Confirmation of 20-Year Prison Sentence for Bahai Citizens Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi
The 20-year prison sentence for Bahai citizens Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi has been confirmed by the Tehran Province Court of Appeals.
According to Hrana, the sentences issued against Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi were upheld in their entirety by Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals.
The case of Bahai citizens Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi was sent to Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals in February of last year. After some time, the case was transferred to the sentencing branch of the Revolutionary Court for remedying procedural deficiencies. Ultimately, the original sentence was confirmed by the court and communicated to the defendants.
The aforementioned individuals were sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to 10 years in prison each on charges of “forming and managing an association with the intent to undermine national security,” as well as a two-year ban on leaving the country, a prohibition on residence in Tehran, a ban on participation in social groups, and confiscation of certain digital devices.
It should be noted that Mahvash Sabet is approximately 70 years old and suffers from various illnesses that have made her prison sentence more difficult to endure. She has also been transferred to hospitals outside prison on several occasions in recent months.
Religious minorities in Iran, including officially recognized Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians, have been subject to oppression, harassment, torture, detention, and humiliation throughout history and up to the present day. Bahais, whose faith is not officially recognized in Iran, have been systematically oppressed by the government and their rights have been systematically violated.
