[...] of its largest religious minority – the Baha’is? Have any questioned the current “Apostasy Bill” that places even more severe restrictions on religious freedom in Iran? Have any denounced [...]

I though the Koran states that “there should be no compulsion in religion”?

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Some argue that the holy verse “There is no compulsion in religion.” (Qur’an 2:256) is superseded by the hadith “Whosoever changes his religion, kill him,” but the Holy Qur’an always carries greater weight than the hadiths. The Holy Qur’an also reminds us of its unified moral message from beginning to end: “Believe ye then part of the Book, and deny part?” (Qur’an 2:85) Yet, out of a boundless expediency, and from fear of Baha’i influence, the religious leaders have relegated the Holy Book to a secondary position of importance regarding this hadith, and have turned justice into its opposite. “O concourse of divines! Because of you the people were abased, and the banner of Islám was hauled down, and its mighty throne subverted. Every time a man of discernment hath sought to hold fast unto that which would exalt Islám, ye raised a clamour, and thereby was he deterred from achieving his purpose, while the land remained fallen in clear ruin.” (Baha’u'llah, Lawh-i-Burhán)

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It will one day be apparent to all involved as to what the persecution of the Bahai community has meant for our world.

Saddest of all is the fact that had the world’s leaders listened to Baha-u-llah’s wise counsels, many wars would have been avoided.

I still remember reading a phase from the Bahai writings, in which Baha-u-llah addressed the Kaiser, I believe, if memory serves me correctly, and you all can fact-check this, but I think He said He could even then hear the lamentations of Berlin, which became one of, or the most-bombed, city in the world, when you consider artillery shells, artillery rockets, air raids, etc. in World War II.

I wonder what lamentations we will hear in the future as further counsel of Baha-u-llah’s is ignored at the world’s peril.

I thank the Muslims for Bahai Rights for being so brave, despite disagreeing with our religion.

It shows such spiritual sustenance and love.

For my small part, which is minor in terms of my influence, I do what I can to promote protection of a persecuted Islamic minority, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

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Glenn Franco Simmons

19 March, 2009

In talking about Bahais, let us not forget Christians and Zoroastrians and Sufis and even Jews who have also suffered because of this repressive government.

In talking about Bahais, let us not forget Christians and Zoroastrians and Sufis and even Jews who have also suffered because of this repressive government.

Actually Sunni Muslims and the ethnic minority of Kurds have suffered much more than the Jews historically within Iran. Very few people realize what the Sunnis have gone through in the country, and very few actions were taken to try and protect them. The world talks a lot about the Jewish exodus in Iran but what about the Sunni one? They were also abused and executed, their properties taken away from them, for decades, but not a single community or government stood by them through the abuse and as a result many have fled to other countries.

It’s unfortunate that members of my extended family have also gone through this in Iran – but we have yet to see any justice.

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Apostasy is renunciation of belief, specifically in this case belief in Islam.

But I didn’t believe in Islam until I became a Baha’i. In fact, since becoming a Baha’i, I’ve dedicated much of my life to the vindication and defense of Islam in my own country.

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