Press release

Foreign Office calls for release of 7 Bahá’í leaders held in Iran

On the 6th anniversary of their incarceration, Hugh Robertson calls for the release of 7 Bahá’í Leaders held in Iran.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Commenting today, Minister for the Middle East Hugh Robertson said:

Six years ago today, seven leaders of the Bahá’í faith in Iran were imprisoned for 20 years each for practicing their religion. I call on the Iranian authorities to release them as a matter of urgency. I was also deeply concerned to learn of the recent reports of the desecration of a Bahá’í cemetery in Shiraz, where approximately 950 Bahá’ís are buried.

We urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to abide by its international commitments to ensure all Iranians are free to practice their religion without fear of persecution.

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Published 14 May 2014