Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community

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Transfer of the seven Baha’i leaders to Raja’i prison in Karaj (Gohardasht) Posted: 09 Aug 2010 11:20 PM PDT After announcement of sentence of 20 years imprisonment each: Transfer of the seven Baha’i leaders to Raja’i prison in Karaj (Gohardasht) Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Yesterday afternoon, after the announcement of a sentence of 20 years imprisonment for each of them, the seven former leaders of the Baha’i community of Iran were transferred to Raja’i prison in the city of Karaj (Gohardasht) [see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gohardasht_Prison]. The individuals are Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr.Vahid Tizfahm. There has not been any report about a transfer for Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi or Mrs. Mahvash Sabet; however, it appears that all seven have been transferred to this prison. After spending more than two years in temporary detention, yesterday the seven former leaders of the Baha’i community, who were known as “friends of Iran” [Yaran], were sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment. Six of the seven Baha’is have been in custody since May 14th 2008, when they were arrested in a raid of police forces on their homes; the seventh, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, was arrested on March 5th 2008 in Mashhad. It should be mentioned that Raja’i prison in Mashhad has frequently been criticized by human rights advocates for its unsanitary environment, lack of medical services, crowded prison cells and unfair treatment of inmates by guards. Before this but after the recent execution of five political prisoners in Iran, some political prisoners and journalists — such as Ahmad Zeyd Abadi, Esa Saharkhiz, Masood Bastani and Heshmat-Allah Tabarzadi — were also transferred from Evin prison to Raja’i prison in Karaj. Translation by Iran Press Watch Source: http://www.chrr.biz/spip.php?article10596, also see: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/fa/post/1042