Five Baha’i women arrested in Sari amid growing pressure on religious minorities

Hengaw – Sunday, August 23, 2026

Iranian security agencies have intensified pressure on the Baha’i community, with five women taken into custody in Sari during the latest wave of arrests.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the arrests took place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in Sari, the capital of Mazandaran Province.

Security Police officers arrested Maral Roshani, a hygiene products seller, and Negar Badiei, an English language instructor. Hengaw sources said their interrogations focused on their professional activities and allegations of “promoting the Baha’i faith through their professions.”

After several hours of interrogation, Roshani and Badiei were temporarily released on bail at 7:00 p.m. the same day and summoned for further questioning next Saturday.

Intelligence Ministry forces arrested Shima Sanaei, a hygiene products seller, and Fakhereh Zahedi. In brief phone calls with their families, they said they were being held at the Sari Intelligence Department facility known as the “Keshoui” detention center.

Soraya Manouchehrzadeh, a Montessori instructor, had been arrested earlier by Intelligence Ministry forces and transferred to the same detention center.

Hengaw has learned that the judicial orders presented by officers at the women’s homes authorized only searches and did not permit arrests. Nevertheless, the officers took the women into custody.