A third court date has been announced for seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran, the Baha'i International Community has learned.
The trial proceedings – begun on 12 January after the seven had been incarcerated in Tehran's Evin prison for 20 months – will continue on Sunday, 11 April, according to information conveyed orally to their attorneys.
Government-sponsored news media reported that at the first hearing, the seven were charged with espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, the establishment of an illegal...
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Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Geneva—1 March 2010— |
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The UN Human Rights Council focused on the situation in Iran in a session on 15 February at the Palace of Nations, the Geneva headquarters of the United Nations. Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Geneva—15 February 2010—Countries from around the world have voiced strong concern at the United Nations Human Rights Council over Iran's deteriorating human rights record.
In speeches yesterday and in documents filed with the Council, nations and human rights groups described the degree to which Iran has failed to live up to its obligations under international human rights law.
"The good news is that governments and organizations are rallying to defend innocent Iranians, who have over the last year seen their human rights so gravely violated," said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International... Read more . . . |
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Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Geneva—7 February 2010—
Seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders appeared in court today in Iran for a second session of their trial.
The session was once again closed, and family members were not permitted in the courtroom, the Baha'i International Community has learned.
The hearing, which lasted just over one hour, does not seem to have gone beyond procedural issues. No date was given for any future sessions.
The seven were arrested nearly two years ago and have been held in Tehran's Evin prison since that time, spending the first year there without formal charges or... |
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Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
New York—1 February 2010—
The Baha'i International Community has issued a statement condemning the trial of 16 individuals in Iran yesterday as a "violation of all internationally accepted standards of legal due process."
The statement highlights the lack of proper legal representation for the defendants and the use of unreliable "confessions" in the trial. One of the 16 on trial is a Baha'i.
"The use of coerced 'confessions' and the denial of adequate legal representation reflect the Iranian authorities' growing assault on human rights," said Bani Dugal,... |
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The Committee of Human Rights Reporters has published these photographs and identified the individuals as among the 10 Baha’is, including two married couples, arrested on 3 January. Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
New York—1 February 2010—Concern is growing over the lack of information about the status of 10 Baha'is who were arrested earlier this month in Iran.
In addition to worry about their safety, there are fears that charges against these 10 will be used to create false evidence in court against the seven Baha'i leaders who have been held since 2008 and whose trial is set to resume on 7 February.
"Our concern is that in the absence of any evidence against the seven leaders, the authorities may be attempting to build a case by perhaps forcing these newly arrested Baha'is to 'confess' that they were involved in organizing... Read more . . . |
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Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Geneva—1 February 2010—
Iranian authorities have notified the lawyers of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders that the next session of their trial will be held on 7 February, the Baha'i International Community learned today.
At their first court appearance, held 12 January in Tehran, the charges were read to the seven, who categorically denied the accusations.
"While we know little about what actually took place inside the court, we can now say for certain that these seven innocent Baha'is stood up and firmly rejected all of the charges against them," said Diane Ala... |
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Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Geneva—13 January 2010—
Iran's decision to begin the trial yesterday of seven Baha'i leaders has triggered a strong international reaction, including a call by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi for their immediate release and ultimate acquittal.
"If justice is to be carried out and an impartial judge should investigate the charges leveled against my clients, no other verdict can be reached save that of acquittal," said Mrs. Ebadi, in comments posted on WashingtonTV, a Web-based news service in the United States.
Mrs. Ebadi, who is one of the lawyers for the seven,... |
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The seven Baha'is who went on trial today were, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet. They were photographed several months before their arrest in 2008. Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Geneva—12 January 2010—The trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial was marked by numerous violations of legal due process.
After about three hours, the hearing ended. Authorities indicated that today’s proceeding was merely the “first session,” and no date for future sessions was given.
"We understand that no observers were allowed in the court," said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. "We find this completely outrageous, given that these seven have been held purely because of their religious... Read more . . . |
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Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Geneva—7 January 2010—
The Baha'i International Community today categorically rejected new allegations by the Iranian government that arms and ammunition were found in the homes of Baha'is who were arrested in Tehran last Sunday.
"This is nothing less than a blatant lie," said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. "Baha'is are by the most basic principles of their faith committed to absolute nonviolence, and any charge that there might have been weapons or 'live rounds' in their homes is simply and... |
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The seven Baha'i "leaders" scheduled to go on trial on 12 January are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet. They were photographed several months before their arrest in the spring of 2008. Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Geneva—6 January 2010—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.
"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," said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva. "And now, in these days leading to the trial, there are signs that once again the Baha'is are being made scapegoats.
"Rather than... Read more . . . |
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