Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Azhei, spokesman for Iran’s judiciary, described the meeting between Faeezeh Hashemi and Fariba Kamalabadi, one of the leaders of the Bahai community in Iran, as a “very ugly and despicable” act and stated that this matter will be addressed in accordance with the law.
Azhei said today, Wednesday, May 19: “This was a very ugly and despicable act. What is uglier than this act is that after all the condemnations and even after her father advised her against it, she did not apologize.”
He added: “The judicial system pursues every crime that occurs in its own category, and this matter, like other cases, will be dealt with appropriately and in accordance with the law and based on what the law has stipulated.”
Faeezeh Hashemi was imprisoned together with Fariba Kamalabadi, and a few days ago when Ms. Kamalabadi was released on leave after eight years of imprisonment, Ms. Hashemi, along with several other cellmates and political and social activists, visited Ms. Kamalabadi.
The publication of photos from this meeting sparked widespread reactions. Among others, Sadiq Zibakalam, a professor of political science at Tehran University, said that Ms. Hashemi’s action was correct and praiseworthy in every respect.
Zibakalam, referring to accounts of the respectful and friendly treatment shown by the Prophet of Islam and the Shia Imams toward non-Muslims, spoke about imprisoned Bahais, asking: “What is really the crime of these people who have been in prison for 8 years, some even longer? Did these individuals commit espionage and give state secrets to foreigners and betray their country?”
