Sanaz Tafazoli

Sanaz Tafazoli is a Bahai citizen living in Mashhad. She was sentenced to long-term imprisonment due to her religious beliefs and activities. Additionally, some members of her family have experienced multiple arrests and convictions due to their adherence to the Bahá'í faith. Her uncle Manouchehr Rouhi was executed in 1984 for his faith.

In the Spring of 2022, the Islamic Republic started a new wave of crackdown on Baha’i citizens. The Islamic Republic arrested dozens of Baha’i citizens in different parts of the country or searched their houses. The prison sentences of some of the citizens who were previously sentenced went into effect, and agents attacked Roshan Kuh village and destroyed the houses of Baha’i villagers. <symbol-timeline></symbol-timeline>

• <coverage-outsourcing id='47673'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/z0xupg'> IranWire reported that the revolutionary court of Mashhad sentenced Babk Rouhi, husband of Sanaz Tafazoli to three years in prison for exercising the Bahai faith. This sentence has been suspended for five years. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47675'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/z0xupg'> IranWire reported that Sanaz Tafazoli was arrested by the Intelligence Ministry agents in Mashhad She was later released on bail. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47678'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/z0xupg'> Sanaz Tafazoli was released after serving her sentence. IranWire reported that she was previously sentenced to six months in prison for propaganda against the state. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47680'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/z0xupg'> Sanaz Tafazoli was arrested. IranWire reported that the Intelligence Ministry agents in Mashhad stopped Ms. Tafazoli's car in Mashhad and arrested her. The agents then searched her home and confiscated some of her personal belongings including a laptop, cellphone, and books. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47681'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/z0xupg'> Sanaz Tafazoli was transferred from the Intelligence lockup to Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad. IranWire reported that Ms. Tafazoli was kept in solitary during this time. While she was arrested, several members of her family including her husband and two sons were summoned to the Intelligence Ministry office and were released after interrogation. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47682'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/z0xupg'> Three months after her arrest, Ms. Tafazoli is still being held in Vakil Abad Prison. IranWire reported that the case of this Bahai citizen is at branch 903 of the public and revolutionary court of Mashhad. According to the report, after the transfer of Sanaz Tafazoli to Vakil Abad Prison, the case investigator set her bail at 100 billion rials. The family provided the bail and the courthouse ordered her release, but after arriving at the prison, her family found out that the investigator had sent another letter to the prison and canceled her order of release on bail. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='48999'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/efgr56'> Her arrest warrant was extended for one more month. IranWire reported that "three and a half months after her temporary arrest, she was transferred to the revolutionary court from prison to offer her last defense." According to the report, Sanaz Tafazoli was charged with propaganda against the state and forming and managing an illegal group. A basis for these charges is her activities within the Bahai community in Mashhad. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='49870'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/ridq'> IranWire reported that she and a group of other Bahai prisoners were denied furlough on Nowruz 2023. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='50609'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/m4cps'> Her temporary detention was extended again in the fifth month since her arrest. By announcing this news, IranWire wrote that "Soleimani" (Ali Soleimani Marshag), the investigator of Branch 904 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, extended the arrest warrant for Sanaz Tafazoli. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='51286'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-41135/'> Despite the passage of more than five months since her arrest, she is still in custody in the Vakil Abad prison of Mashhad. A source close to Ms. Tafazoli's family, pointing out that she is deprived of the right of access to a lawyer, said in an interview with HRANA: > The temporary release of Sanaz is still prevented by the order of the investigator of the case. Also, despite receiving the last defense from this Bahai citizen, the investigator of the case refuses to refer the case of Ms. Tafazoli from the prosecutor's office to the court. According to HRANA's report, during the interrogation sessions and defenses taken from Ms. Tafazoli at the court stage, charges of propaganda against the state, forming and launching anti-regime groups, and supporting hostile countries were brought against her. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='51841'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-41215/?tg_rhash=22a41dd9689763'> HRANA wrote that in the sixth month since the arrest of Sanaz Tafazoli, her temporary detention order has been extended for another month by Soleimani, the investigator of Branch 903 of Mashhad Revolutionary Court. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='53004'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-41941/'> HRANA, quoting a source, wrote that on June 29, the arrest warrant for Sanaz Tafazoli expired, and about a month ago, her case was referred to the first branch of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad. According to this source, the judge of this branch has so far opposed Ms. Tafazoli's request for bail twice, and the date for the court hearing has not yet been determined. According to this report, despite the passage of more than seven months since her arrest, Sanaz Tafazoli is still in Vakil Abad prison in Mashhad. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='53005'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/erfanian_hadi/status/1675869992296775680?s=20'> Mohammad Hadi Erfanian Kaseb, the lawyer of Sanaz Tafazoli, wrote on his Twitter that despite accepting Ms. Tafazoli as a client at the first branch of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, the head of the branch refused to accept it, citing the amendment of Article 48. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='53006'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/48sb3ah4'> IranWire wrote that after eight months of indecision in Mashhad's Vakil Abad prison, the hearing of Sanaz Tafazoli's charges will be held in the first branch of Mashhad's Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Mansouri. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='53007'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-42322/'> Her trial was held. According to HRANA, during this trial, Ms. Tafazoli defended herself against the accusations of collusion, propaganda against the state, and participation in gathering with the intention of disrupting the country's security. HRANA also quoted a source and wrote that Sanaz Tafazoli was denied access to a designated lawyer and the court session was held with the presence of her lawyer. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57376'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-42743/'> She was sentenced to prison. While publishing this news, HRANA wrote that based on the verdict issued by Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court headed by Hadi Mansouri, she was sentenced to six years and six months in prison for the charge of forming a group with the intention of disrupting internal security, and three years and seven months in prison for the charge of assembly and collusion with the intent to commit crime against the country's security, and for the charge of deviant educational or propaganda activity contrary to or disturbing the holy Islamic law in the form of a sect, group, community or the like, eight months in prison, a total of 10 years and 9 months in prison. According to this report, the discovery of books and works related to the Bahai faith and "the formation of an educational group for Bahai children are the basis of her accusations." By applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, six years and six months of imprisonment will be enforceable. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57378'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-43851/'> HRANA wrote that her case has been sent to Branch 35 of the Court of Appeal of Khorasan Razavi after protesting the verdict issued in the first instance court, and she is still in Vakil Abad prison in Mashhad. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57379'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/39srsuhd'> The court of appeals of Khorasan Razavi province upheld the decision of the trial court against her. While announcing this news, IranWire wrote that the hearing of her appeal court was held without the knowledge of Mrs. Tafazoli and her lawyers. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57380'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-45228/'> HRANA, quoting an informed source, reported that her conviction was upheld at the appeal stage so quickly that she was unaware of the date of the appeal hearing. The report continued that her case is being processed after filing an appeal in the Supreme Court. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57383'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2024/hranews/a-46386/'> HRANA wrote that the Supreme Court rejected her request for a retrial without giving any explanation and the final decision was announced to her defense lawyer. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57384'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2024/hranews/a-47912/'> She went on leave. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57385'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2024/hranews/a-47912/'> She returned to Vakil Abad Prison at the end of her leave. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>