Sentinel Project launches visualization of persecution of Baha’is in Iran

Bahai News (US), May 22

The Sentinel Project, an independent Toronto-based NGO that focuses on genocide prevention, has recently launched a visualization of the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran. The Sentinel Project has deemed the situation of the Iranian Baha’is to be a “Situation of Concern.” It has previously expressed the need to continue to watch the situation in Iran closely. The visualization show the number of incidents over time (fairly constant in recent months, with a respite as the election approaches) and the geographical spread (which appears to this layman to roughly follow the distribution of the urbanised population). The article includes links to two previous reports on the genocide risk facing the Bahais in Iran. I am gratified to see that many of the micro-history reports translated on Sen’s Daily have been entered in the database and assembled into an overall picture.

Short links: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1JR

http://tinyurl.com/Sentinel-Bahai

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Heavy sentences for seven Bahais from Gorgan

100 letters for freedom (blog), May 22

The sentences have been announced for seven Bahai men from Gorgan, who were tried in Tehran on April 24. Fahrmand Sana’i, Kamal Kashani, Payam Markazi, Siamak Sadri, Fu’ad Fahandezh and Kourush Ziari ( فرهمند سنایی، کمال کاشانی، پیام مرکزی، سیامک صدری، فواد فهندژ و کوروش زیاری) were sentenced to five years each, while Farhad Fahandezh (فرهاد فهندژ) was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The charges were “organising and running an illegal organisation, membership of an illegal organisation, and propaganda against the regime.” They were among about 20 Bahais who were detained in a wave of arrests on about October 17. (Kourush Ziari is from Gonbad-e Qabus, where he was arrested and later transferred to Gorgan). After some weeks in detention in Gorgan, all seven were transferred to Evin prison in Tehran for interrogation, after which they were sent to Raja’i Shahr prison.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Didar Ra’ufi reports back to prison

HRANA, May 21

Didar Ra’ufi (دیدار رئوفی ) who was reported to have been released from Raja’i Shahr prison on January 27, 2013, having served a three year sentence for membership of the Bahai community and teaching the Bahai Faith, is listed today among the prisoners of conscience on leave, who have been told to return to Raja’i Shahr prison. He was arrested on January 4, 2010, but was free on bail from October 16, 2011 to January 13, 2012 (3 months), and had 5 days of furlough at Now Ruz, 2012. Thus at the time of his release on January 27, he still had about 6 weeks of his sentence to serve.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Emanullah Mostaqim begins his 5-year sentence

Yaran Iran (facebook group), May 20

Emanullah Mostaqim ( امان‌الله مستقیم ), one of the staff of the Bahai Open University (BIHE) in Iran, reported to Evin prison in Tehran on May 20, to begin serving his 5-year sentence for “membership of the Bahai community” and supporting the University. He has recently had open heart surgery, and suffers from diabetes. His doctors have said that prison conditions will be difficult and perhaps dangerous for him.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Jk

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Father and daughter freed in Semnan

HRANA, May 16

Gudarz Bidaqi ( گودرز بیدقی ) and his daughter Roufiya Bidaqi ( روفیا بیدقی ) have been freed from prison in Semnan, after completing their one-year sentences. Mr. Bidaqi was arrested in March, 2011, and sentenced in September 2011 to one year in prison and two years of exile from the province, on the charge of “propaganda against the regime through teaching the Bahai Faith.” His exile is expected to begin soon. [While this HRANA reports states his exile is for two years, other reports and those of his trial state it is for 3 years ~ Sen] Mr. Bidaqi is in his sixties, and has already served one term in prison for his beliefs, after the 1979 revolution. His daughter, Roufiya Bidaqi ( روفیا بیدقی ) was sentenced to one year in prison, on charges of propaganda against the regime and participation in Bahai activities. The family’s business has also been closed by the authorities.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Nika and Nava Khalusi charged and tried

HRANA, May 16

The third sitting of the trial of Nika and Nava Khalusi ( نیکا و نوا خلوصی ) took place in Mashhad on May 6. They were charged with membership of the Bahai organisation, participation in illegal Bahai activities, and propaganda in favour of the Bahais and against the regime of the Islamic Republic. The two sisters have been free on bail pending the trial. They were arrested on September 26, 2012, and were held for 57 days in solitary confinement, followed by 4 months in Vakil Abad prison, before being released on bail.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1IR

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Iranian prisoners of conscience protest the detention of BIHE staff

HRANA, May 17

On the second anniversary of the arrest and detention of a number of teachers and administrators in the Bahai Open University (BIHE), 12 prisoners of conscience in one wing of Raja’i Shahr prison have signed an open letter addressed to their compatriots, protesting the imprisonment of Bahais “whose only crime was spreading knowledge and science.”

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1IN

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Shop goods confiscated in Bojnurd

HRANA, May 11 ~

In recent days, security forces went to the shop of Houshmand Sana’i ( هوشمند ثنایی ) in Bojnurd and seized the entire stock of toiletries and beauty products. Several months ago the shop was closed by local body officials, on instructions from the Ministry of Intelligence. No reason was given. Last year, Mr. Sana’i, his wife Sho`eleh Shahidi ( شعله شهیدی ) and their son Shayan Sana’i ( شایان ثنایی ) were arrested and held for a time by the Ministry of Intelligence in Bojnurd.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Fu’ad Moqaddam begins 5-year sentence

Yaran Iran (facebook group), May 11

Dr. Fu’ad Moqaddam ( فواد مقدم ), a Bahai from Isfahan and one of the teachers of the Bahai online university, the BIHE, began his 5-year sentence at Evin Prison in Tehran this morning. He was arrested in Isfahan in May 2012 in the course of the raids that targeted the BIHE, and was tried on June 23. One of the charges against him was “membership of the Bahai community.” He was freed on bail on June 15, 2012.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Is

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

One arrest in Gorgan, two Bahais sought

HRANA, May 9

Parisa Shahidi ( پریسا شهیدی ), a Bahai from Gorgan, was arrested by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence, who first searched her home, on May 8. She is the wife of Kamal Kashani ( کمال کاشانی ), one of five Bahais from Gorgan who have been held without trial for more than 6 months in Raja’i Shahr prison, near Tehran. On the same day, agents from the Ministry of intelligence tried to arrest two other Bahais in Gorgan, Mazhdeh Zahuri and Mona Farahani ( مژده ظهوری (فهندژ) و مونا فراهانی (نیکو‌نژاد)), but found neither at home. Mazhdeh Zahuri is the wife of Farhad Fahandezh ( فرهاد فهندژ ), another of the Bahais from Gorgan held in Raja’i Shahr prison.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Il

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

`Adnan Rahmat-Penah’s trial again a farce

Azadi Qalam, May 2

After several false starts on April 16 and 17 (reported earlier), the trial of `Adnan Rahmat-Penah ( عدنان رحمت‌پناه ), a Bahai from Shiraz, was rescheduled for April 29. When he arrived at the court, Judge Sadati postponed the trial for four hours. At 1 p.m. the judge entered the court, just as the call to prayer sounded, so he left again to attend attend the prayers. After the prayers, the judge told Mr. Rahmat-Penah’s lawyer that there was not sufficient time to deal with the case that day, so the trial would be delayed until the following day. It was notable that, when Mr. Rahmat-Penah and a political prisoner entered the courtroom, the judge — who was under the impression that they were Christian converts — began to insult them. Mr. Rahmat-Penah’s lawyer pointed out that the charges against them were quite different.

On April 30 Mr. Rahmat-Penah appeared in court at 11:30. The judge insulted his religious beliefs, directly and indirectly, and said he was “unclean,” according to the Quran, and told his lawyer that one should not shake hands with them. The lawyer responded that Bahais are human too, and added, “To me, humanity is important.” The judge replied, “Although this matter has been mentioned, we will judge everyone equally.” However the judge continued with his insults, directed not only at the defendant but at all the Bahais, saying, “You Bahais are all animals, only Muslims have the correct beliefs, and then only the twelver Shiahs.” After two hours, the judge finally turned to the case, and finding that Mr. Rahmat-Penah was one of 15 people arrested two years previously, whose cases were being handled by another judge, in courtroom 3, he sent the case there. That trail is not scheduled until late July. Mr. Rahmat-Penah and his family are left in suspense again.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Ig

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Three women and a baby freed in Semnan

Zendani Bahai (FB group), May 4

Three of the Bahai women imprisoned in Semnan have been set free. Zhinous Nourani ( ژینوس نورانی ) was freed on April 30, after serving a one-year sentence. Neda Majidi ( ندا مجیدی ) was released on the same day. She was sentenced to a fine of 40 million 40 rials (2,600 euros; 3200 US dollars) or a six-month sentence. Apparently she was not able to pay the fine. At the time of her arrest she had a nursing child. She has been released one month early because of the poor health of her baby, Sourna ( سورنا). Shohreh Azimi ( شهره اعظمی ) was released on April 28, about 50 days before the end of her 8-month sentence for membership of the Bahai community.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Ia

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Ridvan message, 2013

The “Ridvan message” for 2013 is now available in English (click here).

This message of the Universal House of Justice, addressed to the Bahais of the world, is released every year during the festival of Ridvan, when Bahais celebrate the twelve days that Baha’u’llah spent in the garden of Ridvan, on the outskirts of Baghdad, in 1863. The message has an important role in setting the focus and tone of Bahai activities around the world in the following year, and is sometimes used to announce significant developments.

I have placed the English message in text format in the documents archive on my Bahai studies blog. I will follow with translations in other languages as these become available.

Persian translation / ترجمه فارسی

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1HQ

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Noora Nabilzadeh and Sanaz Tafazzoli transferred to the Intelligence office

HRANA, May 2

Noora Nabilzadeh ( نورا نبیل‌زاده) and Sanaz Tafazzoli ( ساناز تفضلی ) were transferred from Vakil Abad prison in Mashhad, where they are in the serving sentences in the wing for prisoners of conscience, to the offices of the Ministry of Intelligence on May 1. No reason was given. The agents said they were being taken to the Ministry’s facilities for 10 days. Sanaz Tafazzoli will complete her 6-month sentence on May 5, but it appears she will not be released. Noora Nabilzadeh is serving a 5-year sentence on charges of blasphemy and spreading the Bahai Faith. She was arrested while playing music for the children in an orphanage.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1HX

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Chicago area Bahá’ís attend LGBTQ conference

Norther Illinois Bahais (Blog), April 30

“For Chicago attorney Judy El-Amin, and four of her fellow members of the Bahá’í community the goal was to learn a new language—how to speak about the Bahá’í Faith in a meaningful and respectful way to individuals who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered,… “

The report would be difficult to summarise, so I will leave it with my recommendation, and a link to the full story.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1HT

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Universal House of Justice elected

Bahai World News Service, April 30

The results of the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice have been announced. Those elected for the next five-year term are Paul Lample, Firaydoun Javaheri, Payman Mohajer, Gustavo Correa, Shahriar Razavi, Stephen Birkland, Stephen Hall, Chuungu Malitonga, and Ayman Rouhani. Of these, Chuungu Malitonga, and Ayman Rouhani are new members: both are Counsellors serving at the International Teaching Centre. This means that, as in previous years, all members of the Universal House of Justice are drawn from the corps of Counsellors at the ITC.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1HM

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Elham Ruzbehi and baby begin their sentence

HRANA, April 28

Elham Ruzbehi (الهام روزبهی), a Bahai living in Isfahan, reported to Semnan prison with her baby on April 27, to begin serving her 2 year sentence. She is the fourth Bahai mother who is serving her prison sentence with her baby. She was arrested, with several other Bahais, on March 12, 2011, following a search of her home and the seizure of some of her personal effects. She was pregnant at the time. She was freed on bail one month later. She was sentenced to 3 years of prison, which was reduced to 2 years by the court of review. She has been living in Isfahan for more than one year, but has had to go to Semnan prison.

The names of the Bahai prisoners in Semnan were recently listed (in Persian) by the Bahai Azadi blog, along with photographs of the women prisoners.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1HD

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Muhammad Hussein Nakh`i and Golrokh Firuzeyan free

HRANA, April 28

Muhammad Hussein Nakh`i ( محمد حسین نخعی ) and Golrokh Firuzeyan ( گلرخ فیروزیان ) have been released, from Birjand and Semnan prisons, respectively. Mr. Nakh`i, who is 87 years old, lives in the village of Khusef, near Birjand. He was Iran’s oldest prisoner of conscience. He was detained on May 14, 2012, and sentenced to one year in prison, a fine of 6 million rials (360 euros; 500 US dollars), and a five-year suspended sentence, on charges of propaganda against the regime in the form of teaching the Bahai Faith, and membership of the Bahai community. He has completed the one year in prison.

Golrokh Firuzeyan was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Semnan on March 12, and released on bail on Spril 25. Bail was set at 100 million tumans (62,000 euros, $US 81,000).

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Hv

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Riaz Sobhani’s condition worsened in Raja’i Shahr prison

IOPHRI, April 25

The son of Riaz Sobhani ( ریاض سبحانی ), who was arrested in June 2011 and is imprisoned for assisting the work of the Bahai Open University (BIHE), has told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that his father’s physical and mental condition has worsened in prison. His father is 67 years old and suffers from heart disease, a lung disease and stomach bleeding. He is serving a four-year sentence in Raja’i Shahr prison, in Karaj, near Tehran. In May 2012 he was hospitalized because his heart condition had become acute. Na’im Sobhani, his son, who lives in America, said that the medical officer had authorised two months leave for his father, but he was only granted six weeks. During these six weeks he had medical tests. Two weeks ago he had to return to prison. Since then, the family in Iran have seen his mental condition deteriorate sharply and he is suffering more pain. It is very hard for him, given his age, and the prison conditions are intolerable. Last year he was hospitalized for constriction of the arteries and had surgery. Two days later he was back in prison, which meant that he could not be under medical observation. His condition worsened day by day until the medical officer granted him two months leave. Conditions in Raja’i Shahr prison are very unsanitary. There are 4 or 5 prisoners in each two-person cell, so they share a bed, or it is given to someone who is old or sick. Each prisoner has just one blanket in the winter. The washing facilities are filthy and the food is bad. There is nothing to be done about, because, basically, they are not considered human.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Hm

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Ardeshir Fena’eyan free on bail

IOPHRI, April 25

Ardeshir Fena’eyan (اردشیر فناییان), a Bahai who was arrested in Semnan on February 12, was released on bail on April 10. He was held for 68 days in the Ministry of Intelligence facilities in Semnan. Bail was set at 50 million tumans (31,000 euros, US$41,000).

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Hg

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Eight Bahais tried in Tehran

PCED, April 24

Seven Bahais from Gorgan, and one from Tehran, were tried in Tehran on April 24. The charges were “organising and running an illegal organisation, membership of an illegal organisation, and propaganda against the regime.” All eight have been held in Raja’i Shahr prison, near Tehran. Their names are Farhad Fahandezh, Fahrmand Sana’i, Siamak Sadri,Kamal Kashani, Fu’ad Fahandezh, Kourush Ziari, Payam Markazi and `Adel Na`imi ( فرهاد فهندژ، فرهمند ثنایی، سیامک صدری، کمال کاشانی، فواد فهندژ، کوروش زیاری، پیام مرکزی و عادل نعیمی). Mr. Na`imi is from Tehran, the other seven are from the Gorgan region. They were among about 20 Bahais who were detained in a wave of arrests on about October 17. (Kourush Ziari is from Gonbad-e Qabus, where he was arrested and later transferred to Gorgan). After some weeks in detention in Gorgan, all seven were transferred to Evin prison in Tehran for interrogation, after which they were sent to Raja’i Shahr prison.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Ha

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai student expelled from Shiraz Technical University

PCED, April 23

Navid Keyhanirad ( نوید کیهانی راد ), a Bahai student doing an Master’s degree in software engineering at the Sharif Technical University of Shiraz, has been expelled because of his religion, although he was one of the top postgraduate students. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree at Shiraz TU in June 2012) [It would appear that the ban on Bahais entering higher education in Iran, is not always considered to apply to technical studies at a lower level ~Sen].

As he was the top student, he should have been able to gain a place at Sharif University (in Tehran). But officials prevented him sitting the entrance examination, so he continued his studies in Shiraz. He was able to enroll there without sitting the entrance examination because there is a quota for top students. In December 2012, at the end of the first term, the university security office summoned him and questioned him about his Bahai beliefs. They told him that he would be barred from the university, beginning on the following day. He was however treated with respect by the university’s guards, because the saw that in filling in the application form he had told the truth [That he was doing advanced studies, not lower-level technical studies]. He was not given copies of his qualifications.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1H5

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Student expelled from UTech in Tehran

HRANA, February 27

Panidh Fazl `Ali ( پانید فضل علی ), a Bahai student of Industrial Engineering, has been expelled from the University of Science and Technology in Tehran. He discovered he had been expelled on February 23, when he accessed the university’s web site. Next day he went to the University’s office of educational administration, where he was informed verbally that he had been expelled because of his Bahai beliefs, that the decision had been made by the national body overseeing educational assessments (the Sanjesh), and that no written evidence of the expulsion would be given. He was in term 6 of the programme, and had excellent grades.

(This is old news, which I somehow overlooked at the time. But this blog is not here simply to keep readers up to date with Bahai news. One small thing we can do for prisoners of conscience and those who suffer discrimination because of their race, religion or sexual orientation, is to let their stories be heard. And let their persecutors know, that the things they do are noted. ~Sen)

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1H1

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Faramarz Firuzeyan begins a 1-year sentence

PCED, April 19

On April 15, Faramarz Firuzeyan ( فرامرز فیروزیان ), a Bahai from Semnan, reported to Semnan central prison to begin serving a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime.”

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1GV

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

`Adnan Rahmat-Penah’s no-show trial

Azadi Qalam, April 17

The first trial date for `Adnan Rahmat-Penah ( عدنان رحمت‌پناه ), a Bahai from Shiraz, was set for April 16, but no trial was held because he was not transferred to the court from the prison. His family’s enquires to the officers who bring prisoners to the court resulted in various answers, such as ‘his name was not on the list.’ Another officer said that three other names were missing from the list, but those prisoners were taken for trial. After some discussion between the family, their lawyer and the judge it was decided that another trial date would be set next day, on April 17. But when the family arrived at court, they were sent to the office of the prison. They asked why `Adnan had not been sent to the court, and were told “We got the message from the court, but we didn’t want to send him.” The strange thing about this is, why would the prison officials contravene the order of the court and judge? Are they ridiculing the court, or was it a deliberate ruse to put `Adnan under psychological pressure?`Adnan’s brother Eyman ( ایمان رحمت پناه ) was one of a groups of Bahais who were arrested in Shiraz early in March 2012.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1GR

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahais of Egypt barred from receiving funds

MB in English (watchdog blog), March 7

Egypt’s Ministry of Insurance and Social Affairs has barred the Bahai community from receiving foreign funding. Counsellor Mohamed El-Demerdash, legal advisor to the Ministry, revealed this during a discussion of the NGO law in the Shura Council, saying that the Ministry has recently discovered the existence of foreign funding for some NGOs and groups with objectives that flout society’s rules and morals, such as supporting Bahai thought.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1GM

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Mona Amri and Rufeya Pakzadan free on bail

PCED, April 11

Mona Amri Hesari and Rufeya Pakzadan ( مونا امری حصاری و روفیا پاکزادان ), two Bahai women living in Gorgan who were arrested on March 18, were released on bail on April 1. They had been held in Amir Abad prison in Gorgan for 24 days. They have been charged with membership of Bahai organisations, teaching the Bahai Faith, and communicating with foreign governments. Bail for Rufeya Pakzadan was set at 100 million tumans (62,000 euros, $US81,000), and for Mona Amri at 150 million tumans (93,000 euros, $US122,000).

On October 17, 2012, security forces in Gorgan arrested 17 Bahais in a series of coordinated and sometimes violent raids on Bahai homes. Six of these arrestees, and one Bahai from Gonbad who was already being held at that time, were transferred to Raja’i Shahr prison, near Tehran.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1GF

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai women prisoners in Semnan face harsh conditions

HRANA, April 14

The conditions in Semnan Prison’s special wing for women where Bahai prisoners are held are unbearable. The food is very bad, and since glass was found in some of the food, many of the prisoners have refused to eat prison food. Since they are not allowed to buy food directly from the prison shop, and have to make generally inferior purchases of leftovers from the men’s wing, many of the prisoners go to sleep hungry. Among those affected by the poor quality of the food are three women with nursing babies. In this prison — the Central Prison of Semnan — prisoners are not separated according to the charges against them, so the Bahai women are held with thieves, drug addicts, murderers and foreign nationals. The Bahai prisoners also have to sleep on the floor of the common area, due to lack of space, which gives a sense of insecurity, especially for those with infants. Recently, on Children’s day, the Women and Children’s Protection Society distributed a grant for children in prison, but the Bahai women with children were not included, because of their religion.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

One arrest in Bandar Abbas

PCED, April 15

Babak Zeynali ( بابک زینلی ), a Bahai from Bandar Abbas, was arrested by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence on April 15. The agents searched his home and confiscated personal effects including Bahai books and CDs and a laptop computer. It would appear that the agents’ behaviour was unseemly. It is not known where he is being held, or what the charges may be.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Gx

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Sarvar Qutbi and Arman Anvari arrested, released in Isfahan

HRANA, April 6

Aravar Qutbi-Anvari and Arman Anvari, a Bahai couple living in Isfahan, were arrested on March 18. They were released on March 25, after having deposited legal documents as bail. No other details have been provided.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Gr

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai prisoners in Semnan under pressure

PCED, March 31

The pressure on Bahai prisoners in Semnan prison has been increased recently. The efforts of the prisoners and their families to raise the issue with prison officials and the Ministry of Intelligence have been fruitless. The Bahai prisoners are denied access to the prison yard, the library, the gymnasium, the prison shop, the telephone and are separated from the other prisoners. Great care is taken to see that they have no contact with other prisoners. The Bahais have been denied the right to telephone their families, on the orders of security officials. Many restrictions are applied in a discriminatory way to the Bahai prisoners, to an extent that their families describe as violating their human dignity and civil rights.

In the past year, more than 25 Bahais have served all or part of their sentences in the central prison in Semnan. The full text of this report lists their names and current status (in Persian).

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Go

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Nava and Nika Khalusi free on bail

HRANA, March 31

The sisters Nava and Nika Khalusi ( نوا و نیکا خلوصی ) have been freed on bail, after 185 days in ‘temporary detention’ in Mashhad. They were detained by security forces on September 26, 2012, and held for two months by the Ministry of Intelligence, before being transferred to Vakil Abad prison near Mashhad.
The bail was set at 3 billion rials (191,000 euros, $US 244,000).

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Gj

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bush fire near Panama temple quelled

Telementro, March 29 +

A bush fire that started around 6pm on Thursday 28th, close to the Bahai temple in Panama, burned through the night but was largely quelled by 7.30 am on Friday. Firefighters are still working on two fire fronts, and have not yet made any deductions about the cause of the fire. There are walking trails in the area around the temple.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1Ge

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Behfar Khanjani denied adequate health care in prison

Sad Nameh ta Azadeh (blog), March 24

Behfar Khanjani ( بهفر خانجانی ), a Bahai from Semnan who is serving a four-year prison sentence there, has been struggling with a medical condition for some years, but the Prosecutor and state-appointed doctor have refused permission for him to receive treatment. His condition has been exacerbated by the stress of the past 2 years in prison, and the lack of a suitable environment there. He has been allowed only a few days of leave from prison, too short for an observable improvement in his condition.

Behfar Khanjani is serving a 4 year sentence for membership of illegal Bahai groups and attending Bahai prayer meetings and the 19th-day ‘Feast.’ He was arrested on January 6 2010, after a search of his home by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. He has also been the target of two arson attacks on his home using Molotov cocktails. He was among the Bahais who were pressured by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence for more than four hours on December 4, 2012, to give “interviews” for television. While he has been in prison, his sister and wife have also been interrogated.

Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1G9

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Online course studies the persecution of the Bahais in Iran

Editorial, March 27

The Willmette Institute has announced a groundbreaking online course on the Persecution of the Iranian Baha’i Community, designed for those who want to work more effectively in the field of human rights, and for those who want to study academic and human rights literature on this topic. Two leading Iranian human rights activists, Ahmad Batebi and Fariba Davoudi will accompany Farhad Sabetan and Kavian Milani in teaching this course. It has been designed to be of interest to the NGO community, university students, informed citizens and those who want to get active in this arena.

Contact: The Wilmette Institute

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Mona Amri Hesari and Rufeya Pakzadan in Amir Abad prison

CHRR, March 20

Mona Amri Hesari and Rufeya Pakzadan ( مونا امری حصاری و روفیا پاکزادان ), two Bahai women living in Gorgan who were arrested on March 18, have been charged and, on a judge’s orders, transferred to Amir Abad prison in Gorgan. On October 17, 2012, security forces in Gorgan arrested 17 Bahais in a series of coordinated and sometimes violent raids on Bahai homes. Six of these arrestees, and one Bahai from Gonbad who was already being held at that time, were transferred to Raja’i Shahr prison, near Tehran, where they are being held in ‘temporary’ detention (see the previous report on this blog). Others have apparently been released, since Mona Amri Hesari and Rufeya Pakzadan are reported to be the only Bahais in prison in Gorgan at present.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

“Without reference to individuals” : the Bahai community prepares to elect the Universal House of Justice

From the moment Pope Benedict announced his retirement, the names of possible successors were being discussed, along with ideas about the right kind of Pope to lead the Church in the years to come. A South American? An African? … It all makes for good press. Bahai elections, even the forthcoming election of the Universal House of Justice, are not so newsworthy.

The Bahai community has no clergy, in the sense of qualified religious experts who lead a religious community. Its affairs are administered by elected local and national “spiritual assemblies.” The members of the National Spiritual Assemblies administer the affairs of the community in their countries, and every five years they cast their votes for the members of the Universal (or International) House of Justice, which administers the global affairs of the Bahai community. They will do so again in April, 2013, at an international convention in Haifa, Israel.

At the local, national and international levels, the elections are conducted without candidates, or even any reference to particular individuals. The qualifications for electability in all these elections are well known:

… it is incumbent upon the chosen delegates to consider … the names of only those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience…
(Shoghi Effendi, letter of June 3, 1925, printed in Directives from the Guardian, p. 24)

On the face of it, we can tell the Press to move along, there’s nothing to see here. No personalities to dissect, nothing to discuss. If it was really that dull, I wouldn’t be writing about it either. But there’s more to the story. Shoghi Effendi has also said that, prior to an election to a Bahai institution, the friends should “discuss among themselves the requirements and qualifications for such a membership without reference or application, however indirect, to particular individuals.” (Letter to the Spiritual Assembly of Akron, Ohio, dated May 14, 1927).

But we know the qualifications for membership don’t we? And we are not to make references to particular individuals, who may or may not meet those requirements. So why does Shoghi Effendi call all the Bahais (not just the convention delegates) to discuss the requirements and qualifications for membership? Could he have forgotten that he had told us the qualifications, just two years earlier? That would be uncharacteristic, for he was systematic and meticulous by nature.

The answer I think is that, while he has told us the general qualifications which electors should always look for, in any situation, (unquestioned loyalty, selfless devotion, a well-trained mind, recognized ability and mature experience…), he was also aware that every national community has particular needs, and that the needs of one year may not be those of the following year, or of ten years later. What Shoghi Effendi asks us all to discuss must be the requirements of the hour.

In my opinion, one requirement for membership which the delegates to the international Bahai convention should weigh very heavily is the desirability that the members of the next Universal House of Justice should have long and fruitful experience as members of National Spiritual Assemblies. In any Bahai election, proven effectiveness on an Assembly is one important sign by which a person’s maturity and wisdom may be known. In the case of the forthcoming election of the Universal House of Justice, four other factors make experience on a National Spiritual Assembly especially important.

If the membership of the Universal House of Justice were to be drawn largely from experienced members of the National Spiritual Assemblies, this would strengthen the relationship between the National and International bodies, whose tasks after all lie in the same sphere of the Bahai Administration;

It would provide the Universal House of Justice with members who have experience in implementing, in national communities with diverse patterns of development, the plans and policies which the Universal House of Justice enacts, and that would help to making those plans more relevant and practicable;

It would signal a fresh start, in comparison to the present situation in which members of the Universal House of Justice are drawn from the International Teaching Centre rather than from the ranks of national administrative bodies; and

It would highlight the natural and fruitful relationship between the elected and appointed arms of the Bahai Administrative Order, a relationship which is obscured if all the members of the Universal House of Justice are drawn from the International Teaching Centre. The ITC then appears to resemble a line up of the papabile cardinals.

~~~

These considerations might also weigh in the minds of the members of the International Teaching Centre. Would it not be better for the development of the Bahai Administrative Order, if they were to ask the convention delegates not to elect them to the Universal House of Justice? There are good precedents for such a request. The first is the example of the Hands of the Cause, who by asking the members of the National Spiritual Assemblies not to vote for them (Ministry of the Custodians, p. 20) gave concrete expression to the separation of the spheres of authority and administration on the one hand, and of guidance and wisdom on the other hand. The separation of these two spheres was outlined by Shoghi Effendi in The Dispensation of Baha’u’llah as follows:

… these twin institutions of the Administrative Order of Baha’u'llah should be regarded as divine in origin, essential in their functions and complementary in their aim and purpose. … Acting in conjunction with each other these two inseparable institutions administer its affairs, coordinate its activities, promote its interests, execute its laws and defend its subsidiary institutions. Severally, each operates within a clearly defined sphere of jurisdiction; each is equipped with … instruments designed for the effective discharge of its particular responsibilities and duties. Each exercises, within the limitations imposed upon it, its powers, its authority, its rights and prerogatives. … Far from being incompatible or mutually destructive, they supplement each other’s authority and functions, and are permanently and fundamentally united in their aims.
(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u'llah, p. 148)

Similarly, the Universal House of Justice has decided that Counsellors, during their terms of office, are not “eligible for membership on national or local administrative bodies… ” (Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 141-142) and it has asked the members of the Auxiliary Boards to suggest to delegates at national convention, that it would not be desirable to elect them to the National Spiritual Assembly:

National Assemblies in whose areas of jurisdiction Board Members reside, should point out to the delegates at Convention that whilst teaching and administrative duties are not mutually exclusive, it is desirable that Auxiliary Board Members, whether for teaching or protection, be left free to concentrate on the work allotted to them… The following extract from the Guardian’s letter, written through his secretary, could be shared with the delegates for their guidance when casting their votes:

“Teachers of the Cause can surely become members of any Assembly or Committee. There should be no incapacity attached to them. But, Shoghi Effendi would just prefer to see them devote all their time to teaching and leave the administrative function for those who cannot serve as teachers. (Bahai News, October, 1932)

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies, November 25, 1963)

It would therefore be both permissible and laudable if the members of the International Teaching Centre were to tell the delegates that it would be preferable to leave them to devote themselves to their own functions, in their own sphere of action.

~~~~~

What do you think?

Without reference to particular individuals, post a comment about what you think are the requirements and qualifications for membership of the Universal House of Justice, in view of the needs of the community today. What House of Justice would you like to see emerge from the International Convention?

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Two arrests in Gorgan

HRANA, March 18

Mona Amri and Rufeya Pakzadan ( مونا امری و روفیا پاکزادان ), two Bahai women living in Gorgan, were arrested in their home by security forces at 11 a.m. this morning (March 18). It is not known where they are being held.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Navid Khanjani beaten in prison

PCED, March 13

Navid Khanjani ( نوید خانجانی ), a Bahai human rights activist and the founder of the PCED (Campaign against Educational Discrimination), has been severely beaten by warders at Tehran’s Evin Prison. He is serving a 12 year sentence in Raja’i Shahr prison, near Tehran, on charges of spreading propaganda (an activity which the IRI itself engages in), disturbing public opinion, propaganda against the regime in the reports and interviews of foreign media membership of the central committee of the CHRR (Committee of Human Rights Reporters), and founding the PCED. He was summoned this morning to go to the Tehran revolutionary court, and when he refused to wear a prison uniform, the guards beat him severely. It is not known why he was summoned to the court.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Ten Bahais tried in Tehran

PCED, March 12

Ten Bahais associated with the Bahai Open University (BIHE) appeared at the Public Prosecutor’s office in Tehran on March 12. A previous report stated that only six had been summoned for trial. They are named as Babak Beheshti, `Abas Ta’ef, Hassan Momtaz, Negin Qadameyan and the four previously named: Azita Rafi`zadeh, Peyman Kushkabaghi, Nazanin Niku-Sarasht, Nasim Baqeri, Talu` Golkar and Ahmad Golzadeh ( بابک بهشتی،عباس طائف،حسن ممتاز، نگین قدمیان، آزیتا رفیع‌زاده، پیمان کوشکباغی، نازنین نیکو سرشت، نسیم باقری، طلوع گلکار و احمد گلزار ). After presenting their defence, they were released on bail.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Human rights group seeks sanctions on leading anti-Bahai figures

Justice for Iran, March 10 [update March 15]

Justice for Iran has named 15 individuals prominent in the persecution of the Bahais in Iran, and/or prominent in spreading the anti-Bahai ideology, and “requests that the European Union (EU) and countries supporting human rights use political and diplomatic means to apply pressure on the IRI to end the persecution of Baha’is and include the names of these fifteen human rights violators in human rights sanctions, including instituting travel bans against them and freezing their assets.” In addition to prominent government figures, the list includes Hossein Shariatmadari, Editor-in-Chief of Keyhan newspaper. Justice for Iran‘s plea is accompanied by documentation and historical background regarding the rise of anti-Bahaism in Iran and its consequences for the Bahai minority there.

The document has been published in English and Persian

Update, March 15

The list of individuals actually sanctioned has been published. Hossein Shariatmadari has not been included. The list includes:
- Asadollah Jafari, Prosecutor of Mazandaran Province, where anti-Bahaism and the prosecution of Bahais for crimes of conscience is particularly rife.
- Seyyed Reza Musavi-Tabar, Prosecutor of Shiraz, and responsible for Detention Centre 100, where many Bahais have been held. He condemned Raha Sabet to 3 years in solitary confinement.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Golrokh Firuzeyan arrested in Semnan

HRANA, March 12

Golrokh Firuzeyan ( گلرخ فیروزیان ) has been arrested, after having gone to the court in Semnan on March 9. She has been handed over to the Ministry of Intelligence. She is from Semnan, but has been living in Tehran. For some weeks the Ministry of Intelligence in Semnan has been holding her sister Shidrock hostage, and threatening the safety of her family in Semnan.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Six Bahais summoned in Tehran

HRANA, March 11

Six Bahais associated with the Bahai Open University (BIHE) were summoned to appear in court in Tehran on March 12. Their names are given as Azita Rafi`zadeh, Peyman Kushkabaghi, Nazanin Niku-Sarasht, Nasim Baqeri, Talu` Golkar and Ahmad Golzadeh ( آزیتا رفیع‌زاده، پیمان کوشکباغی، نازنین نیکو سرشت، نسیم باقری، طلوع گلکار و احمد گلزار ).

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Arrestee’s family threatened in Semnan

HRANA, March 7

In the 24 days since Shidrokh Firuzeyan ( شیدرخ فیروزیان ) was arrested in Semnan, her family has been repeatedly threatened in telephone calls from the Ministry of Intelligence, who said they would hold Shidhrokh (a youth, no specific age is given) hostage until another daughter, Golrokh ( گلرخ فیروزیان ) presented herself to the Ministry of Intelligence in Semnan. If she failed to do so, not only would her sister be held in detention, the security of the family in Semnan “could not be guaranteed.” However Golrokh does not live in Semnan, but in Tehran, 200 kilometres away. She wrote a letter to the Prosecutor in Semnan, giving her address and telephone number in Tehran. On March 5, three security officers from Semnan arrived at her home in Tehran, with a warrant for her arrest, but since she was not at home they had to leave. Since February 12, when the homes of the Fanaeyan and Firuzeyan families were searched and a computer and religious books and some photographs and personal effects were confiscated, and Ardeshir Fanaeyan ( اردشیر فناییان ) and Shidrokh Firuzeyan were arrested, there has been no indication of why the Ministry of Intelligence is interested in these three Bahai youths.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Four Bahai school children arrested in Semnan

Iran Daily Brief, March 7

In an unprecedented step, security agents in Semnan, with the approval of the Ministry of Education in Semnan, arrested four Baha’i students without the knowledge of their families. The agents went to two high schools in Semnan, Shahid Beheshti and Amir Kabir, and arrested four high school students in the middle of the school day: Sina Fenaeyan (سینا فناییان), Armin Allah Vardi (ارمین الله وردی), Ramin Amiri ( رامین امیری) and Yunes Khanjani (یونس خانجانی). The four were removed from school in the middle of a lesson, arrested and taken to Intelligence headquarters. They were held and interrogated for several hours and interrogated. They were asked to tell the interrogators whatever they knew about Ardeshir Fenaeyan (اردشیر فناییان), a Bahai who was arrested in Semnan on February 12. They were also encouraged with threats and promises to spy on the Bahais of Semnan. When the children did not return home from school, their parents went to the school and the school principal, after some evasion, told them what had happened. The children were released following their interrogation.

Persian source: HRANA

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai shops closed in Bandar Torkman

HRANA, March 2

On February 25, at least nine shops in which Bahais were active, in the city of Bandar Torkaman (n Golestan province, on the Caspian coast) were closed by the authorities, citing “trading violations.” Papers referring to this were posted on the shop doors. The shops taxes and fees have been paid, yet inquiries to the authorities have been fruitless. The relevant authorities have not provided any specific reasons, and say they are not responsible for the closures. Most of the businesses are cloth retailers. Under Iran’s religious apartheid system, Bahais are banned from working in many economic sectors, such as education, government employment and foodstuffs, but Bahai shopkeepers have been active in this economic sector for more than 20 years, without this being considered a trading violation. In recent years, and especially in recent months, numerous Bahai businesses in cities such as Semnan, Shiraz and Hamadan have been closed by the local authorities.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Universal House of Justice issues a letter on political engagement

Editorial, March 6

The Universal House of Justice has addressed a letter to the Baha’is of Iran, which has been released in both Persian and English versions. It sets out “the posture held by Baha’is everywhere towards political activity,” within the framework of a vision statement on Baha’i views of the future of humanity. As such it is of interest also to Bahais around the world, and also to the diverse individuals, organisations and religious communities with whom the Bahais join to realize common ideals. I have placed the plain text of the English version in the documents archive section of my Bahai Studies blog.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai prisoners in Mashhad denied normal furlough

HRANA, February 21

For some months, Bahai prisoners in Mashhad have been denied the normal furlough, although the prison warden has approved it, because of opposition from the Ministry of Intelligence. Iranian law states that prisoners who have served more than half of their sentences may benefit from furlough. Rozita Vatheqi ( رزیتا واثقی ), Davur Nabilzadeh ( داور نبیل‌زاده ), Jalayer Vahdat (جلایر وحدت) and Sima Eshraqi (سیما اشراقی) who are serving 5-year sentences, and Vasanaz Tafazzoli (وساناز تفضلی) who is serving a 6-year sentence, all satisfy this requirement, but have not been granted leave because of opposition from the Ministry of Intelligence.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai-run businesses in Hamadan still closed over Holy Day issue

HRANA, February 18

As previously reported, on November 17, 32 businesses linked to Bahais in Hamadan Province were closed down by the authorities without any explanation. Following this, the owners and tenants of these businesses went to the local authorities to ask for the reason, and were told that they could re-open if they agreed not to close on the Bahai holy days. There are eleven holy days, commemorating significant historical events, in the Bahai calendar: on nine of these, normal work is suspended. In the Islamic lunar calendar, November 16 and 17, 2012 were Muharram 1 and 2, when Bahais in countries using that calendar celebrate the births of the Bab and Baha’u'llah, and close their businesses. Three months later, the businesses remain closed, and there has been no progress towards a resolution. Because Bahais in Iran are excluded from employment by the government and from many economic sectors and professions, they rely heavily on small service and retail businesses to earn their livelihoods.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

One arrest in Sanandaj

HRANA, February 20 [Update February 23]

On February 20, five armed agents from the Ministry of Intelligence detained Sana’ Ra’ufi ( سماء رئوفی ) as he was leaving his home in Sanandaj, the capital of Iran’s Kurdistan province. They did not show an arrest warrant, but took him and his car to the office of the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj. His wife and father went to the Ministry’s office and found his car there, but were not able to contact him.

Update February 23 Hyperactivist (a reliable database of Iran’s prisoners of conscience) reports the town as Arak, rather than Sanandaj. The two cities are 350 km apart.

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Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.