Another Baha’i Sentenced to Prison for Practicing Her Faith

Shamis Mohajer (Left)

The Baha’i citizen, Shamis Mohajer, began serving her one-year prison term at Evin Prison on charges of “propaganda against the state” on June 28, 2014. Mohajer’s mother told the Campaign that her daughter turned herself in after being summoned to Evin Prison.

“My daughter was sentenced to one year in prison on charges of ‘propaganda against the state,’ but she has never had any political activities against the state. She was charged with this only because she is a Baha’i and when asked what her religion is, she would tell the truth, and also for the prayer and worship ceremonies she held with her fellow believers. But having prayer sessions is not a crime. Followers of any religion get together for worship,” said Afagh Rouhollah Fada, Shamis Mohajer’s mother.

“Unfortunately, we are not allowed to talk [about our cases] on the state radio and television and to media inside the country. They would take us to court and sentence us and later the sentences are enforced,” she added.

Asked whether her daughter engaged in inviting Muslims to join the Baha’i faith, or whether Muslims were present in the worship gatherings, Ms. Rouhollah Fada said, “No non-Baha’is were present at these meetings, because Baha’is are not expected to proselytize their religion.”

Security agents arrested Shamis Mohajer and her husband Shahab Dehghani in their home on July 10, 2012. The agents also took personal belongings of the couple, including a laptop computer, CDs, and books.

Mohajer and Dehghani were released on bail of 100 million toman (approximately $32,000) on August 8, 2012. Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court under Judge Moghisseh, where many Baha’is have been prosecuted, sentenced Mohajer to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda against the state,” and “forming an illegal group.” The sentence was upheld at the appeals level.

Dehghani was sentenced to four years in prison, also by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court under Judge Moghisseh, on charges of “propaganda against the state” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” His sentence also was upheld at the appeals level. Dehghani turned himself into Evin Prison on May 24, 2014, but was transferred to Rajaee Shahr Prison the next day where he is currently held at Hall 12 among other prisoners of conscience and political prisoners.

“There are many other Baha’is inside prison right now, my daughter and son-in-law are not the only ones. But my son-in-law was sentenced to four years in prison on baseless charges and this is far too long for a young individual. The husband and wife are now in prison because of their religion and there is nothing we could do,” said Ms. Rouhollah Fada.