wfn.org | Baha'i news: Date set for seven Baha'i leaders' next court session

[Sally Weeks <sweeks@bwc.org>]

>Baha'i World News Service
>http://news.bahai.org
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Date set for seven Baha'i leaders' next court session

GENEVA, 20 January (BWNS) - Iranian authorities have notified the lawyers o f seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders that the next session of their trial will  be held on 7 February, the Baha'i International Community learned today.

At their first court appearance, held 12 January in Tehran, the charges wer e read to the seven, who categorically denied the accusations.

"While we know little about what actually took place inside the court, we c an now say for certain that these seven innocent Baha'is stood up and firml y rejected all of the charges against them," said Diane Ala'i of the Baha'i  International Community.

"We can also say that, based on the international outcry that accompanied t he first session of their trial, the world is watching this proceeding clos ely and that the Iranian government will be held accountable for any injust ices," she said.

The charges against the seven, according to accounts in government-sponsore d news media, were: espionage, "propaganda activities against the Islamic o rder," the establishment of an "illegal administration," cooperation with I srael, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the sec urity of the country, and "corruption on earth."

The seven defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, M r. 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 Teh ran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have be en held in Tehran's Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there  without formal charges or any access to lawyers.

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