The Islamic Republic’s security pressure on Iranian religious minorities has increased even more since the beginning of the new year and over 25 Iranian Bahai citizens in Shiraz, Yazd, and Isfahan have collectively received over 125 years in prison.

According to the reports from several human rights organizations, despite the rampant coronavirus epidemic in Iran, the revolutionary and criminal courts continued the persecution of Bahai citizens through arrest, prison sentence, summon, and firing from government jobs.

In most cases, the Bahai citizens have been charged with “membership in anti-regime groups, membership in illegal organizations (Bahai religion is considered an illegal organization in Iran) and “propaganda for Bahai organization as a dissident group”.

Last month, at least two Bahai citizens were arrested in Yazd and Karaj. In one instance, nine Bahai citizens were arrested in Birjand and collectively received 51 years and eight months in prison. They were arrested for celebrating the 200th birthday of the Bahai prophet, and their businesses were also foreclosed.

In another case, six Bahai citizens were arrested in Shiraz and collectively sentenced to 33 years in prison by Judge Mahmoud Sadati.

Shahzad Hosseini and his son Shayan were arrested in Isfahan and are still being held in IRGC holding despite paying their bail of 200 million tomans.

The Islamic Republic regime of iran does not recognize Bahaism as a religion and denies Bahais of education, work, and public service.