Open Letter to Iranians by Banned Baha’i Students

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Open Letter to Iranians by Banned Baha’i Students
by faryarm
22-Mar-2010
 


نامه جمعی از دانشجویان محروم از تحصیل بهایی خطاب به ملت شریف ایران

ملت شریف ایران

سلام. در ابتدا نیازی نمی دیدیم تا از عشقمان به ایران و ایرانی چیزی بگوییم اگر چه نیازی هم نیست. هر کسی که با بهاییان در ایران ارتباط داشته باشد بدون شک از عشق آنان به خاک سرزمینشان و هموطنان عزیزشان آگاه است اما به قول شاعر

قفس داران سکوتم را شکستند

دل دائم صبورم را شکستند

اما دیگر جای درنگ نیست. در کف قدرتمندان زورگو قلم جز به تحریف و افترا و استهزا نمی پردازد و کاغذ جز سیاههی تعصب و نفرت و خود کامگی نیست. قلم و کاغذ را تو عزیز هموطن باید بدست بگیری چون توعاشق آزادی هستی، توعاشق این هستی که از عشق و محبت بگویی. هموطن، قدرت فکر و قلب تو از هزار سلاح کوبنده تر است.

ایرانی بهایی هستیم و تمام آرزوهایمان در سرافرازی خاک ایران و ایرانی خلاصه می شود. اگر چه در خاک سرزمینمان از حداقل حقوق حقهی شهروندی محروم هستیم، اگر چه در دانشگاههای سرزمینمان حق ادامه تحصیل نداریم اما لحظهای در دفاع از حریم عزت و شرف و آزادگی ایرانیان سستی نورزیدیم و با روح و جان غمخوار این خاک و مردمش بوده ایم و با وجود این محرومیتها و بی عدالتیها همچنان خاک ایران برایمان مقدس و مایه مباهات است. به دنبال پیگیری حق تحصیل به سازمانهای دولتی چون وزارت علوم، سازمان سنجش، ریاست جمهوری و … مراجعه کردهایم اما تنها مورد اهانت و گاهی تهدید آنها قرار گرفتهایم. هر چند نقض آگاهانه حقوق شهروندی و قانون در ایران مسالهی جدیدی نیست و هر کسی به نوعی با آن مواجه هست اما شاید بهاییان بیش از دیگران در طول سی سال گذشته از حقوق انسانی خود محروم بودهاند و لحظهای عدالت و انصاف و برابری را تجربه نکرده اند . ناقضین حقوق تنها به تهمت و افترا بسنده نکردهاند بلکه در کارنامهی سیاه خود که به آن افتخار می کنند از سوزاندن بهائیان تا غارت و مصادره اموالشان، حبس، شکنجه، تهدید و … را ثبت کردهاند و اگر چه ظلمی نبوده است که بر بهاییان روا ندارند اما لحظهای سر تسلیم در مقابل این بیعدالتی ها فرو نیاوردهاند.

با این وصف از این ظالمان هیچ گله ای نیست؛ بر همه واضح است قدرت و مال دنیا وابستگان به آن را کور می کند، احساسات متعالی را به نفرت و خشونت بدل می کند تا جایی که انسان برای همنوع خود ارزشی قائل نباشد چه برسد به رعایت حقوق آنان. جوانان بهائی را که تنها به صرف خدمت به هموطنانشان مشغول یاری به کودکان محروم شهرشان بودهاند، دستگیر و محبوس می کنند که چرا شما به هم وطنانتان کمک می کنید! افرادی را که به دنبال پیگیری حق تحصیلشان به نهادهای رسمی حکومتی مراجعه می کنند مورد اهانت و تهدید قرار می دهند و عدهای از آنان را در حال حاضر باز داشت کرده اند. قلم به دست مزدورانی می دهند که هیچ از بهائیان نمی دانند اما هر آنچه می خواهند برای تضعیف موقعیت آنان می نویسند بدون آنکه حتی قدری از آنها صحت داشته باشد و اگر برای روشن شدن و تفهیم حقائق سخنی بگویی به کذب و دروغ پرونده سازی می کنند که اقدام علیه امنیت ملی و توهین به مقدسات و اسلام کرده ای. اما همان طور که گفته شد از آنان گله و توقعی نیست اما از هموطنی آزرده هستیم که گوشش را به دست کسانی می سپرد که هر آنچه می خواهند می گویند، حقایق را تحریف می کنند، تهمت می زنند و حتی قانون را به راحتی زیر پا می گذارند. ازآن هموطنی دل شکستهایم که ایرانی هم خونش را از روی تعصبات مذهبی مورد آزار و اذیت قرار می دهد، از روی جهل و نادانی مدارس فرزندان خردسال بهائی را به مکانی برای توهین و تحقیر آن مظلومان تبدیل می نماید، بدون تحقیق و بررسی هر آنچه می گویند را می پذیرد بدون آنکه آثارش را ببینند.

هر چه کنی باز هموطن و هم نوع هستی و ذرهای از مهر و محبتمان به تو کم نخواهد شد. نه نفرت و کدورتی، تنها عشقت در قلبمان می ماند. هموطن زورگو و ستم کار دوستت داریم. هموطن مظلوم و ستم دیده دوستت داریم. مسلمانی یا مسیحی یا هر اعتقاد و باوری که داری، هر مقام و منصبی که داری، غنی هستی یا فقیر، منصف هستی یا ظالم، با سواد هستی یا بی سواد، سفید هستی یا سیاه در هر حال صمیمانه دوستت داریم.

سال جدید بهانه دوباره نو شدن افکار و احساسات را بیا با هم جشن بگیریم و صرف نظر از هر تعصبی دست در دست هم با روح همدلی و محبت و احترام برای خدمت به خاک مقدس ایران قیام نمائیم.

جمعی از دانشجویان محروم از تحصیل بهایی

٢٨/۱٢/۱۳٨۸

Translation

Noble people of Iran,

We do not see the need to tell you of our love for Iran and Iranians. Anyone who has contact with the Baha’is of Iran is without a doubt well aware of their devotion to their land and their dear compatriots.

However, as a poet put it,

The guards of my cage broke my silence
They broke my heart filled with patience

The time to wait and hesitate has come to an end. The pen in the hands of the oppressive rulers writes nothing but defamation, distortion of facts, and derision. Their paper is soaked in the darkness of dogma, detestation, and despotism. My dear compatriots, you should also present a pen and paper, because you love freedom, and you love kindness and passion. The power of thought and heart is stronger than a thousand weapons.

We are Iranians of the Baha’i faith. Our desires will be reached with an Iran that is proud and Iranians that are honoured. On the contrary, we are deprived of our minimal civil rights [in Iran]. Although we do not have the right to attend universities in our country, we have not ceased to defend the dignity and honour of Iranians. We have shown compassion to this land and its people with all our heart and soul. Despite all the injustices we have to bear, this land is sacred and a source of pride for us.

To pursue our right to education, we went to many government organizations like the Ministry of Advanced Education, the Evaluations Office (responsible for post-secondary examinations), and the Presidential Office. [As a response] we were either insulted or threatened.

Conscious violations of human rights in Iran is not new. Everyone, in some way or another, is faced with it. Followers of the Baha’i faith seem to have been more stripped of their human rights than others. Baha’is have not experienced justice, fairness, and equality in the past thirty years.

The violators of these rights did not stop at insults and defamation. The regime has a dark record of burning Baha’is alive; looting and confiscating property owned by Baha’is; threatening, torturing, and imprisoning Baha’is. Despite the amount of cruelty Baha’is have endured, they have never submitted to the injustices.

Despite all these, we cannot complain about these oppressors; it is clear to everyone that power and wealth blind those who depend on it. They turn exalted feelings into hatred and violence such that one does not even recognize the humanity of others, let alone respect their rights.

The Baha’i youth who were engaged in serving their fellow citizens by helping disadvantaged children of their cities were arrested and detained for daring to assist their compatriots. The individuals who take their grievances on their right to education to officials are affronted and intimidated. Currently some are detained in prison. Mercenaries who know nothing of the Baha’i people are recruited to write whatever they want against followers of this faith to weaken their status in the society. Not a single word they write is true, and yet when we try to clarify the facts and uncover the truth, we are hit by legal prosecution on the false premises that we have acted against national security and have insulted Islam.

As we mentioned before, we do not expect much more of them. We are, however, disappointed at fellow citizens who listen and believe those who say whatever they want, distort the truth, defame and slander, and even break the law. We are heartbroken at the compatriot who harasses their fellow citizen out of religious dogma, and turns the schools attended by young Baha’i children to a place where they harass, belittle, and insult these defenseless youngsters. We are saddened by those who accept without research and review whatever they hear without seeing the impacts of such statements.

Whatever you do, you remain our compatriot and our fellow human being, and we will not cease to love you. It is not hatred and resentment, but love for you which remains in our hearts. I like you my bully and oppressive fellow citizen. We love you our oppressed and bullied compatriot. Whether you are Muslim, Christian, or you hold another belief; whatever your post and status, whether you are poor or rich; whether you are fair or unjust; whether you are educated or illiterate; whether you are black or white; we cordially love you.

The New Year is an excuse to renew thoughts and emotions. Let us celebrate it, and regardless of any dogma, let’s hold hands. Let’s rise with one heart and one soul, bonded by compassion and mutual respect, to serve the sacred soil of Iran.

A group of Baha’i students deprived of education

March 18, 2010

Source: Siavosh J.

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more from faryarm
 
bottled-banana

Dear AlexInFlorida

by bottled-banana on

Please accept my apologies in advance, but I'm struggling to understand precisely what has angerd you so much!

For some reason you seem to have taken exception to the use of the term "this land" in the open letter. May I first say that the term was not used "20 times", as you allege, but only twice.

More to the point, your suggestion that the use of this term somehow amounts to disloyalty to Iran by the writers of the letter is bizarre to say the least. If you would be kind enough to read the open letter again you'll note the writers are saying the exact opposite of what you are accusing them of.

I quote two extracts, including one with the "offending" term, to illustrate the point:

"...We do not see the need to tell you of our love for Iran and Iranians. Anyone who has contact with the Baha’is of Iran is without a doubt well aware of their devotion to their land and their dear compatriots...."

"..We have shown compassion to this land and its people with all our heart and soul. Despite all the injustices we have to bear, this land is sacred and a source of pride for us...."

How is it that you did not notice these very clear expressions of devotion to Iran by the writers of the open letter, and instead somehow came to conclude the opposite?

Also, Bahais do not have any churches, perhaps your Bahai relatives would be good enough to confirm this for you.

 


faryarm

Dear Alex in Florida: Your Severe Misperception.

by faryarm on

With respect, One is surprised and shocked by your undeserved comments and severe misperception, and frankly you should be too...   Your baseless response is surely due to your unfamiliarity. with facts and history ??     

 

May I suggest that you become more infomed about who Iranian Bahais are ,  of their service to Iran, their undying love, forbearance ,sacrifice and loyalty to their native land, despite the kind of insults  heaped upon them, all because  their faith promotes love for humanity as well as one's own kind.     sincerely Faryar 

AlexInFlorida

OPEN REPLY TO YOUR LETTER, AN INSULT TO EVERY GOOD IRANANIAN

by AlexInFlorida on

I am shocked, offended and dissappointed by your open letter. 

As an Iranian i have always believed and supported the human rights of all people, no matter what the minority, nationality or cause.  I also have relatives that are bahai'is and I truly respect them as honest people. 

So what am I to say when you keep calling Iran as, "this land"?  When you say "this land" 20 times!!! 

Isn't there anyone with manners in your church?  Are Bahai's proud of producing a person with values in such a disloyal order?  Surely if you were an Iranian like the rest of us you would know to call Iran "My Land", "My People" and "My country".

Views that are in harmony with goodness, beauty and truth would first be loyal to their "king" and then "country or people" and then religion would be in service to these, in a distant third place.  Not the other way around. 

If your priorities are your religion first and then Iran, then your people will only ever be Bahaii's and you are no better than the mullahs of iran, who are persecuting us all without discrimination. They know nothing of the majesty and beauty of Irans traditions and people and so they disrespect the majority of the people and their views. 

To hell with all people, religous or ideological who's agenda is different than freedom for the people of Iran.

Long Live The King... Of The Immortal Kingdom.


faryarm

Illuminating Comments By Professor Hakkak

by faryarm on

Interesting comments by Professor Hakkak


pas-e-pardeh

dear bahai's

by pas-e-pardeh on

you are our hamvatans.  This regime, who does not get along with jews, zoroastrians, christians, sunnis, etc., and considers all of these religions their enemy, has hurt baha's more that all others. We know this.  They will answer for these crimes in time.

But, the good news is that once gone, we will be rid of them for a long time.  If we are vigilant, we will be rid of them and their intolerance forever.