Near unanimous support from US House of Representatives

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bahais in Valley are grateful for support

August 9, 2008 The Bahai Community of the Lehigh Valley is grateful to Rep. Charlie Dent and the U.S. House of Representatives for their Aug. 1 nearly unanimous vote on House Resolution 1008 condemning Iran for its persecution of the members of the Bahai Faith. In May, seven Bahai leaders were arrested, held incommunicado, and now stand falsely accused of being Zionist conspirators.

Since its founding in 1844, the Bahai community has been subject to severe repression in Iran. Especially since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, it has been the victim of the unrelenting wrath of fanatical clergy and government.

While the Lehigh Valley Bahai community is confident in the ultimate victory of good over evil, we fear that the immediate future poses a grave threat to this beleaguered community. Though the much-appreciated House Resolution may not persuade Iran's officials, one hopes awareness of these grave injustices will cause the good people of America, Iran and the world to stand firmly against this fanaticism, hatred and intolerance.

Jim West

Source:

Bahais in Valley are grateful for support -- themorningcall.com

"Sattar Khoshkhoo came to the United States from Iran four years ago, escaping a government that would not allow him to attend college because of his Baha'i faith.

His family had been living a comfortable life in Iran, his dad working as a dentist, his mom as a homemaker. But they realized that if their older child was going to get a college education, they had to leave.

"The Muslim majority does not recognize my religion as an official religion," Khoshkhoo said. "They can take away your rights, make it difficult to get jobs. I could not go to a university."

After spending nine months in Turkey waiting to be granted refugee status, Khoshkhoo and his family settled in Moorpark, where an uncle already lived. Two days after moving here, Khoshkhoo started classes at Moorpark High School, speaking only conversational English.

From the start, Khoshkhoo flourished in math and science classes, which rely more on numbers than language. Then, over the following summer, he took two English classes so he could keep up in English and history...."



Read more of the story at:

Barred from college in Iran, Moorpark resident excels at studies in the U.S. : Local News : Ventura County Star

IRANIAN MEDIA ATTACKS ON BAHA'IS AND NOBEL PRIZE WINNER SHIRIN EBADI SEEK TO STIR "IRRATIONAL FEARS AND PREJUDICES"

NEW YORK, 12 August 2008 (BWNS) -- Fraudulent claims in the Iranian news media about seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders and the efforts of Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and others to defend them represent an effort by the government to prevent Baha'is from having adequate legal representation - and also to stir up "irrational fears and prejudices," the Baha'i International Community said in a statement today.

"Reports published in government-run news outlets point to an effort on the part of the authorities to use the mass media to spread accusations that the seven prisoners have engaged in subversive activities, and to continue to deprive these Baha'is from any access to legal counsel by maligning Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, the well-known Iranian human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner who, together with her colleagues, has stated her readiness to defend the Baha'is," said the statement.

The statement, posted to the Baha'i International Community's United Nations Office Web site, responds to allegations that Mrs. Ebadi's her daughter has become a Baha'i, that Baha'is are agents of Zionism, and that when Iranian Baha'is communicate with the Baha'i Faith's international governing body in Israel, it is somehow a "conspiracy."

"The Iranian government seizes every means at its disposal to stigmatize the Baha'is and then, within the poisoned atmosphere it has itself created, when it wants to discredit someone, it asserts that the person is a Baha'i," the statement said. "Mrs. Ebadi is not the first individual upon whom this tactic has been used. As a lawyer, Mrs. Ebadi defends individuals and groups of many different backgrounds; this does not mean that she necessarily espouses their beliefs. What, then, is the state-sanctioned press trying to insinuate when it contends that her daughter is a Baha'i?"

The full statement can be read at:

Iran Intensifies Disinformation and Attacks on Bahá’Ã*s — Baha'i International Community -- United Nations Office



To view the photos and additional features click here:
Bahá'Ã* World News Service - Bahá'Ã* International Community

BAHA'IS IMPRISONED IN YEMEN MAY FACE DEPORTATION TO IRAN

NEW YORK, 27 August 2008 (BWNS) -- Three Baha'is currently imprisoned in Yemen are facing the possibility of imminent deportation to Iran, where Baha'is are intensely persecuted and they would likely face imprisonment or torture.

"We are gravely concerned about the fate of these three Baha'is, who are being held without charges in a case that is clearly based on religious persecution," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.

"Although the three have lived in Yemen for more than 25 years, they hold Iranian passports and we have come to believe that the Yemeni government may be planning to deport them to Iran, where the government is waging a systematic campaign against Baha'is.

"While calling for their immediate release, our primary concern today is to ask that the Yemeni government resist any impulse to deport these three Baha'is to Iran - or any other country. Deportation to any country for three individuals with well established businesses and families for their religious beliefs would be grossly unjust, but deportation to Iran, where they face the possibility of torture, would be a clear violation of international human rights law," said Ms. Dugal.

The three Baha'is were arrested in June, apparently in relation to their belief in and practice of the Baha'i Faith, along with a Baha'i of Iraqi origin.

The three Baha'is of Iranian origin who were arrested are Mr. Zia'u'llah Pourahmari, Mr. Keyvan Qadari, and Mr. Behrooz Rohani. A fourth Baha'i, Mr. Sayfi Ibrahim Sayfi, was also arrested and faces the possibility of deportation to Iraq.

The three Baha'is of Iranian background all have successful businesses in Yemen, and their families are well established there.

The arrests occurred in the capital, Sana'a, on the night of 20 June 2008, when some 20 armed security officers carried out raids at several Baha'i homes. During the raids, papers, CDs, photographs and a computer were also confiscated.

Although no formal charges have been filed, government officials have indicated that the Baha'is were arrested on the suspicion of "proselytizing" in a manner against Yemeni law, which the Baha'is deny.

Since their arrest, the Baha'i International Community has been working through diplomatic channels to obtain their release.

"Our hope has been to prevent this case from becoming a major human rights matter, over the issue of religious persecution. Deportation to Iran would certainly be a matter for international concern, and such an action would be out of character with the Yemeni government's past record on human rights issues.

"Under international laws on the freedom of religion, there is no question that Baha'is - and others in Yemen - should be free to practice their faith. While the situation is still unfolding, we stand by the right of Baha'is in Yemen and elsewhere to practice their religion in all aspects, without the fear of being forced to leave their adopted country," said Ms. Dugal.

There are approximately 250 registered Baha'is in Yemen, and the community has enjoyed relative freedom for its members to quietly practice their faith.



To view the photos and additional features click here:
Bahá'Ã* World News Service - Bahá'Ã* International Community

--
8-pok-080827-1-YEMENDEPORTATIONS-651-S

There are fresh reports of Baha’is being dismissed from jobs or prevented from operating their businesses – reports that confirm the government continues enforcing work restrictions against Baha’is throughout Iran:
Various measures are being taken to cancel the work permits of Baha’is.
Workplaces are being sealed off.

Baha’i businesses are being reported to authorities with an aim of having them blacklisted.

Pressure is being exerted on landlords to evict Baha’is who lease business space, and on employers to fire their Baha’i employees.

In one recent example, a Baha’i working at a real estate agency in Shiraz was fired from his job when a group of agents met and decided that dealing with Baha’is is against Islamic law. At the meeting, a number of baseless allegations were made against the Baha’i – allegations he strongly denied – and an anti-Baha’i leaflet published by local authorities was distributed.
Another example: A young Baha’i in Ghaemshahr was fired from his job in a food store on instructions from the Public Places Supervision Office. The office specifically told the employer that the reason was simply that the man was a Baha’i.

Other recent reports from Shiraz show the multifaceted nature of the campaign against the Baha’is:

Three different versions of an anti-Baha’i brochure titled “Baha’ism: A Colonial Dance” were widely circulated in the city. The brochure included common false accusations about the Baha’i Faith.

A number of Muslim neighbors of Baha’i families have received “visits” from people who attempt to distort their perception of the Baha’i Faith and discourage them from associating with Baha’is.

A Baha’i youth who was a national judo champion was expelled from the national team before the team traveled to international competitions. After appeals were lodged, it was learned that there is a general directive prohibiting Baha’is from competing, coaching, or refereeing on national teams.
Other recent examples of attacks and harassment:

Two Baha’is in Mashhad were killed and one seriously injured when they were run over by a car, apparently on purpose. All three had earlier received threatening telephone calls.

After authorities first suggested that the fire that destroyed the home of the Shaaker family in Kerman had been caused by an electrical problem, the fire department of that city has now confirmed that arson was the cause. The fire was reported last month by the Baha’i World News Service as one of a string of apparent arson attacks against Baha’is. (See BWNS article.)
Another arson attempt occurred in Rafsanjan in Kerman province when a burning tire was wedged in the door of a home, blocking the exit for the Baha’i family living there. Neighbors ran to their rescue, thus averting injury or serious damage.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency published a special report on 13 August claiming that Bahá’ís were planning to plant a bomb at the Tehran International Exhibition a few months ago. Seyyed Kazem Mousavi, a historian on modern Iran, claimed to have uncovered and put a stop to a criminal plot that may have resulted in a great human catastrophe. The Baha’i International Community categorically denies that Baha’is planned any such attack.

More cemetery desecrations have been reported, and, in addition, three Baha’is who participated in a burial in a Baha’i cemetery that has been in use for 15 years were arrested and convicted of “taking part in the illegal occupation and use of government property.” The three were fined and ordered to “cease their occupation of the said property” (the cemetery) and to “return it to its prior condition” (that is, exhume the interred Baha’i).
Baha’i students continue to be barred from university, and new evidence indicates that they are being identified as Baha’is early in the application process and are being blocked even from going online to check their test scores.

Source:
Iran Update - Bahá'Ã* World News Service

Peace be with you

I hope we can discuss the scriptures for the sake of our Lord. My intentino is to serve Him while I'm alive, so that I may receive his mercy at judgement time and be close to Him.

To the Bahais in general: what is your position about the Qur'an. I find that Bahais claim to believe in the Qur'an as a revealed book, yet go against its teachings.

I don't want to negate the good things that you may do, but this particular point is a big one for me and yet I must ask your position, I don't assume it. Please let me know.

One example. The Qur'an says to fast in the month of Ramadhan, and yet Bahais fast 19 days in March, as I'm told, anyway. How can one follow God in this way?

Peace be with you. Glory be to God.

Welcome Sebastian to the Forum!

This thread by the way is on the subject of repression of Baha'is in the Middle East and so we are a little off topic in this discussion...

but let me respond to your post here and if you wish to set up another thread on a topic of your choice please do so.. but I would like this thread to remain on topic.


Baha'is accept the Qur'an as inspired by God but we accept both the Bible and Qur'an as inspired..

We also accept the Writings of the Bab and Baha'u'llah the latest Messenger and Manifestation of God.

We believe the Qur'an was revealed for the time of the dispensation of Prophet Muhammad just as the Torah was revealed for the dispensation of Prophet Moses and the Gospel was revealed for the dispensation of Jesus.

We believe the Bab (Siyyid Ali Muhammad) and Baha'u'llah (Mirza Husayn Ali) revealed ordinances and laws for this dispensation and fulfilled the prophecies of the Return or Descent of Christ as well as the prophecies about the Return of the Twelfth Imam and Mehdi.

See:

Baha'u'llah: The Great Announcement of the Qur'an

So the ordinances revealed by the Manifestation of God for this day mean that our month of fasting is different from that observed by Muslims. Baha'u'llah also abrogated Jihad or Holy War and eliminated laws about slavery and other Islamic laws and ordinances and so on that you have in Islam.

We Baha'is believe that spiritually all the Priophets and Messengers of God are one but there are different ordinances revealed for each time in history including our own.

If you have further questions or issues from this reply please start another thread in the Religious Debate section of the Forum at

Religious Debate - InterfaithForums

Thanks again for your questions,

- Art

Baha'i persecution in Iran, Egypt, noted in State Dept. religious freedom report
September 22, 2008 - 6:11pm

The U.S. Department of State's 2008 International Religious Freedom Report, released on Sept. 19, calls attention to the grave persecution faced by Baha'is in Iran, as well as the discrimination against Baha'is in Egypt, who continue to be denied government-issued identity cards.

“During the reporting period, respect for religious freedom in [Iran] continued to deteriorate,” the report stated, as government “rhetoric and actions created a threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shi'a religious groups, most notably for Baha'is... Government-controlled broadcast and print media intensified negative campaigns against religious minorities, particularly the Baha'is.”

In Egypt, those found without identity cards can be detained until the document is provided, and “some Baha'is without identity cards reportedly stay home to avoid police scrutiny and possible arrest,” the report stated.

Several references to the Baha’is were also made in Ambassador Hanford’s remarks at the briefing for the report's release.

I am not a Ba'hai, but I must say that there is no pure religion which is not also political.

Welcome Shaw-n to the Baha'i Forum..

Baha'is cannot even register as partisans in elections nor can they serve in any partisan elected office... that goes for the entire planet. No Baha'i can hold a partisan elected ofice. Over the years I knew of a few Judges in Los Angeles that were elected but not as a partisan office. Also Baha'is can serve on appointed committees or commissions again as long as they are non-partisan.

So we generally avoid politics period.

- Art