University Daily Kansan, April 6. 1983
Page 3
Baha'i religion causes turmoil Tragedy haunts Iranian family's faith
By ANNE FITZGERALD Staff Reporter
Soheila Modiri and her parents dream about returning to their native Iran.
But for now, they can only dream,
she said last week, because returning
to their homeland may mean losing
their lives.
The 20-year-old KU sophomore and her parents came to the United States three years ago. They are Baha's, members of a religious community in connection in Iran has accelerated the revolution in 1979, Modi said.
The Baha'i religion is based on the independent investigation of truth and does not have clergy, which is a threat to many people, especially in Islamic countries where the clergy play such an authoritarian role. Modiri said, Baha'i believe in the world's people living together in peace, she said.
LAST MAY, THE U.S. Congress held hearings to investigate the claims of American Baha's that members of the faith were being persecuted in Iran. The 40-member Lawrence Baha'i community recently showed a film of the hearings at the University of Kansas.
Amnesty International and other world organizations, such as the European Economic Community and the United Nations Human Rights Commission, confirmed the Baha'is claims of religious persecution
Curt Gehring, an expert on the Middle East from the Washington.
D.C., office of Amnesty International,
said the history of the Baha'is'
persecution in was as old as the
religion itself, which started in 1848 in
But Gebhring said the Baha'is treatment in Iran was now worse than
"ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, the Iranian Supreme Court conveyed death sentences to "Bahs is" two of them, and on on on," two of them were hanged in Shiraz.
He said although the Baha'is were the largest religious minority in Iran, they were not recognized by the Khomeini government's constitution.
“It’s somewhat ironic that the Baha’i suffer such persecution.” Gehring said, “because they adhere to this sect and devolver. Theres is a pacifist religion.”
"They advocate the complete equality of man and women, yet in Iran, Baha'i women may be persecuted for not wearing the traditional veils. Also, some Baha'i women are charged as prostitutes and executed because their marriages are not recognized under the constitution."
Several pre-Khominei students on campus did not deny that persecution against the Baha'is had taken place but said the Iranian government had nothing to be ashamed of. The students refused to give their names.
THE MODIHIS CAME TO THE United States to seek medical help for Sohaie's father. Physicians in Iran unable to diagnose his illness.
Modiri said she had intended to stay
in the states to attend school, but her parents had expected to stay only two or three months, until her father was treated.
r however, more than a year and several operations were required to cure him, Modiri said, and by then friends and family advised them not to return because of reports that we were persecuted more than ever.
Although her parents wanted to go back to Iran, Modiri said, they decided to stay in the United States until the persecution ceased.
Her parents moved to Lawrence from Washington, D.C., where they had been living with Modiini's brother. Modiini was then a KU freshman.
MODIRI SAID THAT HER parents were grateful for being able to stay in the United States, but they sometimes found life here difficult.
They had brought few possessions with them because they expected to stay only a short time in the United States, Modrii said.
Her parents' apartment in Lawrence is comfortable, but simply furnished. Pictures and postcards of Baha'i temples and of their prophet, Baha'u'laah, adorn the walls. Pictures of some of the family rest at a table.
Modi's parents depend on her for everything, she said, because they do not speak English and have no other friends or family in Lawrence.
The Modiris were used to driving their car in Iran, but because of the language barrier, Modi said, they couldn't read Arabic. The censes here, until she was allowed to
translate for them as they took driving tests.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION HAS visited the Modiris more than once, she said.
Modiris's parents, speaking through her as a translator, said that the Baha'a community in Iran reported to those outside the country that their business had been burned by their businesses and homes were being burned with greater frequency.
In 1981, Modiri's brother-in-law, a well-known physician in western Iran, was executed because he was a member of the local Baha'i assembly, she said. The uncle of another brother-in-law and five other men who served in that same Baha'i group also were executed, Modiri said.
She said her two sisters and their spouses, who remained in Iran, had lost their jobs because of their faith. They relied on savings and other Baha'is for financial support, Modiri said.
HER PARENTS FACED SIMILAR financial difficulty, she said, because the Iranian government refused to send her father's retirement pay. The Modiris now rely on their son, who works in Washington, D.C., and other relatives for money, their daughter said.
"We love Iran. That is our home," Modiri said. "Our prophet is from Iran."
"We miss our family more than anything, and we want to return someday. I have a nephew who I haven't even seen yet."
Staff Reporter
The present Lawrence City Commission met for the last time last night and passed a resolution calling for quarrels to be managed by an almost traditional 2-3 split.
Quarterly review of city manager approved
Three new commissioners, David Longhurst, Ernest Angino and Mike Amyx, will take the places of Commissioners Don Binnis and Tom Gleason and Mayor Marci Francisco next week. After a short but heated debate, Binns, who lost his bid for re-election, and Commissioner Barkley Clark voted
against the resolution, which states that the commission will evaluate the city manager each January and have "sessions" in April, July and October.
"I'M SURE GLAD WE're going out on a 2- vote," said Gleason, referring to the commission's tendency to split their vote by that margin.
Clark said he thought the resolution was ill-timed. "I'm opposed to this amendment because I think we should let the next commission decide how long we wants to review the city manager, but we'll think four times a year is too many."
that the resolution was in line with previous discussions the commission had had regarding the city manager evaluation.
By JOHN HOOGESTEGER
"This is a direct response to to this commission's problems," she said.
"There was no record of an evaluation procedure until now."
IN OTHER ACTION, the commission authorized a grant application to the Endowment for Soil and Water Conservation. The endowment is looking for communities that need grants of $3,000 to $10,000 for soil erosion studies, and Lawrence officials are now discussing the city's soil and drainage problems.
request to reduce a bond issue for refurbishing the Lawrence Opera House to $1.45 million from the original $2.2 million. Representatives from the investment company said that they hoped to begin construction within a year.
The commission also agreed to discuss the cable television franchise in the city at its regular meeting on April 19.
THE COMMISSION DECLARED April 14 as "Women Take Back the Night Day. The declaration was written womenowned Lawrence citizens about rape
The commission also approved a
Senate slices requests from several KU groups
By SARA KEMPIN Staff Reporter
The Student Senate Finance and Auditing Committee last night eliminated $78,700 from the budget requests of more than 69 student groups that had asked for money from the Senate student organizations account.
Loren Busby, chairman of the finance committee, said that the Senate student organizations account had $6,000, but that $5,000 must be kept in the budget.
Tom Berger, graduate student senator and member of the finance committee, said that if the Senate did not agree with the committee's recommendations it could change them at the Senate meeting.
BUSBY SAID THE COMMITTEE was forced to allocate only as much money as it had in the student organizations account. In the past, when the finance committee recommended that Senate grant groups more money than it had in that account, the Senate had allocated the extra money from its unallocated account. The account is lower than normal this year.
Mayor Francisco said she thought
The student groups had requested $140,000, but only $61,300 was allocated.
The committee voted to eliminate all financing of the Kansas Defense Petition.
The finance committee made large reductions in the groups' requests for travel expenses, long-distance phone charges, food, speakers, and capital equipment charges.
THE GROUP, WHICH PROVIDES legal services to approximately 500 inmates in Lansing and Leavenworth, had requested $3,891 this year. It had been financed by Senate for about $2,000 for 10 years.
At last Thursday's finance committee meeting, Cathy Ormsbee, Topeka sophomore, said, "It's not doing anything for students of the University of Kansas. The law school or the state should pay for it.
The organization provides relatively low-cost child care for parents of KU students, but the committee decided that Hilltop did not serve enough students to justify such a large amount of financing.
The finance committee also decided to withdraw its financing for Hilltop Child Development. Hilltop requested the Senate to finance it, then financed by the Senate for 11 years.
"ITS NOT A REAL POPULAR
little kid," Bubba said.
Women in Science, $265; Gay and Lesbian Services, $493; KU Solar Energy Club, $75; Political Science Graduate Student Association, $370; Women Engineers of KU, $150; Astronomy Associates of Lawrence, $75; African Students Association, $60; Headquarters, $11,795; General Union of Palestinian Students, $60; Dialogues on the State of Palestine; Student Council, $2,000; Egyptian Students Organization, $110; and KU Chancery Club, $77.
Biology Club, $120; University Film Society, $108; KU Singing Jayhawks, $395; KU India Club, $200; Latin American Solidarity, $60; KU PreMed Club, $160; KU Sword and Shield, $232; KU Folk Dance Club, $290; MECHA, 0; Kansas Defender Project, 0; RECONDO, $75; Communications Studies Interaction, $100; Black Student Union, $3,041; Ad Astra L-5 Society, $100; School of Education Student Organization, $312.
The committee recommended the following allocations: Sports Groups, $4,450; Taiwanese Student Association, $90; Douglas County Rape Victim Support Service, $699; Blacks in Communication, $2,996; KU German Club, $155; Coalition of Student Social Workers, 0; Campus Coalition for Peace and Justice, $140; and KU Committee on South Africa, 0.
HISTORY OF ART GRADUATE
Students, 0; Tau Sigma Dance Club,
1,623; KU Volunteer Clearinghouse
Big Brother-Big Sistener Program,
$451; Hilltop Child Development, 0;
Consumer Affairs Association, $12,490; KU
Amaturale Radio Club, $607; Public
Relations Student Society of America,
$100; KU International Club, $4,997;
Arab Student Association, $60; KU
Russian Choir, 0; Music Therapy
Student Association, $280; Hellenic
Society, 0; and Malaysian Students,
$60.
PRAXIS, $400; Latin American Student Association, 0; Counseling Student Association, $355; People Yellow Pages, $2.700; Antenny International, $159; University Dance Company, $2.362; Women's Transitional School, $1.875; Student Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery, $85; Undergraduate Philosophy Club, $200; and Nigerian Students Association, $60.
OUTSTANDING JUNIORS
Applications for
Omicron Delta Kappa National Senior Honorary Society are available in 231 Strong Hall Applications and official transcripts are due by April 8, 1983
$175
STARTING AT.
CEDARWOOD
- STUDIOS
* ONE BEDROOM
* TWO BEDROOM
* DUPLEXES
HUBITAGE MANAGEMENT CORP
APARTMENTS
2414 Ousdahl Phone 843-1116
with
Funded by the Student Activity Fee
MUNCH OUT
Just $3.75 For All You Can Eat
MINSKY'S COLOSSAL COMBO NITE
Minsky's Munchers, Wednesday nite is your nite to
Children 12 and under just $2.00
So Minsky's Munchers, March Down and Munch
Down on Minsky's Colossal Combo Nite—Tonight
2228
lowa
Pick up applications at the BSU office (Kansas Union). Return before 5 p.m. April 11.
842-0154
THE ORIGINAL
Concerned about Black Students at KU?
Vice president
President
Positions available:
Reporting Secretary Corresponding Secretary
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Run for a BSU office
No Carry out or Delivery on this Special.
Other specials not valid with this offer
Treasurer
A complete selection of attaches, briefcases, envelopes and folios in the finest leather. Perfect gifts for graduation.
914 Massachusetts
842-6046
Did you know that your KU Alumni Association-
CLASS OF 1983!
Has an award winning publication in Kansas Alumni magazine
It's our 100th Birthday and you're our Centennial Class! Take advantage of this and many more benefits by joining the KU Alumni Association at special discount rates exclusively for May '83 graduates
And join in the fun at the 6th Annual Senior Open House and Party
Wednesday, April 13
7:30-11:00 p.m.
403 Kansas Union
★ Free Refreshments (beer and soft drinks)
and soft drinks)
Giveaways Prize Drawings
★ Prize Drawings
Campus and Alumni
★ Campus and Alumni
Friends
Friends and so much more
Come by the KU Alumni Association Office, 403 Kansas Union and register for great prizes and more, April 11-13 from 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-5:00 daily.
Class of 1983—Be a part of history
---
Mailing Address
State ___ Zip
For every 31 members alumnae, the Alumni Association will bring your check and this check to the Alumni Association. You can find it at http://www.alumni.org/
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Gifts and prizes contributed by KU Endowment Association, Kansas Union Bonds, HAC Illustrations by Paul Collier
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