Additional Name(s): Afshin Bolbolan, افشین بلبلان

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Fars

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Date of Detainment: September/23/2018

Current Status: Unknown

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Afshin Bulbulan

Extra Bio Info:

Afshin Bulbulan was imprisoned for his religious identity and activity.

On September 23, 2018, intelligence agents arrested Bulbulan following a raid on his home. His arrest coincided with a wave of arrests targeting the Baháʼí community. Bulbulan was reportedly placed in solitary confinement.

On October 10, 2018, Bulbulan was reportedly transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan Province.

Iran Wire reported that Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced Bulbulan to six years in prison in November 2018. He was reportedly charged with “membership in the illegal Baha’i administration with the purpose of acting against domestic security” and “propaganda against the Islamic Republic regime by teaching the Baha’i Faith.” United For Iran reports that Bulbulan was sentenced to five years in prison and was charged with "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security (Art. 499 IPC) and "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

In December 2018/January 2019, it was reported that an appeals court had upheld Bulbulan's sentence.

United For Iran reported Bulbulan as released; however, that assessment has not been confirmed with additional reporting.

Sources: