Remembering the Baha'i Leaders of Iran

In March and May 2008, the leaders of the Bahai Community in Iran ( Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm) were arrested by the Iranian authorities. The seven have since been held in the notorious Evin Prison without access to to lawyers and very limited contact to their families.

In February, authorities finally announced the charges against the leaders: espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic.


Their detention and pending trial constitute one step in a 30-year-long systematic campaign orchestrated by the government to eliminate the Baha'i community as a viable entity in Iran, the birthplace of the Baha'i Faith.

For more information regarding the situation: iranpresswatch.org

The background track used in this clip is O Saya from the Slumdog Millionaire.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Iran
• Bahai
• Human Rights
• Baha'i
• Baha'i Rights
• Yaran
• Iran Press Watch
• Religion
• Freedom
• Persecutions
• Bahai Leaders

[Joewalshe38]

Good video.

I hope and pray Iran will be awakened to the reality of the Baha'i Faith.

[PeterJDeer]

You know, I ask this a lot myself. How many of them truly believe we are infidels, and are truly and honestly afraid that we are here to destroy their religion? How many of them actually think that we are some network of zionist spies or imperialist insurgents?

I also wonder, do the ones who make up stories about us usually believe that the ends justify the means, and that they need to lie some in order to protect people, or how many realize all the way to the core that they are the deceivers?

[guitcrzy]

@BAHAIRULES I agree with you 100%! It just shows the complete and utter ignorance of the Iranian Government :(

[BAHAIRULES]

@guitcrzy The iranian president in one of his speechs when accused of harm done to the Baha'i faith stated and i Quote: "When we talk about divine religons, Jewish groups their prophet was Moses and the Christians, Christ, and the muslims, Muhammad, can you tell me the divine prophet of the religon you mentioned and was revealed to when exactly, does he have a name? Good luck. (laughing as he walked out without time for the respnse)" This shows the extreme ignorance in the irainian president :(

[cameronmoj]

@EspahbodSurna Religion is the Word of God that is ordained for our protection and well being. All religions teach love, harmony and purity of motive. The only madness that exists is the work of fanatical, egotistical and nasty humans who misuse the name of Religion to hurt and/or kill others. This madness is solely the deeds of humans. Religion itself is not to blame.

[Bahaiforever]

Fellow bahais, read some prayers from the Aqdas for our persecuted believers who only want spiritual unity in mankind

[guitcrzy]

It is just not fair that the Iranian Baha'i community get arrested for charges that are absurd. They are in no way a threat to the Muslim religion. In fact the Baha'i religion is a religion that believes that all the religion's agree and that we are all equal.

I quote from Baha'ullah's writings: 'The world is but one country and mankind its citizens.'

Why is trying to bring unity and peace something bad?

Answer that question Iranian government.

[shamimbina]

Such a powerful video! Thank you for this video! God bless and Allah-u-Abha! = )

[thegoochieguy]

when theocracy reigns...

[ImanHitman]

sorry...but killing and persecuting humans has absolutely nothing to do with religion. They call themselves muslims, but they are far away from that. Everyone can do shameful things in the name of anything...

so we have to be careful with judgement, because it's too easy to blame religion for every action in the name of religion!

[EspahbodSurna]

What kind of madness is this, persecution of other religions?. Wait maybe religion is a kind of madness that inflicts the minds of humans and turns them into less than a lowliest of creations.