Seven-day campaign for seven imprisoned leaders

Seven-day campaign for seven imprisoned leaders

The New Zealand Baha'i Community has joined a worldwide seven-day campaign to mark the seventh anniversary of the incarceration of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran. The seven formed the entire membership of the now-disbanded ad hoc group known as the “Yaran” or “Friends,” tending to the spiritual and social needs of the Iranian Baha’i community in the absence of formally elected Baha’i leadership, which was banned in 1983. The social media campaign was launched to highlight the harsh 20-year prison sentences meted out to the leaders, who were imprisoned solely because of their religious beliefs.

Paddy Payne, a spokesperson for the NZ Baha'i Community, said they had already made a significant contribution to the campaign by sharing a music video crafted by New Zealand musicians, Grant Hindin Miller and Sonbol Taefi. A day after its recent release the video already had over 10,000 plays. “Our hope is that the Baha’i leaders and other prisoners of conscience will hear of our support, and know that people across the world have not forgotten them.”

The campaign runs from May 14 to May 20. “People around the world will join Baha'is in this global campaign,” said Mr Payne. “We invite our fellow New Zealanders to also be part of it.”

ENDS

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