Two articles showing impressive faith and steadfastness in the face of the governments ever more desperate attempts at coercing Bahá'ís to renounce the basic principles of their belief! From iranpresswatch.org.
Baha’is Continue to be Harassed in Mashhad
Posted: 21 Apr 2009
Further to Iran Press Watch report of April 16, 2009, http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2009/04/qibm/, on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, Human Rights Activists of Iran posted the following report, which appears below in translation:
In continuation of widespread harassment of the Baha’i residents of Mashhad, three (3) more Baha’is of this town were called in by the Information Office of the Ministry of Intelligence.
On April 14, 2009, Suheil Nasirzadeh, Babak Ruhi and Ezzatu’llah Ahmadian were summoned to the Information Office of the Intelligence Ministry. Like other Baha’is brought in during the recent days, they too were asked to sign a surety guaranteeing that they would not participate in religious gatherings [related to the Baha'i religion].
However, the above named individuals stated that such a request was illegal and refused to sign the document. Thereupon, Ruhi and Ahmadian were threatened by the authorities who stated, “If you continue to refuse to sign this statement, your previous case will be opened again.” It should be noted that three years ago, these two Baha’is were arrested for copying religious documents and were incarcerated by the Ministry of Intelligence for 15 days in Mashhad.
[Source: http://hra-iran.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=917:54&catid=84:502&Itemid=219. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
Questioning and Interrogation of Baha'is in Mashhad
Posted: 16 Apr 2009
On Thursday, April 16, 2009, Iran Press News reported the following in Persian (http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/057579.htm) and a translation is provided by Iran Press Watch:
Despite dissolution of the unofficial Baha'i organization in Iran, the Ministry of Intelligence continues to summon a large number of Baha'is in various parts of the country for questioning.
In this regard, the following six (6) Baha'is were called in during the last week by the Information Office of the Ministry of Intelligence in Mashhad: Rozita Vaseqi, Davar Nabilzadeh, Nura Nabilzadeh, Nasrin Nuzdahi, Nahid Nuzdahi and Sirous Zabihi.
Security agencies summon these Baha'is in order to receive written assurances that in no way they would be involved in their religious activities or would mention their faith. However, the Baha'is continue to insist that such a demand is against their civil and human rights and refuse to comply.
Editor's Note: It should be mentioned that the Universal House of Justice, the worldwide governing body for the Baha'i community, has recently written the Baha'is of Iran and has urged them to refuge compliance with any request that infringes upon the practice of the Baha'i religion as individual. Iran Press Watch intends to share that letter in translation in a near future.
Iran Press Watch was about to publish the above report when the following communication was received from Iran (offered below in translation):
In regard to the case of the summoned six Baha'is, the following details are shared:
- Sirous Zabihi was a former Baha'i leader (known as Khademin) in Mashhad. He was called in by the Information Office of the said Ministry on March 16, 2009, in order to sign an assurance [that he not participate in Baha'i activities, such as, 19-day Feasts or devotional gatherings]. Like other Khademin of that city, he refused.
- From April 5 to April 12, some nine (9) Baha'is in Mashhad have been summoned at different times to the Revolutionary Court's Office of Information. These Baha'is include: Nahid Qadiri, Nasrin Qadiri, Rozita Vaseqi, Human Bakhtavar, Davar Nabilzadeh, Nura Nabilzadeh, Kaviz Nuzdahi, Mahsa Aqdasizadeh, and Roya Rajabian.
- When these Baha'is presented themselves to the aforesaid office, they were asked to sign an assurance that they would not attend any Baha'i religious activity, such as, 19-day Feast. None of the Baha'is complied with the request, even when they were threatened with imprisonment.
It is clear that such pressures on the Baha'i community clearly demonstrates the regime's unfounded accusations against the Baha'is and is intended to further suppress and limit the Baha'i community.
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