Continued Detention and Uncertain Status of Moghan Salmanzadeh, Bahai Citizen

Moghan Salmanzadeh, a Bahai citizen, remains in an uncertain legal status at Urmia Prison 12 days after her arrest.

Moghan Salmanzadeh, a researcher in the field of physiological psychology, was arrested on July 5 in the city of Maku by security forces. In a recent phone call, she reported her transfer to the general ward of Urmia Prison, however, she has not yet been granted temporary release.

Now, 12 days after her arrest, she remains in an uncertain legal situation. Furthermore, no official statement has been issued regarding the reasons for her arrest or the charges against her.

In addition to Christian and Jewish citizens, Bahai citizens in Iran are also deprived of freedom of religion and belief. These systematic deprivations of religious freedom and freedom of belief occur despite Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which stipulate that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to change religion or belief, and the freedom to manifest such religion or belief individually or in community with others, both publicly and privately.

According to statistics from unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Bahai citizens live in Iran; however, the Iranian Constitution does not officially recognize the Bahai religion. Over the past years, the rights of Bahai citizens in Iran have been severely violated, and they have faced harassment and persecution.