Baha'i News: International outcry at prison sentences for Iranian Baha'i leaders

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International outcry at prison sentences for Iranian Baha'i leaders

GENEVA, 11 August (BWNS) - Reports that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each 
received prison sentences of 20 years have been met with condemnation from 
governments and human rights organizations around the world.

Australia, Canada, France, Germany - and the President of the European 
Parliament - have all expressed strong statements of concern.

They are calling for the prisoners to be released on bail, for an annulment of 
the judgment, and for Iran to demonstrate that the trial was fair and in 
accordance with international standards.

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, said that his country 
was "deeply disturbed" by the sentences that were "passed without either 
written judgments or due process." He urged Iran to grant bail to the prisoners.

Germany described the outcome of the trial as a "massive setback for all those 
who engage themselves for the promotion of human dignity and human rights in 
Iran."

Markus Loning, commissioner for human rights and humanitarian aid at Germany's 
Foreign Office, said Iran must annul the judgment and "provide a fair and 
transparent court procedure."

"There are major doubts as to the compliance with the basic legal rights during 
the judicial proceedings," he said.

France expressed its "consternation" at the 20-year jail term.

At a press briefing, Christine Fages, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, 
stated that Iranian authorities should stop persecuting Baha'is and other 
religious minorities and "respect the freedom of religion and conscience as 
defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which 
Iran has freely signed up."

Australia has also shared its deep concern at the sentences. "We continue to 
call on Iran to ensure that all trials are fair and transparent and are 
conducted in accordance with Iran's international obligations," said a 
spokesman for the Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and 
Trade.

In a statement issued today, the President of the European Parliament - Jerzy 
Buzek - called the sentences "a shocking signal and an immense disappointment 
for all who have hoped for an improvement of the human rights situation in 
Iran."

"Iran has committed itself to international standards and I underline that this 
includes also the respect and protection of religious freedom," he said.

International human rights organizations have additionally joined the chorus of 
protest against the reported prison sentences.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said the sentencing of the 
Baha'i leaders was "politically motivated, discriminatory, unjust, and illegal 
under Iranian and international law."

"They have been sentenced for being Baha'is, nothing else, and their 
incarceration thus expresses a policy of oppression of the Baha'i Faith and its 
members," said Aaron Rhodes, spokesperson for the Campaign.

Amnesty International described the Baha'i leaders as "prisoners of conscience 
jailed solely on account of their beliefs or peaceful activities on behalf of 
the persecuted Baha'i minority."

"The seven were held for months without charge before being subjected to a 
parody of a trial. They must be immediately released," said Hassiba Hadj 
Sahraoui, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa deputy director.

In a statement, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the 
Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI) asked for the Iranian 
government to "act in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
as well as international human rights instruments ratified by the Islamic 
Republic of Iran."

Human Rights Watch demanded the Iranian judiciary to release the seven 
immediately "given that no evidence appears to have ever been presented against 
them, and they have not been given a fair and public trial."

"For more than two years now the Iranian authorities have utterly failed to 
provide the slightest shred of evidence indicating any basis for detaining 
these seven Baha'i leaders, let alone sentencing them to 20 years in prison," 
said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East division at Human Rights 
Watch.

Iran should take concrete steps that show it is committed to protecting the 
fundamental rights of Baha'is, said Mr. Stork

"The immediate and unconditional release of the seven Baha'i leaders would be a 
good start," he said.

Diane Ala'i, Baha'i representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the 
Baha'i International Community deeply appreciates the committed support offered 
so far by governments and human rights organizations.

"These statements demonstrate that increasing numbers of people of all races 
and religions throughout the world want to see justice done in Iran - not just 
for the Baha'is but all of its citizens who face gross human rights 
violations," said Ms. Ala'i.

"For how much longer will the Iranian authorities remain oblivious to these 
upraised voices?" she said.

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