Letters
July 11, 2002
See Part II
* Since 1844
I read your article about the Bahai faith, and I just wanted to comment on the part where you said that Bahais have been
persecuted for three generations [Heechee kam nadaaran]. Well, I'm not exactly sure if
your math is correct or not, but they have been persecuted since day 1 when ... declared himself as a prophet in 1844, so
basically 158 years of persecution.
I really enjoyed the article.
Thanks,
Shervin
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* Koran is Scripture to me
I appreciate the article by Jahanshah Javid in Iranian.com [Heechee kam nadaaran].
Muslims recognize (and end its persecution) of the Bahais in Iran. I am an anglo-American who was drawn to the Bahai Faith 7
years ago by its teaching, unique in the world's religions, to never hit children. As I studied it I was impressed with its
recognition of all people and religions, and its message and plan for world peace.
When I was a Christian I believed that Muhammad was either misguided or some emmisary of Satan--which is probably what most
Muslims think of the Bahais today. When I became a Bahai, however, I had to also accept Muhammad as a Manifestation of God.
The Koran is now Scripture to me, where before it was not.
One of the saddest things I have ever heard was the case of the ten Bahai women who were hanged in the 1980s - -including the
beautiful 17-year-old girl, Mona. We are blessed to have many Iranian Bahais here in Metro Detroit--and we love to hear them
chant Persian and Arabic prayers. They certainly do look Iranian from our end.
Best wishes to all of you. I believe Muhammad was a messenger of peace, and did not teach, and is not responsible, for present
hatreds and persecutions.
Sincerely,
Jeff Charles
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* 20 years after our escape from Iran
I do not know what made you think about Bahai's [Heechee kam nadaaran]. It sounded
like you were honest. It touched my heart any way. I do not care if all the things you wrote was correct or not, the fact is
that your conclusion is correct.
I am a Bahai from Iran. We had to flee for our life. If you think it was an easy decision to take your tow [SP two] children
out of boarder on motocycle in the middle of winter, not knowing where you will end up going, think again. all I know for sure
that I have been a victem and so I know what I am talking about.
All through out school in Isfahan, my college in Shiraz, I was never immune to being treated as second hand citizen -- and that
was during the Shah's time. Yes we left our country with tears in our eyes and prayers in our heart that God will help us
settle in a safe place. Not too long after we setteled my husband was murdered at his small business that he had started to
support his family.
And now, 20 years after our escape from Iran, I still have tears in my eyes and prayers in my heart to make it through each
moment and each day. Yes I do also wonder why people should be persecuted for what they believe specially if that belief makes
them peace loving people. We were rubbed of all of our belongingins, jobs, and rights. When the PASDARS were taking even our
QURAN and I asked why, he said "You are NAJESS and should not have the Holey book in your house."
Yes with tears in my eyes and prayer in my heart I asked God to guide us all to the right path. When we left Iran that is all
we had with us. our tears and our prayers. Thank you Jahanbakhsh for speeking out your mind. Yes let us not judge people.
KASSI RA TOYEH GHABREH KASSI DIGAR NEMIKHABOONAND. I do not mind at all to give all the informations about me so you all can
check it out.
Nasrin
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* All religions from same God
If you may allow me to introduce myself, my name is Flavio Azm Rassekh and I'm a native of Brazil. My parents are Persian,
my mom is Muslim and my father was a Bahai from Jewish background.
The main reason I'm writing this is to thank you for speaking out about the situation of the Bahais in Iran, as a colleague of
yours said in his article Heechee kam nadaarann" most people in Iran don't recognize
the basic rights of Bahais to exist and live like everybody else. As you know Bahais don't get involved in politics and don't
respond with violence when tortured or persecuted.
Hope more people get to read your articles. The way to end prejudice is the understanding of our common heritage. We are
children of the same parents, all the religions of the past came from the same God, everything else is peoples interpretation.
Warm regards,
Flavio
Sao Paulo BRAZIL
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* Relative killed for being Bahai
As a person whose relatives were killed for being Bahai, thank you. [Heechee kam
nadaaran]
Robert Babak Rowshan
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* Independence from akhounds
Dear Mr. Javid,
I admire your brave stand [Heechee kam nadaaran] to follow your conscience and speak up
for the Bahais of Iran. Such an action is almost unheard of from a non-Bahai Iranian. It takes a renewed way of thinking and
a serious abandonment of the cultural and social ailments and prejudices to speak up as you have.
A fair minded person would agree that the Bahais and Bahai beliefs do not pose any danger to the well being of the society (if
not benefit the society.) This has been demonstrated by most countries allowing Bahais to practice their religion. Bahais are
recognised as one of the active contributors in the U.N. and their involvement is valued.
While the United Nation and most countries have issued resolutions unreservedly demanding fair conditions for Bahais in Iran,
why do Iranians opt to stay quiet about Bahais and their lack of basic human rights in Iran?
This may be a puzzling question for some, but it is certainly not a new phenomenon in Iran of today. Bahais and Bahai Faith
has always been a tabu subject in Iran.
It does not take a genius to work out that the people who are threatened most by the growth in the number of Bahais are the
religious leaders. The akhounds of Iran have always faced the danger of losing power in Iran, if Bahais grew in numbers.
A quick look as the Bahai history of late 1880's shows Iran experiencing a rapid growth in the number of Babis (the Babi Faith
is the predecessor of the Bahai Faith). Sadly before even the Faith was a few years old we see massive massacres of Babis by
the mob and the zealous crowds in public places under direct orders from the akhounds. Killing the "infidels and agents
of foreigners" were to bring the mob rewards in after life.
The extend of killings was so severe that by early 1890's it was hardly possible to find any Babis in Iran. The Babi issue
became a closed case, (so the government and akhounds thought!) Babis were dreadfully harassed and discriminated against.
Those who were not murdered, endured terrible sufferings. The akhounds carried on with their spread of doubts and rumours
about Babis. No one dared to stand up for Babis as the consequences were too harsh.
As Babi became Bahais the trend continued with Bahais. The harsh consequences kept people away form Bahais. Meanwhile the seeds
lies and of doubts planted by akhounds in the minds of Iranians grew to become dense bushes obscuring the views of the average
Iranians of the Bahai Faith.
Bahaism has became a tabu subject that Iranians don't wish to discuss. This basic protective tactic of the akhounds has served
them very well. They have effectively kept people away from discussing the Bahai question and clouded their minds at the same
time. The average Iranian is either unaware of the Bahais situation in Iran (because it is not discussed), or his/her mind is
so poisoned with preconceived prejudices and political, social and moral accusations against Bahais, that he/she will make a
quick and judgmental call on Bahais.
The akhounds of Iran with their "marja-eh taghlid" have the masses of Iran eating right from the palm of their hands.
Iranians lack the initiative to investigate for themselves. They are prone to accept easy answers and naively believe others.
So my dear Mr. Javid, having said all this, the quick answer to your question is that "hamash zir sare akhound-ha
ast" (in contrast to "hamsh zir sare inglisi-hast"). I certainly hope Iraj Mirza was wrong when he wrote:
While I doubt that he was addressing Bahais, his poem applies equally to the Bahais, and the rest of Iranians.
As Iran and Iranians mature, stand up on their own feet, start thinking with their own minds. They will claim their intellectual
and social independence from the akhounds. However, the biggest cultural challenge they face will be to identified the truth
from the fancies and propaganda that is infused in the Iranian culture and psyche over many generations.
Regards,
Tooraj Enayati
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* Finally
Finally someone stopped to say something about a religion with a population of over 6 million [Conception of gender roles]. Unlike other religious groups, we dont like to toot our own
horns.
Gooya Abrar
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* Finding intolerance as intolerable
As an American born Bahá'í, I would like to thank you for your support [
Conception of gender roles]. It is indeed wonderful to find a human being who finds intolerance as intolerable as I do.
May God bless you. No matter what you call Him, He has remarkable Names.
Alláh-u-Abhá
Rex Block
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* Trust has gone with the wind
I read your comments [Heechee kam nadaaran]. I think the article was great, never
the less having open minded iranian soul is not something that we see everyday.
I hope you are not one the molla's and hopefully you are not fishing, well!! Don't blame me, trust among Iranians has gone
with the wind.
regards :)
Aqdas
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* Blessed be the king
"Blessed be the king whose sovereignty hath withheld him not from his Sovereign, and who hath turned unto God with his
heart."
"He, verily, is accounted of those that have attained unto that which God, the Mighty, the All-Wise, hath willed."
"Thy Lord is, in truth, potent over all things."
"We make mention of thee for the sake of God."
"Thy name may be exalted through thy remembrance of God, the Creator of earth and heaven."
"God hath, truly, destined a reward for thee, because of" what you have written. [
Heechee kam nadaaran]
Fereshteh
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* In His Service
Dear Mr. Javid, [Heechee kam nadaaran]
Indeed, you ask a very pertinent question in your musings while waiting for your computer to right itself. The Revelation
of Baha'u'llah, representing as it does, the latest emanation from the "Unknowable Essence" and hence the
fulfillment of all the prophecies of former dispensations, is worthy fodder for any serious communicant seeking ultimate
reunion with his Maker.
As for those blessed to have recognized the station of the "One whom God will make manifest", their destiny is of
course assured by the Prophet, the Mouthpiece of God, beyond the limitations imposed by mortal machinations. Therein lies
the "radiant acquiescence" you have noted in association with the followers of Baha'u'llah.
In any case, the unification of this world into one characterized by the "Most Great Peace" is a mighty undertaking,
requiring unswerving dedication, a "new race of men", as it were. I pray that your musings have prompted even one
soul to re-examine his bearings.
In His Service,
A. Salvo
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* Uphill battle
My father sent me your article, which I read with interest [Heechee kam nadaaran].
I hope you don't mind me sending you an email. Your casual writing style (at least in English language) was delightful and
intriguing. It comes across as very secular journalism and atheist/humanistic in spirit. The trouble is, if your
audience/readership is predominantly Iranian people then aren't you mainly trying to argue to convince Islamic folks of your
enlightened human rights advocacy towards Bahai's?
Correct me if I'm wrong. I'd like to know how people like yourself are getting on with bringing Iranian society to a more
humane and tolerant state with regard to treatment of religious minorities. It would seem an uphill battle from someone like
myself who looks in from the outside.
The bizzarre thing is that you can even find a reason to write such an article!! Surely, in a civilized and intelligent
society (and I'm sure most Iranians ARE civilized and intelligent, at least all Iranians that I've met are) there'd be no need
to even argue for human rights because they'd be a GIVEN, a natural state of affairs.
SO it seems to me that the terrible treatment of people like Bahai's that goes on in Iranian society (and by the way, it goes
back at least to the founding of the Babi Faith by Siyyid Ali Muhammad in 1844 (~1260AH), and the founding of the Bahai Faith
by Baha'u'llah (Mirza Husayn Ali) in 1863-64), is attributable largely to the profound lack of understanding by most people
(whether in Iran, Europe, America, Asia, africa or whereever) as to what the Bahai Faith really is in essence!
My pet theory is that if the principles and esence of the Bahai Faith were sincerely studied by people, and a more than
surficial understanding were obtained, then most people would, by in large, be far more reasonably disposed towards the
Bahai's. It's the lack of education that breeds fear, and the fear breeds hatred, animosity, and as you can bear witness
ultimately it brings persecution and fanatical opposition.
In truth, Islam has nothing to fear from Bahai's because the Bahai Faith both demands acceptance of all well-founded religions
from it's adherants, has no clergy, and also demands independent investigation of truth (religious or otherwise). Indeed, the
Bahai Faith sees all religion as One, united in essence, differing only in the needs and teachings required for the relevant
time in history.
Now whether you are religious or not, there seesm nothing to fear from Bahai's because they canonically cannot convert people
away from their beliefs, any Bahai becomes so only out of an individually and privately felt acceptance of Baha'u'llah's
teachings, and a profound reverence for all religions as dispensations given to humanity as a whole by One universal
unknowable Creator.
Before you discount all religion as crockery! I'd recommend that you at least educate yoursefl better about the Bahai Faith.
YOu can get ample information from books like Esslemont's "Baha'u'llah and the New Era", or Gloria Faizi's "The
Bahai Faith". Also there are copious websites, if your internet connection is healthy! e.g. try reading through,
http://www.us.bahai.org/
http://www.ibiblio.org/Bahai/TrueSeeker/
I recommend this latter site, because (despite the rather pompous sounding URL) it does contain the pure, unadulterated
canonical writings. So although not brief, these will at least, if you read them carefully, give you a high quality education
on all Bahai principles.
Finally, good luck and best wishes to you and all who struggle in Iran for human rights and peace. I hope to visit your
beautiful country some day with my daughter, before she gets too old and entrenched in her prejudices! (She's a very cute 2.5
year old called Kezia Olivia Smith! We're also New Zealand citizens, so don't be put off by my work address below! And I'm a
physicist, not a nuclear engineer, again despite my place of work.)
Sincerest regards,
Dr Blair M. Smith
Innovative Nuclear Space Power and Propulsion Institute, (INSPI)
University of Florida
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* There is NO excuse
Salam,
My name is Tabby and I am an Iranian residing in DC. I wanted to thank you for writing such an honest article [ [Heechee kam nadaaran]. It's nice to come across realistic work in days when our eyes are
covered with curtains of stereotypes.
There is NO excuse for the inhumane conditions that we expose our fellow brothers and sisters to. Besides, who is to say that
a specific ideology or religion is superior over others, have we personally spoken with God? Did God TELL us that one reigns
supreme over the others, or do we simply beleive that those OTHER religions are inferior because we are not members of
them..
I have come to realize that man falls victim to the desires of his ego, particulary the desire for power. People that emotional
aspect of a "human" from the physical, this is why they have no difficulty persecuting or torturing those with
"different" ideologies. Whether its the Bahai's of Iran, the Palestinians or the Sierra Leonians, NO person or
GROUPS of PEOPLE deserve to be treated inhumanly. You are right when you write that it is unfair to place all the blame on the
Mullahs.
Any person who adheres to dogma, whether its Muslim, Christian or whatever, is indeed blinded by stereopyes, and is just AS
accountable as the Mullah. To see changes, we must come off our personal pedostals and open our eyes to see that ALL humans
are equal in rank. No human can judge another, unless of course they personally spoke with God...thats unlikely though...
Tabby
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* Inconsistent with your message
Dear Mr. Javid, [Heechee kam nadaaran]
I just read your essay. I thought you made some excellent points about the extent of the persecution and repression of the
Bahais in Iran. There have been numerous conspiracy theories about the Bahai faith flying around over the years but then
again we are known for our conspiracy theories.
I'm more content with respecting a person's spirituality and not paying attention to the label of Jew, Christian, Muslim,
Bahai, Hindu, Buddhist, etc.
What made me uncomfortable, however, is that you wrote this piece because you were waiting for your internet connection to
reappear and not because you truly wanted to write it that day.
Your asides in parentheses made me feel like you would have been happier doing anything else other than writing that piece
which is inconsistent with your message. I'm going to think positively and hope that that was your underlying point.
It's possible that we as Iranians would rather do anything other than own our responsibilities and shame.
Sincerely,
Parissa B.
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* Fair ethical points
Reference to Jahanshah Javid's July 3 Bahai article - EXCELLENT. [Heechee kam
nadaaran]
I hope it is the start of a movement of ethical awakening by the non-Bahai majority in Iran. This article's most moving power
to me is that the author is apparently not a believer in religion, yet comes to such just and fair ethical points mosly by
his logic.
I am a Bahai, and it is as it seems, a positive, very spiritual, uplifting religion that welcomes all without prejudice.
Thanks,
Steven King
USA National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion
www.kingofguitar.net
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* Show and tell
Jahanshah,
Are you getting any thing for this article? [Heechee kam nadaaran]
As a Bahá'í I enjoyed your article. We never wanted to convert all the people to Bahá'í faith but
we ask them to give us a chance to see how our "show and tell" would change their lives.
Take care and regards,
Fereydoun
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* Not only for Bahais, but for all
I just wanted to say thank you for writing such a nice article about the Bahais - "
Heechee kam nadaaran"... myself, I am a half-Iranian Bahai, living in Canada. It's nice to see that Iranians are
becoming more concerned about the plight of our fellow believers in Iran. The question is, when will things shift from mere
words to actions? "Let deeds, not words, be your adorning", is one of my favourite quotes from
Bahá'u'lláh.
I read the other article you wrote, "The education
of Mahdiyeh", and that too was very nicely expressed. I'm surprised that a Bahai in Iran would speak with such
openness about his beliefs (in general), but I commend his honesty.
One thing that caught my eye (and it may have been mentioned to you many times before, so I apologise if it has) was you had
mentioned that some 200 Bahais had been executed since 1979 ... maybe I am confusing things, and my history is not that good,
but for some reason I have 20,000 in my head. I will check into this further and let you know what I come up with, but if you
can clarify things for me, that would be great. :)
It is my sincere hope that your limited role as Mahdiyeh's father has instilled within her a sense of justice... not only for
Bahais, but for all things good and right in this world.
Best Wishes,
Kurosh :)
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* Not every non-Bahai Iranian hates us
Hi,
Don't worry, I'm not here to fill your inbox with conspiracy theories or be a nasty critic [
Heechee kam nadaaran]. Actually, I want to thank you. I'm a Bahai (in fact not Iranian, but I have very close Iranian
friends and relatives) and I want you to know that it's sort of reasssuring to know that someone notices the wrongs done, that
not every non-Bahai Iranian hates us. Thanks for commenting.
That's All,
Jamie
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* Without taking any sides
A friend of mine forwarded your article and I have to say I have really enjoyed it [
Heechee kam nadaaran]. Thank you. Very well written without taking any sides, especially since it is written by a Persian
non-Bahai that grow up in Iran (so you could easily be influenced by what you were taught in school).
Your article just asks people to see the truth.
Thanks again.
ARIS
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* A nation overlooking the obvious
"Why do we treat Bahais so badly? Or at least why aren't we concerned when they are treated badly?" asks Jahanshah
Javid [Heechee kam nadaaran]. That has puzzled me too. We know why the Khomeinists
oppose them: first because the Bahais present a model of a religious community that gets along just fine thank you, without
having any ulama: no priests, no fuqaha, no taqlid: just democratically elected councils. Their very existence as a community
reads like a redundancy notice for the mullahs. And second because the Bahai teachings give a religious justification for the
separation of church and state, a model that crosses the boundaries of the neat dualism between western-secular-separation-Bad
and Iranian-religious-theocracy-Good. And we know that the Pahlavis didn't really hate them, they just threw them to the dogs
when it was convenient. The Pahlavis didn't care, but it was nothing personal. But what about the intellectuals, the NGOs, the
Iranians? Why the blind spot?
From a safe distance, this is what I think. When you've been overlooking the patently obvious for a long time, you can't see
the obvious without saying (at least to yourself), that you've been a fool. And when a nation has been overlooking the obvious,
they are a nation of fools. Not the first in history, and probably not the last, but that doesn't make it easier to swallow. So
when somebody puts the obvious in font of your nose, you just don't see it. It's easier that way. So if the answer is obvious,
what's the question?
When modernity rolled over the world, it brought a compound pain. Modernity has created a kind of society that is completely
different to old ideas -- western, eastern, whatever -- completely different to old ideas of how a society works. A society in
which religion and science and commerce and politics are different worlds, functioning according to different logics. A society
in which the individual has no single identity, no "position", but a profile of positions and functions in different
spheres, so you make yourself a mix-and-match version of a personal identity. A society functioning quite well without one
permeating system of religious values -- which philosophers and theologians had for millennia proclaimed to be essential.
A society in which one's own language and ethnicity is just a local particularity, within a horizon that embraces a
thousand ways of talking and ways of doing things. Different parts of this pain have hit different societies at various times,
with the 'West' in most cases suffering the first impact. But a big part of this -- and one that has caused a couple of
centuries pain in Europe -- is how to fit religion into the new picture. How can one be faith-full and live in a society in
which religion is a department of life, not the umbrella over all, and how do you live with the fact that religious pluralism
is here to stay? The situation today is, that even if religion were to return to supply society with its values and cohesion
(which it won't), there could be no answer to the question, which religion? Various ad hoc solutions have been found.
Quite a variety have been tried in various countries, including Iran. But the most elegant of the religious solutions is the
Iranian one. The Bahai one that is: not the Khomeinist one. It's simple really. You have to reconceive of "religion"
not as a particular religion but as a world religious system. You have to position that firmly as one department of life,
alongside the global economy, the world political system, science without borders, art international and so on. You have to
justify this religiously, not as the "breakdown" of society, but as the way things are meant to be in the Kingdom (by
whatever name you call it). You have to make ethnic pluralism, even religious pluralism, a positive religious value.
You have to redesign religious communities so that they at the least do not directly oppose the democratic, individualistic,
questioning ethos of modern society. You may have to take an axe to some old ideas about the roles of men and women, and the
religious sanctions for them. You might have to clear away a clutter of turbans and togas, but hang on to your religious
intellectuals. They are a precious resource, and very rare (in fact, if you find two in one generation, one is probably a
mistake).
So there you are. Bahai is more than "peace, love and tolerance", but it is still a pretty simple idea, a solution to
the problem of religion in modernity, wrapped in the forms of Iranian culture: a calendar like the Zoroastrians for example.
With all due respect to the sincere gentlemen from Iran who have wrestled with this problem, and with the additional issue, for
non-western thinkers, of how much of "western" solutions can be adopted, the best solution has been right under their
noses all the time. If you are passing by a village in Peru or an island somewhere watery at the right time of year, and hear
Naw Ruz being celebrated, there are good odds that it will be those Bahais. Iran's gift to the world, export only.
Sen McGlinn
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* Writing humorously about Bahais
What a nice article [Heechee kam nadaaran]. First of all hope by now your computer
is working and secondly I am a third generation Bahai. Have heard it all and seen it all but never seen anybody writing
humorously like yours.
Thank you. Keep up the good work.
Shahin
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* What aroused you?
A friend tonight told me about your article, "Heechee kam nadaaran", and
I just read it. I am a Bahai in the United States, for almost 29 years now. Thank you for thinking of us and our suffering
brethren in Iran.
I would like to ask you a question. I understand from your article that you are not particularly religious (hocus pocus, you
said, right?) so I would like to understand how the suffering of the Bahais came to your attention and what aroused you to\
speak out about them.
Feel free to say as much as or as little as is comfortable for you. I was just thinking it would be nice to understand the
thinking of the author of this article a little better.
If you decide to respond, let me thank you in advance.
With my best wishes,
Ed Price
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* Qorboone marefatet
Your article about the Bahaiyan dar Iran was really nice and you deserve a DAMET GARM phrase
[Heechee kam nadaaran]. Hamshahri vaqean k gol
gofti. This many years most of my friends or even my non Bahai relatives kept absolute silence.
Even out of ensaniyat they could express a little bit of hamdardi amma hyf k kasi in shahamat ham az khodesh neshoon nadad.
Shekayat nist vali ma az hamvatanane azizemoon entezar darim. Dar har hal qorboone marefatet dadash befadat khodam saber.
Jena Hamadani
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* Bahai with Jewish and Muslim background
This was a great article and much needed [Heechee kam
nadaaran]. Thank you.
One of the reasons that majority of the Iranian people don't like the bahais, is the fact that all Bahais at one time or
another were Muslims or Jewish. I am a Bahai person with Jewish and Muslim background/family members. Within my own family, I
see the problem with converting to another religion. It is almost as if they have been betrayed or sold out by the family
members converting to another religion.
I feel proud of my grand-grand parents for converting to the Bahai faith and creating a better life/processes of thinking for
me. It was not an easy task or a life style to choose at that time. Regardless of the prosecution and the persecution Bahais
have endured, we all stray away from one of the major criteria of the religion, and thats judgment. Thats how we continue to
grow and blossem as a religion/school of thought/culture?????
My only recommendation for everyone is, the independent investigation of truth. That is among the top ten amendments of the
Bahai faith. If we all did this, we would have a much better world.
Thank you
Gina
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* Fighting to p[r]ove who's religion is best
Couldn't stop myself not writing to you after reading your article about (when we are going to recognize the Bahai Faith)
[Heechee kam nadaaran]. Wish
more people would think your way.. At least.. we would surely have a better place to live with love and harmony...
Im a Bahai and i believe that since the basic of all religions (no matter what names they are called and recognised with) are
the same... then its a real big shame to fight and try to prove who's religion is the best... all religions have come to fulfil
one single main goal and that is to make us live in peace and unity together as human beings.. so..s houldn't we appreciate
such a blessing and great honor and try to make earth the real home for humanity???? since the real love is not in loving our
own countries only ..but to love the whole nations as one single family.
Regards.
Farah. R.
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* Recognizing injustice
Thank you for your piece [Heechee kam nadaaran
]. As an American Bahai I have only been exposed to the martyrdom and persecution of Iranian
(generally prefer the term Persian) Bahai's second hand. Very interesting to hear perspective of a non-Bahai seemingly
average Iranian citizen. It seems that clearly the attempt to put out the light of Baha'u'allah in Iran has failed miserably
because clearly you know more about the fundamentals (vaguely of course) than most Americans.
As a person I thank you for recognizing injustice and going out on a limb to question your peers and raise awareness. I also
wanted to point out that many customs of "eastern" culture that "western" cultural looks down on
(chador..lack of womens rights..etc) are also fundamentally opposed to the teachings of the Bahai Faith. So in a sense allowing
Iranian Bahai's to live a "Bahai life" in Iran would require GREAT social changes. Not a bad idea butÖ..from where I
sit the opinion may be a bit bias.
-Jennifer
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* Need to do something
Good on you Mr Javid, [Heechee kam nadaaran]
I agree that ordinary Iranians need to do something about this issue.
Regards,
T. Ehsani
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* Gracias
Danke [Heechee kam nadaaran]
Obrigado
Thanks
Merci
Cristiane Reys
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* Make home with whoever accepts me
I am impressed and shocked that someone (Non Bahai) actually took the time and wrote that article
[Heechee kam nadaaran]. Did it ever occur to anyone
that when you treat a Bahai like a non Iranian how that Bahai would feel?
I am a Bahai and I am Iranian but to be honest, I can never identify myself as a part of Iran. I hop from one place to another
and make home with whoever accepts me. The world has been extremely kind to me and so I thank my lucky stars that the rest of
the world exists.
May Tazehzadeh
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* First time (openly)
Dear Sirs,
It was a very nice piece of writing [Heechee kam nadaaran
]. It is the first time I read something criticizing the criminal way of Bahá'ís
treatment in Iran, at least openly.
Thanks
Ivone Félix Correia - Portugal
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* People who question
I liked your peice [Heechee kam nadaaran]. It's people with open minds like you, people who question why things are the way they are and not
carry through life like sheeps in a hurd that will change the world to a better peacefull place.
Just as an fyi Baha'u'llah is the founder of the Bahai religion.
Born in 1817, Bahá'u'lláh was a member of one of the great patrician families of Persia. The family could trace
its lineage to the ruling dynasties of Persia's imperial past, and was endowed with wealth and vast estates. Turning His back
on the position at court which these advantages offered Him, Bahá'u'lláh became known for His generosity and
kindliness which made Him deeply loved among His countrymen.
This privileged position did not long survive Bahá'u'lláh's announcement of support for the message of the Báb. Engulfed in the waves of violence unleashed
upon the Bábís after the Báb's execution Bahá'u'lláh suffered not only the loss of all His
worldly endowments but was subjected to imprisonment, torture, and a series of banishments.
The first was to Baghdad where, in 1863, He announced Himself as the One promised by the Báb. From Baghdad,
Bahá'u'lláh was sent to Constantinople, to Adrianople, and finally to Acre, in the Holy Land, where He arrived
as a prisoner in 1868.
From Adrianople and later from Acre, Bahá'u'lláh addressed a series of letters to the rulers of His day that are
among the most remarkable documents in religious history. They proclaimed the coming unification of humanity and the emergence
of a world civilization.
The kings, emperors, and presidents of the nineteenth century were called upon to reconcile their differences, curtail their
armaments, and devote their energies to the establishment of universal peace.
Bahá'u'lláh passed away at Bahjí, just north of Acre, and is buried there. His teachings had already begun
to spread beyond the confines of the Middle East, and His Shrine is today the focal point of the world community which these
teachings have brought into being.
For more information you can visit www.bahai.org
Sincerely,
Kaveh Alexander Baghaee
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* Need to be fair
Your very entertaining column [Heechee kam nadaaran] about the Bahais, was interesting to millions of followers around the world, including myself.
As an American Bahai, I was attracted to the Bahai teachings for their high morals and ethics and their view of humanity as a
"progressing" species, capable of peace and justice and respect for all culture and all belief. Indeed, the love of
Persian culture has been carried to nearly 200 nations by Iranian Bahais who wish to share this very beautiful view of humanity
with all who dwell on earth.
Now, Iranian Bahais are vastly outnumbered by indigenous Bahais who teach their children that the future of the world can be
hopeful. This ethic is one of the great "exports" of Iran, and it is having a tremendously positive effect in
communities in every corner of the world. Thank you for calling the attention of your many readers to the need to be fair in
the judgement of the Bahais.
Kevin P. Smith
Toronto, Ontario
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* Like you being kicked out of the universe
Thank you for your article and your thoughts about the matter [Heechee kam nadaaran]. It
has actually kept my mind busy for quit sometime now. I had to go through the Bahai books and the Islamic books that reject
it to get some clue what is this Bahai faith all about.
I am officially shi'a Moslem but I am not religious at all. In fact I don't believe in many parts of it. however I did find out
that Bahai faith cant be anything but a big con. The con is defiantly harmful for Islam for all the reasons that you know
better than me. but is it really harmful for mankind and society, I don't think so, at least not yet. Religions have been
destructive only at the time they had power. Otherwise every religion has a period of goody, goody look.
Few things I like to mention are that Bahai faith believes in a central religious government. (it seems they like to put it in
Haifa, Israel) I don't think you or any other person at this time of civilization vote for that. The other thing is Bahais
approach to criticism. If you try to argue with them or try to make a dialog about their religion if they can't convince or
answer you they would label you as a person who's heart is not open up to receive the message of god from his last profit and
lot of B.S. like that. The worst thing is their approach to breakers of the faith.
As you may know Bahais don't have big communities around the world. Ten here, hundred there and if its somewhere popular maybe
thousands people show up. When you are a breaker none of these people would talk to you ever after! You feel like you have been
kicked out of the universe. I have read terrible stories about these people. About bob and Baha's greatness I think it doesn't
apply to bob at all. He was more to the crazy side. Go read his books and find it for yourself.
I admit Baha was smarter and the smartest was Abdul Baha. He and Shoghi Afandi screwed up quit a lot. Being central figures
they were suppose to know everything but of course they didn't. one thing you can check out was this homosexuals mater that
was brough up to shoghi afandi. He was totally against it and ignored them with harsh words. Now the faith accepts gay Bahais.
I think it comes with being open minded!
This was just to mention what I have found out about this goody, goody, sweet looking religion.
You are very true about all the discrimination that they suffer in Iran. Its not only Bahais though but I know that they suffer
a big deal. I hope things change for them.
A. N.
©Copyright 2002, Iranian
