Subscribe to Bahá’í News UK
Jun
25
Concern grows as families learn of trial date for jailed Bahá’ís
Filed Under Human Rights, Iran | Leave a Comment
According to information conveyed by the authorities in Tehran’s Evin prison to the family members of the seven Bahá’ís who have been imprisoned for more than a year, a trial date has been set for 11 July.
The seven were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have been held without any 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 trial is apparently scheduled to be held at Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, where American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi was recently convicted of espionage and sentenced to eight years imprisonment. She was eventually released after an international outcry at the clear politicization of the case and manifestly unjust legal procedures.
“These seven individuals are facing completely false charges,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations. “They – along with the some 30 other Baha’is currently in prison in Iran – are innocent of any wrongdoing and are being held solely because of their religious beliefs.”
The trial date was provided to the family members only orally and – since information conveyed by officials concerning the judicial process has often proved unreliable – it is possible that the Iranian authorities may find some reason to change the date, says the Bahá’í World News Service.
Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.