Nogol Rahbin

In a segment broadcast by @cnnportugal, Rafael Matos, a representative of the External Affairs Department of the Bahá’í Community of Portugal, addressed the religious persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran. The interview offered an opportunity to draw public attention to the challenges faced by the Bahá’í community in Iran, including longstanding religious discrimination and the serious allegations surrounding the treatment of Bahá’í detainees. By featuring a representative of Portugal's Bahá’í community, the broadcast also demonstrated how concerns over religious freedom in Iran resonate internationally. #Bahai #Iran #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights

On March 25, 2026, Daniel Attard MEP, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iran, raised the urgent case of Peyvand Naimi, a young Bahá’í detained in Iran, during a European Parliament plenary debate concerning the threat of executions in the country. During his remarks, Attard drew attention to reports of Naimi’s alleged torture, mock executions, and forced confessions, highlighting serious concerns about his safety and the broader persecution of Iran’s Bahá’í community. We thank Daniel Attard for bringing attention to Peyvand Naimi’s case at the European Parliament and for highlighting the importance of protecting human rights and religious freedom in Iran. #PeyvandNaimi #Bahai #Iran #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom

Iran | News Bulletin #38-26 (19 October - 23 October 2026) PART 2 iranbahaipersecution.bic.org… #BahaiRights #IranWar‌

The United Nations Secretary-General, @antonioguterres, highlighted concerns raised by the Bahá’í International Community regarding religious persecution and discrimination affecting Bahá’ís in Egypt, Iran, Qatar, and Yemen. The report documents restrictions on civil and burial rights in Egypt, intensified repression in Iran, discrimination in Qatar, and judicial persecution and incitement to hatred in Yemen. We thank António Guterres for bringing attention to the persecution and discrimination faced by Bahá’í communities and for highlighting the importance of protecting religious freedom and minority rights worldwide. Source: Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities - Report of the Secretary-General (A/81/281) ohchr.org/en/documents/thema… #Bahai #UnitedNations #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights #BahaiRights

Bahá’í Photographer Navid Zarrehbin Irani Faces First Hearing After Nearly Nine Months in Detention On 4 October 2026, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad held the first hearing in the case of Mr. Navid Zarrehbin Irani, a well-known photographer and Bahá’í resident of Mashhad, after nearly nine months in detention. Accompanied by his attorneys, Mr. Zarrehbin Irani responded to the charges brought against him. The court postponed further consideration of the case to a subsequent session without concluding the proceedings. As of the time of writing, the date of the next hearing had not been announced. No details of the specific charges were disclosed. Following the hearing, Mr. Zarrehbin Irani was returned to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Mr. Zarrehbin Irani was arrested on 15 January 2026 by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence at his home in Mashhad in the presence of his child. During the arrest, his personal belongings and professional equipment were confiscated. Following interrogations at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Mashhad, he was transferred to the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison. Since April 2026, he has been held in the prison’s security ward. On 1 July 2026, he was transferred to the Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office for his final interrogation session and to present his defense. Despite the completion of that session, authorities did not approve his release on bail. As of 2 July 2026, after 168 days in detention, he remained in custody awaiting a trial date. Mr. Zarrehbin Irani’s attorneys have formally requested his release on bail, arguing that his continued detention is unjustified in the absence of sufficient evidence. Despite repeated efforts by his family, judicial authorities have not agreed to his release on bail or temporary leave. The attorneys’ most recent request has also received no response. #Bahai #Iran #Arrests #CourtAppearances #NavidZarrehbin

Security Agents Damage Property During Search of Bahar Behifar’s Home in Yazd On the evening of 19 October 2026, Ministry of Intelligence agents raided a café in Yazd, where a group of Bahá’ís had gathered socially. The agents confronted those present, confiscated their mobile phones, and took a young Bahá’í with them to conduct home searches. The young Bahá’í was Ms. Bahar Behifar, daughter of Mr. Hormoz Behifar. Agents escorted her to her father’s home, which they raided and searched without presenting a judicial warrant. They searched the residence and its contents, emptying drawers and cupboards and causing significant damage to personal property, including a number of household items and belongings. A short time earlier, during a search of another Bahá’í’s home in Yazd, where Ms. Behifar and several other young people were present, her mobile phone had been left inside her vehicle. Agents took her to the vehicle and confiscated the phone. The other Bahá’ís present at the gathering were Mr. Shahin Daneshnia, Ms. Romina Pourmoradi, Mr. Kamyab Raei, Ms. Hania Taleie, Mr. Altaf Ghane, Ms. Parnia Basiri, Mr. Milad Aghdasi, and Mrs. Samiyeh Gholinejad. The agents declined to present a judicial warrant during these actions. When those present requested to see legal authorization for the search and confiscations, the agents stated only that they had received “orders.” Several of those at the café were also physically assaulted during the incident. That same night, security agents also raided and searched the home of Mr. Aghdasi and Mrs. Gholinejad, a Bahá’í couple residing in Yazd. Some of their personal property was damaged during the operation. As of the time of writing, no information has been made available about the reasons for the search of Ms. Behifar’s home, any charges that may have been brought against her, or the precise extent of the damage caused during the raid. #Bahai #Iran #Arrests #HomeSearches #BaharBehifar #HormozBehifar

In October 2026, @Independent published an opinion article by Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi recounting her experience sharing a prison cell with Bahá’í poet Mahvash Sabet in Tehran’s Evin Prison in 2009. Reflecting on Sabet’s newly published memoir, Open Wide the Doors, Saberi described discovering the extent of the physical torture Sabet had endured while imprisoned, experiences she had never disclosed during their time together. Despite her own suffering, Sabet had offered comfort and encouragement to Saberi. The article traced Sabet’s imprisonment as one of seven former representatives of Iran’s Bahá’í community, whose efforts to support the community’s educational and social needs were treated as political activities by Iranian authorities. Saberi recalled Sabet’s resilience during interrogations, her commitment to compassion and nonviolence, and the strength she drew from her faith. The article also revisited Sabet’s release in 2017, her rearrest in July 2022, and the serious health challenges she subsequently experienced. Published amid renewed international attention to human rights violations in Iran, the article connected Sabet’s personal experiences with broader concerns over arbitrary detention, torture, coerced confessions, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms. Through the perspective of a former fellow prisoner, Saberi highlighted the importance of international solidarity and the experiences of Iran’s Bahá’í community, raising wider questions about religious persecution, human dignity, and accountability. Read the full article: independent.co.uk/independen… #Bahai #MahvashSabet #Iran #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights

Bahá’í Photographer Navid Zarrehbin Irani Faces First Hearing After Nearly Nine Months in Detention On 4 October 2026, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad held the first hearing in the case of Mr. Navid Zarrehbin Irani, a well-known photographer and Bahá’í resident of Mashhad, after nearly nine months in detention. Accompanied by his attorneys, Mr. Zarrehbin Irani responded to the charges brought against him. The court postponed further consideration of the case to a subsequent session without concluding the proceedings. As of the time of writing, the date of the next hearing had not been announced. No details of the specific charges were disclosed. Following the hearing, Mr. Zarrehbin Irani was returned to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Mr. Zarrehbin Irani was arrested on 15 January 2026 by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence at his home in Mashhad in the presence of his child. During the arrest, his personal belongings and professional equipment were confiscated. Following interrogations at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Mashhad, he was transferred to the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison. Since April 2026, he has been held in the prison’s security ward. On 1 July 2026, he was transferred to the Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office for his final interrogation session and to present his defense. Despite the completion of that session, authorities did not approve his release on bail. As of 2 July 2026, after 168 days in detention, he remained in custody awaiting a trial date. Mr. Zarrehbin Irani’s attorneys have formally requested his release on bail, arguing that his continued detention is unjustified in the absence of sufficient evidence. Despite repeated efforts by his family, judicial authorities have not agreed to his release on bail or temporary leave. The attorneys’ most recent request has also received no response. #Bahai #Iran #Arrests #NavidZarrehbinIrani

Bahá’ís in Yazd Face Home Searches, Summonses, and Prison Sentences From 28 March to 15 October 2026, Bahá’ís in Yazd faced a series of security and judicial measures, including searches of homes and a farm, confiscation of personal property, dispersal of a private gathering, summonses for interrogation, prison sentences, and enforcement of a sentence. On 28 March 2026, around 50 Bahá’ís in Yazd had gathered for dinner, in keeping with a local custom, when agents of the Intelligence Department dispersed the gathering and confiscated the mobile phones of those in attendance without presenting a judicial warrant. Despite most participants approaching the legal authorities to recover their belongings, as of the time of writing, the phones had not been returned to their owners. In July 2026, approximately 12 participants were also summoned to the Intelligence Department for interrogation. No information has been provided about the official reasons for the summonses or any possible charges against them. September 2026 saw the highest number of security measures during this period. Six homes belonging to Bahá’ís in Yazd were searched that month, and agents confiscated guests’ mobile phones as well as homeowners’ belongings. On 26 August 2026, security agents searched the home of Mr. Shahrokh Nasiri and confiscated the mobile phones of six guests. On 2 and 3 September 2026, six Bahá’ís were also summoned to the Yazd Intelligence Department for interrogation; no further information has been provided about the reasons for their summonses or the outcome of their interrogations. On 12 September 2026, security agents searched the homes of three Bahá’ís and confiscated mobile phones and books found there. The three individuals were not identified. #Bahai #Iran #Arrests #HomeSearches

Rowhanifard’s Home Searched, Family’s Electronic Devices Seized in Yazd On 15 October 2026, agents of the Intelligence Department of Yazd raided and searched the home of Mr. Soheil Rowhanifard, a Bahá’í resident of Yazd, and confiscated many electronic devices belonging to family members. Previously, on 8 June 2025, agents of the Intelligence Department had also searched the homes of Mr. Rowhanifard, his son-in-law, Mr. Milad Mohammadi, and his daughter, Mrs. Soha Rowhanifard. During those searches, the agents had confiscated a number of their personal belongings, including laptops, hard disks, mobile phones, books, and materials related to the Bahá’í Faith. #Bahai #Iran #Arrests #HomeSearches #MiladMohammadi #SohaRowhanifard

PART 1 OF 4 | WHY ARE BAHÁ’ÍS PERSECUTED IN IRAN? Why has Iran’s Bahá’í community faced persecution under successive governments? In an interview with @BBC Newshour presenter James Menendez, author and translator Bahiyyih Nakhjavani discusses the historical persecution of Iran’s Bahá’ís and the accusations made against them over different periods. She also explains why the Bahá’í community’s principles of gender equality, religious tolerance and democratic governance have been perceived as a threat. The conversation is part of a BBC World Service interview about Open Wide the Doors, the prison memoir of Iranian Bahá’í writer Mahvash Sabet. 🎧 Listen to Part 1 of our four-part series featuring the original BBC interview. Source: BBC World Service | Newshour #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Iran #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights #MahvashSabet #BBCWorldService

Iman Rahmatpanah Begins Five-Year Sentence Under Electronic Monitoring with a 1,000-Metre Movement Restriction It was learned on 15 October 2026 that Mr. Iman Rahmatpanah, a Bahá’í resident of Shiraz, had begun serving a five-year imprisonment sentence outside prison under electronic monitoring. Under the ruling, he is required to remain within a 1,000-metre radius of his residence throughout this period. He has also been sentenced to six years’ deprivation of social rights and a two-year ban on leaving the country. Mr. Rahmatpanah was previously arrested by security agents in Shiraz in June 2025 and spent about two months in security detention centres and Adelabad Prison. He was temporarily released on bail in August 2025. Mr. Rahmatpanah and his family have also faced arrests and judicial pressure in previous years because of their religious beliefs. #Bahai #Iran #Arrests #Imprisonments #ImanRahmatpanah

Forough Ram Begins One-Year Prison Sentence in Zahedan On 13 October 2026, Ms. Forough Ram, a Bahá’í resident of Zahedan, was arrested after reporting to the Sentence Enforcement Office and transferred to Zahedan Prison to serve a one-year prison sentence. During the proceedings in her case, Ms. Ram’s lawyer was barred from attending the court session, and the appeal hearing was held in absentia. Ms. Ram, 30, had previously been arrested on 20 January 2026, when armed agents raided her home in Zahedan. During the operation, the personal belongings and communication devices of all members of her family were also confiscated. She was subsequently released on bail. Ms. Ram was also dismissed from her workplace on the orders of the Ministry of Intelligence. As of the time of writing, no further details had been announced concerning the charges against her or the court branch that issued the ruling. She is currently serving her sentence in Zahedan Prison. #Bahai #Iran #Arrests #Imprisonments #ForoughRam

The persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran has drawn expressions of solidarity from voices across Iranian society. In a video shared on Instagram, Iranian journalist and women's rights advocate @AlinejadMasih reads an excerpt from a letter by Mahvash Sabet, a Bahá’í poet who has endured years of imprisonment because of her religious beliefs. Addressed to the people of Iran, Sabet’s letter calls attention to the denial of fundamental rights faced by Bahá’ís, including access to education, employment, and the freedom to live according to their beliefs. Through sharing Sabet’s words, Alinejad draws attention to the experiences of Iran’s Bahá’í community and the importance of solidarity in defending human dignity and freedom of religion or belief. #Bahai #MahvashSabet #MasihAlinejad #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom #Iran #OurStoryIsOne

Iman Rahmatpanah Begins Five-Year Sentence Under Electronic Monitoring with a 1,000-Metre Movement Restriction It was learned on 15 October 2026 that Mr. Iman Rahmatpanah, a Bahá’í resident of Shiraz, had begun serving a five-year imprisonment sentence outside prison under electronic monitoring. Under the ruling, he is required to remain within a 1,000-metre radius of his residence throughout this period. He has also been sentenced to six years’ deprivation of social rights and a two-year ban on leaving the country. Mr. Rahmatpanah was previously arrested by security agents in Shiraz in June 2025 and spent about two months in security detention centres and Adelabad Prison. He was temporarily released on bail in August 2025. Mr. Rahmatpanah and his family have also faced arrests and judicial pressure in previous years because of their religious beliefs. #Bahai #Iran #Arrests #Imprisonments #ImanRahmatpanah

Bahá’í Couple Sentenced in Yazd to a Combined Three Years, Six Months and Two Days in Prison On 12 October 2026, Branch 1 of the Yazd Revolutionary Court sentenced Mrs. Flora Samadani and her husband, Mr. Ahmad Jafari Naimi, both Bahá’ís residing in Yazd, to a combined total of three years, six months and two days in prison. According to the verdict, Mrs. Samadani was sentenced to three years and one day of imprisonment on the charge of “deviant propaganda activity contrary to the sacred law of Islam through the promotion of the Bahá’í Faith.” Mr. Naimi was sentenced to six months and one day of imprisonment on the charge of aiding and abetting the same activity. The sentences were issued under Article 500 bis and Articles 126 and 127 of the Islamic Penal Code. The hearing on the couple’s charges had been held before the same branch in mid-to-late September 2026. On 3 May 2026, security forces arrested Mrs. Samadani, 56, in Yazd. After about a week in a detention facility of the Yazd Intelligence Department, she was transferred to Yazd Prison and subsequently released on bail on 20 June 2026. Mr. Naimi, 59, had previously been arrested and subjected to legal proceedings because of his religious beliefs. On 13 June 2026, he was arrested after appearing before Investigation Branch 6 of the Yazd Prosecutor’s Office. He was released from Yazd Prison on 4 July 2026 on bail of one billion tomans. iranbahaipersecution.bic.org… #Bahai #Iran #Imprisonments #FloraSamadani #AhmadJafariNaimi

Iran | News Bulletin #36-26 (2 – 9 October 2026) iranbahaipersecution.bic.org… #BahaiRights #Iran

Twenty-Six Bahá’ís Summoned for Ninth Court Hearing in Shiraz A judicial case involving 26 Bahá’ís in Shiraz, which began in 2016 and resulted in their acquittal in January 2023, has been reopened, with the defendants summoned for a ninth court hearing. The 26 individuals were previously sentenced collectively to 85 years’ imprisonment, 24 years of internal exile, and 52 years of travel bans. The ruling was later overturned, and all 26 were acquitted on 14 January 2023. Following a challenge to the acquittals under Article 477 of Iran’s Criminal Procedure Code, the case was reopened. On 27 September 2026, several defendants received summonses, with one specifying a hearing date of 11 October 2026. Swipe through for a timeline of the case. #Bahai #Iran #Shiraz #Arrests #CourtProceedings #Shiraz26Bahais