Exclusive to Radio Farda; Obtaining 'Confessions' from 7 and 8-Year-Old Baha'i Children in Isfahan

Radio Farda has learned that security agents of the Islamic Republic attempted to extract 'forced confessions' from children and teenagers present at a Baha'i gathering in Isfahan, including several 7 and 8-year-olds. Informed sources told Radio Farda that on Friday, December 7, after entering a garden on the outskirts of Isfahan, some Baha'i children were subjected to 'body searches' and attempts were made to obtain written forced confessions from them in a room under camera surveillance. The agents also threatened some teenagers with guns, handcuffed them, and forced them to lie on the ground, causing one of them to 'lose the ability to speak' for a period afterward. Additionally, security agencies contacted some of the teenagers a few days after the incident and coerced them into 'spying on Baha'is for intelligence agencies.' According to informed sources, the agents initially used a drone to surveil the garden, where about 40 Baha'i citizens and families were present, and then entered the garden with intimidation and threats. Some agents reportedly wore cameras on their foreheads and used at least one handheld camera to record all stages of the entry and confession-taking process. Upon entry, the security agents showed a judicial order for 'entering the garden' and 'seizing electronic and luxury items.' In this context, security forces confiscated mobile phones, laptops, and other valuable items like watches, while refraining from seizing other belongings. In this context, Arshia Behin-Aein, a Baha'i citizen present at this gathering, was also arrested and transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. In recent years, especially after the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, pressure on Baha'i citizens in Iran has significantly increased. Iranian officials have repeatedly labeled Baha'is as 'spies and enemies' and have issued numerous sentences of execution, arrest, imprisonment, and deprivation of education and employment, as well as destruction of homes and cemeteries against followers of this faith over the past four decades. The Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation reported in November this year that the actions of the Islamic Republic against followers of this religious minority could be considered 'crimes against humanity.'