Several news sources have reported that several homes in Terhan were raided in the early hours of yesterday, and personal items such as books and computers were confiscated from them.  The raids resulted in the arrest of six individuals: Ms Zhinous Sobhani, Mr Shahrokh Taef, Mr Aziz’u'llah Samandari, Mr Payam Aghsani, Ms Didar Raouf and Mr Nima Haghar, and all were transferred to Evin prison.

Ms Sobhani is reportedly an activist with the Defenders of Human Rights Center – the watchdog founded by Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi.

Trend News has also reported the arrest of 8 Baha’is in Kish Island, under alleged charges of propagating the Baha’i Faith.

The security forces took control over a group of people after being informed that they were propagating Bahai belief in Kish. They were arrested in one of the markets of Kish island,” Kish Chief Police Officer Suleyman Malikzade said.

Malikzade said that books which were published to propagate this religion were found during the search in their hotel room. During the interrogation, the arrestees denied all the accusations and claimed that they were inhabitants of Teheran and came to Kish as tourists.

A legal process on the case has begun. The law-enforcement bodies of the island are continuing investigations.

These incidents are part of an ongoing wave of arrests and raids in Iran – similar stories have been emerging from cities such as Sari, Semnan and Qaemshahr.