Additional Name(s): بابک تقیان

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/20/2018

Date of Sentencing: July//2018

Date of Release: March//2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Public Disorder Unlawful Disobedience

Babak Taghian

Extra Bio Info:

Babak Taghian was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Taghian following a violent crackdown on people protesting the arrest of Nematollah Riahi. Riahi, a member of the Sufi Gonabadi Order, had come to Tehran earlier in February to participate in a sit-in protesting the house arrest of spiritual leader Noor Ali Tabandeh. Taghian was reportedly charged with "refusing police orders" (Art. 607 IPC), "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC), and "disrupting public order" (Art. 618 IPC). Following his arrest, Taghian was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

In July 2018, Taghian was reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison. Taghian was expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently. 

In September 2018, it was reported that Biranvand was participating in a hunger strike demanding an end to Tabandeh's house arrest, the release of female Gonabadi Sufi prisoners, and for all Gonabadi Sufi prisoners in Great Tehran Penitentiary to be kept in the same ward.

In March 2020, Taghian was reportedly released from prison following a state directive in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taghian was reportedly subjected to inhumane living conditions during his detention.

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