The news was met with much enthusiasm by Baha’is not only in Iran - the land where the faith was born - but throughout the world.

A comment posted in the Radio Zamaneh website (Persian) attributed a further clarification to the Ayatollah.

‘Right of Citizenship’ is a general term, and its limits should be defined according to public customs and the constitution of which the majority are approving. However, if any person is trying to be the enemy of country’s people, or cooperate with external enemies [of the nation] and their cooperation is proved in a credible court, they must be punished. And their citizenship is not a barrier to the law being enforced. And attention should be paid so as the youth do not get trapped by their malicious propaganda; and if doing business or having companionship with them works as a mean strengthening their position, it should be avoided.

The full text of the translated response can be read here.

GVTV is a dynamic, educational platform, co-created by Baha’is and Muslims working hand in hand to cultivate an interfaith community.

For the past few months, we have been working diligently on this initiative, in hopes that it would contribute to improving and advancing serious interfaith.

We realized that in many forums, in the process of interfaith, the Baha’i Faith, Yezidi faith, and many other religions are left out. This community aims to change that.

Please help us spread the word about GVTV. The growth and success of this project relies on your support and participation!

www.globalvillagetv.org

Baha’is in Shiraz are subjected to systematic persecution by a group that calls itself Sarbazan Gumnam Imam Zaman (the unknown soldiers of the Lord of the Age). On the 17th of March Baha’i living in Shiraz received accusing Baha’is of being infidels and spies for infidel. The letter (translated from Persian) further threatens him and 8 other Baha’is with public execution.

Therefore, in accordance with the research conducted by the Sarbazan Gumnam [the Unknown Soldiers] of the Imam Zaman, established in the city of the martyred at the altar, Ayatollah Dastghayb, you and eight other infidels [i.e. Baha’is] are condemned to revolutionary execution which will be soon carried out publicly.

Two days later, as he was opening the door of his car, he was approached by a man with a gallon size container, asking him for fuel for his vehicle. After providing the man with gas from his tank, the Baha’i (whose name is withheld) was surprised to find himself overtaken by two men.

[They carried] me to a nearby tree where they chained me and secured it with a lock around my neck. They then poured gasoline all over me.

The first person quickly went to his car and got in. The second person struck a match and threw it towards me. But it did not light. The second match died when struck. The third match struck my clothes and extinguished. The fourth and final match fell near my foot and while it was lit, I put it out with my shoe.

At that point, he too ran away and got into the car and together they disappeared.

After his numerous requests for help from passersby were ignored, the man managed to reach for his cell phone and call for the emergency services. Half an hour later, the police arrived and he was taken to the station a report was filed.

According to RTTNews:

Iran has sentenced three members of the Bahai faith to four years in jail and 51 others to suspended prison terms in the southern city of Shiraz for propaganda against the Islamic Revolutionary system, a judiciary spokesman said, without giving details.

The authorities said the defendants were proselytizing in the southern city of Shiraz under the cover of helping the poor when they were arrested early last year.

Helping the poor is apparently propaganda!

This is horrible and deeply threatening news for the Baha’i community in Iran. Our thoughts and prayers are with these innocent prisoners and their families.

It is imperative that we Muslims, Baha’is, Christians, Jews all alike protest this great injustice that has occurred in the name of interfaith, tolerance, justice, and coexistence. Please do what you can to spread the word and help out.

Prof Lewisohn wrote:

In February 2006, I wrote a detailed report to scholars who subscribe to this list about destruction of the Ni‘matullahi-Gunabadi Hosseiniyya (Sufi Center or Khanaqah) in Qom, Iran. I described how on Feb. 13, 2006, a vigilante mob, abetted by the baton-wielding police of the Islamic Republic of Iran, seized, burned down and then bulldozed this Sufi prayer and meditation center, arresting hundreds of dervishes and wounding many demonstrators in the process. Unfortunately, that attack has proven to be but one in a series of ongoing attempted pogroms of Sufis in the Land of the Ayatollahs. The most recent attack took place a month ago in Borujerd, a city in the province of Loristan in the west of Iran, where some 1000 followers of the Gunabadi branch of the Ni‘matullahi Order currently live.

On November 4, 2007, an irregular armed, vigilante gang of thugs sponsored and funded by the fundamentalist, Islamicist regime, known as the Basij-i Mostaza‘fin (nicknamed ‘Basiji’), along with the state security services, attacked the center of this same group of Sufis in Borujerd. After pillaging all its possessions and furnishings, they burned it down. Some 70 people were injured and more than 150 dervishes or dervish sympathizers were imprisoned.

It may be useful to know something of the historical background to this event. Since 2005, several prominent exoteric clerics (‘ulama) in the city had been delivering sermons against Sufism, haranguing the populace about the evils of the Sufis, branding the Sufi mystical tradition in Islam as a dangerous heresy and aberration of faith. They incited their followers to destroy the Sufi Hosseiniyya (Khanaqah) there. In late October 2007, a conference on the greatest Muslim Sufi poet Jalal al-Din Rumi (d. 1273) of Iran, sponsored by the Institute of Philosophy in Tehran, was held in Tehran and Tabriz. A week after the conference the influential fundamentalist ideologue Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani issued a statement describing Rumi’s poetry as being full of “perverted and misleading ideas and against our principles [i.e. of the fundamentalist brand of Shi‘ite Islam propounded by the religious ideologues of the Islamic Republic of Iran].” The Hamshahri newspaper in Tehran furthermore reported him as saying, “I condemn this conference and its organizers… Its content comprised much dangerous innovation (bid‘at), including things such as listening to music (sama‘) and dance… Everyone should feel shame before the Imam of the Age that such a conference has been convened [in Iran].” Unfortunately, Ayatollah Safi belongs to that select group of mafioso clerics known as ‘Sources of Religious Emulation’, the pronouncements of whom, however outrageous, theologically biased and theosophically misinformed they may be, no one dares criticize, for to do so is to risk losing one’s job, or being blacklisted as an anti-revolutionary, or face imprisonment, or worse. I was in Tehran during the same week that Sign-of-God Safi’s comments were published so am a witness that none of the distraught organizers of the conference (friends of mine) dared raise their voice in the media to try to directly refute this mullah in order to expose the rank barrenness of literary and intellectual culture beneath his large turban. Safi’s characterization of Rumi’s Sufi poetry as being “dangerous innovation,” of course, provided just the right ammunition that the ideological enemies of the Ni‘matullahi Sufis needed. A few days later after Safi attacked Rumi, the Ni‘matullahi-Gunabadi Sufi center in Borujerd was appropriately razed to the ground—without, of course, hardly a word of protest at this religious vigilantism being voiced in the media. The psychology of this behaviour Rumi had described quite well incidentally: “The passional soul carries a rosary and the Holy Scripture in its right hand, but has a dagger and a sword up its sleeve.” (Nafs ra tasbih u mushaf dar yamin/ khanjar u shamshir andar asetin). (Mathnawi, III: 2554)

It should be emphasized that the Ni‘matullahi Order is the largest Sufi Order in Iran, with the members of all its various branches currently suffering persecution at the hands of the fundamentalist regime. The background, history and various details underlying this fresh assault on the Persian Sufi tradition, which are discussed and analysed by news-sites and other links in English and Persian, are provided below:

http://www.majzob.com

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20071112_Sufi_site_attacked_in_Iran.html

http://WWW.30morgh-121.blogfa.com

http://WWW.soofee.blogfa.com

http://gonabadie-news.blogspot.com

http://soltanalishahi.blogspot.com/2006/02/blog-post_08.html

http://WWW.darvishan.info

This resolution expresses concern about the overall situation of Human Rights in Iran, referring the status of several religious and ethnic minorities. The specific situation of the Baha’is is mentioned twice.

The European Parliament reminds the world that “members of the religious community of the Baha’is cannot exercise their faith, are exposed to severe persecution and deprived of virtually all civil rights (e.g. property rights, access to higher education), and whereas their religious sites are being vandalised”

This Resolution “Calls on the authorities to respect internationally recognised legal safeguards with regard to persons belonging to religious minorities, officially recognised or otherwise; condemns the current disrespect of minority rights and calls for minorities to be able to exercise all rights granted by the Iranian Constitution and international law; further calls on the authorities to eliminate all forms of discrimination on religious or ethnic grounds or against persons belonging to minorities, such as Kurds, Azeris, Arabs, Baluchis and Baha’is; calls in particular for the de facto ban on practising the Baha’i faith to be lifted;”

Full text of the resolution in English:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2007-0488+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN

The same organization, which aims at bringing about a “democratic and secular republic” in Iran, on 8 October 2007, issued a similar proclamation in English which reads as follows ( http://www.iranrepublic.org/ ).

Quote begins:

We condemn discrimination against the Baha’i’s in Iran.

We demand recognition of the Baha’i’s by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Based on the news disseminated by the International organization of the Baha’is and Baha’i students, the officials of ministry of Higher Education in charge of the Entrance examination for Post Secondary Education in Iran, in an unprecedented move have deprived hundreds of Baha’i applicants from accessing the results of their examinations. Based on this report, after visiting the ministry of higher education website, these students have learnt of the ministry’s claim that their documents were incomplete. Some of these students tried without success to contact the responsible individuals at the ministry to find out why their test results were not available. Based on the report of Human Rights Watch there are 800 students in this situation. The report of Human Rights Watch indicate that two students have stated that after contacting the ministry it was evident that their beliefs were the cause their inability to access their test results. Another student had been told that high ranking officials of the ministry have ordered that the examination of Baha’i students not be evaluated. One student has said that an official suggested to him that should his family deny their connection to the Baha’i faith, he would be able to get his test result.

Over the past 30 years, persecution and harassment of the Baha’is have been the common practice of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Being a Baha’i in itself is considered an offense and Baha’is in Iran have been subject to prosecution by the Islamic government. The rulers of the theocracy in Iran do not recognize the Baha’i faith as a minority religion. The followers of the faith have consistently been treated with extreme enmity and aggression and been accused of sacrilegious.

United Republicans of Iran demands that all forms of discrimination based on gender, religion, ethnicity and race is renounced by the government of Islamic Republic. Our organization is an advocate of equal opportunity for all regardless of gender, race, religion, and ethnicity.

We demand an end to the persecution of the Baha’is and recognition of this faith as a minority religion in Iran.

End of Quote.

News item dated 5 October 2007 follows:

A Baha’i from Tanzania - where different religious communities live peacefully together - testified yesterday before the United Nations General Assembly on how to promote religious understanding.

Addressing an informal hearing on “Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace,” Mitra Deliri said that in her country, “large Christian and Muslim populations live side by side, intermarry and celebrate each other’s religious festivals.”

“It is a living example of religious pluralism,” she said. “This coexistence did not come about by accident but rather as a result of the vision and deliberate action of Tanzanian leaders, dating back to the country’s first president…,” she said.

Ms. Deliri, who represented the Baha’i International Community at the two-day hearing, also said it was important for governments to create a climate where freedom of religion or belief is clearly upheld in law and in practice.

“Such a climate must be free from incitements to violence or hostility in the name of religion,” she said. “Where contentious opinions about religions are expressed, it is the responsibility of the state to provide for right of reply.

“As a minimum standard, both sides must be afforded the right to respond in a peaceful and legal manner so as to allow the public to arrive at their own conclusion. It is in this climate that understanding and cooperation can take root,” she said.

She recommended a number of strategies for promoting interreligious and intercultural understanding. They included establishing a universal, mandatory educational policy and curriculum on religion and education and using the news media to promote respect, prevent conflict and achieve increased social cohesion.

Ms. Deliri was among approximately two dozen representatives of nongovernmental and religious organizations from around the world who addressed the General Assembly yesterday.

Other speakers, for example, included Paul Knitter of the Union Theological Seminary in the USA, Gamal I. Serour of the International Islamic Center for Population Studies and Research at the Al Azhar Centre in Egypt, Sohan Lal Gandhi of the Anuvrat Global Organization in India, Fatima Ahmed of Zenab for Women in Development in Sudan, and Steven Rockefeller of Earth Charter International in the United States.

The hearing on interreligious and intercultural understanding was scheduled to continue today with a high-level dialogue among governments.

The Baha’i Faith, with its belief in the oneness of humanity and the oneness of religion, has long promoted religious harmony and supported interfaith dialogue and activity.

End of News item.

The worldwide Baha’i community has lost its most distinguished member with the death of Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa.

He passed away on the evening of 22 September 2007 at his home in Haifa.

Some information about Dr. Varqa’s background:

Dr. Varqa came from a well-known Iranian family that has served the Baha’i Faith with distinction for generations. After obtaining a doctorate from the Sorbonne in Paris in 1950, he taught in Iran at the universities of Tabriz and Tehran and served the Baha’i community there in various administrative capacities. In 1979 he moved to Canada, and later established his residence in Haifa to serve at the Baha’i World Center.

He was born in 1911 in Tehran, Iran, and received his name from ‘Abdu’l-Baha in memory of his grandfather, who had been killed for being a follower of Baha’u'llah.

We would like to express our deepest condolences to Dr. Varqa’s family, friends, and admirers. May God rest his soul in peace.

Translation: Formation of a Muslim Group in Defense of the Rights of Baha’is

Na’im Sobhani
BBC-Persian, Washington

For the first time on the internet, a group of Muslim youth has established a site called “the Muslim Network for Baha’i Rights.” This site closely monitors the conditions of Baha’is in Egypt and Iran.

That a group of Muslims—made up social activists and liberal students from Arab countries—has exposed the plight of Baha’is is seen as a significant development by human rights advocates.

“The Muslim Network for Baha’i Rights” is not based in any specific country, nor does it have an office or staff.

This internet group has made known its goal of attaining civil rights and basic freedoms for Baha’is in the Islamic and Arab worlds.

On their website, they closely follow and discuss all the latest news on the Baha’is in the Islamic world.

The founder of this internet project is Esra’a Shafei, young woman from Bahrain.

Esra’a states that she is a believing Muslim and has no connection with Baha’is. However, as a Muslim, she believes it is necessary to respect the rights of this religious minority.

This Bahraini student added that she has purposefully named the group “Islamic” to attract the attention of Muslims.

However, this step has stirred a great deal of debate. According to Esra’a, “They ask me why I am doing this? Why are you working against your own religious identity? They even accuse me of being a traitor and a Zionist. 70 percent of the reactions I have thus far received have been of this nature.”
Esra’a, who is only 20 years old, adds that such reactions will not dissuade her. She states that she closely follows the condition of Baha’is in Iran and Egypt.

It is believed that there are some 500 Baha’is in Egypt.

In the 1960s, their religion was declared illegal by order of Jamal Abdul-Nasser, the former president of Egypt. Until this day, Baha’is are considered “apostates” in Egypt.

The Iranian constitution also refuses to officially recognize the Baha’i religion—one of the largest non-Muslim minorities in this country. The Baha’is of this country face extensive limits on work and education.

The founder of “the Muslim Network for Baha’i Rights” believes that most people in the Arab world know very little about the Baha’is: “When I talk to my friends about the Baha’i faith, they tell me that it is a satanic religion. I ask them to provide me with one of the principles of this religion, but they have no answer. Some think that the Baha’is are a sect of Shi’i Islam which is also a mistake. They don’t know anything about it, but they are nonetheless suspicious of its followers.”

This Bahraini youth is convinced that the most successful societies in the world today are those which—notwithstanding the diversity of religions and ethnic groups within them—are able to preserve their unity and respect the rights of their minorities.

John Wall, a professor of Islamic history at Georgetown University in Washington DC, agrees with this view. But he believes that in an age of globalization, one can’t affix the label of religious minority to any one religion: “In this day and age, everyone is considered a minority. Even Christians, who constitute the largest religion in the world, are a minority in certain countries. Muslims are the majority in the Middle East, but are considered a religious minority in Europe. Sunni Muslims, for instance, face difficulties in attaining permission to establish mosques.”

Mr. Wall provided a positive assessment of the fact that a Muslim group has for the first time taken up the problem of Baha’i rights. According to him, the efforts of individuals such as Esra’a, a Bahraini student, can help in promoting human rights and inter-faith dialogue in the Middle East.