We are Ashamed!

February 3, 2009

Editor’s Note: The following is an open letter from a group of academics, writers, artists, journalists and Iranian activists throughout the world to the Baha’i community. This letter has been signed by a large number of the most prominent Iranian intellectuals.

We are ashamed!

A century and a half of oppression and silence is enough!

In the name of goodness and beauty, and in the name of humanity and liberty!

As Iranian human beings, we are ashamed for what has been perpetrated upon the Baha’is in the last century and a half in Iran.

We firmly believe that every Iranian, “without distinction of any kind, such as, race, color, sex, language, religion, politics or other opinions,” and also without regard to ethnic background, “social origin, property, birth or other status,” is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, from the very inception of the Baha’i Faith, the followers of this religion in Iran have been deprived of many provisions of human rights solely on account of their religious convictions.

According to historical documents and evidence, from the commencement of the Babi Movement followed by the appearance of the Baha’i Faith, thousands of our countrymen have been slain by the sword of bigotry and superstition only for their religious beliefs. Just in the first decades of its establishment, some twenty thousand of those who stood identified with this faith community were savagely killed throughout various regions of Iran.

We are ashamed that during that period, no voice of protest against these barbaric murders was registered;

We are ashamed that until today the voice of protest against this heinous crime has been infrequent and muted;

We are ashamed that in addition to the intense suppression of Baha’is during its formative decades, the last century also witnessed periodic episodes of persecution of this group of our countrymen, in which their homes and businesses were set on fire, and their lives, property and families were subjected to brutal persecution – but all the while, the intellectual community of Iran remained silent;

We are ashamed that during the last thirty years, the killing of Baha’is solely on the basis of their religious beliefs has gained legal status and over two-hundred Baha’is have been slain on this account;

We are ashamed that a group of intellectuals have justified coercion against the Baha’i community of Iran;

We are ashamed of our silence that after many decades of service to Iran, Baha’i retired persons have been deprived of their right to a pension;

We are ashamed of our silence that on the account of their fidelity to their religion and truthfulness in stating this conviction, thousands of Baha’i youth have been barred from education in universities and other institutions of higher learning in Iran;

We are ashamed that because of their parents’ religious beliefs, Baha’i children are subjected to denigration in schools and in public.

We are ashamed of our silence over this painful reality that in our nation, Baha’is are systematically oppressed and maligned, a number of them are incarcerated because of their religious convictions, their homes and places of business are attacked and destroyed, and periodically their burial places are desecrated;

We are ashamed of our silence when confronted with the long, dark and atrocious record that our laws and legal system have marginalized and deprived Baha’is of their rights, and the injustice and harassment of both official and unofficial organs of the government towards this group of our countrymen;

We are ashamed for all these transgressions and injustices, and we are ashamed for our silence over these deeds.

We, the undersigned, asked you, the Baha’is, to forgive us for the wrongs committed against the Baha’i community of Iran.

We will no longer be silent when injustice is visited upon you.

We stand by you in achieving all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights.

Let us join hands in replacing hatred and ignorance with love and tolerance.

1. Abdolalian Morteza, Journalist, CJFE Board of Directors - Canada, Oakville
2. Abghari Shahla, Professor, Life University – USA, Atlanta
3. Abghari Siavash, Professor, University of Georgia – USA, Atlanta
4. Ahmadi Ramin, Professor, Yale University – USA, Yale
5. Almasi Nasrin, Managing editor of Shahrvand- Canada, Toronto
6. Bagherpour Khosro, Poet /Journalist – Germany
7. Baradaran Monireh, Writer/Human rights activist - Germany
8. Beyzaie Niloofar, Play writer/Theatre Director – Germany, Frankfurt
9. Boroumand Ladan, Researcher, Boroumand Foundation - USA, Washington
10. Boroumand, Roya, Executive Director, Boroumand Foundation – USA, Washington
11. Choubine Bahram, Researcher/Writer – Germany, Köln
12. Daneshvar Hamid, Actor/Theatre Director – France, Paris
13. Darvishpour Mehrdad, Professor, Stockholm University - Sweden, Stockholm
14. Djalali Chimeh Mohammad (M.sahar), Poet - France, Paris
15. Djanati Atai Behi, Actor/ Writer/Theatre Director – France, Paris
16. Ebrahimi Hadi, Editor-in-chief of Shahrgon, Canada, Vancouver
17. Fani Yazdi Reza, Political analyst - USA
18. Farhoudi Vida, Poet/Translator- France, Paris
19. Forouhar Parastoo, Artist/Human rights activist – Germany, Frankfurt
20. Ghaemi Hadi Coordinator Int. Campaign for HR in Iran - USA
21. Ghahraman Saghi, Poet /Journalist – Canada, Toronto
22. Ghahraman, Sasan, Publisher/Writer/Journalist – Canada, Toronto
23. Javid Jahanshah, Publisher, Iranian [dot] com – Mexico, Chihuahua
24. Kakhsaz Naser, Political analyst – Germany, Bochum
25. Kalbasi Sheema, Poet – USA, Washington
26. Kassraei Farhang, Writer/Actor – Germany, Wiesbaden
27. Khorsandi Hadi, Satirist – Great Britain, London
28. Mahbaz Efat, Women rights activist /Journalist– England, London
29. Malakooty Sirus, Classical Guitar Player/ Composer/ Lecturer - England, London
30. Moshkin Ghalam Shahrokh, Actor/Dancer – France, Paris
31. Mossaed Jila, Poet/Writer - Sweden, Göteborg.
32. Mossallanejad Ezat, Writer/Human right Activist, CCVT – Canada, Toronto
33. Parsa Soheil, Theatre Director - Canada Toronto
34. Sahimi, Muhammad Professor, University of Southern California – USA, California
35. Shafigh Shahla, Writer/Researcher – France, Paris
36. Shemiranie Khosro, Journalist - Canada, Montreal
37. Sheyda Behrooz, Literary Critic/Theorist- Sweden, Stockholm
38. Taghipoor Masoomeh, Actor/Theatre Director - Sweden, Göteborg.
39. Tahavori Mohammad, Journalist, USA, MA Cambridge
40. Vahdati Soheila, Human Rights Activist – USA, California
41. Zahedi Mitra, Theatre Director – Germany, Berlin
42. Zerehi Hassan, Editor-in-chief of Shahrvand, Canada, Toronto