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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.
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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.
