Prayers for the People of Iran

If you know me, you know that I am one of the many concerned about the Baha'is who have been actively persecuted in Iran for no reason other than their faith.
Arbitrarily hauled away to prisons, with no access to due process or legal representation, denied higher education, burial plots, means of livelihood and basic human rights, Baha'is have endured persecution for generations.

And now it seems that this imbalance is coming to a head.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” -- Mahatma Gandhi

This is not about nations -vs- nations or religions -vs- religions. This is about ke ala pono - bringing the balance forward to what is righteous and correct for principled human life and human governance.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the martyrdom of:

• Mrs. Nusrat Yalda’i, 54 years old
• Mrs. ‘Izzat Janami Ishraqi, 50 years old
• Miss Roya Ishraqi, 23 years old
• Mrs. Tahirih Siyavushi, 32 years old
• Miss Zarrin Muqimi, 28 years old
• Miss Shirin Dalvand, 25 years old
• Miss Akhtar Sabit, 20 years old
• Miss Simin Sabiri, 23 years old
• Miss Mahshid Nirumand, 28 years old
  

And, a mere child of 16, by the name of Mona Mahmudnizhad, who spoke of liberty and the right to believe only months before her martyrdom in one of her school essays. In this essay entitled, liberty and upholding-liberty in Islam, she writes:

“The fruit of the religion of Islam is liberty and upholding liberty. Whoever tastes this fruit shall partake of its benefits. Liberty is a resplendent expression amongst all other glowing expressions in the world.

Humankind has always strived for liberty and freedom; so why is it that this freedom is at times taken from us? Why has freedom not always existed from the start of humanity? Why has the world always seen tyrants who have imposed their will upon others? Why are there people who are willing to inflict any sort of injustice upon the others in order that they may safeguard their own interests? What really is true liberty? What is the true meaning of freedom? How does it even come into being?

Some claim that they work to establish equality, and therefore they need freedom! In response to them, I say that absolute equality will never be possible regardless of whether you live in utmost freedom or under utter suppression. Instead, one must strive for the equality of rights; and one can work towards attaining equality of rights even in the absence of freedom…

Why is it that you don’t allow me the freedom in society to express my aspirations; so that I may say who I am and what I seek! So that I may be able to introduce my religious beliefs! Why is it that you don’t grant me the freedom of speech and penmanship, so that I may print my thoughts in newspapers and speak out in radio and television?

Yes, freedom is a heavenly gift, and this gift must be bestowed upon all; yet, you do not allow me to speak out freely as a Baha’i!

Why is it that you do not wish to know that a new religion has appeared? Why is it that you do not remove from before your eyes those thick veils covering the brilliant new Revelation that has dawned?

Perhaps you feel in your subconscious mind that you are not free! That is certainly a reality; and you do indeed lack freedom! You are devoid of the freedom to think! You have put limitations on your thinking and frozen your thoughts…

Freedom is a heavenly gift; so do not deprive yourselves of such a gift! By God; it is a pitiful sin to do so! God has granted this freedom within the essence of every human; and therefore you as a creature of God cannot deprive me of it; and I, as a creature of God, shall not grant you permission to deprive me of it.

God gave me the freedom to think; and thus I thought and reflected and reached the certitude that Baha’u’llah is the Truth. God granted me the freedom to express; and thus I cry out and express that Baha’u’llah is the Truth. God granted me the freedom to write; and thus I write with eloquent penmanship that Baha’u’llah is “Him Whom God Shall make manifest”. He is the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith, and His book is a Divine Book. God granted me the power to think, to write and to believe; and — in giving me such powers — God’s will was not contingent upon a freedom that you would bestow upon me.

Therefore the outcome of your taking our freedom away lies only within the sins you have stored for yourselves. Do give us our freedom then, for we have the power to believe in God and Baha’u’llah; and this power no earthly weapon can destroy! Nay, your efforts will only strengthen our faith. One of the Teachings of Baha’u’llah is the unification of humankind; thus we have the freedom to strive to attain it. Another one of His Teachings is non-involvement in politics, thus we are free not to interfere in your politics…”