NO TRADE WITH IRAN UNTIL
PERSECUTION OF BAHAIS
CEASES
I HON. FORTNEY H. (PETE) STARK
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE MOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday. July 11, 1983
• Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, Just 3
weeks ago the Iranian Government
took yet another step In their attempt-
ed “genocide” of the Bahal people—lO
Bahals in Shiraz, Iran, 10 of which
were female including 3 teenagers,
were executed because they would not
recant their religious faith.
In February, Ayatollah Khomeini
sentenced another 22 Sh lraz prisoners
to death. President Reagan wrote a
plea of clemency for the prisoners, but
his appeal was Ignored. The Iranian
Government carried out its Inhumane
slaughter of 18 Shiraz prisoners of the
Bahat faith.
This Bahai bloodbath was not an
unusual event for the Iranians. The
Bp000278
July 11, 198S
Bahais of Iran have been persecuted
for over 100 years, but this terroriza-
tion was intensified after the revolu-
tion in 1978-79. Hundreds of Bahais
have been jailed unjustly, dismissed
from public and private employment,
have had their schools closed, homes,
businesses, crops and animals de-
stroyed, and their bank accounts con-
fiscated.
Some 150 Bahais have been execut-
ed since 1979, because they would not
recant their religious faith. Numerous
secret killings have taken place along
with many mob beatings. An article in
the September 19, 1982, Los Angeles
Times described how two of these inci-
dents were carried out.
In the first:
Fifteen masked men attacked a couple In
their home at night, poured kerosene on the
husband and set him on fire before forcing
him to run a few yards. Finafly. they
heaped wood upon hint, burning him to
death. His wife, subjected to similar treat-
ment. died a few days later.
The second event was just as barbar-
ic as the first:
A mob after destroying the local Bahal
center, fell upon a man and his son, dragged
their bodies through the street and chopped
them up Into little pieces that were finally
consigned to flames.
The Iranian Government not only terror-
izes the living, but also tortures the dead
Bahals. Many Bahala cemeteries have been
destroyed, graves disinterred, and bodies
defecated upon. Ayatollah Khomeini has
cast aside all human rights and decency
when dealing with the Bahal people.
In contrast to the violent actions of
the Ira 1an Shilte Islams, the Bahal
followers abide by a very peaceful reli-
gion. It teaches and strives for the
unity of mankind, the equality of
races, the equality of sexes, universal
education, and the maintenance of
world peace through collective securi-
ty. Although they are enjoined to obey
the laws of their respective countries,
the Bahal religion does not allow its
people to affiliate with any political
party. However they may vote, but
without regard for political affiliation,
The Bahal people work to foster good
characteristics among their people
such as honesty, compassion, trust-
worthiness, and justice. A basic Bahal
principle Is the eradication of preju-
dices based on race, creed, class, na-
tionality, and sex.
The Bahals believe that religious
truth is not absolute, but relative. The
divine revelation is therefore a contin-
uous and progressive process. For that
reason, the Bahai religion Is able to
adapt Itself to modern times such as
believing In the equality of males and
females. Yet, the Bahals have stand-
ards which are not relative, but fixed.
For instance, they still prohibit the
consumption of alcohol and drugs, as
well as premarital sex. The Bahal
faith has 300,000 to 400,000 members
in Iran, 100,000 members in the United
EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS
States, and followers In many other
countries.
According to the Iranian Govern-
ment. the Bahal people have commit-
ted a few major crimes for which they
deserve to be treated more harshly
than any other minority in Iran. The
Islamic religion believes in the Old
and New Testament, as well as the
Koran, the writings of Muhamnied.
The Bahais also believe in these writ-
ings. Islam believes that the last and
fInal prophet was Muhammed. Since
the Bahal people believe in Btha'u'-
flab, a prophet subsequent to Mu-
hammed, Islam considers the Bahals
to be heretics. The Moslems accuse
these heretics of “corruption on Earth
and warring against God,” because of
their belief in Baha'u'fiah.
The Shilte Islamic people also
accuse the Bahais of being Zionists,
because they send money to Israel.
The Bahai world headquarters and
one of its largest shrines, is located in
Haifa, Israel. The Iranian Bahals used
to send money to the shrine in Haifa
to help support it. The Iranian Gov-
ernnient accused the Bahals of being
Zionist on account of these “contribu-
tions to Israel.” The Government Ig-
nores the fact that the shrine was
placed in the Holy Land almost 50
years before Israel ever became a
state. Also, the Iranian Moslems them-
selves, as do many peoples around the
world, contribute to their respective
houses of worship in Israel.
Ayatollah Khomeini also accuses the
Bahals of being spies for Israel.
Russia, and the United States. This
charge Is ridiculous since the Bahai re-
ligion forbids political affiliation and
repudiates rebellions against any duly
constituted government such as the
present Government of-4ran.
Ayatollah Khomeini also considers
the Bahal women to be prostitutes.
There Is no civil marriage in Iran, yet
the Iranian Government does not rec-
ognize Babal marriages. Therefore any
Bahai woman that ever consummates
her marriage is considered to be a
prostitute. The Shilte Interpretation
of the Koran places women in a sub-
servient position to men, but the
Bahais believe In the equality of the
sexes. Bahal women do not wear the
head to toe veil, they sit together with
their husbands in religious services,
they hold administrative positions,
and their opinions are considered just
as important as those of the Bahal
men. The Moslems consider these ac-
tions as proof of the Balm! women's
immorality.
Since the Bahais are considered her-
etics, unlike the other minority reli-
gions, they are not protected under
the Iranian Constitution. The Bahal
people cannot complain to the clergy
about the Government, because the
clergy is the authority.
Many Bahal people have tried to
leave Iran. The majority of those who
18557
have escaped this persecution fled
Iran ifiegafly, because those who at-
tempt to do so legally, usually fail In
their endeavor. On the emigration
form, there is a space left for the ap-
plicant to fill in his religion. If the
Bahal member writes any religion
other than Baha!, he has recanted his
religion. It is written In the Bahal
scriptures that it is better for one to
die than to deny his membership to
the Bahai faith, even for a fleeting
moment.
The Bahals believe that the present
life is preparation for the more impor-
tant afterlife. Therefore few Bahals
would fill in the name of another reli-
gion causing them to jeopardize their
afterlives. If the Balm! member leaves
the space blank, or draws a line
through It, then the applicant's reli-
gion is open for questioning. Once the
Government knows that the applicant
is a Bahal, the Bahal member is
charged with belonging to an obscene
violent group that wars against God,
corrupts Earth, and wishes to over-
throw the Iranian Government. Per-
mission to leave Is denied and the ap-
plicants are often punished. The
Bahal people are left in a catch-22 sit-
uation.
The Iranian Government continu-
ously preys upon these trapped
people; 20,000 Bahais have been exe-
cuted in the last 100 years. Hundreds
of other Bahal followers have been im-
prisoned by their oppressors. This fe-
rocity and persecution forces the
Bahal people to live a life full of fear
and sorrow.
As fellow human beings, It Is our
duty to help answer the cry for help of
this oppressed people.
The Iranian Government must know
that the United States will not toler-
ate terrorist governments that deprive
people of their basic human rights.
Ayatollah Khomeini has Ignored Con-
gress' resolution calling for an end to
the Bahal bloodbath. Although. letter
writing and public statements deplor-
ing this terrorization need to continue,
we must resort to more forceful ac..
tions in our condemnation of Kho-
meini's genocide of the Bahai people.
I have introduced a bill, HR. 2778,
which will show our serious commit-
ment to this cause. The bill states that
no article which Is the growth or prod-
uct of Iran may be imported into the
United States until the President de-
termines, and certifies to the Con-
gress, that the Government of Iran
has ceased Its persecution of the
Bahais in Iran.
Of our Imports from Iran, oil as-
counts for approxImately 97 percent.
The United States buys only 1 percent
of its oil from Iran. And, oil of the
same or higher grade can be pur-
chased from several other countries at
comparable prices with no time delays.
r
18558
From their point of view, Iran sells 2
to 3 percent of its oil to the United
States. Losing our business now would
have an Impact on the Iranian econo-
my. Iran would have less money to
fund Its present war with Iraq and
would have to look for a new buyer
during an oil glut. That could be diffi-
cult.
The United States should go on
record as a country who condemns the
pogrom of the Bahal people. I there-
fore urge all Members to join In work-
Ing for early passage of this bill. The
faster we act, the more Bahal lives we
may be able to save.•
r”. —-
