NGO to hold protest at Iran Embassy over rights abuse

NGO Human Rights Defence International (HRDI) today demanded immediate release of seven leaders of the Baha'i Faith jailed in Iran and called for an end to what it described as the state-sponsored persecution of the community in the western Asian country.
The NGO has also decided to hold a demonstration in front of the Iran Embassy here over their demands as it maintains that the Baha'i community has been deprived of its basic rights in Iran.
In 2008, seven leaders leaders, among them two women, were arrested and charged with "spreading corruption on Earth". They were handed 20-year terms, the longest given to any prisoners of conscience in Iran, the NGO said.

"The demonstration is amongst a series of moves which have been planned to put pressure on Iranian authorities to end the religious persecution of the Baha'i community and ensure immediate release of the seven leaders," Rajesh Gogna, General Secretary, HRDI, said during the symposium, 'A faith denied: The persecution of Baha'i in Iran'.
He added that HRDI will submit memorandums to the Indian and the Iranian governments as well as to United Nations underlining their demands.
Making an appeal for people to stand in solidarity with the victims of human rights abuse, R Venkataramani, Member, Law Commission, expressed surprise that human rights violations were taking place even in countries with rich civilisational history.