Feb08
Second closed session in trial of Iranian Bahá’í leaders held on February 7
Seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders appeared in court yesterday in Iran for the second closed session of their trial.
Family members were not permitted into the courtroom and the hearing, which lasted just over one hour, does not seem to have gone beyond procedural issues. No date was given for any future sessions.
The seven defendants—Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm—were arrested nearly two years ago and have been held in Tehran’s Evin prison since that time, spending the first year there without formal charges or access to lawyers.
After several postponements, their trial officially began on January 12, when the seven were arraigned in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
That session was also closed to the public, but accounts in government-sponsored news media said the defendants were formally charged with espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and corruption on earth. All the charges have been categorically denied.
- Read more from Baha’i World News Service
- News media coverage: Washington TV
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