Treatment of Baha’is: a test of human rights in Iran

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy has just published a useful analysis by Mehdi Khalaji of the treatment of the Bahá’ís in Iran.

The article traces the history of persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran, including the recent toughening of the Iranian government’s stance on the Bahá’í question under President Ahmadinejad, and shows very clearly that this is, at root, a religious issue:

Unlike Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Christianity, Bahaism emerged after Islam and claims to supercede the Shiite faith. A centerpiece of Shiism is the belief in the Twelfth (or Hidden) Imam, a descendent of Ali who is said to reappear at the end of days. The Bahai religion originated from Ali Muhammad Shirazi (1819-1850), who claimed to be the gateway to the Hidden Imam and then later proceeded to declare himself the Imam. By claiming to be this important religious figure, he challenged not only the clerical establishment but also the official interpretation of the sacred texts.

Intensifying the persecution

After 1979, the clerics enacted a policy of suppression of the Bahá’ís, because the regarded the Bahá’í Faith as denying their legitimacy. Although things eased marginally during Mohammed Khatami’s period in office as president, once Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power the Iranian authorities increased their pressure on the Bahá’ís

The president’s [Ahmadinejad] tougher stance toward Bahais is probably also motivated by his apocalyptic views and his special attachment to the idea of the Hidden Imam. Ahmadinezhad, who believes that his government is under the supervision of the Hidden Imam, cannot tolerate a religion that denies the Imam’s existence, even as the Bahais keep out of politics.

The Bahá’ís - a litmus test

Khalaji concludes with the same point that Bahá’ís have been making for many years:

…the Iranian government’s attitude toward religious minorities, whether they are small but recognized religious sects (Sufis and Dervishes) or officially unrecognized religions (Bahaism), must be seen as a fundamental criterion in evaluating human rights and freedom of religion in Iran.

Or as we might put it, the treatment of the Bahá’ís is the litmus test of Iran’s sincerity in protecting the human rights of its people.

Iran Baha’i arrests - previous posts

Read some of my previous posts on the arrests of Bahá’í leaders in Iran:

Baha’is arrested in Iran - grave news
Baha’i leaders arrested in Iran - Baha’i World News Service story
Bahá’í arrests in Iran - Wendi’s excellent article
Baha’i arrests in Iran - more coverage
EU condemns arrests of Baha’is in Iran
Iran - whereabouts of arrested Baha’is unknown
More danger signs for Baha’is in Iran
Bishop condemns arrest of Iranian Baha’i leadership

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Iran, persecution, minorities, human rights, religious freedom, Mehdi Khalaji, Washington Institute, Middle East, Barnabas Quotidianus