Additional Name(s): Mahvash Sabet Shahriari, مهوش ثابت

Gender: Female

Current Location: Evin Prison, Tehran

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Health Concerns: Broken hip; respiratory issues; cardiac issues

Reports of Torture: Yes

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 1 Year Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July/31/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

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

Mahvash Sabet

Extra Bio Info:

Mahvash Sabet is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On July 31, 2022, security forces arrested Sabet in Tehran after raiding her home. Security forces allegedly broke her kneecaps during interrogation. 

In November 2022, it was reported that Sabet was charged with "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC).

In December 2022, it was reported that Sabet was sentenced to ten years in prison following a one hour trial on November 21, 2022.

In August 2023, it was reported that the Tehran Court of Appeal upheld Sabet's sentence. It was also reported that Sabet is suffering from various illnesses and has been hospitalized several times.

In October 2024, it was reported that Sabet has been suffering from a severe respiratory and lung condition, and that prison authorities are not providing her with appropriate treatment.

In December 2024. Sabet was transferred to Rajaei Hospital in Tehran due to worsening cardiac issues. 

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) advocates for Sabet as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.

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Sabet has previously been imprisoned for her religious leadership role.

On March 5, 2008, authorities arrested Sabet for her role as a Baha'i religious leader. Sabet was part of a group called “Yaran-i-Iran” or “Friends in Iran," whose other members were later arrested in May 2008.

In January 2010, it was reported that Sabet's trial had begun and that she 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 foreign States against the Islamic Republic of Iran” (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 Sabet was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

In September 2010, it was reported that Sabet'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 Sabet's original 20-year sentence.

In 2012, it was reported that Sabet broke her hip while imprisoned and was not allowed to take medical leave from prison.

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

On September 18, 2017, Sabet was released from prison after completing her sentence.

Sabet is married with children.

Related Cases: Afif Naeimi, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Enayatollah Naeimi

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