Artin Ghazanfari, Photojournalist and Bahai Citizen, Sentenced to 26 Years in Prison
Artin Ghazanfari, a photojournalist and Bahai citizen detained in Tehran’s Grand Prison, has been sentenced to a total of 26 years imprisonment by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Abolqasem Selavati. The verdict was delivered to him while reports indicate he suffers from serious cardiac and respiratory illnesses and is denied access to specialized medical treatment outside the prison.
According to human rights organizations, Ghazanfari’s sentence was delivered on Monday, November 26, 2026, at Tehran’s Grand Prison, known as Fashafuyeh Prison. This Bahai citizen was arrested during the December 2025 protests.
According to information published by Hrana, Ghazanfari was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for “media activity,” five years for “assembly and conspiracy,” and one year for “propaganda against the system.” An informed source close to his family told Hrana that the judge referred to the law on intensified punishment for espionage to increase the penalty for the first charge from 10 to 20 years.
The first hearing in his case was held on July 29, 2026, in Branch 14 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, and the final hearing took place on September 28 in Branch 15 of the same court. Published information about this case does not provide complete details from court documents and the defendant’s defense statements.
Artin Ghazanfari was arrested on January 19, 2026, during a security forces raid on his residence in Tehran. According to reports by Henguaw and Hrana, officers simultaneously conducted searches of his home and workplace, seizing various electronic devices, books, photography equipment, and personal and work materials.
Ghazanfari had previously been detained and imprisoned. His re-arrest during the December protests and the issuance of this severe sentence have raised concerns about judicial treatment of journalists, photojournalists, and citizens belonging to religious minorities in Iran.
According to Hrana’s report, Artin Ghazanfari suffers from heart failure, high blood pressure, and asthma. Informed sources stated that prison physicians have emphasized the necessity of his immediate transfer to medical centers outside the prison, but transfer has been opposed.
Continued deprivation of specialized medical services, should these reports be verified, could place this prisoner’s health and life in serious jeopardy. As of the time these reports were published, no official response from judicial authorities has been released regarding the reason for opposing his transfer to a hospital.
Iran’s Bahai community has repeatedly reported the arrest, social deprivation, and judicial persecution of its members over past years. Human rights organizations have also documented in multiple reports the treatment of Bahai and Christian citizens due to their beliefs or peaceful activities.
In Artin Ghazanfari’s case, the convergence of his religious identity, his professional activity as a photojournalist, the lengthy prison sentence, and concerns regarding his physical health underscore the necessity for transparency regarding the legal proceedings and his access to medical services.
Regardless of the charges presented, the right to access to a lawyer, fair trial, and access to appropriate medical care during imprisonment are fundamental rights of every prisoner. Currently, one of the most important concerns regarding Ghazanfari’s situation is ensuring his immediate access to specialized treatment and clarification of the details of his legal proceedings.
