An Arrest in Semnan Posted: 18 Aug 2009 04:06 PM PDT Editor’s Note: Iran Press Watch regrets that due to the pressure of work it failed to report on an important development in Semnan, as reported throughMihan site on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. For the sake of the completeness of our historical records, that report is now shared in translation: In mid February 2009, Murteza Hamidi [presumably a Muslim] was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Semnan. Previously, on December 15, 2008, his home was raided at the same time as the homes of 20 Baha’i families were attacked by agents of the same Ministry in a widespread operation. The charge against Mr. Hamidi is “possession of Baha’i books and materials”, and “relationship with Baha’is”. It should be noted that his grandfather is a Baha’i, as are many other members of his family; therefore it is perfectly natural and understandable for Hamidi to have Baha’i printed materials in his possession and to have interactions with Baha’is. Repeated efforts by his family to secure his freedom have remained futile, and Mr. Hamidi continues to languish in prison without any recourse. The other point that adds to the anxiety of this situation is that Mr. Hamidi and his family have been extensively pressured by the Ministry of Intelligence to file complaints against some Baha’i residents of Semnan for promoting the Baha’i Faith to him and his children. Through this method, the authorities hope to create a legal pretext for further harassment and persecution of the Baha’is of Semnan. Is this effort not another step in an organized and systematic campaign to eliminate the Baha’is of Semnan? This would then be an effort which could serve as a dangerous and inhumane model for the rest of the nation to entirely eliminate the Baha’is. [Posted on http://emails.mihanblog.com/post/125. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]

First National ID Issued for Baha’is in Egypt Posted: 18 Aug 2009 02:12 PM PDT Editor’s Note: The following report by Safaa Abdoun was published on Daily News Egypt and because of its implications for the entire area, including Iran, it is reposted here. Following years of legal battles and calls for state recognition, two Bahais issued their first national ID in which the religious affiliation field was left blank, instead of falsely listing Islam, Christianity or Judism as their religion. Sixteen-year-old twins Nancy and Emad Hindy issued their ID cards after a legal battle which ended last March with Egypt’s Supreme Administrative Court upholding, definitively, the right of Egyptian Bahais to obtain personal identification documents without stating their religious affiliation. The Administrative Court in January 2008 had allowed Bahais to leave the religious affiliation field on birth certificates and identity cards blank. The Hindys’ case was brought forward by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). “Nancy and Emad issuing ID cards which implementation of the new ID policy is a welcomed [yet] a long overdue step which we have been working on since the court ruling in March,” said chairman of EIPR, Hossam Bahgat. Read full article here: Daily News Egypt Read a similar story at: Baha\’i World News Service

A Baha’i Home Searched Posted: 18 Aug 2009 01:32 PM PDT According to Baha’i World News Service, on July 29, 2009, the home of Mr. Nader Munzavi in Delijan, in the province of Makazi, was searched and his computer and Baha’i books were confiscated. Mr. Munzavi is the sole Baha’i resident of this small town. Last year, he was summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence for interrogations. [Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at BWNS. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]

Baha’is on Temporary Leave from Prison Posted: 18 Aug 2009 01:15 PM PDT On separate reports, the Persian page of Baha’i World News Service has advised that Baha’i prisoners in Shiraz and Yazd have been given temporary leave from prison: Three Baha’i youth prisoners have been given a temporary family leave. Haleh Rouhi was given a leave from July 12 to August 8, and Raha Sabet from July 12 to August 6. Both have now returned to their incarceration. On Sunday, August 2, Sasan Taqva had a foot surgery and it not known at this time when he will resume his detention. He has been on leave since July 27. The above three youth were arrested on November 19, 2007, and are completing their four year prison sentence. On another report, BWNS stated: The family of Mr. Mehran Bandi in Yazd has been advised that the medical authorities in the prison where Mr. Bandi is incarcerated have determined that he is physically unable to endure the rest of his sentence (see, Iran Press Watch1). For this reason, from July 28, he has been given a month of temporary leave and it is not know whether he has returned to incarceration since the commencement of his leave. Mr. Bandi has been imprisoned since May 20, 2008 [Iran Press Watch has recorded the beginning of his sentence as Aug. 28, 2008; see Iran press Watch2]. He is sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, followed with three years of exile. [Source BWNS1 and BWNS2. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]

A Baha’i Sentenced to Imprisonment Posted: 18 Aug 2009 12:05 PM PDT According to Human Rights Activists News Agency, the Revolutionary Court of Semnan has convicted a Baha’i resident to 18 months imprisonment. According to the court ruling, Mrs. Susan Tebyanian[-Jabbari], a Baha’i resident of Semnan was convicted to 18 months imprisonment. In the course of her sentencing, the court noted that because of lack of appropriate facilities in Semnan (given her background), one of the prisons in Tehran would be designated for her by the court. It should be noted her trial took place about a month ago, but the present ruling was issued and communicated on August 12. [Source: August 18, 2009, hra-news] The Persian page of the Baha’i World News Service provides further details: On June 2, 2009, the trial of Mrs. Susan Tebyanian, a Baha’i of Semnan, took place. She had been arrested on April 27, 2009, and released on bail and surety on May 1. The court sentenced her to 18 months imprisonment on the following charges: § Formation of illegal groups and societies associated with the Baha’i community under the pretext of “moral training classes” § Membership in illegal groups and societies of the Baha’is, such as, “Education Committee”, and “Committee for Training and Education” § Propaganda against the regime and in support of the Baha’is, such as, local gatherings and associations. [Source: BWNS. Translations by Iran Press Watch]

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