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| US urges Iran to release imprisoned Baha'i leaders |
| 2016-05-15 |
| [ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The United States called on Iran Saturday to free seven leaders of the minority Baha’i faith serving 20-year prison sentences, urging Tehran to ensure religious and other freedoms. The Baha’i leaders were tossed in the clink Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages! eight years ago and convicted of espionage, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Theocratic Republic. "We join the international community in condemning their continued imprisonment and calling upon the Islamic Theocratic Republicof Iran to release them immediately, along with all other prisoners of conscience in Iran," State Department front man John Kirby said in a statement. "Furthermore, we call upon Iranian authorities to uphold their own laws and meet their international obligations that guarantee freedom of expression, religion, opinion and assembly for all citizens," he said. Iran allows religious freedom for several minorities but targets the Baha’i faith, which believes in unity among religions and equality between men and women. The Baha’i faith considers Bahaullah, an Iranian born in 1817, to be the latest prophet sent by God, a major divergence from Islamic orthodoxy. |
| Posted by:Fred |