In yet another attempt to rouse the Iranian populace against the Baha’i Faith, earlier this week (18 January 2009), the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the country’s official national news outlet, announced the release and distribution by Maw’ud Nasher publishers of a set of CDs on “the misguided sect of Baha’ism.” The CDs are part of a new collection of new computer programs being released on Sects Created by Colonialist Powers; Wahhabism; Sufism; and Baha’ism. Each CD will feature lectures and talks by scholars and mid-level clerics together with relevant pictures and films. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) identifies the goal of these CDs as being to inform the general public of the places and locations associated with these sects and the centers of their activity, adding that the CDs will aim to raise awareness among all Iranians – and in particular, Iranian youth – of the dangers of being beguiled by these sects and falling prey to their traps. In the same article, Maw’ud Nasher announced that a discount will be provided to all those who order more than 50 copies of any one CD.
[Source: http://www5.irna.ir/AR/View/FullStory/?NewsId=308289; Contributed by Omid Ghaemmaghami]
January 27, 2009 1:03 am
Well, they don’t seem to be saying anything new and they’re keeping our name in Iranian news, so they are certainly fulfilling their roles as “couriers of the Cause”:
“Therefore, my purpose is to warn and strengthen you against accusations, criticisms, revilings and derision in newspaper articles or other publications. Be not disturbed by them. They are the very confirmation of the Cause, the very source of upbuilding to the Movement. May God confirm the day when a score of ministers of the churches may arise and with bared heads cry at the top of their voices that the Bahá’ís are misguided. I would like to see that day, for that is the time when the Cause of God will spread. Bahá’u’lláh has pronounced such as these the couriers of the Cause. They will proclaim from pulpits that the Bahá’ís are fools, that they are a wicked and unrighteous people, but be ye steadfast and unwavering in the Cause of God. They will spread the message of Bahá’u’lláh.”
(`Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 428-430)