Three Baha'i Citizens Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Prison by Fars Province Appeals Court

The news agency "Havanan" reported on Thursday, July 21, that the convictions of Hassan Salehi, Vahid Dana, and Saeed Abadi, three Baha'i citizens, were upheld by the Fars Province Appeals Court. According to the appeals court ruling, each of them was sentenced to two years, one month, and seventeen days in prison. Based on these rulings confirmed by Branch 37 of the Fars Province Appeals Court, each of the three was also fined 37 million and one hundred thousand tomans and deprived of certain social rights for 15 years. Hassan Salehi, Saeed Abadi, and Vahid Dana were arrested on May 8, 2021, at their homes by agents of the Intelligence Department and were released about five weeks later on bail from Adelabad Prison in Shiraz. Baha'i citizens have systematically faced executions, widespread social and political discrimination, and illegal actions including arrests and desecration of their cemeteries in Iran since the February 1979 revolution. According to the annual report of the "International Religious Freedom Commission" from last year, 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 increasing pressure on religious minorities in Iran and the Iranian regime's campaign to arrest Baha'is. This commission previously stated that at least around 200 individuals are imprisoned in the Islamic Republic for religious or belief-related reasons. In this context, the European Union and more than 50 members of parliament and senators from European countries called on the Islamic Republic last week to stop the harassment of Baha'is. The European Union's statement, issued in response to a parliamentary question in the European Parliament, emphasizes that "the European Union firmly urges Iranian authorities to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Iranians," including minorities like the Baha'is. Several members of the European Parliament expressed concern over the "escalation of attacks" against Baha'i women in Iran. Mahvash Sabet, a Baha'i prisoner, has been deprived of phone contact and visits with her family by a judge's order. Two Baha'i women in Babol were tried on charges of "acting against internal and external security." The Revolutionary Court in Isfahan sentenced a Baha'i citizen to 10 years in prison, confiscation of property, and other penalties. The Revolutionary Court in Isfahan also sentenced two Baha'i citizens to ten years in prison and a monetary fine. Support from 10 female political prisoners for Baha'i citizens: We stand by them to end their double suffering.