U.S. Comdemns Iran’s Persecution of Bahai Religious Prisoner

          
          U.S. Condemns Iran 's Persecution of Bahai Religious Prisoner
          Zabihullah Mahrami died in prison December 15
          The United States has condemned Iran for its religious persecution ofZabihullah
          Mahrami and a 10-year imprisonment that ended with his death at the age of 59 on
          December 15. Mahrami was a member of fran's persecuted Bahai religious minority.
          “The government of Iran is engaged in the systematic oppression of i$ citizens, including
          the persecution of individuals for religious, political and other reasons,” State Department
          Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli said in a December 23 statement. “Members of the
          country's religious minorities -- including Sunni Muslims, Sufis, Zordastrians, Jews, and
          Christians -- are frequently imprisoned, harassed, and intimidated bas d on their religious
          beliefs.”
          Mahrami, a former civil servant who lost his job in a purge of Bahai following the 1979
          Iranian revolution, was arrested in 1995 on charges of apostasy, or abandoning Islam. He
          was sentenced to death for his religious beliefs in 1996. Following an international
          outcry, his sentence was commuted to life in prison.
          Since that time, he had been incarcerated at a government prison in Yázd where,
          according to Ereli' s statement, he was forced to perform arduous phy ical labor and was
          subjected to death threats.
          According to Bahai representatives outside Iran, Mabrami is one of h indreds of Bahais
          who have been killed or imprisoned since the Iranian revolution in the 1970s.
          The Bahai faith is an offshoot of Islam dating from the mid-nineteenth century when the
          son of a patrician Tehran family turned his back on his wealth and pril'ilege and declared
          that he was a new messenger from God. The man, now known as Bai á'u'lláh, preached a
          message of universal peace and justice.
          Currently the Bahai faith claims 5 million adherents around the globe. According to
          Ereli's statement, however, Bahais in Iran are systematically denied the right to assemble
          and worship freely and cannot maintain administrative institutions.
          Following is the text of Ereli's statement:
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
          Office of the Spokesman
          December 23, 2005
          STATEMENT BY ADAM ERELI, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN
          Iran: Death of Zabihullah Mahrami
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          Department/Press Release_State Department_12-23-2005 doc
          BP000520:
          
        

          
          The United States condemns the persecution and imprisonment of Zabihullah Mahrami
          for his belief in the Bahá'I Faith. After ten years in prison, Mr. Mahrami died on
          December 15. We offer our condolences to his family and loved ones. During his
          imprisonment, he received death threats and was forced to perform arduous physical
          labor.
          Unfortunately, Mr. Mahrami's incarceration is not unique. The Government of Iran is
          engaged in the systematic oppression of its citizens, including the persecution of
          individuals for religious, political and other reasons. Members of the country's religious
          minorities-including Sunni Muslims, Sufis, Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians-are
          frequently imprisoned, harassed, and intimidated based on their religious beliefs. Bahá'Is
          are systematically denied the right to assemble, maintain administrative institutions, or
          worship freely. Political dissidents are targeted, as has been the case with Akbar Ganji,
          an investigative journalist and human rights advocate who was charged with “acting
          against national security” in connection with his participation at a conference in Berlin.
          He has been in prison for five years.
          The United States calls on the government of Iran to allow freedom oçreligion for all
          Iranians, and to ensure the right to freedom of speech and expression for all its citizens,
          without fear of discrimination, intimidation or imprisonment.
          Created: 23 Dec 2005 Updated: 23 Dec 2005
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