Wave of Baha’i Suppression: Vafa Kashefi Remains in Limbo for 45 Days in Prison

According to information received by IranWire, Vafa Kashefi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Mashhad, remains in legal limbo in the quarantine ward of Vakilabad Prison 45 days after his arrest.

Vafa Kashefi was among several Baha’i citizens arrested at his personal residence in January. He was released approximately one week later after posting bail of one billion tomans.

The 32-year-old citizen, after receiving a summons for arraignment, appeared at the Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office on April 21. However, upon appearing before the judicial authority, he was arrested and transferred to prison.

According to an informed source, as the case proceeded, plans were made to facilitate Vafa Kashefi’s temporary release by increasing his bail amount from one billion to ten billion tomans. However, despite his family securing the requested bail, the prosecutor’s office has refused to accept it, and the Baha’i citizen remains in detention.

According to the report, Vafa Kashefi’s arrest took place amid a new wave of detentions targeting Baha’i citizens since the outbreak of the recent war. The Baha’i International Community also stated in a declaration that since the beginning of this wave, around 80 Baha’i citizens have reportedly been arrested across different parts of the country. In addition, more than 400 cases of human rights violations, including arrests, violent home raids, property confiscations, and denial of access to due process, have been reported against Baha’i citizens by judicial authorities and supported by state institutions.