Admin l Sunday, May 14, 2017
WASHINGTON, United States – The United States of America has called on President Hassan Rouhani of Iran to respect its own laws by releasing the 7 leaders of Iran’s Bahai community who were arrested and unjustly sentenced to 20 years.
They are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Vahid Tizfahm, and Mahvash Sabet.
In a statement, Department Spokesperson, Heather Nauert said the 7 were serving an unjust sentence for exercising their freedoms of religion, association, and expression.
They were however convicted nine years ago of espionage, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic Republic for activities related solely to their belief in and practice of their faith.
“Their cases are further evidence of Iran’s continued disregard for and violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms”, the U.S aaid and condemned their continued imprisonment, as well as reported abuses against them while incarcerated, and call upon Iran to release them immediately, along with all other prisoners of conscience in Iran.
“The government of Iran must stop denying its people their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief.
“We call on the Iranian government to uphold their own laws and meet their international obligations that guarantee freedoms of expression, opinion, religion or belief, association, and peaceful assembly for all in Iran”, he said.
