Iran Hands Harsh Sentences to Two Baha'i Citizens

Two Baha'i citizens in central Isfahan, Arshia Rouhani and Hamid Monzavi Joshaghani have been handed severe sentences by the city's Revolutionary Court.

Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammadreza Tavakoli, sentenced each man to five years in prison and a two-year ban on social media use and international travel. 

The court also ordered the confiscation of their business equipment, including copy machines, laptops, and mobile phones.

The charges against Rouhani and Joshaghani include "propaganda against the Islamic Republic" and "membership in groups or associations formed within the country to undermine national security." 

These accusations are commonly used against religious minorities in Iran, particularly Baha'is.

The latest case is part of a broader pattern of persecution. In September 2023, authorities confiscated the men's personal items and sealed their businesses for a month. They were briefly detained in October and released on bail.

The government has intensified its crackdown on members of the Baha'i faith, imprisoning dozens of them on spurious charges over the past year, denying them access to higher education and livelihoods, and confiscating or destroying their personal properties.