Jahanshah Javid

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Defending the Baha'is is defending everyone

JJ, thanks for being who you are. I am not saying this to flatter you. I just believe that you are a decent person. You say that you are not a religious person. I only wish that all religious people were as fair and decent as you when it comes to treating all people, irrespective of any and all demographic considerations, as equal in a society of humans.

I believe the decent people who are not Baha'is and speak in their defense or in the defense of Jews, or any other religious or ethnic group, are a true children of Iran. They are the standard bearers of our ancient religion of light--Zoroastrianism-- and they are true children of Cyrus the Great.
So, JJ, speak up. Keep up your excellent work and keep the torch of freedom aloft. By so doing, perchance, you and other decent children of badly maligned great Iran can once again find their rightful place in the rank of civilized people.

Jalil Jaan ..pLease name the

Jalil Jaan

Please name the 20 out of 32 cabinet posts being held by Bahais. 

faryarm 

No Bahai ever held Cabinet post..

Dear Souri,

True there were some Bahai in trusted positions, like the Shah's Doctor...The head of Iran Air , there were numerous Bahai Doctors serving in the forces, as well as officers..but the Shah had no particuar love for the Bahais, as The Bahai community refused to get caught up i partisanship. The Shah also demonstrated this by bowing to pressure from the mullahs to destroy the Bahai Centre in 1955.

Hoveyda, as i have repeatedly written throughout the years was not a Bahai and had a particular distaste for being called one, as it was He who brought the discriminatory employment law against the Bahais in the mid sixties, and  that discriminatory law still stand s today..

If Bahais were so favoured by the Shah, they should have been recognised as a actually existing, be able to publish books and defend themselves against fanatical attacks of the Mullahs.

so it is not accurate that any bonifide Bahai was an active partisan in the Shah's Cabinet. 

We all have to put away these preconceived notions and take afresh look at our recent history and be very careful about our sources.. 

abbasagha...

abbasagha .. 

What might make JJ  "convinced that allegations agaist Bahais is not true" is probably his  years of working in Iran as a Journalist, by seeing the some of the inner workigs and dualities behind the scenes...in hotbed of revolutionary Iran. Jahanshah also no doubt met some  live Bahais in Iran and abroad, not to mention the priceless experience of running iranian.com which has no doubt given him a fairly balanced insight into the iranian character, and the ability to distinguish fact from fiction.

abbasagha ..

I suspect  you have probably never met or had a friend or neighbour who was  Bahai and your only knowledge derives from either a local mullah, prejudiced family views or access to only anti Bahai propaganda, called raddiyeh..of which there are plenty., none of which are respected by scholars, historians, iranian or not.

As another post has said:  Let us judge people based on their behavior rather than their traits. 

Call it what you will..its neither Proselytizing or Propaganda..

Wit due respect to "Agree with you" 

do you equate responses to outight Bahai Setizi Propoganda? 

"Propaganda often presents facts selectively (thus lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or gives loaded messages in order to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented .."

Bahais responses are consistent and comprehensive and not selective.. they are usually backed up by authentic bahai sources which are available to every one and anyone who has the open mind to read them.

Bahai responses In these pages, blogs etc,  are passionate expressions of faith and derive from individuals experiences  as opposed to a centrally formulated doctrine, as we have no leaders or clergy to orchestrate that.

Regardless, If one has something wonderful that one thinks can benefit society, should one remain silent? 

is Proclamation Proselytizing?  Bahais , are always eager to engage at the very least the intellectual merits of their faith..it is easy to .accept the Baha principles on an intellectual level; who can deny the need for these modern principles; acceptance by ones mind is not enough; it is the acceptance by ones Heart  and Soul  that brings about change in behavior and character, and no one can force belief, by prosletsing, which is forbidden in the Bahai Faith any way...

best wishes

faryarm 

...

JJ what makes you so

JJ what makes you so convinced that allegations agaist Bahais is not true. You are being Judge and Jury in this one and if you are a true secular person then why you have made Iranian.com mouth piece of Bahai organization. bahai religion has nothing to do with Bahais and their prozionizt agendas and you are being sucked in to a religious trap that you claim to avoid as a secular figure. The shame of it is people like yourself think Bahais must be right because they have been mistreated in the past. Although I agree that they should have never been treated the way they have been, but also I think they are no different than any fanatic religion whose time has not come yet to control and show their true color when they have the power. Don't forget Moslems, Jews and Christians have all been mistreated throughout history from time to time an dplace to place and each one of those religions have not been able to live up to their fundamentals when they were in power.
Don't take my comments as an isult just think about it. Thanks

جنگ جمهوری اسلامی با مردگان

جنگ جمهوری اسلامی با مردگان

امیل ایمانی، سه‌شنبه 13 نوامبر 2007

"نفرت ملاّهای افراطی از بهائیان چنان شدید است که، مانند طالبان افغانستان که مجسّمه‌های عظیم بودائیان در بامیان را نابود کردند، قصد دارند نه تنها این دیانت را ریشه‌کن کنند، بلکه حتّی هر نشانه‌ای دالّ بر وجودشان را که در این کشور زادگاه این آیین وجود دارد بالکلّ از بین ببرند." اين بخشی از مطلبی است که به صورت آگهی با پرداخت وجه در نیویورک تایمز درج شده است. اين مصیبتی است که یکی از بزرگترین بخش‌های جمعیت ایران با آن روبرو است.

در سال 1993، تنها در طهران، به دستور اولیاء حکومت اسلامی، به بهانهء بنای یک مرکز مربوط به شهرداری، بیش از 1500 قبر با بولدوزر نابود شد. به ترتیبی مشابه، جمهوری اسلامی ایران، که نفرتی عظیم علیه هر اعتقاد یا میراث غیراسلامی دارد، مبادرت به تخریب نقاط باستان‌شناختی پاسارگاد، تخت‌جمشید و مقبره کوروش کبیر نیز نمود. اين دفعه بهانهء مسئولین ساخت سدّ بود.

در ماه گذشته، و با دستور مستقیم احدی‌نژاد، رئیس جمهور دست‌چین شده و خبیث، که صیت بدنامی‌اش به علّت احساسات ضدّ بهائی‌اش شهرهء آفاق است، تخریب قبرستانهای بهائی با بولدوزر در این سو و آن سوی ایران آغاز شد. اين جدید‌ترین رشته اقدامات نفوس متنفّر از بهائیان در فعالیت‌های گسترده تحت هدایت حکومت است. تخریب قبرستان با استفاده از تجهیزات عظیم و سنگین بین نهم و دهم سپتامبر در نجف‌آباد، واقع در حومهء اصفهان، رخ داد. آنچه که در آنجا رخ داد، نسخهء برابر با اصل رویدادی است که در ماه ژوئیه در یزد اتّفاق افتاد؛ در آنجا قبرستان دیگری متعلّق به بهائیان, وحشیانه با تجهیزات زمینی به‌کلـّی تخریب شد.

خانهء باب در شیراز، یکی از مقدّس‌ترین اماکن بهائی در جهان، در سال 1979 توسّط سپاهیان انقلاب تخریب و سپس توسّط حکومت با خاک یکسان شد. در جمهوری اسلامی ایران، بهائیان ممنوع از آنند که در این زندگی یا حیات بعدی در آرامش زندگی کنند. مسکن بهاءالله در تاکر، جایی که بنیانگذار امر بهائی دوران طفولیت خود را در آنجا گذراند، نیز بلافاصله بعد از انقلاب بنيادستیزانهء اسلامی ویران شد و زمین آن در معرض فروش به عامّه مردم گذاشته شد.

بزرگ‌ترین اقلـّیت دینی ایران همچنان برای اذیت و آزار مبتنی بر عقایدش، مدّ نظر قرار دارد. در ماه آوریل سال 1994 نیز، پرزیدنت کلینتون، در نطقی به مناسبت افتتاح موزهء یادبود هولوکاست در واشنگتون دی‌سی، "رفتار اهانت‌آمیز" ایران با بهائیان را در کنار "پاکسازی قومی" در یوگسلاوی سابق، از جمله موارد شدید مایهء نگرانی در زمینهء حقوق بشر اعلام کرد.

اسلام برده‌داری، امر بهائی را تهدیدی برای نفس موجودیت خود می‌داند، زیرا بسیاری از تعالیم بهائی در ردّ و ذمّ فاشیسم اسلامی، یعنی نسخهء محبوب اسلام، است.

بانو بانی دوگال، نمایندهء ارشد جامعهء بین‌المللی بهائی در سازمان ملل متّحد می‌گوید، "بنا بر گزارش‌های واصلهء اخیر از داخل کشور، محصّلین بهائی در سطوح دبستان و دبیرستان در سراسر ایران به نحوی فزاینده در معرض حرکات ایذایی، تحقیر و توهین هستند. این گزارشهای جدید حاکی از آن که آسیب‌پذیرترین اعضاء جامعهء بهائی ایران، یعنی کودکان و نوجوانان، مورد اذیت و آزار، تحقیر و توهین هستند و حدّاقلّ در یک مورد محصّلی با چشمان بسته مورد ضرب و شتم واقع شده، از تحوّلات فوق‌العاده نگران کننده است."

وضعیت بنیان‌کن و ویران‌کنندهء بهائیان در جمهوری اسلامی یادآور اقدامات علیه "فالون گونگ در چین" است. بیستم ژوئیه سالروز سرکوبی نهضت فالون‌گونگ در چین است.[1][1]

شیوهء کار مسلمانان بنيادستیز افراطی است که روی دیوارهای کنیسه‌ها، کلیساها، قبرستانها و سایر اماکن مقدّسی که غیرمسلمانان سکونت دارند، شعارهای دیواری بنویسند. مصیبت بهائیان از این قاعده مستثنی نیست. بعضی از نمونه‌های شعارهای دیواری در آباده، شهر کوچکی در ایران، چنین است: "مرگ بر بهائیان، مزدوران امریکا و انگلستان" "حزب‌الله از بهائی بیزار است" "بهائیان، مزدوران اسرائیل". این عبارات با تبلیغات حکومتی که در سالهای اخیر در وسائل ارتباط جمعی جمهوری اسلامی به کار برده شده، ارتباط مستقیم دارد. اینها برگرفته از اظهارات خانم دایان علایی، نمایندهء جامعهء بین‌المللی بهائی در دفتر ژنو سازمان ملل متّحد است.

امر بهائی، با بیش از شش میلیون پیرو در بیش از 180 کشور جهان، دیانتی مستقبل است که تعالیمی چون وحدت عالم انسانی، وحدت اساسی ادیان، تساوی حقوق رجال و نساء، و لزوم ترک تعصّبات را ترویج می‌دهد.

در تأکید بر اهمّیت تفکّر مستقل، هیچ فردی بهائی دنیا نمی‌آید. امّا وقتی کسی در خانواده‌ای مسلمان دنیا می‌آید، برای تمام عمر مسلمان محسوب می‌شود. اگر او تصمیم بگیرد از اسلام خارج شود، برچسب ارتداد می‌خورد و افراد مرتدّ خود به خود محکوم به مرگند. برده‌داران قصد دارند تمام بردگانشان را مانند مواضیع خود حفظ کنند. برعکس، هر کودکی که در خانواده‌ای بهائی به دنیا می‌آید، باید به طور مستقلّ تصمیم بگیرد که آیا قصد دارد بهائی باشد یا خیر. آزادی انتخاب و تفکّر مستقل از ارزش‌های مورد احترام بهائیان است که در تضادّ کامل با عقاید مسلمین است.

اسلام اینک از قفس آزاد شده و علاوه بر زندگان به مردگان نیز اعلام جنگ داده است. اسلام قصد دارد هر آنچه و هر آن کس را که سدّ راهش در رسیدن به استیلای بر جهان باشد، بکشد، نابود کند و ریشه‌کن نماید. اکثر مسلمانان، پنهانی بر بمب‌گذاری انتحاری و تقویت تهاجم‌های بن لادن مهر تأیید می‌نهند. زیرا مادام که روحانیون متحجّر و خودپرست و همکاران تهی‌مغزشان وجود دارند، مسألهء تأمین امواج متوالی فاشیست‌های اسلامی تداوم خواهد داشت. آیا ما که در غرب سکونت داریم قبل از مشاهدهء نزدیکی صلح و آرامش باید دیگربار شاهد حمّام خونی در مقیاسی عظیم باشیم؟ آیا زمان مقتضی فرا نرسیده که مانع از این دیوانگی شویم و خردمندانه بیندیشیم؟

همهء مردم آزاد و آزاداندیش باید بر رنجها و آلام طولانی بهائیان ایران آگاهی یابند. آنها متجاوز از یک قرن و نیم است که در اثر دسائس شیطانی ملاّهای منفور وحشیانه تحت اذیت و آزار قرار دارند. آنها به علّت تهوّر و شهامت خویش در اعتقاد به منزلت انسانی همچنان بهای سنگینی می‌پردازند.

1
اشاره به اقدامات کاملاً معنوی گروهی موسوم به Falun Gong است که در 22 ژوئیه 1999 توسّط دولت چین در زمرهء "سازمان‌های بدعت‌گذار" و تهدیدی برای ثبات اجتماعی و سیاسی چین اعلام شد و پیروان آن که صرفاً به مراقبه و تفکّر و اعمال عبادی می‌پرداختند در کلـّیه سطوح کشوری و استانی بازداشت، شکنجه، به اتّهامات سیاسی و جنایی محاکمه، و محکوم شدند. تعدادی از آنها که به هزاران نفر می‌رسد به طور متناوب با بازداشت‌های کوتاه مدّت و آزادی موقـّت روبرو شدند. دهها هزار نفر از آنها خودسرانه توسّط پلیس بازداشت و برای ترک عقیده و تبرّی از عقاید خود تحت فشار قرار گرفتند - مترجم

Religious freedom for all

We should all talk to our friends and relatives in Iran and let them know that the propaganda against Baha'i and other religions is just that - propaganda. Little by little there can be religious tolerance and freedom of belief. On this site, I don't see much Baha'i advertising. In fact there is a lot of vacuum of information about that faith, if anything. That's one reason rumors tend to take the place of actual facts.

Let's do the opposite of what IRI does...

A bahai friend of mine's father was jailed right after the revolution for no legitimate reason that I know of. After many years he was finally freed and less than a month later he was beaten by a rock while walking down a street in tehran and died almost immediately. That incident made me sad, real sad, very sad.

This is what IRI is about. Let's side with those who are most oppressed by the islamic regime if you "really" want a future for iran to be proud of. That means bahais, kurds, students, women, etc. Let's resist and correct our empty prejudices before they control us and turn us into IRI-light in exile. We CANNOT have any promising future for a country as diverse as iran before we accept that the only thing that does and should bind us is the only thing that we have in common, being iranian.

I do not know much at all about bahaism, and I do not need to know for to understand how difficult it is for bahais in particular to live under a bunch of religious fanatics who know no morale and can capture and hung them for no reason. I am convinced of that.

Let's embrace all iranians, the ones who have suffered most in particular. Let them feel free and feel like among friends around us, let them say whatever their sad hearts desire, let's embrace them and make them feel that they are one of us no matter if we believe in their religious views or not, let us care for all innocent iranians of any group and any tendency. Let us judge people based on their behavior rather than their traits.

Dear Mr Bahar...

If I can say anything (despite my little knowledge) it's only my personal opinion here:

True, that during the Shah, many Bahais hold the cabinet posts and they were in high position for all the time of Hoveida.  Yes, it's true that it has been always arguing : why the Bahais who claim they never participate in Politics, accept those post and bring some other Bahais friends to the key position...etc.

Those are the questions which remained without answer. but, as you said yourself, this is not and should never be a reason for the Mullah to torture and mistreat the Bahais in any circumstances.

I disagree with you where you said:

"While I am sure that these ministers etc. were competent, .....it never-the-less resulted in laymen's connecting the Shah's (dictatorial) regime synonymously with the Bahais.!!"

I never heard that ! 

"this in turn led to some of the sentiment that led to the revolution and the rise of the Mullahs"..

I disagree completely.

The Mullah being rise has no direct connection with the Bahais being in power during the Shah. Of course this, has been one of their propaganda against the Shah. But for sure, Bahai's connection to the dictatorship of Shah was not the reason, for  Mullah can get in power in Iran.

Bahai setizi existed even during the Shah, but was not a major problem as it is for the people of Iran, today.

Respectfully;

Souri

Dear Jahanshah

I would like to agree with you regarding your position of providing our version of 'affirmative action' for our Bahai friends on this site. However, I have to say, that the level of 'proseletyzing' and 'propoganda' by our Bahais friends in this site is way over-the-top.

It is one thing to engage people on an intellectual level and discuss one's faith, it is something quite different when it is just 'overt' propoganda.

I remember several months ago there was a discussion in one of the blogs by the Bahais in which several people, including jamshid, Shae'r, and others, were encouraging the Bahais to engage the people directly in answering their questions, and informing people of their religion rather than direct propoganda. I believe that even a comparison was drawn at that time to the discipline of 'Apologetics', defending one's faith, which is common in Christianity, especially in the Roman Catholic tradition.

I personally do not mind at all to engage our Bahai friends, and at an intellectula level, discuss and debate their faith. However, what truly turns me off, is the direct propoganda and proseletyzing that has absolutely no merit.

What I am trying to say to you is this: If the Bahais want to leave a favorable impression on people's mind, and be respected, then less propoganda and proseletyzing, and more engaging of others on an intellectual level. If not, they will be viewed more and more as a 'Cult', and less and less as a legitimate religion. Period.

We are normal Iranians.

Thank you so much Mr javid for your open mind and this opportunity to dispel some myths about our faith.

Since the birth of babi and bahai faith we have been under attack and there has never been an open forum to talk about our faith and the calamities that bahai's endured under the last 3 regimes in Iranian history( the comment by Mr Bahar about bahais having their day under the sun is far from the truth). 

I ask my fair minded Iranians to just familiarize themselves with our faith , not to convert to bahai faith but to know who we are and what we believe. To know why people from different parts of the world who are bahais worship our beloved Iran. 

 Here we are with an Iranian prophet and you know so little about him. If we use qutations of Bahaullah it is not to convert you but , to let you know what he thinks about the subject matter, and as a result what we think about it.

You have to remember this is all too new to us bahais , to be in a dialouge with you dear Iranians, we will learn from your kind suggestions. For example I for one will  participate more in different topics,and will share more of my life stories as the other commentator has suggested.

Not everyone should be a bahai or for that matter religious, but everone should learn to respect each others beliefs

the only way we can achieve democracy in Iran is not to overthrow this or that regime but it is to build ourselves from within first.

With the most respect for you sir,

Tahirih

Yes, Yes, Yes, but No

Bahaii's have been mistreated and abused, persecuted for their beliefs and worse than all, as young children and youth in Iran, punished for their parents' chosen beliefs, deprived of basic rights to education, decent and respectful life, and legal rights other Iranians have been extended.

The atrocities done to this group of minorities cannot easily be counted and chronicled and fathomed. Yes, they are people like any other and yes they have been abused and we have to acknowledge those facts. We have to keep reading about and keep thinking about it and keep reminding ourselves and others that this has happened in contemporary Iranian history.

I want Bahaii's to talk about themselves. What they do for a living. What they believe in, and how they approach issues. I want to know about the things that were done to them. I want them to know that though I have been powerless, a part of my being feels responsible and ashamed for all of those awful things which happened during my lifetime, in my country, in my neighborhood, and within my direct and peripheral vision. They need to talk and I need to hear until we all know the same things. That's when this will free me of my guilt and shame as a born moslem.

I don't want, however, to become a Bahaii, much like I don't want to become a Jew, a Christian, a Buddhist, or a born-again-moslem. I don't want to read their book, I don't want to read their religious propaganda.

If I were them, I wouldn't approach the Iranian community at large with religious propaganda, hoping to gain some converts through Iranian.com. I would talk about the abuse and mistreatment and I would tell how I have pulled myself and my family together and our struggles for a way forward. I would identify more with other Iranians in the ways we are similar than in the ways we are different, including their sense of enlightenment as a result of their regligion. Even if their aim is to propogate their religion, it is far better to find followers and converts through building relationships and friendships.

I don't pay attention to certain users on the site who write nothing but Bahaii propaganda. I skip right over their comments once I have identified them as Bahaii's, because my passion and compassion for them stops short of being lectured to or "shown the way," as for all intents and purposes, I am a soul lost to any and all religions. I am Iranian, though! My dialogue with Bahaii's can start at the lowest common denominator, can't it? That LCD is Iran and things Iranian and issues related to Iran. I would like to see them voice opinions about subjects other than Bahaii matters, which by and large seem to be the only thing they want to talk about.

So, to summarize, I agree to their equal rights on the site and even more attention because of the pain they have suffered, but I don't want to be preached to by anyone. I leave it to them to make the distinction and to utilize this medium for talking about one of the most degrading human atrocities that have happened in the world in the past 30 years.

When Mona, the first identifiable Bahaii on this site after the software upgrade, showed up, she appeared as a user full of hope and love and compassion, leaving kind messages for everyone and on a variety of topics. These days we have many active registered and unregistered users on the site who actively invite others to the Bahaii faith, and even Mona has joined them. Can't at least one of of these users identify him or herself as a Bahaii and join a variety of the other dialogues going on on the site, and not use every opportunity to quote Bahaollah? I think this will help them convey their message better and will reduce the number of complaints because to those who are not at a point to convert to a new religion, all of the hundreds of comments left by this group appear nothing but noise. I think that's why you are receiving all these complaints.

Thank you for listening and I wish all Iranians a chance to better themselves and their lives, hoping that we can all rebuild our country someday, freeing it of the black clouds of doubt and prejudice and hate and abuse. I hope for a day when no Iranian is discriminated against.

I Agree, but ...

JJ you are absolutely correct.

Humanism by the way was the key that transformed Europe from Papal dominance and theocratic governments. Interestingly, humanistic writings were brought into Europe by Venitian traders who regularly travelled through what is now Iran.

The "Bahai" issue has a non-religious dimension. As you may know, the influence of Bahai politicians within the Shah's regime increased with time, with at one point in the late seventies, 20 out of 32 cabinet posts being held by Bahais. While I am sure that these ministers etc. were competent, cultivated, enlightened and contributed to Iran's progress, it never-the-less resulted in laymen's (on the street) connecting the Shah's (dictatorial) regime synonymously with the Bahais...this in turn led to some of the sentiment that led to the revolution and the rise of the Mullahs.

There is absolutely No excuse for persecution or abuse of anyone's human rights based on faith. Diversity, also, is beneficial to any society and should be promoted. There is also value in learning about other faiths, and expanding intellectual horizons.

But to put it in an American dimension, I remember when Lieberman was running with Al Gore, some of my Jewish friends were really concerned about a highly visible government post being held by a Jew; and leading to an anti-jewish backclash in the US.

Regardless of competence and experience, there is symbolic value to cabinet posts. George Bush after all tried to mix it up with a few hispanics, a few african americans, etc. etc. In a country with 98%+ moslems, 20 cabinet posts to Bahai's was somewhat excessive by any standard...only a dicatator would be naive to the symbolic value of cabinet appointments.

The Shah was seen as a Western Puppet, and the Bahai's ran his administration/s. The Shah's administration did have a secret police, did commit torture, imprisoned political oponents ...(much of which, I know, pales in comparison to the Mullah's crimes - but they were crimes never-the-less). The Bahai's, through their senior positions in the government, in effect contributed highly to the Shah's crimes, and the persecution of other Iranians.

So the question is, do the Bahai's deserve 'affirmative action' or 'equal treatment'?

My own view is: Equal treatment. We should read about their faith to the same extent we might read about other faiths. We should simply welcome Bahai's as we do every other Iranian, AND not treat them with any less or more respect, provide them with any less or more priviledges. Bahai leaders already had their day in the 'Sun' under the Shah; and here we are with a backclash to the Shah's regime - a revolution that brought in an Islamic Theocracy - denying human rights to everyone. The Bahai's did not by any means suffer from 200 years of slavery.

In any case, JJ, I admire your ideals. We can agree to disagree on this one.

Dear JJ

So true,well said.

sad dar sad

I completely agree with what you said Jahan Jan regarding Iranian Bahais and all Iranian minorities.  I also feel the same way you do towards religion.

We must learn...

That all Iranians whether they worship Allah or the stone, they should be respected and given the same rights as anyone else in Iran.

I would ask that we as Iranians take the time to learn the teachings of the religious communities of our nation. Baha'is are often thought to be spies andagents of foreign powers but for someone who has done his homework, Baha'is are like anyother group within Iran. They love their religion, they pray to God. They have some great people and some idiots like anyother group.

There is far more to Bahai belief than...

Dear Freinds,

It is truly the hope of Bahais , the world over whether Iranian or not, to one day soon realise not just what  Bahais actually believe, but more importantly to the isssue at hand, thats is  how relevent Bahais believe their religious teachings is to the future of our home land ,Iran

Unfortunately iranians these days have become so sick of anything "religious" and care less  to read or to know anything about the subject.

It is as if unknowingly  the efforts and the poison of the anti-Bahai propaganda has numbed their senses , but still enables them to make intolerant remarks

Iranian.com has been a pioneer in evening the ground, in allowing Bahais to expose the injustices they are stll experiencing, much to the dismay of the Muslim Shia element, who have had a free hand in 150 years of relentless manufacture of lies, without giving Bahais ANY opportunity to respond, or defend themselves

As a Bahai and and lover of Iran, I appeal to all , friend or foe to dig a little deeper into the subject. Even if religious matters dont interest you; you will be presently surprised to find that much of of has happened in the world and Iran is indicated in prophetic writings of Baha’u’llah and His promise of the future peace and Glory that is to come to Iran and the world.

I hope that the level of discussions on this site will be elevated to real issues, and not the rehashing of discredited "noise" distributed by Mullahs

We should question: why Bahais so passionately desire to inform ; or as to why they think their teachings merits the urgent attention of Iranians; these discussions should concern in real terms , the betterment of  our lives as human beings ,  iranians and world citizens, questioning with an open mind, whether this essentially Persian Faith has any Promise or real answers to the spiritual rebirth of Iran and return to its Glorious Past as prophesied by Baha'u'llah

I leave you with this lovely video

Best wishes 

Faryar

.

ایران

عن قریب گلخن گلشن گردد و

تاریک روشن شود و ان اقلیم قدیم مرکز فیض  جلیل شود

و اوازه بزرگواریش گوشزد خاور و باختر گردد 

I leave you with this lovely video

Best wishes 

Faryar

Yes, I do agree with you JJ

It's important for us to have more featuring articles about the Bahai and Bahaism, for we all understand how to accept them as normal Iranian . I am all for this right of the Bahai for posting more and more about  their beliefs, their mistreat and their pain . This is more about a social and human right raher than about preaching a religion.  As you rightfully said :

"We are adults, we can think, we can distinguish between religious propaganda and truth "....

So I don't understand why this fear ? There are lots of thing I didn't know about Bahai's miseries in Iran under the IRI and I just learned them from reading those articles .

I, for one, vote for having more of those kind of blogs,