Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the U.S.  just launched a video contest to raise awareness about the plight of Baha’is in Iran who are trying to gain access to higher education. The contest is open to everyone. Please visit:  http://www.youtube.com/group/bahaistudentsiran

Human Rights Activists of Iran published a report on the recent desecration of the Baha’i cemetery in Darzicola. Click here to access an English translation.

The Ohlone, CA, community college newspaper published an opinion article titled “Education denied to the Baha’i minority in Iran”.

Virginia’s James Madison University’s The Breeze published an opinion article titled “Religious Persecution Persists in Iran“.

An Iranian inspector who examined the 2006 arrests of a group of young Baha’is in Shiraz, Iran, filed a confidential report dated June 2008 confirming what Baha’is have said all along: that their activities were strictly humanitarian in nature and did not involve the “illegal” teaching of the Baha’i Faith.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his concern over human rights violations in Iran against Baha’is, other minorities, women and juveniles.

Tehran University was the host for a conference held on Tuesday, 14 October 2008, on the subject: “Iran and British Colonialism”. The conference was organized by the Institute for Political Studies and Research, a Tehran-based organization with strong ties to Iran’s theocracy. A number of well-known figures spoke at this gathering.

On Monday, 13 October 2008, Human Rights Activists of Iran published an account by Arash Shahsavandi, a Baha’i student, who was expelled from an Iranian university on account of his religion. Click here for the English translation.

Hasan Zerehi, the editor-in-chief of Shahrvand, a Persian weekly published in Toronto, Canada, wrote an essay which was posted on October 1. The essay was also posted on Asre-Nou. Click here for an English translation.

The online service Iran-Emrooz posted an article titled “Imprisoned for being Baha’i” on October 3.  Click here for an English translation.

On October 6, Human Rights Activists in Iran published a letter by a Baha’i student. Click here for an English translation.

Voice of America aired “Iran’s Abuse of Religious Liberty” which includes a detailed reference to the persecution experienced by the Baha’is in Iran over the past year.

NEW YORK, October 3, 2008 (BWNS) — As the new academic year got under way, young Baha’is in Iran again found the door to higher education closed.

A number of news agencies are reporting that the two Iranian Christians being held on charges of apostasy have been released.  BosNewsLife posted a story titled “Iran releases Iranian converts”.