The media are picking up on the story of the arrest of six members of the Bahá’í leadership in Iran and the longer detention of the seventh member. Here are some further links:

Reuters

AFP

Middle East Times

Bilo’s blog, Bahá’í Faith in Egypt and Iran, has started a series on the systematic oppression of the Bahá’ís of Iran. You can read the first episode here. This promises to be a very informative and educational series.

And an Early Day Motion (don’t ask) has been tabled in the UK’s House of Commons by Lembit Opik MP. Early Day Motions (EDMs) are never debated, but MPs can signify their support by signing the motion. Ours is EDM 1608.

EDM 1608    ARREST OF MEMBERS OF THE BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY IN IRAN19.05.2008

Opik, Lembit
That this House expresses grave alarm at the news of the arrest of six prominent Bahá’ís in Iran on 14th May 2008; notes that Mrs Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr Jamaloddin Khanjai, Mr Afif Naeimi, Mr Saeid Rezaie, Mr Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr Vahid Tizfah are members of the informal group known as the Friends in Iran that co-ordinate the activities of the Bahá’í community in Iran; further notes that another member of the Friends in Iran, Mrs Mahvash Sabet, has been held in custody since 5th March 2008; registers deepest concern at the mounting threats and persecution of the Iranian Bahá’í community; urges the Government to seek from the Iranian government guarantees for the safety of these individuals; and calls for their immediate unconditional release.

More and more activity - let’s hope it has its desired effect of securing the early and unconditional release of the seven named in the EDM.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Iran, media coverage, human rights, religious freedom, persecution, House of Commons, Early Day Motion

The story of the recent arrests of the “Friends”, the informal Bahá’í coordinating group in Iran, appeared yesterday on the BBC news website. You can read it here.

And Amnesty International have put out a call for urgent action on the case here. Do please respond to this.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Iran, persecution, human rights, BBC, Amnesty International