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۱۳۸۷ بهمن ۱, سه‌شنبه

[farsibooks] Fwd: Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Iran Press Watch: The Baha'is <neysan@iranpresswatch.org>
Date: Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Subject: Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community
To: ahang.rabbani@gmail.com


Iran Press Watch: The Baha'i Community

Ebadi and a Dangerous Message

Posted: 19 Jan 2009 12:38 PM PST

As part of the Iranian regime's confrontation with human rights activists and advocates, ‎the recent harsh attacks on Nobel Peace laurette Shirin Ebadi have made it pay dearly. ‎

Silence on the part of many political activists who have focused their entire energy on a ‎victory in the upcoming presidential election is questionable. I say "questionable," ‎because it is questionable why the Iranian government has chosen to impose such a cost ‎on itself, given Shirin Ebadi's reputation outside of Iran and the influence that her ‎speeches and coverage have on swaying global opinion. This has meaning. ‎

The first analysis that comes to mind explaining the state's costly move is that the closure ‎of the Center for Defense of Human Rights and attacks on its founder, Shirin Ebadi, are ‎serous warnings to other human rights defenders in Iran. That includes lawyers active at ‎the Center, who, more than any other group, have voluntarily defended the rights of civil ‎society, human rights and other political activists in recent years. Many people obtain ‎information about the cases of political, social, civil, human rights, women's rights, ‎students, workers and teachers union activists from attorney reports and interviews. ‎Many civil society activists relied on their assistance when in danger and were certain ‎that, in the case any unfortunate event happens, there is a lawyer who will speak and seek ‎justice on their behalf. ‎

We all know that volunteering to defend people accused of "acting against national ‎security," is no small feat. One cannot forget what happened to critical dissidents during ‎the dangerous and tumultuous days of the chain murders in the 1990s. We also know ‎that, in such circumstances, representing a client can have dire consequences for the ‎attorney. Therefore, the systemic confrontation and pressure on a group of lawyers who ‎volunteer to represent political and ideological prisoners is not simply to confront them ‎but is an attempt to isolate all activists who rely on their representation. Through this, a ‎group of activists is naturally deprived of the right to representation by attorneys who ‎themselves are under security pressures, and another group, thinking that having ‎attorneys who are themselves under pressure can be more costly, choose isolation or less ‎activist lawyers. Either way, the person harmed the most is the defendant who is not ‎given the right to be represented by a lawyer who believes in equality and human rights. ‎

But the other dimension to recent attacks is a warning signal about the "behavior" of the ‎Iranian regime, especially in light of the international prestige of Shirin Ebadi, winner of ‎the Nobel Peace Prize. Many of us - at least those in Iran - always thought that Ebadi ‎was secure, and was backed by so much international prestige that when she reported ‎physical threats against her and family members' lives, the Iranian president would be ‎forced to promise that she would be safe (something that was done in April 2008, after ‎threats were made on Shirin Ebadi's life.) ‎

Many of us had the good feeling that the Center headed by Ebadi, published quarterly ‎reports covering human rights violations in our country; and that Ebadi occassionally ‎held a press conference at the Center and challenged human rights violators. But today… ‎she herself is subject to the most dangerous attacks. ‎

Attacking Ebadi means that the Iranian regime is ready to pay the highest price for ‎confronting human rights defenders in Iran. Confronting her is confronting everyone ‎who - whether individually or as part of a group - has entered that circle in society which ‎challenges discrimination and inequality. This is a serious threat that must be responded ‎to. If the human rights society in Iran is unable to defend itself, how can it claim to ‎defend others? ‎

But we have a word for those politicians who claim to support human rights and civil ‎society, but have failed to react appropriately to recent threats. How can they hope to ‎earn the trust and votes of the public when they remain silent in face authoritarian attacks ‎on human rights defenders? ‎

Source: http://www.roozonline.com/english/archives/2009/01/ebadi_and_a_dangerous_message.html

Bahai's Living in Iran with No Human Rights

Posted: 19 Jan 2009 07:46 AM PST

By Wahied Wahdat-Hagh, Die Welt, 12-Dec-2008

Editor's note: A german translation of this article can be found at http://europeandemocracy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13278&catid=4&Itemid=22

Universal human rights are being trampled underfoot in the Islamic "Republic" of Iran. In particular, the Baha'is in Iran are regarded as people with no rights.

On 10 December, Human Rights Day, the organisation known as Human Rights Activists In Iran recalled a demonstration held in Tehran on 7 December 1953. At this demonstration, intended to show solidarity with the then prime minister Mossadegh, three Iranian students were shot dead: Shariat Razavi, Ghandchi and Bozorgnia. Since then, 7 December has been known as Student Day in Iran.

This year, too, several hundred students gathered in front of the main building of Tehran University. Their demands included the release of students from Iranian prisons and an end to discrimination against Iranian women.

State ban on education for Baha'is

On 7 December 2008, Human Rights Activists in Iran published a statement by two Baha'i students issued on behalf of all Baha'is not allowed to study in Iran. Navid Khanjani and Hesam Misaqi linked this statement to the events of 7 December 1953.

Today, 55 years later, many young Iranians are denied the right to university education. For more than 30 years, the Iranian Bahai's have had no civil rights. Until 2004, they did not even have the right to sit the university admission exam. While it is true that a few have enrolled in the past few years, most of them have been driven out of university, again solely because of their religious beliefs. A handful of Baha'is are currently allowed to study at Iranian universities in an attempt to limit international criticism.

Cultural crime

Khanjani and Misaqi rightly speak of a "cultural crime" since each year about 1,000 new applicants for university places are turned down and not allowed to study purely because of their beliefs. The students point out that Hossein Amanat, the architect of Tehran University, built before the Islamic Revolution, was a Baha'i. Amanat also built the Azadi Tower, the city's landmark. Today, however, Iranian students who are Baha'is like Amanat are apparently no longer allowed to study at the very university that was designed by a Baha'i.

The first girls' school in Iran was also founded by Baha'is in 1909. It was later closed following pressure from fanatical clerics. Today, the children of those who instituted such schools are no longer allowed to study at Iranian universities.

While Khanjani and Misaqi did not take part in this year's student actions, they nonetheless wholeheartedly supported the Iranian student activists. Khanjani and Misaqi hope that one day they will be free to take part in campaigns involving students of all beliefs and persuasions.

Graveyard desecrations sanctioned by state (and arbitrary detentions)

On 9 December 2008, Human Rights Activists in Iran again reported on the systematic destruction of Baha'i cemeteries. Although the destruction of Baha'i graves is nothing new, this phenomenon has definitely increased over the past few months.

The human rights organisation delivered a report on the Baha'i cemetery in Qaemshahr, created on a plot of land given to the Baha'i community by Abdolqani Abdi about 100 years ago. As early as 1983, a number of Muslims living near the cemetery prevented Baha'is burying their dead there. The bodies had to be buried in a cemetery in Darzikola.

This cemetery has been repeatedly vandalised over the past few months. On 12 May 2008, the Baha'i community was warned by the Iranian secret service in Qaemshahr not to bury its dead in Darzikola either.

No permission was granted to establish a new cemetery. At the same time two members of the Baha'i community were arbitrarily detained in the region of Mazandaran. On 23 October the Darzikola cemetery was destroyed by bulldozers, with only a few gravestones surviving the destruction. The Baha'i cemetery was subsequently attacked twice more, on 3 November and 22 November, to destroy the remaining gravestones.

The right to freedom of education

The Intelligence Service Ministry has a new representative in the province of Mazandaran. According to Iranpresswatch, it is highly likely that the new representative will use paramilitary forces to desecrate these Baha'i graves.

Iranpresswatch also reported that three Baha'i social workers in Yasuj had been detained on 23 November 2008. Ruhiyyih Yazdani, Zulaykha Musavi and Ali-Askar Ravanbakhsh have helped children aged between five and seven from poor families to read and write. They were accused of being a "threat to national security" because they wanted to help children to lead a better life.

As Timesonline reported, on the 60th anniversary of the adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, professors, clerics, writers and politicians have spoken up for the Iranian Baha'is and called for the right to freedom of education for Bahai in Iran:
Lord Parekh of Kingston-upon-Hull; Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws; Deborah Orr; Mairead Corrigan Maguire; Nobel Peace Laureate; Professor Stephen Chan; Department of Political and International Studies, SOAS; Professor Geraldine van Bueren; Queen Mary University of London; Professor Peter Finn; Principal, St Mary University College, Belfast; Professor Tony Gallagher; School of Education; St. Mary's University College, Belfast; Lord Gifford; Bishop Idris Jones; Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; The Right Rev David Lunan; Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; Norman Richardson; Stranmillis College, Belfast; Pierrot Ngadi; Co-ordinator , Refugee Wales; Francis Davis; Director, International Young Leaders Network; Patrick Yu, Executive Director, Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities, Professor Colin Sucking; Former Vice Principal, University of Strathclyde, The Most Rev. Keith Patrick O'Brien, Cardinal and Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh.

Source: http://europeandemocracy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13278&catid=4&Itemid=22

The Annual Report of Human Rights Activists in Iran: The Worrisome Condition of the Iranian Baha'i Community in 2008

Posted: 19 Jan 2009 07:37 AM PST

Monday, 19 January 2009

Editor's Note:
Given the increasingly difficult situation of Baha'is in Iran, and an increase in the number of arrests, searches and destruction of Baha'i cemeteries, and also the fact that Baha'i students are denied the right to higher education, the following report seeks to outline and present a list of instances of abuse and persecution. The escalation of pressure and persecution is an extremely worrisome development for  human rights activists. Iran Press Watch hopes that the officials in charge will take appropriate actions in an expeditious manner to remedy the situation.  It is important to state that none of the charges of "sedition against the Islamic Republic of Iran" or "acting against national security" or similar charges detailed in this report are true — the people who have been charged in these cases are simply active and devout members of the Baha'i minority of Iran. Given the volatile condition and the security atmosphere against the Baha'is in Iran it is possible that some anti-Baha'i activities have been underreported; Iran Press Watch would appreciate any further information from informed readers.

Tehran:

  • January 14, 2009: Jinoos Sobhani, Niusha Nokhah, Payam Aghsani, Aziz Samandari, Shahrokh Taef and Didar Raoufi were arrested following widespread raids on their homes. The homes of the following individuals were also raided, although these Baha'is were not taken into custody: Shahriar Cyrus, Riaz Sobhani and Golshan Sobhani. The authorities who conducted these raids were plainclothes agents. Items seized from the homes of these persons include pictures related to the Baha'i Faith, family photos, personal computers and other personal items.

Semnan:

  • January 4, 2009: Adel Fanaian and Abbas Nourani, who are both members of the local Baha'i administrative body in Semnan, and Taher Eskandarian, a former member of the administrative body, were detained.
  • December 15, 2008: Sahba Rezvani, a member of the Baha'i administrative body in Semnan, was arrested. On the same day, the homes of numerous Baha'is were raided. Several items were seized from each home.

Yasouj:

  • October 26, 2008: Zoleykha Mousavi, Ruhiyyih Yazdani, and Aliaskar Ravanbakhsh were arrested. On November 18 2008 they were sentenced to two years in prison for actions against national security by holding "anti-Islamic classes" [actually, they were holding "virtues classes", which teach such virtues as kindness, charity, love of God, etc.].

Yazd:

  • May 29, 2008: Mehran Bandy Amirabad was arrested at his work by Ministry of Intelligence agents. On August 28, 2008 he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for conspiracy against national security, propaganda against the Islamic Republic, supporting anti-government groups, and possession of satellite equipment [his actual "crime" was to be an active Baha'i].

Isfahan:

  • September 28, 2008: The Baha'i cemetery and 2500 trees on the property were destroyed.
  • May 27, 2008: Houshmand Talabi and Mehran Zeini were arrested on charges of burying bodies in the Baha'i cemetery in Vilashahr, which is close to Isfahan.


Mazandaran Province (Qa'emshahr, Sari and Tonekabon):

  • January 19, 2009: The Baha'i Cemetery of Qa'emshahr was severely vandalized and heavily damaged using heavy machinery at midnight. Gunshots were fired during this attack.
  • January 18, 2009: Five Baha'i women were arrested in Qa'emshahr. The names of the victims are: Taraneh Sanai, Shahnaz Sa'adati, Amelia Fanaian, Anisa Fanaian and Farzaneh Ahmadzadegan.
  • January 10, 2009: Firouzeh Yegan and Pegah Sanai, 20, were arrested. The authorities entered their residence by climbing the wall.
  • January 4, 2009: The homes of the Sanai, Asadi, Nokhah and Fanaian families, all in Qaimshahr, were raided and searched.
  • December 24, 2008: A number of Baha'is in Qa'emshahr were summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence. Farzaneh Ahmadzadeh, Taraneh Sanai, Bijan Nokhah, Sohrab Laghayi and Emilia Fanaian were among those summoned. A number of homes were also searched.
  • November 22, 2008: Anvar Moslemi was arrested, and his home was searched.
  • November 22, 2008: The Baha'i cemetery in Qa'emshahr was vandalized for the third time.
  • March 28, 2008: Soheila Motalebi was arrested, and her home in Qa'emshahr was searched.
  • November 17, 2008: Masoud Atayian was arrested, and his home in Qa'emshahr was searched.
  • November 4, 2008: Siamak Ebrahimian was arrested in Tonekabon. He was sentenced to four months in prison and two years of internal exile to Zabol.
  • November 3, 2008: The Baha'i cemetery in Qa'emshahr was vandalized for the second time.
  • October 23, 2008: The Baha'i cemetery in Qa'emshahr was vandalized. Eighty percent of the graves were destroyed by use of front-end loaders.
  • October 17, 2008: Tarazollah Allahverdi and Sonya Tebianian were arrested in Behshahr on charges of propaganda against the government and of being in contact with the Baha'i World Center. They were subsequently transferred to Sari.
  • May 29, 2008: Foad Naimi was arrested in Sari. He was a member of the local Baha'i administrative body. He was charged with membership in the local Baha'i administrative body and actions against national security. He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and internal exile to Fars province. It should also be noted that Feizollah Roshan, who was arrested in 2007, was sentenced to one year in prison. He is still being held in Sari.
  • May 19, 2008: Ali Ahmadi, Changiz Derakhshanian and Simin Gorji were arrested in Qa'emshahr on charges of propaganda against the government. Ali Ahmadi was sentenced to 10 months in prison and one year of exile to Khalkhal. His exile was later commuted. Changiz Derakhshanian was sentenced to six months in prison. Simin Gorji was released after six months in jail.

Kerman:

  • January 14, 2009: Nine Baha'i students were dismissed from the University of Kerman on the grounds of belief in the Baha'i Faith. The expelled students are: Bita Momtazi, Sepehr Qodrat, Mahnoosh Dehqan, Ghazal Sadeqi, Daniel Mottahari, Liva Baghi, Nilofar Kan'ani, Nasim Mo'attar and Arman Roshani.

The members of the national coordinating body of Baha'is of Iran:

  • March 5, 2008: Mahvash Sabet, one of the members of the national administrative body, was arrested in Mashhad.
  • May 14, 2008: Six of the seven members of the national administrative body were arrested. They are Fariba Kamalabadi, Afif Naimi, Said Rezai, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaleddin Khanjani and Behrouz Tavakoli. The seven members of the national administrative body are all currently held in section 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran. No further information is available on their current condition.

Shiraz:

  • On May 9 2006 a group comprised of both Muslim and Baha'i youth was arrested. The members of this group were engaged in a social and economic development project in an underprivileged section of Shiraz. Muslim members of this group were immediately released. The 54 Baha'i members, however, were detained for one week. Most were released after one week. Three, however, were interrogated in Sepah prison for one month. The three Baha'i youth were subsequently summoned to court, and they were sentenced to four years in prison. The other 51 Baha'i youth were given suspended sentences of one year imprisonment, on the condition that they attend classes on Islam. Raha Sabet, Haleh Rouhi and Sasan Taghva have served 10 months of their four-year sentences. The other 51 Baha'i youth are attending the compulsory classes imposed by their sentence. An internal governmental memorandum revealed that these young adults were not involved in any conspiracy against the government and they were not teaching or promoting the Baha'i Faith.

[Source:  http://hrairan.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=344:875&catid=84:502&Itemid=219.]

A New Persian Song from Iran Titled "Imprisoned"

Posted: 19 Jan 2009 06:32 AM PST

Editor's Note: As means of providing a forum for fostering artistic expressions of the Baha'i community of Iran, Iran Press Watch is pleased to share the following newly composed song titled "Imprisoned".  The moving words of this song express the longing of all people of good will that soon the reign of oppression and inequity will be replaced with freedom and social justice in a land that pioneered justice and freedom before all others.

http://www.iranpresswatch.org/wp-content/uploads/persiansong2.mp3

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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--
Ahang Rabbani, PhD
http://ahang.rabbani.googlepages.com/
http://iranpresswatch.org/

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