“O Lord! These souls have tasted bitter agony in this earthly life and have, as a sign of their love for the shining beauty of Thy countenance and in their eagerness to attain Thy celestial kingdom, tolerated every gross indignity that the people of tyranny have inflicted upon them.”
~ Baha’u’llah
To mark the five year anniversary of the wrongful imprisonment of the seven Iranian Baha’i leaders, the Baha’i International Community is launching a campaign to call for their immediate release – and to draw attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.
“On 14 May, the seven innocent Baha’i leaders will have been behind bars for five full years, unjustly imprisoned solely because of their religious beliefs,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.
“We are asking people of good will around the world to raise their voices in an effort to win their freedom and the freedom of other innocent prisoners of conscience in Iran,” she said.
The campaign will run from 5 May through 15 May, under the title “Five Years Too Many.” Around the world, Baha’i communities and other groups are planning public events that focus on the plight of the seven, who face 15 more years in prison, and whose 20-year sentences are the longest of any current prisoners of conscience in Iran.
On Sunday, May 12th, 2013, the Arlington Baha’i community will host an interfaith prayer meeting in support of the 7 wrongly imprisoned Baha’i leaders in the cradle of the Baha’i Faith. The Prayer Station is open to anyone to wishes to raise their voice for the voiceless and pray for the speedy delivery of the Yaran. Please contact the host if you would like to participate and need directions.