Baha'is in danger in Iran
A few days ago a UN official released a statement expressing concern about recent actions taken by the Iranian government against the Baha'is in Iran. Apparently a confidential letter was sent by a top Iranian military official to the Iranian police and other government forces telling them to identify people in Iran who follow the Baha'i Faith and quietly collect any information they can get about them. The UN official (the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief) in concerned that this may be the beginning of a wave of renewed persecution of the Baha'is in Iran.
Since September, there have also been more than 36 articles in the state-run newspaper Kayhan that said defamatory (and sometimes contradictory) things about the Baha'is (who, incidentally, are Iran's largest religious minority). To anyone who is familiar with the Baha'i Faith they are obviously false, but Iranians who do not know might be incited to hatred and prejudice by them. This same sort of anti-Baha'i media campaign occurred before waves of persecution in the past, so it raises even more concern.
The hopeful side of all of this is that the Iranian government's actions against the Baha'is are being brought to light very quickly, so if all goes well the international pressure will stop them from more human rights violations against the Baha'is.
Here are some links to more information about this:
The UN Special Rapporteur's statement
The Baha'i International Community's response
Some other articles on persecutions against Baha'is in Iran
Since September, there have also been more than 36 articles in the state-run newspaper Kayhan that said defamatory (and sometimes contradictory) things about the Baha'is (who, incidentally, are Iran's largest religious minority). To anyone who is familiar with the Baha'i Faith they are obviously false, but Iranians who do not know might be incited to hatred and prejudice by them. This same sort of anti-Baha'i media campaign occurred before waves of persecution in the past, so it raises even more concern.
The hopeful side of all of this is that the Iranian government's actions against the Baha'is are being brought to light very quickly, so if all goes well the international pressure will stop them from more human rights violations against the Baha'is.
Here are some links to more information about this:
The UN Special Rapporteur's statement
The Baha'i International Community's response
Some other articles on persecutions against Baha'is in Iran