The Nobel Women’s Initiative Call For Release Of Baha’is Imprisoned In Iran

I am heartened to read that The Nobel Women’s Initiative have called on the Iranian government to free seven Baha’is imprisoned in Iran.

Their statement reads:

“We note with concern the news of the arrest of six prominent Baha’is in Iran on 14 May 2008. We note that Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm are members of the informal group known as the Friends in Iran that coordinates the activities of the Baha’i community in Iran; we further note that another member of the Friends in Iran, Mrs Mahvash Sabet, has been held in custody since 5 March 2008; we register our deepest concern at the mounting threats and persecution of the Iranian Baha’i community. “We call on the Iranian Government to guarantee the safety of these individuals (and) grant their immediate unconditional release.”

The Nobel laureates supporting the statement are:

Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan Maguire, founders of the Peace People in Northern Ireland and winners of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976

Rigoberta Menchu Tum, a leading advocate of ethno-cultural reconciliation in her native Guatemala and Nobel winner in 1992

Professor Jody Williams, international campaigner for the banning of land mines, winner in 1997

Iranian human rights lawyer Dr. Shirin Ebadi, winner in 2003

Kenyan environmental activist Professor Wangari Muta Maathai, Nobel winner in 2004.