Saeed Dehqan is the attorney of some Baha’is. He has issued a statement to defend the cult heads. He has tried to perk being Baha’i and the membership in the illegal Baha’ism organization as the same in order to pretend Baha’ism is oppressed; while believing in Baha’ism hasn’t been illegal and just being the member of the organization is considered as a crime. It seems that the Excellency attorney is going to pretend Baha’ism as oppressed in order to use it as a so-called excuse to provide pressures of human rights against our country issuing such statements and remarks. Some parts of the statement which have been by the Baha’ism organization network are as follows:

     “They are the offspring of Iranian land and love this land. They are just Baha’is and from the Baha’i families; Just this! If we aren’t to respect our beliefs; at least let’s respect the principle 23 of the Constitution regarding the prevention of inspecting beliefs. Let’s be honest if it is hard and we aren’t able; not of us announce being as the head of diplomacy system at the window: “There is no crime of being Baha’i judicial system imprison Baha’is continually without paying attention to facts and the indispensable legal rights… However, I’ll follow the petition via the supreme court of the country; specially, I believe that in the accusation (being the member of the illegal organization of Baha’ism aiming measures against the national security) just two prepositions “در” and “به” are without errors!

1.   Membership: For my 7 clients who have been born Baha’i and are from the Baha’i families, membership is meaningless.

2.   Organization: Since 1362 S.H. when the Baha’i organization has been dissolved, no organization is practically existent in which membership to be meaningful

3.   Illegal: The Baha’ism faith hasn’t been announced as illegal in the rules of the country. According to the judgment by the founder of Islamic Revolution, Baha’is are safe in Islamic Republic and according to the principles of 23 and 14 of the Constitution, prosecuting them is illegal.

4.   Baha’ism: Baha’ism is a creed or faith. It isn’t an organization whose membership will be meaningful and is included to be punished according to articles 498 or 499 of Islamic punishment rule.

5.   Aim: Which aim?! In the case against my clients, there is no document indicating a simple crime or measuring against the national security!

6.   Taking action against the national security: This phrase is used when extensive and organized physical plans have been done; while believing in a creed or faith is a personal and internal affair and it can’t be basically an action against the national security in a country where is assumed and claimed as the consistency island in the region[1]!”

     Answer:

1.   Contrary to your claim, Baha’ism isn’t a religion. It is a quite political organization which is related to the hostile government of Israel. In 1362, being the member of the organization has been announced to be against the law[2]. The problem is that you introduced two concepts “the cordial belief and the membership in the organization as one concept curiously; while having cordial belief in Baha’ism isn’t a crime in Iran; but being a member and being active in the organization is being prosecuted. An organization which has tried to overthrow the Islamic system of government since Islamic Revolution.[3]

2.   Who has inspected Baha’is for their belief?! Has anybody entered in the Baha’is houses forcefully and asked about their beliefs?! If you mean some occupational limitations for the Baha’is, you can suggest them as their attorney to reject their beliefs like their limitations[4]! As a lawyer, you surely know that proselytizing for Baha’ism is forbidden in Iran! According to their cult commandment, Baha’is must obey the government. Why do they trample the governmental rules by their public proselytizing[5]?

3.   You consider being Baha’i in Iran as a crime; have you ever asked yourself: how many Baha’is have been imprisoned in Iran?! The Baha’ism organization has announced its followers 300,000people in Iran. So, does 60-70 imprisoned Baha’i mean the Baha’ism belief is a crime in Iran?!

4.   Why did Afif Naeemi establish an organization called Yaran-e-Iran contrary to the law?! Do you claim your clients were punished due to cordial belief or being the members of illegal organization which have been treacherous?!

5.   You claim for the Iranian Baha’is to be under limitations and pressures and to be deprived of job and working. Where are several million Tuman pledges provided for the freedom of Baha’i criminals?!