End of prison term but no end to persecution

Auckland, New Zealand (Monday 24 December 2018)

As Afif Naeimi, 56, completes his prison sentence, dozens of Iranian Baha’is remain in prison and thousands more face daily persecution, says Paddy Payne, spokesperson for the New Zealand Baha'i community. “The last imprisoned member of the seven former Baha’i leaders in Iran has finally been released after serving a 10-year prison sentence for merely practising his faith.”

While the Baha'i International Community welcomes Mr. Naeimi's release, no improvements in the situation of Iranian Baha'is, as a whole, are expected. “The stark reality is that scores of Baha’is still remain imprisoned in Iran because of their beliefs and tens of thousands more face intense persecution including denial of access of higher education, shop closures, and harassment,” said Mr Payne.

After his arrest in 2008, Mr Afif Naeimi, a father of two, faced false charges including espionage, propaganda against Iran, and the establishment of an illegal administration. While detained, he experienced severe health problems which were often inadequately treated. His brief hospitalisation was not counted as part of his sentence.

Iran’s pervasive and systematic persecution of the Baha’i community, including revolving arrests, arbitrary court sentences, and shop closures, has been condemned in recent months by the United Nations General Assembly, the European Union parliament and United States congress, as well as Australian and Swedish parliamentarians. Furthermore, an increasing number of Iranians within and outside Iran have denounced the persecution. “Just last month, a group of Iranian Muslim intellectuals condemned the systematic and deeply-rooted violation of Bahai citizens’ rights, describing it as being inhumane and contrary to religious and moral obligations,” Mr Payne stated, adding that the long history of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of the Baha’is was well documented.

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