The following report was filed by the online site of Human Rights Activists News Agency on Thursday, September 3, 2009:
A Baha’i couple was tried after a year on the charge of promotion of their religion.
On July 29, 2008, security agents went to the home of Fayzu’llah Qanvatian in the town of Ahwaz and after a research of the residence and confiscation of his books and personal items charged this family with “promotion of the Baha’i Faith” and “propaganda against the regime”.
At the same time and while still at their home, security agents compelled Mr. Qanvatian and his wife, Mrs. Nushin Ruhani, to answer a series of written questions. They were then escorted to the interrogation office, where bail and surety was arranged for them and they were freed that day pending their trial.
During this past year, the couple have been summoned several more time and interrogated by officers of the Ministry of Intelligence.
The case of this couple was sent to the public prosecutor of the city of Ahwaz. During the court session, the prosecutor asked for maximum penalty under the law. The court then decided to pass the case to the city’s Revolutionary Court for adjudication.
On August 31, the said court met and reviewed the case. It then announced that in days ahead it would rule on the merits of the charges and the case before it.
[Posted on Thursday, September 3, 2009, at hra-news. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
September 4, 2009 1:21 pm
We all need to be praying for the safety and protection of these innocent Baha’is. We need to be praying with confidence for justice. “In all thine affaires, place thy whole trust and confidence in God!” (Baha’u’llah)
September 4, 2009 7:54 pm
An Evening in Support of the Bahá’ís of Iran:
Saturday, September 12, 2009, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University
730 21st St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20052-0053
Open to the Public, No Reservations Required
Directions: http://www.lisner.org/directions.asp
For more information go to: http://dcbahai.org/iran
Confirmed guests include:
Ms. Shohreh Aghdashloo, Academy Award Nominated Actress,
House of Sand & Fog, The Stoning of Soraya M.
Ms. Azar Nafisi, Johns Hopkins Visiting Professor,
Bestselling author of Reading Lolita in Tehran
Dr. Dwight Bashir, Associate Director for Policy,
US Commission on International Religious Freedom
September 5, 2009 10:10 pm
I am deeply sorry to hear that.
September 6, 2009 2:07 am
For how long more do the friends in the cradle of the Faith need to suffer like this?