Iran must release a Bahai "prisoner of conscience” who contracted the novel coronavirus, the community's representative to the UN said on Thursday.
Farhad Fahandej, 61, from the northern city of Gorgan, is serving the eighth year of a 10-year sentence and suffers from gastrointestinal and heart diseases, Diane Alai told The National.
“The international community must call upon Iran to release all prisoners of conscience, just as the High Commissioner on Human Rights did yesterday,” Ms Alai said.
Mr Fahandej was charged with collaboration with hostile governments, disturbing national security, propaganda against the regime and the formation of hostile groups, she said.
“This imprisonment is unjust, like that of all Bahais wrongly imprisoned because of their beliefs, but during this global pandemic, when prisons are hotbeds of infection, keeping (or returning) Bahais to prison is akin to handing down a death sentence,” Ms Alai said.
The Bahai faith originated in Iran 150 years ago. It claims nearly 5 million followers worldwide, including an estimated 300,000 to 350,000 in Iran, where it is considered heretical by the country’s religious leaders.
Ms Alai’s call comes as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet expressed deep concern this week at the deteriorating situation of human rights defenders, lawyers and political prisoners held in Iran's prisons.
The UN official called on authorities in Tehran to release them in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the outbreak of the virus earlier this year, Iran has been one of the global hot spots of the pandemic, with nearly half a million cases and more than 27,000 deaths.
Its prison system suffers from overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions that have worsened during the pandemic, said a report by the UN High Commission for Human Rights.
“Shortages of water, hygiene products and disinfectant, insufficient protective equipment and testing kits as well as a lack of isolation spaces and inadequate medical care have led to the spread of the virus among detainees and have reportedly resulted in a number of deaths,” the report said.
Ms Bachelet said those imprisoned for their political views or other forms of support towards human rights should “not be imprisoned at all”.
“Such prisoners should certainly not be treated more harshly or placed at greater risk,” she said.
For years, human rights groups have denounced what they say is unlawful incarceration of the Bahais in the region, especially in Iran and Yemen, and have demanded that the minority be allowed to practise its faith freely.
The five pillars of Islam
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
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Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
