To me this is a futile resistance that carries with it little desire to seek the truth outside the traditional dogma which man has allowed himself to be consumed with, dogmas that carry little understanding of the true essence of what I believe religion to be — love, light, and truth and the ultimate progression of humankind.
So, to answer your question as to why this regime fears the proclamation made by Baha’is, when they seek only peace and harmony, I could not fairly tell you, because I am myself bewildered by the idea.
Are there elements of Iranian society that support the Baha'i and want the persecution to stop?
Sure there are, a great many people that herald and fend for the rights of Baha'i’s, we see more and more people whom are not Baha'i’s striving to protect the sanctity of that which is the Baha'i Faith, and we see them in Iran and around the world.
Right now there are over 50 Baha'i’s, most specifically seven, being imprisoned on charges that are not justified, they bear no legal justification. They are being persecuted simply because they are Baha'i’s.
To me, the Iranian society and culture itself is so opposite to hatred, Iranians are so hospitable, loving, acceptable, it is a rich and beautiful culture, which for a great time, historically, was the envy of nations, of civilizations.
It is not the people we see that are opposed to the advanced principles of the Baha'i Faith.
How can someone help the Baha'i in Iran?
I am so glad you asked because I think many of us think that from so far away there is little we can do, but we can do much.
Please write to your elected officials. They are the ones that can make a movement happen.
More information about the situation of the Baha’is in Iran is also available, and information about the Baha'i Faith is available at the official website.
Article comments
1 - Pukirahe
Thank you for asking and answering clearly about the persection of the Baha'is in Iran. I have visited Iran in 1968, and I sincerely love the Iranians and the Iranian culture. I am praying that the present leaders will rethink about the glory of Iran.
2 - Randall Dighton
Please note: the correct links to the official Baha'i website and the current situation of the Baha'is of Iran are:
www.bahai.org
news.bahai.org/iran
There are no apostrophes in the URLs.
Thank you.
3 - Ruvy
I couldn't help but notice that you managed to avoid mentioning that the Baha'i make their world headquarters in Haifa, Israel. Yeah, William - ISRAEL. Think about that for a minute before you tell us about all the poor Arabs in the world again.
4 - Edward
With regard to Ruvy's comment about the Baha'i Faith and its international headquarters and sacred shrines being in Israel: It is true and a consequence of the exile and imprisonment of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith in 1868 by the rulers of the Ottoman empire. He and a small band of followers and family were exiled from Edirne in Turkey to Akka (present day Akko), near Haifa, where they were imprisoned in an army barracks and later confined to the citadel of Akka until at last allowed some local freedom of movement. It culminated a period of 40 years of exile and imprisonment, from 1852 to 1892. Because the present day nation of Israel was founded in 1948, eighty years after 1868, there is clearly no historical linkage. However, the present-day relationship between the Baha'i community and the government of Israel is cordial.