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Iranwire – Hooshidar Zarei, a Baha’i citizen from Shiraz, was transferred to Adel Abad prison after authorities revoked his electronic ankle monitoring arrangement.
Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court had sentenced Zarei to one year in prison for “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” and five years for “promoting sectarian activities contrary to Sharia law.”
Branch 37 of the Fars Province Court of Appeals fully upheld the initial verdict in August 2023.
Zarei began serving his five-year sentence in October 2023. He was initially under electronic monitoring that limited his movement to within 1,000 meters of his home.
He is a well-known judo athlete who has won championships and coached both youth and adult teams in Fars Province.
The Islamic Republic does not recognize the Baha’i faith, and its followers have faced systematic discrimination in Iran for decades.
Baha’is have been persecuted for their beliefs and are often accused of being spies or acting against the Iranian government.
However, the Baha’i International Community states that no evidence has ever been provided to support these claims.
Over the past two years, the Iranian government has intensified its crackdown on members of the Baha’i faith, imprisoning dozens on spurious charges, denying them access to higher education and employment, and confiscating or destroying their properties.
