News

Highland Park resident Nasrin Nakhaei learned in May that her 85-year-old father, Muhammad-Husayn Nakha'i, had been arrested and jailed in his home country of Iran. The government has not said why it arrested him, Nakhaei said, but the family suspects it's because of his Baha'i faith.

Nakhaei, 48, who has lived in the United States for 11 years, learned what happened from relatives. Although the Iranian government has given the family no formal reason for the arrest, Nakhaei, her relatives and members of the Baha'i faith said the worshippers are a religious minority in the Islamic Republic.

Human rights advocates say the Baha'is there have long been persecuted — even though the religion began in Iran more than 150 years ago.

Nakhaei said her sister was browsing the Internet in May when she found an international website that reported their father had been arrested. The siblings confirmed the detainment with their aunt in Iran, who said Nakha'i told family members not to worry his children with the news.