Imprisoned In Iran For Religious Belief
VOA
18-May-2009 (4 comments)

In a report released this month, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan governmental body, described a deteriorating situation regarding religious freedom in Iran -- particularly for Baha'is, Evangelical Christians, and Sufi Muslims. At least 30 members of the Baha'i community are in prison because of their faith, according to the Commission. Dozens are awaiting trial, while others have been arbitrarily sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3 months to several years. The 7 Baha'i community leaders remain in prison charged with crimes -- such as "insulting religious sanctities" and espionage -- that could result in the death penalty. May 14th was the one-year anniversary of their arrest.

The Commission also cited the cases of persecuted Christians in Iran, like Marzieh Esmaeilabad and Maryam Rustampoor. The 2 women were arrested in March for practicing Christianity after authorities raided and confiscated materials from their home. Authorities reportedly have accused them of engaging in anti-government activities, and they are being held in Evin where they face further interrogation.  

Sufi Muslims have also been targeted by the Iranian government because of their faith. The Commission reports that in the past year more than a dozen Sufi Muslims, including 6 members of the Gonabadi Dervishes on Kish Island, were arrested; some are still in prison, while the whereabouts of others are unknown.

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Farhad Kashani

Yo Joe,  

by Farhad Kashani on

Yo Joe,

 

“Dawg”..check this out..You’re wrong and falsifying. Mixed neighborhoods in this country are everywhere. I live in one of them, and I don’t see any “non whites” harassed. Are there instances where some people get some harassments based on their color in some neighborhoods, sure, but it’s not a phenomena. That “widespread phenomena” only exists in your imagination. Stop listening to hip hop. They promote hate and clash of cultures all to make money.

 

One more thing: in this “Racist” country, they elected a black president! I guess you have your own definition of “racist”!

 

So stop lying, it’s annoying!

  


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Joe, how do you know police wasnt telling the truth!

by johnDow (not verified) on

Joe L. You are lucky you just got pulled over.
You have no idea how you will be treated in Iran if you are of certain races. It wont be pretty, you are way better off here with white fox. Trust me.


Joe L.

why complain?

by Joe L. on

Hell we are the greatest democracy in the world and I still get pulled over when driving in the white neighborhood at night.

Last week the cup stopped me and says: we had some complains that a car "JUST LIKE YOURS" is circling the neighborhood. He evidently ran out of bull to say.

So for a young Republic of 30 years, this is no big shit


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Action - Defending the Prisoners of Evin

by Bahá’í Lady (not verified) on

Dear FK,

Thank you for posting this report. The Bahá’ís across the world are agonizing over the situation of their brothers and sisters in Iran.

This month marks the one-year anniversary of the unjust imprisonment of seven Bahá’í leaders in Iran who have spent a year in jail on the fabricated charges of “espionage for Israel,” “insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.”

Recently, the families of those imprisoned were told that the seven Bahá'ís are to be charged with "spreading of corruption on Earth," which carries the threat of death under Iran’s penal code. These seven Bahá’ís have languished in prison without formal charges or access to their lawyer, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Shirin Ebadi.

It is well known that Bahá’ís are peaceful and non-political. Nevertheless, Bahá’ís have a responsibility to speak for justice. In the U.S. we are taking the following steps.

Baha'is are asking those committed to human rights and interfaith understanding to join with them in prayer for justice and for an end of religious persecution in Iran.

Human Rights Watch has called for the release of the seven Baha'i prisoners or a prompt trial, with "fair and open proceedings." The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has announced that the accusation is “contrived, and has been used as a pretext to persecute Bahá’ís for more than three quarters of a century.”

Bani Dugal, representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations, said on May 12, 2009 that “despite their obvious innocence and the call by many for their immediate release, these seven men and women have been in legal limbo for a year now, against all international human rights standards.”

Baha'is are asking their friends to join in urging Congress to support H. Res. 175 and S. Res. 71 calling for the release of the Iranian Bahá’í leaders and other Bahá’í prisoners. Please urge Congress to support H. Res. 175 and S. Res. 71.

You can learn whether your Congressional Representative is a co-sponsor of H. Res. 175 here //iran.bahai.us/hres175-on-the-bahai-in-iran/

Ask your Representative to co-sponsor and vote for this resolution. Visit www.house.gov and enter your “zip plus four” code. Click on the homepage for your Representative. Follow the instructions for sending an email message and ask your Representative to co-sponsor and vote for H. Res. 175 calling for the release of the Iranian Bahá’í prisoners.

You can learn whether your Senators are a co-sponsor of S. Res. 71 at //iran.bahai.us/s-res-71-on-the-bahais-in-ira... If they are not, find your Senator at //www.senate.gov/ using the pull down menu. Follow the instructions for sending an email message and ask your Senators to co-sponsor and vote for S. Res. 71 which calls for the release of the Iranian Bahá’í leaders and other Bahá’í prisoners.

Updates and background on the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran are posted at //iran.bahai.us.

Please accept my heartfelt thanks to anyone who considers these steps in beha;f of the imprisoned Bahá’ís scheduled to be tried in Iran.