Source: bahaicamp.com
Translation by Iran Press Watch
On the occasion of the birthday of Navid Khanjani * – a Baha’i citizen who has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for his belief in the Baha’i Faith – a number of past student activists, newspaper reporters and human rights activists paid a visit to his family.
Navid Khanjani is celebrating his birthday at Rajai Shahr prison for the third consecutive year following his arrest and imprisonment.
This Baha’i citizen has served more than 1200 days of his 12-year sentence.
During this visit, Massoud Bastani, Jila Bani-Yaghoob, Bahman Ahmadi-Amooyee, Misagh Afshar, Vahed Kholoosi, Mohammad Karimi, Majid Dorri, Shahnaz Karim-Beygi, Maryam Karim-Beygi, Jila Karamzadeh-Makvandi, Kaveh Shirazi, Shayan Vahdati and a number of other civil rights activists were present.
August 10, 2015 7:12 am
The Bahá’ís of Irán
© John J. Butler.
6th Kamal 172 B.E 6th August 2015 C.E.
Locked away, confined in prison stay.
Unknowing their fate, with each passing day,
Deprived of their freedom for the love of their Faith,
But never forgotten, to fade like a wraith.
They are Heroes and Heroines, to whom we admire,
For their love of Bahá’u’lláh, is a Raging Fire,
“O the Nightingale of Paradise.”¹we pray day and night,
To give them strength – and be freed from their plight.
Others were beaten or simply shot dead,
Education denied or forbidden to earn bread,
Many homes of Bahá’ís where burnt to the ground,
But their Faith grows stronger, as we have all found.
Our history is littered with many a soul,
Who freedoms and lives those evil men stole
Such Mulláhs and guards have dug their own tomb,
For these Iránian leaders will face their own Doom.
Think they can beat God, what foolishness is this?
How deluded are these evil ones – short is their bliss.
Muhammad will refuse them, by turning His back.
And the eternity of Hell with surround them dark black.
But the saints of Bahá are drawn to the Light,
Their brilliance outshining, the sun that so bright,
For once departed entre they the Crimson Ark
And hear the Song of Bahá, that Celestial Lark.
For us who are free, we much teach day and night,
Spread the Good News with His help and His might,
For the storm clouds have gathered thick bellowing black,
Let us arise in their names and to God win souls back.
So dear friends, confined in Prison stay,
And you who are persecuted in this special day,
You are not forgotten, our prayers are for you,
That together we’ll build, His World Order anew.
¹ The Table of Ahmad.
August 10, 2015 6:53 pm
Beautiful poetry from John Butler. Our prayers and well wishes are for the heroes of Iran.