Ayatollah Montazeri Proclaims Baha’is Citizens of Iran
May 22nd, 2008
Translation
In the Name of the Most High
With greetings,
The congregation of Baha’ism not having the heavenly book like those of Jews, Christians, and Zoaretrians in the constitution [of Islamic republic of Iran], are not considered one of the religious minorities. However, since they are the citizens of this country, they have the right of citizenship and to live in this country. Furthermore, they must benefit from the Islamic compassion which is stressed in Quran and by the religious authorities.
God-willing you will be successful,
(Wal Salam–u Alaykum Warahmatullah)
[Peace and Mercy of God be upon you]
25 Urdibehesht 1387 [14 May 2008]
Signature: Montazeri [Seal]
This is an interesting bit of information coming from the man who would have been Ayatollah Khomeini’s successor. He is an advocate for the seperation of religion and politics in the government. It has not been easy for Ayatollah Montazeri and he is taking a big risk by doing this. If this is authentic, it would be a positive sign that there is indeed an understanding of personal freedoms and respect when it comes to Iran and the reformist camp.
Ayatollah Montazeri, I greatfully aknowledge your efforts to bring human rights to all Iranians, despite thier religion.
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I thank Ayatollah Montazari as an Iranian and a member of another group who are not ne of the recognized religions of Iran. I hope G-d reward you for talking for the religious minorities of Iran.
Omid that was a good piece of information. The Ayatollah’s need a role model too
It is definitely a good gesture, although I am not sure how far it will go. He certainly understands his own religion.
I always liked Montazeri personally. This reaffirms my admiration towards the man.
My husband doesn’t believe in him though, he thinks that Ayatollah Montazari is the one to be blamed for the whole idea of the religious republic, because he set forward the idea of the religious soverreignty.
Well, to defend the Ayatollah, I would say he knows now the mistakes of the dramatic turns the revolution has taken. The revolution was supposed to be a liberating thing for Iran, and no doubt the clergy saw themselves as the one to set it on that course. However, they are clergy and it was naive to think that the process was going to be a secular one. As mentioned before, we was supposed to be Khomeini’s successor as the Supreme Leader, and for a while Khomeini really admired him. His poster was next to Khomieni’s in a lot of places. There was a falling out of sorts and Khomeini put him under house arrest in Qom, he has been there ever since. I am sure the Ayatollah Montazeri did not want Iran’s government to become what it has today.
Omid
I think you are right about him knowing about the mistakes more than others. It is indeed a very brave and inspiring action of his, talking about the rights of Bahais, of Iranians Bahias as Iranians, even if not as people of a religion. Even this much flexibility from an Ayatollah in Iran means too much.
Omid:
as said in an earlier post, I can hardly believe in the sincerity of such gestures. In Khomeini – Montazeri conflict, what would have been likely to happen if Montazeri had won and put Khomeini under home-arrest? in that case, I think, Ayatollah Khomeini could turn into a reformist figure. I do strongly believe that some of the reformist figures of today Iran (whose hands were cut off power) only exploit some beautiful, democratic slogans to pressure the regime and current officials. and its hard to see Ayatollah Montazeri an exception.
Therefore to solve the problem of Bahai Discrimination, we have to invest in People. According to Nissim,
Religious figures, however, can still play a role. But lets find some more reliable ones.
I don’t know too much about the Ayatollahs. Here in the states we didn’t exactly get an unbiased picture. However, I could imagine that some of them supported the revolution, motivated in part by the abuses of the Shah, and believing that they could bring good to the country.
But they ran into trouble when they tried to reconcile the rigors of politics with the inflexibility of their religious beliefs. The compromise that is inherent in politics is hard to reconcile with the uncompromising nature of dogmatic belief. So, for example, as a politician, you may want to cut the Baha’i some slack, but as a religious leader, how can you do that and still stay true to the tenets of your relious beliefs? It’s like trying to mix oil and water.
Politics requires the give and take that are inherent aspects of real life. It’s a nasty business. Just look at the U.S. Presidential campaign. Religion is about your relationship with God, and if you consider that relationship absolute, and unforgiving, then you have no choice but to stick to your guns.
And it’s not just Islam that has this problem. The Inquisition took some 600 years to play itself out. Why? Because the Church tried to have it both ways; to be politically in charge, while at the same time to be the unholder of the faith. What a fiasco to see priests trying to come up with ever more clever ways to torture people. They would torture you until you confessed your crime. Once you confessed, you were killed. If you didn’t confess, guess what, you were killed. A hell of a choice if you ask me.
Islam must find a way to separate Church from State, while respecting the dignity of both, and while using both, as Mohammad Memarian argues, to help to transition toward peace, prosperity, and freedom, toward a democratic rule of law.
Thirty years ago, travelling by train in France I met a group of Iranians. I am from Cuba and my complexion is similar to the people of Iran,or north Africa. They thought I was from the region and inmediately established a warm relationship. In the course of the conversation I mentioned I was a Bahá’i. They became furious. They could not imagine that the Faith had reached Cuba and “corrupted” a young individual.
I became a Baha’i at 17 years of age, I am 70 years old, still with the same enthusiasm, the same love for that Faith that started in Iran. (I hope a little more wise). They can not imagine how in spite of the horrible persecutions the Bahá’í Faith has gone around the world. Only by the will of God and not by why they say, that it is a political or a zionist organization. It is a pitty that they are so blind.
There is a feeling that the Baha’i Faith in Iran is still an Iranian problem. Some that I talk to out of Iran are completely oblivious to the global nature of its mission and scope. Thanks for your note Cesar.
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Ayatullah Muntazeri said that Baha’is do not have any holy book likes jews, christians and Muslim. bahais believe in Montazeri’s words. Its nice to read.
Technically he is mistaken. He may not consider it holy, but the Baha’i text and scripture is there. We have many authoritative and revelotory books. The main one being Kitab-i-Aqdas–It is mainly a book of laws, which are up the the authorities of the Faith to implement.
Among some of the other Baha’i scripture, one can see some here.
[...] position on Bahais Author: Mohammad Memarian (Iran) – June 17, 2008 Question: Your Excellency, In one of your [previous] answers to [the questions regarding] Bahai sect, pointing out that Bahai faith is not considered a legal [...]
[...] (2) Reference here is to a religious ruling issued by Ayatollah Montazeri on 14 May 2008. The original text of this fatwa is available here: [...]
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