Tag: seven Bahá’i leaders

Call for action as Iranian Bahá’í leaders enter third year in prison

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As seven Baha’i leaders in Iran enter their third year in jail and new details emerge about the harsh conditions of their imprisonment, members of the Bahá’í community of West Berkshire have backed renewed calls for their immediate release.

The prisoners, former members of an informal group known as ‘Friends’, used to attend to the spiritual and social needs of Baha’is of Iran. They have been in Evin prison since their arrests in 2008. Three court appearances so far have taken place this year.

Shawn Khorassani, a West Berkshire based Bahá’í, echoed Bani Dugal (principal representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations) when he said: “These innocent Bahá’ís have now been locked up for two full years under conditions which clearly violate international standards. The West Berkshire Bahá’ís back the Bahá’í International Community in calling on the Iranian authorities to release them now. The dictates of justice demand no less.

“If their freedom is not immediately granted, at the very least they should be released on bail. Steps should be taken to ensure that their trial is expedited and conducted fairly, in accordance with international standards.”

Prayers for the seven Bahá’í leaders

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Prayers will be said tomorrow (10 April) by members of the Bahá’í Faith in West Berkshire – the expected third court date for the seven Bahá’í leaders imprisoned in Iran.

The seven defendants have been responsible for tending to the spiritual and social needs of the country’s 300,000 Bahá’ís since the formal dissolution of Bahá’í institutions in 1983. In January this year, the seven were presented with formal charges including espionage and ‘corruption on earth’.

Shawn Khorassani, a West Berkshire based Bahá’í, said: “April 10 is an important day for Bahá’ís around the world, as it’s the third court date for the Bahá’í leaders who’ve been imprisoned in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison for two years now.

“Members of the Bahá’í Faith in West Berkshire will be saying prayers for the leaders on the day of the next trial session and we hope others will pray for them too.

“Lawyer Cherie Blair stated earlier this year that the trial of the Bahá’í leaders should matter to all who care about human rights. In Iran, the fight for human rights is a matter of life and death for the Bahá’í Community among others.”