On Tuesday, June 23, 2009, Human Rights Activists in Iran provided an alarming update on the situation of the former Baha’i leaders, known as Yaran, which appears below in translation:

After more than a year of incarceration, the situation of the [former] leaders of the Baha’i community of Iran appears to be of profound concern.

According to reports received [by HRA], the seven leaders of the Baha’i community continue to languish in “temporary” incarceration in a high-security section of Evin prison, known as section 209. These seven are: Mahvash Sabet (since Mar. 2008), Jamaloddin Khanjani (May 2008), Saeid Rezaie (May 2008), Fariba Kamalabadi (May 2008), Vahid Tizfahm (May 2008), Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Afif Naeimi.

In addition to psychological pressures, such as, routinely renewing their “temporary” imprisonment, or keeping them in a high-security facility which naturally imposes considerable restrictions on the seven individuals, it is reported that their meal portions has now been reduced considerably to the point that their health is at serious risk. At the same time, prison authorities refuse to permit the families of prisoners to provide the much-needed provisions which would enable them to sustain the brutal conditions of their imprisonment.

Moreover, with the massive arrest of political and civil activists in recent days in Iran and curtailment of telephonic contact of prisoners in Evin with the outside world, the families of these prisoners of conscience have become deeply worried about the condition of their loved-ones.

[Source: http://www.hra-iran.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1312:546&catid=84:502&Itemid=219. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]


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"Is there any Remover of difficulties save God?  Say: Praised be God!  He is God!  All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!"

-The Bab


 

"Whoso hath failed to recognize Him will have condemned himself to the misery of remoteness, a remoteness which is naught but utter nothingness and the essence of the nethermost fire. Such will be his fate, though to outward seeming he may occupy the earth's loftiest seats and be established upon its most exalted throne.

He Who is the Day Spring of Truth is, no doubt, fully capable of rescuing from such remoteness wayward souls and of causing them to draw nigh unto His court and attain His Presence."

    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 70)

Praise be to God. Every time I start to forget,  or ignore the things He's given me, He draws me back - and I can only be grateful.

This quote from the Baha'i Writings describes the recurring blessing that is Faith.