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

[arthra]

IRANIAN MEDIA ATTACKS ON BAHA'IS AND NOBEL PRIZE WINNER SHIRIN EBADI SEEK TO STIR "IRRATIONAL FEARS AND PREJUDICES"

NEW YORK, 12 August 2008 (BWNS) -- Fraudulent claims in the Iranian news media about seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders and the efforts of Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and others to defend them represent an effort by the government to prevent Baha'is from having adequate legal representation - and also to stir up "irrational fears and prejudices," the Baha'i International Community said in a statement today.

"Reports published in government-run news outlets point to an effort on the part of the authorities to use the mass media to spread accusations that the seven prisoners have engaged in subversive activities, and to continue to deprive these Baha'is from any access to legal counsel by maligning Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, the well-known Iranian human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner who, together with her colleagues, has stated her readiness to defend the Baha'is," said the statement.

The statement, posted to the Baha'i International Community's United Nations Office Web site, responds to allegations that Mrs. Ebadi's her daughter has become a Baha'i, that Baha'is are agents of Zionism, and that when Iranian Baha'is communicate with the Baha'i Faith's international governing body in Israel, it is somehow a "conspiracy."

"The Iranian government seizes every means at its disposal to stigmatize the Baha'is and then, within the poisoned atmosphere it has itself created, when it wants to discredit someone, it asserts that the person is a Baha'i," the statement said. "Mrs. Ebadi is not the first individual upon whom this tactic has been used. As a lawyer, Mrs. Ebadi defends individuals and groups of many different backgrounds; this does not mean that she necessarily espouses their beliefs. What, then, is the state-sanctioned press trying to insinuate when it contends that her daughter is a Baha'i?"

The full statement can be read at:

http://bic.org/statements-and-reports/featured/Iran-Intensifies-Disinformation.htm



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

[arthra]

Actually I'd prefer we not use this thread for controversies about Islamic issues in various countries..

It is solely for news items about Baha'is who have been say imprisoned or have had their civil liberties suppressed.

There's no objective rational evidence of Baha'is being involved in trying to overthrow any government. Baha'u'llah was exiled to Akka around 1868 by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and that's the reason Baha'is have been there these years.. but since it's inception around 1844/1260 AH there has been persecution of Baha'is.

- Art

[CaptainXeroid]

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[arthra]

BAHA'IS IMPRISONED IN YEMEN MAY FACE DEPORTATION TO IRAN

NEW YORK, 27 August 2008 (BWNS) -- Three Baha'is currently imprisoned in Yemen are facing the possibility of imminent deportation to Iran, where Baha'is are intensely persecuted and they would likely face imprisonment or torture.

"We are gravely concerned about the fate of these three Baha'is, who are being held without charges in a case that is clearly based on religious persecution," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.

"Although the three have lived in Yemen for more than 25 years, they hold Iranian passports and we have come to believe that the Yemeni government may be planning to deport them to Iran, where the government is waging a systematic campaign against Baha'is.

"While calling for their immediate release, our primary concern today is to ask that the Yemeni government resist any impulse to deport these three Baha'is to Iran - or any other country. Deportation to any country for three individuals with well established businesses and families for their religious beliefs would be grossly unjust, but deportation to Iran, where they face the possibility of torture, would be a clear violation of international human rights law," said Ms. Dugal.

The three Baha'is were arrested in June, apparently in relation to their belief in and practice of the Baha'i Faith, along with a Baha'i of Iraqi origin.

The three Baha'is of Iranian origin who were arrested are Mr. Zia'u'llah Pourahmari, Mr. Keyvan Qadari, and Mr. Behrooz Rohani. A fourth Baha'i, Mr. Sayfi Ibrahim Sayfi, was also arrested and faces the possibility of deportation to Iraq.

The three Baha'is of Iranian background all have successful businesses in Yemen, and their families are well established there.

The arrests occurred in the capital, Sana'a, on the night of 20 June 2008, when some 20 armed security officers carried out raids at several Baha'i homes. During the raids, papers, CDs, photographs and a computer were also confiscated.

Although no formal charges have been filed, government officials have indicated that the Baha'is were arrested on the suspicion of "proselytizing" in a manner against Yemeni law, which the Baha'is deny.

Since their arrest, the Baha'i International Community has been working through diplomatic channels to obtain their release.

"Our hope has been to prevent this case from becoming a major human rights matter, over the issue of religious persecution. Deportation to Iran would certainly be a matter for international concern, and such an action would be out of character with the Yemeni government's past record on human rights issues.

"Under international laws on the freedom of religion, there is no question that Baha'is - and others in Yemen - should be free to practice their faith. While the situation is still unfolding, we stand by the right of Baha'is in Yemen and elsewhere to practice their religion in all aspects, without the fear of being forced to leave their adopted country," said Ms. Dugal.

There are approximately 250 registered Baha'is in Yemen, and the community has enjoyed relative freedom for its members to quietly practice their faith.



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

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[arthra]

Fresh reports of repression of Baha'is in Iran:
There are fresh reports of Baha’is being dismissed from jobs or prevented from operating their businesses – reports that confirm the government continues enforcing work restrictions against Baha’is throughout Iran:
Various measures are being taken to cancel the work permits of Baha’is.
Workplaces are being sealed off.

Baha’i businesses are being reported to authorities with an aim of having them blacklisted.

Pressure is being exerted on landlords to evict Baha’is who lease business space, and on employers to fire their Baha’i employees.

In one recent example, a Baha’i working at a real estate agency in Shiraz was fired from his job when a group of agents met and decided that dealing with Baha’is is against Islamic law. At the meeting, a number of baseless allegations were made against the Baha’i – allegations he strongly denied – and an anti-Baha’i leaflet published by local authorities was distributed.
Another example: A young Baha’i in Ghaemshahr was fired from his job in a food store on instructions from the Public Places Supervision Office. The office specifically told the employer that the reason was simply that the man was a Baha’i.

Other recent reports from Shiraz show the multifaceted nature of the campaign against the Baha’is:

Three different versions of an anti-Baha’i brochure titled “Baha’ism: A Colonial Dance” were widely circulated in the city. The brochure included common false accusations about the Baha’i Faith.

A number of Muslim neighbors of Baha’i families have received “visits” from people who attempt to distort their perception of the Baha’i Faith and discourage them from associating with Baha’is.

A Baha’i youth who was a national judo champion was expelled from the national team before the team traveled to international competitions. After appeals were lodged, it was learned that there is a general directive prohibiting Baha’is from competing, coaching, or refereeing on national teams.
Other recent examples of attacks and harassment:

Two Baha’is in Mashhad were killed and one seriously injured when they were run over by a car, apparently on purpose. All three had earlier received threatening telephone calls.

After authorities first suggested that the fire that destroyed the home of the Shaaker family in Kerman had been caused by an electrical problem, the fire department of that city has now confirmed that arson was the cause. The fire was reported last month by the Baha’i World News Service as one of a string of apparent arson attacks against Baha’is. (See BWNS article.)
Another arson attempt occurred in Rafsanjan in Kerman province when a burning tire was wedged in the door of a home, blocking the exit for the Baha’i family living there. Neighbors ran to their rescue, thus averting injury or serious damage.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency published a special report on 13 August claiming that Bahá’ís were planning to plant a bomb at the Tehran International Exhibition a few months ago. Seyyed Kazem Mousavi, a historian on modern Iran, claimed to have uncovered and put a stop to a criminal plot that may have resulted in a great human catastrophe. The Baha’i International Community categorically denies that Baha’is planned any such attack.

More cemetery desecrations have been reported, and, in addition, three Baha’is who participated in a burial in a Baha’i cemetery that has been in use for 15 years were arrested and convicted of “taking part in the illegal occupation and use of government property.” The three were fined and ordered to “cease their occupation of the said property” (the cemetery) and to “return it to its prior condition” (that is, exhume the interred Baha’i).
Baha’i students continue to be barred from university, and new evidence indicates that they are being identified as Baha’is early in the application process and are being blocked even from going online to check their test scores.

Source:
Iran Update - Bahá'Ã* World News Service

[BruceDLimber]

Hi, Ayani! :-)

Originally Posted by ayani

very, very true, Art. and i find this a much more spiritually hopeful and beautiful prospect than "end times" theology.

In fact, this whole "end of the world" thing is based on a misunderstanding!

You see, when the King James Version of the Bible was being translated, the translators encountered the Greek word "eras," which means "world" or "age."

And IOV they picked the wrong meaning, yielding "end of the world."

In fact, Baha'is see this phrase as speaking of the end of the Age, which we believe has already come and gone!

Best regards, :-)

Bruce

[arthra]

EU: Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the situation of people belonging to religious minorities in Iran

The European Union is very concerned at the deterioration in the exercise of freedom of religion or belief, and especially the freedom of worship, in Iran, where the pressure on people belonging to religious minorities has worsened in recent months.
The European Union is deeply disturbed by the arrests since April of Iranian converts to Christianity and members of the Baha'i community. It calls for their immediate and unconditional release and the cessation of all forms of violence and discrimination against them.
There have been many reports that people belonging to the Christian, Baha'i, Sufi and Sunni minorities in Iran are regularly suffering forms of persecution such as confiscation of property, desecration of their places of worship, imprisonment and numerous acts of violence, including some life threatening.
The European Union is concerned at the Iranian parliament's decision to consider a draft law making apostasy one of the crimes punishable by death. If adopted, that law would be a serious infringement of the freedom of religion or belief, which includes the right to change religion and the right to have no religion. It would violate Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was freely ratified by Iran, and would threaten the lives of a number of Iranians who have been arrested and held without trial for several months on account of their religious beliefs.
The European Union urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to reconsider its decision to examine the law in question, release all those who have been imprisoned because of their religious affiliation and allow all its citizens to exercise their freedom of religion or belief in full.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania and Montenegro and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
view original source

[arthra]

The State Department report notes that over the past year the Baha’i community, the largest non-Muslim religious group in Iran, experienced increasing persecution. Baha’is were not allowed to teach or practice their faith, and their religious tenets were condemned on government-controlled radio and television broadcasts. More than seventy Baha’is were arrested and more than two dozen are still in prison. Public and private universities continued to deny admittance to or expel Baha’i students. In addition, the Iranian government repeatedly pressured Baha’is to accept relief from mistreatment in exchange for recanting their religious beliefs.

Source:

VOA News - Iran's Abuse Of Religious Liberty