The Baha'i: Iran vs. Israel

The Baha'i faith as it is known today grew out of the mid-19th century Bábi religion.  Founded in Persia (Iran) in 1863 by Bahá'u'lláh it initially spread through Iran & other areas of the Middle East.  The Baha'i believe in world unity and peace, and follow teachings given by numerous figures who they believe to be messengers of God (Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad), and they consider Báb and Bahá'u'lláh to be the final messengers of God.   
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Since its founding, it the faith has faced ongoing persecution.  The worst place in the world where it faces persecution is ironically in Iran, the very nation where the faith was founded.  Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the followers of the Baha'i faith have suffered horrific persecution.  There are over 200 known incidents of practitioners of the Baha'i faith being executed for the religious beliefs.  Thousands more have been tortured & imprisoned, and thousands have lost their jobs, access to education, and numerous other rights, all because of their faith.  Attacks on Baha's individuals and their property are carried out frequently with none of the perpetrators being brought to justice.  Since 2005, there have been at least 52 incidents of arson attacks on Baha'i properties, yet not a single criminal has been brought to justice.  Since 2005, there have been over 1,000 known arrests of Baha'is.  Attacks on Baha'i Holy Sites are also common.  In 2014, The Iranian Revolutionary Guard began to level the historic Shiraz Cemetery.  This is a sacred burial ground for the practitioners of the Baha’i faith.  Among the people buried here are Mona Mahmudnizhad and 9 other Baha'i women who were hanged by the regime in 1983.  Despite the widespread protest of the international community, the desecration of this cemetery is ongoing.  


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So now we must ask, how are Bahai's treated in Israel?  Well, ironically enough, the most important Baha'i Holy sites are in Israel!  Haifa, Israel is the home of the Baha'i World Centre where the members of the Baha'i faith make their pilgrimage and administer to the affairs of their faith.  They enjoy freedom of worship and those who live in Israel are granted full citizenship rights.  Unlike in Iran, their Holy Sites are protected by the State and are not deliberately destroyed.  So, while it can be said beyond any doubt that Baha'i suffer from Apartheid circumstances in the nation of Iran, they enjoy complete freedom in the nation of Israel.  

Sources

"Hanging of 10 Young Iranian Baha'i Women."  Filmed [July 2016].  YouTube Video 3:15.  Posted [July 2016].  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LGkUC-8huw

 "Minority Communities in Israel: The Baha'i."  Jewish Virtual Library.  2018.  Accessed from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-baha-rsquo-i.

 Rostampour, Maryam & Marziyeh Amirizadeh.  Captive in Iran.  Atlanta: Tyndale Momentum, 2013.

 "Situation of Bahai's in Iran."  Baha'i International Community.  Accessed from https://www.bic.org/focus-areas/situation-iranian-bahais/current-situation

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