Persecution of Bahais in Iran (column in The Northeastern)
Have we really come as far from the Holocaust as we would like to think? As we all know, Jews of the time were fiercely persecuted, executed and stripped of basic human rights.
Members of the Bahá’í Faith are living this reality in Iran and few people know it. The Bahá’í Faith was founded in Iran in 1844 and is a peaceful monotheistic world religion that believes in the unity of all religions, all peoples, all races and all mankind.
Bahá’ís have been persecuted since the inception of their religion. Beginning with the Iranian revolution of 1979, there was a new-founded vengeance for the Bahá’ís. Many had to flee for their lives to America, leaving behind loved ones unable or unwilling to travel.
However, many Bahá’ís still live in Iran, making it the largest minority religion in the nation and they are continuously challenged to this day. Then Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saw to it when he wrote the formerly secret memorandum in 1991 (discovered by the U.N. Human Rights Commission in 1993) making it legal to suppress the Bahá’í community of Iran.
Khamenei’s document is still in effect, denying Bahá’ís in Iran pension, employment, the right to inherit property and enrollment in university among other rights. As if this weren’t bad enough, the Iranian government began seizing and desecrating Bahá’í graves and holy places. Bahá’í citizens are also being arrested and detained for unknown reasons and lengths of time.
One thing I find very interesting, as a citizen of the United States, is when people often complain about the “lack of freedom” we Americans possess. This seems so ironic to me. The First Amendment itself is proof of this freedom. In Iran, for example, citizens aren’t allowed to speak out against their government at all.
I consider myself to be lucky to have simply been born here. It’s luck of the draw, really, where we end up in the world. I could just as easily have been in Iran and be fighting for my rights every second of every day, rather than sitting here in a cushy air-conditioned office writing about it.
Those of you reading this may be wondering why I’m even writing about this, why I even care; it’s because I find the subject to be very close to me.
I am a member of the Bahá’í Faith. And I am proud.
So for those of you who have gotten this far, I am asking you to take some time to think about our brothers and sisters in Iran.
My main point is this: we all have basic human rights. Just because these men, women, and children are not in our country does not mean they should be ignored. What is happening there is a travesty and a massacre.
July 25, 2009 is Global Day of Action through United for Iran, a non-partisan effort to stop all of the wrongful actions in Iran, not just to Bahá’ís. In honor of these noble men and women, step up and use your voice because they can’t.
For more information visit the United States Bahá’ís’ official page on persecution in Iran at iran.bahai.us. Also, go to united4iran.com for more information on July 25’s events. And for those of you on twitter, @BahaiUS.
e-mail Molly Turner at molly_turner90@yahoo.com.
Members of the Bahá’í Faith are living this reality in Iran and few people know it. The Bahá’í Faith was founded in Iran in 1844 and is a peaceful monotheistic world religion that believes in the unity of all religions, all peoples, all races and all mankind.
Bahá’ís have been persecuted since the inception of their religion. Beginning with the Iranian revolution of 1979, there was a new-founded vengeance for the Bahá’ís. Many had to flee for their lives to America, leaving behind loved ones unable or unwilling to travel.
However, many Bahá’ís still live in Iran, making it the largest minority religion in the nation and they are continuously challenged to this day. Then Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saw to it when he wrote the formerly secret memorandum in 1991 (discovered by the U.N. Human Rights Commission in 1993) making it legal to suppress the Bahá’í community of Iran.
Khamenei’s document is still in effect, denying Bahá’ís in Iran pension, employment, the right to inherit property and enrollment in university among other rights. As if this weren’t bad enough, the Iranian government began seizing and desecrating Bahá’í graves and holy places. Bahá’í citizens are also being arrested and detained for unknown reasons and lengths of time.
One thing I find very interesting, as a citizen of the United States, is when people often complain about the “lack of freedom” we Americans possess. This seems so ironic to me. The First Amendment itself is proof of this freedom. In Iran, for example, citizens aren’t allowed to speak out against their government at all.
I consider myself to be lucky to have simply been born here. It’s luck of the draw, really, where we end up in the world. I could just as easily have been in Iran and be fighting for my rights every second of every day, rather than sitting here in a cushy air-conditioned office writing about it.
Those of you reading this may be wondering why I’m even writing about this, why I even care; it’s because I find the subject to be very close to me.
I am a member of the Bahá’í Faith. And I am proud.
So for those of you who have gotten this far, I am asking you to take some time to think about our brothers and sisters in Iran.
My main point is this: we all have basic human rights. Just because these men, women, and children are not in our country does not mean they should be ignored. What is happening there is a travesty and a massacre.
July 25, 2009 is Global Day of Action through United for Iran, a non-partisan effort to stop all of the wrongful actions in Iran, not just to Bahá’ís. In honor of these noble men and women, step up and use your voice because they can’t.
For more information visit the United States Bahá’ís’ official page on persecution in Iran at iran.bahai.us. Also, go to united4iran.com for more information on July 25’s events. And for those of you on twitter, @BahaiUS.
e-mail Molly Turner at molly_turner90@yahoo.com.
posted by Molly at 9:46 AM
0 comments
