Activists speak out at Chapman against treatment of Baha'is

ocregister - With rapt attention, the audience watched the documentary film"To Light a Candle" on May 12 at the Interfaith Center at Chapman University.

The film is part of the worldwide "Education is Not a Crime" campaign concerning the Baha'is, Iran's largest religious minority. The Iranian Baha'is are denied education and employment rights and constantly persecuted because of their faith.

Written and directed by Canadian-Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari, it exposes the social injustice Baha'is experience through a montage of personal stories and rare footage.

"Denying education to anyone for any reason is an international concern, which will impact the state of the world now and in the future," said Ray Zimmerman, professor of English at Saddleback College and public information officer of the Baha'is of Orange County.

The Baha'i faith was founded by Baha'u'llah in Iran in the 19th century and the core teachings include gender equality, universal peace and compulsory education.

Critics say the Iranian government prevents Baha'is from progress and prosperity. In 1987, the underground Baha'i Institute of Higher Education was established to help Baha'is pursue quality education.

But the government continues to regularly raid BIHE classes, arrest students and vandalize Baha'i homes and properties, Baha'i backers say.

"It is like you're constantly waiting for a disaster to strike you," said Mitra Kholousi, an English-as-a-second-language teacher at UC Irvine.

Kholousi said the government invaded her home, tried to expel her daughter from elementary school and sent her into interrogation for nearly five months. After enduring harassment for many years, she finally moved to the United States with her family in 2001 and pursued higher education at age 40.

A panel discussion followed the screening of the film.

The panelists Zimmerman, Habib Hosseni, professor of ESL for BHIE and Arshang Ferdosian, math tutor at Saddleback College and former BHIE student, shared their perspective of the film and highlighted the Iranian Baha'is plight.

The panelists also urged the audience to teach BIHE students via the Internet and help them realize their potential.

"Part of the campaign is to get U.S schools to accept diplomas from BIHE as an equivalent U.S bachelor's degree that will allow them to go to grad school here," Zimmerman said.

Also, the campaign plans to screen a Farsi version of the film for Iranians in the United States and around the world to combat the misinformation and stereotypes Iranians have about Baha'is.

The U.S Senate formally condemned the persecution of Iranian Baha'is with the passage of a resolution in 2013.

Sens. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., introduced the resolution and Kirk said, "We have sent a strong message that the U.S. must hold the government of Iran accountable for violating the most basic human rights of the Baha'is."

A similar resolution was approved by the U.S. House in 2014.

Iran's embassy in the United States did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this report.