wfn.org | Baha'i news: Third court session held for Baha'i leaders in Iran

[Sally Weeks <sweeks@bwc.org>]

>Baha'i World News Service
>http://news.bahai.org
>For more information, contact: news@bahai.org<mailto:news@bahai.org

Third court session held for Baha'i leaders in Iran

GENEVA, 12 April (BWNS) - The seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders were  
called to court today in Tehran for a third session in their trial. The hea 
ring was again closed, and no details are available.

"We know that a session did take place, but we do not have any specific inf 
ormation from reliable sources," said Diane Ala'i, the representative of th e 
Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.

"These seven innocent Baha'is will soon enter their third year of imprisonm 
ent," she said. "At the very least, they should have been released on bail  
pending the outcome of the tortuous judicial process they have been subject ed 
to. This is unacceptable in light of international human rights law."

The seven have been held in Tehran's Evin prison since they were arrested i n 
2008. No court hearing was held until 12 January this year when they appe ared 
in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court and charges were read.

Accusations include espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic or 
der, and "corruption on earth."

A second court session on 7 February was largely procedural.

The seven defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, M r. 
Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli , and 
Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 and the ot hers on 
14 May 2008.

They have categorically denied all the charges.

For the Baha'i World News Service home page, go to: http://news.bahai.org