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Springfield’s Baha’i community will hold a prayer service Sunday at the Library Station for seven Iranian citizens who are on trial in Iran, facing charges of espionage. KSMU's Jennifer Moore has details.

According to the US State Department, five men and two women, all of the Baha’i faith, have been detained in Iran for over 20 months, with little access to legal counsel and without any evidence against them being made public.

Local Baha’i leader Carl Haworth says he believes the seven leaders are being persecuted solely because of their faith.

“This group was arrested and told they were an illegal organization. Then, as time went on, they were then charged with everything from corruption on earth, a religious charge, to espionage with Israel, and several of what they considered to be illegal activities,” Haworth says.

He says Sunday’s prayer service at The Library Station on N. Kansas Expressway will begin at 1:30 and is open to the public.

The US State Department has condemned Iran’s decision to put the religious leaders on trial.

The Baha’i faith is a monotheistic religion that originated in 19th century Persia, or what is now Iran. Its founder was Baha’ullah, whom followers believe was a messenger from God. He taught that people should avoid things which divide them, such as extreme wealth and poverty, as well as prejudice.

For KSMU News, I’m Jennifer Moore.

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