Additional Name(s): محمد کریمایی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February//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

Mohammad Karimaei

Extra Bio Info:

Mohammad Karimaei was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Karimaei 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. Karimaei 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). Karimaei was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

In July 2018, Karimaei was reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison, 74 lashes, and two years in exile. Karimaei was expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

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

Karimaei was reportedly denied adequate medical care and subjected to attacks and inhumane living conditions during his detention.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Aylar Bakhtari, فاطمه باختری

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 1 Year's Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August//2019

Date of Release: April//2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Fatemeh Bakhtari

Extra Bio Info:

Fatemeh Bakhtari was imprisoned for practicing her religion as a convert. 

In May 2017, authorities arrested Bakhtari and her husband, Zaman Fadaei, under unclear circumstances.  She was reportedly denied access to a lawyer. 

On an unspecified date, Bakhtari was released on bail.

In September 2018, Bakhtari was sentenced to one year in prison for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

In August 2019, Bakhtari was taken into state custody to begin serving her sentence at Evin Prison. 

In March 2020, Bakhtari was reportedly released on furlough in light of COVID-19.

In April 2020, Bakhtari was granted full release in light of COVID-19.

Related Cases: Zaman Fadaei

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Mahrokh Kanbari, Mahrokh Qanbari, ماهرخ قنبری

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 1 Year's Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: October//2019

Date of Release: April//2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Mahrokh Ghanbari

Extra Bio Info:

Mahrokh Ghanbari was imprisoned for practicing her religion as a convert.

In July 2019, authorities reportedly arrested Ghanbari. She was later released on bail.  She was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

Later that same month, Ghanbari was reportedly sentenced to one year in prison for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

On August 2, 2019, Vice President Mike Pence called for Ghanbari's release.

In October 2019, it was reported that Ghanbari had been taken into state custody to begin serving her sentence.

In March 2020, Ghanbari was released on furlough in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April 2020, Ghanbari was fully released from prison in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Nowruz holiday.

Ganbari had been previously arrested in 2018 in relation to her religious activity.

Publicly Available Information:
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