Iranian authorities have notified the lawyers of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders that the next session of their trial will be held on February 7, 2010, the Baha'i International Community announced today.

After 20 months in prison, with limited access to their attorneys, the defendants— Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm—had their first court appearance on January 12, at which time their charges were read to them.

According to accounts in Iran’s state-sponsored news media, the charges against the seven prisoners were: espionage, “propaganda activities against the Islamic order,” the establishment of an “illegal administration,” cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and “corruption on earth.”

“While we know little about what actually took place inside the court, we can now say for certain that these seven innocent Baha'is stood up and firmly rejected all of the charges against them,” said Diane Alá’í of the Baha'i International Community.

Six of the seven defendants were arrested on May 14, 2008, at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Mahvash Sabet was arrested on March 5, 2008, while in Mashhad. They have been held in Tehran’s Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there without formal charges or any access to lawyers.

Read more from the Baha’i World News Service

Also visit http://iran.bahai.us for information about the trial and links to related media coverage.