Political storm in Iran as Rafsanjani's daughter meets Bahai leader

[rug]

A political storm has erupted in Iran after the daughter of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani visited a leader of the persecuted Bahai religious minority while she was on leave from prison.



Faezeh Hashemi was photographed sitting next to Fariba Kamalabadi (Image copyright JAHANNEWS)

By Kasra Naji
BBC Persian
18 May 2016

Senior conservative clerics denounced Faezeh Hashemi following her meeting with Fariba Kamalabadi, a mother-of-three who was temporarily released and allowed home to see her newborn grandchild.

Iran's religious establishment regards the Bahai faith, which emerged in Iran in the 19th Century, as a heretical sect.

Bahais, who number approximately 300,000, are often denounced as unclean and accused of being agents of the US and Israel.

In response to the criticism of Ms Hashemi's visit and calls for her to be prosecuted, her father issued a terse public reprimand saying she had made a big mistake that had to be rectified.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36320816

[Cartoonist]

1. How naive

"If they [conservatives] were concerned with religion, they wouldn't commit so much injustice in [the] name of religion."

[Jim__]

2. The story is somewhat confusing.

Allowing her to come home from prison to visit a new born grandchild is a humane act, one that I can't envision happening in the US. Then making a big deal over the fact that a friend visits her while she's home .... I'm sure the Iranian police know that Hashemi met Kamalabadi while they were in prison together.

The whole episode seems incoherent to me. I guess I just don't understand their culture.