L.I.F.

E
Love is for everyone

A concerning issue
The fear, the oppression.the situation of Bahais in Iran

Table of Contents
Editors notes ................................................................................................................................................. 1
Report When does it get better ........................................................................................................... 2-5
Review - Mona and the children ............................................................................................................... 6
Memoir- A bit difficult to believe ............................................................................................................. 7
The Creative Project .................................................................................................................................. 8
Work cited Information ............................................................................................................................. 9

Editors Notes

This magazine will explore the ongoing situation in

Iran, by providing in depth information of what is
taking place there. The magazine hopes to portray the
issue and see the issue from a whole other
perspective rather than the obvious.
People have different attitudes towards issues base on
their concern. With the situation in Iran regarding the
Bahai community, peoples attitude would probably
vary in respect, to knowledge and concern of the
issue where as some just dont seem to care. Some
common assumptions and arguments about the issue
is that this issue not of concern, this issue does not
affect them directly, so why should even be concern.
With this concern of the Bahai community in Iran, I
feel strongly that if we overlook this problem, that it
could get worse and we will regret not trying to
prevent it.
As I pondered about what to write, I was easily
tempted to write on same-sex marriage or growing up

gay and being Polynesian. But I thought to myself, it

will only reinforce the stereotype and also it will
reinforce the same arguments.
I remember discussing in class about when you are
writing on specific issue that you need engage in
providing a new insight and angle on the issue of our
choice that no one has ever seen before or even
considered. At the same time, we all divided into
groups to discuss our possible issues that we are
considering writing about. I remember as we were
taking turns in our groups talking about certain issues
that we were interested in. I talked about illegal
immigration and how we need to really look at the
process and find a better way to address our
immigrations issues and provide better solutions
rather than setting it aside and then realizing, when
its too late, that it is a problem. As we talked about
our issues in class that very day, I was pretty
confident that I was going to stick with the illegal
immigration issue, but then I realized that I should
take a leap of faith and write on something different,
that will provoke thought, something that no one
would write about. So I chose to write it on
oppression of Bahais in Iran. I chose to write about
the persecutions of Bahais in Iran because I feel
strongly that this is a concerning and alarming issue
that should be brought to the forefront. I feel that
everything that this issue encompasses would bring
unity amongst the international community to
advocate and fight for the rights of any one who is
being oppressed by the government.
I grew up as Bahai, and Ive heard many scary
stories from my Bahai friends about scary
circumstances that happen to them in Iran. As I
researched more about the oppression of the Bahais
in Iran, it just didnt make sense to me until I started
reading more about the history of the Bahai faith,
there is should me the unrest hostility of the Iranian
government and efforts to eliminate the Bahai
community in all. As I read more and accounts of
oppression of the Bahais in Iran, it sadden my heart
to even research that and to find out, that it is still
occurring today.
My perspectives did somewhat change over the
semester in regards to how to the issue is being dealt
with on the international level. I feel strongly that
there needs be a better push for awareness of the
concern.

When does it get better?

A never ending feeling of fear and oppression.
There has been unrest hostility in and discrimination. In
Iran, members of the Bahai Faith are constantly facing
oppression from their government. Irans government is
operated under a theocracy system, where religion plays
a pivotal role on governmental affairs and society.
Members of the Bahai faith are constantly being evicted from their homes, imprisoned and
executed. Bahais is the largest religious minority group in Iran with a total amount of 300,000.
Bahais has been deprived of jobs, pensions and equal educational opportunities (Baha'i Topics).
Bahais is often interrogated by officials requiring of them to give information about their
personal lives, actions and about their neighbors. They are prime targets of physical assaults to
drive them to leave villages and towns in fear.

In Iran and other Islamic countries leaders view the Baha`i faith as threat to Islam and have
vigorously labeled Bahais as heretics (Baha'i Topics). Islamic
leaders claim that the Bahai Faith is not a religion. They
strongly argue that Bahais is Zionist and spies for Israel due to
the fact that the Bahai headquarters is located in Haifa, Israel.
They also claim that Bahais is associated with Israel in
conjunction working against the government of Iran gathering information to strike down their
national security.

The Bahai faith was founded in 1863 by Bahaullah which in Arabic means The Glory of
God in Persia or what is now known as Iran
(Origins and the spread of the Baha'i Faith). This
religion has spread across the world so elegantly
attracting five to six million believers from 200
hundred countries and nations from all walks of
life. The Bahai faith strongly advocates for unity
of all humankind, universal language, and
independent investigation of the truth, education and women rights.

In an article on Islam & the Bahai faith, the articles goes on the explain in some detail that
Muslims at the present time do not know a lot about the Bahai faith, other than what they hear
and from what they read in Muslim and other non-Baha'i sources. The articles specifically states
that while Muslims followers encourage other people to read and learn more about Islam, that
they themselves remain satisfy with the opinions of their clergy and do not independently
investigate the truth for themselves to get a better knowledge of what the Bahai faith is
(Islam and the Baha'i Faith).

In 1979, with the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as the new constitution was
being drafted in April of that very year, certain rights of the Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian
minorities in Iran were specifically mentioned and protected. However, there was no mention
whatsoever in the new constitution in regards to the rights of the Bahai community, Irans
largest religious minority religious group. With the government operating under a theocracy
system, Bahais is now still primary targets. With this constitution still in effect, nearly half the

Bahais executed in Iran since 1979 have been members of national and local governing councils
of the Bahai community, known as Spiritual Assemblies (The Baha'i question).

As the Bahai faith grew and started to spread outside

the boarders of Iran. Islamic leaders started noticing
the influence that the Bahais were gaining and sought
nothing more than to put an end to it. Persecutions of
Bahais were carried out by governmental officials in a
systematic way. By modifying their strategies of
persecutions to a more collective and cultural
limitation, the government knew by approaching the matter of persecution and deprivation of
Bahais this way that these methods would less likely bring an international inquiry and
disapproval (Baha'i Topics).

In June of 1983 ten Bahai

women and girls were arrested
by the Iranian authorities for
teaching Bahai childrens
classes, similar to a Sunday
school here in the west. The
women went through intense physical and mental abuse to get them to recant their faith, by
staying true to their beliefs they did not recant their faith and by not recanting their faith, the 10
women and girls were executed by the Iranian officials (Baha'i Topics). An eye witnesses who
was there at the executions, specifically stated that We tried saving their lives up to the last

moment, but one by one, first the older ladies, then the young girls, were hanged while the others
were forced to watch, the officials hoped that this might induce them to recant their belief. We
even urged them to say they were not Bahais, but not one of them agreed; they preferred the
execution (Baha'i Faith).

As time went on, after one shocker and another, a shocking discovery of a secret memorandum
in 1993 shed some light on the very issues faced by Bahais in Iran drafted by the Supreme
Revolutionary Cultural Council and signed by Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Republic
of Iran. The document specifically states that progress
and the development of Bahais of Iran shall be
blocked. This document goes to show that the
government has not indicated or change their mind in
regards to eliminating the Bahai community in Iran
for good; this is just one of the very examples, which
the government is trying to a halt to Bahais to freely practice religion (Baha'i Topics).

In August of 2004, Iranian authorities tried to force Iranian Bahai youth to identify themselves
as Muslims by pre-printing Islam on college examination forms after holding out the prospect
that Bahais would be allowed to return to university after two decades of exclusion. Because
Bahais does not want to misrepresent their faith, the move effectively extends the ban on Bahai
students at national universities a ban that has sought to deprive an entire generation of higher
education (Baha'i Topics).

With the Denial of access to higher education for Iranian citizens identified as Bahais has been
well documented in recent years. Many recent cases were reported by the International

Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, on 7 December 2010. Its partial list of 70 students barred or
expelled from universities in 2010 on political or religious grounds includes 17 Bahais.

Bahai school children at all school levels are being monitored and belittled by school officials.
Secondary school students are often being harassed, ridiculed and some were even threatened to
be expelled from school. Religious studies teachers in the schools would insult and ridicule
Bahai beliefs. In a few reported cases, when Bahai students attempt to clarify matters at the
request of their peers, they are summoned to the school authorities and threatened with expulsion
if they continue to teach their Faith (Baha'i World News Service).

With The on-going suffering and difficulties that Iranian Bahais are still facing today, when
does it get better? A never ending feeling of fear and oppression lingers. In November of 2001
for the first time in 18 years, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights failed to pass a
resolution expressing concern about human rights in Iran, an event that ended UN-sponsored
monitoring of the Iran's human rights situation. Ever since an end was put on the monitoring of
Iran, the situation of the Bahais in Iran did not improve (Baha'i World News Service).

Today Iran is still facing unrest hostility due to ignorance, arrogance and lack of education. It is
still evident today that there is still a repeated trend religious discrimination. The United Nations
approved a resolution on the on-going contention of human rights issues of Iranian Bahais By a
vote of 73 to 49, with 50 abstentions; the Third Committee of the United Nations General
Assembly approved the resolution. This new Resolution is proclaimed to be a forcefully worded
resolution in about 25 years on Iran, hoping to send a message to the government that the
international community will not turn a blind eye to this colossal issue of human rights being
faced there. The resolution also expresses the concerns of the treatment of Arabs, Baluchis,

Kurds, Christians, hews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and their defenders (Baha'i World News
Service).

Mona and the Children

attained an easy to remember melody with witty and

charming lyrics also evoking and playing with
emotional senses. (Wayango)
The song Mona and the children conjures up an
emotional storm where the song will have you at the
edge of the seat, wondering whats going to happen
next as if you were watching a really good and
intense movie. The song illustrates ineffable
qualities attracting listeners to hear the story thats
unfolding with a soothing yet calming demeanor
that is neither flashy nor fast paced.

Mona and the children is a captivating and

sensational protest song in that was released in
early 1980s by Canadian artist Doug Cameron,
who was encourage by Canadian producer and
keyboardist Jack Lenz to write a song about Mona
Mahmudnizhad, who was the youngest of ten
women who were hanged in Iran because they
would not recant their religious beliefs.
The sole purpose of the song by Doug Cameron is to
give insight, understanding and informing as well
as educating the world on an alarming and
concerning issue of the persecutions of Bahais in
Iran. The angle of this song is a call to action by
allowing us to witness and to see first hand for
ourselves what happen and why it happened that
way.
The genre of music that Mona and the children are
categorized under is pop music. Pop music
embodies a rhythmic element a catchy melody or
hook. A style and structure that had conquered
mainstream music today. You can also refer to pop
music as any piece of music that is popular on the
radio and making profit by selling. The song has

As the songs goes on further more in detail, the

lyrics of the song plays with the senses, illustrating
to the listeners a vivid picture of grace, elegance
and poise painted with an interior feeling of anxiety,
pain and destruction. The song then portrays an act
of courage, empowerment and a willing to stand up
for what is right in the degree of opposition. With its
easygoing melody it is just right to listen to and easy
to follow. With its charming lyrics and catchy
phrase, the song will take you on ride in time and it
will be one ride that youll never forget. With the
waves of emotion that this song contains, it is one
that you can simply listen to and you cant stop
thinking about.
On the other hand the one part of the genre that this
song is missing is that it does not have any witty
lyrics. Like I mentioned before the song is smooth,
if it did have some witty lyrics, it will defeat the sole
purpose of the songs meaning and its effectiveness
to evoke certain feelings and having someone being
able to relate to it in a certain manner.
So in conclusion this is a thought provoking song
that conjures up images of beauty, sacrifice,
injustice, courage and empowerment. When
listening to this song, you will gain sense of
appreciation of what you have, and be more
thankful to live a day where fear and oppression are
not lurking around the corner waiting to take you
hostage. The symbolic notion of this song offers
many people a sense of comfort.

My fear overcame!
In a day where the light is bright, I am filled with fright.
My heart is filled with love,
showing above while the inside ponders on none.
As fear walks in and trembles on me, what to do?
Who to trust? Where to go?
I must, I must, and I must!
Capture in a sea of madness.
Tortured in their very being, because they see me relentless.
They blindfolded me regardless.
As they lifted the veil I was their hostage.
Trapped in lust for greed, I was told I couldnt breathe.
Can they hear my cries of weak?
With an outer shell that screams freak.
The inner is much special, but they dare not peak.
My pain is an their gain,
To wish me death is their way to train
At lost for words, why dont they love?
In a matter of seconds my soul is flying free like a dove into the sky
above.

A little bit difficult to believe.

As we were sitting there at a feast at
grandmas house we all got ready to say a
round of prayers. Feast is a gathering, when
Bahais gets together at the first day of the
Bahai month, similar to a Sunday services or
Friday prayers for Islam occurring every
nineteen days. Grandmas living room goes
quiet for a second while the little kids
snickered and poked each other, then
Grandmas says in a assertive yet soft voice
Let us pray. One after another the adults
and the kids said their prayers with such
profound grace and expression, that you can
almost feel it. As we were saying our round of
prayers, the little kids started to giggle and
snicker at each other once again saying no,
you did it! Grandma then opened her eyes
swiftly, glares at the little kids and says
shhhhh, be quiet, were saying prayer. The
kids quickly went quiet and sat there on the
chairs, holding their breathes for a short
second and then closing their eyes. I couldnt
help, but to hold my laugh inside, because I
know I would have gotten the glare as well.
Then out of no where, this overwhelming
feeling began to attack me elegantly and I notice shortly after that I was getting goose
bumps as we finished saying our prayers.
Once we opened our eyes, my dad then, welcomes everyone for coming to the feast, and
then dad focuses his attention on the little kids who were laughing. You know, you need to
be patient, dad says firmly to the little kids who were laughing. It will only take twenty to
thirty minutes to get our feast program finished, so just be patient. You have all the time in
the world to play and goof around after. The little kids started to laugh out loud, then dad
says its not funny and I am not playing with you. You guys are so anxious that you can not
just sit in the chair that your little butts are so itchy that you have to move around and you
cant stay still. We all cant help it, but to laugh as well, when dad said- that aloud.
As the laughter died down, dad then grabs his ukulele and says,
Lets sing some songs. As he tuned his ukulele and slowly
started playing, the kids started shouting out their favorite
Bahai songs that they wanted to sing. We sang about three of
those songs that kids requested to sing to best of our vocal
abilities. The little kids were having a good time singing along
and doing the actions to the songs. It just made the atmosphere
feel so light and so free. Free of frustration, free of anguish.

After we sang the last song, dad then turns the time over to Marva to speak. Marva is a
good family friend of the family. Right before Marvas about the speak, Grandma
intervenes asking Marva, Oh, do you have letters from the National Spiritual Assembly
that you would like to read for us today, go ahead and read please! We all sat there and
chuckled silently, because we all know thats how grandma is and thats not new. Dad,
Aunty, and Uncle Clyde shook their heads vigorously, showing grandma that Marva,
already knows what to do. Marva proceeded and started with annoucements regarding the
various Bahai communities here in Utah. Some Bahais communities needed some tutors
for study circles; some needed animators (facilitators) for junior youth programs that were
taking place. As soon as Marva finished with the announcements, she then reads the feast
letter that was sent from the National Spiritual Assembly.
In the letter that Marva read from the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S., the letter
talked about seven Bahai members who were recently arrested on charges of being a
Zionists and threatening the national security of Iran. The seven people were currently
awaiting trial and sentencing. The letter went on to explain in short detail some of the
religious discrimination that Bahais in Iran still face to this day, and sometimes the dyer
consequences of either fleeing the country for their safety or risk being a target of
unresting discrimination, being jailed or executed. The letter goes on to express the sadness
and the difficulties that these seven people and families were facing and urging the various
Bahai communities to keep the seven people who were arrested In Iran in our prayers and
thoughts.
As Marva finished reading the letter, a feeling of sadness filled the air and it was evident on
everyone faces, but no one would admit it. While we sat there trying to comprehend the
shocking news that the letter talked about. It was a little bit difficult to believe, because we
thought that it was not a problem in Iran. But little did we know of the unrest hostility that
Iranian government still has towards. I can recall stories from the early beginnings of the
Bahai faith with their constant run in with the opposition of the government. Bahais then
were publicly humiliated, arrested and thrown into jail and or persecuted. As we pondered
about it more at feast, we still can not fathom the very fact that this is still taking place in
Iran and it has not improved, perhaps its just probably getting much more worse. Marva
then says, If you want more updates on what is going on, go to the Bahai website and you
will find updates on what is happening in Iran.
As the program for feast ended, we enjoyed some of grandmas good old Tongan food.
While sitting there at the table eating, I cannot help it, but to think about what is going on
Iran. As I gazed and stared at the wall for a good minute, my brother Hopoi yells out loud
Hey! I shook my head and close my eyes for a quick second, quickly opening my eyes
looking at Hopoi. Are you okay? He asks softy. Yes, I am okay! Why? I replied looking
confused. Oh no, it just looks like something was bothering you, Hopoi replies. Oh, I am
okay, no worries, I was just thinking about something, nothing big, I replied back nicely.
Oh okay, if you need to talk, let me know, Hopoi says assertively as he walks off into his
room.
As Hopoi left to his room, I just sat there at the kitchen table, looking lost, gazing and
staring at the wall again. As a million thoughts passed through and running around in my
head, I sat there thinking about the seven people arrested in Iran and how they were
coping with the situation that they are in? How were their families dealing with this whole

situation? How cruel can the government be so cruel, to let this happen, I thought out loud
in my head, trying to hold the tears from showing. Hold your composure, I told myself.
After we were all finished eating, we helped cleaned the kitchen, by stacking all the dishes
together on the counter, plates with plates, bowls with bowls and cups nicely lined up next
to plates and bowls. As we finished cleaning the kitchen, mom and dad where sitting in the
living talking to Marva, Grandma, Aunty and uncle Clyde. As I walked into the living
room to sit down, Mom and Dad gets up out of there seats, okay lets go, get your shoes
and jackets on. We said our goodbyes to everyone and we all got in the car and headed
home.
On the whole way home, I thought about the situation in Iran, it kept replaying in my mind
like a repeating newspaper headline coming back to remind me of the importance of this
issue. The deeper I thought about the issue, the more curiosity wanted to play and learn
more. As we got home, I got out of the car and walked inside the house, got a drink of
water then I went downstairs to my room.
I walked into my room and I jumped into my queen size bed, it felt like I jumped into a bed
full of marshmallows. As I laid there pondering even more about what is taking place in
Iran. I thought about my own struggles, growing up here in Utah, being gay, being a
Polynesian and being Bahai. I live in a society were this so called life style is not accepted
and when someone learns that your gay, two things can happen to you. You are both
harassed and teased immensely or your friends accept you and love you for you. But with
my struggles growing up, does not compare to the things that Iranian Bahais put up with.
Iranian Bahais are discriminated against by the government, they are suspected to work
against the government of Iran. Often times to stop their influence, governmental officials
would raid their homes and arrest them on the charge of conspiracy against the
government. Iranian Bahais would be taken to jail. In jail they would undergo
interrogations and be tortured, in order for them to be free they would have to recant their
beliefs if they did not agree to the conditions, some were publicly humiliated or executed.
How a group can be singled out and be a primary target of discrimination all because they
dont have the same beliefs. When youre left in a corner, people dont see you even though
you are there. When you try to offer your point of view no one wants to hear what you have
to say even if it is the truth up to a certain point. People view you as a menace rather than
neighbor or a friend. You want to scream on the top of your lungs your pain and
frustration but no one can hear you. You try to force yourself out of that corner or box that
people have put you into, but then you notice shortly that you are just being forced back
into that box where people think they know who you truly are and what you can do.
I can empathized with the feeling of being left out, being left in a corner all because you are
different. But its mind bottling to hear of what Bahais are put through. I can in no way
imagine how hard it must be for them, to strive for equality. I thought I had it hard being a
gay Polynesian man seeking understanding and acknowledgment from a society, who in my
mind is not as open, minded as they think they are to those of the Iranian Bahais. I cant
fathom the fact of what the Iranian Bahais are thinking, but I can relate to the fact of
being helpless in a quiet cries of un-satisfaction, discrimination and oppression.

Works Cited
25 April 2011 <http://www.bci.org/islam-bahai/MuslimBahais.htm>.
Baha'i Faith. 2011. 25 April 2011 <http://www.bahai.us/day-of-courage>.
Baha'i Topics. 2006. 25 April 2011 <http://info.bahai.org/persecution_iran.html>.
Baha'i World News Service. 2011. 25 April 2011 <http://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iranupdate/>.
Baha'i World News Service. 2011. 25 April 2011 <http://news.bahai.org/story/259>.
Islam and the Baha'i Faith. 2004. 25 April 2011 <http://www.bci.org/islam-bahai/MuslimBahais.htm>.
The Baha'i question. 25 April 2011 <http://question.bahai.org/004.php>.
Wayango. 28 April 2011 <www.wayango.com/genres/vocalstandards/>.