BIC Press Release – Persecution Against Baha’i’s in Iran

          
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          BAHA'I INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
          NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION IN CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH
          HE ECONOMI( AND SOCIAL COUNCIL OF THt UNITED NATIONS
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          IMMEDIATE RELEASE
          November 9, 1978
          NEWS RELEASE
          The recent disturbances in Iran have attracted the atten-
          tion of the world's news media and frequent mention has
          been made of the Bahá'Is of that country, their tenets
          and their activities.
          Since the Bahá'Is in Iran have been persecuted for over
          a hundred years by fanatical elements in their country,
          the Bahá'I International Community is concerned that the
          recent developments in Iran may soon lead to a country-
          wide onslaught on the lives and properties of individual
          followers of the Faith. Indeed, already in many provinces
          in Iran frenzied mobs have ruthlessly attacked and injured
          Bahá'Is, threatened their lives, desecrated their Holy
          places and burned their houses, business premises, and
          livestock, caused them to flee from their homes, arid have
          tried to force them to recant their Faith.
          BP000084
          
        

          
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          A disturbing factor is that political adversaries are
          using the name of the Bahá'I Faith to discredit their
          political opponents. In order to inflame the passion of
          the fanatics, they refer to certain political leaders as
          Bah 'Is.
          The Bahá'I International Community, and indeed Bah 'I
          institutions throughout the world, have noted with dismay
          and frustration the publication of misrepresentations of
          the teachings of the Bahá'I Faith. The Bahá'I Interna-
          tional Community is particularly concerned at the errone-
          ous impression being given to the world press of the
          clear position of the Bahá'I Faith on such basic issues
          as loyalty to government and non—involvement in political
          and subversive activities. To these have been added the
          distortions of truth reflected in the local press in Iran
          about the attitude of the Bahá'Is towards Islam.
          The Bahá'I International Community categorically states
          that as an article of faith no Bahá'I is allowed to par-
          ticipate in partisan politics or to accept any political
          post. Furthermore, the Bahá'I International Community
          affirms that the Bahá'Is believe in the validity of all
          
        

          
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          divinely revealed religions, including Islam, and dis-
          claim any intention to belittle any of the prophets of
          the past or to whittle down their teachings. It is hoped
          that the deliberate and vicious misuse of the name of the
          Bahá'I Faith and the misrepresentation of its teachings
          may not provide cause for further persecution and hard—
          ship for the Bahá'Is in Iran. The Bahá'Is are law—abiding
          citizens, loyal to their respective governments, and
          anxious to share wholeheartedly in whatever promotes the
          best interests of the countries in which they reside.