Yet another gross violation of human rights has occurred against the followers of the Bahá’í s faith. Fifty-four youth were arrested in Shiraz, Iran while engaged in a humanitarian effort for UNICEF. Though the reasons for the detention are still unclear, all non- Bahá’í s involved and a Bahá’í junior youth have been released.
This is just one of many actions that the Iranian government has taken against religious minorities in the past month. In a highly confidential letter addressed to the “the Ministry of Information, the Revolutionary Guard and the Police Force, states that the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, had instructed the Command Headquarters to identify persons who adhere to the Bahá’í faith and monitor their activities. The letter goes on to request the recipients to, in a highly confidential manner, collect any and all information about members of the Bahá’í faith.” (Jahangir)
In addition to this Iranian media – including newspapers and radio stations – have engaged in a constant repertory of anti-Bahá’í propaganda. This has given rise to a greater level of unfounded suspicion and contention towards the members of the Bahá’í faith in Iran.
Please take action against these despicable crimes against religious minorities in Iran; we must fight against social cleansing! I cannot bear to hear another story of another Bahá’í youth being put to death for his or her beliefs (see A Dress for Mona).
Update available on Bahá’í World News
Sources and further reading:
- The Growing Threat to Iran’s Bahá’ís
- Fifty-four Bahá’ís Arrested in Iran
- United Nations Religious Official Expresses Fears for Bahá’ís in Iran
- Statement by Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the UN
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion… (Official UN Press Release)
- Summary and Analysis of Recent Media Attacks of Bahá’ís in Iran
- What is the Hojjatieh Society?
- Cultural Cleansing in Iran
- Iran’s Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Bahá’ís in Iran
- The Situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran (Some Background Information)
very sad.
Iran was one of the 1st countries that respected different religions. But now she has gone backward, persecuting minorities.
Besides, Iran will never achieve as lonog as she is fixated on “religion”.