about new restrictions on the freedom of movement of women and girls and the manner in which the compulsory dress code is enforced. The Special Rapporteur calls on the Government to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to amend and repeal all laws which discriminate against women and girls and to refrain from adopting laws and measures that would further undermine the empowerment of women and their participation in the labour force. She urges the Government to ensure freedom of movement of women and girls and to guarantee their fundamental right to physical education, physical activity and sports. Laws and regulations that require women and girls to observe the Islamic dress code infringe on their right to have, adopt and profess or not a religion or belief and do not take into account the various religious components of Iranian society. These laws should be reviewed and the Government should respect the right of anyone to privacy and ensure that security forces refrain from acting as moral guardians of citizens. 91. The Special Rapporteur expresses concern over the persistence of marriage. She recalls that child marriage constitutes a harmful practice and in certain circumstance could even fall under the international legal definition of slavery. Child marriage can never be considered as being in the best interests of the child. The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to prohibit all forms of child marriage and to develop awareness-raising campaigns and programmes on the harmful effects of this practice on the physical and mental health and well-being of girls, targeting households, local authorities, religious leaders, judges and prosecutors, as recommended by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. 92. The situation of recognized and unrecognized religious minorities remains a matter of serious concern. Baha’is continue to be systematically discriminated against, targeted and deprived of their right to a livelihood. The Special Rapporteur urges the authorities to recognize that freedom of religion or belief entails the freedom to choose a religion or belief, and that measures restricting eligibility for civil, political, social or economic privileges or the imposition of special restrictions on the practice of other faiths violate the prohibition of discrimination based on religion or belief and the guarantee of equal protection under article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Jan-12 — Began serving sentence Isfahan (Isfahan) 30-Jun-12; Sentence issued 09-Jul-12; Appealed verdict without result. 5 years’ imprisonment under Ta’zir law Collaboration with Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education Mr. Pooya Tebyanian 08-Mar-09 Semnan Tried 15-Apr-09; Verdict issued 31-May-09; Appeal court verdict 18 months imprisonment Propaganda against the regime May-11 12-Mar-11 Semnan Tried on Appeals verdict issued 6.5 years’ imprisonment Propaganda against the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran and membership in and organizing illegal groups and assemblies Mr. Farzin Sadri Dowlatabadi 19-Oct-13 Gorgan N/A Mr. Shamim Naimi 23-Jul-12 Tehran Release on bail Propaganda against the regime and activity against national security 02-Sep-12 28-Apr-14 — Began serving sentence Tehran 10-Nov-2012; 18-Feb-13; 3 years imprisonment (appealed sentence) Propaganda against the regime and activity against national security Ms. Elham Farahani Naimi 10-Jul-12 Tehran Release on bail Propaganda against the regime and activity national security 08-Sep-12 28-Apr-14 — Began serving sentence Tehran 04-Feb-13 4 years imprisonment (appealed sentence) N/A Mr. Adel Naimi 10-Jul-12 Tehran (Tehran) Date tried: 24-Apr-2013 Initially 11 years imprisonment, changed to 10 years. Initially announced: (a) Activity against national security; (b) Espionage; (c) Participating in the clandestine organization of Bahaism. In court document: Organizing the Bahaist sect, teaching; holding [self-defence] spray; engaging in propaganda against the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Farhad Eghbali 20-Nov-12 Gorgan N/A N/A N/A Unknown
Began serving sentence on 30-Aug-14 N/A 5 year N/A Mr. Shahab Dehghani 10-Jul-12 Tehran N/A N/A N/A N/A 12-Jul-13 Tehran N/A 4 years Propaganda activities against the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic, teaching the perverse ideologies of Bahaism, and activities intended to mislead the youth. Activity against national security Ms. Mona Mehrabi 16-Feb-15 Tehran Unknown Unknown Unknown Mr. Faramarz Lotfi Sometime between 24/27-Sept-13 — After a raid of his home, he was taken to an unknown place Tonekabon N/A N/A Unknown On 03-Feb-15, he was summoned to court to hear his decree, and was immediately transferred to prison Tonekabon 03-Feb-15 N/A Activities against the national security, and propaganda against the regime Mr. Ziaollah Ghaderi 03-Feb-15 — he was summoned to to hear his decree, and was immediately transferred to prison Tonekabon 03-Feb-15 Unknown Activities against the national security, and propaganda against the regime
Mr. Soroush Garshasbi 21-Nov-09 Tonekabon — Mazandaran 08-Jun-10 N/A N/A Sometime in Dec-09 —Precise date is unknown Began serving sentence on 03-Feb-15 Tonekabon 03-Feb-15 N/A Activities against the national security, and propaganda against the regime Mr. Manouchehr Kholousi 29-Nov-13 — Detained Mashhad N/A N/A Unknown Approx. end of Nov/beginning of Dec-13 Mashhad N/A Charged with propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran and activities against national security 29-Jan-14 Mashhad Court: — verdict appealed 6 years imprisonment under Ta’zir law Activities against the national security, and propaganda against the regime Ms. Elham Karampisheh Began serving sentence on 16-Feb-15 Tehran N/A N/A Mrs. Safa Forghani Began serving sentence on 16-Feb-15 Tehran N/A N/A Mr. Mehrdad Forghani Began serving sentence on 17-Feb-15 Varamin N/A N/A Ms. Laleh Mehdinezhad 10-Mar-15 Tehran N/A N/A Mrs. Fariba Ashtari 31-Jul-12 Court hearing held for 20 Baha’is on 24-Aug-13 in Branch 1 of the 3 years imprisonment Propaganda against the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and assembly and collusion against national security After 27 days
Revolutionary Court in Yazd 21-Feb-15 — Summoned to Yazd Central Prison om Yazd 13-Apr-14 — Court of Appeals in Yazd 2 years imprisonment under Ta’zir law and one year suspended imprisonment Propaganda against the regime of the Islamic Republic [of Iran] and propaganda in support of groups or organizations opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Naser Bagheri Ghalat serving sentence on 27-Feb-15 Yazd N/A N/A Propaganda against the regime Mr. Faez Bagheri Ghalat serving sentence on 27-Feb-15 Yazd N/A N/A Propaganda against the regime Mrs. Shabnam Mottahed 31-Jul-12 Yazd hearing held for 20 Baha’is on 24- Aug-13 in Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Yazd 2 years imprisonment under Ta’zir law and 1 year suspended imprisonment Propaganda against the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and assembly and collusion against national security Unknown 18-Mar-15 — imprisonment Yazd 13-Apr-14 — Court of Appeals in Yazd 2 years imprisonment under Ta’zir law and 1 year suspended imprisonment Propaganda against the regime of the Islamic Republic [of Iran] and propaganda in support of groups or organizations opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Iman Rashidi Ezzabadi 31-Jul-12 Court hearing held for 20 Baha’is on 24-Aug-13 in Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Yazd 4 years imprisonment Propaganda against the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and assembly and collusion against national security Released after 27 days providing bail of 80 million Toman Trial Trial Trial
19-Mar-15 — imprisonment Yazd 13-Apr-14 — Court of Appeals in Yazd 3 years imprisonment under Ta’zir law and 1 year suspended imprisonment Propaganda against the regime of the Islamic Republic [of Iran] and propaganda in support of groups or organizations opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Mehran Eslami Amirabadi 01-Oct-12 hearing held for 20 Baha’is on 24-Aug-13 in Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Yazd 2 years imprisonment Propaganda against the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and assembly and collusion against national security 06-Oct-12 04-Apr-15 — began imprisonment Yazd 13-Apr-14 — of Appeals in Yazd 1 year imprisonment under Ta’zir law and 1 year suspended imprisonment Propaganda against the regime of the Islamic Republic [of Iran] and propaganda in support of groups or organizations opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Fariborz Baghi Asrabadi Jul/Aug-12 Court hearing held for 20 Baha’is on 24-Aug-13 in Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Yazd 3 years imprisonment Propaganda against the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and assembly and collusion against national security Unknown 07-Mar-15 — Began imprisonment Yazd 13-Apr-14 — Court of Appeals in Yazd 2 years imprisonment under Ta’zir law and 1 year suspended imprisonment (1) Propaganda against the regime of the Islamic Republic; (2) Propaganda in the interest of groups and/or organizations opposing the regime of the Islamic Republic Ms. Rouha Imani 12-May-15 Kerman N/A N/A N/A Ms. Naghmeh Gilanpour 25-May-15 Rasht N/A N/A Assembly for propaganda against the regime Trial
serving sentence on 13-Aug-15 Isfahan 13-Apr-14 — Court of Appeals in Yazd 4 years (1) Propaganda against the regime of the Islamic Republic; (2) Propaganda in the interest of groups and/or organizations opposing the regime of the Islamic Republic Mr. Shahin Rashedi 07-Apr-15 Hamadan Awaiting court trial N/A Propaganda against the regime 10-Apr-15 May/Jun-15 held on 5-Aug-15/ sentence announced on 15-Aug-15 1 year’s imprisonment under Ta’zir law Propaganda against the regime N/A Ms. Mina Mobin Hemmati 13-Apr-15 Hamadan N/A N/A Propaganda against the regime 15-Apr-15 May/Jun-15 held on 5-Aug-15/ sentence announced on 15-Aug-15 1 year’s imprisonment under Ta’zir law Propaganda against the regime Mr. Masoud Azarnoush 13-Apr-15 Hamadan N/A N/A Charged for owning satellite dish 15-Apr-15 May/Jun-15 held on 5-Aug-15/ sentence announced on 15-Aug-15 1 year imprisonment under Ta’zir law and 2 years exile to Khash Propaganda against the regime N/A Mr. Hamid Azarnoush 13-Apr-15 Hamadan N/A N/A Propaganda against the regime N/A May/Jun-15 Trial held on 5-Aug-15/ sentence announced on 15-Aug-15 1 year imprisonment under Ta’zir law and 2 years exile to Khash Propaganda against the regime Ms. Farideh Ayyoubi 21-Apr-15 Hamadan Propaganda against the regime N/A
Mrs. Rafizadeh 12-Mar-13 summoned to the Revolutionary court. N/A N/A N/A Summoned by telephone to serve her sentence (Apr-15) Karaj Convicted in Feb-15 4 Activity against national security by membership in BIHE Mr. Peyman Koushk-Baghi 12-Mar-13 summoned to the Revolutionary court. N/A N/A N/A 28-Feb-16 Karaj May-15: sentenced to five of imprisonment under ta’zír law 5 years Activity against national security by membership in BIHE Mr. Afshin Seyyed Ahmad 08-Nov-12 Tehran N/A sentenced to three years imprisonment N/A N/A Began serving sentence on 28-Jun-16 N/A N/A N/A Mr. Yashar Rezvani 02-Aug-16 Unknown N/A N/A N/A Mr. Farzan Shadman 28-Sep-16 Shiraz N/A N/A N/A Mr. Shadman 28-Sep-16 Shiraz N/A N/A N/A Ms. Parisa Rouhizadegan 28-Sep-16 Shiraz N/A N/A N/A Mr. Shamim Akhlaghi 28-Sep-16 Shiraz N/A N/A N/A