French Litterateur Joins in Championing Bahá'ís' Rights

From Iran Press Watch.

The Baha'i Hunt in Iran…

Posted: 28 Jan 2010

The Baha'i Hunt in Iran

By Serge Dupont-Valin

10 January 2010

I am not Baha'i. I didn't even know Baha'is existed! What a strange name – Baha'i…

In Iran, they are pursuing Baha'is, imprisoning them, destroying their possessions. But what crime are they accusing them of? Born in the 19th century, this religion, "Baha'ism", based on the concept of one prophet succeeding another, is characterized by tolerance and pacifism. This community practices, among other principles, the equality of men and women, the elimination of all forms of prejudice, the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty, education for all, religious tolerance. I didn't know that the Baha'i Faith is the second most widespread religion in the world, existing in 218 countries and sovereign territories.

How did I learn all this?

My memory goes back to the book faire of Saint Louis, in Alsace – one of the most important of such expositions in France – whose organizers refused to exhibit my novels for all kinds of reasons. The truth was that that I wasn't part of the powerful group of well-known names of the literary microcosm; that is, I wasn't well-known to the media. I was resentfully about to abandon all hope of actively participating in the fair when the Baha'is, who had rented a booth to display their own literature, spontaneously offered me a place to sign my works in their stand. Nothing was negotiated; no conditions were imposed on me; no one tried to recruit me. This simple gesture of generosity accompanied by a smile was a lesson to me!

Therefore, in response to this magnanimity, I would like to inform you of the following press release:

Seven accused of spying for Israel to be judged Tuesday, tension mounts for the Baha'is of Iran

Acute anxiety, once again, for the Baha'is of Iran. The seven Baha'i leaders, two women and five men, held in Evin prison of Tehran for 20 months, are to appear in court on Tuesday, January 12, on charges that could lead to the death penalty. As the date approaches, bad news has been received that pressure is mounting as though the ground is being laid for a trial that will teach the Baha'is a lesson.

In addition, thirteen Baha'is were arrested on Sunday, January 3. Among them was Negar Sabet, the daughter of Mahvash Sabet, one of the seven to be tried on Tuesday, as well as Leva Khanjani, the granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani, the older of the seven leaders. This young woman was arrested along with her husband, Babak Mobasher. Jinous Sobhani, the former secretary of Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and her husband, Artin Ghazanfari, were also summoned. Ten of the thirteen are still in detention. At the same time, and for some weeks, an anti-Baha'i campaign has been intensifying in the official media.

Plot theory

Baha'is, the largest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran, have always been the scapegoat of the Islamic Republic. The Iranian regime is constantly charging them with well-worn allegations of conspiracy theories, adapted to suit the new circumstances. These days, the Baha'is have been accused, by "experts" interviewed by the reporters of ultra-conservative newspapers, as being "behind" the post-electoral disturbances, or for having fomented the December 27 protests which took place during the festival of Ashura, and for being hidden consultants for the reform candidates. In addition, the old accusation of being agents of Zionism persists. For good measure, the authorities are requiring those being summoned to sign a commitment not to participate in demonstrations. Note that the Baha'is, according to their principles, abstain from any political activity.
The seven Baha'i leaders to be judged on Tuesday have never received an official accusation, but have been accused in the ultra-conservative newspapers of being "spies for Israel", to have insulted the sacred character of Islam and for having produced "propaganda against the Islamic Republic" – all unfounded accusations, and each one liable to the death sentence..

Shirin Ebadi is a lawyer for the seven Baha'is. Although she is abroad, her colleague, the courageous fighter for human rights, who is well-acquainted with Iranian prisons, Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani, has agreed to defend them. He was arrested in June, and then freed, after a fine of 90,000 euros was paid at the end of August.

"Enemies of God Organization"

During the last ten months, 60 Baha'is have been arrested and then freed, each held for between one days and several months. At the moment 48 are incarcerated, the only reason being their faith. For thirty years they have been considered to be "unprotected infidels". This community of 300,000 believers is known as "the enemies of God organization". Second class citizens in their own country, Baha'is are deprived of post-secondary education, and have no access to the public sector. Just for being a Baha'i one can have one's property and possessions seized, can be deprived of retirement funds, can be denied a loan or a license. In school, teachers are encouraged to publicly humiliate Baha'i children. Hundreds of Baha'i cemeteries have been desecrated and razed. Citizens who attack Baha'is are not questioned. More than 200 Baha'is, among them minors, have been executed since the founding of the Islamic Republican.

However, the Baha'is have at least one ray of hope: they note that, among their countrymen, inside and outside of Iran, the number of those who sympathize with them is growing.
And, humble craftsman of literature I am, I would like to be associated with the protests emanating from the United Nations, from the European Parliament, from the foreign ministers of different countries around the world, from well-known personalities such as François Jacob of the Academy of Science, and from a considerable number of organizations and institutions, as well as from citizens who are passionate about justice and tolerance.

Translation by Iran Press Watch

Source: http://www.lemonde.fr/opinions/chronique/2010/01/11/en-iran-chasse-aux-baha-is_1289818_3232.html

10 January Message of Bahá'í Supreme Governing Council to Believers in Iran

A letter of consolation, hope and encouragement addressed by the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'ís of Iran, dated 10 January 2010, following the arrest of ten Bahá'ís on 3 January 2010 (more on that here).
(Excerpt:)

[R]egrettably, those whose inner vision is dimmed by the veils of religious prejudice have conspired to create false accusations so as to provide justification to the Iranian people for their acts of oppression against you, seemingly unaware that such actions ultimately vitiate the perpetrator's credibility.

The Seat of the Universal House of Justice, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.

THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

10 January 2010

To the Believers in the Cradle of the Faith

Dearly loved Friends,

As the date set for the trial of the former members of the Yaran approaches, certain officials have made statements over the past few days claiming that the motive for the arrest of ten friends on 3 January 2010 lay not in their membership in the Baha'i community but in their involvement in organizing the events that occurred on the day of 'Ashura. The people of Iran--indeed, the people of the world and the community of nations--are familiar with the principles of the Baha'i Faith, the conduct of its adherents, and the history of its development; they know therefore that such a claim is baseless. All fair-minded people would attest that Baha'is, wherever they reside, labour shoulder to shoulder with their compatriots for the progress and prosperity of their nation. Baha'is are known to rely on the framework of the law in defence of their own rights as well as those of others. They aspire to the virtues of truthfulness and honesty, eschew violence and conflict, and avoid all manner of partisan politics. Yet, regrettably, those whose inner vision is dimmed by the veils of religious prejudice have conspired to create false accusations so as to provide justification to the Iranian people for their acts of oppression against you, seemingly unaware that such actions ultimately vitiate the perpetrator's credibility. We take comfort in knowing that you are cognizant of the operation of divine forces. You realize that within His grasp are held the reins of all things. You call on the spiritual powers born of such understanding to transcend enmity and oppression. Staunch and immovable, you have won the admiration of the world as you have continued to discharge your duties with consummate wisdom. Our hearts overflow with love and admiration for each and every one of you. We raise our hands in supplication to Almighty God, beseeching Him to safeguard you and to aid you in promoting the interests of the Cause and in serving your fellow countrymen.

[signed: The Universal House of Justice]

(Authorized translation from the Persian original)
(Photo copyright Bahá'í International Community)

Indications of Systematic Plotting by Iran Government to Implicate Jailed Baha'is

Concern is growing over the lack of information about the status of 10 Baha'is who were arrested earlier this month in Iran.

The Committee of Human Rights Reporters has published these photographs and identified the individuals as among the 10 Baha'is, including two married couples, arrested on 3 January.

Detention of ten Baha'is leads to fears for other prisoners

27 January 2010

NEW YORK —
In addition to worry about their safety, there are fears that charges against these 10 will be used to create false evidence in court against the seven Baha'i leaders who have been held since 2008 and whose trial is set to resume on 7 February.
"Our concern is that in the absence of any evidence against the seven leaders, the authorities may be attempting to build a case by perhaps forcing these newly arrested Baha'is to 'confess' that they were involved in organizing December's Ashura demonstrations under orders from their 'leadership'," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
"Any such claim would be absurd, given that the seven leaders have been in prison for the last two years," she said.
Since their arrest on 3 January, statements have been made in Iranian state-sanctioned media that the 10 possessed arms and ammunition in their homes as part of an anti-government plot related to the December demonstrations.
The 10 have virtually disappeared into Iran's detention system, said Ms. Dugal.
While it is not known whether any of these 10 were in fact present at the Ashura demonstrations, any suggestion that they were central to the organization of these events or that they possessed arms to be used against the government is completely without foundation, she said.
"In the three weeks since these Baha'is were detained, their families have had no contact with them, aside from a brief telephone message to one family member on 11 January."
While families have been unable to contact the 10, it has been learned that they have been transferred recently to Gohardasht prison in Karaj.
"A cell mate of some of the Baha'i prisoners was recently released, and this individual informed the families of this transfer," said Ms. Dugal. "We don't know exactly what this means, but we do know that families tried to bring clothes and money to the prisoners. The money was accepted by authorities in Karaj, but not the clothing."
The 10 Baha'is who were arrested on 3 January are Mrs. Leva Khanjani, granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani, one of the seven Baha'i leaders, and her husband, Mr. Babak Mobasher; Mr. Artin Ghazanfari and his wife, Mrs. Jinous Sobhani, former secretary of Nobel laureate and human rights attorney Shirin Ebadi; Mr. Mehran Rowhani and Mr. Farid Rowhani, who are brothers; Mr Payam Fanaian; Mr. Nikav Hoveydaie; and Mr. Ebrahim Shadmehr and his son, Mr. Zavosh Shadmehr.
On 12 January, the formal arraignment of the seven leaders was held in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
According to accounts in government-sponsored news media, the seven have been charged with: espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and corruption on earth.
In court, the defendants explicitly denied all of these charges.
Ms. Dugal said the judge has reportedly indicated that the next session of the trial on 7 February will be open and the families will be permitted to attend. The first court appearance was closed to the public.
The seven "leaders" are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
This group of seven and the 10 Baha'is arrested on 3 January are among hundreds of Baha'is who have been detained in the ongoing persecution of Baha'is - a systematic campaign that has increased in severity in the last few years.

Source: Baha'i World News Service

Seven leaders of Iran's Bahá'í community reject accusations; new court date set

From Bahá'í World News Service.

Date set for seven Baha'i leaders' next court session
20 January 2010

GENEVA — Iranian authorities have notified the lawyers of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders that the next session of their trial will be held on 7 February, the Baha'i International Community learned today.

At their first court appearance, held 12 January in Tehran, the charges were read to the seven, who categorically denied the accusations.

"While we know little about what actually took place inside the court, we can now say for certain that these seven innocent Baha'is stood up and firmly rejected all of the charges against them," said Diane Ala'i of the Baha'i International Community.

"We can also say that, based on the international outcry that accompanied the first session of their trial, the world is watching this proceeding closely and that the Iranian government will be held accountable for any injustices," she said.

The charges against the seven, according to accounts in government-sponsored news media, were: espionage, "propaganda activities against the Islamic order," the establishment of an "illegal administration," cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and "corruption on earth."

The seven defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.

All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have been held in Tehran's Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there without formal charges or any access to lawyers.

Source: http://news.bahai.org/story/750

Trial's Predetermined Outcome Evident from Pre-Trial Press Release

 
The Iranian government's unjust procedures are laid bare for all to see.
(Excerpt:)

The best example that reveals the true nature of the government’s intentions with this trial is text of the pre-written report that was inadvertently printed prior to the intended date. In one of its paragraphs, the text notes that the defendants had “confessed that they had held meetings at the homes of ambassadors from Western countries.”

A Major Gaffe Reveals the True Nature of The Show Trial of the Iranian Bahá'ís

Posted on Facebook Friday 15 January 2010 at 03:54 GMT-1

Written by Leva Mottahed
Translated by Nizam Missaghi

The Bahá'í Affairs Committee of the Human Rights Activists in Iran

January 14, 2010

The trial for the former Bahá'í leaders of Iran was finally held in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on Tuesday January 12, 2010, after a 1.5-year detention period and postponing of three previous trial dates. This trial was held behind closed doors and the immediate families were not allowed to be present. Even the lawyers representing the defendants had to work their way into the courtroom after significant persistence. The lawyers were able to finally meet their clients in person for the first time on the day of the trial. Despite being held behind closed doors, there were camera crews present in the courtroom, although it was not immediately apparent with what agency they were associated or who had granted them permission to record the proceedings.

The most prominent feature of the trial was its true nature as a show trial. This was most apparent in the inadvertent release on January 11, 2010, of a report of this trial a day before its actual date. The report was apparently pre-written and sent to news outlets for publication on Tuesday afternoon, after the session’s adjournment. However, despite well-rehearsed “instructions” regarding the timing of the publication, a major semi-official news source entitled “Young Journalists” published the report at 17:50 on Monday, January 11, on its front page, and, within two hours, another website entitled fararu.com published the same article and referenced the original publication. The original article was available for viewing on the front page of “Young Journalists” website but was promptly removed at 09:05 on January 12, presumably once the gaffe was discovered. The site did not, however, realize that their article had been cross-posted and referenced on fararu.com. The original URL for the Young Journalists website http://www.yjc.ir/news/NewsDesc.aspx?newsid=264157 is now a broken link.

It is worth noting that the same exact article appeared the next day, January 12, after the court adjourned, on official and semi-official websites. This fact also reveals the true nature of the proceedings as a show trial since the authorities did not even bother to change the wording of a scripted report and re-published the same article. Farsnews and ISNA are the two sources that published the same article with the right timing:

http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8810221294

http://isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1472572&Lang=P

The above gaffes not only give credence to how this proceeding is nothing but a show trial with predetermined verdicts, but also present as strong evidence that the seven Bahá'í leaders are innocent. The regime has no document or evidence to present in support of its allegations against the Bahá'ís. Therefore, by holding the court session behind closed doors and presenting pre-written reports to the media, the regime is attempting to influence public opinion rather than ensuring justice. The best example that reveals the true nature of the government’s intentions with this trial is text of the pre-written report that was inadvertently printed prior to the intended date. In one of its paragraphs, the text notes that the defendants had “confessed that they had held meetings at the homes of ambassadors from Western countries.”

The intentions of the Iranian government toward the Bahá'í leaders are evident from the above. They have been held under “temporary detention” status for over 1.5 years with deplorable conditions and severed restrictions. Their dire situation is alarming and leaves these individuals vulnerable to significant danger at the behest of the Iranian government. It is incumbent upon all human rights activists and organizations to take action to ensure preservation of life and securing of freedom for these seven Bahá'ís.

Seven former leaders of the Baha'i Community in Iran

Photo copyright Bahá'í International Community 
 

Survey of Recent Government-Sponsored Schemes against Bahá'ís of Iran

 
An informed note from the the editors of Iran Press Watch.

Editorial Note: Accusations against Baha’is

Posted: 12 Jan 2010

Since the very last days of December of 2009, the authorities in Iran, through statements and the State news media, have accused the Baha’is of being involved in many ways with the recent political and social unrest in Iran. This comes as no surprise to the Baha’is in Iran or to the Baha’is around the world. In fact, such accusations in order to use the Baha’is as scapegoats for any social or political unrest in Iran has been a practice for the past 165 years, since the inception of the Baha’i Faith in Iran, though admittedly, the current Islamic Republic government in Iran has developed this strategy into a systematic plan.

Even the claim that the opposition leader is a Baha’i is not a new tactic, and was no surprise. The hope of conservative elements in Iran in so doing is to portray him as being under the dark cloud that they have tried so hard to cast over the Baha’is, thereby turning public opinion against their rivals. How ironic that the same person – Mir-Hossein Musavi, as the Prime Minister during the time of Khomeni who arrested, jailed and killed so many Baha’is — is now being stigmatized and is suffering himself by the very scheme he help to establish! Of course, it is clear that these persons are not Bahai’s – either Mr.Musavi or the courageous attorney whose firm is representing the accused Baha’i leaders, Shirin Ebadi.

The list of baseless accusations, false representations and claims is very long, quite imaginative, and simply ridiculous. The Baha’is are referred to as a “colonialist sect,” who are responsible for “the desecration of religious sanctities” and “disturbances witnessed on `Ashura,” and who are “spying for the Zionist regime” and “speaking out against the Islamic government.” The volume of such accusations is so high that Iran Press Watch could never translate and publish all of them. We include a selection of the headings below:

Baha’ism, Led by Zionism, is Hatching Intrigue Behind the Scenes of the Recent Unrest ( http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8810071122)

“It is evident that these inhumane and criminal acts, these nefarious deeds committed by deviant and misguided people, were designed and organized by global arrogance, international Zionism, the misguided Baha’i sect, and other shunned and condemned groups of traitors…” (http://www.irna.ir/View/FullStory/?NewsId=866869)

President of the Coordinating Council for Islamic Propagation in Western Azerbaijan: “Of course, this movement of hooligans and agents of (global) arrogance bent on desecrating religious sanctities has only one goal: to harm the Revolution and Islam and advance the objectives of America, Israel, and Baha’ism.” (http://www.isna.ir/isna/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1464140)

Regarding the role of Baha’ism in desecrating religious sanctities, our expert in matters of security stated, “The path that the Musawi camp is taking in their attack on religious sanctities is the exact same path that the misguided Baha’i sect has been on for years.” (http://www.javanonline.ir/Nsite/FullStory/?Id=200302)

Iran State Media Blames the “Baha’i Sect” for Recent Unrest (http://www.bahairights.org/2009/12/29/iran-state-media-blames-the-bahai-sect-for-recent-unrest/)

Muhammad Karim Abedi, “..Zionism and Baha’is, the ill-wishers of Religion, tried all in their power to disturb Ashura” (http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8810081569)

The list very long. In the interest of making this note short, the list has been limited to the above.

It is well known, and there has been a long and exhaustively documented history showing that two central tenets of the Baha’i Faith are obedience to the government of whatever country in which Baha’is reside, and reverence for the revelators of all major religions, especially for the Prophet Muhammad. The International Baha’i Community has rejected the above allegations in a detailed article at the following link: http://news.bahai.org/story/747

Interestingly enough, today, the Universal House of Justice, the world governing body of the Baha’i Faith, in a letter to the Baha’is of Iran, has clarified that the Baha’is, whereever they may live, must exert their utmost effort, shoulder to shoulder with their countrymen, for the betterment of that country. (see the letter here: http://www.universal-house-of-justice-messages.org/payam/2010-01-10.html ). “The betterment of the World” Baha’u’llah tells the people of the world, “can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.”

Iran Press Watch will continue to provide information regarding the context for this current discussion. We will soon be providing historical documentation to facilitate readers’ comprehension . This is the first in a series of Editorials to enable readers to understand the recent baseless fabrications by the government of Iran.

The Editor,

Iran Press Watch.

Source: Iran Press Watch
 

Who are the canaries in Iran's mineshaft?

A reflective article from this prominent professor on the background for the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran, in Canada's The Globe and Mail.
(Excerpt:)

We must raise our voices and cry out against the calumnies of this regime, not because we will influence its behaviour – I'm convinced we won't – but because it's our duty to speak truth to power even as power tramps on truth and persecutes the almost forgotten first victims of Iran's Islamic Revolution.

The canaries in Iran's cages

The canaries in Iran's cages: None are more persecuted than the Baha'i AP

In hard-line Iran, none are more persecuted than the Baha'i

Howard Adelman

Special to Globe and Mail Update Published on Monday, Jan. 11, 2010

The Islamic Republic of Iran is going to show any wavering authoritarian regime just how it's done. No “colour” revolution will be allowed. No surrender to the street. No departing on a quickly arranged flight to seek refuge, as the Shah did. This regime has no intention of playing “nice” with anyone, including those mullahs who used to back the regime. To stay in power, even in the age of tweeting, ignore the tweets. Pick up your clubs and throw them in jail. Some technologies don't change.

The few “moderates” left in the system have all been purged. Instead of a stick in one hand and an olive branch in the other, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his coterie of like-minded extremist ideologues project mistrust and defiance. ...

On Dec. 18, the United Nations General Assembly passed a strong resolution condemning Iran's human-rights abuses – including the denial of basic civil and political rights, the use of torture and rape, the excessive use of capital punishment, the execution of juvenile offenders, the increasing numbers of hanging and stoning, the brutal suppression of women's rights advocates, and discrimination against minorities. Not surprisingly, it made no difference. ...

Comprehensive international sanctions against the regime – for its nuclear weapons projects and its brutal human-rights violations – have become a necessary next step even as threats to destroy Israel and export terrorism to Lebanon, Gaza and Afghanistan have somewhat receded because of the distractions of the demonstrations in Iran. (The U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany have tentatively agreed to meet this weekend to discuss Iran's nuclear defiance.) ...

Amidst all this brouhaha, the canaries in their cages in Iran continue to suffer and die. Due to be put on trial today, in Revolutionary Court 28, are seven Baha'i members of Friends in Iran, the group that assumed the functions of the banned Baha'i National Spiritual Assembly. These leaders have been imprisoned for nearly two years.

Three previous trial dates in 2009 were postponed, adding to the psychological terror against Iran's largest religious minority. They will be represented by new lawyers. Their earlier ones, such as Abdolfattah Soltani or Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi (neither one a Baha'i), were imprisoned or forced to flee the country. ...

Last March, Canada's House of Commons unanimously condemned the persecution of Baha'is in Iran. Both the U.S. Congress and the UN General Assembly have also censured the persecution of Baha'is.

We must raise our voices and cry out against the calumnies of this regime, not because we will influence its behaviour – I'm convinced we won't – but because it's our duty to speak truth to power even as power tramps on truth and persecutes the almost forgotten first victims of Iran's Islamic Revolution.

Howard Adelman is professor emeritus of philosophy at York University; he founded the Centre for Refugee Studies.

Read the whole thing here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/the-canaries-in-irans-cages/article1427611/

Cherie Blair urges international pressure for rights of Bahá'ís of Iran

A compelling statement from this prominent lawyer and public figure in defence of human rights in Iran in general and those of the Bahá'ís in particular.
(Excerpts:)

"The hostile environment raises new fears that the defendants will be denied even the semblance of a fair trial. ...
"The continued imprisonment of the leadership has already drawn international protest. But this pressure must be stepped up. ...
"International pressure does have an impact. The storm of protest over the sham trial and severe punishment of US journalist Roxana Saberi last year... led to the guilty verdict and eight-year sentence... being thrown out and the journalist freed. ...
"In Iran, for the Bahá'í community among others, the fight for human rights has become a matter of life and death."

Faith, life and death in Iran

Bahá'í leaders are being made scapegoats. We must press Tehran to grant them a fair trial

Cherie Blair
The Guardian, Tuesday 12 January 2010

As the Iranian government struggles to contain growing demands for freedom and democracy from its courageous people, it is flailing around trying to deflect blame for the protests. Foreign media and other countries, including Britain, have been accused of encouraging unrest. But the regime is also ­worryingly turning on all too familiar scapegoats within Iran.

Once again, followers of the Bahá'í faith within the country are in the firing line. Fresh arrests and harassment of Bahá'ís in recent days have been accompanied by increasingly extreme proclamations in the state-run media against this gentle and unifying religion. Bahá'ís find themselves once more accused of co-operating with Israel to undermine their own country.

What is even more disturbing is news that the long-delayed trial of the country's seven-strong Bahá'í leadership is about to start. Lawyers acting for the five men and two women have been told that the revolutionary court will begin to hear the case today.

The Bahá'ís have learned to treat such announcements by the court with suspicion. Their leaders have been imprisoned now for almost two years without formal charge. Their lawyers have faced continual obstruction and harassment in preparing their defence, including long periods when they have simply been refused access to their clients. Repeated delays and rescheduling of the trial are another example of the authorities' contempt for justice.

The hostile environment raises new fears that the defendants will be denied even the semblance of a fair trial. Although it is not clear, it appears the Bahá'í leadership may face unwarranted charges such as espionage for Israel and "spreading corruption on earth", which both carry the death penalty.

The continued imprisonment of the leadership has already drawn international protest. But this pressure must be stepped up. The revolutionary court system is secretive; the only chance of justice being served is for the case to be held in open court so proceedings can be independently monitored. The Iranian government will be desperate to keep this abuse of justice quiet. They must be shamed into changing their mind.

International pressure does have an impact. The storm of protest over the sham trial and severe punishment of US journalist Roxana Saberi last year forced President Ahmadinejad himself to intervene. His move led to the guilty verdict and eight-year sentence imposed by the revolutionary court being thrown out and the journalist freed.

But along with demands for a fair trial, we need to step up pressure on the Iranian government to drop the intimidation and harassment of other religious minorities, too. When leading British Bahá'ís approached me last year for advice on human rights, I was shocked to hear about the record of persecution the followers of an intrinsically peaceful faith had suffered.

The Iranian constitution may promise religious freedom but the reality is different, as the 300,000-strong Bahá'í community knows to its cost. Bahá'ís have suffered persecution in Iran since the religion was founded, in the mid-19th century. But this has been stepped up since the Islamic revolution in 1979, with the elimination of the Bahá'í faith becoming state policy. Hundreds have faced torture and execution; thousands have been imprisoned; and arrests remain common and arbitrary.

At the heart of this persecution is theology. Bahá'ís see their faith as an independent world religion that builds on the prophets and scriptures of other faiths. This is anathema to the Iranian regime, which has designated them "unprotected infidels", giving the authorities a free hand to flout legal protections.

More than six decades ago the right of every individual to freedom of thought, conscience and religion was enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Bahá'ís are not asking for special privileges but just that this ­fundamental right is met.

The trial of the Bahá'í leaders should matter to all who care about human rights. In Iran, for the Bahá'í community among others, the fight for human rights has become a matter of life and death.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/jan/12/bahai-rights-on-trial-iran

Allegations Arrested Bahá'ís Possessed Weapons Latest Falsehood from Iran Government

From the Bahá'í World News Service.
(Excerpts:)

"This is nothing less than a blatant lie," said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations...

"All of these latest accusations are so far-fetched as to be ludicrous if they were not so obviously aimed at putting innocent lives at risk," she said. ...

Baha'i International Community rejects allegations that arrested Baha'is had weapons in homes

9 January 2010

GENEVA — The Baha'i International Community today categorically rejected new allegations by the Iranian government that arms and ammunition were found in the homes of Baha'is who were arrested in Tehran last Sunday.

"This is nothing less than a blatant lie," said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. "Baha'is are by the most basic principles of their faith committed to absolute nonviolence, and any charge that there might have been weapons or 'live rounds' in their homes is simply and completely unbelievable.

"Without doubt, these are baseless fabrications devised by the government to further create an atmosphere of prejudice and hatred against the Iranian Baha'i community. For more than a century Baha'is have suffered all manner of persecution in Iran and have not resorted to armed violence, and everyone knows this. Unfortunately, the Iranian government is once again resorting to outright falsehoods to justify its nefarious intentions against the Baha'i community. It should know that these lies will have no credibility whatsoever.

"We are particularly concerned by the fact that these accusations come just days before the scheduled trial of seven Baha'i leaders, who have been locked up for nearly two years on equally unfounded charges," she said.

"All of these latest accusations are so far-fetched as to be ludicrous if they were not so obviously aimed at putting innocent lives at risk," she said. "As we have said before, rather than accepting responsibility for the turmoil in the country, the Iranian government seeks to lay the blame on others, including foreign powers, international organizations and media outlets, students, women, and terrorists."

On Friday, several news agencies reported that Tehran's general prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, said the Baha'is who were arrested on Sunday "were arrested because they played a role in organizing the Ashura protests and namely for having sent abroad pictures of the unrest."

"They were not arrested because they are Baha'is," said Mr. Dolatabadi, according to Agence France Presse. "Arms and ammunition were seized in the homes of some of them."

Ms. Ala'i also rejected Mr. Dolatabadi's assertions that Baha'is were involved in the planning of the Ashura demonstrations, or in any violent or subversive activity related to the recent turmoil in Iran.

"For the past 30 years, Iranian Baha'is have been subjected to the worst forms of persecution, ranging from arbitrary execution to the exclusion of their children from school," said Ms. Ala'i. "Yet they have responded only through means that are peaceful and legal."

Seven Baha'is leaders are scheduled to go on trial on Tuesday on trumped-up charges of espionage, "insulting religious sanctities," and "propaganda" against the government. They have been held in Evin prison since mid-2008. The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.

On Sunday, 13 Baha'is were arrested in early morning raids on their homes in Tehran. Three have been released but 10 remain detained at Evin prison.

They are: Leva Khanjani, granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani, and her husband, Babak Mobasher; Jinous Sobhani, former secretary of Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, and her husband Artin Ghazanfari; Mehran Rowhani and Farid Rowhani, who are brothers; Payam Fanaian; Nikav Hoveydaie; and Ebrahim Shadmehr and his son, Zavosh Shadmehr.

Source: http://news.bahai.org/story/747

Iran Rights Organization Alerts to Seriousness of Charges Facing Bahá'ís

Further to the week's news of the intensified campaign against Bahá'ís in Iran, and the upcoming trial against the former Bahá'í "leaders" scheduled for 12 January (read article on that here), voices are being raised in their defence, as below.

Fear of Imminent Executions of Baha’is

Baha’i Community at High Risk as State Exploits Political Unrest

(7 January 2010) Iranian authorities have added new charges against 7 Baha’i leaders detained since 2008, under which they could be executed if convicted, and have arrested at least 12 more members of the religious minority, while desensitizing the Iranian population with propaganda campaigns against the Baha’is, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. In news reports broadcast nationally, commentators have claimed that recent Ashura demonstrations were masterminded by Baha’is, although no evidence has been produced to support the accusations.

“Iran and the world are again confronted by the specter of Bahai’s being executed, this time on charges trumped up in the context of current widespread political unrest,” said Aaron Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Campaign.

Since Ashura (27 December), Baha’is known to have been arrested include Jinoos Sobhani, Leva Khanjani, Babak Mobasher, Payam Fanaian, Nika Hoveydai, Mona Hoveydai, Artin Ghazanfari, Farid Rohani, Ahmad Rohani, Negar Sabet, Ebrahim Shadmehr, and Zavosh Shadmehr.

The seven Baha’i leaders arrested in the spring of 2008, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm, are due to stand trial on Tuesday, 19 January. The charges in their cases have been expanded since their arrest and now include those that can carry the death penalty.

“Given the totally unjustified executions of two national Baha’i leadership groups that took place in the early 1980s, and the inciting rhetoric of the government against Baha’is following Ashura, there is a real concern for the lives of the Baha’i leaders about to be tried,” Rhodes said.

More than 200 Baha’is have been killed by the State following the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Thousands more have been arrested, harassed, surveilled, dismissed from their jobs, or had their finances and property confiscated by the government. Baha’is are prohibited from holding government jobs and their children are not allowed to attend university.

The Campaign calls on the international community and organizations to condemn the actions of the Islamic Republic against the Baha’i community, to release all Baha’is who have been arrested because of their beliefs, and to cease its targeting of Baha’is throughout Iran.

Source: http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2010/01/fear-executions-bahais/

LATEST: Events in Iran moving towards climax

A confluence of alarming developments in Iran -

• Government forces killing at least eight in the streets
• Leading clerics voicing death sentences against all dissenters

and 88 prominent citizens, all university professors at Tehran University, the latest to raise their voice in protest. Can there be any more doubt that a tipping point is nearing?

Not to mention the intensifying blaming (scapegoating) in Iranian news media of the Bahá'ís of Iran for the recent public unrest (read below), and the incarceration on 3 January of 10 more Bahá'ís (according to a Bahá'í International Community interviewed on bahairadio.org [in Persian] on 5 January), many of whom are relatives of the seven former Bahá'í leaders who are still behind bars.

CNN, 5 January:

The 88 professors -- all of whom are considered employees of the Islamic republic -- who signed the letter [criticizing the government's violent handling of student protesters] are "risking their jobs and God knows what else," said Ali Alfoneh, a research fellow at the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute...

Read the full article, Tehran professors decry handling of protesters, here.

More on the appalling harrassment of civilians in Iran here.

Faces of Iran: Iranian protesters hold a rally on the Shi'ite mourning day of Ashoura in central Tehran, Iran December 27, 2009. (REUTERS/Stringer)

Iranian riot police run towards opposition protesters during clashes in central Tehran December 27, 2009. (REUTERS/Stringer)

Below on the situation of the Bahá'ís.

The seven Baha'i "leaders" scheduled to go on trial on 12 January, photographed several months before their arrest in the spring of 2008.

Bahá’í World News Service, 5 January:

Trial of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran looms

"The Baha'i community in Iran has all too often been subjected to campaigns of vilification and false charges devised to deflect the attention of a disquieted population onto the Baha'is and away from those in power," said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva. "And now, in these days leading to the trial, there are signs that once again the Baha'is are being made scapegoats.

"Rather than accepting responsibility for the turmoil in the country, the Iranian government seeks to lay the blame on others, including foreign powers, international organizations and media outlets, students, women, and terrorists. Now the Baha'is have been added to this long list of alleged culprits," she said.

"Over the past several days, Iranian state-sponsored media have accused the Baha'is of being responsible for the unrest surrounding the holy day of Ashura," said Ms. Ala'i. "This is clearly aimed at rousing public sentiment against the seven Baha'is being held in Evin prison. We are particularly concerned that the government, or ultraconservative elements within it, may use the turmoil in Iran as cover for extreme measures against these wrongly imprisoned individuals.

This concern deepened on Sunday, she said, when authorities rounded up 13 Baha'is from their homes in Tehran, took them to a detention center, and tried to get them to sign a document saying that they would not engage in any future demonstrations.

"Putting two and two together, the situation facing these Baha'i leaders is extremely ominous. We are deeply concerned for their safety.

"We expect their trial to be nothing but a show trial, with a predetermined outcome," she said. ...

Read the full article here

Photo of Bahá'í "leaders" copyright Bahá’í International Community.

Threats to public of capital punishment, scores of wanton arrests reveal a regime at end of its resources

The blind denunciation and hitting out by the Iranian government against any and all forms of public demonstration is daily intensifying, thus exacerbating people's discontent with the regime. An e-mail circular of 2 January 2010 from the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (iranhumanrights.org) (read below) reports the latest desperate measures being contemplated and implemented on behalf of a government that is being subjected to increasing public pressure and international scrutiny. Attempts by the Iranian media to blame the country's social unrest on the influence of foreign countries and/or the Bahá'ís of Iran (more on that here) are but part and parcel of the regime's ongoing propaganda machine.

Further down, find a widely publicized article from ABC news (Australia) detailing the continued appalling human rights abuses perpetrated by the Iranian security and justice system.



 

Iran: Detained Protesters Threatened with Execution

Pressure Builds on Judiciary to Act "As in 1979" (3 January 2010) In apparently coordinated messages, pro-government clerics have publicly called for detained protesters to be executed, placing intense political pressure on the Islamic Republic's supposedly-independent judiciary to act as judicial authorities did in the early days of the Revolution, and attempting to intimidate Iranians from demonstrating for their rights, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran stated today.

The ayatollahs were quoted, from speeches during pro-government demonstrations and during Friday Prayers, by Fars News Agency.

"We are deeply concerned that, while inappropriate political pressure is being placed on judicial authorities, government propaganda is preparing the population for executions," said Hadi Ghaemi, spokesperson for the Campaign.

Ayatollah Alamolhoda , a member of the Assembly of Experts, warned citizens who had demonstrated their opposition to the government's restrictions on civil rights that they would be considered Mohareb, or enemies of God, if they did not give up their opposition. Mohareb is a crime punishable by death in the Islamic Republic. Alamolhoda implored the demonstrators to "come back to the side of the Supreme Leader," otherwise they would "regret the punishments" waiting for them.

During Friday Prayers in Tehran, Ayatollah Janati, the Secretary of the Guardian Council, addressed the protesters as follows: "These people obviously are Mofsed felarz [one who denies the Prophet and spreads debauchery] and immediately after Revolution such people were punished…" ...

Janati addressed the Judiciary and said, "Detain those who should be arrested, don't release them after several days in order to continue chaos. These people won't be led to the right path." He added, "The Intelligence and Information institutions should do their task and if these people dare again to disrespect and insult [sacred] values in the street they should not be secure and should be arrested and tried immediately. Also, for their trial, judges should proceed as rapidly as those in 1979."

Ayatollah Sayed Yousef Tabataienejad, during Friday Prayers in Isfahan, also addressed the Judiciary and stated: "The disruptive group fought with God by coming onto the streets…they are Mofsed felarz and the Judiciary should know that their actions are obvious debauchery and according to God and the Koran the punishment is execution."

Ayatollah Haj Sheikh Asadolah Imani, a member of the Assembly of Experts, in the Friday Prayers in Shiraz, said, "Anarchists should know that if they cause anarchy or contribute in it, they are Mohareb and Mortad, and the Judiciary should punish them properly."

Iran arrests hundreds of dissidents

By correspondent Anne Barker and wires

Posted Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:17am AEDT
Updated Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:15am AEDT

Iranian forces have broadened their crackdown against opposition protests by arresting hundreds of dissidents, as a senior cleric called for opposition leaders to be put to death.

Security authorities in Tehran have arrested at least 300 people accused of inciting the latest protests against the government.

Security forces are also restricting the movements of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the main opposition leader.

Those arrested include prominent dissidents or their relatives, such as the sister of Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi.

Ms Ebadi said on French radio France Info that Iranian authorities were trying to silence her by arresting her sister.

"This arrest is illegal because my sister is a dentist, she is not in any way active in human rights or politics... and she didn't participate in any protests," Ms Ebadi said.
She said intelligence officials entered her sister's house on Monday night to arrest her without a warrant, rifled through her belongings, and confiscated computers.

Eight people were killed in Sunday's riots.

Yesterday pro-government loyalists staged their own rallies in support of the government and denouncing the opposition.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused the United States and Israel of inciting the latest anti-government protest.

Mr Ahmadinejad joined a chorus of Iranian leaders attacking foreign governments for encouraging the latest violent protests against the Islamic regime.

He accused the US and Israel of staging a "nauseating play" by fomenting the unrest.
Iran's foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki summoned the British ambassador in Tehran and threatened his country with a "slap in the mouth" if it didn't stop meddling in Iran's affairs.

A representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says opposition leaders are "enemies of God" who should be executed under the country's sharia law.

"Those who are behind the current sedition in the country... are mohareb [enemies of God] and the law is very clear about punishment of a mohareb," said cleric Abbas Vaez-Tabasi, who possesses ultimate authority in Iran.

Under Iran's Islamic sharia law the sentence for "mohareb" is execution.

Source: http://abconline.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/30/2782418.htm?section=world 

SARI: Four Baha'i women arrested, families harrassed

Arrest of Four Baha'i Women in Northern Iran

Posted: 30 Dec 2009

Washington, 23 Dec. (Television Washington) – Last week, in continuation of widespread pressure on the Baha'is in Iran and repeated arrests in various locations of the country, four Baha'i women were arrested in the city of Sari, near the Caspian Sea, capital of the province of Mazandaran.
According to a report from the Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran, last week on Tuesday [15 Dec. 2009], Mrs. Samira Samiee [1] and on Saturday [19 Dec. 2009] Mrs. Sepideh Masumi, Mrs. Sepideh Zamani, and Saha Zamani – four Baha'is living in that city [Sari] were arrested.
According to the same report, on Tuesday morning security agents arrived at the home of Mrs. Samira Samiee and her husband Mr. Fardin Yousefi, searched the house, tore apart Baha'i pictures, confiscated some personal belongings, arrested Samira, and "beat, insulted and threatened with pepper spray" her husband, who was protesting the arrest of his wife.
According to the same report, at the same time, about 15 other security agents arrived at the home of Mrs. Sepideh Masumi; since she was not at home, they searched her house and insulted her father, who is an elder man, with vulgar language (such as religiously "untouchable"). The agents put Sepideh's mother under pressure and made her to promise that Sepideh would present herself [to the agents] on Saturday.
Consequently, Mrs. Sepideh Masumi along with Sepideh & Saha Zamani, who were also asked to present themselves to the Court, arrived at the court. After many hours of interrogation, on leaving the court they were arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and transferred to a holding cell.
Last week, two more Baha'is in Semnan and Sari were also arrested. Also, the Islamic Revolutionary Court issues sentences of imprisonment and exile for another three Baha'is in Yasuj.
In this connection, yesterday the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre [IHRDC], located in the United States, published a number of reports with regard to the situation of the Baha'is in Iran: "Prohibition of religious belief, persecution and prosecution of the Baha'is in Iran," "Crime against humanity: the attack of the Islamic Republic on the Baha'is," and "A community under oppression: the record of the suffering of the Baha'is of Shiraz." The IHRDC accused the Islamic Republic and its authorities of "extermination of the Baha'i Faith" through arrest and oppression of its followers.
The followers [of the Baha'i Faith] suffer from many limitations under the Islamic Republic, including education, travel, residence, employment, religious observations and even burial of their dead.
Editor's Notes:
[1] IPW reported Mrs. Samira Samiee's arrest earlier. See http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/5373
[2] Iran Human Rights Documentation Center: http://iranhrdc.org/httpdocs/English/homepage.htm
[Source: Television Washington, http://www.televisionwashington.com/floater_article1.aspx?lang=fa&t=1&id=16725&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter]

From Iran Press Watch

Attempts by Iranian Media to implicate Baha'is as sources of social unrest

Iran State Media Blames the "Baha'i Sect" for Recent Unrest

Posted: 30 Dec 2009

(MNBR) – Yesterday in Iran, articles appeared in two government-run news outlets blaming the Baha'i "sect" for the recent unrest in Iran, and namely the widespread protests that took place across the country on the day of Ashura. The Javan Newspaper, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, claimed that the protesters in "Mousavi's camp" tore Qur'ans during the protests, and that this is a practice that is common among the "Baha'i branch" of Mousavi's staff. The semi-official Fars News Agency, which has recently seen an influx in its ranks of Basij members, claimed that "Baha'ism under the leadership of Zionism is behind the latest crisis and unrest".

The sign reads: "Mousavi, the Baha’i, must be executed"

The following is a translation from Farsi of the relevant paragraphs of the Fars News Agency story:
Baha'ism, Led by Zionism, is Hatching Intrigue Behind the Scenes of the Recent Unrest
Ne'matollah Bavand, an expert and researcher in political affairs, proclaims that Baha'ism under the leadership of Zionism is behind the latest crisis and unrest.
Asserting that there is no doubt that Baha'ism, led by Zionism, is behind these disturbances, Bavand declared: "A female advisor to one of the candidates in the recent presidential election who wears a turban defended Baha'ism." [Note: this is an implied and disparaging reference to Mehdi Karroubi].
He added: "How long will the government put up with these people? Haven't the people been convinced yet of the nature of these hypocrisies?…An advisor to this man, who pretends to be a man of the cloth and who was once the head of parliament, has openly come out in defense of Baha'ism and is currently completing training with her husband in England to become spies."
He emphasized, "The public sees these things and becomes upset. Isn't there a way to take care of these problems? The key players leave Iran and people of lesser importance are tried, when it is the key players that need to be tried!…The enemy has come to seek revenge for all the victories [of the Islamic Republic] in the Mecca of Islam: Iran!"
Below in a translation from Farsi of the Javan newspaper story
Plot of Baha'ism in the Musawi Camp to Publicly Desecrate Religious Sanctities is Exposed
On 'Ashura, the protectors of the Musawi camp did not have the decency to abstain from desecrating even the most sacred of religious sanctities. By tearing up copies of the Qur'an on Enqelab Street in front of those mourning the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, they have exposed another side of their contempt for religion.
Confirming the above report, an expert in matters of security told Javan Online: "The actions of the Musawi Camp in desecrating religious sanctities is nothing new. In fact, this began happening when a Baha'i branch in the staff of this candidate was formed during the days leading up to the election."
He added: "This sect has long been planning to attack the religious sanctities of the people on 'Ashura but since they can never secure the protection of the masses, they will never be succeed."
Regarding the role of Baha'ism in desecrating religious sanctities, our expert in matters of security stated, "The path that the Musawi camp is taking in their attack on religious sanctities is the exact same path that the misguided Baha'i sect has been on for years."
He added: "We have evidence connecting the sect of Baha'ism with the Musawi camp and the strategic partnership between these two groups."

[Source: Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights http://www.bahairights.org/2009/12/29/iran-state-media-blames-the-bahai-sect-for-recent-unrest/]

From Iran Press Watch

House letter to Bahá'ís of Iran stresses spiritual requisites for family well-being

A remarkable message from the Universal House of Justice addressing this and related pivotal social issues.

Baha'i world governing body encourages the Baha'is [of Iran] to participate in the betterment of Iran

Posted: 30 Dec 2009

The Universal House of Justice [1], the world governing body of the Baha'is of the world, in recent months has called the Baha'is in Iran to an active participation in the affairs of Iran, its reconstruction and in the improvement of its social conditions [2].
In its messages [to the Baha'is in Iran], the Universal House of Justice has explained the importance of the future of Iran to the Baha'i Faith, and has asked the Baha'is, notwithstanding the current threatening conditions [for them], and despite being the largest religious monitory in Iran, to collaborate actively with other Iranians who are active in the areas of social development, without taking part in any of the many Iranian political groups.
In it's most recent message to the Baha'is of Iran [3], the Universal House of Justice has asked the Baha'is of Iran to search for the foundations of sustainable social and cultural advancement in their consultation at the family and community level, through emphasis on the role of the family in children's education, through a true understanding of justice and service to mankind.
This message, which was written on the occasion of the translation [into Persian] and publication of a collection of Baha'i teachings on family life, calls attention to the importance of consultation in these areas as an effective means for improvement of social relationships.
In this message, the Baha'is in Iran are asked to work towards the realization of a social order based on justice and unity with other Iranians. The Universal House of Justice identifies the development of family life as the prerequisite for attaining this goal. It writes: "the weakness of spiritual bonds in family life is among the signs of the moral decline of the social order of our time. The lack of complete equality between men and women in the family and ignoring children's rights in family life leads to a culture that allows the belittlement of the station of women and children, to the imposition of one's will over others, which leads to violence, first in the family unit, schools and workplace, and finally in the streets and on the social scene." [4]
The Universal House of Justice also warns that an unbalanced attention to the physical security of the family, in some circumstances, "can lead to narrow social views" and those who under a pretense of "family unity" may teach [a dichotomy between] "us and them" to their children, as well as those who "through the indoctrination of such poisonous beliefs" may promote "prejudice" against other social groups in the society.
According to the Universal House of Justice, this [unbalanced] education will reduce human empathy in the children; it is no surprise if children who grow up under these conditions "become indifferent to the sufferings of others" and even participate in the spread of injustice. Even when they do not become directly involved in the infringement of human rights, "since the defense and the protection of the people in oppressive society is very difficult, they will adopt the easy way of silence and tolerance with the oppressor instead of the means of justice and defense, and unknowingly will become obstacles to their own spiritual growth and to the advancement of their own people."
This message of the Universal House of Justice is an invitation to the Baha'is in Iran to engage in reflection and consultation on these subjects within their families, and with neighbors and co-workers about "how could every member of the family play a constructive role in the creation of a positive atmosphere; and how can they ensure that in this process each generation attains astonishing progress over the previous ones."
The Universal House of Justice views this effort as an important service for promoting the progress of Iran.
Editor's Notes:
[1] The Universal House of Justice is the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith. See: http://info.bahai.org/universal-house-of-justice.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_House_of_Justice
[2] For a collection of the messages of the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of Iran in Persian see: http://www.universal-house-of-justice-messages.org. For English translations, please contact IPW.
[3] Dated 24-Nov-2009, See the complete message in Persian here: http://www.universal-house-of-justice-messages.org/payam/2009-11-24.html
[4] The English translation of the quoted passages is a provisional translation by IPW.
[Source: Farhang Goftego (Culture and Dialogue), http://www.farhanggoftego.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=647:2009-12-08-15-43-36&catid=53:2009-08-25-13-30-02&Itemid=59; Translation by IPW]

From Iran Press Watch