continuing worldwide support to the seven Baha'i leaders in Iran to prison while one of them begins his fourth year of detention.
Mahvash Sabet, school teacher and mother of two children, was put in prison March 5, 2008 and was held in solitary confinement for 175 days.
On May 14, 2008, were arrested six prominent Iranian Baha'is. After 20 months of detention without charge in Evin prison in Tehran, seven were in court accused of espionage and of having formed an administration illegal and other faults. All charges were dismissed. They are now serving 10 years in prison in the infamous prison Gohardasht.
The recent transfer of prisoners in a wing of the prison has prompted tighter some human rights organizations to express again its concerns. Amnesty International of the United States has asked its members to send to the seven Baha'i and other prisoners of conscience Iranian greeting cards for the upcoming Persian New Year.
'Grave concern'
Last month, a joint statement issued by three major organizations called on the international community to take urgent action for the release of seven.
"The transfer and deteriorating detention conditions lead us to believe that the welfare and lives of Baha'i leaders in prison are at risk and prolonged arbitrary detention is a sign of immediate danger that requires an urgent response, "said the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Iranian League for Human Rights (LDDHI) and the Center for Human Rights Defenders (DHRC).
dall'FIDH In a press release issued February 18, the Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi has reminded the international community that "the prisoners have not had a fair trial and the extension of their arbitrary detention is very worrying."
"I ask once again for their immediate release and the cessation of all harassment of the Baha'i community," said Ms. Ebadi, who is also a member of the group of lawyers who defend seven Bahais.
also Minority Rights Group International (MRGI) published a report stating that "the size of the repression against minority groups in Iran is a central but underestimated in the new battle for democracy" and that "the persecution of the Bahai 'i is the strongest among the persecution of minorities in Iran.
"The informal leadership of the Iranian Baha'i community, which has been in prison since 2008, was sentenced in 2010 to ten years in prison on charges of conspiring against the Islamic Republic and even their lawyers ... have been subject to harassment, arrests and attacks, "said the statement.
On 23 February, il segretario di stato americano Hilary Clinton ha espresso profonda preoccupazione per «la persecuzione di cittadini iraniani per mano del loro governo...»
«I dirigenti iraniani continuano a perseguitare anche altre minoranze etniche e religiose», ha detto il segretario Clinton.
«Ci preoccupa la notizia che, delle decine di prigionieri messi a morte nel 2011, la maggior parte appartengono a minoranze religiose. Inoltre, i baha’i e altre minoranze religiose continuano a essere soggetti ad arresti e processi arbitrari e a sentenze molto dure e a essere detenuti in condizioni di insicurezza. Invitiamo l’Iran a liberare tutti i prigionieri politici e le minoranze perseguitate... Il mondo continuerà a osservare e chiederà account those responsible for these actions, "the secretary said Clinton.
The indictment and sentencing of the seven directors was also mentioned in the World Report published in January of 2011 by Human Rights Watch, a human rights group based in the United States. "The government accused them of spying without any evidence and rejected their lawyers' request to hold a speedy and fair trial," the report said.
Greetings for Persian New Year
Amnesty International of the United States has asked its members to send greeting cards for the Persian New Year to the seven detained Baha'i leaders.
Amnesty says that "Nowruz", which means "new day" is an ancient Persian festival celebrated on the first day of spring and the advent of the new year.
"In this Nowruz want to remember many courageous prisoners of conscience in Iran with our best wishes for Nowruz," says the organization.
Speaking of the seven Baha'i leaders, Amnesty International wrote: "Although they have done nothing but peacefully practice their religion, they were charged with serious accusations, totally unfounded, as" spying for Israel, "" insulting the sanctity of religion "and" propaganda against the system "."
The group also suggested to send postcards to seven other prisoners of conscience, which reproduce scenes "in harmony with the spirit of the festival and its message of hope and renewal."
"We appreciate the support of Amnesty International of the United States," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
'The dissemination of this information by Amnesty and other groups, along with expressions of concern by governments and international organizations, are the main protection and comfort to these and other innocent prisoners who are deprived of their rights in Iran 'he said.
Baha'i World News
Photo: human rights organizations from around the world have spoken out about the sentencing to 10 years received by Iran to the seven Baha'i leaders, as well as their recent move to more severe prison conditions. In a recent statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: "We call on Iran to release all political prisoners and persecuted minorities ..."
Julio Savi
Press
http://www.baha 'i.it /
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