Baha'i News: Slovak politicians call Iran's persecution of Baha'is "chilling" and "abhorrent"

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Slovak politicians call Iran's persecution of Baha'is "chilling" and "abhorrent"
http://news.bahai.org/story/882


BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, 20 January 2012, (BWNS) – Treatment of the Baha'is in 
Iran has "escalated to an institutionalised and blatant policy of persecution," 
according to a proclamation issued by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the 
Slovakian parliament.

The proclamation describes the Iranian government's incitement to hatred based 
on religion and belief as "abhorrent." It also states that  the "regime's 
endeavors to persecute Baha'is is chilling indeed," and demands an end to 
Iran's "spiralling efforts to destroy the Iranian Baha'i community." 

Baha'is "must be guaranteed their full and equal human rights" and "be allowed 
to contribute to the public life and development of Iran along with their 
fellow citizens," wrote the Foreign Affairs Committee.

"The fact that this Committee has taken on the situation of Baha'is in Iran is 
important for two reasons," said its chairman, Frantisek Sebej. 

"One, because the democratic parliaments of the world must care about and deal 
with the denial of human rights of suppressed minorities in other parts of the 
world, at least for the reason that we are the luckier ones who live in a free 
world and have the obligation to care for others."
 
"The second reason is that with such a resolution we can help the Baha'i 
community."
 
Noting "a sharp increase in the systematic, government-supported program to 
destroy the Baha'i community in Iran," the statement also describes the 
destruction of Baha'i holy sites and cemeteries as an "atrocious blow to 
religious cultural heritage of significant value for humankind." It calls for 
the immediate release of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders and the Baha'i 
educators jailed for their association with the Baha'i Institute of Higher 
Education. 

"At issue are denial of the right to life, liberty and security of person; 
violent attacks; arbitrary arrests and imprisonments; denial of access to 
education; confiscation and destruction of personal community property; and the 
denial of employment, pensions and other benefits," the proclamation says. 

The Committee –  which approved the proclamation at a meeting held yesterday in 
the building of the National Council of the Slovak Republic – also resolved to 
send the statement to senior figures in Iran, including President Ahmadinejad.

"Though I do not expect that the Iranian Government will stop the persecution 
of Baha'is," said Dr. Sebej, "at least it will not dare to do more horrific 
things while thinking that no one is watching and nobody cares."






To read the article online and view photographs, go to:
http://news.bahai.org/story/882

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