Blogs

Iran: End Persecution of Baha’is
Dozens Detained Without Charge; Leaders Face Charges Carrying Death Penalty
February 23, 2010
(New York) – The Iranian government should immediately stop harassing and arbitrarily detaining members of the Baha’i community, Human Rights Watch said today.
The detention of 13 Baha’is on February 10 and 11 follows the arrest of 13 others in early January. The government alleges that those arrested in January helped to organize recent anti-government demonstrations but has not made public any charges against those detained in February. These arrests come during a broad government crackdown on opposition activists.
“The Iranian government seems to be using the post-election unrest as a cover for targeting the Baha’i community,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “These arrests are only the latest chapter in the government’s systematic persecution of the Baha’i.”
Unlike Iran’s Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian communities, which are accorded constitutional protection, the Iranian government does not recognize the Baha’i Faith and considers its adherents to be apostates from Shi’a Islam. Since the Islamic revolution in 1979, the Iranian government has put in effect various discriminatory policies against the Baha’is, including limiting access to education and employment.
Since October 2009, authorities have detained at least 47 Baha’is in Tehran, Mashhad, Sari, Semnan, and Yazd, according to the United Nations office of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) in Geneva. In May 2008, the government arrested seven leaders of the Baha’i community in Tehran, who have been held in detention since then. Their trial began on January 12, but has been postponed to April 10.
The Judiciary has charged the seven community leaders with a range of national-security-related offenses, including spying for the benefit of foreigners, propaganda against the system, establishing and spreading illegal organizations, undermining the image of the Islamic Republic in the international community, and spreading “corruption on earth.” Most of these charges carry the death penalty. During the more than a year and a half that the five men and two women have been held, they have been allowed only limited visits from family and lawyers.
One of those detained on February 10 was Alaeddin Khanjani. According to the Committee of Human Rights Reporters in Iran, Ministry of Intelligence (MOI) agents entered his home in Tehran at about 2:30 a.m., searched the premises, confiscated personal belongings including a computer and religious material, and took him into custody. Khanjani is the son of Jamaloddin Khanjani, one of the seven Baha’i leaders on trial in Tehran. Ministry of Intelligence agents had also arrested Alaeddin Khanjani’s adult daughter in January. Within several hours of Alaeddin Khanjani’s arrest, agents arrested seven more Baha’is, claiming they were being detained for their involvement in recent public demonstrations. On February 11, agents arrested five Baha’is in their homes in Tehran. No charges have been filed against any of the 13.
On January 3, MOI agents also raided the homes of 13 Baha’is and detained them, releasing three of them after they indicated they would not participate in further public demonstrations. In addition to the others arrested on February 10, one of those arrested on January 3 and then released was rearrested on February 10.
In a press statement on January 12, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran general prosecutor, said that the 10 Baha’is who have been held since January 3 faced charges of “organizing the unrest on Ashura <December 27> and sending photos of the unrest abroad.” In a previous statement on January 8, he claimed that authorities had found arms and ammunition in some of their homes. Dolatabadi denied that the arrests had anything to do with their Baha’i affiliation. Security forces have reportedly arrested hundreds of Iranians for their alleged involvement in the demonstrations on Ashura, a Shi’a day of mourning.
The authorities are holding those arrested on January 3 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj and have not allowed them to contact their lawyers. According to the BIC, a few of them were allowed to contact family members after spending several weeks in prison.
The BIC also indicated that 60 Baha’is are currently in detention, with an additional 90 having been released but awaiting trial. Since 2004, 99 Baha’is have been convicted of various charges, including acting against national security, teaching against the Islamic Republic, propaganda against the regime, involvement in establishing illegal groups and organizations, and insulting the sacred institutions of Islam. These individuals are free pending appeal. Scores of others have been summoned and interrogated by security and intelligence agents without being taken into custody, according to the BIC.
The five Baha’is arrested in Tehran on February 11 are: Taraneh Ghanouni, Naghmeh Ghanouni, Shaida Yousefi, Aria Shadmehr, and Riaz Firouzmandi.
In addition to Alaeddin Khanjani, those arrested on February 10 are: Ashkan Bassari, Maria Ehsan Jafar, Bashir Ehsani, Romina Zabihiyan, Houtan Sistani, Simin Ghaffari, and Pedram Sanaei.
Those arrested on January 3 are: Mehran Rowhani, Farid Rowhani, Babak Mobasher, Leva Mobasher Khanjani, Payam Fanaian, Jinous Ghazanfari Sobhani, Artin Ghazanfari, Nikav Hoveydaei, Ebrahim Shadmehr, Zavosh Shadmehr, Negar Sabet, Mona Hoveydaei Misaghi, and Nasim Beiglari. Negar Sabet, Mona Misaghi, and Nasim Beiglari were released on January 3, but Mona Misaghi was summoned to the MOI agency’s office again on February 10 and rearrested.
The seven members of the Baha’i leadership whose trial began on January 12 are: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm.
Background
Due to governmental restrictions on openly practicing their faith, Baha’is in Iran are unable to convene and administer a National Spiritual Assembly as in most countries where Baha’i communities exist. Instead, they have formed an informal coordinating body known as the “Friends of Iran.” The seven members facing trial consist of six leaders and the secretary of this coordinating body.
Haifa, in present-day Israel, is the final resting place of Baha’ullah – the founder of the Baha’i Faith – and the faith’s administrative headquarters since 1868, when Haifa was under Ottoman rule, Despite the fact that sites in and around Haifa were considered holy to the Baha’is well before the creation of the state of Israel, the Iranian government has repeatedly used the connection as an excuse to accuse Baha’is in Iran of spying for Israel, with which Iran has hostile relations.
During a recent review of its human rights record before the United Nations Human Rights Council, Iranian officials dismissed numerous concerns by member states regarding the government’s treatment of its Baha’i minority. Mohammad Javad Larijani, the head of Iran’s UN delegation, stated on February 15 that “no Baha’i in Iran is prosecuted because he is a Baha’i,” and the government rejected recommendations put forth by other governments calling for “an end to discrimination and incitement to hatred vis--vis the Baha’i.”

Universal benefits derive from the grace of the Divine religions, for they lead their true followers to sincerity of intent, to high purpose, to purity and spotless honour, to surpassing kindness and compassion, to the keeping of their covenanted, to concern for the rights of others, to liberality, to justice in every aspect of life, to humanity and philanthropy, to valour and to unflagging efforts in the service of mankind.

Abdu’l-Baha
Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 98

Group's passion spills into street
Richmond News
Published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Editor,

On Monday, Feb. 1, seven Richmond youth (ages 11-14) living in a complex on Colonial Drive, known as the Waterstone Junior Youth Group, transformed an ordinary apartment lobby into a place to meet neighbours, strengthen relationships within their community, and make a positive difference locally and globally.
The group's passion for service to humanity, with sympathy and compassion for the people of Haiti, motivated the youth to organize a benefit sale in the complex's lobby where they sold hot chocolate to passing neighbours.
The group raised more than $50 for Haiti.
This project also gave them an opportunity to meet many neighbours, build new friendships, and promote their latest service project: starting a compost bin for the complex.
By delivering flyers they had made themselves (both in English and in Mandarin) about the uses and benefits of composting, they encouraged other inhabitants of the building to participate and use the bin.
The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program is a community-building initiative offered as a service by Baha'i communities in localities and neighbourhoods worldwide.
This three-year program aims to bring to life the many latent capacities in the junior youth that are often ignored by society, empowering them to make positive decisions in their lives while serving their communities.
During this critical period -- the beginning of adolescence -- in their lives, the program seeks to develop the ability in the junior youth to express and articulate their thoughts and ideas.
It also fosters within the participating junior youth spiritual qualities such as truthfulness, kindness, perseverance, spirit of service, and respect for the environment to name just a few.
Each junior youth group is facilitated by trained animators, usually between the ages of 17 and 25.
My co-animator, Nur Shodjai, and I, are students at the University of British Columbia inspired by the program's objectives, which motivated us to move into the Waterstone apartments to foster a junior youth group and contribute to the building of our community.
The Baha'i Faith is an independent world religion with more than six million followers worldwide. Baha'is believe that humanity is one human race and dedicate their lives toward building a unified world.
The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program is one of many global services offered by Baha'is to their communities.
Shayda Sabet
Richmond


… All (religions) are promised two Manifestations, Who will come, one following on the other. It has been prophesied that in the time of these two Manifestations the earth will be transformed, the world of existence will be renewed, and beings will be clothed in new garments. Justice and truth will encompass the world…. All the regions of the earth will become one; the superstitions caused by races, countries, individuals, languages and politics will disappear; and all men will attain to life eternal, under the shadow of the Lord of Hosts....

Abdul-Baha
Some Answered Questions, p. 46

Ebadi on Baha’is
Shirin Ebadi, head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran today that if the Iranian judiciary were to issue a verdict based on evidence in the case and not the Prosecutor’s claims, the trial of the seven Baha’i leaders in Tehran should end with an acquittal of her clients, as there is no evidence to her clients’ criminal behavior.
The seven Baha’i leaders have been in prison for more than a year and a half and their court sessions have been postponed several times. People close to this case have told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that these individuals have been arrested and imprisoned for their religious beliefs only. Several other members of this religious minority group were arrested with similar charges of relations with foreign governments and leading the riots after the Ashura unrest in Iran. The charges have been denied by those near to Baha’i community.
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran condemns any violence or terrorist acts against civilians.

In short, by religion we mean those necessary bonds which have power to unify. This has ever been the essence of the religion of God. This is the eternal bestowal of God! This is the object of divine teachings and laws! This is the light of the everlasting life! Alas! A thousand times alas! that this solid foundation is abandoned and forgotten and the leaders of religions have fabricated a set of superstitions and rituals which are at complete variance with the underlying thought. As these man-made ideas differ from each other they cause dissension which breeds strife and ends in war and bloodshed; the blood of innocent people is spilled, their possessions are pillaged and their children become captives and orphans.

Abdu'l-Baha
Divine Philosophy, p. 129

Religions celebrate similarities
Posted By JENNY POTTER THE NUGGET
JANUARY 19, 2010


More than 100 people from various faiths came together Sunday afternoon to celebrate their similarities and share their thoughts on living in light.
They gathered to celebrate World Religion Day at the Elks Lodge and hear representatives from Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, native spirituality, Sikhism, Buddhism and the Baha'i Faith share their thoughts on how they live in light.
All these different faiths have different traditions but the centre is one -- one God, one light," said Carmel Rouhani, organizer and member of the Baha'i Faith.
I think if you don't look outside your own community you only see one colour, you only see one religion," Rouhani said. But if you really look at the heart of North Bay, really what is behind it is all these different cultures, all these different religions and people."
Representing the city's Christian community, Rev. Meg Purdy said we are learning to see the light of God through people all around us, whatever name they call him.
Every human being has the spark of the divine God in them," she said.
Adam Enosse echoed that idea when he spoke about his connections with aboriginal spirituality. He said while his faith is based on oral history and doesn't include a lot of written prayers, the knowledge that he is one with everyone and everything is a fundamental part of his faith and culture.
To us the great spirit is in every insect and every tree and under every rock and in the dark and the light," he said. He is in the trees and in us and all around us."
Galen Vajra said one of the key aspects of Buddhism is finding the light within yourself. Vajra said bad things are actually an opportunity to find the light within us and realize our strength and courage.
Whatever we have to say will be about the same," said Dr. Atma Singh Wadhwa. But at least we are here in practice."
Representing the city's Sikh community, Wadhwa expressed gratitude for being able to celebrate the city's diversity Sunday.
Wadhwa said Sikhism is about finding truth and sharing that light with the world. He said as a doctor, he is still finding new truths and gaining knowledge every day by interacting with the various people in his community.
We need teachers and we need to learn from one another," he said.
World Religion Day was started more than 50 years ago by the Baha'i community in the United States. It is now celebrated worldwide on the third Sunday in January.


Universal benefits derive from the grace of the Divine religions, for they lead their true followers to sincerity of intent, to high purpose, to purity and spotless honour, to surpassing kindness and compassion, to the keeping of their covenants, to concern for the rights of others, to liberality, to justice in every aspect of life, to humanity and philanthropy, to valour and to unflagging efforts in the service of mankind.

Abdu’l-Baha
Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 98