Axworthy Condemns Sentencing of Baha'is

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FEBRUARY 16, 2000

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today condemned the imposition of death sentences on three members of Iran's Baha'i community.

"Canadians are greatly disturbed by the persecution of Baha'is. The Iranian government's decision to reaffirm death sentences on two individuals of that faith, and to impose the death sentence on yet another, simply for practising their religion, is unacceptable," said the Minister. "We call upon the Government of Iran to suspend the court judgments and to spare the lives of Sirus Zabihi-Moghaddam, Hedayet Kashefi-Najafabadi and Manuchehr Khulusi."

Mr. Axworthy called on the Government of Iran to respect the rights of all minorities and to abide by its international commitments on human rights.

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