TO THE EDITORS:

Seven citizens of Iran are in prison and awaiting trial and possible execution. Their only "crime'' is providing leadership to a religious community.

On Oct. 22, by a vote of 407-2, the U.S. House of Representatives condemned the Iranian government's persecution of 300,000 adherents of the Baha'i faith, the country's largest religious minority.

From the imprisonment of the faith's prophet-founder, Baha'u'llah, in 1852, to the hundreds of executions in the wake of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Baha'is living in the cradle of their faith have been regarded as apostates void of most legal rights.

The documented indignities include destruction of Baha'i holy sites, desecration of cemeteries, expulsion from universities and the denial of jobs and pensions.

The prominent Baha'is currently in prison are accused of "espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic,'' unfounded charges since Baha'is do not participate in partisan politics and are taught to "consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.''

The recent House Resolution 175 had 75 cosponsors, among them Rep. Joe Pitts. A similar resolution, SR 71, is pending in the Senate.

Concerned readers can contact Sens. Casey and Specter and urge them to cosponsor the Senate resolution.

Stewart Smith
Lancaster

(Editor's note: Smith is secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is of Lancaster.)