Inciting Hatred Iran’s media campaign to demonize Bahá’ís A special report of the Bahá’í International Community October 2011 http://bic.org/hatred.html © 2011 by the Bahá’í International Community 866 United Nations Plaza Suite 120 New York, NY 10017-1801 USA http://bic.org Appendix II (online only) The following are summaries in English of the more than 440 articles and reports that document incitement to hatred, discrimination, hostility or violence towards the Bahá'í Faith or its adherents in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as recorded by the Bahá'í International Community during a 16 month period from 17 December 2009 to May 2011. All extracts are translated from the original Persian. It should be noted that these articles and reports reflect only what could be discovered in online sources that are available outside Iran. Many thousands more are likely to have appeared in media and other sources accessible only inside Iran. All are from official or semi-official sources. As of the time this report was issued, all available evidence indicates that official efforts to incite hatred towards the Bahá'í Faith and its adherents in Iran continues – something that can be easily discovered through a simple Internet search using any of the key terms the refer to Bahá'ís in the Persian language. 27 December 2009 – 3 January 2010 Web sites Cultural affairs officials given responsibility to inform the nation of “sinister goals of Bahaism” Source: Rasa News Web site - conservative news agency run by clerics in Qom Content: In an interview with Rasa News in Tabriz on 17 December 2009, Hojatoleslam Mohammad Kamalvand, professor of Tabriz seminary and university stated that among the 2 tasks of Cultural Affairs officials is the responsibility to inform the nation of “the sinister goals of Bahaism…Today Baha’ism has entered the field with great financial recourses and started a large propaganda effort. Today Baha'ism raises the issues of human rights and equality and non-violence, words that are pleasant for many, but reality is something else. While Baha’ism is currently trying to change its wicked profile… we should enlighten youth regarding the satanic goals of the enemies of Islam. Has history forgotten Bahaism’s view of Amir Kabir’s martyrdom as God’s revenge, or Bahá’u’lláh’s servitude toward Russia and England? ... [Bahá’u’lláh] shamelessly issued a divine tablet in praise of Israel, whose bloodthirstiness is clear to the whole world, while today [Bahá’ís] deceitfully scream for human rights…Where in human civilization is the violation of honour considered acceptable, and which divine religion permits usury and marriage among close relatives?... Allegation that Bahá’ís are supporting the reformists Source: Fars News Agency, government-affiliated Content: On 18 December 2009, Fars News reported that Elias Naderan, Tehran's representative in the political meeting of the Rahpouyan-e Enghelab-e Eslami [Path Seekers of the Islamic Revolution], said: “The Bahá’ís supported a specific camp in the country during the recent elections. And it should be made clear today what the current position of this camp is with respect to the Bahá’ís in the country.” Commission on religions and sects in Kerman Source: Islamic Development Organization (IDO) Web site, government-affiliated site. Content: On 29 December 2009, IDO reported that a “Commission on Religions and Sects” was held in Kerman to “study the activities of the misguided Bahaist sect”. Dorri Najafabadi: “Propaganda against the Islamic regime will not succeed” Source: Islamic Republic News Agency Web site (IRNA), government official news agency Content: On 29 December 2009, IRNA reported that Ayatollah Ghorbanali Dorri Najafabadi, representative of the Supreme Leader and Friday prayer leader in the city of Arak [province of Arak] had, in a gathering of mourners of the Imam Hussein, warned against external and internal enemies, and, alleging that the BBC was behind the anti- regime activities on Ashura, stated: “This broadcasting network is fed by the misguided Bahaist sect and their news about Islamic Iran is false and baseless.” Encouragement: A Conversation Source: Kayhan, ultra-conservative, government-backed daily newspaper Content: On 30 December 2009, Kayhan published an article in which it alleged that opposition leaders, specifically Moussavi, Karoubi, and Khatami, were being supported by the U.S., Israel, England, and the Bahá’ís in America. 3 Iran State Media blames the “Bahaist Sect” for recent unrest The following item, posted on 29 December 2009 on the “Muslim Network for Bahá’í Rights” Web site, provides translations of articles published by Fars News (government- affiliated) and Javan News (pro-regime) on 28 December: Yesterday [28 December 2009] in Iran, articles appeared in two government-run news outlets blaming the Baha’i “sect” for the recent unrest in Iran, and namely the widespread protests that took place across the country on the day of Ashura. The Javan Newspaper, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, claimed that the protesters in “Mousavi’s camp” tore Qur’ans during the protests, and that this is a practice that is common among the “Baha’i branch” of Mousavi’s staff. The semi-official Fars News Agency, which has recently seen an influx in its ranks of Basij members, claimed that “Baha’ism under the leadership of Zionism is behind the latest crisis and unrest”. The following is a translation from Farsi of the relevant paragraphs of the Fars News Agency story: Baha’ism, Led by Zionism, is Hatching Intrigue Behind the Scenes of the Recent Unrest [Note: This same story was also published on Emrooz and Ayandeh, which are both reformist-leaning Web sites] Ne’matollah Bavand, an expert and researcher in political affairs, proclaims that Bahaism under the leadership of Zionism is behind the latest crisis and unrest. Asserting that there is no doubt that Baha’ism, led by Zionism, is behind these disturbances, Bavand declared: “A female advisor to one of the candidates in the recent presidential election who wears a turban defended Baha’ism.” He added: “How long will the government put up with these people? Haven’t the people been convinced yet of the nature of these hypocrisies?…An advisor to this man, who pretends to be a man of the cloth and who was once the head of parliament, has openly come out in defense of Baha’ism and is currently completing training with her husband in England to become spies.” He emphasized, “The public sees these things and becomes upset. Isn’t there a way to take care of these problems? The key players leave Iran and people of lesser importance are tried, when it is the key players that need to be tried! …The enemy has come to seek revenge for all the victories [of the Islamic Republic] in the Mecca of Islam: Iran!” Below a translation from Farsi of the Javan newspaper story: Plot of Baha’ism in the Moussavi Camp to Publicly Desecrate Religious Sanctities is Exposed On Ashura, the protectors of the Moussavi camp did not have the decency to abstain from desecrating even the most sacred of religious sanctities. By tearing up copies of the Qur’an on Enqelab Street in front of those mourning the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, they have exposed another side of their contempt for religion. Confirming the above report, an expert in matters of security told Javan Online: “The actions of the Malawi Camp in desecrating religious sanctities are nothing new. In fact, 4 this began happening when a Baha’i branch in the staff of this candidate was formed during the days leading up to the election.” He added: “This sect has long been planning to attack the religious sanctities of the people on ‘Ashura but since they can never secure the protection of the masses, they will never succeed.” Regarding the role of Baha’ism in desecrating religious sanctities, our expert in matters of security stated, “The path that the Moussavi camp is taking in their attack on religious sanctities is the exact same path that the misguided Baha’i sect has been on for years.” He added: “We have evidence connecting the sect of Baha’ism with the Moussavi camp and the strategic partnership between these two groups.” On 29 December 2009, ISNA reported that Hojjatoleslam Naysari, the director of the Council for Coordination of Islamic Propagation in Western Azerbaijan said: “It is obvious that these insulting acts of a group of ruffians and elements of arrogance have no other aim but to damage the Islamic revolution and establish the aims of America, Israel and Bahá’ísm. The article continues by attacking the demonstrators of the day of Ashura.” On 29 December 2009, Sook news (government-affiliated official Web site of Bushehr) reported that the people behind the insulting of the Imam Hussein on Ashura are “the same ones who promote marriage with close relatives. Baha'is do not forbid marriage with close relatives such as sister, mother, niece and aunt and ... they are fully authorized to do so.” The article also refers to the wives of Baha’u’llah and asserts that the Kitab-i-Aqdas permits having two wives and a virgin maid. It also alleges that the son of a former city ruler of Bushehr was instrumental in the creation of BBC Persian – “The fact is that the Bahá’ís today cannot find any news media in the world more trustworthy for them than the BBC Persian because this news media has become a tool for the realization of the preferences and religious heresies of this group. But one more thing: now BBC Persian whose operators are all Bahá’ís, is the media guide and leader of those who, on the day of Ashura, with their norm-breaking and offensive moves, insulted the dearest traditions and opinions of the people of Iran…The question now is, can those who treat their close relatives in this way be trusted? And what is the duty of us Muslims toward these devils?” On 29 December 2009 the Washington TV Web site carried a report regarding the fact that the state-owned television of the Islamic Republic of Iran had broadcast a live interview with a political expert who blamed the Baha’i “sect” for the latest wave of unrest in Iran.