The Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights » Exodus

Interview with family of Farhang Mavaddat, a Baha’i executed in Iran in 1981

Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:37:17 +0000

The Plano Star recently conducted an interview with the wife and son of Farhang Mavaddat, a Baha’i who was executed with two other members of the Tehran Local Spiritual Assembly on trumped-up charges of espionage and insulting religion in 1981. In the interview, Farhang’s wife, Mehri, described the inhumane conditions that her husband was held in. During her short visits to Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, where her husband was confined, she witnessed the filthiness of the quarters and heard about the overflowing rooms, where prisoners had to take turn in lying down. During that time Farhang was tortured and pressured to recant his Faith.

On June 23, the day the three Baha’is were hanged in Tehran, the regime brought in other Baha’is to witness the execution. The misery for the Mavaddat family didn’t end there. Only two months after the body was returned to the family and buried in a Baha’i cemetery, it was completely destroyed. Mehri, herself a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly was arrested, interrogated and asked to identify other Baha’is. After she managed to post bail, she spent several months in hiding, and in 1982 escaped from Iran.

Mass exodus of Egyptian Baha’is from Sohag province

Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:47:23 +0000

Egyptian daily “Al Masry Al Youm” reported a mass exodus of Baha’is from the southern province of Sohag. This comes days after residents of Showraniya (a village located in Sohag province) burnt down the homes of 5 Baha’i families.

Baha’ism followers in Shuraniya Village, Sohag, carried out a mass fleeing to Cairo after the village set fire to five of their homes, Al-Masry Al-Youm has learnt.

An official security source, who declined to be named, said the Baha’i homes have been put under security guardianship after their residents fled to Cairo. Sohag is home for 182 Baha’is, said the source.

Another source said the Baha’is 13 years ago took Shuraniya Village as a foothold to spread their ideologies as initiated by a man named Abdel Sami’e Sayed Abul-Ela and his brother Ahmed. They co-opted many followers, patricianly from the villages of al-Kabir and al-Sa’aydah.

Shuraniya, a small isle in the middle of the Nile, turned into barracks. Tight security was imposed, and the village inhabitants were banned from entering or exiting.

The media was also banned access to the village. 16 police cars, 6 armored cars and 4 fire engines were at the site, plus scores of secret policemen.

A meeting was held between Maghagha Local Council head and some policemen and leaders of influential families, who said the presence of Baha’is in the village was unacceptable by many.

Al-Masry Al-Youm visited the apartment of a Baha’i in al-Zahra’a area only to discover that he left it two days ago at dawn, according to the story told by the villagers. It also visited another two families in Husni Rashed area but they declined to talk.

Some Shuraniya people said Baha’i followers have good relations with all people in the area and were in good terms with everybody. They also said everybody should remain free to embrace whatever faith they want.

Meanwhile, 11 persons from Shuraniya were released after they were arrested on charges of attacking the homes of Baha’is one day before the fire. Some Baha’i followers and 6 human rights organizations yesterday lodged a request, calling on the Public Prosecutor to immediately look into the attacks on their houses in Sohag.

Columbian remembers religious persecution in Iran

Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 06:44:27 +0000

This article originally appeared in “Columbia Missourian”

Sahba Jalali, a Columbia optometrist, was only 12 when his house in Iran was burned down because his family practiced the Baha’i faith. It was 1978, and the revolution was under way.

The Baha’i faith was founded in Iran in the 19th century by Bahá’u’lláh. Baha’is believe in the unity of all religions and humanity. According to the Baha’i faith, Bahá’u’lláh is a manifestation of God, but practitioners also believe that all founders of major religions (Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, etc.) were manifestations of God, each one fulfilling the need for their particular time and place.

The Iranian Revolution began in January 1978 and, after the overthrow of the monarchy headed by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, ended in December 1979 with the founding of an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini. Today, Iran and the U.S. continue to gain an understanding of religion in each country and the role it plays in daily life.

Shortly after the revolution began in 1978, Jalali and his family moved to Columbia because he had an aunt here. She had sent a letter to the family inviting them to stay with her if anything bad happened in Iran.

Jalali is part of a Baha’i community that meets weekly in Columbia; the group is relatively small when compared to mainstream Christian faiths. He has never faced opposition to his faith in the United States, which is one of the many reasons he is grateful to be living here.

“If anything I have trepidation for my friends in Iran who are stuck there and I feel for their suffering… but here I got to go to public schools, graduate high school, get a university education, go to graduate school, set up practice and have people in the community support my business,” Jalali said.

The Jalali family was living a comfortable middle-class life in a brand new home in Iran when the revolution started. Within three short days, a group of Baha’is had been systematically identified and 300 of their houses were burned down. The Jalalis’ house was one of the first 50 to be destroyed.

Jalali and his mother, a high school teacher, were at home because of demonstrations by radicals at the schools when the destruction began. Waiting with suitcases for a relative’s driver to take them to safety, Jalali looked outside his front door and has never forgotten what he found.

“I see these neighbors of ours just literally dumping stuff in the trunk of the car… and I’m seeing neighbors driving about 60 mph with their carpet and their belongings on the roof of the car, just speeding by like crazy,” he said.

A neighbor, seeing Jalali, said, “Mrs. Jalali, are you still home? Oh my gosh! They’re coming!”

“When someone said ‘They’re coming,’ you don’t need an explanation of who, what, when, where, or why,” he said. “It’s, ‘OK, they’re coming to get us and our houses’… and my mom and I had no transportation.”

A neighbor eventually offered the Jalalis a ride. Sahba and his mother, unable to carry the heavy suitcases, left all of the family’s possessions behind.

“Literally all my mom did was grab her purse and I grabbed my brother’s toy box and we ran out of the house,” he said.

Jalali and his mother reached safety in a relative’s house and were joined by Jalali’s father and younger brother. Jalali’s home, along with his grandmother’s and his uncle’s homes, was torched that day.

“I think if the demonstrators had not torched our house and destroyed it, I don’t think my parents would have readily left Iran,” Jalali said. “I’m really grateful that they burned the houses because if they hadn’t, my uncles and my parents would have been killed.”

“They (the new government) took my father’s pension away. They took everything that he had worked for, including our brand new house, away. There was not much more they could do to him other than kill him,”Jalali said.

A 2003 International Federation of Human Rights report about religious discrimination in Iran showed that Baha’is continue to face systematic discrimination.

“Since the revolution in 1979, Iranian Baha’is have regularly had their homes ransacked or been banned from attending university or holding government jobs, and several hundred have received prison sentences for their religious beliefs, most recently for participating in study circles,” the report stated.

Also, according to the report, the Iranian government divides its citizens into four categories: Muslims, Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians. The Baha’i faith, which is the largest minority in the country, is not included, and Baha’is are therefore considered second-rate citizens and are classified as “unprotected infidels” by the authorities. They have no legal protection.

Since Baha’is are not even considered full citizens in Iran, they obviously are not allowed to participate in politics. They can neither vote nor be elected. However, Baha’is can become “full” citizens if they deny their faith. This is forbidden, according to the writings of Bahá’u'lláh.

Jalali said he believes most Iranians are open-minded, with only a small minority causing the problems.

“I, as an Iranian Baha’i, have very warm feelings towards the Iranian friends that I have and toward my country. I understand that the government is cracking down on people of my faith so that’s between that government and God, it is not between me and them.”

Even after experiencing the destruction of his family’s possessions and even with the knowledge that Baha’is face continuous abuse from the government, Jalali has faith that the situation in Iran will eventually get better.

“I hope that change will happen in Iran that is good for the long-term health of the nation, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Iranians are smart people and they know what they need to do, but right now they live in a lot of fear,” Jalali said.

Jalali has not been back to Iran. He is not only concerned about his personal safety, but does not want to aid the Iranian government in covering up its abuse to Baha’is. While the government is arresting and possibly torturing leaders of the Baha’i faith, they are also leaving Baha’i visitors alone, Jalali said. Recently the Iranian government went to the UN and gave documentation of thousands of Baha’is safely coming into and leaving the country as proof that there are no human rights issues in Iran, Jalali said.

“Essentially they are facilitating Iranians coming into and leaving the country but yet, in other areas, they are heavily cracking down and making it very difficult,” he said. “I don’t want to give them one more name they can turn in.”

In a situation that most people would call tragic, Jalali sees God’s loving hand in the destruction of his home because if it had not happened, his family would have stayed in Iran, endangering their lives and freedom.

Interview with Egyptian Baha’i on upcoming verdict

Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:41:55 +0000

The denial of ID cards to Egypt’s Baha’is has rendered them virtually non-existent. In a few hours, the first of two final verdicts on whether Baha’is in egypt will be able to obtain ID cards is set to be delivered.

Minorities across the world have started blogging in order to document the hardships they experience and raise awareness on their plight, and the past years has seen an explosion in Egyptian Baha’i blogs. One of the most prominent is “Baha’i Faith in Egypt”, and its author has kindly agreed to a brief interview:

You’ve been actively blogging about the situation of Baha’is in Egypt, along with many other Baha’is within Egypt. In your opinion, what has the impact of these blogs been? Do you believe that they have created a difference?

Blogs have been successful in making the case of the persecuted Baha’is of Egypt known to the entire world. They provide main stream media outlets with ongoing updates and information on the struggle of the Baha’is. Even government agencies and human rights organizations around the world have found the blogs useful as a grassroots source of information and updates. Because of blogs, human rights violations are no longer hidden…they are immediately exposed and the world’s reaction to them is prompt. This is a whole new phenomenon as far as information exchange is concerned, the larger impact of which remains to be realized.

Given the mixed signals that have come from the Egyptian government, many believe that it is not committed to protecting the Baha’i minority, and is simply trying to silence Baha’is, activists and critics. What is your opinion on that?

Since I do not have direct insight into the government’s mind, there is no way for me to make such judgment. I do, however, hope that the government’s motives are sincere and intended to protect the rights of all its citizens. When one considers the conflicting interests, opinions and motives within the Egyptian society, one can understand that the authorities are confronted with various challenges that might require keeping a certain balance in decision making. This, however, should never supersede the need to protect minorities and ensure the preservation of human and civil rights for all citizens regardless of belief, social status or any other diversity factor.

How has the Baha’i community in Egypt been affected by the closure of Baha’i institutions and the banning of Baha’i activities?

This presidential decree (263) of 1960 has led to, among many other consequences, the loss of official recognition of the Baha’i population of Egypt. It contributed to all their current difficulties and the loss of their civil rights in their own homeland. It dissolved their administrative structure. It confiscated all their properties and contributed to the departure of numerous Baha’is from Egypt. It caused Baha’i families great financial losses and drop in their social standing. It deprived them from holding their formal devotional and holiday services. It caused the recurrent imprisonment of many innocent Baha’is. It created a class distinction and deprivation of educational and employment opportunities. It de-legalized their marriages. Additionally, the lack of an administrative structure contributes to the inability of the Baha’is to engage in formal negotiations with the government in their quest to obtain their rights. Also, a census of the Egyptian Baha’i population cannot be performed because of the lack of administrative structure.

How do you expect opponents of the January 29 ruling to react should the final ruling be in favour of Baha’is? Do you fear there could be serious repercussions for the Baha’is of Egypt?

I would hope that all Egyptians come to the understanding that they are all “humans” who deserve to be guaranteed all their rights and that their dignity is protected. These are basic needs for any human being. Those who oppose the Baha’is of Egypt, if they truly come to adhere to their own spiritual and religious teachings, must come to terms with these facts: people of Egypt must be all equal regardless of who they are and what they represent.

Overall, is Egypt moving towards embracing coexistence and tolerance, or do you see the opposite occurring?

I would leave this up to Egypt to answer!

Escaping the persecution

Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:25:45 +0000

The following article is excerpted from a news story that appeared in ‘The Sault Star’. Decades of abuse and denial of denial of basic rights such as education have forced many Iranian Baha’is to leave the country, and the exodus continues to this day.

The knock came in the night, shortly after the launch of what became known as the Iranian Revolution.

The year was 1979. The Islamic majority in Iran had driven out the Shah, welcomed the Ayatollah Khomeini from exile and voted to re-establish the country as an Islamic theocracy, their god firmly at the centre of all aspects of life.

The Mogharrabis were not of that majority, but of Iran’s largest religious minority — and many would argue its most persecuted — Baha’i.

“We wouldn’t have anticipated any problems because we had nothing to do with politics,” said Mahin Mogharrabi, now 79, about that night in her Tehran home.

The two young members of the Revolutionary Guard were looking for Mahin’s husband, a retired army officer — specifically, for the gun they were sure he had hidden in the house.

“We told them there was no gun. They said that was impossible,” she said in rapid Persian from her comfortable Sault Ste. Marie home this week. She was speaking through her son, Dr. Mehran Mogharrabi.

They ransacked the house until 2 a.m., finding nothing. They left with a warning to her husband: “From now on you report to the Revolutionary Guard headquarters anytime we summon you.”

Followers of Baha’i had already been told they would lose their pensions. Followers had lived with persecution since the faith was founded in the former Persia only a century earlier — but the revolution was of another order entirely.

The nine elected members of the National Spiritual Assembly, which runs the administrative affairs of the religion in place of a clergy, one day were simply all arrested and never heard from again. An uncle, a noted cardiologist and member of the assembly, was one of them.

First Mahin’s husband went into hiding. She stayed in the family home another couple of months, to care for her elderly parents, but they eventually insisted she leave as well. She found refuge with a childhood friend, and ventured out only intermittently to meet with family and friends, disguised, ironically, in the Islamic chador that was now required of all Iranian women.

After six months, her husband found a smuggler and made his way to Pakistan, then Spain, from where he called and told her to get out now. “My situation was worse than my husband’s. I was a woman, alone, and, worse, I had no money.”

Terrified and penniless, she managed to get money from her brother-in-law in California and made contact with a smuggler “with a good reputation.” The sum he extracted was enormous — both financially and emotionally.

At first, a “nice car” picked her up and a couple of other political refugees and brought them to the smuggler’s home in Tabriz, the capital of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. They hunkered down for a week, when suddenly the smuggler announced they had to move.

“He told us we had to move very light, to bring nothing with us.”

He led them to a swampland they waded through for a couple of hours, whereupon they came across some horses. “We said, ‘Where’s the car?’ There was no car. I had never experienced horse-riding in my life.”

She reluctantly mounted the saddle-less horse. “It was very, very hard. It seemed the horse knew I had no experience — it was galloping. I asked the guide what would happen if I fell. He said, ‘Nothing. You would die. We would leave you here.’”

Chuckling at the memory now, Mahin says she began to whisper in the animal’s ear, “and then surprisingly the horse became a little bit more calm. I was crying and talking to the horse all day.”

Night fell and they arrived at a filthy, freezing cave. The guide had brought some dirty blankets the four hapless people initially refused but were soon begging for. He also produced yogurt, which they were obliged to eat with cupped hands.

The next morning they again mounted their horses, exhausted and dying of thirst. The guide kept urging them on, pointing to the horizon where he promised water waited for them. It was a mirage. At one point Mahin spied some brackish liquid in the dust and greedily scooped it into her hands — horse urine.

The interminable ride finally ended several kilometres from the Turkish border, where the guide “took the horses and said, ‘You’re on your own. Keep walking.’” The spent quartet presented themselves to Turkish police literally trailing blood, their shoes completely torn apart from the trek.

Mahin would reunite with her husband two months later, and in 1982 the National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’i sponsored them to come to Canada.