Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop MP has issued a message for an event marking the sixth anniversary of the continuing imprisonment of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran in which she expresses “deep concerns” about the treatment of Baha’is and others.
“On this regrettable occasion, the Australian Government reiterates its deep concerns at the ongoing human rights abuses in Iran, including the treatment of religious minorities such as the Baha’i community,” Ms Bishop said, referring to a statement by Australia to the UN Human Rights Council in March.
“In that statement, Australia expressed its concern about the use of the death penalty, ongoing intimidation and arbitrary arrest of human rights defenders, political activists, journalists and lawyers, ongoing curbs on media and the internet, and the ongoing mistreatment of ethnic and religious minorities, including Baha’is.”
“Australia welcomed the release of seven political leaders last September, but called on Iran to release all prisoners of conscience, including the seven Baha’i leaders whose situations in detention we remember today,” she said.
“We continue to urge Iran to respect the human rights of all detainees, and to ensure all trials are conducted fairly.”
The seven received 20 year sentences in sham trials roundly condemned by the international community, including by the United Nations General Assembly, for the absence of evidence of any offence. The Baha’i community, the biggest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran, is the target of an ongoing, systematic campaign of persecution by the clergy-led government.
Issuing her message to be read this week at events in Canberra and Sydney featuring poetry by Mahvash Sabet, one of the imprisoned seven, the Foreign Minister named the individual leaders, most of whom have close relatives in Australia: Afif Naeimi, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mahvash Sabet, Saeid Rezaie, and Vahid Tizfahm.
“Australia will continue to monitor closely the human rights situation in Iran and continue to raise our concerns with Iran, including on freedom of religion, in a way that reflects Australia’s fundamental belief in the universality of human rights,” Ms Bishop said.
A spokesperson for the Australian Baha’i Community, Natalie Mobini, welcomed the message from Ms Bishop.
“It is enormously comforting to the relatives of the seven and Baha’is generally, that the Foreign Minister has stood up for the human rights of these innocent, admirable people who have committed no crime but rather have devoted their lives to the service of others,” Dr Mobini said.
“We hope that the Government of Iran will heed this call, free the seven leaders and call a halt to the persecution of Baha’is in Iran.”
For details of poetry event: https://www.bahai.org.au/NewsMedia/NewsStories/ArticleView/tabid/72/ArticleId/238/Words-of-imprisoned-poet-to-break-free.aspx