Four Baha'i Citizens In Iran Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison

Amid the systematic persecution of Iran's Baha'i community by the Islamic Republic, four citizens have been collectively handed a 12-year prison sentence.

Shadi Shahidzadeh, Mansour Amini, Ataollah Zafar, and Valiollah Ghadamian received individual prison terms of five, three, and two years, respectively. The charges levied against them were related to "membership in illegal groups and associations with the intent of undermining national security," as reported by the US-based human rights advocacy group HRANA on Wednesday.

The Baha'i community is the largest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran loathed by the Shiite clerics and systematically persecuted since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979.

Earlier this year, they had received five-year prison sentences in a court, based on allegations linked to their faith.

Last week, the UK Foreign Office issued a statement stressing the immediate need to cease the harassment and persecution of the Baha'i community by the Islamic Republic. The UK government deemed the ongoing mistreatment of Baha'is as “unacceptable” and called upon the Iranian government to release all Baha'i prisoners, especially those who are elderly, require medical attention, or are in vulnerable situations.

The UK also underscored the importance of the judiciary refraining from imposing excessive bails on Baha'i detainees.

Since September 26, at least eight Baha'i citizens have been apprehended in Shiraz and Yazd. In August, the Baha'i International Community released a statement highlighting the continued suppression of Baha'is, including the arrests of approximately 60 Baha'is and the confiscation of properties belonging to 59 other Baha'is.

The United States House of Representatives also passed a resolution condemning the harassment of Baha'is by the Iranian government. The resolution called for the release of Baha'i prisoners and other individuals detained due to their religious beliefs.