Baha'i News: Grave concern for safety of Iran's imprisoned Baha'i leaders

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Grave concern for safety of Iran's imprisoned Baha'i leaders


NEW YORK, 15 February 2011 (BWNS) – Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders have 
been transferred to more brutal sections of their prison complex.  

In the case of the two Baha'i women, the circumstances of the move have raised 
concerns that it may have been orchestrated as a means of creating an insecure 
environment that threatens their lives. 

The Baha'i International Community has learned that one of them – Fariba 
Kamalabadi – has already been physically threatened by inmates since being sent 
to the notorious Section 200 of Gohardasht Prison.

"Apparently, the atmosphere is highly charged in this section, and there is a 
great deal of tension and animosity among the inmates," said Bani Dugal, the 
principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United 
Nations.

Mrs. Kamalabadi was transferred to Section 200 on Saturday 12 February, along 
with Mahvash Sabet.

"It is difficult to be certain about the reason for the move," said Ms. Dugal. 
"However we believe that, since their arrival at Gohardasht, the Baha'i women – 
despite their own extremely challenging situation – have nonetheless been a 
constant source of comfort and hope to other inmates. The prison authorities 
apparently became alarmed that the two women began to receive signs of respect 
from a growing number of prisoners. As a justification for the increased harsh 
treatment, the authorities accused the two of teaching the Baha'i Faith." 

Throughout their entire imprisonment, added Ms. Dugal, the two women have 
conducted themselves in a spirit of service to others. In early 2009, for 
example, they shared a cell at Evin prison with Iranian-Japanese-American 
journalist Roxana Saberi, who later wrote that they had helped her through her 
ordeal.
 
Last week, a general announcement was made to all prisoners that they were not 
to have any contact with the two Baha'i women. Undeterred, however, fellow 
inmates continued to seek them out. 

"After the women were transferred, a number of prisoners made their way 
downstairs to visit them in their new quarters, despite efforts by the guards 
to restrain them," said Ms. Dugal.

Mrs. Kamalabadi and Mrs. Sabet were told that - prior to the move - the inmates 
in Section 200 had been "warned" about them, she said.


Harsh and unsanitary conditions

The seven Baha'i leaders were sent to Gohardasht prison, 20 kilometers west of 
Tehran, in August last year. Having previously been incarcerated in Tehran's 
Evin prison without charge for 20 months, they were accused of espionage and 
the establishment of an illegal administration among other allegations. All the 
charges were denied. After a brief trial, they were sentenced to 10 years in 
prison. 

While Gohardasht is infamous for its harsh and unsanitary conditions, the 
Baha'i prisoners were at first kept segregated from some of the more violent 
elements at the complex. They also had relatively frequent access to outdoor 
exercise areas.

But over the past few weeks, all seven of them have been moved from the 
quarters they originally occupied into sections where conditions are much worse.

The five men were transferred three weeks ago to a wing set aside for political 
prisoners, known as Section 4, which is more crowded and reportedly under close 
surveillance. They are now suffering severe physical deprivations.

"Three of them are together in one cell, with the other two sharing another 
cell," said Ms. Dugal. "There are two beds in each cell, so one of them has to 
sleep on the floor."

"The inmates in this part of the prison are able to go outside for fresh air 
only at designated times, whereas previously they could do so whenever they 
wished," said Ms. Dugal.


Appeal to governments

"In our open letter of 7 December 2010 to the head of Iran's judiciary, we 
stressed that such an odious and degrading environment is unworthy of even the 
most dangerous criminals," said Ms. Dugal.

"We say to the Iranian government once again – does it believe the principles 
of Islamic compassion and justice to be consistent with the imposition of such 
conditions on innocent citizens?"

"We continue to call upon governments and people of good-will throughout the 
world to take whatever action they can to impress upon the Iranian government 
that its actions are being watched, and that it will be held responsible for 
the safety of these and the more than 50 other Baha'is who are imprisoned 
throughout Iran," said Ms. Dugal.


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http://news.bahai.org/story/807

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