Australian religious leaders condemn Bahá’í arrests

The Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations has issued a strong statement calling on the Iranian authorities to release the Bahá’í leaders, who are currently being held in Evin prison in Tehran:

The Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations (APRO) welcomes the Australian Government’s statement of concern about the recent arrest of Baha’i leaders in Iran and the continuing discrimination and harassment of the Iranian Baha’is on the grounds of their religion.

APRO Convenor, Professor Abd Malak said APRO shared the Government’s deep concern for these Baha’i leaders, made in a recent public statement.

“Freedom of religion and belief is a right guaranteed to all people under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a state party,” Prof Malak said.

“Their detention is in clear breach of the rights to which they are entitled under international law,” he said.

“Members of APRO call on the Iranian authorities to release the Baha’i leaders, if they are not to be charged with a recognisable criminal offence and allowed a fair and prompt trial.”

This support is most welcome.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Australia, APRO, religious organisations, Iran, religious freedom, human rights, inter-faith