The Revolutionary Court of Isfahan Summons 10 Baha'i Women in Isfahan

According to human rights sources, the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan has summoned 10 Baha'i women residing in the city. The news agency Hrana, the news organ of human rights activists in Iran, listed the names of those summoned as Neda Badakhsh, Arzu Sobhanian, Yeganeh Rouh Bakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Parastoo Hakim, Yeganeh Aghai, Bahareh Lotfi, Shana Shoghi Far, Negin Khademi, and Neda Emadi. In the notice issued by the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan on September 10, these Baha'i citizens have been asked to appear for a hearing regarding the charge of 'propaganda against the regime' on October 24. The specifics of this charge include 'conducting deviant educational activities contrary to the principles and beliefs of Islam by promoting and teaching the beliefs of the Baha'i sect among Muslims' and 'collaborating with hostile groups (the Universal House of Justice) against the Islamic Republic of Iran.' For decades, the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic have deprived Baha'i citizens of their civil rights, including the right to education, labeling their non-governmental education as 'deviant.' The 'Universal House of Justice,' the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith, is located in Haifa, Israel, and Iranian officials have accused several Baha'i citizens of collaborating with this council without providing any evidence. According to Hrana, the 10 summoned Baha'i women were arrested in November 2023 and released on bail after about two months from the Dowlatabad prison in Isfahan. Recently, five Baha'i citizens residing in Rasht and Isfahan were also sentenced to imprisonment and additional penalties. Anisa Samian, a Baha'i citizen sentenced to prison, told Voice of America that despite her love for her homeland, she was forced to leave Iran to avoid leaving her young children without guardians. Since the February 1979 revolution, Baha'i citizens in Iran have systematically faced executions, 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 Baha'i 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 Baha'is. The U.S. Commission previously reported that over the past several decades, the Iranian authorities have systematically targeted Baha'is, 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. Anisa Samian told Voice of America: 'The Islamic Republic accused me of promoting Baha'ism through teaching piano.' The detention order for Nahid Behroozi, a Baha'i citizen, has been extended for another month. Two Baha'i citizens residing in Rasht have been sentenced to imprisonment and additional penalties. Three Baha'i citizens in the Isfahan appeals court have been sentenced to prison, fines, and a ban on leaving Iran.