Austrian @Bahai_AT Bureau Public Affairs Human Rights Representative
Wien
Joined August 2022
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Im #Iran werden wieder viele #Bahai inhaftiert oder vor Gericht gestellt. Besonders betroffen sind derzeit junge #Frauen. Iranian authorities escalate arrests and summonses of Bahá'í #women. #OurStoryIsOne #religiouspersecution
ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_…
Isma Forghani retweeted
Iran’s judiciary has sentenced Artin Ghazanfari, a Baha’i photojournalist from Tehran, to a total of 26 years in prison. Arrested during the January 2026 protests, he remains held in Greater Tehran Prison (Fashafuyeh).
hengaw.org/en/content/news-s…
Isma Forghani retweeted
Iranian authorities have raided homes of Baha'i residents in Isfahan, confiscating property and belongings, amid increased pressure on the community.
More: iranwire.com/en/news/159561
9 months in prison. His child witnessed his arrest. Lawyers’ pleas 4 bail & fair trial ignored. #Bahai photographer #NavidZarrehbinIrani finally faces his 1st “hearing” only to be sent straight back to prison! Let’s us not scroll past his name & all jailed for their faith. #Iran
Bahá’í Photographer Navid Zarrehbin Irani Faces First Hearing After Nearly Nine Months in Detention
On 4 October 2026, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad held the first hearing in the case of Mr. Navid Zarrehbin Irani, a well-known photographer and Bahá’í resident of Mashhad, after nearly nine months in detention. Accompanied by his attorneys, Mr. Zarrehbin Irani responded to the charges brought against him.
The court postponed further consideration of the case to a subsequent session without concluding the proceedings. As of the time of writing, the date of the next hearing had not been announced.
No details of the specific charges were disclosed. Following the hearing, Mr. Zarrehbin Irani was returned to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
Mr. Zarrehbin Irani was arrested on 15 January 2026 by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence at his home in Mashhad in the presence of his child. During the arrest, his personal belongings and professional equipment were confiscated.
Following interrogations at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Mashhad, he was transferred to the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison. Since April 2026, he has been held in the prison’s security ward.
On 1 July 2026, he was transferred to the Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office for his final interrogation session and to present his defense. Despite the completion of that session, authorities did not approve his release on bail. As of 2 July 2026, after 168 days in detention, he remained in custody awaiting a trial date.
Mr. Zarrehbin Irani’s attorneys have formally requested his release on bail, arguing that his continued detention is unjustified in the absence of sufficient evidence. Despite repeated efforts by his family, judicial authorities have not agreed to his release on bail or temporary leave. The attorneys’ most recent request has also received no response.
#Bahai #Iran #Arrests #CourtAppearances #NavidZarrehbin
Imagine sitting in a café with friends when gvt agents storm in, seize the phones, assault you & take you home to search your family’s house, ransacking it, damaging property, & taking belongings. This happened yet again to #Bahai of Yazd, #Iran, on 19.10 because of their faith!
Security Agents Damage Property During Search of Bahar Behifar’s Home in Yazd
On the evening of 19 October 2026, Ministry of Intelligence agents raided a café in Yazd, where a group of Bahá’ís had gathered socially. The agents confronted those present, confiscated their mobile phones, and took a young Bahá’í with them to conduct home searches.
The young Bahá’í was Ms. Bahar Behifar, daughter of Mr. Hormoz Behifar. Agents escorted her to her father’s home, which they raided and searched without presenting a judicial warrant. They searched the residence and its contents, emptying drawers and cupboards and causing significant damage to personal property, including a number of household items and belongings.
A short time earlier, during a search of another Bahá’í’s home in Yazd, where Ms. Behifar and several other young people were present, her mobile phone had been left inside her vehicle. Agents took her to the vehicle and confiscated the phone.
The other Bahá’ís present at the gathering were Mr. Shahin Daneshnia, Ms. Romina Pourmoradi, Mr. Kamyab Raei, Ms. Hania Taleie, Mr. Altaf Ghane, Ms. Parnia Basiri, Mr. Milad Aghdasi, and Mrs. Samiyeh Gholinejad.
The agents declined to present a judicial warrant during these actions. When those present requested to see legal authorization for the search and confiscations, the agents stated only that they had received “orders.” Several of those at the café were also physically assaulted during the incident.
That same night, security agents also raided and searched the home of Mr. Aghdasi and Mrs. Gholinejad, a Bahá’í couple residing in Yazd. Some of their personal property was damaged during the operation.
As of the time of writing, no information has been made available about the reasons for the search of Ms. Behifar’s home, any charges that may have been brought against her, or the precise extent of the damage caused during the raid.
#Bahai #Iran #Arrests #HomeSearches #BaharBehifar #HormozBehifar
Isma Forghani retweeted
Baha’i man Saeed Hassani remains detained in Shiraz after four months
hengaw.org/en/content/news-m…
Die Repression gegen #Bahai #Frauen im #Iran eskaliert. #ForoughRam wurde im Januar bei einer Razzia festgenommen, ihre Familienbesitztümer beschlagnahmt und sie auf Anordnung des Geheimdienstministeriums entlassen – allein wegen ihres Glaubens. Mehr dazu im @BahaiBIC -Bulletin.
Iran | News Bulletin #37-26 (9–19 October 2026) PART 2
iranbahaipersecution.bic.org…
#BahaiRights #Iran
A meaningful encounter in Vienna with Dr. A. Niederle, former #PEN #Austria president, receiving #MahvashSabet’s memoirs. He supported her through both 10-year prison terms & translated her poems into German. His voice remains vital against the persecution of #Bahai in #Iran.
How does a prisoner write a memoir when even access to pen and paper is uncertain?
In the final part of her interview with Iran International's Negar Mojtahedi, Bahiyyih Nakhjavani reveals how Mahvash Sabet secretly wrote and preserved fragments of her experiences during years of imprisonment, with the encouragement and help of fellow prisoners.
Nakhjavani also reflects on the message at the heart of Open Wide the Doors: Sabet’s hope for a future Iran built on unity, where people of all backgrounds and communities are recognized and able to work together.
Watch the final part of the interview.
#MahvashSabet #BahaiRights #Iran #ReligiousFreedom
"Das 🇨🇭 Eidgenössische Depart. für auswärtige Angelegenheiten (EDA) verfolgt die Lage der #Bahai im #Iran & fordert die Behörden regelmässig bilateral & multilateral auf, die Menschenrechte zu achten und alle Minderheiten zu schützen".
"Ich verlange nur, als Mensch akzeptiert zu werden.“ Die Worte eines #Bahai aus Ägypten erinnern uns daran: Menschenwürde & Religions-oder Weltanschauungsfreiheit sind Rechte für alle.Danke @Reuters für diese wichtige Berichterstattung #EgyptianBahaiRights reuters.com/world/africa/egy…
Thank you, @Reuters, for this important coverage of the lived reality of #Egypt’s Bahá’í community, whose members continue to be systematically denied some of the most basic human rights. “I am not asking anyone to accept my religion. I am asking them to accept me as a person in this country.” #egyptianbahairights
Read more: reuters.com/world/africa/egy…
Isma Forghani retweeted
Iran News #Bulletin #36-2026 re the persecution and human rights abuses of the Bahá'ís in #Iran is available here: iranbahaipersecution.bic.org…
#Bahai #Bahais_of_Iran #HumanRights
#Isfahan #Tehran #Shiraz
26 Gesichter. Was sie verbindet? Ihr #Bahai-Glaube.
2016 im #Iran verhaftet, 2022 zu insgesamt 85 Jahren Haft verurteilt! Der Oberste Gerichtshof hob das Urteil später auf.
Am 11. Oktober 2026 war eine neue Verhandlung angesetzt.
Verfolgt wegen ihres Glaubens. Immer wieder. #FoRB
Twenty-Six Bahá’ís Summoned for Ninth Court Hearing in Shiraz
On 27 September 2026, several Bahá’ís in Shiraz received summonses in connection with the case commonly known as the “Shiraz 26 Bahá’ís case.” They were instructed to appear for the ninth hearing before Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court.
One of the summonses specifies that the defendants must appear before the court at 9:00 a.m. on 11 October 2026.
The 26 Bahá’ís named in the case are Mr. Esmail Rousta, Ms. Bahareh Nowrouzi, Mr. Behnam Azizpour, Ms. Parisa Rouhizadegan, Ms. Samareh Ashnaie, Mr. Farbod Shadman, Mr. Farzad Shadman, Ms. Lala Salehi, Ms. Maryam Eslami Mehdiabadi, Ms. Marjan Gholampour, Mr. Mahyar Sefidi Miandoab, Ms. Mojgan Gholampour, Mr. Nabil Tahzib, Ms. Nasim Kashaninejad, Ms. Noushin Zenhari, Mr. Vargha Kaviani, Ms. Yekta Fahandej Saadi, Mr. Ramin Shirvani, Ms. Rezvan Yazdani, Mr. Saied Hasani, Mr. Soroush Ighani Soghadi, Ms. Shadi Sadegh Aghdam, Ms. Shamim Akhlaghi, Ms. Sahba Farahbakhsh, Mr. Sahba Moslehi, and Ms. Ahdieh Enayati.
The summonses state that the appearance is for judicial review of the case and require those summoned to attend at the appointed time and location with identification documents and any supporting evidence.
The case began in 2016 with the arrest of the 26 individuals, who were released on bail after a period of detention pending further proceedings.
Their charges were heard over three court sessions between June 2020 and May 2022 by Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mr. Mahmoud Sadati. A preliminary verdict was issued in June 2022.
The charges included, among others, “propaganda against the regime in favor of groups opposed to the Islamic Republic,” “managing anti-state groups,” and “membership in such groups.”
The court of first instance sentenced the 26 Bahá’ís collectively to 85 years’ imprisonment, 24 years of internal exile, and 52 years of travel bans. The ruling was upheld on appeal, but the Supreme Court later overturned it and referred the case to a parallel judicial branch in Fars Province for retrial.
#Bahai #Iran #Shiraz #Arrests #CourtProceedings #Shiraz26Bahais
Manche Begegnungen wirken nach. Atossa, 23. Ihr Bruder #ParsaNajafi, 20, ist seit 129 Tagen im #Iran inhaftiert, weil er #Bahai ist. Er wurde zu einem falschen Geständnis gezwungen. Die Ähnlichkeit berührt. Bei der Begegnung mit Atossa in Wien bekam sein Schicksal ein Gesicht.
No Charges, No Trial: Parsa Najafi Detained for More Than 120 Days
It was learned on 5 October 2026 that, more than 120 days after his arrest, Mr. Parsa Najafi, a 20-year-old Bahá’í resident of Isfahan, remained in Dastgerd Prison without resolution of his case. His detention order had again been extended.
As of 9 October 2026, Mr. Najafi had been held in custody for approximately 126 days, yet judicial proceedings in his case had not commenced and no formal charges had been announced.
After nearly three months without access to telephone calls or family visits, Mr. Najafi’s parents were recently permitted to meet with him. The visits were conducted separately and under supervision, and his parents were prohibited from discussing his case, detention conditions, or experiences in custody.
Concerns had previously been raised about Mr. Najafi’s access to legal representation because his lawyer had not been permitted to review the case file.
Mr. Najafi was arrested by agents of the Isfahan Intelligence Department on 6 June 2026. At the same time, security agents raided his family home and confiscated personal items belonging to him and his family.
Following his arrest, Mr. Najafi was subjected to pressure and threats aimed at obtaining televised confessions. Security agents had also previously searched his family home on 22 December 2024.
#Bahai #Iran #Arrests #Imprisonments #ParsaNajafi
Die #Bahai leben bereits vor der Gründung des modernen Staates Katar im Land. Doch Diskriminierung bedroht ihre Existenz: In den vergangenen 15 Jahren mussten über 20 Familien (rund 100 Menschen) das Land verlassen. 2 Bahá’í wurden kürzlich deportiert, 2 weitere sind akut bedroht
Bahá'ís have been part of #Qatar since before the modern state was founded, But after years of discrimination, that community now faces erasure: over the past 15 years, more than 20 Bahá'í families, about 100 people, have been forced to leave. And recently, two more Bahá'ís were deported, and two others face imminent deportation. Learn more: bic.org/news/qatar-deports-f…
Unser inniger Dank gilt der Republik #Österreich für ihre Wortmeldung beim interaktiven Dialog zu den Berichten der Unabhängigen Internationalen Untersuchungskommission zu #Iran auf der #HRC63, insbesondere für die ausdrückliche Erwähnung der Lage der #Bahai. @AustriaUNGeneva
Thank you to the government of #Austria for highlighting that Bahá’ís in Iran “face long-standing discrimination, compounded by arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and repression” during the interactive dialogue at the 63rd Session of the @UN_HRC.
At #HRC63, several governments raised concerns about the persecution of the Bahá’í community in Iran, drawing attention to long-standing discrimination, arbitrary detention, growing repression and violence, and the disproportionate impact of broader crackdowns on the community.
These statements help keep the persecution of the Bahá’í community firmly on the international human rights agenda and reinforce calls to protect freedom of religion or belief and the fundamental rights of all people in Iran.
#Iran #BahaiRights #HRC63 #HumanRights #FoRB
Isma Forghani retweeted
Iran News #Bulletin #35-2026 re the persecution and human rights abuses of the Bahá'ís in #Iran is available here: iranbahaipersecution.bic.org…
#Bahai #Bahais_of_Iran #HumanRights
#Karaj #Isfahan #Tehran #Shiraz
Isma Forghani retweeted
برای کردها، بلوچها، عربهای اهوازی، ترکهای آذربایجانی و ترکمنها، تبعیض از محدودیت در زمینه حقوق زبانی تا بازنماییهای کلیشهای قومی در رسانههای دولتی را دربر میگیرد. بهحاشیهرانی اقتصادی، مصادره زمینها و تخریب محیط زیست نیز فقر را در بسیاری از مناطق اقلیتنشین تشدید کرده است. بسیاری از بلوچها از داشتن شناسنامه محروماند و این امر دسترسی آنان را به آموزش، خدمات درمانی و اشتغال رسمی محدود میکند. کولبران کرد و سوختبران بلوچ اغلب برای تأمین معیشت خود به حملونقل برونمرزی کالا و سوخت وابستهاند. سوءمدیریت زیستمحیطی موجب آوارگی جوامع مختلف در مناطق اقلیتنشین، از جمله مناطق کردنشین، عربنشین، بلوچنشین، ترکمننشین و گیلکنشین شده است. در همین حال، ترکهای آذربایجانی همچنان با پیامدهای تخریب محیط زیست در اطراف دریاچه ارومیه مواجهاند.
اقلیتهای دینی نیز با اشکال مشابهی از طرد و محرومیت روبهرو هستند. بهاییان عملاً از تحصیلات عالی و اشتغال در بخش دولتی محروماند و همانند نوکیشان مسیحی، مدتهاست که بهعنوان تهدیدی امنیتی معرفی میشوند. مسلمانان اهل سنت و پیروان آیین یارسان نیز همچنان از تصدی مناصب دولتی محروم هستند.
درک این زمینه گستردهتر برای بررسی پروندههای مجازات اعدام مرتبط با اقلیتها ضروری است. تبعیض پشت درهای نظام عدالت کیفری پایان نمییابد، بلکه میتواند بر روند بازداشت، نگهداری در بازداشت، محاکمه و صدور حکم، از جمله در پروندههای منتهی به مجازات اعدام، تأثیر بگذارد.
اعضای اقلیتهای قومی که با اتهامات مستوجب اعدام مواجه میشوند، اغلب با موانع مضاعفی در برخورداری از محاکمه عادلانه روبهرو هستند. این موانع شامل دسترسی ناکافی به خدمات ترجمه شفاهی در جریان بازجوییها و جلسات دادگاه، ادعاهای مربوط به شکنجه و دیگر اشکال بدرفتاری با هدف اخذ اعتراف، و پیگرد قضایی بر اساس اتهامات مرتبط با امنیت ملی است که غالباً با شواهد معتبر پشتیبانی نمیشوند.
پرونده فرهاد بارانزهی جوانی بلوچ که بنا بر گزارشها بدون حضور وکیل به اتهام «بغی» به اعدام محکوم شده است، نگرانیهایی جدی درباره ادعاهای شکنجه و دیگر موارد نقض شدید حق برخورداری از محاکمه عادلانه ایجاد میکند. بنا بر گزارشها، حاتم اوزدمیر، تبعه ترکیه و کرد، در مراحل حساس دادرسی که به صدور حکم اعدام او به اتهام «بغی» انجامید، از دسترسی به مترجم محروم بوده است. یوسف احمدی، مردی کرد از بانه، مدعی شده است که پس از بازداشت تحت شکنجههای بسیار خشونتآمیز قرار گرفته و از دریافت خدمات درمانی محروم شده است.
نگرانیهای مشابهی نیز در پروندههای رئوف شیخمعروفی، محمد فرجی و محسن اسلامخواه، سه مرد کرد که در ارتباط با اعتراضات «زن، زندگی، آزادی» به اعدام محکوم شدهاند، گزارش شده است. تا زمان نگارش این متن، هیچیک از این احکام اعدام اجرا نشده و افراد نامبرده همچنان در معرض خطر قریبالوقوع اعدام قرار دارند.
الگوهای مستند تبعیض قومی و دینی، همراه با ادعاهای مکرر درباره شکنجه، اعترافات اجباری و نقض حق برخورداری از محاکمه عادلانه در پروندههای فردی، نگرانیهای جدی درباره اعمال مجازات اعدام علیه گروههای اقلیت در ایران ایجاد میکنند. پروندههای منتهی به مجازات اعدام، بهخودیخود و بر اساس حقوق بینالملل بشر، مستلزم دقیقترین و سختگیرانهترین بررسیها هستند. این عوامل، دلایل قانعکنندهای را برای اعمال نظارتی بهویژه دقیق و سختگیرانه بر پروندههای مجازات اعدام مرتبط با اعضای اقلیتهای قومی و دینی فراهم میکنند.
مکاتبه مأموریت من درباره حاتم اوزدمیر :
spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMRe…
پاسخ مقامات ایرانی:
spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMRe…
مکاتبه مأموریت من درباره فرهاد برانزهی:
spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMRe…
پاسخ مقامات ایرانی:: تاکنون دریافت نشده است.
مکاتبه مأموریت من درباره یوسف احمدی، رئوف شیخمعروفی، محمد فرجی و محسن اسلامخواه:
spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMRe…
پاسخ مقامات ایرانی:
spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMRe…
Isma Forghani retweeted
Baha’i woman Parisa Eslami arrested to serve prison sentence
hengaw.net/en/news/2026/10/a…
Parisa Eslami, a Baha’i woman residing in Karaj, has been arrested to serve a previously imposed prison sentence and transferred to Kachouei Prison in Karaj.
Based on information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Eslami was transferred to prison on Sunday, September 27, 2026, to begin serving her sentence.
Seit 1863 sind #Bahai Teil der ägyptischen Gesellschaft & leisten wertvolle Beiträge in Kunst, Bildung, Medizin u. v. m. Doch bis heute erleben sie staatl. Repression bis über den Tod hinaus: Selbst das Recht auf eine würdige Bestattung wird ihnen verwehrt! #EgyptianBahaiRights
Baha'is in #Egypt are denied dignity even in death. Their cemeteries were confiscated in 1960 and never returned. Today, one burial site serves the entire community and is nearing capacity—part of wider discrimination despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of belief.
Vielen Dank @ZDFheute & @HAWARhelp für die wichtige Berichterstattung über den #Bahai-Fotografen #NavidIrani, der seit Januar wegen seines Glaubens im Iran im Gefängnis sitzt. Mit jedem Tag wächst die Sorge um seine Sicherheit: zdfheute.de/politik/ausland/…
@ZDFheute reports that Baha'i art photographer Navid Irani has been held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad since his arrest on 16 January 2026, during the nationwide January protests. His supporters fear for his life.
According to ZDF, he is expected to appear before a court in Mashhad in the coming days. Navid Irani belongs to the Baha'i religious minority, whose members have been systematically suppressed in Iran for decades.
Supporters believe he was prevented from exhibiting his photographic work because of his faith and was subjected to persistent pressure and discrimination by authorities.
Mariam Claren of HAWAR.help told ZDF that since the Israeli-American attacks on Iran began in February 2026, the situation has worsened further, especially for Baha'is. CDU foreign policy politician Norbert Röttgen is accompanying the case and demanding Irani's release.
zdfheute.de/politik/ausland/…
#BahaiRights #Iran #HumanRights #ZDF
Bei der 63. Sitzung des UN-Menschenrechtsrats prangerte @BahaiBIC-Vertreterin @ShaddadHaddad die Verfolgung der #Bahai im Huthi-kontrollierten Jemen an. Sie forderte Religionsfreiheit & gleichen Schutz für alle Minderheiten,als Grundlage für einen inklusiven & dauerhaften Frieden
At the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, Dr. Saba Haddad, representative of the Bahá’í International Community, drew attention to the ongoing persecution of Bahá’ís in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Despite their longstanding contributions to Yemeni society, Bahá’ís continue to face a systematic campaign of hate speech, incitement, and violations of their fundamental rights.
The BIC called on all those shaping Yemen’s future to guarantee freedom of religion or belief and equal protection for all religious minorities, including Bahá’ís, in any peace agreement and, ultimately, the constitution.
“Inclusive, lasting peace depends on all Yemenis living safely and contributing freely to their country.”
#Yemen #FreedomOfReligionOrBelief #Bahai #HRC63