Pressure from the Islamic Republic on Bahá'ís; Iman Rashidi arrested in the presence of his 18-month-old child

Iman Rashidi, a Bahá'í citizen residing in Yazd, was arrested on Thursday, October 5, by agents of the city's intelligence department and transferred to the detention center of this agency. The news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Hrana, reported, citing 'an informed source close to the family of this citizen': 'At 10 a.m. today, Mr. Rashidi's wife was leaving their home in Yazd when agents from the intelligence department surrounded her. Under duress from the agents of this security agency, she went to Iman and the agents proceeded to arrest this Bahá'í citizen.' This source told Hrana: 'The intelligence agents also confiscated the mobile phones of this citizen and his wife during the search of their home.' According to Hrana's report, the 18-month-old child of this family was present with his mother throughout the entire arrest process. There is currently no information available regarding the reason for the arrest of this Bahá'í citizen. Last Thursday, Farhad Sabetan, spokesperson for the Bahá'í World Community, in an interview with Voice of America, described the continued sealing of properties belonging to Bahá'í citizens as an example of the widespread violation of Bahá'í rights and the 'economic suffocation' imposed by the Islamic Republic against them. A few days earlier, four Bahá'í women named Sahar Mohibpour, Roxana Vajdani, Setareh Taimani, and Bahareh Ghaderi were also arrested by agents of the intelligence department in Shiraz. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recently expressed concern over the intensification of pressure on religious minorities in Iran and the Islamic Republic's campaign to arrest Bahá'ís. According to this commission's report, at least about 200 people are currently imprisoned in the Islamic Republic for religious or ideological reasons. Bahá'í citizens in Iran have systematically faced executions, widespread social and political discrimination, and illegal actions including arbitrary arrests and desecration of their cemeteries since the 1979 revolution. Sina Shahri, a Bahá'í citizen, was summoned to the Tabriz prosecutor's office to serve his prison sentence. The crackdown on Bahá'í citizens in Iran continues; two 'prominent' educators were arrested in Babol on charges of promoting Bahá'ism. Shahdokht Khajani, a Bahá'í citizen, was sentenced in absentia to 16 years in prison. The anniversary of the disappearance of 11 Bahá'í citizens marks 43 years of uncertainty and the potential for 'hasty executions.' The arrest of a 'Bahá'í family' was reported; the Ministry of Intelligence claims they were involved in 'drug trafficking and hoarding.' A 90-year-old Bahá'í citizen, Jamal al-Din Khajani, and his daughter were transferred to Evin prison. The confirmation of a 10-year prison sentence and 'deprivation of other rights' for two Bahá'í citizens in Iran was reported. Ten Bahá'í citizens were transferred to Kachoui and central prisons in Karaj to serve their prison sentences. The prosecutor's office in Mashhad summoned nine Bahá'í women, one of whom was arrested. Five Bahá'í citizens were arrested in Kerman. Bahá'íphobia in the Islamic Republic has led to the deaths of 'at least 225 people' in the last four decades. The trial date for a Bahá'í citizen was set; the head of the court refused to accept their appointed lawyer. The pressure on the Bahá'í community continues; four Bahá'í citizens were sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison.