13 April 2026 :

April 12, 2026 - IRAN

Peyvand and Borna Naeimi Under Torture to Confess to False Charges

Peyvand Naeimi and his cousin Borna Naeimi, Baha’i protesters, have been subjected to severe physical and psychological torture, including mock executions and threats against their families to coerce confessions to a murder they did not commit, reportedly targeted on account of their Baha’i faith.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Peyvand Naeimi (right photo), a 30-year-old Baha’i dog trainer, was arrested by plain-clothed Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Intelligence agents at work at 2pm on 8 January 2026. He was transferred to the solitary confinement cells of Kerman Central Prison where he was subjected to torture to extract false confessions.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “The only reason they gave for his arrest was that he had encouraged other youth to protest. When his family enquired about his case, they were told that he wouldn’t be released and his case would take longer because they were Baha’i.” 

Without access to a lawyer, Peyvand was subjected to psychological and physical torture including mock executions and beatings to confess to the murder of three IRGC forces on 8 January. “When Peyvand refused to confess, they told him he was going to be executed. At the gallows, Peyvand said ‘I’ll put the noose around my own neck,’ kissed the rope and said ‘you want to kill me, kill me.’ The second time, he said ‘I’ll push the chair from underneath my own feet.’ But the psychological pressure was immense and it really affected him,” the informed source said.

On 1 February, state media aired the forced confessions of Peyvand, Shayan Shakibayi, Venus Hosseinnejad and an unidentified woman. They were accused of being members of an online network called “Ma” (We) which was described as “satanic” and under the influence of Israel. Shayan is introduced as the leader who confesses to organising 50 teams of 10 people to take part in the protests with weapons and carry out destruction of public property. 

On 1 March, after the announcement of the death of Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, Peyvand was accused of celebrating. This was while he was in solitary confinement at the time and was not aware of the news. “They tied him to a wall and beat him. For 48 hours, he was starved. They mockingly told him he was fasting for Sayam (TN: Baha’i 19-day fast, 2-20 March 2026).”

Also on 1 March, masked IRGC Intelligence agents arrested Peyvand’s paternal cousin Borna Naeimi (left photo) at his place of work. Borna is 29, a father to a 3-year-old daughter and a karate champion who has won multiple national and international competitions. Like Peyvand, Borna was subjected to physical torture including electric shocks, mock executions and beatings. He was also “driven past his house while his wife and child were threatened. They told him that his daughter would be taken into care.” Under torture, Borna was forced to confess that he had killed the three IRGC forces with Peyvand. This is while “Peyvand was arrested prior to the protest on 8 January and Borna was at home with his family at the time.”

There has been a crackdown on the Baha’i citizens in recent months. On 15 March, IHRNGO reported the arrests of at least 20 Baha’i citizens.