Message from the Universal House of Justice concerning Baha’i rights in Iran
December 29th, 2007 by Admin The following message is from the Universal House of Justice, it’s beautiful, refreshing, and very encouraging. Please do read it. For your convenience the letter, which was published on the 25th of December, is also available in PDF format, one in English and the other in Farsi. You may find the links below the letter:
To the followers of Baha’u'llah in the Cradle of the Faith
Dear Baha’i Friends,
For the past three decades you have weathered storms of persecution with the heartfelt conviction that such tribulations are, ultimately, “the precursors of that Era of blissful felicity which is to incarnate God’s ultimate purpose for all mankind.” Religious and government authorities, who have always been the instigators of the cruelty meted out to you and your forebears, continue to deny you your God-given rights. They prohibit you from responding to the calumnies they spread about you and your beliefs while maintaining a climate of intimidation that severely threatens those who would come to your aid. Throughout, the international community and your fellow Baha’is from around the world have come to your defense. But now, justice-seeking, fair-minded Iranians from every walk of life in your homeland and abroad have begun to raise their voices in your defense and, in growing numbers, want to know the truth about the Faith.
Across your nation, in cities and towns, from neighbourhoods, schools, and university campuses, business establishments, government offices, and even from prison cells, more and more of your well-wishers are coming forward. School administrators, teachers, parents, and pupils have registered their outrage at the shameful treatment of young Baha’i school children; friends and neighbours have refused to allow government officials illegal entry to Baha’i homes; university students and faculty members have publicly and privately asserted their disapproval at the wrongful denial of access to higher education to Baha’is; civil servants have responded sympathetically to your efforts to secure your rights; journalists have displayed frustration at their inability to publish the truth of your case, and there are indications that enlightened clergy are willing to see your situation redressed.
Elsewhere in the world, where there is freedom to do so, Iranian intellectuals frequently express anger and dismay at your treatment; Iranian mass media recount your story and demand that the civil rights of all Iranians be safeguarded; countless members among the Iranian Diaspora sympathize with you, laud your courage, and seek to learn more about the principles that animate your lives.
To these are now being added Iranian organizations of civil society within and outside Iran, as well as a number of Iranian political parties. In this respect, in a recent development, certain political parties have publicly expressed concern over the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran, in one instance calling for the Baha’i Faith to be officially recognized as a religious minority. The Baha’i International Community, on behalf of the Baha’is worldwide, has formally conveyed appreciation to two such groups for their actions.
These are fate-laden days. The storms of tests and trials continue, but however dark clouds may be, they cannot dim the light appearing on the horizon. In response to such propitious developments, may you, with “fixed resolve and perfect confidence,” and avoiding involvement in partisan politics, seize every opportunity to join your fellow citizens in promoting ideals conductive to the prosperity of your cherished homeland, assured of our supplications at the Sacred Threshold that your noble endeavors may be richly confirmed.
Letter in PDF, English version
Letter in PDF, Farsi version
[…] The Muslim Network for Baha’i RightsArticle: Message from the Universal House of Justice concerning Baha?i rights in IranOriginaly Posted On: 2007-12-29 […]
If I couldn’t get any more than this from the administrative head of my religion, I’d go Moslem. It is like a game: the UHJ encourages the Iranian Baha’is to go “normal” and essentialy, be nice Moslems. To be nice Moslems who expect real Moslems to put away their entire religion and culture and pretend to be Baha’is! Then the Moslems arise again against the Baha’is, and again our noble UHJ pens a vapid and lengthy missive, the sole purpose of which is to make the UHJ look good. They send it to bigwigs and activists around the world, thinking they will thereby appear wise and in control (of something).
How many Iranian Bah’ais will read it? What kind of danger will they put themselves in when they do? Why does the monster of MtCarmel keep asking for more and more blood? Shoghi Effendi, who they are pledged to obey, stated that today is the day of the living martyr, that he did not call upon the Baha’is to shed their blood for the Cause. Since they are so hungry for it, let the men of the “House of Justice” shed their own!
No communication from the “Universal House of Justice” has brought anything but misery to the people of Iran. If the Iranian Baha’is had access to a free press they would soon see their true role in the Baha’i “world order.” If the “House” would actually practice “justice,” instead of trying to look like the nine fools on the hill, a real peace would be emerging.
Several years ago after a spate of persecution, the UHJ advised the Baha’is to stay in Iran and essentially show their friends and neighbors that they were nice guys. A few Moslems were civil to them, but the smart Baha’is got out. The others stayed, in primitive blind obedience to their masters They’re paying for it, again. Someday those Baha’is will meet the nine on Mt.Carmel. It will be an interesting event when finally the story is told.
Ms. Walker is a disaffected ex-Baha’i with no first-hand knowledge of the work that the Universal House of Justice and the Baha’is of the world exert on behalf of their Baha’i brethren in Iran and elsewhere. She also does not know the work of the Baha’i International Community regarding human rights. Ms. Walker is completely incorrect in her statements about what Shoghi Effendi said. He stated that western Baha’is will be living martyrs for their Faith; he did not state that there would be no more people who would be placed in a position where they were offered the choice to recant or die. Does she believe it is better to recant? It is not the Universal House of Justice demanding the blood of Baha’is; it is the fanatical mullas of the Islamic Revolution. This is a classic case of blaming the victims for the acts of the oppressors. Ms. Walker should be ashamed for defaming the honored Universal House of Justice, the loyal and faithful Baha’i community, and most of all the long-suffering Baha’is of Iran
How has the Universal House of Justice asked Baha’is in Iran to be “good Moslems”? This makes no sense at all. In fact, in recent times, Baha’is in Iran have become even more straightforward in teaching their Faith to their neighbors and friends and fulfilling their duties as Baha’is. Had the Baha’is all left Iran, what recourse would the community ever have to reclaim the holy places unjustly taken from the Baha’i community - including a prescribed site of pilgrimage?
The Baha’is in Iran respect and love the head of their Faith. Many of them have met the nine honored men who serve on it, as have I. Ms. Walker’s venom diminishes her.
Hi Nancy, concerning your comment:
Hopefully many Iranian Baha’is will read it, as it gives them the strength and courage to deal with the IRI’s aggressive abuse of their human rights. There is nothing wrong with this letter or with its authors; their message is merely to empower and strengthen Baha’is in Iran throughout the most difficult times. Please be respectful of what Iranian Baha’is are suffering through. It’s inhumane to treat others like this and it’s even worse to justify or dismiss it, or to attack any efforts of comfort this minority.
Nancy Walker and a few others like her are, as Bill said, completely oblivious to reality when it comes to the UHJ. Its easy to bark from the protection of your own country. If at any point she had an inkling or attraction to the Baha’i Faith and its humane principles it has been trumped by ego and malice.
The best thing we can do is to pray for this person, Nancy Walker. It reminds me of the time that Baha’u'llah was being dragged toward the black dungeon in Tehran and an elderly Muslim woman approached Him with a rock in hand. The guards aimed to stop the woman from hitting Baha’u'llah. But, Baha’u'llah told the guards to let the women hit Him for she believed she was performing a religiously meritorious deed. That they should not deny her the desire of her heart. Thus, Baha’u'llah gave us Baha’is another lesson to use in instances when His Faith and His Institutions are attacked. Instead of responding in-kind to this person, we must pray for her.
For many years I was expecting this to happen, to see that my fellow country men would raise their voice in opposition to the conducts of our government and the religious authorities. To seek justice for the citizens of their country who have chosen to adhere to a new belief, to exercise their God given free will and decision to break free from what was regarded as the established norm. And now that people of good will are realizing that the time has come for them to establish their honor by honoring others, and to proclaim that pursue of justice for Baha’is and all other minorities is the reflection of their own true faith or the corner stone of their values. I am great fully delighted that my beloved House of justice share these news firstly with the followers of Baha’u'llah in Iran the cradle of the faith and at the same time let the rest of the Baha’i world know that the sacrifices of my loved ones in Iran and their dedication and steadfastness is being seen and felt by many in such a way that they are moved to act and rise to set the affairs right and let justice prevail.I am humbled and my love for the Universal House of Justice deepen in my heart as I contemplate upon the blessings that is so clear and manifest. One must read this correspondence again and again in the light of many events and phenomenons that surrounds us. here I must express my thanks to the editor of Muslim’s Net work for allowing all to read this letter and express their views. Every one is entitled to their opinion and i hope that they will do so respectfully. Behrooz
I just want to thank you for having this website. As a Baha’i woman who belives in unity and that we are all the same. It just brought tears in to my eyes to see some Muslims care about us…(thank you)