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.
Since the beginning of time, man has a history of violent and inhumane treatment of fellow human beings that has been masked behind fanatic exploits or religion and spirituality. Through man’s ignorance, the truth continues to prevail as we are all cut from the same cloth. Someday the Iranian government and anyone else who has supported unjust acts against another will have to face the reality that there selfish and pointless efforts will not succeed. I am a descendant of African Slaves, of Native Americans, and of love that Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Mohammad, Jesus, The Bab, and Baha’u'llah stood for as “Divine Teachers”. The truth that we shall overcome someday.
No society or government can withstand the test of time with such dastardly internal politics and strife institutionally sanctioned and implemented. Inevitably huge bubbles of pressure build up among the factions within whether or not these factions suffer or dole out the abuse. False acusations against a totally disdmpowered group – the Baha’is – shows an extreme level of depravity which is going to pit every factionable group in Iran against the other groups. The certain result will be a catastrophic failure of the Iranian nation akin to Sebia/Bosnia in 1999. A house so grossly, violently divided and mean cannot stand. The message of the Baha’i Faith and indeed of Islam and all Religion is Unity, Peace and Love not this murderous tomfoolery now playing out. God is with these wronged fellow human beings and the horror of the mockery those in power have made of themselves will only haunt them forevermore. History it would seem is a subject the government of Iran is totally ignorant of.
I greatly applaud the comment of Jamshed K. Fozdar. An excellent analysis of religious history and the role which the clergy has played in it – needless to say, brilliantly written.
The Inquisition period of Islam will soon be over. The Golden Rule will be in place soon. No theocratic law can stop freedom of thought & action. The majority of people have always chosen their way of life, and subsequently their method of government. No one wishes to suffer under a repressive regime. There will be “the Most Great Peace”. God does not break His Promise which is His Covenant with us. When there are martyrs from the Baha’i Faith, there has always been increased activity & new believers worldwide. This has resulted in the Baha’is creating the buildings on Mt Carmel in Israel far faster than any previous religion has built its world center. In 165 short years, the Baha’is have created the “New Jerusalem” in Haifa. This past year saw over 80,000 Baha’is attend 41 conferences worldwide. None of the 300,000 could attend from Iran. The rest of the 6 million Baha’is worldwide are inspired by the reports, and there is no way this Iranian government can stop this new Faith. The Christian Inquisition had a better chance, and they had to back down. As a result, we had the Renaissance of knowledge & science of today.
May God forgive them as they no not what they do
Baha’is sacrifice for the well being of all and yet they bring peace and flowers, join us in prayers, thanks all.
This government is only making itself more and more rediculous by accusing innocent people. The Bahais love their country and do nothing but serve their country. Their religion is based on love and unity. It is one of their religious rules not to touch the gun otherwise they will not even be part of their organisation, yet the government claims to have found gun and weapons in their houses. There are millions of bahais in the world living in different countries and they are not all persians. How come that the persian government is so convinced that bahais in Iran are spys for israel?
when Bahaullah was sent to Akka, Israel didn’t even exist. How long are they going to kill and lie for their forceful existance?
How many more lies are they going to tell people? how many more innocent people are they going to kill? When the people of this regime including their leader talk on TV, one is really ashamed as there is no respect, no sympethy, no human feelings, no proper language, no faith, no spirituality, but only hatred and anger.
The leaders of Iran have no shame in blaming everyone but themselves for the situation they face. The stolen election is one example, more examples are blaming other religions, Britain, the US, Israel or anyone who is not their version of “muslim”. True God fearing people face immense persecution for the cheating regime to “save face”. China and Russia are of no help when they block actions against this dangerous government. The rest of the world MUST wake up to the crazy dictator and his supporters. We will all be in deep trouble if they are allowed to continue on their current path.
En tant que française d’origine arménienne, je suis consternée par le comportement du gouvernement iranien vis-à-vis des Baha’is d’Iran !
Il en est des prophètes comme deleurs disciples : les deux endurent le martyre par amour de la vérité : n’est-il pas écrit dans la tradition islamique : “Toutes les fois qu’un envoyé vous a apporté une révélation qui ne flattait pas vos passions, vous vous êtes enflés d’orgueil; vous avez traité les uns de menteurs et vous en avez assassiné d’autres.” Et que lit-on dans les Ecrits du Prophète de la foi bahá’ie : ” De tous temps les chefs religieux ont tenu les peuples sous leur joug et les ont détournés des rivages du salut éternel, les uns par amour du pouvoir, les autres par ignorance. C’est pour cette raison que les livres sacrés mentionnent les prêtres de tous les temps en disant par exemple : “O vous qui avez reçu les Ecritures, pourquoi revêtez-vous la vérité de la robe du mensonge ? Pourquoi la cachez-vous, vous qui a connaissez ?” Dieu saura les juger en temps voulu.