Additional Name(s): بختیار عارفی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Kurd

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Reduced to 1 Year, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 3 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July/24/2018

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization

Bakhtiar Arefi

Extra Bio Info:

Bakhtiar Arefi was imprisoned for his religious association and activity. 

On January 25, 2015, authorities arrested Arefi, a teacher.  A month later, he was released on bail.

On February 25, 2017, Arefi was sentenced to three years in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC).  United For Iran reports that this sentence was in relation to his alleged membership in "Jamaat-e-Dawat and Islah," whereas Human Rights Activists News Agency frames his arrest and sentencing in terms of his teacher union activities. 

On October 30, 2017, Arefi's sentence was reduced to 18 months in prison.

On July 24, 2018, Arefi was taken into state custody to begin serving his sentence.

On an unspecified date, Arefi was reportedly released from prison after completing his sentence.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): شکوفه یداللهی فارسی

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Health Concerns: Wounds

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Reduced to 2 Years' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February//2018

Date of Sentencing: December//2018

Date of Release: February//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

Shokoufeh Yadollahi Farsi

Extra Bio Info:

Shokoufeh Yadollahi Farsi was imprisoned for her religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Farsi 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. Farsi was reportedly charged with "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC). Farsi was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

In December 2018, Farsi was reportedly sentenced to five years in prison and a two years of deprived social rights. According to United For Iran, a Tehran appeals court reduced Farsi's sentence to two years in prison.

In February 2020, Farsi was released after completing her sentence.

While Farsi was imprisoned, she was reportedly subjected to attacks and inhumane living conditions.  She was also denied adequate medical care for wounds she suffered during the February 2018 protests.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): مهران اصغرزاده

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//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

Mehran Asgharzadeh

Extra Bio Info:

Mehran Asgharzadeh was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

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

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

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

Asgharzadeh was reportedly subjected to inhumane living conditions and attacks during his detention.

Publicly Available Information:
Subscribe to