(Press Trust of India, Updated: April 01, 2011 15:53 ISTz) Washington: The United States has expressed its deep concern over what it says continued religious prosecution of minorities in Iran.
“We’re deeply troubled about reports coming out of Iran that a 20-year sentence of the seven Baha’i leaders was reinstated on appeal by the prosecutor general, a man the US recently imposed economic sanctions and a travel ban on for committing serious human rights violations,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
“We condemn this unprecedented step as a violation of Iran’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” Toner said in a statement.
“We condemn this unprecedented step as a violation of Iran’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” Toner said in a statement.
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Source: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/us-concerned-about-prosecution-of-minorities-in-iran-95699?cp
April 4, 2011 7:42 am
For many times on the news items regarding the group of seven unjustly imprisoned Iranian Baha’is, particularly when those items are reported by the international news agencies, I have noticed that they have been referred to as the “ Baha’i LEADERS”.
The readers of these articles should kindly note that there is no such thing as “LEADER” or “LEADERS” in the Baha’i Faith. Hence, those seven unjustly imprisoned individuals who are repeatedly referred to as Baha’i “Leaders” are NOT, nor have ever been the leaders of the Iranian Baha’is. The affairs of the Baha’i communities are looked after and safeguarded by the “Spiritual Assemblies” who are the bodies of 9 members, elected amongst and by the adult (21 and more years old) Baha’is of those communities and none of those elected members are considered or seen as a “leader” either.
That would be much appreciated if the international news agencies would be more prudent in their reporting as not to create any misconceptions.
April 5, 2011 7:28 pm
@ Professor Farhad, I agree when you state that the Baha’i Faith has no leaders and decisions are taken by collegial bodies at local, national and international levels. However, you might also be aware that members of two successive national elected bodies in Iran were abducted and executed and the Baha’i institutions were outlawed. Hence no new elections were organised and with the consent of Iranian authorities, the community appointed 7 volunteers who could attend to the essential needs of the outlawed community. It is understandable that in the eyes of those unaware of the principles of Baha’i administration, these seven volunteers who heroically accepted to represent the community in Iran and that you might prefer to name coordinators, have been considered as “leaders”.