Closed door

For my child, the excitement of the back-to-school month is one filled with great fear, disappointment and grief

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Closed door
by Samandar Mishkibaf
29-Aug-2009
 

A friend once told me that when she took her first child to school, her little one who was a bit younger than the other child (and most eager to go to school) looked angrily upon her and complained as to why she had not obtained the same sort of birth certificate for him as she had for his brother, so that he, too, could go to school…

Years have now passed since then, but our children still pine with the same eagerness to begin school and learn the alphabet and more with the tender affections of a loving teacher… When August comes around, the hustle and bustle of back-to-school begins also; and the kids along with their parents set out excitedly to buy books, pens and papers and other school supplies.

But for my child, the excitement of the back-to-school month is one filled with great fear, disappointment and grief. So I call out to you… to those of you who enjoy utmost liberty in your lands … those of you who have the freedom to register your child at any time, at any school, and to send him/her off to acquire knowledge of all that she/he desire… To those of you who sit back in your armchairs at day’s end and give ear to the news of the world … such news as is meant to inform you of patrol resources and of its price fluctuation in the world market … of the rise and fall of stock from this firm and that factory… or of rocket-science research and countries that have developed nuclear power…

I call out to you to listen to the cry of my child as he recounts his own excitement of the back-to-school season:

Is anyone out there on the face of this planet thinking of me … even a little? As the back-to-school season rolls around, my life begins its circle of an unexplainable fear about whether or not I can find a school that would enroll me… Would I be able to find a place that would allow me the opportunity to gain knowledge? I don’t seem to understand what difference there is between your child who was born on the other side of the globe and someone like me who was born in Iran! Are we not all – as children -- the futuer of the world? Then why is it that I have been deprived of my most basic rights while some of you are sitting quietly in other parts of the planet in comfort and raise not a cry against such a perverse calamity? Or do you not consider my plight to equal that of a calamity? The expulsion of a bomb or the firing of a bullet may take a life and release the physical body of its earthly attachments instantly… But my soul is broken every single day… No, every single hour in this corner of the world with the pain of this deprivation -- and yet the world does not seem to care!

I walk inside the school registry office with my hand in mother’s hand. The man looks upon the form which mother has filled out and shakes his head in disappointment… A discussion pursues between him and my mother on legality and the sort, of which I don’t understand anything…. And we are finally sent to see the school principal. I look upon my mothers face with expectant eyes and she drowns my heart in a sea of love with her affectionate gaze. But the principal -- who seems to have been already informed of the nature of our complaint -- does not even lift his face from off his papers and shaking his head in a sign of negation directs us -- with his finger pointed at the door -- to take our leave... And I realize that this school, too, like the one before does not allow a space for me…

From news clips on television and listening to my parents’ conversations, I gather that there are countries in other parts of the world that give children great importance and in which governments actually support and protect tender souls…. I hear that those governments actually come up with ways and means of facilitating education for children from every walk of life, because they believe their children are their nation’s greatest assets for the future.

I cannot fathom why it is not so in my land!!! I am being tossed around from one school to the other; and -- even if one were to enroll me -- would I dare contemplate the manner in which I would be treated there? I hear the reason for this chaotic treatment of my enrolment is because my parents are Baha’is. I have heard of a word here and there which I am told is used to define a virtue… A virtue, of which some are possessed and some are not. .. The word is “fair-mindedness”… It seems that school principals in Iran are amongst those who are not possessed of this virtue. I am sure though that they receive their orders from higher up… I am also certain that most of you are fair-minded, and so I dare ask you: “Why don’t you raise your voices in my defense? Why don’t you speak out and say “that it is every human being’s right to gain an education and that no-one should remain illiterate in today’s world”? Why do you busy your minds only with such issues as nuclear energy? Why do you show interest only in such news as those pertaining to wars and homicide? Why have you all forgotten me? Why don’t the powerful men of this world stand up for a defenseless child like me? Why do most people define nobility only in involvement in matters of an astronomical proportion? What would you do if your own child was afflicted with such atrocity? Would you not expect others to stand up for you and for your children? Why then -- I ask again -- have you forgotten me?”

These are questions that are burning away in the hearts of many Baha’i children, pre-youth and youth in Iran who are afflicted every year at this time with the fear and dilemma of deprivation from education while everyone else is enjoying the excitement of the “back-to-school” season… Is anyone out there who would give ear to this call? Can anyone hear the cries of my child?

(Translated by Gloria Yazdani) 

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faryarm

Wonderful Video..Thanks Mona Jaan

by faryarm on

Thanks Mona for poniting it out.

Its a wonderful video:

 


Mona 19

latest video ~ United for Baha'i human rights

by Mona 19 on

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf2XoASwFeA

The Muslem Network for Baha'i rights (www.bahairights.org)

Mona ;)


MiNeum71

S.A.M. wrote it:

by MiNeum71 on

The "religious" persecution of the Baha'is is the result of the fascistic politics done by fascistic evils. I hope the Iranian society makes a large step towards more humanity to minorities, women, children, animals and criminals.

 


Maryam Hojjat

for Faryam

by Maryam Hojjat on

The Bahai religion is a very progressive faith which scares Mullahs since It closes their business which is propagation of Khorafats.  You need to read or listen to the programs on Iranian TV about this faith to find out  for youself.  It is more progressive & more in tune with Iranian's culture. I personally Do not believe in any religion but I advocate this faith to my Hamvatans who like to chnage their religion.

Payandeh Iran & Iranians


Sen McGlinn

Number of Bahais in Iran

by Sen McGlinn on

Gitdoun, a ballpark number is 300,000. which is to say - it must be more than 100,000, it could hardly be as many as 600,000. But that's only counting people who have historical links to the Bahais dating to before the revolution. Because the Bahai administration was disbanded after the revolution, there are no membership lists and statistics, and there is no way of knowing how many people might since then have 'converted' without telling anyone.

The sheer number of people arrested or sentenced, or whose homes are attacked, day by day, in places all over the country, tells us that there is still a sizable and widely scattered Bahai community. And the amount of energy that Kayhan puts into anti-Bahai propaganda is another indication that they think the Bahai community is significant. For a record of daily incidents, see //www.iranpresswatch.org/

~~~~~~~~

What I can do, is keep my arm
from bringing others any harm.
How can I give the enviers ease?
They are themselves their own disease.
(Sa'di, Gulestan 1:5)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
//senmcglinn.wordpress.com/


gitdoun ver.2.0

Mona-

by gitdoun ver.2.0 on

what is in the constitution should be implemented. however sadly the I.R.I. has never been a nation based on Rule of Law. I mean from small things like buying your way out of a speeding ticket to failure of protecting minority groups shows this I.R.I is a failed state.


gitdoun ver.2.0

Question.

by gitdoun ver.2.0 on

this is a sincere heart-felt question. it's asked out of 120% IGNORANCE !!!! so please don't be mad.

1) are there still Bahai's in the I.R.I after 30 yrs ???? and if so what is the population of this minority (ballpark/average) ???

please i don't mean to offend anyone. i really want to learn and understand.  

--thank you in advance--


maziar 58

...............

by maziar 58 on

for all the religions I'm against of ;But putting one better than other is just nonsense.

down with IRI

Maziar


faryarm

The Question is...

by faryarm on

Why have Bahais been so violently opposed for so long?

Why is the Islamic Republic and its Shia Backbone so afraid of a defenseless minority, who has always remained peaceful despite the atrocities against it?

Apart from the percieved fundemental differences, what do the Mullahs find so threatening in Bahai Belief and Practice to warrant , even the persecution of young children?

 


vildemose

I'm so sorry. This is too

by vildemose on

I'm so sorry. This is too heartbreaking. All bahies should be given asylums to other countries.


Iranyvaliazad

islam, a cult of evil

by Iranyvaliazad on

Murder, rape, injustice, inequality, discrimination, theft are all pillars of this cult.  As long as this cult is in power, its members will kill, rape and commit unimaginable cimes against the people whom they have in their claws.  No way out, but to get rid of this cancerous tumor called islam in one's heart, mind and land.


Terry McBride

My prayers are with you..

by Terry McBride on

Times like this I wish I had the money to get you out there...

I have a strong feeling that there will be more pain and grief for all Iranians because of the insolent behavior of the Iranian government...

 

 

just hold on tight sister 


Mona 19

قانون در زیر پای قانون شکنان ...

Mona 19


They are children of Iran and like any other children of my homeland, they have the right to education.

According to Islamic Republic of Iran Constitution ...

Article 3 [State Goals]

3) free education and physical training for everyone at all levels, and the facilitation and expansion of higher education;

6) the elimination of all forms of despotism and autocracy and all attempts to monopolize power;

9) the abolition of all forms of undesirable discrimination and the provision of equitable opportunities for all, in both the material and the intellectual spheres;
.
Article 14 [Non-Muslims' Rights]

In accordance with the sacred verse "God does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with those who have not fought against you because of your religion and who have not expelled you from your homes" [60:8], the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and all Muslims are duty-bound to treat non-Muslims in conformity with ethical norms and the principles of Islamic justice and equity, and to respect their human rights. This principle applies to all who refrain from engaging in conspiracy or activity against Islam and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Article 23 [Freedom of Belief]

The investigation of individuals' beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.

Article 30 [Education]

The government must provide all citizen with free education up to secondary school, and must expand free higher education to the extent required by the country for attaining self-sufficiency.

 

Mona

 


Rostam - e - zaal

Sadness

by Rostam - e - zaal on

Why don't my countrymen speak for the Bahai's. Are they blind by hatred of a defenseless group that have never harmed anyone? Shame, shame, shame on those who remain quiet in the face of injustice.


Shazde Asdola Mirza

The Baha'i, the Iranians: all victims of Evil fascists

by Shazde Asdola Mirza on

Every voice counts! Every action counts!