Last October, seven prisoners in Iran escaped a near-certain death sentence.

Convicted of a string of offences, including "spreading corruption on earth", "espionage for Israel" and "insulting religious sanctities", the group will face the death penalty if convicted. The case appears to be of little relevance to Uganda until one learns of the religious affiliation of the group's members: all are leading figures of the minority Baha'i faith. Uganda itself boasts of some 110,000 Baha'i, and is also the only African nation to host a Baha'i temple.

Ugandan Baha'i on November 12 marked the 192nd birth anniversary of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith.

Allegations

The seven, namely Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm were arrested last year and all belong to a Baha'i leadership group known as 'Friends in Iran'. The Iranian government says the group were spreading the Baha'i faith (a crime in Iran) and spying for Israel.

The group refutes the allegations, claiming their activities pertained solely to matters affecting their own Baha'i community, and that these were done with the full knowledge of the government. Given the opaque nature of public information in Iran, it is hard to verify the authenticity of either version of events. The inconsistencies in the prosecution, the arrest of the group's own defence lawyer for unexplained reasons, and the global exposure the case has received, have led to an indefinite postponement of the trial.

"The pressure from the international community has previously restrained Iran's activity," said George Olinga, Director of the Baha'i Office for External Affairs (Uganda Chapter). "That pressure will definitely help now."

On August 12, the Uganda office submitted a letter to Ambassador James Mugume, the Permanent Secretary in Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting Uganda's intervention in this case.

Olinga says the Baha'i authorities are asking that they be granted rights such as bail and family visits.

Pressure

Olinga believes the Uganda government can play a crucial role in the case because Uganda is a member of the United Nations, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council until July 2010, and is host to a large Baha'i community.

"The Uganda government is on good terms with Iran," Olinga notes. "What we are asking Iran is to release the detainees on bail [...] then observers should make sure there is a fair trial."

The Uganda government is, in fact, unlikely to influence Iran's hand in this matter, as the Middle East nation remains a key ally and trade partner.

"I would have to find out about what is happening now," Ambassador Mugume admitted when asked about the government's position on the case. "The Iranians said it would be handled according to their laws. We waited to see how they would handle it under Iranian laws."

Political

Iran's Ambassador to Uganda, HE Ali A. Dabiran, backed his country's own courts to settle the matter, but indicated that he had not received any official communication from Tehran about the seven detainees.

"This is an internal matter of Iran," he stated. Iran considers the Baha'i a political rather than religious organisation, often accusing its members of indulging in anti-state activities. But Dabiran insisted that, "Nobody in Iran is persecuted for being Baha'i, but [rather] for the acts they have performed."

"The history of the Islamic Republic of Iran shows they [the Baha'i] have been elements of the Zionist community," he said.

Tehran strongly believes the Baha'i are sponsored by its arch-enemy Israel, on whose behalf it conducts espionage. The suspicion has its roots in Tehran's conviction that the Baha'i were conduits between the Jewish state and the despotic regime of the American-backed Shah of Iran who was swept from power by the current Islamic regime.

The Baha'i have consistently rejected the allegations and cite the non-involvement in political affairs as a cornerstone of their faith. In turn, they accuse the Iranian state of persistent violation of human rights of Baha'i. They say that although there are over 300,000 Baha'i in Iran today, making them the country's largest minority, the Iranian Constitution does not recognise their faith. They add that Baha'i tend to be treated as second-class citizens and face discrimination when attempting to access education and employment.

The Baha'i faith

The Baha'i faith was founded by Baha'u'llah (Arabic for 'the glory of God'). Born into a wealthy Tehran family, he would later exchange a life of comfort for one of persecution. A follower of the radical Babi faith, he was imprisoned and exiled, but his trials led him into intense philosophical speculation and revelations that resulted in his founding of the Baha'i faith, and making him its messenger.

Islam, however, believes that Prophet Muhammed is the last and final of God's messengers to walk on earth, and may not be succeeded by any other. This, according to Islamic tenets, makes Baha'u'llah a false prophet, and his teachings heresy. Unsurprisingly, Baha'u'llah was forced into exile for his faith. His shrine, enclosing his remains, is in Acre, Israel, while his most important teachings are collected in the Kitab-i-Aqdas ('The Most Holy Book') that forms the basis for Baha'i administration.

Today, the Baha'i faith is established in over 200 countries, drawing members from diverse cultures, ethnic groups, tribes and economic backgrounds. It has been practised in Uganda since 1951.

While Kampala is home to Africa's only Baha'i House of Worship, others are found in India, Panama, USA, Germany, Australia and Samoa.