CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — The local Bahá'í community has expressed shock at the tragic execution of Mr Ruhu' llah Rawhani, their co-believer, on July 21, 1998, in Mashhad, Iran.

In a statement issued today, Prof Anil Sarwal, chairman, Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís said the Bahá'í community was shocked to hear about the execution and was concerned about the situation of Bahá'ís in Iran.

He said that whatsoever may be the official assertion of the Iranian Government, community in Iran remain unprotected. There was no evidence that Mr Rawhani was accorded any legal process and no sentence was announced. It appeared certain that he was not allowed access to a lawyer, he alleged.