Aziz Samandari

UPDATE: (16 March 2009) Aziz Samandari was released from prison on 11 March 2009 on approximately $73,000 bail (700,000,000 Rial).

(5 February 2009) Aziz Samandari was arrested the morning of 14 January 2009 in his home in Tehran by Intelligence Ministry officials. That morning, 12 Baha’i homes were raided and 5 arrests made. Officials confiscated books, materials and photographs related to the Baha’i Faith as well as computers and CDs.

Samandari is being held incommunicado in Evin Prison. His family has only been allowed to meet with the presiding judge and call very briefly. He has not been allowed to visit with a lawyer. Samandari’s only “crime” is belief in the Baha’i Faith.

Samandari’s family has been the target of persecution for years. His father, Mr. Bahman Samandari, was executed in 1993 only a day after he was arrested. The government did not inform his family until weeks later.

Samandari and the other Baha’is arrested on 14 January are among over 30 Baha’is currently in prison in Iran.