Kerman Appeals Court Confirms Imprisonment of Bahai Citizen

The seventh branch of the Kerman Appeals Court confirmed a two-year and one-month prison sentence for Paridokht Shajai-Baghini, a Bahai citizen. According to HRANA, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, this ruling was issued on September 10, in which Ms. Shajai-Baghini was accused of 'educational or promotional activities contrary to or disruptive to the sacred Islamic law.' The report states that the Kerman Appeals Court confirmed the verdict of the lower court without holding a session. This Bahai citizen residing in Kerman was among five Bahai citizens who were arrested in July 2023 and released on bail after several weeks. The Islamic Revolutionary Court of Kerman had previously sentenced these five Bahai citizens to pay fines and social restrictions in June of this year. Recently, the Islamic Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office in Isfahan summoned 10 Bahai women living in the city on charges of 'propaganda against the regime.' Since the 1979 revolution, Bahai citizens in Iran have systematically faced execution, widespread social and political discrimination, and illegal actions including arrests and desecration of their cemeteries. According to last year's annual report by the 'International Religious Freedom' commission, the repression, violence, discrimination, and social stigmatization by the Iranian government against Bahai citizens have intensified. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has also expressed concern over the increasing pressure on religious minorities in Iran and the Islamic Republic's campaign to detain Bahais. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom previously stated in a report that over the past few decades, the Islamic Republic authorities have systematically targeted Bahais, Christians, Gonabadi Dervishes, Zoroastrians, Yarsanis, Shia and Sunni Muslims, and non-religious individuals for harassment, arrest, long-term imprisonment, exile, or prohibition from participating in political and social activities.