Human Rights Campaign Criticizes Ongoing Organized Repression Against Religious Minorities, Especially Baha'is

The Iran Human Rights Campaign on Wednesday, October 24, described the "mass trial and issuance of very heavy sentences" for 10 Baha'i women in Isfahan as "another clear indication of the continuation of organized repression against religious minorities, especially Baha'is, in the Islamic Republic system." According to reports, Parastoo Hakim, Yeganeh Rouh-Bakhsh, Neda Badakhsh, Arzu Sabhanian, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Yeganeh Aghaei, Bahareh Lotfi, Shana Shoghi-Far, Negin Khademi, and Neda Emadi were sentenced on October 21 by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan to a total of 90 years in prison, fines, and additional punishments such as a two-year ban on leaving the country and accessing the internet. The Iran Human Rights Campaign stated that they were prosecuted and sentenced to prison, fines, and additional punishments solely for holding educational courses for children and teenagers, including English language and yoga classes, on baseless charges of "propaganda against the Islamic Republic" and "educational and promotional activities contrary to Islamic law" in an "illegal Revolutionary Court." The organization also noted that "these repressive actions not only constitute a blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also demonstrate the government's insistence on continuing the oppressive system of discrimination in Iran." The Iran Human Rights Campaign emphasized that all those involved in the arrest, trial, and sentencing of the group of Baha'i women in Isfahan, including Judge Tavakoli, head of the first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, must be identified and held accountable for their repressive actions. This human rights organization referred to a letter from 10 female political prisoners dated June 18, which reacted to the issuance of prison sentences for a Baha'i citizen, stating: "Our silence in the face of double oppression against a group of society whose very existence is criminalized as Baha'is has made these crimes low-cost for the regime and paved the way for their repetition and intensification." These female political prisoners noted that the ongoing organized repression against religious minorities, especially Baha'is, in the Islamic Republic shows that the rulers of the Islamic Republic are seeking to deprive Baha'is in Iran of their "right to life" in the most brutal and inhumane manner possible. The letter emphasized that despite the Islamic Republic's claims that being a Baha'i is not a crime, it has imposed punishments against this religious minority that exceed ordinary penalties for propaganda against the regime. The total of 10 years in prison for two Baha'i citizens for "educational activities" in Babol, the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan sentenced 10 Baha'i women to a total of 90 years in prison and confiscation of property. A Baha'i prisoner was denied medical care due to "obstruction" by officials. The ongoing repression of Baha'is by the Islamic Republic includes a ban on selling products from companies owned by Baha'is, and a Baha'i couple residing in Gorgan were arrested.