Iran bans paper for running photo of Baha'i temple

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TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian authorities have banned the country’s largest-circulation newspaper for publishing a photo of a Baha’i temple, state media reported Monday.

Iran’s Shiite cleric-led regime views the Baha’i religion as heretical and has banned it since the 1979 revolution. The photo also gave Iran’s leaders an opportunity to silence the Hamshahri daily, which mostly reports on social issues but which has been critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Hamshahri was ordered closed by the Press Supervisory Board, a government agency run by hard-liners, for printing an advertisement containing a photo of a Baha’i temple that encourages tourists to visit the shrine, the official IRNA news agency reported.

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9 Responses

  1. Bill

    November 25, 2009 3:00 am

    Of all the stories of persecution, this more than any has been dumbfounding. The enormous negative publicity generated from this one foolish act clearlygot to the authorities, because they rescinded the order within 24 hours. So there cannot even be a visual representation of the Baha’i presence in the world? My God, there are 6 million Baha’is and there are Baha’i temples and holy places and centers around the world. But, a picture?

    Reply
  2. Steven

    November 25, 2009 5:17 pm

    I’m weirded out too. And why would a conservative paper have a picture of a Baha’i temple on it anyway – is there an association with being critical of the president? Why?!

    O and I think 6 million is a conservative estimate. An aggressive estimate might be 12 million. I’m favoring over 7 million which is a common enough references.

    Reply
  3. Paul

    November 25, 2009 5:36 pm

    Which temple and what who was advertising what tourists to visit what shrines?
    Can anyone buy adds in an Iranian newspaper?
    Maybe I can advertise?

    Reply
  4. Terry

    November 28, 2009 12:23 am

    Well… Well… Well… It seems that all we need to do is merely exist and that fact seems to push the buttons of the Iranian authorities ….

    that is sad…

    Reply
  5. Robert

    November 28, 2009 2:09 pm

    Terry’s comment is right on…. but we do have to remember that it is the extremists in the various religions and political realms who have, for their own nefarious purposes, put words in the mouth of people. All we can do as civil and moral human beings is insist on our right to speak up and expose their fraudulent behavior so the ignorant will not be fooled.

    Reply

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