Three Baha'i citizens sentenced to prison terms and other penalties in appeal

Source: www.en-hrana.org

Arshia Rouhani, Hamid Monzavi and Arash Nabavi, two Baha'i citizens living in Isfahan, were sentenced to two years in prison each, plus fines and other penalties, by the provincial appeals court.

The verdict of the 37th Branch of the Isfahan Court of Appeals, presided over by Ahmad Ganjali Darani, sentences each of these Baha'i citizens to two years in prison, a fine of 24 million tomans and a two-year ban on leaving the country and engaging in online activities. A source close to the family of one of these Baha'i citizens confirmed the news to HRANA, stating that the appeal hearing took place in the said branch earlier this month.

Previously, Arshia Rouhani and Hamid Monzavi Joshaghani sentenced sentenced by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court to five years in prison each, a fine of 50 million tomans, a two-year ban on online activities and leaving the country, and confiscation of their assets. Mr. Nabavi was also sentenced by the same branch to ten years in prison, a fine, confiscation of his assets and other penalties.

Arash Nabavi, about 38 years old, was arrested in August last year and released on bail after two months.

In September last year, two shops owned by Rouhani and Monzavi in ​​Isfahan were sealed by the Ministry of Intelligence, but reopened after a month. On October 30, 2023, Rouhani and Monzavi were summoned and arrested by Branch 13 of the Isfahan Public Prosecutor's Office. They were released the next day on bail of 300 million tomans. Rouhani had previously faced legal action for his religious beliefs.

Baha'is are victims of violations of their religious rights, accounting for 82% of reports of attacks against religious minorities, according to the HRA's 2023 annual report. report.

The Baha'i Faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by the Iranian authorities, resulting in systematic and long-standing violations of the rights of Baha'is in the country. This includes denying them their fundamental right to practice their religion, which is a clear violation of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations Covenant states that everyone has the right to freedom of religion, freedom to change one's religion, and freedom of expression, individually or collectively, openly or secretly.