Ruhollah Zibai’i, Bahai Citizen, Arrested to Serve Prison Sentence

Ruhollah Zibai’i, a Bahai citizen, was arrested this morning, Tuesday, December 11, by security forces at his home in Baghestan, Karaj, and transferred to prison to serve his sentence. Mr. Zibai’i was sentenced to one year of imprisonment by the first branch of the Karaj Revolutionary Court in November 2019, and this sentence was upheld on appeal. Mr. Zibai’i’s arrest to serve his sentence comes at a time when he, due to metal shrapnel remaining from the Iran-Iraq War embedded in his body, amputation of one leg, missing one kidney, a damaged eardrum, severe pulmonary embolism, and blockage of two coronary arteries, requires continuous medical treatment and care. Moreover, if he contracts COVID-19 in prison, his life would be at serious risk.

According to Hrana news agency, the news organ of the Iranian Human Rights Activists Network, at 7:30 AM on Tuesday, December 11, 2020, Ruhollah Zibai’i, a Bahai citizen, was arrested at his home in Baghestan, Karaj to serve his sentence.

Mr. Zibai’i’s arrest to serve his sentence occurs while he, due to the presence of shrapnel from the Iran-Iraq War in his body, amputation of one leg, missing one kidney, a damaged eardrum, severe pulmonary embolism, and blockage of two coronary arteries, is in poor physical condition and, due to an open wound on his amputated leg, requires continuous medical treatment and care. Moreover, if he contracts COVID-19 in prison, his life would be at serious risk.

Ruhollah Zibai’i was arrested on August 3, 2019, by security forces at his home in Baghestan, Karaj, and transferred to a solitary cell at Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj, known as the IRGC Intelligence Detention Facility. During the arrest, officials also confiscated his mobile phone and personal computer while searching his residence. He was ultimately released on bail in September 2019 until the completion of legal proceedings.

The court hearing regarding the charges against Mr. Zibai’i, along with three co-defendants, was held on January 18, 2020, without the presence of their chosen lawyers at the first branch of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Asif Al-Husseini. Mr. Zibai’i was sentenced to one year of imprisonment on the charge of “propagandistic activity against the system on behalf of the deviant Bahai sect.” This sentence was ultimately upheld by the Alborz Province Appeals Court in May 2021.

Previously, an informed source regarding the situation of this Bahai citizen told Hrana: “Mr. Zibai’i, with 381 stitches in his body and without his left leg below the knee, missing one kidney and a broken shoulder blade with weakened nerves that are essentially non-functional, and his right leg without skin, suffered pulmonary embolism as a result of blood clots entering his lungs from injuries sustained in an accident; and he suffers from respiratory problems and is under medical supervision. He spent 16 months of his military service during the Iran-Iraq War on the southern front and was wounded three times in Dehlouieh, Susangerd, and Ahvaz, losing an eardrum as a result of an explosion wave. However, due to being Bahai, he was not covered by the Foundation of Martyrs and Disabled Veterans. Despite his physical condition and disability, he only had activity on WhatsApp and Telegram networks among his Bahai friends. He was arrested for one month in solitary confinement on charges of propaganda against the system, during which he refrained from eating lunch and dinner due to poor prison food. Now he has been sentenced to one year in prison. He is the father of two daughters named Roya and Roha, who were arrested by security officials in 2011 for holding a religious prayer meeting at their home. They were released after some time and ultimately were forced to leave the country due to job loss and security issues.”

Mr. Zibai’i faced a new case again this summer at the second branch of the Karaj Revolutionary Court.

It is worth noting that Ruhollah Zibai’i’s home was previously searched by security forces in January 2011, during which personal items were confiscated, and he himself was summoned for questioning.

Bahai citizens in Iran are deprived of freedoms related to religious beliefs. This systematic deprivation occurs despite Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to change religion and the freedom to manifest religion or belief individually or in community, publicly or privately.

Source: Hrana