Updates of the persecution of Baha'is in Iran (tradition, attend)

[9harmony]

Congressman Mark S Kirk, serving the 10th District of Illinois, wrote an article about the Baha'i Faith in relation to the visit of the president of Iran to address students at Columbia University.

Congressman Kirk is not a Baha'i, but has brought visiting dignitaries to the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette on several occasions.




Then They Came for the Baha'is

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speec...he_Bahais.html

[arthra]

U.N. COMMITTEE APPROVES RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS IN IRAN

NEW YORK, 20 November 2007 (BWNS) -- NEW YORK - A committee of the
United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution today expressing
"deep concern" about "ongoing systematic violations of human rights" in
Iran.

Put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 41 other countries, the
resolution took note of repression and persecution aimed by the Iranian
government at groups ranging from women and women's rights defenders to the
news media and labor groups, as well as various ethnic and religious
minorities, including Iranian Baha'is.

The resolution passed the General Assembly's Third Committee by a vote
of 72 to 50 with 55 abstentions on 20 November 2007. The vote
essentially assures passage of the resolution in a final vote by the entire
Assembly scheduled for December.

Its passage followed a call by Iran for "no action" on the motion, a
vote that itself failed by 78 to 79, with 24 abstentions. That vote, also
taken today, was seen as an important test of the General Assembly's
will to examine human rights issues in specific countries when
warranted.

"We are pleased that the General Assembly did not shy away from its
responsibility to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as
identified in the U.N. Charter," said Bani Dugal, the principal
representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.

"Not only for Iranian Baha'is but for other persecuted groups and
individuals in Iran, expressions of concern by the international community
such as this remain the most important source of protection and
encouragement.

"And it is especially important that Iran's efforts to sideline this
kind of resolution through procedural maneuvering has failed again this
year," said Ms. Dugal. "The vote against the so-called 'no action'
motion before passage of the resolution itself makes a powerful statement
about the importance of country-specific resolutions such as this."

A "no action" motion is a procedure that, if passed, will prevent
member states at the United Nations from even debating a particular
resolution. It is being increasingly used to allow countries to avoid having to
give a yes-or-no vote on politically sensitive issues, such as human
rights, and so to escape the scrutiny of the world at large, Ms. Dugal
explained.

The resolution itself clearly describes a deteriorating human rights
situation in Iran, expressing "serious concern" about "confirmed
instances" of "torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment, including flogging and amputations"; public executions, including
stoning, and the "[a] rrests, violent repression, and sentencing of women
exercising their right to peaceful assembly, a campaign of intimidation
against women's human rights defenders, and continuing discrimination
against women and girls."

The resolution also notes "increasing discrimination and other human
rights violations against persons belonging to religious, ethnic,
linguistic or other minorities" including Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds,
Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and Baha'is.

Regarding Baha'is, the resolution notes particularly that there have
been "attacks on Baha'is and their faith in State-sponsored media,
increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Baha'is
and prevention of (Baha'is) from attending university and from
sustaining themselves economically; an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and
detention."

The resolution also discusses "ongoing, systemic and serious
restrictions of freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of
opinion and expression, including those imposed on the media and trade
unions, and increasing harassment, intimidation and persecution of
political opponents and human rights defenders, from all sectors of Iranian
society, including arrests and violent repression of labour leaders,
labour members peacefully assembling and students."

For more information, visit http://news.bahai.org

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

[UnityNow101]

YouTube - Iran president on Baha'is at UN press conference

I don't know if everyone has seen this, but it is Ahmadinejad's reaction when a question is posed about the Bahai religion and his usage of the term Divine Prophets.

[arthra]

Thanks for your post Unity!


- Art

[arthra]

U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY EXPRESSES "DEEP CONCERN" ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS IN
IRAN

UNITED NATIONS, 19 December 2007 (BWNS) -- The United Nations General
Assembly yesterday adopted a resolution expressing "deep concern" about
"ongoing systematic violations of human rights" in Iran.

Adopted by a final vote of 73 to 53, with 55 abstentions, the
resolution took note of repression and persecution aimed by the Iranian
government at groups ranging from women and women's rights defenders to the
news media and labor groups, as well as various ethnic and religious
minorities, including Baha'is.

"We are happy that the General Assembly, the most globally
representative body of United Nations, has seen fit once again this year to call
attention to the dire situation in Iran, where Baha'is and other groups
continue to face oppression and persecution by the government," said
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International
Community to the United Nations.

"Our hope now is that the Iranian government will heed the opinion of
the international community and stop the systematic violation of human
rights directed against its own people," said Ms. Dugal.

The resolution, put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 41 other
countries, describes the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran,
expressing "serious concern" about "confirmed instances" of "torture and
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging
and amputations"; public executions, including stoning, and "arrests,
violent repression, and sentencing of women exercising their right to
peaceful assembly, a campaign of intimidation against women's human rights
defenders, and continuing discrimination against women and girls."

The resolution, the 20th on Iran since 1985, also notes "increasing
discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging
to religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minorities" including Arabs,
Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and
Baha'is.

Regarding Baha'is, the resolution notes particularly that there have
been "attacks on Baha'is and their faith in State-sponsored media,
increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Baha'is
and prevention of (Baha'is) from attending university and from
sustaining themselves economically; an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and
detention."


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

--

[arthra]

Press Statement
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 23, 2008



Death of Imprisoned Student in Iran


The United States is deeply concerned about the tragic death under suspicious circumstances of Ebrahim Lotfallahi, an Iranian student of Kurdish descent detained by the Ministry of Intelligence on January 6. We call on Iranian authorities to conduct a full investigation. The Iranian regime continues to deprive its citizens of a future free of fear, abuse, and arbitrary arrest. We urge the regime to release all individuals held without due process and a fair trial, including the three young Baha'i teachers being held in a Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Shiraz and the three Amir Kabir University students that prison authorities refuse to free despite an order issued by an Iranian judge in late December.
2008/049



Released on January 23, 2008



Source:

Death of Imprisoned Student in Iran

[arthra]

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, US STATE DEPARTMENT CALL FOR RELEASE OF BAHA'I
PRISONERS IN IRAN

GENEVA, 30 January 2008 (BWNS) -- In the wake of a US State Department
call for Iran to release Baha'i prisoners, Amnesty International has
issued an "urgent action" appeal on their behalf.

The three prisoners were taken into custody in Shiraz, Iran, last
November and are serving a four-year sentence on charges connected entirely
with their belief and practice in the Baha'i Faith.

"We urge the regime to release all individuals held without due process
and a fair trial, including the three young Baha'i teachers being held
in a Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Shiraz," said Sean
McCormack, a spokesman for the State Department on 23 January 2008.

Amnesty International issued its appeal on 25 January. It calls for
human rights activists around the world to write directly to Iranian
government officials on behalf of the Baha'i prisoners, asking why they have
been detained and calling on authorities not to ill-treat or torture
them.

"Haleh Rouhi Jahromi, Raha Sabet Sarvestani and Sasan Taqva, all
Baha'is (a religious minority), have been detained by the Ministry of
Intelligence in Shiraz since 19 November 2007," states the appeal, which was
posted on Amnesty International's Web site on 25 January 2008.

"Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian,
Arabic, English or your own language," the appeal advises, "stating that
Amnesty International would consider them to be prisoners of conscience
if they are detained because of their Baha'i faith... calling for their
release if they are not to be charged with a recognizably criminal
offence and brought to trial promptly and fairly" and "calling on the
authorities not to torture or ill-treat them..."

The Amnesty International appeal recounts the story of the three
prisoners, who were initially part of a group of 54 Baha'is who were arrested
in May 2006 as they took part in an effort to educate underprivileged
children in Shiraz.

Most of the 54 were released after a few days, although Ms. Rouhi, Ms.
Sabet and Mr. Taqva were held for about a month. Then, in August 2007,
53 of those arrested were notified by a local court that they were
accused of "offenses relating to state security," according to the appeal.

Ms. Rouhi, Ms. Sabet and Mr. Taqva, moreover, were sentenced to four
years in prison, although they remained out on bail. Then, on 19 November
2007, the three were told by telephone to go to the Ministry of
Information office in Shiraz to retrieve items that had been confiscated in
the May 2006 arrests. Instead, they were incarcerated.

"When they did not return home, family members who had accompanied them
were given conflicting information by intelligence officials," says
the appeal. "The officials tried to claim that the three had not entered
the building, even though their relatives had seen them do so.
Eventually, their relatives were informed that the three were still being held
at the Office of the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz."

The appeal lists the ages of the prisoners as follows: Ms. Rouhi, 29;
Ms. Sabet, 33; and Mr. Taqva, 32.

According to the AI Web site, urgent action appeals are transmitted to
a network of more than 100,000 human rights activists in 70 countries.

Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community
to the United Nations in Geneva, said that the BIC is gravely concerned
for the welfare of the three Baha'i prisoners.

"We hope that the urgent action appeal from Amnesty International, as a
signal from human rights defenders worldwide, and the US State
Department's statement, will help resolve their unjust detentions," she said.

Ms. Ala'i said the appeal was especially timely because Mr. Taqva has
an injured leg, from an automobile accident before his imprisonment,
which requires medical attention.

"The problem with his leg is extremely serious and painful," said Ms.
Ala'i. "It is understood that he requires surgery to remove a metal pin
that had been inserted previously."

Ms. Ala'i said that charges against the three, rather than involving
any legitimate concern over "state security" stem entirely from
accusations by the court that the Baha'is had been involved in the "indirect
teaching" of the Baha'i Faith.

"In fact," said Ms. Ala'i, "the three individuals were engaged in an
effort to help underprivileged children in their city, through a program
of training that emphasizes moral virtues.

"It is mind-boggling that the government of Iran would consider such
efforts to be any type of threat -- and wholly unwarranted that such
activities should result in lengthy prison sentence.

"There is no doubt that these three are prisoners of conscience, held
solely because of their belief in and practice of the Baha'i Faith,"
said Ms. Ala'i. "We know this because among those arrested in May 2006
were some individuals who are not Baha'is. They were released within a day
and have never faced charges."

The US State Department statement also took note of the "death under
suspicious circumstances" of Ebrahim Lotfallahi, an Iranian student of
Kurdish descent detained by the Ministry of Intelligence on January 6.
"We call on Iranian authorities to conduct a full investigation," said
Mr. McCormack. His statement also expressed concern over the continued
detention of three Amir Kabir University students.

The Amnesty International appeal can be read in full at
Iran: UA 25/08 - Possible prisoners of conscience/fear of torture or ill-treatment | Amnesty International

The US Department of State statement can be read at:
Death of Imprisoned Student in Iran


To view the photos and additional features click here:
Bahá'í World News Service - Bahá'í International Community

[arthra]

Haleh Rouhi

Amnesty International, US State Department call for release of Baha'i prisoners in Iran

GENEVA
29 January 2008 (BWNS)

In the wake of a US State Department call for Iran to release Baha'i prisoners, Amnesty International has issued an "urgent action" appeal on their behalf.
The three prisoners were taken into custody in Shiraz, Iran, last November and are serving a four-year sentence on charges connected entirely with their belief and practice in the Baha'i Faith.
"We urge the regime to release all individuals held without due process and a fair trial, including the three young Baha'i teachers being held in a Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Shiraz," said Sean McCormack, a spokesman for the State Department on 23 January 2008.
Amnesty International issued its appeal on 25 January. It calls for human rights activists around the world to write directly to Iranian government officials on behalf of the Baha'i prisoners, asking why they have been detained and calling on authorities not to ill-treat or torture them.
"Haleh Rouhi Jahromi, Raha Sabet Sarvestani and Sasan Taqva, all Baha'is (a religious minority), have been detained by the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz since 19 November 2007," states the appeal, which was posted on Amnesty International's Web site on 25 January 2008.
"Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language," the appeal advises, "stating that Amnesty International would consider them to be prisoners of conscience if they are detained because of their Baha'i faith... calling for their release if they are not to be charged with a recognizably criminal offence and brought to trial promptly and fairly" and "calling on the authorities not to torture or ill-treat them..."







Sasan Taqva


The Amnesty International appeal recounts the story of the three prisoners, who were initially part of a group of 54 Baha'is who were arrested in May 2006 as they took part in an effort to educate underprivileged children in Shiraz.
Most of the 54 were released after a few days, although Ms. Rouhi, Ms. Sabet and Mr. Taqva were held for about a month. Then, in August 2007, 53 of those arrested were notified by a local court that they were accused of "offenses relating to state security," according to the appeal.
Ms. Rouhi, Ms. Sabet and Mr. Taqva, moreover, were sentenced to four years in prison, although they remained out on bail. Then, on 19 November 2007, the three were told by telephone to go to the Ministry of Information office in Shiraz to retrieve items that had been confiscated in the May 2006 arrests. Instead, they were incarcerated.
Raha Sabet



"When they did not return home, family members who had accompanied them were given conflicting information by intelligence officials," says the appeal. "The officials tried to claim that the three had not entered the building, even though their relatives had seen them do so. Eventually, their relatives were informed that the three were still being held at the Office of the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz."
The appeal lists the ages of the prisoners as follows: Ms. Rouhi, 29; Ms. Sabet, 33; and Mr. Taqva, 32.
According to the AI Web site, urgent action appeals are transmitted to a network of more than 100,000 human rights activists in 70 countries.
Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, said that the BIC is gravely concerned for the welfare of the three Baha'i prisoners.
"We hope that the urgent action appeal from Amnesty International, as a signal from human rights defenders worldwide, and the US State Department's statement, will help resolve their unjust detentions," she said.
Ms. Ala'i said the appeal was especially timely because Mr. Taqva has an injured leg, from an automobile accident before his imprisonment, which requires medical attention.
"The problem with his leg is extremely serious and painful," said Ms. Ala'i. "It is understood that he requires surgery to remove a metal pin that had been inserted previously."
Ms. Ala'i said that charges against the three, rather than involving any legitimate concern over "state security" stem entirely from accusations by the court that the Baha'is had been involved in the "indirect teaching" of the Baha'i Faith.
"In fact," said Ms. Ala'i, "the three individuals were engaged in an effort to help underprivileged children in their city, through a program of training that emphasizes moral virtues.
"It is mind-boggling that the government of Iran would consider such efforts to be any type of threat -- and wholly unwarranted that such activities should result in lengthy prison sentence.
"There is no doubt that these three are prisoners of conscience, held solely because of their belief in and practice of the Baha'i Faith," said Ms. Ala'i. "We know this because among those arrested in May 2006 were some individuals who are not Baha'is. They were released within a day and have never faced charges."
The US State Department statement also took note of the "death under suspicious circumstances" of Ebrahim Lotfallahi, an Iranian student of Kurdish descent detained by the Ministry of Intelligence on January 6. "We call on Iranian authorities to conduct a full investigation," said Mr. McCormack. His statement also expressed concern over the continued detention of three Amir Kabir University students.
The Amnesty International appeal can be read in full at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/report/info/MDE13/017/2008
The US Department of State statement can be read at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/jan/99632.htm
Read this story in Persian