Three Baha'i Citizens Sentenced to Two Years in Prison by Appeals Court

Radio Farda has learned that the sentences of three Baha'i citizens who were sentenced to five years in prison by the Revolutionary Court have been reduced to two years in the appeals court. Arshia Rouhani, Hamid Manzavi, and Arash Nabavi were sentenced in late June of this year in the first branch of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Reza Tavakoli, to 'pay a fine of 50 million tomans' and 'seizure of confiscated property.' The appeals court, in its ruling that Radio Farda reported on Tuesday, August 20, has sentenced each of these three Baha'i citizens to 'two years of imprisonment and a cash fine of 25 million tomans.' Mr. Nabavi's name had not previously been disclosed in this case. The Revolutionary Court had announced the charges against these Baha'i citizens as 'propaganda against the regime,' 'propaganda in favor of groups or organizations opposed to the Islamic Republic,' and 'membership in groups or associations formed within the country with the aim of undermining national security.' Their businesses were also sealed on September 11 of last year by agents of the Public Places Administration, accompanied by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence in Isfahan, and their work equipment and electronics were confiscated. Evidence, statistics, and reports received by Radio Farda indicate that the systematic pressure from security institutions on Baha'is has increased in conjunction with the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, at least in terms of security confrontations, discrimination, deprivation of basic citizen rights, and direct pressure on detained protesters and Baha'i activists. The Baha'i World Community also announced on Friday that the Baha'i cemetery in Ahvaz has been set on fire and ancient trees in this cemetery have been chopped down. According to this report, the cemetery, which has belonged to Baha'is for 110 years, was set on fire 'solely with the motive of religious persecution.'