Five Baha’i individuals detained in Kerman and Mashhad

Hengaw — Thursday, January 22, 2026

Five Baha’i individuals, including three residents of Kerman and two residents of Mashhad, have been detained by agents of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence in recent days and transferred to undisclosed locations.

Those detained include Aylin Sahragard, Peyvand Naeimi, and Adib Shahbazpour, residents of Kerman, as well as Rabia Malekpour and Erfan Tabatabaei, residents of Mashhad.

Adib Shahbazpour, 30, a tennis coach and resident of Kerman, was arrested at his family home on Monday, January 19, 2026, according to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.

Aylin Sahragard, 24, was arrested at her home in Kerman on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and was transferred to Kerman Prison on Sunday, January 18. During the arrest, security forces searched the residence and confiscated personal belongings, including a laptop, mobile phones belonging to family members, and religious books.

Peyvand Naeimi, a dog trainer and behavior specialist, was arrested at her workplace in Kerman on the afternoon of Thursday, January 8, 2026, and transferred to an undisclosed location. Fourteen days after her arrest, no information has been made available regarding her fate, place of detention, or the charges brought against her.

In a separate case, Rabia Malekpour and Erfan Tabatabaei, two Baha’i residents of Mashhad, were detained during protests in the city on Friday, January 9, 2026. No information has since been released regarding their fate.