Save the Baha'is: A Plea from the Redwood Forest

Dear Congressman Sestak:

May I call upon you to support House Resolution 1008, introduced by your colleague Mark Kirk on 28 February 2008.

The Baha'is of Iran are suffering one of the worst episodes of human rights abuse since World War II. A peace-loving religious community, the followers of the Baha'i Faith believe in the unity of the human race and the essential oneness of all the divine religions. Because they also believe that a Messenger or Manifestation of God has come after Muhammad, they are officially persecuted by the Iranian state. Islamic belief holds that no prophet will ever appear after Muhammad.

Only five days ago, six leaders of the Baha'i community were imprisoned by the Iranian government for no reason other than their religious beliefs. A seventh leader has been in prison since 5 March 2008. These leaders include women, and they have committed no crime that any civilized country would recognize. Indeed, any right-thinking, just government would regard them as exemplary citizens. At no time has the government of Iran, since the beginning of its persecution of the Baha'is in 1979, ever presented evidence to the world that the Baha'is have committed any offense against the state or violated its laws.

Not only have Baha'is been imprisoned, they have also been forced out of their jobs and livelihoods, out of schools and universities, out of their homes; many have been systematically tortured; and over two hundred Baha'i leaders have been executed, including women and youth of both sexes.

In 1980 and 1981, all but one member of two successive national Bahá'í governing bodies, the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, were imprisoned and executed.

And yet throughout these waves of persecution the Baha'is of Iran have steadfastly sought to obey the government of Iran in all its directives, even those requiring the disbanding of Baha'i institutions and the relinquishment of Baha'i property. However, the Baha'is refuse to obey any law requiring them to disavow their beliefs, and for this they are subjected to the gravest injustices.

I encourage you to investigate the record of the Baha'is and, if you find their actions and beliefs worthy of America's best traditions, to defend their human rights by supporting this resolution.

Pressure-Free Voting

Elections in the Baha'i Faith do not involve campaigning or nominations, street money or political ads. People just vote their conscience without discussing the matter. But could that ever be possible in "the real world"? One blogger, referring to one campaign in the current democratic primary elections, writes:

"They've been able to largely ignore the hysterical punditry, who shouldn't have any role in the Democratic nomination process." (My emphasis.)

Hmm. Sounds like the beginnings of a sea change.