Fighting Words

Persecution is the tool of cowards

The fanatical shia regime persecutes religious minorites because they are morally bankrupt and cowardly!  They know that their religion is based on lies which is why they are afraid to allow a culture of debate, free speech, freedom of religion within Iran. 

The greatest enemy/fear of the iranian regime isn't Israel or the US, it's the Iranian people and the concept of Freedom.  

thanks for your comment on confronting hate and descrimination

it exists and is a harm to the freedom of iranian communities.  I have known Bahaii's, some became agnostic, some became atheist and some contnued devoutly, I must admit my experience with them was and is positive with friendship and honesty. 

The Harm being done is from a disease in our culture that is twisting it towards suppression and suffering for all.  No Iranian can afford to be silent on this issue, the haters must be brought out into the light and exposed.  They are framing Bahaii's as a scapegoat and threat to iran ie receiving money, anti-iranian, non iranian, alien.  A healthy Iranian culture is one that can acknowledge every single crime that a Bahaii is accused of today, is actually something that Iranians of all other community are guilty of these issues too.  They are no better and worth no more and no less than others to be descriminated against.

Our resident hypocrits, that spew hate like fascists, must become aware that their best and brightest are no better, example Khomeini received foreign money, khomeini acted anti-iranian interests, Islam and muslims were Alien to Iran too and non iranian.  Love needs to replace the bad manners of some.  Their knieves need to go back in the kitchen.

Hiding behind nonsense

Just to be clear, the notion that this habitual and disturbed abuser only targets a "certain group of Baha'i" is total nonsense and a distraction.  In fact, he has recently been making the claim that Baha'is are a threat to Iran;s national security, which as someone pointed out earlier, goes even beyond IRI's own accusations against the Baha'is.  

Plus, the tactic of saying "oh, I don't hate all X people, just one class of them" is the oldest tactic in the book and has been used by every single racist and bigot in human history.  It makes insinuations and then allows the offender to hide behind technicalities. 

Thank you all for you comments

This is exactly what we need to do.  We need to come together as a people to confront hate and discrimination.

On a personal note, as I mentioned below, we had a few Baha'i family friends we I was growing up.  I remember nothing but kindness, compassion, friendship and honesty from those friends. I still stay in touch with a few of them.  Hopefully we will all reconnect one day in a free and inclusive Iran.

The IRI whisperers, here is my 2 cents

thumbs up

When I was in highschool in Iran, there were 5-6 Bahais in our class. They always had the overall highest grades. When you apply for Konkoor (national comprehensive university entrance exams), the application form asks you "what is your religion? Muslim, Jew, or Christian?" The Bahais typically leave that question blank. They therefore get automatically disqualified from konkoor. They would have to therefore either lie about who they are, or forgo higher education.

None of my Bahai classmates made it to the university, despite being more qualified than me. They were more dedicated and committed to serving Iran, even though they were discriminated against.

Thank you for this article. Hopefully one day the Islamic Jihad against non-believers in Iran will end. 

Soosan Khanom

I have not followed your comments nor do I know of your views, however, given that this blog is an acknowledgement of a behavior that the Baha'is "aspire to" in response to misinformation and the diatribe directed at them on this site, your sentiment begs a brief response, even though I do this at the risk of it not being directly relevant to this blog.

The fact that you were not here on this site when these attacks started years ago by one individual under different screen names and have noticed it recently is appreciated.  However, these  attacks are nothing but the 'regurgitation' of baseless attacks of yesteryears for the 'benefit' of newer visitors on this site, like yourself.

You're are free to seek your information from anywhere you wish, but it seems that on this subject you have been only 'drinking from this well'. Perhaps you 'need to sample' a few others just to make sure that you are well informed, even if you think there is no need for it.  Also, you can start by looking for Baha'is in the community in which you live that go by any of the labels you have learned to use from reading the recent blogs.  In short, I suggest that you do some field work and then read some more for the confirmation of your findings. 

In this election season, you know well that negative ads are more effective and more memorable - for "the masses".  The challenge is and always will be to be discerning and this requires time and effort - something the propaganda machine hopes "the masses" don't have and can't afford.

I again thank OnlyIran for this timely blog and apologise for the distraction from its intent.

Alborz

I don't think so Soosan Khanoom

You cannot justify constant attack and lies about Bahai's as a balance to valid criticism and uncomfortable truths about ourselves. But I suspected this. I've said what I needed to say and agree to differ. I'm out.

Ok Shepesh may be you guys have more experience

With this particular person!!!  I haven't been involved... Since I have become a regular poster here I haven't seen this attitude to be around for that long for me to notice...  

If Fred is free to post BiBi's agenda on a daily basis on this site in the name of free press why not Maryam?   If Fesenjoon is allowed to blog about all those twisted  anti Islam facts ... Then why not Maryam ?  And if an anti hate message is being mentioned here then why not for any other victims of hate crimes... 

No we can't have it and eat it too !!! 

Soosan Khanoom

The problem is not that anyone is being selective, but the repetitiveness of the evergoing cycle of the same blogs, same links, same accusations, same name calling, etc repeatedly each time the persons come back from being blocked. I participated first couple of times and so did others . What is the lessons learnt from the cycle repeating itself again and again? Argue with "her"? Not the reason some come to a site, but to learn. Not to just let off frustration.

I agree but don't you think it is all relative and

that is actually the power of any type of propaganda? we can't be selective ... Can we?  Free speech should either be applied to all or none on this site !! Which by the way, is entirely a new discussion and I do not want to get into that...but  if you have problem with Maryam's facts then argue it with her... 

PERIOD 

Soosan Khanoom

Somebody who twists facts, tries ot mud sling by doctoring videos and articles to mirepresent a group of people is not a genuine critic. This I find is the diference between free speech and abuse, most decent outlets maintain standards by filtering such propoganda. 

Also those that still insist a link between the Baha'is and Israel politics due to their Holy temple despite being told it existed there before Israel has suspicious agendas. Anyone who advocates ethnic cleansing on a group of Iranians is not progressive in their approach and not good as a source of inspration. I think this is what this blog is about.

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A separate topic would be why Baha'is do not take part in general discussions in politics - voting, going to war, one world government idea, etc. That would be real truth finding where one can learn and perhaps criticise constructively in a civil discusion in order to find solutions common ground, instead of repeating IRI propoganda.  That is my and many peoples views on Free Speech.

Shepesh, I refer you to comments I made on that topic

in my onversation with Maryam.   There I have stated my view clearly.   I also would like to add that although I am seeing an unfortunate obsession in terms of Maryam and her issues with certain Baha'is but I am not finding her collective punishment of all the Baha'is who live in Iran.  In my critisim with her attitude towards Baha'is she actually provided me with a good link to a site run by the moderate Baha'is. 

Isn't that what all we need? A moderate Bahai, a moderate Jew, a moderate Chtistian and a moderate Muslim to stop these non sense of ' Divide and Rule' set by the British Empire in the middle east ...

I hope I have answered your question.  

Bottom line is that I am with any voice who is antiwar and I am against any voice who is pro war and I couldnt care less as what their religion is...  Bahai or not !!!  

Soosan Khanoom

Since you bring up war in this blog, please can I ask your view about the propoganda written about them with regards to being agents of Israel, and other malicious blogs? I have noticed you have asked questions from Bahai's about victimhood. Can I ask you an honest question?

Dear RB, I did not criticize the article here...

actually it is a good blog and sorry if I missed to mention it... I criticize all the new posters whom I have not been reading any comments from... And still I wouldn't be saying a word if I haven't been so impressed by their lovey dovey talks...

And everyone here is still free to do as she or he wishes ... I was just asking a few honest questions.   No harm meant !! 

Rozbeh , Divaneh was an exception, perhaps because he was not

Too religious to draw a wall between himself and the rest of us. He was more involved in terms of issues concerning Iranians in general regardless the religion..... I also have missed his presence.  hope he is doing fine .

Soosan Khanoon jaan

80% of all articles on IC at the moment are about the potential war, whether pro or anti-war. The rest are repeated anti-Bahai rants by a certain individual.

Is it not ok with you to have just ONE article in support our Bahai compatriots (who are not only suffering in Iran but are under constant attacks here too), without dragging the war issue into yet another discussion?

Good to see so many lovey dovey posters .. Now could you please

cry a bit louder once it comes to love and peace so others other than your own faith members can hear it?   Could you please also state about your  anti dark,anti war, and for peace agenda in other blogs?  Have you not been reading pro war blogs and comments on this site? Have you not been witnessing the constant threat to the life of innocent Iranian people,regardless of their religions, on a daily basis here ?  If you have not read it then i should ask how come you read this blog?  And, if you have read it but not react and remain silent then you all are collectively a bunch of hypocrates.  Just save the love , the peace , the anti dark, and anti war talk.   I wish we could color ourselves  human rather than bahais or jews or muslims and that is what I also wrote in a comment supporting the rights of Baha'is on this very site.  

Yes , Color me human ...   

You cannot fight the darkness by darkness

You cannot fight the darkness by darkness; you can destroy darkness by light that is what the Baha’is TRY to do (You and sometimes they succeed)
As Martin Luther King Jr says:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
And 'Abdu'l-Bahá teach us:
“I charge you all that each one of you concentrate
all the thoughts of his heart on love and unity.
When a thought of war comes,
oppose it by a stronger thought of peace.
A thought of hatred must be destroyed
by a more powerful thought of love.”
'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks

Thank you

I echo everyone's sentiment here. I join the group to support our Bahai compatriots. I am ashamed of what my country has done to them over the last 150 years. The discrimiation has been present since the Ghajars, continued in the pahlavi era and is at its height with the Rapist regime of the Mullas. The only solution is a secular counttry where all Iranians are equal regardless of their faith, religion, race background or beliefs.

Rays of hope

Thank you OnlyIran and all the rest of the friends whom here or elsewhere have stood for the truth and have come to the defense of their fellow human beings and their hamvatans.

IC was beggining to get to dense. 

Iran should remain proud of her children. 

Bahai much more humane faith than Shiite

Bahai people are also better behaved and more civilized.

I join this blog and

I join this blog and support my bahaii frineds

JESUS SAID"O LORD FORGIVE THEM BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, I WOULD SAY O LORD PUNISH THEM BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING .

MY DEAR BAHAII  FRIENDS, DO NOT DESPAIR, FREEDOM IS VERY NEAR!

OnlyIran. Dear Friend, Thanks

I sure feel thankful for your thoughtfulness and kindness in writing such a wonderful blog . we will be even more patient and more tolerant than before in the face of all these slanders, lies and provocations, and thanks to all those non bahai friends who have also with their support have made it possible for us to face these harassments and intimidations

Dear OI

I must join everyone here and congratulate you on this timely and well expressed piece.  And as far as 'you know who,' ignore that troll.  All he does with his life is sit behind a computer, write nonstop BS on various sites and collect welfare checks from the "West" that he hates so much.   

Dear Onlyiran

Thank you very much for your kind words and support of your compatriots. I also wanted to thank our brave friends who have left conciliatory comments on this page for standing up to these hateful individuals who create vicious statements and blogs on IC which are only meant to discredit the members of the Baha'i Faith.

Baha'is believe in unity of mankind and respect for all religions and cultures. We are proud to be Iranians and celebrate the individual differences which make us all unique human-beings.  Whether we are Sunni, Shia, Jew, Christian, Zoroastrian, Sufi, etc; there is no reason that we cannot all coexist peacefully as brothers and sisters. I love the fact that we Iranians are made up of many different ethnicities which contributes to the cultural beauty of our homeland. Whether we are Gilak, Mazandarani, Azari, Baluch, Arab, Fars, Kurd, Bakhtiari, etc; we are all idivisible pieces of a rainbow of cultures and languages called Iran.

With Love,

Caspian Tiger (Babr-e-Mazandaran)

Thank You Only Iran

And thank you Baha'is for your efforts in order to keep the discussions lively,  meaningful and, most importantly, civil.

..........

As I mentioned several times

No religion is the best religion personally

And I respect all others.

* On a personal note I rather have Iranians going back to our own 2 prophets ; Zartusht and bahaula

Both Born and Bred in Iran and for Iranians.

Maziar

A Timely and Eloquent Piece, Mr. OI

Thank you for blogging this.

Great Blog!

Thank you for your great blog. Very nicely said!

What I also find interesting/repulsive is the fact that many regular IRI supporters and apologist ( Iraj Khan, First Amend, Demo...) formally without any shame support and defend the garbage and hate this character spews. Shame on him and shame on them!