Charts Preparation: Hamid Reza Dehghan Tabrizi
Data Compiler: Hadi Dartomi
Translation: Alireza Jahan Bin
Article 18 (The right to freedom of opinion)
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 19 (The right to freedom of expression)
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
This report consists of statistical information about violation against the rights of followers of other religions in Iran from the beginning of winter 1397 until the end of the spring 1398 (21 December 2018 to 21 May 2019). This report has been presented statistically-analytically.
It is obvious that because of strict actions of Islamic Republic of Iran with the Human Rights activists especially in observation and reporting the Human Rights violations and also deprivation of free circulation of information and constantly refusal of Iran`s government to recognize an independent domain in civil activities, at the present time, reporting is very difficult and dangerous for many reporters and activists (whom are in prison or custody) and are facing a lot of limits.
It has to be mentioned that the most of the violation cases against the civil and religions followers’ rights in Iran, as the consequence of intimidation against Detainees or imprisoned persons’ family, or people whom their civil rights somehow are violated by the security and judicial organizations and threatened for re-filing the new cases will not be broadcasted.
Important note: The current report covers only 20-30% of realities of human rights violations against the followers of religions in Iran.
This report has been compiled from accredited agencies and local medias which are approved by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The news sources for this report are:
BBC news-agency, Doichevele news-agency, IRNA news-agency, Fars news-agency, Herana news-agency, Voice of America, Balouch activists’ campaign, Radio Farda, Mohebat News, Human rights in Iran, Centre of Kordestan Democracy and Human Rights, Centre of Iran’s Human Rights documents, Khorasan news-agency and Nasim news-agency.
The pressure on followers of other religions still continues:
The current authorities in Iran and its leaders are believing that some religious groups are the enemies of the country, because their religious beliefs may challenge the loyalty to the regime and under the pretext of preserving national and political security, they suppress the religious activities of other religions followers.
Detentions and targeted violence against the followers of other religions in Iran still continues by the security and judicial organizations of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In Iran, citizens on the basis of religion beliefs are divided into two official and non-official categories.
The 12th Article of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran is clearly emphasized. the Baha`i religion is not only, one of the non-official religions in Iran but also, under more pressures rather than other religions. The Baha`is are deprived of performing ritual rites, propagating their religion and teaching and educating in higher educational levels. At the present time, hundreds of Baha’i citizens are suffering from long prison terms in different jails of the country, including Semnan, Mashhad, Tehran, Karaj and other cities of Iran.
On the other hand, the religious dissenters whom are born from Muslim parents can’t change their religion and this right completely declined and violated by the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Neophyte Christians in Iran, for example, have no right to make marriage based on the Bible and Christianity instructions, Don’t have the right to free expression of religious opinion on the basis of the article 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the article 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, declared on December 16,1966
This is obvious that this lack of freedom in expression of religion exchange does not only include the Neophyte Christians but also, other dissenters of other religions does not have the right of free expression and they are deprived of the right to employment in governmental organizations.
On the other hand, the official religions, which are recognized in the 13th article of the Islamic Republic of Iran Constitution are: Sunni Citizens, Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians.
But they are facing large-scale repression and violation against their civil rights despite the recognition of the Islamic Republic of Iran Constitution.
For example, Christians are facing many restrictions, only recognizing the Assyrian Christians, Armenian and Chaldean worships, preaching the gospel to Iranian is a crime, the Persian language people are forbidden to enter the churches, And churches are tasked to submit their members names to the Ministry of Intelligence, along with copies of their national identification card.
Based on the Article 13 and 26 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran Christianity in a recognized religion, and the right to pray or build a community has been given to the Christians but confrontation with the Protestant Christians who are believing in the gospel of their religion still continues, and domestic churches are facing widespread suppression.
Religious discrimination is strictly enforcing against the Sunni Muslims. They mostly are living in the boarder sides of the country, and are deprived of the right to build mosques and their religious rituals like Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha prayer in central areas as well as Tehran.
Even in some cases the destruction of the Sunni Mosques has been reported and These people are dealing with execution, detention and persecution. They are prohibited from hiring in governmental organizations. A prominent example is the Bijan Zolfaghar Nasab who was appointed to the Minister of Sports in the Hassan Rouhani government, but because he is Sunni they did not give him the vote to be selected for this position.
Sunni:
Sunnis are seeking the security and brotherhood, they expect to have the religious liberty and this is the demand of every member of the Sunni community. It is expected that the Sunni community in the great cities of the country, like Isfahan and other cities, can pray freely and educate their children. This expectation is perfectly legal.
The right to build the mosques in any city or have the freedom for Friday and Eid prayers or have the complete freedom, are completely legal and they do not have a lot of demands. The Sunnis are believing that their right should be consider and that no one would be deprived of their rights for religion beliefs, because respecting the rights of the people causes unity and closeness.
Because of religious propaganda the Sunni prisoners are convicted with charges of action against national security, they have the sentence of combat against GOD, they are spending their conviction time in jail and in an inappropriate space and constantly being insulted by the prison officers and guards because of their opinions.
Article 20 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran stresses that based on the rules of Islam, all Iranian citizens are equal. However, along with other religions in Iran, the constitution has failed to ensure equality for more than three decades to guarantee the rights of citizens. Sunni followers in Iran are in the same condition, even though they are Muslims. They are deprived not only, of the management responsibilities of the country and military but also, equal opportunities and facilities. They are facing strict obstacles and constraints to publicize their beliefs and to perform their religious rites from the Iranian government.
In these Months:
- “Molavi Khodabakhsh Eslam Doust” and “Molavi Esmaeil Eslam Doust”, two Balouch Sunni Mullah, have been summoned to the Zahedan Revolution Court.
- December 26th 2018, Hamze Darvish, Sunni Prisoner of Karaj Rajaei Shahr prison, had a nervous attack from the psychological and psychological pressures inflicted by the prison authorities and other security agencies.
- Namegh Deldel, Sunni prisoner of Karaj Rajaei Shahr prison, has moved to solitary cell.
- January 10th 2019, Kazem Darvishi, Sunni prisoner of Oroumiye prison, has been released from this prison by the end of his sentence.
- January 16th 2019, after the confliction between the security prisoners and common criminals in the youth block of the Oroumiye prison, many of security prisoners have been injured and moved to the reception department of the prison. There is no news about their situation but they are identified as: Ahmad Ghanbar Doust, Mohammad Ghanbar Doust, Rasoul Shiri, Mohammad Shiri, Mohammad Hosein Pour, Adel Salimi, Mohammad Nikzad, Pouriya Azad Tousi, Ebrahim Moradi.
- The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Zahedan Revolution Court, in separate statements, have Summoned four employees of the “Sunni Online” Information Base.
- Hamze Darvish, the religious prisoner of Karaj Rajaei Shahr prison, in an unfair and vague trial, has been sentenced to 18-years imprisonment.
- In the previous three months, Religious prisoners of Karaj Rajaei Shahr prison are deprived from fair trial, lawyer accessibility and medical services.
- Under the pretext of Tohid Ghoreyshi`s denial to be at his trial, the prison guards have attacked the Sunni prisoners.
- February 6th 2019, Isa Azari, Sunni Imam, has been attacked and moved to an unknown place by the Sepah forces.
- February 18th 2019, Mohammad Naser Darvish, Father of Hamze Darvish, the religious prisoner, has been summoned to intelligence department of the Rasht.
- March 17th 2019, Habib Savari, Sunni residence of Ahvaz, was detained and transferred to an unknown location by the intelligence forces of the Sepah.
- February 27th 2019, Hatam Mallahi, has been detained by the intelligence forces of the Sepah.
- March 10th 2019, Arkan Palaei Jaf, The Sunni prisoner of Karaj Rajaei Shahr prison, went on a hunger strike, and after declaring the hunger strike he had been moved to solitary cell aggressively by the prison authorities.
- March 25th 2019, Hafez Abdolghayoom Taj, Writer and translator, has summoned to intelligence department of the Rask.
- April 2nd 2019, The intelligence department of Kordestan, has deprived “Kak Hashem Hosein Panahi” to travel for the graduation ceremony of Zahedan religious scholars.
- April 6th 2019, The intelligence department of Kordestan, has deprived “Kak Hasan Amini” to travel for the graduation ceremony of Zahedan religious scholars.
- April 6th 2019, Despite the completion of the imprisonment sentence, Tohid Ghoreyshi is still in prison.
- April 20th 2019, Ghasem Abeste, Anvar Khezri, Davoud Abdollahi, Ayoub Karimi, 4 Sunni prisoners, have been moved to Mahabad prison. And after 4-days interrogation, they have moved back to Karaj Rajaei Shahr prison at April 25th 2019.
- May 3th 2019, Abdolhamid Aria Manesh, Baloch Sunni citizen, has been captured and moved to an unknown place.
- May 11th 2019, Jabar Ghaderi and Mokhtar Morovati (Babakhani), Sunni prisoners, have moved to an unknown place on their forth day of hunger strike.
- May 17th 2019, Molavi Ebrahim Safi Zade has been murdered by intelligence department of Sepah in Harat-Afghanistan.
- May 20th 2019, Some of Sunni citizens of Ahvaz have been arrested by intelligence department of Sepah during their ritual rites and moved to an unknown place.
- June 5th 2019, Security and Police forces prevented Eid-ul-Fitr prayers and morning prayers in the Sunni mosque in Tehran.
- June 3rd 2019, Abdolghodoos Hoseini, interrogated in the Sanandaj intelligence department of Sepah.
- May 26th 2019, Mohammad Arbabi released from Oroumiye prison after completion of his six-month sentence.
- June 6th 2019, Abdolhamid Ariamanesh, citizen of Semnan, after 32 days of detention, released from detention center of Sepah.
- According to the directive which has been issued by the Welfare Organization, from now on, applying and hiring the followers of other religions in the kindergartens has been forbidden.
The statistical report of violations against the Sunni People:
Row |
Subject |
Number of Cases |
1 | Summon and Interrogation | 17 |
2 | Detention and Unawareness | 11 |
3 | Trial | 6 |
4 | Prisoners Medical Services Deprivation | 4 |
5 | Torture | 14 |
6 | Intimidation | 1 |
7 | Detainees in an Unknown Situation | 4 |
8 | Lack of Crime Separation | 8 |
9 | Persecution | 19 |
10 | Deprivation of Right to Visit | 2 |
11 | Deprivation of Lawyer Accessibility | 1 |
12 | Deprivation of Fair Trial | 2 |
13 | Deprivation of Work | 1 |
14 | Leave Refusal | 1 |
15 | Strike | 1 |
16 | Marginalization and Rumor Spreading | 2 |
17 | Moved to Solitary Cell | 5 |
18 | Religious Rites Prevention | 4 |
19 | Travel Prevention | 2 |
20 | Prisoners Freedom Prevention despite the Sentence Completion | 1 |
21 | Freedom by Completion of the Sentence | 3 |
22 | Citizenship Rights Deprivation | 17 |
Total |
123 |
Baha`i:
Iran, a country that many Baha`is are living in, The Baha’i is still considered as an “apostate sect” in Iran. It is well known that Baha`is are seeking the peace, they do not want political power and do not pose the security threat. However, the Iranian religious regime pursues them. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, methodically Baha`is were deprived of access to higher education levels as well as employment rights, and if they persevere in claim for their lost rights, they will face the false accusations, imprisonment and intimidation, and always have been exposed to arbitrary arrests and imprisonment. They have never been able to follow their religious instructions in public. They are being abused almost all the way of their life.
It is not possible to transfer the knowledge and human experience, except through specific trainings. And so the right to education is one of the fundamental human rights which has been mentioned in Articles 26 and 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Articles 13, 14 and 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, that everyone has the right to educate without discrimination based on distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. The Iranian government is obliged to provide all essential facilities for enjoyment of all citizens from this natural right and also should remove any kind of obstacles based on geographical, political, economic and cultural conditions in order to provide these fundamental rights.
Prohibition of work and business is another strain and harassment that the Baha`is are facing in society. In most of the provinces, the Public Places Surveillance Authority which is affiliated with the Police Force, without any permission is sealing their businesses places.
In these months:
- December 25th 2018, the Appeals Court of Shahriyar Sirous held on Tehran.
- Work place of 6 Baha`i citizens in Khorramshahr have been sealed for 40 days.
- December 25th 2018, the Appeals Court of 8 Baha`i citizens held on Baharestan Isfahan.
- December 29th 2018, The house of Jalil Bahamin, Baha`i citizen of Baharestan Isfahan, inspected by the Security forces. In the past weeks house of Bakhtiyar Rouhani and Sasan Dastpish were inspected and some of their personal properties were confiscated.
- December 31st 2018, the Appeals Court of 5 Baha`i citizens held on Shiraz.
- Pouya Razaviyan, Baha`i citizen of Tonekabon, has been deprived of continuing his acquisition and receiving his diploma.
- December 31st 2018, the Appeals Court of Sistan and Blouchestan, sentenced the 6 Baha`i citizens to 3-years discretionary custodial imprisonment.
- January 2nd 2019, The trial of 13 Baha`i citizens of Kermanshah has been cancelled.
- January 5th 2019, 4 Baha`i citizens detained for their 130-months discretionary custodial imprisonment.
- At least 32 Baha`i Citizens, for a shared case, summoned and interrogated in the Intelligence department of Karaj.
- January 5th 2019, Sama Nazifi, Baha`i citizen and Architecture student, has been dismissed of the Azad University of Shahriyar because of her Baha`i beliefs.
- January 5th 2019, The work place of Farshid Deimi, Baha`i citizen, has been sealed by the order of the Birjand judicial authorities.
- Soroush Agahi and Neda Shabani, Two Baha`i citizens of Karaj, are still in custody and unawareness situation.
- January 9th 2019, Badi Safajou, Baha`i student in chemical engineering major, because of his Baha`i beliefs has been dismissed of Azad University.
- January 9th 2019, Moein Mohammadi, Baha`i citizen of Yazd, has been detained and moved to an unknown place.
- Shayan Manavi, Baha`i student, because of his Baha`i beliefs has been dismissed of Qods Azad University.
- Azita Rafi Zade, Baha`i prisoner of Evin Women Block, has been deprived of her phone call right since January 6th 2019.
- January 12th 2019, Mehran Bandi Amir Abadi and Mehran Eslami Amir Abadi, Two Baha`i citizens of Yazd, have been sentenced to 1-year discretionary custodial imprisonment by the Appeals Court of Yazd.
- Shirin Bani Nejhad, Baha`i student, because of his Baha`i beliefs has been dismissed of Sama Azad University.
- January 19th 2019, Kiana Rezvani and Kimia Mostafavi, Two Baha`i citizens of Kerman, have been arrested and moved to an unknown place.
- January 20th 2019, Atousa Ahmadaei (Khorrami), Baha`i citizen of Tehran, arrested at his home and moved to an unknown place by the forces of Intelligence department.
- January 5th 2019, Soheil Haghdoust, Baha`i citizen of Ghaemshahr, has been sentenced to 4-months discretionary custodial imprisonment by the Appeals Court of Mazandaran.
- January 28th 2019, Farzad Rouhani, Baha`i citizen of Yazd, arrested and moved to an unknown place by the forces of Intelligence department.
- February 2nd 2019, Afsane Emami, Baha`i citizen of Tehran, arrested and moved to an unknown place by the forces of Intelligence department.
- Maryam Ghafar Manesh, Baha`i citizen of Karaj, after 140-days of detention, is still in Evin prison.
- Farhad Sarafraz, Shahram Mansoor, Vahid Dana, Saeid Abedi and Adib Hagh Pajhouh, Five Baha`i citizens, have been sentenced to 30-months discretionary custodial imprisonment by the Appeals Court of Fars.
- February 14th 2019, Because of Bahman 22th amnesty, the release order of Five Baha`i citizen of Shiraz, Farhad Sarafraz, Shahram Mansoor, Vahid Dana, Saeid Abedi and Adib Hagh Pajhouh has been sent for their lawyer.
- February 16th 2019, Mehran Bandi Amir Abadi and Mehran Eslami Amir Abadi, Two Baha`i citizens of Yazd, have been released from prison.
- February 19th 2019, Because of Bahman 22th amnesty, Saghi Fadaei, Mey Kholousi, Dorri Amri and Shayan Tafazoli, Baha`i prisoners of Mashhad prison, have been released from Mashhad Vakil Abad Prison.
- February 26th 2019, The trial of Farough Izadi Nia, Translator, Writer and Baha`i citizen held on Tehran Revolution Court.
- February 27th 2019, Ghazale Bagheri, Baha`i citizen of Tehran, has been sentence to 5-years discretionary custodial imprisonment.
- March 11th 2019, Saeed Naseri, Baha`i citizen of Tehran, arrested.
- March 2nd 2019, Pouya Tabianian, Baha`i citizen, after 6-years serve in prison, has been released from Semnan prison.
- March 6th 2019, Atousa Ahmadaei Rafsanjani, Baha`i citizen of Tehran, until the end of legal procedure on the 200milion Tomans bail, has been released from the Evin prison.
- March 12th 2019, Zabiholah Raoufi, Baha`i citizen, has been released from central prison of Sanandaj.
- March 16th 2019, Afsane Emami, Baha`i citizen of Tehran, on the 500milion Tomans bail, temporarily released from Evin prison.
- March 17th 2019, Maryam Ghafar Manesh, Baha`i citizen of Karaj, has been released on bail from Evin prison.
- March 19th 2019, Sheida Ghodoosi has been released from Gorgan prison by using the conditional freedom law.
- March 31st 2019, Jhinous Sobhani, Baha`i citizen of Tehran, arrested at her home and moved to an unknown place by the forces of Intelligence department.
- April 3rd 2019, Moein Mohammadi, Baha`i citizen of Yazd, has been sentence to 6-years discretionary custodial imprisonment by Revolution Court of Yazd.
- April 7th 2019, Pejhman Shahriyari, Kourosh Rouhani and Mahboub Habibi, Baha`i citizens of Shiraz, in order have been sentenced to 6-months, 3-months and 1-day, 6-months discretionary custodial imprisonment by the Appeals Court of Fars.
- April 10th 2019, Moein Mohammadi, Baha`i citizen of Yazd, has been released on bail from Yazd prison.
- April 27th 2019, Negin Ghadamian, Baha`i prisoner, returned to Evin prison after her 5-days leave.
- April 30th 2019, The trial of 13 Baha`i citizens of Kermanshah, Naghme Shadabi, Soheila Shadabi, Farzane Amini, Borhan Tabian, Peyman Ghiami, Ezatollah Shahidi, Forouzan Amini, Kambiz Moradi Pour, Amrollah Eslami, Nematollah Shadabi, Sinou Rasouli, Sepide Ahrari, amir Kadivar was held.
- April 30th 2019, Yalda Firouzian, Ardeshir Fadaeian and Behnam Eskandarani, Three Baha`i citizens of semnan, have been arrested in their houses and after inspection of their houses and confiscation of some of their properties, they have been moved to detention center of Semnan Intelligence Department.
- May 8th 2019, The house of a Baha`i citizen of Isfahan, Niousha Behin Aein, has been inspected by the Security forces of Isfahan.
- May 7th 2019, Pejhman Shahriyari, Kourosh Rouhani and Mahboub Habibi, Baha`i citizens of Shiraz, have been moved to Shiraz Adil Abad prison to serve their imprisonment.
- May 14th 2019, Hasan Sarvestani, Baha`i prisoner of Evin prison, transferred to a hospital outside of the prison for the medical treatment.
- May 17th 2019, Farzad Rouhani Menshadi, after 3-months of detention, until the end of legal procedure on the 700milion Tomans bail, has been released conditionally.
- June 1st 2019, Yalda Firouzian, Ardeshir Fadaeian and Behnam Eskandarani, Three Baha`i citizens of semnan, after more than one-month detention, still are in an unknown situation.
- June 15th 2019, Kheirollah Bakhshi, Monika Alizade, Kambiz Misaghi, Shabnam Isa Khani, Farzad Bahadori and Shahriyar Khodapanah, 6 Baha`i citizens of Tabriz, have been sentenced to 6-months discretionary custodial imprisonment by the Revolution Court of Tabriz.
- The appeal court of Khorasan, dropped all charges against the Baha`i Citizen; Kaviz Nouzdehi. This baha`I citizen were sentenced to 4-year discretionary custodial imprisonment on the charges of “propaganda against the system” and “action against national security”.
- June 19th 2019: The Tehran court, sentenced Baha`I Citizen; Negin Tadrisi to 5-year discretionary custodial imprisonment on the charges of “Paying tuition fees of language class of an Afghan citizen”, “giving psychological advice” and “notes which were written in her own personal notebook in order to educate others”.
- According to the directive which has been issued by the Welfare Organization, from now on, applying and hiring the followers of other religions in the kindergartens has been forbidden.
The statistical report of violations against the Baha`i People:
Row | Subject | Number of Cases |
1 | Summon and Interrogation | 34 |
2 | Detention and Unawareness | 23 |
3 | Trial | 48 |
4 | Prisoners Medical Services Deprivation | 1 |
5 | Torture | 1 |
6 | Intimidation | 1 |
7 | Detainees in an Unknown Situation | 7 |
8 | Deprivation of Work | 2 |
9 | Deprivation of Education | 5 |
10 | Marginalization and Rumor Spreading | 8 |
11 | Conviction to Imprisonment | 27 |
12 | Beginning of the Conviction | 10 |
13 | Sealing the Work Place | 1 |
14 | House Inspection | 8 |
15 | Property Confiscation | 10 |
16 | Deprivation of the Right to Phone Call | 2 |
17 | Temporary Freedom on bail | 10 |
18 | Bahman 22th amnesty | 11 |
19 | Freedom by Completion of the Sentence | 2 |
20 | Conditional Freedom | 2 |
21 | Citizenship Rights Deprivation | 30 |
Total |
130 |
Christians:
The Islamic Republic is trying to destroy the Christianity, and this is a bitter fact about the violations against the Christians rights. Christians, who have been charged and sentenced to persecution by the Islamic Republic because of their heresy and religious conversion.
Violation against the Christian rights is increasing in the Islamic Countries and many of them are facing the racial harassment on a daily basis.
In the Islamic Republic of Iran, a numerous number of Christians are jailed for religious conversion and religious activities. Currently, according to the human rights organizations in Iran, a large number of well-known Christians are in prison for offences such as preaching the gospel, or teaching and distributing the Bible or other citizens who are convicted of spying and many rights of Christian neophytes have been violated, they have been punished, persecuted, sentenced to the imprisonment or penalties like whip only because of some of their religious rituals like drinking the wine in the Eucharist (the Lord`s Supper) or even in some cases they were threatened to the death.
Security and judicial Organizations pressure on churches still continues and in continuation of the series of restrictions imposed by the security authorities, the Official Evangelical Churches, the Central Numinous Community Church in Tehran, the Protestant Immanuel Church, Peter ‘s Evangelical Church in Tehran and etc. have been forced to cooperate with the security Organizations and accepting their demands on revealing the list of their members along with other information about them, including their national identification number, also preventing the participation of the Persian language Christian neophytes in their religious rituals, preventing them to hold the ceremonies in Persian, and in some cases some of their leaders like Robert Asrian have been arrested and convicted for a long term imprisonment as a consequence of unfair rulings.
Even the churches are refusing to accept the Persian language Christians, and they must hold their ceremonies in non-Persian language.
Prison sentences for Iranian Christians continue to be issued. In the Constitution of Islamic Republic, the religious freedom of Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians has been recognized but so far, the government’s actions against religious propaganda and the performance of their religious rites has shown that the Principles of the Constitution on the freedom of religion and prevention of ideas and beliefs Inquisition, were only intended to cover the violations against the rights of other religions in Iran. Based on the Islamic Republic Constitution, the twelve Imam Shia is the official religion of Iran and the religious and security organizations of the Iranian government are considering that the propaganda for the principles of these religions is a threat to the dominant ideology of the government and it is one of the main reasons why the regime has suppressed the Christian followers and missionaries by closing their churches and preventing them of religious propaganda.
In these months:
- 9 Christian neophytes in Tehran, have been arrested by the intelligence department of Sepah and moved to an unknown place.
- Jamshid Derakhshan, Christian neophyte of Tehran, until the end of legal procedure on bail, has been released conditionally.
- Shima and Shokoufeh Zangene, two Christian neophytes, until the end of legal procedure on the 500milion Tomans bail for each one of them, has been released conditionally from Ahvaz Sepidar prison.
- the Appeals Court of Tehran, has reduced the sentence time of Majidreza Souzanchi, to 2-years discretionary custodial imprisonment.
- January 23rd 2019, Sina Moloudian, Christian neophyte, arrested in his house by the Security forces and moved to an unknown place. They also inspected entire of the house and confiscated some of his personal properties.
- January 25th 2019, Esmaeil Maghrebi Nejhad, Christian neophyte of Shiraz, arrested by the Security forces and moved to an unknown place. They also inspected entire of his house and confiscated some of his personal properties like his Laptop, Mobile phone, Christian books and daily notes.
- In January-February 2019, at least 6 Christian neophytes of Rasht, arrested by the Security forces and moved to an unknown place.
- Fateme Mohammadi, Christian neophyte, has been deprived of education in Islamic Azad University.
- February 4th 2019, Sina Moloudian, Christian neophyte, has been released on bail until the end of legal.
- May 9th 2019, Agents of the Intelligence organization, along with several members of Imam ‘s Command headquarters in Tabriz, attacked an Assyrian Church of this city and changed all the locks of the entry doors of this church which is belong to the Assyrian Christians and they also dropped the crucifix which was on the top of the church.
The statistical report of violations against the Christians:
Row | Subject | Number of Cases |
1 | Summon and Interrogation | 17 |
2 | Deprivation of Education | 1 |
3 | Marginalization and Rumor Spreading | 1 |
4 | Religious Rites Prevention | 12 |
5 | Conviction to Imprisonment | 1 |
6 | House Inspection | 3 |
7 | Property Confiscation | 4 |
8 | Places Destruction | 2 |
9 |
Temporary Freedom on bail | 4 |
Total |
45 |
Gonabadi dervishes:
Gonabadi dervishes and Nematolahi dervishes are 11 million people, it means nine times more than armed forces in Iran, In Bahman and Esfand 1397, there was a confliction between dervishes and Security forces in Tehran. As the consequence of this event three police agent and two of mobilization forces were killed and more than 300 dervishes were arrested. The tensions erupted when Gonabadi dervishes gathered in protest against the creation of restrictions on their leader Nour Ali Tabande known as Majzoub Ali Shah, in the Pasdaran area of northern Tehran. By expanding this conflict, the dervishes’ community witnessed a new wave of repression and persecution. In this form of security behaviors against the dervishes, the security forces sieged the 7th gulistan on the Tehran’s Pasdaran Road, and they wanted to arrest the dervishes’ leader Nour Ali Tabande (a skinny 90-years old man) whom is the dervishes red line for the crime of ‘action against national security’, which leads to the confliction and resistance of dervishes against the security forces. February 18th 2019, Mohammad Ali Labaf, was summoned to the Namjou Police Station and interrogated for his beliefs and was severely beaten. Some dervishes were immediately referred to the police station when he was detained, which led to the release of Mr. Labaf and the arrest of other dervish, Nematollah Riahi. On the afternoon of that day, Mr. Riahi secretly transferred from the 106 police station to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of district seven, and delivered to the security officers. The unrest situation continued until the evening of April 29th, when the conflictions took a new form, when the peaceful protest of dervishes to release the Mr. Riahi with interference of Special forces of NAJA led to killing the three of police forces, two mobilization forces, five of dervishes, destruction of civilian houses and their cars and also 300 of dervishes were arrested and many of them were severely beaten in this confliction.
In these Months:
- Hassan Shahreza one of Gunabadi dervishes, prisoner of fashafouye prison, suffered severe lung infection because of the pellets, during the violent detention of Gunabadi dervishes in the incident of 7th
- Elham Ahamadi, Gunabadi dervish prisoner of Gharchak Women block, sentenced to 148 whip.
- January 16th 2019, Shokoufe Yadollahi, Elham Ahamadi and Sepide Moradi, three Gunabadi dervish prisoners of Gharchak Women block, Summoned to the Evin Public Prosecutor’s Office of district seven.
- Mostafa Daneshjou, lawyer and Gunabadi dervish prisoner, because of lack of attention of prison authorities to send him for medical treatments, has lost 50% functionality of his lungs, and also he is suffering from cardiovascular disease.
- Shokoufe Yadollahi, Gunabadi dervish prisoner of Gharchak Women block, who is serving her 5-years imprisonment, is suffering from severe headaches.
- February 5th 2019, Alireza Lak, Gunabadi dervish prisoner of Tehran, has been deprived of urgent surgery on his leg by the authorities of the prison.
- February 17th 2019, Mehdi Mardani, Abolfazl Sahraei, Mojtaba Shokri and Mehrdad Rezaei, four Gunabadi dervish prisoners, in order have been exiled to Souran, Sarbishe, Sarbaz and Taibad.
- March 3rd 2019, Mostafa Daneshjou, lawyer and Gunabadi dervish prisoner, has been sentenced to 8-years imprisonment.
- March 17th 2019, Amir Nouri, Gunabadi dervish prisoner of Tehran prison, has been sentenced to 6-years discretionary custodial imprisonment, 74 Whip, 2-years deprivation of participation in sects and Media, 2-years exile and 2-years denial of permission to leave the country.
- March 13th 2019, 21 Gunabadi dervish prisoners of Tehran, totally have been sentenced to 167-years discretionary custodial imprisonment, 1554 Whip, 42-years deprivation of participation in sects and Media, 42-years exile and 42-years denial of permission to leave the country.
- March 6th 2019, Mostafa Daneshjou, temporarily has been released on bail from Evin prison.
- March 19th 2019, Ali Asghar Salari, Gunabadi dervish prisoner of Tehran prison, has been released by using the conditional freedom law.
- The tomb of Yavar Mohammad Salas, who was executed on June 18th in Karaj, destructed for the fifth consecutive time.
The statistical report of violations against the Gonabadi dervishes:
Row | Subject | Number of Cases |
1 | Summon and Interrogation | 3 |
2 | Trial | 23 |
3 | Prisoners Medical Services Deprivation | 5 |
4 | Persecution | 2 |
5 | Exile | 26 |
6 | Marginalization and Rumor Spreading | 5 |
7 | Denial of Permission to Leave the Country | 22 |
8 | Conviction to Imprisonment | 23 |
9 | Sentence to Whip | 23 |
10 | Places Destruction | 5 |
11 | Temporary Freedom on bail | 1 |
12 | Conditional Freedom | 1 |
13 | Citizenship Rights Deprivation | 24 |
Total |
163 |
The Link Mysticism:
The current government and authorities in Iran and its leaders are believing that some religious groups are the enemies of the country, because their religious beliefs may challenge the loyalty to the regime and under the pretext of preserving national and political security, they suppress the religious activities of other religions followers.
In these months:
- January 28th 2019, Nahid Behshid, one of the Mohammad Ali Taheri Supporters, have been arrested in her house and moved to Evin prison.
- January 26th 2019, Mohammad Zaman Daryabani, the defending lawyer of Mohammad Ali Taheri, said that: all the charges against his client have been dropped by the Security persecutor’s office of Tehran.
- April 15th 2019, Mohammad Ali Taheri, Founder of Link Mysticism, released from Evin prison.
The statistical report of violations against the Link Mysticism Followers:
Row | Subject | Number of Cases |
1 | Detention and Unawareness | 1 |
2 | Intimidation | 1 |
3 | House Inspection | 1 |
4 | Property Confiscation | 1 |
5 | Freedom by Completion of the Sentence | 1 |
Total |
5 |
Other Followers of Religions:
- February 26th 2019, 6 citizens of Torbat Heidarie, arrested in connection of a religious stream called “Ansar Imam Mahdi” or “Yamani”.
- According to the directive which has been issued by the Welfare Organization, from now on, applying and hiring the followers of other religions in the kindergartens has been forbidden.
- Physical condition of Hosein Sepanta, Zoroastrianism prisoner, is critical because of the hunger-strike which was in objection to denial of his Leave or Parole request.
The statistical report of violations against the Other Followers of Religions:
Row | Subject | Number of Cases |
1 | Detention and Unawareness | 6 |
2 | Deprivation of Work | 1 |
3 | Hunger-strike | 1 |
4 | Marginalization and Rumor Spreading | 1 |
5 | Prisoners Leave Denial | 1 |
6 | Citizenship Rights Deprivation | 4 |
Total | 14 |