BAHAI FAMILY OFFERS GLIMPSE INTO BAHAI EXPERIENCE IN IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RPO DUBAI 000052

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/4/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINR IR
SUBJECT: BAHAI FAMILY OFFERS GLIMPSE INTO BAHAI EXPERIENCE IN IRAN

DUBAI 00000052 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Ramin Asgard, Director, Iran Regional Presence
Office, DOS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) Summary: IRPO Officer met on October 29 with an Iranian
Baha'i family to discuss the conditions facing Baha'is in Iran.
The family confirmed existing reporting regarding the
persecution Baha'is face and provided detail into how the IRIG
tracks the Baha'i population, operations of the Baha'i Institute
of Higher Education, attitudes of Baha'i youth, and the Baha'is'
assimilation into Persian society. Iranian Baha'is continue to
be persecuted in Iran, facing restrictions on practicing their
religion, finding employment, and pursuing an education. End
summary.


2. (C) The family reiterated that conditions in Iran for Baha'is
are very difficult; Baha'is cannot freely practice their
religion, are unable to attend universities in Iran, cannot work
for the government, and cannot receive a pension. Additionally,
the IRIG bars Baha'is from employment in certain private
sectors, such as barber shops or groceries, because Baha'is are
considered unclean. The father of the family has a construction
company. The family indicated that they feel daily pressure
from the government, but this appears to stem from the general
circumstances facing Baha'is rather than daily IRIG harassment.


3. (C) However, the family reported that the government does
monitor the Baha'i population closely. When entering primary
and secondary school, all children are required to disclose
their religion on the entrance forms and provide the identities
and addresses of their extended family members. In the case of
Baha'i students, the family detail is passed on to the Ministry
of Information and Security (MOIS). The family also indicated
that the MOIS will send representatives to observe Baha'is when
they are gathering with non-Baha'is. The father recalled being
at a funeral when a friend of his pointed out a purported MOIS
observer. Although Baha'is are not blocked from socializing
with non-Baha'is, the family said the MOIS will question
non-Baha'is about their association with Baha'is. Finally, per
a government decree, Baha'is, when gathering with other Baha'is,
may not do so in groups greater than 20.


4. (U) Until "several" years ago, the family indicated that the
IRIG held their passports, preventing them from traveling
outside of the country. Although the family does not know why
the IRIG reversed policy, they have heard that the IRIG now
wanted Baha'is to leave the country and not return.


5. (C) The family's daughter attends the Baha'i Institute for
Higher Education (BIHE) in Iran. (Background: According to the
school's website, Baha'is founded the school in 1987 to provide
their community with access to higher education. The IRIG knows
about the school but apparently turns a blind eye to it. The
family did not know why it was allowed to operate.) According
to the daughter, the school has approximately 2,500 students
from all over Iran. It is a 4-year program with classes in 14
different fields. Classes meet daily online, and she also
travels to Tehran 3-4 times per semester for classes with her
classmates. All classes have less than 20 students to comply
with the aforementioned IRIG decree. The university degree is
not valid in Iran, but according to the family, it is accepted
by some Western universities. The daughter indicated that many
young Baha'is want to pursue advanced degrees in Western
universities. Her father interjected that after doing so, most
want to return to Iran and help educate Iranians. He noted that
most Iranian schools are not very good and the Baha'i community
wants to help improve the education system.


6. (C) When asked why they stay in Iran, the family responded
that their religion was founded in Iran and that they love Iran.
The family said they liked other Iranians, including
non-Baha'is, and are socially engaged in mixed groups. The
daughter, for example, sings in a choir that includes Muslims
and Baha'is. The family said non-governmental Iranians do not
dislike Bahai's and tend to disregard IRIG anti-Baha'i
propaganda.


7. (C) The family deemed IRIG accusations that Nobel Peace Prize
laureate and lawyer Shirin Ebadi's daughter is Baha'i to be
completely false (The allegations were made in government-owned
media sources and conservative newspapers). They said the
accusations were a bid to tarnish Ebadi's reputation because she
is defending seven imprisoned members of the Baha'i leadership.
The families' comments are consistent with Ebadi's; according to
the family, few in Iran believe the claims.


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8. (C) Comment: The family provided welcome insight into their
daily lives in Iran. Although Baha'is face persecution in Iran,
and the rigors of living in Iran as a Baha'i was clear from
their comments, they spoke passionately about Iran and were
optimistic that conditions would eventually improve even while
noting greater difficulties after President Ahmadinejad's 2005
election. The family as a whole was very open to IRPO officer's
questions and seemed to support greater USG action on behalf of
the Iranian Baha'is.
ASGARD