Free Hamid Eslami and Rahman Vafa’i

3-year sentences confirmed
for Hamid Eslami and Rahman Vafa’i

Sen´s Daily September 16 , 2013

The review court has confirmed the 3-year sentences hand down to Hamid Eslami ( حمید اسلامی ) and Rahman Vafa’i (رحمان وفائی ). They were arrested by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz on July 14, 2012, and were charged with “membership of, and propaganda for, illegal groups” and “endangering national security.” However they are held in Adel Abad prison in the section for religious prisoners, not as security or political prisoners. The review court considered their files on August 22, 2013, with the lawyer for the defendants present. On September 14, their lawyer was informed that the sentences had been confirmed. Mr. Vafayi, who is 59 years old, suffers from heart complications and his family fears the effects of imprisonment on his health.

Source : Sen´s Daily
http://sensday.wordpress.com/
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UPDATE Sen´s Daily July 13 , 2013

Concerns for the health of Rahman Vafa’i,
imprisoned in Shiraz

Rahman Vafa’i (رحمان وفائی ), a 59-year old Bahai serving a three-year sentence in Adel Abad prison in Shiraz, is in poor physical health and has been denied prison furlough. He suffers from high blood pressure and experiences severe pain from a sciatic nerve. He was receiving medical treatment before his imprisonment, but it has not been possible to continue this in prison. His family send medicines to the prison, but they are not always passed to him by the prison.

Although he needs surgery for his sciatic problem, as he has lost all feeling in his left foot, the prison doctor has not recognized that this is necessary. He was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz on July 14, 2012, and after almost 9 months in detention was sentenced, in May 2013, on the charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “membership in Baha’i organizations.”

Source : Sen´s Daily

http://sensday.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/concerns-for-the-health-of-rahman-vafai-imprisoned-in-shiraz/

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UPDATE Radio Zamaneh 05/31/2013

Two Baha'is sentenced to jail for “propaganda”.

Two Iranian Baha’is have been sentenced to three years in jail by the Islamic Republic judiciary in Shiraz.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that the two Baha’i citizens were arrested last July in Shiraz and, after 11 months in Adelabad Prison, were finally charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “membership in Baha’i organizations.”

Rahman Vafayi and Hamid Eslami have each been handed three years in prison.

HRANA adds that 59-year-old Vafayi suffers from heart complications and his family fears the effects of imprisonment on his health.

The Islamic Republic does not recognize Baha-ism as a legitimate religion, and most Baha’is face severe discrimination and persecution in Iran, which is the birthplace of the Baha’i faith.

http://archive.radiozamaneh.com/english/content/two-bahais-sentenced-jail-%E2%80%9Cpropaganda%E2%80%9D

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Hamid Eslami ( حمید اسلامی ) and Rahman Vafa’i (رحمان وفائی ), who were arrested in Shiraz on July 14, have now been in “temporary custody” (detention without trial) for five months, including 68 days in solitary confinement. According to reports from relatives, the two have been subjected to harsh conditions such as cramped quarters, severe cold, malnutrition and being stripped of their clothes as well as lack of medical facilities.

They have also been placed in a cell with murderers and drug users. Although their interrogation has ended, the court has not released them on bail and has even extended their remand.