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 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.
"Bakhtiar Arefi" United For Iran
"An Academic Year of Teacher Crackdowns" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)