Additional Name(s): Bashir Riyahi, بشیر ریاحی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Date of Detainment: February//2018

Date of Sentencing: August//2018

Date of Release: March//2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Public Disorder Unlawful Disobedience

Bashir Riahi

Extra Bio Info:

Bashir Riahi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Riahi following a violent crackdown on people protesting the arrest of Nematollah Riahi. Riahi, a member of the Sufi Gonabadi Order, had come to Tehran earlier in February to participate in a sit-in protesting the house arrest of spiritual leader Noor Ali Tabandeh. Riahi was reportedly charged with "refusing police orders (Art. 607 IPC), "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC), and "disrupting public order" (Art. 618 IPC). Following his arrest, Riahi was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

In August 2018, Riahi was reportedly sentenced to ten years and six months in prison, 148 lashes, and two years in exile. Conflicting reports indicated that Riahi had been expected to serve either five years in prison or seven years and six months in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

In March 2020, Riahi was reportedly released from prison following a state directive in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Riahi was reportedly denied adequate medical care during his detention.

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