Iranians should ask for apology from Bahais

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Diba
by Diba
06-Aug-2011
 

Bahman Aghai Diba

Although since the old times the Bahai’s faced hardships and prosececutions in Iran, and an unknowm number of them have been killed, prosecuted and discriminated against, since the beginning of the so-called Islamic Revolution in Iran, a kind of official anti-Bahai policy is followed by the regime. In fact, some of the promonent figures of the Islamic regime of Iran were among the members of the notorious “Counter-Bahai Associations” in Iran. Over 200 Baha’i believers were executed between 1978 and 1998. Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iranian Baha’i have regularly had their homes ransacked or been banned from attending university or holding government jobs, and several hundred have received prison sentences for their religious beliefs, most recently for participating in study circles.

Baha’is have been targets of discrimination and violence in Iran since the religion began there in the mid-nineteenth century…Today the Iranian government regards Baha’is as apostates and unprotected infidels. Baha’is in Iran have no legal rights, and they are not permitted to elect leaders of their community….Baha'is in Iran are systematically denied jobs, pensions and the right to inherit property. More than 10,000 Baha’is have been dismissed from government and university posts since Iran’s 1979 revolution.

The officials of the Islamic regime of Iran , and the members of the anti-Baha’i groups in Iran, have long accused the Bahai’s to distort the religion of Islam. Also, they have claimed that Bahai’s have acted as the tools of the foreign powers in Iran. Of course, as far as the first accusation is concerned, Shiites are themselves under attack by the majority of the Muslims that are Sunnis to do the same thing. Many Sunnis do not accept Shiites as the followers of Islam at all.

Regarding the second one, the interesting point is that the Bahai’s have been accused of being foreign allies of the British, the Americans and even the Russians in Iran. The wide spectrum of these accusations reveals their baselessness. The real reason of the hostility of the Islamic governments, especially Iranian regime, towards the Baha’is, is explained by Bernard Lewis, the famous Philosopher, who has said the Muslim piety and Islamic authorities have always had great difficulty in accommodating post-Islamic monotheistic religions such as Baha’is… [whose]their very existence presents a challenge to the Islamic doctrine of the perfection and finality of Muhammad's revelation.

The Islamic regime of Iran has a special hatred towards Bahai’s. However, this feeling has not started has a longer history than the present regime of Iran. It is not really important that the claims of the Bahai about their religions and the course of history are right or wrong. The validity of these claims is equal to the claims of the other religions and their branches. The response of the Iranian regime and all those who have harassed the Bahai’s in Iran due to their religious convictions has always been a violation of human rights and should be condemned as such. Those of Iranians that feel a kind of baseless hostility towards the Bahai’s, and those who think that Bahai’s are a disgrace to the Shiite Islam, shall pause and think of the situation of Shiites in the Islamic world. 90% of the Muslims (Sunnis) think of the Shiites the same way.

The people of Iran should know that “Bahai killings” (killing men, women and children of Bahai’s), under the guidance and religious orders of the Mullahs of Iran, as a kind of silent genocide, was one of the darkest chapters of the Iranian history. The Iranians should condemn such heinous crimes and express their regrets and get ready to apologize.

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Hans

Who made Mr. Diba spokesman for Bahá’ís ?

by Hans on

Who made mr. Bahman Aghai Diba spokesman of Bahá’ís ?

Please keep in mind that:
No Bahá’í,  Iranian or otherwise ask for apology or blamed Iranians for what IRI´s  mullahs did or are doing to Iranians.

Mr. Bahman Aghai Diba presents his personal view, and has no mandate to speak in behalf of all Baha’i’s.   

Have a wonderful day


Mona Tahiri

You covenant breaker you need to see this

by Mona Tahiri on

how the shii rascals are mistreating the innocent baha'is

see this


Freethought111

Brother Salman

by Freethought111 on

The question of taqiyyah in Shi'ism is complicated. Suffice it to say that how it has been represented by popular understanding or by the mullahs may not be entirely reflective of the intentions of the Holy Imams (as) themselves in instituting the practice. In other words, what taqiyyah has become over time is not necessarily its reality. Henry Corbin has rendered taqiyyah as "exercising the discipline of the arcane" and glossed it with the Persian term "kitman." He has shown that this practice is not simply about lying or concealing ones faith for its own sake, in times of trouble or otherwise. Rather the intention of the Imams was to have their initiatic adepts conceal their true esoteric teachings from the mass of non-initiates. This is why in the sayings of the Imams there is a constant distinction made between the muslimun (= the masses) and the mu'minun (the true believers = the adepts).

The inhumane treatment of everyone at the hands of the present regime is to be condemned. But the fact is, contrary to the narratives projected in the West by professional lobbyists, the Bahais have not been singled out above other Iranians. This regime has not discriminated in its imposition of brutality against all who do not toe its line.


Tiger Lily

Captain Crook

by Tiger Lily on

cult coded Credit Suisse

no pirates 


salman farsi

Sister Yolanda and brother Divaneh

by salman farsi on

 

Tanks of thanks to you two. No pun intended!! 

For an Islamic democracy


salman farsi

Thank you dear brother Freethought

by salman farsi on

 

While I condemn the inhumane treatment of Baha'is in the hands of the Islamic regime, I cannot understand why they bring this punishment upon themselves? The honoured (but much misunderstood) practice of Taqqiah in Islam is precisely for such usage. If by denying their faith they can save their lives and continue with spreading the faith why not? Some of our Baha'i countrymen seem to mock muslims for their practice of Taqqiah but as you have revealed it here, they too practise taqqiah without admitting to it.

 

Thank you for your enlightening comments.  

For an Islamic democracy


Freethought111

Brother Salman

by Freethought111 on

The Baha'is practice something akin to taqiyya in public settings publicly dissimulating their beliefs. On this site and elsewhere, there are clear examples of people pretending to be either non-Bahais or former Bahais but supporting the Bahai organization and its core beliefs. It is the thinking of the Bahai organization that such behaviour can accomplish what otherwise identifiable Baha'is cannot. As such I would put very little stock in the words of Divaneh. Note,

From Mission
Problems in New Persia, 1926, p. 83, 87 & 89 quoted by William
McElwee Miller in The Baha'i Faith: It's History and Teachings, 1973, p.
289.

Quote

"...There
is no conscience with them [ i.e. the Baha'is], they keep to no
principle, they tell you what is untrue, ignoring or denying undoubted
historical facts, and this is the character of both the leader and the
led...As to morality and honesty, the whole system has proved
disappointing...I have been in contact with many Baha'is, and have had
dealings with many and have tested many, and unfortunately I have met
not a single one who could be called honest or faithful in the full
sense of these words..."

Dr
Sa'eed Khan [was] a highly-respected physician...who had as a doctor
treated the second widow of the Bab, and had for a lifetime known
intimately both Babis [i.e. Bayanis] and Baha'is in Tehran and Hamadan.

 

 


yolanda

...........

by yolanda on

BTW, once we are on the subject of good English, change the Tanks to Thank. I think pun was intended.

************************

 LOL! That is a good one!


divaneh

Brother Majous

by divaneh on

As I have explained to other brothers and sisters, a set of beliefs is not like smoking or alcohol to quit it. With beliefs you throw away what you can't accept and you keep what you cherish.

I keep the good values that I have learnt such as the unity of mankind and I reject the superstitious beliefs such as daily prayer, fasting, avoiding alcohol, Imam Zaman (although they think he has come and gone) and some other which are mainly the Shia heritage that it carries. I still stand for truth, justice and universal human rights.

BTW, once we are on the subject of good English, change the Tanks to Thank. I think pun was intended.

 


salman farsi

Well, at least my English is better than Brother Diba's

by salman farsi on

 

Tanks you brother Divaneh and sister Yolanda for confirming my doubt.

Brother Divaneh

I thought you had quit from being a Baha'i?

 For an Islamic democracy


Freethought111

It seems...

by Freethought111 on

The tide has turned, Yolanda. There is that famous saying that you can fool the people some of the time, but not all of the time...


yolanda

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

by yolanda on

More than a year ago, there is a blog called "I am Bahai, too"

//iranian.com/main/blog/jahanshah-javid/i-am-bahai-too

An army of people showed up to show solidarity with Bahais...the blog has 140 posts and 9000 hits!


Freethought111

Divaneh

by Freethought111 on

I know about all these. These are all vague, woolly, general and propagandistic statements issued by the UHJ that were opportunistically published for face saving measures. Show us where the UHJ has advocated in specific instances of human rights violations beyond the Haifan Bahai community? These statements mean absolutely nothing and they are all transparent propaganda! So if this is the best you can come up with, you are in trouble.

Where your community (re: cult) is concerned, there is nothing positive to share other than to continue informing the general public that the Haifan Bahai organization is an abusive cult (a carbon copy of Scientology) with incredibly nefarious political connections past and present.

Here is something informative I will share, however, the blog Bahai CULT FAQ.


reader1

This humble reader would like to register ...

by reader1 on

...  his unreserved apology for his past mild prejudice against the Bahais.

PS. I agree with Salman, the title does not seem to match the content. If it was delibrately mis-titled  to attract the readers, then it has certainly succeeded!


divaneh

Here is the evidence

by divaneh on

Ok, you have nothing positive to share. As I said from beginning talking to you is a waste of time. Here are some evidence for anyone else who may be interested.

Here is one at the bottom of a statement about the 7 Bahais.

Their case is illustrative of the persecution that targets all members of this religion in Iran and others who think differently from those in authority.

The full articel here.

//bic.org/statements-and-reports/statements/situation-of-the-bahais-in-iran-2013-under-item-4

Here is another statement.

The Bahá’í International Community is deeply disturbed by the Iranian government’s refusal to accept basic recommendations concerned with ending injustice, persecution and discrimination in that country.  We wish to see the current tragic chapter of Iran’s history closed, and believe meaningful engagement in the UPR process to be imperative in that regard.

The full article here

//bic.org/statements-and-reports/statements/upr-2013-islamic-republic-of-iran-2013-item-6

And here is the full list of statements by Bahai's UN office covering subjects such as Human Rights, Social Development, Advancement of Women, Combating Racism, Combating Poverty, and other areas of interest to the Bahais.

//bic.org/statements-and-reports

Have a good time reading and try to be positive.


Freethought111

Divaneh

by Freethought111 on

Save your sermonizing, victim blaming and cult-instructed psychological reversal games. Cough up the evidence, please. Under my various aliases since 2009, I have more than once posted what the Bayanis represent and believe in, so cut the crap!


divaneh

Freethought

by divaneh on

I said that I give you the evidence that you asked for. I however want you to tell me what you want in this world. I know what you don't want. I know what you don't like. But what is it that you like and want. You claim to be a Baabi or Bayani or whatever else. I am still to see one blog or entry from you to highlight what it wants or teach. Instead all I have seen is hatred towards others. Why don't you educate me about positive principles of your beliefs? Teach me the positive side of your beliefs and I give you the evidence.


iamfine

problem with Baha'is

by iamfine on

I have nothing against Baha'is faith or any other faith. But when it comes to advertising so much and sometimes in a forceful way, then it creates backlash. People don't like any religion to spend so much money and time trying to convert.


Mammad

Most people have been victimized

by Mammad on

not just Bahais. Of the 18000 political executions in Iran since the Revolution 75-80 percent have been practicing Muslims.

I once signed a public letter apologizing to my Bahai compatriots. I have helped Bahai students to get accreditation for the transcript of their secret education in Iran. But, one must not lose sight of the fact that it is not just the Bahais that have been victimized; it is 85 percent of the population. And, based on religion that the author is trying to sell us, Muslims have been by far the most victimized group.

After his political "articles" did not get any traction on www.payvand.com, this man is now resorting to such subjects on this site. Perhaps, he finds an audience here. This site is visited by xenophobic, extreme "nationalists" and Muslim and Islam demonizers more than any other site that I know of. But, he must first learn how to write an article with correct English. Just look at the title of the blog.

Mammad


Freethought111

Divaneh

by Freethought111 on

I don't care what you believe about my sincerity. You have made an assertion. Please back it up with evidence.

Non-Bahais please note: a dishonest argumentative fallacy and tactic engaged by Bahais whenever they attempt to skirt around an issue and not respond is to question an interlocutors motives and sincerity.


divaneh

Freethought

by divaneh on

I have made it clear in a previous exchange that I do not detect any sincerity in you and think any discussion with you is a waste of time. However I provide you with the evidence that you requested if you promise to give up your negative vibe and become a positive person.


Roozbeh_Gilani

Dont't even try opening another can of worms....

by Roozbeh_Gilani on

Let me make a historical point of reference: During WW2 over 20 million Soviet citizens were murdered by Nazis, compared to the 6 million Jews. To that, add Tens of millions of Gypsies, socialists, anarchists, liberals, communists, etc, of various nationalities and races...

The people who must and will be made to apologise to the Iranian nation are the entire leadership of the islamist regime, from reformist to conservatives and all between, for the crimes committed on Iranian Bahaiis, Iranian Jews, Iranian sunnis, Iranian shias who'd not buy into Khomeini's concept of VF, Iranian Kurds, Iranian balooch, Iranian women, Iranian students, Iranian workers, Iranian intellectuals...... In the revolutionary courts of Justice of Iranian people. 

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."


Freethought111

Divaneh

by Freethought111 on

their speakers in the UN have started to include the other Iranian victims of the human rights abuses in their statements..

 

When? Cite and link all instances of such statements, please.


Oon Yaroo

Get rid of the IRI and most of your problems will go away!

by Oon Yaroo on

Including the mistreatment of the Baha'is by the Islamists. All resources must be aimed at destroying the IRI regime and its few million thugs and supporters (inside and outside)

God bless and thank you!


divaneh

Why should everyone apologize?

by divaneh on

Could you tell me why should a nation apologize for what has been done by a minority against its will? In case that you have not been aware, there is a theological dictatorship in Iran who has taken victims from all Iranians of different ideologies. Most opposition groups have had more victims than Bahais. You may think that because Bahais do not involve themselves in the politics they should not be seen as a political opposition. Look deeper and you will see that Bahais threaten the whole foundation of the theology of this government and Akhonds in general. Akhonds want unquestioning followers who copy them and who pay them and they instill violence in their followers where necessary to enforce conformity with their backward rules and materialistic desires. Bahai faith tries to teach the same people to think for themselves, to denounce violence and not to copy anyone. Hence no influence and no income for the Akhonds. Of course there will be a reaction from the ruthless, materialistic, cunning Akhonds but you cannot blame a nation in chain for what these Akhonds and their hard core followers do.

Your title is wrong and that has been pointed by others. As brother Majous Parsi (who has been right for once) highlighted, you have implied that Iranians and Bahais are two different entities. Bahais suffer along with other Iranians. It is pity that whilst Bahai communications and their speakers in the UN have started to include the other Iranian victims of the human rights abuses in their statements, you have chosen not to mention these other Iranians even if surely as a victim you have sympathies for other victims.

I think what we need in that country more than symbolic apologies from oppressors, is a true understanding, truth and justice to allow this nation to reach each other and in a democratic future enact the freedom of belief that one day was cherished in this land.


Mohammad Ala

The best place to focus is Iran's heritage. . . .

by Mohammad Ala on

The majority of Iranians have no problems with any minorities. 

In an e-mail exchange, I made a suggestion to the second high ranking official of Bahai's rather than advertising on Freeways in the USA, for example, on your way to Las Vegas there is a sign; their money and efforts should be spent on Iran’s heritage.  As it has been mentioned ... problems are not limited to Bahai's ....they have louder voice that make their problems come across worse. 


yolanda

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

by yolanda on

The blog title is a little confusing! The blog title sounds like Iranians should ask Bahais to apologize to them........but after I read the blog, it souds like the auther wanted the Iranians to apologize to Bahais for all the injustice!


salman farsi

Is it my English or is it brother Diba's?

by salman farsi on

 

I am not so good in English but the title of this blog:

Iranians should ask for apologies from Baha'is 

means to me that Iranians (I suppose he means non-Baha'i Iranians) should ask the Baha'is (I suppose he means Baha'i Iranians) to apologise to them. In other words Baha'is should apologise to Iranains!

Am I right?

If so, then the text of the blog suggests Iranian should apologise to Baha'is (for the crime Iranians have comitted agaisnt the Baha'is) which is completely the opposite of the title of the blog.

So either me or brother Diba "should" revisit our English grammar books. 

 

 

For an Islamic democracy


Freethought111

Mash_Ghasem

by Freethought111 on

With all due respect, these a$$holes talk as if the whole Iranian nation was involved in something on the scale of the Holocaust against them. Nothing of the sort has occured to the Bahais. Not even close. Furthermore these a$$holes are attempting to claim the legacy of the Babis and force an apology regarding a movement the Bahais had absolutely nothing to do with. All things considered, compared to other minorities the Bahais have had it quite well under all regimes of the past 140 years. They especially thrived under the two Pahlavi monarchs - but now complain about it - and compared to what the IRI could've done to them, they have faired far better than most Iranians under this fascist system. Yet they keep bombarding the world with the BIG LIE that they are the victims of "cultural genocide" and all Iranians owe them an apology. 

Iranians owe these cultists nothing.

 


amirparvizforsecularmonarchy

Crimes are still being committed on people that are Bahaii

by amirparvizforsecularmonarchy on

It is not enough to appologize as a nation.  To be honestly forgiven Iranians have to honestly change and stop these crimes.

I 110% Condemn the crimes being done to Bahaii'stoday and in the past in my name.  IRI is harming a part of me, even though I am not a bahaii or religous person, and not just any pat of me, but a part of me that has accomplished so much good.

All my best wishes to irans minorities, bahai's, jews, zoroastrians and others.  I will never forget or forgive the unforgivable crimes that have been perpetrated against you and many others during the dark days of Iran, 1979 to ... until we unite under one leader and bring it to an end.