Eight Bahai Citizens Arrested in Baharestan, Isfahan

Security forces in the city of Baharestan, Isfahan arrested eight Bahai citizens.

According to Hrana news agency, Sara Shakeeb, Firouzeh Rastinejad, Sanaz Rasteh, Azita Rezavani, Mezhgan Pourshafiei, Nasrin Khademi, Afshin Vejdani and his wife Noshin Hemat are eight individuals who were arrested on Sunday, April 25, and “transferred to an unknown location.”

Based on this report, security officers acted in a “harsh and extremely violent” manner during the arrest of these citizens and the search of their homes, and “subjected some individuals to beating and assault.”

It is still unclear which security organization carried out the arrest of these citizens, and their charges have not been announced.

The Islamic Republic of Iran does not officially recognize the Bahai faith, and its officials have repeatedly called Bahais “spies and enemies” and have issued death sentences, arrests, imprisonment, and bans on education and employment against them.

Human rights defenders and international organizations consistently regard the Iranian government’s treatment as “systematic violation” of the rights of Bahai citizens and a violation of human rights, pointing to the widespread arrests and severe sentences against them.

Source: Radio Farda