IRANIAN Behrouz Tavakkoli is a father of two, psychologist, carpenter and social worker. He has spent much of his adult life working with the physically and mentally handicapped -- "a real angel", in the words of his brother, Amin. He is also a follower of the Baha'i faith, which is effectively a crime under the theocratic dictatorship that rules Iran. Last week, Mr Tavakkoli and six other Baha'i leaders were sentenced to 20 years each in jail after being convicted by an Iranian court of the offences of "insulting religious sanctities", "propaganda against the system" and spying for Israel. Amin Tavakkoli was at home in suburban Adelaide, where he has lived since fleeing Iran in 1984, when he heard the news of his brother's conviction. "It was really a shock for us, for all the Baha'i community, because everybody knows that they are innocent, and I'm sure the regime in Iran knows they are innocent," he said. "Their arrest was not just, keeping them in prison was not just, and was against the laws of the country." …
Brother’s pain over Iran jailing
The Australian
21 August 2010
Link to article:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/brothers-pain-over-iran-jailing/story-fn59niix-1225907979115