Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

Peace activists have called on the Iranian government to ensure the safety of Shirin Ebadi, the epicenter of human rights activism in Iran and lawyer for the seven Baha’i leaders soon to be on trial.

You can read the letter and learn more about this initiative at the Campaign for Peace and Democracy website.

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On March 24, The Jerusalem Post published an op-ed titled “Suffocating the Baha’i” about the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran. Sean Gannon, a freelance journalist writing mainly on Irish and Middle Eastern affairs, wrote the article.

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The former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami addressed an audience in Canberra, Australia on March 24. As he turned to the audience for questions, he was asked about Iran’s treatment of the Baha’is.

The Brisbane Times posted the two following articles from the event:

• No answers yet, but talk is solution in Middle East: Khatami
• Israel, Iran can co-exist, says Khatami

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The Jerusalem Post published an article about the Middle East Youth organization’s initiative encouraging people to send postcards to Iranian officials in an effort to challenge the country’s recent claim that it is protecting its national security by arresting rights activists, outspoken critics and religious minorities like the Baha’is.

Visit Postcards for Iran

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On Saturday, March 7, 2009, several Persian online journals carried this report about the expulsion of Miss Minoo Shahriari on the grounds that she was a Baha’i. Continue Reading »

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Because of the escalation in the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran in recent months and the circumstances surrounding the possible trial of the seven Bahá’í national leaders in Iran, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the U.S has decided to expand the scope of the video contest it launched late last fall about the denial of education of Bahá’í students in Iran to incorporate the general persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran. The video contest has now been opened up to any videos that cover general and specific aspects about the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran. Continue Reading »

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World Focus, PBS’s nightly international news program, aired a live online radio program on Tuesday, March 17, that explored the Baha’i Faith and modern Iran. The program covered the background and history of the persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran with a particular focus on the arrest and forthcoming trial of the seven national Baha’i leaders. Continue Reading »

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TEHRAN (AFP) – An aide of Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi who was arrested in January for links with the banned Bahai faith has been freed on bail by the Iranian Authorities, Ebadi told AFP on Friday.

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World Focus, PBS’s nightly international news program, will air a live online radio program on Tuesday, March 17, that will explore the Baha’i Faith and the situation of Baha’is in Iran.  The program will be hosted by World Focus anchor Martin Savidge and will feature a panel of guests. Continue Reading »

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The Human Rights Council on March 12, 2009, held an interactive dialogue on freedom of religion or belief and on human rights defenders. Those speaking in the dialogue who raised the issue of the Baha’is in Iran were Canada, Czech Republic, speaking on behalf of the European Union, and the Baha’i International Community.  Canada and the Czech Republic both stressed the need to protect religious minorities, including in Muslim states. They all raised concern about the seven Baha’is detained for almost a year in Iran for suspected spying. Continue Reading »

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H. Res. 175 condemning the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran introduced on February 13, 2009, has 30 cosponsors as of March 13, 2009. Continue Reading »

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Iran VNC has reported on the release of Ms. Jinous Sobhani, a Baha’i who had worked at the Tehran office of the Center for the Defense of Human Rights, run by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.

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Ayandeh Rouchan news agency, the mouthpiece of the religious establishment in Qom, Iran, reported on Sunday, March 8, 2009,  that Iran’s Parliament had finally passed the administration’s budget request for the next fiscal year by a vote of 148 Members of Parliament out of a total of 237.

According to the same report, on the recommendation of the Social Committee, a sum of 30 billion Rials [equivalent to $3.1 million] has been allocated for “promotion of teaching and dispatch of teachers to combat Satan-worshipers, Sufis and Baha’is.” Continue Reading »

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The United States told the United Nations on March 12, 2009, that “some Muslim countries were using the concept of religious defamation to justify curbs on freedom of speech and civil dissent.” During Thursday’s debate, Canada and the Czech Republic, speaking on behalf of the European Union, stressed the need to protect religious minorities, including in Muslim states. They both raised concern about the seven Baha’is detained for almost a year in Iran for suspected spying. Continue Reading »

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Iran’s Attorney General, Ayatollah Qorban-Ali Dorri-Najafabadi, wrote a letter to the country’s Minister of Intelligence, Muhseni-Azheh’i.  The letter is undated, but since it was published online on 19 February 2009, it appears that it was dispatched around mid-February.  The letter includes various instructions regarding the government’s treatment of the Baha’i community.

Below is a translation of the full text of the letter provided by Iran Press Watch. Continue Reading »

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In an open letter dated March 9, 2009, scholars and academic specialists in the fields of Middle Eastern and Iranian studies call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to put an end to human rights abuses against Baha’is in Iran. Continue Reading »

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H. Res. 175 condemning the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran introduced on February 13, 2009, has 30 cosponsors as of March 11, 2009. Continue Reading »

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Senate Resolution 71 (S. Res. 71) a concurrent resolution to House Resolution 175 (H. Res. 175)  regarding the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran, was introduced into the U.S. Senate on March 9, 2009, by Senator Wyden of Oregon. The other original cosponsors are Senators Brownback, Menendez, Snowe and Whitehouse.

For information on how you can help support S. Res. 71, please visit http://iran.bahai.us/s-res-71-on-the-bahais-in-iran/

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Iran’s official news organ, Iranian Students News Agency (ISNR), reported the following today:
“The file of the seven accused Baha’is will go to court soon.
The Deputy Public Prosecutor of Tehran commented about the illegal administration of the Baha’i sect that has been engaged in illegal activities. He stated, “The charges against these individuals are formation of illegal administration and espionage for the foreign nations. The case against the seven accused has been prepared, and likely will go to court for indictment next week.”

Access an English translation at Iran Press Watch.

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H. Res. 175, condemning the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran and introduced on February 13, 2009, has 26 cosponsors as of March 6, 2009. Continue Reading »

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