Five-Year Prison Sentence Handed Down to Another Bahai Citizen in Iran
A five-year prison sentence for Samin Maghsoudi, a Bahai citizen residing in Tehran, has been upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeals.
According to reports published on social media, the five-year prison sentence of Samin Maghsoudi, a Bahai citizen living in Tehran, which had previously been issued by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeals under the presiding judge Zargar.
Morteza Esmaeilpour, a human rights activist, stated on his Twitter page that Ms. Maghsoudi’s charge was “managing Bahai organizations” and wrote that this Bahai citizen was sentenced to five years in prison solely for organizing a ceremony commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the prophet of the Bahai faith.
Samin Maghsoudi was arrested by security forces at her home in September 2017 and was later temporarily released on bail pending the completion of legal proceedings.
Recently, two Bahai citizens residing in Kerman, named Kiana Razvani and Kimia Mostafavi, were also sentenced to a combined twelve years in prison by the Kerman Revolutionary Court on charges of “membership in Bahai organizations” and “propaganda against the system in favor of opposition groups.”
Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated recently during the release of the annual religious freedom report that the persecution of Bahais, Christians, and other religious and sectarian minorities in Iran continues to be a serious concern.
Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, also stated in his second report on human rights conditions in Iran this year that while the Islamic Republic no longer executes Bahais solely for their religious beliefs, the danger of raids, arrests, and imprisonment of Bahais continues to exist, and since August 2005, more than 1,168 Bahais have been arrested and faced vague and ambiguous charges.
International human rights organizations and the United States have repeatedly condemned the harassment and imprisonment of followers of religious minorities in Iran.
Source: Voice of America
