wfn.org | Baha'i News: Trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders postponed

["Brad Pokorny" <bradpokorny@comcast.net>]

Trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders postponed

>Baha'i World News Service

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Trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders postponed

GENEVA, 17 August 2009 (BWNS) - The trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned
in Iran has been postponed until 18 October, the Baha'i International
Community learned today.

According to Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community representative
to the United Nations in Geneva, following a request for postponement of the
trial from Mr. Hadi Esmaielzadeh and Ms. Mahnaz Parakand - attorneys from
the Defenders of Human Rights Center who are representing the seven Baha'is
- the court has decided to delay the hearing for two months. 

Two senior members of the legal team, Nobel laureate Mrs. Shirin Ebadi and
Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani, were unable to attend the hearing as Mrs. Ebadi is
out of the country and Mr. Soltani is in prison, having been detained on 16
June 2009 in the wake of the civil unrest following the presidential
election in Iran.

"Our hope now is that our seven innocent co-religionists will be released on
bail," said Ms. Ala'i. 

The seven Baha'i prisoners are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin
Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz
Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All but one of the group were arrested on
14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March
2008 while in Mashhad. They have since been held at Tehran's Evin prison
without formal charges or access to their lawyers.

Official Iranian news accounts have said the seven are to be accused of
"espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against
the Islamic republic."

The Baha'i International Community categorically rejects all charges against
the seven, stating that they are held solely because of religious
persecution.

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