US Government Agency Calls For Release of Baha’i Falsely Accused as Israeli Spy
BERLIN — The Washington-based United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urged on Thursday that the Iranian regime allied Houthi authorities in Yemen comply with their March 25 public commitment to release Baha’i religious prisoner of conscience Hamid bin Haydara, along with 24 other detained Baha’is.
“Enough of the delays! The Houthis must implement their commitment to release and drop all charges against Hamid bin Haydara and 24 other detained Yemeni Baha’is,” said USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore, who advocates for bin Haydara as part of USCIRF’s Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project.
“The Houthis were right to abandon their March 22 decision to impose a death sentence on Mr. bin Haydara and to dissolve Baha’i institutions in Yemen. But, this decision is meaningless if they do not act upon it. It is also time for all persecution of the Baha’is in Yemen to end, now,” he added.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the US Congress.
“The Houthi commitment to freedom for Mr. bin Haydara was made unequivocally, and it must be enacted without delay,” USCIRF Vice Chair Gayle Manchin said. “Mr. bin Haydara must now be released and returned to his family.”
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