Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community |
- Baha’is meet in Vancouver as news of 20-year prison terms for Iranian Baha’i leaders raises international concern
- Iran: Free Baha’i Leaders
- Canada Deeply Concerned by Reports of Sentencing of Iranian Bahá’í Leaders
- Appeals Court Should Overturn Unjust Sentencing of Baha’i Leaders
- BBC report on sentencing of the Yaran & interview with Shirin Ebadi
- Detainment of Behnam Mote’arefi, a Baha’i in Semnan
- International outcry at prison sentences for Iranian Baha’i leaders
| Posted: 11 Aug 2010 04:52 PM PDT  Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia, 11 August 2010 (CBNS) — More than 1,400 Baha'is meet this weekend at a downtown Vancouver hotel for the annual Association for Baha'i Studies Conference amidst community-wide anguish at the sentencing in Iran on Sunday of seven Baha’i leaders. The news of the 20-year prison terms handed down on Sunday, 8 August, on charges of "espionage", "spreading corruption on earth" and "insulting religious sanctities" follows months of increasing persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi has said the legal process was full of irregularities, that no evidence was presented, and that the Baha'i prisoners should be immediately released. Lawyers for the prisoners have said they will launch an appeal as it is clear to observers that the Baha'i leaders have been sentenced solely because of their religion. Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, issued a strongly worded statement indicating that "Canada remains deeply disturbed by reports that these individuals have now been sentenced to 20-year prison terms… ", calling attention to the fact that there were no "written judgments or due process." The European Union President and the German, French and Australian governments have also condemned the sentences as have leading international human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Two Canadians are close relatives of two of the prisoners. Ottawa engineer, Naeim Tavakkoli, is the son of one of the prisoners, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Montreal film-student Nika Khanjani is the niece of Jaloddin Khanjani, another prisoner. A number of those attending the conference in Vancouver know some of the prisoners. In addition to Tavakkoli and Khanjani, the other five are Saeid Rezaie, Vahid Tizfahm, Afif Naeimi, and two women, Fariba Kamalabadi and Mahvash Sabet. Among speakers at the Conference, international human rights expert Professor Payam Akhavan of McGill University will be delivering a talk "From Hatred to Humanity" related to the situation of the Baha'is in Iran.
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| Posted: 11 Aug 2010 04:09 PM PDT
(New York) – The Iranian judiciary should set aside any judgments issued in closed judicial proceedings against seven Baha’i leaders and release them immediately given that no evidence appears to have ever been presented against them, and they have not been given a fair and public trial, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities arrested the seven in May 2008 and severely restricted their access to lawyers and their families. Government officials reportedly informed one of their lawyers in recent days that Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court had sentenced each of the seven to 20 years in prison on charges that include propaganda against the state and espionage. “For more than two years now the Iranian authorities have utterly failed to provide the slightest shred of evidence indicating any basis for detaining these seven Baha’i leaders, let alone sentencing them to 20 years in prison,” said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East division at Human Rights Watch. The Baha’i faith originated in Iran in the 19th century and today has approximately 300,000 followers in that country. The Iranian government considers Baha’is to be apostates from Islam and bars them from openly practicing their faith. Baha’is face discrimination in higher education and many areas of employment. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, security forces have arbitrarily arrested and detained hundreds of Baha’is on purported national security charges. In the current case, security forces arrested six leaders of Iran’s Baha’i community at their homes in Tehran on May 14, 2008. The six are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. The authorities had arrested the seventh, Mahvash Sabet, the group’s secretary, on May 5 in Mashhad, in northeast Iran, when he responded to a summons from the Intelligence Ministry. After holding the seven in Evin Prison for 20 months without charge, on January 12, 2010, officials brought charges that included spying, “propaganda against the state,” “collusion and collaboration for the purpose of endangering the national security,” and “spreading corruption on earth.” Authorities did not allow the five men and two women to post bail and allowed only limited visits from family members and lawyers. Their trial began January 12 and consisted of six brief closed-door hearings, the last on June 14. Judge Mohammad Moghiseh conducted the trial at Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. He also has presided over proceedings in the cases of numerous individuals unlawfully detained during peaceful protests against the results of the June 12, 2009 presidential election. The United Nation’s Office of the Baha’i International Community in Geneva reported that on August 9 authorities transferred the seven from Evin to Raja’i Shahr (also known as Gohardasht), a prison 20 kilometers west of Tehran. If true, this would suggest that they have been convicted and will serve their sentences in another prison. Over the past two years, Human Rights Watch has repeatedly called on Iranian authorities to release the seven leaders due to government’s inability or unwillingness to provide reasonable evidence warranting detention. Government restrictions prevent Iranian Baha’is from openly practicing their faith or administering a National Spiritual Assembly, as they do in most other countries where Baha’i communities exist. Instead, Iran’s Baha’is have formed an informal coordinating body known as the Friends of Iran. The seven who were detained are leaders and the secretary of this coordinating body. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party, requires Iran to ensure that everyone facing a criminal charge has a “fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal” and that they have “adequate times and facilities for the preparation of their defence” and to communicate with the lawyer of their choosing. During a review in February of its human rights record before the United Nations Human Rights Council, Mohammad Javad Larijani, the head of Iran’s UN delegation, stated that “no Baha’i in Iran is prosecuted because he is a Baha’i,” and the government rejected recommendations put forth by other governments calling for “an end to discrimination and incitement to hatred vis-à-vis the Baha’i.” “Iran should take concrete steps that show it is committed to protecting the fundamental rights of Baha’is,” Stork said. “The immediate and unconditional release of the seven Baha’i leaders would be a good start.” Source: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/08/10/iran-free-bahai-leaders, and in Persian. |
| Canada Deeply Concerned by Reports of Sentencing of Iranian Bahá’í Leaders Posted: 11 Aug 2010 04:04 PM PDT
 The Honourable Lawrence Cannon Minister of Foreign Affairs (No. 251 – August 10, 2010 – 10:30 a.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement expressing Canada's concern over Iran's continued detention of seven Bahá'í community leaders and over reports that they have been sentenced to 20 years in prison: "Canada remains deeply concerned by Iran's ongoing detention of Behrouz Tavakkoli, Saeid Rezaie, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naemi and Mahvash Sabet. We note that these seven Bahá'í community leaders have been detained since spring 2008. "Canada is deeply disturbed by reports that these individuals have now been sentenced to 20-year prison terms on charges of espionage, acting against national security and being enemies of God, and that these sentences were passed without either written judgements or due process. "Canada once again urges Iran to grant bail to the seven Bahá'í leaders and to ensure that they are accorded fair treatment, in accordance with international standards. Canada further urges Iran to protect the rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. "The persecution of the Bahá'í community in Iran is intolerable and deeply troubling." - – - For further information, media representatives may contact: Melissa Lantsman Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office Source: http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2010/251.aspx?lang=eng |
| Appeals Court Should Overturn Unjust Sentencing of Baha’i Leaders Posted: 11 Aug 2010 04:00 PM PDT
 http://www.iranhumanrights.org/ Shirin Ebadi: Trial "Riddled with Irregularities" (10 August 2010) Seven leaders of the Iranian Baha'i community, each of whom has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on security, espionage and other crimes, should be freed by an appeals court, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. "We consider the arrest, detention, trial, and sentencing of these individuals to be politically motivated, discriminatory, unjust, and illegal under Iranian and international law," said Aaron Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Campaign. "They have been sentenced for being Baha'is, nothing else, and their incarceration thus expresses a policy of oppression of the Baha'i Faith and its members," he said. The seven Baha'i leaders, who were arrested in the spring of 2008, include Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. They had been jailed for 20 months prior to being charged and denied contact with their attorneys. The sentences will reportedly be appealed. In January 2010, in the context of the Ashura protests of December 2009 and those that had followed the June 2009 presidential election, charges against the detained Baha'i leaders were expanded. State-controlled news media claimed Baha'is had masterminded the protests, although no evidence has been produced to prove the allegations. Shirin Ebadi, who defended the seven Baha'i leaders, told the Campaign that her clients' prosecution was "riddled with irregularities." "As their lawyer, I should have had access to my clients from the time of their detention and I should have known of the charges against them. But I was not allowed to see them," Ebadi said. She also pointed out that given the advanced age of the Baha'i leaders, their 20-year prison sentence is effectively life imprisonment, as it unlikely they will survive beyond their prison term. Members of the Baha'i Faith in Iran number approximately 300,000, making them the largest non-Muslim religious minority group. In recent years the persecution of Baha'is has intensified to include cemetery desecration, arbitrary detention, home raids, property confiscation, work expulsion and denial of basic civil rights. Iranian Baha'i youth continue to be denied the right to higher education, and any university found to have Baha'i students is ordered to expel them. Baha'i professionals are denied government jobs and face discrimination from private businesses because of their faith. Even those who come to their defense are targeted. Shirin Ebadi has come under fire for taking up the case of seven Baha'is listed above. According to the Baha'i International Community, there are currently 47 Baha'is in detention throughout Iran. Baha'is released on bail have been ordered to pay exorbitant amounts. For example, Aziz Samandari and Jinous Sobhani, a former secretary at the Defenders of Human Rights Center, were released on 11 March 2009 on bail of 700 million Rials (approximately $73,000). Didar Raoufi, Payam Aghsani and Nima Haghar were released on the same day and ordered to pay the same amount. Shahrokh Taef was released six days later on 17 March 2009 having paid the same amount in bail. Diane Ala'i, of the Baha'i International Community, told the Campaign that as the Baha'i Faith is classified as an "illegal group," many of the jailed Baha'is "are accused of acting against the country's national security or participation in illegal groups, or teaching the Baha'i Faith." "All Baha'is are in danger of arrest," she said. Source: http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2010/08/overturn-bahai-sentences/ |
| BBC report on sentencing of the Yaran & interview with Shirin Ebadi Posted: 11 Aug 2010 03:48 PM PDT 8 August 2010 Shirin Ebadi's interview with BBC Persian Television Subject: Twenty years' imprisonment for the Yárán. Click here to view the embedded video. Question: Mrs. Ebadi, what is your opinion about the sentence of twenty years' imprisonment? Answer: I was stunned; I have read their case file page by page and did not find anything proving the accusations, nor did I find any document that could prove the claims of the prosecutor. Question: It has been two years since they were imprisoned; has there been such a case before, when the accused is imprisoned for two years, after which he is sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment? Answer: Unfortunately, we are witnessing many extra-judicial procedures in our judicial system in Iran and this is one of them. I have to say that these cases are all against the laws that have been sanctioned by the [Constitution of the] Islamic Republic. Question: What is their crime? Answer: According to the bill of indictment, they have been charged with involvement in activities against the national security through espionage for the United States and Israel. As I have mentioned, I have read every page of their case file and have not found anything proving they were spies or involved in activities against the national security or any other offence that they are accused of. Question: To sentence each one of them to twenty years' imprisonment, the court must have based its judgement on a series of documents; have they not? Answer: Unfortunately, it has been some time since our judicial system has practiced impartiality and it has become the puppet of the interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence. This is why we witness incidents of people being imprisoned for a few years for only writing an article or taking a photograph. My question is if what occurred was not bad, then why was the photographer who recorded that event and sent it [to the media] imprisoned? The same principle applies to these seven individuals; the prosecutor has accused them of being spies of the United States and Israel; however, they have not been able to prove even one incidence of it, or their involvement in activities against the national security; it is not clear what they have done that, according to the prosecutor, was considered activity against the national security. Question: What would be the next step for them? Answer: The next step is to protest this unjust sentence according to the law. Question: Mrs. Ebadi, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P57D26H0hvE |
| Detainment of Behnam Mote’arefi, a Baha’i in Semnan Posted: 11 Aug 2010 03:34 PM PDT Wednesday 13 Mordad 1389 [4 Aug 2010] at 2:45 PM  Behnam Mote'arefi, a Baha'i of Semnan HRANA News – Behnam Mote’arefi, a Baha’i of Semnan, was arrested and taken to Semnan prison to serve his prison term. As reported by HRANA reporters, he was detained last year, was found guilty, and was then sentenced to 18 months of punitive imprisonment, on the charges of propaganda against the regime and membership in the Baha’i administration. In this connection, recently the Review Court of Semnan confirmed the initial order.  Semnan, Iran Mr Mote’arefi was arrested on 27 Ordibehesht of last year [17 May 2009], after his house was searched by Information Ministry officers; he had been freed on bail on 30 Ordibehesht 1388 [20 May 2009]. Translation by Iran Press Watch Source: http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-24-07/3149-1.html |
| International outcry at prison sentences for Iranian Baha’i leaders Posted: 11 Aug 2010 03:21 PM PDT  Governments and human rights organizations around the world have expressed strong concern at reports that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received prison sentences of 20 years. GENEVA — Reports that seven Iranian Baha’i leaders have each received prison sentences of 20 years have been met with condemnation from governments and human rights organizations around the world. Australia, Canada, France, Germany – and the President of the European Parliament – have all expressed strong statements of concern. They are calling for the prisoners to be released on bail, for an annulment of the judgment, and for Iran to demonstrate that the trial was fair and in accordance with international standards. Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, said that his country was “deeply disturbed” by the sentences that were “passed without either written judgments or due process.” He urged Iran to grant bail to the prisoners. Germany described the outcome of the trial as a “massive setback for all those who engage themselves for the promotion of human dignity and human rights in Iran.” Markus Loning, commissioner for human rights and humanitarian aid at Germany’s Foreign Office, said Iran must annul the judgment and “provide a fair and transparent court procedure.” “There are major doubts as to the compliance with the basic legal rights during the judicial proceedings,” he said. France expressed its “consternation” at the 20-year jail term. At a press briefing, Christine Fages, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, stated that Iranian authorities should stop persecuting Baha’is and other religious minorities and “respect the freedom of religion and conscience as defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran has freely signed up.” Australia has also shared its deep concern at the sentences. “We continue to call on Iran to ensure that all trials are  Yaran fair and transparent and are conducted in accordance with Iran’s international obligations,” said a spokesman for the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In a statement issued today, the President of the European Parliament – Jerzy Buzek – called the sentences “a shocking signal and an immense disappointment for all who have hoped for an improvement of the human rights situation in Iran.” “Iran has committed itself to international standards and I underline that this includes also the respect and protection of religious freedom,” he said. International human rights organizations have additionally joined the chorus of protest against the reported prison sentences. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said the sentencing of the Baha’i leaders was “politically motivated, discriminatory, unjust, and illegal under Iranian and international law.” “They have been sentenced for being Baha’is, nothing else, and their incarceration thus expresses a policy of oppression of the Baha’i Faith and its members,” said Aaron Rhodes, spokesperson for the Campaign. Amnesty International described the Baha’i leaders as “prisoners of conscience jailed solely on account of their beliefs or peaceful activities on behalf of the persecuted Baha’i minority.” “The seven were held for months without charge before being subjected to a parody of a trial. They must be immediately released,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa deputy director. In a statement, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI) asked for the Iranian government to “act in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as international human rights instruments ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Human Rights Watch demanded the Iranian judiciary to release the seven immediately “given that no evidence appears to have ever been presented against them, and they have not been given a fair and public trial.” “For more than two years now the Iranian authorities have utterly failed to provide the slightest shred of evidence indicating any basis for detaining these seven Baha’i leaders, let alone sentencing them to 20 years in prison,” said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East division at Human Rights Watch. Iran should take concrete steps that show it is committed to protecting the fundamental rights of Baha’is, said Mr. Stork “The immediate and unconditional release of the seven Baha’i leaders would be a good start,” he said. Diane Ala’i, Baha’i representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the Baha’i International Community deeply appreciates the committed support offered so far by governments and human rights organizations. “These statements demonstrate that increasing numbers of people of all races and religions throughout the world want to see justice done in Iran – not just for the Baha’is but all of its citizens who face gross human rights violations,” said Ms. Ala’i. “For how much longer will the Iranian authorities remain oblivious to these upraised voices?” she said. Source: BWNS http://news.bahai.org/story/787 |
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Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community Part 1
Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community Part 1
Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community Part 1
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