Additional Name(s): صهبا فرنوش
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 2 Years' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 16 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: May/11/2022
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
Sahba Farnoush
Extra Bio Info:
Sahba Farnoush was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On November 15, 2015, security forces arrested Farnoush from his home in Tehran reportedly on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah. Authorities reportedly confiscated his laptop and cell phone during the arrest.
On December 23, 2015, Farnoush was released on bail.
In January 2020, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Farnoush to 10 years in prison for "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC), five years in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC), and one year in prison for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC). Human Rights Activists News Agency reported the charges as “running a Baha’i organization," “membership in an anti-regime group,” and “propaganda against the regime through promoting the Baha’i faith."
Farnoush was granted a retrial, and on an unspecified date, he was acquitted of "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC). Farnoush was resentenced to six years in prison for "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC).
On an unspecified date, Farnoush's appeal was rejected.
On an unspecified date, the Supreme Court reduced Farnoush's sentence to two years in prison.
On May 11, 2022, Farnoush was reportedly taken into custody to begin serving his sentence.
In February 2023, it was reported that Farnoush had been released from prison.
Farnoush is married with two children.
Publicly Available Information:
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"پنج شهروند بهائی از زندان اوین آزاد شدند" Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA)
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USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom in Iran in 2022 July 2022
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"Sahba Farnoush" United for Iran
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"Baha’i Citizen Sahba Farnoush to Serve Two Years Sentence" Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA)
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"Baha’i Citizen Sahba Farnoush to Serve Two Years Sentence" Iran Press Watch
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"Sahba Farnoush Sentenced to Sixteen Years in Prison" Iran Press Watch
Additional Name(s): Razi Gumbatov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: July/7/2021
Date of Sentencing: May/20/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use
Razi Humbatov
Extra Bio Info:
Razi Humbatov is imprisoned for his religious association.
In July 2021, plainclothes officers arrested Humbatov, a member of the unregistered Muslim Unity Movement (MUM) organization, for allegedly criticizing authorities on social media.
In May 2022, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Humbatov to six years in prison for "illegally purchasing or storing with a view of selling, manufacturing, processing, transporting, transferring or selling of narcotics or psychotropic substances in large amount" (Art. 234 ACC).
Publicly Available Information:
May 20, 2022
Expedited Removal is the U.S. immigration law process that allows officers in the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, to quickly deport noncitizens who arrive at U.S. ports of entry or cross the border without proper documents, unless the noncitizen can establish a “credible fear” of persecution or torture. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. government has expelled most migrants and asylum seekers who try to enter the United States under a public health authority, referred to as Title 42, rather than under Expedited Removal. Beginning in mid-2021, the Biden administration resumed using Expedited Removal in some cases. It is planning to lift the Title 42 order soon and return to using Expedited Removal more broadly.
Elizabeth Cassidy, USCIRF’s Director of Research and Policy, joins us today to discuss concerns and recommendations about the treatment of asylum seekers in the Expedited Removal process and its relevance to international religious freedom.