January, 2010

Iran Puts Baha’i Leaders on Trial

Leaders of Baha'i Faith in Iran

Members of the Baha’i communities in Arlington, Washington, DC, and across the country are watching developments in Iran with concern – Seven leaders of Iran’s Baha’i minority went on trial in Tehran Tuesday (January 12) accused of spying for Israel.

The seven — two women and five men — are also accused of spreading propaganda against the Islamic republic and committing religious offenses, charges that can carry the death penalty.

“We understand that no observers were allowed in the court,” said Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. “We understand that even the lawyers had to argue their way inside the court — lawyers who, in any case, had virtually no access to the accused for nearly two years.”

The seven leaders of the Baha’i Faith in Iran have been held in prison for more than 18 months.

The world’s media is watching developments, including:

CNN

The New York Times

The Washington Post

BBC