Baha'is in Iran

We tend to take religious freedom for granted in the United States. But peace loving, unity promoting, law abiding citizens of Iran who are Baha'is face daily and sometimes deadly persecution by the Iranian government.

Last night I joined other concerned people for a meeting in support of the 7 Iranian Baha'is who are being detained illegally in Iran for believing in the following principles.

• The oneness of mankind.
• Universal peace upheld by a world government.
• Independent investigation of truth.
• The common foundation of all religions.
• The essential harmony of science and religion.
• Equality of men and women.
• Elimination of prejudice of all kinds.
• Universal compulsory education.
• A spiritual solution to the economic problem.
• A universal auxiliary language.

I personally know and love several exceptionally intelligent, loving and accomplished people whose family members have been murdered by the Iranian government because they are Baha'is.

This current situation is an awful and ugly sequel to many other atrocities against Baha'is in Iran. The Iranian government has been holding the 7 Baha'is since November with no charges. Now they are planning a mock trial with completely fictitious allegations.

Fortunately, the worldwide community, including governments, parliamentary leaders and human rights organizations are watching and admonishing this dire situation. You can too, by learning more about it, and contacting your local representatives to ask for the immediate release of all seven.

Founded more than a century and a half ago, the Bahá'í Faith has spread around the globe. Members of the Bahá'í Faith live in more than 100,000 localities and come from nearly every nation, religion, ethnic group, culture, profession, and social or economic background.

Bahá'ís believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the nature and purpose of life and of the future of society. Such a vision unfolds in the writings of Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet/Founder of the Baha'i Faith, who Baha'is believe is the Messenger from God for this day and age.

The Baha'i Faith does not replace other religions, it is a continuum of them. The Baha'i Faith recognizes the Prophets of all the major religions as being Divine messengers from the same source of Truth, God. To be a Baha'i is to believe in the Oneness of God and the Oneness of Humanity.

For more information about the Baha'i Faith click on the group image above.

For an excellent review of the systematic persecution of Baha'is by the Iranian government go directly to this page on the official web site of the International Baha'i community. http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution

To learn about the individuals who are being held, and to view their profiles, please click here http://news.bahai.org/story/695

On February 13, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a resolution, 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." Please contact your representatives and ask them to co-sponser this resolution.

To find out who your representative is and how to contact them go to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/

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