What if all you wanted to do was improve the lives of the people around you, assist with education of all people and obtain an education, and be able to worship without fear of persecution? We know these things to be basic human rights, yet the Baha’is in Iran are suffering because they believe in a religion that that the government of Iran does not agree with.
The government is putting on trial seven people tomorrow. Seven people who are upstanding citizens who have never done anything to oppose the government. They stand accused of espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic, none of which are true.
Now the government has accused the Baha’is recently arrested of having weapons in their homes, a baseless and ridiculous accusation, as it is against the principles of our Faith.
“Furthermore each and every one is required to show obedience, submission and loyalty towards his own government. Today no state in the world is in a condition of peace or tranquillity, for security and trust have vanished from among the people. Both the governed and the governors are alike in danger. The only group of people which today submitteth peacefully and loyally to the laws and ordinances of government and dealeth honestly and frankly with the people, is none other than this wronged community.”
(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 293)
If you want to know more about the situation facing the Baha’is in Iran, go to iran.bahai.us to read the articles there, which include links to CNN and other news sources that are reporting on this matter. Please say prayers for all of the people of Iran, that this turmoil comes to a peaceful conclusion, and especially for those in prison for no other reason than for being Baha’is.
