest of 'At Least Five Bahá'ís' by Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz

A news website affiliated with Bahá'ís in Iran reported the arrest of 'at least five' followers of this faith by agents of the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz. The Bahá'í News website reported that Lala Salehi, Parisa Sepahri, Samar Ashnaei, Nasim Kashani-Nejad, and Rezvan Yazdani were arrested at their homes on Tuesday, December 2. The report adds that security agents simultaneously 'raided the homes of several other Bahá'í citizens living in Shiraz,' but the Bahá'í News site has not yet been able to confirm the arrests of other individuals. Reports indicate that personal belongings of the detainees, such as their books and computers, were also confiscated by the Ministry of Intelligence agents. An informed source stated that Ms. Parisa Sepahri was arrested while she is in the early months of her pregnancy. Bahá'í News further reported that in recent months, 'more than 20 Bahá'í citizens have been arrested in Shiraz on charges of promotional activities by security agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and transferred to the Ministry's detention center, some of whom have been released on bail after undergoing interrogation, but several remain imprisoned in the same detention center.' The Islamic Republic of Iran and Shia clerics typically refer to the Bahá'í faith with terms like 'deviant sect.' Hundreds of followers of this faith have been imprisoned, tortured, or executed since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Many others have been deprived of education or employment. The repression of Bahá'í followers in Iran continues despite widespread protests from activists and international human rights organizations.