ba.jpg

Iran's Bahai leaders "sentenced"

Seven receive "20 years each"

(BWNS) — The Baha'i International Community has received reports indicating that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders (Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm) have each received jail sentences of 20 years. The two women and five men have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 – six of them on 14 May and one of them two months earlier. "If this news proves to be accurate, it represents a deeply shocking outcome to the case of these innocent and harmless people," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations >>>

09-Aug-2010
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Hoshang Targol

طاهره قره العین

Hoshang Targol


  طاهره قره العین

قره العین زنی صاحب قلم، شاعر و سخنران بود. آلوسی ، مفتی بغداد در ترجمه ی حال او می گوید: "من در این زن فضل و کمالی دیدم که در بسیاری از مردان ندیده ام. او دارای عقل و استکانت و حیا و صیانت بسیار بود." بعد از حادثه ی تیراندازی به ناصرالدین شاه، در سال ۱۲۳۱ خورشیدی ( ۱۸۵۲ ) در حالی که فقط ۳۶ سال داشت، به دستور شاه و وزیرش در باغ ایلخانی کشته شد. قره العین در ایران نخستین زنی بود که به خلاف رسم و عرف زمانه بی حجاب در برابر مردان ظاهر شد و با علما و رجال به بحث و مجادله پرداخت. اکثرآثار نظم و نثر قره العین از میان رفته است و فقط تعدادی نوشته های پراکنده و نامه به خط خودش برجای مانده است. چند غزل نیز از وی باقیمانده است. نمونه ای از آثارش: گر بتو افتدم نظر چهره به چهره رو به رو/ شرح دهم غم ترا نکته به نکته مو به مو/ از پی دیدن رخت همچو صبا فتاده ام / کوچه به کوچه، در به در، خانه به خانه، کو به کو/ دور دهان تنگ تو، عارض عنبرین خطت/ غنچه به غنچه، گل به گل، لاله به لاله، بو به بو/ می رود از فراق تو خون دل از دو دیده ام/ دجله به دجله، یم به یم، چشمه به چشمه، جو به جو/ مهر ترا دل حزین بافته بر قماش جان/ رشته به رشته، نخ به نخ، تار به تار، پو به پو/ در دل خویش"طاهره" گشت و نجست جز ترا/ صفحه به صفحه، لا به لا، پرده به پرده، تو به تو/


Nabil Rastani

What has our country become?

by Nabil Rastani on

Nabil A Rastani

As a Bahai I am very disheartned to hear this news.The Islamic republic has gone a step to far,especially due to the fact that Iran was once a great country that was just to all people during the Achaemenid empire


i am a bahai too

Tahirih's (Qurratyl Ayn) - A Poem for Mr. Targol

by i am a bahai too on

Look up! Our dawning day draws first breath!

The world grows light! Our souls begin to glow!

  

No ranting shaykh rules from his pulpit-throne

No mosque hawks holiness it does not know

  

No sham, no pious fraud, no priest commands!

The turban’s knot cut to its root below!

  

No more conjurations! No spells! No ghosts!

Good riddance! We are done with folly’s show!

  

The search for Truth shall drive out ignorance

Equality shall strike the despots low

  

Let warring ways be banished from the world

Let Justice everywhere its carpet throw

  

May friendship ancient hatreds reconcile

May love grow from the seed we sow!”

 

 - Táhirih (Qurratyl Ayn) 1817-1852)

Translation: Jascha Kessler

  


Hoshang Targol

Ms/Mr Faryarm

by Hoshang Targol on

Thanks for your informed commentary, and my apology for sloppy, inaccurate description of the Bahai faith.

I should have mentioned that Babian/Bahaism, began as a branch of Islam, but it has evolved into a world religion.

What has always been fascinating for me, is the history of this faith, especially its origins, not only the movement Babian, but also various individuals who were actively involved in it, people like Tahereh aka Ghorat ol ayn, and such. Hopefully you and other members of the community will inform us/ post some of their works in here, especially works of Tahereh

It's just amazing that some 160 years ago in Iran we had such progressive, forward looking people's movement, truly a world class social phenomenon. If this sounds exaggerated, or too nationalist to folks( in my old age I guess I have become a bit of a cultural-nationalist) I challenge them to do a litlle reserach, and see for them selves, what  advanced social movements we have had in Iran,160 years ago. Only in Iran!

 


Rea

Is it official now,

by Rea on

.... or is it just reports "indicating" ?

If it is official, then, it's terribly sad. But not surprising, though.


I despise fascists and stalinists

Where is Elahe Enssani?

by I despise fascists and st... on

My question is to Ms. Enssani who attended IRI's recent farce event. Did she ask Mr. Ahmadinejad about this when she was bending over before him?


Bavafa

Shameful act and IRI must stop this apartheid system

by Bavafa on

They must stop persecution of all minorities, Bahaii in particular. Mehrdad


faryarm

New Self Declared Bahais In Iran; One Example of "2 million"

by faryarm on


  نوشته شده توسط سپهر (غیر عضو) در تاریخ Wed, 08/26/2009 - 01:51 بهایی شدم و بهایی میمانم !

پسری هستم 17 ساله.
3 سال است که با خانواده ام به دیانت جهانی بهایی روی آوردیم.
مسلمان بودیم.ایرانی هستیم.از ردیه ها عاشق به یزدان یکتا و پروردگار شدیم.
نه تبلیغ شدیم و نه دوست بهایی داشتیم.ولی 1 چیز من وا خانواده ام را به این دین پاک و بدور از شر و ظلم کشاند.
ردیه ها !
با خواندن یک ردیه در 14 سالگی همه چیز در ذهنم شکل گرفت!
بشر محتاج بروز شدن است ! نسل من نیز محتاج همین امر است.
اگر میگویید ما فرقه ظاله هستیم ! اگر میگویید پیرو یک اصوله ساختکی هستیم و باید از بین برویم ! شما حتی به کوچکترین اصل حقوق مدنی و انسانی هم احترام نگذاشتید ! هر کسی با هر فکر و عقیده ای مقدس و محترم است ! این از ابتدایی ترین اصول حقوق بشر است ! چذا تخریب ؟ چرا اخراج پدرم از کار ؟ چرا توهین و بیرون شدن از کلاس درس ؟ چرا سیلی معلم ؟ چرا اجازه ندادن برای نشستن در کلاس قرآن ؟
یک جواب برای اینها بدهید ! خدا بعد از محمد (ص) و امامانش جانشینی برای وکیل بودن خود انتخاب نکرد که من رو از کلاس پاک قرآن بیرون بندازه!
میگویید بهاییان با خواهر و برادر خویش ازدواج میکننند ؟ هنوز در جهالت کامل به سر میبرید ! پس به این سوال من جواب دهید ! من که خواهر ندارم چه کنم ! حتی اجازه خواندن یک کتاب در مورد علم ژنتک و ساختار DNA رو به خودتون ندادید ! چرا که اگه برادر و خواهری با هم ازدواج کنند از نظر علوم DNA فرزند آنها 100% عقب افتاده یا ناقص بوجود میاد مگر یک مورد آن هم اینکه جهش ژنتیک داشته باشند !!!! این در حالی است که میزان عقب افتاده های جسمی و عقلی در بهاییان بسیار کمتر از دیگر ادیان است ! خدایا چه کردی که یک پسر 14 ساله نه تنها خودش بلکه خانواده اش را به دیانت پاکت کشاند ! نمی دانم ! یک نفر مثل من که آن زمان 14 سال بیشتر نداشتم عاشق پروردگارش میشود با ردیه ! یک نفر هم بعد از 50 سال حاظر به شنیدن حرف حق نمی شود ! میدانم که از کلاس 36 نفری درس قرآن 34 نفر خواب یعنی چه ! خدا خودت هم خوب میدونی ! هرگز خلقت نتواند از قدرتت بکاهد! چرا با عقل 13-14 ساله و ناقص من جور در نمیومد که خدا انسان را زیبا بیافریند . به او قدرت اختیار دهد . او را اشرف مخلوقات کند و بعد در آتش جهنم بسوزاند !؟ خدایی که پاک است . خدایی که زیباست . خدایی که زیبایی ها را دوست دارد. اگر تعصب دارید نخوانید چرا که با سنی ها هم مشکل دارید چه برسد به ما ! به امید حق !


Sharon Park

Religious Freedom

by Sharon Park on

To believe in a religion (or even not to believe in any religion) is a fundamental human right that no one anywhere should have restricted.  My ancestors came to America centuries ago just for that very right to freedom of faith and conscience.  When I lived in Iran back in the early 1960's, the Baha'is had more freedom then and were greatly admired for their honesty, charitable works and high levels of education.  When will this community again be allowed to live freely and contribute to the progress of Iran?  How long must they wait before receiving this most basic of human rights?  When will the people of Iran, of all faiths, arise to protect the rights of these steadfast people?  I hope to read soon that this nightmare of suffering is over.


faryarm

Mr Targol, Thank you...

by faryarm on

Thank you for your considerate comments regarding the unjust plight of Bahais In their homeland.

With regard to your comment:

"... frankly I have always considered Bahai's just as another Islamic sect ( very contemporary, tolerant and educated, but an Islamic sect nonetheless) "

With respect;

Do you also consider Christianity as a sect ? and Christianity as a sect of the Jewish Religion?

You may not be aware of this but clearly, as your further reading will show that Egypt became the first Islamic state to legally recognize the Bahá'í Faith as an independent religion apart from Islam[43] and creating two cemeteries for the Bahá'ís - one in Cairo and the other in Ismaïlia.

The Most Recent among the World's Religions

Baha'is believe in the Oneness of God. This leads them to believe in the Oneness of Religion, the "changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future." In this sense, the Baha'i Faith is related to all past religions. Its roots however, are in the religion which immediately preceded it, Islam. This relationship is analogous to that between Christianity and Judaism. This has led sometimes to the inaccurate perception of the Baha'i Faith as a sect of Islam.

It should be stated that the Baha'i Faith , unequivocally, and without any hesitation, teaches and asserts the divine origin of Islam.

The Baha'i Faith however, has its own Founder (Baha'u'llah), its own holy Books, and its own laws and principles.

The independent nature of the new Faith was first proclaimed during the Conference of Badasht in 1848 when a group of the followers of the Bab (the Herald of the Baha'i Faith), gathered in the hamlet of Badasht in North East Iran to discuss the nature of their new Faith.

As the new religion first spread in countries predominantly Muslim, many of it's followers maintained the strong ties they had with their Muslim families and friends.

Objections, however, often arose in those countries to many of the everyday life observances such as marriages and funerals which were conducted according to Baha'i laws. Because of these objections, Baha'is for example were refused burial in cemeteries which belonged to followers of other religions.

Resulting from one such case, the highest religious court in Egypt, confirmed in 1925, the decision of one of the lower courts, and officially declared the Baha'i Faith as a separate and independent religion which (according to the court) could not be reconciled with what followers of Islam, of the different schools of thought, believe in:

"The Baha'i Faith is a new religion, entirely independent, with beliefs, principles and laws of its own, which differ from, and are utterly in conflict with, the beliefs, principles and laws of Islam. No Baha'i, therefore, can be regarded a Muslim or vice-versa, even as no Buddhist, Brahmin, or Christian can be regarded a Muslim or vice-versa."

It follows that both Baha'is, and the Islamic court agree that the Baha'i Faith is not a sect of Islam.

With regard to your link and suggestion; Is it not always best to get the most accurate and reliable information from the source?

regards

faryarm 

 

 


Anis Cyrus

justice

by Anis Cyrus on

A N I S

Soon the present leaders of Iran will be brought to justice and they shall answer for 31 years of shameful acts and violence of all kinds towards the Baha´i community. Their deed are all registered world wide. They may think in vain that the details of their doings may be forgotten. soon .soon.


Bahram G

Disgracing Islam

by Bahram G on

It is this kind of horrific actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran that disgraces Islam. No one can believe the rubbish charges against the Seven Yaran. They functioned as volunteers to serve the religious needs of their beleaguered community. Spies? Rubbish. The desperate hateful exploiters of the name of Islam have always invoked imaginary internal and external enemies to rally the populace in support of their misguided and parasitic life.

It is precisely this form of atrocity that makes many pose a choice to people of the world: Islam or liberty and justice for all. Make your choice.

It pains me to see these innocent people, after being incarcerated for over two years, be sentenced for 20 years of imprisonment. Where is justice? Where is humanity? The fanatics running Iran know only their greedy and beastly interest and they do not hesitate to inflict all kinds of atrocities on even their own co-coreligionists if that serves their vile interests.

Shame on these villains. Let us all arise and do whatever we can to put an end to this miscarriage of justice as well as those visited on all the innocent people rotting in the dungeons of these beasts.

Bahram G


divaneh

Shameful equality

by divaneh on

This is an example of equality in Iran where the regime rations its injustice equally between Bahais and the rest of the society. It is deplorable. Taking 20 years of someone's life to satisfy the prejudices of some worthless low lives who are suffering from the highest degree of ignorance.

Unfortunately conversion by force and torture is the way of Islam.


Ruhi

Shame,shame!

by Ruhi on

Oh God forgive these cruel and ruthless regime and deal with them with Thy merciful justice!


Ali Najafi

We Deserve Dignity

by Ali Najafi on

This is another example of the terrible injustices that the clerical regime  commits against its own citizens. If the mullahs want the love of the Iranian people than they should stop treating their own citizens with hatred and cruelty. Iranians should not be treated as enemies by their own government.

After all of these years, the Iranian nation -- Muslim, Baha'i, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, agnostic, and atheists --deserve to be treated with justice, dignity, wisdom, honor, joy, and compassion by the government.

I dream of the day when the Iranian government looks after the rights of all of its citizens. A day when beliefs and religion will not be used to divide society and incite hatred. A day when women will have all the opportunities that men enjoy. A day when Iran will ensure the rights of its ethnic minorities. A day when Iran will, by the power of her example and actions, be an example of justice, tolerance, and human dignity.


Sargashteh

Yaran

by Sargashteh on

I am proud of Yaran and how they stood up to pressure.


hamsade ghadimi

...

by hamsade ghadimi on

truly shameful. what else one would expect from this regime?


tehran e Azad

IRI

by tehran e Azad on

marg bar asle velayate faghih!!!

 


Hoshang Targol

"Islamic Republic" just don't get it,

by Hoshang Targol on

for the past 32 years they have done everything in their power to crush Bahai's and all other religious, national,... minorities(  Sunnis, Jews,Baluchis, Arabs,...) and the net result has been an exact opposit of what they had planned for: persistence and actuall growth of these oppresed communities. Talk about the principal of unintended consequences. Such draconian, utterly unjust sentences will only strenthen the resolve of the Bahai's, and all freedom loving Iranians to free their loved ones.

As a non-Bahai ( I guess I would qualify as an agnostic) frankly I have always considered Bahai's just as another Islamic sect ( very contemporary, tolerant and educated, but an Islamic sect nonetheless). Having said that, I also strongly belive that it is the duty of all freedom loving Iranians -,regardless of how  they feel, or  think about religion, or Bahais, or...-, to defend our Bahai sisters and brothers, and organize for their immediate and unconditional release.

P.S.

Couldn't leave this note without mentioning:

1) Prof. Aramesh Dostar,author of

امتناع تفکر در فرهنگ مذهبی ، ملاحضات فلسفی در دین و علم- بینش علمی و دید علمی ،...  his works are probably the most trenchant critiques of contemporary Iranian culture and politics. Highly recommended. 2) A gem of historical and cultural documents at //www.babieh.com/ happy reading.

OUR Bahai compatriots shall be free!


Mona 19

7 Baha'is transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison In Karaj

by Mona 19 on

ادامه خبر

مونا

 

 


bottled-banana

Sad news

by bottled-banana on

As a Bahai it is extremely distressing to hear that these people are to be incarcerated another 20 years for the crime of wishing to have the freedom to practice their beliefs.

I hope one day all victims of injustice and mistreatment in Iran, and not just Bahais, will be able to come out of the dark era of repression and intolerance and live in a country where Human Rights and freedom are cherished.

Parvaneh jaan, I don't know where you get your figure of 2 million Bahais from! This is not something I've heard myself. But regardless, let's redouble our efforts to help secure the release of these people and other victims of injustice languishing in jails in Iran.


ramin118

One Again, We Can See That Justice is a Joke In IRAN!!

by ramin118 on

It is very easy to call someone a spy.

How about actually proving the facts?

These innocent people did not even get a fair trial!!

May God help them!!

 


Anonymouse

Shame. I hope they get released soon w/ international support

by Anonymouse on

Everything is sacred


Parvaneh A. Farid

My name is Parvaneh....dare to spell it right!

by Parvaneh A. Farid on

My real name and your fake name shows already a biiiiiiig difference between you and I Nadeem Khan!

I am a Ruhi graduate, so are millions of Iranians and other citizens in the world, in that they learn facts and inner realities of life, believe me a Ruhi course would do good to you. 

It is very insensitive to make joke about 20 years imprisonment, how would you feel if you knew a member of your family would be in prison for the next 20 year? I think more than anything else we need to become sensitive to each other's pain, this is really not a joke, a fact, yes, one which sound quite unbelievable.

If you were not an IRA it wouldn'thave hurt you as much as it did. I am sorry for your pain, I really am. Remedy your pain with learning about the innocence of these 7 people.


faryarm

Although there is no way to estimate ...

by faryarm on

Although there is no official or tangible way to estimate the increase  in the number of new believers; the regime's brutal response and action against the Bahai community is a good sign of the fear in the heart of those who fear the influence and spread of Bahai Faith , amongst the general population,  a new generation of the well aware, the educated youth who have the lost faith in the IR's version of "religion", but not in the search for truth and meaning.

more about this later... 

 


i am a bahai too

Heartbreaking!

by i am a bahai too on

This is just heartbreaking! Our prayers will not cease, our remembrance of their sacrifice will not diminish. The cause of justice will not be halted, not for a single heartbeat. The Yaran are heroes to Baha'is across the world.

I don't doubt that what Parveneh is true. If it were safe to be a declared Baha'is in Iran the figure of 300,000 would rapidly increase, simply because the Baha'i Faith is so much like the true, beautiful Islam, only progressive and modern. This Faith has the capacity to bring so many diverse peoples together in love and harmony and it threatens no one.


nadeem khan

2 million ;-)

by nadeem khan on

Great ! Pharvooneh your comment is a proof that you are a 'Ruhi Graduate'.

Why cry then if it is good for the Baha'i Cause and Iranians. Lets celebrate this jail term as it is going to promote the 'Baha'i Cause' and in a very short time whole of Iran will be Baha'i. Only the Politicians will remain moslems because Baha'is are not allowed to take part in politics.


Parvaneh A. Farid

The Iranian government should know

by Parvaneh A. Farid on

The Baha'i community has always proudly said that there are 300,000 Baha'is in Iran and that they live as the largest minority.

Ever since the imprisonment of the 7 Baha'i leader the number of Baha'is in Iran has increased up to two million and it has been increasing daily. This doesn't surprise me that the government of Iran is worried! Keep being worried, this number is increasing and no one can stop this! 7 individuals  2 years imprisonment has made one million 700 hundred new believers, I leave the rest of the calculation for the highly educated Iranian officials.

 


Anita

اسناد؟

Anita


١٦٠سال از اعدام سید علی محمد باب در تبریز میگذرد. این اسنادی که جاسوسی و وابستگی بهایی ها به انگلیس اسراییل و امریکا را ثابت میکند کجاست؟؟

 

 «هر ذلتی را تحمل توان نمود مگر خیانت به وطن و هر گناهی قابل عفو و ومغفرت است مگر هتك ناموس دولت و مضرّت ملّت» -عبدالبها
 ( گلزار تعالیم بهایی، ص 45)

 


it1344

محکومیت یا محبوبیت

it1344



امید است خداوند دیده‌ای بینا به شما بخشد که شاید بتوانید ثمرهء این پایمال کردن حقوق مردمان را ببینید و صدای ضجّهء ندامت خویشتن را به زودی بشنوید 

//negah9.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/محکومیت-یا-محبوبیت/