And Yet More on the Baha'is
ATTACKS ON IRANIAN BAHA'IS, FROM THE ELDERLY TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CHILDREN, CONTINUE UNABATED
UNITED NATIONS, 7 June 2007 (BWNS) -- Reports and documents filtering
out of Iran over the last six months indicate a widespread and
calculated effort by the government to maintain and gradually intensify the
persecution of Iranian Baha'is.
The evidence tells of continued efforts by the government to identify
and monitor Baha'is; further incidents of abuse and discrimination
directed at Baha'i students and children; stepped-up efforts to deprive
Baha'is of their livelihood; and ongoing attacks on the Baha'i Faith in the
official news media.
"The cumulative trend is one of an exceedingly ominous nature, and
something of grave concern to Baha'is around the world," said Bani Dugal,
the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to
the United Nations.
"The considered view is that
these recent incidents are being provoked
and often methodically planned by the Information Ministry, in order to
create fear, make the Baha'is physically vulnerable, and instill in
them social and occupational insecurity," said Ms. Dugal.
"The clear intent is to separate Iranian Baha'is from their fellow
citizens by generating suspicion, mistrust, and even hatred so that the
social, economic, and cultural progress of this innocent religious
minority continues to be blocked and its community life destabilized."
To read more about recent attacks on Iranian Baha'is, go to
http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran/update
