NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kit Cosby 202-833-8990
October 2, 1996 Margie Sonnenfeldt 202-828-8828

State Department Condemns Death Sentence Against Iranian Baha'i Convicted of
Apostasy -- Urges Iran to End Religious Persecution of Baha'is

The State Department has strongly condemned Iran's conviction of a Baha'i for
apostasy and called on the Iranian Government to repudiate the death sentence
recently imposed on Mr. Musa Talibi. In a special statement issued at
yesterday's press briefing, State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns urged
Iran to release all other Baha'is imprisoned on apostasy charges and to cease
its persecution of the Baha'is and other religious minorities in Iran.

Four Iranian Baha'is currently face death sentences on account of their
religious beliefs. On February 15, the State Department had issued a strong
appeal in the case of Mr. Zabihullah Mahrami, who had also been sentenced to
death for apostasy. Following the U.S. appeal and actions by U.N. officials
and representatives of other governments, Iran's Supreme Court referred the
Mahrami case to a civil court for re-trial. Two other Baha'is who have been
imprisoned since 1989 have also appealed death sentences based on their
religious beliefs.

U.S. Baha'i spokesman Firuz Kazemzadeh noted that Christians and other
converts from Islam could be in danger of prosecution if the apostasy
verdicts are upheld.

Following is the text of the State Department Spokesman's statement, withadditional background information provided by the American Baha'i community.

Statement by Nicholas Burns, State Department Spokesman, October 1, 1996

"We understand that Mr. Musa Talibi, an Iranian Baha'i, has
been sentenced to death for apostasy by a court of the
Government of Iran.

"The United States Government strongly condemns this
conviction and calls on the Government of Iran to repudiate
it immediately, to release Mr. Talibi from custody, and to
guarantee his safety. We further urge that the Government
of Iran release all other Baha'is imprisoned on apostasy
charges.

"The United States once again calls on the Government of
Iran to desist in its persecution of members of the Baha'i
and other religious minorities residing in Iran, and to
comply fully with the International Convention on Civil and
Political Rights."

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