From: Susan Maneck
Organization: Berry College
Subject: H-Bahai Two Baha'is killed in Iran
To: Multiple recipients of list H-BAHAI
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 1997 00:41:46 -0400
From: jrcole@umich.edu (Juan R. I. Cole)
Subject: H-Bahai Two Baha'is killed in Iran
The following sad news reached me through a friend. My condolences to the
families of those killed for crimes of conscience.
Juan Cole
History
U of Michigan
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Last Updated 9-8-97
WebMaster: Juan R.I. Cole
jrcole@umich.edu
18 August 1997
Transmitted electronically
To all National Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Baha'i Friends,
It is with much sadness that the Universal House of Justice has
received the disturbing news that two more believers in Iran have been
killed because of their Faith. While you may share this information with
your community, no action should be taken at this time to publicize it in
the media.
Mr. Masha'llah Enayati (Masha'llah Inayati), a 63-year-old
Baha'i resident of Tihran, who was well known for having constantly taught
the Faith in a bold and zealous manner, died on 4 July 1997 after being
severely beaten while in custody. During a visit to his native village of
Ardistan to attend the meeting held to commemorate the anniversary of the
Ascension of Baha'u'llah, Mr. Enayati was arrested in circumstances which
are not clear.
He was taken to prison in Isfahan, where he was severely beaten on
all parts of the body. It appears that he was held in prison for about a
week before being taken to a hospital. His daughter, who lives in
Australia, was in Iran at the time and visited her father in the hospital,
where he was still under armed guard, though it was only a minor matter for
which he had been arrested. She witnessed the effects of the beating,
including visible bruising all over his body and especially on his hands,
which were black from his injuries. She reports that he was in good health
before his arrest. Mr. Enayati passed away in the hospital. The Friends in
Iran have added that Mr. Enayati's death certificate is worded in a most un
. . . certificate. Under "cause of death" is entered, "Will be known
later", in the handwriting of the doctor.
Mr. Shahram Reza'i (Shahram Rida'i), a young Baha'i man who was
serving as a conscript in the army near the city of Rasht, was shot in the
head by his weapons training officer on 6 July 1997 and died the following
day. In court the officer claimed that the shooting was an accident. He was
released after a few days, once the court established that the man killed
was a Baha'i. The court excused the officer of paying the blood-money
normally required in such instances, ordering him to pay just the cost of
the three bullets used to kill Mr. Reza'i. The Friends in Iran have no
doubt that this was a case of deliberate murder and predicted before the
"trial" that the officer would be released, since this has been so in other
similar cases. We understand that Mr. Reza'i is the seventh Baha'i
undertaking compulsory army duties to have been killed by colleagues or
officers.
To National Spiritual Assemblies 18 August
1997
Page 2
Below is the provisional translation of the text of a letter written
on behalf of the House of Justice for transmission to Iran:
The Universal House of Justice was grieved by the news of
the sad events which engulfed the two lovers of the Abha Beauty,
Shahram Rida'i and Masha'llah Inayati. These two trod the path of
truthfulness and fearlessness and never concealed their relationship
with the world-embracing Teachings of Baha'u'llah; this resulted in
fuelling the fire of prejudice amongst heedless individuals, and
finally in leading the two to the exalted station of martyrdom and
the attainment of the presence of the Desired One.
Kindly inform the families of these dear ones of the heartfelt
sympathy of the House of Justice and assure them of its prayers in
the Holy Shrines for the two martyrs in the path of God and also for
those oppressed ones who survive them.
The wilful killing of Mr. Enayati and Mr. Reza'i, occurring without
any justification whatsoever, illustrates how the persecution of the believers
in Iran is continuing to take place in various ways. National Assemblies
involved in diplomatic activity on behalf of the Baha'i community of Iran
may tell their government contacts of the killings, but should seek no
action in relation to them. It would not be helpful for the killings to be
given publicity.
With loving Baha'i greetings,
For Department of the Secretariat
cc: The Hands of the Cause of God
International Teaching Centre
Counsellors
Baha'i International Community,
United Nations Office, New York and Geneva
National Assembly of the United States,
Office of External Affairs
[SIGNED CONFIRMATORY COPY TO FOLLOW]
