The Iranian government's unjust procedures are laid bare for all to see.
(Excerpt:)
The best example that reveals the true nature of the government’s intentions with this trial is text of the pre-written report that was inadvertently printed prior to the intended date. In one of its paragraphs, the text notes that the defendants had “confessed that they had held meetings at the homes of ambassadors from Western countries.”
A Major Gaffe Reveals the True Nature of The Show Trial of the Iranian Bahá'ís
Posted on Facebook Friday 15 January 2010 at 03:54 GMT-1
Written by Leva Mottahed
Translated by Nizam Missaghi
The Bahá'í Affairs Committee of the Human Rights Activists in Iran
January 14, 2010
The trial for the former Bahá'í leaders of Iran was finally held in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on Tuesday January 12, 2010, after a 1.5-year detention period and postponing of three previous trial dates. This trial was held behind closed doors and the immediate families were not allowed to be present. Even the lawyers representing the defendants had to work their way into the courtroom after significant persistence. The lawyers were able to finally meet their clients in person for the first time on the day of the trial. Despite being held behind closed doors, there were camera crews present in the courtroom, although it was not immediately apparent with what agency they were associated or who had granted them permission to record the proceedings.
The most prominent feature of the trial was its true nature as a show trial. This was most apparent in the inadvertent release on January 11, 2010, of a report of this trial a day before its actual date. The report was apparently pre-written and sent to news outlets for publication on Tuesday afternoon, after the session’s adjournment. However, despite well-rehearsed “instructions” regarding the timing of the publication, a major semi-official news source entitled “Young Journalists” published the report at 17:50 on Monday, January 11, on its front page, and, within two hours, another website entitled fararu.com published the same article and referenced the original publication. The original article was available for viewing on the front page of “Young Journalists” website but was promptly removed at 09:05 on January 12, presumably once the gaffe was discovered. The site did not, however, realize that their article had been cross-posted and referenced on fararu.com. The original URL for the Young Journalists website http://www.yjc.ir/news/NewsDesc.aspx?newsid=264157 is now a broken link.
It is worth noting that the same exact article appeared the next day, January 12, after the court adjourned, on official and semi-official websites. This fact also reveals the true nature of the proceedings as a show trial since the authorities did not even bother to change the wording of a scripted report and re-published the same article. Farsnews and ISNA are the two sources that published the same article with the right timing:
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8810221294
http://isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1472572&Lang=P
The above gaffes not only give credence to how this proceeding is nothing but a show trial with predetermined verdicts, but also present as strong evidence that the seven Bahá'í leaders are innocent. The regime has no document or evidence to present in support of its allegations against the Bahá'ís. Therefore, by holding the court session behind closed doors and presenting pre-written reports to the media, the regime is attempting to influence public opinion rather than ensuring justice. The best example that reveals the true nature of the government’s intentions with this trial is text of the pre-written report that was inadvertently printed prior to the intended date. In one of its paragraphs, the text notes that the defendants had “confessed that they had held meetings at the homes of ambassadors from Western countries.”
The intentions of the Iranian government toward the Bahá'í leaders are evident from the above. They have been held under “temporary detention” status for over 1.5 years with deplorable conditions and severed restrictions. Their dire situation is alarming and leaves these individuals vulnerable to significant danger at the behest of the Iranian government. It is incumbent upon all human rights activists and organizations to take action to ensure preservation of life and securing of freedom for these seven Bahá'ís.
Seven former leaders of the Baha'i Community in Iran
Photo copyright Bahá'í International Community
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment