LONDON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The British government has expressed "deep concern" over the harassment of the Baha'i religious community in Iraq, a British foreign minister said.
Alistair Burt, the British Foreign Office minister for the Middle East, said London was continuing to stand by members of what he said was a repressed community in Iran.
"I have deep concern at the ongoing harassment of Baha'is in Iran," he said in a statement. "In particular, we have not forgotten the plight of the seven Baha'i leaders whose appeal process continues following their appalling conviction to 20 years in prison in August."
An indictment against seven members of the Baha'i religious community in Iran accuses them of "espionage for foreign elements."
They were formally sentenced to prison in an Iranian court in August.
An Iranian court accused the group of collaborating with "foreign elements" with the intent of "distorting" the reputation of the Islamic republic.
Iranian law doesn't recognize Baha'ism, a faith founded in 19th century Persia, as a legitimate religion. A ban on the Baha'i activities was imposed in 1983.
