Feb12
Congressional Record: Iran continues systematic persecution of Baha’is
As noted on the February 11, 2009 Congressional Record, Representative Frank R. Wolf expressed concern over the upcoming trial of the seven Baha’i leaders.
[Congressional Record: February 11, 2009 (Extensions)]
[Page E246-E247]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr11fe09-39]
IRAN CONTINUES SYSTEMATIC PERSECUTION OF BAHA’IS
______
HON. FRANK R. WOLF
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to my colleagues’
attention some deeply disturbing news coming out of Tehran. Tehran’s
deputy prosecutor recently announced that the revolutionary court will
hear the cases of seven members of the Baha’i faith accused of spying
for Israel. The continued systematic persecution of the Baha’is by the
tyrannical government of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is unacceptable
and must stop. I ask that a report from the Agence France Press be
inserted into the record, as well.
Iran To Try Bahais for Spying for Israel
Tehran (AFP)–Iran will soon try seven members of the
banned Bahai religion on charges including “espionage for
Israel,” the ISNA news agency reported on Wednesday.
“The charges against seven defendants in the case of the
illegal Bahai group were examined . . . and the case will
be sent to the revolutionary court next week,” deputy Tehran
prosecutor Hassan Haddad was quoted as saying.
Haddad said the charges included “espionage for Israel,
insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the
Islamic republic.”
Iran and Israel are arch-enemies, and Iranian President
Mahmud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for the Jewish state
to be wiped off the map.
In late January, judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi said
Iran had arrested six adherents of the Bahai faith on the
same charges.
Earlier last month, the Fars news agency said the ex-
secretary of Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi’s office was
detained for links with an organisation of the Bahai faith,
adding that the ex-staffer was a Bahai herself.
Haddad did not say if the seven being charged were the same
as those arrested in January.
Followers of the Bahai faith, founded in Iran in 1863, are
regarded as infidels and have suffered persecution both
before and after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Bahai teachings emphasise the underlying unity of major
religions, with history having produced a succession of
divine messengers, each of which founded a religion suitable
for the times.
Bahais consider Bahaullah, born in 1817, to be the last
prophet sent by God. This is in direct conflict with Islam,
the religion of the vast majority of Iranians, which
considers Mohammed to be the last prophet.
In late 2008, Iran reported the hanging of a Bahai man for
rape and adultery.
[[Page E247]]
The European Union has expressed “serious concern about
the continuing systematic discrimination and harassment of
the Iranian Bahais on the grounds of their religion.”
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