I received an heart wrenching email around midnight that 57 Bahá'í youth were recently arrested in Shiraz. They were taken captured, and imprisoned...I supposed by the authorities. I do not know any details, or have I verified with any news agency. As much as I hope (and pray) it is not true, it could be.
Today also commemorates a holy day for Bahá'ís, with the Declaration of the Báb, which began the "Bahá'í era". 163 years ago, the Báb, the prophet-herald of the Bahá'í Faith, announced in the same city of Shiraz, that he was the herald of a new messenger of God and with that new messenger, a new age in which a new type of society, one of unity, and world peace.
Commencing with the announcement of the Báb, Bahá'ís believe the coming of Bahá'u'lláh opened the age for the establishment of world peace, when, as anticipated in the sacred scriptures of the past, all humanity will achieve its spiritual and social maturity, and live as one united family in a just, global society. Bahá'ís believe that there is one God, that all humanity is one family, and that there is a fundamental unity underlying religion. Interesting note that the night of the Declaration of the Báb coincided with the 1st transmission in Morse code in 1844 with the following words: “What hath God wrought?”
Is this a religion that deserves persecution?? More than 20,000 Bahá'ís have already died, people have been killed in the past and in the recent present. Now today, of all days, more youth, YOUTH, students, kids, not adults, but youth have been captured and imprisoned???!!!
I will not recount all the history of the Bahá'í persecutions in the past, (go to Bahai.org/iranthreat for more history and information) but I am constantly and utterly numbed at how this can persist even through today.
I know that recently, there has been fear that the attack on the Bahá'ís would get worse. The White House even took note.(See blog entry on White House responds). It is happening, it is happening, the fear has become reality.
The only thing I know what to do is to say prayers for these youth, for strength, courage, safety and their return, and that as these events take hold, as the world takes notice, that action will follow thought, and voices will be heard to change this situation, before it gets too late.
2 comments:
... The latest update is that the Iranian government has arrested 60 Bahá'í youth in Shiraz. They are in the same prison where Mona and the other Bahá'í women were kept in the 1980s. Their only guilt is to teach children's classes! ..... Rahil, Maaman and Martha are 18, 17 and 21 years old, respectively. What we've heard is that they were arrested with a large group of youth and young adults who had been serving as tutors of math, science and English to poor children, a program that had been given the permission of the local government. As far as we know, their families have not been able to see them yet.
UPDATE ON ARRESTS IN IRAN
I read an article from the Bahai World News service that indicate that of the 54 (final count) of the Bahai's who were arrested, 51 have been released on bail. The other three are still in jail. At least most of them are out with their families, although I hope that charges etc. that are made against these youth are dropped quickly.
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