URGENT Call to Action Petition to release seven Baha'i prisoners in Iran

We the undersigned are respectfully requesting an urgent call to action to save the lives of 7 innocent Baha'i prisoners who are scheduled for trial date on Oct 18, 2009. They are being persecuted for their religious beliefs. If convicted they can be sentenced to death by execution within minutes. The names of the innocent prisoners are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad.

The prisoners were accused of "espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic." The Baha'i International Community categorically rejects all charges against the seven, stating that they are held solely because of religious persecution. The US State Department, the UK Foreign Office Minister, the United Nations, Amnesty International and many others have roundly condemned the imprisonment and trial of the Baha'is.

U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood issued a statement condemning the charges against the Baha'i prisoners: "The accusations reported in Iranian and international media are part of the ongoing persecution of Baha'i in Iran."

Abdolfattah Soltani, a lawyer for the Bahai prisoners, said he had not been permitted to meet with his clients. "Like most political or faith-related cases in Iran, due, fair and legal procedures were not observed," Soltani said. "I believe that this legal procedure is not ethically, humanly or legally acceptable."

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Iran on 23 March 1976, states the right to freedom of religion, codifying it as a firm obligation to be upheld by state parties to the Covenant.

The Covenant states in Article 18: "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching."

Although these documents were signed before the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, they remain in effect. Not only has Iran participated regularly in international reporting processes designed to uphold and reinforce these Covenants, it is a given that UN conventions remain binding on successive governments. Yet, despite these and other obligations under international law, the government of Iran has persistently pursued its campaign of persecution against Irans Bahбн community.

Due to violation of Article 18 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

We urgently request that the 7 Baha'i named above to be immediately released from prison and that all charges against them be unconditionally dismissed.