Human Rights Activists in Iran reported an update on the status of the 7 Baha’i leaders, whose period of incarceration is drawing nearer to a year. No formal charges have been brought against them as of yet, but a report published last August by a conservative Iranian newspaper quoted an official who stated that “7 Israeli spies were arrested”.

Mahvash Sabet, Fariba Kamalabadi, Afif Naeemi, Saeed Rezaie, Vahid Teezfahm, Jamaluldin Khanjani, and Behrooz Tavakoli, seven Bahai leaders in Iran, are languishing in the solitary confinement unit of the Evin Prison.

The aforementioned seven were members of a committee which handled the day to day affairs of the Iranian Bahai community. These individuals were arrested between March 6, 2008 and May 15, 2008 by the security forces and taken to the 209 unit of the Evin prison. From the inception of their arrests to date these individuals have been held in solitary confinement unit of the Evin prison.

Due to the fact that they do not have access to an attorney or their arrest files, and that they are in constant receipt of contradictory information from those responsible for their arrest, the charges brought against them are in a fog of uncertainty. They are currently under arrest with unannounced and undetermined charges and face an uncertain future.

After the first phase of investigation had concluded the aforementioned seven were removed from solitary confinement and taken to unit 209 of the prison with the general population at Evin. However, by the end of the previous month the Ministry of Intelligence commenced the procedures to bring the seven Bahai inmates out of the general prison population and to place them together in a separate cell, and as such deprived them of any contact or communication from the general prison population.

Their arrests, confinement conditions in the prison, and lack of transparency regarding their case and their files has lead to uproar and objections from the international community and human rights organizations.

Shirin Ebadi, the acclaimed lawyer and human rights activist who vowed to defend the Baha’i leaders before court, has been slandered excessively by Iranian media. Her offices were recently raided, her client’s documents were seized, and her home was attacked by an angry mob accusing her of supporting Israel.

In a comment posted at Iran Press Watch, Naeim Tavakkoli, claiming to be the son of Behrooz Tavakkoli, stated the following:

My name is Naeim Tavakkoli. My father is Behrouz Tavakkoli, one of the seven arrested. I would like to inform you about the health condition of one of the detainees. Although all of these seven are not in the best of health, and for example my father had to be taken to the prison’s clinic due to his kidney problem or Mr. Rezaie is also in pain, but it looks more severe about Mr. Tizfahm’s health condition. Mr.Tizfahm who is also the youngest member of this group, has almost lost his sight in one eye. The doctor in contract with the Evin prison, diagnosed him with nervous reaction (I’m not good at medical terms) to sever pressure in prison (I say interrogations or what they call it the white torture!). That diagnosis being confirmed by the second doctor in trust with the prisoner’s family after the doctor being provided with radiology documents and lab results.

Iranian prison authorities to show little or no regard to the health of its prisoners, in violation of Article 229 of the Prison Regulations. The wife of another detainee at Evin prison has also stated that the heating system at the prison is malfunctioning, and prisoners are suffering from severe cold.

Despite the sombre news and events with which the world greeted 2009, we pray and hope that this new year will alleviate the suffering of millions across the world who are silenced and made to suffer, simply for practising their right to freedom of belief.

But prayers do not amount to much unless coupled with action, and we vow to continue on our path of seeking justice and equality for the Baha’i minority.