A recent state-sponsored media campaign falsely accusing Baha'is in Iran of inciting the latest wave of protests in that country has raised grave concern about the fate of seven Baha'i leaders who are expected to go on trial next Tuesday, January 12.

“Over the past several days, Iranian state-sponsored media have accused the Baha'is of being responsible for the unrest surrounding the holy day of Ashura,” said Diane Alá’í, the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva. “This is clearly aimed at rousing public sentiment against the seven Baha'is being held in Evin prison. We are particularly concerned that the government, or ultraconservative elements within it, may use the turmoil in Iran as cover for extreme measures against these wrongly imprisoned individuals.”

This concern deepened on Sunday, January 3, when authorities rounded up 13 Baha'is from their homes in Tehran, including relatives of two of the imprisoned leaders, took them to a detention center, and tried to get them to sign a document saying that they would not engage in any future demonstrations. Ten of the 13 Baha'is remain in prison, making a total of 48 Baha'is in prison across Iran.

“Putting two and two together, the situation facing these Baha'i leaders is extremely ominous. We are deeply concerned for their safety,” Ms. Alá’í said.

The seven — Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm — were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have since been held in Evin prison without formal charges. Trial dates were previously announced for July, August, and October of 2009, but were postponed each time. In December, lawyers were notified that January 12, 2010, had been set as the new trial date.

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See the Baha'i World News Service for information about the trial of the seven Baha'i leaders.