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Jan
15
Concern as six Bahá’ís are arrested in Iran
Filed Under Human Rights, Iran, women | Leave a Comment
The Bahá’í community has expressed its concern after at least six Bahá’ís were arrested in Iran yesterday. One of those detained is a woman who worked at human rights organizations connected with Nobel prize winner Shirin Ebadi, pictured right.
According to the Bahá’í World News Service, the six were arrested after government security agents raided the homes of at least 11 Bahá’ís. During the raids, they also confiscated books and other items, such as computers and photographs. Among those arrested was Jinous Sobhani, who worked as an assistant for the Organization for Defending Mine Victims and also for the Defenders of Human Rights Center. Both were founded by Mrs. Ebadi.
“The arrest of these individuals reflects not only the grave situation facing Bahá’ís in Iran but also the overall human rights situation there,” said Diane Ala’i, a representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
“As far as we know, all of these people were arrested primarily because they are Baha’is,” said Ms. Ala’i. But she confirmed the fact that Ms. Sobhani worked for the two organizations founded by Mrs. Ebadi.
“The connection of Ms. Sobhani to the work of Mrs. Ebadi’s organizations points to the gravity of the situation in Iran, where the government seems intent on stifling any expression of the importance of human rights or religious freedom,” said Ms. Ala’i.
In December, the Baha’i International Community condemned the closing of Mrs. Ebadi’s Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran and called for its reopening.