Baha'i followers pray for martyrs awaiting death

"Martyrdom has always been a glorious tradition and a part of every religion in the world," Nanci Aiken told a group of about 50 people gathered for a vigil last night on the University of Arizona Mall.

Fighting back tears, Aiken, faculty adviser to the UA Baha'i club, announced that the Iranian Supreme Court recently upheld death sentences imposed on two Baha'is convicted of apostasy for defecting from the Islamic faith.

Musa Talibi and Zabihullah Mahrami were convicted in 1995 and 1996, respectively. A Jan. 31 news release from the State Department announced that their appeals were denied.

The Baha'i faith began in Iran in 1844. Since its inception, about 20,000 Baha'i have been executed in Iran.

Despite objections from the United Nations and Amnesty International, 200 Iranian Baha'i have been executed since 1980.

"It makes me upset that they have to die for their belief in unity," said Taica Shariee, anthropology junior.

Liz Worthington, chairwoman of the UA Baha'i club, said Baha'is are persecuted because the Iranian government does not understand the open, progressive nature of their beliefs. Shariee said the Baha'i faith emphasizes the unity and equality of all people.

Worthington said Baha'is believe the teachings of the prophets of every major religion, as well as their own two prophets, the Bab and Baha'u'llah.

Yazdani said the oppression of the Baha'i faith follows a trend of religious persecution.

With more than 300,000 followers, Baha'is are Iran's largest religious minority group.

In the Tucson area, there are six Baha'i groups plus the UA Baha'i club, which has about 20 members, Worthington said.