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Abstract: 59 essays from 2008-2009 in Iranian newspapers or IranPressWatch.org by influential thinkers, about the Bahá'í Faith in contemporary Iran. Most of these were also translated by Ahang Rabbani. |
1. Compilation (see text below)
2. List of contents
click links below for the individual articles (offsite), or download the above PDF
- We are all Iranian Bahá'ís, by Ali Keshtgar
On August 15, 2008, the online journal Gooya News published this analysis by the Iranian journalist, Ali Keshtgar. The original Persian text may be accessed at news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2008/08/075377.php and translation posted September 17, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/5.
- The Bahá'ís and Higher Education in Iran, by Ahmad Batebi
Batebi came to international notice through his appearance on the July 17, 1999, cover of The Economist magazine, in a photo taken during the Iranian student protests of July 1999 in Tehran. This essay was first published September 2, 2008, in Persian in the journal Rooz www.roozonline.com/archives/2008/09/post_8980.php and a translation posted September 17, 2008 at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/6.
- If I were a Shiite, by Reza Fani-Yazdi
Reza Fani-Yazdi is an Iranian-American human rights activist and freelance writer who has published extensively on the plight of Iranians under the current regime. On August 8, 2008, he published this article in the online Persian journal Iran-Emrooz, http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/politic/more/16525/, and translated on September 17, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/7.
- A New Year and a New Trick, by Human Rights Activities of Iran
Human Rights Activists of Iran filed this report September 17, 2008, at www.hrairan.com/Archive_87/1055.html, which appeared in English at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/10 .
- I am a Bahá'í too!, by Khosro Shemiranie
Shemiranie is a freelance writer specializing in analytical articles on the socio-political issues of Iran and violations of human rights. This is a translation of an article published in Shahrgon online journal, September 12, 2008, available at www.shahrgon.com/index.php?news=1959. A translation was posted September 17, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/11.
- Nabil's Narrative: What History has Forgotten, by Dr. Soheila Vahdati
Vahdati is an Iranian-American human rights activist and freelance writer who has published on the effects of the death penalty and gender issues in Iranian journals. Some of her articles are available at soheila.com/Edam/indexEdam.htm. On September 4, 2008, Dr. Vahdati published this article in the online journal Iran-Emrooz: www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/hright/print/16613/, which appeared in translation on September 18, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/13.
- Redeem a Shameful History by Defending our Bahá'í Countrymen!, by Behrouz Setoodeh
Setoodeh is a prominent political activist and often writes informed political essays for Iranglobal website. This article was posted at www.jamali.info/minorities/?page=170508_A1 and extracts from it were translated and posted September 23, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/20.
- Montazeri's Admirable Defense of our Bahá'í countrymen, by Behrouz Setoodeh
Mr. Setoodeh is a prominent political and human rights activist.. His essay in Persian was published at sokhansara.com/HTML/bahai.htm and a translation appeared September 30, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/21.
- New Academic Year in Iran: But What about the Bahá'í Students?, by Behrouz Setoodeh
Setoodeh is a prominent political activist who writes for Iran-Global online. This article was posted September 15, 2008, at Iran Global, www.iranglobal.info/I-G.php?mid=2&news-id=131 and Peykarian, www.peykeiran.com/article_body.aspx?ID=1274. Extracts from this essay were provided on October 3, 2008, in translation at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/23.
- New Threats Against the Bahá'ís of Iran, by Hasan Zerehi
This report was filed by Hasan Zerehi, the editor-in-chief of Shahrvand, a Persian weekly published in Toronto. It was posted October 1, 2008 at fa.shahrvand.com. It was also posted on Asre-Nou October 2, 2008, http://asre-nou.net, and appeared in translation October 7, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/38.
- Attack on the Bahá'í Faith at a Conference on the History of Iran and the British Empire
Extracts from remarks at a recent conference in Tehran provided in translation, and a response from the perspective of the present translator [A. Rabbani] against the accusations stated at the Tehran conference. The materials are translated from Persian and were posted October 7, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/44.
- End the Persecution of Bahá'ís, by United Republicans of Iran
On May 29, 2008, the organization United Republicans of Iran demanded the immediate release of the Bahá'í leaders incarcerated in March and May of that year through a proclamation posted at www.iranrepublic.org .
- Why Islamists Persecute the Bahá'ís, by Amil Imani
On June 6, 2008, Amil Imani, an Iranian intellectual who has written on discrimination against the Bahá'ís of Iran in the past, posted this essay www.amilimani.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=107&Itemid=2, which was also posted at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/59.
- A Professor's Account of the Expulsion of His Bahá'í Students, by Saeed Hanaee Kashani
Kashani teaches English literature at Shaheed Beheshti University. These reflections were posted by him November 3, 2008, at a site dedicated to "the Journals of M.S. Hanaee Kashani", www.fallosafah.org/main/weblog/item_view.php?item_id=254&category_id, and appeared November 4, 2008, in translation at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/96.
- Minorities in Iran, by Jahanshah Rashidian
This essay appeared November 10, 2008, at www.agoravox.com/article.php3?id_article=8872 and wasreposted at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/186.
- There is no Provision for Apostasy in Law, by Hashem Aghajari
Aghajari is an Iranian historian, university professor and a critic of the Islamic Republic. This report was posted October 6, 2008, by Maryam Mohammadi at radiozamaaneh.com/humanrights/2008/10/post_300.html, and appeared in translation November 24, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/197.
- Human Rights for All Iranians of Whatever Religious Persuasion, by Hashem Aghajari
Aghajari is an Iranian historian, university professor and a critic of the Islamic Republic's government. This is a portion of an interview with him published by Norooz News November 1, 2008, at norooznews.ir/news/9385.php. It appeared in translation on November 24, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/20.
- Freedom of Belief and the Rights of Religious Minorities, by Hashem Aghajari
This report was posted October 4, 2008, at Gooya online, news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2008/10/077278.php, and appeared in translation November 24, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/205.
- Which Religion Has Authorized the Suppression of Ideas?, by Nader Karami
Karami, of Rooz Online, published a report of the Conference on Freedom of Ideas and Rights of Religious Minorities, which was held on October 6, 2008, at www.roozonline.com/archives/2008/10/post_9439.php. Aghajari spoke at this conference and his comments, and Karami's report, appeared November 29, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/268.
- Radicalism and Contempt, by Shirin Ebadi
Included are excerpts of Nobel Peace Laureate Ebadi's speech while receiving an honorary doctorate – her twenty-third – from Poitiers University in France and posted on Rooz online: http://www.roozonline.com/english/archives/2008/12/radicalism_and_contempt.html and also December 8, 2008 at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/370.
- Proclamation by Karaj Prisoners in Support of their Bahá'í Countrymen
Human Rights Activists of Iran posted this proclamation on May 29, 2006 under the heading, "In support of our Bahá'í countrymen" at www.iran-hra.blogfa.com/post-47.aspx, and it was reposted December 8, 2008, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/373.
- Destruction of Bahá'í Cemeteries: A Systematic Anti-Bahá'í Campaign, by Human Rights Activists of Iran
The Vahid Mazahib [The Religious Group] of the Human Rights Activists of Iran posted this report along with a video on December 9, 2008, at www.hrairan.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29:2008-12-09-14-25- 13&catid=31:2008-12-06-06-28-40&Itemid=58, and was mirrored at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/385.
- ‘Ashura Ceremonies and the Bahá'ís, by Akhtar Arjmandi
Akhtar Arjmandi maintains a blog dedicated to the defense of Iran's Bahá'í Community where she refutes attacks made against Bahá'ís in the Iranian press and in Persian anti-Bahá'í polemical works. This report was published on her blog on January 12, 2009, and translated by Omid Ghaemmaghami on January 13, 2009 at: http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/742.
- Bahá'ís Living in Iran with No Human Rights, by Wahied Wahdat-Hagh
Dr. Wahdat-Hagh is a Senior Fellow with the European Foundation for Democracy in Brussels. This essay was published on December 12, 2008, and appeared in German and English at europeandemocracy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13278&catid=4&Itemid=22, and posted at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/789.
- Why are they Afraid of the Dead?, by Monireh Baradaran
The original Persian of this essay was posted January 22, 2009, at zamaaneh.com/humanrights/2009/01/post_326.html and a translation by Gloria Yazdani posted on www.iranpresswatch.org/post/878 January 24, 2009.
- Violations of the Rights of our Bahá'í Countrymen, by Hamid Hamidi
A talk given by an Iranian journalist in Europe and the author of a number of articles on various themes of human and civil rights of Iranians, on December 20, 2008, at asre-nou.net/php/view.php?objnr=1547. A summary was presented on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights in Brussels. Its translation appeared on February 23, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/880. The article includes a list of Bahá'ís killed since 1978 .
- Iran: Using terror internally and abroad, by Wahied Wahdat-Hagh
This article was posted January 29, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/930, and a German translation is found at europeandemocracy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13322&catid=4&Itemid=22.
- Zhinous Sobhani and Citizenship Rights, by Taqi Rahmani
The Persian original of this essay was posted January 28, 2009, at www.roozonline.com/archives/2009/02/post_11281.php, and its translation on January 29, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/938.
- We are Ashamed!
An open letter from a group of academics, writers, artists, journalists and Iranian activists throughout the world to the Bahá'í community. This letter has been signed by a large number of the most prominent Iranian intellectuals, and posted originally on February 4, 2009, on www.iranpresswatch.org/post/998. A number of news agencies reported this letter, including CNN: arabic.cnn.com/2009/entertainment/2/10/Iran.apology/.
- Press Release by "We Are Ashamed" organizers
This Press Release, by the organizers of the open letter to the Bahá'í community titled "A century and a half of oppression and silence is enough!" was posted February 14, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1193.
- What is there to Celebrate?, by Shahrzad Arshadi
Arshadi is a Montreal-based human rights activist, photographer and filmmaker. This essay was first disseminated on February 11, 2009, under the title, "What is there to Celebrate? For the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran" and posted February 15, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1175.
- Supporting Freedom of Expression for Bahá'ís, by Abolhassan Banisadr
Abolhassan Banisadr was the first president of the Islamic Republic of Iran (1980-81). This is a translation of an introduction to an interview he held with Rahmat-Qasem Begu, a reporter for Radio France Internationale, on February 16, 2009, www.rfi.fr/actufa/articles/110/article_5377.asp. This translation was posted February 17, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1252.
- Statement of Support by Writers and Journalists from Kurdistan
The Kurdistan region, covering land in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, is victim to long- running separatist conflicts in which thousands of lives have been lost. Under such circumstances, the statement in support of Iranian Bahá'ís is a sign of courage, selflessness and humanity. This statement was published in Persian on February 16, 2009, at komala.eu/kurdi/?p=562 and a translation appeared on February 18, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1272.
- Violation of the rights of the Bahá'í citizens is shameful, by United Republicans of Iran
On February 19, 2009, this call for an immediate release of the leaders of the Bahá'í community in Iran was posted on Source, www.iranrepublic.org, and republished at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1379.
- Dialogue with Some Signatories of the "We are Ashamed" Proclamation, by Iraj Adibzadeh
This is a translation of an interview held by Iraj Adibzadeh, a noted reporter for Radio Zamaaneh. This article was entitled in Persian, "To be Iranian does not mean to be Shi'ah" and published February 5, 2009 at zamaaneh.com/adibzadeh/2009/02/print_post_287.html. Translation was posted February 22, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1403.
- Bahá'ís, the Sole Targets of Conspiracism?, by Aram Anahid
This is a translation of an article published in Persian on February 17, 2009, at www.iranian.com/main/2009/feb-21, under the title, "When Hate Triumphs over Justice, All are Victims." This translation was posted February 22, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1407.
- IMHRO condemning trial of 7 Bahá'í leaders in Iran for spying, by Iranian Minorities' Human Rights Organization
This statement was posted February 22, 2009 at iranianminorityshumanright.blogspot.com/2009/02/imhro-condemning-trial-of-7-bahai.html and reposted February 24, 2009 at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1436
- The Islamic Revolution in Iran, 30 years on, By Wahied Wahdat-Hagh
Dr. Wahdat-Hagh is a Senior Fellow with the European Foundation for Democracy in Brussels and this essay was first published on February 13, 2009, at europeandemocracy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13363&catid=4&Itemid=22 and then on February 27, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1513. This statement was accompanied by a Press Release which may be found at www.iranpresswatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/press-release.pdf.
- Anti-Bahá'ísm in Iran, by Wahied Wahdat-Hagh
Dr. Wahdat-Hagh is a Senior Fellow with the European Foundation for Democracy in Brussels and this essay was published on March 23, 2009, on www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2003.
- I really do not understand!, by Hassan Yousefi Eshakavari
Eshakavari is a trained cleric, but because of his progressive views was divested of his robe of office and jailed for several years. This essay was posted on www.roozonline.com/archives/2009/03/post_11788.php and a translation appeared on March 25, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2023.
- The Bahá'ís of Iran and Contact with Foreign Nations, by Mehdi Khalaji
Khalaji is a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute on the role of politics in contemporary Shi'ite clericalism in Iran and Iraq. He has published extensively, including "Apocalyptic Politics: On the Rationality of Iranian Policy". This essay was originally published by BBC Persian Service February 18, 2009, at www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2009/02/090223_ag_iranian_bahaeis_foreign_gov.shtml and a translation appeared on March 31, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2056.
- Two Mistakes of the Islamic Republic of Iran, by Shahla Firouz
A translation of this essay by Nizam was posted March 31, 2009, at www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=67629665134&topic=10223 and appeared in edited form on April 1, 2009 at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2064.
- Why Suppress the Bahá'ís?, by Hossein Bagher-Zadeh
Dr. Bagher-Zadeh is a learned Iranian intellectual, a human rights activists and a regular contributor to Iranian.com, where this essay first appeared on February 18, 2009 at iranian.com/main/2009/feb-22 and on iranbbb.org/37763.htm. It was translated April 10, 2009, and posted at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2111.
- It is the responsibility of all of us to defend the Bahá'ís with all our strength, by Farhang Farahi
Farahi is a writer and journalist of modern Iran, and has been a defender of the Bahá'í community throughout his career. This essay was published in Iran Times, March 20, 2009, available at www.iranpresswatch.org/wp-content/uploads/Iran_Times_Farahi.pdf and a translated was posted May 2, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2581 .
- Justice, not Shame!, by Majid Naficy
Dr. Naficy is an Iranian poet and political activist. This essay was first published on March 12, 2009, at fa.shahrvand.com/2008-07-14-20-49-09/2008-07-14-20-49-46/2284-2009-03-12-17-58-08 and a translation was posted July 19, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/4399 .
- Persecution of Bahá'í and Christians in Iran, by Wahied Wahdat-Hagh
Wahdat-Hagh is a Senior Fellow with the European Foundation for Democracy in Brussels. Thi essay was published May 4, 2009, at europeandemocracy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13420&catid=4&Itemid=22 and on May 8, 2009 at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/2618.
- Supporters of Ayatollah Boroujerdi demand investigation of Bahá'í case, Boroujerdi is an Iranian cleric who advocates separation of religion and government. He first expressed his opposition to the Islamic government of Iran in 1994, and opposed the theocratic concept of rule by clerics. On May 25, 2009, supporters of the imprisoned Boroujerdi condemned the ongoing suppression and violation of the rights of the Bahá'í community in Iran by posting a statement on bameazadi19.blogspot.com/2009/05/blog-post_25.html. This translated was posted June 2, 2009, on www.iranpresswatch.org/post/3775 .
- Persecution of Bahá'ís and the Iranian Presidential Elections, by Wahid Wahdat-Hagh
This essay was posted May 30, 2009, at www.welt.de/debatte/kolumnen/Iran-aktuell/article6061721/Die-Verfolgung-der-Bahai-und-die-iranischen-Praesidentschaftswahlen.html and a translation by Polly Janitzky appeared on June 4, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/3821 .
- Open Letter from Urumiyeh University to a Presidential Candidate
A letter from a group of Urumiyeh University students to the Iranian Presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. The original Persian was posted May 27, 2009, on javanblog.co.cc/post-104.aspx and www.iranpresswatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/urumiyeh_farsi.doc, and a translation appeared on www.iranpresswatch.org/post/3877 .
- Genocide Against the Iranian Bahá'ís Is Possible, by Wahied Wahdat Hagh
Published July 10, 2009, at www.europeandemocracy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13475&catid=4&Itemid=22 and reposted July 11 at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/4305.
- Bahá'ís as Precedents for Execution of Political Dissidents, by Reza Fani-Yazdi
Fani-Yazdi is an Iranian-American human rights activist and freelance writer. He has published on the plight of Iranians under the current regime in Iran. This essay was published in Iran Emrooz, July 10, 2009, at www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/politic/more/18706/ and a translation appeared at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/4390.
- There Can't be a Happy Ending to Our Story, by Soheila Vahdati
Vahdati is an Iranian-American human rights activist and freelance writer who has published on the effects of the death penalty, women's rights and gender issues. This article was published July 16, 2009, in Iran-Emrooz, www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/hright/more/18792 addressed to Mrs. Fakhri Mohtashamipour, wife of Seyyed Mostafa Tajzadeh, who served as the Political Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior of Iran in the government of President Khatami.
- Rehumanizing the Dehumanized, by Koroush Agah-Kesheh
Kayhan London, an influential Persian-language newspaper outside Iran, published this article July 24, 2009, at www.kayhanpublishing.uk.com/Pages/archive/announces/bahai_1265.pdf and a translation was prepared by External Affairs Office of the Bahá'ís of the United Kingdom and posted the same date at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/4505.
- In the Name of Truth and Justice, by Hojjatoleslam Hasan Yousefi-Eshkevari
Eshkevari is an Iranian cleric, researcher, journalist and reformist. Eshkevari was the Director of the ‘Ali Shari‘ati Research Centre and contributing editor of the newspaper Iran-e Farda, which was banned in April 2000. This article was posted July 9, 2009, at www.khandaniha.eu/items.php?id=682, ashena.com/news/181/ARTICLE/1888/2009-03-11.html, and www.iranpresswatch.org/fa/post/267. A translation appeared August 14, 2009, at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/4717.
- In Support of the Bahá'ís of Iran, by Abbas Milani
Prof Milani is Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford, where he is the co-director of the Iran Democracy Project. This is the text of Dr. Abbas Milani's speech at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco as published in The New Republic, August 15, 2009: www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=6f52df18-cf88-4fd8-8e94-f4e5c4c1e5aa.
- They Hanged Her for Teaching Love, by Amil Imani
Imani is an Iranian-born American citizen and pro-democracy activist residing in the United States. He is a columnist, literary translator, novelist and essayist, who has been writing and speaking out for the struggling people of Iran. This essay was posted August 26, 2008, at www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/08/they_hanged_her_for_teaching_l.html and reprinted at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/4998.
- We will celebrate the end of religious despotism, by Abdolkarim Soroush
Soroush is one of the most prominent Iranian political philosophers, religious scholars and writers. He is a former professor at the University of Tehran. On September 9, 2009, he published an open letter to Khamenei, expressing his belief that Iranians would triumph over "the decline of religious despotism", at www.akhbar-rooz.com/news.jsp?essayId=23793.
- When Bahá'ís are free, then all Iranians will be, by Hamid Dabashi
Prof. Dabashi is the author of "Iran: A People Interrupted." He is Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York. This essay was published September 16, 2009, at www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/09/16/dabashi.iran.tolerance/ and reprinted at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/5091.
- Ordeal of a Bahá'í Family, by Amil Imani
This essay was posted September 19, 2009, at hakemiat-e-mardom.blogspot.com/2009/09/amil-imani-islamic-republic-compassion.html. It was also reposted at www.iranpresswatch.org/post/5171and appears here with slight modification.
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