Imprisoned Human Rights Activist Says Media’s Reporting Has Segregated Him from Other Iranians

Persian2English – Following a visit with Navid Khanjani in Rajai Shahr Prison on September 25, 2013, the family of this imprisoned human rights activist posted a note online regarding his well-being (translation below). Authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran last arrested Navid Khanjani in Tabriz (East Azerbaijan Province) on August 22, 2012 while he was volunteering as a relief worker for earthquake victims.
The Family’s Note

Translated by Siavosh Jalili

Navid has complained about the media and questioned [why they] address [him] as a “Baha’i citizen” and [as a result] segregate [him] from other Iranians.

“Was I arrested and sentenced in 2009 because of my faith? It is true, I am of the Baha’i faith, the same way many journalists and human rights activists are Muslim. Does the media constantly refer to them as Muslim citizens? This action by the media has resulted in stricter behaviour by the Judiciary and security system [in Iran] toward me. [For example], I was sentenced to 12 years in prison.”

Navid Khanjani describes the media’s approach as bothersome and discriminatory. Navid says Khodabaksh, the Prosecutor Office’s representative, has told him: “Your case is [listed] in the Baha’i section; you are not considered one of the 2009 post-election prisoners.”

The charges against Navid Khanjani are: “Founding the Committee in Defense of the Right to Education” (the group defending students banned/starred from education), “Membership in a human rights group”, “Propaganda against the regime”, and “Dissemination of lies with intent to agitate the public’s mind”. He was issued five-year prison terms for each of the first two accusations, and one year in prison for the two other accusations. Navid’s case file reportedly states that the charges of ”Propaganda against the regime” and “Dissemination of lies with intent to agitate the public’s mind” are for disclosing the death of Alireza Davoudi in the post-2009 election protests and the forced video confessions taken in the security sections of prison.