Afif Naeimi

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Detained: July 31, 2022

Charges: "Insulting and propaganda against Islamic Sharia, forming and participating in groups to act against national security through teaching and preaching the Baha'i faith to children in Kindergartens, promoting against Islamic Sharia through holding coaching courses."

Sentence: Seven years in prison.

Biography: Afif Naeimi is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. On July 31, 2022, security forces arrested Naeimi in Karaj after raiding his home. He has previously been imprisoned for his religious leadership role and was rearrested on the same day as two other Baha'i advocates who had previously been part of the Baha'i Seven.

On May 14, 2008, authorities arrested Naeimi and six other members of the Baha'i community leadership group called "Yaran-e-Iran" or "Friends in Iran" specifically for their roles as religious and social leaders. In January 2010, it was reported that Naeimi's trial had begun and that he had been charged with "espionage for foreign countries, propagating against the state, founding and maintaining illegal groups, collaboration with the Zionist occupying regime, conspiracy to collect classified information and sharing it with foreign nations in an attempt to disrupt national security, gathering and colluding against national security internally and externally, defacing the Islamic Republic of Iran in the international community and corruption on Earth." United for Iran lists the charges as "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC), "assembling and colluding to act against national security"(Art. 610 IPC), "cooperating with a hostile government" (Art. 508 IPC), "committing corruption on Earth" (Art. 286 IPC), and "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC). In August 2010, it was reported that he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. In September 2010, it was reported that Naeimi's sentence was reduced to 10 years in prison after an appeals court reportedly dropped the "espionage" charges. In March 2011, it was reported that another appeals court had upheld his original 20-year sentence. Naeimi's sentence was later reduced to 10 years in prison based on Article 134 of Iran's Penal Code on an unknown date. On December 20, 2018, Naeimi was released from prison after completing his sentence. He was the last of the Yaran to be released.

Naeimi was denied proper medical care while imprisoned. He was subsequently hospitalized several times. He was also subjected to inhumane prison conditions and other arbitrary mistreatment such as the repeated denial of medical furlough. During the final year of his sentence, he was granted medical furlough before being returned to Rajai-Shahr Prison.

Prior to his 2008 imprisonment, Naeimi was an industrialist who was unable to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor because, as a Baha'i, he was denied access to university. Born in Yazd, he lived part of his youth with relatives in Jordan after the death of his father. He is married with children.

Advocacy Partner: U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Updates:

• On September 28, 2022, nearly two months after Afif Naeimi's arrest, his brother, Enayatollah Naeimi, was arrested for reasons unknown. Security forces searched his home and workplace following his arrest. He was already in poor health prior to his arrest (October 3, 2022, HRANA).
• Afif Naeimi was released from prison on December 13, 2022. The cause and conditions of his release are currently unknown (December 14, 2022, USCIRF).
• On February 17, 2023, Front Line Defenders released a statement welcoming the release of hundreds of Iranian prisoners pardoned by the Supreme Leader of Iran on February 4, and called on Iran to release human rights defenders who had not been pardoned including Mahvash Sabet, Fariba Kamalabadi, and Afif Naeimi (February 17, 2023, Front Line Defenders).
• On February 10, 2023, Naeimi was sentenced to seven years in prison (February 22, 2023, Baha'i National Center) on charges of “insulting and propaganda against Islamic Sharia, forming and participating in groups to act against national security through teaching and preaching the Baha’i faith to children in Kindergartens, promoting against Islamic Sharia through holding coaching courses" (USCIRF).
• Afif Naeimi was detained once more and taken to Rajai Shahr Prison on April 29, 2023 after security forces raided a family gathering (May 1, 2023, HRANA).

Prior DFP Case: The Baha'i Seven — 2008-2018 Imprisonment

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Detained: May 14, 2008.

Released: December 20, 2018.

Charges: Espionage, propaganda against the regime, collusion and collaboration for the purpose of endangering the national security, and spreading corruption on earth.

Sentence: Ten years in prison.

• Original Sentence: 20 years in prison.

Biography: Afif Naeimi is an industrialist who was unable to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor because as a Baha’i he was denied access to university.  Born in Yazd, he lived part of his youth with relatives in Jordan after the death of his father.  He was long active in volunteer Baha’i service, teaching classes for both children and adults and serving as a member of the Auxiliary Board, an appointed position with the function of inspiring, encouraging and promoting learning among Baha’is.

Afif Naeimi was RELEASED in December 2018 after completing his unjust ten-year sentence.

Updates: 

• The U.S. Department of State issued a statement condemning the continued imprisonment of the Baha'i Seven as well as reported abuses against them while incarcerated. The State Department called upon Iran to immediately release them, along with all prisoners of conscience in Iran (May 14, 2017, U.S. Department of State).
• As reported by the “No to the Persecution and Imprisonment of Baha’i Citizens Campaign,” Afif Naeimi was returned to Rajai-Shahr prison at the end of his furlough. He is serving his tenth year of a ten-year sentence. (April 23, 2018, Iran Press Watch)
• In an interview with the Human Rights Campaign in Iran, Shohreh Khalokhi, wife of Afif Naeimi, shared concerns regarding the health and well-being of her husband. Mrs. Khalokhi explained that while Mr. Naeimi‘s sentence had been paused by the judiciary medical committee to allow for sick leave, he was returned to prison once the sick leave ended, despite his condition having worsened. (May 17, 2018, Iran Press Watch)