Armed agents raided the homes of 20 Baha'is in the city of Hamadan, arresting 10, and detained another 9 Baha’is in Karaj, taking a total of 19 into custody.
The homes of two elderly Baha’i women in Hamadan—one of them suffering from several illnesses—were also searched. Akhtar Naiemi is 85 years old and Pouran Khandel is 80: their husbands were among more than 200 Baha’is executed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The Baha’i International Community is tracking this developing situation with grave concern. Iran’s government must release all detained Baha’is. Arresting innocent people, especially the ailing and elderly, is inhumane and illegal under international law.