24 Baha’is Appeal Court Held in Golestan Province

Source: www.hra-news.org

HRANA News Agency – The court session of 24 Baha’is was held in Golestan province. Due to the high number of defendants, continuation of the session was adjourned until next week. These civilians have been sentenced to between 6 to 11 years in prison in the primary court. The previous session was cancelled due to suspicion of the court regarding its eligibility, on Wednesday July 13.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the appeal court session of 24 Baha’is in Golestan province was held on September 16 and the continuation of the session was scheduled for September 29.

A close source to these Baha’is told HRANA’s reporter, “24 defendants were present in court but there was time only for 10, therefore the court was adjourned for the next week”.

Need to be mentioned, their appeal court session was cancelled once on Wednesday July 13, for suspicion about the eligibility of the court for processing the case.

A close source to these families had told HRANA’s reporter, “The problem was the suspicion of the court on its eligibility and therefore the case was sent to another branch of the appeal court”.

This source had said, “The reason is that one of the defendants was under 18 and considered a minor at the time of arrest. So, all of the defendants have to be tried in the special children court.”

Need to be mentioned, 32 Baha’is in Golestan province and residents of different cities, were arrested during a one-year-long project that started in September 2012, and were under physical and mental pressures and tortures for confession against themselves, with the excuse of relationships with Muslims and advocacy of Baha’i faith.

8 of them are currently serving their 5 to 10 years in Rajaei Shahr prison and the 24 others whose appeal court was scheduled for July 13, have been sentenced to 6 to 11 years in prison.