Iran arrests 6 Bahai leaders for 'connections with Zionists'
Iran confirmed on Tuesday that it had arrested six leaders of the Bahai community on charges of "anti-Iranian activities," including working against Iran's interests and 'connections with foreigners, especially Zionists. Intelligence officials had arrested the six at their homes last week.Government Spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham confirmed the matter and said that “this group worked against the state’s interests and had connections with foreigners, especially Zionists.”This sounds like a scare tactic.
Elham also said that “our intelligence service has acted based on legal criteria and it is pursuing the issue as a duty and as part of every country's rules."
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One of the estimations is that the Bahai leaders were arrested as a result of a bombing which occurred last month in a Shiraz mosque that killed 14 people. The bombing occurred while a local clergyman was preaching against the Bahais.
However, Iran officially blamed a local terror organization and arrested more than a dozen suspects, who according to the government admitted that they received funding and instruction from the United States, England, and Israel. However, Iran has not yet shown any proof of this. [Iran's own local police have concluded that the explosion was actually caused by munitions hidden in the building and not by sabotage. CiJ]
In January, Iran announced that it tried 54 Bahais over propaganda against the regime charges. Three of them were sentenced to four years imprisonment and the rest were sentenced to a year’s imprisonment on probation. Justice officials said that the Bahais held missionary activity in Shiraz under the guise of assistance to the needy.
The Bahai religion developed in Iran in the 19th century, but since the 1979 Islamic Revolution is considered illegal in the Islamic Republic. According to estimations, 300,000 Bahais live in Iran. They are considered infidels according to the government and are forced to practice their religion in secrecy.
The Bahais view the Bahaullah, born in 1817, as their last prophet, sent by divine intervention to the world. The Bahaullah was banished from Iran and buried in Haifa, Israel, the most sacred place for the Bahai religion.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:36 AM
4 Comments:
More from a human rights in the Islamic world blog linking to a Bahai article on it:
“...this latest sweep recalls the wholesale arrest or abduction of the members of two national Iranian Bahá’í governing councils in the early 1980s -- which led to the disappearance or execution of 17 individuals"
The Iranians don't like anyone it seems. I have met with many Baha'i and find them a warm, loving people. No wonder Iran hates them.
Plus they have lovely temples and gardens. The one in Haifa is simply gorgeous. It reflects the simple beauty of their faith.
Iran's Islamic leaders hate the Bahai's because they're first post-Islamic religion. Its a theological problem and also a threat to a religion that claims Mohammed is the final seal of the Prophets and that Islam is the final and perfect religion. If they can't get Jews, they will find a convenient scapegoat.
Not quite the first post-Islamic religion. I do believe the Druze have that honor. And that is a very good honor too.
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