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

Extra Bio Info:

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

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