Newly detailed information confirms that three Baha’is sentenced to prison in Iran for four years were convicted on patently false charges, a spokesperson for the Australian Baha’i Community said today.
The Iranian Government had accused the three of anti-regime propaganda yet the information shows they were engaged in a humanitarian project, Natalie Mobini-Kesheh said.
The arrests occurred after a group of Muslim and Baha’i volunteer teachers delivered literacy and youth empowerment projects in various locations in and near the city of Shiraz, Dr Mobini-Kesheh said.
“In 2005 the group had informed the Shiraz Islamic City Council about the projects and then received a letter from the Cultural Commission granting them permission to continue their activities,” she said.
“The charges that led to the conviction and imprisonment of the three Baha’is were patently false.”
Sentence
The four-year sentences were handed out in November 2007 to Haleh Rouhi, 29, Raha Sabet, 33, and Sasan Taqva, 32, and were confirmed by Iranian authorities only last week.
The three were among 53 Baha’is arrested nearly two years ago.
The other 50 Baha’is reportedly received a one-year suspended sentence conditional on attending “re-education classes”.
Chilling
Dr Mobini-Kesheh said the chilling term “re-education” had the clear meaning that the classes were aimed at coercing Baha’is away from their religious beliefs.
The news of the sentences last week prompted the Australian director of Amnesty International, Claire Mallinson, to call for the three to be set free.
“The three Baha’i teachers appear to be held unjustly without due process or a fair trial,” Ms Mallinson said.
“They are considered by Amnesty International to be possible prisoners of conscience.”
Amnesty International has called on Iranian authorities not to ill-treat or torture the imprisoned Baha’is.
The US State Department has also called for the three to be freed.
Read a full report from the Baha’i World News Service.
Above: Sasan Taqva
Below: Haleh Rouhi