I was reading an article published by Bahá'í World about a re-emergence of threats to Bahá'ís in Iran. (the link to an overview of Bahai persecution is available by clicking the title above). In summary, it said that the the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief was very concerned about a confidential letter sent last Fall by a high level military official of the Armed Forces in Iran to many government agencies stating that a new instruction is issued to monitor and keep tabs on all members of the Bahá'í faith. This notice serves as likely proof that they will increase persecutions and discrimination against Bahá'ís in Iran. Just like they did in the 70's 80's and 90's.
Already the Bahá'ís are barred from seeking higher education, what will they gain from knowing about every single Bahá'í in the country? Who knows when this will stop. Especially if the target based on the confidential letter is aimed at all Bahá'ís in Iran, which numbers the largest religious minority in the country (350K).
The basis? Religious hatred by Islamic fundamentalists who view the Bahá’í Faith as a threat to Islam. Based on the article above, "...The progressive position of the Faith on women’s rights, independent investigation of truth, and education has particularly rankled Muslim clerics."
I am reading about these events and shudder to think how more people will go through even more injustice, lose their rights to go to school, lose their lives, family, dignity etc. More of the same. This happened before...
About a month ago we had a visitor from California, a wonderful smart graceful woman who is a truly radiant person. Pieter and I ended up sharing many late nights with her raising issues that were insightful, deep and inspiring at the same time. From my perspective, I felt like she understood so much about me, what experiences we both suffered through and had in common...and yet lived such different lives. Anyway, her family was from Iran, and even though they lived in the US after leaving Iran and unable to return after the revolution, her father did. When he arrived back to reclaim his home, possessions, memories, he was imprisoned and could not come home. They did not know when or if they would ever see him again. Many years passed before he was ever released, after going through hell being moved from prison to prison, never knowing if he will live, see his family again or see the light of day.
This was not a story from a revolutionary time from long ago, this is recent, this 21st century global civilization with the Internet, blogger's, intertwined economy binding ties among countries, peoples and lifestyles. This was not just another movie reflecting what could happen in things got worse.
I watched V for Vendetta about a futuristic Britian that was run by a dictator aiming to keep unity and peace in a nation through creatively spinning the media, intolerance, injustice and at times murder torture and imprisonment. In walks in the Guy Fawkes mask wearing revolutionary (or terroist depending on your view) who attempts to knock sense into complacent masses of society who sense the injustice but who feel powerless until this symbol of rebellion awakes their collective self-conscience.
As I reviewed the critics of the film, I found some who loved it and praised the film, and others who vehemently found it far fetched, lacking depth and integrity. It occurs to me, that the "far fetched" concept is just not so far off...
I am not sure what the impact of this new development in Iran will come to light. If the past poses any insight, there may be many more friends of ours who will suffer as a result of this newly charged enthusiasm against the Bahá'ís. However, I have to retain hope that the Bahá'í international Community (the NGO I interned during my second year of law school that taught me amazing lessons about diplomacy, injustice and how to tactfully defend human rights) will be assisted by several governments and organizations that will demand that further human right violations on a people of a religion that is based on world peace, be stopped, prevented and removed as an agenda item of that country.
4 comments:
I wonder if the worst is still to come.
Progessive position on women's rights threatens the Muslim clerics!!! Fourteen hundred or so years ago, it was THEIR religion that made the local governments uneasy because THEY were the ones posing equality for women. They're totally off their roots.
Agree and feel the worst is still to come, unless however they find a glimmer of truth beyond the veils that cloud their judgment. I can only hope.
There are a few Muslim groups that truly do stand for everything the Qur'an means, and if one of them could gain political power in any one country in that area, they could trigger something positive in the entire area.
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