Twelve Baha'i citizens in Sari have been sentenced to a combined total of 26 years and 165 days of discretionary imprisonment, alongside 76 years of deprivation of social rights, by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sari, media reports indicate.
HRANA reported that under the verdict issued on August 20, Raquel Ataian, Kiomars Akbari, Sohrab Leqaie, Zahra Golabian, Banafsheh Asadian Arabi, Fouad Leqaie, Anahita Koshkbaghi, Nasim Samimi, Hossein Fanaian, Emilia Fanaian, Melody Samimi, and Soheil Haqdoost were sentenced by Branch 1 of the Sari Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ammar Ramezani.
Raquel Ataian was sentenced to four years of discretionary imprisonment and ten years of social rights deprivation. The remaining eleven defendants were each sentenced to two years and fifteen days of discretionary imprisonment and six years of social rights deprivation.
The charges in the verdict were cited as "engaging in educational and promotional activities contrary to and disruptive of the sacred religion of Islam in order to promote and encourage the Baha'i faith."
Court hearings for the twelve citizens were held on August 1, 2, and 3 at Branch 1 of the Sari Revolutionary Court.
