Sophia Mobini, a Baha'i citizen, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Some reports indicate that the Islamic Republic of Iran has sentenced a Baha'i citizen named "Sophia Mobini" to 10 years in prison.
Ms. Mobini was arrested in November 2017 during the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith, and was released on bail after a while. But now some in cyberspace have reported that she has been sentenced to ten years, and the HRANA website, which publishes Iranian human rights news, announced this news on Sunday, July 2nd.
A source told HRANA that the title of the charge against this Baha'i citizen was "managing and forming an illegal Baha'i group with the aim of disrupting the security of the country," and Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 10 years in prison based on this title. However, this sentence was based on Article 499 of the Islamic Penal Code, which is originally titled "membership in an illegal organization with the aim of disrupting the security of the country," and the maximum sentence for this charge is 5 years.
Last Friday, it was announced that Negin Tadashidi, a Baha'i citizen who was arrested at the same time as Ms. Mobini, was also sentenced to 5 years in prison by the lower court.
International human rights organizations and the United States government have repeatedly condemned the persecution and imprisonment of followers of religious minorities in Iran.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on Friday during the unveiling of the annual religious freedom report and said that the repression of Baha'is, Christians and others in Iran continues to affect consciences.
Source: Voice of America
