آرتین غضنفری, a Baha'i photographer, still in detention despite urgent need for treatment

🔸A source familiar with the situation in Iran told Radio Farda that Artin Gazanfari, a Baha'i photographer, is still in prison despite more than eight months in detention and despite a need for medical treatment.

🔸The continued detention of this news photographer, who was arrested in Tehran following the protests in Dey, continues even as he needs specialized treatment outside prison due to contracting several illnesses.

🔸According to a source close to the family of Gazanfari, this news photographer, who is held in Tehran’s Evin Prison, suffers from heart disease, high blood pressure, and parathyroiditis.

🔸The same source told Radio Farda that the prison surgeon and an internal medicine specialist inside the prison have also confirmed that he needs to be hospitalized in a hospital outside prison.

🔸Artin Gazanfari’s family has made extensive efforts for his temporary release on bail and for his treatment outside prison, but they have not reached any result.

🔸According to a Radio Farda source, the date for the next court session for Gazanfari has been announced as October 8, 2026 (Mehr 7). So far, three court sessions have been held for him; the latest was on August 7 of this year.

🔸Artin Gazanfari was arrested on Dey 29 last year at his personal home in Tehran. At the same time, his place of residence and work was searched, and agents seized a number of electronic devices, books, and his work and personal equipment.

🔸Gazanfari is not the only photographer who is being held in prison on unspecified charges.

🔸Last week, Mehdi Saeedi, the brother of Majid Saeedi, a well-known photographer, wrote on his Instagram that security forces went to his brother’s place of residence on Wednesday, September 18, and arrested him.

🔸He had written that he has no information about the reason for Majid Saeedi’s detention or where he is being held. Islamic Republic judicial and security officials have also yet to provide any explanation on this matter.

🔸Yalda Meyari, another news photographer and winner of the “Courage in Journalism” award, also reported last month that she had been sentenced by the Islamic Republic’s judicial authorities to 15 years of additional imprisonment.