In March and May 2008, the leaders of the Bahai Community in Iran ( Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm) were arrested by the Iranian authorities. The seven have since been held in the notorious Evin Prison without access to to lawyers and very limited contact to their families.

In February, authorities finally announced the charges against the leaders: espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic.


Their detention and pending trial constitute one step in a 30-year-long systematic campaign orchestrated by the government to eliminate the Baha'i community as a viable entity in Iran, the birthplace of the Baha'i Faith.

For more information regarding the situation: iranpresswatch.org

The background track used in this clip is O Saya from the Slumdog Millionaire.