Canadian university graduates among Baha'i educators on trial in Iran

A Baha'i educator with a degree from a Canadian university received a four-year prison sentence in Iran while two other Baha'i educators with Canadian university degrees are being held in prison without charge, according to reports received by the Baha'i International Community.
Nooshin Khadem-who holds a Master's in Business from Carleton University in Ottawa- has been sentenced to four years in prison.
Husband and wife Kamran Rahimian and Faran Hesami, both psychology instructors and graduates of the Masters in Educational Counseling Program of the University of Ottawa– have been held without charge since 13 September 2011.
The three Canadian university alumni are among nine educators that have been detained in connection with their involvement in an informal community initiative – known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) – in which Baha'i professors, debarred by the Iranian government from practicing their professions, offer their services to teach young community members who are banned from university.
Four year jail terms were also given to BIHE lecturers Ramin Zibaie, Mahmoud Badavam and Farhad Sedghi and consultant Riaz Sobhani.
Two other individuals associated with the BIHE, Vahid Mahmoudi and Kamran Mortezaie, were each sentenced to five years imprisonment.
Verdicts against the seven were reportedly handed down by a judge at Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
Read profiles of the BIHE prisoners
"It is not even clear at this stage what the exact charges were against these innocent souls, whose only desire was to serve young people who have been unjustly barred from higher education on purely religious grounds," said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations."What kind of society makes educating the young a punishable crime?" she said.Global protest
The most recent attacks carried out against BIHE continue to provoke condemnation from governments, organizations, academics and young people throughout the world.More than 70 academics in Australia, including University of Ballarat vice-chancellor, David Battersby, have signed an open letter protesting Iran's educational discrimination against Baha'is and calling for the immediate release of the imprisoned educators.
On 10 October, 43 prominent philosophers and theologians in 16 countries signed a letter of protest. “To acquire knowledge and learning is the sacred and legal right of all; indeed, the state is obliged to provide it. In Iran, the government has done the opposite...” wrote the academics.Two Nobel Peace Prize laureates – Desmond Tutu, the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, and Jose Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor – in another open letter, sharply criticized the Iranian government, comparing its actions to "the Dark Ages of Europe" or the "Spanish Inquisition."
On 5 October, resuming a Canadian Senate debate about the Baha’is in Iran, Senator Hugh Segal described the suffering heaped on Baha’is as “systematic and brutal, especially when the Baha’i are known as a peaceful faith that embraces the sanctity of all religions.”
“The official Iranian oppression of Baha’i … is a clarion call to humanity and to free peoples and democracies everywhere to look directly at the harsh colors of the Iranian reality and not look away until the challenge is faced head on,” said Senator Segal.
Around 112 Baha’is are currently behind bars in Iran because of their religion. This includes the seven Baha’i leaders, serving 20-year jail terms on trumped-up charges. The cases of some 300 other Baha’is are still active with the Iranian authorities.

Link:

http://bahainews.ca/en/node/684

IRAN WATCH CANADA: What an inhuman regime !? Sorrow as jailed Baha'i leader is unable to attend wife's funeral

GENEVA — The Baha'i International Community has described as "desperately cruel" the fact that one of Iran's seven Baha'i leaders has been unable to attend the funeral of his own wife.
81 year old Mrs. Ashraf Khanjani – who was married to Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani for more than 50 years – died yesterday morning at the family home in Tehran. She had been unwell for many months.
Mr. Khanjani, 77, is serving a ten-year jail term at Iran's notorious Gohardasht prison, along with six other Baha'is who were all members of a national-level ad hoc group that attended to the needs of Iran's Baha'i community.
"This is a desperately cruel turn of events," said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
"For an innocent man to be denied the opportunity to be with his devoted wife as she passed away, and then to be unable to attend her funeral – this shows the depth of inhumanity to which the Iranian authorities have sunk," said Ms. Ala'i.
"Islamic compassion and justice are nowhere to be seen," she said.
It is understood that the funeral of Mrs. Khanjani, held early today in Tehran, attracted between 8,000 and 10,000 mourners from all walks of life. Ministry of Intelligence officers were also reportedly present, filming the proceedings.
Mrs. Khanjani had devoted her life to raising her four children as well as caring for others whose parents were unable to feed and clothe them.
"She was looking after up to 40 or 50 children at any one time, without any regard for their religious background," said Ms. Alai. "This is the kind of person she was – kind and generous, and a beacon of hope dedicated to maintaining the unity of their family in the face of harsh religious persecution."

Read more -Link:

http://news.bahai.org/story/811

Reports say Iran's Baha'i leaders "sentenced"

The seven Baha'i prisoners, photographed several months before their arrest, are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet.

Reports say Iran's Baha'i leaders "sentenced"

8 August 2010
NEW YORK — The Baha'i International Community has received reports indicating that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received jail sentences of 20 years.
The two women and five men have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 – six of them on 14 May and one of them two months earlier.
"If this news proves to be accurate, it represents a deeply shocking outcome to the case of these innocent and harmless people," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
"We understand that they have been informed of this sentence and that their lawyers are in the process of launching an appeal," said Ms. Dugal.
The prisoners – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – were all members of a national-level group that helped see to the minimum needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community, the country's largest non-Muslim religious minority.
The trial of the seven consisted of six brief court appearances which began on 12 January this year after they had been incarcerated without charge for 20 months, during which time they were allowed barely one hour's access to their legal counsel. The trial ended on 14 June.
The defendants were accused of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges are completely and categorically denied.

http://news.bahai.org/story/786

Human Rights Watch to Iran: End Persecution of Baha’is

For Immediate Release

Dozens Detained Without Charge;

Leaders Face Charges Carrying Death Penalty



(New York, February 23, 2010) –

The Iranian government should immediately stop harassing and arbitrarily detaining members of the Baha’i community, Human Rights Watch said today.The detention of 13 Baha’is on February 10 and 11 follows the arrest of 13 others in early January. The government alleges that those arrested in January helped to organize recent anti-government demonstrations but has not made public any charges against those detained in February. These arrests come during a broad government crackdown on opposition activists.“The Iranian government seems to be using the post-election unrest as a cover for targeting the Baha’i community,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “These arrests are only the latest chapter in the government’s systematic persecution of the Baha’i.”Unlike Iran’s Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian communities, which are accorded constitutional protection, the Iranian government does not recognize the Baha’i Faith and considers its adherents to be apostates from Shi’a Islam. Since the Islamic revolution in 1979, the Iranian government has put in effect various discriminatory policies against the Baha’is, including limiting access to education and employment.Since October 2009, authorities have detained at least 47 Baha’is in Tehran, Mashhad, Sari, Semnan, and Yazd, according to the United Nations office of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) in Geneva. In May 2008, the government arrested seven leaders of the Baha’i community in Tehran, who have been held in detention since then. Their trial began on January 12, but has been postponed to April 10.

Link to HRW:

http://www.hrw.org/
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/14/iran-free-baha-i-leaders

For Immediate Release

Iran: Free Baha’i Leaders

On Anniversary of Detention,

Reports of New Charges(New York, May 14, 2009) – Iran should immediately free seven detained Baha’i community leaders, or bring them promptly to trial so they can defend themselves in fair and open proceedings against the serious charges against them, Human Rights Watch said today. Today is the one-year anniversary of the detention of six of them, while the seventh was detained earlier. None have had access to a lawyer.The seven men and women have been charged with spying for Israel, “insulting religious sanctities,” and spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic. In addition, prison officials at Evin prison in Tehran informed relatives visiting the detained men and women last week that they would also be charged with “spreading corruption on Earth” (mofsede fel arz), said Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community’s representative to the UN in Geneva. This offense is punishable by death under Iran’s Penal Code.“These Baha’i leaders have been languishing in prison for a year now, with no access to their lawyers and no glimmer of a trial date,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “These reported new charges only add to the fears for their lives under a government that systematically discriminates against Bahai’s.”As with other religious communities throughout Iran, Baha’i observance is grounded in local community organizations. On May 14, 2008, six leaders of the national organization of Bahai’s – a group that operates in the absence of the normal Baha’i practice of having a National Spiritual Assembly – were arrested at their homes in Tehran. They are: Fariba Kamalabadi; Jamaloddin Khanjani; Afif Naeimi; Saeid Rezaie; Behrouz Tavakkoli; and Vahid Tizfahm. A seventh, Mahvash Sabet, the secretary of the national community organization, was arrested on May 5, 2008, in Mashhad, northeast Iran, after responding to a summons from the Ministry of Intelligence.The Baha’i faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Baha’ullah in 19th-century Iran and has approximately 300,000 followers in Iran. The Iranian government considers Baha’is to be apostates from Islam. Today, Baha’is face discrimination in their pursuit of higher education and many areas of employment. In addition, the inclusion of Israel as a “holy place” in the Baha’i faith in 1868 has, since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, been used to fuel persistent accusations against Baha’is in Iran of spying for Israel, with which Iran has hostile relations.For more of Human Rights Watch’s work concerning threats against members of the Baha’i faith in Iran, please visit:

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2006/06/04/iran-scores-arrested-anti-baha-i-campaign

To see Human Rights Watch’s open letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran on the situation of Bahai’s, please visit:

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/05/31/open-letter-president-ahmadinejad

Century and a half of silence towards oppression against Bahais is enoughby

Open Letter04-Feb-2009
An Open Letter from a group of academics, writers, artists, journalists and Iranian activists throughout the world to the Baha’i community
In the name of goodness and beauty, and in the name of humanity and liberty!
As Iranian human beings, we are ashamed for what has been perpetrated upon the Baha’is in the last century and a half in Iran.
We firmly believe that every Iranian, “without distinction of any kind, such as, race, color, sex, language, religion, politics or other opinions,” and also without regard to ethnic background, “social origin, property, birth or other status,” is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, from the very inception of the Baha’i Faith, the followers of this religion in Iran have been deprived of many provisions of human rights solely on account of their religious convictions.
According to historical documents and evidence, from the commencement of the Babi Movement followed by the appearance of the Baha’i Faith, thousands of our countrymen have been slain by the sword of bigotry and superstition only for their religious beliefs. Just in the first decades of its establishment, some twenty thousand of those who stood identified with this faith community were savagely killed throughout various regions of Iran.
We are ashamed that during that period, no voice of protest against these barbaric murders was registered;
We are ashamed that until today the voice of protest against this heinous crime has been infrequent and muted;
We are ashamed that in addition to the intense suppression of Baha’is during its formative decades, the last century also witnessed periodic episodes of persecution of this group of our countrymen, in which their homes and businesses were set on fire, and their lives, property and families were subjected to brutal persecution – but all the while, the intellectual community of Iran remained silent;
We are ashamed that during the last thirty years, the killing of Baha’is solely on the basis of their religious beliefs has gained legal status and over two-hundred Baha’is have been slain on this account;
We are ashamed that a group of intellectuals have justified coercion against the Baha’i community of Iran;
We are ashamed of our silence that after many decades of service to Iran, Baha’i retired persons have been deprived of their right to a pension;
We are ashamed of our silence that on the account of their fidelity to their religion and truthfulness in stating this conviction, thousands of Baha’i youth have been barred from education in universities and other institutions of higher learning in Iran;
We are ashamed that because of their parents’ religious beliefs, Baha’i children are subjected to denigration in schools and in public.
We are ashamed of our silence over this painful reality that in our nation, Baha’is are systematically oppressed and maligned, a number of them are incarcerated because of their religious convictions, their homes and places of business are attacked and destroyed, and periodically their burial places are desecrated;
We are ashamed of our silence when confronted with the long, dark and atrocious record that our laws and legal system have marginalized and deprived Baha’is of their rights, and the injustice and harassment of both official and unofficial organs of the government towards this group of our countrymen;
We are ashamed for all these transgressions and injustices, and we are ashamed for our silence over these deeds.

We, the undersigned, asked you, the Baha’is, to forgive us for the wrongs committed against the Baha’i community of Iran.
We will no longer be silent when injustice is visited upon you.
We stand by you in achieving all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights.
Let us join hands in replacing hatred and ignorance with love and tolerance.
February 3, 2009

1. Aban, Vahid, Human Rights Activist – Sweden2. Abdolalian, Morteza, Journalist, CJFE Board of Directors - Canada, Oakville3. Abdi, Asghar, Physiologist/ Human Righst Activitst4. Abghari, Shahla, Professor, Life University – USA, Atlanta5. Abghari, Siavash, Professor, University of Georgia – USA, Atlanta6. Aeine, Abtin, Poet - Sweden7. Afshar, Mahasti, Reasercher – USA, Los Angeles8. Afshari, Maryam, Activist – Sweden, Gutenberg9. Afshin-Jam, Nazanin, Human Rights Activist/ Singer Canada, Vancouver10. Aghnam, Reza, Writer/Literature Critic – England, London11. Ahmadi, Fereidoon, Political Analyst – Germani Colonia12. Ahmadi, Ramin, Professor, Yale University – USA, Yale13. Akbari, Mansour, Human Rights Activist – Sweden, Stockholm14. Akhavan, Asal, Human Rights Supporter - Australia15. Alavi, Reza, Writer/Political Analyst - USA16. Almasi, Nasrin, Managing editor of Shahrvand- Canada, Toronto17. Amini, Bahman, Publisher – France, Paris18. Amini, Mehdi, Political Activist – USA, Washington DC19. Amirgholi, Amir, Human Rights Activist – Iran, Tehran20. Amirhosseini, Bahman, journalist – USA, Virginia21. Amirsedghi, Nasrin, Writer/Ditrector of Kult DA – Germany, Mainz22. Amoozgar, Mojgan, Medical Doctor – France, Paris23. Ansari, Siamak, Human Rights Activist - Sweden, Gutenberg24. Arian, Nima, Student/Human Roghts Activist - Germany25. Asadi, Houshang, Writer/ Journalist – France, Paris26. Assadi Savadkouhi, Hooshang, IT specialist – Sweden, Stockholm27. Assman Mohammad, Javad, Poet/ Translator – Iran, Esfahan28. Attar, Mahmood, Pharmacist/ Human Rights Supporter - Italy29. Avaei, Gil, Writer/Bloger – Holand30. Ayoubzadeh, Hassan, Writer/ Lawyer – Netherlands, Arnhem31. Azad, Azadeh, Sociologist - Canada32. Azadian, Abbas, Psychotrapist – Toronto Canada33. Azarian, Mina, Actress – Sweden, Stockholm34. Azarkolah, Houman, Actor – France, Paris35. Azarli, Katayoun, Writer/Poet - Germany36. Bagheri Goldschmied, Nahid, Freelance Journalist – Austria, Vienna37. Bagherpour, Danesh, Political Analyst - Germany38. Bagherpour, Khosro, Poet /Journalist – Germany39. Bakhshizadeh, Marziye, Human Rights Activist – Germany40. Bakhtiyari, Sheyda, Human Rights Activist - Denmark41. Balouch, Abdolghader, Writer, Canada Vancouver42. Baradaran, Monireh, Writer/Human rights activist - Germany43. Barati, Mehran, Researcher, Germany, Berlin44. Batebi, Ahmad, Human Rights Activist - USA, Washington45. Behboodi, Reza, Human Rights Activist – Canada46. Behnia, Kamran, Physicist – France, Paris47. Beyzaie, Niloofar, Play writer/Theatre Director – Germany, Frankfurt48. Bigdeli, Bahram, Human Rights Activist - Germany , Cologne49. Bishetab, Reza, Writer, France, Paris50. Borghei, Mohammad, Professor Strayer University - USA51. Boroumand, Ladan, Researcher, Boroumand Foundation - USA, Washington52. Boroumand, Roya, Executive Director, Boroumand Foundation – USA, Washington53. Chehabi, Houchang-Esfandiar, Professor – USA, Boston54. Choubine, Bahram, Researcher/Writer – Germany, Köln55. Corrazo, Gabriela, Journalist - Spain56. Daneshvar, Hamid, Actor/Theatre Director – France, Paris57. Darvishpour, Mehrdad, Professor, Stockholm University - Sweden, Stockholm58. Daryani, Hossein, Stage Actor – Germany, Berlin59. Dashi, Ali, Political Activist Danemark60. Dastmalchi, Parviz, Writer/Political Analyst – Germany, Berlin61. Davani, Hossein, Art Critic/Human Rights Activist – Germany Colonia62. Dehzangi, Arash, PHD Candidate- Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 63. Delneshin, Shahin, Political Analyst/Blogger -Denmark, Copenhagen64. Djalali Chimeh, Mohammad (M. Sahar), Poet - France, Paris65. Djanati Atai, Behi, Actor/ Writer/Theatre Director – France, Paris66. Doai, Babak, Musician/ Music Teacher - Belgium67. Duschouki, Abdolsatar, Political Analyst - England68. Ebadi, Abdolatif, Poet/Translator/Journalist - England69. Ebrahimi, Hadi, Editor-in-chief of Shahrgon, Canada, Vancouver70. Emami, Bahram, Human Rights Activist - Sweden, Stockholm71. Esfandarmaz, Sherin, Human Rights Activist, Belgium Bruxelles72. Eskandari, Mohammad Reza, Sociologist / Activist - Holand73. Fadai, Behroz, Political Activist – Holand74. Fahimi, Nima, Chief of Efsha Website - England75. Fani Yazdi, Reza, Political analyst - USA76. Farahani, Fereshteh, Human Rights Activist – Holand77. Faraji, Hossein, TV Moderator – USA ,Los Angeles78. Farhoudi, Vida, Poet/Translator- France, Paris79. Farid, Siamak, Human Rights Activist, Belgium Bruxelles80. Farrahi, Farahnaz, Chief of Iran bbb Website – Germany, Berlin81. Farshy, Ebrahim, Writer/Teacher/Theater Actor – Germany Colonia82. Fattah, Abasali, Political Activist – Australia83. Fazel, Navid, Chief Physician - Germany84. Ferdosian, Payam, writer/ Researche/ Human Rights Activist – USA, Virginia85. Forouhar, Parastou, Artist/Human Rights Activist – Germany, Frankfurt86. Fouladi, Firuzeh Faye, USA, Silver Spring, Maryland87. Ghadiri, Khosro, Professor/ Journalist/Analyst – USA, California88. Ghaemi, Hadi Coordinator Int. Campaign for HR in Iran - USA89. Ghahari, Keivandokht, Deutsche Welle, Section Iran- Germany, Bonn90. Ghahraman, Saghi, Poet /Journalist – Canada, Toronto91. Ghahraman, Sasan, Publisher/Writer/Journalist – Canada, Toronto92. Ghasemi Impertro, Akhtar, Free lance Journalist/ Photographer – Germany, Colonia93. Ghassemi, Reza, Writer – France, Paris94. Ghiaee, Abbas, Bookstore Manager – Germany95. Ghorashi, Reza, Professor, USA New Jersey96. Giahi, Fatemeh, Human Rights Activist, USA, Massachusett97. Goharzad, Reza, Journalist, USA98. Golab Dej, Hooshang, Writer/Poet – Sweden Stockholm99. Golchin, Ali, Lawyer – USA, Massachusett100. Habibinia, Omid, Journalist - Sweden101. Hajzadeh, Fallah Masoud, Design Engineer - Västerås, Sweden102. Hakim, Mohammad Hossein, Professor – USA, Amherst103. Halford, Zhara, Painter/Photograph/Sculptor - France104. Hamidi, Nasrin, Human Rights Activist - Holand105. Hamidi, Hamid, Human Rights Activist - Holand106. Hamzeloee, Mahmoud, Actor/Theatre & Cinema Director – Norway107. Harandi, Farideh, Lawyer, USA108. Hashemizadeh, Iradj, Architekt/Journalist- Austria, Graz109. Hassibi, Mohammad, Political activist, USA110. Hatami, Parviz, Human Rights Activist - USA111. Hekmat, Bijan, Political Activist – France, Paris112. Heyrani, Aref , general contractor, USA, Beaverton OR113. Homayounpour, Kourosh, , USA, Washington, DC.114. Homayounpour, Shohreh, Teacher- USA, Washington DC115. Honarmand, Manouchehr, Journalist - Holand116. Hosseini, Mirali, Actor/Journalist, France, Paris117. Hosseinzadeh, Jafar, Political Activist – Belgium118. Houshmand, Zara, Writer – USA, Houston119. Irani, Nikki, Human Rights Activist- USA120. Irani, Sholeh, Editor-in-Chief AvayeZan.org –121. Irvani, Arash, (M. Saghi) Poet, Germany Dusseldorf122. Jabbari, Reza, Reasercher - Sweden, Gutenberg123. Jaddeh, Mohsen, Journalist/Translator - Germany124. Jafari, Reza, Theatre Director - Germany125. Jafari, Sedighe, Human Rights Activist - Germany, Hanover126. Javadi, Akram, Director of Ida Bookstore - Germany127. Javdan, Hamidreza, Actor/ Theatre Director - France, Paris128. Javid, Jahanshah, Publisher, Iranian.com – Mexico, Chihuahua129. Jazani, Mihan, Writer/Activist – France, Paris130. Kakhsaz, Naser, Political analyst – Germany, Bochum131. Kalbasi, Sheema, Poet – USA, Washington132. Kamali, Shaghayegh, Singer/ Music Lecturer – Germany, Münster133. Kamrani, Ali, Stage Actor/ Song Writer – Germany, Frankfurt134. Karami, Nasser, Political Analyst - Germany135. Karimi, Behzad, Political Activist, Netherland 136. Kassraei, Farhang, Writer/Actor – Germany, Wiesbaden137. Kaviany, Massoud, Professor University Michigan– USA Michigan138. Kavir, Mahmood, Poet/Writer - England139. Kazemi, Monireh, Women Rights Activist - Germany140. Keshavarz, Mehran, Human Rights Activist - Norway141. Khabazian, Reza, Human Rights Supporter - USA142. Khayam, Zohreh, Women Right Activist - USA143. Khoi, Esmail, Writer/Poet – England, London144. Khojinian, Hadi, Poet/ Writer – England145. Khorami, Tahere, Human Rights Activist – Holand146. Khorrami, Hossein, Political Activist – Germany, Essen147. Khorsandi, Hadi, Satirist – Great Britain, London148. Khosroparviz, Keikhosro, Political Activist, Sweden149. Khosrozadeh, Behrooz, Journalist/ Political science Reasercher – Germany150. Kiarostami, Kia, Film Producer, Germany, Berlin151. Koohgilani, Parvin, Editor Shahrvand - USA, Texas152. Kowsari, Hamid, Director of New Technology Training Institute, USA Los Angeles153. Laghaeian, Shahriar, Medical Doctor – USA, Seattle154. Lalejini, Ali, Translator - Sweden155. Lavaei, Mehrdad, Human Rights Activist – Holand156. Madadi, Shabnam, Physician/ Human Rights Supporter - Germany157. Madjlessi, Darius, Political Activist – Holand158. Maghssudnia, Manochehr, Political Activist – Germany, Berlin159. Mahbaz, Efat, Women rights activist /Journalist– England, London160. Mahdjoubi, Ali, Member of Parliamet - Germany, Berlin161. Mahjoubi, Ebrahim, Human Rights Activist – Germany, Cologne162. Malakooty, Sirus, Classical Guitar Player/ Composer/ Lecturer - England, London163. Malekzadeh, Ali, Human Rights Activist164. Manoo, Missaghi, Social Analyst, Canada, Toronto165. Masoudi, Banafsheh, Reasercher – France, Paris166. Massoumi, Bahram, Writer/Activist - Germany167. Masumian, Nima, Teacher – Spain168. Mazhar, Varya, Writer/ Poet – Finnlands, Helsinki169. Mehr, Bijan, Political Activist – USA, Boston170. Mirfakhrai, Mehran, Architect/ Human Rights Supporter – Italy171. Miremadi, Bijan, Professor University Vancouver – Canada Vancouver172. Mir Mobini, Hossein, Journalist – USA, California173. Mir Sattari, Anwar, President of EuroPers Human Rights – Belgium, Brussel174. Moghaddas, Mehran, Play writer/Theatre Director – Denmark, Copenhagen175. Mohamadi, Majid, Professor/Writer/Reasercher – USA, NY176. Moheb, Robab, Writer/ Poet - Sweden177. Mohtasham, Yashar, Activist – France, Paris178. Mokhtari, Sohrab, Writer, Germany, Berlin179. Morad, Daryoush, Human Rights Activist - Germany, Cologne180. Moshkin Ghalam, Shahrokh, Actor/Dancer – France, Paris181. Mossaed, Jila, Poet/Writer - Sweden, Göteborg.182. Mossallanejad, Ezat, Writer/Human right Activist, CCVT – Canada, Toronto183. Naghibzadeh, Fathiyeh, Germany, Berlin184. Nakhai, Shahbaz, Journalist – Canada185. Nazarian, Arsen, Translator - Holand186. Nejad, Mohsen, Political Activist – USA, California187. Nejati, Ahmad, Human Rights Supporter - Belgium188. Niroumand, Bahman, Writer/Journalist – Germany, Berlin189. Noghrekar, Masoud, Writer – USA Florida190. Nourmanesh, Shirindokht, Writer/ Activist – USA, California191. Nowzari, Hamid, Political Activist - Germany, Berlin192. Omidmehr, Ali Akbar, Researcher/ Professor - Denmark193. Omidmehr, Ashraf Sadat, Teacher/ Human Rights Activist – Denmark194. Omidnehr, Mahraz, professor - Denmark195. Omid, Mahzad, Reasercher/Professor - Denmark 196. Ostovar, Yavar, Poet - Sweden197. Pak Anna, Asyeh, Women right activist – France198. Paki, Morteza, Human Right Activist, Canada199. Parham, Babak, Poet - USA200. Parsa, Kourosh, Human Rights Activist - USA201. Parsa, Soheil, Theatre Director - Canada Toronto202. Parsi, Touradj, Researcher/Ex-Professor - Sweden203. Payandeh, Mehrdad, DGB Director, Germany, Hanover204. Pegahi, Mahshid, Women Rights Activist - Germany205. Pourmandi, Ahmad, Political Activist – Germany, Munich 206. Pour-Naghavi, Ali, Political Activist, Holand207. Rafiee, Keyvan, Human Rights Activist – Iran208. Rahbari, Alexander, Composer/ Music Professor – Austria Vienna209. Rahimi, Khosro, Radio Producer - Sweden, Gutenberg210. Rahnamaee, M.J., Music Reasercher/ Poet - Holand211. Ramezani, Rahim, Political Activist – Turkey Van212. Ranjbar, Darvish, Former Diplomat of IR of Iran.213. Ranjbar, Kazem, Political Sociology Scientist – France, Paris214. Rashedan, Nima, Political Reasercher/Analyst – Swiss215. Rashidi, Asad, writer/Poet - Germany216. Rastgar, Iraj, Human Rights Activist – USA, Texas217. Rasti, Mahshid, Women/Human Rights Activist- Sweden, Stockholm218. Razavi, Rasoul, Human Rights Activist – Germany Bonn219. Roshan, Mitra, Journalist – Canada, Montreal220. Saadati, Mansoor, Chemist – Canada, Edmonton221. Sabety, Setareh, Writer/Teacher – France, Nice222. Sadr, Hamid, Writer – Germany223. Sadreddin, Zahed, Actor/Teather Director – France, Paris224. Safaei, E., Poet/Political Activist – Germany, Colonia225. Sahimi, Muhammad Professor, University of Southern California – USA, California226. Sakhaee, Manoucher, Singer/Jurnalist – Germany227. Salary, Babak, Photograph - Canada228. Samadpouri, Ali, Political Activist – Belgium229. Samadany, Faramarz, Chemist - USA230. Samienejad, Mojtaba, Journalist, Iran231. Sarhaddi, Arash, Actor/Teather Director - Germany, Berlin232. Sarshar, Homa, Writer/Journalist – USA, Los Angeles233. Sedghi, Majid, Journalist – Franc, Paris234. Sehati, Parisa, Women Rights Activist - Sweden235. Seihoun, Farideh, Professor, Framingham State College- USA236. Servati, Mojgan, Sosiologist/Writer/Reasercher - Germany237. Setoodeh, Behrouz, Political Analyst - USA238. Shabafrooz, Masood, Human Rights Activist – USA California239. Shafaei, Javad, Italia, Roma240. Shafaei, Manuchehr, Artist/Activist, Germany241. Shafie, Minoo, Human Rights Activist - Denmark242. Shafigh, Shahla,( Chahla Chafiq) Writer/Researcher – France, Paris243. Shamshiri, Fariborz, Human Rights Activist - Canada244. Shemiranie, Khosro, Journalist - Canada, Montreal245. Sheyda. Behrooz, Literary Critic/Theorist- Sweden, Stockholm246. Shirazi, Jahangir, Journalist/Activist – Holand247. Simai, Behrouz, Poet/Writer - USA248. Sina, Bijan, Medical Doctor - Germany249. Sobhani, Sohrab, International Affairs Consultant - USA, Washington, DC250. Sohi, Siamak , human Rights Activist - Denmark251. Soltani, Anwar, Reasercher - England252. Taghipoor, Masoomeh, Actor/Theatre Director - Sweden, Göteborg.253. Tahavori, Mohammad, Journalist, USA, MA Cambridge254. Tavackoli, Shahin, Medical Doctor – USA, Huston255. Torabi, Mohammad, Telcom Research Scientist - USA, Dana Point256. Vahdat, Kamran, Professor – USA, Amherst257. Vahdati, Soheila, Human Rights Activist – USA, California258. Yadegari, Shahrokh, Composer/Professor University Of California - USA, California259. Yousefi, Nasser, Teather Director/Radio Producer – Sweden, Stockholm260. Youssefi, Hadi, Human Rights Activist – Denmark261. Zahed, Sadreddin, Stage Actor/ theatre Director – France, Paris262. Zahedi, Mitra, Theatre Director – Germany, Berlin263. Zandian, Mandana, Medical Doctor/Writer/Poet – USA264. Zarasvand, Hossein, Poet – Toronto Canada265. Zarei, Faramarz, Actor – China266. Zeinali, Lohrasb, Political Activist – Germany267. Zerehi, Hassan, Editor-in-chief of Shahrvand, Canada, Toronto

If you want to join us, go to http://www.we-are-ashamed.com/
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Islamic Republic must respect other religion and leave them alone and end its discrimination and apartheid policy toward religious minorities. The Islamic leader must release these Bahai leaders immidiately without pre-condition. (IRAN WATCH CANADA)

The seven Bahai leaders are accused of spying for Israel !
Deputy of the office of Tehran prosecutor for security , accused the seven Bahai leaders in Iran of spying for Israel , profanity and propaganda against the state.
According to the Shahab news website , Judge Hadad told to the reporter that : " The charges of the seven accused of illegal Bahai organization was reviewd in division number one of the prosecution for security investigation which requested for the guilt and next week the file will be send to the court of revolution for indictment.
Here are the name of these Bahai leaders who lead the Bahai in Iran and their organization known as National Assembly of Bahai in Iran :
Ms. Mahvash Sabet, Ms. Fariba Kamal-Abadi,Mr. Jamaledin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naimi , Mr. Saeed Rezaei, Mr. Behruz Tavakoli and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
They were arrested and detained since last May and are still awaiting for sentencing .

Link to this news:

http://www.akhbar-rooz.com/news.jsp?essayId=19400

We are Ashamed!
February 4, 2009

Editor’s Note: The following is an open letter from a group of academics, writers, artists, journalists and Iranian activists throughout the world to the Baha’i community. This letter has been signed by a large number of the most prominent Iranian intellectuals.

We are ashamed!
A century and a half of oppression and silence is enough!
In the name of goodness and beauty, and in the name of humanity and liberty!
As Iranian human beings, we are ashamed for what has been perpetrated upon the Baha’is in the last century and a half in Iran.

We firmly believe that every Iranian, “without distinction of any kind, such as, race, color, sex, language, religion, politics or other opinions,” and also without regard to ethnic background, “social origin, property, birth or other status,” is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, from the very inception of the Baha’i Faith, the followers of this religion in Iran have been deprived of many provisions of human rights solely on account of their religious convictions.

According to historical documents and evidence, from the commencement of the Babi Movement followed by the appearance of the Baha’i Faith, thousands of our countrymen have been slain by the sword of bigotry and superstition only for their religious beliefs. Just in the first decades of its establishment, some twenty thousand of those who stood identified with this faith community were savagely killed throughout various regions of Iran.
We are ashamed that during that period, no voice of protest against these barbaric murders was registered;
We are ashamed that until today the voice of protest against this heinous crime has been infrequent and muted;
We are ashamed that in addition to the intense suppression of Baha’is during its formative decades, the last century also witnessed periodic episodes of persecution of this group of our countrymen, in which their homes and businesses were set on fire, and their lives, property and families were subjected to brutal persecution – but all the while, the intellectual community of Iran remained silent;
We are ashamed that during the last thirty years, the killing of Baha’is solely on the basis of their religious beliefs has gained legal status and over two-hundred Baha’is have been slain on this account;
We are ashamed that a group of intellectuals have justified coercion against the Baha’i community of Iran;
We are ashamed of our silence that after many decades of service to Iran, Baha’i retired persons have been deprived of their right to a pension;
We are ashamed of our silence that on the account of their fidelity to their religion and truthfulness in stating this conviction, thousands of Baha’i youth have been barred from education in universities and other institutions of higher learning in Iran;
We are ashamed that because of their parents’ religious beliefs, Baha’i children are subjected to denigration in schools and in public.
We are ashamed of our silence over this painful reality that in our nation, Baha’is are systematically oppressed and maligned, a number of them are incarcerated because of their religious convictions, their homes and places of business are attacked and destroyed, and periodically their burial places are desecrated;
We are ashamed of our silence when confronted with the long, dark and atrocious record that our laws and legal system have marginalized and deprived Baha’is of their rights, and the injustice and harassment of both official and unofficial organs of the government towards this group of our countrymen;
We are ashamed for all these transgressions and injustices, and
we are ashamed for our silence over these deeds.

We, the undersigned, asked you, the Baha’is, to forgive us for the wrongs committed against the Baha’i community of Iran.
We will no longer be silent when injustice is visited upon you.
We stand by you in achieving all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights.
Let us join hands in replacing hatred and ignorance with love and tolerance.

February 3, 2009

1. Abdolalian Morteza, Journalist, CJFE Board of Directors - Canada, Oakville
2. Abghari Shahla, Professor, Life University – USA, Atlanta
3. Abghari Siavash, Professor, University of Georgia – USA, Atlanta
4. Ahmadi Ramin, Professor, Yale University – USA, Yale
5. Almasi Nasrin, Managing editor of Shahrvand- Canada, Toronto
6. Bagherpour Khosro, Poet /Journalist – Germany
7. Baradaran Monireh, Writer/Human rights activist - Germany
8. Beyzaie Niloofar, Play writer/Theatre Director – Germany, Frankfurt
9. Boroumand Ladan, Researcher, Boroumand Foundation - USA, Washington
10. Boroumand, Roya, Executive Director, Boroumand Foundation – USA, Washington
11. Choubine Bahram, Researcher/Writer – Germany, Köln
12. Daneshvar Hamid, Actor/Theatre Director – France, Paris
13. Darvishpour Mehrdad, Professor, Stockholm University - Sweden, Stockholm
14. Djalali Chimeh Mohammad (M.sahar), Poet - France, Paris
15. Djanati Atai Behi, Actor/ Writer/Theatre Director – France, Paris
16. Ebrahimi Hadi, Editor-in-chief of Shahrgon, Canada, Vancouver
17. Fani Yazdi Reza, Political analyst - USA
18. Farhoudi Vida, Poet/Translator- France, Paris
19. Forouhar Parastoo, Artist/Human rights activist – Germany, Frankfurt
20. Ghaemi Hadi Coordinator Int. Campaign for HR in Iran - USA
21. Ghahraman Saghi, Poet /Journalist – Canada, Toronto
22. Ghahraman, Sasan, Publisher/Writer/Journalist – Canada, Toronto
23. Javid Jahanshah, Publisher, Iranian [dot] com – Mexico, Chihuahua
24. Kakhsaz Naser, Political analyst – Germany, Bochum
25. Kalbasi Sheema, Poet – USA, Washington
26. Kassraei Farhang, Writer/Actor – Germany, Wiesbaden
27. Khorsandi Hadi, Satirist – Great Britain, London
28. Mahbaz Efat, Women rights activist /Journalist– England, London
29. Malakooty Sirus, Classical Guitar Player/ Composer/ Lecturer - England, London
30. Moshkin Ghalam Shahrokh, Actor/Dancer – France, Paris
31. Mossaed Jila, Poet/Writer - Sweden, Göteborg.
32. Mossallanejad Ezat, Writer/Human right Activist, CCVT – Canada, Toronto
33. Parsa Soheil, Theatre Director - Canada Toronto
34. Sahimi, Muhammad Professor, University of Southern California – USA, California
35. Shafigh Shahla, Writer/Researcher – France, Paris
36. Shemiranie Khosro, Journalist - Canada, Montreal
37. Sheyda Behrooz, Literary Critic/Theorist- Sweden, Stockholm
38. Taghipoor Masoomeh, Actor/Theatre Director - Sweden, Göteborg.
39. Tahavori Mohammad, Journalist, USA, MA Cambridge
40. Vahdati Soheila, Human Rights Activist – USA, California
41. Zahedi Mitra, Theatre Director – Germany, Berlin
42. Zerehi Hassan, Editor-in-chief of Shahrvand, Canada, Toronto

To join the signaturees please contact the following emails.
niloofarbeyzaie@gmx.at, shemiranie@yahoo.com
Or please join the signatures here."
Read more:
http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2009/02/we-are-ashamed/

Sheema Kalbasi posted the following on her blog:

"A century and a half of oppression and silence is enough! Every Iranian, “without distinction of any kind, such as, race, color, sex, language, religion, politics or other opinions,” and also without regard to ethnic background, “social origin, property, birth or other status,” is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, from the very inception of the Baha’i Faith, the followers of this religion in Iran have been deprived of many provisions of human rights solely on account of their religious convictions.Please join the signatures here."

Link:

http://www.zaneirani.blogspot.com/

Islamic Republic is an apartheid regime! IWC

Bahai's arrest continue !
Several Bahai's are arrested in Tehran
The security agents attended at the house of Bahai's in Tehran and arrested several members of their families.
Based on a coordinated plan the security forces have attended at the house of 10 Bahai families in the city of Tehran and arrested several persons and transfered them to Evin prison.
The agents searched the Bahai families house , confiscated their religious books , pictures and computers.
Those who are arrested are:
jinous Sobhani, Shahrokh Taef, Azizolah Samandari, Payam Aghsani, Didar Raouf , and Nima Haghar.
Ms. Sobhani was working as secretary of the "Centre for Human Rights Defenders".
The regime also continued to arrest Bahai's in the city of Ghaemshahr, Sari and Semnan.
The Islamic Republic apartheid regime must not be tolerated and the pressure must continue on.

Link to this news:
http://www.akhbar-rooz.com/news.jsp?essayId=18986

Recent Detentions Highlight Government’s Continued Persecution of the Baha’i Community
(12 December 2008) – The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran expressed serious concern today about the recent detentions of three Baha’is in the province of Mazandaran and called on Iranian authorities to account for them.
Security agents detained Masoud Ataian, Soheila Motallebi, and Anvar Moslemi during a six-day period in November in Qa’emshahr and Sari in the Northern province of Mazandaran.
“These detentions are consistent with a pattern of persecution and arbitrary arrest of members of the Baha’i minority in Iran, and give cause to fear for the health and safety of those in custody,” said Hadi Ghaemi, Campaign spokesperson. “The government has yet to account for the detentions earlier this year of six Baha’i leaders, contributing to an alarming trend.”
Ataian was detained in his home in Qa’emshahr by Intelligence Ministry officials on 17 November 2008. Led by an agent called Mr. Movahed, the officials searched his home, destroyed sacred pictures and confiscated holy texts, his computer and business documents. He has not been allowed to see a lawyer and has had only brief contact with his family.
Motallebi was detained in her home in Sari on 21 November also by Intelligence Ministry officials. They presented no warrant but searched her home and confiscated documents and books relating to the Baha’i Faith. She is being held in the Intelligence Ministry’s detention center in Sari and has been denied contact with her family. Human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani has agreed to take on her case, but has not been allowed to see her. Anvar Moslemi was detained two days later on 23 November in Sari.
Within the past year four other Baha’is have been taken into custody in Mazandaran. Tarazollah Allahverdi and his wife Sonya Tebyanian were detained on 17 October in Behshahr. Siamak Ebrahimi, detained and released two years ago, was again detained on 4 November in Tonekaban. He was sentenced to six months in prison and two years exile in the city of Zabol, over 1100 km away from his home. Ali Ahmadi, another Baha’i detained earlier this year in Mazandaran, is still being held in prison.
The Campaign urged on members of the international community to protest the continued harassment of Iran’s Baha’i community and called on the Iranian authorities to cease the unjust targeting and detention of members of the Baha’i community throughout Iran.

Three Bahai's went on trial in the city of Yasuj !
Because of teaching Bahai's literature to kindergarten student; these people have been accused of propagating against Islamic Republic.
The names of these threee Bahai's are : Rohieh Yazdani, Zoleykha Musavi and Ali Askar Ravanbakhsh. On November 23 this year they attended in Yasuj Islamic court of revoluion and were sentenced to imprisonment.
In total , they have been sentenced to four years imprisonment. Since their arrest until now, they have spent two months in Yasuj temporary prison centre.
Ms. Rohieh Yazdani who is an educational coach for childeren, created free painting,moral and educational pre-school classes for childeren from the age of 5-7 in Mehraban village nearby Yasuj city in the province of Kohkiluyeh and Buyerahmad.
Zoleykha Musavi and her husband Mr. Ali Askar Ravanbakhsh are also accused of providing their home to Rohieh Yazdani for the above educational purposes. There were 70 pre-school student in the class using this program for free.

Link in Farsi language:

www.iranemrooz.net

Human rights activists:
Continuation of Bahai (religious minority) arrest in Iran !

While the seven leaders of the Bahai are still in prison in Tehran and three Bahai youth are in Shiraz city prison and several other Bahai are in other part of the country in prison , recently a new wave of Bahai arrest has started.

According to reports received on October 18 two bahai from the city of Behshahr in Mazandaran province are arrested by the agents of the Ministry of Information and they are allegedly charged with “ propaganda against Islam and communication with Baitol-adl , the Bahai religious centre” . These two Bahai’s name are Tarazolah ( Zia ) Alahverdi and Ms. Sonia Tabiyanian. There situation is unknown and are still in the detention centre of the Ministry of Information in the city of Sari .

Also Mr. Siamak Ebrahimi another Bahai from the city of Tonekabon is arrested on November 4 / 08 and the court of the Islamic Republic has sentenced him to six months imprisonment and two years internal exile to the city of Zabol . Two years ago Mr. Ebrahimi was arrested but released by bail.

The last report is about three Bahai who were arrested in the city of Yasuj and their names and situation is not known.

Because of fear from people’s protest for democracy and human rights the Islamic Republic recently has started wave of arrest and creation of command post in all over Iran.

http://www.blogged.com/about/bahai/

The painful letter of Parham Aghdasi, the Bahai student representative banned from university education!

Parham In his letter wrote:
I'm Parham Aghdasi, the past student of the Atomic molecular Physics from Boali Sina University in the city of Hamadan. I have passed the enterance examination to University in 2006-2007 and was able to enter into the University but unfortunately after one term education , before the first term examination , the university officials based on a decree of the cultural revolution and because of my religious belief and as a Bahai , I was expelled from university. They insisted the only way to admit me into the university is to change my religious belief from Bahai to Islam .

http://www.hrairan.com/Archive_87/1049.html

http://asre-nou.net/php/view.php?objnr=383

The Bahai Issue
Roozonline- ‎
Ahmad Zeidabadi ‎ - 2008.05.26

The arrest of several leaders of the Bahai community in Iran was widely condemned ‎outside Iran. Inside Iran, however, this issue has not met appropriate reaction between ‎human rights activists and organizations. The reasons for this inappropriate response are ‎complicated. ‎
The first issue is the sensitivity of top Shia clerics to any kind of compassion or defense ‎of Bahais. Some clerics accuse Bahais of “ertedad” (heresy) and call for their complete ‎suppression. This is not limited to clerics supporting the regime. Therefore, whoever ‎defends the Bahai community’s rights in Iran, will face the reaction of not just the ‎government, but also clerics and charges of heresy, which is not something that one ‎would be after. ‎
The second issue is that since the inception of the Bahai faith, many stories have been ‎spread about their belief system and relations to foreigners. These stories grew in size ‎and content by the day. In any case, many people view the Bahai followers as a secretive ‎community which has hidden powers and special ties to foreign countries, especially ‎Israel, and thus fear getting close to them. ‎
Under these conditions, it appears that that the Bahai community in Iran has become a ‎serious issue for the government and even other parts of the Iranian society itself. ‎Therefore, there are many reports that call for the suspension of Bahai rights while there ‎also reports that accuse the group of striving to spread and advertise its faith. ‎
I believe that the time has come for top Shia clerics and the Islamic Republic government ‎to clarify their views on the Bahai community so that this does not turn into yet another ‎unresolved problem for the Iranian society. ‎
As far as I know, even the most traditional definition of “ertedad” (heresy) applies to a ‎Muslim or Muslim-born who has changed his or her religion. Such a definition cannot ‎apply to Bahai’s today, because they and their families were not Muslims to begin with, ‎let alone changing their religion. About 150 years have passed since the inception of ‎Bahai faith and if, a long time ago, people accused Bahai’s of leaving Islam and leaving ‎the faith, that is not valid today. ‎
In addition, even though “ertedad” is defined in religious texts, it is not mentioned in the ‎constitution of the Islamic Republic. In any case, the Islamic Republic, with all its ‎insistence on strict adherence to the Sharia (“Islamic law”), has voluntarily or by force ‎shied away from handing down punishment for “mortadan” (people who commit heresy), ‎for example, for Communists who changed religion. Even if it has punished a non-‎Muslim for his beliefs, it has insisted that the punishment has been for non-belief related ‎matters, for instance national security crimes. ‎
In recent years only one person was charged with “ertedad” (Dr. Hashem Aghajari) who ‎was later acquitted of the charge under pressure from Iranian civil society. When the ‎administration’s spokesperson accuses the arrested Bahai’s of security crimes, not ‎ertedad, there is an obvious reason that even Ahmadinejad’s administration knows that ‎‎“being a Bahai” cannot be a crime and punishable. If this point is clearly articulated by ‎government organizations and Shia grand ayatollahs, a part of the problem will ‎undoubtedly be solved. ‎
The second issue that must be clarified by the Islamic Republic is whether the Islamic ‎Republic recognizes the rights of Bahai’s, or whether the state officially endorses ‎discrimination against some of its citizens on the basis of their beliefs. Undoubtedly, a ‎clear answer to this question will clarify a host of other issues as well. ‎
What I want to emphasize here is that Bahai’s, have rights equal to all other Iranians by ‎virtue of having been born in this land, its national framework and live in it and therefore ‎any discrimination against them on the basis of their beliefs undermines the fundamental ‎principles of nation-statehood in modern times. ‎
Even if Bahai leaders are arrested for reasons other than their beliefs, they must be given ‎access to lawyers and enjoy a free and fair trial, like any other Iranian citizen. ‎
I have to note that I personally regard sectarian propaganda against the Bahai’s to be ‎against national and public interest of Iran and object the Iranian government for exerting ‎pressure on the Bahai’s to suppress them. In the end, however, I suggest to the Bahai’s to ‎reconsider their decision to promote their religion inside Iran, because of the hefty ‎consequences that they may have to pay.

Link to this news:
‎http://www.roozonline.com/english/
archives/2008/05/the_bahai_issue.html

http://news.bahai.org/story/491