Bahá'ís face yet more persecution in Iran

On the site of Holocaust survivor Alexander Kimel is a fairly comprehensive overview of the factors of anti-Semitism and demonisation of the Jewish people that culminated in the murder of six million Jews, along with many thousands of people from Romany, gay, disabled and other minority communities. Kimel concludes that for many reasons, a Holocaust could not happen again today. One reason that he doubts this is because it would necessitate the recurrence of a particular set of conditions, including the 'silence and indifference of the whole world toward the fate of the Jews.' It is for that reason among other obvious ones that I am highlighting here the current fate of the Baha'i community in Iran. (See this photo of  Bahá'í temple in Delhi and others on this site.)

I do not want to be part of another 'conspiracy of silence'. And some Bahá'ís  believe that aspects of what they are experiencing in Iran - the officially sanctioned recording of their existence and religious affiliation - bear terrifying comparisons with what happened to Jewish people in Germany in the run-up to their slaughter at Auschwitz and elsewhere.

The Bahá'í faith is one of the fastest-expanding in the world, with more than five million followers. There are between 300,000 and 350,000 in Iran, where its founder Bahá’u’lláh was born in the 19th century. It is a fundamentally peace-loving religion with slightly utopian ideals of universal harmony. It is also the largest religious minority in Iran. You can read a summary of its history and beliefs here. In Iran, the community has been particularly under siege since the 1979 Islamic revolution but there is a long history of persecution before this.

The latest alarm has been provoked by a report by United Nations raporteur Asma Jahangir into the plight of Bahá'ís in Iran. It is discussed on an excellent Bahá'í blog here. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has instructed a number of government agencies, including the revolutionary guard and the police force, to 'collect any and all information about members of the Baha'i faith.' Ms Jahangir, whose brief at the UN is freedom of religion and belief, concludes that this monitoring 'constitutes an impermissible and unacceptable interference with the rights of the members of religious communities.' She is also concerned that the information gained as a result of this monitoring will be used to support 'the increased persecution of, and discrimination against, members of the Bahá'í faith, in violation of international standards.'

Members of the Bahá'í community are not recognized as a religious minority in Iran and do not have the right to practise their religion. M Jahangir has long been concerned by the 'systematic discrimination' against members of the Bahá'í community in Iran and has already intervened with the government several times. But now she fears that the situation in Iran for all religious minorities is deteriorating.

Here is one example of what the Bahá'ís in Iran have suffered, reported on the faith's own site: 'In June 1983, for example, the Iranian authorities arrested ten Bahá’í women and girls. The charge against them: teaching children’s classes on the Bahá’í Faith — the equivalent of Sunday school in the West. The women were subjected to intense physical and mental abuse in an effort to coerce them to recant their Faith — an option that is always pressed on Bahá’í prisoners. Yet, like most Bahá’ís who were arrested in Iran, they refused to deny their beliefs. As a result, they were executed.'  Pictured here is 17-year-old Mona Mahmudnizhad, one of the women executed. There are many other stories of arbitrary arrests, imprisonments and property confiscation and members of the faith are not allowed access to public universities in Iran. After many UN and other international protests, Iran reduced the execution rate but what is concerning about the latest development is that it indicates that the ultimate goal of the persecution, the eradication of the faith in Iran, has not changed. 

Says Barney Leith, of the UK Bahá'ís: 'We share Ms Jahangir's concern for the welfare of the Bahá'ís in Iran and are gravely concerned for their safety.' As much pressure as possible needs to be exerted on Iran to prevent the ultimate elimination of a community that is dedicated to what we all want, peace.

Comments

[Mark]

Thank you everyone for your comments to this great article written over 2 years ago. Perhaps it is time we do something about these persecutions of innocent people in Iran. We can each write letters to our representatives in Congress or our Parliament, we can have our Schools and Universities take some action and write official letters or appeal. We can talk about this in our churches, synagogues and mosques. We can write letters to the news media. We can read more about the situation through websites like
http://denial.bahai.org
http://news.bahai.org

What we can not do is remain silent or feel there is nothing we can do to help. Please consider some of the organizations we can write to as listed below.

Thank you all

UN Secretary-General
Hon. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General
United Nations
United Nations Headquarters
First Avenue at 46th Street
New York, NY 10017
U.S.A

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
High Commissioner for Human Rights - Ms. Louise Arbour
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8-14 ave de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax : 41 22 917 0213

United Nations Human Rights Council
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9011
E-mail: ngochr@ohchr.org

UNESCO
Director-General, Koïchiro Matsuura
UNESCO
7, place de Fontenoy
75352 PARIS 07 SP, France
bpiweb@unesco.org

UNICEF
Executive Director Ann M. Veneman
UNICEF House
3 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017
U.S.A.

Amnesty International
Secretary General Irene Khan
Amnesty International
1 Easton Street
London, WC1X 0DW
U.K.

Rights & Democracy
Jean-Louis Roy
Rights & Democracy
1001 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East
Suite 1100
Montreal, Quebec H2L 4P9

Iran’s Representative to the United Nations

New York Permanent Mission:
Ambassador: H.E. Mr. Mohammad Khazaee
622 Third Avenue, 34th floor
New York, NY 10017
U.S.A.
Ph. (212) 687 2020
Fax. (212) 867 7086
E-mail: iran@un.int;

Geneva Permanent Mission:
Ambassador: H.E. Mr. Mohammad Reza Alborzi
28 Chemin du Petit-Saconnex
1209 Geneva, Switzerland
Ph. +41 22 332 21 00
Fax. +41 22 733 02 03
Email: mission.iran@ties.itu.int;

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
245 Metcalfe St.
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K2
Fax: 613-232-5712

[Izzat Ansari]

CALL FOR ACTION!!!

I would like to share a quote I read from a book called 'Waging Peace'.It says 'Resting in peace is only for the dead.The living have to wage peace'.

This calls for action on the part of every individual on this planet that calls himself/herself'human'to actively support initiatives that attempt to educate the masses and remove the prejudices that divide humanity and to use peaceful means based on reason to pressurise the violators of human rights to stop their unbridled violence.

Those who remain silent and watch are also responsible for the spread of wrongdoing!!

[azat]

As far as we know, Iran is confidentially monitoring the activities of Baha'is in Central Asia and is very active in Tajikistan using mass media and where some Baha'is were killed already.

[John F Kosh]

Persecution of Bahais in Iran has been an ongoing event being repeated by different Iranian governments and fanatic Islamic groups for the last 160 years. Bahais are killed or continuously harassed for no reason other than their personal belief in their religion. Million Bahais can not defend themselves by any means of armed forces or even aggressive behaviour, since these are against their own principles of love and peace. This is a shame for humanity to just let this crime continue.

[Maaike Broekhuizen]

Thank you Ruth Gledhill, I hope this will alarm a greater amount of people. The bahá'ís of Iran are in our prayers.

[Karl]

Here is an excellant video by Bahai artist Grant Hinden Miller. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1424799603865250570&q=bahai&pl=true

[Norma E. HOYLE]

Dear Ms. Gledhill,

Evil flourishes in darkness but when members of the media honestly seek the truth and do their job, as you have done yours, a light appears in the world. Thank you for bringing the light of widespread knowledge to this appalling situation.

Canada

[Mohamed Abdou-Salami]

Mrs Ruth Gledhill, I would like to personally thank you for the job well done. I am a Baha'i and can't help but shed a tear to the fact that these persecutions are still going on. I am so convinced that Your sincere and compassionate effort will have a great impact in stopping these atrocities in Iran as well as other other Muslim Countries where the freedom of the Baha'is is still denied. Once again Thank you very much for voicing this out. The magnitude of the concern already shown on this site by people of good will from all belief systems attest to the universality of the sadness these persecutions evoke.

[Beverly]

I personally thank Ruth for being a voice for those whose voices are being silenced. "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart percieve it?" Prov. 24:11-12 It is always right to do the right thing and speak up. May more and more of us continue to do so in this situation with the peace-loving people of the Baha'i faith.

[Eric LOUVET]

The religion as laic affairs should increase justice and unity, and not unfair persecution and division. Please continue your efforts for dignity and justice of minorities without prejudice.
Thank to all human being working for this purpose.
Eric
France

[janice serpell]

Dear Bahai friends,
After reading about the persecution that you face because of your spiritual beliefs I felt sick. I was not even aware of your situation if Bahai friends had not made me aware of it.
How can people regardless if we be Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or say we believe in God and not but be repulsed by the persecution that the Bahai face.
Sadly we have forgotten that God created us all in His image and that we are all His children. He loves us unconditionaly.
When will we understand that when we persecute another child of God ,when we disrespect the earth and nature,when we allow ourselves to hold resentments and jugement against one another that we show God our creator nothing but disrespect.
I believe in my heart that we are here on this earth to learn to love one another and celebrate the diversity we find in the world God created for us. Not destroy it. As God's children we are here on a spiritual journey to learn to love one another and see the Creator in the face of our fellow man.
Awounded soul can only lash out in anger and pain. I can only hope and pray that one day we can all stand together and not see colour, or religion but see each other as we truly are meant to be seen. Creation of God, spirits living in human form having a human experience, loving and supporting each other, celebrating this earth and each other as children of God.
I hope that one day we can remember that only God can judge, only God is fit to judge. If we can understand that each time we judge another we set ourselves up as god; that each time we strive to dominate another culture or seek to oprress a group of people because they may believe or think differently, or they may be of a diffrent gender we play God.
We are here to grow and allow God's love to flow through us to each other and this earth so that the cries of angiush and pain from abuse and persecution can stop. Is it not about time that we see this and try each day to strive to live this. God does not ask for perfection. God asks only that we try.
May God bless you all. May you know that you never walk alone.
Janice Serpell

[Ropati]

Sad to hear about the situation of Bahai's in Iran.
it is injustice for innocents to allow the ways of the ignorant and tyranny.If a sheep fell into a pack of wolves if is just to save the sheep.
The world has not realized, the Bahai Faith is everywhere on this planet that how powerful it can be....

Ropati (From Apia, Samoa)

[Javid]

Thank you so much for your attention and these articles all.
Hopefully that international pressure on iranian authorities will help our Bahai friends in iran.
I believe if we'l pray together and everybody just try to write a idea or just tell another pepole about Iranian Bahai's situation right now, that these matters will get better very soon.

Please never forget that IRAN has a very old civilization , culture & we'd doen always good together .

God with you all, dear friends in every place in this world.

[oscar Rosa]

Thanks for stand for the rights of the Baha'i's in Iran, We are all concern about their situation in their home land,

Keep remember them in your prayers,

Oscar Rosa

[Nadir Cossa]

Thank you dear Ruth Gledhill, I am Italian and really hope that also italians writers will take your example of love for humanity and justice.
"Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the drops of one ocean"[Bahá'u'lláh]. Warmest greetings, Nadir

[A. Cote']

Thanks for the great articles

[vae19]

Dear friends
I an Iranian bahai. For more information on the bahai persecution you can e-mail me.
Best regards
vae19

[Parisa Soleymanjoo]

Dear Ruth:

Thankyou for you'r Honesty and Courage.
I come from a muslim background and confirmed my faith and belief in Baha'u'llah in Febuary 2000.Before i joined the Baha'i community i would hear a lot of false storys and ignorant perceptions of this peace loving and genuin community.So i decided to go along to their functions to pin point a fault and say see i told you so.Instead, i found myself being ashamed of my ignorance and investigating the truth of the faith.I am proud to say that i am now a true muslim because i am a baha'i.

To my beloved iranian muslim friends:
Surely we can not use the precious name of the muslim religion with all it's beautiful truths to tarnish it with hate,ignorance and war all in the name of God???????

With much respect and appreciation:
Parisa Soleymanjoo

[Adnan Siddiqi]

Thank you for sharing a heart breaking news with us. This was a real eye-opener of what is actually happening out there. We do observe that lately there is growing pressure on Iran, though on another pretext, the reality is not what the media is portraying. I think this is divine, which could turn into a wrath of God, and could get even worse for them, unless the Iranian Government redresses its code of conduct. Unfortunately they are not sensible enough to realize the gravity of their misconducts, as their egos have taken over their senses. Persecutions like this are unheard of in civilised nations of today. Nevertheless, as a Baha'i, though I feel extremely depressed when I come across with such news, I am still hopeful to see a change (positive)in the Iranian Government's most primitive and absurd laws, which are also contrary to the basic Islamic principles.

[Adnan Siddiqi]

Thank you for sharing a heart breaking news with us. This was a real eye-opener of what is actually happening out there. We do observe that lately there is growing pressure on Iran, though on another pretext, the reality is not what the media is portraying. I think this is divine, which could turn into a wrath of God, and could get even worse for them, unless the Iranian Government redresses its code of conduct. Unfortunately they are not sensible enough to realize the gravity of their misconducts, as their egos have taken over their senses. Persecutions like these are unheard of in civilised nations of today. Nevertheless, as a Baha'i, though I feel extremely depressed when I come across with such news, I am still hopeful to see a change (positive)in the Iranian Government's most primitive and absurd laws, which are also contrary to the basic Islamic principles.

[Alexandre Peixoto]

thank you (obrigado) for showing the world what is realy going on in Iran.I believe that the great cause of prejudice is ignorance since history shows us that peace and love are more profitable than war and hatred.The best heard voice nowdays is the media and i believe that Ruth is doing a very nice job.

[John Valimbe]

Thanks immensely for the article. It is horrifying and inadmissible that a well-meaning people whose outstretched arms invite mankind to world unity and universal brotherhood (this may seem a bit utopic, but achievable it is!) should be the target of deliberate misconception and persecution. This has been the lot of my Baha'i brothers and sisters in Iran for a long, long time. If in yesteryears, it went unnoticed because of a dearth in global communication and a lack of global awareness, today, it is unexcusable. We have the tools to raise global awareness on such brazen denials of human rights and threats to human life. We owe it to ourselves in this era of lights and stupendous progress, through peaceful means, to beat back the shadows of obscurantism. Never again should holocausts be allowed to happen. Never again! We owe this to ourselves as decent human beings!

[Francois Guebe]

This article sets matters so clearly that I doubt any peace loving person could remain unmoved by the plight of the Baha'is of Iran, as presented in this article.

I became a Baha'i over thirty years ago, and I have not stopped wondering why Iran should not be proud of Iranian members of this World Religion that is so well known for its Teachings on world peace and world unity and is in the forefront of the promotion of religious tolerance, racial unity, etc.

Thank you, Ms Ruth Glehill! Thanks to your article, the plans for the eradication of the Baha'i community of Iran will be known the world over, thus breaking the silence that has encouraged such catastrophies as the holocaust.

[nuha delshad]

it is shamefull that at this time ang age of enlightment that are still people not allowed to express and practice their own religion peacefully. This is another shamefull epesode in the history of mankind.

[John Mangum]

I don't think that Mohammad (Praise and blessing be upon Him) would have allowed this kind of miss treatment to take place.
Remember, "The Flight"

[Andrew]

Great to see that people still care about the situation of the BAHA is in Iran

[Ramin]

if only they tipped their toes in the vast ocean of the Bahai teachings: "INDEPENDENT" investigation of truth"!

[Adore Newman]

Maraming salamat po sa inyong pagmamalasakit. (Pilipino - thank you for your concern) As one of thousands of Baha'is in the Philippines, I thank you, Ruth, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing our concern for our co-religionists and for bringing this to attention of the wider public.

[Jaya Nair]

It is so refreshing to see your article address this major human rights issue in Iran. With all the publicity given to Iran in the recent weeks, it is amazing that very few media reports even mention the persecution of the Bahais in Iran - despite it being such a blatant and longstanding violation.

[Dennis Binai]

O SON OF BEING
My Calamity is My providence, outwardly it is fire and vengeance, but inwardly it is light and mercy.....

Iranian clergies and government decided to be accounted as evil for this age. So they are being used to be a lesson for humanity on its path to reach the Golden age of peace and prosperty for all being.

Thank you who are voicing your concerns, and your contribution for betterment of the world.

[Fateh Khademi]

How unfortunate to see that the authorities in Iran are still pursuing their traditinal approach in dealing with the largest religous minority in Iran namely the Bahais and continue to persecute the followers of this religion whose main aim is unity of mankind and universal peace. To reach this objective we will continue our efforts collectively throught the world and invite all our fellow member of humanity to join us in this endevour to make this planet a better place to live for all.

[ngar whiteford]

I visited Iran last year and attend many Bahai gatherings in Shiraz and Isfahan. To think that the gentle people I met are going to came under another round of persecution is heart breaking. Thank you for High lighting their problems.

[Christian Gruber]

My thanks, Ruth, as so many others have said, for recognizing the plight of the Baha'is in Iran. One of the saddest aspects of this whole episode is that so many of those Muslim Iranians with whom I have come in contact bear no ill will towards the Baha'is in or out of Iran. Many of them see through the hateful propaganda that slanders Baha'u'llah's faith in his home country. Others, though initially misinformed, go on to meet Baha'is and are genuinely surprised that this Faith is so different from its portrayal by its opponents.

Iran is such an ancient and noble culture, with a history of tolerance in ancient times. Cyrus protected the Jewish remnant and preserved their rights to practice their faith during the babylonian captivity. Iran has been so influential to the culture and history of the west. Yet now, some leaders would do away with this historical connection. Iranians of all stripes are impoverished by this kind of behaviour. I weep for this proud nation, so in need of healing, so full of potential and greatness. Two of of the people who, among my friends, I consider stirring examples of human dignity, poise, reverence and wit, are Iranian.

In the end, Ruth, I pray that your efforts to expose this tragedy come to good fruit, and that you might continue to speak out, for the oppressed Baha'i, for Rwandese and Burundian, for Balkan, for Sudanese, for Hebrew, for Native American, or any other member of the human family that has undergone or is in danger of such oppression, destruction, or gennocide.

[mehrzad rouhani]

Ms. Gledhill,
Thanks for the article and bringing to light the plight of our dear brethren in Iran. In this day and age it is totally unbelievable that such atrocities can be committed especially in the name of religion. What is sad is that I feel world governments are generallly turning a blind eye or not pushing Iran to correct his ways, due to their own political agendas. Yet they call themselves world democracies! Once again thanks for your article. I hope this may cause some to take serious action.

[Payam Kalbasi]

O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord. -- Bahá'u'lláh

[Margaret Varner]

I hope that this news being broadcast throughout the world will let the Iranian government know that their acts of oppression are being seen.

[Lee Thacker]

Thanks for bringing the persecution of the Bahai to our attention. The media seem to spend so much time focusing on the Iranian nuclear programme that they forget about human rights abuses in Iran.

Christians have also faced persecution in recent years, notably the murders of Haik Hovsepian Mehr and Ghorban Tourani.

[Edward P. in Alabama]

Dear Ruth,
Please share any new news regarding the actions to eliminate members of minority religions by Iran's Government. If the Iranian Government demonstrates a lack of morality and ethics even toward their own citizens, then imagine what they would do with nuclear weaponry ! ! !

The survival of human life on our Planet might be resting upon the world's concern about the welfare of Baha'is, Jews, and Christians in Iran.

So, please, keep us up to date about what is going on, and how international agencies are addressing this critical situation.

[Joe Buckstrap]

Ruth,
I encountered a Bahai chapter in Cleveland, OH 30 years ago. They were among the most genuinely decent, peaceful, ethical and compassionate individuals I have met in my travels.

I am not a religious man; I don't subscribe to revealed religion. I don't believe in avatars or apparitions of deities on earth. I don't believe in the supernatural. I have no use for morality and its embrace of pie-in-the-sky concepts. Nonetheless, I feel that I am very faithful, in that the ethical work I do in the here and now shall make this a better world for myself and others.

There is a place where ethics and morality intersect. It is called the Golden Rule. This cognition and practice is what most impressed me about the Bahai I encountered.

It is appalling that such decent and compassionate human beings are persecuted by religious fanatics.

[grayfeather Kenley Mays]

Twice today my blood has run cold. first from reading about an attack against a fellow Native American for doing a peace ceramony at the world trade center. Now this blog. yet Mrs Gledhill I thank you, thank you very much. please keep puting this news out. My wife is persian and her brother was killed in October 1985. My wife's bridesmaid was Vahid Hedayati's wife whom I taught the Faith. My wife has some Moslem friends that are urging my wife to get her remaining brother and sister out of Iran for fear of what IS going to happen. Yet these same people are quiet for fear of wqhat could happen to them if they contacted my wifes family.

Those few moderate moslem leaders in the world are afraid to speak out for fear of being killed by the extremist. What I fear the most is an attack on Isreal using missiles of aircraft. this would result in an all out war. Somewhere I have read where the Guardian writes about an attack on Isreal and the Baha'is being in danger from it

Again I thank you for posting this weblog on Iran

grayfeather Kenley Mays Lynchburg, Va. USA

[Liam]

This is an atrocity very similar to the way Hitler rounded up the names of Jews in Nazi Germany. The international community needs to know about this.

[mohanvijayakumar]

Dear Ruth,
Thank You from my heart for the intervention on behalfs of the Baha,is of the World with first-hand examples to illustrate this persecution and 'systematic discrimination' of the Baha,is of Iran and at the same time asking them to rectify tne actions which is causing a serious damage to the country.May God shower so with all the courage and energy to fight against such "Religious Intolerance"through the right forum.

[AC]

Thank you. This is well written and compelling. I had no idea.

[Bashir Taeed]

Thank you so much for writing this article about the suffering of the Baha'is in Iran. I pray from my bottom of my heart for thier safety as my parents, brother and sister are there. I hope the silence of the world will be broken before it is too late!!

[Vida wachob]

Ruth;
Thank you so much for your article . If more jurnalists like you pay attention to the condition of the Baha'is in Iran as well as the most moslem countries, the persecution and lack of freedom for Bahai's may cease. The world needs to become familiar with the Baha'i principels in order to move towards the World peace.
Please do not stop writing about these issues.
Thank you.

[kmh]

Ruth - Thank you for shedding light on the unfair treatment of the Bahai's in Iran. I hope that those who are persecuting the Bahai's will come to understand that God would never want us to kill each other in His name.

[Shahram]

Those who killed Mona thought that this would kill the cause. One thing that everybody needs to know that is Bahai's would sacrifice their lives in a heart bit for Baha'u'llah and his cause. The ultimate rise for any Bahai is to Love and Give all there is for this faith.

[John Mike, MD]

The situation in Iran is very grace and given the fact besides the collection of information on every Bahia in the country they are using the national airways to broadcast lies and false allegations against the faith and the founders of the faith. These broadcasts designed to incite more anger and negative actions against the Bahia's. This is becoming more like the events that took place in Rwanda where one million Tutsi were killed in less than 3 months in the latest and most recent human genocide in the 1990's.
Can this happen again while the world watches, it sure can in a country like Iran and if we as civilized nations do not unite against this human assault it can be over before anyone can react to it.

[HOOMAN MANI]

Dear Ruth,

The Bahai´s fromall over the wrold are searching wrold peace as it was when human kind was created.

" ONE PEOPLE, ONE PLANET , PLEASE "

Thank You,
From Brazil

Hooman Mani

[Hossein Sabet]

As a Bahá’í child I suffered indignation by my class mates in school teachers and every one in the city. The memories of those day sends shivers into my spine. I remember one day there was an article in one of the daily news about the Bahá’í. It was inaccurate and full of lies. It said something very similar to what I see appear in the recent daily news. It was an isolated case. Never the less the impact of one small article on the inhabitants of my city was so much that it took months for people to forget. The bakery the owner of the grocery store, the butcher, almost any one and every one who new me in school and outside stopped me asking is it true that Bahá’ís are allowed to marry their own sisters?, is it true that Bob recanted his claim to being the Gate? Is it true that ….. and the questions were many. Some were so ridicules that some will say this cannot be true! Some shops in the city had cut out the article and displayed it on their windows. It was seen by them as letting their fellow believers know who these Bahá’ís are actually are.

I now see that the daily news has daily articles disseminating false information about the Baha’i Faith. I can only imagine what little school kids have to face on their way to school or to the grocery shop or in their neighborhood. The impact of such articles is beyond the understanding of any one who has not faced the situation like the one I have faced. My heart bleeds for the small children and young Bahá’í children who are the object of ridicule of people who seem to loose all logic in life when it comes to religion.

I have now the privilege of living in a country where I can tell any one and every one that I am a Bahá’í. I would wish the same privilege for my fellow brothers and sisters in Iran. The country of my birth.. I believe it is time for people of the world to let the Government of Iran know that such behaviour is not acceptable in today’s society. To do this we need action from all the responsible citizens of the world. The new scheme of the Government to monitor all the Bahá’ís is with no other intention but to destroy their livelihood, disrupt their lives and force them to recant their Faith. We should not allow this to happen.