Currently there are many women behind bars for the sole reason of their Baha’i beliefs. They are deprived of their basic human rights and are constantly harassed or insulted security agents. The names of some of these victims are provided in this short report:
– Fariba Kamal Abadi is a senior member of the Baha’i Society. 7 years ago she was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Ms. Kamal Abadi is currently detained in the women’s ward of Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison and she has been deprived of any leave to this day.
– Mahvash Sabet is a member of the Baha’i Society board of directors. She was first arrested in 2005 and convicted to 20 years in jail. She is also detained in the women’s ward in Evin Prison.
– Neva and Nika Kholusi, two Baha’i sisters who were arrested by intelligence agents in Mashhad on April 25, 2012. They were sentenced to 4½ and 6 years behind bars, respectively.
– Nasim Bagheri is a Baha’i citizen arrested on April 27, 2014. She was sentenced to actions against national security and convicted to 4 years behind bars. Bagheri is a professor of an Internet university.
– Susan Tabianian, a Baha’i citizen, was detained on May 31, 2014 by security agents. She has been sentenced to 1 year behind bars for conducting an interview with foreign media.
– Azar Toluie, a Baha’i citizen was arrested by security forces back in May of 2011 along with 20 other Baha’i citizens. They were all sentenced to a total of 58 years behind bars.
– Faran Hesami was arrested on September 14, 2011 and held in ward 209 of Evin Prison for 77 days. She was a graduate from Canada’s Ottawa University. Prior to that she worked as an online professor.
– Elham Farahani (Naimi) is a Baha’i citizen living in Tehran. She was arrested along with her son, Shamim Naimi on May 11 and transferred to Evin Prison to serve her time behind bars.
– Shabnam Mottahed, a Baha’i citizen living in Yazd, was sentenced to two years in jail and one year suspended conviction.
– Farim Farzandi was arrested for holding a Baha’i New Year ceremony.
– Fariba Ashtari, a resident of Yazd, was sentenced to two years in jail and one year suspended conviction. She was condemned on charges of actions against national security and propaganda against the system.
– Sonia Ahmadi was arrested and in prison for her membership in a Baha’i organization and taking action against national security.
– Farah Baghi has been in detention ever since February 20 of this year.

(NCRI Women’s Committee – August 1, 2015)