Kanadischer Außenminister fordert Freilassung der verurteilten BIHE-Dozenten

John Baird ist seit Mai 2011 Außenminister Kanadas. Er gehört der Conservative Party of Canada an. Foto: news.gc.ca

Der kanadische Außenminister John Baird veröffentlichte gestern folgende Stellungnahme bezüglich der Verfolgung der Bahá’í im Iran. Kanada bleibe “sehr besorgt”, auch wegen der jüngsten Urteile gegen sieben Bahá’í, die sich im Rahmen des Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education für das Recht auf Bildung junger Bahá’í im Iran einsetzten. Seine Regierung forderte den Iran, diese Bahá’í umgehend frei zu lassen.

“Canada remains deeply concerned by the ongoing persecution of religious minorities in Iran, including members of the Bahá’í and Christian communities.
“Iranian authorities recently sentenced seven educators of the Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education to four- to five-year jail sentences. These seven people have been detained since the spring of 2008. The basis of the charges against them is unclear. Canada calls for their immediate release.
“Iranian authorities refuse to recognize the fundamental right of Bahá’ís to practise their faith. Dozens are currently imprisoned for their beliefs. This is unacceptable.
“Freedom of religion is a universal human right that Canada continues to champion, as it did at the United Nations General Assembly.
“We call on Iran to uphold the freedom of all people to practise their faith, whatever it is, without fear of persecution.”

Bereits am 26. September sagte Außenminister Baird vor der UN-Gerenalversammlung, die derzeit in New York ihre 66. Sitzung begeht:

As citizens of the global community, we have a solemn duty to defend the vulnerable, to challenge the aggressor, to protect and promote human rights and human dignity, at home and abroad:
Women, Christians, Bahá’í and other victims of persecution in Iran.
Roman Catholics priests and other Christian clergy, and their laity, driven to worship underground in China.
Christians being driven out of Iraq by Al Qaeda and Copts being assaulted and killed in Egypt.
In Burma, the regime discriminates against several forms of Buddhism and restricts the activities of Muslims. In other places, the Ahmadiyya community faces violence.
Gays and lesbians threatened with criminalization of their sexuality in Uganda.
And other minorities subjected to persecution, oppression or violence.
Our nationalities are many, but we share one humanity.

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