The persecution of the Baha'i community of Iran seen as an example of cultural genocide

What is it about?

A campaign against the Baha’i community has been deliberately and systematically carried out by the Iranian government since 1979. This campaign began with a steady progression towards a physical genocide. When this was halted through international pressure, the government devised a programme attacking the Baha’is psychologically (through black propaganda and undermining morale), economically (through removing all means of earning a livelihood and excluding them from higher education) and culturally (by destroying Baha’i holy places and eliminating Baha’is from Iranian history and culture). Many elements of the campaign are clearly instances of cultural genocide. Although cultural genocide itself is not regarded as a crime in international law, there are many grounds on which the government of Iran could be indicted for its cultural genocide of the Baha’i community. These include contraventions of the international legal statutes and treaties on crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and possibly apartheid. Despite the attempt by the Iranian government to force the Baha’i community into a cultural ghetto and create a state of cultural apartheid, the Baha’is in general have resisted the pressure upon them and have responded with resilience and a constructive outlook, attempting to bring together all progressive, non-political elements in their society to work for the betterment of all.

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