A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the lack of due legal process for the seven Baha’is ''makes it hard to believe there is any basis to the charges or that they will receive a fair trial.”

The statement also noted concern that the charges are “part of a pattern of official discrimination against members of the Baha’i faith in Iran. Over the past eight months, we have regularly raised the Australian Government's concerns about the seven Baha'i detainees with the Iranian authorities now that they have been charged, we call on the Iranian government to ensure at the very least that the trial is fair and transparent.”