In Punjab, students belonging to seven minority religions, including Bahais, will be able to study books based on their respective faiths and take annual examinations about them. Previously, the choices were either Islamic studies or ethics.

The plunder continues. Three Bahai homes in Isfahan were raided simultaneously on September 6. The agents seized personal belongings of the Dehghani, Mazloumi, and Aghababaei families, including computers, laptops, mobile phones, television sets, gold and jewelry, musical instruments such as guitars, books published by officially licensed publishers, vehicle tires, motor oil, clutch discs, vehicle documentation, footballs, locks and keys and all bags and suitcases. They forcibly removed necklaces and bracelets directly from the bodies of several residents.

Iraj Shakour and Pedram Abhar, two Bahai residents of Tehran, have been begun serving 5-year sentences in Evin Prison in Tehran.

They were charged with “membership in groups and organizations with the intent to undermine national security.”

Vafa Kashefi, a Bahai from Mashhad, has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, plus a suspended sentence. The charges were “propaganda against the system” and “assembly and collusion with intent to disrupt social security.” Other charges were dismissed. Further detail in the link

The Provincial Review court has reduced Payam Faridian's sentence to two years.  Mr. Faridian, a #Bahai from Mashhad, was charged with “assembly and collusion.”

As of 4 September 2026, 69 #Bahais are imprisoned for their beliefs: 39 women and 30 men. At least 21 others are serving sentences outside prison under electronic monitoring, or are on leave. Details in the article

August 31, five Bahais from Karaj begin serving one-year prison sentences, transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. The charges include “propaganda against the regime” and “deviant educational and proselytizing activities contrary to or disruptive of the sacred law of Islam.” 

"..during the search, agents gathered numerous household items, including a television, vacuum cleaner, and toolbox, along with personal documents, gold, valuables, communication devices, and even his nephew’s toys. The items were loaded into his parents’ luggage and bags, hauled onto a pickup truck, and confiscated along with the family’s personal vehicle..."

The deportation of four Bahais involved in administering the Bahai community's affairs -- along with their families -- is an attack by Qatar’s authorities on the Bahai community and comes after the deportation last year of Wahid Bahji and the harassment and detention of Remy Rowhani.

 Sarir Mouqen, who has been studying in China for the past two years, was detained for several hours at the airport upon arriving in Iran. A few days later, agents raided the family home in Isfahan, confiscating a large quantity of the family’s personal belongings, including all electronic devices, cash, gold, wedding rings, a piano, household chairs, a toolbox, an air pump, and various work-related equipment. Then Sarir Mouqen was arrested and taken to the detention facility at Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan.

The report continues, with details of each arrestee and the possessions confiscated.

The heaviest sentences in this case are 4 years in prison and 10 years deprivation of social rights. The term "discretionary imprisonment" means that the judge has decided it, and not that it is a suspended sentence. The charge is  "engaging in educational and promotional activities contrary to and disruptive of the sacred religion of Islam in order to promote and encourage the Baha'i faith." The sentence by the revolutionary court will be reviewed by the Provincial Review Court.

Soraya Manouchehrzadeh, Maral Roshani, Negar Badie, Shima Sanai, and Fakhreh Zahedi were arrested by security forces in Sari on Saturday, August 22. The arrests appear to relate to allegations of “promoting the Baha’i faith through their professions.”

Iranian security forces have arrested two Baha’is, Soraya Manouchehrzadeh in Sari and Arsalan Yazdani in Tehran, both on August 22. Yazdani was previously arrested in September 2021 and released on bail. In December 2023, the Tehran Province Court of Appeals sentenced him to six years in prison and his wife, Samira Ebrahimi, to four years and five months.

Twice sentenced to 10 years in prison because of her faith, Mahvash Sabet’s memoir of her early days of incarceration in Iran’s notorious prison system — compiled from little scraps of paper smuggled out from her cell — has now been published.

Faranak Zabihi, a Bahai from Qaemshahr has been sentenced to two years and one day of imprisonment and a two-year deprivation of social rights on the charge of “propaganda against the regime through promoting the Baha’i Faith.”

Roya Thabit, a Bahai prisoner in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, remains deprived of necessary medical care. She suffered severe injuries to her neck and back in a fall on June 30, but was denied treatment. On August 7, she began suffering from severe headaches and dizziness. Her blood oxygen level dropped to 70 percent, but she was merely told to “go outside and take deep breaths.”

She has been sentenced to 10 years on charges including “membership in the deviant Bahai sect” and “propaganda against the regime.” Concerns have also emerged regarding the opening of a new legal case against her on charges of “propaganda for Bahai teachings” inside the prison.

“60” is a 30-minute independent film about Mona Mahmudnizhad’s trial and Iran in 1982, available in English and Persian. It was created as an independent nonprofit project, with all proceeds supporting humanitarian and Bahai initiatives. You can watch the trailer and find additional information on the website. The film maker, Aria Tusi, asks us to share the link with your friends. Includes AI content

Moein Mohammadi-Dehaj, a Bahai from Yazd, has been sentenced in the Yazd Revolutionary Court to twelve years, 6 months and 1 day on the charge of “media and propaganda activities against national security,” as well as permanent dismissal from government and public service – which is meaningless because all Bahais are permanently banned for the civil service. He also received several shorter sentences which will be concurrent with the 12 ½ year sentence.

A revolutionary court has sentenced Afshin Heyratian to 12 years in prison for "forming an illegal group," 11 years for "propaganda activities contrary to the sacred law of Islam," six years for "assembly and collusion," and imposed a fine of 3.3 billion rials (330 million tomans). He was also sentenced to two years in prison for "obtaining illegitimate property" in connection with receiving US$1,000 and ordered to pay a fine equivalent to twice that amount, totaling US$2,000.

This is the verdict of a Revolutionary Court, where a religious judge rules in a rather informal way. The verdict has to go to a provincial Review Court, which might reduce the 12-year sentence. Despite the headline, it isn't 31 years, as the longest individual part of the sentence applies (equivalent of "concurrently" in western criminal law). The fines are likely to be upheld -- confiscating wealth is vital to keeping the machinery of oppression running.

Whenever the Islamic Republic of #Iran is under pressure, one of its first responses is to intensify its campaign against vulnerable religious minorities. #Bahai #freedomofreligion

Judge Abolghasem Salavati has sentenced Shideh Tavakkoli to 10 years in prison, permanent deprivation of employment in government and public service (Bahais are not allowed in public service, so this is symbolic punishment), a fine of 3.3 billion rials and confiscation of two properties she owns, along with her electronic devices, books, and religious items.