Additional Name(s): مهرالله افشار
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
Mehrallah Afshar was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
In April 2017, authorities arrested Afshar 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, Afshar was released on bail.
In December 2020, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Abbas sentenced Afshar 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 Afshar's sentence.
Later in 2021, Afshar was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence and was transferred to Bandar Abbas Prison.
In April 2021, Afshar was granted a short leave from prison. He returned days later.
On an unspecified date, Afshar was released from prison reportedly after completing his sentence.
Related Cases: Maral Rasti, Mahnaz Jan Nesar, Arash Rasekhi, Nasim Ghanvatian
Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
"Mehrallah Afshar" 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
Additional Name(s): آرش راسخی
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
Arash Rasekhi was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
In April 2017, authorities arrested Rasekhi 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, Rasekhi was released on bail.
In December 2020, Branch 2 of the Bandar Abbas Revolutionary Court sentenced Rasekhi 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 Rasekhi’s sentence.
Later in 2021, Rasekhi was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence and was transferred to Bandar Abbas Prison.
In April 2021, Rasekhi was granted a short leave from prison. He returned days later.
On an unspecified date, Rasekhi was released from prison reportedly after completing his sentence.
Related Cases: Maral Rasti, Mahnaz Jan Nesar, Mehrallah Afshar, Nasim Ghanvatian
Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
“Arash Rasekhi” 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
Additional Name(s): مارال راستی
Gender: Female
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
Maral Rasti was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
In April 2017, authorities arrested Rasti 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, Rasti was released on bail.
In December 2020, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Abbas sentenced Rasti 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 Rasti’s sentence.
Later in 2021, Rasti was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence and was transferred to Bandar Abbas Prison.
In April 2021, Rasti was granted a short leave from prison. She returned days later.
On an unspecified date, Rasti was released from prison reportedly after completing her sentence.
Related Cases: Mahnaz Jan Nesar, Arash Rasekhi, Mehrallah Afshar, Nasim Ghanvatian
Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
“Maral Rasti” United for Iran
“با پایان مرخصی؛ هشت شهروند بهائی به زندان بندرعباس بازگشتند”Human Rights Activists New Agency (HRANA)
“Iranian Baha’i women jailed to serve prison terms for their faith” Iran Human Rights Monitor
“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