Bahais In Iran – Why the fuss?

August 23, 2012 7 Comments

Regarding the hue and cry about the arrest of some Bahais in Iran, I would like to make some points.

Firstly, the government of Iran is an independent government with its independent laws and independent constitution. It has its reasons for the arrest of these Bahais and we should respect that. Just as America, Israel and the West in general would like to maintain their sovereignity, Iran would like to do that as well.

Secondly, people should keep in mind that world-wide, Bahais do not have a track record of respecting local laws (except in the West and Israel). Bahais frequently break local laws and have been help responsible for conversion activities, spying etc. Hence it is difficult to give them benefit of doubt that the Bahais are indeed “innocent”.

Thirdly, if Amercia / the West is so concerned about the state of the Bahais in Iran, why does it not offer asylum to these Bahais in America, Israel, Britain. That would solve the problem once and for all. All Iranis in any case are hankering to go to America. This move will kill two birds with one stone.

Incidentally Bahais are banned in Saudi Arabia as well. If a Bahai is caught in Saudi Arabia, he would probably be executed for blasphemy (a lot harsher than being arrested). I dont see people making too much noise about it (rather any noise about it) – perhaps because Saudi is an ally of the West and Iran is not.

So this whole thing about persecution of Bahais in Iran is hogwash. Bahais are banned not only in Iran. They are banned all over the Middle East and in several other Muslim countries. Iran is being singled out because they want to paint a poor picture of Iran in the media. That is all.

Wait, there more…I secretly believe that the Bahais dont want their “friends” in Iran to be released. What purpose will that serve? One Bahai in prison is more valuable than one free Bahai. Simply because it gives this community to be in the press all the time, it gets them brownie points for sympathy and in any case, apart from the sympathy factor, there is’nt much to talk about the Bahai Faith.

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Bahai Faith is Hypocrisy Personified

September 1, 2011 7 Comments

The Baha’i faith as it stands today faces a challenge of becoming irrelevant to the sayings of Baha’u’llah and Abdul Baha. Having failed to attract converts and not getting acceptance from the world society, the Baha’i Faith today is trying to serve itself as a religion in terms of writing OPEN LETTERS (as against Holy writings!!) that have no bearing whatsoever on the targeted people.

Very recently we heard about a petition made by 31 Imminent Indians to the Government of Iran, on another occasion we heard that Baha’is wrote an irrelevant letter to the people of Egypt. There was again an ‘Open letter’ in the Wall Street Journal republished Dr. Kishan Manocha, Director of the Office of External Affairs of the Bahá’í community of the UK. The document, dated 7th December and addressed to Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq Larijani, stating the injustices meted out to Iranian Baha’is. Many more open letters must be in the pipe line.

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Iran busts intl. network promoting Bahaism

August 21, 2011 Leave a comment

Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN – Iranian security and intelligence personnel have identified and arrested the members of an international moral corruption network promoting Bahaism.

The network was carrying out its activities in the cities of Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad, and Yasuj, as well as the town of Evaz, which is located in Fars Province, the Fars News Agency reported on Sunday.

The leaders of the network were receiving $400 per month from certain foreign countries to promote the teachings of Bahaism in Iran.

(Source: http://old.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=245303)

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A Response to prominent Indians sign petition against Iran

August 20, 2011 Leave a comment

The petition written by Baha’is and signed by prominent Indians can be found here

http://www.bahai.in/news/national-news-of-the-bahais-of-india/petition-to-the-iranian-government-for-immediate-release-of-the-staff-and-faculty-of-the-bahai-institute-of-higher-education.html

Here is a response to it by Mr. Manish Desai
It is pretty immature on the part of 86 Indians Petition to the Iranian Government for immediate release of the staff and faculty of the Bahá’í Institute of Higher Education.. As most of these eminent personalities are highly educated – some even authorities on law – it would have been appropriate that they should have verified the facts before making a petition. Has anyone of these personalities checked with the Government of Iran? Are petitions to be signed purely on single side of the story? On whose influence are signatures taken? Do these personalities know that the Government of India cannot support a resolution which is country specific?

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Persecution of Bahais – Sign of Truth?

August 20, 2011 1 Comment

Visit any Bahai website and you will find a mention of “Persecution of Bahais”. While I condemn any kind of persecution, I believe we should not accept any claim at its face value. Moreso, if it comes from the Bahais. (Please read: Advancing the Status of Women and other articles).

Before we delve further, it would be very important to note, this discussion has very little to do with the Bahai Faith. This discussion is more for social interest than religious significance. Simply because being persecuted or not is not a proof for establishing the truthfulness of the claimant or the veracity of the claim.

To explain this further, if being persecuted was a characteristic of a Prophet, every executed traitor would become a Manifestation of God. This would become an established methodology of recognising a Prophet.

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