Wednesday, March 05, 2008

On House Resolution 1008: Condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran

Latest News
House resolution introduced condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran
Mar 03 08
On February 28, 2008, U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (IL - 10th district) introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives condemning the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran.

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http://www.bahai.us/house-resolution
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To date, the resolution has also been sponsored by the following representatives:
Rep Kirk, Mark [IL-10] * Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] * Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] * Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] * Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] * Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] * Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] * Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] * Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] * Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] * Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] * Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] * Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] * Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] * Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10]

"Hezbollah is awake and despises the Baha'is" reads this piece of graffiti on a building in the city of Abadeh. Dozens of hateful anti-Baha'i slogans have been painted on homes, offices and cemetery buildings in various locations in Iran."

Thumbnails: Both photos uploaded on September 22, 2007 by John Barnabas

on flickr.

"The Baha'i cemetery in Yazd, Iran, was destroyed in July.The tracks left behind and the severity of the damage show that heavy equipment was used."

Having ample proof of the vehement nature of the persecution, U.S. Baha'is obtain support from their local congressmen on behalf of their Iranian brethren. -gw

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nancy Peolosi on May 28, 2008 daisd that" THe continued detentin of Aung San Suu Kyi deserves the full condmenation of the internatinal community. The BUrmrese people deserately need legitamate governement. But, Pelosi has NOT signed H. Res 1008. SF citizens/Baha'is need to call, visit, write and email her. A siliarly numbered Resolution (LC 962832)from Georgia commends a Mr. Jackson, as being "known for his delicious chicken salad". A rsolution when "passed" simply goes to the Clerk, for entering into the record. Of what is the value of a Resolution. Why ae Baha'is advised t werite their congresspersons, but NOT their senators. I wrote senator Barbara Boxer (D) CA (before I knew about the admonition) and received a very kind letter of support. As the arrests, torture, rapes and murders continue, why should our hands be tied. Even the US State Depatament Sean McCormack has spoken about in outrage about the Bah'i arrests. We need a wider forum, Oh excuse me, We need only to support a h. Resolution, to be placed on top of the "chicken salad" resolution. As citizens we should look at empirically efective responses, if we are to be aloud the civic.civil system: a Lobbyist, marches, wide-spread (unfettered letter-writing campaign0, to name a few. Praying about their disposition to GOd as martyrs, is that what we would limit ourselves to if it were our souse, our daughter or son. WHy hsn't some body, either Baha'i, or International world body or agency asked daily, "What is theri status right now? and we want to send a delegate into Evn to see them RIGHT NOW, so that we can at least record their response. OH NOFOrgive me, I am just supposed to support a H. Resolution that will gather dust in the bsement of the House Records, along with the chicken salad resolution. I know you won't publish this! a bAH'I

GWD said...

I can understand the frustration with which you write.

The campaign to alleviate the persecution of Baha'is in Iran is guided by the Baha'i Institutions. We must trust them, although we may not know all the reasons for their decisions. It makes no sense to think that they are purposefully wanting to be ineffective. The institutions may want to reserve contacting the senators for some other as-of-yet undisclosed purpose.