| ←333 | Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1986-2001 | 335→ |
| 10 MAY 2000 |
To all National Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
334.1 We are pleased to be able to inform you that the Universal House of Justice has just been notified by the Friends in Iran that Mr. Manúchihr Khulúsí, who had been held in Mashhad under sentence of death, has been released. It is not clear what gave rise to his release nor the status of the verdict against him.
334.2 At the time of his arrest on 9 June 1999, Mr. Khulúsí was visiting Bírjand for a meeting with the responsible Friends of that town. About six days later he was moved to a prison in Mashhad, where he was held in solitary confinement for some time, and his interrogation involved beating. The charges brought against Mr. Khulúsí are not known, but it is clear that they related to his being a Bahá’í. His trial took place in Branch 3 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mashhad on 7 and 8 September 1999, and the death sentence was announced on 3 February 2000. Mr. Khulúsí was not permitted to meet with his lawyer, and his attempts to submit an appeal against the verdict within the 20-day period allowed were denied. His wife succeeded in submitting a statement to Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Courts, and sent a copy by post to Branch 3 of the Supreme Court.
334.3 The House of Justice is delighted at Mr. Khulúsí's release, and prays that it will presage similar treatment for the eleven other dear friends known to be unjustly held in Iranian prisons by reason of their Faith, and particularly for the five under sentence of death. . . .
- With loving Bahá’í greetings,
- DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARIAT
