Regarding the hue and cry about the arrest of some Baha’is in Iran, I would like to make some points.

Firstly, the government of Iran is an independent government with its independent laws and independent constitution. It has its reasons for the arrest of these Baha’is and we should respect that. Just as America, Israel and the West in general would like to maintain their sovereignity, Iran would like to do that as well.

Secondly, people should keep in mind that world-wide, Baha’is do not have a track record of respecting local laws (except in the West and Israel). Baha’is frequently break local laws and have been help responsible for conversion activities, spying etc. Hence it is difficult to give them benefit of doubt that the Baha’is are indeed “innocent”.

Thirdly, if America / the West is so concerned about the state of the Baha’is in Iran, why does it not offer asylum to these Baha’is in America, Israel, Britain. That would solve the problem once and for all. All Iranians in any case are hankering to go to America. This move will kill two birds with one stone.

Incidentally Baha’is are banned in Saudi Arabia as well. If a Baha’i is caught in Saudi Arabia, he would probably be executed for blasphemy (a lot harsher than being arrested). I don’t see people making too much noise about it (rather any noise about it) – perhaps because Saudi is an ally of the West and Iran is not.

So this whole thing about persecution of Baha’is in Iran is hogwash. Baha’is are banned not only in Iran. They are banned all over the Middle East and in several other Muslim countries. Iran is being singled out because they want to paint a poor picture of Iran in the media. That is all.

Wait, there more…I secretly believe that the Baha’is don’t want their “friends” in Iran to be released. What purpose will that serve? One Baha’i in prison is more valuable than one free Baha’i. Simply because it gives this community to be in the press all the time, it gets them brownie points for sympathy and in any case, apart from the sympathy factor, there isn’t much to talk about the Baha’i Faith.

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