At Least 14 Baha'is Arrested in Isfahan and Tehran

Various sources have reported the arrest of 14 members of the Baha'i religious community in the cities of Isfahan and Tehran in recent days. Some individuals close to those arrested confirmed these detentions in an interview with Radio Farda but did not comment on the exact number. Meanwhile, the website Hrana reported the number of detainees as 14, while the Jaras website announced it as 17, stating that they were arrested on the 16th and 17th of Bahman after their homes were searched. According to reports, most of the detainees were young people, with five arrested in Tehran and the rest in Isfahan. Their computers and mobile phones were also confiscated by security agents. It has also been reported that among the detainees, there was a pregnant woman. The reason for the arrest of these individuals has not yet been announced. Baha'is in Iran are not recognized as a religious minority under the laws of the Islamic Republic and are deprived of many civil rights. Baha'is arrested by security agents are usually tried on charges such as espionage for the U.S. or Israel. The Islamic Republic's treatment of Baha'is has been condemned by the United Nations, human rights organizations, and some countries around the world. Notably, the U.S. Senate, in a resolution last December, called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to release Baha'i prisoners as soon as possible and to end the mistreatment of followers of this faith.