Amnesty International has condemned the sentencing of Iran’s seven Baha’i leaders to 20 years in jail on a series of politically motivated charges: "This verdict is a sad and damning manifestation of the deeply-rooted discrimination against Baha'is by the Iranian authorities," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa deputy director. "These seven Baha'i leaders, some of whom are elderly, are prisoners of conscience jailed solely on account of their beliefs or peaceful activities on behalf of the persecuted Baha'i minority…”