Reports of a trial date for Baha'i leaders falsely accused of espionage
24 June 2009
According to information conveyed by the authorities in Evin prison to the family members of the seven Baha'is who have been imprisoned in Tehran, Iran, for over a year, their trial date has been set for 11 July 2009. This information has been provided to the family members only orally and, as information conveyed by officials concerning the judicial process has often proved unreliable, it is possible that the Iranian authorities may find some reason to change the trial date.
The seven were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have been held more than a year without formal charges or access to their attorneys. Official Iranian news reports have said the Baha'is will be accused of "espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic."
"These seven individuals are facing completely false charges," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "They - along with the some 30 other Baha'is currently in prison in Iran - are innocent of any wrongdoing and are being held solely because of their religious beliefs."
From http://news.bahai.org/story/719
Update on the Situation of the Yaran
Posted: 23 Jun 2009
On Tuesday, June 23, 2009, Human Rights Activists in Iran provided an alarming update on the situation of the former Baha’i leaders, known as Yaran, which appears below in translation:
After more than a year of incarceration, the situation of the [former] leaders of the Baha’i community of Iran appears to be of profound concern.[Source: http://www.hra-iran.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1312:546&catid=84:502&Itemid=219. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
According to reports received [by HRA], the seven leaders of the Baha’i community continue to languish in “temporary” incarceration in a high-security section of Evin prison, known as section 209. These seven are: Mahvash Sabet (since Mar. 2008), Jamaloddin Khanjani (May 2008), Saeid Rezaie (May 2008), Fariba Kamalabadi (May 2008), Vahid Tizfahm (May 2008), Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Afif Naeimi.
In addition to psychological pressures, such as, routinely renewing their “temporary” imprisonment, or keeping them in a high-security facility which naturally imposes considerable restrictions on the seven individuals, it is reported that their meal portions has now been reduced considerably to the point that their health is at serious risk. At the same time, prison authorities refuse to permit the families of prisoners to provide the much-needed provisions which would enable them to sustain the brutal conditions of their imprisonment.
Moreover, with the massive arrest of political and civil activists in recent days in Iran and curtailment of telephonic contact of prisoners in Evin with the outside world, the families of these prisoners of conscience have become deeply worried about the condition of their loved-ones.
Worrisome prison conditions for Yaran
Posted: 23 Jun 2009
Further to our earlier report, Kavian S. Milani on the Newnegah site offered the following on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, based on reports he has received from Iran and promised to offer further details in a few days. Milani also asked that these details be shared with human rights activists, responsible agencies, those interested in improving the situation of civil and human rights in Iran and all other sites and blogs. The following report was shared with Milani:
In a meeting we had with the former Yaran in prison, we learned that their situation in prison is most worrisome to the point that during the entire last year, they have been deprived of such things as even a bed or chair. They have spread a thin blanket on the cement floor where they sit and sleep.
During this whole year, their food has been served in unwashed dishes. It is evident that such unhygienic conditions over a sustained period have had a deeply negative impact on their health. The bread given to them is rotten.
Despite these conditions, the authorities have not given permission for us to bring them food provisions, or for the guards to purchase things they need. The situation has reached the point that one of the former Yaran stated, "It appears that they are determined to kill us by slow death."
At the same time it appears that the legal case of the former Yaran has been transferred from the Ministry of Intelligence and is now in the hand of the Judiciary. Most likely, their trial will take place in about the end of Tir [circa July 21]. Therefore, their file has been given to the defense attorneys to study and prepare for the trial.
It should be noted that during their entire period of incarceration, these prisoner of conscience have not seen the evidence file against them, nor have they been given an opportunity to meet with their lawyers.
[Source: http://www.negah35.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1100&Itemid=24. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
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