Arrest of Five Baha'i Citizens in Kerman

Human rights sources reported the arrest of five Baha'i citizens in Kerman by security forces. According to the HRANA news agency, security agents on Wednesday, July 21, searched the homes and vehicles of these five citizens, confiscating some of their personal belongings and arresting them. The names of the arrested individuals are Foad Shaker, Shahram Fallah, Yekta Fallah, Behnam Pourahmadi, and Paridokht Shojaei. As reported by the Iran Human Rights website, security agents arrested Shahram Fallah along with four of his guests on Wednesday evening. So far, no news has been published regarding the arresting agency, the charges against these Baha'i citizens, or their place of detention. Recently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced four Baha'i citizens to a total of twenty years in prison. The charge against these individuals was 'membership in illegal groups aimed at undermining national security.' The research base 'Open Data Iran' has reported that since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, 'at least 225 Baha'is have been killed directly or indirectly by the Islamic Republic.' Baha'i citizens have faced extensive deprivation since the 1979 revolution, including dismissal from government jobs, confiscation of property, closure of businesses, deprivation of education, and destruction of cemeteries. According to the annual report of the 'International Religious Freedom Commission' for last year, the repression, violence, discrimination, and social stigmatization by the Iranian government against Baha'i citizens have intensified.