Middle East News

Tehran confirms arrest of members of Bahai religion

Jan 29, 2008, 10:29 GMT

Tehran - Tehran on Tuesday confirmed Western reports of the arrest of Bahai religious community members in the southern city of Shiraz, ISNA news agency reported.

ISNA quoted judiciary spokesman Ali-Reza Jamshidi as saying that some 54 Bahais were arrested due to propaganda against the Islamic system.

ISNA gave no further details on the nature of the propaganda.

The spokesman added that three of them were sentenced to four-year jail terms and the others received a suspended sentence of one year.

Unlike Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism, Bahaism is not recognized or allowed to be practiced in Iran.

© 2008 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur


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Fool on the hillJan 29th, 2008 - 10:44:34

The most intolerant religion on Earth, who expects to be tolerated everywhere on Earth is showing yet again how intolerant it can be.

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CharlesJan 29th, 2008 - 15:54:36

I don't know much about the Bahai faith. While living abroad I did make friends with Canadian Bahai and his Persian wife. They were very modest, intelligent, and decent people. As I recall, the Bahai believe in most major prophets and the unity of all people.

You can tell a lot about a culture by looking at what they oppress.

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IranianJan 29th, 2008 - 19:57:14

Lets look at the definition,

Crime against humanity is an act of persecution or any large scale atrocities against a body of people, and is the highest level of criminal offense. Odious offences in that they constitute a serious attack on human dignity or grave humiliation or a degradation of one or more human beings. They are not isolated or sporadic events, but are part either of a government policy (although the perpetrators need not identify themselves with this policy) or of a wide practice of atrocities tolerated or condoned by a government or a de facto authority.

Now, here we have a zionist and a former brainwashed american soldier.

I start with the 'cancer cell', the zionist state( Charles would certainly say, but it's a member of united nation, so I will treat this cancer cell as a member)

There are 149 substantive articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention that protect the rights of every one of Palestinians living in occupied Palestine. The zionist Israeli Government is currently violating, and has since 1967 been violating, almost each and every one of these sacred rights of the Palestinian People recognized by the Fourth Geneva Convention. Indeed, violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention are war crimes.

We all have a general idea of what a war crime is, so I am not going to elaborate upon that term here. But there are different degrees of heinousness for war crimes. In particular are the more serious war crimes denominated 'grave breaches' of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Since the start of the Al Aqsa Intifada, the world has seen those inflicted every day by the zionist Israel against the Palestinian People living in occupied Palestine: e.g., willful killing of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli ss-army and Israel's illegal paramilitary settlers. These Israeli 'grave breaches' of the Fourth Geneva Convention mandate universal prosecution for their perpetrators, whether military or civilian, as well as prosecution for their commanders, whether military or civilian, including zionist Israel's political leaders.

Now Charles, would you like me to line up what your country has accomplished in war during your short history?

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By the way, Iranian.Jan 29th, 2008 - 21:23:33

Why don't you go back to Iran and live the way the mullahs tell you to instead of enjoying the freedom of the west? Could it be because you are a coward?

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BillJan 30th, 2008 - 03:33:15

Iranian: The injustices perpetrated against Palestinians is not a proper excuse for your government's persecution of Baha'is. Despite what is commonly believed in your country, the Baha'i Faith was not invented by Russia, Britain, the U.S., or Israel. It is a world religion that emerged from the deepest spiritual needs of Iran and of the rest of the world. When you are willing to investigate the message of Baha'u'llah free from the vitriolic hate-monogering conducted by the mullahs and monarchies of Iran for 165 years, perhaps you will find that the Baha'i message is your heart's desire, not your enemy.

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Not in VainJan 30th, 2008 - 09:19:22

To Iranian,

What on God's good earth are you trying to claim? Religious intolerance is quite evident from what is going on in Iran and many other Islamic states. Sometimes, I think you live to persecute those who are different just because you can. To what good ends does fabricating as well as making enemies do for you and your people? The future lays in the decisions we make today, let us not broker a lifetime of misery and suffering. Without good intentioned persons, there is nothing worth the effort to pursue a better life for all.

How many more will endure injustices or die by the time it takes to finish this comment?

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AmanullahJan 30th, 2008 - 12:24:50

This is so so sad, far past any attempt in words to describe.

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ConcernedJan 30th, 2008 - 13:03:13

I think it needs to be pointed out again that this persecution of the Baha'i Faith in Iran is not Quranic in my opinion, but rather a clash brought forward by an Iranian Theocracy. Members of the Baha'i Faith coexist quiet comfortably and quietly among Muslims (and others) all over the world. It is specifically in Iran (and most recently in Egypt) where these collisions of world views seem to be most evident. Thoughts?

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Thoughts...Jan 30th, 2008 - 21:34:52

'I think it needs to be pointed out again that this persecution of the Baha'i Faith in Iran is not Quranic in my opinion, but rather a clash brought forward by an Iranian Theocracy.'

I posted a dozen quotes from the koran which state that islam is at war with the 'infidel'. Masters and critics censored them. Twice.

Yes, this is the nature of islam, to persecute other religions.

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IranianJan 30th, 2008 - 22:23:15

Then I would ask why are you so quiet when it comes to United States that keeps a 'constructive commitment' to extend the existence of the apartheid regime, that protects and bestows impunity to the human rights violations perpetrated by the zionist Israeli occupation of Palestine and other Arab territories, that supported the bloody military dictatorships of Latin America, that today tortures and murders in the name of liberty which the majority of its own citizens do not benefit from, that fails to meet its commitments and obligations of official development assistance to the Third World, and that threatens and attacks countries that are not in 'compliance'. Why is it that you suddenly become the protectors of human rights as soon as somebody mentions Iran? Why is it that you're deaf and dumb when it comes to the crimes commited by the zionist ss-soldiers in Palestine?

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@IranianJan 30th, 2008 - 23:15:29

@Iranian

Then I would ask why are you so quiet when it comes to United States that keeps a 'constructive commitment' to extend the existence of the apartheid regime, that protects and bestows impunity to the human rights violations perpetrated by the zionist Israeli occupation of Palestine and other Arab territories, that supported the bloody military dictatorships of Latin America, that today tortures and murders in the name of liberty which the majority of its own citizens do not benefit from, that fails to meet its commitments and obligations of official development assistance to the Third World, and that threatens and attacks countries that are not in 'compliance'.

-You don't really belive what you wrote above do you? If yes you are a very deluded, mentally challenged, uneducated, individual who writes a version of history that proves intolerance, hate, and uncivilied thought are a product of Islam.

Why is it that you suddenly become the protectors of human rights as soon as somebody mentions Iran?

-All civilized nations, good people, and true religons are protectors of human rights, Iran just doesn't meet that criteria, and fall way short of being civilized, human, and good.

Why is it that you're deaf and dumb when it comes to the crimes commited by the zionist ss-soldiers in Palestine?

-Its hard to hear or speak when a palestinian teror rocket is flying over ones head. Stop the terror, and join humanity then the world will help and accept the palestinians, but first they must help themselves crawl out of the whole they dug and live in by virture of terror.

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Not in VainJan 31st, 2008 - 08:59:53

I personally feel that no country is perfect. I will never accept supporting terrible regimes, wherever they exist. As far as human rights are concerned, I can only speak as an individual who believes in them for all peoples. Where there is injustice I would hope for justice. Where there is a breaking of treaties, I would hope for mending.

As far as Palestinians and Israelis are concerned, they must learn to live in peace with one another, or continue to live dead lives, never fulfilling their dreams and ever recycling the hatred and violence that consume them. It is the extreme view of intolerance that has caused folks like you and others to lash out with tongue and sword. It is a great shame that it has come to this...

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