Baha'i Leaders Jailed in Iran

The Islamic government of Iran jailed six top Baha'i religious leaders this week. It appears that the action is contrary to the stated philosophy of the religion of peace.

Six Baha'i leaders in Iran were seized and imprisoned this week, the religious group said. The act prompted condemnation and concern from the movement and a top American religious freedom panel.

Iranian intelligence agents searched the homes of the six on Wednesday and then whisked them away, according to the Baha'i's World News Service. The report said the six are in Evin prison and that the arrests follow the detention in March of another Baha'i leader.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment, and the incident has not been mentioned in Iran's state-run media.

"Their only crime is their practice of the Baha'i faith," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i international community to the United Nations.

The Baha'i is the largest minority religious community in Iran and the government considers its followers to be apostates. Since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became president, attacks against the Baha'i have increased.

About 300,000 Iranians follow the Baha'i faith out of the 65 million total population in the country.

Also: The Jawa Report