Prominent Indians have expressed deep concern over the continued persecution of the Baha’is in Iran and called upon the government to take up the issue with Tehran. The plea for their protection comes days before the trial of the seven former leaders of the Iranian Baha’i community.
“Our country has a long record of pluralism and tolerance and must speak out,” observed Maju Daruwala, Director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.
The seven Baha’is – two women and five men – were arrested in the spring of 2008 and official Iranian news accounts have said that they are to be accused of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic.” Some of these charges carry the death penalty.
The Baha’i International Community is concerned that the Iranian government, or ultraconservative elements within it, may use the present turmoil as a cover for extreme measures against the Baha’i leaders. This concern deepened on Sunday when authorities rounded up 13 Baha’is from their homes in Tehran, took them to a detention centre, and tried to get them to sign a document saying that they would not engage in any future demonstrations, although none of them had taken part in any demonstration.
The Iranian Baha’i community represents the largest religious minority in Iran. Yet, they are not recognised by the Iranian Constitution and are considered as “unprotected infidels.”
UN agencies, governments, parliaments, NGOs and prominent individuals across the globe – including an increasing number of Iranians – have raised their voice against the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran. In February 2009, more than 30 prominent Indians, including Justice Krishna Iyer, actor Aamir Khan and religious leaders Maulana Khalid Rasheed and Swami Agnivesh, as well as leading lights from the judiciary, civil society, the corporate sector, and faith communities issued an open letter appealing to the Iranian government to release the innocent prisoners unconditionally or, at the very least, to grant them an open and fair trial.
