A letter from Sama Nourani

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alborz-sama-norani1316025976_thumb_medium130_140 http://edu-right.net/index.php[www.edu-right.net] Sama Nourani, 21 years old, was expelled from the National University of Tabriz, Iran, because he was a member of the Baha’i Faith. He merely questioned the university administrators regarding his expulsion. He was then arrested, and, in an unjust court, he was subsequently found guilty and sentenced to one year of imprisonment. He is currently incarcerated in sector 350 at Evin prison.

Sama wrote a letter to his younger brother (Alborz) after he was also expelled from the university because of his religious beliefs. The letter he wrote is as follows:

My Dear brother Alborz, I love you and I am with you all the time. The day when you came with Mom to visit me at Evin prison, Mom told me, during a few minutes of greeting, that you, my little brother, had recently been expelled from the university. I was so sad; it was as if it was the end of the world for me. I had a strange feeling I had never felt before, even when they expelled me. I was quite shocked. I stared at you, while you had a smile on your face, as if you were telling me that I was not alone, and that you also have been deprived of your rights because of your beliefs. At that point I wished that no one else would join me on this difficult path.

The difficult moments of that day came to an end, and I was ashamed that we have not done enough, so that you could have your rights. I kept thinking that perhaps what my friends and I and previous generations had done to get back our legal right of a higher education in our country had been all in vain. Injustices such as being denied an education, being expelled from universities, and being sent to prison solely for questioning why our right to an education, to which we are entitled under our constitution, has been taken away. For hours all these thoughts preoccupied my mind and ruined my hopes, which at that point were my only haven — hope of a future in which no one anywhere in the world is deprived of their rights due to their beliefs, a hope of a land wherein all its youth, Baha’i and non-Baha’i, men and women, are not deprived their rights, especially the right to an education, which is the most exalted human right.

I was immersed in my thoughts for a day or two, and reflecting on the past, I realized it has always been costly to achieve lofty goals. Reviewing the history of the Baha’i Faith, so many lives have been sacrificed and so many properties have been confiscated; perhaps there should be even heavier costs paid before we reach the point when everyone has equal rights. So I am thankful for you and all our friends who have sacrificed one of their dearest wishes, which is a higher education. Upon reflection, I am certain that all our youth’s efforts, either in previous generations or in our time, will not have been in vain at all.

If a few years ago Baha’i youth could not even take part in the entrance exam, now, because of all the efforts and follow-ups, they can attend the exam — some of them have been able to study at the best Iranian national schools for a few terms before they are expelled. Be assured that after our legal effort there will come a day when we will all be studying at Iran’s universities without any inequality or discrimination, and that we will use all our power to reconstruct Iran and serve our noble compatriots.

Rest assured that these sacrifices will not be forgotten, and be even more certain that those beautiful days of equality will come soon.

My Dear Alborz, from behind the prison bars your proud smile revealed to me that you and your friends know these facts better than I do. My hope for a brighter future is now strengthened, and my beautiful days here are more colorful.

I am here with my new friends, who are mostly professors, but also students deprived of receiving an education due to their beliefs.

Accept their warmest regards and convey it to your friends as well.

Love forever, Sama

Translation by Iran Press Watch

Source: http://www.edu-right.net/archive/544-sama-letter

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4 Responses

  1. KIM KARDASHIAN

    April 28, 2012 8:54 am

    NO TRUE BAHA’I SHOULD EVER BE PERSECUTED FOR HIS FAITH, NOR SHOULD HE/SHE EVER BE DEPRIVED OF BASIC RIGHTS TO EDUCATION (INCLUDING HIGHER EDUCATION), EMPLOYMENT, CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTY.

    HAVING SAID THAT, IT IS ALSO SAD TO NOTE THAT THE BAHA’I ADMINISTRATION HAS BE INFILTRATED AND COMPROMISED BY ZIONIST JEWS. THE INSTITUTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THIS FAITH (unbeknownst TO MOST BAHA’IS) IS NOW THE INSTITUTION THAT SUPPORTS CRIME. SAD AND CRIMINAL/

    Reply
  2. Linda Gregory

    April 28, 2012 8:47 pm

    Thank you for standing up for the rights of Baha’is in Iran but I am concerned about the rest of your post. I don’t know where you came up with this allegation about the Baha’i administration unless it is from the Iranian government. They have variously accused the Baha’is (at the same time ironically) of being spies for the Soviet Union or Russia, the U.S. and of course Israel. The Baha’i world center is in Israel because the founder of the Baha’i Faith was exiled from Iran to Baghdad, then to Istanbul and eventually to ‘Akka in Israel. Thus our Holy places are in Israel but this does not mean that the Faith is part of the Israeli government anymore than the Muslim or Christian faiths are. It also appears that your post is anti Jewish. Baha’is believe that the major religions all came from God and that all forms of prejudice, including religious must be abandoned.

    Reply
  3. Linda GregoryII

    April 29, 2012 4:33 am

    true. i have no prejudice towards anyone. I have just plenty of FACTS. VERIFIABLE facts. I know the Baha’i faith well. Now ask yourself this question: WHY would someone like that say such things as stated above? IT IS NOT PERSONAL. IT IS FACTUAL (AGAIN). Read the above link and may be you will understand… (By “FACTS” I am not directly refering to the above weblink eventhough Jewish Zionist control over Banks and media in the US (for example) can be proven statistically (unemotionally, verifiably and factually), YOU need to do an “independent Investigation of the TRUTH” for once may be.

    USA, ENGLAND AND SOVIET UNION ALL ARE/WERE LARGELY UNDER THE INFLUENCE (IF NOT THE TOTAL CONTROL) OF ZIONIST JEWS. (Yes I AM A PROUD US CITIZEN AND CITIZEN OF THE PLANET EARTH!)

    Reply
  4. Vafa-Canada

    May 1, 2012 12:22 am

    “To be a Baha’i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood” ……. Abdul’Baha

    “Let your vision be world embracing” …… Baha’u’llah
    “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens” …….. Baha’u’llah
    “Truthfulness is the foundation of all Human virtues” ……. Baha’u’llah

    May God bless all those who strive for truth and justice in this world.

    Reply

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