A group of United Nations independent human rights experts has called on Iran to "immediately and unconditionally" release seven Baha'i community leaders.
Authorities arrested the seven in 2008 and reportedly held them in custody for more than 20 months without charges.
They later received 20-year prison sentences in 2010 on charges that included espionage and "propaganda against the regime."
In a statement on May 13, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights quoted human rights expert El Hadji Malick Sow as saying the Baha'i leaders are imprisoned "solely for managing the religious and administrative affairs of their community."
In his March report to the UN Human Right Council, Special Rapporteur on Iran Ahmed Shahid said at least 110 Baha’is had been imprisoned since the beginning of the year.
Authorities arrested the seven in 2008 and reportedly held them in custody for more than 20 months without charges.
They later received 20-year prison sentences in 2010 on charges that included espionage and "propaganda against the regime."
In a statement on May 13, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights quoted human rights expert El Hadji Malick Sow as saying the Baha'i leaders are imprisoned "solely for managing the religious and administrative affairs of their community."
In his March report to the UN Human Right Council, Special Rapporteur on Iran Ahmed Shahid said at least 110 Baha’is had been imprisoned since the beginning of the year.