Vahid Online in English

Automated AI translations of Vahid Online reporting. Exported from the Telegram Channel. Original content also available on X/Twitter.

← Back to latest feed

24 Aug 2026, 12:17

Twelve Baha'i citizens have been sentenced by the Sari Revolutionary Court to a total of 26 years and 165 days of imprisonment and 76 years of deprivation of social rights.

According to the ruling issued on August 20, 2026, Raquel Attaiyan, Kiumars Akbari, Sohrab Laghai, Zahra Golabiyan, Banafsha Asadian Arabi, Fouad Laghai, Anahita Koshkbaghi, Nasim Samimi, Hossein Fanaiyan, Emilia Fanaiyan, Melody Samimi, and Soheil Haqdoust, Baha'i citizens, were convicted by the first branch of the Sari Revolutionary Court presided over by Ammar Ramazani. In this ruling, Ms. Attaiyan was sentenced to four years of imprisonment and 10 years of deprivation of social rights, while the other defendants were each sentenced to two years and 15 days of imprisonment and six years of deprivation of social rights.

In the issued ruling, the charges against these citizens were described as "engaging in educational and promotional activities contrary to and disruptive to the sacred Sharia of Islam in promoting and encouraging the Baha'i sect." The hearings regarding the charges against these citizens were held on July 31, August 1, and August 2, 2026, in the mentioned branch.

A source close to one of these Baha'i citizens confirmed this news in an interview with HRANA, stating about the proceedings of this case: "The first hearing regarding the charges against these citizens was held in May 2024 in the first branch of the Sari Revolutionary Court presided over by Shoja Zoghi. This branch returned the case to the investigative branch three times due to deficiencies in the investigations, but due to the failure to rectify the deficiencies, the case was removed from the agenda of this branch. Subsequently, the case was referred to the 104th branch of the Qaimshahr Criminal Court presided over by Reza Majazi, and hearings were held on July 11 and 12, 2025."

This source added: "During this process, Soheil Haqdoust and his wife Raquel Attaiyan were arrested and were unable to attend the hearings. After their temporary release, they were tried separately from the other defendants. The criminal branch subsequently issued a ruling of incompetence and referred the case back to the first branch of the Sari Revolutionary Court, which, after holding three hearings, ultimately issued a ruling."

He also mentioned: "Raquel Attaiyan faced a new legal case during her arrest last year, which, according to the decision of the 104th branch of the Qaimshahr Criminal Court, was merged with this case, and ultimately both cases resulted in a ruling from the first branch of the Sari Revolutionary Court."

Previously, the final defense sessions for these 12 Baha'i citizens were held separately in March 2025 in the sixth investigative branch of the Qaimshahr Prosecutor's Office presided over by Reza Majazi. Additionally, prior to that, the homes of these individuals were searched by security forces, and they were informed of the formation of a legal case against them in the Qaimshahr Prosecutor's Office through separate text messages.
hra_news
📡 @VahidOnline

Mapped locations (3)

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors