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Attaullah Zafar, a Baha’i citizen, was arrested and transferred to Evin prison Ariyai Community News Agency – This morning, Monday 7 Shahrivar, Ataullah Zafar, a Baha’i citizen, was arrested and transferred to Evin prison to serve his one-year sentence. This 78-year-old citizen was arrested after appearing in the courthouse, in order to deliver a doctor’s letter stating that he is unable to bear imprisonment.
According to the report of the Aryan community news agency, quoted by Harana, this morning, Monday, 7 September 1401, Attaullah Zafar, a Baha’i citizen, was transferred to Evin prison to serve his sentence.
This 78-year-old Baha’i citizen was arrested and transferred to Evin prison to serve his sentence when he went to the Evin courthouse to deliver a doctor’s letter stating that he was unable to endure imprisonment. A source familiar with Mr. Zafar’s condition told Harana: “His transfer has taken place in order to endure his imprisonment while Mr. Zafar is suffering from numerous physical problems, especially heart disease, which requires constant care and regular medication.”
Attaullah Zafar along with another Baha’i citizen named Abbas Taef were arrested by the agents of the Ministry of Information on October 5, 2018. During the arrest, while searching the house, the officers seized some of their personal belongings and took them with them. On December 4, 2018, Abbas Taef and Attaullah Zafar were temporarily released from Evin prison by posting bail until the end of the proceedings.
These citizens were then sentenced to 1 year imprisonment by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, which was confirmed by Branch 26 of the Court of Appeal of Tehran province in July of last year.
According to the judgment of the Court of Appeal, each of these citizens has been sentenced to one year in prison for the charge of “acting against national security through effective administration and activity in the organizations of the Baha’i sect”.
Baha’i citizens in Iran are deprived of the freedoms related to religious beliefs, this systematic deprivation while according to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, every person has the right to freedom of religion and change of religion with conviction, as well as have the freedom to express it individually or collectively and publicly or secretly. According to unofficial sources, there are more than three hundred thousand Baha’is in Iran, but the Iranian constitution only recognizes Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism and does not recognize the Baha’i religion. For this reason, the rights of Baha’is have been systematically violated in Iran over the past years.
