Statements about the persecution of Bahá'ís

The persecution of Bahá'ís refers to the religious persecution of Bahá'ís in various countries, especially in Iran, the location of one of the largest Bahá'í populations in the world. The Bahá'í Faith originated in Iran, and represents the largest religious minority in that country.[1] Since the later part of the 20th century many third party organizations such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, the European Union, and the United States have made statements denouncing the persecution of Bahá'ís asking that human rights be maintained.[2] Members of the Bahá'í community in Iran have been subjected to unwarranted arrests, false imprisonment, beatings, torture, unjustified executions, confiscation and destruction of property owned by individuals and the Bahá'í community, denial of employment, denial of government benefits, denial of civil rights and liberties, and denial of access to higher education.[3]

General

United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has published reports on the persecution of the Bahá'ís since the Iranian Revolution in 1979; in every year since 1984, except for 2002, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has passed a resolution expressing concern about human rights violations against the Bahá'ís in Iran.[2] The Special Representative on Iran, Professor Galindo Pohl, Canadian Jurist and UBC Law Professor, Maurice Copithorne, and the Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, Professor Abdu’l Fatah Amor, have all reported on the persecutions that the Bahá'ís have faced in Iran. Throughout the years the Commission has written:

Amnesty International

Amnesty International has also documented the persecution of the Bahá'í community in Iran. It has written:

European Union

European Union

The European Union in the 2004 EU Annual Report on Human Rights wrote:

“ There has not been discernible progress in the key areas of concern. Concern was also reiterated at the destruction of the Bahá'í holy site at Babol and the refusal of the authorities to allow the dignified re-interment of the remains it contains.[18] ”

Then in a speech given at the European Parliament in October 2005 on behalf of the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism, Jan Figel said:

“ Regarding the actual situation of human rights in Iran, there is a growing cause for concern. There are other serious issues of concern which have emerged recently: ... the arrest of members of the Bahá'í Faith.[19] ”

United States government

The United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor stated in the 2004 Report on International Religious Freedom that:

In 2008, the United States House of Representatives passes HR. RES. 1008, condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran.[21]

Iranian government

The Iranian government claims that Bahá'ís are enemies of the state, were supporters of the former Shah's government and spies employed by imperialist governments of the West.[2] The Ayatollah Khomeini, even before his return to Iran said in an interview that he believed that Bahá'ís were traitors — Zionists — and enemies of Islam.[22]

The Iranian representative to the United Nations tried several times, albeit unsuccessfully, between 1982 and 1984 to convince the United Nations diplomatic community that the Bahá'í Faith is a politicized organization with a record of criminal activism against the Iranian government[2] and not a legitimate religion like Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism which are protected under Iranian law;[23] Iran has not acknowledged that the Bahá'í Faith is a religion.[23]

Iranian writers and academics

The general belief among the Iranian people follows the statements of the Iranian government that Bahá'ís are enemies of the state, and supporters of the previous government of the Shah:

“ The real truth is though that no one gives a damn what happens to Bahá'ís. ”
— Iqbal Latif, The Iranian August 5, 2002[24]
“ I'm just fascinated by the fact that we -- nearly every non-Bahá'í Iranian -- do not really consider Bahá'ís as Iranian. We consider them bastard children of British colonialism aiming to destroy Islam, specifically Shi'ite Islam. They're not even 'other' Iranians. We see them as something else. Or maybe we don't see them at all. ”
— Jahanshah Javid, The Iranian July 3, 2002[25]
“ Still than being celebrated for their contribution and evolution of Iranian thought or even engaged in debates about the validity of their beliefs, Bahá'ís are considered to have suspect allegiances, foreign imperialists and 'Zionist agents'. ”
— Jahanshah Javid, The Iranian July 3, 2002[25]
“ The popular notion among Iranian Muslims and other non-Muslims is that the Bahá'ís enjoyed a privileged status during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah. ”
— Professor Sanasarian, [26]

There are many Iranians who have published how and why Iranians think of Bahá'ís as outsiders. Dr. Mohammad Tavakoli, a Muslim-Iranian, who is a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Toronto presents in Iran-Nameh, a Persian language academic journal, a study that examines the processes that led to the ghettoization and eventual "othering" of the Bahá'ís in Iran by the political and religious forces within Iranian society.[27] Other statements include:

“ It is this eventuality that we all should assume responsibility for and to avert this; Iranians must accept that Bahá'ís are an integral and loyal community within Iran, extending the same inclusiveness reserved for Shi'ites and other minorities. ”
— Iqbal Latif, The Iranian August 5, 2002[24]
“ Go ahead. Go and shed a tear for Palestinians. They deserve it. Israel is crushing them like ants. But when you get a chance, do give a shit about Bahá'ís too. You want a noble cause? You want to scream and shout about injustice? I'm telling you... Bahá'ís have been really underrated as far as causes go. ”
— Jahanshah Javid, The Iranian July 3, 2002[25]

On July 15, 2013, Mohammad Nourizad kissed the feet of a 4-year-old Bahá'í boy whose parents had been arrested for participation in the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education saying: "…why shouldn't I kiss your feet as a representative of the office of [Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] and the [many] Shi'ite sources of emulation?"[28] and published the event on his blog.[29] The boy's father responded in a letter from prison dated July 18 saying in part: "Mr. Nourizad! You asked Artin to slap you and to spit on you. I heard this request as your attempt to ease his pain, and the utmost sign of your honesty and your acceptance of responsibility. At the same time, I wish that no human body should have to be exposed to such a thing, as the body houses the human spirit and the human spirit is a display of the Divine one."[30]

Response from the United Nations

The United Nations responded to the Iranian government's accusations by stating that there has been no evidence of Iran's claims and that the Bahá'í community in Iran professes its allegiance to the state. The United Nations pointed to the Bahá'í teaching of obedience to the government of one's country and stated that any involvement in any subversive acts against the government would be antithetical to precepts of the Bahá'í religion.[16] The United Nations also stated that if the Iranian government did acknowledge that the Bahá'í Faith is a religion, it would be an admission that freedom of religion does not apply to all in Iran and that it is not abiding by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenants on Human Rights to which it is a signatory.[23]

Response from Prominent Figures

Many well-known personalities have also raised their voices about he issue. Some include Rainn Wilson's CNN article,[31] KC Porter's Yaran song,[32] Mithaq Kazimi's Quenching The Light video[33] and Jack Lenz's Freedom to Believe Foundation.

Arrest of Bahá'í leaders in 2008

Main article: Bahá'í 7

There have been widespread calls from public figures, governments and organizations to the Iranian government to release the Bahá'ís, especially after the trial was announced on February 11, 2009.[34] Many Brazilian members of government have spoken out for the Bahá'ís as early as April 2008.[nb 1] From the United States, representative Frank R. Wolf stated he was deeply disturbed about the systematic persecution of the Bahá'ís witnessed through the announced trial.[44] Later congressman Mark Kirk of Illinois offered a resolution on the subject of the trial condemning the government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Bahá'í minority;[45] the resolution was co-sponsored by other Representatives.[nb 2] A Senatorial resolution has been introduced by Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, cosponsored by Sam Brownback, Kansas; Robert Menendez, New Jersey; Olympia Snowe, Maine; and Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island.[46] In Canada, Deepak Obhrai, Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, found the announcement of the trial very troubling,[47] which was echoed by Lawrence Cannon, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs.[47] In Germany, German chairman of the CSU Group in the Bundestag, Peter Ramsauer stated that he had "deep concern".[48] In the United Kingdom, British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell also expressed concern over the trial.[49] The Presidency of the European Union (EU), with the support of the EU associated countries denounced the trial,[50][nb 3] which was echoed by the President of the European Parliament.[51] In Australia, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spoke to the subject,[52] as did Mark Weitzman, director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Task Force Against Hate.[53] In the Netherlands, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen said the Netherlands was seriously concerned, fears that the trial will not be fair and has asked for an independent observer.[54] The Canadian Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Human Rights has adopted a strongly worded motion February 24 which was forwarded to the full committee on the 26th.[55] On the same day the UK Board of Deputies president, Henry Grunwald QC, has written to Foreign Secretary David Miliband with a renewed call to the government to support the persecuted Bahá’i community in Iran.[56] Repeating steps taken in 2006 following the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion reports of the time, in April 2009 the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lower House of the Spanish Congress of Deputies unanimously approved a resolution concerning the "systematic" persecution being exerted on the Bahá'í community.[57] In May 2009 a motion from the Australian House of Representatives expressed "serious concern" there was no access to legal representation or due legal process, that charges of "spying, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic Republic, and that these charges could attract the death penalty". The Representatives rose in motion calling on Iran "to respect rights to freedom of religion and the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression and association, in accordance with international human rights conventions" and "to release the seven Baha’i detainees without delay." Six members of Parliament from both major parties spoke in support of the motion: Leichhardt Turnour, Cowan Simpkins, Hindmarsh Georganas, O’Connor Turckey, Isaacs Dreyfus, and Longman Sullivan.[58] Members of the German Bundestag, partisan speakers Erika Steinbach MP (CDU/CSU), Christoph Strässer MP (SPD), Volker Beck MP (B90/DIE GRÜNEN) and chairman Burkhardt Müller-Sönksen MdB (FDP) united in issuing a joint declaration demanding "the immediate and unconditional release of the leaders of the Baha’i religious community."[59]

Human rights organizations have also released statements: Amnesty International released updated Action Alerts about the trial in 2009 in February,[60] and again in July,[61] Freedom House strongly condemned the trial,[62] and World Organisation Against Torture proposed actions to secure the freedom of the leadership and others arrested.[63] Responding to a letter from Roxana Saberi, who was in contact with two of the women Bahá'í leaders while she was in prison, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom demanded the seven prisoners be freed rather than stand trial.[64]

There have been groups of individuals also speaking out. On February 4, 2009 267 non-Bahá'í Iranian academics, writers, artists, journalists and activists from some 21 countries including Iran signed an open letter of apology posted to Iranian.com and stating that they believed that the Bahá'ís had been deprived of their rights in the Islamic Republic, and pledging their support of achieving the rights detailed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for the Bahá'ís in Iran.[65][nb 4] Several prominent Indians, including leading jurists of India's legal system, journalists, and civil rights activists, have also signed an open letter urging Iran to abide by international human rights conventions and release the detainees immediately.[nb 5] British entertainers wrote an open letter printed in The Times of London of those to be on trial stating their solidarity with the Bahá'ís."[68][nb 6] Rainn Wilson, an American actor, also published a commentary through CNN.[69] A prominent group of more than sixty professors and scholars who specialize in Middle Eastern and Iranian Studies have added their voices in protest as well.[70][nb 7] Cherie Blair, a British barrister and wife of Tony Blair, urged readers of The Times to keep aware of state persecution of Iran’s Bahá'í religious minority, and urge the Iranian government to give these individuals a fair trial and allow independent observers access to ensure this happens.[71] Speaking to a crowd of over 1,400 people packed into George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium on September 12, 2009 Dr. Azar Nafisi, best-selling author;Shohreh Aghdashloo, days before winning her 2009 Emmy; and Dr. Dwight Bashir, Associate Director for Policy at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, added their voices to those concerned about human rights in Iran and the persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran.[72] Aghdashloo's talk in particular was posted to YouTube.[73]

Notes

  1. ↑ They include Luiz Couto - 13 March, 3 July, 8 October,[35][36][37] Fernando Ferro - 08 April,[38] Boy Alencar - 13 August,[39] Bullet Rocha - 13 August,[40] Geraldo Resende - 16 October,[41] Pompeo de Mattos,[42] and Carlos Abicalil.[43]
  2. ↑ The resolution brought up during the 111th Congress in H. RES. 175 - "Condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights" which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, was initially co-sponsored by representatives James McGovern, Massachusetts; Brad Sherman, California; Dan Burton, Indiana; Bill Foster, Illinois; Maurice Hinchey, New York; Frank Wolf, Virginia; and Jim Moran, Virginia by Feb 13th. By March the number of co-sponsors has reached 28 congressmen.[45]
  3. ↑ EU associated countries supporting the statement include Turkey, Croatia, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine and Moldova.[50]
  4. ↑ Original signatories include Sheema Kalbasi, Mojtaba Saminejad, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam, Ahmad Batebi.[65] Well over 100 more have added their signatures since including Daryoush Ashouri, and Faegheh Atashin.[66]
  5. ↑ Signatories of the July 19, 2008 letter include: former Chief Justice of India Justice Jagdish Sharan Verma, former Supreme Court judge Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Justice Rajinder Sachar, former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, member, Law commission, Tahir Mahmood, former chairperson, National Commission for Women, Mohini Giri, editorial director, Hindustan Times, Vir Sanghvi, senior columnist Kuldip Nayar, president, World Council for Arya Samaj, Swami Agnivesh.[67]
  6. ↑ The British entertainers include David Baddiel, Bill Bailey, Morwenna Banks, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Jo Brand, Russell Brand, Rob Brydon, Jimmy Carr, Jack Dee, Omid Djalili, Sean Lock, Lee Mack, Alexei Sayle, Meera Syal, and Mark Thomas.[68]
  7. ↑ The American Academics include Janet Afary, Ervand Abrahamian, Reza Afshari, Saïd Amir Arjomand, Fred Donner, John Esposito, Mehran Kamrava, Mehrangiz Kar, Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, Farhad Kazemi, Denis MacEoin, Ann Elizabeth Mayer, David Morgan, Roy Mottahedeh, Kamran Talattof, among 66 signatories.[70]

References

  1. ↑ Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee (23 February 2006). Human Rights Annual Report 2005: First Report of Session 2005-06; Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence. The Stationery Office. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-215-02759-7.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Affolter, Friedrich W. (2005). "The Specter of Ideological Genocide: The Bahá'ís of Iran" (pdf). War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity 1 (1): 59–89. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
  3. ↑ International Federation for Human Rights (2003-08-01). "Discrimination against religious minorities in Iran" (PDF). fdih.org. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  4. ↑ United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. E/CN.4/RES/1995/68, 1995.
  5. ↑ United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. E/CN.4/RES/1997/54, 1997.
  6. ↑ United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. E/CN.4/RES/1999/13, 1999.
  7. ↑ United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world. E/CN.4/2000/L.16, 2000.
  8. ↑ United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. E/CN.4/RES/2001/17, 2001.
  9. ↑ United Nations. Islamic Republic of Iran: Convention No. 111: Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), 1958. In Report of the Committee on Excerpts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendation. Equality of Opportunity and Treatment, 2004.
  10. ↑ Ambeyi Ligabo. Report Submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo. Addendum: Mission to the Islamic Republic of Iran. In UN Commission on Human Rights. Civil and Political Rights, including the question of freedom of expression E/CN.4/2004/62/Add.2, January 12, 2004.
  11. ↑ United Nations. Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir Addendum: Summary of cases transmitted of Governments and replies received. In UN Commission on Human Rights. Civil and Political Rights, Including the Question of Religious Intolerance E/CN.4.2005/61/Add.1, March 2005.
  12. ↑ United Nations (March 2005). "Concluding Observations: The Islamic Republic of Iran". UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 44 of the Convention CRC/C/15/ADD.254. ISBN 90-04-14731-4. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  13. ↑ Kothari, Miloon (July 2005). "Country Mission to Iran - 19 to 31 July 2005". Selections from Preliminary Findings-relevant to Bahá'ís in UN Commission on Human Rights. Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  14. ↑ United Nations (2005-11-02) Human rights questions: human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives General Assembly, Sixtieth session, Third Committee. A/C.3/60/L.45
  15. ↑ Amnesty International USA (1993-11-23). "Iran: Serious Violations Continue amid Political and Religious Repression". AI Index: MDE 13/11/93. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  16. 1 2 Amnesty International (October 1996). "Dhabihullah Mahrami: Prisoner of Conscience". AI INDEX: MDE 13/34/96. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  17. ↑ Amnesty International (1998-07-24). "Amnesty International condemns execution of Baha’i" (PDF). AI INDEX: MDE 13/12/98. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  18. ↑ EU. 2004. (2004-09-13). EU Annual Report on Human Rights (PDF). Belgium: European Communities. ISBN 92-824-3078-2. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  19. ↑ Figel, Jan (2005-10-12). "Speech given at the European Parliament". Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  20. 1 2 3 4 United States Department of State (2004-09-15). "Iran, International Religious Freedom Report". Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  21. ↑ "House passes resolution condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran". National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  22. ↑ Abrahamian, Ervand (1993). Khomeinism: Essays on the Islamic Republic. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-08503-5.
  23. 1 2 3 Buck, Christopher (2003). "Islam and Minorities: The Case of the Bahá'ís". Studies in Contemporary Islam 5 (1): 83–106.
  24. 1 2 Latif, Iqbal (2002-08-05). "Medieval Ignorance: The Silence of Iranian Polity Towards Bahá’í Persecution". The Iranian. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  25. 1 2 3 Javid, Jahanshah (2002-07-03). "Heechee kam nadaaran: When are we going to recognize Bahais?". The Iranian. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  26. ↑ Sanasarian, Eliz (2000). Religious Minorities in Iran. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 52–53. ISBN 0-521-77073-4.
  27. ↑ Tavakoli-Targhi, Mohamed (2001). "Anti-Bahá'ísm and Islamism in Iran, 1941-1955". Iran-Nameh 19 (1): 79–124.
  28. ↑ Esfandiari, Golnaz (July 16, 2013). "Following Pope's Example, Iranian Dissident Kisses Feet Of Baha'i Boy". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  29. ↑ Nourizad, Mohammad (در تاریخ تیر ۲۴, ۱۳۹۲). "شما اینجا هستید: صفحه نخست » مقالات محمد نوری زاد » بوسه بر پای یک بهایی کوچک (محمد نوری زاد". Retrieved September 7, 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ↑ "Artin's Dad responds to Nourizad from prison". tavaana.org. July 18, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Iranian professionals post public apology to Baha'is". CNN. 2009-02-06.
  32. ↑ http://yaran.bandcamp.com/track/yaran
  33. ↑ http://www.kdkfactory.com/quench/
  34. ↑ "Iran to try Bahais for spying for Israel". AFP (AFP). 2009-02-11.
  35. ↑ "Comments of Luiz Couto" (PDF) (Press release). Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  36. ↑ "Comments of Luiz Couto" (PDF) (Press release). Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  37. ↑ "Comments of Luiz Couto" (PDF) (Press release). Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  38. ↑ "Comments of Fernando Ferro" (PDF) (Press release). Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  39. ↑ "Comments of Boy Alencar" (PDF) (Press release). Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  40. ↑ "Comments of Bullet Rocha" (PDF) (Press release). Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  41. ↑ "Comments of Geraldo Resende" (PDF) (Press release). Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  42. ↑ "Comments of Pompeo de Mattos" (PDF) (Press release). Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  43. ↑ "Comments of Carlos Abicalil" (PDF) (Press release). Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  44. ↑ "Iran Continues Systematic Persecution of Baha'is" (Press release). House of Representatives, Congressional Record. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  45. 1 2 "Condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights. (Introduced in House)" (Press release). House of Representatives, Congressional Record. 2009-02-13. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  46. ↑ "A resolution condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i minority in Iran and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights. (Introduced in Senate)" (Press release). Senate, Congressional Record. 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  47. 1 2 "Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East, CPC): Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs" (Press release). Canadian Bahá'í News Service. 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  48. ↑ CSU-Landesgruppe Dr. Ramsauer: Recht auf ein faires Verfahren
  49. ↑ "Trial of members of the Iranian Bahá'í community" (Press release). Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  50. 1 2 "Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the trial with seven Baha'i leaders in Iran" (PDF) (Press release). Council of the European Union. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  51. ↑ "Opening of the Brussels plenary session: Pöttering on Polish engineer in Pakistan, bushfires in Australia, Baha'i in Iran and expulsion of Spanish MEP from Venezuela" (Press release). European Parliament. 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  52. ↑ Hand, Jenna (2009-02-19). "DFAT 'concerned' over fate of Baha'i leaders". The Canberra Times.
  53. ↑ "Wiesenthal Center Condemns "Delusional" Iranian Persecution of the Bahai" (PDF) (Press release). Simon Wiesenthal Center. 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
  54. ↑ "The Netherlands condemns trial of Iranian Bahá’is" (Press release). Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
  55. ↑ Bahá’í Community of Canada (2009-02-27). "[http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3691755&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=2 The Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development]". Canadian Bahá'í News Service. External link in |title= (help)
  56. ↑ "Board asks for help for Iran Bahá’is". The Jewish Community Online. 2009-02-26.
  57. ↑ EFE (2009-04-29). "El Congreso pide que el Gobierno exija a Irán la liberación de presos Bahá'í". ADN.es.
  58. ↑ "Iran: Baha’i detainees" (PDF). House of Representatives, Votes and Proceedings, Hansard. Hansard, Australia: Australian House of Representatives. 2009-05-25. pp. 132–136. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  59. ↑ "Freiheit für die in Iran inhaftierte Führungsspitze der Bahá‘i" (Press release). German Bundestag. 2009-07-09. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  60. ↑ "Document - Iran: Further Information on Arbitrary Arrests/Prisoners of Conscience". Amnesty International Action Alert (Amnesty International). 2009-02-12.
  61. ↑ "Iran: Seven members of Baha'i religious minority face possible death sentences". Amnesty International Action Alert (Amnesty International). 2009-07-10.
  62. ↑ "Baha'i "Spying" Case Strikes New Blow Against Religious Freedom in Iran". NewsBlaze LLC (Freedom House). 2009-02-13.
  63. ↑ "Five members of the Bahá'í Community detained incommunicado_Fear for Safety". Urgent Campaigns. World Organisation Against Torture. 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  64. ↑ CNN (2009-07-10). "U.S. panel demands release of Baha'is facing trial in Iran".
  65. 1 2 "We are ashamed!". Iranian.com (Iranian.com). 2009-02-04.
  66. ↑ "List of Signatories". An Open Letter from a group of academics, writers, artists, journalists and Iranian activists throughout the world to the Baha’i community. we-are-ashamed.com. 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  67. ↑ "Iran asked to stop persecution of Baha’is". The Tribune, Chandigarh, India (The Tribune Trust). 2008-06-19.
  68. 1 2 Bremner, Charles (2009-02-26). "Stand up for Iran’s Baha’is - Voices from the arts call for the imprisoned Baha'i leaders in Iran to receive a fair trial". The Times (London).
  69. ↑ Wilson, Rainn (2009-02-17). "Commentary: Stop religious persecution in Iran". CNN.
  70. 1 2 Bahá'í International Community (2009-02-26). "Call by Academics to stop the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran". Bahá'í World News Service.
  71. ↑ Blair, Cherie (2009-07-09). "It is not just democracy that is illegal in Iran". The Times (London).
  72. ↑ "Azar Nafisi, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Dwight Bashir Join Swelling Chorus in Support of Iranian Baha'is". Bahá'í Community of DC,News & Events (Bahai Faith, Washington DC). 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  73. ↑ Aghdashloo, Shohreh (2009-09-21). "Shohreh Aghdashloo on Baha'i Human Rights in Iran". ctcny9. Retrieved 2009-09-26.

External links

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