I am an Iranian Baha’i..

I am an Iranian Baha’i…

 

These days the Iranian government makes the news headlines almost on a daily basis. The stories often include talks given by the President of Iran on the need for honesty, justice, mutual respect, international love, returning to human values and fighting against tyranny and discrimination. (See channel 4 alternative Christmas message, other talks can be found through a search on Google)

 

At the same time, the persecution of the Baha’is of Iran continues behind closed doors at an increased pace.  The harassment of the Baha’i community includes cruel and harsh treatment of Baha’i children at schools,

 

http://iran.bahai.us/2007/04/05/bahai-schoolchildren-in-iran/

 

Expulsion of university students on the grounds of their religion,

 

http://www.iranpresswatch.org/category/denial-of-education/

 

Attacks on Baha’i residence, destruction of Baha’i cemeteries, arresting and detaining Bahai’s in inhumane conditions without giving any explanation, and the list goes on.

 

http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2009/04/prisoners/

 

http://iran.bahai.us/

 

http://www.bahairights.org/documents/

 

http://www.bahairights.org/timeline/

 

Occasionally, the media captures a glimpse of the sufferings of the Baha’i community.  The story runs for a day or two and then disappears whilst the suffering goes on. Who can blame the media for their coverage of the situation, after all how many times can they report on ‘Another Baha’i was arrested in the village of..’.

 

Like most Iranians and Baha’is, I am glued to the news and follow the stories in the hope that one day members of my community are granted the freedom that most of us enjoy – freedom of thought, speech and belief.  That day, however, does not seem to be any time soon.  The other day, I was browsing the internet for some information, when I came across a video of an Iranian Mullah talking about the Baha’is. I have to say that due to lack of time and interest, I never watch or read these kinds of materials, and neither do I encourage others to do so.  However, on this occasion, I was curious. What this Mullah had to say was both terrifying and hilarious.  It created in me a combination of different emotions that I had never before experienced simultaneously.

 

He was inciting hatred against the Baha’is by telling his audience that the Baha’is are enemies of Islam and are out to destroy their religion. He repeatedly addressed the audience saying ‘Why are you not taking any action?’ do you not have any love for your faith?  You should not sit still but you should take the matters into your own hands’.  

 

 I was horrified listening to this speech and thinking of the consequences -then came the next part.  In an attempt to ridicule and discredit the Baha’is, he said: ‘these people have a book of only a few hundred pages, one of their teachings is to take a bath only once every ten or eleven days and cover their whole body including their head with henna’. 

 

For those who may not know, Henna is a plant extract which is used in many ways such as a natural dye for colouring hair or making patterns on a bride’s hands before an Indian wedding.  It can leave any colour from orange to deep red depending on the length of application.  So you can imagine how a person may look like if they apply henna to their whole body.  As I have a playful mind, this statement got my imagination going.  I genuinely felt sorry for anyone who might have had a fake tan ‘gone wrong’ or a rash  and happened to be in the streets when the audience were going back home.

 

I am sure that one day there will be a globally enforceable law which will hold people accountable for misrepresentation and slander. We are all free to express our opinions and views but statements that boast facts should require proof and evidence so that masses are not mislead.

 

There is no doubt that what is being said about Iran and the Baha’is raises questions in people’s mind –  questions about the country, its people,  their values and the reasons behind these persecutions.

 

It is a very strange concept for many that in the twenty first century people are being persecuted because of their beliefs, or that many Baha’is do not recant their faith to protect themselves against these persecutions.

 

For me, what I read on a daily basis  brings back many memories, some sweet and some painful, memories about our beautiful country and some of our good Muslim friends who helped and protected us, memories about the wonderful Baha’i community of Iran to which I am proud to have been part of. There are also other memories that one wishes to forget, but they don’t go anywhere.  These are the recollections of deep rooted prejudices which have been casting their dark shadows on our lives for many years.

 

I thought that through my blog and various posts, perhaps I can open a small window to the country of Iran and its Baha’i community.  I hope that people visit my blog to get a closer look.