The third session in the trial of seven Baha’i leaders took place on 12 April in a closed courtroom in Tehran.
It has now been learned that numerous officials and interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence were present, along with a film crew whose cameras were positioned in the courtroom.
Due to the presence of these non-judicial personnel at a supposedly closed hearing, the seven leaders declined to be party to the proceedings. The judge adjourned the court and did not announce a date for the next session of the trial.
The seven have been held in prison for almost two years. They are being tried on charges including espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and spreading corruption on earth.
“The cruel treatment of these innocent people must be brought to an end,” said Australian Baha’i Community spokesperson Tessa Scrine.
“They are being held on baseless charges for which the government has absolutely no evidence, and they should set free immediately,” Ms Scrine said.
“At the very least, they should be released on bail pending a fair trial in accordance with international legal standards,” she said.
“Until that occurs, the very harsh conditions of their imprisonment must be improved.”
The first two trial sessions were held on 12 January and 7 February 2010, with no observers or family members permitted to be present.
The seven prisoners are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. Four have close relatives living in Australia.
Until their arrest in 2008, the seven were the members of an ad hoc body that saw to the needs of Iran’s 300,000 Baha’is.
They have categorically denied all charges.
Note: This story was updated on 14 April 2010. For further details, visit the Baha’i World News Service.