News 30 Nov
Concerns for Mashhad two
HRANA, 29 November
There is still no news of the fate of two Bahais who were arrested in Mashhad following a raid on the nineteen-day feast there (see the report for 3 November below), Sonia Ahmadi and Mr. Qanvatyan. Their families are very concerned. Mr Qanvatyan’s family are Muslims; he converted to the Bahai Faith some 30 years ago, prior to the revolution.
The source is temporarily unavailable
Ettelaat.news has a duplicate (also at Cyrus News)
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Burial of a Bahai obstructed
HRANA, 28 November
The body of Pouran Behrampour, a Bahai of Vilashahr (on the outskirts of Najafabad, near Isfahan) who died in hospital in Najafabad on November 26th, is still being held in the hospital morgue. City authorities have not allowed the family to collect her body, unless it is to be buried in the ‘Sistan’ cemetary in Isfahan, and have said they will take action themselves if the family fail to bury Mrs Behrampour in that cemetary. The Bahai cemetary for Vilashahr and Najafabad was destroyed in early September.
Full story (in Persian)
When HRANA is unavailable, Ettelaat.net has a duplicate
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Death to the Bahais!
Kayhan News, 25 November
Following on from the publication of a photograph of the Bahai Lotus Temple in a newspaper (see two stories below), Kayhan (a notorious hate-sheet) is reporting that an association of religious scholars and students in Isfahan has called for the lives of these “inveterate parasites” (ie the innocent Bahais of Iran) to be ended. This seems a little harsh, since the Bahais had nothing to do with the advertisement concerned – it was placed by a tourism bureau.
Kayhan says (in Persian)
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Hamshari’s defense
Isna, 24 November
The banned newspaper Hamshari (see the story below) has defended its record in spreading anti-Bahai propaganda, pointing out that it has distributed 400,000 free anti-Bahai books. Another version of this adds that the topic of this free book is the racist basis of the Bahai Faith. (See “Abdu’l-Baha and the African Tribe” on this blog for an example of the accusations)
Read all about it! (in Persian)
Update, 26 November: Khabarnegaran is reporting that the newspaper is back on the streets, and Mehr news says the ban has been annulled.
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Another student expelled
Iran Press Watch, 24 November
HRANA reports that Ms. Yasama Jan Fada, a resident of Bandar-Lengeh (Provice of Hormozgan), has been expelled from university. She was in the 5th semester of her studies in Industrial Management at Bandar-Abbas University. She was denied her right to continue her education at the University solely due to her religious belief in the Baha’i Faith.
Full story and sources
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School student transferred
Khabarnavard, 23 November
Fuzhan Bala’i-Qamsari, a school student of Kharaj, was dismissed from his school one after the start of the school year, and transferred to another school. He received a letter of commendation from the school, describing him as well-behaved, being transferred fro religious reasons. He is a Bahai.
Original report (in Persian)
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Newspaper suspended for picturing the lotus temple
23 November
For the past two days the media in Iran have been carrying the story of a newspaper, Hamshahri, that carried a tour company’s advertisement which pictured the Lotus Temple in India. The story seemed too trivial to mention here. But now Rasekhoon news is reporting that Hamshahri has been baneed for one week by the Press Supervisory Board.
However Balatarin is reporting that the Director of Hamshihri has denied it has been banned.
Update: AP has confirmed the ban, and the story has spread world-wide. An IRNA report says that legal authorities would investigate the newspaper, which is run by Tehran’s municipality and supports the capital’s mayor, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a rival of President Ahmadinejad.
25 November: some sources outside Iran are reporting that ISNA has announced that the ban has been lifted. However Earthtimes was the first I saw with this report, and it said that the Lotus Temple was a Bahai shrine in Iran. My search of ISNA’s site in Persian and English found nothing.
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Attack on Baha’i Gathering and Arrest of Two Baha’is
Iran Press Watch 23 November
At around 8 pm on 22 November, Intelligence agents of the city of Sari, named Gholami and Heydari, aggressively entered the home of Mr. Vahid Ismail-Zadehgan, hitting him and with the use of foul language, attempted to break up a gathering at the home. [They would presumably have been celebrating the feast of Qawl]. The agents verbally insulted those present and placed them on the floor, and told them that they did not have the right to resume their gathering. They arrested Mr. Soroush Garshasbi, whose condition and location are as yet unknown.
Following the above attack, the agents reached the home of another Baha’i, Mr. Mokhtari, and arrested him. However, he was released after a few hours.
Full story
November 25: Khabarnavard now has a fuller account and commentary (in Persian)
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Shahram Chiniyan transferred to Evin 350
HRANA, 22 November
Shahram Chinyan is among various prisoners reported to have been moved to section 350 of Evin prison, the section for political prisoners.
Full report (in Persian)
Report of his arrest, at Iran Press Watch
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Ali Bakhsh Bazrafkan arrested again
Khabar Navard blog, 21 November
Ali Bakhsh Bazrafkan was arrested in Yasuj on 16 November. This follows the search of his home on October 31st, since when he has been summoned for interrogation several times. His present status is unknown.
Full story (in Persian)
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A new concern for the Iranian authorities
21 November
Parchameiran news agency is reporting a new problem for the Iranian authorities. With so many Bahais in prison now, increasing numbers of prisoners are being attracted to the Bahai Faith. This is the second recent mention of this: the first I noticed was in Farda News. Parchameiran reports that a leading member of the Bahai sect was sentenced to imprisonment and three years exile in Babak, for teaching the Bahai Faith and propaganda against the regime, but continued to teach the Bahai Faith during his (or her) exile and has therefore been temporarily imprisoned. It also reports the activities of training institutes in Karaj. Well done!
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Wife of Peyman Kashfi questioned
20 November
I have received the text of a description, from the wife of Peyman Kahsfi, of her questioning by the Tehran Prosecutor; specifically, of the topics that were raised. Since this does not appear to be accessible to search engines at present, I have posted the Persian text temporarily on a separate page here.
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UN resolution on human rights in Iran
BWNS 20 November
The resolution, approved by a vote of 74 to 48 by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, expressed “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The list of violations included oppressive measures taken after the June presidential election and “increasing discrimination” against minority groups, including Baha’is.
“The General Assembly identifies numerous violations, including the use of torture, the repeated abuse of legal rights, the violent repression of women, and the ongoing discrimination against minorities, including Baha’is, who are Iran’s largest religious minority and are persecuted solely because of their religious belief,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.
The resolution also expresses concern over the treatment of “Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and their defenders.” It refers to the persecution of Baha’is, expressing concern over “attacks on Baha’is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha’is, preventing members of the Baha’i Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically.” It also notes the continued detention of seven Baha’i leaders (the ‘Yaran’) who were arrested in March and May 2008, stating they have faced “serious charges without adequate or timely access to legal representation.”
Full story
Update: the resolution is being reported in state-controlled press in Iran, with an apologetic spin. See Basirat News and Keyhan.
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Another student expelled
Committee of Human Rights Reporters, 16 November
Pedram Ghanbari, a student of Civil Engineering at Semnan University has been expelled from the university because of his committment to Bahai beliefs.
Full story (in Persian)
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Sunni leader arrested
Pezhvak-e Iran news blog, 15 November
The religious leader of the Sunni community in Zahedan, who is also a teacher at the Sunni seminary in Zahedan, is reported to have been arrested in Mashhad on 12 November, apparently in connection with plans for Sunni schools in the area. Zahedan is near the Afghan-Pakistan-Iran 3-land point.
Full report (in Persian)
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Another Bahai student expelled
Baha’iyan-e Iran (blog), 15 November
This blog is reporting that another Bahai student, Rosa Qanvatiyan, who was initially admitted to a course in Physics at Khorramshahr University, has now been expelled.
Full entry (in Persian)
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UN resolution on the defamation of religions passes
The National (Abu Dhabi), 14 November
The annual UN General Assembly vote on a non-binding resolution that seeks to outlaw criticism of religion passed, but with a decline in support since last year. 81 countries supported the resolution proposed by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, down from 85 last year and 95 in 2007. 55 countries voted against the resolution this year, up from 50 last year. The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said atheists and believers were entitled to express their feelings about religion, and argued that “these differences should be met with tolerance, not with the suppression of discourse”. A coalition of more than 100 human rights organisations, including secular, Muslim, Christian, Baha’i and Jewish groups, opposed the resolution, saying it sought to provide cover for anti-blasphemy laws and the marginalisation of religious minorities in repressive countries.
“We have been very opposed to this idea that there should be laws or human rights principles protecting religions, as opposed to protecting people,” said Elizabeth Cassidy, a policy expert for the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. “
Full report
Wiki background
Christian Post backgrounder on religious group’s opposition to the resolution
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Mrs Manzavian’s appeal rejected
Bahai Community News Service, 11 November
The appeal of Mrs. Manizheh Manzavian, a Bahai resident in Semnan, against a sentence of three and a half years in prison on charges of acting against national security by teaching the Bahai Faith, and participating in Bahai organisations, has been rejected. She will be transferred to Tehran to serve her imprisonment.
Full story
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Bahai of Yazd to serve his prison term in hospital
Bahai Community News Service, 11 November
The Forensic Medical Commision has ruled that Mr Mehran Bandi may serve the remainder of his sentence in hospital, in view of his physical health.
Earlier report:
Mehran Bandi was tried in Yazd on August 29, on charges of propaganda against the regime, conspiracy against internal and external security and possession of satellite equipement. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and 3 years 6 months exile to Babak, in the province of Kerman. In addition his business premises (a computer company), equipement and bank assets have been seized, and his civil rights have been removed for five years. He had been held for 3 months before his trial, including 40 days in solitary confinement. His health is poor and according to a recent report he has been transferred from prison to hospital.
Homeless man arrested in Baha’i center fire
Orlando Sentinel, 13 November
A homeless man has been charged with setting fires last month that destroyed a Baha’i center in Orlando, Florida. Terry Hess, 56, was arrested last week after a third fire at the center. He previously had been allowed to live in a shed behind the Baha’i center and was paid to do yard work. That arrangement ended when he was told he wasn’t allowed to drink on the property, …
The Bahais of Orlando celebrated the Birth of Baha’u'llah on 12 November in a tent, and are planning to rebuild.
Story, with a cool picture
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Expulsion of a Bahai Student from a Technical Institute in Zanjan
Iran Press Watch, 8 November
Mr Mehrdad Darab Najaf-Abadi, who was admitted to the Institute of Higher Professional Education at Khorram Dareh branch (in the province of Zanjan), at the commencement of the 1388-1389 academic year, has been expelled and his tuition fees returned to him. The Institute of Higher Professional Education is a non-governmental and non-profit organization, approved by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.
Full translation and source
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Summons for five Bahais in Shiraz
Iran Press Watch, 7 November
Mr. Afshin Ehsanian, Mr. Fraham (Hadi) Masoumi, and Mrs. Haleh Hushmandi, who were among the 54 youth arrested in Shiraz in May, 2006, for teaching disadvantaged children, along with Mr. Vahdat Dana and Mr. Keyvan Karami, all of whom are from Shiraz and are free on bail, have been subpoenaed to present themselves to the Court on 9 November.
Full report and source
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Bahai small business closed in Nazar-Abad
Iran Press Watch, 7 November
Nazar-Abad – Mrs. Zohreh Laghai, the owner of Misagh Optician, whose business was shut down in December 2008, along with four other optician’s shops owned by Baha’is in Nazar-Abad (near Karaj), has been barred by the Ministry of Intelligence from re-opening her shop, despite the decision of the Court of Justice for Commerce that had granted her permission to re-open her shop.
Full report and source
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Summary of persecutions over the past month
Muslim Network for Bahai Rights, 6 November
The Muslim Network for Bahai Rights has a summary of incidents in the persecution of the Bahais in Iran over the last few weeks, with links to individual stories. On September 27, the house of Sohail Rouhani was searched in Yazd by security forces. They confiscated his computer, cell phone and CDs. On October 17, security forces searched the home of Shahram Azadi in Khorramshahr. They took his identification papers and his mobile phone. In Mahshahr, the house of a Baha’i couple Shokrollah and Sadigheh Hajiani was searched on October 19. Both were detained, and Mrs. Hajiani was later released. On October 21, security forces searched Pejzman Nikooneja’s house in Babol, confiscated some personal belongings and detained him for two hours.
Four Baha’is in Kashan, Shahrzad Mahjoor, Ruhieh Fanaian, Soheil Husaynipour and Feraydoon Fallah were interrogated by the Revolutionary Court on September 23 and later released. On September 26, another Baha’i resident of Kashan, Rosita Zabihian, was questioned by the Revolutionary Court. She was summoned to the interrogation by the Revolutionary Guards Information Office earlier that month. The same office summoned six Baha’is from the nearby village of Mazgan for interrogation. The six, Nourollah Samiee, Shahram Ehsani, Mr. Heshmatollah Ehsani, Mr. Nourollah Shahidi, Mr. Rahmatollah Shahidi and Mr. Siavash Dabestani, were question in Kashan on September 30.
On October 12, Behnam Rouhanifard was arrested in Yazd and taken to an undisclosed location. Four days later, his brother, Sohail Rouhanifard was arrested too. On October 19, Peyman Kashfi, a Baha’i from Tehran was summoned to the Revolutionary Court, and never returned. His family were told that he is detained in section 209 of Evin Prison (the section reserved for political prisoners). He is not allowed to see visitors or receive packages from his family. On October 31, officers of the Yasuj Intelligence Office searched the house of Ali Bakhsh Bazrafkan, confiscated some belongings and then took him to his son’s house, searched that house too and confiscated all religious writings. Ali was later arrested. On November 2, two Baha’is in Mashad were arrested and taken to an unknown location. Security forces arrested the two, Sonia Ahmadi and Mr. Ghanavatian after entering the nineteen-day feast and filming it.
On October 30, Ruhollah Rezaei a Baha’i citizen in Shiraz was kidnapped by unknown men and tortured. He was threatened, hung by a rope to make his believe that he was about to be hanged, undressed, and burned with cigarettes all over his body.
On October 19, nine Baha’is from Mashhad, Davar Nabilzadeh, Kaviz Noozdahi, Rosita Vaseghi, Sima Rajabian, Nahid Ghadiri, Nasrin Ghadiri, Sima Eshraghi, Jalayer Vahdat and Hooman Bakhtavar, were summoned to the Security Office for interrogation. On October 25, the second hearing in their case took place. The nine face various charges, including propaganda against the regime, activities against national security, illegal distribution of CDs for teaching the Baha’i Faith and insulting religious sanctities.
In Early November, A Baha’i woman from Semnan, Manijeh Monzavian, was sentenced to three and half years in prison for acting against national security by promoting the Baha’i Faith and membership in Baha’i anti-regime organizations.
As expected, the trial of the seven Baha’i leaders (the Yaran), which was set to start on October 18, was postponed for the fourth time. Alireza Avaie, head of Tehran’s justice department, said that he “believes they will be tried in the near future.”
Following the destruction of the Baha’i cemetery of Vilashahr and Najafabad for the 18th time, Azizu’llah Subhi Najafabad, a Baha’i from Najafabad was buried on September 27 in Isfahan without notification to his family. His family was not allowed to bury him in the Baha’i cemetery following its destruction, and his body had been held in the hospital since his death on September 15.
Various acts of vandalism against Baha’i property were perpetrated as well. In late September the windows of a car belonging to Mahboub Bandi, a Baha’i from Rafsanjan, were smashed by unidentified men. Only a few days later, on October 2, the car of Farzad Mohebati was set on fire in the same town. Also, On September 27, unidentified motorcyclists smashed the windows of Nezamuddin Fanaian’s car in Semnan. A similar attack was carried out in the city on October 7 against Adel Fanaian’s car. On November 2, a large water tank was stolen from a Baha’i cemetery in Sangar, near Semnan, probably using a crane.
Full report
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Search of the House of a Baha’i in Babol
Iran Press Watch, 5 November
On 21 October Intelligence Office agents of the city of searched the home of Pejman Nikunejad, a Baha’i resident of Babol, seized some of his personal belongings and religious books, and arrested him. After two hours of interrogation he was released until further notice.
Full translation and source
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19-day Feast raided in Mashhad
Khabarnavard blog, 3 October
Two Bahais were arrested in Mashhad, following a raid on the nineteen-day feast by 15 members of the security forces on Monday night. Their names are given as Sonia Ahmadi and Mr. Qanvatyan.
Full report (in Persian)
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Bahai in Semnan sentenced
HRANA 3 October
Mrs. Manizheh Manzavian, a Bahai resident in Semnan has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison. She was arrested in June this year, and had been free on bail. The charges were acting against national security by teaching the Bahai Faith, and participating in Bahai organisations. She had previously been a member of the local organising committee of the Bahais, until this was shut down by the Revolutionary Prosecutor.
Full story (in Persian)
Iran Press Watch now has a full translation of the above
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Kidnap and torture of a Bahai in Shiraz
Baha’iyan-e Iran blog, 1 November
Mr Ruhollah Reza’i, a 46-year old Bahai of Shiraz, who in his youth spent 5 years in prison for being a Bahai, was seized by unknown people early in the morning of October 30, while on the way home from refueling his car. He was taken to an unidentified place where he was bound, insulted, subjected to a mock execution, stripped naked and exposed to extreme cold, and burned with cigarettes on various parts of his hands, chest and forehead. He was then dumped on a road on the outskirts of Shiraz.
Full report (in Persian)
HRANA report of the same incident (in Persian)
Update 2 October: numerous Persian-language blogs and independent news outlets are reporting this story. Meanwhile the official anti-Bahai propaganda for today is that Bahais, funded by Israel, are making great inroads in house construction. Why Israel would be investing in housing in Iran is not explained: it would be most generous of Israel, if it were true. With aid from the Bahais and Israel, Iran’s housing shortage could soon be solved!
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Arrest of a Bahai in Yasuj
HRANA, 1 October
On the morning of 31 November, security forces arrested Ali Bakhsh-Bazr-Afkan at his home. They presented a warrant and confiscated his books and personal effects, and then went to the home of his son, whose religious literature they also confiscated. At the time of the report, Mr Badhrafkan was still being detained.
Full report (in Persian)
Update: Khabarnavard blog is reporting that he is still being detained, but this family have been able to take some drugs which he requires to him. Khabarnavard also gives a summary of the stories of 3 other Bahais being detained in Yasuj.
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Three Bahai prisoners on temporary release
Iran Press Watch, October 30.
Iran Press Watch has two reports, one of the temporary release of Mr. Askar Ravanbakhsh and Mrs. Ruhiyyih Yazdani (Baqai) from Yasuj, who were arrested during October 2008, the other saying that the temporary release of Mr. Sasan Taqva from Shiraz Prison has been extended. The date of his return to prison is not known. Mr Taqva was one of three Shiraz Bahais arrested in November 2007, all sentenced to four years in prison.
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Bahai arrested, held incommunicado, in Tehran
Iran Press Watch, October 29
Mr. Peyman Kashfi received an order to present himself to the Revolutionary Court on 19 October. When he did not return home his family contacted the Court next day. They were told that he is in section 209 of Evin Prison, and that “he is aware” of his charges; however, he is not permitted to have any visitors for the next two months. The prison authorities refused to deliver clothing and personal effects that Mr. Kashfi’s family had prepared for him.
Full report and Persian source (Baha’i International News) here
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Updates
to October 29
Iran Press Watch now has translation of the reports on four prisoners in Yazd, the trial date for the youth of Shiraz, and the trial of nine Bahais in Mashhad.
13 News is reporting that the first of the two fires that destroyed a Bahai Center in Orlando, Florida, was caused by an electrical fault. The Orlando Sentinel (October 27) has interviews with community members.
The Public Prosecutor of Tehran said in a news conference that he hopes the trial of the seven ‘Yaran’ will not be further delayed, but did not say when it would occur. Report in Persian from IRNA here.
Update, 1 November: another report of the his news conference cites the Prosecutor as saying that he thinks the trial will not be long delayed. (Farhang News)
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Three Bahai students expelled
Human Rights Activists New Agency, October 28
Three Bahai students who had been successful in the University Entrance examinations last year, and were admitted to university in Semnan, were expelled after one week of studies. Enquiries at the university have not led to clarification, except that the decision was based on “orders from above,” and that they have been instructed not to present any document or other evidence that would show that the students were expelled from the university.
Full report (in Persian)
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A new trick
Every day new anti-Bahai stories are produced, and reproduced throughout Iran’s state-sponsored media. Today’s story is that the Bahais have a new trick: they claim that their human rights are violated in Iran.
I wonder why?
Among the sites running this “news” today are:
Javan Online
Hasheah News
Bushhehr News
Jahan News
Raja News
Serkhat News
Sanyeh News
etc
etc
Like a whole tree full of parrots.
The chatter may have something to do with the release of the US State Department’s 2009 Report on International Religious Freedom (October 26), which catalogues the oppression of religious minorities in the country.
~~Sen McGlinn
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Indonesian Council of Ulema investigates the Bahai Faith
Tempoi Interactive, October 26
The Tulungagung branch of the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) is looking into the Boha’i faith, which is fast spreading around the country. MUI Tulungagung secretary, Abu Sofyan Firojuddin, said the Baha’i faith has long branched out in the region. The group even have their own Marriage Certificate issued by Baha’i figures, Sofyan added. “People are starting to worry,” he said yesterday.
Full story
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Nine Bahais on trial in Mashhad
Human Rights Activists New Agency, October 25
The second and final sitting of the Revolutionary Court hearing charges against nine Bahais from Mashhad took place on October 24. The charges include propaganda against the regime, acting against security, teaching the Bahai Faith, production of CDs, etc.. The accused are Davar Nabilzadeh, Hooman Bakhtavar, Jalayer Vahdat, Rosita Vaseghi, Sima Rajabian, Nasrin Ghadiri, Nahid Ghadiri, Kaviz Nouzdahi, and Sima Eshraghi.
Full report (in Persian)
Update: Iran Press Watch now has a full translation.
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Four Bahais in prison in Yazd
Human Rights Activists News Agency, October 24
The Human Rights Activists are reporting that four Bahais are now in prison in Yazd. Behnam Ruhani Fard was arrested by intelligence officers of the city 10 days ago [it must have been about October 8 - ed]. Although his family have been told he will be released, this has not happened.
Mehran Bandi was tried in Yazd on August 29, on charges of propaganda against the regime, conspiracy against internal and external security and possession of satellite equipement. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and 3 years 6 months exile to Babak, in the province of Kerman. In addition his business premises (a computer company), equipement and bank assets have been seized, and his civil rights have been removed for five years. He had been held for 3 months before his trial, including 40 days in solitary confinement. His health is poor and according to a recent report he has been transferred from prison to hospital.
Another Bahai in prison in Yazd is Rostam Behi-farr, who was arrested on February 24 and, after 3 months of solitary confinement, was tried in the Revolutionary Court on charges of propaganda against the regime, establishing a group to undermine national security, and espionage and reporting news. He was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, of which two years and six months will be suspended for five years. He has been able to meet his family every week.
The fourth Bahai prisoner in Yazd is Soheil Ruhani Fard, arrested on October 18, 10 days after his brother Behnam Ruhani (see above). It is not known where he is being held, or what charges may be laid.
Full story (in Persian)
Update: Iran Press Watch now has a complete translation of this HRANA report.
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Bahais join global plan on climate change
Bahai World News Service, October 27
The Baha’i International Community today announced that it has become a partner in a United Nations-sponsored program to promote “generational change” to address climate change and environmental sustainability.
The program, which is co-sponsored by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to promote lifestyle changes that will help slow global warming and other environmental problems during a seven-year period from 2010 to 2017.
