04/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Ashton calls for release of Bahá'í leaders. The EU is “disturbed” by the decision that the original 20-year prison sentences against seven former Bahá'í leaders may have been re-instated and calls for their immediate release. In September, the seven had their sentences reduced to 10 years, but the full sentence has just been re-imposed without any explanation. “I call on the Iranian authorities to clarify the legal situation of the seven individuals concerned. They and their lawyers should be given the requisite access to all relevant documentation regarding their cases”, says Catherine Ashton in a press release. “The EU recalls that freedom of thought, conscience and religion are fundamental rights which must be guaranteed under all circumstances” under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ((ICCPR) to which the Islamic Republic of Iran has acceded. (H.B./transl.rt)