OPINION AND COMMENTARY
ThF CHRISTIAN SCiENCE p/C! .
Readers write
Your cdi Wrial “Iran's persecution of Ba-
hais'' (July 14) is particularly timely, pub-
lished as the violence of the attacks on the
liahais in !ran is escalating. In the wake of
the June hangings of 17 liahais — 7 men and
10 women, including 3 teen-age girls — two
nationally prominent Bahais were -abducted
in Tehran; and in the northern village of Ival
over 130 men, women, and children were at-
tacked, driven from their homes, and forced
to flee into the surrounding forests. The130
Bahais were set upon by mobs after three
days' confinement and starvation failed to
force them to deny their beliefs and convert to
Islam.
The two kidnappings are reminiscent of
the earlier “disappearance” of 14 nationally -
prominent Bahais three years ago. In all,
eases the government denied any responsibil-
ity or knowledge of the whereabouts of the Ba-
hais. and it has refused to investigate.
Hangings, abductions, and mob attacks.
however, represent only the more dramatic
kinds of persecution. There are, as the edito-
rial ‘mentions, other acts of oppression
against the Bahai faith: the imprisonment of
hundreds of Bahais on spurious charges; the
bulldozin'g of Bahai holy places, properties,
and cemeteries; the widespread'burning and
looting of the homes, businesses, and farms of
Bahajs; the dismissal of Bahais from their
jobs; the banning of Bahai meetings and reli-
gious services; the prohibition of Bahai litera-
ture; the denial of pensions, inheritances, and
insurance claims; and the denial of schooling
to Bahai children.
• The Hojjatieh faction, mentioned in the
1% editorial as exercising a “rising influence in
Iran,” began 5Q years ago as the Anti-Bahal
Society. Its enmity for the Bahai faith is well
known and has often been at the root of cam-,
• paigns of violence directed against the Bahais
-since the 1930s.
A - There is no evidence at all that the
Khomeini regime is attempting to moderate
the persecution of the B hais. To thq contrary
the Ayatollah himself has pronounced the Ba-
hais to be enemies of Islam, -m ,rIli uf
destruction.
‘l'tie suspicion ith which the Bahais are
vie ed comes from fundamentalist elements
in ¶ran who, over the years. have tried to dis-
credit the Bahai faith and led the discrimina-
tion and violence against its adherents. The
Bahal faith has no secret rites or rituals; it is
virtually free of formal religious ceremony.
The location of its international headquarters
in Israel predates the formation of the state of
Israel, and results from the founder of the Ba-
hai religion, Baha'u'llah, having been ban-
ished to a penal colony in Palestine where he
remained a prisoner of the Ottoman Empire
until his death in 1892.
Wilmette, UI.
Parks Scott
Public Affairs Officer
Bahal Office of Public Affairs
IRe) ‘the editorial “Iran's persecution of
Bahais.” I am glad that you are bringing this
horrible situation to the attention of your
readers. But you have been misinformed on
one point: You mention that “the rites and
rituals of the Bahai faith are secret”: actu-
ally, there are no rites and rituals at all in the
Bahai faith.
I believe the misapprehension arises from
the policy of the Bahais of having certain of
their meetings open to members only. This is
particularly the situation with the meeting of
the Bahai community of a given area which
takes place every 19 days. and which corre-
sponds to “going to church” in Christianity.
At this (spiritual) “feast,” as the Bahais call
it, portions of their scriptures (published in
English in the US and available to be read by
anyone interested), are read aloud, the af-
fairs of the Bahai community are discussed
(in a sort of “town meeting”), following
which refreshments are served. This “19th-
day feast” Is open only to registered mem-
bers of the Bahài faith for a number of good
reasons, one of which involves the intimate
5'.. IL-i)-, it _,•. ,ti . .4
John Henry Ives
A friend has called my attention to an edi-
torial about the l3ahai persecutions in Iran.
As a Bahai of some50 years, who has been
and still is, very disturbed, I appreciate each
time an organization or newspaper brings it
to public attention. I compliment the writer
on the unusual accuracy of the long account.
The one inaccuracy I note states that “the
rites and rituals of the Bahai faith are se-
cret.” This simply is not true. The criticism
-may have sprung to the mind of the source of
this statement from the fact that the Bahai
19th day feast — which provides for regular
association of Bahais — is open only to
Bahais. -
Boston Christine McKay
I am writing in response to your articles
and editorial, as well as to a very touching
report on the “20/20” program on television,
regarding the terrible persecution and execu-
tions of people of the Bahai faith in Iran.
It is very difficult to understand how any-
‘one could feel justified in the harassment and
brutal treatment of these gentle people, who,
as I understand it, include reverent worship
of God, service to their fellow man, universal
peace and education, and the equality of all
mankind as the tenets of their religion.
Surely if enough people in the world com-
munity speak out against such atrocities, we
can help stop the killing and be of help and
comfort to-these innocent people.
Goleta, Calif. Elizabeth Dawn
called a scene, familiar to :/mericaa -
students, of a uiiiversitv bookstore d;
earlier “outdated'' cd tbjii of tLttr ? .
Sonic of the books were of course •:r'.
edge of disintegration. However ith m i -.al
care many more had years of use II ft in
Is there no way we can salvage b- .u-
sands upon thousands of books thsp ': -: ul
each year in this wasteful manner and st. ad
distribute them to foreign bookstores at :‘ast
of transportation?
Midland, Texas Jon Davis
GM 's ad
The GM advertisement. “How .Mac Is
Too Much To Drink If You're Driving?” ‘uly
28) is just what should be on the bulletin t c ard
of every garage, every auto sales place, every
bar where alcohol is obtained.
The chart, with maybe an eye-c.a:cizing
drawing showing the effect on the ner ous
system of persons of different weight.s of
varying amounts of alcohol, is a must for ev-
ery driver, whatever the age. Every person
learning to drive a car should be given the
chart.
A big thank you to GM.
Charlestown, N.H. Emma A. Runt
Bad title
I am concerned about the title of the Iatest
James Bond movie which is being plastered
on many theaters in the United States this
summer — “Octopussy.”
Wouldn't it be wonderful if voices of pro-
test could be heard by people about this terri-
ble title? It should not be tolerated.
Needham, Mass Jeanne Durkin Gerber
22
,Mo1 yrAugua&2 , ,1 9 3
On Bahais, US books abrOad,
alcohol's.
- ‘devotional at niosptmere which imeeds be
pr'e:'. 'nt when mattem's a Uecti12 the lialiat
community are deliberated upon. hi an ' case,
• there are no meetings in Iilch there are se-
cret rites and rituals.
Albany, Calif. -
• - Letters are welcome. Only a selection
Recycling textbooks' ‘ can be published and none individually
I read with interest your article of July 15 acknowledged. All are subject to conden-
concerning the availability of American pub- satiofl. Please address letters to “Reaii-
lications in foreign stores. Immediately I re- ers write.” • B-P 0
‘ijrt •.-!(113 -;.i l, :t;
)0265
