Confirmation of Sentences Exceeding 40 Years in Prison and Social Rights Ban for 13 Baha'i Citizens

The sentences issued for 13 Baha'i citizens in the Islamic Revolutionary Court, totaling "40 years and seven months" in prison along with "additional penalties," were confirmed "as is" during the appeal stage. According to the ruling from Branch 12 of the Karaj Court of Appeals, which was communicated to these 13 Baha'i citizens, Afif Naeimi was sentenced to "seven years" in prison, while Saman Ostovar and Kamyar Habibi each received "five years". Ramleh Tirgarnejad, Elham Shari Arani, and Sabin Yazdani were each sentenced to "three years" in prison, and Mahsa Tirgar, Shahrzad Mostouri, Sadaf Sheikhzadeh, Negin Rezaei, Nikisa Sadeghi, Sahba Adiyani, and Beita Momtazi were each sentenced to "two years and one month" in prison. In addition, these citizens face other penalties including "fines, prohibition from residing in Alborz province, prohibition from social rights, and exit bans from the country." The news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran reported on Saturday, June 17, citing an "informed source," that the appeal court session in Branch 12 was held "without the lawyers' knowledge" on June 15, and while fully confirming the primary court's ruling for all these citizens, a "10-day deadline" was set for the execution of the sentence. The charges against these Baha'i citizens, who were arrested in a joint case in August and September 2022, included "insulting and educational and promotional activities against Islamic law, participating in the formation of groups and managing individuals with the intent to disrupt national security through promoting Baha'ism among children and adolescents, educational and promotional activities contrary to Islamic law through teaching and promoting based on Baha'i teachings in kindergartens, and propaganda against Islamic law through coaching education." Since the 1979 revolution, Baha'i citizens have systematically faced widespread social and political discrimination, as well as illegal actions including arbitrary arrests, executions, enforced disappearances, forced burials, and desecration of their graves. Simin Fahandj, the representative of the Baha'i community at the United Nations, previously criticized the "forced burial of a Baha'i citizen in the Khavaran cemetery without informing their family" in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America. According to the annual report on "International Religious Freedom" for 2022 prepared by the U.S. Department of State's Office of International Religious Freedom, the Iranian government's repression, violence, discrimination, and social stigmatization against Baha'i community members have intensified. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the "enduring commitment" of the U.S. government to defend the right to religious freedom, stating that the United States stands with religious freedom activists and people whose religious rights are violated.