Sharia in Iran: 'Death to converts'

Life in Iran, in particular for women, can already be pretty grim, as the blog from which this picture was taken testifies. But it is about to get a whole lot worse. For just about everybody. The Iranian parliament is discussing a new penal code, under which citizens who convert from another religion will face execution. The Baha'i community, among the most persecuted of all in Iran as I've reported previously, today described this as a 'gross violation' of Iran's human rights obligations. At the same time, as we report, pollsters YouGovStone have found that nearly one in third of Britain's most influential people welcome the Archbishop of Canterbury's recent intervention on sharia as a useful contribution to the debate.

Iran's penal codes are already mercilessly draconian. MEHR has English translations available for download. Underground, the youth ministry of Open Doors, reports: 'No converts to Christianity have been convicted of “apostasy” since international pressure forced officials to drop the death sentence of Christian convert Mehdi Dibaj in 1994. But in the years following the convert’s release, Dibaj and four other Protestant pastors, both converts and those working with converts, have been brutally murdered.'

The Institute on Religion and Public Policy published precise details of the proposed new code earlier this month. Besides apostates, the code also s the death penalty for ayone who 'insults the Prophet'.

The Baha'is have reason to be worried. As they said today, the draft code's section on apostasy mandates the death penalty for anyone who changes his religion from Islam. It also extends to naming as an apostate any follower of a religion other than Islam who had one parent who was a Muslim at the time of his or her conception. For example, the child of a Muslim and a Christian who chose to be a Christian would be considered an apostate and subject to capital punishment.

Dr Nazila Ghanea, lecturer in human rights law at Oxford university and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Religion and Human Rights, said: 'The laws will give the Iranian government legal grounds to resort to taking the lives of any of its citizens who choose to adopt a religion other than Islam. The code is a gross violation by the Islamic Republic of Iran of its obligations as a party to a number of  international human rights instruments, particularly those relating to freedom of religion or belief.'

'Among those most affected if the law is passed will be members of Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority, the Bahá'í faith. Following the 1979 Iranian revolution, when it became known that Bahá'í men and women had been tortured and executed purely on grounds of their religious beliefs, the international community made it clear at the UN and in the media that such abuses were not tolerable,' the community said today. Since the 1980s, although the community continues to be severely oppressed, the Bahá'ís are no longer facing mass executions.

'Iran's government and clergy have made concerted efforts to quietly subjugate the Bahá'í community and eliminate it as a viable entity in the country,' said Dr Ghanea, who published a book on the human rights of the Bahá’ís in Iran in 2002. 'With this penal code, they will have legal grounds to resort once again to taking the lives of Bahá'ís – and of any other of Iran's citizens who choose to adopt a religion other than Islam.'

So just to cheer us all up a little for the weekend, I thought to draw your attention to something nice and spiritual happening in Britain soon. As part of its celebration for International Women's Day, Brahma Kumaris is holding a workshop on the 'four faces of woman'. They are, apparently, the eternal, traditional, modern and shakti face. The latter is the 'goddess' face. Lunch will be vegetarian. Sharia? Not on the menu.

 

Comments

[Henry]

I wonder if those polled by YouGov were asked to indicate whether they supported beheading for adultery? It would certainly reduce the chatterati constituency fairly dramatically.

People should be careful what they wish for.

[emanuel appel]

a letter from America

Dear all Moslem apologists,

When your children are held hostage until conversion by the Caliph in London, then you'll see the light.

Until then, your only hope lies in the Gordon Ramsey type who's not afraid of raising his voice and make Third Worlders feel "bad". I can only glimpse at British life through small exaggerated slices like his "Kitchen Nightmares".

There were two episodes involving an American black restaurant in Brighton and an Indian one in Nottingham. What a racist! He made the Negro cook stop dancing in the kitchen and made him wipe his perennial smile off during "service". He actually bawled him out for being late to work. Imagine not caring about the Negro's personal problems!

With the Indian restaurant, he started scraping the gawdy decorations off the front window - an act of British cultural imperialism. No wonder Britons are hated all over ( or do you care?) :)

Now Gordon does his best but eventually he'll be PC'd out of the country and driven to America where he'll be a very successful man.

[SAM]

As a bahá'í and a descendent of persians, I may say I can do nothing but pray that the international agencies start concerning about the situation of Human Rights in Iran and less with politics.

It's the bahá'ís, the sufies, the kurds, the so-called "apostates", the women, the journalists.

It's a sad thing that such an luminant place has become so dark in it's deep essence.

I am sorry, and I am not even a iranian-born. Imagine how my family there should be right now...

[Malcolm+]

My wife is Baha'i, and I know many Baha'is who fled Iran to save their lives.

This is sad news, and these actions must be condemned. International condemnation has been effective before and it can be again.

[Michael Stevens]

OK, now please tell me, YouGovStone isn't a new initiative to bring in stoning by the government...

But seriously - is al Sharia bad? No, it isn't.

But the idea that it can be somehow married into the current system of law in the UK, even on a "voluntary" basis is madness. It ignores all sorts of oppression, issues of power imbalance and oppression of women

[Tom Jackson]

"Until then, your only hope lies in the Gordon Ramsey type who's not afraid of raising his voice and make Third Worlders feel "bad"."

I share this respect and admiration for Gordon Ramsay but it is important to place his television activities and persona in context. Within the small environment of his restaurants and kitchen, he is King! And he has already obtained the owner's permission to do whatever he wants and act in any way he wants. Also, the lasting effect is questionable once he moves on to another establishment.

Now, no-one is more critical of the UK government's policies than I am. We have some really stupid people elected to govern us both at national and local level. It would appear that before entering the political arena, you have to leave any common-sense and experience of real life at the door!

But given the circumstances and constraints that we have in this country and the scale of the problems that need to be addressed, Ramsay wouldn't last 30 seconds in politics.

Sure, his approach embodies many of the principles and techniques that would transfer into most commercial and business arena's but the underlying motivation of all areas of government in the UK - don't rock the boat unless absolutely necessary; do not allow yourself to be responsible or accountable for anything; above all, do everything you can (including lying or spinning the truth) to remain in power for as long as possible - would see him off, no problem!

There is an undercurrent of change where political correctness is concerned in the UK. I would expect to see an increase in the votes for the BNP in local elections, protest votes as a demonstration of the unease and frustration of ordinary people. The brutality and inhumane Islamic policies of those countries in the Middle East serve as a reminder that what we experience in the West where Muslim influence and involvement is concerned, is watered down to become acceptable in the short term.

But while the politicians and hangers-on like Ken Livingstone may be courting minority communities and ignoring any implication or consequences, like Rowan Williams they will come to realise that promoting your own social theories and obsessions in the face of what ordinary people believe is necessary, can result in dire consequences.

[Babbling Brook]

There seems a clear misunderstanding on the part of most Western commenters on what we perceive to be violations of what we term "universal human rights" by Moslem countries. The General Assembly of the United Nations did indeed pass a "Universal Declaration of Human Rights". However, on 5 August, 1990, 54 Moslem countries signed the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam. You may read the Articles of both documents (UN Declaration and Cairo Declaration) on:

http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/Ohmyrus30816.htm

Article 24 of the Cairo Declaration states: "All the rights and freedoms stipulated in this Declaration are subject to the Islamic Shari'ah"

Article 25 of the Cairo Declaration states: "The Islamic Shari'ah is the only source of reference for the explanation or clarification of any of the articles of this Declaration"

Article 19d states: "There shall be no crime or punishment except as provided for in the Shari'ah

Article 10 states: "Islam is the religion of unspoiled nature. It is prohibited to exercise any form of compulsion on man or to exploit his poverty or ignorance in order to convert him to another religion or to atheism."

I urge everyone on this blogthread to read both the explanatory notes and documents on the link I have given. It should enlighten you as to the irreconcilable and antithetical nature of Islam and its Sharia Law to and with our Western laws and also with the UN Declaration on Universal Human Rights. In 1997, under pressure from the Islamic Organization Conference and the Moslem voting bloc within the UN, the United Nations adopted the Cairo Declaration as a "regional" alternative to the UN's Declaration of Universal Human Rights.

Iran is acting entirely in compliance with Sharia Law which is, of course, despite the determined efforts of msm to ignore the fact, based upon the words, deeds and character of Muhammed as expressed in the Koran and supporting Hadiths and who taught:

"Whoever changed his deen (Islamic religion), then kill him." (Bukhari, vol9, bk88, no6922)

[David Palmer]

Another subject for the Pope to bring up with the Muslims when he meets them (RG do you know when the meeting is scheduled??) in regard to their challenge set out in "A Common Word between Us and You".

(rg writes: hope to have more details on meeting soon)

[emanuel appel]

a letter from America

Dear Tom Jackson and other UK aborigines,

The source of your political unhappiness lies, not in the govt structures or the stupidity of those running, but on the Left group think that has seeped into the Europe first and then you through the Labor party. What was amusingly looked at in France in the 1960's from your side has seeped in. My evidence is - different culture, same results. The same mindset, if not worse, is evident in Israel, her politics, and her media. Of all places in the world, you'd think they would be first to reject this Leftist mindset. No, their secular educational system has promoted this rot for two generations.

Gordon represents the very energetic side of Britain responsible for your past commercial and military success. You, collectively, did what you could with varying degees of zeal in order to leave former colonies in good shape. You can only do so much against the native culture and traditions. Contrast Israel with Kenya, India versus Rhodesia ( oops, Im sorry, Zimbabwe).

Kenya is a case in point. When one reads the interviews with the "man on the street" one gets the feeling that these people would be better off with the black version of Charles I rather than a "democratic system" because they have no idea of democracy; the only thing they want is money and patronage from the govt. and they foolishly think they'll get it from their own tribal parties.

[Tom Jackson]

"The source of your political unhappiness lies, not in the govt structures or the stupidity of those running ..."

The real problem is deeper that this. There is an entrenched form of complacency and apathy amongst the majority of people in this country where the government and administration of our nation is concerned.

In truth, this was to be expected given the years of understandable, self-congratulatory praise after proving to be the heroes of Europe in the 1940's followed by decades of relative peace and prosperity. And, don't forget, we gave the world The Beatles in the 1960's and revolutionised pop music and culture!

Generally, the only people who wanted to become politicians or councillors are those with a burning ambition to increase their stature (and wealth) or well-meaning, social do-gooders, eager to put into practice their ill-conceived and totally unrealistic theories about how we should live our lives!

This changed to some extent following the growth of minority communities where those people with an agenda - such as promoting homosexuality or overcoming, what they perceived as, racial prejudice - discovered just how easy is was (in the absence of any interest from the majority of people) to get elected to positions of authority and influence.

People with ideas and energy to promote and implement policies that bear some resemblance to what this country needs in order to function effectively, are in the minority while those who understand political correctness and 'spin' have flourished. Why do something useful when you can 'spin' out some unrealistic and inappropriate policies and then sit back while nothing actually happens (except a great deal of public money getting wasted).

And the really clever master stroke? Keep us tied to Europe! The bureaucrats in Brussels and the EU generally provide an opportunity to 'outsource' the real decisions that affect our community. The problem is, like the European human rights legislation, those decisions simply stop us from doing what is needed and right for the UK.

Sad to say, none of this is going to change until the vast majority of people in this country start to care and get involved with the process that governs how we live our lives. And this is the last thing those in power and authority want to happen.

[observer]

no doubt Rowan Williams could come up with some very long and complicated sentences on this subject....but he may be silent......

[emanuel appel]

a letter from America

Dear Tom Jackson,

RE Europe and the EU

The two are quite different concepts.

I remember when the whole EU thing started and the feeling in the US was one of goodwill and satisfaction. We felt that it was some sort of informal tribute to our political ideas and that it would benefit you economically. We felt a smug impatience with those British political figures who resisted.

After all, what sense is there in resisting free trade? The problem was that those responsible for informing our public failed to calculate that the EU would feed the political ambitions of the "controllers". After all, who's more qualified to tell a French craftsman how to make cheese than some German bureaucrat? And that goes for you too - the precise elements in a commercially made Yorkshire pudding or Spotted Dick will be determined by a Frenchman.

Of course, I'm exagerating but the desire to quantify and regulate all is so against the American grain that I find it irritating.

Now, the political element in the EU is beyond discussion. Let us say that it's a return to the Holy Roman Empire without the religious element.

[Rick Beekman]

To All;
This Thread Reminds Me Of A T-Shirt I Saw That Says; "The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves."

With All Due Respect To Any Muslims On Here;
Why Would Anybody Of Sound Mind Want To Stay in A Religion Who Treats Woman As Second Class Citizens And Members?
Who Allows Militants To Have Their Way Worldwide And Not ONE Muslim World Leader Will Do Something About All This Violence?

[George Parr]

Precisely Rick, why would anyone want to stay in a religion that treats women (and some men) as second-class citizens - like Christianity.

[Christopher]

"Why Would Anybody Of Sound Mind Want To Stay in A Religion Who Treats Woman As Second Class Citizens And Members?"

For the same reasons you stay in your religion, Rick. Because they think it is true. And the same objections for staying in your kind of religion apply for similar reasons.

[andrew holden]

" ... why would anyone want to stay in a religion that treats women (and some men) as second-class citizens - like Christianity."

Well why don't you see what gay Christians have got to say about that? There are plenty of them and they don't think their religion is at fault - just those who interpret it in a homophobic direction.

[Women Against Sharia]

Please support this campaign by Middle Eastern women to prevent the injustices of family law supposedly derived from islam becoming commonplace in Britain.

www.nosharia.org.uk

[emanuel appel]

a letter from America

Dear "women against sharia"

Well you have the instruments to prevent abuse - it's called English law and political participation if only you use it.

You don't even use your own name for whatever reason.

If you walk out of abusive situations, there's plenty of room in Britain in which to live your own life.

[J Pearce]

Emanuel,

There exists a current "truce" in the UK whereby the relevant State authorities (police, social services) will turn a blind eye to Islamic practices within their hermetically sealed communities. Its too much political trouble for this current Government to wade in and clear out the festering Islamic malcontents, not when there are much easier and more pliable social groups to penalise (white middle classes, for example).

Several key Labour marginals have sizeable Muslim contingents. Therefore, Islamic abuses in this country are subject to far less intensive scrutiny than, say, what the Taliban does in Afghanistan. Not many Labour voters in Helmland, you see.

In theory, the law is available. In practice, Islamic women are dependent upon their own communities for support - and they all appear to have a brother who knows a Father in Pakistan who's related to Mohammed in Bradford, who knows Khan in Birmingham, who's got cousins in Brick Lane etc etc. Thus, the women are effectively trapped by the insular nature of their own culture.

(not that its restricted purely to Muslims - certain sub-Saharan voodoo abuses have recently come to light, regarding "possessed" children. Nutjobs, the lot of 'em).

The alleged "silent Christian majority" in this country, that we keep hearing about on these pages, could do worse than make religious abuses of women and children by Muslims et al a primary focal point in the media, through their media spokespeople. It literally cries out for a Rowan Williams gaffe. But no - its so much less trouble to persecute gays, you see...

[J Cline]

All the anguished hand-wringing... Meanwhile, the Muslims are outbreeding you demographically whilst outflanking you politically. But for some reason, they're not outraging you. Muslims seem to have the market on outrage very well cornered.

What more does it take for the British to wake up and see the Trojan Horse in their midst?

[emanuel appel]

a letter from America

Dear J Pearce

Thanks for instructing me in the current state of affairs.

You make a good point re "gays" and society. I remember seeing a documentary about the UK's intelligence center during WWII and how this lonely genius was key in deciphering the German code machine. His name escapes me now but he was literally driven to suicide post war for his homosexuality.

The western military and inteliigence services have this circular logic re gays. Gay operatives are considered a danger because they can be blackmailed and they can be blackmailed because they're gay.

The other side of the coin is the gay group itself. They come in various attitudes ranging from the conservative "confirmed bachelor" to the extreme cross-dresser or transexual. Normal society can easily accept the "confirmed bachelor" but not the extremes.

Regarding the persecution of conservative, in the closet confirmed bachelors who patriotically worked for Britain during WWII, the only thing I can say is that the history of Britain is littered with society's ingratitude.

What I dislike about UK society is what you pointed out; the cowardice of the bully seeking weak scapegoats while ignoring the real threat.

[Martin Lavallée]

It might interest the readers to know that the organization of the heterodox (or mainstream) Bahá'ís are trying to silence the Orthodox Bahá'ís and those who claim to be Bahá'ís outside their own organization:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

Wilmette Bahá'í Organization Threatens Minority Bahá'ís ThroughCourt Action

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States (NSA), located in Wilmette, Illinois, has called upon the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division to hold in contempt members of minority Bahá'í organizations (the Orthodox Bahá'í Faith and the Bahá'ís Under the Provisions of the Covenant--two separate and distinct entities) who, the NSA claims, are in violation of an injunction its predecessor obtained some 40 years ago against a rival Bahá'í body.

In legal documents provided to the court on December 6, 2006, the NSA claimed that members of the current minority Bahá'í groups are bound by the 1966 Judgment. While not providing any specifics with regard to how the minority bodies have harmed the majority body, the NSA contends that the websites of the smaller organizations are doing irreparable damage to the NSA.

The basic contention of the NSA is that the members of the minority groups are violating the NSA's alleged trademarks on the name "Bahá'í" and the religious symbol of the "Greatest Name", and it seeks from the court a ruling which would prohibit the minority members from using the alleged trademarks to the detriment of the NSA.

The NSA seeks to restrain both those individuals who at one time were even remotely associated with the enjoined rival Bahá'í body and any 'nonparty' members who have since developed different Bahá'í organizations.

Those members of the minority group who call themselves Orthodox Bahá'ís, to distinguish themselves from the members of the majority organization, state that the trademark by the Wilmette NSA on the "Greatest Name" is the equivalent of a Christian denomination trademarking the Cross and then saying that no other Christian congregation can use that symbol in their activities or in their contacts with others.

Additionally, Orthodox Bahá'ís maintain that the name "Bahá'í" is in the public domain and cannot be the exclusive property of one organization. They say that like the name "Christian" and "Muhammadan", which refer to followers of Christ and Muhammad respectively, the name "Bahá'í" refers to a follower of Bahá'u'lláh, who all Bahá'ís acknowledge as the latest Prophet from God.

For some 35 years the Orthodox Bahá'ís have been employing the name "Bahá'í" in their newspaper and magazine publicity and in the telephone Yellow Pages, and during that time the NSA has made no move to implement the provisions of the injunction that the majority organization is now using to seek contempt citations against members of the minority groups. Should the NSA be successful in its efforts to curtail their activities, Orthodox Bahá'ís contend that, for them, the First Amendment of the Constitution is no longer valid.

[N. E. Hoyle]

Please allow me to respond to:

"...While not providing any specifics with regard to how the minority bodies have harmed the majority body..."

Those unfamiliar with its history will not be aware that the Baha'i Faith is based, not upon hearsay, but upon original written Scripture. The history of every previous religion contains elements in which the pure Teachings of the Founder, given orally, were manipulated to 'fit' the preferred belief system of individuals. The result is schism and a bewildered humanity who can no longer trust what is true and what is not. The symbolic, but implicit promise of the Baha'i Faith is that "This is a Day that shall not be followed by night."

Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, made a Covenant with His followers. In it, He clearly defined the dangers and warned against what He designated as Covenant Breaking, and in writing named His eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Baha as the sole Interpreter of His Faith. 'Abdu'l-Baha, in turn, issued the same strong warning and left an explicit Will and Testament, designating his grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as the sole legitimate elucidator of those interpretations and referred to him as the "Guardian". Over 36 years, Shoghi Effendi's writings as sole legitimate "Elucidator of Baha'i Teachings" was prolific.

In His Will and Testament, 'Abdu'l-Baha also called for the eventual creation of a "Universal House of Justice", whose mandate would be to oversee and Legislate the world-wide affairs of the Faith in close consultation with the Guardian. A possible 'line of Guardians' was anticipated, yet it was unmistakably laid out in the Will and Testament that appointment to the Guardianship was entirely dependent upon a rigorous criteria and without meeting that criteria, no Guardian could be appointed.

When Shoghi Effendi met an untimely death and it was found he had left no instructions designating a future Guardian, the criteria spelled out in the Will and Testament was studied and applied.

It was found impossible to appoint another Guardian without usurping the Covenant, yet the Guardianship itself remains intact, thanks to the prodigious work of Shoghi Effendi, who provided posterity with a prolific body of material on every aspect of the Faith.

All consultation undertaken by the Universal House of Justice, (first elected in 1963 by delegates from Baha'i National bodies world-wide) rests upon the firm foundation of the Guardianship.

The "harm" raised by the miss-use of its name, lies not to the Baha'i Faith itself, which is inviolate, a single, unified entity, but to those souls who may mistakenly be seduced into believing they were investigating the Baha'i Faith, but were instead being wooed into following a chimera by a self-styled Guardian.

Anyone wanting legitimate information on the Baha'i Faith may find it at www.bahai.org