The Australian Baha’i Community welcomes today’s statement by the Australian Government that it is “deeply concerned” at news of the charges laid against seven Baha’i leaders in Iran.
“We appreciate that the Australian Government has spoken out so strongly on this shameful abuse of human rights in Iran,” said Tessa Scrine, a spokesperson for the Australian Baha’i Community.
“Three of the Baha’is falsely charged with offences in Iran have close relatives in Australia,” Ms Scrine said.
The imprisoned Baha’is, who are facing charges of spying for Israel, insulting Islam, and propaganda against Iran, look set to face the Revolutionary Court within a few days.
DFAT statement
In a statement issued to the Canberra Times, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it understood that the charges “could attract the death penalty.”
“It is very worrying that the Baha’i detainees have not been subject to due legal process,” a spokesperson said.
“The seven Baha’is had to wait over eight months to be notified of the charges against them,” the spokesperson said.
The statement continues:
“They have not been given any access to legal representation. This makes it hard to believe there is any basis to the charges or that they will receive a fair trial.
“The Government is further concerned that these charges are part of a pattern of official discrimination against members of the Baha’i Faith in Iran.
“Over the past eight months, we have regularly raised the Australian Government’s concerns about the seven Baha’i detainees with the Iranian authorities.
“Now that they have been charged, we call on the Iranian government to ensure at the very least that the trial is fair and transparent.
“Australia’s firm position is that the right to freedom of religion, and the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression and association, must be respected in all countries in accordance with international human rights conventions.
“The Government will maintain its close interest in this situation and will continue to raise our concerns with the Iranian Government.”
Australia now joins with the European Union, the Governments of Great Britain and the United States, and Parliamentarians in Brazil, Canada and Germany in speaking out this week in condemnation of the actions of the Iranian authorities against the Baha’is.