Additional Name(s): Soroush Eqani
Gender: Male
Current Location: Adel Abad Prison, Shiraz
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Appeal: Reduced to 6 Months' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 2 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: January/14/2024
Date of Sentencing: June//2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Belief Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly
Soroush Iqani
Extra Bio Info:
Soroush Iqani is imprisoned for his religious identity.
In June 2023, Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court sentenced Iqani, an Iranian Baha'i, to two years in prison on charges of "gathering and collusion against the security of the country." The punishment also included a two-year ban from leaving the country and a two-year mandatory residence in Mehriz.
On an unspecified date, an appeals court reduced Iqani's sentence to six months in prison.
On January 14, 2024, authorities arrested Iqani and later took him to Adel Abad prison in Shiraz to begin serving his six-month sentence.
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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"سروش ایقانی، شهروند بهائی جهت تحمل حبس راهی زندان عادل آباد شیراز شد" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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Aram Iran, Tweet, January 15, 2024
Gender: Female
Current Location: Adel Abad Prison, Shiraz
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/13/2024
Date of Sentencing: September//2022
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Mina Karami
Extra Bio Info:
Mina Karami is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
In September 2022, Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court convicted Karami, an Iranian Baha'i, on charges related to "deviant educational and propaganda activities contrary to Islamic Sharia Law." The sentence includes five years of imprisonment, denial of social rights for 10 years, and a two-year ban from leaving the country. Branch 37 of the Court of Appeal in Fars province ultimately upheld the verdict on an unknown date.
In January 2024, Branch 1 of the General and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office of Shiraz summoned Karami to appear before judicial authorities.
On February 13, 2024, agents of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence apprehended Karami in Shiraz and later took her to Adel Abad prison to begin her five-year prison sentence.
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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HRANA English, Tweet, January 16, 2024
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: China
Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: May/12/2022
Date of Sentencing: December/29/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Cult
Du Meiling
Extra Bio Info:
Du Meiling is imprisoned for her religious activity.
On May 12, 2022, police arrested Du Meiling in Zhoukou City, Henan Province for possessing Church of Almighty God electronic religious materials.
On December 29, 2022, the Huaiyang District People's Court sentenced Du Meiling to seven years in prison and fined her 15,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).
On February 24, 2023, the Intermediate People's Court of Zhoukou City upheld the original verdict upon appeal.
Related Cases: Zhai Xinping, Yang Weihong, Zhao Guiqin
Sources:
- "Four CAG Christians Subjected to Heavy Jail Terms of 7-9 Years" Association for the Defense of Human Rights and Religious Freedom (ADHRRF)