IRAN: A glimpse into the Bahai seven’s coming trial

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A trial date has been set for seven leaders of the Bahai community in Iran who have been detained in Tehran’s Evin Prison since the spring of 2008, one of their lawyers said.

After multiple delays, a new date of Oct. 18 has been set, lawyer Abdul-Fatah Soltani said. Soltani, who was recently released from the prison himself, said the group faces seven charges, including two very serious ones: ‘corrupting the Earth’ and ‘espionage for Israel.’

Both are capital offenses, but Soltani said he doesn’t think they will be sentenced to death, even if convicted. He offered a preview of their defense.

‘The Bahais believe in noninvolvement in politics, and their connection with their coreligionists in other countries cannot be espionage, as all Catholic churches here have organic connections to the Holy See in the Vatican and they even may send their financial contributions.’

The seven were in charge of overseeing births, marriages and further learning for high school graduates in the country .

-- Amber Smith in Los Angeles