UK Court demolishes Iranian-Baha'i couple's claims against Iran: Say they carried out religious teaching activities against the wishes of Govt.

The hearing was for granting asylum to an Iranian Bahai couple by UK state Department. The case was heard at Bradford on 27 April 2006 Before SENIOR IMMIGRATION JUDGE Mr. LANE , Mr.ROBERTS and Mr. MACDONALD

The Iranian Bahai couple was the appellant and the secretary of State Home department (UK) was the respondent.

The case is an eyeopener against Bahai propaganda on alleged atrocities in Iran. The learnt judge have demolished all appeals of the Bahai couple against the government of Iran. The comments of the learned judges would be guidance to other judiciaries, in times to come, for realizing the truth.

The Case

The appellant, a citizen of Iran born on 29 August 1953, entered the United Kingdom on 23 April 2005 using a twelve-month visitor’s multi-visa, which was valid from 14 February 2005 to 14 February 2006. He was accompanied by his wife. On 10 October 2005, the appellant claimed asylum. On 16 November 2005 the respondent decided (i) to vary the appellant's leave to enter the United Kingdom, so as to terminate that leave, and (ii) that the appellant should be removed to Iran by way of directions. The appellant appealed against that decision on the grounds that his removal from the United Kingdom in consequence of it would breach the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Refugee Convention and would be unlawful under section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 as being incompatible with the appellant's rights under the ECHR.

A. Iranian Bahai Claim: Baha’is in Iran face substantial discrimination, which extends beyond the purely religious field to such matters as education, work, ownership of property and access to justice.

Tribunal's assessment:

The evidence does not, however, show that the nature and prevalence of this discrimination is of such intensity and generality as to amount to persecution for the purposes of the Refugee Convention. It is significant that none of the outside observers who have had cause to consider the situation of Baha’is has formed the conclusion that a person is at real risk of persecution in Iran merely by reason of being a Baha’i. That includes Baha’is who practise their faith. Whilst the use of such language by the couple is understandable, it does not compel a conclusion on the part of this Tribunal that any Iranian Baha’i, practising or not, who makes his or her way to the United Kingdom, should without more investigation be accorded international protection.

B. Iranian Bahai Claim

The appellant Doctor by profession claims to fear persecution in Iran on account of their being Bahais.. The appellant was arrested in 1983 on charges relating to his activities as a Baha’i, and sentenced to ten years imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court. He was released in 1989, having served some five years eight months of his sentence.

In 1998 the appellant was (again) arrested in connection with his activities as a lecturer at the Baha’i Institute of Higher Education. The appellant was sentenced to ten years imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court. After fourteen months and fourteen days, the appellant was released by the Court of Appeal, which the appellant ascribed in part, to international pressure on Iran to improve the treatment of Baha’is.

In July 2004 the appellant was arrested at home whilst hosting a devotional meeting involving a form of Baha’i teaching developed by an organisation known as the Ruhi Institute. Ruhi teaching enables non-Baha’i people to become familiar with the Baha’i faith. One of those present at the devotional meeting was a Muslim who had informally converted to the Baha’i faith. The appellant's wife was also arrested and accused of converting Muslims to that faith. The appellant was released on bail after two nights in detention.

Tribunal's assessment :

Putting that matter aside, both the appellant and his wife were able to study and become doctors and, albeit with difficulty, practice their profession in a variety of places in Iran. The confiscation of their home was, we find, most likely to have been an aspect of the authorities’ adverse attention towards the appellant as a result for what they perceived to be his teaching and community activities. The appellants were able to travel abroad and return without significant difficulties. We say so, bearing in mind what the appellant and his wife described as an unpleasant incident at the airport when they returned to Iran in 2001.

C. Iranian Bahai Claim. Bahais are being harassed in Iran, in particular, under the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was elected in June 2005 and who, it is clear from the evidence, pursued a more conservative and uncompromising set of policies than those of his predecessor.

Tribunal's assessment

The fact is, nevertheless, that according to the latest reports, relatively few Baha’is are being arrested and imprisoned, considering the overall size (300-350,000) of the Baha’i community in Iran. As we have already noted, even Human Rights Watch, in its 2006 report, goes no further than to opine that Iran’s ethnic and religious minorities ‘are subject to discrimination and, in some cases, persecution’. The express reference to the Baha’is, which follows this quotation, refers to the community continuing ‘to be denied permission to worship or engage in communal affairs in a public manner’. That Baha’is are able to pursue their religious observances in domestic settings is clear. It is many years since they were last permitted in general to worship in public halls and the like. The evidence before us does not show such a flagrant denial of a Baha’i’s freedom of religion as to amount to an effective denial for that right

D. Iranian Bahai Claim : Baha’is are on occasion deprived of their rights to property,

Tribunal's assessment: 

1-The evidence before us does not show that any Baha’i, regardless of his or her circumstances, is at real risk of being deprived of his or her home or business. The evidence before us as to the Iranian state’s attitude towards the recognition of Baha’i marriages is, we have to say, somewhat unclear. On the appellant's own account, and that of his wife, official attitudes appear to fluctuate. Overall, the Tribunal does not find that the evidence discloses such a state of affairs as, when combined with the other matters to which we have referred, can properly lead to the conclusion that a Baha’i is entitled to protection under the Refugee Convention or the ECHR should he or she make such a claim to the authorities in this country.

2- As a consequence of these findings, the Tribunal has considered whether the evidence shows that a particular description or category of Baha’i in Iran is currently at real risk of persecution or other serious ill-treatment or whether the undoubted persecution that certain Baha’is suffer, such as those imprisoned for their faith, is merely random or otherwise so unpredictable as to prevent any particular Baha’i being identified in advance as being at real risk. At the hearing, Mr. De Mello, Mr Leith and Mr Wheatley (all Bahais) sought to emphasize the importance of the information contained at paragraph 25 of Mr. Leith’s statement - There are believed to be 300,000-350,000 Baha'is in Iran. We clearly do not expect the Iranian authorities to prosecute all of them.

E.Iranian Bahai Claim: While interrogating one of the Baha'is arrested 2005, an intelligence agent stated: ‘We have learned how to confront (the Baha'is). We no longer pursue ordinary (Baha'is); we will paralyze your inner core.’ The comment seems to define the current strategy of the Iranian authorities in their latest attempt to undermine the long-term viability of the Baha’i community. The new policy is characterized by identifying and targeting a group of Baha'is who play an ad hoc but vital role in providing communal activity and leadership for the wider community’.

Tribunal's assessment

1- Taking the appellant's account at face value for the moment, he told us that he ceased to work on behalf of the Institute, at their suggestion, after he had been released from his second sentence of imprisonment. His evidence was, however, to the effect that he had nevertheless pursued the promotion of the Baha’i faith by means of the teaching system produced by the Ruhy Institute.

2- The Tribunal has adopted a cautious approach to what is said to have been the comments of the Iranian intelligence agent, as set out in paragraph 25 of Mr. Leith’s report. Although he possesses undoubted considerable knowledge of the position of Baha’is in Iran, Mr. Leith is not (and no doubt would not claim to be) an impartial observer. His job is to foster the interests of his co-religionists in Iran. Furthermore, the comments of the intelligence agent are unsourced. Both Mr. Leith and Mr. Wheatley told us that they were received as part of the ongoing system of contacts and information-gathering operated by the external affairs office of the National Spiritual Assembly for the Baha’is in the United Kingdom.(Unquote - this could imply high level of espionage that faith members indulge)

3- The Tribunal has no reason to doubt that Mr. Leith has, at paragraph 25 of his report, accurately described what he has been told was said to a Baha’i by someone operating within the intelligence community within Iran. The real question is whether the comments are reasonably likely to represent present Iranian government policy or, given the complex nature of the Iranian state security apparatus, the policy of some form of organization that is sponsored or at least condoned by those in power and which is able to act against those Baha’is which are regarded as ‘inner core’.

4- For these reasons the Tribunal is able to place some weight on the comment recorded in paragraph 25 of Mr. Leith’s statement. The fact remains, however, that as matters stand it is only a single comment, from an unnamed individual, whose alleged words have, it seems, not been passed directly to Mr. Leith by the person to whom they were spoken. It would accordingly be going too far to use the statement as the basis of a conclusion that all Baha’is, who comprise, or are regarded by the Iranian state security apparatus as comprising, an “inner core” are as such at current real risk of persecution. On the other hand, we do not consider that the totality of the evidence in this appeal does no more than show that some Baha’is are randomly persecuted and the appellant is a person who happens to have been so persecuted. The appellant has been an active teacher and has suffered previous sentences of imprisonment for what were plainly religious reasons. That is essentially accepted by the respondent. The credibility of the appellant’s claim to be in current well-founded fear was challenged by the respondent at the hearing on the basis that the alleged telephone conversation and other evidence of renewed adverse interest in the appellant by the authorities since he last left Iran were not believable. Whilst not accepting that there is evidence of a concerted policy to take out the inner core of the Baha’i community in Iran, we nevertheless find that, having regard to the current political situation, the background evidence and the evidence of Messrs Leith and Wheatley, shorn of its more rhetorical aspects, provide support for the appellant in assessing the credibility of that part of his claim which was challenged by Mrs. Petterson.

The Tribunal's conclusions may be summarized as follows:-

(a) an Iranian Baha’i is not, as such, at real risk of persecution in Iran;

(b) such a person will, however, be able to demonstrate a well-founded fear if, on the particular facts of the case, he or she is reasonably likely to be targeted by the Iranian authorities (or their agents) for religious reasons. Evidence of past persecution will be of particular relevance in this regard. It is doubtful if a person who has not previously come to the serious adverse attention of the authorities, by reason of his or her teaching or particular organizational or other activities on behalf of the Baja’s community in Iran, will be able, even in the current climate, to show that he or she will be at real risk on return.
 
Date: 24 April 2006

Image Courtesy : http://www.jcwi.org.uk/2011/09/15/the-real-deal-for-asylum-seekers

Source : http://redd.it/2lgdmh

Ayman Rohani’s Election/Selection to UHJ was predicted and Political

Introduction:

The Elections/Selection of Ayman Rohani was predicted long back on Bahai culture blog and also by Bahais who are witnessing the politics played by UHJ.After the Election/Selection of Mr. Ayman Rohani the Bahai culture blog was hit by 5000 hits per day. It was almost certain that after resignation/Removal of Mr. Farzam Arbab, one Persian will be needed to fill his vacant post.

Mr. Ayman Rohani was almost dragged to ITC given a prominent position. He was allowed to tour India, Malaysia, Cameroon, CIS and other countries to justify his future election on UHJ.

At present there are four Persians on UHJ. This is to attract the general Iranian population towards Bahai Faith. THE FACT IS THAT EVERY OTHER COUNTRY MEN MAY GET ATTRACTED TOWARDS THE FAITH EXCEPT THE IRANIANS.

Moreover Iranians moving closer to Bahai Faith are having dual allegiance one towards UHJ and a stronger one towards Ahmadinejad.

There were three other Persian counselors along with Mr. Ayman Rohani who were trying their luck to be elevated to UHJ. Mr. Foad Reyhani, Mr. Omid Seioshansian, and Mr. Jabbar Eidhelkhani .But it was certain that Mr. Ayman Rohani will win the race because of two reasons.

1) He was already on International Teaching Centre

2) His wife is Non Persian (Ms. Aliona a Georgian) which made UHJ think that Mr. Ayman Faith is more towards UHJ then Ahmadinejad.

So now another criterion is emerging for election/selection of ITC/UHJ that if you are a Persian Bahai then selects a non Persian wife like Payman Mohajir and Ayman Rohani. This will lead for UHJ think Tank to conclude that your allegiance is more towards UHJ and not towards Ahmadinejad. Otherwise you will be made a travel Teacher. See Mr. Burhanuddin Afshin and very soon Dr. Jabber Edilkhani will join him.

There was another ITC counselor from India Mr. Praveen Malik who was also trying his luck to be on UHJ. But Mr. Malik should note that The Persian Bahais know that, Bahai Faith is just Bread and Butter for Indians and you have no relation whatsoever with Faith and Teachings of Bahaullah.

THE EARLIER ARTICLE:

We Bahais denounce politics whatsoever. We are not supposed to be part of any government ministry nor any political party. Yet, those in authority at the highest level at UHJ are adept at politics.

There are many unwritten rules and code words being passed around to manipulate the administration functioning. Things are so professionally managed that a common Bahai continue to repose his trust in the supreme body.

As an insider who had served for a few years at Haifa, I have seen many such stage managed events. The most prominent being the elections to UHJ.

Criteria for rising in cadre at Haifa:

Briefly, following are the criteria:

1. You should be a Persian Bahai, or
2. Your wife is Persian,

       and

3. You have good means to support UHJ monetarily.

and

4. You should be able to write good reports of achievement when in fact no work has been done. (Those not having this quality take guidance from a Persian for success)

       and

E.   You should move closer to the Ruhi Brigade (Arbab-Faredoon Mohajir). Talk everywhere about the merits of Ruhi Books. Say that whenever you read Ruhi, it always gives you some new points.

Steps to Carve a Success Story, the Flow Chart:

ITC is the springboard for moving into the UHJ orbit. But before that as a first step do a few teaching of Ruhi courses on paper and become friendly with the ABM.  Get appointed as assistant to ABM and then do some more teaching. Most likely the ABM will nominate you when he is promoted to counselor.

 After being a showy ABM who makes sure to attend everything even opening of the envelopes, the Counselor position is assured.

Now memorize a few prayers and if you can really do it in Persian then you are nearer to the aim.

Now, ITC should be the next target.

Try to get yourself notice by UHJ .Emulate the predecessors. Develop the habit of writing smart impressive reports and there you are at ITC.

Alternative route (Mr. Paul Lample gate):

If all the above steps fail then do not be disheartened, Bahai Faith has hope for every manipulator. Try the Ms. Haleh Arbab alternative.

Get closure to her Mention to her about the merits of Ruhi circles, about her dear brother Mr. Arbab, her beloved husband Mr. Correa and about her achievements of OSED, FUNDAEC etc. Being absolutely aware that OSED is just an International Touring organization.

Mr. Gustav Correa’s Bahai knowledge about central figures is so encompassing that he can go on lecturing for hours on the topic of Relationship between Abdul Baha and Abbas Effendi.

Paul Lample can vouch for 100% success for this alternative! He got selected to the UHJ this way with approval of the Persian group comprising Mr. Farzam Arbab, Mr. Faredoon Jawaheri and Mr. Payman Mohajir.

At present this gate is overcrowded by presence of Mr. Ayman Rohani. At present this gate is overcrowded by presence of Mr. Ayman Rohani, Mr. Foad Reyhani, Mr. Omid Seioshansian, and Mr. Jabbar Eidhelkhani etc. Only one thing is common amongst all and that is all are PERSIAN, very good in writing reports

Etc. Only one thing is common amongst all and that is all are PERSIAN, very good in writing reports

The late Mr. Hasan Sabri could also conform this if contactable in the Abha kingdom.

You are now at the threshold:

Your flight has almost reached the destination in a short period of 12 years from when you started. Keep your hopes live with your target in mind. Just as the sly politician has the post of President of the Nation in mind.

Long live Bahai politics… Long live Persian dominance….

Baha'is mourn the death of Ariel Sharon

Israel bid its last farewell to the late Ariel Sharon on Monday with a state ceremony outside the parliament building before his flag-draped coffin was taken on a cross-country procession to its final resting place at his family home in the country's south.

With a high-powered crowd of VIPs and international dignitaries on hand, Sharon was eulogized as a fearless warrior and bold leader who devoted his life to protecting Israel's security. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair headed the long list of visitors that included the representatives from the Baha’i World Centre.

Sharon died at the age of 85 on Saturday after spending the last eight painful years in a coma caused by a massive stroke clinging to life in his final days even after his kidneys had stopped functioning.

Sharon's life will be remembered for its three distinct stages: First, was his eventful and contentious time in uniform, including leading a deadly raid in the West Bank that killed 69 Arabs, as well as his heroics in the 1973 Mideast war and as a friend and supporter of Baha’i Faith

He was branded responsible for the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps outside Beirut when his troops allowed allied Lebanese militias into the camps. After an uproar over the massacre, the supreme court of Israel found him guilty that cost him his job.

For Baha’is, Sharon was more than a well wisher, always eager to protect the Baha’i community. He visited the Baha’i World centre many times like his predecessors, during and after the Arc project, ensuring Baha’is of all possible support inside and outside Israel. I was at the gate to receive the guest from the Government at that time. Sharon entered with grace. He looked at me, shook his hand and said “How are you young lady”. I was taken back with his sudden gesture. Sharon remained with the Baha’is and had a meeting with the Members of Universal House of Justice and International Teaching Centre and assured them full support. He even inquired whether it is possible to meet Baha’i community outside Israel. Mr. Ali Nakhjawani took a world tour of the Baha’i community to find out if they were prepared to receive and welcome a dignitary like Mr. Sharon. I am sure the request of Sharon must have been recorded in the minutes of NSA meetings of every country. No doubt it was Sharon’s heartfelt desire to see the progress of Baha’i Faith in other parts of the world. Alas his long illness which decapacited him prevented him from his desire.

During the US-Iraq war Sharon asked one of the Patriot missiles to be fitted just above the Baha’i World Centre. He remarked that these Buildings are very important for the state of Israel and protection of these buildings is responsibility of the state.

Sharon died slow but painful death for more than 8 years when he suffered the second, devastating stroke in January 2006. But the he will have a very blessed life in the Abha Kingdom with the blessing of Bahá'u'lláh, Abdul Baha and Guardian Shoghi Effendi.

I am sure the Baha’is will have condolence meeting for Sharon all over the world as he was a Friend and well wisher of Baha’is in fact even more than this.

Sharon has gone, but his many services for the Baha’i Faith will always be remembered.

119 Bahá’í Picnics Over!

The 119 conferences called by the Bahá’í Administration, the UHJ, for the Bahá’í Youth held in 119 cities carefully selected by the UHJ to measure its acceptability amongst the Bahá’ís, proved to be the nightmare for the UHJ as only 30% of participation were Bahá’ís and the rest were non Bahá’ís i.e. from the “wider community”. It is quite natural that any NGO announcing 3 day picnic at a picnic resort with free lodging boarding and luxury of mixing with fairer sex in the name of enhancing the collective capacity for service, for benefit to Mankind will be welcomed by any group of people. The “wider community” was no exception and did not failed to take benefit from the “sinking titanic”.

If this figure of 30% Bahá’í Youth attendance is true then the Bahá’í Administration is losing grip over the Bahá’ís which will result in gradual dismantling of Bahá’í Administration in the very near future. Bahá’í youths cannot be fooled for a long time and this 30% is the best proof of it. Bahá’í Faith is now a Paper Tiger which is being run by the paid executives, the Members of Universal House of Justice, the Counselors the ABMs etc. These officials have their Salaries, their Holidays and finally Retirement. There are no real Bahá’ís left in the Faith.

There was a severe Bahá’í discontent during the conferences as lots of efforts were directed to please the youths of wider community at the expense of Bahá’í money as UHJ sees these youths as potential Bahá’ís for the future as their deception process is ON. Now the UHJ is asking the Bahá’ís to pay for the non Bahá’ís attending the conference.

Another major reason for discontent amongst Bahá’ís was total neglect by the UHJ of the Bahá’í Agenda carefully drafted by the Bahá’í Youths to be discussed in these conferences. These agendas were the real things going in the minds of every Bahá’í and the UHJ failed to satisfy the needs of the Bahá’í Youths. The conference had only one agenda and that was to please the youths of the wider community for enrolling themselves as Bahá’ís.

Another cause of dissatisfaction amongst Bahá’í Youths were the propaganda organized by the UHJ against Iran. The representative of the External affair committees of the Bahá’ís spoke on the ways and means for how to degrade and defame Iran by contacting their respective governments and giving them false information about Iranian government mistreating the Bahá’ís.

Also a careful analysis will find juxtaposition between the rise of rebellious in Bahá’í Faith and different sects emerging amongst the Bahá’ís all claiming to be True Bahá’ís. The Bahá’í administration is avoiding these issues as they feel that they are not in a position to reply to these issues. As lot of covenant breaking has been done by the Bahá’í Administration itself.

The Bahá’í Administration should know that future analysis is a key tool for the improvement of the present situation and extending their lives for a few more decades. Their next picnics should incorporate:

1. An awareness of demands by the Bahá’í youth of answering the unanswered question occupying the Bahá’í community related to the Central figures of the Faith that who was the Real Successor of The BAB.

2. The reliability of UHJ based on Holy text whether this is the same UHJ forecasted by Bahá’í central figures Baha’u’llah and Abdul Baha?

3. The safety of Bahá’í community not from Covenant Breakers but from abusive language used by the so called infallible members of UHJ.

4. Other sensitive issues like, the Collusion amongst the Persian Bahá’ís to keep the Bahá’í Administration in their own hands and let the Bahá’ís of other communities work as slave for them nothing sort of renaissance of Past Iranian Monarchy overthrown by Iranians.

 

 

Baha'i Youth conferences Begins with lackluster note

Participants gather outside of the conference venue in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea for betterment of society by ‘teaching Baha'i Faith’ to Tiny Tots of other Faiths.

Youth striving to contribute to the well-being of their communities have begun gathering in a series of conferences called for by the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith. The first eight of the 114 youth conferences, scheduled between now and October of this year, were held this past weekend in Papua New Guinea, Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Indonesia.

The outcome of these already concluded 8 conferences can be best summarized in one word “ABSOLUTE FAILURE” from the side of UHJ as well as participants.

The participants were unaware for what they have been called and the UHJ was confused, what had to be done with participants who were ignorant about the basic principles of the Faith. Nobody knew the meaning of facilitator, teacher, cluster etc. They had all come on planned for picnic and games.

Despite strong propaganda, the attendance was poor, even though the UHJ had taken care of lodging, boarding and travel expenses, no enthusiasm was seen. The participants found no point in attending for the agenda. Several doubts remained unanswered. The truthfulness of the Baha'i Faith, its legality and who was Baha’u’llah? were the predominant thoughts in the minds of few attendees.

As new agenda floated, the minds of the youths were stirred with a more confusion and uncertainty. The youth debated the motive of these conferences’ and why suddenly the UHJ has become so hospitable? Was the UHJ trying to cover-up :

a)  Failure of Ruhi curriculum? Or,

b) Absolute non acceptability of the Faith with the masses inspite of efforts taken by Baha'i authorities to make it acceptable. Or,

c)  To take the minds of the Baha'is away from humiliating court case defeats at the hands of followers of other sects of Baha'is.

Certain net savvy and updated youth discussed amongst themselves:

a)  Why the Baha'i Faith is banned in most of the countries?

b) Why there are deportations and arrests of Baha'is in different countries?

c) Why does the intelligence agency of every country have a Baha'i cell to keep a track of their activities?

d) Why there is widespread and profound allegation of espionage charges made against Baha'is in many of the countries?

Some Baha'i Youths suggested that women and children are not safe in Baha'i meetings and classes, and hence “Child and women Protection”, has to be discussed in these conferences.

It was told in the conference that “The purpose of neighborhood children’s classes is to provide spiritual growth and training to children. Such classes make Baha'i children gain a stronger identity when they are in classes with children of non-Baha'is who are learning about the Baha'i Faith. It is an obligation of every Baha'i to teach others about Baha’u’llah.”

Most of the Baha'i youth did not think that children have any obligation “to teach Baha'i Faith to other children”. In fact, they felt that it shows that Baha'i Faith is desperate to make converts. A good religion sells itself without trying to sell itself, and does not need any special methods such as children’s classes, cleverly designed for evangelistic purposes.

Also whispered was that in a letter dated dated 1 July 2013 the UHJ stated that “how the act of reaching out to touch individual hearts, acquainting souls with the Word of God, and inviting them to contribute to the betterment of society” which is contrary to saying of Baha’u’llah “Verily I say, strife and dissension, and whatsoever the mind of man abhorreth are entirely unworthy of his station. Center your energies in the propagation of the Faith of God’

With this feedback of first few conferences, it is not clear how the remaining will be managed by the UHJ. Picnics apart, the youth do not see any sense in the way the Faith is managed.