Additional Name(s): شهنام جذبانی
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Appeal: Reduced to 1 Years, 3 Months' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 11 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: May/27/2018
Date of Sentencing: January//2016
Date of Release: December/28/2019
Current Status: Released
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 Treason & Sedition
Shahnam Jazbani was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On October 17, 2012, authorities arrested Jazbani and several other Bahá’ís of Gorgan and the surrounding areas of Golestan Province following raids on their homes by intelligence officials. Authorities reportedly confiscated religious books, portraits, and CDs. Jazbani was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.
In December 2012, Jazbani was released on bail.
In January 2016, the Gorgan Revolutionary Court sentenced Jazbani to 11 years in prison for “founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC), "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC), and “cooperating…with foreign States against the Islamic Republic of Iran” (Art. 508 IPC).
In December 2016, Branch 2 of the Golestan Court of Appeals acquitted Jazbani of "contact with the Israeli government."
On an unspecified date, Jazbani's sentence was reduced to 15 months in prison.
On May 27, 2018, Jazbani was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence.
On December 28, 2019, Jazbani was released from prison.
Jazbani was reportedly denied adequate medical care and subjected to torture and prolonged solitary confinement while in state custody.