Updates of the persecution of Baha'is in Iran

[Popeyesays]

Originally Posted by UnityNow101

May God protect the Bahais of Iran. It is really disturbing because Ahmadinejad talked extensively about how they want to live in peace with everyone and that everyone is created with the same rights, yet he allows the Bahais of Iran to be persecuted on a daily basis. Do you think that it is Ahmadinejad that condones the treatment of the Bahais or could it be a practice that is upheld by the Ayatollahs of that country...Either Ahmadinejad is a sly and cunning politician, or his hands are shackled by the Ayatollahs and religious leaders of his country. Which do you believe it to be?

Ahmaninejad is not the sole authority in Iran. In fact he is subject to the authority of the religious council of Iran.

I am sure that he is just as much a victim of superstition and prejudice as any other religious supporter of the Islamic Revolution.

Regards,
Scott

[UnityNow101]

Doesn't Baha'u'llah prophesy that in the future a ruler will come to power in Iran that will be friendly to the Bahai's and uphold true justice in the land? If so, we can only pray that this come soon, as public opinion against Ahmadinejad seems to be growing. I just hope that this change doesn't come through violence, as an American invasion would most certainly spark a strong sense of nationalism in Iran, and could end up solidifying the power of the Ayatollahs and Ahmadinejad.

[mcteethinator]

that Bahai rights site doesn't have anything I could actually help with.

[arthra]

Originally Posted by UnityNow101

Doesn't Baha'u'llah prophesy that in the future a ruler will come to power in Iran that will be friendly to the Bahai's and uphold true justice in the land? If so, we can only pray that this come soon, as public opinion against Ahmadinejad seems to be growing. I just hope that this change doesn't come through violence, as an American invasion would most certainly spark a strong sense of nationalism in Iran, and could end up solidifying the power of the Ayatollahs and Ahmadinejad.

No Baha'is are hoping for violence ... in fact we are opposed to using any thing like that to defend our Faith... Holy War is forbidden for us.

The hope of the Baha'is if I can humbly say this... is in the international community and that eventually Iran and other countries will accept the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which spells out freedom of religion... that people are free to worship as they please and can change their religion if they wish without worryting about it. As member nations of the UN, both Iran and Egypt in a dejure sense are signatories to the Declaration...so all we hope for is that Baha'is will have the same rights as anyone else.

- Art

[arthra]

Originally Posted by mcteethinator

that Bahai rights site doesn't have anything I could actually help with.

Thanks for your post mcteeth! And welcome to the Baha'i forum at RF...

Tell me more about yourself..

- Art

[Popeyesays]

Originally Posted by UnityNow101

Doesn't Baha'u'llah prophesy that in the future a ruler will come to power in Iran that will be friendly to the Bahai's and uphold true justice in the land? If so, we can only pray that this come soon, as public opinion against Ahmadinejad seems to be growing. I just hope that this change doesn't come through violence, as an American invasion would most certainly spark a strong sense of nationalism in Iran, and could end up solidifying the power of the Ayatollahs and Ahmadinejad.

Here is the relevant quote:

""O God, my God! Baha beseecheth Thee and imploreth Thee, by the lights of Thy countenance and the billows of the ocean of Thy Revelation, and the effulgent splendors of the Sun of Thine utterance, to aid the Shah to be fair and equitable. If it be Thy wish, bless Thou, through him, the throne of authority and sovereignty. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. There is none other God but Thee, Who hearest, Who art ready to answer." "Rejoice with great joy, O Land of Ta (Tihran), for God hath made thee the dayspring of His light, inasmuch as within thee was born the Manifestation of His glory. Be thou glad for this name that hath been conferred upon thee -- a name through which the Daystar of grace hath shed its splendor, through which both earth and heaven have been illumined. Erelong will the state of affairs within thee be changed, and the reins of power fall into the hands of the people. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Knowing. His authority embraceth all things. Rest thou assured in the gracious favor of thy Lord. The eye of His loving-kindness shall everlastingly be directed towards thee. The day is approaching when thy agitation will have been transmuted into peace and quiet calm. Thus hath it been decreed in the Wondrous Book."
(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 148)

I would note that there has been a Republic TWICE in Iran since that time, but neither has championed the rights of the people to follow the dictates of their own souls in religion. In between those two Republics was a Royal household and it failed in that respect as well.

When the Iranian people are fed up with the rule of the ulama, then a true republic will be possible, or even a constitutional monarchy unleashed from the despotism of the ulama.

In neither process are the Baha`i's allowed to disobey whatever government is in power.

When the Islamic Republic made it illegal for the Baha`i administrative order to operate within Iran, the Baha`i's disbanded that administrative order within the country. As persecution tightened the Baha`i's have refrained from disobedience even at great personal cost.

Baha`i's are forbidden partisan political membership and forbidden disobedience. We must be law-abiding even when that law is persecutory.

Regards,
Scott

[mcteethinator]

Originally Posted by arthra

Thanks for your post mcteeth! And welcome to the Baha'i forum at RF...

Tell me more about yourself..

- Art

Well I just mean, that the site is good at notifying us but I don't actually know what I can do to help out.

[arthra]

That's cool Mcteeth ...everyone feels powerless at times but prayers and well wishing is always welcome!

- Art

[Popeyesays]

Pray for us. Pray for Iran to find justice. Discuss the situation with other Muslims when you get the chance. It all helps.

Thank you, and God bless you,

Scott

[arthra]

BAHA'I TESTIFIES AT U.N. ABOUT UNDERSTANDING AMONG RELIGIONS

UNITED NATIONS, 5 October 2007 (BWNS) -- A Baha'i from Tanzania - where
different religious communities live peacefully together - testified
yesterday before the United Nations General Assembly on how to promote
religious understanding.

Addressing an informal hearing on "Interreligious and Intercultural
Understanding and Cooperation for Peace," Mitra Deliri said that in her
country, "large Christian and Muslim populations live side by side,
intermarry and celebrate each other's religious festivals."

"It is a living example of religious pluralism," she said. "This
coexistence did not come about by accident but rather as a result of the
vision and deliberate action of Tanzanian leaders, dating back to the
country's first president...," she said.

Ms. Deliri, who represented the Baha'i International Community at the
two-day hearing, also said it was important for governments to create a
climate where freedom of religion or belief is clearly upheld in law
and in practice.

"Such a climate must be free from incitements to violence or hostility
in the name of religion," she said. "Where contentious opinions about
religions are expressed, it is the responsibility of the state to
provide for right of reply.

"As a minimum standard, both sides must be afforded the right to
respond in a peaceful and legal manner so as to allow the public to arrive at
their own conclusion. It is in this climate that understanding and
cooperation can take root," she said.

She recommended a number of strategies for promoting interreligious and
intercultural understanding. They included establishing a universal,
mandatory educational policy and curriculum on religion and education
and using the news media to promote respect, prevent conflict and achieve
increased social cohesion.

Ms. Deliri was among approximately two dozen representatives of
nongovernmental and religious organizations from around the world who
addressed the General Assembly yesterday.

Other speakers, for example, included Paul Knitter of the Union
Theological Seminary in the USA, Gamal I. Serour of the International Islamic
Center for Population Studies and Research at the Al Azhar Centre in
Egypt, Sohan Lal Gandhi of the Anuvrat Global Organization in India,
Fatima Ahmed of Zenab for Women in Development in Sudan, and Steven
Rockefeller of Earth Charter International in the United States.

The hearing on interreligious and intercultural understanding was
scheduled to continue today with a high-level dialogue among governments.

The Baha'i Faith, with its belief in the oneness of humanity and the
oneness of religion, has long promoted religious harmony and supported
interfaith dialogue and activity.





To view the photos and additional features click here:
http://news.bahai.org

--