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

Extra Bio Info:

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.

Additional Name(s): عادل نعیمی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Health Concerns: Diabetes, Hypertension

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July//2012

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

Adel Naimi

Extra Bio Info:

Adel Naimi was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

In July 2012, intelligence agents arrested Naimi following a raid on his home.  Authorities confiscated several religious materials including books, CDs, and pictures. Naimi was placed in solitary confinement in Evin Prison.

In September 2012, Naimi was transferred out of solitary confinement after three months.

In February 2013, Naimi was reportedly transferred to Rajaee Shahr Prison.

In May 2013, Naimi was reportedly sentenced to 11 years in prison. He is expected to serve 10 years in prison as the sentences run concurrently.  According to United For Iran, Naimi was charged with "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC) and "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

In August 2017, Amnesty international released a statement describing Naimi's prison conditions as "cruel, inhuman and degrading." It added that Naimi was being refused proper medical care. 

Naimi's sentence should have ended.

Naimi reportedly suffers from diabetes and hypertension. Naimi has reportedly been taken to the hospital throughout his imprisonment. He has also been granted short medical leaves to receive proper care. 

Naimi is married with at least one child.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): فرزاد همایونی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Fars

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Reduced to 1 Year, 8 Months' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: January/5/2019

Date of Release: July/3/2019

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization

Farzad Homayouni

Extra Bio Info:

Farzad Homayouni was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On March 27, 2017, authorities arrested Homayouni and four others in Isfahan under unclear circumstances. He was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

In April 2017, Homayouni was reportedly released on bail.

On November 20, 2017, the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan sentenced Homayouni to five years in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC).

At an unspecified date, Branch 23 of the Isfahan Court of Appeals reportedly reduced Homayouni's sentence to 20 months in prison.

On January 5, 2019, Homayouni was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence. 

On July 3, 2019, Homayouni was reportedly released from prison.

Publicly Available Information: