Additional Name(s): آزیتا رفیعزاده
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 4 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/24/2015
Date of Release: October/9/2019
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Education Rights Religious Association Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization
Azita Rafizadeh was imprisoned for her religious association and for providing religious education.
In the years prior to her arrest, Rafizadeh had been questioned by authorities about her work with the Baha’i Institute of Higher Education (BIHE). On May 22, 2011, authorities raided Rafizadeh's and other homes of BIHE staff. In February 2013, Rafizadeh and her husband, Payman Koushk-Baghi, appeared before the Evin Court where they were accused of having “membership in illegal Baha’i organizations with the aim of acting against national security through illegal activity in the educational institute, BIHE."
In May/June 2014, Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to four years in prison.
On October 24, 2015, Rafizadeh was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence in Evin Prison.
In March 2016, Rafizadeh reportedly took a nine-day prison leave for Nowruz.
On October 9, 2019, Rafizadeh was released from prison.
Rafizadeh is married with one child.
Photo attributed to Bahá’í World News Service
"Azita Rafizadeh" United For Iran
"Azita Rafizadeh, a Baha’i Citizen, Has Been Released from Evin Prison" Iran Press Watch
"Teacher to Begin Prison Sentence for Her Work at Baha’i University" Center For Human Rights In Iran