Baharak Tabarsi, MD, MHAP, FAAFP

Bahá’í Couple Elham Khollas and Navid Tashakkor Due in Court on 21 October 2026 It was learned on 15 October 2026 that Mrs. Elham Khollas Ardestani and her husband, Mr. Navid Tashakkor, both Bahá’ís and the parents of a 15-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son, were scheduled to appear in court on 21 October 2026 for a hearing in their case. Mr. Tashakkor had previously been arrested on charges related to the manufacture of drones and was acquitted. He was arrested again on 13 December 2025. After the couple’s laptops and mobile phones were confiscated, agents examined materials concerning the Bahá’í Faith stored on the devices, prompting an investigation into the couple’s religious beliefs. Mr. Tashakkor was released on bail of one billion tomans after several weeks in temporary detention. Mrs. Khollas was arrested on 18 August 2026 after reporting to the investigator’s office headed by Mr. Sabbagh. The charges against her included keeping an article on her laptop, studying at the Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), and having “contact with Israel.” She was held in Dowlatabad Prison for about one month before being released on 19 September 2026 on bail of two billion tomans. being released on 19 September 2026 on bail of two billion tomans. #Bahai #Iran #Arrests #Imprisonments #ElhamKhollasArdestani #NavidTashakkor

@nationalpost reports on the arbitrary arrest of Mandana and Mahsa Sotoudeh, two Baha'i sisters imprisoned for three months without charge, a fate typical for Iran's persecuted Baha'i minority. The article details Iran’s systematic torture, including beatings, electric shocks, and mock executions, used to extract false confessions from ordinary citizens whose only crime is their faith. As the international community focuses on geopolitical deals, columnist Terry Glavin highlights the overlooked suffering of Iran's Baha'is, with at least 59 currently imprisoned and thousands executed, and argues that the plight of ordinary Iranians has been lost in the war's aftermath. nationalpost.com/opinion/ter… #BahaiRights #Iran #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom #NationalPost

Bahá'ís in Iran are not only discriminated against and banned from university and public employment—they're also restricted from playing professional sports. Some are in prison instead of on the sports field. Shima Yaquini, a Bahá'í yoga instructor in Sari, had her yoga studio sealed by security forces on 20 October 2025. She was targeted during a raid on her private residence. No charges have been filed. Her crime? Being Bahá'í. #ShimaYaquini #Iran #Bahai #Yoga #HumanRights

Nahaleh Shahidi Yazdi Summoned to Serve Six-Year Prison Sentence It was learned on 4 June 2026 that Mrs. Nahaleh Shahidi Yazdi, a Bahá’í and children’s rights advocate residing in Karaj, Alborz Province, was taken into custody on 2 June 2026, to begin serving her six-year prison sentence. Mrs. Shahidi Yazdi had been ordered to appear before the Enforcement of Sentences Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Kerman on 2 June 2026 for the implementation of her final sentence of six years’ discretionary imprisonment. She was arrested after complying with the summons and presenting herself at the court for the enforcement of her sentence. Her lawyer requested the court to review the verdict; however, no copy of the Appeal Court ruling was provided. A later request for judicial review was rejected by the Supreme Court on procedural grounds, citing the absence of the appellate court’s written decision in the file. In subsequent attempts, her lawyer was allowed only to view the ruling at the Revolutionary Court registry without being permitted to take notes, photograph the document, or obtain a copy. This restriction effectively prevented the preparation and filing of further legal appeals. Mrs. Shahidi Yazdi was arrested on 28 March 2023, at Kerman railway station by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intelligence unit and transferred to Kerman Prison. She was later released on bail set at one billion and 200 million tomans on 2 January 2024, after spending months in pre-trial detention. The charges brought against her included “propaganda against the regime” and “forming groups or associations with the intent to disrupt national security.” Her case was heard in August 2025 at the Revolutionary Court of Kerman, where she was sentenced to six years in prison. The verdict was later upheld in full by the Court of Appeal, making the sentence final. Her brother described her longstanding involvement in children’s education and literacy work. He said she has consistently shown interest in teaching and learning within the field of child education. He explained that in 2010 she agreed, at the suggestion of a friend, to train a local woman for six months in a village in Bam County to support children’s education, since teachers sent from the provincial capital often discontinued classes due to difficult weather conditions in the region. Before completing the six-month period, in December 2010, she was arrested by IRGC intelligence on charges including “actions against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” She was initially sentenced to five years in prison at the trial court, but the Kerman Court of Appeal later acquitted her. He further stated that years later, after the passing of their parents, she moved from Kerman to Karaj and continued private literacy teaching for children. She also formed a WhatsApp group aimed at supporting underprivileged areas around Bam, involving both Bahá’í and Muslim members. The group organized assistance including food, clothing, school supplies, and the construction of bathrooms in four villages for residents lacking basic sanitation facilities. He emphasized that she personally did not travel to these villages and that local residents carried out the activities on the ground. Authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the enforcement of the sentence. #Bahai #Iran #Arrests #Imprisonments #NahalehShahidiYazdi