Twelve Baha’is sentenced to combined 26 years in prison

Hengaw – Monday, August 24, 2026

Twelve Baha’is have been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Sari Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ammar Ramezani, to a combined 26 years and 165 days in prison and 76 years of deprivation of social rights.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the verdict, issued on August 20, 2026, sentenced Raquel Ataian to four years in prison and 10 years of deprivation of social rights.

Keyumars Akbari, Sohrab Laghaei, Zahra Golabian, Banafsheh Asadian Arabi, Fouad Laghaei, Anahita Koushbaghi, Nasim Samimi, Hossein Fanaian, Emilia Fanaian, Melody Samimi, and Soheil Haghdoost were each sentenced to two years and 15 days in prison and six years of deprivation of social rights.

The Revolutionary Court convicted all 12 on the charge of “engaging in educational and promotional activities contrary and detrimental to the sacred laws of Islam, with the aim of promoting and encouraging the Baha’i faith.”