Tag: Evin prison

Iranian Bahá’í leaders’ prison sentences are “deeply shocking”

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West Berkshire Bahá’ís have joined members of the Bahá’í International Community in expressing concern at reports that seven Iranian Bahá’í leaders have each received jail sentences of 20 years.

The leaders – two women and five men – have been held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison since their arrest in 2008. They were all members of a national-level group that used to attend to the spiritual and social needs of Bahá’ís in Iran.

They categorically deny charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order and “corruption on earth” among other allegations. Their trial consisted of six brief court appearances which began in January this year and ended in June.

Shawn Khorassani, of the West Berkshire Bahá’í Community, said: “Like Bahá’ís around the world, we have followed reports of the fate of these seven Iranian Bahá’í leaders with concern.”

And he echoed Bani Dugal (principal representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations) when he added: “If the news of these jail sentences proves to be accurate, it represents a deeply shocking outcome to the case of these innocent and harmless people. We understand that their lawyers are in the process of launching an appeal.”

For more information, check out the Bahá’í World News Service

Thoughts of unity as third court date set

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West Berkshire’s Bahá’i community say their thoughts are with the seven Bahá’i leaders in Tehran’s Evin prison, as they learn that a third court date has been set – for Saturday 10 April.

There are now about 60 Bahá’is in detention in various cities in Iran. Charges against the seven were reiterated in news accounts in government-sponsored news media as: espionage, “propaganda activities against the Islamic order,” the establishment of an illegal administration, co-operation with Israel, the sending of secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country and “corruption on earth”.

Shawn Khorassani, a West Berkshire based Bahá’i, said: “The trial has already been conducted on two separate days – 12 January and 7 February 2010 – and now a third date has been set. This stop-start approach must be disheartening, but the West Berkshire Bahá’i community believes that the seven leaders must be drawing inner strength from their faith.

“That still doesn’t stop us from feeling concern for them, however, and we hope that the international messages of support will be maintained and that the release and ultimate acquittal of these seven will continue to be called for.”