The 20-year prison sentences of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran have reportedly been reduced to 10 years, an Australian Baha’i Community spokesperson, Tessa Scrine, said today.
Ms Scrine said that lawyers for the seven were informed verbally about the sentence reduction on Wednesday.
“The defendants have completely and categorically denied charges of propaganda activities against the Islamic order and the establishment of an illegal administration, and other allegations,” Ms Scrine said.
“Justice demands that they be released immediately and unconditionally,” she said.
Ms Scrine said there has been widespread international condemnation of the imprisonment and conviction of the seven.
“Australia is one of the governments which have protested,” she said.
“Others have included Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.A. They have been joined by the European Union and the President of the European Parliament.
“In Australia, the diverse religious communities have protested via a statement issued by the Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations.
“Internationally, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for the release of the seven as have many other groups and countless individuals.
The seven – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – were all members of a national-level group that, with the Iranian government’s knowledge, helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of Iran’s 300,000-strong Baha’i community.
Mrs Kamalabadi and Mr Tavakkoli have siblings in Australia.