Canada Calls for the Release of Seven Baha'i Leaders in Iran

Rob Nicholson, Canada's Foreign Minister, on Friday, May 25, called on the Islamic Republic to release seven leaders of the Baha'i community in Iran. According to the official website of the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rob Nicholson stated in his announcement that this week marks the seventh anniversary of the illegal detention of Baha'i leaders (Yaran). This serves as a reminder of the ongoing blatant disregard of the Iranian government for religious freedom. Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaleddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeed Rezaei, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Vahid Tizfahm, and Mahvash Sabet were members of a group called 'Yaran' who were arrested in 2008. The Yaran group was responsible for managing the Baha'i community in Iran. In recent years, UN special rapporteurs, the European Union, the United States, and several international human rights organizations have criticized the continued discrimination and violation of the rights of Baha'is in Iran. The Canadian Foreign Minister added that the Baha'i community in Iran continues to face ongoing religious discrimination led by the government. The Canadian government calls on the Iranian government to end the organized state persecution of religious minorities, including Sunnis, Christians, and Dervishes. The statement continued: Unfortunately, the Iranian government is responsible for a long list of human rights violations. The Iranian government systematically harasses and persecutes human rights defenders, including Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist who was arrested for peaceful protests against government policies. Narges Mohammadi, Vice President and spokesperson for the Human Rights Defenders Center, was arrested at her home in Tehran on the morning of May 15. The Canadian Foreign Minister also expressed his country's concern over the execution of at least 340 people in Iran since the beginning of the year. The Canadian government has urged the Iranian government to adhere to its international obligations to ensure the rights of its citizens.