Traditional Zarathushtris Mailing List (TZML)
FINAL LETTER FROM TZML
TO: Dr. Ms. Dolly Dastoor and Mr. Homi Davier (Co-CIrairs, WZC2000)
COPIES: Mr. Framroze Patel (President, FEZANA); Ervad Jal
Birdy (President, NAMC)
Dear Dr. Ms. Dastoor and Mr. Davier,
Re.: Debarring Ali Akbar Jafarey and his 'Zarathushtrian
Assembly'
May we please introduce ourselves as the members of the
Traditional Zarathushtris Mailing List (TZML) of the Internet, formed just
eighteen months ago but already 200-strong and growing every day by the grace of
Ahura Mazda. We consider ourselves fortunate to be able to count among our
staunch pure Zarathushtri membership respected Ervad sahebs and worthy religious
scholars/writers. The TZML's primary objective is to help preserve the
"splendid Zoroastrian stock" (Mahatma Gandhi's words) and the exalted
Mazdayasni-Zarathushtri religion as bequeathed to us in solemn trust by our
righteous forebears - the pilgrim fathers who fled to the hospitable shores of
India and the heroes who fled to the inhospitable desert wastes of Iran, wholly
and solely to honour, cherish and preserve their noble race and sublime religion
at any personal cost. We in the TZML are acutely aware of this priceless legacy,
and it is in this spirit that we write to you freely and frankly about a grave
matter conceming the U.S.-based Muslim scholar Mr. Ali Akbar Jafarey and his
'Zarathushtrian [sic] Assembly' (ZA).
At the Kansas AGM in 1995, steps were taken to debar Mr.
Jafarey and his ZA from FEZANA. It was you, Dr. MS. Dastoor, who had taken the
bold decision in this regard, and in so doing you won the admiration of
thousands of faithful Zarathushtris the world over. However, we are disturbed to
learn that pressure is now being applied from certain interested or naive
quarters to allow Mr. Jafarey and or his ZA to participate in the forthcoming
WLC2000, and that this is to be decided upon shortly by the WZC2000 Governing Body.
We hope that the Governing Body will take the cue from a premier body like
FEZANA and not allow Mr. Jafarey to participate in the upcoming Conference.
Space does not permit an exhaustive or detailed account of
those thoughts, words and deeds of Mr. Jafarey's that have outraged the feelings
of faithful Zarathushtris, attracted scholarly rebuttals from knowledgeable
Zarathushtris, and damagingly influenced the impressionable minds of young
Zarathushtris. Some examples should, however, be mentioned. Mr. Jafarey claims
to be a Ratu - this term is a super-spiritual title which in the holy Gathas
means 'saviour' or'prophet,' and the only human being upon whom it is bestowed
there is Asho Zarathushtra himself. This Muslim scholar even masquerades as a
Zarathushtri and a Mobed, and using his usurped "credentials" he
openly proselytizes and performs "navjotes" which obviously have no
religious sanction or validity. Equally disturbing, his active proselytizing
among his fellow Muslims has raised serious apprehensions about the possible
repercussions on our Zarathushtri brethren living under the Islamic regime in
Iran. With the exception of the holy Gathas, Mr. Jafarey has the audacity to
deride and defame our sacred Avesta scriptures, salvaged with great toil through
the turmoils of time and to this day treasured as sacrosanct by the devout. It
is with similar derision that he casts a baleful eye upon our lofty ntuals.
ceremonials and practices, of special note being his hatred for our sacred
Nirang (Gaomez) -- it may be noted that an attempt of his to denigrate Gaomez in
the print media has been exposed as a prima facie scholarly deception. After all
this, would it come as a surprise to anyone that Mr. Jafarey has insinuated that
our temples in ancient times were tantamount to being glorified brothels
infested by prostitutes for sensually entertaining priests and pilgrims alike?
We have nothing against Mr. Jafarey personally, but as born
and faithful Zarathushtriss we would be failing in our elementary duty to our
race and religion if we allowed this non-Zarathushtri person's unZarathushtri
antics to go unopposed. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this "Ratu"
has attacked and blasphemed almost everything that we Zarathushtris have held
sacred and dear since time immemorial and for which we have even laid down our
very lives.
We appeal to you, first in your capacity as Zarathushtris,
and second in your capacity as Co-Chairs, to please keep Mr. Ali Akbar Jafarey
and his so-called 'Zarathushtrian Assembly' firmly out of WZC2000.
With kind regards,
Yours very sincerely, Membership of the TZML
* * * * * *
LINKS:
To read the Relevant Reply, CLICK
Analysis
of the 26-page "Global Protest"
TABLE OF CONTENTS and Their Links
Introduction & the Gist of "The Plain Reality Behind The Intricate Falsity"