The report – titled "Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is" – documents and analyzes more than 400 press and media items between late 2009 and early 2011, which clearly expose Iran's state-sponsored effort to vilify its largest non-Muslim religious minority.

[BWNS, 21 Oct. 2011] NEW YORK — In a wide-ranging media campaign that has gone largely unnoticed outside of Iran, hatred and discrimination are being systematically stirred up against the country’s 300,000-member Baha’i minority.

In a report released today, the Baha’i International Community documents and analyzes more than 400 press and media items over a 16-month period, that typify an insidious state-sponsored effort to demonize and vilify Baha’is, using false accusations, inflammatory terminology, and repugnant imagery.

Read the full report here (PDF) [click here for the PDF from Iran Press Watch repository]

“This anti-Baha’i propaganda is shocking in its volume and vehemence, its scope and sophistication,” said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.

“It’s all cynically calculated to stir up antagonism against a peaceful religious community whose members are striving to contribute to the well-being of their society,” she said.

Titled Inciting Hatred: Iran’s media campaign to demonize Baha’is, the report’s main conclusions are:

• anti-Baha’i propaganda originates with – and is sanctioned by – the country’s highest levels of leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who gave a highly discriminatory speech in the holy city of Qom a year ago;

• the campaign spurns international human rights law and norms, including a precedent-setting resolution passed earlier this year at the United Nations Human Rights Council that specifically condemns and combats the negative stereotyping and incitement to hatred of religious minorities;

• Baha’is are branded as “outsiders” in their own land and as enemies of Islam in a manner that is clearly calculated to provoke the religious sensibilities of Iranian Shiite Muslims;

• the campaign aims to deflect attention away from calls for democracy in Iran by using Baha’is as an all-purpose “scapegoat” – and, in so doing, to smear those who oppose the government as well as human rights campaigners as Baha’is, “as if that were the most heinous crime.”

• the authorities disseminate ludicrous conspiracy theories including that foreign broadcasters, in particular the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Voice of America (VOA), are controlled by or under the influence of Baha’is because they report stories about human rights violations in Iran;

“The diverse content of these attacks demonstrates tremendous effort and commitment of resources by the Islamic Republic,” says the report.

“Many attacks are built on gross distortions of Baha’i history; some attempt a strategy of guilt by association through lumping Baha’is together with completely unrelated groups – such as ‘Satanists’ or the Shah’s secret police; still others deploy a tactic of connecting Baha’is with ‘opponents’ of the regime, which allows the Government to discredit both the Baha’is and its opponents in a single transaction. The campaign makes extensive use of the World Wide Web, and often uses graphic images that portray Baha’is as fiendish ghouls or agents of Israel.”

Bani Dugal said the demonization of Iran’s Baha’i community is a matter that deserves the attention of governments, international legal institutions, and fair-minded people everywhere.

“The campaign not only clearly violates international human rights law,” she said, “it also utterly contradicts Iran’s long-standing claim at the UN and elsewhere that it is working to support measures to outlaw or condemn hate speech directed against religions or religious followers.”

“The parallels between the campaign of anti-Baha’i propaganda in Iran today and other state-sponsored, anti-religious campaigns of the past are undeniable. History shows us that such campaigns are among the foremost predictors of actual violence against religious minorities – or, in the worst case, precursors of genocide.

“It is time for Iran to be told that such egregious violations of international law and norms cannot be tolerated,” said Ms. Dugal.

Special Section – Inciting Hatred: Iran’s media campaign to demonize Bahá’ís

A Special Section of the Baha’i International Community United Nations Office website presents the full report, Inciting Hatred: Iran’s media campaign to demonize Bahá’ís in English and Persian, as well as an online only 197-page appendix that summarizes each of the 400-plus documents or articles that were collected during the period of this survey, from 17 December 2009 to 16 May 2011.

—

Source: http://news.bahai.org/story/861

HARANA News, Thursday 20th Aban 1389 [11 Nov 2010] - In a letter written to [Ayatollah Ahmad] Jannati, Secretary General of the Guardian Council, by ten Muslim residents of Ivel village, reference is made to the 100 year residence in Ivel of Baha’is, who own more than 30 hectares of land and many homes, requesting that a price be set and ownership of the properties be transferred to Muslims. Mr. Jannati, in consultation with Mr. ['Ali] Larijani, head of the judiciary, agreed that the properties belong to Ayatollah Khamanei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and that the transfer of ownership would require that the Article 8 Foundation* of the Imam come on the scene. That letter is among the attachments.

As indicated by HARANA Reporters, following this development the Islamic Council of Ivel wrote a letter to neighbouring villages in which they ask these villages not to provide tractors to Baha’is, nor to help with the fall planting of the land, something that these Baha’is have done every year, inasmuch as the land supposedly “belongs to” the Supreme Leader and comes under the control of the Article 8 Foundation of the Imam. A copy of this letter is also attached.

Ivel village Baha’is, whose homes were destroyed this past summer, as they were carrying out their 27 year practice of planting their land, went to the Kiasar [a nearby village] court judge Nasseri and submitted to him a letter (dated 18/7/’89 [10 Oct 2010]) to this effect. The judge issued an order allowing them to plant, in coordination with, and with the personal attendance of,the Talma Darreh [a nearby village] military unit. The judge’s first letter was approved, and an order was issued to the military unit on 22/7/’89 [14 Oct 2010]. However, planting did not proceed, due to the lack of rain, and was delayed until a rainfall, following which the farmers went to Talma Darreh to obtain tractors. At that point they were faced by the letter from Ivel Council mentioned earlier. Therefore, they wrote a second letter to the Court, and the judge sent another order to allow them to plant dated 15/8/’89 [6 Nov 2010]. On that basis,Mr Fegh’hi provided two tractors to the Baha’is of Ivel, to enable them to do their planting. (both letters are attached [scans of the original letters in Persian see below])

Ivel Baha’i farmers, accompanied by Talma Darreh officials and two tractors, headed for Ivel village and their farms. They planted the land and the tractors began ploughing the fields, whereupon an Ivel Muslim named Hossein-gholi Ghaffari came to them, and stated that the land belonged to the Imam, and that no one had the right to plant it. He ordered the two tractor drivers to stop. The Military official asked him for an official letter to this effect, which he could not produce; therefore the officer ordered that the work continue. The man retorted that in another hour people would arrive from town and prevent the work, which is exactly what happened.

SafarAli Isma’ili, along with Feyzollah Isma’ili, Sayyid Javad Darakhshan, Mansoor Liali, NadAli Fallahpour, HosseinAli Rajabi and others came into the field; SafaAli in an angry tone dictatorially ordered that the tractors be turned off and that planting cease. The officer, Sgt KheshtZar, tried to persuade him to desist but it had no effect — he kept repeating that the land belonged to the Supreme Leader’s office, and that no one was allowed to plant in it. In the video clip, he is sitting on top of the tractor, talking. Due to the distance and the dangers involved in filming the event, his voice is not recorded, but he is insulting, belittling and cursing the Baha’i farmers who are around him, watching his ignorance, law-breaking and mischievous actions. As the possibility of violence existed, the Baha’is did not argue with him. At this point, officer KheshtZar left for his office so that he could relay the matter to his commander and the judge. Upon his return he ordered that the planting continue; the tractors drivers turned on their engines, but SafaAli, Feyzollah and Sayyid Javad stepped forward and prevented the work from proceeding. They sat on the tractors and in front of them, preventing the tractors from moving. This situation lasted for some time; as the work could not continue, KheshtZar told the Baha’is that he would stay there, but to avoid a confrontation, they should go to the officials and obtain a court order. So the Baha’is left and he prepared his report, dated 16/8/’89 [7 Nov], attached.

The next day, his report along with another letter were submitted to the Kiasar judge, informing him of what had transpired. The judge again approved the earlier order for planting. This letter dated 17/8/’89 [8 Nov], which is attached, was given to the military office, but as the commander was not available and no manpower was at hand, nothing happened. What did transpire was that, as with the destruction of the homes, most of the land was planted by these individuals in the dark of night. This had been anticipated; as had been observed the day before, they had been working on the property of the Baha’is. The matter had been reported again to the military officers who had verified this illegal activity in their night tour, but there was no action taken to prevent the criminal activity, so it was easily accomplished.

Today, 18/8/’89 [9 Nov], all that had happened was submitted in written form to judge Nasseri. As was expected, he issued an order that the land be planted under the supervision of the military office. The commander of the office, who had initially said that the judge’s order must be carried out and that it did not matter whether the farmer was Baha’i or Muslim or Jew, this time did not follow through. All the orders were just on paper. The law, the enforcer, the judge and his judgement, were all — as in the incident of the destruction of Baha’i homes — of no value or effect. But the actions of SafarAli, a retired enforcer who spent 30 years at the Justice Ministry, and his side-kick Rahim Liali at the Supreme Leader’s office and elsewhere, are the law, the enforcer, the judge, and the true legal force in the land. He entered the scene in the presence of representatives of the law and declared, as had happened before with the houses, that their war with Baha’i farmers of Ivel was like the Battle of Khaybar [a battle between Muhammad and a Jewish group -- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khaybar. The defeated Jews were forced to contribute tribute; later their land was confiscated.], removing Baha’is from the scene and clearing the space, destroying their homes and now taking over their land — and that the Supreme leader and his Foundation was the best vehicle for all this.

What happened during the summer, the destruction of more than 50 homes and animal barns and straw and feed containers of Baha’i farmers of Ivel, and now the confiscation of their land, part of which had been confiscated in 1362 [1983-4] after the expulsion of Baha’is in the name of the Prince of Martyrs [Imam Husayn], and now the remaining part being taken away and confiscated in the name of the Supreme Leader, are all evidence of the government-in-the-shadows acting against religious minorities and other groups, much more forcefully and colorfully than the seeming government.
Aban 1389 [Nov 2010].

* Article 8 of the Iranian Constitution reads: “In the Islamic Republic of Iran, al-’amr bilma’ruf wa al-nahy ‘an al-munkar is a universal and reciprocal duty that must be fulfilled by the people with respect to one another, by the government with respect to the people, and by the people with respect to the government. The conditions, limits, and nature of this duty will be specified by law. (This is in accordance with the Qur’anic verse; “The believers, men and women, are guardians of one another; they enjoin the good and forbid the evil” [9:71]).

See a related video here: https://hra-news.org/Video/eyval002.mp4

Documents obtained in this respect:

—
Translation by Iran Press Watch
Source: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/fa/post/1615, http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-24-07/5093-1.html

.

.

HRANA News – Following provocative speeches against Baha’is which recently took place in some mosques in Semnan, a new wave of attacks and pressure against the Baha’is of Semnan has started.

As reported by HRANA reporters, on the morning of Friday the twelfth of Shahrivar [6 Sept] a number of hooligans attacked the home of a Baha’i named Yahya Hedayati, then ran away after breaking the windows in his home.

That same evening another group smashed the storefront sign of Akbar Pourhoseini’s store and broke the windows of Peyman Shadman’s car
(two other Baha’is) .

As usual, security officers arrived and, after writing a report, stated that they could not take any steps to identify the perpetrators and arrest them.

—
Translation by Iran Press Watch
Source: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/fa/post/1192 and http://hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-24-07/3840-1.html

Ferdosieh Nikoumanesh

(9 Sep 2010 – Radio Free Europe) Ferdosieh Nikoumanesh remembers a time when she and her family couldlive in peace as practicing Baha’is in the Iranian city of Ivel, where more than 50 Baha’i homes were demolished in June. Her childhood home, her grandparents’ home, and her grandfather’s store were among the many properties burned to the ground. Nikoumanesh and her husband now live in a suburb of Washington, D.C.

Nikoumanesh spent many of her childhood summers in Ivel, northeast of Tehran in Mazandaran Province, visiting her grandparents, who lived in the village until 1983.

She left Ivel when she was a little girl but still holds many memories of living alongside practicing

Ivel, Mazandaran, Iran

Muslims. Baha’is have resided in Ivel for more than 160 years and once made up more than half of the population — building schools, a hospital, and stores.

While her family’s homes and shop were destroyed this summer, her memories remain alive.

“The best part of the summer was with my grandparents. The feelings I have toward the land [in Ivel] are because of how my grandparents took us there and showed us how to experience its generosity,” she said.

She recalled raising livestock, picking flowers in the rich landscape, and having candlelit dinners over storytelling.

The current Iranian government made no apparent efforts to prevent the destruction of the Baha’i homes last June, nor has an investigation been launched into who orchestrated the demolition, despite efforts by the Baha’i community to seek justice.

On August 12, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued her strongest statement yet in support of the Baha’i community and in opposition to Iran’s repression of religious minorities. “The United States is deeply concerned with the Iranian government’s continued persecution of Baha’is and other religious minority communities in Iran,” Clinton said in a statement. “The United States is committed to defending religious freedom around the world, and we have not forgotten the Baha’i community in Iran.”

While the United States may have stepped up its criticism, the people of Ivel have yet to find justice for the loss of their homes.

The home, since destroyed, of the grandparents of Ferdosieh Nikoumanesh. "The best part of the summer was with my grandparents," says Ferdosieh Nikoumanesh.

“Two Baha’i men from Ivel — Faramarz Rohani and Mahmood Piri — sent letters and complained to the courts in Saari, Kia Sar, and Telma Dare. None of them gave the right response,” said Nikoumanesh. “They even said since this order was from the higher courts, nothing could be done.”

While the international community has spread awareness of the issue and many Muslims in the country oppose the destruction of Baha’i property, the government has done little to respond.

“Recently, there have been many attacks on Baha’i homes, cemeteries dug up, and sites of worship destroyed,” said Shastri Purushotma, the human rights representative for the U.S. Baha’i community. “But how can 50 houses be demolished without some prior arrangement to do that level of demolition? We don’t have documents showing the government was behind it, but all of these things need planning, heavy equipment, and government support.”

Nikoumanesh hopes to one day return to Ivel but knows the dangers she would face if she visited anytime soon. She and many members of the Iranian Baha’i diaspora continue to push for accountability in acts of vandalism toward Baha’is.

“My grandparents have passed, but we children still have faith in being able to return to Ivel and re-experience good moments of our childhood we had there,” she says.

She then recited a poem written by Ali Ahmadi on the destruction of homes in Ivel:

“Oh, home, you
are still alive
even if it’s not
within your walls
within our hearts you are.”

– Ladan Nekoomaram & Sarvazad Katouzian

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Bahais_In_Iran_Await_Justice_for_Demolished_Homes_Graves/2153322.html

Yesterday some seemingly anonymous individuals wrote insulting slogans on the store front of Bahá’í citizen Soroosh Garshasbi in Tankabon.

According to RAHANA reporter, these slogans included such verbiage as “Death to the Israeli Bahai”. It is noteworthy that Soroosh Garshasbi has already spend some time in prison.

This incident takes place whilst in the last few months pressure has been mounting upon Bahá’í citizens and the security condition of Bahá’í citizens of Mazandaran deteriorates daily.

Pictures from this slogans [are shown here].

Source: http://www.rahana.org/en/?p=6831

When loaders arrived at Ivel village, they were in fact cultural loaders which invaded people’s minds. Why? Why has the Department of Justice issued the order and authorized the destruction of citizens’ homes? Why would a religious judge, who is supposed to grieve for people’s pain, become happy to hear about the destruction of Baha’is’ and Iranian citizens’ homes? This is the cultural loader that furrows through people’s minds, posing a question about other villages that might face being leveled to the ground, in order to make the clerics and spiritual leaders and religious police happy. Will the episode of the destruction of the plain of Karbala have to be repeated and another Karbala be ploughed for seventy years more, so as to distract the minds of people from the truth that God wants to reveal? [The caliph al-Mutawakkil had the plain outside Karbala, where Imam Husayn was killed, ploughed, in an attempt to stop Shi'ite pilgrimage. See http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/757] Did the destroyers of Karbala succeed in separating people from the Martyred Husayn? Which culture is paramount today: Imam Husayn’s culture or the culture of those who destroyed Karbala?

You may witness another destruction. In hundreds of publications, thousands of Baha’is have been targets of attacks in the name of the Islam which those who take its name lack; they would deprive Baha’i citizens of higher education, but for how much longer will these “loaders” have the capacity to destroy? Know for sure that any loader that destroys a home, brings light to a mind. Happy the homes of Ivel that turned into silent teachers of the cause of God! Happy the Baha’is who stood silent and watched directly, with flames of love and kindness, the fire that consumed their homes in that village, who heard the prayers that will fill the space of Ivel, who saw children that will once again go to children’s classes and witness being embraced with open arms by neighbours who share the bitter memories of today’s events.

The world’s Shi’ites are in torment; Shi’ite minorities in other countries are subjected to pressure and torment for the harsh treatment meted out against the Baha’is in Iran. Because they show people that if Shi’ites were to assume power, they should prepare for the destruction of homes and cemeteries, expulsions and confiscations. And Shi’ites of other countries cannot provide an answer. No matter how much they say in Iran, these things are done in the name of a Shi’ite government, and we would not be like that — they would be asked how would they be?

We witness in the religion-fighting media in Iran that the Baha’i faith has been branded as a crime and as an opposition political party; the actions of individuals have no bearing, and it is sufficient for someone to be a Baha’i to be attacked. These cultural loaders of the media have for thirty years attacked people’s minds. It is interesting that they have ignored people’s understanding and perceptiveness, and they think that any lie, any accusation and calumny and doubt can be fed to the people by repeating them in the media. But it can probably be said that the best gift of this past thirty years has been the perception, the belief and movement toward the learning curve that has no intention of stopping, either; not to accept that someone would decide for them, to interpret for them that God’s meaning of justice is to kill, that His meaning of unity is the eradication of fellow citizens, and that the meaning of humanity and love is torture, branding and piercing.

Perhaps Ivel village will be destroyed, perhaps the judge will be silent, perhaps the religious judge will encourage, perhaps the one responsible will support the destroyer, and perhaps another village will be part of the program, but know that for sure that a lamp lit by God will burn the beard of one who attempts to blow it out.

Translation by Iran Press Watch

Source:  http://eybaha.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-post_08.html, also see http://www.iranpresswatch.org/fa/post/993

Ivel, Mazandaran, Iran

Just over a month has elapsed from the devastating demolishment of 50 homes of Baha’is in a remote and previously unknown village of Ivel in the northern provence of Mazandaran, Iran. (See in Persian, in English) Now, the women of Ivel have voiced their call to the authorities and the world at large. In form of a letter and signed by many of them, they recount the story of their village from its inception; they share with love those difficult years where their parents and grand parents built the village brick by brick, stone by stone; they remember the flourishing time of working together –everyone, side by side, with no distinction– to build their community; they express their anguish towards the turn of events in their village around the time of the Islamic Revolution (late 1970’s); they lament the recent demolishment of their homes; they report on the continued harassment their families have made to suffer; they state with conviction their belief in

letter of women of Ivel (click to enlarge)

justice and law; they express their obedience to the law of the land; and, they ask for ears to hear their voices and eyes to observe their situation — they put it on paper, they sign it with their names for the world to know and remember!

Editor
Iran Press Watch.

Read the letter here (in Persian): http://www.iranpresswatch.org/fa/post/1012

The destruction of 50 Baha’i homes demonstrates the Iranian government’s disregard for its international obligations

Written by Barney Leith for the Guardian

The homes of 50 Baha'i farming families were razed in Ivel, Iran on 26 June. Photograph: Baha'i World News Service

["]The governor general is like a physician … if he feels that there is a malignant tumour in the body of the society, he tries to remove it.” Such was the official explanation given to Natoly Derakhshan, a Baha’i from the village of Ivel in Mazandaranprovince, Iran, after the homes of 50 Baha’i farming families were razed in Ivel on 26 June.

If farmers strike you as an unlikely tumour in a country that earns 20% of its GDP from agriculture, then perhaps you do not know the story of the minority Baha’i faith in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Razing the Baha’i homes in Ivel is the latest step in an ongoing campaign. Baha’i farmers left Ivel several years ago because of local harassment and persecution. They return once a year to harvest their crops. This exercise of their basic rights to live in peace and work their land has nevertheless required permits from the provincial government. And now their property and livelihoods have been destroyed altogether.

Speaking to Radio Farda, the Persian-language station of Radio Free Europe, Derakhshan was asked whether the locals who demolished the Baha’i homes had government support. “We do not know and cannot say that it was ordered by someone,” he said. But Derakhshan asked questions of his own. “What do you think?” he asked. “How could 50 homes be demolished without prior arrangements?” Derakhshan was told that letters of complaint the Baha’is had written to the authorities were “in opposition to the regime”.

In Mazandaran, as in much of Iran, the persecution of the Baha’is is nothing new. “Baha’is have lived in this area for more than 100 years,” said Diane Alai, representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations. “But in 1983, a few years after the Iranian revolution, at least 30 families from this and neighbouring villages were put on buses and expelled.” In the same period, over 200 Baha’is have been executed or killed, hundreds have been jailed, and tens of thousands have been denied their livelihood or an education.

Today 35 Baha’is are imprisoned, among whom are the seven former leaders of the Iranian Baha’i community, arrested in 2008 on allegations of espionage, propaganda and “corruption on earth”. These charges warrant death under Iranian law. Their counsel, the Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, has said that “there is nothing, no reason” to convict the seven Baha’is. They have been held in Evin prison, “under conditions which clearly violate international standards” according to Bani Dugal, the principal representation of the Baha’i International Community to the UN. “They have neither beds nor bedding,” she added, are permitted only two hours of fresh air a week, and are crammed into cells that restrict movement. Family contact is usually restricted to a 10-minute phone call once a week.

The treatment of the Baha’is in Iran is an outrage, a constant violation of human rights and an example of the Iranian government’s disregard for its international obligations. At its root lies a religious fanaticism that seeks to grind away the 300,000 Baha’is of Iran. Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire, veteran of Rwanda and Canadian senator, recently warned his senate that the “state-sanctioned persecution” of the Baha’is in Iran resembles “a nation leading its way into a potential genocide”. The Baha’is are the largest religious minority of Iran but their faith is denied by the constitution. Despite being branded as apostates and spies, no Baha’i has ever been found plausibly guilty of the crimes with which they are accused. In the words of the founder of the Baha’i faith, Baha’u’llah, Baha’is are enjoined to work for “the good of the world and the happiness of the nations”. In Mazandaran, both those hopes have been razed to the ground.

Source: Only Democracy for Iran, http://www.onlydemocracy4iran.com/2010/07/09/attack-on-irans-bahai-is-a-human-rights-outrage/

By : Fereshteh Ghazi, f.ghazi@roozonline.com

Yaran: Seven Baha'i leaders who have been in prison in Tehran.

Baha’i citizens, whose homes in Ivel village in Mazandaran were destroyed by trucks and loaders last week, announced through an interview with Rooz that their complaint about the destruction of their homes had so far been ignored and justice authorities had so far given them no response. Dian Ala’i , the Representative of the International Baha’i Community at the United Nations in Geneva, identifies the Ministry of Information, the Security agencies and some religious authorities behind the issue of the destruction of homes and property. She mentions to Rooz that to be a Baha’i is considered a crime by the Islamic Republic. Reza Sabetan, the spokesman for the International Baha’i Community, also calls the destruction of property and places belonging to Baha’i citizens an organized program set by the order of the government or supported by it.

Ministry of Information and religious authorities behind the destruction
Last week, 50 homes belonging to Baha’is in Ivel village in Mazandaran were razed to the ground by bulldozers and trucks. According to village citizens, the houses were so completely destroyed that one would not know if any houses existed there. The issue raised many reactions but the destruction of Baha’i homes was not the first time; during the past 31 years, repeatedly news of setting fire to Baha’i homes and destruction of their cemeteries have been published.

Reza Sabetan, spokesman for the International Baha’i Community, stated to Rooz ; ‘ In Iran in general, the destruction of Baha’i property and places is an organized preconceived plan. Several Baha’i cemeteries in Isfahan, Qa’imshahr, Shiraz and some other cities have been destroyed. Baha’i holy places, as well as several homes have been destroyed and set on fire. It is quite evident that either the government issues such orders or supports those who perpetrate such deeds. Because, when appeals are made to judicious bodies they deny such things and no security is provided to Baha’i citizens, as citizens of Iran.’

Dian Ala’i, Representative of the International Baha’i Community at the United Nations says:
‘ This is a widespread issue which is in reality supported by the Ministry of Information and some religious authorities. In reality, those who carry out the destruction are encouraged beforehand and know that they would not be held responsible in any way.’

But who carries out these acts? According to owners of the homes destroyed last week in Ivel village, those who carried out the act of destruction had no government clothes and were locals. Farideh Rohani, owner of one of the 50 homes destroyed in Ivel village says:’ We do not know from where the order arrived but the non-Baha’i residents of our own village, the locals, destroyed our homes.’

Why are these locals engage in the destruction of Baha’i homes and properties? Reza Sabetan provides an answer: ‘ It seems that these issues occur more in areas where people are more prejudiced and the government abuses their religious prejudice, capitalizing on their predisposition.’

He adds: ‘ At the start of the revolution, the government acted more directly and killed Baha’is. But, in recent years, especially during the past year, the repression has been intensified and its nature has changed. Now, attacks on Baha’is is more in the form of publications and propaganda. A day does not pass without something against the Baha’is appearing in governmental communications. The emphasis is more on ordinary people, i.e. ordinary Baha’is lose their jobs or are prevented to carry on with their business. ln Shiraz, a list of 400 of Baha’i businessmen is published and people are told not to carry on business with them. The Islamic republic sends religious students to different villages and propaganda is made against the Baha’i religion and Baha’i citizens; people are told these Baha’is are Israeli spies and act against the national security and…’

140 arrests in one year
But, does the encounter with Baha’is of Iran end with the destruction of their homes and property? Farideh Rohani, a Baha’i citizen states: ‘ They destroy our homes. They prevent our children from studying at the universities or dispel them after a term or two. We have not yet seen a Baha’i child graduating from the university”

Natoli Darakhshan also states : ‘ They tell us not to speak to Moslem citizens because you intend to attract them. No such thing . We are all Iranians and can not stop talking to our fellow citizens.’

But the issue goes beyond the words spoken by these two citizens. Seven members of the Baha’i leadership have long been in prison and according to Reza Sabetan, after the disputed 22 Khordad 1388 elections, more than 140 Baha’i citizens have been arrested. Although 100 have been released on bail, 40 Baha’i citizens continue to be held.’

Mr Sabetan adds: ‘ Fortunately, no one has lost their lives in these years. Of course, early on in the revolution, when they attacked Baha’i homes, some Baha’i citizens were also burned but in recent years no such event has happened. Although in Shiraz a Baha’i citizen was repeatedly threatened, was captured, tied to a tree with chains in order to set him on fire but were unable to do so as a few people arrived and prevented it.’

Dian Ala’i, referring to the arrest and court hearing of the 7 Baha’i leaders says: ‘ Their hearing is finished and they are awaiting their judgment to be issued. We are quite concerned about their condition and about the judgment to be issued. Previously, their families could visit them once a week in a cabin but unfortunately after the court hearing was concluded, they have been advised that the visits would be once every two weeks.’

Results of Baha’i complaints
According to Baha’i citizens, so far none of the Baha’i complaints submitted to judicial authorities have been responded to.

Reza Sabetan says: ‘Generally, when Baha’is refer to judicial authorities about the destruction of their homes and property or for other harms, the matter is either denied or no action is taken. For instance when the Shirazi fellow who was tied to the tree and was going to be set on fire, complained to judicial authorities, he was told that it would be pursued. But in reality, no follow up took place and no reply was given.’

Natoli Darakhshan says about the destruction of Baha’i homes in Ivel village: ‘ We officially complained. Locals had told us that they had coordinated the matter with government centres. When we had noted this in our complaint, they objected that our complaint was against the regime.”

She adds: ‘ We have now complained to all centres; including judicial authorities, the home of the Supreme Leader, and to Imam Jom’eh for Sari, Ayatollah Va’ez Tabasi, to the parliamentary representatives of Sari at the Islamic Council and have asked for a review but so far no reply has been received and we are waiting.’

Dian Ala’i says Bahai’s follow up their complaints through human rights institutions of the United Nations.

According to her, all the destruction and attacks on Baha’is are supported by the Ministry of Information and judges can do nothing.

She adds: ‘ We follow the matter through the United Nations; in reality, speciaI reporters of the United Nations ask the government of Iran and demand an answer and then publicize their finding that, for instance, the government of Iran replied or did not reply or what it said. In general, this is a long process. But unfortunately, except for the report of the special reporters and the declarations of the General Council of the United Nations, we can do nothing else. ‘

Ms Ala’i, referring to Ivel village matter says: ‘ Nothing further can be done for this village, as it is done. But perhaps because of the reports submitted and being submitted to human rights institutions of the United Nations, it may prevent further threats and similar actions in other villages and towns.’

Issue of being a Baha’i in submissions
Why does this type of encounters occur with Baha’i citizens in Iran ? Their complaints are not attended to and in some submissions against those who objecte to the disputed elections of Khordad 22nd, to be a Baha’i or connection with Baha’is is mentioned as a charge?

Reza Sabetan replies: ‘ It is quite clear that the only reason for repressing Baha’is is their religion and belief. Although the Islamic Republic asserts that they do not imprison anyone for the sake of his faith and belief, there are many documents to the contrary. Many individuals are arrested on a false accusation of spying and acting against the national security and are asked to state on the form that they are not Baha’is, in order to be set free. Well, if they are telling the truth, what kind of spy is this that can be set free with such a statement?’

He adds; ‘ Not only it is a crime to be a Baha’i in the Islamic Republic, anyone else who helps or is sympathetic to Baha’i citizens is also exposed to such a charge. As we saw with Mrs Ebadi, who solely due to defending Baha’is was charged with being a Baha’i and …’

Ms Ala’i, stating that the severe repression against the Baha’is during last year and the past few years has been happening, adds ; ‘ When in court submissions being a Baha’i or having connections with Baha’is is stated as a charge, this shows the Islamic Republic’s view about Baha’i citizens. But the point is that if religious freedom exists in Iran, then being a Baha’i should not be a crime.”

She adds; ‘ 22 of Khordad became another excuse for further repression against different thinkers, reporters, civic activists, religious minorities including Baha’i citizens. On Ashura, several Baha’is were captured, charges were made that events of Ashura were instigated by them and they had orchestrated them. Those who leveled these charges knew themselves that such was not the case.’

According to Ms Ala’i ; ‘ The event of 22 Khordad was a breach of human rights for all Iranians. But, when the breach of human rights occurs on a widespread level, more pressure is put on Baha’i citizens, who are one of the weakest groups, and the breach becomes more widespread.’

What was the story of Ivel village?

Who and with what backing destroyed this village and where were the inhabitants at the time of the destruction?

Natoli Darakhshan one of the Baha’is whose home was destroyed along with 49 others, explains the events as follows; ‘ Nowhere in the world do we know that 50 homes are suddenly destroyed like this; we were truly stunned’

Farideh Rohani, the Baha’i citizen whose home was among the 50 destroyed homes, says;
‘27 years ago our homes were set on fire and we were dispelled from our homes. But our homes remained half upright. Every year we would get a letter from the Kiasar guardhouse and, accompanied with two agents, we would return there and would plant the parts of the land still not removed from our possession. Sometimes, we would remain in our home in Ivel village, while planting or harvesting, with the agents always staying with us. But even this did not save us from harm. They’d come and throw stones, shouted slogans and caused midnight strife, until last week they completely eradicated our homes.’

Natoli Darakhshan also describes; ‘ 27 years ago, precisely on 7 Tir 1362 we were threatened that we must either turn Moslem or leave. They attacked and beat severely some people, injuring them with spade and pick-axe, and burned homes. Some were imprisoned in “takyes”. Every day the preacher would advise them that they turn Moslem and go to paradise. Then, they expelled all form the village. As much as we took our complaint to governmental offices, no one provided an answer. We even presented different “fatva” –
edicts — saying we were citizens, to no avail. We were expelled and the majority of our land was confiscated and they built villas for themselves. Finally, two days before the destruction, we heard murmurs from locals about the destruction plans but we did not believe it.’

She then refers to the activities aimed at preventing the destruction: ‘ We notified the provincial, the municipal and the local authorities but they told us that such a thing could not happen either from a legal or jurisprudence point of view and the matter was a lie. On the appointed day, one of our friend goes to his mother’s grave at the Baha’i cemetery and is attacked on the spot. He and and his family, under attack notice that they were destroying the homes. With this news we went to the government office. While the destruction was happening the officials were denying the matter and no step was taken to prevent the destruction. This showed that the words of the locals who said they were doing this with the knowledge of governmental authorities was true. We even went to the Kiasar courthouse and launched a complaint but were told that legal routes had to be followed. We told them that they were currently destroying and they should stop the destruction but they paid no attention.’

But Farideh Rohani is talking about the hope of returning to their homes after 27 years; ‘ We were hoping that after 27 years we could return to our homes and repair them, but they took all the possessions and threw them on the street, removed all usable pieces of lumber and then leveled the homes to the ground.’

She adds; ‘ 27 years ago they held everyone at the “takye”. They would not even provide food and water until we became Moslems and recant our Faith. But when it did not happen we were all expelled and they have done the same this time around. We are all Iranians. I am an Iranian Baha’i. Ivel is my birth place. I was born and raised there. But now we were not even allowed to go to our cemetery there to say prayers for the deceased.’

Natoli Darakhshan, thanks non-Baha’i citizens who help Baha’i citizens, saying; ‘ These days many of our Moslem citizens came and shed tear with us and apologized and held our hands. We are thankful to all of them.’

Translation by Iran Press Watch.

Source: http://www.roozonline.com/persian/news/newsitem/article/2010/july/08//-20aef41aaf.html
and http://www.iranpresswatch.org/fa/post/898

Village of Ivel

11 July 2010
GENEVA — Following the demolition of Baha’i homes in the Iranian village of Ivel – reported last week – there is another story that must also be told: that of sympathetic villagers who have commiserated with their Baha’i neighbors over the injustices they have been forced to endure.

Ivel, Mazandaran, Iran

It is also the story of an undaunted spirit and a commitment to social good that continues to enable the Baha’is to transcend their prolonged persecution and be active participants in the social and economic development of their village.

Service and persecution

In its earliest days, Ivel was the summer residence for sheep farmers from the surrounding region of Mazandaran. There have been Baha’is in the village for more than a century and a half. Indeed, since the years immediately following the establishment of their Faith in mid-19th century Iran, the Baha’is have comprised about half of Ivel’s total population. All the while, they have lived side by side with their Muslim neighbors in comparative harmony.

Unfortunately, however, outside elements strongly inimical to the Faith have periodically sought to stir up the local population against the Baha’i community, resulting in intermittent persecution – ranging from life-threatening to less harsh forms of harassment.

In 1941, for example, lives were imperiled when gangs from outside roused local citizens to attack the Baha’is. The Baha’is were arrested, severely beaten and subjected to extortion; their houses and belongings were plundered. Finally, they were banished to a village seven kilometers away. When the situation eased some months later, the Baha’is returned to their homes and farms.

The home of Mr. Abdolbaghi Rouhani – a Baha'i from Ivel – after it was set on fire by unknown arsonists in May 2007.

The lengths to which those holding enmity towards the Baha’is would go are perhaps best summed up in an incident that occurred in the mid-1950s when a member of the newly-established “Hojjatieh” society arrived in Ivel. Hojjatieh – a semi-clandestine traditionalist Shia organization – was founded on the premise that the most immediate threat to Islam was the “heresy” of the Baha’i Faith, which had to be eliminated.

When this individual proved unsuccessful in his attempts to drive a wedge between the Muslims and the Baha’is, he endeavoured to prevent their cows from grazing in the same pasture, on the basis that the Baha’i cows were “unclean”.

For a few days, the cattle belonging to the Baha’is were confined to their barns while those of the Muslims went to graze. The Baha’is repeatedly referred the matter to the village head, appealing for compassion to be shown to the animals. Consequently, a decision was made to have the cows enter the pasture from opposite sides, so as to respect the decree. This did not accord with the natural instincts of the livestock, who continued to graze together.

Contribution to social progress

Throughout the years, notwithstanding the efforts to repress them, the Baha’is have actively contributed to the betterment of life in their village. In addition to the role they played in the area’s agriculture, they established a school at which local children, regardless of their religion, were educated. By 1946, when the Iranian government had begun to organize rural schools and assumed responsibility for the one in the village, Ivel’s school extended to six elementary level classes in which some 120 pupils from Ivel and seven other nearby villages were receiving general education.

In 1961, in another example of service to their community, the Baha’is completed a bath house for use by the villagers, which included modifications to the local reservoir and the introduction of modernizations to improve the facility’s levels of hygiene and the general health of the people.

Escalation of attacks

Following Iran’s Islamic revolution in 1979, the situation for Baha’is in Ivel deteriorated. Land was confiscated and attempts to regain it proved unsuccessful. Baha’is were denied access to health clinics and other institutions that they themselves had helped establish. Muslim children were encouraged by their teacher to harm their Baha’i classmates. When parents protested, the teacher found other means to persecute his Baha’i pupils, including failing them in their exams.

In June 1983, the Baha’is were forced out of their homes and transported by bus to the nearest major city, Sari. When they arrived, the authorities made them go back. Returning to Ivel, they were locked into a local mosque. More than 130 of them – including children and the elderly – were held captive for three days without food and water. When pressure to make them recant their faith failed, they were allowed to return home. However, that same night, they were attacked by villagers. A few were taken off by the mob, others were injured, and more were forced to hide in a nearby forest.

Since that time, many of the Ivel Baha’is have resided nearby and return to the village only in the summer to plant and harvest their crops and tend to their properties. According to Natoli Derakhshan, a Baha’i from Ivel who was interviewed recently by the Persian-language Radio Farda, “Each time or each year when they wanted to go there they had to obtain permits from the Justice Administration to be allowed to stay in their own homes for two or three days.”

In the past three years, the Baha’i International Community has monitored an increase in efforts to put pressure on the Baha’is of Ivel to leave the region altogether. “Their empty homes have been burned, Baha’is have been subjected to verbal and physical attacks, and the 100-year old Baha’i cemetery was confiscated and sold for conversion into residential property,” said Diane Ala’i, representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.

“Numerous complaints have been filed at all levels but, in general, the Baha’is are only met with indifference. The authorities say that there’s little they can do in the face of the opposition Baha’is face from the local residents,” she said. “In every case, knowledge of the demolitions or the motive behind them was denied by local government officials.”

“What we are witnessing in Ivel, and the surrounding region of Mazandaran, is part of a wider campaign to humiliate and dishearten all the Baha’is and prevent them from practicing their faith in any way whatsoever,” said Ms. Ala’i. “The government has certainly demonstrated thus far that if it is not behind it, it is either unwilling to stop it or incapable of doing so.”

In recent weeks when Mr. Derakhshan heard stories about the imminent destruction of the Baha’i homes in the village, he went with other Baha’is to various officials to find out if the rumors were true. “We were told not to worry and that there was not such a possibility; we believed them,” he told Radio Farda.

“We do not know and cannot say that it was ordered by someone,” he said. “All we know is that unfortunately everything has been completely destroyed.”

Local and international support

There are, however, many villagers in Ivel who are deeply troubled by these developments. In an interview with the Rooz Online website, Mr. Derakhshan paid tribute to those who have expressed dismay and concern at the ill-treatment of their Baha’i neighbors: “These days many of our Muslim folks sat together with us with tearful eyes, and apologized to us, and held our hands! We are thankful to them all.”

The news from Ivel has also received widespread attention from further afield – in the world’s news media and online news services, including a host of Persian language outlets.

Among the English language reports, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty ran a story on 29 June with the headline, “Baha’i Houses Demolished In Iran.” It also carried video of the incident which had been obtained by Human Rights Activists of Iran.

Also on 29 June, the National Review Online published an article under the headline “Regime Razes Bahai Homes in Iran.”

A feature on the BBC website, titled “Iran’s Bahai community fear rise in persecution“, began: “First there are the images of wooden beams on fire. Then buildings come into view, some without windows and doors, others reduced to rubble. The shaky mobile phone footage posted on YouTube by Iranian human rights activists shows scenes of destruction filmed secretly from inside a car…The reports from Ivel residents say that by June 22, almost 50 houses belonging to Bahais had been flattened.”

“Several of these websites have offered places for comments by readers,” said Ms. Alai. “After enduring so much persecution for so long, we are certain that the Baha’is of Ivel appreciate the support of people from all over the world – including many sympathetic Iranian citizens – who have taken the time to express their outrage over this latest incident.”

Source: BWNS, http://news.bahai.org/story/782