Proclamation of the Constitutional Party of Iran

We cannot pass over, merely with sympathy and condemnation, the sentence of the seven leaders of the Baha’i community of Iran. The Islamic regime has condemned these two women and five men, all of whom are distinguished servants of Iran, to a total of one hundred and forty years of imprisonment simply for being Baha’is. In continuing the regime’s policy of cutting off the head of the Baha’i community of Iran, once again a group of Baha’is have been sacrificed for their religious-social beliefs.

The sentence against this group is the continuation of a long and shameful story that began with horrible bloodshed in the early nineteenth century under Qajar rule and is being pursued by the Islamic Republic’s policy of uprooting [religious minorities]. But this long and shameful story has another facet that, especially dyring the current heated struggle of people against the regime, should be focused upon: Baha’is stay aloof from politics; but Iranian politics can take valuable lessons from them.

The first lesson that Baha’is could give to Iranians is an unrelenting steadfastness under the harshest of pressures. Baha’i homes have been set on fire, businesses have been shut down, possessions have been stolen, people have been thrown out of work and universities, they have been condemned to being executed or to face long term imprisonment, but they do not flinch, moan or give up. They do not speak of being broken or useless. Those who talk daily of the Green Movement’s failure need only look at their Baha’i fellow citizens. Who has a better right to sound defeated?

The second lesson, equally important, is gathering together meager individual energies and turning them into a powerful social network. The Baha’is’ defensive strategies during the Islamic Republic will be recorded in the exalted pages of Iranian history. When university doors were closed to Baha’i students, Baha’is took the university to their homes. Distinguished Baha’is provided free lessons to small groups of students in homes so that they could be admitted to reputable universities in Europe and America.

Baha’is do not have mullas or priests, so local administrators of Baha’i groups everywhere attend to their “personal affairs”, such as weddings, births and other religious observances. Since such administrators have always been the primary targets of repression, now everywhere in small Baha’i groups individuals take on the task after taking the necessary training. “Leadership” has been dispersed to the extreme. The heads have become so many that even the Islamic Republic cannot remove them all.

The Green Movement that has taken political and religious compromise as one of its major specialties in its liberal democratic dialogue should look closer at its Baha’i fellow citizens. Relentless under attack, its leadership dispersed into the smallest units in order to withstand any attack, cooperation and pooling together resources however insignificant would help the Green Movement as much as it does the Baha’i community of Iran.

Long live Iran! Long live the Iranian people!

-by the Constitutional Party of Iran (Liberal Democrat)

Source: http://www.irancpi.net/elamiyeh/matn_151_0.html

[Source: Baha’i World News Services in Persian; Translated by Iran Press Watch]

[Source: Baha'i International News, Baha'i International Community, http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009102705]

Isfahan (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060403)

More details have reached us regarding three Baha’is of Villashahr (near Isfahan) who were arrested because they participated in the burial of a deceased Baha’i, who were later released on bail pending their trial.

Hushmand Talebi-Iskandari, Mehran Zayni-Najafabadi and Farhad Ferdousiyan were convicted on July 21, 2008, on the charge of “trespassing and illegal use of governmental property”.  The court had set a fine and instructed that they “should cease their use of this property (the cemetery)” and “to return it to its original condition”, i.e., that they should remove the bodies buried there.  Upon appeal, the appeals court ruled on February 14, 2009, clearing the three Baha’is of this charge and designating that parcel of land for burial of the dead as a cemetery.

However, according to the latest news, on May 21 a large sign was posted on this land next to some graves, which read, “According to a letter dated January 21, 2009, this land has been bestowed by the Ministry of Minerals to the Municipality of Najafabad and now belongs to the Municipality.  Therefore, any encroachment, trespassing or burial of the dead on this location is strictly forbidden; violators will be prosecuted in accordance with provisions of Section 635 of the Islamic penal code, which rules on punishments for unauthorized burials.”

In addition, news has reached us that the Municipality has received instructions from the Ministry of Intelligence that they may no longer provide hearses to Baha’is to carry their dead.

Karaj (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060408)

Shahram Safajoo (http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2452) was released from prison on bail on May 18.  On May 31, he was again summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence and was given two weeks to locate a lawyer for his trial.

Semnan (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060402)

Mrs. Maryam Shiraliyan (Subhani), a Baha’i of Semnan, passed away on May 20, 2009.  However, governmental authorities have refused to issue a burial certificate, and have informed her family that they would only do so if the family consents that the deceased by buried under an Islamic headstone in the Baha’i cemetery.  The family of Mrs. Shiraliyan refused this demand.  After several appeals to the office of the Governor of Semnan, two days later a burial certificate was issued on May 22.

Shiraz (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060407)

Sasan Taqvi, one of the three Baha’i youth who in November 2007 were imprisoned on charges of being involved in a humanitarian project intended to indirectly promote the Baha’i Faith, commenced his temporary [medical] leave from prison on April 28, 2009, and has been authorized to extend it until May 26.  No news has been received about his return to prison at this time.

Shiraz (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060401)

Shahram Kamali was arrested on May 25, 2009.  During the previous two months he had been summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence.  Since the time of his arrest, he has only been able to contact his family once, and has expressed his expectation that the authorities intend to transfer him to Tehran for incarceration.

Tehran (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060404)

Shahram Hasim, who on May 27 received instructions to present himself at the Ministry of Intelligence (see http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2885), had disappeared since May 20.  It has been learned that he was imprisoned as of that date , but was released on May 23.  His place of incarceration has not been given.

Tehran (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060405)

According to the latest information received [from Iran], Shahram Chiniyan-Miyanduab was a resident of the village of Hasan-Abad near Tehran, and not Miyanduab.  From the time of his arrest in February-March, he has been incarcerated in Evin prison.  The authorities have told one of the Baha’is who went to Evin to inquire of Mr. Chiniyan’s condition that he has been charged and imprisoned for “membership in the Baha’i sect”, “insulting Islamic religious sanctities” and “collaboration with anti-revolutionary groups”.

Yasuj (http://news.persian-bahai44.org/2009060406)

Ali-Askar Ravanbakhsh and his wife Zulaykha Musavi-Ravanbakhsh, who are from Mehryan, and another Baha’i from Yasuj, Ruhiyyih Yazdani, had been on temporary leave from prison since May 3, 2009 (http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/392).  On May 22, they returned to the place of their incarceration.

Earlier, Iran Press Watch had reported that Mrs. Sahba Rezvani-Fanaian, a Baha’i in Semnan, was arrested on December 15, 2008, and sentenced to 3 years and 8 months imprisonment (http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2009/04/semnan-tt/).  She was transferred from Semnan facilities to the notorious Evin prison in Tehran on Monday, May 4, where she will serve her sentence in the section designated for political and general prisoners.  Yesterday, Monday, May 11, 2009, she was able to meet with her family in person and she is allowed to speak by phone with them once a day.  Her original sentence has been reduced to 3 years incarceration.  [Source: http://www.bab.blogfa.com/post-91.aspx]

As reported by Iran Press Watch (here), Mr. Ali Ehsani was arrested in Semnan on April 6.  It is now reported in Persian (http://www.bab.blogfa.com/) that he was released from incarceration on condition of bail for 50 million tumans (equivalent of about $50,000).

On April 27, Mr. Siyamak Iqani and Mrs. Susan Tebyanian-Jabbari were arrested (here) in Semnan and now it is reported that they been released on condition of bail.

Unrelated to Semnan, Mr. Moshfeq Samandari was arrested on April 14 (here) in Babol and his family reports that so far he has not been allowed to meet with them, but permitted to have two telephone conversations with his family (http://www.bab.blogfa.com/).

Editor’s Note:  During the last two months, Iran Press Watch has reported extensively on the ordeals faced by Mrs. Haleh Houshmandi, but was very happy to celebrate her release two days ago.  Iran Press Watch has just received a moving letter from Mrs. Houshmandi, which we share below in translation.

By Haleh Houshmandi

Allah’u'Abha!

Today [Monday, April 27, 2009] is the second day since my release from the prison of the Ministry of Intelligence on a bail of 100 million tumans [equivalent to about $100,000].  Forty days of imprisonment!

It all started two days before Naw-Ruz [March 21]: prior to that, in the absence of my husband and I, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence had come to our house and had forced my mother to open the door.  They raided our home and confiscated our computer as well as all our religious books, and they even took children’s CDs belonging to my eight-year old child.  It was a most stressful situation.

However, when earlier today I was reading various internet sites, the thought occurred to me that perhaps because of my inability to meet with my family for four weeks and only being allowed to speak with them by phone, some of the details have not fully reached interested parties.

My heart ailment is from the past, and I was been under a physician’s care.  In the stressful environment of constant interrogation and solitary confinement, my conditioned worsened.  However, after the second week, when I was examined by the prison facility’s doctor, I was given the required medications.

Because of my neck and backaches, I was in considerable pain. Moreover, in the small confinement of the prison cell, I was unable to move, and this added considerably to the hardship.

From the fourth week, my dear friend Haleh Rouhi, who has been incarcerated for some 18 months, was allowed to visit my cell. Because of her attention and care, I was made more comfortable.

In the fifth week, they took me to a hospital specializing in heart problems, and they performed an echocardiogram of my heart to diagnose the cause of my worsening condition, which was determined to be due to stress and emotions associated with my imprisonment.

The next day, dear Haleh Rouhi and Raha Sabet were given their family leave, and I spent another week with only myself and my pains in their cell, which had a television and books.

I am now in the love-filled bosom of my family and under a physician’s care.

I pray for the release of all our dear friends, Mr. Vahdat Danna, Mr. Farham Masumi and Mr. Kayvan Karami, who continue to languish in prison in Shiraz, and all other Baha’i prisoners throughout Iran.  I offer my most heartfelt gratitude to all the friends, near or far, throughout the world, who have given solace and comfort to me and my family through their ardent prayers.

Haleh Houshmandi, Shiraz.

 The authorities have renewed the family leave of Raha Sabet and Haleh Rouhi for one week.  They had mentioned that they would give a family leave of several days to Sasan Taqva when the Sabet and Rouhi would return to jail.  Considering that Sasan Taqva has a severe toothache and suffers from leg ailment, Raha Sabet voluntarily went back to jail this morning, so that Sasan Taqva would be allowed a leave. 

 The authorities have however arrested Vahdat Danna, who earlier had been questioned by the authorities.  He had stated that he would go with them if they bring a warrant specifying his name.

 Iran Press Watch will bring further updates as they become available. 

Afshin Ehsanian

The following report was received on Thursday, April 16, 2009 and is offered below in translation (sources cited at the end):

Four Baha’is, namely, Mrs. Haleh Houshmandi, Mr. Kayvan Karami, Mr. Farhad Ma’sumi, and Mr. Afshin Ehsanian, who were arrested in the last two months, continue to languish in prison of the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz, known as Pelak 100.

According to a letter of the Prosecutor General of Fars province, they were scheduled to be releases from incarceration on April 4 on condition of bail and surety.  However, the judiciary official investigating their case has so far refused to issue their discharge order and for this reason the four Baha’i continue to remain imprisoned.

After repeated visit by their families to various governmental offices requesting their release, it was announced that they would be allowed to go home after Naw-Ruz festivities [which were concluded on April 2].

On April 4, the Prosecutor General of Fars province issued a letter to the judicial investigator of these cases, indicating that bail was set for these individuals and they should be allowed to leave prison immediately.  However, when the family followed up on this instruction, they were confronted with angry and inhumane response of the judiciary investigator stating that under no conditions would he accept the instructions of the Prosecutor General and allow these Baha’is to be discharged on bail.

During the last two weeks, many times the families of these imprisoned Baha’is have received threatening phone calls from the Ministry of Intelligence and in a number of instances these threats were accompanied with insults and accusations.

It should be noted that under intense psychological and physical pressures in the prison, Mrs. Haleh Houshmandi has developed severe heart conditions, but until now has been barred from seeing a physician or a specialist. Therefore, considerable worries about her physical well-being remain.

[Reported on Thursday April 16, 2009, by http://emails.mihanblog.com/post/87 and http://hra-iran.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=879:321&catid=84:502&Itemid=219. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]

Iran Press Watch

First, we first excerpt from a letter (slightly edited) from one of the Baha’is discussing the circumstances under which Sorour Sorourian was arrested yesterday:

Yesterday, April 11, 2009, at 11:30 a.m., the 25-year-old Sorour Sorourian was called to the representative office of the Ministry of Intelligence of Iran in Hamadan to answer some questions.  She was at work at that time and went to the office with her mother upon at 13:30 p.m. Afterwards, Sorour was detained and there is no news about her.  Then officers went home with her mother to search her room.  They confiscated some Baha’i materials and books, computer case and some personal belongings and left at 15:30 p.m.

The officers refrained from giving any detail on the charge of detaining Miss Sorourian and the place where she was kept. After the family strenuously objected to this detention, the authorities produced court orders for her arrest issued on April 8, 2009.

Because of the family relation with Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, one of the imprisoned members of the Friends in Iran, and Miss Sorourian’s late father’s four-time imprisonments on charge of being a Baha’i, the family is deeply worried about Sorour’s situation.  Furthermore, the way she was called to the intelligence representative office without indicating a charge against her adds to everyone’s concern about her present condition.

We sincerely request you to take prompt action on raising the issue by contacting Human Rights organizations, local authorities, media or any other way you might consider fruitful.  Imprisonment of this Baha’i youth, as well as other detained Baha’is in Iran, is absolutely without foundation.  In your appeals, kindly insist that she should have the right to legal representation, for her family to have permission to contact and see her in order to ensure her good health, and her immediate release.

The following is a communication received from the same source on Sunday April 12, 2009:

With heart brimmed with gratitude, I share with you the glad tiding of freedom of Sorour Sorourian, along with three other youth in Hamadan this afternoon.  The spiritual flood released through your ardent, unremitting prayers, the balm-like effect of your kind sentiments, widespread outcry you raised in various sites, and heartwarming actions you shared over this short span of time undeniably demonstrates the very spirit of unity animating the Baha’i community all around the world, and contributed greatly to withdrawal of the hand of injustice.

The joyful news is that out of the four Baha’i youth detained in Hamadan within last week, three are being released. The detainees were under interrogation for seven hours yesterday.

This achievement shows that authorities are sensitive to the negative effect of media. However my dear friends, not only one of the prisoners, 25 year old youth Miss Sahba Khademi, is still under custody, but also the other three have just been temporarily released through placing surety of some property. It appears that by doing so the government in just changing the outer form of detainment to calm the international outcry and objection without really freeing the detainees from the charges they are accused of. Thus they can be called back at any time and imprisoned again. Therefore, your fervent prayers and resolute action is kindly requested so that the clouds of injustice and misunderstanding would be torn asunder and the light of unity and amity would illumine the world.