By george wesley dannells on Feb 23, 2009 in All categories, Mentions
As has always been the case, the persecution of Baha’is simply increases the visibility of the Faith, serving to introduce that many many more people in the world to the Message of Baha’u'llah. I doubt that is what the Government of Iran was intending to have happen when they arrested the seven Baha’i “Friends of Iran” and then decided to put them on trial. How much more difficult their actions against the Baha’is makes it for the Iranian government to achieve respect among the community of nations. -gw
Several leaders in the Baha’i faith — that other other other other Abrahamic monotheism — have been charged in Iran with espionage and other crimes, with possible death penalty exposure. These were generally seen as pretext charges for a broad official chronic program of persecution. The charges are regarded as probable pretext most especially because Baha’i have little access to secrets, being denied official employment, and also because the alleged country of espionagery, Israel, is naturally going to have relatively extensive ties with the Baha’i leaders because the city of Haifa, Israel is the site of the Baha’i Vatican. The Baha’i world headquarters have been situated there because that religion’s founding family settled there in early 20th century Palestine around the time of the British Mandate’s start, and after exile from Iran/Persia where they and the faith had originated.
http://www.aqoul.com/archives/2009/02/bahai_anxiety_s.php
Let me clarify things before I begin. This is a conversation I had with my friend who is a Baha’i. First and foremost, I was and I am still a Christian and a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, I find it a responsibility both as a Christian and a thinker to understand the other religions and beliefs. …
Philosopher: If you were asked to sum up your faith in a simple sentence, what would that sentence be?
Teacher: Baha’i Faith is a world religion whose purpose is to unite the people and races of the world in one common Faith, one universal Cause.
http://jamesesz.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/what-is-the-bahai-faith-a-little-insight/
Across the state Saturday, some of the estimated 500 Baha’i who live in Connecticut were joined by others at prayer vigils across the state in support of the seven members of the faith who are scheduled to go before Iran’s revolutionary courts any day now. The jailed Baha’is were arrested between March and May last year and face lengthy prison terms, or even the death penalty, if convicted of their alleged crimes.
We meditate for the earth’s oppressed on the day of the Tibetan New Year, February 25. For them we chant, Om Ah Hung. We remember those whom the world has forgotten. We remember the sufferings of Buddhists in Tibet, of Baha’i in Iran, of Christians in China, of Palestinians and Jews in the troubled lands of Gaza, Israel and the Left Bank of the Jordon. We remember all who suffer in Dafur, Zaire, the Sudan. We remember the sufferings of New Orleans. We ask that you would here remember those whom you hold in your own heart. Hold them in silence, or speak their names….
http://yourradiance.blogspot.com/2009/02/om-ah-hung-tibetan-new-year-feb-25.html
In separate statements, German Chansellor Angela Merkel and European Union expressed deep concern about the fate of seven Baha’i leaders who were arrested months ago, facing charges of “acting against Iran’s national security” and “spying for Israel.”
Merkel’s spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm quoted the German chansellor, saying that the detainees have not been informed about their charges and have no access to defense and a fair trial. “This would negatively affect Iran’s relations with the international community.” (For a detailed report in Persian, see Radio Farda’s report).
http://www.djavadi.net/2009/02/21/world-concerned-about-iranian-bahai-leaders-fate/
nadia_rasidi: @rainnwilson wrote a piece on Baha’i persecution in Iran, do read it: http://tinyurl.com/cjatu8 (expand). As a Muslim, I’m deeply concerned by this. 1 day ago from web · Reply · View Tweet ·
azizhp: at City of Brass: Baha’i persecution in Iran http://tinyurl.com/bzfxfy (expand) about 10 hours ago from twitterfeed · Reply · View Tweet
parhame: Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi on harassment her legal work is facing in IRAN http://ad.vu/e4v7 as well as defending the Baha’i 7. about 5 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet
