Eine Serie von Sonderbriefmarken der niederländischen Post zeigt die Bilder von Menschenrechtsaktivisten aus dem Iran, die sich derzeit für ihre Tätigkeiten in iranischer Haft befinden. Einer der abgebildeten Gefangenen ist Mahvash Sabet, eines der sieben Mitglieder der ehemaligen Führung der iranischen Bahá’í-Gemeinde. Darauf weist der Bahá’í World News Service hin.
„It’s very moving to see the face of someone who has been willing to sacrifice everything for her values going out on letters and postcards all over the world,“ said Marga Maartens of the Netherlands Baha’i community.
A trained psychologist, Mrs. Sabet worked as a teacher and a principal at several schools. After the 1979 Islamic revolution, however, along with thousands of other Baha’i educators, she was fired from her job and barred from working in public education.
Mrs. Sabet has been incarcerated since 5 March 2008. She was the first to be arrested of a seven-member, national-level ad hoc group that helped attend to the needs of Iran’s 300,000-strong Baha’i community. After an illegal 30-month detention, the seven were tried on trumped-up charges and each sentenced in August 2010 to 20 years in jail.
„In many ways, this stamp not only represents the seven leaders – and the other 90 or so Baha’i prisoners in Iran – but all who are victimized for standing up for their principles,“ said Ms. Maartens.
„At a time when the Iranian authorities are clamping down on community initiatives to educate young Baha’is who are banned from university, Mrs. Sabet – as a teacher, a mother and a Baha’i – symbolizes a commitment to education, and the right to freedom of religion for all.“
Die Sondermarke wurde mit einer Auflage von 5.000 Stück herausgegeben und kann als vollwertige Briefmarke verwendet werden.