Seat of the Universal House of Justice
Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel.
Posted on 10/31/2009 1:02:29 PM PDT by expat_panama
Arson investigators were looking Tuesday into two fires in three days that destroyed the Orlando Bahá'í Center in Orlando.
The first fire in the one-story wood building on Hillcrest Street was reported at 4:48 a.m. Sunday. When the Orlando Fire Department responded to the second blaze at 12:55 a.m. Tuesday, flames were shooting through the roof.
"It is unusual for something like that to happen, especially this much down time between the two," said Orlando Fire Department Commander Vicki Robles.
A spokesperson for the Bahá'í Center said the fires are baffling to the members, who number about 300 in the metropolitan Orlando area. Prior to the fires, there had been no threats, vandalism, or break-ins at the center, said Kelsey Vargas, secretary for the center's governing assembly.
"We don't have any reason to suspect that anyone would wish us harm," Vargas said.
The center was created in 1974, Vargas said. Until the Orlando center can be replaced, members plan to meet in each other's homes, Vargas said.
"For generations people have used it as a place for devotions and children's classes and for moral and spiritual development," she said. "People are very saddened that this has happened."
About four years ago, the center received a thick package of hate mail decorated with swastikas and containing a "Bin Laden" return address, said George Via, a member of the center. He said police suspected that it was sent by a mentally ill person.
The Bahá'í faith, which preaches unity of God, religion and mankind, originated in 19th century Iran and has more than five million followers worldwide. The Orlando center had just celebrated the birthday of one of the religion's prophets on Oct. 12 and was scheduled to observe the holiday of the birth of Bahá'í founder Bahá'u'lláh on Nov. 20.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
The only ones who persecute the Bahai are Muslims, usually Shias.
Should I care?
Thankfully no reports of injuries. Yet. Prayers invited.
A friend on mine’s wife’s family had to flee Iran many years ago.
Not if you are a terrorist mullah-lover.
It’s a shame whenever any house of worship is attacked.
Probably the work of islamist goons.
The Bahai centre is in Haifa, Israel, and Bahais have been viciously persecuted by islamists, especially in Iran for allegedly being “agents” of Britain and later Israel.
No, the article mentions why this is not apparently the case here.
There's a problem with labeling one particular religion as being evil. What happens is that the very reason used for the 'evil' label gets turned around to paint all religions as 'evil'. Religions are good, and belief in God is good. The worst groups are the ones that hate God altogether and want to bury those that believe in God. The next worst are those that don't even care.
We need to care about the war against those that fear God and we need to care about churches, synagogues, and even mosques set afire. We need to care about the rule of law.
re post 11
At the least it's sobering.
imho the big problem right now is catching the nutcase before he (she, it?) does it again --it's the third time already. On top of that we got the risk of copy cats.
I concur with you that whoever the attackers were (islamist or bigot scum with a different label), the act is equally evil as are arsons, attacks and vandalism against other targets.
An attack by Islamists is all too plausible. Orlando has some Muslim extremists, and after 9/11, was identified as having an Al Queda cell. The 20th hijacker was turned away at the Orlando airport by an astute and courageous immigration agent.
Actually, the article doesn't do anything to avoid that conclusion. Yes, agreed, the perps are probably mentally ill, but it doesn't give any clue to the nature of the mental illness.
As others have said, muslims have a history of persecuting Bahai, including hanging them judicially in Iran.
Its remarkable that whoever did it, tried, failed, and went back and finished the job. Not your typical arsonist.
Now we find out that the second of these three fires was not arson at all— “electrical in nature”.
Most people would say that the swastika/binladin hate mail somehow just doesn't match an 'islamist' profile...
Seat of the Universal House of Justice
Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel.
When they come for you, should we care?
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