Trial of 'Two Bahai Trainers' Alongside 'Six Kindergarten Owners' in Babol

Radio Farda has learned that the trial of Niusha Badi'i Sabat, a Bahai writer and psychologist, and Susan Eid Mohammadzadegan, a Bahai trainer, along with 'six kindergarten owners' was held in the first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Babol. Informed sources told Radio Farda that the 'six kindergarten owners' appeared in court on Wednesday, July 4, due to their 'employment' of these two Bahai citizens as defendants. In this session, which lasted four hours, the charges against these citizens included 'propaganda in favor of groups or organizations opposing the regime,' 'propaganda against the regime,' 'propaganda for the Bahai sect,' and 'forming a group or association with the aim of disrupting national security.' Security forces of the Islamic Republic arrested Niusha Badi'i Sabat, author of the book 'Narrative Therapy,' and Susan Eid Mohammadzadegan, a Bahai citizen, at Ms. Eid Mohammadzadegan's home in Babol on August 15 last year. The head of the judiciary in Mazandaran province reported a few weeks later that '12 centers' that he claimed were 'disguised as schools and educational centers' promoting the Bahai faith in Babol had been closed. Mohammad Sadegh Akbari announced on September 10 last year that the reason for this crackdown was the 'employment of Bahai professors and trainers' and reported the arrest of 'two individuals who are prominent Bahai trainers in Iran.' Meanwhile, informed sources told Radio Farda that the activities of Ms. Badi'i Sabat and Ms. Eid Mohammadzadegan had no connection to their religious beliefs. In this context, Keyvan Rahimian, a Bahai psychologist and translator, was also arrested by security forces in Tehran on July 18 last year and was sentenced to nine years in prison on February 4 this year. Evidence and reports received by Radio Farda indicate that systematic pressure from security institutions on Bahais 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 Bahai protesters and activists. The annual human rights report from the U.S. State Department and the report from the Commission on Religious Freedom in recent days have deemed the ongoing violation of the most fundamental rights of Bahais in Iran as part of the 'targeted' approach of the ruling government and described it as a cause for 'special concern.' The Islamic Republic of Iran does not recognize the Bahai faith, and judicial authorities have repeatedly labeled Bahais as 'spies and enemies' and issued sentences of execution, detention, imprisonment, and deprivation of education and employment against them.