Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

WASHINGTON — Today, August 15, Mr. Hassan Haddad of Tehran’s prosecutor office confirmed that the trial of seven Baha’i leaders falsely accused of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic,” will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009. The Bahá’í International Community categorically denies all the charges, at least one of which carries the death penalty in the Islamic Republic.

The lead lawyers registered with the court to represent the Baha’is, including Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani and the Nobel laureate Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, are either in prison or outside the country. According to Mr. Haddad’s publicized statements, the seven standing trial will have new attorneys appointed for them.

The announcement was first published by IRNA, Iran’s official news agency.

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