“We…request that the Baha’is in that country be granted their full rights of citizenship, in order that they maybe able to fulfill their heartfelt aspiration to contribute, alongside their fellow citizens, to the advancement oftheir nation,” says the letter.
“This, indeed, is no more than what you rightfully ask for Muslim minorities who reside in other lands. Baha’ismerely seek the same treatment from you,” the Baha’i International Community states. Respecting the rightsof Iranian Baha’is now would “signal a willingness to respect the rights of all the citizens of your country,” theletter says.

The document, dated 7 December and addressed to Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq Larijani, states that theinjustices meted out on Iran’s Baha’i citizens are a “reflection of the terrible oppression that has engulfed thenation.” Redressing the wrongs suffered by the Baha’is would “bring hope to the hearts of all Iranians thatyou are ready to ensure justice for everyone.”

“Our call, then, is in reality a call for respect of the rights of all the Iranian people,” the Baha’i InternationalCommunity says. “How can a just society, or a just world, be built on a foundation of irrational oppressionand the systematic denial of basic human rights to any minority? Everything your country overtly professes toseek on the world stage is contradicted by your treatment of your own people at home.”

“Reprehensible measures”

The letter catalogs in detail the “many reprehensible measures” resorted to by officials during the detention,trial, sentencing and appeal, of the seven Baha’i leaders, who formerly served as the members of a national-level group that – with the Iranian government’s knowledge – helped see to the minimum spiritual needs ofthe Baha’is of Iran.The seven were accused of propaganda activities against the Islamic order and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges were categorically denied.

The letter charts how the prosecutors at the trial of the seven were “ultimately unable to present any credibleevidence in support of their claims.” The trial, it observes, “was so devoid of the impartiality that mustcharacterize judicial proceedings as to render the process a complete mockery.” “How was it,” the letterasks in this respect, “that the verdict issued by the judges could refer to the religion of the defendants asa ‘misguided sect’?”

“…what is now starkly visible to all is the willingness of the authorities to trample the very standards of justicethey are mandated to uphold on behalf of the peoples of Iran,” the open letter states. Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations saysthat there was never any foundation to the charges that the seven had acted against the interest of Iran. “To add to this manifest injustice, the judiciary has not yet formalized the appeal verdict,” says Ms.Dugal, “thus depriving the prisoners of the right to seek bail or to be granted leave from prison.” “In defianceof all reason, the prisoners are now in the third year of what is still termed a ‘temporary’ detention,” she says.

Appalling conditions

After receiving their sentence, the seven Baha’i leaders – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi,Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – were moved from Evin Prison toGohardasht prison in Karaj.
“They are now effectively placed in exile in contravention of Iran’s statutes governing the transfer of prisoninmates,” says Bani Dugal. “Amongst other indignities, they are forced to endure appalling filth, pestilence,exposure to disease, and quarters so crammed that it is difficult for them to lie down or even to perform theirdaily prayers.”

“It is clear from recent reports that their health has deteriorated and they have no access to adequatemedical treatments,” she said.Reports of the trial and sentencing of the seven provoked a chorus of condemnation from governmentsaround the world. The European Union and the President of the European Parliament also joined the protest,along with prominent religious leaders, numerous human rights organizations, and countless other groupsand individuals.

“We join with governments and well-meaning people throughout the world, as we call upon Iran’s Headof the Judiciary to immediately set these seven innocent Baha’is – and, along with them, all of the Baha’isincarcerated across the country – free,” said Ms. Dugal.

By a vote of 80 to 44, the Assembly’s Third Committee approved a resolution that “expressesdeep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations” in Iran. There were 57abstentions.The vote came after Iran attempted a “no-action motion,” aimed at blocking the resolution bycalling for adjournment of the debate. The motion failed by a vote of 51 in favor to 91 against,with 32 abstentions. India’s abstention from this motion and the passage of the resolution issignificant.

In its specifics, the resolution takes note of recent reports of Iran’s continued use of torture, anintensified crackdown on human rights defenders, “pervasive gender inequality and violenceagainst women,” and discrimination against minorities, including members of the Baha’i Faith.”The wording of the resolution, which is the 23rd such condemnation of Iran since 1985,leaves no doubt that the world remains deeply concerned with Iran’s continued human rightsviolations,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Communityto the United Nations.The five-page document echoes concerns expressed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,who issued a report in October that criticized Iran’s use of torture and the death penalty, itspoor treatment of women, and repeated violations of due process of law, as well as its failure toprotect the rights of minorities, such as the Baha’i, Sufi, Baluch and Kurdish communities.

The resolution also calls on Iran to cooperate with international human rights monitors and toallow them into the country.

“The Baha’i International Community strongly welcomes this resolution, not only for its clear-sighted view of what is happening in Iran but also for its call for increased monitoring,” said Ms.Dugal. “As the resolution notes, it has been more than five years since Iran allowed UN officialsinto the country to investigate reports of human rights violations – something that is clearlyunacceptable, especially for a country that claims to the world that it has nothing to hide.”Put forward by 42 co-sponsors, the resolution’s passage today by the Third Committee virtuallyassures final approval by the General Assembly Plenary in December.

The resolution devoted an entire paragraph to Iran’s treatment of members of the Baha’i Faith,cataloging an extensive list of recent incidents and attacks on Baha’is.In particular, it noted “increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor andarbitrarily detain Baha’is, preventing members of the Baha’i faith from attending university andfrom sustaining themselves economically, the confiscation and destruction of their property,”and “the vandalizing of their cemeteries.” It also expressed concern over the recent trial andsentencing of seven Baha’i leaders, saying they were “repeatedly denied the due process of law.”

• To read the article online, go to:http://news.bahai.org/story/798
• For the Baha’i World News Service home page, go to: http://news.bahai.org/
• For more information, contact: Mr. Shatrughun Jiwnani: 98 11 83 45 44, Landline: 011-26470526
• For further information on Baha’is of India, please visit:  www.bahai.in

The report also strongly criticized Iran’s failure to protect the rights of minorities, including theBaha’i, Sufi, Baluch, and Kurdish communities.

Over the last year, Mr. Ban said, there was “a noticeable increase in application of the deathpenalty, including in cases involving political opponents and juvenile offenders. Discriminationpersisted against minority groups and in some cases amounted to persecution.”The Secretary-General has been “deeply troubled” by reports of “excessive use of force, arbitraryarrests and detentions, unfair trials and possible torture and ill-treatment of opposition activistsin relation to the post-election unrest in 2009.”

This year’s report quite specifically highlighted Iran’s ongoing “discrimination and harassment”of its Baha’i community. ”Members of unrecognized religions, in particular the Baha’i, who comprise the country’s largestnon-Muslim religious minority, face multiple forms of discrimination and harassment, includingdenial of employment, Government benefits and access to higher education,” said the report.”Some members of the Baha’i community have faced arbitrary detention or the confiscation anddestruction of their property.

“Fires had been deliberately set to partially or totally destroy homes and vehicles, and acemetery in Marvdasht had been vandalized. The incident was allegedly reported to a number of Government agencies, but no official action has been taken,” the report said. The report also took note of the trial and reported sentencing of seven Baha’i leaders, observingthat the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed “deep concern” over theabsence of international observers and the lack of due process in that trial, which concluded inJune.

“The High Commissioner voiced grave concern that the criminal charges brought against theabove-mentioned individuals appeared to constitute a violation of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in particular those offreedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression and association,” said the report. Mr. Ban’s report was released in response to last year’s resolution of the UN General Assemblyon human rights in Iran. That resolution specifically asked the Secretary General to report onany progress Iran makes during the year on human rights issues. It is the third such report thatMr. Ban has issued on human rights violations in Iran in as many years.

“What is surprising is the degree to which the government of Iran has completely ignoredthese annual reports from the UN Secretary General, who has so clearly articulated in them theinternational community’s concerns about Iran’s failure to meet its human rights obligations,”said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to theUnited Nations.

“For three years now, Mr. Ban has called attention to Iran’s abusive and illegal treatment ofwomen, juveniles, minorities, and journalists, not to mention common citizens who merely wishto voice their own concerns. ”Mr. Ban has also repeatedly expressed concern over Iran’s systematic and on-going persecutionof the Iranian Baha’i community, who are discriminated against solely because of their religiousbelief.

“We believe that the time has come for the UN General Assembly – to which this report isdirected – to appoint a special envoy to monitor the human rights situation in Iran,” said Ms.Dugal.

To view this article online, go to: http://news.bahai.org/story/796
For the Baha’i World News Service home page, go to:

http://news.bahai.org/

For more information, contact: Mr. Shatrughun Jiwnani: 98 11 83 45 44, Landline:011-26470526
For further information on Baha’is of India, please visit: www.bahai.in

A statement by the United Kingdom’s religious leaders – describing the sentencing of the seven as a “gross violation of the fundamental human right to freedom of religion” – was signed by,among others, the Archbishop of Canterbury – who is the head of the worldwide Anglican communion; the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster; the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth; and the Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Great Britain.

The statement notes that despite calls from the international community calling upon the Iranian authorities to follow “humanitarian and legal norms”, the seven were sentenced “for reasons which in the view of all independent observers are solely based on their faith.”

“These sentences form part of a wider picture over many years of severe harassment of the Baha’i community,” says the statement.

The seven Baha’i leaders – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – were all members of a national-levelgroup that, with the Iranian government’s knowledge, helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of Iran’s 300,000-strong Baha’i community.

After being incarcerated without charge for 20 months, and six brief court appearances, the seven were each reportedly sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for propaganda activities against the Islamic order and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges were completely and categorically denied. It was reported last month that the sentences have been reduced to 10-year jail terms.

“We view this act as a gross violation of the fundamental human right to freedom of religion and call on the Iranian government to fulfill their obligations under article 18 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights to review the case and to ensure that the treatment of these ‘prisoners’ accords with justice and due process as defined in the Iranian constitution and law,” wrote the United Kingdom’s religious leaders.

“We call upon all governments and people of good will to call upon the Iranian authorities to review this decision and to cease harassment of the Baha’i community.”

“We extend our sympathies to the Baha’i community at this difficult time and hope that the widespread and growing international concern over this matter will cause the Iranian authorities to correct this flagrant injustice,” the statement said.

The statement is signed by The Most Reverend Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury; The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster; Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks; Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain and chair of Religions for Peace UK; Mr. Jay Lakhani, Hindu Academy; Mr. Arjan Vekaria JP, President, Hindu Forum of Britain; Dr Indarjit Singh CBE, Network of Sikh Organisations; and Dr Natubhai Shah MBBS PhD, Network of Jain Organisations, Council of Dharmic Faiths.

Reports of the sentencing of the seven Baha’i leaders has provoked a global chorus of condemnation from governments, human rights organizations, other groups and countless individuals. On 26 August, Cardinal Keith O’Brien – the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh and head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland – also condemned the imprisonment of the seven describing it as a “most appalling transgression of justice and at heart a gross violation of the human right of freedom of belief.”

“We are deeply moved by the sympathy and solidarity expressed by the UK’s significant religious leaders for our beleaguered brethren in Iran,” said Dr Kishan Manocha, the United Kingdom Baha’i community’s director of external affairs.

To read the article online and view images, go to:

http://news.bahai.org/story/795

For the Baha’i World News Service home page, go to:

http://news.bahai.org/

For more information, contact: Mr. Shatrughun Jiwnani: 98 11 83 45 44, Landline:
011-26470526

For further information on Baha’is of India, please visit: www.bahai.in

On 24 July, two days after the most recent two-month prison term concluded, the defense attorneys for the seven once again issued a formal request that the prisoners be released on bail, as permitted under Iranian law.Since then, the judge presiding over the case has told the prisoners that their detention had once again been extended for two months. The attorneys have now submitted a written objection to the extension, said Ms. Alai. “There is no legal basis whatsoever to refuse the request that the defendants be released on bail,” she said. The seven prisoners are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. They categorically deny charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and “corruption on earth,” among other allegations. Before their incarceration, the seven attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran’s Baha’i community, which numbers more than 300,000. They have been held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 – six of them on 14 May and one of them two months earlier.

Their trial consisted of six brief court appearances which began on 12 January after they had been imprisoned without charge for 20 months, during which time they were allowed barely one hour’s access to their legal counsel. ”That these people – held purely for their religious beliefs – have now entered the third year of their so- called ‘temporary’ incarceration under such inhumane conditions constitutes a deplorable violation of their human rights,” said Ms. Ala’i.

“The Iranian government must know that its actions are under close international scrutiny and that it is held wholly responsible for this terrible injustice,” she said “Once again, we call upon the authorities in Iran to take immediate action to release them.”

To read this article online and view a photograph, go to: http://news.bahai.org/story/784

For the Baha’i World News Service home page, go to: http://news.bahai.org/

For more information, contact: Mr. Shatrughun Jiwnani: 98 11 83 45 44,

Landline: 011-26470526

Download Flyer Iran (Delhi)

The Seven Arrested members of the Yaran

The date coincides with the first anniversary of last year’s contested presidential election in Iran, as well as a global day of action aimed at calling attention to human rights abuses in the country.

The trial of the seven began on 12 January after they had been incarcerated without charge in Tehran’s Evin prison for 20 months.

At the first hearing, held in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, the Baha’is categorically denied charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and “corruption on earth,” among other allegations.

A second appearance on 7 February was concerned mainly with procedural issues. The third session on 12 April, which was purportedly a closed hearing, was adjourned after the seven – with the agreement of their attorneys – refused to be party to the proceedings because of the presence of non-judicial personnel.

“To have spectators, including a film crew, in a supposedly closed hearing while denying entry to the defendants’ families was unacceptable,” said Diane Ala’i, Baha’i representative to the United Nations in Geneva. “There would be no objection if the trial were to be open and conducted in accordance with international standards.”

“In the court sessions held so far, no evidence of wrongdoing has been presented. As their lawyers have confirmed, they are completely innocent and are solely being persecuted for their religious belief,” said Ms. Ala’i.

“The Iranian government should know that its actions against these innocent citizens are under scrutiny throughout the world,” she said. “Once again we call for their immediate release. Failing that, the seven should – at the very least – be released on bail pending a fair trial.”

The seven defendants are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. Before their imprisonment, they attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran’s Baha’i community, which numbers more than 300,000. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 and the others on 14 May 2008.

There are currently some 38 Baha’is in detention in various cities in Iran.

To read the article online, go to: http://news.bahai.org/story/775
For the Baha’i World News Service home page, go to: http://news.bahai.org

For more information, contact:

Mr. Shatrughun Jiwnani: 98 11 83 45 44, Landline: 011-26470526