Baha’i Child Rape Court Case - Implications for Iran

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Baha’i Child Rape Court Case - Implications for Iran
by MaryamJoon
11-Sep-2012
 

You only have to know three names to understand this story: (1) Remey, (2) Abdu'l-Bahá, and (3) Jensen.  The U.S. court’s opinion rejecting the appeal of the Baha’i leader’s rape conviction is below.  And as you will see Remey sought to design a Baha’i building in Iran. 

Charles Remey:

Charles Remey was a prominent American Bahá'í, with a close relationship with one of the central Baha’i holy figures, Abdu'l-Bahá, and was one of the people that organized his family’s trips to the U.S. and looked after them. Remey was also an architect within the Bahá'í leadership. He designed the Australian and Ugandan Bahá'í House of Worship which still stand today and are the “mother temples” for Africa. Upon the request of Shoghi Effendi, Abdul Baha’s son, Remey made designs for a Bahá'í House of Worship in Tehran. Remey was also a member of what is called ‘Nine Hands of the Cause’ (the Baha’I leadership) elected as the authority until the election of what is called Israel’s ‘Universal House of Justice’ in 1963.

Remey was well-liked by`Abdu'l-Bahá and worked with him:

Abdu'l-Bahá praised Remey’s efforts and character in a a writing (called a “Tablet”) to Corrine True, published in the Bahá'í newsletter “Star of the West” in August 1920.

What follows is one of the many examples of `Abdu'l-Bahá’s affection for Remey:

"Praise be unto God, that the model [of the structure] made by Mr. Bourgeois was approved by his honor, Mr. Remey, and selected by the Convention. His honor, Mr. Remey is, verily, of perfect sincerity. He is like unto transparent water, filtered; lucid and without any impurity. He worked earnestly for several years, but he did not have any personal motive. He has not attachment to anything except to the Cause of God. This is the spirit of the firm and this is the characteristic of the sincere." (Star of the West. Volume 11, No. 9, p. 139)

 Abdu'l-Bahá in 1921 stated the following about Remey:

"I have adopted you as my son. You have to appreciate this favor very much indeed. One should see that you are living according to the requirements of this sonship. You should be aware of your responsibilities. My prayers will help you. I always pray for you."    (`Abdu'l-Bahá to Remey, 1921: Final Visit in Tiberias, Folio 2, "A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Reminisces of the Master, 1921", pp.127-129)

Remey & Jensen:

Remey’s close associate was a man by the name of Dr. Leland Jensen, (“Local Bahá'í Leader dead at 81”. August 8, 1996. Missoulian p. B2).   Remey and Jensen implemented a scheme to use children, sexually, to lure people to the Baha’i movement.  During the three Iranian eras (Qajar, Pahlavi, and IRI) there were similar complaints, and there were similar complaints during the 1940s and 1950s by India’s and Pakistan’s Parsi (Zoroastrian) Community.  

 

The court’s affirmation of the Baha’i leaders child rape conviction:  

 

 

SEPTEMBER 24, 1969.

STATE OF MONTANA, PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT,

v.

DR. LELAND JENSEN, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT PETITIONER.

Original Proceeding for Post-conviction Relief made by Inmate of the Montana State Prison

PER CURIAM OPINION

Defendant in this cause has filed a petition for post-conviction relief. Defendant had appealed his conviction to this Court and it was affirmed. See State v. Jensen, 153 Mont. 233, 455 P.2d 631.

In his petition defendant asserts that his sentence and the proceedings whereby it was procured violated the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, in that:

1. Section 94-4106, R.C.M. 1947, as applied to this case and the sentence imposed constituted cruel and unusual punishment;

2. Said section 94-4106, R.C.M. 1947, as applied to his case is vague and without standards;

 

3. The State called for production of evidence by the defendant before he testified; and

4. The State forbid defendant and his counsel from interviewing witnesses called by the State.

Section 94-4106, R.C.M. 1947, reads: "Any person over the age of eighteen (18) years, who shall wilfully and lewdly commit any lewd and lascivious act, other than the acts constituting other crimes provided in section 94-4101 to 94-4108, upon or with the body or any part or member thereof, of a child under the age of sixteen (16) years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust or passions or sexual desires of such person, or of such child, shall be guilty of a felony, and shall be imprisoned in the state prison not exceeding twenty-five (25) years."

This statute was originally enacted as Sec. 1, Ch. 59, Laws of 1913, and remains substantially the same today except that the penalty was increased by Sec. 1, Ch. 57, Laws of 1959. The constitutionality of this statute was upheld in State v. Kocher, 112 Mont. 511, 119 P.2d 35. There is nothing cruel or unusual about a sentence confining one to the state prison for the commission of a felony.

The second contention that the statute is vague and without standards is without merit. As stated by this Court in the Kocher case, supra, the elements of the crime as set forth in the statute are: first, the offender must be over the age of 18 years; second, a lewd or lascivious act must have been committed upon or with the body or any part or member thereof, of a child under 16 years of age; and third, the act must have been committed with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust or passions or sexual desires of the accused or the child. There is nothing vague about this language and the standards are specifically set forth.

As to the request by the State for the production of evidence by defendant before he testified, it is true as disclosed by the quote from the record that the prosecution stated: "We will call upon the doctor to produce that card." No objection was made to this request, in fact counsel for the defendant stated: "We have the case history here and we will be glad to give it to you." However, even if we were to concede, arguendo, that the State should not have made any such request, what prejudice resulted? None. Defendant willingly furnished what was requested without any objection whatever.

The final assertion, that the State forbid the defense from interviewing witnesses. In support of this charge defendant submits excerpts from the trial transcript of cautionary remarks made by the trial judge to witnesses, advising them not to talk with anyone about the case on trial and if they desired advice as to the proper thing to do in any such situation they should consult the county attorney. Thus it was the statements of the trial judge rather than any remarks made by the prosecution that are cited in support of the contention. These matters were considered by this Court upon the appeal as indicated by the following paragraph from our opinion:

"During the course of the trial the court on several occasions gave instructions to the witnesses and made other comments, some of which may have implied to the jury that the court felt the witnesses were telling the truth. We find no merit in appellant's argument on this issue. At no time did his counsel object to these comments. The leading case in Montana on comments by the court is State v. Dixson, 80 Mont. 181260 P. 138 (1927). In that case objection to the comment was made immediately and we see no reason why that should not have been done here. The general rule is that the lower court cannot be put in error with an issue raised for the first time on appeal. State v. Campbell, 146 Mont. 251, 405 P.2d 978 [22 A.L.R.3d 824] (1965)."

There being no merit to any of the contentions made by the defendant his petition for post-conviction relief is denied.

 

 

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Dale_Husband

I doubt it....

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Charles Mason Remey's supposed adoption by Abdu'l-Baha as his son is something that Haifan Baha'is have consistently denied since the 1960s. I'd think if it were at all valid, then Abdu'l-Baha would have appointed Remey as the FIRST Guardian of the Cause of God and not Shoghi Effendi.  

Dale Husband, the Honorable Skeptic


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Did Abdul Baha say this about Remey?

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"I have adopted you as my son. You have to appreciate this favor very much indeed. One should see that you are living according to the requirements of this sonship. You should be aware of your responsibilities. My prayers will help you. I always pray for you."

   (Abdu'l-Bahá to Remey, 1921: Final Visit in Tiberias, Folio 2, "A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Reminisces of the Master, 1921", pp.127-129)


Dale_Husband

Some corrections

by Dale_Husband on

Shoghi Effendi was Abdu'l-Baha's eldest grandson.

There were dozens of Hands of the Cause of God in 1957, when Shoghi Effendi died. The nine Hands, including Charles Mason Remey, that were elected to lead the Faith until the establishment of the Universal House of Justice in 1963 were called Custodians of the Faith.

After Shoghi Effendi died, it was discovered that he had appointed no one to succeed him as Guardian of the Cause of God, and such an appointment would have had to have been approved by a council of nine of the Hands of the Cause of God, elected by the entire body of Hands themselves. This was clearly defined in the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Baha.   But when Remey made claim to be the second Guardian, with no evidence that this was justified, the Custodians of the Faith voted to reject that claim as false. Remey was then expelled as a Covenant Breaker. But the ultimate Covenant Breaker was Shoghi Effendi himself! His death actually put an end to any legitimacy the Covenant of the Baha'i Faith ever had.

When Remey was expelled from the Faith, so was anyone who followed him and accepted his false claim, including Leland Jensen. But Remey's followers began fighting among themselves even before Remey died at about 100 years of age. By that time, he had gone senile and was incapable of any leadership capacity. 

Finally, Jensen's child molestation conviction has nothing to with the validity (or lack thereof) of the claims of the Baha'i Faith itself.

Dale Husband, the Honorable Skeptic


MaryamJoon

Allah-u-Abha to our Bahai compatriots

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With kindness and sincerity, is it possible for the leaders of the Universal House of Justice to answer questions people have on this blog?  Dialogue with Haifan-Baha'i Leaders -- People Have Questions.  


MaryamJoon

Bahais should consider the Reform Bahais - Avoid Haifa Bahai

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Of course Iranian Bahais are our own children, but also people have to know that there is a political game in the background; and they have to know that most Bahais are notIranians (and these foreigners make themselves involved in Iranian issues on behalf of Israel).  If a child is Iranian, and wants to stay Bahai, I would say to them do NOT follow the Haifa-Israeli-Bahai ... there are other groups of Bahai for them to join. Here is a group that says they are not connected to Israel and criticizes the Haifa-Israeli-Bahai Political Group and Military Propaganda Operations. 

 

5224 Aintree Road
RochesterMI 48306-2713      

 

Phone: (248) 652-4982


مآمور

I m smart and I believe Maryamjoon

by مآمور on

my years of experience with the named community have led me to one conclusion,

Maryamjon is right

I wear an Omega watch


MaryamJoon

Was the US Judge who convicted the Bahai leader a "Bahai hater"?

by MaryamJoon on

If you can't answer that question, it means you are not addressing facts in the court's decision and sources cited.


Frashogar

Sing it to the marines...

by Frashogar on

For someone who uses several aliases on this site, one of them being Truthseeker9, you have a lot of chutzpah preaching to anyone! But, hey, chutzpah is what you people have in abundance. Tell your handlers in the BIA and MOSSAD, we don't care anymore what you people say - and nor do the hundreds who have left this webiste because of the insane asylum and Israeli surveillance-propaganda site you people specifically have turned it into.

Have a nice day, Shlomo :)


Reality-Bites

Frashogar

by Reality-Bites on

Having read some of your "erudite" contributions on IC on various subjects, it's pretty clear you wouldn't know the word "embarrassing" if it came up to you and kneed you in the crotch.

I don't think I have ever read quite as much drivel produced by a single individual on IC as you. "Bahai Internet Agency"? "Bahai holohoax denier"? What the hell are you wittering on about? On second thoughts please don't answer; I can only take so much bullshit in a single day.


Frashogar

Reality-Bites

by Frashogar on

You really should check with your handlers in the Baha'i Internet Agency before putting finger to keyboard and embarrassing yourself. The groups under discussion have no Iranian representation whatsoever. They are solely American based schismatic groups who the mainstream Baha'is call "covenant breakers". The Haifan UHJ organization considers Leland Jensen, Mason Remey, etc, and the organizations they spawned to be enemies.

But, yes, I am a "Baha'i holohoax denier." The so-called persecution of the Baha'is of Iran is exagerrated and many of its items are outright fictions, the existence of the narrative being there solely to undermine Iran.

But the question remains, since you are not an Iranian, why do you care? 


JustAnIranian

Reality-Bites

by JustAnIranian on

Thank you for the information. I was very surprised at her/his views. Neo-Nazi's talked about the Jews like that and the Islamic Republic hates everybody ofcourse... 


Reality-Bites

This "Maryamjoon" character is a known Bahai hater

by Reality-Bites on

As I stated before, he shows up on IC every once in a while (after being banned) to spread his hate message against the Bahais.

He has used many usernames before on IC, inc. "Nuri Azal", "Free thought", "Tabarzin" etc and is now using a female moniker to peddle his usual hate filled bile against one of the most persecuted groups of people in Iran.

His usual method is to repeatedly post selective Bahai related material, which he distorts and twists to cast aspersions on Bahais as a whole. He is not interesed in dealing with facts, objectivity and balanced discussion.

He deliberately ignores the suffering of Bahais in Iran and instead posts blogs like this as he is all about spreading hate and bigotry, as far as Bahais are concerned. In short, this character is simply not worth engaging with.


MaryamJoon

Bahai proselytizing materials are not "facts"

by MaryamJoon on

I am familiar with this technique - another Bahai quoted scripture and so forth on another page.  To be honest, I don't care about that. 

It's a court case: A prominent Bahai raped a child; he went to prison; and he was associated with someone linked to Abdul Baha.

The  problem with Bahai proselytizing sites is they make their own "facts" -- they sit around day and night writing things and putting them up on their website while restricting the public's ability to comment on those things. 

Can you comment on official Bahai websites as you can here?  I don't think so.  


JeffreyOBF

What fool would believe your lies and propaganda?

by JeffreyOBF on

Dear MaryamJoon

I don't really care what you think of Baha'i. Because you are slandering Abdu'l-Baha and Mason Remey by falsely asserting their involvment with Jensen's crimes (yes against children) you are forcing me to put actual facts before the readers of this tripe. Some of your readers might recognize there are strict requirements of reliability to have facts admitted into evidence at trial in US. federal court. I present you with actual EVIDENCE (what smart people evaluate before believing anything) deemed by the court to be credible and reliable.

Everything I stated is proven by unrefuted evidence in this court case. All of Baha'i history has now been fully litigated and the evidence is a matter of public record there for all to see.

Go here for reference material on this case:

//www.truebahai.com/court_case.html

You have no evidence whatsoever for the lie that Mason Remey targeted children. I am going to go away now but let the audience know that Jensen has nothing really to do with Remey or Abdu'l-Baha. Actually, Jensen sought power in the Remey organization and left it after a year or two in the 1960s to go off and start his own organization, the Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant, an organization existing in direct conflict with the fact that Remey continued as the leader of his own separate organization.

 

 


MaryamJoon

Laws can be formal or informal

by MaryamJoon on

This is a court case - the facts are clear.

Bahaism pretends to subsume other religions.

In the Abrahamic religions, the weird stuff is mostly inspired from the Old Testament.   


asadabad

Shiism=Pedophilia

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What does the bahai religion have to do with child rape?  Their religion doesn't have any laws that legalize this behavior.  Shiism legalizes child rape, prostitution, and sodomy.  

Legalizing Sodomy: 

(7) Narrated Muhammad bin Yahya, from Ahmad bin Muhammad, from al-Barqiy reporting (Imam) Abu Abdullah [as] sa saying:

"If the man used the woman's anus, but did not ejaculate, there is no Ghusl on either one. But if he ejaculated, he must take a ghusl, not her."

al-Kafi (fil Furoo'): al-Kulainy, Book of Tahra, Chapter: What Mandates Ghusl on the Man and Woman, vol.3, p.47, narration 8 

(5) "(Narrated) al-Hussain bin Ali bin Yaqteen said: I asked Abul-Hassan [as] about the permissibility for the man to have anal sex with women, he [as] said: It was made halal (permissible)..."

Tafseer al-Ayyashi, vol.1, p.157; Bihaar al-Anwaar vol.21, p.98; Tafseer al-Burhaan vol.2, p.230

And right from the 12th Imams representative:


"A man can have sexual pleasure from a child as young as a baby.
However, he should not penetrate. If he penetrates and the child is harmed then he should be responsible for her subsistence all her life. This girl, however would not count as one of his four permanent wives. The man will not be eligible to marry the girl's sister." 

The complete Persian text of this saying can be found in "Ayatollah Khomeini in Tahrirolvasyleh, Fourth Edition, Darol Elm, Qom, 1990" 


MaryamJoon

Can't trust Bahai leaders on child safety issues

by MaryamJoon on

Let's see what you wrote Jeffrey OBF - Your words.

1. "Jensen was convicted of child sex crime"  (Can you also admit it was against a child?)

2.   "Jensen was for a short time a part of Remey's Baha'i organization."  (You claim short time, but have no evidence.)

see Bahá'í Brainwashing Corporation 

 Abdu'l-Baha had everything to do with even much worse things than this.  That's the first point.  

The second point is that  Abdu'l-Baha described Remey as a "pure" man (he was a man that used children to recruit converts - he did the same thing in Italy).  

The most important point is that Iranians have a right to beware when foreign molesters are trying to come to Iran and be part of a secret organization that "does not get involved in politics" nor call attention to the misbehaviors of fellow adherents.  

We, Iranians, watch our children.  Nobody's faith gives access to our kids. 

 


JeffreyOBF

Lies and Distortions

by JeffreyOBF on

There are no hard facts here. Just slander. I understand that Leland Jensen was convicted of child sex crime. However, this has nothing to do with Mason Remey or Abdu'l-Baha. The facts are that Jensen was for a short time a part of Remey's Baha'i organization, but he soon broke away to form his own organization, the BUPC, etc. which was unrelated to Remey. Of course, Abdu'l-Baha had nothing at al to do with any of this.


Frashogar

My comment seems to have hit a nerve with the BIA

by Frashogar on

Since it was flagged whereas other comments of mine weren't....

 

Here is my theory...

by Frashogar on

Let us call them the "Board". By the Board I do not mean the Hands of the Cause or the UHJ.

The Board had Shoghi Effendi murdered in 1957 in London and proceeded to
legally take over all the assets, properties and monetary fortunes of
the Haifan Baha'i organization globally. While Shoghi Effendi was still
alive, it was impossible for the Board to fully control the Haifan
Baha'i organization. The Board's interest was to ensure that Haifan
Baha'ism did not remain a family affair and that the fortunes of this
organization devolved to them.

Shoghi Effendi went to London with his Canadian socialite wife in late
1957 and there as he was about to publicize his last will and testament
and the name of his successor among his male family members, he was
bumped off with the full complicity and cooperation of his wife. A flu, a
common cold, was blamed for his demise but no autopsy was ever allowed
to determine the actual medical reasons for his death. With Shoghi
Effendi's death, the Board took over everything and eliminated the
influence of any rivals to its own claim within the Haifan Baha'i
landscape.

The Board are not all Jews. But the Board does have significant Israeli  representation.


Frashogar

MaryamJoon

by Frashogar on

You were right. The Baha'i Internet Agency has shown up in full force!


MaryamJoon

capital of vice crimes is not in Iran

by MaryamJoon on

There are thousands of Russian women trapped in apartments with bars on the windows, as admitted by Israeli police on video (LINK 1Documentary LINK 2), that are being forced to be prostitutes. Divide the Jewish population of Israel (5 million) by the number of prostitutes there (including child prostitutes) - then compare that to Iran. The American Jewish community, particularly the Casino owners in Las Vegas (LINK 3), also have a long history of seriously exploiting women.


MaryamJoon

عزیزم، دوچرخه مال من است

MaryamJoon


من وکیل هستم

با تشکر از شما،


مآمور

مریم جون

مآمور


جان این برادر خودت یک چند روز بریک از بهایها بگیر!!یک کامنتم پاک شد یکی فلگ!! یادآوری بود که هم چیز هم غیر مقدس نیست!!
بچه که بودم کار بد میکردم پدرم دوچرخم را توقیف میکرد !! شما هم مواظب دوچرخه خودت باش!!
من دیگر نه بهای میشناسم نه قصد سفر به حیفا دارم!!

I wear an Omega watch


MaryamJoon

Freedom of expression ...?

by MaryamJoon on

I left a comment that stated in my opinion it was ironic that Egyptians were being criticized for their abusive behavior, which it is, because of a video while my post here has been receiving a very organized treatment of abuse also ... and that comment of mine disappeared.  A technical glitch?  I guess I suffered another technical glitch when my article jumped off the front page.  


MaryamJoon

Lotfan een o bebin

by MaryamJoon on

FORMER BAHAI ASSEMBLY LEADER ON VIDEO (Bahá'í Brainwashing Corporation): "I've been a Bahai since 1976 ... Reagan needed a bludgeon to beat Iran and the Bahai faith is useful for that purpose.  The Bahai faith uses US and Israeli government officials against Iran. ... The Bahai administration misleads people about what it is. ... Bahai doctrine manipulates its followers ... Bahai conduct is ruthless ... Bahais harass people, engage in personal slander and abuse to obscure downplay and conceal facts.  The whole focus of the Bahai faith is on self-serving censorship and manipulation.  Their websites are highly censored and manipulated to a point that is almost unbelievable and include methods to manipulate internet searches." 


Demo

دوستی خاله خرسه!

Demo


این سایت دیگر بدرد تفننن هم نمیخورد. همینطوری روی کامنت بنام خرس کلیک کردیم و ببین چی ظاهر شد. اکتشاف بزرگ خرس و آنکه خرس با اینکه هم عقلش بزرگ است و هم قلبش و هم آنجایش و بالنتیجه هم کلیمی است و هم مسیحی و هم مسلمان تا یک کلمه حرف حساب که میشنود بهر بهایی! که شده میخواهد طرف را تیکه پاره کرده و لقمه چپ خود کند! و بیخود نیست که ایرانیان از دوستی با خاله خرسه اینقدر وحشت دارند!

با عرض معذرت بسیار از مریم خانم از برای ابراز وجود.


MaryamJoon

Again, Wikipedia is not a source for anything

by MaryamJoon on

What did the 'holy man' call the organizer of child rapes, as determined by a US court?  Let's read it together.  

ABDUL BAHA: His honor, Mr. Remey is, verily, of perfect sincerity. He is like unto transparent water, filtered; lucid and without any impurity. He worked earnestly for several years, but he did not have any personal motive. He has not attachment to anything except to the Cause of God. This is the spirit of the firm and this is the characteristic of the sincere." (Star of the West. Volume 11, No. 9, p. 139)