Iran Press Watch

Expulsion of a Baha’i student from Zanjan University

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:09:15 +0000

Mr Mehrdad Darab Najaf-Abadi, who was admitted to the Institute of Higher Professional Education at Khorram Dareh branch (in the province of Zanjan), at the commencement of the 1388-1389 academic year, has been expelled and his tuition returned to him. The Institute of Higher Professional Education is a non-governmental and non-profit organization. Its by-laws and regulations have been approved by the Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Committee of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.

[Source: Baha’i World News Services in Persian; Translated by Iran Press Watch]

Barring the reopening of an optician’s shop

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:30:22 +0000

Nazar-Abad – Mrs. Zohreh Laghai, the owner of Misagh Optician, whose business was shut down in the month of Day, 1387 (Dec., 2008), along with four other optician’s shops owned by Baha’is in Nazar-Abad (near Karaj), has been barred by the Ministry of Intelligence from re-opening her shop, despite the decision of the Court of Justice for Commerce that had granted her permission to re-open her shop.

[Source: Baha’i World News Services in Persian; Translated by Iran Press Watch]

Subpoenas for five Baha’is

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:28:34 +0000

Shiraz – Mr. Afshin Ehsanian, Mr. Fraham (Hadi) Masoumi, and Mrs. Haleh Hushmandi, who were among the 54 youth arrested on 29 Urdibehesht 1387 (19 May 2006) for teaching disadvantaged children, along with Mr. Vahdat Dana and Mr. Keyvan Karami, all of whom are from Shiraz and are free on bail, have been subpoenaed to present themselves to the Court on 18 Aban 1388 (9 Nov. 2009).

[Source: Baha’i World News Services in Persian; Translated by Iran Press Watch ]

Temporary release of Mr. Sasan Taqva

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:27:08 +0000

Mr. Sasan Taqva of Shiraz, who had been temporarily released on 15 Mehr 1388 (7 Oct. 2009), returned to prison on 27 Mehr 1377 (19 Oct. 2009). Mr. Taqva, Mrs. Raha Sabet, and Haleh Rouhi were arrested on 28 Aban 1386 (19 Nov. 2007), and are currently serving four year prison sentences.

[Source: Baha’i World News Services in Persian; Translated by Iran Press Watch]

Search of the House of a Baha’i in Babol

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:33:34 +0000

According to HRANA [Human Rights Activists News Agency], based on reports from the Baha’i Committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran, on Wednesday the 29th of Mehr [21 Oct.], Intelligence Office agents of the city of Babol entered the home of Pejman Nikunejad, a Baha’i resident of Babol. After searching his home and seizing some of his personal belongings and religious books, they arrested him, but after two hours of interrogation he was released temporarily until further notice.

[Source: http://hra-news.info/news/8337.aspx; Translation by Iran Press Watch]

Two Baha’is Arrested in Mashhad

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:30:36 +0000

Two Baha’is were arrested by Security Forces agents in Mashhad and have been detained at an unknown location.

According to HRANA [Human Rights Activists News Agency], the Baha’i Committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran, around 8:00 PM on Monday, 11 of Aban [November 2, 2009], a number of agents of the Security Office of Mashhad raided a private Baha’i meeting in Mashhad. The agents instructed the people present to carry on with their meeting while the agents took video of the program and the attendees.

As the meeting concluded, the agents searched the house. Eventually they produced a court order to arrest Ms. Sonia Ahmadi. As she was not present, the security agents proceeded to her home, searched her house, arrested her, and detained her at an undisclosed location. Sources confirm that Mr. Ghanavatian, who attended that meeting, was arrested on the same date in Mashhad.

[Source: http://hra-news.info/news/8339.aspx; Translated by Iran Press Watch]

Theft at the Baha’i cemetery in Sangsar

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:06:52 +0000

According to HRANA [Human Rights Activists News Agency], based on reports from the Baha’i Committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran, unidentified persons took one of the two large water tanks at the Baha’i cemetery in the city of Sangsar (near Semnan) in the past few days.

This type of water tank is very large and holds a considerable volume of water. Moving it without proper equipment and a crane is impossible. It is noteworthy that the road leading to this cemetery has been closed by the Municipality of Sangsar for a while now, and access has been restricted to Municipality personnel only.

[Source: http://hra-news.info/news/8275.aspx; Translated by Iran Press Watch]

Court order for the arrest and imprisonment of a Baha’i woman in Semnan

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:57:53 +0000

According to HRANA [Human Rights Activists News Agency], based on reports from the Baha’i Committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mrs. Manizheh Manzavian, a Baha’i in Semnan, who was arrested and detained during the month of Khordad of the current year [May-Jun 2009] and subsequently released on bail [see http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/4091], has been sentenced to three years and six months of imprisonment by the [Islamic] Revolutionary Court of the city of Semnan, presided over by Judge Zangui.

The charges brought against Mrs. Manizheh Manzavian, as stated, include activities against [National] security by teaching the Baha’i Faith, as well as membership in an organization opposing the Islamic regime and related to the Baha’is. It is important to note that Mrs. Manizheh Manzavian was previously a member of the informal administrative committee of the Baha’is of Semnan which, in the last month of Esfand [Feb-Mar 2009], was shut down by order of the Prosecutor of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, after which she had had no further activities [in the Baha’i administration].

[Source: http://hra-news.info/news/8276.aspx; Translated by Iran Press Watch]

Kidnapping and Torture of a Baha’i in Shiraz

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:33:10 +0000

A Baha’i has been kidnapped, persecuted, and tortured by unknown individuals in Shiraz.

According to HRANA [Human Rights Activists News Agency], based on reports from the Baha’i Committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mr. Rouh’u’llah Rezaie, a 45-year-old Baha’i in Shiraz, was stopped, kidnapped, and moved to an unknown place as he was returning home, to his wife and child, from a gas station early in the morning on 8/8/1388 [October 27,2009]. There, he was threatened, insulted, and subjected to a simulated hanging in a show-execution. He was left naked in extreme cold, and different parts of his hands, chest, and forehead were burnt by cigarettes. Finally, he was released on a road in the suburbs of Shiraz.

It should be noted that Mr. Rezaie was imprisoned for five years in 1360 [1971], when he was 18, in Adel Abad prison in Shiraz. He has endured the most terrible conditions and all possible physical and psychological pressure due to his religious beliefs.

[Source: http://hra-news.info/news/8174.aspx; Translated by Iran Press Watch]

Iran to try seven detained Baha’is soon

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:05:18 +0000

Editor’s note: The story of these seven Baha’is has been in the news ever since their arrest in May 2008 and closely followed by many Baha’is and humanitarian organizations around the world. The last scheduled trial date that was on 18 October, 2009, was cancelled without a new date. Also, the article inaccurately states that “The Baha’i faith was founded by Shi’ite clergymen in Iran in the 19th century…” Please see Historical Context of the Babi and Baha’i Faiths for an accurate historical context of the Baha’i Faith.

(Reuters) Seven detained Baha’i believers accused of spying for Israel and blasphemy will soon go on trial in Iran, an official was quoted as saying on Sunday.

“I believe they will be tried in the near future,” Alireza Avaie, head of Tehran’s justice department, said, according to the official IRNA news agency. It did not give further details.

Read Full Story | In Arabic