Baha'i youth being denied education in Iran

7 October 2011

 I wish to bring to your attention the injustice going on towards our Baha'i brothers and sisters in Iran. Incidentally all young Bahai youth intending to further their education in Iran are being deterred from doing so. Eighty-one universities were warned by government against enrolling any Baha'i and those found there to be emmediately expelled.  Many were arrested and acused of "consipiracy against the Islamic Republic of Iran by establishing the illegal Institute for Higher Education". There have been raids that commenced on the 21st of May, 2011 that covered 30 homes in Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan and Shiraz.

It very unfortunate that such young people are denied to have a brighter future simply because of their religious background.  During our URI Africa meeting, George Olinga who is also one of the founders of URI in Uganda brought to our attention these saddening news and requested for our cooperation in anyway possible through URI, governments, organizations or even at the individual level to amplify this unfair treatment of the Baha'is in Iran. This is another religiously motivated violence that URI struggles to end in communities, nations and globally.

Click here to read more about Baha'is and their persecution by Green Prophet, a URI CC in the Middle East.