Thursday, May 29, 2008
VOA - Baha'i Leaders Arrested in Iran
Voice of America put out this story on May 28, 2008, Baha’i Leaders Arrested in Iran
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Strength of faith battles tyranny
The St. Petersburg Times published the following article “Strength of faith battles tyranny” in which they interviewed some local Iranian Baha’is about the situation of the Baha’is in Iran.
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Five more Baha’is detained in Iran, report rights groups
IranVNC has posted an article concerning the arrest of five additional Baha’is in Iran. You can access the article here
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Iran Arrests National Baha’i Leaders in Dawn Raids
Priya Abraham, Director of Communications for the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, wrote the following piece for The Cutting Edge Iran Arrests National Baha’i Leaders in Dawn Raids. It was published on May 26, 2008.
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Concern mounts over the fate of Iranian Baha’i leaders
The Bahá’í International Community today expressed its deep concern for the fate of the six Baha’i leaders who were arrested on May 14, 2008. At present, the whereabouts of none of the seven are known.
It was originally understood that the six were taken to Evin prison with the seventh remaining in Mashhad since March 2008. Relatives have made repeated attempts to gain more information, but have only been met with evasion and conflicting stories from government officials.
For further details, please visit http://news.bahai.org/story/635 Continue Reading…
It was originally understood that the six were taken to Evin prison with the seventh remaining in Mashhad since March 2008. Relatives have made repeated attempts to gain more information, but have only been met with evasion and conflicting stories from government officials.
For further details, please visit http://news.bahai.org/story/635 Continue Reading…
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Iran's Abused
The following editorial was posted in today’s Wall Street Journal Europe “Iran’s Abused”
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Baha'i International Community rejects Iranian allegations on recent arrests
The Bahá’í International Community has rejected the Iranian government’s allegations that six Bahá’ís were arrested last week “for security reasons and not for their faith.”
“All of the allegations issued in a statement on Tuesday by the Iranian government are utterly baseless,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, referring to statements made in a press conference given on May 20, 2008, in Tehran by Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham, at which he acknowledged the arrest and imprisonment of six Bahá’í leaders last week.
For further remarks by the Bahá’í International Community on this matter, please visit http://news.bahai.org/story/634 Continue Reading…
“All of the allegations issued in a statement on Tuesday by the Iranian government are utterly baseless,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, referring to statements made in a press conference given on May 20, 2008, in Tehran by Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham, at which he acknowledged the arrest and imprisonment of six Bahá’í leaders last week.
For further remarks by the Bahá’í International Community on this matter, please visit http://news.bahai.org/story/634 Continue Reading…
Bahais accuse Iran of religious bias, say community leaders unfairly detained
The following Associated Press piece was picked up by the International Herald & Tribune
Bahais accuse Iran of religious bias, say community leaders unfairly detained
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CNN: Iran 'plans to destroy Baha'i community'
CNN has posted the following story online Iran ‘plans to destroy Baha’i community’
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AP: Bahais accuse Iran of discrimination
The Associated Press has put out the following story Bahais accuse Iran of discrimination
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Baha'is worried about Iranian community
The Jerusalem Post has published the following article about the recent arrests in Iran, Baha’is worried about Iranian community
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Iran says six Baha'is jailed on security charges
TEHRAN, May 20 (Reuters) - Iran has imprisoned six members of the Baha’i faith on security-related charges, government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham said on Tuesday.
You can access the article here
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ADL: World Leaders Should Press Iran to Free Baha'i Religious Prisoners
The Anti-Defamation League has issued the following statement condemning the arrests of the Baha’i leaders in Iran:
“The arrests of leaders of the Baha’i faith demonstrate the seriousness of the loss of basic religious freedoms and human rights in Iran. The U.S. government and leading human rights activists have likened the situation to the crackdowns on Baha’is immediately after the 1979 revolution in Iran, when 17 Baha’i leaders were arrested. They have never been heard from again.
We call on world leaders to join together and insist that Iran release these religious prisoners. “
You can access the full story here Continue Reading…
“The arrests of leaders of the Baha’i faith demonstrate the seriousness of the loss of basic religious freedoms and human rights in Iran. The U.S. government and leading human rights activists have likened the situation to the crackdowns on Baha’is immediately after the 1979 revolution in Iran, when 17 Baha’i leaders were arrested. They have never been heard from again.
We call on world leaders to join together and insist that Iran release these religious prisoners. “
You can access the full story here Continue Reading…
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on Baha'i arrests
The Presidency of the European Union released today a statement about the Baha’i arrests in Iran:
“The European Union is deeply concerned by reports that Ministry of Intelligence officers arrested six members of the Baha’i faith in Tehran on 14 May, who are currently being held in Evin prison.The EU reiterates its serious concern about the continuing systematic discrimination and harassment of the Iranian Baha’is on the grounds of their religion.
The EU calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to uphold fully the right to adopt and practise a religion of choice, to end the persecution of the Baha’i community, and to release the detained individuals.
The Candidate Countries, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Montenegro and Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.”
http://www.eu2008.si/en/News_and_Documents/CFSP_Statements/May/0521MZZ_Iran.html Continue Reading…
“The European Union is deeply concerned by reports that Ministry of Intelligence officers arrested six members of the Baha’i faith in Tehran on 14 May, who are currently being held in Evin prison.The EU reiterates its serious concern about the continuing systematic discrimination and harassment of the Iranian Baha’is on the grounds of their religion.
The EU calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to uphold fully the right to adopt and practise a religion of choice, to end the persecution of the Baha’i community, and to release the detained individuals.
The Candidate Countries, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Montenegro and Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.”
http://www.eu2008.si/en/News_and_Documents/CFSP_Statements/May/0521MZZ_Iran.html Continue Reading…
Reuters: EU concerned by arrests of Baha'is in Iran
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union called on Iran on Wednesday to release six members of the Baha’i faith imprisoned on security-related charges, urging Tehran to allow full freedom of religion.
Access the full story here
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AFP: Iran must stop Bahai persecution: EU
BRUSSELS (AFP) — The EU presidency on Wednesday called on Iran to end its persecution of members of the Bahai religious community, whose faith is banned in the Islamic republic.
Access the full story here
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Fear for the lives of six Baha'is arrested on “security-related” charges
Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Iran’s Baha’i community is concerned about the fate of six of its members arrested last week on “security-related charges”. Under Iranian law the death penalty can be imposed in such cases.
Access the full article here
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
AFP: Iran confirms six Bahai faithful arrested
TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran confirmed on Tuesday it has arrested members of the Bahai religious community, whose faith is banned in the Islamic republic, for acting against the national interest.
You can access the full article here
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Iran confirms arrest of Baha’i leaders for “acting against national interests”
Washington, May 20 (IranVNC)—Iran acknowledged today that six leaders of the country’s Baha’i religious community were arrested on May 14 on security-related charges.
You can access the article here
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Monday, May 19, 2008
Reuters: Group says six Baha'is detained in Iran
LONDON (Reuters) - The Iranian authorities have detained six members of the Baha’i faith, an offshoot of Islam considered heretical by Iran’s Shi’ite Muslim establishment, members of the religious group said.
You can access the full article here
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BBC News: Iran Arrests Bahai 'leadership'
BBC News has posted the following article
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Saturday, May 17, 2008
Canada.com: Foreign Affairs minister slams detention of Baha'i leaders in Iran
The Victoria Times Colonist published the following story about the arrests “Foreign Affairs minister slams detention of Baha’i leaders in Iran“. The article was picked up by Canada.com
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AFP: Canada expresses concern over arrest of Bahai in Iran
OTTAWA (AFP) — Canada expressed concern over the apparent arrest of six Iranian Bahai followers and called for their release, while deploring an “ongoing decline” in the country’s human rights situation.
You can read the full article here
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Friday, May 16, 2008
Leadership Council for Human Rights Condemns Arrests of Baha’i Leaders in Iran
The Leadership Council for Human Rights has made a statement condemning the arrests of Bahá’í leaders in Iran, and has called for their immediate release.
Washington, D.C. – The Leadership Council for Human Rights (LCHR) strongly condemns the sweep of arrests yesterday in Tehran targeting six Bahá’í leaders, who were all taken to Evin prison. These leaders make up the de facto national leadership of the Iranian Bahá’í community.
Those arrested include: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. According to Bahá’í World News Service, “Mrs. Kamalabadi, Mr. Khanjani, and Mr. Tavakkoli have been previously arrested and then released after periods ranging from five days to four months.”
A seventh leader, Mahvash Sabet, has been detained in Mashhad since March 5, 2008.
“This is the most direct action taken against Bahá’í leadership in Iran since the early 1980s,” Kit Bigelow, Director of External Affairs of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the U.S., told LCHR. Bigelow recounted the disappearance and execution of former Bahá’í leaders in Iran which led to the formation of a de facto group of leaders. On August 21, 1980, all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, the national governing body, were abducted and never heard from again. The National Spiritual Assembly subsequently was reelected, following which eight of its nine members were executed on December 27, 1981.
In 1983, all formal Bahá’í administrative institutions were outlawed. The Bahá’í community responded by disbanding its governing bodies, the National Spiritual Assembly and all of its Local Spiritual Assemblies, in addition to suspending almost all of its regular organized religious activities. Since that time, events and communications have been coordinated by small groups of de facto leaders at the local and national levels. The national level leaders were the ones imprisoned yesterday, Bigelow said.
“The world should note this tragic repetition of history and act to prevent the further taking of innocent life,” LCHR President Kathryn Cameron Porter said. “Iran must immediately and unconditionally release these men and women, ensure that all who are imprisoned are granted due process and a fair trial, and respect its commitments under the International Covenants on Human Rights.”
In light of the ongoing crackdown against religious and ethnic minorities inside Iran, especially the Bahá’í community, LCHR urges Members of Congress to support House Resolution 1008, condemning the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran.
LCHR is drafting a sign-on letter to the United Nations and to Iranian authorities calling for the release of these prisoners; we ask for your support and we will circulate this letter for signatures in the near future. Continue Reading…
Leadership Council for Human Rights Condemns Arrests of Bahá’í Leaders in Iran, Calls for Their Immediate Release
Washington, D.C. – The Leadership Council for Human Rights (LCHR) strongly condemns the sweep of arrests yesterday in Tehran targeting six Bahá’í leaders, who were all taken to Evin prison. These leaders make up the de facto national leadership of the Iranian Bahá’í community.
Those arrested include: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. According to Bahá’í World News Service, “Mrs. Kamalabadi, Mr. Khanjani, and Mr. Tavakkoli have been previously arrested and then released after periods ranging from five days to four months.”
A seventh leader, Mahvash Sabet, has been detained in Mashhad since March 5, 2008.
“This is the most direct action taken against Bahá’í leadership in Iran since the early 1980s,” Kit Bigelow, Director of External Affairs of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the U.S., told LCHR. Bigelow recounted the disappearance and execution of former Bahá’í leaders in Iran which led to the formation of a de facto group of leaders. On August 21, 1980, all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, the national governing body, were abducted and never heard from again. The National Spiritual Assembly subsequently was reelected, following which eight of its nine members were executed on December 27, 1981.
In 1983, all formal Bahá’í administrative institutions were outlawed. The Bahá’í community responded by disbanding its governing bodies, the National Spiritual Assembly and all of its Local Spiritual Assemblies, in addition to suspending almost all of its regular organized religious activities. Since that time, events and communications have been coordinated by small groups of de facto leaders at the local and national levels. The national level leaders were the ones imprisoned yesterday, Bigelow said.
“The world should note this tragic repetition of history and act to prevent the further taking of innocent life,” LCHR President Kathryn Cameron Porter said. “Iran must immediately and unconditionally release these men and women, ensure that all who are imprisoned are granted due process and a fair trial, and respect its commitments under the International Covenants on Human Rights.”
In light of the ongoing crackdown against religious and ethnic minorities inside Iran, especially the Bahá’í community, LCHR urges Members of Congress to support House Resolution 1008, condemning the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran.
LCHR is drafting a sign-on letter to the United Nations and to Iranian authorities calling for the release of these prisoners; we ask for your support and we will circulate this letter for signatures in the near future. Continue Reading…
Leadership Council for Human Rights Condemns Arrests of Baha’i Leaders in Iran
The Leadership Council for Human Rights has made a statement condemning the arrests of Bahá’í leaders in Iran, and has called for their immediate release.
Washington, D.C. – The Leadership Council for Human Rights (LCHR) strongly condemns the sweep of arrests yesterday in Tehran targeting six Bahá’í leaders, who were all taken to Evin prison. These leaders make up the de facto national leadership of the Iranian Bahá’í community.
Those arrested include: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. According to Bahá’í World News Service, “Mrs. Kamalabadi, Mr. Khanjani, and Mr. Tavakkoli have been previously arrested and then released after periods ranging from five days to four months.”
A seventh leader, Mahvash Sabet, has been detained in Mashhad since March 5, 2008.
“This is the most direct action taken against Bahá’í leadership in Iran since the early 1980s,” Kit Bigelow, Director of External Affairs of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the U.S., told LCHR. Bigelow recounted the disappearance and execution of former Bahá’í leaders in Iran which led to the formation of a de facto group of leaders. On August 21, 1980, all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, the national governing body, were abducted and never heard from again. The National Spiritual Assembly subsequently was reelected, following which eight of its nine members were executed on December 27, 1981.
In 1983, all formal Bahá’í administrative institutions were outlawed. The Bahá’í community responded by disbanding its governing bodies, the National Spiritual Assembly and all of its Local Spiritual Assemblies, in addition to suspending almost all of its regular organized religious activities. Since that time, events and communications have been coordinated by small groups of de facto leaders at the local and national levels. The national level leaders were the ones imprisoned yesterday, Bigelow said.
“The world should note this tragic repetition of history and act to prevent the further taking of innocent life,” LCHR President Kathryn Cameron Porter said. “Iran must immediately and unconditionally release these men and women, ensure that all who are imprisoned are granted due process and a fair trial, and respect its commitments under the International Covenants on Human Rights.”
In light of the ongoing crackdown against religious and ethnic minorities inside Iran, especially the Bahá’í community, LCHR urges Members of Congress to support House Resolution 1008, condemning the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran.
LCHR is drafting a sign-on letter to the United Nations and to Iranian authorities calling for the release of these prisoners; we ask for your support and we will circulate this letter for signatures in the near future. Continue Reading…
Leadership Council for Human Rights Condemns Arrests of Bahá’í Leaders in Iran, Calls for Their Immediate Release
Washington, D.C. – The Leadership Council for Human Rights (LCHR) strongly condemns the sweep of arrests yesterday in Tehran targeting six Bahá’í leaders, who were all taken to Evin prison. These leaders make up the de facto national leadership of the Iranian Bahá’í community.
Those arrested include: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. According to Bahá’í World News Service, “Mrs. Kamalabadi, Mr. Khanjani, and Mr. Tavakkoli have been previously arrested and then released after periods ranging from five days to four months.”
A seventh leader, Mahvash Sabet, has been detained in Mashhad since March 5, 2008.
“This is the most direct action taken against Bahá’í leadership in Iran since the early 1980s,” Kit Bigelow, Director of External Affairs of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the U.S., told LCHR. Bigelow recounted the disappearance and execution of former Bahá’í leaders in Iran which led to the formation of a de facto group of leaders. On August 21, 1980, all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, the national governing body, were abducted and never heard from again. The National Spiritual Assembly subsequently was reelected, following which eight of its nine members were executed on December 27, 1981.
In 1983, all formal Bahá’í administrative institutions were outlawed. The Bahá’í community responded by disbanding its governing bodies, the National Spiritual Assembly and all of its Local Spiritual Assemblies, in addition to suspending almost all of its regular organized religious activities. Since that time, events and communications have been coordinated by small groups of de facto leaders at the local and national levels. The national level leaders were the ones imprisoned yesterday, Bigelow said.
“The world should note this tragic repetition of history and act to prevent the further taking of innocent life,” LCHR President Kathryn Cameron Porter said. “Iran must immediately and unconditionally release these men and women, ensure that all who are imprisoned are granted due process and a fair trial, and respect its commitments under the International Covenants on Human Rights.”
In light of the ongoing crackdown against religious and ethnic minorities inside Iran, especially the Bahá’í community, LCHR urges Members of Congress to support House Resolution 1008, condemning the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran.
LCHR is drafting a sign-on letter to the United Nations and to Iranian authorities calling for the release of these prisoners; we ask for your support and we will circulate this letter for signatures in the near future. Continue Reading…
Religion Freedom Crackdown in Iran
The National Review Online posted the following “Religion Freedom Crackdown in Iran”
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CNN: Iran's arrest of Baha'is condemned
CNN has posted the following story on its website “Iran’s arrest of Baha’is condemned”
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CNN: Iran's arrest of Baha'is condemned
CNN has posted the following story on its website “Iran’s arrest of Baha’is condemned”
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AJC condemns arrest of Iranian Baha'i leaders
The American Jewish Committee has expressed its concern over the arrest and detention of Baha’i leaders in Iran.
You can access their statement here
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U.S. condemns jailing of six Baha’i leaders in Iran
Iran Visual News Corps has posted a follow-up story about the arrests:
U.S. condemns jailing of six Baha’i leaders in Iran
Washington, May 15 (IranVNC)—The U.S. government and non-governmental organizations have denounced the recent arrest of six leaders of Iran’s Baha’i community by Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, and have called for the release of all Baha’is in detention.
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Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center has condemned the arrest of Baha’i leaders in Iran.
Tom Parker, Executive Director of the Center, said “The IHRDC is greatly concerned that these latest arrests signal the intention of the Islamic Republic of Iran to further escalate its persecution of this peaceful religious minority. The situation of the Baha’i community is precarious, the IHRDC is calling on the international community to demand the release of these prisoners of conscience and shine a spotlight on one of the most egregious and neglected examples of religious persecution that can be found anywhere on the planet today.”
You can access the full statement here Continue Reading…
Tom Parker, Executive Director of the Center, said “The IHRDC is greatly concerned that these latest arrests signal the intention of the Islamic Republic of Iran to further escalate its persecution of this peaceful religious minority. The situation of the Baha’i community is precarious, the IHRDC is calling on the international community to demand the release of these prisoners of conscience and shine a spotlight on one of the most egregious and neglected examples of religious persecution that can be found anywhere on the planet today.”
You can access the full statement here Continue Reading…
Entire Baha’i Leadership in Iran Detained Without Charge
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran today called on the Iranian judicial authorities to account for the detention of the six leading members of the Baha’i Faith, who have been taken to Evin prison.
“We are deeply concerned that the detention without charge of the entire Baha’i leadership is consistent with a pattern of violent and illegal persecution of Baha’is in Iran,” the campaign stated. “The persecution of religious minorities will bring neither internal stability nor international security to Iran.”
You can access the full statement here Continue Reading…
“We are deeply concerned that the detention without charge of the entire Baha’i leadership is consistent with a pattern of violent and illegal persecution of Baha’is in Iran,” the campaign stated. “The persecution of religious minorities will bring neither internal stability nor international security to Iran.”
You can access the full statement here Continue Reading…
Baha'i Leaders Arrested in Iran
Members of the national coordinating group of the Iranian Baha’i communityOn May 14, Iranian intelligence officials arrested six Baha’i leaders and took them to the notorious Evin prison. The imprisonments are ominously similar to episodes in the 1980s when scores of Iranian Baha’i leaders were summarily rounded up and subsequently executed.
The six men and women, all members of the national-level committee that coordinates the activities for the Iranian Baha’i community, were in their homes Wednesday morning when government intelligence agents entered and spent up to five hours searching each home, before taking them away.
The seventh member of the committee was arrested on March 5 in Mashhad after being summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence office there.
Arrested on May 14 were: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All live in Tehran. Mrs. Kamalabadi, Mr. Khanjani, and Mr. Tavakkoli have been previously arrested and then released after periods ranging from five days to four months. The seventh member of the committee, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, also lives in Tehran although she has been detained in Mashhad.
These actions by the Iranian authorities are strongly reminiscent of their earlier treatment of Baha’i leaders when on August 21, 1980 all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Iran, the national governing body, were abducted and disappeared without a trace. It is certain that they were killed.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Iran reconstituted soon after those disappearances, and eight of those nine members were executed on December 27, 1981.
The Baha’i World News Service has released a story with further details and statements by the Baha’i International Community. You can access the story here Continue Reading…
USCIRF Calls for Strong International Condemnation of Arrest of Baha’i Leaders
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today called for strong international condemnation of the arrest of Baha’i leaders in Iran.
“The arrests of six Baha’i leaders yesterday, following the arrest of another leader in March, is the latest sign of the rapidly deteriorating status of religious freedom and other human rights in Iran,” said Michael Cromartie, the Commission Chair. “This development signals a return to the darkest days of repression in Iran in the 1980s when Baha’is were routinely arrested, imprisoned, and executed.”
You can read the full USCIRF statement here Continue Reading…
“The arrests of six Baha’i leaders yesterday, following the arrest of another leader in March, is the latest sign of the rapidly deteriorating status of religious freedom and other human rights in Iran,” said Michael Cromartie, the Commission Chair. “This development signals a return to the darkest days of repression in Iran in the 1980s when Baha’is were routinely arrested, imprisoned, and executed.”
You can read the full USCIRF statement here Continue Reading…
Iran jails six Baha'i leaders
Iran Visual News Corps posted the following story about the arrests.
You may also wish to access their site www.iranvnc.com
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IRPP: Iran arrests national Bahai leaders
The Institute on Religion and Public Policy has made a statement about the arrests of Baha’i leaders in Iran.
“For three decades, Bahá’ís have suffered egregious persecution for their faith,” said Institute President Joseph K. Grieboski. “These latest arrests, however, are particularly disturbing because they signal that the government is worsening its abuse of and increasing its attacks against Bahá’ís. We call on the international community to pressure Iran to release immediately the seven national leaders it has detained, and to help secure the freedom to worship for Bahá’ís that is a fundamental right of all people.”
You can access the full statement here Continue Reading…
“For three decades, Bahá’ís have suffered egregious persecution for their faith,” said Institute President Joseph K. Grieboski. “These latest arrests, however, are particularly disturbing because they signal that the government is worsening its abuse of and increasing its attacks against Bahá’ís. We call on the international community to pressure Iran to release immediately the seven national leaders it has detained, and to help secure the freedom to worship for Bahá’ís that is a fundamental right of all people.”
You can access the full statement here Continue Reading…
U.S. Department of State strongly condemns the arrests of Baha'i leaders in Iran
The U.S. Department of State has issued the following statement about the recent arrests:
“We strongly condemn the May 14 arrest of six leaders of the Iranian Baha’i community– Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm–by Iranian authorities and the continued imprisonment of a seventh leader, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet. This is a clear violation of the Iranian regime’s international commitments and obligations to respect international religious freedom norms. We urge the authorities to release all Baha’is currently in detention and cease their ongoing harassment of the Iranian Baha’i community.”
http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/c2404.htm
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Iran: Baha'is rounded up
The Los Angeles Times blog “Babylon and Beyond” has a posting about the arrest of Baha’i leaders in Iran.
You can access it here
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Friday, May 9, 2008
USCIRF issues recommendations for Countries of Particular Concern
On May 2, 2008, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom announced its recommendations to the State Department for Countries of Particular Concern for 2008. Iran was among these countries and its treatment of Bahá’ís was listed among reasons for the recommendation of Iran:
“The already poor religious freedom record of Iran has deteriorated further, especially for religious minorities-including Baha’is, Sufi Muslims, and Evangelical Christians-who face relentless arrests, imprisonment, and harassment. Fears among Iran’s Jews have grown due to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s repeated denials of the Holocaust and other anti-Semitic statements. Dissidents and political reformers continue to be imprisoned on criminal charges of blasphemy and for criticizing the Islamic regime. Nearly 150 Baha’is have been subjected to a wave of arrests and detention since late 2004; some have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 90 days to one year on dubious charges that include “spreading propaganda against the regime,” and the fear of arbitrary arrest has grown.”
USCIRF Media release
USCIRF 2008 Annual Report Continue Reading…
“The already poor religious freedom record of Iran has deteriorated further, especially for religious minorities-including Baha’is, Sufi Muslims, and Evangelical Christians-who face relentless arrests, imprisonment, and harassment. Fears among Iran’s Jews have grown due to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s repeated denials of the Holocaust and other anti-Semitic statements. Dissidents and political reformers continue to be imprisoned on criminal charges of blasphemy and for criticizing the Islamic regime. Nearly 150 Baha’is have been subjected to a wave of arrests and detention since late 2004; some have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 90 days to one year on dubious charges that include “spreading propaganda against the regime,” and the fear of arbitrary arrest has grown.”
USCIRF Media release
USCIRF 2008 Annual Report Continue Reading…
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