Additional Name(s): Mahsa Tirgar, مهسا تیرگر بهنمیری
Gender: Female
Current Location: Kachoui Prison, Karaj
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 2 Years, 1 Month's Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/5/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Education Rights Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Instruction & Teaching
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Mahsa Tirgar Bahnemiri is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
In February 2023, it was reported that the Karaj Revolutionary Court had sentenced Bahnemiri to two years and one month in prison for “insulting and propaganda against Islamic Sharia, forming and participating in groups to act against national security through teaching and preaching the Baha’i faith to children in Kindergartens, promoting against Islamic Sharia through holding coaching courses." The conviction appears to stem from her religious educational activities to children.
In June 2023, it was reported that Branch 12 of Alborz Provincial Court of Appeal had upheld Bahnemiri's sentence.
On August 5, 2023, Bahnemiri was reportedly taken to Kachoui Prison in Karaj to begin serving her sentence.
Related Cases: Saman Ostovar, Kamyar Habibi, Sabin Yazdani, Rameleh Tirgarnejad, Elham Shareghi Arani, Nakisa Sadeghi, Sadaf Sheikhzadeh, Shahrzad Mastouri, Negin Rezaie
"Nine Baha’i Citizens Begin Serving Prison Sentences in Karaj" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Nine Baha'i adherents were arrested and transferred to prison to serve their sentences" Hengaw Organization for Human Rights
"13 Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to Over 40 Years in Prison Combined" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Eleven Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to a Total of 36 Years in Prison" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
Additional Name(s): سابین یزدانی
Gender: Female
Current Location: Kachoui Prison, Karaj
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/6/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Education Rights Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Instruction & Teaching
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Sabin Yazdani is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
On July 31, 2022, security forces reportedly raided Yazdani's home in Karaj.
In February 2023, it was reported that the Karaj Revolutionary Court had sentenced Yazdani to three years in prison for “insulting and propaganda against Islamic Sharia, forming and participating in groups to act against national security through teaching and preaching the Baha’i faith to children in Kindergartens, promoting against Islamic Sharia through holding coaching courses." The conviction appears to stem from her religious educational activities to children.
In June 2023, it was reported that Branch 12 of Alborz Provincial Court of Appeal had upheld Yazdani's sentence.
On August 6, 2023, Yazdani was reportedly taken to Kachoui Prison in Karaj to begin serving her sentence.
Related Cases: Saman Ostovar, Kamyar Habibi, Mahsa Tirgar Bahnemiri, Rameleh Tirgarnejad, Elham Shareghi Arani, Nakisa Sadeghi, Sadaf Sheikhzadeh, Shahrzad Mastouri, Negin Rezaie
Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
HRANA English, Tweet, August 7, 2023
"Nine Baha’i Citizens Begin Serving Prison Sentences in Karaj" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Nine Baha'i adherents were arrested and transferred to prison to serve their sentences" Hengaw Organization for Human Rights
"13 Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to Over 40 Years in Prison Combined" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Eleven Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to a Total of 36 Years in Prison" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"An Incomplete List of Baha'is Targeted by Tehran in 24 Hours" IranWire
Additional Name(s): ولی الله قدمیان
Gender: Male
Current Location: Evin Prison
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 2 Years' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 5 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: May/1/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Preserving Religious Sites & Sacred Lands Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization
Valiollah Ghadamian is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On May 1, 2023, authorities arrested Ghadamian reportedly in relation to his activities assisting Baha'i families seeking to bury their loved ones at a Baha'i cemetery in Tehran. Ghadamian was taken to Evin Prison.
In July 2023, it was reported that the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced Ghadamian among other Baha'is to five years in prison for “membership in illegal groups to disrupt national security.”
In October 2023, it was reported that Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeal had reduced Ghadamian's sentence to two years in prison.
Related Cases: Shadi Shahidzadeh, Mansour Amini, Atollah Zafar
Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"VALIOLLAH GHADAMIAN" United For Iran
"دادگاه تجدیدنظر؛ چهار شهروند بهائی به حبس محکوم شدند" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Four Baha’i Citizens Sentenced Each to Five Years in Prison" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"چهار شهروند بهائی هر یک به پنج سال حبس محکوم شدند" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Detained Baha’is Taken to Revolutionary Court as Deceased Buried Improperly" IranWire
"Three Baha’i Citizens Arrested" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)