Peymaan Damashqi begins 6-month sentence

Iran Wire, December 12, 2019. –

On November 30, Peymaan Damashqi (پیمان دمشقی), a Bahai from Karaj, was summoned to Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj to begin a 6-month sentence on the charge of “propaganda against the regime in the form of promoting the Bahai Faith in cyberspace.” I previously reported that he was sentenced to one year in prison by the Revolutionary Court, in a 10-minute trial. On November 13, this was reduced to six months, by the Provincial Review Court, although neither the defendant nor his lawyer knew of the Review Court hearing.

Bahai prisoners, and other prisoners of conscience in Karaj, are usually sent to Raja’i Shahr prison: Ghezel Hesar has been for people who have actually committed a crime. It is Iran’s largest prison. Mr. Damashqi had asked to be imprisoned with the other Bahai men in Raja’i Shahr, but was told that Raja’i Shahr was for prisoners whose files were supervised by the Ministry of Intelligence, whereas his case fell under the Revolutionary Court. His lawyer said that he may have been sent to Ghezel Hesar because his sentence was short.

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