Tag: seven Bahá’i leaders

New Year, new call for Iran to release Baha’is

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The United States Congress called on Iran to release Baha’is imprisoned solely for their religious beliefs in a resolution passed on 1 January 2013, expressing its condemnation of Iran’s “state-sponsored persecution” of Baha’is.

“The [Iranian] regime has sought to make life as a Baha’i in Iran simply unlivable,” said Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in a statement before the vote. “This resolution draws attention to their plight, and calls on the Iranian regime to end its campaign of abuse against the Baha’i.”

The bill took note of Iran’s wrongful imprisonment of seven former Baha’i leaders, each currently serving 20-year prison terms. It also condemned the unjust arrest and incarceration of Baha’i educators and administrators of an informal community effort to provide for Baha’i youth otherwise excluded from higher education.

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Former Baha’i leaders marked anniversary behind bars

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Iran’s former Baha’i leaders began their fifth year in prison in May (14 May) amid an intensification of the persecution of their co-religionists.

Thames Valley Baha’i Myra Erbenova said: “The seven prisoners each face the bleak prospect of more years in jail for crimes they did not commit.

“The date also marked the first anniversary of raids on homes of Baha’is associated with an informal initiative offering higher education to community members barred from university. Nine educators later received harsh prison sentences. We remembered them all in our prayers and hope that the day will soon come when they are freed.”

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