Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community

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Two Historical Documents by Mousavi and Abtahi

Posted: 15 Jun 2009 04:00 PM PDT

Editor’s Note: In our continual effort to document the mistreatment of the Baha’is of Iran and the regime’s role in bringing about systematic discrimination against the Baha’is, two official documents by Iranian authorities relating to the Baha’is of that nation are shared below by Iran Press Watch in translation (originals of both documents are posted on the Persian page of this site).

The first is a memorandum to government offices and agencies written by Mr. Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who served as the fifth and last Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1981 to 1989, before the constitutional changes which removed the post of prime minister.

The second document is written by Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammad Ali Abtahi who is an Iranian theologian, scholar and chairman of the Institute for Interreligious Dialogue. He is a former vice president of Iran and a close associate of former President Mohammad Khatami.

First Document

In The Name of God

Section seven/Minorities

Number 11-4462

February 1, 1989

Memorandum to all Ministries, Organizations, Government Agencies, Islamic Revolutionary Foundations, and Governors of all Provinces across the country:

Based on the reports received, there have been no coordinated, unified instructions for confronting members of the misguided Baha’i sect available to the executive branch . Therefore, with the approval of the respected President of the Islamic Republic, it is necessary that all ministries, organizations, government agencies, Islamic revolutionary foundations and governors of all provinces across the country to implement the guidelines outlined below as the official policy of the government.

Spies should be sternly confronted based on established laws and regulations, but with respect to other citizens, regardless of their beliefs, they should be treated as ordinary citizens in a manner consistent with the latter part of Article 23 of the Constitution. However, attempts should be made to correct their beliefs.

No official or representative of the Islamic Republic is permitted to deprive citizens of their civil or social rights unless they have been proven to be spies, or as stipulated by laws established by the official legal authorities of the country.

It should be noted that based on Article 13 of the Constitution, Zoroastrian, Jewish and Christian Iranians are the only religious minorities that are free to practice their religious duties within the framework of the laws of the country. They are permitted to conduct their personal lives and activities based on their respective religious laws and ordinances.

Mir Hussein Mousavi
Prime Minister

Second Document

The weighty responsibility of supervising the implementation of the constitution

In The Name of God

Number 80-7662

December 31, 2001

Dearly esteemed brother, Mr. Sayed Mohammad Khatami, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

With Greetings:

Based on a report presented at the official meeting of the respected Committee of the Islamic Parliament on December 30, 2001, which I attended, with respect to principals 88 and 90 of the Constitution, some of the Baha’is employed in government offices and agencies will lose their rights as citizens of the country due to their belief and their association with the Baha’i religion.

I remind you that on February 1, 1989, the respected former Prime Minister [Mir Hussein Mousavi] with the approval of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a memorandum to all ministries, organizations, government agencies, Islamic revolutionary foundations, and governors of all provinces across the country indicating:

“No official or representative of the Islamic Republic is permitted to deprive citizens of their civil or social rights unless they have been proven to be spies, or as stipulated by laws established by the official legal authorities of the country.”

By presenting the above-mentioned background information and with respect to Article 23 of Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, your views and recommendations as the President of the country and the authority responsible for the implementation of the Constitution will provide us with guidance regarding the necessity of considering the civil rights of the Baha’i sect workforce.

Signed Seyyed Mohammad Ali Abtahi

“Ahle hag natarsid yemayatat mikonim = Oh people of Truth, do not be afraid we support you , back you up , protect you.”

“Bahá’i do not be afraid we support you / back you up & protect you.”

Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community

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Several Updates on the Baha’is of Iran Posted: 09 Jun 2009 04:20 PM PDT The following news items appeared on June 4, 2009, on the Persian site of the Baha’i International Community and are provided below in translation by Iran Press Watch. The source of each story is cited next to the name of the town. Isfahan (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060403) More details have reached us regarding three Baha’is of Villashahr (near Isfahan) who were arrested because they participated in the burial of a deceased Baha’i, who were later released on bail pending their trial. Hushmand Talebi-Iskandari, Mehran Zayni-Najafabadi and Farhad Ferdousiyan were convicted on July 21, 2008, on the charge of “trespassing and illegal use of governmental property”. The court had set a fine and instructed that they “should cease their use of this property (the cemetery)” and “to return it to its original condition”, i.e., that they should remove the bodies buried there. Upon appeal, the appeals court ruled on February 14, 2009, clearing the three Baha’is of this charge and designating that parcel of land for burial of the dead as a cemetery. However, according to the latest news, on May 21 a large sign was posted on this land next to some graves, which read, “According to a letter dated January 21, 2009, this land has been bestowed by the Ministry of Minerals to the Municipality of Najafabad and now belongs to the Municipality. Therefore, any encroachment, trespassing or burial of the dead on this location is strictly forbidden; violators will be prosecuted in accordance with provisions of Section 635 of the Islamic penal code, which rules on punishments for unauthorized burials.” In addition, news has reached us that the Municipality has received instructions from the Ministry of Intelligence that they may no longer provide hearses to Baha’is to carry their dead. Karaj (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060408) Shahram Safajoo (http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2452) was released from prison on bail on May 18. On May 31, he was again summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence and was given two weeks to locate a lawyer for his trial. Semnan (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060402) Mrs. Maryam Shiraliyan (Subhani), a Baha’i of Semnan, passed away on May 20, 2009. However, governmental authorities have refused to issue a burial certificate, and have informed her family that they would only do so if the family consents that the deceased by buried under an Islamic headstone in the Baha’i cemetery. The family of Mrs. Shiraliyan refused this demand. After several appeals to the office of the Governor of Semnan, two days later a burial certificate was issued on May 22. Shiraz (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060407) Sasan Taqvi, one of the three Baha’i youth who in November 2007 were imprisoned on charges of being involved in a humanitarian project intended to indirectly promote the Baha’i Faith, commenced his temporary [medical] leave from prison on April 28, 2009, and has been authorized to extend it until May 26. No news has been received about his return to prison at this time. Shiraz (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060401) Shahram Kamali was arrested on May 25, 2009. During the previous two months he had been summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence. Since the time of his arrest, he has only been able to contact his family once, and has expressed his expectation that the authorities intend to transfer him to Tehran for incarceration. Tehran (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060404) Shahram Hasim, who on May 27 received instructions to present himself at the Ministry of Intelligence (see http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2885), had disappeared since May 20. It has been learned that he was imprisoned as of that date , but was released on May 23. His place of incarceration has not been given. Tehran (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060405) According to the latest information received [from Iran], Shahram Chiniyan-Miyanduab was a resident of the village of Hasan-Abad near Tehran, and not Miyanduab. From the time of his arrest in February-March, he has been incarcerated in Evin prison. The authorities have told one of the Baha’is who went to Evin to inquire of Mr. Chiniyan’s condition that he has been charged and imprisoned for “membership in the Baha’i sect”, “insulting Islamic religious sanctities” and “collaboration with anti-revolutionary groups”. Yasuj (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060406) Ali-Askar Ravanbakhsh and his wife Zulaykha Musavi-Ravanbakhsh, who are from Mehraban, and another Baha’i from Yasuj, Ruhiyyih Yazdani, had been on temporary leave from prison since May 3, 2009 (http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/392). On May 22, they returned to the place of their incarceration.

Visit – Shiraz Plock 100 Posted: 09 Jun 2009 04:16 PM PDT Editor’s Note: Iran Press Watch was pleased to receive the following moving essay, which describes the feelings of many Iranian Baha’is. It is presented below in translation; the original in Persian is attached. By a passer by I miss them a lot. I am talking about the three Baha’i youth: Sasan Taqva, Raha Sabet and Haleh Ruhi. I like to visit them, and for this purpose, I travel to Shiraz. Come along if you like. It takes some concentration to summon the power from within. First we say prayers, meditate and then visualize Shiraz, a city whose foundation was laid upon a spiritual dream. I hope that someday the spiritual city of Shiraz will be worthy of a great hero to initiate a world-encompassing movement from within this spiritual place. Together, we pass through the streets of Shiraz to reach the prison facility of the Ministry of Intelligence, called Plock 100. This is the place where the three youth are incarcerated. We enter quietly. We walk through narrow concrete hallways with high ceilings. Everywhere is dead silent; we move forward quietly. After passing through a few covered areas, we arrive at a metal door. Slowly we open the door. We see a small L-shaped area; looking around, we don’t see any windows — do you see any? No light can penetrate the cement walls and into the cell. The air is heavy, there is not enough oxygen and it is hard to breath. What a jail! The florescent ceiling light is on at all times. The floor is bare concrete, without so much as an old carpet to cover it. There are only a few blankets to use as a mattress and cover. There is an old television set which appears to have been installed some time ago. There are a few books, magazines and personal items in the other corner of the cell. Haleh and Raha, two angel-like girls, under the pressure and hardships of the past 18 months in jail, look skinny, weak and pale. They are only allowed outside in the small yard 15 minutes each day to get a little fresh air. Everything, even down to the timing of these short breaks, is determined by the prison guards. Despite all these restrictions, they seem happy; it is as though they are living in a different world. They enjoy each other’s company. We hear footsteps, then the door opening. Look at the girls — they are silent. It seems that Raha has a piece of paper and a pen in her hands. We see a male guard at the door, he is waiting for something. The girls give him a list of the necessary items that they need — there are no stores in this prison. There is no conversation between the girls and the guard. Can you hear anything? If you ask the girls, they will tell you that they are forbidden to talk to the male guards, and that there are no female guards at this prison. I understand you have good reason to feel upset; those who set out to serve their forsaken, deprived countrymen with love and compassion are detained in an atrocious prison which can best be likened to jailhouses from the Middle Ages. Let us pray for their steadfastness and ask God to remove their difficulties. We can pray individually or in groups. Let us raise our hands to God and ask for His mercy to shower upon these two prisoners and all the other male and female inmates who are spending their days in the various prisons of Iran. Let us pray for the freedom of all the captives who are inflicted with a heavier load of tyranny and injustice than the rest of us, irrespective of their religion, belief system, ethnicity or language. Friends, it is time to go. Let us part with a message to the girls: “Haleh, Raha, we deeply love you! We are proud of you as our countrymen and as our fellow Baha’is. You are symbols of strength and steadfastness. You are worthy role models for Iranian youth”. Slowly, we head towards the door; we take another glance at the cell and its high walls. Certainly you agree that this horrifying prison with its solid concrete walls has not succeeded in creating a barrier between the girls and ourselves. We open the metal door quietly, enter the hallway and go towards the other side, where the obedient follower of his Lord, Sasan, is all alone in his cell. We open the door and see a cell similar to that of the girls. We see a young man, smiling and resigned to the will of God, is whispering prayers in the corner of his cell. Think for a little while! How has he tolerated 18 months of solitude? What has given him such power to be joyful and content? We wholeheartedly listen to his prayer which has filled the atmosphere of his cell: “Subhanika ya hu, ya man huwa hu. Ya man lisan ahadan illa hu.”[1] The thick, solid walls of his cell cannot prevent him from conversing with his Lord. We hear that many outside the jail are praying along with him. Apparently, he can hear their prayers; during deep meditation he can even see them (in the same way that my friends and I had seen you while we were in jail and had gained energy from you). Dear Sasan, my good friend, we have to go now. May we witness the freedom of all of the innocent prisoners of Iran! O entrapped bird! May you live to witness that blessed day when there are no more cages and confinements in the world! [1] This expression appears 19 times in Baha’u'llah’s Tablet of the Bell [Lawh-i Naqus] and means, “Sanctified art Thou, O He; O He Who is He; O He other than Whom there is none but He.” [Original attached. Translation by Iran Press Watch.] Download: Origianl Persian

Article published Jun 5, 2009
The day will come when Iran's Baha'is are free to worship
By ROBERT H. STOCKMAN
This time Shirin Ebadi has her work cut out for her.

On April 23 the Nobel Prize winning attorney -- the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize -- told a packed audience at the University of Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center about her struggle to defend human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In addition to various past cases, she mentioned two pending cases she had agreed to take: the unjust imprisonment of Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi and the arrest and imprisonment without trial of the seven informal leaders of Iran's 300,000 members of the Baha'i Faith.

Saberi has since been released, but the seven, known as the Yaran (friends) marked their first anniversary in prison. Their families have been told that, in addition to charges of spying for Israel and insulting the sacredness of Islam, they may be charged with spreading corruption on earth, a vague charge that can carry the death penalty.

Why the charges? The claim that Baha'is spy for Israel stems from the fact that the Baha'i world headquarters is in Israel, but that is a historical accident. The Iranian and Turkish leaders sent the founder of the faith, Baha'u'llah, to a prison city there in 1868, 80 years before there was an Israel. As for insulting Islam, Baha'is highly respect Islam and Muhammad, but Baha'u'llah claimed to be a divine messenger after Muhammad. The claim is utterly unacceptable to many Muslims, and Iran's leaders consider any Iranian accepting it worthy of the death penalty.Yet Ebadi's efforts are not completely hopeless. The world's collective reaction to the arrest of the Yaran may be the reason their trial, scheduled for February, was postponed. Thirty years ago the persecution of Iran's Baha'is was met by a deafening silence from the vast majority of Iran's intellectuals, bureaucrats and human rights activists. No more; the conspiracy of silence has been broken, as anyone following Iranpresswatch.org and the Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights (bahairights.org) will see. The Iranian government now finds itself in the awkward position of seriously damaging its reputation internationally or backing down on a major but secret priority: the destruction of Iran's Baha'i community.

Recently, Michiana welcomed its fourth Iranian Baha'i refugee family to the area. Local Catholics, Muslims, Baha'is and Protestants contributed furniture, showed them around and made them feel at home. Local residents are writing Congressman Joe Donnelly, D-Granger, and Indiana Sens. Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh to urge them to support House Resolution 175 and Senate Resolution 71, two Congressional resolutions condemning the persecution of Iran's Baha'is. If we keep the pressure on Iran, the day will come when Iran's Baha'is are free to worship in their homeland.

Robert H. Stockman, an instructor of religious studies at DePaul University, is a member of the South Bend Baha'i community and Baha'i representative to the United Religious Community.

Supporters of Ayatollah Boroujerdi demand investigation of Baha’i case Posted: 02 Jun 2009 02:45 PM PDT Editor’s Note: Ayatollah Siyyid Husayn Kazemeyni Boroujerdi is an Iranian cleric who advocates separation of religion and government. He first expressed his opposition to the Islamic government of Iran in 1994, and opposed the theocratic concept of rule or “guardianship” by Islamic clerics/jurists. Boroujerdi and many of his followers were arrested in Tehran in October 2006 following a clash between police and hundreds of his followers. On Monday, May 25, 2009, supporters of the imprisoned Ayatollah Boroujerdi condemned the ongoing suppression and violation of the rights of the Baha’i community in Iran. The following is a translation of a statement posted on their website: With escalation in detentions, arrests, and threats of execution towards our Iranian Baha’i countrymen in recent times, supporters of Mr. Boroujerdi demand an investigation and greater attention by the international community to the ongoing violation of the basic rights of the Baha’is in Iran. However, supporters of Mr. Boroujerdi believe that unfortunately, in dealings and the behind-the-scenes relations between nations, the issue of human rights is often sacrificed for temporary interests and political pragmatism. As such, raising awareness of this important issue falls on the shoulders of opposition groups, who, faced with great tyranny, have reechoed the suffocated cries of the shattered Iranian community. Since the beginning of Ahmadinejad’s administration, the systematic suppression of civil movements, heterodox intellectuals, and members of other religions has accelerated. Among these groups, the suppression of our Baha’i countrymen has been especially intense and malicious. The denial of the right to education for Baha’i students, the denial of basic civil rights, the repeated violation of their rights as citizens in the guise of “legal encounters,” and the issuance of excessively harsh sentences and baseless allegations such as bombings or engaging in terrorist acts in an environment of opacity devoid of proper legal recourse have all painted a bleak picture for the future of our fellow Baha’i countrymen in Iran. In addition to believing in freedom of religious expression and the freedom of worship by other religions, the supporters of Mr. Boroujerdi express their sympathy for the Baha’i community, and urge full implementation of the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and full observance of those provisions in Iran. [Source: http://bameazadi19.blogspot.com/2009/05/blog-post_25.html. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]

32 Questions Posted: 02 Jun 2009 12:54 PM PDT Iran Press Watch has recently received the attached document which lists 32 questions that the celebrated Haji Mirza Haydar-Ali Isfahani, a prominent Baha’i during the time of Baha’u'llah and Abdu’l-Baha, had composed. These questions were intended to engaged the thinking Muslims in better appreciating issues raised by the Baha’i faith. Iran Press Watch hopes to be able to publish a translation of these questions in a near future (but should one of our esteemed readers wish to offer a summary translation, that would be most welcome). 32 Questions (Persian) [PDF]

Iran’s Official Propaganda about the Baha’is Posted: 02 Jun 2009 09:29 AM PDT Like all other embassies, the Iranian embassy in Greece also publishes information for the benefit of those wishing to visit Iran or learn about Iran. This document is available at: http://www.iranembassy.gr/eng/files/HumanRightsinIran.pdf. A copy of this pdf file is attached for ease of reference. Interestingly enough, on pages 38 and 39 there is a section on the Baha’i community. Judge for yourself if anything written in this official document of the Iranian government is true about the Baha’is of that country: Bahá’ís in Iran Just like other countries, only a limited number of religions have been announced as official Religions in Iran. Although Bahaism is not considered an official religion, its followers enjoy social, civic and citizenship rights. Bahaism has not been identified by any Islamic country and the Organization of Islamic Countries. Some aspects relating to the citizenship rights of Bahais are as follows: The followers of this cult have their own cemeteries throughout the country and their dead are buries according to their customs and traditions. They can enroll in schools just like others. They can travel inside and outside Iran just like other citizens and their visa are issued freely. Bahais teachings start at the age of four. For this purpose, an institute has been formed teaching all Bahá’ís of all ages. Geriatric hospitals have been created for elderly Bahá’ís. Economically speaking, they can get work and profession permits and there are no poor Bahá’ís in Iran. They may travel abroad to do business and they are provided with equal banking and commerce facilities. They may very well go to universities to continue their education. Contrary to what the fans of this cult claim overseas, every year tens of Bahá’ís graduate from universities. Download: Official Document

3 Baha’i Prisoners Released in Shiraz Posted: 02 Jun 2009 12:43 AM PDT Editor’s Note: Due to recent modifications to the site design, our editorial staff overlooked posting of the following report. Our apologies. Several days ago, Iran Press Watch learned that the authorities in Shiraz had agreed to release three Baha’i prisoners, namely, Keyvan Karami, Farham Masumi and Vahdat Dana on condition of bail of about $100,000 for each. Due to delicate and complex situation in Shiraz, Iran Press Watch decided against sharing that news, but our editorial staff was thrilled to learn that today, May 22, the three aforementioned Baha’is have been released and reunited with their families. The attached picture was taken upon the release of the three Baha’is. More details will be shared in a near future.

Three Baha’is Summoned to Intelligence Ministry in Urumiyeh Posted: 02 Jun 2009 12:35 AM PDT On Monday, May 25, 2009, the usually reliable HRA site reported: Three Baha’is who reside in Urumiyeh [northwest of Iran] have been summoned to the Information Bureau of the Ministry of Intelligence. Mr. Faraez Reza’i, Akbar Aghdasi, and Ahdollah Fazli, are three former members of the local administrative body of the Baha’is in Urumiyeh and have been summoned to appear in the above Bureau today, May 25, 2009. It is not clear what has prompted the authorities to call them in for questioning, but it is likely that this event is a continuation of pressures applied to Baha’is of Semnan and Mashhad to provide a statement that they would not participate in Baha’i activities. [Source: http://hra-iran.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1137:45435&catid=84:502&Itemid=219. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]