Two Brazilian parliamentarians have issued statements in support of seven Baha’i educators imprisoned in Iran for four- and five-year jail terms. Federal Representative Luiz Couto, former president of the Human Rights Comission of the Federal Chamber of Deputies, said: "We all know the work that is developed by the Bahá'ís in Brazil in the areas of equality, justice and human rights; and many of us are also familiar with their educational work in the communities…Why can't these people have the right to profess their faith?" In his statement, Federal Deputy Roberto de Lucena, said "Maybe it is time that the Brazilian government re-evaluate our relations with Iran in a human rights perspective.”