by Hassan Yousefi Eshakavari Editor’s Note: Hassan Yousefi Eshakavari is a trained cleric, but because of his progressive and non-orthodox views was divested of his robe of office (khal-i libas). He was also jailed by…
Tagged By civil rights
Open Letter from the Baha'is of Spain to their fellow citizens
Editor’s note: On 20th March 2009, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Spain, on behalf of the Bahá’í community of its country, addressed an open letter to its fellow Spanish citizens. The letter…
Khatami asked about treatment of Iranian Baha'is on Australia visit
Editor’s Note: Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami recently spoke at the Australian National University in Canberra. As he turned to the audience for questions, he was asked about Iran’s treatment of the Baha’is. The Sydney…
Expelled Baha’i Student at Sahand University
Editor’s Note: Sama Noorani is an expelled Baha’i student from Sahand University in Tabriz and has contributed this piece about experience, which appears below in translation. For some background on this incident, please see: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2009/03/expulsion-3-sahand/…
Anti-Bahaism in Iran
by Wahied Wahdat-Hagh In Iran, state-sponsored hate propaganda and conspiracy theories against the Bahai are never-ending. Now, “crypto-Jews” – also called “Anusim” – are said to have been responsible for the spread of the Babi…
Crimes Against Humanity
The U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Documentation Center has published a November 2008 report on the Islamic Republic’s attacks on the Baha’i Community. It amplifies the injustices brought upon the Baha’is by Iran’s fanatical clergy and…
Australian MP speaks in support of Yaran
Editor’s Note: In the ongoing struggle for civil and human rights of the Baha’is in Iran, Australian Member of Parliament Andrew Robb delivered a speech calling on the Australian government to urge the release of…
“Debunking the Myths” – Interview with the Author
(MEY) Conspiracy theories are popular in this region [Middle East] for a good reason: they allow us to perceive ourselves as powerless victims and blame our shortcomings and insecurities on others. For decades, Baha’is have…
Human Rights Violations during the Emergence of the IRI
Editor’s Note: The Amnesty International report published in February 1980 is an important document covering the situation of human rights during the emergence of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This was the only time since…
Obama's Naw Ruz message to Iran
Update: Iran Plays Down New Obama Video Message (NY Times) Editor’s Note: Barack Obama’s video message to Iranians marks a significant step in the relations between the new U.S. administration and the Islamic leaders of…
New Old Picture of the Seven Baha'i Leaders
The seven members of the now-dissolved informal coordinating network of the Baha’is in Iran, the Yaran. This picture was taken before their imprisonment in March/May 2008. One can only imagine their state after a year…
Baha’is Arrested in Shiraz
Editor’s Note: The following report was written by one of the Baha’is of Shiraz, who was aware that Mrs. Haleh Hooshmandi-Salehi was summoned by Iranian government authorities on Monday. They told her to go home…
Minoo Expelled from University in Semnan
Editor’s Note: On Saturday, March 7, 2009, several Persian online journals carried this report, which appears below in translation. On March 1, 2009, the government-run University of Semnan expelled Miss Minoo Shahriari, a student majoring…
Baha’i Student Expelled in Mazandaran
Editor’s Note: The following account is by Faran Khavan-Yaghma, a Baha’i student recently expelled from a university in Mazandaran because of his religion. This account is provided below in translation by Iran Press Watch. In…
Shahroukh Taef Released on Bail
On March 17, Iran Press Watch reported that efforts were underway to provide the required surety for the release of Mr. Shahroukh Taef who had been incarcerated since January 14, 2009: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2009/03/17-prisoner-bail/ Reliable sources have…
BBC Documentary: Iran and the West
Iran Press Watch urges its readers to watch the following three part BBC documentary. This well-funded work analyzes the long struggle of Iran and the West to come together ever since the revolution. The documentary…