Iran arrests five members of Baha'i faith
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 January 2009 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Iran arrests five members of Baha'i faith, 15 January 2009, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4976f7d2c.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 15, 2009
At least five members of the Baha'i faith have been arrested in Iran, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports.
Security forces reportedly raided their homes, took away their personal belongings – including computers and religious books – and transferred the detainees to Evin prison, outside of Tehran.
Diane Alai, the UN representative of the Baha'i International Community in Geneva, told Radio Farda that the arrests come amid growing state pressure on Bahai's in Iran.
One of the detainees, Zhinoos Sobhani, worked as an assistant with the Organization for Defending Mine Victims and the Center of Human Rights Defenders, both founded by Iran's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.
In a statement, Ebadi's center – whose offices were recently shut down by Iranian authorities – confirmed Sobhani's arrest at her house early on January 14.
