Letter from the mother of Mahboub Habibi, Baha’i citizen; My child is incarcerated because of his faith

Source: www.hra-news.org

Translation by Iran Press Watch

HRANA News Agency – Marzieh Shamseddini, the mother of Mahboub Habibi, a Baha’i citizen detained at the Shiraz Secret Service detention center known as “Building 100,” has written a letter protesting her son’s arrest. Ms. Shamseddini stated that Mr. Habibi was detained solely because of his belief in the Baha’i Faith.

According to HRANA, the news arm of human rights activists in Iran, Marzieh Shamseddini criticized her son’s arrest in an open letter.

In the letter she wrote: “I have lived far away from my children for years and, like many other parents, have experienced the pain of separation and worry for my children. Negar Misaghian, my daughter-in-law, was arrested by security forces and taken to the Shiraz Secret Service detention center. It wasn’t long before Mahboub was also arrested on September 28, leaving her two-year-old child at home without both parents. Negar was released the day after Mahboub’s arrest, but Mahboub remains in the custody of Shiraz Intelligence.”

The text of the letter, a copy of which was provided to HRANA, is as follows:

“I am a mother who, after years of separation from my children, was ready to get to know them. I packed my suitcase with joy and carefully placed gifts for my son, daughter-in-law and grandchild among my things. We were supposed to meet, and this meeting was the realization of a dream that I imagined every moment.

But suddenly this dream was shattered by a phone call. The news was that Negar Misaghian, my daughter-in-law, had been arrested by security forces and taken to the Shiraz Secret Service detention center. It was not the first time that my son’s family, Mahboub Habibi and Negar, faced arrests and security pressure, but this time it was different. They are now parents of a two-year-old child. My biggest concern was this child who witnessed his parents’ arrest. It wasn’t long before Mahboub was also arrested on September 28, leaving her two-year-old child at home without both parents. Negar and Mahboub’s families have taken responsibility for his care.

I have lived far away from my children for years and, like many other parents, have experienced the pain of separation and worry about my children. Negar was released a day after Mahboub’s arrest, but Mahboub remains in the custody of Shiraz’s secret service. Baha’is in Iran have been arrested for years on baseless grounds, solely because of their belief in the Baha’i Faith. My children, like many other political and ideological prisoners, only want the well-being and prosperity of Iran.

The freedom to live in one’s homeland, regardless of origin or faith, is one of the most fundamental human rights. I hope that my son Mahboub and all political and ideological prisoners will soon be released and can live peacefully with their loved ones.

Marzieh Shamseddini
Mother of Mahboub Habibi”

On September 28 this year, Mahboub Habibi was arrested by security forces and taken to the Shiraz Secret Service detention center, known as “Building 100”. He was arraigned the day after his arrest at Department 14 of the State and Revolutionary State Prosecutor’s Office in Shiraz under the supervision of Judge Khosravani.

Mahboub Habibi had previously been arrested and tried for his beliefs and activities.