19 June 1983 – To all National Spiritual Assemblies

The Universal House of Justice

19 June 1983

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

FOLLOWING OUTRAGEOUS EXECUTION SIX BAHÁ’ÍS IN SHIRAZ ON 16 JUNE, FURTHER HIDEOUS CRIME HAS BEEN PERPETRATED BY AUTHORITIES THAT CITY BY HANGING TEN INNOCENT WOMEN NIGHT OF 18 JUNE. THEY ARE:

MRS. NUṢRAT YALDÁ’Í, 54 YEARS OLD, MOTHER OF BAHRÁM, HANGED 16 JUNE
MRS. ‘IZZAT JÁNAMÍ ISHRÁQÍ, 50 YEARS OLD, WIFE OF ‘INÁYATU’LLÁH, HANGED 16 JUNE
MISS RU’YÁ ISHRÁQÍ, IN EARLY 20’S, DAUGHTER OF ABOVE MRS. ṬÁHIRIH SÍYÁVUSHÍ, 32 YEARS OLD, WIFE OF JAMSHÍD, HANGED 16 JUNE
MISS MUNÁ MAḤMÚDNIZHÁD, 18 YEARS OLD, DAUGHTER OF YADU’LLÁH, EXECUTED 12 MARCH
MISS ZARRÍN MUQÍMÍ-ABYÁNIH, UNDER 25 YEARS OLD
MISS SHAHÍN (SHÍRÍN) DÁLVAND, EARLY 20’S
MISS AKHTAR THÁBIT, 19 YEARS OLD
MISS SÍMÍN ṢÁBIRÍ, IN EARLY 20’S
MISS MAHSHÍD NÍRÚMAND, 18 YEARS OLD

THE EXECUTION OF THESE GUILTLESS WOMEN IN THE NAME OF RELIGION MUST SHOCK CONSCIENCE HUMANITY. THEY WERE ARRESTED FOR ACTIVITIES IN BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY INCLUDING EDUCATION OF YOUTH.

FOLLOWING LONG INTERROGATION IN PRISON THEY WERE WARNED THEY WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO FOUR SESSIONS PRESSURING THEM RECANT THEIR FAITH ACCEPT ISLAM AND IF BY FOURTH TIME THEY HAD NOT SIGNED PREPARED STATEMENT RECANTING FAITH THEY WOULD BE KILLED. ALL PREFERRED DIE RATHER THAN DENY THEIR FAITH.

FEW HOURS PRIOR EXECUTION WOMEN MET WITH FAMILIES, NONE OF WHOM KNEW IMPENDING EXECUTION. NEWS THIS DASTARDLY CRIME NOT PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED OR FORMALLY GIVEN TO FAMILIES. AUTHORITIES REFUSED ALLOW FAMILIES RECEIVE BODIES FOR BURIAL OR EVEN TO SEE THEM.

IT SHOULD BE RECALLED THAT BETWEEN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 1982 OVER 80 BAHÁ’ÍS WERE ARRESTED IN SHIRAZ. AUTHORITIES LATER REVEALED THAT 22 PERSONS AMONG THE 80 WERE CONDEMNED TO DEATH IF WOULD NOT RECANT. NAMES OF THESE 22 HOWEVER WERE NEVER REVEALED, INTENSIFYING PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AMONG BAHÁ’Í PRISONERS.

IN DEFIANCE APPEALS WORLD LEADERS AND WORLD PUBLIC OPINION, 21 OF THESE BAHÁ’ÍS HAVE THUS FAR BEEN EXECUTED, CASTING SHADOW ON FATE REMAINING BELIEVERS LANGUISHING IN PRISON.…

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE