(1888PressRelease)
October 16, 2009 - West Berkshire’s Bahá'i community has welcomed a report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, released yesterday (October 14), on Iran’s human rights record.
In the report Mr Ban said: “Members of various ethnic and minority groups faced harassment, violence and, in some cases, persecution” and noted that “a pattern of concern arises with respect to the protection of minorities, including the Bahá'i community.”
The report made specific mention of seven imprisoned Bahá'i leaders who were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have since been held in Evin prison, noting that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has written to Iran “on numerous occasions to express concern and seek clarification ”about the status of the seven.”
Shawn Khorassani, a West Berkshire based Bahá'i, said the report is welcome and timely. He said: “Mr Ban indicates that the human rights situation has worsened since last year’s report. Bahá'is in West Berkshire hope, along with Bahá'is around the world, that the UN General Assembly will again adopt a resolution this year urging Iran to live up to its international human rights obligations.”
The trial for the seven Bahá'i leaders is due to begin on 18 October 2009. They have been held at Tehran’s Evin prison without formal charges, although official Iranian news accounts have said that the seven are to be accused of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic.” The trial was originally scheduled for 11 July, but was postponed.
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