Minorities of the World, Unite!
By Ava Homa:
David Hoffman, the American Film Producer, Calls for Solidarity between the Kurds and Baha’is
A stigmatized Jewish child who is bullied for a religion he has only
inherited and has not chosen and/or understood, David Hoffman turns into
an atheist at age 12. “A God who lets people be violent towards each
other in His name, either does not exist or is out of his mind,” his
young, rebellious, and thirsty-for-justice mind declares. He remains a
curious atheist until the age of twenty when he meets a very active
American family who are Baha’is and introduce him to this religion.
“I thought it was just another group, like any other religious group but I attended their meetings anyways,” Hoffman says.
“Every person has to dig for and find their own truth rather than
looking for a pre-determined one,” is the first sentence that draws
David towards this religion. “In an extraordinary way,” Hoffman says, “I
converted to Baha’ism after six months and I have stayed one for over
thirty years now.”
Hoffman studies film at USC, marries an Iranian woman and ends up in
South Carolina where he becomes a successful developer. In 2006, at age
50, he sells his business, semi-retires and starts campaigning to save
Baha’is that are persecuted in Iran. He starts a project called Angels
of Iran to raise awareness in the world regarding the brutal oppression
of the Bahia’s in Iran, including the denial of their right to education
in their own country. Baha’is have been “subject to torture, arrest and
execution for refusing to recant their beliefs,”
Education Under Fire
announces which is a documentary co-sponsored by the Amnesty
International and portrays a persecution that has been going on for 170
years now.
Soraya Fallah
“For Kurdistan,” is a section of
Education under Fire that
recounts the story of Soraya Fallah, a Kurdish human right activist who
is detained four times in Iran and tortured even when she is pregnant.
Inevitably, her child dies in her womb.
Hoffman says that he has always been aware of the persecution of the
Kurds; he believes what both groups have in common is that their very
ethnicity and religion are criminalized in Iran. Even if they aren’t
activist or writers, even when they do not express their identity, they
are denounced, demonized, persecuted.
Hoffman who is thinking of creating another project to bring more
people together says: “When people are busy with their own issues, the
differences with other groups become bigger and create obstacles. When
people come together for a cause, to further humanity, they
automatically become united because they will discover similarities. We
all need to be protected and have the desire to protect others; when we
unite, we are powerful, humane and happy.”
Hoffman adds that a form of resistance Baha’is thought of has been
creating an Institution for Higher Educations. This is, he believes, a
much more positive and influential protest and empowerment than taking
to the streets or taking up arms. Hoffman warns minorities from allowing
to be turned into “victims.” Instead, we should prove our resilience
and find the smartest and the most effective ways to strengthen our
people and follow our cause.
Copyright © 2012 Kurdistantribune.com
http://kurdistantribune.com/2012/minorities-of-world-unite/
.jpg)
