The Yaran (Friends), also known as the Baha'i 7. (photo courtesy of Iran Press Watch)
The past week has been filled with surprise announcements by the Iranian government concerning the Yaran (Friends) of Iran, the ad hoc Baha'i leadership committee who have been imprisoned for more than a year in Tehran's infamous Evin prison. They have been repeatedly denied bail and due process during their stay in Evin's maximum security section 209.
Last week, the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that the Baha'i 7 would be tried on Tuesday, August 18, despite the fact that they have had no access to their attorneys, Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and Abdolfattah Soltani. Ms. Ebadi has been traveling on a speaking tour outside of Iran, but she has been forbidden contact with her clients since their arrest. Mr. Soltani has been arrested in the aftermath of the post-election turmoil, and he is now being held in Evin prison along with his clients.
According to the web site Iran Press Watch, the seven Baha'is are being held on the following charges: "“espionage on behalf of Israel”, “insulting the sacredness of Islam”, “propaganda against the regime”, and “aiding, teaching and propagating the Baha’i religion in Iran”. These charges , according the judiciary system in Iran, could lead to a death penalty conviction if found guilty.
The trial has been postponed to give their attorneys a chance to examine the charges and prepare their case. The replacement attorneys, collegues of Ms. Ebadi's Tehran-based Defenders of Human Rights Center, have not been accepted by the Islamic court as of press time. Hassan Haddad of the Prosecutor's Office in Tehran, has stated that the court can appoint other attorneys to represent the Baha'i 7. Ms. Ebadi has stated that the court must accept the replacements, not appoint other attorneys.
Update to original story: The trial has been set for October 18, 2009. Please read the full story here.
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