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
Atieh Salehi was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
In October 2017, security agents arrested Salehi 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, Salehi was released on bail.
In April 2020, Salehi 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 Salehi 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, Salehi was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence in a prison in Birjand.
Salehi's sentence should have ended.
Related Cases: Arezou Mohammadi, Roya Melaki, Ataollah Melaki, Farid Zirgi Moghaddam
Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
"Atieh Salehi" 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): Arezoo Mohammadi, آرزو محمدی
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
Arezou Mohammadi was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
In October 2017, security agents arrested Mohammadi 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, Mohammadi was released on bail.
In April 2020, Mohammadi 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 Mohammadi 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, Mohammadi surrendered herself into custody to begin serving her sentence in a prison in Birjand.
Mohammadi's sentence should have ended.
Related Cases: Atieh Salehi, Roya Melaki, Ataollah Melaki, Farid Zirgi Moghaddam
Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
"Arezou Mohammadi" United for Iran
"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): نسیم قنواتیان
Gender: Male
Current Location: Bandar Abbas Prison
Perpetrator: Iran
Ethnic Group: Fars
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: December//2020
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly
Nasim Ghanvatian was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
In April 2017, authorities arrested Ghanvatian and several other Baha’is in Bandar Abbas reportedly for attending Baha’i gatherings as well as engaging in other communal religious activities. There is also reporting indicating they were accused of sharing human rights violations against Baha’is with foreign media organizations.
In June 2017, Ghanvatian was released on bail.
In December 2020, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Abbas sentenced Ghanvatian to two years in prison for “assembling and colluding to act against national security” (Art. 610 IPC).
In February 2021, Branch 2 of the Hormozgan Court of Appeals upheld Ghanvatian's sentence.
Later in 2021, Ghanvatian was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence and was transferred to Bandar Abbas Prison.
In April 2021, Ghanvatian was granted a short leave from prison. He returned days later.
On an unspecified date, Ghanvatian was released from prison reportedly after completing his sentence.
Related Cases: Maral Rasti, Mahnaz Jan Nesar, Arash Rasekhi, Mehrallah Afshar
Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
"Nasim Ghanvatian" United For Iran
“با پایان مرخصی؛ هشت شهروند بهائی به زندان بندرعباس بازگشتند”Human Rights Activists New Agency (HRANA)
“مارال راستی و مهناز جان نثار، دو شهروند بهایی به زندان بندرعباس منتقل شدند” Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
“Source: Iran Summons 8 Baha’is to Prison for Alleged Communication with Western Media” Voice of America (VOA)
“Iran sentences 8 Bahais to 14 years of prison in southern city” Iran News Wire
“Seven Baha’is Arrested in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm by Ministry of Intelligence” Iran Press Watch