Jamaledin Khajani Transferred Back to Prison After Heart Surgery

Human rights activists report that Jamaledin Khajani, one of the leaders of the Baha'i community in Iran, who was recently hospitalized due to a heart condition, has been transferred back to prison. The news agency HRANA, active in the field of human rights, reported on Friday, March 4, citing an 'informed source,' that Mr. Khajani 'was transferred to the hospital due to a heart condition and underwent surgery, and after the surgery, he returned to Evin Prison.' The report states that Mr. Khajani, who is nearly 85 years old, suffered a heart condition last week, and ultimately, doctors performed angiography to 'open the damaged and completely blocked arteries.' Jamaledin Khajani, who had been in the ICU of the hospital, was returned to Evin Prison on Thursday. HRANA reported that doctors emphasized that, given his advanced age, he should not be in prison. Mr. Khajani has been in prison since Bahman 1387 (February 2009) without a single day of leave. He is one of seven members of the leadership group of the Baha'i community in Iran, known as the Yaran group, who faced charges such as 'collusion and conspiracy against national security, propaganda against the regime, and espionage,' and the Revolutionary Court sentenced them to 20 years in prison, a sentence that was later reduced to 10 years. Jamaledin Khajani's sentence is set to end in early Farvardin (April) next year. During this time, four other members of the Yaran group have been released, including Fariba Kamalabadi, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakoli, and Saeed Rezaei. Thus, Jamaledin Khajani and Vahid Tizfahm remain in prison, while Afif Naeimi, who is currently on medical leave, still has time left on his sentence. Jamaledin Khajani, born in 1933, has suffered from multiple illnesses during his 10 years in prison, to the extent that his family has repeatedly expressed concern about his health status.