Baha'i News: Open letter speaks out for the rights of all Iranians

[Rob Weinberg <rweinber@bwc.org>]

>Bahai World News Service

>http://news.bahai.org

>For more information, contact news@bahai.org

Open letter speaks out for the rights of all Iranians

NEW YORK, 7 December (BWNS) - In an open letter to the head of Iran's 
Judiciary, the Baha'i International Community today contrasted the 
country's persecution of Baha'is with Iran's own call for Muslim 
minorities to be treated fairly in other countries.

"We...request that the Baha'is in that country be granted their full 
rights of citizenship, in order that they may be able to fulfill 
their heartfelt aspiration to contribute, alongside their fellow 
citizens, to the advancement of their nation," says the letter.

"This, indeed, is no more than what you rightfully ask for Muslim 
minorities who reside in other lands. Baha'is merely seek the same 
treatment from you," the Baha'i International Community states.

Respecting the rights of Iranian Baha'is now would "signal a 
willingness to respect the rights of all the citizens of your 
country," the letter says.

The document, dated 7 December and addressed to Ayatollah Mohammad 
Sadeq Larijani, states that the injustices meted out on Iran's Baha'i 
citizens are a "reflection of the terrible oppression that has 
engulfed the nation." Redressing the wrongs suffered by the Baha'is 
would "bring hope to the hearts of all Iranians that you are ready to 
ensure justice for everyone."

"Our call, then, is in reality a call for respect of the rights of 
all the Iranian people," the Baha'i International Community says.

"How can a just society, or a just world, be built on a foundation of 
irrational oppression and the systematic denial of basic human rights 
to any minority? Everything your country overtly professes to seek on 
the world stage is contradicted by your treatment of your own people 
at home."

>"Reprehensible measures"

The letter catalogs in detail the "many reprehensible measures" 
resorted to by officials during the detention, trial, sentencing and 
appeal, of the seven Baha'i leaders, who formerly served as the 
members of a national-level group that - with the Iranian 
government's knowledge - helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of 
the Baha'is of Iran.

The seven were accused of propaganda activities against the Islamic 
order and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other 
allegations. All the charges were categorically denied.

The letter charts how the prosecutors at the trial of the seven were 
"ultimately unable to present any credible evidence in support of 
their claims." The trial, it observes, "was so devoid of the 
impartiality that must characterize judicial proceedings as to render 
the process a complete mockery."  "How was it," the letter asks in 
this respect, "that the verdict issued by the judges could refer to 
the religion of the defendants as a 'misguided sect'?"

"...what is now starkly visible to all is the willingness of the 
authorities to trample the very standards of justice they are 
mandated to uphold on behalf of the peoples of Iran," the open letter 
states.

Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International 
Community to the United Nations says that there was never any 
foundation to the charges that the seven had acted against the 
interest of Iran.

"To add to this manifest injustice, the judiciary has not yet 
formalized the appeal verdict," says Ms. Dugal, "thus depriving the 
prisoners of the right to seek bail or to be granted leave from 
prison."

"In defiance of all reason, the prisoners are now in the third year 
of what is still termed a 'temporary' detention," she says.

>Appalling conditions

After receiving their sentence, the seven Baha'i leaders - Fariba 
Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash 
Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - were moved from Evin 
Prison to Gohardasht prison in Karaj.

"They are now effectively placed in exile in contravention of Iran's 
statutes governing the transfer of prison inmates," says Bani Dugal. 
"Amongst other indignities, they are forced to endure appalling 
filth, pestilence, exposure to disease, and quarters so crammed that 
it is difficult for them to lie down or even to perform their daily 
prayers."

"It is clear from recent reports that their health has deteriorated 
and they have no access to adequate medical treatments," she said.

Reports of the trial and sentencing of the seven provoked a chorus of 
condemnation from governments around the world. The European Union 
and the President of the European Parliament also joined the protest, 
along with prominent religious leaders, numerous human rights 
organizations, and countless other groups and individuals.

"We join with governments and well-meaning people throughout the 
world, as we call upon Iran's Head of the Judiciary to immediately 
set these seven innocent Baha'is - and, along with them, all of the 
Baha'is incarcerated across the country - free," said Ms. Dugal.

To read the article, and the open letter in English and Persian, go 
to:
http://news.bahai.org/story/801