Vesal Momtazi

A Baha'i couple residing in Rasht, Visal Memtazi and Anisa Samieyan, have been sentenced by the Third Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht to a total of nine years, six months, and four days in prison. Additionally, Visal Memtazi has been fined, and both individuals have been sentenced to ten years and one day of deprivation of social rights. If the verdict is upheld on appeal, the maximum penalty of three years, six months, and one day of imprisonment could be enforced for each individual.

According to the ruling issued by the Third Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht and communicated to the individuals on 13 June, Anisa Samieyan was sentenced to seven months and sixteen days of imprisonment for "propaganda activities against the regime" and three years, six months, and one day for "educational and promotional activities contrary to the sacred law of Islam." Visal Memtazi was sentenced to seven months and sixteen days for "propaganda activities against the regime," one year and three months for "insulting the leadership," and three years, six months, and one day for "insulting the sacred law of Islam," along with a fine of 38 million tomans. Both individuals were also sentenced to ten years and one day of deprivation of social rights.

The court session for these individuals was held in absentia on 25 March in the Third Branch of the Revolutionary Court. After the appeal request was accepted, a second hearing on the charges was held on 7 June.

In November 2022, the home of Visal Memtazi and his wife Anisa Samieyan was searched by security forces. Visal Memtazi was arrested by security agents on 6 December and was later released on bail.