Issuance of 'Arrest Warrant' for 10 Baha'i Women in Isfahan

Radio Farda has learned that 10 Baha'i women have been accused of 'promoting' Baha'i beliefs by Branch 18 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. According to informed sources, this branch issued a final order on July 14 of this year, deeming the charges against Yeganeh Aghaei, Negin Khademi, Arzu Sabhanian, Yeganeh Rouh-Bakhsh, Shana Shoghi-Far, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Neda Badakhsh (Aghaei), Bahareh Lotfi, Parastoo Hakim, and Neda Emadi to be 'established' and issued an 'arrest warrant' (criminality) for them. The charges against these Baha'i women include 'deviant educational propaganda activities contrary to the principles and beliefs of the Islamic religion through the promotion and teaching of Baha'i beliefs.' The Isfahan Revolutionary Court has cited 'holding English language classes, painting, music, yoga, and nature camps for children, adolescents, and Afghan nationals' as examples of these charges. The detention order for Nahid Behroozi, a Baha'i citizen, has been extended despite her deteriorating health. According to information received by Radio Farda, the names of about '150 private plaintiffs' are also included in the indictment against these Baha'i women. Radio Farda reported last December that the Isfahan Intelligence Department and Sajjad Pakdel-Nia, the investigator of Branch 18 of the Bahman Judicial Complex in Isfahan, attempted to 'summon' and 'threaten' the Muslim neighbors and friends of these Baha'i citizens to force them to file complaints against them. These 10 Baha'i women were arrested by security agencies on November 1 in Isfahan. Evidence, statistics, and reports received by Radio Farda indicate that the systematic pressure from security agencies on Baha'is has increased in conjunction with the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, at least in terms of security confrontations, discrimination, deprivation of basic citizen rights, and direct pressure on detained protesters and Baha'i activists. In this context, Radio Farda reported on November 20 last year that during the widespread detention of Baha'i citizens in Hamadan on November 16, the homes of 34 citizens were searched, and among them, six citizens were arrested. At the same time as the detention of these citizens in Hamadan, 10 Baha'i citizens were also arrested in Mehrshahr, Karaj. The annual human rights report by the U.S. State Department and the report by the Commission on Religious Freedom have recently described the continued violation of the most fundamental rights of Baha'is in Iran as part of the regime's 'targeted' approach and have termed it a matter of 'special concern.' The Islamic Republic of Iran does not recognize the Baha'i faith, and judicial officials have repeatedly labeled Baha'is as 'spies and enemies,' issuing death sentences, arrests, imprisonment, and deprivation of education and employment against them.