Harana News Agency, Mashhad, Iran : Two Baha’i prisoners incarcerated in the Vakil-Abad prison in the city of Mashhad [Province of Khurasan, Iran] , Rozita Vaseghi and Nahid Ghadiri, who are serving five year sentences [see http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/5937] are now facing a set of new charges.
According to the Harana sources, on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, the two prisoners, without prior notice and with their ankles in chains, were transferred to the Revolutionary Judiciary Office of the city of Mashhad, and were charged with two new crimes of “Spreading Baha’i teachings” and “Insulting Islamic Sacraments”. They were asked to give their final response to these charges.
The two prisoners were then taken back to Vakil-Abad prison.
On the same day, Sonia Ahmadi, another Baha’i citizen of Mashhad, who last year was detained for 3 months at the Information Ministry, was also summoned to the Revolutionary Judiciary Office of Mashhad , and was asked to file her final response to her charges.
It should be noted that at the present time, five other Baha’is are also incarcerated in the Vakil-Abad prison on similar charges. They are : Davood Nabilzadeh, Kaviz Noozdahi, Hooman Bakhtavar, Sima Rajabian, and Nasreen Ghadiri. [see http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/3846].
Translation by Iran Press Watch,
Source: http://new.agahee.org/node/3001
October 19, 2010 6:21 pm
What I find interesting is that the authorities are becoming more bold in explicitly naming something about the Baha’i Faith as the “crime.” To them, “Spreading Baha’i teachings” can be something as simple as responding to a neighbor’s request for REAL information about the Baha’i Faith, or holding a children’s class, or possibly even saying one’s prayers too loud so that Muslims hear them.
October 24, 2010 9:20 pm
Indeed interesting, Bill. A sign of desperation or the ever-widening of a fruitless attempt to create discredit to a Faith known for its harmless beliefs? Nevertheless, the description of the treatment given the two peaceable prisoners who have done no more than practice their religion, elicts a shudder.
Chains? Shackles? Religious inquisition? What a profound pity! Bahai’s are bound by faith to defend Islam.