On 25 February 2009, Aftab News reported that Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi, one of the most powerful religious leaders in Iran today, had said:
“Why is that when a few Baha’i spies are arrested in Iran, the American Congress stands up to defend them but when it comes to these painful episodes [of Sunni-Shi’i violence that erupted in Medina on February 23], they are completely silent?
“According to reliable information, a group of Wahhabis published 30 million books against Shi’ism last year; yet they don’t allow a single book to be published to offer a rational response to their flimsy arguments.”
[Source: http://aftabnews.ir/vdcd9z0j.yt0kk6a22y.html]
March 4, 2009 11:40 pm
I am not a Baha’i, and I am not a Muslim. I am a freethinking lover of God and the Truth.
The sad fact that becomes more and more clear to me is how badly and for how long these blood-sucking mullahs have screwed, beaten, stolen from, burned, and murdered Iranians of all shades and persuasions, for their own sick and parasitic lives. And the sadder thing still is that even when one day (a dream right now) this filthy ilk and their stench is cleaned from Iran, the effects will stay for so so so very long on the body politic.
We should expect nothing but greater and greater outrageous behavior and words from these evil people, until one day they bury themselves in their own hell.
–Anonymous–
March 5, 2009 1:20 pm
Persecution is the legacy of Shi’a believers. They were persecuted throughout their history and every one of the Imams suffered martyrdom. The martyrdom of Imam Husayn gave special characteristics to Shi’a Islam that continue to resonate in the Baha’i Faith.
How sad, how sad, that they who experienced this long legacy of maltreatment, who so regard martyrdom, who revere the sacrificial legacy of Imam Husayn have themselves become the internationally shunned instigators of oppression against the peaceful Baha’is.
Awaken, O Mollahs, the Lord of the Age has come, the Lord of the Age has come!
March 5, 2009 10:34 pm
Bahai’s would be surviving if they were able to practice taqiyyah, a form of dissimulation for survivors’ sake. This was outlawed by Baha’u’llah and is viewed as a form of deception and dishonesty. Taqiyyah is practiced by Shiites – both Ithna-Ashari and Ismaili’s in parts of the world where they are persecuted. In Saudi Arabia, the persecuted Shiite minority has been known to participate in some of the looting Shiite business establishments (these were instigated by Wahhabi authorities in the authority’s anti-Shiite pogrom). Looking at the criticism that Ayatollah Shirazi has made towards the West — there is a famous biblical quote not to be critical of others when you yourself are a sinner. Iran is one of the world’s greatest bulldozer nations. They bulldoze and vandalize property of their perceived enemies and try in every way to oppress their perceived enemies through government control and force. So it isn’t as simple or frivolous matter as Shirazi portrays the matter. This is a well organized pogrom directed at dissidents both perceived and imaginary. Pity the Iranian authorities can’t see their hypocrisy.
March 19, 2009 8:14 pm
If Iran set an example of freedom of speech, then western countries would have a little more incentive to press Saudi Arabia to do likewise. Then the Baha’is could send the Saudis books praising the holy Imams and explaining the difference between them and the Ayatollahs, and encouraging the Saudis to forgive Shi’is for their current leadership. But if freedom of speech were given, the political clerics might cause more harm in the short run, than the Baha’is did good for their victims.
March 21, 2009 4:09 am
It is my humble opinion that this Ayatollah’s message is really addressed to the American intelligence system. The threat to Shiite Islam is real — look at what happened to Ms. Bhutto, who was both a Shiite & a friend of the children & heretics. The real irony is, that it has always been the Bahai’s who have spoken up for Iran, in spite of the brutality to which our friends have been subjected. Can this be a confession that Iran really does need some assistance from the Great Satan? Let us pray that Allah will inspire our president, and that he will negotiate well.