[PROVISIONAL TRANSLATION FROM PERSIAN]

[Translator’s notes appear in square brackets.]

[Personal information has been redacted.]

[The excerpt below is from the section of the article that pertains to the Baha’i Faith]

[Adapted from website:] HRANA – Human Rights Activists News Agency 

[Date:] 8 April 2026 

Ongoing Mock Executions Against Bahá’ís; Concern by the Bahá’í International Community Over the Fate of Borna Naimi

HRANA – Borna Naimi, a Bahá’í citizen residing in Kerman, despite 39 days’ having passed since his arrest, is still being held without charge in one of the solitary cells of Kerman Prison. The Baha'i International Community, in a statement expressing concern over his fate, announced that during this period he has twice been subjected to mock execution in order to extract forced confessions. Previously, this body had reported the carrying out of mock execution against Peyvand Naimi, another Bahá’í citizen arrested in this case. The statement notes that the treatment of these two young Bahá'ís has raised concerns about increased persecution and repression of Bahá'ís in Iran. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Borna Naimi, a Bahá’í citizen, is still being held without charge in one of the solitary cells of Kerman Prison. 

The Baha'i International Community, expressing concern over the fate of Borna Naimi, published a statement—a copy of which has been provided to HRANA—stating that Mr Naimi “since his arrest on 1 March 2026 in Kerman, has been subjected to mock execution at least twice and tortured with electric shocks, which caused severe burns to his legs, and has also endured other forms of torture.” The statement points out that Borna Naimi is the second Bahá’í citizen in Kerman, after Peyvand Naimi, to be subjected to mock execution; this issue “has increased concerns about the intensifying persecution and repression of Bahá'ís in Iran, the country’s largest non-Muslim religious minority.” 

According to the statement, this is the second instance of Bahá’í citizens arrested in Kerman being accused of participating in the killing of Basij officers during the protests of 8 January 2026. However, “The torture Borna endured was so severe that he was forced to sign a false confession in which he states that both he and his cousin, Peyvand Naimi, participated in these killings. There is no evidence for this accusation and neither Borna nor Peyvand could have committed these crimes, as these events took place after Peyvand’s arrest, and Borna at that time was at home with his family members. The text of this forced confession had been prepared in advance and was given to him to read. So far, no hearing has been held for either of these two prisoners.” 

The statement continues: “In the first days of detention Borna was repeatedly beaten and multiple blows were inflicted on his flanks, ribs, the area beneath his chest, and his back. Several times he was taken to his residence and subjected to pressure with threats against his wife and young daughter, including threats that if he did not confess, his child would be handed over to the Welfare Organisation’s orphanage.” 

In this regard, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva said, “In the first days of detention Borna was held in a special section of the prison known as the “death suite”, a place where prisoners sentenced to death are kept for 48 hours before their sentence is carried out. Reports indicate that during this period he was in a small solitary cell measuring approximately two by two metres and was unable to distinguish night from day.” 

Simin Fahandej continued, “It is impossible not to be deeply saddened by all the suffering and cruelty inflicted upon this family solely because of their religious belief. History will not only remember the brutal crimes of the Islamic Republic of Iran but will also record the courage and bravery of young people who, relying solely on their heartfelt beliefs, have stood firm in their faith against a government that has recognised no limit in its effort to break them.” 

She added, “The manner of treatment of Borna and Peyvand is a clear indication of the relentless effort of the Islamic Republic to fabricate false accusations against Bahá'ís and to blame them for crimes they have never committed. This situation raises serious concerns about the programme and intentions of the Iranian government towards Bahá'ís, who have repeatedly been scapegoated during national crises to divert attention from the government’s escalating repression. Such actions not only endanger the lives of innocent individuals but also establish a systematic pattern of persecution and repression aimed at isolating, dehumanising, and ultimately completely silencing the voice of a religious minority. This wave of increased repression occurs at a time when officials are attempting to blame Bahá'ís in connection with the protests of December 2025 and ongoing unrest.” 

Recently, HRANA, had reported that the carrying out of mock execution and abuse of Peyvand Naimi, a Bahá’í citizen, aimed at extracting forced confession. 

Borna Naimi, a 29-year-old Bahá’í citizen, father of a three-year-old child and resident of Kerman, was arrested by security forces on 1 March 2026.