The Bahai Phenomenon

On 3 February 2009 some westernized Iranian emigres published an open letter to the Bahais of the world tendering their apologies for the alleged persecution of their coreligionists in Iran over the past 150 years [http://tafsirakhbar.blogspot.com/11 February 2009]. Why have they singled out the Bahais alone for their compassion? Why don't they speak about the plight of the minority nationalities and the sizeable sect of the Sunnites who have been deprived of their group identity and group rights?

The Bahai phenomenon in Iran has a close parallel in the Qadiani phenomenon in the Indian subcontinent. Both originated as heresies and both were in due course supported and patronized by the western imperialists. It may be asked why do they face hostility in their native countries while they enjoy full freedom and security abroad. The answer is that these movements are insidiously directed towards subverting the integrity of the mainstream Islam and disrupting the unity and solidarity of the true believers. Their beliefs, practices and procedures are entirely different from those of the mainstream Islam. Muslims feel greatly offended by such heretic phenomena.

However, there is a way of removing tensions between heretic minorities and the orthodox majority in Muslim societies. First, heretics should discard the label of Muslim, as this is greatly provocative when in fact they by no stretch of imagination conform with the theory and practice of original Islam. Second, they should cease to be allies and agents of the western and Israeli imperialism clandestinely engaged in disrupting the unity of the faithful Muslims. And lastly, they should become invisible wherever they are located in a hostile environment. If they confine themselves to the pursuit of mundane objectives and refrain from ideological crusades they can guarantee their own freedom and security and at the same time let others rest in peace.#