Additional Name(s): فرید مقدم زیرگی
Gender: Male
Current Location: Birjand
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: 1 Charge Overturned
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October//2020
Date of Sentencing: October//2020
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Doctrine) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Expression about Religion Online Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Blasphemy Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Farid Zirgi Moghaddam is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
In August 2019, intelligence agents detained Moghaddam in Birjand reportedly in relation to posts he made about the Baha’i faith on the Telegram messaging app. Police reportedly seized electronics from his home.
In September 2019, Moghaddam was released on bail. While detained, Moghaddam was reportedly held in solitary confinement for nearly a month and denied access to an attorney.
In July 2020, Branch 1 of the Birjand Revolutionary Court sentenced Moghaddam to five years in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and one year in prison for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).
In August 2020, Branch 102 of the 2nd Criminal Court of Birjand sentenced Moghaddam to a year in prison for "insulting Islamic sanctities" (Art. 513 IPC). This charge was based on an allegation that Moghaddam had forwarded messages that provided a Baha’i interpretation of the Qur’an and denied the finality of the Prophet Muhammad and other Islamic beliefs.
In October 2020, Branch 4 of the South Khorasan Appeals Court upheld Moghaddam's sentence for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) but acquitted him of "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).
In October 2020, Moghaddam was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence.
Related Cases: Arezou Mohammadi, Atieh Salehi, Roya Melaki, Ataollah Melaki
Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Farid Moghaddam Ziragi" United for Iran
"More Baha’is Begin Serving Prison Sentences in Iran Simply for Their Beliefs" Center for Human Rights in Iran
"Baha’i Citizen, Farid Zirgi Moghaddam, Sentenced to Five Years in Prison" Iran Press Watch
"Farid Zirgi Moghaddam, Baha’i Citizen, Sentenced to Additional Year in Prison" Iran Press Watch
Additional Name(s): عطاالله ملاکی
Gender: Male
Current Location: Birjand
Perpetrator: Iran
Ethnic Group: Fars
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 1 Year, 6 Months' or 2 Years' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October//2020
Date of Sentencing: September//2020
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Ataollah Melaki was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
In October 2017, security agents arrested Melaki and several other Baha’is following a raid on their homes in Birjand. The raids coincided with a Baha’i religious holiday.
A month later, Melaki was released on bail.
In April 2020, Melaki was sentenced to six years in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC). It is also reported he was sentenced for “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC).
In September 2020, Branch 4 of the South Khorasan Appeals Court sentenced Melaki to one year and six months in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and acquitted him of “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC). There is other reporting that Melaki was sentenced to two years in prison.
In October 2020, Melaki was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence in a prison in Birjand.
Melaki's sentence should have ended.
Related Cases: Arezou Mohammadi, Atieh Salehi, Roya Melaki, Farid Zirgi Moghaddam
Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
"Ataollah Melaki" United for Iran
"۶ شهروند بهایی جهت اجرای حکم راهی زندان بیرجند شدند" Iran Wire
"More Baha’is Begin Serving Prison Sentences in Iran Simply for Their Beliefs" Center for Human Rights in Iran
"Source: 2 Baha’i Women in Iran Report to Prison to Begin Sentences for Practicing Their Faith" Voice of America (VOA)
"Source: Iran Rejects Baha'is' Appeal to Avoid Prison with Coronavirus Risk" Voice of America (VOA)
Additional Name(s): رویا ملاکی
Gender: Female
Current Location: Birjand
Perpetrator: Iran
Ethnic Group: Fars
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 1 Year, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October//2020
Date of Sentencing: September//2020
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Roya Melaki was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
In October 2017, security agents arrested Melaki and several other Baha’is following a raid on their homes in Birjand. The raids coincided with a Baha’i religious holiday.
A month later, Melaki was released on bail.
In April 2020, Melaki was sentenced to six years in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC). It is also reported she was sentenced for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).
In September 2020, Branch 4 of the South Khorasan Appeals Court sentenced Melaki to one year and six months in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and acquitted her of "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).
In October 2020, Melaki was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence in a prison in Birjand.
Melaki's sentence should have ended.
Related Cases: Arezou Mohammadi, Atieh Salehi, Ataollah Melaki, Farid Zirgi Moghaddam
Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
"Roya Melaki" United for Iran
"۶ شهروند بهایی جهت اجرای حکم راهی زندان بیرجند شدند" Iran Wire
"More Baha’is Begin Serving Prison Sentences in Iran Simply for Their Beliefs" Center for Human Rights in Iran
"Source: 2 Baha’i Women in Iran Report to Prison to Begin Sentences for Practicing Their Faith" Voice of America (VOA)
"Source: Iran Rejects Baha'is' Appeal to Avoid Prison with Coronavirus Risk" Voice of America (VOA)