ARREST AND TRIAL OF BAHÁ'ÍS IN IRAN

That this House notes the arrests in March and May 2008 of Mahvash Sabet, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahid Tizfahm, members of an informal leadership council of the Iranian Bahá'i community; further notes with concern the announcement of 12 February 2009 by the deputy-prosecutor of Tehran that these seven Bahá'is are to face a revolutionary court to answer charges including, espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic, despite no evidence produced against them to date; observes that such accusations can merit capital punishment under Iranian law; is concerned that the charges against these Bahá'i community leaders may be motivated by a growing culture of anti-Bahá'i repression in Iran; and calls on the Government to protest to the Iranian authorities and press for the immediate release of these seven individuals.