Iran continues persecution of Baha'is

NEW
YORK, 8 August (BWNS) -  GHN - The Baha'i International Community has received
reports indicating that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received
jail sentences of 20 years.

Baha'i House of Worship, Wilmette,


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 14 May and one
of them two months earlier.


"If this news proves to be accurate, it represents a deeply shocking
outcome to the case of these innocent and harmless people," said Bani
Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International
Community to the United Nations.


"We understand that they have been informed of this sentence and that
their lawyers are in the process of launching an appeal," said Ms.
Dugal.


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


The Baha'i Faith had established beginnings in the mid 19th century in Iraq and Iran and
have a major center in the United States in Wilmette, Illinois.  It is
active in a number of international groups with its message of world
peace, good interfaith relations and a focus on humanitarian causes.  Reports of persecution have continued for many years against this religion, considered by Muslims as a deviant group of Islam because of its acceptance of Baha'u'llah,  the Baha'i Faith's principal founder, as the newest prophet.


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 which time they were allowed barely one
hour's 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 are completely and
categorically denied.

 

Amnesty International decries Iran's persecution of Baha'is

Amnesty International launched a campaign on a Baha'i Holy day which acknowledges the religious persecution of Baha'is and other individuals known as prisoners of conscience.

Seven leaders of Iran's Baha'i community have been identified as referencing this specific campaign. They are on trial on charges that could lead to the death penalty, most of them related to the specific practice of their faith. Nevertheless, Iran declares these people have been spies for Israel and are guilty of "insulting religious sanctities" with "propaganda against the system."

 
These seven Baha'is include two women, Fariba Kamalabadi and Mahvash Sabet, as well as five men: Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaei, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahid Tizfahm. They are all leaders of the Baha'i community and have been imprisoned since May 2008. The first phase of trial occurred in January; the second is scheduled for trial. Amnesty International is campaigning against the legal processes used in these cases, specifically the failure of Iran's Revolutionary Courts to adhere to the international standards for fair trials.

 
Persecution of Baha'is in Iran has occurred since the inception of the religion in the mid 1800's specifically because Baha'is teach the equality of men and women, universal government under religious authority, and other tenets that are considered radical by Islamic authorities. Most of the persecutions have surrounded Baha'i beliefs that also include universal language, independent investigation of truth, equality of the races of the world, and economic justice.

Baha'i media page This was the home of Baha'u'llah in Iran, which was destroyed during the revolution in 1979 when many Baha'is were persecuted. s

Baha'i authorities document persecution of Baha'is in Iran during the 20th century to include outbreaks of violence against them and periodically using the religion as a scapegoat. Investigations have also observed persecutions in Egypt, although that country has been working closely with authorities in eradicating the problem there.

 
Brian Stewart of the CBC observed in January how the persecution of Baha'is has escalated under Iran's present regime. He writes how political persecution is the first action tyrannical government takes followed by the persecution of those who are weak in the society, which are often minority religious or ethnic groups.

 The Baha'i faith is considered an independent world religion with a major center in Wilmette, Illinois on which sits a temple considered to be one of the major architectural attractions in the United States.

Baha'i media bank, with permission This beautiful temple is in Wilmette, Illinois, the administrative center for Baha'is in the United States.

Its international center is in Haifa, Israel where there are a number of beautiful gardens and temples.

Bahai'i media page This Shrine of Baha'u'llah is dedicated to the founder of the Baha'i Faith and is located in Israel. s

Shoghi Effendi, the grandson of the founder, Baha'u'llah is buried in the United Kingdom and is a place where many adherents of the Baha'i faith travel when they visit the various shrines.

Baha'i media site This is the gravesite of Shoghi Effendi, the grandson of Baha'u'llah, located in London and is considered a holy site.

In Iran there are 300,000 adherents, the country's second largest religion.