Iranian Baha’is in the U.S. Fear Persecution in Their Homeland

          
          7. - — ____
          , Iranian Bahais in the U. S. Fear.
          Persecution' in Their Forneland
          Since the revolution a year ago, Iranian Islamic authorities against the Bahai
          Bahais in the United States have had to community. “If you hear apprehension in
          face the possibility o .never again seeing our voices and reluctance to state our
          their homeland. They allege that Banais case you will understand whys ” said Dr.
          there face widespread persecution. Firuz Kazemzadeh, a orofessor of Rus-
          “I know it would be dangerous to re. Sian history at Yale University and one of
          turn,” said a 213.-year-old graduate stu- the few Iranian Bahais willing to speak
          dent at the University of California at Los openly. “We have to protect a community
          Angeles who preferred anonymity, as do of 400,000 people in Iran. There is nobody
          many Iranian Bahais in this country. “I whoisgoingtodefendtheBahais.”
          would be very much interested in going Among the principal tenets of the
          back to Iran because there is a great deal Bahal faith is the belief in the spiritual I
          c of activity in the Bahal community, but unity of mankind. The Bahais believe
          under this regime it is impossible.” that Mirza Husavn, known as Bahauljah.
          The dangers to yhich the student re -j isthemessengerofGodashedeclare
          (erred were discussed in a recent report 1863. Pe r i, . .. a::
          sr.. by the Federation of Protestant Churches I S CU on arg
          ...a .. in Switzerland. The report included The Bahal faith claims 100,000 believ-
          ii charges of confiscation of Bahai compa- ers in the United States. En 1898 the first
          J nies and savings institutions, appronria- Bahai center in America was established
          1 tion of Bahai cemeteries and arbitrary in Freeport. L.l.
          arrest and imprisonment of Bahais, the In an effort toassess the situation of the
          “ largest religious minority in Iran. Bahais in Iran, the Zurich-based Human
          Unlike Christians or Jews in Iran, the Rights Commission of the Federation of
          Bahai faith, a religious outgrowth of Protestant Churches compiled a confi-
          Shiite Islam founded in Persia in the mid- dential report detailing “specific areas of
          • 19th century, is not accorded freedom of harassment and even persecution against
          “ r religion under the Islamic Constitution the Bahais in Iran.”
          adopted in December. Among the findings of the commission
          . ‘-- wasevidencethat”groupsofunidentifjed
          aer rifle s roy gunmen systematically attacked some 20
          On Sept. 8 of last year the most sacred centers of the Bahal community in vail-
          shrine of the Bahais. the House of the Bab ous districts of Teheran,” “revolutionary
          in the center of Shiraz, was attacked and militiamen” disrupted spiritual meetings
          destroyed. Bahais in Iran and the United and religious classes and Bahal religious
          States have charged that members of teachers were arrested and interrosated.
          Iran's revolutionary guard participated The commission also charged tl at the
          in the attack. assets of two Bahal companies, Sherkat
          In response to protests by Bahai as- Ornana, a holding company for Bahai
          sernblies in the United States, the Iranian properties, including holy places, ceme-
          Embassy in Washington disavowed Gov- teries, historical sites, administrative
          eminent involvement in the shrine's de- centers and welfare institutions and Sher-
          struction. An unsigned letter embossed kat Nownahallan, a bank from which
          with the seal of the Embassy of the is- many Iranian Baliais drew support for
          lamic Republic of Iran said that a crowd their education in the United States, “had
          of mourners attacked the s irine because been officially confiscated by the direct
          they were provoked by tle knowledge order of the National Iranian Islamic
          that Bahais had worked for the Govern-I Public Prosecutor's Office.”
          ment of the deposed Shah. Money Problems for Many
          “Unable to control this grief the crowds .
          suddenly attacked the Babs House. The For many Bahais in this country the
          Government of the Islamic Reoublic of confiscation of Stierkat Nownahallan's
          Iran had nothing to do with this action “ assets has created financial problems
          said the letter, which was sent to Bahai and has made it difficult for some to
          assemblies in the United States. make tuition payments at Amencan col-
          “We would like to point out,” the letter leges and universities.
          continued, “that the Bahais in Iran are in Iranian Bahais on student visas have
          fact a political group; therefore they are been subject to the general review of
          not recognized as a religious minority.” their status, along with other Iranian stu-
          nents by the Immigration and Naturali-
          Communities In U.S. Have Grown. zation Service.
          Communities of Iranian Bahais in “The Jews and Bahais have notified
          Houston. Los Angeles, Berkeley and New our field offices of their special situa-
          York have grown following the ascent of tion. “said Verne Jervis, a spokesman for
          Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power, the Naturalization Service. “They, along
          according to Victor deAraüio, the Bahai with anyone else who may feel persecu-
          representative tothe United Nations. Thel tim, can apply for asylum.” By Dec.28
          Bahai International Community, the there had been 48-1 requests for asylum,
          worldwide title of the Bahai faith, is ac- some of which were based on fear of reli-
          credited as a nongovernmental organiza. gious persecution, he said.
          tion to several United Nations' agenc es Some Iranian Bthais plan to return to
          and has representatives at the United Na- Iran. “I fad I r:eer.i to -;o Dac).. to
          tions in New York and Ginava. I said a burine .s szuaent at gerkeley. ‘E e-
          Mr. dra s '. i there are about cauae others arc in trouhie we srmuianti
          10,000 Iranian Bahais in the IJnited run away. My wife and. 1 know ople
          States, and 6,000 to 7,000 of them came whose houses have been burned down. We
          during thepast year. used to have meetings o.f people in Te-
          Most Bahais from Iran are reluctant tol horanbut we have to be t, ore careful.
          discuss their experiences or those of their hic w we have zr have meezin s of 0.
          relatives wider the rc.'a uhcmarv :,iun i c: s “ e ' rp t eprv
          regime because tavy !aar retribution by lx xi',' is worried aixut the future''
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