Wednesday, August 01, 2007
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN EGYPT
Nina Shea, Vice Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has recently presented a Briefing on “Religious Freedom in Egypt: Recent Developments” before the Task Force on Religious Freedom Of the United States House of Representatives. The Commission's Annual Report was published on 2 May 2007. The section on Egypt is on pages 203-211 of the report. The testimony was presented by Ms. Shea on 23 May 2007.
As the briefing went into great details in describing the violations of religious freedoms of the various minorities in Egypt, and because of the known focus of this blog, this post will point mainly to the sections of the briefing where it mentioned the crisis currently facing the Baha'is of Egypt.
In the introductory paragraphs it states: "...These violations include continued prosecution in state security courts and imprisonment of those accused of “unorthodox” Islamic religious beliefs or practices, including those who are not militants; discrimination against, restrictions on, interference with, and harassment and surveillance of members of non-Muslim religious minorities, particularly Christians and Baha’is, by the Egyptian state security services...."
Later on it states: "...Under the Emergency Law, the security forces are given license to mistreat and torture prisoners, arbitrarily arrest and detain persons, hold detainees in prolonged pretrial detention, and occasionally engage in mass arrests. Thousands of persons have been detained without charge on suspicion of illegal terrorist or political activity; others are serving sentences after being convicted on similar charges. Non-Muslim religious minorities, particularly Christians and Baha’is, report discrimination, interference, harassment, and surveillance by these same state security services."
It also describes the specific issues facing the Baha'is in the following two paragraphs:
"Life in Egypt is particularly difficult for members of the Baha’i faith, whose institutions and community activities have been banned since 1960 by a presidential decree, leaving them unable to meet and engage in group religious activities. Over the years, Baha’is have been arrested and imprisoned because of their religious beliefs, often on charges of insulting Islam. Al-Azhar’s Islamic Research Center has issued fatwas (religious edicts) in recent years urging the continued ban on the Baha’i community and condemning Baha’is as apostates.
The Egyptian government’s requirement that religious affiliation be included on national identity cards especially affects the Baha’i community. Since only Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are protected under the Constitution, these are the only choices for religious affiliation, effectively preventing Baha’is from obtaining identity cards, which are needed for many basic transactions, such as opening a bank account, buying a car, or obtaining a driver’s license. There was a glimmer of hope in April 2006, when a lower Egyptian administrative court ruled that a Baha’i couple should be permitted to identify their religious affiliation on official government documents. However, this positive development proved short-lived, as the Interior Ministry appealed the ruling following the advice of religious authorities and some parliamentary members. A higher court suspended the original decision in May, creating a sense of insecurity in the Baha’i community. In December of last year, the Supreme Administrative Court ruling upheld the government’s discriminatory policy of prohibiting Egyptian Baha’is from obtaining a national identity card. When the Commission visited Egypt in July 2004, we met with representatives of the Baha’i community who expressed to us in very stark terms the ramifications for their lives in Egypt without identity cards—they would essentially be shoved to the perimeters of society and prevented from pursuing normal, everyday functions needed to sustain themselves."
Regarding Egypt's National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), the briefing states the following:
"On a positive note, the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), a government-appointed advisory body which was formed in 2003, has emerged as an important entity in Egypt. The Commission met with a representative of the NCHR just yesterday, and was encouraged to hear of some of its new efforts in addressing religious freedom concerns. In November 2005, the NCHR announced the formation of a sub-group, the “Citizenship Committee,” to focus on religious freedom issues. As a result, the NCHR’s 2006 annual report contained increased reporting on religious freedom concerns, including on the situation of Baha’is; problems facing Jehovah’s Witnesses; violence targeting Christians; and the need for the government to pass a law on the construction of new places of worship for all religious groups."
The briefing concludes with the following recommendations:
"The Commission has made several specific recommendations for U.S. policy which are included in our Annual Report, which was just released three weeks ago. I would like to highlight a few of those recommendations if I may.
The Commission has recommended the U.S. government should establish a timetable for implementation of political and human rights reforms; if deadlines are not met, the U.S. government should reconsider the appropriate allocation of its assistance to the Egyptian government. Finally, in the context of the annual congressional appropriation for U.S. assistance to Egypt, Congress should require the State Department to report to it annually on the extent to which the government of Egypt has made progress on the issues described here and in my written testimony.
The Commission also recommends that the U.S. government urge the Egyptian government to:
. repeal the state of emergency, in existence since 1981, in order to allow for the full consolidation of the rule of law in Egypt, but ensure that the emergency decree is not replaced by other legislation that allows security forces to continue such actions as arbitrary arrest, pro-longed detention without charge, and torture and other ill-treatment;
. remove de facto responsibility for religious affairs from the state security services, with the exception of cases involving violence or the advocacy of violence;
. repeal Article 98(f) of the Penal Code, which “prohibits citizens from ridiculing or insulting heavenly religions or inciting sectarian strife”; allow for full access to the constitutional and international guarantees of the rule of law and due process for those individuals charged with violating Article 98(f); and release Internet blogger Abdel Karim Suleiman and any individuals convicted under Article 98(f) on account of their religion or belief;
. implement procedures that would ensure that all places of worship are subject to the same transparent, non-discriminatory, and efficient regulations regarding construction and maintenance;
. repeal a 1960 presidential decree banning members of the Baha’i community from practicing their faith and ensure that every Egyptian can obtain a national identity card by either (a) omitting mention of religious affiliation, or (b) making optional any mention of religious affiliation;
. cease all messages of hatred and intolerance, particularly toward Jews and Baha’is, in the government-controlled media; and
. more actively investigate religious-based violence against Egyptian citizens, particularly Coptic Christians, prosecute perpetrators responsible for the violence, and ensure compensation for victims.
Conclusion
Mr. Chairman, only a few years ago, our government was an outspoken advocate of democratic reform and human rights in Egypt. Yet, in the past year or so, U.S. policy has shifted and there have been missed opportunities by U.S. officials to express publicly their concerns regarding religious freedom. The U.S. government has become seemingly reluctant to condemn developments in Egypt that clearly signal a backsliding in human rights protections. Yes, Egypt is an important country—to the United States and in the world today. Yes, the Egyptian government appears to be making great efforts to combat extremism; yet, these same security services that work actively against extremists seem unable—or unwilling—to find the perpetrators of extremist violence against religious minorities and hold them to account.
Egypt also receives a substantial amount of U.S. assistance. It is critical that our government hold the Egyptian government accountable for its policies and practices that violate the human rights, including religious freedom, of so many Egyptians.
Thank you Mr. Chairman. I welcome any questions that you might have."
IRANIAN BAHA'I STUDENTS SHUT OUT OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
NEW YORK, 31 July 2007 (BWNS) --
Iranian Baha'is seeking to enter Iran's
technical and vocational institutes have been effectively barred from
admission for the coming academic year, since the application to sit for the
entrance examinations leaves them with no option but to deny their faith,
which Baha'is refuse to be coerced into doing.
The Baha'i International Community learned recently that the 2007 form for
the entrance examination for undergraduate courses under the technical and
vocational education system indicates that only one box may be marked for
religion.
The applicant is given three choices - Zoroastrian, Jewish, or Christian -
and if none of the boxes is marked, the form explains, the applicant will be
considered Muslim. This is unacceptable to Baha'is.
"Under this system, Baha'is cannot fill out the application without a de
facto denial of their faith, which is against their religious principles,"
said Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal
representative to the United Nations.
"Accordingly, Iranian Baha'is will not be able to take this entrance
examination, and so they are effectively blocked this year from obtaining
technical and vocational education in Iran.
"Such a denial of access to education violates the internationally
established right to education, to which the government of Iran has agreed,
and reflects yet another facet of Iran's continuing persecution of the
Baha'i community of Iran," said Ms. Dugal.
The Baha'i International Community decries the government's actions not only
against Baha'i students - who are deprived of higher education solely for
their religious beliefs - but also against any other Iranian students who
are being denied access to higher education on clearly insupportable
grounds, such as for giving voice to beliefs or opinions that are not
officially endorsed, Ms. Dugal said.
Last autumn, after more than 25 years during which Iranian Baha'is were
outright banned from attending public and private universities, several
hundred Baha'i students were admitted to various educational institutions
around the country. This came about after the government stated its position
that the reference to religion on entrance examination papers to
nonspecialized universities and colleges did not identify university
applicants by their religion, but only gave the religious studies subject on
which they had been examined. This clarification was accepted by the
Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i
Faith.
The acceptance of Baha'i students at Iranian universities has, however, been
short-lived, Ms. Dugal said.
According to the latest figures from Iran, of the Baha'i students who took
the national entrance examination last year, ultimately some 200 were
admitted and enrolled. Over the course of the school year, however, over
half that number - at most recent count, at least 128 - have been expelled
as school officials discovered they were Baha'is. This has led observers to
conclude that Iran's statements last year were nothing more than a ruse
intended to quell international protest over the denial to Baha'i students
of access to higher education.
"This latest news about the registration form for technical and vocational
education only serves to further confirm that Iran continues to play games
with Baha'i students in their country, and that its promises of access to
higher education for them are hollow," said Ms. Dugal.
To read this news story in Persian, go to
href="http://www.bahai.org/persian/persecution/newsreleases/31-07-07">http:/
/www.bahai.org/persian/persecution/newsreleases/31-07-07
To view the photos and additional features click here:
http://news.bahai.org
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Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Persecution of the Bahá'ís
Iran
Recent Attacks against Baha'is in Iran
Background: Recent Attacks against Baha’is in Iran
June 2007
Reports and documents filtering out of Iran over the last six months indicate a widespread and calculated effort by the government to maintain and gradually intensify the persecution of Iranian Baha'is.
The evidence tells of continued efforts by the government to monitor and identify Baha'is; further incidents of abuse and discrimination directed at Baha'i students at all levels; stepped-up efforts to deprive Baha'is of their livelihood; and ongoing attacks on the Baha'i Faith in the official news media.
This summary focuses on the period from November 2006 to May 2007, citing a number of confirmed incidents that give ample evidence that the intentions underlying the 25 February 1991 secret memorandum from the Iranian Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council, which outlines a plan for the quiet elimination of the Baha’i community in Iran, remain in force.
Taken together, these incidents paint a picture of a government-led effort to make the Baha’is physically vulnerable, to instill in them social and occupational insecurity, and in general to create a climate of fear.
Moreover, this effort clearly seeks to disengage Baha'is from their friends and fellow citizens by generating suspicion and mistrust — even hatred — in the hearts of individuals in society at large, part of a larger effort to impede the social, economic, and cultural progress of the Baha'i community and to block its growth.
Amassing information on the Baha’is
Among the most worrisome trends over the last several years has been the emergence of evidence that the Iranian government is secretly working to identify and monitor Baha'is, an effort that some observers have compared the German government's effort to collect information on Jews at the beginning of the Nazi era.
Recent incidents include:
Evidence that efforts are being made in the school system to identify Baha’i students of all ages and the members of their families throughout Iran. As an example, the Security Office of the Education Department in Shiraz has circulated a form to be completed for all students “who belong to religious minorities and the perverse Baha’ist sect.” The form requires not only detailed information about the student and his or her parents, but also detailed information on all the student’s siblings. Under “Religion” are listed four options: “Christian; Jew; Zoroastrian; the perverse sect of Baha’ism.”
Read the form in English > Read the form in Persian >
Reports of attempts to obtain information through surreptitious means, such as people posing as journalists or questioning children playing in the street.
Baha’is who are known to the Ministry of Information are unrelentingly harassed to give personal information regarding other Baha’is.
Reports of stepped-up interrogations of Baha'is. In February 2007, for example, police in certain sectors of Tehran, and in Bandar Abbas, Muhammadiyyih, Shirvan, and Kirmanshah, began going to the homes and businesses of Baha’is and interrogating them at length regarding the members of their families, occupations, education, etc., sometimes in the guise of conducting a survey. Baha’is who were questioned in their places of business were also asked for their work permits, whether they owned the business, the number of employees and their relationships to each other. In two instances, Baha’is were summoned to the local police station for this questioning. In one case, when the Baha’is asked why they were being asked to participate in this “survey,” they were told: “We have our orders from the head office.” On another occasion the reason given was that the information would assist the authorities to solve any problem that would arise.
These incidents come after international human rights groups have expressed concern about previous documents regarding Iran’s effort to amass as much information as possible on Baha'is and their activities.
The most significant document on this effort was the emergence of a secret letter dated 29 October 2005 and signed by the Chairman of Command Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, instructing commanders of various state intelligence services, police units, and the Revolutionary Guard to "identify" Baha'is and “collect any and all information” about their activities.Read the letter in English >Read the letter in Persian >
Other documentation obtained by the Baha'i International Community on this effort to identify and monitor Baha'is includes:
A letter dated 19 August 2006 from the Ministry of Interior ordering officials throughout the country to step up the surveillance of Iranian Baha'is, focusing in particular on their community activities.
A 2 May 2006 letter to the Iranian Union of Battery Manufacturers asking it to provide to the Trades, Production and Technical Services Society of Kermanshah a list of members of "the Baha'i sect."Read English translation >Read Original Document >
Attacks against Baha’i schoolchildren
Baha’i schoolchildren continue to be subjected to severe harassment, vilification, and other forms of intense psychological pressure, as was first reported in April 2007.Moreover, a campaign appears to be under way to “educate” school teachers throughout the country about the Baha’i Faith by providing them with instruction and materials that perpetuate the gross falsifications of Baha’i history and teachings along the lines that have been traditionally been used in attacks on the Faith in Iran and that are currently being repeated in the propaganda disseminated through the mass media.
Specifically, on 23 April 2007, a group of high school religion teachers from 14 provinces visited a center for religious studies in Qom as part of their in-service training organised by the Ministry of Education. During this visit, they attended a two-hour presentation that was critical of the Babi and Baha’i Faiths.
On 14 and 15 May 2007, Iranian online news agencies (Ayandeh Roushan and Rasa) published an article reporting on the publication in Tabriz of an 85-page booklet and accompanying CD that provide an “Introduction to Baha’ism” for high school religious teachers. That article hints at a number of inaccuracies about the Faith and its history, such as the oft-repeated falsehood regarding the British and Russian colonial role in the Faith’s development and its current relationship to Israel.Read the article in English >
Denial of access to university education
After being admitted to universities in Iran last autumn for the first time in 25 years, Baha'i students have nevertheless been expelled in increasing numbers throughout the academic year as their religion has become known to school officials, evidence that the government’s policy of opening the doors to Baha'i students is nothing but a sham, designed to mislead international human rights monitors.
In February, the Baha'i International Community reported that of the 178 Baha'is admitted to universities this school year, at least 70 had been expelled.
As of 3 May 2007, that figure has risen to 104, meaning that more than 58 percent of Baha'i students admitted since the beginning of current academic year have now been expelled, solely on the grounds of their adherence to the Baha’i Faith.
Denial of means of livelihood
Over the past six months, efforts to deny Baha’is their means of livelihood have accelerated and have included the following tactics:
refusals to issue or renew business licenses;
closing Baha’i-owned businesses;
encouraging banks to close bank accounts of Baha’is and to refuse loan applications from Baha’is;
issuing instructions to chain stores and government offices to avoid purchasing from companies owned by Baha’is;
refusing to pay retirement benefits to Baha’is in private-sector employment in some regions of the country; and,
threatening private-sector employers against hiring Baha’is and harassing such employers to dismiss Baha’i employees.
For example, on 10 April 2007, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of a company was summoned to the office of the Information Ministry in Sanandaj and told that because the company had a Baha’i employee, it was going to be shut down unless it fired the Baha’i.
Dissemination of misinformation to incite the population against the Baha’is
Inflammatory material about the Faith and its adherents continues to be spread through the mass media.
Scurrilous attacks on the Faith are still appearing in “Kayhan,” one of the oldest and most influential newspapers in Iran. This daily newspaper is published by the Kayhan Institute and is currently managed by Hossein Shariatmadari, who is also the representative of the Supreme Leader at the Institute. Most recently, the newspaper carried on Page 1 the opening lines of an article titled “An Interview with a Person Saved from Bahaism.” This was the first installment in a series of interviews with Bihzad Jahangiri (his new Muslim name is Husayn Fallah) a former Baha’i who, along with Mahnaz Raoufi, his former wife, converted to Islam about 10 years ago. During the past year, “Kayhan” also ran a series of articles based on the so-called “memoir” of Mahnaz Raoufi, with the same intent — to “expose” the inner workings of the Baha’i community.
This 15 May 2007 Kayhan article is typical of these recent attacks. The article falsely implies, for example, that Baha'is have their marriage partners chosen for them and that Baha'is live together before marriage. It also misrepresents the number of Baha'is inside and outside of Iran.
For background about the attacks on the Baha'i Faith in the Iranian media, go to: http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran/mediaattacks
Desecration of Baha’i properties
Some Baha’i cemeteries have been vandalized over the past six months.
Denial of freedom of movement
Although, in recent years, some Baha'is have managed to obtain passports and to travel in and out of Iran with relative freedom, lately some Baha’is have had their passports confiscated when endeavoring to travel outside Iran. As well, some Baha’is, such as those who are involved in coordinating community activities on an ad hoc basis, have also been placed on “no fly” lists.
For example, the passports of the members of a Baha’i family were confiscated when they were at the airport en route to Kuwait. The official with whom they met about this matter told them: “You [i.e. the Baha’is] are all spies and we will not let you go abroad [to carry out] spying activities. We will take measures to stop you.”
Denial of access to legal process
Discrimination against Baha'is in the legal system continues to be a problem. In February 2007, for example, the Public Court of Justice in Falard decided not to hear a lawsuit “due to the plaintiffs’ belonging to the Baha’ist sect.”Read the judgement in English >View the judgement in Persian >
The harassment and intimidation of Baha’is and their non-Baha’i friends, including physical assaults.
Currently, there are four Baha'is in prison. As well, since March 2005, more than 120 Baha'is have been arrested or detained for short periods of time, ranging from several days to several months. All of these individuals are out on bail and awaiting trial on charges solely related to their religious activities.
Baha’is across Iran continue to experience an escalation in acts of personal harassment.
For example, a movement continues to target Baha’i households, which have been receiving intimidating and threatening notes, CDs and tracts aimed at refuting the claims of the Baha'i Faith. In some cases, these messages have been sent to all the members of a family, regardless of age. Many Baha’is have also received provocative text (SMS) messages on their cell phones. At first, the messages most commonly received were:
Do you know that you are being used by America to clear its way?
Do you know that your approach to “wisdom” in teaching your Faith means misleading others?
Those who respond rudely, we will ignore, as such responses are indicative of the real Baha’i morals. Those who respond politely, we will soon meet in person.
The tone of the messages has become more blatantly threatening. For example, last year messages included such statements as:
Baha’i Teacher = Foreign Infantry.
Baha’is, do you know that your cooperation with America makes the Muslims hate you and that they will take their revenge on you?
Baha’is, do you know that your cooperation with America at this time and under such sensitive conditions will cause the hatred of the Muslims and will have consequences for you?
On several occasions Baha’is being interrogated by government officials have been asked why they do not simply leave the country.
Individuals who wish to join Baha’is in their activities have been interrogated, insulted, and threatened.
Baha’i military trainees are subject to harassment.
A final incident of concern
Of special concern during the recent period is the news that two elderly Baha'i women were murdered by unidentified assailants in two separate cities in late winter 2007.
On 16 February 2007, Saltanat Akhzari, an 85-year-old resident of Abbas Abad, a dependency of Abadeh in Shiraz, was slain in her home. The following day, Shah Beygom Dehghani, a 77-year-old Baha'i, was viciously assaulted by a masked intruder in her home in Mohammadiyyeh, in the province of Isfahan. Mrs. Dehghani died on 7 March 2007. The two women are unrelated.
Both victims are elderly women who were alone at the time of the attacks, which occurred in their homes in relatively small towns, and each was brutally assaulted. The body of Mrs. Akhzari was found in her house with her hands and feet bound and her mouth gagged while Mrs. Dehghani was lured out of her house in the middle of the night and then savagely attacked with a lawn rake.
While the motive for these attacks remains unknown at this time, the Baha’is in Iran have indicated that the similarity between the two murders is alarming.
For more background on the persecution of Iranian Baha’is, go to The Baha’i Question
To view this update in Persian click here
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