'They chose death and not to give in to cruelty': Vancouver Baha'i community marks grim anniversary
Sunday marked the grim 40th anniversary of the public execution of Baha’i women in Iran.
On June 18, 1983, in Shiraz, Iran, 10 women aged between 17 and 57 were publically hanged for practicing Baha’i.
Two of the 10 women killed that day were Vancouver resident Nahid Mazloun's mother, Ezzat-Janami Eshraghi, and sister, Roya.
Her father Enayatullah was executed two days prior.
"It’s a gap that lives in your life, a gap that you have to live with," said Mazloun.
Mazloun was forced to navigate life without her parents and younger sister.
According to the Baha’i Community of Vancouver, the ten names of the women executed were:
• Mona mahmoudnejad, 17
• Roya Eshraghi, 23
• Simin Saberi, 24
• Shahin (Shirin) Dalvand, 25
• Akhtar Sabet, 25
• Mahshid Niroumand, 28
• Zarrin Moghimi-Abyaneh, 29
• Tahereh Arjomandi Siyavashi, 30
• Nosrat Ghufrani Yaldaie, 46.
• Ezzat-Janami Eshraghi, 57
"They never had a lawyer to defend them. They had never been to a court of law. It was the Islamic court, and the only option that they had was either recant your faith or face execution," said Mazloun.
"They chose death and not to give in to cruelty or to lie about what their faith was."
The Baha’i Community of Vancouver describes their faith as an independent religion that was founded in Persia in 1844.
The group says the faith's central theme is that humanity is one family and global unity.
Shohreh Rahmatian, a liaison with the Vancouver group, has devoted her time to shining a light on the Baha'i people and their persecution in Iran.
She says the stance of the 10 women killed four decades ago has inspired human rights groups around the world.
"The approach that the Baha’i community has is not violent or towards negativity, just finding means and ways to build connections with the people of the country and be of service to the community," said Rahmatian.
This includes pushing for equality for all men and women in Iran, regardless of religion.
Rahmatian says in 2023, the lives of the 10 women live on, and the anniversary is an opportunity to once again be their voice for change.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.