Prayer service set for Baha'i victims

The Baha’i community of Nashua will host an interfaith prayer gathering Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, with an invitation extended to the city’s Interfaith Council and anyone else who would like to attend.

The gathering is to express concern and support for the seven members of the Baha’i religion who have been in prison in Iran for nearly a year and who are now on trial on false charges of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic,” according to Alhan Irwin of the Nashua Baha’i community.

The Unitarian Universalist Church is at 58 Lowell St.; those attending are advised to park across Canal Street at Margarita’s.

“We have deep concern regarding the serious situation for our fellow Baha’is in Iran,” said Irwin. “They will appear before the revolutionary court within the next few days, though no evidence has been brought to light. The false charges follow years of harassment and propaganda by the Iranian government against the Baha’is.”

Since 1979, more that 200 Baha’is have been killed in Iran, and many are still imprisoned. The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced a resolution to protest the persecution.