Irish Baha’is rally to defence of jailed colleagues

THE Irish Baha’i community was dismayed to learn that the seven Baha’i leaders in Iran have each reportedly been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment after being falsely 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 rejected and it is understood lawyers have stated their intention to appeal.

Reports indicate that the seven were moved from Evin Prison in Tehran and are now incarcerated in Gohardasht prison in Karaj, a facility about 20km west of Tehran, making the already limited access of family members to the prisoners even more difficult. The trial of the seven began on January 12 after they had been held without charge in Tehran’s Evin prison for 20 months.

Until their imprisonment, the seven Baha’i were part of an ad hoc group called the Friends in Iran that, in the absence of formal Baha’i administration, helped attend to the needs of the 300,000 Baha’is in that country, an arrangement that pertained for almost 25 years with the full knowledge of the authorities.

These sentences constitute a violation of Iran’s obligations under the international covenant on civil and political rights and are further evidence of the ongoing persecution of the Baha’i community there. This has been condemned, rightly and widely, by governments and human rights organisations and the time has surely come for Iran to cease oppressing law-abiding citizens solely on the basis of religious belief.

Alison Wortley

Secretary

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the Republic of Ireland

Burlington Road

Dublin 4