AJC: Where’s the Outrage over Iran’s Baha’i Show Trial?

By The American Jewish Committee

Editor’s Note: The following Press Release was posted by the American Jewish Committee: http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=849241&ct=7182869


July 10, 2009 – New York – AJC urged widespread international condemnation of tomorrow’s show trial of seven members of the Baha’i faith in Iran, who face possible execution on fabricated charges of spying for Israel.

“America’s leaders, and all people of good will, should demand the release of these seven victims of religious persecution,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “Ahmadinejad and Khamenei’s jail cells are overflowing with religious minorities, political dissenters, and prisoners of conscience. Where is the outrage?”

Responding to an appeal from Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist who was jailed alongside two of the Baha’i until being freed in May, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has demanded the prisoners’ immediate release. Saberi explained that the “international attention” devoted to her case “helped lead to my release,” and urged similar scrutiny of the plight of the Baha’i.

Harris said, “Over the past month, the Iranian regime has revealed its brutal and untrustworthy nature to the world. Desperate attempts to blame everything on Israel won’t hide the fact that Iran has murdered its own citizens in the streets.”

Since the current regime seized power in 1979, Baha’is in Iran have been the target of extreme persecution, including torture and arbitrary imprisonment, because of their faith.

Update, July 13, 2009: The Iranian authorities have said that the trial will be delayed. No date has been set. The seven Baha’i leaders remain in custody.

REF.: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/

Prison Confessions Have No Legal Validit

Editor’s Note: There are over 40 Baha’is in prison at this time and many hundreds of Baha’is have previously suffered incarceration for their belief in the Baha’i faith. In most instances, when Baha’is are arrested, they are interrogated in the most inhumane conditions and forced to confess to various “charges”. Fereshteh Ghazi’s arguments that such confessions have no legal validity are precisely true and should be noted by all human rights activists and has broad implications for all prisoners of conscience.


By Fereshteh Ghazi

While pro-government news media report that detained political activists and journalists have made “confessions” of their wrong doing, legal scholar Mohammad Seifzadeh and lawmaker Dariush Ghanbari announced in an interview with Rooz that confessions extracted in prison lack legal validity and only serve political purposes.

True Defamation

Attorney, legal scholar and member of the Center for Defenders of Human Rights, Dr. Mohammad Seifzadeh, told Rooz that these recent confessions were political, adding that “According to the addendum to Article 188 of the rules of criminal procedure, until a final verdict is issued, the name, identity, confessions and investigations against a defendant cannot be publicized under any circumstances. If newspapers or the state media engage in such an act, according to this law, what is published is an instance of defamation and can be legally pursued.”

This legal scholar discussed Article 38 of the Constitution as well on the subject, noting that, “According to this provision, confessions extracted under inappropriate circumstances have no legal validity and cannot be used in a court of law.”

He added, “That they [government agents] engage in such acts in violation of the specific letter of the law is a political game to derail the opposition. Otherwise, there is no reason for these gentlemen to engage in acts that are clearly illegal.”

Confessions Are Ineffective

On the same subject, a Majlis lawmaker Dariush Ghanbari, who is also the spokesperson for the Line of the Imam faction in the Majlis, believes, “Extracting confessions from political figures detained after the election and broadcasting them in effect points to the consolidation of the situation, which is concerning.”

This lawmaker insists that those who seek to extract confessions of this sort intend to impose certain views on society, which is not the correct thing to do, as it further inflames the situation.”

Arguing that such confessions are ineffective, Dariush Ghanbari adds, “People and the public opinion feel that the confessions were extracted under pressure, and that is not good for the regime.”

Emad Hosseini, member of the Line of the Imam faction, told Parleman News that extracting confessions and broadcasting them will further inflame the post-election turbulent situation. He also warned that the government must not validate people’s fears by extracting confessions.

Judiciary Unaware

In this connection, a Rooz reporter contacted the office of Ayatollah Shahroudi, head of Iran’s judiciary, asking that while the recent detainees lack any access to attorneys and their citizenship and legal rights have been completely violated, how can certain newspapers report confessions that they claim were made by the detainees? A member of Ayatollah Shahroudi’s office, who did not want to be identified, said, “We do not deal with any of these issues; contact the prosecutor’s office.”

We contacted the office of Saeed Mortezavi, Tehran’s notorious prosecutor general. A member of Mortezavi’s office said, “Contact the newspaper that has published these confessions.”

He did not identify himself by name or post either, but reiterated that the detainees are under no pressure or subjected to torture. Responding to our request to interview Mortezavi, this member of Mortezavi’s office said, “You are welcome here, we actually have some work with you.”

In this connection, we contacted 12 lawmakers today as well and posed the same question; but none of them were willing to respond. When we reminded them that they represent the detainees and must follow up on their conditions, most of them said, “We cannot comment on this particular issue unless we are ready to be arrested.”

[Source: http://www.roozonline.com/english/news/newsitem/article/2009/july/12//prison-confessions-have-no-legal-validity.html.]

REF.: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/

Birmingham Bahá’í wins coveted Jewel award

An internationally recognised infertility consultant from the Midlands – who provides services in gynaecology, assisted conception and early pregnancy care - has been honoured for his work.

Masoud Afnan, 51, a member of the Birmingham Bahá’í community – was presented with a prestigious Lloyds TSB Jewel Award at a ceremony in the city on Saturday 11 July.

The Lloyds TSB Jewel Awards celebrate “the wealth of experience, expertise and success which is becoming increasingly evident in Britain’s Asian community today”.

Mr Afnan was named the winner in the “Healthcare & Education” category which honours “outstanding achievements being made by British Asians in public and private healthcare and education sectors throughout the UK.”

“From an inspirational flash of brilliance to the relentless day-to-day pursuit of excellence, it is these individuals’ achievements that epitomise the exacting standards required to maintain healthcare and education in Britain today,” says the Award citation.

A consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Birmingham Women’s Hospital since 1992, Mr Afnan has specialised in the field of infertility and assisted conception since 1983. He has served as an Inspector for the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, and a Board member of the British Fertility Society, as well as chairing its training committee. Mr Afnan is the author of more than 60 publications.

“It is a great privilege to be honoured in this way,” said Mr Afnan, who was born in Ethiopia to a Bahá’í family. Accepting the award, he remarked that celebrating diversity is a mark of true civilization. He drew the attention of the audience to the plight of minority groups around the world who are systematically persecuted, and in particular to the Bahá’í community of Iran, seven of whose leaders are awaiting trial simply for professing their belief in the Bahá’í Faith.

“Our faith instills into us from an early age the spirit of service, a love of people, and the importance of striving for excellence. I am happy I have had the opportunity to practice these principles in my profession,” said Mr Afnan, pictured above left at the ceremony with comedian Inder Manocha – also a member of the Bahá’í community.

Three Lloyds TSB Jewel Award ceremonies take place each year covering the north, midlands and south of the United Kingdom. The awards are regionalised across the three territories to celebrate the impact British Asians are making within the commercial and corporate sectors.

REF.: http://bahainews-uk.info/

Trial for seven Baha'i leaders reportedly delayed

GENEVA, 13 July (BWNS) - Iranian officials have reportedly told families of the seven Baha'i leaders currently held in Evin prison in Tehran that their trial has been delayed. No new trial date was given.

Held for more than a year, the seven were reportedly to have been tried on Saturday, although this information, too, was based on oral reports from officials, and such reports have often been unreliable in the past.

The seven were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have been held more than a year without formal charges or access to their attorneys. Official Iranian news reports have said the Baha'is will be accused of "espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic."

The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad.

The Baha'i International Community has repeatedly said that the seven are being held solely because of their religious beliefs, calling for their immediate release.

Such appeals for the release of the seven have been echoed by governments and human rights groups around the world. On Friday, Amnesty International issued a press release calling on Iranian authorities to release the seven. On Thursday, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, responding to a letter from Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist who spent almost four months in an Iranian cell, likewise urged the release of the seven. Also on Thursday, European Parliament member Angelika Beer, speaking on behalf of the Parliament's delegation for Iran, called for the release of the seven, or, at the least, urged that any trial be free, fair and open.



To read the article online, with a photograph, go to:
http://news.bahai.org/story/723


REF.: http://news.bahai.org

What are the world's major religious philosophies? Bahá'í

by Ken Phipps Religious Philosophies Examiner


What are the world's major religious philosophies?

This series of articles will attempt to answer this question. We will examine one at a time, in alphabetical order, 12 of the major religious philosophies that exist in the world today. We will also try to outline the major precepts of each of these religions so that the reader may come to a better understanding of the differences of various sects. More importantly it is our hope that he/she may come to appreciate and make use of the commonalities of these faiths. These articles are not meant to be comprehensive studies of these philosophies but rather to allow our readers to gain a general understanding of their basic tenets. It is not our purpose to debate whether each teaching is more qualified as a religion or as a philosophy. The articles are only short summaries of each creed.

The first of these is called Bahá'í Faith. Founded in Iran, in 1852, the Bahá'í Faith came into existence when a Persian nobleman, Bahá'u'lláh, while imprisoned in Tehran's "Black Pit" recieved a vision of God's will for humanity. This was a spiritual awakening of the type experienced by Jesus, Buddha, and Muhammad before him. In the subsequent years he himself set the vision of his revelation into print.

The essential message of this revelation is unity. The following is "Excerpted from The Bahá'ís, a publication of the Bahá'í International Community."

Bahá'u'lláh outlined certain fundamental principles upon which this new world civilization should be founded. These include the elimination of all forms of prejudice; full equality between the sexes; recognition of the essential oneness of the world's great religions; the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth; universal education; a high standard of personal conduct; the harmony of science and religion; a sustainable balance between nature and technology; and the establishment of a world federal system, based on collective security and the oneness of humanity.

From this fundamental concept of Divine and religious unity, other principles emerge. Bahá'u'lláh teaches that all humans, as creations of the one God, are also one people. Distinctions of race, nation, class or ethnic origin are ephemeral when understood in this context. Likewise, any notions of individual, tribal, provincial or national superiority are discarded in the Bahá'í Faith. Speaking through Bahá'u'lláh, the voice of God proclaims: "Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest."

• One God
• Abandonment of all forms of prejudice
• Equality of men and women
• Elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth
• Universal education
• Independent investigation of truth
• Establishment of a world federation
• Recognition that true religion is in harmony with science
• Reason and the pursuit of scientific knowledge

As humanity continues to evolve, and the world's present systems continue to fail to adequately deal with the problems which face it,expect to see more and more people embrace this beautiful philosophy of Unity and Truth.

Bahá’u’lláh said, “The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.”

REF.: http://www.examiner.com/

On the Baha’i 9-Pointed Star Displayed at Jackson Memorial: 1.5 billion viewers

“We Are the World” was sung as the final song at the Michael Jackson Memorial July 7th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles which may have had a viewing audience well over 1.5 billion

Behind the singers on stage was displayed the various religious symbols of the world’s major faiths, including the nine-pointed star associated with the Baha’i Faith.

The Nine-pointed Star also shows at 00:12 as seen in this frame attached… it grows out of the Star of David.




REF.: http://www.bahaiviews.net/

On #BahaiRights Day Today: Visit http://www.bahairightsday.org/ now and take action!

By george wesley dannells on Jul 11, 2009

Today, July 11th, is Baha’i Rights day (moved fromJuly 9th). For those of us in the Pacific Time Zone of the U.S. it is mid-morning. My family just returned yesterday from the wilderness, literally; we were camping, celebrating my daughter’s engagement and giving little Daniel, my oldest son’s child born just a month ago, his first camping experience. Today begins the 9 days of an Intensive Cycle for expansion in our Baha’i Cluster. There is much day left for us here and much to do.

If you haven’t checked Twitter today, check out #BahaiRights. You will be amazed at the second by second outpouring of support coming in on behalf of human rights for Baha’is.

bahai-rights-day

Today is #BahaiRights Day - visit http://www.bahairightsday.org/ now and take action!

# Please inform your friends, family and colleagues that on July 11 they should tweet, blog, Facebook or create any material in support of Baha’i human rights everywhere, specifically in Iran where Baha’is have been severelyhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif persecuted against for the past 30 years.

REF.: http://www.bahaiviews.net/

Trial Delayed!

July 11th, 2009

Iran Press Watch has been able to confirm that the trial of the former Yaran has been delayed.

The families of the seven imprisoned former leaders of the Baha’i community of Iran have been advised of this delay.

Yesterday (Friday) certain sources close to the situation informed Iran Press Watch of a possible delay of the trial by two (2) days, but it now appears that the delay might be longer.

No new date was given to the families.

RE.: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/

19 Facts about Baha’i spies in Iran

From an Iranian

To: The Respected President of the Guinness Book of World Records

Dear Sir,

We would like to nominate Iran for consideration as the world record holder with respect to the nineteen (19) accomplishments below:

1. Iran is the first country in the world to label over 400,000 followers of the same religions as spies.

2. Iran is the first country in the world where spies are freely and openly going about their lives and the government is not apprehensive about them. However, once in a while, a few of these spies are arrested in order to keep the government militia from boredom; then the spies are interrogated for a few months so that interrogators may gain experience. Sometimes, spies are tortured for the practice of the torturers. Ultimately, a few face firing squads for testing of the guns.

3. Iran is the first country in which spies are born as spies. There is no need for the courts to prove the allegations against them since they are innately convicts from birth. They have no rights; therefore, there is no need to consider their civil rights when bringing charges against them.

4. Iran is the first country where if spies recant their faith and convert to Islam, they are no longer spies, but are considered saved.

5. Iran is the first country in which spies, when arrested, have to attend Islamic studies classes – with the aim of their conversion to Islam.

6. Iran is the first country where its spies are secret agents of Britain, Russia, America and Israel, all at the same time. Interestingly, the spies themselves and the leaders of these countries are unaware of such affiliations; only Shariyat-Madari (editor-in-chief of Kayhan, government of Iran backed newspaper) knows.

7. Iran is the first country that has had thousands of spy groups and spy gatherings that have been in contact with the Ministry of Intelligence for the past 25 years.

8. Iran is the first country that banned gatherings of thousands of espionage groups and asked spies to dismantle their assemblies. However, the members of these groups are required to sign pledges consenting that they will not teach their religious beliefs! Even more interesting, members of these groups refuse to sign such pledges.

9. Iran is the first country where spies are not paid. Instead, they spend their own money to tend to the affairs of their community, to eliminate poverty and improve literacy. These activities are the biggest proofs of spying charges against them.

10. Iran is the first country where spies introduce themselves as followers of a religion that the government of Iran equates with espionage. The followers of this religion do not even outwardly hide their convictions to save their own lives.

11. Iran is the first country where spies have established moral and educational courses for their members. Strangely, the government denies them entrance to universities to prevent them from spying in institutions of higher education.

12. Iran is the first country where spies are drafted for two years of obligatory military service. They are even given guns and receive intensive military training.

13. Iran is the first country where spies receive lashes with utmost love; their properties are confiscated with Islamic fairness; they are executed with utmost kindness and Islamic compassion. The government bestows, with utmost friendliness, civil rights specified for spies, in the form of imprisonments, forced free labor, insults and slanders.

14. Iran is the only country in which, there are potentially 40 million spies. Women that ask for the same rights as men are called spies. Men that defend these women are also called spies.

15. Iran is the first country that provides all necessary means for these spies to leave the country and cheers when they have left.

16. Iran is the first country that doesn’t find it necessary to compile documents and evidences to prove espionage charges. Whoever says that he or she is a Baha’i, that person is automatically a spy. Whoever says women are human beings with the same rights as men is a spy. Whoever is engaged in medical research for finding a cure for AIDS is a spy. Whoever establishes an N.G.O. (Non Governmental Organization) for helping children and saving the environment is a spy!

17. Iran is the first country in which at the election time, nobody is labeled spy and all have equal rights and should vote.

18. Iran is the first country in which spies, without any bias and in all fairness, are convicted, sentenced, insulted, and their names publicized by mass media, before they are even tried in courts!

19. Iran is the only country in which Baha’is are not permitted to work in any government office or agency, they hold no position of influence, they have no access to any sensitive or classified document, and they have only opened their little shops and are busy with their businesses, and yet they are still spies!!!

[Translation by Iran Press Watch.]


REF.: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/

OEA - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / July 10, 2009

Roxana Saberi and the Commission on International Religious Freedom
Call for Release of Iranian Bahá’ís Ahead of Trial

Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) have called for the release of seven Baha’i leaders who may face trial tomorrow, July 11, 2009, in Tehran.

Ms. Saberi stated, in a letter to the Commission, “The seven Baha’is, along with at least 20 other Baha’is imprisoned across Iran, are not threats to Iran’s national security but are being held because of their beliefs and peaceful activities on behalf of the Baha’i community. They have been willing to cooperate with Iran’s Shiite Islamic regime, but they refuse to surrender to pressure to abandon their beliefs, knowing that the decisions they make could have far-reaching implications for the estimated 350,000 Baha’is and other religious minorities in Iran.”

Saberi was imprisoned in Evin, where the seven Baha’is are currently being held, for nearly four months before she was released as a result of significant international pressure.

According to its statement, the Commission is appealing to the Iranian government to take similar action and release the Baha’is: “The charges against these imprisoned Baha’is are baseless and a pretext for the persecution and harassment of a disfavored religious minority. They should be released immediately,” said USCIRF Chair Leonard Leo. “USCIRF urges the President and other leaders in the international community to speak out and call for the release of the seven Baha’i leaders, as the President did for Miss Saberi. These prisoners are in jail solely because of their religious identity, and have not been afforded any due process or direct access to legal representation.”

The seven Baha’i leaders have been detained for more than a year without access to their attorneys, including Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi. Official Iranian news reports have said the Bahá’ís will be accused of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic”—all charges that the Bahá’í International Community categorically denies. The espionage charge is punishable by death in the Islamic Republic.

For additional information, please contact the U.S. Bahá’í Office of External Affairs at (202) 833-8990, or visit http://iran.bahai.us to access the statements by Ms. Saberi and the Commission. These resources are also available on the Commission’s website: http://www.uscirf.gov.

Download a PDF version of this media release.
Read coverage from The CNN Wire, the Associated Press, and The National Review Online.
MEDIA CONTACT:

Ariel Olson Surowidjojo
Media Relations Officer of External Affairs
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the U.S.
—————————————————————-
USBahaiMedia@usbnc.org
Office: (202) 833-8990
Cell: (202) 906-9840
1320 19th Street, N.W., Suite 701
Washington, D.C. 20036
www.bahai.us

Ethics at heart of economic crisis, says EBBF

GENEVA — Any response to the world economic crisis must address ethics, given that the crisis is "fundamentally one of trust and integrity," the European Baha'i Business Forum said in a statement published last week.

Furthermore, the situation requires an ethical response "at all levels" – from individuals, from corporations, and from governments and regulatory entities, said the statement, released as some 400 representatives from dozens of countries and organizations gathered in Geneva for a two-day Global Ethics Forum.

As people reshape their thinking, certain principles must be considered, said the EBBF.

"We need to replace the concept of self-centered materialism with that of service to humanity," the EBBF said. Cooperation must replace competition, the statement continued; ethical behavior must replace corruption, gender balance must replace sexism, world unity must replace protectionism, justice must replace injustice.

"EBBF promotes and welcomes engagement with the widest possible community to develop together the new framework," the statement said.

"We call on peoples from all businesses, countries, and walks of life to work together to build a new economic system based upon equity and justice," it concluded.

More than 20 members of the European Baha'i Business Forum participated in the Global Ethics Forum, held 2-3 July at United Nations headquarters in Geneva.

EBBF issued the statement in an effort to contribute to new ways of thinking that will help companies and countries develop new models as they navigate the current crisis.

"There is a growing need for alternatives," said Daniel Truran, secretary general of the EBBF. "People are thirsty for a different way of working and of conducting their organizations.

"In times of crisis, the search for the 'right' way forward – a direction that was not the one that got us into this crisis – is stronger than ever," he said.

The European Baha'i Business Forum was founded in 1990 and now has nearly 400 members in some 60 countries.

More details:

Among its activities, the EBBF:

– organizes or participates in more than 250 events a year at the local, national, or international level;

– designs university and postgraduate courses for young professionals, particularly those who are concerned about being confronted with a business environment that conflicts with their own ideals and values;

– publishes materials to offer ideas and background to its members and others, and posts online interviews with individuals who are trying to practice values-based leadership in their work.

The organization lists its seven core values as ethical business practices, social responsibility in business, values-based leadership, sustainable development, a new paradigm of work, partnership of women and men in all fields of endeavor, and nonadversarial decision-making through consultation.

The EBBF Web address is http://ebbf.org


REF.: http://news.bahai.org/

Parliamentary Group in Germany demands release of imprisoned Baha’i leaders

BundestagBerlin – On the occasion of the upcoming scheduled trial of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran, the speaker on human rights issues of the parliamentary groups of the German Bundestag Erika Steinbach MP (CDU/CSU), Christoph Strässer MP (SPD), Volker Beck MP (B90/DIE GRÜNEN) and chairman Burkhardt Müller-Sönksen MdB (FDP) declare:

On behalf of our parliamentary groups we demand the immediate and unconditional release of the leaders of the Baha’i religious community. The seven members of this group [known as the Yaran, or "Friends"] – two women and five men – were arrested morehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif than a year ago. They have been accused of espionage for Israel, offending religious sanctities, propaganda against the Islamic Republic and recently in addition to these of “spreading of corruption on earth”. They are threatened by the death sentence. The proclamation of their sentence is expected on July 11th.

The judicial process is politically motivated and is aimed at the Baha’i religious community. Its 350.000 members living in Iran are systematically discriminated against and oppressed. Under the current government, the harassment of the Baha’is has increased, and it ranges from confiscations and defamation campaigns to arbitrary arrests. The arrest of these leaders, who were only allowed to fulfil this function informally, is aimed at further impairment of this religious community.

Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahin Tizfahm are non-violent political prisoners. As members of a religious minority not accepted in Iran, they are likely to be subjected to a show trial, the outcome of which would have been determined long ago.

Our parliamentary groups welcome the fact that the German Federal government is making an effort to safeguard coordinated observation of the process of this trial from within the European Union. Everything possible must be done to release the prisoners, or at least provide a public, constitutional process, in compliance with international standards. Our current concern is about these seven accused leading members. We are, however, just as much worried about the approximately 30 Baha’is who are also imprisoned in Iran exclusively due to their religious convictions.

[Original German at http://www.spdfraktion.de/cnt/rs/rs_dok/0,,48110,00.html; Translation by the Office of External Affairs of the Baha'is of Germany]

REF.:

US body calls for release of Iranian Baha’is

By: Judy West.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) – responding to a letter from Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist who spent almost four months in an Iranian cell – today demanded the release of seven Iranian Baha’i prisoners of conscience who are set to go on trial Saturday and could face the death penalty, noting that this particular action is just one manifestation of the much broader pattern and practice of the theocratically supported repression that marks Iran’s current electoral crisis.
US body calls for release of Iranian Baha’is

“In addition to the hundreds of Iranians who have been detained in the context of Iran’s disputed presidential poll, many other ‘security detainees’ arrested long before the June election remain behind bars,” wrote Miss Saberi in a letter to USCIRF requesting US government intervention in the Baha’i case. “These Iranians and the authorities who have detained them need to know that the Iranian people’s human rights are a matter of international concern.”

“The elections in Iran last month have exposed the world to the cold realities about how the Iranian government regularly deals with dissent or views that are a perceived threat to the theocratic regime,” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. For example, a senior cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, recently said in a Friday sermon that election demonstrators should be convicted and sentenced to death for “waging war against God.”

The seven Baha’is to be tried, two of whom shared a cell with Miss Saberi, are charged under the jurisdiction of Branch 28 of Iran’s Revolutionary Court, the same judicial process which convicted Miss Saberi in April. The Baha’is are accused of spying for Israel and other religious offenses.

“The charges against these imprisoned Baha’is are baseless and a pretext for the persecution and harassment of a disfavored religious minority. They should be released immediately,” said Mr Leo. “USCIRF urges the President and other leaders in the international community to speak out and call for the release of the seven Baha’i leaders, as the President did for Miss Saberi. These prisoners are in jail solely because of their religious identity, and have not been afforded any due process or direct access to legal representation.”

On April 18, Miss Saberi was tried, convicted, and sentenced to eight years in prison on false espionage charges. After an international outcry, including statements by President Barack Obama, Miss Saberi appealed the verdict and was released weeks later. Currently, in Iranian prisons are more than 30 members of the Baha’i community, which is banned from practicing its faith.

On July 6, 10 Nobel laureates, including former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, called on the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to urge the release of political prisoners and appoint a special envoy to assess the Iranian elections and their aftermath.

The letter noted the laureates’ concern for 2003 Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi, a human rights lawyer who is legal counsel for the seven Baha’is and has not been permitted access to her clients.

“USCIRF urges Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to appoint an envoy to investigate the elections and other instances of repression in Iran such as the impending Baha’i trial,” said Leo.


REF.: http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/

U.S. panel demands release of Baha'is facing trial in Iran

(CNN) -- Seven Baha'i prisoners face a death-penalty trial Saturday in Iran amid calls for their release from a U.S. panel on religious freedom.
A U.S. panel on religious freedom has demanded the immediate release of the imprisoned Bahai's.

A U.S. panel on religious freedom has demanded the immediate release of the imprisoned Bahai's.

Responding to a letter from Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist who spent four months in an Iranian jail earlier this year, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) demanded the seven prisoners be freed rather than stand trial on charges of espionage and religious violations. If convicted, they could face execution.

"In addition to the hundreds of Iranians who have been detained in the context of Iran's disputed presidential poll, many other 'security detainees' arrested long before the June election remain behind bars," Saberi said in her letter requesting U.S. government intervention in the Baha'i case.

"These Iranians and the authorities who have detained them need to know that the Iranian people's human rights are a matter of international concern," she said.

Saberi, who was tried, convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison on espionage charges, spent time in a cell at Tehran's Evin prison with two of the Baha'i prisoners. Saberi was released in May.

Leonard Leo, chairman of USCIRF, said the crackdown on protests after Iran's June 12 presidential elections "have exposed the world to the cold realities about how the Iranian government regularly deals with dissent or views that are a perceived threat to the theocratic regime."

"The charges against these imprisoned Baha'is are baseless and a pretext for the persecution and harassment of a disfavored religious minority," Leo said. "They should be released immediately."

The seven Baha'is have been held for more than a year without formal charges or access to their attorneys, said Diane Ala'i, representative to the United Nations for the Baha'i International Community.

She said the seven are being legally represented by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani. But according to the human rights group Amnesty International, Soltani was arrested in Iran on June 16 and his whereabouts are unknown.

Ala'i said the lawyers have not had access to their clients though they have been able to read their files.

USCIRF, which is an independent bipartisan federal commission, said the seven Baha'is are charged under the jurisdiction of Branch 28 of Iran's Revolutionary Court, the same judicial process that convicted Saberi in April. The Baha'i prisoners are accused of spying for Israel, spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic and religious offenses.

"This trial is all about them being Baha'i," Ala'i said. "The accusations are completely false."

The Baha'i faith is a world religion that originated in 19th-century Persia but Iran does not recognize it. Baha'is are regarded as apostates and heretics in Iran, where they have long been persecuted.

Ala'i said that since the Islamic revolution in 1979, more than 200 Baha'is have been executed in Iran.

Iran denies that the Baha'i community is mistreated. Earlier this year, prosecutor general Qorban-Ali Dorri Najafabadi, told state-run Press TV that the Iranian government has afforded the Baha'is with "all the facilities offered to other Iranian citizens."

But Najafabadi said there is irrefutable evidence that many Baha'is are in close contact with Iran's enemies and have strong links to Israel.

The treatment of the Baha'is in Iran and the detention of the seven prisoners have attracted global attention.

Human Rights Watch, the world rights monitoring group, last month called for the release of the imprisoned or a prompt trial, with "fair and open proceedings."

Lawyer Cherie Blair, the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, wrote a newspaper column this week urging international pressure before the trial to "ensure the seven men and women receive a fair trial and a chance of justice."

REF.: http://www.cnn.com/