Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

On January 27, the Baha’i World News Service published the following article concerning the “lack of information about the status of 10 Baha’is who were arrested earlier this month in Iran.” From the article: In addition to worry about their safety, there are fears that charges against these 10 will be used to create false [...]

Iranian authorities have notified the lawyers of seven imprisoned Bahá’í leaders that the next session of their trial will be held on February 7, 2010, the Bahá’í International Community announced today. After 20 months in prison, with limited access to their attorneys, the defendants— Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid [...]

The trial of seven Iranian Baha’i leaders, which began January 12,  has drawn widespread attention from the international community. According to a Baha’i World News Service article published today, public statements of concern on behalf of the seven have been issued by the governments of Brazil, Canada, India, the United States, and by the European [...]

The following is an update from the Baha’i World News Service regarding the trial of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran, which commenced on January 12, 2010. 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 [...]

On Saturday, January 9, 2010, the Baha’i World News Service published the following article in response to Iran’s allegations, published in recent news reports, that “arms and ammunition were found in the homes of Baha’is who were arrested in Tehran last Sunday.” The Baha’i International Community today categorically rejected new allegations by the Iranian government [...]

A recent state-sponsored media campaign falsely accusing Baha’i in Iran of inciting the latest wave of protests in that country has raised grave concern about the fate of seven Baha’i leaders who are expected to go on trial next Tuesday, January 12. “Over the past several days, Iranian state-sponsored media have accused the Baha’i of [...]

Today, the U.N. General Assembly issued a strong condemnation of human rights violations in Iran, including violations against Baha’is. The resolution, which was approved in the Third Committee of the U.N. General assembly by a vote of 74-48, expressed “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran” [...]

Although the trial of seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran for more than 17 months was scheduled for today, when attorneys and families arrived at the court offices in Tehran they were told it would not take place. No new trial date was given. Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community’s representative to the United Nations [...]

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday expressed strong criticism of Iran’s human rights record, voicing concern about the use of excessive force after Iran’s presidential election, the harassment of women’s rights activists, the ongoing execution of juveniles, and the continued persecution of minorities, including Baha’is. In a 19-page report written specifically to address a request [...]

The trial of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran, which, following previous postponements, was most recently scheduled to take place on Oct. 18, 2009, will likely be delayed again. No future trial date is known at this time. Although family members of the seven Baha’i prisoners have not been informed of any change to the trial [...]

GENEVA — The trial of seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran has been postponed until October 18, 2009, the Baha’i International Community learned today. According to Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva, following a request for postponement of the trial from Mr. Hadi Elsmaielzadeh and Ms. Mahnaz Parakand [...]

The seven Baha’i leaders, with spouses, before their arrest in Spring 2008. Photo courtesy of Baha’i World News Service. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following last week’s show trial of post-election protesters in Iran, seven Baha’i leaders face yet another failure of legal due process as they prepare to stand trial Aug. 18, 2009, on a series [...]

The Baha’i International Community issued the following statement in support of the planned Global Day of Action for the advancement of human rights in Iran. On 25 July 2009, in more than 80 cities around the globe, well-wishers of the people of Iran will mark a Global Day of Action “to demand respect for the [...]

On July 15, 2009, Voice of America published the following editorial calling for the release of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bi-partisan government body known as USCIRF, is calling for the release of 7 leaders of Iran’s Baha’i community who have been imprisoned for over a year. [...]

From Baha’i World News Service: Iranian officials have reportedly told families of the seven Baha’i leaders currently held in Evin prison in Tehran that their trial has been delayed. No new trial date was given. Held for more than a year, the seven were reportedly to have been tried on Saturday, although this information, too, [...]

On June 9, 2009, Iran Press Watch published English translations of several updates on the situation of the Baha’is in Iran. The updates were originally published in Farsi by the Baha’i World News Service.

GENEVA — April 19, 2009 (BWNS) – The Baha’i International Community joined two human rights organizations in calling on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to address discrimination in his own country when he speaks this week at the conference known as Durban II.

Stating that “what is at stake is the very cause of the freedom of conscience for all the peoples of your nation” the Baha’i International Community addressed the Prosecutor General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in an open letter dated March 4, 2009. The letter was a response to his February 15, 2009 statement [...]

Members of the national coordinating group of the Iranian Baha’i community arrested in spring 2008 The Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) announced today that charges had been laid against the seven imprisoned members of the national-level committee that coordinates the activities for the Iranian Baha’i community. The report quoted deputy Tehran prosecutor Hassan Haddad as [...]

The Baha’i World News Service has put out a statement about the arrest of six Baha’is in Iran: GENEVA, 15 January (BWNS) – At least six Baha’is were arrested in Iran yesterday, including a woman who worked at human rights organizations connected with Nobel prize winner Shirin Ebadi.