Iran’s Bahá'í leaders sentenced

Ready Release date: 2010-08-10
Headline: IRAN’s BAHAI LEADERS SENTENCED

Johannesburg - The Baha'i community in South Africa has received reports that a verdict has been issued against seven Iranian Baha'i leaders who have each received jail sentences of 20 years. The news of their sentence has been met with condemnation from governments and human rights organizations around the world. An appeal will be launched.

The two women and five men have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison for more than two years under a series of successive orders for their 'temporary' detention.

"If this news proves to be accurate, it represents a deeply shocking outcome to the case of these innocent and harmless people," said Tahirih Matthee, the Director of External Affairs for the Baha'i community in South Africa.

The prisoners – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – were all members of an ad-hoc national-level group that helped see to the minimum spiritual and social needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community, the country's largest non-Muslim religious minority.

The trial of the seven consisted of six brief court appearances which began on 12 January this year after they had been incarcerated without charge for 20 months. During this time they were allowed barely a few hours access to their legal counsel. The trial ended on 14 June.

The defendants were accused of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges were completely and categorically denied.

“These seven innocent people, who have been sentenced, were held purely for their religious beliefs and were denied a fair trial. This is a flagrant injustice and a violation of the rights of the prisoners who are absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing and who far from representing the least threat to their country, have always been loyal and law-abiding citizens of their country. No Baha’i in Iran is free to peacefully practice their faith without severe oppression. This should be cause for concern for all South Africans who respect the rule of law and value freedom of religion” said Matthee.

For more information, please contact:
Tahirih Matthee
Email: noea-director@bahai.org.za