Additional Name(s): Afif Naimi, Afif Naemi, عفیف نعیمی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Fars

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: April/29/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Education Rights Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Instruction & Teaching

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Espionage Illegal Assembly Miscellaneous Religious Crimes Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition

Afif Naeimi

Extra Bio Info:

Afif Naeimi is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On July 31, 2022, security forces arrested Naeimi in Karaj after raiding his home.

On December 13, 2022, Naeimi was released from prison.

In February 2023, it was reported that the Karaj Revolutionary Court had sentenced Naeimi to seven 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 his religious educational activities to children.

On April 29, 2023, security forces arrested Naeimi in Karaj and took him to a prison in Rajaei. 

In June 2023, it was reported that Branch 12 of Alborz Provincial Court of Appeal had upheld Naeimi's sentence. 

Naeimi reportedly fell unconscious at some point during his detention due to cardiac issues. 

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Naeimi has previously been imprisoned for his religious leadership role.

On May 14, 2008, authorities arrested Naeimi and several other Baha'i religious leaders specifically for their roles as religious leaders. They were all part of a group called “Yaran-i-Iran” or “Friends in Iran."

In January 2010, it was reported that Naeimi's trial had begun and that he had been charged with "espionage for foreign countries, propagating against the state, founding and maintaining illegal groups, collaboration with the Zionist occupying regime, conspiracy to collect classified information and sharing it with foreign nations in an attempt to disrupt national security, gathering and colluding against national security internally and externally, defacing the Islamic Republic of Iran in the international community and corruption on Earth." United for Iran lists the charges as "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC), "assembling and colluding to act against national security"(Art. 610 IPC), "cooperating with a hostile government" (Art. 508 IPC), "committing corruption on Earth" (Art. 286 IPC), and "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC).

In August 2010, it was reported that Naeimi was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

In September 2010, it was reported that Naeimi's sentence was reduced to 10 years in prison after an appeals court reportedly dropped the "espionage" charges.

In March 2011, it was reported that another appeals court had upheld Naeimi's original 20-year sentence.

On an unspecified date, Naeimi's sentence was reduced to 10 years in prison based on Article 134 of Iran's Penal Code. 

On December 20, 2018, Naeimi was released from prison after completing his sentence. 

Naeimi was denied proper medical care while imprisoned. He was subsequently hospitalized several times.  He was also subjected to inhumane prison conditions and other arbitrary mistreatment such as the repeated denial of medical furlough. He did go on medical furlough on a few occasions towards the end of his sentence.

Naeimi is married with children.

Related Cases: Mahvash Sabet, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Enayatollah Naeimi

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