As the imprisonment of the Yaran (literally meaning Friends in Persian) passes the 1 year marker (Mrs Sabet, the first of seven to be arrested was detained on 5th March 2008), we finally got some news about these dear innocent friends from the Universal House of Justice and the International Baha'i Community's office in New York. There was also a letter on behalf of the Universal House of Justice informing the community at large and the Baha'i world community in particular regarding the further functioning of the Yaran and at the local level Khadimin.
The House of Justice has agreed that these committees that were functioning in absence of any Baha'i administration (Local and National Spiritual Assemblies) for the past 20 years with the full agreement and knowledge of the governments of the Islamic Republic, from now on will seize to function. This, the House of Justice says has been done as a sign of obedience of the Baha'is to their government and a gesture of good will. It is interesting that in their letter the House of Justice refers to the recommendation by the Yaran made from their prison cells to end this last form of administration of Baha'i communities in Iran, and that this will not hamper the spiritual and community life of the 300000+ Baha'is living there. This is surely an indication of the strength of the Baha'i community and believers in Iran. Bravo to all the Baha'i in Iran!
Here are the links to these messages:
Message of the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of Iran, dated 9th March 2009 (currently only in Persian):
http://bahais-of-iran.blogspot.com/2009/03/message-of-universal-house-of-justice.html
Open letter by the BIC to Najafabadi:
English: http://bic.org/areas-of-work/persecution/prosecutor-general-iran-en.pdf
Persian: http://bic.org/areas-of-work/persecution/prosecutor-general-iran-fa.pdf
Finally I don't have a link to this elsewhere so I will insert the following message on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated 6th March 2009:
6 March 2009
Transmitted by email
To all National Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Baha'i Friends,
The Universal House of Justice has directed us to apprise you of the following recent developments in the Cradle of the Faith.
On 15 February 2009, Ayatollah Qorban-Ali Dorri-Najafabadi, the Prosecutor General of the Islamic Republic of Iran, declared illegal the ad hoc arrangements that tend to the spiritual and social affairs of the Baha'i community of Iran. In response, the Yaran from their prison cell have stated that if the current arrangements for administering the affairs of the Baha'i community are no longer acceptable to the government, to bring them to a close would not present a major obstacle. They have indicated that this is to further demonstrate the goodwill that the Baha'is have consistently shown to the government of the Islamic Republic for the past thirty years. The House of Justice agreed with the wisdom of the proposed approach. Consequently, the Yaran and the Khadimin are now bringing to a close their collective functioning.
On 4 March 2009, the Baha'i International Community addressed an open letter to the Prosecutor General, relaying to him its perspectives on this deplorable action against the Baha'is in Iran. The communication has also been posted on its Web site at www.bic.org and is enclosed herewith in both its Persian and English versions.
Notwithstanding the gravity of the accusations levelled against them, the steps being taken by the Yaran and the Khadimin to bring to a close their functioning should not cause undue concern. There are many ways for the friends to arrange their affairs informally, and there is no doubt that the valiant Baha'is of Iran will continue to manage the spiritual life of their community and, to the extent possible, contribute to the advancement of their nation. What must be borne in mind, however, is that these actions by the authorities are but the most recent manifestations of a systematic campaign of persecution that aims at the eradication of the Baha'i community as a viable entity in the land of its birth. In recent years, the harassment and ill-treatment of our fellow believers in Iran have reached new levels of intensity as certain elements historically hostile towards the Cause have assumed growing influence in the affairs of the country.
We call on you to invite the believers in your community to join you, during these spiritually charged days of the Fast, in offering prayers for the protection of their brothers and sisters in Iran. You are free to share the foregoing information and the enclosed communication with the Baha'is throughout your country, reassuring them that Baha'i institutions and selected individuals are undertaking wide-ranging and concerted efforts to defend the friends in Iran. The enclosures may also be shared with others, as you deem appropriate. Should the House of Justice wish you to take additional action, such a request will be conveyed to you separately.
The heroic steadfastness of the Baha'is in the Cradle of the Faith has released mighty spiritual forces into the world. It has, too, evoked the highest admiration of the believers across the globe, whose yearning to alleviate the tribulations of their Baha'i sisters and brothers in Iran is deeply felt and lovingly acknowledged by the House of Justice. What all must realize is that this longing may best be expressed through single-minded dedication to the prosecution of the Five Year Plan. May every follower of the Blessed Beauty seize the opportunities that present themselves for the advancement of the Cause, confident that the victories won will bring abiding joy to the members of the long-suffering, renowned community in His native land.
With loving Baha'i greetings,
Department of the Secretariat
Enclosures
cc: International Teaching Centre
Boards of Counsellors
Counsellors
