Baha'i news: U.S.A. joins Netherlands, U.K. and European Union in chorus of condemnation at prison s

[Baha’i World News Service <bwns@bwc.org>]

Baha'i World News Service
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U.S.A. joins Netherlands, U.K. and European Union in chorus of condemnation at 
prison sentences


GENEVA, 13 August (BWNS) — The United States of America has said it "strongly 
condemns" the sentencing of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders to 20 years 
imprisonment.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the act as a "violation of 
Iran's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political 
Rights."

In a statement dated 12 August, Secretary Clinton said that the United States 
is "deeply concerned with the Iranian government's continued persecution of 
Baha'is and other religious minority communities in Iran." 

"Freedom of religion is the birthright of people of all faiths and beliefs in 
all places," she said. 

"The United States is committed to defending religious freedom around the 
world, and we have not forgotten the Baha'i community in Iran." 

"We will continue to speak out against injustice and call on the Iranian 
government to respect the fundamental rights of all its citizens in accordance 
with its international obligations," said Secretary Clinton.

The statement from the United States came as reports reached the Baha'i 
International Community that the seven Baha'i leaders have been transferred 
from Tehran's Evin Prison, where they had been incarcerated for more than two 
years.

They have been taken to Gohardasht Prison - also known as Rajaishahr Prison - 
in Karaj, some 20 kilometers west of the Iranian capital.


Other support

Support for the prisoners has also been expressed by the European Union, in a 
statement made by Baroness Catherine Ashton, the E.U.'s High Representative for 
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. 

"The European Union expresses its serious concern about the sentencing of seven 
Baha'i leaders in Iran to 20 years imprisonment and calls for their immediate 
release," the declaration said. 

"The verdict appears to be based on the defendants belonging to a religious 
minority and the judicial process was seriously flawed, respecting neither 
Iran's international commitments under the International Covenant for Civil and 
Political Rights (ICCPR) nor its national legislation regarding fair trial 
rights." 

"The EU recalls that freedom of thought, conscience and religion are 
fundamental rights which must be guaranteed under all circumstances according 
to article 18 of the ICCPR which the Islamic Republic of Iran has signed up to 
and ratified."

"The EU calls on Iran to put an end to the persecution of the Baha'i 
community," said Baroness Ashton. 

In the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was "appalled" 
to hear of the prison sentences, describing them as a "shocking example of the 
Iranian state's continued discrimination against the Baha'is." 

"It is completely unacceptable," said Mr. Hague in a statement released on 
Wednesday. 

"The Iranian judiciary has repeatedly failed to allay international and 
domestic concerns that these seven men and women are guilty of anything other 
than practicing their faith. It is clear that from arrest to sentencing, the 
Iranian authorities did not follow even their own due process, let alone the 
international standards to which Iran is committed. The accused were denied 
proper access to lawyers, and there is evidence that the trial was neither fair 
nor transparent." 

"I call on the Iranian authorities urgently to consider any appeal against this 
decision, and to cease the harassment of the Baha'i community. I further call 
on the Iranian Government to ensure that the rights of all individuals are 
fully protected, without discrimination, and that it fulfils its obligations to 
its own citizens as set out in the Iranian constitution," said Mr. Hague.

The Netherlands' Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Verhagen, expressed his 
country's concern at "the poor execution of the judicial process in the case of 
the seven Baha'i leaders" and its fears that the arrest and sentence is "based 
solely on discrimination of religious belief." 

"That these people seem to be condemned because of their faith is shocking," 
said Mr. Verhagen. 

"I urge the Iranian authorities to abide by their international human rights 
obligations. The Baha'i leaders have a right to a fair trial and they must be 
released as soon as possible."

Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the President of the European Parliament 
earlier expressed strong statements of concern at news that Iran's seven Baha'i 
leaders have each received prison sentences of 20 years, as reported by the 
Baha'i World News Service on 11 August.


Human rights organizations

Human rights organizations - including Amnesty International, FIDH and Human 
Rights Watch - have issued calls for the prisoners to be released, for the 
judgment to be annulled, and for Iran to demonstrate that the trial was fair 
and in accordance with international standards.

"This is an outrageous miscarriage of justice and one more example of how the 
Iranian regime is a gross violator of human rights and religious freedoms," 
said Leonard Leo, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious 
Freedom. "The prosecutions and sentences are, pure and simple, politically and 
religiously motivated acts, and the Commission calls for the unconditional 
release of these seven individuals."

Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United 
Nations in Geneva said the actions of the Iranian authorities, against 
individuals who are innocent of any crime, represent an "outrageous travesty of 
justice that defies adequate description."

"At every stage of the case - from their illegal detention and the brutal 
conditions of their confinement, through the trial, and now to a completely 
unlawful imprisonment - not even the most basic and fundamental norms of 
justice were respected."

"We welcome the message coming loud and clear from governments and human rights 
organizations throughout the world. It is time for Iran to right the wrongs it 
has done."


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