The Situation of “Payam Vali,” a Bahai Citizen and Human Rights Activist
Payam Vali, a Bahai citizen and human rights activist residing in Karaj, was arrested at his private residence during the initial days of nationwide protests and subsequently transferred to Qarchak Prison.
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s government has long subjected Bahais within Iran to persecution and deprived them of access to the most basic facilities. This practice has continued to the present day, with many of them either killed or imprisoned, including Payam Vali, a resident of Karaj.
In recent days, Payam Vali was transferred from Qarchak Prison to an unknown location, a development that has caused severe concern among family members and the Bahai community in Iran.
The charges against Payam Vali include: propaganda against the system through promotion of the Bahai faith, propaganda against the sacred precepts of Islam, contact and cooperation with foreign media outlets, transmission of human rights violations news, and incitement of people to stage ongoing protests through cyberspace.
Dian, Payam Vali’s ten-year-old child, has called for his father’s release through a video posted on social media. In the video, he states that his father has been wronged since childhood and has now been imprisoned simply for being Bahai. He says his father is innocent and asks for his release.
Let us amplify the voices of Payam Vali, Dian, human rights activists, journalists, people of Kurdistan, Zahedan, and other protesters throughout Iran.
