Iranian Security Forces Arrest Bahá’í Photographer Navid Irani Amid Internet Blackout

January 19, 2026 – Iran –

Navid Zarrehbin Irani, a **Bahá’í documentary photographer based in Mashhad, has been arrested by Iranian security forces, raising alarm among human rights and press freedom advocates about religious discrimination and suppression of independent reporting in the Islamic Republic. Irani’s detention, which occurred on January 16, 2026, comes during an ongoing nationwide internet blackout that has further obscured information about his condition and whereabouts.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Irani was apprehended when security forces raided his home in Mashhad and confiscated his personal and professional equipment, including cameras and electronic devices. Since then, his family has received no official information regarding where he is being held or the specific legal basis for his detention. Irani’s sister-in-law, who lives abroad, told CPJ that the family deactivated his social media accounts out of concern for further surveillance.

Irani has worked as a documentary photographer for more than two decades, with his work featured in books and various media outlets. Sources told CPJ that because of his Bahá’í faith, he has long faced restrictions on public exhibitions of his work in Iran, where members of the Bahá’í religious minority are systematically discriminated against, including through exclusions from certain professions and educational opportunities. Before his arrest, authorities reportedly attempted to seize his studio in connection with his coverage of recent protests.

The arrest coincides with a broader state narrative propagated by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, which recently claimed to have uncovered a “32-member network of Bahá’í espionage,” alleging that individuals linked to the Bahá’í community engaged in “rioting and sabotage.” This announcement included multiple arrests and summonses, though independent verification of the alleged activities remains lacking. Reports indicate that Iranian authorities have a history of fabricating espionage accusations against Bahá’í citizens, particularly during periods of heightened political tension.

CPJ and other rights groups have called on Iranian authorities to immediately disclose Irani’s location, ensure his safety, and release him unconditionally. They argue that his detention reflects a pattern of repression targeting both religious minorities and independent media practitioners in Iran, particularly at times of restricted communication and limited civic freedoms.

Irani’s arrest adds to a broader context of heightened state control, where journalists, activists, and religious minorities face increased scrutiny, persecution, and legal jeopardy amid political unrest and wide-ranging information blackouts.

Reference – 

https://iranpresswatch.org/post/25757/navid-irani-a-bahai-citizen-in-mashhad-was-arrested/

Bahá’í photographer arrested in Iran amid internet blackout