Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

On Friday, July 2, BBC News covered the recent demolition of 50 Baha’i homes in Ivel, a small village in northern Iran. The report also included a summary of the history of Baha’i persecution in Iran, as well as the inconclusive trial of seven Baha’i leaders who have been imprisoned in Tehran for more than [...]

Baha’i World News Service – The trial of seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran seems to have come to a conclusion after three days of successive court hearings. The seven appeared in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on the morning of Saturday, 12 June and returned to [...]

Baha’i World News Service — On a global day of action highlighting human rights abuses in Iran, the European Union and the Prime Minister of Canada issued strong statements calling for Iran to respect international law. In a declaration made on behalf of the European Union, its High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, [...]

Baha’i World News Service (New Delhi) — On the eve of the fourth court hearing for Iran’s seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders, voices are being raised around the world for them to be freed. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Delhi has addressed Iran’s Supreme Leader calling for the release of the seven, “or at the very [...]

On June 10, U.S. Representatives Frank Wolf and Mark Kirk submitted statements to the Congressional Record, calling for renewed support of seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders in the days preceding their next court session, which is expected to occur on Saturday, June 12 in Tehran. “The U.S. and the rest of the free world must continue [...]

Baha’i World News Service— The  seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran are scheduled to make their fourth court appearance on 12 June, according to the latest update provided by the Baha’i International Community. The date coincides with the first anniversary of last year’s contested presidential election in Iran, as well [...]

While in Washington, D.C.,  last week, American journalist Roxana Saberi described meeting two Iranian Baha’is during her 100-day incarceration in Evin prison, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. From the article… At the Northern Virginia Baha’i Center and at a discussion at the National Press Club last week, Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi recounted her 100 [...]

On May 28, 2010, the Committee on International Freedom of Scientists of the American Physical Society wrote a letter to Iran’s Minister of Education, Dr. Hamid Reza Haji Babaie, expressing concern over the country’s systematic denial of higher education to Baha’i students. From the letter: Denying anyone access to education based upon their personal convictions [...]

On Monday, May 17, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published the following article about the two-year anniversary of the arrest of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran. Accompanying the story is a video chronicling a photo campaign initiated by the human rights group United4Iran, advocating for the release and fair trail of the seven Baha’i leaders. From [...]

On Thursday, May 14, spokesman Philip J. Crowley of the U.S. Department of State issued the following statement condemning the continued incarceration of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran. The United States is deeply concerned about the ongoing persecution of Baha’is and other religious minority communities in Iran. Today marks the second anniversary of the imprisonment [...]

On Friday, May 14, The Washington Times published the following article on the two-year anniversary of the arrest seven Baha’i leaders in Iran. From the article… Two years ago to date, the top leaders of the Baha’i movement in Iran were enjoying the last peaceful morning they would see in a long time. While in [...]

Today the Iranian-American journalist who spent 100-days imprisoned in Iran, again mentioned the persecution of the Baha’is of Iran in an op-ed published in The Washington Post on May 13. From the article… If the international community fails to condemn such atrocities, Iran’s regime will continue to trample on the basic rights of individuals, many [...]

This Friday, May 14, marks the two-year anniversary of the arrest of seven Iranian Baha’i leaders on a series of false charges stemming from their membership with the minority Baha’i Faith. They are still in prison today. The seven defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash [...]

On Wednesday, April 21, the Chicago Tribune published the following article about journalist Roxana Saberi speaking at Northwestern University in Chicago to promote her new book, “Between Two Worlds.” From the Chicago Tribune… In prison, Saberi shared a cell with two women who were persecuted for their Baha’i beliefs. Saberi said she found the strength [...]

In an interview with Marco Werman on PRI’s The World, journalist Roxana Saberi describes how she used music to pass the time during her 10o-day imprisonment in Tehran. Among this music, which is recorded on her new CD, is a Baha’i piece Saberi sang while imprisoned with two of the seven Baha’i leaders, Fariba Kamalabadi [...]

Baha’i World News Service–Details are emerging from yesterday’s court appearance [on April 12] in Tehran of seven imprisoned Iranian Baha’i leaders. The Baha’i International Community has learned that when the prisoners arrived at the court, their families were not allowed to enter, signaling a closed hearing. Inside the courtroom, however, the prisoners saw numerous officials [...]

Baha’i World News Service–The seven imprisoned Iranian Baha’i leaders were called to court today, April 12, in Tehran for a third session in their trial. The hearing was again closed, and no details are available. “We know that a session did take place, but we do not have any specific information from reliable sources,” said [...]

The Baha’i World News Service–The Baha’i International Community has learned that there was a miscommunication as to the date of the trial of seven Iranian Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Tehran. A court session believed to have been scheduled for today is set for Monday, 12 April.

A musical compilation created by Roxana Saberi to accompany the release of her new book, “Between Two Worlds,” includes a Baha’i hymn, according to an article published in The Concordian, the campus newspaper at her alma mater. Saberi graduated from Concordia College in 1997, where she returned after her release from Iran to record a [...]

Baha’i World News Service – A third session of the court proceedings against seven imprisoned Iranian Baha’i leaders is scheduled for tomorrow, April 10,  in Tehran. It is unknown whether the hearing – scheduled in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court – will be open to families of the defendants and other observers. The first [...]