Court date for Baha'i leaders now announced as 10 April (Updated)

Court date for Baha’i leaders now announced as 10 April.
22 Feb. 2010

[Editor: On 19 February 2010, BWNS indicated that the next trial of Yaran is set for 11 April, which was based on an oral notification. Since then, a written notification sets the date as 10 April 2010.]

22 February 2010 (BWNS) GENEVA — The third court session for seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran is scheduled for 10 April, a day earlier than originally announced.

Diane Ala’i, representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, said attorneys in Iran have now received written notice of the court date, confirming it as 10 April, a Saturday. The earlier notification was oral.

The seven defendants have been imprisoned since 2008 and only last month were presented with formal charges – including espionage and “corruption on earth” – which they categorically deny.

Source: BWNS, English

19 Feb 2010 (BWNS) GENEVA — A third court date has been announced for seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran, the Baha’i International Community has learned.

The trial proceedings – begun on 12 January after the seven had been incarcerated in Tehran’s Evin prison for 20 months – will continue on Sunday, 11 April, according to information conveyed orally to their attorneys.

Government-sponsored news media reported that at the first hearing, the seven were charged with espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and corruption on earth.

The defendants categorically deny all accusations.

A second hearing, held on 7 February, was concerned mainly with procedural matters.

The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. They were responsible for tending to the spiritual and social needs of Iran’s 300,000 Baha’is, after formal Baha’i institutions were dissolved in 1983.

The court proceedings have come at the same time as more Baha’is have been arrested in Tehran. About 13 individuals were rounded up on 3 January, with 10 of them still in custody, and another 13 were detained last week, with 11 of them still jailed.

There are at present about 60 Baha’is in detention in various cities in Iran.

Source: BWNS — English, Persian