Help to free 7 Baha'is in Iranian Prison

Your Letter:

His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Your Excellency,
      
Religious freedom is the cornerstone of democracy and a fundamental human right as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Unfortunately, in the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRA) Baha'is and many others are not afforded basic human rights.
 
The August 2010 verdict sentencing Iran's seven Baha'i leaders to 20 years in prison makes even more evident the Iranian regime's policy of oppression and systematic denial of rights to members of the Baha'i Faith. The harsh prison sentences handed down to seven Iranian Baha'i leaders who are absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing is a judgment against an entire religious community.

The flagrantly unjust sentence has provoked vehement protest from governments throughout the world - including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S.A. The European Union and the President of the European Parliament have also joined the chorus of condemnation, along with numerous human rights organizations - including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and FIDH - as well as other groups, and countless individuals.

The seven - Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - were all members of a national-level group that, with the government's knowledge, helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of Iran's Baha'i community.

I plead with you to take action and loudly condemn the 20 year prison sentences. Use every mechanism at your disposal to highlight these gross human rights violations systematically pursued by the Islamic Republic. Please do everything you can so that the Islamic Republic of Iran adheres to its international human rights obligations, releases the seven leaders immediately on bail and allow for a just appeals process that meets international standards of justice.
 
Yours Faithfully,



In early August 2010, after over two years of detention, Iran's 7 Baha'i leaders were sentenced to 20 years in prison. Considering the advanced ages of several of these spiritual leaders, the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) has effectively dealt life sentences. These two women and five men formed the national leadership of the Baha'i community in Iran, known as 'yaran' or 'friends,' to tend to the spiritual needs of Iran's largest religious minority. The Baha'i community faces systematic oppression and discrimination by the IRI, including denial of education and government jobs, home raids, arbitrary detention, cemetery desecration, and much more. Please fill out the form below and send it to the Islamic Republic of Iran. You are also encouraged to forward information about this campaign and this website to others including those with influence who will be able to add to the international pressure on Iran in order to free these 7 Baha'is and expedite a fair appeal hearing.		Free7Bahais - Twitter Updates follow @free7bahais on Twitter Share Tweet
Subject: Your Letter: His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Your Excellency, Religious freedom is the cornerstone of democracy and a fundamental human right as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Unfortunately, in the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRA) Baha'is and many others are not afforded basic human rights. The August 2010 verdict sentencing Iran's seven Baha'i leaders to 20 years in prison makes even more evident the Iranian regime's policy of oppression and systematic denial of rights to members of the Baha'i Faith. The harsh prison sentences handed down to seven Iranian Baha'i leaders who are absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing is a judgment against an entire religious community. The flagrantly unjust sentence has provoked vehement protest from governments throughout the world - including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S.A. The European Union and the President of the European Parliament have also joined the chorus of condemnation, along with numerous human rights organizations - including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and FIDH - as well as other groups, and countless individuals. The seven - Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - were all members of a national-level group that, with the government's knowledge, helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of Iran's Baha'i community. I plead with you to take action and loudly condemn the 20 year prison sentences. Use every mechanism at your disposal to highlight these gross human rights violations systematically pursued by the Islamic Republic. Please do everything you can so that the Islamic Republic of Iran adheres to its international human rights obligations, releases the seven leaders immediately on bail and allow for a just appeals process that meets international standards of justice. Yours Faithfully, Full Name: Email: