Despite Accepting Appeal; 8-Year Prison Sentence of Shahrzad Nazifi, Bahai Citizen and Women’s Motocross Champion Upheld
Despite accepting the appeal request and holding a court hearing, the in absentia verdict issued against Shahrzad Nazifi, a Bahai citizen and one of Iran’s prominent women’s motocross champions and coaches, was upheld by the issuing branch. Ms. Nazifi had previously been sentenced in absentia by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court to 8 years of imprisonment, and as an additional punishment, to provide mandatory services to people with intellectual disabilities for 3 months, 4 hours daily, and 2 years of travel ban.
According to Hrana news agency, the news organ of the Human Rights Activists in Iran collective, despite accepting the appeal request and holding a court hearing, the in absentia verdict issued against Shahrzad Nazifi, a Bahai citizen and one of Iran’s women’s motocross champions and coaches, has been upheld.
Based on this ruling issued in mid-June by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Iman Afshari in absentia, Shahrzad Nazifi was convicted of “running illegal groups and organizations with the aim of disturbing national security” and sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment. Ms. Nazifi was also sentenced to provide mandatory services for 3 months, 4 hours daily for the care of patients with intellectual disabilities in coordination with the General Department of Welfare of Tehran Province, and 2 years of travel ban.
The court cited “incorrect motivation and inherent inclination to undermine the religious system” in issuing the additional punishment for this Bahai citizen.
Ms. Nazifi was previously arrested on November 18, 2018, by security forces and transferred to the detention facility of a security agency in Evin Prison. Following her arrest, security forces went to her residence and after approximately 5 hours of house search, took a number of her personal belongings including books, mobile phone, and personal laptop.
Previously, a source close to Ms. Nazifi’s family told Hrana’s reporter: “On Sunday afternoon, November 18, 2018, security forces arrested Ms. Nazifi while she was on a motocross track, initially went with her to the motocross track, and also took her son Nora Naragh in their vehicle to their home. After approximately 5 hours of house search and confiscating several personal items including books, mobile phone, and laptop while showing an arrest warrant, they arrested Ms. Nazifi and took her with them.”
This source also added: “Security forces also went to Ms. Nazifi’s home and her husband Mehrshaad Naragh’s residence on November 10, 2018, and searched the premises for several hours.
This citizen was ultimately released on December 3, 2018, with a bail bond of 700 million tomans temporarily and until the end of legal proceedings.
Shahrzad Nazifi, daughter of Ali, born in 1971, is a Bahai citizen residing in Tehran. Ms. Nazifi’s family and her husband Mehrshaad Naragh were both champions of Iran’s motocross, and Shahrzad Nazifi and her daughter Nora Naragh are pioneers of women’s motocross in the country. Hrana reported in May 2019 that Shahrzad Nazifi, Mehrshaad Naragh, and their children, who are all pioneers and champions of motocross and Bahai citizens of Iran, have been barred from entering and using motocross tracks without receiving a court order.
Bahai citizens in Iran are deprived of freedoms related to religious beliefs. This systematic deprivation exists despite the fact that according to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of religion and to change religion with conviction, as well as the freedom to express it individually or collectively, and publicly or in private.
Based on unofficial sources in Iran, there are more than three hundred thousand Bahai citizens, but Iran’s Constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, and does not recognize the Bahai religion. For this reason, over the past years, the rights of Bahais in Iran have been systematically violated.
Source: Hrana
