[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:] Radio Zamaneh

[Date:] 7 July 2026

Bahá'í International Community: Intensified Pressure on Imprisoned Bahá'ís in Iran: Detentions Without Charge

The Bahá'í International Community warned of increasing pressure on imprisoned Bahá'ís in Iran and, referring to numerous instances of injustice, denial of a fair trial, and psychological pressure, called for the release of all of them.

On Tuesday, 7 July 2026, the Bahá'í International Community, in a new statement released together with the recent letter of Pejman Zare, an imprisoned Bahá'í citizen in Shiraz, described the situation of imprisoned Bahá'ís in Iran as an example of continuing organised pressure against this religious minority and called for their immediate release.

In this statement, reference was made to Pejman Zare’s letter on the occasion of the first birthday of his child, Radvin. Zare, who has been held in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz since March 2026, spoke in this letter about his forced separation from his family, his love for Iran, and his commitment to serving and advancing the country.

Simin Fahandej, representative of the Bahá'í International Community at the United Nations in Geneva, said regarding this letter: “This letter has a profound effect on the conscience of every fair-minded person. No child should celebrate their first birthday while one of their parents is unjustly imprisoned. No family should be forced to plead and petition in order to obtain information about the condition of their loved ones, access medicine and medical treatment, or demand fundamental human rights.”

She added: “Pejman Zare’s letter is a reminder of the fact that the Bahá'ís of Iran are not seeking conflict and confrontation, but rather participation; they do not seek division, but unity; they do not seek special privilege, but seek only an opportunity to serve the advancement of their homeland.”

The Bahá'í International Community further announced, with reference to numerous cases, that the detention and imprisonment of Bahá'í citizens in various cities of Iran continues.

According to this statement, Shakila Ghasemi, a 26-year-old Bahá'í citizen in Kerman, has been held in detention for more than five months without any formal charge being brought against her, and reports have emerged of severe psychological pressure being applied to her and repeated threats to carry out a flogging sentence against her.

Fahandej said regarding her situation: “A young woman who should now be sitting in a classroom is behind prison bars solely because of her religious beliefs. The physical and psychological suffering that she has endured is part of a deliberate pattern intended to break individuals and instill fear among all members of a religious minority; a minority whose members have always striven to take steps towards the improvement and advancement of their country.”

In another part of this statement, reference was made to the situation of Parsa Najafi, a 20-year-old Bahá'í youth in Isfahan, who has been detained for more than one month without any official charge being announced. His family and lawyer have expressed concern regarding his mental and physical condition, the possibility that forced confessions may be extracted from him, and his deprivation of effective access to a lawyer.

Likewise, Vafa Kashefi in Mashhad continues to be held in Vakilabad Prison despite bail having been secured, and Navid Zarrehbin Irani, a Bahá'í photographer, has been held in detention for nearly six months without being informed of the charges he faces and without effective access to a lawyer.

In Tehran as well, Artin Ghazanfari, a Bahá'í photojournalist and writer, nearly six months after his arrest, continues to be held in Greater Tehran Prison (Fashafuyeh) without any formal charge being communicated to him, and his request for release on bail has also not been accepted.

The Bahá'í International Community described these cases as part of a broader pattern of treatment of Bahá'ís in Iran, including prolonged detention, denial of a fair trial, lack of access to a lawyer, solitary confinement, psychological pressure, denial of medical services, and restrictions on contact with family.

In conclusion, the Bahá'í International Community called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Pejman Zare, Shakila Ghasemi, and all Bahá'ís imprisoned solely because of their religious beliefs, to end the use of solitary confinement, pressure, threats, torture, and the extraction of forced confessions, and to guarantee detainees access to their families, lawyers, and medical services.