Tehran Revolutionary Court Sentences Bahai Citizen to 11 Years in Prison and Confiscation of Assets

An informed source told Voice of America that the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Abolqasem Salavati, has sentenced Bahai citizen Behrad Azargan to 11 years in prison and confiscation of assets. According to a report received by the Persian section of Voice of America on Saturday, November 5, the final session of Behrad Azargan's trial, a music teacher, was held on October 7 in Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, and last week a total sentence of 11 years was issued against him. According to the ruling issued by the Revolutionary Court, Mr. Azargan was sentenced to five years in prison for the charge of 'propaganda against the regime through holding music classes for various ages,' four years for 'membership in certain groups with the intent to undermine national security,' and two years for 'spreading falsehoods.' The Islamic Revolutionary Court also sentenced this Bahai citizen to 'the confiscation of all seized assets.' Behrad Azargan, a Bahai citizen, was arrested on July 2 of this year when judicial agents visited his home in Tehran and confiscated his electronic devices. He was detained for over a month and was temporarily released from prison on August 6 after posting bail of 1.5 billion tomans. This music teacher was arrested for the second time on August 20 after being summoned to Branch 3 of the Security Prosecutor's Office and was temporarily released a day later, on August 21, after an additional 1 billion tomans was added to his bail amount. During this second arrest, he was also banned from activities in cyberspace due to 'propaganda against the regime through holding music classes for various ages.' The Bahai World Community has warned in recent days that the harassment and repression of Bahais in Iran has intensified and stated that it has 'become alarmingly aware of new instances of the government's ongoing efforts to cleanse Iran of Bahai history and identity.' Additionally, see: A total of 10 years in prison for two Bahai citizens for 'educational activities' in Babol. According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Bahais live in Iran, but the constitution of the Islamic Republic does not only fail to recognize the Bahai faith but also discriminates against it. For decades, the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic have deprived Bahai citizens of their civil rights, including the right to education, and have described educational activities outside the government's framework with terms such as 'deviant.' Human rights organizations state that the rights of Bahais in Iran have been systematically violated over the years, and government pressures on them have increased in recent months. UN reporters and experts condemned the targeting of Bahai women by the Islamic Republic. A Bahai prisoner was denied medical care due to 'interference' by officials. The ongoing repression of Bahais by the Islamic Republic; prohibition of selling products from companies whose owners are Bahai. The Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced 10 Bahai women to a total of 90 years in prison and confiscation of assets. A total of 10 years in prison for two Bahai citizens for 'educational activities' in Babol.