Concerns for the Health of Jamaluddin Khanjani, 83-Year-Old Political Prisoner

The family of Jamaluddin Khanjani, one of the leaders of the Baha'i community in Iran who has been imprisoned for nine years, expressed concern for his health and called for medical treatment for this political prisoner. Mr. Khanjani is 83 years old and has spent all nine years in prison without leave, while his family emphasizes that he needs medical treatment due to his age and physical condition. Siavash Khanjani, Mr. Khanjani's nephew, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran on Thursday, March 23, that 'the family's efforts for conditional release have also been fruitless, and they are worried about the situation of this member of the Baha'i community in prison.' Jamaluddin Khanjani, along with six other leaders of the Baha'i community in Iran, was arrested in May 2008 and sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges such as 'espionage, insulting sacred beliefs, and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.' This sentence was eventually reduced to 10 years, although the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran emphasizes that Iranian judicial authorities have never provided evidence regarding the charges against him and other Baha'i leaders. Meanwhile, the family of Jamaluddin Khanjani states that the Ministry of Intelligence has prevented him from enjoying his right to leave, and he has not been able to benefit from such a right all these years, even when his wife passed away and he should have attended the funeral. Siavash Khanjani said, 'Repeated attempts have been made for leave, but the Intelligence Ministry has always obstructed and prevented it. There is another law regarding conditional release that states if someone has served half of their sentence, they can be released based on this law. Our family has pursued this issue as well, but unfortunately, this was also opposed, and my uncle remains in prison. They do not explicitly say why they do not grant leave or why they oppose conditional release or other rights that the law includes for Mr. Khanjani's situation.' The situation of Baha'is in Iran has always been a concern for human rights groups and activists in the years following the 1979 revolution. The Islamic Republic does not recognize the Baha'i faith and refers to it with terms such as 'deviant sect.' Even in recent months, the Attorney General of Iran warned Iranian citizens that if they engage with Baha'is, they should expect legal consequences. The United Nations has deemed the Islamic Republic's treatment of Baha'i citizens in Iran as a case of 'systematic discrimination' and has protested against it. In this context, Asma Jahangir stated: 'The situation of religious minorities in Iran remains extremely concerning.' Continued arrests of political activists, deprivation of some Baha'is from education, 'expulsion of eight Baha'i students from university,' a letter from two thousand Baha'is and human rights activists to Rouhani; 'conditions for Baha'is' education should be provided,' and the arrest of 'at least five Baha'is' by the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz highlight the ongoing repression of Baha'is in Iran.