Third court session held for Baha’i leaders in Iran
12 April 2010
(BWNS) GENEVA — The seven imprisoned Iranian Baha’i leaders were called to court today in Tehran for a third session in their trial. The hearing was again closed, and no details are available.
“We know that a session did take place, but we do not have any specific information from reliable sources,” said Diane Ala’i, the representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
“These seven innocent Baha’is will soon enter their third year of imprisonment,” she said. “At the very least, they should have been released on bail pending the outcome of the tortuous judicial process they have been subjected to. This is unacceptable in light of international human rights law.”
The seven have been held in Tehran’s Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008. No court hearing was held until 12 January this year when they appeared in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court and charges were read.
Accusations include espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and “corruption on earth.”
A second court session on 7 February was largely procedural.
The seven defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 and the others on 14 May 2008.
They have categorically denied all the charges.
April 13, 2010 10:41 am
My Love and concern goes to the much beloved brotheren of mine in faith and I humbly pray for their release soon from their ordeals and sufferings which cause my heart to cry and my loving prayers for their safety and well being.
April 13, 2010 3:30 pm
Not a day goes by but that the expansion of the Faith is aided and the Cause of God exemplified to multitudes by virtue of what the Yaran so humbly endure. Let us pray with fervor, so that Heaven relents in their favor. Three individuals on separate occasions stopped yesterday to hear the tale of the Yaran and their trials with me yesterday. Each person learned about the Baha’i Faith and was shocked to learn of the treatment of Baha’is by the Iranian government.
April 15, 2010 10:04 am
Allah’u’Abha. Since the early 80’s with the death of Mona my mind, my heart and my soul have belonged to the Baha’i’s Iran. Though I am a native of and live in the United States I feel my heart was born in Tehran birthplace of my beloved faith. To that end my prayers and my thoughts are constantly with my brothers and sisters everywhere who face persecution for knowing, telling, and spreading the truth of the divine revelation of Baha’u’llah.