Yekta Fahandezh Saadi

She is an expelled undergrad English Literature student of Payam Nour University of Shiraz. Yekta Fahandej Sadi has been arrested several times for her religious beliefs and has received harsh sentences

• <coverage-outsourcing id='7387'> She was arrested in a group arrest of 15 Bahai's in Shiraz by the city's intelligence forces. She spent 81 days incarcerated in the intelligence ministry's detention center and the central prison in Shiraz. This Bahai citizen was charged with "propaganda against the regime, gathering and conspiracy against the national security and founding an illegal organization" and was sentenced to five years suspended prison in her preliminary trial by judge Rashidi. But this verdict was overturned by the appeal court and she was exonerated of these charges by judges Mohammadi and Zakernia in the 16th branch of the Fars Appeals Court </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='7521'> She was released on a hundred million Toman bail </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='7522'> When she was in her seventh semester of English Literature course in Payam Nour university of Shiraz, she was expelled due to her religious beliefs </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='7388'> According to IPA, she was arrested for the second time by the intelligence ministry forces for the same charges and spent 56 days in Shiraz detention centers </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='7389'> According to IPA, she was sentenced to 5 years in prison by judge Sadati of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court on the charges of "association and conspiracy and propaganda against the regime." The 17th branch of the Fars Appeals Court reduced the sentence to two years in prison and three years of suspended prison </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='7520'> According to IPA, intelligence officials arrested six people in a class and sent them to the intelligence detention house in Shiraz. Nooshin Bahari stayed in detention for 29 days, Ramin Shirvani for 35 days, Esmayil Roosta for about 67 days, Behnam Azizpoor for about 70 days, Sayid Hasani for about 70 days and Yekta Fahandaj Saadi for about 81 days. Three days after intelligence forces had attacked this educational class, Nabil Tahzib and Nayim Qayedsharafi were also arrested. Nabil remained in detention for 80 days but Nayim was released shortly after. Two other people were also arrested in this case and released a few hours later. A credible source tells IPA: “From what we heard later, the intelligence officials mistreated them. Long solitary periods without access to books or magazine, blindfolds, blind interrogation, kicking their chair, insulting them, insulting Baha’i beliefs and much insults and humiliation. The boys were beaten up during interrogation. As they faced the wall and couldn't see their interrogators, they were kicked and punched. One of the intelligence officials had told one of the girls: “because you are ritually unclean, I won’t touch you. But I’ll get an order to lash you and then I’ll lash you until you either die or write what you need to write.” This was the kind of atmosphere they had built for them. These people had changed their religion on their own volition and they wanted to bring them back to Islam with kicks and punches. The usual lack of access to lawyers and weeks of cutting connections with family was also there as usual.” “The class attacked by the intelligence forces was held periodically and each session related to a topic aimed at improving society. The classes were not religious. But I should say that propagating one’s religion is a definite right of Iranian citizens. But these classes were not at all religious or related to propagation. I mean that even within the tyrannical logic of the security-judicial machinery of the Iranian government, they couldn’t be objected to” </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='9215'> On this group arrest, "Justice for Iran" reported that Yekta Fahandezh Sadi, Behnam Azizpour, Saeed Hassani, Esmail Rousta, and Nabil Tahzib are still being kept in solitary confinement at Number 100 jail. They have not been granted lawyers. They are under psychological torment from their interrogators. They are being interrogated with blindfolds and have to face the wall, and the interrogations include insults and threats. These environmental activists are being pressured in to "make pledges in return for their freedom", and their families have been threatened against making their case public. Their family members have been insulted, and their personal vehicles have been searched and confiscated </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='9640'> According to "Bazdasht" Nabil Tahzib and Yekta Fahandezh Sadi were released with the bail of 250 million Tomans </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='25733'> According to the IPA, was arrested and sent to Shiraz’s Adealabad prison. After the case was followed up by the lawyer, 10 weeks later, the Branch 36 of the Supreme Court sent the case to the Branch two of the Shiraz revolutionary court, the enforcement was stopped and Ms Fahandaj Saadi was released from prison. The argument used by supreme court was that she had been previously tried and acquitted of the same charges so she couldn’t be sentenced to prison on the same charges. In August 2017, about two months after her release, the case was reviewed in Branch two of the Shiraz revolutionary court headed by Judge Rashidi. Yekta Fahandaj Saadi and her lawyer, Mahmood Taravatroy were present in the trial. For the last defense, the date October 7, 2017 was set but the court delayed the trial and it never took place. But on December 15, 2018, they were told that a sentence had been issued in absentia by a new judge named Mohammad Mojtaba Roodijani and Yekta Fahandaj Saadi had been convicted of “forming a group to disrupt national security” (subject of the article 498 of the penal code) and sentenced to 10 years in prison and was convicted of “propaganda against the regime” (subject of article 500 of the penal code) and sentenced to one year in prison. Article 134 reduction brings this down to 10 years. The charge sheet stipulates a 20 day period for appeal. A source tells iPA: “Judge Mohammad Mojtaba Roodijani has not only illegally held a trial in absentia but has changed the charge from ‘membership in a group’ to forming a group which brings a suspended two year sentence up to 10 years.” Next year, he was acquitted of all charges by the Branch 26 of the Fars province appellate court </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40173'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-25207/'> According to HRANA, the first trial session of the 26 Baha'i citizens was held at the first branch of the revolutionary court of Shiraz. Parisa Rouhizadegan, Esmail Rousta, Bahareh Norouzi, Behnam Azizpour, Samar Ashnaei, Ramin Shirvani, Rezvan Yazdani, Soroush Ighani, Saeed Hassani, Shadi Sadegh Aghdam, Shamim Akhlaghi, Sahba Farahbakhsh, Sahba Moslehi, Ahdieh Enayati, Farbod Shadman, Farzad Shadman, Lala Salehi, Mozhgan Gholampour, Marjan Gholampour, Maryam Eslami, Mahyar Sefidi, Nabil Tahzib, Nasim Kashaninejad, Noushin Zenhari, Vargha Kaviani, and Yekta Fahandezh Saadi have been charged with propaganda against the state in the interest of dissident groups, managing dissident groups, membership in aforementioned groups, propaganda, collusion with enemy states and global imperialism through implementing their plans in Iran in the form of Baha'i organization. After the attorneys stated the flaws in the case Judge Mahmoud Sadati sent the case back to the prosecutor’s office for another review. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40174'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2022/hranews/a-34786/'> According to HRANA, after the prosecutor amended the flaws in the case, the second trial session of the 26 Baha'i citizens was held at the first branch of the revolutionary court of Shiraz. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40175'> The third trial session of the 26 Baha'i citizens was held at the first branch of the revolutionary court of Shiraz presided by Judge Mahmoud Sadati. An IPA source reported that during the session the charges changed to assembly and conspiracy against national security, article 610 of the Islamic Penal Code. The attorneys must now adjust their defense based on this change in charges. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40176'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2022/hranews/a-35288/'> The first branch of the revolutionary court of Shiraz presided by Judge Mahmoud Sadati convicted the 26 Baha'i citizens of assembly and collusion with intent to commit crimes against national security. According to the report, Yekta Fahandezh Saadi, Lala Salehi, Bahareh Norouzi, Rezvan Yazdani, and Mozhgan Gholampour were each sentenced to five years in prison, two years ban from leaving the country by revoking passports, and two years of daily reports at the Information Ministry office in the province. Nabil Tahzib, Sahba Moslehi, Behnam Azizpour, Esmail Rousta, Ramin Shirvani, and Saeed Hassani were each sentenced to five years in prison, and two years ban from leaving the country by revoking passports, and banishment to different cities across the country; Nabil Tahzib to Izeh, Sahba Moslehi to Ferdows, Behnam Azizpour to Dehdasht, Esmail Rousta to Bafgh, Ramin Shirvani to Bagh Malek, and Saeed Hassani in Lordegan. They were also ordered to report daily to the Information Ministry office in their province. Maryam Eslami, Parisa Rouhizadegan, Marjan Gholampour, Shadi Sadegh Aghdam, Ahdieh Enayati, Samar Ashnaei, Nasim Kashani Nejad, Sahba Farahbakhsh, and Noushin Zenhari were each sentenced to two years in prison, two years ban from leaving the country by revoking passport, and two years of daily reports to the Information Ministry office in their cities. Mahyar Sefidi, Vargha Kaviani, Shamim Akhlaghi, Farzad Shadman, Farbod Shadman, and Soroush Ighani were each sentenced to two years in prison, two years ban from leaving the country by revoking their passport, and two years on banishment; Mahyar Sefidi to Lamerd, Vergha Kaviani in Kashmar, Shamim Akhlaghi to Semirom, Farzad Shadman to Minab, Farbod Shadman in Firouzabad, and Soroush Ighani in Mehriz and two years of daily reports to the Information Ministry of their cities. According to the report, the court used “their presence and assembly at poor neighborhoods in the suburbs of Shiraz; assembly at tourism sites and religious holy sites including Shah Cheragh, Hafezieh, Persepolis, and Narenjestan, claiming to assess the water crisis and social harms, and environmentalism; but in reality, assembly and conspiracy to create mental and ideological insecurity in the Islamic society by using the false and dangerous claims that their corrupt cult is superior to all other divine religions to create sedition and attracting Muslims, and their tactics and actions in executing the devious plans of the leaders of their cult.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='41648'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2022/hranews/a-36815/'> The 37th branch of the appeal court of Fars Province presided by Judge Saeed Bolandzadeh and magistrate Kamran Zare removed the exile punishment, reduced the sentences of some of the 26 Bahai citizens, and confirmed the rest. According to the ruling published by HRANA, Fahandezh Saadi, Mozhgan Gholamopour, Rezvan Yazdani, Bahareh Norouzi, Nabil Tazhib, Behnam Azizpour, Sahba Moslehi, Ramin Shirvani, and Saeed Hassani were each sentenced to five years in prison, banned from leaving the country by revoking their passports and reporting to the Intelligence Ministry office of the province daily. Shadi Sadegh Aghdam, Parisa Rouhizadegan, Marjan Gholampour, Ahdiyeh Enayati, Samar Ashnaei, Maryam Eslami, Shamim Akhlaghi, Mahyar Sefidi, Vargha Kaviani, Sahba Farahbakhsh, Farzad Shadman, and Farbod Shadman were each sentenced to two years in prison and banned from leaving the country with similar conditions. Soroush Ighani, Esmail Rousta, Noushin Zenhari, and Nasim Kashani had their sentences reduced to six months in prison and a similar ban from leaving the country for two years. According to an HRANA source, before the verdict was issued, Mr. Sahba Moslehi provided the court with a written testimonial about the coerced confessions, the torture methods, and sexual and religious insults during their time in lockup, but Judge Bolandzadeh completely ignored it. A source told HRANA that in the verdict, the gender of Mr. Shamim Akhlaghi was recorded as female and Ms. Sahba Farahbakhsh as male, which was eventually fixed. The source said: > The question is, if the revolutionary court of Shiraz that issued the initial verdict didn't know their gender, what did they use as the basis for their verdict? </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='55336'> <reference source='http://tinyurl.com/rb25stj6'> She was arrested by the security forces on a street in Shiraz. While announcing this news, IranWire wrote that the security forces put Ms. Fahandezh in a car and went with her to her home. According to the IranWire report, as soon as the agents entered the house, they began to search the place with an insulting tone and, apart from books and religious photos, they seized a number of personal belongings of Yekta Fahandezh and her husband. According to this report, mobile phones, laptops, printers, gold and silver symbols of the Bahai religion, and about 1500 dollars were found in the house. Also, children's toys and children's drawing books were confiscated. IranWire also wrote that during the inspection, the officers tore up a number of family photos and property documents, including the house deed. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='55338'> <reference source='http://tinyurl.com/msu5wd7x'> According to IranWire report, Yekta Fahandezh has not had any phone calls or visits with her family since her arrest. According to this report, despite constant inquiries and follow-ups of Yekta Fahandezh's family, no clear explanation has been given to her family by the relevant authorities about the reason for Yekta's arrest. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='55341'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2024/hranews/a-46473/'> HRANA wrote that Yekta Fahandezh recently made a short phone call with her family for the first time after her arrest. According to this source, she is still being interrogated in the Shiraz Intelligence Detention Center (Number 100). </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='55382'> <reference source='https://ir.voanews.com/a/yekta-fahandezh-saadi-is-still-in-prison/7473106.html'> Mona Fahandezh Saadi told Voice of America Farsi that more than 50 days have passed since the arrest of her sister, Yekta Fahandezh Saadi, and she is still in detention center No. 100. Mona Fahandezh also mentioned that Yekta had only two short phone calls with her family during this period. She added that despite repeated follow-ups by the family, it was not possible to visit her and the reason for her arrest is still unknown. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='55924'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2024/hranews/a-47180/'> HRANA wrote that Yekta Fahandezh was transferred from Shiraz intelligence detention center called No. 100 to Adel Abad prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>