A source informed Voice of America that the Tehran Islamic Revolutionary Court, presided over by Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced Behraad Azargan, a Baha’i citizen, to 11 years in prison and the confiscation of his assets.
According to a report received by the Persian section of Voice of America on Saturday, October 26, the final court session for Behraad Azargan, a Baha’i citizen and music instructor, took place on October 6 in Branch 15 of the Tehran Islamic Revolutionary Court under Judge Abolghasem Salavati. Last week, he was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison.
According to the court’s ruling, Mr. Azargan was sentenced to five years in prison for the charge of “propaganda against the regime by holding music classes for various age groups,” four years for “membership in certain groups intending to disrupt national security,” and two years for “spreading false information.”
The Revolutionary Court also ordered the “confiscation of all seized assets” belonging to this Baha’i citizen.
Behraad Azargan was arrested on July 2 this year after judicial officers visited his home in Tehran, confiscating his electronic devices. He was held in detention for over a month and was temporarily released on August 5 after posting bail of 1.5 billion tomans.
This music teacher was arrested for the second time on August 19 of this year after being summoned to the third branch of the Security Prosecutor’s Office. He was temporarily released a day later, on August 20, after an additional 1 billion tomans was added to his bail amount, from the detention center at Velenjak Police Station.
During his second arrest, he also faced an added restriction prohibiting his activity on social media for “propaganda against the regime through organizing music classes for various ages.”
The Baha’i International Community recently warned of an escalation in persecution and suppression of Baha’is in Iran, stating that it “has noted, with alarm, fresh instances of the Iranian government’s ongoing effort to “cleanse” Iran of Baha’i history and identity.”
According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Islamic Republic’s constitution not only does not recognize the Baha’i faith but actively opposes it.
For decades, Iranian judicial authorities have deprived Baha’i citizens of civil rights, including the right to education, labeling non-governmental education for them with terms like “deviant” in their charges.
Human rights organizations say that the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated in recent years, with government pressure on them increasing in recent months.
According to a report received by the Persian section of Voice of America on Saturday, October 26, the final court session for Behraad Azargan, a Baha’i citizen and music instructor, took place on October 6 in Branch 15 of the Tehran Islamic Revolutionary Court under Judge Abolghasem Salavati. Last week, he was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison.
According to the court’s ruling, Mr. Azargan was sentenced to five years in prison for the charge of “propaganda against the regime by holding music classes for various age groups,” four years for “membership in certain groups intending to disrupt national security,” and two years for “spreading false information.”
The Revolutionary Court also ordered the “confiscation of all seized assets” belonging to this Baha’i citizen.
Behraad Azargan was arrested on July 2 this year after judicial officers visited his home in Tehran, confiscating his electronic devices. He was held in detention for over a month and was temporarily released on August 5 after posting bail of 1.5 billion tomans.
This music teacher was arrested for the second time on August 19 of this year after being summoned to the third branch of the Security Prosecutor’s Office. He was temporarily released a day later, on August 20, after an additional 1 billion tomans was added to his bail amount, from the detention center at Velenjak Police Station.
During his second arrest, he also faced an added restriction prohibiting his activity on social media for “propaganda against the regime through organizing music classes for various ages.”
The Baha’i International Community recently warned of an escalation in persecution and suppression of Baha’is in Iran, stating that it “has noted, with alarm, fresh instances of the Iranian government’s ongoing effort to “cleanse” Iran of Baha’i history and identity.”
According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Islamic Republic’s constitution not only does not recognize the Baha’i faith but actively opposes it.
For decades, Iranian judicial authorities have deprived Baha’i citizens of civil rights, including the right to education, labeling non-governmental education for them with terms like “deviant” in their charges.
Human rights organizations say that the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated in recent years, with government pressure on them increasing in recent months.
