Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

The Amnesty International 2009 human rights report chronicles the persecution of Baha’is in Iran and Egypt during 2008.

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Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia expressed concern that seven Baha’i leaders who have been in prison for more than a year may face death on charges of  “spreading of corruption on earth,” a capital offense in Iran. “Human dignity and freedom must not be made a sidebar as the Administration seeks to engage the Iranians,” Wolf said in his May 21, 2009 testimony.

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On May 25, 2009 the Australian House of Representatives expressed “serious concern” that the detained Baha’is have had no access to legal representation and have not been subject to due legal process. Click here to access the full transcript.

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On May 25, 2009 the presidency of the European Union issued a statement expressing its deep concern about the increasing violation of religious freedom in Iran. The statement reiterates the EU’s concern about seven Iranian Baha’is who were arrested in early 2008.

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Voice of America published an editorial titled “Imprisoned in Iran for religious belief” on May 17, 2009, about religious persecution in Iran.

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The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, made a statement on May 14, 2009, marking the anniversary of the arrest and detention last year of six Baha’i leaders in Iran, who, with another arrested two months earlier, remain in custody.

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The United Kingdom has reiterated its concern for seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran on the first anniversary of their detention in the following statement: UK government renews call for release of detained Baha’is

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CNN International today published the following story: Baha’is say jailed leaders in Iran face harsh new accusation

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Human Rights Watch issued a statement today titled “Iran: Free Baha’i leaders”. The statement calls on the Iranian authorities to release the seven detained Baha’i leaders.

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The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran issued a statement titled “Baha’i Leaders Remain Unjustly Detained After One Year” on the anniversary of the detention of the Baha’i leaders in Iran.

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On May 13, 2009, the National Review Online posted an article titled “An Unfortunate Anniversary in Iran” by Michael Rubin about the anniversary of the imprisonment of the Iranian Baha’i leaders.

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BBC Persian TV included a report on the anniversary of the arrest of Iran’s Baha’i leaders.  The segment on the Baha’is starts 29:10 mins into the broadcast.

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The New Statesman today published an article titled “A bleak future for Baha’is” by Mojan Momen, Iranian author, and academic and Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society.

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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published a report titled “Seven Baha’i Leaders at Risk of Execution” in Farsi on May 12, 2009.

Iran Press Watch has posted a English translation of the report.

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NEW YORK,  May 12, 2009 (BWNS) – The seven Baha’i leaders currently imprisoned in Iran are facing the anniversary of their arrest this Thursday, along with new and extremely grave accusations, after spending a year in jail without formal charges or access to their lawyer, Shirin Ebadi. Continue Reading »

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openDemocracy published an article titled “Iran: a faith on trial” by Bernd Kaussler on April 23, 2009, about the persecution of the Iranian Baha’i community.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released its 2009 annual report today. The persecution of the Baha’is in Iran, and in other countries, is referenced in a number of sections.

• Access a video of the release of the report at the National Press Club

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The Baha’i International Community posted some new information today on its “Iran Update” page about the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran.  The new information is italicized.

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