AUG

26

Scottish Catholic leader condemns treatment of Iran’s Baha’i leaders

Filed Under Baha'i community, Human Rights, Iran, inter-faith | Leave a Comment

LONDON, 26 Aug – Baha’is in Scotland and throughout the UK have welcomed a statement issued by Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh and head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.

Cardinal O’Brien strongly condemns the unjust imprisonment of seven leaders of the Baha’i community in Iran. His statement reads:

Having been united in prayer with seven Baha’i Leaders, who were arrested more than two years ago in Iran, I deeply regret the news that these leaders have now been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

I am happy to join in the recent statement issued by William Hague MP, Foreign Secretary, on this matter and regard what has happened as being a most appalling transgression of justice and at heart a gross violation of the human right of freedom of belief.

Unfortunately, I myself cannot be at the forthcoming vigil of protest on Saturday 28 August 2010 by the St Mungo Museum in Cathedral Square, Glasgow, but I unite myself in prayer for those of the Baha’i faith who are suffering at this present time in Iran and also to the many other peoples of goodwill who are suffering for their faiths in other parts of the world.

+ Keith Patrick Cardinal O’Brien
Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh

“We are grateful that Cardinal O’Brien has once again spoken out in defence of the Baha’is in Iran,” said Allan Forsyth of the Baha’i Council for Scotland. “We are heartened that leaders of Scotland’s faith communities are so willing to demonstrate inter-faith solidarity and support in times of stress.”