Comments on: Iranian Identity and the Future of Iran http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2437 Documenting the Persecution of the Baha'i Community in Iran Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:45:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Barmak http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2437/comment-page-1#comment-1928 Barmak Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:08:12 +0000 http://www.iranpresswatch.org/?p=2437#comment-1928 I have looked at the report and I see nothing in there in the form of a Discussion section that looks at the weaknesses and strengths of the study. The Methods section is likewise extremely sparse. While the conclusions make common sense, the study itself is weak, as presented and published. I stand by my earlier statement that the study needs to show what steps it has taken to minimize the response biases inherent in internet surveys. Presently, the study is not generalizable and its conclusions only apply to those who chose to respond. I have looked at the report and I see nothing in there in the form of a Discussion section that looks at the weaknesses and strengths of the study. The Methods section is likewise extremely sparse.

While the conclusions make common sense, the study itself is weak, as presented and published. I stand by my earlier statement that the study needs to show what steps it has taken to minimize the response biases inherent in internet surveys. Presently, the study is not generalizable and its conclusions only apply to those who chose to respond.

]]> By: sb http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2437/comment-page-1#comment-1924 sb Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:20:22 +0000 http://www.iranpresswatch.org/?p=2437#comment-1924 I had the same thoughts as "ke"; if the percentage of "Baha'i tendencies" reported are accurate, the actual number of Baha'is in Iran would skyrocket were the country freed of repression. Our friend Ali has said as much here, several times! The persecutory measures of the Iranian government against its largest (and apparently ever-growing) minority are explainable as the desperate bid of a few, anxious to maintain their increasingly disasterous hold on power. Alas, but at what cost! As American society found in the 1960's, it is impossible to repress the will of a large, young demographic. I had the same thoughts as “ke”; if the percentage of “Baha’i tendencies” reported are accurate, the actual number of Baha’is in Iran would skyrocket were the country freed of repression. Our friend Ali has said as much here, several times!

The persecutory measures of the Iranian government against its largest (and apparently ever-growing) minority are explainable as the desperate bid of a few, anxious to maintain their increasingly disasterous hold on power. Alas, but at what cost!

As American society found in the 1960’s, it is impossible to repress the will of a large, young demographic.

]]> By: ke http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2437/comment-page-1#comment-1922 ke Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:42:50 +0000 http://www.iranpresswatch.org/?p=2437#comment-1922 The full text of the report which is available through the link provided at the bottom of the article provides a comprehensive method of which this survey was conducted. The language of this section alone indicates that this survey was conducted carefully with well established knowledge of statistical analysis. The only bias that I see in this survey is the use of internet, as it was explained why, in Iran. With an 34% penetration rate in Iran there is an exclusion of majority of the core group and some bias in the responses from this group because those with internet in Iran have access to outside world and probably have a more toleraent world's view. But to say the conclusion of this survey are totally unsupported is not justified either. What I find fascinating is the percentage of the people who reported to associate with the Baha'i faith in Iran. According to the article about 3% responded Baha'i, which puts the total population of the Baha'is in Iran much higher than the number typically quoted of 300,000. And even more interesting is in Ali's comment, if it is not a typo, of 12.3% of population having Baha'i tendencies; that puts the number in millions. This is amazing! The full text of the report which is available through the link provided at the bottom of the article provides a comprehensive method of which this survey was conducted. The language of this section alone indicates that this survey was conducted carefully with well established knowledge of statistical analysis. The only bias that I see in this survey is the use of internet, as it was explained why, in Iran. With an 34% penetration rate in Iran there is an exclusion of majority of the core group and some bias in the responses from this group because those with internet in Iran have access to outside world and probably have a more toleraent world’s view. But to say the conclusion of this survey are totally unsupported is not justified either.

What I find fascinating is the percentage of the people who reported to associate with the Baha’i faith in Iran. According to the article about 3% responded Baha’i, which puts the total population of the Baha’is in Iran much higher than the number typically quoted of 300,000. And even more interesting is in Ali’s comment, if it is not a typo, of 12.3% of population having Baha’i tendencies; that puts the number in millions. This is amazing!

]]> By: Barmak http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2437/comment-page-1#comment-1907 Barmak Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:53:33 +0000 http://www.iranpresswatch.org/?p=2437#comment-1907 To say this survey "is probably representative of what young urban people are thinking" is a highly doubtful and scientifically unsupported statement. I'd like to know on what basis this statement is made. If we Baha'is are to be anything, it is to be scientifically supported in our statements and conclusions on such matters. Online, self-selected surveys are horribly biased. This does no service to sociological research on Iranian youth and Iranians religiosity, period. To say this survey “is probably representative of what young urban people are thinking” is a highly doubtful and scientifically unsupported statement. I’d like to know on what basis this statement is made. If we Baha’is are to be anything, it is to be scientifically supported in our statements and conclusions on such matters.

Online, self-selected surveys are horribly biased. This does no service to sociological research on Iranian youth and Iranians religiosity, period.

]]> By: Ali http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2437/comment-page-1#comment-1904 Ali Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:57:04 +0000 http://www.iranpresswatch.org/?p=2437#comment-1904 Mollah estimates completed by the Ministery of Intelligence last year confirms these same results. However it puts the number of people with Baha'i "tendancies"(Baha'i garaiee) at 12.3% of the population while it puts the regimes' supporters as 2.4%(mostly in rural areas) and 18.6% in cities with high government employee count. Stating that "the latter supports the regime only because they are being paid to do so." Basically put, Iranians prefer Baha'u'llah over Ayatollah by a margin of 6 to 1! Baha'u'llah's record of working for world peace, equality, education, unity and freedom are more in tune with Iranians than the mollah message of killing, stoning, murder, rape, torture, hanging, beheading, amputating, terrorizing, suicide bombing, fire bombing, etc. In short, Baha'u'llah is cherished by Iranians by a margin of 6 to 1 while Mollahs' dogmas, superstitions and wrongful interpretations of Quran are rejected by 98% of Iranians! Of course after seeing this report, Aya Ali Khamanei ordered it sealed. But apparently someone leaked it to a few majlis deputies and mollahs. Mollah estimates completed by the Ministery of Intelligence last year confirms these same results. However it puts the number of people with Baha’i “tendancies”(Baha’i garaiee) at 12.3% of the population while it puts the regimes’ supporters as 2.4%(mostly in rural areas) and 18.6% in cities with high government employee count. Stating that “the latter supports the regime only because they are being paid to do so.”

Basically put, Iranians prefer Baha’u'llah over Ayatollah by a margin of 6 to 1! Baha’u'llah’s record of working for world peace, equality, education, unity and freedom are more in tune with Iranians than the mollah message of killing, stoning, murder, rape, torture, hanging, beheading, amputating, terrorizing, suicide bombing, fire bombing, etc.

In short, Baha’u'llah is cherished by Iranians by a margin of 6 to 1 while Mollahs’ dogmas, superstitions and wrongful interpretations of Quran are rejected by 98% of Iranians!

Of course after seeing this report, Aya Ali Khamanei ordered it sealed. But apparently someone leaked it to a few majlis deputies and mollahs.

]]> By: Irani http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2437/comment-page-1#comment-1900 Irani Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:53:16 +0000 http://www.iranpresswatch.org/?p=2437#comment-1900 This just confirms that the only achievement of the so called Islamic revolution has been to drive people away from Islam and religion. No surprise there when we have corrupt, unjust and criminals running the country. This just confirms that the only achievement of the so called Islamic revolution has been to drive people away from Islam and religion. No surprise there when we have corrupt, unjust and criminals running the country.

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