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The Guardian: Legal questions over Iran Baha’i trial
On Saturday, October 9, the British newspaper The Guardian published a letter decrying the lack of due process leading up to the sentencing of seven Iranian Baha’i leaders in August. Rosalyn Higgins QC Former international judge; Linda Lee President, Law Society; Mark Muller QC Chairman, Bar human rights committee co-authored the letter, which called for [...]
Prison sentences for Iran’s Baha’i leaders reportedly reduced to 10 years
Baha’i World News Service– The 20-year prison sentences received by Iran’s seven Baha’i leaders have reportedly been reduced. The Baha’i International Community has learned that the lawyers representing the seven were informed orally yesterday that the 20-year jail terms have now been reduced to 10 years. The seven – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, [...]
CNN: Baha'i woman recalls imprisonment in Iran
On Tuesday, August 31, CNN’s Belief Blog published an article about Minoo Vosough, an Iranian Baha’i who was arrested in 1984, at the age of 27, and held in Evin and Gohardasht prisons for 3 months before her release. Seven Iranian Baha’i leaders were transferred from Evin to Gohardasht earlier this month following more than [...]
Cherie Blair: "Iran is attempting to decapitate its Baha'i community"
On Wednesday, August 25, Cherie Blair, a barrister at Matrix Chambers in London and the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, published an op-ed in The Guardian concerning the recent sentencing of seven Iranian Baha’i leaders each to 20 years in prison. From The Guardian op-ed: The truth behind this sentence is that [...]
Lawyer Shirin Ebadi "stunned" by reported 20-year jail terms for Baha'i leaders
Baha’i World News Service– The harsh prison sentences handed down to seven Iranian Baha’i leaders who are absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing is a judgment against an entire religious community, the Baha’i International Community said today. Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, whose Defenders of Human Rights Center represented the Baha’i defendants, said she was “stunned” by [...]
Foreign Policy blog covers sentencing of Baha'i leaders
On Friday, August 13, Foreign Policy magazine’s “The Cable” blog highlighted last week’s sentencing of seven Iranian Baha’is leaders in an article about Secretary of State Clinton’s recent statements on human rights in Iran. From the Foreign Policy article: Persecution of the estimated 300,000 Baha’is in Iran has existed since the religion’s inception in the [...]
Secretary of State Clinton: "We have not forgotten the Baha’i community in Iran"
On Thursday, August 12, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued the following statement concerning the seven Iranian Baha’i leaders who have each been sentenced to 20 years in prison for their religious beliefs. According to new reports, the seven prisoners have been transferred from Evin prison in Tehran to Gohardasht Prison – also [...]
LA Times blog covers sentencing of Iranian Baha'i leaders
Today, August 11, the Los Angeles Times published on its Mideast blog, “Babylon & Beyond,” an article about the 20-year sentence reportedly imposed on seven Baha’is who have already been imprisoned for more than two years in Tehran. From the article: The Bahai leaders have been held in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison since 2008. The [...]
LA Times blog covers sentencing of Iranian Baha'i leaders
Today, August 11, the Los Angeles Times published on its Mideast blog, “Babylon & Beyond,” an article about the 20-year sentence reportedly imposed on seven Baha’is who have already been imprisoned for more than two years in Tehran. From the article: The Bahai leaders have been held in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison since 2008. The [...]
U.S. religious freedom commission "condemns 20-year sentence of Baha'is prisoners"
Today, August 11, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom joined the international outcry on behalf of seven Iranian Baha’is recently sentenced to 20 years in prison for their beliefs. From the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom statement: The five Baha’i men and two women had been charged with several baseless and unsubstantiated crimes [...]
Governments speak out for seven Baha'i leaders each sentenced to 20 years in prison for their beliefs
Several statements of international support for seven Iranian Baha’is each recently sentenced to 20 years in prison for their religious beliefs have been issued by the governments of Canada, France, Australia, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Germany, the European Parliament and the European Union. In Canada, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said in a statement issued [...]
Amnesty International condemns sentencing of Iranian Baha'i leaders
On August 10, Amnesty International issued a statement condemning the reported sentencing of seven Iranian Baha’i leaders each to 20 years in prison. News of their sentences followed six brief court appearances, which began on January 12, 2010, after they had been incarcerated without charges for 20 months. The trial ended on June 14. Statement [...]
Human Rights Watch issues statement to "Free Baha'i Leaders"
Today, August 10, Human Rights Watch issued a public statement calling for the release of seven Iranian Baha’i leaders who were reportedly sentenced last Sunday to 20 years in prison for false charges stemming from their religious beliefs. From the Human Rights Watch statement: The Iranian judiciary should set aside any judgments issued in closed [...]
Iranian Baha'i leaders sentenced to 20 years in prison, reports say
Baha’i World News Service– The Baha’i International Community has received reports indicating that seven Iranian Baha’i leaders have each received jail sentences of 20 years. The two women and five men have been held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 – six of them on May 14 and one of [...]
Detention extended for seven Iranian Baha'i leaders
Baha’i World News Service– The imprisonment of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran has been extended for a further two months, the Baha’i International Community has learned. The trial of the seven concluded on 14 June. No verdict has yet been given. “These innocent Baha’is have now been held for more than two years under a [...]
BBC News: Iran's Baha'i community fear rise in persecution
On Friday, July 2, BBC News covered the recent demolition of 50 Baha’i homes in Ivel, a small village in northern Iran. The report also included a summary of the history of Baha’i persecution in Iran, as well as the inconclusive trial of seven Baha’i leaders who have been imprisoned in Tehran for more than [...]
Trial of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders appears to have ended
Baha’i World News Service – The trial of seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran seems to have come to a conclusion after three days of successive court hearings. The seven appeared in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on the morning of Saturday, 12 June and returned to [...]
Ongoing trial of Iran's Baha'i leaders highlighted on global day of action
Baha’i World News Service — On a global day of action highlighting human rights abuses in Iran, the European Union and the Prime Minister of Canada issued strong statements calling for Iran to respect international law. In a declaration made on behalf of the European Union, its High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, [...]
Ongoing trial of Iran's Baha'i leaders highlighted on global day of action
Baha’i World News Service — On a global day of action highlighting human rights abuses in Iran, the European Union and the Prime Minister of Canada issued strong statements calling for Iran to respect international law. In a declaration made on behalf of the European Union, its High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, [...]
Global call for release of Iranian Baha'i leaders as trial session looms
Baha’i World News Service (New Delhi) — On the eve of the fourth court hearing for Iran’s seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders, voices are being raised around the world for them to be freed. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Delhi has addressed Iran’s Supreme Leader calling for the release of the seven, “or at the very [...]
Reps. Wolf and Kirk speak out for Iranian Baha'i leaders ahead of June 12 trial
On June 10, U.S. Representatives Frank Wolf and Mark Kirk submitted statements to the Congressional Record, calling for renewed support of seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders in the days preceding their next court session, which is expected to occur on Saturday, June 12 in Tehran. “The U.S. and the rest of the free world must continue [...]
Fourth court date for imprisoned Baha'i leaders set for June 12
Baha’i World News Service— The seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran are scheduled to make their fourth court appearance on 12 June, according to the latest update provided by the Baha’i International Community. The date coincides with the first anniversary of last year’s contested presidential election in Iran, as well [...]
Saberi speaks out for Baha'is at National Press Club
While in Washington, D.C., last week, American journalist Roxana Saberi described meeting two Iranian Baha’is during her 100-day incarceration in Evin prison, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. From the article… At the Northern Virginia Baha’i Center and at a discussion at the National Press Club last week, Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi recounted her 100 [...]
Committee of the American Physical Society writes letter of support for Baha’i students in Iran
On May 28, 2010, the Committee on International Freedom of Scientists of the American Physical Society wrote a letter to Iran’s Minister of Education, Dr. Hamid Reza Haji Babaie, expressing concern over the country’s systematic denial of higher education to Baha’i students. From the letter: Denying anyone access to education based upon their personal convictions [...]
State Department speaks out on two-year anniversary of Baha'i arrests
On Thursday, May 14, spokesman Philip J. Crowley of the U.S. Department of State issued the following statement condemning the continued incarceration of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran. The United States is deeply concerned about the ongoing persecution of Baha’is and other religious minority communities in Iran. Today marks the second anniversary of the imprisonment [...]
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