HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN

Dear friends

Thanks to both of you, Alborz and Faryam. I really enjoyed reading you two's great explanation and information. It is true that I may be TOO passionate about that subject and can't see the whole picture for the time being, but for now, I am really for voicing our anger and our protest against the atrocities of the "powerful force"  to the "weak people". As I said, this is the inequality of this war which outrage me the most. This is called a " jang naa barabar".........

Thanks again.

What is Active , What is passive?

I think there is plenty of merit in the discussion of who is passive and what kind of action can be considered as active in eliminating war and bringing about a lasting peace.

Souri Jaan..

Souri Jaan, 

I wanted to write a quick response, despite a bad case of flu and high fever, so please excuse the delayed response and any shortcomings; hopefully the spirit of it will make some sense :) 

The Bahai International Community  has neither financial or political clout. Its only lobby is its moral standing with the nations of the world, be they friend or foe. 

Your answer to the "atrocities" can be nothing but sadness and the added resolve by the Bahai world to appeal to peoples and the Governments of the world to look within, to try to understand the underlying causes of war and hatred; for a peaceful resolution of not just the arab Israeli conflict, but a common solution to all other conflicts over land, race and religion.  A cure for the cause not the symptom.

The Bahai Vision for unity is not some hastily crafted UN piecemeal solution but what Bahais believe to be a divinely ordained plan for the physical and spiritual unity of the planet, that is in the process and WILL materialize.

What is taking place today and "more", has been foreseen by Baha'u'llah and addressed in detail by Himself, by HIs son Abdul Baha. By His great grandson Shoghi effendi, the Translator and expounder of His writings into english, and by Universal House Of Justice, who in 1985, well before the mounting dangers of today, addressed in no uncertain language the challenges and the consequences  that will be faced of a heedless humanity. 

"Whatever suffering and turmoil the years immediately ahead may hold, however dark the immediate circumstances, the Bahá’í community believes that humanity can confront this supreme trial with confidence in its ultimate outcome. Far from signalizing the end of civilization, the convulsive changes towards which humanity is being ever more rapidly impelled will serve to release the “potentialities inherent in the station of man” and reveal “the full measure of his destiny on earth, the innate excellence of his reality”. 

“Whether peace is to be reached only after unimaginable horrors precipitated by humanity’s stubborn clinging to old patterns of behaviour, or is to be embraced now by an act of consultative will, is the choice before all who inhabit the earth. At this critical juncture when the intractable problems confronting nations have been fused into one common concern for the whole world, failure to stem the tide of conflict and disorder would be unconscionably irresponsible”

They believe that by the Power of Providence, together with  living and putting the peaceful Bahai teachings into practice they will eventually bring about peace on a universal level. 

Such is the ACTIVE role of the Bahai on both an individual as well as the community level in working for peace. 

 From well before the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, from the time of the Ottoman rule, to the British Mandate after world war I, to Israel's War of Independence 1947 to the present day, The Bahais have kept to the same principle of non interference ; this does not in any way mean Passivity, but as the history of the last 100 years has been building ,a new model of peace and cooperation throughout the planet, one assured by Baha'u'llah in His promise of a future when "these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the `Most Great Peace' shall come." 

Please realize that even non Iranian Bahais are not immune from atrocities throughout the world, whether in the genocide in Rwanda, The Congo, or in Arab countries.

One must realize that there are Bahais In all Arab lands all including Palestine, many of whom have existed from the time of Baha'u'llah and Abdul Baha; they too by virtue of their status share the same plight; needless to say that as a minority and as Bahais they are subject to the same prejudice and stigma as a Bahai in any Fundamentalist Islamic community.

The following was related  to me a few years ago,when I heard a it from a friend visiting Amman Jordan. While shopping he enters a jewelry store to buy a gift for his wife. Before leaving the jeweler extends a warm invite to  my friend to his home for dinner. 

That evening after meeting the entire family and friends over dinner, his eyes are drawn to a familiar image, common in most Bahai homes, the picture of Abdul Baha, the Son of Baha'u'llah, and in another place a Framed piece of Calligraphy in Arabic by the renowned Persian Mishkin Qalam.

My friend, a Bahai, with his heart beating rapidly, controls his emotions and the avoids asking obvious question, realizing the family's predicament awaits for the proper time.

The next day, as he visits the Jeweler to say farewell and give  thanks, he asks about the photograph of the white haired  old gentleman, at which time an overwhelming spirit of love leads to an mutual Bahai greeting and embrace.

My friend is then given a brief account of the family's situation as Bahais, of the need for discretion for living in Palestine and Jordan, as well as  the history of how their extended families came spread across the territory as they left the immediate area of Haifa and Akka in the late 1930s.

 In 1992 and 2007 I was fortunate to have visited the Holy Land and make acquaintance with both Palestinian and israelis. In 2007 I had a palestinian taxi driver, who proceeded to tell me that he has Bahai relatives on the “other side” , whose grandfather was a farmer at the time of Abdul Baha. I also met a cab driver / paratrooper who lost 9 friends in various “operations”. All these people want nothing more than a peaceful and tranquil life to raise their children and prosper.

I fear, that as in the rest of the world, including ours,  the trouble is not the with average citizen or innocent people, but the selfish and self serving actions of ambitious religious leaders and opportunist politicians.

Without these negative elements,whipping up arabs and Israelis to stubbornly cling to old patterns of behavior, I am certain we could have another peaceful, prosperous and flourishing Gold Coast (San Francisco, to Carmel to  Santa Monica) from Beirut, to Tel Aviv, down  to Gaza.

warmly

Faryarm

Ps.

I will reread this and correct the above when the fever drops by a couple of degrees ! 

Dear Souri, our definitions of passive...

... differ vastly.  While you consider the principles "grand and precious", Baha'is consider them as an active (not passive) plan for the elimination of all conflict.  Those that have expressed their views since the start of this conflict, can also be characterized as passive because up until the day before the start of the conflict they were busying themselves with their personal concerns.  There is no greater indifference to the Palestinian people or anyother human being suffering on this earth, when the very same bloggers on this topic and those that commented at the onset of the conflict were consumed with their own self interests and their own brand of nationalism.   This is a repeated pattern of attention and inattention to the plight of humanity.

Far from being passive, Baha'is that are committed to their principles, are dedicating their daily lives to redefining the terms on which human relationships are established.   This is not idealism but pragmatic realism.

The token Rabbi video link that you have referenced represents one of many views on both sides of the conflict.  For that matter, Egypt a Moslem Arab country, supported and gave the green light for the start of this conflict.  Should I continue?  Perhaps I should.  Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait, three of the most wealthy Arab Moslem countries in the region have contributed less to the well-being of the Palestinians than the EU and US, even before Hamas came to power in the Gaza.  Why?  Lack of unity.  Yes, the very principle that Baha'is are focused on actively (not passively).

Trust me, when I tell you that far from being passive, the patient is hemorrhaging and none of the unenforceable UN Resolutions, nor the vehement condemnations of either side of this conflict will have a chance of reviving this patient.   This patient and the entire body of humanity needs an intervention of a magnitude that none of the global machinations nor the blogs on this site can affect.  I assure you that once the sieze fire is implemented, the very writers of these blogs with their pronouncements of support for either side, will go silent and once again be consumed with their personal lives, devoid of concern for either side of this conflict.

Those Baha'is committed to their principles, are actively committed to changing the hearts and minds of people on how we are to resolve conflicts and on what basis, so that such conflicts will not arise and result in the distruction and suffering that has ravaged Iraqis during the past 6 years and Palestinians during the past 60 years.

Again, I respect your views, but our definitions and priorities differ vastly. Your support for the plight of the Baha'is is appreciated and yet the case is far different than the support that is given and expressed for either side of this conflict.  The Baha'is, in the face of all that has been inflicted on them, have never resorted to retaliation, but rather stood firm on their principles and brought the matter to the attention of the world community.  Your support along with that of the various world NGOs and governments has had its respective effect.  I doubt that the Baha'is would have had an ounce of support had they engaged in any subversive action even though they could have argued that it was in response to their plight. 

Dear Souri, rest assured that the plight of any human being in the current conflict is the very reason why Baha'is are so committed to changing one heart at a time.

Your views are always respected, irrespective of which side you happen to support in this conflict.

Alborz

Dear Alborz

Thanks for hearing my question and taking time to respond.

Please rest assure of my utmost respect for yourself and all Bahai friends here in the site and all around the world.

The principle you just mentioned are very beautiful. I do understand that once we have such a great perspective, we won't like to compromise it for any reason. Still, in my humble opinion, I believe those belief and principle however grand and precious, make us maintaining a "passive" atitude vis-a-vis the pressing problem. I would rather to hear that "The Bahai people around the world, condemn the barbaric action of Israel"...or something like that. Even the Pope did it, even the Rabbi in US did it, but not a single Bahai stated their opinion.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pPq1C5s0SY&feature=email

Today's world is full of injustice, war, atrocity....etc. While we call on the people for defending Bahai's right under the rules of Human Rights, we can not stand quiet and calm, face to one government's atorcities toward a poor nation.

This war is just unfair. The two parties involved, are not equal in force and mean. I deplor this injustice. I prey for the Palestinian people every day. 

Dear Souri...you have raised a question...

... that I can only answer from my understanding of the Baha'i Writings.  Others may respond to this question differently, but what is common in our understaning is reflected in the absence of comments that condones the acts of either side in this conflict in the blogs that have been posted since the start of the hostilities.

These blogs, without exception, have been laden with a bias for one side or another in the conflict.  The ensuing comments by the readership have either been in opposition or agreement with the perspectives expressed in the blogs.  In many instances, they have degraded to being personal attacks and name calling.  Far from having any beneficial impact they have created an atmosphere of hate amongst folks while the real participants in this conflict continue to suffer heavy tolls on their life and property.

I, as an individual, have read many of the blogs and glanced at the comments, and not once have I been moved to participate with similar bias, support or condemnation.  I have not seen the value, nor the impact it will have on the conflict. The root of this conflict, while different in specifics, is not different from that which characterizes the problems that we face as a human society.

The following quote from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, is the one that I am most moved by when facing the erruption of such crises.

The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.

We can well perceive how the whole human race is encompassed with great, with incalculable afflictions. We see it languishing on its bed of sickness, sore-tried and disillusioned. They that are intoxicated by self-conceit have interposed themselves between it and the Divine and infallible Physician. Witness how they have entangled all men, themselves included, in the mesh of their devices. They can neither discover the cause of the disease, nor have they any knowledge of the remedy. They have conceived the straight to be crooked, and have imagined their friend an enemy.

Incline your ears to the sweet melody of this Prisoner. Arise, and lift up your voices, that haply they that are fast asleep may be awakened. Say: O ye who are as dead! The Hand of Divine bounty proffereth unto you the Water of Life. Hasten and drink your fill. Whoso hath been re-born in this Day, shall never die; whoso remaineth dead, shall never live. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u'lláh, ch. 106

I hasten to say that while everyone agrees that the erruption of the current conflict in Gaza was not spontaneous and has deep rooted reasons, everyone is focused on the conflict and wishes to address the conflict by assigning blame and using the opportunity to mischaracterize and discredit the supporters of each side.

In this context, I have chosen to not take part, not because I have no perspective, but rather, if I were to express it, it would be done under a separate blog.  This blog would analyze this conflict in terms of it roots only to arrive at a resolution.  Resolutions would be the focus of my comments.  None of the existing blogs provide such a context. How can I express a view where I would have to condemn one side and exonerate the other side?  I just don't feel that if I were to do so, I would be fair to either side.  My entire view on this conflict is best summed up in the following passage, as recorded by Professor Edward Brown, of Cambridge University, who met with Baha'u'llah, in Palestine, in 1890.

We desire but the good of the world and happiness of the nations.... That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled... Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the "Most Great Peace" shall come.... These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family.... Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind....

Dear Souri, you be the judge. How can I have and express a view in support or in condemnation of either side when my personal goal is to maintain such a principle?  Once I do so, I feel as if I have sacrificed the principle.  This is indeed the principle that needs to be established so that these conflicts end and the era of the  Most Great Peace is established.  This is my understanding of the principles at work and why I generally don't take part in these blogs.  When I have participated, as I did in the case of this conflict, the comment has been principle-based and generally ignored by others in the heat of counter-attacks.  This is where I find my peace, while others may find it in condemnation of one side and exoneration of the other.  You agree that it is not as simple as that, as no conflict is.

Alborz

Dear Faryam

I'd read your blog this morning. I have a question from the Bahai's in this regard which is not related to the subject of your blog, directly. That's why I'd waited for the debate started before I could place my question, alas nobody has show up until now.

Please take my question very friendly, the issue came on a debate with some friends out of this site. I wanna know exactly the position of the Bahai's in regard to the barbaric action of Israel now, and for the whole decades that she is oppressing the Palestinian people.

I know Bahai is only a spiritual religion and I know the Bahai's don't and shouldn't take part in politics. That has been said and understood, as human who have a spiritual religion which teach only love and equality of all, you must have an idea, a special position in reagrad to the atrocities committed by a country, a government who is doing this to a minority for a long while.

What is this position ? What is your opinion ?

Thanks,