Babak Zeinali, Sahba Taef, Fouad Taefi, Shervin Shabrokh, and Ali Bagherkashi, five Baha’i residents of Karaj, have been arrested to serve prison sentences of one year each.
According to information received, the five were taken into custody on Monday morning, August 31, 2026, after appearing at the Shahriar Revolutionary Court in response to summonses. Their case stems from their arrest at Babak Zeynali’s home in the Mehrshahr neighborhood of Karaj on November 7, 2023.
They faced charges under Article 500 bis of the Islamic Penal Code, including disseminating propaganda against the Islamic Republic and “engaging in deviant educational and promotional activities contrary to or disruptive of Islamic law.” Zeinali had previously been arrested and convicted because of his Baha’i faith.
According to the report, the five were initially expected to be transferred to Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary. Instead, they were held at the Shahriar detention center, and it was subsequently announced that they would be transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. At the time of writing, that transfer had not been confirmed, and no precise information was available about their current circumstances.
@iranhrdc
#Babak_Zeinali
#Sahba_Taef
#Fouad_Taefi
#Shervin_Shabrokh
#Ali_Bagherkashi
#bahaisofiran
#ourstoryisone
#iranhumanrights
According to information received, the five were taken into custody on Monday morning, August 31, 2026, after appearing at the Shahriar Revolutionary Court in response to summonses. Their case stems from their arrest at Babak Zeynali’s home in the Mehrshahr neighborhood of Karaj on November 7, 2023.
They faced charges under Article 500 bis of the Islamic Penal Code, including disseminating propaganda against the Islamic Republic and “engaging in deviant educational and promotional activities contrary to or disruptive of Islamic law.” Zeinali had previously been arrested and convicted because of his Baha’i faith.
According to the report, the five were initially expected to be transferred to Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary. Instead, they were held at the Shahriar detention center, and it was subsequently announced that they would be transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. At the time of writing, that transfer had not been confirmed, and no precise information was available about their current circumstances.
@iranhrdc
#Babak_Zeinali
#Sahba_Taef
#Fouad_Taefi
#Shervin_Shabrokh
#Ali_Bagherkashi
#bahaisofiran
#ourstoryisone
#iranhumanrights