I have just received an email from a Canadian Bahai friend telling me about the arrest of her niece in Shiraz, Iran. This young woman was among 53 individuals involved in the noble cause of teaching under-privileged children. These people were arrested in August 2007 and charged with offences relating to state security. They were sentenced to four months of suspended prison sentence and a further eight months for propaganda on behalf of groups opposed to the Islamic system. Presently she is under-going solitary confinement for two weeks. What propaganda could these people do and what harm that propaganda could do to the under-privileged kids? All anyone can do for such unfortunate children is to serve them selflessly. Why have we Muslims become so suspicious and intolerant? -RAFIA MIRZA, via e-mail, April 6.