Last Imprisoned Member of Bahai Community Leaders Known as ‘Yaran’ Group Released After 10 Years

56-year-old «Afshin Oskoui» (Afif Naeimi), the last member of seven former Bahai leaders in Iran, was released from prison on Thursday after spending 10 years in detention.

Afshin Oskoui was arrested in 2008 along with several other Bahai leaders in Iran on various charges, including espionage.

Oskoui and six other Bahai leaders formed the «Yaran» group, which addressed the needs of the Bahai community in Iran.

Oskoui, who has two children, developed serious health problems during his imprisonment, and the Islamic Republic’s judicial authorities did not count the time he was hospitalized due to illness as part of his sentence.

Diane Alai, representative of the International Bahai Community at the United Nations, while expressing happiness about Afshin Oskoui’s release, says this case should not be considered as an improvement in the situation of Bahai’s in Iran.

Many Bahai’s in Iran remain imprisoned and under pressure.

Source: Voice of America