The Bahá'í World Community Calls for the Immediate and Unconditional Release of Mahvash Sabet

The Bahá'í World Community issued a statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Mahvash Sabet, the annulment of her prison sentence, and guarantees from the Iranian authorities to prevent this prisoner of conscience from returning to prison. On Monday, December 24, they wrote that this 71-year-old Bahá'í citizen and prisoner of conscience in Iran has been imprisoned for over 13 years due to her beliefs, and despite 'serious and deteriorating health issues' and 'continuous deprivation of appropriate medical care and hospital treatment,' she underwent open-heart surgery but must return to prison to serve the remainder of her sentence after her recovery period. Mahvash Sabet (Shahriari) was sentenced in Azar 1401 (December 2022) by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran to '10 years in prison, a two-year travel ban, prohibition from residing in Tehran, prohibition from participating in social groups, and confiscation of several digital tools' for 'forming and managing a group or gathering with the intent to disrupt national security,' and this verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. Additionally, it is noted that Mahvash Sabet, a 72-year-old Bahá'í prisoner, underwent heart surgery. Before her arrest in Esfand 1386 (February 2008) in Mashhad, she was a member of the informal leadership group of the Bahá'í community in Iran along with six other colleagues. The Bahá'í World Community pointed out that Bahá'ís in Iran have faced systematic persecution in all aspects of life for over 45 years, a situation that has been condemned multiple times by the United Nations and the international community. The statement referenced comments by Javid Rahman, the former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, who stated that Bahá'ís are targeted by the Iranian government for 'genocide.' According to this statement, Human Rights Watch also described the treatment of Bahá'ís in Iran as 'a crime against humanity of persecution.' In part of its statement, the Bahá'í World Community referred to Mahvash Sabet's 'over 13 years in prison' and 'severe physical and mental mistreatment,' noting that after her recent heart surgery, 'multiple doctors have written that her continued imprisonment will lead to a collapse of her health; something that has now become a reality.' This international Bahá'í organization further emphasized the necessity of canceling the remaining 8 years of Ms. Sabet's imprisonment, stating that she should be released to recover alongside her family. Simin Fahandej, a representative of the Bahá'í community at the United Nations, stated: 'The Iranian government must immediately release Mahvash Sabet so she can receive necessary care with her family.' In this regard, Simin Fahandej said: 'Ms. Sabet has been in a critical health condition for years and has not received the necessary medical care. Instead of receiving care, she has been transferred to solitary confinement and subjected to long and intense interrogations. Ms. Sabet should never have been imprisoned, and if health issues arise in prison, she should have been released.' Fahandej emphasized: 'The Iranian government must correct this mistake and release her immediately so she can receive necessary care with her family.' The Bahá'í World Community expressed concern over 'Ms. Sabet's health crisis,' which 'is similar to cases faced by dozens of other Bahá'ís in Iranian prisons,' emphasizing: 'Numerous reports have been received regarding the neglect of health issues of imprisoned Bahá'ís by Iranian authorities, which is a clear violation of the right to treatment for detainees.' Previously, many reports have been published about the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran's refusal to treat prisoners, especially political prisoners. Nevertheless, despite the emphasis from human rights organizations backed by documentation, judicial officials have denied this issue. Simin Fahandej noted that 'the world recognizes Mahvash Sabet as a brave advocate for human rights' and added: 'We are inspired by her resilience against oppression and injustice, but we are heartbroken to see the severe impacts of these oppressions on her life and health, as well as the persecution of Bahá'ís and the Bahá'í community.' The representative of the Bahá'í community at the United Nations stated: 'The Iranian government has the opportunity to take a positive step by ensuring that Mahvash Sabet will never be imprisoned again,' and emphasized: 'Mahvash deserves to recover from heart surgery alongside her family, and no Bahá'í or other prisoner of conscience should suffer for even one more minute under these cruelties.' Bahá'í citizens have faced extensive deprivations 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' from last year, the repression, violence, discrimination, and social stigmatization of the Iranian government against Bahá'í citizens have intensified. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has also expressed concern over the increased pressure on religious minorities in Iran and the Islamic Republic's campaign to detain Bahá'ís. Behzad Azargan, a Bahá'í citizen, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for teaching music. Anisa Fanaiyan, a Bahá'í citizen in Semnan province, was sentenced to 8 years in prison. There is no news about 4 Bahá'í citizens detained in Shiraz. Behrad Azargan, a Bahá'í artist, was sentenced to 7 years in prison. The Bahá'í World Community welcomed the condemnation of the human rights record of the Islamic Republic. The unveiling of the report 'Outsiders: Multi-faceted Violence Against Bahá'ís in the Islamic Republic.' Criticism from two human rights and Bahá'í organizations of the Islamic Republic for the repression of Bahá'ís. Closure of the businesses of three Bahá'ís after participating in a religious ceremony. The Human Rights Campaign criticized the continuation of organized repression against religious minorities, especially Bahá'ís. A total of 10 years in prison for two Bahá'í citizens for 'educational activities' in Babol. UN reporters and experts condemned the targeting of Bahá'í women by the Islamic Republic.