Mahvash Sabet, Bahai Prisoner, Deprived of Phone Contact and Family Visits by Court Order

Judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic have deprived Mahvash Sabet, a former manager of the 'Bahai Community of Iran' who is imprisoned in the women's section of Evin prison, of phone contact and family visits. According to HRANA, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, on Sunday, July 8, it was reported that Mahvash Sabet (Shahriari) has been deprived of the possibility of phone contact and family visits since Saturday, July 7, 'by the order of the judge of the case.' A source close to the family of this ideological prisoner told HRANA that 'prison officials informed Ms. Sabet that by the order of the judge of the case, she has been deprived of the possibility of phone contact and family visits.' According to this report, prison officials informed Ms. Sabet that this deprivation was due to 'the publication of materials' about this Bahai Iranian citizen 'by some media outside of Iran.' Mahvash Sabet (Shahriari) was sentenced to '10 years in prison, a two-year exit ban, a prohibition on residing in Tehran, a prohibition on activities in social groups, and the confiscation of several digital devices' in December 2022 at Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by 'Iman Afshari,' on charges of 'forming and managing a group or gathering with the intent to disrupt national security.' This verdict was confirmed without alteration by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. Bahai citizens have faced widespread deprivation since the 1979 revolution, including dismissal from government jobs, confiscation of property, closure of businesses, deprivation of education, and destruction of cemeteries. According to the annual report of the 'International Religious Freedom Commission' for the previous year, the repression, violence, discrimination, and social stigmatization of 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 against Bahais. In recent days, ten political prisoners held in the women's section of Evin prison issued a statement declaring that their political views do not prevent them from supporting 'Bahai compatriots' and that they stand by them until the end of the 'additional suffering' imposed on this group of Iranian citizens. The European Union has called on the Iranian government to stop the 'harassment' of Bahais. Two Bahai women in Babol were tried on charges of 'acting against internal and external security.' The Revolutionary Court of Isfahan sentenced a Bahai citizen to 10 years in prison, confiscation of property, and other punishments. A court session was held to address the charges against Payam Vali, a Bahai citizen, in the Revolutionary Court of Karaj.