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Jan
5
Recent developments in Iran have raised grave concern about the ultimate fate of the seven Baha’i leaders who are scheduled to go on trial next Tuesday, 12 January. 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
UK Baha’i community is concerned
“The Baha’i community of the UK is gravely concerned about the fate of the seven who face trial,” said Dr Kishan Manocha, Secretary of the UK community’s national governing council, the National Spiritual Assembly. “They were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have been held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison ever since,” said Dr Manocha
According to news stories in Iranian government-affiliated media, the seven are to be accused of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic.”
“All of these charges are utterly baseless,” said Dr Manocha.
Trial dates were previously announced for July, August, and October but were postponed each time. In December, lawyers were notified that 12 January had been set as a new date.
Baha’is blamed for turmoil in Iran
Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva, explained that the Baha’i community in Iran has all too often been subjected to campaigns of vilification and false charges devised to deflect the attention of a disquieted population onto the Baha’is and away from those in power.
“And now, in these days leading to the trial, there are signs that once again the Baha’is are being made scapegoats,” she said. “Rather than accepting responsibility for the turmoil in the country, the Iranian government seeks to lay the blame on others, including foreign powers, international organizations and media outlets, students, women, and terrorists. Now the Baha’is have been added to this long list of alleged culprits.”
“Over the past several days, Iranian state-sponsored media have accused the Baha’is of being responsible for the unrest surrounding the holy day of Ashura,” said Ms. Ala’i. “This is clearly aimed at rousing public sentiment against the seven Baha’is being held in Evin prison. We are particularly concerned that the government, or ultraconservative elements within it, may use the turmoil in Iran as cover for extreme measures against these wrongly imprisoned individuals.
“This concern deepened on Sunday,” she said, “when authorities rounded up 13 Baha’is from their homes in Tehran, took them to a detention center, and tried to get them to sign a document saying that they would not engage in any future demonstrations.”
Ominous situation
“Taking all of this together,” said Dr Manocha, “we can see that these Baha’i leaders are facing an extremely ominous situation. They will probably face a show trial with a predetermined outcome.”
“Should anything happen to any of these seven Baha’is before or after the trial, the Iranian government must be held responsible,” said Diane Ala’i. “We ask that the international community indicate clearly to Iran that it will be watching and that it expects any trial to be public and held in accordance with internationally recognized principles of due process.”
The persecution of the Baha’is in Iran has intensified steadily throughout 2009. Around 48 Baha’is are currently imprisoned, and many others across the country have been subjected to home searches, confiscation of personal property, and revolving-door arrests. Some 60 Baha’is have been arrested and imprisoned since last March for periods ranging from overnight to several months.
False accusations
An anti-Baha’i campaign in the news media campaign has also continued, culminating in the absurd accusations last week that Baha’is were involved in provoking the recent civil unrest on the Ashura holy day on 27 December.
The semiofficial Fars News Agency, for example, reported the next day that Ne’mattollah Bavand, described as an “expert” in political affairs, said “Bahaism under the leadership of Zionism is behind the latest crisis and unrest.”
Diane Ala’i said these statements have raised concern among the Baha’is that there may be a coordinated effort to introduce these false accusations at the upcoming trial.
Baha’is arrested on 3 January
Among the 13 arrested on 3 January were relatives of two of the imprisoned leaders, including Negar Sabet, daughter of Mahvash Sabet; Leva Khanjani, granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani; and her husband, Babak Mobasher. Others arrested were Jinous Sobhani, former secretary of Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, and her husband Artin Ghazanfari; Mehran Rowhani and Farid Rowhani, who are brothers; Nasim Beiglari; Payam Fanaian; Nikav Hoveydaie and his wife, Mona Misaghi; and Ebrahim Shadmehr and his son, Zavosh Shadmehr.
Read the full story at the Baha’i World News Service.
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