Additional Name(s): Fariba Kamal Abadi, فریبا کمال‌آبادی

Gender: Female

Current Location: Evin Prison, Tehran

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Fars

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July/31/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Espionage Illegal Assembly Miscellaneous Religious Crimes Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition

Fariba Kamalabadi

Extra Bio Info:

Fariba Kamalabadi is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On July 31, 2022, security forces arrested Kamalabadi in Tehran after raiding her home.

In December 2022, it was reported that Kamalabadi was sentenced to ten years in prison following a one hour trial on November 21, 2022.

In August 2023, it was reported that the Tehran Court of Appeal upheld Kamalabadi's sentence. It was also reported that she had been charged “forming and leading groups to act against national security.”

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) advocates for Kamalabadi as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.

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Kamalabadi has previously been imprisoned for her religious leadership role.

On May 14, 2008, authorities arrested Kamalabadi and several other Baha'i religious leaders specifically for their roles as religious leaders. They were all part of a group called “Yaran-i-Iran” or “Friends in Iran."

In January 2010, it was reported that Kamalabadi's trial had begun and that she had been charged with "espionage for foreign countries, propagating against the state, founding and maintaining illegal groups, collaboration with the Zionist occupying regime, conspiracy to collect classified information and sharing it with foreign nations in an attempt to disrupt national security, gathering and colluding against national security internally and externally, defacing the Islamic Republic of Iran in the international community and corruption on Earth." United for Iran lists the charges as "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC), "assembling and colluding to act against national security"(Art. 610 IPC), “cooperating…with foreign States against the Islamic Republic of Iran” (Art. 508 IPC), "committing corruption on Earth" (Art. 286 IPC), and "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC).

In August 2010, it was reported that Kamalabadi was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

In September 2010, it was reported that Kamalabadi's sentence was reduced to 10 years in prison after an appeals court reportedly dropped the "espionage" charges.

In March 2011, it was reported that another appeals court had upheld Kamalabadi's original 20-year sentence.

On an unspecified date, Kamalabadi's sentence was reduced to 10 years in prison based on Article 134 of Iran's Penal Code.

On October 31, 2017, Kamalabadi was released from prison after completing her sentence.

Kamalabadi is married with children.

Related Cases: Afif Naeimi, Mahvash Sabet, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Enayatollah Naeimi

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