Editor’s note: The story of these seven Baha’is has been in the news ever since their arrest in May 2008 and closely followed by many Baha’is and humanitarian organizations around the world. The last scheduled trial date that was on 18 October, 2009, was cancelled without a new date. Also, the article inaccurately states that “The Baha’i faith was founded by Shi’ite clergymen in Iran in the 19th century…” Please see Historical Context of the Babi and Baha’i Faiths for an accurate historical context of the Baha’i Faith.
(Reuters) Seven detained Baha’i believers accused of spying for Israel and blasphemy will soon go on trial in Iran, an official was quoted as saying on Sunday.
“I believe they will be tried in the near future,” Alireza Avaie, head of Tehran’s justice department, said, according to the official IRNA news agency. It did not give further details.
November 3, 2009 5:35 pm
http://www.irna.ir/View/FullStory/?NewsId=753860
November 5, 2009 1:03 am
My vote for most interesting statement (since i have no opinion on the statement of the ‘head of Tehran’s justice department’), is “Exiled Baha’i leaders allege….” Is this the exile to Ottoman Palestine in 1868? Current Iranian policy related to travel abroad even by those not facing charges is exemplified by Mr. Soltani not being allowed to travel to Germany to receive a Human Rights award. The present official policy is to confront “cultural roots of the Baha’is” even outside Iran, not to leave leaders alive to possibly go there.