Religious persecution, Religious persecution, 2121stst century style century style

The Universal Declaration of Human The Universal Declaration of Human RightsRights

Is signed by all member statesIs signed by all member states “…“…every organ of society, keeping this every organ of society, keeping this

Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance”effective recognition and observance”

1844 in Shiraz: a new world faith is 1844 in Shiraz: a new world faith is bornborn

The Baha’i FaithThe Baha’i Faith

Upholds the divine origin of all the world’s major Upholds the divine origin of all the world’s major faithsfaiths

Advocates the equality of men and womenAdvocates the equality of men and women Proclaims the equal worth of all people, of Proclaims the equal worth of all people, of

whatever race, religion or nationalitywhatever race, religion or nationality Advocates a world governmentAdvocates a world government Upholds the essential unity of science and religionUpholds the essential unity of science and religion Supports marriage, family life and universal Supports marriage, family life and universal

educationeducation

Baha’is nowBaha’is now

Live in every significant country and territory Live in every significant country and territory in the worldin the world

Derive from a bewildering variety of ethnic Derive from a bewildering variety of ethnic groupsgroups

Run thousands of socio-economic and Run thousands of socio-economic and educational programmeseducational programmes

Are active in the NGO and civil society Are active in the NGO and civil society programmes of the UNOprogrammes of the UNO

Baha’is are loyal to governmentsBaha’is are loyal to governments

““In every country or government where any of this In every country or government where any of this community reside, they must behave towards that community reside, they must behave towards that government with faithfulness, trustfulness and government with faithfulness, trustfulness and truthfulness.”truthfulness.”

““If it should happen that one of the friends be If it should happen that one of the friends be called upon to serve his country and people in called upon to serve his country and people in some capacity, he should apply himself to the some capacity, he should apply himself to the work with heart and soul, and discharge his duties work with heart and soul, and discharge his duties with perfect honesty, trustworthiness and with perfect honesty, trustworthiness and godliness.”godliness.”

Iran: A long history of persecutionIran: A long history of persecution

For many…death…for others exileFor many…death…for others exile

““We desire but the good of the We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the world and the happiness of the

nations; yet they deem us a nations; yet they deem us a stirrer up of strife and sedition stirrer up of strife and sedition

worthy of bondage and worthy of bondage and banishment… That all nations banishment… That all nations

should become one in faith and should become one in faith and all men as brothers…what harm all men as brothers…what harm

is there in this?”is there in this?”

Baha’u’llah to Dr E.G. Browne, 1890Baha’u’llah to Dr E.G. Browne, 1890

““We fain would hope…that His Majesty the Shah will himself We fain would hope…that His Majesty the Shah will himself examine these matters, and bring hope to the hearts.”examine these matters, and bring hope to the hearts.”

The persecutions of the 1950s…The persecutions of the 1950s…beforebefore

The House of the Bab in ShirazThe House of the Bab in Shiraz

… … and afterand after

The House of the Bab in ShirazThe House of the Bab in Shiraz

The persecutions of the 1950s -beforeThe persecutions of the 1950s -before

The Baha’i national centre in TeheranThe Baha’i national centre in Teheran

The army does its bitThe army does its bit

As does the clergy!As does the clergy!

… … and afterand after

In 1979 the site became “The Free Islamic University”In 1979 the site became “The Free Islamic University”

The persecutions from 1979 The persecutions from 1979 onwards - beforeonwards - before

The House of the Bab restored to its pre-1955 conditionThe House of the Bab restored to its pre-1955 condition

And after…And after…

The house has since become a car parkThe house has since become a car park

1979 onwards, a systematic 1979 onwards, a systematic campaign of persecution campaign of persecution

Women required to wear “Islamic” dressWomen required to wear “Islamic” dress Baha’is dismissed from schools and universitiesBaha’is dismissed from schools and universities Baha’is in government employment dismissed, Baha’is in government employment dismissed,

pensions cancelled, and some ordered to repay all pensions cancelled, and some ordered to repay all salaries ever earned! salaries ever earned!

At first no protection from mobs and At first no protection from mobs and assassinations. Next, the government joined in, assassinations. Next, the government joined in, and many Baha’is have been imprisoned, and and many Baha’is have been imprisoned, and around 300 executedaround 300 executed

Baha’i marriage outlawed as “prostitution” Baha’i marriage outlawed as “prostitution”

A lady murdered in front of her family at Kata in A lady murdered in front of her family at Kata in 19791979

Prof M Hakim, Prof of Medicine at the University of Prof M Hakim, Prof of Medicine at the University of Tehran, assassinated in January 1981. Tehran, assassinated in January 1981.

1979 onwards (cont.)1979 onwards (cont.)

The elected National Spiritual Assembly The elected National Spiritual Assembly disappeared in 1981, never to be seen disappeared in 1981, never to be seen againagain

After an election was held to replace the After an election was held to replace the arrested National Spiritual Assembly, the arrested National Spiritual Assembly, the new National Spiritual Assembly also new National Spiritual Assembly also disappeared for gooddisappeared for good

The Baha’i administration was outlawedThe Baha’i administration was outlawed The Baha’i children’s savings bank was The Baha’i children’s savings bank was

seized without any compensationseized without any compensation

Seven members of the Baha’i community of Seven members of the Baha’i community of Yazd, executed in September 1980Yazd, executed in September 1980

1979 onwards (cont.)1979 onwards (cont.)

At least 7 Baha’i conscripts in the army have been At least 7 Baha’i conscripts in the army have been murdered without any punishment of the murdered without any punishment of the perpetratorsperpetrators

Hundreds of houses burned and assets seizedHundreds of houses burned and assets seized Many Baha’is escaped to camps in Pakistan, and Many Baha’is escaped to camps in Pakistan, and

thence elsewherethence elsewhere Women hanged in Shiraz in 1983 for teaching Women hanged in Shiraz in 1983 for teaching

Baha’i Sunday School Baha’i Sunday School Baha'i cemeteries desecrated Baha'i cemeteries desecrated

The Baha’i cemetery in ShirazThe Baha’i cemetery in Shiraz

So, why are we talking about this So, why are we talking about this now?now?

UN action vastly slowed down the persecution UN action vastly slowed down the persecution after 1985. The number of actual executions after 1985. The number of actual executions declined with UN pressure. We therefore know declined with UN pressure. We therefore know that international efforts are effectivethat international efforts are effective

The Baha’i home schooling and home university The Baha’i home schooling and home university system, created when state education was denied system, created when state education was denied them, has been closed down in 2005them, has been closed down in 2005

2005 has seen an upturn in arrests, and further 2005 has seen an upturn in arrests, and further Baha’i holy places destroyed, including Baha’i holy places destroyed, including Baha’u’llah’s parents’ house, one of the best Baha’u’llah’s parents’ house, one of the best preserved early 19-century houses in the country preserved early 19-century houses in the country

And above all…And above all…

The Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on The Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion and belief, Human Rights on freedom of religion and belief, Asma Jahangir, announced in March 2006 that Asma Jahangir, announced in March 2006 that she had discovered:she had discovered:– A letter of 29 October 2005 from the Chairman of the A letter of 29 October 2005 from the Chairman of the

Command HQ of the Armed Forces of Iran that the Command HQ of the Armed Forces of Iran that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has instructed government agencies to identify Baha’is and instructed government agencies to identify Baha’is and to monitor their activities.to monitor their activities.

UN Statement 20 March 2006 (1)UN Statement 20 March 2006 (1)

“ “ The Special Rapporteur states that she is The Special Rapporteur states that she is apprehensive about the initiative to monitor apprehensive about the initiative to monitor the activities of individuals merely because the activities of individuals merely because they adhere to a religion that differs from the they adhere to a religion that differs from the state religion. She considers that such state religion. She considers that such monitoring constitutes an impermissible and monitoring constitutes an impermissible and unacceptable interference with the rights of unacceptable interference with the rights of members of religious minorities…”members of religious minorities…”

UN Statement 20 March 2006 (2)UN Statement 20 March 2006 (2)

“ “ She also expresses concern that the She also expresses concern that the information gained as a result of such information gained as a result of such monitoring will be used as a basis for the monitoring will be used as a basis for the increased persecution of, and discrimination increased persecution of, and discrimination against, members of the Baha’i Faith, in against, members of the Baha’i Faith, in violation of international standards.”violation of international standards.”

What are we asking for?What are we asking for?

We seek no special privilegesWe seek no special privileges We ask for international monitoring to We ask for international monitoring to

continuecontinue We ask for Iran to observe the Universal We ask for Iran to observe the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights, which it has Declaration of Human Rights, which it has signed signed

We want a Faith whose members are loyal, We want a Faith whose members are loyal, peaceful, honest and trustworthy, to be peaceful, honest and trustworthy, to be emancipated in the land of its birth.emancipated in the land of its birth.