Iran Press Watch carried a story of Rafsanjan where Baha’i businesses were set on fire and a threatening letter was left behind. [See here and here] The stories had a partial translation of the letter into English. The full translation by Iran Press Watch is shared with you here.
The Editor
—
In the Name of God
Warning and Commitment letter
Members of the misguided Baha’i cult in the city of Rafsanjan:
Fighting against disbelief (rejection of religion) and polytheism, especially against a cult whose supporters are the biggest enemies of Islamic Iran- Israel and the US is the duty of each and every Muslim. Since you, contrary to the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, preach and propagate [your religion], you will not be entitled to any citizenship rights or security. However, since the enlightened Islamic religion permits entering into contracts between Muslims and non-Muslims to guarantee protection of the lives and properties of the latter, we inform the Bahas of this city that if you accept our conditions mentioned below, we will not aggress your life and properties. But if you do not accept the terms of this treaty, it will be interpreted as your insistence on hostility toward the Muslim and Shiite residents of the city, and we shall uproot the basis of imperialism in this city through our Jihadi actions. Inshallah (God willing).
The terms of the treaty:
1. Refraining from propogating and preaching the Baha faith even in cyber space (internet)
2. Refraining from relationships and friendships with Muslims except in the work and business context
3. Refraining from hiring Muslim employees by Baha shopkeepers
Since in the books of Rouhi Foundation, friendship with Muslims has been greatly encouraged as a means of preaching, any unnecessary friendship and ties outside the business framework will be considered an attempt to preach [your religion], and will be deemed violation of the terms of this treaty.
Baha’is accepting the content of this commitment letter, should email us at
in the following manner. Otherwise, they should not expect security for their life and possessions.
Every Baha’i family accepting this commitment letter can do it collectively, or any member of the family accepting it can complete it and send it to us as an email, in the following manner.
Sample of Commitment Letter
‘ I, Ali Shaker Ardakani, son of Zabih’u’llah and my wife, Marooneh Zare’ianJahromi, daughter of AbbasAli, and our children Matin, Lua and Rabi’ accept the terms of this commitment ‘
As the Baha’i Administration would likely oppose the signing of this Commitment Letter, those people who take action to send the commitment letter should be assured that their identity shall for ever remain confidential.
As this Commitment Letter is sent to certain Baha’is, it is the duty of every Baha’i ( receiving it ) to inform his relatives and other Baha’is about it. It is particularly the duty of Iraj Missaghian to notify all Baha’is about it and any failure to publicize the commitment letter shall have repercussions against Baha’i Administration ”
—
the original letter in Persian:
January 22, 2011 3:40 am
Judas Iscariot, did not betray Christ because he hated Him, but because he loved Him, but with a passion so strong that he could understand how Jesus could share His love equally with the other disciples, and in a fit of jealousy, he betrayed Him. It is a parable to illustrate that just as no one disciple has the right to command the sole love of Jesus, so too no one church has the right to claim to be the sole representative of Jesus, any more than any one religion can claim to be the sole representative of God.
What we may observe here is a passionate devotion to Muhammad and the cause of Islam that they cannot accept any other. We must first understand and respect this and avoid the occasionally “gloating” attitude of reporting such events. That is not in any way to dismiss them, but it is more constructive to discuss these things in the context of acknowledging the motivation.
My whole being prays for the friends there, for their country and their future.
January 22, 2011 4:15 am
Whether or not your analysis of Judas Iscariot is accurate, Mr. Boyle, that would be no justification for his action. By the same token, what possible pure love for Islam could provoke someone to betray it’s own tenets? If that required killing non-muslims, then that would be the proper course. But to systematically apply pressures on the Baha’is in methods that truly meet the definition of genocide is simply malicious.
To offer respect to these perpetrators is to require justice from them. To excuse them is to patronize them and consider them to be incapable of attaining to a higher standard.
January 22, 2011 4:49 am
Baha’is in Iran have seen it all, they have gone through all forms of persecution. This letter only sounds like many other threats they have been victims to. The administrative bodies of our Faith will advice them accordingly. We have to continue to pray for them. After every crises, there is a victory and the more they persecute the Baha’is the further they spread the Faith since the whole world is beginning to know about these injustices.
January 22, 2011 4:51 am
Thanks for publishing this document. I refrained from replying to the E Mail address provided, but I do feel ironic that Baha’is who world-wide are attempting to defend the fair name of Islam and of Persia which are being tarnished by Muslims such as those in Rafsanjan, should be required not to befriend Muslims.
January 22, 2011 6:02 am
Dear Mr Boyle, as you rightly say, God does not belong to any one religion, but all religions proceed from Him and are various aspects of the one and same truth. If some Muslims in Rafsanjan forget the Islamic teachings on religious liberty and persecute Baha’is who for the last 160 years have been championing inter-religious reconciliation, it is because they have been misguided by those wielding power into believing that their specific way of thought is the one to be adopted by all humanity and that reconciliation can only lead to polytheism and decline.
January 22, 2011 10:44 am
prejudices of any kind are the destroyers of human happiness and welfare, until they are dispelled, the advancement of the world of humanity is not possible, yet racial,religious and national biases are observed everywhere. For thousands of years the world of humanity has been agitated and disturbed by prejudices. ….
if we seek to establish peace, we must cast aside this obstacle for otherwise, agreement and composure are not to be attained.
Dear friends please pay attention to the above read and be just.
January 23, 2011 11:12 pm
America has numerous laws; while many of these laws stem from God’s justice, others are of man’s imaginative creation demanding much of free citizens stealing their liberties; inhibiting the economy and causing difficulties for all. Among our laws we recognize the Right of the freedom of religion; Islam has long been rocognized by many of our citizens without fear, as a true Faith of God, while others strike out against this sacred Revelation.
It is not difficult to understand those in other countries and their devotion to their individual Faith, their desire to protect it, and to keep it safe as there are similarities world wide. However, just as in America, and in other countries, when any of the various Faiths arises against members of another, it is obvious that the loving Hand of God has not been extended. If God’s intentions were thus, He would have declared it so; and mankind long ago would have ceased to exist. Can anyone defeat the true Faith of God?
January 24, 2011 5:59 pm
Peace loving peoples through the course of history have been persecuted as they are a mirror of the bouties of God and the un-Godly fail to see any reflection when they resort to violence. Pray for the liberation of these down trodden believes and that the eyes blinded by hate and ignorance will be opened.
January 27, 2011 2:45 am
Peace and Unity
January 27, 2011 9:12 pm
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
When these threateners and admitted aggressors finally awaken to what they have done, deep then will be their shame and remorse.
January 29, 2011 7:48 pm
My understanding is limited.
Muslims are killing innocent Muslims ? Christians are killing innocent
Christians ? Jews are killing innocent Jews ? ignorant people are killing
innocent people.
I am not aware of Baha’is killing anyone ? could we all become Baha’is ?
God willing ! that would stop the killing ?