We are Ashamed!
Editor’s Note: The following is an open letter from a group of academics, writers, artists, journalists and Iranian activists throughout the world to the Baha’i community. This letter has been signed by a large number of the most prominent Iranian intellectuals.
We are ashamed!
A century and a half of oppression and silence is enough!
In the name of goodness and beauty, and in the name of humanity and liberty!
As Iranian human beings, we are ashamed for what has been perpetrated upon the Baha’is in the last century and a half in Iran.
We firmly believe that every Iranian, “without distinction of any kind, such as, race, color, sex, language, religion, politics or other opinions,” and also without regard to ethnic background, “social origin, property, birth or other status,” is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, from the very inception of the Baha’i Faith, the followers of this religion in Iran have been deprived of many provisions of human rights solely on account of their religious convictions.
According to historical documents and evidence, from the commencement of the Babi Movement followed by the appearance of the Baha’i Faith, thousands of our countrymen have been slain by the sword of bigotry and superstition only for their religious beliefs. Just in the first decades of its establishment, some twenty thousand of those who stood identified with this faith community were savagely killed throughout various regions of Iran.
We are ashamed that during that period, no voice of protest against these barbaric murders was registered;
We are ashamed that until today the voice of protest against this heinous crime has been infrequent and muted;
We are ashamed that in addition to the intense suppression of Baha’is during its formative decades, the last century also witnessed periodic episodes of persecution of this group of our countrymen, in which their homes and businesses were set on fire, and their lives, property and families were subjected to brutal persecution – but all the while, the intellectual community of Iran remained silent;
We are ashamed that during the last thirty years, the killing of Baha’is solely on the basis of their religious beliefs has gained legal status and over two-hundred Baha’is have been slain on this account;
We are ashamed that a group of intellectuals have justified coercion against the Baha’i community of Iran;
We are ashamed of our silence that after many decades of service to Iran, Baha’i retired persons have been deprived of their right to a pension;
We are ashamed of our silence that on the account of their fidelity to their religion and truthfulness in stating this conviction, thousands of Baha’i youth have been barred from education in universities and other institutions of higher learning in Iran;
We are ashamed that because of their parents’ religious beliefs, Baha’i children are subjected to denigration in schools and in public.
We are ashamed of our silence over this painful reality that in our nation, Baha’is are systematically oppressed and maligned, a number of them are incarcerated because of their religious convictions, their homes and places of business are attacked and destroyed, and periodically their burial places are desecrated;
We are ashamed of our silence when confronted with the long, dark and atrocious record that our laws and legal system have marginalized and deprived Baha’is of their rights, and the injustice and harassment of both official and unofficial organs of the government towards this group of our countrymen;
We are ashamed for all these transgressions and injustices, and we are ashamed for our silence over these deeds.
We, the undersigned, asked you, the Baha’is, to forgive us for the wrongs committed against the Baha’i community of Iran.
We will no longer be silent when injustice is visited upon you.
We stand by you in achieving all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights.
Let us join hands in replacing hatred and ignorance with love and tolerance.
February 3, 2009
1. Abdolalian Morteza, Journalist, CJFE Board of Directors - Canada, Oakville
2. Abghari Shahla, Professor, Life University – USA, Atlanta
3. Abghari Siavash, Professor, University of Georgia – USA, Atlanta
4. Ahmadi Ramin, Professor, Yale University – USA, Yale
5. Almasi Nasrin, Managing editor of Shahrvand- Canada, Toronto
6. Bagherpour Khosro, Poet /Journalist – Germany
7. Baradaran Monireh, Writer/Human rights activist - Germany
8. Beyzaie Niloofar, Play writer/Theatre Director – Germany, Frankfurt
9. Boroumand Ladan, Researcher, Boroumand Foundation - USA, Washington
10. Boroumand, Roya, Executive Director, Boroumand Foundation – USA, Washington
11. Choubine Bahram, Researcher/Writer – Germany, Köln
12. Daneshvar Hamid, Actor/Theatre Director – France, Paris
13. Darvishpour Mehrdad, Professor, Stockholm University - Sweden, Stockholm
14. Djalali Chimeh Mohammad (M.sahar), Poet - France, Paris
15. Djanati Atai Behi, Actor/ Writer/Theatre Director – France, Paris
16. Ebrahimi Hadi, Editor-in-chief of Shahrgon, Canada, Vancouver
17. Fani Yazdi Reza, Political analyst - USA
18. Farhoudi Vida, Poet/Translator- France, Paris
19. Forouhar Parastoo, Artist/Human rights activist – Germany, Frankfurt
20. Ghaemi Hadi Coordinator Int. Campaign for HR in Iran - USA
21. Ghahraman Saghi, Poet /Journalist – Canada, Toronto
22. Ghahraman, Sasan, Publisher/Writer/Journalist – Canada, Toronto
23. Javid Jahanshah, Publisher, Iranian [dot] com – Mexico, Chihuahua
24. Kakhsaz Naser, Political analyst – Germany, Bochum
25. Kalbasi Sheema, Poet – USA, Washington
26. Kassraei Farhang, Writer/Actor – Germany, Wiesbaden
27. Khorsandi Hadi, Satirist – Great Britain, London
28. Mahbaz Efat, Women rights activist /Journalist– England, London
29. Malakooty Sirus, Classical Guitar Player/ Composer/ Lecturer - England, London
30. Moshkin Ghalam Shahrokh, Actor/Dancer – France, Paris
31. Mossaed Jila, Poet/Writer - Sweden, Göteborg.
32. Mossallanejad Ezat, Writer/Human right Activist, CCVT – Canada, Toronto
33. Parsa Soheil, Theatre Director - Canada Toronto
34. Sahimi, Muhammad Professor, University of Southern California – USA, California
35. Shafigh Shahla, Writer/Researcher – France, Paris
36. Shemiranie Khosro, Journalist - Canada, Montreal
37. Sheyda Behrooz, Literary Critic/Theorist- Sweden, Stockholm
38. Taghipoor Masoomeh, Actor/Theatre Director - Sweden, Göteborg.
39. Tahavori Mohammad, Journalist, USA, MA Cambridge
40. Vahdati Soheila, Human Rights Activist – USA, California
41. Zahedi Mitra, Theatre Director – Germany, Berlin
42. Zerehi Hassan, Editor-in-chief of Shahrvand, Canada, Toronto
To join the signaturees please contact the following emails.
niloofarbeyzaie@gmx.at, shemiranie@yahoo.com
Iran Press Watch has also made a French translation available:
apology-letter-fr.doc (Word Document)
A Spanish version is as always available at http://www.iranpresswatch.org/es.
10 Comments
Why are there no signatures from Intellectuals in the MIddle East or Iran itself?
In response to David’s queries, first the significance of this historic moment must be apprciated. For the first time in 160 years, many highly respected Iranian intellectuals have risked much to append their name to this remarkable document. Never before has such a thing happened in the history of the Baha’i Faith. Furthermore, this is not a complete list of supperters — but only an initial list. More suppertors are adding their names and a complete list will be published in 9 days, on Feb 13.
As a member of humankind, I am so blessed to live in such a turbulent time and witness greatness of some, who are selflessly think of others before their own. I am deeply touched…Thank you
I am so touched that these wonderful people have at last recognized that we Bahais are human beings created by the same creator God as has created all people on earth. My family had very little time with their fatujer my dearest husband Foad because he was kept in Iran and his passport taken away when we went to show our children to their grand parents. for almost 7 years he was unable to join us toill h escaped and now
Sadly he passed away 3 months ago from Cancer which I feel sure was brought about by his treatment in Iran. His children and I miss him more than we can ever say and now he is taken from us again.
He was amost caring gentle man and so loved by us all his humour is somthing I also miss.
I hope whatever comes from this wonderful repoprt it can in some way help people to recognize what is happening to Bahais in Iran
I am very glad to see so strong a document published and signed; the Iranian security aparatus conducts assasinations of any and all targets deemed dangerous whether inside or out in the world thousands of miles from Iran. However, I do not believe the world citizenry will tolerate such extreme, heavy-handed arbitrary behavior much longer as billions of people can and do share ideas and happenings which puts the Iranian political body in very salacious company along with Rwanda, Sudan and Serbia. Any government with any wits about it does not want to be any part of that sort of club and this declaration is perfect for screaming the truth.
It is time for all of us as a united human family to stand up against any injustice towards any portion of this human family. The Bahai’s in Iran have been and continue to be (especially recently) persecuted in unspeakable ways solely because of their religious beliefs which include world peace, equality of men and women, elimination of prejudice of all kind, compulsory education, one God, and reverence and respect for all great religions of the world including Islam. The Iranian government continues to practice its ignorance and astounding insecurity in its political and religious existence by its actions of violence and continuous human rights violations towards its most peaceful minority, namely the Bahai’s. With their unforgiveable and shameful actions, the government and its agents commit the worst possible crime which is that of shattering of their own souls and the greatness of our beloved Iran.
This action causes me to turn to God in unending praise and thanksgiving. The free expression of these gifted individuals and their signatures represent a swelling tide of justice that the world’s people have been longing to realize. I am overjoyed to be a member of the Baha’i Faith as I watch the growing list of supporters. May God bless and hearten every dear one of you! — Loie Mead
It is gratifying to finally see that the people of this world are finally starting to reconize and speak out against injustice. This sort of thing needs to be encouraged and those with the courage to put their names to such documents and make them public desirve praise. It is my sincer hope that this document is acted upon but all the signatres of the UN and it flows over to all injustices in our world.
Dear signatory members of this document, as a Bahai, may I embrace you all for your loving gesture, you don’t have to apologize, I am sure all those Baha’is that were wronged, have already forgiven the perpetrators, why should they hold you all in contempt. May I , as an Iranian Baha’i , extend my gratitude to you all, for raising your voices not only for the Iranian Baha’is , but for all other human beings that are being persecuted as well in that land. I truly see now, with my stunned eyes, that all those sacrifices our Baha’i friends in Iran have endured, and are still enduring, have moved this distinguished panel to hoist the banner of Justice and Peace for that land. May your efforts bring about the changes foretold by Abdul’ Baha for Iran:
” Erelong will your brethren from Europe and America journey to Persia. There they will promote to an unprecedented degree the interests of art and
industry. There they will rear the institutions of true civilization, promote the development of husbandry and trade, and assist in the spread of
education…. Assuredly they will come; assuredly they will contribute in making of the land of Iran the envy and the admiration of the peoples and nations of the world.”
As a nonIranian Baha’i I have been privileged to know Iranian Baha’is in many different countries of the world, including Iran. Knowing these wonderful people, and comparing their behavior and demeanor to those that seem to blindly follow their religious leaders in Iran, if I had no other reason, which I have, would be enough to make me declare my adherence to the teachings of Baha’u'llah-
-source
a non bahai organisation