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Se inicia el Juicio contra 7 lideres Baha’is en Iran

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Trial of seven Baha’i leaders under way in Tehran

GENEVA, 12 January (BWNS) - The trial of seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders
began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial is marked by
numerous violations of legal due process.

“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. “We find this completely outrageous, given that these
seven have been held purely because of their religious beliefs, in total
contradiction to any human rights standards.

“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.

“At the same time, the prisoners’ interrogators from the Ministry of
Intelligence and a film crew were seen going in, raising questions about the
nature of the trial,” she said.

Ms. Ala’i also noted that an Iranian Web site linked to state-run television
posted a story Monday evening announcing that the trial had already begun
and listing the same baseless accusations made in the past against the
seven.

“In any event, all of these accounts point to a trial that is highly
irregular, very similar to the show trials that have been held in Iran in
recent months,” she said.

The seven 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
been held in Tehran’s Evin prison ever since, spending their first year
there without formal charges or any access to lawyers.

“Whatever happens, it is clear that the trial of these seven innocent people
represents the trial of an entire religious community, and is an attempt to
further intimidate and ostracize all Iranian Baha’is simply because they
hold a different religious viewpoint from those in power.”

To view the article with photograph, go to:
http://news.bahai.org/story/748

For the Baha’i World News Service home page, go to:
http://news.bahai.org