Three Baha'i Citizens Sentenced to Prison, Fines, and Exit Ban by Isfahan Court of Appeals

Three Baha'i citizens residing in Isfahan, named Arshia Rouhani, Hamid Manzavi, and Arash Nabavi, were each sentenced to two years in prison, a monetary fine, and additional penalties by the Isfahan Court of Appeals. According to a report by 'Hrana', the media organ of human rights activists in Iran, based on the final ruling of Branch 37 of the Isfahan Court of Appeals presided over by 'Ahmad Ganj-Ali Darani', each of these three Baha'i citizens was sentenced to 'two years of imprisonment, payment of 24 million tomans in fines, a two-year exit ban from the country, and restrictions on online activities'. Previously, the First Branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan had sentenced each of these three Baha'i citizens to 'five years of punitive imprisonment, payment of 50 million tomans in fines, a two-year ban on online activities and exit from the country, and confiscation of property'. According to an earlier report by Hrana, two commercial units belonging to Arshia Rouhani and Hamid Manzavi were sealed by agents of the Information Office last September, and although these two shops were unsealed a month later, these two Baha'i citizens were arrested on November 8 of the same year after being summoned to Branch 13 of the Isfahan Prosecutor's Office and were released a day later on bail of 300 million tomans. Additionally, Arash Nabavi was arrested in August 2023 and released two months later on bail. Baha'i citizens have systematically faced execution, widespread social and political discrimination, and illegal actions including arrests and desecration of their cemeteries in Iran since the 1979 revolution. Also see: Baha'i World Community: Baha'i Cemetery in Ahvaz Set on Fire. 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 increased pressure on religious minorities in Iran and the Islamic Republic's campaign to arrest Baha'is. Furthermore, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has previously reported that over the past few decades, the Islamic Republic authorities have systematically targeted Baha'is, Christians, Gonabadi Dervishes, Zoroastrians, Yarsanis, Shia and Sunni Muslims, and non-religious individuals for harassment, arrests, long-term imprisonments, exile, or prohibitions on participating in political and social activities. Sentencing of 160 years of imprisonment and lashes for 34 religious and ethnic minority activists in the past six months. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic issued an indictment for 10 Baha'i women in Isfahan on charges of 'teaching contrary to Islamic law'. Arrest of Nahid Behroozi, a Baha'i citizen, in Fardis; Mazaher Heydari: Interrogators said, 'As long as you are in Iran, you are our guest'. Mojgan Salmānzadeh, a Baha'i citizen, was arrested. Three Baha'i citizens were sentenced to more than 6 years in prison by the Court of Appeals in Fars Province. Mahvash Sabat, a Baha'i prisoner, was deprived of phone contact and family visits 'by court order'.