Here is the last account by the four individuals referenced to me by the National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of the United States. His name is Iraj Kamalabadi, brother of Fariba Kamalabadi, an imprisoned Baha’i leader.

Personal Statement:
I was born in 1958 and was raised in a Bahá’í family in northern Iran. After obtaining my high school diploma in 1976, I moved to the United States in January 1977 to pursue higher education. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts in 1982. After graduation, I began my professional career as a civil/transportation engineer, working with a number of consulting firms in various capacities, both in the United States and abroad. I currently work with URS Corporation as a transportation department manager in Southern California.

Relationship with my sister, Fariba Kamalabadi:

I am the elder brother of Ms. Fariba Kamalabadi, one of the seven Bahá’í leaders who was summarily arrested in the spring of 2008. These seven Bahá’í leaders are currently being held in Gohardasht prison in Iran, solely for their religious beliefs.

The Kamalabadi family’s experience with religious persecution dates back to the late 1980s when our father, Dr. Vali Kamalabadi, was arrested and imprisoned, following his dismissal from work without any pension or retirement; simply for being an active member of his local Bahá’í community. While in prison, he was severely tortured and brainwashed with electric shocks, which caused him to suffer a series of strokes after being released from prison and eventually resulted in his death in 1992.

My sister Fariba, who is a developmental psychologist and a mother of three, was arrested twice previously because of her active involvement in the Bahá’í community and her voluntary service to society at large. As a Bahá’í, she holds a very strong conviction and desire to be of service to her country and fellow citizens — a common belief shared by all Bahá’ís in the world.

No evidence was presented at my sister’s trial to support the accusations leveled against her, or any of the Bahá’í leaders who are currently serving 10-year sentences in Iran. This injustice has prompted me to speak publicly to journalists and at various human rights events to raise awareness about my sister’s case, and that of all the Bahá’ís in Iran. 

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Here is a photo of the four individuals we’ve heard from this week. Each of them speak around the country to media outlets and government officials in an effort to bring awareness to the lack of human rights suffered by Baha’is and other religious minorities in Iran. You can find additional coverage here and here.

What we must understand and take from these stories isn’t one of animosity or hatred toward the Iranian government. Baha’is have a strict moral code to obey their government, which is why many stay to try and foster change from within. They are patriots. Despite the torture and loss of life and freedom, the Baha’is there aren’t asking for your anger or outrage, because they exhibit none. Like Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l’Baha before them, the tighter the authorities squeeze them and increase their suffering, the more their light spills between the fingers of Iran’s fist. What we can do–from the outside–is increase awareness and political pressure on Iran. There is no room in our world for behavior like this. Visit the Iran page at the United States Baha’i site to learn more and find out what you can do to help with this cause.

On a local and everyday level, I want you to walk away from this with a new appreciation for your rights as a free citizen to worship as you please. However, while our laws do not discriminate based upon one’s faith, we as individuals too often do. Much of this is due to misunderstanding and a failure to communicate. Why not set up a prayer meeting for multiple faiths? Or how about a local seminar and invite leader from different faith organizations from around your area to share information about their religion? Organize an interfaith community outreach program…these are only the tip of the iceberg. The point here is to rise to action. Instead of feeling sorry for the Baha’is imprisoned in Iran, take the torch they have extended to us and run. If enough of us take up the fire of change, unity and love, the whole world will be illumined.

Here is a prayer we can all say:

With great humbleness and entire devotion I pray to Thee to make me a minaret of Thy love in Thy land, a lamp of Thy knowledge among Thy creatures, and a banner of divine bounty in Thy dominion.