AJC Condemns Conviction of Baha'i Leaders in Iran

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Aug 10, 2010, 11:58 ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Jewish Committee condemned the decision of the Iranian regime to sentence seven leading members of the Baha'i faith to jail sentences of up to 20 years. The Baha'is were convicted on fabricated charges of spying for Israel, "undermining Islam" and "spreading corruption on Earth."

"This latest chapter in the vicious persecution of the Baha'i religious minority at the hands of Tehran's clerics once again shows the world the true nature of the Iranian regime," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "As we declare our support for these innocent Baha'i leaders, we recall that the United States, the European Union and other democratic countries have previously condemned this sham trial. We are confident they will forthrightly condemn the unjust sentencing, too."

Two Baha'i women, Fariba Kamalabadi and Mahvash Sabet, and five men, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahid Tizfahm, were sentenced after being incarcerated without charge for nearly 20 months in Tehran's notorious Evin prison.

Approximately 300,000 Baha'is live in Iran, where they are regarded as "infidels" by the regime and are barred from higher education and government posts.

AJC has regularly drawn attention to the tragic plight of Iran's Baha'i community since the Islamic revolution of 1979.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee