Bahai bombers in Shiraz?
April 13th, 2008Two nights ago, an explosion in a Hussaynieh (religious center) in Shiraz, one of Iran’s largest cities hosting second largest community of Bahais in Iran, killed at least 10 and injured more than a hundred. Few hours after the attack, I received a bunch of emails suggesting that explosion was the result of a bomb smuggled into the Hussaynieh so as to frighten the people who used to hear ‘anti Bahai propaganda’ there. In other words, such analysis implied that Bahais should be held responsible for the disaster.
Last night, however, police declared the most probable scenario identified by investigations: all around the country, many exhibitions feature War Memorials, including showcased maps, samples of remaining war materials (mines, guns, etc.), and martyrs’ photos and handwritings. And in that Hussaynieh, ceremonies as well as anti Bahai speeches were held along with one of these unsafe exhibitions, a rocket of which might have been exploded unexpectedly and the rest of the story. Police, however, stressed that this is not the final result. Meanwhile, deputy of state ministry in national security affairs was quoted as saying that “Shiraz explosion is certainly accidental.”
As I know, there is not even a simple case of Bahai terrorist (or just even violent) act in past decades, though some argue that bloody conflicts with majority Muslims (with attacks from both sides) followed the advent of this sect in Iran. By the way, whether this contemporary mildness is the result of a historical evolution or, as opposed to above mentioned historical accounts, just the continuity of the past trends, I feel that today Bahais are not a danger to the security/safety of Iranian society. Therefore they may live their life as do other minorities (not only Sunni Muslims, Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians, but also Sufis and even few Sikhs who live in Iran).
By the way, I have not heard of any official spokesman accusing Bahais of being associated with this event. On the other hand, I received many emails accusing Bahais of this ‘crime’. With regards to the fact that email plays the role of modern graffiti, i.e. the media of unheard voices, I have to wonder why such a strong Bahai-phobia does exist in Iranian society.
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Baha’is are strictly forbidden by their religious scripture to use violence and have followed that injunction for over a hundred years. The religion emerged as a messianic movement in the middle of the 19th century with a strong (shi’a) muslim outlook and armed clashes with government troops occurred in 1848-1850 at three places where many Babis lived (Mazandaran, Nayriz, Zanjan). Most Babis involved were killed, as was the Bab himself in 1850, at the age of 30, in Tabriz (after three years of imprisonment). In 1852 three Babis tried to kill the Shah (Nasirudin Shah) to revenge the execution of the Bab. A great massacre of Babis followed. Baha’ullah (Mirza Husayn Ali) barely survived and was released on condition of exile. Most surviving Babis recognized him as the promised one of the Bab (and earlier scriptures) and became Baha’is. Baha’ullah forbade taking up arms.
Bahai-phobia is 150 years old in Iran. It is kept alive mainly by the Muslim clergy and by the common need for scapegoats. In Iran it is illegal to spread information on the Bahai Faith while misinformation is liberally promoted by those who dislike the Bahai Faith.
Associated Press is speculating that it was Wahabists, not Bahais. An accident? It would be insane to have live ammunition in a display, but reports do say the explosion was in a different part of the building.
Please ignore the anti-Muslim nuts who will be delighted: they are not typical.
Mohammad,
No one really knows the cause. And that was also last night (not two nights ago). But I think that wasnt Bahais, as you said. Cause is unknown, yet.
You know, Ayatollah Khamenei has a plan to visit Fars and Shiraz. It has been mentioned one week ago. Mabye some groups wanted to make Shiraz insecure.
And also there is another hypothesis, I think. Mr. Anjazi Nejad (the owner of that religious center) was becoming famous, and popular. He had issued some political statements lately for last elections. Maybe some had hostility. I dont know, these are just hypothesis.
The explosion in Shiraz is a tragedy. I am sorry for all who died or were injured; and I am also sorry for their families. It doesn’t matter if in such a mosque they use to curse the baha’is or anyone else. This is a tragedy!
Accusing the baha’is for being responsible for this tragedy is just one of those typical propaganda acts.
Iranian society should pause and think for a while about their Bahai-phobia. There are Baha’is in almost every country in the world. And no country persecutes more the Baha’is than Iran. Are Baha’is a danger for other societies in other countries? Are they a threat to South Africa, Chile or India? Are they a danger to Uganda, Panama, Germany or Thailand? Did they undermine the moral and ethics in Zaire, Brazil, Japan or Canada?
How come Iranian society thinks they are the only ones in the world who knows the truth about the Baha’is and the rest of the world is wrong?
Did you ever think you are the ones who may be wrong?
Pictures:
1, 2 and 3.
Last news: 12 killed and 202 injured. picture
No one claims the responsibility to this disaster. This must be arranged by the ‘Rahpouyan …’ to make their anti-bahai movement florish
Elephant:
though many accounts of the event report “anti wahabi” and “anti bahai” activities together, I would like to mention that this certain Hussaynieh, called Rahpouyane Vesal (meaning “those who pave the way of joining with the savior”) is dedicted to the cause of promoting Shiite Savior who is about to come in “End of the Times”, and this is clearly in conflict with Bahai faith which believes that Shiite Savior appeared more than a century ago. therefore, this center is well-known for its anti Bahai propaganda, not anti-wahabi one, throughout the Iran.
Lord:
thanks for your corrective information. I posted this piece after the midnight, then I felt ‘two nights ago’ would be a better term, thus failed to care about exact time zone.
Marco Oliveira said:
yes.
Owzat said:
thank you detective Poirot
Please remember two sunni clerics were executed 48 hours before this sad incident. Their followers had vowed revenge.
What is the function of a mosque? prayer, serve poor, teach religious and godly values or is it to talk bad about other people? Mosque session to redicule tiny peacefull Bahais and arise people against them? How happy does that makes god?
thanks for this post. i fully agree, it was not the Baha’is. seriously, since when do peace loving “pacifists” turn into angry psychos that blow up mosques that are filled with youth? this act is definitively not the modus operandi of bahais.
I just wonder if it was not a accident who could it be? anyone have leads on the matter?
Adam!
Allah is delighted about all this hatred and violence against the unbelievers.
Koran 3:56 As for those who disbelieve I shall chastise them with a heavy chastisement in the world and the Hereafter; and they will have no helpers.
Prior to this incident, according to Peik net, a site close to the Tudeh Party and IRI’s reformist factions, two Sunni seniors (Mulavi) were hanged in Zahedan’s prison last Wednesday. They were charged with relation to the Sunni rebel group of Jundallah.
The group, or any other, has not taken responsibility for the incident. This mosque has been rather a place close to Hojattyeh sect which preaches of hate against Bahais, Wahabbis, and other political issues.
Seezo,
What was that execution? would you give more information?
Adam:
first, this was not a mosque, it was a Hussaynieh, an exclusively Shiite religious center whose function is different from that of a Mosque.
second, although I do agree that such ‘anti Bahai propaganda’ is essentially misinforming in most of the cases, I’ve rarely heard of “ridiculous” or “bad things” told about them preached in such places. this anti-Bahai propaganda is usually based on emotionally motivating people to marginalize Bahais. and this motivation is usually based on small portions of facts, not all the fact, withought providing Bahais with an ooportunity to defend themselves. I do admit again that this is not fair. it is not, however, equal to “saying bad things” or “ridiculing the Bahais.”
by the way, it must be noted that there are many rumors, bad things and ridiculing descriptions circulating throughout the society about Bahais.
Jahanshah:
you would better add that “the terrorist group” best describes what you call “Sunni rebel group of Jundallah”. stopping a bus and indiscriminately killing all of the passengers, kidnapping normal citizens and asking for ransom and/or freeing some prisinors, etc… what do you call all of these ‘efforts’? a simple rebel?
from your comment, every reasonable creature would infer that IRI executed two senior Sunni clerics just for being Sunni; and explosion, if masterminded by affiliates of those clerics, maybe somehow justified. come on man.
roo:
I hope it to be ‘certainly accidental’ as that senior official said.
We Bahai’s are prohibited from carrying arms [as mention above]. Accusing us of bombing a mosque is completely insane. The Iranian government dislikes the faith and has shown great injustice towards the Bahai’s there. Students are not given proper education, highly qualified engineers and doctors are not permitted to get jobs and they face constant imprisonment from the government.
This would obviously be an excuse for them to prosecute more Bahai’s there.
I also have a question:
If the explosion was indeed caused by a bomb, how come out of the thousand people there, only 9 were killed? I’m not saying that nine is a small number, but i mean, if somebody did plant a bomb there, wouldn’t they have wanted more casualties?
A Bahai from across the world said:
here is answer:
the above report is more of an evidence that this was not a bomb attack, for if it were so, the bomber could detonate the bomb “closer to the podium”.
In all likelihood it was a tragic mistake. One thing I am rather surprised by, that although the authorities could have used this as a great opportunity to accuse the Baha’is, they have yet to do so. An easy target, great chance to whip on them masses, maybe drag a few out of there houses or try to burn a few in the street (which was recently tried), but nothing officially blaming the Baha’is.
One obvious reason is that it wouldn’t float. The people know better. As much as the mullahs hate us, there is no solid foundation or precedent for us to take violent action. That would be the worst thing for Baha’is to do.
Lord Kavi
Here is some info about execution:
http://www.roozonline.com/english/archives/2008/04/two_sunni_clerics_executed.html
As for the explosion I would not describe it as “tragic mistake”, it was “criminal negligence”. I wish that the people who are responsible for that tragedy were put into prison.
Omid T said:
there is a reason for it, and that is “stupidity of some anti-Bahai advocates”. lets suppose that you are going to marginalize a minority group; the simplest mean is to misinform people: tell the people that THEY do the nastiest, eat the dirtiest, etc. though it might come to be an effective strategy in short term and marginalize THEM for a while, it will prove counter-productive in long run: once one dares to get close to THEM, he understands that THEY are normal citizens too, and this perception not merely helps THEM spread they word, but also undermines credibility of misinformers, which in turn will accelerate the process of normalization…
How ironic. Your observation about how the mullahs will be the reason for normalization, very insightful!
Some forty years ago here in Portugal, most people thought that colonialism was right, that colonies were part of our country. Salazar, the dictator said: “We go on, proudly alone, with our colonial policy”. In those days France and Great Britain had already gave independence to their colonies. Luckily not every Portuguese shared the ideas of the dictator.
Why is Iran following proudly alone an anti-Baha’i policy? It is an attitude that reminds me of the former Portuguese dictatorship.
Thank God there are voices in Iran that speak against this attitude. I just wish I could hear (and read) more people like you, Mohammad Memarian.
Just fyi, here is one of many statements of Baha’u'llah on violence: “O ye lovers of God! In this, the cycle of Almighty God, violence and force, constraint and oppression, are one and all condemned.” Loyalty to whatever government of whatever country we live in is also a Baha’i teaching. In order to persecute the Baha’is, lies must be told, that’s all there is to it. If they told the truth, there would be nothing to base their hatred on since Baha’is are taught to “consort with the followers of all religions with friendliness and fellowship” and work for “the betterment of the world” through “pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.” Seems to me the world could use more people with such principles, wouldn’t you all agree?–Warmly, Wendy
Some Iranian Sunnis I encountered claim that the Iranian government did it in order to have an excuse to attack Sunni sheikhs in Shiraz.
Dear Omid:
I agree with Mohammad. In long term, many would know how bahais are, at least normal people who have no hostility like mullahs.
I didnt know much about Bahais, not knowing as good or even bad guys. I didnt really know.
But lately I’ve understood that it is sometimes hard for someone to becomes a Bahai. You know why? Because they are very very nice guys and it seems hard for others to be a Bahai!!! I think this goodness is somehow related to their belief.
Marco Oliveira said:
many believe that Iranian top officials in several fronts takes all the risks on behalf of those who refuse to share the expenses.
for example, in the case of Mideast conflict, many arab leaders benefit from it being updated with as much violence as possible, and Iran exactly advances this agenda as a front leader. who pays the price? just Iran; who benefits? all.
equally, in the case of Bahais, I think that many countries would be featured on front pages if it were not up to Iran to do the job. again, many elite sects benefit from the Iranian position, though refuse to pay the price.
Wendy:
nice priniciples, especially with regards to the fact that people may follow them without any need to officially convert to Bahaism… somehow universal values they are.
It should be noted that with regard to all this, Shiraz has been a historic place for Baha’is in many ways.
My sister, Mona was named after the 17yr old girl, Mona Mahmudnizhad who was hanged for teaching Baha’i Sunday school. It is also the future place of Baha’i pilgrimage, along with Turkey and Baghdad.
As I feel sorry for people who passed away in this bomb explosion, regardless of whatever their ideology had been, I deny that any bahai could have a role in this explosion. Anti- Bahai propaganda is nothing unusual in Iran, not after the revolution, or even before, or even at the time of Ghajar Dynasty, the last of their kings, it became fashionable right then, and from that time on it had been there, even though Bahais are one of the most peaceful group of people inside and outside of Iran.
Omid, I saw the picture of Mona and I read all about her. G-d bless her soul, her beautiful face should be remembered by all the people who strive for peace and goodness.
Terrosim is nothing to be stopped instantly, a region like Middle East should decide to collaborate and find the reasons and try to Treat this Disease gradually…
Margus wrote: Koran 3:56 As for those who disbelieve I shall chastise them with a heavy chastisement in the world and the Hereafter; and they will have no helpers.
First how do you know Bahai’s disbelive? Did you research yourself or was told to you by another religous leader? Second who in this case was chastised?
Mohammad Memarian I agree with you but in the news they said in there they were doing anti bahai propoganda probably means they are not saying anything good about them and it I know that even in city of shiraz many times in the mosques they arose people against bahais. Thanks for your comments though.
Maybe we should re-examine the idea of a terrorist act. I would imagine that if the government secretly thinks its terrorism or the Baha’is which would be un-likley because the Baha’is have a reputation thats rock solid for non-violence, they will begin to crack down in some form, publicly or privately.
Yes, blame the victims… always works in the Muslim world.
Jina wrote:
No one here tries to blame the victims; but, to play devil’s advocate, lets suppose so. that is the lesson we learnt from G.W.Bush, when his majesty blames Iraqis who attack American soldiers.