Bahai faith persecutions

At the Peace Museum in Vienna, several people bring their stories and experiences and relate to the exhibition and the concept of peace. Today I had the honor to meet a delightful woman who lives in the States, but has grown up in Iran. When I asked her opinion about peace and what does she think we should look for to reach peace she became very emotional. I initially was puzzled, but afterward, she told me about the experienced when she was still in her home country. Iran is not known for its progressive political view, on the contrary, it's one of the most conservative governments led by the Taliban since 1979. Under the Taliban regime, women don't have access to University, are not allowed to travel without the permission of their husband or their father, cannot work in the public sphere or join several public events. The story and the experience of this woman were particularly touching due to the violent persecution she had to face due to her Bahai faith. Such a faith is a rather recent interpretation of the holy script of the Muslim religion, which tries to approach the Muslim principles to a more progressive view of society where women and men are equal, where schools should introduce 'Western Science' and which follows the purpose of uniting the world under a peaceful frame.
Since its origins -during the Pahlavi dynasty- the Bahai faith was not recognized and its followers persecuted, still nowadays the situation has not changed. Bahai people are threatened, their houses or belongings burned down and they don't have access to higher education unless they deny their own faith. Despite most religions and faith all over the world advocating for peace, solidarity and understanding of each other, it is interesting to see how most of the concepts of religions are then not applied by their own prophets or followers. It is the case of the Church in the Middle Ages during the Crusades, the case of the Taleban Regime in nowadays Iran or Afghanistan, or is the case of many other religions. Most of those faiths try to build a peaceful and strong community, based onsome precepts that should guide everyday life to a better world, but eventually seem to create agood excuse for further conflicts and suffering.
​I believe this woman's experience was a starting point for reflection on the condition of women in the Integralists Countries and the difficult coexistence of different religions in the same territories. People have a lot to learn and a lot to think about peace nowadays, a good reflection on religion and peace will probably help understand the path towards a peaceful world.

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