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Follcwers of Bahai faith executed in fran
NACOGDOCHES — It was 5 a.tn. on a Saturday when-
the young Nacogdoehes man was shocked out of his
sleep by- a telephone call from his brother in Australia.
The message was brief: “Dad has become a martyr.”
Their father had been execnted by the fanatical Islamic
government of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
At Sam. the next day the phone rang again. This time
the news was even worse. Saeld Eehraghllearned that
his mother and sister had been executed, too, for their
refusal to recant their belief in tlje ahal faith.
Nearly a week after learning of his loss, the 34-year.
old native of Iran reflected on life in his former country
and on the death of hia parents and sister.
• The-executions were carried out despite the pleadings
of governments and organizations throughout the world.
Khomeini allegedly pointed to the personal plea of Ron-
aid Reagan as an indication of the Bahain' guilt.
Eshraghi hopes his story will help Ignite a global
outcry loud enough to stilp the execstIons and ellglous
persecution of some 300,000 Bahaia In a country boiling
with Islamic fervor.
Eshrsghi Is now co-owner-of an Italian restaurant In
Nacogdochoo. When he. left Iran for Boston in 1978, he
had no inklinp of the events that would soon rock his
homeland, He planned to train as an architect and go-
home.
In a subdued voice, Eshraghi recalled arriving In
Boston for language studiOs five years ago, about a year
before Shah Mshamtsad Rena I'ahlavi was forced to
flOe Iran and Khomeini set up hId Islamic republic.
After studying language, Eshraghi went to Kilgore
Junior College to begin architectural studies. But after
• the revolution, when he could.no longer get money out of
his homeland, he took a job in a local restaurant to
support himself and his wife. Two months later he wan
manager.
He then took a job as manager-in the restaurant that 1
he now partly owns.
Eshraghl still has a sister In Iran, another sistOr In
Nigeria and a brother In Australia.
Although he didn't espect the. revolution, when. It did
occur, Eshraghi knew the Bahais would suffer. Indeed,
Bahai0 were-the target of persecution from the begin.
ning ts embers of the faith had their homes burned and
religious gathering places destroyed.
The gersecution didn't touch Eshraghi personally until
1980. wiles his family Is Shiraz was arrested and held
for three day on suspicion of counterrevolutionary ac-
tivity.
Eohraghi explained that almost all members of the.
Bahai faith in Iran are of the middle or upper-middle
class. His fathCr, for example, had been an executive for
Irana national oil company before the revolution.
“My family had lived in Shiras for a long time, and
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Nacogdoches man's parents, sister put to death.
BY MICHAEL STEPHENS my dad was a very nice man. He never had an enemy in week. In June she asked her father for permission to
Associated Press . . bin life. He loved people, and they had a lot of people marry her boyfriend.
come to the house,' Eshraghl said. Her father consented, and she was engaged on the
In a letter to his son, Eshraghi's father said be had, afternoon of June 16.
been arrented because of. the number of people seen Earlier that same day, her father and five other Ba-
coming and going from the family home. . hais were executed by hanging.
Middle Eastern experts say It wan the middle class The next week her mother and sister were dead.
that was most responsible for ousting the shah, Eshraghi”lt's such a waste for soctety,” Eshraghi said.
said, . . Pointing to a name on the.list of those executed with
So when Khomeini took power, he began undermining his father, Eshraghl added, “Thin man, Dr. Afnan, was 48
the economic clout and civil liberties of those who had years old. He went to school for almost 30 years to
brought down the shah, Enhraghi said. . become a doctor and just executing someone like him in
The Bahain took the brnnt of the persecution, Esh- such a waste.”
rdghi aaid, They were fired from theirjobs, and benefits . The Bahal faith originated in Iran. Followers believe
for retirees, like his father, were terminated. Bahal in the oneness of mankind, elimination of prejudice,
members were executed or Imprisoned on charges rang- equality of men and.women and the application of spin.
ing from npying to being devils. . tual solutions to economic problems.
When Enhraghi's family wan arrested for the second Eshraghi retaina a strong belief in the fait,h his family
time In Shlraz nine months ago, they weren't released. died for. Bat he is alas grateful for his life in Nacogdo-
Secret triale were held, and 21 people were condemned chen.
to death unless they agreed to renounce their faith. “lilt living In --a society where people are human be-
Hin siater who remained free was allowed to visit her fngs. Where they fight for humanity. And whore they are
father, mother and. siblln for three mtnuton once a sincere.” . .. .
BP000246
CF WIrept,oIC - . , , . . . -
Saeid Eshraghi of Nacogdoches tells of the persecution of the Bahal
faIth In his native country of Iran. His father, mother and a sister were
executed by the Islamic government of the Ayatollah Ruho lah Kho-
meini for their refusal to recant their beliefs, - -.
