wfn.org | Baha'i News: Fourth court date for imprisoned Baha'i leaders set for 12 June

[Rob Weinberg <rweinber@bwc.org>]

>Baha'i World News Service
>http://news.bahai.org
>For more information, contact: news@bahai.org

FOURTH COURT DATE FOR IMPRISONED BAHA'I LEADERS SET FOR 12 JUNE

GENEVA, 1 June 2010 (BWNS) - The seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned for more t han 
two years in Iran are scheduled to make their fourth court appearance o n 12 
June, the Baha'i International Community has learned.

The date coincides with the first anniversary of last year's contested pres 
idential election in Iran, as well as a global day of action aimed at calli ng 
attention to human rights abuses in that country.

The trial of the seven began on 12 January after they had been incarcerated  
without charge in Tehran's Evin prison for 20 months.

At the first hearing, held in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehra n, 
the Baha'is categorically denied charges of espionage, propaganda activi ties 
against the Islamic order, and "corruption on earth," among other alle gations.

A second appearance on 7 February was concerned mainly with procedural issu es.

The third session on 12 April, which was purportedly a closed hearing, was  
adjourned after the seven - with the agreement of their attorneys - refused  to 
be party to the proceedings because of the presence of nonjudicial pers onnel.

"To have spectators, including a film crew, in a supposedly closed hearing  
while denying entry to the defendants' families was unacceptable," said Dia ne 
Ala'i, Baha'i representative to the United Nations in Geneva. "There wou ld be 
no objection if the trial were to be open and conducted in accordance  with 
international standards."

"In the court sessions held so far, no evidence of wrongdoing has been pres 
ented. As their lawyers have confirmed, the defendants are completely innoc ent 
and are being persecuted solely for their religious belief," Ms. Ala'i  said.

"The Iranian government should know that its actions against these innocent  
citizens are under scrutiny throughout the world," she said.

"Once again we call for their immediate release. Failing that, the seven sh 
ould - at the very least - be released on bail pending a fair trial."

The seven defendants are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeim i, 
Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. Befor e 
their imprisonment, they attended to the spiritual and social needs of Ir an's 
Baha'i community, which numbers more than 300,000. Mrs. Sabet was arre sted on 
5 March 2008 and the others on 14 May 2008.

There are currently some 38 Baha'is in detention in various cities in Iran.

For more information and photograph go to http://news.bahai.org/story/775