In the heart of regional Australia, a remarkable story of resilience, faith, and community is unfolding. Iranian Baha’is, fleeing decades of relentless religious persecution in their homeland, are finding refuge and freedom in the welcoming embrace of rural towns across the country.
A Legacy of Oppression
The Baha’i faith, which originated in Iran in the mid-19th century, has long faced systematic targeting by the Iranian government. Baha’is, who believe in the unifying message of their prophet Baha’u’llah, have endured an onslaught of human rights abuses, from the desecration of their cemeteries to the denial of education and the closure of their businesses.
According to a recent United Nations resolution, the plight of the Baha’is, Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, has only intensified in recent years. A report prepared by Eleos Justice at Monash University exposes the direct, structural, and cultural violence inflicted upon the Baha’is as part of the government’s efforts to eradicate the community from Iranian society.
We would have our properties burned to the ground. We would be denied access to an education and have our businesses closed. We would have our cemeteries desecrated. We would be arrested and tortured and sentenced to decades in prison.
– Dellaram Vreeland, Iranian Baha’i in Australia
Finding Sanctuary in the Outback
Amidst this backdrop of oppression, many Iranian Baha’is have sought asylum abroad, with a significant number finding a new home in Australia. Welcomed by rural communities from Ballarat to Townsville, these resilient individuals are finally free to practice their faith openly and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of their adopted hometowns.
Every week, in regional centers across Australia, Baha’is and their friends from all walks of life gather to participate in community-building activities. From potluck breakfasts to tree planting, music lessons to volunteering at local soup kitchens, these humble acts of service aim to promote unity and empower people to give back to their neighborhoods.
Had my parents not fled when they did, it could very well have been them sitting in a dank cell in Evin prison, one of the country’s most notorious jails where so many Baha’is and other political prisoners serve out their sentence.
– Dellaram Vreeland
A Beacon of Hope
For Iranian Baha’is like Dellaram Vreeland, whose parents escaped to Australia to avoid persecution, the contrast between their lives in regional Australia and the ongoing oppression faced by their fellow believers in Iran is stark. The very community-building activities that Vreeland facilitates each week in Ballarat would see her arrested in her ancestral homeland.
The recent sentencing of 10 Baha’i women in Iran to a combined 90 years in prison for engaging in “deviant educational activities” like hosting music, art, and English classes for children serves as a chilling reminder of the risks faced by those who dare to promote unity and uplift their communities.
These women deserve to gather in cities, villages and towns, regardless of what they believe or their backgrounds, and without being persecuted.
– Dellaram Vreeland
A Call to Action
As the world watches Iran’s human rights crisis unfold, the stories of Iranian Baha’is thriving in regional Australia serve as a powerful testament to the transformative impact of religious freedom and inclusive communities. Their experiences underscore the urgent need for international action to protect the rights of minorities and hold oppressive regimes accountable.
For Baha’is like Vreeland, the privilege of living freely in Australia comes with a responsibility to advocate for those still facing persecution. By sharing their stories and continuing to build bridges of understanding in their adopted communities, they keep the flame of hope alive for their brothers and sisters in Iran and beyond.
If that liberty has been taken from them, the least I can do is move forward in their stead and inspire others to do the same.
– Dellaram Vreeland
As the international community grapples with the ongoing human rights crisis in Iran, the resilience and dedication of Australian Baha’is serve as a beacon of hope, reminding us all of the power of unity, compassion, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.
