MPs and representatives of Sydney’s major religions will attend tomorrow’s interfaith gathering at NSW Parliament House to be addressed by prominent jurist John Dowd and relatives of imprisoned Baha’i leaders in Iran.
The closed trial of the seven leaders on grave charges resumed in the Revolutionary Court, Tehran, on 7 February without conclusion. Family members and independent observers were excluded from the courtroom.
Among the Faith leaders and representatives to offer prayers at the Sydney event to be held on 9 February from 11am to noon are: Senior Rabbi, the Great Synagogue, Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence; General Secretary, National Council of Churches, Rev. Tara Curlewis; Hindu Council of Australia representative, Vijai Singhal; Sikh Kirtan Prachar representative, Mohinde Pal; Buddhist monk Bhante Tejadhammo; and National Secretary Australian Baha’i Community, Arini Beaumaris.
The MPs attending include the members for Pittwater, Lane Cove, Hornsby and Kiama: Rob Stokes; Anthony Roberts, Judy Hopwood and Matt Brown.
The seven leaders are: Mrs Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr Afif Naeimi, Mr Saeid Rezaie, Mrs Mahvash Sabet, Mr Behrouz Tavakoli, and Mr Vahid Tizfahm.
The relatives, all Australians, who will speak at the event include: Mrs Roya Kamalabadi, Melbourne, a sister of Mrs Fariba Kamalabadi; Mr Amin Tavakoli, Adelaide, a brother of Mr Behrouz Tavakoli; and Mrs Ghodsieh Samimi, of Sydney, an aunt of Mrs Mahvash Sabet.
According to reports in government-sponsored news media, the seven have been charged with espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and corruption on earth.
Religious persecution
A spokesperson for the Australian Baha’i Community, Tessa Scrine, said the seven Baha’i leaders have committed no crime but are suffering blatant religious persecution.
“All those who know Baha’is throughout the world, including the Iranian authorities, are well aware that we are called upon by our Faith to be law-abiding and not to engage in partisan politics,” Ms Scrine said.
Ms Scrine said Australian Baha’is welcome the calls on Iran by the Australian Government and Federal and State Parliaments to abide by its human rights obligations and to release the seven Baha’i leaders.