A prayer request

As some of you may know, the Baha'i Community has been under severe and sustained persecution since its inception in the 1800s in Iran. I wrote my senior thesis in university on the use of the Baha'i community by the Iranian government as an "other" in geo-political theory. That means, everytime things start going awry for the government they employ the spectre of the Baha'is as an evil to rally the people around the flag again. Recently, they have also used, women, liberals, and students in the same manner. I'm not sure who they think is going to be left to come to the flag raising with them. 

At any rate, this is this morning's headline and regardless of your faith or convictions, i'm asking you to say a prayer for protection of these people who did nothing wrong. Our faith promotes justice, unity and following our governments.

GENEVA, 12 January (BWNS) – The trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial is marked by numerous violations of legal due process.

"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 beliefs, in total contradiction to any human rights standards.

"We understand that even the lawyers had to argue their way inside the court – lawyers who in any case had virtually no access to the accused for nearly two years.

"At the same time, the prisoners' interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence and a film crew were seen going in, raising questions about the nature of the trial," she said.

Ms. Ala'i also noted that an Iranian Web site linked to state-run television posted a story Monday evening announcing that the trial had already begun and listing the same baseless accusations made in the past against the seven.

"In any event, all of these accounts point to a trial that is highly irregular, very similar to the show trials that have been held in Iran in recent months," she said.

The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.

All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have been held in Tehran's Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there without formal charges or any access to lawyers.

"Whatever happens, it is clear that the trial of these seven innocent people represents the trial of an entire religious community, and is an attempt to further intimidate and ostracize all Iranian Baha'is simply because they hold a different religious viewpoint from those in power."

To view the article with photograph, go to: http://news.bahai.org/story/748

For the Baha’i World News Service home page, go to: http://news.bahai.org/

Additionally, the US Dept of State released this:
Persecution of Religious Minorities in Iran

Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, Washington, DC, January 11, 2010

The United States strongly condemns the Iranian government’s decision to commence the espionage trial against seven leaders of the Iranian Baha’i community: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mr. Vahid Tizfahm and Mrs. Mahvash Sabet. Authorities have detained these persons for more than 20 months, without making public any evidence against them and giving them little access to legal counsel. Reports indicate as many as 48 Baha’i are currently imprisoned in Iran solely on the basis of their religious beliefs. The Government of Iran is responsible for their safety while they are in prison.

These persons are entitled to due process. The right to a fair and public hearing is embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Iran's constitution provides the right to legal representation in criminal cases, as does the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party. In addition, the right to freedom of belief and conscience is enshrined in both the UDHR and ICCPR.

We are deeply concerned about Iran's ongoing persecution of Baha'is and treatment of other members of religious minorities who continue to be targeted solely on the basis of their beliefs.

We join the international community in urging the Iranian authorities to release all religious minorities who are currently in detention for peacefully exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms.