id,date,related_articles,title,content,city,region,country
62,2000-09-08,[],Baha'i United Nations Representative addresses world leaders at Millennium Summit,"UNITED NATIONS — Speaking in his capacity as the Co-Chair of the Millennium Forum, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations today addressed world leaders gathered at the Millennium Summit, urging them to join in a global partnership with civil society to create a peaceful and more prosperous world.
""This historic Summit may well be remembered as having opened the door to a long-awaited era of peace, justice and prosperity for all humanity,"" said Techeste Ahderom, who led the Millennium Forum, which brought together some 1,350 representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the United Nations last May to consult about humanity's future in anticipation of this week's Millennium Summit of world leaders.
""This new era will, of course, require concrete deeds and not just words,"" Mr. Ahderom continued. ""We in civil society stand ready to work with you and your governments, side by side, in a strong new partnership to create this new world. At the same time, civil society also stands ready to hold you to your commitments if you do not deliver on your words.""
In his capacity as Co-Chair of the Millennium Forum, Mr. Ahderom was the only Summit speaker who represented civil society at large. The Summit drew more than 150 world leaders, making it the largest gathering of heads of state and government ever held.
In his address, Mr. Ahderom said that the Millennium Forum, which was organized by non-governmental organizations and held 22-26 May 2000 at the United Nations, was one of the most diverse and significant gatherings of civil society ever held.
""The Forum was significant for its attempt to accelerate the process among NGOs of networking and coalition building across issue areas that has proved to be such a powerful force for change and social action in today's world,"" said Mr. Ahderom. ""The Forum's focus was on six main issues: peace and security, the eradication of poverty, human rights, sustainable development and the environment, the challenges of globalization, and ""strengthening and democratizing the United Nations.""
Mr. Ahderom asked Summit leaders to carefully review the Millennium Forum Declaration and Agenda for Action, a document that was drafted and adopted by NGOs and civil society organizations gathered at the Forum last May, who came from some 115 countries including a large number from the developing world.
The Forum's Declaration, he said, ""offers a bold vision for humanity's future and outlines a series of concrete steps that the United Nations, governments, and members of civil society themselves can take to address the global problems facing humanity today.""
In particular, Mr. Ahderom told world leaders, the Forum's Declaration condemns global poverty as a ""violation of human rights,"" urges the immediate cancellation of Third World debt, calls for a ""strengthened and democratized United Nations"" with a reformed Security Council, invigorated through an enlarged membership, more democratic procedures, and eventual elimination of the veto.
Mr. Ahderom also explained that the Forum's Declaration states that while globalization offers ""significant opportunities for people to connect, share and learn from each other,"" in its currently unregulated form it increases ""inequities between and within countries, undermines local traditions and cultures, and escalates disparities between rich and poor, thereby marginalizing large numbers of people in urban and rural areas.""
The Declaration, Mr. Ahderom said, urges governments to make serious ""commitments to restructure the global financial architecture based on principles of equity, transparency, accountability, and democracy,"" stating clearly that the United Nations should be the preeminent international organization, overseeing the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO.
Mr. Aherdom was selected as the Co-Chair of the Forum early last year after heading up an interim planning committee that emerged from the Task Force on UN Reform of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGO). In his position as Co-Chair of the Forum, he headed up the Forum's Executive Committee and directed the work of its Secretariat, all in the capacity of an unpaid volunteer.
As the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, Mr. Ahderom is mainly responsible for the Community's work on human rights issues at the United Nations.
The Baha'i International Community was recognized as an international non-governmental organization at the United Nations in 1948. It represents the worldwide membership of the Baha'i Faith at the United Nations and in other fora. The Baha'i Faith has some five million members and has established communities in more than 235 countries and territories. In addressing the Millennium Summit, Mr. Ahderom sought to tell world leaders about the Millennium Forum and its results, emphasizing the important role civil society has played in promoting positive social change. ""Throughout history, from the abolition of slavery to the recognition of the equality of women and men, most great social movements have begun not with governments but with ordinary people,"" Mr. Ahderom said. ""In 1945, civil society again played an important role in shaping many of the key articles found in the Charter of the United Nations, especially in the area of human rights.""
""More recently,"" he said, ""NGOs have played a leading role in shaping and supporting an International Criminal Court, in the movement for debt cancellation, and in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.""
Mr. Ahderom called on world leaders to grant NGOs and civil society groups increased access to the UN General Assembly as a first step towards an invigorated partnership for the new century.
Speakers at the Summit were limited to heads of state and government, foreign ministers, along with a few leaders of international, intergovernmental organizations, such as the League of Arab States and the Commission of the European Community. A few international organizations with observer status at the United Nations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, also spoke. Mr. Ahderom, however, was the only representative to speak who represented a wide association of civil society and non-governmental organizations around the world.",UNITED NATIONS,,
63,2000-09-17,[],Baha'is around the world host interfaith prayers for peace,"UNITED NATIONS — Baha'is around the world -- from Cote d'Ivoire to Uruguay, from Thailand to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands -- hosted interfaith prayer gatherings in their homes, schools and community centers to mark the opening of the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, which was held at the United Nations 28-29 August 2000.
The prayers came in response to a call, issued on 3 August 2000, for people everywhere to observe a Day of Prayer for World Peace on the Summit's opening day.
The Summit brought together more than 1,000 spiritual and religious leaders representing every major world religion in an effort to ""forge a partnership of peace.""
Among the local and national events hosted by Baha'is in support of the Summit were:
-- The Baha'is of Dominica hosted a prayer gathering in an auditorium at the University of West Indies Centre in Roseau. Prayers from 13 of the religions represented at the Summit were read, and the program closed with a quotation from ""The Promise of World Peace,"" a statement to the peoples of the world issued in 1985 by the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Baha'i Faith.
-- In Mauritius, the National Spiritual Assembly invited representatives of the Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu communities to a prayer gathering at the Baha'i Institute in Belle Rose. The event was covered by the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation radio and television services. ""Some 50 persons fervently joined in with their prayers in a spiritual surge for the establishment of world peace,"" the Assembly reported.
-- In Ireland, representatives of several of the world's major faiths gathered at the Baha'i Centre in Dublin, Ireland, on 28 August  to participate in a devotional program of extracts from Baha'i, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, Zoroastrian and Sikh sacred texts. Each guest was presented with a flower blossom on arrival. After devotions and music, tea was served and the representatives of the various religions learned about each other's faiths and traditions in an atmosphere of goodwill. Irish Baha'is sponsored similar events in Cavan, Fingal (a suburb of Dublin), Co. Sligo, Shannon and Waterford.  Mr. Patrick Dawson (Baha’i), Dr. D. N. Puri (Sikh), Professor A. N. Pandeya (Hindu), and Ms. Janice Johnston (Religious Society of Friends) at an interfaith devotional in the Baha’i Centre in Dublin, Ireland to mark the opening of the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders in New York on 28 August 2000.-- In Cote d'Ivoire, the Baha'is of Abidjan and Dabou invited Animist, Jewish, Catholic and Muslim representatives to pray for peace at the Cocody Baha'i Center on 28 August 2000. The Ministry of Communication sent a representative. The invitation to the event was broadcast on the national radio, on the national television evening news, and in four articles in the main national newspapers. There were readings from the Old Testament, the Bible, the Koran and the Baha'i scriptures, followed by statements on world peace by the various religious representatives. Two major newspapers sent journalists to the event, and the following day the national radio broadcast an interview with the Baha'i, Christian and Muslim representatives. Similar events were held in Danan, in Bouak, where two Imams came and the local television filmed the meeting, and in Ferke, where the Baha'is arranged a one-hour program on the local radio.
-- In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Baha'is held a devotional gathering at the Baha'i community center in Port Blair, and invited representatives of the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities to chant and recite prayers for world peace. About 60 people attended, and the event was covered by local newspapers and announced on the local bulletin of All India Radio.
-- In Thailand, the Santitham School, a Baha'i-run primary school in Yasothon, held a gathering of about 250 students, teachers and staff to pray for world peace on 31 August 2000.   Three Buddhist monks, two Muslim representatives and three Catholic nuns were invited to share their prayers with the students. The Provincial Education Officer and the director of the District Education Office also attended. The Buddhist monks prayed in Bali for compassion toward all mankind and all living beings, and the Catholic nuns prayed that all mankind be safeguarded by the love of God. Several students recited Baha'i prayers for the unity of mankind. Local radio and television stations covered the event.
-- In India, the State Baha'i Council of Sikkim organised a prayer gathering at the Hotel Rendezvous in Gangtok on August 28.  Although they had only four days to organise the event, the Baha'is sent out more than 100 invitations to dignitaries and religious leaders.  Nearly everyone agreed to participate. The Governor of Sikkim, Choudhary Randhir Singh, attended along with representatives of the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Sikh, and Jain communities.  News of the gathering was carried on the Sikkim cable television and several local and regional newspapers.
Other prayer gatherings were held at the Baha'i House of Worship in Panama City, Panama, at the Baha'i Centre in Luanda, Angola, and at the Baha'i Center in Montevideo, Uruguay.",UNITED NATIONS,,
64,2000-08-29,[],Youth Congress in Ecuador dedicated to service and transformation,"OTAVALO, Ecuador — More than 500 young people from South and Central America gathered here from 9 to 14 August for a Baha'i Youth Movement Congress dedicated to ""Service and Transformation: The Challenge of this Generation.""
It was the latest in a series of large youth gatherings that have taken place this year throughout the Americas, beginning in Paraguay in January and in El Salvador, Dominican Republic and Canada in July. Their focus has been to galvanize the youth to become catalysts for the spiritual transformation needed to break through the protracted social conflicts that afflict the continent, such as race and class prejudice, corruption, violence, poverty, and social injustice.
In a letter addressed to the youth of Latin America in January, the Universal House of Justice, supreme governing body of the Baha'i Faith, called on them to become ""invincible champions of justice.""
""Be not dismayed if your endeavors are dismissed as utopian by the voices that would oppose any suggestion of fundamental change. Trust in the capacity of this generation to disentangle itself from the embroilments of a divided society,"" the letter stated.
The Baha'i youth movement is a global social movement that draws inspiration from the heroes and martyrs in the early history of the Baha'i Faith, many of whom were in their teens and twenties and who consecrated their lives to the spiritual regeneration of mankind. In the century and a half since the Faith was established, each generation of youth has drawn strength from their example to strive for moral excellence, good character, and service to humanity.
The first day of the Congress focused on how to accelerate the transformation of Latin American society by drawing on this rich spiritual heritage.
""We had a wonderful talk from Eloy Anello in which he called on us to become the 'living martyrs' of the West, to follow in the steps of our 'spiritual forebears' …and perform heroic acts,"" Paola Dumet, a member of the National Youth Committee of Ecuador, reported. Mr. Anello is a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas.  The talk was followed with drama and other artistic presentations that called to remembrance the lives and deeds of the early martyrs of the Faith.
The second day of the Congress focused on individual transformation and the establishment of a distinctive Baha'i way of life. Workshops were held on such themes as courtship and marriage, service and family life, striving for excellence in studies and professional life, and freedom from vices and addictions. The underlying message of these workshops was that Baha'i youth can best become catalysts for social change and influence their peers by exemplifying the highest standards of moral excellence in their own lives. As stated in the Baha'i writings, such things as ""chastity, politeness, friendliness, hospitality, joyous optimism about the ultimate future happiness and well-being of mankind, should distinguish them and win over to them the love and admiration of their fellow youth.""
The remainder of the Congress focused on the many practical lines of action open to the youth in their individual or collective efforts. The youth of the Ruhi Institute of Colombia presented a workshop on the training process that has been used in rural areas for large-scale development of human resources and moral capacity. Workshops were presented on the use of the arts, study circles, year of service opportunities (where youth offer one or two years of full-time volunteer service), and pioneering (the practice of settling in another country to assist in the development of the Baha'i community).   An exposition was held for representatives of each country to present information about their activities.
""One of the objectives of the Congress was to share the experiences of the other countries and widen our vision of the Baha'i youth movement and understand that what we were doing in each country is part of the Movement,"" Ms. Dumet said. ""We were able to feel as part of a single great movement in all of the Americas.""
A group of youth representing all the countries present met to draft a congress declaration that was symbolically ratified on the final evening as all the youth rose to their feet. The youth were named ""Spiritual Chasquis"" after the term used in the Andes for the messengers who ran from one city to another carrying messages for the Inca.
""In this way we all pledged to carry the message of the Baha'i Youth Movement and share it with all our generation,"" Ms. Dumet reported.
The next morning a closing festival was held to celebrate the unity in diversity of the Latin American youth. Some of the local authorities were present, including the mayor of Otavalo who is the first indigenous elected official in Otavalo. ""[The mayor] was attracted by the great diversity of the youth and the artistic presentations of young indigenous Baha'is from Ecuador and Peru,"" Ms. Dumet reported. As the youth bade their farewells, groups were organized for post-congress outreach campaigns throughout the country.
""I think for all of us, this historic event for the future of the Baha'i Youth Movement of the Americas was something unforgettable and affected the hearts of all the participants; and most importantly we all left inspired and with energy to take concrete action in our communities,"" she said.
The youth movement has made extensive use of the Internet for organizing and exchanging information. The Congress Web site at http://come.to/congreso-ecuador contains the Congress declaration, workshop materials, and other links and follow-up materials. Other youth movement portals include www.ibyc2000.org, www.mjb.cl, www.bahaiyouth.org, and www.bahaiyouth.com.",OTAVALO,,Ecuador
65,2000-09-08,[],Radio project to reach more than 1 million in Ghana's Volta region,"ACCRA, Ghana — A radio project to introduce people in Ghana's Volta region to the history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith is expected to reach an audience of more than 1 million over the course of three months.
The project, which began last year in the Greater Accra region and then moved to the Central region, has now moved to the Volta region with programs airing on the Volta Star FM station since late July.
""This phase of the project, like the second one held in the Central region, features 12 topics on the history, teachings and principles of the Faith,"" said Mr. Micah Yeahwon, coordinator of the project.
""The scripts have been translated into one of the local languages, Ewe, and are being presented by a member of the National Teaching Committee who resides in the region,"" he said. As part of the program, a phone-in talk show will be aired in late September.
The organizers of the project have seen positive reactions to the broadcasts in Hohoe, one of the larger cities in the region, and surrounding villages.
""In Hohoe recently, many people who listened to our programs were seen stopping the Baha'i van to inquire more about what they had heard on the radio,"" Mr. Yeahwon said. ""A resident of Hohoe who heard the program followed up to inquire about the Faith and has since declared his belief in Baha'u'llah. Some residents of a village called Lolobe, about 12 kilometers from Hohoe, have requested the friends of Hohoe to take the Faith to their village.""
A Baha'i residing in Alavanyo, another town 16 kilometers away from Hohoe, wrote to request assistance in answering all the questions he had received from inquirers.
The radio programs can also be heard in parts of the Eastern, Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions. ""Our information is that we have an audience in neighboring Togo, mainly on the border towns of Aflao and Lome,"" Mr. Yeahwon said. ""It is our hope that by the end of the three-month period, the name of Baha'u'llah or the Baha'i Faith will have been heard by over one million people with some declarations of faith.""",ACCRA,,Ghana
66,2000-09-15,[],Canadian Baha'is offer sacred words as gift to Native peoples,"HAY RIVER, Canada — On September 9 the Baha'is of Hay River hosted a feast to mark the release of a compact disk with selections of Baha'i sacred writings, set to music and translated into six languages spoken by the Dene peoples in Canada's Northwest Territories.
The release of the CD was the latest phase of a project launched four years ago by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada to enable Native Canadians to listen to the Baha'i scriptures in their own languages. A CD in the languages of the Canadian Inuit was produced two years ago.
The feast was held at K'atl'odeeche, the Hay River Dene Band Reserve, and opened with a drum prayer offered by the K'atl'odeeche drummers and a traditional feeding of the fire ceremony. Ms. Susan Lyons, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada, present a copy of the CD on behalf of the Baha'is of Canada to Chief Pat Martel of the Hay River Dene Band.
Chief Martel received the gift and addressed the gathering at length, and with obvious emotion, in his own language. He spoke from the heart about the universal power of prayer, regardless of what source it comes from.
""When people are in pain you can help them by being kind,"" he said. ""You can pray for people.  It doesn't matter who says the prayer.""
One of the selections on the CD was a Baha'i prayer for the departed. As it softly played in the background, one of the readers and translators who worked on the CD recited the names of friends who had passed from the community over the years.
The Hay River Baha'is then served a meal of moose and caribou stew, bannock, whitefish, salads and desserts. During the meal other guests received a copy of the CD.  Then tables and chairs were folded and put away for a drum dance by the K'atl'odeeche drummers.  About 100 people from the reserve came to the feast over the course of the evening.
""It was a spiritually charged evening with many questions asked and answered and hearts touched,"" a participant reported. ""Listening to prayers in any language stirs one's soul, but when we hear them in our own language it increases our knowledge and comprehension of God.""",HAY RIVER,,Canada
67,2000-09-18,[],Reception Center opens for Baha'i pilgrims to the Holy Land,"HAIFA, Israel — A new Pilgrim Reception Centre has opened here to receive Baha'i pilgrims and visitors to the Baha'i holy places in Haifa and Acre and the Faith's world administrative headquarters on Mount Carmel.
Every two weeks from October through July, about 150 Baha'is arrive in Haifa to participate in the nine-day pilgrimage program. Pilgrims pray and meditate at the resting-places of the Founders of the Faith and visit other sites associated with Their lives. Baha'is around the world consider pilgrimage to the Baha'i Holy Places a sacred obligation, which they strive to fulfil at least once in their lives.
The Pilgrim Reception Centre is located near the Shrine of the Bab, the resting-place of the Herald of the Faith, and opposite the Monument Gardens, where members of the family of Baha'u'llah are interred. The Centre is housed in two historic buildings that formerly served as a clinic. The larger one was built during the time of the British Mandate and the smaller structure has a more Middle Eastern appearance, with patterned ceramic floors and stone arches.
Remodeling of these buildings began in July 1998. The exteriors were restored and the interiors were completely remodeled to create large, functional spaces. A pedestrian walkway was built to connect the two buildings into one complex with a total floor area of 1,069 square meters. The complex contains a reception lounge, kitchen and dining facilities, and an auditorium with seating capacity for more than 300 and booths for translators.
The first Baha'i Pilgrim House in Haifa was built near the Shrine of the Bab by a Persian believer in 1909 and continued to serve as the primary gathering place for pilgrims until the new facility was completed. The Founder of the Faith, Baha'u'llah, was banished to Acre, then a prison city under Ottoman rule, in 1868 and lived in the vicinity of Acre until He passed away in 1892. He visited Haifa on several occasions and ordained that the spiritual and administrative centers of the Baha'i Faith be established on Mount Carmel. He also indicated the precise spot on Mount Carmel where the remains of the Bab should be interred.",HAIFA,,Israel
68,2000-10-01,[],"President of Ethiopia's Unity College Named ""Global Young Entrepreneur""","NEW YORK — Dr. Fisseha Eshetu, the President of Unity College and a member of the Ethiopian Baha'i community, received a ""Global Young Entrepreneur"" award at the 7th World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs, held at the World Trade Center from 28 August to 1 September 2000.
Dr. Eshetu was one of four young entrepreneurs recognized at the summit for the growth and creativity of their enterprises and the shared prosperity they have generated.
Unity College, officially inaugurated in March 1998, was the first private college to be accredited by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education. In only two years, it grew to become the largest private college in Ethiopia and the second-largest institute of higher education in the country, after Addis Ababa University. It now has an enrollment of more than 8,000 and offers courses in accounting, business administration, marketing, personnel management, hotel management and hospitality, and language training in Amharic, English and Arabic.
""Ethiopia was a country where there was no hope for thousands of young people to pursue their education at the tertiary level,"" said Dr. Eshetu. ""Unity College came into existence in response to this huge need for education. Our mission is training, research and community service.""
The World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs was sponsored by the Institute for Leadership Development (ILD), a United Nations global partnership institute involving governments, multinational corporations, and United Nations agencies.  It was co-sponsored by United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).  More than 350 young entrepreneurs attended from 97 countries.
The Summit was held on the eve of the United Nations Millennium Summit as a complement to Secretary-General Kofi Annan's ""global compact,"" ILD Executive Director Sujit Chowdhury said at a UN press briefing on August 29.  One of the goals of the Summit was to offer the young entrepreneurs opportunities for access to venture capital, global markets, and international joint ventures, in the belief that developing the private sector is a key component for achieving social progress and equitable globalization.
Mr. Eshetu said the college is already self-sustaining and that he plans to upgrade it to a full-fledged university by 2004.  He is committed to providing scholarships to 10,000 women from poor families, and already has partial commitments from donor organizations.  In September 2000 the college launched a daily, non-political newspaper with a circulation of 10,000 that focuses on social development.  About two months ago the college also launched an educational radio program that airs for 20 minutes six days a week.",NEW YORK,,United States
69,2000-10-06,[],"Jodhpur Lancers' ""Haifa Day"" commemorated at Baha'i House of Worship in India","NEW DELHI — Every year on 23 September the Indian Army commemorates Haifa Day, when two Indian cavalry brigades fighting under British General Edmund Allenby during World War I helped liberate Haifa, Israel, from Turkish-German forces in 1918.
The courageous uphill assault by the Jodhpur Lancers, which took by surprise the German and Turkish artillery and machine gun emplacements on top of Mount Carmel, is also commemorated by the Haifa Monument that stands at one of New Delhi's busiest intersections.
This year, for the first time, a Haifa Day commemorative event was held at the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, highlighting a little-known connection between the bravery of the Indian fighters and the early history of the Baha'i Faith.
One of the residents of Haifa in 1918 was 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith and designated by Him as His successor. The commander of the Turkish forces in Syria and Palestine, Jamal Pasha, had threatened to crucify 'Abdu'l-Baha and destroy the Baha'i holy places in Haifa and nearby Acre. With the liberation of Haifa, the threat to 'Abdu'l-Baha's life was lifted.
This link between the Jodhpur Lancers and the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha first came to light in February 2000 when the architect of the Baha'i House of Worship, Fariborz Sahba, met with Union Minister for External Affairs, the Honorable Jaswant Singh. Mr. Singh's father was a member of the Jodhpur Lancers and fought under General Allenby.
The event on 23 September was attended by the Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani; the Union Minister for Disinvestments and Planning, Mr. Aroun Shourie; the Ambassador of Israel, Mr. David Aphek; the Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Mr. T. McCann; the Ambassador of the European Commission, Mr. Caillouet; and other high-ranking army personnel, diplomats, and heads of nongovernmental organizations. The rulers of the princely states of Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad, whose cavalries have now combined to form the Indian Army's 61st Cavalry, were also invited.
""The Jodhpur Lancers distinguished themselves with their equestrian and fighting skills and sheer courage ... and the day is a very important one in our annals,"" wrote the Maharaja Gajsingh of Jodhpur in response to the invitation. ""The link between the Haifa Charge of 1918 and the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha is indeed interesting and adds a new dimension to the whole story of Haifa for us here at Jodhpur.""
The evening program consisted of a choir service in the Prayer Hall of the House of Worship and a gathering on the illuminated lawn surrounding the temple. Zena Sorabjee, a member of the Asian Continental Board of Counselors, spoke about 'Abdu'l-Baha's life of service and the spirit of service embodied by the 61st Cavalry.",NEW DELHI,,India
70,2000-10-18,[],Humor key ingredient in Samoan healthy cooking TV series,"APIA, Samoa — ""O le Kuka Samoa,"" Samoa's first television series dedicated to a healthy diet, was launched on 16 October 2000, World Food Day, at the residence of the New Zealand High Commissioner. Well-known Samoan comedian Sumeo, alias ""O le King Kuka,"" will star as a master chef in the television cooking program, to be aired weekly on TV-Samoa starting 19 October.
The show is produced by the Samoan Baha'i Charitable Trust for Social and Economic Development in collaboration with the Samoan Nutrition Centre. Other partners include the New Zealand High Commission in Samoa, New Zealand Official Development Assistance (NZODA), the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the FAO Pacific Regional Office, UNICEF, the Samoan Government's Health Department, and Television Samoa Corporation.
""Promoting greater use of nutritious locally grown fruits and vegetables to improve the diet of children in Samoa is the essential aim,"" said a spokesman for the Baha'i Charitable Trust, ""but the key ingredient to getting the message across is the humor masterfully ladled out by Sumeo. The show is also in the Samoan language and features interviews with local celebrities and sportspeople.""
A companion cookbook produced with the assistance of FAO and NZODA and featuring the recipes used in the show was also released at the launching ceremony. ""The special guest for the evening was none other than King Kuka himself who demonstrated how to make two new recipes with laughter,"" said the organizers.",APIA,,Samoa
71,2000-10-25,[],Baha'is of Vanuatu celebrate fifth annual Bertha Dobbins Day,"PORT VILA, Vanuatu — In recognition of their contributions toward the creation of a culture of peace and the promotion of religious tolerance, five grassroots level leaders were recognized by the Baha'i community of Vanuatu in its annual Bertha Dobbins Day commemoration.
In ceremonies on 17 October 2000 at the National Baha'i Center in Port Vila, a local chief, several local ministers and a local community leader were presented awards for their ""grassroots leadership"" before an audience of some 200 people. Those recognized were:
-- Mr William Sumbwe, from Malo, who has helped several local families to consult together and resolve problems
-- Chief Peter Poilapa, of Mele village, who has worked tirelessly to solve disputes between families and villages on the island of Efate
-- Pastor Dorothy Regenvanu, the only practicing woman pastor in the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu, who ""through her patience and respect for others of different beliefs"" has exemplified a ""culture of peace.""
Also recognized were a group of trainee pastors and their teachers from the island of Santo, who have decided to promote better understanding between different religious groups by visiting them and joining them in worship.
The occasion marked the 47th anniversary of the arrival in Vanuatu of Bertha Dobbins, who founded a well-known elementary school and played a key role in the establishment of the Baha'i community of Vanuatu.  Baha'i youth from Erakor village dancing at the fifth annual celebration of Bertha Dobbins Day, Port Vila, Vanuatu.Mrs. Dobbins was a 58-year-old elementary school teacher in Medindie, South Australia, when she responded to a call for volunteers to travel abroad to help spread the Baha'i teachings. She set sail for the New Hebrides, as Vanuatu was then known, arriving in Port Vila in October 1953.  As the first Baha'i there, she founded an elementary school, ""Nur School,"" in 1955 and taught there until 1971.  She remained in the New Hebrides until 1977, when she was 82 and the local Baha'i community elected its first National Spiritual Assembly, the national level governing body for Baha'i communities.
In memory of her services to the people of Vanuatu, the Baha'i community here gives a series of awards each year in her name to people and organizations in the country who have rendered significant service to others.
This year, the event was hosted by the Baha'i community of Mele village, who designed the program, constructed a temporary shelter to house the guests, and issued hundreds of invitations.  They prepared of large quantities of island food and an exhibit depicting the life of Bertha Dobbins and the early days of the Faith in Vanuatu.
After a brief welcome by the Master of Ceremonies, Saki Poilapa, and prayers in English, French and Bislama, Chief Willie Bongmatour, representing the chiefs of Vanuatu, expressed his gratitude to the Baha'is for recognising the role of the chiefs in fostering peace at a local level.  Merelyn Tahi spoke of the advancement of women as a key element of peace-making.  Payman Rowhani-Farid, representing the Baha'i community of Vanuatu, said that the peace process begins with individuals and families, and that the education of children is particularly important.  Baha'i youth gave choral renderings of prayers and sacred scriptures between the presentations.
The Awards were presented by Peter Kaltoli, the one of the first Baha'is in Vanuatu, and Charles Pierce, the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Vanuatu.
Mrs. Dobbins was one of the Baha'is who, beginning in the early 1950s, responded to a call to settle in areas where no Baha'is had lived before.  As a result of their efforts, more than 100 countries and territories were opened to the Faith within the span of a few years.
Following further musical selections and the closing prayers, a feast was set out for the guests in the Nur Institute Building, which formerly housed the Nur School, and the youth and children from the Baha'i communities on Efate performed a continuous stream of songs, dances and sketches.
The event received coverage on Radio Vanuatu and the national television news.",PORT VILA,,Vanuatu
72,2000-11-14,[],President of Iceland visits Baha'i Temple in New Delhi,"NEW DELHI — The President of the Republic of Iceland,  Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, and his family visited the Baha'i House of Worship here on 29 October.  He was the first head of state to visit the famous ""Lotus Temple,"" as the House of Worship is popularly known, during an official state visit.
The President was accompanied by a delegation of about 30 Icelandic dignitaries, including the Foreign Minister, Haldor Asgrimmson, and his wife. They were met by the Secretary-General of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India, Ramnik Shah, the General Manager of the House of Worship, Shahin Javid, and a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Asia, Zena Sorabjee.
The Icelandic delegation included a member of the Baha'i Faith, Vilhjalmur Gudmundsson, who is Director for Market Development for the Trade Council of Iceland.  Mr. Gudmundsson was on the advance team that visited India at the beginning of September to prepare for the President's visit.  The President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, tours the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi during an official state visit to India. He is accompanied by Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Asia.""I really made a great effort in a very tight schedule to come to the Baha'i House of Worship and I was able to convince my partners, one from the Foreign Ministry and the other from the President's Office, to come along,"" Mr. Gudmundsson said.  ""When I came I was quite impressed and very much touched over the beauty of it.  I mentioned to my partners that the President would appreciate to see this House of Worship, and that we had to find time in his very tight schedule to do so.""
The Indian Government has often included the House of Worship in the itinerary of visiting dignitaries, but this was the first time it was included in an official state visit by a head of state.
The President's visit began with a briefing in the library on Baha'i social and economic development efforts in India, with an emphasis on recent efforts to contribute to a moral education curriculum for Indian schools. The delegation then visited the House of Worship's main hall for a brief prayer service. The entire visit lasted about 40 minutes. President Grimsson was presented with ""Forever in Bloom,"" a book of photographs about the House of Worship.
Completed in 1986, the Baha'i House of Worship has become one of the most visited buildings in the world, with an average of 3.5 million visitors each year.  It's distinctive lotus-shaped design, with concrete ""petals"" sheathed in marble, has won numerous architectural and engineering awards.",NEW DELHI,,India
73,2000-11-24,[],New approach to development combines science and religion,"NEW DELHI — Noting the shortcoming of international development efforts to fully realize their goals of ending poverty and achieving social justice, speakers at a ground-breaking gathering of non-governmental, academic and religious organizations called for a new model of development that would emphasize spiritual and religious values as the missing ingredients in stimulating positive social change.
Called the ""Colloquium on Science, Religion and Development,"" the event was held 21-24 November 2000 at the India International Center, with opening day ceremonies at the Baha'i House of Worship.
""Although there has been considerable evolution in development thinking over the past several decades, serious questions remain concerning present approaches and assumptions,"" said Bani Dugal Gujral of the Baha'i International Community's United Nations Office in an opening address on Tuesday. ""The great majority of the world's peoples do not view themselves simply as material beings... but rather as social and moral beings concerned with spiritual awareness and purpose.""
""It has thus become evident that the mainly economic and material criteria now guiding development activity must be broadened to include those spiritual aspirations that animate human nature,"" Ms. Gujral continued. ""True prosperity -- a well-being founded on peace, cooperation, altruism, dignity, rectitude of conduct, and justice -- requires both the 'light' of spiritual virtues and the 'lamp' of material resources.""
Co-sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the International Development Research Centre of Canada, Decentralised Training for Urban Development Projects, the Department of Secondary Education and Higher Education of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the World Health Organization (WHO) and The Textile Association (India), the Colloquium was organized by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India and the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity, an agency of the Baha'i International Community.
Participants included representatives from a wide range of NGOs, academic institutions and religious groups involved in development work, mainly from India but also from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Colombia and Bolivia. The Colloquium also featured participation by representatives of the World Bank, UNICEF, WHO, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
""Development practitioners have for a long time been looking for a missing link, to explain the shortcomings of the current model,"" said Dr. Behnam Ta'i, the Regional Representative for South Asia of the Netherlands-based Institute for Housing and Urban Studies, who participated in the Colloquium. ""For a long time, we thought it was the environment. Now there is a perception that spirituality is the link and the key idea for changing the attitudes for decision-making in the processes of development.""  The Colloquium on Science, Religion and Development featured a panel session exploring the relationship between justice and development.| The panel members were (left to right seated at table) Mr. Soli Sorabjee, Attorney General of India; Dr. Erma Manoncourt, Deputy Director, UNICEF, India; and Mr. Miloon Kothari, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing. Ms. Bani Dugal-Gugral (standing), Director, Office for the Advancement of Women, Baha'i International Community moderated the session.Katherine Marshall of the World Bank said religious organizations have long played a ""special role"" in both understanding and helping the poor. ""Yet their insights and their work are too little known in many development circles,"" she said.
Ms. Marshall, who oversees the Bank's recently launched collaboration with religious organizations, known as the World Faiths Development Dialogue, urged a new partnership between religious groups and development specialists. ""The idea should be to engage in a process that opens new windows of understanding, raises the bar of objectives, offers new insights and new visions, on all sides,"" said Ms. Marshall in an address on Tuesday.
The Colloquium featured a mix of plenary sessions and workshops, and allowed for a wide range of discussion and consultation. One specific focus was on how capacity building in the four areas of governance, education, technology and economic activity can be assisted through the introduction of spiritual perspectives and values.
In some respects, participants indicated, it raised as many questions as it answered. There was a wide-ranging discussion, for example, of what exactly constitutes ""spirituality,"" ""values,"" ""religion,"" and ""faith."" Participants came from virtually every religious background, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, the Baha'i Faith -- as well as non-religious backgrounds.
But in the end, participants agreed on the importance of a number of principles and points, which will be compiled in a final statement of findings to be issued by the Colloquium's secretariat in the future.
Among the main points of agreement were: the importance of building new partnerships between religious organizations, NGOs, aid agencies and government offices concerned with development; the necessity of introducing moral or ""values-based"" curriculum in all educational endeavors; the significance of the principle of equality between women and men in all aspects of development; and the need to promote principles of good governance.
One frequently stressed theme was the essential harmony of science and religion.
""The formidable power of science and technology can benefit humankind only if we know how to temper it with humanism and spirituality,"" said M.S. Swaminathan, holder of the UNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology, in a talk on Wednesday at India International Centre, where the Colloquium was held.
Likewise, Haleh Arbab Correa of the Colombia-based Foundation for the Application and Teaching of the Sciences (FUNDAEC), said development specialists must begin to see ""science and religion as two complementary sources of knowledge.""
""The two systems are not as dissimilar as they are presented to be,"" said Dr. Arbab Correa. ""Objective observation, induction, the elaboration of hypotheses, and the testing of predictions are important components of scientific methods. But they are also present in religious pursuits, albeit in different configurations and at different levels of rigor.
""Similarly, faith does not belong exclusively to religion,"" Dr. Arbab Correa continued. ""Science, too, is built on elements of faith, particularly faith in the order of the world and the ability of the human mind to explain the workings of that order.""
The centrality of justice to the development enterprise was also examined.   ""Creating a culture of justice,"" said the Attorney General of India, Mr. Soli Sorabjee, ""is intimately bound up with a process of moral and spiritual development.""
As well, participants stressed the importance of the acceptance of religious diversity. Toward that end, many suggested that interfaith activities should be encouraged and increased as a means of promoting a wider understanding of the common basis of all religions.
Participants ended the event by calling for more research on a number of these areas, including ways to create a set of development indicators that might assess the impact of a values-based approach to development and on identifying ""best practices"" of religiously inspired development efforts.
""Our goal was to bring together a diversity of organizations and practitioners in the field of development to explore how scientific methods and religious values can work together to bring about a new, integrated pattern of development,"" said Matthew Weinberg, Director of the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity, one of the Colloquium's organizers.
""In many ways, this event was an experiment and a learning endeavor, since an integrated discourse on these three topics has really only recently begun to take shape in the world at large,"" said Mr. Weinberg, noting the efforts of the World Bank through its World Faiths Development Dialogue to promote a similar discussion. ""The emphasis of this event was to involve national and grassroots level organizations in this dialogue. And we were pleased that a number of key points and possible lines of action were identified by the participants here for future consideration.""
For more information, contact: Farida Vahedi / Deepali Jones / Han Ju Kim-Farley in New Delhi at:  (91) 11 3070513 or (mobile)  (91) 98 11040575.",NEW DELHI,,India
74,2000-11-05,[],"500,000 people visit Baha'i exhibit at the Hanover Expo 2000","HANOVER, Germany — An estimated 500,000 people visited the Baha'i pavilion at the Hanover Expo 2000 from its opening in June 2000 to its closing last month.
The 170 square-meter Baha'i exhibit, hosted by the Baha'i International Community and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany, featured development projects in Colombia, Kenya and Eastern Europe that illustrate the importance of grassroots capacity-building, the advancement of women, and moral and spiritual values in the process of social and economic development.
The exhibit was designed to resemble a lotus flower, with 3-meter-high acrylic glass ""petals"" in a semi-circular arrangement around a central space for reflection and contemplation. It was located opposite the entrance of the ""Global House"" -- an area designated as a forum and meeting place for organizations and policy-makers interested in sustainable development and the Agenda 21 process.
Over the past months, several of the Baha'i development projects have been the subject of in-depth presentations in the Seminar Room of the Global House.  On 9 September Shamil Fattakhov, a Russian TV journalist, presented ""Stop and Act,"" a form of interactive theatre that he developed into a successful television program in Russia.  The program features short sketches that present the audience with a conflict and a moral dilemma.  As the conflict is about to erupt into violence, the presenter calls out ""Stop!"" and begins a discussion with the audience on the ways of resolving the situation. Through the collective exploration of the relevant moral principles, the audience arrives at a solution, which is then acted out.
The program has been adapted to many audiences and media, including radio, theatre and schools, throughout Eastern Europe.  Under the sponsorship of the Royamount Process, which was initiated by the European Union to ""promote stability and good neighborliness"" among the nations of Southeastern Europe, the show has been offered to governments in the region as a creative approach to conflict resolution and moral education.
September 9 was also a ""Global House Day,"" organized jointly by all the exhibitors in the hall, which attracted 11,000 visitors to the Baha'i pavilion alone. Ranzie Mensah, a Baha'i artist from Ghana and a princess of the Fanti tribe, gave a stunning musical performance as part of an on-going cultural program presented by the Baha'is in the Global House's One World Cafe. In the evening the Baha'i International Community hosted a reception for the commissioners of the Expo's national pavilions and other exhibitors and dignitaries to mark the release of the German translation of ""Who is Writing the Future,"" a reflection on the 20th century and humanity's prospects for the future issued by the Baha'i International Community.
Another seminar on 29 September focused on the role of traditional women's groups as catalysts for grassroots development and the power of combining self-directed village initiatives with the support of development organizations.  These principles were illustrated through the Kalimani and Matinyani Women's Projects in Kenya's semi-arid Kitui District, which were selected as a ""Worldwide Expo 2000 Project."" The women in these villages consulted together, set realistic goals for village development, and enlisted the support of outside development organizations. They have managed a number of projects, including dam construction, a health center, a mango-drying scheme using solar energy, and a rug-weaving project to generate income.
The presenter was Geraldine Robarts, a Baha'i artist living in Kenya who has supported the women of Kalimani and Matinyani with training in the arts. Ms. Robarts was also the designer of 20 outsize sails, each up to 15 meters high, that decorated the Hanover Expo's Africa Pavilion. Artists from all over Africa had been invited to submit their design for the pavilion in an open competition.
The third development project highlighted in the Baha'i Pavilion was the University for Integral Development, established in Colombia by FUNDAEC, a Baha'i-inspired development agency that was also named a ""Worldwide Expo 2000 Project.""  The University has a network of 40,000 students in Colombia's rural areas who receive systematic training through a distance learning system in the areas of agriculture, education, appropriate technology, economic enterprise and institutional development.
Drawing on the tools and insights of both science and religion, the University strives to impart a twofold moral purpose: to take charge of one's own intellectual and spiritual growth, and to make significant contributions to the transformation of society.
More than 250 Baha'i volunteers from around Europe received specialized training to staff the exhibit and answer questions from the public during the Expo's five months of operation.
More information about Baha'i participation in the Hanover Expo is available on-line at www.bahai-expo2000.de.",HANOVER,,Germany
75,2000-11-07,[],Baha'i Day held at London Millennium Dome,"LONDON — London's Millennium Dome hosted a ""Baha'i Day"" on 21 October, as more than 2,000 Baha'is from around the United Kingdom came to the dome to commemorate a Baha'i holy day.  About 30,000 people visited the Dome throughout the day.
Baha'is were celebrating the Birth of the Bab, a festive occasion marking the birth of the Prophet-Herald of the Baha'i Faith. They presented a diverse program of artistic performances and entertainment, both on the main stage and in the dome's entrance hall, including juggling, clog dancing, a string quartet, singers, a Ceilidh band, dancers and a steel band. They also hosted an exhibit about the Faith just inside the main entrance, an Arts and Crafts area for children, and a Tranquillity Zone for prayer and meditation.
The Management of the Dome placed a large banner announcing the Baha'i holy day behind the main stage and gave the Baha'is 1,500 badges to wear on which was written ""Celebrating a Baha'i Holy Day.""
""Baha'is had traveled from all parts of the United Kingdom,"" said Iain Palin of the United Kingdom Baha'i Information Office.  ""They had been asked to bring flowers, and they brought so many flowers that the Management of the Dome had to send out for more pots to put them in. It was a magnificent turnout and a great spirit was in evidence throughout the day,"" he said.
In the Faith Zone, one of the Dome's permanent exhibits, excerpts from the Baha'i scriptures are depicted on tall pillars along with those of other faiths co-existing in Britain, such as the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian faiths.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
76,2000-11-10,[],Baha'is take part in Uganda's national UN Day celebration,"JINJA, Uganda — The Baha'is of Uganda showcased their achievements and activities in the areas of education, family health, moral training for children, publishing, and collaboration with other nongovernmental organizations at a national United Nations Day celebration held on 24 October 2000 at the Muguluka Primary School.
The school's grounds, located 15 miles from Jinja on the Jinja-Kamuli road, were transformed into a festive fairground, with booths and tents representing a large variety of United Nations, government, and civil society organizations.  The Baha'is erected a large white tent with a banner proclaiming ""The earth is one country and mankind its citizens.""
Throughout the day hundreds of people toured the five information tables in the Baha'i tent, many lingering for extensive discussions and requesting follow-up contact.  The Chief Guest for the day was Uganda's Minister of Information, Basoga Nsadhu, accompanied by the United Nations Resident Coordinator Dauda Toure.  They were escorted through the Baha'i exhibits by George Olinga, Director of the Baha'i Office of External Affairs.  Uganda's Minister of Information, Basoga Nsadhu, is escorted to the Baha'i exhibit at Uganda's national United Nations Day commemoration by Mr. George Olinga, director of the Baha'i Office of External Affairs.The Uganda Baha'i Institute for Development displayed curriculum guides and training materials for teachers and parents in the areas of health education and moral development. The Baha'i Publishing Trust displayed a wide range of Baha'i literature, including translations of Baha'i scripture into several indigenous languages.
Another table handled nominations for a peace prize to honor individuals, groups or institutions for their contributions to a culture of peace in Uganda. The Baha'is are co-sponsoring the prize along with the government and several NGOs as part of the observance of the International Year for a Culture of Peace.
Earlier in the week, on 22 October, the Baha'is held an observance of United Nations Day at the Baha'i National Center in Kampala that opened with a devotional program at the Baha'i House of Worship.  The keynote speaker was A. M. Qureshi, representative in Uganda of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Association.",JINJA,,Uganda
77,2000-11-25,[],Art on Fijian bark cloth reflects unity in diversity,"CANBERRA, Australia — Artists Robin White of New Zealand and Leba Toki of Fiji recently opened an exhibit at the Helen Maxwell Gallery here of collaborative works on tapa (bark cloth) that won widespread admiration for their uniqueness and harmonious blending of Western and Fijian artistic traditions.
Ms. White and Ms. Toki are both highly regarded artists and members of the Baha'i Faith. Their collaboration was ""not just a way of experiencing new forms of artistic expression,"" said Ms. White, ""but also a way of demonstrating the potential for people from very different cultural backgrounds to work together in harmony, in a positive and creative manner.""
The opening of the month-long exhibit on October 20 was attended by the High Commissioner of New Zealand, Simon Murdoch, and the Counsellor of the Fijian High Commission, Akuila Waradi.  Mr. Waradi spoke during the brief formal portion of the opening, and he expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to view art work that was the product of collaboration and said the work was ""very different and very beautiful.""
The three works, each approximately two meters by two and a half meters revolve around ""tea"" as a symbol of people coming together in a convivial atmosphere, a symbol which is common to English and Indian culture and has been incorporated into Fijian culture as well. The designs, integrating European and Indian imagery with traditional Fijian patterns, are based on the packaging of three well-known products: Punja's Tea and Rewa Milk, which are very commonly used in Fiji, and Chelsea Sugar, which is produced and sold in New Zealand from sugar grown in Fiji.
""While for some, tea, milk and sugar might seem like a rather superficial expression of togetherness, we were interested in taking the idea of having a cup of tea as a means for conveying a deeper significance and investigating a broader theme, that is the possibility of different cultures being able to come together harmoniously, to honor and celebrate their diversity and to share in the pleasures and benefits of this world,"" said Ms. White. ""The work is about the process involved in exploring the interface between cultures and arriving at a visual metaphor for the concept of unity in diversity.""
Tapa was chosen as the medium because it is inseparably associated with indigenous Fijian culture and other indigenous Pacific Island cultures.
""By using tapa to convey designs that include recognizable Indian and European elements, we aimed at suggesting the possibility of one culture embracing, in a positive way, features of other cultures, and that this process generates change without necessarily compromising the essential values that form the basis of a secure sense of  identity and belief,"" said Ms. White. ""Leba and I wanted to produce a work that could not have been done by either of us on our own, something that sits at a fine balance between what is familiar and traditional and what is unexpected and new. In recognition of this goal, the set of three tapa have been titled 'Cakacakavata,' which means 'working together.'""  Leba Toki and Robin White apply decorative elements to the tapa cloth in Robin's studio in Masterton, New Zealand.The project came about when Ms. White was visiting Ms. Toki at her home in Fiji about three years ago.
""I questioned her about some samples of tapa that she had in her home. Leba explained that she had made them herself and that she came from the island of Moce, one of only two islands in Fiji where tapa is made,"" said Ms. White. ""For some time I had been attracted by the particular aesthetic quality of Fijian tapa and had a long-held desire to experience the making of it.  This prompted me to ask Leba if she would be interested in entering into a collaborative art project with me and she readily agreed.""
The set of three tapa has been purchased by the National Gallery of Australia.",CANBERRA,,Australia
78,2000-11-15,[],UN agency's partnership helps Baha'i in quest to bridge the digital divide,"UNITED NATIONS — While heads of state were meeting at the United Nations Millennium Summit, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) announced a partnership with an organization founded by a young Baha'i to help people in developing countries make greater use of the Internet.
At a New York press conference 7 September 2000, UNOPS announced the launch of the Digital Service Corps, a private-sector partnership with the nonprofit Global Technology Organization (GTO), whose founder and president is Neysan Rassekh. Digital Service Corps will send volunteers to developing countries and countries in transition, to conduct intensive training programs in the use of the Internet as a community development tool.
Reinhart Helmke, executive director of UNOPS, introduced Mr. Rassekh as a ""young social entrepreneur of the dot-com generation"" who is bridging two ""gaps"" through the Digital Service Corps - the generation gap at the United Nations and the digital divide in the developing world.
Now in his twenties, Mr. Rassekh was born in Portland, Oregon. His family left the United States when he was four years old to settle in West Africa, where they helped to strengthen the Baha'i communities in Senegal, the Gambia and Mali. He later attended Maxwell Baha'i School in Canada. Mr. Rassekh holds a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of Business and a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on the use of technology for development in Africa.  President Alpha Oumar Konare of Mali speaks to the press in New York with Neysan Rassekh, President of GTO, on 8 September 2000 following a round-table discussion on public-private partnerships convened by UNOPS.""My generation of Americans grew up taking computers for granted. By the time we got to college, most of us were regularly doing research on the Internet,"" Mr. Rassekh said.
""To work in development at the grassroots, my family lives in Mali, one of the poorest countries on the planet. I have seen first hand how extreme the digital divide really is. I know there are thousands of people like me who would gladly give four to six weeks of their time to personally contribute to closing that gap. That is why I am sure that GTO's Digital Service Corps will be a success.""
UNOPS reported that in May, GTO completed a successful pilot project in Mali. A team of three professors and 30 students from the University of Pennsylvania, armed with refurbished computer equipment and the accessories needed to connect to the Internet, spent four weeks in Mali and trained 120 carefully selected professors, primary- and secondary-school teachers, students and teacher trainers. The team established four computer centers, now operated by the Victory Foundation, a Mali-based organization whose mission is to promote innovation in public education.
The day after the press conference, Mr. Rassekh introduced President Alpha Oumar Konare of Mali at a roundtable discussion on public-private partnerships convened by UNOPS and Global Leaders for Tomorrow of the World Economic Forum. At a news conference after the roundtable, the president thanked the Global Technology Organization for its efforts and the impact it had in his country.
Moreover, contacts at the United Nations Millennium Assembly and the State of the World Forum, which was also taking place in New York that week, afforded Mr. Rassekh the opportunity to meet with several heads of state and foreign ministers. Five of them invited Mr. Rassekh to look at implementing GTO projects in their countries in the coming months.",UNITED NATIONS,,
79,2000-11-30,[],"Reshaping ""God's holy mountain"" to create a vision of peace and beauty for all humanity","HAIFA, Israel — Many of the visitors who will soon wander the nearly completed gardens and terraces that extend almost a kilometer up the side of Mount Carmel are perhaps unlikely to notice what sort of stones lie at the bottom of the fountains.
But the fact that the color of the stones in a series of cascade pools almost perfectly matches the beige stonework of the surrounding ornaments reflects the enormous attention to detail surrounding the completion of a project that some say is destined to become a much visited wonder of the modern world.
In their shape and size, the stones are almost perfectly ovoid in contour and slightly larger than a human heart -- aspects which further harmonize with the style and scheme of the project, a succession of 19 majestic terraces and associated gardens that have virtually reshaped the north slope of what has been known since ancient times as the ""Mountain of the Lord.""
It took some eight months of searching to find the stones, a quest that took place in three countries and ended on a remote beach in Cyprus.
""I wanted stones that had the same color and natural characteristics of the other elements of this project,"" said Fariborz Sahba, the architect behind the project. ""This is an example of the simple things that make the difference.""
Yet the attention to such details is but one sign of the great importance given to this project by the Baha'is of the world, who have sacrificially contributed some US$250 million to build it over the last decade.
Scheduled to be opened to the world during public ceremonies in May 2001, the terraces and gardens are being offered to the world as a reflection of the Baha'i standard of beauty, peace and harmony. Those who have had an advance look say the project will undoubtedly take its place alongside the other great spiritual monuments constructed throughout history.
""You can go on a spiritual journey just looking at the gardens [on Mount Carmel]  which are the equivalent of any great icon, great tantra, or any other of the great recognized works of religious art or architecture,"" said Martin Palmer, the author of several books on comparative religion, the most recent of which is entitled Sacred Gardens. ""The Baha'is have created a vision, literally, of what it means to understand the Baha'i Faith in both its historic setting and its contemplative spiritual message.""
Spiritual and Administrative Center
Collectively known as the Mount Carmel Projects, the effort involves not only the construction of the 19 garden terraces on Mount Carmel -- terraces that bracket the Shrine of the Bab, the second-most holy spot in the world for Baha'is after the Shrine of Baha'u'llah -- but the completion of two majestic new administrative buildings, which are also set high on the face of the mountainside.
These two buildings, known as the Center for the Study of the Texts and the International Teaching Center, have been built alongside the International Archives building, which houses relics, writings and artifacts associated with the lives of the Faith's central figures, and the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the headquarters of the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith.
For Baha'is, the completion of the Mount Carmel Projects is the realization of a century-long dream to create a spiritual and administrative center, commensurate with the beauty of the Baha'i teachings, that will fully and fittingly represent the Faith's position as an independent world religion, now the second-most widespread geographically after Christianity.
""Architecture is a language, and these projects carry a message,"" said Albert Lincoln, Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community. ""As a worldwide community, we believe we are the bearers of a very important message. And these gardens and new buildings offer an enduring testimony to the importance of this message -- which, in its most fundamental form, is that God has sent a new Revelation aimed at addressing the problems of the modern age and ushering in an era of peace and justice for all humanity.""
Certainly, for the world at large, the completion of the Mount Carmel Projects offers a glimpse of the type of world that Baha'is are working for: one that expresses in its harmonious blend of architectural and horticultural styles the principle of unity in diversity, emphasizes in its beauty the precedence of spiritual values over materialism, and, in its open invitation to all, embraces all peoples and cultures.
""I think it is really becoming a landmark, not only in Haifa, but also one of the spots in Israel that is a must-see,"" said Mirko Stefanovic, Yugoslavia's ambassador to Israel, who has visited the Baha'i World Center many times. ""It is something of an oasis in the desert. As everyone knows, the Middle East is a hectic place, full of contrasts and conflict. The Baha""i gardens are kind of like an island of tranquility and peace.""
Ma'ariv, Israel's second-largest newspaper, reports that the project has earned the appellation ""the eighth wonder of the world.""
The Significance of Mount Carmel
As far back as 1600 BC, Mount Carmel was mentioned as a ""holy mountain"" in Egyptian records. In the Bible, it is the site of Elijah's confrontation with the worshippers of Baal. It was also sacred to the early Christians and is where the Carmelite  Roman Catholic monastic order was founded in 1150.
""Mount Carmel and Elijah have a very important place in both the Christian and Jewish traditions,"" said Moshe Sharon, a professor of Middle East Studies who holds the Chair of Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. ""Elijah is supposed to come before the Messiah, and there are hundreds of traditions and stories connected with Mount Carmel, which give it a unique place in more than one religious tradition.""
For Baha'is, the mountain was given supreme significance when Baha'u'llah visited it in the early 1890s and revealed an important tablet designating Mount Carmel as the site of the Faith's spiritual and administrative center.
The development of the Baha'i World Center, as the complex of buildings, gardens and holy places here is officially known, has proceeded slowly over the last century. Significant events include the construction of the Shrine of the Bab and the interment of the Bab's sacred remains in its mausoleum in 1909; the completion of the golden-domed superstructure of the Shrine in 1953; the erection of the International Archives building in 1957; and the completion of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice in 1983.
With the construction of the gardens and terraces that now surround the Shrine of the Bab, along with the other administrative buildings on Mount Carmel, Baha'is believe a major goal of their Faith has been fulfilled.
""Our scriptures tell us that the very construction of these facilities for housing these institutions will coincide with several other processes in the world,"" said Douglas Samimi-Moore, director of the Baha""i International Community""s Office of Public Information. ""One of these processes is the maturation of local and national Baha'i institutions. The other is the establishment of processes leading to political peace for humanity, and we feel this synchronicity is obvious if you look broadly at the way things are going in the world.""
Baha'is believe the completion of the terraces and gardens and new administrative buildings on Mount Carmel offers a reflection of the spiritual principles that must be applied to world problems if humanity is to create a truly peaceful world.
""Baha'is have gone about building these structures from a spiritual motivation, stemming from an underlying belief in the benefits to the world at large that they think will come from them,"" said Mr. Samimi-Moore. ""They believe these new structures will contribute to the unification of the planet.""
Gardens and Terraces
Without doubt, the most striking feature of the new projects is the series of terraces and associated gardens that now run from the foot to the crest of Mount Carmel, entirely reshaping its countenance. In all, the gardens cover some 200,000 square meters of land. After May 2001, they will be open to people of all religious beliefs, background and nationalities, like other Baha'i holy places.
Since the 1950s, the golden dome and gleaming white marble superstructure of the Shrine of the Bab, located almost exactly halfway up the north slope of Mount Carmel, has been a familiar landmark in Haifa, Israel's third largest city.
The 19 terraces -- one on the same level as the Shrine of the Bab, nine extending above it and nine extending below it -- form a grand series of brackets, which accentuate the Shrine's position in the heart of the mountainside.
Architect Sahba compared the new structures to the setting for a precious jewel. ""If a diamond is not set properly, its value does not show,"" said Mr. Sahba. ""The terraces provide both physical and spiritual setting for the Shrine. Everything directs your eyes towards the Shrine.""
The terraces are designed with a series of stairs running from the base of Mount Carmel almost to its summit. The staircase, made of beige-colored local stone, is flanked by two streams of running water, forming a man-made brook that gently cascades down the mountainside, pausing in shallow pools -- containing the ovoid stones mentioned above. Mr. Sahba said he had teams search in Israel, Italy and India, before finding stones in Cyprus that met his vision for that particular detail.
""It has not been our aim just to build beautiful architecture, or merely beautiful, landscaped gardens,"" said Mr. Sahba, who also designed the widely recognized lotus shaped Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, India. ""There are so many beautiful gardens in the world. The whole aim was to create beautiful, spiritual gardens; gardens that touch the spirit, so that a visitor may pause and think, ""This place is different, there is something special about it.""
Mr. Sahba said he sought to express a sense of spirit through the interplay of light, water and color. ""At night, it is as if waves of light are emanating from the Shrine, which is the center of illumination,"" Mr. Sahba said. ""During the day these movements are created by sunlight filtering through the lines of cypress trees, and reflecting on the curved parallel surfaces of the emerald green lawns.
""Another element is water,"" he continued. ""As you walk down the terraces, water accompanies you. The oasis of water attracts birds, and in harmony with the song of the birds creates the best camouflage for the noise of the city, gives the space the tranquility that one needs to be separated from the day to day reality of life.""
The terraces, which feature decorative stone balustrades, fountains, benches and statues, are intensively cultivated. The gardens on each terrace feature plants and flowers indigenous to Israel.
""If one wants to imagine what the Hanging Gardens of Babylon must have looked like, come to Mount Carmel and you will see something more nearly than anything else on earth to what we understand they were like,"" said Mr. Palmer, who is also secretary general of the Alliance on Religion and Conservation.
The formality of the design of the gardens  merges into the mountain's natural environment on either side of the central axis defined by the staircase.
""Nature is very ordered near the center of the path -- but the further you move away from it, it becomes more wild, more natural,"" said Mr. Palmer. ""So you have this fascinating model of bringing order out of chaos. There is also a sense that the wilderness is a place where you can find God, so as you move away from the center, you find larger trees and bushes and you can lose yourself spiritually.""
Many of the terraces are cut into the  mountainside in such a way that, when one is standing on one, the other terraces -- as well as the buildings on either side -- cannot be seen. For the most part, the only visible reference points are the sky, the blue waters of the Bay of Haifa below, the surrounding gardens, and the Shrine itself.
""It is an amazing use of perspective,"" said Mr. Palmer. ""Everything else is cut out. You don't see the streets above or below. You are in a sense caught up in the seventh heaven. It is as though you have left earth and been transported to paradise.""
Mr. Palmer also noted that the gentle sound of the water gurgling down the two sides of the central staircase drowns out the sounds of the outside world.
""For me, this is symbolic,"" said Mr. Palmer, who is a Christian. ""To quote from my Scriptures: you need to hear the 'still small quiet voice' of God, which is what Elijah himself heard on Mount Carmel. And with the trickling water, gently drowning out the urban hubbub all around, hearing that voice becomes possible.""
For Baha'is, the whole design is evocative and symbolic.
""When you ascend the terraces from the bottom, the Shrine of the Bab, which is your goal, is always visible, right in your line of sight, at the center of your devotion,"" said Lasse Thoresen, a renowned Norwegian composer who has spent much time in the gardens as part of a commission to write a symphony for the opening ceremonies. ""This is a beautiful kind of contemplative feature.""
""At the same time, for me, the waters coming down from the top of the mountain symbolize the living water that is the grace of God, that is God's vitalizing energy, spoken of in the Baha'i writings and in the Bible and other scriptures, that descend from Heaven,"" said Dr. Thoresen.
Suheil Bushrui, who has visited Haifa off and on since his childhood and who currently holds the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, USA, said he believes the gardens and terraces offer a new model for sustainable development.
""These projects on Mount Carmel provide an example of man's shaping of the physical environment in accord with a religious teaching that emphasizes the importance of the natural world and upholds the value of beauty and the virtue of excellence,"" said Prof. Bushrui. ""They show a glimmer of the extent to which material and spiritual elements can complement each other, to the mutual benefit of each, and with favorable consequences for the environment.""
New Administrative Buildings
While the terraces are without doubt the most visible feature of the new developments on Mount Carmel, the completion of two new nearby administrative buildings are for Baha'is of equal significance, inasmuch as they signalize the formal emergence of two important institutions designed to assist the Universal House of Justice in providing guidance and governance for the rapidly growing worldwide Baha'i community.
Together with the Seat of the Universal House of Justice and the International Archives building, the International Teaching Center and the Center for the Study of the Texts form an arc on the face of the mountainside. As one faces the mountain, that arc sits slightly to the left of the axis defined by the central stairway of the terraces.
The Center for the Study of the Texts building will house an institution of scholars, whose role is to study the Baha'i sacred writings. ""The Baha'i writings are extensive, encompassing more than 100,000 documents,"" said Mr. Samimi-Moore. ""The Center stands to serve the needs of the Universal House of Justice by researching the sacred writings, historical documents and other related materials. It will also translate texts, prepare compilations, and draft commentaries as required.""
The International Teaching Center building will house a body of appointed individuals who function collectively to assist the Universal House of Justice and also to provide guidance to the worldwide Baha'i community through a network of fellow ""Counsellors"" who reside around the world. ""They promote the ideas of the Faith, which include unity and education,"" said architect Hossein Amanat, who designed the two new buildings, as well as the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.
Like the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the two new buildings were designed in a classic Greek style that harmonizes with the design chosen roughly 50 years ago for the International Archives building.
""Originally, I thought there might be a kind of contemporary style which could fit into the environment there,"" said Mr. Amanat, who started designing the Seat of the Universal House of Justice in 1972 at age 30 after winning a design competition for a major monument and associated complex in his native Iran. He noted, however, that Shoghi Effendi, who headed the Baha'i Faith from 1921 to 1957, had chosen classic Greek style because it had proved enduringly beautiful through the ages.
""I saw how nicely the classic style fits into this surrounding of serene gardens,"" continued Mr. Amanat. ""The reason is this: in our modern life, we are rushing everywhere. And there is no time for looking at the details of a classic building. But the classic style is meant for a society that is more relaxed, that is taking time to meditate and pray. Modern buildings evolved after the industrial revolution, which is when the material life took over from the spiritual. But we Baha'is think beauty is an important factor in design, because beauty is so important to the human soul.""
Although both of the new buildings rise some three stories above ground level, much of their structure is tucked into the mountain slope. ""The idea is that the buildings are pavilions adorning this garden,"" said Mr. Amanat. ""They should not impose on it.""
The total floor area of the two new buildings combined is some 35,000 square meters, reflecting their importance as administrative centers for the more than five million Baha'is around the world.
""Essentially, the people who will work in these buildings have the goal of serving a growing worldwide community,"" said Mr. Samimi-Moore.
The funds for the completion of the two new buildings, the terraces and all of the other structures on Mount Carmel came entirely from members of the Baha'i Faith.
""No money has come from outside,"" said Secretary General Lincoln. ""And we are not a community that is rich. The funds for these projects have come from donations by thousands upon thousands of individuals, who have given sacrificially over many years.
""Three-quarters of the worldwide Baha'i population resides in the third world,"" added Dr. Lincoln. ""It is not unusual to visit a mud hut in an African village and find a photograph of this project on the wall, along with a receipt for some small contribution.""
-- END OF MAIN STORY --
ACCOMPANYING STORY:
The Baha'i Faith and its Connection to Israel
Founded in Iran, the Baha'i Faith today has its spiritual and administrative center in Israel because of historic forces that led to the exile of its Founder, Baha'u'llah, to the city of Acre, located across the bay from Haifa.
After a series of banishments from His native Iran, Baha'u'llah, along with His family and a small group of followers, was sent in 1868 to Acre, then a bleak penal colony under Ottoman rule.
Although prisoners, the Baha'is eventually came to be regarded as a respected religious community in Acre. Over time, Baha'u'llah was granted limited freedom and, during a visit to Haifa in 1891, He designated Mount Carmel as the site for the world headquarters of His Faith. Baha'u'llah also directed that the remains of the Bab, the Faith's Herald and a Prophet in His own right, be buried on Mount Carmel.
With Baha'u'llah's passing and burial in the vicinity of Acre in 1892, the location of the spiritual center of the Baha'i Faith was likewise fixed. Baha'u'llah's burial place at Bahji, north of Haifa near the city of Acre, is the holiest place on earth for Baha'is.
In 1909, the Bab's remains were interred in a stone mausoleum on the side of Mount Carmel. In 1953, the golden-domed, white marble superstructure was erected over the mausoleum, completing the Shrine that is the second holiest place for Baha'is.
Over the years, Baha'is have built a series of gardens, encompassing other holy monuments, as well as other administrative buildings in the Haifa/Acre area. All are funded entirely by contributions from the worldwide Baha'i community.
Today, more than 800 Baha'is serve as volunteers at the Baha'i World Center. They come from all over the world, serving for specified periods of time, and are engaged solely in the care of the Baha'i Holy places and the internal administration of the Baha'i world community.
The city of Haifa and the government of Israel have welcomed the Baha'i presence and the new construction. The Mayor of Haifa, Amram Mitzna, recently wrote that the nearly completed Gardens and Terraces for the Shrine of the Bab offer ""unforgettably stunning panorama"" for the ""appreciation of all beauty lovers.""",HAIFA,,Israel
80,2000-11-29,[],"In Buryatia, a struggle against AIDS and substance abuse","BURYATIA, Russia — In response to rising rates of alcoholism, drug use and AIDS among youth in this Siberian republic, Baha'is here have created a ""Youth Center for Social Initiatives"" to promote a healthy lifestyle among youth and teenagers and to train teachers and other specialists to do prevention work with youth. Deaths from AIDS have increased 33-fold in Buryatia since the beginning of the year, a symptom of the general moral crisis afflicting much of the region.
""No prevention work is effective without the development of a sustainable system of moral values among the youth and offering them channels for individual growth and self-fulfillment through community service,"" said Oxanna Dorzhieva, director of the Youth Centre. ""Our principal tasks are the development of young people's awareness of their personal dignity and the need for spiritual independence, development of a volunteer movement for prevention work, training of teachers and other specialists in prevention education, and cultivation of a positive lifestyle among youth and teenagers.""
The Youth Center is an outgrowth of a Baha'i project for youth in Ulan-Ude known as the ""Young Lions"" social project, which provided alternative youth activities, training in moral leadership, and popular social activities for the youth of the Ulan-Ude region.
""Many prevention projects organized by Young Lions, such as ""Youth Against Drugs,"" ""Be Sober in the New Millennium,"" ""Our City,"" and seminars on AIDS, have won serious attention from the government of Buryatia and popularity among youth in Ulan-Ude and neighboring communities,"" said Ms. Dorzhieva.
The local administration of Ivolga, a region with the highest rates of drug use among youth and of alcohol and drug-related crime in recent years, approached the Young Lions for assistance in organizing prevention activities for the whole region.
""We wanted to extend our work with this key segment of the population and assist them in addressing these problems through the creation of the Youth Center for Social Initiatives,"" said Ms. Dorzhieva. ""We are trying to build a network together with teachers and other specialists, parents, administration, the police, media and possibly other institutions, to protect youth from alcohol and drug use. The experience gained from this project will start spreading all over the Republic within a year.""
The Youth Centre also works to develop regional, national and international collaboration in prevention work, and courses, seminars and workshops on moral leadership and prevention of AIDS and substance abuse. The Centre is working with specialists from the AIDS Centre of Buryatia to create a youth and teen prevention program that will include materials on moral education. The program will be submitted to the Ministry of Education of Buryatia for inclusion in the school curriculum for children aged 12 to 15.",BURYATIA,,Russia
81,2000-11-22,[],"Amjad Ali Khan, master of classical Indian music, performs at the Baha'i Lotus Temple","NEW DELHI — Earlier this year the Baha'i House of Worship received a letter from the eminent master of the sarod, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, expressing his desire to perform on the premises of the Temple. ""I have had a dream for sometime now, which I want to share with you,"" he wrote. ""I have wished to perform, most humbly, with the Baha'i Temple in the background.""
Amjad Ali Khan's dream was fulfilled yesterday when he performed with his two sons, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, with the lotus-shaped House of Worship glimmering in the moonlight behind him. They played the sarod, a classical Indian instrument resembling the lute, with an ensemble of traditional Indian musicians. The concert was held as part of the opening ceremony for the international ""Colloquium on Science, Religion and Development"" organized by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India and the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (see related story).
When asked about the significance of playing, as a devout Muslim, at a Baha'i House of Worship, Amjad Ali Khan said, ""I feel connected to every religion of the world. Water, air, fire, flowers and music have no religion, but their beauty is universally acknowledged. I feel drawn to any religion that is not fanatical in its approach but teaches love of other humans.""
The concert was the tenth in a series of performances given by Amjad Ali Khan under the title ""Sarod for Harmony.""",NEW DELHI,,India
82,2000-12-06,[],UN General Assembly expresses concern over treatment of Baha'is in Iran,"UNITED NATIONS — For the 15th time in 16 years, the United Nations General Assembly has expressed ""concern"" over human rights violations in Iran, once again specifically mentioning the ""unabated pattern of persecution"" against the Baha'i community of Iran, that country's largest religious minority, and calling for its complete emancipation.
In a resolution passed on 4 December 2000, the Assembly called on Iran to ""eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religious grounds or against persons belonging to religious minorities"" and decided to continue its examination of the human rights situation in Iran for another year.
Approved by a vote of 67 to 54, with 46 abstentions, the resolution followed release of a UN report that stated that some 11 members of the Baha'i community of Iran currently face death sentences because of their religious belief and that the community as a whole continues to experience discrimination in areas education, employment, travel, housing and the enjoyment of cultural activities.
That report, issued on 8 September 2000 by Maurice Copithorne, the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, said there had been recent reports of ""situations of discrimination and persecution"" against Baha'is, including ""acts of intimidation carried out in order to prevent Baha'is from participating in religious gatherings or educational activities.""
In its resolution, the Assembly expressed concern that Iran has failed ""to comply fully with international standards in the administration of justice, the absence of guarantees of due process of law, and the absence of respect for internationally recognized legal safeguards with respect to persons belonging to religious minorities.""
""We are pleased that the United Nations most representative body, the General Assembly, has once again taken note of the ongoing persecution of our co-religionists in Iran,"" said Techeste Ahderom, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Like the United Nations, we remain concerned at a wide range of human rights violations directed against the Baha'is of Iran by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran,"" said Mr. Ahderom. ""As we have stated numerous times, the Baha'i community of Iran is entirely non-partisan in its nature and poses no threat to the Government. The Baha'is in Iran only wish to be allowed to practice their religion fully, in accordance with the numerous international human rights covenants that Iran is a party to.""
Since 1979, when the Islamic Republic of Iran was formed, more than 200 Baha'is have been killed or executed, hundreds have been imprisoned, and thousands of been deprived of jobs, education or property.
Background information on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran may be found at www.bahai.org/article-1-8-3-6.html.",UNITED NATIONS,,
83,2000-12-15,[],Human Rights Day program at the United Nations focuses on upcoming World Conference Against Racism,"UNITED NATIONS — Featuring a nine-city videoconference that gave it global reach, a commemoration of Human Rights Day held here on 7 December focused on preparations for next year's World Conference Against Racism, with speakers stressing the worldwide nature of racism and intolerance and the need to find new approaches that will promote the acceptance of human diversity.
Speakers included Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Jyoti Singh, Executive Coordinator of the UN World Conference Against Racism; Techeste Ahderom, Chairman of the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) Committee on Human Rights and a Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations; and Pitso Montwedi, Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN.
""My central message for the World Conference is that we are all one human family, regardless of race, color, descent, ethnic or social origin, and that for too long diversity has been regarded as a threat rather than a gift,"" said Ms. Robinson, who spoke from Santiago, Chile, where she was taking part in a regional preparatory meeting for the upcoming World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which is scheduled to be held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001.
""It is time that we refocus our understanding and allow diversity to be a potential for mutual enrichment and benefit,"" continued Ms. Robinson, who is also Secretary-General of the Racism Conference. ""I believe, therefore, there is a need to generate a constructive, positive, forward-looking approach to the possible outcome of the World Conference against Racism, the first of its kind to be organized by the United Nations in the post-cold war and post-apartheid era.""
Pitso Montwedi of South Africa, also speaking from Santiago, expressed his hopes for next year's conference and for the efficacy of the outcome document, which will be known as the Durban Declaration and Platform of Action.
""We, as the hosts of the World Conference, believe that racism is a global problem,"" said Mr. Montwedi. ""We would like to see the widest possible participation from governments, NGOs and civil society because everyone has a stake in this issue.""
Mr. Ahderom, speaking in New York, addressed the concerns of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the upcoming World Conference. ""NGOs are already going to the substance of the issues to be presented at the Conference,"" said Mr. Ahderom, noting that NGOs have been extensively involved in preparatory meetings for the Conference. ""There is an effort to try to pass from the mere articulation of the problems to true implementation of a solution.
""Racism is a stubborn foe with roots that run deep in the human psyche,"" Mr. Ahderom added. ""Racism is very tenacious because it is not confined to its political manifestation. It is enduring because it takes place in the hearts and minds of individual people.""
The videoconference linked participants in Bogota, Chicago, Geneva, Mexico City, New York, Rome, San Francisco, Santiago and Vienna. It also enabled participants in those cities and on the Internet to ask questions and join in the discussion.
In that discussion, participants expressed concern about a wide range of issues related to racism and intolerance, from the exploitation of indigenous peoples, migrant workers, the mentally ill, and refugees to the concerns of specific groups like the Dalits in India.
Renata Bloom, a participant in Geneva, asked, for example: ""How do we go beyond the naming of the issues to the real matter of seeing diversity as a gift?""
Addressing this question, Mary Robinson said there was a need for a positive approach to teach the acceptance of the value of diversity and stressed the need for education at the primary school level.  ""Racism is a value system that is learned,"" she said. Schools should get involved by sponsoring essay contests and other such competitions to engender greater tolerance and appreciation of cultural and ethnic differences.
""Racial hatreds are the fruits of ignorance,"" added Mr. Ahderom. ""In the absence of spiritual values, people have a need to elevate one group over another.""
Like Ms. Robinson, Mr. Ahderom called for a far-reaching educational campaign as the answer to racial intolerance, and said that NGOs and civil society should be in the forefront of such an effort, building on the ""beautiful consensus"" they have already achieved in many respects.
The provisional agenda of the World Conference Against Racism is grouped around five themes: (1) sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance; (2) victims of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance; (3) measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels; (4) provision for effective remedies, recourses, redress, and other measures at the national, regional and international levels; and (5) strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international co-operation and enhancement of the United Nations and other international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia.",UNITED NATIONS,,
84,2001-01-18,[],Baha'i Chair at Hebrew University hosts conference on modern religions,"JERUSALEM — Some 54 scholars of religion -- Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Mormon and Baha'i-- gathered in December at the Hebrew University to discuss the impact of modernism on their traditions. The conference, co-sponsored by the Chair in Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University's Faculty of Humanities and Landegg Academy, has advanced Baha'i studies as an independent field of academic study and enriched the dialogue on the core values common to the monotheistic faiths.
The First International Conference on Modern Religions and Religious Movements in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and the Babi and Baha'i Faiths, was held from 17 to 21 December 2000 and focused on common approaches within Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i Faith toward the philosophical, social and psychological challenges of modernity.
""Religious studies often deal with the origins or history of religions.  For example we study the origins of Islam or medieval Judaism,"" said Yair Zakovitch, Dean of the Hebrew University's Faculty of Humanities. ""But the study of religion in modern times is so relevant, so important to the lives of people. It was very significant that these scholars, despite the delicate political situation, were able to gather in Jerusalem to discuss their commonalities and appreciate their differences. People are generally suspicious, and the walls of suspicion collapsed.""
The President of the Hebrew University, Menachem Magidor, described to the conference participants his vision of making the Hebrew University into a preeminent center for the study of religion, with research centers devoted to each of the monotheistic faiths. ""The Chair in Baha'i Studies is the first link in this chain,"" he said.
Moshe Sharon, the holder of the Chair in Baha'i Studies and co-convenor of the conference, said that the field of Baha'i studies is emerging as an independent area of academic inquiry and that this was the first conference convened by a major international university for the study of the Baha'i Faith and its relationship to its sister faiths.
""Through this conference,"" said Dr. Sharon, ""the Hebrew University has declared its interest in Baha'i studies and its recognition of the importance of this field alongside Jewish, Christian and Islamic studies.""
The other co-convenor of the conference was Hossain Danesh, the Rector of Landegg Academy, a Baha'i-sponsored institution of higher education in Switzerland.  Dr. Hossain Danesh, Rector of Landegg Academy, and Dr. Moshe Sharon, holder of the Chair in Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University, convenors of the conference on modern religions held at the Hebrew University on 17-21 December 2000.""The conference focused on fundamental issues that are common to religions, held in a city and at a time when religious conflict in political terms was considerable,"" Dr. Danesh said.
In his keynote address Dr. Danesh reviewed the common elements of the monotheistic religions that have made them cornerstones of civilizations, as well as some of the teachings and principles of the Baha'i Faith that address challenges unique to the modern age.  He presented President Magidor with a volume of fine pen and ink drawings of Baha'i holy places in the Old City of Acre by the Persian architect and draftsman Hushang Seyhoun.
Other presentations and panel discussions were grouped around themes such as ""Religion in Modern Times: Philosophical, Social and Psychological Reflections,"" ""Mysticism and Messianism,"" ""Eschatology and Ethics,"" ""Tradition, Renewal and Reform,"" and ""Religion and the Realm of Science."" Most of the panelists spoke on aspects of Judaism or the Baha'i Faith, but there were also contributions on Sufism, the Wahhabi movement, modern Islam, and Mormonism.
The participants came mainly from the United States and Israel, but also from Canada, Denmark, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. Prof. Degui Cai from China's Shandong University gave a presentation on the fundamental principles of the Baha'i Faith and their relevance to Chinese society.
The final panel discussion, on ""Contemporary Meeting of Ultimate Differences,"" featured presentations about African Christians in Israel and about the Baha'i Faith, Christianity and indigenous religions in the Pacific islands.  The panel closed with a presentation by Dr. Amnon Netzer of the Hebrew University on ""The Jews and the Baha'i Faith.""  A Jew of Iranian background, Prof. Netzer spoke about the conditions that led as many as ten percent of Iran's Jews to convert to the Baha'i Faith.
""The courteous talk, in which Dr. Netzer showed great respect for those who converted, created an atmosphere of interfaith reconciliation for the audience, which included several Israeli Jews with Baha'i relatives,"" said Robert Stockman, Coordinator of the Institute for Baha'i Studies in Wilmette, Illinois.
Another significant element of the conference was the participation of many young scholars alongside well-known and outstanding professors and scholars in the field of religious studies.
""The juxtaposition of youth and experience was very insightful and promising for the future of religious studies. It demonstrated that there are fine minds coming up, and this augurs well for the emergence of new insights into the role of religion in the development of civilization,"" said Dr. Danesh.
The conference also featured a number of cultural activities. The opening day closed with a program of classical music by the King David String Ensemble, one of the foremost chamber music groups in Israel.  Among the selections they performed was a piece well known to Baha'is, ""Dastam Bigir Abdu'l-Baha,"" which the composer had arranged especially for the occasion.
Kiu Haghighi, a Persian Baha'i and master of the santour, closed the conference with a virtuoso performance of an original piece he composed for the event.
On the final day of the conference, 21 December, the participants made a special trip to the Baha'i World Center in Haifa and Acre.  They visited the Shrine of the Bab and toured the nearly completed garden terraces stretching above and below the Shrine on the slopes of Mount Carmel.  After a luncheon at the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, they visited the Shrine of Baha'u'llah and the Baha'i holy places in Acre.
A compilation of articles based on the proceedings of the conference will be published during the coming year, and many of the papers will be made available through the Landegg Academy Web site, www.landegg.org.
The Hebrew University and Landegg Academy have agreed to sponsor annual conferences of this nature, with the venue alternating between Jerusalem and the Landegg campus in Wienacht, Switzerland.  The overarching theme of this series of conferences will be ""Religion and Science."" The next conference is planned for late January 2002 at Landegg.
The Chair in Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University was established in 1999 as the first academic chair in the world devoted to the study of the Baha'i Faith. Other academic centers and programs, most notably the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland's Center for International Development and Conflict Management, have been established to study Baha'i perspectives on and contributions to other academic disciplines.
""The systematic study of Baha'i religion, history and literature was introduced into the Hebrew University in the 1990s,"" wrote Prof. Sharon in the published proceedings of the dedication ceremonies for the Baha'i Chair, held at Mount Scopus and at the Baha'i World Center in Haifa in June 1999.
""The magnitude of the material involved, and the vast scope of research which has already been done in the field persuaded the University of the necessity of creating a proper framework for research and teaching designed to accommodate the future development of the field within the academic vision of the University of forming a cluster of research centers dedicated to the study of the major religions of the world.""",JERUSALEM,,
85,2000-09-19,[],Peace Monument in Brazil receives final earth samples,"RIO DE JANEIRO — Nearly a decade after being inaugurated, an hourglass-shaped monument in Rio de Janeiro now contains soil samples from nearly 150 countries, a symbolic representation of the oneness of humanity and the global cooperation needed to achieve lasting peace.
In a ceremony on 19 September 2000, the final earth samples from 26 nations were deposited in the Peace Monument, which was built by the Baha’i International Community and the Baha’i Community of Brazil in 1992 for the 1992 Earth Summit.
""Peace is the paramount need of humanity today,"" said  Bani Dugal-Gujral, a Baha’i International Community representative to the United Nations, who was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. ""The soils that have been contributed by some 150 nations are at the heart of the monument. Each of these soils came with a testimony for peace.""
Also in attendance were representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO), several diplomatic missions in Brazil, local authorities, members of several Brazilian NGOs, as well as representatives of the Baha’i Community of Brazil.
To deposit the final 26 soils, a human chain was formed and each of the samples of soil was passed from hand to hand to the top of the monument, where a street child, who happened to be passing by at that moment, placed it in the monument. The street child was the only youth present, and he brought a very special symbolic effect to the ceremony.  A ""human Chain"" is formed to deposit earth samples from 26 nations in the Peace Monument in Rio de Janeiro, bringing the total number of nations represented to nearly 150.Designed by the renowned Brazilian sculptor Siron Franco, the five-meter concrete and ceramic monument is located near the entrance to the Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro, just north of Flamengo Park and the site of the 1992 Global Forum, the parallel conference of non-governmental organizations held during the 1992 Earth Summit, which was formally known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
The monument is composed of two pyramids, one inverted on top of the other, creating an hourglass shape that serves as a reminder that time is running out for humanity to unite in a spirit of global cooperation. Etched in four languages on the four sides of the upper pyramid is a quote from Baha’u’llah, who wrote more than a century ago: ""The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens."" The quote is displayed in English, Portuguese, Chinese and Terena, an indigenous language of Brazil.
The soil of 42 nations was deposited in the monument at its inauguration on 14 June 1992, held as one of the closing ceremonies of the Earth Summit and Global Forum. The Baha’i International Community had requested the soil samples from the government delegations attending the Earth Summit, and many of the samples were taken from sacred or historic sites.
Soil from Iceland, for example, was taken from the site of Iceland's first parliament, considered the country's most sacred and historic spot.  In the years since then, Baha’is have continued to solicit soil samples from other nations and have held several ceremonies to deposit the samples in the monument.
Ms. Dugal-Gujral said the monument serves as an enduring symbol of the spirit of global understanding and world citizenship that is characterized by the Earth Summit and the Global Forum.
""The Earth Summit fundamentally changed the world's understanding of and approach to social and economic development, linking it inextricably with environmental presentation,"" said Ms. Dugal-Gujral. ""The monument's symmetry indicates that sustainable development requires a balanced approach to the challenges of conservation and development. This symmetry also suggests that men and women must, as equals and in partnership, work to bring about peace, justice and sustainable development.""",RIO DE JANEIRO,,Brazil
87,2000-12-27,[],Israel Postal Authority to issue commemorative stamp for the opening of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab,"HAIFA, Israel — The Philatelic Service Department of the Israel Postal Authority will issue a commemorative stamp to mark the completion of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab. The nine-centimetre-long stamp will be released in April 2001, shortly before the official opening of the Terraces in May.
The Terraces, stretching above and below the Shrine of the Bab on the north slope of Mount Carmel in Haifa, have been built as a majestic path of approach to one of the holiest sites of pilgrimage for members of the Baha'i Faith (see related story).
A souvenir leaf containing the stamp and a description of the Shrine of the Bab and the Terraces will be released by the Philatelic Service Department on the day of the official opening of the Terraces. As collectors' items, the souvenir leaves will be printed only once.",HAIFA,,Israel
88,2000-12-24,[],New Book from University Press of Maryland Explores Baha'i Views of Governance and Globalization,"BETHESDA, United States — A new book from the University Press of Maryland by sociologist Nader Saiedi examines the philosophical and theological underpinnings of the concepts of world order and governance found in the writings of Baha'u'llah.
In ""Logos and Civilization: Spirit, History, and Order in the Writings of Baha'u'llah,"" Dr. Saiedi argues that Baha'u'llah's writings, despite the great diversity of their styles and the topics they address, are animated by the common purpose of establishing the oneness of humanity in all spheres, whether spiritual, ethical, legal, or social.
""There has been a tendency among some scholars to perceive the writings of Baha'u'llah as a chaotic phenomena with internal contradictions and no overall unity,"" said Dr. Saiedi during a recent interview.   ""The book is structured to show the overall harmony of Baha'u'llah's writings, which were revealed in roughly three stages, addressed first to the mystics, then the divines and religious leaders, and finally to the kings and rulers of His day. He used different languages: the language of the mystic, the truth-seeker or the law-giver - but in all stages, the animating purpose was the same.""
More than a century ago, Baha'u'llah wrote about the appearance of a new social order of global dimensions. ""The world's equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great, this new World Order,"" He wrote. ""Mankind's ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous System, the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed.""
Dr. Saiedi examines Baha'u'llah's conception of the three component terms of the phrase 'new world order,' arguing that they correspond to the three stages in which Baha'u'llah revealed his major works.
""Baha'u'llah's early ethical and mystical works contain His idea of the necessary conditions for the possibility of order,"" said Dr. Saiedi. ""The term 'new' reflects the historical consciousness found in His later hermeneutic and theological writings. The fundamental characteristic of 'newness' in our age is the global nature of the challenges facing humanity. Therefore the term 'world' defines Baha'u'llah's basic position toward history and present day society and corresponds to the final phase of His revelation when he revealed laws of personal and social conduct.""
Dr. Saiedi discusses the philosophical premises of Baha'u'llah's concept of globalization, emphasizing its qualitative difference from both Middle Eastern and Western political philosophy and showing that it represents a new conception of civil society and state.
""The solution to any problem in our age has to be global,"" said Dr. Saiedi. ""Take for example the question of citizenship.  This has been largely ignored in discussions of social injustice, which have focused instead on questions of race, class or gender. Yet today one's national citizenship is one of the greatest determinants of one's access to social justice.  This accident of birth determines one's entitlements and perpetuates a system of global inequality.""
The book's initial chapters sketch the background context, in Islamic Sufism, of Baha'u'llah's early mystical works and explore the structure of Baha'u'llah's mystical treatises, the Four Valleys and the Seven Valleys, which describe the stages in the spiritual journey of the human soul. Later chapters discuss the Kitab-i-Iqan (The Book of Certitude), Baha'u'llah's principal hermeneutical work, and the Kitab-i-Badi (The Most Wondrous Book), which reaffirms the foundational principles of the Kitab-i-Iqan and is largely unknown to Western audiences. The final chapters investigate the structure and constitutive principles of the Kitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book), regarded as the charter or book of laws for a global civilization.
Dr. Saiedi received his M.S. degree in economics from Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran, and his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin.",BETHESDA,,United States
89,2000-12-05,[],Baha'i Temple in India continues to receive awards and recognitions,"NEW DELHI — The Baha'i House of Worship here, long recognized as an architectural triumph and one of India's most visited sites, has received several more popular and professional recognitions and awards in recent months.
In China, the House of Worship, which is also known as the Lotus Temple due to its distinctive lotus-shaped design, was recognized by the Architectural Society of China as one of 100 canonical works of the 20th century in the recently published ""World Architecture 1900-2000: A Critical Mosaic, Volume Eight, South Asia.""
The book is one of a series of ten volumes organised by the Society and endorsed by the International Union of Architects, in co-ordination with the XX World Architects Congress convened in June 1999 in Beijing, China. According to the editor, Mr. Rahul Mehrotra, the book is intended to ""reflect and document architectural achievements in a multicultural world background, as represented by 100 canonical works of this century.""
The selections, based on a process of nominations by architects from around the world, include works by master architects such as Le Corbusier, Edwin Lutyens and Louis I. Khan. The House of Worship, which appears as the book's cover illustration, is described as ""a powerful icon of great beauty that goes beyond its pure function of serving as a congregation space to become an important architectural symbol of the city.""  Mr. Fariborz Sahba, architect of the Lotus Temple in India, and Dr. Hans Kung, a Catholic theologian known for his work on a ""global ethic,"" receive the GlobArt Academy 2000 award at a ceremony in the Pernegg cloister, Austria.| From left to right: Dr. Angerer, resident Abbot of Pernegg Church; Mr. Sahba; Dr. Kung; and Mr. Bijan Khadem-Missagh, well-known violinist and president of GlobArt Academy.In Austria, the GlobArt Academy in Vienna presented its ""GlobArt Academy 2000"" awards to the architect of the Lotus Temple, Fariborz Sahba, and to Catholic theologian Hans Kung for their work in overcoming religious barriers. The awards were presented on 3 September 2000 at a ceremony in the church of Pernegg cloister attended by ambassadors and cultural attaches of Canada, Germany, Switzerland and India as well as representatives of the Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Baha'i communities of Austria.
Mr. Sahba received the award in recognition of ""the magnitude of the service of [this] Taj Mahal of the 20th century in promoting the unity and harmony of people of all nations, religions and social strata, to an extent unsurpassed by any other architectural monument worldwide."" A model of the Temple, brought specially for the occasion from the museum of the World Center for Peace in Verdun, France, was on public display for one month in the nearby town of Horn.
In France, the magazine ""Actualite des Religions"" published a four-page article on the Lotus Temple in the fall of 2000 in a special edition called ""Les religions et leurs chef-d'Ouvres"" (Religions and Their Masterpieces).
In Spain, the Centro Andaluz de Fotografia published ""Arquitectos de Unidad,"" a coffee table book featuring photographs of the House of Worship.
In India, national newspapers recently carried a 2-page advertisement for IndiaTimes with an image of the Lotus Temple and the legend: ""One of the most visited sites in India. The Baha'i Temple, an architectural landmark. Through these gates millions of people enter, and find what they are looking for.""
The House of Worship was dedicated to public worship in 1986 and has since become one of the most visited buildings in the world, with an average of 3 million visitors each year. In the first few years of its existence, the House of Worship won numerous architectural and engineering awards, including a ""special award"" from the Institution of Structural Engineers of the U.K. in 1987; the ""Excellence in Religious Art and Architecture 1987"" First Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects; and an award in 1990 from the American Concrete Institute recognizing it as one of the finest concrete structures of the world.",NEW DELHI,,India
90,2000-12-18,[],Interfaith dialogue participants meet with King of Norway,"OSLO, Norway — Participants in a national interfaith dialogue project met privately with King Harald V of Norway on 11 December 2000 to present the results of the year-long project and discuss their commitment to extending and broadening the dialogue into the future.
Last year, the King was the guest of honor at the launching of the interfaith dialogue project, held at the University Aula with Professor Hans Kung and the Bishop of Oslo, Mr. Gunnar Stalsett, as the keynote speakers.  Six dialogue groups - on the issues of religious freedom; family life; cohabitation, sexuality and equality; environmental issues; violence and non-violence; and religious and values education - were formed at the event and have continued to meet throughout the year.
""The personal interest shown by His Majesty in interfaith dialogue was deeply appreciated by all the participants and has lent weight to the project,"" said Mrs. Britt Strandlie Thoresen, who represented the Baha'i Faith at the meeting.  ""In the year since we launched this effort, we have formed bonds of fellowship and understanding among Norway's various faith communities, which we hope will contribute to an atmosphere that welcomes diversity in our increasingly multicultural country.""
The interfaith dialogue project was sponsored by Norway's Commission on Human Values and the Cooperation Council on Religious and Life-stance Communities, one of Norway's principal interfaith organizations. According to a government press release, the Commission on Human Values was appointed in January 1998 with a three-year mandate to ""contribute to a broad mobilization for human values and socio-ethics,"" to ""enhance positive joint values, and strengthen the responsibility for the environment and community"" and ""to work against indifference, and promote personal responsibility, participation and democracy.""
The representatives who met with the King were Mr. Dag Hareide, member of the Values Commission and main initiator of the project; Mr. Egil Lothe, head of the Buddhist organization in Norway; Mr. Inge Eidsvag, member of the board of the Values Commission; Mrs. Nazim Riaz of the Islamic Council of Norway; Rev. Ornulf Steen of the Church of Norway; Mrs. Barbro Sveen, coordinator of the Cooperation Council for Religions and Life-stance Communities; and Mrs. Thoresen, member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Norway.
The half-hour meeting with the King took place at the Royal Castle in Oslo. Mr. Hareide gave an overview of the work of the six dialogue groups in the year since the opening event at the University Aula.
""This led to a broad conversation about the importance of interfaith dialogue, its possibilities and limits, and its importance as a step toward the removal of prejudices, toward mutual respect and deep tolerance, leading in the end to a peace-building process,"" Mrs. Thoresen reported.
""His Majesty told us about his school days and preparation for religious confirmation and said that he had been given broad information about other religions as early as in 1953. He found this very valuable, he said, because Norway is now a multicultural and multi-religious country and he represents all inhabitants of Norway. The King stated the importance of listening to each other, and not using the dialogue project as a platform for persisting in one's own viewpoints.""
Because the mandate of Values Commission expires at the end of December 2000, the Cooperation Council on Religious and Life-stance Communities will take on the task of carrying forward the dialogues.",OSLO,,Norway
91,2001-02-05,[],"Full-length feature film, inspired by the Baha'i writings, premieres in Australia","PERTH, Australia — A tale of love and oppression, set in Australia's Outback in the 1890s and focusing on the story of an Aboriginal girl and a group of Lutheran missionaries, had its world premiere at the Perth International Arts Festival today.
The full-length feature film, entitled ""Serenades,"" was written and directed by Mojgan Khadem, an Iranian-born Baha'i from Adelaide, South Australia. The film received a glowing review ahead of its release in an industry publication, Screen International, where critic Frank Hatherley described it as an international gem.""
""Sandra Levy's production is a small miracle, with exquisite landscape cinematography by Russell Boyd and a moving cross-ethnic soundtrack,"" Mr. Hatherley wrote.
Shot on location in the South Australian outback, Serenades is Ms. Khadem's first feature film. It stars Alice Haines and Aden Young. Producer Sandra Levy and director of photography Russell Boyd both have a long list of major films to their credit.
""Serenades"" is set in the 1890s when German Lutheran missionaries were trying to bring Christianity to South Australia's Aboriginal people. It tells the story of a young woman who has an Afghan father and an Aboriginal mother.
""The film does have a love story at the very center of it,"" said Ms. Khadem. ""It's basically a journey of one woman through very diverse cultures and religions. And it's a journey where she is desperately searching for identity, for a sense of love.""
Ms. Khadem said she found her inspiration for the story in the Baha'i writings.
""One day when I was reading the Book of Certitude, I came across a quote from Baha'u'llah, which made it very clear what my film needed to be about. It needed to be about oppression, and what that oppression meant,"" she explained.
""At the centre of that idea was an Aboriginal girl who felt this grave oppression that Baha'u'llah speaks about, where she looks everywhere for God, but she can't find Him,"" Ms. Khadem said.
The passage that inspired her was this: ""What 'oppression' is greater than that which hath been recounted? What 'oppression' is more grievous than that a soul seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it? For opinions have sorely differed, and the ways unto the attainment of God have multiplied.""
Ms. Khadem's family left Iran in 1978, and settled in Spain as refugees before migrating to Australia three years later.
Her interest in film developed from a passion for theatre and, later, photography. She graduated from the prestigious Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1991.
The film cost $3.7 million Australian dollars to make. More than half the funding came from Australian government's Film Finance Corporation. The rest came from the private Southern Star company and the South Australian Film Corporation. Palace Films has purchased the Australian distribution rights.
After screening for two weeks at the Perth Festival, the film is expected to open across Australia in April.
-- Reported by Susan Couhbor",PERTH,,Australia
92,2001-03-21,[],Baha'is release statement on racial tolerance,"GENEVA — In observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed 21 March each year, the Baha'i International Community released the following statement, which was presented to Mary Robinson, the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
""The coming together of the peoples of the world in a harmonious and creative relationship is the crucial need of the present hour.  In the wake of advances in human knowledge which have deepened bonds of interdependence and contracted the planet, the central task now before all its inhabitants is laying the foundations of a global society that can reflect the oneness of human nature.  Creating such a universal culture of collaboration and conciliation will require a return to spiritual awareness and responsibility.
""More than a century ago, Baha'u'llah declared that humankind was entering a new era in its history when accelerating processes of unification would soon compel recognition that humanity is a single people with a common destiny.  In appealing to humanity to accept the central truth of its oneness, and to set aside the barriers of race, religion and nationality which have been the principal causes of conflict throughout history, Baha'u'llah urges, 'regard ye not one another as strangers.  Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.' There is, He said, no possibility of achieving world peace until the fundamental principle of unity has been accepted and given practical effect in the organization of society:  'The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.'  And:  'Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship...So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.'
""The unity that must underpin a peaceful and just social order is a unity which embraces and honors diversity.  Oneness and diversity are complementary and inseparable.  That human consciousness necessarily operates through an infinite diversity of individual minds and motivations detracts in no way from its essential unity.  Indeed, it is precisely an inhering diversity that distinguishes unity from homogeneity or uniformity.  Acceptance of the concept of unity in diversity, therefore, implies the development of a global consciousness, a sense of world citizenship, and a love for all of humanity.  It induces every individual to realize that, since the body of humankind is one and indivisible, each member of the human race is born into the world as a trust of the whole.  It further suggests that if a peaceful international community is to emerge, then the complex and varied cultural expressions of humanity must be allowed to develop and flourish, as well as to interact with one another in ever-changing patterns of civilization.  'The diversity in the human family,' the Baha'i writings emphasize, 'should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.'
""From this basic principle of the unity of the earth's peoples is derived virtually all concepts concerning human liberty and well-being.  If the human race is one, any notion that a particular racial, ethnic, or national group is in some way superior to the rest of humanity must be dismissed; society must reorganize its life to give practical expression to the principle of equality for all its members regardless of color, creed or gender; and all individuals must be given the opportunity to realize their inherent potential and thereby contribute to 'an ever-advancing civilization.'
""For too much of history, the evil of racism has violated human dignity.  Its influence has retarded the development of its victims, corrupted its perpetrators and blighted human progress.  Overcoming its devastating effects will thus require conscious, deliberate and sustained effort.  Indeed, nothing short of genuine love, extreme patience, true humility and prayerful reflection will succeed in effacing its pernicious stain from human affairs.  'Close your eyes to racial differences,' is Baha'u'llah's counsel, 'and welcome all with the light of oneness.'
""Clearly, the promotion of tolerance and mutual understanding among the diverse segments of the human race cannot be a passive or rhetorical exercise.  All forms of provincialism, all insularities and prejudices must be directly confronted.  The implementation of appropriate legal measures that safeguard the rights and opportunities of all and the adoption of educational initiatives that foster human solidarity and global citizenship should be among the first practical steps taken by all nations.
""The moral leadership provided by religious communities must undoubtedly be a key component of any such effort.  To ensure a constructive role for religion, however, the followers of all faiths must acknowledge the strife and suffering caused by those who have appropriated the symbols and instruments of religion for their own selfish purposes.  Fanaticism and conflict poison the wells of tolerance and represent corrupt expressions of true religious values.  The challenge facing all religious leaders is to contemplate, with hearts filled with the spirit of compassion and a desire for truth, the plight of humanity, and to ask themselves whether they cannot, in humility before their Almighty Creator, submerge their theological differences in a great spirit of mutual forbearance that will enable them to work together for the advancement of social justice and peace.  In His exhortation 'to observe tolerance and righteousness,' Baha'u'llah affirms that it is possible to both believe in God and to be tolerant.
""The path of unity and reconciliation is the only path available to the human family.  A world in which all nations, races, creeds and classes are closely and permanently united is not a utopian vision but an inevitable and vital necessity.  'Illumine and hallow your hearts; let them not be profaned by the thorns of hate or the thistles of malice,' Baha'u'llah warns.  'Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will.  Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.' """,GENEVA,,Switzerland
93,2001-04-19,[],Baha'i International Community issues statement on the spiritual dimension of sustainable development,"UNITED NATIONS — The Baha'i International Community today issued a statement, entitled ""Sustainable Development: the Spiritual Dimension,"" for the first session of the United Nations Preparatory Committee of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Scheduled to be held 30 April-2 May at the United Nations in New York, the Preparatory Committee meeting will provide direction for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, which is scheduled to be held next year in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Summit will focus on reviewing environmental progress made worldwide since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Here follows the complete text of the statement, which was issued by the United Nations Office of the Baha'i International Community:
Some nine years ago, over the course of the Earth Summit process, the governments of the world, with significant contributions from global civil society, crafted Agenda 21, a remarkably forward-looking strategy for the achievement of sustainable development worldwide.
Some nine years later, the work of determining the next steps in the evolution of Agenda 21 has been placed upon the shoulders of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.  The Summit has been called to ""identify major constraints hindering the implementation of Agenda 21"" and to ""address new challenges and opportunities that have emerged since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.""  It is in identifying these major constraints, challenges and opportunities that the Summit's Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) must necessarily come face to face with spiritual issues.
""No matter how far the material world advances,"" the Baha'i Writings state, ""it cannot establish the happiness of mankind.  Only when material and spiritual civilization are linked and coordinated will happiness be assured... for in material civilization good and evil advance together and maintain the same pace.""
The Baha'i International Community is convinced that unless and until spiritual issues become central to the development process, the establishment of a sustainable global civilization will prove impossible.  For the vast majority of the world's people the idea that human nature is fundamentally spiritual is an incontrovertible truth.  Indeed, this perception of reality is the defining cultural experience for most of the world's people and is inseparable from how they perceive themselves and the world around them.  It is, therefore, only by bringing a focus on the spiritual dimension of human reality that development policies and programs can truly reflect the experiences, conditions and aspirations of the planet's inhabitants and elicit their heartfelt support and active participation.
On the one hand, the governments of the world have, collectively, begun to acknowledge a spiritual dimension to development.  This can be seen in the global action plans that emerged from the great world conferences held in the 1990's by the United Nations.  Agenda 21, for example, calls for ""social, economic and spiritual development,"" recognizing that ""individuals should be allowed to develop their full potential, including healthy physical, mental and spiritual development.""  Subsequent declarations and action plans have reinforced this call and gone further.  For example, in the Copenhagen Declaration the governments of the world unambiguously affirm that ""our societies must respond more effectively to the material and spiritual needs of individuals, their families and the communities in which they live... not only as a matter of urgency but also as a matter of sustained and unshakeable commitment through the years ahead.""  In the Beijing Platform for Action they agree that ""[r] ligion, spirituality and belief play a central role in the lives of millions of women and men, in the way they live and in the aspirations they have for the future.""  And in the Habitat Agenda, the world's governments commit to ""achieving a world of greater stability and peace, built on ethical and spiritual vision.""
On the other hand, beyond such general statements and commitments, these global agreements offer little understanding of what the terms ""spirituality,"" ""spiritual vision,"" and ""spiritual development"" mean in principle or in practice.  If, indeed, spirituality is as crucial to sustainable development as these global action plans have avowed, then it is time to move beyond generalities, to explore, in depth, the spiritual principles at the heart of development and to consider fully their ramifications for all stages of the development process.
This exploration of spiritual principles is completely in line with the PrepCom's mandate to ""identify major constraints hindering the implementation of Agenda 21"" and to ""address new challenges and opportunities that have emerged"" since the Earth Summit.  Any strategies for overcoming such constraints and challenges as war, poverty, social disintegration, extreme nationalism, greed, corruption and apathy, which do not take into account spiritual principles will prove ephemeral, at best.  In considering new opportunities for overcoming these constraints and challenges, the PrepCom should look to the remarkable development of interfaith relations and the expansion of interfaith initiatives.  Religious and spiritual traditions are increasingly coming together to foster friendliness, fellowship and understanding among their diverse communities.  They are also increasingly working together on policies, programs and initiatives with secular bodies ranging from private enterprises and organizations of civil society, to governments and international institutions.  In such work, religious and spiritual value systems are viewed not as separate from ""real world concerns,"" but as vital sources of knowledge and motivation, as wellsprings of values, insights, and energy without which social cohesion and collective action are difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.
This blossoming of interfaith work can be seen in such initiatives as the World Faiths Development Dialogue; the World Conference on Religion and Peace; the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC); the Parliament of the World's Religions; and the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders.  It can be read in the numerous joint declarations and agreements in which the religions have articulated a common vision of humanity's future based on such universal principles as love, justice, compassion, moderation, humility, sharing, service, peace and the oneness of the human family.
In seeking to incorporate spiritual principles into its deliberations, the PrepCom should take advantage of this new stage in the relations among the world's religions.  It might do so by making the topic ""Sustainable Development: the Spiritual Dimension"" one of the ""main themes for the Summit.""  It could then initiate a major review of international agreements, proclamations and statements which focus on religious and spiritual values, particularly as they relate to and impact the development process.  This review should begin with the global action plans of the world conferences of the 1990's, since it was here that the governments of the world publicly acknowledged the importance of spiritual values in development.  It should then be expanded to include major interfaith declarations and agreements and other relevant initiatives.
While this review is being conducted, the PrepCom could facilitate a series of consultations involving both representatives and leaders of various religious and spiritual traditions.  These consultations, which might be held before the next PrepCom, should focus on spiritual principles as they relate to Agenda 21 and sustainable development.  A series of regional consultations followed by an international consultation might be held, or, if that is not feasible, then, at the very least, an international consultation should be organized.  The results of these consultations and of the ""documents review"" should be issued as a UN document for use by the PrepCom in its deliberations.
Although these proposed efforts are modest, the world's governments would, by supporting them, be sending a clear message that they are serious about their previous commitments to incorporate spiritual considerations into the development process.  More important, however, the ""documents review"" and the global consultations would undoubtedly produce innovative ideas and approaches and might possibly generate a powerful vision based on spiritual principles - principles which, because they resonate with the human soul, have the power to motivate the sacrifices and changes that will be needed if humanity is to overcome the seemingly intractable problems it faces.
Ultimately, the creation of a peaceful and just global civilization, in which the diverse peoples of the world live in harmony with one another and with the natural world, will require a significant reorientation of individual and collective goals and a profound transformation in attitudes and behaviors.  Such far-reaching changes will come about only by addressing the non-material dimension of reality and drawing on humanity's vast spiritual resources.

end -

To read the statement with footnotes, go to:
 http://www.bic-un.bahai.org/01-0430.htm",UNITED NATIONS,,
94,2001-04-15,[],Opening of Baha'i terraces on Mount Carmel to be available live around the world by satellite,"HAIFA, Israel — Coverage of ceremonies inaugurating a series of majestic terrace gardens extending nearly one kilometer up the side of Mount Carmel will be available live by satellite around the world on 22 and 23 May 2001.
More than 3,000 Baha'is from some 170 countries are expected to attend the outdoor event on the evening of 22 May, which will feature an original oratorio, performed by a symphony orchestra and choir assembled at the base of the terraces. At the height of the ceremony, the kilometer-long terraces will be dramatically illuminated. They extend from the base to the crest of a mountain that has been considered holy throughout recorded history.
The ceremonies will mark the end of a 10-year, US$250 million project to complete key elements of the spiritual and administrative center of the Baha'i Faith. Two major administrative buildings have also been completed on Mount Carmel during the project.
On 23 May, following concert and inauguration, indigenous performers will lead a devotional program, and the thousands of celebrants, many in colorful national dress, will ascend the terraces for the first time. This event will also be carried live by satellite.
""Given the universal character of the Faith and its vision for global unity and peace, it makes sense that coverage of these events is available worldwide, "" said Douglas Samimi-Moore, director of the Office of Public Information at the Baha'i World Centre. ""This celebration tells a story of sacrifice, of transformation from deprivation and darkness into beauty and light. That such a diverse and widespread community could complete these tasks and share them with the people of the world should give us all confidence for the future.""
The celebration of the opening of the gardens will last through the week. The festivities precede the opening of the gardens to the public in June, when visitors and tourists of all backgrounds and beliefs will be able to enjoy the gardens, everyday, free of charge.
Satlink Communications Ltd will be transmitting the events from 13.30 – 17.30 GMT on 22 May, and from 05.30 – 08.30 GMT on 23 May. Inside Israel, the events can be seen on the EUTELSAT W1 and on television channel 9. Outside Israel, coverage will be on EUTELSAT-W1 (Israel, Europe and the Middle East), INTELSAT 604- (Africa Coverage), ASIASAT 2 (Asia Coverage), TELSTAR 6 (North America), NSS 806 (South America), and NSS 803 (USA).
The Israel Broadcasting Authority is also preparing a full-length live radio broadcast of the May 22 event on its flagship music station, Kol Israel (Voice of Israel), with narration. The IBA will also act as the sponsoring station to carry the program to the European Broadcast Union and thereby to national radio outlets in many member countries.
More information about the satellite up-link of the opening of the Terraces is available at http://terraces.bahai.org/satellite.en.html.",HAIFA,,Israel
96,2001-05-02,[],Live web cast of opening ceremonies of Baha'i terraces on Mount Carmel,"HAIFA, Israel — The opening ceremonies of the Baha'i terraces on Mount Carmel will be carried on a live, on-demand Web cast on 22 May 2001 at 15:00 GMT.
The Web cast will enable the public and many of the world's five million Baha'is to watch the proceedings from their homes.
The ceremonies will mark the end of a 10-year, US$250 million project to complete key elements of the spiritual and administrative center of the Baha'i Faith. The majestic garden terraces now stretch one kilometer from the crest of the mountain to the base, and surround the gold-domed Shrine of the Bab, a well-known symbol of the city of Haifa.
More than 3,000 Baha'is from 170 countries are expected to attend the open-air event on the evening of 22 May, which will feature specially commissioned music by contemporary composers from Norway and Tajikistan. At the height of the ceremony, the terraces will be dramatically illuminated.
The free Web cast will be accessible on the Baha'i World News Service at www.bahaiworldnews.org in Real Media format and will be archived for future access. Other Web sites are free to establish links to this site for the Web cast.
The Web cast is copyrighted and may not be used for commercial purposes. An official set of VHS tapes will be available for sale at a later date.",HAIFA,,Israel
115,2001-05-15,[],High excitement and lofty expectations for Baha'is heading to Israel for terraces inauguration ceremony,"HAIFA, Israel — When Henrietta Josias arrives here at the end of the week, it will be her first time in Israel -- and only the second time in her life to travel outside of her native South Africa.
Like an estimated 3,000 other Baha'is who will be coming for the inauguration of a majestic series of garden terraces on Mount Carmel here on 22 May, Ms. Josias comes with high excitement and lofty expectations for what she believes will be one of the highlights of her life.
""To me, it is a phenomenal thing that is happening to me,"" said the 45-year-old mother and flea market sales lady from Cape Town. ""Prior to becoming a Baha'i, I would never have had any idea about traveling to Israel, or anywhere else for that matter, coming from a very disadvantaged community in South Africa.
""But being a Baha'i opens your vision to the world around you,"" said Ms. Josias, who became a Baha'i nine years ago. ""I feel I'm part of this great process where people are trying to become citizens of this whole wide world and so that we see one another as brothers and sisters.""
That sentiment -- to help foster the processes of world peace and human unity -- indeed underlies the construction of the kilometer-long terraces on Mount Carmel, which is sacred not only to Baha'is but also to Christians, Jews and Muslims. Built over 10 years at a cost of some US$250 million, the terraces and two new adjacent administrative buildings are designed in part to offer to humanity at large a vision of peace and harmony.
Dedication ceremonies will begin at dusk on 22 May 2001 with an open-air world premiere concert, which will be available live worldwide by satellite and Internet webcast. On 23 May, indigenous musicians will perform and the thousands of celebrants, many in colorful national dress, will ascend the terraces for the first time.
The diversity of the gathering will itself reflect the ideals of the Baha'i Faith, which aims to enlist people everywhere, from all races, religions and nationalities, in a common endeavor to build a just, peaceful and ever-advancing civilization. There are about five million Baha'is and the Faith is the second-most widespread independent religion after Christianity, with communities in more than 200 countries and territories.
""It will be like a 'preview' of how the world will become in the future, showing a cross-section of humankind coming together in unity,"" said Nogol Rahbin, a 20-year-old medical student, who will be among the delegation from Sweden. ""To me, this will be a chance to experience the vision that the founder of the Baha'i Faith, Baha'u'llah, gave to humanity about 150 years ago.""
Baha'i communities from more than 170 countries are planning to send delegations. And the list of delegates likewise spans the gamut of professions, social and economic class, and racial and religious backgrounds.
Attendees range from a New York investment banker to a young woman from the Fulnio people in northeastern Brazil; from a Nepalese journalist to an architectural student from Belarus.
""To me, this event will show how a great many people, from all different locations and backgrounds, can come together in unity, to help create something as close to perfection as I can think of,"" said Alexandar Sawka, a 17-year-old student from St. Johns, Antigua, West Indies. ""The completion of a project of this magnitude is a great step forward for any religion.""
The delegates were chosen by various means to represent their countries at the inauguration ceremonies by their National Spiritual Assemblies, the nation-level governing bodies in the Baha'i Faith. Limited to 19 delegates each, National Spiritual Assemblies around the world used different methods to choose their delegations. Some Assemblies gave weight to individuals who had given exemplary service over the years while others simply held a lottery.
Sara Nobre, like other members of the delegation from Portugal, was chosen by lot. The 24-year-old staffing manager from Lisbon feels incredibly lucky.
""The event is the end result of many years of hard work from Baha'is everywhere,"" said Ms. Nobre, who, like millions of other Baha'is, contributed funds to the project, which was built entirely with donations from Baha'is around the world. ""It is the fruit of perseverance and love.""
Jean Scales, one of the delegates from the United States of America, feels honored to have been selected. ""I couldn't believe it at first,"" said Jean Scales, a 71-year-old retired English professor who now lives in Durham, North Carolina. ""I have no idea why I've been chosen. I guess it is because I've been active over the years.""
Dr. Scales has served the Faith on a number of levels since becoming a Baha'i in 1960. Last year, for example, she toured South Africa and Swaziland with her husband, Jay, to promote the Faith's ideals.
Like others selected to travel to Haifa, she views the inauguration of the terraces as a once-in-a-lifetime event, one that she believes will likewise showcase the Faith's message and teachings.
""The construction of these gardens is a reason for humanity to have hope,"" said Dr. Scales. ""So many people just don't see any hope in the world today, between wars and rumors of wars. But this shows that humankind can come together.""
Dr. Scales believes that the beauty of the gardens -- she has seen numerous photographs of them -- reflects the harmonious blend of spiritual and material attributes that Baha'is believe is needed in the world.
""Around the world, Baha'is are asked to engage in social and economic development projects to do things that will help their communities,"" she said. ""They don't just pray. Rather, they seek to combine the material and the spiritual.""
Dr. Scales and others also believe that the completion of the Baha'i projects on Mount Carmel, which include the construction of two new administrative buildings, also represent a significant fulfillment of prophecy, both for Baha'is and others.
""I do know that Mount Carmel is important in Christian and Jewish history, and that the Holy Land itself is important to many of the religions in the world,"" she said. ""In the main Christian prayer, they speak of 'Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.' To me, this is a fulfillment of that prayer in that we Baha'is believe we are helping to build the Kingdom of God on earth.""",HAIFA,,Israel
117,2001-05-20,[],"Seeing Mount Carmel terraces for the first time, Baha'is feel as if they are in ""paradise""","HAIFA, Israel — Like so many others among the some 3,000 Baha'is
arriving here today and seeing for the first time a series of magnificent gardened
terraces on Mount Carmel, Salomeea Romanescu of Romania could only compare her
experience to visiting ""paradise on earth.""
""The sound of the water is like a divine song,"" said the 37-year-old educator from
Bucharest. ""Combined with the smell of the flowers and the harmony of the colors, all
these sensations, they give you a feeling of plentitude and peace.
""I was wanting all my life to feel such a feeling of peace and harmony and I am very
happy now to be able to come here and experience it,"" she added.
Arriving today for a week-long program of activities in celebration of the
inauguration of the terraces were Baha'i delegations representing more than 180
countries. They came with high hopes and great expectations, eager to get a look at a
project that, over the last ten years and at a cost of some $250 million, has
virtually reshaped Mount Carmel.
""It has been my dream to come here, and now my dreams have come true,"" said Jaipal
Bali Singh, a 42-year-old businessman from Srinagar, Kashmir, India, who has been a
Baha'i since 1986. ""For me, this is the holiest place on earth.""
Indeed, Mount Carmel, which is sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims, also looms
large in Baha'i history and prophetic expectations. Baha'u'llah, the Faith's
Founder, chose Mount Carmel as the site of the spiritual and administrative center of
His cause in the 1890s when He was a prisoner here of the Ottoman Empire and the
mountain slope was covered with little more than rocks and shrubs. He prophesied much
greatness for Mount Carmel in the future.
Now, the fact that such extraordinary gardens, as well as two majestic new
administrative buildings, have arisen from those humble beginnings is a source of
great pride to Baha'is, who raised the funds for their completion entirely from among
themselves.
""When I arrived, I came here directly from the bus and tears just came to my eyes
because of the beauty and spirituality of these terraces,"" said Jean-Marie Nau, a
delegate from Luxembourg. ""This is a fulfillment of the prophecies of our Faith, that
these structures would be built here.""
The celebration of the completion of these projects begins on Monday with a
devotional visit by the 3,000 Baha'is assembled here to the resting place of
Baha'u'llah, at Bahji, located across Haifa Bay in the city of Acre.
On Tuesday, 22 May, the delegates will assemble for a concert at the base of Mount
Carmel to officially inaugurate the terraces, which extend nearly one kilometer up
the mountainside. The concert will feature the premier of two orchestral works
composed especially for the occasion. Hundreds of Baha'i communities in other
countries are expected to watch the concert and inaugural ceremony through a live
satellite feed and Webcast.
On Wednesday, the 3000 delegates will ascend the mountain as a group, climbing the
stairs towards the Shrine of the Bab, which is the focus of the terraces and the
second-most holy place to Baha'is after Bahji.
On Thursday and Friday, further cultural, informational and devotional programs will
be held on Mount Carmel and at the nearby Haifa Convention Centre.
""Over the course of the next few days, the Baha'is gathered here from around the
world will celebrate what we feel is a significant achievement in the creation of
these terraces,"" said Douglas Samimi-Moore, Program Coordinator for the inaugural
events. ""One of the themes to the overall program will be a look back at the growth
and development of the Baha'i Faith in the 20th century -- and a look ahead at the
future.
""The people gathered here represent the kind of world we are working for as Baha'is,
a unified community of people from every nation, religion, race, ethnic group and
culture,"" said Mr. Samimi-Moore. ""And they are people, by and large, who have been
working towards this goal, whether in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe or other
regions of the world.""
Many of the participants arriving today indeed felt that the diversity of the
gathering itself is very much a fulfillment of Baha'u'llah's vision for humanity.
""To meet so many brothers and sisters, from different countries, speaking different
languages, it brings me great happiness,"" said Claudio Limachi, a member of the
Quechua people who is part of the delegation from Bolivia. ""I feel like I am next to
God, with people of different colors, from different places, and that we are flowers
of one garden.""
Peter Wathum Onega, a 48-year-old farmer from a remote village in northwestern
Uganda, also said that the combination of beautiful gardens and diverse people was
his idea of heaven.
""When you see this place, you see that peace can come in the world,"" said Mr. Onega.
""The beauty here, it can bring people together. It is, like the Bible says, the
Kingdom of God on earth.""",HAIFA,,Israel
118,2001-05-21,[],Complex challenges for Baha'is in putting on an outdoor celebration for thousands,"HAIFA, Israel — Gry Kvalheim worked behind the scenes on logistical arrangements for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and also the 1992 Baha'i World Congress, which brought some 30,000 Baha'is from around the world to New York.
She nevertheless counts the inauguration of a series of majestic garden terraces tomorrow on Mount Carmel as one of the most complex undertakings she's ever been involved with.
Among other things, the celebration this week entailed making travel and hotel arrangements for 3,000 Baha'is from more than 180 countries, the construction of a 4,000-seat temporary amphitheater, and the coordination of a musical program that brings together a symphony orchestra from Israel, a choir from Romania, and soloists from around the world. More than 60 buses have been hired just to shuttle participants around.
""This is one of the biggest events in Israel this year, and certainly one of the biggest in Haifa ever,"" said Ms. Kvalheim, who is Managing Director of the Inaugural Events Office, which has organized the celebration. ""We've essentially had to book every hotel room in Haifa and in surrounding cities, from Nahariyya on the other side of Acre to Zichron Ya'acov in the south.""
Ms. Kvalheim, who has been a Baha'i since 1959, also feels the assignment is the most significant she has ever undertaken.
""As a Baha'i, I don't think you can even fathom the importance of this event,"" she said, noting that the scriptures of the Baha'i Faith promise that such structures would one day grace the slope of Mount Carmel. ""For us, it is prophecy fulfilled.""
Built at a cost of some $250 million, the 19 garden terraces and two nearby administrative buildings are being offered up to the world this week as a demonstration of how diverse peoples can come together in peace and harmony.
The worldwide Baha'i community of some five million people from virtually every background and nation have sacrificed and labored in a spirit of love and unity over the last decade to fund and complete the project.
Today, in celebration of the project's completion, the 3,000 Baha'is gathered here visited the Shrine of Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith. Located in the city of Acre, across the bay from Haifa, the Shrine of Baha'u'llah is the most holy place in the world for Baha'is. The program featured prayers and devotional elements designed to spiritually prepare them for the week ahead.
On Tuesday, the terraces will be formally inaugurated with a world premiere concert of two orchestral works composed specifically for the occasion and the reading of a message from the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith. The concert and ceremonies will be available worldwide by satellite and webcast. Dozens of representatives of the international media have expressed a desire to attend and cover the event.
Making logistical arrangements for the concert and inaugural ceremonies, which will continue until Friday, has been a huge undertaking, made more complex because the concert will be held outside, at the base of Mount Carmel.
The Inaugural Events Office has arranged for the construction of a massive 4,000-seat temporary amphitheater around the plaza that forms the first terrace on the mountainside, at the top of Ben Gurion Avenue. This has necessitated closing the intersection of Ben Gurion Avenue and Hagefen Street, one of the city busiest locations, to automobile traffic for two weeks. The Inaugural Events Office has collaborated closely with the City of Haifa throughout the project.
""We consider the gardens a gift to us,"" said Moshe Tzur, managing director of the Haifa Tourist Board. ""We hope it will become one of the main tourist attractions in the world. And the people of Haifa, they understand and are more than happy about it.""
Jack Lenz, music director for the event, said the holding of such a concert outside, in a temporary amphitheater, entailed numerous special musical concerns.
""We're not doing this with the natural acoustics of a hall, and the challenge is how do you make it sound good outside,"" said Mr. Lenz, who is himself a well-known composer, artist and producer in Canada.
One potential problem is excess wind, which could create unwanted noise. To counter that, wind socks will be put on all microphones.
""You plan and do what you can do and then you leave the rest up to God,"" said Mr. Lenz. ""I'm assuming the weather will be great and the wind will be low.""
As well, said Mr. Lenz, concerts held outside often lack the fullness of sound that is heard in a concert hall, where the sound waves are reflected off the walls and ceiling. To compensate, they will put individual microphones on each instrument in the orchestra, instead of at just a few locations, and then add reverberation or other effects at the mixing console.
Like Ms. Kvalheim, Mr. Lenz feels that an extraordinary sense of history and importance surrounding the inauguration.
""This is a unique event in the Baha'i dispensation,"" said Mr. Lenz. ""The terraces will be here for hundreds of years. The mountain itself has been celebrated in the Judeo-Christian religious tradition for thousands of years. In the Bible, for example, Isaiah talks about songs of ""everlasting joy"" on Mount Carmel.
""More than 75 percent of the program on Tuesday night is music,"" added Mr. Lenz. ""So that fits in with the whole prophetic vision of the mountain.""
In addition to the participation of more than 3,000 Baha'is from around the world, several hundred dignitaries are expected to attend the concert tomorrow. The list of confirmed attendees includes a number of government ministers, several Israeli Supreme Court justices, ambassadors and members of the Israeli Knesset.
""The project and its completion has provoked an unexpectedly enthusiastic response within Israel,"" said Albert Lincoln, secretary general of the Baha'i International Community.
Dr. Lincoln said during Passover, for example, the number of Israeli visitors to the gardens that immediately surround the Shrine of the Bab, which have long been open to the public, exceeded 12,000 visitors on one day.  Previously, he said, visits to those gardens ran from 1,000 to 2,000 on Jewish holy days.
""Likewise, the response to the invitations sent out for the opening ceremonies has been far beyond anything anticipated by professional events organizers or any previous experience we've had,"" said Dr. Lincoln.
In anticipation of the thousands more who will want to visit the terraces, which will be opened to the public on 4 June, a special computerized reservation system has been set up and a new group of tour guides have been trained. Ultimately, it is expected that more than a million people a year will visit the terraces. The tours will be offered at no charge.",HAIFA,,Israel
119,2001-05-22,[],Statement of the Universal House of Justice for the opening of the Terraces on Mount Carmel,"HAIFA, Israel — Statement of the Universal House Justice on the occasion of the official opening of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab, 22 May 2001
As delivered by Dr. Albert Lincoln, Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community:
With joyful and thankful hearts, we welcome all who have come from near and far to join us on this auspicious occasion for the Baha'is of the world.  We acknowledge with deep appreciation the presence of so many distinguished guests.
A century and a half have passed since that unspeakable tragedy in the northwest of Persia when the Bab faced the volley fired at Him from the rifles of 750 soldiers.  The soldiers had followed the orders of the highest authorities in the land.  The Bab's mangled body was then thrown on the side of a moat outside the city, abandoned to what His cold-blooded persecutors thought would be a dishonourable fate.  They had hoped thus to put an end to the growing influence of His teachings on masses of people throughout the country.  These masses had accepted, in the face of intense persecution, the Bab's claim to prophethood, and their lives were being transformed spiritually and morally as He prepared them for what He said was the dawn of a new age in which a world civilization would be born and flourish.  The expectations that stirred countless hearts were heightened even more sublimely by the Bab's announcement that One greater than He would soon arise, One who would reveal the unparalleled character of the promised world civilization that would signify the coming of age of the entire human race.
We are met not to lament the tragedy of the Bab's martyrdom and the persecutions that followed; rather have we come to celebrate the culmination and acknowledge the meaning of an unprecedented project that had its beginning over a century ago.  It was then that Baha'u'llah, Whom the Ottoman authorities had banished to Acre to serve out His days in confinement, visited Mount Carmel and selected the spot where the remains of His Herald would be interred.  We humbly trust that the wondrous result achieved by the completion of the nineteen terraced gardens, at the heart of which rises the Shrine of the Bab, is a fitting fulfilment of the vision initiated by Baha'u'llah.
The sufferings sustained by the Bab so as to arouse humanity to the responsibilities of its coming age of maturity were themselves indications of the intensity of the struggle necessary for the world's people to pass through the age of humanity's collective adolescence.  Paradoxical as it may seem, this is a source of hope.  The turmoil and crises of our time underlie a momentous transition in human affairs.  Simultaneous processes of disintegration and integration have clearly been accelerating throughout the planet since the Bab appeared in Persia.  That our Earth has contracted into a neighbourhood, no one can seriously deny.  The world is being made new.  Death pangs are yielding to birth pangs.  The pain shall pass when members of the human race act upon the common recognition of their essential oneness.  There is a light at the end of this tunnel of change beckoning humanity to the goal destined for it according to the testimonies recorded in all the Holy Books.
The Shrine of the Bab stands as a symbol of the efficacy of that age-old promise, a sign of its urgency.  It is, as well, a monument to the triumph of love over hate.  The gardens which surround that structure, in their rich variety of colours and plants, are a reminder that the human race can live harmoniously in all its diversity.  The light that shines from the central edifice is as a beacon of hope to the countless multitudes who yearn for a life that satisfies the soul as well as the body.
This inextinguishable hope stems from words such as these from the Pen of Baha'u'llah: ""This is the Day in which God's most excellent favours have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace has been infused into all created things.""  May all who strive, often against great odds, to uphold principles of justice and concord be encouraged by these assurances.
In reflecting on the years of effort invested in this daunting project, we are moved to express to the people of Haifa the warmth of the feeling in our hearts.  Their city will for all time be extolled by the Baha'is everywhere as the place in which the mortal remains of the youthful Prophet-Herald of their Faith finally found refuge, and this after half a century of having to be secretly moved for protection from one place to another in His native land.  The patience and cordiality shown towards the Baha'is throughout the most difficult years of the construction work exemplify the spirit of goodwill in which so much of the world stands so greatly in need.  Haifa is providentially situated on Mount Carmel, with its immortal associations with saintly visionaries, whose concern throughout the ages was largely focused on the promise of peace.  May Haifa achieve wide renown not just as a place of natural beauty but more especially as the city of peace.
Let the word go forth, then, from this sacred spot, from this Mountain of the Lord, that the unity and peace of the world are not only possible but inevitable.  Their time has come.",HAIFA,,Israel
120,2001-05-22,[],"With a dramatic flourish, Baha'is unveil majestic garden terraces on Mount Carmel","HAIFA, Israel — In an expressive and emotionally powerful ceremony featuring a symphony orchestra, a 70-voice choir, a specially built 4,000-seat amphitheater, and the setting sun, Baha'is from more than 180 countries and their guests celebrated today the inauguration of a majestic series of garden terraces on the face of Mount Carmel.
For Baha'is here, and for co-religionists around the world who watched via satellite and internet webcast, it was a momentous event, marking the completion of a complex of buildings and gardens on what throughout history has been called ""the Mountain of the Lord.""
The Universal House of Justice, in a statement read during the ceremony, offered the project, the celebration surrounding it, and the golden-domed Shrine it glorifies, as sources of hope against the ""turmoil and crises of our time.""
""That our Earth has contracted into a neighborhood, no one can seriously deny,"" said the statement of the Faith's international governing body, which oversaw the construction of the project. ""The world is being made new. Death pangs are yielding to birth pangs. The pain shall pass when members of the human race act upon the common recognition of their essential oneness.
""There is a light at the end of this tunnel of change, beckoning humanity to the goal destined for it according to the testimonies recorded in all the Holy Books. The Shrine of the Bab stands as a symbol of the efficacy of that age-old promise, a sign of its urgency.
""It is, as well, a monument to the triumph of love over hate,"" continued the statement. ""The gardens that surround that structure, in their rich variety of colors and plants, are a reminder that the human race can live harmoniously in all its diversity.""
The temporary amphitheater here, erected over the last week at the base of Mount Carmel, was packed with more than 3,000 Baha'is, more than 650 dignitaries from Israel and international embassies, and at least 100 representatives of the news media from around the world.  The Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab illuminated at the climax of the “Terraces of Light” oratorio.The dignitaries present for the ceremony included several Israeli Government ministers and deputy ministers, three Israeli Supreme Court justices, and more than 30 ambassadors to Israel from around the world. Members of the Israeli Knesset and local officials, including the Mayors of Haifa and Acre, were also present, as were local and regional religious leaders.
The ceremony featured two orchestral works composed especially for the occasion.  Towards the end of the second composition, and just as dusk was falling, the lights on the 19 newly constructed terraces, which extend nearly a kilometer up the north face of Mount Carmel, were gradually turned on, illuminating the mountainside in a dramatic climax.
""For the Baha'is gathered here, this was a profound act, an inauguration ceremony for a set of sacred gardens and new administrative buildings that mark the completion of our world center, an event we have worked towards for years,"" said Douglas Samimi-Moore, Director of the Office of Public Information of the Baha'i International Community.
""This in a sense represents the coming of age of the Baha'i world community, which is emerging around the planet with the aim of helping to reshape and revitalize the social and spiritual life of humanity,"" said Mr. Samimi-Moore.
The focus of the terraces, and today's celebration, is the Shrine of the Bab, a golden-domed, white marble structure that is the second-most holy place to Baha'is in the world. It is the final resting place of the Bab, the Herald of the Baha'i Faith, who was born in Iran in 1819 and executed in 1850 at the order of religious authorities, who were challenged by His claim to prophethood and the rapid growth of His followers.
Much of the program today celebrated the ultimate triumph of the Bab and His message, in that there are now some five million Baha'is around the world, forming a community capable of financing and constructing the US$250 million complex of terraces, gardens and two major new buildings that have virtually reshaped the north face of Mount Carmel.
""Today we commemorate a sacred history of unexampled love, supreme sacrifice and divine vision,"" said Matthew Weinberg, Director of Research for the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information, in a speech to participants before the ceremony. ""It is a narrative prefigured in the pronouncements of the great Seers of the past.
""As we stand awestruck at the majestic structures and the 'tapestry of beauty' now defining the face of God's Holy Mountain, and ponder the mysterious processes responsible for the remarkable transformation of this once barren domain, the words of Isaiah echo on all sides:  '...Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the splendor of our God,' "" said Mr. Weinberg.
Both of the orchestral works composed for today's inauguration are deeply connected to this theme. The first piece of music in the program was ""O Queen of Carmel!,"" a cantata in three movements, written by Tolib Shahidi, a composer from Tajikistan. The second piece, ""Terraces of Light,"" was composed by Lasse Thoresen, who is one of Norway's best known classical composers.
Mr. Shahidi's piece is based on a eulogy by Shoghi Effendi, who led the Baha'i Faith from 1921 to 1957,  to ""the Queen of Carmel,"" as Baha'is sometimes refer to the Shrine of the Bab. Lyrical and melodic, it made for a serene opening work.
Mr. Thoresen's composition is an oratorio in five movements, corresponding to the five paragraphs and essential themes found in the stirring Tablet of Carmel, a key piece of Baha'i scripture, which was written by Baha'u'llah about the role that Mount Carmel plays in religious history and as the world center of His Cause. Its modern rhythms and complex intensity were stirring.
Both pieces were performed by the Israel Northern  Symphony Haifa, under the direction of Stanley Sperber, with support from three Canadian soloists -- mezzo-soprano Patricia Green, tenor Stuart Howe and baritone Brett Polegato. Also featured were Austrian violinists Bijan Khadem-Missagh, his son Vahid and daughter Martha, and the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir of Cluj, Romania.
The interplay of human voices and the orchestra, in an outdoor setting at the foot of Mount Carmel, with the audience facing upward toward the beautifully illuminated Shrine of the Bab, was a moving experience for many of the participants, most of whom had been selected by their national Baha'i governing bodies to represent their country at this event.
The musical climax of ""Terraces of Light"" was timed to occur just after the sun had set, and as the music reached its crescendo. The 19 terraces were lit up one-by-one in a brilliant flourish that will be remembered by participants for a lifetime.
""It was stunning,"" said Nancy Oloro, a delegate from Zambia. ""I felt myself in a different world. In the Baha'i writings, it is said that music gives wings to the soul. And I felt that.""
The terraces themselves were also designed to glorify the Shrine of the Bab, said architect Fariborz Sahba, who designed them and oversaw their construction.
""In principle, whatever we have done on this mountain aims to provide an approach to the Shrine, to complement it and pay tribute to it,"" said Mr. Sabha, who also designed the world renowned Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, India. ""Our intention has not been merely to build just a beautiful garden. Beautiful gardens are everywhere. But these gardens are spiritual gardens.""
He explained that they were designed principally with Baha'i pilgrims in mind, so that as they walked up the terraces towards the Shrine, believers could detach themselves from the outside world and focus on their own relationship with the Creator.
""Baha'is have made a tremendous sacrifice to build these monuments,"" Mr. Sahba said, explaining that donations for their construction came entirely from Baha'is, ""dollar by dollar.""
On 4 June, the terraces will be opened to the public. Because of the overwhelming interest in the terraces, a computer reservation system is being set up to take requests for guided tours, which will be offered at no cost.
""This extraordinary work of art that we are seeing on the mountain is a visible expression of inspiration that comes only from the Creator,"" said Albert Lincoln, Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community. ""It is the same spirit of faith that built the great cathedrals of Europe and the great mosques, monasteries and religious monuments of the East.
""We think the world should consider the great vitality of this force and consider setting aside some of the negative stereotypes which have in this modern era come to characterize religion,"" said Dr. Lincoln. ""In other words, we see these terraces and this event as an opportunity to see the positive force of faith at work.""",HAIFA,,Israel
121,2001-05-23,[],Thousands of Baha'is climb Mount Carmel as new terraces are inaugurated,"HAIFA, Israel — Thousands of Baha'is from every race, nation and religious background today streamed up the face of Mount Carmel in a prayerful ascent toward the Shrine of the Bab, the second-most holy place in the Baha'i world.
The climb, made up a stately stone stairway that runs through the heart of a series of recently completed garden terraces, was an act of deep spiritual significance to the participants here.
Coming this week from some 180 nations to celebrate the inauguration of the terraces, which extend nearly a kilometer up the mountainside, those who made the climb said they were moved and uplifted by the experience. They will count it as one of the most meaningful of their lives.
""It was really soul-stirring,"" said Samuel Benjamin Obura, a 65-year-old sugarcane farmer from Kenya. ""First of all, there was the beauty of the gardens and the Shrine. It gave one to think of many things.
""I thought of the suffering of the Bab,"" Mr. Obura continued. ""He was put in prison and He was mocked and He was martyred and everyone thought that was the end.
""But now we see the glory that surrounds His Shrine and the adoration people feel when they visit it,"" he added.
The event today was part of a week-long program to celebrate the completion of a $250 million complex of buildings, gardens and terraces at the Baha'i World Centre. The terraces were built over the last 10 years with voluntary donations from the five million member worldwide Baha'i community. Baha'is view completion of the project as marking a major stage in the emergence of the Baha'i Faith on the world scene.  The Congo Baha'i Youth Choir singing at a devotional program at the base of the Terraces on Mount Carmel prior to the ascent of the Terraces by thousands of Baha'is from around the world.""The significance of this event is that it represents a kind of culmination of the development of the Baha'i World Centre on this mountain,"" said Penny Walker, a member of the International Teaching Centre here, a key Baha'i institution that focuses on advising national Baha'i communities on their growth and development.
""At the same time, we see that the Baha'i Faith is established in every country and territory of the world, bringing together an incredible cross-section of the human race, who are all committed to bringing people everywhere into one human family,"" said Dr. Walker.
The diversity of the worldwide Baha'i community was evident today as delegates made their way up Mount Carmel in a spirit of devotion. Many wore traditional native costumes and the procession was a showcase of the human garden, resplendent in all its races and colors.
The climb led Galina Iefremova, a 23-year-old teacher from Belarus, to think about the human race at large and its desire for peace.
""The idea that more than 3,000 people can come together to do this, it is an example that can show the way the world can be, without any problems or prejudice,"" said Ms. Iefremova, who became a Baha'i in 1993.  ""All over the world, people are waiting for this.""
Maria Pancham, a 41-year-old airline personnel officer from Suriname, thought of how she will rededicate her life to seeing the positive side of life in all things, and to serving humanity when she returns home.
""How to you put it in words?"" she said when asked about her experience. ""It is a feeling of peace and relief and joy. It makes you want to serve humanity.
""I can't say I'm transformed, because right now I feel I am in a different world,"" she added. ""So all I can do is pray that I will be able to take these feelings back home and not fall into the routine.""
Leslie Serrano, a 20-year-old student from Mexico, said she also thought about the need to serve humanity and to make sacrifices in life to do so.
""I felt climbing those stairs was a reflection of what life represents when you begin at the bottom and you gradually have to take steps upward,"" Ms. Serrano said. ""Sometimes it is hard and it takes sacrifice to get you where you are going.""
Her dominant thought, however, was about the Biblical prophesy of Isaiah.
""I thought of where it says, 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it,' "" she said, reciting the passage from memory.
""And when I saw all those people from all these nations, climbing up Mount Carmel, I felt that was the fulfillment of that prophesy,"" said Ms. Serrano. ""It is a privilege without words to be part of that.""",HAIFA,,Israel
122,2001-05-25,[],"Focusing on the future, Baha'is head home after a week of celebration and reflection on Mount Carmel","HAIFA, Israel — Inspired and invigorated after a week celebrating the completion of essential elements of their world center, Baha'is gathered here from some 180 countries prepared today to head out to the four corners of the globe.
They go with their gaze set firmly towards the future.
""Everything has been really wonderful, a source of encouragement and inspiration,"" said Mandu Assam, a 25-year-old business school graduate from Nigeria, about the program that inaugurated a kilometer-long series of 19 garden terraces and two new administrative buildings on Mount Carmel.
""It has been a driving force to move ahead,"" Ms. Assam added, saying she will now throw herself ever more eagerly into her Baha'i work at home, which has involved leading moral and spiritual education classes for children and involvement in campaigns to spread the Baha'i teachings.
Ms. Assam's feelings were echoed by others, especially by the younger generation gathered here, who were the focus of a message from the Universal House of Justice on Thursday night.
Delivered to 3,000 participants, the message from the Baha'i Faith's international governing council noted that the great majority of humanity remains engulfed in heartbreaking ""suffering and deprivation.""
""Humanity's crying need will not be met by a struggle among competing ambitions or by protest against one or another of the countless wrongs afflicting a desperate age,"" said the message. ""It calls, rather, for a fundamental change of consciousness, for a wholehearted embrace of Baha'u'llah's teaching that the time has come when each human being on earth must learn to accept responsibility for the welfare of the entire human family.
""Commitment to this revolutionizing principle will increasingly empower individual believers and Baha'i institutions alike in awakening others to the Day of God and to the latent spiritual and moral capacities that can change this world into another world,"" the statement said. ""We demonstrate this commitment by our rectitude of conduct towards others, by the discipline of our own natures, and by our complete freedom from the prejudices that cripple collective action in the society around us and frustrate positive impulses towards change.""
The Universal House of Justice said these standards hold ""particular implications"" for youth, inasmuch as they are blessed with ""the enviable advantages of high energy, flexibility of mind and, to a great extent, freedom of movement.""
""Their challenge is to understand the real condition of humanity and to forge among themselves enduring spiritual bonds that free them not only from racial and national divisions but also from those created by social and material conditions, and that will fit them to carry forward the great trust reposed in them,"" said the statement.
Many youth were among the 3,000 participants. All delegates gathered Friday morning along a semi-circular path in the gardens that link two recently completed administrative buildings and the majestic Seat of the Universal House of Justice. And young participants said the message -- and the entire week of activities -- had indeed taken them to a deeper level of faith and commitment.
""There is a great responsibility on our shoulders to change this generation,"" said Jude Dogley, 23, of the Seychelles. ""Going back, I will try to live the Baha'i life and to set a good example and to explain to others how the Baha'i principles can solve the problems of our age.""
He said the gathering together of Baha'is from virtually every race and nationality had proved to him that peace and unity among all humanity is possible.
""There are a lot of divisions in the world out there,"" said Mr. Dogley, who has been a Baha'i since 1996. ""But we can show people that even if you are from different backgrounds and different cultures, you can still live like brothers and sisters.""
Virginie Montiel, a 25-year-old medical student from Belgium, said the week's activities had also proved to her that it was indeed possible for everyone to treat each other -- and to be treated by each other -- equally.
""In the Baha'i Faith we always say that we are one,"" she said, describing how encounters with so many people from so many different cultures had changed her. ""We saw this in practice here, with all these different people from different backgrounds working for the same thing. We saw that it is possible for everyone to be equal.""
The gathering today outside the two new buildings, the International Teaching Centre and the Centre for the Study of the Texts, marked another historic moment for Baha'is here and around the world inasmuch as it celebrated the completion of the administrative headquarters of the Baha'i World Centre.
Along with the two other buildings set high on Mount Carmel, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice and the International Archives Building, these edifices house essential institutions and artifacts -- and their completion is for Baha'is the realization of a century-long dream to create a spiritual and administrative center that will fully and fittingly represent the Faith's position as an independent world religion, now the second-most widespread geographically after Christianity.
The Center for the Study of the Texts houses scholars and researchers whose role is to study the vast body of the Baha'i sacred writings, translate them, prepare compilations, and draft commentaries on their relationship to current world problems.
The International Teaching Center building houses a body of appointed individuals who assist the Universal House of Justice and provide guidance and encouragement to the worldwide Baha'i community on its growth and development.
Altogether, the terraces -- which were inaugurated with a world premiere concert on Tuesday, 22 May, before 4,000 people in Haifa and a worldwide audience by satellite and webcast -- and the two new buildings cost some US$250 million to complete. The money was raised entirely from within the worldwide Baha'i community through voluntary donations.
The architect who designed the new buildings, Hossein Amanat, along with the architect who designed the garden terraces, Fariborz Sahba, were given warm appreciation in an evening program Wednesday, 23 May, the highlight of which was the showing of a new 38-minute video documentary on the roughly 15-year-long construction process for the new structures.
Titled ""Not even a lamp,"" the documentary detailed the immense challenges faced in working on the slope of Mount Carmel. The architects had to work carefully so as not to disturb neighbors, the surrounding gardens and buildings, or the precious golden-domed Shrine of the Bab.
""This was not an ordinary project,"" Mr. Amanat told the gathering. ""This was a kind of sacred task for us. We really looked on it as a prayer.""
Mr. Amanat said the buildings were designed to last for 500 years: ""Every detail, when implemented, was done with a great amount of research as to what kinds of materials we should use, what technology we should use, so that these buildings will last as long as possible.""
Throughout the week, music was a crucial element in the celebration. Tuesday evening saw the world premiere of two orchestral works written especially for the occasion of the inauguration of the terraces on Mount Carmel.
On Wednesday and Thursday, a wide range of Baha'i artists from around the world took to the stage to inspire and uplift. Among those performing were the Congo Youth Choir from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; The Tabarsi Group, a group of Roma musicians from Spain; Vivek Nair, a singer from India; Kevin Locke, a Lakota flutist from the United States; and Atef Sedkouai, a Tunisian vocalist from Paris.
Collectively, these performances showcased a tremendous depth of talent and creative expression, giving new meaning to the term of ""world music.""
""We wanted the performers to represent a wide diversity,"" said Alex Frame, who produced the week's program. ""And we brought together people who didn't know each other, and people who in some cases didn't even speak the same language.
""Yet within minutes of coming together, even in their dressing rooms, they started jamming together,"" said Mr. Frame. ""It was natural and spontaneous and, without impediment, they began to create new kinds of music.""
On Thursday evening, the program used a dramatic narrative to explore the growth and development of the Faith over the last century, exploring how events and trends in the world at large converged or coincided with the evolution of the Baha'i community.
Drawing on ""Century of Light,"" a new book published by the Baha'i World Centre, the narrative chronicled such events as the visit of Abdu'l-Baha to America, the crusade to spread the Faith around the world in the 1950s, and the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran in the 1980s. The drama brought to life with colorful characterizations how people's lives have been transformed by the Faith.
""Our idea was to juxtapose news events happening in the world at large with dramatic episodes from the Faith's history, and how the Faith offers hope to the world,"" said Ann Boyles of Canada, author of the drama. ""For example, in the opening section, we talked about the atrocities committed in the Congo at the turn of the century under King Leopold, when more than a million Congolese were killed, starved or worked to death.
""On the other hand,"" she added, ""we had here this week this vibrant youth choir coming from the Congo, with great hope and optimism about the future.""",HAIFA,,Israel
123,2001-05-31,[],"Amidst much anticipation, the Baha'i World Centre prepares for public opening of garden terraces on Mount Carmel","HAIFA, Israel — After a week in which Israeli and world news media gave extensive coverage to the inauguration of a series of majestic garden terraces on Mount Carmel here, the Baha'i World Centre is preparing for an expected onslaught of tourists and local residents who wish to visit them.
More specifically, the Centre has established a reservations system in collaboration with the Haifa Tourist Board and worked with other organizations in Haifa to train extra tour guides for the terraces, which will open officially to the public on Monday, 4 June. Set to start up slowly with 400 slots per day, the guided tour program could be expanded to handle more than a million visitors a year.
""We know that there is a lot of built-up anticipation on the part of Israelis and foreign tourists to visit the new terraces,"" said Douglas Samimi-Moore, director of the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information here, which will oversee the guided tour program.
""We have been getting many, many calls already from people asking, 'When can we visit the gardens, when can we walk on the terraces,' "" said Mr. Samimi-Moore. ""And our goal is to accommodate this overwhelming public desire as quickly as possible, while at the same time ensuring their experience matches the kind of care and dignity that went into creating the site.""
In ceremonies on Tuesday, 22 May, before more than 3,000 Baha'is from 180 countries, some 650 Israeli dignitaries, and an estimated 100 members of the world's news media, the terraces were formally inaugurated. Featuring the world premiere of two orchestral works commissioned especially for the occasion, the inauguration ceremonies were seen around the world by satellite and webcast.
Along with two major new administrative buildings, the terraces were built over the last decade at a cost of some US$250 million, all from voluntary donations that came exclusively from the five million member worldwide Baha'i community, who see the completion of the project as the fulfillment of religious prophesy.
Yet while the terraces and associated gardens are sacred in character, Baha'is have always intended that they be shared with the world at large. Accordingly, like other Baha'i Shrines and holy places in the Haifa-Acre region, the terraces will be open to the public with no admission fee.
Because of the great interest in the project, however, it was decided to establish a program of pre-reserved guided tours, said Mr. Samimi-Moore. These free tours will be the only way that visitors can actually walk through the terraces from end to end.  Drop-in visitors will, however, be able to enjoy three special viewing areas located at the base, the peak and roughly in the middle of the terraces, which extend nearly a kilometer up Mount Carmel.
""We know that one reason people are so attracted to our terraces is because of their beauty, their orderliness and their cleanliness,"" said Mr. Samimi-Moore. ""And so we felt a guided tour program would be the best way to preserve that atmosphere.""
In the face of the anticipated demand for visits, the Centre reached out to the Haifa Tourist Board and to the Beit Hagefen Arab-Jewish Cultural Center for assistance with the logistics of organizing the tour program.
The Haifa Tourist Board will manage the reservations system, which will begin as a telephone-only system and then expand later to an on-line system. The Beit Hagefen Center, which already sponsors a wide range of cross-cultural tours and events in Haifa, has been given the task of recruiting and training tour guides.
""What's happened is we realized we were facing a potential deluge of visitors,"" said Albert Lincoln, Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community, whose office has also been heavily involved in setting up the guided tour program. ""And as we came to grips with the scale of the program needed, we realized we didn't have the manpower or the know-how to do the whole job, so we reached out to these two local organizations.""
Dr. Lincoln said a public opinion survey done in February and March indicated that some 95 percent of Haifa residents intend to visit the new terraces ""in the near future"" -- and that an astounding 75 percent of those surveyed throughout Israel had similar plans.
The city of Haifa, indeed, has made the project a centerpiece of its efforts to promote tourism in the region. The city has worked closely with the project's architect and his staff throughout the construction phase and it has linked to the project the renovation of the historic German Templer Colony district, which runs along Ben Gurion Avenue from the base of Mount Carmel to the sea.
""We consider the gardens a gift to us,"" said Moshe Tzur, managing director of the Haifa Tourist Board. ""We hope it will become one of the main tourist attractions in the world.""
For its part, Beit Hagefen is bringing in both Jewish and Arab guides, mostly drawn from the students of Haifa University. The first batch of guides, for example, is composed of about 30 Jewish students and 25 Arab students, said Hani El Far, Beit Hagefen's deputy general director.
""Our aim as an organization is to convey the importance of the coming together of every community in Haifa, Jewish, Arab, Baha'i and others,"" said Mr. El Far, explaining why Beit Hagefen has taken on this project. ""And these aims are parallel to the aims of the Baha'i community.""
People wishing to reserve a place on a guided tour of the terraces should call, in Israel, 04-831-3131.",HAIFA,,Israel
124,2001-06-15,[],London tribute to Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum Rabbani honors her contributions to conservation and the arts,"LONDON — The late Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, the preeminent international dignitary of the Baha'i Faith, was honored at a tribute here on 15 May 2001. In attendance were some 150 prominent people, including HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Organized by the Arts for Nature, a 13-year-old organization that seeks to draw leading artists and performers into the environmental vanguard, the tribute was held at Canada House in Trafalgar Square. It featured an evening of music and drama, much of it produced especially for the occasion and using the writings of Madame Rabbani.
""We can be convinced academically and intellectually that conservation is important, but what's also important is that we are involved in this issue emotionally,"" said Prince Philip in extemporaneous remarks at the end of the evening. ""Madame Rabbani made a huge contribution to raising awareness in this field, and this has been a marvelous experience and a splendid evening.""
An author, filmmaker and lecturer who cared deeply for the environment and indigenous peoples, Ruhiyyih Rabbani passed away on 19 January 2000. She was, further, a Hand of the Cause, the highest position occupied by individuals in the Baha'i Faith, and she played an important role in promoting the unity and integration of the Baha'i community over the years.
The evening tribute was organized largely by the Duchess of Abercorn, the chair of the Arts for Nature. The event began with dinner and a viewing of some of Prince Philip's private collection of nature paintings, in particular the work of Canadian wildlife artists. In addition, architectural drawings by the distinguished Canadian architect, William Sutherland Maxwell, Madame Rabbani's father, were displayed.
The main focus of the evening was a theatrical performance entitled ""A Life So Noble,"" which had been inspired by Ruhiyyih Khanum's life. Written by Canadian-born actress/writer Beverley Evans and directed by Annabel Knight, the show took four major aspects of Khanum's life and character and personified them in four women actresses, who told her story using words taken from Ruhiyyih Khanum's own lectures and writings.
The actresses -- Maria Friedman, Beverley Evans, Sarah Clive and Kerry-Ann Smith -- conveyed with extraordinary power and emotion the breadth of Madame Rabbani's achievements. There were deeply moving moments, including a scene depicting the funeral of Shoghi Effendi when thousands of flower petals rained down upon the stage from above. In direct contrast, Ruhiyyih Rabbani's great world travels were portrayed with wit and verve, while a list of her pets and favourite animals caused great amusement.  The cast of performers at an Arts for Nature tribute honoring Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, held 15 May 2001 in London at Canada House. The event featured not only a dramatic narrative produced especially for the occasion but also several musical numbers.The actresses were supported by four other women - from Botswana, Macau, Bolivia and Iran -- who wove a floral tapestry as the story unfolded, a metaphor for the rich and varied tapestry that was Madame Rabbani's life.
Other high points included a musical performance of a composition by William Lovelady, set to the words of a poem by Ruhiyyih Khanum, ""This is Faith."" The evening ended with Ruhiyyih Khanum's own recorded voice, speaking at a meeting in Belfast, where she had told the audience how much she disliked saying goodbye.
The Duchess of Abercorn told the audience that Madame Rabbani had left the world a better place than it was when she had come into it, urging them, like Madame Rabbani, to contribute their ""special thread"" to the tapestry of life. ""I hope that everyone here will pick up their own thread of creativity and quality of spirit and heart, and bring it into every aspect of our lives, because that's what the world is desperately in need of,"" she said.
Among the guests was Violette Nakhjavani, who accompanied Ruhiyyih Khanum when she traveled and has recently written a book about her life. ""I thought it was beautifully done,"" Mrs. Nakhjavani said of the dramatic narrative. ""I was very surprised at the warm response of the audience to the personal details of Ruhiyyih Khanum's life but I felt that she would have approved of presenting Baha'i ideas in such an audacious way.""
Born Mary Maxwell in New York City in 1910, Madame Rabbani was the widow of Shoghi Effendi, who headed the Baha'i Faith from 1921 to 1957. As such, she was for Baha'is the last remaining link to the family of 'Abdu'l-Baha, who headed the Faith from 1892 to 1921 and was the eldest son of the Faith's Founder, Baha'u'llah.
In her role as a Hand of the Cause, Madame Rabbani traveled extensively, visiting some 185 countries and territories to encourage the spiritual and moral development of Baha'i communities. She also sought throughout her life to promote environmental conservation. She was, for example, a founding member of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, a major interfaith organization that promotes the involvement of religious groups in the conservation efforts.
Madame Rabbani also gave support to the first Arts for Nature event, which was held 26 October 1988 at Syon House in London. Madame Rabbani gave the keynote address, alongside Prince Philip, at the Syon House event, which was organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature-UK and the Baha'i International Community.
Diana Jervis-Read, the Canadian cultural attache, said the commission had been delighted to host the event at Canada House, especially given that Madame Rabbani was raised in Canada.
Every guest received a brochure produced for the event by Peter Maguire and George Ballentyne of UK Baha'i Publishing, as well as a specially compiled illustrated anthology called ""Sacred Earth,"" and a copy of Madame Rabbani's book, ""Prescription for Living.""
Funds raised at the evening event went towards the Mendelssohn on Mull festival and the Canada House Arts Trust. ""There are lots of charity evenings that can be very glitzy, but this was completely different,"" said Marita Crawley, co-chair of the event, who also wrote a song honoring Madame Rabbani for the event. ""Some of the people here knew Madame Rabbani personally, while others were aware of her extraordinary work, but there were people in the audience who were hearing about her for the very first time this evening.
""The play was genuinely thought-provoking and caught the personality of Madame Rabbani, who was truly somebody whose work made the world a better place -- and I think everyone who came tonight left with something very special.""
-- Reported by Corinne Podger and Rob Weinberg",LONDON,,United Kingdom
129,2001-06-16,[],Firuz Kazemzadeh reappointed to US Commission on International Religious Freedom,"WASHINGTON — Firuz Kazemzadeh, former Secretary for External Affairs of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, has been appointed to a second term on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Dr. Kazemzadeh, a Professor Emeritus of History at Yale University, was appointed by US Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle. His term lasts until 14 May 2003. Dr. Kazemzadeh previously served on the Commission from 15 May 1999 to 14 May 2001, acting as its vice chairman from 15 May 2000 to 14 May 2001. His first appointment was made by US President Bill Clinton.
Created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the nine-member Commission exists to monitor religious freedom in other countries and to advise the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress on how best to promote such freedom.
""I am pleased to have been appointed to a second term on the US Commission for International Religious Freedom that defends an essential human right that is only too frequently violated,"" said Dr. Kazemzadeh. ""The Commission's mandate to monitor the status of religious freedom throughout the world and to advise the President and the Congress raises the level of concern with religious freedom.
""The struggle for religious freedom, like the struggle for the abolition of slavery or the exploitation of child labor will be a long and difficult one, but the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will triumph and the Commission will contribute to their eventual triumph,"" Dr. Kazemzadeh said.
Dr. Kazemzadeh currently serves as a senior advisor to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, the national governing body for the U.S. Baha'i community, an institution on which Dr. Kazemzadeh served for more than 35 years until his retirement last year.
During his tenure at Yale, which lasted from 1956 to 1992, Dr. Kazemzadeh also served variously as Director of Graduate Studies in Russian and Eastern European Studies; Chair of the Committee on Middle Eastern Studies; Director of Graduate Studies in History; and Master of Davenport College.
He is the author of ""The Struggle for Transcaucasia, 1917-1921,"" and ""Russia and Britain in Persia, 1864-1914,"" as well as the co-author of several other books relating to Russia and Central Asia. Since 1966 he has served as editor of World Order Magazine.
Dr. Kazemzadeh was born in the Iranian Embassy in Moscow, where his father served for many years, came to the United States in 1944, and received his academic training at Stanford University and Harvard University.
The US Congress passed the International Religious Freedom Act to promote religious freedom as a U.S. foreign policy goal and to combat religious persecution in other countries, according to the Commission's website.
The law created an Office of International Religious Freedom in the State Department, headed by an Ambassador-at-Large. That office is responsible for issuing a report on religious freedom and persecution in all foreign countries by 1 September of each year. On the basis of that report, the State Department designates ""countries of particular concern"" on the basis of their ""systematic, ongoing, and egregious"" violations of religious liberty.
The law identifies the wide range of diplomatic and economic tools that the President can apply to those countries. To assist the President, the law recommended creation of a special advisor on international religious freedom as part of the National Security Council staff. The law also created the Commission on International Religious Freedom and required it to issue an annual report each 1 May. The Commission expires in May 2003.
Other Commissioners include prominent leaders of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities. More information about the Commission can be found at its website at http://www.uscirf.gov.",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
130,2001-02-27,[],President of Botswana praises publication of Baha'i books in native Setswana language,"GABORONE, Botswana — In a book launch ceremony, President Festus Mogae of Botswana hailed the publication of two Baha'i books in the native Setswana language, saying it would help encourage the country's people to maintain their native language.
Speaking at a reception held on 27 February to introduce the two books, which are collections of Baha'i prayers and scriptures, President Mogae said the volumes ""are a welcome contribution to the development of Setswana literature"".
""Many young people struggle to read Setswana fluently and would rather read English,"" said President Mogae. ""Unfortunately, the situation is exacerbated by the fact that there is only a handful of Setswana literature available in book shops.""
Titled ""Dithapelo tsa Baha'i"" and ""Mafoko a a Subilweng,"" which mean respectively ""Baha'i Prayers"" and ""The Hidden Words,"" the books are published by the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Botswana. The prayers and sacred verses they contain are intended to provide inspiration to the followers of all religions and to be a contribution to Setswana literature.
The translators spent many years of work to ensure that the Setswana of these translations is beautiful and fluent. This was a difficult task because the prayers and scriptures in English are written in an elegant literary style using very poetic language.
The Setswana translation had to reflect the beauty of the original without changing its meaning. With the help of a computer, the translators produced seven draft versions of Dithapelo tsa Baha'i before they were satisfied with their work.
President Mogae also said the translation and publication of the two books was an important reflection of the country's commitment to religious freedom.  Mrs. Lally Warren (left) introducing President Mogae of Botswana to Mr. Gerald Warren (right).| Mr. and Mrs. Warren worked on translations of Baha'i scripture into the native Setswana language. In the background is Enos Makhele, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa.""They are being published in an atmosphere in which there is respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual including the right to worship,"" said President Mogae. ""Freedom of religion is one of the rights entrenched in the Constitution of Botswana.""
""The publication of Dithapelo tsa Baha'i and Mafoko a a Subilweng constitutes a significant milestone in the history of the Baha'i Faith in Botswana,"" added President Mogae. ""The two books are a manifestation of the steady growth of Baha'i in this country and underline the importance of the universal character of spirituality. God speaks to all humanity in the languages that they understand.""
Both books use Setswana idioms and figures of speech. They are written in a style that readers find appropriate for holy scriptures. As an assistance to readers, each book contains a glossary of difficult Setswana words.
The book of prayers, which has the full title of ""Dithapelo tsa Baha'i tse di Senotsweng ke Baha'u'llah, Bab le 'Abdu'l-Baha,"" (""Baha'i Prayers revealed by Baha'u'llah, the Bab and 'Abdu'l-Baha"") brings together a selection of Baha'i prayers revealed by the Central Figures of the Baha'i Faith. Although a few of the prayers are specifically for Baha'is, the majority are inspirational for all readers. For the life of the spirit there are prayers for spiritual growth, detachment, forgiveness, assistance, protection, praise and gratitude; for special times of the day there are dawn prayers, morning prayers, evening prayers and prayers for those about to set out on a journey.
There are also prayers for children, youth, families, marriage and a section of prayers specially for women; there are prayers for the departed, for healing and for tests and difficulties. At the end of the book an attempt has been made to translate one short prayer into fifteen of the other languages spoken in Botswana.
""Mafoko a a Subilweng a ga Baha'u'llah,"" known as ""The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah"" in English, is a collection of short, inspirational verses written by the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, Baha'u'llah. The title is taken from a tradition in Islam that the Angel Gabriel uttered these beautiful verses for the grieving daughter of the Prophet Muhammad to comfort her upon the passing of her illustrious Father. The tradition states that these words of spiritual comfort would remain as a ""hidden book"" until the coming of the Promised One. Amongst the signs that would identify the Promised One is that He would reveal this hidden book to mankind. Each verse in the book reveals spiritual truths and offers guidance by which we should live our lives.
Three translators worked together to produce the two books: Stella ""Mumsie"" Moncho, Lally Warren and Gerald Warren. All are members of the Baha'i Faith and residents of Botswana.
Ms. Moncho was born into the royal family of the Barolong ba ga Tshidi. Her late husband was a school inspector, first for the Bechuanaland Administration and then, later, for Government of Botswana. At the age of 92, Ms. Moncho has absorbed a Setswana vocabulary that can only be described as encyclopaedic, as well as developing a refined sense of what elegant Setswana should sound like.
Lally Warren was born in Serowe, Botswana, and is the daughter of Ms. Moncho. She has inherited much of her parents' knowledge and love for Setswana. Although a nurse by profession, for the past fifteen years she has traveled widely in her role as a Continental Counsellor of the Baha'i Faith. Her motivation to get involved in translation work was her desire to see the beauty of the Baha'i prayers and scriptures in English rendered befittingly into Setswana. She is currently co- authoring with Desmond Cole, former Professor of African Languages at Wits University in South Africa, a comprehensive Setswana-English dictionary, which is set for publication in 2002.
Gerald Warren is a primary-school teacher who came to Botswana in 1979. Married to Ms. Warren, he collaborated in the translation work and was largely responsible for checking the spelling, proofreading and typesetting the final work.",GABORONE,,Botswana
131,2001-01-16,[],Gathering in Holy Land marks milestone in the development of the Baha'i Faith,"HAIFA, Israel — As one of nearly 1000 regional community advisors in the worldwide Baha'i community, Iwassa Bolinga's duties normally entail consulting with local Baha'i institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo about the application of Baha'i teachings to the needs of their communities and encouraging individuals in the region to acquire a greater knowledge of their Faith and a greater capacity for social action.
However, in order to attend an historic gathering of his colleagues from around the world, held here 14-16 January 2001, his position required him to travel some 560 kilometers by outboard motorboat, dugout canoe, and on foot from the remote Equateur region of his native land. And that was just to catch the plane to Israel -- a land to which he had never traveled before.
Mr. Bolinga, who serves on an entirely voluntary basis as an Auxiliary Board member, as Baha'i community advisors in his category are known, began his journey by hiring an outboard motor boat to take him 560 kilometers down river from Boende to the provincial capital of Mbandaka, where one flight leaves every two weeks for Kinshasa.
When the motor boat ran out of fuel some 40 kilometers out of Boende, Mr. Bolinga conviced a local fisherman to take him to Mbandaka. That meant paddling for ten days and ten nights in a dugout canoe.  When they arrived in Mbandaka, Mr. Bolinga immediately set out again, this time on foot, to cover the last 5 kilometres to the airport. He arrived just minutes before the plane left.
In Kinshasa he joined 12 of his colleagues from around the Congo for a flight to Adis Ababa, where Board members from throughout central, west and east Africa met for the final leg of the journey to Tel Aviv. The meeting in the Adis Ababa airport was a dramatic moment for Mr. Bolinga and his colleagues, since the on-going civil war in the Democratic Republic Congo had kept them from meeting with other Auxiliary Board members in recent years.
""Once we got checked in and went through to the departure lounge, the reality of this extraordinary event started to become clear,"" said Susan Sheper, a Board member serving in Kinshasa. ""We saw the five Board members from the east and north of the Democratic Republic of Congo -- people who we had had no contact with for the last three years because of the war, and who we didn't know were dead or alive.  What a reunion!  We were laughing, crying and hugging all at once.""
The purpose of all that effort was to attend an historic conference to inaugurate the International Teaching Centre Building, the headquarters of an international institution of appointed officers charged with stimulating and nurturing the development of the Baha'i community.  Participants in the conference to inaugurate the International Teaching Centre building on their historic first ascent of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel on 14 January 2001.The conference marked the first gathering of the entire membership of this institution, known as the Institution of the Counsellors, which operates parallel to the system of elected assemblies that govern the Baha'i Faith at the local, national and international levels.  Nine International Counsellors serve on the International Teaching Centre at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa. Eighty-one additional Continental Counsellors serve around the world, and they in turn appoint 990 grassroots advisors known as Auxiliary Board members.
Culmination of a century-long effort
The Board members arriving from 172 countries were coming to witness, first and foremost, the consummation of a century-long effort to build the Baha'i Faith's world spiritual and administrative center on Mount Carmel, in Haifa.
In the 1890's the Faith's Founder, Baha'u'llah, had declared from the crest of Mount Carmel that the barren mountainside would be transformed and become the focal center of His Faith. In 1909 the remains of Baha'u'llah's martyred Forerunner were laid to rest in a simple mausoleum on a spot Baha'u'llah had selected mid-way up the slope.  The colonnade and golden dome added later make the Shrine of the Bab one of Haifa's best-known landmarks.
During the 1930s and 40s, a broad arc-shaped path and gardens were laid out adjacent to the Shrine, along which the headquarters of the Faith's senior institutions were to be built.  An International Archives Building was completed in 1957 in the classic Greek style, setting the tone and scale for the remaining buildings.  In 1983, the governing body of the Faith, the Universal House of Justice, occupied its permanent seat in an imposing marble building faced with 57 Corinthian columns at the top of the arc-shaped path.  The final two buildings, built on either side of the Seat of the House of Justice, were completed in 2000: the Centre for the Study of the Texts and the International Teaching Centre Building.
Construction of the International Teaching Centre Building began in 1987 and was completed in October 2000.  The edifice has 9 floors with a total floor space of more than 19,000 square meters.  Only three floors, surrounded by an elegant semi-circular marble colonnade, show above ground, fulfilling architect Hossein Amanat's intention that the building blend into the mountain landscape ""like a pavilion in a garden.""
The conference began on 14 January with a devotional program commemorating the completion of the buildings on the Arc.  In addition to the two new buildings, work was nearly completed on 19 majestic garden terraces extending above and below the Shrine of the Bab from the foot to the crest of the mountain.  The buildings and terraces had taken more than a decade of intensive effort to build, at a cost of $250 million drawn entirely from the voluntary contributions of the 5 million Baha'is around the world.
In the morning, in a profoundly reverent act, the Counsellors and Board members were the first to ascend the terraces leading from the base of Mount Carmel to the Shrine of the Bab mid-way up the mountain.  They circumambulated the Shrine in a prayerful attitude and continued across the Arc Path for a tour of the International Teaching Centre Building.
A Board member from Taiwan, Dana Hudson, recalled, ""When each of us started to ascend we had no choice but bow our heads in utmost humility.  It was a feeling which most of us had to express in the form of tears.""
In the afternoon a member of the International Teaching Centre opened the conference by reminding the participants of the deep historical and spiritual significance of the completion of the structures on Mount Carmel.
The scriptures of the Faith foreshadowed this achievement and prophesied that it would coincide at the end of the 20th century with two other significant developments, one within the community of believers and the other in the world at large.  The first would be the emergence of vibrant, self-governing Baha'i communities in all parts of the world, and the second would be the laying of the foundations of international peace through agreements among the nations of the world.
In a message addressed to the conference, the Universal House of Justice stated that ""the occupation of the International Teaching Centre of its permanent seat on the Mountain of the Lord marks the beginning of what future generations will regard as a splendid chapter in the annals of our Faith.""
The House of Justice also addressed the unique role that the Institution of the Counsellors can play in shepherding humanity through a dark, transitional phase of history toward the emergence of a global, just civilization.
""You hail from far-flung geographic regions and cultural backgrounds that make you truly representative of a cross-section of the human family,"" the House of Justice stated.  ""The world's crying need for the divine prescriptions is made plain by the ills afflicting society at every level in all parts of the planet.  We must be swift in ministering to this need.""
A new level of unity
For the previous four years the Institution of the Counsellors had been engaged in a vast project of systematising the training of large numbers of believers in the spiritual, moral and social teachings of their Faith.  The goal was to raise up the human resources needed to establish a distinctive Baha'i way of life and contribute to social advancement.
Over the course of the four years, Board members had helped establish more than 300 of these training institutes around the world, reaching into the very fabric of Baha'i community life through a decentralised system of tutors, study circles, and sequences of courses based on the sacred writings of the Faith.
Much of the remaining two days of the conference were dedicated to consultations on the successes and challenges of this task, and many participants were struck by the remarkable unity of thought they achieved almost spontaneously among themselves.
""What I found most wonderful about these consultations was that everyone had had different experiences, but we all spoke the same language,"" said Mrs. Sheper, a Board member from the Congo.  ""In other words, since we were all Board members, every one of us was somehow involved in the institute process, many of us intimately, we all encouraged individual initiative in teaching and were working to systematise our teaching efforts.  So even though we came from the farthest reaches of the earth and our individual experiences differed, our overall experience and understanding was united.""
Just prior to the inaugural conference, the Counsellors had held a series of meetings to consider the next phase of this training effort, which was projected to last five years.  In a message to the gathering of the Counsellors, the Universal House of Justice called for building on the strength of the training institutes by focusing on specific geographic areas -- for example a cluster of towns -- where conditions were ripe for creating a rich and vibrant Baha'i community life.
""Among the initial goals for every community should be the establishment of study circles, children's classes, and devotional meetings,"" the House of Justice stated.  Further, these efforts should be ""open to all the inhabitants of the locality"" with the goal of producing a positive impact on the well-being and cohesiveness of society at large.  Once these basic elements of community life are in place, the House of Justice suggested that ""small projects of social and economic development -- for example a literacy project, a project for the advancement of women or environmental protection, or even a village school"" could be introduced.
First in plenary sessions with participants from around the world, and later in continental meetings that focused on regional challenges and collaboration, the Board members shared their experiences and plans for the future.
""What were the consultations like?  They were full of joy and excitement because they reflected a new culture in the Baha'i community,"" recalled Martina Donovalova, a Board member from Slovakia, ""and the joy of having the blessings of the training institutes and their priceless value for us.  The friends from the whole world rose to say what their experiences were, how the work of the Faith was rapidly progressing, how they were learning many new things, and how they were able to support and extend the growing number of Baha'u'llah's followers.
""At the European continental meeting we had much discussion on the directive from the House of Justice that study circles, devotional meetings and children's classes should be open to all the inhabitants in the area,"" said Ms. Donovalova.  ""We had several wonderful examples of this happening in Germany, Russia, Ireland, Ukraine, Belarus, and England and of the impact it has had on the growth and development of the Faith.""
At the Asian continental conference Counsellor Jabbar Eidelkhani shared the experience from Bangladesh, where 11,000 people recently entered the Faith and 8,000 of them had been introduced to the Faith by tutors active in the institute process.
A great deal of emphasis was placed on the moral and spiritual education of children and their full integration into the life of the community.
""There were two main things I got out of the meetings,"" said Dana Hudson from Taiwan, ""and that was the importance of the institute process in educating our community in Taiwan and the immediate and demanding urgency for our children.  There must be classes for our children to learn from and become the spiritual giants that we read about in our rich history.  Our children are blessed with such capacity if it is only mined and nurtured.""
Many areas of the globe were first opened to the Faith during the 1950s and 60s by ""pioneers"", or Baha'is who left their home countries to settle in regions where the Faith had not yet been established.  The fact that most countries were represented by indigenous believers rather than pioneers was seen by many as a sign of the coming of age of the global Baha'i community. Also significant was the participation of approximately equal numbers of women and men.  In fact women exceeded men among the representatives from the Americas and Europe.
P.G. Chandrarathna, a Board member from Sri Lanka, was deeply impressed by the significance of this diversity.
""I sighted people from almost all races, all colors and all religious backgrounds, but the wonder of it was that all of them were united in their thoughts and united in their goals, that is, to work for the unity of humankind,"" he said.  ""They did not gather to find solutions to their differences, but to see how they could work in cooperation.""
A moving climax
The Baha'i sacred writings explain that the Faith's development would fall into three evolutionary stages: a heroic, a formative and a golden age.  The first, lasting from the birth of the Faith in 1844 until 1921, was a period of extreme trial and persecution when thousands of early believers were martyred because of their efforts to establish the new religion.  The second age now unfolding is expected to lead through a series of epochs marking the achievement of significant milestones.  Much later, possibly hundreds of years from now, the Faith would reach its golden age, coinciding with the emergence of a just and peaceful global civilisation.  Since 1921 the Faith has progressed through four epochs of its formative age.
In the closing session of the conference, the Universal House of Justice referred to ""signs that the Faith had arrived at a point in its development beyond which new horizons open before us.""  Among the indicators of this new level of maturity the House of Justice cited the change of culture in the Baha'i community as training institutes emerged, the completion of the construction projects on Mount Carmel, and the synchronisation of these developments with the accelerating trend toward world peace.
These indicators had been ""crystallised into a recognisable reality,"" the Universal House of Justice stated, by the ""extraordinary dynamics at work throughout the conference.""
Then came a dramatic declaration. ""With a spirit of exultation we are moved to announce to you: the Faith of Baha'u'llah now enters the fifth epoch of its formative age.""
""The realisation that we were all there at that moment of history - making history - was truly overwhelming.  After devotions, everyone filed out of the Seat, congratulating each other on the new epoch.  There was such a celebratory air,"" said one participant.
For many, the announcement sparked questions about the significance of an epoch in the unfoldment of the Baha'i Cause, and about the new perspectives and possibilities opened up in their individual and collective lives.
""This new milestone is so near to us that we can grasp its significance only in the future,"" said Ms. Donovalova from Slovakia.  ""But what is happening to us?  What is the change?  What is new?""
Ms. Donovalova answered her own questions by citing a favorite passage from a letter of the Universal House of Justice describing the new ""culture of growth"" characterizing the Baha'i community:
""So enkindled do their hearts become with the fire of the love of God that whoever approaches them feels its warmth.  They strive to be channels of the spirit, pure of heart, selfless and humble, possessing the certitude and the courage that stems from reliance on God.""",HAIFA,,Israel
132,2001-06-25,[],Baha'i International Community issues statement to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS,"UNITED NATIONS — The Baha'i International Community has issued the following statement, entitled ""HIV/AIDS and Gender Equality: Transforming Attitudes and Behaviors,"" for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, which took place at the United Nations in New York 25-27 June 2001:
The relationship between the AIDS pandemic and gender inequality is gaining recognition globally. New HIV/AIDS infections are now increasing faster among women and girls than among males; therefore, last year half of all new cases occurred in females. At the recent 45th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, where HIV/AIDS was one of the main thematic issues, the complexity of the challenges in addressing the issue were underscored by the undeniable association of AIDS with such an intractable problem as sexism. There is no denying the importance of research, education and cooperation among governments and civil society. However, awareness is growing that a profound change of attitude -- personal, political, and social -- will be necessary to stop the spread of the disease and ensure assistance to those already infected and affected. This statement will focus on two of the more significant populations who need to be represented in these global discussions: men, because of the control they have traditionally exercised over women's lives; and faith communities, because of the power they have to influence the hearts and minds of their adherents.
In order to curtail the spread of HIV/AIDS among women, concrete changes need to occur in the sexual attitudes and behavior of both men and women, but especially men. Fallacious notions about the naturally voracious sexual appetites of men must be addressed. The real consequences to women -- and men -- of the practice of satisfying one's sexual desires outside of marriage must be fully understood. Educating women and girls is critically important, but the current power imbalance between men and women can prevent a woman from acting in her own interest. Indeed, experience has shown that educating women without educating the men in their lives may put the women at greater risk of violence. Efforts are needed, therefore, to educate both boys and girls to respect themselves and one another. A culture of mutual respect will improve not only the self-esteem of women and girls, but the self-esteem of men and boys as well, which will lead toward more responsible sexual behavior.
The denial of equality to women not only promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that affect their families, the workplace, political decisions and international relations; it also contributes substantially to the spread of HIV/AIDS and retards the progress of society. Notice how culturally accepted social inequalities conspire with economic vulnerability to leave women and girls with little or no power to reject unwanted or unsafe sex. Yet, once infected with HIV/AIDS, women are often stigmatized as the source of the disease and persecuted, sometimes violently. Meanwhile, the burden of caring for people living with HIV/AIDS and for children orphaned by the disease falls predominantly on women. Traditional gender roles that have gone unquestioned for generations must now be re-examined in the light of justice and compassion. Ultimately, nothing short of a spiritual transformation will move men -- and women -- to forego the behaviors that contribute to the spread of AIDS. Such a transformation is as important for men as it is for women, because ""As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.""
Because the cultivation of humanity's noble, spiritual core has always been the province of religion, religious communities can play an important role in bringing about the change of heart and the consequent change in behaviors that will make possible an effective response to the AIDS crisis.
The leaders of faith communities are especially equipped to address the moral dimension of the AIDS crisis both in terms of its prevention and its treatment. The spread of HIV/AIDS would be significantly reduced if individuals were taught to respect the sanctity of the family by practicing abstinence before marriage and fidelity to one's spouse while married, as underscored in most faith traditions.
Religious leaders and people of faith are also called to respond with love and compassion to the intense personal suffering of those either directly or indirectly affected by the AIDS crisis. However, a tendency on the part of society as a whole to judge and blame those afflicted has, since the onset of this disease, stifled compassion for its victims. The subsequent stigmatization of individuals thus afflicted with HIV/AIDS has fostered a profound reluctance on the part of infected individuals to seek treatment and of societies to change cultural attitudes and practices necessary for the prevention and treatment of the disease. Such judgments can be particularly pronounced in religious communities struggling to uphold a high standard of personal conduct. One of the seeming paradoxes of faith is the individual obligation of believers to adhere to a high standard of personal conduct while loving and caring for those who fall short -- for whatever reason -- of that same standard. What is often forgotten is that ""moral conduct"" includes not only personal restraint but compassion and humility as well. Faith communities will need to strive continually to rid themselves of judgmental attitudes so that they can exert the kind of moral leadership that encourages personal responsibility, love for one another, and the courage to protect vulnerable groups in society.
We see signs of hope in increased interfaith dialogue and cooperation. Among faith communities there is a growing recognition that, as Baha'u'llah states, ""the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God"". It is, indeed, the transcendent nature of the human spirit, as it reaches toward that invisible, unknowable Essence called God, which galvanizes and refines mankind's capacity to achieve the spiritual progress that translates into social progress. As dialogue, cooperation and respect among religious communities increase, cultural and religious practices and traditions that discriminate against women, no matter how entrenched, will gradually give way. This will be an essential step toward retarding the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Indeed, it is in the recognition of the oneness of the human family that hearts will soften, minds will open, and the attitudes of men and women will be transformed. It is out of that transformation that a coherent, compassionate and rational response to the worldwide HIV/AIDS crisis will be made possible.",UNITED NATIONS,,
133,2001-08-25,[],Baha'i International Community issues statement to World Conference against Racism,"DURBAN, South Africa —  The Baha'i International Community has issued the following statement to the United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, scheduled to be held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August 2001 to 7 September 2001:
Racism originates not in the skin but in the human mind. Remedies to racial prejudice, xenophobia and intolerance must accordingly address first and foremost those mental illusions that have for so many thousands of years given rise to false concepts of superiority and inferiority among human populations.
At the root of all forms of discrimination and intolerance is the erroneous idea that humankind is somehow composed of separate and distinct races, peoples or castes, and that those sub-groups innately possess varying intellectual, moral, and/or physical capacities, which in turn justify different forms of treatment.
The reality is that there is only the one human race. We are a single people, inhabiting the planet Earth, one human family bound together in a common destiny, a single entity created from one same substance, obligated to ""be even as one soul.""
Recognition of this reality is the antidote to racism, xenophobia and intolerance in all its forms. It should, accordingly, be the guiding principle behind the discussions, deliberations and ultimate output of the World Conference against Racism.
A proper understanding of this fact of existence has the capacity to carry humanity not merely past racism, racial and ethnic prejudice, and xenophobia but also beyond intermediate notions of tolerance or multi-culturalism -- concepts that are important stepping-stones to humanity's long-sought goal of building a peaceful, just and unified world but insufficient for the eradication of such deeply rooted afflictions as racism and its companions.
The principle of human oneness strikes a chord in the deepest reaches of the human spirit. It is not yet another way of talking about the ideal of brotherhood or solidarity. Nor is it some vague hope or slogan. It reflects, rather, an eternal spiritual, moral and physical reality that has been brought into focus by humanity's collective coming of age in the twentieth century. Its emergence is more visible now because, for the first time in history, it has become possible for all of the peoples of the world to perceive their interdependence and to become conscious of their wholeness.
The reality of human oneness is fully endorsed by science. Anthropology, physiology, psychology, sociology and, most recently, genetics, in its decoding of the human genome, demonstrate that there is only one human species, albeit infinitely varied in the secondary aspects of life. The world's great religions likewise uphold the principle, even if their followers have, at times, clung to fallacious notions of superiority. The Founders of the world's great religions have all promised that one day peace and justice would prevail and all humanity would be united.
The contemporary realization of humanity's collective oneness comes after a historic process in which individuals were fused into ever greater units. Moving from clans, to tribes, to city-states, to nations, the next inevitable step for humanity is nothing less than the creation of a global civilization. In this new global civilization, all people and peoples are component parts of a single great organism -- an organism that is human civilization itself. As stated by Baha'u'llah more than 100 years ago, ""The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.""
Further, as explained in the Baha'i writings, the oneness of humanity ""implies an organic change in the structure of present-day society, a change such as the world has not yet experienced.... It calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world -- a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life, its political machinery, its spiritual aspiration, its trade and finance, its script and language, and yet infinite in the diversity of the national characteristics of its federated units.""
In considering the themes of the World Conference against Racism, a proper understanding of the reality of the oneness of humanity holds a number of implications.
It implies that any law, tradition or mental construct that grants superior rights or privileges to one grouping of humanity over another is not only morally wrong but fundamentally at odds with the best interests of even those who consider themselves to be in some way superior. It implies that nation-states, as the building blocks of a global civilization, must hold to common standards of rights and take active steps to purge from their laws, traditions and practices any form of discrimination based on race, nationality or ethnic origin.
It implies that justice must be the ruling principle of social organization, a corollary principle that calls for widespread measures on the part of governments, their agencies, and civil society to address economic injustice at all levels. The Baha'i writings call for both voluntary giving and government measures, such as the ""equalization and apportionment"" of excess wealth, so that the great disparities between the rich and the poor are eliminated. The Baha'i writings also prescribe specific measures, such as profit-sharing and the equation of work with worship, that promote general economic prosperity across all classes.
Issues of xenophobia before the Conference in relation to contemporary problems of minority diasporas, the uneven application of citizenship laws, and refugee resettlement can likewise best be addressed in the light of humanity's oneness and, as Baha'u'llah indicated, the concept of world citizenship.
Further, the principle of the oneness of humanity exposes any attempt to distinguish separate ""races"" or ""peoples"" in the contemporary world as artificial and misleading. While racial, national and/or ethnic heritage can be considered as sources of pride and even a backdrop for positive social development, such distinctions should not become a basis for new forms of separation or superiority, however subtle.
Over the years, in statements to the United Nations, the Baha'i International Community has supported or called for specific actions in support of human oneness and the fight against racism, including:
-- The widespread promotion of international educational campaigns that would teach the organic oneness of humankind, urging specifically that the United Nations itself facilitate such an effort, involving national and local governments, as well as non-governmental organizations.
-- The widespread ratification of -- and adherence to -- international instruments, which represent humankind's collective conscience, that might contribute to a comprehensive legal regime for combating racism and racial discrimination, especially the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
-- The worldwide promotion of human rights education, with the aim of creating a ""culture of human rights.""
The Baha'i International Community has also sponsored or participated extensively in activities aimed at the eradication of racism and racial discrimination. Working largely through its national affiliates, which currently number 182, the Community has for example sponsored numerous public meetings, conferences, educational programs, newspaper articles, radio programs and exhibits that specifically seek to combat racism.
Further, drawing on the creative spirit of grassroots participation, Baha'is in a number of countries have established race unity committees, with multiracial membership, which have developed programs to combat racial prejudice and to create bonds of mutual respect among peoples of different races in their local communities. These committees have attempted to assist Baha'is to free themselves of their own racial prejudices and, beyond that, to contribute to the elimination of racial prejudice in society at large through extensive collaboration with leaders in government, education and religion. More specifically, Baha'i communities around the world have sponsored numerous youth workshops that promote racial unity, held thousands of public ""race unity day"" observances, launched television and video campaigns to promote race harmony, sponsored neighborhood race unity dialogues, and participated in various national commissions to combat racism.
Those seeking to understand more fully how the oneness of humanity can be brought into practice might find it useful to examine the experience of the Baha'i International Community itself, which offers a continuously advancing model for how diverse individuals can live together in harmony and unity. With a membership of more than 5 million, the worldwide Baha'i community is composed of individuals from virtually every background. More than 2,100 different racial and tribal groups are represented, as are individuals from virtually every nationality, religious background and social class.
Despite this great diversity, which is reflective of the world's population at large, the worldwide Baha'i community is among the most unified bodies of people on earth. This sense of unity goes beyond a shared theology. Individuals from many of these backgrounds have intermarried, for example, something which is promoted in the teachings of the Baha'i Faith, and/or they work together closely in local Baha'i communities, serving together on its local- and national-level governing institutions. A careful examination of the worldwide Baha'i community will reveal a surprisingly widespread and yet singularly committed body of people who are consciously creating a global culture, one that emphasizes peace, justice and sustainable development, and puts no group in a position of superiority.
Baha'is believe that their own success at building a unified community stems solely from its inspiration by the spiritual teachings of Baha'u'llah, who wrote extensively about the importance of unity, the reality of oneness, and the imperative need for creating a peaceful world civilization. More than 100 years ago, He wrote the following, which stands as a cornerstone of Baha'i belief:
""O Children of Men! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest.""",DURBAN,,South Africa
134,2001-08-30,[],"More than 54,000 have toured Baha'i Terraces on Mount Carmel since June opening","HAIFA, Israel — More than 54,000 people have taken pre-reserved guided tours of the cascading garden terraces surrounding the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel since they opened in June, indicating that the site may soon become one of the top tourist draws in Israel.
In addition, thousands more have visited the three sections of the gardens that are open to drop-in visitors. In all, more than 400,000 entries have been recorded since 4 June 2001, when the terraces were officially opened to the public, and at this rate the number of entries per year will add up to more than 1.5 million.
""The remarkable thing about the high volume of visitors is that it is coming at a time when tourism in Israel has dropped by 30 per cent in the last six months.  In contrast, in Haifa we've seen only an 8 per cent drop,"" said Moshe Tsur, General Manager of the Haifa Tourist Board.  ""There is no doubt the Baha'i gardens have had a big role in saving Haifa's tourism industry.""
The vast majority of the visitors are Israelis, coming to Haifa from other parts of the country. ""This is 95 per cent domestic tourism,"" said Mr. Tsur.  ""The number of day visitors has tripled since the gardens opened. Many others are staying in local hotels with a package deal that includes a tour through the gardens.""
There are no fees for entry into the gardens or for the guided tours, but Mr. Tsur estimates that other spending, such as on food, refreshments and transportation, has contributed millions of dollars to the local economy since the gardens opened.
The effect of this economic vitality is particularly visible in the evenings, after the gardens close and the dramatic nighttime illumination of the terraces and Shrine is turned on.  Along Ben Gurion Avenue, which runs in a straight line from the base of the Terraces to the Haifa
port, sidewalk cafes and restaurants are now bustling, even on mid-week evenings, whereas just a few months ago the area was largely quiet after dark. The lighted terraces rise above the avenue, which runs through the historic German Templer Colony.  The whole neighborhood, including  A group of tourists listens to an explanation of the history of the Shrine of the Bab during a guided tour of the Baha'i Terraces on Mount Carmel.rows of red-tiled homes built by German settlers in the late 19th century, has recently been restored by the city of Haifa.
The Haifa Tourist Board is located in one of the Templer homes and runs the booking system for the guided tours of the Terraces.  Five telephone operators work full time to take calls on the tour reservation lines.
""The lines are continually jammed, and people complain that they can't get through,"" said Mr. Tsur.  ""The demand for the tours is certainly not slowing.  We have more than 70,000 people registered for the coming months, and we are almost fully booked through December.""
Two different guided tours are offered: the first goes down the top nine terraces from the crest of the mountain to the Shrine mid-way down the slope, and the second tour goes from the Shrine down the lower nine terraces to the Entrance Plaza on Ben Gurion Avenue.  There are 19 terraces altogether, extending one kilometer from the crest to the foot of Mount Carmel.
The Terraces and two adjacent administrative buildings were recently completed after 10 years of work at a cost of some $250 million in voluntary donations from the worldwide Baha'i community of five million believers. The terraces were built primarily as a path of approach for Baha'i pilgrims to the Shrine of the Bab, the second-most holy spot for Baha'is.  The Terraces also offer a symbol of peace and hope to the world at large, and the guided tours come with a message: that harmony and co-existence are possible.
In groups of 40 to 50 at a time, tourists are led by Israeli guides who are recruited and trained by the Beit Hagefen Centre, an Arab-Jewish cultural center that is well known in Haifa for its programs to promote coexistence among all the ethnic groups in the city.  Many of the guides are university students and they represent a great diversity of backgrounds: Christians, Druze, Jews, Muslims, Russian immigrants, and others.
Hila Naftali is a student at Haifa University who responded to an advertisement posted at the university last March to become a tour guide on the Terraces.  She now guides up to four tours per day. During a pause between tours this week, she said she believes that the camaraderie fostered among the tour guides from many different backgrounds is one of the hidden effects of the terraces.
""I actually get to talk with a lot of people who I otherwise would not have a chance to meet,"" said Ms. Naftali. ""One of my friends now is another guide, a Druze from the Golan.  We have reached a completely different level of understanding, based on friendship rather than politics.""
One of the supervisors of the tour guides, Gad Zorea, reiterated that having guides from many backgrounds working together adds to the appeal of the gardens.
""Haifa is a special, unique place in Israel.  People know this city for the coexistence of Jews and Arabs, and also Christians, Druze and Baha'is,"" said Mr. Zorea. ""The visitors can see our guides working together, and they remark on this.""
""Israel is a difficult country. People are stressed and nervous because of the things that are happening,"" he said. ""Our guides are the first people they encounter when they enter the gardens, and slowly we try to show them a different perspective, give them a glimpse of the way the Baha'is view the world -- in a way educate them that the world can be a better place.""
About 35 guides have been recruited and have gone through an intensive three-day training session to become a guide on the terraces. The training program, which will be repeated periodically as new guides are recruited, included sessions with the architect of the terraces, Fariborz Sahba, and the caretaker of the Baha'i Holy Places, Jamsheed Ardjomandi.
Ms. Naftali said she was deeply touched during the training program, and that nearly all the guides share her sense that what they are doing is much more than a job.
""It was so meaningful when Mr. Ardjomandi described the significance of these Holy Places, when he told us of Baha'u'llah's dialogue with the mountain [in the Tablet of Carmel] "" said Ms. Naftali. ""After that I felt: this is a mission. I started caring more, doing more. These gardens
touch people's souls.""
Two of the visits she had guided particularly stuck in her mind: a group of retarded adults and a group of young soldiers on leave from their duty in the Gaza.
""While I had to speak at a different level for the retarded adults, it was a joy, maybe because they feel things more deeply, more truthfully.  The soldiers -- they were maybe 18 to 20 years old -- came in joking and daring each other to race to the bottom.  But the minute they walked into the
gardens, they relaxed and seemed ready to listen.""
The guided tours are giving many Israelis their first glimpse of a religious community that has maintained a remarkably low profile during its century-long presence on Mount Carmel. From the time in 1868 when the Founder of the Baha'i Faith was brought to the neighboring city of Acre as
a prisoner under the Ottoman Turks, the community has observed a strict policy of not seeking or accepting converts in the Holy Land, a policy that has continued to the present day. As a result, virtually the only Baha'is who live in Israel are the staff of the Baha'i World Centre, some 800 adherents from more than 75 countries who offer temporary volunteer service here.
On a recent afternoon, standing on the bridge over Hatzionut Street which links the upper terraces to the Shrine, one could see a tour group making its way down from the crest of the mountain, another group approaching the bridge from the upper terraces, and a third group approaching from a side gate to begin the lower terraces tour. The upper and lower terrace tours intersect on this broad, garden-covered bridge, which crosses one of Haifa's busiest thoroughfares.  More than 20 tours, each lasting 45 minutes to an hour, begin or end here each day.
One of the visitors, pausing on the bridge with several family members, was Lynn Taubkin, a Haifa resident for 22 years.
""The gardens are a wonderful contribution to the city,"" said Ms. Taubkin. ""If I may speak as a representative of the people of Haifa, I have never heard anything but positive remarks about the gardens. And knowing that it is all based on voluntary contributions and the work of volunteers adds to our appreciation.""
""There is beauty here -- harmony, balance and symmetry -- and there is a spiritual element that even those of us who do not belong to the religion can pick up on,"" she said. ""The gardens have a personality that seems to personify the religion.""
Another visitor, Orit from Kadima, agreed that the explanation she had heard about the Baha'i Faith reinforced the impression given by the gardens.
""The impression of symmetry, order and neatness was intertwined with the presentation of the Baha'i religion. The harmonious, unifying principle is very pronounced in the gardens.  It is beautiful and very inspiring,"" she said.
Reuven Gover, one of the tour guides, observed that visitors often remark on how carefully the gardens are maintained.
""They see the young Baha'is who come from all over the world to volunteer in the maintenance of the gardens, and their dedication and attention to detail.  It is a wonderful example for Israelis to see something that is so beautifully kept and looked after,"" he said.
Another tour guide, Yohai Devir, gathered his group about him on the bridge, speaking through a small portable amplifier carried on his waist.  He pointed to the imposing marble buildings to the left of the upper terraces and described their functions as the international administrative center of a world religion.  Looking up at the terraces, he pointed out the three distinct zones of the gardens -- the formal central axis, surrounded on either side by informal gardens and drought-resistant ground covers, blending finally into the natural wooded cover of the mountain -- and described the high-tech water conservation methods used in the gardens.
Mr. Devir, a student of electrical engineering at Haifa's Technion University, then led the group down around the side of the Shrine of the Bab to a shady area where he told the story of the Bab -- His declaration of a new revelation from God in mid-19th century Iran, the dramatic impact of this declaration on Persian society, His execution by a firing squad in 1850, and how His remains had been hidden by His followers for nearly 60 years until they were brought for burial in a mausoleum on the slopes of Mount Carmel.  He spoke of Baha'u'llah, the promised Messenger foretold by the Bab, who had arrived in the Holy Land in 1868 as a prisoner under the Ottoman authorities, had indicated the precise spot where the Bab's remains should be buried, and had chosen Mount Carmel as the future center of His Faith.
The group continued down through the informal gardens and crossed on to the central staircase of the terraces just below the Shrine.  They paused again on the bridge over Abbas Street, four terraces above the base of the mountain.  Here Mr. Devir described the basic principles of the Baha'i Faith, its international activities, and its focus on promoting the oneness of humanity and the elimination of all forms of prejudice.
The visitors, particularly the young people, then peppered him with questions: how do they cut the grass on these steep slopes? How much does it cost to maintain the gardens? What other gardens in the world can these compare with? Who is buried in the Shrine? Why is it here in Israel? What is the meaning of the calligraphic symbols on the Shrine?
One of the visitors, Susan Soto from Karmi'el, a village about 45 minutes north of Haifa, said she came on the tour because she had seen the gardens on television. ""These gardens have become famous. They are beautiful and very impressive. Baha'is believe in good things. They believe in
one God, in peace. It's good for everyone,"" she said.
Another visitor was Inbal Shabtai, who had come with her parents from Ashdod, about a two-and- a-half hour drive from Haifa. ""It's charming,"" she said. ""Whatever attracts the eye, attracts the heart. It is very attractive. Here is a religion that accepts the equality of men and women.  The beliefs are good for modern life.""
As the group exited the gardens, four newlywed couples were having their wedding photos and video taken in the plaza surrounding the fountain at the base of the terraces, a practice which has become very common among newlyweds in Haifa.",HAIFA,,Israel
135,2001-08-05,[],Baha'i Community of Uganda celebrates its 50th anniversary,"KAMPALA, Uganda — In a week-long celebration that opened to the joyous beat of African drums -- and which went on to feature a statement by Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Ugandan Baha'i community commemorated in early August the 50th anniversary of its founding.
The Ugandan Baha'i community was established on 2 August 1951 when a small group of Baha'is from Great Britain and Iran arrived in Uganda with the intention of bringing the teachings of the Baha'i Faith to people here.
The principles of unity and social progress offered by the Faith soon won acceptance from individuals in every region of the country and most of the major tribal groups. Within two years the community had expanded to nearly 300 members in some 25 localities who represented 20 tribes.
Today, the Baha'i Faith has an estimated 105,000 members in Uganda, organized into some 200 local governing councils and established in more than 2,800 localities. Its members represent virtually every tribal and religious background.
""You will find we have Baha'is in all regions of the country, in the western, northern, eastern, southern and central regions of Uganda,"" said George Olinga, Director of External Affairs for the Baha'i Community of Uganda. ""And you will find that the diversity of all Uganda is clearly seen in the Baha'i community and in our activities.""
Praise for the Faith's record of promoting harmony and development in a country that has often been divided by tribalism was a main message of President Museveni's statement, which was read on 2 August 2001 by Captain Michael Mukula, State Minister for Health, before a crowd of some 2,000 people at the Baha'i House of Worship in Kampala.
""In Uganda we are constantly fighting against ethnic and religious sectarianisms and our politics was played out and polarized along those major fault lines for a very long time,"" wrote President Museveni, explaining that his government has sought to ""bring all the people together irrespective of their faith, race, color or ethnicity.""  Captain Michael Mukula, Uganda's State Minister for Health, reads a statement from the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Baha’i community of Uganda, held at the Baha’i House of Worship near Kampala on 2 August 2001. (Photo: Ryan Lash)""We have been doing what you in the Baha'i Faith began to do a long time ago,"" President Museveni stated in prepared remarks. ""Yours is a very useful message and can contribute greatly to nation building.""
President Museveni's statement went on to highlight the need to fight the evils of corruption and the necessity of reducing poverty -- goals which he said he and his government share with the Baha'i community.
President Museveni also said his government shares a commitment to bring about equality between women and men. ""I appeal to members of the Baha'i Faith, who hold the equality of rights and opportunities for women and men as an act of faith and as their basic principle, to join in our crusade for the empowerment of women,"" stated President Museveni.
Among other highlights of the week-long celebration, which began on 31 July in Kampala and ended on 5 August in Tilling, Kumi District, in Eastern Uganda, were the presence of four of the six founding members of the community, the attendance of various officials in the Ugandan government, and extensive coverage of the celebration in the Ugandan media.
Among the founding members of the community in attendance was Mr. 'Ali Nakhjavani, who is currently a member of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith. He spoke at several events during the week, on the theme of ""The Spiritual Destiny of Africa.""
Before some 2,500 people on 5 August in Tilling, for example, Mr. Nakhjavani said that when he came to Uganda in 1951, the Faith was like ""drops of water here and there.""
""Now the Baha'is are like a lake,"" Mr. Nakhjavani said. ""They should now transform that lake into an ocean."" He added that Africans -- and all of humanity -- are from a single lineage and that we should ""see ourselves as one family"" in the world.
Philip Hainsworth, another of the six founders who returned for the celebration, told how the fledgling Baha'i community of Uganda became an important nucleus for the spread and expansion of the Faith to neighboring countries in the 1950s and 1960s, through the hosting of various international conferences and, in 1957, with the start of construction on the first Baha'i House of Worship on the continent. Completed in 1961, the nine-sided Ugandan Baha'i House of Worship is now a well-known landmark in Kampala.
In recent years, the Baha'i community of Uganda has sponsored a number of social and economic development projects. The Faith operates two primary schools, in Odusai in Pallisa District and in Tilling in Kumi District. With about 1,000 students and a solid reputation for excellence, the school in Tilling is now considered to be the top school in the district.
In the 1990s, in some 30 villages in the Kumi and Soroti Districts in Eastern Uganda, the Uganda Baha'i Institute for Development (UBID) undertook a project to train and support local volunteer community health workers, whose effectiveness at improving basic health and sanitation in the region has been documented by several outside organizations.
A Baha'i-inspired non-governmental organization (NGO), UPLIFT, has also recently started a literacy project in the northern region of Uganda, where literacy rates are low. Focused around the town of Packwach in Nebbi District, the project serves about 200 people in some six communities.
Government officials present at Jubilee events commended the Ugandan Baha'i community's contribution to the country's development. At the opening ceremony on 31 July, the Honorable Zoe Bakoko Bakoru, the Minister of Gender, Labor and Social Development, was the featured speaker. Ms. Bakoko Bakoru praised the Baha'is for their unity and for their support of equal rights for women. She urged the Baha'i community to work harder to spread such teachings and to undertake more development work. The Minister was also present on 5 August at the closing event in Tilling.
At a Jubilee event on 3 August at the Baha'i Center in Bweyeyo, Luwero District, the guest of honor was Edward Masiga, the Resident District Commissioner for Luwero. The local Baha'i community there operates a community school with about 40 students. Mr. Masiga urged the Baha'is to spread their principles ""aggressively,"" adding that he hoped they would undertake more development projects like the school.
At least three major television stations (CTV, UTV and WBS) carried two- to three-minute segments on their evening news broadcasts. The government newspapers ""The New Vision"" and ""Etop"" carried articles with color photographs of Jubilee events. The newspapers ""Monitor"" and ""Sunrise"" and numerous radio stations also covered the Jubilee.
Like most other Ugandans, the Baha'i community suffered in the 1970s during the repressive regime of Idi Amin. The Faith, along with many other religious groups, was banned in 1977. After Amin was ousted in 1979, however, the Faith was legally reconstituted and, after a period of political instability, the community has continued its expansion.
""The time from 1977 to 1981 was a period of great trials for the Ugandan community generally, and there are stories of many heroic feats and sacrifices by Baha'is during this time,"" said John Anglin, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Uganda, the national Baha'i governing council. ""But the 1990s were a period of re-building our former capacity and strength.""
""Now, over the next ten years, we expect to see steady growth both in numbers and also in capacity and maturity,"" Mr. Anglin continued. ""The successful conclusion of the Jubilee events is one of the signs of this new capacity and new willingness to achieve.""",KAMPALA,,Uganda
137,2001-10-01,[],"Worldwide, Baha'i communities respond to terrorist attacks in the U.S. with prayers and offers of service","NEW YORK —  At the international, national and local levels, Baha'i communities around the world responded to last month's terrorist attacks in the United States with prayers, voluntary acts of service, donations and messages of condolence.
Many of the world's 182 Baha'i National Spiritual Assemblies issued statements, messages of condolence, and calls for prayer meetings.
In New York City itself, some members of the local Baha'i community rushed to the site of the World Trade Center complex and offered help. Several individuals donated time working in restaurants to help prepare food for rescue workers. Other Baha'is donated blood or items like clothing or food.
Baha'is in all four boroughs of New York City held prayer services immediately after the attack. The New York Baha'i Center, which is located on 11th Street, was inaccessible to the general public for much of the week because it is below 14th Street, in the area cordoned off by police. However, by Friday, 14 September, that area was opened and the community sponsored a service at the Center as part of a national day of prayer and mourning.
On the same day, in cities large and small, thousands of Baha'is in hundreds of communities gathered to pray, light candles, and remember the thousands of people who died in the attacks. In the Baha'i House of Worship for North America, located outside of Chicago, 800 people gathered on Friday for a noon prayer service.",NEW YORK,,United States
138,2001-10-14,[],"In Switzerland, Landegg International University passes an important milestone, winning a new level of recognition from the Gove","WIENACHT, Switzerland —  Although an African herself, Njeri Mwagiru was turned off by brochures from top universities in the United States and Canada that touted special clubs for Africans, Indians and other major ethnic and racial groups.
""There just seemed to be a lot of separation on those campuses,"" said the 20-year-old Kenya native, discussing her decision to come instead to Landegg International University, a Baha'i-inspired institution of higher learning in the foothills of the Swiss Alps. ""It seemed to me that things were designed so that people of different cultures could stay apart.""
""But here at Landegg, the emphasis is on having people of different cultures get together -- and that is what I was looking for.""
Entering her third year in Landegg's Bachelor of Arts program, Ms. Mwagiru is happy with her choice -- a choice made somewhat venturesome by the fact that Landegg's degree programs are only five years old.
But she has indeed found the kind of unity amidst diversity that she was seeking, and Ms. Mwagiru also believes she is receiving a topflight education, one with a distinctive approach.
""It aims to combine various disciplines of study so that they make more sense and the education is more applicable to life,"" said Ms. Mwagiru, enrolled in a program that brings together the fields of psychology, human development and education.
""And it has delivered everything in terms of the education I expected,"" she continued. ""We have lots of contact with the professors and many in-depth discussions. The school has a general belief in the uniqueness of the individual -- and at the same time the unity of all.""
Ms. Mwagiru's description of her experience at Landegg quite accurately matches the university's stated goals, which are to develop and practice a new ""integrative"" approach to education that combines modern scientific thinking with spiritual and ethical values in a way that meets the needs of an interdependent and global civilization.
""Our curriculum seeks to make sure that the students not only receive the latest academic and scientific information about what they are studying, but that they will also be exposed to the various ethical considerations that pertain to it -- and that they will then learn how to apply it in the real world,"" said Hossain Danesh, president of Landegg.
On 20 September 2001, Landegg received an important new level of recognition for its approach, when it was formally registered by the cantonal and federal authorities as a private university in Switzerland. To achieve that, the university had to meet the rigorous criteria set by the government at both the canton and federal levels.
""One of the most significant implications of Landegg's new status is that the Swiss Government has recognized the legitimacy of an approach to education that is global in reach and that has as its basis the idea of applied spirituality within a framework of integrated studies,"" said Michael Penn, who served as vice rector at Landegg from 1998-2000 and is currently an affiliate professor.
""It is a recognition of the idea that an institution of higher learning can, in an academically rigorous way, apply principles of ethics to the interrogation of social problems in the world,"" said Dr. Penn, who is professor of psychology at Franklin and Marshall University in Pennsylvania, USA.
Landegg is also winning recognition in other important ways. A high percentage of its graduate students have gone on to prestigious doctoral programs at universities like Stanford and Cambridge. And it has launched a major peace education project in Bosnia and Herzegovina that is winning high praise from government officials.
A Gradual Evolution
Landegg's evolution into a full-fledged university has been a gradual process. Located on some 31 acres on a hillside overlooking Lake Constance in the rustic Swiss village of Wienacht, Landegg International University was previously known as Landegg Academy, and it was used primarily as a conference center.
In that role, Landegg was the venue of a number of significant meetings, including a series of ""International Dialogues on the Transition to a Global Society."" The first such Dialogue was held in September 1990 and included the participation of Federico Mayor, then UNESCO's Director- General; Karan Singh, a leading Indian author and diplomat; and Bertrand Schneider, then secretary-general of the Club of Rome.
In addition to such high-level gatherings, Landegg was also host to a number of international programs, focusing on peace and world order studies for young people.
Currently comprising some nine buildings, the campus was originally built as a holiday retreat in the 19th century. The campus was acquired by a Baha'i family in 1982 and the properties were donated to a newly established Landegg International Baha'i Foundation, operating under the aegis of the Baha'i community of Switzerland, which undertook the renovation of its main buildings and established it as a conference center.
In the mid-1990s, the Foundation decided that Landegg's role as a center of learning should become formalized, and Landegg's functions were transferred to an independent board, whose charter states that the university will be operated as an independent university, directed by an international governing board. Among the most important responsibilities of the board is to ensure the academic excellence and independence of the university.
In September 1997, Landegg formally inaugurated a new program of graduate studies, offering a Master of Arts Degree in eight areas, including conflict resolution, psychology, education, and religion. In 1998, Landegg began to offer undergraduate degrees as well and by 2000, the school began seeking formal recognition as a university.
Over the years, Landegg has opened active scholarly exchange programs with a number of universities worldwide, including the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Beijing University in China, the State University of Sergipe in Brazil, and the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, in the USA.
Currently, Landegg offers undergraduate degrees in four areas: economics and international development; political science and international relations; psychology, human development and education; and the integrative study of religion. Students may also design their own area of concentration, with the guidance of the academic office, from among courses offered.
Graduate degrees are offered in six areas: consultation and conflict resolution, moral education, applied ethics, the integrative study of religion, leadership and management, and spiritual psychology. A certificate program in Information Technology has also been launched this year.
The way in which areas of degree concentration combine fields of study across various disciplines gives but a glimpse of how the school seeks to provide an integrative approach.
The cornerstone of that integrative approach, Dr. Danesh explained, is to first study all of the relevant theories and models that currently exist in a given field. Professors and students themselves are then encouraged to create a new model, based on the new insights into human nature and those universal ethical and spiritual principles that are present in the spiritual and philosophical heritage of humanity, and to see if such a model can have a practical application.
""For example, if we are studying conflict resolution, we first study all of the different theories and models of conflict resolution,"" said Dr. Danesh. ""And we keep them. But we have also developed our own model, which we call 'conflict-free conflict resolution.'"" [CFCR]
The new CFCR model, Dr. Danesh said, does not accept that conflict or aggression is necessarily an inevitable feature of human nature. ""Rather, our new theory suggests that conflict is a reflection of the different stages in human development and evolution and that it reflects the absence of unity,"" said Dr. Danesh, whose own work in psychology and spirituality has helped to lay the foundations for the new model.
Dr. Danesh said the theory of conflict-free conflict resolution indicates that the best way to overcome conflict is by seeking higher and higher levels of unity.
Based on the CFCR model, Landegg has developed a subsidiary program, called ""Education for Peace,"" which seeks to help war-torn communities incorporate peace education into the standard public school curriculum. Currently, Education for Peace (EFP) operates a pilot project in six schools in three different communities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, reaching some 6,000 students.
Global Campus
Although the Landegg campus is relatively small, with a current capacity of approximately 100 full-time, on-campus students, its reach is global. At any given time, only about one third of the school's students are on campus. The rest study from afar, using an array of distance-learning technologies but principally email and the World Wide Web.
The global diversity of the student body is another hallmark of the Landegg experience. For example, the 30- some young people in the undergraduate program come from 20 different countries. The graduate student population of approximately 120 students is as diverse.
""We have students from countries as diverse as Mongolia, Russia, the United States, Venezuela, Canada and China,"" said Graham Hassall, associate dean of undergraduate studies. ""This is one of the wonderful things about Landegg, the global nature of our very small campus.""
Nyambura Mwagiru, 21, Njeri's sister, said she also felt one of the best things about Landegg is the global diversity of its student body. ""Just being able to sit down and talk with people from so many different places is one of the best things about Landegg,"" said Nyambura, who, like her sister, is in the psychology, human development and education program. ""We learn from each other, and have time to reflect and grow.""
Nyambura said she was on her way to King's College in London when she stopped with her sister to visit Landegg. She was so taken with the atmosphere that she stayed, even though it meant giving up on a degree from a school that is much better known around the world.
""It was a big decision but I don't believe I made the wrong decision,"" said Nyambura. ""It is exciting to be part of something that is growing and that is so different.""
The faculty of Landegg is similarly global in its diversity. Of its more than 70 professors, many who are affiliated with other colleges and universities around the world, only about 10 are on campus at a given time. Nevertheless, the ability to draw on well-respected academics from more than 20 countries contributes greatly to the internationalism of the educational process at Landegg.
The school has also had a surprising degree of success in placing its graduates. Although only about 30 students have so far received graduate degrees from Landegg, a number have gone on to prestigious graduate programs.
Jenni Menon of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, for example, has been accepted this year into a doctoral studies in psychology and education at Stanford University in the USA; Tania Sargent of Zimbabwe is currently in her second year at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania in the USA; and Mieko Bond went on to do a master's degree in criminology at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.
""Landegg was instrumental in helping me get into my current PhD program,"" said Ms. Menon, who received an MA in Moral Education from Landegg earlier this year. She cited two key factors in Stanford's acceptance: her experience as one of the coordinators in the pilot phase of the Education for Peace project in Bosnia and, second, the ""close, caring and thoughtful attention and advice"" she received from her professors at Landegg.
""As a student at Landegg I feel I was simultaneously exposed to a rigorous theoretical and practical service- oriented type of learning,"" said Ms. Menon. ""Of course, many universities promote this theoretical-practical approach to learning, but a unique aspect of Landegg is that this approach occurs through an effort to integrate the scientific and the ethical/moral and spiritual aspects of knowledge and investigation. I think that this unique integrative approach sounded appealing to Stanford, indicating to me that [they] are seeking fresh approaches.""
Ms. Sargent likewise feels her experience at Landegg contributed greatly to her acceptance as a PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania last year.
""It is quite a hard school to get into,"" said Ms. Sargent, who finished her course work at Landegg towards an MA in moral education a year ago. ""And I think one reason I was accepted was some of the academic writing I had done at Landegg."" She wrote a paper entitled ""Cultivating the Chinese Intelligence: Costs and Benefits of Chinese Achievement Motivation,"" which she believes was critical in her U Penn application.
""I was still very surprised when I was accepted and given a good scholarship offer,"" said Ms. Sargent. ""Some people used to ask me, 'Why are you going to such a new school, don't you need to get real credentials?' But getting an MA from Landegg obviously doesn't hinder you from going somewhere else.""
Ms. Bond likewise found that some of her friends questioned her decision to go to Landegg to get a master's degree in conflict resolution in 1996. ""They would say, 'Will it be recognized by an established university? Will it look good on your CV?,'"" said Ms. Bond, who is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Manchester. ""But I thought it would be an exciting place to study. And in the end, I did end up at Cambridge. So now my friends have changed their minds.""",WIENACHT,,Switzerland
139,2001-09-06,[],Baha'is participate in interreligious dialogue on faith and ecology,"CINCINNATI —  Reflecting the increasing Baha'i involvement in interfaith dialogue and consultation about major social issues, the Baha'i view on the environment was presented at an interreligious conference on religion and ecology at Xavier University in September.
Held 5-6 September 2001, the Symposium on Religion and Ecology was the first major program of the Brueggeman Center for Interreligious Dialogue, which was inaugurated last year.
The program included the presentation of Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Native American perspectives on the environment and its relationship to religious faith.
The Baha'i presentation was made by Dr. Roxanne Lalonde, faculty lecturer in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and Mr. Peter Adriance, liaison with non-governmental organizations for the National Spiritual Assembly in its Office of External Affairs in Washington.
In a joint presentation, Dr. Lalonde spoke on the spiritual principles underlying the Baha'i approach to the environment, while Mr. Adriance spoke about Baha'i efforts internationally to advance those principles.
In her presentation, Dr. Lalonde noted that the Baha'i Writings speak of nature as a reflection of the Divine and see all life as interconnected and interdependent. The Baha'i teachings uphold principles of moderation, humility and respect for ecological balance.
""The Baha'i vision of a civilization that extends thousands of years into the future implies that human beings have a profound responsibility for stewardship of God's creation,"" Dr. Lalonde said, adding that a global vision is essential to carry out such stewardship.
She noted that the Baha'i teachings clearly make humanity's acceptance of the principle of the oneness of the human family a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development, citing Baha'u'llah's injunction: ""The well- being of mankind, its peace and security are unattainable, unless and until its unity is firmly established.""
Mr. Adriance's presentation focused on three examples of Baha'i efforts internationally to advance such spiritual principles: Baha'i involvement in the '92 Earth Summit; Baha'i contributions toward the development of the Earth Charter; and the application of conservation measures in the Baha'i gardens and terraces on Mt. Carmel.
""During preparations for the Earth Summit, the Baha'i International Community issued numerous official statements advancing spiritual principles, and it initiated projects that conveyed those principles in different ways,"" said Mr. Adriance, referring to the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro.
The projects sponsored by the Baha'i International Community at the Earth Summit included a symposium on leadership qualities for a sustainable civilization, a book of children's art and essays on the future, a Peace Monument and a series of unifying cultural events at the '92 Global Forum, a gathering of non-governmental organizations held during the summit.
Mr. Adriance also said that the Baha'i representatives contributed to the development of the Earth Charter - a statement of ethics for living sustainably on Earth, and an expected product of the '92 Summit.
""Determining the content of the Earth Charter evolved into a decade-long consultative process,"" Mr. Adriance said. ""During that process, the principles of consultation often helped foster a sense of unity among the diverse participants. When the final Earth Charter was released in early 2000, many principles important to the Baha'is were reflected in the document.""
Mr. Adriance also clarified the Baha'i position on the Charter. ""While not officially endorsing the Earth Charter, the Baha'i International Community considers the effort toward drafting it and activities in support of its essential objectives to be highly commendable, and it will continue to participate in related activities, such as conferences, forums and the like,"" he noted.
The last section of Mr. Adriance's talk focused on the newly completed Baha'i gardens and terraces in Haifa, Israel. In addition to addressing the practical measures associated with the development of the gardens and terraces - such as water conservation, organic planting methods, reduction of pesticide and herbicide use and related educational components - Mr. Adriance emphasized the spiritual purpose of the gardens in preparing pilgrims and visitors to approach one of the holiest sites to Baha'is.
His presentation included a series of images of the widely praised results of the project. The audience expressed great enthusiasm with the way the gardens reflected a dynamic balance between the practical and the spiritual.
At the end of his talk, on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly Mr. Adriance presented a coffee table book of photographs of the new garden terraces, published by the Haifa Tourist Board, to Father Joseph Bracken, Director of the Brueggeman Center.
Baha'i participation in the symposium was facilitated by the efforts of Faramarz Samadany, a member of the Cincinnati Baha'i community and a Trustee of the Brueggeman Center. One of the Center's inaugural events was a 1999 millennium peace gathering that drew an audience of more than 8,000. A Baha'i Youth Workshop performed a dance on the unity of religions at that event.
The Brueggeman center is named after a Xavier faculty member known for promoting understanding among Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and Jews. ""By bringing together diverse faith groups the Center is able to benefit from a range of views in seeking solutions to the human and environmental challenges facing humanity,"" noted Father Bracken.
In recent years, the Baha'i International Community has participated in a number of major interfaith events on social issues, ranging from the Summit on Religions and Conservation, held in 1995 at Windsor Castle, UK, to the World Faiths Development Dialogue, sponsored by the World Bank.",CINCINNATI,OHIO,United States
140,2001-11-16,[],Baha'i-inspired NGO receives grant for vocational training in the Amazon,"MANAUS, Brazil —  As part of a government program to reduce unemployment, a Baha'i-inspired development organization in the Amazon basin has received a major grant from the Brazilian Ministry of Education to expand its vocational education program here, with the goal of offering courses to more than 4,000 students per year by 2006.
The grant, equivalent to some US$850,000, will allow the Associacao para o Desenvolvimento Coesivo da Amazonia (ADCAM) [Association for the Cohesive Development of Amazon] to build and equip a three-story technical education building on its 12-acre property in the Sao Jose suburb of Manaus. Construction is scheduled to begin in December, leading to completion of the building in July 2002.
""This is a major expansion of vocational training opportunities in the region, which is greatly needed because of the high level of unemployment in the Amazon basin, especially among young people,"" said Ferial Sami Farzin, general director of ADCAM. ""Our goal is to strive to improve the quality of life and release the potential of the rural population so that they become leaders in the vanguard in support of their own development.""
Under the terms of the grant contract, 50 percent of the money will be used for construction and the other 50 percent will be used to fit the building with equipment -- such as computers, chairs, tables, instruments, and blackboards. ADCAM will shoulder all operating costs, relying on tuition fees and voluntary contributions for its funding. Under the terms of the contract, as well, at least 50 percent of the students will receive full scholarships.
The new building will be known as the Masrour Technology Institute. Current plans call for the building to include the following laboratories: design, computer, air- conditioning, language, music, ceramic, textile, chemical, environmental, electronic, and esthetic. The building will have a total floor space of 2,800 square meters.
Initially, courses will be offered in business management, social development facilitation, and environmental technology. By 2003, courses in design, nutrition and air conditioning technology will be added, as the teaching staff is expanded. A number of shorter, basic-level modular courses, in similar subjects, will also be offered.
By offering courses in the morning, afternoon and evening, the Institute hopes to make maximum use of the facility, offering as many sessions as possible. By 2006, the Institute expects to have a full complement of staff, with the capacity to serve approximately 640 students per year in the main subjects, and another 4,350 per year in the shorter, basic-level courses.
""ADCAM serves disadvantaged people who, for the most part, would be without any aid, education or social services if this development project did not exist,"" said Ms. Farzin. ""It is located in the midst of one of the poorest neighborhoods in Manaus, serving people who would have no other opportunity to develop their innate capacities if this project wasn't placed in this region.""
Established 16 year ago, ADCAM's first project was an orphanage. With a mandate to operate following Baha'i principles, ADCAM soon added other programs focused on helping the young people of Manaus. Currently, ADCAM operates three major programs: an elementary school, a youth leadership project, and a supervised youth service project. These programs currently serve more than 700 youth.
""In all of our programs, the overriding goal is to balance material instruction with individual spiritual and moral education in order to help the people of the Amazon develop their innate capacities and become self-sustaining in their social and economic development,"" said Ms. Farzin. ""We strive to fit these programs into a context of the needs of the region, based on our long experience with other organizations here, while at the same time following Baha'i principles in our operation and activities.""
The grant contract was signed at a ceremony on 21 September 2001 at the seat of the Ministry of Education in Brasilia. Present were various federal and state authorities, including Brazil's Minister of Education, Professor Paulo Renato.
ADCAM was represented by Ms. Farzin and invited guests Carlos Alberto Silva, representing the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Brazil, and Guitty Milani, representing the Masrour Association, a donor for the project in Manaus.
Ms. Farzin added that the Institute will expand its staff considerably in the next few years and she said she hoped that Baha'is around the world with appropriate backgrounds will apply to offer service at the Institute.
More information on ADCAM is available at http://www.bahai.org/article-1-8-1-24.html.",MANAUS,,Brazil
141,2001-11-25,[],Baha'is issue statement on education and freedom of belief,"MADRID — The Baha'i International Community presented a statement, entitled ""Belief and Tolerance: Lights Amidst the Darkness,"" for the International Consultative Conference on School Education in relation with Freedom of Religion and Belief, Tolerance and Non-discrimination, a United Nations conference held in Madrid on 23-25 November 2001. The full text of the statement follows below:
The human spirit must be free to know.  Apprehending who we are, for what purpose we exist, and how we should live our lives, is a basic impulse of human consciousness.  This quest for self-understanding and meaning is the essence of life itself.  The innate and fundamental aspiration to investigate reality is thus a right and an obligation of every human being.  It is for this reason that the Baha'i teachings affirm that the ""conscience of man is sacred and to be respected.""(1)
To search for truth--to see with one's ""own eyes and not through the eyes of others""--is to undertake a process of spiritual discovery with a keen sense of justice and openness.(2)  It is by its very nature a process that is creative and transformative; if pursued with sincerity and fairness, it can bestow upon the seeker of knowledge ""a new eye, a new ear, a new heart, and a new mind.""(3)  The rational soul is thereby awakened to the capacities of kindness, forbearance, and compassion that lie within it.  Clearly, the human yearning for truth is a power that cannot be shackled, for without the freedom to know, human nature remains the prisoner of instinct, ignorance and desire.
In the midst of an age convulsed by moral crisis and social disintegration, the need for understanding about who we are as human beings is vital to the achievement of lasting peace and well-being.  Historically, such insight about human existence and behavior has been provided by religion.  Its indispensable function in addressing the universal inclination towards transcendence, and its essential role in civilizing human character throughout the ages, have been central to defining human identity as well as promoting social order.  Through its cultivation of humanity's spiritual nature, religion has ennobled the lives of peoples everywhere and has engendered cohesion and unity of purpose within and across societies.  Religion, in a very real sense, provides the warp and woof of the social fabric--the shared beliefs and moral vision that unite people into communities and that give tangible direction and meaning to individual and collective life.  The right to exercise freedom of conscience in the matters of religion and belief is therefore not only crucial to satisfying the spiritual promptings of the aspiring soul, but to the enterprise of building harmonious and equitable patterns of living.
Coercion in matters of faith vitiates the very principles of religion.  For commitment can only be born of belief that is freely chosen.  The right to freedom of thought, conscience and belief now codified in international human rights instruments directly finds its roots in the scriptures of the world's religions.  This fact should assure each of us that truth need not be feared, as it has many facets and shelters all of our diverse expressions of faith.  If, after all, people of religious faith believe that the Creator is eternal and the center of all existence, then they must also believe that the unfettered and genuine search for truth will lead to truth.
The elimination of all barriers to the free exploration, acceptance, and expression of religious belief is critical to the objective of creating a universal culture of human rights.  However, to clear the way for a constructive dialogue about the role of religion in establishing social justice, an historical accounting must be taken.  That religion has been responsible for immense suffering cannot be denied.  Much darkness and confusion can be attributed to those who have appropriated the symbols and instruments of religion for their own selfish purposes.  Fanaticism and conflict poison the wells of tolerance and represent corrupt expressions of true religious values.  Consequently, vigilance is necessary in safeguarding the transformative power of religion from the forces of extreme orthodoxy on one hand, and irresponsible freedom on the other.
""The purpose of religion,"" Baha'u'llah states ""...is to establish unity and concord amongst the peoples of the world; make it not the cause of dissension and strife.""(4)  In unity--a unity that embraces and honors the full diversity of humankind--all problems can be solved.  When applied on a universal basis, the teaching that we should treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated, an ethic variously repeated in all the great religions, will undoubtedly reveal the salutary power of unity.  The building of a global society based on cooperation, reciprocity, and genuine concern for others is the ultimate expression of unified action.  In short, the core spiritual values held in common by the world's religions contain within them the principal means for the reconciliation and advancement of the earth's peoples.  Through these values and the commitment they inspire, ""Minds, hearts and all human forces are reformed, perfections are quickened, sciences, discoveries and investigations are stimulated afresh, and everything appertaining to the virtues of the human world is revitalized.""(5)
In order to play its part in overcoming the prejudices and suspicions now afflicting the world's faith communities, religious leadership must devote attention to these commonly shared spiritual precepts rather than doctrinal differences or claims of exclusivity.  Let each religion demonstrate its capacity to guide the world's inhabitants to peaceful coexistence, moral rectitude and mutual understanding, rather than spreading enmity, fear and intolerance.  The recent trend toward interfaith dialogue around the globe offers a positive example of how disparate communities can work together to broaden vision and shape public discourse in a unifying way.  Religious leaders are uniquely placed to draw attention to the potentialities and promise of the present moment in human affairs, and challenge all key societal players to action.  Increasing interchange among spiritual leaders and their followers, especially children, will no doubt lead to new understandings of what is possible for human beings and how peaceful patterns of collective life can be nurtured.  ""Shut your eyes to estrangement, then fix your gaze upon unity,"" is Baha'u'llah's counsel.  ""Cleave tenaciously unto that which will lead to the well-being and tranquillity of all mankind. This span of earth is but one homeland and one habitation.""(6)
For the global Baha'i community, the protection of human freedoms is part of a larger spiritual undertaking of fostering a set of attitudes and practices that truly release human potential.  Genuine social progress, it believes, can only flow from spiritual awareness and the inculcation of virtue.  From this perspective, the task of creating a universal ethos of tolerance is intimately bound up with a process of moral and spiritual development.
Education, then, emerges as an indispensable tool--a tool of active moral learning.  To accomplish the broad objectives of ensuring the ""full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity"" and promoting ""understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial, ethnic or religious groups,"" education must strive to develop an integrated set of human capabilities--intellectual, artistic, social, moral and spiritual.(7)  There is no other way to raise up positive social actors who are builders of amity and agents of service and probity.  ""Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value,"" Baha'u'llah urges, ""Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.""(8)  These ""treasures"" must be consciously developed because even though nobility, goodness and beauty are innate aspects of our nature, human beings can fall prey to inclinations that corrupt the inner self and quench the light of love.
Educational curricula cannot therefore be solely concerned with the knowledge of physical and social phenomena, but must also be directed toward the goal of moral and spiritual empowerment.  As a consequence of the deep connection between individual and social well-being, programs of education need to instill in every child a two-fold moral purpose.  The first relates to the process of personal transformation--of intellectual, material and spiritual growth.  The second concerns the complex challenge of transforming the structures and processes of society itself.  To pursue this dual purpose of individual and collective transformation, specific moral capabilities must be developed.  The capabilities of a moral person encompass the concepts, values, attitudes, and skills that enable the person to make appropriate moral choices and to promote creative and cooperative patterns of human interaction.(9) Underpinning all such capabilities is a commitment to discover and apply truth in every domain of human endeavor.  Since moral behavior is a concrete expression of humanity's spiritual nature, moral education efforts should draw in a systematic way on both the methods of science and the insights of religion.
An integral feature of any educational initiative having a moral and spiritual focus must be the notion of the oneness and interdependence of the human race.  Oneness and diversity are complementary and inseparable.  That human consciousness necessarily operates through an infinite diversity of individual minds and motivations detracts in no way from its essential unity.  Indeed, it is precisely an inhering diversity that distinguishes unity from homogeneity or uniformity.  Hence, acceptance of the concept of unity in diversity implies the development of a global consciousness, a sense of world citizenship, and a love for all of humanity.  It induces every individual to realize that, since the body of humankind is one and indivisible, each member of the human race is born into the world as a trust of the whole and has a responsibility to the whole.  It further suggests that if a peaceful international community is to emerge, then the complex and varied cultural expressions of humanity must be allowed to develop and flourish, as well as to interact with one another in ever-changing patterns of civilization.  ""The diversity in the human family,"" the Baha'i writings emphasize, ""should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.""(10)
The rich religious heritage of humankind can also be viewed through the lens of unity.  Baha'u'llah states:  ""There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God.""(11) The world's religions can thus be seen to be one in their nature and purpose with each being a wellspring of knowledge, energy and inspiration.  They each have served to unlock a wider range of capacities within human consciousness and society--a process that has impelled the human race toward moral and spiritual maturity.  Accordingly, curricula exploring the history and teachings of religion may wish to highlight the complementary aims and functions of the world's faith systems as well as the theological and moral threads that link them.  In this regard, the right to investigate religion and the spiritual roots of human motivation can be understood to be a vital element of an integrating framework of collaboration and conciliation.
The promotion of tolerance and mutual understanding among the diverse segments of the human family cannot be a passive or rhetorical exercise.  All forms of provincialism, all insularities and prejudices must be directly confronted.  It is unfortunately the case that religious prejudice is a particularly virulent influence that continues to block human progress.  Overcoming its corrosive effects will require deliberate and sustained effort.  Toward this end, innovative and substantive programs of education are essential.  But so too is an attitude of true humility among all those who believe in a loving and almighty Creator.
Let us be assured, and let it be communicated to the world's children, that it is possible to both tread the path of religious faith and to be tolerant.  Civilization's future course depends on it.  In the words of Baha'u'llah, ""observe tolerance and righteousness, which are two lights amidst the darkness of the world and two educators for the edification of mankind.""(12)


'Abdu'l-Baha, A Traveller's Narrative (Wilmette:  Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1980), p. 91.


Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words (Wilmette:  Baha'i  Publishing Trust, 1985), p. 4.


Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1983), p. 196.


Tablets of Baha'u'llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas  (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1988), p. 129.


'Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace  (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1995), p. 278.


Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 67.


Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.


Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1983), p. 260.


The educational philosophy of Nuúr University, the second largest private institution of higher learning in Bolivia and Baha'i-inspired, is largely based on this idea of moral capabilities.


'Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks,  (London: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1972), p. 53.


Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p 217.


Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 36.",MADRID,,Spain
142,2001-12-09,[],"In Norway, interfaith coalition commits to principles of religious freedom","OSLO, Norway — In a document signing ceremony on 8 November 2001, an interfaith coalition composed of the major religious groups here, including the Norwegian Baha'i community, made a commitment to the principles of religious tolerance embodied in the Oslo Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief.
The action was significant because of the diversity of religious groups that participated and committed themselves to upholding religious tolerance in Norway, said Britt Strandlie Thoresen, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Norway.
""There were 25 groups that signed the Declaration, and they included religious organizations from a very wide range of perspectives,"" said Ms. Thoresen, who was also head of the event's organizing committee. ""There were representatives of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, humanism and other groups, as well as various denominations within Christianity.
""This was really a very historic event because we've never had such a diversity of groups come together like this before,"" said Ms. Thoresen.
The Oslo Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief was drafted and adopted by a coalition of governments and non- governmental organizations here in August 1998 at an international conference on religious freedom. Among the participants in that conference was the Baha'i International Community.  Representatives of 25 religions in Norway signed the Oslo Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief at a dignified ceremony held at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters on 8 November 2001.Designed to give support to United Nations efforts to promote religious tolerance, the Declaration specifically affirms that ""every human being has a responsibility to condemn discrimination and intolerance based on religions and belief, and to apply religion or belief in support of human dignity and peace"" and gives recognition to the idea that ""religions and beliefs teach peace and good will.""
""The Oslo Declaration creates the obligation to work together for religious freedom, tolerance and mutual respect,"" said Hilde Frafjord Johnsen, Norwegian Minister of International Development, in a speech at the ceremony. ""It represents an important step, also internationally, in the direction of actualizing the United Nations' instruments in this area.""
""Just now, in these days we fully see the importance of work for tolerance, equality and respect across old lines of division and conflicts,"" Ms. Johnsen continued. ""Tuesday, the 11th of September, the day that has been burned into our consciousness, has become a turning point. Our task will be to ensure that it becomes a turning point under the sign of reconciliation, and not allow the forces of negativity -- even if they are ever so strong -- to decide which direction our lives and our global community shall take.""
The signing ceremony was initiated by the Cooperation Council of Religions and Life-Stance Communities and the Oslo Coalition of Freedom of Religion or Belief. The Baha'i community of Norway has been a member of both groups. The ceremony took place at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and was observed by more than 100 guests, including officials of the Norwegian government, members of parliament, representatives from some 16 foreign embassies, and representatives of various human rights groups and academic organizations.
In a speech at the signing ceremony, Anne Sender, a representative of the Jewish Community of Norway, noted that the country's official policies on religion had long been dominated by its acceptance of Christianity as the state religion, but added that today it could not longer isolate itself from international trends.
""Today, the greatest challenge for religious and ethical communities is precisely the meeting with modernity, with individual freedom, and the great population movements,"" said Ms. Sender, who was also coordinator of the 1998 Oslo Conference. ""In these three main areas, there are subjects so volatile that if they really do explode, it would be a matter of our existence or nonexistence as a society of values."" We have to place ourselves in a global picture that is based on reality.""
Members of the Baha'i community of Norway contributed to the success of the event in a number of ways. Baha'i pianist Trond Schau played as people arrived for the ceremony and Maiken Schau, also a Baha'i, played a flute solo during the signing ceremony itself.
After the ceremony, Mr. Gunnar Stalsett, the Bishop of Oslo and president of the Oslo Coalition of Freedom of Religion or Belief, thanked the participants, stating that he would give a copy of the signed protocol to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, when he comes to Oslo on 10 December to receive the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the United Nations.",OSLO,,Norway
143,2001-12-11,[],Values and education seen as key to sustainable development,"HLUBOKA NAD VLTAVOU, Czech Republic — While heads of state were meeting at the United Nations Millennium Summit, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) announced a partnership with an organization founded by a young Baha'i to help people in developing countries make greater use of the Internet.
At a New York press conference 7 September 2000, UNOPS announced the launch of the Digital Service Corps, a private-sector partnership with the nonprofit Global Technology Organization (GTO), whose founder and president is Neysan Rassekh. Digital Service Corps will send volunteers to developing countries and countries in transition, to conduct intensive training programs in the use of the Internet as a community development tool.
Reinhart Helmke, executive director of UNOPS, introduced Mr. Rassekh as a ""young social entrepreneur of the dot-com generation"" who is bridging two ""gaps"" through the Digital Service Corps - the generation gap at the United Nations and the digital divide in the developing world.
Now in his twenties, Mr. Rassekh was born in Portland, Oregon.  His family left the United States when he was four years old to settle in West Africa, where they helped to strengthen the Baha'i communities in Senegal, the Gambia and Mali.  He later attended Maxwell Baha'i School in Canada. Mr. Rassekh holds a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of Business and a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on the use of technology for development in Africa.
""My generation of Americans grew up taking computers for granted. By the time we got to college, most of us were regularly doing research on the Internet,"" Mr. Rassekh said.
""To work in development at the grassroots, my family lives in Mali, one of the poorest countries on the planet. I have seen first hand how extreme the digital divide really is. I know there are thousands of people like me who would gladly give four to six weeks of their time to personally contribute to closing that gap. That is why I am sure that GTO's Digital Service Corps will be a success.""
UNOPS reported that in May, GTO completed a successful pilot project in Mali. A team of three professors and 30 students from the University of Pennsylvania, armed with refurbished computer equipment and the accessories needed to connect to the Internet, spent four weeks in Mali and trained 120 carefully selected professors, primary- and secondary-school teachers, students and teacher trainers. The team established four computer centers, now operated by the Victory Foundation, a Mali-based organization whose mission is to promote innovation in public education.
The day after the press conference, Mr. Rassekh introduced President Alpha Oumar Konare of Mali at a roundtable discussion on public-private partnerships convened by UNOPS and Global Leaders for Tomorrow of the World Economic Forum. At a news conference after the roundtable, the president thanked the Global Technology Organization for its efforts and the impact it had in his country.
Moreover, contacts at the United Nations Millennium Assembly and the State of the World Forum, which was also taking place in New York that week, afforded Mr. Rassekh the opportunity to meet with several heads of state and foreign ministers. Five of them invited Mr. Rassekh to look at implementing GTO projects in their countries in the coming months.",HLUBOKA NAD VLTAVOU,,Czech Republic
144,2001-12-19,[],United Nations General Assembly again expresses concern over continuing discrimination against Iran's Baha'is,"UNITED NATIONS — For the 16th time in 17 years, the United Nations General Assembly has expressed ""concern"" over human rights violations in Iran, specifically noting the ""still-existing discrimination"" against the Baha'i community of Iran.
By a vote of 72 to 49, with 46 abstentions, the Assembly passed a resolution on 19 December 2001 that calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to ""eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religious grounds"" and, more specifically, asks the Iranian Government to fully implement previous United Nations recommendations that the Baha'is be granted complete freedom to practice their religion.
The resolution followed a report issued in August by the UN Human Rights Commission's special representative on Iran, Professor Maurice Copithorne, that indicated that the 300,000-member Iranian Baha'i community continues to experience discrimination in the areas of education, employment, travel, housing and the practice of religious activities.
More specifically, Prof. Copithorne said that Baha'i property continues to be subject to confiscation. He indicated that a number of Baha'i families were forced to leave their homes and farmlands in the first months of 2001 in Kata, Buyr-Ahmand. In 2000, he said, information was received that four buildings were confiscated in Tehran, three in Shiraz and one in Isfahan.
""It is also reported that the issuance of business licenses to Baha'is has been delayed and that some stores and business owned by Baha'is have been closed,"" said Prof. Copithorne.
Prof. Copithorne also said that Baha'is continue to be denied access to higher education in legally recognized public institutions. ""Recently three classrooms used by the Baha'is for their own educational purposes were seized,"" he said.
""Baha'is are still, in effect, prevented from participation in religious gatherings or educational activities,"" wrote Prof. Copithorne.
In its resolution, the Assembly decided to continue monitoring Iran next year, ""paying particular attention to further developments, including the situation of the Baha'is and other minority groups.""
Since the Islamic Revolutionary regime took power in Iran in 1979, Baha'is have been harassed and persecuted solely on account of their religious beliefs. More than 200 Baha'is have been killed, hundreds have been imprisoned, and thousands have been deprived of jobs, education or property. In 1983, all Baha'i institutions were banned, and they remain officially closed.
Although the number of executions and imprisonments has lessened in recent years, Baha'is in Iran remain without any official recognition or legal protection that might protect them from discrimination, said Bani Dugal, a Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations.
""We see these on-going actions -- the imprisonment of Baha'is, the confiscation of property, the deprivation of education, the restrictions on travel and worship, and the banning of Baha'i institutions -- as evidence of the continuing campaign of the government of Iran to strangle the Baha'i community of that country,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""The nature of the persecution is clearly based on religious belief,"" she continued. ""Baha'is have repeatedly been offered relief from persecution if they were prepared to recant their Faith.
""So Baha'is continue to be viewed as 'unprotected infidels,' by the Government, without any form of legal protection, even though Iran is a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which guarantees freedom of religious belief.
""The Baha'is seek no special privileges,"" Ms. Dugal said. ""They desire only their rights under the International Bill of Human Rights, of which Iran is a signatory, including the right to life, the right to profess and practice their religion, the right to liberty and security of person, and the right to education and work.""",UNITED NATIONS,,
145,2001-12-19,[],Tanzanian Baha'i school receives grant for new girls dorm,"IRINGA, Tanzania —  The Ruaha Secondary School, a Baha'i-sponsored school, has received a two-year, US$122,000 grant to build a new girls' dormitory capable of housing 120 students.
The grant, for 141,630 Euros, was given by the Unity Foundation, a Baha'i-inspired development agency in Luxembourg. The first installment of the grant was sent on 19 December 2001.
""One of the main goals of the Unity Foundation is to support the education of girls and women,"" said Alex Schoos, treasurer of the Foundation. ""And that is why we wanted to support the project at Ruaha School.""
Located in Iringa, the Ruaha School currently has about 400 students. Founded in 1986, the school is owned and operated by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Tanzania, the elected governing body of the Baha'i community here.
The school's primary mission is to serve the wider Tanzanian community by providing quality education at an affordable cost. One of its major goals is to provide education for girls. More than two-thirds of its students are girls, in a country where fewer than half the students enrolled in secondary schools are female.
""We are really focusing on the education of girls, which is very important here, where traditionally only boys are educated, where traditionally boys are put first,"" said Becky Fairley, Ruaha's principal, in a recent interview. ""We try to encourage girls, to improve their performance. We believe this contributes to raising up the status of women. It changes the way they raise children, and this makes a tremendous difference in the community.""
The new dormitory will provide 1,040 square meters of living space, including a 405-square-meter courtyard. Currently, the school has four smaller dormitories that house 260 girls. The new building will increase the school's housing capacity by 46 percent.
The Unity Foundation, a non-governmental organization which was founded in 1991 by a group of Baha'is, has also recently provided funding to a health outreach project in Guyana and a non-profit printing operation in Zaire that produces low-cost educational materials for community development and projects throughout the country.
Funding for the Unity Foundation comes from donors in Europe, mostly from within Luxembourg. Many donors are Baha'is. For the construction of the new girls' dormitory the Foundation received a two-thirds matching grant from the Government of Luxembourg.
For more information on the Ruaha Secondary School, go to:
http://www.onecountry.org/e123/e12304as_Ruaha_School.htm
For more information on the Unity Foundation, go to:
http://www.unityfoundation.lu",IRINGA,,Tanzania
146,2002-01-02,[],"In India, the world's largest school succeeds by focusing on globalism and morality","LUCKNOW, India —  Fresh out of college and newly married, Jagdish Gandhi knew some 42 years ago that his main goal in life was to serve humanity. And he felt educating children would be a good way to do that.
So he borrowed 300 rupees (the equivalent of less than $10), rented a couple of rooms, and founded City Montessori School in this historic provincial capital in northern India. The school's first class consisted of five students.
Little did Mr. Gandhi imagine that it would one day become the largest private school in the world -- or that it would also become widely known for its distinctive emphasis on teaching students the value of world citizenship and religious tolerance.
""There are hundreds of other well-established schools here,"" said Mr. Gandhi, 66, who founded with his wife Bharti Gandhi in 1959. ""So we never realized we were going to be the biggest school in the world -- or that we would be so focused on imparting educational globalism.""
With an enrolment of 22,612 students in 1999, CMS, as the school is commonly known, won a place in the year 2000 Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest school by enrollment. It now has over 25,000 students, in grade levels ranging from pre-primary to college.
According to parents and faculty here, the high enrollment statistic is not a fluke or the anomalous reflection of something like exceedingly low tuition fees or a high achieving sports team. Rather, they said, CMS has been supremely successful at attracting students largely for two reasons: 1) its reputation for academic excellence, and, 2) its distinctive program of moral education.
In terms of academics, CMS students consistently earn top rankings in government examinations and places in prestigious colleges and universities throughout India. For the year 2000-2001 school year, for example, out of 1,192 CMS students taking the national standardized Indian school certificate examination, 1,179 passed and 1,099 of those passed in the ""first division,"" with aggregate marks over 60 percent, which is considered to be ""honors."" Some 79 students secured 90 percent marks and above.  Jagdish Gandhi and Bharti Gandhi, founders of the City Montessori School in Lucknow, India.| They are standing in front of the main building of Gomti Nagar branch of the School, one of 20 branches in Lucknow. A quote from Bahá’u’lláh, ""The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens"" is on the awning behind them.Beyond academics, however, parents also say they also choose to send their children to CMS because of its singular effort to provide students with the intellectual, moral and spiritual tools for success in an increasingly globalized world -- a world in which the ability to get along in harmony with people from all religions, ethnic groups and nationalities will be of supreme importance.
""Exposure to globalism""
The school's emphasis on this mission is clearly apparent. Its prospectus advertises ""international interaction and exposure to globalism,"" while banners and posters at CMS's various school buildings proclaim slogans like: ""Every child is potentially the light of the world."" Other banners emphasize principles of interfaith harmony and acceptance.
""Why do so many parents send their children here? The reason, I feel, is that parents want their children to be good,"" said Mr. Gandhi. ""Yes, they want them to have a good education. They want good results. And we give that. But they also want them to have good morals. And we strive to give that, too.
""Parents also know that their children will be exposed to an international atmosphere,"" Mr. Gandhi added, noting that one distinct feature of the school is its hosting of various international conferences, on topics ranging from music and culture to computers and robotics, which bring many visitors from overseas.
""The children here are inhaling a vision -- a vision of globalism,"" continued Mr. Gandhi. ""So that they can take up a position where they can change the world. I want our graduates to be self-motivating agents of social change, serving the best interests of the community and the world as a whole.""
Technically speaking, CMS is not so much a school as a school district, with some 20 branches spread throughout Lucknow. Each branch is a small, self-contained campus, usually with a main school building and several auxiliary structures. On the average, each branch hosts about 1,250 students.
Some of its campuses were built specifically for CMS, and the school's infrastructure is among the most modern of the many private schools in Lucknow, if not India. Further, in their quality of construction and overall design and layout, the many campuses here might more accurately be compared to those of a small college or university rather than a combined elementary and secondary school.
The curriculum covers all the traditional subjects required by students to pass India's state examinations, but with an additional emphasis on moral education. And at CMS, moral education is very much equated with the concept of world citizenship and interreligious harmony.
The source of moral values
The moral values promoted at CMS are drawn directly from the teachings of the Baha'i Faith. In their early life together, Mr. and Mrs. Gandhi were greatly influenced by the humanitarian ideas of Mahatma Gandhi -- an influence that, in part, led Mr. Gandhi to found CMS. In 1974, both Mr. and Mrs. Gandhi became Baha'is. Since that time they have increasingly introduced the Faith's spiritual and social principles into the moral and spiritual curriculum at CMS.
This is not to say, however, that the school imposes the Baha'i Faith on its students. Indeed, if anything, the school seeks to uphold the values taught by all religions and to respect the beliefs of all students and their parents, who reflect the diversity of Lucknow itself, which is composed of roughly 70 percent Hindus, 25 percent Moslems, and 5 percent Christians and Sikhs.
""We respect every religion in our schools,"" said Bonita Joel, principal at CMS's Indira Nagar branch, who is herself a Christian. ""No one religion is taught in our school. It is a secular school. But we teach our children to respect every religion.""
Ms. Joel and others at CMS see this emphasis on religious pluralism as strongly linked to the school's emphasis on globalism.
""We basically believe -- the school professes -- to break down narrow domestic walls and to reach out to other nations and cultures,"" said Ms. Joel. ""We feel with globalization taking place, the students can no longer be confined in their thinking to just their neighborhood or culture or their nations. They must reach out to the broader world.""
Ms. Sadhna Chooramani, the principal of the CMS Chowk branch, believes that emphasis on globalism and religious tolerance very much helps to prepare its students for success in the modern world.
""Our students have no inhibitions about going out and working with others, whatever their religion or background,"" said Ms. Chooramani, who is 38 and a Hindu. ""They accept people as they are. The feeling of being one with the human race is deep-rooted.""
Ms. Chooramani believes that CMS's long-standing promotion of tolerance and oneness has contributed to the overall sense of communal harmony in Lucknow. In 1992, when riots broke out in many urban centres after fundamentalists destroyed the Babri Mosque in the city of Ayodhya, Lucknow escaped serious disturbances and it is widely acknowledged as a peaceful city.
With such a large student body, and its high level of parental involvement, CMS is almost certainly a contributor to that sense of harmony in Lucknow, Ms. Chooramani said.
""The people of Lucknow have started feeling that this concept of oneness of mankind is the only way by which we can have progress toward harmony and peace and a better way of living,"" she said.
Ms. Chooramani organized a neighborhood meeting in 1992 during the Ayodhya crisis and made an appeal for calm. ""I said that there is no religion that teaches this kind of violence,"" she said.
Other branches of CMS likewise held similar meetings or activities during that period, and the school as a whole organized a general peace march. ""We had hundreds of children marching, with a banner saying 'God is one and all mankind is one,' "" said Mrs. Bharti Gandhi, who serves as the Director of the CMS system. ""And at that time, there were no casualties in Lucknow, even though in other places Hindus were killing Muslims and Muslims were killing Hindus.""
The school seeks to reinforce its ideal of internationalism not only through its curriculum but, as noted by Mr. Gandhi, by sponsoring various international conferences. On several of its larger campuses, hostel-type dormitories and food service facilities make hosting such events possible at a relatively low cost.
Each year now, the school hosts a variety of international events, including ""Macfair International,"" a mathematics and computer fair; ""Celesta International,"" an international music and culture festival; the ""International Astronomy Olympiad""; a ""Science Olympiad"" on math, computers and robotics; an ""International School-to-School Experience Exchange""; and a ""Children's International Summer Village Camp."" In 2000, CMS organized and/or hosted nine such events, and 11 were scheduled in 2001.
The school also strives for educational innovation. It has adopted various management practices, such as Quality Circles, that encourage the generation and refinement of new ideas. It also has its own ""innovation wing,"" a 25- employee unit dedicated entirely to researching, developing, and bringing into the CMS system new teaching methods. In that effort, the researchers draw on ideas both from around India and abroad.
For their part, parents are pleased with the direction the school has taken. The school's enrolment continues to climb, reaching 25,172 this year.
""There are a number of schools that give a good education, but this one goes beyond, giving all of the best features: personal development, good academics, and moral values,"" said Manoj Agrawal, a 35-year-old electrical engineer, who has two children at CMS.
""They bring out the best in the child,"" added Deepa Agrawal, his wife. ""They are given opportunities and the right encouragement.""
The Agrawals and other parents also praised the school's emphasis on strong relations between parents and teachers. Teachers are required to make periodic home visits and parents are invited to regular functions at the school. ""It develops a kind of rapport between the teacher and the parent,"" said Mrs. Agrawal.
Om Prakesh Patel, a 32-year-old landowner and farmer from the Kaimur District some 390 kilometers away in Bihar State, felt so strongly about enrolling his son in CMS that he moved in with his wife's parents here in Lucknow -- something that goes completely against tradition.
He and his wife, Sunita, decided on CMS because of its academic reputation, the high level of parent-teacher interaction, and its emphasis on moral education.
""The moral emphasis is a plus point,"" said Mr. Patel, whose nine-year-old son Harsh has been attending CMS for five years. ""We are a secular country and communalism is rising in India. So we feel we need a more religiously tolerant society. And moral ethics in this materialistic age are very important.""",LUCKNOW,,India
147,2001-12-23,[],United States Baha'i community issues major statement on the Destiny of America and the Promise of World Peace,"NEW YORK —  Citing the current atmosphere of ""world turmoil,"" the Baha'i community of the United States has issued a major statement offering a perspective on the destiny of America as ""the promoter of world peace.""
Published 23 December 2001 as a full-page advertisement in The New York Times,, the statement says that Baha'is believe the American nation ""will evolve, through tests and trials to become a land of spiritual distinction and leadership, a champion of justice and unity among all peoples and nations, and a powerful servant of the cause of everlasting peace.""
Drawing on earlier Baha'i statements and passages from the Baha'i writings, the 645-word document identifies six prerequisites for world peace: ""universal acceptance"" of the oneness of humanity; the eradication of racism; the full emancipation of women; the elimination of ""inordinate disparity"" between the rich and the poor; an end to ""unbridled nationalism""; and harmony between religious leaders.
Although the statement does not specifically mention the terrorist attacks on 11 September or the American Government's current war against terrorism, the statement was designed to offer a new perspective on these and related events, said Robert Henderson, Secretary General of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States of America, the community's governing body.
""The National Spiritual Assembly felt that the nation would benefit from having a new understanding of its destiny as a nation in terms of the Baha'i vision of the mission of America as being ordained by God,"" said Dr. Henderson. ""Our writings are replete with insights about the role of America as an agent of peace in a world that is becoming a single neighborhood.""
After an introduction that highlights Baha'u'llah's call for the unification of humanity, the statement draws on a passage from the Baha'i writings penned in 1938 by Shoghi Effendi, who led the Baha'i Faith from 1921 to 1957.
""The world is moving on,'"" says the passage. ""'Its events are unfolding ominously and with bewildering rapidity. The whirlwind of its passions is swift and alarmingly violent. The New World is insensibly drawn into its vortex....
""The world is contracting into a neighborhood,"" the passage continues. ""America, willingly or unwillingly, must face and grapple with this new situation. For purposes of national security, let alone any humanitarian motive, she must assume the obligations imposed by this newly created neighborhood. Paradoxical as it may seem, her only hope of extricating herself from the perils gathering around her is to become entangled in that very web of international association which the Hand of an inscrutable Providence is weaving.""
Said Dr. Henderson: ""These are the things that Shoghi Effendi talked about some 60 years ago -- and we felt we are now seeing them come true before our very eyes.
""Our writings also make clear that peace isn't just a question of signing treaties or diplomatic protocols,"" said Dr. Henderson. ""It involves a whole system of spiritual principles -- an architecture of peace -- that includes the oneness of human race, the abolition of racism, the equality of women, the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty and so on.
""So our purpose is to indicate to people the main elements of peace and to show that America has a special role in its establishment,"" said Dr. Henderson.
The statement closes with lines from a prayer by 'Abdu'l- Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah, who led the Baha'i Faith from 1892 to 1921.""We felt that prayer made a wonderful statement about the nation assuming its God-ordained role of international leadership,"" said Dr. Henderson.
Dr. Henderson said the statement had already received a number of positive responses. ""We're getting many letters and phone calls,"" he said. ""They are in some cases effusive in their praise, calling it a 'grand vision,' or 'so comprehensive.'""
The statement will be published in other major newspapers in the coming weeks, said Dr. Henderson. The US Baha'i community also plans to deliver it to members of Congress, state governors, selected leaders of thought, and, at a point in the near future, the President of the United States, he said.
The entire statement, as published inThe New York Times,  follows below:
The Destiny of America and The Promise of World Peace
At this time of world turmoil, the United States Baha'i community offers a perspective on the destiny of America as the promoter of world peace.
More than a hundred years ago, Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith, addressing heads of state, proclaimed that the age of maturity for the entire human race had come. The unity of humankind was now to be established as the foundation of the great peace that would mark the highest stage in humanity's spiritual and social evolution. Revolutionary and world-shaking changes were therefore inevitable.
The Baha'i writings state:
The world is moving on. Its events are unfolding ominously and with bewildering rapidity. The whirlwind of its passions is swift and alarmingly violent. The New World is insensibly drawn into its vortex.... Dangers, undreamt of and unpredictable, threaten it both from within and from without. Its governments and peoples are being gradually enmeshed in the coils of the world's recurrent crises and fierce controversies.... The world is contracting into a neighborhood. America, willingly or unwillingly, must face and grapple with this new situation. For purposes of national security, let alone any humanitarian motive, she must assume the obligations imposed by this newly created neighborhood. Paradoxical as it may seem, her only hope of extricating herself from the perils gathering around her is to become entangled in that very web of international association which the Hand of an inscrutable Providence is weaving.
The American nation, Baha'is believe, will evolve, through tests and trials to become a land of spiritual distinction and leadership, a champion of justice and unity among all peoples and nations, and a powerful servant of the cause of everlasting peace. This is the peace promised by God in the sacred texts of the world's religions.
Establishing peace is not simply a matter of signing treaties and protocols; it is a complex task requiring a new level of commitment to resolving issues not customarily associated with the pursuit of peace.
Universal acceptance of the spiritual principle of the oneness of humankind is essential to any successful attempt to establish world peace.
Racism, one of the most baneful and persistent evils, is a major barrier to peace.
The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality of the sexes, is one of the most important, though less acknowledged, prerequisites of peace.
The inordinate disparity between rich and poor keeps the world in a state of instability, preventing the achievement of peace.
Unbridled nationalism, as distinguished from a sane and legitimate patriotism, must give way to a wider loyalty, to the love of humanity as a whole.
Religious strife, the cause of innumerable wars and conflicts throughout history, is a major obstacle to progress. The challenge facing the world's religious leaders is to contemplate, with hearts filled with compassion and the desire for truth, the plight of humanity, and to ask themselves whether they cannot, in humility before their God, submerge their theological differences in a great spirit of mutual forbearance that will enable them to work together for the advancement of human understanding and peace.
Baha'is pray, ""May this American Democracy be the first nation to establish the foundation of international agreement. May it be the first nation to proclaim the unity of mankind. May it be the first to unfurl the standard of the Most Great Peace.""
During this hour of crisis, we affirm our abiding faith in the destiny of America. We know that the road to its destiny is long, thorny and tortuous, but we are confident that America will emerge from her trials undivided and undefeatable.
- National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States
For more information and for a free copy of the booklet The Promise of World Peace, please visit our Web site at www.us.bahai.org or call us toll free at 1-800-22-UNITE.",NEW YORK,,United States
148,2001-12-23,[],'Fire in the Pacific' conference marks 100th anniversary of the Baha'i Faith in Hawaii,"HONOLULU, HAWAII, United States — More than 1,000 Baha'is from at least 53 nations joined with the Baha'is of the Hawaiian Islands in December for a four-day celebration of the centennial of the establishment of the Baha'i Faith in Hawaii.
Titled ""Fire in the Pacific,"" the conference featured music, dance performances, workshops and speeches that commemorated the history of the Faith in Hawaii -- and looked ahead to its future here and in the Pacific region.
Among other things, conference sessions focused on social issues of concern to the region, including moral and spiritual education for youth and children, the potential contribution of indigenous peoples to world civilization, the use of drama and the arts for positive social change, and diversity training.
The 20-23 December 2001 event received extensive media coverage and was attended by a number of prominent people. Princess Tooa Tosi Malietoa of Samoa extended greetings at the opening session on behalf of her father, His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, the head of state of the independent nation of Samoa. Ka'ulu Kukui Thomas, retired Hawaii State Court Judge and trustee for the Queen Liliuokalani Trust, welcomed the participants on behalf of the Hawaiian people. And Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris greeted conference attendees during a plenary session on Saturday morning.
""A highlight of the gathering was the permeation of all events with a spirit reflecting the cultures of the entire Pacific region,"" said Chris Cholas, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands, the governing council for the Baha'i community in Hawaii. ""There was a great prominence given to indigenous speakers and artists. There were representatives and performers not only from Hawaii but also from the Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian peoples. And many attendees remarked that this great display of diversity and respect for different cultures created a powerful spirit of joy and unity.""
Among the highlights of the conference was a parade on 20 December, by some 600 participants, to the resting place of Agnes Baldwin Alexander, who was the first to bring word of the Baha'i Faith to the Hawaiian Islands -- and, indeed, the entire Pacific region -- in December 1901. Born in Hawaii, the granddaughter of missionaries, Ms Alexander first heard about the Baha'i Faith while on a trip to Europe. Returning to her native Hawaii on 26 December 1901, she devoted the rest of her life to spreading the teachings of Baha'u'llah in the Pacific and later in Japan.
For Emily Chew, a Baha'i from Australia, visiting the resting-place of Ms. Alexander ""felt right because it showed respect"" to those who first brought the Faith to the region. ""It was a humble but wonderful way to begin this historic conference."" Honolulu's top-rated television station KHON gave extensive coverage to the parade, which proved to be a showcase of humanity's diversity.  Dance performances, representing the cultures of the Pacific, were an integral part of the program of the Fire in the Pacific Conference.The conference featured more than 80 workshops, lectures, and performances. Attendees could choose from sessions on topics ranging from a presentation on the successes of a Baha'i vocational schools in Kiribati to discussions on how to better use consultation, a non-adversarial form of decision-making, in Baha'i community life.
There were also numerous presentations by Baha'i artists. Musician and Grammy Award winner K.C. Porter and other local Baha'is ""jammed"" in one of the smaller conference rooms; Australian actor Philip Hinton presented Portals to Freedom, the story of Howard Colby Ives; and Nadema Agard, a community service outreach specialist of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, presented a workshop on the sacred feminine presence in the arts of Native Americans.
In plenary sessions, the focus was largely on how the Baha'i teachings -- such as the equality of women and men and the recognition of humanity's essential oneness -- can be used to benefit communities in the Pacific region.
In a session on 21 December, for example, Dr. Sirus Naraqi, Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean, Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, spoke about the Baha'i writings concerning the Pacific and the similarities between the Teachings of Baha'u'llah and traditional beliefs of the Pacific Islanders. These similarities can easily be used to promote unity and cooperation, he said.
On Sunday, 23 December, the conference sponsored a traditional outdoor Ho'olaule'a, or festival, at the McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Beach Park. The Ho'olaule'a featured top local entertainers Amy Hanaiali'i, Hapa's Barry Flanagan, Martin Pahinui, Sean Na'auao and Ernie Cruz, as well as Mr. Porter, a performer on and the producer of Santana's Grammy Award Winning album ""Supernatural."" The event also featured entertainment by dancers from other Pacific Islands, along with arts, crafts and food booths, and Hawaiian plate lunches.
Attendees came from throughout Hawaii, the Pacific region, the United States, Canada, Alaska, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa for the conference.",HONOLULU,HAWAII,United States
151,2002-01-20,[],World Religion Day celebrated by Baha'i communities around the world,"STUTTGART, Germany — More than 400 people gathered here on 20 January 2002 for a multi-faith discussion on the topic of ""Religions against Violence"" in commemoration of World Religion Day.
The commemoration was one of dozens, if not hundreds, of celebrations of World Religion Day held worldwide this year. Initiated in 1950 as an effort to foster interfaith understanding, World Religion Day is now commemorated worldwide on the third Sunday in January.
The Stuttgart commemoration was sponsored by the Bahá'í community of Germany and held at the Neues Schloss, an 18th Century chateau built for the Wurttemberg Kings. The participants in a panel discussion on the topic of religious violence included Meinhard Tenné of the Central Jewish Council of Germany; Dr. Paul Köppler of the German Buddhist Union; Prof. Urs Baumann, department of theology, University of Tübingen; Dr. Nadeem Elyas, President of the Central Muslim Council of Germany; Dr. Johannes Frühbauer of Hans Küng's Foundation for World Ethics; and Christopher Sprung of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Germany.
The panel discussed both the peace-promoting elements of religions as well as their potential to generate conflict and war. All agreed that world religions, if seen in their true essence, are against violence. ""The motto of the panel was, essentially, that 'true believers are against violence and terror' and 'you should take seriously what your faith is telling you,' "" said Mr. Sprung.
Panelists also noted that competing claims of exclusive truth often prevent religions from establishing a climate of harmony and unity. Prof. Baumann, a Catholic theologian, said the notion that a religion is ""the only path to truth and salvation"" has all too often been considered the ""greatest reason for violence,"" especially when such a claim becomes institutionalized by government or politics.
Dr. Frühbauer emphasized the urgency to recognize a set of ethical principals common to all cultures and religions. This ""minimum set"" should be adopted at large by all to safeguard and foster social progress in times of globalization. Mr. Sprung responded by suggesting that religions in particular must together form a ""maximum set"" of ethical and religious common principles, otherwise the social momentum of any religion would vanish.
Both the Jewish and the Buddhist representative referred to the equity of religions, suggesting that ""religions are like different land maps,"" providing orientation to their followers. Several large regional newspapers reported at length about the event.
A website about World Religion Day and the Stuttgart event exists at  www.weltreligionstag.de . The site was called one of the 100 most interesting new websites by Computer Bild, a leading German computer magazine.
Other significant World Religion Day commemorations -- all held on 20 January -- included events in Bulgaria, Mongolia, Pakistan and the United States, where numerous local Bahá'í communities sponsored celebrations. A website dedicated to World Religion Day (www.worldreligionday.com) lists some 15 more countries as having events scheduled for this year, encompassing: Albania, Austria, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Slovakia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Vanuatu.
In Bulgaria, about 45 people gathered at the national Bahá'í Center in Sofia. Participants included followers of diverse religions, academicians, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The program included the reading of prayers by members of various religions, including the Bahá'í Faith,  Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. After the devotional program,  a talk entitled ""Religious Tolerance - Historical Scope and Modern Understanding"" was given by Theodore Bourilkov, member of  National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Bulgaria, which sponsored the event.
In Mongolia, more than 100 people gathered in Ulan Bator to commemorate the Day. Representatives from the Bahá'í Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam were present, as were several government officials and four lecturers from the religious studies department of the national university.
""The theme of the gathering was the 'oneness of humanity,' and the program consisted of short prayers from each faith, interspersed with devotional music, and short talks,"" said Dulamsuren, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Mongolia, which sponsored the event. The event was covered by two national television channels.
In Pakistan, more than 50 people gathered for a program at Bahá'í Hall in Karachi. A number of members of Pakistan's Zikri community participated. The Zikri community is a peaceful Sufi sect of Islam.
In the United States, events were scheduled in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Utah, among other places, according to the World Religion Day website.
World Religion Day was initiated in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Bahá'ís celebrate the day by hosting discussions, conferences, and other events which foster understanding and communication between the followers of all religions. In 1985, the government of Sri Lanka issued a postage stamp in commemoration of the day.
The purpose of World Religion Day is to call attention to the harmony of spiritual principles and the oneness of the world's religions and to emphasize that world religion is the motivating force for world unity. As stated in Bahá'í scripture: ""...religion should be the cause of love and agreement, a bond to unify all mankind for it is a message of peace and goodwill to man from God"" and ""Religion is the greatest of all means for the establishment of order in the world and for the peaceful contentment of all that dwell therein.""",STUTTGART,,Germany
152,2002-02-27,[],"Latest volume of 'Bahá'í World' features articles on global terrorism, UN Millennium events","HAIFA, Israel — With an article presenting a Bahá'í viewpoint on global terrorism and featuring a report on the Bahá'í International Community's involvement in the United Nations Millennium Summit and related commemorations, the latest volume of ""The Bahá'í World"" is now available from World Centre Publications.
The Bahá'í World 2000-01 is the ninth volume in an annual series prepared by the Bahá'í International Community's Office of Public Information. Written both for a general audience and Bahá'í readers, the volumes present a yearly record of the Community's activities and perspectives. This volume covers the period from April 21 2000 to April 21 2001.
""Our aim is to provide an authoritative and comprehensive survey of the worldwide Bahá'í community's activities during a given year,"" said Ann Boyles, senior editor of the series. ""Our hope is that it will serve as a valuable reference work for both Bahá'ís and the general reader, as well as scholars, journalists and others who may be researching the Bahá'í Faith and its development.""
More specifically, this year's volume includes reports on  the inauguration of the International Teaching Centre Building at the Bahá'í World Centre in January 2001; the Colloquium on Science, Religion, and Development, sponsored by the Bahá'í International Community's Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity in New Delhi in November 2000; and the First International Conference on Modern Religions held at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in December 2000.
Also included are essays that give Bahá'í perspectives on contemporary topics and trends. An essay by Robert Atkinson entitled  ""Culture and the Evolution of Consciousness"" discusses the relationship between the development of culture and humanity's growing awareness of its essential oneness.  ""Symbols of Transformation: The Gardens and Terraces on Mount Carmel,"" by Elham Afnan describes the religious significance of the recently completed garden terraces on Mount Carmel. And a profile of the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women in India looks at  how one Bahá'í-inspired non-governmental organization is promoting the advancement of women through programs that combine practical training and moral education.
Of special interest this year, however, is the World Watch article by Dr. Boyles on global terrorism. Researched and written largely before the terrorist attacks in New York on 11 September 2001, the article discusses the general rise in terrorist activity, summarizes prevailing prescriptions, and offers a Bahá'í point of view for establishing a ""universal framework that can bring real, enduring stability"" to the world.
""Collaboration in the gathering of accurate information through intelligence, the signing of international treaties and protocols, and the application of various kinds of sanctions undoubtedly represent forward movement in efforts to combat terrorism,"" writes Dr. Boyles.
""However, addressing problems such as terrorism in isolation from the many other issues that disrupt and destabilize society will ultimately prove a futile exercise.  Nations must look beyond simply responding separately to disparate problems and move towards the building of a comprehensive international order based on social justice and collective security, in which all can live in dignity.  This will be the most decisive factor in the creation of enduring change.""
The volume's report on the Millennium Summit covers not only the Community's involvement in the September 2000 Summit at the United Nations itself, but also its participation in lead-up events. Specifically, the Community played a significant role in supporting the Millennium Forum for non-governmental organizations, held in May 2000, and Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, held in August of that year.
""It is significant, for example, that a representative of the Bahá'í International Community was one of the co-chairs of the Millennium Forum in May of 2000, and then went on to represent non-governmental organizations before the world leaders gathered at the Millennium Summit in September,"" said Dr. Boyles. ""Our report gives insights into behind-the-scenes activities at all of these events.""
The book's recurring sections include a basic introduction to the Bahá'í community; selections of Bahá'í sacred writings; highlights from messages of the Universal House of Justice and statements of the Bahá'í International Community released during the year; the ""Year in Review,"" chronicling the worldwide activities of the Bahá'í community; an update of the situation of the Bahá'ís in Iran; a progress report on the Mount Carmel Projects at the Bahá'í World Centre; obituaries of prominent Bahá'ís; statistics of the Bahá'í community; a directory of Bahá'í agencies; and a bibliography of selected new publications.
As the book's editors describe, distilling the activities of an entire religious community into a single volume every year is not easy, and the sheer breadth of information prevents it from being comprehensive.
""We gather information from more than 180 national bodies to present this snapshot of the Bahá'í activities,"" said Dr. Boyles. ""We know that we're not going to have everything in it, but the goal is to show trends or representative activities - to provide a record of the pattern of growth of the Bahá'í community.""
That ""pattern of growth"" is demonstrated in a Bahá'í community which was only 100,000 people when the book was first published in 1926 but now numbers more than five million people in 245 nations and dependent territories around the world.
The book was originally prepared under the supervision of Shoghi Effendi, who led the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 to 1957. The book was issued biennially until 1940, but limited resources allowed for only sporadic publication after that.  In 1992, the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá'í community, directed that the format be revamped, so that ""the availability of a well-written, liberally illustrated, attractively designed annual record of Bahá'í activities will facilitate the efforts of the friends and Spiritual Assemblies to present …current information"" about the Bahá'í community.
""The Universal House of Justice felt that the time had come for it to reevaluate the publication,"" said Dr. Boyles, ""and to refocus on the initial goals established for it by Shoghi Effendi when he initiated the volumes in the 1920s… Now there is a record of what the Bahá'í community is doing and that will be a valuable record for people in the future.""
The book is 320 pages in length, contains numerous color photographs, and is available for US$25.95 in hard cover or US$13.95 in soft cover. It can be ordered from World Centre Publications through the United States Bahá'í Distribution Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Boulevard Atlanta, GA  30336-2017, USA (telephone: (800) 999-9019; email: bds@usbnc.org).",HAIFA,,Israel
153,2002-03-05,[],Bahá'ís in Tajikistan killed for their beliefs,"HAIFA, Israel — Two Bahá'ís in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in recent weeks were determined to have been killed for their religious beliefs.
Rashid Gulov was shot and killed on 23 October 2001 while returning home from work. A second man, Mosadegh Afshin Shokoufeh, was shot outside his home on 3 December 2001 and died from his wounds on the way to the hospital.
Authorities in Tajikistan made the determination, after investigating the crimes, that the two men were killed because of their religious beliefs.
Both men, along with their wives and families, were active in the Bahá'í community and both were members of the local Bahá'í administrative body of Dushanbe. Mr. Shokoufeh had also previously served on the Bahá'ís' national governing body for Tajikistan.
These deaths follow the assassination of Abdullah Mogharrabi in September 1999. Mr. Mogharrabi was another Bahá'í living in Dushanbe whose murder was determined to be religiously motivated.",HAIFA,,Israel
154,2002-01-21,[],Youth Conference in Brazil aims to prepare youth to work for global change,"SAO PAULO — With the goal of discussing how young people can make a more positive impact on the world, more than 600 youth from 15 countries came to the Ninth Congress of the Baha'i Youth Movement of the Americas here from 17-21 January 2002 to talk about peace, change and the future.
Held at the Soltanieh Bahá'í Educational Center outside Mogi Mirim, some 150 kilometers from São Paulo, the four-day Conference program featured talks by members of the Board of Counsellors for the Americas, artistic presentations, small-group workshops and audio-video presentations.
Organized by the Bahá'í National Youth Committee of Brazil, the goal of the event was to bring together youth from different countries and backgrounds in order to share ideas of how to better the world. The Congress was the latest event in an international Bahá'í Youth Movement that is focused in the Americas.
""It brings youth together, it unifies, it gives the youth a sense of the Bahá'í culture,"" said Massoud Moslehi, 33, from Victoria, Canada. ""Bahá'í culture"" means living according to the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith, he said, which not only promote the oneness of humankind but also exhort Bahá'ís to live an active life of service to humanity and to be upright in their personal behavior.
The first of the Congresses was in Santiago, Chile, where some 650 youth from 25 countries gathered in January 1998. Thousands of youth from dozens of countries gathered at international congresses in 2000 and 2001, held in Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Paraguay.
""Youth have played a special and unique role in every generation,"" states a paper on the Congress's Web site, explaining the goals and purposes of the Bahá'í Youth Movement. ""They have often served as a positive and catalytic force pushing society towards something better. Free from the pressures of work and family responsibilities, their energy, enthusiasm and zeal can be harnessed to promote a positive movement within society to bring about change that ensures a better future for them and their children.""
Participants at the most recent Congress indeed appeared to be energized by the event, expressing the  sense that they do have the power to change the world for the better, by focusing on positive actions and their own moral development.
""We are not revolutionaries in the usual use of the word, we are not trying to make governments fall, or make a guerrilla war,"" said Gaël Masrour, a 28-year-old Bahá'í living in Chile. ""But we are trying to change the world as we see it nowadays. I think these conferences are only a step in this process, not a goal in itself, but a step.
""Humanity is going through a time where no room is left for idle fancy and useless leisure,"" Masrour continued. Not to take action at this point in the development of the world, he said, is ""suicide.""
""If we want change,"" he said, ""we need to transform both our own selves and society in a parallel process. We must become moral leaders and make a difference through hard work and example.""
In addition to talks by senior Bahá'í advisors, there were numerous presentations by the youth themselves, ranging from music and dance performances to a video sent by youth who attended the Youth Conference in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, in July 2001.
Lena Delchad, 23, from San Diego, USA, said the coming together of so many young people from so many countries created a unique energy -- which was the main reason she had come.
Youth conferences like these ""send a surge of energy through the youth straight into their own communities,"" she said.
The youth ended the four-day event by committing themselves to actions they will take over the next year in order to effect a positive change in their community.
Some of these actions included starting moral education classes for children, making use of the arts as an education tool, starting a moral education theater group, and becoming involved in community-building projects.
Several groups of youth launched a two-week campaign immediately following the Congress to spread the principles of the Bahá'í Faith.
The Congress Web site, at http://www.mjbahai.com/brasil, contains information about the Congress, the message of the Bahá'í Youth Committee of Brazil, documents from previous Youth Congresses, and information about the Bahá'í Youth Movement.",SAO PAULO,,Brazil
155,2002-02-09,[],Groundbreaking conference in London explores the connection between science and morality,"LONDON — Is there a scientific basis for morality? Is there a place in the brain where the capacity for morality resides? These were just two of many thought-provoking questions posed at a ground-breaking conference on the ""Science of Morality"" here on 8-9 February 2002.
Organized by surgeon Graham Walker and held at the Royal College of Physicians, Regents Park, the meeting sought to examine the scientific evidence for a neurological location, genetic basis and/or an innate capacity for morality.
""Wherever one looks inwardly and outwardly, one meets conflict, mostly because of the moral diversity caused by differing perspectives of culture, religion, and age,"" said Dr. Walker, a prominent London head and neck surgeon and a member of the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom. ""In order to eliminate this conflict, we must find a common ground.""
Dr. Walker hopes to start building a body of respectable, affirmable evidence of a scientific basis for morality which can act as a locus where varied disciplines can meet and agree.
More than 60 delegates representing a wide variety of medical, scientific and philosophical disciplines attended the conference. Among the speakers were Ian Craig, a world renowned specialist on cyclogenetics from the Institute of Psychiatry in London; Baroness Susan Greenfield, a professor of neuropharmacology at Oxford University and president of the Royal Institute; Faraneh Vargha-Khadem, a professor of neurosciences at the Institute of Child Health, University College, London; and Hossain Danesh, a professor of psychiatry and president of Landegg International University in Switzerland.
Also addressing the event were Robin Dunbar, professor of biological sciences, Liverpool University; Michael Penn, professor of psychology, Franklin and Marshall College, Pennsylvania; Sean Spence, psychiatrist and academic radiologist; Adam Zeman of the department of clinical neurosciences in Edinburgh; and Bill Hatcher, professor of mathematics and philosophy, Laval University, Canada.
""This conference was historic in that it brought together some of the world's most accomplished researchers to explore, in an earnest, open, and cordial search for truth, the biological, psychological and social factors that appear to be responsible for healthy moral development,"" said Dr. Penn, who presented a paper suggesting that a necessary pre-condition for moral development is an understanding of justice. ""The scientists and philosophers participating in the conference are widely respected -- and so the quality of scholarship and research was, in itself, extremely inspiring.
Dr. Danesh delivered the keynote speech, exploring the consonance between science, religion and ethics. His thesis was that humanity is moving from a self-centered, survival-oriented basis towards a peace-centered future.
""Due to the fact that all individuals and societies are subject to the universal law of development and progress, we are able to identify three distinctive worldviews that are present, to a lesser or greater degree, in all human societies,"" said Dr. Danesh. ""These worldviews reflect the particular characteristics of three distinctive phases in the development of every individual and society, which are designated respectively as survival-, identity-, and peace-centred worldviews.
Baroness Greenfield provoked a wide-ranging discussion with her thesis that there is no specific location for the capacity of morality in the brain; rather it is essentially ""hard-wired"" in response to life experience and genetics, said Dr. Walker.
""She said there is no such thing as a center of consciousness in the brain,"" said Dr. Walker. ""Rather, consciousness is spatially diffuse in the brain. At the same time, she said, it is temporally unified.""
Other speakers, said Dr. Walker, presented evidence that suggest the fronto-orbital area of the brain might be the location of a moral center. Specifically, he said, Dr. Vargha-Khadem and Dr. Spence of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Sheffield, UK, said some studies show that injuries to this area before the age of 14 or 15 heal, while injuries sustained later in life seem to deprive an individual of moral judgment.
""The late emergence of sociopathic profiles in children who have suffered early bilateral orbitofrontal lesions suggests that perhaps these regions assume their functional significance later during childhood, possibly after the onset of puberty,"" said Dr. Vargha-Khadem in response to questions after the conference.
While the discussion was lively and provocative, Dr. Walker said, participants reached a general conclusion that ""there is a neurological aspect to morality, or the development of morality.""
""This conclusion implies that if there is such a capacity, you can induce this with the right type of exposure to experiences,"" said Dr. Walker. Alternatively, he said, it seems that exposure to negative experiences might take an individual ""down the other pathway to become immoral, and rather more likely to be criminal or sociopathic.""
Dr. Walker said he was inspired to organize the conference because of his practice of the Baha'i Faith. ""While the connection between religion and science is not unique to the Baha'i Faith, it is certainly a strong tenet,"" he said. ""If indeed there is a consonance between science and religion, then it should be extendable to concepts like spirituality and morality, which is one of the main pillars of religiosity.""
A book of the conference proceedings has been commissioned by the Royal College of Physicians.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
156,2002-03-21,[],Bahá'ís receive message from Prime Minister Blair at new year's reception in House of Commons,"LONDON — In a message commemorating the Bahá'í New Year, British Prime Minister Tony Blair commended the Bahá'í community of the United Kingdom for its ""significant contribution"" to multiculturalism and interfaith dialogue.
The message was read at a reception on 21 March 2002 in the House of Commons, which was attended by nearly 100 people.
The gathering was sponsored by the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Bahá'í Faith, and participants included members of the British parliament and other government officials, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations and members of the media.
MP John Battle, the Prime Minister's advisor on interfaith matters, read the Prime Minister's message.
""I have a clear vision of a multi-cultural Britain -- one which values the contribution made by each of our ethnic, cultural, and faith communities,"" stated Mr. Blair, as read by Mr. Battle. ""I am determined to see a truly dynamic society, in which people from different ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds can live and work together, whilst retaining their distinctive identities, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding.
""British Bahá'ís make a significant contribution towards achieving this vision and we are a stronger, better country because of it. It is particularly important that we celebrate the contribution of the Bahá'í faith to the stability and prosperity of British society as a whole.
""I am very encouraged by the vision the Bahá'í community demonstrates in recognizing the power of interfaith dialogue and the importance of all citizens fulfilling their potential. Your community has a vibrancy which is well demonstrated by the recent opening of the Bahá'í Gardens on Mount Carmel in Israel. It is an outstanding monument to your faith,"" said Mr. Blair's statement.
At the reception, Barney Leith, Secretary General of the Bahá'í Community of the United Kingdom, welcomed participants and talked about the UK Bahá'í community's Institute for Social Cohesion, an initiative to facilitate dialogue between entities that are working towards building stronger societal bonds in the United Kingdom.
MP Lembit Opik, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Bahá'ís, welcomed the people to the reception and spoke of his esteem for the Bahá'í community.
""The Bahá'ís seem to have a uniquely positive image among religious believers,"" Mr. Opik said. ""Personally I feel that this is because Bahá'í teachings fit human nature rather than trying to change it.""
The All Party Friends of the Bahá'ís was formed in 1999. The group is open to members of Parliament, peers, and members of the European parliament and was formed largely in response to the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran and other states.
This was the third reception held by the Bahá'ís in the Parliamentary building, but was the first held on the terrace of the House of Commons, the most prestigious parliamentary venue for this type of event.
Omid Djalili, a Bahá'í actor and comedian, was the guest speaker for the evening. He performed a 10-minute stand-up comedy routine about world culture and the humor inherent in diversity.
Bahá'ís celebrate their new year on 21 March; the date coincides with the vernal equinox and the traditional beginning of Spring. The Bahá'í calendar, which was established by Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Faith, is based on 19 months of 19 days, with four intercalary days.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
158,2002-03-31,[],Montreal Bahá'í Youth Conference examines 20th century to inspire social transformation,"MONTREAL — More than 250 youth attended the Fifth Annual Montreal Bahá'í Youth Conference, held from 29 to 31 March, with the goal of drawing inspiration for positive social transformation from ""Century of Light."" Recently released by the international governing body of the Bahá'í Faith, the Universal House of Justice, ""Century of Light"" examines the growing prominence of the Bahá'í Faith against the backdrop of humanity's turbulent development in the last century. The document takes its name from a statement by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, who used the phrase to refer to the 20th century.
Held at the Louis-Bourgeois Bahá'í Centre in Montreal, the three-day conference attracted youth from 10 countries and consisted of talks, workshops, dance and dramatic performances, audio-visual presentations, and an art exhibit, all revolving around the role of Bahá'í youth in the 20th century. The conference challenged attendees to explore the role of Bahá'í youth in the 20th century, and their responsibilities in the century to come.
""The Century of Light was a tumultuous one,"" said 21-year-old Vahid Khamsi, a resident of Princeton, New Jersey.  ""However, we also had many amazing accomplishments. The 21st century is for the youth. It is our century. It is up to us to lay the foundations for prosperity.""
Dr. Ann Boyles, an Auxiliary Board member, spoke at the conference and presented an introduction and overview of the ""Century of Light"" document.
""In order to become a champion of justice, "" she said,  ""you need to know about the world in which you live, the Faith in which you believe, and the relationship between the two.""
Stressing awareness of past injustices, Dr. Boyles reminded the audience that ""Bahá'ís are not people that look at the world through rose-colored glasses. We have to be realistic. We have to look at what the dark side was, but we can't be swallowed up by it.""
In addition to talks, there were several noteworthy artistic presentations, including a spoken-word performance by Shani Carter, cultural and thematic dance performances, and a remarkable audio-visual presentation that highlighted events from the past century.
Lindsay McKye, a participant from Ontario, Canada, described her previous dread of history classes, saying that she had once found the topic quite boring. After reading ""Century of Light,"" she saw the importance of history in her life as a Bahá'í youth and earnestly hoped that others will see its potential as an inspirational vision for world unity.
On the topic of the contribution of Bahá'í youth to the advancement of civilization during the 20th century, ""Century of Light"" states: ""No segment of the [Bahá'í] community made a more energetic or significant contribution to this dramatic process of growth than did Bahá'í youth.""
At the dawn of a new century, youth at the conference were anxious to contribute to the process in the same spirit as their predecessors.
""It doesn't matter how much the world around you is degraded,"" explained Nick Ward, a student of International Development Studies at McGill University. ""You yourself can make a difference. Everyone has the ability for change in order to bring about a new global civilization.""
The conference ended on its third day, with youth resolving to focus their activity in systematic action along three main lines -- the establishment or strengthening of study circles, devotional meetings, and community children's classes. Others were also inspired to start community development programs and dance-theatre workshops within their respective communities.
The annual Montreal Bahá'í Youth Conference was inaugurated in 1998 and past conferences have addressed such themes as ""Hope for Humanity"" and ""Globalization."" This year's conference took its place within the context of a series of Bahá'í conferences throughout the world -- a sign of the scope and aspirations of the emerging Bahá'í Youth Movement. Through this Movement, Bahá'í youth aim to constructively channel their energy and enthusiasm towards positive social transformation through the application of the spiritual principles of their Faith.
The conference Web site, http://www.enlighten.ca/conference, contains additional information and photographs from the conference.",MONTREAL,,Canada
159,2002-05-15,[],Bahá'í Faith's governing council calls on world's religious leaders to put out the fires of religious prejudice and fanaticism,"NEW YORK — Decrying the persistence of religious prejudice as a barrier to global peace and prosperity, the international governing council of the Bahá'í Faith has addressed a message to the world's religious leaders.  Bahá'í communities around the world are conveying it to religious leaders in all their countries, thus transmitting its appeal that they act decisively on the need to eradicate religious intolerance and fanaticism.
""With every day that passes, danger grows that the rising fires of religious prejudice will ignite a worldwide conflagration the consequences of which are unthinkable,"" writes the Universal House of Justice in the message addressed simply ""to the World's Religious Leaders."" (Full text available at: http://www.bahai.org/article-1-1-0-1.html)
""Tragically, organized religion, whose very reason for being entails service to the cause of brotherhood and peace, behaves all too frequently as one of the most formidable obstacles in the path; to cite a particularly painful fact, it has long lent its credibility to fanaticism,"" the appeal states. ""We feel a responsibility, as the governing council of one of the world religions, to urge earnest consideration of the challenge this poses for religious leadership.""
The theme of the message of the Universal House of Justice, the internationally elected council that guides the worldwide, five-million member Bahá'í community, points to the striking developments in the past century whereby prejudices based on gender, race or nationality have been recognized as unacceptable by all thinking people. Although they continue to exist in practice, there is a strong groundswell towards their abolition. Religious prejudice persists, however, triggering a crisis, the message states, that should compel religious leaders to make a ""break with the past as decisive as those that opened the way for society to address equally corrosive prejudices of race, gender and nation.""
The statement offers the assistance of the Bahá'í community in working for religious unity to which the interfaith movement has been aspiring and, in closing, asserts:  ""We owe it to our partners in this common effort, however, to state clearly our conviction that interfaith discourse, if it is to contribute meaningfully to healing the ills that afflict a desperate humanity, must now address honestly and without further evasion the implications of the over-arching truth that called the movement into being: that God is one and that, beyond all diversity of cultural expression and human interpretation, religion is likewise one.""",NEW YORK,,United States
160,2002-06-04,[],"Faith groups, including Baha'is of Germany, meet on environment and climate concerns","GOETTINGEN, Germany — At an interfaith meeting in May, representatives of the main religions in Germany, including the Baha'i Faith, drafted and accepted a joint memorandum stressing the common ground among the religions on the issue of climate change and the environment.
Chaired by Gottfried Orth, director of the Ernst Lange-Institute for Ecumenical Studies, and held under the auspices of the German Federal Environment Ministry, the meeting took place 6-7 May 2002 and was titled ""Orientation dialogue of religions represented in Germany on environmental politics with reference to the climate issue.""
The main goal of the meeting was to widen the dialogue between the government and various religions in Germany on environmental issues as part of a process to enhance the receptivity and responsibility of important pillars of society.
Participants included three representatives of the Catholic and Protestant churches; the general secretary of the Central Muslim Council and a scientific advisor; a member of the council of the Buddhist Union and two other Buddhists; and three representatives of the Baha'i Community of Germany. Also present were observers from the World Conference on Religion and Peace and a group representing the Earth Charter.
The final memorandum issued by the religious representatives stated that, regardless of the differences between the holy writings and traditions of the various religions, there is much common ground between them on the issues of nature and the environment, which gives rise to a common responsibility for action.
""The central cause for the destruction of nature and the basis for life on earth is the waste of goods and resources,"" said the memorandum. ""We in the industrialized countries need to recognize our primary responsibility for global threat to life. We cannot insist on a lifestyle with high energy consumption and emission of greenhouse gases that cannot be generalized worldwide.""
The memorandum said love, justice and ethics can be the foundation for sustainable development, a point that must be considered at the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development, scheduled to be held in August in Johannesburg, South Africa. The memorandum also emphasized that water -- an expression of spiritual life in all religions -- needs equal attention in its use.
""Approximately two-thirds of the time of the meeting was dedicated to presentations on the position of the various religions concerning creation, nature, man, ethical approaches, attitudes towards scientific predictions on climate effects as well as aspects of political actions,"" said Ingo Hofmann, who, along with Ulrich Gollmer and Friedo Zölzer, represented the Baha'i Community of Germany at the meeting.
""But these presentations were followed by equally long sessions of questions and answers,"" said Dr. Hofmann, who is a professor of physics at Frankfurt University. ""And there was consensus, at the end, that the whole meeting was held in a remarkable spirit of dialogue and openness, giving a good example of religious dialogue applied to a burning problem of society.""
In the memorandum, each religion also cited a main concern with respect to the environment. The Baha'i contribution was to say that ""for the Baha'is, nature and humankind are an organic entity, from which we derive the principles for proper action in compliance with the needs of environment  and social justice,"" said Dr. Hofmann.
German Federal Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin attended the second day of the meeting, when the memorandum was presented to him. At a well attended press conference he stressed the importance of religions in the process of making society more receptive to environmental issues.
The dialogue was designed as a follow-up to a meeting of G-8 environment ministers and religious leaders in Trieste in March 2001, at which religious leaders appealed for governments to give environmental concerns a higher priority.
In terms of follow-up, the religious communities will continue the process of discussing environmental issues both inside and outside their own communities. A book containing the statements of the various religious communities is also being prepared, with a fall 2002 publication schedule. The memorandum expresses the commitment to continue the dialogue locally, regionally and on the European level.",GOETTINGEN,,Germany
161,2002-05-09,[],Bahá'ís play key role behind the scenes in UNICEF concert at the UN Children's Summit,"UNITED NATIONS — Although Hugh Locke and Jack Lenz both grew up two years apart in the tiny farming town of Eston on the Canadian prairie in Saskatchewan, the two men never met until they became members of the Bahá'í Faith as young adults.
But since meeting, they have embarked on a number of collaborations, the most recent of which was the production of a major concert for world leaders at the United Nations during the United Nations Special Session on Children in May.
Mr. Locke served as executive producer for the event, which featured guest appearances from former South African President Nelson Mandela, and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, while Mr. Lenz took on the role as musical director.
And although the concert, which sought to feature mainly the voices and musical performances of children and young people, was sponsored entirely by UNICEF, both men feel strongly that their practice of the Bahá'í Faith and its principles of global interdependence and human unity gave them great inspiration.
""The theme of the concert was to have the voices of children giving a message to the leaders of the world -- and that message was to urge them to put children first in all of their undertakings,"" said Mr. Locke, whose company, Locke Associates Inc., specializes in organizing international events and conferences.
""And once Jack and I started to shape the concert, we wanted to have a message that was universal in nature and hopeful for the future,"" said Mr. Locke, noting that they chose a number of songs written by Bahá'ís for the event -- songs that feature themes of hope, oneness and human solidarity. ""And there was a resonance in that with the tone and intention of what UNICEF wanted to do.
Held 9 May 2002 on the north lawn of the UN grounds in New York under a specially erected tent before an audience of some nearly 1,000 world leaders, UN officials and children's advocates, the concert featured the 300-voice UNICEF World Chorus -- assembled by Mr. Lenz from youth choirs in metropolitan New York -- and the 160-strong National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.
The concert, titled ""Change the World with Children,"" also featured a series of solo performances by some young or youthful singers who have already won fame for their talent, such as Billy Gilman, a 13-year-old country and western phenomenon from the USA, to Josefine Garline, an 11-year-old pop singer from Sweden. Also performing were Raffi, the internationally acclaimed children's singer and songwriter, and Angelique Kidjo, one of the world's best-known African singers.
A number of international celebrities, composed mostly of UNICEF and UN goodwill ambassadors, also appeared on stage, with each presenting one of the ""Say Yes for Children"" Campaign pledges, which were a focal point of the concert. Among those present were actors Michael Douglas, Roger Moore, and Cicely Tyson; singer Harry Belafonte; and chess master Anatoly Karpov.
The Say Yes for Children Campaign was a focal point of the event. Worldwide, more than 94 million signatures have been collected as pledges to the campaign, which offers ten simple points  -- such as ""Put Children First"", ""Educate Every Child"", and ""Protect the Earth for Children"" -- designed to help build a world where ""all children should be free to grow in health, peace and dignity.""
Appearing on stage with the adult goodwill ambassadors were members of the Children's Theater Company (CTC), a New York-based children's performance workshop that is operated as a Bahá'í-inspired project. Each member of the CTC read out one of the pledges and then introduced his or her new ""friend"" -- one of the famous goodwill ambassadors, who then explained the importance of that pledge.
Many of the songs performed at the concert celebrated human diversity and interdependence. Among them were ""Color Me Human,"" which was written and performed by Eric Dozier,  a Bahá'í from Los Angeles, and ""The Greatest Moments,"" written by Mr. Lenz himself, who is a internationally-known Toronto-based song writer, musician and producer.
""For Bahá'ís, the idea of unity in diversity is a key theme,"" said Mr. Lenz, who is now producing a video of the concert. ""And as we worked with UNICEF officials to put the concert together, there was a lot of discussion about diversity and the importance of ensuring that the entire human race was reflected in this gathering. So I know that I, and the other Bahá'ís who worked on this, felt this concert was a significant event.""",UNITED NATIONS,,
162,2002-06-26,[],Week-long Festival of the Arts will showcase Bahá'í performers in New York in late June; major concert at Carnegie Hall included,"NEW YORK — In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Second Bahá'í World Congress, a group of Bahá'ís are planning a major ""Festival of the Arts"" here in late June and early July. The week-long event will feature a major choral concert at Carnegie Hall, separate Persian and Gospel music concerts at the Manhattan Center, an off-Broadway festival of Bahá'í theatrical performances, and a conference on the arts.
The centerpiece event at Carnegie Hall will feature a 550-voice choir, composed of Bahá'ís from some 24 countries. Known as the Voices of Baha, the choir has done some 80 concerts in 30 countries over the last ten years,  said Tom Price, musical director of the Voices of Baha and head of Global Music Inc., which is organizing the Festival of the Arts.
""Basically, the Voices of Baha is an offshoot of the World Congress choir, and the conception of this event began with the idea of having a musical reunion in New York,"" said Mr. Price, who also directed the choir at the World Congress. ""And once the Carnegie Hall concert was set, we decided to add other events to make it a week-long celebration.""
The project is an independent initiative of  Global Music, Inc., a Bahá'í-owned company, and associated individuals. It is not under the sponsorship of any Bahá'í institution.
The Festival of the Arts is scheduled to begin on 26 June 2002 and run until 2 July. During that period, five major activities are planned: A week-long Theater Festival at the 47th Street Theater (26 June-2 July);  a four-day Conference on the Arts at the Hotel Pennsylvania (27 June-30 June);  a performance of the Bahá'í Gospel Singers (28 June) and a concert of Persian music (29 June), both at the Manhattan Center; and, finally, the Voices of Baha concert at Carnegie Hall (30 June).
All of these events will feature Bahá'í performers, speakers and themes. Complete information about these events, including ticket prices, can be found at http://www.global-music.org/.
The Second Bahá'í World Congress, held 23-26 November 1992 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, was the largest gathering of Bahá'ís ever. It brought together some 30,000 Bahá'ís from 180 countries to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing of Bahá'u'lláh and the accomplishments of the Bahá'í Faith during that century.
Among the main elements of the Congress's program was music, and central to that musical expression was a 400 voice choir and 90-piece orchestra, assembled ad hoc by bringing together Bahá'í singers and musicians from some 36 countries.
Among the distinctive features of that assemblage was the need for singers to learn their parts in their home countries before coming to New York, something accomplished by sending to them cassette tapes with their parts.
The Voices of Baha, likewise, uses a similar technique, said Mr. Price. ""We send out sheet music and a CD (Compact Disk), which has their part alone,"" said Mr. Price. ""So each member has a full month to learn and practice their parts individually. Without the CD, it would be impossible to develop a choir of this size and diversity. Most choirs live in one city and rehearse for months before a concert. But we developed this technique for the World Congress and, now, 10 years later, it is a system that works pretty well.""
""The Voices of Baha actually has about 1,000 members, but since the World Congress, we've only been able to bring together about 200 singers for any single event,"" said Mr. Price. ""We have more than 550 singers registered to sing in the Carnegie Hall concert, which will make this the largest Bahá'í choir ever.""
The Bahá'í Gospel Singers were likewise featured at the Second Bahá'í World Congress. ""We expect a gospel choir of at least 200 singers,"" said Van Gilmer, director of the Singers, making it an even larger group than performed in 1992.
The Conference on the Arts will feature speeches, music, drama, dance and devotional elements in a creative and artistic combination, said Leslie Asplund, who is organizing that segment of the Festival.
""It will focus specifically on the role of the arts, as described in the Bahá'í writings, and as applied in the Bahá'í community today,"" said Dr. Asplund. ""The Bahá'í teachings say a great deal about the role of artistic expression and creativity, not just as entertainment but as an element in the spiritual transformation of humanity.""
The Persian music concert will feature a number of well-known Persian performers -- all who also happen to be Bahá'ís. Scheduled to perform are Rahmat'u'llah Badiyi, Parisa Badiyi, Rashid Mostaghim, Shokouh Rezai, Hushmand Aghili, and Ahdieh Pakravan.
The Theater Festival will showcase the growing theatrical talent that has emerged internationally within the worldwide Bahá'í community in recent years, said Shidan Majidi, organizer of that event.
""Over the years, around the world, many professionally trained actors have developed drama programs presenting aspects of the Faith,"" said Shidan Majidi, who is a professional theater producer in New York. ""So the purpose of this Festival is to gather as many together in one place so that people can see as many of these performances as possible.""",NEW YORK,,United States
163,2002-05-01,[],"A new volume of Bahá'í sacred writings, recently translated and comprising Bahá'u'lláh's call to world leaders, is published","HAIFA, Israel — A new volume of recently translated writings of Bahá'u'lláh, comprising a series of powerful messages written to world leaders, has been issued by Bahá'í World Centre Publications.
Titled ""The Summons of the Lord of Hosts,"" the 272-page  book contains authoritative English translations of six major works written by Bahá'u'lláh in the latter half of the 19th century. Collectively, the works clearly enunciate Bahá'u'lláh's claim to prophethood and offer a prescription for peaceful and just leadership in the modern world.
""Never since the beginning of the world,"" declares Bahá'u'lláh Himself in the book, ""hath the message been so openly proclaimed.""
In addition to such pronouncements, Bahá'u'lláh outlines requirements of the kings and rulers, including reduction of armaments, the resolution of international conflicts, and reduction of expenditures which placed unnecessary strain on the subjects.
Specifically, the book collects the Suriy-i-Haykal [Surih of the Temple]  Suriy-i-Ra'is [Surih of the Chief]  Lawh-i-Ra'is [Tablet of the Chief]  Lawh-i-Fu'ad [Tablet to Fu'ad Pasha]  Lawh-i-Sultan [Tablet to the Shah of Iran]  and Suriy-i-Muluk [Surih of the Kings]
While portions of some of these works have been translated and published before, ""The Summons of the Lord of Hosts"" marks the first time full-length and fully researched translations of them have been released.
The collected volume represents only a fraction of Bahá'u'lláh's output during His 40-year ministry, when He revealed thousands of tablets which altogether represent a volume more than 70 times the size of the Qur'an and more than 15 times the size of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
Not only is the size of the revelation significant, but also -- thanks in part to access to both original documents and the historical context in which they were revealed -- the Bahá'í Faith has a much more direct link to its origins than is enjoyed by most other religions.
The primary work in the volume is the Surih of the Temple, regarded as one of Bahá'u'lláh's ""most challenging works."" It includes letters addressed to several individual monarchs, Napoleon III, Czar Alexander II, Queen Victoria, and Nasiri'd-Din Shah, the Emperor of Persia, and also to Pope Pius IX.
Bahá'u'lláh's address to Nasiri'd-Din Shah is the longest of all these letters, in which He offers to meet with the Muslim clergy, and to provide whatever definitive proofs of the new revelation they would require to test Bahá'u'lláh's claim.
Another major work is the Surih of the Kings, described by Shoghi Effendi as ""the most momentous Tablet revealed by Bahá'u'lláh in which He, for the first time, directs His words collectively to the entire company of the monarchs of the East and West.""
""Lay not aside the fear of God, O kings of the earth, and beware that ye transgress not the bounds which the Almighty hath fixed … Be vigilant, that ye may not do injustice to anyone, be it to the extent of a grain of mustard seed. Tread ye the path of justice, for this, verily, is the straight path,"" Bahá'u'lláh asserts in a statement outlining the requirements of just leadership.
There are also passages of spiritual significance, such as Bahá'u'lláh's exposition in the Surih of the Chief explaining the progress of the human soul in its path towards God.
To record the words of revelation as He was inspired, Bahá'u'lláh would occasionally write them down Himself; but it was typical for the revelation to be spoken aloud to His amanuensis. The dictation was sometimes recorded in what has been called ""revelation writing"" -- a shorthand script written with extreme quickness owing to the speed with which the words were uttered. These original ""revelation writing"" drafts were later revised and approved by Bahá'u'lláh.
These ""revelation drafts,"" as well as the many other transcriptions of Bahá'u'lláh's writings are held in the International Bahá'í Archives. The collection encompasses approximately 17,000 items, some of which are in Bahá'u'lláh's own handwriting, while others are transcriptions made by either Bahá'u'lláh's amanuensis or other known scribes, under Bahá'u'lláh's direction.
The translators and scholars of the Research Department now work from photocopies of the original documents, with the originals available from the Archives if they are needed. All of the translations combine the efforts of a number of translators, who strive to follow the pattern for translation of Bahá'í sacred writings set by Shoghi Effendi, head of the Bahá'í Faith and its authorized interpreter from 1921 until his death in 1957.
The book can be ordered through the United States Bahá'í Distribution Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30336-2017, USA (telephone: (800) 999-9019; email: bds@usbnc.org).",HAIFA,,Israel
164,2002-05-31,[],"Lord St. John of Bletso delivers annual Bahá'í lecture at University of Maryland, issuing a ""call to action"" on the environment","COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — Lord St. John of Bletso, a member of the British House of Lords and noted authority on environmental policy, told an audience of some 250 gathered at the University of Maryland on 31 May 2002 that the environmental challenges facing the planet will require both a passionate commitment to action as well as a balanced approach that does not dwell on ""gloom and doom"" predictions.
A hereditary member of the House of Lords since 1978, Lord St. John was at the University of Maryland as a guest of the Bahá'í Chair for World Peace to deliver the Eighth Annual Bahá'í Chair Lecture, on the theme of ""Environmental Ethics and Public Policy.""
The Bahá'í Chair is an endowed teaching and research chair established in 1993 at the University's Center for International Development and Conflict Management. Its mission is to develop alternatives to the violent resolution of conflict by identifying and applying universal ethical and moral principles.
Lord St. John began his talk by distancing himself from extremist or sensationalist forms of environmentalism.
""Environmental pressure groups have started to believe that they must depict worst case scenarios, and exaggerate their dire predictions, to 'scare' the world into paying attention to this issue,"" Lord St. John said, adding that such tactics often have the opposite effect by inducing a paralysis of will and a desire to ignore complex and seemingly intractable problems.
Instead, what is needed is a new global consensus that will engage and inspire people everywhere to make the changes and adjustments required to live in harmony with the earth's life support systems, said Lord St. John. He pointed to the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development, to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2002, as an opportunity to forge this kind of consensus.
""The buzzword among the delegates around the hotels and conference centers of Johannesburg in August will be 'sustainability,' but as United Nations representatives readily agree, that word has become a pious invocation rather than the urgent call to action that it should be,"" said Lord St. John, who serves on the House of Lords select committee on trade, finance and foreign affairs and will soon move to the select committee on environmental affairs.
""It is crucial that the Summit succeed in showing that sustainability is far from being as abstract as it sounds, but rather is a life and death issue for millions upon millions of people around the world, and potentially the entire human race,"" he said.
Lord St. John applauded the fact that representatives of business and industry are expected to be present in Johannesburg in large numbers. Voluntary codes of corporate social responsibility and innovative business strategies that make sustainability profitable have shown that the business community can make valuable contributions to sustainable development.
However, Lord St. John emphasized that it would be a mistake to allow market forces alone to drive the globe's political, economic and social agenda. He said educators, religious leaders, civil society organizations and other social actors have a profound responsibility to exercise leadership. As an example, he recalled a discussion with a representative of the Bahá'í community in the United Kingdom who identified three contributions that the Bahá'í community could make to the wider environmental cause:
""The first act is to draw upon its deep-rooted belief in the oneness and interdependence of all nations,"" said Lord St. John. ""The second is to sustain a cross-cultural practice of consultation as a non-adversarial means of making decisions and resolving conflicts. And the third is to pursue the Bahá'í tradition of facilitating learning and empowerment through social and economic development projects.""
In his remarks, Lord St. John also paid tribute to the work of the Bahá'í Chair and its approach to world problems. The current holder of the Bahá'í Chair is Professor Suheil Bushrui, an internationally known scholar of English and Arabic literatures who is also an acknowledged expert on issues of religious and cultural reconciliation.
""I'm keenly aware of this Bahá'í Chair for World Peace and the incredible work of Professor Bushrui in developing alternatives to the violent resolution of conflict,"" said Lord St. John. ""The Bahá'í movement is providing leadership in many fields, including ethics, and particularly since 9-11 the world has needed to revise its priorities.""
The audience included several university officials, including Dr. Brodie Remington, Vice President for University Relations; Dr. Irwin Goldstein, Dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences; and Dr. Ernest Wilson III, Director of the Center for International Development and Conflict Management. Each made opening remarks expressing the University's appreciation for the Bahá'í Chair for organizing the annual lecture series and for enriching the campus community in other ways. Also present were members of the Bahá'í Chair's Advisory Board, including the honorable Judge Dorothy Nelson, the Chair's distinguished liaison to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States.
""At the University of Maryland our intellectual achievements must be matched by our achievements in promoting diversity, harmony and interdependence among our faculty, staff and students,"" said Dean Goldstein. ""In this regard the Bahá'í Chair for World Peace is one of our most treasured possessions."" He cited two undergraduate honors courses designed by the Bahá'í Chair, ""The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race"" and ""Global Ethics: Confronting the Major Issues,"" as well as its lectures and publications.
Dean Goldstein also cited the international recognition brought to the University by the Chair's activities. Last summer, for example, the House of Lords held a Diplomatic Luncheon to recognize the Bahá'í Chair's work. The event was chaired by Lord St. John and brought together a large gathering of Ambassadors, Members of Parliament, scholars and other dignitaries.
Lord St. John serves as a ""cross-bencher,"" or non-partisan member of the House of Lords, and his parliamentary interests include foreign affairs, particularly South Africa and Hong Kong, environmental protection, science and technology, and financial services. He is also a Trustee of the Television Trust for the Environment and the Tusk Trust.
Professor Bushrui said he first met Lord St. John during travels to London as a fellow of the prestigious Temenos Academy, whose patron is His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In June 2001 Professor Bushrui was invited by the Temenos Academy to deliver its annual L.M. Svinghi-Temenos Interfaith Lecture.
""We have come to know each other in these circles,"" said Professor Bushrui, ""and I was struck by His Lordship's vision of world unity and his holistic approach to issues of peace and reconciliation.""",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
165,2002-06-06,[],City Montessori School wins UNESCO Peace Education award,"LUCKNOW, India — City Montessori School, a large private school with a Bahá'í-inspired curriculum that stresses world citizenship and religious tolerance, has been awarded the 2002 UNESCO Prize for Peace Education.
Awarded annually by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the honor was given to City Montessori School (CMS) this year ""in recognition of its efforts to promote the universal values of education for peace and tolerance and to renew the principles of secularism at a time when these values and principles are increasingly being challenged,"" according to  UNESCO press release dated 6 June 2002.
Founded in 1959, the school has a reputation for a high level of academic excellence -- and for a distinctive program of moral and spiritual education.
""For more than 40 years it has educated students to respect the values of tolerance and peace and sought to make them citizens of the world,"" said the UNESCO release. "" The school's founders, Jagdish and Bharti Gandhi, inspired by the non-violence of Mahatma Gandhi, founded their school on four fundamental principles: universal values, excellence, global understanding, and service to the community.""
The founders are also Bahá'ís -- and they are quick to add that the Bahá'í teachings have greatly inspired their work and the school's curriculum. ""We have been following the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, and these teachings have led us to work more and more for world peace,"" said Bharti Gandhi, contacted by telephone after the UNESCO award was announced.
Mrs. Gandhi said when they founded the school, she and her husband were followers of Mahatma Gandhi. Both accepted the Bahá'í Faith in 1974, and since then they have increasingly incorporated principles of world citizenship and human oneness into the curriculum. ""We rededicated ourselves to the cause of world unity,"" said Mrs. Gandhi, who is the school's director.
The school's success at attracting students has won for it a citation, in 1999, in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest school by enrollment. The school had some 22,000 students that year. The school currently has more than 26,000 students, in grade levels ranging from pre-primary to college, said Mrs. Gandhi.
""The school aims to give pupils the skills permitting them to face the complex problems of the world today, by displaying trust for each child, by developing their sense of responsibility, by the theoretical and practical teaching of moral values, and by opening their eyes to other religions and cultures,"" said the UNESCO press release.
""The recognition given to the importance of the family is one of the characteristics of the CMS,"" continued the UNESCO release. ""The school sensitizes parents by giving them books on their educational influence and involving them closely in the life of the school. And the teachers benefit from continued training in the main principles of the school, as well as in child development, psychology and sociology. Each child has a mentor who engages in a personal relationship with his or her charge's family.
""Another characteristic of the City Montessori School is the emphasis it places on educational research. Its Innovation Wing employs 25 people who identify and bring in the best educational theories and practices from whatever country, sourcing techniques from the Montessori method, robotics, tutorial systems or management practices,"" said the UNESCO release.
According to UNESCO, the Prize for Peace Education comes with a US$30,000 award. Since 1981, the prize has been awarded to promote initiatives that seek to improve public awareness and to mobilize opinion in favor of peace. Funding for the Prize is provided though a donation from the Nippon Foundation.
For more information about City Montessori School, visit the school's website at http://www.cmseducation.org. The Bahá'í World News Service carried a previous story about CMS, which can be read at: http://www.bwns.org/story/146 For more information about the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education, go to: http://www.unesco.org/human_rights/peaceint.html",LUCKNOW,,India
167,2002-07-09,[],"In Argentina, a Baha'i-inspired NGO works to strengthen civil society in a time of crisis","BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Last November, the people of this vast and cosmopolitan city took to the streets, banging on pots and pans, protesting the sudden economic collapse that sent one of Latin America's richest countries into a deep and continuing crisis.
In January, the protests took on a new form as people in many areas created ""neighborhood assemblies"" to talk about what they themselves can do to solve some of the problems troubling the society. Neighborhood assemblies have undertaken projects ranging from the bulk purchase of food at reduced prices to the creation of neighborhood banks.
Whether or not the phenomenon persists, the spontaneous organization of people in neighborhood parks and plazas in this city of 12 million reflects an increasing conviction that only with the active participation of civil society can Argentina's economic and social problems be addressed.
It is an idea that has long been advocated by UNIDA, a Baha'i-inspired non-governmental organization (NGO) that focuses on training to strengthen civil society and promote participatory development. UNIDA has seen an upsurge in interest in its programs since the crisis began, reaching its highest level of enrollments ever in June 2002.
""These neighborhood assemblies were started because the people here now believe that they must take responsibility for action into their own hands,"" according to Haleh Maniei, coordinator of students and promotion for UNIDA. ""And, accordingly,"" she said, ""people know they need more education in this area of strategic planning for NGOs, how to start up their own projects, and so on. So many more people are calling and asking about UNIDA's programs nowadays.""
Founded in 1996 by a group of Baha'is, UNIDA - Universidad de la Naciones, Integracion, Dessarrollo, and Ambiente (University for Nations, Integration, Development, and Environment) - offers post-graduate courses in four areas: sustainable development, social anthropology, human development, and organizational processes.
The four programs take up the study of ""human scale"" development and the accompanying methodologies for grassroots, participatory decision-making that UNIDA's founders say are key to effective social action.
""Those four subjects are really just different gates to enter into and arrive at the same place,"" said Lucio Capalbo, general coordinator of UNIDA and one of its founders. ""At the heart of what UNIDA strives to do is to help make civil society stronger by training its leaders to use new consultative and participatory methods of decision-making that can help people function better in groups. And this is at the core of the empowerment of civil society.""
Last year, even before the current crisis, UNIDA won several significant grants. In November, it was one of eight NGOs to be recognized by the Women in Equality Organization in a competition for grant money from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). In that competition, UNIDA received US$8,900 for a program aimed at giving local women leaders training in ethical leadership.
Earlier in the year, UNIDA received funding from the European Community to offer training in conflict resolution to local leaders serving impoverished communities. Also, the City of Buenos Aires offered a subsidy for a ""New Labor Roles"" project, aimed at training 20 unemployed persons in furniture recycling.
Since its founding, UNIDA's enrollment has risen steadily, reaching a high of 128 students recently. And, despite the economic downturn, it has managed this year to expand its offerings to two other cities in Argentina: Rosario and Viedma.
""Our training programs are exactly what the country needs at this moment,"" said Mr. Capalbo. Specifically, UNIDA teaches in all of its courses ""consultation,"" the principles of which are derived from the Baha'i teachings.
At its core, consultation is a highly participatory process that encourages a diversity of opinion and yet seeks to unite various constituencies. Among its key principles are: the primary goal is always the good of all; information should be gathered from the widest possible range of sources and points of view; the exchange of ideas should be full and candid, while courteous; any ideas put forward become the property of the group; and once a decision is made, it will be supported by all participants.
""Once people understand the process of consultation, they start to think in a new way,"" said Mr. Capalbo, explaining that UNIDA's founders believe many of the problems in society today stem from adversarial decision-making models that set various groups against each other. ""They think in the way of unity in diversity, not partisanship or fighting or conflict. And what UNIDA teaches is how to make decisions and work with others in a consultative way, how to design, execute and evaluate participatory programs, built with the cooperation of everyone.""
According to UNIDA graduates, the result is an effective, practical formula for social empowerment.
""It was extremely useful, especially due to the concept of human scale economy and the systemic approach, and some other tools for planning,"" said Fabian Roman, head of Plan21, an environmental management NGO in Buenos Aires. Mr. Roman took a UNIDA course on environmental management and sustainable development in 1999. An adjunct professor of tourism, development and environment at La Plata University, Mr. Roman said he now teaches consultation in his courses.
Mario Daniel Caputo, a judge in Buenos Aires Province, took UNIDA's course on human rights in 2000 and is now working to start up an NGO to help refugees and undocumented immigrants in Argentina gain access to education, health care and employment.
""The tools offered by UNIDA, such as the new concepts of development, the conceptual technique of consultation and other elements, have served me well for the planning of the project,"" said Judge Caputo. ""They accompany me like new baggage in a way that allows me to apply such concepts in a concrete manner.""",BUENOS AIRES,,Argentina
168,2002-07-12,[],Religious leaders worldwide respond positively to message on eliminating religious prejudice,"NEW YORK — The Bahá'í community has been greatly encouraged by the response of religious leaders to the April 2002 message from the Bahá'í Faith's international governing body, the Universal House of Justice.  The message calls for decisive action to eradicate intolerance and fanaticism.
Delivered so far to at least 1,600 leaders in more than 40 countries by the worldwide Bahá'í community's network of national and local level governing councils, the message warns that the ""rising fires of religious prejudice"" threaten to ""ignite a worldwide conflagration"" of ""unthinkable"" consequences. It urges the leaders of all religions to condemn fanaticism, to renounce claims to exclusivity or finality, and to undertake a wider interfaith dialogue.
The response as of the end of June has been overwhelmingly positive, with religious leaders, academics who study religion, and specialists in related fields saying that the message is a much needed and timely summons.
""This is the message. This is the moment,"" said Professor Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth. ""We are facing the greatest challenge that God has ever given us and this is the message we need.""
Moreover, in line with general increase in interfaith activity and cooperation worldwide, many leaders -- whether Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Islamic or other -- have praised the message's call for a greater interfaith discourse.
""Multiple paths to the Divine is something we promote,"" said Dr. Karan Singh, the New Delhi-based chairman of the Temple of Understanding. ""I do appreciate the statement and the role of the Bahá'í Faith in trying to bring about religious harmony and understanding.""
Reports from Bahá'í communities indicate that delegations bearing the message were well received. ""We felt an extraordinary courtesy from them all, a response not so much to us in particular, but to the occasion itself and the inherent weight of the message,"" said Amy Marks, a member of the local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Cape Town, South Africa, which presented the message to a dozen local religious leaders.
The message points to a general trend towards oneness over the last century, noting that prejudices based on gender, race, or nationality have been widely recognized as unacceptable by people everywhere. Despite humanity's integration on other levels, however, religious prejudice persists.
""Tragically, organized religion, whose very reason for being entails service to the cause of brotherhood and peace, behaves all too frequently as one of the most formidable obstacles in the path; to cite a particular painful fact, it has long lent its credibility to fanaticism,"" writes the Universal House of Justice.
""With every day that passes, danger grows that the rising fires of religious prejudice will ignite a worldwide conflagration the consequences of which are unthinkable,"" continues the message. ""The crisis calls on religious leadership for a break with the past as decisive as those that opened the way for society to address equally corrosive prejudices of race, gender and nation."" The full text of the message can be found on the World Wide Web at: https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20020401_001/1.
National Bahá'í communities focused first on distributing the message to national religious leaders, along with academics and journalists who specialize in religion. In Brazil, for example, the National Spiritual Assembly prepared a list of some 44 national religious leaders, theologians, and religious academics, and then sent the message by mail or personal delivery. As a second step, some 330 copies of the message were sent to 66 local Spiritual Assemblies in Brazil, for distribution to local religious leaders.
""In Brazilian society, religious divisions are a problem,"" said Roberto Eghrari, secretary of external affairs for the Brazilian National Spiritual Assembly. ""So we believe the distribution of this message is very timely, that it has the potential to bring new understandings. And so far, the reaction has been very positive.""
A number of religious leaders indicated that they will distribute the message among other leaders in their own organizations. In one African country, the national Muslim council requested additional copies for distribution to all mosques in the capitol. An academic dean at a Catholic-run Latin American university expressed interest in working with the Bahá'í community to develop a program for professors and students at the university that makes use of the message.
In many countries, leaders wrote back to Bahá'í communities with letters of appreciation.
In the United Kingdom, George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Anglican Church, wrote: ""I very much share your view that we all need to address the question of how our different faiths can become forces for peace and justice. Much honest discussion between the communities will be required as we pursue this goal.""
In Tanzania, Biharilal Keshavji Tanna of the Hindu Council of Tanzania wrote: ""I have read the document with great interest and feel that it contains a supremely important message not only to the leaders of the faith groups, but to all thinking individuals, who must shoulder the duty and responsibility of breaking down barriers amongst the various groups of the family of mankind.""",NEW YORK,,United States
169,2002-08-26,[],Baha'i International Community issues statement to the World Summit on Sustainable Development,"NEW YORK — The Baha'i International Community has issued a statement, entitled ""Religion and Development at the Crossroads: Convergence or Divergence?,"" to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, a United Nations conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August to 4 September 2002. The full text of the statement follows below:
Over the course of the 20th century, ethnic, racial and national prejudices have increasingly given way to the recognition that humankind is a single family and the earth its common homeland.   The United Nations (UN), which was created in response to this dawning recognition, has worked tirelessly to bring about a world where all peoples and nations can live together in peace and harmony.  To help bring about this world, the UN has crafted a remarkable framework of international institutions, processes, conventions and global action plans that have helped to prevent conflict and warfare, to protect human rights, to nurture equality between women and men, and to uplift the material conditions of countless individuals and communities.
Despite these significant achievements, the United Nations has yet to grasp fully both the constructive role that religion can play in creating a peaceful and prosperous global order, and the destructive impact that religious fanaticism can have on the stability and progress of the world.  This lack of attention to religion can be clearly seen in the development realm, where the United Nations has, for the most part, viewed religious communities merely as channels for the delivery of goods and services, and as mechanisms to carry out development policies and programs.  Moreover, while the United Nations' human rights machinery has been used to condemn religious intolerance and persecution,  UN development policies and programs  have hardly begun to address religious bigotry as a major obstacle to peace and well-being.
Religion as the Basis of Civilization and Progress
It is becoming increasingly clear that passage to the culminating stage in the millennia long process of the organization of the planet as one home for the entire human family cannot be accomplished in a spiritual vacuum.  Religion, the Baha'i Scriptures aver, ""is the source of illumination, the cause of development and the animating impulse of all human advancement""  and ""has been the basis of all civilization and progress in the history of mankind.""   It is the source of meaning and hope for the vast majority of the planet's inhabitants, and it has a limitless power to inspire sacrifice, change and long-term commitment in its followers.   It is, therefore, inconceivable that a peaceful and prosperous global society -- a society which nourishes a spectacular diversity of cultures and nations -- can be established and sustained without directly and substantively involving the world's great religions in its design and support.
At the same time, it cannot be denied that the power of religion has also been perverted to turn neighbor against neighbor.  The Baha'i Scriptures state that ""religion must be the source of fellowship, the cause of unity and the nearness of God to man.  If it rouses hatred and strife, it is evident that absence of religion is preferable and an irreligious man is better than one who professes it.""   So long as religious animosities are allowed to destabilize the world, it will be impossible to foster a global pattern of sustainable development: the central goal of this Summit.
Religion and the United Nations: Working Together for Peace and Justice
Given the record of religious fanaticism, it is understandable that the United Nations has been hesitant to invite religion into its negotiations.  However, the UN can no longer afford to ignore the immeasurable good that religions have done and continue to do in the world, or the salubrious, far-reaching contributions that they can make to the establishment of a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable global order.  Indeed, the United Nations will only succeed in establishing such a global order to the extent that it taps into the power and vision of religion.  To do so will require accepting religion not merely as a vehicle for the delivery and execution of development initiatives, but as an active partner in the conceptualization, design, implementation and evaluation of global policies and programs.   The historically justified wall separating the United Nations and religions  must fall to the imperatives of a world struggling toward unity and justice.
The real onus, however, is on the religions themselves.  Religious followers and, more important, religious leaders must show that they are worthy partners in the great mission of building a sustainable world civilization.  To do so will require that religious leaders work conscientiously and untiringly to exorcise religious bigotry and superstition  from within their faith traditions.  It will necessitate that they embrace freedom of conscience for all people, including their own followers,  and renounce claims to religious exclusivity and finality.
It should not be imagined that the acceptance of religion as a partner within the United Nations will be anything but gradual or that religious hostilities will be eliminated any time soon.  But the desperate needs of the human family make further delay in addressing the role of religion unacceptable.
Religion and the United Nations: Possible Next Steps
For its part, the United Nations might begin the process of substantively involving religion in deliberations on humankind's future by hosting an initial gathering of religious leaders convoked, perhaps, by the Secretary-General.  As a first priority, the leaders might call for a convention on freedom of religion and belief to be drafted and ratified, as expeditiously as possible, by the governments of the world, with the assistance of religious communities.   Such an action by the world's religious leaders, which would signal their willingness to accept freedom of conscience for all peoples, would significantly reduce tensions in the world.  The gathering might also discuss the foundation within the United Nations System of a permanent religious forum, patterned initially perhaps on the UN's recently founded Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.  The creation of this body would be an important initial step toward fully integrating religion into the UN's work of establishing a peaceful world order.
For their part, religious leaders will need to show that they are worthy of participation in such a forum.  Only those religious leaders who make it clear to their followers that prejudice, bigotry and violence have no place in the life of a religious person should be invited to participate in the work of this body.
The Promised Reign of Peace and Justice
It is evident that the longer the United Nations delays the meaningful involvement of religion in its work, the longer humanity will suffer the ravages of injustice and disunity.   It is equally clear that until the religions of the world renounce fanaticism and work whole-heartedly to eliminate it from within their own ranks, peace and prosperity will prove chimerical.  Indeed, the responsibility for the plight of humanity rests, in large part, with the world's religious leaders.  It is they who must raise their voices to end the hatred, exclusivity, oppression of conscience, violations of human rights, denial of equality, opposition to science, and glorification of materialism, violence and terrorism, which are perpetrated in the name of religious truth.  Moreover, it is the followers of all religions who must transform their own lives and take up the mantle of sacrifice for and service to the well-being of others, and thus contribute to the realization of the long-promised reign of peace and justice on earth.
For a complete version of this statement, which includes extensive footnotes, go to: http://www.bic-un.bahai.org/02-0826.htm.",NEW YORK,,United States
170,2002-08-26,[],Baha'is to stress spiritual values at World Summit on Sustainable Development,"JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Baha'i representatives will stress the central importance of spiritual values at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Some 30 representatives of six Baha'i and Baha'i-inspired organizations will take part in the Summit, an effort to assess progress made since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in achieving sustainable development. The centerpiece of Baha'i efforts at the Summit will be the presentation of a statement, prepared by the Baha'i International Community, entitled ""Religion and Development at the Crossroads: Convergence or Divergence?""
""The statement raises a bold and challenging call to the UN and to the leaders of the world's religions,"" said Peter Adriance, the lead representative of the Baha'i International Community to the Summit. ""It asks the UN to more fully recognize the key role religion must play in the quest for sustainable development and it calls on religious leaders to reject all forms of religious fanaticism as impediments to development and peace."" [For the full text of the statement, go to: http://www.bic-un.bahai.org/02-0826.htm]
Scheduled from 26 August to 4 September 2002, the Summit will bring together thousands of participants, including heads of state and government, national delegates and leaders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses and other major groups. Organized by the United Nations, the Summit's goal is to inspire action towards creating an environmentally sound world while addressing humanity's needs for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security.
The gathering has three major venues. The Summit itself, with its focus on government negotiations, will be held at the Sandton Convention Center just outside Johannesburg. A Forum for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will be held separately at Nasrec, about 25 kilometers from the Summit site. And a special area, called the Ubuntu Village, open to government leaders, NGOs, major groups such as businesses, and the public, has been created near the Sandton Center for exhibits, cultural performances and other events designed to help facilitate new partnerships for sustainable development.
Baha'is will participate in activities at all three venues. Delegations from the Baha'i International Community, as well as the official Baha'i communities of Brazil, Canada, and South Africa, have been accredited to the Summit. Two Baha'i-inspired organizations, the International Environment Forum (IEF) and the European Baha'i Business Forum (EBBF), which operate on Baha'i principles but have no formal connection to Baha'i institutions, have also been accredited to the Summit and will send delegations. In all, 30 Baha'is have been accredited from these organizations, said Mr. Adriance.
The same delegations will also participate in activities at the NGO Forum and the Ubuntu Village. In particular, the Baha'i International Community and the Baha'i Community of South Africa have created two exhibits, one for the Ubuntu Village and the other for the NGO Forum. The exhibits highlight the Baha'i approach to development and showcase Baha'i projects that reflect values and principles at ""the heart of development,"" such as trustworthiness, the equality of women and men, and justice.
The IEF and EBBF will share an exhibit at the NGO Forum. They have also planned several workshops on topics that include: Multiple Dimensions of Globalization; Indicators for Sustainability; Integrating Science in Local Communities; Values For Sustainable Development; and Value-Based Education For Sustainable Development.
""In many respects,"" said Mr. Adriance, ""the program of workshops and activities by these Baha'i-inspired organizations backs up the central theme of the Baha'is at the Summit -- which is to show that you can't have sustainable development in a spiritual vacuum.""
""Both the IEF and the EBBF have stressed the importance of spiritual values in their work, with the IEF focusing on values as they relate to the scientific and technical issues surrounding the environment and the EBBF focusing on values as they relate to business ethics,"" Mr. Adriance added.
""We believe that religion has a significant role to play in inculcating the values necessary to create a sustainable society. And there are many groups that are now carrying forward this message to the United Nations and other international organizations,"" Mr. Adriance said.
In addition, two Baha'i youth performing arts troupes, Beyond Words and Ablaze, will support selected volunteer initiatives, and there will also be a display of ""Children's Art for the Environment"" from an annual competition run by the Baha'is in the Cape Town area.",JOHANNESBURG,,South Africa
172,2002-09-12,[],Baha'is in Chile announce call for Temple designs,"SANTIAGO, Chile — The national governing body of the Bahá'í community in Chile has called for submission of designs for a continental Bahá'í House of Worship, to be built southeast of Santiago. The building will be the eighth House of Worship in the world.
The call comes after an announcement in 2001 by the Universal House of Justice that efforts should begin to build what would be known as the ""Mother Temple of South America"". Submissions are open not only to Bahá'ís, but to all qualified designers.
The announcement letter, from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Chile, specifies some of the design requirements of the building. Like all of the other Bahá'í Temples, must be nine-sided and it also should have ""an auditorium for worship seating five to six hundred people"" with a dome of a height of ""40 to 45 meters."" Design submissions should also include basic landscaping features. The surrounding gardens are a key feature of the other Temples.
The design of each of the existing Temples has been unique, and most are reflective of the culture of the land in which they have been built. The most recognizable of the Bahá'í Houses of Worship throughout the world is the ""Lotus Temple"" in New Delhi, which has won many architectural awards for its design, modelled after a lotus flower.
Funding for the construction will be provided by the Bahá'ís in Chile and voluntary donations from local and national Bahá'í communities around the world. Though Bahá'í Houses of Worship are open to all, the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith prohibit acceptance of funds from non-members.
There are currently seven Temples: in the United States, Uganda, Australia, Germany, Panama, Western Samoa, and India. The House of Worship in the United States, located in Wilmette, Illinois, was the first one of these to be dedicated, in 1953. The most recently completed was the Indian Temple, in 1986.
The Temples themselves are meant to be not only beautiful structures but also places to commune with God in silence and reverence. Their Arabic name, Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, means ""dawning place of the mention of God.""
In the future, each Bahá'í House of Worship will be the central feature in a complex designed to provide a variety of community services, such as health care and education,  open to use by followers of any religion.
At the present time, many have also become attractive destinations for tourists. The Temple in New Delhi receives approximately 12,000 visitors per day.
The letter announcing the call is available in both English and Spanish on the Web site of the Bahá'ís of Chile, www.bahai.cl. Designs are to be sent to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Chile, Casilla 3731, Santiago 1, Chile.
So far, responses have been received from more than 60 architects in 30 different countries. The National Spiritual Assembly will review the designs after the 30 November submission deadline.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
173,2002-09-20,[],Top-rated BBC quiz show in India uses Baha'i temple as backdrop,"NEW DELHI — ""Mastermind India,"" a top-rated quiz program produced by the BBC, held its first show of the 2002-03 season at the Baha'i House of Worship.
In a broadcast presented on 8 August 2002 and seen by an estimated 200 million viewers in some 35 countries, the New Delhi House of Worship was the featured backdrop for the season premiere ""Champion of Champions"" show. The episode brought together four quiz champions from the last four seasons and kicked off the fifth year for the top-rated series, which is available in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
The program regularly features historic sites throughout India, such as palaces or forts, for its backdrop, but this was among the few times in the five year history of ""Mastermind India"" that a site with major religious significance was used, said Naznene Rowhani, the Baha'i community of India's liaison with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for the production.
""What made the program memorable was the in-depth introduction to the Baha'i Faith and the beautiful, sweeping shots of the House of Worship that accompanied it,"" said Ms. Rowhani. ""Great care had been taken by the producers to portray the details accurately and there was even a glimpse of a copy of the Kitab-i-Aqdas shown."" The Kitab-i-Aqdas is among the most important volumes of Baha'u'llah's writings.
""In addition, the softly illuminated House of Worship was constantly displayed as it formed the backdrop to the contestants, looking almost as if it was painted into the scene,"" Ms. Rowhani said.
Completed in 1986, the House of Worship has won numerous architectural awards for its distinctive nine-sided ""lotus petal"" design, and has become one of the most visited sites in India, drawing more than four million visitors each year.",NEW DELHI,,India
174,2002-09-22,[],New volume of Baha'i sacred writings is published,"HAIFA, Israel — An important early epistle of Baha'u'llah that explores the human quest for spiritual enlightenment and the symbols used throughout the history of religious revelation has been recently translated and published in English.
""Gems of Divine Mysteries"" is the latest publication of the Baha'i World Centre. Some 82-pages in English, the volume was originally titled Javahiru'l-Asrar, and was  written in Arabic during Baha'u'llah 's banishment to Iraq, where He was exiled from 1853 until 1863. The book is a letter written in reply to a seeker who asked about the relationship of prophecy to the Babi Faith, and Baha'u'llah used that question as an opportunity to elaborate a number of related subjects.
The book relates closely to two other major works of Baha'u'llah: The Seven Valleys (Haft-Vadi), an exposition on the progression of the soul, and The Book of Certitude (Kitab-i-Iqan), which gives an exploration of the progression of divine revelation and the tribulations sustained by the Manifestations of God. Specifically, it addresses the cause of the rejection of the Prophets of the past, the danger of a literal reading of scripture the meaning of the signs and portents of the Bible concerning the advent of the new Manifestation, and the continuity of divine revelation.
For example, in ""Gems"" Baha'u'llah explains many of the symbolic terms used in past revelations, such as the term ""resurrection"" and ""Day of Judgment.""
""...he who had believed in God and in the Manifestation of His beauty was raised from the grave of heedlessness, gathered together in the sacred ground of the heart, quickened to the life of faith and certitude, and admitted to the paradise of the divine presence. What paradise can be loftier than this, what ingathering mightier, and what resurrection greater? Indeed, should a soul be acquainted with these mysteries, he would grasp that which none other hath fathomed.""
""Gems"" further provides what the Universal House of Justice calls ""an exposition of the stages in the path of the spiritual wayfarer,"" which is explained in seven stages: ""the Garden of Search,"" ""the City of Love and Rapture,"" ""the City of Divine Unity,"" ""the Garden of Wonderment,"" ""the City of Absolute Nothingness,"" ""the City of Immortality,"" and ""the City that hath no name or description.""
The translation was prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, which works from original documents either written by Baha'u'llah 's own pen or recorded by His amanuensis. This English rendering combines the efforts of a number of translators, who strive to follow the pattern established by Shoghi Effendi, head of the Baha'i Faith and its authorized interpreter from 1921 until his death in 1957.
The book is the second publication of Baha'u'llah 's writings this year, following ""The Summons of the Lord of Hosts"" last May. These two are the first new full translations of Baha'u'llah 's writings since the publication of The Most Holy Book (Kitab-i-Aqdas) in 1992.
Although the documents identified as Baha'u'llah 's primary works have been the focus of translation work so far, they represent only a small portion of His writings during His 40-year ministry. All totaled, He revealed thousands of tablets, which altogether would constitute a volume more than 70 times the size of the Qur'an and more than 15 times the size of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
The book can be ordered through the United States Baha'i Distribution Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30336-2017, USA (telephone: (800) 999-9019; email: bds@usbnc.org).",HAIFA,,Israel
175,2002-09-21,[],New classroom building dedicated at Green Acre Baha'i School,"ELIOT, MAINE, United States — Green Acre Baha'i School, the oldest permanent Baha'i school in the world and the site of several major events in Baha'i history, dedicated a new $2 million classroom building and lecture hall here on 21 September 2002.
Designated as ""The Harriet and Curtis Kelsey Center,"" with an attendant ""Manny Reimer Hall,"" the 13,100-square-foot building features a 220-person auditorium and seven classrooms. It is the first new building to be erected on the 250-acre Green Acre campus since 1937.
""This is generally part of an effort to prepare to receive larger numbers of people who are interested in the Baha'i Faith,"" said James Sacco, director of Green Acre. ""Another main purpose is to improve the quality of education for children and junior youth, which is a main element of the current national plan for Baha'is in the United States. And it also gives us a dignified and elegant meeting space where we can present the Baha'i perspective to gatherings of leaders of thought.""
The dedication of the new buildings was commemorated in an hour-long ceremony attended by Continental Counsellor Rebequa Murphy, eight of the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, local dignitaries, and several hundred people from around the northeastern United States.
Referred to as ""the most important institution of its kind in the world"" by Shoghi Effendi, Green Acre occupies a unique place in history. Its main building, a four-story inn, was built as the Eliot Hotel in 1890, but was soon after named Green Acre by the poet John Greenleaf Whittier because of its beautiful setting on the Piscataqua River.  Hundreds attended the dedication of the new Harriet and Curtis Kelsey Center at Green Acre Baha'i School on 21 September 2002, which was held under a tent on the Green Acre grounds. In the background is the Sarah Farmer Inn, an historic building visited by Abdu'l-Baha.Under the patronage of Sarah Jane Farmer, the daughter of prominent transcendentalist and inventor Moses Gerrish Farmer, Green Acre became an important meeting place for the study of comparative religions, attracting many prominent people. Among those attending its programs were Edward Everertt Hale, W.E.B. DuBois, Booker T. Washington, Swami Vivekananda, and John Fiske.
In 1900, Ms. Farmer travelling to Egypt, went on to Akka where she met 'Abdu'l-Baha and embraced the Baha'i Faith. Upon her return to America, Green Acre increasingly became a focal point for the development of the early Baha'i community in the United States. In 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha Himself visited Green Acre during a tour of North America, endowing the institution with unique significance for Baha'is. Over the years, its example encouraged the development of Baha'i schools in countries around the world.
In 1925, Green Acre was the site of the first election of National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada. Since that time, it has become a well-known school for training in the Baha'i teachings, operating at first as a summer retreat and currently as a year-round institution, offering short courses on the Faith and its teachings.
Funds for the new building, which is named after a prominent Baha'i couple who were active supporters of Green Acre, came entirely from donations by members of the Baha'i Faith. The lecture hall is named after a former director of the School.",ELIOT,MAINE,United States
176,2002-11-13,[],Backgrounder: the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women,"INDORE, India — The Barli Development Institute for Rural Women focuses on giving poor young women literacy training, practical knowledge of health, nutrition and sanitation, skills for income-generation, and an awareness of village-level environmental conservation. Empowered by their training as agents for social change, graduates have had a measurable impact on the well-being of their families and home villages.
Originally established as the Baha'i Vocational Institute for Rural Women, the Institute became an independent entity with its own board of directors in September 2001, taking the name Barli Development Institute for Rural Women. The Institute has trained more than 1,300 young women and girls since 1985.
Located in the city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, the Institute offers all of its training programs free of charge to women, drawing its trainees mainly from tribal areas throughout a region that is marked by chronic poverty and malnutrition, due in part to low crop yields, frequent droughts, a shortage of drinking water, and poor soil.
Its programs seek to overcome obstacles that have traditionally hindered the development of women, which in turn have hindered the development of all. To this end, it offers a spiritually oriented curriculum that empowers women with an opportunity to reflect on the nature of their relationships with others and with their social institutions. The students examine age-old caste, tribal, and class prejudices, in the light of Baha'i principles such as the oneness of humanity, equality of women and men, respect for diversity, and service to the community. At the same time, they are encouraged to identify positive elements in their culture that need to be preserved and strengthened.
The Institute works on these goals through a holistic approach to education, giving each trainee leadership training courses in literacy, tailoring, agriculture, artisan crafts-work, human rights, environmental awareness, self-esteem and personality development, social commitment, nutrition and health, and income-generating skills. Art, music, and dance are also incorporated into the curriculum.
The objective is that, once empowered with such training, the women can return to their home villages and become ""pillars"" of their families and communities -- agents for changing the social and physical environments. Indeed, ""barli"" is the local word for the central pillar of the house, and like the ""barli,"" which supports the physical structure, the woman supports the structure of the family and the community.
Woven throughout the Institute's curriculum is a strong environmental component. Trainees learn that caring for the environment is a spiritual responsibility, as well as an important service to the community. Students are taught about planting and maintaining trees, finding local sources for seeds, and the use of environmental and energy conservation techniques such as composting, vermiculture, the use of biodegradable products, and proper waste management. One of the institute's earliest health education campaigns freed that area of guinea worm by teaching the importance of clean water.  Since 1998, the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women in Indore, India, has used a large parabolic solar cooker for all its cooking, managing to do 100 percent of its cooking with solar power for some 250 days a year.| The Institute focuses on giving poor young women literacy training, practical knowledge of health, nutrition and sanitation, skills for income-generation, and an awareness of village-level environmental conservation.More specifically, the trainees learn conservation strategies by doing. At the Institute itself, rainwater is harvested and, in an innovative arrangement, used to re-charge the underground aquifer. Wash-water is reused for irrigation. Gardens, tended by the trainees, provide most of the Institute's food. Trainees prepare meals using state-of-the-art solar cookers; some become ""experts"" able to support the use of solar cookers in their villages.
Indeed, for the last 17 years, the Institute has been a leader in researching, experimenting with, and using solar cooking technologies. In the mid-1980s, it began using solar box cookers for some of its cooking and promoting their use in the villages.
In May 1998, a 7.5 square-meter parabolic solar cooker was installed the Institute; another was installed in 2000. Now, for approximately 250 days in a year, 100 percent of all cooking uses solar energy. Further, trainees are shown the savings to the environment -- and their time -- that are possible through the use of solar devices, and they are encouraged to propagate the use of solar box cookers, highly efficient parabolic concentrating cookers, and other energy saving devices in their villages.
The Institute is currently involved in manufacturing SK14 cookers. So far, nine of these concentrating parabolic solar cookers, which are capable of cooking for 10-12 people at once, have been set up in outlying villages by the Institute in a pilot program. The Institute plans to distribute 40 more such cookers, funded mainly by primary school children in Austria, in the coming months.
Graduates have had a measurable impact on their communities. Although more than half of the trainees are illiterate when they arrive, 99% leave fully able to read and write Hindi. Studies show that 96% of them use their income generation and related skills upon their return home and that 46% have established small businesses of sewing clothes and started generating income while 7- 9% are employed in various jobs. Some 97% of graduates are using safe drinking water practices; some 70% now include leafy vegetables in their diet; and 41% are growing and selling vegetables. In addition, women in five villages have planted some 2,500 trees
Other studies have shown that the women have indeed helped to create a new atmosphere of mutual respect and unity in their communities, helping to displace caste prejudices in tribal communities once notorious for their high crime rate and alcohol abuse. The Institute collaborates actively with government officials and non-government organizations -- exchanging information, methodologies, and research information.
The Institute's training programs typically run either six months or one year, although short-term workshops and training sessions are occasionally offered on select topics. Graduates receive a certificate through the National Open Schools program. The Institute obtains funding from a range of sources, including the Baha'i community of India, the Swedish International Development Agency, and the Two Wings Foundation.
The Institute has received numerous awards and citations for its work on the environment and development. In 1992, it was made a member of the United Nations Environmental Programme's Global 500 Roll of Honor for outstanding Environmental Achievement. In 1994, the Institute was listed in UNESCO's INNOV database as one of 81 successful basic education projects in developing countries.
On 13 November 2002, the Institute was presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a ""sacred gift"" from the Baha'i International Community, as part of an Alliance on Religion and Conservation celebration of her Golden Jubilee. For more information, see the Baha'i World News Service story at http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/177",INDORE,,India
177,2002-11-13,[],"Honoring Queen Elizabeth II and her Golden Jubilee, Baha'is participate in interfaith celebration on the environment","LONDON — At a special high-level interfaith gathering held in honor of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Baha'i representatives joined with the leaders of nine other major world religions to celebrate the significant role that religions can play in caring for the environment.
Held 13 November 2002 in London's historic Banqueting House in Whitehall and titled ""Our Place in Creation,"" the event featured the presentation of a series of environmental projects to Her Majesty the Queen and her husband HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as a program of sacred artistic, musical, and dance performances by representatives of each religion.
Organized by the Alliance on Religion and Conservation (ARC), the event sought to explore religions' understanding of the place of humanity in creation. The Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism were all represented.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who has played a key role in bringing religions into the environmental movement at the international level, explained the purpose of the gathering in a short talk.
""We desperately need the conviction of religious belief to guide us in the way we live on, and use, the planet,"" said Prince Philip. ""We have got to learn to balance the economic and scientific realities against the religious demands for responsibility and consideration for the created world. It is not going to be easy, but I am sure that belief and conviction are very powerful motives to care for our planet with all its diversity.""
Among the religious leaders in attendance were: His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, representing Orthodox Christianity; the Rt. Rev. Michael Turnbull, Lord Bishop of Durham, representing Protestant Christianity; Sri Kushok Bakula, representing Buddhism; Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel, representing Judaism, and Ervad Dr Ramiyar Parvez Karanjia, a leading writer on Zoroastrian affairs.
Ms. Guilda Navidi Walker represented the Baha'i International Community. The Baha'i Community of the United Kingdom was represented by its secretary, Mr. Barney Leith.
""The event was quite significant, not only because of the presence of the Queen and Prince Philip, but because of the very senior leadership represented among the faith communities,"" said Mr. Leith. ""And, despite all of the religious hatred and intolerance that sometimes unfortunately seems so prevalent in our world, the event also served to demonstrate that religious communities can work together on important global issues, such as the environment.""
For its project, the Baha'i International Community presented the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women. Based in Indore, India, the Institute gives indigenous women training in literacy, agriculture, health, income-generation, and environmental conservation.
Conservation-oriented projects announced by other religions included: a recycling project in all 47 existing Zoroastrian Fire Temples in Mumbai, India; the founding of a Centre for Islam and Ecology at the University of Wales, Lampeter, UK; the planting of some 27,000 tree seedlings in temple and community forests surrounding 14 Buddhist pagodas in Cambodia; and the creation of a major new environmental program by the Batak Church of Sumatra, Indonesia. These are in addition to a series of environmental projects announced in 2000 by ARC, in association with WWF International, in an initiative called Sacred Gifts for a Living Planet.
As the Baha'i contribution to the program of sacred performances, Shiva Ashrafi Cooper chanted one of the Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah. Now a resident of the United Kingdom, Ms. Ashrafi Cooper was born in Iran.
Ms. Walker said the quality of Ms. Ashrafi Cooper's singing was intensely moving. ""When Shiva arrived and started singing, there was such silence that you could heard a pin drop,"" she said. ""It was an essentially spiritual experience.""
In addition to the chanting by Ms. Ashrafi Cooper, the event featured performances by members of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mongolian National Song and Dance Ensemble, the London Adventist Chorale, and others.
The Baha'i International Community has been a member of the Alliance on Religion and Conservation since it was founded in 1995 at a summit meeting at Windsor Castle hosted by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
For more information on the Alliance on Religion and Conservation, visit the ARC website at www.arcworld.org or read a story about ARC's founding at http://www.onecountry.org/oc71/oc7101as.html. For more information about the Barli Development Institute, go to http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/176 for an accompanying background feature on the Institute or to the Institute's website at http://www.geocities.com/bvirw.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
178,2002-10-24,[],Local Baha'is in Cameroon organize interfaith discussion for UN Day,"BUEA, Cameroon — In commemoration of United Nations Day, the local Baha'i community  in Buea organized an interfaith discussion on world peace on 24 October 2002.
Sponsored by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Buea, the discussion featured speakers representing Baha'i, Christian, Hindu and Islamic perspectives.
The speakers all stressed the importance of religion in contributing to peace, putting a special emphasis on the need for religious tolerance.
The  Reverend  Father Alosius Ituka Ndifor, secretary to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buea, said that peace begins from God, because God is peace and this can transcend all of mankind if people open their hearts.
""We do not refuse the right to be different, but difference should not be the cause of strife,"" said Father Ndifor. ""The church is all of you, a source of inspiration for people to forge their own destiny.""
Auztaz Mohammed Aboubakar, the Muslim Imam of Buea, suggested that there are seven qualities which should prevail in a society for there to be peace: brotherhood, freedom, faith, morality, equality, piety, and righteousness. In the absence of these, he said, ""there is a social alienation of people which is a condition of peacelessness.""
Stella Siri Fuh, the Baha'i representative, said one path to greater peacefulness would be for the followers of all religions to follow the Golden Rule. Ms. Fuh noted that the Golden Rule is present in the fundamental teachings of every religion, and, if widely applied, ""would make the world a better place to live.""
There were a number of expressions of appreciation to the Baha'is for organizing the event. Imam Aboubakar said specifically, ""I want to thank our Baha'i brothers for organizing this very important meeting. I hope they will continue to do this.""
Jules-Marcel Mondeng, permanent Secretary General of the South West Province, added: ""I am grateful to the Baha'is for thinking of organizing such an occasion. No society can be happy without peace. We need peace in the world, in Cameroon, but of course also in Buea. I think the panelists have done a good job. Religious bodies have to do much in the education of people for peace.""",BUEA,,Cameroon
179,2002-11-27,[],"In Bolivia, Baha'is in an isolated village help to establish a local school system","PUKA PUKA, Bolivia — For many years, the Government-run school in this village of some 700 people on the Bolivian altiplano offered only kindergarten through third grade. Students who wanted any kind of education beyond that had to walk from 3 to 6 kilometers to one of several nearby towns.
The young students mostly didn't mind the distance. But they did object to the treatment they received in the other places. All members of the Quechua indigenous people, the students were forced by teachers elsewhere to wear Western clothes instead of their traditional tribal dress.
""It is important to wear our clothes, because we don't want to forget our culture,"" said Pascual Vargas, a 17-year-old Puka Puka native.
So the people of Puka Puka did something quite unusual: they started up their own school, first raising money to hire teachers for grades four through eight and then establishing a private high school for those students who wanted to continue.
The story of how the community of Puka Puka in Chuquisaca  Province came to take that initiative some five years ago, and how it has continued to manage and finance the schools, is a tale of genuine grassroots development. After identifying the problem, the community itself came up with a solution and proceeded largely on its own to implement it, seeking external help where necessary but remaining essentially in control.
Although largely composed of illiterate farmers, the community now manages an extended school system, with an enrollment of some 140 students in kindergarten through eighth grade  a remarkable achievement in this underdeveloped region, itself in one of the poorest countries in Latin America. The more recently established high school has about 30 students in grades nine and ten.  Students in the fifth grade at the Puka Puka village school. The teacher is paid for by the community itself, through various fund-raising projects, most of which have been organized by the Bahá’í community of Puka Puka.By all accounts, the underlying motivation for these projects and their sustaining potency stem from the practice of the Baha'i Faith by about one-third of the people here. The Faith's emphasis on education and unity supplied the vision for advancement and a process for empowerment, said local leaders and outside observers.
""The desire for our own school was born in the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Puka Puka,"" said Claudio Limachi, 35, a native of the village who has been involved in the school project since its beginning. ""The Assembly didn't want the community's children to suffer any more.
""And they had often studied the quotation from the Baha'i writings that says when the indigenous peoples of the Americas are educated, they will become 'so illumined as to enlighten the whole world.' So to help fulfill that promise, we established the school,"" said Mr. Limachi, who was among the first to embrace the Baha'i Faith in Puka Puka and who is now a leading figure in the community.
Although the community had a school covering kindergarten through third grade, sending the children in the upper grades to schools in the surrounding communities was a major problem, because of various forms of discrimination.
""In one town, Mishka Mayo, we had trouble because the school was Catholic and we felt there was religious discrimination,"" said Mr. Limachi. ""School officials would force the students to participate in religious festivals in which there would be lots of alcohol, and when they refused, they were punished physically, with a paddle.""
The discrimination, said Mr. Limachi and others, stemmed partly from the fact that a number of families in Puka Puka had become Baha'is  who are, incidentally, forbidden as part of their faith to drink alcohol. A few residents first accepted the Baha'i Faith in 1980, and they gradually taught its principles to their friends and families. Today, of the some 700 residents in Puka Puka, about 300 are Baha'is.
It was the emphasis on education in the Baha'i Faith that led the community to establish its own school system. In 1997, the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Puka Puka, the locally elected Baha'i governing council, decided that year to raise US$500 and to hire a teacher for the Baha'i students.
Very quickly, however, the members of the Assembly, many of whom are also leaders in the community at large,  decided that all levels of schooling should be available to everyone in Puka Puka. So they enlisted the help of other community organizations and raised money to hire three extra teachers, enough to cover grades five, six, and eight.
Not only did the Baha'is initiate the community-wide effort to hire teachers for middle grades, they have themselves launched a high school program. Called the ""Unidad de los Pueblos Collegio"" (Unity of the People High School), the institution currently operates out of several rooms in Mr. Limachi's home, with an enrollment of about 30 students in ninth and tenth grades. So far, two teachers have been hired, at nominal salaries.
The money for the schools has been raised in various ways. A portion of what had been previously spent on alcohol was contributed, and the local farmers' association donated a portion of its potato sales to the school that first year. The Baha'i community has also initiated a number of small-scale income generating projects to help support the high school, including a beekeeping/honey-making project; a chicken-raising project, and a vegetable-growing/greenhouse project. As well, outside agencies, such as Nur University, a Baha'i-inspired institution in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, took note of the community's desire to help itself and began to assist in various ways.
The practice of the Baha'i Faith has empowered the community in other ways, say community members and outside observers. In addition to connecting them with a wider network, it has promoted a sense of unity in the community itself, a unity that extends to other religious groups and has helped make possible the level of cooperation necessary to establish the schools.
""Before, we used to have drunken parties and we used to fight more among ourselves,"" said Cecilo Vela, 30, the treasurer of the Puka Puka Spiritual Assembly. ""But since the Faith has come, we have become united -- the Catholics, evangelicals, and Baha'is -- and now we are working to get an education for our children.""
Constanio Quispe, a 39-year-old Catholic in Puka Puka, confirmed that members of other religions share the sense of new possibilities.  ""It would all fall apart if we weren't united,"" said Mr. Quispe, who serves as a catechism teacher. ""The Baha'is united us and the Catholics understood that we can follow that way also.""
*Editor's note: the above story was adapted from a feature story in the latest issue of ONE COUNTRY, the newsletter of the Baha'i International Community. To read the full story, visit the ONE COUNTRY site at www.onecountry.org",PUKA PUKA,,Bolivia
180,2002-11-01,[],Baha'is support International Peace Day in Puerto Rico,"SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Baha'i community of Puerto Rico gave active support to International Peace Day celebrations here on 1 November 2002.
Specifically, Baha'is participated in three events for the Day, which is an observance created by the Puerto Rican legislature. The events included a ""Harmony for Peace"" celebration at the botanical gardens in San Juan; a ""Walk for Peace"" in Rio Piedras; and a ""Commitment for Peace"" rally in San Juan's central park.
The activities were organized by the Coalition against Family Violence, with support from various other civic and humanitarian organizations, including the Baha'is, said Jenice Ayala, a spokesperson for the Baha'i community of Puerto Rico.
""The Baha'is of Puerto Rico had a very active role in the organization of these three activities,"" said Ms. Ayala. ""These events involved all sectors of society, including political leaders, students of all ages, and religious leaders. Our goal was to help create an atmosphere for all of these activities that would be one of complete tolerance, respect, and love for one's neighbor.""
The first event, ""Harmony for Peace"", brought together political leaders and young students, who called for peace in Puerto Rico and in the world.
Among the speakers was Yolanda Zayas, the Secretary of Family Affairs in Puerto Rico, who said that in order to achieve peace work must begin in the nuclear family and called for reflection on what every individual might contribute to create a world in harmony.  The activity ended with an artistic presentation by the chorus of the University of Puerto Rico.
The second activity, designated ""Walk for Peace,"" saw public and private school students walk along the streets of the Rio Piedras section of San Juan to the Puerto Rico Art Museum.
At the museum, David Kalantar of the Baha'i community of Puerto Rico acted as master of ceremonies. One feature of the event was a ""conversation"" for peace among young people.
""As a student and as the future of my country I understand that we are all here with the same purpose, peace,"" said Gusth Merly Prez, 14, of the Julian Blanco School, who was a youth participant. ""This peace begins within my insides, achieving an equilibrium and balance with myself, later this is reflected in my family, community, country and finally the entire world.""
The celebration of Peace Day ended at San Juan's Central Park with a gathering of religious leaders from many faiths who made a ""Commitment for Peace.""",SAN JUAN,,Puerto Rico
181,2002-11-29,[],New Baha'i radio station is officially launched in the Philippines,"BULAC, Philippines — In a festive celebration featuring prayers, speeches, music and dance performances, and a ""barrio fiesta"" atmosphere, the Baha'i community of the Philippines officially inaugurated its new radio station on 26 November 2002.
Located in a rural district about 30 kilometers from the city of San Jose on the main island of Luzon, the station will feature programs designed to promote social and economic development in the community at large. It will also serve the Baha'i community in the region with programming designed to promote moral, spiritual, and human resource development.
""By using such means as interview, radio dramas, and discussion, we hope to stimulate the practice of consultation in the community at large,"" said Vahid Mockon, the station's general manager. ""As such, we hope that the station will help in the formulation and implementation of community projects that promote the development of spiritual and moral capabilities in children and youth, provide farmers with access to scientific information about agricultural practices, and help to empower women, especially in the areas of primary health care and education.""
Licensed since 19 March 2002, the station operates at 1584 kHz on the AM band, broadcasting at a power of 1,000 watts. Due to the flat topography of the region, it reaches a wide area encompassing the entire province of Nueva Ecija and a portion of Tarlac and Pangasinan provinces, with a potential listenership of more than 2.3 million people.  In a festive celebration, the Baha’i community of the Philippines officially inaugurated its new radio station on 26 November 2002. Shown here is a performance by the Tondod Public High School Dance Troupe.| The radio station building is in the background. It is the seventh Baha’i radio station in the world.More than 300 people, including local officials and nearby residents, attended the inauguration ceremony. The event featured speeches by visiting Baha'i dignitaries and local officials, as well as performances by children and youth from nearby schools.
""We had a 'barrio fiesta' -- a village feast,"" said Antonio Toledo, chairman of the board of the Dawnbreakers Foundation, a Baha'i-sponsored development organization that operates the station. ""Baha'is from the region cooked and served food for all 300 in attendance. And the atmosphere was definitely festive.""
Local officials said they were pleased to have the station in their region. ""We are very proud to have the new Baha'i radio station in our community,"" said Gloria Santiago, chairwoman of the Bulac barangay council. ""I encourage everyone to support the station."" (A barangay is the smallest governmental unit in the Philippines.)
Humaida Jumalon, a senior advisor -- Counsellor -- to Baha'i communities throughout Asia, explained that a major purpose of the station would be to help in the formation and organization of spiritual activities. Specifically, she said, the station would help to cultivate and encourage study circles, devotional meetings, and children classes.
""We envision the station to have a very big role in the promotion of these core activities,"" said Counsellor Jumalon. ""For example, the station will be able to make announcements as to the time and place for children's classes, and this can help very much in consolidating the Baha'i communities in the area.""
The station has also entered into a partnership with Phil Rice, a Philippine rice research institute, to provide up-to-date agricultural information to farmers in the broadcast region.
""They hope to do outreach to the community through the station,"" said Mr. Toledo, who is also a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Philippines, the governing council which established the Dawnbreakers Foundation and oversees its operation. ""The primary industry in the region is agricultural, with rice, corn and onions being the principal crops. So the opportunity is very great.""
Mr. Toledo said the station has been in the planning process for nearly 20 years. ""It has been a long term process, in terms of finding a site, purchasing the land, arranging for permits, constructing the station, and outfitting the facilities,"" said Mr. Toledo.
""Another big hurdle was to obtain a government franchise from the national legislature,"" said Mr. Toledo. ""Finally, in April 2001, legal authority to operate the station was received and signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The station is the seventh such Baha'i radio project in the world. Other stations, which are similarly oriented towards community service and development, are operated in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and the United States, in rural South Carolina.
The station currently has a full-time staff of four. ""As the project progresses and radio personnel and field volunteers gain more experience, it is hoped that the station will begin to offer short-term courses, seminars and workshops to benefit development communication aspirants and community development workers,"" said Mr. Mockon.",BULAC,,Philippines
182,2002-12-04,[],University of Bari establishes a course on ethics and economics,"BARI, Italy — Officials at the University of Bari have established a permanent course on ethics and economics that is based on Baha'i principles and have appointed a well-known Baha'i businessman as its coordinator.
Titled ""Ethics and Economy: Towards a New World Order,"" the course consists of ten seminars focused on essential Baha'i values such as consultation, justice and ethics, equality, universal education, and the unity of science and religion as they relate to the world of business and economics.
The University has appointed Giuseppe Robiati as the coordinator of the course. A member of the Baha'i community of Italy, Mr. Robiati is a businessman with extensive experience in engineering and business management, and in the fields of human resources and economics.
Currently president of SCAC, a leading industrial company in Italy, Mr.  Robiati has also written a number of books, including  ""Faith and World Economy, a Joint Venture: A Baha'i Pespective,"" ""God and Economy, a Possible Partnership,"" and ""Economy for a New World Order."" Mr. Robiati is also a member of the European Baha'i Business Forum (EBBF), which played a key role in helping to establish the course.
The University of Bari is the second largest university in Italy, with an enrollment of some 50,000 students and a faculty of some 2,200 professors.  The ""Ethics and Economics"" course, which was approved by the academic senate and the rector of the University of Bari in July, is scheduled to begin in March 2003.
The initiative evolved from series of workshops and presentations by Mr.  Robiati at the University in the 1990s, which emerged from a request by Giovanni Girone, then the dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University. In 1990, Prof. Girone, who is currently rector of the University, asked the EBBF to facilitate a one-day workshop on ""ethics and economy"" for the economics department.
""I attended one of Mr. Robiati's lectures and immediately realized that this course could be of great benefit for the students,"" said Prof. Girone, who then invited the EBBF to deliver lectures at the university on a regular basis, eventually leading to the establishment of the permanent course.
According to Mr. Robiati, Prof.Girone has often spoken highly of EBBF's program. ""He fell in love with our vision and would always explain to the students that this course is not only important for their education but it will also provide them with a vision for their own personal future,"" said Mr. Robiati.
In 2001, EBBF was honored with the prestigious ""Seal of the University of Bari"" award in recognition of its contribution to the education of students and the values presented in the program.  Mr. Robiati said the EBBF has been invited to offer similar lectures at the University of Rome, Milan, Bologna, Siena and Pisa.
The European Baha'i Business Forum, founded in 1990, has evolved into a network of 350 businessmen and women residing in 50 countries. EBBF seeks to promote ethical values, personal virtues, and moral leadership in the field of business. It also has on-going collaborations with UNESCO and the International Labor Organization.",BARI,,Italy
183,2002-11-12,[],Baha'is participate in German multifaith dialogue at Jena University,"JENA, Germany — More than 100 people gathered at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena on 12 November 2002 for a multifaith panel discussion on the topic of ""Jews, Christians, Muslims and Baha'i -- the world religions' common responsibility for world peace.""
Sponsored by the Intercultural Council of Germany, the main theme of the discussion was how religions could take joint responsibility for promoting international peace, both in relation to the world at large and to each other.
Participants in the panel included Salomon Siegl, Rabbi of the Jewish community of the State of Saxony; Dr. Hans Mikosch, head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gera; Prof. Udo Tworuschka, chair of comparative religious sciences at the University of Jena; Dr. Nadeem Elyas, president of the Central Muslim Council of Germany; and Christopher Sprung of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany. The panel was hosted by Dr. Jrgen Miksch, the chairman of the Intercultural Council.
Prof. Tworuschka opened the discussion by saying that the sacred writings of all the world's religions contain statements on the importance of peace. He noted that important Jewish prayers ask for ""shalom,"" that the Muslim paradise is called ""Dar-es-Salaam,"" which means House of Peace, and observed that Buddhists strive for non-violence and peace.
He also quoted from the Baha'i writings, citing Baha'u'llah's call to the ""contending peoples and kindreds of the earth"" to set their ""faces towards unity"" and ""for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you.""
Rabbi Siegl said that the monotheistic religions understand human beings to be a reflection of God, an understanding which can be used to promote peace. By respecting each person as part of God's creation, he said, harmonious relations can be built between religions.
Dr. Mikosch suggested that one way to decrease intolerance and fanaticism, in everyday life, would be for individuals to acquaint themselves with the religious culture of another faith.
Dr. Nadeem Elyas said Islam is a peace-promoting faith, adding that defensive activities are restricted to very specific conditions. Moreover, he said, Muslims in Germany express their obedience to the secular German Government, distance themselves from any Islamic terrorism, and call for the establishment of peace between each person and their creator, and amongst all human groups and between humankind and the environment.
Christopher Sprung suggested that the Baha'i paradigm of unity could be a mainspring for religious peace. By accepting the mutual divine source of all religions, religious leaders could come to a consensus. Cooperative activities could be based on the realization that virtually all Holy Writings contain the same spiritual truths.
""This would lead to true acceptance rather than mere tolerance of one another,"" said Mr. Sprung. ""Simultaneously, all religions must refrain from claims to exclusive truth since this implies there is only one's own way to peace, which constitutes the main barrier to religious peace."" He added that the concept of unity as envisaged by the Baha'is can be understood on many levels, including the spiritual, social and economic.
The other panelists expressed their preference to show tolerance towards the absolute claims of another religion and questioned the concept of common spiritual core beliefs as proposed by the Baha'is on the grounds of perceived discrepancies between the different religious teachings. They called, however, on all religions to treat each other with dignity and respect.
Towards the end, the panel discussed practical suggestions for achieving cooperation among the religions. One idea that emerged was to promote the foundation of a one-year school subject called ""world religions"", similar to a course already taught as a trial project in the ninth grade in some schools in the United Kingdom.
The Intercultural Council of Germany was founded in 1994 by a group of non-governmental, commercial and governmental organisations with the aim of promoting social integration. It has an interfaith ""circle"" composed of several sub-units, including an Islamic Forum, an Abrahamitic Forum, and an interreligious committee, of which the Baha'i community of Germany is a member.",JENA,,Germany
185,2002-12-22,[],Baha'i-inspired educational system for the poor of the world honored by the Club of Budapest,"FRANKFURT, Germany — The Club of Budapest has honored FUNDAEC, a Baha'i-inspired development organization in Colombia, with a ""Change the World -- Best Practice Award"" for its achievements in providing high school education and training to more than 50,000 people living in rural areas in Latin America.
In his speech at the award ceremony, Peter Spiegel, the Secretary General of the Club of Budapest, characterized the project as ""the most considerable revolution of education in the twentieth century.""
""The genius of this new educational model,"" Mr. Spiegel explained, ""lies in the fact that it teaches people living in Third World Countries to take charge of their own development processes and begin to interact as equals with the rest of the world.""
Known as SAT (for ""Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial, which means ""System for Tutorial Learning"" in Spanish), the tutorial learning program is built around a series of highly interactive workbooks, which enable specially trained tutors, who may themselves have little formal education, to offer a high quality secondary educational program in rural areas with minimal overhead cost.
The ceremony, held at the historic St. Paul's Church in Frankfurt on 6 October, was attended by honorary members of the Club of Budapest Sir Peter Ustinov and Paulo Coelho, who were granted the Club's Planetary Consciousness Award. Also at the event was Istvan Hiller, personal assistant to the Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, whose presence reinforced the support of the Hungarian government for the Club's efforts in promoting the emergence of planetary consciousness and supporting exemplary, like-minded projects. In all, some 1,000 people were present.
The Change the World -- Best Practice Award was given to four international educational projects that aim at empowering people through learning and enabling them to take full control of their economic development.
Other ""Change the World"" recipients this year were Aguida Zanol, representing  Reciclar-Institut in Brazil, which seeks to connect art, ecology and social development; Nina Kostina of the Frank Foundation, which has sought to help orphans from former countries of the Soviet Union; and Marcia Odell, representing the Women's Empowerment Program in Nepal, which has developed an innovative approach to microfinance and the empowerment of women. The WEP program has reached more than 130,000 women in Nepal and has also received considerable support from the Baha'i community of Nepal.
Gustavo Correa, Director of FUNDAEC and one of the founders of the project, represented the Foundation at the ceremony. He said the award this was a big step in the recognition of the FUNDAEC program. ""Although our initial efforts started out very small and humble, as time went by, more experience and confidence were gained and in 1980 SAT, the Tutorial Learning System, was born,"" Dr. Correa said. ""While our first materials were developed and tested only in the North Cauca Region of Colombia, with the official recognition of the Ministry of Education in Colombia SAT has been implemented in other parts of South and Central America as well. At present the SAT program is used for secondary education in Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Colombia. At the same time the first phases of the implementation of the program have started in Zambia, too,"" said Dr. Correa.
FUNDAEC (Foundation for the Application and Teaching of the Sciences) was established in 1974 by a group of professors at the University of Valle in Colombia who were looking for new strategies to develop the capacities of people and to generate knowledge in isolated regions of the country.
The program is rooted in rural reality, based upon the needs of the local residents with the aim of strengthening local economies and communal identity. SAT offers students a high school education that not only provides them with theoretical knowledge, as most traditional educational practices do, but also allows them to become independent and to serve their own communities.
""When started this project, we were originally inspired by a quotation from Baha'u'llah, the prophet founder of the Baha'i Faith,"" said Dr. Correa. ""Baha'u'llah talks about man as 'a mine rich in gems of inestimable value.' He says that 'education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom'. In FUNDAEC we firmly believe that there is significant hidden potential within every individual, a potential which, if nurtured, may foster the spirit of service and contribute to the well-being of the whole community.""
SAT is open to, and in most countries free for, everyone. Students usually pay only for their textbooks. To date, the six-year study program has been completed by 50,000 students, and there are currently about 30,000 youth attending various levels of SAT courses. Participants are not only strengthening their own sense of identity and purpose but are also starting to realize the importance of the community and are gaining a sense of unity.
""The basic idea behind FUNDAEC is a sense of spiritual transformation,"" said Dr. Correa. ""In the course of their studies the students discover the spirit of service and begin to consciously nurture their spiritual qualities. One of our students, for example, used to be a thief, and in the lapse of six months he became a useful member of his community, while one of the graduates was actually elected the mayor of his locality.""
Each SAT course is facilitated by a tutor from the same locality as his or her students. Tutors are trained at the Center for Rural Education, the university founded by FUNDAEC in 1992. The five-year degree program offered there has also been officially approved by the government of Colombia and offers training in education.
Local SAT groups, guided by their tutor, apply the principles learned in the program, use their knowledge to become active in strengthening a sense of community identity where they live. Their activities demonstrate a wide range of diversity, from the implementation of sustainable productions systems to artistic and sporting events, and from educational activities for children to environmental projects.
Dietmar Schonherr, a well-known actor and the initiator of a development project in Nicaragua, presented the award to Dr. Correa. ""FUNDAEC is based upon the need for a new concept of development aid,"" he said. ""It is to be carried by the population itself, by its experiences of their daily reality.""
Founded in 1993 by scientist and Club of Rome member Ervin Laszlo, the Club of Budapest was formed on the idea that the enormous challenges facing humanity today can only be dealt with through the widespread development of a cultural, cosmopolitan and global consciousness. The Club seeks to build bridges between cultures and generations through a variety of activities, including the recognition of significant accomplishments by individuals and organizations, such as through the ""Change the World"" award.
The Club of Budapest sees the Change the World -- Best Practice Award as the first step leading to long-term cooperation between the Club and FUNDAEC. ""As a first step we are consulting with one of the German TV channels about the establishment of a new kind of talk show that would promote the mission of visionary projects such as FUNDAEC,"" explained Mr. Spiegel who has been observing the work of the Foundation for several years.",FRANKFURT,,Germany
186,2003-01-03,[],"In Panama's remote indigenous villages, Baha'i volunteers provide much needed educational services","CHIRIQUI PROVINCE, Panama — At 5 a.m., dawn's light spread like a crimson streak across the dark sky and Victorino Rodriguez was already on his way. Every Monday he makes the three-hour walk from his home in Soloy to the tiny village of Quebrada Venado, high in the lush green mountains of Western Panama, to the tiny school there.
The 36-year-old teacher hurried along the narrow trails, anxious to arrive by 8 a.m., when classes start. With only some coffee for breakfast, he nevertheless wound energetically through green rice fields, banana groves, and up past moss-covered rocks, thick red clay coating his worn shoes.
A dozen children had been standing lookout since 7:30. With their parents working in the fields since dawn, the children are alone. As Mr. Rodriquez came around the last hill, a joyful shout went up and the students rushed out to greet their teacher. He named and embraced each one tenderly and then, putting his arms around them, walked the last kilometer together to the village school.
One of ten primary schools operated by Panama's Baha'i community here in the Ngabe-Bugle region, the school in Quebrada Venado is bare-bones basic, consisting of a thatched palm roof on wooden poles.  Victorino Rodriguez, with some of his students behind him, examines a Polaroid photograph of his primary school class in the tiny village of Quebrada Venado in the mountains of Western Panama.Yet, like the other schools, which together serve more than 300 students, it offers the children in the far reaches of this remote region virtually their only chance for an academic education. With the region's low population density and isolation -- all of the villages served by the Baha'i schools are accessible only by foot or horse -- the government has not been able to maintain a school system here.
""The children, because of the remote communities in which they live, which are up to six hours walking distance from the nearest town, would receive no education at all, were it not for these schools,"" said Rosemary Baily, secretary of the Foundation for Development and Culture (FUNDESCU), a Baha'i-inspired non-governmental organization that supports the schools. ""So this effort really does make a huge difference in the lives of the children.""
Most of the teachers, indigenous people themselves, are not formally trained. Rather, they are simply among those who have more education than others in the Ngabe-Bugle community, and so they feel obligated to pass along their learning.
""History testifies to the great material, cultural and spiritual wealth that indigenous peoples have enjoyed in the past, but for lack of education, they have not been able to develop,"" said Mr. Rodriguez, who himself has finished the 10th grade. ""I have chosen the path of service in order to help generate the step-by-step process of development needed by the community, especially by the children who are the future of the Ngabe-Bugle region in Panama.""
The schools began nearly 20 years ago as small local initiatives of the Baha'is of Panama, who sought to provide basic bilingual (Spanish and the native Ngabere) pre-school and elementary education in the indigenous Ngabe-Bugle communities. They have developed gradually, as the resources of the community have grown.
In the early 1990s, after a number of volunteer teachers had been forced to look for work elsewhere, a group of young Baha'is in the Ngabe-Bugle community came together to talk about how to keep the schools going. They made a solemn pact to offer themselves as teachers, and to remain for as long as they were needed, even without salary, whatever the sacrifice.
""Our own families are poor, but how can we leave these precious children without education?"" said Mr. Rodriguez, who has now been teaching for seven years.
The group, composed of about a dozen individuals, initially worked without pay. More recently, FUNDESCU has been able to raise enough money to provide the teachers -- there are currently 13 -- with a monthly stipend equivalent to about US$50. The funds have come from the Baha'i sources, as well as from private foundations and contributors.
""I began my service as a volunteer,"" said Alexis Bejerano, who must travel each week from his home some three hours by bus, three hours by boat, and then three hours on foot to reach the Baha'i School of San Felix Bocas del Toro, where he teaches fourth, fifth, and sixth graders.
""I am serving my people because of the love and affection I feel for the children,"" added Mr. Bejerano. ""The Baha'i Faith has given me this light -- that of sharing what one has learned. I feel so satisfied and I gain so much every day that I am in contact with the children. I learn a lot just by sharing the limited knowledge gained during my own studies.""
Government officials have praised the project for filling an important need. Indeed, the Ministry of Education recently began funding the salary for a 14th teacher.
On a visit to the Ngabe-Bugle region in October 2002, Professor Aguedo Acosta, Regional Director of Private Education in Chiriqui for the Ministry of Education, said: ""You see me here today for a second time within the Ngabe-Bugle homeland, to visit you and to offer all the moral and legal support that the Baha'i Schools need.""
Parents and local leaders tell of their happiness  with the opportunities provided by the schools.
""I cannot read or write, but with these schools, my children will learn to read and write,"" said Enrique Espinoza, head of the village council in Quebrada Molejon, where a Baha'i school serves roughly 60 students in grades one through six.
Although the schools are run by the Baha'is, the teachers and administrators do not seek to convert the students. Some of the villagers are Baha'is, some are Catholics, some Evangelicals, and some follow the native Mama Tata religion. In all, about half the students are Baha'is.
The influence of the Baha'i Faith nevertheless ensures that there is a strong moral component to the program. In addition to the standard academic curriculum, the schools include a weekly class on ""Virtues and Values.""
""They need more than just education in science and math, but education of the spirit,"" said Benita Palacios, who has been serving as a teacher for nine years.
""When I was school-aged, we females had few opportunities to study because of the belief that women would never go farther than their own homes,"" added Ms. Palacios, who teaches kindergarten in the village of Boca de Remedios. She said, however, that the Baha'i teachings on the equality of women and men have inspired her to go beyond this limitation. ""My own education only went as far as ninth grade, and it was with great difficulty that I was able to go even that far.""
Like the others, Ms. Palacios started out as a volunteer. ""As a Baha'i, I felt I had a responsibility to my own community.""
While not formally trained as educators, over the years the teachers have received training from various Baha'i organizations, facilitated by FUNDESCU. Last summer, for example, the Mona Foundation, a United States-based, Baha'i-inspired organization that strives to support grassroots educational initiatives around the world, held an in-depth training workshop on the fundamentals of educational philosophy and classroom management. In addition, the Mona Foundation has contributed $6,000 to the project over the past two years.
Mr. Rodriguez, for example, spends the school week away from his wife and three small children. After providing for his family, the $50 monthly stipend barely covers the cost of rice and sometimes a small package of beans or lentils for himself, which he has learned to cook over an open fire after school each afternoon.
The people of Quebrada Venado are certainly grateful. They treat Mr. Rodriguez with obvious respect. As subsistence farmers, they have no money or food to offer, but they take turns providing firewood for Victorino's outdoor kitchen. They have built him a small wood-framed shelter with corrugated zinc panels on three sides, a packed mud floor and a narrow wooden platform for his bed.
""The Baha'i Faith has been a light to our people,"" said one Quebrada Venado villager. ""With this school, our children will be freed from the darkness of ignorance. These children are our future.""
-- By Randie Gottlieb",CHIRIQUI PROVINCE,,Panama
187,2003-01-04,[],Hungarian Baha'is inaugurate new national center in the heart of Budapest,"BUDAPEST, Hungary — Having outgrown its old administrative headquarters, the Baha'i community of Hungary inaugurated its new national Baha'i Center with a reception on 27 November 2002.
More than 50 people gathered at the reception, which was attended by a number of dignitaries, including two members of the Hungarian Parliament, representatives of the Prime Minister's Office, a representative of the Ministry of Interior, a pastor from the Unitarian Church, a representative of the Club of Budapest, and several national media personalities.
The celebration opened with the reading of a congratulatory letter from a former president of Hungary, Arpad Goncz, who conveyed his ""appreciation and heartfelt support to the Hungarian Baha'i community.""
The honored guest of the evening was Istvan Szalay, State Secretary for Religious Affairs. ""The uniqueness of the Baha'i community,"" said Dr. Szalay in his remarks, ""lies in the fact that it is striving for optimum and not for maximum, that by being humble and not pressing on converting others, Baha'is try to create harmony and stability among people.""
Peter Koczoh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Hungary, said the acquisition of the new Baha'i center was ""a turning point"" in the life of the Hungarian community.
""The old center, which we were only renting for several years, proved to become too small as the community started growing,"" Mr. Koczoh. ""We needed a place where the Baha'is could hold their meetings in a dignified atmosphere.""
""The new center, which is more than twice the size of the first rented apartment, used to belong to a textile merchant at the turn of the nineteenth century,"" added Mr. Koczoh. ""The building, where we purchased an apartment, lies in the heart of the city, in one of the most historical and cultured parts of Budapest.""
The history of the Hungarian community reaches back to the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1913, 'Abdu'l-Baha, the eldest son of Baha'u'llah, visited Budapest and met a number of dignitaries and academics. Among them was the renowned orientalist Professor Arminius Vambery who, in a letter addressed to 'Abdu'l-Baha, pledged his allegiance to the Baha'i faith and is considered the first Hungarian Baha'i.
During his nine-day stay in Budapest, 'Abdu'l-Baha delivered a number of speeches to the public as well as to dignitaries of the Parliament and the Academy. He also expressed his hope that in the future Budapest would become the center for the unification of the East and the West. ""I am happy to have been able to visit Hungary,"" 'Abdu'l-Baha said in 1913, ""because this is the country where the culture of the West and the warm hospitality of the East meet and merge into one.""
The Baha'i community grew slowly in the inter-war years. Several times during the country's dictatorial rule in the 1930s and 40s, it was dispersed. Many of the first Hungarian Baha'is were of Jewish origin, and most of them were deported to concentration camps. After World War II, the community also faced restrictions when the Communist government banned religious gatherings.
With the end of Communist rule in the late 1980s, religious freedom increased and the community began to flourish again. In 1990s, the Baha'is in Budapest were able to again elect their Local Spiritual Assembly, the local governing body that stands at the base of the Baha'i administrative order.
Today, there are more than 1,200 Baha'is in Hungary, up from about 70 in 1990. They are spread among some 65 localities -- and more than two-thirds are members of the Roma people.
The Hungarian Baha'i community is currently involved in a social and economic development project, MESED (""Meselo Edesanyak"" - Storytelling Mothers), a program for young Roma mothers. Romas are members of a disadvantaged community, and they are often deprived of proper education. The project provides literacy training for mothers and helps them to read storybooks to their children. In this way MESED not only increases the women's self-esteem but also promotes a closer and deeper bond between mother and child. In 2001 MESED was approved by UNESCO as one of its partner organizations.",BUDAPEST,,Hungary
188,2003-02-09,[],Honoring a pioneer of racial harmony,"CHARLESTON, SC, United States — Honoring an early American Baha'i who was also a leader in promoting racial harmony, the local Baha'i community of Charleston has created a museum in the former home of Louis G. Gregory.
The museum was dedicated in a celebration, running 7-9 February 2003, which was attended by more than 300 people. Dedication program highlights included a multicultural arts presentation, two workshops on race relations, a tour of the museum and nearby sites important to Mr. Gregory, and a devotional gathering.
Born in 1874, Louis Gregory was a successful lawyer and rising star among early black intellectuals who grappled with issues of race relations in the United States at the turn of the century. In 1909, he embraced the Baha'i Faith and turned his energies toward promoting unity among the races. For his work, he was posthumously given the title ""Hand of the Cause of God"" by the Head of the Baha'i Faith in 1951.
""He was a leader in the community, who saw an opportunity to use another vehicle, one which theoretically transcended race and looked at the basic humanity of all people,"" said Curtis Franks, curator of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture at the College of Charleston.
""The opening of the museum provides an opportunity to further educate people about Louis Gregory and, also, to revisit history during the late 19th and early 20th centuries at a time when people -- especially within the black community -- had to deal with segregation and oppression,"" said Mr. Franks, who has also agreed to serve as curator of the Louis Gregory Museum.
The museum, a small, two-story wood-frame house, stands in the heart of the Charleston peninsula, in an historic neighborhood of houses built by freedmen. Mr. Gregory's family moved there as a child after his widowed mother married George Gregory, who became the beloved stepfather whose name he took.  Hand of the Cause Louis G. GregoryThe Baha'is of Charleston acquired the house  in 1989 through a real estate auction. Henry Wigfall, a member of the Charleston Baha'i community, recognized the address on a list of property to be auctioned and immediately bid on it, later obtaining contributions from Baha'is to make good on the bid.
Over the last decade, the house has been renovated and refurbished. With the help of Avery Research Center staff, exhibits of Mr. Gregory's personal effects, photographs, and correspondence have been prepared.
Jacquelyn Jones, chair of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Charleston, which oversaw the museum project, said the Baha'i community was pleased to be able to establish a museum in a city which was already rich in history.
She noted that it was the first museum in the city to honor a specific person. ""This city was the main port of entry for North America's enslaved Africans and it witnessed the opening shots of the Civil War,"" said Ms. Jones. ""It is poignant that the first person so honored would be a descendant of enslaved Africans who dedicated his life to harmony among the races.""
For more information, visit the Museum's website at http://www.louisgregorymuseum.org",CHARLESTON,SOUTH CAROLINA,United States
189,2003-02-10,[],"Colored ribbons, a gold mine and a path to peace","ORLANDO, FL, United States — Some have colored ribbons in their hair, most are in pink uniforms and all look with solemn wonder at the camera held by a man from a far off land.
These pupils of a new school in Haiti present an endearing sight in one of the photographs David Smith spreads before him.
It was images like this that helped Mr. Smith and his colleagues tell the story of a project in the village of Pichon in Haiti where education is being brought to a community deprived of many basics of modern life.
He and his co-presenters described the project at the Baha'i Conference on Social and Economic Development for the Americas, held in Orlando, Florida, 19-22 December 2002. His co-presenters  (and partners in this work) were Haitians and fellow-Baha'is Pierre Balthazar and his brother Loulou.
These three work in collaboration with a growing network of family, neighbors and friends in Haiti and in Michigan in the United States.
""In a sense we are building community on both sides of this equation,"" said Mr. Smith, the managing director of a federal grant administered by the Michigan Department of Education Office of Special Education. He attends to his development work as a private project.
""It is a partnership in which everyone benefits.""  Pierre Balthazar, left, and Loulou Balthazar speaking about the Haiti ""Partners in Progress"" project, at the Baha'i Conference on Social and Economic Development for the Americas.Those involved have raised up and are developing in a staged process Ekole Panou (""Our School""), which now serves 125 pre-school and second grade pupils.
This Baha'i-inspired project is not only a demonstration of putting into practice the concept of the oneness of humanity but it also speaks of religious unity, with generous donations coming from Presbyterian, Catholic and other churches around Lansing, Michigan.
The Orlando conference, attended by 700 people from 36 countries as far apart as Australia and Kazakhstan, was sponsored by the Rabbani Charitable Trust, a Baha'i-inspired non-profit development funding organization.
Participants heard many other stories of successful endeavors by Baha'is to use spiritual principles as a foundation for practical assistance in social and economic development.
For example, Luis Henrique Beust outlined to delegates how Baha'is have trained judges and prosecutors in Brazil about the relationship between human values and their daily responsibilities.
""Those being trained welcomed this synergy as a new way of envisioning their role in the world,"" said Mr. Beust, a member of the national governing council of the Baha'i community of Brazil.
William Davis, a member of the equivalent body in the United States, described a World Bank initiative in which he took part to mediate a dispute over gold mining in the mountains of Peru.
The key, said Mr. Davis, was to build social capital -- how people cooperate for common ends on the basis of common norms and values -- and its principal byproduct, trust.
It was with practical illustrations such as these, that experienced development practitioners shared their experience with newcomers to the field.
There were workshops on such topics as mentoring physicians-in-training, preventing domestic violence, care of the soul for effective leadership, and young women's development.
One of the key lessons was that the development process is an on-going process of learning, a feedback loop between participants and practitioners, whereby the entire community obtains the knowledge needed for advancement.
""Baha'i social and economic development is really all about learning and taking some steps and learning from them,"" said Canadian Gordon Naylor.
Mr. Naylor, a member of the national governing council of the Baha'is of Canada and a development practitioner himself, spoke about the need for spiritual and material progress to go hand in hand.
""The world has the technology, knowledge and resources to change conditions,"" he said. ""What it lacks is the will that religious belief provides.""
""You can't motivate people when you don't involve their beliefs,"" he said. ""Religion moves the hearts of people. It causes them to sacrifice.""
""Religion must be accepted not merely as a vehicle for the delivery of services but as a full partner in formulating a vision and programs,"" he said.
Mr. Davis summed up the conference with observations about the role of the individual in ""upraising the quality of human life, a goal which became the theme of the conference.""
""Individual initiative was the starting point for change,"" he said.
""Applying the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith,"" said Mr. Davis, "" we stand at the threshold of trying to build a new culture that is neither East nor West.""
""Everyone has the right and responsibility to contribute to this enterprise.""",ORLANDO,FLORIDA,United States
190,2003-02-08,[],Victims and heroes remembered,"CANBERRA, Australia — Victims of bushfires in Australia's capital city Canberra were remembered in a special public prayer service held on 9 February 2003 in the Baha'i Center here.
The fires on 18 January 2003 claimed the lives of four people and destroyed more than 450 homes, a major astronomical observatory and many other properties. It was one of the nation's worst natural disasters.
As prayers were offered for those who died and for others who lost their homes, it was also time to give thanks for the extraordinary heroism shown by firefighters and others during the tragedy.
Among the heroes was the volunteer property manager of the Australian Capital Territory Baha'i Center, Mr John Burnett, 58.
As walls of flame fanned by strong winds approached the Center, Mr. Burnett decided not to flee to safety, but to stay and fight the fire to save the building.
With the flames surrounding the Center, nobody was able to reach Mr Burnett.
Firefighters who reached the building some 12 hours after it was first threatened praised him for his courage.  The Australian Capital Territory Bahá'í Center saved by caretaker John Burnett.""He is definitely a hero,"" said Dr Natalie Mobini-Kesheh, spokesperson for the Australian Baha'i community.
The Center, admired for its graceful architecture, was opened in 1999 by Australia's then Governor-General Sir William Deane.
It has been the venue for a major human rights conference and other meetings attended by senior government officials, and for many Baha'i activities.
Mr Burnett, who has been property manager for five years, said flames landed within meters of the building.
""All of a sudden you just hear this almighty roar and (the flames) just came straight up the hill and hard at us,"" he said.
""When these sheets of flame came and they landed in the garden, I just went with buckets of water and the hose or something, and put it out as best I could. I don't think I have any eyelashes left,"" he said.
""The whole place just went black, just like a moonless night. It was amazing. It just looked like a storm cloud had come over, but it was actually fire. It was so bad here actually that the birds were dropping out of the sky.""
When asked about the enormity of the task, Mr Burnett simply said he dealt with one thing at a time. At one stage he and his dog had to take refuge in his car.
""I just put a sprinkler on top of the car, just hoping because I thought the car would burn too.
""I couldn't go anywhere because everywhere was flame. If the car had caught fire, I had planned to jump into the fountains. But luckily, the car didn't catch fire.""
Fire blackened large sections of the property grounds but the Center building was unscathed. Mr. Burnett lost his camper-trailer in the blaze.
The Center was closed for only a few days but since then the regular devotional meetings have resumed.
Although most of the grounds were burned, a section of lawn immediately behind the Center was saved. This has become a gathering place for up to 30 kangaroos, which are starved for other vegetation.",CANBERRA,,Australia
191,2003-02-16,[],World of Spirituality Unveiled,"QUITO, Ecuador — Spanish photographer Francisco Gonzalez was waiting for the perfect moment when he could capture secrets revealed to him in just seconds. That moment came as the sun shone its soft rays over the Lotus Temple in New Delhi.
The resulting image (see Photographs) is one of the photographs in an exhibition currently on tour in Ecuador.
Called ""Architects of Unity"" (Arquitectos de Unidad), the exhibition features Baha'i Houses of Worship throughout the world.
Photographing such subjects is in contrast to covering national and international events for such major Spanish newspapers as El Pais, El Mundo and Tiempo. However, it has been a project Mr. Gonzalez has dreamed of for many years.
""For me photography is the best way to express and convey my feelings to people,"" said Mr. Gonzales, who lives in Cordoba.
He said it was his greatest aspiration to connect the hearts of people with the teachings of Baha'u'llah with the help of his camera.
A photographer of more than 20 years experience, Mr. Gonzalez, 42, said that on his visits to the temples, he met people coming from all kinds of ethnic and religious background.  Unity in diversity: Baha'i House of Worship, Langenhain, Germany.| From a photographic exhibition by Francisco Gonzalez, entitled ""Architects of Unity"".""At the temple in the United States for example I met a lady who explained to me that although she did not believe in God, she had been visiting the temple for 30 years because she felt that in the silence of the moments she spent there she discovered some sort of indescribable harmony, something unique she had never experienced anywhere else in the world,"" he said.
Tarasieh Vahdat, the organizer of the tour and a member of Baha'i community of Quito, said the 70 photographs, which arrived in the country through the sponsorship of UNESCO and the Spanish embassy in Ecuador, had traveled to six other cities including Guayaquil and Otavalo, and had attracted more than 10,000 visitors.
""These remarkable pictures of Mr. Gonzalez not only introduce beautiful buildings to the viewer,"" said Ms. Vahdat.
""The Houses of Worship, as the Baha'i writings say, are the 'Dawning-places of the praise of God', a place where one may find perfect peace to freely commune with God,"" she said.
The Lotus temple in India is one of seven Baha'i Houses of Worship in the world. The others are in Australia, Germany, Panama, Uganda, the United States and Western Samoa.
Each building is distinct in its character reflecting the culture of the country where it was built. The Indian temple, for example, features the lotus flower, a potent symbol of spirituality in that country.
All the temples share the common feature of having nine entrances, thus symbolizing the great world religions, as well as the diversity of the human race and its essential oneness and unity.
While working on his project, Mr. Gonzalez was also inspired to photograph women who were involved with social-economic projects throughout the world.
His exhibition, ""Women of the World: Landscape of the Soul"" (Mujeres del Mundo: Paisajes del Alma) is currently traveling around Spain, visiting more than 20 cities and towns. For his latest project Mr. Gonzalez received an award from the Andalucia Institute for Women.",QUITO,,Ecuador
192,2003-01-19,[],Religions come together as one,"PORT LOUIS, Mauritius — The essential unity of the world's religions was the theme of gatherings last month in places as far apart as Mauritius, Northern Ireland, Mali and Hong Kong.
Throughout the world on 19 January 2003 people of various faiths gathered to celebrate World Religion Day, an event first celebrated more than five decades ago.
The active participation of Baha'is in organizing and attending the events was in line with a message addressed to religious leaders by the Faith's governing council, the Universal House of Justice, in April last year.
In that message, the Universal House of Justice said the Baha'i community, a vigorous promoter of interfaith activities from the time of their inception, would continue to assist the movement of diverse religions to draw closer together.
The over-arching truth that had called the interfaith movement into being, it said, was ""that God is one and that, beyond all diversity of cultural expression and human interpretation, religion is likewise one"". (The full text of the message can be found on the World Wide Web at: http://www.bahai.org/article-1-1-0-1.html).
Examples from a sample of countries around the world illustrate the active role of the Baha'is on World Religion Day.
The celebration in the Republic of Mauritius was marked by the presence of the nation's president, Karl Offmann, who said a prayer in French, and senior representatives of the Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Islamic faiths, who read prayers to the audience of 500 and spoke on the teachings of their respective religions. All speakers presented on the same theme, that all the religions taught unity and peace.
The event was organized by the Catholic Church, at the invitation of the Baha'i community.
Baha'i youth and communities across the island also held functions.
In Omagh, Northern Ireland, more than 100 people celebrated World Religion Day at an event that included an audio-visual presentation on the theme of the oneness of religion, and a performance by the choir of the Omagh Integrated Primary School.
Encouraged by their headmistress, Lady Rosemary Salisbury, students from Drumragh Integrated College read excerpts from the Baha'i writings.
Positive comments on the celebration came from the Chairman of Omagh District Council, Pat McDonnell.
In Hong Kong, the Baha'i Community organized an event at the Cultural Center in Tsim Sha Tsui to mark World Religion Day.
Representatives came from the Anglican and Catholic congregations of the Christian community, and from the Confucian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities.
The speakers addressed the theme ""Building spiritual strength during times of stress"", emphasizing peace and tolerance for each other's beliefs.
An article and photograph about the event appeared in the Tsing Tau Chinese daily.
Events marking World Religion Day were also held in Bamako, the capital of Mali in West Africa, at both the Baha'i Center and the site reserved for the future Baha'i House of Worship.
In Portugal, too, there was a celebration. Representatives of the Hindu, Buddhist and Baha'i faiths recited prayers and read from the texts of their sacred books. A program on a national television channel, with an estimated audience of more than 100,000 viewers, dedicated 30 minutes to the interfaith dialogue, and included interviews with Baha'i and Catholic representatives.
Media attention was also given to the celebration of World Religion Day in Chisinau, Moldova, the first such event in the nation's history. A popular weekly magazine published a report of the gathering.
Organized by the Baha'is of Chisinau, the celebration attracted representatives of the local spiritual and artistic communities. It featured prayers, speeches, recital of operatic arias and discussion on the importance of inter-religious dialogue.
World Religion Day was initiated in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. Baha'is celebrate the day by hosting discussions, conferences and other events that foster understanding and communication among the followers of all religions. In 1985, the government of Sri Lanka issued a postage stamp in commemoration of the day.
The purpose of World Religion Day is to call attention to the harmony of spiritual principles and the oneness of the world's religions and to emphasize that religion is the motivating force for world unity. As stated in Baha'i scripture: "" religion should be the cause of love and agreement, a bond to unify all mankind for it is a message of peace and goodwill to man from God,"" and ""Religion is the greatest of all means for the establishment of order in the world and for the peaceful contentment of all that dwell therein.""",PORT LOUIS,,Mauritius
193,2003-02-25,[],"Corruption, governance, and global justice examined in new book","HAIFA, Israel — Corruption, justice and global governance are among the issues examined in the newly released volume ""The Baha'i World 2001-2002.""
An annual record of Baha'i activities and perspectives, the new volume includes a profile of the European Baha'i Business Forum, a group actively engaged in counteracting corruption and greed in business practices while fostering new values.
A ""World Watch"" article by the book's senior editor, Dr. Ann Boyles, looks at some of the effects of corruption on government, business, and religion, surveys some current efforts to combat this global problem, examines attitudes and behaviors fostered in Baha'i communities, and discusses their applicability in the wider society.
""Some see corruption as an inevitable manifestation of our flawed human nature, but in the Baha'i perspective, corruption lies in the realm of free will and moral choice,"" says Dr Boyles. ""For that reason, Baha'is are making efforts to educate people within a moral and ethical framework so that they refuse to commit corrupt acts and look instead towards fostering the well-being of all.""
Other essays offer insight into topics of global relevance, such as Paul Vreeland's ""World Order and Global Governance: A Baha'i Perspective"" and Barbara Johnson's ""Fostering the Spiritual Education of Children.""
The book is the 10th volume in an annual series aimed both at Baha'i readers and the general public. It surveys the aims and growing sophistication of communities throughout the world, describing a Baha'i community which numbered only 100,000 people when the book was first published in 1926 but now includes more than five million people in more than 200 countries and territories.
Displayed on the cover is a photograph from the opening of the terraces of the Shrine of the Bab, on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, the location of the Faith's spiritual and administrative world centre. In May 2001, some 3,000 Baha'is from virtually every land came to Haifa for dedication ceremonies for the terraces, which took US$250 million and 10 years to complete.
A comprehensive section dedicated to the opening of the terraces is among the book's highlights. As well as being of spiritual significance for Baha'is, the garden terraces are now a major tourist attraction in Israel.
""The volume is as a reflection on the progress of the Baha'i community,"" says Dr. Boyles.
""It's an important publication for researchers, for journalists, for Baha'i communities to use in their public information work to acquaint local or government officials or prominent people with the basic aims and current activities of the Baha'i community.""
""This is a truly international publication -- the information is gathered from all over the world,"" Dr. Boyles says.
""For example, this year we have a social and economic development project profile of the Bayan Association in Honduras, and in previous volumes we've profiled projects in India, in Mongolia, and other places.
""This kind of documentation is unique in the history of early religious communities,"" she says. ""It's an enduring historical record that will be invaluable to people who want to chart the progress of the Baha'i Faith.""
Features include a report of Baha'i involvement in the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa; accounts of anniversaries of Baha'i communities in the Hawaiian Islands, Uganda, and Sarawak; and the ""Year in Review,"" an annual survey of worldwide Baha'i events.
The book also includes selections from the Baha'i sacred writings like this quotation about justice from Baha'u'llah:
""In these days the tabernacle of justice hath fallen into the clutches of tyranny and oppression. Beseech ye the One true God… therein lie the welfare, security, and true interests of all men; otherwise the earth will be tormented by a fresh calamity every day and unprecedented commotions will break out. We cherish the hope that everyone may be adorned with the vesture of true wisdom, the basis of the government of the world.""
Profiles of Baha'i activities and organizations provide concrete examples of Baha'i organizations that are working to put into practice the ideals such as that one described by Baha'u'llah.
This 352-page book is prepared by the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information. It contains numerous color photographs, and is available for US$18.00. It can be ordered from World Centre Publications through the United States Baha'i Distribution Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30336-2017, USA (telephone: (800) 999-9019; e-mail: bds@usbnc.org).",HAIFA,,Israel
194,2003-02-25,[],Festival serves as preparation for fast,"SINGAPORE — Baha'is in more than 200 countries and territories are celebrating a four-day festival involving hospitality, gift giving, charity and social gatherings.
The festival, which runs from the evening of 25 February until sunset on 1 March, serves as a spiritual preparation for a fast during the last month of the Baha'is calendar, which begins on March 2 and ends on March 20.
Celebrations of Ayyam-i-Ha, as the festival is called, are taking different forms in different locations. In Singapore, for example, Baha'is are observing Ayyam-i-Ha with a blood donation drive and a picnic for families in a beachside park.
In Hungary, Baha'is plan to celebrate the festival with a musical program and a costume party for children in the Hungarian Culture Foundation building in Budapest.
In Milford, New Hampshire, in the United States, the Baha'is have invited friends and neighbors to join them for devotions and then entertainment, which will include learning a local folk dance, watching jugglers, enjoying music, and gift-giving.
The Baha'i calendar was initiated by the Bab, the Forerunner of the Faith's Prophet-Founder, Baha'u'llah, who later confirmed it.
The calendar comprises 19 months of 19 days. The Ayyam-i-Ha festival falls on the four days (five in a leap year) needed to balance out the solar year of 365 days. The time of this festival is also known as ""Intercalary Days"".
Of this period Baha'u'llah writes: ""It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name.""
During the fast which follows, Baha'is abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset as a reminder of the need for individuals to control their material desires.
It is seen as a time of meditation and prayer during which Baha'is refresh and reinvigorate themselves spiritually.
There are exemptions from the fast for the young and elderly, and for those who are pregnant, ill or who are engaging in heavy work.
The fasting period ends with the joyous Naw Ruz (New Year) festival, which begins at sunset on March 20.",SINGAPORE,,Singapore
195,2003-01-25,[],Prince praises school at opening of new buildings,"NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga — In an opening ceremony for two internet-ready buildings at the Ocean of Light International School, Crown Prince Tupoutoa of Tonga praised the school for its technological advancement.
""The opening of the buildings could not have come at a better time in Tonga's history because for the first time this school is breaking new ground in using the technology to mitigate the negative effects of the economy,"" Prince Tupoutoa said in a speech at the ceremony on 25 January 2003.
""I shall follow the progress of the school with much interest and great affection,"" he said.
Owned by the Baha'i community of Tonga, the school and its international staff seek to provide a high quality education for Tongans and other students from around the world.
During its seven years of operation the school outgrew its rented facilities. Now the two new buildings will provide some 2,000 square meters of space for classrooms, laboratories and a library.
Headmaster Alan Cains said the curriculum of Ocean of Light was inspired by Baha'i principles.
""The school aims to inspire its students and graduates to dedicate themselves to the service of the human race,"" said Mr. Cains. ""It is dedicated to the development of the spiritual, intellectual and physical potential of its students.""  Crown Prince Tupoutoa of Tonga cuts ribbon to open the new buildings at the Ocean of Light International School.""We seek opportunities for the students to give of themselves for the benefit of others, such as mentoring in schools for children with hearing impairments and other disabilities, cross-age tutoring and raising awareness about protecting the physical environment,"" Mr. Cains said.
The school also seeks to foster the spiritual development of its students by the teaching of spiritual values in the primary school and moral education in the high school, said Sohrab Bolouri, a member of the Ocean of Light education board.
""Each week, a virtue is selected for the entire school to put into practice, Mr. Bolouri said. ""Starting the morning assembly with devotions also helps create a spiritual atmosphere.""
He said the school was open to all strata of society and aimed to give its students an international vision, characterised by the concept of world citizenship and a universal value system.
""Classes, except for those for the study of the Tongan language, are taught in English, thus enabling students to gain access to a wide and ever-increasing amount of information from throughout the world.""
The school currently offers classes for students ranging in age from 3 to 16 but will add a twelfth grade next year. High school diplomas will be awarded to graduates.
The new classroom buildings are wired for internet connection, thereby providing a system for students in the future to use their own laptop computers and connect to the school network.
The buildings for this non-profit school cost under US$500,000 and were financed with a bank loan and donations.
Located on the outskirts of Nuku'alofa, the capital city of Tonga, the school opened in 1996 and started its program with only nine students. At present there are 250 children at the school, with about 80 per cent from Tonga. Others come from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States.
The official opening of the new buildings was followed by a luncheon and entertainment for the 600 guests, who included Prince Tupoutoa's brother, the Honorable Maatu, and his wife Alaileula, the granddaughter of His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, the Head of State of Samoa.
Also present were government ministers, ambassadors, and other dignitaries. Baha'i representatives included Donald Blanks, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, a senior advisory body that forms part of the Baha'i administration, three members of the Counsellors' Auxiliary Boards, and seven of the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Tonga, the elected governing council of the Baha'i community in the country.
The ceremony's program, broadcast live on radio throughout Tonga and later televised to the nation, comprised prayers as well as quotations from the Baha'i Writings which emphasize the significance of education. The readings were followed by cultural dances from Tonga and other islands in the region, performed by the students and staff of the school.
A local Baha'i youth dance troupe performed a new dance entitled ""Education"". The dance highlighted the importance of finding the balance between spiritual, physical and academic education.",NUKUʻALOFA,,Tonga
196,2003-03-14,[],Wide distribution for newly-translated magazine,"TIRANA, Albania — The Baha'i community of Albania has recently published ""The Baha'is"" magazine in the Albanian language and arranged its distribution in 57 commercial bookstores nationwide, as well as in Kosovo and Macedonia.
The colorful introductory publication, which features extensive use of photographs and a news magazine style of writing, has been used by Baha'is worldwide for more than a decade to respond to requests for information about their religion.
It has been published in a variety of languages including English, French, Spanish, Icelandic, and Mandarin.
In Albania there has been a successful program of translating and distributing the Faith's Holy Writings and other literature.
Among other works by Baha'u'llah, the Most Holy Book (Kitab-i-Aqdas, Baha'u'llah's Book of Laws), the Hidden Words, Gleanings, and the Book of Certitude  (Kitab-i-Iqan) are available in Albanian, as are works by 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi.
Publishing the four-color magazine,""The Baha'is"", was a challenge because of technical and logistical problems, particularly with respect to computer compatibility.
It also proved difficult to find a suitable publishing house in Albania ready to take on the job because special permits were needed at that time to own a printing press, and also because of quality control issues.
Hans Thimm of the Baha'i National Information Office in Albania said persistent efforts were rewarded and cordial relations were established with a publishing house, which was impressed with the requirements of the Baha'is.
""The printing house has agreed to distribute copies commercially through their 57 client bookstores within Albania and though their distribution centers in Kosovo and Macedonia,"" Mr. Thimm said.
The Albanian Baha'is were very pleased to have the popular publication in their language, he said.
""This magazine will be very helpful in informing people about the Faith because Albanians like magazines which are informative and full of various topics, and because they are very tolerant towards religions, especially towards those that are logical and have understandable principles.""
The community plans to present the magazine to government officials, other prominent national figures and the media, he said.
The Baha'i Faith first came to Albania in 1931 when an Albanian, Refo Capari, adopted it in New York and returned to his country, where he ultimately became an education ministry official. He translated some of the Baha'i Writings into Albanian.
Soon some prominent people adopted the religion, including Xhafer Bej Preza, chief of police in Tirana, in 1935.
During the country's communist years, the Government suppressed all religions, including the Baha'i Faith.
Today there are about 14,000 Baha'is in Albania. There are 19 Local Spiritual Assemblies in 36 districts. The first national governing council, the National Spiritual Assembly, was elected in 1992.",TIRANA,,Albania
197,2003-03-20,[],Joyous parties to greet the New Year,"BELFAST, Northern Ireland — Celebrations to mark the Baha'i New Year will take different forms throughout the world but will typically include programs of spiritual upliftment, music, dancing and feasting.
The Baha'i New Year festival known as Naw-Ruz (literally ""New Day"") is held on the spring equinox, March 21, but the celebrations will begin the evening before because the Baha'i day begins at sunset.
The event planned for Belfast is typical of the kind of multi-cultural celebration that will be observed in many of the 120,000 localities where Baha'is -- who embrace human diversity -- reside around the world.
Irish stews and Persian cuisine will be on the menu for the opening dinner, and then will come the entertainment, said local Baha'i spokesman Ralph Rossi.
""There will be African singers, an Indian dancer and salsa dancing,"" Mr. Rossi said.
A highlight will be the combination of traditional Irish music with Persian drumming, he said.
More than 300 members of the wider community had been invited, he said.
The festival comes at the end of a 19-day fast in which adult Baha'is abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset as a reminder of the need for individuals to be detached from their material desires.
Naw-Ruz is the first day of the first of 19 months in the Baha'i calendar, which was initiated by the Bab, the Forerunner of the Faith's Prophet-Founder, Baha'u'llah, who later confirmed it.
An example of another Naw-Ruz celebration will be in Seville, Spain, where Baha'is have invited guests to attend a program, which will start with a presentation on the significance of the festival followed by a prayer revealed by Baha'u'llah for Naw-Ruz.
There will be readings of prayers from the Baha'i scriptures in different languages, and also music, dance and a computer display.
On the Naw-Ruz festival program in Saskatoon, Canada, there will be traditional native American song and dance.
Celtic music, bluegrass Gospel singers and a drumming circle will also entertain Baha'is and their guests, who will also be treated to what organizers promise as  ""an evening of great food"".",BELFAST,,Northern Ireland
198,2003-03-30,[],Achieving world peace explored in new book,"LONDON — Is lasting peace possible? What are the processes by which it can be established? How do issues like human rights and the environment affect the prospects for peace?
These are among the questions addressed in a new book from George Ronald publishers, ""Processes of the Lesser Peace.""
Published in February 2003, the book contains eight essays by noted Baha'i authors, scholars and specialists on issues relating to the establishment of the ""lesser peace,"" a state of political unity among nations foretold in the Baha'i sacred writings.
Edited by Babak Bahador and Nazila Ghanea, the essays include: "" Baha'i Proposals for the Reformation of World Order,"" by Jeffrey Huffines; ""The Environment and the Lesser Peace,"" by Arthur Lyon Dahl; ""The Spiritual Destiny of America and the Achievement of World Peace,"" by John Huddleston; and ""Everything That Rises Must Converge: Global Governance and the Emergence of the Lesser Peace,"" by Charles Lerche.
""We hope that this book will give to the reader an informed viewpoint of the Baha'i teachings on peace and in a contemporary context,"" said Mr. Huffines, who is the United Nations representative of the Baha'i community of the United States.
By covering so many aspects of peace, from human rights to global governance to the environment, the book illustrates that peace is not an event but a process, said Mr. Huffines.
""Peace is much more than a diplomatic agreement between governments,"" he said. ""It involves a complete transformation of society, as well as the individuals who compose the society. And what the Baha'i teachings can contribute to this process is a vision in which we are all active participants in this transformation.""
Founded in 1943, George Ronald specializes in the publication of books on Baha'i topics. The book can be ordered from George Ronald Publisher Ltd, 24 Gardiner Close, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3YA, United Kingdom at their website at www.grbooks.com. Or by telephone/fax at +44 1235 529137. Or by email at: sales@grbooks.com.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
199,2003-02-02,[],"In Brazil, African descendants plan for better society","SALVADOR, Brazil — More than 170 men, women and children attended a conference of people of African descent in Brazil to gain a deeper understanding of their heritage and to plan to construct a better society.
The ""Afro-Descendants Gathering"" was held in the Regional Baha'i Center in Salvador, Bahia, from 31 January to 2 February 2003. It was sponsored by the Regional Baha'i Council for the States of Alagoas, Bahia and Sergipe.
The seventh such gathering in Brazil since 1996, the conference had the aims of increasing the self-esteem of the participants, deepening their spiritual understanding, assisting them in their personal transformation, and promoting the principle of the oneness of humanity.
""The aim was to gain a deeper perception and appreciation of African cultural heritage that had an enormous influence on Brazilian culture during the centuries of slavery,"" said Mr. Gabriel Marques, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, a senior advisory body that forms part of the Baha'i administration.
""Brazil was the last country in the world that abolished the institution of slavery - in 1888,"" Mr. Marques said. ""The wound is still too fresh and the Brazilian population is just beginning to overcome this problem.""
In order to better understand racial prejudice and how it operates in today's society, the participants spoke in a session of their personal experiences of day-to-day discrimination.
Then they examined the contributions made by ""Afro descendants"" to technological and scientific development in both ancient and modern times.  Children mixed with youth and adults at the Afro-Descendants Gathering held in Salvador, Brazil.Participants also studied selected Baha'i principles such as the oneness of the human family and the need for ""unity in diversity"".
In one session, they studied the text where Baha'u'llah compared ""the colored people to the black pupil of the eye."" (See Note) Two ophthalmologists then explained the vital function of the pupil to the eye, comparing it to the contributions people of color make to humanity.
Participants also discussed how they could build a better society. They concluded they should make greater efforts to promote the moral education of children, study the Baha'i sacred writings regularly, and seek to spiritualize themselves, their families and their communities through participation in devotional meetings and study circles, which involve learning about their own spiritual nature, and acquiring the skills and motivation to take effective action.
The gathering was permeated with music and dance. Istvan Dely, a Hungarian musician who resides in Colombia, was a featured guest.
An accomplished drummer and percussionist, he spoke of the spirituality of the African heritage.
""Not having any books, (Africans) used the power of music and dancing as a channel to express their veneration of the spiritual world,"" said Mr. Dely, who has been closely involved in the revival and integration of the arts and African percussion in Baha'i study circles in Africa and the Caribbean.
Two special events preceded the gathering. The first was a visit to the region by 14 young American men who had participated in Black Men's Gathering, a Baha'i event held in the United States aimed at rejuvenating the souls of the participants and enkindling in them a spirit of Baha'i service to humanity. They dedicated two weeks to the promotion of community life activities in the area.
The other event was an African mask workshop involving 24 youth from the region. The idea behind it was to develop the individual artistic abilities of the youth and also to learn how to incorporate the arts into study circles.
The masks decorated the venue of the gathering, and the young people who made them explained the feelings or specific virtues they sought to express in their masks.
NOTE: 'Abdu'l-Baha said that his father, Baha'u'llah, had made the comparison between black people and the pupil of the eye, and 'Abdu'l-Baha himself said, in a letter to the first African American Baha'i, Robert Turner: ""Thou art like unto the pupil of the eye which is dark in color, yet it is the fount of light and the revealer of the contingent world.""
Mr. Turner visited 'Abdu'l-Baha in the Holy Land in 1898-1899. He was the butler of Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, an early Baha'i and mother of the well-known publisher of that name.",SALVADOR,,Brazil
200,2003-02-20,[],Nations large and small receive unity message,"SAN MARINO — The Heads of State and Government of San Marino have warmly received a message from the Universal House of Justice which calls for decisive action to eradicate religious intolerance and fanaticism in the world.
The Captains Regent of San Marino, Mauro Chiaruzzi and Giuseppe Maria Morganti, who have the functions of Head of State and Government, accepted delivery of the message at a ceremony on 20 February 2003.
San Marino, which became a member of the United Nations in 1992, is surrounded by Italy. The state religion is Roman Catholicism.
The presentation of the message from the governing council of the Baha'i Faith is among the latest in a worldwide distribution of the message begun in May 2002, a delivery so thorough that it has included countries with small populations such as San Marino (population 26,000) as well as the most populous nations such as India (970 million).
Religious leaders of many Faiths in countries on all continents have received the document.
In Tanzania, for example, the message was presented to President Benjamin William Mkapa, who also holds a position with the Catholic Church, and to some 34 other religious leaders, including the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Islamic Organizations and Institutions, the chairman of the Tanzania Christian Methodist Church, and the chair of the Tanzania Buddhist Association. Some 29 journalists at a press conference also received the message, which has been distributed to more than 560 local religious leaders.
Throughout the world, other recipients have included university academics, and media editors and reporters -- with the result that all or part of the message has been published in newspapers in countries as diverse as India, Nicaragua and the Cayman Islands.
Example of the Heads of State, government leaders and political representatives to receive the message include:


the Queen of the United Kingdom


the Queen of Denmark


the King of Norway


the Governor-General of Jamaica


the Prime Minister of Norway


the Prime Minister of  Mauritius


the Minister of Justice of the Democratic Republic of the Congo


all members of the New Zealand Parliament


The message was presented to the leaders of San Marino by Tabandeh and Sohrab Payman from the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of San Marino, and Lucia Ricco and Julio Savi of the Italian Baha'i community.
The April 2002 message points to a general trend towards unity over the last century, noting that prejudices based on gender, race, or nationality have been widely recognized as unacceptable by people everywhere.
However, it says that despite humanity's integration on other levels, religious prejudice persists.
""Tragically, organized religion, whose very reason for being entails service to the cause of brotherhood and peace, behaves all too frequently as one of the most formidable obstacles in the path; to cite a particular painful fact, it has long lent its credibility to fanaticism.""
The message urges the leaders of all religions to overcome fanaticism, to transcend claims to exclusivity or finality, and to undertake a wider interfaith dialogue. (The full text of the message can be found on the World Wide Web at: https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20020401_001/1).
In response to the message, Dr. Chiaruzzi said the Regency of San Marino was convinced that ""the conditions for renouncing all claims of exclusivity or aims of supremacy of human beings over other human beings"" had been created and it hoped that what had been said during the meeting with the Baha'i delegation might produce useful opportunities ""for the achievement of common goals of justice and solidarity.""
Usually only one of the Captains Regent makes a speech at such a function, but an exception was made to the protocol. Dr. Morganti expressed his appreciation for the message and said how important justice was and how much it was needed in the world.
In return for the message, the Captains Regent presented the delegation with a copy of their New Year message.
Mrs. Payman had told the Captains Regent that the Baha'is had felt duty bound to present the message as a tribute to the ""San Marino tradition, which for centuries has promoted peace in all its aspects and defended peace within all international organizations.""
Dr. Ricco emphasized the central theme of the message, the appeal for the unity of religions, and invited the Republic of San Marino through the Captains Regent to ""do its part to ensure that religions speed up the process of moving closer to one another."" She offered the complete cooperation of the Baha'i community to achieve this aim.
Also present at the occasion was the Secretary for Justice of San Marino, Dr. Alberto Cecchetti, and seven Heads of Council (Parliament).
The message of the Universal House of Justice was later distributed to all members of Parliament.
San Marino radio and television broadcast the entire ceremony and the press also covered the occasion.",SAN MARINO CITY,,San Marino
201,2003-04-11,[],Major teacher training program begins in Bolivia,"SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia — Nur University has embarked on a major project to train primary school teachers in Bolivia, with the aim of improving children's reading and writing ability.
Nur, a Baha'i-inspired institution, has begun assembling a team of educators to set up and run a pilot program for the training of some 700 primary school teachers.
The university is being funded in the work by a two-year grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Officials from the Agency said Nur was awarded the contract because of its regional credibility, experience with training school teachers in rural areas, and innovative approaches to education
""One of the things Nur brought was their experience in distance education and their commitment to supporting development in rural Bolivia,"" said Barbara Knox-Seith of USAID. ""They have also worked with teachers who don't have much training.""
The program, Centers of Excellence in Teacher Training (CETT), was announced in April 2001 by US President George Bush at the Summit of the Americas.
It will operate not only in Bolivia but also in 10 other Latin American and Caribbean countries, where counterpart institutions have, like Nur, received contracts.
""The Achilles heel of the education reform throughout Latin America has been the whole issue of providing effective reading instruction for children,"" said Eloy Anello, president of Nur University and coordinator of the program in Bolivia.
""If children don't learn to read effectively by the fourth grade, they tend to drop out,"" Dr Anello said. ""The best way to address this is to improve the way we train teachers to teach reading.""
""So our belief is that, ultimately, this is one of the most effective ways to eliminate illiteracy throughout the Americas,"" said Dr. Anello.
Ultimately, the CETT program aims to train some 15,000 teachers in Latin America and the Caribbean over the course of five years, subject to the availability of funds.
The program has been divided into three regions: the Caribbean, Central America, and the Andes.
Nur will participate in the Andean regional project, which encompasses the three nations of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. Two other universities in the region, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru and Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar in Ecuador, will coordinate the project in those countries.
""The idea behind this is to create an innovative teacher training program that will improve teacher ability in the area of reading instruction and, through that, to improve literacy rates,"" said Dr. Knox-Seith of USAID.
Nur, which was founded by Baha'is, is not only helping to develop the basic materials but will also take a leading role in publishing the materials and making them accessible over the Internet, said Dr. Anello.
""The Baha'i teachings emphasize the importance of education in developing human potential and promoting social transformation,"" said Dr. Anello.
""Because of this, Nur has committed itself to supporting the educational reforms in Latin America -- and it has concluded that one of the best ways to do this is through teacher training.""",SANTA CRUZ,,Bolivia
202,2003-04-29,[],Election of Universal House of Justice under way,"HAIFA, Israel — The members of the Baha'i Faith's national governing councils in 178 countries are participating by postal ballot in the election of their international administrative body.
These National Spiritual Assemblies are voting to elect the nine who will serve on the Universal House of Justice, a task they consider to be a sacred privilege. The Universal House of Justice, an institution called for by Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Faith, was first elected in 1963.
Owing to current world conditions, the International Convention at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, which is the normal setting for the election, will not be held.
The ballots will be tallied on 29 April 2003 at the Baha'i World Centre here.
""Baha'i elections are distinctive,"" said Mr. Douglas Moore, director of the Baha'i Office of Public Information in Haifa. ""They take place without campaigning or nominations.""
""This election is the only one in the world where the governing body of a major independent world religion is elected directly by delegates chosen by their respective national communities,"" Mr. Moore said.
Elections of the Universal House of Justice occur every five years. The Faith, which has no clergy, is governed by democratically elected councils at the international, national and local levels.  The Seat of the Universal House of Justice, located on Mount Carmel, is the home of the Baha'i Faith's international governing body, which will be elected in April by postal ballot by electors in 178 countries.Delegates are guided by the Faith's teachings, which advise them to choose ""the names of those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience.""
There are about five million Baha'is worldwide. Established in virtually every country, the Baha'i    Faith is the second-most widespread independent world religion after Christianity, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
The Baha'i World Centre in the Acre/Haifa area of Israel has been both the spiritual and administrative center of the Baha'i Faith since Baha'u'llah was exiled there in 1868. The holiest Shrines in the Baha'i world are located in the area.",HAIFA,,Israel
203,2003-03-27,[],Young orator urges humanity to celebrate diversity,"AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Diversity in the human race should be welcomed, according to the winner of a speech competition for New Zealand youth.
Xavier Black, 17, said in her address that people need to ""change how we as human beings...deal with difference and manage our lives.""
We should see our differences as a cause of celebration rather than as a threat, said Xavier, who is Maori.
She delivered her speech in Auckland on 28 March 2003 at the Hedi Moani Memorial Speech Award, an annual competition open to all students in the last three years of high school in New Zealand.
The award is sponsored by the Hedi Moani Charitable Trust and the New Zealand Baha'i community.
This year the set topic of the speech was ""From the head to the heart--beyond tolerance to the celebration of human diversity."" The chief judge was the former Race Relations Conciliator for New Zealand, Dr. Rajen Prasad.
In her prize-winning address, Xavier, a student at Diocesan School in Auckland, described her experience facing the challenges of integration and being in a minority as being ""a gentile in a Jewish primary school, as Maori in descent but not growing up in my iwi (tribe), as a middle-class New Zealand girl with limited Spanish attending a school in a poor part of Madrid.""  The late Hedi Moani, a member of the New Zealand Baha'i community, in whose honor a speech award was established.Xavier urged individuals to face their fears, develop their sense of belonging, and listen with ""generosity in our hearts"" in a way that ""creates a dialogue and a way forward.""
People must realize that we are united by our common humanity -- and make a commitment to overcome racism, she said.
Xavier, who is not a member of the Baha'i community, won  NZ$750 (US$412) and a shield, her school receiving a similar award.
The late Mr. Moani, a member of the Baha'i Faith, was a prime mover in the establishment in New Zealand in 1999 of what is now known as Race Relations Day. It is observed on March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
After Mr. Moani's untimely death in 1998 at the age of 54, he was described in his city's daily newspaper, The New Zealand Herald, as ""a man of God."" A speech award was established to honor him and to mark Race Relations Day.
The competition began in 1999 with 19 students representing 14 schools in Auckland and Northland but it has expanded to the extent that this year it attracted 49 students from 31 schools from as far away as the country's South Island.",AUCKLAND,,New Zealand
204,2003-03-18,[],First presidential visit to Lotus Temple,"NEW DELHI — The President of India, Abdul Kalam, visited the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi on 18 March 2003, the first official visit there by an Indian Head of State since the Temple was opened in December 1986.
Dr. Kalam was joined by Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani and Mrs. Advani, and Defence Minister George Fernandes.
The visitors come from three major religious communities in India. Dr Kalam is a Muslim, Mr. and Mrs. Advani are Hindus, and Mr. Fernandes is a Christian.
Upon Dr. Kalam's arrival, two children, dressed in gold-braided Sherwani coats, presented him with bouquets.
After a brief meeting with representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India and the Continental Board of Counsellors, Dr. Kalam circumambulated the House of Worship as a sign of reverence before entering.
Known in India as the Lotus Temple, it is one of the most visited buildings in the world, with an average of three and a half million visitors each year.
Among many other prominent visitors to the Temple have been the prime ministers of Norway and Sri Lanka, the president of Iceland, the vice-president of Uruguay, and the Dalai Lama.  Defence Minister of India, Mr. George Fernandes (center left) with the choir at the Baha'i House of Worship, India.The Temple has won numerous architectural and engineering awards. It is designed in the shape of a lotus flower, which is beloved in India as a symbol of purity and tenderness -- and of God's Messengers.
It is one of seven Baha'i Houses of Worship in the world. The others are in Australia, Germany, Panama, Uganda, the United States and Western Samoa.
Each temple has its own distinctive design, incorporating common elements such as a dome and nine entrances, which are symbolic both of the great religions through which humans have gained knowledge of God and of the diversity of the human race and its essential oneness.(For more information on the Lotus Temple see http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/89).
Upon entering the Temple, Dr. Kalam met choir members. With Mr. and Mrs. Advani and Mr. Fernandes, he listened to a program of prayers and chants.
At the completion of the program, Dr. Kalam continued his tour of the Temple, which he described as looking ""fantastic"".
Dr. Kalam carefully read some of the writings of Baha'u'llah placed inside each of the alcoves of the Temple.
During his visit Dr. Kalam observed: ""Religion has two parts. One is faith; the other is logic and reason. It is important that these two inseparable parts stay together so that religion can help people to have peace of mind. If there is peace of mind, then there will be peace in the family and in the nation.""
In a visit to the nearby Baha'i public information center, Dr. Kalam showed interest in a display about the Indore-based Barli Development Institute for Rural Women, which focuses on giving poor young women literacy training as well as practical knowledge of health and conservation issues. (For more information see:
http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/176)
He referred to a quotation of 'Abdu'l-Baha regarding the importance of education of girls, and then said: ""The education of girls would result in the education of the entire family and is most important in producing good human beings.""
Dr. Kalam was also given information about the current discourse on science, religion and development being promoted by the Baha'i community. Activities have included a colloquium organized by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India and the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity, a research organization that works in association with the Baha'i International Community. (http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/73)
After the President departed, Deputy Prime Minister Advani and Mrs. Advani continued their visit in the public information center.
Mr. Advani had attended the 1986 dedication of the House of Worship. He said religion was a powerful ennobling force in society and that it was very important to teach the values of life to children.
Defence Minister Fernandes, having agreed to sing in the choir two days later on the Baha'i festival of Naw-Ruz (New Year), practised singing a Christian hymn ""Abide with Me"". (In Baha'i Houses of Worship, prayers and hymns from all divinely revealed scriptures are welcomed).
Mr. Fernandes discussed the relationship of the Baha'i Faith with other religions and was informed that Baha'is believe that the fundamental teachings of all major religions are the same and that they come from the same source.
On March 20, Mr. Fernandes performed with the choir as arranged. Among the guests were former Indian Prime Minister I. K. Gujral, India's Attorney-General, Soli Sorabjee, and members of the diplomatic corps.
(Report compiled with the assistance of Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, Professor Anil Sarwal, Dr. A.K. Merchant, Mrs. Farida Vahedi and Ms. Naznene Rowhani).",NEW DELHI,,India
205,2003-04-25,[],Baha'i International Community disappointed over lack of Iran resolution at the UN,"GENEVA — The Baha'i International Community today expressed deep disappointment that the UN Commission on Human Rights failed this year to put forward or adopt any kind of resolution on the human rights situation in Iran.
Despite a new human rights ""dialogue"" between Iran and the European Union, human rights violations against Iran's Baha'is are not only continuing but increasing, said the Community.
""While, in principle, we support the European Union's 'Human Rights Dialogue' with Iran, we have yet to see any positive results emerging on the ground,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Not only has there been no progress, but the persecution of Baha'is in the Islamic Republic of Iran has intensified since the Commission on Human Rights decided last year to suspend its monitoring of the country,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""The arrest and short-term detention of Baha'is has increased; Baha'i teachers and students continue to be harassed; more properties belonging to the Baha'is have been confiscated; and all attempts to obtain redress have been systematically denied,"" Ms. Dugal said. ""As of mid-April, five Baha'is were being held in Iranian prisons because of their religious beliefs.""
From 1982 to 2001, the Commission each year adopted a resolution expressing concern over the human rights situation in Iran, resolutions which always made special mention of the persecution of the Baha'i community there.
Last year, however, the Commission failed to adopt such a resolution. This year, the European Union, the traditional sponsor of the resolution, failed even to put it forward, preferring at this stage to work through the dialogue process on human rights that was initiated last year. The Commission will end its annual session today.
""In essence, the Commission and the European Union, have given the Iranian Government a chance to prove its claim that it is committed to improve respect for human rights,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""Iran's response has been far from encouraging.""
""We believe that the international community must take a stand on Iran's behavior. Accordingly, the Commission's neglect of a resolution that would provide for renewed monitoring of Iran is extremely unfortunate, both for Iran's Baha'is and the international community's reputation as a whole,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Since 1979, when the Islamic Republic of Iran was established, more than 200 Baha'is have been killed or executed in Iran, all solely as a result of religious persecution. Hundreds more have been imprisoned and thousands have lost jobs, pensions and/or access to education. The persecutions reached a peak in the mid-1980s, but lessened after the international community began condemning it through the Commission on Human Rights and in other forums.
However, the Baha'i community of Iran remains deprived of its basic rights and Baha'is remain under the continual threat of harassment, imprisonment or worse. Most recently, for example, Mr. Manuchihr Khulusi, a Baha'i in Mashhad, was re-imprisoned in March 2003 for Baha'i activities, following the judgement of the Revolutionary Court in that city.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
206,2003-04-29,[],Two members of Universal House of Justice leave after 40 years service,"HAIFA, Israel — Two members of the Universal House of Justice are leaving the Baha'i Faith's international governing council after 40 years service.
Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, 83, and Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam, 79, have served in that capacity since the Universal House of Justice was first elected in 1963.
Re-elected successively to five-year terms since then, Messrs. Nakhjavani and Fatheazam requested the Universal House of Justice, in November 2002, for permission to resign their office.
This was granted but they were requested to continue to serve until the election due this month. This was announced to the Baha'is around the world.
Both men had extensive experience in the Faith's activities before their election to the nine-member council, which has its Seat on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.
Mr. Nakhjavani was born into a Baha'i family in 1919 and raised in Haifa. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction from the American University of Beirut, he moved to Iran, his ancestral home.
He was a member of the national governing council of the Baha'is of Iran, the National Spiritual Assembly, in 1950 and 1951. Mr. Nakhjavani and his family then moved to Uganda in order to assist the development of the Baha'i community there. He worked as a teacher and lecturer.
From 1954 to 1961, he was an Auxiliary Board member, an adviser to the Baha'i communities on their development and growth. He also served as the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Central and East Africa from 1956 to 1961. Mr. Nakhjavani moved to Haifa in 1961 after he was elected to the International Baha'i Council, the forerunner to the Universal House of Justice.
Mr. Nakhjavani has written numerous articles on aspects of the Baha'i Faith and delivered many talks on its history and teachings. He is married to Mrs. Violette Nakhjavani (nee Banani), and they have two children.
Mr. Fatheazam was born into a Baha'i family in Tehran, Iran, in 1924. He obtained Masters degrees in arts from Tehran University and Wiswa Bharati University in India.
Mr. Fatheazam worked as a curator at the library of the Faculty of Arts at Tehran University.
Following his move to India to assist Baha'i development work there, he held the post of lecturer in Persian literature at Punjab University. He was staff artist at All-India Radio from 1955 to 1963. During that period, he was secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India and was managing director of the Baha'i Publishing Trust, New Delhi.
A poet, author and playwright, he wrote an introduction to the Baha'i Faith, The New Garden, which has been translated into some 109 languages. He has presented numerous lectures on the Baha'i Faith. He is married to Mrs. Shafiqih Fatheazam (nee Farzar-Asdagh) and they have three children, one deceased.",HAIFA,,Israel
207,2003-04-29,[],Baha'i Community elects international governing council,"HAIFA, Israel — The Baha'i community, identified in the Encyclopaedia Britannica as the second most widespread of the world's independent religions, after Christianity, today elected the nine members of its international governing council, the Universal House of Justice.
Altogether 1544 electors, themselves having been elected by the Baha'i membership in 178 national communities, chose the following nine persons for the forthcoming five-year term: Peter Khan, Farzam Arbab, Hooper Dunbar, Glenford Mitchell, Douglas Martin, Ian Semple, Kiser Barnes, Hartmut Grossmann, Firaydoun Javaheri.
The Faith, which has no clergy, administers its affairs through democratically elected councils at the international, national and local levels.
Baha'i elections take place without campaigning or nominations, the results being determined by plurality vote.
Electors are guided by the Faith's teachings, which advise each person to vote, independently and in the privacy of his or her own conscience, for ""the names of those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience.""
There are about five million Baha'is worldwide. Prominent among the Faith's teachings are racial oneness, the equality of men and women, and the unity and harmony of the world's religions.
The Baha'i World Centre in the Acre/Haifa area of modern day Israel has been both the spiritual and administrative centre of the Faith since its Founder, Baha'u'llah, was exiled there by the Ottoman Empire in 1868.  The Seat of the Universal House of Justice, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel. The Baha'i Community elected the nine members of the Universal House of Justice on 29 April 2003.",HAIFA,,Israel
208,2003-05-07,[],Two new members join Universal House of Justice,"HAIFA, Israel — Two new members, Mr. Hartmut Grossmann and Dr. Firaydoun Javaheri, are among the nine recently elected to the Universal House of Justice in a postal ballot for the Baha'i Faith's worldwide administrative body.
Both had been serving at the Baha'i World Centre as Counsellor members of the International Teaching Centre. The ballots for the election were tallied here on 29 April by 19 members of National Spiritual Assemblies brought from all continents to Haifa for that purpose.
Mr. Grossmann, born in Germany, has academic qualifications in the German and English languages. He served on the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of Germany (1963 to 1969) and Finland (1977 to 1980). He was a university academic in Finland. Mr. Grossmann was appointed a Continental Counsellor in 1980, advising Baha'i communities throughout Europe in their growth and development.
Dr. Javaheri, who was born in Iran, has a doctorate in agronomy. He lived for 27 years in Africa -- Gambia then Zambia -- where he was Chief Technical Adviser for the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. He served the Baha'i communities there in the area of social and economic development. He was appointed a Continental Counsellor in 1995 after serving for 19 years as a member of its Auxiliary Board.
Other members of the Universal House of Justice are:
Dr. Farzam Arbab, born in Iran, obtained his doctorate in physics at the University of California, Berkeley. He was the representative for the Rockefeller Foundation in Colombia (1974 to 1983) and the president of the FUNDAEC development foundation there. He was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Colombia and a Continental Counsellor before being appointed to the International Teaching Centre. He was first elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1993.
Mr. Kiser Barnes was born in the United States, and holds degrees in political science and law. He practiced law and held senior positions in human rights organizations and in labor relations in the United States, before moving to Africa where he held senior academic posts at universities in Benin, Togo and Nigeria. He was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Benin, an Auxiliary Board member and a Continental Counsellor until appointed to the International Teaching Centre in 1993. He was elected to the Universal House of Justice in 2000.
Mr. Hooper Dunbar, born in the United States, was a film actor in Hollywood before moving to Central and South America where he taught arts and English. He is an accomplished painter. He was first elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Nicaragua in 1961. He later served as a Continental Counsellor before being appointed to the International Teaching Centre in 1973. He was first elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1988.
Dr. Peter Khan, born in Australia, held professorial posts in electrical engineering at universities in the United States and Australia. He served as an Auxiliary Board member, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia, and a Continental Counsellor before being appointed to the International Teaching Centre. He was first elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1987.
Mr. Douglas Martin, born in Canada, holds degrees in business administration and in history, and is an author and editor. He was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada, serving as its chief executive officer from 1965 to 1985 when he was appointed director-general of the Office of Public Information at the Baha'i World Centre. He was elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1993.
Mr. Glenford Mitchell, born in Jamaica, holds a Masters degree in journalism from Columbia University. An author, he has worked as a magazine editor and managing editor, and taught English and journalism at Howard University. He served as chief executive officer of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States from 1968 until elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1982.
Mr. Ian Semple, born in England, holds a Master of Arts degree in the German and French languages and literature from Oxford University. A chartered accountant, he served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the British Isles. He was an Auxiliary Board member in Europe and was elected to the International Baha'i Council in 1961. He was first elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1963.",HAIFA,,Israel
209,2003-05-09,[],"Vigorous promoter of the Faith served with ""exemplary zeal""","OXFORD, England — A distinguished member of the international Baha'i community, Mr. David Hofman, 94, died on 9 May 2003 in England.
Mr. Hofman was one of the nine elected members of the Universal House of Justice when that institution came into being in 1963. He presented the first statement from the supreme Baha'i administrative body in April that year to the World Congress in London. Twenty-nine years later, in 1992, he delivered the opening address to the second Baha'i World Congress in New York, an event attended by some 30,000 people. He served as a member of the Universal House of Justice for 25 years, until he left in 1988 at the age of 80.
On 11 May 2003, the Universal House of Justice sent a message to National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world in which they spoke of how Mr. Hofman, ""a vigorous promoter of the Faith for nigh on seven decades"", had served the Faith with ""exemplary zeal in Canada, the United States, the British Isles, the World Centre and, finally, to the last reserves of his strength, as a traveling teacher throughout the world.""
""He will be remembered,"" the Universal House of Justice said, ""for an adamantine loyalty to the Cause, an unfailing response to the call and guidance of the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice, a central role in the advancement of the British Baha'i community and the launching of the brilliant Africa Campaign, and his outstanding contributions to Baha'i literature both as an author and a publisher.""
""His life was crowned by twenty-five years of distinguished service as a member of the Universal House of Justice from 1963 to 1988.""
When asked in 1997 about his experience as a member of the supreme Baha'i body for so many years he said: ""When you have experienced true consultation, there is nothing else like it."" Mr. Hofman added that in his time on the Universal House of Justice there were only two or three times when a vote had to be taken.
Mr. Hofman founded the publishing house George Ronald, which specializes in Baha'i books. It has published editions containing the Sacred Baha'i Writings, and works by Hands of the Cause Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, Hasan Balyuzi, Ugo Giachery, William Sears and George Townshend, and Universal House of Justice member, the late Adib Taherzadeh.
Mr. Hofman was a prolific and highly regarded author on Baha'i topics. His books include a portrait of the life of Baha'u'llah, and a major biography of the Hand of the Cause George Townshend. He was the publisher, literary executor and close friend of Mr. Townshend.
His introduction to the Baha'i Faith, ""The Renewal of Civilization"" was first published in 1946 but was revised and reprinted some nine times from then until 1992. The book was translated into six languages. Mr. Hofman also wrote a children's book, ""God and His Messengers""; a 1950 commentary on the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha (with a 1982 epilogue), and a compilation about 'Abdu'l-Baha from the notes of George Townshend.
His statement on the aims and purposes of the Baha'i Faith made a regular appearance in volumes of ""The Baha'i World"", an official international record of Baha'i activities throughout the world.
A British citizen, Mr. Hofman was in Montreal Canada when in 1933 he became interested in the Baha'i Faith through meeting prominent Baha'is Sutherland Maxwell and his wife, May. In an interview in 1997, he said that he had been an atheist with his own theory on how to create a new world order. The bright new future he saw for the planet had no place for God in it.
Mrs. Maxwell said to him: ""You think you believe that--but you don't."" More than six decades later, he said he recalled with absolute clarity the feeling her statement created with him. ""I felt as if I were split down the middle,"" he recalled. Half of him believed what he was saying but the other half knew she was right. He had to make a choice. He became a Baha'i.
After touring North America, he settled in Los Angeles, where he intended to become a film actor and served on the Local Spiritual Assembly. There he met Miss Marion Holley, who was later to become his wife.
In January 1936 he arrived back in England, was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly and, at the following National Convention, became its Secretary, while continuing to pursue his career as an actor. With brief intervals he served on the National Assembly for 27 years. In 1937 he was for a time the only male announcer on BBC television.  Shortly after the outbreak of World War II he was drafted into the National Fire Service and, when he was invalided out in 1943 he returned to the theatre.
After a nine-year engagement Marion joined David in 1945 and they were married in England. They moved then to Northampton to establish a Baha'i community and in 1948 went to Birmingham for the same reason. They carried out similar work when they went to live in Oxford and then, as part of the Faith's 10-year expansion plan between 1953 and 1963, they established Baha'i communities in Cardiff and Watford.
Upon their departure from the Holy Land in 1988, the Hofmans settled in Steeple Aston in England where they served on the Local Spiritual Assembly together. They later moved to Oxford. In his later years, Mr. Hofman traveled widely, meeting with Baha'i communities, where he was admired as a brilliant public speaker, for his deep knowledge of the Baha'i Faith, his energy and for his warm, inclusive personality. He also met public officials and leaders of thought in many countries, including, for example, Australia and Canada.
The secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, Barney Leith, said Mr. Hofman had a ""long life of illustrious Baha'i service.""
Mr. Leith said Mr. Hofman had been admitted to hospital last week. Some Baha'is visited him in hospital and were with him until just before he passed away at 1a.m.  Funeral arrangements would be made in due course, Mr. Leith said.
The Hofmans had two children, May and Mark. Mrs. Hofman, a highly regarded editor, died in 1995. Mr. Hofman later remarried.
Mr. Hofman is survived by his wife Kathleen, his children and grandchildren.
The Universal House of Justice has advised the Baha'i world to hold memorial gatherings in his honor in all Houses of Worship and throughout the Baha'i community.",OXFORD,,United Kingdom
210,2003-05-15,[],Ideals inspire medical innovator,"HAMILTON, Canada — Mehran Anvari first discovered his love for surgery in high school while dissecting frogs and other small animals.
""I was pretty good in dissection class, and I felt this was something I really enjoyed,"" said the 43-year-old Canadian physician. ""I remember we did dogfish, we did frogs, we did rats.""
Dr. Anvari has come a long way from carving up specimens preserved in formaldehyde. The founder and director of the Center for Minimal Access Surgery (CMAS) at McMaster University here, he is among the world's leading practitioners of laparoscopic surgery.
""The layman's term is 'keyhole' surgery,"" said Dr. Anvari, describing where the surgeon operates through a small incision via a long slender tube (usually equipped with miniature video camera) that allows him to see and work inside the body.
Such ""minimally invasive"" surgery causes less trauma to the patient, allowing faster healing and lowering the probability of post-operative infection.
Recently, Dr. Anvari broke new ground when he used a specially configured laparoscopic robot, which measured and then precisely transmitted the movements of his hands and fingers, to operate on a patient some 400 kilometers away, in North Bay, Ontario.
Performed on 28 February 2003, it was the world's first hospital-to-hospital operation of this kind.  Dr. Mehran Anvari, left, using a specialized robot performs an historic operation via telerobotics. (Courtesy St. Joseph's Healthcare)Dr. Anvari credits his practice of the Baha'i Faith in part for providing him with the inspiration and motivation for effort. ""It is the global outlook, given to me by the Faith, that has stirred me to do this kind of work,"" he said.
A science fiction dream, such ""telerobotic"" surgery has been long talked about for use in outer space and at remote outposts. And Dr. Anvari and others believe it has great potential not only in Canada but in the developing world.
""It is a tremendously exciting thing he has done,"" said Dr. William Orovan, chair of the department of surgery at McMaster. ""It has huge applications in a country like Canada, which has a small population scattered over a wide area. It brings first-rate surgical care to remote communities.""
Dr. Anvari views his work as much more than simply a high technology platform for doing delicate operations at a distance.
In related endeavors to develop and promote ""telementoring"" -- in which he ""looks over the shoulder"" of another surgeon via video relay and guides him or her by voice -- Dr. Anvari hopes to be of service to the entire human race.
Though founded just four years ago, more than 500 doctors have received training at CMAS -- and at least 50 have been from outside Canada, coming from countries as far away as India, China, and Russia.
""The Baha'i ideals have given me very much clarity about the fact that we live in a world that is very connected, and I believe it is important to look not only at what you can do to help yourself, but at what you can do to help others,"" said Dr. Anvari.
His activities as a Baha'i are also responsible, at least in part, for his interest in telerobotics. Until last year, he served on a Baha'i committee charged with spreading the Baha'i teachings to all parts of Canada, something that often took him as far as the Arctic Circle.
""Because of my Baha'i activities, I had a chance to travel to many parts of Canada -- and around the world -- and I saw the need across the country, and globally, for improved surgery and health care,"" said Dr. Anvari.
Born in Iran, Dr. Anvari was raised in a family where both parents were involved in the medical profession and he had always been interested in medicine and patient care. ""But I found I enjoyed working with my hands, and so I specialized in surgery.""
Dr. Anvari's breakthrough came about by combining advances in information technology with laparoscopic robotics, enabling him to do delicate surgery at a distance. ""All I did was to think about a way to put things together, things that exist in other health care settings,"" he said.
The operation was widely reported. Articles were carried in the Toronto Star, the National Post, the Globe and Mail, and the Toronto Sun. As well, TIME Canada, CBC Radio and TV, CTV, and Global have reported on Dr. Anvari's efforts.
""The robotic surgery attracts a lot of attention because it is new and very 'Star Wars'-ish,"" said Dr. Anvari. ""But a very important and critical aspect of our work is focused on establishing new centers in other countries, in training other surgeons, and in providing mentoring and telementoring.""
CMAS is currently exploring setting up collaborative programs with medical centers in Haiti, Yemen, and Uganda. ""We have learned a number of things here that can help improve the quality of health in many countries,"" said Dr. Anvari.",HAMILTON,,Canada
211,2003-05-19,[],Video team creates a moving experience,"HAIFA, Israel — It was the night of the world premiere at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa. The theatre lights dimmed and the screening began. As the opening scenes unfolded it was clear the production team had a hit on its hands.
The name of the video production, ""Building Momentum,"" could not have been more apt. The excitement of the audience grew as it was taken on a visual journey from a dynamic Baha'i community on one continent, to a counterpart on another, then another and another. Intakes of breath, laughter at the right moments and palpable waves of emotion began rippling through the theatre.
The video was portraying groups of Baha'i communities (called ""clusters"") who were following the guidance of the Universal House of Justice to build the capacity of individuals through study circles, and to hold devotional meetings and children's classes with participation from anyone who wanted to join, whether Baha'i or not. The video opened among the greenery of Zambia and closed in the lowlands of Nepal, and on the way took its viewers on a trip through Canada, Italy, Malaysia, Australia and Colombia.
The story showed an energetic worldwide religious community on the move, with individuals and groups enthused about taking charge of their own spiritual and material development and welcoming the participation not only of Baha'is but of people from other faiths or with no particular religious affiliation.
By the end of the trip the audience was invigorated. This was a premiere in the Holy Land, not Hollywood, but that did not stop people rising to their feet at the end of the performance and calling for the team to take a bow.  Emerging reluctantly into the spotlight of attention were May Taherzadeh, 26, from South Africa; Naysan Naraqi, 28, from Papua New Guinea; and Ryan Lash, 25, of Canada.
Absent that night were their mentors, United States filmmakers Mark and Suzanne Bamford, who are based in South Africa. Mr. Bamford guided the team throughout by phone and email and helped them with the final version. Mrs. Bamford, a scriptwriter, contributed significantly to the development of the video.
The team members said they ensured they took an ethical approach to their work, that everything was genuinely happening. The type of production did not emphasize any particular culture, nor was any country favored. The order of appearance was for story reasons and not in the order of filming or to show that one was more advanced than others. All clusters, in fact, were carrying out all activities but for the purposes of the film each was shown attending to just some of them.  Devotional meetings in Australia enhance spirituality. (Photo: Ryan Lash)The team said they wanted to film more than just people talking or being involved in their activities. ""We wanted to capture their joyfulness and spirit,"" said Ms. Taherzadeh.
So what was their impression of the Baha'i world? Ms. Taherzadeh said it was if all the documents of the Universal House of Justice had come to life. ""People were talking about their area's level of growth and development, having reflection meetings, and carrying out the study circles, children's classes, devotional meetings."" She said she had witnessed the truth of the assertion that the Baha'i community had ""unity in thought, cohesion in their work.""
Mr. Naraqi and Mr. Lash said they were impressed that the Baha'is were concentrating on blurring the lines between people who were and who were not Baha'i, that many people from outside the Baha'i community were becoming involved in Baha'i activities, getting in touch with the message of Baha'u'llah. Ms. Taherzadeh said she observed everywhere that Baha'is were taking responsibility for themselves."" People had started to say, 'I can do it',"" she said.
In one scene, a chief in Zambia, resplendent in his yellow robes, explained how he decided to forego his entitlement to be an autocrat in his village in order to participate in unrestricted consultation, the women participating alongside the men.
In scenes shot in other countries, the film showed residents of large urban centers enlivening their devotional meetings by the use of the arts, and inviting neighbors to join with them in prayer and reflection.
Although people portrayed in one country may have come from a different social class, educational level and ethnic background than those in another, their enjoyment of study circles seemed to be at the same high level. In Nepal, the people decided to build a school and set up their own bank -- and went ahead and did just that.
For the production team it had been an inspiring but grueling eight months of unremitting work in preparing for the task, shooting the video in the seven countries, ""logging"" (annotating minute by minute) the video on plane journeys and attending the myriad other tasks involved. Their deadline was April 2003.
""Eight months was a very tight time frame,"" said Ms. Taherzadeh, who had previously worked on other Baha'i productions in Africa and the United States. ""We only had four days off and that was in the Holy Land on the (Baha'i) holy days.""
Mr. Naraqi, who left his position as a CNN producer to work on the production, agreed that it had been a demanding workload. ""We were in each country an average of two weeks,"" he said. The schedules had been prepared by Continental Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members so that the team could hit the ground running and attend to a rigid schedule of interviews.
""It was my first project of this scope,"" said Mr. Lash, whose professional background includes working as freelance photographer on assignments for the New York Times in West Africa.
With 25 hours of footage from each country having to be reduced to about five minutes, the editing workload was immense. The time available for that task, instead of being the usual three times that taken for filming, was reduced to a one to one ratio.
""One thing we decided before we set out,"" said Ms. Taherzadeh, ""was this project can't be a successful one if we are not united. That is what kept us going -- unity. We also always referred to the messages of the Universal House of Justice, that was our reference point."" Prayer was a constant source of strength.
She said that as they went along the team members learned and strengthened their skills. Their own development as film makers ran in a parallel to the very theme of the video, which looked at how the skills and capacities of ordinary Baha'is grew as they studied together and put into practice what they learned.
They decided to share roles as director, camera operator, editor, and scriptwriter.
""We were strict about the fact that we did not give people prepared questions,"" Mr. Naraqi said. ""We wanted them to speak from the heart."" The video has versions with subtitles in English, French and Spanish, and an ""international version"" with no subtitles so that individual countries can place their own language on the video.
The team had decided not to use a narrator but to let the people speak for themselves. Ms. Taherzadeh said the use of subtitles instead of voice-over allowed people to have their own voice. ""They are creators of their own story,"" she said. ""Their own voices should be heard -- that's what was important.""
Screenings of the video are taking place at national Baha'i conventions throughout the world in May 2003 and thereafter in Baha'i communities.",HAIFA,,Israel
212,2003-03-30,[],Festival attracts crowds of children,"PSAR LEUR, Cambodia — Children and youth came in record numbers to a Cambodian Baha'i festival which attracted high praise from government officials.
""In the previous year only 400 children attended the festival but this year we decided to invite 300 more,"" said Mr. Kanna Baran, one of the organizers of the Festival held on 30 March 2003 at the Psar Leur Baha'i Center in Battambang.
""Eventually, however, some 1050 arrived,"" he said.
The event is held to create an opportunity for children and youth of all social classes to meet each other and also to give provincial authorities an overview of the Baha'i educational program for children.
Although organizers were surprised at the big turnout, they coped well. The 15 volunteers in the kitchens stepped up their efforts and managed to provide everyone not only with a breakfast but a satisfying lunch as well.
It was a festival in which children presented stories about 'Abdu'l-Baha, recited quotations from the Baha'i Writings, made drawings and displayed their art, performed traditional Khmer music and dance, and played games together.
Among the senior government officials present was the Director of the Battambang Education Department, Mr. Khuon Chhoeut, who delivered an address in which he said he was proud and excited to have been invited to attend.  Officials pay tribute to Baha'i children's classes.First, he praised the education provided by other religions in Cambodia, and then he focused on the Baha'i community.
""For children and youth, becoming Baha'i is really a very good thing. If all the children would follow and obey this religion then it is a very great thing,"" he said.
""All religions have their Holy Writings and all are good, especially when we know how to protect ourselves from fighting and quarrelling.""
""To have progress and development in our region, you should follow and obey what is found in the Holy Writings, observe and follow them properly to make all of you good citizens in this country and the whole world.""
The director's sentiments were echoed and added to by the Director of Religions Affairs for Battambang, Mr. Dy Somaly.
""I would like to thank all of you who helped in spreading the Baha'i Faith in the province of Battambang, in educating the youth and the children, thereby making them good children, as what one of the Khmer proverb says: 'The young bamboo shoots replace the old ones.' Therefore children and youth must become good people.""
No religion guides people to be bad, he told the children, so they must remember that all religions are good and that they should never argue with believers of other faiths.
Among the Baha'i guests were four members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Cambodia and two Auxiliary Board members.
The festival ended with an exchange of flowers and gifts.
The Festival in Battambang followed another successful children's festival held in Saang on 27 March 2003. That event attracted 400 participants.",PSAR LEUR,,Cambodia
214,2003-06-01,[],Mayor opens new center,"DERRY, Northern Ireland — The mayor of Derry, Councillor Kathleen McCloskey, officially opened a new Baha'i center in the city on 1 May 2003.
""Your community adds to the richness and diversity of life within this city and I look forward to many more years of Baha'i involvement and good work within the wider community,"" said Councillor McCloskey.
""Important contributions have been made by the local Baha'i community on the proposed appointment of a Commissioner for Children, and the community has also done sterling work in the struggle to overcome racism, discrimination and prejudice within our city"" she said.
The city known variously as Derry and Londonderry is in the north-west of Northern Ireland.",DERRY,,Northern Ireland
215,2003-05-28,[],Dancers perform at book fair,"BUDAPEST, Hungary — The Hungarian Baha'i Dance Workshop, Puzzle, performed at the 10th International Book Fair in Budapest. The fair, held from 24 to 27 April 2003, attracted 60, 000 visitors.
Some themes of their performance were the equality of men and women and the need to eliminate racial prejudice.
Baha'i representatives met Gabor Gorgey, Hungary's Minister of National Cultural Heritage, Gabor Demszky, the Mayor of Budapest, and prominent Peruvian writer, Mario Vargas Llosa.",BUDAPEST,,Hungary
216,2003-05-28,[],Reunited after three decades,"NICOSIA, Cyprus — Baha'is from the north and south of Cyprus met on 27 April 2003 when they were permitted to cross the demarcation line that had divided the island for three decades.
The event followed the decision by the Turkish Cypriot authorities to lift the ban on travel across the cease-fire line. Some 60 Turkish and Greek Baha'is held a devotional meeting together at the Baha'i center in Nicosia.",NICOSIA,,Cyprus
217,2003-05-28,[],Training for HIV prevention,"SHILLONG, India — A Baha'i-inspired NGO has provided health training for secondary school teachers in Shillong, North East India.
The objective of the program organized by the Foundation for Global Education and Development was to help teachers improve the awareness of students about HIV prevention.
The 30 participants took part in sessions in February 2003 focusing on the importance of moral values in the education of youth and the importance of moral leadership in family life.",SHILLONG,,India
218,2003-06-03,[],Golden anniversary for temple of light,"WILMETTE, IL, United States — It was partly a celebration of architecture. And partly a celebration of the spirit.
In ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Baha'i House of Worship here in May, participants spoke of the building's beautiful and unique design and of the great sacrifices that were made to see it realized.
""It was such a dream of the Baha'is of the world to build this temple,"" said Fariborz Sahba, telling of how contributions, many of them very small, came in from Baha'is in many nations in the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s, when the building's main structure was erected.
An architect himself, and designer of the Baha'i House of Worship in India, Mr. Sahba gave the keynote address at the official 50th anniversary commemoration at the Temple on 17 May 2003.
""This is the Temple that all the Baha'is of the world claim ownership of,"" said Mr. Sahba, ""and they love it. But this is not only for the Baha'is -- it is a Temple that belongs to the people of the world.""
That ideal is reflected in the fact that the Temple is one of the most visited buildings in the greater Chicago region, receiving more than 230,000 visitors a year.
""The Baha'i Temple is nationally recognized,"" said Maria Berg-Stark, executive director of Chicago's North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau. ""And it is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the area.""  A springtime celebration for the House of Worship. (Photo: Vladimir Shilov)Much of the reason for the interest is the Temple's unique and beautiful design. The architect was Louis Bourgeois, a Baha'i of Canada.
Sited on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan north of Chicago, the House of Worship is shaped like a large circular bell, with nine sides and nine doors. Some 58 meters in height, and with a seating capacity for nearly 1,200 people, the Temple is built of white concrete, much of it cast in ornamental patterns that allow light to stream in from every angle.
""The design represents the first time an architect was able to bring light in through the walls and dome of a building with ornamentation,"" said Robert Armbruster, an architect and engineer who is currently managing a project to repair the monumental steps that ring the Temple.
The design is also highly symbolic, with nine doors open to every direction and light streaming in from all around.
""It is one of the fundamental symbols of unity that we have,"" said Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, vice chair of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. ""It is a symbol of unity because it is open to everyone to pray there.
""And the architecture itself symbolizes unity with its nine entrances, drawing people in from all directions to a central point,"" said Ms. Left Hand Bull.
In addition to the public commemoration on 17 May, which was attended by more than 250 people, the 50th anniversary was also celebrated in a ceremony for Baha'is on 3 May. That day more closely marked the date -- 2 May 1953 -- when the Temple was completed and opened to the public.
The National Spiritual Assembly also commissioned a video/multi-media presentation, titled ""The Dawning Place,"" which recounts the long process of building the Temple.
One of seven Baha'i Houses of Worship in the world, the Wilmette Temple is the oldest of them all, and the first Temple to be built in the West. The world's first Baha'i House of Worship was built in Ashkhabad (also known as Ashgabat and Ishqabad), in Russian Turkistan (now Turkmenistan), but it was later confiscated by the Soviet government, and, in 1962, destroyed after severe damage in an earthquake.
The cornerstone for the Wilmette House of Worship was laid by 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1912.
""Temples are the symbols of the divine uniting force,"" said 'Abdu'l-Baha, who led the Baha'i Faith from 1892 to 1921. ""That is why Baha'u'llah has commanded that a place of worship be built for all the religionists of the world; that all religions, races and sects may come together within its universal shelter.""
A design for the building was chosen in 1920 and confirmed by 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1921. Over the next three decades, as Baha'is raised funds, the building was gradually constructed.
Today, it stands as a beacon of multi-religious and multi-cultural unity, a fact testified to by the many visitors it draws each year.
""We think that God is one in the world and you can talk with Him in other churches too,"" said Iryna Turshyn, a Christian from Ukraine, who visited the Wilmette Temple with a friend in May. ""This church is like a 'union' church. It's for everybody.""",WILMETTE,ILLINOIS,United States
219,2003-05-08,[],Award winner links science and spirituality,"LONDON — A British neuroscientist who has received a major award says there is a connection between her spiritual beliefs and her understandings of the workings of the human brain.
Professor Faraneh Vargha-Khadem outlined her views in an interview after being named Professional of the Year in the Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2003.
She received her award on 8 May 2003 from one of the award's patrons, the eminent lawyer Cherie Booth, who is the wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Professor Vargha-Khadem, a member of the Baha'i Faith, said that as a neuroscientist she came to recognize the significance of the Baha'i teachings on the brain, the mind and spirituality.
""With more experience, I recognized their interconnection,"" said Professor Vargha-Khadem, head of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Unit at the Institute of Child Health at University College London.
""I became aware of how the working brain is a reflection of the individual's unique spiritual endowments.
""As we learn more about the way the brain functions and the mind operates, we see more and more distinctions between the mind of the human being and the mind of the animal, and these distinctions are really of a spiritual nature.  Professor Faraneh Vargha-Khadem.""Our differences, even though they may have a biological basis, really are a reflection of something that is inherent to the capacity of the human mind, which is a reflection of a spiritual being.""
A consultant in neuropsychology at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Professor Vargha-Khadem recently published the results of research on how brain damage can lead to serious anti-social behavior in puberty and adulthood.
Her research in collaboration with a team of scientists has culminated in the discovery of the first gene associated with speech and language.
Further recent work on childhood amnesia has drawn international recognition and has led to new models of how the brain stores and retrieves different types of memories.
Born in Iran, Professor Vargha-Khadem completed her studies in 1979 at McGill University in Montreal and the University of Massachusetts. In 1983 she took up a faculty research position at the Institute of Child Health in London, where she has been working ever since.
Professor Vargha-Khadem comes from a distinguished Baha'i family. Her father, Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa, is a Hand of the Cause, an appointment of high spiritual rank in the Baha'i Faith.
The Asian Women of Achievement Awards, sponsored by major corporations, were launched in 1999 to recognize the accomplishments and contributions that Asian women have made to wider society in the United Kingdom. There are eight categories.
Award judge Professor Brian Gazzard, of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, stated: ""Professor Vargha-Khadem's achievements are truly outstanding both in the field of science and in the field of understanding the importance of mental health to child development.""
""This award is significant for two reasons,"" Professor Vargha-Khadem said, ""firstly because it recognizes the contribution of women but also those of ethnic minorities.""
The Asian Women of Achievement Awards acknowledge the individual efforts and the accomplishments of Asian women working in the commercial, professional, artistic and humanitarian sectors in the United Kingdom.
The shortlist for Professional of the Year section of the awards also included an educational economist, a pediatric surgeon, and a film producer who is a women's rights activist.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
220,2003-06-11,[],Exhibition opens in Europe,"BRUSSELS — A special exhibition highlighting the contribution to social harmony made by Baha'i communities in Europe was officially opened today at the main building of the European Parliament here.
Hosted by the Parliament, the display is titled ""The Baha'i International Community: Promoting Unity in Diversity throughout Europe for over a Century."" It will grace the Parliament building's main foyer until 13 June 2003.
The display was officially opened by Jean Lambert, a member of the European Parliament who sponsored it, at a reception in the Parliament Building. More than 200 people, including Ana Palacio, the Foreign Minister of Spain, a number of members of the Parliament, and many other prominent people, attended the reception.
In addition, about 90 people attended an address given by  Professor Suheil Bushrui on ""The Ethics of Globalization,"" as part of the day's events. Prof. Bushrui holds the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland.
Composed of 14 panels, the display tells the story in words and photographs of how the Baha'i communities of Europe have sought to promote peace, cross-cultural integration, religious tolerance, and business ethics through a variety of concrete projects and actions.  Socrates Maanian, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Greece introduces the exhibition to Efstratios Korakas, a member of the European Parliament. (Photo: European Parliament)""Many people in Europe, especially its leaders, are very familiar with the persecution that Baha'is have faced in Iran,"" said Silvia Frohlich, a representative of the Swiss Baha'i community who assisted the Paris branch of the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information in the design of the display.
""This exhibition aims to show the degree to which the Baha'i communities of Europe are involved with the life of society at large, and are seeking to promote and contribute to social progress on a number of fronts,"" said Ms. Frohlich.
""We think many people will be surprised by the kinds of projects and activities Baha'is are engaged in throughout Europe.""
The display, for example, takes note of projects like ""The Institute for Social Cohesion,"" which was established in 2001 by the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom to promote a discourse on how to improve cross-cultural harmony.
It also highlights the Baha'i International Community's innovative collaboration with the European Union's Royaumont Process, which aims to strengthen stability and inter-ethnic communication in Southeastern Europe.
There are well-established Baha'i communities -- headed by national-level governing councils -- in all 15 member nations of the European Union, as well as in the 10 new nations which are scheduled to join the EU in 2004.
""Baha'is are convinced of the necessity of international collaboration and support the principles underlying the European Union,"" said the head of the Paris branch of the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information, Christine Samandari, who noted that the Baha'i Faith was first established in Europe in 1898.
Baha'is reside in more than 6,000 localities throughout Europe, and they have established some 976 locally elected governing councils, which administer their communities at the local level. They have national governing bodies in 37 European countries and territories.",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
221,2003-06-13,[],Visitors to Terraces number 1.4 million,"HAIFA, Israel — Nearly one and a half million people have visited the garden terraces surrounding the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel since they were first opened to the public on 4 June 2001.
The vast majority of the 1.4 million visitors have been from Israel, which has a population of six and a half million. The terraces are one of the top tourist attractions in the country.
Releasing the figures, Guided Tours Operation manager Eliza Rasiwala said more than 380,000 of the visitors had taken pre-reserved guided tours.
The tours, provided by the Baha'i World Centre, are free of charge.
Guided tours take visitors down either the upper or lower sections of the 19 terraced gardens. Casual visitors may visit Terrace 19, the gardens immediately adjacent to the Shrine of the Bab, and the entrance plaza to the terraces at the foot of the mountain.
Ms. Rasiwala said there had been more than 9,700 tours since they first began two years ago.
About 25 Israeli university students, who are trained and paid for their services, lead most of the tours but there are also some full-time professional guides, she said.  Guides who lead tours of the Terraces.The guides come from Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Druze backgrounds. Tours are also accompanied by support guides, some of whom are Baha'i World Centre staff members volunteering in their off-hours.
At present tours are available in Hebrew, Arabic, English, Russian and Spanish. Israeli staff take reservations by phone.
For more stories and photographs of the terraces and tours see http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/134
and also http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/terraces.",HAIFA,,Israel
222,2003-06-12,[],Baha'i UN Representative elected to head women's committee,"NEW YORK — The principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations was yesterday elected to chair a major committee on women's issues.
Bani Dugal will serve for two years at the UN in New York as Chair of the non-governmental organizations' Committee on the Status of Women.
Then she will be eligible for a second two-year term.
As Chair of the Committee, Ms. Dugal will work with all departments at the United Nations to promote the advancement of women and girls and the equality of women and men.
""Each of the UN agencies has a person assigned as a 'gender focal point,' and our goal is to work closely with them to ensure that gender concerns are mainstreamed into all policies,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""In particular, we want to focus on promoting the concept of partnership between women and men, and the role of men and boys in the advancement of women and girls,"" Ms. Dugal said.  Bani Dugal, the new chair of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women at the United Nations.""Another issue we hope to focus on is peace and security and post-conflict resolution,"" Ms. Dugal said. ""We want to see women represented at the peace table, and in the post-conflict work, in such places as Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries.""
Ms. Dugal was elected by acclamation at the Committee's annual meeting. Previously, she served as the Committee's vice-chair.
The Committee is composed of about 200 international non-governmental organizations, and networks with hundreds more around the world.
In March, Bani Dugal was appointed Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. Ms. Dugal had been serving as interim Principal Representative, since Techeste Ahderom completed his duties in 2001.
Ms. Dugal came to the Baha'i International Community in 1994, and for many years served as Director of the Community's Office for the Advancement of Women. A native of India, where she practiced law before coming to the United States, Ms. Dugal  holds a  Masters in Environmental Law from Pace University School of Law in New York.
The Baha'i International Community has long been active in the Committee's work. Mary Power, who was director of the Community's Office for the Advancement of Women until her retirement in 1997, served as the Committee's chair from 1991 to 1995. In that position, Ms. Power also served on the Global NGO Facilitating Committee, which organized the NGO Forum on Women, held in Huairou, China from 30 August to 8 September 1995, in parallel with the UN Fourth World Conference on Women, held in  Beijing in September 1995.",NEW YORK,,United States
223,2003-06-13,[],Translucent temple for Chile,"HAIFA, Israel — A temple of light is to grace the continent of South America.
The Universal House of Justice has appointed Siamak Hariri of Toronto, Canada, as architect of the Baha'i Temple (also known as a House of Worship) to be built near Santiago in Chile.
Mr. Hariri said he hopes to complete the project within the next three years.
The approved design has ""nine gracefully torqued wings, which enfold the space of the Temple,"" Mr. Hariri said in his presentation to the Universal House of Justice.
""These vast wings are made of two delicate skins of translucent, subtly gridded alabaster, one on the outside and other on the inside,"" Mr. Hariri said.
""Between these two layers of glowing, translucent stone, lies a curved steel structure (the source of the faintly discernable gridding) enclosed in glass, its primary structural members intertwining with secondary support members, not unlike the structural veining discernable within a leaf.
""Light moving through and between each of the wings becomes light as structure, lines of radiance moving and arcing gently about The Greatest Name (calligraphy of Baha'u'llah's name at the center of the dome).""  In a night sky the dome of the Temple will form a glowing spiral.Mr. Hariri said the wings, identical in form, are organically shaped and twisted slightly to produce a nest-like structure, a soft, undulating dome positioned around a raised base.
Mr. Hariri said the inner form of the Temple would be ""defined by a finely articulated tracery of wood, which offers a delicately ornamental inner surface, rich in texture, warm by nature, acoustically practical and responsive to the cultural givens of the area.""
During the day, the soft undulating alabaster and glass skin forms the outer expression, he said.
""At night, the image reverses itself, the entire volume then becoming a warmed totalized glow, with the inner form of the building visible through the glass.""
The Temple, notable for its absence of straight lines, will rise amidst an extensive radiating garden comprising nine reflecting lily pools and nine prayer gardens.
The new Temple will seat approximately 500 people.
Mr. Hariri said it would take its place as a sister Temple to the other Mother Temples - and yet ""find its way into its own gentle and compelling uniqueness.""
Prominent Toronto-based architecture critic, Gary Michael Dault, said the Temple was a ""hovering cloud, an architectural mist.""
He said it ""acknowledges blossom, fruit, vegetable and the human heart -- but rests somewhere between such readings, gathering them up and transforming them into an architectural scheme that is, simultaneously, both engagingly familiar and brilliantly original.""
A Baha'i, Mr. Hariri, of Hariri Pontarini Architects was born in Bonn, West Germany and educated in Toronto, Ontario. He attended Yale University School of Architecture, New Haven, where he received his Master of Architecture in 1985.
Among his commissions have been the $70 million new Schulich School of Business at York University, and the award-winning, $15 million office building for McKinsey & Company in Toronto. He was the winner of the Toronto Urban Design Awards (2000). Internationally, he completed the Landegg Academy Master Plan in Switzerland.
In September last year, the national governing body of the Baha'i community in Chile called for submission of designs for the House of Worship.
The call came after an announcement in 2001 by the Universal House of Justice that efforts should begin to build what would be known as the ""Mother Temple of South America"". Submissions were open not only to Baha'is, but to all qualified designers.
After considering 185 submissions the Universal House of Justice selected four teams based on the creativity of their designs and asked for further developments or additional concepts. It then selected the design by Mr. Hariri.
The Temple will be built outside Santiago on the Pan-American Highway. Funding for the construction will be provided by voluntary donations from the Baha'is of Chile and from local and national Baha'i communities around the world.
There are now seven Baha'i Temples: in Australia, Germany, India, Panama, Uganda, United States, and Western Samoa. The House of Worship in the United States was the first one of these to be dedicated, in 1953. The most recently completed was the Indian Temple, in 1986.
The Temples themselves are created as beautiful structures that provide places to commune with God in silence and reverence. Their Arabic name, Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, means ""dawning place of the mention of God.""
Baha'i Houses of Worship are open to all. In the future, each Temple will be the central feature in a complex designed to provide social, humanitarian, educational and scientific pursuits.",HAIFA,,Israel
224,2003-06-01,[],Inviting the wider community,"DUBLIN — In an opening address to the annual convention of the Baha'is of Ireland, a local government leader wished delegates ""continued success in promoting your ideas of one earth, one country.""
In Swords, a town near Dublin, Michael Kennedy, chairman of the Fingal County Council, said the Baha'i Faith expressed a commitment to a global program for moral, spiritual and social progress that represented many of the finest ideals of civilization.
Mr. Kennedy, who is not a Baha'i, said spirituality had always played a vital part in the lives of Irish people but religion was under threat.
""It is important, therefore, that we begin to open ourselves to the concepts and principles espoused by other religions, not just the traditional ones, but independent religions like yours in the Baha'i community, so that we can begin to rebuild our spiritual lives.
""It is an article of your faith to mix with followers of other faiths and I would like to take (this) opportunity to encourage the citizens of Fingal to explore what your religion has to offer them.""
During the subsequent consultations at the convention, the delegates discussed how the Baha'i community can continue to actively foster the inclusion of all people in their activities, regardless of religious affiliation or background.
Throughout the world, Baha'is are inviting the public to join with them in study circles aimed at building human capacity, devotional gatherings, and classes to provide spiritual and moral education to children.  Western Caroline Islands: delegates attending this year's convention with Auxiliary Board Member Fidelia Adgil.At national conventions worldwide, Baha'is consulted on guidance given to them in this regard by the international governing council, the Universal House of Justice, and its advisory body, the International Teaching Centre.
There are 178 National Spiritual Assemblies, the national governing councils. National conventions were held throughout the world between 23 May and 1 June 2003, a month later than usual because of the election of the Universal House of Justice, which takes place every five years.
The main purpose of the annual conventions is to elect the National Spiritual Assemblies. The delegates also consult with each other on matters of national and international importance.
The Baha'i Faith has no clergy. Its affairs are administered by elected councils.
The National Spiritual Assemblies are elected by delegates from local communities. Those delegates are elected by the entire adult membership of their Baha'i communities.
In April, Baha'is throughout the world elected their local administrative bodies, the Local Spiritual Assemblies, which are also elected annually. There are more than 11, 700 worldwide.
Baha'i spokesman Douglas Moore said the Baha'i election process is quite distinctive.
""The elections are conducted by secret ballot -- however, there is no nomination, campaigning or discussion of candidates,"" said Mr. Moore, Director of the Office of Public Information at the Baha'i World Centre, in Haifa, Israel.
""Rather, each elector, in an atmosphere of prayer and meditation, chooses the names of those individuals he or she feels possess the best qualities to serve,"" he said.
""Delegates are guided by the criteria based on the writings of the Baha'i Faith, which advise them to vote for individuals with selfless devotion, a well-trained mind, recognized ability, loyalty and mature experience,"" he said.
Every adult Baha'i, woman and man, is eligible to vote and is also eligible to be elected.",DUBLIN,,Ireland
225,2003-06-24,[],New Web site for Europe,"ROME — The European Baha'i Women's Network has established a Web site at http://www.ebwn.net.
The site provides an opportunity for women in Europe to publish reports and articles and exchange views on the subjects of moral education, spiritual enhancement, social development, the arts, and academic subjects.
The Network succeeds the European Taskforce for Women, which for 10 years functioned as the main group coordinating activities initiated by Baha'i women all over the continent.",ROME,,Italy
226,2003-06-26,[],Creating a new school of thought,"QUEBEC CITY — In his latest book, mathematician William S. Hatcher steps squarely into one of the major conflicts in modern philosophical thought.
""Minimalism: A Bridge between Classical Philosophy and the Baha'i Revelation"" seeks to provide a much-needed bridge between the so-called ""scientific materialists"" and the ""post-modern relativists.""
The two groups represent the two main schools in modern philosophy.
The scientific materialists, drawing on the apparent power of science to explain everything, hold that there is nothing beyond which we can see, hear, touch, or experiment on.
The postmodern relativists, on the other hand, believe nothing can be so easily objectified. They say all knowledge is relative, whether culture, science, or values. And, in the end, you can't really know anything.
In ""Minimalism,"" Dr. Hatcher presents a completely new philosophical approach to these concerns -- and then moves forward to create a new school of philosophical thinking.
The approach offers new insights into the great questions of classical philosophers, such as whether there is a God, the nature of being, and the notion of good.
In a nutshell, Dr. Hatcher has taken modern refinements in logic -- specifically the creation of relational logic, which forms the basis for modern computing -- and applied them in the realm of philosophy, in particular to the kinds of metaphysical and ethical questions that have seemed so stubbornly to resist modern analysis.
The success of his method is revealed towards the end of this short book -- only 128 pages long -- where he offers a logical proof for the existence of God. He concludes that the application of the principles of relational logic to this question prove that there is a single, universal, and eternal First Cause -- something that is very much like God the Creator as named in all of the world's major religions.
He terms his method ""minimalism"" because it ""results from consistently making the most plausible and rational choice in the light of current knowledge"" but goes no farther than is necessary.
As outlined by Dr. Hatcher, minimalism steadfastly sticks to logic, uses scientific empiricism where it is proven effective, and makes an explicit statement of viewpoint (in an effort to circumvent the limitations imposed by human subjectivity).
At the same time, it makes no claim to possessing the ultimate truth, acknowledging that there are limits to human knowledge.
The result, he writes, is a ""proactive philosophy that yields genuine results,"" a ""middle way"" between the ""gratuitous restrictions of logical positivism"" (and other scientific materialists) and the ""gratuitous subjectivism of postmodernism.""
For example, one key issue in modern thought, cutting across a wide range of disciplines, from psychology to sociology to neurobiology, is the nature of subjectivity: how do you know what you know.
Post-modern relativists have suggested that we can't really know anything, because of the subjectivity of the human viewpoint.
Dr. Hatcher suggests that this limitation can be overcome by explicitly acknowledging one's viewpoint at the outset of any philosophical discussion -- laying one's cards on the table, so to speak. He traces this idea back to Euclid, who deduced the mathematics of geometry from five basic axioms.
""The reader is free to reject Euclid's axioms if he so desires, but if he accepts them, then he cannot deny any of Euclid's further affirmations,"" Dr. Hatcher writes. ""Euclid has made his viewpoint totally explicit.""
Applying that standard to philosophical discourse today, Dr. Hatcher writes, is a key step towards overcoming the split between the scientific materialists and the post-modern relativists on the issue of objectivity.
Another plank of the minimalist approach is that it does not close itself off to the possibility of non-material causes and realities.
""The philosophy of minimalism is open to the possibility of such phenomena as divine revelation, in which man may be given knowledge that transcends any possible rational basis that is currently known,"" he writes.
Indeed, Dr. Hatcher, who is himself a Baha'i, said in an interview that much of his inspiration for the development of his method came from studying the Baha'i writings, which uphold a highly rational view of God, religion, and theology -- and also uphold the scientific method as the primary path for understanding physical reality.
He occasionally quotes 'Abdu'l-Baha in the book, offering his insights as waypoints in the development of minimalism. Yet at the same time Dr. Hatcher indicates that while his inspiration may have come from his Baha'i belief, his rigorous approach to applying relational logic to philosophical questions is original.
Review by Brad Pokorny
""Minimalism: A Bridge between Classical Philosophy and the Baha'i Revelation,"" by William S. Hatcher. (Juxta Publishing. Hong Kong.) For information  see http://www.juxta.com/main.cfm?SID=30",QUEBEC CITY,,Canada
227,2003-05-25,[],Choir of many cultures,"SINGAPORE — A Baha'i choir with members from a variety of countries has performed its first full-length concert at a prestige venue in Singapore.
""In Unison"", which includes members from Singapore, the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Australia, Iran, and the United States, gave a one-hour performance in the Jubilee Hall of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.
Entitled ""In Unison In Concert"", the performance on 25 May 2003 comprised 18 songs, including Baha'i prayers and contemporary compositions.
The 15-member choir, founded in 2000, had previously performed at events hosted by the Inter-Religious Organization of Singapore as well as at Baha'i celebrations.
(Front page photo: Choral director of ""In Unison"", Michelle Koay of Singapore.)",SINGAPORE,,Singapore
228,2003-07-01,[],Royalty to bestow awards,"LONDON — Two members of the Baha'i Faith who left their home countries to contribute to the development of other societies will receive awards from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in July 2003.
Bruce Saunders, an Australian living in the Solomon Islands, and David Lambert, an Englishman now living in Mongolia, will receive an OBE and MBE respectively.
An OBE is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and an MBE is a Member of the Order of the British Empire.  These awards are made in some countries of the Commonwealth of Nations for valuable service to the nation. They rank below a knighthood. The OBE is the higher award.
Such distinguished awards follow recommendations to the Queen by the governments of the proposed recipients.
Bruce Saunders, 61, is receiving his award for service to the community and business in the Solomons.
Mr. Saunders is currently chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Solomon Islands.
For 10 years, he served as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Australasia, a senior Baha'i advisory body that assists 17 Baha'i national governing councils (National Spiritual Assemblies).  Mr. Bruce SaundersMr. Saunders is from Australia where he studied the catering industry. He and his wife, Keithie, moved to the Cook Islands to assist the Baha'i community there.
Two and a half years later, in 1968, they went to the Solomon Islands to help with the family business after the death of Mrs. Saunders' father. They have lived there ever since. (As a child aged seven, Mrs. Saunders accompanied her parents Alvin and Gertrude Blum to become the first Baha'is to settle in the Solomons).
One of the most prominent businessmen in the country, Mr. Saunders has interests, often with his wife, in a range of commercial areas, for example in food, insurance, real estate, tourism, exports and handicrafts.
Mr. Saunders is the only expatriate member of the city council of Honiara, the country's capital. He has been appointed to the position for the past six years by the Minister of Home Affairs. Mr. Saunders also assists in the attempts to preserve the forests of the country and in the promotion of solar energy.
He has been vice-chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of a Government consultative body which interacted between the people and the Government. He has also been on the board of Rotary International, a foundation member of the Lions club, and a member of other organizations.
Mr. Saunders has been closely involved in the development of a civil society network.
Mr. Lambert, 62, is being honored for his services to the development of English language studies in Mongolia. He is chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Mongolia.
He and his wife, Lois, are the longest serving volunteers in the British Volunteer Service Overseas organization.
Mr. Lambert went with Lois in 1992 to Mongolia where he devised a course to train teachers of English how to use modern participatory methods in their work. The Mongolian government has since adopted the course for use nationwide.
Mr. Lambert has also personally taught English to many prominent Mongolians. He is currently Director of Studies at the English for Special Purposes Foundation, which was set up by the United Nations Development Program and now run as a Mongolian non-governmental organization.
He is a member of the first Arts Council of Mongolia, which supports, funds and promotes the arts and culture of Mongolia.
Mr. Lambert developed at Ulaanbaatar's University of Humanities an English language library that is the most extensive in the country. He arranged for British publishers to donate many books and for the United Kingdom government to transport them to Mongolia.
Mr. Lambert, originally from Kent in England, had trained English and drama teachers at the University of Leeds. Before that he headed the English department in a secondary school in England.
It was after teaching English at the University of Nankai in Tianjin in China that Mr. and Mrs. Lambert went to Mongolia.
""We volunteered because we wanted to be of service to humanity, to work for the development of the less advantaged countries and to apply Baha'i principles more fully in our lives and work,"" said Mr. Lambert.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
229,2003-07-01,[],Casting light on design of Temple,"HAIFA, Israel — The architect of the new Baha'i Temple to be built in Chile, Siamak Hariri, sat down recently for a wide ranging interview about everything from the creative process to details of the design.
Light of inspiration
""The first concept was a temple of light,"" said Mr. Hariri, a Toronto-based architect.
""Light, after all, is the connecting force of the universe and all religions celebrate its spiritual delights.
""That was our starting point -- that it would glow with a dreamlike serenity which will explore the range of the phenomena of light and shadow in continual interaction.""
Stimulation for that inspiration, he said, came in part from a close examination of the dome of the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette, Illinois, in the United States.
However, Mr. Hariri said the creative team did not look at other buildings as a reference point for the design of the structure.  An alabaster model of a ""wing"" of the Temple.Natural objects
""We wanted to capture the magic of looking under a canopy of trees in full daylight and at night -- we looked at many references but none of them were buildings,"" he said.
""We looked at unconventional sources, from white markings or tracery, at interesting Japanese baskets and how they interwove, at leaves of trees in Moscow with ice on them.""
Those initial steps were just the start of what Mr. Hariri described as a challenging creative process.
""We were after a feeling,"" he said.
""We had highs and lows in the process, (it was) never linear. As most experiments go, the deep lows were followed by accidents and breakthroughs. Eventually the final form of the Temple began to take shape.""
In one of the early stages, the creative team experimented with backlit resin, and with the way strands of copper interwove, he said. Computer and physical models were made.
Eventually the idea was born of using alabaster, a translucent stone. At first it was thought it would be too soft but that turned out not to be the case. Curving glass was selected as the medium to link the nine leaves.
The decision to use interior tracery out of nickel-plated stainless steel or white-stained oak was influenced by the ""white on white"" paintings by Mark Tobey.
The team, which grew to number 18, included not only design professionals but also engineers, musicians, animators, and experts in the complex ""Maya"" computer program, which is typically used for animation and industrial design rather than architecture.
Final form
Mr. Hariri said that when the final form emerged, the team was surprised and delighted to find that it conformed to classic proportions. The structure will be almost as wide as it is high.
He said the design parameters as laid down in the Baha'i Writings were taken very seriously -- the Temple had to have nine sides and a dome. There was symmetry in that the nine ""wings"" were the same shape but at the same time there was a carefully studied variety.
Mr. Hariri said he welcomed the fact that people gave various descriptions of the shape and appearance of the planned Temple.
""No architect wants their building to be one line, especially when it is to do with something as deep as the Baha'i Faith,"" he said.
""In the end, it is hoped that this sacred building will feel both simple and understated, and, at the same time, complex enough to accept and hold a rich multiplicity of readings and experiences.""
Some, he said, had compared it to a ribbon, others to something marine. There are those who have seen it a cloud, a bubble, as something about to ascend into the heavens.
The nine alabaster wings have also been compared to ""leaves"".
Mr. Hariri referred to it as ""temple as tent, room, sanctuary"" -- and also used the analogy of a turban. He said it was to be both monumental and intimate, subtly structured and ordered yet capable of dissolving in light.
Asked what he most liked about the design, Mr. Hariri said: ""Its softness. It is not found very often in architecture, softness. It is an embracing softness. The way it rests is soft, the light is soft, the detail is soft.""
Interior ideas
Mr. Hariri said he noticed that many worshippers at the House of Worship in Wilmette wanted to be at the periphery.
As a result of that observation, he and the team for the Chile Temple put a lot of work into the alcoves on the ground floor and in the mezzanine, so that visitors could nestle there and look out through the glass to the landscape yet would always be able to see the Greatest Name (calligraphy of the name of Baha'u'llah) at the apex of the dome.
""What happens is normally that people come and say prayers and leave -- so the scale should be intimate,"" he said.
There will be seating for 500 (with an extra 100 in the alcoves) so there would be no feeling of being in an auditorium, he said.
Alabaster, oak and glass
The alabaster of the type that will form the wings is hard and resistant to scratching. When held up to the sun the marble-like stone lights up and reveals patterns, some looking like snow crystals.
The wings will be hollow with a steel framework in the middle. The framework, like veins in a leaf, will be  clipped to the alabaster. There will be lateral stiffness in the wings obtained by the central rib being clipped to them at three points at the mezzanine level.
Mr. Hariri said that when pondering the concept of a temple of light, the team thought of a glass temple, but seismic and other considerations, such as its ephemeral nature, led to the rejection of that idea.
""We liked the solid enduring image that stone has naturally, but we didn't want to give up the glow,"" he said. Glass, therefore, was retained to play its part between the wings.
""The glass wraps up and around, like a ribbon. These glass ribbons between the wings transform, in one continuous form, from being an oculus at the very top (where the wings nest together) to skylights to a windows at the mezzanine level to the alcoves at the base.""
The glass will be silk-screened or fritted to filter the light. Inside the dome the silvery white tracery will cast dappled patterns on the interior.
Pools and gardens
Look for a straight line in the pools and gardens and your search will be as fruitless as trying to find one in the building itself.
The paths around the gardens will not be straight, but slightly oblique. Mr. Hariri described these as being ""like the veining of the lily leaf"". There will be two pathways to circumambulate the Temple.
The nine prayer gardens adjoining the Temple ""are really there to serve the alcoves,"" said Mr. Hariri. Three of those gardens would be in fact lily ponds, green rather than blue. A main purpose of the ponds is to reflect the Temple.
The gardens will emphasize indigenous species of Chile. A grove of weeping elms will adorn a viewing mound set away from the temple.
Avenue of approach
Mr. Hariri said people would approach the temple on foot along an avenue that  points in the direction of the Shrine of Baha'u'llah in the Holy Land. The first two thirds of the approach will rise on a three degree slope and the last third will descend at the same angle, making the land surrounding the Temple seem like arms enfolding it.
Model
Conventional model makers found the design too challenging to attempt so the computer design was sent to a ""rapid prototyping oven"" normally reserved  for industrial purposes. Each of the nine plastic wings took 40 hours to construct. The wings of the model are removable so that the interior can be viewed. It can also be examined from underneath.
Numbers
The Temple will be about 30 meters tall, about the height of the Shrine of the Bab. It will be between 25 and 30 meters wide.
The starting and finishing dates of construction are yet to be firmly established. The cost is yet to be announced but it will be paid for exclusively by contributions from Baha'is worldwide.
Creative team
Mr. Hariri emphasized the contributions of the team, and the consultations in which inputs from all members led to the progress of the design.
A Baha'i, Siamak Hariri, was born in 1960 in Bonn, West Germany. He is the son of Baha'is who heeded the call of the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, to leave their home in Iran to help the development of the Faith worldwide. They went to Brazil and then to Germany. A graduate with a Masters degree from Yale University School of Architecture, Mr. Hariri is a partner of Hariri Pontarini, Toronto.
His firm recently won a competition to design the city's waterfront as part of a team. Among its recent commissions have been the new $110 million Schulich School of Business for York University, and current work includes the Law School and School of Economics for the University of Toronto. He and his wife Sasha, an artist, have two children: David Amin, 13, and Yasmin, 10.
Other temples
Mr. Hariri said the design for the Chile Temple had moved away from the two-step structure of the seven other Houses of Worship where the dome rises from a substantial base.
The Chile Temple, in contrast, rises immediately from the ground.
Mr. Hariri said he wanted it to sit comfortably among the other continental Temples.
Although not basing the design of the Chile Temple on the other Houses of Worship (or any other building), the design team was nevertheless inspired by them.
""We were attracted to the Wilmette and Panama (Temples),"" he said.
""I've always loved the Wilmette Temple, and particularly its dome . . . so we tried to capture the spirit of that temple, yet perhaps in a new way -- we all went there and were allowed to climb inside the dome. That was our beginning.""
The team looked at the original drawings of the architect, Louis Bourgeois, impressed by the full-scale 50-meter drawings he did.
""The dedication of Mr. Bourgeois inspired us greatly -- he was clearly in touch with the Spirit. The drawings were stunningly beautiful.
""We also love the way the Panama Temple is so understated.
It transcends its own sense of itself, sitting majestically, quietly yet confidently connected to the landscape.""
As for one of his favorite designs, Mr. Hariri nominated the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, designed by the Canadian architect, Sutherland Maxwell.
Selection
Mr. Hariri's team was selected to be on a short list of four.
""We were shocked to make the short list,"" he said. ""We had only the beginnings of a concept.""
""It is a testimony to the generosity and deep insight of the Universal House of Justice that they realized -- more than we realized -- that the concept had some potential yet it needed more time and space -- and they were very kind to give us the time and space.""
For more on the Chile Temple see
http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=223 and
http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=172.",HAIFA,,Israel
230,2003-06-20,[],A love for all peoples,"BUEA, Cameroon — A Baha'i who played an historic role in the development of the Faith in Ireland, Great Britain and three countries in Africa died here on 20 June 2003.
In a tribute to Ursula Samandari, 93, the Universal House of Justice said that her long decades of historic service ""characterized by a purity of spirit, radiant joy and love for all peoples, are remembered with gratitude and admiration.""
Among her many acts of service, were membership of the first Local Spiritual Assemblies of Dublin, Belfast, and Mogadishu. She was a member of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the British Isles (1945-51); North East Africa (1961-70) and Cameroon (1972-74; 1975-80).
She also served on the Local Spiritual Assemblies of London, Bristol and Nairobi.
Her move in 1953 to Somalia with her husband, Mihdi Samandari, won them the accolade of Knights of Baha'u'llah, a title bestowed on them by the Head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
Ursula Newman, her maiden name, was born in Mitcham, Surrey, England on December 29, 1909.
Educated by a governess and then at Wimbledon High School and Swanley Horticultural College in Kent, she became a lecturer in botany at that college. She had her own flower decorative business in London and ran a nursery garden in Dublin. In Somalia, she taught English.  Ursula Samandari (1909-2003)In biographical notes she wrote in 1986, Mrs. Samandari described how, from a Church of England background, she came to declare herself a Baha'i in 1938.
She began learning about the Faith in 1936 in London from Richard St. Barbe Baker (a well-known Baha'i who was founder of Men of the Trees), Hasan Balyuzi (later to be named a Hand of the Cause), and Dorothy Ferraby.
""Although I believed in Jesus Christ I was no longer a believer in Church teachings,"" she wrote.
""I first attended Baha'i meetings out of impersonal interest and a desire to meet Persians. I read and studied and attended meetings for two years. Gleanings (a book of Writings by Baha'u'llah) was the strongest influence.""
In 1945, Ursula Newman became one of the first three Baha'is in Britain to answer the needs of a plan to spread the Faith by relocating to other towns, moving to St. Ives.
Shortly afterwards, she moved to Dublin and there became a member of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of that city (and of Ireland), and served as secretary at the time when the now internationally famous and historic figure, George Townshend (later named a Hand of the Cause) was chairman.
Longtime Irish Baha'i Olive McKinley, who described Mrs. Samandari as artistically talented and a ""magnificent teacher of the Faith"" recalls: ""She had a wonderful sense of humor and everything seemed a joy and hilarious occasion to her -- no wonder David Hofman (Mr. Townshend's biographer) wrote that George Townshend missed his secretary so much when she had gone from Dublin.""
Ursula married Dr. Mihdi Samandari, with whom she had served the Faith in Belfast, at the Baha'i Center in London in 1951.
In 1953, the couple moved to Nairobi, Kenya, and a year later went to live in Mogadishu, Somalia where they stayed until 1971. At the request of the Universal House of Justice, they pioneered (moved to assist the development of the Faith) to Cameroon.
Described by the Universal House of Justice as a ""noble soul"", Mrs. Samandari passed away at her pioneering post in Buea, Cameroon, after a long illness. Dr. Samandari survives her.
The Universal House of Justice has advised the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Cameroon to hold memorial gatherings in her honor throughout the country.
Editor's note:
After the publication of this story a report was received of the funeral of Mrs. Samandari from the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Buea.
The report said Mrs. Samandari was buried at the Baha'i Center in Buea following a funeral service which included prayers, songs and a eulogy. The service ended with the Baha'i prayer for the dead. Throughout the burial, the Baha'is were singing, humming and chanting.
In attendance was Dr. Samandari together with more than 200 people, from the Baha'i and wider community, including two members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, four Auxiliary Board Members, and six members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Cameroon.
Among comments in the condolence register were those of the paramount chief of Buea, HRH Samuel L. Endeley, a friend of the Samandaris since they arrived in the country. He wrote:
""My dear Sister, You lived with us like one of us, you served faithfully and lovingly to win souls into God's redeeming grace. You loved us and our country, Cameroon, and you have demonstrated this in dying here like the good soldier of God you have lived to be. You died with your boots on. We thank God for all you were to us. May your soul rest with the good God, our creator, in perfect peace.""",BUEA,,Cameroon
231,2003-06-26,[],Indian youth gather in unity,"BHUBANESWAR, India — Youth from Baha'i communities in the rural and tribal areas of the Indian state of Orissa gathered for a festival recently to share ideas and experiences and to enjoy dance, theatre, talent shows and cultural performances.
The occasion was the annual youth festival of Orissa in Bhubaneswar. Held from 26 to 29 June 2003, the festival was organized by the State Baha'i Youth Committee of Orissa.
Among the key speakers were Auxiliary Board Member Padrat Mohanty who gave a presentation on the history of the Baha'i Faith in Orissa and Ehsan Azadi, a guest from New Zealand, who talked about the laws and ordinances contained in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the holiest book of the Baha'i Faith.
In a message to the 80 participants, the Universal House of Justice expressed hope that the youth of the region would ""take up with unrelaxing vigor the challenge of rapidly multiplying the number of study circles, devotional meetings and children's classes"" -- activities that have been highlighted as areas of major importance for Baha'i communities worldwide.",BHUBANESWAR,,India
233,2003-07-25,[],Joyous festivities in Jamaica,"KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Governor General of Jamaica proclaimed 25 July 2003 as ""Baha'i Day"" for the Caribbean country.
Sir Howard Felix Hanlan Cooke made his official announcement on 23 July 2003 at a ceremony at his residence, the King's House.
The announcement marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the first Baha'i Local Spiritual Assembly in Jamaica.
The official proclamation read: ""Whereas the Baha'i Faith teaches that 'The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,' and embraces as its supreme goal the unification of the entire human race, consisting of divers peoples and cultures...I do hereby proclaim July 25 2003 'Baha'i Day' and urge the members of the Baha'i Faith, and likewise all the citizens of goodwill, towards the high ideals of spiritual brotherhood, and of carrying humanity forward in an ever-advancing civilization.""
The Governor General was presented with copies of more than 50 congratulatory messages to the Baha'is of Jamaica. They had been sent by National Spiritual Assemblies all over the world for the occasion.  Governor General, Sir Howard Felix Hanlan Cooke, with Baha'i representatives Linda Roche (left) and Namwar Zohoori (second from right).As part of the reunion events an official reception was held at the national Baha'i center in Kingston on 25 July. The guest of honor was Canon Weevil Gordon, who represented the Governor General.
The guest list also included the chairman of the Inter-Faith Council, Reverend Ashley Smith, and the representative of the Jewish community, Mrs. Norma Chin.
Among those attending were 30 Baha'is from overseas, some of whom were originally from Jamaica.
The reception came at the end of two weeks of events throughout the country which included local celebrations, such as a picnic and a dance party, talks on Baha'i topics, and a blood drive organized by the Baha'is of Kingston.
Another commemorative event was a symposium on 26 July that focused on the history and the vision of the Baha'i Faith in Jamaica.
A public devotional gathering, with over 150 participants, involving prayers and readings from the Baha'i holy writings, was held on 27 July. The recording of that event will be broadcast on the radio throughout the nation.",KINGSTON,,Jamaica
234,2003-03-08,[],Historic role in Ireland and Malta,"DUBLIN — A memorial service for Una Dean, a Baha'i who played a prominent part in the history of the Faith in Ireland and Malta, is to be held in August 2003 at the Baha'i national summer school in Ireland.
Mrs. Dean, who died aged 81 on 8 March 2003 in Canada, was the daughter of a distinguished Baha'i, George Townshend, and his wife Nancy.
The Head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, appointed Mr. Townshend a ""Hand of the Cause of God"" in 1951.
""Hand of the Cause"" was a title given to 50 outstanding Baha'is whose chief duties were to protect and propagate the Baha'i Faith.
Once a dignitary in the Church of Ireland, Mr. Townshend was the author of books, essays, poems and prayers on Baha'i topics.
Born in Ireland, Una was the subject of an eloquent written meditation by her father describing her childhood happiness. It began: ""O little one, my Una, April's child, thou breath of spring wind embodied!"" (See full text below.)
She in turn gave great happiness to her father when, in 1940, she became a Baha'i, a process involving, as it does for all Baha'is, the independent investigation of the Faith: ""My heart just bursts into pieces with happiness and gratitude when I think of her,"" Mr. Townshend wrote.  Una Dean... ""exemplary courage""Una, who had attended a leading women's college in Cheltenham, England, spent the early years of World War II with her family, and was active in Baha'i life in Ireland. She later served in the British armed forces in Italy.
In 1946 Una became the first Baha'i to settle in Dublin, a city where the vast majority of residents were devoutly Catholic. This posed great challenges for a single woman seeking to find those who might be interested in hearing about her religion.
Furthermore it involved her leaving her mother who wanted her at home as ""an extra pair of hands"" and to help with the family budget.
After the number of Baha'is in Dublin grew, Una became an inaugural member of that city's first Local Spiritual Assembly, an elected nine-member administrative body. She later went to Liverpool to establish the first Local Spiritual Assembly there. Baha'is regard the establishment of such councils as vital in the building of a new spiritual civilization.
Shortly before his own death this year, George Townshend's biographer, Mr. David Hofman, fondly recalled Una Dean: ""She was a beautiful Irish girl -- full of fun, devoted to her father and a very active Baha'i.""
In October 1953, she became the first Baha'i to reside in Malta, earning her the title ""Knight of Baha'u'llah"", an accolade first given by Shoghi Effendi to those who took the Faith to countries where there were no Baha'is.
In a letter to her father, Shoghi Effendi wrote: ""The work so splendidly initiated by your dear daughter is unique, historic and of vital importance. I admire her courage, zeal, devotion and perseverance. I will pray for her success from the depths of my heart.""
After Una's death this year, Mr. Hofman provided an historical context in which to view the sacrifice she made by responding to Shoghi Effendi's call and going to Malta : ""Malta was savagely destroyed in the war and by 1953 it offered no savory reputation to invite a young single woman of 33, delicately brought up and resident (nearly) all her life in Ireland.""
Moreover, as in Dublin, to proclaim a new Faith in a staunchly Catholic society required a deep well of steadfastness because progress was very slow -- indeed, it was not until 1973 that the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Malta was formed.
In 1954, with her distinguished father suffering from Parkinson's disease, and on the instructions of Shoghi Effendi, Una returned home to help with the housework and also to assist her father with what Shoghi Effendi was to call his ""crowning achievement"" -- writing the book ""Christ and Baha'u'llah"". Una with her brother Brian, who died in 1988, attended to correspondence and put their father's thoughts on paper.
After her father's death in March 1957 and Shoghi Effendi's passing in November that year (Una attended the funeral in London), she went to live in Canada. On a trip to Seattle  she met and later married  Baha'i, Richard (Dick) Dean, a former member of the Harlem Globe Trotters basketball team. They settled in Edmonton. Mr. Dean died in 1990.
Una served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Edmonton until 1987.
In an eloquent eulogy, Douglas Raynor quoted Felicity Enayat, a Baha'i, who remembered Una preparing studies on messages of the Universal House of Justice.
""She showed me the importance of taking the time to ponder the words of the Universal House of Justice,"" Ms. Enayat wrote.
""This itself enabled the meaning of that institution to go deep into my mind and heart...
""Her qualities of humility and generosity, her loyalty, her gentleness, her contentment with the will of God and her total consecration are unforgettable.""
In 1992 Una Dean went to the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel to attend a gathering of the Knights of Baha'u'llah.
The Deans' daughter Farah, who survives them, had a severe mental disability. The Deans were among the founding members of the Alberta Association of Families in Action for the Dependent Handicapped.
Mrs. Dean died in Edmonton. Irish music was played at her funeral there, and messages from the National Spiritual Assemblies of Ireland and Malta were read.
In a message to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada, the Universal House of Justice, wrote of her ""exemplary courage"" in taking the Message of Baha'u'llah to the people of Malta.
""Her  service to the Faith was characterized by devotion and steadfastness,"" the tribute said.
""We remember with gratitude the loving assistance she rendered to her illustrious father, the Hand of the Cause of God, George Townshend, in particular with the completion of his influential work, 'Christ and Baha'u'llah'.""
The Universal House of Justice advised the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Republic of Ireland is to hold a befitting memorial service to celebrate the life and services of ""this distinguished member"" of their community.
(Report compiled with the assistance of Mr. David Hofman, Mrs. Olive McKinley and Mr. Doug Raynor).
To a Little Girl on Her Third Birthday
(An ode to his daughter by George Townshend)
""O little one, my Una, April's child, thou breath of the spring wind embodied!
""The bluebells cluster about thy knees; overhead the giant beech trees spread their half-unfolded leaves; across the meadows the cuckoo calls, and from the distant bog comes the curlew's lonely cry.
""How happy art thou, leading the revel of the woods, their native queen, for whom a thousand springs have come and gone to weave thy flower-beauty, and to find their meaning and perfection in these fresh lips and laughing eyes of thine.
""O little one, joys more rare than these await thy wakening heart! A richer spring has cast its bounty at thy feet, a greater glory shines from another Heaven. And never morning breaks nor evening falls but lovers' prayers go forth to beg the early vision of God's Golden Age for thee who playest here thinking all happiness is already thine!""
(Reproduced from ""The Mission of Baha'u'llah"", by George Townshend, with the kind permission of George Ronald, Publishers.)",DUBLIN,,Ireland
235,2003-07-02,[],Spirited choir wins encores,"BUDAPEST, Hungary — Sustained and often rhythmic applause greeted every song at the opening night here of a concert tour by Voices of Baha, an international Baha'i choir.
Rewarded with encores, the audience did not cease applauding until long after choirmaster Tom Price had taken his leave from the stage.
The performance on 2 July 2003 crossed the borders not only with respect to the nationalities -- the 120 singers came from 21 countries -- but also in terms of musical genres.
Styles ranged from Western classical music and modern popular music, to traditional Persian songs and, most dramatically, African-American gospel.
On stage with the choir was the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Price, a composer from Nashville, Tennessee, who founded Voices of Baha. (The choir's name is a reference to Baha'u'llah.)
The concert in Budapest was the starting point of a tour that was to take the choir to Prague, Warsaw, Berlin, Wernigerode and Frankfurt.
The Hungarian audience enthusiastically greeted gospel-style sounds from the full choir and from individual soloists like the veteran Van Gilmer and 17-year-old Rachael Price (the youngest of  Mr. Price's three daughters) -- and, on one dynamic occasion, the two together singing ""Soldiers in God's Army.""  Paul Seaforth on trumpet.Mr. Gilmer, the choir's gospel director, proved to be a master of the style. With a voice born for the occasion, he brought emotion to a pitch with his rendition of ""Amazing Grace.""
Ms. Price, in fine voice, gave a demonstration of how the body -- and in particular the hands -- can convey in physical terms the pulsating power of gospel.
Most of the some 1100 people present in the elegant Budapest Congress Center were the general public, guests of the Baha'is, and VIPs such as members of the diplomatic corps, parliamentarians and musicians.
The occasion marked an historic anniversary. Ninety years earlier 'Abdu'l-Baha had blessed the city with His presence, and now His words were to soar in song as the choir celebrated in praise of His Father with the oratorio, ""O Baha'u'llah.""
First sung during the inaugural performance of Voices of Baha at the 1992 Baha'i World Congress in New York, the song featured in Budapest the glorious soprano voice of Emily Price, another of Mr. Price's daughters.
Ms. Price also gave a memorable performance of the spiritually uplifting ""Whither Can a Lover Go?""
Later, she sang ""Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day"" with sisters Rachael and Juliet, in a rendition that was a sassy mix of energy and humor.
The multi-cultural choir, dressed in black with colored scarves, followed the direction of Mr. Price with close attention. That paid off in excellent timing and controlled variations in volume that enabled them to work with the orchestra in a way that clearly delighted them both.
Among the songs presented were ""Render Thanks"", ""God is Sufficient unto Me"", and ""Dastam Bigir 'Abdu'l-Baha.""
Perhaps the most heartfelt applause of the night came after the choir sang the song ""Oh God, My God"" in Hungarian, a language the singers had only recently encountered.
Mr. Price varied the emotional level of the night between high drama and humor by employing a mix of self-deprecating humor and affectionate teasing of some of his colleagues.
One such target was Paul Seaforth, who repaid the attention with a stirring rendition of ""We Are One,"" a song by Dan Seals that points to the acceptance of the oneness of humanity as a solution to the agonies of the modern world.
Mr. Seaforth also delighted on other occasions with his solos on the saxophone and trumpet, and later playing alongside the orchestra members.
Mr. Price revealed his own melodious tenor voice when he led a barbershop quartet in the sweetest of harmonies as they sang ""Darkness on the Delta."" At times both he and Mr. Gilmer accompanied the singing on a grand piano.
Complementing the concert in Budapest was a display of photographs, by Hungarian Baha'i Dr. Laszlo Farkas, of  terraced gardens on Mount Carmel at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel.
A large part of the proceeds from ticket sales went to a development project for Roma women in Hungary.
Following the concert in Hungary, Voices of Baha went on to win enthusiastic receptions from big houses in Prague, Warsaw, and Berlin.
The choir won a gold prize in the Johannes Brahms International Choirs Competition Festival in Wernigerode. It was the only choir selected to give an entire concert, singing before some 2000 people in a performance shown live on German television and repeated twice in the following days.
It also sang in the Baha'i House of Worship in Langenhain near Frankfurt in Germany. The Temple was filled to overflowing for the occasion.
Voices of Baha, which has performed in Asia, North America and Europe, is setting its sights on other continents for future concerts.
Review by Michael Day.
Photos by Edit Kalman.
For more information on Voices of Baha see http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=162",BUDAPEST,,Hungary
236,2003-08-08,[],Running the race of his life,"PARIS — Champion runner David Krummenacker will be praying for his competitors at the world championships this month.
""Before races I pray everyone in the race runs well and that we all keep our health,"" says Mr. Krummenacker, who is from the United States and is a member of the Baha'i Faith.
""I never pray for victory, only for strength and for my health to remain strong,"" says Mr. Krummenacker, 28, who anchored a world record quartet in the 4x800 meter relay in 2000.
Ranked number one in the United States in the 800-meter and 1500-meter races, he has a good chance of success at the 9th International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships to be held in Stade de France, Paris, beginning on 23 August 2003.
Last March, at the world indoor championships in Birmingham, England, he surged past world record holder Wilson Kipketer of Denmark to win the 800-meter race in a personal best of one minute 45.69 seconds.
Mr. Krummenacker has achieved some of his goals, such as being national champion, but he still has others. One is success in the Olympic Games to be held in Athens next year.
""I believe consistency, hard work, good coaching, proper diet, rest, and the grace of God, Who instills my health and internal strength, will aid me to achieve what I have set out to.""  David Krummenacker at the US championships, 2003.In defining the relationship between spirituality and sports, Mr. Krummenacker says that spirituality permeates every human activity.
""It is the essence of our existence and athletics is no exception.
""When it is not present, differences arise. Frequently we hear stories in the media of athletes having problems with their teammates, their coaches, their competitors, their wives and girlfriends. These turmoils are oftentimes a result of the lack of spirituality. I think when spirituality is present, conflicts cease.""
Running, he says, has taught him life lessons, and he meditates on his goals as he goes on long training runs.
""As a result, I often envision things that I've set out to accomplish. For me, visualizing something before it happens helps it to materialize.
""Running has taught me over the years that life is very much what you will of it. I've had some years where I wasn't successful in running and was sad and frustrated because of it. I learned somewhere along the way that your treasure is where your heart and soul are.""
He does not just pray and expect to win. In fact, he says he prepares tirelessly for competitions throughout the season.
""I believe when training is good and the grace of God has enabled me to stay healthy and strong, it's only left for me to believe in my ability and go for it. There is no room for doubt.""
Mr. Krummenacker says he is ""very grateful for having had the guidance of Baha'ullah from day one."" He was brought up in the Baha'i Faith by his mother, Marylou, who lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She has a ""Baha'i women's network"", linked globally by the Internet, whose members pray for him to run his best.
Running is a full time job, he says. ""A lot of my friends think, 'Oh, you just go for an hour run, then you sit around the rest of the day.'
""In contrast, between traveling to training sites, warming up, stretching, track workouts, weight training, morning runs, cool-downs, and ice whirlpools (injury prevention) I have very few moments in a day. There has to be a little time for fun, so I'm careful not to overdo it.""
His other interests include surfing, playing chess, music and reading. He trains in Tucson Arizona with coach Luiz de Oliviera, spends time in Atlanta, and uses a training base near Stuttgart, Germany, during competitions in Europe.
Mr. Krummenacker, who holds a degree in management from Georgia Tech, says that after he retired in ""another six years or so"", he would like to devote his energies to children.
""I am very interested in restructuring -- or creating if need be -- after-school programs for underprivileged children. The programs would provide kids with tutoring, counseling and coaching for various sports.""
(Tom Mennillo of ""The American Baha'i"" contributed to this report).",PARIS,,France
237,2003-08-10,[],Memorial to a shining star,"LONDON — When British Baha'is cleaned a gravestone in a London cemetery recently they confirmed they had found the resting place of a figure of great historical importance.
Concealed under clods of earth and long grass on the gravestone in Hampstead Municipal Cemetery was the name of Lady Blomfield, one of the most prominent Western Baha'is in the time of 'Abdu'l-Baha.
Also recorded was the name of her daughter, Mary (Esther) Basil Hall, a devoted Baha'i and a generous benefactor to the Faith.
The absence of any direct family members had led to the grave's disrepair, but that was about to change -- the Baha'is received permission from cemetery authorities to erect a new headstone.
That engraved headstone now stands as dignified memorial to Lady Blomfield and her daughter, one befitting a future visiting place for Baha'is from all over the world.
Sara Louisa, Lady Blomfield (1859-1939) was renowned as a humanitarian who was involved in the establishment of the Save the Children Fund. The worldwide Baha'i community remembers her for the significant role she played as a participant in, and recorder of, Baha'i history.
She hosted 'Abdu'l-Baha on His visits to London in 1911 and 1913. She took copious notes of His talks in Paris. They form the substance of ""Paris Talks,"" still one of the most widely-circulated Baha'i books.  New headstone for Lady Blomfield and her daughter.As a tribute to her, 'Abdu'l-Baha bestowed upon her the name ""Sitarih Khanum"" (in Persian, ""sitarih"" means ""star"", and ""khanum"" means ""lady"").
After the death of 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1921, Lady Blomfield accompanied His grieving grandson Shoghi Effendi back from England, where he was a student at Oxford University, to Haifa. He became the Head of the Faith, and later consulted with Lady Blomfield about plans for its future activities.
While in Haifa, Lady Blomfield interviewed members of Baha'u'llah's family. Those recorded recollections, together with her account of the days when she hosted 'Abdu'l-Baha, make up the contents of her book, ""The Chosen Highway.""
In the 1940 preface to ""The Chosen Highway,"" the eminent historian Hasan Balyuzi (later to be honored by Shoghi Effendi with the title Hand of the Cause) said the book would hand a message ""rich in enlightenment"" to generations unborn and would eternally merit the esteem of historians.
Describing Lady Blomfield as a gracious lady who served the Cause of Baha'u'llah with never-failing vigor and devotion, Mr. Balyuzi went on to mention ""the contagion of her enthusiasm and the brilliance of her talk and description...the intense light of her faith and the captivating charm of her presence.""
Born in Ireland, Lady Blomfield was renowned as a London society hostess. She was the second wife of a distinguished architect, Sir Arthur Blomfield. In contrast to many women of her generation and position -- who occupied themselves primarily with the social events of ""polite society"" -- Lady Blomfield spent her time in religious and humanitarian activities.
She was a fearless supporter of the suffragettes and a protector of the rights of women, children, prisoners and animals, a defender of the oppressed and an ardent promoter of peace and inter-religious understanding. She was actively involved with the Save the Children Fund from its foundation until her death.
The Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the United Nations General Assembly in 1959 had its roots in the Geneva Declaration -- a document drawn up by the Save the Children Fund International -- which the League of Nations accepted in 1924 largely through the influence of Lady Blomfield.
Lady Blomfield's acceptance of the Baha'i teachings in 1907 marked the turning point in a lifelong quest for spiritual truth. She was the first person of Irish birth to become a Baha'i.
Through her identification with the principles of the Baha'i Faith came an increased desire to see justice and equality established in the world, a concern expressed in her selfless involvement in all manner of philanthropic causes as well as in direct service to the needy or oppressed, including her close involvement with the League of Nations and the welfare of the world's children.
She actively called upon her friends in the British Parliament to defend the persecuted Baha'is of Persia (now Iran).
Lady Blomfield also served for eight years as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles. She gave many talks about the Faith, and supported artistic activities in the community including those of a Baha'i Theatre Group in London. She maintained correspondence with Baha'is all over the world.
Her daughter, Mary Basil Hall, who had been given the name of ""Parvine"" (a Persian name of a star) by 'Abdu'l-Baha, served the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the British Isles for five years.
She described her mother as a ""wonderful personality and a deeply loved mother"" who faced difficulties with ""radiant acquiescence and invincible faith.""
It was partly due to Mrs. Hall's generous bequest that the National Spiritual Assembly was able to buy what is now the national Baha'i center at 27 Rutland Gate, London.
(Story compiled from an article by Rob Weinberg in the ""Baha'i Journal of the United Kingdom"" May/June 2003, with supplementary information from ""The Chosen Highway"" and ""The Baha'i World,"" volume VIII.)",LONDON,,United Kingdom
238,2003-08-13,[],A natural driving force,"PORT VILA, Vanuatu — Tony Deamer stepped on the gas pedal of his vehicle but didn't change down a gear as it rounded a corner and sped up a steep hill.
Modified to run on coconut oil instead of diesel fuel, the four-wheel-drive took the slope without slowing down.
""Coconut oil is a bit more torquey, because it burns slower,"" said Mr. Deamer, 52, an Australian-born motor mechanic. ""Normally, I'd have to shift down into first here, but with coconut oil, I can keep it in second gear.""
Mr. Deamer lists other advantages coconut oil has over petroleum as a fuel: it doesn't make black smoke, it is less costly (at least in the South Pacific), it has the potential to stimulate employment among local coconut growers, and, perhaps most importantly for the world at large, it is an environmentally friendly fuel.
In what could prove to be a boon for both the environment and cash-strapped South Pacific islands, Mr. Deamer has succeeded in proving that automotive diesel engines, with very little modification, can run safely on coconut oil.
The discovery has huge potential for island nations like Vanuatu where the cost of imported oil is a heavy burden on the economy.
Helping the population is a main goal of Mr. Deamer's project, which he sees as an extension of his commitment to the promotion of social and economic development -- a commitment that stems from his practice of the Baha'i Faith.  Tony Deamer and his wife, Easuary, with one of his first test vehicles.""This is not a commercial venture,"" said Mr. Deamer, explaining that the entire project stems instead from his desire to help his fellow citizens -- and the world at large.
Late last year, some 200 mini-buses here were using a coconut oil/diesel mix on a daily basis, proving the concept. Mr. Deamer himself operates about a dozen vehicles on a pure coconut oil fuel.
""He's been talking about this for a few years,"" said Marc Neil-Jones, publisher and managing director of Vanuatu Trading Post and Pacific Weekly Review. ""But people's interest has shot up since he started running a few cars on it.
""The copra industry is having major problems at the moment and the government is shoring up the price and it is costing a fortune,"" Mr. Neil-Jones said.
""So the possibility of using coconut oil as a fuel has the potential to really help the rural people.""
Mr. Deamer says that if coconut oil fuel is widely accepted, it will increase the local demand for copra -- the dried coconut meat that is a major, although low-priced, commodity on world markets.
Such an increase in demand would provide jobs and money for rural villagers in Vanuatu, where cutting copra has been the major source of outside income. This, he says, will help to stem the tide of villagers who have fled idle copra plantations to urban areas.
""For every ton of diesel fuel that we can offset, we can put back some $200 into the local economy. And at those prices, people could earn a very good living cutting copra,"" said Mr. Deamer.
""This is really a great idea -- because it goes all the way back to the farmers who plant and cut coconut,"" said Leo Moli, head of the energy unit within the Vanuatu Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. ""And, if it succeeds, there will be a reduction in the importation of fossil fuels, especially diesel fuel.""
The key to the entire project was proving that ordinary automotive diesel engines can run reliably on coconut oil.
""Tony has done groundbreaking work to show that coconut oil will work in automotive diesels without any major modification,"" said Rodney Newell, president of Renereltech, a small Vanuatu-based company that focuses on helping local businesses develop renewable energy.
""Vegetable oils are being used in other parts of the world in diesel engines,"" said Mr. Newell. ""But this is a unique project in that neat coconut oil is being used. This is a first for the Pacific area.""
Using coconut oil for fuel has several inherent problems. First, it tends to be thicker -- more viscous -- than other fuels. The unprocessed oil also usually contains more water and impurities than other alternatives.
Mr. Deamer has experimented extensively and solved many of these problems. He has developed a small and inexpensive pre-heater that lowers the viscosity of the oil before it enters the engine. And he has also worked with another local fuel distributor to develop filtration techniques to remove water and impurities.
Unlike many entrepreneurs, Mr. Deamer has been willing to share his findings widely, giving information to all concerned, even potential competitors.
Trained as a mechanic, Mr. Deamer came to Vanuatu from Australia in 1971. As a Baha'i, he sought to promote social and economic development, residing first on the outer island of Tanna, working as a mechanic for the public works department there.
In 1981, he relocated to Port Vila, first working for the Ministry of Education and then establishing his own automobile rental and repair business.
That enterprise has provided a good living for Mr. Deamer -- and a platform on which to experiment with alternative fuels. He has converted many of his rental cars to run on coconut oil, tinkering with the pre-heaters until they ran smoothly.
Baha'i principles guide his activities. In his business, he has hired and trained a number of female motor mechanics, a move that stems from his belief in the Baha'i ideal of equality between women and men.
""Work in the service of humanity is service to God,"" said Mr. Deamer. ""That is the driving force of what I am trying to do, to leave behind something of value to Vanuatu, instead of just to Tony Deamer.""
Mr. Deamer soon switched back to a discussion of the advantages of coconut oil fuel.
""One of the reasons I like using coconut oil instead of diesel fuel is you are putting back into the atmosphere the same carbon dioxide that the tree took out a year ago,"" said Mr. Deamer. ""It's completely sustainable. Coconut trees are very efficient carbon absorbers.
""And coconut oil is also non-toxic,"" Mr. Deamer said. ""What other Pacific fuel can you cook your fish and chips in and run your truck on?""",PORT VILA,,Vanuatu
239,2003-07-11,[],Launching a ship of faith,"KINIVING, Papua New Guinea — A new Baha'i center with a distinctive nautical design has taken pride of place here in a remote region of the country.
More than 300 Baha'is and some Christian guests gathered from 11 to 14 July 2003 for the opening of the center in this village, all of whose residents are members of the Baha'i Faith.
For some visitors, the journey to Kiniving  entailed a 30-minute flight from the regional center of Lae followed by a three-hour hike into the mountains from Pindiu Station.
The center's architect, local Baha'i Roro Kugewa, gained his inspiration for the building from a picture of an ark on the cover of a Baha'i publication. (In the Baha'i Writings, the term ""Ark"" is often used to signify the Baha'i Faith and the law of God.)
Mr. Kugewa incorporated aspects of a ship in his design. The center's ground-floor meeting room for some 70 people resembles a ship's hold, with slightly curved half-walls and windows at eye level.
The upper level has an enclosed room for the meetings of the Local Spiritual Assembly, and within that room is another room reserved for Baha'u'llah's book of laws, the Kitab-i-Aqdas, and other Baha'i books.
Outside the upper room is a deck, which commands a view over the whole village.  Holding a precious gift...Baha'is at the Kiniving Centre with the Kitab-i-Aqdas.Prayers and music by ""singsing"" (performance) groups from different villages featured at the welcoming ceremony.
Marsha Milani, a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Papua New Guinea, presented big laminated photographs of the Shrine of the Bab and the Terraces on Mount Carmel as gifts for the centers in Kiniving and nearby Doi and Bulu. She also gave them laminated quotations from the text of the Kitab-i-Aqdas.
In return the Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual Baha'is presented gifts of treasured woven bags, known as bilums, to the national Baha'i institutions and to the secretariat of the Universal House of Justice.
Ms. Milani said the presentation ceremony and the placement of the Kitab-i-Aqdas in the special room followed a study session on the book's significance.
""With great reverence the guests were accompanied back to the entry to the village with representatives of the (Baha'i) institutions carrying the Kitab-i-Aqdas and the prayer books in traditional bilums.
""Once again there was a formal welcome of prayers and singsing groups and a drama based on one of the Hidden Words (sacred Writings of Baha'u'llah).
""The guests were then escorted to the Center where devotions were read before the formal presentation of a copy of the Kitab-i-Aqdas to a representative of each of the nine Local Spiritual Assemblies in the area, namely: Belibaec, Bulu, Doi, Kiniving, Kolohong, Kuluntufu, Simbe, Sogobong and Songon.""
(There are about 500 Baha'is in the area. Papua New Guinea has 254 Local Spiritual Assemblies.)
The assemblies also received copies of excerpts translated into Tok Pisin (the language also known as Pidgin English), as well as 100 copies each of a newly published prayer book in their local language of Mongi, Ms. Milani said.
Those local spiritual assemblies without centers entrusted their copies to the Kiniving Assembly to keep in the special room until they have a suitable place to keep it in their own village, she said.
""I gathered that the friends (local Baha'is) are so much in awe of the Most Holy book that they find it hard to actually hold it in their hand and read it,"" Ms. Milani said.",KINIVING,,Papua New Guinea
240,2003-08-09,[],Dramatic stories thrill Malawi golden jubilee,"LILONGWE, Malawi — Fifty years ago the two original members of the Baha'i community in Malawi would meet in the bush at night where they would say their prayers, discuss plans, enjoy biscuits, and then go their separate ways.
""This was done because in those days, blacks and whites could not meet openly,"" said Enayat Sohaili, who was describing the first Nineteen-day Feasts held in the country to an enthralled audience at the 50th jubilee celebration here on 9 August 2003.
Mr. Sohaili, a Baha'i of Persian background, had arrived from India in 1953 and was considered white. The first Malawian Baha'i, Dudley Smith Kumtendere, was black.
The colonial policy of discouraging racially mixed gatherings ended when Malawi, once known as Nyasaland, gained its independence in 1964.
Since then Baha'is have been able to openly express their commitment to a basic principle of their faith, the oneness of humanity.
They did so when they commemorated the golden anniversary of the Faith's establishment in their country. Baha'is came from all over Malawi -- Nsanje to Karonga, from Mchinji to Nkhotakota. They were joined by participants from as far away as Bermuda Australia and Mauritius, and from nearby African countries like South Africa, Zambia, and Lesotho.
The celebrations were in great contrast to the early days. Julius (Robert) Kasakula, one of the first Malawian Baha'is, recalled that when Baha'i meetings were held indoors they were just as secretive as the encounters in the bush.  Enayat Sohaili.""Because the blacks and whites could not meet openly, we used to have meetings at our house at night,"" Mr. Kasakula said.
Mr. Sohaili, who now lives with his wife, Iran, in Zimbabwe, recounted the time when he asked a restaurant owner to provide a table to allow visiting Americans John and Val Allen (Baha'is living in Swaziland), to meet with him and Mr. Kumtendere.
""When the owner was approached, he asked us to come after 2 p.m. when there would be few customers. He put us right at the back where we had our lunch.""
These days the Faith is highly visible in Malawi. There are some 15,000 Baha'is, a handsome national center, 15 local Baha'i centers, two institute buildings, and some 101 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
These achievements are considerable in such a time span.
In September 1953, Mr. Sohaili arrived as a participant in what came to be known as the ""Ten Year Crusade."" From 1953 until 1963, in a plan initiated by Shoghi Effendi, Baha'is from various nations took their beliefs to countries that had not been exposed to the Faith. The ten-year effort more than doubled the number of national communities.
In that decade, the Faith entered 131 new countries, 37 of those in Africa. Accordingly, half a century on, many nations, including Malawi, are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the faith.
As well as Dudley Kutendere and his brother Douglas (both have since died), the first Malawian Baha'is included Albert Ntala and Mr. Kasakula and his wife Alice.
Present at Malawi's celebrations was Counsellor Maina Mkandawire, a keynote speaker. Also there was Ramucy Namkopowe, whose 1964 wedding was the first Baha'i marriage service in the country.
The festivities included songs, traditional and modern dance performances and comedy sessions.
Baha'is offered prayers of thanksgiving and read from the Baha'i writings and from the Bible and the Qur'an.
An uplifting message to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Malawi came from the Universal House of Justice, who said in part: ""The foundation has been laid on which a spiritual and social structure of unprecedented splendor can be raised that will spread its shelter of unity and peace over your struggling land.""
A highlight of the evening was the performance by a Zambian Baha'i theatrical group of a drama portraying the life of Mona Mahmudnizhad, a 17-year-old Baha'i girl martyred in Iran in 1983.
As part of the jubilee festivities, a formal reception was held at the Capital Hotel, where guest of honor Counsellor Enos Makhele of South Africa gave a talk on the Baha'i Faith from a global perspective. Among the distinguished guests was British High Commissioner Norman Ling and Lilongwe city councilor Stella Thunyani.
In her address, Councilor Thunyani spoke of the oneness of humanity and the unity of religions.
""You may wish to ask yourself as to why a group of people of different races and creed are dining together in a friendly atmosphere,"" Councilor Thunyani said.
""I feel it is through the Divine love which is taught to us by the different messengers of God that we are one.""
Today's Baha'i community in Malawi is comprised of Baha'is from villages, cities and from numerous tribes who speak different languages. Baha'is hold regular children's classes and study circles, perform in choirs and undertake social and economic development projects.
The Bambino School, a Baha'i initiative, has an enrolment of 1,100 from nursery level to secondary school and secretarial college.
These results have come after years of effort. By 1970 there were 12 Local Spiritual Assemblies, enough for the country to have its own National Spiritual Assembly, which was elected in the presence of Hand of the Cause Paul Haney.
The next year a Hand of the Cause, Enoch Olinga, asked for official registration of the Faith, a request met by President Hastings Banda, who was quoted in the local newspaper, The Times, as saying the Faith was a good religion because it had respect for the culture.
The next year, Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, the widow of Shoghi Effendi, had a cordial audience with Dr. Banda, and traveled throughout the country, meeting and encouraging local Baha'is.
In 1975, the first Baha'i book -- about teaching classes -- was translated into Chichewa, and that work has continued with expansion into the Tonga and Tumbuka languages. In 1985, as a contribution to the International Youth Year, Baha'i youth planted fuel wood and fruit trees throughout the country, benefiting entire villages.
In 1982 and 1992, Malawi hosted international summer schools with participants from 17 and 10 countries respectively.
The Baha'i National Center in Lilongwe was completed in March 2000.",LILONGWE,,Malawi
241,2003-08-25,[],Beauty of the feminine spirit,"CORDOBA, Spain — A soft sari adorns an Indian woman as she shoulders a heavy water pot.
An elder of the Navajo people decorates her practical clothing with a turquoise necklace.
The long finger extensions of a Thai lady suggest she may be about to dance.
These are some of the images captured by Spanish photographer Francisco Gonzalez and reproduced in a book of photographs portraying women around the world.
Mr. Gonzalez introduces subjects dressed in myriad costumes and performing a variety of roles: homemakers, grandmothers, craftswomen, artists.
""Mujeres del Mundo: Retratos del Alma"" [""Women of the World: Portraits of the Soul""]  depicts the mental, physical and emotional reality women cope with, whether living in villages or cities.
The images won for Mr. Gonzalez the Meridiana award from the Andaluz Institute of Women, and they have been seen in an exhibition that toured more than 20 cities and towns in Spain. With the publication of his book, a wider audience now has the opportunity to enjoy the work of this 43-year-old artist with a camera.  Happiness near the Shrine of the Bab. (Photo: Francisco Gonzalez)Mr. Gonzalez takes us into the homes of these women and to their workplaces. We witness their lives in rural and urban areas, and we see some of them at worship.
His photographic subjects appear undefeated by their challenges but shine out of the pages as examples of courage and spiritual insight who have risen above the pressures of their daily life. Somehow he has captured the beauty and sensitivity of the feminine spirit.
A common approach among modern photographers is to exploit the image of women. In contrast, Mr. Gonzalez appears to look at his subjects with different eyes. The photographer seems to search to find out what is it that men can learn from women.
For example, in the picture showing an Indian woman with a pot of water on her shoulder the artist depicts a hard-working woman carrying water for her family. However, she is not straining under her burden. Her beauty comes from the dignity with which she carries out her task.
Mr. Gonzalez traveled the globe and selected for publication 59 of his photographs depicting women, young and old, of many ethnic and cultural backgrounds in countries as diverse as Italy and Samoa, Costa Rica and Bosnia.
Inspired by the photographs, young Bolivian writer Jorge Nazra wrote nine poems to accompany the images. Included, too, are excerpts from the Baha'i writings that point to the importance of the equality of men and women as a pathway towards a peaceful and united world civilization.
To carry out his project, Mr. Gonzalez, the photographic editor of the Spanish daily, ""Cordoba"", visited Baha'i-inspired social and economic development projects all over the world. He also obtained images at the May 2001 opening of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab at the Baha'i World Centre, in Haifa, Israel.
In an interview, Mr. Gonzalez said he considers his body of work a contribution to the well being of humanity. For him, he said, photography is a tool to represent the teachings of the Baha'i Faith -- in this case the equality of men and women.
He said the unity and equality of the sexes is not a goal but rather a pathway towards the attainment of a united and peaceful world.
Awarded the Andalucia Award of Journalism in 1995, Mr. Gonzalez was nominated three years later for the Romeo Martinez International Award of Photography.
During the seven years he spent collecting photographs for ""Women of the World: Portraits of the Soul"" Mr. Gonzalez initiated another project called ""The Pathway of the Sun"", in which he introduces his viewers to the life of the indigenous American populations and the ways they contribute to a global society.
""Mujeres del Mundo,"" by Francisco Gonzalez, (Barcelona, Arca Editorial, 2003). For information: http://arcaeditorial.com
For more information on the work of Francisco Gonzalez see http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=191.
Review by Edit Kalman",CORDOBA,,Spain
242,2003-08-28,[],Youth animators spring to life,"THAMES, New Zealand — ""I feel animated -- like a picture suddenly given life!"" says Anisa Beckman, 22, who recently qualified to assist the development of junior youth (12 to 14-year-olds).
Anisa attended a five-day residential ""Animator"" course here and, like the other graduates, is keen to employ her new skills.
Graduates, who are in their late teens or early 20s,  return home to help groups of young teenagers to devise and implement plans of community service as well as look to their spiritual, intellectual, and creative development.
""Animators"" encourage junior youth in New Zealand  to devote themselves to tasks like gardening at homes for the elderly, taking young people with disabilities to entertainment parks, and taping books for the blind.
The Aotearoa Institute, a training board founded and run by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand, organizes the course.
Spokesperson Mary Ann White said the training course combines learning and practice.
""It's a very active course and quite demanding,"" she said.
For Anisa Beckman, who lives in Kaikoura, on the east coast of the country's South Island, the benefits of the course are clear.
""This training has reminded me of the enormous energy and potential that junior youth have,"" she said.
""This has stopped me from holding myself back and just leaving them [junior youth] to it, and to start working through this program and to stoke their fire for learning, for action and for doing good and useful things.""
One of her co-students on the course, Nava Derakhshani, 18, said that as a result of the course she realized the positive effect that interaction by people her age has on younger youth, especially in the development of self-esteem.
""I hope to take [this experience] back to my home country and future countries that I may reside and serve in,"" said Nava, who is spending a year here away from her Botswana home in a ""youth year of service"", a period when young Baha'is volunteer to devote themselves full-time to serving their society through their religion.
This is the fourth year of the Animator training course, and was special because some earlier trainees, such as 19-year-olds Terra Lew, from Christchurch, and Abdullah Norozi, from Papakura, were returning to carry out the training.
Mr. Norozi said that before getting involved he did not take much notice of younger youth.
""But ever since I have made a conscious effort in involving myself with the junior youth and helping and supporting them in their endeavors.""
The course held this month was the fourth since training began in 2000. The original trainer of the Animators was  Nina Perez, who came from Mexico to live in New Zealand while pursuing tertiary studies. She and Mr. Norozi also carried out additional training in Perth, Western Australia.
The Animators also contribute their skills in Baha'i children's camps, where pre-teens and junior youth combine studies of art and spirituality with games and fellowship, appreciation and enjoyment of nature, and outdoor activities.",THAMES,,New Zealand
243,2003-08-01,[],In the midmost heart of the oceans,"JAMESTOWN, Saint Helena — Two Baha'is who have contributed to societies on remote islands have received high awards for their services.
Basil George, who led a successful attempt to restore British citizenship to the people of the St. Helena, has received an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to his birthplace, which lies about midway between South America and Africa.
Robin White, a New Zealander who lived with her family in the Pacific nation of Kiribati from 1982 to 1999, has been appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to painting and printing. Much of her recent work depicts Kiribati.
Basil George, 67, a descendant of the early settlers of St. Helena, received the award at a ceremony on the island, which has the status of a British Overseas Territory.
St. Helena's population of under 6,000 comprises people of British, African, Indian and Chinese descent. There is no air service but a ship calls monthly.
""The announcement of the award came unexpectedly and I am very touched by people on the island who put my name forward intending it as a surprise,"" Mr. George said.
Mr. George has served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of St. Helena, including a number of times as chairman.  Leba Toki (left) and Robin White apply decorative elements to tapa cloth in Robin's studio in Masterton, New Zealand.In 1996 the Anglican Bishop of St. Helena, John Ruston, asked Mr. George to take over as chairman of the Citizenship Commission.
The Anglican Church had set up the commission four years earlier in an attempt to reverse a 1981 decision of the British Government to introduce various classes of citizenship, effectively depriving the islanders of their longstanding legal status as full British citizens.
Under Mr. George's leadership, the commission took its case to the United Nations in 2000 and 2001. Victory was achieved when the British government restored full citizenship rights, including the right of abode in the United Kingdom and the European Union, to the people of their overseas territories.
The law came into effect on 21 May 2002, specifically timed for the St. Helena celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the previously uninhabited island.
In a tribute, the monthly magazine, the ""St. Helena Catalogue,"" said: ""Basil George's love and devotion to his island and its community are amply demonstrated in his work in education and his commitment to the restoration of British citizenship to the people of St. Helena.""
Mr. George became a Baha'i in 1961 when he was a policeman. To serve the Faith and the community more effectively, he took up teaching, gaining an honors degree in secondary education and being appointed headmaster of the secondary selective school.
In 1983 he became the Chief Education officer of St. Helena, was closely involved in a project to establish the island's first Community High School open to all children. He managed the introduction of a three-tier system of education on the island.
Mr. George has also contributed to the island as chairman of the Agricultural Authority Board, founding member and chairman of the Disabled Persons' Aid society, Heritage society, and diving club. He is now retired but serves as a tourist guide, and writes children's stories and poems about the island. He is married with three adult children.
Award for artist
Robin White is one of New Zealand's most prominent artists, with her work represented in major collections.
Ms. White, 57, was invested as a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at Government House in Wellington in August 2003.
""When I was first informed of the award I couldn't understand why I had received it for 'services to painting and printmaking' when there are so many very fine artists in New Zealand,"" she said.
""But I gather it has something to do with international connections -- the fact that I have exhibited overseas (India, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Australia) and that I have collaborated with Pacific artists.""
Ms. White has been a member of the Baha'i Continental Board of Counsellors since 1995, and is now based in Masterton in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand.
Many images in her works are regarded as symbolic of aspects of her country's life. Her art is known for its clear images, strong colors and clean lines.
In 1982, when her works were in ever-increasing demand, she and her husband, Mike Fudakowski, moved to Kiribati to assist with the development of the Baha'i community there. Two of their three children were born there.
Kiribati is an independent nation comprising a group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean. Straddling the equator, it is about half-way between Australia and Hawaii and has a population of about 98,000.
Robin White and her husband chose to live in a pandanus-thatched and coconut-ribbed house with a studio on stilts, rather than move into a conventional western style house.
After their relocation, Ms. White began producing images depicting the Kiribati environment. She used a Pacific woodblock and hand-coloring technique by which she carved a design into a block of wood, which was then inked before paper was pressed against the design.
Ms. White created detailed images depicting scenes of fishing, women conversing, people strolling in villages, children, and ocean scenes. Those common, every-day images were the basis for an exploration of universal themes.
Her reputation grew and her work was exhibited in distant New Zealand and Australia to good reviews.
A tragic 1996 fire, destroyed their family's house and her studio and equipment. The loss, however, prompted her to collaborate with indigenous artists and to extend her skills in the use of locally available material. Her collaborative work includes tapa (bark cloth) pieces produced with Fijian artist Leba Toki. (See http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=77)
In Kiribati she also learned the Gilbertise language to the extent that she served as a translator and worked with the local women to enhance the education and advancement in society and participated fully in the Baha'i community.
She has been an artist in residence in New Zealand and Australian universities and still travels in the Pacific region.",JAMESTOWN,,Saint Helena
244,2003-07-25,[],A flower for Lottie,"VOORBURG, Netherlands — Next year at the annual convention of the Baha'is of the Netherlands, there will be a rose on an otherwise empty seat, the one traditionally occupied by the late Lottie Tobias.
The National Spiritual Assembly promised the gesture, in a eulogy read at her funeral.
The rose will be a symbolic tribute to the five decades of loving, expert attention paid by Elisabeth Charlotte (Lottie) Tobias to the development of the Baha'i administrative order in her homeland and beyond.
On 25 July 2003 Lottie, 93, died while on her way home to Voorburg from a summer school held in De Poort. More than 350 mourners attended her funeral.
The National Spiritual Assembly, describing her as the ""mother"" of the Netherlands Baha'i community, pointed out in its eulogy that Lottie herself had always said the Baha'i community was her family.
""She was interested in everyone and followed the progress of her friends' children -- they were her children and so it was very moving that she died in the arms of two of these, now very adult, children.""
Lottie Tobias became a Baha'i in 1950 when there were only a few dozen believers in the whole country. She was elected to the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Den Haag in 1952, and in 1957 was elected a member of the first Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), serving as secretary for the Netherlands.
In 1962 she was elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Netherlands, and served on that body until 1986. For 24 years she was the secretary.
""Alone, without the help of a secretariat, her only help a typewriter and a table, she performed this work cheerfully and uncomplainingly for all those years in a manner which today still serves as an example,"" the National Spiritual Assembly said.
""Everything had still to be built up both in the office in the Hague and in the administrative order in the country. In addition most of it had to be done in the evenings after a busy day's work.""
Not only was she meticulous in her work as secretary but also as a proofreading member of the editorial team of the ""Baha'i Vizier"" (a regular publication with scholarly and other articles). To the last moment of her life, she was a member of the national properties committee.
She kept in touch with Baha'is who went to live abroad to assist other communities and gave a warm welcome to newcomers, wrote cards to and visited the sick, and kept up to date with the welfare of others in person and by telephone.
That legendary care for others was in her nature. For years she wrote a column in the ""Haagse Courant"" newspaper as a counselor on social and legal matters. Her nom de plume was ""Raad"" (a combination of the words for ""advice"" and ""deed""). She even held a weekly consultation hour for individuals at the newspaper office.
When staff at her newspaper learned of her death, they placed a large display notice commemorating their beloved former colleague.
In a personal eulogy, Jan Sijsling, a Baha'i who had known her more than 50 years, said she had made a great impression upon him because of her reliability, the bond between them deepening as a result of her care not only for the work but everyone as individuals.
Another long time Baha'i friend, Wilco Broekhuizen, said that getting to know her was by observing her actions for she never really spoke about herself.
""The Covenant, loyalty to Shoghi Effendi, the Universal House of Justice, the Hands of the Cause and the Spiritual Assemblies formed the very foundation of her life.""
Mr. Broekhuizen said that in consultation she provided clear, personal opinions and solutions but, having heard another point of view, could completely change her opinion.
She possessed an endearing humanity and a sense of humor.
Mr. Broekhuizen recalled once when a meeting was to be held in her flat, somebody said there was a wonderful film on television that evening.
""And it was actually Lottie who proposed we should 'leave the business' and all sit around the TV instead.""
Arts and culture were dear to her, and she had begun to paint in watercolors.
In a tribute, the Universal House of Justice said: ""Having served with distinction for more than two decades on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Netherlands, as well as on the first Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux countries, she will always be lovingly remembered for her dedication to the progress of the Cause, the upbuilding of its institutions and her tireless endeavors over many years to inspire and encourage all the friends.""",VOORBURG,,Netherlands
245,2003-08-02,[],Inspired art from spiritual infusion,"WINSCOMBE, England — ""It is the atmosphere at the academy that makes you want to learn more and become better -- it gives you life and spirit!"" said Chanelle Fusco, 20, describing her experience at the Baha'i Academy for the Arts in England.
A singing course at the academy three years ago inspired her to become a professional singer.
The academy is held at a boarding school in Sidcot, Somerset, for a week during the summer.
It opened in 1993 and now provides some 18 courses open to people of all ages.
This year's academy took place from 26 July to 2 August and brought together professional and amateur artists from 16 countries.
Course topics range from weaving to calligraphy, filmmaking to mural painting  -- and all aim to infuse spiritual values into artistic expression.
Ms. Fusco illustrated her experience at the academy by describing a singing course which, she said, gave her a tremendous amount of energy for her art.  Art of relaxation...students and tutors take a break at the Baha'i Academy for the Arts.Participants in the course sang gospel-style and Baha'i prayers set to music, a form of learning she found instantly appealing.
""I liked music but during that week at the academy I feel I discovered myself,"" said Ms. Fusco.
The academy taught her to set goals. She now writes her own songs, has moved from Lancaster to London to concentrate on her career, and is currently preparing her first album.
The arts academy originated with Cecilia Smith and Margaret Appa, two Baha'is who wanted a summer camp for their children, one that combined arts education with spiritual values.
That initial concept became an academy which grew from just 20 enrolled students when it opened a decade ago to 260 this year.
""We have a very strong, spiritual source which of course is the writings of Baha'u'llah, but the artistic and educational philosophies are a very strong and very positive part of the whole event,"" said Ms. Appa, who serves with Ms. Smith and others on the organizing executive committee.
In contrast to conventional courses -- typically built on competition and comparison -- the Baha'i Arts Academy aims to challenge, encourage, and empower students in order for them to discover their hidden spiritual and artistic ""gems"".
""The energy and the power that comes from an environment where there is no judgment, no criticism, is huge and empowering,"" said Ms. Appa, an art teacher by profession.
""People feel safe to risk success, rather than accepting failure.""
""It's a more positive mindset,"" she said, explaining that seeing successes encouraged all students to feel they can achieve their potential.
Photographer Darius Himes, who taught the photography course this year, said that the distinction of the academy lies in the fact that the community at the school -- individuals and families together -- strive to combine spiritual values with their art.
""It is the living qualities of being a Baha'i,"" he said. ""Courtesy towards others, inclusiveness, friendliness, respect, a deep concern for others, and being full of thought -- those qualities infuse the academy.""
Mr. Himes, the editor of ""photo-eye"", an Internet-based bookstore and gallery of fine-art photography, encouraged his group to look at the different roles photography can play in representing spiritual ideas.
""Spirituality is a difficult thing to define. Mindfulness, attentiveness, ever striving for clear intent -- these are the qualities that I emphasized in the class because I see these qualities manifested in great art.
""The Prophets call forth these qualities in us as humans.
""To manifest those qualities in our chosen fields is the dream and goal of humanity.""
The academy provides four hours of tuition daily. Each day has a period of ""morning focus"", when all the students gather to set the spiritual tone for the day with the help of prayers, music, and drama.
The evenings are filled with musical and theatrical performances, talks, or academic presentations.
At the end of the week the groups are invited to share the progress of their art with the rest of the participants.
Jessica Naish, an English theater director and performer, has been working with teenagers who have personal problems. She said that when starting to learn anything for the first time people, face barriers of self-consciousness and embarrassment, but the academy provides the perfect atmosphere to break these boundaries.
""The academy is like going on a journey,"" said Ms. Naish, 32, who this summer tutored a course on performing with masks.
""You come as you are; you can start from nothing, in competition with yourself, and go through spiritual, artistic, and personal development.""
She said that the power of the academy comes from the mutual encouragement and love that exist among the students and the tutors -- and that helps them strive for personal excellence unashamedly.
The arts academy is also a meeting point for artists from all around the world.
""It doesn't matter if you are an amateur or a professional -- what makes it unique is the amazing artists you meet there,"" said Liza Gerhold, 22, a university student from Germany, who discovered photography as her medium at the academy.
""I learnt that art is not about putting one's self in the center of attention but to work on the gifts one has and share them with others,"" she said.
The executive team of organizers, also including Farzaneh Seegoolam, Aidan Matthews, Rob Weinberg and Ranjit Appa, has started planning for next year's academy.
""We are in a stage of transition,"" said Ms. Appa. ""We are planning to become an educational trust, part of which would be the arts academy.""
The trust would also provide a forum for professional artists where they could challenge one another and evaluate their own personal development.
At the same time the team would like to focus more on the development of the arts within the Baha'i community and explore possible ways of assisting tutors of Baha'i study circles and children's classes.
For more information:
http://www.bahai-artsacademy.com/welcome.html",WINSCOMBE,,United Kingdom
246,2003-08-29,[],Light of the spirit shines in the Congo,"BRAZZAVILLE, Congo Republic — Teachings on peace prompted Anselme Nkouka to become a Baha'i during the earliest years of the Baha'i community here.
""I became a Baha'i because Baha'is even then spoke of peace when no one else did -- Baha'u'llah's message was addressing this issue,"" said Mr. Nkouka.
An interview with Mr. Nkouka was part of a documentary film shown to participants as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations held from 29 to 31 August 2003 to mark the introduction of the Baha'i Faith to this country.
Like Marie-Joseph Sommere and Francois M'Bemba, who were also shown in the film, Mr. Nkouka, now 86, learned of the Baha'i Faith through the man who brought the Faith here, Ugandan Max Kanyerezi.
The Baha'i community, which now has 20 Local Spiritual Assemblies, celebrated its golden jubilee by honoring the struggles of the past, looking forward to its future and enjoying the present.
The event involved 28 theatrical and musical performances, including a play by a theater troupe from Pointe Noire.
""Everyone wants peace today, and everyone talks of peace -- it is quite a common topic -- but in the past, it was not so common,"" Mr. Nkouka said.  Peace remains a vital issue in a country that has suffered through severe political and social unrest.
The national Baha'i center -- the venue of the jubilee festivities -- was seized by the communist regime in 1978 and occupied for 14 years.
During that period, the Baha'i community was forced to stop its organized activities. Baha'is supported one another through mutual encouragement and informal family contacts, but without their elected administrative bodies.
In 1992, a new democratically elected government gave legal recognition to the Baha'i community.
The Baha'is reinstated their administration, regained use of the national center, and energetically resumed their activities.
Although there has been civil unrest, including two civil wars since 1992, the country, with its 2.9 million population, is now healing from its wounds. In Brazzaville, on the edge of the mighty Congo river, buildings are being repaired, and roads paved. The city, its stately avenues bordered by flamboyant and mango trees, is mending slowly.
Today, the Baha'i community is actively contributing to the development of the country through conducting children's education, providing opportunities for artistic creativity, holding capacity building study circles for adults, and welcoming the public to spiritual gatherings for prayer and readings from holy writings.
The jubilee celebrations, attended by 200 Baha'is, began with a brief welcome by the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, Ruffin Kinzuku.
Then, as the message of the Universal House of Justice was read, the Congolese Baha'is stood up out of respect.
""That you are coming together under such auspicious circumstances,"" said the message, ""is a testimony to the tenacity, resolve and unflagging devotion of the followers of Baha'u'llah in the Congo Republic, who have been able to maintain their integrity as a community while the society around them erupted in conflict.""
The Baha'i Faith came to the French Congo (then called the Middle Congo, now Republic of the Congo) on 20 September 1953 when Ali Nakhjavani and his wife, Violette, driving a small car through the jungles from Uganda, dropped off Mr. Kanyerezi in Brazzaville.
Mr. Nakhjavani, a recently retired member of the Universal House of Justice, and Mrs. Nakhjavani, an author, attended the jubilee as guests of honor and received a heartfelt welcome.
Speaking in French, Mr. Nakhjavani addressed the crowd on the great destiny of Africa. He recalled his reaction when only 20 years old to first reading the description in the Baha'i writings of black people as like the ""pupil of the eye"" through which the ""light of the spirit shineth forth"".
Mr. Nakhjavani: ""And I said to myself, Ali, why did God make you white? Why didn't God make you black? Why weren't you born in Africa? Why were you born here, in Asia? I am telling you the truth; those were my thoughts when I realized the high, exalted station Baha'u'llah gave the African people.
""His words, dear friends, were not compliments but the truth for the world to see.""
Later, in a two-hour question and answer session, Mr. Nakhjavani addressed topics ranging from Baha'i scripture and history, to personal spiritual growth.
Mr. Nakhjavani also spoke at the grave of his friend, Gudratullah Azemikhah, who contributed greatly to the Baha'i community after arriving, two years after independence, in 1962.
Mrs. Nakhjavani enthralled the audience with an account of the historic journey she and her husband undertook in 1953. They dropped off Ugandan Baha'is Enoch Olinga, Samson Mugono, and Max Kanyerezi at their respective posts in the Belgian Congo, Middle Congo and British Cameroon, as part of the worldwide project for the expansion of the Baha'i Faith.
Also present at the celebration was Dr. Ezzatullah Tai, 73, originally from Iran and now of France, who played a key role in assisting the growth of the Congolese Baha'i community.
Other guests of honor included Joan Lincoln, Counsellor Member of the International Teaching Centre, and her husband, Albert Lincoln, Secretary-General of the Baha'i International Community in Haifa, Israel.
Mrs. Lincoln conveyed inspiring news from around the world, of Baha'i communities actively engaged in activities similar to those in the Congo: children's classes, capacity building study circles for adults, devotional gatherings, and projects to help rebuild the society.
In his public address, Mr. Lincoln paid tribute to the endurance of the Baha'i community.
""To extract the true and deep meaning of the event we are gathered here to celebrate, we must place it in its proper historical and human context, a scene in which the dominant color is not that of a rose but of red, the red of blood, of heart and of sacrifice.""
Mr. Lincoln said that we had to accept trials because they were part of a larger process of ""finding a way to live together like the global human family we are and were created to be"".
Mr. Lincoln's speech was applauded by Mr. Roger Packa, Cabinet Director for the High Commission charged with Moral and Spiritual Education, a branch of the Presidency of the Republic of the Congo.
National television news reported the jubilee, and Mr. Lincoln gave an interview on the radio and on one of the country's most popular TV shows.
Brazzaville Baha'i Urbain Niamba said the jubilee gave him a new vision of the future of the Faith in the Congo.
""I am sure that the creativity present in the celebrations will encourage more use of the arts and culture among the youth in the Baha'i community.""
[Report and photographs by Violetta Zein in Brazzaville.]",BRAZZAVILLE,,Congo Republic
247,2003-08-29,[],Learning on a higher plane,"SAN FRANCISCO — Scholars should move away from a combative style and lift their discussion to a higher plane, a senior professor told a major conference here.
""Contemporary academic scholarship is often vindictively vicious in attacking an idea or an author regardless of the merit of the thesis proposed,"" said Suheil Bushrui, who holds the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland.
Professor Bushrui was delivering the prestigious Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture at the 27th annual conference of the Association for Baha'i Studies-North America, held 29 August-1 September 2003.
More than 1,300 participants attended the conference.
""All knowledge in the Baha'i point of view is measured by its benevolent influence and contribution to the unity and prosperity of the human race,"" said Professor Bushrui, who also announced his retirement in 2004 from the Baha'i Chair.
Addressing the conference, noted sociologist Philip Selznick discussed the importance of a stronger sense of civility in the effort to build stronger and yet more inclusive communities, in a world where many groups are seeking -- out of a sense of piety -- to distance themselves from others.
""Civility is naked without articles of faith, which tell us who we are and what we live by,"" said Professor Selznick, who is not a Baha'i.  One of the speakers: Dr. June Thomas, professor of urban and regional planning at Michigan State University.""Piety without civility is debased and out of control,"" he said.
Founded in 1975, the Association for Baha'i Studies promotes the development of scholarship on the Baha'i Faith in North America.
The San Francisco conference took the theme of ""Religion and Community in a Time of Crisis"" and featured a wide range of lectures, panel discussions, workshops, and artistic performances.
A keynote speaker, Dr. Ann Boyles, addressed the topic ""Binding Together a Fragmented World: A Baha'i Perspective on 'Community'.""
""Baha'is see religion as one powerful means to address the problems besetting the world, and this is because religion has traditionally been concerned with two broad questions:  the purpose of existence and the nature of the community,"" said Dr. Boyles, a lecturer at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada.
""Baha'is are deeply and centrally concerned with the process of building an inclusive, rather than exclusive, community based on the enactment of transcendent values rather than mere material progress,"" said Dr. Boyles, a senior editor of the ""Baha'i World"", an annual volume recording Baha'i activities and perspectives.
""Theories and practices that promote self-indulgence and disrupt the connections among individuals have no place in the Baha'i community.""
Dr. Boyles also commented on the inauguration of a new special interest group -- on indigenous studies -- within the Association.
Named in honor of the late Patricia Locke, a noted Lakota/Chippewa Baha'i, the group opened with a panel discussion that explored the diverse ways of ""knowing"" and ""seeing"" among indigenous peoples.
""This development is important because it showed how the Association is making efforts to nurture different approaches to scholarship, or different ways of 'knowing',"" said Dr. Boyles.
She said another aspect of the conference she found very moving was the artistic presentations.
""They ran the gamut from opera to a young group of kids doing hip-hop music. There was also a duo that played traditional Chinese instruments, including the yangqin (hammered dulcimer); music from Ghana; and a group of Armenian dancers.""
Stephen Birkland, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America, told the conference that people find themselves in an age when the equilibrium of the world has been upset.
Nonequilibrium states, however, are ""characterized by extraordinary innovation"" and are ""where the greatest learning takes place"".
He identified three resources to help people thrive in this frustrating yet promising age: keenness of vision; communication with one another, or ""cultivating a culture of encouragement""; and the Word of God, as ""the wellspring of all social and material progress"".
The challenge of practicing Baha'i values within the materialistic and secular settings of the academic world was the topic of a searching and lively panel discussion by five young Baha'i academics and professionals.
Ruha Benjamin, a sociology graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, spoke of the ""severe mental tests"" that scholars must confront in ""the battle with our self, or ego"".
She urged Baha'is to engage in reflective practice as a learning community and to ask: ""Am I reinforcing hierarchies that Baha'u'llah came to change?""
Derik Smith, a professor of African-American literature at Arcadia University, noted that ""in order to be employable you have to articulate views in the discourse that holds sway.""
But lest ""we forget where we're coming from... we must constantly cultivate a transcendent vision, a spiritualized approach to what we do.""
The more than 90 papers, panel discussions, and workshops at the conference included a presentation on ""Creative Dimensions of Life Crisis and Suffering"" by Abdu'l-Missagh Ghadirian, a professor at the McGill University Faculty of Medicine; a discussion on ""Faith, History, and Community Building in the Babi and Baha'i Faiths""; and a panel discussion on ""The Press as a Consultative Forum"", featuring Baha'i journalists.
Other presentation and workshop topics included human rights and religious extremism, applying principle-based indicators of development, multiracial community building, bioethics, economics and social justice, and gender and ethics.
Special interest groups within the Association held presentations on topics ranging from agriculture and ecology to marriage and family life.
(Photos by Courosh Mehanian.)",SAN FRANCISCO,,United States
248,2003-09-06,[],Double cause for celebrations,"KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — Members of the Baha'i community here had a double reason to celebrate this month.
The Baha'is marked the 50th anniversary of the Faith's activities in the nation.
It was also the first time in five years that the nine members of their national governing body could meet together in the capital.
The war that erupted in 1998 prevented members of the National Spiritual Assembly meeting here from then until now.
Congolese Baha'i Mayika Manseki described why the community was so happy to see all the National Spiritual Assembly members in Kinshasa.
""They are our liaison with the Universal House of Justice,"" Mrs. Manseki said, ""and to have this institution we love so much present here with us is wonderful -- this is a sign of hope.""
The jubilee celebrations in Kinshasa on 6 and 7 September 2003 began with the National Spiritual Assembly's message, read by its chairman, Nshisu Nsunga.  On stage...performers at the festivities in Kinshasa.""Today our country is entering a crucial phase of its future,"" the message said.
""If the Baha'i model that our national community is striving to build, can in some way contribute to the renewal and construction of the infrastructures of our country, we humbly submit it for [the nation's] consideration.""
A reconciliation program is now under way after five years of turmoil in this country, which was once known as the Belgian Congo, and then, after independence in 1960, by a variety of other names, including Zaire.
A vast country four times the size of France, it has a population of 56 million. It borders the smaller Republic of the Congo, whose Baha'i community celebrated its own 50th jubilee in August 2003. (See http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=246).
Attending the opening of the 50th jubilee festivities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was senior government representative, Jean Baptiste Nsa Lobete, Political and Diplomatic Counselor of the Governor of Kinshasa. He linked the jubilee to the rising climate of hope in the nation.
""Because the social development and the various economic endeavors of your faith across the country constitute a point of pride for all its members and leaders,"" Mr. Lobete said, ""all of these wonderful results justify the respect that the authorities of this country feel towards the Baha'i community in particular when it comes to answer one or another of your concerns.""
Some of the activities Mr. Lobete referred to include social and economic development field projects such as adult literacy initiatives in Kasai and Western and Eastern Kivu, community health projects in Southern Kivu, and community farming projects in Katanga and Southern Kivu.
Mr. Lobete particularly praised the Baha'i contribution to national education. The Baha'is have established primary and secondary schools in Katanga and throughout the country and centers for the promotion of the status of women and the education of children in Kinshasa and Katanga.
The vicechairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, Sefu Lemba, read a message from the Universal House of Justice that described the community as ""stalwart and valiant"" and said in part:
""Despite years of political strife and adversity that have severely torn the fabric of the society around you, the spirits of the believers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have remained unbroken, and you have managed to lay the foundations of a community whose influence is felt throughout the continent.""
The program included songs from the Dawn of Carmel Choir, including performers who won acclaim throughout the Baha'i world as the Congo Youth Choir at the opening of the Terraces on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, in May 2001.
Among many others to sing were the Navvab Choir, and the Mona Choir from the neighboring Republic of the Congo.
The Millennium Theatre Troupe presented a play about the transforming effect of Baha'i teachings on family life.
Participants at the celebrations also learned more of the community's history, including the fact that there were esteemed visitors to their country 13 years before normal Baha'i activity could commence.
Those visitors were the then Head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, and his wife, Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, who in 1940 drove across the eastern region of the Belgian Congo.
In 1953 Baha'is began formal efforts to start teaching the Baha'i Faith as part of a worldwide 10-year plan, directed by Shoghi Effendi, to bring the message of Baha'u'llah to the world.
Before that time, colonial authorities did not permit the promotion of the Faith by Baha'i pioneers (people who moved to the country to establish the Baha'i community).
Active attempts to spread the teachings began in 1953 when Ali Nakhjavani and his wife, Violette, driving across Africa from Uganda, took Ugandan Baha'i Samson Mungongo to the city of Kamina. (The Nakhjavanis carried on to the Middle Congo and British Cameroon.)
Congolese who had become Baha'is in Rwanda and Burundi moved back to settle in their home provinces.
The first Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1957, and there are now 541 assemblies. The first National Spiritual Assembly formed in 1970.
Traveling long distances within the country is often extremely difficult, so in some regional centers, Baha'is unable to attend the jubilee festivities in Kinshasa held their own celebrations in support of the main event.
Among the 600 participants at the celebrations in the capital were three of the first Congolese Baha'is: Louis Selemani, 81, Remy Kalonji, 83, and Valerien Mukendi, 83.
They were joined by a dozen former pioneers from Europe, North America and other parts of Africa.
One who could not make it was Ola Pawlowska, 93, though she participated in the celebrations by sending from her home in Canada a message of congratulations and love to a community to which she devoted three decades of her life.
Mulmaba Munanga, 51, a Congolese Baha'i, met Mrs. Pawlowska when he was a teenager. He has remembered words from her that changed his life.
""She would say, 'Mulamba, take this Faith as if it were your personal belonging because a personal belonging is something you take care of, something you love,'"" said Mr. Munanga.
""As I always felt the truth of these words, I have always taken the Faith as a personal belonging and I have always wanted to serve as much as I possibly can -- if Baha'u'llah can give me the time and the strength to do so -- for the rest of my life.""
Guests of honor at the jubilee included Mr. Nakhjavani, former member of the Universal House of Justice, and Mrs. Nakhjavani, an author, as well as Joan Lincoln, counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, and Albert Lincoln, secretary-general of the Baha'i International Community. All four had spent many years as pioneers in Africa.
Mrs. Nakhjavani greatly moved the audience with her recollections of early visits she made to the country with Mr. Nakhjavani and later with Madame Rabbani.
Mr. Nakhjavani spoke at the gathering about the spiritual destiny of Africa and answered questions on subjects ranging from journalism ethics and the finer points of Baha'i law and scripture to personal problem solving.
Mrs. Lincoln updated the Baha'is on current projects and methods and paid a tribute: ""We now see second and third generation Baha'is, and this is a true sign of the future of the Faith in this country, and all of this notwithstanding the years of conflict and adversities.""
In the internal affairs of the community, the Baha'is have also made great strides, as pointed out by Laeticia Cigangu, a Baha'i for 26 years and an Auxiliary Board member.
Mrs. Cigangu said she remembered when she was the only Congolese woman in her local Baha'i community.
""Now,"" she said, ""a quarter of that same community is composed of women. And nationwide, a good third of Baha'is are women.""
""With the arrival of training institutes in our communities, you have to understand the Faith is not just something for Baha'is or intellectuals anymore, the way it was perceived for a long time. Now the Faith spreads through children's classes, so the next 50 years are full of hope!""
[Report and jubilee photographs by Violetta Zein in Kinshasa.]",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
249,2003-08-23,[],Cameroon celebrates golden time,"YAOUNDE, Cameroon — When there were only a handful of Baha'is in their country, five young Cameroonians left home to take the teachings of the Baha'i Faith to nearby lands.
Their actions in 1954 won them the designation ""Knight of Baha'u'llah"", a title given to individuals who brought the Baha'i Faith to new territories.
The five Cameroonian Baha'is were following the example of another young man, Enoch Olinga, who had left his homeland of Uganda to bring the Faith to British Cameroon less than a year earlier, in 1953.
In a message to those attending the golden jubilee festivities of the Faith in Cameroon held here on 22 and 23 August 2003, the Universal House of Justice referred to those dramatic early days as it extended congratulations on the ""outstanding accomplishments"" of the Baha'i community.
""An enduring model of consecrated labours,"" the Universal House of Justice wrote, ""has been set by a host of devoted believers, including Enoch Olinga, and the five Cameroonians who likewise arose to become Knights of Baha'u'llah.""
Cameroon is now comprised of the former French Cameroon and part of the former British Cameroon, which merged in 1961. It is about twice the size of the United Kingdom and has a population of more than 15 million.
Home to more than 250 tribes and ethnic groups with nearly as many languages, it is often referred to as ""Africa in miniature"".  Baha'i children's class, Mamfe, 1980.The first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Cameroon was elected in 1967. The Baha'i community, now 40,000 strong, has 58 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
Among the accomplishments of the Cameroon Baha'i community are contributions to their nation in the form of social and economic development projects.
The Baha'i Agency for Social and Economic Development, founded by the National Spiritual Assembly, has worked with the United Nations Development Fund for Women on a program in the eastern province aimed at improving family life and easing the lives of women.
As a result, women in villages instituted a communal cultivation program, which increased income and improved the quality of life. This led to further cooperation with international agencies.
The Baha'i agency has also worked successfully in family education projects in central and northwestern provinces and assisted in programs to eradicate river blindness.
Since the 1980s, Baha'i radio programs in the northwest and in Buea have been helping communities improve their family life and the education of children.
Weekly religious and moral education classes for children and study meetings for parents are also held. The Baha'is also organize interfaith activities, which serve to close gaps in Cameroon's multireligious society.
More than 560 Baha'is from all regions of Cameroon attended the 50th jubilee celebrations, including Knight of Baha'u'llah, Benedict Eballa.
Other guests came from Australia, Botswana, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, France, Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Among the guests of honor was George Olinga, the son of Enoch Olinga, the Knight of Baha'u'llah for British Cameroon.
Mr. Olinga spoke of his recollections of his father, who initially established a cohort of believers in Limbe, spent the rest of the decade in British Cameroon, was later named a ""Hand of the Cause"" and rendered historic services to the worldwide Baha'i community until his passing in Uganda in 1979.
Also present at the event were former member of the Universal House of Justice Ali Nakhjavani and his wife, Violette.
In 1953 Mr. and Mrs. Nakhjavani undertook a strenuous two-month car journey across Africa from Uganda with Mr. Olinga and two other Baha'is to establish the Faith in Cameroon and other countries.
At the jubilee, Mr. Nakhjavani delivered the keynote address and later spoke on the spiritual destiny of Africa.
In a tribute to Mr. Olinga, Mrs. Nakhjavani spoke of the ""purity"" and of the ""exemplary courage"" he showed at the age of 27 by leaving his home in Uganda to become the first Baha'i in Cameroon.
He arrived in British Cameroon within hours of the deadline set by the then Head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, on the last day of the Holy Year (1953) commemorating the centenary of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah.
In early April 1954, Shoghi Effendi told Mr. Olinga that he wanted some Baha'is in Cameroon to take the Faith to five other countries and territories by 21 April, the holy day known as the First Day of Ridvan.
According to Mr. Nakhjavani, there were more volunteers than needed so the Baha'is decided to choose the names by lot.
Four of the five chosen then traveled to Nigeria and, with the assistance of Mr. Nakhjavani, obtained the travel documents necessary to undertake their mission.
Samuel Njiki went to French Cameroon (now part of Cameroon), and David Tanyi arrived in French Togoland (the present Togo).
Three others went to territories now part of Ghana: Edward Tabe moved to British Togoland, Benedict Eballa to Ashanti Protectorate, and Martin Manga to Northern Territories Protectorate.
Cables were sent to Shoghi Effendi before 21 April  to advise him that his wishes had been carried out.
The achievements by the Baha'is of Cameroon were among the most remarkable in the 10-year plan (known as the ""Ten Year Crusade"") which took the teachings of the Faith around the world.
The five men were later designated by Shoghi Effendi as Knights of Baha'u'llah.
For Mr. Olinga's part in the achievement, Shoghi Effendi gave him the title of Abd'l-Futuh, a Persian name meaning ""the father of victories"".
Meanwhile, so many people had become Baha'is in Limbe through the efforts of Mr. Olinga (the first Cameroonian Baha'i was Jacob Tabot Awo) that a Local Spiritual Assembly was able to be formed there by 21 April 1954.
Other guests of honor at the jubilee festivities included Joan Lincoln, Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, and her husband Albert Lincoln, secretary-general of the Baha'i International Community.
Mrs. Lincoln spoke about the role of the International Teaching Centre in supporting community development. She also talked about her personal experiences in the Cameroonian Baha'i community.
In his speech Mr. Lincoln spoke on the activities of the Baha'i International Community.
The program also included a talk by a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, Francois Guebe, on ""50 Years of the Faith in Cameroon"".
Chairing the sessions were Tiati a Zock, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors; Christine Tchamegni; and members of the National Spiritual Assembly Honoree Atem and Alexander Tatah Eyong.
Also present at the festivities from Buea in Cameroon was Dr. Mihdi Samandari, Knight of Baha'u'llah for Somalia, who, with his wife Ursula, moved to Cameroon three decades ago to aid the Baha'i community there. Mrs. Samandari, also a Knight of Baha'u'llah, passed away this year (see here).
The celebrations included songs at regular intervals in the program and two evenings dedicated to cultural performances.
Some 15 performance groups from all parts of the country, each comprising about 20 people, presented songs, poetry, and traditional dance.
Following the celebrations in Yaounde, Mr. and Mrs. Nakhjavani, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and some other guests of honor, went to Limbe to visit the Baha'is of the southwest province.
They also went to Buea where they were received by the paramount chief, and traveled to Douala, a city that has special significance in the history of the Cameroonian Baha'i community.
Mrs. Meherangiz Munsiff, a young Indian woman, arrived there in April 1954, for which she was honored with the title Knight of Baha'u'llah.",YAOUNDE,,Cameroon
250,2003-08-22,[],Standing up for the oneness of humanity,"CIUDAD COLON, Costa Rica — Long before segregation of the races was outlawed in the United States, Ruth Pringle stood up in support of the oneness of humanity.
It was in the late 1930s and Ruth Yancey (as she was prior to marriage) arrived as a student for her first lecture at a school of nursing in the American south.
Unlike the other African American students, Ruth firmly refused to sit in an area set apart for those who were not white.
It was more than a decade before she was to become a Baha'i and start her life's work of spreading the teachings of unity, especially to the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
As a Continental Counsellor, Ruth Pringle performed such outstanding service that after she passed away on 22 August 2003, aged 83, the Universal House of Justice praised her as an ""intrepid champion"" of the Faith of God.
In the 1930s, and even up to the 1950s, victims of racism in the United States were expected to accept oppression without complaint.
That was not in Ruth's character. She made it very clear to her fellow African American students that she would never comply with segregation in the classroom.  She refused to do so -- even when called to the Dean's office to explain herself.
As a result of her principled stance, other students gradually moved out from the fenced-off area.
After completing postgraduate courses in surgical nursing and operating room technique in Chicago, Ruth practiced as an operating room nurse and graduated with a degree in zoology and chemistry.
She became a Baha'i the first time she read the Writings of Baha'u'llah.
""Such marvels were unveiled before my eyes that both my heart and mind were kindled and set afire -- now I knew what I must do,"" she wrote in an autobiographical sketch.
In 1953, two months after her acceptance of the Faith, she left for Puerto Rico as a ""pioneer"" to assist in building up the Baha'i community there.
In 1956 she moved to Honduras, spent a year in Guatemala, and then returned to Honduras.
In the evenings, after working long hours as a registered nurse, she conducted weekly Baha'i youth activities at her home. They often attracted some 100 young people from all strata of society.
Ruth participated in projects to establish Local Spiritual Assemblies, including in Nicaragua where she pioneered on the eastern coast of that country. In 1961 Ruth was elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly there.
Following the death of the then Head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, in 1957, at least five Hands of the Cause visited Central America.
""All these Hands had a profound influence on my formation and perhaps the direction of my Baha'i life,"" she wrote.
She said that one of them, Dr. Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, had introduced her to what she and her coworkers had been searching for --  ""the sweetness of witnessing"" the establishment of the first all-indigenous Baha'i community in Nicaragua.
Her marriage to Alan Pringle was the first Baha'i wedding to be legally recognized in Panama.
Taking the Baha'i teachings to indigenous people became their principal aim in life, and they made strong links with the native Guaymi people.
""Results were immediately forthcoming, and hundreds of indigenous believers were enrolled, and all-indigenous assemblies were formed,"" she wrote.
Both Ruth and Alan Pringle, as members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Panama, attended the 1963 International Convention in Haifa, Israel, to participate in the first election of the Universal House of Justice.
At the subsequent World Congress in London, Mrs. Pringle had the honor of giving an address on the topic of ""Victories of Pioneers"". She was on the same panel as Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga.
In November 1963, she was appointed as an Auxiliary Board member, and traveled extensively in pursuit of her duties.
She spoke at international and inter-oceanic conferences, and in 1975 had what she described as ""the inestimable privilege"" to serve with the ""Green Light Expedition"", a major journey for the Baha'i Faith undertaken in South America by Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, a Hand of the Cause and the widow of Shoghi Effendi.
In 1980, Mrs. Pringle was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors, a position involving sustained hard work and constant journeys overseas.
In this capacity, she traveled to some of the remote parts of the world, guiding and encouraging young Baha'i communities.
She worked for the rights of women and dedicated herself to the establishment of the Guaymi Cultural Center and radio station in Soloy in the province of Chiriqui, Panama.
Her next-door neighbor in Ciudad Colon, Costa Rica, for the past 15 years, Jere McKinney, said she was known for her quick wit, her ready laugh, her superb hospitality, and her grasp of where Baha'is should direct their efforts.
Mr. McKinney described how Mrs. Pringle would travel in remote parts of the country on very basic transport and arrive full of enthusiasm to assist the Baha'is and speak about the Faith.
One day in Honduras he accompanied Mrs. Pringle to meet a very poor lady in a simple hut with an earthen floor and adobe walls.
""Ruth pretty much swept her away with her love and hugs and words of encouragement,"" he said, adding that the lady remembered her visit for years afterwards.
Just two weeks before her death, Mrs. Pringle went to Jamaica to attend the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the first Local Spiritual Assembly there.
In her typical fashion, and despite suggestions that for her health's sake she might slow down, she had a series of meetings with Baha'is -- especially youth -- spent an hour discussing the Faith with a senior official, and gave a talk about the early days of the Faith's activities on the island.
She also participated in a devotional meeting broadcast on the radio by reading a passage from the Kitab-i-Iqan (The Book of Certitude), by Baha'u'llah.
After returning home to Costa Rica, Mrs. Pringle passed away. She is survived by her husband.
In a message of tribute to Mrs. Pringle, the Universal House of Justice wrote:
""Her magnificent career, spanning a full-half century and including two decades of splendid, resolute service as a Continental Counsellor, has shed new and fresh luster upon the American Baha'i community's historic world mission.""
Noting her promotion of the Faith among the indigenous peoples of the Americas, the message continued: ""May her devoted and energetic life inspire present and future generations to emulate her shining example.""
The Universal House of Justice asked National Spiritual Assemblies to arrange befitting memorial meetings in her honor throughout the Americas and in both Houses of Worship there.",CIUDAD COLON,,Costa Rica
251,2003-09-27,[],Devotion to human rights recognized,"HELSINKI — Just after the birth of her fourth child, Melody Karvonen made a career change that put her on the path to be named Human Rights Worker of the Year in Finland.
While still on maternity leave, Mrs. Karvonen decided to bring to an end her 10-year career in architectural drafting and house-designing and to move into the human rights field.
She first participated in a project aimed at the elimination of racism.
In that campaign organized by the Red Cross and the Mannerheim's Child Protection League, she led groups of youth and children in discussions on racial tolerance in society and the beauty of human diversity.
Fourteen years later, after her initial steps had broadened into a career devoted to the protection of human rights, Mrs. Karvonen, 51, was named the Human Rights Worker of the Year by the Finnish League for Human Rights.
Dr. Pentti Arajarvi, a member of the league's board of directors and husband of the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen, was the keynote speaker at the award ceremony on 27 September 2003.
Also present was Mikko Puumalainen, the Finnish Ombudsman for Minorities.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Karvonen said that the principles of the Baha'i Faith provided a basis for her work.
""Today there is a lot of emphasis in the world on diversity and coexistence, but less on how we can work better together,"" she said.
""People often concentrate on the differences of culture, but in my work I try to focus on how human beings can live together.As Baha'u'llah said: 'The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.'""
Mrs. Karvonen was born in Iran -- her maiden name was Naghmeh Izadi -- and moved to Finland in 1973. She is married to Finnish-born Jarmo Tapio Karvonen and has four children. She has served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Finland since 1997.
After her initial two years as a volunteer in human rights work, she accepted a position with the Red Cross as a refugee adviser for the newly established Center for Asylum Seekers in Joensuu, in the east of Finland.
For five years she represented the Police of Joensuu as an educator for tolerance and cross-cultural understanding.
Other projects with which she has been involved include a program to reduce violence and racism among youth; the establishment of a school curriculum called ""Coexistence to Living Together, a Curriculum for World Citizenship Education""; an evaluation and development of an international meeting center in Joensuu; and the ""Be Equal Be Different Project"" shared by Finland, Holland, Italy and Ireland to reduce discrimination in the workplace.
Mrs. Karvonen often accepts invitations from throughout Finland to address groups on topics such as cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and understanding, and the equality of women and men.
Mrs. Karvonen is currently working as an immigration counselor for a project funded by the European Social Fund, under the auspices of the European Union.",HELSINKI,,Finland
252,2003-10-12,[],Golden anniversary of the Queen of Carmel,"HAIFA, Israel — When Shoghi Effendi, then the Head of the Baha'i Faith, announced the completion of the superstructure of the Shrine of the Bab 50 years ago this month, he used poetic words to indicate the significance of the occasion.
He described the completed Shrine in a cablegram as the ""Queen of Carmel enthroned (on) God's Mountain, crowned (in) glowing gold, robed (in) shimmering white, girdled (in) emerald green, enchanting every eye from air, sea, plain (and) hill.""
The Shrine on Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel, is the burial place of the Bab, the Martyr-Prophet of the Baha'i Faith, the Forerunner of Baha'u'llah, the Faith's Founder. For Baha'is, it is a place of pilgrimage and the holiest spot on earth after the Shrine of Baha'u'llah.
The beauty of the Shrine, illuminated at night, is now enhanced by 19 garden terraces that stretch one kilometer from the base of Mount Carmel to its summit. The terraces, which were opened in May 2001, have attracted more than 1.5 million visitors.
The announcement by Shoghi Effendi in October 1953 of the completion of the Shrine's superstructure came five years after the beginning of a US$750,000 construction project paid for by Baha'is around the world.
The completion of the project was, in fact, the triumphant consummation of a process begun more than 60 years earlier by Baha'u'llah to provide a fitting resting place for His Forerunner.
In 1891, Baha'u'llah had indicated to His eldest son and appointed successor, 'Abdu'l-Baha, the precise spot on Mount Carmel where the Shrine of the Bab should be built.  The dome and drum of the Shrine of the Bab take shape over the completed octagon and colonnade, 1952.'Abdu'l-Baha carefully carried out His Father's instructions. He overcame many difficulties to build a massive six-room mausoleum of local stone. Then, in 1909, He solemnly placed the sacred remains of the Bab in an alabaster sarcophagus within the vault of the edifice, which he called ""the Throne of God"".
Between 1928 and 1929 Shoghi Effendi added three rooms to the building.
In 1942, he commissioned one of Canada's leading architects, William Sutherland Maxwell -- his father-in-law, who was then living in Haifa -- to design the arcade and the superstructure, which was to embellish and preserve the stone building.
For two years, Mr. Maxwell consecrated himself to his task.
Shoghi Effendi provided overall guidance, including in the use of Western and Eastern styles, but left the artistic details to Mr. Maxwell.
On 23 May 1944, 100 years after the Bab declared his Mission, Shoghi Effendi unveiled in Haifa a 60 cm (two feet) model of the superstructure. When built, it would rise 40 meters above ground level.
Crowning the majestic design, as anticipated by 'Abdu'l-Baha, was a dome, which was set on an 18-windowed drum. That, in turn, was mounted on an octagon, a feature suggested by Shoghi Effendi. A stately arcade, in fulfillment of the vision of 'Abdu'l-Baha, surrounded the stone edifice.
Shoghi Effendi, who spoke of the work of Mr. Maxwell with delight and admiration, said the project to build the structure transcended in sacredness any collective undertaking in the course of the history of the Faith so far.
Construction began at the time of the establishment of the state of Israel, and as the world was struggling to recover from a devastating war. Building materials were in extremely short supply in the country, as were skilled stone masons.
Shoghi Effendi asked Sicilian Baha'i, Ugo Giachery, to acquire the required materials in Italy. Much of that country had been laid waste by the Second World War, and there too it was difficult to obtain the vast quantities of construction items necessary.
Skilled artisans, however, were looking for work. Dr. Giachery engaged them to cut, carve, and polish Chiampo stone and Rose Baveno granite in accordance with Mr. Maxwell's designs. They produced 28 columns, eight pilasters and 28 arches -- as well as other pieces.
Using his skills in planning, administration, and as a government liaison, Dr. Giachery ensured that ships transported the columns, panels, capitals, arches and other items for the Shrine from Italy to Haifa.
Overcoming electricity shortages, export restrictions, storms at sea, a fire on board ship, a cordon of warships, and even the dropping of 61 cases of stone into Haifa harbor, Dr. Giachery fulfilled Shoghi Effendi's requests to the letter.
He was to be accorded the honor of being named a Hand of the Cause, and one of the Shrine's doors was called after him.
The superstructure was said to be at the time the largest prefabricated building to move from Europe to any point in the world.
The first contracts were signed in 1948, and the first threshold stone laid in 1949.
Such was the beauty of the completed arcade with its colonnade of rosy pink granite and its Oriental-style arches of soft, creamy stone that many local people thought the structure was finished in June 1950, long before the octagon and dome were erected.
The emerald green and scarlet mosaics on the balustrade above, the fire-gilded bronze symbol of the Greatest name, the Baha'i ringstone symbol at the four corners, and the multitude of intricate decorations and motifs elsewhere were hailed as pure artistry.
The original plan of Shoghi Effendi had been to halt at this stage until conditions improved, but he changed his mind.
The next stage was to build a platform to support the proposed octagon, drum and gilded dome, which would combine to weigh more than 1,000 tons.
Huge interlocked beams in the shape of an eight-pointed star -- cast in one day -- were placed about 30 cm above the roof level of the stone building.
That star was supported by eight steel-reinforced concrete piers, which reached down to bedrock. The piers penetrated the thick masonry of the Shrine, a difficult task successfully implemented without damaging the essential structure or impinging on the Tombs.
The octagon rose from the center of the large platform. It was surmounted by eight elegant, golden-tipped pinnacles, which anchored wrought-iron railings suggesting a lotus blossom opening.
""Great happiness, many congratulations and much laughter"" accompanied the completion of the installation of the railings, wrote Dr. Giachery in his book of recollections entitled ""Shoghi Effendi"".
""The whole edifice displays a great variety of architectural and artistic gems, products of the inventiveness and refined taste of Mr. Maxwell,"" he wrote.
In 1952, Leroy Ioas, a Baha'i who had been closely associated with the construction of the beautiful Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, arrived from the United States. He was to become an able lieutenant of Shoghi Effendi in the construction process.
Mr. Ioas employed his considerable administrative skills and practical mind to supervise the building of the drum and dome, a task done without the availability of sophisticated machinery. He too was to be named a Hand of the Cause. Shoghi Effendi called the door on the octagon after him.
The drum, a perfect cylinder, was completed in March 1952. Rising 11 meters, it rests on a circular steel-reinforced-concrete ring on the top of the octagon.
In accordance with an idea of Shoghi Effendi's, it has 18 stained-glass lancet windows, representing the first disciples of the Bab.
On 25 March 1952, while the drum he had designed was being built, Mr. Maxwell died in Montreal, Canada. It was three months after he had been appointed a Hand of the Cause.
In a message expressing his intense grief at the passing of his friend and colleague, Shoghi Effendi announced that the southern door of the Bab's tomb would be named after him.
The building of the brim, and then the dome, called for all the ingenuity of the engineer of the project, Professor H. Neumann of Haifa's Technion University.
No heavy stone could be used because the weight-bearing capacity of the concrete stilts was limited.
A solution was found for the brim using two slabs of stone anchored together and to the dome. Next, Professor Neumann used a recently-devised method for the dome in which cement, mixed with fine sand and water was sprayed upon a mold.
Meanwhile, 12,000 fish-scale tiles -- of 50 different shapes and sizes -- were being made in Holland by employing an innovative process involving fire-glazing over gold leaf.
On 29 April 1953, Shoghi Effendi climbed the scaffolding and placed  behind one of the tiles a small box containing plaster from the Mah-Ku prison cell, which once confined the Bab in Persia.
The lantern and finial were placed on top of the dome, and the tiling was finished.
The graceful structure was completed, the golden dome its crowning beauty.
Shoghi Effendi announced the conclusion of the project in a joyous cablegram to a Baha'i conference being held in New Delhi, India from 7 to 15 October 1953.
His message came as a triumphant climax to the Holy Year marking the centenary of the birth of the Mission of Baha'u'llah, and at the early stages of the successful Ten Year Plan to spread the Baha'i teachings throughout the world.",HAIFA,,Israel
253,2003-09-09,[],Dedicated citizens win awards,"BRASILIA, Brazil — Brazilians who have devoted themselves to supporting human rights received ""world citizenship awards"" at a Baha'i-sponsored ceremony here.
The event, held on 9 September 2003, was covered by major television channels, Rede Globo and TV Nacional. Many newspapers also published reports about the awards.
Government representative Hildesia Medeiros and representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Brazil presented the awards at the ceremony, which was held in the auditorium of the Ministry of Justice.
Among the 250 attending were members of the Association of Brazilian Lawyers, and representatives of government ministries, the Supreme Court of Labor, and United Nations agencies.
A special posthumous award went to the Brazilian diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello, the United Nations' special representative who was killed in Iraq in August 2003.
Other award recipients, including individuals and organizations, were:

Dom Mauro Morelli, from Rio de Janeiro, for his work to eliminate poverty;
  Baha'i representative Osmar Mendes presents an award to Sonia Creide of the Malunga Group of African-descendant Women.

The Malunga Group of African-descendant Women, for its work for the advancement of black women;


The Steve Biko Benefactor Institute for organizing preuniversity courses for Afro-descendants;


The Rural Women's Movement in Santa Carina for its support of rural women;


The Gaspar Dias Center for Human Rights for its work in the slums of Sao Paulo;


The National Child-Hope Movement, for improving the living conditions of poor children;


The Great Circus Arraial, an institution that trains poor children to work in the circus, and helps them to develop the confidence to earn their own living;


Mrs. Zilda Arns, founder and coordinator of the Children's National Pastoral;


March Eighth Woman's House, for its support of poor, pregnant women and the victims of violence.


Accepting the award on behalf of the March Eighth Women's House was Bernardete Aparecida Ferreira, the organization's president.
""This award is the acknowledgment of our work to defend the human rights of marginalized women and victims of violence -- our institution has helped about 3000 people a year,"" Mrs. Ferreira said.
The awards were founded by the Brazilian Baha'i community in 1994.
The jury which selected the award recipients this year included a representative of a major newspaper, ""Folha de Sao Paulo"", as well as members of the National Movement of Human Rights, UNESCO and the Baha'i community.
The president of the jury was Brazilian writer Washington Araujo.
""The creation of this award put a spotlight on the efforts of the Baha'i Community to defend human rights, for world peace, the status of women and the preservation of the environment,"" said Mr. Araujo, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Brazil.",BRASILIA,,Brazil
254,2003-09-19,[],Island of faith holds jubilee,"PALERMO, Italy — It all began with the decisions of one woman in Massachusetts and a family in Michigan.
When they decided to take the teachings of the Baha'i Faith to Sicily 50 years ago, they initiated the next phase in the religious history of this Mediterranean island.
Centuries ago it had been an outpost of Islam, but it was a tight-knit community with a strong allegiance to the Catholic Church when the first Baha'is arrived in 1953 as part of a ten-year plan to take the teachings of the Faith around the world.
From 19 to 21 September 2003, as the Baha'is of Sicily celebrated the golden jubilee of the arrival of the Faith on their island, they could rejoice that Sicily now has 11 Local Spiritual Assemblies and that Baha'is now live in 44 localities there.
In 1953, however, there were no Baha'is in Sicily.
Arriving there was something of a shock for Emma Rice, who, at 55, had left her comfortable family estate in Hamilton, Massachusetts, in the United States.
""Her first impressions of Sicily were horrifying, for she was confronted with poverty, unsanitary conditions, illiteracy, and what she felt to be cruelty previously unknown to her,"" her 1985 obituary by Anne Gordon Atkinson reveals.  Participants at the jubilee.But she found strength in prayer and quickly made friends. In fact, just after Mrs. Rice's arrival in Sicily, a chambermaid in her hotel in Taormina caught sight of a picture of 'Abdu'l-Baha in Mrs. Rice's hotel room, and within two months both the maid and the hotel's laundress had become Baha'is.
Mrs. Rice plunged herself into Sicilian life. She learned the local songs and dances, and the language. She went to festivals, christenings, graduations, and pageants.
A week after Mrs. Rice came to Sicily, Baha'is from Michigan, Stanley and Florence Bagley, arrived with their three teenage children.
They met a local person who introduced them into Palermo society and soon gained local friends.
For their services in Sicily, the members of the Bagley family were designated by Shoghi Effendi as ""Knights of Baha'u'llah,"" as was Mrs. Rice.
At the golden jubilee celebrations held in Campofelice di Roccella near Palermo, there were 300 guests from 15 countries.
Guests of honor included a former member of the Universal House of Justice, Ali Nakhjavani, who spoke about the Ten Year Plan, and his wife, Violette Nakhjavani, who gave some moving recollections about Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, the widow of Shoghi Effendi.
The jubilee was an occasion to recall how the community grew over the years.
Through the activities of the Baha'i pioneers and other arrivals, and with visits by Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery (1896-1989), the Faith grew. The first Local Spiritual Assembly formed in 1957.
Dr. Giachery was born in Palermo, Sicily, but had later moved to the United States where, in the 1920s, he met his wife, Angeline, and became a Baha'i. In 1947, Dr. and Mrs. Giachery settled in Italy as pioneers of the Faith.
Dr. Giachery went on to win renown as an able assistant of Shoghi Effendi in the projects to build the superstructure of the Shrine of the Bab, and the International Archives Building, both on Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.
He provided innumerable services to the Faith. In August 1968, he was the representative of the Universal House of Justice at a conference attended by some 3,000 Baha'is in Palermo. The conference commemorated the centenary of Baha'u'llah's arrival in the Holy Land.
At the jubilee, Italian Baha'i Mario Piarulli, 82, shared with participants his memories of Dr. Giachery.
""Dr. Giachery and Mrs. Giachery were like my father and mother. They were the first Baha'is I met,"" Mr. Piarulli said.
""Whatever I know, concerning the meaning of life, the way life should be conducted, I learned from them,"" he said.
Mr. Piarulli, 82, has recently finished writing a book, ""The Ambassadors of Baha'u'llah"" (Gli Ambasciatori di Baha'u'llah), which he dedicated to the memory of Dr. Giachery.
Another author present was Rino Cardone, a journalist, who launched his recently published book ""The Countless Pearls of Sicily"" (La Sicilia dalle Infinite Perle), in which he describes the history of the Baha'i Faith in Sicily.
A highlight of the jubilee was a teleconference between the participants and Hand of the Cause Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa, who was in Haifa, Israel.
Dr. Varqa, who has been a regular visitor to Sicily, also sent a special letter for the occasion, which read in part:
""Following the 50 years of hard effort and activities, you have been successful in creating a community, which could be presented as a model of integrity, harmony, and fellowship that generates the sweet fragrance of divine love in all parts of the islands of the Mediterranean Sea.""",PALERMO,,Italy
255,2003-10-05,[],High tribute at Swiss centenary,"INTERLAKEN, Switzerland — Baha'is from all parts of Switzerland and guests from 26 other countries gathered last month for centenary celebrations in this scenic mountain town.
The festivities marking the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Baha'is in this country were held here because of the town's historical link to the Faith.
Interlaken was dear to Shoghi Effendi, the head of the Baha'i Faith from 1921 to 1957. On vacations here, he found a rare respite from his heavy workload.
The Interlaken celebrations followed an official reception for dignitaries held at the national Baha'i center in Bern on 23 September 2003 during which a senior Swiss political leader paid a high tribute to the Swiss Baha'i community.
""On the occasion of your jubilee celebration I congratulate you for the ideas you stand for and to which you are committed: the unity of humankind, world peace, tolerance towards people of other cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds,"" said the Federal Chancellor, Annemarie Huber-Hotz.
""I am here because I share your ideals and consider your efforts for their implementation as essential steps on the path towards a more peaceful world,"" Mrs. Huber-Hotz said.
""Our world needs people with a vision and a compass that are oriented beyond our own borders, and by borders I mean not only geographical, but ethnic, social and religious borders.""
The Swiss Baha'is presented the chancellor with a copy of ""The Baha'i World, 2001-2002"", the annual record of Baha'i activities and perspectives.  The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Switzerland, 2003.The major daily newspaper of Bern, ""Der Bund"", published an extensive article about the reception, whose guests included government officials, parliamentarians, and representatives of non-governmental and religious organizations.
The centenary events that followed in Interlaken on 4 and 5 October, celebrated the achievements of the country's Baha'i community in the first century of its existence.
Swiss Baha'is reside now in more than 220 locations in the country. A community of cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity, it comprises members from 60 national backgrounds.
Of the 57 people who have served on the National Spiritual Assembly throughout its 50-year history, 29 were women, 28 men, reflecting a commitment to the equality of women and men, a principle of the Baha'i Faith.
The International Baha'i Bureau was established in Switzerland in 1925, beginning the longstanding Baha'i association with international organizations, including the League of Nations and the United Nations. The Baha'i International Community maintains an office in Geneva.
The guests of honor among the 450 participants at the centenary celebrations in Interlaken included Ali Nakhjavani, a former member of the Universal House of Justice, and his wife, Violette.
Participants at the centennial enjoyed various artistic presentations, and heard about the history of the Baha'i community in Switzerland, including that 'Abdu'l-Baha  briefly visited Switzerland in September 1911, spending time at Lake Geneva.
Ariane Schaller related the stories of her grandparents, Joseph de Bons, from Switzerland, and his French-American wife, Edith, the first Baha'is to reside in Switzerland.
Also present at the centennial celebrations was Annemarie Kruger, the granddaughter of scientist and humanitarian, Auguste Forel (1848-1931), a Swiss Baha'i and a figure of such renown that his image has appeared on a Swiss postage stamp and bank note.
Nils Semle recounted stories of the contributions of his father, Fritz Semle, who accepted the Faith in 1920, and was elected a member of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Switzerland in 1962.
Also participating was a senior member of the community, Mrs. Renee Bahy-Vuichet, who joined the community in 1949, and who has been an active promoter of education for children and the advancement of women in both Switzerland and Iran.
A message from the Universal House of Justice to the participants said in part: ""May these events inspire all the participants and, beyond them, the devoted members of the Baha'i community in every part of the Confederation, with an increased awareness of the momentousness of their task and of the blessings that are showered upon every determined endeavor for the progress of the Cause.""",INTERLAKEN,,Switzerland
256,2003-10-17,[],Public parade a triumph of faith,"PORT VILA, Vanuatu — On the 50th anniversary last month of the arrival here of the Baha'i Faith, a parade set out from Baha'i Street and moved through the center of this capital city.
The streets were closed for the occasion and the police provided an escort for the hundreds of Baha'is on parade.
Singing songs and waving to the crowds, the Baha'is paraded under banners proclaiming principles of their Faith such as ""the oneness of humanity.""
Traditional dancers from the Vanuatu island of Tongoa led the parade along the main streets.
Members of local Baha'i communities, wearing different floral uniforms, followed them.
The Baha'is of Mele, for example, wore yellow and purple, those from Pango were in pale blue, and the Erangorango Baha'is had on green and white.
Interspersed with the marchers were colorful floats including a replica of the S.S. Caledonien, the ship on which Bertha Dobbins had traveled to Port Vila in 1953. Mrs. Dobbins was the first to bring the Baha'i Faith to the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).
In the time since her arrival, the Baha'i community of Vanuatu has grown to have 44 Local Spiritual Assemblies, and a National Spiritual Assembly. The Faith is now established in 199 localities throughout this archipelago of some 80 islands.  Stephanie Melenamu (right), one of three prizewinners in the jubilee poster competition with a member of the Baha'i National Education Committee, Annick Moltaban.Before a 500-strong audience including many government and community leaders, the chairman of the National Council of Chiefs, Chief Paul Tahi, welcomed the parade and congratulated the Baha'is on the anniversary.
""I would like to praise the Baha'i community for all its contributions to this country, especially in education and promoting good health,"" Mr. Tahi said.
""Thank you, too, to the Baha'is who have set up businesses in Vanuatu and helped us economically.
""The Baha'i Faith is here to promote unity. Now unity is something that we must all protect. If we want to have unity in our communities, it is not enough to leave the chiefs to arrange it. Each of us, as individuals, has the responsibility of working towards it.""
A Baha'i youth representative, Laifi Soalo, pointed out that everyone is part of one family, the human family, and that the barrier to the unity of the human race is prejudice.
A representative of the Baha'i children, Faleono Mototorua, 10, said, ""We children beg of you, our parents to think strongly about our education. We want you to guide us along the straight path and to teach us how to achieve spiritual qualities.""
Later, at a public festival on Port Vila's tropical seafront, other leaders  to speak about the Faith included Vanuatu's Director-General of Education, Abel Nako, and the Mayor of Port Vila, Patrick Crowby.
""The Baha'i Faith is not new to me,"" Mr. Crowby said.
""It has been part of my life as a child at home, and now as Mayor of this city. My mother is a strong Baha'i. Even though I have not accepted the Faith, I always admire her.""
Baha'is first provided education in Vanuatu in 1954, and the tradition continues today on the island of Santo where the Rowhani school has 80 primary and kindergarten pupils from different religious backgrounds. It has a potential roll of 200. In 2004 it will grow to include a high school.
The Vanuatu Baha'is have their own radio program, and are frequently asked to participate in seminars on social issues. They are active in adult literacy and work in socio-economic projects involving health care, water supply and environmental conservation.
They reach out to the community by offering devotional meetings, children's classes and study circles aimed at developing skills, knowledge, and spiritual capacity.
A highlight of the jubilee, celebrated between 16 and 19 October 2003, was the opening of an extension to the national Baha'i center, which virtually doubles its size.
To a spontaneous eruption of cheering, singing and dancing, the cutting of the ribbon was performed by Vanuatu's first local Baha'i, Peter Kaltoli, and Madge Featherstone, who with her late husband, Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone, often visited Vanuatu.
Mrs. Featherstone spoke about her memories of Bertha Dobbins, who had taught both her and her husband the Baha'i Faith in South Australia in 1944.
Mrs. Dobbins (1895-1986) was a New Zealand schoolteacher who, before arriving in Vanuatu in 1953, had moved to Australia, where she became a Baha'i in 1929, edited the Baha'i magazine ""Herald of the South"" for 22 years, and served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand.
In consultation with her Baha'i husband, Joe, and her teenage children, Joseph and Helen, she decided to respond to a call from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, and arrived  by herself in Vanuatu on 17 October 1953 to offer the Baha'i message to people there.
In March 1955, Mr. Kaltoli, of Ifira, became the first person in Vanuatu to accept the Faith. Other early believers were David Lonis of Erakor, William Titiongoaroto of Tongoa, and Alice Wombu of Erromango.
Mrs. Dobbins established the Nur primary school in Port Vila in 1954, and continued teaching there until 1971. The first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed seven years after her arrival.
By 1977, there were enough Baha'is to allow the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Mrs. Dobbins, her goal achieved and by then elderly, felt able to leave the country.
Throughout the decades, local Baha'is assisted by those from other countries who had settled in Vanuatu, actively developed the Baha'i community, their efforts supported by traveling teachers of the Faith.
Other historic Baha'i events in Vanuatu included the visit in 1979 of Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, a Hand of the Cause and the widow of Shoghi Effendi.
Another occurred in 1998, when a representative of the Universal House of Justice, Giovanni Ballerio, met Vanuatu's president, Jean-Marie Leye Lenelgau, to talk about the role of Pacific Island leaders in bringing about world peace.
In 2002, the community received its first visit from a serving member of the Universal House of Justice, Ali Nakhjavani.
Among the many international guests attending the jubilee was a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia, Kath Podger, and an Australian-based member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Stephen Hall.
They participated in a day of laughter and tears as Baha'is remembered the hardships, achievements and personalities of the past, expressed confidence in the plans for future growth, and enjoyed musical items and traditional food cooked overnight in several earth ovens.
Representatives came from Baha'i communities in the Solomons and French Polynesia, and there was a 56-strong delegation from New Caledonia, who brought gifts and performed a powerful dance.
A professional Baha'i musician, Gary Stirling, performed for the Baha'is and, with Sylvain Malsungai, was a master of ceremonies at a full-day public concert of song and dances staged on the city's sea-front.
Non-stop entertainment there came from a Baha'i choir and dance groups from the Vanuatu island of Efate and from New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
Meanwhile Baha'i communities in Tanna, Malakula, Pentecost and Ambae held local jubilee festivities.",PORT VILA,,Vanuatu
258,2003-11-07,[],Moving images of spirituality,"EDMONTON, Canada — Twelve films were screened at an inaugural Baha'i film festival here this month.
The festival, open to the public, included movies made by professional and amateur filmmakers from Canada and the United States.
The pictures were presented in four categories: short and feature fiction, and short and feature documentary. Entries could include film, digital and analog video, and animation.
Supported by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Edmonton, ""The Cause and Effect Baha'i Film Festival"" (known as ""CEBFest"") was held from 6 to 8 November 2003 on the campus of the University of Alberta.
Among the themes explored at the festival were the spiritual nature of human beings, the equality of men and women, the elimination of prejudice, world peace, life after death, the harmony of science and religion, and the history of the Baha'i Faith.
In a workshop organized at the Edmonton Baha'i center, the festival participants also examined ideas on filmmaking. A panel discussion was also held on the role of individual initiative within the Baha'i community, and the importance of the arts.
The organizers of the festival were University of Alberta law student Tara Rout, 25, playwright Jacqueline Russell, 23, and film director Tobin Smith, 26.
""I am surprised that nobody has thought of it before,"" said Ms. Rout, the originator of CEBFest. Though not a film professional, she said she enjoys organizing events and wanted to provide a forum for this kind of filmmaking.  Surveying the location...director Tobin Smith (left) with Dustin Lamendola.""We wanted to create a venue for motion pictures that revolve around virtues and attributes of the Baha'i Faith, a place where Baha'i artists could showcase their work,"" she said.
Mr. Smith said the festival also gave artists and filmmakers an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and to plan collaboration for future projects.
""I think festivals like this say to filmmakers: 'You have a place and you are not alone',"" he said.
His film, ""Song of Songs"", won the Best International Picture award at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival in 2002, and he has strong views about the role of cinema in society.
""It is important to make motion pictures that don't contribute to the 'lack of quality cinema' -- to make movies that lead you to think, to contemplate, and to raise influence,"" he said.
""As Baha'i artists we have the opportunity to make motion pictures that are of a particular standard, a quality -- to share the history of the Baha'i Faith, to share the principles of the Baha'i Faith, to share the vision of what we hope for the future.
""The influence that Baha'i films can have on the world is limitless. What people want to see are good stories, told well.""
Baha'i filmmakers can contribute to spirituality in film, he said, even if the film doesn't involve explicitly Baha'i content.
""Take a look at a motion picture like 'What Dreams May Come'. Nowhere is there mention of religion or any such design, but that motion picture exists on a spiritual plane. I'd say the same for 'Whale Rider'. Here is a motion picture that strongly influenced and affected me. It was spiritual filmmaking to me.""
Gretchen Jordan-Bastow, who submitted a film about Navajo sand painting, said that the event provided a rare opportunity to people to see films together, in one place that demonstrated moral, social and spiritual values.
""Today the media is full of news of murder, war, and various violent acts -- this beats down society and is a discouragement to the human spirit,"" said Ms. Bastow, who has worked as a producer and director for more than 16 years.
""Baha'i films can bring to the forefront all the good work that is being done, and demonstrate the triumph of the human spirit,"" said Ms. Jordan-Bastow.
Another filmmaker who presented her work was Angela Rout (a sister of Tara). Her film, ""I Think You'll Like it There"", deals with the excitement and the personal challenges of a youth offering a year of service to her community.
""From my understanding, the Baha'i concept of art is inclusive rather than exclusive,"" said Ms Rout, 26, a fine arts graduate who is now an architecture student.
""It is inspiring, useful, a part of everyday life. It enhances our world, reminds us of our true purpose and of our noble character.
""The spiritual nature of the theme (of the festival) is quite different from mainstream festivals and this is a unique opportunity.
""Artists and filmmakers tend to work independently and don't get a chance to see the impact of their work. By bringing these films together, the combined energies and perspective is inspiring to both the audience and the filmmakers.""
Another participating filmmaker was Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi, whose film, ""When Your Spirit Goes Wandering"", deals with escapism and the denial of one's spiritual nature.
He said that films are possible tools of social advancement.
""Art must have a purpose and function beyond itself -- either to provoke thought, encourage consultation or elevate the spirit through aesthetic form,"" Mr. Eshraghi-Yazdi said.
""My artistic inspiration is deeply inspired by the writings of Baha'u'llah, both in concept and function,"" he said.
Most of the filmmakers received funding for their productions from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canada Film Board, and Vision TV, Canada's leading multi-faith and multicultural television network.
Encouraged by the interest showed by participants, the organizers are planning to hold weekend workshops on story boarding, film editing, grant applications, and other practical issues related to film making throughout the next year.
Although initially the festival began as an experimental project only, the organizers now have a vision for CEBFest and they are already planning for next year's festival.
""I myself know about four movies that didn't get in because of the deadline -- this is just the beginning,"" Tara Rout said.
""I am hoping that people, who have come to the festival, will feel welcomed to the Baha'i community because it's an open, dynamic, and exciting place to be.""
For more information about the festival see
http://www.geocities.com/cebfest/index.htm
Films presented at ""The Cause and Effect Baha'i  Film Festival"" 2003 were:

The Trials of Eve by Gretchen Jordan-Bastow.
Myth and story-telling combine Canadian West-Coast imagery with the Adam and Eve story to create a positive vision of change and transformation for both women and men.
Morning Stars: A Profile of Kevin Locke by Shar Mitchell
Kevin Locke, an internationally renowned hoop dancer from the Sioux Nation, says that the teachings of the Baha'i Faith are the fulfillment of his people's traditional prophecies. His flute music, hoop dancing and oral traditions express some of his culture.
What Hath God Wrought!: A History of the First Century of the Baha'i Dispensation by Joel Cotten.
This documentary tells the story of the fulfillment of 19th century expectations and reveals a connection among the messianic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baha'i Faith.
Seasonal Soil...Singing Stones by Jennifer Maas.
The story of a diverse neighborhood in Seattle where a park to commemorate Cesar Chavez, the Latino civil rights leader, is being built.
Navajo Sand Painting: The Healing Tradition by Gretchen Jordan-Bastow.
Native American Baha'i, Mitchell Silas, takes the viewer on a journey into the ancient world of the Navajo healer and demonstrates the connection of native traditions with the Baha'i revelation.
Abdu'l-Baha: Glimpses of Perfection by Faramarz Rohani.
Visuals and narration depict stories about Abdu'l-Baha's trip to North America in 1912.
A New Faith is Born by Faramarz Rohani.
An account of the growth of the Baha'i community from a small, persecuted band of believers into a vibrant, international body.
Sherbrooke Baha'i Youth Congress by Tobin Smith.
In 2001, more than 1,000 Baha'i youth from all over the world gathered in Sherbrooke, Quebec to celebrate the international Baha'i Youth movement. This film communicates the spirit of that event and of the youth movement itself.
I Think You'll Like It Here by Angela Rout.
A young Baha'i on her year of service to the community depicts the challenges involved.
Skowak: The Bribri of Mojoncito, Costa Rica by Shar Mitchell.
A look at the Bribri people and their success at maintaining their traditions in the face of modern development.
Zamir: Red Grammar in the U.S.S.R by Shar Mitchell.
Just before the fall of communism, a Baha'i children's performer tours the Soviet Union promoting the principles of world unity and love for all humanity.
When Your Spirit Goes Wandering by Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi.
The film deals with the cause and effect of our spiritual actions and the consequences of attempts at escape from, or denial of, our responsibilities.",EDMONTON,,Canada
259,2003-11-21,[],Baha'i International Community lauds passage of UN Resolution on Human Rights in Iran,"NEW YORK — Noting that the Baha'is of Iran face continuing religious persecution, the Baha'i International Community today expressed appreciation for the support of those countries that co-sponsored and voted for a new resolution in the United Nations General Assembly about ongoing human rights violations in Iran.
""International support remains the key to protecting the long oppressed Baha'i community of Iran,"" said Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""We are extremely grateful today for the support of those countries that have once again expressed concern about human rights violations in Iran -- especially as regards Iran's Baha'is.""
By a vote of 73 to 49, with 50 abstentions, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution today that expresses ""serious concern"" over continuing violations of human rights in Iran -- and mentions specifically ""continuing discrimination"" against Baha'is and other religious minorities.
Since the Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979, the 300,000-member Baha'i community of Iran has faced on-going and systematic persecution. In the early 1980s, more than 200 Baha'is were killed, hundreds were imprisoned, and thousands were deprived of jobs and education, solely because of their religious belief.
Although killings and imprisonments have abated in recent years -- in large part thanks to international pressure -- Iran's Baha'is remain victims of systematic oppression. Baha'is continue to be deprived of employment, property, education, and the right to freedom of assembly and worship.
Two years ago, for the first time in 18 years, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights failed to pass a resolution expressing concern about human rights in Iran, an event that ended UN-sponsored monitoring of the Iran's human rights situation.
""Since the end of international monitoring, the situation of the Baha'i community has not improved -- as was hoped by those countries that urged a 'dialogue' with Iran on human rights,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""Indeed, if anything, the situation of the Baha'is in Iran has deteriorated, with an increase in short term arrests and detentions, the confiscation of more properties, and continued harassment of Baha'i teachers and students.
""We laud those countries that recognize the importance of continued pressure on Iran and that have taken a principled stand by co-sponsoring it and/or voting for it,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""At the same time, we must state that we regret the lack of support from those nations that have chosen to turn a blind eye to the oppression of Iran's largest religious minority.""
""For Iran's beleaguered Baha'is, a resolution from the United Nations is a sign of hope and a source of comfort, confirmation that the international community indeed stands behind its words on human rights.""
Those countries who co-sponsored the resolution were: Andorra, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sweden, The Netherlands, Tuvalu, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Approval of the resolution in the Third Committee virtually assures its passage by the full General Assembly in a final vote, an event that is likely to occur in December.",NEW YORK,,United States
260,2003-11-23,[],Greek youth dance into view,"ATHENS, Greece — Young Baha'i dancers from Greece received an enthusiastic reception when they performed at an exhibition by nongovernmental organizations in Athens last month.
The exhibition was organized under a development program of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held at the historic Zappio.
The applause was matched when they performed at an international gathering for peace held at another elite venue, the Palia Vouli (""Old Parliament"") in Athens.
Such response is becoming familiar to the Flame of Unity troupe.
Similar positive reactions came when the 15-member troupe danced at a seminar on conflict resolution held in Cyprus last summer, and when it performed at two other venues on that island -- in an old khan (hotel) in the northern part of Nicosia and at a Baha'i summer school in the south of Cyprus before 300 people from 28 countries.
The dancers, aged between 11 and 17, aim to inspire their audience to tackle and overcome the causes of such social problems as racism, poverty, abuse in the family, and illicit drug use.
One of two co-coordinators of the troupe, Helen Kontos, a Baha'i from Thessaloniki, said organizers of prestigious events are impressed by the dancers' excellence, their enthusiasm in raising awareness about important issues, and the choreography.
Mrs. Kontos said their audiences appreciate the sincerity of these young performers in giving their message.  Phoenix Theatre and some of their young fans.""And they admire the fact that the multi-cultural group, which includes youth from Greek, Albanian, Dutch, Swiss, Persian, and other backgrounds, shows such unity.""
The other co-ordinator of Flame of Unity, Lida Mirra, a Baha'i from Patras, said that members of Flame of Unity make an effort on tour to develop their own characters.
""We conduct daily deepenings (spiritual study sessions) and prayers and, besides their arts skills, the youth develop their social skills and their spirituality.""
This past summer, Flame of Unity toured Greece where they presented their show in Volos, Larissa, Amarinthos, Zagora, and Patras, and finished in September with three performances in Thessaloniki.
""It was exhausting, but wonderful,"" said Andreas Vatsellas, a 17-year-old from Athens and the oldest member of the group.
He said he couldn't believe how impressed people were and that such young people could cause such an impression.
Mrs. Kontos said that when they danced on 6 September 2003 at the gypsy settlement of Agias Sofias near Thessaloniki, the audience response was spontaneous and warm-hearted.
""There was a crowd of people of all ages, and they would surround them and come closer and closer,"" she said.
""We had to make more space so they could dance, and some of the men helped us. They responded with such generosity, care and warmth that they impressed us as much as our youth did them.""
The troupe also received a warm reception when it performed at a youth prison near Volos.
Some of the troupe had already experienced the taste of success as members of the Phoenix Theatre, a drama group that was founded in the summer of 2001 and which performed local material in the Greek language. Most of the Flame of Unity dancers were part of that group.
Mrs. Kontos taught them songs and choreographies for her play ""Beast TV, Channel One,"" a fable about human rights in which an owl reads news about uprisings all over animal country.  Each of the scenes is followed by a song and dance.
Her husband, Greek composer Kostas Kontos, instructed the group in singing, and taught them one of his own compositions.
Theater director Jessica Naish from the United Kingdom instructed the young people in stagecraft and directed the play, assisted by actress Shirin Youssefian-Maanian from Athens.
After rehearsals on the island of Evia in 2002, Theatre Phoenix performed before a Turkish-speaking minority in Athens and in Volos, Larissa, and Thessaloniki. A national television channel covered a performance at a gypsy camp.
That year the troupe members began their intensive training in dance organized by the National Youth Committee of the Baha'is of Greece.
They went to Crete for intensive training in the choreographies of the dance workshop. Their teacher was  Ramin (""Wrighley"") Mazloum of Germany.
This year the youth gathered in March to rehearse the dances with the help of Jesse Fish, an American Baha'i youth.
""We learned much more than just dancing,"" said Daphni Kontou, a 13-year-old from Thessaloniki.
""We needed to focus and be disciplined, and not to waste time, otherwise we could never manage to rehearse in time for the performances. It was also very important that we had unity in the group and didn't forget what we were doing it for.""",ATHENS,,Greece
261,2003-11-26,[],High-ranking member of the Baha'i Faith passes away,"HAIFA, Israel — The worldwide Baha'i community has lost one of its most cherished figures with the death on 26 November of Ali-Akbar Furutan.
Mr. Furutan, who carried the rank of Hand of the Cause of God, was one of the only two surviving members of this company of senior officers of the Faith appointed by its late Guardian, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, who died in 1957.
Mr. Furutan was 98 years of age, but had maintained a demanding schedule of activities at the Faith's World Centre in Haifa, Israel.
He died of natural causes.
His wisdom and gentle sense of humor had contributed greatly to deepening the understanding of the Faith's spiritual teachings by the steady stream of Baha'is from all over the world who come as pilgrims to the Shrines of their religion.
Born in Sabzivar, Iran, on 29 April 1905, Ali-Akbar Furutan moved with his family to Ashgabat in what was then Russian Turkestan (now part of Turkmenistan), and, through his years of school and university, he took an active part in the work of the Baha'i communities of Ashgabat, Baku, Moscow, and other parts of Russia.
In 1930 he was expelled from the Soviet Union during the Stalinist persecution of religion, and, from that time on, played an ever more significant role in the work and administration of the Iranian Baha'i community.
Following the passing of Shoghi Effendi, Mr. Furutan was one of the nine Hands of the Cause selected, at their first Conclave, to serve as Custodians in the Holy Land, pending the election of the Universal House of Justice, the governing body of the religion envisioned by its Founder, Baha'u'llah.  Mr. Furutan at the dedication of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, United States of America, 1953.As a young man, Mr. Furutan had won a scholarship to the University of Moscow, from which he obtained degrees in education and psychology.
On returning to Iran, with his wife, Ataieh, he served as principal at the influential ""Tarbiyat School for Boys"" which was eventually closed by the Pahlavi government as a result of pressure brought by fanatical Islamic elements in the country.
Despite the circumstances of his departure from the Soviet Union, Mr. Furutan retained to the end of his life a deep love for the people of that region of the world.
A source of great joy was his return in 1990, as the guest of honor at the election of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Soviet Union.
It seemed a particularly fitting conclusion for a long life of service to humankind that his death should have occurred at the close of a meeting where he had addressed assembled Baha'i pilgrims from many countries, as was his practice, concluding his remarks with the exchange of a few words with some of the Russian-speaking believers in attendance.
Mr. Furutan's wife predeceased him. He is survived by his daughters, Iran Muhajir and Parvin Furutan, and two granddaughters, Gisu Muhajir-Cook and Shabnam Rahnema.",HAIFA,,Israel
262,2003-10-11,[],Lively festivities in Lesotho,"MASERU, Lesotho — Lively performances of dance, music and storytelling were highlights of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Baha'i Faith in Lesotho, held from 10-12 October 2003.
The Butha Buthe Baha'i choir and the Men's Choir from Lesotho sang several times throughout the program, as did the Swaziland Baha'i choir.
A visiting arts group from South Africa, Beyond Words, performed many dances. They also depicted the lives of the first Lesotho Baha'is in a play written for the occasion.
At times during the event, all the participants were dancing and singing together in harmony.
Following a reception at the national Baha'i center, more than 170 Baha'is gathered at the Lesotho Sun Hotel for two days of celebrations. Guests came from South Africa and Swaziland.
Lesotho Television covered part of the proceedings.
Present at the event was a member of the Continental Board of Counselors, Enos Makhele of South Africa, who spoke about the historical significance of the anniversary.
After an address by the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, Nontsiki Mashologo, participants learned from a slide presentation about some significant Baha'i activities during the past 50 years, such as visits by traveling teachers, youth conferences, and children's classes.  Frederick Laws.One of those major events was the visit from 19 July to 4 August, 1972, of Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, a Hand of the Cause of God and the widow of the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
The first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of  Lesotho was formed in 1971. There are now 26 Local Spiritual Assemblies, and Baha'is live in more than 470 localities.
The Lesotho Baha'is hold regular children's classes, study circles, and devotional meetings. There is also a youth enrichment program, which encourages young people to identify their problems and empowers them to find solutions.
At the jubilee, Mapeko Mofolo, the secretary of the National  Assembly, told stories about the early days of the Baha'i Faith in Lesotho.
The first Baha'is to arrive in Basutoland (as Lesotho was once called) were Frederick and Elizabeth Laws, a couple from the United States.
They arrived on 13 October 1953, just three days before the end of the Holy Year at the beginning of a ten-year plan to take the Baha'i teachings around the world.
For their services, they each received the accolade, Knight of Baha'u'llah, from Shoghi Effendi.
The Laws soon won the hearts of the local people. Mrs. Laws became known simply as ""Malerato"" (Mother of Love) and Mr. Laws as ""Lerato"" (Love).
They soon met Chadwick and Mary Mohapi, a couple in their sixties.
""The Mohapis asked us to live in their village, and gave us a round, thatched hut with a clay floor. The rondavel was about 16 feet in diameter. We laid a tarpaper floor and moved in,"" Mrs. Laws later recalled.
On 6 September, 1954, after learning about the faith from Mr. and Mrs. Laws every evening for five weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Mohapi became Baha'is, the first local believers of their country.
Subsequently, despite difficulties with language, many local people were enthusiastic to learn about the Baha'i Faith.
""Our mighty Lord takes our inadequate words, our puny efforts, and causes them to bring great results,"" Mrs. Laws wrote.
""Those who hear go out to tell many others -- the chain is endless to eternity.""
Mr. and Mrs. Laws stayed in Basutoland for 30 months. Mr. Laws could not get a work permit so they left for South Africa in early 1956. By that time there were 85 Baha'is in Lesotho and five Local Spiritual Assemblies.
They later moved to Gambia and then to Liberia to assist the Baha'i communities in each of those countries.",MASERU,,Lesotho
263,2003-11-08,[],Arts portray life of the spirit,"SCARBOROUGH, England — British Baha'is explored creative ways to portray the themes of a popular study course on spirituality at a national festival held here last month.
More than 1,200 people attended the festival, held from 7 to 9 November 2003, in the historic spa town of Scarborough, on the northeast coast of England.
The Baha'is and their many guests used the arts and other methods to portray the themes of ""Reflections on the Life of the Spirit,"" a course aimed at understanding prayer, life after death, and the spiritual nature of human beings.
The course, created at the Ruhi Institute in Colombia, is the first in a series being used widely by Baha'is around the world to develop spiritual insights, knowledge and skills. People who are not Baha'is are also participating in increasing numbers.
Festival coordinator Rob Weinberg said the event was aimed at encouraging people to reflect on their spiritual nature and its portrayal in dramatic and musical performances, audio-visual presentations, and talks.
""The 'Life of the Spirit' was chosen as the theme because (spirituality) is fundamental to life and the transformation of society,"" Mr. Weinberg said.
Though many of the participants had already studied the course, Mr. Weinberg said that the festival was meant to ""take the concepts and ideas of it and present them on a bigger stage.""  Professor Edward Granville Browne in oriental attire.""We also wanted to demonstrate to our visitors and friends what it means to be a Baha'i and to encourage them to engage with the processes the community is involved with.""
Among the many guests of the Baha'is attending the festival was a representative of environmental charity Life Force International, Nigel Whittle, who said the festival was successful on many levels.
The enormous effort of the Baha'is was demonstrated by the variety and quality of exhibits, talks, and entertainment, Mr. Whittle said.
""Since the spirit is manifested in the material, this aspect of the festival alone represented much love, faith, and spiritual development,"" he said.
The spiritual realities that underpin human existence, the main theme of ""Book One"" of the Ruhi Institute's series of courses, was the topic of an address by Sohrab Youssefian, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors.
""Just as there are laws, such as gravity which govern our physical life, so there are spiritual laws which impact on the life of our souls,"" Mr. Youssefian said.
""If we fail to access these forces, we remain like a bird that refuses to leave its nest and fly -- in other words, we do not realize the potentialities inherent within us.""
Allied to the theme of prayer was an exhibition that showed the development of Baha'i Houses of Worship around the world.
Rare drawings and photographs of those Temples were displayed alongside architectural models. Audio-visual presentations charted their evolution.
The exhibition also included images and descriptions of the model of the newest Baha'i Temple, which is now in the planning stages and will be built near Santiago, Chile.
Illustrating the theme of life after death, Arabella Velasco, a British writer and actress, presented ""A Light at the End of the Tunnel,"" her play based on first-hand accounts of near-death experiences.
""These were true stories taken from over 200 testimonials that were studied in my writing of the play,"" said Ms. Velasco, who played all three characters.
""Although science has not yet backed up such experiences, they add an enriching element to our study, in (""Reflection on the Life of the Spirit"") and other arenas, of life after death,"" she said.
Other themes, such as the status of women, were also creatively explored at the festival.
Athens-based actor Shirin Youssefian-Maanian performed all 14 characters in the play ""Pure,"" written by Annabel Knight.
The play depicts the life and death of the 19th century Persian poet, Tahirih, who heralded a new age of emancipation for women and challenged the religious fundamentalism of her time.
Among the prominent musicians at the festival was Conrad Lambert, also known as Merz, who gave a solo performance.
Merz's debut album was named one of the top 50 in the United Kingdom in 1999, and his performance at the Glastonbury Festival won him critical acclaim.
Making his UK debut was Tunisian-born Hatef Sedkaoui, also known as Atef, who played a blend of new soul and traditional Arabic dance music with his Marseilles-based band, ""Soul Tunes.""
One of the members of ""Soul Tunes,"" Franck Taieb, said there were no religious barriers when it came to music.
""My wife is a Muslim and I am Jewish, and Atef is a Baha'i, and music brings us all together,"" Mr. Taieb said.
The festival included a creative description of aspects of the 1890 meeting between the distinguished Cambridge University orientalist, Professor Edward Granville Browne, and Baha'u'llah.
A documentary film about Professor Browne, which included footage shot in the professor's rooms at Pembroke College, was screened.
Festival participants could enter a detailed reconstruction of the room near Acre, Israel where the meeting took place, and hear a recording of Professor Browne's eloquent pen-portrait of Baha'u'llah.
Another film shown at the festival charted the worldwide development of the Baha'i community since 1890.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom presented a program describing the Baha'i social and community projects underway in the country.
Participants heard about the Institute for Social Cohesion, a Baha'i sponsored initiative, which encourages government and civil society to promote unity and understanding between socially diverse groups within British society.
Heather O'Neill, the coordinator of the Baha'i-inspired Youth Empowerment Project of Swindon, described how many young people have transformed their lives by participating in programs aimed at helping them develop a sense of purpose, personal responsibility and community service.
Festival participants aged between 11 and 14 had sessions in which they explored issues affecting them at school, and in the wider society.
The event concluded with a devotional ceremony. Pauline Senior, 96, a Baha'i for more than 80 years, led readers -- from children to the elderly -- in a tribute to the transforming power of the Baha'i teachings in their lives.",SCARBOROUGH,,United Kingdom
264,2003-11-30,[],Reflections of Rwanda,"KIGALI, Rwanda — Baha'is from different ethnic groups joined together in unity at a meeting here where they reviewed the achievements of their community and made plans for the future.
The Baha'is were participating in a ""reflection meeting"" -- now an increasingly common practice in Baha'i communities worldwide.
Songs and traditional dances contributed to the meeting, which was held on 30 November 2003. Sixty participants attended, half of whom were youth. They came from different sectors of the community.
A Baha'i spokesperson said that unity is a Baha'i ideal, and the Baha'is identify themselves as Rwandans first, instead of as belong to a particular ethnic group like Hutu or Tutsi.
""So in the Baha'i meetings everybody is seen as a brother or a sister, without emphasizing the differences,"" the spokesperson said.
The reflection meeting was the third held in the Kigali cluster of communities, which comprises five Local Spiritual Assemblies.
The participants studied, ""Building Momentum,"" a publication produced at the Baha'i World Centre, which gives guidance in the administrative and capacity-building methods being used to advance the process of wide expansion of the Faith.  Baha'is in Kigali, Rwanda, participate in a study circle.Baha'is are following advice from the international governing council, the Universal House of Justice, to focus on three core activities: study circles, children's classes and devotional meetings, all of which are open to participation from those in the wider society.
In the Kigali cluster there are six regular study circles, -- which are aimed at developing spiritual insights, knowledge and skills -- five children's classes and nine devotional meetings.
The participants at the reflection meeting made a plan to multiply those activities.
In 1994 in Rwanda, widespread violence resulted in the deaths of some 800,000 people.
In March 2000, as the country struggled to create unity and rebuild trust between the ethnic groups, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Rwanda issued a statement to the National Commission for Unity and Reconciliation urging consideration of the principle of oneness of humanity as a basis for reconciliation in the country.
""Baha'is believe that humankind has always constituted one species, but that prejudice, ignorance, power seeking, and egotism have prevented many people from recognizing and accepting this oneness,"" said the National Spiritual Assembly, urging the adoption of a program for moral education that would seek both to abolish prejudices and to foster social and economic development.",KIGALI,,Rwanda
265,2003-10-15,[],Double blessing for Cook Islands,"RAROTONGA, Cook Islands — Two women -- from different countries but with the same aim -- brought the Baha'i Faith to these remote islands half a century ago.
As part of an internationally co-ordinated effort to spread the Baha'i Faith around the world, Edith Danielsen, from the United States, and Dulcie Dive, from New Zealand via Australia, arrived here in 1953 and 1954 respectively.
Their efforts soon bore fruit. In March 1955, two Cook Islanders, Tuaine Karotaua (also known as Mr. Peter Titi) followed by Rima Nicholas, became Baha'is.
A year later, the first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Cook Islands was first elected in 1985.
The stories of these early Baha'is and those who followed were told during the 50th jubilee celebrations held here from 10 to 15 October 2003.
More than 100 participated, including overseas visitors and guests.
A commemoration event on 14 October began with a traditional welcome from Cook Islands Baha'i Nga Makirere.
Mrs. Makirere described how the message of both Jesus Christ and Baha'u'llah arrived in the Cook Islands through the island of Aitutaki, Mrs. Danielsen's first landing point.  First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Rarotonga, 1956.Among the official guests at the jubilee were Queen Elizabeth's representative to the Cook Islands, Frederick Goodwin, and his wife, Ina Goodwin, the former representative, Sir Apenera Short and Lady Short, and Prime Minister Robert Woonton with his wife, Sue Woonton.
Also present were traditional tribal chiefs and a representative from the country's Religious Advisory Council.
During his address, Sir Apenera commended the organizers of the jubilee, and the Baha'is in general.
""I praise you Baha'is for bringing your religion to the Cook Islands,"" Sir Apenera said.
""I pray God to take you to another 50 years, and God will make that happen.""
Baha'i speakers included Heather Simpson, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, and Alan Wilcox, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand. The Baha'i communities of both countries have close links.
Among the guests were the brother and daughter of Tuaine Karotaua, Papa Poreo Tavai Portoru and Te Oru Karotaua; a son of Rima Nicholas, Albert Nicholas and his wife; and a daughter of a prominent Baha'i, the late Pa Ariki, Chief of Takitumu, Lily Henderson.
Also present during the festivities were Baha'i pioneers Nan Greenwood, from Canada, and Gwen Welland, from the United States, who have lived in the Cook Islands since 1972 and 1962, respectively.
Professor Duane Varan of Australia gave talks on the Faith to audiences comprising Baha'is and members of the wider community.
The events also included a devotional gathering that opened with a prayer said in eight languages, and featured children singing and readings from the Baha'i holy writings. The program also included reading messages of congratulations from Baha'is overseas.
Other highlights included a concert with singing, drumming and dancing, and a visit to the island of Aitutaki.
Georgie Skeaff, who has compiled a record of the Cook Islands Baha'i community, led a tour to historical Baha'i landmarks, such as where Mrs. Danielsen and Mrs. Dive first lived here.
Mrs. Skeaff's account tells how Mrs. Danielsen (1909- 1984) was in San Francisco when she ran her finger over a map, stopped it at the Cook Islands, and decided to go there. She arrived in October 1953, and remained until 1958.
Mrs. Danielsen was responding to a call by the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, to move to places where there were no Baha'is so that the spiritual benefits of Baha'u'llah's teachings would be available to all.
An outgoing personality, Mrs. Danielsen was also a talented musician -- she played the organ to entertain guests -- and she delighted in extending hospitality and teaching the Baha'i Faith.
Meanwhile, Dulcie Dive (1909-1962), a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New Zealand since 1944, left her adopted country of Australia in 1954 to be a Baha'i pioneer in the Cook Islands.
Mrs. Skeaff said Mrs. Dive had a loving nature, which attracted people to her. She is still spoken about with affection in the Cook Islands.
As first Baha'i arrivals, both Mrs. Danielsen and Mrs. Dive were named Knights of Baha'u'llah by Shoghi Effendi.
Mrs. Skeaff's record also describes the first two Baha'is in the Cook Islands and others who followed.
In 1956, the first Cook Island Baha'i, Mr. Titi (1907-84) moved to New Zealand where he came to be loved for his spiritual insights, his happy personality and his devotion to spreading the Baha'i message.
The first Cook Island Baha'i woman, Mrs. Nicholas (1926-2000), had been a star student, and became a popular singer and instrumentalist, and a leader of the Girl Guides. She greatly assisted the progress of the Faith by providing her skills as a translator to Mrs. Danielsen.
Another prominent Baha'i was Pa Tepaeru Terito Ariki (1923-1990), who became a Baha'i after meeting Dulcie Dive and Edith Danielsen. In 1978, Pa Terito inherited her traditional chief's title. As Ariki (hereditary chief) of Takitumu, she was able to reach many levels of society, and she actively proclaimed the Faith in the South Pacific.
Te Atamira Makirere was a clergyman when, in the face of considerable local disapproval, he and his wife, Nga, became Baha'is in 1977. Te Atamira, also known as ""Ta"" or ""Papa Ta,"" lives on Aitutaki and is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly.
There were more than 100 pioneers in the Cook Islands from 1953-2003, and more than 170 traveling teachers.
Much of the development of the Baha'i community has been carried out in difficult circumstances.
In 1975, a law was enacted allowing only four religious groups -- all Christian denominations -- to publicly teach their faith. This law was repealed in 1978.
In 1992, four Baha'is formed a private pre-school, which has now developed into a primary and intermediate school, Te Uki O. There have been many other Baha'i-inspired projects over the last 50 years. A current one is the ""Cook Islands Learning Disability Reading Program.""
For the last eight years, a popular Baha'i television program, ""Baha'i on Air,"" has screened at first weekly, and now fortnightly, in Rarotonga.",RAROTONGA,,Cook Islands
266,2003-10-10,[],Celebrating with music and dance,"LAS PALMAS, Spain — Classical Spanish dances and melodies entertained participants at the 50th jubilee celebrations in the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands.
Canary Islands
Songs originating from the Canary Islands were a highlight of the festivities held in the capital, Las Palmas, from 10-12 October 2003.
Guests from Austria, Senegal, Morocco, and Spain joined local Baha'is to watch a video documentary about the 50 years of Baha'i activity in the islands.
Another film, produced by local youth, depicted the significant role young people played in the history of the Baha'i community.
One of the speakers, Mahnaz Nekoudin, paid tribute to the Baha'is who had settled in the islands to support the work of the Baha'i community.
Many of those pioneering Baha'is were present at the jubilee, and received roses as a gesture of gratitude.
The Faith came to the Canary Islands in October 1953 when George and Peggy True, and their son, Barry, arrived from Detroit and settled in Tenerife.  George and Peggy True, and their son, Barry, with Gertrude Eisenberg (right) in the Canary Islands.For their services, Mr. and Mrs. True received the accolade Knights of Baha'u'llah from Shoghi Effendi.
At the jubilee, Barry True gave an address that included affectionate reminiscences of his parents.
Another Knight of Baha'u'llah to the Canary Islands was Gertrude Eisenberg, who settled on the island of Grand Canary.
Shoghi Riaz Rouhani, a Baha'i from Egypt, arrived on that island a few months later, in April 1954. He too was named a Knight of Baha'u'llah.
Mr. Rouhani, who was present at the jubilee, talked about the significance of the historic events 50 years ago.
Also contributing to the festivities were Emilio Egea and Sohrab Youssefian, members of the Continental Board of Counselors.
In conjunction with the jubilee, the Baha'is organized an interfaith panel discussion, which was held at the Writers' Guild of Las Palmas.
Present at that meeting were representatives of the Buddhist, Catholic, and Jewish communities, as well as the consuls for Ireland and Italy.
Ines Jimenez, member of the town council of Las Palmas, spoke at that gathering.
""The message that I learned is that humanity is one race, and that unity, peace, and dialogue of all cultures of the world will be a reality,"" Mrs. Jimenez said.
Also attending were Angel Tristan, editor and columnist of one of the regional newspapers, ""La Provincia,"" who had written an article about the Baha'i Faith.
The jubilee was also covered by another local newspaper, the ""Canarias 7,"" and there was a report by the local television station, Channel 8.
Balearic Islands
Celebrations took place in Mallorca (Majorca), Soller, and Calvia from 21 to 23 November 2003.
Many Baha'i and other artists, including the local Baha'i choir and the San Jaime Choir, performed at the events. Regional dances, and performances on violin and piano were also part of the entertainment.
The first Baha'i to take the Faith to the islands was Virginia Orbison of the United States, who arrived in August 1953.
Others soon to follow were Jean and Tove Deleuran from Denmark, and Charles Monroe Ioas of the United States, who was present at the jubilee.
They were among many other Baha'is at the same time who left their home countries at the urging of the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, to take the teachings of Baha'u'llah around the world.
Those first four to arrive in the Balearic Islands received the title Knight of Baha'u'llah from Shoghi Effendi.
Several high-ranking officials were present at the celebrations, including the director of the Human Rights for Children's Office, a UNESCO representative, and senior members of the Education Council, who praised the Baha'i community's work for social welfare.
Also present were Emilio Egea, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, and members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Spain.
Representatives of the Buddhist, Jewish, Catholic, and Muslim communities participated with the Baha'is in a panel discussion on religious dialogue, which was covered by the local media.",LAS PALMAS,,Spain
267,2003-11-27,[],"In the U.S., South surges towards success","NASHVILLE, United States — Participants at the biggest Baha'i conference held in the United States since 2001 prepared themselves for increasingly focused efforts to expand the Faith in their country.
Some 4,000 Baha'is attended the Southern Regional Baha'i Conference, which was held from 27-30 November and was opened by the city's vice mayor Howard Gentry Jr.
Participants spent sessions examining progress in three core activities being undertaken throughout the Baha'i world -- capacity-building study circles, children's classes, and devotional meetings.
Those sessions, aimed at furthering the process of expansion, were allied to the theme of the conference, ""Blazoning the Name of Baha'u'llah,"" a plan to introduce the name of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith to every resident of the United States by 2013.
The Regional Baha'i Council of the Southern States, which sponsored the conference, reported ""extraordinary progress"" in the number of study circles in the region, and in the number of participants who have completed the sequence of courses and trained as tutors.
Then participants examined what was successful or otherwise in Baha'i communities, evaluating progress in geographic ""clusters.""
The southern states of the country saw a dramatic surge in enrolments in the Baha'i Faith in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and participants at the conference pledged to undertake systematic activities to ensure the region continues in that tradition. At the event, which was open to the public, 18 people joined the Faith.
The conference was dedicated to the memory of Ali-Akbar Furutan, 98, the much-loved Hand of the Cause who passed away in Haifa, Israel, on the eve of the opening of the conference. Speakers drew on the example of his life to encourage participants in their efforts.  Eugene Andrews.Among the addresses given at the conference was one by Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
A prominent article in ""The Tennesseean,"" the state's biggest-circulation daily newspaper, subsequently quoted Dr. Henderson urging on the Baha'is in their efforts to expand the Faith.
""We are really talking about the essential mission of the Baha'i Faith, which is nothing more complicated than learning how to love and sharing with other people what we're learning about that love, and then telling them Who taught us how to love like that,"" Dr. Henderson said.
Another speaker, Eugene Andrews, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, told the participants that the Faith is not a church, and its members should not conduct themselves in a way where leadership comes from an individual or individuals presumed to be qualified for the purpose.
""Where does our spiritual vitality come from? It comes from you all,"" he said.
Rebequa Murphy, also a member of the Continental Board, used an urban analogy to illustrate her point that the institute process (which includes study circles, children's classes and other community activities) was aimed at raising a community of teachers of the Faith.
""In New York City you learn [to] only hail cabs that have their light on, because if their light's not on they're not open for business,"" Ms. Murphy said.
""When we become communities of teachers, what happens? What the institute process does, it turns on [our] lights. So people know we're open for business. And they come to us.
""We must never forget the purpose for which we live -- to bring about the oneness of the human family.""
Kenneth Bowers, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly said he was a native southerner, a descendant of slave-holders and confederate soldiers and he could testify to ""a new life that is stirring in this age,"" one in which he could be loved by African-Americans and love them right back.
""And the question I ask is, who else but God can do something like that?"" Mr. Bowers said.
Artistic expression permeated the conference. There were musical and dramatic performances, a journey for children through reconstructed historical places of the Faith, film screenings, displays of the visual arts, and creative devotionals.
A performance of the Voices of Baha choir -- featuring solos by performers such as Dan Seals, Red Grammer, the Price Sisters, and Van Gilmer -- took place in a venue synonymous with the music of the south -- the Ryman Auditorium, once home to the Grand Ole Opry.
Youth and children had sessions devoted to their issues, and many young people volunteered to help in the running of the conference. Other sessions included an adult singles discussion group, an African-American teaching consultation, young adults leadership sessions, and a forum for study circle tutors.
(Article based on reporting by Tom Mennillo. Photos courtesy of ""The American Baha'i."")",NASHVILLE,,United States
268,2003-12-12,[],Global diversity at Information Society conference,"GENEVA — The global diversity of the worldwide Baha'i community was showcased at a major United Nations conference on the creation of a global ""Information Society.""
The Baha'i International Community assembled a delegation of Internet and communications specialists -- who are also Baha'i's -- for the U.N.'s World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held from 10-12 December 2003.
The Baha'i delegation included one of the founders of Africa Online, a top-ranked entrepreneur and Internet consultant from Singapore, and a CISCO Systems vice-president who is of Native American origin.
It was headed by Canadian Bahiyyih Chaffers, who was appointed in August as a permanent representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Baha'is believe that the emergence of a global information society is an aspect of the inevitable coming together of humanity in the construction of a new, just, and peaceful global civilization,"" said Ms. Chaffers.
""It is important that the growing information society be as inclusive as possible, so that every human being has an opportunity to participate in shaping global society.""
Some 54 heads of state, prime ministers, presidents, and vice presidents, along with 83 ministers, came to the WSIS, which drew official delegations from some 176 countries.
Also attending were several thousand representatives of nongovernmental organizations, business groups, the media, and other organizations of civil society.
The summit, called by the U.N. to assess the impact of information and communications technology on human society, ended with the adoption of a Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action aimed at building a ""people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society.""
""We are going through a historic transformation in the way we live, learn, work, communicate, and do business,"" said U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in an opening speech to the summit.
""We must do so not passively, but as makers of our own destiny. Technology has produced the information age. Now it is up to all of us to build an information society,"" Mr. Annan said.
For their part, representatives of the Baha'i International Community -- along with several Baha'i-inspired organizations -- participated in the summit at many levels.
They attended workshops, worked with other civil society organizations on issues before the summit, and presented the results of various Baha'i-inspired projects in the ""ICT4D"" (Information and Communication Technology for Development) global village that was associated with the WSIS.
Ms. Chaffers, for example, was selected to chair the Ethics and Values Caucus, an ad hoc civil-society group that sought to ensure that moral and ethical values were included in the summit's deliberations. The caucus issued a statement to the summit that said, in part:
""The ethical dimension of the Information Society, where the common good is its driving force, involves the development of a code of practice at the individual, community, national, and international levels, that protects the dignity of every human life.
""This ethical dimension is where the oneness of humanity is recognized and respected and where each human being born into the world is acknowledged as a trust of the whole.""
A member of the Baha'i delegation, Karanja Gakio, participated on a round-table discussion of Internet security in developing countries that was held at the ICT4D forum.
A number of Baha'i agencies also participated in various summit activities.
The European Baha'i Business Forum (EBBF) sponsored a workshop at the summit titled ""Toward a Knowledge-based, Sustainable World Information Society: The Role of Good Governance and Business.""
It featured a panel composed of Dr. Augusto Lopez-Claro, economist and director of the World Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum; Dr. Arthur Lyon-Dahl, president of the International Environment Forum and a former senior advisor to the United Nations Environment Programme; and Dr. Ramin Khadem, chief financial officer of Immarsat, London.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
269,2003-12-19,[],Girl highlights conference theme,"NEW DELHI — A 10-year-old girl made one of the most moving speeches at a conference here that stressed the importance of educating girls.
Akansha Dhungyha told of the discrimination she faced as a girl in her home village of Bhaktapur, in Nepal.
""In my village, they send the boy to school thinking that he will take care of the parents when they get older, and that the girl will go to another home when she is married,"" said Akansha, explaining why girls are often kept at home.
She made her presentation on 19 December 2003 at a conference entitled ""Education: The Right of Every Girl and Boy,"" which was organized by the Baha'i International Community with the support of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other international agencies and organizations.
Akansha told the conference that if parents do send the girls to school, they enroll them in lesser quality government schools, while the boys are sent to private institutions.
""And there are a lot of girls who leave the school because of the lack of toilets,"" she said. ""Or the parents take the girls out of school and ask them to get married.""
Akansha's experiences highlighted and reinforced some of the main points made by adults at the conference.
Some 150 governmental officials, international agency representatives, non-governmental activists, academics, and other civil society representatives gathered for the event, which was held 17-19 December 2003 at the Baha'i National Center (known as Baha'i House) in New Delhi.  The Baha'i House of Worship was the backdrop for the opening ceremony.The conference sought to establish and strengthen networks and partnerships among organizations in South Asia that work to accelerate the provision of basic education of universal quality to all children, and especially to girls.
""We here in South Asia are challenged by high numbers of children out of school,"" said Erma Manoncourt, a deputy director for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), India, noting that some 43 million children are out of school in the region, and that the majority -- some 26 million -- are girls.
""It is only by increasing the enrollment and retention of girls that we can reach the goal [of universal education] "" Ms. Manoncourt said.
By the end of the conference, many of the participants reached agreement on certain key points.
First, that greater efforts must be made to eliminate the cultural and economic barriers that prevent girls from going to school in South Asia.
As well, government funding for education must be increased so as to increase the availability of, and access to, schooling in the region.
Additionally, however, many participants stressed the importance of improving educational quality -- as a means of attracting children to school and keeping them there -- by emphasizing moral education, updating primary school curricula, increasing community participation, and giving localities more control over school administration.
""School education does not prepare a child to live,"" said Mervyn Fernando, the director of the SUBODHI Institute for Integral Education in Sri Lanka.
""It prepares a child for a job with certain skills. But even after grade 12 or 13, the child goes to society very ill-equipped to live life as a mature, successful citizen because  a lot of important things have been left out of our education system.""
The conference opened at the Baha'i House of Worship here, when a number of prominent officials and experts outlined the challenges and benefits of achieving universal education.
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, spoke about the importance of education -- and especially for girls -- as being in the ""enlightened self-interest"" of society.
""Education for all -- and especially for girls -- is not only a human right. It is also in the best interests of society as a whole,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""It is, indeed, perhaps the single best development strategy we have.""
Ms. Dugal noted that the Baha'i writings stress the importance of educating girls -- a point she said had been confirmed by recent educational and sociological research.
Educated girls are healthier and more prosperous, she said, and their families and children are likewise healthier and more prosperous.
""By every measure, every study, and every rational thought process, the investment made today in the education of girls and boys pays dividends that will last far into the future -- and make the world a much better place,"" Ms. Dugal said.
Dr. Sadig Rasheed, the Regional Director of UNICEF for the Region of South Asia, stressed the overall strategy of putting girls first as a means to increase educational access for everyone.
""We know that some of the things that can be done to keep a girl in school, such as better sanitation, a friendlier protective environment, and secure, violence- and harassment-free, surroundings, also benefit boys,"" said. Dr. Rasheed.
""By looking after the most vulnerable, we make conditions better for all. By reaching those who have the most difficulty in accessing education, we assist the path for everyone.""
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that India must work harder to overcome cultural preconceptions that cause discrimination against girls and prevent their education.
""We are supposed to be a country of wise men, and yet we are one of the most illiterate countries in the world,"" said Ms. Dikshit.
""We have states where the girl foetus is still killed. Why are families choosing to kill the girl child even before she is born?""
""Despite the fact that my vegetable seller has a cell phone around his neck, he still does not think the girl at home needs to be educated,"" said Ms. Dikshit. ""We must make education a habit.""
Five South Asian countries were represented at the conference: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Many sent government representatives and all were represented by organizations of civil society, including the Bah' communities of each of the five countries.
The conference was co-sponsored and supported by a number of agencies, including: the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Vision India, National Foundation for India, Save the Children UK, Commonwealth Education Fund, and India Alliance for Child Rights.
(Photos and story by Brad Pokorny).",NEW DELHI,,India
270,2003-11-21,[],Generation expresses gratitude,"PHOKENG, South Africa — Two young cousins provided a highlight here at the national Baha'i jubilee celebrations, which followed satellite festivities in eight cities.
At an opening session of the festivities, Kelebogile Khunou, 12, and Direlang Nakedi, 11, praised their grandparents for becoming Baha'is nearly 50 years ago.
The cousins said the sacrifices made by their grandparents, Ntate and Mme, were the cause of many of the benefits in their own lives.
One of those benefits, both said, was that their parents were ""welcomed into the progressive knowledge-giving world of the Faith.""
""I [would] never exchange anything to give up being a Baha'i child -- it is really a rewarding experience,"" Kelebogile said. ""The favorite gift I receive every day from my grandparents' efforts is the relationship of my parents, which is based on the principle of equality of men and women.""
This testimony by third-generation Baha'is helped symbolize the dramatic and inspiring history of the Baha'i Faith in South Africa, where for many years the government's official policy of  apartheid (involving the separation of racial groups) ran directly counter to the principle of the oneness of humanity, a fundamental teaching of Baha'u'llah.
Participants at the South African jubilee celebrations, held from 21 to 22 November 2003, told stories of courage, of successes achieved in a ""cloak and dagger"" fashion, of constant police surveillance, of dogged determination, and of endeavors of heroic proportions.
Members of the 40-strong local community of Phokeng, including youth, organized most of the national event, which was attended by some 620 Baha'is.  Max Seepe, who served the Faith in South Africa for many years, as did his wife, May.African dancing, music and dramatic performances, including presentations by the group ""Beyond Words,"" gave artistic and emotional energy to the national jubilee celebrations. At one point, all the members of the National Spiritual Assembly sang to the audience from the stage.
The Queen Mother of the Bafokeng tribe, Dr. Semane B. Molotegi, a guest of honor at the celebrations, said she was delighted the jubilee was held in her province -- the home of the first indigenous South African Baha'is -- and she praised the Baha'i community work for peace and unity.
During the celebrations, some Baha'is who were in South Africa in the 1953-1963 era recounted memories, and outlined some of the difficulties they overcame in the early years of the community.
One such speaker was Ephens Senne, whose wife, Dorothy, in January 1955, became the first South African woman to accept the Faith. Describing the oppressive atmosphere of apartheid, Mr. Senne said he and his wife were scared initially that the white people had plans to kill them. That fear vanished as they got to know the Baha'is, but they had to be very careful about meeting them because of their apprehensions about official surveillance.
When the couple visited European Baha'is, they had to pretend that they came to clean the houses, carrying mops and brooms to avoid suspicion, said Mr. Senne, a former member of the National Spiritual Assembly.
One of the talks at the conference was about the ""spiritual ancestors"" of many of today's Baha'is -- the three Persian Baha'is who were murdered in March 1994 at the Baha'i center in Mdantsane, Ciskei.
The presentation recalled the crime that shocked not only Baha'is throughout South Africa and the world but also the local community when gunmen from a militant black group shot dead Houshmand Anvari, Shamam Bakhshandegi, and Riaz Razavi, all of whom had come to South Africa to improve conditions for the black majority.
At the jubilee festivities, members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Beth Allen and Enos Makhele, gave inspiring talks on unity and diversity, and the vision of the South African Baha'i community respectively.
The two authors of a newly published book, ""Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa,"" Edith and Lowell Johnson, spoke on the topic, ""Fifty Years of the Baha'i Faith in South Africa.""
Participants listened closely as Edith Johnson pointed out that in 1953 there were only two Baha'is in South Africa, Agnes Carey (1879-1958) in Durban and Reginald Turvey (1882-1968) in Johannesburg, and they didn't know about each other. Shoghi Effendi, who had traveled through South Africa in 1929 and 1940, named them ""Mother"" and ""Father"" respectively of the Baha'is of South Africa.
Records show that the first Baha'is in South Africa were Agnes Cook in 1911 and William and Mary Fraetas in 1912. The first pioneer was Fanny Knobloch in 1920.
Mr. Johnson said that the first of 37 pioneers to arrive during the Ten Year Plan were William (Bill), Marguerite and Michael Sears. The Sears' farm became a place for people of different racial and religious backgrounds to deepen their understandings of the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Mr. Sears was later appointed a Hand of the Cause of God, and this much-loved figure published influential books and delivered inspiring talks on the Faith.
The first indigenous South African to become a Baha'i was Klaas Mtsweni, an employee of Lyall and Eleanor Hadden, in 1954 in Pretoria. The first white South African to enroll was Florence Norman in Durban.
During the early years prominent local Baha'is included, for example, Bertha Mkize, Gilbert Tombisa, Dr. A.H. and Joan Bismillah, Cassiem Davids, William Masetlha, Max and May Seepe, Andrew Mofokeng, Florence Marumo, Sue Hofmeyr Podger, Daniel Ramoroesi, Michael Nthau, Stanlake Kukama, Phillip Hinton, plus the Heuvel and Gallow families.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson said that since 1963, 396 overseas Baha'is had served in South Africa, and about 182  are present there now
The first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in 1954 in Johannesburg, and the National Spiritual Assembly, administering the whole of Southern Africa, followed two years later. It assisted the formation of 14 National Spiritual Assemblies in Southern Africa and also three ""homeland"" regions, which are now incorporated back within South Africa.
Today the National Spiritual Assembly administers one country, South Africa, and the island of St. Helena. There are 38 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
At the conclusion of the address by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, the participants sang a Mike Sears song, which is now sung all over Africa and starts with the lyrics: ""Africa, Africa! Come let us sing, a song of the love and the glory of God.""
The satellite festivities were held in Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Sabie, Umtata, and Mafikeng.
The South African Baha'i community is actively involved in the three core activities now engaged in by Baha'is throughout the world -- study circles, children's classes and devotional meetings.
In 2000, some 12 per cent of new Baha'is were under the age of 25 years but that has increased to 25 per cent this year, as more and more young people attend study circles and become attracted to the teachings.
One of the activities carried out within the wider community is the Royal Falcon Education Initiative, which is dedicated to the promotion of moral values among teenagers and young adults in South Africa.
More than 29 facilitators are now offering the program at 18 schools throughout South Africa and it is being used at a university and in a prison, as well as in nearby countries.
(Jubilee photos by Denny Allen).",PHOKENG,,South Africa
271,2003-11-10,[],Jubilee becomes major talking point,"PORT BLAIR, India — Celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith here became the talk of the islands as local dignitaries attended special events, and the media provided extensive coverage.
At a dinner for high-ranking officials, the Lt. Governor, Shri N. N. Jha, praised the work being carried out by the Baha'is in the islands, which are a Union Territory of India.
The first lady, Smti Chaya Jha, then officially announced  that the Baha'is had  specially produced for the occasion a souvenir publication, which included a history of the Faith here.
In a speech wishing the Baha'is good luck in their endeavors, she said that she had first met Baha'is 40 years ago, and had a number of good friends who were members of the Faith.
At a unity concert attended by some 700 people, the Chief of Staff of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, Rear Admiral Rakesh Kala, wished the Baha'is all the best in their work and activities.
Rear Admiral Kala spoke of his fond memories of the peacefulness he experienced during his visit to the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi.
At both the official dinner and the concert, Jamshed Fozdar was one of the guests of honor. Mr. Fozdar is a son of Dr. K. M. Fozdar (1898-1958), who first brought the Baha'i Faith to these islands in 1953 as part of a Ten Year Plan to take Baha'u'llah's teachings around the world.
Dr. Fozdar, who received the title of Knight of Baha'u'llah for his services, had to leave the islands after four months but by then four local people  had become Baha'is, and they remained to continue the development of the community.  Some members of the audience at the unity concert.At the jubilee events, which were held 10-12 November 2003, Jamshed Fozdar said that the Baha'i Faith possessed a solution to the problems being faced by mankind today, and he exhorted the audience to investigate its teachings.
He also recounted stories about his father, who diligently and effectively served the Faith not only in the islands, but also in India and Singapore.
The events attracted coverage in the widely circulating newspaper, ""The Daily Telegrams,"" an official English daily. There were also reports in three other English language daily newspapers, two Hindi newspapers, and a Tamil weekly newspaper.
The All India radio repeatedly led its bulletins with news of the jubilee. It broadcast quotations from Baha'u'llah as its ""Thought for Today"" and carried live interviews with three Baha'is.
The local television also covered the unity concert, which featured a program of songs and dances presented by Baha'i youth and other high school students, all on themes of peace, harmony and unity. At that event, citations of appreciation were given to people  who had rendered selfless service to the people of the islands.
The former project manager of the construction of the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, Sheriar Nooreyazdan, gave an address and presented a slide show about the Temple to an appreciative audience of more than 110 people, including 32 engineers.
An integral part of the festivities was an Institute conference at a freshly refurbished Baha'i House. The more than 100 Baha'i who attended were addressed by, among others, Payam Shoghi, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Mr. B. Afshin from Panchgani in India, Mehrzad Akhtarkhavari, secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Mr. R. N. Shah, a prominent Baha'i from India.
Among the topics of the sessions, were the Five Year Plan, currently being carried out by Baha'is throughout the world, and its three core activities -- capacity building study circles, devotional meetings and children's classes.
Each of these activities is open to the wider community, and all are being energetically pursued by the Baha'is here. There were also reminiscences of the early days of the Faith in the islands.
Seven people who declared their Faith in Baha'u'llah were called to the stage for a warm welcome and expressions of encouragement. Twenty-one Baha'is offered to move to other parts of the islands to develop Baha'i communities there.
In a message to the Spiritual Assembly, the Universal House of Justice promised prayers that the jubilee event would be a source of inspiration to the Baha'is as they endeavored to promote the Cause of Baha'u'llah.
There are currently 11 Local Spiritual Assemblies on the  Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which  has a population of some 280,000. The population is spread among  40 of the 540 islands in the group.",PORT BLAIR,,India
272,2003-11-08,[],Festivities exceed expectations at Seychelles celebration,"VICTORIA, Seychelles — A jubilant Baha'i community celebrated its 50th anniversary here in a week-long series of events which included the official opening of an impressive new building as its center.
The prelude to the golden jubilee festivities was on 8 November 2003 as banners advertising the forthcoming official program were placed above all the main streets of the capital city.
Television coverage at prime time and extensive reporting on radio and in the newspapers informed the nation about what was to take place, but at that time nobody predicted the unprecedented public interest that was to come.
The first formal event was a workshop on virtues education in schools, and a presentation of books to the Ministry of Education sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Seychelles.
The response to the invitation to attend the workshop was overwhelming. More than 100 teachers from public and private schools attended. The media covered the event, and there were extensive inquiries from those in the public who wanted to obtain a publication on virtues for their own use.
Speaking at that event on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly, Sarah Rene, who is a member of the Assembly and also the First Lady of Seychelles, said ""educational systems must provide a more balanced education to our young souls, an education where the moral, ethical, and spiritual is given its due importance on a par with the intellectual and academic.""
In response, the Minister of Education, Danny Faure, agreed that there was an urgent need to make the classroom curriculum more balanced. Mr. Faure also thanked the Baha'i community for its gift of books, and twice quoted what he described as a very profound statement by Baha'u'llah: ""The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.""
The next day saw the official dedication ceremony in Victoria of the new national Baha'i center, an event attended by some 400 guests, including the President of the Republic, France Albert Rene, along with the vice-president, a former president, the leader of the opposition, and many other ministers and high ranking officials.  The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Seychelles at the International Convention in Haifa, 1998.Also present were Baha'i guests from India, Mauritius, the Maldives, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. The national Baha'i choir provided uplifting music for the occasion.
Speeches by the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, Antonio Gopal, and vice-chairman Selwyn Gendron, explained much about the Baha'i Faith and its history in Seychelles.
""May this building,"" said Dr. Gendron, ""provide the Baha'i community with a daily reminder that we need to strive for perfection in all aspects or our daily lives by adhering to the principles of our Faith.""
""The Baha'i community of Seychelles is jubilant today to offer to our country what we believe to be a monument, and which we are sure will add to the richness of the architectural landscape of Seychelles,"" Dr. Gendron said.
Participating was one of the Baha'i community's historic figures, Munirih Zarqani, one of the first Baha'is to pioneer to the Seychelles and the widow of Abdu'l Rahman Zarqani, who was one of the two men named by Shoghi Effendi as a Knight of Baha'u'llah for bringing the Faith to the islands in January 1954.
Mrs. Zarqani unveiled the commemorative plaque with Dr. Badi Abbas, the son of the other Knight of Baha'u'llah, the late Kamil Abbas, who arrived in Seychelles from Iraq in November 1953.
Also present was the center's architect, Kamal Zarqani, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Zarqani. Mrs. Rene, a daughter of the Zarqanis, also attended.
In his design concept, which integrated Baha'i concepts with the local culture, he combined ancient Greek architecture on the ground floor with traditional Seychelles architecture on the upper floor.
After the unveiling of the plaque, there was a two-hour pageant that depicted the history of the Baha'i Faith in Seychelles and an overview of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah.
Some 100 performers in the pageant and the background crew presented a show of songs, video, dances and skits. So much interest was generated in the pageant that it was staged again the following day, and another four days later, both times to full houses.
National television also broadcast the complete two hours 15 minutes of the pageant at prime time.
The next stage of the festivities involved two open days at the Baha'i center where members of the public were guided throughout. They visited an exhibition and watched video programs. They also bought many books and posed questions to the Baha'is about their Faith.
Two well-attended devotional programs were held, and many of the visiting public also registered to join Baha'i study circles.
Dr. Gendron later addressed a public meeting on the topic ""Station and Teachings of Baha'u'llah.""
The final event of the jubilee celebrations was the laying of the foundation stone of the Baha'i Centre of La Digue, the fourth biggest island of Seychelles, by a local Baha'i, Angela Sophola, and Mrs. Zarqani. Some 100 Baha'is as well as many local dignitaries attended the ceremony.
The national Baha'i choir sang, prayers were said, and Mr. Gopal addressed the gathering. National television news covered the event.
History of the community
Participants at the jubilee events heard about the first Baha'i to set foot in Seychelles, Mr. Abbas. Although he had to leave after five weeks, he taught the Faith to a local teacher, Marshall Delcy, the first Seychellois to become a Baha'i.
Shortly after Mr. Abbas left, Mr. Zarqani (1926-1994) arrived from India where he had been the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly. Answering the call of Shoghi Effendi for Baha'is to take the teachings of Baha'u'llah throughout the world, he traveled with great courage to Seychelles, having heard it was a place of exile and having been warned, mistakenly, that there were cannibals there. He had originally intended to settle in the Chagos Islands.
However, when he landed he found Seychelles an exquisitely beautiful location and soon called for his young wife and daughter.
In mid-1954, Manuchihr Ma'ani Entessari arrived from Iran as a Baha'i pioneer bound for the Chagos archipelago. In 1955, Munir Wakil arrived from Iraq. He was joined by his family in 1956 and purchased land that is now the site of the national Baha'i center.
When Mr. Wakil arrived, the fact there were now nine adult Baha'i meant that they were able to elect the first Local Spiritual Assembly. The election was carried out in the house of a local Baha'i family, the Deweas. Five of the nine members were locals. Seychelles now has 13 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
During the 1960s, the Baha'i community inaugurated the observance in their country of international days celebrating Human Rights, the United Nations, Race Unity, World Peace, and World Religion.
Many people, including religious and civil leaders, attended those celebrations organized by the Baha'is.
In 1969, programs about the Faith were broadcast on national radio, the first religion to do so.",VICTORIA,,Seychelles
273,2004-01-13,[],Royal recognition for services to women,"LONDON — A member of the British Baha'i community, Lois Hainsworth, will receive the award of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at Buckingham Palace on 11 February 2004.
The announcement of the award for services to three organizations that promote the rights of women was made in the United Kingdom's New Year's Honours List.
The citation refers to Mrs. Hainsworth's services to the Women's National Commission, the Baha'i Office for the Advancement of Women, and UNIFEM UK.
She is currently a member of the international working group of the Women's National Commission, the official, independent, advisory body that gives the views of women to the Government of the United Kingdom.
She also chairs the Women of Faith Coalition, a partner organization of the Women's Commission.
As a Commissioner of the Baha'i Office for the Advancement of Women, which represents women from all walks of life throughout the United Kingdom, she has participated in conferences on such topics as people trafficking, human rights, and the European Union.
However, her services to those organizations represent only part of her efforts in a myriad of women's groups dating back to 1958 when she represented the Baha'i community of Uganda on a subcommittee of the Uganda National Council of Women.
She has also served in senior positions on the International Council of Women, the National Council of Women of Great Britain, the European Women's Lobby, and the Women's Advisory Council of the United Nations Association of the United Kingdom.  Mr. and Mrs. Hainsworth, 2000.Mrs. Hainsworth has also been in the forefront in Britain in the fight against trafficking in women, and the spread of pornography and HIV/AIDS.
A fellow of the Chartered Institute of Journalists, she became, in 1996, only  the second woman in 130 years to be elected president of the group.
In her early career, Mrs. Hainsworth was an accomplished classical singer.
Mrs. Hainsworth has served the Baha'i Faith in many capacities.
""I would not have been able to do any of these things had it not been for a loving, totally supportive husband,"" said Mrs. Hainsworth, referring to the late Philip Hainsworth, with whom she raised their three children, Richard, Zarin, and Michael.
Mr. Hainsworth, who passed away aged 82 in 2001, served on elected Baha'i institutions at a high level for almost five decades, was a noted speaker, and the author of several books and numerous articles.
Mrs. Hainsworth cites as her motivation for her service the following quotation from the Universal House of Justice: ""The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes, is one of the most important, though less acknowledged, prerequisites for peace.""",LONDON,,United Kingdom
274,2003-12-12,[],Handing on the light of faith,"PORT LOUIS, Mauritius — Three generations demonstrated the growth of the Baha'i community in a moving presentation at the festivities marking the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith here.
In the packed auditorium, representatives of the first generation of Baha'is appeared on the stage and lit candles held by some of the second generation of the Mauritian believers. Those Baha'is in turn passed on the light to the third generation.
During the ceremony, two groups, Citoyens du Monde (Citizens of the World) and Melody Channel, sang songs of spiritual upliftment, their performances conducted by Subrata Sharma, the musical director of the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi.
Many of those in the 500-strong audience were overcome with emotion at the depiction of the history of a community that grew from a solitary figure in 1953 to a vibrant community today.
Five members of the first generation of Baha'is in the country spoke to the audience about events of the first years with all their difficulties and triumphs.
A group of youth presented an Indian dance and then depicted in a short dramatic sketch the introduction of the Faith to Mauritius and the events that lead up to the current focus on children's classes, devotional meetings and capacity-building study circles.
Applause filled the auditorium after the children performed a moving presentation reminding the audience of the presence of God in our lives. The Diversity Dance Workshop also received acclamation.
Speakers included Eddy Lutchmaya, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa, Baha'i author Lowell Johnson, and longstanding Baha'is Sir Harry Tirvengadum, Paul Fabien, Retnon Muree, and Somoo Valayden.  The history of the community was also one of the themes of the opening ceremony for the festivities, which ran from 12 to 14 December 2003.
National Spiritual Assembly member Balram Appadoo introduced to the audience of some 700 Baha'is and their guests the chief guest speaker, Dr. Graham Walker of the United Kingdom.
Dr. Walker said that only three years after the 1953 arrival of Ottilie Rhein, the first Baha'i in Mauritius, there were more than 100 members of the Faith, and three Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed by 1956. There are now 100 Assemblies.
""In 1970, with astonishing energy and few resources, the Baha'is organized an Oceanic Conference at the Queen Elizabeth College in Mauritius,"" he said. ""This was attended by the Prime Minister at that time, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and 1000 (participants) from 30 different countries.""
Dr. Walker said the Mauritian Baha'is helped the Faith develop in Reunion, Madagascar, and Seychelles, where National Spiritual Assemblies were formed in 1972.
Outlining some of the Baha'i contributions to Mauritius, Dr. Walker said the Baha'is regularly distribute documents to about 500 organizations and individuals, generating a productive dialogue and elevating moral awareness.
""In January 2001, the Baha'is organized an interfaith council to identify the common values of all religions, and to encourage inter-religious and trans-cultural debate,"" he said.
Dr. Walker praised Mauritius for its many freedoms, offered the assistance of the Baha'i community to the social and economic development of the country, and called on the government to resume its support for the United Nations resolutions against the persecution of Baha'is in Iran.
In his address, the guest of honor, the vice-president of the Republic of Mauritius, Raouf Bundhun, offered the Baha'i community his best wishes for ""success and great achievements in the future.""
""The Baha'i community has all the time been working assiduously, discreetly, and with a seriousness of purpose, and promoting the development of its members and the welfare of the people at large,"" Mr. Bundhun said.
""Inspired by the message of Baha'u'llah, they have been constantly promoting the key theme of unity and justice,"" he said.
On that same occasion, a large screen carried a message from the Universal House Justice that said in part that the Baha'i community of Mauritius had ""been blessed with a body of devoted believers whose consecrated efforts have, over the years, firmly accomplished the sustained growth of the Cause of God in Mauritius.""
Other events held during the jubilee celebrations included a public address by Dr. Walker on ""Science and Morality,"" an occasion opened by Dr. Chunnoo, president of the Medical Council of Mauritius.
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Motee Ramdass spoke highly of the Baha'i community when he opened an exhibition at the Baha'i Institute in Belle Rose on the history of the Baha'i Faith in Mauritius.
During the half-century of the Faith in Mauritius there have many individuals of great capacity who arose to develop the Baha'i community in the country.
Among those was Miss Rhein, who was named by Shoghi Effendi as a Knight of Baha'u'llah for her service in being the first person to bring the Faith to Mauritius.
Miss Rhein (1903-79), who had arrived in the United States from Germany as a young girl, set out during a global Ten Year Plan to take the teachings of the Baha'i Faith around the world.
She arrived in Mauritius on 11 November 1953, and on her first expedition to provide necessities for living there met the proprietor of a shop, Mr. Yim Lim, who became the first resident of the country to join the Faith.
Another prominent Baha'i was Seewoosumbur Appa (1912-1981). Mr. Appa became a Baha'i in 1956 and diligently served the Faith until the last day of his life. He was a member of Local and National Spiritual Assemblies and served as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors.
Conscientious, hardworking and orderly, he had a gentle, pure-hearted personality that led him to become known affectionately throughout Mauritius and the African countries he visited as ""Papa Appa."" A schoolteacher by profession, he was also an outstanding teacher of the Baha'i Faith.
Another dynamic Mauritian Baha'i was Roddy Lutchmaya (1932-1999), a joyous and enthusiastic personality, who held the high-ranking post of Commissioner of Prisons in Mauritius. He served on Local and National Spiritual Assemblies and was also a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors.",PORT LOUIS,,Mauritius
275,2003-12-12,[],Drumming and dancing in delight,"HARARE, Zimbabwe — Musicians and dancers played a spectacular role during celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith in Zimbabwe.
A variety concert that followed the opening ceremony on 12 December 2003 showcased talents of Baha'is from throughout the country.
Among the performers was a Baha'i youth group from Bulawayo, ""Isitsha Sothando"" (""Portal of Love""), which performed the Ndebele tribe's traditional dance for community celebrations.
""Letters of the Living,"" a group from Mashonaland Central Province, danced to the traditional piano-like instrument, the mire, as they sang about the coming of Baha'u'llah and the subsequent introduction of His teachings to Zimbabwe.
The Chiweshe Baha'i Choir sang and danced as members of the group played drums that they had made themselves. The Harare Baha'i youth and children also sang during the event, and a Baha'i youth from Matabeleland, Sithule Moyo, recited a poem.
Baha'is from all provinces of Zimbabwe and nine other countries attended the festivities that were held from 12 to 14 December 2003.
The event followed smaller regional congresses held throughout the nation in 2003 to mark the golden jubilee.
Television, radio and newspapers provided extensive coverage of the event. For example, a newspaper, ""The Herald,"" which circulates nationwide, carried two major articles on the Faith.  Eyneddin Ala'i.From the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, came a congratulatory message from the Universal House of Justice, which said in part: ""Your assemblage is a testimony to your devotion and brings to mind those valiant souls whose sacrificial efforts laid the foundation of the Faith in your country.""
Those pioneering Baha'is were remembered as the program, chaired by master of ceremonies, Jonah Mungoshi, began with a slide show depicting the Baha'is who established the Faith in Zimbabwe (previously called Southern Rhodesia).
The most prominent of all the Baha'is who resided in the country was John Robarts, who was appointed by Shoghi Effendi as a Hand of the Cause in 1957. Mr. Robarts served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa until 1959. With his wife Audrey, and their children, he lived in Bulawayo from 1957 to 1967.
In an opening speech, Beth Allen, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa, said there was nothing more joyful than to see the jubilee gathering.
""Today we are gathered here heart and soul to commemorate not only 50 years of the Faith in Zimbabwe but also to celebrate the coming together of people whose varied backgrounds and different cultures lend a beautiful diversity to the colorful flower garden God has created,"" Mrs. Allen said.
In the official opening address, the founder and acting vice-chancellor of the Women's University in Africa, Hope Sadza, called the 50th anniversary ""a remarkable landmark.""
Dr. Sadza said she cherished the hope that the Baha'is would ""help Zimbabwe to become spiritually as beautiful as physically she is, so that our lovely country may become the abode of peace and tranquility and the envy of the rest of the world.""
Among those in the audience were a former cabinet minister, a representative of the diplomatic corps, leaders from Christian churches, and other distinguished guests.
A prominent government official, Nathan Shamuyarira, briefly addressed the conference, speaking about his high regard for the Faith's teachings and principles, and the great respect he has for Baha'is.
History came alive at the jubilee when some of the early Baha'is of Zimbabwe were introduced to the participants. They included Izzat'u'llah Zahrai, Douglas Kadenhe, Nura Faridian (now Steiner), Enayat and Iran Sohaili, and former member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa Shidan Fat'he-Aazam and his wife Florence.
Mr. Zahrai was the first Baha'i to come to the country during a Ten Year plan to take the teachings of the Faith around the world. He was followed soon after by Claire Gung, Eyneddin and Tahirih Ala'i, and Kenneth and Roberta Christian. All six received the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah from Shoghi Effendi.
Mr. Zahrai told the participants that the ""sweetest moment"" of his life came shortly after his arrival when he received a cablegram from Shoghi Effendi which said, ""Fervently praying success.""
Another speaker was prominent Harare businessman, Mr. Kadenhe. He became a Baha'i in 1958, one of tens of thousands of people from all major tribes of Zimbabwe who have joined the Faith from that time until the present day.
Baha'is now live in more than 1,600 localities in urban and rural areas, and there are 43 Local Spiritual Assemblies. The National Spiritual Assembly was formed in 1970. There are Baha'i centers in Harare, Bulawayo, Chinamora, Mubaira, and Murewa.
The Baha'is have undertaken a range of social and economic projects in Zimbabwe. For example, there are three Baha'i pre-schools, most of whose pupils are not Baha'is. Baha'is have conducted agricultural programs devoted to improving cultivation of fruit and vegetables. There is also a pilot program by the Baha'is to combat HIV/AIDS.
The Baha'i community has co-sponsored workshops on women's rights, the family, and human rights with the University of Zimbabwe, the Teachers' Association, and government ministries.
History of the community
During intervals at the jubilee, an audio-visual presentation of historic photographs was screened, reminding Baha'is about the past difficulties and triumphs, and of their precious heritage.
Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, visited the country firstly by himself in 1929, and then with his wife, Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, in 1941. He visited the Victoria Falls, Matopos, and Bulawayo.
The first indigenous person to accept the Faith was Morton Ndovi in January, 1955 (he left for Malawi, then Nyasaland, shortly afterwards). Other local people accepted the Faith soon afterwards, and in April that same year the first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Harare (then called Salisbury).
The first African woman to become a Baha'i in Zimbabwe was Mabel Chiposi, who accepted the Faith in 1957. She passed away two years later. Her husband, Leonard, continued serving the Faith until his death in 1993.
Many local people were introduced to Faith in a primary school set up by two pioneers from the United States, Larry and Carol Hautz.
They had established a motel, service station, and a snake farm on the Bulawayo road just outside Salisbury (now Harare). The school was initially for the 20 children of the staff, but it eventually expanded to a total enrollment of 400.
The first people of European descent to become Baha'is in the country were the late Salvator (""Sue"") Benatar, and his wife Sylvia Benatar. Mrs. Benatar, a pianist who has performed internationally, attended the jubilee and played a selection of classical pieces.
Another Baha'i pioneer working alongside the ever-increasing numbers of African-born members of the Faith was author and educationalist, Dr. Genevieve Coy, whose course on living a spiritually-based life was published as a widely-circulating book, ""Counsels of Perfection.""
(Jubilee photos by Dana Allen.)
(Historical photos, except for last three portraits, courtesy of ""Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa,"" compiled by Lowell Johnson and Edith Johnson. Baha'i Publishing Trust, Johannesburg.)",HARARE,,Zimbabwe
276,2003-12-15,[],Travel writers salute 'floral jewel',"HAIFA, Israel — The Baha'i garden terraces surrounding the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel have received an award from the Society of American Travel Writers.
The society, comprising 1300 members in North America, named the garden terraces as one of six recipients of its Phoenix Awards for 2003.
The awards honor individuals or groups which ""have contributed to a quality travel experience through conservation, preservation, beautification or environmental efforts.""
In its citation, the Society said: ""At the turn of the last century (19th), historic Mount Carmel, sacred to Jews, Christians, Muslims and Baha'is, was nothing more than another desolate hill, rock and scrub brush.""
But with the creation of the garden terraces, the once barren face of the mountain that overlooks the city is now ""a magnificent floral jewel,"" the citation said.
""In a region where water is precious, the gardens use a combination of ancient and modern gardening practices, from mulching and composting to computerized irrigation systems. The noise of the city is masked by the gentle sound of water, which flows down the sides of the staircases and through a series of fountains. Water for the 70 fountains is recycled.""
As of 24 January 2004 there have been 2,083,185 visitors to the terraces, which were first opened to the public on 4 June 2001.
""Some 465,000 of these visitors have taken a pre-reserved guided tour,"" said Eliza Rasiwala, Guided Tours Operation manager at the Baha'i World Centre.  View from the informal gardens of the upper terraces. Photo by Rouhulah Ferdowsian.""More than 12,200 tours have taken place since the opening in June 2001. At present, regular tours are available in Hebrew, Arabic, English, and Russian and there are occasional tours in French, German, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, and Armenian,"" Ms. Rasiwala said.
The Baha'i World Centre provides the tours free of charge.
The terraces and two adjacent administrative buildings were completed in 2001 after 10 years of work at a cost of some $250 million in voluntary donations from the worldwide Baha'i community of some five million believers.
The terraces were built primarily to adorn the Shrine of the Bab and as a path of approach for Baha'i pilgrims to what is the second-most holy spot for Baha'is.
The terraces also offer a symbol of peace and hope to the world at large, and the guided tours come with a message: that harmony and co-existence are possible.
For more stories and photographs of the terraces see
http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=221
http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=134
http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/terraces.",HAIFA,,Israel
277,2004-01-07,[],Community builds its first Baha'i center,"HUAHINE, French Polynesia — Devotional songs and prayers marked the inauguration of the first Baha'i center to be built in French Polynesia.
After the local mayor and a Baha'i representative cut a ribbon of flowers to open the center, the Baha'is sang in Tahitian ""Blessed is the spot,"" a song whose lyrics are a prayer by Baha'u'llah.
The event held on 7 January 2004 was attended by representatives of three other religions, as well as by Baha'is from Huahine, Tahiti, and Switzerland.
The ceremony also included Baha'i children singing selections from the Baha'i writings in French and Tahitian.
Francis Dubois, a Baha'i from Paea, summed up the feelings of those present when he rejoiced in seeing the physical presence of the Faith established: ""Our hearts are on fire and filled with joy,"" Mr. Dubois said.
The opening ceremony came only eight months after the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Huahine decided to undertake the project.
Huahine, with a population of 8000, is an island in the Society Islands group, one of five archipelagoes in the territory of French Polynesia. Most of French Polynesia's 245,000 people live on the island of Tahiti, also one of the Society Islands.
Once the decision was made to build, the Baha'is -- three families and four individuals -- threw themselves into the task of constructing the center, which will be used for spiritual gatherings and study classes.  Some of the members of a dance troupe from Huahine with Iraj Sabet from Switzerland.One of the families provided the land, and Saturday was designated as work day. The Baha'is put in long hours.
Working together, they used coconut palm logs for the base of the building. The Baha'is built the walls of bamboo and made the roof of corrugated iron on a timber frame. They spread white sand to form the floor.
The construction proceeded so rapidly that the Local Spiritual Assembly decided to add a sleeping area, a kitchen and bathroom. Other Baha'i assemblies contributed generously to provide the funds for these extra projects.
For the inauguration ceremonies, the Baha'is prepared a feast of fruit -- coconuts, pineapples, watermelon, rock melon, banana, and grapefruit. They also cooked taro, fish, breadfruit, and bananas in a traditional earth oven.
They made the ""hei"" (headpieces) and the ""auti"" (necklaces) using the strongly scented Tahitian white gardenia, berries, ferns, and colored leaves.
A member of the local Baha'i community, Tema Raurii, observed custom by welcoming the guests with traditional oratory before they entered the building. This was followed by a rousing song of greetings.
Once inside, the chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly, Hubert Bremond, introduced all participants and issued another warm welcome.
Mr. Bremond, who is a well-known broadcaster, promoter of Tahitian culture and a community leader, emphasized the Faith's worldwide character and its principles.
Later, he explained the origins of the project.
""We are only a handful of Baha'is, and we are families that are not very well off,"" Mr. Bremond said.
""By any human standards, it was probably impossible to take on this project and build a center, but each person made their contribution and brought along their piece of the building.""
Another Baha'i speaker was Daniel Pierce, of Tahiti, who is a member of one of the two auxiliary boards assisting the Continental Board of Counsellors.
Mr. Pierce invited the guests to investigate the Baha'i message more closely, and he quoted the words of Baha'u'llah addressed to all humanity: ""Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.""
The mayor, Marcelin Lisan, expressed his gratitude to the Baha'is for the invitation to the inauguration of the center.
""Thank you for the thoughts that have been shared today -- I will keep with me the idea that love, fellowship, and respect must come before all else,"" Mr. Lisan said.
Speakers from the Catholic, Protestant and Keretitiano churches also gave warm and encouraging addresses.
A deacon of the Tahitian Protestant Church, Raoul Mare, said: ""My Baha'i brothers...hopefully we can share and help each other. There are things that we might lack that might be found with you. There are things that you are missing that we might have.""
The guests then feasted on ""poe"" (sweet pudding with coconut cream), fresh fruit and the cooked food, all served on banana leaves and using coconut shells as plates.
Following the opening ceremony, the Baha'is held a mini-conference about the environment, and then discussed the progress of capacity-building study circles.
The Baha'i community of Huahine is active in the three core activities of the Five Year Plan currently being carried out by Baha'is throughout the world -- study circles, devotional meetings and children's classes.",HUAHINE,,French Polynesia
278,2004-02-10,[],Promoting social harmony in Europe,"STRASBOURG, France — An exhibition on social harmony at the main building of the European Parliament was officially inaugurated at a reception here on 10 February.
Titled ""The Baha'i International Community: Promoting Unity in Diversity throughout Europe for over a Century,"" the display will grace the first floor gallery of the Winston Churchill Building until 12 February 2004.
More than 150 people -- including some 30 members of the Parliament -- attended the reception, which featured an address by Baroness Sarah Ludford, a member of the European Parliament from the United Kingdom who sponsored the exhibition.
There are well-established Baha'i communities -- headed by national-level governing councils -- in all 15 member nations of the European Union, as well as in the ten acceding nations.
""I believe this little-known religion of global reach is of interest to people like ourselves who work in an international context in this expanding and enlarging European Parliament,"" said Baroness Ludford.
She said that Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith, ""warned of the dangers of unconstrained nationalism and called for a system of global governance, which has led Baha'is to be particular supporters of the United Nations.""
""He would have applauded the success of the European Union in ensuring collective security and protecting human rights,"" said Baroness Ludford, who is not a Baha'i.
The exhibition was created by the Baha'i International Community to welcome the 10 new states that will join the European Union on 1 May 2004.  Baroness Ludford (center) with Ronald Mayer, the ambassador of Luxembourg to the Council of Europe and the European Parliament (left) and Ulrich Bohner, chief executive of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (right). Photo by European Parliament.It specifically showcases the contributions that Baha'i communities in Europe have made towards promoting unity among diverse peoples.
Also addressing the reception was Dr. Laszlo Farkas, a representative of the national governing council of the Baha'is of Hungary, which is one of the 10 new countries joining the EU.
""For us, the unification of different cultures and peoples is a natural process,"" said Dr. Farkas. ""Baha'is both in Europe and in the whole world are working for this unified human family.""
Other dignitaries at the reception included several judges from the European Court of Human Rights, representatives of the Council of Europe, members of the European Commission, and a number of ambassadors and diplomats. As well, a number of prominent personalities from the Strasbourg region were present.
Composed of 17 panels, the display tells the story, through words and photographs, of how the Baha'i communities of Europe have sought to promote peace, cross-cultural integration, religious tolerance, and business ethics through a variety of concrete projects and actions.
""The idea of social harmony, which this exhibition seeks to promote, is of critical importance as the European Union becomes larger,"" said Lucien Crevel, chairman of the  National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of France, one of the 37 national Baha'i governing councils in Europe.
""Over the years, the Baha'i communities of Europe have sought to engender and encourage social harmony and progress, through a wide range of activities. It is this experience, which the exhibition seeks to highlight, that we hope will be helpful to the Parliament, and its members,"" said Mr. Crevel.
The exhibition, for example, takes note of projects like The Institute for Social Cohesion, which was established in 2001 by the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom to promote cross-cultural harmony.
It also highlights the Baha'i International Community's innovative collaboration with the Stability Pact for Eastern Europe (formerly known as the Royaumont Process) to strengthen stability and interethnic communication in Southeastern Europe.
And it discusses projects in some of the new member-states, such as the Mesed (Story-telling Mothers) of Hungary, which empowers women to work for greater social harmony.
""Baha'is are convinced of the necessity of international collaboration and support the principles underlying the European Union,"" said Christine Samandari, representative of the Baha'i International Community, noting that the Baha'i Faith was first established in Europe in 1898.
Baha'is reside in more than 6,000 localities throughout Europe, and they have established some 976 locally elected governing councils, which administer their communities at the local level. As noted, they have national governing councils in 37 European countries.",STRASBOURG,,France
279,2004-02-12,[],Chile Temple Web site launched,"HAIFA, Israel — The Baha'i International Community launched a Web site presenting the design of the Baha'i House of Worship to be constructed in Chile. The site is located at http://temple.cl.bahai.org.
The site, in both Spanish and English, features an animated tour, a slide show and ""fly-through"" of the Temple, accompanied by text.
Canadian architecture firm Hariri Pontarini Architects received approval by the Universal House of Justice to develop its competition-winning scheme for the Temple in the environs of Chile's principal city, Santiago.
It is the final continental Baha'i Temple, taking its place among seven existing temples in Australia, Germany, Panama, Uganda, the United States, Western Samoa, and, most recently, India.
The starting point for the design was to create what architect Siamak Hariri calls ""a glowing temple of light, inviting to people of all faiths.""
According to Mr. Hariri, ""Light, the connecting force of the universe, shapes all aspects of the design. By day, light draws you into the building, and concentrates at the oculus. Light creates an interior experience of ever-changing texture and unpredictable iridescence as it is filtered through the inner tracery of wood.
""The stone shell glows with a dreamlike serenity at night. Golden light spills out between the leaves, and the inner form of the building is revealed.""
The two-stage international call for design submissions attracted 185 entries from over 80 countries around the world. The Hariri Pontarini scheme was selected from a shortlist of four designs by architecture teams from Australia, Great Britain, the United States, and Canada.
The brief called for a nine-sided domed structure with nine entrances to symbolically welcome people from all directions of the earth for prayer and meditation.
The winning design is a glowing temple of nine gracefully torqued translucent alabaster ""leaves"" that floats over a large reflecting lily pool and nine prayer gardens.
The translucent leaves of stone form the Temple's outer shell, with a delicate wood tracery as an inner layer.
Space for communal and private meditation and prayer is provided by two distinct spaces: the area under the dome seating 600 people, and nine intimate, light-filled alcoves nestled between the wings beneath a mezzanine that rings the Temple perimeter.
Although visually light, the building is structurally strong to respond to its location in a seismic zone. The structure is designed to accommodate ground movement and flex under lateral loads, with each wing composed like a leaf whose primary steel stem and secondary veins support the two layers. Three supporting bands tie the leaves into one integral whole.
For more on the Chile Temple see http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=229.",HAIFA,,Israel
280,2003-12-20,[],Secret rendezvous of faith,"WINDHOEK, Namibia — The first Namibian to become a Baha'i told participants at jubilee celebrations here about how he joined the Faith after secret meetings with the person who brought the teachings to this country.
Hilifa Andreas Nekundi said that because he was black and Englishman Ted Cardell was white, they had to have their meetings in secret to avoid becoming victims of the oppressive apartheid policies then in force.
Mr. Nekundi told his dramatic story as part of a gathering held from 19 to 21 December 2003 to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith in Namibia (then called South West Africa).
Mr. Nekundi (also known as Tate Hilifa) first heard about the Baha'i teachings in 1955 from Mr. Cardell, who had arrived in the country two years earlier.
The first Baha'i to settle there, Mr. Cardell received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from Shoghi Effendi.
Mr. Cardell first encountered Mr. Nekundi while looking for someone to translate a Baha'i pamphlet from English into Kwanyama, the language of one of the biggest tribes in the country. Mr. Nekundi, an official police translator, agreed to help.
Over a period of six weeks the two men would drive to an isolated place outside the city in the evenings and work on the translation by torchlight.
The Baha'i writings attracted Mr. Nekundi, and shortly afterwards he sent a letter to the then-head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.  Some of the participants at the jubilee.""I am one of the smallest seeds of which the sower had sowed in the garden of South West Africa,"" he wrote.
""I am still a baby in this Spirit [Faith]  I have no roots yet. But to do my best is just to pray to God for it, and give myself into thy hands to guard my prayer to him who is the Divine God.""
Shoghi Effendi replied: ""Assuring you of a most hearty welcome into the Baha'i Faith and of my loving and fervent prayers for your success and spiritual advancement.""
Mr. Nekundi later served on the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Windoek, and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Namibia.
Today Baha'is live in 247 localities in Namibia, and there are 25 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
At the jubilee celebrations there were many local Baha'is, a prominent representative of the government, and Baha'i guests from Malawi, South Africa, Botswana, Germany, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The participants also heard reminiscences from Gerda Aiff, who settled in Namibia with her husband, Martin Aiff, and their six young children in 1959.
The family lived a life that was split in two parts because of the need to protect the Baha'i community, Mrs. Aiff, 82, told the gathering.
If it were known that white and blacks were mixing, there would have been swift and devastating repercussions for a community whose fundamental teaching, the oneness of humanity, ran directly counter to the racist policies then prevailing.
""While the (white) women were sitting in front of the house pretending to be relaxed, in the background the men would hold study classes with the African friends.""
Mrs. Aiff said that meetings of white and African Baha'is were generally impossible because of the segregation laws, so the Baha'is had to find a way of communicating with each other.
A courier between the two groups was found in Martin Onesmus, an African Baha'i who was an employee of the Aiff's.
Because he lived on their premises, he could take messages from them to the African Baha'is.
In 1965 Mr. Onesmus was elected as one of the members of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Windhoek.
""Now seeing so many friends, free to teach (the Baha'i Faith) and be together -- my family, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren -- is an overwhelming joy,"" said Mrs. Aiff with great emotion.
A guest of honor at the jubilee was a member of the local Baha'i community, Sandra Tjitendero. She read the speech of her husband, Dr. Mose Tjitendero, the speaker of the Namibian parliament, who was ill on the day he was due to speak.
Dr. Tjitendero praised the principles of the Baha'i Faith and said that they not only gave personal inspiration to him but they are also the highest aspiration of the government of Namibia.
""There is no doubt in my mind that this jubilee celebrates, among other things, the power of faith, the courage and spirit of those early Baha'is in Namibia, who despite the hostile political and social environment that existed at the time, persevered to demonstrate the principle of unity and oneness,"" Dr. Tjitendero said.
Dr. Tjitendero recovered from his illness and joined the festivities the following evening.
Also present at the event was Maina Mkandawire, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa who resides in Malawi, and Lally Lucretia Warren, a former member of the Board and now a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Botswana.
Baha'i youth from different regions of the country entertained participants with musical and dance performances.
The 40-member Omaruru children's choir, from the Erongo area, sang songs in English and Otijherero. Also performing was a dancing choir from the Kavango region of Namibia.
A slide presentation portrayed the history and growth of the Faith in the country. It told of the encouraging visits during the apartheid years by Hands of the Cause of God Ruhiyyih Rabbani, Adelbert Muhlschlegel, Rahmatullah Muhajir, and William Sears.
Namibia television covered the jubilee during a Sunday morning religious program.
Satellite celebrations were also held in the coastal towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.
(Jubilee photos by Haynes McFadden and Brigitte Aiff.)",WINDHOEK,,Namibia
281,2004-01-01,[],Inspiring young people to serve others,"HLUBOKA, Czech Republic — A six-day gathering to inspire Baha'i youth to make their contribution to the welfare of humanity attracted participants from more than 30 countries.
The world's suffering was a ""call to action,"" a keynote speaker told participants at the ""Changing Times"" seminar, which was held at the Townshend International School here from 26 December 2003 to 1 January 2004.
""Today we are witnessing the disintegration of international order,"" said Robert Henderson, the secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
""Sovereign states are unable to stop the spread of terrorism and war, to stabilize the world economy or to alleviate the sufferings of millions,"" said Dr. Henderson, drawing on analysis by Shoghi Effendi and messages from the Universal House of Justice.
Baha'i youth, he said, should strive to become examples of the transforming power of Baha'u'llah.
They should ""elevate the atmosphere"" in which they live, face challenges with confidence and become the embodiment of excellence in their personal lives, academic training, professions, and spiritual qualities.
The atmosphere of the seminar was characterized by the joy and camaraderie of the some 220 participants. In addition to the many European Baha'is, attendees came from places as far away as Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
The program also featured a talk by Hamid Peseschkian, a psychiatrist who spoke on marriage preparation, and Lesley Taherzadeh, who addressed aspects of Baha'i history.  Vahid and Martha Khadem-Missagh.Ms. Taherzadeh spoke about the heroes and heroines of the Faith -- and she offered a moving tribute to her late husband, Adib Taherzadeh, a renowned Baha'i author who served on the Universal House of Justice.
Ardawan Lalui, the project director of the Townshend School, spoke about applying Baha'i principles to the workplace.
Topics by other speakers included the importance of ethics in business and the equality of men and women.
Workshops aimed at inspiring the youth to incorporate Baha'i principles into their lives included a focus on two current themes in Baha'i activities worldwide -- the arts in Baha'i community life (led by Inder Manocha), and the importance of devotional meetings (led by Katrina Modabber).
Both of those workshop topics were illustrated in the program itself. Among the artistic performances were those by international prize-winning violinists Martha and Vahid Khadem-Missagh, who performed with their father, Bijan, at the official opening of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa in May 2001.
Stand-up comedian Inder Manocha, who performed at the ""Best of the Edinburgh Festival Showcase"" and has appeared on BBC programs, provided an evening of comedy.
A devotional meeting, in which music and the arts provided an uplifting atmosphere, was one of the highlights of the seminar.
The seminar was dedicated to two much beloved Baha'is who passed away in 2003 -- the Hand of the Cause of God Ali-Akbar Furutan, and former member of the Universal House of Justice David Hofman.
The Changing Times seminar, organized by European Baha'i youth, was first held in 2002 and is scheduled to become an annual event.",HLUBOKA NAD VLTAVOU,,Czech Republic
282,2004-03-01,[],Scholar to receive interfaith honor,"COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — Professor Suheil Bushrui, who holds the Baha'i chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, is to receive an award previously bestowed on such luminaries as Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama.
On March 1 2004, Professor Bushrui will be honored with the Juliet Hollister Award from the New York-based Temple of Understanding, a global interfaith organization.
The award is in recognition of Prof. Bushrui's ""exceptional service to interfaith understanding.""
As well as the former South African president, Mr. Mandela, and the Dalai Lama, recipients have included Queen Noor of Jordan, and the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson. Also receiving the award this year are Coleman Barks, and Cokie and Steven V. Roberts.
""What we are looking for are people who carry the interfaith message to a large audience, and Prof. Bushrui has certainly done that,"" said Alison Van Dyk, executive director of the Temple.
Prof. Bushrui has a long record of promoting intercultural and interreligious understanding.
In large part, this work has been built on two main themes -- the commonality of all religions and the essential oneness of the human family.
For the last 10 years, Prof. Bushrui's platform for the promotion of such ideas has been the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, a professorial post endowed largely by the worldwide Baha'i community.  Prof. Bushrui delivering a lecture in association with an exhibition by the Baha'i International Community, at the European Parliament in Brussels, June 2003.Prof. Bushrui has organized conferences promoting international and interfaith dialogue. He has lectured in the United States and Europe on globalization and human rights, and has sponsored prominent guest lectures.
Prof. Bushrui is also known for the quality of his teaching -- another factor in the Hollister Award.
""Many teachers are good,"" said Maynard Mack, director of the Honors Program at the University of Maryland. ""But Suheil is life-changing. We hear this over and over again, that students' whole attitude towards education, their whole attitude towards life, changes in his class.""
In 1999, Prof. Bushrui was chosen ""teacher of the year"" at the University, a significant honor on a campus with more than 2,800 full time faculty.
Elie Teichman, a 21-year-old senior at the University who is considering rabbinical school after graduation, said that Prof. Bushrui's honors seminar on ""The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race"" was ""one of my most treasured academic experiences in college.""
Cynthia Roberts Hale, assistant dean in the College of Behavior and Social Sciences, where the Baha'i Chair resides, said Prof. Bushrui has had an ""enormous impact"" on the campus, despite some initial skepticism about him.
""But he has developed relationships all over the campus, and he has won the respect of many people, first because he is a scholar in his own right and second because he is a citizen of the world.
""So often, academics have a message that is only for each other. But Suheil has the capacity to communicate with everyone, whether a child, a student, a scholar, or the House of Lords,"" said Dr. Hale. ""And Suheil wants you to know that he believes in God, that there is a world order, and that there is a code of human behavior -- and he is constantly translating that into a formula for world peace.""
Born in Nazareth
Born 74 years ago in Nazareth, Suheil Bushrui went to Arab primary schools and then to St. George's College in Jerusalem.
""I had a foundation in Qu'ranic, Arabic studies, but then I moved to an English school, and the literature fascinated me,"" Prof. Bushrui said.
""In particular, I was fascinated by the romantic poets, Keats, Shelley, and Byron. They appealed to my Arab imagination, I think.""
He obtained a doctorate in English literature at the University of Southampton. He taught there and later at universities in Nigeria and Canada.
It was in the junction of two worlds -- of his Arab childhood and of his English education -- that he found a great resource for intercultural harmony.
""The link between the two cultures is that tremendous area -- where I think many cultures meet -- that is commonly referred to as the 'perennial philosophy,'"" said Prof. Bushrui. ""My whole work on Yeats has always been about the perennial philosophy, about his search for a universal religion.""
Popularized by Aldous Huxley, the term ""perennial philosophy"" encompasses the idea that there is one Divine reality underlying all religions and cultures, even though it has been revealed to humanity at different times and in different forms.
The other main influence on Prof. Bushrui's thinking has been his practice of the Baha'i Faith. Born into a Baha'i family, he has lived by the Baha'i teachings since childhood. Its themes of religious and human oneness are clearly found throughout his writings and lectures.
""For me,"" said Prof. Bushrui, ""the Baha'i religion -- which does not emphasize a narrow religious perspective -- opened up tremendous vistas of acceptance of other traditions in such a way that it emphasized the commonalities between the various cultures and religions of the world.""
Lebanon and Gibran
Prof. Bushrui accepted a position at the American University of Beirut in 1968.
""In part, my return to Lebanon stemmed from a tremendous desire to publish in Arabic and to express myself in the language I have loved from childhood,"" said Prof. Bushrui. ""It was in Lebanon that I began to work assiduously on Gibran.""
As with Yeats, Prof. Bushrui found in the work and life of Kahlil Gibran a profound repository of universal thinking that he believed could be a great source of healing in the world.
""Gibran was perhaps one of the foremost promoters of world unity and the unity of religions,"" said Prof. Bushrui.
Prof. Bushrui published several books on the Lebanese poet, including, in 1998, ""Kahlil Gibran: Man and Poet,"" which he coauthored with Joe Jenkins.
""His words went beyond the mere evocation of the mysterious East but endeavored to communicate the necessity of reconciliation between Christianity and Islam, spirituality and materialism, East and West,"" wrote Bushrui and Jenkins.
One of his recent projects, a book entitled ""The Wisdom of the Arabs,"" which compiles traditional sayings from throughout Arab culture, takes a popular approach to promoting cross-cultural understanding.
""It's a critically important book,"" said Arab cultural specialist Mounzer Sleiman, who calls Prof. Bushrui a ""super ambassador"" for Arab culture.
Prof. Bushrui also has ""real world"" experience at promoting cross-cultural harmony. In the 1980s, Lebanon's President Amine Gemayel, one of his former students, appointed Prof. Bushrui as his non-partisan cultural advisor, bringing him directly into the field of international politics and conflict resolution.
""In Lebanon at the time, of course, the main concern was how do you create understanding and resolve conflict between the various religious groups there, especially between Christians and Muslims,"" said Prof. Bushrui. ""I believe that it was possible to do this through the arts, through the great works of literature, and particularly through the works of Gibran himself.""
""You see, what most people don't appreciate is that literature is a holistic study,"" said Prof. Bushrui. ""It encompasses psychology, history, culture, and politics. And what has interested me is how culture and religion have interacted towards one another. And how they can be reconciled.""
""In poetry, for example, whether the poet is aware of it or not, there is a sacred knowledge, which is transmitted from generation to generation,"" said Prof. Bushrui. ""And that sacred knowledge, which is the basis of all great poetry, is what makes poetry universal.""
In one of his speeches, ""The Spiritual Foundation of Human Rights,"" Prof. Bushrui argued that since all religions recognize ""the existence of individual souls and the relationship between that soul and its Creator,"" every religion in essence agrees that ""human beings enjoy certain inalienable rights that no worldly authority may capriciously or systematically abrogate.""
Prof. Bushrui has addressed many prominent audiences. In 2000 and 2001, he addressed the House of Lords in Great Britain, and in 2001 he spoke at the US Library of Congress on the topic of ""Globalization and the Baha'i Community in the Muslim World.""",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
283,2003-12-28,[],National communities celebrate together,"DAKAR, Senegal — Baha'i communities of former French West Africa have celebrated the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Baha'i Faith to the region.
Participants in the festivities, held here between 26 and 28 December 2003, came from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Guinea, Togo, and Ivory Coast.
There were also Baha'i guests from other parts of Africa, Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East.
Presentations using slide shows and photographs prepared by Chahine Rassekh from Mali and Thelma Khelgati from Guinea, informed the participants about the Baha'i history of the region, including the first Baha'is there -- Labib and Habib Isfahani.
Labib Isfahani arrived from Egypt in December 1953, followed by his brother, Habib Isfahani, in April 1954. For their introduction of the Faith to the region they both received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
The presentations also depicted in photographs the visits to the region of some outstanding Baha'is, among them five Hands of the Cause of God: Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, Enoch Olinga, Ruhiyyih Rabbani, and Ali-Muhammad Varqa.
Some early Baha'is in the region gave accounts of the major events involving the Faith during the past 50 years, and Parvine Djoneidi of Niger, spoke on the establishment of the Faith there and its potential for the future.  Baha'i traveling teacher Elbahi Aziza (right) visiting local Baha'is.One of the highlights of the event was the screening of the video, ""Building Momentum.""
The film, distributed by the Baha'i World Centre, portrays Baha'i communities throughout the world engaged in community-building activities that are open to the general public: study circles, children's classes, and devotional meetings.
After the screening of the video, participants held discussion groups and exchanged their experiences on the subjects portrayed.
Two distinguished guests at the celebration were Ibrahim Galadina, and Moussa Kamaye, members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa.
In his address, Mr. Kamaye encouraged the Baha'is to carefully study and follow the messages of the Universal House of Justice. He also spoke about the significant role of Baha'i youth in building the Baha'i communities of the future.
The festivities were marked by joyous artistic performances by a variety of groups. A theatrical troupe from Mali performed dramatic stories about the early believers in Persia.
The Baha'i choirs of Dakar, Kaolack, and Burkina Faso entertained guests with their dances and songs, and a Baha'i dance group from Dakar, Les Etincelles, performed two well-received shows.
The National Radio broadcast two interviews in connection with the jubilee.
Baha'is live in 382 localities in Senegal, and there are 54 Local Spiritual Assemblies. Social and economic development projects include teacher training, and providing literacy classes for women.
Among other Baha'i development activities in the region are the establishment of schools in Guinea, Mali, and Niger.",DAKAR,,Senegal
284,2004-02-11,[],Women's award to Baha'i representative,"NEW YORK — The Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, Bani Dugal, has received a ""Women Helping Women"" award from Soroptimist International.
The award came in the weeks leading up to International Women's Day on March 8, an occasion which is widely observed by Baha'i communities throughout the world.
""Women Helping Women"" is one of three awards offered under an umbrella program, ""Making a Difference for Women,"" established in 1986 by the Soroptimists to acknowledge those who work to improve the status of women in society. Soroptimist International is a 70-year-old volunteer service organization for women.
Ms. Dugal received the award on 11 February 2004 at the Williams Club in Manhattan.
""Her sensitivity and success at gender and intercultural relations are at the center of her ability not only as a woman helping women, but also helping women, collaboratively, to help other women,"" said Linda Stillman, chairperson of the awards ceremony.
Noting that Ms. Dugal was recently selected to chair the NGO Committee on the Status of Women at the United Nations, Ms. Stillman called her ""a testament to diplomatic decorum steeped in her spiritual soul.""
Ms. Stillman is the representative of Soroptimist International to the United Nations. She nominated Ms. Dugal for the award, which honors ""women who consistently and effectively use their resources, talents and influence to help other women achieve their potential.""  At the podium...Bani Dugal at the award ceremony.Ms. Dugal accepted the award ""in the name of all the women in the world that are working to assist one another to advance and enjoy an equal status with men.""
She spoke about the importance of using international mechanisms of human rights to assist women in their advancement.
""Many women are unaware of their human rights, and others see them as abstract and unattainable,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""Thus, while activism in past years has drawn attention to women's rights, the challenge is now to make them more accessible by implementing agreed strategies and commitments made by governments.""
The key to improving the rights of women, said Ms. Dugal, lies with an educational process that also promotes a ""conscious awareness that the interests of men and boys are linked with those of women.""
""I quote from the Baha'i writings: 'As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibility, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.'""
""Our task is clear and, together, helping one another, we can realize our dreams for a better tomorrow for women and men,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Two other awards, ""Advancing the Status of Women,"" and ""Woman of Distinction,"" were also presented the same evening.
Yannina Varvitsiotes, who heads a group called Face the Challenge, received the ""Advancing the Status of Women"" award, also part of the ""Making a Difference for Women"" program. Face the Challenge seeks to improve the self-image and self-esteem of disabled people, said Ms. Varvitsiotes, a social worker affiliated with the Jerome Bellson Center in the Bronx, who is herself a person with cerebral palsy.
The ""Advancing the Status of Women"" award ""recognizes businesses and organizations that have helped advance the status of women, and have used their positions to promote recognition of women's issues.""
The ""Woman of Distinction"" award was given to Eva H. Richter, a retired university educator who speaks five languages and now serves as UN representative for the International Federation of Business and Professional Women.
""Women of Distinction"" honors ""women who have made outstanding achievements in their professional, business or volunteer activities"" and who are ""ideal role models.""
[Report and photos by Veronica Shoffstall.]",NEW YORK,,United States
285,2003-12-30,[],Learning and singing harmonize,"SAN JOSE, Philippines — Participants in a choral concert tour here also conducted intensive training on the use of the arts and choral music for both the Baha'i community and the wider society.
The tour by members of the international Melody of Carmel Baha'i choir ran from 20 to 30 December 2003.
The conductor of the choir and one of those involved in the training sessions was Franco Aquino, whose great-grandfather, Felix Ricardo Maddela was the first Filipino to become a Baha'i, in 1938.
The training project, originally planned only for participants from the Nueva Vizcaya region, soon became a national one because of widespread interest.
Many amateur singers, ranging from the age of 11 to 57, came from all parts of the country to learn how to enhance their musical skills, and the practical steps of starting a choir.
Other sessions were dedicated to chanting and to the role of music in children's classes, devotional meetings, and other activities of the Baha'i community.
""Following the workshops and seeing the impact of the tour, the local Baha'i youth felt inspired to start choirs in their own communities,"" said Mr. Aquino, who lives in Haifa, Israel where he is a volunteer at the Baha'i World Centre and conducts its choir.
""Other participants are also planning to perform in the provincial fair in Solano,"" he said.  Some members of the choir.Members of the newly formed Melody of Carmel Baha'i choir came from Canada, Fiji, New Zealand, the United States, and Zambia, as well as from many regions of the Philippines.
""With 60 singers, this is the largest Baha'i choir ever to have performed in the Philippines,"" said Mr. Aquino.
The members of the choir spent five days preparing together for the tour and learning the 16-song repertoire.
Entitled ""Echoes of Love,"" the tour featured choral arrangements of Baha'i prayers and other Baha'i holy texts set to music.
Choir member, Bonnie Ellis, a librarian from Canada, who has been a staff member at the Baha'i World Centre since 2001, said that the Baha'i writings have a unique potency, firstly because they are the word of God, and secondly because when set to music, they move the hearts of people.
""Baha'u'llah says that music is like a ladder whereby man gets closer to God,"" said Ms. Ellis. ""People always remember the music most [from an event] because it moves them.""
The group also sang songs that arose from a variety of ethnic traditions, as well as some pop songs and folk tunes, including a song in Filipino.
The concerts also featured a traditional dance from Fiji, performed by the Iloilo Baha'i Youth Dance troupe, and a solo violin performance.
Melody of Carmel's three public performances were in San Jose, Solano, and Cabarroguis. A colorful parade welcomed the choir to the town of Solano.
Local dignitaries attended the events, and admission to the concerts was free for the general public.
The concert in San Jose was recorded and will be broadcast in the near future by the Radio Baha'i Philippines. Local radio stations also interviewed some of the members of the choir.",SAN JOSE,,Philippines
286,2004-01-28,[],Tongan Baha'is parade to the palace,"NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga — Hundreds of Baha'is paraded through the streets of this capital city as they celebrated the golden anniversary of the Baha'i Faith in Tonga.
Escorted by the local police band, more than 400 Baha'is set off from the newly renovated national Baha'i center for their destination, the royal palace of Tonga.
They wore traditional Tongan woven clothing and carried flags and banners proclaiming such principles of the Baha'i Faith as the oneness of religion and the unity of mankind.
At the palace, the Crown Prince Tupouto'a, the first son of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, welcomed the parade.
Baha'is presented traditional gifts of roasted pigs, root crops, fine woven mats, tapa cloth, and other handicrafts as a sign of respect.
A local Baha'i dance troupe presented a traditional Tongan dance, called Lakalaka, which had been choreographed specially for this event and had been rehearsed for months.
Native American artist Kevin Locke, who represented the Baha'i community of the United States at the jubilee, performed a hoop dance at the gathering. His performance was shown on the national television news.
Following royal protocols, traditional orators Masila and Leka -- both of them Baha'is -- spoke on behalf of the Baha'i community and expressed their appreciation to the royal family.  Visit of Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts to Tonga, April 1972. (From left to right) Vilatu Tu'akihekolo, Mr. Robarts, 'Asita Fielea, Andrew Fielea.In response, the Prince's orator, Vakalahi, assured the Baha'is that the Faith would continue to be under the blessing of the royal family.
He also noted many of the positive contributions of the Baha'i community to Tonga, such as the establishment of the Ocean of Light International School.
The school, located on the outskirts of Nuku'alofa, first opened in 1996 with nine students.
Now there are about 300 children at the school, 80 per cent of them from Tonga. Students also come from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States.
The school provides elementary and secondary education, emphasizes high ethical standards, and offers a moral educational program.
The highlights of the jubilee, held from 24 to 28 January 2004, included a welcoming ball, with 600 in attendance, a morning devotional gathering attended by 500, and a luncheon attended by some 800 Baha'is and guests, including a member of the royal family.
Baha'is from various Tongan island groups, such as Vavau, Eua, and Haapai, gathered for the jubilee. Others came from Samoa, the Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, and the continental United States.
Among the special guests was Stanley Bolton, who arrived  from Australia as the first Baha'i in the country on 25 January 1954.
The day of the luncheon was the anniversary of Dr. Bolton's arrival in Tonga a half century earlier.
For his services in bringing the Faith to Tonga, Dr. Bolton received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, as did two other pioneering Baha'is, Dudley Moore Blakely, and his wife Elsa (Judy) Blakely, who arrived from the United States on 12 July, 1954.
""I could never dream 50 years ago that such a gathering of Tongan Baha'is in the name of Baha'u'llah was ever possible,"" said Dr. Bolton at the luncheon.
""Much has transpired since the seed was planted 50 years ago. With the flow of pioneers the seed was watered, nurtured and steadily grew to become such a strong tree,"" he said.
The guest of honor at the event was the Hon. Ma'atu, the second son of the King. (The Hon. Ma'atu passed away on 17 February 2004 after suffering a heart attack. Representatives of the Baha'i community accepted an invitation to offer prayers at the memorial service held on 24 February.)
Also present at the jubilee luncheon were retired speaker of the parliament, Hon. Fusitu'a, accompanied by his daughter; Donald Blanks, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia; representatives of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of Samoa, Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand; and many government officials, community leaders, and members of the Christian community of Tonga.
The evening program featured a choir competition. Seven groups -- from Tonga, New Zealand, and Australia -- competed. The songs were based on the Baha'i sacred writings and the themes of ""Reflections on the Life of the Spirit,"" a course aimed at understanding prayer, life after death, and the spiritual nature of human beings.
On 27 January, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia, Heather Simpson, spoke about the progress of devotional meetings, study circles, and children's classes, activities now being focused on by Baha'i communities worldwide.
Participants improved their skills in workshops on media and video, the use of the arts and of music, and community development.
During a presentation about the growth of the Faith in Tonga from just a few souls in the 1950s to 29 Local Spiritual Assemblies today, participants heard about visits from such prominent Baha'is as Hands of the Cause Collis Featherstone, Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, Enoch Olinga, Ruhiyyih Rabbani, and John Robarts, and a member of the Universal House of Justice, Hugh Chance. Some 45 Baha'is from other countries have lived in Tonga for various periods of time to assist in the development of the Baha'i community.
The Tongan Baha'i community has a rich, courageous and dramatic history, growing amidst a society that was not initially receptive to a new religion. Among the early Baha'is were Latu and Mele Tu'akihekolo, Peni and Lupe Tutu'ila (Lupe being the first Tongan woman to accept the Faith), Tevita Tu'ipulotu and Seini Toutaiolepo, Lisiate Maka (who became a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors), Tevita Halaholo and Hesekaia Vaohingano.
Tonga has also sent out many Baha'is from its borders to help establish the Faith in other lands. For example, Mosese Hokafonu travelled extensively for the Faith throughout the kingdom and the Pacific, and Suliana Halaholo Korean, a notable translator of the Baha'i writings, lived as a Baha'i pioneer with her husband Masao in the Marshall Islands. She passed away there in 1982.
The first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Nuku'alofa in April 1958. Tonga established its own National Spiritual Assembly in 1970.
The five-day jubilee celebrations ended with a picnic and a dance: ""Island Night."" Participants from different islands wore their traditional local costumes as they performed dances.
The jubilee was an occasion of unprecedented media coverage of the Faith in Tonga, with the national TV channel and radio covering three nights of the jubilee. Reporters from two newspapers also covered the events.
(Sione Tuitahi and Sohrab Bolouri contributed to this report.)
(Jubilee photos by Daska Babcock-Halaholo, George Taufui Halaholo, and Ian Schutz.)",NUKUʻALOFA,,Tonga
287,2004-03-29,[],'Baha'i World' volume focuses on key issues,"HAIFA, Israel — The need for religious tolerance, the role of the individual in building society, and HIV/AIDS are among the topics addressed in the newly released volume of ""The Baha'i World"".
""The Baha'i World 2002-2003"" is the 11th volume in an annual series aimed both at Baha'i readers and the general public. Its pages describe the aims and activities of local and national Baha'i communities around the world.
""If people want to understand the forces that cause the Baha'i community to act and the results of those actions, then this volume is the place to look,"" said Ann Boyles, the book's senior editor.
""The articles in the book provide striking evidence of the Baha'i community's involvement in issues of serious and global importance,"" said Dr. Boyles.
For example, said Dr. Boyles, the volume reprints the full text of the recent message of the Universal House of Justice to the world's religious leaders. That message called for decisive action to eradicate religious intolerance and fanaticism, warning that with ""every day that passes, danger grows that the rising fires of religious prejudice will ignite a worldwide conflagration the consequences of which are unthinkable.""
The full text of the message of the Universal House of Justice is published in the volume, as is a report of the distribution of the message to religious leaders by Baha'i communities around the world.
Other major articles include ""Facing the Growing HIV/AIDS Epidemic: A Baha'i Perspective,"" by Dawn Smith, ""Obligation and Responsibility in Constructing a World Civilization,"" by Hoda Mahmoudi, and a ""World Watch"" essay by Dr. Boyles on the role of the individual in building society.
Dr. Smith's article says Baha'is have taken a different tack in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Not only have Baha'is begun to apply the distinctive spiritual principles of their Faith on an individual level, they have also launched a number of small scale educational projects to address the epidemic's root causes, she writes.
The overarching approach is one of unity, she says. ""Too often members and representatives of the world's religions have used the HIV/AIDS epidemic to promote discord, insisting that it is solely a problem of the irreligious or that this illness is a punishment from God, meted out to 'sinners' or the 'unfaithful,'"" she says.
""'Abdu'l-Baha emphasized the role of religion in promoting unity and in working in harmony with science,"" she says.
""HIV-related stigma and discrimination are not only unjust and unkind at the individual level, they are themselves a contributor to new infections.""
Dr. Mahmoudi's article examines the nature of a spiritualized society founded on altruism and reciprocity, based on the principles in the Baha'i sacred writings.
""The Baha'i teachings recognize that the transformation of individuals into altruistic persons cannot take place outside the social context, which must provide a matrix for that transformation,"" she says.
Other reports featured in the book include an account of the Baha'i participation at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the annual ""Year in Review"" survey, and an update on the situation of the Baha'i communities in Iran and Egypt.
Also printed in the book are a selection of major statements by the Baha'i International Community and a statement on social cohesion by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom.
This 320-page book is prepared by the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information. It contains numerous color photographs, and is available for US$18.00. It can be ordered from World Centre Publications through the United States Baha'i Distribution Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30336-2017, USA (telephone: (800) 999-9019; e-mail: bds@usbnc.org).",HAIFA,,Israel
288,2003-12-21,[],Four islands unite in celebrations,"ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Representatives of Baha'i communities in four Indian Ocean islands gathered here to celebrate the 50th jubilee of the arrival of the Faith in the region.
Baha'is came from Reunion, Mauritius, and Seychelles to join with the Baha'i community of Madagascar for three days of festivities.
Malagasy government ministers, local government leaders, and religious representatives were guests at the opening ceremony in the Hilton hotel in the heart of the capital.
Those attending the opening ceremony viewed an exhibition that depicted the growth of the Baha'i Faith throughout the world in the last half century. It also portrayed the garden terraces that embellish the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel in Haifa.
One of the guest speakers, the Interior Minister of the government of the Republic of Madagascar, General Soja, outlined the world-embracing principles of the Faith and noted how its teachings were introduced to Madagascar by Meherangiz Munsiff in 1953.
Mrs. Munsiff first set foot in Madagascar on 21 April 1953. She was able to stay through the hospitality of a local Muslim family, the Ismails, and later with the Robert family, of Tananarive (now Antananarivo), who were among the first to become Baha'is in Madagascar and who later played an outstanding role in the history of the Faith here.
Suffering ill health, Mrs. Munsiff left in January 1954 a day after Danile Randrianarivo, 29, accepted the Faith, becoming the first Malagasy Baha'i.
The first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Tananarive was formed in April, 1955, and the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Madagascar was elected in 1972. There are now 33 Local Spiritual Assemblies.  Fifty Baha'is from the other three islands joined 120 Malagasy Baha'is and Baha'i visitors from North America, Europe, and Africa at the jubilee festivities, held from 19 to 21 December 2003. Among those present were Baha'is who had been members of the community for more than four decades.
During one of the sessions of the jubilee, the daughter of Mrs. Munsiff, Jyoti Munsiff, told anecdotes of the history of the Faith in Madagascar. Daisy Robert, one of the first Baha'is of the island and the widow of Gilbert Robert, who had served as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, related stories of the growth of the Baha'i community on the island.
Musical groups from the four islands sang spiritually uplifting songs from their respective homelands.
At the closing ceremony two ministers from the Malagasy government gave speeches praising the faith for its teachings of universal unity and peace.
The media gave extensive coverage to the celebrations. Several newspapers published articles about the events, and the national television channel covered the closing ceremony.
After the celebrations, a group of Baha'is from the four participating islands went to Ansirabe, about 250 kilometers from the capital, to teach the Faith.",ANTANANARIVO,,Madagascar
289,2004-03-26,[],Magazines win high praise,"BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, United States — Two Baha'i publications have won awards from the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), an interfaith association at work in print and electronic communication, marketing, and public relations.
Brilliant Star, a magazine for children and junior youth published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, won an Award of Excellence -- and a Best of Class Award -- in the category for national magazines.
The awards were accepted by the magazine's editor, Amethel Parel-Sewell, on behalf of the Brilliant Star staff.
One Country, the newsletter of the Baha'i International Community, also won an Award of Excellence.
This was given to editor Brad Pokorny in the newspaper features category for a story titled ""In Vanuatu, a proving ground for coconut oil as alternative fuel,"" which was published in the April-June 2003 issue.
The awards, known as the DeRose-Hinkhouse awards, were presented on 26 March 2004 at the Council's annual convention, held this year in Birmingham.
The awards recognize the achievements of RCC members who demonstrate excellence in their fields. Entries in various categories are judged by peers in local chapters across the country. The awards honor the late Victor DeRose and Paul M. Hinkhouse, leading lithographers in New York City.
""These awards validate the imagination and originality so plentiful in our RCC family,"" said Ronald T. Glusenkamp, chair of the DeRose-Hinkhouse awards and vice president of customer outreach for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Board of Pension in Minneapolis.  The cover of the latest issue of Brilliant Star.""They demonstrate the high quality of work that institutions receive from our RCC members.""
Both award-winning publications have a presence on the World Wide Web.
More information about Brilliant Star can be found at http://www.brilliantstarmagazine.org. This year, Brilliant Star celebrates its 35th anniversary. The Award of Excellence and the Best of Class Award go to the magazine for its entire year of issues for 2003.
The Web address for One Country is http://www.onecountry.org, and the winning story can be read at http://www.onecountry.org/e151/e15101as_Deamer_profile.htm.
That story tells of the efforts of Tony Deamer, a Baha'i on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, to invent and promote a new technology that makes it feasible to operate diesel automobiles on coconut oil instead of petroleum, which will help protect the environment. The Baha'i World News Service published a condensed version of the story at http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=238.
More information about the RCC can be found at its website at: http://www.religioncommunicators.org, where a complete list of DeRose-Hinkhouse Award winners can be found.
Established in 1929, the Council is celebrating its 75th anniversary as the oldest association of religion communicators in the United States.
There are eleven local chapters around the country which promote excellence in the communication of religious faith and values as well as understanding among diverse faith groups.",BIRMINGHAM,ALABAMA,United States
290,2004-04-09,[],Trainees use tools for teaching,"CHIRIQUI PROVINCE, Panama — The sweet smell of cedar sawdust fills the air, and the rhythmic back-and-forth of a lone hacksaw harmonizes with an insistent tap-tap-tapping of oversized tropical raindrops announcing an imminent downpour.
Suddenly, all clouds burst, and the entire sky becomes a waterfall, its deafening beat thundering off the corrugated tin roof of the Ngabe-Bugle Cultural Center in Soloy.
Victorino Rodriguez is hard at work, along with 15 other indigenous schoolteachers. Oblivious to the rain outside, the teachers continue preparing instructional materials to take back to their schools. One is on government salary; the rest are volunteers, serving full-time as teachers for the native children who live in the remote mountain communities of Chiriqui.
The teachers are attending an intensive two-week training, where they will earn three credits towards the 14 required to become government-certified and receive a salary.
Roberto Palacio has been serving as a volunteer for eleven years.
""This was the best training we have ever had,"" said Mr. Palacio of Alto Naranjo.
""We were given an opportunity to design our own educational materials and to bring these back to our own communities to teach the children. For us, teaching is a labor of love.""
His wife, Maria Teresa Bejerano, also a teacher, is participating in the workshop as well.  Teacher trainee Tahireh Sanchez displaying her handiwork.The training is sponsored by FUNDESCU (a Baha'i-inspired non-governmental organization in Panama) with assistance from the Mona Foundation (a Baha'i-inspired non-profit organization based in the United States).
It includes classes in curriculum development, lesson planning, teaching strategies for active learning, methods of teaching elementary math, and the production of hands-on materials.
Most of the teachers are members of the Baha'i Faith, who are learning to set instructional goals that meet Ministry of Education requirements, and that are in harmony with Baha'i teachings as well as local cultural values.
They have generated a list of topics which they feel are of high importance such as moral values, practical skills for useful work, preservation of traditional culture.
After setting goals, the teachers practice writing educational objectives using an integrated thematic approach. They work in teams to design interesting lessons based on those objectives, and they demonstrate a variety of teaching strategies, including the use of art, music and drama.
In the math workshop each afternoon, participants use the hacksaw, the drill, and other tools to craft practical, inexpensive materials that will help their students learn to sort, classify, count, understand the decimal system, and perform basic math operations. These items must be produced using hand tools, since there is no electricity in the area.
It is an impressive sight: young Ngabe women in their colorful floor-length naguas (the traditional dress), cutting wood and measuring right angles with a T-square, a pencil tucked behind one ear.
The trainees are making the short numerical rods used in the Montessori system of education.
""The Montessori methodology learned in the seminar has been of great assistance to me in teaching the children in my school -- we should continue with this method to facilitate their learning,"" said trainee Julio Moreno of Cerro Bolo.
After two intensive weeks, the training course comes to an end, and a photo session is scheduled for the last afternoon.
""This training has been in tune with the reality faced by the teachers, the children and the communities,"" said trainee Ismael Atencio of Quebrada Molejon School.
""The trainers showed us how to develop a coherent and integrated curriculum model that truly meets our needs.  The seminar was dynamic, interactive and collaborative. It was also systematic and practical.""
""For me, this two-week training was extraordinary,"" said trainee Alexis Bejerano, of Bocas del Toro.
""I learned about curriculum development, and many different methods of teaching and learning,"" Mr. Bejerano says.
That night, a small closing ceremony begins with prayers and singing in three languages (Spanish, English and Ngabere). There are eloquent speeches, an exchange of gifts, laughter and a few tears.
Their official certificates are being signed by the Ministry of Education, and won't be delivered for several days. But the teachers are undaunted. They are already making plans for the next course.
[Report and photos by Randie Gottlieb.]
(For part one of this story see
https://news.bahai.org/story/186)",CHIRIQUI PROVINCE,,Panama
291,2004-03-01,[],Festivities honor community service,"HONIARA, Solomon Islands — Jubilee festivities here provided a fitting opportunity for the Baha'i community to reinstate a popular community service award.
The Baha'is announced the re-launch of the ""Blum's Community Service Award"" during celebrations held between 27 February and 1 March 2004 to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith in these islands.
The Blum's award, which was suspended in 1999 due to ethnic conflicts in the country, is given to individuals for their outstanding services to the wider society.
Founded in 1993, the award pays homage to the memory of Alvin Blum (1912-1968) and his wife, Gertrude Blum (1910-1993).
Originally from the United States, they introduced the Baha'i Faith to the country on 1 March 1954 and subsequently won renown for their invaluable services to their adopted country.
The official function at the jubilee celebrations attracted some 500 participants from all over the country.
Guests included the Governor-General, the deputy Prime Minister, together with government ministers, ambassadors and high-commissioners from all diplomatic missions, a High Court judge, and many prominent members of the community. Participants also came from Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Events were held at the national Baha'i center in Honiara, and in Malaita, Gizo, and Hareapa. Guests in Kwaio and Langa Langa also celebrated the jubilee.  Keithie Blum Saunders, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Blum, announced the re-launch of the award as part of the jubilee celebrations. The names of the recipients will be announced in September.
Mrs. Saunders, who lives in Honiara with her husband, Bruce, and other family members, gave an account of the life of her parents.
""My parents were real pioneers,"" said Mrs. Saunders, who was with them as a seven-year-old child when they first set foot in the Solomons.
""They came to an unknown land, used their skills to help the people develop; taught their teachings of love and peace, and lived their life as example to others.""
For their services in establishing the Baha'i community in the Solomon Islands Mr. and Mrs. Blum received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
Among their many contributions to the Solomon Islands was the opening of various businesses, such as a bakery, an ice cream shop, a laundry and dry cleaning business, a taxi service, a general store, and a hotel. Many of these services were new to the country.
Gertrude Blum helped to establish the National Council of Women and the Red Cross Society. For her active support of these organizations and her considerable community service, Mrs. Blum was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1989.
Alvin Blum had been a member of the United States medical corps in the Solomons during the Second World War. After his return to the Solomon Islands with his family nearly a decade later, he served as a member of the Honiara Town Council, a chairman of the Medical Board, and was one of the founders of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Scout Movement. He was a member of the Civil Aviation Committee and acted as the financial adviser to the Young Farmers Club.
Mr. and Mrs. Blum had served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New Zealand in the early 1950s.
In 1960 Mr. Blum was elected to the first Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the South West Pacific Ocean. In 1963 he participated in the first election of the Universal House of Justice.
The guest of honor at the jubilee was Governor General Sir John Ini Lapli, who commended the Baha'i community for ""endlessly and untiringly promoting unity, peace, and the brotherhood of mankind in the country over these 50 years of (the country's) life.""
""We thank God for your good contribution in the development of the Solomon Islands,"" Sir John said.
""May you continue to be commendable partners, together with the Government, the churches and non-governmental organizations, in the building up of good character in the people of the Solomon Islands,"" he said.
""We are with you in your desire and mission to promote peace and unity in the Solomon Islands, and indeed the world.""
The acting Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Snyder Rini, also paid tribute to the Baha'is and thanked the community for the re-launch of the Blum's award.
""The Baha'i community has initiated interdenominational services on many occasions, as well as giving continual support to the Government by participating in projects like trade fairs, peace and reconciliation initiatives,"" Mr. Rini said.
Mr. Rini encouraged the Baha'is to continue their work, and he concluded his talk by quoting from a prayer from Baha'u'llah for the unity of mankind.
A member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Solomon Islands, Whitlam Saeni, also read to the guests a message from that body to the people of the country.
Another distinguished guest at the jubilee was a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia Jalal Mills of Papua New Guinea. Dr. Mills is a son of John and Ruhengiz Mills. Mr. Mills worked with Mr. Blum and was the first expatriate to become a Baha'i in the country. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mills were present for the jubilee celebrations.
Local Baha'i youth performed some of their songs from a recently released album, produced specially for the jubilee. Copies were presented to dignitaries and other guests at the event.
Participants also enjoyed an international dance spectacular.
A photo exhibition featured images of the history of the Baha'i community in the Solomons from the mid-1950s to the present day, including photographs of some of the early Baha'is. The first Solomon Islander to accept the Faith was Billy Gina.
Another early Baha'i was a traditional chief from the Are Are region of Malaita. Hamuel Hoahania was attracted by the racial equality practiced by the Blums -- they invited islanders like him into their home to dine with them -- not the usual practice by Europeans living there.
His conversion was the start of large-scale enrolment in the Baha'i Faith by residents of Malaita. Mr. Hoahania  traveled widely in the country, carrying the teachings of the Baha'i Faith to many parts of the Solomon Islands.
In 1978, Mr. Hoahania, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Solomon Islands, was present at the election of the Universal House of Justice at the Baha'i World Centre. He passed away in 1986.
Jubilee participants visited the gravesite of Mr. and Mrs. Blum, where they offered prayers in their memory. Later, during an emotional five-hour session, longtime Baha'is shared inspiring stories with participants at the national center. The program ended with a feast for 500 people.
The media gave the jubilee extensive coverage. Both main national newspapers published articles (including the full text of the speech by Mrs. Saunders), and the national radio, SIBC (Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation), also broadcast reports.
Three thousand copies of a brochure about the Baha'i Faith were inserted into a nationally-circulating newspaper on March 1.
Two large banners about the jubilee were hung across the main street of Honiara for three weeks.
The first Local Spiritual Assembly in the Solomons was formed in 1957 and the first National Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1971. Today there are 38 Local Spiritual Assemblies. Baha'is all over the island are active in holding children's classes, prayer gatherings, and study circles.
Since 1996 the Virtues Project, a Baha'i-inspired initiative, has been successfully implemented throughout the country. The classes promote moral and spiritual development and assist individuals in nurturing and practicing virtues in everyday life. Some schools in Honiara and also in the countryside have been supportive in adopting this program.
The Solomon Islands has welcomed distinguished Baha'i guests on its shores during the past 50 years. The country was visited by Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani and other Hands of the Cause, including Collis Featherstone, Rahmatullah Muhajir, Enoch Olinga, and John Robarts.",HONIARA,,Solomon Islands
292,2004-03-30,[],Audience treated to world-class recital,"BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — A recital to mark the Baha'i new year (Naw-Ruz) here attracted a distinguished audience of business leaders, diplomats, academics, teachers, musicians, government officials, and other community leaders.
Prominent Austrian violinists Martha and Vahid Khadem-Missagh performed at the Austrian embassy in the historic Mozart hall where a plaque notes that the great composer played there when he was six-years-old.
Organized by the Baha'i community of Slovakia and the Austrian Cultural Forum of Bratislava, the concert to celebrate Naw-Ruz (which falls on March 21) was held on 30 March 2004.
A welcome from the cultural attache at the Austrian embassy Susanne Ranetzky was followed by an introduction by the internationally prominent Slovak violinist, Peter Michalica.
""These two young artists bring you a spiritual message which is very much in line with my thinking,"" Mr. Michalica said.
Martha and Vahid Khadem-Missagh, who are sister and brother, are both prize-winning musicians who perform internationally and who have recorded their own albums.
The performance featured works by Charles de Beriot, Louis Spohr, and Werner Pirchner. Mr. Khadem-Missagh told the audience that he and his sister had once visited the late Mr. Pirchner, and that they were inspired to choose his composition because it symbolized the development of the human being through the different stages of life.
The Khadem-Missaghs are both artists-in-residence with Allegro Vivo, the International Chamber Music Festival in Austria. It was founded by their father, Bijan Khadem-Missagh, who is its artistic director. He is an internationally distinguished violinist, recording artist, and conductor and the recipient of Austrian cultural awards.  Martha and Vahid Khadem-Missagh with (at left) Peter Michalica. Photo by Omeed Jahanpour.The three Khadem-Missaghs are members of the Baha'i Faith and all three performed at the May 2001 opening of the majestic garden terraces of the Shrine of the Bab at the Baha'i World Centre on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.
After the Naw-Ruz concert, 100 copies of Das Musische als Lebensweise, a book on music by Bijan Khadem-Missagh, translated into Slovak, were presented to members of the Slovak Radio Orchestra on behalf of the Slovak Baha'i community.
The orchestra has recorded and toured with an international Baha'i choir, the Voices of Baha.
For more information on the Khadem-Missaghs see
http://www.allegro-vivo.music.at/.
For more on the Baha'i community of Slovakia, see
http://www.bahai.sk/.
The English language newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, published a report of the concert. It can be seen at
http://www.slovakspectator.sk/clanok-15736.html.",BRATISLAVA,,Slovakia
293,2004-04-22,[],Baha'i holy site destroyed in Iran,"NEW YORK — Government authorities in Iran have destroyed a Baha'i holy site, the Baha'i International Community has learned.
The gravesite of Quddus, a prominent figure in early Baha'i history, has been razed to the ground, despite protests from Baha'is at the local, national, and international levels.
""The destruction and desecration of this holy place were carried out with the knowledge of the national government to which appeals had been made beforehand,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""This act represents yet another example of the ongoing persecution against Iran's 300,000 member Baha'i community, utterly contradicting the government's claim that the human rights situation in Iran is improving,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Destruction of the gravesite began in February but was temporarily halted after local Baha'is demanded to see a legal permit for the demolition work.
The Baha'is were referred to national authorities and for a time it appeared that the desecration had been halted. More recently, it was discovered that the dismantling of the gravesite had continued surreptitiously over a period of days until the structure was entirely demolished.
The house-like structure marked the resting place of Mulla Muhammad-'Ali Barfurushi, known as Quddus (The Most Holy). Quddus was the foremost disciple of the Bab, the Prophet-Herald of the Baha'i Faith.
""It would be the least that the Government could do at this point to return to the Baha'i community his sacred remains,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""We ask for the international community's support in this goal.""
Ms. Dugal added that the destruction of the gravesite came soon after the international community failed this year to offer a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran.
Since the Islamic Republic of Iran was founded in 1979, more than 200 Baha'is have been killed by the Government. Hundreds more have spent time in prison and thousands have been deprived of education, property, and employment, solely because of their religious belief.
The killings and imprisonments of Baha'is have abated in recent years in the face of increasing international outcry, such as a series of resolutions in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressing concern over the treatment of Baha'is.
Over the last two years, however, the CHR has failed to pass such resolutions owing to efforts by Iran to pursue a ""dialogue"" with Western nations.
""Unfortunately,"" said Ms. Dugal, ""the Baha'is of Iran still face, day after day, systematic deprivation of their rights as Iranian citizens -- not only in terms of their civil and political rights, but also in terms of their economic, social and cultural rights.""",NEW YORK,,United States
294,2004-05-05,[],One World Cafe puts unity on the menu,"SASKATOON, Canada — When, as a child, Diana Gray watched her parents cook in the South American nation of Guyana, she acquired skills that came in useful many years later.
At the One World Cafe, which she opened here in 2000, Mrs. Gray includes dishes from Guyana in her wide-ranging menu.
The dry grasslands of Western Canada are about 7,000 kilometers from the tropical rain forests of Guyana and sometimes colder by 80 degrees centigrade. It is hard to imagine more different environments -- or more different diets.
The Indian-style cuisine typical of Guyana is nothing like the traditional meat and potatoes of the Canadian prairies, but customers in Saskatoon have responded warmly to it and to the other international dishes provided by the One World Cafe.
In fact, says Mrs. Gray, it seems that the more exotic the dish, the faster it sells.
Diana Gray has a dual mission for her cafe. A top priority is to offer fresh, high-quality dishes from around the world, a kind of global cuisine Diana has devised in collaboration with her co-workers.
Another is to introduce her clientele to Baha'u'llah's teaching of ""unity in diversity.""
""I became a Baha'i back in Guyana at an international youth conference in 1989,"" Mrs. Gray said.  Customer Rick Fedorchuk with staff member Marina Harbord.""I was impressed with the Baha'is I met because they knew so much about religion. I was a Hindu but they knew more about my religion than I did.""
One of the Baha'is she met was her future husband, Doug Gray, a Canadian who was in Guyana working on a Baha'i project.
After they married in 1991, Mr. and Mrs. Gray made their home in Canada.
Mrs. Gray says that the global fusion menu of the One World Cafe has become an effective way for people of different backgrounds to appreciate each other's cultures.
On any given day, One World's feature menu may include spicy rotis from Guyana, chicken enchiladas from Chile, Thai fried vegetables, North African cauliflower, Arab falafel and hummus, nicoise salad from France, vegetable masala from India, Russian borscht, Greek donair, and fusili alla salsa di Pomodoro from Italy. And every once in a while, customers can order a Canadian mainstay -- hamburgers.
""My customers love international foods,"" Mrs. Gray says.
""If they don't reserve the daily feature in advance, it sells out before they get here.
""Even little appetizers, like Japanese sushi, Indian samosas or pakora, or Vietnamese salad rolls, are gone before I can wrap and put them in the cooler. Whatever the price, they just buy it.""
The One World Cafe is an unpretentious, 60-seat cafeteria primarily for the 200 workers in the National Hydrology Research Institute building at Innovation Place, Saskatoon's science research park.
""I also get a lot of customers by word-of-mouth. People who work in the building invite people for lunch, including a lot of out-of-towners.""
Making money is not Diana's major objective for the cafe and catering business. Her main income comes from her commercial property maintenance and cleaning service.
She says she wanted to open the cafe to give the opportunity to people to inquire about the Baha'i Faith, though makes it clear that ""Baha'is are not allowed to push their faith on anyone.""
""The cafe provides a way to meet people and talk about Baha'u'llah if people are interested. Everyone knows we are Baha'is and I would say about 50 percent of customers ask questions.""
Questions are also prompted by menu cards, which include excerpts from Baha'u'llah's writings.
""People are curious about my background and religion and I am not afraid to tell them,"" Mrs. Gray says with a laugh.
""My staff has included Persians, a Russian -- people from different cultures -- which also arouses curiosity,"" she says.
""To me, everyone belongs to the same race, the human race.""
[Report by Paul Hanley.]",SASKATOON,,Canada
296,2004-03-31,[],Catalog comes online,"ATLANTA, GEORGIA, United States — A comprehensive catalog of Baha'i sacred literature as well as Baha'i books on history, social teachings, and other aspects of the Baha'i Faith, is now available on the World Wide Web.
The new e-commerce site also carries Baha'i-inspired music, videos, calendars, and other materials.
The Baha'i Distribution Service, an agency of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, launched the site.
More than 2000 titles representing the efforts of hundreds of publishers around the world are available through the site.
The Baha'i Distribution Service is the primary distributor for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and its agencies; the Baha'i Publishing Trust of the United States; and Baha'i World Centre Publications.
The site is http://www.BahaiBookstore.com.",ATLANTA,GEORGIA,United States
297,2004-04-19,[],Youthful experience inspired service,"VANCOUVER, Canada — Throughout his whole life Aziz Ismayn Yazdi was inspired by the time he spent as a young boy in the presence of 'Abdu'l-Baha.
Mr. Yazdi died of natural causes here, aged 95, on 19 April 2004 after a life consecrated to service to the Baha'i Faith in many parts of the world.
Aziz Yazdi lived in Egypt, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Great Britain, Uganda, Kenya, Israel, and finally Canada. But his travels for his religion took him to countries all around the world -- and he is remembered with affection by generations of Baha'is.
In 1973 Mr. Yazdi was appointed as an inaugural member of the International Teaching Centre in Haifa, an institution created by the Universal House of Justice to attend to matters of propagation and protection of the Faith throughout the world.
In this capacity, he had the opportunity to recount to pilgrims his experiences with the Master, as 'Abdu'l-Baha is commonly referred to by Baha'is.
His face beaming with his characteristic smile, Mr. Yazdi would recall that on one occasion in his youth, he had the privilege of being the sole witness of the Master as He knelt and prayed in the Shrine of the Bab. Mr. Yazdi often talked about the intense stillness in the room and the incredible feeling of peace.
He would sometimes tell a humorous anecdote of how, as a young boy, he had tried to sneak into 'Abdu'l-Baha's kitchen for candy but unexpectedly ran into the Master, Who patted him on his head, gave him an apple, and kindly sent him on to the kitchen for the sweets.
Mr. Yazdi had a fund of such stories that he told when he conducted his extensive and sometimes difficult travels as a Counsellor to encourage and advise Baha'is in often remote areas of the world.  Mr. Yazdi (back row, second right) with members of the Continental Board of Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members of Central and East Africa, Kenya, 1969.Born in 1909 in Alexandria, Egypt, Aziz Yazdi was the son of devoted Baha'i parents. His father and his grandfather had the honor of visiting Baha'u'llah.
Mr. Yazdi received his name from 'Abdu'l-Baha, Who Himself went to Alexandria in 1910 on a brief sojourn.
During World War One, the Yazdi family moved to Damascus on the instructions of 'Abdu'l-Baha.
In response to a call by 'Abdu'l-Baha, the family moved to Haifa in 1919, and so young Aziz was often in the Master's spiritually uplifting presence until His passing in 1921.
Mr. Yazdi studied banking in Egypt and electrical engineering in England before working at management level in the oil industry in Iran. In 1941, he married Soraya Khamsi and they had four children. Mrs. Yazdi passed away in 1997.
Motivated by service to the Baha'i Faith, the Yazdis moved to Iraq, back to Iran and then, in response to a call by Shoghi Effendi, to Kenya where Mr. Yazdi ran his own import business for two decades.
He was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Central and East Africa, and later of Kenya. In 1954 he was appointed as a member of the Auxiliary Board in Africa, and in 1968 he was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors in Central and East Africa.
After Mr. Yazdi's retirement from the International Teaching Centre in 1988, he moved with his wife to Canada but kept up his tireless travels for the Faith.
When he passed away, the Universal House of Justice sent a message to all National Spiritual Assemblies describing Mr. Yazdi as a ""dearly loved, devoted promoter of the Cause"" who lived a life ""characterized by an imperishable record of selfless service, steadfast action and instant obedience.""
The message advised National Spiritual Assemblies to hold memorial gatherings in his honor in all Baha'i Houses of Worship and in Baha'i communities throughout the world.
Aziz Yazdi is survived by his children Vida Yazdi Ditter, Mona Yazdi Grieser, Jamileh Yazdi, and Aziz John Yazdi, and by his seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.",VANCOUVER,,Canada
298,2004-02-29,[],Paintings of peace and unity on display,"BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Peace and unity were themes of paintings in an exhibition by a Baha'i artist at a prestigious venue here.
Uruguayan artist Sima Baher titled the exhibition ""The Earth Is But One Country,"" an excerpt from a quotation by Baha'u'llah.
Sponsored by the embassy of Uruguay in Argentina, the exhibition opened at the Borges Cultural Center.
Simultaneously with Ms. Baher's exhibition, the gallery featured works by Salvador Dali and is now displaying images by renowned French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand.
Launching Ms. Baher's exhibition, Uruguayan author and radio presenter Angela Caceres spoke about the importance of peace and unity, the principles that inspired the paintings.
""Peace and unity are abstract words and it is only when we move from the noun to the verb that they concert into action,"" Ms. Caceres said.
""Peace in the heart, peace in the soul, unity in the being, peace and unity in the family, peace and unity in the major family which is humanity – all these are the essence of the teachings of the Baha'i Faith,"" she said.
At the exhibition, held between 5 and 29 February, 2004, Ms. Baher also displayed two of her books, which feature similar themes to her paintings.  Sima Baher beside the poster of her exhibition at the Borges Cultural Center in Buenos Aires.""From Uruguay to the World"" and ""Lazos,"" both edited and published by Ms. Baher, include poems and articles written mostly by Uruguayan authors.
Speaking about the themes of her books at the event, Ms. Baher said that peace is one of the essential characteristics of a mature society.
""The concept of peace is much more profound than the end or absence of wars,"" she said.
""Peace is the stage during which we can develop and manifest our latent potential for the good of the society. Peace is believing that we are noble and distinguished beings.""
Ms. Baher said that artists have a responsibility towards humanity.
""Artists are educators who touch the hearts of people directly – they help people see, feel, and understand the realities of the world.""
Ms. Baher, also a poet and an art teacher, organizes classes and gatherings in Uruguay where participants explore the arts with the help of the Baha'i writings.
In the coming months the classes will also be held in Argentina, under the auspices of the Center of Art, Culture, and Development, a foundation that she established in 1996 with her husband, Alejandro Caballero, to focus on art as a means of personal and social development.
""Art is a spiritual issue,"" Ms. Baher says.
""Baha'u'llah said that the arts, crafts, and sciences elevate the world of being and lead to its exaltation. The arts can awaken noble qualities and sentiments in us and make us want to become better people.""
Ms. Baher completed her studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in L'Aquila, Italy, and later studied architecture in Rome.
In 1981 she received the Premio Foro award at an international art competition, organized by the Forum Interart Gallery in Rome.
Her paintings have featured in many exhibitions in Montevideo, in other cities in Uruguay, and in Italy, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.
Ms. Baher's exhibition will open again in June at the Cultural Center in Adrogue, a city near Buenos Aires.",BUENOS AIRES,,Argentina
299,2004-05-24,[],Celebrations in a principality,"MONTE CARLO, Monaco — Guests from 25 countries joined the Baha'is of Monaco to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith in the principality.
More than 320 participants came from a range of countries that included Albania, Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Italy, and Uruguay.
The jubilee celebrations on 24-25 April 2004 were held at the Theatre des Varietes in Monte Carlo, and opened with the reading of a welcoming message from the National Council of the Principality.
In September 1953 Nellie French, 85, became the first Baha'i to arrive in Monaco, but she passed away a few months later. For her act of service in bringing the Faith to the country, she received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from Shoghi Effendi.
Some of the other Baha'is who first brought the message of the Baha'i Faith to Monaco 50 years ago were present at the jubilee, together with members of their families.
One was Shamsi Navidi who had arrived from Iran with her daughters Vida and Guilda, in February 1954. Mrs. Navidi's husband, the late Aziz Navidi, a distinguished Baha'i lawyer, joined his family a few months later. Shoghi Effendi named both Mr. and Mrs. Navidi Knights of Baha'u'llah.
In March 1954 Florence Ullrich (later Ullrich-Kelley), a young college graduate, and Olivia Kelsey, an accomplished Baha'i author and poet, arrived from the United States. Ms. Ullrich and Ms. Kelsey were also named Knights of Baha'u'llah.
""We didn't know their language nor did we know their culture,"" Ms.Ullrich-Kelley told the conference while recounting her memories of her first days in the principality.  At the gravesite in Monte Carlo, Monaco, of Angeline Giachery, the wife of the Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery. (Right to left) Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, Mrs. Violette Nakhjavani, Mrs. Florence Kelley, Mr. Larry Kelley. Photo courtesy of Hawai'i Baha'i News.Ms. Ullrich-Kelley said the Baha'is initially found it difficult to establish contact with the locals. However, they made the effort to learn the language and soon met people who were interested in the Faith.
The first person to become a Baha'i in Monaco was Margaret Lantz, of Luxembourg. Soon after her a Frenchman, Mr. Charbonnet, who owned an antique shop in Monaco, also accepted the Faith. Charlottte Campana was the first person of Monegasque nationality to become a Baha'i.
The first Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Monaco was established in 1955.
Since then, as the representative of the Swiss National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i of Switzerland, John-Paul Vader, told the jubilee, the Monaco community has sent out Baha'is who assisted and taught the Faith in other countries, and also worked for the Faith in international institutions and in defense of the persecuted Baha'is in Iran.
Baha'i writings translated into Monegasque were officially presented to Crown Prince Albert in 2001, and one highlight of the jubilee was the reading of a prayer in that language.
Stephane Valeri, President of the Monaco National Council, sent representatives to the jubilee: a member of the National Council, Christophe Spiliotis-Saquet, and Christian Berti. Also present was Henri Doria, the representative of the mayor of Monaco.
The guests of honor at the jubilee were former member of the Universal House of Justice, Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, who addressed the participants on spiritual matters, and his wife Violette, who described the visit in the 1980s to Monaco of Madame Rabbani, a Hand of the Cause of God and the widow of Shoghi Effendi.
Others Hands of the Cause who visited Monaco during the past 50 years included Abul Qasim Faizi, John Ferraby, Djalal Khaseh, Adelbert Muhlschlegel, and Tarazullah Samandari.
Present at the jubilee were representatives of the National Spiritual Assemblies of France, Italy, and Switzerland. Congratulatory messages arrived from other Baha'i communities, including Germany, Hawaii, Luxembourg, Morocco, and New Zealand.
A member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Nosrat Tirandaz, delivered the message of the Board of Counsellors for Europe to the Monaco Baha'i community.
Participants enjoyed viewing slides prepared by Rochan Mavaddat which depicted the history of the Monaco Baha'i community.
Linda Youssefian-Marshall of Italy paid a tribute to the most prominent Baha'i to have resided in Monaco, the late Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery, who spent his latter years there with his wife Angeline. A short film of the Giacherys made by Gregoire Foucher was also shown.
The celebrations, which were chaired by Paul Hakim, also featured many artistic presentations. Ranzie Mensah from Italy sang excerpts from the Baha'i writings put to music and a Tunisian-born singer Hatef Sedkaoui, also known as Atef, performed European and North African songs. One of the Baha'i youth, Melodie Kahl played the cello. Guitarist Serge Merlaud and pianist Francine Astani also performed.
The joyous celebrations ended with a dinner party for 300 at the seashore restaurant of one of the local Baha'is, Eric Chauvet.
The Monaco postal authorities issued a special postal mark to commemorate the 50th anniversary.
Following the event a local weekly magazine, The Monaco Hebdo, published an article about the jubilee.",MONTE CARLO,,Monaco
300,2004-05-25,[],Comedian wins major award,"LONDON — One of the ways award-winning Inder Manocha handles hecklers when he is onstage doing stand-up comedy is this response: ""Sir, if I embarrass you it's called comedy. If you embarrass me it's racism.""
The retort works because of Mr. Manocha's diverse heritage - and its play on political correctness.
A member of the Baha'i Faith and born of Indian and Iranian parents, Mr. Manocha is currently winning rave reviews for his multiethnic comedy, which is popular here in the racially diverse United Kingdom.
Mr. Manocha yesterday capped off his recent string of successes by  winning an award at a major award ceremony that celebrates diversity and excellence in the media.
Inder Manocha, 36, who turned his back on a career in psychotherapy just four years ago, was named best comedian at last night's EMMA -- Ethnic Multicultural Media Achievement Awards -- ceremony.
The BBC2 television channel will screen the award ceremony on 30 May 2004.
As an award winner, Mr. Manocha was in high-profile company. Other recipients of awards included actor Tom Cruise, who accepted his with a videophone message, and the star of hit movie ""Bend it Like Beckham"" and TV show ""ER,"" Parminder Nagra, who arrived from the United States to attend the ceremony and receive an award.
The EMMA awards aim to reward professionals who have made a contribution to the cultural diversity of Britain and have maintained ""high human values.""
Manocha's interest in performing comedy began at an early age, but until recently it had remained a hobby.
""I had done some comedy while at university and the interest had always been there,"" he says.
""Then, after many years of studying and working as a therapist, I began writing the occasional sketch and speaking at friends' weddings -- and someone said that I should really try stand-up. And I did.""
The most grueling part followed, with five-minute slots in comedy clubs where audiences are notoriously hard to please.
""But if they like you, they invite you back -- for ten minutes!"" laughs Mr. Manocha.
At the 2003 Edinburgh Festival, Manocha was invited to perform twice at the ""Best of the Fest Show"" and then for the show's whole run at London's Bloomsbury Theatre.
In February 2004 he made his successful debut at a top venue, London's Comedy Store, and he returns for more shows this year.
The inspiration for his comedy, he says, stems from growing up in a multiethnic Baha'i family in north London.
""My father is Indian from a Sikh background, my mother is Zoroastrian Persian, and I had a very English education at Oxford,"" Mr. Manocha says.
""So it was natural for me to do a kind of cross-cultural satire. I know both British and Asian cultures very well and I enjoy the way their idiosyncrasies play off each other.
""The Baha'i teachings on unity and cultural diversity inspire the comedy, and then the high ethical standards of the Faith set the parameters,"" he says.
""Obviously when you're up there on the stage, you want to make people laugh and it could be so easy to mock or denigrate others or resort to bad language for a quick and easy response.
""But being a Baha'i calls you constantly to moderation and respect --that's a wonderful thing but a very challenging thing in this environment.""
From a Baha'i viewpoint, he says, laughter plays an important part in the spiritual life of the individual.
""Often, a highly spiritually developed person will have a great sense of humor,"" Mr. Manocha says.
""I suppose it's about having a right approach to life and keeping things in perspective. The Baha'i teachings talk about joy giving us wings, and laughter being spiritual relaxation. I think giving people the opportunity to laugh together is an immensely uniting and joyful thing.""
Mr. Manocha's unique approach has also led him to enjoy success in Durban, South Africa, where he has now appeared twice -- at the ""East Coast Radio Ha Comedy Showcase"" and in the ""India's Kings of Comedy"" show.
""Durban is about 80 percent Asian, and they got all the jokes,"" he says.
""Multiracial comedy bills are relatively new there and they are very much trying to promote it and make it work as a symbol of the new South Africa.""
(For the winners' list see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/3744147.stm.)
Note: The EMMA Awards ceremony will be broadcast on Sunday 30 May on the BBC2 television channel at 2145hrs GMT.
Report by Rob Weinberg.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
301,2004-03-04,[],Sailing in for a jubilee,"ABAIANG, Kiribati — The President of Kiribati and more than 200 Baha'is overcame a storm at sea to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith in Kiribati.
They traveled the 15 kilometers from the main island of Tarawa to the island of Abaiang on 4 March 2004 to attend the festivities being held where the Baha'i Faith was introduced.
President Anote Tong and Madam Tong set out in a police boat and had just arrived at the lagoon when the storm hit. They made it ashore safely.
However, more than 200 Baha'is were in the open ocean on the 50-foot catamaran ""Marawanraoi"" and had to persevere through high seas and rain to reach Abaiang.
They arrived safely and in time for the celebrations to begin as planned.
The events included a speech by President Tong, performances of singing, dancing, and drama, and a feast of roasted fish, taro, breadfruit, pork, chicken, and coconut.
The joyous celebrations were fitting for a community that has seen more than 10,000 local people join its ranks over the last 50 years. The Faith has spread to 115 localities in Kiribati, and there are 38 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
The social and economic development projects of the community include the Ootan Marawa Baha'i Vocational Institute, the only teacher training institution for pre-school teachers in Kiribati. It is open to all, regardless of religion, and is assisted by the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of Australia and New Zealand.  The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Kiribati, at the Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel, 1998.There are five pre-schools administered by Baha'i Local Spiritual Assemblies on Tarawa and the outer islands. They accept pupils of all religious affiliations.
The Elena Marsella Institute is a national permanent Baha'i training institute that develops human resources needed in the growth of the Faith.
The jubilee festivities, which were covered by two national newspapers and two national radio stations, were opened with a welcome by Baha'i spokesperson Teinabure Taukoriri.
In his address to the participants, President Tong said that the different religions worshipped the one and same God. He also gave advice on the role of secular and religious leadership.
""Governments of the land and spiritual governments should work hand in hand for the welfare of the people,"" President Tong said.
A report from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Kiribati was  read to the participants by Atita Atanrerei.
The report recounted that the Faith was introduced by Elena and Roy Fernie, who left their home in Panama and arrived to live in the village of Tuarabu, Abainag, on 4 March 1954.
For this service, both Mr. and Mrs. Fernie were named Knights of Baha'u'llah by the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
The report said that the Fernies brought with them a piano and a radio, then very rare in the islands, and that Mr. Fernie was an amateur magician.
""They became friends of the people of Tuarabu village and people kept coming back to see more of Roy's magic tricks and to listen to the piano and radio they had brought,"" the report said.
""Among the people [coming for the entertainment] was Peter Kanere Koru, a Catholic teacher, who spoke English and he came to the attention of Roy and Elena when he said a sentence in English from the crowd when he was translating for the local people -- he soon became the first [Baha'i] believer in Kiribati.""
The report said that opposition to the Faith from some quarters led to the deportation of Mr. Fernie. It also prompted the banishment of Mr. Kanere, via Tarawa to his home island of Tabiteuea. He was forced to leave his sick wife behind in hospital and she died a short time later.
Mr. Kanere did not meet Baha'is again until four years later, but he remained steadfast in his beliefs. By the time Baha'is were eventually able to come to visit him, he had introduced the Baha'i Faith to nine people on his island, the report said.
Activities by local Baha'is, by foreign traveling teachers and by visiting Hands of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone and Rahmatullah Muhajir-- as well as by Auxiliary Board member Mosese Hokafonu of Tonga -- led to the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in 1967.
Among those participating in the jubilee celebrations were Taukoriri Eritai, who became a Baha'i at the time the Fernies were on Abainag, and Baha'is pioneers in Kiribati, Joe Russell and John Thurston.
Also attending was a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand, Michael Fudakowski, who lived for some 17 years in Kiribati with his wife, Robin White, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Australasia, and their family.
Mr. Dominic Tabuaka represented the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Marshall Islands.
Messages came from a range of Baha'i communities including those in Australia, Canada, Hawaii, the Solomon Islands, Ukraine, the United States, and Western Caroline Islands.",ABAIANG,,Kiribati
302,2004-06-01,[],New site offers extensive collection of Baha'i scripture,"HAIFA, Israel — The Baha'i International Community yesterday launched a Web site that includes the sacred writings of the Baha'i Faith in English, Arabic, and Persian, as well as other Baha'i publications.
The Baha'i Reference Library offers an extensive collection of Baha'i holy scripture, which includes the writings of Baha'u'llah, the Bab, and 'Abdu'l-Baha.
In addition, the Web site contains works by Shoghi Effendi, the Universal House of Justice, and Baha'i authors.
The launch of the Baha'i Reference Library marks the first time that a voluminous authoritative library of Baha'i scripture and other Baha'i publications has been available on the Internet.  The front page of the new site.The launch is the first stage of the development of the Reference Library. Other materials will be added as they become available.
""The site is expected to assist researchers, students of religion, and the general public worldwide in gaining greater access to the Baha'i holy texts,"" said the director of the Office of Public Information of the Baha'i International Community, Douglas Moore.
""It joins the family of Baha'i International Community sites including, among others, the general information site, the news service, and the Baha'i International Community's statement library,"" Mr. Moore said.
The address of the Baha'i Reference Library is http://reference.bahai.org.",HAIFA,,Israel
303,2004-05-02,[],Spiritual legacy now paying dividends,"HAGATNA, Guam — Cynthia and Edgar Olson initially won fame on this Pacific Island for introducing ""Swedish pancakes"" but their enduring legacy is a contribution far more precious.
The couple, originally from Delaware in the United States, brought the teachings of Baha'u'llah here, and from that foundation the Baha'i Faith has since spread across the four inhabited islands of the archipelago of the Mariana Islands.
Some three years after their arrival the Olsons opened a Swedish pancake house, which became so popular that families drove from the far corners of the island to taste the exotic concoctions.
The building later functioned as a Baha'i center and it was from there that the plans to firmly establish the Faith were made.
Today the community includes seven local spiritual assemblies, and is experiencing a surge in enrolments as its devotional meetings, children's classes, and study circles attract attendance from the wider community.
The dramatic story of the Olsons was recounted on 2 May 2004 at Mrs. Olsons' graveside, in a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Faith in the Mariana Islands.
The Olsons were unlikely pioneers -- a journalist and  storekeeper, both middle-aged: the thin, frail Cynthia and the burly, balding Edgar -- and they almost didn't make it by the target date of 2 May 1954.
As part of a decade-long (1953-1963), highly successful strategy to spread the Faith around the world, the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, had set that date as the goal for Baha'is to arrive in their place of service. This  act usually involved, as it did with the Olsons, Baha'is voluntarily leaving their country to settle in one where there were no Baha'is.  Collis Featherstone (center) and Mrs. Featherstone with the Governor of the the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Pedro Tenorio, 1985.At the time of the Olsons' arrival, the Mariana Islands were still a military area, controlled exclusively by the US Navy. Even short-term visitors needed special security clearance and a very good reason for coming -- a Navy-approved reason.
Cynthia Olson came first, completing the last leg of her 12,000-kilometer journey on a rare Pan Am civilian flight to the islands. She had convinced the Navy that she could be useful on Guam. Her husband had stayed behind to close up their store, and was anxiously awaiting word of her safe arrival.
She landed on 2 May 1954 after the telegraph office had closed, so she waited up all night to send a cable first thing the next morning. Her message was immediately read to a cheering audience at the US Baha'i National Convention halfway around the world.
Shoghi Effendi named Cynthia a Knight of Baha'u'llah for her efforts.
Her first job was as host of a popular daily program called ""Women's World"" at the island's only commercial radio station. Edgar, widely known as ""Olie,"" followed a year later and became a popular TV executive and presenter -- as well as an owner of the pancake house.
The Olsons quickly fell in love with the friendliness and generosity of the indigenous people, the Chamorros. Other ethnic groups there include Filipinos, Micronesians, Asians, and a tiny minority of US mainlanders, often called ""haoles"" or ""statesiders.""
In a message read to the commemoration event, Mrs. Madeleine Bordallo, Guam's present US Congresswoman, lovingly recalled Cynthia's support and encouragement for her as a fellow radio presenter, and later in Mrs. Bordallo's official role as the First Lady of Guam.
""As we remember Cynthia, let us remember a lady who was kind with her words, abundant with faith and hope, and generous with her love,"" wrote Mrs. Bordallo.
""She came to our islands, as I did, fell in love with it, its culture and traditions, but most of all, its people,"" she said.
Mrs. Olson later became a journalist for the United States Trust Territory of the Pacific, and then a supervisor responsible for arranging scholarships for island students. Many of those students, some of whom stayed in the Olsons' home, later became prominent members of Guam society, including legislators, teachers, and businessmen.
In her memoirs, Mrs. Olson wrote about the first Baha'i Feast on Guam, when she and Robert Powers, a young Baha'i sailor who had been posted there temporarily, said prayers and had a picnic at the water's edge in the southern village of Inarajan. Mr. Powers also received the title Knight of Baha'u'llah.
The first Micronesian islander to become a Baha'i was Joe Erie Ilengelkei, who became the ninth member of the community, thus meeting the required number to form the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Guam. It was established on 21 April, 1956.
When the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the North West Pacific, which included the Mariana Islands, was formed in 1972, Mrs. Olson was elected a member. In 1978 she became a member of the newly formed National Spiritual Assembly of the Mariana Islands.
During the past 50 years the Mariana Islands has welcomed many distinguished Baha'i visitors, including Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, and two other Hands of the Cause, Rahmatullah Muhajir, and Collis Featherstone.
Cynthia Olson passed away in 1988, and Edgar Olson a year later.
The Mariana Islands Baha'i community will hold another celebration in November, this one a formal banquet, as part of their jubilee celebrations of the Faith that this stalwart couple brought to these islands.
(Report by Tom Howe.)",HAGATNA,,Guam
304,2004-05-11,[],Global sounds embrace the audience,"LOS ANGELES, United States — The throb of African drums and Caribbean rhythms. The croon of a classical violin and the sigh of its Chinese cousin, the erhu. The trill of a South American flute.
These sounds, often in thrilling combination, came during Embrace the World, a concert tour by Baha'i musicians.
The tour went from 15 April to 11 May 2004 and traveled to 10 states of the United States and also to British Columbia, Canada.
The musicians performed at 20 concerts at packed venues in major cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Salt Lake City, and Houston, as well as in various smaller cities and towns in between.
Audiences from a wide range of religious and ethnic backgrounds responded with standing ovations, singalongs, and insistent requests for encores.
After each concert, the musicians slept on a bus as they were driven to the next venue -- they covered more than 8000 kilometers in 26 days.
Why take on the difficulty of such a demanding tour requiring the harmonizing of diverse musical styles, different instruments, and musicians from different cultures?
""The general purpose of the concerts was to share the Baha'i concept of the oneness of mankind -- and I feel that sense of oneness was felt deeply by all who attended the concerts,"" said KC Porter, a multi-Grammy award winning producer, songwriter, and keyboardist, who organized the concert series.  Lin Cheng. Photo by Alistair Eagle.""The spirit of unity was reflected not only in the music, but with the diversity that was represented on the stage, featuring artists and musical styles from around the globe,"" he said.
""The events also provided an opportunity for concertgoers to come together in a spirit of oneness.""
Mr. Porter won a Grammy for his contribution to Carlos Santana's ""Supernatural"" -- named the album of the year in 2000 -- worked with popular music artist Ricky Martin, and was named producer of the year by the Latin Grammys in 2001.
Sharing the stage with Mr. Porter was Lin Cheng, a singer and erhu virtuoso whose albums have sold by the millions in China, and Iranian-born Farzad Khozein, a jazz-influenced classical violinist.
Also touring were Colombian singer Leonor Dely with her family's flute-and-percussion group, Millero Congo, and backing musicians from the United States and Scotland.
Baha'i communities and Baha'i college clubs promoted the concert and organized venues all along the path of the tour, often with the help of local organizations such as the local Community Race Relations Coalition in Waco, Texas.
Civic officials in several areas recognized the uplifting message of the events. Former Washington Governor Mike Lowry, the chief executive of the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, Michelle Sanidad, and the chairperson of the Duwamish Tribe, Cecile Hansen, attended the Seattle concert at the invitation of local Baha'is. In Scottsdale, Arizona, Mayor Mary Manross proclaimed May 11 ""Embrace the World Day.""
The concert won positive reviews, including by the executive director of the Arts Council in Lake County, California, Xian Yeagan:
""It was the integration of these styles in the hands of the masters that made the concert so moving,"" the review said.
""And that was what the concert was all about, embracing and unifying the world through art.""
Local musicians also had the opportunity for exposure as opening acts for some of the concerts. They included hip-hop group Justice Leeg in the Los Angeles area, the Duwamish Tribe drumming group in Seattle, and a 100-piece choir, Getting Higher, in Vancouver.
Audience members of Chinese background in particular reacted warmly to Lin Cheng's interactive performances.
""Some of them had grown up [in China] with the songs of  Lin Cheng on the radio and sang along with her,"" said Anne Perry, after a concert at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she is a faculty member.
As well as music, the concerts included presentations of selections from the Baha'i writings.
Question-and-answer sessions after each concert promoted understanding of the Baha'i Faith, and of why its teachings encouraged these musicians from such varied backgrounds to perform together.
(Contributed to by James Humphrey, editor, ""The American Baha'i."")
(Photos by Alistair Eagle and Michael Frank.)",LOS ANGELES,,United States
305,2004-06-20,[],Couple put their faith into the picture,"CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Work on Baha'i service projects here gave screenwriters Mark Bamford and Suzanne Kay the idea for a movie that has recently won international media attention.
After their arrival here from Hollywood in 2001, the husband and wife team threw themselves into various service projects such as after-school enrichment programs for disadvantaged children and English lessons for refugees from French-speaking African countries.
Those experiences inspired them to make ""Cape of Good Hope,"" a feature film that was screened recently at two international film festivals and reviewed positively by, among others, the BBC and the top show business journal, ""Variety.""
Mr. Bamford and Ms. Kay had left their busy careers as television scriptwriters in Los Angeles so they could pursue their own film projects in Cape Town, a city they had visited a few years earlier and had come to love.
It was also a place where they wanted to raise their new-born baby and to involve themselves in helping the reconstruction of a newly democratic African nation.
During their involvement in the service projects they saw first hand the struggles of ordinary people to make the most of their lives. That prompted them to write the screenplay and then produce and direct the movie.
The film that emerged, ""Cape of Good Hope,"" won a standing ovation at its premiere in April 2004 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
Following that premiere, the BBC television's ""Talking Movies"" show carried interviews with some of the stars of the film, and described the movie as ""heartfelt and real.""  Mama (played by Lillian Dube) comforts Lindiwe (Nthati Moshesh).And the subsequent screening of ""Cape of Good Hope"" at the Cannes Festival -- which highlighted the 10th anniversary of the end of apartheid by showing major South African films -- clearly struck a chord with an influential reviewer.
""Variety,"" the most widely read film industry journal, hailed the movie's ""warmth and charm"" and said it was a ""good-natured multi-character snapshot of contemporary South Africa.""
The reviewer described the film as a ""crowd-pleasing feel-good exercise in love and tolerance,"" and referred to director Mark Bamford's ""fine sense of timing.""
The film, cowritten by Mr. Bamford and Ms. Kay, interweaves fictional storylines revolving around a Cape Town animal rescue center.
Characters include the woman who runs the shelter, a refugee from war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, a single mother trying to educate herself while working as a servant, a young couple unable to have children of their own, and a recently widowed veterinary surgeon.
In this mosaic of love and hope, filmed on location in South Africa, the human stories replace the intense political focus that is the norm for films set in Africa.
""There were lots of films about Africa and with epic political messages,"" Mr. Bamford said, ""but we felt they were missing the trees for the forest.""
""You actually feel more from a story which is about the reality of people's lives.""
Through the stories of individuals, the film highlights themes of love, interracial relations, xenophobia, justice, and -- in an unusual twist for a commercial movie --  kindness to animals.
""Cape of Good Hope"" is Mr. Bamford's debut as a director of a  feature movie. His previous work includes ""Hero,"" a widely screened short film.
The positive themes of the movies reflect the couple's philosophy on filmmaking.
""I think the purpose of art is to uplift the human spirit,"" Mr. Bamford said.
""In film, entertainment is fine, but a lot of what passes for entertainment is destructive -- it degrades women and glorifies drugs and violence.""
The role for Baha'i artists, he said, is not to avoid crucial issues or to be ""nicey-nicey,"" but rather to be optimistic.
Ms. Kay: ""Because we say 'uplifting,' we don't mean 'naive' -- we just want to give [audiences] energy to contribute something for the betterment of society.""
They quickly acknowledge that business considerations mix with those of art and their Baha'i beliefs.
""Film is art yet commerce at the same time -- it is very difficult to produce art on demand -- it takes time, patience, and detachment,"" Ms. Kay said.
Mr. Bamford and Ms. Kay said they tried to integrate their art and their spiritual beliefs, and felt they saw the outcome in the spirit among cast and crew.
""Large number of the cast and crew deferred salaries to support us,"" Ms. Kay said.
Among those actors was Eriq Ebouaney, star of the award winning ""Lumumba"" who told the BBC: ""I think this film is definitely a celebration of South Africa, definitely a celebration of multiculturalism, and I think it's also a celebration of democracy.""",CAPE TOWN,,South Africa
306,2004-06-28,[],Location unveils Hidden Words,"MELBOURNE, Australia — Location, location, location. Those are called the three most important guidelines in real estate -- and taking notice of them has helped boost visitor numbers at a Baha'i bookstore here in Australia's second biggest city.
The number of customers, browsers, and window shoppers has increased since the bookshop -- ""Hidden Words: Baha'i Books and Information"" -- moved recently from a small shopping arcade to a nearby prominent location on a main road.
Its new spot is near a busy intersection close to both the Hawthorn Town Hall and one of Melbourne's major universities, and in a restaurant precinct.
Many motorists stopped at red traffic lights spend their waiting time looking into the shop window.
""At least one third of the customers and browsers are not Baha'is, and many come to the shop from other suburbs,"" says spokeswoman Emilia Tabrizi.
""It has a growing name among Baha'is as a good source of quality books and resources. Our reputation has spread by word of mouth and as a result we even have some interstate customers who order books from us.""
The shop is an information center, Ms. Tabrizi says, that lets the public satisfy its growing curiosity about a faith that bases its work for world unity on Baha'u'llah's teaching of the principle of the oneness of humanity.
Customers have had many positive things to say about the shop, she says, including comments that it is ""inspirational,"" ""soothing,"" and ""informative.""  Members of a study circle, who meet at the bookstore, with their workbooks.The number of participants from the general public has also increased at the study circles hosted by the shop. At least half the membership of a new study circle, for instance, comes from outside the Baha'i community.
The study circles -- an activity now offered by the Baha'i communities in more than 180 countries and territories worldwide -- aim at developing individual capacities in a range of activities, such as reawakening one's spiritual life, teaching values to children, and expressing one's views to others.
Another popular event is 30-minute ""tranquility zones"" offered on Sunday mornings. They provide music, meditation, and spiritual upliftment through readings and prayers.
Facilitators change for the tranquility zones, giving a different flavor from time to time.
Although Baha'is do not force their beliefs on others, they are keen to offer the teachings of Baha'u'llah to anyone interested in inquiring -- and now the shop has an increased number of those. To satisfy this demand, information evenings are held every fortnight on Friday evenings and they feature a speaker on the Baha'i Faith and a question-and-answer session.
Some 25 local Baha'i volunteers are involved in the operation of the shop, which is open eight hours a day from Monday to Friday and six hours on Saturday.
A newsletter updates customers of forthcoming activities.
The shop, overseen by the Regional Baha'i Council, takes its name from ""The Hidden Words"" by Baha'u'llah. That volume comprises 150 brief inspirational counsels and admonitions for spiritual life and growth.",MELBOURNE,,Australia
307,2004-06-29,[],A life in pursuit of noble endeavors,"PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — After Violet Hoehnke introduced the Baha'i Faith to Papua New Guinea in 1954, she climbed steep mountains, drove along tortuous roads, and sailed through sometimes stormy seas to bring the teachings of Baha'u'llah to the local people.
By accepting the people's invitations to spend the night in their often humble dwellings – a practice rare for Europeans there in the 1950s – Violet Hoehnke demonstrated her commitment to the principle of the oneness of humanity, and she won the hearts of her hosts.
When she died, aged 87, on 4 June 2004, the Baha'i community of Papua New Guinea had grown from a solitary individual half a century ago to include 252 Local Spiritual Assemblies and thousands of Baha'is living in more than 3000 villages and towns in all 19 provinces of the country.
""What seemed at first an enormous challenge, has now become a reality,"" Ms. Hoehnke wrote in a short autobiography penned in 1997.
""It is the responsibility of every Baha'i, wherever they reside and whoever they may be, to share these teachings of unity with everyone they meet so that peace may come to Papua New Guinea and the world,"" she wrote.
Ms. Hoehnke was confined to bed and could not attend the national convention of the Faith here in April this year, but the delegates and observers conveyed to her by telephone their loving greetings as they consulted on the ongoing development of the vibrant Papua New Guinean Baha'i community she had initiated.
Violet Hoehnke, who had remained at her pioneering post for 50 years, passed away less than two months after that message.
Following a funeral service attended by hundreds of Baha'is and members of other religions, she was laid to rest in the first grave in a new Baha'i section of the 9-Mile Cemetery on a hillside outside Port Moresby.  Violet Hoehnke (1916-2004).A trained nurse who was widely known as ""Sister Vi,"" Ms. Hoehnke was the matron of the first integrated hospital in the country. She maintained impeccable standards in her hospitals.
Her steadfast adherence to the injunctions of her Faith to love all humanity, and her humility, made her a beloved figure – for example, she had many friends among the clergy of other faiths.
Throughout the decades she wrote countless encouraging letters to hundreds of Baha'is and other friends, some of whom later became prominent leaders in the country. In 1975 she became a citizen of the newly independent country.
Violet Hoehnke, born in Australia, became a Baha'i aged 23 after being introduced to the Faith by a Scottish migrant, Jim Heggie, and then hearing more from the first Australian Baha'i, Oswald Whittaker, and three believers who were later designated as Hands of the Cause: Martha Root, John Henry Hyde Dunn, and Clara Dunn.
Her nursing qualifications enabled her to quickly answer a call to take the Faith to the Admiralty Islands, now Manus Province, in Papua New Guinea.
Her arrival fulfilled a goal of a ten-year plan to spread the Baha'i teachings worldwide.
For this service, the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, bestowed upon her the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah.
Ms. Hoehnke invited local people to her home in the Admiralty Islands and held first aid classes for them, which prompted criticism from members of the European community, who practiced racial segregation.
As a result, the hospital authorities quickly transferred her to a hospital in Rabaul on the nearby island of New Britain.
Although seemingly a setback, it turned out to be fortunate because she met up with the only other Baha'i in Papua New Guinea, Rodney Hancock, a 21-year-old New Zealander who had arrived in Rabaul about the same time that Ms. Hoehnke had first arrived in the Admiralty Islands.
In 1956, after being introduced to the Baha'i Faith by Ms. Hoehnke and Mr. Hancock, a teacher on Manus Island, Apelis Mazakmat, became the first Papua New Guinean Baha'i.
In the subsequent years, as thousands entered the Faith, more than 150 Baha'is from other countries came to Papua New Guinea to assist the local Baha'is as they administered and developed their national community.
In 1973 Ms. Hoehnke was appointed a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors and it was in that role that she visited, guided, and encouraged many Baha'i communities in Papua New Guinea and elsewhere in the Pacific Ocean. She served in that capacity for seven years.
After she retired, she lived in Mount Hagen in the highlands and continued to nurture Baha'is. Her home there was always open to the community.
She donated the proceeds from her former home in Lae and her most recent house in Port Moresby to the Baha'i community.
Even in latter years, when her eyesight had failed and she was confined to bed, she followed the guidance of the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the world to participate in capacity-building study circles.
The Universal House of Justice sent a message of condolence to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Papua New Guinea.
It said that Ms. Hoehnke's record of accomplishment included ""dedicating herself totally to the advancement of the Cause of Baha'u'llah and demonstrating an exemplary willingness to undergo hardship in the pursuit of her noble endeavors.""
""Throughout these years, she became known far and wide for the genuine love and respect she offered to the indigenous people of Papua New Guinea,"" the message said.
The Universal House of Justice asked for memorial gatherings to be held for her throughout Papua New Guinea.
It called upon the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i of Australia to arrange a memorial service in the Baha'i House of Worship in Sydney.",PORT MORESBY,,Papua New Guinea
308,2004-06-20,[],Baha'is co-author women's rights publication,"WASHINGTON — A newly published handbook demonstrates the leading role played by the Baha'i community of the United States in advocating the ratification by the U.S. government of an important international treaty on women's rights.
The handbook, which outlines the importance of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, was co-authored by Leila Rassekh Milani, a spokesperson for women's issues for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
A coalition of some 190 U.S. nongovernmental organizations recently introduced the book at the U.S. Senate.
For more than a decade, a representative of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly has co-chaired the coalition, which is known as the Working Group on Ratification of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women).
The convention is an international ""Bill of Rights"" for women. It addresses the political, cultural, economic, and social dimensions of human rights for women around the world.
The United States was active in drafting the convention and was one of the first nations to sign it.  However, the United States is the only industrialized nation that has failed to ratify the treaty, lacking the necessary votes in the Senate.
The handbook, ""CEDAW: Rights that Benefit the Entire Community,"" was introduced in a Senate hearing room under the sponsorship of Senator Joseph Biden, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. More than 100 people attended, including representatives of the United Nations, NGOs, and congressional staff.
""The treaty on women's rights is a key instrument in promoting the equality of women,"" said Sean Moore, a spokesman for Senator Barbara Boxer, one of the key supporters of the convention in the Senate. ""This handbook is an important educational tool to gain the 67 votes needed for Senate ratification.""  The front page of the new publication.Working with Ms. Milani on the book were Sarah Albert of the General Federation of Women's Clubs and Karina Purushotma of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly's office in Washington.
The book is a revised and expanded edition of ""Human Rights for All,"" an advocacy book compiled and edited by Ms. Milani in 2001.
""After September 11, the world changed,"" said Ms. Milani. ""Greater attention was given to Afghanistan and the aggressive, systematic oppression of women there. Links were found between terrorism and the status of women, national security and women, HIV/AIDS and women.""
Accordingly, the second edition of the book focuses on the international impact of the treaty and documents how the treaty has been used by activists, lawyers, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations to address trafficking in women, HIV/AIDS, terrorism, national security, and other key issues of global concern.
Carolyn Hannan, director of the U.N. Division for the Advancement of Women, said U.S. ratification of  the convention would strengthen the treaty around the world.
She also thanked the Working Group for producing the advocacy book, saying, ""We will use it extensively in our work and with all our contacts at the United Nations.""
An electronic version of the book is available for download at http://www.womenstreaty.org.
Since 1988, the Baha'is of the United States have been at the forefront of efforts to encourage U.S. ratification of international human rights treaties, including the U.N. Genocide Convention, the Convention Against Torture, the Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention Against Racial Discrimination.",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
309,2004-07-04,[],Leading economist calls for global reform,"LONDON — A leading economist has joined his voice to the growing doubts about the capacity of existing international institutions to tackle the world's problems.
Augusto Lopez-Claros, the chief economist with the World Economic Forum in Geneva, told a conference organized by the Association of Baha'i Studies in association with the Irfan Colloquium that humanity is trying to face its challenges but its institutions are simply incapable of delivering adequate solutions.
His address was one of the keynote talks at the conference, held 2-4 July 2004 at the University of London's Institute of Commonwealth Studies, which aimed to explore Baha'i views on the theme of ""Power and Responsibility.""
Mr. Lopez-Claros, who is a Baha'i, pointed to new challenges in the modern world like the increasing globalization of business and the radical change in the service industries caused by alliances between distant nations.
""Our current institutions were not designed for these changes nor for the challenges posed by the environmental crisis, AIDS or terrorism,"" Mr. Lopez-Claros said. ""Political structures are hierarchical, rigid, and slow. Some governments are adapting but most are struggling.""
The result, Mr. Lopez-Claros said, is a growing public dissatisfaction with politicians and politics. ""Only a global framework and global institutions can address certain problems,"" he said.
One of the conference organizers, Nazila Ghanea-Hercock of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, said that ""Power and Responsibility"" are of concern in a number of disciplines, including governance, science, medicine, and the media.
""A lot of people feel disempowered from sources of authority,"" she said. ""We need to discuss how humanity deals with this issue in order to progress.""  Conference participants (from left to right): Farhad Fozdar, Farhad Foroughi, and Professor Masoud Yazdani.Scholar and author Moojan Momen described ways in which the Baha'i community offers a promising model for secular institutions, taking into consideration the fact that many people feel they don't have a say in their society, and that a balance must be found between individual freedoms and centralized authority.
""In the Baha'i model, power does not rest with individuals but institutions,"" Dr. Momen said. ""Baha'i consultative practice provides a safe and encouraging environment for people...to express their views. Devolution to local decision making has been the evolving hallmark of [Baha'i] planning processes.""
Dr. Momen said the balance between individual freedom and central authority was explored by Baha'u'llah in a letter to Queen Victoria of Britain.
""On the one hand He applauded British efforts towards elected democracy but on the other He condemned excesses of liberty. Certainly the Baha'i experience in these areas could be fruitfully examined as a model for change.""
Another speaker, Nahal Mavvadat, from the University of Birmingham, described an evolving maturity in medical treatment where patients are being increasingly encouraged to take an active role in their own healing.
""A new paradigm for medicine would temper scientific knowledge and wisdom with human virtues such as compassion, trust, and a commitment to living according to spiritual laws,"" Dr. Mavvadat said.
Among the distinguished guests was Professor Moshe Sharon, who holds the chair for Baha'i studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Professor Sharon, who is not a Baha'i, addressed the conference on the challenges he faced in translating Baha'u'llah's Book of Laws, the Kitab-i-Aqdas, into Hebrew.
The conference was organized by the Association for Baha'i Studies - English-Speaking Europe in association with the Irfan Colloquium.
The Association of Baha'i Studies has 20 affiliates, each dedicated to the study and application of Baha'i teachings.
The Irfan Colloquia started in 1993 and aim to foster systematic studies of the scriptures of the world's religions from the Baha'i perspective and to promote scholarly studies of the belief system of the Baha'i Faith.
(Report by Rob Weinberg.)
(Photos by Hamid Jahanpour.)",LONDON,,United Kingdom
310,2004-07-12,[],Baha'is participate in interfaith parliament,"BARCELONA, Spain — The high point of 20 years of interfaith activity by Lally Lucretia Warren, a Baha'i from Botswana, came this week when she chaired a session at the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions.
The Parliament, a major interfaith conference, drew more than 8,000 people from 75 countries to this Mediterranean city 7-13 July.
Acting as master of ceremonies, Ms. Warren steered a plenary session through the granting of a new international award for interreligious dialog, speeches by prominent Jewish and Muslim leaders, and prayers from representatives of various religions.
Ms. Warren, a nurse and midwife, began her involvement in interfaith activities two decades ago by being one of the organizers of local observances of World Religion Day.
""Baha'u'llah said 'Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship,'"" said Ms. Warren. ""So that is what we tried to do.""
Ms. Warren attended the Parliament in her capacity as one of 15 members of the Parliament's international advisory committee -- a group that includes such figures as the Dalai Lama, Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, and Ela Gandhi, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi.
Ms. Warren was largely sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation, in part because of her participation in Interfaith Action for Peace in Africa, which was initiated by the Lutherans.
Her role reflected the participation of Baha'is here -- many making presentations were representing various interfaith and academic organizations.  Lally Lucretia Warren addressing the 2004 Parliament of World's Religions.Denise Belisle of Canada, for example, was sponsored by the Goldin Institute because of her work in an interreligious ""Partner Cities"" project that came about because of her activity on the Interfaith Council of Montreal.
Jan Saeed of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA was sponsored by Brigham Young University because of her efforts on the Salt Lake Interreligious Council during the 2002 winter Olympics.
And Brian Lepard, a professor of law at the University of Nebraska, came at the invitation of the Global Ethics and Religion Forum because of his scholarship on international human rights and religion.
More than 20 Baha'is were involved in panel discussions, speeches or other events at the Parliament, and another 80 Baha'is attended as participants, coming from more than a dozen countries.
""The goal for Baha'is at the Parliament is to help further understanding between the different religions,"" said Miguel Gil, who represented the Baha'i community of Spain.
Mr. Gil said the Spanish Baha'i community gave significant support by providing volunteers and organizational assistance.
Moojan Momen, a Baha'i scholar of the United Kingdom, who gave a well-attended talk at the Parliament on ""The Baha'i Theological Basis of Interreligious Dialogue,"" said that Baha'is are able to contribute particularly well to interfaith dialogue because of a belief system that defuses those elements of religion that tend to produce conflict.
In speeches and discussions, religious leaders and activists from virtually every religious tradition repeatedly called for tolerance, and recognition of human interdependence and the common spirit in all religions.
""We need a new global spirituality that affirms the unity of all being, that affirms the interconnectedness of all, and affirms a new bottom line of love, caring, and generosity,"" said Rabbi Michael Learner, a noted Jewish author, in a panel discussion entitled ""The Battle for God.""
Taking the theme ""Pathways to Peace,"" the 2004 Parliament was organized by three entities: the Chicago-based Council for the Parliament of the World's Religions, the UNESCO Centre of Catalonia, and the Forum Barcelona 2004.
Open to religious leaders and lay people alike, the event involved more then 400 workshops, panel discussions, and artistic presentations. The overall focus was on promoting interreligious dialog.
An assembly of religious leaders, held in conjunction with the Parliament, focused on four social issues: improving access to clean water, reducing global poverty, advocating the elimination of Third World debt, and opposing religiously inspired violence.
The Parliament is the third such gathering since 1993, when some 8,000 people from all religions came together in Chicago to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the World's Parliament of Religions, which was held there in 1893 and was the start of the movement for interreligious dialog. The 1893 event was also the first time that the Baha'i Faith was mentioned in a public talk in the Western Hemisphere.
In 1999, a second modern Parliament was held in South Africa, attracting some 7,000 participants from 90 countries. Baha'is have been involved in all three modern Parliaments, as organizers, participants, and presenters.",BARCELONA,,Spain
311,2004-05-16,[],Royal praise for development projects,"MBABANE, Swaziland — Members of the royal family and other dignitaries praised the Baha'i community at celebrations marking the 50th jubilee of the Baha'i Faith here.
""The contribution of the Baha'i Faith in Swaziland is highly commendable,"" said Zephania Hlatjwako, the principal secretary to Prince Gabheni, the Minister of Home Affairs.
Mr. Hlatjwako made his comment at the national library  in Mbabane as he opened an exhibition depicting photographs of the early Baha'is of Swaziland.
""The Baha'is have established an educational complex in Malagwane hill [in Mbabane] which strives to provide excellent academic and moral education at pre-primary, primary, and high school levels,"" Mr. Hlatjwako said.
The school, founded in 1990, has more than 850 enrollments this year. Students sit their examinations under the Cambridge international examinations system.
Another example of the Baha'i contribution to education is the Tarbiyat School in Manzini. This institution is for pupils who have difficulties in regular schools. The curriculum focuses on moral education, youth enrichment, computer literacy, HIV/AIDS prevention -- and even includes a bee-keeping course. There are four other Baha'i schools in Swaziland.
The jubilee celebrations, held between 11-16 May 2004, featured presentations on the history of the Swaziland Baha'i community, which now has 24 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
The event was rich in cultural entertainment. The Swaziland Baha'i choir sang and a local Baha'i youth dance troupe gave performances inspired by Baha'i principles.  Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani (center) with Princess Gcinaphi (left), and Chief Zwangendaba Dlamini, at the Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel, 1984.Thozi Nomvete and Crispin Pemberton-Pigott performed a song written for the occasion with lyrics about the history of the Faith in Swaziland.
Some 600 participants, including visitors, who came from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, and the United States enjoyed a traditional feast, known as ""braai,""  which was held at the Baha'i center.
Some of the early Baha'is -- including Ben Dlamini, Chuck Ducker, and Jacob Mdluli -- told touching stories about the first Baha'is in Swaziland, Bula Mott Stewart and John and Valera Allen.
Ms. Stewart arrived in Swaziland from the United States on 11 April 1954. As the first person to introduce the Baha'i Faith to Swaziland, she received the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
She spent six-weeks in that country and later moved to South Africa, where despite the oppressive racist laws, was able to give the Baha'i teachings to the local people, many of whom became Baha'is. Ms. Stewart later served the Faith in Hong Kong, and the Pacific.
On 19 April 1954, John and Valera Allen, also from the United States, arrived in the country to help to establish the Baha'i community and they too were named Knights of Baha'u'llah. Another Baha'i who settled there that year was Mrs. Allen's mother, Maude Todd Fisher.
Mr. Allen, who had run a successful car business in San Francisco, helped scores of Baha'is  from other countries to settle in Swaziland. He built, and largely financed, schools and Baha'i centers in the country.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen were both elected to the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Mbabane in 1955. Mr. Allen served as the chairman of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland when it was formed in 1971.
Mrs. Allen served on the National Teaching Committee. In 1959 she was elected to the National Assembly of South and West Africa and served as secretary.
Among the first local people to become Baha'is were Isaiah Phala, a teacher, and his wife, Jemima. Others to follow were Ben Dlamini, Chris Kuhlase, Andrew Mofokeng,  Maxwell Ndlovu, and some of the children of the late King Sobhuza II. One of those was Princess Gcinaphi, an ardent promoter of Baha'i principles, who went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1984.
On several occasions, Baha'is met the King, who often assured them of his support for the Baha'i community. A tribute to the late King was offered at the jubilee by Beth Allen, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa.
Also attending from the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa were Enos Makhele and Maina Mkandawire.
Representatives of King Mswati III and the Queen Mother were present at the jubilee festivities, a sign of the continuing good relations between Swaziland's royal family and the Baha'i community.
A message from the King was read on his behalf by his brother, Prince Phinda, a member of the Swaziland National Council.
""We have no doubt that the Baha'is have found a happy home in the kingdom of Eswatini [Swaziland] "" the King's letter to the participants said. ""This is evident through their active participation in and contribution to the welfare of the Swazi nation.""
The King's message also praised the Baha'i community's efforts in educational and agricultural projects.
The Queen Mother sent a  message in which she related some of the main teachings of the Baha'i Faith to current issues in Swazi society. Her message was delivered by a royal representative, A.K. Hlope.
""As the Swazi nation, we pledge to continue to pray for unity, peace, and harmony, and to support all organizations that promote such values, for a better world, for the benefit of all mankind,"" the Queen Mother's message said.
Several newspapers reported extensively on the jubilee, among them ""The Nation"" monthly magazine and the ""Weekend Observer,"" which published articles about the Baha'i Faith on four weekends. Radio Swaziland broadcast several talks on the Faith, both in English and the local language, SiSwati.
Guests received a color booklet produced for the jubilee. It depicts the major events in the history of the Swaziland Baha'i community and tells of the service of the local Baha'is assisted by many traveling teachers from a variety of countries, as well as those Baha'is who settled in the country. It also refers to visits by many distinguished Baha'is, among them Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani and other Hands of the Cause, including Collis Featherstone, Leroy Ioas, Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, Adelbert Muhlschlegel, Enoch Olinga, John Robarts, and William Sears.
(Jubilee photos by Linda Blair.)",MBABANE,,Swaziland
312,2004-05-08,[],Celebrations held throughout the land,"MADINA, Papua New Guinea — The Baha'is of Papua New Guinea are celebrating the 50th anniversary of a community that includes thousands of Baha'is living in more than 3,000 localities in all 19 provinces of the country.
Rather than hold the festivities in a central location of this mountainous country where communities are often separated by difficult terrain, the celebrations are being held at variety of venues.
Some 700 Baha'is from the New Ireland region and their guests gathered on 8 May 2004 for the anniversary festivities in Madina where in 1958 the country's first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed. There are now 252 of those nine-member local Baha'i administrative councils spread throughout Papua New Guinea.
To mark the occasion, the local Baha'is built a memorial pool at the Madina Baha'i center as a tribute to the Baha'is who introduced the Faith to the area. Colored lights illuminated two large stars that were placed in the middle of the pool to symbolize Baha'u'llah and the Bab.
The guest of honor was Rodney Hancock, who came to Papua New Guinea in July 1954 from New Zealand to help establish a Baha'i community.
Mr. Hancock addressed the participants at the jubilee about the exemplary life of Violet Hoehnke an Australian Baha'i  who introduced the Faith to Papua New Guinea, and who stayed at her pioneering post for 50 years.
For her services in Papua New Guinea Ms. Hoehnke received the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
Confined to bed, Ms. Hoehnke was unable to attend the jubilee celebrations. She passed away one month later, on 4 June 2004, at the age of 87.  Madina Baha'i Rodney Kelep outside the local Baha'i institute. Inside, the ceiling is covered with nine pointed stars made from seashells, and each window's upper frame is carved with traditional motifs.Mr. Hancock said that Ms. Hoehnke had corresponded with many Baha'is over the decades.
""She must have written hundreds, if not thousands of letters to encourage the friends [Baha'is] in their endeavors,"" he said.
Mr. Hancock also spoke of the difficulties of introducing the Faith in the 1950s, when the Australian Administration disapproved of any friendly association between expatriates and local people.
He had to obtain special permission from the government before visiting villages. It took more than a year before he and Ms. Hoehnke could introduce the Faith to the first Papua New Guinean to become a Baha'i -- Apelis Mazakmat, a teacher from Munawai village, in New Ireland.
""He [Mr. Mazakmat] told me that when he first heard of the Faith from [Ms. Hoehnke]  it was like the answer to all his dreams and he wished to learn more about the teachings of Baha'u'llah,"" Mr. Hancock wrote in his book titled, ""Longpela bun nating: My life as a Baha'i pioneer in Papua New Guinea.""
Participants at the jubilee also paid tribute to some of the other early believers who have passed away, among them Axomerang, Kelep, Romalus, Sairu, Salomie, Sanaila, and Tivien.
At the celebrations, New Ireland provincial administrator Robinson Sirimbat praised the efforts by the Baha'i community to promote unity and understanding among the different religions in the region. A local government leader Dickson Bilas was also present.
Members of the National Spiritual Assembly Paul Lupai and  Margaret and Michael Elias attended the celebrations.
Also present was Jalal Mills, a  member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia, who addressed the gathering about the history the Baha'i Faith in Papua New Guinea.
Dr. Mills' father, John Mills, was present in Madina when the first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed.
Guests enjoyed a lavish traditional feast prepared by the Baha'i women of Madina.
Baha'i choirs, string bands, and Christian ""singsings"" (traditional dancing and singing) provided the entertainment that continued till the early hours.
In Rabaul, some 600 guests arrived on 3 April 2004 at the jubilee venue, Kulau Lodge, after traveling to the Lodge down a road decorated with streamers, flowers, and a large banner.
Donald Tulai, who grew up in Rabaul, was the master of ceremonies. Among the participants at the celebrations was Roslyn Bale, the first Papua New Guinean woman to become a Baha'i in the local area.
A United Church choir performed a song, written for the occasion, and a Baha'i youth choir sang Baha'i songs. A dance group, wearing traditional costumes and headdresses, performed a dance that told the story of the first Local Spiritual Assembly.
Rodney Hancock and Jalal Mills also attended these festivities.
Radio Rabaul provided extensive coverage of the event in Rabaul, and a daily newspaper ,""The National,"" published a report about the events in Madina.
The local Baha'i communities in Alotau, Baimuru, Balimo, and Pencat will hold their jubilee celebrations later this year.
The Baha'i community is actively involved in educational projects. Local Spiritual Assemblies in the rural areas sponsor kindergartens and primary level school programs. Members of the community also hold devotional meetings, children's classes, and study circles, which are all open to the public.
More than 150 Baha'is from other countries came to Papua New Guinea during the past 50 years to assist the local Baha'is as they administered and developed their national community.
(For an obituary on Violet Hoehnke, see http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/307).",MADINA,,Papua New Guinea
313,2004-07-27,[],Fishing project yields extra dividends,"WALTAMA, Chad — As a maker and seller of fishing nets, Ali Mahamat knew all too well that fish were slowly disappearing from the Chari River here in the southern region of this sub-Saharan African nation.
""Fifteen years ago, the fishing was good,"" said Mr. Mahamat. ""But it gradually died out to the point where there was practically nothing.""
Mr. Mahamat concedes that until a few years ago he had inadvertently contributed to the die-out.
In what he now realizes was a misguided effort to help fishermen here, he sold nets with increasingly smaller mesh, designed to catch the few immature fish that remained.
Then, one day, he tried to sell his nets to the fishermen of this village, located about 50 kilometers southeast of Sarh, the regional capital.
But the fishermen here had other ideas. They had organized into a community-based group to revive the fishing and they had become serious about enforcing game laws.
""They said I can't sell small nets here,"" said Mr. Mahamat. ""They said I could only sell nets with large mesh. They said it was to protect the fish.""
Today, because of actions like that, the fish are returning to the Chari River in the Sarh region -- as are other signs of prosperity.  The women's group in Waltama has organized a literacy class, a by-product of APRODEPIT's process of community-based consultation.Much of the credit goes to APRODEPIT, a Baha'i-inspired non-governmental organization that has worked here for more than a decade to promote a variety of community-based, sustainable development practices. (For the meaning of its name, see below.)
Based in Sarh, the organization's outward focus is to provide communities with training in improved fishing practices, fish farming, and the preservation of fish through smoking and curing.
It also promotes wildlife protection, reforestation, composting, and arboriculture.
Along the way, it has helped to organize more than 140 community groups in the region -- and dozens more in areas near N'Djamena, the national capital.
Further, because of its distinctive participatory methods of community organization and consultation, a number of the groups have branched out into other endeavors, such as the operation of community-based schools, women's literacy classes, and village granaries.
Governmental officials in Chad, the 11th-least developed nation in the world point to APRODEPIT as a model partner in the effort to promote sustainable development.
""The importance of using local knowledge as the starting point for initiating new technologies and constant contact in the field with the participating groups has given APRODEPIT an impressive success rate with its projects,"" said Nenodji Madingar, assistant director of Forestry and Desertification in the Ministry of Environment and Water.
The organization takes a distinctive approach to development that emphasizes the equality of women and men, environmental protection, systematic growth, and, above all else, close consultation with the local community -- principles that are all drawn from the Baha'i teachings.
""In reality, the training we give emphasizes how communities can develop themselves,"" said Yam-bel-yam Kosse Malla, the founder and director of APRODEPIT. ""Our underlying idea is to promote an organic process of community development.
""They start with fish farming, and they harvest the fish. Then they realize they have more money but their children aren't educated. So they decide to create a community school. Next, perhaps, they realize they have a problem with health. So we assist with health education. And by following this system, the village gradually raises itself up,"" said Mr. Kosse Malla.
This approach has certainly worked in Waltama, which formed its first group in 1995 and has since instituted a variety of sustainable fishing efforts, established a village school, created a village granary, and, most recently, launched a program of literacy classes for women.
""The groups are really helping the village from my point of view,"" said Gastone Allada, the 70-year-old chief of Waltama, who also acknowledged the organization's crucial role in the process.
""Before, there were no fish; now there are fish. Before there was no school; now there is a school. So I am very happy.""
Local community groups in Waltama and neighboring villages have also established a protected zone for hippopotamuses -- an idea that also emerged from a process of community consultation.
The villagers noticed that there were more fish where there were also hippos -- and so, with the assistance of field managers from APRODEPIT, they set up signs declaring their section of the river a wildlife protection zone. They also formed surveillance patrols to drive away poachers.
As a result, since 1995 the population of hippos has gone from approximately two to about 200.
The increased presence of hippos, in turn, has improved the fishing. The manure from the hippopotamuses serves to breed small insects, which become food for the fish.
Additionally, the hippos act as natural fish wardens. Outsiders are afraid to mingle with them, while local fishermen have learned how to maneuver through the herd without upsetting them.
(APRODEPIT, is an acronym for Action pour la Promotion des Ressources des Organisations de Dfense de l'Environnement et de la Pisciculture integree au Tchad (Action for the Promotion of Resources for Organizations Defending the Environment and Integrated Pisciculture in Chad.)
(For a more extensive story on this project see http://www.onecountry.org/e154/e15401as_Chad_story.htm).",WALTAMA,,Chad
314,2004-08-04,[],Study circles unite Outback dwellers,"MOUNT ISA, Australia — When Maxien Bradley of Mt. Isa suggested forming a study circle, others who lived far away were quick to sign up.
A resident of this mining town Ms. Bradley had found a way for members of a study circle to meet regularly despite the desert and farmland that separated them in the vast ""outback"" (remote area).
Study circles are a feature of Baha'i communities worldwide. They involve self-directed training and learning in small groups.
In the sparsely populated regions of the Northern Territory and Queensland, regular meetings had not seemed possible until Ms. Bradley suggested a cheap form of telephone conferencing. She soon found enough participants to try out the method.
More than 1,200 km to the northwest, David and Sue Podger of Katherine in the Northern Territory, decided they wanted to be part of the innovation.
Also keen to join were Sandy Patton and Frances Avent, both residents of Longreach, 630 km south of Mt. Isa.
Some 1,800 km away in Brisbane, Narelle Kinneally Tolstoff became a member. And in Warwick, 160 km south of that city, was Leila Deighton, another willing participant.
The first meeting of the study circle was in 2001 and they are still continuing.  Among the hundreds of face-to-face study circles in Australia is an indigenous one in Western Australia. Pictured (left to right) are three of its members: Shona Earnest, Joyce Injie, and Tadgee Limerick.The group decided on the ""Ruhi method"" that is being used by Baha'is in some 180 countries worldwide.
The method aims to develop the capacities of individuals to undertake activities such as teaching values to children, assisting people to independently investigate spiritual truths, and learning how to competently express one's own views.
In the first of a seven-book series, members discuss scriptural extracts on a given theme, such as prayer and meditation, and life after death.
Mrs. Podger agreed to be the ""tutor"" of the study circle. In the Ruhi method that role is not a traditional instructor but someone who helps the participants focus on the topic.
""Each member realizes that he or she is playing a part in molding the study circle, and in making it what it is,"" Mrs. Podger said.
""It works by group consensus, and not because I, as the facilitator, arrange everything.""
She said that people in the outback are usually independent and want to learn by discovering things for themselves. So taking responsibility for their own learning -- an essential element of the Ruhi method --came naturally to them.
""They love to sing or play a musical instrument, tell a story or recite a poem to illustrate the point they are making, so it can get quite lively,"" Mrs. Podger said.
The group has even sung together over the phone. Sometimes members halt their discussion to listen intently to a moving poem or prayer.
""Hearing everyone's news is a special time,"" Mrs. Podger said.
For example, at one news session, a member told how she served food to people at camel races in western Queensland -- she saw it as a practical way to help the community. Another described encountering hundreds of kangaroos while driving to meet with Baha'is in Alice Springs.
""Sharing stories of one another's backgrounds promotes an understanding of each one and allows a warm affection to develop in the group,"" Mrs. Podger said.
Service to the community is a vital part of the Ruhi study circle method.
""Practice confirms the thought,"" Ms. Bradley said. ""It is pointless studying this if we're not going to do something.""
One successful idea was to select an extract from the Baha'i writings and put it into practice before the next meeting. Another was to choose a virtue to demonstrate, with the deadline being the next time the phone rang for the study circle.
The results speak for themselves.
Sandy Patton has begun a youth class. Frances Avent attends Bible classes and sings Baha'i songs in local concerts.
Leila Deighton holds information evenings on various subjects, while Narelle Kinneally Tolstoff recites her poetry on spiritual themes for a variety of audiences.
Maxien Bradley continues to direct community choirs, and for the past three years has raised money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service by cooking at regional events. She also volunteers for the annual Rodeo and Mt. Isa Show.
Some study circle participants, such as the Podgers, have become ""Outback Volunteers,"" visiting isolated people and helping when they can
The members of the study circle gathered in 2003 to train to be tutors -- four now tutor telephone study circles.
Telephone study circles are also active on the other side of Australia. One based in the remote town of Tom Price in Western Australia has a participant 2,000 km away.
Mrs. Podger says the advantage of the telephone method over e-mail or chat rooms is the lively interaction, including rapid-fire discussion, laughter, and contemplative times.
""It all happens faster than written interactions can take place, making it possible to accomplish more.
""Also the audio factor makes many forms of expression possible, and many forms of art, which add to the great pleasure of the participants.""
Maxien Bradley said the phone enables nuances of the voice to be easily heard.
""You are virtually next to a person without seeing them,"" she said.",MOUNT ISA,,Australia
315,2004-07-27,[],Author linked psychology and spirituality,"LANGENHAIN, Germany — Baha'i author and psychologist Erik Blumenthal said that human beings have two important tasks -- to become more conscious and more spiritual.
To assist people carry out those tasks, Erik Blumenthal wrote a series of profound and easy-to-read books that offer practical advice on marriage, child education, the meaning of life, encouragement, and aging.
The far-reaching influence of his wisdom was demonstrated after he passed away in Germany aged 89 on 27 June 2004, when messages of mourning and sympathy poured in from many countries.
Among those tributes was a message from the Universal House of Justice, which praised the selfless devotion of this ""dearly loved"" Baha'i in his service as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Europe since its inception in 1968 until 1985.
""The guidance he provided as a prominent psychologist, the high standard of personal excellence he set, and his kind and gentle manner served as an example for all those with whom he interacted,"" the Universal House of Justice said.
In accordance with the advice of the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany will hold a memorial meeting in his honor at the Baha'i House of Worship here on 5 September 2004.
Erik Blumenthal based the advice in his books on the teachings of the Baha'i Faith and on the findings of his psychological research. Among his most popular books were ""Peace with Your Partner: A Practical Guide to Happy Marriage"" and ""Believing in Yourself: A Practical Guide to Building Self-Confidence.""
Translated from the original German into many languages including English, French, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese, his books are still popular worldwide.  Family portrait. (Front right to left) Erik Blumenthal, Marianne Blumenthal. (Back right to left) son, Stefan Blumenthal; daughters, Dorothee Nicke, Fidelis Karina Brinz, and Roja Pelzer, 2002.Mr. Blumenthal traveled extensively to offer the teachings of the Baha'i Faith and to elaborate the findings of his psychological research.
The secretary of the German Baha'i National Spiritual Assembly, Foad Kazemzadeh, told the hundreds of people at his funeral that Mr. Blumenthal was a very sought-after speaker. ""He not only had a lovely personality but he could connect psychology and religion in a way that always put man's spiritual development in the foreground,"" Mr. Kazemzadeh said.
In a eulogy, Dr. Stefan Blumenthal, Erik's son, said that his father gave strength to his family and to thousands of people all over the world, fostering peace in families and partnerships. ""Characteristic for him was his sense of ethics and his encouragement of his fellow human beings, attitudes which governed his life,"" Dr. Blumenthal said.
When he faced difficulties, Erik Blumenthal lived up to his own beliefs in the power of faith, a positive attitude, and a realistic optimism -- themes of his book ""The Way to Inner Freedom."" Because of his father's Jewish origins, he was forbidden entry to university, where he wanted to study medicine. During World War II he was forced to go into hiding for a while to escape harassment by Nazis.
At 38, Erik Blumenthal began his study of psychology, reviewed his life, and became a Baha'i.
Among those who taught him the Faith was Adelbert Muhlschlegel, a Hand of the Cause. Dr. Muhlschlegel later appointed Mr. Blumenthal as an Auxiliary Board member. Mr. Blumenthal was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany from 1955-63.
The Baha'i principle that science and religion should be in harmony helped Mr. Blumenthal to select the school of psychology he found most appropriate, the Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler.
In 1964 he became president of the Swiss Society for Individual Psychology, and in 2001 Mr. Blumenthal was awarded the Medal of Honor by the Guild of Counsellors of Individual Psychology.
In 1957 when his wife, Dolores, died, Mr. Blumenthal drew on his faith to carry on and care for their four dependent children.
In 1959, he married Marianne, who became his colleague in both Baha'i and psychological activities for more than four decades. They had two children.
Erik Blumenthal is survived by Marianne, four children, fourteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.",LANGENHAIN,,Germany
316,2004-08-11,[],Top sportsmen find support in faith,"LISBON, Portugal — When Nelson Evora hurtles through the air during the Olympic Games this month, he will know that his fellow Baha'is will be with him in spirit.
Nelson Evora, who will represent Portugal in the triple jump, has often expressed his gratitude for the support of the Baha'i community in his adopted homeland.
""The Baha'i community has helped me, supported me, and given me confidence to strive to do my best in sports and in aspects of life,"" he said just before heading for Athens.
He is one of a group of Baha'i professional sportsmen competing at the top levels who have expressed their views about the influence of their faith on their participation in their sport.
Others are tennis player Miles Kasiri (United Kingdom), baseballer Khalil Greene (United States), and footballer Luke McPharlin (Australia).
Mr. Evora, 20, has won gold medals in the triple and long jump events as a junior in recent European athletic meetings and he holds the Portuguese record for the triple jump (under 23) event.
Born in Cote D'Ivoire where his parents had gone to live from Cape Verde, Nelson relocated to Portugal when he was five.
The family moved into an apartment that happened to be on the floor above Nelson's future coach, trainer and mentor, Joao Ganco, a member of the Portuguese Baha'i community.  Nelson Evora with his coach, Joao Ganco.Mr. Ganco, who introduced Mr. Evora to the Baha'i Faith, describes the young star as a talented athlete and as responsible, humble, good-humored, and helpful.
After the Olympics, Mr. Evora will study in the faculty of management at the University of Lisbon.
Miles Kasiri, tennis
Miles Kasiri, 18, this year became the first British player in 32 years to make the boys' (under 19) final at Wimbledon.
He finished as runner up, and came close to achieving an upset win over number one seed, Gael Monfils, of France.
Mr. Kasiri will compete in the junior tournament at the United States Open in New York next month.
He says the Baha'i Faith's strong emphasis on self-discipline has influenced his participation in his sport.
""That's essential if you are going to be a good athlete -- it helps me to have a good work ethic and really strive to do my best.
""And the fact that the Baha'is don't drink alcohol is very important if you are going to keep physically fit.""
Mr. Kasiri said his Faith also gives him a very positive outlook. A spiritual perspective, he said, also keeps the game in perspective.
""At the moment I don't do much else except play tennis but being a Baha'i gives me something else to think about, and the consciousness that there is, of course, more to life than the sport.""
He said his aim was to be the best he can be in his sport at an international level.
""The Faith puts a lot of emphasis on striving for excellence, and that is what I am doing.""
Mr. Kasiri grew up as a Baha'i in Margate, Kent, with his English mother and Iranian father.
He competed in his first international competition at 11. At 13, he won a scholarship to train at the Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida that produced tennis stars such as Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Anna Kornikova, and this year's ladies Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova. Mr. Kasiri is currently based at the Queens Club headquarters in London.
Khalil Greene, baseball
A member of the United States Baha'i community, Khalil Greene has received extensive media coverage for his skills and temperament as he competes in the National League, one of North America's two major baseball competitions.
In April Mr. Greene, 24, from Key West, Florida, was named the league's ""rookie of the month,"" less than two years after being named the top amateur player of the year in the United States, and college baseball's player of the year.
Mr. Greene plays shortstop for the San Diego Padres, a position requiring quick reflexes and intense concentration. In the US sports media, veteran players have been tipping Mr. Greene as a potential star of the future.
Director of scouting (talent spotting) with the San Diego Padres, Bill Gayton, told the ""San Diego Union-Tribune"" newspaper that Mr. Greene is ""not very excitable"" -- unusual in a game known for its extroverted culture.
""He's hard to get to know but once you get to know him, everyone loves him. He's humble.""
Explaining his quiet off-the-field presence, Mr. Greene told the newspaper ""faith and background"" are a big part of his approach to life.
""I have a perspective on it,"" he said. ""You look at the overall of why you are here. You try to find a happy medium...not overly excitable and not too upset.""
""I tried to fit in as a team player more than as an individual player, and in doing so I was able to achieve a lot of individual feats.""
Raised as a Baha'i by his parents, Jim and Janet Greene, he makes prayer and reading the Baha'i Writings as much a part of his daily life as his training.
A feature article in the ""Anderson (South Carolina) Independent-Mail"" portrayed Greene as disciplined in eating and exercise, devoted to the Baha'i Faith and faithful to its moral standards, and respected by coaches and teammates alike.
Luke McPharlin, football
Another Baha'i professional sportsman in the media spotlight is Luke McPharlin, 22, who plays Australian Rules football for the Fremantle Dockers team in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Mr. McPharlin formerly played for the Hawthorn football club in Melbourne but was later recruited back to his home city of Perth, where his new team has since experienced a dramatic rise in fortunes. Commentators cite his contribution as one of the reasons for the change.
The game is unique to Australia and is known for its almost continuous action, its high leaps for the ball and skills in kicking and catching while running at speed.
Playing at center half-back, Mr. McPharlin is responsible for preventing thrusts by the attacking forwards of the opposition and for setting up counter attacks.
Asked how being a Baha'i affects his role as a professional sportsman, Mr. McPharlin said he always had ""an awareness that I'm representing the Baha'i community in all on-field exploits so I've always tried to play the game fairly.""
Being a Baha'i also affects the way he looks at football: ""Sport is just one aspect of life -- as Baha'is we should endeavor to develop all our capacities.""
He says initially he was discreet about his beliefs but as time has gone on he has opened up and now teammates respect his no alcohol policy.
""It certainly helps with fitness but more importantly recovery, as alcohol has been linked with lengthening recovery from injury.""
Although his football commitments involve a working week of six to seven days -- with an average of five contact hours daily -- he is half way through a degree in biomedical science.
Brought up in a Baha'i family by his parents, Ian and Marion McPharlin, he is a member of a Baha'i Local Spiritual Assembly and is involved with study circles using the Ruhi Institute material.
""I endeavor to visit Baha'i junior youth groups as often as I can and give talks.""
Mr. McPharlin, who plays the guitar, writes songs and sings, has also produced with friends two CDs of music inspired by the Baha'i Faith. ""The idea was to create positive music that could fall into a commercial bracket.""
Some of the music has been played on a popular television sports program and the CD is a brisk seller at his football club.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Nelson Evora won the Olympic gold medal in August 2008 at the Olympics in Beijing, China. This note appended 21 September 2008.)",LISBON,,Portugal
317,2004-08-11,[],New ploy by Iranian Government to deprive Baha'is of higher education,"NEW YORK — In yet another clear violation of the human rights of the Baha'is of Iran, nearly 1,000 Baha'i university-age students in Iran have been told they must accept identification as Muslims in order to enter university this year, the Baha'i International Community has learned.
Representatives of the Baha'i International Community heard yesterday about the action, which involves pre-printing the word ""Islam"" in a slot listing a prospective student's religious affiliation on national college entrance examination results, which were distributed to students recently.
The move comes after Baha'i students were led to believe, through Government pronouncements in the news media and private assurances, that their religion would not be an issue on university entrance forms this year in Iran.
""The Iranian Government is, in effect, attempting to force Baha'i youth to recant their faith if they want to go to university,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""This action goes against all the assurances that Iran has been giving the international community about its desire to respect religious freedom, and, indeed, against international covenants on human rights to which Iran is a party,"" said Ms. Dugal.
For more than 20 years, Baha'is have been banned from institutions of higher education solely because of their religious beliefs -- a violation that has been condemned in numerous international human rights forums.
The Government's move effectively extends this ban, inasmuch as Baha'is, as a matter of principle, do not deny their faith.
In the past, entrance forms required that applicants list themselves as followers of one of the only four religions that enjoy official recognition in Iran -- Islam, Christianity, Judaism, or Zoroastrianism. These being the only choices given them, Baha'is, who refused to lie about their affiliation, were excluded from university.
This year examination forms had no such slot for religious affiliation. Instead, university applicants were merely asked to designate which of four approved religious subject examinations -- on Islam, Christianity, Judaism, or Zoroastrianism -- they chose to take as part of overall university entrance examinations.
Representatives of the Baha'i community were assured that by selecting Islam as the subject for examination there would be no implication that the students were members of that faith.
However, according to reports from Iran, now that Baha'i students have taken the exam, officials are saying that their action amounts to a de facto declaration of faith in Islam.
In that light, Baha'i students in Iran are unable to enter university, since it would amount to a renunciation of their faith, and would be used by the authorities as evidence of such renunciation.
""For more than a year, the Government has held out the promise that Baha'is would, for the first time in some 20 years, be allowed to attend national institutions of higher education,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""Now, in what amounts to a devious 'catch-22,' the Government is saying 'You can come, but you must pretend you are a Muslim.' But that is something Baha'is cannot do. And the Government knows that.""
The Baha'i community of Iran, with some 300,000 members, is Iran's largest religious minority. Since 1979, when the Islamic Republic was established, more than 200 Baha'is have been killed, hundreds have been imprisoned, and thousands have been denied education, employment, and other rights in an ongoing episode of systematic religious persecution.",NEW YORK,,United States
318,2004-06-29,[],Author introduced Faith to a generation,"BRISBANE, Australia — Gloria Faizi introduced the teachings of Baha'u'llah to a whole generation of inquirers through her pocket-sized introduction to the Baha'i Faith.
First published in 1971, ""The Baha'i Faith: An Introduction"" is published in 21 languages. The inexpensive and easy-to-read book has sold more than 200,000 copies.
Right up until she passed away here aged 83, on 29 June 2004, Gloria Faizi was intent on using her literary gifts to tell people about Baha'u'llah.
Her book, ""Baha'u'llah -- The Promised One"" has just been published, its initial draft dictated by her while ill in bed.
At the time of her death, she was writing her ninth book, a biography of her late husband, Abu'l-Qasim Faizi (c. 1906-1980), a Hand of the Cause of God.
In a message of condolence to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia, the Universal House of Justice said Gloria Faizi had ""rendered outstanding services to the Cause of Baha'u'llah throughout her life.""
""Her distinguished record of accomplishment includes a number of books translated into many languages which have proved most valuable in attracting inquirers to the Faith and in conveying a deeper understanding of the Baha'i teachings.""
The Universal House of Justice said they remembered with appreciation ""her many contributions to the progress of the Baha'i communities, including her pioneering in Bahrain with her illustrious husband, her work at the Baha'i World Centre, and her devoted travels far and wide as a teacher of the Cause.""  Gloria Faizi (center, rear) with her mother Najmieh (left), her father Rahmatu'llah Khan 'Ala'i (right), and her brother, Manuchihr.Gloria Faizi was born into the Ala'i family, distinguished for its service to the Faith. She met the head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, when she accompanied her father to the Holy Land as a child.
When she was 17, she married Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, and together they assisted Baha'i communities in a remote rural area of Iran before settling in Bahrain in the mid-1940s. Their two children, Naysan and May, were born during their 15 years there.
Family members heard no complaints about the conditions there from Mrs. Faizi, and it was only later that they learned of the extreme difficulties she and her husband encountered in the early years -- initial unemployment, malnourishment, the lack of relief from intense heat, discomfort, and hostility. Over the years the couple were of great assistance and inspiration to Baha'is in the region.
Later, Mr. Faizi's duties required them to move to the Holy Land. After Mr. Faizi passed away, Mrs. Faizi lived for two more years in Haifa and then moved to India where she traveled widely in service to the Faith.
""Her love for India and the Indian community was immense,"" said a longtime secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, Mr. Ramnik Shah.
""Her great contribution to the development of the Faith in India was her assistance in not only writing but supervising the printing of books and booklets that were required for the proclamation and deepening of the Faith,"" Mr. Shah said.
Mrs. Faizi set up residential institute programs to teach and train Baha'is in Tamil Nadu and in Solan, in Himachal Pradesh.
In more recent years she was resident at the Rabbani School in Gwalior, where her deep knowledge of the Baha'i Faith and her brilliance in communication were demonstrated in memorable classes for both faculty and students.
A Fellow of the Institute of Linguists, Mrs. Faizi was fluent in Persian, English, Arabic, French, and Turkish, and she had a working knowledge of Hindi.
Her literary gifts enabled her to write not only her immensely popular introductory book but also another best-seller, ""Fire on the Mountain Top,"" a collection of stories about early members of the Baha'i Faith.
More and more books were to pour from her pen. Among them was ""Flowers of One Garden,"" which is now being distributed to government educational institutions throughout India.
Meticulous to a high degree in everything she did, she would painstakingly pore over her manuscripts until convinced they were free from faults.
She was in demand as a speaker and teacher of the Faith internationally.
In a eulogy delivered at her funeral, her literary assistant Vafa Fakhri said Mrs. Faizi was a scholar, writer, and teacher to the end.
Mr. Fakhri referred to her ""almost superhuman focus, determination and perseverance"", her ""gentle and endearing sense of humor"" and her vast knowledge of the Baha'i Faith and other religions.
Gloria Faizi is survived by her two children, and  four grandchildren.",BRISBANE,,Australia
319,2004-07-24,[],Youth enjoy learning together,"N'ZEREKORE, Guinea — A Baha'i youth conference here attracted participants from Baha'i, Muslim, Christian, and traditional African religious backgrounds.
They gathered at the University of N'Zerekore in the forest region of this French-speaking country to learn about the teachings, history, and administration of the Baha'i Faith through presentations, workshops, and dramatic art performances.
The third annual national Baha'i youth conference, held 23-25 July 2004, opened with greetings from the regional governor's representative and the rector of the university.
History
The history lessons focused on the lives of the Central Figures and early heroes of the Baha'i Faith.
One Baha'i youth said he was moved by a story about how 'Abdu'l-Baha showed great kindness to a man who chose to mistreat Him. ""The story of 'Abdu'l-Baha helped me to love the people who reject me and to show them that I truly love them,"" said Abdoulaye Bangoura, 19, a teacher of Baha'i children's classes.
""If I try to be like 'Abdu'l-Baha, who is the perfect exemplar of the Baha'i Faith, I must accept the pain and the problems, and continue forward -- this story has given me courage...,"" he said.
For Mohamed Diaby, a 19-year-old Muslim, it was the story of the Baha'i Faith's Forerunner, the Bab, that caught his attention, and he was attracted to teachings of the oneness of humanity.  Participants at the national Baha'i youth conference in N'Zerekore, Guinea.""You could say we are all from the same family and worship the same God,"" said Mr. Diaby.
After studying quotations by Baha'u'llah, Bernadette Traore, a 19-year-old Catholic, drew attention to the message they contained about the need to live in harmony with one's beliefs.
Administration
After a presentation on the structure and functioning of
Baha'i administrative institutions, participants divided into groups so they could learn about how to serve as members of Local Spiritual Assemblies.
The groups studied the duties of a secretary and chairperson and then held mock elections for those office-holders. They also appointed an advisor (the equivalent of an Auxiliary Board member.)
Functioning along the lines of a Local Spiritual Assembly, the groups consulted on topics such as assisting illiterate people to study the Baha'i writings, counseling alcoholics, dealing with criticism from local leaders of other religions, and competently looking after Baha'i funds.
One of the participants, Bruce Mukumbi, a Congolese Baha'i now living in Guinea, said the youth learned that the office-holders of the Assembly, such as secretary or chairman, are not allowed to impose their opinions on the group.
""Because of this workshop, everyone understood that each person can freely give his opinion and then the decision that's made belongs to the whole Assembly -- that is the principle of consultation,"" Mr. Mukumbi said.
Theater
The youth worked in groups to create short plays about Baha'i history and Baha'i teachings such as consultation, the oneness of religion, and the equality of women and men.
""The Baha'i Faith in Guinea has a great future with these youth,"" said Jean Jacques Yem, a high school arts teacher from Mali who attended the conference. Mr. Yem has visited many French-speaking African countries since 1992, presenting plays based on various Baha'i themes and training Baha'i performing arts groups in the use of the arts in promoting the Faith.
Mr. Yem, said he had never seen such enthusiasm from youth as he had observed after spending a month forming theater arts workshops in Guinea.
Organization
Mr. Yem said he was also impressed that a six-member National Baha'i Youth Committee organized the conference.
""I saw these young people stand up and take into their own hands the organization of the entire conference,"" he said. ""The programs, the security -- they organized almost everything themselves.""
Mr. Bangoura, a member of Guinea's National Baha'i Youth Committee, said the plan for next year's conference is to boost even further the number of youth from different religious backgrounds and countries.
""It is a conference for youth who are both Baha'is and not Baha'is,"" he said. ""Since the main teaching of the Baha'i Faith is the unity of humankind, this teaching is brought to life with participants from other religions -- with Muslims, Christians, and Baha'is.""
Institute
After the conference, 41 youth and five facilitators stayed for an intensive two-week training  program using the Ruhi Institute materials, which focus on different aspects of the Baha'i teachings and history.
An integral part of the Ruhi learning method requires students to memorize quotes from the Baha'i writings.
Mr. Yem said that in the first week of the training sessions, the youth had developed a memorization competition.
""They even adopted a little game where each time someone moved away from courteous behavior, they would respond to that person with a quote,"" Mr. Yem said.
""For example, a girl said something rude to a boy, and someone started reciting the words [of Baha'u'llah] 'A kindly tongue...' and everyone chimed in together 'is the lodestone of the hearts of men.... It clotheth the words with meaning.' It is so moving to see them living like that.""
(Report and photos by Mandy Morgan.)",N'ZEREKORE,,Guinea
320,2004-08-10,[],International cast in musical theater,"VILNIUS, Lithuania — A multinational musical theatre troupe enjoyed a positive reception here this month during a two-week tour organized by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Vilnius.
The Inspirit Performing Arts group, with members from 14 countries including Lithuania, presented three performances of a musical play, ""Quest of the Spirit,"" to enthusiastic audiences in the Elfu Theater in Vilnius.
During the tour from 31 July to 13 August 2004, the 16-member cast performed songs, dances, and instrumental pieces in a production that depicted aspects of the world's religions. The show's theme was the path of a wayfarer in his search for spiritual truth.
Some of the cast also presented a show in a local cafe, as well as offering impromptu performances of dances and songs in outdoor venues.
Other activities included a public photographic exhibition held in a hall located near the city center. This well-attended display featured the work of Ineta Alvarado, a Baha'i from Vilnius. It included photographs of the Shrine of the Bab and the surrounding terraced gardens.
On six evenings, members of the troupe gave public talks on a variety of topics including Baha'u'llah's mission, the Baha'i Faith's relationship to other religions, and what it means to be a Baha'i. These talks were followed by discussions.
The activities of Inspirit sparked the interest of audience members in the Baha'i Faith and they have since begun attending Baha'i study circles, devotional meetings, youth and children's classes, and discussion meetings.
Inspirit is a performing arts group formed by volunteer staff at the Baha'i World Centre, in Haifa, Israel. Members come from Australia, Estonia, Canada, Germany, India, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Portugal, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  The Inspirit troupe.The self-funded troupe undertook the tour during the vacations of its members as a service to the people of Lithuania. They were assisted in their activities by Baha'is from Estonia and Latvia.
This was the second visit by Inspirit to Lithuania. The troupe originally traveled to Vilnius in 2002 and the reception was so enthusiastic that it made plans to return this year.
The reaction proved to be positive again. Among local youth attracted to the show were Lijana Juodzbalyte and Aidas Alionis, who subsequently attended many of Inspirit's activities including the morning devotional sessions.
At the conclusion of the project, the two were obviously touched by the performers and their message.
""This was the best summer of my life,"" Aidas said.
Lijana said the songs and dances looked very professional.
""It was great to see so many flags on the stage -- it was a show of unity, "" she said.
""There were many kinds of art on the same stage at the same time, including singing, acting, dancing -- and beautiful photos shown on the screen.""
Eugene Van Zanten of Ukmerge said that even though the cast members were from so many different countries and spoke almost as many languages, they were able to perform in complete unity.
At the tour's conclusion, Lijana summed up the reactions to the performances.
""Inspirit's activities,"" she said, ""have touched the hearts of many Lithuanians.""
(Kevin McLoughlin contributed to this report and provided photographs.)",VILNIUS,,Lithuania
321,2004-07-06,[],Mystical work inspires playwright,"NAANTALI, Finland — After watching a play called ""The Seven Valleys,"" drama teacher Hanna-Mari Aflatuni said she wished she could have joined the actors on stage.
""It was deeply moving and thought provoking,"" she said of the play, which was written by Tuula Kuitunen and performed by the Naantali Amateur Theater troupe.
""It was wonderful how devotedly all the participants took part in the performance,"" she said.
The play is based on ""The Seven Valleys,"" a work by Baha'u'llah that depicts the journey of the human soul.
After its premiere won a highly favorable review in a Finnish newspaper, the play has been repeatedly performed to enthusiastic audiences, most recently in Lappeenranta in July.
The play has been staged several times at the renowned Naantali Theatre, which was awarded the Naantali city art prize in 2001.
""The Seven Valleys"" includes seven songs, each symbolizing a different spiritual stage described by Baha'u'llah -- the valleys of search, love, knowledge, unity, contentment, wonderment, and true poverty and absolute nothingness.
In the play, two narrators guide the traveler as he arrives at different stages of his journey. Quotations from Baha'u'llah depict the valleys and the challenges the traveler goes through in order to reach his goal. Songs and dances portray his feelings throughout the production.  In his review of the November 2003 premiere for the regional newspaper ""Rannikkoseudun sanomat,"" Pentti Narvanen wrote that ""even in the most pious church events one cannot experience such harmony of spiritual elements.""
""I have never experienced a similar feeling in theatre or in any other event,"" Mr. Narvanen said. ""This was food for the soul, unbelievably touching.""
Mr. Narvanen said ""the symphony of visual effects, music, voice, and the lighting"" of the play seemed to have had a great impact on the audience.
Playwright Tuula Kuitunen, a Baha'i, also composed the music. She said that the performance presents the audience with the opportunity to have a spiritual experience in a new and refreshing manner.
""An artistic experience goes deeper to the core of an individual; it touches the senses, the emotions, the heart, the mind, the spirit, and the intellect,"" Mrs. Kuitunen said.
""As a piece of art, I feel 'The Seven Valleys' expresses the same universal and spiritual themes from which all cultures, performing arts, literature, and sciences have originated,"" she said.
Mrs. Kuitunen, is a pharmacist and a mother of four children, is from Naantali, on the southern coast of the country. She has previously composed songs for children's classes as well as for adults, based on Baha'i history.
The idea of the play came when she and other members of a Baha'i study circle started holding devotional gatherings that are open to the public.
Study circles, devotional gatherings, and as children's classes are organized throughout the world by Baha'i communities, who invite attendance by all, regardless of background.
""In the beginning we used recorded classical or other music, but little by little I began to use my own,"" she said.
""I have noticed that the combination of the holy word and music can be a very spiritual experience.""
Mrs. Kuitunen first read Baha'u'llah's work ""The Seven Valleys"" when she joined the Baha'i community in 1972 and ever since she has wanted to explore its themes.
Her family assisted her to realize her dream. Directing the play is her husband, Mikko Kuitunen, 53, who is also one of the actors. He has been the director and producer of the Naantali Theatre for 10 years.
Their daughter, Elina Kuitunen, 16, is one of the cast, while her brother, Jarkko, 26, is responsible for the technical aspects of the play.
One of the performers, Timo Hokkanen, 43, who is not a Baha'i, said that the play made him think about the real meaning and purpose of life.
""The play uses silence, melody, and harmony as a road to relaxation,"" said Mr. Hokkanen, whose wife, Sirkka, and their two children, are among the 15-strong cast.
He said that many audience members have told him they want to see the performance again.",NAANTALI,,Finland
322,2004-08-05,[],Unveiling a new world of learning,"WINSCOMBE, England — Learning about masks unveiled new layers of self-confidence for a participant at the Baha'i Academy for the Arts.
""The very positive attitude towards the students shown by all the tutors is a powerful way of improving both self-confidence and self-expression,"" said Alison Scrutton, who attended a workshop on performing with masks.
Ms. Scrutton, who is not a Baha'i, said that the academy far exceeded her expectations.
She was one of some 280 amateur and professional artists who attended the academy, held 31 July-7 August 2004.
Ms. Scrutton, a schoolteacher by profession, said the encouragement given to students helped them achieve more than they had thought possible at the beginning of the week.
""The tutors worked hard to develop confidence and artistic growth in their students and everyone's contributions were always valued,"" she said.
""The course was brilliant,"" she said. ""After a week I felt far more confident about my abilities to express myself through movement and mask work.""
Held annually for 12 years, the academy attracted participants came from a variety of countries, including Bulgaria, Greece, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.  Students display puppets made for use in story-telling in Baha'i children's classes.A British Baha'i, Anne Wong, said that the academy provided an ideal environment for learning.
Participants could work for the highest standard of excellence in their selected courses, said Ms. Wong, who was attending the academy for the first time.
""I enjoyed watching the unveiling of confidence and creativity in people. [At the academy] everyone is engaged in some kind of art whether it be singing, drumming, sculpture, painting, textiles, drama,"" Ms. Wong said.
""The whole ethos of the academy is based on a profound statement from Baha'u'llah that we are 'mines rich in gems of inestimable value,' and art is a means by which we can manifest these gems,"" she said.
Some of the courses introduced this year for adults included abstract painting, textile art, black and white photographic printing, drumming, and computer presentations. Junior youth (ages 12-15) were offered new courses in theater arts, creative painting, and dance.
Another new feature was the ""Art of Living"" class. Drawing on the Baha'i writings on health, hygiene, and the environment, as well as on the results of scientific research in these fields, students learned how to integrate spiritual concepts and the arts into how they looked after their health and managed their lives.
This year's artist-in-residence was pianist Nancy Lee Harper, assistant professor of piano at the University of Aveiro in Portugal.
Dr. Harper taught a master class for experienced artists, including a singer, a violinist, two pianists, and a flamenco guitarist.
""Remaining open to the moment and using consultation as the basis of our work, [we found] the results were truly staggering and far beyond anyone's imagination,"" Dr. Harper said.
In addition to developing their own individual work, the group created a musical narrative titled ""The Journey,"" which they performed as part of the evening program.
The piece portrayed the dramatic story of the transfer of the remains of the Bab in the late 1800s from Persia (now Iran) to the Holy Land, where they were laid to rest on Mt. Carmel in 1909.
Dr. Harper said that as opposed to some other art courses, academy students are not judged for their abilities, and there is no negative criticism -- quite the opposite.
She said that peer teaching is a very strong element of the academy and that the artists naturally respond to such a helping and encouraging environment.
Evening sessions were also a source of inspiration. A new feature was the screening of films and documentaries, many of them focusing on the artistic creative process.
London-based architect and designer Sabiha Foster gave a lecture on the development of humanity's relationship with architecture, using such examples as the earliest remnants of architecture through to the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, India, which opened in 1986.
Theater artist Bill George and his daughter, Anisa, from the United States, used a dramatic performance to explore the relationship of the Baha'i Faith and the theater.
The academy also offered space for students to work independently on their own projects.
Photos by Rob Weinberg.
For more information, see http://www.bahai-artsacademy.com/.
For a story about last year's academy, see http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=245.",WINSCOMBE,,United Kingdom
323,2004-09-12,[],Baha'is decry cultural cleansing in Iran,"NEW YORK — The destruction of yet another Baha'i holy place in Iran has prompted an outcry by Baha'is around the world, who see that the Iranian Government is persisting in a campaign of persecution so extreme in the fanaticism driving it that it even jeopardizes invaluable assets of the country's cultural heritage.
The demolition in June of an historic house in Tehran, which followed the leveling of a Baha'i holy place in Babol earlier this year, has spurred national Baha'i communities in several nations to place a statement in major newspapers decrying the destruction.
The statement, which ran in the New York Times today, is set to run soon in newspapers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
The Baha'i community of Iran, with about 300,000 members, is that country's largest religious minority.
With some five million members in more than 180 countries worldwide, the Baha'i Faith is an independent religion that promotes such teachings as the oneness of humanity, the underlying unity of the religions, the equality of women and men, and the need to eliminate prejudice.
Since 1979, despite their peaceful character, more than 200 Iranian Baha'is have been killed, and hundreds more have been tortured and imprisoned. Tens of thousands have lost jobs, pensions, and access to education, all solely because the clerics who rule Iran declare them heretics.
""The hatred of the extremist mullahs for the Baha'is is such that they, like the Taliban of Afghanistan who destroyed the towering Buddhist sculptures at Bamiyan, intend not only to eradicate the religion, but even to erase all traces of its existence in the country of its birth,"" says the statement, which took the form of a paid advertisement in the New York Times.
The house that was destroyed in June had been owned by Mirza Abbas Nuri (also known as Mirza Buzurg), the father of Baha'u'llah, Who founded the Baha'i Faith. Mirza Abbas Nuri was an eminent provincial governor and was widely regarded as one of Iran's greatest calligraphers.  An interior courtyard of the historic House of Mirza Abbas Nuri (Mirza Buzurg), Tehran, June 2004.The statement in the Times notes that Mirza Abbas Nuri's house was an ""historical monument, a precious example of Islamic-Iranian architecture, 'a matchless model of art, spirituality, and architecture.'""
""In their determination to rid Iran of the Baha'i community and obliterate its very memory, the fundamentalists in power are prepared even to destroy the cultural heritage of their own country, which they appear not to realize they hold in trust for humankind,"" the statement continues.
""Surely the time has come for Iranians everywhere to raise their voices in protest against such willful desecrations,"" concludes the statement.
Placing the statement in newspapers around the world is part of a coordinated effort by Baha'is outside of Iran to call the world's attention to the destruction of cultural landmarks that are part of the heritage of the entire world, said Glen Fullmer, director of communications for the Baha'i community of the United States.
""The places that are being demolished are significant to all humanity,"" said Mr. Fullmer. ""They reflect unique elements of Iran's cultural history. So we are calling on Iranians around the world to protest the destruction of their own culture.""
The statement will also be printed in one of France's premier newspapers, said Brenda Abrar, a spokesperson for the Baha'i community there.
""There are a great many Iranians in France,"" said Ms. Abrar. ""We want to alert them that their own cultural heritage is in danger. The house that was demolished in June actually represents a great work of Islamic architecture.""
In July, the Iranian newspaper Hamshahri published a lengthy article about the life of Mirza Abbas Nuri and the architecture of his house.
""As he had good taste for the arts and for beauty, he designed his own house in such a style that it became known as one of the most beautiful houses of that period,"" wrote Iman Mihdizadih in Hamshahri on 13 July. ""The plasterwork and the tile-work in the rooms as well as the verdant veranda, the courtyard with its central pool, and the trees planted in the flowerbeds, all created a tranquil atmosphere in this house.""
The house was demolished over a period of about one week in June. The demolition order was issued in April by Ayatollah Kani, director of the Marvi School and the Endowments Office, ostensibly for the purpose of creating an Islamic cemetery. When the demolition started on 20 June, officials from the Ministry of Information were present, and by 29 June more than 70 percent of the structure had been destroyed. [See photographs]
The destruction of Mirza Abbas Nuri's house represents just the latest in a series of demolitions that appears to be aimed at systematically destroying Baha'i holy sites, said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
In April, despite international protest, the gravesite of an early apostle of the Faith was destroyed in Babol. The house-like structure marked the resting place of Mulla Muhammad-Ali Barfurushi, known as Quddus.
Quddus was the foremost disciple of the Bab, the Prophet-Herald of the Baha'i Faith.
In 1993, more than 15,000 graves were bulldozed at the well-kept Baha'i cemetery of Tehran on the pretext of constructing a municipal center.
In 1979, shortly after the Islamic revolution, the house of the Bab in Shiraz, one of the most sacred sites in the Baha'i world, was demolished. The house of Baha'u'llah in Takur, where the Founder of the Baha'i Faith spent his childhood, was also demolished soon after the revolution and the site offered for sale to the public.
""We see all this as part of a concerted plan on the part of the Iranian government to gradually extinguish the Baha'i Faith as a cultural force and cohesive entity,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""Over the years, the government's strategy has changed, from outright killing to methods that are less likely to attract international attention, such as the destruction of holy sites.
""But the end result is the same: to completely destroy the Baha'i community of Iran, along with its history and heritage,"" said Ms. Dugal.
To see a copy of the statement placed in the New York Times, see
http://www.bahai.org/pdf/ad20040912.pdf.
To see a press release from the Office of Public Information of the Baha'i community of the United States, see http://www.bahai.org/pdf/pr20040912.pdf.
For information in French see http://www.bahai.fr/article.php3?id_article=122.
For background article on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran, see http://bahai.org/article-1-8-3-6.html.
For the history of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran, see http://bahai.org/article-1-8-3-7.html.
For an article on Iran's secret blueprint for the destruction of the Baha'i community, see
http://bahai.org/article-1-8-3-14.html.
For an August 2004 news story on the ploy to deprive Baha'is of higher education, see
http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/317.",NEW YORK,,United States
324,2004-08-18,[],A special place in the rose garden,"SYDNEY — Less than a week before Sirus Naraqi passed away, his medical colleagues at the University of Sydney held a well-attended symposium in his honor.
Delivering the opening address, Papua New Guinea heart specialist Professor Sir Isi Kevau described Professor Naraqi as a ""special chapter in the history of medicine in Papua New Guinea.""
That chapter is a story of training medical students and doctors, of effective research into prevalent diseases, and of major contributions to improving the country's health system.
""I thank God that we in Papua New Guinea were given the opportunity to cherish the knowledge and wisdom that this very special individual exuded in the 18 years he lived in the country -- he has a very special place in God's garden of roses,"" said Sir Isi, the first Papua New Guinean medical professor, who was trained by Professor Naraqi.
Professor Naraqi, 61, died on 18 August 2004 after a prolonged illness. More than 700 mourners of many religious, racial, and professional backgrounds attended his funeral.
Born in Iran in 1942, Sirus Naraqi demonstrated his caliber by placing first in university entrance examinations in Iran out of 80,000 students nationwide.
He completed his postgraduate medical training in the United States where he later practiced as a specialist in internal medicine. He was named ""best attending physician"" and ""best teacher of the year"" at the University of Illinois teaching hospital.
Because of his spiritual beliefs and his humanitarian nature, he then chose to devote his intellect and expert medical skills to some of the world's most materially disadvantaged  people by working in Papua New Guinea from 1977-79 and 1983-98.  Sirus Naraqi (left) with his professor at medical school, Iran, 1967.He spent much of his free time -- weekends and vacations -- visiting remote villages to provide treatment for those with little access to medical care.
His main role was combining practice as a specialist in internal medicine with his duties as professor of medicine at the University of Papua New Guinea.
His special attention to training local undergraduate and postgraduate students meant that by the time he moved to Australia in 1998, he left behind so many highly competent and trained doctors and specialists that expatriate doctors were no longer so crucially in demand.
In 1999, on the recommendation of the government of Papua New Guinea, Queen Elizabeth awarded him the high honor of Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
""Sirus was a shining example of the committed and dedicated pioneers who came from afar to heal and educate,"" said a former prime minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Julius Chan.
""He developed friendships with our people, as well as built lasting institutions and learning for future generations of Papua New Guineans,"" Sir Julius said.
As professor of medicine and associate dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney's western clinical school, Professor Naraqi co-established a research foundation and quickly demonstrated his remarkable abilities as a teacher.
""He is... a well-loved academic among medical students who have respected his dedication to his profession and his generosity of spirit in the training and mentoring of professionals,"" read a tribute published at last month's symposium that also mentioned his achievement in publishing more than 100 scientific and medical papers.
A deeply knowledgeable, eloquent and highly capable Baha'i, Sirus Naraqi served as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Australasia since 1985, providing advice and encouragement to the Spiritual Assemblies and believers as he traveled widely in that region.
""We feel intensely privileged to have known him and served with him,"" said Jalal Mills, a member of the Continental Board based in Papua New Guinea.
Dr. Mills said Sirus Naraqi firmly believed that people even in the most humble of circumstances could understand profound concepts and live as spiritual people.
""He had the ability to see the potential and to patiently and lovingly nurture this potential,"" he said.
Another of his Baha'i colleagues, Stephen Hall, a member of the Continental Board, said he admired Professor Naraqi's  highly developed intuitive wisdom, his ability in an instant to go to the core of a matter and hone in on the relevant spiritual principles.
""Sirus never seemed rushed and he always had time for anyone who needed his guidance and advice,"" he said.
In a message of condolence, the Universal House of Justice said the devoted services to the Baha'i Faith by Dr. Sirus Naraqi will long be remembered.
Dr. Naraqi played a ""pre-eminent role in the propagation of the Cause to all parts of the country and the establishment of Baha'i institutions on a secure foundation,"" the message said.
""He was renowned for his commitment to encouraging and nurturing capable indigenous believers to take responsibility for the work of the Cause and for the love and kindness he showered on all members of the community,"" the message said.
The Universal House of Justice advised the National Spiritual Assemblies of Australia and Papua New Guinea to hold memorial gatherings in his honor and asked that memorial meetings be held in the Baha'i Houses of Worship in Australia and Samoa.
Sirus Naraqi is survived by his wife, Mitra, four children, and a grandson.",SYDNEY,,Australia
325,2004-07-05,[],Windows open to Baha'i gospel music,"STUTTGART, Germany — Residents here flung open their windows to listen to gospel-style music being sung on the streets below by an international Baha'i choir.
The choir had completed a concert in an historic church and continued outside, as its director Van Gilmer later explained.
""The audience followed the choir out of the church to the sidewalks as it continued to sing -- people opened their windows to enjoy the impromptu concert we gave,"" he said.
That enthusiastic response by the citizens of this southern German city was replicated in different ways across Europe this northern summer.
Audiences in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, as well as in Germany, gave standing ovations to the Baha'i Gospel Choir, which included 103 members of many different backgrounds and  from 12 countries including Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Uganda, and the United States.
""There was no concert where the audiences did not stand up and sway, clap, and even stomp their feet for encores,"" said Mr. Gilmer, who said the singers were often as affected by the music as the audience.
""This is often true with gospel when the depths of one's beliefs are captured in the expression of the music,"" he said.
Choir member Tahirih Olinga of Uganda agreed. ""Gospel music is very uplifting,"" Ms. Olinga said.  Roya Yazhari (second from left) and fellow soprano Katrina Davis (right) with Jada Davis (left), Jasmine Davis (center), and Sydney Ewing-Roush (front).""The spirituals, the words, and the style of the songs are very powerful. They had a big impact on us and the audiences as well.""
Ms. Olinga said that as well as enjoying the music, the audiences appeared to be inspired by the message of their songs -- the Baha'i principles of peace and unity.
""The power of God's word bound us together as a choir and also with the audience,"" she said.
The group's repertoire comprised 14 items -- gospel songs and spirituals, as well as Baha'i writings put to music in the gospel style.
Each one-and-a-half-hour performance started with the Baha'i song ""We Have Come to Sing Praises,"" and then the choir went on singing other well-known gospel songs including ""I'm so Glad,"" ""If We Ever Needed Love,"" and ""Amazing Grace.""
The concerts finished with ""Love Me That I May Love Thee,"" the last verse of which the choir sang in the language of the country in which it was performing.
The choir gave six concerts in four countries, finishing with a performance in the Baha'i House of Worship in Langenhain, Germany.
Although this was the first tour of the Baha'i Gospel Choir, some members were in the gospel choir that sang at the Baha'i World Congress in New York in 1992 and 10 years later at the Baha'i Festival of Arts, also in New York.
Among those in the 2004 Baha'i Gospel Choir who had sung in the 2002 performance were professional musicians Joyce Garrett, and Patrick Lundy, who are not Baha'is.
Dr. Garrett, well-known in gospel circles in the United States, was the musical director of the tour. She is a member of the Naval Academy Gospel Choir and the Eastern High School Choir, which has won international awards.
Founder of the Ministers of Music choir, Mr. Lundy is an accomplished pianist and the director of several gospel choirs. He was the assistant music director during the tour.
Another choir member was veteran drummer Lester Saucer, who regularly performs with leading gospel groups in the United States.
Mr. Gilmer has sung gospel as part of the repertoire of another Baha'i choir, ""Voices of Baha,"" in Asia, North America, and Europe.
Photos by Vic Voytek.
For more information see, http://www.bahaigospel.org.
For a report of a concert by ""Voices of Baha"" see https://news.bahai.org/story/235.",STUTTGART,,Germany
326,2004-09-05,[],Speakers urge spiritual and intellectual solutions,"CALGARY, Canada — Spiritual ideas are an essential component in solving the world's complex problems, according to the opening speaker at the annual conference of the Association for Baha'i Studies-North America.
""The global problems of the contemporary world make interdisciplinary research a necessity,"" said Harold Coward, founding director of the Centre for Studies of Religion and Society at the University of Victoria in Canada.
The inclusion of religious and spiritual ideas in any such interdisciplinary approach is important, Dr. Coward told the conference, held here 3-6 September 2004.
Dr. Coward, who is not a Baha'i, said his own center was established to ensure ""that the wisdom of the religious traditions is included alongside the best that science, social science and the humanities have to offer when major global problems are addressed.""
Contributions by the other 58 major presenters addressed various aspects of the theme of the conference -- ""Spirit and Intellect: Advancing Civilization"" -- to the more than 1,200 participants. It was the association's 28th annual conference.
In an address titled ""The New World Disorder: Obstacles to Universal Peace,"" scholar Andy Knight outlined how insights from the Baha'i teachings could help in developing solutions to conflict and other problems affecting the planet.
Although the world yearns for peace, an exercise of volition and action is required to bring it about, said Dr. Knight, the McCalla Research Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at the University of Alberta.
""It is not ephemeral, it won't fall from the sky into our laps because we hope for it -- it requires extraordinary effort and it will require fundamental change to the present world order,"" said Dr. Knight, who is a Baha'i.  Dr. Kimberley Naqvi, one of the organizers of the conference.The Baha'i writings, said Dr. Knight, provide the most comprehensive view of the requirements for peace to be established. Primary among them is the recognition of the unity of the human race.
""We have to reach out to the non-Baha'i world, not to proselytize, but to let them know what is possible in terms of world order,"" said Dr. Knight.
Other speakers and sessions covered a wide range of issues, including the arts and architecture, issues affecting indigenous peoples, spiritual and moral principles, and community in the workplace.
Siamak Hariri, a partner in Hariri Pontarini Architects in Toronto, spoke of the process involved in designing the first Baha'i Temple of South America, to be located in Santiago, Chile.
Mr. Hariri described how the concept for the temple emerged from a broad collaboration among a team of Baha'i and non-Baha'i designers. The process was in marked contrast to the milieu in contemporary architecture, which he said fixates on deconstruction and frenetic experimentation.
""In a sense, we tried to abandon what we knew. We wanted a structure that is whole, with a sense of its completeness that leaves exploration of disharmony to others, without going back to pastoral expression,"" said Mr. Hariri.
Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, who until recently served as a member of the Universal House of Justice, presented the Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture.
Mr. Nakhjavani described how the former head of the Faith Shoghi Effendi carefully prepared the Baha'is of the world for a ten-year plan (1953-1963), which achieved its aim of opening the majority of the nations and territories of the world to the Baha'i Faith.
Kimberley Naqvi, one of the conference's organizers, said  that part of the importance of the conference was that it expanded the Baha'i community's world view and its knowledge of critical social issues -- and directed it toward action.
Conference chairman Ridvan Moqbel said that Baha'i scholarship involves a community of learning, where everyone -- with or without academic credentials -- can learn from each other and contribute to the betterment of the world.
""The association strives to promote diverse approaches to scholarship that apply the insights of the revelation of Baha'u'llah to the critical problems facing humanity,"" said Mr. Moqbel.
[Paul Hanley contributed to this report.]
[Photos by Michael Adachi and Omid Rahimzadeh.]
For more information, see http://www.bahai-studies.ca/.",CALGARY,,Canada
327,2004-08-20,[],Creativity a theme of summer schools,"TOHANU NOU, Romania — Participants at a Baha'i summer school here visited the summer residence of Queen Marie of Romania (1875-1938), the first monarch to embrace the Baha'i Faith.
The excursion to her castle in the scenic region of Bran was part of a program characteristic of a string of summer schools across Europe this year.
Baha'i summer schools worldwide balance devotional, study, and recreational aspects.
The visit to the castle was an opportunity to remember and be inspired by historic figures of the faith such as Queen Marie, and the Baha'i who introduced her to the Faith, Martha Root.
Common themes of schools held in countries such as Romania, Norway, Ireland, Slovakia, and Croatia were the creative ways of approaching devotional meetings, study circles and children's classes -- the ""core activities"" now being carried out by Baha'is throughout the world.
In Romania, the emphasis was on workshops, and how Baha'is and their friends could improve the way they carried out the community's core activities.
""Workshops involved participants preparing skits, decorating prayer books, making invitations for devotional meetings and study circles and learning how to tell stories,"" said Della Marcus, a participant.
One of the sessions, presented by Chris Ruhe, was on how to write songs, and another, by Ehsan Erfanifar, was about the importance of holding devotional meetings.  A presentation at the summer school in Romania. Photo by Della Marcus.Norway
More than 300 Baha'is gathered for Norway's summer school at Beitostolen, where they enjoyed recreational walks in that spectacular mountainous region.
A guest speaker, Dr. Hossain Danesh of Canada, addressed the topic of how to mature as human beings within the context of family, work, and Baha'i service.
One session explored the case study of a social and economic development project, and another focused on the importance of agriculture in society.
""In the afternoons there were different choices of activities and there were specific programs for children, junior youth and senior youth all throughout the school,"" said a participant, Britt Thoresen.
Ireland
In Ireland too there were programs for the younger members of the Baha'i community.
Junior youth built a large wooden swing and a ""watch tower"" as part of the recreational program at the country's summer school, attended by more than 500 people in Waterford city, 14-22 August 2004.
Other recreational activities included soccer, swimming, face painting, and tie-dying.
""Awakening the Spirit"" was the theme of the school, which mixed panel sessions and workshops with traditional lecture formats. Visiting speakers included scholars and writers Wendy and Moojan Momen, and Rita and Viv Bartlett.
To mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations International Year of Family, the school invited the people of Waterford to participate in an open day that had the theme ""Celebrating the Family."" That event followed a talk on the topic in the City Hall and a visit to the school by the Mayor of Waterford, Councillor Seamus Ryan.
Slovakia
The principal guest speaker at the national summer school  was Dr. Firaydoun Javaheri, a member of the Universal House of Justice, who spoke about the role of the Baha'i Faith in the 21st century.
Actor and comedian Omid Djalili and his wife, Annabel, presented a drama workshop. Known for his roles in such movies as ""The Mummy,"" ""Spy Games,"" and ""Gladiator,"" Mr. Djalili was on a return visit with his family to Slovakia, where he lived from 1991-93.
He drew widespread media attention -- television channels, radio stations, and newspapers covered aspects of the event, which was held in the Low Tatras from 31 July to 5 August.
Other speakers included Raymond and Furugh Switzer, who talked about marriage, family life, and managing time and money.
Croatia and Slovenia
The summer school of Croatia and Slovenia was held 21-28 August in Seline, Croatia.
The participants came from the host countries of Croatia and Slovenia, as well as nearby Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia and Montenegro. Others came from Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The theme of the sessions was ""Living by the will of God,"" and the titles of the presentations included ""Baha'i family identity,"" ""Spirituality at work,"" ""Marriage and finding a partner,"" ""Baha'i burial laws and writing a will,"" and ""Prayer.""",TOHANU NOU,,Romania
328,2004-08-28,[],Official urges study of 'noble principles',"ACCRA, Ghana — The principles of the Baha'i Faith ""could shed light on what steps our society should take to improve our social and economic life,"" a senior government official told participants at the Baha'i jubilee celebrations in this West African nation.
The theme of the 27-29 August 2004 celebrations, which commemorated the establishment of the Faith here 50 years ago, was ""Spiritual Solutions for Social and Economic Problems.""
""I sincerely believe that the theme chosen for this celebration is to engender our whole society to reflect on the principle that human nature is fundamentally spiritual,"" said Kwaku Agyeman Manu, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
""I urge the rest of us who are non-Baha'is to exhibit some of the good principles of religious humility, to examine the noble principles of the Baha'i teachings,"" Mr. Agyeman Manu said.
During the past 50 years, the Baha'is of Ghana have been active in social and economic development programs.
A recent example is the work of the Olinga Foundation for Human Development, founded in 1999.
The foundation has been involved in promoting literacy and moral education classes in primary and junior secondary schools in rural areas of Ghana.
In the Western region of the country, for example, more than 5,000 children, in 150 schools participated in such classes with the help of the foundation.  The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Ghana at the Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel, 1998.Another feature of the jubilee was the awarding of prizes in a student essay competition organized by the Baha'i community.
Students throughout Ghana were asked to discuss four principles shared by at least four of the world's main religions.
On behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Ghana, Thelma Khelgati, a former member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa, congratulated the winners and handed out the prizes.
A special feature of the celebrations was the launching of the book titled ""Conquering the Hearts, A Brief History of the Baha'i Faith in Ghana from 1951-1995.""
Introducing the book, Diana Heymann-Adu, the managing director of Meridian FM radio station, said that ""the Baha'i Faith has much appeal and relevance to the modern world.""
She said that the book, which tells about the lives of the early Baha'is in Ghana, will offer many insights to future generations.
The Baha'i teachings were first brought to Ghana (then under British rule and called ""the Gold Coast"") in 1951 when Ethel Robertson Stephens, an African-American Baha'i from Virginia came to Accra. Mrs. Stephens stayed one year in the Gold Coast.
In the early 1950s Baha'i pioneers established Baha'i communities in the Northern Territories, Ashanti Protectorate, and British Togoland. Those three regions, together with the Gold Coast, became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.
Among the first Baha'is in those three regions were three young Baha'is from Cameroon, Benedict Eballa (Ashanti Protectorate), Edward Tabe (British Togoland), and Martin Manga (Northern Territories).
Other pioneers were Julius Edwards, a Jamaican tailor from Liberia (Northern Territories) and the first Baha'i from the Gold Coast, Albert Buapiah (British Togoland).
For their services in establishing Baha'i communities in these regions the five men later received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
Another Cameroonian Baha'i, who assisted the Baha'i community in Ghana in the early days was David Tanyi.
In 1954, Mr. Tanyi had been named a Knight of Baha'u'llah for introducing the Baha'i Faith to Togo (then French Togoland).
In 1957 he moved to Tamale (Northern Territories), and with his wife,Esther, and their children remained in Ghana for more than three decades.
During the celebrations, some of the first believers, among them Blanche Fredua-Agyemang, Emmanuel Budu, Ernest Bentsil, and Prince Abaidoo gave accounts of the early years of the Faith in Ghana.
Over the course of three days, the jubilee festivities were held at three locations: at the Hotel Novotel in Accra, in Kumasi, and at the Baha'i institute in Gyankama.
During the three days, participants enjoyed a variety of artistic performances, including presentations by the local Baha'i youth choir, Flight 009, accompanied by Yoofi Nketsiah, and songs and dances by the Bawdie Baha'i youth group.
Others whose musical performances entertained the jubilee crowd were George Olinga of Uganda with Ekua Mensah from the United States, and Pinnock Casely-Hayford, a local Baha'i.
Also present at the celebrations were members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa Beatrice Asare, who presented the message of the Continental Board to the participants, and Kobina Amissah Fynn.
After the celebrations, participants said prayers at the gravesites of two of the early believers, Joseph Musah and Beattie Casely-Hayford.
Following the events in Accra and Gyankama, the celebrations continued in the other nine regions of the country.
The Baha'i community, which has 63 Local Spiritual Assemblies, is currently organizing study circles, children's classes, and prayer gatherings, all of which are open to the wider public.
The Baha'i community of Ghana has welcomed many distinguished Baha'i guests throughout the years, among them Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani and other Hands of the Cause, including Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, Jalal Khazeh, Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, Enoch Olinga, and John Robarts.",ACCRA,,Ghana
329,2004-08-22,[],Togo Baha'is celebrate jubilee,"LOME, Togo — A message from one of the Baha'is who introduced the Baha'i Faith to Togo was a highlight of the jubilee celebrations held here.
""I love you all so much, pray for your spiritual growth and that you may continue in faith and teaching the Cause of Baha'u'llah -- the Cause of God,"" wrote Mavis Nymon, 82, who now lives in the United States and was unable to attend the celebrations in this West African country.
Ms. Nymon, originally from Fargo, North Dakota, was 32 years old when she and 59-year-old Vivian Wesson of Chicago, Illinois, took the message of the Baha'i Faith to what was then called French Togoland on 2 May 1954.
In her letter, which was read to the jubilee participants, she vividly described their dramatic landing by large dugout canoe in Ghana and then their subsequent night journey across the border, ending with their arrival in  the capital city of Lome just before midnight.
""What an unspeakably joyous occasion for us,"" she said. They had accomplished their goal of contributing to the Ten Year Plan (1953-1963) to establish the Faith in countries where there were no Baha'is. By the end of the decade the number of national communities had more than doubled.
In her letter Ms. Nymon described the help she and Ms. Wesson received from Togolese people and how, about one month after their arrival, they met another Baha'i there, David Tanyi, from Cameroon.
For introducing the Baha'i teachings to French Togoland, the three received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
""I wanted to go to Africa since I was 16, and it was the great fulfillment of my life,"" Ms. Nymon later said.  At the Tanyi residence, 1955: Vivian Wesson (left), David Tanyi (standing rear), Esther Tanyi (right), and the Tanyi children, Mbu and Enoch.Later Ms. Nymon and Ms. Wesson moved to Liberia to assist the Baha'i community there.
""In 1964 I visited Togo again but now I am amazed to know of  the progress of the Baha'i community there,"" she said. Mrs. Wesson and Mr. Tanyi have since passed away, though the three were reunited at the Baha'i World Centre in 1992.
Fifty years after their arrival more than 300 participants gathered in the capital city of Togo to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Baha'i community.
Guests came from 20 countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, France, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Iran, Mali, Martinique, Niger, Senegal, and the United States.
Throughout the jubilee celebrations youth groups and choirs from Togo provided entertainment, and many groups of  guests contributed songs.
The jubilee festivities, celebrated 20-22 August 2004, were held not only in Lome but also at the Vivian Wesson Training Institute in Djidjole.
A representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Togo, Philip Smith, welcomed the participants.
In an address to the participants and their guests, Komi N'Sougne, an Auxiliary Board member, said the jubilee was also a celebration of unity in diversity, one of the main principles of the Baha'i Faith and one that is evident in  the Togo Baha'i community. The Faith here is established in 665 localities and there are 108 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
""For the Baha'is it is not a question of building uniformity but rather to create unity and an environment where potentials [of individuals] can develop,"" Mr. N'Sougne said.
A message from the National Spiritual Assembly, presented by its secretary, Akakpo Yaovi Kougblenou, described the early days of the Togo Baha'i community, and it named those who first accepted the message of the Faith there, among them being Emmanuel Ocloo, Bruno Adjakly, Samuel Ggogbo, Michel Kokou Negble Attigah, and the first Togolese woman to become a Baha'i, Patience Adjakly.
Leyla Moustapha from Togo and Amrullah Khelghati from Guinea spoke to the participants about the history of the Baha'i Faith in Togo. A slide show by Thelma Khelgati also brought back many memories of the early days.
Attending as a representative of the Cameroon Baha'i community was Mary Tanyi, the wife of Enoch Tanyi, who is the son of the late David Tanyi. She also addressed the celebrants.
A member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa, Antoinette Ziehi from Cote d'Ivoire, spoke on the role of the youth in the Baha'i community.
Other members of the Continental Board of Counsellors present at the celebrations were Moussa Kamaye and Ibrahim Galadima from Niger.
An integral part of the jubilee was a regional Baha'i youth conference, the main theme of which was unity in diversity.
Performances came from the Henri Montra dance group, the La Voix de l'unite (Voices of Unity) choir of Djidjole, a choir from Yoyovi Kondji, the Rossignols d'Akka (Nightingales of Akka) choir, and a dance group from Niamey, Niger.
The jubilee received extensive coverage in the local and  national media. The event was covered by Television Togolaise (a national television channel), Radio Lome (a national radio station), the Grand Quotidien National d'Information Togo-Presse (a national daily newsletter), and some private news organizations.
The first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Lome, in 1955. Many Baha'is from other countries have come to live in Togo to assist local Baha'is develop their community.
During the past 50 years the Togo Baha'i community has welcomed some distinguished Baha'i guests, among them Hands of the Cause Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani and Rahmatullah Muhajir.",LOME,,Togo
330,2004-08-21,[],Obstacles no match for pioneer spirit,"MALABO, Equatorial Guinea — When Elise Lynelle arrived in this West African country in 1954 to introduce the teachings of the Baha'i Faith, she faced two major obstacles.
The first was a restriction on free association between whites and blacks. The second was that she was allowed only a one-month visa, barely enough time to get settled, let alone explain the teachings of a world religion.
Nevertheless, she was able to help establish the Faith in this country, then known as Spanish Guinea. Fifty years later, she described those early days to participants in the jubilee celebrations, which the Baha'i community held here on 20-21 August 2004.
A young journalist from the United States, Ms. Lynelle (then Elise Schreiber) arrived in Bata, Spanish Guinea, on 17 May 1954.
Normally it would have been difficult to obtain a visa but, fortunately, her arrival coincided with a festival, and the military authorities allowed her to stay for a month.
While in Bata, Ms. Lynelle was unable to make contact with black Africans because of restrictions on association between the races, and any new religion was frowned upon. However, a Spaniard, Jose Ramos Espinosa, accepted the Faith.
With Mr. Espinosa's help, Ms. Lynelle joined a group of surveyors who were traveling in the colony looking for places to build lighthouses.
In June 1954 she sailed with them to the island of Corisco. Here she met the elderly King of the island, Santiago Uganda Mdelo and his nephew, Edward Robinson, both of whom readily accepted the Baha'i teachings. King Uganda told Ms. Lynelle that he had had a premonition about someone who would come to him with a message.  Baha'is in Luba, Equatorial Guinea, 1990.For introducing the Baha'i Faith to Equatorial Guinea Ms. Schreiber received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
Her arrival in this country contributed to the achievements of the Ten Year Plan (1953-1963) to establish the Faith in countries where there were no Baha'is. By the end of the decade the number of national communities had more than doubled.
Returning to the country for the first time in 50 years, Ms. Lynelle said she was impressed at the changes that had taken place in Equatorial Guinea and the progress of the Baha'i community. The country now has four Local Spiritual Assemblies.
Other speakers at the jubilee festivities to describe the early days were Alberto Ntutumu, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Equatorial Guinea, and Miguel Bielo, a member of the Auxiliary Board.
Also present was Jose Maria Fierro Cueto (also known as Dr. Pepe), who came from Mexico to Equatorial Guinea in the 1980s to assist the Baha'i community.
A slide presentation about the history of the Faith paid tribute to other early members of the community, among them Joseph Enonguene and Johanna Ngompex, who came from Cameroon in the 1960s.
At the celebrations, a member of the Auxiliary Board in Cameroon, Christine Tchameni, represented the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa.
Some prominent non-Baha'i officials attended the celebrations, including the Health Minister, Dr. Justino Obama Nve, and Mrs. Obama.
Theatrical and musical presentations entertained the participants, a highlight being traditional dances by members of the biggest tribe of Equatorial Guinea, the Fang.
In a message to the participants at the golden jubilee celebrations, the Universal House of Justice expressed its hope that ""this occasion, besides giving pause for reflection on what has so nobly been attained to date, will provide inspiration to each individual present to see his own role in advancing this world-embracing Cause.""
The national television channel, RTV (Radio Television Malabo), covered the event. A monthly magazine, La Gazeta, later published an article about the celebrations.
The Baha'is of Equatorial Guinea organize various activities which are also open to the wider public, including regular moral educational classes for children and pre-youth, prayer gatherings, and study circles aimed at building individual capacities.
As part of the jubilee celebrations, a graduation feast for study circle participants will be held in November 2004.",MALABO,,Equatorial Guinea
331,2004-11-04,[],People's Theater begins new season,"OFFENBACH, Germany — An award-winning Baha'i-inspired theater project began a new season of performances this week aimed at preventing violence and promoting social skills among school students.
Earlier, representatives of People's Theater outlined the program to the mayor of Offenbach, Gerhard Grandke, who has been a strong supporter of the project.
As well as being well known and appreciated in this city, People's Theater has won favor this year at the highest levels of the federal government.
The German Minister for Family and Youth, Renate Schmidt, awarded two representatives of People's Theater, Curtis Volk and Erfan Enayati, a financial grant to assist the further development of the theater.
People's Theater was one of 25 winners selected from 560 entrants in a competition initiated by the Office of the Chancellor to select the projects with the most promise of  benefiting society.
At a reception for award recipients in July 2004, the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder said to the winners: ""We need more people like you, people who know how to transfer their knowledge and talents into service for the community.""
People's Theater was founded by Erfan Enayati, a Baha'i from Offenbach, who was inspired by ""The Happy Hippo Show,"" a television program in Russia created by Shamil Fattakhov to help youth deal with moral and ethical situations in their everyday lives.
The Baha'i inspiration behind the People's Theater is seen not only in its selection of the social topics that are the themes of its performances, but also because in its guiding principles such as honesty and sincerity, and the decision-making process used on a daily basis by those involved in the project.  People's Theater at a primary school.Called consultation, this method is used by Baha'is to dispassionately examine different points of view before coming to a consensus.
In addition, the Baha'i principles of the underlying unity of world religions and respect for all ethnic groups play a fundamental role in every show.
Presentations by the People's Theater combine the elements of a talk show with those of a theater. A twist is that its outcome is largely influenced by the audience. (See an article about ""The Happy Hippo Show"" http://www.onecountry.org/e103/e10304as.htm.)
Each show illustrates a conflict that exists in the school where the show is being performed.
The theater portion of the show portrays the problem to the audience. Then, in the talk show section that follows, the audience discusses constructive solutions to the problem through dialog, discussion, and role-play.
The moderator begins the show by explaining the rules. The actors then illustrate a conflict in a scene that focuses on such issues as violence, backbiting, and dishonesty.
The moderator stops the scene and asks the audience such questions as: ""What just happened?"", or ""How do the actors feel?"", or ""What could be done to change the situation?""
After a discussion by audience members, the moderator chooses a student to replace one of the actors. The student is then encouraged to try to change the situation by using ideas from his or her peers.
The scene lasts up to about five minutes and then begins again. After several attempts by the audience, the scene is then repeated one last time by the initial actors who follow the advice of the audience. The moderator then sums up.
The first performance of People's Theater was at a primary school in 2001 with the support of the Mayor of Offenbach, Gerhard Grandke.
""I was convinced and excited about the prospects of this project and its underlying concept from the beginning so I gladly sponsored it,"" Mr. Grandke said.
The project also has the support of local government offices dealing with education, community integration and crime prevention, and it has received a warm reception in the public school system.
During the last two years the People's Theater has performed more than 700 shows in more than 40 schools. In the past school year, five youth dedicated their time to  working in the theater as a social service, and now more youth have offered to follow them for a year of service.
Participation in the People's Theater is recognized as social and civil service, and as such, it may be substituted for the mandatory military service required in Germany. It is supported by a pedagogical association and has a board of trustees.
A principal at Gutenberg Primary School, one of the schools where People's Theater has performed, Heike Burger, said that working with People's Theater was an enjoyable experience.
""The program was praised by all participants; parents, teachers, and pupils,"" Ms. Burger said.
A teacher at the Adolf-Reichwein High School, Elke Kunkel, said that the children were inspired to think by the themes of the show and were motivated to search for positive solutions.""
""The young actors and actresses have a special understanding of the language which speaks to the youth --they are able to get their attention and motivate them to work with the show,"" Ms. Kunkel said.
""The work with the young actors and actresses is a worthwhile investment in our pupils,"" she said.
A teacher at the Helen-Keller Primary School, Christina Kutzmann, said that working with People's Theater is very constructive for the pupils.
""They are able to work with abstract ideas, for example 'Conflicts from Boredom' or 'Dealing with Provocation' in a very creative fashion that realistically brings the problems (to the attention of) the children in an appealing manner.""
Report by Jennifer Wiebers.
For more about People's Theater see http://www.peoples-theater.de/.",OFFENBACH,,Germany
332,2004-11-14,[],Baha'i jubilee celebrated in 'world's oldest republic',"SAN MARINO — Prominent government officials paid tribute to the Baha'i community at a gala dinner celebrating the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Baha'i Faith to this country.
The anniversary was ""a very special and important occasion,"" the Secretary of State for Industry, Claudio Felici, told 100 prominent citizens of San Marino and their Baha'i hosts at the event held on 25 September 2004.
Conveying greetings from the government, Dr. Felici spoke about the Baha'i attitude towards peace and how it moved beyond just rhetoric and good intentions to dialogue, cooperation, and human relations.
The activities of the Faith in seeking peace and religious unity are well known in San Marino, a country surrounded by Italy and a member of the United Nations since 1992. It lays claim to the description of ""the world's oldest republic.""
Last year, the captains regent, two leaders who hold the positions of head of state and government, accepted delivery of a message from the Universal House of Justice which called for decisive action to eradicate religious intolerance and fanaticism in the world.
The government of San Marino has also intervened internationally in defense of the Baha'i community of Iran, which has suffered persecution at the hands of the authorities in that country.  Tabandeh and Sohrab Payman.A message read to the jubilee dinner from the captains regent, Paolo Bollini and Marino Riccardi, said the Baha'is had helped to draw attention to the values of belonging, tolerance, and solidarity that permeate San Marino.
""The presence of the Baha'i community in San Marino is consequently of great significance and will help bring a future of certainty and peace,"" they said in their message.
A prominent member of the Italian Baha'i community, Julio Savi, then delivered an address to the gathering in which he outlined the history of the Baha'i Faith in the country.
Dr. Savi described how in 1953 Tabandeh (""Toby"") Payman of Iran was attending a Baha'i conference in Stockholm when she decided to introduce the Faith to San Marino as part of a ten-year plan to take the teachings around the world.
Without returning to her home in Tehran, she moved directly to San Marino, where her husband, Sohrab, and their daughter Ghitty joined her some months later.
Dr. Savi said that after their arrival in San Marino they established friendships, and soon the Baha'i ideas and thoughts became better known in the country.
""San Marino is a special place,"" Dr. Savi said.
""The republic was founded many years ago by a saint, someone who was also spiritually motivated,"" he said.
""In this country, Toby gave her contribution, a contribution of ideas, which, I believe, coincide with those of the San Marino people, the defenders of freedom.""
The head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, bestowed on Mr. and Mrs. Payman the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah for their service in introducing the Baha'i Faith to San Marino. The couple still reside there and were honored participants at the jubilee festivities.
At a celebration on 26 September 2004 attended by Baha'is from San Marino, Italy, Monaco, and the United States, a message from the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of San Marino was read to the participants.
Congratulations also came the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of France, Italy, and the United States and from many other Baha'i communities around the world.
Later that day, the secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of San Marino, Ghitty Payman, welcomed Baha'is and guests to a concert in the Titano theatre where a prominent singer from Ghana, Ranzie Mensah, performed.
Ms. Mensah, who has performed with Miriam Makeba and appeared on numerous television shows as well as entertained at international governmental events, was accompanied on the piano by Alfredo Matera and by singers Stefy Piovesan, Aurelio Pitino, and Lidia Genta Rigamonti.
After she sang songs with lyrics including the words of Baha'u'llah, the audience gave her a standing ovation.
A buffet dinner brought the joyous jubilee celebrations to a close.
For an earlier article about the Baha'i community of San Marino, see https://news.bahai.org/story/200.",SAN MARINO CITY,,San Marino
334,2004-11-18,[],Conferences stress service to others,"SYDNEY — You're never too old to serve others. To prove it, Bruce Saunders told the story of a group of people in their 60s and 70s who wanted to help in their community.
""They decided to volunteer to do gardening for disabled people who can't look after their own gardens,"" said Mr. Saunders, speaking at a conference here entitled ""Portals to Growth -- Creating Capacity for Service.""
""It was proof to them that at any age they could feel confident and do something great for their community,"" he said.
That story and others were told at the 1-4 October event in Sydney that attracted 1,200 participants. It was mirrored by a sister conference, attended by some 700 people, on the same subject held 7-10 October, across the continent in Perth.
The participants focused on the energy that is being unleashed through ""study circles"" and other core activities of Baha'i communities worldwide.
""Graduates (of study circles) become wonderful volunteers because they have a deep, personal commitment to serving others,"" said Mr. Saunders, who is one of many tutors throughout Australia who volunteer to assist study circle participants in their self-directed training and learning.
""They also develop the ability to look at a situation and realize what they can contribute, and have a positive impact, even if they know they're dealing with a problem that's too big for them to solve alone,"" he said.
Explaining the theme of the conference, a spokesperson for the Australian Baha'i community, Yvonne Perkins, said that Baha'is worldwide have been developing activities aimed at fostering spiritual development as well as building the capacity of individuals and local communities to serve others.  How to enchance children's classes was a theme of the conferences...Annette Subhani is pictured with her daughter, Nicole.""There are three core activities which Baha'is offer to the wider community -- study circles, children's classes, and devotional meetings,"" Ms. Perkins said.
""An increasing number of people are participating in these activities. They come from a wide range of religious and cultural backgrounds.
""More than 380 study circles are currently being conducted in Australia, about 700 devotional meetings are held regularly each month, children's classes are offered in more than 100 localities, and Baha'i classes are being held in 320 government schools,"" she said.
With the guidance of a keynote speaker at both conferences, Dr. Farzam Arbab, participants reflected on the development of study circles.
Members of study circles undertake voluntary community service, thereby learning to integrate personal spiritual development with serving others.
Dr. Arbab, a member of the Universal House of Justice, said study circles build not only a sense of optimism about the future, but also empower individuals to act for positive change.
The emphasis on a grassroots approach allows a great range of individual approaches and initiatives to be developed, and those that prove particularly effective can be broadened and made more widely available, Dr. Arbab said.
""The spiritual needs of human beings are identical, whether we are rich or poor, educated or uneducated, literate or illiterate,"" he said.
""In the study circles, the service component is identical no matter where you are living, or your educational background. It begins with simple tasks, such as visiting a friend or praying together, and builds up to complex acts of service as people become more confident.""
As well as exploring ways to expand and enhance the study circle process, the conference participants also looked at how to steadily improve Baha'i educational classes offered to children.
They also looked at various ways to enhance Baha'i devotional meetings, where prayers and readings from all the major religions are combined with music and personal reflection, with the aim of building a closer relationship with God, and a deeper commitment to serving others.
A popular aspect of the conferences was the emphasis placed on use of the creative arts, with individuals being encouraged to convey their understanding through song, dance, puppet shows, story telling, and live performance.
Among the professional artists who entertained were singer and songwriter Grant Hindin Miller, actors Philip Hinton and Keith Sabri, and the Mana musical group.
In line with the culture of individual participation permeating the Baha'i community worldwide, participants had the opportunity to join in one or more of the 123 workshops on offer.
Topics for the afternoon workshops included, for example:

how to develop as a teacher of children's classes
starting a small service project and making it grow
managing conflict
including the arts in personal and community life
combining second language learning with moral development
ecological camps for junior youth
activities involving indigenous people
pathways to develop spirituality, love and service
children's say on children's classes

Dimity Podger, a conference organizer, said she was astonished by the breadth and diversity of presentations on various service projects and the experiences of Baha'i teachers working with study circles and children's classes.
""At a time when many people feel frightened about the future, and incapable of influencing positive change, Baha'is are clearly thinking hard about how you can create a dynamic, vibrant community at the grassroots,"" Ms. Podger said.
Betsy Ayankoya, a Baha'i from North Carolina in the United States, attended both the Sydney and Perth conferences with three friends from the US.
""We're delighted, really, with what we've learned here -- it will really help us to implement what we're doing at home much better,"" Mrs. Ayankoya said.
The conferences had parallel sessions to meet the needs of all age groups, including children, junior youth, youth, and adults.
Reporting by Corinne Podger.",SYDNEY,,Australia
335,2004-11-18,[],Mountainous country marks anniversary,"ANDORRA LA VELLA, Andorra — With great emotion, William Danjon Dieudonne read a prayer at celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Baha'i Faith to this country.
Mr. Danjon, 80, read the prayer at jubilee festivities attended by Baha'is from Andorra, Spain, and France. Guests included representatives of Christian churches, the diplomatic corps, the Red Cross, and the media.
At a conference in Stockholm in August 1953, French-born Mr. Danjon decided to answer a call from the head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, to establish the Faith in countries where there were no Baha'is.
When a keynote Baha'i speaker at the conference, the Hand of the Cause Dorothy Baker, asked for a Baha'i to settle in Andorra, Mr. Danjon volunteered.
He left his home in Denmark and arrived in this mountainous country between France and Spain on 7 October 1953.
He thereby became one of a unique group of volunteers who were responsible in just one decade (1953-1963) for more than doubling the number of countries where Baha'is were resident.
For Baha'is it was important that their Faith, whose principal teaching is the oneness of humanity, could offer its teachings in as many places as possible, whether the country was large or small.
Among the many countries settled by Baha'is in 1953 were Vanuatu and the Cook Islands in the Pacific, Cameroon and the Congo Republic in Africa, and Sicily in Europe.  Some of the participants at the jubilee celebrations in Andorra.The head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, bestowed upon Mr. Danjon and all of the others who first established the Faith in those countries the accolade ""Knight of Baha'u'llah.""
""To come to Andorra was the most important decision of my life,"" said Mr. Danjon, who remains a resident.
""I liked the Andorra people from the very first and they liked me, I think.""
In 1954, he saw the first fruits of his decision when two residents of Andorra, Carmen Tost Xifre de Mingorance and her husband, Jose Mingorance Fernandez, joined the Faith. They remained steadfast until they passed away. Their son, Jose Mingorance Tost, is now chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Andorra.
Although it was difficult initially for Mr. Danjon to obtain a job, he has since held prominent positions in the media, the public service, and the Red Cross. He continues to write articles for the media on the Baha'i Faith.
For eight years, he represented the Andorra Trust Board in France, where he formally presented a book of the Tablets of Baha'u'llah to two French presidents, who, by virtue of their office, held the title of co-prince of Andorra.
The jubilee celebrations took place on 17 September 2004 and included a dinner, and musical performances by Marc Pia (piano), Silvia Gil (saxophone), Sebastian Esandi (cello), and Kati Evogli (singer).
Chairman of the event was the secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Andorra la Vella, Badi Daemi. The speakers were Antonio Gil of Andorra and Carmen Medina of Spain. Former members of the Andorra community, Olga Garcia and Juan Cisneros of Spain, gave a presentation about the Baha'i Faith. Prayers were said for the Baha'is of Andorra who have passed away.
On the day after the celebrations, an article about the event, accompanied by a photograph, appeared in the main newspaper of the country.
The Andorra community has one Local Spiritual Assembly. Like the rest of the worldwide Baha'i community, it is engaged in organizing study circles, devotional meetings, and children's classes, all of which are open to participation by the wider community.",ANDORRA LA VELLA,,Andorra
336,2004-11-24,[],Holy place restored and open to pilgrims,"ACRE, Israel — In the late 1860s, Baha'i pilgrims walked hundreds of kilometers from Persia through treacherous deserts to this ancient Mediterranean city in what is now northern Israel.
Their goal was to visit Baha'u'llah, the Founder of their Faith, Who was being held in a prison citadel after His banishment to Acre by the Ottoman authorities.
A victim of patently false charges, Baha'u'llah was incarcerated there with His family and some of His followers on 31 August 1868.
Many of the pilgrims who sought His presence were refused entry to the walled city of Acre let alone to its citadel. Instead, they waited at the outskirts of the city hoping for even a glimpse of Him.
Standing at the outer moat of the citadel, they rejoiced when they saw Baha'u'llah wave to them through a window on the floor in which He was incarcerated.
Merely to gaze, however briefly, upon that majestic prophetic figure, was for those pilgrims the most important moment of their lives.
Today, thousands of Baha'i pilgrims enter the very cell that Baha'u'llah occupied, now a holy place for prayer and meditation.
For the past decade, however, visits to this holy place were suspended because of the need for extensive restoration and conservation work.  Restoration work under way in Baha'u'llah's cell.After 15 years of negotiations, research, and planning, the restoration work began in 2003 and finished about a year later, in June 2004. Approved by government authorities keen to preserve the heritage of the site, the project was supervised and financed by the Baha'i World Centre.
With the new pilgrimage season (October-July) under way, Baha'is from all over the world visit the cell as part of a nine-day pilgrimage, the main purpose of which is to pray and meditate in the Shrine of Baha'u'llah just outside Acre, and in the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa.
As well as being a place of prayer and contemplation, the cell is a solemn reminder in stone that the imprisonment of Baha'u'llah holds a parallel to the injustices and sacrilegious cruelties inflicted on earlier Manifestations of God, the Holy Ones Who founded the world's great religions.
The cell and its environs were where He revealed some of His best-known works, including a proclamation of His divine mission to political and religious leaders.
It was there, too, that Baha'u'llah met with Badi, a young hero of the Faith who was later martyred when he traveled to Persia to present a message from Baha'u'llah to the Shah (Nasiri'd-Din Shah).
From the moment of His imprisonment in Acre, this was a place of great suffering for Baha'u'llah. In June 1870, His agonies intensified when His 22-year-old son, Mirza Mihdi, fell through an unguarded skylight on to a crate below, receiving fatal injuries. A grieving Baha'u'llah revealed a prayer in which He offered up His son to God ""that Thy servants may be quickened, and all that dwell on earth be united.""
Shortly after that tragic death, the Ottoman authorities decided the citadel was needed to house troops. Accordingly, in November 1870, after two years, two months and five days in the citadel, Baha'u'llah, His family, and followers were moved to house arrest within the walls of Acre.
Protection of a holy place
The citadel has since remained under the control of successive civil administrations.
By the early 1990s, however, deterioration of the citadel had advanced to the point that the government of Israel decided conservation work was vital to preserve the entire structure. The site is also important to the state of Israel because of the imprisonment there of groups of Jewish activists during the years of the British Mandate.
The secretary-general of the Baha'i International Community, Albert Lincoln, said detailed negotiations with the Israeli authorities were conducted about the restoration and use of the upper floor of the northwest tower, the location of Baha'u'llah's cell and associated rooms.
""Ultimately, agreement was reached on a creative compromise under which the interior of the upper floor of the northwest tower would be restored to the situation that existed in 1920, and the exterior of the building to its condition in 1947,"" Mr. Lincoln said.
The time frames allow the interior of the site to resemble its appearance during the time of Baha'u'llah and the exterior to be as it was when the Jewish activists were imprisoned there, he said.
Research
Before the restoration project began the Baha'i World Centre commissioned a study of the building site by the Architectural Heritage Center at the Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, the Technion, and consulted with a local authority on Ottoman architecture to ensure the historical integrity of the planned restoration.
Research determined that the Ottoman citadel had been built in stages during the 18th and 19th centuries and that the northwest tower is located on top of the remains of the Hospitaller quarter of the Knights Order of St. John, a crusader structure. In the Ottoman era the citadel housed the residences of locals rulers but later was used mainly as a military barracks.
The upper floor of the northwest tower of the complex where Baha'u'llah and His family were incarcerated was probably built about 1797, according to the Technion researchers. Architectural details, including some decorative panels, indicate that the rooms were intended for somebody of high rank, such as a military commander.
However, at the time Baha'u'llah was confined there, the place was dilapidated. The roof had been constructed of wooden beams and rafters covered with rubble and low quality mortar. Dust and grit from the rubble rained through the rotten ceiling timbers into the rooms below. The living quarters were initially dirty and the water contaminated.
Researchers, looking for descriptions of the cell and the living arrangements during the time of Baha'u'llah's incarceration, consulted contemporary reports, photographs, and accounts by Western Baha'i pilgrims who visited in the early years of the 20th century, as well as later historical records.
Baha'u'llah's room in the southwest corner of the building was part of an apartment comprising six other rooms where members of His household stayed.
The outer section of this area included a verandah (above which was the skylight), a kitchen, latrines, a mezzanine, and a biruni -- a room Baha'u'llah used for receiving visitors. The eastern side faced the courtyard with three open arches bounded by pairs of columns serving as balcony openings (now filled in). Other Baha'is lived elsewhere in the citadel.
Later changes
Researchers believe that there were no significant changes to the upper floor until the 1920s, when the British undertook major renovations, replacing the roof and much of the paving.
More alterations were made in 1947 during a period when the British, who were using the citadel as a prison, made part of the upper floor into the prison infirmary.
In 1947, after an escape of prisoners elsewhere in the citadel, the British authorities changed the original frames of the doorways in the upper floor from stone arches to perpendicular concrete beams, and replaced the wooden doors and partitions with steel grilles.
Plans and photograph
In preparing the restoration project, Baha'i experts consulted plans of the upper floor that had been made by the British administration before it undertook the alterations in the 1920s. The plans, found in local archives, documented how the floor was likely to have looked in the time of Baha'u'llah.
The solution to one important question came from another source. The British had replaced the roof from which Baha'u'llah's son, Mirza Mihdi, fell to his death. The location of the skylight was not indicated in the plans found in the archives and thus its exact historical location was uncertain.
The problem was solved in the 1990s with the retrieval from German aerial photographic archives in Munich of an aerial photograph taken of the citadel in 1917. The original roof, in which the skylight is clearly visible, was still in place when that photograph was taken.
As part of the structural reinforcement of the building carried out by the Israeli authorities before the start of the Baha'i restoration project, a new concrete roof was cast. It incorporated the historic skylight at the location indicated by the 1917 aerial photograph.
Restoration project
The restoration project, planned under the supervision of the Universal House of Justice, began in 2003.
Traditional materials were used to obtain as authentic a restoration as possible. For example, white plaster of the type used in the 19th century was applied in the many places where the original had peeled off.
""The idea was that we didn't want to make the project look too new, but at the same time not look artificially old,"" said Orang Yazdani, a Baha'i specialist in conservation architecture, who managed the project.
""It will look closer to what it was like in Baha'u'llah's time in five years -- as it gets older it will look more like that time,"" Mr. Yazdani said.
The restoration work involved installing new ceilings made of katrani timber, the dense and heavy wood used by the Ottoman builders.
The doorways were restored to the shape of an arch, and wooden doors in the original style were installed. Damage done by steel bars introduced by the British was remedied.
In the cell of Baha'u'llah, six lighting and storage niches that had been sealed off were re-opened. The floor was restored to its original type.
In Baha'u'llah's cell the windows now have horizontal bars as shown in early 20th century photographs. In the other windows the grid pattern used during the British mandate has been retained.
There was yet another challenge, Mr. Yazdani said.
""How do you deal with modern needs and requirements--especially safety -- in an historical building without it looking too out of place?""
The solution involved using copper lanterns, discreet spot lighting, and smoke alarms tucked away. However, the cell of Baha'u'llah was exempted from such facilities owing to its sacred status.
With the restoration complete, Baha'i pilgrims will now have a more accurate understanding of the circumstances surrounding Baha'u'llah's imprisonment in a place where, despite such maltreatment, He was nonetheless able to further His Faith and teachings.",ACRE,,Israel
337,2004-11-30,[],Royal welcome at jubilee gathering in Samoa,"APIA, Samoa — A royal welcome greeted participants at the ""Waves of One Ocean"" conference that marked the 50th anniversary of the Baha'i Faith in Samoa and the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Baha'i House of Worship here.
The Head of State of Samoa, His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, said he extended his greetings with ""profound wonder and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father.""
""Many friends have joined together to help bring this precious Faith to its present stage of growth and it is always a source of great joy for me to meet Baha'is from around the world,"" said His Highness, who is a member of the Baha'i Faith.
His Highness made a special mention of the Baha'i Temple in Samoa in his message, which was read to participants at a jubilee banquet by his daughter, Susuga To'oa Tosi Malietoa, who is also a Baha'i.
""One victory stands out among the many accomplishments we are celebrating this week and that is the building of a magnificent House of Worship dedicated twenty years ago,"" he said.
Present at the banquet, held on 22 September 2004, were acting Prime Minister Fiame Mataafa Naomi, other cabinet ministers, the chief justice, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of Christian churches.
Among the 150 Baha'is present were Lilian Wyss-Ala'i, who introduced the Faith to Samoa in 1954, and Hossein Amanat, the architect of the House of Worship.
The evening began with the reading of a message from the Universal House of Justice by the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Samoa, Steven Percival.  The interior of the dome of the Baha'i House of Worship in Samoa. Photo by Mark Wilkie.""Your nation has won the everlasting distinction of being blessed by the presence of His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, the first reigning monarch to accept the Message of Baha'u'llah,"" the Universal House of Justice said.
""Members of the Samoan Baha'i community have made an important contribution to the advancement of the Faith in other parts of the region and have become distinguished for their energy, devotion, and vitality,"" the Universal House of Justice said.
Welcoming the participants on behalf of the government of Samoa, acting Prime Minister Fiame Mataafa Naomi said she acknowledged with gratitude ""the continuous and unwavering service rendered by the Baha'i Faith to Samoa and its people for the last 50 years.""
""You have demonstrated in words and deeds that religion is the real basis of civilized life, which includes peace building, promotion of human rights, equality of men and women, education, healthcare, and sustainable development,"" the acting Prime Minister said.
""May God continue to bless the house where mention of God hath been made, as well as the Universal House of Justice -- may His blessing be upon his Highness, the Head of State,"" she said.
Keynote speakers at the banquet also included Han Ju Kim-Farley and her husband Robert, who both spoke on moral leadership and values-based governance.
Groups and individual musicians from Samoa, Australia, the Cook Islands, Tonga, and New Zealand provided musical entertainment and the evening concluded with the graceful performance of a traditional dance by Saifale'upolu Tamasese, a Baha'i from Samoa.
A concurrent event held that evening was addressed by one of the early Baha'is of Samoa, Sione Malifa, and entertained by a variety of musical groups.
On the following day, more than 400 Baha'is attended a reception at the private residence of His Highness, the Malietoa.
Among those present were members of the Continental Board of Counsellors Beatrice Benson and Heather Simpson, as well as representative of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Samoa, Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Tonga.
A traditional gift-giving ceremony was held, and groups from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Tonga performed.
Mrs. Wyss-Ala'i also performed a Samoan dance. His Highness called on the performers to come forward to thank them personally.
Later, members of the National Spiritual Assembly, accompanied by other members of the  Baha'i community, presented traditional gifts to the government of Samoa represented by acting Prime Minister Fiame Naomi and other cabinet ministers, including Health Minister Siafausa Mulitalo Vui, who thanked the Baha'is for their contributions to the country.
During a visit to the House of Worship at Tiapapata that same day, Baha'is from the Samoan islands of Savai'i and Upolu performed songs and dances that depicted the arrival of the Faith, the dedication of the Temple, and aspects of the Baha'i teachings.
Among gifts presented on that occasion was a traditional tapa cloth given by the Tongan Baha'is to Mrs. Wyss-Ala'i in memory of her late husband, Suhayl Ala'i, who served with great distinction in the region as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors.
The Baha'is then visited the gravesites, located on the Temple property, of Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Ugo Giachery and Mr. Ala'i. They also visited the Baha'i cemetery and the Baha'i Montessori school.
At the official opening ceremony of the conference, held 22-26 September 2004, the chairman of the National Spiritual, Assembly Titi Nofoagatoto'a, introduced Mrs. Wyss-Alai to some 600 Baha'i participants from 21 countries.
Mrs. Wyss-Ala'i was one of six of the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New Zealand to answer the call in 1953 from the head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, to take the Faith to countries where there were no Baha'is.
Then single and aged 24, she arrived in Apia, Samoa in 1954. Her brother, Frank, introduced the Faith that year to the Cocos Island. For their service, Shoghi Effendi awarded both of them the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah. It was a rare event that two members of one family received such a high honor.
Mrs. Wyss-Ala'i, who continues to reside in American Samoa, delivered an emotionally moving address to the conference during which she read the names of the 24 Knights of Baha'u'llah, 15 of them women, who took the faith to the Pacific Islands.
She spoke of her admiration for the Samoan people, told historical anecdotes, and described visits by Hands of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery, Abu'l Qasim Faizi, and Enoch Olinga.
During the past 50 years the Samoan Baha'i community has welcomed other distinguished Baha'i guests, among them Hands of the Cause of God Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, Collis Featherstone, Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, John Robarts, and William Sears.
Once the only Baha'i in Samoa, Mrs. Wyss-Ala'i is a member of a Baha'i community that now includes 29 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
The following day, the prime minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who was on official business at the United Nations in New York, sent a congratulatory message to the conference in which he said: ""May God bless you all and may you have a most successful celebration....""
Participants in a session about Baha'i history heard addresses by members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Beatrice Benson, Heather Simpson, and Fereidoun Yazdani, all of whom later participated in discussions about the continuing expansion of the faith.
A devotional service dedicated to those Baha'i who brought the Faith to the Pacific was held at the Temple and featured choirs from Samoa, American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand. The architect of the House of Worship in Samoa, Mr. Amanat, delivered an address in the basement hall of the Temple.
The participants accepted an invitation by a member of one of the royal families of Samoa to Afeafe o Vaetoefaga, a place of historical and mythological significance.
""It is against this background of history that I formally associate my family with the 50th celebration of Baha'i in Samoa,"" said Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese, a former prime minister, and the cousin of Saialala Tamasese, one of the first local Baha'is.
That evening Samoan Baha'i youth dedicated a dramatic performance to the Baha'is of Iran, who have been suffering severe persecution for some 25 years. Other local and visiting groups also gave performances.
On 27 September many conference participants attended a joyous picnic at a local beach.
The festivities and conference received extensive coverage by national television, radio, and Samoan newspapers, published locally and abroad.
Baha'is in Samoa have made significant contributions to the well-being of the Samoan people. There are five Baha'i pre-schools in Samoa -- two in Savai'i and three on Upolu.
Members of the Baha'i community have been active in human rights education and have also produced a television cooking show promoting nutritional recipes.
(This story includes a slide show. See icon above.)
(Jubilee photos by Sitarih Ala'i, Pouya Ehsani, Hylton Grigor, Steven Percival, John Walker.)",APIA,,Samoa
338,2004-12-05,[],Standing up for justice and truth,"SAN ANTONIO — When she was just a girl, Elsie Austin (1908-2004) bravely stood up for justice and truth, and she never stopped doing so throughout her long life.
One of only two African-American children in her Cincinnati classroom, Elsie pointed out errors in a textbook that denigrated the role of Africans in world history.
Elsie then told her class about the many contributions made by Africans in producing works of great beauty from bronze, gold, and ivory.
""There was an electric silence,"" she said many years later. She recalled that her teacher had then agreed with her and described to the class the contributions made to the world by African-Americans.
Elsie Austin gained her initial motivation to stand up for principle from the example and teachings of her brave forebears such as her great-grandmother, who refused to be intimidated by the racist terror perpetrated against her by the Ku Klux Klan in her home state of Alabama.
After Dr. Austin became a Baha'i in 1934, she gained life-transforming inspiration from accounts of the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha. She was confirmed in her Baha'i attitudes and beliefs by Hands of the Cause of God Dorothy Baker and Louis Gregory, an African-American.
In a 1998 lecture Dr. Austin said that Baha'is constitute a unique world community, one that is operating in every part of the world where there is tension, violence, and hatred.  Elsie Austin (wearing coat and holding frame, seated center) with women attending the first Baha'i Convention in Tunis, Tunisia. 1956.""We are making a serious effort to pry human beings away from their alienating traditions, their comfortable ignorance, and their prejudice -- but we must try harder.""
Dr. Austin never wavered in her own resolve to try harder, but rather redoubled her efforts over the decades.
The service rendered to humanity by Dr. Austin was so distinguished that, after her death in October 2004, the Universal House of Justice advised the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States to hold memorial gatherings throughout the Baha'i community in the United States and in the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. That event will be held on 11 December 2004. Another such gathering will be held in the Baha'i House of Worship in Uganda.
Describing her as a ""dearly loved, keen-sighted, stalwart promoter and defender of the Cause of God,"" the Universal House of Justice said ""the shining example of her sacrificial life will remain a source of inspiration to her fellow believers for generations to come.""
Dr. Austin met the head of the faith, Shoghi Effendi, while on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1953, and shortly afterwards earned the accolade from him of Knight of Baha'u'llah for introducing the Baha'i Faith to Morocco.
She was a member of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of the United States (1946-53) and North and West Africa (1953-58), and of Local Spiritual Assemblies in five countries -- the United States, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, and the Bahamas.
She was one of the first members of the Auxiliary Board, assisting the Hand of the Cause of God Musa Banani in that role for four years. She also served at the Baha'i World Centre in the Holy Land.
Dr. Austin recorded a series of firsts in the secular community. She was the first African-American woman to graduate from the University of Cincinnati's College of Law and the first to be appointed assistant attorney-general of the State of Ohio.
After a legal career with several federal government agencies, she spent a decade in Africa as a Foreign Service officer, working in cultural and educational programs sponsored by the United States Information Agency, and initiating the first women's activities program of that organization in Africa.
Dr. Austin participated in many international women's conferences, including the 1975 International Women's Conference in Mexico City where she chaired the Baha'i delegation.
In such roles, as in her daily life, her natural dignity and grace, and her down-to-earth attitude won the hearts of those with whom she came into contact.
Citing her determination, independence, honor, and justice, her longtime friend, Lecille Webster referred to her love of fine dining and her sense of humor.
During one address Dr. Austin said, ""I have shortened this talk, lest it become like the mercy of God in that it endures forever and passes all understanding."" And in a resume, Dr. Austin described her hobbies: ""Reading, writing, theater and anything else which stimulates the mind and does not involve drastic exercise.""
Dr. Austin won a string of awards, including two honorary doctorates. A scholarship for law students from minority groups was named after her, and she served as national president of Delta Sigma Theta, a prestigious national US public service sorority.
Her writings appeared in legal journals as well as in Baha'i magazines. One of her articles, later produced as a pamphlet, was about her mentor, Louis Gregory.
More than seven decades after she stood up for the truth in her classroom, Dr. Austin delivered a lecture in which she said that there are times when it is necessary to protest, not violently but with the courage to reject the false and the unjust.
""If we go about it with faith, with intelligent protest, standing up and demonstrating what the right attitude and motivation is for human progress, we can cause progress,"" she said.
""After all, the battle we face is essentially a spiritual battle to transform the souls and spirits of human beings, to empower them to express love and justice, and to develop a unity of conscience.""",SAN ANTONIO,,United States
339,2004-12-16,[],Attractive center holds fond memories,"TAINAN, Taiwan — A Western-style villa with an oriental flavor and a beautiful garden attracts the attention of passers-by here but its significance is much more than that of a tourist attraction.
Originally the home of prominent early members of the Baha'i Faith in this former capital of Taiwan, the building now serves as the center for a thriving Baha'i community here.
A joyous event held 22-24 October 2004 marked the 50th anniversary of the arrival in Taiwan of Suleiman and Ridvaniyyih Suleimani, a Persian married couple who heeded the call for volunteers to move to the island to support the fledgling Baha'i community here.
The Suleimanis arrived on 22 October 1954 when there were only 10 Baha'is on the island. They remained in Taiwan for the rest of their lives, stalwart members of the Baha'i community.
Following in their footsteps over the decades Baha'is came from a range of countries to help local members of the Faith establish the Taiwanese Baha'i community.
When the Suleimanis passed away, they bequeathed their home to the Faith.
A spokesperson for the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Taiwan, Thomas Lee, said the Suleimanis gave their life, their time, and their property to the Baha'i community.
""They came to meet a goal, they stayed to live their life, and they died in their post-these are truly pioneers,"" Mr. Lee said.  Participants in a Baha'i children's class, Taiwan, 1988.On 21 October 2004, a group of Baha'is held a prayer gathering at the port of Keelung, where the Suleimanis first arrived.
The next day more than 100 Baha'is from Taiwan, as well as guests from the United States, attended a morning devotional meeting at the Baha'i center where prayers and selections from the Baha'i writings were read, chanted, and sung. Musicians played the flute, guitar, and piano.
The afternoon session included reading of congratulatory messages from the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of Canada, Hawaii, Hong Kong, and the United States. A representative of the city's mayoral office also attended to convey greetings to the participants.
A video presentation featured excerpts from the diary kept by Mr. Suleimani. His great niece, Touran Javid, and her husband Farhang, also addressed the gathering.
Then some Taiwanese Baha'is who remembered the pioneering couple shared stories and fond reminiscences. A special touch was the provision of banana bread baked to a recipe of Mrs. Suleimani, a treat greatly appreciated by Baha'is in Taiwan throughout the years.
After a feast including Persian as well as Chinese dishes, there was a family fun night characterized by music, singing, dancing, stories, and laughter.
The next morning Baha'is gathered for prayers at the hilltop gravesite of Mr. and Mrs. Suleimani, who passed away in 1987 and 1981 respectively.
Many Taiwanese Baha'is were involved in the planning, preparation, cleaning, cooking, and other contributions to the anniversary events, Mr. Lee said.
""Unity was one of the key factors in making this event a success,"" he said.
The Taiwanese Baha'i community organizes 20 regular children's classes, attracting some 200 children. They also organize study circles and devotional meetings open to the general public.
Some 200 primary school children attend their moral education classes, a social and economic project of the Taiwanese Baha'i community.",TAINAN,,Taiwan
341,2004-12-22,[],UN expresses concern about Iran's Baha'is,"NEW YORK — For the 17th time since 1985, the United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution expressing ""serious concern"" over the human rights situation in Iran, making specific mention of the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i community there.
The resolution, introduced by Canada, passed by a vote of 71 to 54 on 20 December 2004. It called on Iran to ""eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religious grounds"" and took note of the recent upsurge of human rights violations against the Baha'is of Iran.
Specifically, the resolution noted the ""continuing discrimination against persons belonging to minorities, including Christians, Jews, and Sunnis, and the increased discrimination against the Baha'is, including cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of free worship or of publicly carrying out communal affairs, the disregard of property rights, the destruction of sites of religious importance, the suspension of social, educational, and community-related activities, and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, and other benefits.""
Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said that the worldwide Baha'i community is thankful for the support of the international community of nations.
""As noted by the resolution, the situation for Baha'is has been worsening this year, and expressions of concern by the international community such as this remain the chief means of protection for Iran's beleaguered Baha'i community,"" said Ms. Dugal.",NEW YORK,,United States
342,2004-12-23,[],Teacher appreciation days held in Canada and Australia,"MILL BAY, Canada — Baha'i communities across Canada and Australia paid respect to the teaching profession at events that marked World Teachers' Day.
The role of the educator is given prime importance in the Baha'i Faith, and Baha'i communities in various countries have been active supporters of the occasion, which was initiated by UNESCO in 1993 and is observed internationally in October.
In Mill Bay, British Columbia, Canada, teachers at five schools received a framed quotation from the Baha'i writings that indicate the importance of teachers: ""The education and training of children is among the most meritorious acts of humankind.""
Baha'is also presented the teachers with gifts of homemade fudge and plant arrangements.
Across the country, the Baha'is of Richmond Hill, Ontario organized a teacher appreciation event on 23 October 2004 that included a dinner and show at a local community center.
""Our teachers don't have lucrative corporate bonuses, commissions, or large salaries,"" said Bahador Derakhshani, one of the organizers.
""Yet their work is so critical in shaping the minds and soul of every future mother, father, doctor, lawyer, engineer, executive.""
The dance academy of a nearby Baha'i-inspired school in Stratford, Ontario, Nancy Campbell Collegiate, performed dances that depicted topics such as unity and the elimination of racial and social prejudice.  Australian national Baha'i education officer Kath Podger (front left), Victorian state parliamentary secretary for education Liz Beattie (front right), with participants at the appreciation event in Manningham.The principal of the school, Cora McNamara, addressed the gathering on the importance of the role of teachers.
Organizers of teacher appreciation events in Australia reported some teachers saying that it was the first time in their careers that they had received such recognition and appreciation for their efforts.
Events were held in Australia, in such places as Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Hobart, and Perth.
In Melbourne, teachers, school principals, a local mayor, and members of parliament gathered at a dinner and presentation ceremony for teachers.
The Victorian state parliamentary secretary for education, Liz Beattie, was the keynote speaker for the evening.
""I commend the Manningham Baha'i community for hosting this dinner to pay tribute to teachers,"" Mrs. Beattie said.
""They are not always given the generosity and the credit that they deserve,"" she said.
Mrs. Beattie encouraged the audience to reflect on the effect that their own teachers had made on their lives.
""It is important that as a community we acknowledge not only the dedication of teachers but also their professionalism,"" she said.
National Baha'i education officer Kath Podger also addressed the gathering.
""The Baha'i Faith teaches that our true reality is spiritual, rather than physical and that one of the attributes of man is his nobility,"" said Ms. Podger, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia.
Referring to the responsibility of educators in light of this understanding, she said it is their responsibility to ""assist the child to develop and take ownership for their own spiritual progress.""
Mrs. Beattie presented six school principals with books for the school library and 80 schoolteachers with certificates of appreciation.
Ms. Podger presented certificates of appreciation to 15 volunteer teachers of Baha'i children's classes.
The certificates included the quote from the Baha'i writings that Mrs. Beattie had referred to in her speech: ""The education of children is as the work of a loving gardener who tends his young plants in the flowering fields. The question of goodly character is of first importance.""
Australian Baha'is also organized morning teas, dinners, and presentations at school assemblies.
In the weeks leading up to teacher appreciation events in Australia, children attending Baha'i religious education classes in government schools and after school Baha'i education classes, showed appreciation to their teachers for the contribution they made to their lives.",MILL BAY,,Canada
343,2005-01-02,[],Spiritual solace in a recovering land,"BUJUMBURA, Burundi — In a country that has endured many years of harrowing conflicts, members of the Baha'i community have found an occasion to celebrate.
The golden jubilee of the establishment of the Faith in the country was a time to reflect on principles of unity that show a way out of the difficulties that have saddened Burundi in recent times.
The country has suffered terribly from the sustained violence that erupted in 1993.
Baha'is have been among those killed during the fighting, and many others have fled to neighboring countries.
The community suffered in other ways, such as the destruction of regional Baha'i centers in Bubanza, Carama, and Cibitoke.
Despite the difficulties, the Baha'is of Burundi have been active in organizing prayer gatherings, children's classes, and study circles. They have opened these activities to the wider public, providing participants with spiritual solace, a respite from their sorrows, and a vision of a united, peaceful future.
In a message to the Baha'is of Burundi on the occasion of the jubilee, the Universal House of Justice expressed its wish that ""this historic gathering may be a source of inspiration to the friends as they endeavor to further advance the Cause of God in Burundi.""
Other congratulatory messages arrived from a former member of the Universal House of Justice, Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, and his wife, Violette, and from the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa.  Mary Collison (1892-1970), a Knight of Baha'u'llah to Ruanda-Urundi (now the independent countries of Rwanda and Burundi).During the celebrations, held at the national Baha'i center in Nyakabiga, Bujumbura, on 27-28 August 2004, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa, Ahmad Parsa, spoke about the important role the Burundi Baha'i community has played in this region.
""Despite all the difficulties in Burundi, the Baha'is could keep their ideals and continue working for all the people of the country without any distinction,"" Mr. Parsa said.
""People are often looking for material assistance that will help the country to come out of its problems,"" he said.
""In reality the biggest need is education to a new and spiritual mentality that will assist the people to understand that they are members of the same family -- this is what the Baha'is have done and are doing in Burundi,"" he said.
Mr. Parsa said many residents of Burundi who were originally from Rwanda and the Congo region became Baha'is in Burundi and then returned to their homelands where they have contributed to the Baha'i communities and wider societies there.
The jubilee gathering was a time to hear about the history of the Faith in the country.
The Faith came to Burundi in 1953 when Mary and Reginald (Rex) Collison from the United States and Dunduzu Chisiza, a young Baha'i from Malawi (then Nyasaland), arrived in Ruanda-Urundi (now the independent countries of Rwanda and Burundi).
The Collisons, a retired couple, had previously rendered many services in their Baha'i community in New York, through extensive travels in the United States, and in Uganda.
Mr. Chisiza was their interpreter in Ruanda-Urundi. Government policies required the Collisons and Mr. Chisiza to leave the country some 18 months after their arrival but by the time of their departure, there were about 20 Baha'is in the country. The first person to accept the Baha'i teachings there was Selemani Bin Kimbulu, of Congolese origin from Bukavu.
For establishing the Baha'i community in Ruanda-Urundi, the head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, awarded Mr. and Mrs. Collison and Mr. Chisiza the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah.
At the jubilee celebrations, one of the first Baha'is of Burundi, Fidele Simwakira, 75, spoke about his recollections of the early days of the Faith in the country.
Mr. Bin Kimbulu, the county's first Baha'i, who now lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was unable to attend the festivities because the border was closed. However, his grandson, Sylvestre Kitenge, was present as a member of the choir that entertained jubilee participants.
Others who addressed the jubilee gathering about the history of the community were Zuruzuru Ezekiel, Barbara and David Sunstrum, and Jean Baptiste Habimana.
Jubilee participants also enjoyed some artistic presentations. A member of the Baha'i community recited some of his poetry on peace and presented a sketch about the principle of unity, and a group from Kinama performed traditional dances.",BUJUMBURA,,Burundi
344,2005-01-12,[],Distinguished visitors praise Baha'i Temple,"NEW DELHI, India — Prominent international visitors to the Baha'i House of Worship here recently expressed their admiration of the Temple that attracts more than three and a half million visitors each year.
Crown Princess Margareta of Romania and her husband, Prince Radu von Hohenzollern-Veringen, attended a prayer service at the Temple on 14 November 2004.
On 13 December 2004 the First Lady of the Slovak Republic, Silvia Gasparovicova, attended a similar service at the House of Worship.
Princess Margareta and her husband were welcomed at the House of Worship by the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India, Farida Vahedi, and by the architect of the Temple, Fariborz Sahba, who explained features of the building.
The couple was accompanied on their visit by the ambassador of Romania to India, Vasile Sofineti, and Mrs. Sofineti.
Following a service, which included prayers from some of the major religions, the guests proceeded to the nearby information center where they viewed an exhibition about the Baha'i Faith.  More than 3.5 million people a year visit the Baha'i House of Worship in India, making it one of the most visited buildings in the world. Photo by Nikolai Werner.The Princess expressed delight at finding on display photographs of her great-grand-mother, Queen Marie of Romania (1875-1938), who was the first monarch to become a Baha'i.
The exhibit also included the letter of Queen Marie addressed to Shoghi Effendi, the then head of the Faith, in which she declared her belief in the Baha'i teachings.
Afterwards the Princess wrote in the visitors' book that her visit had been an ""uplifting and moving experience"" and that it made ""the connection between generations, like a rainbow of hope, affection and peace, love, and faith.""
""To see here the photographs of my great-grandmother, Queen Marie of Romania, and to feel her spirit is a blessing,"" she wrote.
A month later, the First Lady of the Slovak Republic, Silvia Gasparovicova, was greeted upon her arrival at the Temple by a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Asia, Zena Sorabjee.
Ms. Gasparovicova attended a prayer service at the House of Worship accompanied by the wife of the ambassador of the Slovak Republic to India, Edita Ilascik, and the wife of the ambassador of India to the Slovak Republic, Radhika Lokesh.
The First Lady later wrote in the visitors' book, remarking on the ""very beautiful and wonderful atmosphere in this religious building.""
Among many other prominent visitors to the Temple, which was opened in 1986, have been the president of India, the prime ministers of Norway and Sri Lanka, the president of Iceland, the vice-president of Uruguay, and the Dalai Lama.
Known in India as the Lotus Temple, it is one of the most visited buildings in the world and has won numerous architectural and engineering awards.
It is designed in the shape of a lotus flower, which is beloved in India as a symbol of purity and tenderness -- and of God's Messengers.
The Temple is one of seven Baha'i Houses of Worship in the world. The others are in Australia, Germany, Panama, Uganda, the United States, and Samoa. Another is to be built in Chile.
Each temple has its own distinctive design that incorporates common elements such as a dome and nine entrances, which are symbolic both of the great religions through which humans have gained knowledge of God and of the diversity of the human race and its essential oneness.
(For more information on the Lotus Temple see https://news.bahai.org/story/89/)",NEW DELHI,,India
345,2005-01-19,[],By-election for two members of Universal House of Justice,"HAIFA, Israel — In a letter dispatched to all National Spiritual Assemblies, the Universal House of Justice announced its approval of requests by two of its members, Mr Douglas Martin and Mr Ian Semple, for permission to relinquish their membership on the Body owing to considerations of age and the related needs of the Faith.
They will continue to serve on the House of Justice until a by-election to replace them is completed.  The results of the by-election will be announced at Naw-Ruz (21 March 2005).",HAIFA,,Israel
346,2005-01-23,[],Two reasons for festivities,"BANJUL, The Gambia — The Baha'i community of this West African country had a double reason to celebrate last month.
The first was the opening of a new national Baha'i center in the coastal town of Bakau, about 10 km from the capital.
The second reason for celebration was the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Baha'i Faith to the country.
The consecutive festivities were held 24-26 December 2004.
Among the more than 200 people attending the opening and dedication ceremony of the national center, held on 24 December 2004, were representatives of the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and Muslim communities.
Also present were the nation's solicitor-general, Raymond Sock, and Mrs. Sock; the headman (Alkalo) of Bakau, Alhaji Luntung Jaiteh; a representative of the local mayor of Kanifing municipality; business people; and other dignitaries.
Baha'i participants came not only from The Gambia -- including remote areas -- but also from neighboring Senegal and from Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, as well as other countries in Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia.
Eleven members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors attended part or all of the festivities.
An uplifting performance by the Dakar Baha'i choir opened the dedication ceremony, followed by the reading of messages from the National Spiritual Assembly and other Baha'i institutions and individuals around the world. Precious gifts from the beleaguered Baha'i community in Iran were presented and gratefully received.
The keynote speaker, Wendi Momen, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, told the gathering that the Baha'i Faith was centered on a profound understanding of the interconnectedness of all people and all countries.  Residents of the village of new Yundun in The Gambia with visiting Baha'is from Canada and the United States, who were contributing to children's classes and literacy classes. 1993.""Baha'is believe that by developing our spiritual nature, by acquiring those virtues and personal values that are truly reflections of the divine -- individuals are better placed to work with others to create communities and a world that is peaceful, just, prosperous, and united,"" said Dr. Momen, who first came to The Gambia in 1976 as a doctoral researcher.
The ceremony continued with a performance by Les Etincelles, a Baha'i dance troupe from Dakar. That was followed by displays of books and historical photographs and then a celebratory dinner.
The center will provide a venue for administrative and devotional meetings, study circles, children's classes, and social and economic development programs, such as free computer lessons for the public.
The program for the jubilee celebrations, which began on 25 December 2004, opened with performances on the balafon (African xylophone). The history of the Faith in The Gambia was told in both the Wolof and English languages. Then the Gambian Baha'i choir, The Nightingales of Gambia, made a dramatic entrance to the venue complete with drumming and songs.
The story of the introduction of the Baha'i Faith to The Gambia, by Fariborz Ruzbehyan, came from his grandson, Iraj Sarvian, who traveled to The Gambia from the United States for the jubilee celebrations.
Mr. Ruzbehyan arrived in The Gambia on 19 February 1954. For that service, Shoghi Effendi bestowed upon him the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah.
Shortly after his arrival, suffering greatly from asthma and fever, Mr. Ruzbehyan had to be admitted to a hospital but his seeming misfortune turned into delight when he was able to introduce the Faith to a fellow patient, Nelson Ethan Thomas, who soon became the first indigenous Baha'i.
During his two years in The Gambia, Mr. Ruzbehyan saw 300 people accept the Baha'i teachings, and he helped with the elections of six Local Spiritual Assemblies. He returned briefly in 1957 and purchased a house in Serkeunda to serve as a Baha'i center.
Other historical accounts at the festivities came from Baha'is who had left other countries to settle in The Gambia, and from Baha'is who had visited as travelling teachers of the Faith.
They recalled the dedicated service of many Baha'is who had since died, and also recounted many anecdotes of their experiences.
Among the Baha'is recalled with great affection was a dedicated pioneer from Ghana, Yaw Asare, who served on the National Spiritual Assembly and passed away in a tragic accident in 1992.
The first Gambian woman to be elected to the National Spiritual Assembly, Ramatoulie Dem, was warmly remembered by her granddaughter and namesake.
Others who were spoken of with great admiration included Baha'i teachers and administrators Shala Ardekani-Neyestani, Muhammad Djalali, Rose Camara, and Inayatullah Fananapazir.
Stories were also told of the inspiring visits of Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani and other Hands of the Cause of God, including Musa Banani, Enoch Olinga and Rahmatullah Muhajir.
The program on 26 December 2004 began with the reciting of prayers and verses by Baha'i children from Lamin Village.
The keynote speaker, prominent Baha'i author Moojan Momen, who had served the Faith in The Gambia as a youth in 1968, addressed the participants.
""In the past, revolutions and social upheavals really only changed the few people at the top and left the masses at the bottom,"" Dr. Momen said.
""In this day, a truly extraordinary change enunciated by Baha'u'llah is in the process of being realized. This change puts the affairs of the people in the hands of the people.
""It is an empowerment that requires great changes in the traditions, thinking, and acting of the people.  It is not something that will occur suddenly; rather it is a gradual but inevitable process.""
Members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Beatrice Asare of Ghana and Tessema Asfaw of Ethiopia, also addressed the gathering.
The joyous celebrations concluded with a picnic at Sanyang Beach.",BANJUL,,The Gambia
347,2005-01-27,[],History springs to life on Scottish stage,"EDINBURGH, Scotland — Episodes from the early history of the Baha'i Faith in the West came to life through dramatic performances here this month.
In the drawing room of an historic Edinburgh house once visited by Abdu'l-Baha, actor Sarah Munro played a housemaid recounting the experience of meeting Him.
The performance was part of a weekend of events that set in motion a process to acquire a new Baha'i center in the city as a venue for a wide range of activities, including the reception of distinguished visitors.
Edinburgh's significance as a capital city has increased since the re-establishment in 1999 of the Scottish Parliament after an interval of almost 300 years.
The Universal House of Justice recently called for the establishment of a new center to replace the existing one, which is no longer suitable for the growing needs of the community.
An open weekend on 8-9 January 2005 attracted more than 250 visitors who journeyed to the Scottish capital for a weekend hosted by the local Baha'i community. The program featured performances, tours, displays, and information on the proposed new center.
The weekend's events coincided with the 92nd anniversary of the visit in 1913 by Abdu'l-Baha, Who was the leader of the Baha'i Faith from the death in 1892 of His father, the Faith's Founder, Baha'u'llah, until His own passing in 1921.
'Abdu'l-Baha, then 68 years of age, had traveled to Edinburgh at the invitation of Jane Whyte, a prominent society figure in turn-of-the-century Scotland. Her husband, the Reverend Dr. Alexander Whyte was a leading figure in the Free Church of Scotland who had a broad-minded approach to religion and a desire to overcome sectarianism in the church.
Mrs. Whyte had visited 'Abdu'l-Baha with a Baha'i friend in 1905, when He was still a prisoner of the Ottoman Empire in the Holy Land.  In Edinburgh's St. George's West Church, where Dr. Alexander Whyte once preached, viola player Carolyn Sparey-Fox entertained participants in the events marking the anniversary of the 1913 visit of Abdu'l-Baha.On her return to Scotland, Mrs. Whyte told many groups and societies about the Baha'i teachings and hosted the first Baha'i meetings in Scotland in her own home.
With the Young Turk Revolution in 1908, 'Abdu'l-Baha was freed after more than 50 years of exile and imprisonment, and so could travel to the West to proclaim His father's teachings.
'Abdu'l-Baha arrived in Edinburgh on 6 January 1913 and stayed at the Whytes' residence at 7 Charlotte Square.
He told a gathering there of prominent women that they must educate and prepare themselves for great responsibility in the years to come.
During the anniversary of His stay, visitors were taken in groups to the house that had been the Whytes' residence.
The house is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is preserved as a fine example of a family home from the Georgian era.
Normally closed to the public during the winter months, the Trust opened the house for the Baha'i visitors during the weekend -- and its own staff was on hand as guides.
On display in its rooms were precious archival items including clothing and documents belonging to 'Abdu'l-Baha that had been loaned by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom.
Among other highlights of the weekend was a performance by a Baha'i choir in the High Kirk of St Giles where 'Abdu'l-Baha had attended a performance of Handel's oratorio Messiah, held in aid of the city's poor.
For singer Maureen Hunter-Merrick, a Baha'i from Edinburgh, the performance was the spiritual highpoint of the weekend.
""We were all very moved at being able to sing in the cathedral where Abdu'l-Baha had been,"" she said.
""We chose a selection of traditional songs, prayers in the Gaelic language and modern settings of Baha'i writings to try to capture the history and special nature of the place and 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit.""
A Scottish cultural evening attracted more than 100 Baha'is and their friends, who enjoyed a traditional ceilidh band and folk dancing.
The open weekend ended with a program held at the Freemason's Hall in George Street where 'Abdu'l-Baha had addressed a gathering of Esperantists.
The guests enjoyed a program of prayers and music, reflections by scholar Moojan Momen on the significance of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit, and presentations on the fundraising campaign to acquire the new center.
Baha'is throughout the United Kingdom have been organizing fund-raising events to finance the project. Baha'is do not accept financial donations from outside of the community's own membership.
""There is a strong awareness of the significance of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit here,"" said John Parris, a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Edinburgh, which will own the new center.
""The Baha'is here are very enthusiastic about this project, and the possibility of being able to to carry forward the train of events which was set in motion during His visit,"" Dr. Parris said.
(Report and photographs by Robert Weinberg.)",EDINBURGH,,Scotland
348,2005-02-02,[],Thriving community builds social unity,"KIGALI, Rwanda — The jubilee festivities here were a major victory in the history of the Rwandan Baha'i community, a speaker told the participants at the celebrations.
Uzziel Mihembezo, one of the early Baha'is of Rwanda, said that the event was proof that despite the genocide in 1994, the Baha'i community continues to grow.
Many Baha'is were among the 800,000 to perish during the violence, and many fled the country.
However, the community is thriving, with 28 Local Spiritual Assemblies and Baha'is living in 106 localities.
In a congratulatory message to the Rwandan Baha'is on the occasion of the 50th anniversary celebrations, the Universal House of Justice wrote: ""We cannot help but marvel at the progress the Cause of God has made in that land and express our humble gratitude to Baha'u'llah for bestowing His healing Message upon the sorely tried peoples of that country.""
One of the speakers at the festivities was a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa, Ahmad Parsa.
""It is a great pleasure that many principles of the Baha'i Faith have been adopted by Rwandans in their struggle to recover from what happened in 1994,"" Mr. Parsa said.
Through moral and spiritual principles people can learn to avoid dissension and disunity and to create friendship and love, he said.  Some members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Rwanda at the Baha'i International Convention, Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel, 1998.The official guest speaker at the festivities, Ndigabo Francois, a government official of Nyagisagara, praised the Baha'i community for its efforts to build unity and understanding between Rwandans of different ethnic background.
Those efforts include a statement in March 2000 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Rwanda to the National Commission for Unity and Reconciliation in which the Assembly urged that consideration be given to making the principle of the oneness of humanity the basis for reconciliation in the country.
""Baha'is believe that humankind has always constituted one species, but that prejudice, ignorance, power seeking, and egotism have prevented many people from recognizing and accepting this oneness,"" the National Spiritual Assembly wrote.
The jubilee celebrations began on 11 December 2004 in Kigali and continued the following day in the village of Nyagisagara, 100 kilometers from the capital city.
The 450 participants at the jubilee celebrations came from different regions of Rwanda, as well as from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe.
Journalists from eight newspapers and magazines and from the Rwanda National Radio and Radio Flash FM covered the event. The three main newspapers in the country -- one in French, one in English and one in Kinyarwanda -- published articles about the jubilee.
Baha'i choirs and dance troupes from Cyangugu, Gatenga, Goma, and Kigali performed traditional and modern dances prompting the joyous participants to join them on the stage.
During the event, master of ceremonies Jean Baptiste Habimana, a member of the Auxiliary Board,  described the current activities of the Rwandan Baha'i community, emphasizing the regular children's classes, prayer gatherings, and study circles, all of which are open to the public.
In the Kigali region, for example, there are now eight children's classes, 13 prayer gatherings, and 20 study circles.
Among those recounting stories to the gathering about the early days of the Baha'i community were Kitoko Mangili, now the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, Uzziel Mihembezo, and Isaac Ngwijebose.
Frequently mentioned in such reminiscences were the first Rwandan Baha'i, the late Alphonse Semanyenzi, and a medical doctor, Dr. Ataollah Taaid, who came with his wife, Zahereh, to assist in the development of the Baha'i community.
After becoming a Baha'i, Mr. Semanyenzi worked at Dr. Taaid's clinic in Kigali. In 1972 he was elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Rwanda. He also served as an interpreter during the visits in 1972 and 1973 by Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, a Hand of the Cause of God.
Mr. Semanyenzi's brother, Higiro Anastase, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Rwanda, told the participants about the time when the Taaid family first arrived in Rwanda in 1966.
Mr. Anastase said that while Dr. Taaid worked at the clinic, his wife, Zahareh, traveled the country to tell villagers about the Baha'i teachings. (Dr. and Mrs. Taaid, who now live in Belgium, were unable to attend the jubilee.)
The message of the Baha'i Faith was introduced to Rwanda (formerly part of Ruanda-Urundi) in 1953 by Mary Collison and Reginald (Rex) Collison, a retired couple from the United States, and Dunduzu Chisiza, a young Baha'i, from Malawi (then Nyasaland).
For this service Mr. and Mrs. Collison and Mr. Chisiza received the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith Shoghi Effendi.",KIGALI,,Rwanda
349,2005-02-02,[],Magazine wins design award,"EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, United States — A magazine published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States has received an international award for best journal design.
""World Order"" received the award from the Council of Editors of Learned Journals (CELJ) in recognition of new designs for its cover and interior that convey the magazine's multidisciplinary nature and its relevance to the twenty-first century.
The CELJ, whose membership is comprised of more than 450 journal editors, is a major international organization dedicated to appraising academic journals in the humanities.
""World Order"" managing editor Betty Fisher said the magazine, which has been published since 1966 and has an international readership, is devoted to consideration of the spiritual, moral, cultural, and social challenges confronting world society at a time when humanity must recognize its oneness and establish a global, just civilization.
""Through this new design, the editorial board hoped to convey a multidisciplinary approach to life, as well as a commitment to social engagement, open-mindedness, and intellectual curiosity,"" Dr. Fisher said.
""We wanted the design to reflect a publication that is thought-provoking but exciting, serious but engaging, innovative but accessible.""  The cover of ""World Order"" Volume 35, Number 2.In creating a new cover for the magazine, designer Richard Doering chose a mix of classic and progressive elements to convey a sense of stability and timelessness and included the words ""religion, society, polity, arts"" to emphasize the magazine's wide focus.
The page design was developed by Patrick Falso of Allegro Design, Inc., who has worked with ""World Order"" since 1991.
CELJ Vice-President Jana Argersinger said the judges found that ""World Order"" had retained aspects of its original design that gave it a distinctive look -- such as the full-bleed photos that open each article -- and at the same time introduced improvements that lend it ""a more dynamic feeling in keeping with its multifaceted editorial purview.""
The judges also commended the new single-column format, which allows for ""the graceful placement of asymmetrical pull quotes,"" and the upgraded paper and printing quality, which ""add to the crispness of the whole package,"" Dr. Argersinger said.
""'World Order's' new incarnation is the outstanding entrant in this year's contest for journals that have launched a new design over the last three years,"" she said.
The award, presented in Philadelphia on 27 December 2004, was accepted by Dr. Fisher and Mr. Doering on behalf of the design and editorial staff.
""World Order"" has published articles, editorials, and reviews on race and racism, the equality of men and women, human rights, the environment, the United Nations, spiritual approaches to economic problems, and interfaith dialogue. It also has a reputation for publishing poetry and photographs of high artistic merit.
Dr. Fisher said that although ""World Order"" is intended to provide a Baha'i perspective on topics of broad social concern, it also seeks submissions from individuals, regardless of their religious background, who are interested in exploring the relationships between contemporary life and contemporary religious teachings and philosophy.
Subscriptions to ""World Order"" magazine are available through the Baha'i Distribution Service at 800-999-9019 or on the Web at http://www.bahaibookstore.com .",EVANSTON,ILLINOIS,United States
350,2005-02-08,[],Completing the circle of service,"PRAIA, Cape Verde — A recent visit by three Baha'is to these islands in the north Atlantic Ocean had its origins in a decision taken some 50 years earlier.
In January 1954 Howard and JoAnne Menking decided to leave their comfortable home in the United States to introduce the Baha'i Faith to Cape Verde, then a poverty-stricken Portuguese colony.
They were among volunteers participating in a decade-long (1953-63) initiative to establish the Faith in countries where there were no Baha'is. By the end of the decade the number of national communities had more than doubled.
The Menkings left Cape Verde in 1959 after the local Baha'i community was established.
A half-century later, in November 2004, Mr. Menking returned for the jubilee celebrations of that community, accompanied by his daughter, Cristina Menking-Hoggatt, and her son, Cheyenne, 13.
Mr. Menking stayed three weeks, during which time he met Baha'is in various parts of the island of Santiago and spoke about the Faith to inquirers, some of whom decided to join the Baha'i community.
That warm reception to the teachings of Baha'u'llah was quite different from the response in the first testing year that Mr. and Mrs. Menking lived in Cape Verde.  Howard Menking (left) with a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa, Kobina Fynn, at the jubilee celebrations of the Cape Verde Baha'i community.Mr. Menking, now 79, told participants in the jubilee festivities held on 18 November 2004 about the challenging conditions and slow progress of the Faith in the islands in 1954.
In fact, so barren were the results of the Menkings' initial efforts to interest local people in the Baha'i Faith that Mr. Menking wrote to the head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, and asked about the wisdom of staying there when the needs of the Baha'is were so urgent on the mainland of Africa.
Shoghi Effendi replied that victories in a difficult post were more meritorious than those easily won.
From that time on, the fortunes of the Faith in Cape Verde improved. The Menking family was also blessed with their first child. Their daughter Cristina was born on Christmas Day, 1955.
The first local person to become a Baha'i was a good friend of Howard Menking. His name Frutuoso (meaning ""fruitful"") seemed appropriate because others were soon to follow him into the Faith. They included Claremundo (meaning ""the light of the world""), Inacio Barbosa Amado, Avalino Barros, Octavio Brito, and Entonio Leon.
By April 1956 there were enough Baha'is in Praia to form the first Local Spiritual Assembly. Three years later the Menkings returned to the United States where they continued as active participants in the Baha'i community. Mrs. Menking passed away in 1988.
For their settling in Cape Verde Mr. and Mrs. Menking received the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah from Shoghi Effendi.
At the jubilee festivities, a spokesman for the Baha'is of Cape Verde, Poh Chean Chong, delivered a welcoming address, and the chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Praia, Manuel Jesus Moreno, spoke about the history of the Faith in Cape Verde.
The secretary of the Cape Verde Baha'i community, Tony Parker Danso, read congratulatory messages from other Baha'i communities on the occasion.
Cristina Menking addressed the participants on her Baha'i experiences in Cape Verde and on the role of women and the importance of family life.
Two members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa addressed the gathering. Beatrice Asare, delivered a congratulatory message from the Board and Kobina Fynn spoke to the gathering about the future direction of the community, and invited guests to join with the Baha'is in study circles, devotional meetings, and children's classes.
Also present were representatives of the Baha'i community of Portugal, Aminullah Shahidian and Varqa Carlos Jalali. Dr. Jalali addressed the gathering about the aims and purposes of the Baha'i Faith.
A photographic exhibition included photographs of the first Baha'i institutions in Cape Verde, the early Baha'is, distinguished Baha'i visitors to the country, and current activities of the Baha'i community.
Participants enjoyed musical interludes by local Baha'i artists, and heard songs they had composed.
The National Radio of Cape Verde and Croule FM, a private radio station, broadcast coverage of the jubilee.  Three newspapers of Cape Verde, ""Expresso das Ilhas,"" ""Horizonte,"" and ""A Semana"" published articles about the celebrations.",PRAIA,,Cape Verde
351,2005-02-15,[],Religion gives basis for human rights,"GROESBEEK, Netherlands — The global community should look to the ethical teachings of the world religions as well as to international law to protect human rights, a keynote speaker told the European Baha'i Conference on Law.
Professor Brian Lepard of the University of Nebraska in the United States said that violations of human rights appear to be relentlessly increasing despite dramatic advances last century aimed at safeguarding them.
Professor Lepard was delivering the Dr. Aziz Navidi Memorial Lecture, which is named after a prominent Baha'i lawyer renowned for his courage and skill in defending persecuted Baha'is.
The conference held 9-12 December 2004, attracted participants from 10 countries and was organized by the Law Association of the Tahirih Institute, an educational institute of the Dutch Baha'i community.
""International law and world religions must form a new partnership, drawing on their mutual strengths if human rights are to become a living reality for human beings groaning under the yoke of oppression, tyranny, and deprivations of their most basic human needs,"" Professor Lepard said.  Neysun Mahboubi delivering his address ""The Oneness of Humanity as a Contemporary Legal Principle"" at the European Baha'i Conference on Law.Professor Lepard said that many human rights are not enforced internationally because there is no agreement on their moral basis. That shortcoming helps some governments and individuals justify their violation of human rights, he said.
States are beginning to recognize the moral bankruptcy of much of existing international law and are emphasizing the need for a moral foundation for legal norms, he said. In addition, enlightened religious leaders are showing a growing interest in modern-day human rights law.
Professor Lepard said the moral and ethical teachings of  religions -- which underpinned international law at its historical formation -- give that moral foundation to human rights by declaring that they are God-given rights. They also help prioritize those rights, and they give recognition of individual duties to promote and protect the human rights of others.
""The ethical teachings of the world religions underscore that all human beings are members of one human family and are thus are entitled to the same fundamental human rights,"" Professor Lepard said.
Only the spiritual principle of the oneness of humanity will help people build bridges of friendship with those of other religions, nationalities or races and provide a firm foundation for respecting the rights of others, he said.
Among other papers delivered by Baha'i lawyers were:


""State and Religious Order in Baha'i Theology"" by Tajan Tober (Germany).


""The Oneness of Humanity as a Contemporary Legal Principle"" by Neysun Mahboubi (United States).


""The Place of Idealism in an Emerging International Legal Order"" by Salim Nakhjavani (United Kingdom).


""From Empire to Empathy: Law, Spirituality, and the Oneness of Humankind,"" by Payam Akhavan.


Other contributions to the conference came from a legal officer with the International Criminal Court, Rod Rastan; two Dutch lawyers, Karlijn van der Voort and Nushin Milani; and Baha'i scholar and lawyer Susan Lamb.",GROESBEEK,,Netherlands
352,2005-02-23,[],Manage time to 'balance your life',"HLUBOKA, Czech Republic — Good time-management in all the important spheres of life will help meet the challenge of living a balanced life, a speaker told a Baha'i youth seminar that attracted participants from 30 countries.
""Baha'is are called upon to walk with practical feet on the mystical path,"" German psychiatrist Hamid Peseschkian told the ""Changing Times European Youth Forum,"" which was held at the Townshend International School from 26 December 2004 to 1 January 2005.
Dr. Peseschkian offered a model of a balanced life that gives equal emphasis to four major areas -- health and body, work and achievement, contacts and relationships, and spirituality and future.
""The Baha'i Faith has the vision of a new generation of people who on the one hand exercise moderation in all things but on the other have a faith-centered life and not a work-centered one,"" he said.  Some participants from Germany at the Changing Times seminar: (left to right) Shamim Rafat, Katharina Towfigh, Emanuel Towfigh.The seminar, organized by a team of European Baha'i youth, is the third annual event of its kind, its reputation for learning and camaraderie attracting participants from many European countries as well as from Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Namibia, New Zealand, Samoa, and the United States.
The keynote speakers were Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, who until recently served as a member of the Universal House of Justice, and his wife, Violette Nakhjavani.
Mr. Nakhjavani gave his insights on the world situation and on spiritual matters, and also recounted his memories of growing up in the Holy Land. Mrs. Violette Nakhjavani paid a tribute to the Hand of the Cause of God, Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, whom she accompanied on many of her travels for the Baha'i faith.
Other speakers included Italian industrialist Giuseppe Robiati, who spoke on the Baha'i view of a new world order.
Workshops addressed a variety of themes such as consumerism, the art of communication, leadership and power, and using the arts to express a vision of a new world.
Keith Sabri of Australia performed two one-man plays depicting Baha'i historical events.
(Seminar photos by Kamran Granfar.)
For more information about the seminar, see
http://www.changing-times.org.",HLUBOKA NAD VLTAVOU,,Czech Republic
353,2005-02-23,[],Heroic life inspires conference,"OTAVALO, Ecuador — Participants at a conference commemorating the 25th anniversary of the passing of a deeply cherished Baha'i resolved to increase their service to humanity.
The ""Growth and Victories"" conference was held from 30 December 2004 to 2 January 2005 in honor of the Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu'llah Muhajir (1923-79).
A highly effective promoter of the teachings of the Baha'i Faith, Dr. Muhajir died in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, while undertaking a tour of encouragement of Baha'i communities.
Baha'is attending the conference came from a range of South American countries as well as from Australia, Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Most of the Baha'is who came from Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia traveled for several days by land to get to the conference.  The headstone of the grave of Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, Quito, Ecuador.In a message to the participants, the Universal House of Justice called upon the Baha'is to arise to serve ""with the same unrelaxing vigor, spiritual discipline, and generosity that characterized dear Dr. Muhajir.""
Highlights of the conference were talks on the life of Dr. Muhajir by his daughter, Gisu, and by a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas, Eloy Anello of Bolivia.
Ms. Muhajir related anecdotes from her father's life and those of other Hands of the Cause of God.
""They possessed a special spirit and capacity that was evident from an early age,"" she said.
Other speakers included two other members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas, Crystal Shoaie of Bolivia and Leticia de Solano of Ecuador.
Among the topics of the talks were ""The Dynamic Power of Example,"" ""The Glorious Future of the Indigenous People,"" and ""The Process of the Institute, Teaching, and Growth.""
In between the talks, several Baha'i communities of Ecuador including those of Otavalo, Santa Rosa, Cuenca and Samborondon, gave presentations on their activities, achievements, and service performed in the name of Dr. Muhajir.
On each morning of the conference, the participants gathered for devotional meetings during which prayers and quotations often recited by Dr. Muhajir were read.
Local musicians, as well as international Baha'i artists KC Porter and Leonor Dely, gave performances that enhanced the enjoyment of the conference participants.
The Baha'i community of Ecuador has 16 Local Spiritual Assemblies and is home to a Baha'i radio station, Radio Baha'i, which has its studios in Otavalo. It is oriented towards community development and service.",OTAVALO,,Ecuador
354,2005-03-03,[],Baha'is play big role at UN conference,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Baha'is played prominent roles last month at the 10-year review of the ground-breaking World Summit for Social Development.
Baha'i International Community representative Bahiyyih Chaffers chaired one of the main panel discussions at the one-day Civil Society Forum held 8 February 2005 in association with the review, which ran from 9-18 February.
On 10 February, Haleh Arbab Correa, representing a Baha'i-inspired development organization, participated in a high-level panel on ""Promoting Full Employment,"" sitting side by side with ministers and ambassadors from more than 20 countries. Dr. Arbab Correa was one of five civil society representatives invited to participate on the panel.
In 1995 more than 250 Baha'is from some 40 countries joined 5,500 delegates of non-governmental organizations at the World Summit for Social Development, reflecting the worldwide Baha'i community's concern about the global social issues addressed by the Summit, which was held in Copenhagen in 1995.
Known sometimes simply as the Social Summit, it was one of a series of ground-breaking United Nations global conferences in the 1990s that set an international consensus on post-Cold War issues concerning sustainable development, human rights, and the advancement of women. The Summit called for a more compassionate and people-centered approach to development.
The 10-year review was conducted under the auspices of the UN Commission on Social Development. Government delegates to the meeting focused on discussing whether the goals of the 1995 meeting had been met -- or whether they had been displaced by other concerns, such as terrorism and global security issues.  Baha'i International Community representative Bahiyyih Chaffers chaired a discussion at the civil society forum held in conjunction with the UN review of the Copenhagen Social Summit.The two Baha'i delegates were among more than 150 NGO representatives gathered at the Civil Society Forum. Ms. Chaffers chaired a morning discussion on ""Why Copenhagen Matters for the Millennium Development Goals."" Those goals commit the international community to an expanded vision of development, one that vigorously promotes human development as the key to sustaining social and economic progress in all countries, and recognizes the importance of creating a global partnership for development.
A member of the executive committee of the NGO Committee on Social Development, Ms. Chaffers set the tone for the discussion by stressing that the ""age-old dream of global peace"" cannot be established without ""a galvanizing vision of global prosperity"" marked by the ""material and spiritual well-being"" of all the world's inhabitants.
Dr. Arbab Correa also brought up the importance of taking into consideration humanity's spiritual reality in her comments at the high-level panel on employment.
Dr. Arbab Correa represented FUNDAEC, a Baha'i-inspired, nonprofit, non-governmental organization with 30 years of experience in rural Colombia. (Its name is a Spanish acronym for ""The Foundation for the Application and Teaching of the Sciences."")
Saying that education was the key to promoting full employment, she emphasized the importance of training young people with the skills and capabilities they will need to create a better world.
""As a Baha'i-inspired institution, we emphasize the importance of spiritual and moral values,"" said Dr. Arbab Correa. ""Our program focuses on the spiritual, intellectual, and social aspects of the human being.""
She said also that a key motivating factor in such training is to focus on the importance of service to humanity, more than merely self-enrichment.
""If we want to train human beings to participate in the construction of a better world, it is important to emphasize the service aspect,"" she said.
Dr. Arbab Correa also participated in a side event about international success stories in the fight against poverty where she presented the experience of FUNDAEC.
""People should not be looked at as problems,"" said Dr. Arbab Correa, who is rector at FUNDAEC's University Center for Rural Well-being.
""People are resources. Development requires participation. People can take charge of their own development with proper education.""
Too often, added Dr. Arbab Correa, people are viewed as consumers, simply part of the market. But society is not a jungle, and development programs should aim at cooperation instead of competition.
""Human beings have a noble, spiritual aspect,"" she said. ""The role of education and development is to bring out those potentialities.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
355,2005-03-10,[],Arts on display in scenic city,"BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — This scenic city proved an ideal venue for the Baha'i National Arts Festival.
Known for its beautiful views and rich cultural heritage, Baguio City provided the right atmosphere for the festival, held between 26 and 29 December 2004.
Baha'i artists came from 20 localities in the country to perform, display their art, and encourage others to explore their own artistic skills and talents.  Members of different generations at the Baha'i National Arts Festival in the Philippines: (left to right) Stephanie, Camilla, Paul, and Dennis Pangilinan with Vicente Samaniego.Performers, like the rock band Sublime Vision, sang songs they had composed. The NCR (National Capital Region) youth group gave dramatized performances about the early history of the Baha'i Faith.
The dances performed by the San Jose City youth troupe included depictions of  Baha'i principles in their presentations.
A trio of dancers -- Tessie Elisan, Early Soledad, and Bebeth Vergara -- performed modern and traditional dances.
Poetry by Baha'i authors, recited in English and Tagalog -- the official languages of the Philippines -- won a warm reception at the festival.
Baha'i spokesperson Fe Samaniego later praised the quality of the festival program and the performances.
""The number and variety of skilled performers and artists demonstrates the depth of the artistic talent of the Baha'i community of the Philippines,"" Ms. Sanaiego said.
""It also shows the commitment of Baha'is to include artistic expression in all their activities in line with the encouragement from the Universal House of Justice,"" she said.
Youth, junior youth, and adult groups held discussions at the festival about the use of the arts in community activities.
Children also had an important role to play. They recited poems and prayers and took part in musical performances. In special workshops children learnt about the role of prayer.
The guest of honor at the festival was a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia, Dr. Humaida Jumalon. Among other participants were some members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Philippines and of the Regional Baha'i Council of Central Luzon.",BAGUIO CITY,,Philippines
356,2005-03-14,[],Minister praises Baha'i activities,"GABORONE, Botswana — Half a century ago, because of apartheid restrictions, the Baha'is of Botswana had to meet under the cover of darkness. But now the community receives effusive public praise.
The minister of local government of Botswana, Margaret Nasha, commended the activities of the community when she addressed its golden jubilee held 10 to 12 December 2004.
Dr. Nasha said the Baha'i community, with its systematic training courses, was seeking to ""further the development of Botswana along moral and ethical lines.""
Listening to her speech were jubilee participants who had come from as far away as Australia, Canada, Chile, India, and the United States.
Many others had traveled from nearby African countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Dr. Nasha spoke of the importance of Baha'i capacity-building study circles, which enhance, for example, abilities to teach values to children, to express one's views more eloquently, and to assist others to independently investigate spiritual truths.
She also praised the Baha'i children's classes, which are open to the wider public, as are Baha'i study circles and devotional meetings.
Dr. Nasha said that Baha'i children's classes teach ""the oneness of humanity, the equality of boys and girls in the eyes of God, and the need for honesty and kindliness in their dealings with other people.""
""I commend the teaching of these virtues,"" she said, ""because they ensure that our nation's development is based upon a moral, ethical, and tolerant foundation.""
Fifty years ago, attempts to carry on Baha'i activities based on the Faith's fundamental principle of the oneness of mankind received no such official endorsement.
Segregation
Until independence in 1966, the country, then known as the Bechuanaland Protectorate, was administered from Mafikeng in apartheid South Africa.
As such, Mafikeng was subject to strictly imposed conditions of racial segregation. Baha'is had to take extreme precautions if whites and blacks were to gather in mixed groups.
At the jubilee, a Botswana Baha'i, Lally Warren, told participants that as a young child in Mafikeng it had been unusual to meet white people who were pleasant to her so she believed that all white people were bad.
That changed when she met the Robarts family, Canadian Baha'is who introduced the Faith to Bechuanaland in 1954.
""The Robarts didn't treat me like a black child, they treated me as a child,"" she said.  Eight members of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Botswana, 1970.She recalled when she was 10 and the Robarts family came to her house for meetings with her parents James and Stella Moncho, the first local couple to become Baha'is.
""They could only do this at night, and as they came towards the house they would switch their [car] lights on and off to say, 'Is it ok, is it safe, can we come?'"" said Mrs. Warren, who was a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa from 1985 to 2000 and has served the Baha'i Faith in many other capacities.
""There was no electricity in the black area during those days so my mother would take a lantern and stick it out through the window and wave it to say, 'OK, it's safe for you to come.'""
Nina Robarts, who was a teenager at the time, told the jubilee participants about the drama of those nights.
""When we saw the lantern, that was the most glorious sight for us -- it meant we were going to see our African friends that night,"" said Ms. Robarts, who now lives in Canada.
She is the daughter of the late John and Audrey Robarts, who each received the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, for moving to Bechuanaland to introduce the Faith.
Mr. Robarts (1901-91) was later named a Hand of the Cause of God, whose duties were to protect and propagate the Faith. A filmed interview with him, ""Retrospective,"" was shown at the jubilee.
Early believers
A message written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the jubilee participants said that ""this historic event, at which the shining spirit and soul-stirring exploits of the early believers will be recalled, will surely inspire the friends to arise with renewed dedication to bring the healing Message of Baha'u'llah to the indigenous peoples of your beloved country.""
Among the other ""soul-stirring exploits"" described at the jubilee was the way Mr. and Mrs. Robarts were able to present the Faith to local people. They befriended Modiri Molema, a highly respected medical doctor and the only black man who was permitted to associate with whites.
Dr. Molema invited his friends and family to hear about the Baha'i Faith, and he gave the Robarts family letters of introduction to the dikgosi (traditional chiefs) of the Bechuanaland Protectorate.
Dr. Molema accepted the Faith but his enrolment was not made public because of likely harassment due to his previous high-profile political involvement. In 1955 his relative, Stanlake Kukama, became the first native Tswana of Bechuanaland to become a publicly declared Baha'i.
Mr. Kukama, who attended the jubilee celebrations, said he had been an anti-apartheid activist, and was a member of the  South African political party, the African National Congress.
He said he had detested white people because of their attitude towards Africans but that changed when he heard about the Baha'i Faith from the Robarts family.
""In 1955 I heard of the Baha'i Faith,"" Mr. Kukama said, ""and [found] the principles of the Faith were the solution to [achieve] peace and harmony for mankind.""
""I realized that the white and the black were all blind. They did not see the truth, they did not have the eye of the soul.
""Hence, I became a Baha'i, and renounced man-made solutions to peace.
""I was healed. I got a spiritual prescription and I thought I should give it to my people. From there I was so excited!"" he said.
The African National Congress tried to woo back Mr. Kukama for many years without success. The police kept him under surveillance even after he became a Baha'i because they did not believe that he had given up partisan politics.
Mr. Kukama later served for many years both as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Bophuthatswana and of South Africa.
Other early Baha'is present at the jubilee celebrations included Goitsemodimo Bolokang, Gaolebale Komanyane, Mothusiotsile Matabane, Esther Moncho (a member of the first National Spiritual Assembly), and Michael Nthau.
The participants made fond mention of other members of the community who had made significant contributions to the Botswana Baha'i community but were unable to attend the jubilee.
They included former member of the Continental Board of Counsellors Shidan Fat'he-Aazam, and a Baha'i from the United States, Jeff Gruber, who organized the translation of many of the Baha'i writings into the local language of Setswana and who personally translated Baha'i scripture into several Bushman languages.
One of the members of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Botswana, Maureen Page, now from the United States, presented a gift of framed photographs of Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, the widow of Shoghi Effendi and a Hand of the Cause of God, that were taken during her visit to the Bushmen (San) people in the Kalahari desert of Botswana in 1972.
Among the other Hands of the Cause to visit Botswana during the past 50 years were Collis Featherstone, Paul Haney, Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, Adelbert Muhlschlegel, and Enoch Olinga.
Program
A member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa Enos Makhele spoke at the jubilee about the significance of the Baha'i history in Botswana and the achievements and the future plans of the community. There are 30 Local Spiritual Assemblies in Botswana, and Baha'is can be found in several hundred villages and other localities.
Baha'i choirs from the villages of Oodi and Tlokweng, as well as the National Jubilee Choir and the Swaziland Baha'i youth choir provided uplifting entertainment.
A dramatic presentation by a group of Baha'i youth portrayed traditional and modern aspects of cultural life in Botswana.
The jubilee celebrations were covered by the National Television of Botswana, the private television channel GBC, and two newspapers, the ""Daily News"" and ""Mmegi.""
For more about the Baha'i community of Botswana see
https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=130",GABORONE,,Botswana
357,2005-03-16,[],Pledges on equality 'need to be honored',"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Governments should ensure that they act upon their commitments to advance the equality of women and men, said the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, Bani Dugal, in a speech to commemorate International Women's Day.
""What is the meaning of stated commitments if no action results?"" said Ms. Dugal, the chairperson of the NGO Committee at the UN on the Status of Women.
""States can no longer be permitted to shirk from their responsibilities on the pretext of domestic jurisdiction or cultural relativism. There are no grounds--moral, practical or biological--on which denial of women's rights can be justified,"" Ms. Dugal said.
""The consequences of inaction and continuing discrimination against fully half of the world's population are an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the very principles of the United Nations,"" she said.
Ms. Dugal was speaking on 4 March 2005 at the invitation of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. She shared the dais with a roster of notables in the field of women's rights, including Nobel Prize winners Wangari Maathai of Kenya and Rigoberta Menchu Tum of Guatemala.
""The full equality of men and women is not the end goal,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""It is a prerequisite for the very ends the United Nations was created to serve. That global peace and security are not possible without women is a truth we can no longer deny. As a global community, we have the means; we have made the plans, let us not be afraid to try.""
Ms. Dugal said the UN had given the worldwide women's movement a ""unique space"" in a series of conferences to address women's rights--the 1995 World Conference for Women in Beijing, for example, was critical in helping women reach for full equality.  The Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, Bani Dugal, at the observance of International Women's Day at the United Nations on 4 March 2005.""It established clear standards and stated unequivocally that women's rights are human rights and that meeting these rights is central to every nation's progress in development and democracy,"" said Ms. Dugal.
It is important, however, for those governments that signed the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to ensure those commitments are acted on, she said.
Ms. Dugal also stressed the importance of partnership with men and boys, and their education, in the advancement of women. ""Until they themselves refuse to accept laws and practices that discriminate and demean their daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers, nothing will change,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Angela King, who organized the 23rd Special Session of the General Assembly in 2000, known as Beijing +5 for its review of the 1995 conference, posed a list of questions relating to implementation of those commitments: Why are ways to implement  government commitments not fully funded? Why are so few women at the peace table? Why are stereotypes of women's roles so hard to change?
""When we can answer all these questions then we will know why implementation is so slow,"" said Ms. King. ""When we find what strategies to put in place then real implementation will be underway.""
Ms. King's successor in the position of assistant secretary-general and special adviser on gender issues and advancement of women, Rachel Mayanja, called for ""more male gender specialists and more strategic alliances with young women and men.""
""In the last 30 years, men have gone to the moon and back, yet women are still at the same place they were, that is trying to sensitize the world to the unwarranted and unacceptable marginalization of women which deprives them of their human rights,"" Ms. Mayanja said.
Report by Veronica Shoffstall.
For more information on the speeches of the participants see http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/wom1495.doc.htm.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
358,2005-03-21,[],Two new members join Universal House of Justice ,"HAIFA, Israel — The Universal House of Justice has announced the election of two new members, Payman Mohajer and Paul Lample.
The Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Baha'i Faith, conveyed to National Spiritual Assemblies the results of a by-election to fill two vacancies on Naw-Ruz, the Baha'i new year. The holy day is celebrated from sunset on March 20 to sunset on the 21st.
Dr. Mohajer and Mr. Lample fill the vacancies created by the departure at Naw-Ruz of Mr. Ian Semple and Mr. Douglas Martin, owing to age and the related needs of the Faith.
Dr. Mohajer was born in Tehran, Iran, where he received his elementary school education. He then went with his family to India where he received a degree in homoeopathic medicine in 1984. After several years' work in his medical clinic, Dr. Mohajer completed a master's degree in psychology.
In 1996, his interest in the field of education led him to establish a Baha'i-inspired institution, the Foundation for the Advancement of Science.
He was appointed as an Auxiliary Board member in 1986, serving until he was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia in 1991. He was called to serve as a member of the International Teaching Centre in 1998 and was reappointed in 2003. He and his wife, Svetlana, have three children.
Mr. Lample, an author and educator, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and a Master of Science from the National University in San Diego, California. In the early 1990s he served on the National Teaching Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
In 1994 he moved to the Baha'i World Centre to serve as coordinator of the Office of Social and Economic Development. He was appointed to the International Teaching Centre in 2003. Mr. Lample and his wife, Marcia, have three children.
The other members of the Universal House of Justice are Farzam Arbab, Kiser Barnes, Hooper Dunbar, Hartmut Grossmann, Firaydoun Javaheri, Peter Khan, and Glenford Mitchell.
The Faith, which has no clergy, administers its affairs through democratically elected councils at the international, national, and local levels.
Baha'i elections take place without campaigning or nominations, the results being determined by plurality vote. Members of the Universal House of Justice are elected by members of all National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world.
Electors are guided by the Faith's teachings, which advise each person to vote, independently and in the privacy of his or her own conscience, for ""the names of those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability, and mature experience.""
There are about five million Baha'is worldwide. Prominent among the Faith's teachings are the oneness of humanity, the equality of men and women, and the unity and harmony of the world's religions.
The Baha'i World Centre in the Acre/Haifa area of modern day Israel has been both the spiritual and administrative center of the Faith since its Founder, Baha'u'llah, was exiled there by the Ottoman Empire in 1868.",HAIFA,,Israel
359,2005-03-24,[],Leaving after many years of service,"HAIFA, Israel — Two members of the Universal House of Justice have left the Baha'i Faith's international governing council after many years of service.
Mr. Ian Semple, 76, served as a member of the Universal House of Justice since it was first elected in 1963. Mr. Douglas Martin, 78, served as a member since 1993.
Re-elected successively to five-year terms, Messrs Semple and Martin requested the Universal House of Justice for permission to resign their office owing to considerations of age and related needs of the Faith.
The request was granted and they served until a by-election to replace them was completed. The by-election was held by postal ballot and the results were announced on 21 March 2005.
(https://news.bahai.org/story/358)
Both Mr. Semple and Mr. Martin had extensive experience in the Faith's activities before their election to the nine-member council, which has its Seat on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.  Mr. Ian Semple (left) and Mr. Douglas Martin.Born in 1928 in England, Mr. Semple did his national service in the British Army from 1947-50 during which period he earned a commission in the Royal Corps of Signals.
He studied at Pembroke College, Oxford, obtaining a BA in German and French Language and Literature in 1952 and an MA in 1955. He subsequently studied accounting in the City of London, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1955 and becoming a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Mr. Semple became a member of the Baha'i Faith in 1950 and was first elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the British Isles in 1956. He served on that body, latterly as its secretary, until he moved to Haifa upon his election in 1961 to the International Baha'i Council, on which he served as assistant secretary.
From 1957-61 he also served as a member of the Auxiliary Board for the propagation of the Baha'i Faith in Europe.
Mr. Semple has delivered many addresses on the history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith. He is married to Mrs. Louise Semple (nee Gloor) and they have three children.
Mr. Douglas Martin was born in 1927 in Ontario, Canada. He holds a Bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Western Ontario and a Master's degree in history from the University of Waterloo, Ontario. His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Martin, passed away in 1999.
Mr. Martin was a consultant in advertising and public relations until he devoted himself exclusively to Baha'i administration and scholarship.
He was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada from 1960-85, serving as its general secretary from 1965-85. From 1985-93 he was director-general of the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa.
With Dr. William S. Hatcher, he co-authored ""The Baha'i Faith: The Emerging Global Religion,"" published by Harper & Row and later by the US Baha'i Publishing Trust. He has also published articles and scholarly monographs and lectured widely on the Baha'i Faith.
He is a former editor-in-chief of ""One Country,"" a Baha'i international news magazine, and ""The Baha'i World,"" a series of annual reference volumes. He was a founding member of the Association for Baha'i Studies, serving on its international executive committee from 1974-85.",HAIFA,,Israel
360,2005-03-30,[],Beliefs inspire invention of stove,"MATSAPHA, Swaziland — Setting out to design a stove for developing countries, Crispin Pemberton-Pigott began by imagining how many trees might be saved if he invented an inexpensive, efficient wood-burning cooker.
Mr. Pemberton-Pigott is the head of New Dawn Engineering in Swaziland, an appropriate technology design and manufacturing company that serves southern Africa.
He moved from Canada to Africa 28 years ago and cites his practice of the Baha'i Faith as the inspiration behind New Dawn's efforts to design and manufacture economical machines for Africa's villages.
""The Baha'i writings speak of the importance of initiating 'measures which would universally enrich the masses of the people,'"" said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott. ""They say there can be 'no undertaking greater than this.'""
""In a way, the Vesto stove began as a flight of fancy, to see if I could bring to market an innovative stove that ignored the nay-sayers who said a commercially viable, highly efficient stove cannot be made cheaply,"" he said.
""If it worked, we could save a very large number of people the effort of cutting down trees, and at the same time avoid the need to plant a lot of new trees for fuel,"" he said.
Mr. Pemberton-Pigott's ""flight of fancy"" has paid off. The stove burns just one-quarter of the wood needed to cook on an open fire, and it is virtually smokeless. New Dawn has sold more than 1,000 of the new stoves since its invention in early 2002.
Moreover, the stove was honored last year by the Design Institute of South Africa (DISA), taking the top Chairman's Special Award, which called it ""an outstanding piece of design which is of the highest international standard.""
""The relatively low retail price brings the Vesto stove within reach of people at the lower end of the economic scale,"" the Award citation reads. Judging criteria included innovation, cost/value relationship, performance, safety and ergonomics, environmental impact, appearance, and ease of installation and maintenance.
""That is the highest such design award that we know of in Africa,"" said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott. The stove also won recently in the Houseware category at an annual event held by the South African Bureau of Standards. And the Stainless Steel Development Association gave the product a Merit Award for the innovative use of stainless steel.  Founded by Mr. Pemberton-Pigott and his wife, Margaret, in 1984, New Dawn makes a wide range of simple but highly efficient machines for use at the village level in developing regions. In addition to the Vesto and other stoves, these machines include hand-operated oil presses and rock crushers, fence makers, and various brick and roof tile makers.
""We believe that labor-intensive equipment and virtuous social and economic development can be catalysts not only for third world countries, but for illustrating a better future for mankind,"" said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott. ""In this day, actions must exceed words.""
How it works
The portable Vesto stove burns wood and dung more efficiently and with fewer emissions than conventional stoves. Dung, especially, is a notoriously low-yield and smoky fuel but is used in some regions of Africa, such as Ethiopia, where no other fuel is available.
The key to this efficiency, said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott, is a design that pre-heats incoming air while using that air to insulate the fire and prevent heat loss.
""This increases the efficiency of burning low quality fuel, like dung, by up to six fold,"" said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott.
The Vesto has three types of secondary air inlets, allowing it to function as both a charcoal-producing gasifier and a charcoal burning, wood burning, or dung burning stove.
Another feature of the Vesto design is that it can be manufactured relatively simply. ""Its production does not require complex and expensive tooling or high capital expenditure,"" said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott. ""Many innovative stoves are so elaborate that they are almost impossible to make in a simple environment. In designing this stove, we sought both simplicity and extreme efficiency.""
Based on a modified 25-liter paint can, the stove sells for about US$29.00. If sales increase, and more units are produced, that price will drop further, said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott.
In addition to burning fuel more efficiently -- a considerable benefit in a region where forests are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain -- the stove also offers innovative safety measures.
""Stoves are a major source of health problems for women and children,"" said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott. ""The Vesto addresses these by being safe to use -- not very hot on the outside.""
Unlike a paraffin stove, the Vesto contains its fire in a gas-insulated tin, which not only makes it cooler to the touch but confines the fire if the stove is knocked over.
In addition, the fact that the Vesto burns virtually any biomass fuel means that households can move away from the use of expensive charcoal.
""African cities use huge amounts of charcoal, produced at despairingly low conversion rates from virgin forests,"" said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott. ""No one has ever converted a large urban population from charcoal back to wood.
""Doing so would also save large tracts of forest because the wood is so much more efficient in terms of the total heat in the fuel and the total amount of cooking done by it compared with charcoal.
""To achieve this, it would be necessary to have a stove that burned charcoal well and wood very well,"" said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott. ""People might buy it as a fast-lighting charcoal stove, but then sooner or later they would run out of charcoal and try burning wood.""
""They would immediately realize that the lower cost wood was a good or even better fuel than the charcoal had been,"" said Mr. Pemberton-Pigott.
The Moya Center for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Swaziland recently received a donation of four Vesto stoves for its child-headed households.
""All of these children had been using firewood and an open fire to cook their food,"" said Jane Cox, director of the Moya Center. ""And their 'kitchens' are a smoke trap and particularly unhealthy.
""I have been back to these households [since they got stoves] and they speak with one voice,"" said Ms. Cox. ""They use a fraction of the firewood they had been using, with the amazing result of water boiling within 10 minutes and no smoke visible.""
For more information about the Vesto stove, see http://www.newdawnengineering.com/website/stove/singlestove/vesto/vesto1.php.",MATSAPHA,,Swaziland
361,2005-04-05,[],Baha'i classes find wide appeal,"SYDNEY, Australia — About 6,000 primary schoolchildren in Australia are attending Baha'i classes, which are offered in more than 300 state-run schools.
The classes are offered mainly to provide religious instruction to Baha'i children.
Yet more than 90 percent of the children in Baha'i classes are from families who are not members of the Baha'i Faith -- indicating the wide appeal of the Baha'i approach to religious education.
Among the parents sending their children to Baha'i religious classes at their local primary schools is Vicki Thomas, a 33-year-old resident of St. Ives, a suburb of Sydney.
Ms. Thomas, who is not a Baha'i, says she wants her three children to grow up with some kind of religious feeling.
""My children are very young, and they don't need anything too heavy at this stage, but it's important to me that they do have a faith education,"" said Ms. Thomas.
""I liked the open-minded approach of the Baha'i curriculum,"" she said.
Australian parents have the option of enrolling their children in Special Religious Education courses at state schools, thanks in part to a century-old law requiring schools to offer religious training if parents want it.
As might be expected in Australia where some 70 percent of the population identify themselves as Christian, many more children attend religious classes offered by Christians in state schools. Classes are also offered in by Buddhist and Muslim groups, among others.
Moral values stressed
In accordance with the Baha'i belief that all the world's great religions share the same divine origin and have been revealed progressively to humanity, the approach of Baha'i Education in State Schools (BESS) includes an introduction to the world's other great religions.
BESS classes also stress the development of moral values as taught in all world religions, such as patience, honesty, and compassion, as well as Baha'u'llah's social principles, such as the oneness of humanity, the equality of women and men, and the promotion of racial and religious tolerance. Prayers and meditation are also incorporated.
""Parents appreciate that we teach the students to respect the different cultures and religions of the world in the classes,"" said Yvonne Perkins, a spokesperson for the Baha'i community of Australia, which has about 10,000 members.
""They also like the moral basis of the program, and the fact that we encourage children to look at their own behavior and how improving it helps them to contribute to a better world,"" said Ms. Perkins.
The law in most Australian states and territories allows students to obtain specialized religious education in the school setting.
Special Religious Education (SRE) is offered by religious groups, approved and administered at the state level.
The BESS program was established in the late 1980s, when the Baha'i community was approved by the New South Wales State Government as a provider of Special Religious Education.
Today, BESS classes are taught by hundreds of Baha'i volunteers in most states of Australia.  Members of a Baha'i Education in State Schools (BESS) class in Perth, Western Australia displaying their work at a school assembly.They receive ongoing training in religious education, undergo child protection training, and are registered according to the policy of state-level education departments. They use curriculum resources developed for BESS classes by Baha'is who are professional educators.
An example is the situation in Western Australia where the State's Department of Education and Training is involved.
""The Baha'i Special Religious Curriculum -- the Peace Pack -- has been reviewed and subsequently endorsed by the Department for trained Baha'i personnel to deliver,"" said Brian Rogers, the Department's principal curriculum officer.
""In endorsing the program, the Department looked at general issues such as pedagogical approach rather than specific information, which is left to the individual religious bodies to decide,"" said Mr. Rogers.
Independent thinking
The BESS program encourages children to identify those virtues they already possess, and those they need to develop.
The classes adhere to the Baha'i principle that education should help people think independently. Hence, BESS teachers do not seek to convert or indoctrinate their students, but rather to encourage them to think about their spirituality and the ways they can serve humanity.
Children from families who are not Baha'is may only attend BESS classes with parental permission.
""We've experienced an enormous growth of interest and numbers in BESS classes over the past decade in particular,"" said Ms. Perkins. ""The classes have expanded in number and size largely through word of mouth, and through the results that parents see in children who attend them.
""Children love the way the classes are taught -- the program is quite varied, with a lot of arts and crafts, meditation, and stories -- so it keeps their imagination stimulated,"" Ms. Perkins said. BESS teachers also incorporate singing, dancing, games, and other participatory activities.
Many teachers draw on a Baha'i curriculum known as the ""Peace Pack."" It was initially developed in Western Australia by professional teacher Georgina Sounness and professional illustrator Terri Turner.
""The whole purpose of it is to empower children to believe that peace is achievable and to give them the tools to become peacemakers and assist them in bringing it about,"" said Ms. Sounness.
To help children imagine a peaceful world, the authors use the idea of building a ""Peace House"" with cardboard, paint, and felt.
Children understand that if one part is missing, the house isn't complete, Ms. Sounness said. ""If the oneness of mankind is missing, or gender equality is missing, there will still be an absence of peace.""
Changes in behavior
The response from parents to the BESS classes has been overwhelmingly positive.
""I've had parents call to thank us for giving their children a spiritual education,"" said Ms. Sounness. ""They want to give that to their children but are often at a loss on how to approach this.
""They've given written permission for their children to attend the classes, so they know what they're receiving, but beyond that they fall in love with the curriculum too.""
Ms. Perkins said many parents have commented on how their children's behavior has improved through attending BESS classes.
""Our teachers work from the view that while a child's qualities might be masked by poor behavior that's developed over time, everyone nevertheless possesses something wonderful.
""Baha'i teachers actually search for those good qualities in the children, to show the children the wonderful qualities they have, ignoring labels like 'poor concentration' or 'badly behaved',"" said Ms. Perkins.
""For a child, to have someone encouraging you to develop your good attributes once a week instead of focusing on what's wrong with your behavior -- this can all make a dramatic change to a child's life.""
Robert Chivers, a 50-year-old software developer in Perth, who has taught BESS classes for three years, said parents often say they see improved behavior after the classes.
""Parents notice the difference on the days the children have Baha'i classes -- for example, their children are calmer, and talk about using virtues,"" Mr. Chivers said.
BESS teacher Venus Nasrabadi said the number of pupils in her class has risen dramatically over the past eight years.
""Children really do recognize God, in the sense that they have a feeling for their own spirituality, and I give them a lot of creative activities which illustrate the themes they're learning,"" Ms. Nasrabadi said.
""For example, in teaching about Moses, we made paper baskets to illustrate the story that His parents had to put Him into a basket and place him in a river, and that helped introduce our study of Moses and His achievements and the Jewish faith.
""For Mother's Day, the children made a gift card containing a prayer for mothers from the Baha'i writings, and covered them with sequins, shells, and colors. Later, their mothers told me that they absolutely loved this craftwork partly because it is a gift thanking them for their service as parents, and also because their children are learning respectfulness.""
Michelle Ostowari, 47, is married to a Zoroastrian and chose BESS classes for her daughter, being ""the closest thing"" she could find to a Zoroastrian class.
""It's been very good for my daughter; she has become genuinely tolerant towards everyone, no matter whether they're Jewish, Muslim, or whatever -- she gets on with everyone, and we're delighted that, for her, religion will never be a barrier to friendship,"" Ms. Osowari said.
Jan Heath, a 46-year-old teacher in Brisbane, who is not Baha'i, sends her son to BESS classes at the Fig Tree Pocket State School. She says the class has helped him develop respect and tolerance for others.
""My son certainly seems to be heading towards growing into a caring young man,"" said Ms. Heath. ""He may have done this anyway, but constant reminders and praise in Baha'i classes can only help. I feel that the teachings reinforce our family values.""
Ms. Thomas, of the Sydney suburb of St. Ives, likewise said her children seem to enjoy the Baha'i classes.
""There is an emphasis on peace and unity in the Baha'i teachings, which the children love,"" said Ms. Thomas.
""They come home with beautiful work and beautiful quotations, and there's a real gentleness of spirit that comes across, which is really beneficial for them,"" said Ms. Thomas. ""It's definitely one of the highlights of the week -- they look forward to their Tuesday mornings so much.""
Reporting by Corinne Podger.",SYDNEY,,Australia
362,2005-04-07,[],British prime minister praises Baha'i community,"LONDON, England — The prime minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, has praised the work of the nation's Baha'i community in assisting social cohesion and the interfaith movement.
""In many ways, Baha'is embody the spirit of community cohesion that is so important to our society,"" Mr. Blair said in a message on the occasion of the Baha'i Naw-Ruz (New Year).
""The Baha'i community, in its outlook on life and in its proactive work in the inter-faith, cohesion and anti-discrimination fields, show how much faith-based bodies can contribute to wider society, and the Government looks forward to continuing our good relationship,"" Mr. Blair said.
The message was read at the Naw-Ruz reception held on 21 March 2005 on the terrace of the House of Commons. Baha'i representatives, members of both Houses of Parliament, and senior members of the public service attended the event.  At the Naw-Ruz reception at the British Paliament: (left to right) Tim Morris of the British Foreign Office, Mieko Bond, director of the Baha'i Office for the Advancement of Women in the United Kingdom, and Lembit Opik MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'i Faith.The All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'i Faith sponsored the gathering, which was also attended by representatives of interfaith organizations, NGOs, and the media.
The All Party Friends of the Baha'i Faith was formed in 1999 and has since hosted five Naw-Ruz receptions. The group is open to members of Parliament from across the political spectrum and was formed largely in response to the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran and other states.
The chair of the All Party Friends of the Baha'i Faith, Lembit Opik  MP, spoke of his admiration for the work of the Baha'is.
The secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, Barney Leith, thanked the All Party Friends of the Baha'i Faith for defending the human rights of the Baha'is in Iran and for keeping the government of the United Kingdom informed of the situation.
""Sadly, the situation of the Baha'is in Iran is deteriorating at the moment. This makes the work of the All Party Friends of the Baha'is even more vital,"" Mr. Leith said.
Entertainer Inder Manocha, a Baha'i who was named best comedian in last year's Ethnic Multicultural Media Achievement Awards, was master of ceremonies for the gathering.
Baha'i communities throughout the world celebrate their new year, marked by the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, between sunset on 20 March 2005 and sunset on the 21st.
Known as ""Naw-Ruz,"" the festival has been celebrated in Iran from time immemorial, and was confirmed by Baha'u'llah as a holy day. It coincides with the first day of the first month of the year in the Baha'i calendar.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
365,2005-04-12,[],New version of 'The Baha'is' magazine published,"HAIFA, Israel — A new version of a glossy 80-page magazine profiling the Baha'i Faith and its worldwide community has just been published.
""The Baha'is"" is a magazine suited to the needs of journalists, officials, academics, leaders of thought, and the general public.
It is written in the style of a newsmagazine and illustrated with color photographs, charts, and graphs.
The first edition of the magazine -- with more than 250,000 copies -- was published in 1992 and later reprinted. It was translated into many languages, including Albanian, French, Icelandic, Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish.
""The new version is completely updated,"" said Douglas Moore, director of the Office of Public Information of the Baha'i International Community, which is the publisher of the magazine.
""We expect that it will be extremely useful in helping people better understand the Baha'i Faith and what the Baha'is are all about,"" Mr. Moore said.
It features sections on Baha'u'llah, the spiritual and moral teachings of the Baha'i Faith, the Faith's history and administration, and its programs of social and economic development. It also has profiles of individual Baha'is and examples of community activities.
The new edition appears initially in English but translations into other languages are under way.
""The Baha'is"" can be ordered from the Baha'i Distribution Service in the United States (http://www.bahaibookstore.com).",HAIFA,,Israel
366,2005-04-12,[],Tree-planting marks Fiji anniversary,"SUVA, Fiji — Fijian Baha'is have planted trees to mark the 80th anniversary of their community and as a tribute to Baha'is in Fiji and Iran.
Four trees, each a different type of Norfolk pine (Araucaria) from different Pacific countries, were planted at the Baha'i compound in Suva, said Kim Bowden-Kerby, the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Fiji.
""A Norfolk pine from Australia signifies the services of Irene Jackson Williams, who came here in the mid 1950s to assist the Baha'is,"" Ms. Bowden-Kerby said.
""Another type of Araucaria, which can only be found in Fiji, stands in memory of the first Fijian Baha'is,"" she said.
""An Araucaria from Papua New Guinea was planted at the national Baha'i center to mark the 80th anniversary of the Faith in Fiji and one, a Cook pine from New Caledonia, for those Baha'is who have been martyred in Iran.""
Norfolk pines, distinguished by their height, beauty and symmetry, are well known by Baha'is for gracing the approaches to the holiest places in the Baha'i world, the Shrine of Baha'u'llah and the Shrine of the Bab in the Holy Land.
The plantings took place at the anniversary festivities, which were held 12-15 November 2004. The first day of the celebrations also involved the observance of the Baha'i holy day commemorating the birth of Baha'u'llah.  Third convention of the Baha'is of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji, April 1961.Present at the festivities were some longstanding members of the community including Victor Williams, Aisea Aisake (the first Rotuman Baha'i), Apisai Matau, Yee Wah Sing (the first Fiji Chinese Baha'i), and Lepani Vakaloloma. They spoke about the early days of the Faith in Fiji and shared stories about their first encounters with the Baha'i teachings.
Among those warmly remembered at the anniversary festivities were distinguished Baha'i visitors Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani and other Hands of the Cause of God including Abu'l Qasim Faizi, Collis Featherstone, Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, and Enoch Olinga. The Hand of the Cause of God Martha Root deposited Baha'i books in the Suva library while on her way to Hawaii in 1939.
Among the official guests at the celebrations was Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, who subsequently became vice-president of Fiji.
During those celebrations, Fiji-based historian Graham Hassall addressed participants about the history of the Fijian Baha'i community and the individuals who played an important role in establishing it.
Dr. Hassall highlighted the contributions of Irene Jackson (later Mrs. Williams), a Baha'i from Australia, who arrived in Suva on 21 March 1954.
Ms. Jackson, who worked as a bookkeeper in the capital, was soon elected as a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Suva and served as its secretary.
In 1959, when the first Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the South Pacific was formed, Ms. Jackson was elected secretary.
A New Zealand Baha'i, Nora Lee, had lived in Fiji from 1924 to about 1930. Before Ms. Jackson's arrival there were already a number of staunch Baha'is in the country. Among Baha'is who visited in the early days were Loulie Matthews, and Alvin and Gertrude Blum. Among the first Fijians to accept the Faith were Nur and Violet Ali, and Wali and Zainab Khan.
The celebrations were rich in music and dance. The Baha'is of the Lau Islands danced a traditional meke, while a youth group from the island of Rabi and a Baha'i choir sang songs. The performance of a Nasinu youth troupe included European, Fijian, and Indian dances.
Following the public ceremony there was a joyous and emotional two-day celebration in the Baha'i compound where Baha'is from all over Fiji shared stories and joined in group singing.
The ""Fiji Times,"" one of the mostly widely read dailies in the country, published an article about the anniversary festivities.
Today there are 21 Local Spiritual Assemblies in Fiji. Baha'is live in more than 80 localities throughout Fiji and are engaged in community service.
For example, they hold regular prayer gatherings and children's classes, both of which are attracting increasing members of the wider public.
A weekly multi-faith prayer gathering is held every Sunday at the national Baha'i center in Suva, where participants read prayers and verses from a variety of religious scriptures.
The community also organizes study circles, where Baha'i and other participants learn how to assist others to investigate spiritual truths and to express themselves eloquently. They also learn how to carry out acts of service to others, such as teaching spiritual values to children.",SUVA,,Fiji
367,2005-04-14,[],Dismay at lack of human rights resolution on Iran as persecution worsens,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The Baha'i International Community today expressed its dismay and disappointment at the failure of the UN Commission on Human Rights to even consider a resolution on human rights in Iran, given the worsening situation in that country and in particular the persecution of the Baha'is.
""In view of the sharp increase of human rights violations against the Baha'i community of Iran, it is nothing less than shocking that the Commission on Human Rights has for the third year in a row failed to renew international monitoring of the situation,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Over the past year, two important Baha'i holy places have been destroyed, Baha'i students have been denied access to higher education, and, most recently, Baha'is in Yazd and Tehran have been swept up in a new wave of assaults, harassment and detentions.
""All of this has come as part of a continuing pattern of religious persecution instigated and condoned by the Iranian government, which has in years past faced the clear condemnation of the international community for its actions,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""We are very disappointed at the failure of the Commission on Human Rights to live up to its mandate,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""Unfortunately, countries which in the past have initiated resolutions calling for the international monitoring of Iran backed away from the table again this year,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Ms. Dugal's comments came at the end of the Commission's period for consideration of country-specific resolutions today, when all hope for such a resolution on Iran had passed.
Three weeks ago, the Baha'i International Community strongly urged the Commission to table and pass a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran, saying that ""the gross, flagrant, repeated violations of human rights in Iran -- including the abuses that target Baha'is in that country -- warrant the re-establishment of a monitoring mechanism.""
""For three years, this Commission has not been capable of presenting a resolution on Iran, while the situation there has gradually but steadily deteriorated,"" said Diane Ala'i, the community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, in a statement to the Commission on 23 March 2005.
""And now, over the past few months, we have had the impression of a shifting back in time, some 20 years or more, as we have witnessed a resumption of violent attacks on the Baha'i community in Iran,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""The most serious outbreak occurred in Yazd, where several Baha'is were assaulted in their homes and beaten, a Baha'i's shop was set on fire and burned, and others were harassed and threatened, following a series of arrests and short-term detentions. The Baha'i cemetery in Yazd was wantonly destroyed, with cars driven over the graves, tombstones smashed and the remains of the interred left exposed.""
Ms. Ala'i also said that in March, in Tehran, Iranian intelligence agents entered the homes of several Baha'is and spent hours ransacking their houses before carting away their possessions and taking them into custody.
""Five Baha'is have been imprisoned just this past month,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""Two were finally released on bail, but family and community members have not been able to locate those in detention. Two others, who had previously been briefly detained for nothing more than distributing copies of a courteous letter to President Khatami, have now received the maximum sentence for this so-called offence.
""Six more Baha'i families recently had their homes and land confiscated, depriving them of their only means of livelihood.""
""Indeed, human rights violations in Iran have again become so grave that, in our view, they warrant a clear signal from the international community and a decision to reestablish international monitoring -- now,"" Ms. Ala'i said in March.
Between 1978 and 1998, the Iranian government executed more than 200 Baha'is. Hundreds more Baha'is were imprisoned, and tens of thousands were deprived of jobs, pensions, businesses, and educational opportunities.
In the face of intense international pressure, most significantly through a series of United Nations human rights resolutions, the Iranian government has essentially halted the executions and greatly reduced the number of Baha'is held in prison.
Yet while it has halted the most egregious forms of direct violence against individual members of the Baha'i community, the government has nevertheless continued its campaign of persecution, principally through social and economic restrictions that aim at slowly suffocating an entire religious community.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
368,2005-04-20,[],New official Baha'i Web site launched,"HAIFA, Israel — A new official Web site has been launched by the Baha'i International Community to provide an introduction to the Baha'i Faith for general inquirers, researchers, and journalists.
The Web site, titled ""The Baha'is,"" is also a portal to the family of official Web sites of the Baha'i International Community.
This site at http://bahai.org replaces the previous site at the same address, ""The Baha'i World,"" as the main official site of the Baha'i Faith on the Internet.
The content of ""The Baha'i World"" will continue to be available as the ""Baha'i Topics: An Information Resource,"" at http://info.bahai.org.
The new site gives visitors concise initial summaries of aspects of the Baha'i Faith, said Douglas Moore, director of the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel.
""The visitors then have the option of obtaining more comprehensive and better integrated information on those topics,"" Mr. Moore said.
It also provides access to the latest Baha'i news and feature stories, he said.
""The inclusive feel of the site demonstrates the Baha'i belief that the teachings of Baha'u'llah are for everyone and not just those who have joined the Faith,"" Mr. Moore said.
""Those who read about the current main activities of Baha'is will see that all are welcome to participate in them, whether they be study circles, children's classes, or devotional meetings,"" he said.
A map assists visitors to find the official Baha'i Web sites of their respective countries.
The site acts as a portal to the family of official sites of the Baha'i International Community including:

Baha'i Topics: An Information Resource (http://info.bahai.org); a comprehensive collection of articles about the Baha'i Faith, its teachings, history, and community.
Baha'i World News Service (https://news.bahai.org); the latest Baha'i news and feature stories.
One Country (http://www.onecountry.org); a news and features magazine.
Baha'i Reference Library (http://reference.bahai.org); the authoritative online source of the Baha'i sacred writings.
Baha'i Statement Library (http://statements.bahai.org); an archive of statements by the Baha'i International Community.

The Baha'i International Community will launch two more official sites in the near future: a media library that includes a collection of Baha'i images for use in publications and Web sites, and a glossary, which will offer definitions and a pronunciation guide to key Baha'i terms.",HAIFA,,Israel
369,2005-04-26,[],Spectacular site for Chile temple,"SANTIAGO, Chile — The first Baha'i House of Worship in South America will be built in the Andean foothills with a panoramic view of the mountains in three directions.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Chile has taken possession of a 110-hectare site in a rural region of the Chacabuco Province some 35 minutes by car north of the center of Santiago.
The House of Worship will be on the top of a hill in a seven-hectare section of the site that will constitute the immediate grounds and gardens of the Temple.
The temple, designed by Canadian architect Siamak Hariri, will be clad in forged glass and Spanish alabaster. The translucent stone will allow sunlight to filter through during the day and the Temple to emit a warm glow from the interior lighting at night.
The nine ""wings"" that form the exterior will torque upwards, overlapping at the apex to create a dome.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the US$27 million temple will be held in October 2005, and the building should be completed within three years, said a spokesman for the Baha'i International Community, Douglas Moore.
The municipal authorities have given pre-project approval and an environmental impact study is now under way, Mr. Moore said.
""The site is arid and semi-desert in character and is untouched, unspoiled land with its original vegetation,"" he said.  The alabaster ""wings"" of the Baha'i Temple for South America will be translucent.""An access road has just been completed, and other preliminary work is to begin with some landscaping and tree planting,"" he said.
""The Bicentennial Commission of the Chilean government has designated the Baha'i House of Worship as one of a limited number of official projects in the private sector to commemorate Chile's 200 years of independent nationhood,"" Mr. Moore said.
""We are glad to see the civil authorities' recognition of the significance of this edifice and their confidence in the benefit the undertaking will bring to Santiago and to Chile as a whole.""
Mr. Moore said the project would be financed entirely by voluntary contributions from Baha'is around the world.
Representatives from all national Baha'i communities of the Western Hemisphere will be invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony, with a special emphasis on the countries and indigenous peoples of South America.
Chile had been mentioned as the site for the first Baha'i Temple of South America in a message to the South American Baha'i convention in 1953 by the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
There has been widespread media attention to the Temple project since the announcement on 12 June 2003 by the Universal House of Justice that it had chosen a design by Mr. Hariri of the Toronto firm of Hariri Pontarini Architects.
The design has won accolades from writers in more than 40 international architectural and design journals published in a range of countries including, for example, Australia, Canada, Italy, Germany, Russia, and the United States.
The ""Canadian Architect"" journal featured the design on its December 2004 cover as one of its 2004 Awards of Excellence.
A judge for the awards was quoted in this journal as saying, ""this project represents a rare convergence of forces that seem destined to produce a monument so unique as to become a global landmark.""
""One can only marvel at the architect's commitment to originate this form, the energy with which it has been developed, and the power of religious belief in motivating artistic achievement.""
Another journal ""The Architectural Review"" said in its April 2004 issue that the Temple ""should become a gentle and welcoming beacon to the whole of South America.""
For more information on the Baha'i House of Worship for South America, see
https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=223
https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=229
https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=279.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
370,2005-05-10,[],How everyone can win,"BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON, United States — In Western countries, it is taken for granted that the best way to settle political, economic, or legal differences is by putting two or more sides together in a contest and letting one side win.
But the adversarial system has distinct flaws. There is always a ""winner"" and a ""loser.""
Somewhere along the line, compromises are usually made, which may not be in the best interests of the whole. And there is always the possibility -- and an increasing one as corruption of various forms creeps into the system -- that money or power will win out instead of truth or justice.
What if there is a better way?
Michael Karlberg's new book, ""Beyond the Culture of Contest,"" calls into question the series of assumptions on which the adversarial system is based, asking whether they are not more products of culture than of our underlying nature.
It also offers a hopeful new model (""mutualism"") in which non-adversarial decision-making could become the norm.
Dr. Karlberg, an assistant professor of communication at Western Washington University, criticizes the ""assumption that contests are normal and necessary models of social organization.""
In Western societies, he writes, there are three ""core institutions"" of society: politics, economics, and the legal system. Each is structured as a contest, he writes, designed to pit various parties, interests, or litigants against each other. And all three institutions are based on the notion of self-interest as the primary motivation.
""The political arena has been structured much like the capitalist free market,"" he writes. ""It is an arena within which individuals, and the parties they construct, try to advance their particular ideals and interests in a self-interested and competitive manner.""
The norm for adversarialism goes largely unquestioned, Dr. Karlberg adds, because it has become part of Western ""culture."" And that has occurred largely because of an assumption that human beings are by nature essentially selfish and aggressive.
The key to re-evaluating the culture of contest, then, is to re-evaluate our conception of human nature, Dr. Karlberg writes.
""Human beings appear to have the developmental potential for both conflict and cooperation,"" he writes. ""Which of these potentials is more fully realized is largely a product of our cultural environment -- as demonstrated by the fact that different societies vary considerably in their expressions of conflict and cooperation.""
Acknowledging that there will be a considerable number of skeptics who will remain wedded to the idea of contest, competition, and the efficiency of self-interest, Dr. Karlberg then examines various past and present forms of ""mutualism.""
In particular, he suggests that the various strands for a new kind of cooperative global culture are emerging in such areas as the feminist and ecological movements, modern systems and communications theories, and alternative systems for dispute resolution.
Ultimately, however, Dr. Karlberg suggests that none of these strands can be fully integrated without an overall change in our culture as a whole -- which, in turn, will require a re-conception of human nature and social structures.
What is needed, Dr. Karlberg writes, is ""an alternative cultural formation"" in which mutualism replaces adversarialism.
And he suggests a ""case study"" for such a model in the worldwide Baha'i community, ""which has over a century of experience applying non-adversarial models...in an integrated and mutually reinforcing manner.""
With some five million members, organized into local self-governing councils in more than 180 countries, Dr. Karlberg writes, the worldwide Baha'i community can be seen as a ""vast social experiment that is testing the assumptions about human nature, social organization, and social change"" that prevail in the adversarial system.
Dr. Karlberg, who is a Baha'i, notes that the Baha'i community follows a set of teachings that emphasizes cooperation, harmony, and unity.
Its institutional structures, he writes, are built around a non-partisan yet fully democratic electoral system that embodies non-adversarialism as one of its highest principles. In that system there are no nominations, no campaigning, and no underlying concept of interest groups or constituencies.
""The Baha'i electoral system embodies neither a contest nor the pursuit of power,"" he writes. ""In contrast to partisan electoral systems the process is unifying rather than divisive. Since no one seeks election, there is no concept of 'winning.' At the same time, the electoral process remains eminently democratic.""
Consultation
Dr. Karlberg also examines the principles of ""consultation,"" the non-adversarial decision-making system that is used by all Baha'i institutions.
It seeks to ""transcend the adversarial posturing and partisanship"" and ""patterns of negotiation and compromise"" that mark traditional adversarial decision-making.
Dr. Karlberg writes that the history of the Baha'i community is, by and large, a history of individual self-sacrifice and dedication to collective interests, presenting a significant challenge to the assumption that human nature is incorrigibly selfish and aggressive.
Dr. Karlberg  writes that the nature of global interdependence requires just such new modes of mutualism and cooperation in human endeavor.
""Because our reproductive and technological success as a species has led to conditions of unprecedented interdependence, no social group on the planet is any longer isolated,"" writes Dr. Karlberg.
""Under these new conditions, new strategies are not only becoming possible, they have become essential. An interdependent social body cannot coordinate its collective actions as long as its component members are locked in adversarial relationships.""
Review by Brad Pokorny.
""Beyond the Culture of Contest: From Adversarialism to Mutualism in an Age of Interdependence"" by Michael Karlberg. George Ronald. Oxford.
http://www.grbooks.com/",BELLINGHAM,WASHINGTON,United States
371,2005-05-11,[],Lifting standards wins awards,"BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — A gold medal in an international junior weightlifting championship is just one of a string of recent achievements in sport, the arts, and community service by Baha'is on this Caribbean island.
When Christopher Clarke, 14, won gold in the junior weightlifting competition in Slovakia this year, he beat competitors from traditionally strong nations in the sport such as Hungary and Poland.
Last year he won gold medals in the snatch (62.5 kg) at the Pan American School weightlifting championships held in Colorado Springs, United States, and also at a championship in Montreal.
Christopher likes to compete but has a special attitude towards his rivals. ""I think of them as friends that I am playing with,"" he said.
His faith, he said, helps him in his sport.  Champion junior weightlifter Christopher Clarke with some of his awards.""When I go to make a lift during competition, I feel as though I am not alone, as though someone is there with me,"" he said.
""It (his faith) motivates me, especially knowing that others are saying prayers for my success,"" he said, adding that Baha'is also support him by welcoming him at the airport as he arrives back from competitions.
Other young members of the Baha'i community of Barbados have also won recognition in the past year but in different fields of endeavor.
Rahmat Jean-Pierre, now 21, won  silver and bronze awards for dance and music  respectively in the  2004 National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA), and Simin Dolphin, now 17, was recognized last year for her academic excellence in Spanish.
""This testifies to the motivating power and example of Baha'i children, junior youth, and youth in the wider community,"" said Debbie Kirton, a spokesperson for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Barbados.
Ms. Kirton attributed the success of many individuals in the Baha'i community to the fact that as Baha'is they understand and appreciate the value of excellence in all undertakings.
The Baha'i youth of Barbados have older members of the Baha'i community as role models in service to the community and to the arts.
For example, Diane Bourne-Daniel, received a National Cultural Foundation Stalwarts award last year for her indigenous and original craft, a tribute that followed recognition in the same field in 2003 when she received the ""Queen's New Year Honour Award"" and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Hazel Beckles received the ""United Nations Volunteer Service"" award for exceptional contributions to the upliftment of the people of Barbados, and she also received recognition for being a founding member of the Justice of Peace Association.
Last year, Michael Forde won the Governor-General's award for original music as well as other prizes, and Rhonda Lewis won a ""National Cultural Foundation-Ervin Burgie"" award for excellence in the creative arts, along with university awards in the humanities.
The Baha'i community of Barbados has 10 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
The community organizes regular study circles, children's classes, and prayer gatherings, all of which welcome participation by the general public.",BRIDGETOWN,,Barbados
372,2005-05-18,[],Baha'is hold unique democratic elections,"JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Baha'i delegates from throughout South Africa have elected the national governing body of the Faith using the same unique democratic system employed by Baha'i communities in more than 180 countries worldwide.
Forty-eight delegates gathered at the new national Baha'i center this month for the annual convention where they consulted on plans for their national Baha'i community.
The delegates also heard the news that the Baha'i Faith will be introduced into state schools throughout South Africa as part of the ""Religion in Education"" program run by the government.
However, the main purpose of the meeting was the election. In a prayerful atmosphere, the delegates voted for nine members of their community to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of South Africa for one year.
A spokesman for the Baha'i International Community, Douglas Moore, said the distinctive way Baha'i elections are conducted worldwide stems from the writings of the Baha'i Faith.
""The Baha'i Faith administers its affairs through democratically elected nine-member councils at local, regional, national, and international levels,"" Mr. Moore said. ""It's a sacred process for Baha'is.""
""There are no nominations before or during elections, and Baha'is completely abstain from campaigning or discussing the qualities of individuals,"" Mr. Moore said.
""The delegates make their own private choice of who to vote for based on criteria set down in the writings of the Faith,"" he said.  Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Mongolia elected in 2005.""Those criteria are unquestioned loyalty, selfless devotion, a well-trained mind, recognized ability, and mature experience.""
Mr. Moore said that the voting is by secret ballot. Every adult Baha'i (21 years old and over) in the country is eligible to be voted for.
Conventions
Voting for the National Spiritual Assemblies takes place at conventions where delegates, who are elected to represent regional areas, also consult on the progress of the Baha'i community and how best to contribute to the spiritual well-being of their countries.
The conventions held this year were the final in a five-year period during which the Universal House of Justice asked the Baha'is to pay particular attention to encouraging the participation of the wider society in three ""core activities"": the spiritual education of children, capacity-building study circles, and devotional gatherings.
Increasing numbers of people who are not Baha'is have now participated in the core activities throughout the world.
A message from the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the world -- known as the Ridvan message -- was consulted upon at the conventions.
Examples
In Brazil, 50 delegates from 25 Brazilian states consulted on measures to mobilize the trained human resources of the community to achieve their goals. They also discussed how junior youth and youth can bring spiritual teachings to their own generation.
In Russia, the delegates gathering in Moscow came from a diverse range of nationalities spanning the greater part of the country, including regions such as Ossetia, Yakutia, Kalmiki, and Buryatia. The consultation on the use of the arts in the community emphasized folk art as a direct and effective means of attracting the hearts of the people to spiritual teachings.
In Japan, 31 delegates meeting in the Tokyo Baha'i center reported that they were heartened by the expansion of the Japanese Baha'i community, the increase in the number of Baha'i children's classes and the rising number of participants from the wider society who are joining Baha'i study circles and devotional gatherings.
In New Caledonia, the national convention was marked by significant participation by the youth among the delegates. The delegates consulted on how to enhance children's classes, study circles, and devotional gatherings and also on the national Baha'i Fund.
In Myanmar (Burma), 54 delegates met in Daidanaw, a Baha'i village. Following the enthusiastic consultations at the convention more than 300 children attended a children's conference.
In the United States, the 96th annual convention was held in the Foundation Hall of the Baha'i House of Worship for North America in Wilmette, Illinois. The delegates reported a greater appreciation of systematization of activities and an expanded outward-looking orientation and fostering of individual initiative.
In France, the delegates reported a ""serene and focused atmosphere"" and a ""constructive and smooth unfolding of the consultation and the election of the National Spiritual Assembly.""
On 20 April, Baha'i local communities worldwide elected their governing councils, the Local Spiritual Assemblies.",JOHANNESBURG,,South Africa
373,2005-05-25,[],Award winner advocates celebration of diversity,"AUCKLAND, New Zealand — People do not need to sacrifice their different cultures as they strive for a global community that recognizes common rights and values, said the winner of a national speech award organized by the New Zealand Baha'i community.
In a speech at the 2005 Race Unity Speech Award, which is soon to be broadcast on New Zealand national radio, Georgina Rood said that cultural and racial characteristics make humanity more interesting.
""Celebrating those differences as a force for unity and common good -- rather than using them as a source of division -- is the challenge we face, and have always faced,"" said Georgina,17, a student at Sacred Heart College in Wellington.
""Our generation can be the turning point -- we have opportunities that our parents never had,"" said Georgina, who is not a Baha'i.
The topic of the speeches by the six finalists was a quotation from Baha'u'llah: ""The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.""
The annual competition, which began in 2001 with 19 entrants, is open to all students in the last three years of high school in New Zealand.
The 100 entrants in this year's competition came from 10 regions throughout New Zealand, from Auckland in the north to Dunedin in the south. The runners up were Sasha Borissenko of Aquinas College in Tauranga and Kimberley Cook of Pakaranga College, Auckland.  Georgina received $750 and a trophy, as did her school, and the runners up and their schools received $250 each and certificates.
The chief judge of the five-person multi-ethnic judging panel was the former Race Relations Conciliator and now the chief commissioner of the Families Commission, Rajen Prasad. The current Race Relations Commissioner, Joris De Bres, presented the prizes.
Held in conjunction with the speech award was a race unity conference, organized by the Baha'i community in partnership with the Human Rights Commission.
Participants had a choice of four workshops: ""racism -- the global plague""; ""cultural symbols and stereotypes""; ""human rights and the Treaty of Waitangi""; ""dimensions of identity.""
A keynote speaker was Kirsten Zemke-White of the New Zealand Baha'i community. Dr Zemke-White, an ethnomusicologist, used songs from different decades and of different styles to show how race and race relations are intrinsic to music ranging from rock, to jazz, to hip hop.
""Race is all around is in the music we listen too, even if we're not aware of it-some of it positive and some of it negative,"" Dr. Zemke-White said.",AUCKLAND,,New Zealand
374,2005-05-31,[],Senior government minister praises Baha'i contributions,"BERLIN, Germany — The German Minister for Home Affairs, Otto Schily, has praised the contributions of German Baha'is to the social stability of the country.
In a congratulatory message to the German Baha'i community at a reception held on 10 May 2005 to celebrate its centenary, Mr. Schily said that German Baha'is actively support the protection and preservation of common values as well as the equality of all human beings.
""It is not enough to make a declaration of belief,"" Mr. Schily said. ""It is important to live according to the basic values of our constitutional state, to defend them and make them secure in the face of all opposition. The members of the Baha'i Faith do this because of their faith and the way they see themselves.""
Mr. Schily said that Baha'u'llah's ""extremely humane"" principle guiding people to dedicate themselves to the service of the entire human race was valid for all the great religions of the world as well as for every country concerned with human beings and their rights.
He said that, in view of the inflammatory slogans by some extremist groups, the message to the religious leaders of the world issued by the Universal House of Justice in 2002 was of great importance in the world. (For more about that message see https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=159)
Together, Mr. Schily said, Germans must abolish racial and ethnic prejudices and fight the nationalism that incites hatred of others rather than enriches the love of one's country.
""I wish the Baha'i community in Germany a peaceful and dignified future for their members but also, true to their own guiding principle, for all humankind,"" he said.
The centenary reception was held at the Berlin headquarters of the government of Hesse, the state in which the Baha'i House of Worship and national center is located.
The program included a panel discussion on the ""Requirements of Social Cohesion"" that focused on social orientation and the role of religion in today's society.
In a keynote address introducing the discussion, a prominent member of the German federal parliament, Ernst Ulrich von Weizsaecker, commended the ideas of the German Baha'i community on social integration, which they published in a statement in 1998.
Other participants in the panel discussion included: the state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth, Marieluise Beck; the president of the Federal Agency of Civic Education, Thomas Krueger; the plenipotentiary of the Council of the Protestant Church of Germany to the Federal Republic and the European Union, Stephan Reimers; and the academic director of the Townshend International School in the Czech Republic Friedo Zoelzer.  An international Baha'i conference in Frankfurt, Germany, 1958.Among the invited guests were Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
The gathering in Berlin was the second centenary event held by the German Baha'i community. A third will be held in September 2005.
On 22 April 2005 a reception was held at the national Baha'i center in Hofheim-Langenhain adjacent to the Baha'i House of Worship for Europe, which opened in 1964.
Guests included representatives of the Federal and European Parliaments, the government of the state of Hesse, the cities of Hofheim and Wiesbaden, and political parties.
At that reception, the state secretary of the Ministry of Science and Art of Hesse, Joachim-Felix Leonhard, praised the principles of the Baha'i Faith, describing the Baha'i message as  ""cosmopolitan, global, and modern.""
""The Baha'is,"" Professor Leonhard said, ""are seeking to communicate and understand at a time when others are talking about a clash of civilizations.""
The mayor of Hofheim, Gisela Stang, referred to initial opposition to the establishment of the Baha'i House of Worship in Hofheim-Lanenhain 41 years ago but said the Baha'is are now fully integrated into the community.
""They provide an important impulse for the city and for society,"" said Ms. Stang, referring to the forums the Baha'is organize and to their cultural diversity.
""It would be good if these activities could be expanded upon -- the city of Hofheim would provide support.""
Representing the city of Wiesbaden, Angelika Thiels thanked the Baha'i community for its contribution towards nurturing understanding among religions. Ms. Thiels also referred to the contribution of the Baha'i community in offering to the wider society regular children's classes in which pupils learn about spiritual and moral values.
The chairperson of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany, Saba Khabirpour, spoke about the history and the development of the Baha'i community, and the relationship between the spiritual development of individuals and the advancement of mankind in the material world.
Also present at the gathering were the architect of the Baha'i House of Worship in Germany Teuto Rocholl, a former member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe Anneliese Bopp, and former and present members of the National Spiritual Assembly.
An article about the centenary of the Baha'i community of Germany appeared in a major newspaper, ""Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,"" on 20 April 2005.
The final centenary event of the German Baha'i community will be held in September in Stuttgart.
It was in that city where the first member of the German Baha'i community, a German-born dentist from the United States, Edwin Fischer, settled in 1905.
'Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah and the head of the Faith from 1892-1921, visited there in 1913. The first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany was formed in 1923.
From 1937-1945 Baha'i activities were banned in Nazi Germany, in part because of the Faith's  progressive teachings including on the oneness of humanity. Local Baha'i communities were dissolved and their literature was confiscated. Some of the believers were interrogated, imprisoned, and deported by the authorities. Some Baha'is of Jewish background were killed by the regime.
After World War II the German Baha'i community soon reestablished its activities. By 1950, there were Baha'is living in 65 localities in Germany. However, the Baha'i community in Eastern Germany was dissolved until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Today German Baha'is live in 900 towns and cities throughout the country. There are 106 Local Spiritual Assemblies. The Baha'i community is active in the discourse on interfaith and gender equality issues, as well as in sustainable development and human rights education.
Baha'is also hold regular study circles and prayer gatherings, which are open for participation to the wider public.
For more information about the Baha'i community of Germany, see http://www.bahai.de
For more information about centenary celebrations of the Baha'i community of Germany, see http://news.bahai.de",BERLIN,,Germany
375,2005-06-07,[],Hollywood role for veteran Baha'i actor,"LONDON, England — Veteran actor Earl Cameron was taking part in a Baha'i community activity in the United Kingdom when he received a surprising phone call from his agent.
It was an offer to audition for a role in a major movie, something unexpected for Mr. Cameron, now 87 and largely retired from the movie business.
His agent told him that Sydney Pollack, director of ""Tootsie"" and the Oscar-winning ""Out of Africa,"" was considering him for a part in a new political thriller.
""I had to rush to test for the role,"" Mr. Cameron said. ""I turned up late...but they liked what I did.""
Mr. Cameron was cast as Edmund Zuwanie -- the unsavory president of a fictional African country -- in ""The Interpreter,"" starring Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn. He had no hesitation accepting the role.
""I feel that an actor must portray life, and despotic characters need to be portrayed and shown up,"" he said.
The film tells the story of a translator, played by Ms. Kidman, who overhears a plot to assassinate Mr. Zuwanie as he addresses the UN General Assembly.
""The Interpreter"" is the first film ever to be shot inside the United Nations building in New York.  Actor Earl Cameron playing the role of the president of an African country in ""The Interpreter."" Photo courtesy of Universal Studios.When Alfred Hitchcock made ""North by Northwest"" in 1959, he built a replica of the UN's interiors. With ""The Interpreter,"" officials allowed the movie to be filmed in the UN building after office hours.
At the film's climax, Mr. Zuwanie is portrayed addressing the General Assembly, a scene that reminded the actor of the Baha'i belief in the need for world unity.
""There I was,"" said Mr. Cameron, ""standing at the lectern in front of 2,000 extras playing all the ambassadors.""
""Seeing the names of all the countries on the desks in front of me, I got a real sense of the importance of the UN.""
""The world is desperate for peace and there's no other way it can go but towards greater cooperation at a global level,"" he said.
""Solutions have to be found at a level above national interests -- and so far there isn't any other organization which can establish these first steps towards lasting peace.""
The critics have unanimously praised his performance in ""The Interpreter."" He has been described as the ""one memorable performer in the film...absolutely eerie as the dictator of Matobo."" (heraldnet.com)
The ""Baltimore Sun"" wrote: ""Earl Cameron is magnificent as the slimy old fraud of a dictator..."" ""Rolling Stone"" described Mr. Cameron's appearance as ""subtle and menacing."" Philip French in ""The Observer"" referred to ""that fine Caribbean actor Earl Cameron.""
The film's UK premiere at the Empire in London's Leicester Square was a glamorous occasion. Mr. Cameron was called to the stage by Sydney Pollack to be presented to the audience along with Nicole Kidman.
""It's the first time I had been to a premiere for many years,"" Mr. Cameron said. ""I've never experienced anything like that. There were thousands of cameras.""
Earl Cameron moved from Bermuda to England during World War II and there became a pioneering black British actor. In London in 1963 he became a Baha'i.
""I never felt there was any conflict between being a Baha'i and being an actor,"" he said.
""From time to time I managed to get certain lines in the script changed by the director if I felt uncomfortable saying them,"" he said.
""Very occasionally I turned a part down. There was a period when black actors tended to get the villain parts. But I often got sympathetic character roles. Perhaps I have a sympathetic look about me.""
From the 1950s to the 1970s, he appeared in many films including ""Sapphire,"" ""The Message"" -- the story of the Prophet Muhammad -- and the James Bond movie, ""Thunderball.""
Mr. Cameron also became a familiar face on television in such popular shows as ""Danger Man,"" ""Doctor Who,"" and ""The Prisoner.""
A twelve-year career break followed when Mr. Cameron went to the Solomon Islands with his family to assist the Baha'i community there.
(Report by Rob Weinberg.)",LONDON,,United Kingdom
376,2005-06-09,[],New 'Baha'i World' volume addresses pressing social issues,"HAIFA, Israel — Gender equality, domestic violence, and the role of the family in society are among the issues examined in the newly released volume of ""The Baha'i World.""
""The Baha'i World 2003-2004"" is the 12th volume in the annual record of Baha'i activities and perspectives.
""The Baha'i World volumes offer serious students of the Baha'i Faith and general readers a yearly snapshot of the Baha'i community's progress and development,"" said Ann Boyles, the book's senior editor.
""We publish articles and essays that relate Baha'i perspectives to issues of topical concern,"" said Dr. Boyles.
Some of the major articles include ""Inner Enlightenment, Moral Refinement, and Justice: Antidotes to Domestic Violence,"" by Dr. Michael Penn; ""Towards a Purposeful Beauty: Reflecting on and Learning from the Houses of Worship,"" by Charles Boyle; and a ""World Watch"" essay by Dr. Boyles on the role of the family.  A page of photographs in ""The Baha'i World 2003-2004.""Dr. Penn's article explores the Baha'i perspective on the global problem of violence within the home. He discusses beliefs and practices that are detrimental to the physical and psychological well-being of women and girls, while considering the efforts of various Baha'i administrative bodies in promoting equality between men and women.
Dr. Penn looks at the connection between the private and social elements of life, and examines the effect of family violence on the progress of society.
He stresses the Baha'i principle of the importance of early childhood education in promoting social justice and eliminating domestic violence.
""The cultivation of the human spirit begins in the family,"" he writes.
In his article, Charles Boyle offers a perspective on the significance of the Baha'i Houses of Worship and their relationship to other sacred architecture.
""The Houses of Worship erected by the Baha'i community are designed to attract the heart and stir the soul,"" Mr. Boyle writes. ""They stand as physical embodiments of purposeful beauty.""
Other reports featured in the book include an account of the Baha'i participation at the World Summit on the Information Society, the annual ""Year in Review"" survey, a statement by the Baha'i International Community on ""The Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality,"" and an update on the situation of the Baha'i communities in Iran and Egypt.
A chapter, illustrated by photographs, is devoted to the golden jubilee celebrations that were held in 2003-04 in many Baha'i national communities.
This 280-page book is prepared by the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information.
It contains numerous color photographs, and is available for US$18.00. It can be ordered from World Centre Publications through the United States Baha'i Distribution Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30336-2017, USA. Telephone: (800) 999-9019; e-mail: bds@usbnc.org",HAIFA,,Israel
377,2005-06-13,[],Government officials visit Baha'i center,"HAVANA, Cuba — Senior government officials and representatives of diverse religious groups in Cuba gathered with Baha'is for an interreligious event in the newly reconstructed Baha'i center in central Havana last month.
Caridad Diego Bello, the chief of religious affairs in the Cuban government, and two other officials from her office joined Baha'is and representatives from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and African Yoruba religious communities at the gathering, which was held on 23 May 2005.
Ms. Diego expressed her gratitude to the Baha'i community of Cuba for bringing together the diverse group, and then spoke about the major social principles of the Baha'i Faith and on the theme of inter-religious harmony.
""These are principles that even I as a non-follower of any religion would agree with,"" said Ms. Diego, who is a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.
Among the social principles of the Baha'i Faith are the equality of women and men, racial unity, and the abolition of extremes of wealth and poverty.  The interreligious gathering at the national Baha'i center in Havana, Cuba, 23 May 2005.The inter-religious event was the second major gathering held this year in the Baha'i center, which was acquired by the Baha'i community in 1956 but which recently required complete rebuilding.
Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Cuba hosted Ms. Diego and her staff on a tour of the center.
The secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Havana, Ernesto Santirso, welcomed all the guests and explained that the purpose of the gathering was to open the center to other religious communities.
Mr. Santirso read extracts from the 2002 message by the Universal House of Justice to the world's religious leaders in which the Baha'i governing council supported inter-faith dialogue and called upon those involved to address the implications of ""the over-arching truth that God is one and that, beyond all diversity of cultural expression and human interpretation, religion is likewise one."" (Full text available at: https://www.bahai.org/documents/the-universal-house-of-justice/letter-worlds-religious-leaders.
After Baha'i speakers read quotations from Baha'u'llah on religious harmony, the representative of the Jewish community, Jose Miller, addressed the gathering.
""Salvation comes from deeds and not from beliefs alone,"" Dr. Miller said.
""We should have deeds that will improve the condition of the world today and bring peace to our society.""
A representative of the Institute for Bible and Theological Studies said the three Baha'is currently studying Christian theology with the Institute were an important asset to the school.
Among the other guests were the chairman of the Islamic Association, Pedro Linares, and a high priest (babalao) of the African Yoruba religion, Stanislav Berboa.
The Baha'i community of Cuba has five Local Spiritual Assemblies and has another center in Camaguey. The community has regular children's classes, devotional meetings, and study circles where guests are welcome.
The first Local Spiritual Assembly in Cuba was established in Havana in 1941. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Cuba was formed in 1961.",HAVANA,,Cuba
378,2005-06-19,[],Equality principle inspires winner,"LONDON, England — An award-winning businesswoman is attributing her success partly to a Baha'i principle taught to her as a child.
Jyoti Munsiff was named ""Businesswoman of the Year"" at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards ceremony, held here on 26 May 2005, attended by Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
Among the VIPs attending the award ceremony were the eminent British lawyer and a patron of the awards, Cherie Booth, who is the wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Kamalesh Sharma, the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.
The Asian Women of Achievement Awards were established to celebrate the commitment, dedication, and determination of Asian women within commercial, professional, artistic, and humanitarian sectors.
Two years ago, another Baha'i, Professor Faraneh Vargha-Khadem, was named ""Professional of the Year"" at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2003. (See https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=219)  A patron of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards Cherie Booth, the wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, at the award ceremony, 2005. Photo courtesy of Asian Women of Achievement Awards.In her acceptance speech, Ms. Munsiff said she attributed her career achievements to the confidence given to her by her parents who brought her up with the Baha'i principle that men and women are equal in the sight of God.
""The Baha'i teachings have been the foundation stone of how I have conducted myself in a working environment,"" Ms. Munsiff said.
Born in Mumbai to Indian parents, Ms. Munsiff is corporate general counsel and the company secretary of Shell Transport. She is one of the most senior women in Shell world-wide.
Ms. Munsiff joined the legal department of petroleum giant Shell in 1969 and became a project lawyer in most Shell businesses. She then led groups of lawyers that provided advice to Shell's businesses globally.
Ms. Munsiff is about to take up a new post in Shell as chief compliance officer with the task of ensuring that Shell's companies around the world operate in a legal and ethical way.
Presenting her with the award, Member of Parliament Theresa May said that Ms. Munsiff had ""marked herself out in a male dominated arena, which says a lot about her strength of character and charisma.
""She has not been vocal about her achievements, preferring to be out there and doing what she does best.""
Ms. Munsiff is also director of and honorary legal counsel to the Prince of Wales' International Business Leaders' Forum. She is president of the Commonwealth Association for Corporate Governance and also is a governor of the College of Law, a trustee of the Imperial War Museum and chair of the IMW Trading Company.
The other contenders in the Business Woman of the Year category were Monica Fan of RBC Capital Markets, Surinder Hundal of Nokia, and Rhodora Palomar-Fresnedi of Unilever.
(Report by Rob Weinberg.)",LONDON,,United Kingdom
379,2005-06-28,[],Unity stressed at interfaith conference,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — The key to interfaith harmony is to focus on the essential oneness of all religions, a Baha'i International Community representative told a groundbreaking conference on interfaith cooperation.
""It is this essential unity of religion, across the tremendous diversity of history, culture, tradition, philosophy, and practice, that should now become the operating principle of religious discourse,"" said the Community's principal representative to the United Nations, Bani Dugal.
Ms. Dugal was among some two dozen speakers at the ""Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace,"" which was held on 22 June 2005.
The conference was sponsored by a tripartite group that included 16 governments, three UN agencies, and  eight religious and civil society organizations.
It is the first time such a group has convened a substantive interfaith event at the United Nations -- an institution that rarely holds interfaith gatherings of any type.
A report of the conference will be communicated to world leaders at the planned Millennium Summit Plus Five conference in September.
Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Alberto G. Romulo, who opened the conference, said his government chose to co-sponsor the event because of the ""vital role"" that religions have in the promotion of peace.
""Religions lie at the heart of each culture and civilization,"" said Dr. Romulo. ""We embark on this tripartite partnership as an historic and inspired approach to the collective pursuit of universal peace as a fundamental goal enshrined in the UN Charter and in the 2000 Millennium Declaration.""
In her address, Ms. Dugal said persistent religious intolerance requires ""a fundamental change in the way that believers of different religions relate to one another.""
""The remedy for the repeated crises plaguing our communities today is to center our efforts and frank deliberations on that which we hold in common rather than that which sets us apart,"" Ms. Dugal said.
Growing numbers of people are already coming to realize that the truth underlying all religions is, in its essence, one, she said.
""This recognition arises not through a resolution of theological disputes but through an awareness of the reality that there is only one human family and that the Divine Essence, from which all life has sprung, has also been the impulse behind the principles and laws of the great religions of the world.
""The diversity of regulations and observances associated with the various faiths need not pose a challenge to the idea of religion's essential oneness. That religions differ from one another is to be attributed to the different requirements of the age in which they appeared.""
Ms. Dugal told the conference that the Baha'i sacred writings offer numerous passages stating the purpose of religion 'is to establish unity and concord amongst the peoples of the world.'""
She also urged governments everywhere to observe the right, outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, for individuals to freely adopt and change their religious beliefs.
""The individual's search for truth is an activity intimately linked with the human conscience and with the essence of life itself,"" Ms. Dugal said.
""At a time when religious extremism, intolerance, and discrimination are threatening peace in many parts of the world, religious leaders must unequivocally support, if not lead, efforts to ensure that all people are afforded this fundamental freedom,"" she said.
Ms. Dugal called for women and girls to be involved alongside men and boys in laying the foundation for interfaith understanding and sustainable peace.
Full participation of women should be ""passionately pursued, not only at the level of pragmatism but as the expression of the spiritual and moral principle that men and women are equal in the sight of God.""
Other speakers included Jean Ping, President of the UN General Assembly; Rapil Zhoshybaev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan; Katherine Marshall, Director and Counselor to the President of the World Bank; Dr. H.M. Din Syamsuddin, Vice-Chairman of Muhammadiyah (Indonesia); Laurence Bropleh, Permanent Representative to the UN, World Council of Churches; Maleeha Lodhi, High Commissioner for Pakistan in London; Ambassador Gunter Mulack, Commissioner for Dialogue with the Islamic World (Germany); and William Vendley, General Secretary, World Conference of Religions for Peace.
Government co-sponsors of the event were: Argentina, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Gambia, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal, Spain, Thailand, and Tunisia.
UN agency co-sponsors were: the Department of Economic and Social Affairs; the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the World Bank.
Civil Society Organization co-sponsors were: the Baha'i International Community, the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, the International Public Policy Institute, Soka Gakkai International, Temple of Understanding, United Methodist Church, United Religions Initiative, and World Peace Prayer Society.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
380,2005-07-05,[],Baha'is address historic UN hearings,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — A representative of the Baha'i International Community outlined specific recommendations for reform of the United Nations during an address at historic hearings between non-governmental organizations and the UN General Assembly.
Roberto Eghrari, who is from Brazil, put forward the Baha'i position on 24 June at a session chaired by the president of the UN General Assembly, Jean Ping.
Among the recommendations Mr. Eghrari outlined were:
-- That advancement of the role of women is an essential element in strengthening the effectiveness of the UN.
-- That the Human Rights Commission should be greatly strengthened by creating a standing ""Human Rights Council.""
-- That mechanisms for funding the United Nations should be strengthened, beyond voluntary contributions.
-- That the capacities and diverse experiences of civil society must be included in all aspects of UN work-- from decision making to on-the-ground implementation.
Mr. Eghrari said the guiding principle that must now animate reform ""is the oneness of humanity, a spiritual principle that underpins the very nature of human reality.""
""We are one human family, and each member of the human race is born into the world as a trust of the whole,"" said Mr. Eghrari. ""It is on the basis of this recognition of our essential oneness that a process of reform can be successful.""
The Baha'i International Community was among some 200 international civil society organizations invited to participate in the series of interactive hearings held 23-24 June 2005.
In advance of September's Millennium Plus Five Summit of world leaders, the General Assembly sought input from NGOs on four main themes: human rights, poverty elimination, peace and security, and United Nations reform.
The hearings featured statements by select NGOs, along with a dialogue between a larger group of NGO representatives and government delegations. It was the first time the UN General Assembly has held this type of meeting.
The Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Diane Ala'i, was also chosen as an ""active participant"" in the hearing on human rights, which was held 23 June.
That designation entitled Ms. Ala'i to offer a response during the dialogue held on ""Freedom to Live in Dignity.""
In her remarks, Ms. Ala'i also supported the creation of a Human Rights Council. Such a council should continue to utilize so-called ""special procedures"" by which the current Human Rights Commission can create special rapporteurs that can monitor human rights in specific countries.
She also stressed the importance of maintaining the understanding that human rights are universal, as outlined in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
382,2005-07-14,[],Junior youth take inspired steps,"SINGAPORE, Singapore — Junior youth from the Singaporean Baha'i community entertained more than 500 youth at a recent event organized by the World Bank.
The young Baha'is performed dances portraying the need for unity among the peoples of the world and the vital necessity to eliminate prejudice of all kinds.
High school and university students from a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds enthusiastically applauded the performance by the Baha'is at the event, which was held at the Anglo Chinese Junior College on 1 June 2005.
The World Bank organized the occasion to increase the awareness of development issues among young Singaporeans and to inspire them to volunteer to assist local non-governmental organizations.
The Baha'i junior youth (aged 12-15) come from Chinese, Indian, European, and Persian backgrounds. An active group, they performed, for example, at an event earlier in the year and recently visited Baha'is and their friends in remote regions of Sabah in East Malaysia.  Baha'i junior youth dancers from a variety of backgrounds won applause from an audience of more than 500 youth at an event organized in Singapore by the World Bank.",SINGAPORE,,Singapore
383,2005-07-20,[],'Prophet's Daughter' tells story of an exceptional woman,"HAIFA, Israel — A woman who was assigned principal responsibility for the administration of an independent world religion is the subject of a book recently launched at a major book fair in New York.
""Prophet's Daughter,"" by Dr. Janet Khan, tells the story of Bahiyyih Khanum (1846-1932), who held the reins of the  Baha'i Faith at crucial formative stages in the history of the youngest of the world religions.
The book describing the life of the daughter of Baha'u'llah was presented at BookExpo America held in New York on 3-5 June 2005.
General manager of Baha'i Publishing Lee Minnerly said the book describes the accomplishments of Bahiyyih Khanum and her exceptional ability to transcend adversity.
""The book delivers a strong message of encouragement and hope to anyone concerned about humanity's ability to combat ignorance, prejudice, and repression,"" Mr. Minnerly said.
The author, a  member of the Research Department at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, holds a doctorate in counseling. She coauthored with her husband, Dr. Peter  Khan, the 1998 book ""The Advancement of Women: A Baha'i Perspective.""
""Prophet's Daughter"" analyzes the significant role Bahiyyih Khanum played in the development of the religion's administrative structure and in its emergence as a worldwide faith.
""In the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when Middle Eastern women were largely invisible, confined to the home, deprived of education and social status, Bahiyyih Khanum was an active participant in the dramatic early years of the Baha'i Faith,"" Dr. Janet Khan said.  The resting place of Bahiyyih Khanum, Baha'i World Centre, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.""The book illustrates how Bahiyyih Khanum transcended the cultural constraints of the time she lived in,"" she said.
From her earliest years Bahiyyih Khanum suffered with her family as the authorities in Persia confiscated their home and possessions, and exiled them from their homeland to eventually be imprisoned in Acre in the Holy Land.
""Bahiyyih Khanum's role in the early history of the Baha'i Faith was different at different points of time,"" Dr. Khan said.
""It is clear though that from her childhood she had an appreciation and understanding of the significance of her Father's station and the new religious revelation He brought,"" she said.
Baha'u'llah passed away in 1892 and appointed His eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Baha, as His successor as head of the Faith.
Between 1911 and 1913, during 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels to Europe and America, He entrusted His sister, then in her mid 60s, with the responsibilities of the day-to-day administration of the Faith.
In her brother's absence Bahiyyih Khanum welcomed dignitaries and officials, met with Baha'i pilgrims, and handled the affairs of 'Abdu'l-Baha's extended family.  Like her brother, she gave assistance to the poor and provided medical services to the sick.
Another significant phase of her life came after the passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha, in 1921. In His Will and Testament, 'Abdu'l-Baha appointed His eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as head of the Faith, with the title ""Guardian.""
Shocked by the sudden passing of his grandfather and conscious of the weighty task ahead of him, the 24-year-old Shoghi Effendi had to prepare himself for this unexpected responsibility.
For the next three years Shoghi Effendi spent extended periods of time in contemplation, prayer, and planning in Switzerland, during which he assigned the task of the supervision of the Baha'i community to Bahiyyih Khanum.
""This meant that for the first time in history a woman was appointed to direct the affairs of a world religion and that Shoghi Effendi had the confidence that Bahiyyih Khanum would succeed in this task,"" Dr. Khan said.
Her appointment to this position came during a critical period of transition for the Baha'i Faith and its community, Dr. Khan said. She possessed the necessary skills and qualities of character to carry out her assigned functions.
Bahiyyih Khanum had a vision of how the Faith should unfold, Dr. Khan said, because she understood the succession of the Faith's administrative order as preordained by Baha'u'llah.
""By corresponding with Baha'i communities worldwide she facilitated the transition process between the passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Guardianship, and the election of spiritual assemblies, the governing councils of local Baha'i communities,"" she said.
""To me, Bahiyyih Khanum was not only highly refined spiritually, she was also a woman of great strength, resilience, and practicality. She was a prisoner from the age of six but always remained optimistic, and encouraging, a strong and complex woman, action oriented, and forward looking.
""The book intends to analyze aspects of Bahiyyih Khanum's legacy that have continuing relevance to men and women, not only in the present day but also in the future,"" said Dr. Khan.
The full title of the book is ""Prophet's Daughter: The Life and Legacy of Bahiyyih Khanum, an Outstanding Heroine of the Baha'i Faith.""
""Prophet's Daughter"" can be ordered at general bookstores in the United States. For those living outside the United States, the book can be ordered through the United States Baha'i Distribution Service, at bds@usbnc.org.",HAIFA,,Israel
384,2005-07-28,[],'Value system' could protect diversity,"DUBLIN, Ireland — The challenge of establishing unity in diversity was among the topics explored at a conference held here to examine the impact of the Baha'i teachings on a wide range of contemporary issues.
The concept of ""unity in diversity,"" which addresses the underlying similarities of different populations and cultures, is increasingly studied by social scientists as policy makers seek to integrate populations of various ethnic and religious allegiances. It is also a central principle of the Baha'i Faith.
Addressing the annual conference of the Association of Baha'i Studies -- English-Speaking Europe, Dr. Iarfhlaith Watson, a lecturer in sociology at University College Dublin, said sociologists have been looking at this issue since their discipline began.
""As humanity experiences its collective coming of age, the challenge is to find a way of holding people together -- not so tightly that pathological consequences ensue nor too loosely that they become lost,"" Dr. Watson said at the event, which was held 2-3 July 2005.
Dr. Watson concluded that allegiance to a higher cause -- such as one common faith -- could provide people with a shared value system that allows order to be maintained but provides the freedom for diversity to be protected and flourish.
Among the guests at the conference was Dr. Sheikh Shaheed Satardien, a Muslim cleric from the Dublin Inter-Faith Roundtable.
Dr. Satardien and his colleagues recently organized a conference entitled ""Towards a New Religious Model for Global Peace,"" which aimed to bring together scholars, religious leaders, and commentators from the worlds of media and politics.
""Virtually all faiths oppose war and yet many of the world's conflicts contain religious elements,"" said Dr. Satardien.  ""Unity in diversity,"" the topic addressed at the conference, was the theme of an event hosted earlier this year by the Baha'i community of Cork as its contribution to the ""European Capital of Culture 2005"" program. People from 16 countries, some pictured here, attended the event, which included songs from the Dublin-based Townshend Baha'i choir, dramatic presentations, a salsa performance and lesson, traditional ""canciones"" ballads from Mexico, rhythmic melodies of Uganda, and Irish poetry. A member of the ""Capital of Culture"" organizing committee, Tom McCarthy, said the event captured the true spirit of the festival, uniting the hearts of the people who attended.""Ireland is becoming the world in microcosm with new races, creeds, and cultures arriving on a daily basis. Potentially this country is a macro-laboratory for examining and testing strategies to promote peace that may have relevance on the global stage.""
Dr. Satardien said he is very taken by the vision of peace and global justice found in the Baha'i teachings.
""I think the presentations at this conference should be heard by all people -- from academics to the man in the street -- to help them understand more about what the Baha'is are doing and how these teachings can be applied.""
Talks included presentations from Baha'is who came from a range of countries including Ireland, England, Scotland, the United States, Germany, Norway, and Malaysia.
The Association was formed to foster the intellectual life of the Baha'i community and to assist Baha'is in the application of their teachings to the challenges of modern-day society.
Dr. Masoud Afnan, a specialist in infertility at the Birmingham Women's Hospital, explored the concept of the soul in the world's religions and the implications such concepts have on the ethics of contemporary fertility treatments and research.
""The differing ideas about when the soul associates itself with the new life in the womb has major implications on how the religions view such treatments, and how governments develop laws and policies,"" Dr. Afnan said.
Among other presentations was an overview of the forces of history from the ""big bang"" through to the emergence of global civilization by Dr. Nahal Mavaddat, a medical academic, from Birmingham, England.
Dr. Mavaddat said that millions of years of evolution have brought us to the point where human life, at the apex of the evolutionary process on this planet, is emerging towards its fulfillment -- global consciousness and the recognition of the oneness of humanity.
Lawrence Staudt, chairman of the Irish Renewable Energy Council, explored the notion of the natural world being an expression of the will of God.
Mr. Staudt examined the metaphorical nature of the physical world, that through ""creation"" we learn lessons about spiritual reality.
New research was also presented on figures from the history of the Baha'i faith including Dr. William Cormick, an Irish physician who lived in 19th century Persia and who was the only European known to have met the Bab.
Vincent Flannery from Ireland outlined information he obtained from a descendent of Dr. Cormick about his work as physician to crown prince Nasirid-Din.
Another historical figure discussed was Frank Edwin Scott, an American Impressionist painter resident in Paris and a member of the first Baha'i community in Europe. 'Abdu'l-Baha gave talks in his Paris studio and Shoghi Effendi visited him in 1920.
Malaysian-born Sathia Varqa, examined the actions of five of the world leaders addressed by Baha'u'llah in the middle of the 19th century.
(Report by Rob Weinberg.)",DUBLIN,,Ireland
385,2005-08-03,[],Baha'i group pays homage to a heroine,"SOFIA, Bulgaria — Towering trees sheltered ornate headstones that were almost hidden in the dense vegetation of an old cemetery in this eastern European capital.
In this lush setting, a group of Baha'is from 15 countries slowly made its way along a path towards a grave of historic significance.
As the Baha'is turned a corner, they came upon a scene that was in complete contrast to what had come before. It was a small lawn cemetery in immaculate condition and enclosed by a low wall.
This is the British military cemetery where British Commonwealth servicemen from two world wars, and some civilians, are laid to rest. In its neat precincts is the dignified grave of one who bore the nickname of ""General Jack.""
This is not the tomb of a great soldier but rather of a spiritual hero of the Baha'i world community.
It is the resting place of Marion Jack (1866-1954), who is acclaimed for her selfless role as a ""pioneer,"" one who moves to another country to help establish and develop a Baha'i community.
The belief in the oneness of humanity and the conviction that world unity is the key to a lasting international peace has inspired many Baha'is to pioneer to ensure that the teachings of Baha'u'llah are available to all peoples on the planet. The one acknowledged as the greatest of those pioneers is Marion Jack.
Half a century after her passing, the group of Baha'is gathered around her grave. They placed bouquets on the headstone.
""I had a strong feeling of respect and gratitude,"" Inga Daniels, a Baha'i from Iceland, recalled later.  Light shines through the door leading to the living quarters of 'Abdu'l-Baha in Marion Jack's 1908 painting of a scene at the House of 'Abdu'llah Pasha, Acre.""A woman who demonstrated such courage and perseverance in her role as a Baha'i pioneer is not only important to the history of the faith in Bulgaria, but is an example for anyone who likes to be of service to a worthwhile cause -- being at her grave was truly inspiring,"" said Ms Daniels.
Like the others in the group, she had come to the cemetery after participating in a Baha'i conference held in Sofia 30 June-3 July 2005.
The Baha'is bowed their heads as several among them recited prayers, including one by Baha'u'llah for those who have passed away: ""Cause them to enter the garden of happiness, cleanse them with the most pure water and grant that they may behold thy splendors on the loftiest mount.""
Those with some knowledge of the life of Marion Jack spoke quietly to the gathering about the one whose epitaph, inscribed in gold letters, begins with the words: ""Immortal heroine.""
Born and raised in Canada, Marion Jack had become a Baha'i while an art student in Paris. In 1908 she spent some months in Acre where she had the privilege of being with 'Abdu'l-Baha. He admired her sense of humor, joviality, and spiritual certitude, and He gave her the affectionate nickname of ""General Jack.""
During her stay in the Holy Land, she taught English to some of His grandchildren and met another of them, the young Shoghi Effendi. Some of her paintings done at that time are now on display in the Baha'i holy places in Israel, including the Mansion of Bahji.
Inspired by the guidance of 'Abdu'l-Baha , Ms. Jack took the message of the Faith to Alaska 1919-20. More than a decade later, when revisiting the Holy Land, Shoghi Effendi, then the head of the Faith, asked Ms. Jack, 65, to go as a Baha'i pioneer to Bulgaria. She went there directly from the Holy Land, arriving in 1930.
In cooperation with just a handful of other Baha'is, she helped establish thriving Baha'i communities in places such as Sofia and Varna.
In that first decade of her stay in Bulgaria, she lived through the world economic depression sustained only by a meager pension that afforded her basic accommodation and food. Then, during World War II, her living conditions became immeasurably worse.
Shoghi Effendi suggested she leave the country for Switzerland. However, he accepted, with great admiration, her plea to remain at her post. She had told him there was nobody there at the time who could replace her as a Baha'i pioneer.
Living in a city subject to aerial bombing and facing the possibility of internment by a pro-Nazi government, Ms. Jack demonstrated persistence, fearlessness, self-abnegation, and generosity.
During the Stalinist-style political era that followed the war, she suffered from inadequate food, heating, and clothing. She lived in dank rented rooms -- once in a damp cellar with no windows.
Among the other difficulties she faced were serious health problems, an inability to master the Bulgarian language, theft of her belongings, extreme cold, plagues of bedbugs, and the irregular arrival of her pension. Yet she remained cheerful and steadfast. Shoghi Effendi said there was never a ""more inspiring pioneer.""
When she passed away, aged 87, on March 27, 1954, he urged the building of a suitable grave that was destined to ""confer eternal benediction"" on Bulgaria. It would, he said,  become in the future a place of visitation, a prediction that is being borne out by such visits as the one last month.
An extract of the tribute Shoghi Effendi paid her on her passing appears on the headstone of her grave: ""Immortal heroine...Greatly loved and deeply admired by 'Abdu'l-Baha. A shining example to pioneers...Her unremitting, highly meritorious activities...shed imperishable splendor on contemporary Baha'i history...Shoghi.""
Marion Jack's legacy lies in a Baha'i community now established in 100 localities throughout the country -- and in beautiful paintings adorning the meeting chamber of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Bulgaria and some of the walls of the Baha'i holy places in Acre and Haifa.
(For more information on Marion Jack, see the book ""Never Be Afraid to Dare"" by Jan Teofil Jasion, George Ronald, Publisher, 2001. http://www.grbooks.com).
(Editor’s Note: A change was made to paragraph 16 on 6 June 2017 to reflect that Marion Jack went to Bulgaria in 1930, not 1931.)",SOFIA,,Bulgaria
387,2005-09-02,[],Science and religion explored,"CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, United States — The relationship between science and religion was explored at the 29th annual Association for Baha'i Studies conference, which took place here on the 11-14 August 2005.
Attended by some 1,300 people, the conference explored everything from the role of inspiration in scientific discovery to the value of prayer in healing. Presentations ranged over the gamut of natural and social sciences, from neuroscience to quantum mechanics, from philosophy to psychology.
More than 100 speakers presented during the course of the four-day event. Participants came mainly from the United States and Canada but also traveled from Australia, Austria, Chile, China, France, Gabon, Germany, Haiti, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Sudan, and the United Kingdom.
The conference was organized by the Association for Baha'i Studies--North America, one of 26 sister organizations around the world that provide forums for scholars and students to exchange ideas inspired by Baha'i principles.
Most presentations focused on this year's conference theme, ""Science, Religion and Social Transformation."" The Baha'i sacred writings explicitly uphold the underlying harmony of science and religion, and many scholars sought to show how these two systems are increasingly seen as complementary sides of the same reality.
Redwan Moqbel, a professor of immunology at the University of Alberta, spoke on the role of inspiration in scientific endeavors.
Dr. Moqbel said that current science is beginning to corroborate Baha'u'llah's teaching that there are realms yet to be discovered at every level of existence.
""In the field of immunology, there is this concept of universes within universes,"" said Dr. Moqbel. ""As we discover one layer of this onion, you then peel it off and there is another layer.
""We are now beginning to discover that there are, at the molecular level, the signs and symptoms of a system within the tiniest units of a single cell,"" said Dr. Moqbel. ""And when you go to the Baha'i writings, Baha'u'llah tells you that there are worlds within worlds, universes within universes.""
Dr. Moqbel said he believes that all knowledge emanates from God, and it is the responsibility of scientists to make themselves conduits of that knowledge through an attitude of utmost humility and cooperation with their colleagues.  Redwan Moqbel, director of the pulmonary research group at the University of Alberta, delivered a plenary address on ""That 'Eureka' Moment: The Role of Reflection and Inspiration in Scientific Discovery""""'Humble thyself before Me, that I may graciously visit thee,'"" said Dr. Moqbel, quoting from the writings of Baha'u'llah. ""Fellow scientists, this is our motto.""
John Hatcher, professor of English literature at the University of South Florida, delivered the Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture, the conference's annual keynote address, titled ""Unveiling the Huri of Love.""
Often taking a lighthearted approach, Dr. Hatcher examined the relationship between the phenomenal world and spiritual reality, suggesting that the former is a physical manifestation of the latter and that human beings can attain greater intimacy with the spiritual world by progressing through the various stages of love revealed by Baha'u'llah.
The creation of physical reality, Dr. Hatcher said, is ""a means by which we can understand abstract concepts"" such as love.
In this light, everything possesses some attribute of God, Dr. Hatcher said. ""We love 'stuff' for example, because all 'stuff' manifests attributes of God.""
The primary purpose of human existence, he said, is to ""climb the ladder of love,"" moving progressively from love for material things and love for self to love for others and finally to love for God above all else.
Another convention highlight was a talk by Douglas Martin, who served as a member of the Universal House of Justice until earlier this year. Mr. Martin in a plenary address urged the scholarly community to contribute its insights on the unprecedented learning process that Baha'is around the world have put at the center of their community life.
Mr. Martin likened the process, in which small groups of individuals gather informally to pray and study the Baha'i teachings, to the building of a bridge across a chasm. As more people engage in the process, the bridge is slowly built and the separation that humanity has always made between the mind and the heart gradually disappears.
The learning process referred to by Mr. Martin consists of three main activities: study circles, devotional gatherings, and children's classes. The study circles cover such topics as living a spiritual life, learning about the life of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith, and serving humanity. Each of the three activities -- whether it is group study, praying, or education of children -- is designed to bring participants to a closer understanding of their relationship to God.
The systematic and world-embracing scope of this process is unprecedented in human history, Mr. Martin said, and scholars are in a unique position to assess its impact on human behavior and community cohesion.
According to one of the conference organizers, this year's theme of the harmony between science and religion attracted a more diverse group of speakers than usual.
""We do get strong submissions on the theme every year,"" said Kim Naqvi, the program coordinator, ""but I think we have a lot of people presenting new ideas this year and a lot of Baha'i medical practitioners as well.
""For example, Murray Skeaff came from New Zealand to present a study on fasting, and that's just the kind of presentation that we did not get before,"" said Ms. Naqvi. ""We have had many more empirical science-based studies, particularly in the medical and natural sciences, done in the context of the Baha'i Faith than we've had in previous years.""
A perennial feature at Association for Baha'i Studies conferences have been the artistic presentations, and this year's event showcased a mixture of chorale music, dancing, spoken word pieces, and musical performances.
Anne Gordon Perry performed a monologue during the Friday plenary entitled ""Sarah Farmer: Raising the Flag of Peace,"" which recounted the triumphs and travails of the abolition-era figure who helped establish a center dedicated to peace and religious unity.
Ms. Farmer, who became a Baha'i at the turn of the century, was held in high esteem by 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah. The center she helped found and which 'Abdu'l-Baha visited eventually turned into Green Acre Baha'i School, a facility that is used today for annual schools, conferences, and workshops dedicated to peace and unity-related themes. Green Acre is located in Eliot, Maine.
The weekend wrapped up with a panel of five speakers discussing their experience as young Baha'is in the academic and professional world. Speaking on the theme of ""Walking the Academic Path with Baha'i Feet,"" the panelists explored the challenges of applying Baha'i principles to the often thorny problems that spring up in their respective fields, which range from economics to law to political science to bioethics to international development.
The speakers concurred that as vital as are the divine teachings that are revealed to humanity by Baha'u'llah and the other Messengers of God, the challenge for Baha'is is to show to the wider public the applicability of these teachings to the practical problems of the day.
""My challenge,"" noted Julia Berger, a senior researcher and writer for the Baha'i International Community, ""is to never become lazy but to really think these concepts through. For example, when we talk about unity, what does it mean for today in the particular context that I might be thinking about it? How can I communicate this persuasively in a way that a community that has never heard of the Baha'i Faith can understand it?""
-- Compiled from a report by the Canadian Baha'i News Service",CAMBRIDGE,MASSACHUSETTS,United States
388,2005-09-07,[],"David S. Ruhe, 1914-2005","HAIFA, Israel — Dr. David S. Ruhe, former member of the Universal House of Justice, died Tuesday, 6 September 2005, near his home in Newburgh, New York, following a stroke in mid-August. He was 91.
Dr. Ruhe became a Baha'i in Philadelphia in 1941, subsequently serving on numerous Local Spiritual Assemblies and national Baha'i committees. Elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States in 1959, he served as its secretary from 1963 until 1968, when he was elected to the Universal House of Justice. His service on the Baha'i Faith's supreme governing council here extended for five terms of five years each until 1993.
A medical doctor, Dr. Ruhe was also an accomplished film-maker, painter, and author. Graduating from Temple University School of Medicine in 1941, Dr. Ruhe began his medical career during World War II as a malaria researcher in the United States Public Health Service where he was promoted to the rank of Medical Director.
In l954, Dr. Ruhe was named the first professor of Medical Communications at the University of Kansas Medical School. Among the innovations he introduced there were the use of optical fibers for endoscopic cinematography, the projection of high-definition images in surgical theaters, and videotaping of psychiatric sessions for peer review.
He made scores of medical films, winning the Golden Reel award, the Venice Film Festival award, and the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain award for his productions. In the course of his work in medical education he was appointed Director of the Medical Film Institute for the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Dr. Ruhe was a prolific writer. In his medical career, he authored many papers and two books on aspects of medicine and medical audiovisual communication.
During his years at the Baha'i World Centre, Dr. Ruhe researched and wrote Door of Hope, detailed explanation of the history and significance of Baha'i holy places in Israel, published in 1983. Later, he wrote Robe of Light, a historical account of Baha'u'llah's early years, published in 1994. Dr. Ruhe was also an accomplished painter who was trained in the Lehigh Valley school of impressionism.
Upon his 1993 departure from the Universal House of Justice, Dr. Ruhe and his wife, Margaret, returned to New York State where he produced a series of documentary TV programs about the Baha'i Faith.
Dr. Ruhe is survived by his wife, Margaret, and two sons, Christopher and Douglas, and their families.",HAIFA,,Israel
389,2005-09-13,[],Ambassador talks peace at Green Acre,"ELIOT, MAINE, United States — The Japanese ambassador to the United States told a gathering at Green Acre Baha'i School that he had ""deep admiration"" for the effort Baha'is have made in ""attending to world peace and human harmony.""
Taking the theme of ""Peace in the 21st Century,"" Ambassador Ryozo Kato spoke on 4 September 2005 about Japan's growing role in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts around the world.
""Japan is working around the world for the conservation of the environment, for disarmament, and for the eradication of poverty and disease,"" said Ambassador Kato.
His speech capped off a week-long celebration of the role played 100 years ago by a prominent US Baha'i, Sarah Farmer, in promoting activities that supported negotiations that ended the Russo-Japanese War.
Ambassador Kato addressed some 175 people, including the Japanese news media, as did representatives of the Baha'i community of the United States and the Baha'i community of Japan.
The event was preceded by a week-long program commemorating the signing of the so-called Portsmouth Peace Treaty, which ended what many historians consider the first ""modern"" war, fought between Russia and Japan for 18 months in 1904-05.
On 26 August 2005, Suheil Bushrui, who holds the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, spoke on ""A Step Towards A Culture of Peace: Reflections on the Treaty of Portsmouth.""  Erica Toussaint, Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato, and Foad Katirai, after Dr. Katirai gave Ambassador Kato a copy of his book, ""Global Governance and the Lesser Peace,"" on 4 September 2005 at Green Acre Baha'i School.Prof. Bushrui's talk was followed by five days of diverse educational activities exploring the cultural, economic, educational, political, and spiritual foundations for the creation of lasting peace.
Features of the five-day program included a discussion of Russian contributions to the culture of peace, organized by the Boston-based Russian American Cultural Center, an interfaith panel discussion on the role of religion in promoting peace, a discussion of the role of the arts in creating a culture of peace, and an examination of African-American contributions to peace.
On 31 August 2005, as well, Mitsuru Kitano, minister for public affairs at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, DC, spoke at Green Acre about the significance of the Portsmouth Treaty.
The 4 September event also featured a dramatic re-enactment of the 1905 visit of the Japanese delegation to Green Acre and a commemorative raising of a ""Peace"" flag -- in honor of a similar flag hoisted 100 years ago by Ms. Farmer during the peace negotiations at the nearby Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Ms. Farmer, an early member of the Baha'i Faith, founded Green Acre and sponsored a series of summer conferences about peace and inter-religious harmony in the opening years of the 20th century.
The Green Acre conference of 1904 closed with a program dedicated to the resolution of the Russo-Japanese war, and, the following year, when delegations from Russia and Japan met in nearby Portsmouth to negotiate an end to the war, Ms. Farmer was invited to witness the signing of the resulting treaty. She was the only woman at the event.
Charles Doleac, co-chair of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Anniversary Committee, said at the 4 September celebration that Ms. Farmer and other early Baha'is in the greater Portsmouth area played a critical role in pushing government delegations towards a settlement.
""The Baha'is in 1905 were really trying, through the work of Sarah Farmer, to resolve this dispute,"" said Mr. Doleac, who has done extensive research on the Portsmouth treaty process and history.
Foad Katirai, who traveled from Japan as the representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Japan, said that the Portsmouth Peace Treaty process can be understood as among the first ""multi-track"" efforts at diplomacy, one that included not only various governments but also a civil society component.
""Many associations, many people, seek peace,"" said Dr. Katirai, who is the author of a book, ""Global Governance and the Lesser Peace.""
""The Baha'i vision is perhaps unique in that we regard world peace as already having been born in the 20th century. What remains for us in the 21st century is to take the newborn peace and to see that it grows and develops into a mature and lasting system of global governance.""
Erica Toussaint, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, said that the signing of the peace treaty was a bold step on the part of the Japanese delegation in 1905.
""Because peace requires great courage,"" said Ms. Toussaint. ""That courage was to make a decision that to many people might be unpopular. When the Japanese delegation went home, there were riots.""
Ms. Toussaint also quoted from a talk given by 'Abdu'l-Baha in London in September 1911. ""In that talk, he said: 'In the days of old an instinct for warfare was developed in the struggle with wild animals; this is no longer necessary; nay, rather, co-operation and mutual understanding are seen to produce the greatest welfare of mankind,'"" said Ms. Toussaint.",ELIOT,MAINE,United States
390,2005-09-26,[],German Baha'is celebrate 100 years,"STUTTGART, Germany — More than 1,800 participants at the centenary celebration of the German Baha'i community commemorated a history both ""dark"" with crisis and ""highlighted"" by achievement.
Participants came from every region of Germany and at least 25 other nations for the day-long jubilee, held 10 September 2005 at the Stuttgart Congress Center.
Stuttgart was chosen as the host city because it was where the German Baha'i history had its beginning.
Featuring prayers, speeches, music, and theatrical performances, the program took note of the ""dark"" times when the Baha'i Faith was banned under Nazism in Germany -- and of the joyous highlights that have followed during modern Germany's reconstruction and prosperity.
For example, a series of performances, highlighted with old film clips and photographs, depicted events such as the 1913 visit of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Germany, the consecration of the Baha'i House of Worship in Langenhain, an interrogation at a police station during the prohibition of the Baha'i Faith under the Nazi regime, and the arrival of the first Baha'i in Germany, Dr. Edwin Fischer, in Stuttgart in 1905.
Dr. Fischer, a dentist, had emigrated in 1878 from Germany to New York, became a Baha'i there, and then returned to his home country to bring the message of Baha'u'llah. Dr. Fisher used every opportunity, including talking with his patients, to mention the Baha'i teachings, and in time a number of Germans embraced the new religion.
One of the speakers at the jubilee was Ian Semple, a former member of the Universal House of Justice, who represented the House of Justice at the occasion and read a message from it that referred to the arrival of the Baha'i Faith in Germany and its subsequent expansion.  John Eichenauer, center, was interviewed about the role he played just after World War II in helping the German Baha'i community re-establish itself. A United States soldier stationed in occupied post-war Germany, Mr. Eichenauer made efforts to track down Baha'is in Stuttgart and re-connect them with the outside world.""The spark lit in 1905,"" the message said, ""has burgeoned into a conflagration.""
The Universal House of Justice said ""this is a moment for reflection, profound reflection -- one that recounts the highlights in contrast to the dark aspects punctuating the history of crisis and victory that depicts the evolution of the German (Baha'i) community.""
Mr. Semple also delivered two talks in German which quoted from the writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi about the destiny of the German Baha'i community.
He said the central task for the German Baha'i community today lies in its contribution to the ""vital task"" for building a new, just and peaceful global society.
""In this age all the specific destinies are linked in the one enormous task of unifying the world and attaining the maturity of human society,"" said Mr. Semple.
Another speaker, Stuttgart's deputy mayor for social affairs, Gabriele Mueller-Trimbusch, thanked Baha'is for their initiative in starting World Religion Day.
""The respect you pay to other world religions, your openness for people who have different opinions, your message of peace for the world we live in, makes you a greatly appreciated partner for us,"" she said.
""Stuttgart highly values the activities of the Baha'i community, because it participates in the social life of our city in an exemplary manner,"" Ms. Mueller-Trimbusch said.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany also addressed the gathering, as did a guest, the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, William E. Davis, who emphasized the ""chain of deep and abiding love that binds our two communities.""
After World War II the American Baha'is sent to German Baha'is money, food and literature, and aided them in rebuilding the administrative structures.
A US soldier stationed in occupied post-war Germany, John Eichenauer, who helped the German Baha'i community at that time, was a featured guest, and he told participants in the centenary festivities about his experiences during the first days of the reconvening of the German Baha'i community.
The festivities included a variety of musical performances and dances. A children's program for the event was also organized, in which participants sang, played games, and acted in plays.
The commemoration follows events in April and May to celebrate Germany's Baha'i jubilee. On 10 May 2005, the German Minister for Home Affairs, Otto Schily, addressed a congratulatory message to the German Baha'i community and on 22 April 2005 prominent parliamentarians attended a reception held at the national Baha'i center in Hofheim-Langenhain adjacent to the Baha'i House of Worship for Europe, which opened in 1964.
German Baha'is now live in some 900 towns and cities throughout the country. There are 106 Local Spiritual Assemblies. The Baha'i community is active in the discourse on interfaith and gender equality issues, as well as in sustainable development and human rights education.
(Photos by Alexander Schramm.)",STUTTGART,,Germany
391,2005-10-07,[],Values highlighted on UN anniversary,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — In observance of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, the Baha'i International Community has issued a major statement that focuses on the importance of the oneness of humanity and religious freedom as critical values in the process of UN reform.
""The blurring of national boundaries in the face of global crises has shown, beyond a doubt, that the body of humankind represents one organic whole,"" says the statement, which is titled ""The Search for Values in an Age of Transition.""
Accordingly, the oneness of humanity must become the overriding focus as humanity searches for solutions to global challenges such as poverty, AIDS, environmental degradation, terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons.
""It is clear that none of the problems facing humanity can be adequately addressed in isolation from one another,"" the statement says.
""The increasingly apparent interconnectedness of development, security and human rights on a global scale confirms that peace and prosperity are indivisible -- that no sustainable benefit can be conferred on a nation or community if the welfare of the nations as a whole is ignored or neglected.""
Moreover, the statement asserts that the issues surrounding religion and freedom of belief have now risen to a level of ""consuming global importance, which the United Nations cannot afford to ignore.""
""While the General Assembly has passed a number of resolutions addressing the role of religion in the promotion of peace and calling for the elimination of religious intolerance, it struggles to grasp fully both the constructive role that religion can play in creating a peaceful global order and the destructive impact that religious fanaticism can have on the stability and progress of the world,"" the statement says.
""A growing number of leaders and deliberative bodies acknowledge that such considerations must move from the periphery to the center of debate -- recognizing that the full impact of religion-related variables on governance, diplomacy, human rights, development, notions of justice, and collective security must be better understood.""
Within the framework of these two main themes, the statement offers a number of concrete recommendations to the United Nations. These recommendations fall in four broad areas: human rights, development, democracy, and collective security.
Among the recommendations are:
-- A call for ""the United Nations to affirm unequivocally an individual's right to change his or her religion under international law.""
-- The establishment of a timeline for the universal ratification of international human rights treaties.
-- That the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights should become ""the standard-bearer in the field of human rights and an effective tool in alleviating the suffering of individuals and groups whose rights are denied.""
-- An emphasis on education in UN development programs, since the ""capacity of people to participate in the generation and application of knowledge is an essential component of human development."" Special attention should be given to the education of girls, which ""may well yield the highest return of all investments available in developing countries.""
-- That the rich countries of the world have a moral obligation to remove export and trade measures that bar the entry of countries struggling to participate in the global market.
-- That the UN should develop modes for the ""constructive and systematic engagement with organizations of civil society (including businesses and religious organizations).""
-- That ""healthy democracy must be founded on the principle of the equality of men and women"" and efforts by member states to promote democracy must therefore ""vigilantly work for the inclusion of women in all facets of governance in their respective countries.""
-- That ""in our interconnected world, a threat to one is a threat to all,"" and the principle of collective security ultimately means that ""the United Nations must in due course move towards adopting a procedure for eventually eliminating permanent membership and veto power"" in the Security Council.
The Baha'i International Community has previously issued major statements on the important anniversaries of the founding of the United Nations. On the 10th anniversary, in 1955, the Community issued a statement offering ""Proposals to the United Nations for Charter Revision."" And in 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the UN, it issued ""Turning Point for All Nations.""
The full text of ""The Search for Values in an Age of Transition"" can be read at:
www.onecountry.org/e172/BIC_UN_60th.htm",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
392,2005-10-20,[],Stimulating spirit pervades study circle,"SOFIA, Bulgaria — On a soft summer evening, conversation in the center of this Eastern European capital moved quickly past the transient issues of the day to the eternal questions.
Gathered were members of a Baha'i-inspired study circle that has met weekly in an exploration of spiritual and practical topics that have excited them for the past two years.
""We talk about the soul, life after death, prayers -- these are the eternal questions,"" said Iota Konstantinova, a corporate administrative manager.
Ms. Konstantinova, who is not a Baha'i, was referring to their discussions that arose out of studying ""Reflections on the Life of the Spirit,"" the first in a series of workbooks developed by the Ruhi Institute of Colombia. The study circle here has moved through the series now to the fourth of seven workbooks.
The workbooks were originally intended for members of Baha'i communities to use in study circles with the aim of fostering their own spiritual development and building their capacity to better serve others.
However, popularity of the study circles has now spread far beyond the Baha'i community. In many countries, including Bulgaria, participation in study circles includes people from a wide range of religious and cultural backgrounds. They use a system of self-directed learning carried out in a group setting.
Study circles have tutors whose role is to facilitate discussion rather than instruct, and in this case it is Terry Madison, a Baha'i. Ms. Madison described the other members as people who ""love and respect"" the Baha'i Faith although not formally enrolled.
Ask the members of the study circle to explain the benefits of their involvement and they respond with enthusiasm.
""Well-educated people enjoy such discussions,"" said Ms. Konstantinova, who holds a master's degree in civil engineering as well as qualifications in economics and journalism.
""It has given me new ideas, new points of view, new understandings.""
Ms. Konstantinova said, for example, that her participation has inspired her to embark on a personal project to help eliminate gossip and backbiting in her environment.
""I read an extract from Baha'u'llah that says it is not one who calls himself a Baha'i who is His follower but one whose deeds are those of a Baha'i,"" she said, speaking of the importance of acquiring moral virtues rather than just labeling oneself as a member of a faith.
Another member of the study circle is Dyana Dafova, an award-winning Bulgarian singer and composer with an international following. In New York recently, she donated two songs for a compilation compact disc released by the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Her music has been played in space to US astronauts.  Stephanie and Evgenie Kostourkov.Ms. Dafova said she enjoys study circles because they allow one to see oneself from a different angle and to become more knowledgeable about important topics.
""I like to make contact with people who have a spiritual interest and have spirituality in life,"" she said.
""When you are leading a very hectic life, I think it is good to take time to look at these things. If you don't, you lose out on knowing how you have to live, about what is important. This is the most important thing you do in your life.""
At home, she recites Baha'i prayers with her husband. She describes herself as a good friend of the Baha'i Faith.
""I have been to Haifa -- I had a wonderful experience there (at the Baha'i holy places), a special experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.""
Previously her creative focus was in the jazz, pop, and classical genres but it has since changed to ""new music,"" combining the musical influence of different cultures, and presenting a message of love, peace, and tolerance.
""It is very serious music for thinking people. It is music for the mind and the soul.""
Ms. Dafova's service activities include being president of the Morals and Ethics Association, a foundation she and Terry Madison established to build a moral society through education and the practice of virtues in daily life. The association arranges training programs for parents and teachers in virtues education, and it plans pilot ""virtues"" projects in schools.
Another member of the study circle, businessman Evgenie Kostourkov, said that members of the study circle discuss the spiritual development of the personality and how this intersects with their own lives, their families, and society.
""I enjoy this mostly because it is a very good group -- they are very intelligent women and have very interesting views -- and we love Terry and highly appreciate her tutorship.""
Mr. Kostourkov said he has most enjoyed studying the lives of Baha'u'llah and the Bab, how They delivered spiritual teachings, knowing that would attract persecution. He said he is impressed with Their courage and endurance.
Involvement in the study circle, he said, has made him and his wife feel more relaxed, and they enjoy continuing the discussions at home after returning from the study circle meetings.
""We have started saying prayers -- Christian and Baha'i prayers. They are almost the same -- they must be the same, coming from the same source. When you are praying, it changes everything.""
His wife Stephanie, known as Fanny, is an English translator who works closely with Terry Madison in a series of service projects, such as the Love That Child Foundation, which is involved in helping children in need, including children with disabilities.
For her, the study circle is a relief after the often trivial conversations encountered in normal daily life.
""Even professors here are not ready to talk about serious matters -- they are always joking and drinking. This discussion, though, is serious, it is very deep conversation.""
""Since I have been with Baha'is there has been a change in me. During our upbringing in communist times religion was absolutely neglected -- in 40 years they eradicated 1,000 years of religious tradition.""
The effect, she said, was to make it difficult for her to have any religious feeling and to make her feel ""terribly alone."" Even now she doubts her capacity for true spiritual feeling although she can see that throughout her life she has been on a spiritual quest. One of the issues with which she is grappling is how God can allow children to suffer.
Since being involved in the study circle she has been continually pondering the value of prayers, and she now experiments with reciting them.
""I sometimes pray that God will help me to relax and it works,"" she said.
""My great gain (from the study circle) is this idea to serve and help others. I feel the pleasure of doing it, it is very natural. I think how beautiful it is, how great it is to help others.""
Formerly a resident on the Caribbean island of St. Martin and Suriname, the study circle tutor Terry Madison is a television producer who has lived in Bulgaria for more than 14 years. She said there is a special spirit in the study circle.
""By the time the session is over everyone is uplifted. Even if they were depressed and didn't feel like coming initially, they are grateful for our sessions, and at the conclusion they are always joyful -- me too.
""I learn continually from these lovely souls,"" she said, mentioning their ability to deliver talks on deep spiritual matters not only during their own study circle sessions but at others in the city and at the Baha'i Center to bigger audiences.
A day after the discussion in the apartment, the group met on the patio of the Kostourkov home for their regular session studying spiritual virtues.
Others present included a local lawyer, psychologist, and teachers -- all keen to consciously include spiritually virtuous behavior in their own lives and to assist their children and others to do the same.
It was a lively and vibrant session, including a skit, and lots of laughter. The same spirit of the study circle -- joy and intellectual and spiritual stimulation -- pervaded the gathering.
(Photographs by Edit Kalman.)",SOFIA,,Bulgaria
393,2005-10-27,[],Magazine wins 'grand award',"NEW YORK, United States — ""One Country,"" the newsletter of the Baha'i International Community, has won a prestigious ""Grand Award"" this year in the APEX 2005 Awards for Publication Excellence.
The periodical reports mainly on activities of the worldwide Baha'i community in relation to issues of sustainable development, peace and world order, human rights, and the advancement of women.
""One Country"" won the Grand Award in the ""nonprofit, small office"" category.
Just 100 Grand Awards were handed out, in 16 categories, from among 5,000 entries, according to APEX organizers.
""We're honored to have won a Grand Award from APEX this year,"" said Douglas Moore, the director of the Office of Public Information of the Baha'i International Community, the publisher of ""One Country.""
""In the world of nonprofit and organizational publications, it is a sign of considerable recognition,"" Mr. Moore said.
The annual APEX awards are sponsored by Communications Concepts of Springfield, Virginia, USA. They aim at recognizing excellence in publications, including websites, by professional communicators.
The awards are based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content, and the ability to achieve overall communications excellence. Now in their 17th year, the APEX Awards have gradually grown in prestige. This year, for example, the editors of ""Foreign Policy Magazine"" won three Awards of Excellence, a fact that they have noted on their website.
In addition to the Grand Awards, APEX issues Awards of Excellence in 11 major categories, divided into some 109 subcategories.
This year ""One Country,"" whose editor is Brad Pokorny, also won an Award of Excellence in the ""Columns and Editorials"" subcategory for its Perspective Editorial titled ""Literacy and Development,"" which was published in the April-June 2004 issue (Volume 16, Issue 1).
""One Country"" has won a number of APEX awards in previous years for its news and feature stories, including a 1991 ""Grand Award"" in the Newsletters category.
""One Country"" is issued quarterly. In addition to an English edition, it is published in French, Spanish, Chinese, German, and Russian. The English edition goes to more than 38,000 people in 180 countries.
To see ""One Country"" on the Internet, go to http://onecountry.org.",NEW YORK,,United States
395,2005-11-01,[],Edinburgh gains elegant center,"EDINBURGH, Scotland — An elegant Baha'i center in the Scottish capital has been obtained after a united effort by the local and national Baha'i communities.
The center, at 44 Albany Street, is in the historic Georgian New Town area of the city, within the building conservation zone and close to Edinburgh's central business and shopping district.
The four-story building has many spacious rooms suitable for the reception of distinguished visitors and for meetings of the Baha'i Council for Scotland, the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Edinburgh, and the Baha'i community in general.
The search for a center began after a call in 2003 by the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom to find a new center to replace the existing one, which could no longer meet the needs of the community.
Fundraising events throughout the United Kingdom began in 2004, the first donation being 35 pounds (US$62) raised by Baha'i children selling handmade bookmarks. (Baha'is do not accept donations from outside of the community's own membership).
In January 2005 a new momentum to the search for an appropriate building and to fundraising came as Baha'is from throughout the United Kingdom attended a gathering that included dramatic performance of events from the early history of the Baha'i Faith in Scotland. (See https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?).
In April 2005 a suitable building owned by a charitable organization was put on the market. On 23 May 2005, a Baha'i holy day commemorating the founding of the Baha'i Faith in 1844, the 1.2 million pound (US$2.12 million) offer by the Baha'is was accepted by the vendors.  View from below of the staircase and cupola in the new Baha'i center in Edinburgh.A spokesman for the Edinburgh Baha'i community, John Parris, said the interior of the building is spacious and elegant and gains a lot of natural light due to its southern-facing aspect.
""The style is Georgian and it gives a great feeling of dignity to the center,"" said Dr. Parris, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom.
Refurbished in 1999, it retains its original features, including the cornice work, a cupola, fireplaces, stairways, and distinctive curved doors, Dr. Parris said.
The center is already being used for activities of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Edinburgh, and many plans are being made for its future use to serve the community and welcome guests there.",EDINBURGH,,Scotland
397,2005-11-03,[],New service offered to readers,"HAIFA, Israel — The Baha'i World News Service now offers readers an RSS feed for use in their news readers and Web logs (blogs).
The RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed includes headlines, introductory paragraphs of stories, and links back to the complete stories.
For more information on the RSS feed, including instructions on how to subscribe, click on the XML button that appears at the bottom of the home page and news pages on the Baha'i World News Service Web site.",HAIFA,,Israel
398,2005-11-09,[],Religions gather to pray for peace,"DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Representatives of nine religious communities offered prayers on the International Day of Peace at a gathering organized by the Baha'i community of Tanzania.
""This is an historic day,"" said keynote speaker, United Nations representative Eshila Maravanyika.
Ms. Maravanyika expressed her delight at witnessing representatives of the various religious denominations coming together in a united forum to offer prayers for peace on 21 September 2005.
Listening to her address were representatives of the Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Christian denominations, Hinduism, Islam, and Zoroastrianism as well as from the Aga Khan Council and African traditional religion.
In a general discussion, participants presented their suggestions on what should be done to become peacemakers and how to make a contribution individually and jointly towards building a peaceful world.
Dr. Navruz Lakhani, a representative from the Aga Khan Council, said that we need to learn about other cultures, religions and traditions.  A lighthearted moment during discussions at the International Day of Peace gathering organised by the Baha'is of Tanzania.(Front row) Secretary of interrelations dialogue of the Catholic Church Rev. Father Gallus Marandu (left), Aga Khan Council representative Dr Navruz Lakhani.""Most of the times we have conflict it is because of our ignorance of others,"" Dr. Lakhani said.
""If as individuals we make an effort to learn about others, then the respect and tolerance will come,"" he said.
Ms. Gladys Denis, a Christian, said peace should start with individual people, who then take it to the community and make it collective.
""It should be responsibility of everyone,"" Ms. Denis said.
""Let's take the attitude of 'my responsibility', before we say 'we,'"" Ms. Denis said.
Ms. Jessica Mkuchu, the secretary of the Tanzania Ecumenical Dialogue Group said we need to believe in peace first.
""Then (we must) avoid conflict and violence,"" Ms. Mkuchu said.
The program included a parade by children who carried banners that read: ""Guess who are we? Children of one creator and flowers of one garden; guess what we need? peace, please.""
Explaining the reason for organizing the gathering, Baha'i spokesperson Mitra Deliri Sabet said that humanity now stands at the beginning of a great new era of peace as promised in scriptures of the world's religions.
""The purpose of the gathering was to provide a common ground where various religious organizations can come together and pray for a common goal -- peace,"" Ms. Sabet said.
The gathering followed other interfaith activities in which the Baha'is of Tanzania have also been involved, she said.
""We work hand-in-hand with other religious organizations in many areas, for example, poverty reduction, and in HIV programs,"" she said.
(For an earlier story about the Baha'is in Tanzania, See https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?).",DAR ES SALAAM,,Tanzania
401,2005-11-09,[],Women scoop awards at film festival,"SYDNEY, Australia — A movie from a child's perspective about the equality of the sexes won the ""best film"" award at the Baha'i-inspired ""Harmony Film Festival"" held in Australia's biggest city on 22 October 2005.
The Australian-made movie by Bita Haidarian, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, tells the story of an eight-year-old girl whose father refuses to let her to swap her household chore (dishwashing) with her brother's (lawn mowing) because mowing is ""for boys.""
The girl takes matters into her own hands and ends up with a humorous and telling result.
More than 600 people attended the festival, which had ""woman"" as its theme. Entries came from 25 filmmakers of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds and from countries including Australia, Japan, Spain, Russia, and the United States.
The films ranged from a gentle coming of age exploration (""32EE"") and broad-based slapstick comedy (""Footsteps Femme Fatale"") to documentaries about genocide in Sierra Leone (""Mussu"") and female alienation in Russia (""The Glass Island"").
The judges were from the film industry. They included documentary filmmakers Peter Butt and Mitzi Goldman, movie director Mojgan Khadem, film and television journalist Sandy George, and actor Nick Tate.
Eight of the 14 finalists were female directors, a gratifying result according to festival director Mehrzad Mumtahan.
""We chose 'woman' as the 2005 theme to draw attention to the issue of equality and the important role women can play as peacemakers in our troubled world,"" Mr. Mumtahan said.  Harmony Film Festival organizers, from left, Naomi Hall, Collis Ta'eed, and Mehrzad Mumtahan.""To have the majority of the finalists be female is an incredibly positive result. It shows that we're not just about words and platitudes -- but really making a difference.""
Mr. Mumtahan said the festival was inspired by the Baha'i belief that the arts have a great capacity to awaken and uplift the heart. He said filmmakers can proclaim widely the message of peace, and encourage people to discuss vital issues relating to harmony and unity.
Entrants in the festival were advised that a useful starting point in their exploration of the 2005 theme was ""The Promise of World Peace,"" a message issued in 1985 by the Universal House of Justice that highlighted an important relationship between the role of women and the establishment of world peace.
""The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes, is one of the most important, though less acknowledged prerequisites of peace,"" the message said.
""The denial of such equality perpetrates an injustice against one half of the world's population and promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that are carried from the family to the workplace, to political life, and ultimately to international relations,"" it said.
(For more of the statement, see http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/uhj/PWP )
Shideh Faramand's six minute comedy ""In Time"" won both the ""audience choice"" and ""achievement"" awards. The film takes a humorous look at the social pressures on single women to get married and start a family.
Ms. Faramand said her inspiration in filmmaking was to ""make an impact on the world.""
""They say the soul of society can be seen through the arts and we can see that its moral stance is so degrading. I would like to create its new soul,"" she said.
The award for the ""most original concept"" went to Anis Fanaeian for his film ""Remember Tomorrow,"" a film about a successful professional woman who chooses motherhood and the joy of having and raising children over a successful career.
One of the judges, documentary filmmaker Peter Butt, said the Harmony Film Festival is building a new paradigm for the film industry, providing a new platform for filmmakers to share with the world their hopes and dreams of a new civilization.
""You're talking to the grassroots and you're inspiring people to roll out new ideas to impact upon society,"" Mr. Butt said.
""It may not be from tonight that there's a big change, but it's the practitioners (filmmakers) that have the greatest impact.""
The festival, now in its second year, was organized by a three-person team comprising Collis Ta'eed, Naomi Hall, and Mr. Mumtahan.
The festival films have already been seen in other Australian cities, in New Zealand, and in Israel, and will soon be screened in other countries.
For more information on the festival see http://www.harmonyfilmfest.com
(Reporting by Farnaz Fanaian and Sabour Bradley.)",SYDNEY,,Australia
404,2005-11-16,[],Peace expert appointed to university chair,"COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — A former senior official with the United States Agency for International Development, John Grayzel,  has been appointed to the Baha'i Chair for Peace at the University of Maryland in the United States.
Dr. Grayzel will succeed the inaugural holder, Suheil Bushrui, who is retiring after holding the position since 1992.
Dr. Grayzel, a member of the Baha'i Faith, holds a law degree from Stanford University and a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Oregon.
He served for 25 years in the field of international development and conflict management, tackling senior foreign service assignments for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
His work took him to Africa, India, and the Philippines, among other places. He also served in the US Peace Corps.
The Baha'i Chair for Peace is part of the University of Maryland's Center for International Development and Conflict Management, which adheres to the belief that ""peace building and development-with-justice are two sides of the same coin.""
The Center's director, Jonathan Wilkenfeld, said that Dr. Grayzel, with his extensive background in conflict management, ""will be a good fit here.""
The chancellor of the University of Maryland System, William E. Kirwan, said that through the chair, the values of the Baha'i Faith resonate on campus and support the major values and activities at the university.
""This is the first ... Baha'i Chair in existence, and was one of my most important initiatives as president of the College Park campus,"" Dr. Kirwan said.
The mission of the Baha'i Chair for Peace, in part, is to develop alternatives to the violent resolution of conflict, promote global education and spiritual awareness, and reflect the beliefs of the Baha'i world community in building a global society.
(For a story on Professor Bushrui, see
https://news.bahai.org/story/282)
(Reporting by Deborah Leigh Wood for ""The American Baha'i"".)",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
405,2005-11-17,[],Panel urges talks on religious intolerance,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Governments should tackle increased religious intolerance by promoting discussion both within and between religious groups and by ensuring that women and political leaders are involved in the talks.
These were among the recommendations made by a panel of experts in freedom of religion and belief at a symposium organized by the Baha'i International Community in New York on 25 October 2005.
The panel included Piet de Klerk, Netherlands' Ambassador at Large for Human Rights; Asma Jahangir, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief; and Felice Gaer, Director of the Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights.
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, chaired the symposium titled ""Freedom to Believe: Upholding the Standard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.""
Ms. Dugal said the Baha'i International Community sponsored the event to stimulate discussion and thinking about the implementation and protection of the right to freedom of religion and belief.
""Perhaps now more than ever in our lifetimes, religious ideas and religious actors are asserting themselves at all levels of society,""  Ms. Dugal said.
""Against the backdrop of accelerating processes of globalization, the search for meaning, rootedness, and community is manifesting itself in diverse expressions of worship and belief,"" she said.  The panel at the symposium on ""Freedom to Believe: Upholding the Standard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."" (Left to right) Asma Jahangir, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief; Piet de Klerk, Netherlands' Ambassador at Large for Human Rights; Felice Gaer, Director of the Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights.""At the same time -- as repeatedly highlighted in the reports of the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on this right -- we witness persistent intolerance and discrimination based on religion and belief, the proliferation of violence and hatred in the name of religion, and religious extremism.""
All three panelists stressed the importance of upholding the right to freedom of religion and belief outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other UN treaties.
""Some say freedom of religion is the mother of all human rights,"" said Mr. De Klerk, adding that all human rights are universal and interconnected.
""The degree to which freedom of religion or belief is upheld reflects the general human rights situation in a particular country,"" he said.
Mr. De Klerk said that although concern about government repression of religious freedom has not lost its importance, recent trends have led to increased tensions between religious groups themselves and that has caused new worries over the right to religious freedom, he said.
""In our globalized world, certain religions or believers feel more and more threatened than before.""
This trend seems to have led to a rise in fundamentalism and accompanying clashes between governmental law and religious law.
Mr. De Klerk said the first reason for heightened religious tension was that increased migration means religions are less confined to one particular region than before.
""The second reason is that after the fall of the iron curtain, it has become more difficult to rally people around political ideologies -- but religious ideology has not lost its influence.""
Beyond strictly upholding laws that provide for religious freedom, Mr. De Klerk said the best way for governments to deal with religious tension and intolerance is to promote dialogue, both within and between religious groups.
That would make it more difficult for extremists to encourage religious violence, he said. ""States should support these dialogues both morally and financially.""
Ms. Jahangir said that in her visits as UN Special Rapporteur last year to three countries  -- Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and France -- she saw evidence of renewed competition among religions and the fear that one religion is going to overtake the other.
Religious dialogue should not be held just among religious leaders, she said. ""Dialogue would remain meaningless unless politicians are involved -- more so, women, who remain on the fringes and are often the victims of religious intolerance.""
One of the most contentious arenas between religious groups and others, including the state, is the area of family law, she said.
Sometimes interpretations of religious law conflicts with generally accepted principles of national and international law such as the equality of women and men, she said.
""I believe it is time now for politicians...to take a lead in the dialogue on how these tensions can be removed because some of it may be purely because of belief and some of it may be a jostling for power -- and it is the jostling for power that must be addressed.""
Ms. Jahangir also said that she has observed a relationship between religious freedom and development. ""Where you have religious oppression...it makes poverty worse,"" she said.
Ms. Gaer spoke about her experience as a member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which was established in 1998 to monitor the freedom of religion or belief outside the United States with reference to US foreign policy.
Ms. Gaer said some governments misapply the limitations on religious freedom that are specified in international treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
For example, while the ICCPR upholds the right to ""freedom of thought, conscience and religion,"" including the right to ""manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching,"" it allows governments to curb the open expression of religious belief if ""necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.""
Ms. Gaer said that many governments have unjustifiably taken this clause as a license to suppress minority religions.
In Saudi Arabia, she said, members of the USCIRF were told by government officials that the open expression of religion -- such as the existence of non-Muslim houses of worship and religious symbols -- must be restricted because ""the Saudi people would not tolerate it and they might violently oppose the public expression of religion by non-Muslims.""
""If this is accurate then the remedy must not lie in the suppression of religious expression but in the teaching of tolerance,"" she said.
Ms. Gaer said that during a 2004 visit to Egypt in which the USCIRF investigated concerns over the oppression of Coptic Christians, Jews, Baha'is and certain ""unorthodox Muslims,"" members of the USCIRF were told  by government officials that any such restrictions were required to protect public order.
However, when USCIRF pressed Egyptian officials for evidence that such groups posed a threat to public order, they provided no evidence.
""They said the Baha'is had engaged in political activity and that the community participated in immoral acts,"" said Ms. Gaer. ""But they had no facts to back up their denunciations in formal meetings. And when we pointed that out to them, it made absolutely no difference to those officials, who continued in other meetings where the very same arguments were made.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
406,2005-11-21,[],Radio program attracts wide audience,"THURSDAY ISLAND, QUEENSLAND, Australia — A weekly Baha'i radio program is building bridges of understanding across the more than 100 islands of the Torres Strait in the far north of Australia.
Aimed at providing a service to the Baha'i community scattered throughout the islands, the program is now also attracting participation by many of the majority Christian population.
The program uses a talkback format and functions as an on-air study circle, based on a self-directed approach to training adopted by Baha'i communities worldwide.
In a study circle, participants read through selected passages from the Baha'i writings together, and share their understandings with the guidance of a facilitator.
The program is broadcast on Thursday Island community radio station 4MW, which is listened to by some 85 percent of Torres Strait residents.
Titled ""Baha-Bi-Buiya,"" which means ""Light-Light-Light"" in the two main dialects of the Torres Strait and in Arabic, the program has been broadcast now for more than a year.
Local Baha'is Janelle Gebadi and Margaret Gabey host the program, with the support of back-up presenter Ina Aiputa.  The presenters read the passages from the Baha'i writings and then the audience participates in what are often lively discussions.
Ms. Gebadi said that when the show started, people were slow to participate but that has completely changed.
""Now people are asking so many questions,"" she said, adding that she thinks it is good that people find the program so interesting.
""Each week we try and make people understand or (become) aware of the Baha'i Faith because sometimes people misunderstand the Faith,"" she said.
Joanne Thompson, a local resident, said there have been many benefits from the program.
""It is helping to break down the barriers,"" she said.
""In the beginning there was open hostility to the program but now more and more people are starting to ask questions-- more people are turning up to our functions.""
""I am staggered at the content, the nurturing and the courage that these magnificent ladies (present) over the airwaves,"" she said.
(Story adapted from ""Australian Baha'i Report."")",,"THURSDAY ISLAND, QUEENSLAND",Australia
408,2005-11-22,[],Fiji's First Lady visits Temple,"NEW DELHI, India — The First Lady of Fiji, Leba Qarase, visited the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, India on 10 October 2005.
A prayer service held specially for the occasion included chants in both Hindi and English of prayers from the Baha'i, Christian, and Hindu scriptures.
Mrs. Qarase then visited the Information Centre where she viewed panels on Baha'i history and those displaying socio-economic development projects.  The First Lady of Fiji, Leba Qarase (fifth from right, with hat) and her entourage visiting the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi. Escorting the visitors was Shatrughun Jiwnani, the Temple's public relations general manager (right).She met Nalina Jiwnani, Director for the Baha'i Office for the Advancement of Women in India.
In the visitors' book, Mrs. Qarase wrote: ""I already feel at peace. Glory be to God! It is a great experience going through the temple. May God Almighty bless the Baha'i Faith!""
For another story about other prominent visitors to the Temple, see https://news.bahai.org/story/344
For a story about the Baha'i faith in Fiji, see  https://news.bahai.org/story/366",NEW DELHI,,India
409,2005-11-28,[],Devotional meeting pulses with energy,"NEW YORK, United States — The sounds of African drums and soaring voices burst out over a normally quiet lower Manhattan Street lined with antique dealers and four-story apartment buildings.
It was a recent Sunday morning and the pulsating energy was coming from the New York Baha'i Center where a drum circle was being led by African-American men, with people from a variety of  ethnic backgrounds joining in.
The gathering was a striking example of a new and growing feature of Baha'i community life: community devotional meetings designed to engage the world at large through uplifting and inspirational prayers, music, readings and more.
In this case, the monthly event also offers a striking antidote to the sometimes subtle, sometimes overt sense of racial segregation that still pervades American society.
Called the ""Hush Harbor Devotional,"" the gathering takes its name from meetings held by slaves who hung wet fabric on tree branches to stop their voices carrying while they were praying and planning escapes.
""The whole idea is to extend that idea of a safe place, not just for black folks but for everyone that comes to the devotional,"" said Lloyd Lawrence, one of the organizers.
""I think we free people up from their own cultural limitations,"" Mr. Lawrence said.
William Roberts, a keen observer of the progress of the devotional, said many newcomers are surprised that they feel so comfortable in an environment that is led by African-American men.
""In the larger society, people are made to fear black men,"" said Dr. Roberts, who himself is African-American and serves as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
Dr. Roberts said that at the Hush Harbor Devotional gathering people are helped to feel at ease, to feel welcomed and embraced.
""Many people want to have a conversation with God, feel the spirit of the Almighty,"" said Dr. Roberts.
""They want to have their souls quickened with that spirit -- and coming into this kind of devotional allows them to feel that spirit.""  Organizers of the Hush Harbor devotional meetings: Lloyd Lawrence (left) and Kenneth Ray.Participants are welcomed with refreshments and invited to stay for lunch. In addition to drumming and singing, the Hush Harbor Devotional also features the chanting of prayers in a wide range of languages, including Arabic, Persian, Mandarin, and Spanish.
The Hush Harbor Devotional began about three years ago. The idea came from participation by New York City Baha'is in the Black Men's Gathering, which are regular events that were founded by Dr. Roberts in 1987 and have continued ever since.
The aim of that gathering, which has proved an ongoing success,  is to change the conditions of men of African descent and help them to achieve spiritual transformation.
The use of the drumming combined with prayers began with the Black Men's Gathering and became the model for the Hush Harbor Devotional.
""The purpose [of Hush Harbor] is not to perform, it's not to read perfectly, but to pray,"" said Dr. Roberts.
Kenneth Ray, who organizes the event with Mr. Lawrence, said he thought it had helped the community to understand its wonderful diversity.
""When we first started, Hush Harbor was mainly attracting the African-American community, but now it is inclusive of people from all backgrounds, Baha'is and non-Baha'is alike,"" Mr. Ray said.
Mr. Ray said the question the organizers attempt to answer is this: ""How many different ways can we present the [Baha'i] Faith to as many different backgrounds?""
One of those attracted is P.J. Sanchez, a law student, who learned of the Baha'i Faith initially from her mother and  then read some Baha'i material online. She came to realize the New York City Baha'i Center was within walking distance from her apartment, and so she decided to attend a devotional gathering there.
""I was struck with the inclusive nature of the worship,"" Ms. Sanchez said.
""I felt as if everyone was actively participating, rather than just listening or responding by rote as I have felt in other forms of worship,"" she said.
""The lack of clergy and the lack of a script or plan -- the lack of ritual, I suppose -- for the devotional made the worship feel much more self-directed and organic, as if it was springing up naturally from the hearts and minds of the participants.""
Ms. Sanchez said she was also struck by the diversity of the participants. ""There seemed to be a much wider variety of race and class than I have usually found in various religions, and everyone mingled together without the formation of cliques,"" she said.
""Everyone participated in the devotional in a way that felt comfortable to them -- shouting out or not, moving around or not, praying in English or in Spanish -- and this was respected by all of the other participants.
""The musical nature of the Hush Harbor Devotional seemed very unique to me.  Instead of music being an interlude from prayer, it was the mode of prayer itself. I found this to only enhance the words being said.""
Ms. Sanchez attended a discussion about the Baha'i Faith that followed the lunch and was able to ask about the various forms of worship in the Faith. She says she is interested in learning more.
One of the core activities of Baha'is around the world is to increase the efforts made to host devotional gatherings and to enhance their quality.
The Hush Harbor Devotional is now seen as an example of how to reflect on positive aspects of one's culture and to bring that to the rest of the Baha'i community and the population at large.
""Really what's happened is we've witnessed men who have been marginalized in their community step forward,"" Dr. Roberts said.
""It allowed them to know that being a Baha'i does not mean you have to put aside your culture, your way of doing things,"" he said.
Mr. Ray said that the devotional provides many with a different understanding of diversity and worship.
""It's a way for everyone to express his or her spirit -- it's about the full participation of everyone in the room,"" he said.
""We seek to touch people's hearts. If people's hearts are affected then Hush Harbor is serving its purpose.""
(Report by Stephanie Vaccaro.)
(Photographs by Mike Relph.)",NEW YORK,,United States
410,2005-12-07,[],Head of state visits Baha'i World Centre,"HAIFA, Israel — The  president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kessai Note, and his wife, Mrs Mary Note, paid an official visit to the Baha'i World Centre on 1 December 2005.
The president and first lady were welcomed by a member of the Universal House of Justice, Dr. Peter Khan, and his wife, Dr. Janet Khan. Also in the welcoming party were a counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, Mr. Stephen Hall, and his wife, Mrs. Dicy Hall.
Among those in the presidential entourage were the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Marshall Islands, Mr. Gerald Zackios, and Mrs. Zackios, and Bikini Atoll senator Tomaki Juda and Mrs. Juda.
At a reception in the seat of the Universal House of Justice, Dr. Khan discussed with President Note the history of the Baha'i community in the Marshall Islands and the contributions the Baha'is have made to development in that country.
President Note and his party then visited the Shrine of the Bab and its surrounding Terraces.
""I enjoyed the visit very much,"" said President Note.  President Kessai Note of the Marshall Islands, right, and the deputy secretary-general of the Baha'i International Community, Murray Smith, near the Shrine of the Bab.It was the second visit to the Baha'i World Centre by a head of state of the Marshall Islands, the first being in 1990 by President Amata Kabua.
President Note was on state visit to Israel, said the deputy secretary-general of the Baha'i International Community, Murray Smith.
Mr. Smith said the visit came about at the suggestion of Mr. Zackios.
""Through his frequent contact with the representatives of the Baha'i community, the Foreign Minister, Gerald Zackios, was aware that the international headquarters of the Baha'i Faith, with its beautiful gardens, was located in Haifa and he encouraged the officials in the office of the President to request inclusion of the Baha'i World Centre in the itinerary,"" Mr. Smith said.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Marshall Islands was established in 1977. There are currently 13 Local Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i Faith in the country.",HAIFA,,Israel
411,2005-12-08,[],Children conduct service in House of Worship,"SYDNEY, Australia — A devotional service conducted by children was held in the Baha'i House of Worship here to celebrate Universal Children's Day.
The children, many of whom do not come from Baha'i families, read from the scriptures of the Baha'i Faith and other religions.  An unaccompanied choir -- with members aged between five and twelve years old -- provided the music.
All the children participating in the event regularly attend Baha'i classes conducted either in government schools or after school hours.
About 6,000 primary school children in Australia are attending Baha'i classes in more than 300 state-run schools. Offered mainly to provide religious instruction to Baha'i children, the classes are also attracting many children from families who are not members of the Baha'i Faith.
The annual service, now in its 16th year, was held on 23 October 2005. It attracted 800 people, who filled the Temple to capacity. Some traveled many kilometers for the occasion.
""We believe that it is important that children participate in the service as much as possible,"" said one of the organizers of the service, Mrs. Pouneh Sedghi.
""They feel honored to be contributing in this way and practise for weeks leading up to the service.  We believe that all children have wonderful qualities latent within them.""  Angela and Gary Cowan of Gosford with their children during face-painting and other recreational activities held in the grounds of the National Baha'i Centre adjacent to the House of Worship after the children's service.Positive comments came from many parents, including those who are not members of the Baha'i community, such as Jack Smoot and Alan Dickinson.
""The focus on the children was excellent,"" said Mr. Smoot, the father of Morgan, a Year Four (fourth year of primary school) pupil who was one of the readers.
Mr. Dickinson, the father of Daniel, a classmate of Morgan's, praised the inclusion of scriptures from all the world religions.
""I think the thing we probably need most in this world is religious tolerance,"" Mr. Dickinson said.
""All religions are supported and honored. I think that's the right way to go.""
Angela and Gary Cowan traveled with their three young children from Gosford, a town just north of Sydney. After attending the service last year, they were keen to come back again.
""I think it's really special for my children to see other children taking the service,"" said Mrs. Cowan, a Baha'i.
Her husband, Gary, who is not a Baha'i, said he is encouraged by the development of his seven-year-old son since he started attending Baha'i classes.
""I think that since he has been participating, he has become such a level-headed kid -- it's amazing,"" Mr. Cowan said. ""He is just really enjoying [being] part of the Baha'i culture and religion.""
In the grounds of the National Baha'i Centre adjacent to the House of Worship after the service there was a variety of activities including performances by dance and music groups, face painting, story telling, and a display of children's art on the theme of respect for the environment, and for people of different races, cultures, and religions.
""This day is an opportunity for children to show their capacity and to feel the love and encouragement of the community around them."" said Mrs. Sedghi. ""So we organized activities which the entire family can enjoy.""
(Report by Yvonne Perkins.)
(All photos, except of the House of Worship, by Saba Rouhani.)
(For a story on Baha'i classes in state-run schools in Australia see see https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=361)",SYDNEY,,Australia
412,2005-12-15,[],Professor and prince participate in seminar,"WASHINGTON, United States — Suheil Bushrui, the holder of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, participated in a seminar on ""Faith and Social Responsibility"" with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales last month.
Held at Georgetown University on 3 November 2005, the seminar brought together 40 senior religious leaders and scholars from various faiths.
The purpose of the event was for faith leaders to discuss best practices on faith-based practical initiatives on employment, education, and community regeneration.
The seminar featured a round table discussion in the presence of Prince Charles, who was visiting the United States. Seminar moderators were Dr. Jane McAuliffe, Dean of Georgetown College, and Professor John Esposito of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.
During the exchange of ideas, Professor Bushrui said that although beliefs and social ordinances differ among faith traditions, all the religions are fundamentally united.
""Many spiritual practices, regardless of the particular religion, are categorically similar -- such as prayer, contemplation, meditation, and the recitation of scripture,"" Prof. Bushrui said.
""In fact, all the religions are united in the central role they ascribe to universal virtues such as love, empathy, humility, truthfulness, compassion, mercy, altruism, wisdom, justice, honesty, detachment, forgiveness, sincerity, righteousness, and doing good,"" he said.  Professor Suheil Bushrui. Photo courtesy of Courosh Mehanian""The teaching that we should treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated, an ethic enshrined in every world religion, clearly demonstrates the standard by which all interactions among the religions and their followers should be guided.""
From within a framework of unity in diversity, Professor Bushrui likened the religions to different spiritual paths representing an outward expression of an underlying unity.
He also emphasized that faith is more than just belief; it also entails a way of life that includes social responsibility and action in the world.
""There is no true faith without a sense of responsibility toward others,"" he said.
Prof. Bushrui further noted that believers of all faiths have a duty to lay aside theology and ideology in favor of developing a unity of vision and a spirit of cooperation.  Only in this way can religion and faith serve the best interests of humanity as a whole.
""In the Baha'i Faith, social responsibility can best be understood as service to humanity,"" he said. ""In fact, within the Baha'i Faith such service is viewed as worship.""
Participants had been invited to attend by the Prince of Wales, who is the heir to the British throne, or by one of the following institutions: the British Embassy, the Dean of the Georgetown College, the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, the Office of the President at Georgetown University.
In addition to Prof. Bushrui as a Baha'i representative, seminar participants represented a broad spectrum of religious faiths and traditions, including Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and many others. Additionally, broad geographical representation on a national level was attained thanks to the fact that the participants hailed from many different regions of the United States.
Prof. Bushrui has held the Baha'i Chair for World Peace since 1992, when the Chair was founded. He will retire on 31 December 2005. John Grayzel, an international development specialist, has been selected to become the next holder of the Chair, in January 2006.
Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in America, was founded in 1789 by Archbishop John Carroll.
(For a story on Professor Bushrui, see https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=282)",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
413,2005-12-17,[],UN calls on Iran to stop persecution of Baha'is,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — For the 18th time since 1985, the United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution expressing ""serious concern"" over the human rights situation in Iran, also making specific mention of the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i community there.
The resolution, which had been put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 46 countries including Australia, the European Union, and the United States, passed by a vote of 75 to 50 on 16 December 2005.
Among other things, it called on Iran to ""eliminate, in law or in practice, all forms of discrimination based on religious, ethnic or linguistic grounds, and other human rights violations against minorities, including Arabs, Kurds, Baluchi, Christians, Jews, Sunni Muslims and the Baha'i....""
The resolution quite specifically takes note of the upsurge in persecution against Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i community, noting the ""escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against the Baha'i, including cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs, the disregard of property rights, the destruction of sites of religious importance, the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits....""
The resolution also encourages various agencies of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to continue to work to improve the human rights situation in Iran, and at the same time it calls on the government of Iran to cooperate with these agencies.
Ms. Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said the worldwide Baha'i community is thankful for the support of the international community in expressing its concern about human rights in Iran.
""It has been a year when human rights violations against Baha'i and other groups in Iran have strikingly worsened, and the scrutiny and support of the international community remains virtually the only tool for the protection of innocent people in Iran,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""For Baha'is, who are persecuted solely for their religious beliefs, it has been a very difficult year in Iran,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""At least 59 Baha'is have been subject to various forms of arbitrary arrests, detention and imprisonment, and Baha'i young people have once again been denied the chance to attend college and university.""
Ms. Dugal said that although the majority of those Baha'is who have been arrested were released, nine remained in prison as of late October.
As well, said Ms. Dugal, ""Baha'is face a wide and growing range of severely oppressive measures, including continued restrictions on religious assembly, the confiscation and destruction of holy sites, the denial of admission to Baha'i students into university, and various economic restrictions.""
""Not only do the revolving door arrests and imprisonments seek to intimidate the Baha'i community, but the stringent economic and educational restrictions are part of Iran's stated policy clearly aimed at eliminating Iran's Baha'i community as a viable entity in society,"" said Ms. Dugal.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
415,2005-12-19,[],Wrongly imprisoned Baha'i dies in Iranian jail,"NEW YORK, United States — A Baha'i who was wrongly jailed in Iran for 10 years died in his prison cell of unknown causes on Thursday, 15 December 2005, the Baha'i International Community has learned.
Mr. Dhabihu'llah Mahrami, 59, was held in a government prison in Yazd under harsh physical conditions at the time of his death.
His death comes amidst ominous signs that a new wave of persecutions of Baha'is has begun. This year so far, at least 59 Baha'is have been arrested, detained or imprisoned, a figure up sharply from the last several years.
Arrested in 1995 in Yazd on charges of apostasy, Mr. Mahrami was initially sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment after an international outcry and widespread media attention.
""The worldwide Baha'i community mourns deeply the passing of Mr. Mahrami, who was unjustly held for a decade on trumped-up charges that manifestly violated his right to freedom of religion and belief,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""While the cause of his death is not known, Mr. Mahrami had no known health concerns,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""We also know that Mr. Mahrami was forced to perform arduous physical labor and that he had received death threats on a number of occasions.
""In this light, there should be no doubt that the Iranian authorities bear manifest responsibility for the death of this innocent man, whose only crime was his belief in the Baha'i Faith,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""In our mourning, we nevertheless hope that Mr. Mahrami's unexplained passing will not go unnoticed by the world at large and, indeed, that his case might become a cause for further action towards the emancipation of the Baha'i community of Iran as a whole,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Born in 1946, Mr. Mahrami served in the civil service but at the time of his arrest was making a living installing venetian blinds, having been summarily fired from his job like thousands of other Baha'is in the years following the 1979 Iranian revolution.
Although Iranian officials have asserted that Mr. Mahrami was guilty of spying for Israel, court records clearly indicate that he was tried and sentenced solely on charge of being an ""apostate,"" a crime which is punishable by death under traditional Islamic law.
Although Mr. Mahrami was a lifelong Baha'i, the apostasy charge apparently came about because a civil service colleague, in an effort to prevent Mr. Mahrami from losing his job, submitted to a newspaper an article stating that he had converted to Islam.
When it later became clear to Iranian authorities that Mr. Mahrami remained a member of the Baha'i community, they arrested him and charged him with apostasy for allegedly converting from Islam to the Baha'i Faith. On 2 January 1996, he was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court, a conviction that was later upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court.
The death sentence against Mr. Mahrami stirred an international outcry. The European Parliament, for example, passed a resolution on human rights abuses in Iran, making reference to Mr. Mahrami's case. The governments of Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States also registered objections.
There was also significant media coverage of the case, in Le Monde and Liberation in France, as well as reports by the BBC, Reuters and Agence France Presse.
Although the authorities did not publicly bow to international pressure calling for Mr. Mahrami's release, in December 1999 they took the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad to declare an amnesty and commuted his sentence to life imprisonment.
Since 1978, more than 200 Iranian Baha'i have been killed, hundreds more have been imprisoned, and thousands have been deprived of jobs, pensions and education as part of a widespread and systemic religious persecution by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
As of October, Mr. Mahrami was one of nine Baha'is being held in Iranian prisons. However, all of the others had been arrested in 2005.
Mr. Mahrami is survived by his aged mother, his wife, his four children, and his grandchildren.
Mr. Mahrami's funeral was held on Friday, 16 December 2005, the same day that the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution expressing ""serious concern"" over the human rights situation in Iran, making specific mention of the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i community there.
(See https://news.bahai.org/story/413)",NEW YORK,,United States
416,2005-12-27,[],Prolific author hailed for his penetrating insights,"STRATFORD, ONTARIO, Canada — The internationally eminent scholar, William S. Hatcher, who passed away last month, has been described as ""one of the brightest minds"" of the worldwide Baha'i community.
In a message of condolence, the Universal House of Justice said that Dr. Hatcher will long be remembered for his ""stalwart faith, forceful exposition, and penetrating insights which characterized nearly half a century of ceaseless service to the Baha'i Faith.""
""The Baha'i world has lost one of its brightest minds, one of its most prolific pens,"" the Universal House of Justice said.
Dr. Hatcher, 70, died of an illness on 27 November 2005, having made substantial contributions in mathematics, logic, philosophy, religion, and ethics.
His popular and scholarly writings and talks were infused with a characteristic clarity of expression, wit, and warmth.
Dr. Hatcher enrolled in the Baha'i Faith in 1957. He spent the decades that followed in dedicated service to the Baha'i community and its administrative development, at the local and national level, in the United States, Switzerland, Russia, and Canada.
He served on National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada (1983-91) as well as on the inaugural National Spiritual Assemblies of Switzerland (1962-65) and the Russian Federation (1996). He lived in Russia from 1993 to 1998.
Dr. Hatcher traveled extensively to teach the religion in Central and West Africa and Russia, and he played a vital role in the founding of the Association for Baha'i Studies in North America.
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dr. Hatcher received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and his doctorate in mathematical logic from the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland.
Dr. Hatcher settled with his wife, Judith, in Canada in 1968, serving as professor of mathematics at the Universite Laval in Quebec City until 1995.
He wrote 50 articles, books, and monographs, including ""The Logical Foundations of Mathematics"" (1982), and ""Logic and Logos: Essays on Science, Religion and Philosophy"" (1990).
Among his major publications are ""Love, Power, and Justice: The Dynamics of Authentic Morality"" (1998), in which he argues for the existence of an authentic and universal moral standard.
""The Baha'i Faith: The Emerging Global Religion"" (1985), co-authored with Douglas Martin, was named by Encyclopedia Britannica in 1986 as book of the year in religion.
One of his most acclaimed essays, ""A Logical Proof of the Existence of God,"" was the subject of his popular speaking tour of Canadian university campuses in the late 1990s.
In 2003, his book ""Minimalism: A Bridge Between Classical Philosophy and the Baha'i Revelation"" was published to critical acclaim for its innovative philosophical approach, and the development of his logical proof for the existence of God.
Dr. Hatcher is one of the eight Platonist philosophers listed in the section devoted to the latter half of the 20th century in the Encylopedie Philosophique Universelle.
William Hatcher is survived by his wife, three children, and seven grandchildren.
(The Canadian Baha'i News Service contributed to this report).
For a review of Dr. Hatcher's book ""Minimalism: A Bridge Between Classical Philosophy and the Baha'i Revelation,"" see
https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=226",STRATFORD,ONTARIO,Canada
418,2005-12-28,[],Counsellors meet to discuss plans,"HAIFA, Israel — Pictured at the Baha'i World Centre are members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors together with members of the Universal House of Justice, the International Teaching Centre, and, at front, centre, the Hand of the Cause of God Dr Ali-Muhammad Varqa.
The Continental Boards of Counsellors, an institution charged with promoting the propagation and protection of the Baha'i Faith, meet in Haifa every five years to discuss development plans for the worldwide Baha'i community.
There are 81 Counsellors worldwide. The conference (December 27 - 31) is being followed by five days of meetings of the individual boards from the various continents.",HAIFA,,Israel
419,2006-01-01,[],Free computer courses lead to jobs,"BANJUL, The Gambia — A graduation ceremony last month has boosted the number of computer graduates from classes offered free by the local Baha'i community to more than 900.
Since 1998, the Baha'is have arranged the classes to help people who cannot otherwise obtain computer skills to get a job.
Students have ranged from teenagers to the middle-aged, and include both men and women, said local Baha'i spokesman Faramarz Shams.
Many graduates use their newly-gained skills in jobs that they have obtained after completing the courses, Mr. Shams said.  Computer classes at basic and advanced levels are held at the Baha'i center in Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia.""The students come from the Islamic, Christian, and Baha'i communities and include teachers, students, and business people,"" he said.
The courses, offered at basic and advanced levels, usually involve two sessions of two hours per week for three months. The teachers are Gambian Baha'is and Baha'i youth volunteers from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
The country's only television station and both its major newspapers regularly cover the graduation ceremonies. On 18 December 2005, 56 students received their graduation certificates.
In a speech at the ceremony, one of the graduates, Fatou Cham, 24, expressed her gratitude for the courses.
""I would like to thank the entire Baha'i community for their tireless efforts to disseminate knowledge in The Gambia at no cost,"" said Ms. Cham, a Muslim.
""I can remember back in 2000 when I attended the basic Baha'i computer training I could not even move a mouse, but after the course I built up a lot of interest in computing,"" she said.
""I hope that other institutions will emulate (the Baha'i) efforts and empower people with more 'IT' knowledge.""
The  computers used in the training were donated by  Baha'is of The Gambia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Classes were initially held in a rental property but they have moved to a specially designed room in the new national Baha'i centre, which opened last year.
(For another story about the Baha'is of Gambia see https://news.bahai.org/story/346)",BANJUL,,The Gambia
420,2006-01-03,[],Baha'is honor champion of human rights,"LONDON, England — A former British parliamentarian, Sydney Chapman, received the inaugural Blomfield Award for Human Rights at a ceremony organized by the United Kingdom Baha'i community's national governing council and the Barnet Baha'i community.
The Baha'is of the United Kingdom have established the  Blomfield Award -- named after Lady Blomfield, a prominent early British Baha'i -- to present to individuals in British public life who have offered consistent and exceptional support towards the defence of Baha'is in countries where they are persecuted for their religious faith, notably in Iran.
At the ceremony held in Barnet, North London, on 6 December 2005, Baha'i spokesman, the Hon. Barney Leith, praised the efforts of Sir Sydney to speak out for the Baha'is in Iran.
""Sir Sydney repeatedly defended the human rights of the Baha'is by tabling Parliamentary questions and motions and speaking in debates,"" said Mr. Leith, secretary for external affairs of the United Kingdom Baha'i community.  Sir Sydney Chapman (fourth from left) and Barnet Deputy Mayor Victor Lyon and Mrs. Lyon (fifth and seventh from left) with others at the award ceremony.In reply, Sir Sydney spoke of his admiration for the Baha'i community. ""I should like to thank the Baha'is, not only the 6,000 here in the UK, but the five to six million Baha'is around the world, for all that you do to promote human unity,"" he said.
Sir Sydney said that he attached great importance to the struggle for human rights and to efforts to reduce the damage to the earth's natural environment.
Sir Sydney admired the artistic design of the award itself, which was conceived and crafted by Switzerland-based artist Myriam Bargetze. Ms. Bargetze used a quotation from the Baha'i writings as her inspiration for the alabaster and turquoise piece: ""Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value.""
Barnet Deputy Mayor, Victor Lyon, and the Deputy Mayoress attended the ceremony, representing the borough.
A musical group, Gye Nyame, performed a Baha'i prayer set to their own choral melodies.
Sir Sydney retired from Parliament in 2005 having served the people of Barnet since 1979. Members of the Barnet Baha'i community also honoured Sir Sidney, presenting him with a commemorative certificate to mark his retirement from public life.
Closing the ceremony Dr. Kishan Manocha, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, said the Baha'is had gathered to acknowledge Sir Sydney's contribution and to honor him.
""There should be no doubt that Sir Sydney's distinguished record of defending the Iranian Baha'is is of great value in the ongoing efforts to emancipate that community,"" Dr. Manocha said.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
421,2006-01-09,[],Global governance needed to counter terrorism,"GROESBEEK, Netherlands — The challenges that terrorism throws at governments can only be countered by global governance deeply grounded in unity, a keynote speaker told the European Baha'i Conference on Law.
Dr. Wendi Momen said that the challenges to the law that terrorism poses are not only in the area of balancing safety with human liberty but in the creation of new law to fit a new system of governance that is better adapted to the present globalized world.
""While the terrorist fires are burning, states and governments around the world are struggling with 19th century legal frameworks and notions of state sovereignty that prevent them from turning on the water hose -- this has to change, and quickly,"" Dr. Momen said.
Dr. Momen, who holds a doctorate in international relations from the London School of Economics, is an editor and author, and the former chair of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom.
Dr. Momen was delivering the Dr. Aziz Navidi Memorial Lecture, which is named after a prominent Baha'i lawyer renowned for his courage and skill in the area of human rights.
The conference, held 1-4 December 2005, attracted participants from seven countries and was organized by the Law Association of the Tahirih Institute, an educational institute of the Dutch Baha'i community.  Joachim Monkelbaan at the European Baha'i Conference on Law.In her address, Dr Momen said new responses are needed at the international level that enable, and even require, governments to work together, the strengthening of international bonds, and steps towards an international federal government.
Among other papers delivered at the conference were: ""Consultation in a Multilateral Setting,"" by Joachim Monkelbaan; ""Human Cloning -- Current Legal and Ethical Considerations seen from a Baha'i perspective,"" by Tinia Tober; ""The Ethical Consciousness,"" by Eltjo Poort; ""Some Thoughts on the Future of Crime and Punishment implied in the Baha'i Writings,"" by Shirin Milani-Ansinger.
Other presentations were made by Dr. Nicola Towfigh, Dr. Frank Dignum, and Dr. Virginia Dignum.
Workshop topics included ""The denial of the right to education for Baha'is in Iran,"" ""Freedom of Speech,"" and ""Jury versus Judge.""",GROESBEEK,,Netherlands
424,2006-01-23,[],New film on Baha'i pilgrimage debuts,"HAIFA, Israel — A new film about Baha'i pilgrimage to the Holy Land is now available as a DVD.
Commissioned by the Universal House of Justice, ""Pilgrimage -- A Sacred Experience"" is intended to stimulate increasing numbers of Baha'is to make their nine-day pilgrimage to the Shrines of Baha'u'llah, the Bab, and 'Abdu'l-Baha.
The film gives glimpses of the different experiences of pilgrims through personal testimonies by Baha'is from a wide range of countries, including Australia, Bolivia, Ethiopia, France, Jamaica, Mauritius, Russia, and the United States.
Filmed mainly in the gardens in the vicinity of the Shrines of Baha'u'llah and the Bab, the 28-minute film is available in English,  French, and Spanish.
Due to the demand for the limited places for pilgrims, Baha'is apply by writing to the Baha'i World Centre.
Currently there is a waiting list of several years but plans are under way to reduce that period while at the same time boosting the number of pilgrims.
To see a two-minute clip of the movie and to order a DVD,click here.",HAIFA,,Israel
425,2006-01-30,[],Orlando conference focuses on service to humanity,"ORLANDO, FLORIDA, United States — Baha'is responded quickly and efficiently to Hurricane Katrina because of the decentralized structure of Baha'i communities, and the Faith's emphasis on individual initiative, a keynote speaker said here this month.
Individual Baha'is and Baha'i institutions, on the spur of the moment and without pre-planning, undertook a variety of relief activities, said William Davis at the annual Baha'i Conference on Social and Economic Development for the Americas held 15-18 December 2005.
The address by Mr. Davis exemplified the theme for the conference, which this year was ""Make a Beginning: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Service.""
The Baha'is did not become a relief agency during the hurricane disaster in August 2005, said Mr. Davis, the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
""We're not equipped to do that. We don't have the resources to do that. But we became a community responding to the human needs that we saw.""
Baha'is and Baha'i institutions organized the delivery of truckloads of supplies to the disaster area, provided temporary housing to displaced survivors, and established communications centers or informational websites, Mr. Davis said.
These initiatives were of a small scale, and in no way matched those of traditional disaster relief agencies, such as the Red Cross, he said.  William Davis speaks about the Baha'i response to Hurricane Katrina at the annual Baha'i Conference on Social and Economic Development for the Americas, held 15-18 December 2005. Mr. Davis is chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha?is of the United States.Nevertheless, local Baha'i institutions like the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Orleans and the Baha'i Regional Council of the South were able to contribute.
""The Baha'is responded in a remarkable way,"" said Mr. Davis. ""No one asked, 'how many of us are we?' and 'can we can do this?' They simply said, 'this is a need, we must do it, that's who we are as Baha'is, we respond to the human needs.'""
Other speakers similarly emphasized the possibilities for individual and collective action in the service of humankind.
Dorothy W. Nelson, a judge with the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, said she used the principles of Baha'i consultation in her work as a law school dean and later in the founding of the Western Justice Center Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict among young people in schools and in the courts.
Eloy Anello, president of Nur University in Bolivia, told the conference that individual initiative is the ""key that unlocks the potential of the Baha'i teachings to transform the world.""
Mr. Anello related how a group of indigenous Baha'is in the Bolivian village of Puka Puka had, through principle-driven individual action, gradually established a primary school, and then a high school, for their children.
Other speakers provided case studies for successful development projects and also led discussions of development theory aimed at helping Baha'is and Baha'i institutions launch new projects.
Randie Gottlieb presented a session entitled ""Raising Up Indigenous Teachers and Schools in Rural Panama."" Dr. Gottlieb discussed the efforts of Baha'is among the  Ngobe-Bugle people that have led to the establishment of a cultural center, community radio station, a rural school system serving hundreds of students, a government-accredited teacher training program, and a solar-powered computer laboratory.
Dan Vaillancourt of Canada spoke about the Maxwell International Baha'i School in British Columbia, which has been in operation for almost 17 years. His workshop session explored the growth and development of the school, examining the nine guiding principles used to make decisions about curriculum, instruction, and administration.
More than 700 people from some 25 countries registered for the Conference, said Doug Paik, program director and a trustee of the Orlando-based Rabbani Trust, which has organized the event for the last 13 years.
The Conference was preceded by three pre-conference seminars designed to afford more in-depth study of select topics.
The Baha'i Justice Society conducted a 40-hour training session on Mediation, Consultation, and Conflict Resolution and the Baha'i Business Forum for the Americas sponsored a seminar on Spiritual Ethics Training.
The International Environment Forum and Educators for Social and Economic Development, with support from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, offered a 2-day workshop on Education for Sustainable Development.",ORLANDO,FLORIDA,United States
426,2006-01-30,[],Journalists win awards for human rights,"BRASILIA, Brazil — Six prominent Brazilian journalists and three media organizations received ""world citizenship awards"" at a Baha'i-sponsored event here.
The awards for media coverage promoting human rights were presented at a ceremony at the Ministry of Justice in the federal capital on 13 December 2005.
Baha'i spokesman,Washington Araujo said the jury selected the award winners from among hundreds of candidates.
The purpose of this year's theme was to acknowledge the media that paid close attention to vulnerable sectors of society and who highlighted the challenges facing civil society, said Mr. Araujo.
Among those attending the ceremony were representatives of the Brazilian National Federation of Journalists, the Brazilian Press Association, the Ambassadors of Guyana, Israel, and the Philippines, members of civil society organizations, and representatives of the Baha'i community of Brazil.
In his acceptance speech, award recipient Marcelo Canellas of TV Globa, Brazil's biggest broadcaster, said that receiving the award reinforced for him the importance of the humane side of journalism
""It confirms for me that journalism is a vocation,"" Mr. Canellas said.
Another award winner, Gilberto Dimenstein, a columnist for the newspaper ""Folha de Sao Paulo,"" said that the award showed that the media's role is much more than just reporting bad news.
The president of the Brazilian government news agency, Radiobras, said in his acceptance speech that the media should deliver to the public information that will help to create solutions that have yet to be imagined.
The nine-person jury comprised representatives of human rights and legal groups and two members of the Baha'i community of Brazil.
The winners were presented with a sculpture created by Yone Di Alerigi.
The journalists who won the awards were Angela Bastos of the newspaper ""Diario Catarinense""; Eugenio Bucci, present of Radiobras, the Brazilian government news agency; Marcelo Canellas of TV Globa, Brazil; Gilberto Dimenstein, columnist for the newspaper ""Folha de Sao Paulo""; Alberto Dines, director and newscaster of the ""Press Observatory,"" an organization that discusses the role of the media in Brazil; and Ziraldo, a cartoonist and writer.
The media organizations to win the awards were ""Educativa de Sao Paulo,"" a State educational television channel; ""Rede de Direitos Humanos e Cultura - DHNet,"" a Web site portal for human rights organizations; and ""Viracao,"" a Brazilian magazine produced by young people.
The Brazilian Baha'i community instituted the world citizenship awards in 1994.",BRASILIA,,Brazil
427,2006-02-02,[],Two Baha'i musicians receive Grammy nominations,"NEW YORK, United States — Two Baha'i musicians have received separate nominations for a 2006 Grammy Award, the music industry's best known and most prestigious awards.
Singer songwriter Red Grammer received a nomination for ""best musical album for children"" for his 2005 album, BeBop Your Best.
Jazz singer Tierney Sutton received a nomination in the ""jazz vocal album"" category for her 2005 album I'm With the Band.
The nominations were announced in New York on 8 December 2005. Winners in each category will be announced at the 48th annual Grammy Awards live television ceremony, scheduled to be held in Los Angeles on Wednesday, 8 February 2006.  The cover to Tierney Sutton's Grammy nominated album, I'm With the Band.BeBop Your Best is Mr. Grammer's sixth album for children. Its songs focus on the development of moral character, with titles like ""Truthfulness,"" ""Responsibility,"" ""Kindness,"" and ""Integrity."" The songs on the album were co-written with veteran song writer Pamela Phillips Oland.
""One of the really cool things about getting a Grammy nomination for an album like this is that it is all about character, which is somewhat unusual for a popular album,"" said Mr. Grammer, who has been a Baha'i for 33 years.
Mr. Grammer said the nomination was also personally significant because ""it reflects recognition of excellence by the music industry.""
""It isn't a nomination by your listeners,"" he said. ""It is a nomination by your colleagues.""
Long known for his upbeat and inspiring songs for young people, Mr. Grammer has won considerable recognition for his previous albums, many of which also touch on Baha'i themes, such as the need to treat all people with equality. His album Teaching Peace was recognized as one of the ""top five"" children's recordings of all time by the ""All Music Guide.""
Ms. Sutton's I'm With the Band album was recorded live in March 2005 at Birdland in New York. Produced by Elaine Martone, I'm With the Band is Ms. Sutton's first live recording and her sixth album.
Ms. Sutton, who has been a Baha'i since 1981, said she was deeply gratified to be nominated for the award.
""The way we arrange our music is based on the principle of consultation, and our band is very much run on Baha'i principles,"" said Ms. Sutton. ""So there is very much a sense with everybody in the band that what we do is essentially a spiritual thing.""
In June 2005, Tierney won JazzWeek's Vocalist of the Year Award. An active educator, she has taught in the Jazz Studies Department at the University of Southern California.
The Grammy Awards are the music industry's best known and most prestigious award. They are granted by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc., an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals, who each year choose the nominees and final award winners.",NEW YORK,,United States
428,2006-02-05,[],Government officials visit Baha'i book display in Senegal,"DAKAR, Senegal — The Minister of Culture and Historical Heritage visited a display by the Baha'i community of Senegal at an international book fair, held in the West African capital city of Dakar in December 2005.
His Excellency Mame Birame Diouf, head of the Ministere de la Culture et du Patrimoine Historique Classe, represented Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade at the fair. Minister Diouf accepted a gift of Baha'i books.
Other government visitors to the display included three officials from the Department of Books and Reading of the Ministry of Culture (Direction du Livre et de la Lecture).
The book department bought 30 copies of the book, Baha'u'llah and the New Era, in order to place them in public libraries throughout the country, said Shahnaz R. Ardekani, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Senegal.
Ms. Ardekani said the Baha'i display was visited by many of the publishers, authors, librarians, students, intellectuals and others interested in publishing, who came from many countries to attend the fair, which was held 6-11 December 2005.
""The Baha'is manning the stall met a wide variety of people including school pupils, university students, teachers, government officials, artists, members of different religious orders, writers, and business people,"" Ms. Ardekani said.
Several of those who visited the Baha'i display attended a subsequent public meeting at the Baha'i Centre where the topic ""Unity of the human race -- utopia or reality?"" was discussed.
Baha'is reside in 382 localities in Senegal, and there are 34 Local Spiritual Assemblies. Social and economic development projects include classes for junior youth.
The Baha'is of Senegal, along with the other National Baha'i communities of former French West Africa, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003. [see https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=283]",DAKAR,,Senegal
429,2006-02-06,[],"""Time for Reflection"" in Scottish Parliament","EDINBURGH, Scotland — Representatives of the Baha'i Faith were invited recently to address Scotland's Parliament as part of the body's weekly proceeding that allows people from different faiths to share their perspectives on the challenges facing the country. It was the first time an invitation had come from a Member of Parliament.
Carrie Varjavandi, a Baha'i from Dundee, addressed the body on 18 January 2006 during its ""Time for Reflection.""
Ms. Varjavandi invited Parliament members to consider the current world situation. ""The world today faces apparently intractable problems, which governments and peoples are striving courageously to solve: climate change, poverty and religious fanaticism to name but a few,"" she said.
She then suggested that the spiritual teachings of Baha'u'llah not only identified disunity as the underlying cause of these problems, but also offered a solution.
""'The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established'"" she said, quoting Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith.
Ms. Varjavandi also said that Baha'u'llah's story was one of ""the great untold stories of our time.""
""Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, was born into a noble family in Iran more than 180 years ago,"" said Ms. Varjavandi. ""He forsook his life of wealth and comfort for one of imprisonment, torture and exile in order to share his unique insights into the condition of the world with those around him. His life and teachings are the inspiration for the 5 million Baha'is in the world today.""
Commenting on Ms. Varjavandi's address, Presiding Officer George Reid MSP (Member Scottish Parliament) made a direct connection between the fundamental principles of the Baha'i Faith and the words of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796).
""The Baha'i belief in the unity of mankind matches our commitment to build an inclusive society in Scotland,"" said MSP Reid. ""It recalls the words of Robert Burns (which were quoted) at the Opening of the Parliament in 1999:  'That man to man, the wor'l ower shall brithers be...'""
The invitation to contribute to the ""Time for Reflection"" came from a member of the Green Party, Chris Balance, MSP.
The reading by Ms. Varjavandi is historic in that it marks the first time a Baha'i has been specifically asked by a Member of the Scottish Parliament to deliver the ""Time for Reflection,"" said Allan Forsyth, the chair of the Baha'i Council of Scotland.
In May 2001, Baha'i Alex Reid was invited to give the ""Time for Reflection,"" at the behest of a group of religious leaders who usually organize the event. ""Also at the time, the Parliament was in a temporary location and not in its magnificent new building,"" said Mr. Forsyth.
""It is hoped that the success of this occasion will lead to further invitations and a strengthening of the contribution that the Baha'i community can make to the inclusiveness of the Scottish Community,"" Mr. Forsyth added.
The Time for Reflection is a weekly event, lasting four minutes, when speakers are invited to share their thoughts with the members of Parliament. When the Scottish Parliament began in 1999, members voted to make it inclusive of all faiths. The majority of speakers have been Christian, but Jews, Muslims, and others have also taken part.
In the closing section of her reading, Mrs. Varjavandi said Scotland ""has always been an outward-looking nation with a great tradition of helping others; our contribution to the world is far out of proportion to our size.
""I hope that reflection on these words will help us all to continue this practice in ways that will help the world's people transform our lives on this planet,"" Ms. Varjavandi said.
A video of the presentation in the Parliament is available until about 15 February 2006 on the internet at: http://www.holyrood.tv/library.asp?title=Time%20For%20Reflection&section=29",EDINBURGH,,Scotland
430,2006-03-09,[],"Guyana youth try to ""move the world""","GEORGETOWN, Guyana — With an empty Coke bottle for a pint of rum and a white plastic chair the only other prop, the skit performed by five young men and women during a recent meeting of the Future Club here told a story that is unfortunately all too familiar in this vibrant South American country.
A husband drinks too much and beats his wife, shouting and swearing at her for failing to have dinner ready on time. Crying and inconsolably depressed after many such episodes, she decides to take her own life.
However, as performed before an audience of several dozen other young people from every section of this gritty coastal capital one recent day, the young woman's friends intervene, pleading with her not to take her life.
And so the heroine, played by 16-year-old Rayana Jaundoo, triumphantly throws the poison aside. ""I have learned I don't care what other people do and what other people say,"" she says, breaking character and addressing the audience directly. ""I can live a positive life.""
Although a little overplayed, it is a happy ending, just the sort encouraged by the young facilitators of an innovative and highly successful youth leadership training program here, known as Youth Can Move the World (YCMTW), which often uses skits, songs and other types of media to drive home its message.
The program focuses on the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence. Since its founding in 1997, YCMTW has offered more than 7,000 Guyanese young people strategies aimed at helping them cope with and avoid such problems.
Its success at reaching youth on the margins has been widely recognized, not only by other youth-oriented NGOs but also by the government-run national university, which has given support to YCMTW.
Much of its funding has come from international development agencies and, most recently, researchers at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland have launched a three-year study on the project's methods and accomplishments.
""The project in Guyana is quite innovative,"" said Roy McConkey, a professor in the health promotion group at the Institute of Nursing Research at the University of Ulster, who is heading up the study. ""They manage to do a remarkable amount of work with very little resources.""
Established by the Varqa Foundation, a Baha'i-inspired non-governmental organization based here, YCMTW also emphasizes in its training the importance of -- and the possibilities for -- personal and community transformation. To do that, the project uses a program of spiritual and moral education produced by the Ruhi Institute of Colombia, which draws quite directly on the Baha'i writings for its motive power.
""From the very beginning of the project, we saw that the only way that genuine change could come about was through community and personal transformation,"" said Brian O'Toole, director of YCMTW and chairman of the Varqa Foundation. ""We saw that these Baha'i materials were successful around the world.""  At the Future Club, Youth Can Move the World facilitators lead two dozen participants through a discussion on suicide prevention, which ended with the performance of various skits to illustrate what had been learned. At center is Rayana Jaundoo, pretending to drink Paraquat herbicide only to have her friends snatch the bottle away.Observers say the emphasis on spirituality is an important part of the program.
""The approach of integrating spiritual values, including positive community values, makes it a program with a difference,"" said Samuel A. Small, director of the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education at the University of Guyana, which provides end-of-training certification to YCMTW graduates.
""In the [other] youth programs that I know of and have participated in, spiritual values are never part of the core of the curriculum, and personally I believe that because of the tremendous problems that are being brought upon young people today, every effort should be made to help them to see that spiritual values are not taught separately in churches, mosques, temples and so on, but that they are really part and parcel of our every day life skills,"" said Mr. Small.
The social problems addressed by the project are by no means unique to Guyana -- but they are nevertheless serious concerns in this beautiful tropical country situated on the southern edge of the Caribbean basin.
After Haiti, Guyana has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the Caribbean, which is the world's second-most afflicted region after Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Health Organization. AIDS has become the leading cause of death for people aged 25-44 in Guyana, according to the WHO.
Domestic violence, unemployment, alcohol and drug abuse are also major problems here.
The program, which has received funding from UNICEF, the European Union, and the InterAmerican Development Bank among other agencies, seeks to fight these problems mainly by educating young people about the risks associated with each behavior.
The facilitators' manual, for example, discusses the short and long term effects of alcohol, ranging from poor judgment and lowered inhibitions to cirrhosis of the liver and dependency. It explains clearly how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and discusses a range of protective measures, from less risky types of sex to condom use to abstinence.
The curriculum also promotes the development of social action -- such as the protection of the environment -- and positive moral values. The section on domestic violence, for example, explains ways in which qualities like honesty, compromise, and forgiveness can improve a relationship.
Spiritual ideas, such as the Golden Rule, are also emphasized, underpinned by quotations from the major world religions.
""It comes out of a Baha'i framework, but we have enriched it with spiritual insights from Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism,"" said Dr. O'Toole, who came to Guyana with his wife, Pamela, 27 years ago from the United Kingdom.
The incorporation of religious quotations has resonated particularly well in Guyana, said Dr. O'Toole, owing to the distinctive religious diversity of Guyanese society, which is about 50 percent Christian, 35 percent Hindu, and 10 percent Muslim. The remaining five percent belong to other religions, including the Baha'i Faith.
Young people who have participated in YCMTW training say the discussion of spirituality is an important part of the program.
Susan Coocharan, 17, said the program's balance between practical education and the holy writings of various religions has given her new tools to avoid risky behaviors.
""I used to think that guys were the only thing in life that matters,"" said Ms. Coocharan, a Christian from Essequibo in the western part of the country, who participated in an intensive two-month YCMTW training program in July and August 2005. ""But when I came to this program it helped me to develop spiritual qualities and it made me see that guys are not the only thing in life.""
Dhanpaul Jairam, 31, has been involved in YCMTW since March 2005, when he received training to become a facilitator. A Hindu, he has since established a YCMTW subgroup in his home village of Bath Settlement in the Berbice region of Guyana, where he has reached out to young people from every religious background.
At first, he said, the Hindus didn't want to mix with the others. ""But I talked about all of the religions,"" said Mr. Jairam, who works as a radio telephone operator for the Guyana Sugar Corporation. ""I do have a Bible and a Qur'an. And Hindu writings.""
Because of the emphasis on all religions, Mr. Jairam said, young people of all backgrounds were willing to participate. ""That is why I think YCMTW is doing a great job of encouraging youth of all walks of life to make of themselves somebody,"" said Mr. Jairam.
Another key feature of the project is its use of youth, themselves, as agents of change. By encouraging young volunteers to establish YCMTW groups in their own villages and neighborhoods, it has grown organically as young people themselves involve their friends and acquaintances.
Troy Benjamin, 19, started a 17-member YCMTW group in his village in the remote North Rupunui Region after attending the intensive training program last summer.
""I was very much interested, because some of the topics mentioned were dealing with alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and such,"" said Mr. Benjamin, who is himself of Native American -- or ""Amerindian"" background -- as are most of the other 500 residents of his village. ""And I knew that those problems were kind of arising, and I was facing it in my community as a whole.""
Prof. McConkey of the University of Ulster said using young people themselves to deliver health promotion messages is one of the key innovations of the project.
""In affluent countries like the United States and Great Britain, we rely on professional educators, who may well have a special training or special expertise,"" said Prof. McConkey. ""But they may lack a relationship with young people. Hence we sometimes wonder why our health promotion messages don't come through.
""The model that they are using, in which local groups are built up, in which [young] people in those groups have knowledge about each other and their own behaviors,"" said Prof. McConkey. ""I think in that setting people are more likely to be open about what they actually do.""",GEORGETOWN,,Guyana
431,2006-03-20,[],A global presence on women's issues at the UN,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Mary Caetana Aune has long been a champion of human rights. She has worked in her native Brazil with UNICEF and the Geledes Instituto da Mulher Negra, a minority women's advocacy group, to launch a ""unity in diversity"" website for educators there, and she also serves as an external affairs officer for the Baha'i community of Brazil.
But after spending a week here at the UN's annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), she has returned to Brazil with a new energy and perspective.
Inspired by the global participation of women and the unity of effort she witnessed at her first Commission meeting, she plans this year to encourage Brazilian Baha'i women to participate more actively in a national campaign against gender violence, among other things.
""We usually just support the campaign in Brazil, which is very beautifully conducted by other women's groups around the country,"" she said, referring to the ""16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence"" campaign, an international effort observed each fall. ""This year we will probably do something more concrete.""
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Commission has become something of a global rallying point for women and men who care about the advancement of women. Held this year from 27 February -- 10 March, the Commission drew some 1,500 representatives from more than 400 organizations -- including 21 Baha'is representing the Baha'i International Community and some 10 national Baha'i communities.
Like Ms. Aune, most members of the Baha'i delegation are very involved in women's activities in their own countries. They came to the Commission both to give input -- and to take away inspiration.
Mehri Afsahi represented not only the National Spiritual Assembly of Sweden but also the Swedish UNIFEM Committee and the Swedish Women's Lobby. And, like Ms. Aune, she has plans for more activity upon her return home.
""We are already planning for many seminars about the conference,"" said Ms. Afsahi, who funded her own travel to and from New York. ""On my return home, UNIFEM had a one day program for the celebration of International Women's Day. Over 200 people participated.""
Ms. Afsahi said her experiences at the Commission helped prepare her for the subsequent event in Sweden, which she chaired. ""Our guest speakers were the Minister for Democracy, Metropolitan Affairs, Integration and Gender Equality, the Vice Prime Minister and the Swedish Ambassador from Brazil.""  Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, left, with South African First Lady Zanele Mbeki during a luncheon on 28 February 2006 at the Baha'i International Community offices in New York. More than 25 people attended, including representatives of the Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, the Mission of India to the United Nations, and various NGOs. Mrs. Mbeki spoke about a new program she has founded, South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID).The 21-member Baha'i delegation to the CSW at the UN in New York came from countries in five continents, representing-in addition to Brazil and Sweden-Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Togo, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Baha'i International Community delegation was composed of four people.
Baha'i participation in the Commission provided opportunities for other related activities aimed at cementing important contacts with government representatives and collaborating with other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
On 28 February, for example, the Baha'i International Community hosted a luncheon for South African First Lady Zanele Mbeki at its offices in New York. More than 25 people attended, including representatives of the Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, the Indian Counsul General in New York, and various NGOs. Mrs. Mbeki spoke about a new program she has founded called South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID).
This year the Commission focused on two themes: the ""enhanced participation of women in development"" and promoting the ""equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels."" Baha'is sought to address these themes in various ways.
Zarin Hainsworth, who represents the National Alliance of Women's Organizations, a British NGO, as well as the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, facilitated three NGO workshops during the Commission meeting. One addressed the decision-making theme by exploring positive values learned from influential women, a second examined women and development by looking at how issues of international trade affect women, and the third addressed the plight of widows.
""I think the CSW is improving over time as it becomes more inclusive of civil society,"" said Ms. Hainsworth, who has participated in Commission meetings for the last several years.
For representatives of the Baha'i community of Canada, also seasoned Commission participants, the theme of equal participation in decision-making is an important one.
""I always return with a renewed desire to see if more men couldn't get involved in this work,"" said Gerald Filson, director of external affairs for the Baha'i community of Canada and one of a growing number of men who attend the Commission each year.
""The necessity of keeping this theme in high profile has underscored the importance of our building new and useful information tools in Canada, a regular bulletin or publication for the community at large, more advancement of women news on our website, and more local projects focused on these issues,"" said Mr. Filson.
His colleague, Elizabeth Wright, director of the Office for the Advancement of Women of the Baha'i Community of Canada, likewise sees her focus in ""continuing the work on partnership between women and men, in the Baha'i community and in society, using pilot projects of equality workshops.""
""Even though the integration of men in the women's movement is still considered with fear or prudence by many feminists, it is clear that at the government level, many are ready to go in this direction,"" said Ms. Wright.
Kit Bigelow, director of external affairs for the Baha'i community of the United States, has been attending the Commission for more than two decades.
""Our purpose in participating in the conference was to obtain useful knowledge and information to inform our advocacy work on the advancement of women in the United States,"" said Ms. Bigelow.
One focus for the US Baha'i delegation is to promote ratification in the United States of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
""The role of the CEDAW in promoting both of these goals was underscored throughout the Commission, which assists our work in promoting the treaty's ratification in the United States,"" said Ms. Bigelow.
""In addition, the knowledge shared on methods to promote women's participation in development will aid our work in advocating for full gender integration into government-based international development agencies in the United States.""
Added Sharona Shuster, Ms. Bigelow's colleague and the US Baha'i representative for women's issues: ""Baha'is see the achievement of gender equality in policy and in families as a prerequisite for the great peace that all religions refer to.""
-- By Veronica Shoffstall",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
432,2006-03-20,[],UN Religious Freedom Official expresses fears for Baha'is in Iran,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Representatives of  the Baha'i International Community reacted with alarm today to a United Nations official's statement about actions of the Iranian government against the  Baha'is in Iran.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir, stated  that she was highly concerned and expressed her apprehensions in a press release posted today about ""a confidential letter sent on 29 October 2005 by the Chairman of the Command Headquarters of the Armed Forces in Iran to a number of governmental agencies.""
""The  letter,"" she said, ""which is addressed to the Ministry of Information, the Revolutionary Guard and the Police Force, states that the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, had instructed the Command Headquarters to identify persons who adhere to the Baha'i faith and monitor their activities. The letter goes on to request the recipients to, in a highly confidential manner, collect any and  all information about members of the Baha'i faith.""
""We are grateful that Ms. Jahangir has brought this activity to light,"" said Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal  representative to the UN.  ""We share her concern for the welfare of the Baha'is and shudder to think what this might mean. Because of the unprecedented character of the government's action, we are  addressing a request to the Ambassador of Iran for an explanation.""
Ms. Jahangir also ""considers that such monitoring constitutes an impermissible and unacceptable interference with the rights of members of religious minorities.""
""The  Special Rapporteur's concern that such information could be 'used as a basis for the increased persecution of, and discrimination against, members of the Baha'i faith' is clearly well-founded,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Such actions come in the wake of mounting media attacks on the Baha'is, the nature  of which in the past have preceded government-led assaults on the Baha'is in Iran. ""Kayhan,"" the official Tehran daily newspaper has carried more than  30 articles about the Baha'is and their religion in recent weeks, all defamatory in ways that are meant to create provocation. Radio and television programs have joined in  as well with broadcasts condemning the Baha'is and their beliefs. In addition, the rise in influence in Iranian  governmental circles of the Anti-Baha'i Society, Hojjatieh, an organization committed  to the destruction of the Baha'i Faith, can only heighten the fears for that  beleaguered community.
""We well know what hateful propaganda can lead to; recent  history offers too many examples of its horrific consequences. We make an urgent appeal to all nations and  peoples on behalf of our Iranian coreligionists that they not allow a  peace-loving, law-abiding people to face the extremes to which blind hate can  lead,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""The ghastly  deeds that grew out of similar circumstances in the past should not now be  allowed to happen. Not again.""
Statement by Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, in the wake of the announcement of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief concerning treatment of followers of the Baha'i Faith in Iran
20 March 2006
New York City
The statement of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief about recent actions taken by the Government of Iran concerning the Baha'is arouses grave apprehension in the Baha'i International Community about their fate. The Baha'is have been the victims of an unrelenting persecution ever since the revolution of 1979, and one hesitates to think of what horrors could be implied by the combined effort of intelligence, military and police agencies to identify Baha'is and monitor their activities, as has been ordered by the Chairman of the Command Headquarters of the Armed Forces at the direction of the Head of State. We are dreadfully afraid for the lives of our fellow Baha'is in Iran.
Because of the unprecedented character of the Government's action, we are addressing a request to the Ambassador of Iran for an explanation.
Such actions come in the midst of mounting media attacks on the Baha'is, the nature of which in the past have preceded government-led assaults on them. ""Kayhan,"" the official Tehran daily newspaper, has carried more than 30 articles about the Baha'is and their religion in recent weeks, all defamatory in ways that are meant to create provocation. Radio and television programs have joined in as well with broadcasts condemning the Baha'is and their beliefs.
We know what hateful propaganda can lead to; recent history offers too many examples of its horrific consequences. We make an urgent plea to all nations and peoples on behalf of our Iranian coreligionists that they not allow a peace-loving, law-abiding people to face the extremes to which blind hate can lead. The ghastly deeds that grew out of similar circumstances in the past should not now be allowed to happen. Not again.
Background
Recent media attacks on the Baha'is in Iran
In recent months, Iranian newspapers and radio stations have  been conducting an intensive anti-Baha'i campaign. From September through November 2005 alone,  the influential, state-run ""Kayhan"" newspaper ran nearly three dozen  articles defaming the Baha'i Faith with the clear intention of arousing in  readers feelings of suspicion, distrust and hatred for the Iranian Baha'i community. The articles engage in a  deliberate distortion of history, make use of fake historical documents, and  falsely describe Baha'i moral principles in a manner that would be offensive to  Muslims.
Before the onset of previous government campaigns of  persecution against Baha'is, such as in 1955 and 1979, similarly defamatory  articles and radio programs were run against the Baha'is, stirring up animosity  and prejudice, apparently to prepare the public for what was to come.
For more information, including copies of the ""Kayhan"" articles in Persian and summaries in English, please click here.
The Anti-Baha'i Hojjatieh Society
Founded in 1953 as a specifically anti-Baha'i organization  by a charismatic Shiite Muslim cleric, the Hojjatieh Society has today reemerged in Iran as an influential if secretive faction that has been linked  in news articles and Web blogs with the current Iranian administration.
During the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Society played an important role in stirring animosity against Baha'is.  However, in part because of differences in theology -- among other things the Hojjatieh believe a truly Islamic state cannot be established until the return of the 12th Imam -- the Society fell into disfavor and was banned by the regime in 1984.
Outside observers have connected the Society's reemergence with the return of hardliners to positions of power in the government, including the president who has frequently stated his expectation that the 12th  Imam will return soon.
For more information on the Hojjatieh, please click here.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
433,2006-03-28,[],British politicians commend Baha'is on Naw-Ruz,"LONDON, England — Prime Minister Tony Blair and other top British politicians have sent greetings to the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom on Naw-Ruz, the Baha'i New Year.
In their messages, Mr. Blair and the others took note of Baha'i efforts to promote social cohesion and human rights.
""I warmly commend all that the Baha'i community does for social cohesion and better inter-faith relations, which makes such a valuable contribution to our society,"" wrote Mr. Blair in his message, which was read on 21 March 2006 at a reception in the House of Commons.
""Your commitment to tackling discrimination and promoting our shared humanity is particularly important,"" said Mr. Blair. ""I hope that this work will become increasingly well-known.""
About 90 people attended the Naw-Ruz reception, which was organized by the Office of External Affairs of the Baha'i community of the UK and held on the terrace of the House of Commons.
While Mr. Blair was not in attendance, many prominent people were, including several Members of Parliament, a Peer, and officials from a number of government departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office, and No. 10 Downing Street.  Left to right: Dr Wendi Momen of the Baha'i community; Eileen Fry, Director of the Multifaith Centre at Derby University; William Chapman, Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary at 10 Downing Street.Also joining the celebration were members of all of the major faith communities in the UK: Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians.
Member of Parliament David Cameron, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, also sent a message, which was also read out at the reception.
""There is no doubt that your faith's belief in the breaking down of barriers that separate people is a lesson to us all, as we face the national and international challenges of our day,"" said Mr. Cameron.
""The importance you place on principles such as social justice, and the need to tackle prejudice, has stood the test of time. These principles are as vital today as they were a century and a half ago. ""
In his message, Member of Parliament Sir Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, took note of Baha'i efforts to promote human rights.
""I have enormous respect and admiration for both the philosophy and culture which the Baha'i faith embraces and represents,"" said Sir Campbell in his message.  ""Particularly, I am proud of the work you do in conjunction with my fellow Liberal Democrat Parliamentarians regarding human rights abroad.
""I know that in Iran there is much to do before the Baha'i faith can live without fear of intimidation or persecution. However, I am confident that this end will be achieved through our collective effort.""
Member of Parliament Lembit Opik, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is, welcomed guests to the reception. He praised the Baha'is for their solidarity and optimism and said that being with Baha'is reminded him of why he was in politics -- to try to make the world a better place.
Barney Leith, secretary for external affairs of the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom, welcomed the guests and explained that the festival of Naw-Ruz is a time of celebration for the Baha'i community.
Mr. Leith noted that the festival of Naw-Ruz is shared with the Zoroastrians.  Mr. Leith added, however, that while the Baha'is in the UK were free to celebrate, the Baha'is in Iran were suffering ever greater levels of persecution. He warmly thanked Her Majesty's Government, and particularly the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, for its steadfast support and excellent work in defending the human rights of the Baha'is in Iran.
Mr. Leith also thanked the All Party Friends of the Baha'is for their continuing support.
While Prime Minister Blair has sent Naw-Ruz greetings to the Baha'i community previously, this was the first time the UK Baha'i community had received New Year's greetings from the leaders of all three main political parties.
Gye Nyami, a London-based Baha'i musical ensemble closed the formal programme by performing three pieces with texts taken from Baha'i, Hindu and Buddhist scriptures.
""There can be no doubt that this was the best of the successive Naw-Ruz receptions held over many years in the House of Commons,"" said Mr. Leith. ""There was a warm spirit of welcome for all who attended. The presence of so many MPs and government officials clearly confirms the respect in which the Faith is held at quite senior levels in government.""",LONDON,,United Kingdom
434,2006-03-29,[],White House spokesman expresses President's concern over worsening situation of the Baha'is in Iran,"WASHINGTON, United States — At the 28 March 2006 White House press briefing, Spokesman Scott McClellan said President George Bush is concerned over last week's announcement by a UN official that government persecution of the Baha'is in Iran is intensifying.
In response to a reporter's question, Mr. McClellan called on the Iranian regime to respect the religious freedom of all of its citizens and indicated the President would continue to monitor the situation of the Baha'is very closely. He also said the United States would continue to speak out and urge other countries in the region and the United Nations to defend the rights of the Baha'is and other religious minorities in Iran.
Following is the transcript of the two questions on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran:
Q: Scott, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief has said that she's highly concerned that the
government of Iran is about to increase its persecution of the 300,000 members of the Baha'i faith in that country. What is the President's message to the government of Iran on this issue?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, as you pointed out, she has expressed her concern that the situation with regard to religious minorities in Iran, the Baha'i, is, in fact, worsening. We share those concerns. We call on the regime in Iran to respect the religious freedom of all its minorities, and to ensure that these minorities are free to practice their religious beliefs without discrimination or fear. And we will continue to monitor the situation of the Baha'i -- the Baha'is in Iran very closely, and to speak out when their rights are denied.
Q: What pressure would you urge, perhaps, other countries to put on Iran?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think we will talk with ambassadors of other countries in the region and raise this issue with them, and with their governments. We will continue to speak out and to raise this issue, the treatment of the Baha'is, in the United Nations and other organizations, and to ask all those who have any sort of influence in Tehran to continue to defend the rights of the Baha'i and other religious minorities.
The full transcript of the March 28 White House press briefing is available at www.whitehouse.gov/news/briefings.
-- U.S. Baha'i News",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
435,2006-04-07,[],A banner year for Baha'i communicators,"DALLAS, TEXAS, United States — Eleven professional Baha'i communicators have won 12 awards from the Religion Communicators Council for excellence and merit in the production of various informational materials last year.
In addition, Baha'i filmmakers Suzanne Kay and Mark Bamford won a major Council award for their feature-length theatrical film ""Cape of Good Hope.""
The awards for professional religion communicators were presented at a dinner on 30 March 2006 as part of the annual Council national convention. Known as the DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards, they are presented to members of the Council who demonstrate excellence in religious communications and public relations, and are given in a wide variety of categories, from writing to website design.
The award to filmmakers Kay and Bamford was presented on 1 April 2006 in a ceremony meant to honor work in the secular media that highlights moral or religious themes.  Known as Wilbur Awards, they are reserved for nonmembers of the Council, also known by its acronym, the RCC.
Set in South Africa, ""Cape of Good Hope"" interweaves a number of story lines, all revolving around a Cape Town animal rescue shelter. It has won numerous other awards around the world, including a jury prize for best film from the Starz Denver Pan African film festival.
Baha'i professional religion communicators won seven DeRose-Hinkhouse ""Awards of Excellence"" for the production of magazines, booklets, books, special issue publications, CD illustration, and website design. Five secondary-level ""Awards of Merit"" were given to Baha'is for editorial writing, video documentary, and other forms of presentation.
""Without doubt, this was a banner year for Baha'i professional religion communicators, who won more awards in more categories in this annual competition than ever before,"" said Brad Pokorny, the editor of ""One Country,"" the newsletter of the Baha'i International Community.  A group photograph of the Baha'is who attended the national Religion Communicators Council convention in Dallas, Texas, USA, this year. Shown left to right are: Anne Gordon Perry, Aaron Kreader, Ellen Price, Tiffany Walters, Mandy Morgan, Patricia Tomarelli, Joyce Litoff, Amethel Parel-Sewell, Susan Engle, Amy Renshaw, and Urla Morgan.Mr. Pokorny, who has also been a member of the RCC since 1988, won two awards this year. He won an Award of Excellence in the category for ""public relations materials, booklets"" for The Baha'i Question, a booklet about the human rights situation of the Baha'is in Iran, which was published by the Office of Public Information of the Baha'i International Community. He also won a Certificate of Merit for an editorial in ""One Country"" titled ""The Challenge of Extreme Poverty.""
Other DeRose-Hinkhouse Awards of Excellence went to the following Baha'is:
-- Amethel Parel-Sewell, editor of ""Brilliant Star"" magazine, published by the United States Baha'i community, for excellence in the national magazines category.
-- Betty J. Fisher, editor, ""World Order"" magazine, published by the United States Baha'i community, in the national magazines single issue category, for Vol. 36, No. 3 of World Order.
-- Patricia Tomarelli for ""Sarah Farmer's Dream of Peace"" in the ""public relations materials"" category, for special-issue publications. This work also won ""best of class"" citation in the public relations category, and Ms. Tomarelli gave a brief speech at the awards ceremony.
-- Anne Gordon Perry for ""Green Acre on the Piscataqua"" of the Baha'i Publishing Trust, in the books category.
-- Patricia Tomarelli for graphic design on the album cover of ""From Exile to Exaltation: Our offering to Baha'u'llah"" in the video/CD/DVD category.
-- Glen Fullmer, director, U.S. Baha'i Office of Communications, and his colleagues Ellen Price, Deborah Wood, and Jeffrey Dalton, for the U.S. Baha'i website in the website category.
Of note, Dr. Perry was also invited to be the keynote speaker for the convention. Speaking on the topic of ""Where Art Intersects Faith,"" Dr. Perry examined the convergence of art and religion in the past and anticipated future intersections.
""Art can enhance our experience of worship and bring new meaning to our sense and acts of faith,"" said Dr. Perry.  ""Art and religion, both potent forces in civilization, can be seen as having a profound, eternal partnership, capable of producing things beyond our current imaginings.""
Dr. Betty J. Fisher, managing editor of ""World Order,"" said she was delighted to have won an award from the RCC. Her award was for a special issue devoted to the life and writings of the famous African-American philosopher Alain Locke -- who was not only a Rhodes Scholar and the Dean of the Harlem Renaissance but also a Baha'i.
""Since 1966, 'World Order' has been publishing on issues of broad social concern from a Baha'i perspective and has tried to stimulate, inspire, and serve those trying to understand the relationship between contemporary life and contemporary religious teachings and philosophy,"" said Dr. Fisher.
Founded in 1929, the RCC is an international interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and in public relations.
The DeRose-Hinkhouse Awards are named to honor the late Victor DeRose and the late Paul M. Hinkhouse, leading lithographers in New York City and longtime friends of the RCC. Both men shared a strong interest in, and concern for, excellence in communications.
""These awards validate the imagination and originality so plentiful in our RCC family,"" said Victoria Goff, chair of the DeRose-Hinkhouse awards and executive with National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA in Valley Forge. ""They demonstrate the high quality of work that institutions receive from our RCC members.""
As noted, five De-Rose Hinkhouse ""Certificates of Merit"" were also given to Baha'is. In addition to the certificate given to Brad Pokorny for ""One Country,"" Kari Carlson and Tiffany Walters of Baha'i Media Services won a Certificate of Merit for their Baha'i newsreel story ""Being Rich.""  Dr. Perry won three Certificates of Merit for a PowerPoint presentation on the Portsmouth Peace Treaty, for the annual ABS Arts Journal, and for a newspaper feature on her portrayal of Sarah Farmer in the New Hampshire Chautauqua festival.
The entire list of RCC award winners can be found at: www.religioncommunicators.org/derose_hinkhouse/dh2006excellence.html
and www.religioncommunicators.org/wilbur/2006newsrelease.html",DALLAS,TEXAS,United States
447,2006-04-17,[],"Annual 'Baha'i World' volume examines the science of morality, concept of progress, and global activities","HAIFA, Israel — An examination of the science of morality, a look at the opportunities and challenges presented by human ""progress,"" and a report on a small but inspiring educational project in Mali are among the articles in the latest volume of ""The Baha'i World.""
An annual record of Baha'i activities and perspectives, ""The Baha'i World 2004-2005"" also includes reports on the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions, an historic restoration of the prison cell where Baha'u'llah was held in the late 1800s, and the use of arts in Baha'i community life.
Now available from the U.S. Baha'i Distribution Service, the book is the 13th volume in an annual series aimed both at Baha'i readers and the general public.
""One of our main goals in the production of these volumes is to document the activities and thinking of the worldwide Baha'i community in a way that will be of interest to any serious researcher,"" said Ann Boyles, editor of ""The Baha'i World.""
""However, we also believe that the general reader will find the topics -- which explicitly analyze current trends in our global society from a Baha'i point of view -- to be of relevance.""
The article on ""Science and Morality"" by Graham Walker discusses some of the latest scientific findings in neuroscience relating to brain capacity and the evolution of altruism, addresses the probability that life in the universe was created by chance, and examines the role of genetics in the development of human character.  The latest volume of The Baha'i World offers researchers, academics, and the general public a glimpse of Baha'i activities around the world during the past year. Shown here is a study circle at the Baha'i center in Suva, Fiji, in March 2005.Like many of the other articles in the new volume, Dr. Walker's essay also approaches its subject from a practical standpoint.
""As cities become increasingly multiracial, cultural moral relativity is causing problems,"" writes Dr. Walker. ""For example, imbibing alcohol is seen as immoral hedonism by one but as a harmless pleasure-almost a rite of passage-to another; the thigh-high skirt and bare midriff are wanton to some but an innocent fashion to others...""
The article about an effort by the Nosrat Foundation to establish village-level primary schools in Mali likewise offers practical lessons on the subject of how to promote community involvement in education, especially in an underdeveloped country.
""The schools that Nosrat has established are owned by the community,"" reports the article. ""The villagers themselves provide many of the construction materials for the buildings, which generally consist of three classrooms and latrines. Parents make mud bricks and do the actual construction, while Nosrat provides what is difficult to find or provide locally, such as cement and iron to cover and protect the walls and sustain the long-term roofing...""
A ""World Watch"" essay on some current views of the opportunities and challenges presented by ""progress,"" written by Dr. Boyles herself, offers not only a survey of current literature on the subject, but also a distinctive viewpoint of how Baha'is approach the idea of human progress.
""As one writer has observed, 'progress in the Western sense has become a virtually universal aspiration',"" writes Dr. Boyles, ""even though its achievement may still be a distant dream for the vast majority of the world's peoples. But is it, in fact, an entirely desirable or sustainable aspiration, or do we perhaps need to reconsider our view of progress and the criteria we use to measure it?""
Dr. Boyles concludes that the ""experience of the Baha'i community offers compelling evidence 'that humanity can live as one global society, equal to whatever challenges its coming of age may entail.'"" Further, she writes, ""the Baha'i community is working with some urgency to promote an understanding of 'progress' that encompasses both the spiritual and the material aspects of life.""
Other articles in the volume include:
-- An omnibus report on the celebrations by Baha'i communities around the world of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Ten Year Crusade, with numerous color photographs.
-- An update on the human rights situation of the Baha'is in Iran and Arab countries.
-- The publication of several recent major statements by the Baha'i International Community, including the Community's response to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's ""In Larger Freedom"" report, as well as a statement entitled ""Freedom of Religion,"" which is the Community's response to the United Nations Development Programme 2004 Human Development Report.
The volume also includes a selection of Baha'i Sacred Writings on the theme of science and progress, highlights from messages of the Universal House of Justice written during 2004-2005, and the ""Year in Review,"" which chronicles the worldwide activities of the Baha'i community from 21 April 2004 to 21 April 2005.
The volume also contains obituaries, statistics, an index, and a directory of Baha'i agencies and selected new publications in English. At 333 pages, in hardcover format with a cloth cover, ""The Baha'i World 2004-2005"" is available at a retail cost of US$19. It can be ordered from http://www.bahaibookstore.com",HAIFA,,Israel
448,2006-05-11,[],Folding paper flowers for religious harmony,"SINGAPORE, Singapore — Young members of the Baha'i community here recently gave support to a national interfaith project aimed at bringing Singaporeans of all races and religions together.
About 40 youth gathered at the Singapore Baha'i Center on 15 April 2006 to fold paper lotuses as part of the Project Million Lotus 2006, which is sponsored by the Singapore Buddhist Federation.
The effort aims to have young people of all races and religions make a million paper lotuses as symbols of purity and harmony.
""The idea of folding a paper lotus is taken from the symbolic meaning of a lotus that grows in muddy water and yet emerges into a pure and beautiful flower,"" said Lynette Thomas, Secretary of The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Singapore.
""Every lotus folded is like a wish for harmony that unites all people in Singapore,"" said Ms. Thomas. ""Each of the nine major religions has been invited to open up their centers for one Saturday to host youth from other communities to come and fold paper lotuses.""
Ms. Thomas said in addition to the 15 April event, Baha'i study circles in the city have also folded lotuses for the project. She said about 4,000 lotuses have been contributed so far by Baha'is.
The 40 young people who gathered at the Singapore Baha'i Center included many from Chung Cheng High School who are not Baha'is.  About 40 youth gathered at the Singapore Baha'i Center on 15 April 2006 to fold paper lotuses as part of the Project Million Lotus 2006. Shown here are six secondary school students from Chung Cheng High School with Baha'i Sabrina Han (center) in the blue shirt.""Regarding the million Lotus project, I think it is a very meaningful one,"" said Sabrina Han, one of the Baha'i youths who participated on 15 April, saying it brings ""many youths from different religions together.""
Anita Kuppusamy, another of the Bahai youths who participated on 15 April, said she found that the effort lead to meeting many new friends.
""Though I had a hard time folding the lotuses at first, I got better at it after folding a few,"" she said. ""The center was filled with energetic youths and I was glad to be one of them.""
The project has received support from Singaporean President S.R. Nathan, as well as from the Central Singapore Community Development Council, Trust Central, the Inter Religious Organisation (IRO) of Singapore, and several Singapore corporations.
The lotuses were scheduled to be displayed at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on 6-7 May 2006 as the highlight of the ""Growing Compassion, Harvesting Harmony,"" Singapore celebration of the Vesak Festival.
""The National Assembly is delighted by the initiative shown by the Baha'i youth to be part of this event to foster inter-religious harmony,"" said Ms. Thomas. ""It has provided them with a great opportunity to learn more about the peace-loving religion of Buddhism and to interact with the Buddhist youth.""",SINGAPORE,,Singapore
449,2006-05-11,[],"Collecting ""e-waste"" is an interfaith effort","MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN, United States — Just nine years old, Eve McCowen was dwarfed by the huge piles of unwanted electronic equipment that quickly accumulated in the parking lot of the Messiah Lutheran Church on Earth Day 2006.
But she was nevertheless one of the first to run up to an arriving car that needed to be unloaded as residents brought old stereos, defunct computers, and broken television sets for recycling.
""Recycling is good for the environment because when you throw stuff away it can get in the earth's soil and water and that isn't good for the earth,"" said Eve, the daughter of Dennis and Lisa McCowen of Marquette.
Eve is also a Baha'i, as are her parents, and they were among the nine Baha'is from Marquette who participated in the second annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep on  22 April 2006, which is designated as Earth Day in the United States and many other countries.
The effort collected more than 300 tons of ""e-waste"" -- electronic equipment like television sets, computers, VCRs, and the like that are not otherwise easily recycled -- from various sites in across Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a sparsely populated region north of Lake Michigan.
The Earth Keeper event also showed how faith communities can collaborate on local and regional projects for the common good.
In this case, more than 350 volunteers from some 120 churches, temples, and faith communities across the Upper Peninsula participated. Represented were: Baha'is, Buddhists, Catholics, Episcopalians, Jews, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists and Unitarian Universalists. All totaled, the faith groups represented have some 130,000 members in the region.
""This is historic and I hope it is a model that can be duplicated throughout the country and the world,"" said Rodney Clarken, a Baha'i and one of the original signers of the Earth Keeper Covenant. ""We often see faith communities arguing and even killing one another -- we have here an example of spiritual leaders and their communities uniting.""  Dr. Rodney Clarken, a Baha'i and one of the original signers of the Earth Keeper Covenant, at left, looks on as ""e-waste"" is collected in a recycling bin in Marquette, Michigan. Also shown are Jean Soderberg (background, center) and Dennis McCowen (in red). All are Baha'is and all were participating in the Earth Keeper Clean Sweep on 22 April 2006. (Photo by Greg Peterson.)""I believe the overwhelming response to the local initiatives to collect hazardous wastes last year and electronic wastes this year has largely been the result of all the faith communities uniting to support this endeavor,"" said Dr. Clarken, who is a professor of education and director of field experiences at Northern Michigan University (NMU) in Marquette.
""Without the force of religion to sustain and inspire moral action, little can be accomplished,"" Dr. Clarken said.
Carl Lindquist, director of the Central Lake Superior Community Partnership and the event's organizer, said Baha'is were a ""key partner"" in the event.
""They were very enthusiastic, and very well informed about the issues,"" said Mr. Lindquist, adding that faith groups in general were critical players in raising public awareness about the event, and then motivating people to take action.
""As the director of a non-profit environmental organization, who has also worked at the state and federal levels, we have been trying to do public education and efforts like this over the years -- and I've never seen anything more effective than this, ever,"" he said.
With faith groups, Mr. Lindquist said, ""when you send the word out, they listen and they respond.""
The annual clean sweep is sponsored by the Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership, the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, and the various faith communities that participated.
Last year's Clean Sweep collected about 46 tons of household poisons like pesticides, herbicides, mercury, car batteries and lead-based paints. More such household hazardous waste was collected in three hours than the Upper Penninsula's landfills normally see in two years.
Dr. Clarken and other Baha'is who participated said they hope that similar projects will be started by Baha'is around the world.
Dr. Clarken said that such projects can help ""break down the artificial barriers we have constructed between religions, nations, cultures, and the world in which we live.
""May these efforts reinforce a hundredfold our work toward creating a world in which all people can live in peace and prosperity,"" said Dr. Clarken.
Rehema Clarken, a 27-year-old NMU graduate student and the daughter of Dr. Clarken, said the project offers an important lesson because ""so many people from so many different faiths pulled together to complete a project that really benefits our community.""
""Whatever differences we might have in our religious beliefs, we have become united in service,"" said Ms. Clarken.
Vicki Lockwood of Marquette said the Earth Keeper event helped her to understand better various Baha'i principles, such as the importance of service and the concept of unity in diversity.
""This instills the concept of unity, and unless you center on your commonalities you won't accomplish much,"" said Ms. Lockwood. ""We were all working with the concept of keeping these products out of the landfills and keeping pollution off the ground and out of the air.""
Jean Soderberg, a nurse and a Baha'i since 1993, agreed that the chance to work with other faith groups offered an important model.
""Protecting the environment is the responsibility of everyone on the planet if we are to continue to enjoy the bounties God gives us,"" said Ms. Soderberg. ""Doing this through a faith-based organization is an even more rewarding opportunity.""
-- Reported by Greg Peterson",MARQUETTE,MICHIGAN,United States
450,2006-05-24,[],54 Baha'is arrested in Iran,"NEW YORK, United States — Iranian officials have arrested 54 Baha'is in the city of Shiraz, the Baha'i International Community has learned.  They are mostly youth and were all engaged in humanitarian service when they were arrested.  It is one of the largest number of Baha'is taken at once since the 1980s. The specific charges are not clear, though in the past, Baha'is have been arrested summarily on false charges.
The arrests occurred on Friday, 19 May, while the Baha'is, along with several other volunteers who were not Baha'is, were teaching classes to underprivileged children in a school as part of a community service activity conducted by a local nongovernmental organization. At the time of the arrests, they had in their possession a letter of permission from the Islamic Council of Shiraz. They also carried the letter of permission in each of their classes.
The nature of the charges against the Baha'is is unknown at this time. The day following the arrests, a judge told family members that the detainees would be freed soon. As of today, it appears that all of the non-Baha'is and one Baha'i junior youth have been released without having to post bail.
The arrests coincided with raids on six Baha'i homes during which notebooks, computers, books, and other documents were confiscated. In the last 14 months, 72 Baha'is across Iran have been arrested and held for up to several weeks.
""These new arrests in Shiraz, coming after more than a year of 'revolving door' detentions, bring the total number of Baha'is who have been arrested without cause to more than 125 since the beginning of 2005,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Taken all together, this pattern of arbitrary arrests and detentions amount to the purest form of religious persecution and reflect nothing less than a calculated effort by the Iranian government to keep the Baha'i community utterly off balance and in a state of terror,"" Ms. Dugal said.
The arrests come against a backdrop of increasing concern by international human rights monitors that the Iranian Government is escalating its 25-year-long campaign of persecution against the 300,000-member Baha'i community of Iran, the largest religious minority in that country.
In March, the UN Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief released news of a secret 29 October 2005 letter from the Iranian military high command ordering police and Revolutionary Guard units to ""identify"" and ""monitor"" members of the Baha'i community of Iran, saying the existence of such a letter made her ""highly concerned.""
Moreover, since late 2005, more than 30 mostly negative and often defamatory articles about the Baha'is and their religion have appeared in ""Kayhan,"" the official Tehran daily newspaper. Radio and television broadcasts have likewise increasingly condemned the Baha'is and their beliefs.
Since January, in addition to the 54 arrested in Shiraz last Friday, seven Baha'is have been arrested and held for periods of up to one month in Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Tehran.
Among those arrested in January was Mrs. Roya Habibi of Kermanshah, who has reported that she was interrogated for eight hours, with questions focused on her role as coordinator of a program to provide religious instruction in the Baha'i Faith.
In the court document that sets out the charges against her, Mrs. Habibi, who is currently out on bail, ""is charged with teaching the Bahaism sect and acting in an insulting manner towards all that is holy in Islam.""
""While it is often difficult to get details on the charges against Baha'is, there is no doubt that most of them – like the case against Mrs. Habibi – are motivated purely by religious intolerance and prejudice,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Last year, some 65 Baha'is were arrested and held for periods of time ranging from a few days to more than a month.
While most were held less than a week, others were jailed for up to three months. Some of the prisoners last year were held incommunicado, in unknown locations, while their families desperately searched for them. Last year also, government agents conducted prolonged searches of many of their homes, confiscating documents, books, computers, copiers and other belongings.
In the 1980s, some 200 Baha'is were killed or executed. Thousands were arrested and hundreds were imprisoned, many for long periods. In recent years, in the face of international monitoring, the executions and long-term imprisonments have stopped.
(Correction: In this 24 May 2006 story on the arrests of Baha'is in Shiraz, we reported that they were teaching classes to underprivileged children in a school as part of a UNICEF community service activity conducted by a local nongovernmental organization when they were arrested. We have learned that the project was one of local initiative, in which participants modeled their efforts after a UNICEF project. It was not, however, directly associated with UNICEF. We apologize if this caused any misunderstanding.)",NEW YORK,,United States
451,2006-05-26,[],Update on arrests in Iran,"NEW YORK, United States — After their arrests on 19 May in Shiraz, Iran, three Baha'is remain in jail while 51 others have been released on bail.  No indication has been given as to when the three will be released.  None of those who had been released, nor the three who are still being detained, have been formally charged.
On the day of the arrests, one Baha'i, under the age of 15, was released without having to post bail.  At that same time, several other young people who are not Baha'is and who had been arrested with the Baha'is, were also released without bail.
On Wednesday 24 May, five days after their summary arrests, 14 of the Baha'is were released, each having been required to provide deeds of property to the value of ten million tumans (approximately US$11,000) as collateral for release.  The following day, Thursday 25 May, 36 Baha'is were released on the strength of either personal guarantees or the deposit of work licenses with the court as surety that they will appear when summoned to court.
For more information on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran , please go here: http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran",NEW YORK,,United States
452,2006-05-30,[],Correction,"NEW YORK, United States — In the 24 May 2006 story on the arrests of Baha'is in Shiraz, we reported that they were teaching classes to underprivileged children in a school as part of a UNICEF community service activity conducted by a local non-governmental organization when they were arrested. We have learned since that the project was one of local initiative, in which participants modeled their efforts after a UNICEF project. It was not, however, directly associated with UNICEF. We apologize if this caused any misunderstanding.
Please go here to view the corrected story: https://news.bahai.org/story/450",NEW YORK,,United States
453,2006-06-12,[],Low-key approach to virtues training pays big dividends,"WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, Canada — When city health officials make their morning rounds to pick up used syringes, the neighborhood of Lord Selkirk Park in Winnipeg's north end is often their first stop.
It's a measure of the problems afflicting the district, which has the lowest per capita income, the lowest level of education, and the highest percentage of single parent families among all neighborhoods in this central Canadian city.
A ray of hope shines here every Sunday morning during the school year, however, when dozens of children from the area stream into the Turtle Island Neighborhood Center for breakfast, crafts, friendship, and a chance to bring out the virtues in each other.
Begun as a volunteer service by Winnipeg Baha'is in 2001, the Family Virtues Breakfast this year attracted as many as 80 children and parents each week. It has become ""a Sunday morning tradition,"" according to Nicole Richard, a mother who has been coming with her four children for about two years.
While many families were initially drawn by the prospect of free food -- the menu usually features pancakes, French toast, hash browns, ham or sausage, and juice -- the program's continuing attraction has become its emphasis on helping children build positive moral capacities.
The virtues component of the program comes without any lecturing or structured lessons. Rather, project volunteers take an interactive approach to teaching virtues, involving crafts, drawing, and reading, and games like skipping and tag.
During such activities, project volunteers strive to foster virtuous behavior by modeling it themselves.
They also seek to provide positive reinforcement when the children behave well. On the ready are specially marked cards that identify virtues like courtesy, joyfulness, or truthfulness. When a child displays such a virtue, they are handed a card.
""Mostly our goal is for children and adults to experience the virtues,"" said Stephanie Bloodworth, a long-standing Baha'i volunteer with the program. ""We want it to be interactive.""
Those who have watched the program from the outside agree that the project's low-key approach has been effective.
""I know that it is hard for any organization to put together a program that attracts families as a unit,"" said Shon Haynes, who was program coordinator at the Turtle Island center until April. ""I understand they get 70 to 80 families coming to the breakfast program, which kind of blows my mind. It is so hard to get families to do anything together.""  Some of the children and parents who attend the Family Virtues Breakfast posed recently in the gym of the community center where the program takes place.Mr. Haynes added that the idea of modeling virtues, instead of lecturing about them, has been an important innovation. ""One of the reasons why workshops or community meetings have failed in that area is because you have an individual coming and standing up in front of the room and saying 'This is how things should be done.' But they don't do that and for that reason it is effective, and appreciated by the community.""
Other social service groups have begun to enquire about the project's approach. The project has also started to receive outside funding and donations. In 2003, for example, the Winnipeg Foundation donated C$3,000 for food, craft supplies, and equipment.
The Winnipeg Harvest food bank also gives weekly donations of food stuffs when they are available. This year, as well, the project received C$1,684 for crafts from the North End Community Renewal Corporation.
Organizers said the project's innovative approach has evolved through a process of action and reflection -- and a dose of Baha'i consultation.
""At the end of every morning, we sit down with all the volunteers and debrief,"" said Sheila Pinkerton, a volunteer since 2001, who is also the liaison with the local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Winnipeg, which oversees the project.
""We ask each other: what is needed, how can we respond better, and how can we do it differently,"" said Ms. Pinkerton. ""So it is an on-going process of evaluation and adjustment.""
Currently, about 12 Baha'is -- and up to half-dozen non-Baha'is -- form the core group that volunteers every Sunday during the school year, when the project is active, said Ms. Pinkerton.
The project began, however, as an individual initiative, started by two Baha'is. The two, who have since moved on to other activities, went to Turtle Island in the summer of 2001, offering to provide whatever services they could offer.
The pair met with local parents and the Turtle Island board, who agreed that the most useful service they could provide was a program for the children. Built in the 1980s, with meeting rooms, a small library, and a gymnasium, the Turtle Island center sits in the middle of a subsidized housing development.
The breakfast was launched, and the pair enlisted the help of other Baha'is in the community, including Ms. Bloodworth and Ms. Pinkerton. The early breakfasts were preceded by a brief group discussion of a particular virtue, and toys were brought in to occupy the children for the remainder of the morning.
About 20 kids came each week during that first year. The local Baha'i community defrayed most of the costs associated with the program, and some of the food that the local food bank was providing to the center was diverted to the breakfast.
That first year was difficult. The children largely ignored the volunteers and often disobeyed the ground rules that had been laid out, said Ms. Pinkerton.
""What we found was that the kids interacted with the toys,"" said Ms. Pinkerton. ""There wasn't a way for us to interact with them, apart from sitting down with them at breakfast and cutting their pancakes and trying to talk to them. That would be our golden moment. But apart from that we were just maintaining order. And these kids treated us like a wall. It was like, 'You're not there. I'm talking to you -- I don't hear you.'""
The team also found that the toys were disappearing from week to week.
So they consulted together and retooled. Games were gradually replaced by crafts that participants could work on at the center and take home afterwards. Parents were actively invited to participate in the program with their kids. And the virtues component became less formalized and more integrated into the rest of the morning's activities.
Attendance grew year by year, peaking last year when as many as 140 children and adults showed up on a given Sunday. The team has had to limit numbers to about 80 this year to make it manageable.
Ms. Bloodworth believes the process of action and reflection, rather than any professional expertise, is what has kept the program relevant to the needs of the children and their parents.
""On some level, we recognize that this is a lifeline for some of the people who come,"" said Ms. Bloodworth.
Dan Trottier, program coordinator of the Lord Selkirk Aboriginal Women's Group, which also runs programs in Lord Selkirk Park, agrees that the program has been a benefit for the community.
""It fills the weekend void,"" said Mr. Trottier. ""It helps the families come together. You have activities going for different age groups. There's not enough of that. Usually the parents are not involved.
""It's a great program,"" he added, ""a much needed program.""
-- Canadian Baha'i News Service",WINNIPEG,MANITOBA,Canada
454,2006-06-15,[],"Egyptian Government challenges Baha'is' civil rights on appeal -- Court hearing set for Monday, 19 June, in Cairo","CAIRO, Egypt — Proponents of religious freedom around the world are expected to watch closely the appeal by the government of a case on which an Egyptian court will hold a hearing next Monday.
The case concerns an administrative court's ruling in April in favor of an Egyptian Baha'i couple who sought not to have their religion falsely identified on government documents, such as ID cards, without which most rights of citizenship are unobtainable.
Under pressure from conservative elements of Egyptian society, the government has appealed that decision, taking it before the Supreme Administrative Court.
The initial ruling and the appeal have drawn extensive media attention in Egypt and the Arab world as the implications go far beyond the Baha'is who are directly involved, explained Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), an independent Egyptian human rights organization.
""This case is important not only for Baha'is but for all Egyptians as it will set an important precedent in terms of citizenship, equality, and freedom of religion,"" said
Mr. Bahgat. ""There is a huge interest in this case.""
""The human rights community, the legal community and the media are closely following it,"" he said. ""We have at least a hundred press clippings from May alone.""
The attention came after a lower administrative court ruled in favor of the Baha'is on
4 April 2006, ordering the government to issue identity cards and birth certificates that correctly state their professed religion as members of the Baha'i Faith.
Elements of society here, particularly Al Azhar University and the Muslim Brotherhood, raised an outcry in the wake of the decision, objecting to any kind of recognition of the Baha'i Faith as a religious belief. That reaction, in turn, triggered a wholesale debate in newspapers and blogs throughout the Arab world over the right to freedom of religion and belief.
""People on both sides of the case are mobilized,"" said Mr. Bahgat. ""There are people who are in support of the Baha'is, and people who see this as a threat to society or Islam.""
In early May, the government appealed the lower court's ruling, and the hearing next Monday will focus on procedural issues concerning the case, which could go on in the courts for some time, said Mr. Bahgat.
The emotions stirred by the case were evident at the initial hearing on the government's appeal of the case by the Supreme Administrative Court, held 15 May.
A description of that hearing was posted by the EIPR to its website last month.
""Lawyers and other individuals seated in the courthouse interrupted and heckled defense counsel each time they tried to address the court and yelled insults at them, calling them 'infidels' and threatening them with physical violence during the hearing,"" said the EIPR in the statement issued on 15 May and posted on its website.
""Unable to impose order in the courtroom, the Court briefly adjourned the hearing before resuming the proceedings in camera,"" the EIPR statement continued. ""When the hearing was adjourned, courthouse security officers refused to protect lawyers who were surrounded by members of the crowd, verbally threatened, pushed, shoved and not allowed to walk away from the area.""
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said she hoped next Monday's hearing would not be marked by similar kinds of abuse and threats. ""We believe that such actions, if allowed by the Court, are prejudicial to the case,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""Further, our hope is that the Court will not allow the emotions that have arisen regarding this case to cloud their judgment on what is an otherwise clear-cut matter concerning the right of individuals simply to profess their own beliefs -- a right that is firmly upheld in both international and Egyptian law.
""The Baha'is represented in the case, and by extension the entire Baha'i community of Egypt, only ask that they be given the same rights as other Egyptian citizens, which in this case concerns the right not to have one's religion falsely identified in government documents. Such false reporting, in addition to being fraudulent, is for the Baha'is a denial of their Faith.""
One reason the issue rose to prominence after the initial court ruling in April is because Egypt officially recognizes only three religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. And even though the lower court acknowledged that Islamic jurisprudence does not recognize the Baha'i Faith for ""open practice,"" it ruled nevertheless that the religion of Baha'is should be acknowledged in official documents, rather than falsely identified as Muslim or one of the other religions, which government agencies currently insist upon.
""This is not about forcing the Egyptian government or anyone to accept or recognize the divine origin of the Baha'i Faith,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""It is simply that Baha'is, like all other Egyptian citizens, are legally required to obtain government-issued ID cards. And without such documents, Egyptian Baha'is are unable to gain legal access to employment, education, and medical and financial services, and are deprived of freedom of movement.""
Ms. Dugal said human rights organizations in Egypt and elsewhere will closely watch the appeal process.
""For Baha'is, the issue is simply a matter of obtaining the same rights granted to every other Egyptian citizen, and being allowed to live their lives in peace,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""But there is little doubt that the issue has taken on a wider significance in Egyptian and Arab society, as evidenced by the intense discussion on issues of religious freedom and tolerance that this simple case has stimulated.""
For more information, click here.",CAIRO,,Egypt
455,2006-06-16,[],Baha'i Media Bank launched,"HAIFA, Israel — The Baha'i International Community has launched a new Web site containing more than 2,500 high-quality photographs on Baha'i-related themes.
""The purpose of the site is to provide institutions and individuals alike with easy access to a large collection of Baha'i images,"" said Douglas Moore, director of the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information.
""We hope it will prove to be of great utility to all kinds of publishers, journalists, and other media producers,"" he added.
Called the ""Baha'i Media Bank,"" the site is at: http://media.bahai.org
It will be regularly updated with new additions and will eventually include video and audio material.
Visitors to the Web site will be able to browse through the high resolution images, categorized by community activities, people and institutions, buildings and places, and history and events.  Then, by creating a free account, users will be able to download images for use in publications, websites, and media presentations.
The site also offers such services as a ""My Downloads"" holding area, where up to 20 images can be collected and then downloaded all at the same time in a single ZIP file.  The account keeps track of the user's download history so that previous collections can be retrieved or shared with other users of the Media Bank.",HAIFA,,Israel
456,2006-06-22,[],Egypt's Court postpones hearing,"CAIRO, Egypt — Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court has postponed until 16 September its hearing on a government appeal of a ruling in favor of a Baha'i couple.  The couple has been seeking not to have their religion incorrectly identified on government documents.
A lower administrative court ruled in favor of the couple in April this year, and the case has since gained international attention from human rights groups.  The court ordered the government to issue members of the Baha'i Faith with identification cards, birth certificates and death certificates that accurately identify their religion.
Without such documents, Baha'is are unable to gain legal access to basic citizenship rights, including employment, education, medical and financial services.
The government appealed the lower court's ruling in early May, and a court hearing was set for 19 June.  However, the Court commissioner's advisory report was not submitted in time for the hearing, resulting in the delay.
For more information click here.",CAIRO,,Egypt
457,2006-06-27,[],Pattern of arrest and release continues in Iran,"NEW YORK, United States — Baha'is arrested and imprisoned in recent weeks without charge in Shiraz and Hamadan, Iran, have been released, most on the basis of some collateral, the Baha'i International Community has learned.  Trial dates for nearly 130 Baha'is across Iran have yet to be announced.
""We are concerned that this pattern of arrest and release is being used increasingly as another form of harassment of the Baha'is,"" said Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal representative to the United Nations.  ""Holding on to the assets of people who have not been charged with any crime and whose trial date is unknown are part of the larger strategy of intimidation to deny the community's rights and opportunities.""
In Hamadan, meanwhile, three other Baha'is were arrested on 18 June, jailed for three days and released.  They were arrested after government officials searched their homes and confiscated computers, books and Baha'i documents.
Earlier, the last three of the group of 54 Baha'is, mostly young people arrested on 19 May in Shiraz, were released on 14 June.  The group was the largest number of Baha'is arrested at one time since the 1980's.
Although the judge originally demanded a bond equivalent to $54,000, the three in Shiraz were released without bail on the promise that they would return for a later court appearance. No formal charges have been made against them.  However, in most cases, some form of bail, such as deeds of property, were demanded before release.
Currently, two Baha'is, arrested in Tehran and Sanandaj, still remain in prison.
For more information on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran , please go here: http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran",NEW YORK,,United States
458,2006-06-29,[],Russian professor receives award for contributions to discourse on science and spirituality,"MOSCOW, Russia — Despite what might be expected from a scientist, for Dr. Gudrat Seyfi, faith plays a key role in his understanding of science.
""For me faith implies wisdom that gives answers to the question to which science has not found answers yet,"" he explains.  ""The principle of the interaction of science and religion allows a scientist to advance a more complete cognition and understanding of the world as a whole.""
Dr. Seyfi's creative and innovative approach in understanding the sciences from a spiritual perspective and his contribution to the discourse of science and religion were formally recognized at a special session of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences this March.
The author of several books and numerous articles on faith and science, spirituality and comparative religion, Dr. Seyfi, the vice-director of the Scientific Centre, ""Eurasia,"" of the Russian Academy of the Natural Sciences, was awarded a diploma with the highly merited status of ""Academician"" by the Academy.
He recognizes, however, that his perspective, once considered radical, is becoming more widespread.
""Scientists have different approaches,"" he explained. ""Extreme ones are convinced that faith impedes scientific knowledge because faith is blind.  Others think that science and religion have to emerge separately, that belief is a very intimate matter.  But nowadays, the tendency is gradually changing.  Scientists are beginning to think more and more that this issue is a subtle one and there is no unambiguous answer.""
A member of the Baha'i Community of Moscow, Dr. Seyfi describes his own approach to science as being deeply connected to his understanding of the spiritual evolution of humanity.  Dr. Gudrat Seyfi, recipient of diploma with status of ""Academician"" by the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences""Outside of the organic interrelation of science and religion it is hardly possible for a human being to understand the fundamental questions: the place of a human being in the world, his attitude to nature, and his fellow beings and so on,"" said Dr. Seyfi.
""It is reflected in the statement of Baha'u'llah that science and religion are the wings of one bird and that without their interaction the flight of thought and cognition of the world is not possible.""
He describes science and religion as being both complementary and interdependent in nature, and emphasizes the need to create a culture of dialogue between the different religions, recognizing them as being all from the same Source and progressive in nature.
In acknowledgment of his achievement, the elected governing body of the Baha'is in Russia, the National Spiritual Assembly, sent a message of congratulations, stating that:

This event is a high evaluation of your contribution to the development of science in general and especially in the field of transcultural and interfaith dialogue between people of different nationalities and creeds. Your innovative approach to the problems of development of humanity from the point of view of spirituality allows to open new horizons of the purpose of human life and helps the understanding of the oneness of humanity.

""It was quite unexpected but pleasant for me,"" Dr. Seyfi said, referring to the award.  ""I have never had such a goal.  Of course, it is gratifying but I do not have any kind of euphoria, because the highest value of a human being is his spirituality.""
""Despite the difficult and complex processes in the world,"" he said, speaking of his vision of the future, ""I believe that humanity will overcome its spiritual crisis and come to a mutual understanding between world religions, religious figures and governments for the betterment of mankind on our small planet.""
""The fundamental concept of Baha'u'llah, that we are fruits of one tree, directly knock at the heart and soul of every human being.  In my life, I am trying to bring this idea to the consciousness of people.""",MOSCOW,,Russia
459,2006-07-02,[],"Iran confiscates Baha'is' properties, says UN","GENEVA, Switzerland — Baha'is in Iran face discriminatory housing policies, including ""the abusive use of property confiscation,"" said a United Nations report released at a news conference last week.
At least 640 Baha'i properties have been seized since 1980, according to Miloon Kothari, the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, who wrote the report and presented it to the news media on 29 June 2006.
""The properties listed included houses and agricultural land, but also Baha'i sacred places such as cemeteries and shrines,"" said Mr. Kothari. ""The affected owners have allegedly not been given an opportunity to participate or receive prior information related to ongoing confiscation procedures.""
He said, for example, many of the confiscations were made by Iranian Revolutionary Courts, and that some of the verdicts he examined declared that ""the confiscation of the property of 'the evil sect of the Baha'i' (were) legally and religiously justifiable.""
In rural areas, he said, such confiscations were often accompanied by threats and physical violence before and during related forced evictions.
Mr. Kothari said he was ""concerned at the clear evidence of discriminatory conduct with respect to Baha'i property, including housing.""
At the news conference, Mr. Kothari said he continues to receive reports about Baha'is who have had their land confiscated.
""In the last two years, there has been an increase in the number of Baha'i leaders or prominent people who have been arrested without any charge and then released with very high bail,"" Mr. Kothari said, according to the Voice of America. ""And, the only way in which they can post this bail is to put their property as a guarantee. This seems to be another method of expropriation.""
The annual report, which was written as part of a six-year mandate to consider housing policies around the world in relation to the right to an adequate standard of living, focused this year on issues of discrimination in housing, and drew extensively on visits by Mr. Kothari in 2005 to Iran and Cambodia.
The report was set to be released in March, during the Commission on Human Rights, but in the changeover to the new Human Rights Council, its official release by Kothari to the public was delayed until last week.
Diane Alai, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the report served to confirm that property confiscations have been used as part of Iran's systematic persecution of Baha'is in Iran.
""Unfortunately, what Mr. Kothari has been able to document has been an on-going problem for Iranian Baha'is,"" said Ms. Alai. ""Property confiscation, along with a ban on access to higher education, discrimination in the workplace, and the outright ban on organized religious activity by Baha'is, reflect the Iranian government's wholesale campaign to slowly strangle the Baha'i community in Iran while seeking to evade international condemnation.""
Click here for the Special Rapporteur's report.
To learn more about the situation of the Baha'is in Iran click here",GENEVA,,Switzerland
460,2006-07-06,[],"School of the Nations, Macau, receives land grant from government","TAIPA, Macau — It may seem to a passerby that the plot of land between the Hyatt tennis court and the car park of the Buddhist Temple in Taipa, Macau, is just another vacant lot.
But in the mind of Saba Payman, director of the Baha'i-inspired School of the Nations, he can already see the wide open space as the long awaited extension to the school, with numerous art and science laboratories, a 400-seat auditorium and a gymnasium.
It was this same vision that saw beyond the original five pupils who enrolled in the kindergarten in 1988 to the 220 students currently attending the kindergarten, primary and secondary school, coming from countries all over the world.
In a territory where land is scarce, it is a sign of respect and recognition that this valuable 2,500 square meter plot has been given to the school by the Education Department of Macau, which is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China.  Diagram of the new school building.""The government has seen what we have been doing and are trying to do,"" said Mr. Payman, who was awarded earlier this year by the government with the honorific title ""Prestige"" for service to Macau.  ""They see our integrity and our spirit of service and so have been very positive in their attempts to assist us to get land and advance the school.""
While most schools in Macau focus on the intellectual aspects of education, the School of the Nations is considered a pioneer in developing the moral and character component of the School curriculum, the Character Development Program.  In 1998, for instance, the school's Character Development Program received awards, both locally and internationally, for innovative curriculum development.
""People choose to come to our school because we put emphasis on the development of the person as a whole,"" explained Mr. Payman. ""Our main concern is for the students to develop the desire and habit of extending themselves beyond their own personal concerns and becoming involved with the needs and problems others face on a daily basis.""
The Character Development Program focuses on developing capabilities, and putting what is learned into action.  Concepts such as responsibilities and contributions as a family member, unity in diversity, world citizenship, and consultation are taught within the classroom.  Skills, attitudes and habits are developed and these are simultaneously put into practice in various acts of service to the wider community.
With time, the aim is that these acts of service become a way of life, according to Mr. Payman.  ""This attitude of service is not only essential for the development of the individual's potential but is, at the same time, an essential force required for the betterment of society,"" he said.
In a courtesy visit recently made to Mr. Sou Chio Fai, the Director of Education and Youth Services in Macau, Mr. Sou emphasized that he regarded the Education Department and the School of the Nations as ""partners,"" and that the government of the Macau SAR is committed to supporting the school and that includes substantial financial support for the construction of the multi-million dollar project.
The development of the school has not always been easy, however.  ""Initially,"" Mr Payman said, ""the fact that the school was Baha'i-inspired was a real challenge. People were somewhat uncomfortable with the idea.  Now the school is highly regarded and respected. People are seeing the impact that the school is having on developing the characters of young people.""
""The motto for the eleventh graders comes from the Baha'i Writings, ""Make me as dust in the pathway of Thy loved ones."" A couple of years ago, two graduates, who were not Baha'is came back to do a year of voluntary service at the School.  Because they were a part of the (school's) culture, the manner in which they served was fantastic, and people could see this.  They were outstanding.""
""Public education in Macau is for free,"" he added. ""However, despite the fact that we have limited financial resources and our facilities leave a lot to be desired and despite there being tough competition from other schools, people still continue to pay for their children to attend the School."" The School of the Nations is one out of three schools in Macau that charges school fees and yet has filled 90 percent of its student capacity.
""We ultimately hope to become an example of what the Baha'i Faith is striving to do,"" said Mr. Payman.  ""We are very much hoping to be seen as a beacon of light in promoting both academic and spiritual education.""",TAIPA,,Macau
461,2006-07-17,[],Ocean of Light School celebrates 10th anniversary,"NUKU''ALOFA, Tonga — The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga praised the Ocean of Light School for its distinctive educational philosophy, which integrates academics and spiritual virtues, at the school's 10th anniversary celebration held earlier this month.
""The school has grown very rapidly, not only in size but also in the standard of education it is providing,"" said the Honorable Dr. Fred Sevele. ""The school's philosophy, (that) true education is a means whereby children should develop academically, physically and spiritually, has enhanced the development of the school.""
The 1 July 2006 commemoration was marked by a devotional program and performances by each class that celebrated the cultural diversity of the school. Present were members of the diplomatic corps, including the High Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand, along with other guests, parents, staff and students.
The school was established in 1996 as a social and economic development project of the Baha'i community of Tonga in response to the needs of the community and a desire to offer the Tongan population an international standard of education.
""This school tries to provide a sound academic education but aspires to instill in the students the idea and desire to be model citizens by polishing the gems within them,"" said Soyhela Bolouri, on behalf of the school's board, in her opening remarks.  High school students performing the Ma'ulu'ulu traditional dance.""These valuable gems that can shine and illumine the world by its luster and brightness,"" said Ms. Bolorui, who is also a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia. ""Gems such as truthfulness, honesty, love, kindness, helpfulness and so forth, which are the building blocks of the character of each child.""
Starting with only nine pupils, the school expanded to a current student population of over 300 and with staff from various countries such as Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, Tonga, and the United States.
In his address, Prime Minister Sevele also congratulated the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Tonga, the school's board and the wider Baha'i community for ""their achievements in such short 10 years,"" adding that ""the school has reached to a stage that is highly regarded in Tonga.""",NUKUʻALOFA,,Tonga
462,2006-07-27,[],New Baha'i representative at the United Nations,"NEW YORK, United States — Bringing wide-ranging experience in women's issues, civil society organization, and international development, Fulya Vekiloglu has joined the United Nations Office of the Baha'i International Community in New York as a representative to the United Nations.
A native of Turkey, Ms. Vekiloglu arrived in New York in June 2006. She will work alongside Bani Dugal, who is the Community's principal representative to the United Nations. Ms. Vekiloglu's focus will be on issues related to the advancement of women and social development.
""We consider ourselves very fortunate to have Ms. Vekiloglu on our team at the United Nations,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""She brings with her a wealth of experience in some of the issues that concern the Community the most, specifically in the areas of women and children, as well as in social and international development, and civil society.""
Before coming to New York, Ms. Vekiloglu worked as a project manager for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Afghanistan, where she managed an institutional capacity building program in the Ministry of Women's Affairs for three and a half years.
In that project, she provided direct support to the Ministry and trained more than 700 civil servants and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 10 provinces in Afghanistan on gender issues.
In 2001 and 2002, Ms. Vekiloglu worked as a consultant for the UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a project to survey civil society development in Eastern Bosnia. She also worked in Bosnia for an international project promoting conflict resolution and peace education.
Prior that, Ms. Vekiloglu worked extensively with civil society and women's organizations in Turkey.
From 1999 to 2000, Ms. Vekiloglu served as the coordinator of a women's NGO networking project in Ankara, Turkey.
During the lead-up to and during the 1996 UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Ms. Vekiloglu was a member of the National NGO Host Committee of Turkey. In that role, she also served as a member of the national Habitat II report committee for Turkey. She was also the founder and facilitator of the Habitat Women's Caucus (1997-1999) in Ankara for the follow-up on the Habitat Agenda.
A lifelong Baha'i, Ms. Vekiloglu also has an extensive record of service to Baha'i institutions. She served in the Baha'i community of Turkey's external affairs office from 1992 to 1995, and also directed the Habitat II Baha'i Office from 1995-1998.
Ms. Vekiloglu, 40, has a Master of Science degree in Gender and Women's Studies from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Product Design from Mimar Sinan University in Istanbul.
""Although I have had many incredible experiences working in the field, this new position at the Baha'i International Community is really exciting because it offers an opportunity to work on issues at the global level, directly at the United Nations,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu.
""I have lived in different communities with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds and have seen up close the lives, dimensions and experiences of women at the grassroots level,"" Ms. Vekiloglu added.
""Yet I have seen that they all speak with the same voice and thirst for a common equality, endeavoring as women and mothers to create better lives for their children and their communities.
""So often, people are pessimistic about the progress that is being made around the world,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu. ""My hope is to be able to bring a positive outlook, based on these experiences, to our work at the United Nations and with other civil society organizations.""",NEW YORK,,United States
466,2006-07-31,[],A New volume of Baha'i sacred writings is published,"HAIFA, Israel — A new volume of selected writings by Baha'u'llah, entitled ""The Tabernacle of Unity,"" has been recently translated and published in English.
This latest publication of the Baha'i World Centre contains five ""tablets"" - letters - written by Baha'u'llah to individuals of Zoroastrian background in the 1800s. As such, these tablets provide important insights into the interrelatedness of religion.
The first two tablets presented in this book are based on questions posed to Baha'u'llah by a Manikchi Sahib, a diplomat representing the Parsees of India in Persia. Manikchi Sahib had become an admirer of Baha'u'llah and therefore decided to pose certain questions that he had concerning issues of religion.
The last three tablets contained in this book are addressed to other early Baha'is of Zoroastrian background that had similar questions.
Though all of these tablets were addressed to individuals who had Zoroastrian roots, Baha'u'llah's responses to these inquiries are not limited to a Zoroastrian perspective.
""The nominal thread that unites these five Tablets is that they were all revealed over a century ago to individuals of Zoroastrian background,"" said Steven Phelps, a translator working in the Research Department of the Baha'i World Centre. ""However, too much of a focus on this angle might make the volume seem backward-looking and irrelevant when in fact its message is very much for the here and now.
""While restating some of the central tenets of the Faith, such as the organic unity of the human race, the progressive character of divine revelation, and the world-embracing nature of Baha'u'llah's prophetic claim, the volume also opens new vistas on the Baha'i writings with its discussion of the boundary between the absolute and the relative in religious truth.
""Perhaps most importantly of all, the volume speaks eloquently to the urgent need for religion to reclaim its place as a world-unifying, world-transforming force,"" said Dr. Phelps.
While portions of these tablets have been previously translated, the volume represents the first time they have been presented in English in full.
For example, the well-known quotation, ""Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch,"" comes from the second tablet of the book which was addressed to Mirza Abu'l-Fadl, a famous early Baha'i scholar.
The translation of this book was prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, which works from original documents. This English rendering combines the efforts of a number of translators, who strive to follow the pattern established by Shoghi Effendi, head of the Baha'i Faith and its authorized interpreter from 1921 until his death in 1957.
Although the documents identified as Baha'u'llah's primary works have been the focus of translation work so far, they represent only a small portion of His writings during His 40-year ministry.
The book can be ordered through the US Baha'i Distribution Service and a number of other Baha'i publishing trusts worldwide.",HAIFA,,Israel
467,2006-08-03,[],Empowering Roma mothers to break the cycle of illiteracy,"THE JASZSAG REGION, Hungary — Before she started studying with the Mesed Project, Agi Racz was ashamed of the fact that she could not read -- and afraid to try to learn how.
""At first I had doubts, fears,"" said Ms. Racz, a mother of four and a member of the Roma ethnic minority.
But with the encouragement of the Mesed literacy project volunteers and other participants, she overcame her anxieties.
""I felt good with my friends, and it helped me to get over my feelings of shame,"" she said. ""If someone couldn't read she got encouragement from the others. They said, 'Never mind, go on.' I realized that I can do it, that they won't laugh at me.""
Ms. Racz is one of some 40 participants in the Mesed project, which was started by the Baha'i community of Hungary in 2003 with the goal of teaching reading and writing to disadvantaged Roma women.
Currently operating in eight towns and cities, the project is distinctive for its use of storytelling in the teaching of reading and writing. The word Mesed is an acronym for ""Meselo Edes Anyak,"" which means ""storytelling mothers.""
The project aims to help Roma mothers to overcome their fears of reading by encouraging them to read and tell stories to their children -- thereby not only giving them encouragement in the path to literacy, but also to create a culture of reading at home -- and so help break the cycle of illiteracy between generations.
""Many of the Roma women lack basic skills in reading and/or the confidence to read aloud,"" said Furugh Switzer, the director of the project. ""They usually become mothers at an early age and the distance between them and book learning increases.
""They tend to develop feelings of inferiority which, in turn, affects their view of life and of their own self. They are not in a position to help their children with school work, neither are they able to transfer enthusiasm and appreciation for books and book learning, and a cycle of illiteracy is perpetuated,"" said Ms. Switzer.
Hajnal Racz, a participant of the project and a mother of three, described how initial feelings of shame and embarrassment were replaced by a sense of confidence.
""In the beginning it was strange that we had to read,"" said Hajnal Racz, who is not related to Agi Racz -- Racz being a common surname among the Roma. ""We tried not to make mistakes, but being anxious we made more mistakes. But, after a while, we realized that we don't need to be ashamed. Halfway through the project our reading improved a lot and by the end of the project we could read quite well.""  Graduation ceremony held in Torokszentmiklos in 2003.In 2003, Mesed was selected as one of the five projects that were presented at the European Parliament as a supporting program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World.
The project has also drawn notice from local officials. Leko Belane Malika, the deputy mayor of Jakohalma -- one of the villages in the region of Jaszsag where a large population of Roma reside and one of Mesed's main areas of focus -- recently described the facilitators as ""dedicated professionals who take it to their heart to bring about equality which is a key question in today's world.""
""I think this is a pioneering effort in this field,"" said Mr. Malika. ""And I would like to express my gratitude for this work.""
The Roma, which constitute roughly six percent of Hungary's population, are considered to be the most disadvantaged and most discriminated against minority group in the country. Literacy rates for the Roma are distinctly lower than for the Hungarian population at large, according to the United Nations Development program. This is especially for people over 45. While 97 percent of that age group are literate in Hungary as a whole, just 77 percent of Roma men and women are.
What matters more, perhaps, are the statistics on educational attainment for Roma children. According to Balazs Wizner, writing in the Hungarian Quarterly last year, about 36 percent of Roma children failed to complete elementary school in 2000, versus 5 percent for other Hungarian children. That gets worse as they move up the educational ladder. In 2001, approximately 20 percent of the Roma entered secondary school, versus 73 percent nationwide.
By stressing the literacy among mothers -- and focusing on reading at an early age -- Mesed hopes to break that cycle by providing a course of free weekly literacy classes.
""At a basic level it empowers women,"" Ms. Switzer said. ""It affects the mother's relationship with books and learning by creating a positive association which, in turn, and naturally, will be passed on to her children. Women begin to see themselves as active agents of change.""
Participant Andrea Racz said the course had indeed helped her see the importance of motherhood. ""The role of a mother is very important in a family,"" she said. ""If in a family the mother feels good, then that family is a happy family because a mother not only thinks about the day to day life of a family, but she also prepares them for life. We are mothers, but we raise future mothers and fathers.""
One of the main goals of the project is to create a forum where Roma mothers can feel safe and comfortable to express their feelings, grievances and hopes. ""The most important thing,"" said Andrea Racz, ""was that we had found a new family because the atmosphere was very warm.""
Ms. Switzer described the process of bonding and sharing that took place between the mothers. ""The mothers started by sharing experiences from the childhood,"" she said. ""Having found an accepting, loving and secure milieu -- an experience otherwise unprecedented in their life within a deeply prejudiced society -- they poured out their hearts and shared their past experiences.""
The first phase of the project focuses on the development of basic literacy skills through the reading of children's books -- and the teaching of moral virtues as contained in them.
Each week the mothers receive and practice with a new children's book, which they then take home and read to their children every night during the week. In this way, skills that are learned are immediately put into practice.
""Our task in this was that when we went home we read the story to our children,"" said Andrea Racz. ""Every night we read to them. They eagerly waited every night to see what story they would get.""
In all, the mothers read 15 books, which are given to them as gifts, and which ultimately becomes a small library for the family in each home.
""Research shows that the more children are read to before they go to school,"" said Ms. Switzer, ""the more likely they are to be academically successful. Thus the Roma children will become the mutual beneficiaries for this project. They will enter school mentally more equipped for the written word and will have a positive association with books and reading.
""They are also more likely to be supported by their mothers at home who, by now, have gained a sense of pride in their ability to read and are more equipped to help track the progress of their children at school,"" said Ms. Switzer.
Julika Kovacs, a mother of three, described her children's enthusiastic response to reading. ""They always waited for me to arrive every week asking what new story book I brought. They always read, all three of them, and fought with each other to be the first one to read.""
The emphasis on educating children in virtues is directly linked to the books. The mothers are taught to use the stories they read in their day-to-day life to teach children moral and spiritual qualities, such as honestly, trustworthiness, kindness and generosity.
""When there were behavioral problems with my little son or he didn't understand something,"" said Andrea Racz, ""I read a story to him and talked about the main characters in the story and we discussed how they behaved and whether it was proper behavior or not. There were situations where all I had to say was, you know 'Franklin Helps' [the name of the book] and he knew what I meant.""
Participant Marika Farkas said the act of coming together to read has a positive effect on her whole family. ""Every week...the whole family sits together to read. It brings the whole family together. Mother, father and the children sit together and read and in this way the home becomes a warmer place because of these stories.""
So far ten groups of mothers throughout Hungary have completed the first phase of the project, which was funded by the Baha'i community of Hungary. The Mesed project plans to expand, and the next step is to organize trainings for facilitators who will then act as coordinators for the Mesed meetings. Once a core number of women have been trained, the project will start experimenting with phase two: the development of writing skills.
""By all means I recommend the course,"" said Andrea Racz. ""Roma and Hungarian mothers alike, get to know each other, and think together, and they will see how nice it is to think together, and from this they will see that not only is it possible to live together, but we must.
""Let us all be proud that we are mothers, that we make every effort for the benefit of our children,"" she said. ""For the children the only task should be learning, learning, learning.""",,THE JASZSAG REGION,Hungary
468,2006-08-11,[],Jamaicans celebrate 4th National Baha'i Day,"KINGSTON, Jamaica — When the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Howard Cooke, proclaimed a National Baha'i Day for this tropical Caribbean island nation three years ago, Baha'is here had no idea it would become an annual event.
Established in 2003 as part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Faith in Jamaica, Baha'is discovered in 2004 that once a proclamation has been made, it becomes a permanent feature of the island.
""Thus, we began to have observations for 'Baha'i Day' on July 25 each year,"" said Linda Roche, secretary of the Baha'i community of Jamaica.
The event has become a celebration not only for the 21 local Baha'i communities on the island, but they have been joined by other religious leaders and Jamaican politicians.
This year the Baha'i Day events included a Baha'i Day Breakfast sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly. It was attended by representatives of the various religions from the Interfaith Council, including Moslems, Christians, Buddhists and Hindus, as well as the mayor of Kingston and representatives of the news media.
Celebrations were also held in the Kingston, Montego Bay and Port Antonio communities. Port Antonio held a 4 day exhibition at the public library on the history of the Faith in Jamaica.  The mayor with Ms. Aisha Mulende (left) from the Buddhist community, and Ms. Whyte.The highlight of the national observance was the speech by the mayor, Desmond McKenzie, who praised the Baha'i community of Jamaica for its message of spirituality and unity at a time when many are losing faith in politics and traditional religions.
""We have always depended on the traditional churches to create the foundation for moral respect and social tolerance,"" said Mr. McKenzie.
""However, we are concerned that the traditional churches seem to have lost their voices lately when it comes to the issue of morality,"" said Mr. McKenzie, who is not a Baha'i. ""And since the politicians are not considered to have the moral authority, it is the newer churches and religions like the Baha'is, and their refreshingly new view of morality, to which we must turn.
""Baha'u'llah's divine mission was to bring about spiritual rebirth and the unity of mankind leading to a permanent world peace and the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth,"" said Mr. McKenzie.  ""The city of Kingston welcomes the Baha'is with open arms because we share your zest for unity and peace.""
Baha'i communities throughout Jamaica sponsor a wide range of activities, including children's classes, study circles and devotional meetings.
The Baha'i Faith was introduced in Jamaica in the 1930s.  In 1942, Dr. Malcolm King, a Jamaican Baha'i who had been residing in the United States, returned to Jamaica and taught the Faith to Marion Lord Maxwell, the first Jamaican to become a Baha'i in Jamaica.
By April 1943, the Baha'i community in Kingston had grown to a sufficient size to elect the first Local Spiritual Assembly on the island.  This marked the establishment of the Baha'i Faith in Jamaica.
""For the past 60 years the Baha'is have applied their Faith to many of our social problems, including social prejudices, economic deprivation and physical disadvantages, and, in so doing, they have contributed immensely to reducing tensions in these areas,"" said Mr. McKenzie at the interfaith breakfast.
Ms. Roche said that the Baha'is have sought to address social problems mainly by stressing the importance of tolerance and harmony.
""In terms of promoting social tolerance, probably our most significant activity is being among the founding members of the Interfaith Council in 1992,"" said Ms. Roche. ""It has held activities over the years, recently met with the new Governor General, and has been called upon by the new Prime Minister to help organize a National Interfaith Prayer Service.
""This is a fundamental change because although Jamaica is overall a highly tolerant society, very little attention has historically been paid to religions outside of Christianity,"" said Ms. Roche, ""And involving other religions in the organization of national religious events is a positive step forward.""
For the past few months the Baha'i Centre has been the home of Sir Howard Cooke's Thursday Group, a group of civic minded persons from different religions who are exploring the possibilities of engaging in remedial work in an inner city community.
""I strongly believe in the ability of religion to heal wounds and create the basis for moral upliftment and national unity,"" said Mr. McKenzie.
""My administration looks forward to cooperating with you in your efforts to sow the seeds of unity and peace across the city and we wish you every success and blessing as you celebrate another milestone and march on to another landmark,"" said Mr. McKenzie.",KINGSTON,,Jamaica
469,2006-08-15,[],UK Parliamentary seminar examines religious freedom,"LONDON, England — Although recognized as a fundamental human right by nearly every nation, the freedom of religion or belief is woefully under-enforced by many governments and accordingly deserves more attention.
That was among the conclusions that emerged from a seminar on the issue of religious freedom that was held in Parliament here on 24 July 2006.
Sponsored by the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is and the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom, the two-hour seminar featured a discussion by three human rights experts on the topic of freedom of religion or belief.
""The persecution of religious believers is shamefully widespread,"" said Kevin Boyle, a professor at the Human Rights Centre of Essex University, the first panellist.
The problem exists despite a strong international legal framework for the right to freedom of religion or belief, as outlined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, said Prof. Boyle.
""There is no dispute in international law as to what rights are recognized, the problems lie with the failure of states to live by international standards,"" said Prof. Boyle.
Prof. Boyle said nations have a positive duty to protect diversity of belief and to remain neutral regarding diverse beliefs. If one faith has a privileged position, however, it is hard for that state to promote religious equality, he said. Nevertheless, state neutrality on religion need not equate to secularism.
The right to freedom of religion and belief cannot be seen in isolation, Professor Boyle concluded. It has to be seen in tandem with other rights, such as freedom of expression, freedom of association and in a democratic culture.
Panellist Samantha Knights said one of the most difficult areas for states to uphold freedom of religion or belief is when religious practices conflict with the wider culture.
A barrister at Matrix Chambers who has studied and worked on cases of freedom of religion or belief in the United Kingdom and the United States, Ms. Knights said the case of high school student Shabina Begum, who claimed she had the right to wear the jilbab [full Islamic dress for women] at school, illustrates the complexity in this area.
Were her rights interfered with or was she just inconvenienced, asked Ms. Knights, noting that such questions are extremely difficult for the courts to decide upon.
""When faced with issues of freedom of religion, courts need to ask if practices or beliefs are necessary to a religion or merely incidental,"" said Ms. Knights, saying that there is a need to balance the rights of individuals and the need to protect others.
Nazila Ghanea, the third panellist, said freedom of religion or belief is insufficiently protected in part because it has become divorced from other human rights in mainstream thinking.
Dr. Ghanea, a specialist in human rights at the University of London Institute of Commonwealth Studies who has recently been appointed to a post at the University of Oxford, said when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948, the right to freedom of religion or belief as spelled out in Article 18 was held to be equal with the other rights in the Declaration.
Over time, however, the international system has shifted its focus to questions relating to race, torture, and other rights.
""There has been a divorce whereby the right to freedom of religion and belief has been separated from protection for minorities defined by race, language, etc."" said Dr. Ghanea, who is a Baha'i.
Part of the problem, she suggested, is that upholding religious freedom can be a problem for states that have a patrimonial system that favors one particular religion.
""Protection for religious freedom needs to be understood as a right that is for everyone,"" said Dr. Ghanea. ""This is currently lacking and contrasts with, for example, the provisions against torture, which are recognized as universal.""
The discussion topic was introduced by Member of Parliament Ian Stewart, who said that the aim of the seminar was to promote freedom of religion and belief as a matter of principle.
""This event is not about the Baha'is, but about the challenges we all share -- and these are not the property of any one group,"" said MP Stewart.
In attendance were representatives of a wide variety of organizations, including the Minority Rights Group, Forum 18, Three Faiths Forum, the Jain Samaj, and the British Humanist Association, as well as the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom and Members of Parliament.
The seminar was followed by an animated discussion involving many members of the audience.
""The success of this event confirms our belief that the time is ripe for a debate in civil society about this area of human rights,"" said Barney Leith, Secretary for External Affairs of the Baha'i community of the UK.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
470,2006-08-17,[],Baha'i Academy enters training agreement with top Indian University,"PANCHGANI, India — The Baha'i Academy has entered into a formal agreement with one of India's top-ranked universities to offer specialized training in education for moral development to its students, faculty, and staff.
The University of Pune signed an agreement, called a memorandum of understanding with the Academy on 15 July 2006 that will formalize and expand an existing collaboration between the two institutions regarding a program of ""Education in Universal Human Values"" that was developed by the Academy.
The University of Pune is one of India's leading centers for research and teaching, with over 380,000 students from both India and abroad, according to the University's website.
The agreement was signed during a faculty retreat for University department heads at the Academy, which is located in this quiet hill town about 100 kilometers southwest of the city of Pune.
""I'm happy that we are opening a new chapter, so let's look forward to this fruitful coordination, cooperation and collaboration between these two very important organizations,"" said Ratnakar Gaikwad, the University's Vice-Chancellor before the signing of the agreement  Signing ceremony.The Baha'i Academy, which was founded in 1982, has developed the Education in Universal Human Values program as a means to provide institutions of higher learning, such as the University of Pune, with socially relevant training in moral values.
""It consists of four modules to empower the participants to develop their personal capacities and qualities, and to acquire necessary skills, insights and attitudes to contribute their share for the betterment of the society, peace and harmony"" said Lesan Azadi, director of the Academy.
The course instructs participants in issues such as rectitude of conduct, promoting environments of unity built on diversity, fostering initiative, and attraction to beauty, said Mr. Azadi.
The course includes also uses participatory, cooperative and experiential learning, as well as performing arts and service learning activities.
It is designed to assist university-level faculty members to develop new approaches and ways of thinking about traditional academic subjects in a way that fosters social progress
""This is a significant breakthrough in our relationship with the University of Pune,"" said Mr. Azadi.
The Academy has provided some courses already at the University over the course of the last year.
Sanjay D. Chakane, National Service Scheme program coordinator of the University of Pune, said faculty members have already begun to draw on points presented in the program for their courses.
""The method of participatory and cooperative learning is a great choice in itself,"" said Dr. Chakane. ""Two of our teachers have started teaching physics by this method to first year Bachelor of Science students. The students' response is amazing and encouraging us to go further in this regard.""
""Learning and getting trained at Baha'i Academy, especially about Universal Human Value Education, has been a wonderful experience,"" said Dr. Chakane. ""All our teachers are really happy in getting training at the Academy.""",PANCHGANI,,India
471,2006-08-16,[],Sommerfest in Germany hits international high notes,"LANGENHAIN, Germany — The presence of automobile number plates from every region of Germany and many neighboring countries was but one of the signs of success at this year's Baha'i Sommerfest, which drew more than 2,500 people in June for a full day program of music, dance, food, and devotions.
Held each year since 1995 on the grounds of the Baha'i House of Worship here, the Sommerfest, organized by the Baha'i community of Germany, aims to create an atmosphere of unity and fellowship, celebrating diversity and bringing together people from all over Europe.
""People who attend (the festival) feel spiritually uplifted. The National Spiritual Assembly is ever so glad about this festival and so grateful to the friends who put so much effort to its preparation each year because it provides a large forum for social and spiritual encounters under the shadow of the House of Worship,"" said Foad Kazemzadeh, secretary general of the Baha'i community of Germany.  The program for the 25 June 2006 event included performances by a bluegrass band, a rap group, and the People's Theatre. In the afternoon there were devotional programs in the House of Worship featuring readings from the sacred scriptures of the world's religions. A highlight of the day was a performance by the 100-member local choir, ""Stimmen Bahas,"" or ""Voices of Baha.""
Another highlight of the festival, which one participant described as a ""gigantic picnic,"" were food stands offering cuisine from around the world, including Persian kebabs, Chinese vegetable dishes and, of course, local bratwurst sausage.",LANGENHAIN,,Germany
472,2006-08-23,[],Egypt hearing highlights ID card discrimination for Baha'is,"CAIRO, Egypt — The Egyptian government's controversial policy that requires citizens to list their religion on national identification cards, while also limiting the choice to one of just three official religions, was the focus of a major symposium here in August.
The event drew considerable attention to the plight of the Baha'is in Egypt, who endure discrimination under the policy. It forces them to either lie about their religion and illegally falsify their religious affiliation -- or go without ID cards, which are necessary to access virtually all rights of citizenship here.
Held on 8 August 2006 by National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), a state-funded, advisory body to the government on human rights issues, the symposium heard testimony from a wide variety of civil society groups, official governmental agencies and ministries, as well as the Baha'i community of Egypt.
""Baha'is face a daily struggle now,"" said Dr. Basma Moussa, the Baha'i representative, explaining that without valid ID cards Baha'is cannot register for school, attend university, address questions on military service, apply for jobs,  process banking transactions, or properly receive salaries.
Dr. Moussa said both international agreements and Egyptian law, however, guarantee freedom of religion or belief, and that the administrative issues surrounding the ID card limitations could easily be solved by adopting alternatives, such as leaving the section blank or simply allowing a fourth choice of  ""other"" in the religion identification field.
Some 160 people were present at the symposium, representing not only some 57 civil society and non-governmental organizations, but also prominent thinkers and various representatives from the government, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, and the Egyptian Parliament. Eighty participants presented testimony.
The event was introduced by former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who is currently president of the NCHR, and it drew wide publicity in Egyptian news media.
""The purpose of the event was basically to put the issue on the agenda, and in this sense it was successful,"" said Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), an independent Egyptian human rights organization. ""It is a highly symbolic gesture, and a positive development.""
In April, the issue of religious affiliation on identification cards became the focus of increasing controversy when an administrative court ruled that Baha'is should also be allowed to state their religion on government documents.
Fundamentalist Islamic groups decried the April ruling, while human rights organizations praised it. The Supreme Administrative Court is now set to hold a hearing on the government's appeal of the Baha'i case in September.
At present, government policy allows only the listing of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, the three officially recognized religions, on ID cards and other documents.
The NCHR symposium sought to address this limitation -- and it was also marked by an airing of all sides of the issue. Representatives of fundamentalist Islamic groups urged the government to keep its current policy, saying ""public order"" might be adversely affected if other religions were allowed to be listed or the listing was abolished entirely.
Among the concerns expressed by Islamic groups was a fear that any change would affect various issues relating to marriage, divorce, and inheritance, which are governed by each religious community here.
Other groups, including representatives of the Coptic Christians and various national human rights organizations, urged a change in the policy, saying the current policy is at odds with international law -- and moral conscience -- relating to the freedom of religion or belief.
Dr. Gamal el-Banna, an Islamic thinker and scholar, said for example that ""the case of religious belief is a personal matter, which has no connection to public order, and that no one should interfere with it.
""We should be examining the standards of ignorance and prejudice, as well as the publications that darken our lives,"" he said, according to published accounts. ""Omitting religion from ID cards would neither lead to progress nor regress.""
Dr. Boutros-Ghali, in an opening statement, noted that ""the three major religions represent less than 50 percent of world religions, but other religions account for 51 percent of recognized religions.""
""In the upcoming years Egypt will face further conflicts in religious relations, and newer religions will require recognition as they appear, so we should either approve and recognize all religions or eliminate religious classification from ID cards,"" said Dr. Boutros-Ghali, according to published accounts.
The recent introduction of a computerized card system that locks out any religious identification other than the three officially recognized religions has made the problem worse for Baha'is, who were previously able to find clerks who might at least leave the religion field blank in old style paper ID cards.
Not only are Baha'is prohibited by their beliefs from lying, but it is a crime to provide false information on any official document here. Thus, unable to morally or legally list one of the three recognized religions, Baha'is are now prevented from obtaining new cards, and they are as a community gradually being deprived of nearly all the rights of citizenship.
In her presentation of the Baha'i view, Dr. Moussa, an assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Cairo University, read six pages of testimony before the Council. Read Dr. Moussa's testimony in Arabic
Her testimony focused on the degree to which international law and the Egyptian constitution uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief. In particular, she said, Articles 40 and 46 of the Egyptian constitution both grant the freedom of religious practice and belief, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Egypt has signed.
In view of these laws, Dr. Moussa said, ""it is obvious that limiting the religions on the ID card to the three (official religions) interferes with the freedom of those who believe in religions other than those.
""In these cases, it is as if you are forcing a religion on the ID card holder, which is counter to what the law and the constitution state, and it goes against international human rights.""
Dr. Moussa also said there have been cases in other official documents, such as birth and death certificates, where Baha'is have been identified as Baha'is -- or where the field has simply been left blank. ""These alternatives prove to us that it can be done.""
She added that in other countries where Muslims are not in the majority, ""they expect, and rightfully so, that their rights will be fully provided for. This, and no more, is what Baha'is are asking for.""
""We are asking that, on official papers, you either list 'Baha'i,' or 'other,' or a 'dash' -- or just leave it blank,"" said Dr. Moussa. ""This is actually all that we have asked of governmental agencies over the last few years.""",CAIRO,,Egypt
473,2006-08-24,[],"Text of secret Iran letter ordering ""monitoring"" of Baha'is made public","NEW YORK, United States — The text of a secret letter from Iranian military headquarters instructing commanders of various state intelligence services, police units, and the Revolutionary Guard to ""identify"" and ""monitor"" Baha'is has now been obtained and made available to the public.
The letter, dated 29 October 2005 and signed by the Chairman of Command Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, first came to public attention in March when its existence was announced by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights' Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ms. Asma Jahangir.
Ms. Jahangir, who said the letter's contents made her ""highly concerned,"" did not release the text of the letter. However, on 24 July, Amnesty International announced they had obtained it and were making it available.
The full text of the letter in English, as well as a facsimile of the original letter in Persian, can be viewed at these links:
 Text of 29 October 2005 letter in English
 Facsimile of 29 October 2005 letter in Persian
In March, in a statement announcing her discovery of the letter, Ms. Jahangir said, ""[S] ch monitoring constitutes an impermissible and unacceptable interference with the rights of members of religious minorities."" She further expressed concern that ""the information gained as a result of such monitoring will be used as a basis for increased persecution of, and discrimination against, members of the Baha'i Faith.""
Human rights experts have noted that the list of recipients -- which also includes the paramilitary Basij Resistance Forces -- gives an especially ominous tone to the letter, since it indicates the continuation of a policy established by the government of Iran that systematically seeks to destroy the Baha'i community as a viable entity. For more on Iran's long standing policy against Baha'is, go to http://question.bahai.org/002.php
After learning of the letter, a number of governments and human rights groups expressed alarm at the threat it implied, over and above the continuing pattern of arbitrary arrests, attacks in the official news media, and other forms of harassment and persecution faced by Iranian Baha'is. International and national news media reported widely on the increased danger to the Baha'is.
A spokesman for the President of the United States, in a White House briefing on 28 March 2006, stated that the United States government shares the concerns of Ms. Jahangir.
""We call on the regime in Iran to respect the religious freedom of all its minorities, and to ensure that these minorities are free to practice their religious beliefs without discrimination or fear,"" said Scott McClellan, White House press secretary. ""And we will continue to monitor the situation of the Baha'is -- the Baha'is in Iran -- very closely, and to speak out when their rights are denied.""
In Europe, the Council of Europe expressed ""deep concern"" over the human rights situation in Iran in a 15 May resolution, noting restrictions on freedom of expression and religion, and specifically mentioning the situation of the Baha'is in Iran.
In France, Foreign Affairs Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said in an April interview that ""[w]  are deeply worried about the harassment of the Baha'i and Sufi minorities who are highly discriminated against.""
The Spanish House of Representatives passed a strongly worded resolution decrying the persecution of Iran's Baha'is, expressing its concern about the order of Ayatollah Khamenei ""to identify and monitor the Baha'is, as stated by the Special Rapporteur.""
The House of Representatives of the Philippines likewise adopted a resolution ""appealing to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to safeguard and protect the fundamental human rights of the Baha'is and other religious minorities in said country"" in view of the apprehensions that had been expressed by the United Nations' Special Rapporteur.
In India, member of Parliament Karan Singh wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, calling attention to the Special Rapporteur's statement and urging him to ""take up this matter"" with Iranian authorities.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in a statement on 5 April 2006, said it ""fears that the identification and monitoring of the Baha'is combined with the current hatred propaganda in the media could lead to increased discrimination in their regards and calls upon the Iranian authorities to abide by their international human rights commitments.""
News organizations have also reported on the letter and its alarming nature. Agence France Presse and Reuters both carried news of Ms. Jahangir's statement when it was released. Other news organizations -- The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Toronto Star, The Indian Express, and The Times of India, among others -- followed up with other stories in the spring of 2006 on the threat facing Iranian Baha'is.
The implementation of the government's orders is evident at the local level.  The Baha'i International Community, for example, recently obtained a copy of a 2 May 2006 letter to the Iranian Union of Battery Manufacturers asking it to provide to the Trades, Production and Technical Services Society of Kermanshah a list of members of ""the Baha'i sect.""
The full text of the 2 May 2006 letter in English, as well as a facsimile of the original letter in Persian, can be viewed at these links:
Text of 2 May 2006 letter in English
Facsimile of 2 May 2006 letter in Persian",NEW YORK,,United States
474,2006-08-25,[],"Baha'i studies conference attracts 1,100","SAN FRANCISCO, United States — The impact of religion on the evolution of consciousness was explored during the 30th annual Association for Baha'i Studies (ABS) conference, held here 10-13 August 2006.
About 1,100 participants attended, examining a wide variety of scholarly interests in relation to the Baha'i Faith, including history, biography, spirituality and the arts, law and governance, race and intercultural issues, alternative health and healing, bioethics, and peace and conflict resolution.
In all, there were 77 presentations, of which about 20 were made by presenters enrolled in undergraduate or graduate university programs.
The theme of religion and the evolution of human consciousness was emphasized in many of these presentations.
""Religion awakens the soul to potentialities that are otherwise unimaginable,"" said Hoda Mahmoudi, in a session that compared contemporary sociological and Baha'i perspectives on modernity.
Dr. Mahmoudi, head of the Research Department at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, said in this way the messengers of God have always provided the ""requisites for the rise of civilization.""
""The Baha'i Faith views social change as both a necessary and essential attribute,"" said Dr. Mahmoudi.
This concept of modernity is especially important in an era of globalization, she added, where the ""cohesion of the nation-state has changed significantly, and globalization has eliminated the autonomy of the nation-state.""
Roshan Danesh, a Canadian lawyer and legal scholar, discussed how legal systems have been influenced by religion.
""Any legal system depends on the legal emotions through recognizing some sense of the transcendent,"" said Dr. Danesh, saying that modern discourse about church and state rests on a framework created by the 11th century shift in power from the princely to the priestly class.  Dr. Peter Khan, member of the Universal House of Justice, addresses the 30th annual Association for Baha'i Studies conference in San Francisco, held 10-13 August 2006. (Photo by Courosh Mehanian)Today, said Dr. Danesh, we must look at the phenomenon of religion and the law differently, since 21st century reality is complex, global, and interconnected.
In this context, he said, the relationships of church and state will involve changing social meaning. Such a change, he said, is likely to fit well into the Baha'i emphasis on an evolutionary application of Baha'i law, which seeks to guide ""mankind in a spirit of love and tolerance.""
The centerpiece Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture this year was delivered by Janet Khan, who has served in the Research Department at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, since 1983.
Dr. Khan's lecture focused on the life of Bahiyyih Khanum, the daughter of Baha'u'llah. It examined her role as a Baha'i leader in the early part of the 20th century and how that role reflects distinctive Baha'i concepts of rank and station.
Bahiyyih Khanum possessed a unique combination of humility, intellect, sacrifice, and wisdom, Dr. Khan observed. These qualities, coupled with her lineage, gave her a high rank and station in the Faith - and yet one that she did not overstep in any undue assertion of authority.
""Bahiyyih Khanum possessed an unaffected simplicity of manner and accessibility that made her available to all,"" said Dr. Khan, adding that she did not take advantage of her high rank to impose her will upon others.
In her actions, Dr. Khan explained, Bahiyyih Khanum also exemplified collaboration and trust. While placing a high value on the promotion of unity, she did not retreat from principle.
As well, Dr. Khan noted, Bahiyyih Khanum's life demonstrates that it is possible to avoid the superiority and the traditional abuses of power that frequently characterize the behavior of elites. Rather, she said, one can serve as an agent of change, based on respect for the widely disparate elements of society.
Such an example is important in a religion like the Baha'i Faith where there is no priesthood or clergy, said Dr. Khan.
""There are no figures exercising individual authority and enjoying unwarranted rights and privileges not accorded the general population,"" said Dr. Khan. ""Each believer is expected to assume responsibility for his or her spiritual development.""
Other well-attended sessions this year included a lecture by Duane Herrmann on the experience of the Baha'i community in Germany under the Nazi regime, John Grayzel's presentation on Unity of Conscience, and Omid Ghaemaghammi's presentation on the station and function of the Shiite Imams.
Mr. Herrmann's session was so popular that it was moved to a large ballroom to accommodate the 300 or so conference attendees who came to learn more about this little-known aspect of Baha'i history in Europe.
Mr. Herrmann explained why the small band of some 200-300 Baha'is in Germany in the 1930s were persecuted by the Nazi regime, to which it could hardly have been a threat. In 1937, the Nazi regime banned the Baha'i Faith and its institutions. Mr. Herrmann suggested this was in part because of the community's steadfast refusal to accept the idea of a ""master race,"" believing instead in the oneness of all peoples and the need for a world federation.
Another convention highlight was a plenary address by Dr. Peter Khan, member of the elected international governing council of the worldwide Baha'i community, the Universal House of Justice.
He emphasized the importance of scholarship and education for all Baha'is, noting the Faith's teachings on the high value of learning and the acquisition of knowledge.
For Baha'is, Dr. Khan said, such learning should include the development of spiritual attitudes, practices and manners. He also said that those engaged in scholarly pursuits should also not hesitate to participate in core activities related to the development of the Baha'i community - such as study circles, devotional meetings, and children's classes.
Such activities seek to break down patterns of passivity among the members of society at large, he said, and thereby promote widespread and active involvement in decision-making and social action.
Artistic presentations showcased theatre, instrumental, and vocal performances. Among those who performed were Red Grammar and John Davey-Hatcher.
A special breakout session on the Neuroscience of Consciousness featured Don Hoffman, professor of cognitive science at the University of California, Irvine, and Faraneh Vargha-Khadem, head of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Unit at University College London. The session explored the connection between mind and brain, examining how neuroscience is tackling complex questions that impinge on the realm of the spiritual.
-- Reported by Sandra Bean",SAN FRANCISCO,,United States
476,2006-09-05,[],Canadian lawyer joins United Nations Office,"NEW YORK, United States — Tahirih Naylor, a lawyer from Canada, has joined the Baha'i International Community as a representative to the United Nations.
Ms. Naylor, 28, will work closely with Bani Dugal, the Community's principal representative to the United Nations, on human rights issues. She will also handle issues relating to sustainable development and social development at the United Nations.
""We are very pleased to have Ms. Naylor join our office,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""She has a strong background in law, and she has had formative experiences working with the Canadian Baha'i community's Office of Governmental Relations and also with Baha'i-inspired development projects. She is a young woman with maturity beyond her years, who has already brought new ideas and a fresh perspective to our work.""
Ms. Naylor joined the Community's United Nations Office in July. Her coming follows the arrival Ms. Fulya Vekiloglu, who joined the Office in June, also as a representative to the United Nations.
Before coming to the Community, Ms. Naylor worked as a representative in the Office of Governmental Relations of the Baha'i community of Canada. Her duties there included presenting the Baha'i community's point of view to government officials and non-governmental organizations, as well as work on projects concerning human rights and immigration.
She worked for the government of Ontario in the Family Responsibility Office before that, handling various legal duties, including representation, research, and the writing of various motions and memoranda.
Ms. Naylor received her law degree from Osgood Hall Law School in 2003. Her undergraduate education was at the University of Western Ontario, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2000 with the highest grade point average in her class.
Service to the community at large in the arena of development and social justice has also been a consistent feature in Ms. Naylor's experience, work she had often done internationally.
She currently serves as treasurer for the Breakwell Education Association, an NGO that oversees the development of two educational institutions in Stratford, Ontario, the Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute and the Stratford College of Liberal Arts.
She worked for an NGO in Guelph, Ontario, as an English as a second language (ESL) teacher, served as the coordinator of Canadian volunteers for the Youth Can Move the World literacy and youth empowerment program in Guyana, and trained young people to address social issues through the arts for the Baha'i communities of Samoa, Tonga, and the Bahamas.
In 1997, she served as the program coordinator and a dancer for the Diversity Dance Theatre in Europe, which offers educational performances and workshops on issues of multiculturalism and world citizenship. During that time, she toured 13 countries in Eastern and Western Europe. She has done similar arts-based projects in China and Papua New Guinea.
""I feel quite honored to have been invited to join the United Nations Office of the Baha'i International Community,"" said Ms. Naylor. ""My ambition in life has long been to address social problems, such as issues relating to poverty and the environment.
""One of the reasons I went to law school was to get skills that I felt could be used to assist people and communities in a practical way, especially in terms of promoting social justice.
""In my experience, approaches to social and sustainable development often neglect the understanding and application of spiritual principles in favor of a purely materialistic perspective.
""My hope is that my background in law and community development can be useful in our outreach to the United Nations and its partners in civil society in bringing the Community's distinctive spiritual perspective to this effort.""",NEW YORK,,United States
477,2006-09-18,[],"At the UN, Baha'is host panel on violence against women","UNITED NATIONS, United States — Stemming the global tide of violence against women will require changes in deeply rooted attitudes that for the most part transcend culture and national borders.
That was the consensus of an 8 September 2006 panel discussion here on ""Beyond Violence Prevention: Creating a Culture to Enable Women's Security and Development.""
Hosted by the Baha'i International Community and the International Presentation Association, the discussion was held as part of the 59th Annual United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization conference.
The panelists agreed that violence against women remains a severe problem in almost every nation and culture.
""We all know that at least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in their lifetime,"" said Letty Chiwara, a program specialist with the Africa section of the United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
In some places, such as rural Ethiopia, some 71 percent of women are abused, said Ms. Chiwara.
""Harmful traditional practices -- female genital mutilation, dowry murder, the so-called honor killings, and early marriage -- bring death, disability and psychological dysfunction for millions of women,"" said Ms. Chiwara.  ""Beyond Violence Prevention: Creating a Culture to Enable Women's Security and Development,"" a panel discussion at the United Nations on 8 September 2006, was hosted by the Baha'i International Community and the International Presentation Association. It was held as part of the 59th Annual United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization conference. Closest to the camera is Letty Chiwara, a program specialist with the Africa section of the United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM). To her left is Joan Burke. Fulya Vekiloglu of the Community, leaning forward, was the panel's moderator.Charlotte Bunch, executive director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership at Rutgers University, warned against a tendency to see violence against women as strictly a cultural problem.
""We are not just talking about the remnants of cultural practices in a few southern countries,"" said Ms. Bunch. ""It is structurally central to all of the western world, as well as the rest of the world. Violence in general and violence against women is culturally accepted on a lot of levels.""
Despite advances in legislation against violence against women, Ms. Bunch said, a lot of people seem to feel that ""a little violence against women is no big deal.""
Fulya Vekiloglu, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said broad international frameworks designed to protect and advance women, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, must be bolstered by a new global social climate.
""It is evident that there is still major barrier between legal and cultural practices,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu, who moderated the discussion. ""The challenge before the international community is how to create the social material and structural conditions that will foster the spiritual and physical development of women.
""Such efforts will not only involve deliberate attempts to change the legal political and economic structures of society but equally important the transformation of individuals in society,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu.
Joan Burke, a Catholic nun who lived and worked in various countries in Africa for 20 years, said she believes that long-standing cultural practices that harm women -- such as female genital mutilation -- can be changed if underlying values are addressed.
""Many such practices are in fact being perpetuated by pressure of women themselves, on other women, in the name of 'cultural values,'"" said Sr. Burke. ""The holders of those values -- in many case both men and women -- are beginning to re-examine and question them in the light of other deeply held values. I would expect that genuine change will only happen when there is a sufficient level of awareness, which eventually is shared across the larger group.""
Layli Miller-Muro, a lawyer and the founder of the Tahirih Justice Center, a Baha'i-inspired women's advocacy organization in Virginia, said that often laws are not enough to address deep-seated attitudes.
She described the case of a 12-year-old girl who was raped by her step-father in retaliation for turning him in to the police for brutally beating her mother.
All the proper laws were in place, the girl had free lawyers, and she was surrounded by a sympathetic and trained police force, but none of these things could prevent the abuse of this child, said Ms. Miller-Muro.
""We had a system that worked on its face, but that cannot prevent someone from unleashing their own violent tendencies behind closed doors,"" she said.
Ms. Miller-Muro said that such attitudes can only be addressed by a spiritual transformation, both for societies as well as individuals.
""Religion has the capacity for good, to inspire, to motivate, to transform human behavior,"" said Ms. Miller Muro. ""People are willing to change their behavior for a higher power, not for a World Bank loan.""
-- by Veronica Shoffstall",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
478,2006-09-19,[],Youth conference in Burundi focuses on social transformation,"BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Young people from four Central African countries – nations that have in recent years been the scene of intense conflicts – gathered here in August for a five-day conference to discuss how youth can provide the means for peaceful social action and transformation.
Some 149 Baha'i youth from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda assembled at the National Baha'i Center here between 17-21 August 2006.
It was a ""conference focused on the potential of youth to contribute to the positive transformation of their societies,"" said Catie Honeyman, a Baha'i youth living in Rwanda.
""Speaking different languages, with different nationalities, diverse life experiences, and remarkably distinct cultural traditions,"" she said, ""it might be difficult to understand how we so quickly became friends.""  Conference participants join in a discussion during a plenary session.Yet, Ms. Honeyman said, there was great joy among ""a collection of young people whom the outside world would normally consider to be complete strangers, and perhaps even enemies.""
Among the specific topics discussed were: how youth can help change the world, service projects, the importance of education, and guidelines for a successful marriage. A number of sessions also focused on spirituality and the importance of helping others learn about the Baha'i Faith.
The conference was honored with a visit by Silvestre Bwatemba, director general of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, who promised to support the Baha'i youth in their goal of becoming ""luminaries"" in the effort to change the world.
Two radio journalists also did interviews with participants in five languages, French, Swahili, English, Kirndi, and Kinyarwanda.
The conference was characterized by prayers, songs, dances, skits and poems. Additionally the youth were encouraged to learn and practice their French, English, and their own local language.",BUJUMBURA,,Burundi
479,2006-09-19,[],First Nations and Baha'i youth bond through soccer,"KINGCOME INLET, Canada — It's not often the players on opposite sides of a soccer team huddle together for prayers before a game.
But neither is it common for outsiders to play in a soccer league that is otherwise composed entirely of Native Canadians.
The Twin Arrows soccer team, made up of young Baha'is from the cities of Victoria, Nanaimo, and Vancouver in British Columbia on Canada's West Coast recently wrapped up its fifth season playing in a regional soccer league here, which is otherwise made up entirely of First Nations peoples -- one of the indigenous communities here.
Established in 1958, the league is composed of teams representing various tribal communities in and around Queen Charlotte Strait, on the northern end of Vancouver Island and also on the mainland.
The Baha'is were invited to join the league in 2002 and since then have managed to fit in well into a league that is as much about community fellowship as it is about high-energy soccer.
""The purpose for our participation is really to build bridges between our two communities,"" said Sebastian Titone, 25, a Baha'i from Nanaimo, who is the team captain and head coach of the Twin Arrows. ""In Canada, you generally find the native communities on one side and the white/European communities on the other.
""But as Baha'is, we talk about all of us being one people. So we try to be part of cultural events and to make exchanges of friendship. And soccer is really a big part of First Nations community life, and it is one way to engage in community bridging,"" said Mr. Titone.  Both teams in prayer before the beginning of the game.The weekend of 12-13 August 2006 saw the conclusion of a home-and-home series between the Baha'is and the Musgamagw First Nations.
Dubbed the ""Musgamagw Cup,"" this mini-tournament was initiated by the Baha'is to honour the friendships that have developed over the years between the Baha'is and many of the Musgamagw families living in Kingcome Inlet and Gilford Island, which lie opposite Vancouver Island.
Aside from the soccer game, the Baha'is were treated to a feast with the Musgamagw families and then participated in a ceremony in the big house, where they were invited to speak for 20 minutes, a rare privilege for visitors.
The game itself began, as the last few have, with players from both sides huddling together to say prayers. The Baha'is offered a prayer revealed by Baha'u'llah on the theme of healing.
""It was really neat to see the two teams with their arms around each other, circling in the middle of the field to have a moment of prayer before they began,"" says Evelyn Voyageur, a Musgamagw from Kingcome Inlet.
""We have had [in the past] moments of silence for so-and-so, but this was never done. I think that says a lot about how we feel about the Baha'is being in our community. They've been really well accepted,"" Ms. Voyageur said.
The relationship between the Baha'is and the First Nations communities precedes the establishment of the soccer team. Baha'is from the Vancouver area had been going up to serve at potlatches of the Namgis First Nations in nearby Alert Bay since the late 1990s.
In 2001, Sonny Voyageur, who is Ms. Voyageur's son and a Baha'i, had the idea of establishing a Baha'i team. The Baha'is were invited to join that year.
""The game of soccer is an institution in many of the native communities,"" said Mr. Voyageur, noting that during the early years of the last century, soccer was the only way tribes could legally congregate under now-repealed laws that sought to ban traditional ceremonies and activities.
About 15 Baha'is played that first year, including Mr. Titone, who had then recently moved to Canada from his native France.
""Even though we were losing, they were still cheering,"" said Mr. Titone, speaking of the family and friends who came out to support the Baha'is. ""It showed that it's not just about winning, but about being there and being together.""
The league was by then already long established, and it was the relationship the Baha'is had with the Musgamagw community that persuaded organizers to extend the invitation. Before and since then, no other non-aboriginal community has been invited.
In April of this year about 80 Musgamagw players, their family members, and their friends came to Maxwell International School, a Baha'i school in Shawnigan Lake for the first game of the season. The visiting team designed special jerseys for the occasion that read ""Musgamagw-Baha'i 2006.""
The relationship between the two teams reached another milestone this year when Baha'i women got the chance to play in the league. Seven Baha'i women were invited to join ten aboriginal women from Alert Bay and Kingcome Inlet. That team now plays regularly in women's tournaments.
The name of the men's team, Twin Arrows, is a reference to the Bab and Baha'u'llah, the Founders of the Babi and Baha'i religions respectively, who are sometimes referred to as ""Twin Manifestations of God."" The other teams, though, often just affectionately refer to them as ""the Baha'is.""
-- Canadian Baha'i News Service",KINGCOME INLET,,Canada
480,2006-09-21,[],Egyptian court again postpones Baha'i case hearing,"CAIRO, Egypt — The Supreme Administrative Court here has again postponed its hearing on the government appeal of a lower court's ruling upholding the right of a Baha'i couple to have their religion properly identified on government documents.
In a brief hearing on Saturday, 16 September 2006, the Court continued the case until 20 November in order to await the completion of an advisory report from the State Commissioner's Authority on the case.
In April, a lower administrative court ruled that the couple should be identified as Baha'is on official documents, a decision that if upheld will essentially overturn the government's policy of allowing people to choose from only the three officially recognized religions -- Islam, Christianity and Judaism -- on state documents.
The lower court's ruling provoked an outcry among fundamentalist elements in Egyptian society and the case has since gained international attention in the news media and from human rights groups.
Because they are unwilling to lie about their religion on government documents, Baha'is in Egypt are increasingly unable to gain legal access to basic citizenship rights, including employment, education, medical and financial services.
The government appealed the lower court's ruling in early May, and a court hearing was set for 19 June. However, the Court commissioner's advisory report was not submitted in time for the hearing, resulting in the delay to September 16, and now until November 20.",CAIRO,,Egypt
481,2006-09-29,[],"Romeo Dallaire, expert on genocide, expresses concern for Baha'i community in Iran","OTTAWA, Canada — Romeo Dallaire, a Canadian senator and retired general who commanded the UN peacekeeping mission to Rwanda at the height of the genocide there, has issued a statement saying that the international community should be prepared to act to protect Iranian Baha'is from possible atrocities.
""In Iran, as in other areas like Darfur where evil is at work, the international community must be ready to act before civilians are harmed,"" said General Dallaire, in a statement issued on 26 September 2006.
""Although punishing evil-doers after the fact is critical, it is a sadly insufficient international response to ethnic cleansing or other crimes against humanity,"" he said.
""Too often since the Holocaust in World War II have governments repeated the phrase 'never again.' Yet atrocities continue to occur,"" said General Dallaire.
General Dallaire pointed to the recent discovery of a secret letter from the Iranian military command headquarters to intelligence services, the army, police and the Revolutionary Guard, ordering them to draw up lists of Iranian Baha'is and put them under surveillance, as a key reason for his concern.
""This inventorying and targeting of citizens, based on their religious beliefs or racial heritage, is the first ugly step toward systematic violence and crimes against humanity,"" said General Dallaire.
General Dallaire also expressed concern over a government-sponsored media campaign against Baha'is in Iran.
""My experience in Rwanda and with other conflicts tells me that the world had better pay close attention whenever a country's media begin to spread hate propaganda against one particular group,"" he said.
He also noted that there has been a rise in the arrest and arbitrary detention of Baha'is in Iran.
""I am deeply concerned that Iran's Baha'is are now being specifically targeted by a regime that has the means to carry out the most despicable of intentions,"" General Dallaire said
As a brigadier-general in the Canadian army, General Dallaire commanded the 1994 United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda during the period when 800,000 men, women and children were murdered in 100 days.  Appalled at the world's unwillingness to step in and stop the Rwandan genocide, General Dallaire has since devoted much of his time to conflict resolution and promoting adherence to the rule of law.
Retired from the military with the rank of lieutenant-general, General Dallaire was appointed in 2005 to the Canadian Senate, representing Quebec. General Dallaire is also the author of a book recounting his experiences in Rwanda, Shake Hands with the Devil. He was also recently appointed to the United Nations Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention.",OTTAWA,,Canada
482,2006-10-02,[],Oxford conference on climate change stresses global collective action,"OXFORD, England — The challenges posed by global warming will require a far higher level of collective action and international cooperation than is currently practiced.
That was among the conclusions at a conference at Balliol College here 15-17 September 2006 that sought to explore the relationship between ""Science, Faith and Climate Change.""
Climate change is ""testing mankind's ability to deal with a collective challenge,"" said Halldor Thorgeirsson, deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). ""The solution itself will fundamentally change how governments cooperate.""
In an address titled ""The international community's response to climate change,"" Dr. Thorgeirsson said the role of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in global warming is now well established scientifically and ""sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action.""
""When it comes to climate change it will not be solved by any one actor on its own,"" said Dr. Thorgeirsson.
The conference was organised by the Baha'i Agency for Social and Economic Development (BASED-UK) and the International Environment Forum (IEF), a Baha'i-inspired organization. More than 60 people from seven countries attended, while another 115 signed up for online participation via the Internet.
The event featured specialists from a variety of disciplines, including natural science, economics, political science and psychology, both from within and outside the Baha'i community, who sought to explore issues surrounding climate change from an interdisciplinary perspective.
IEF President Arthur Dahl said the purpose of the conference was ""to unify these perspectives, relate them to each other"" and to ""engage the Baha'i  community in the process of applying spiritual principles to the practical problems of the world.""
Dr. Dahl, a former deputy assistant executive director of the United Nation Environment Program, delivered the keynote presentation on ""scientific and faith perspectives"" on climate change, saying that most scientists have now concluded that there will be significant warming in the coming years.  Poppy Villiers-Stuart, a training officer specializing in sustainable development at the University of Brighton, gives a presentation about community empowerment at the ""Science, Faith and Climate Change"" at Oxford, 15-17 September 2006. (Photograph by Gemma Parsons)""Climate change is going to force humanity to recognize its oneness,"" said Dr. Dahl. ""Whole ecosystems will shift over long distances, if they can move fast enough.""
""We are looking at a scale of change this planet has not seen before,"" said Dr. Dahl. ""Sea level has been going up and the scenarios show the trend to continue. It will bring other impacts: food insecurity, water shortages.""
Such changes, said Dr. Dahl, will require more than technical solutions. Rather, he said, they will require the application of ethical and spiritual principles so as to create ""new value-based economic models"" that seek to create a ""dynamic, just and thriving social order.""
Religion, said Dr. Dahl, can play a key role in strengthening the ethical framework for action on climate change by educating people ""about values and global responsibility,"" creating ""motivation for change,"" and encouraging the sacrifices that will be needed to create sustainable development.
Other presentations focused on specific aspects of climate change, such as its likely effects on various regions and sectors of society, and how mitigating global warming will require various transformations in society and individual actions, such as in energy production and use.
Lars Friberg, a research fellow at the University of Potsdam, addressed the impact of climate change on developing countries. ""Africa will be worst hit by climate change,"" said Mr. Friberg. ""One model shows warming of 1.8 to 2.6 degrees will lead to a precipitation decrease by 40 percent in Africa.""
Minu Hemmati, a clinical psychologist, addressed how women around the world are likely to be affected by climate change. She noted that some 60 to 75 percent of the world's poor are women.
""Poor people are more affected by climate change,"" said Dr. Hemmati. ""Therefore women will be mostly affected.""
However, she said, women are ""more risk sensitive and that applies to their perception of climate change. They will be more ready to consider that we have to change our lifestyle.""
Peter Luff, who works for Action for a Global Climate Community, discussed the need for more cooperation between the north and the south.
""Europe understands collective action,"" said Mr Luff. ""The question is: Can Europe link up to countries in the south?""
Augusto Lopez-Claros, the chief economist and director of the Global Competitiveness Program at the World Economic Forum (WEF), gave a presentation entitled ""What economic systems and policies are compatible with protection of the environment?""
Drawing on data from studies he has done for the WEF, Dr. Lopez-Claros noted that the top 20 countries in terms of environmentally responsible polices are also among the top countries in terms of global economic success.
""There is a positive correlation between environmental and social responsibility and economic competitiveness,"" said Dr. Lopez-Claros.
George Marshall, who works for the Climate Outreach Information Network, addressed ways to help get people more engaged with the issue.
Mr. Marshall said it is not enough to give people information about climate change as ""people disconnect information from action."" Rather, he said, ""if we can get people to take action, they will start to engage with the issue.""
Poppy Villiers-Stuart, a training officer specializing in sustainable development at the University of Brighton, gave a presentation about ""community empowerment"" and said that ""these issues of climate change need to be integrated into the grassroots dialogue of the Baha'i community.""
""The pivot of the Baha'i teachings is oneness,"" said Ms. Villiers-Stuart. ""Every part of the universe is connected. If we could explore the teachings of the faith to value the role of the earth in our spiritual development, this will naturally make us want to love and be connected to it, which will help sustainable development.""
One way to ""inspire this kind of connection"" in young people, Ms. Villiers-Stuart suggested, is through the ""junior youth animator course,"" a spiritual empowerment course for 11-15 year olds.  Young people, she suggested, are ""most idealistic and have the energy to make change. It is young people who will be able to embody these ideals.""
-- Reported by Jody Koomen",OXFORD,,United Kingdom
484,2006-10-08,[],UN forum sees interfaith dialogue as essential to peace,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Last month some 33 governments sent delegations to a special conference here on how religions and governments can work together for peace.
""The High-Level Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace"" was sponsored by a unique coalition of governments, United Nations agencies and religious non-governmental organizations, including Baha'i representatives.
Participants said the 21 September event drew a wide range of participation at the UN, reflecting rising concern about the spread of religious intolerance and the need to promote religious dialogue and tolerance as a remedy.
""What was most significant was that perhaps the best represented sector was governments, particularly from the developing world,"" said Jeffery Huffines, a member of the Committee of Religious Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) at the UN who served on the planning committee for the Conference.
""Many of these countries are suffering from the consequences of religious conflict. They were the ones at the table, wanting to learn, wanting to share their perspective on the importance of promoting religious dialogue and cooperation,"" said Mr. Huffines, who is also a representative of the Baha'i community of the United States to the UN.
In addition to some 33 government representatives, participants included a number of UN agency officials and leaders from various religious groups and civil society organizations.
The event was organized by the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, formed in 2005.
Alberto Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Philippines and the chair of the Forum, said the event reflected an ""unprecedented level"" of participation by governments, religions and UN agencies.
""Some of the atrocities, violence and problems which the world encounters rest squarely at the doors of proponents of varied religious orientations,"" said Secretary Romulo, stressing the need for new levels of dialogue and cooperation.  John Grayzel, holder of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, addresses the High-Level Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace on 21 September 2006 at the United Nations.Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal, delivered the keynote address, setting the tone for the event, which focused on the theme of ""Contributing to Peace-building and Development.""
""Interfaith dialogue has become an urgent necessity,"" said President Wade, adding that the world is currently fighting ""the demons of suspicion, ignorance and contempt for people of other cultures.""
Intolerance and extremism fly in the face of the sacredness of true religious purpose, said President Wade, suggesting instead that people should examine the common roots of religions and recognize that they all come from a source that ""prescribes good and encourages forgiveness and love.""
President Wade, who is a Muslim, said there is no justification for violence in the name of the Qu'ran. ""The real message has always been rapprochement and harmony.""
Haya Rashid Al Khalifa, ambassador to the UN from Bahrain and president of the 61st General Assembly said the initiative was ""a necessity for our time.""
""To think that any one of us can become secure while others are not is purely an illusion,"" said Ambassador Al Khalifa. ""Everyone must be engaged in this process to fight misperception.
""In this era of interdependence and globalization, it's time for people to reach out and live together in harmony and peace as we all belong to one large human family,"" she said.
Religious leaders at the conference - which was held also to coincide with the UN International Day of Peace, celebrated each year on 21 September - echoed similar themes.
Bishop Joseph Humper, United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone, and chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission spoke about what religions have in common.  The ultimate goal of dialogue is to reach a better understanding about the different and the new.  ""This dialogue must be seen as means of eliminating violence, hatred and bigotry.""
Rabbi Arthur Schneier, president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, said:  ""We cannot permit God to be hijacked and religion to be misused.""
Dr. John Grayzel, holder of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, said religious leaders have an obligation to promote tolerance and, even, unity among religions, in recognition of ""a common source of moral authority which takes precedent over baser determinants of daily action and response.""
""Religious leadership holds the power to set the tone for acceptance, tolerance, respect, and mutual collaboration for the common good of humanity,"" said Dr. Grayzel.
""If the religious organizations of the world were to unite they could initiate a new global response group on ready alert to step forward at the first appearance of contention, conflict, or misunderstanding.
""This group could bring to the conscience of all, regardless of any disagreements and apparent divergence of interest, a level of reflection that recognizes humanity's common origin and, fundamentally, common faith,"" said. Dr. Grayzel.
Also addressing the conference were representatives of various United Nations agencies and offices, including UNESCO, UNFPA, UNDP and the UN-NGLS.
Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, said there is a growing body of evidence that ethnic violence is considerably less likely to erupt in cities where interfaith organizations are present.
""The notion of partnership is absolutely integral if we are to ever find world peace,"" said Ms. Coomaraswamy, saying that religious groups can play an important role in issues such as the recruitment of child soldiers or by intervening at the outbreak of war.
For the future, said Mr. Huffines, the Forum hopes to see the UN General Assembly pass a resolution promoting further steps to promote interfaith dialogue and peace sponsored by the United Nations, including the holding of a one-day, informational interactive hearing with civil society on interfaith cooperation and peace.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
486,2006-10-11,[],Raising a new generation,"ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Although the sub-city of Nefas Silk Lafto on the western edge of Addis Ababa is home to numerous foreign embassies and international development offices, it has its share of poverty and unemployment.
Most of the residents, if they have jobs at all, are manual laborers or domestic workers -- construction workers, cooks, maids, and clothes washers. HIV/AIDS is a challenge that has created many single- or no-parent families.
On most days,  is not uncommon to find children working on the streets, helping provide the evening meal by polishing shoes, selling fruits and vegetables, or simply begging.
On Saturdays, however, the scene is somewhat different. Many of these same children can be found gathered at the home of a Baha'i family, attentively studying, among other things, the importance of common virtues like honesty, trustworthiness, and nobility of self.
Although the classes were started in March, just eight months ago, they now regularly draw more than 100 children each week. The Nefas Silk Lafto Baha'i community has organized the classes by age and manages them with the help of seven local Baha'i volunteers.
Parents say they are pleased with the Saturday offering.
""Ever since my child joined this class, I see some positive behavioral changes,"" said Ejigayehu Gemeda, a Nefas Silk Lafto mother whose child participates in the weekly class. ""I have no doubt in my mind that my baby will completely change his life if this class continues and he gets more education.""
The effort in Nefas Silk Lafto reflects part of a global initiative by the worldwide Baha'i community to offer local-level training for children in moral education and spiritual fundamentals.
According to the Baha'i International Community, there are more than 10,000 such children's classes taking place around the world, with more than 90,000 participants.
The Baha'i writings stress the importance of children's education, emphasizing especially the need for training in virtues and spirituality. Although adapted to local conditions and needs, Baha'i children's classes everywhere focus on moral education, aiming to provide something that is sometimes overlooked in secular education.
""Baha'i children's classes fill the academic gap,"" said Ahadu Abaineh, director of the Sabri Development Institute, which coordinates Baha'i children's classes in Ethiopia. ""They enable children to develop their inner potentials of imagination, thinking, and creativity so as to become active agents of positive change once they reach the age of maturity.""
In Ethiopia, there are about 45 such local children's classes being offered by Baha'i communities here, according to the Institute.
Of the 13 such classes currently being offered in Addis Ababa, three stand out as interesting examples, showcasing the grassroots approach undertaken by the Baha'i community in this effort -- as well as the positive reception given to the classes by the community at large.
Deep social needs
Like in Nefas Silk Lafto, classes in the localities of Kirkos and Yeka are similarly bounded by the difficult social problems that are endemic to this part of the world: poverty, under-education, and the ravages of HIV/AIDS.
Each community, as well, faces its own distinctive dynamic.  The children practice a song they plan to perform for their parents.Kirkos, for example, is located in an urban area of Addis Ababa. Youth there are troubled by high levels of drug and alcohol abuse, pollution, and crowding as ever more rural youth migrate in search of jobs.
This was the setting for a children's class that started five years ago in 2002 by Lennie Ketsela, a Baha'i mother who wanted to start a class for the spiritual development of her two children.
""Kirkos is a difficult place to live,"" said Ms. Ketsela. ""The population is very high. There is lots of unemployment. The living standard is very low. Most people here are day workers.""
After starting small, the class grew rapidly as children found out about it.
""Six months after starting the class with two children we had about 12 children participating,"" said Ms. Ketsela, adding that it grew to around 100 participants after children told their friends about a Baha'i holy day celebration they participated in. The growth necessitated a move to larger facilities at the Fresh and Green Baha'i school, a primary school that is owned and operated by the Baha'i community of Ethiopia.
Parents say the classes in Kirkos have benefited their children, who might otherwise go without moral and spiritual education.
""I do not have time to be with my child because of my work,"" said Ms. Gelam Awol, a day laborer and the parent of one of the children in the Kirkos class. ""I am a Muslim, so spiritual education is very important to me. It is good to see my child talk about the fear of God and say prayers. This is why I like these classes for my child.""
Tayework Lemma, another parent, said her daughter is praying more often now. ""She will say prayers when she wakes up, before she eats, when she goes to school,"" said Ms. Lemma. ""She is also very worried about being clean now. Even the neighbors say that they have seen she has changed.""
As the children have grown into youth, some have stayed on to volunteer to help the younger ones, evidence of the lasting effect of the classes. ""They have understood what it means to serve,"" said Ms. Ketsela.
In Yeka, a district in the northern part of Addis Abba with roughly 300,000 to 400,000 residents, a new Baha'i class for children was started earlier this year and now has more than 80 participants.
""I noticed that there were a number of children in the neighborhood who did not have much to do,"" said Metkneh Getachew-Bagashaw, a Baha'i in the district. ""So I decided to start a Baha'i children's class.""
As with the class in Nefas Silk Lafto, parents here are already seeing changes in the behavior of their children.
""Really, really my children have changed,"" said Azed Badi, a mother of two children in this class. ""Sometimes when I am tired and shouting they remind me that we must be kind to each other. It surprises me because this is a big change from the way things used to be.""
Worketalu Mersa said her seven-year-old daughter began to cry one weekend when she learned she would not be able to attend the class.
""One weekend I took Nardos with me to my sister's house,"" said Ms. Mersa.  ""Then the child began to cry. My sister and I were confused because she used to love going to my sister's house. She said that she was crying because she didn't want to miss her class. She told us that she liked learning prayers and singing songs and she did not want to miss it. My sister said that it sounded important and she should not miss the class. So we came back to home.""
Universal themes
Mr. Abaineh of the Sabri Development Institute said the virtues taught in the classes are universal in all religions. These include trust in God, unity, kindness, justice, love, service to humanity, truthfulness, trustworthiness, nobility of self, humility, honesty, use of courteous language, generosity, sociability and patience.
""These classes are kept alive with songs, games, arts, memorization, story telling and plays that the children with the help of their teachers write and perform,"" said Mr. Abaineh.
The classes are conducted in small groups in the homes of families who open their homes, often volunteering to teach themselves.
""One of the important elements of Baha'i children classes is that they are conducted on a purely voluntary basis,"" said Mr. Abaineh. ""All children's class teachers are volunteers and these classes are done with much devotion and a sense of responsibility. This sense of service is something that distinguishes these classes in that hundreds of children learn while there is no teacher remuneration.""
The classes in Nefas Silk Lafto provide a concrete example of this process at work.
Like Yeka and Kirkos, Nefas Silk Lafto is a hard place to live. Many of the children who participate in Baha'i children's classes here have lost either one or both parents to AIDS.
The classes are hosted at the home of Kurt and Marcia Henne, who moved to Nefas Silk Lafto in mid-2005 after Mr. Henne took a position as country director for Project Concern International, an international non-governmental organization focused on community health and sustainable development.
""Our two older children, 11 and 9 years old respectively, did not make friends quickly, because of the language barrier,"" said Mr. Henne, noting that no one in the family speaks Amharic. ""For this reason, we started inviting neighborhood children to play football with our kids in our driveway.
""Before long there were easily 10 to 15 children running in and out of the house. My wife and I thought that this provided the perfect opportunity for us to start a Baha'i children's class and did,"" said Mr. Henne, who has been a Baha'i since 1987.
The class grew rapidly from its original size to between 50 to 100 children in a little over a month.
The Hennes turned to the Addis Ababa Baha'i community for help. They knew that Baha'i communities around the world had in recent years been focusing on children's classes.
Tewodros Sikru is one of the seven volunteers from the Addis Ababa Baha'i community that decided to help with these classes. He said that these classes grew because there was very little structured activity for children in these neighborhoods.
With the help of trained teachers like Mr. Sikru, who speaks the local language, the Saturday morning class has become increasingly popular. The number of children attending is now between 100 to 200 each week.
After seeing the positive development in the character of their children, some of the parents were invited to ask for more information. This led to parenting workshops.
""Their questions turned from those of what we were doing with their children to what they could be doing with their children,"" said Mr. Henne. ""Most of these parents had children as children. This has meant that they were not prepared for the trials of parenthood.""
Since the parenting workshops have begun, older children have also taken an interest in the activities.
""Now on Thursday evenings they have an arts program that they are involved in,"" said Mr. Henne.",ADDIS ABABA,,Ethiopia
487,2006-11-01,[],Families and youth identified as keys to reducing poverty,"DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Strengthening families and empowering youth are two key factors in poverty reduction, said experts at a one-day symposium held here on 21 October 2006.
Organized by the Dar es Salaam Union Student Organisation (DARUSO) and the Baha'i community of Tanzania, the symposium examined the theme ""The Role of Family and Youth in Establishing Brighter Communities.""
The event, held on United Nations Day, focused on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a series of targets in the fight against poverty, which were adopted by the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000.
""Basically everybody comes from the family,"" said Stella M. Manyanya, a member of Parliament. ""It is at the family whereby the true reflection of the MDGs achievement can be observed in individual basis instead of generalization.""
Youth, especially, will provide new ideas and are a potential labor resource, said Ms. Manyanya.
Shalli Tumaini of DARUSO said the MDGs ""are a recognition that over half a century after the end of WW II, the world remains very far from the ideals of harmony, prosperity and peace inspired by the end of the war.
""For Africa, particularly, the MDGs provide an impetus to reverse deterioration in human development,"" said Ms. Tumaini.  One of the conference participants gives comments on the panelists' presentations.Other panelists included Adeline Kimambo of Christian Social Security Council; J. Abunuwasi Mwami, senior lecturer of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Dar es Salaam; and Killian Nango of the Youth of United Nations Association of Tanzania (YUNA).
""Family is the foundation of society,"" said Mr. Nango, echoing the theme of the symposium. ""Having strong families means that you will have strong leaders.""
Elieshi Lema, another panelist and author of the book ""Parched Earth,"" presented a paper that outlined some of the problems facing families and youth in the region. Those challenges include rural-to-urban migration for jobs, increased drug abuse, domestic violence, and the lack of entrepreneurship, she said.
However, strong families can help overcome these problems by promoting integrity, education, and effective interpersonal leadership, she said.
""Families have to join up and improve societal undertakings like educational, social economic, environmental, cultural, healthy even religious undertakings in their society or community for a bright future of communities,"" Ms. Lema said.
More than 100 people attended, including representatives from the academic and diplomatic communities, nongovernmental organizations, and faith-based groups.
Sohaila Loftus, a representative of the Baha'i community of Tanzania, stressed the importance of the education of women in achieving the goals of reducing poverty, improving health, and promoting education.
It is, she said, ""essential for the child to interact face-to-face with an educated, intelligent, loving, caring mother who will give this child the moral and spiritual grounding it needs in order to grow into an effective adult.""
Ms. Loftus also stressed the importance of religion and spirituality as the keys to creating a strong family.
""Families should strive to raise children who will choose education and good-will,"" she said. ""Children should be brought up to bend their wills to the service of the human race, seeing their roles as contributors to communities. These are faith-based concepts.""
Both the participants and the organizers felt that the symposium was rewarding.
""There was a high level of thought-provoking discussion and commentary from members of the audience, particularly the university students,"" said Bryan Tribble, a member of the Office of External Affairs of the Baha'i community of Tanzania.
One outcome of the event was the formation of a team of some two dozen students, young professionals, journalists, and NGO representatives, who pledged to join in an effort led by the Baha'i s of Tanzania and DARUSO to achieve the Millennium goals.
""They will continue the dialogue, refine ideas about the contributions that youth and families can make and present their findings to the government,"" Mr. Tribble said.
Mitra Deliri, director of the Office of External Affairs of the Baha'i community of Tanzania added: ""The gathering brought together various organizations who realized that the only way to achieve a meaningful development and fight poverty is to unite and combine efforts by different groups. And that this unity will strengthen the community and society at large.""",DAR ES SALAAM,,Tanzania
488,2006-11-02,[],Iran steps up secret monitoring of Baha'is,"NEW YORK, United States — In an ominous move, Iran's Ministry of Interior has ordered officials throughout the country to step up the surveillance of Iranian Baha'is focusing in particular on their community activities.
The Ministry has requested provincial officials to complete a detailed questionnaire about the circumstances and activities of local Baha'is, including their ""financial status,"" ""social interactions,"" and ""association with foreign assemblies,"" among other things.
The Ministry's order came in a letter dated 19 August 2006 and addressed to provincial deputies of the Department of Politics and Security in Offices of the Governors' General throughout Iran.
The 19 August letter, which was recently obtained by the Baha'i International Community, asks these deputies to order ""relevant offices to cautiously and sensitively monitor and supervise"" all Baha'i social activities.
The letter is the latest in a series of threatening documents that outline a secret national effort to identify and monitor Baha'is in Iran.
""The emergence of this new letter highlights the gravity of the situation facing Iranian Baha'is,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""This letter further confirms that Iran's government has targeted the Baha'is for covert surveillance,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""It also reveals for the first time the type of information the government strives to collect on both individuals and the Baha'i community as a whole -- information that in most societies would be considered private and highly sensitive.
""The letter also contains elements of misinformation. For example, the letter asks for information on the 'socio-political activities' of Baha'is -- even though it is well known to authorities that Baha'is are entirely non-political in their activities, inasmuch as the Baha'i sacred writings stress the importance of non-involvement in politics, as well as non-violence.(MB1)
The 19 August letter follows the release earlier this year of a secret 29 October 2005 letter from the Iranian military headquarters to various Revolutionary Guard and police forces instructing them to ""identify"" and ""monitor"" Baha'is around the country.
News of the 29 October letter, first publicized by Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief in March 2006, stirred alarm among international human rights groups. Ms. Jahangir herself expressed concern that ""the information gained as a result of such monitoring will be used as a basis for the increased persecution of, and discrimination against, members of the Baha'i Faith.""
Another letter, dated 2 May 2006, showed the degree to which the government has sought to implement such surveillance at the local level. That letter, from the Trades, Production, and Technical Services Society of Kermanshah to the Iranian Union of Battery Manufacturers, asked the Union to provide a list of members of ""the Baha'i sect"" in their membership.
Some observers have compared the government's effort to identify and monitor Baha'is to the situation facing Jews at the beginning of the Nazi era. In April, for example, the Anti-Defamation League said the orders issued in the 29 October letter were ""reminiscent of the steps taken against Jews in Europe and a dangerous step toward the institution of Nuremberg-type laws.""
Iranian authorities have continued to arrest and detain Baha'is throughout Iran in recent months, subjecting them to a ""revolving door"" sequence of imprisonment and release that is apparently designed to harass and oppress the Baha'i community.
Over the last two years, at least 129 Baha'is have been arrested, released on bail, and are now awaiting trial throughout the country. The bail demands have been high, in most cases requiring the Baha'is to hand over considerable sums of money, deeds to property, business or work licenses.
[To read the full text of the 19 August 2006 letter in an English translation, along with a link to the original letter in Persian, go to http://bahai.org/persecution/iran/19-08-06]",NEW YORK,,United States
489,2006-11-08,[],Looking beyond short-term profits,"GROESBEEK, Netherlands — Participants from 28 countries gathered in this small Dutch town in September to consider how businesses can look beyond short term profits towards moral and spiritual practices that can create meaningful wealth for all.
The 16th annual conference of the European Baha'i Business Forum (EBBF), held 21-24 September 2006, focused on ""The Purpose of Business, from Vision to Action.""
The program addressed a wide range of topics on that theme. Presentations included ""Competing in the New Capitalism,"" ""Redefining Success: Applying Spiritual Values in the Workplace,"" and the ""Ramifications of Global Interdependence.""
""The conference was attended by people of different cultures and beliefs with a common interest, and often a passion for the universal values of the Baha'i Faith,"" said Daniel Truran, Secretary General of EBBF.
Mr. Truran said the presentations made at the conference reflected the efforts of EBBF members to translate those ""values"" into ""tools"" that can be used to improve business practices around the world.
He cited, for example, the work of Larry Miller, who gave a presentation on ""Competing in the New Capitalism,"" which is based on his 2006 book of the same title.
Mr. Miller was one of 25 other presenters who offered their views on how businesses can move beyond broad visions to specific actions -- especially as they relate to the ethics of business in the modern context -- that can be implemented Monday morning in the workplace.  Conference participants engaged in a session at the EBBF 16th Annual Conference, which took place at the DePoort Conference Center in the Netherlands.Other speakers included Jan Willem Kirpestein, co-founder of the Encounter of World Views foundation; Beppe Robiati, CEO of SCAC Italy; Augusto Lopez-Claros, Chief Economist of the World Economic Forum; and Parag Gupta, of the Schwab Foundation
The conference was characterized by a determined spirit of seeking new and innovative strategies to create wealth for all.
Mr. Gupta, for example, made a presentation highlighting different ways in which the business world can help to effect social change, titled, ""Innovative Strategies from Social Entrepreneurs.""
He defined social entrepreneurship as business with a heart, (explaning) that social enterprise employs innovative business methods that aim at maximizing social value rather than financial value.
""There are around 3 billion people out there that have not been reached by capital markets,"" said Mr. Gupta. ""Social entrepreneurs are proving capable of penetrating these groups.""
""They are doing this by harmonizing issues like 'consumers versus profit.' They take risks in unproven markets and create services and goods for this population that has not been reached yet. Microfinance is an example of this,"" said Mr. Gupta.
In his presentation, Mr. Miller explained how Baha'i principles offer insights into ethical issues in the workplace. By focusing on spiritual principles, he said, it would be possible to create systems with ""just rules to govern behavior.""
""The perceived 'evil' of capitalism may be the imbalanced focus on financial capital and ignoring a more holistic understanding of wealth,"" said Mr. Miller.
Dr. Lopez-Claros explored how more ""corporate social responsibility"" -- a recognized set of ethical business principles -- can contribute to better competitiveness of increasing global integration.
""Corporate social responsibility makes business sense as it can be an important aid to recruitment and retention,"" said Dr. Lopez-Claros. ""It helps to build reputations that take decades to build up. In crowded marketplaces it provides companies with that 'X Factor' which can separate them from the competition in the minds of consumers.""
Many of the participants said that they learned much at the conference.
""This is the fourth annual EBBF conference that I have attended, and it was the best one yet,"" said Douglas Henck, retired President of Sun Life Financial Asia.
Mr. Henck said that these EBBF meetings are a means for the world to identify a real way for the business sector to contribute meaningfully to progress.
""EBBF is often challenged from both ends of the spectrum;"" said Mr. Henck. ""From business executives who feel EBBF is too idealistic and non-business professionals who assume business is permanently tainted with evil intentions.
Gary Hogenson, a senior financial officer at the Baha'i World Center, said the annual event reaffirms his view that business is an important part of the progress of world culture.
""Increasingly after attending this conference each year, I walk away with the feeling that I can take pride in calling myself a 'business person.' Meeting with like-minded individuals gives me renewed hope that we as business men and women have a great deal to offer society; and through ethical commerce, avenues of global understanding and the universal advancement of mankind can evolve,"" said Mr. Hogenson.",GROESBEEK,,Netherlands
490,2006-11-12,[],Village women work to establish medical post,"MOM VILLAGE, Papua New Guinea — On this remote island some 30 kilometers off Papua New Guinea's northern coast, a group of villagers have begun taking their destiny into their own hands.
Inspired by the teachings of the Baha'i Faith on women's equality and community participation, a circle of mothers in Mom Village on Karkar Island have successfully initiated the construction of their own village medical aid post.
""The Baha'is of Mom Village decided to arise and do something for their community because the government infrastructures like medical aid posts, schools and roads have deteriorated or have been completely closed due to lack of funds for maintenance,"" said Abegul Bodick, a frequent visitor to the island.
The project was initiated in 2002, said Mr. Bodick, when the villagers launched a fund-raising campaign, which resulted in the dedication of a new aid post in July 2006.
""Now the entire community of Mom can benefit from this service initiated by the Baha'is -- especially the Baha'i women who have taken the leading role in the establishment of the aid post,"" said Mr. Bodick.
Home to about 50,000 people, Karkar Island has few of the services available on the mainland. Residents have to walk long distances to collect water from human-powered groundwater pumps. Electricity is a luxury, typically coming from expensive solar panels or gasoline-powered generators.
Medical services are also scarce. Although Mom Village is the third largest town on the island, with about 3,500 residents, residents nevertheless had to travel more than 10 kilometers -- usually on foot -- to reach the nearest aid station before the new post was built.  The children of Mom village, photographed here, will be among the main beneficiaries of the establishment of the medical aid post they are standing in front of.It was this need for access to medical care that spurred the group of Baha'i mothers here to initiate the aid post project four years ago.
""Both the Baha'is and the members of a wider community within Mom village realized that there was a need to create a medical aid post that was accessible to the community,"" said Mr. Bodick.
The Baha'i women in the village were inspired by teachings on women's equality and participation to address the problem, said Mr. Bodick, who is an auxiliary board member, a Baha'i with a special responsibility for educating, motivating and encouraging Baha'i communities and individuals at the regional and local level.
""Baha'i teachings brought new values,"" he said, explaining that the women realized they could take a bigger role in decision-making.
The idea of constructing an aid post was brought up by the women to the Local Spiritual Assembly, the elected governing council for the Baha'i community here. An action plan was conceived, said Mr. Bodick, and the women began a fund-raising drive.
""In fact, the Baha'i women put forward ideas of fund-raising by way of 'bring and buy,' as well as a practice known as 'exchange basket,'  meaning that they would ask the women from other villages to come with a certain amount of money and other gifts while the women in Mom provide the feast,"" said Mr. Bodick. ""This is a common reciprocal activity throughout Papua New Guinea.""
He said Baha'is also established a special fund for the aid post, and donations were collected at Baha'i feasts and holy days.
""From the start of the project Baha'is of Mom recognized the importance of being united in thoughts and followed by unity in action seen to be a force to driving them achieve what they wanted to achieve,"" said Mr. Bodick.
He said the women continued this activity for four years and raised 3,048 PNG Kina, the equivalent of more than US$1,000. In January 2006 they decided they had enough money to start building their medical aid post.
Since completion of the aid post, the government's district health office has allocated a trained nurse to work there.
The villagers were proud of their accomplishment.
""If Christian churches can establish aid posts and schools to serve the general public, why should we not do the same as Baha'is?"" said Nang Kubulan, an elder in the community.
""Although they get support from their mother churches in Europe or America, we have the support of each other, and can start from scraps if we work together,"" she said.
During a meeting with some Baha'is from Port Moresby, the circle of women who initiated the aid post project announced that they are now working on their next goal: They have decided to create a water supply system for the village.
(Editor's note: Alterations were made to the article and headline on 9 September 2008.)",MOM VILLAGE,,Papua New Guinea
491,2006-11-22,[],"UN expresses ""serious concern"" over human rights in Iran, including the situation of Baha'is","UNITED NATIONS, United States — A committee of the United Nations General Assembly yesterday passed a resolution expressing ""serious concern"" over the human rights situation in Iran, including the escalation of violations against Iranian Baha'is.
The resolution passed the Assembly's Third Committee by a vote of 70 to 48 on 21 November 2006. It will now go to the General Assembly plenary for vote, in December. The Third Committee considers human rights issues for the Assembly.
Put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 43 countries, the resolution calls on Iran to ""eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination based on religious, ethnic or linguistic grounds, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to minorities, including Arabs, Azeris, Baha'is, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis, and Sunni Muslims.""
The resolution takes particular note of the worsening situation facing Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i community, noting ""reports of plans by the state to identify and monitor Baha'is,"" ""an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and detention,"" and ""the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs.""
The resolution also expresses concern over the ""destruction of sites of religious importance"" to Baha'is and ""the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits"" for Baha'is.
""We are extremely grateful to the international community for this significant show of support for the Baha'is of Iran,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Community to the United Nations.
""The level of persecution and discrimination facing the Baha'i community of Iran has steadily worsened over the past year. The Government has stepped up its covert monitoring of Baha'is, and at present more than 129 Baha'is are awaiting trial on false charges, targeted solely because of their religion.
""The General Assembly and its Third Committee deserve special praise for stepping into the gap created by the slow start of the new UN Human Rights Council, which has not yet made fully operational its mission of upholding the international human rights regime,"" said Ms. Dugal.
If approved by the General Assembly, which is likely given yesterday's vote, the resolution will be the nineteenth expressing concern over human rights in Iran since 1985. All of these resolutions have taken particular note of Iran's systematic persecution of the Baha'i community.
Over the last two years, Baha'is have been arrested, released on bail, and are now awaiting trial throughout the country. The bail demands have been high, in most cases requiring the Baha'is to hand over considerable sums of money, deeds to property, business or work licenses.
As well, evidence has emerged over the last year that the Government has established a program to monitor and identify Baha'is. That program, documented in secret government memoranda that have been made public by human rights defenders, has been the focus of considerable outcry.
Earlier this month, for example, the Baha'i International Community obtained a letter from Iran's Ministry of Interior that ordered officials throughout the country to step up the surveillance of Iranian Baha'is.
The 19 August 2006 letter requested provincial officials to complete a detailed questionnaire about the circumstances and activities of local Baha'is, including their ""financial status,"" ""social interactions,"" and ""association with foreign assemblies,"" among other things. It specifically asked ""relevant offices to cautiously and sensitively monitor and supervise"" all Baha'i social activities.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
492,2006-11-25,[],Egypt court sets date for full hearing on Baha'i case,"CAIRO, Egypt — The date for a full hearing on a closely watched court case over the right of a Baha'i couple here to have their religion properly identified on state identification cards has now been set.
At a procedural hearing on 20 November, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court continued the case to 2 December 2006, when it is now scheduled to be heard by the entire three-member court in a plenary session.
The decision comes a few days after the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued a press release urging the Egyptian government to end its current policy on identification cards, which requires citizens to list one of three officially recognized religions, even if they are members of a minority religion like the Baha'i Faith or another belief system.
""Current Egyptian policy essentially turns Baha'is into non-citizens because without an identity card they cannot gain access to government services like education and employment, or engage in basic financial transactions, such as opening a bank account or obtaining a driver's license,"" said Commission Chair Felice D. Gaer in a press release issued on 16 November. ""It is even illegal to be in public without a card.
""This policy is highly discriminatory and is incompatible with international standards.  The current court case provides the Egyptian government with an opportunity to change its policy and omit mention of religious affiliation from identity documents or to make optional any mention of religious affiliation,"" said Ms. Gaer.
In April, a lower administrative court ruled that the Baha'i couple should be identified as Baha'is on official documents, a decision that if upheld will essentially overturn the government's policy of allowing people to choose from only from Islam, Christianity or Judaism on state documents.
The lower court's ruling provoked an outcry among fundamentalist elements in Egyptian society and the case has since gained international attention in the news media and from human rights groups.
Because they are unwilling to lie about their religion on government documents, Baha'is in Egypt are increasingly unable to gain legal access to basic citizenship rights, including employment, education, medical and financial services.
The government appealed the lower court's ruling in early May, and a court hearing was set for 19 June. Subsequent postponements were made to 16 September, 20 November, and now to 2 December.",CAIRO,,Egypt
493,2006-12-03,[],Egyptian Baha'i case final arguments heard; judgment due in two weeks,"CAIRO, Egypt — Lawyers representing a Baha'i couple seeking to have their religious affiliation properly identified on state documents presented arguments yesterday at a full hearing before the Supreme Administrative Court here in a case that has become the focus of a national debate on religious freedom.
The hearing was short, and the court adjourned until 16 December, when it is expected to render a judgment in the case, which is being closely watched by international human rights groups.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by a married couple, Husam Izzat Musa and Ranya Enayat Rushdy, who had their identification cards and passports confiscated after they applied to have their daughters added to their passports, which listed the Baha'i Faith as their religion.
In Egypt, all citizens must list their religious affiliation on state ID cards and other documents, and current policy requires that they choose from one of the three officially recognized religions -- Islam, Christianity or Judaism. As such, Baha'is are being forced to go without ID cards, which are the key to accessing most rights of citizenship, such as education, financial services, and even medical care.
In April, a lower administrative court ruled in favor of the couple, saying the state must issue them ID cards that properly identified their religion. The ruling said that even if the government did not recognize the Baha'i Faith, adherents should still have their religious status properly stated on official documents.
That ruling provoked an outcry among fundamentalist elements in Egyptian society, who objected to any official mention of a religion other than the three mentioned in the Qur'an, opening a vigorous debate over issues of religious freedom and tolerance here. Since April, more than 400 articles have appeared in the Egyptian and Arabic news media about the case or its fallout.
The government appealed the lower court's ruling in May, which brought the case before the Supreme Administrative Court.",CAIRO,,Egypt
494,2006-12-06,[],Award highlights moral education for junior youth,"JENJAROM, Malaysia — Before he became a vegetable seller in this down-and-out ethnic Chinese village about 55 kilometers southwest of Kuala Lumpur, Lim Jia Chin was a local gangster.
""I used to be quite notorious,"" said Jia Chin, who is now in his late teens. ""I was involved in cheating and fighting.""
But Jia Chin decided to give up on his life of crime after participating in a moral education program sponsored by the local Baha'i community here.
""One day I was attending a Baha'i-inspired program with my friend and I saw that I can live differently,"" said Jia Chin. ""I decided to join the classes. Now my life is different. I am happy and glad now because I have transformed.""
The moral education classes that made such a difference in Jia Chin's life were started here two years ago.  And one of the main promoters of these classes has been a young Baha'i named Lim Soon Kam.
Now 28 years old, Mr. Lim was recently honored for this work in a ceremony on 4 November 2006, when he was named the Young Outstanding Malaysian for Moral or Religious Leadership by the Junior Chamber Kuala Lumpur Mandarin, a community service organization affiliated with Junior Chamber International.
The award, and Mr. Lim's record of volunteer service, offer a window on the efforts Baha'is are making to provide moral and spiritual education to junior youth populations. Such efforts are considered a ""core"" activity for local Baha'i communities around the world.  In Malaysia, for example, Baha'i communities sponsor more than 150 moral education classes for young people aged 11-15, serving more than 1,000 junior youth.
Most of these young people are not Baha'is, and the aim of the classes is youth empowerment and community transformation. The classes stress the importance of virtues like honesty, trustworthiness, courtesy, and service to the community at large.
""We believe that each human being is endowed with the capacity to understand that they have the power to make moral and upright decisions and to use their skills and knowledge to promote social transformation in their society,"" said Mr. Lim, explaining that children and junior youth especially have the capacity to change for the good.  Mr. Lim focused his efforts on Jenjarom, his home town, which has in recent years become infamous for various social ills, including gangsterism, gambling, prostitution, and drug trafficking.
Jenjarom is one among many of the so-called ""new Chinese villages,"" which were created in the mid-1950s, when the country was a British colony. The original purpose for the rural relocation program was to segregate the villagers from Communist insurgents. Today many of these villages have deteriorated into slums or shanty towns.
For young people, especially, unemployment is high in villages like Jenjarom, and opportunities for education are limited. In response, many youth have turned to crime and other vices as a means of survival.
""A few of my childhood friends were killed in gang fights,"" said Mr. Lim. ""Some indulged themselves in drugs. Many were school drop-outs who, in their pursuit for wealth and status, resorted to selling drugs and ecstasy pills, smuggling and gambling. Due to the disintegration of social and moral values, pre-marital sex was a common practice in the village and girls are being forced into marriages due to teen pregnancies.""
Unlike many of his peers, Mr. Lim did well academically in high school and college. He was the top student as an undergraduate at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). And he completed his master's degree at Queensland University of Technology in Australia six months early.
In 2004, Mr. Lim returned home and started a junior youth program in Jenjarom, hoping to address the social problems that he had witnessed growing up. Since that time, more than 150 young people have completed the program, and many today say that their lives have been transformed by it, like Chin the vegetable seller.
The Junior Chamber award recognizes young Malaysians between 18 and 40 ""whose dedication to their profession or life undertakings has resulted in exceptional achievement, in the form of significant contributions to the progress or welfare of the community at large.""
The national administrative body of the Baha'i community of Malaysia, in nominating Mr. Lim for the Junior Chamber award, wrote this about him:
""Growing up in one of the most notorious Chinese New Villages in the country, where the negative forces of society find its predominance, Soon Kam was undeterred by the destructive elements of his environment.
""Instead, he rose up with a strong sense of dedication to contribute significantly to the social well-being of his community by holding on strongly to his belief that social transformation can take place when individuals realize they have the capacity to serve humanity and make the world a better place.""
Others, similarly, have praised Mr. Lim for his efforts to help children and youth.
Omar Bin Munir, one of Mr. Lim's professors at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), said: ""His constant and tireless focus on virtues and service oriented community development work has raised his group of young people to shine out with moral and academic excellence. This is highly noticeable in view of the unhealthy society in which they are living in. His concerted social work is truly remarkable and praiseworthy.""
Another professor, Razali Adul Hamid said that except for Mr. Lim, none of his students ""has ever achieved to this high level of personal and social excellence, meaningfully contributing to the material and spiritual advancements in the society.""
Mr. Lim attributes the success he has had in organizing the moral education program to his practice of the Baha'i Faith. ""My work is strongly based on a principle that Baha'u'llah states as, the betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds and through commendable and seemly conduct,'"" said Mr. Lim.
Mr. Lim said the Baha'i scriptures provide clear guidance for parents and communities on how to raise children in a nurturing and unambiguous environment.
""Therefore,"" said Mr. Lim ""this program encourages children and youth to develop a strong sense of purpose, empowering their own transformation and leading them to contribute to the advancement of society. Baha'is believe that people's spiritual capacity, as the basis for their own happiness and sense of well-being, is a powerful force for social change.""
Tony Liew Voon Fun, a program director at Taylor's College in Petaling Jaya, where Mr. Lim worked as a lecturer in the school of architecture, building and design after receiving his master's degree, agreed that it is the Baha'i Faith that has motivated Mr. Lim.
""He seeks people's virtues, not their faults, as the common uniting factor, regardless of race, creed and religion,"" said Mr. Fun.  ""I strongly believe that his multi-cultural experience and his religious belief, the Baha'i Faith has molded him into a character that is humble, respectful of authority, able to embrace change and circumstances with a multi-ethnic outlook.""",JENJAROM,,Malaysia
495,2006-12-16,[],"Egyptian court rules against Baha'is, upholding government policy of discrimination","CAIRO, Egypt — In a closely watched case that has become the focus of a national debate on religious freedom, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court today ruled against the right of Baha'is to be properly identified on government documents.
The decision upholds current government policy, a policy which forces the Baha'is either to lie about their religious beliefs or give up their state identification cards. The policy effectively deprives Egyptian Baha'is of access to most rights of citizenship, including education, financial services, and even medical care.
""We deplore the Court's ruling in this case, which violates an extensive body of international law on human rights and religious freedom to which Egypt has long been a party,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Since this was the last avenue of appeal in this particular case, the Court's decision threatens to make non-citizens of an entire religious community, solely on the basis of religious belief,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""Our hope now is that the public debate over this issue will cause the Egyptian government to rectify its discriminatory policies,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""This could be accomplished either by allowing Baha'is to be listed on government documents, by abolishing the religious affiliation listing entirely or, simply, by allowing the word 'other' to be legally included on state identification forms.""
The case stems from a lawsuit filed against the government by a married couple, Husam Izzat Musa and Ranya Enayat Rushdy, who had their identification cards and passports confiscated after they applied to have their daughters added to their passports, which listed the Baha'i Faith as their religion.
In Egypt, all citizens must list their religious affiliation on state ID cards and other documents, and current policy requires that they choose from one of the three officially recognized religions - Islam, Christianity or Judaism.
In April, a lower administrative court ruled in favor of the couple, saying the state must issue them ID cards that properly identified their religion. The ruling said that even if the government did not recognize the Baha'i Faith, adherents should still have their religious status properly stated on official documents.
That ruling provoked an outcry among extremist elements in Egyptian society, who objected to any official mention of a religion other than the three mentioned in the Qur'an, opening a vigorous debate over issues of religious freedom and tolerance here.
Since April, more than 400 articles, stories, commentaries and programs have appeared in the Egyptian and Arabic news media about the case or its fallout. As well, independent human rights organizations here and abroad have closely followed the issue.
In May, the government appealed the lower court's ruling, which brought the case before the Supreme Administrative Court.
On 2 December, a final hearing was held on the case, at which Bahai lawyers argued for rejection of the government's appeal, on the basis that the lower court's ruling is fully supported by Egyptian law. The Court said at that time that it would release its final ruling today.
To download this news release in Arabic click here.",CAIRO,,Egypt
496,2006-12-19,[],UN Declaration on religious tolerance commemorated in Prague,"PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Although it was negotiated at the height of the Cold War, a 25-year-old international agreement on freedom of religion or belief remains as relevant today -- and perhaps even more so -- said speakers at a major United Nations-sanctioned observance here in late November.
Some 350 participants representing more than 60 governments, UN agencies, and various international non-governmental organizations -- including the Baha'i International Community -- gathered on 25 November 2006 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
The commemoration was marked by speeches, workshops, and an end-of-the-conference statement. They echoed a common theme: that the 1981 Declaration remains a critical document for the protection of freedom of religion or belief, especially at a time when religious conflict seems on the rise.
""These days, we live in a globalized world,"" said Piet de Klerk, Ambassador-at-Large of the Netherlands on Human Rights. ""This means that different cultures, including different faiths, meet each other more frequently and in a more intense manner than during previous periods of time.""
Mr. de Klerk said that although it was initially negotiated at a time when issues of freedom of religion or belief concerned the ideological struggle between Communism and the West, the Declaration is nevertheless today helpful in addressing the challenges posed by global diversity because it is ""based on the conviction of many that the freedom of religion or belief itself offers a way forward for fighting intolerance.""
Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, said the principles of the Declaration remain ""pivotal"" in the current ""polarized climate.""
""We all need to join our efforts to disseminate the principles contained in the 1981 Declaration among lawmakers, judges and civil servants but also among non-state actors,"" said Ms. Jahangir. ""We need to eliminate the root causes of intolerance and discrimination and to remain vigilant with regard to freedom of religion or belief worldwide.""  Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, speaking at the evening plenary on 25 November 2006. Photograph by Hamid JahanpourMs. Felice Gaer, chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, also said the Declaration has become more important over time.
""The right of everyone to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion is universal, as the unanimous adoption of the Declaration on Religious Intolerance showed - even in 1981,"" said Ms. Gaer. ""Regrettably, violations of this universal right continue to be committed across the globe.
""The occasion of the 25th anniversary is a call to all governments to intensify their efforts to protect freedom of religion or belief at home and to advance respect for religious freedom abroad. The ability of people throughout the world to live in peace and freedom depends on it.""
Other speakers included Diane Alai, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, who co-presented at a workshop on the right to ""change"" one's religion, along with Ms. Jahanghir.
In that workshop, Ms. Jahanghir noted that although the Declaration does not specifically mention the word ""change,"" it is clearly implied in an article that says everyone has the ""freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice."" As well, Ms. Jahangir said, other UN treaties and statements have clearly upheld this right.
Ms. Alai said upholding the right to change one's religion is of ""practical importance"" overall in the regime of religious freedom, in that the denial of such a right also essentially denies all of the other rights guaranteed in the Declaration, as well as rights guaranteed in other international treaties, such as the right to freedom of association, the right to privacy, freedom of expression, and minority rights.
Yet the right to change one's religions is not always upheld, said Ms. Alai, because some governments today want ""to preserve the popularity stemming from a particular state-religion relationship"" and so they restrict the right to change one's religion through particular laws and policies.
This is of critical importance, said Ms. Alai, because there are some countries where the right to ""change"" one's religion is consider apostasy, which is punishable by death under some interpretations of religious law.
Ms. Alai pointed specifically to the situation of the Baha'i communities of Iran and Egypt, which currently face persecution and discrimination over religious belief, and where Baha'is have indeed been labelled as apostates, a ""crime"" which is punishable by death in Iran.
""People are known and respected for risking imprisonment, torture and even death because they uphold a certain political ideology, however, this is not yet fully recognized when it comes to a religious belief,"" said Ms. Alai.
Other workshops at the commemoration considered issues relating to freedom of religion versus freedom of expression, freedom of religion for the individual versus society at large, and freedom of religion in the context of the propagation of religion.
A final statement, titled the ""Prague Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief,"" was announced by the gathering. ""We consider it essential for governments and international organizations, such as the UN and various regional organizations, to give priority to the protection of the freedom of religion or belief and to the eradication of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief,"" said the Prague Declaration.
Adopted by the United Nations on 25 November 1981, the 1981 Declaration spells out and delineates the right to freedom of religion or belief, which was initially recognized in the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
The 1981 Declaration indicates, for example, that the right to freedom of religion or belief includes the right to ""establish and maintain"" places of worship; to ""write, issue and disseminate"" religious publications; to ""observe days of rest and to celebrate holidays""; and to ""establish and maintain communications with individuals and communities in matters of religion and belief at the national and international levels.""
The Prague commemoration was sanctioned as the official, international commemoration of the adoption of the 1981 Declaration by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.  It was organized by Mr. Jan Ghanea Tabrizi of Tolerance 95, an NGO based in the Czech Republic, and Dr. Nazila Ghanea of the UK-based Centre for International Human Rights, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. Funding was provided by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.",PRAGUE,,Czech Republic
497,2006-12-20,[],UN General Assembly approves resolution expressing concern on human rights in Iran,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — The United Nations General Assembly yesterday adopted a resolution expressing ""serious concern"" over the human rights situation in Iran, including the escalation of violations against Iranian Baha'is.
The resolution, which had been initially approved on 21 November by a committee of the Assembly, passed on 19 December 2006 by a vote of 72 to 50, with 55 abstentions.
Put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 43 countries, the resolution calls on Iran to ""eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination based on religious, ethnic or linguistic grounds, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to minorities, including Arabs, Azeris, Baha'is, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis, and Sunni Muslims.""
The resolution takes particular note of the worsening situation facing Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i community, noting ""reports of plans by the state to identify and monitor Baha'is,"" ""an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and detention,"" and ""the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs.""
The resolution also expresses concern over the ""destruction of sites of religious importance"" to Baha'is and ""the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits"" for Baha'is.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
498,2006-12-24,[],Baha'is help found Interfaith Forum in Iceland,"REYKJAVIK, Iceland — The Baha'i community of Iceland joined with twelve other faith groups and collaborative partners here to form the country's first national interfaith forum last month.
The Iceland Forum for Interfaith Dialogue was officially founded on 24 November 2006 in ceremonies at the Reykjavik City Hall.
""The object of the Forum is to promote tolerance and respect between persons of different religions and religious organizations with differing outlooks on life as well as to protect religious freedom and other human rights,"" said Ingibjorg Danielsdottir, secretary of the Baha'i community of Iceland.
This initiative was put together by the Intercultural Center in Reykjavik. The Center is a human rights advocacy organization based in Iceland. One of this organization's main areas of focus is in facilitating exchange between different cultures and groups. The Forum took some 18 months of patient negotiations to create.
The president of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, was present at the City Hall ceremonies that launched the Forum, as were representatives of the thirteen founding faith and belief communities.
The founding groups drafted and signed an ""Interfaith Dialogue Policy Statement."" The document calls for the building of understanding and respect, as well as the upholding of religious freedom between persons and religious organizations.
""As Baha'is we feel that we have a unique perspective to offer this type of dialogue,"" said Bridget McEvoy, a member of the Baha'i community who worked closely on the Forum's creation. ""A central feature in the Baha'i Faith is the unity of religion and we want to be involved in any activity that promotes this idea.
""Understanding different cultures has become an important issue in Iceland during recent times,"" said Ms. McEvoy. ""With the inclusion of Iceland into the European Economic Area and the European Single Market many people have chosen to move to Iceland to work. We have lots of cross border work opportunities, a good standard of living and have traditionally thought of ourselves as being an open society.""
Ms. McEvoy said that the creation of this Forum would help ensure that Iceland's traditional openness to different cultures would be maintained.
""As Baha'is this process is important to us and we see a lot of value in it,"" said Ms. McEvoy. ""Therefore we were very happy to have been invited to participate in the creation of the Forum for Inter Faith Dialogue.""
In addition to the Baha'i community of Iceland, founding members of the Forum are: The Cross, Reykjavik Free Church, The Buddhist Association of Iceland, The Lutheran State Church of Iceland, The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, The Church of the Seventh Day Adventists, The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWU), The Muslim Association of Iceland, The Icelandic Asatru Society , The Parish of St. Nicholas of the Russian Orthodox Church, The Roman Catholic Church, and The Way Free Church.",REYKJAVIK,,Iceland
499,2006-12-26,[],Message to the Baha'is of Egypt from the Universal House of Justice,"HAIFA, Israel — The Universal House of Justice, the highest governing body of the Baha'i Faith, has addressed a message to the Baha'is of Egypt in the wake of a 16 December Supreme Administrative Court decision in Cairo that upheld a discriminatory government policy regarding the Baha'is and their identification cards.  The policy places the Baha'is in the untenable position of either having to make a false statement about their religious beliefs or give up their state identification cards.  The cards are essential to accessing most rights of citizenship, including education, financial services, and even medical care.
See the entire letter (will open in a new window):
ENGLISH
ARABIC",HAIFA,,Israel
500,2007-01-17,[],Systematic social development investigated,"ORLANDO, United States — In recent years, Baha'is around the world have been engaged in an increasingly systematic approach to community development through what they regard as ""core activities"" – classes for children and junior youth, study circles, and devotional meetings.
At the annual Baha'i Conference on Social and Economic Development, participants sought to understand how these core activities also can lead to larger programs of social and economic development.
""Providing spiritual education for children is a fundamental part of social development,"" said Rebequa Murphy, a Baha'i counselor. Her comments came in a talk titled ""The Preservation of Human Honor,"" explaining how human progress will organically spring from core activities.
Some 685 Baha'is and like-minded individuals from more than 20 countries gathered in Orlando, Florida, for the conference, which had the theme ""Addressing the Challenges of a World at Risk.""  Workshop participant Susan Tower outlines the Heart of Humanity Gardening Game she has used at various events in the Columbus, Ohio, area.Held 20 to 23 December 2006, the conference was the 14th such event sponsored by the Rabbani Trust, a Baha'i-inspired foundation.
""This conference is a demonstration of the strong desire on the part of a multitude of Baha'i believers to address the social and material ills of the world, effectively and sustainably as a means of alleviating the suffering of much of the world's population,"" said Douglas W. Paik, a member of the board of trustees of the Rabbani Trust.
The gathering focused on how individual Baha'is, their communities, and Baha'i-inspired organizations can address the problems faced by humanity.
Ms. Murphy, who is a member of the Baha'i Continental Board of Counselors for the Americas, which plays an international advisory role in Baha'i community development, said the primary development task at this time for Baha'is is to lay the foundation for world unity.
""Baha'u'llah says the well being of mankind, its peace and security are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established,"" said Ms. Murphy. ""So nothing we do, no amount of money, no amount of research is going to guarantee the security of mankind unless its unity is firmly established. So that's what our job is – to lay the foundation (for development), which is the unity of the world.""
William E. Davis, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, gave a talk titled ""Key Values That Shape a Community for Growth and Development."" He said Baha'is should place particular emphasis on work focused on assisting young people.
""No activity is more vital ... than the spiritual education of children and junior youth,"" said Mr. Davis.
In addition to plenary sessions, the conference featured two days of workshops that focused on specific topics such as racism and its relation to materialism, sustainable development, the importance of service to humanity, and the critical role of education in development.
Also at the conference, a new Baha'i publication titled ""In Service to the Common Good"" was released.
The 20-page monograph, subtitled ""Aligning Development with the Forces of Progress,"" takes readers through a discussion of why traditional social and economic development projects have fallen short and why recognition of the oneness of humankind will help people act as partners in their own development.",ORLANDO,,United States
501,2007-01-19,[],Young adults seek spiritual enlightenment,"HLUBOKA, Czech Republic — Joseph Fradella is a civil engineer from the United States. Joanna Portillo is a recent college graduate from El Salvador. Ndiitah Nghipondoka is an agricultural development consultant from Namibia.
From 25 to 31 December 2006, these three and 247 other young professionals from 33 countries chose to spend their precious December holiday in a sleepy medieval village in the Czech Republic. Their aim was to explore ways to pursue careers in a world dominated by material concerns and still have spiritual authenticity and balance in their lives.
""I wanted to find a way to be a Baha'i in all that I do,"" said Ms. Nghipondoka. ""There is no time to retreat into a cave to try and be spiritual. And there is no time to neglect my spirituality to find ways to meet the material demands of modern living. I had to find balance -- this is why I came.""
The village of Hluboka was the venue for the fifth year running of a conference called Changing Times. The gathering has become a highlight in the year for many young adults who are members of the Baha'i Faith.
Organizers said the idea behind the conference is to provide interaction between up-and-coming professionals and people who are established in careers and still maintaining spiritually rewarding lives.  Participants engage in conversation between sessions.Translating religious issues from theory to practice was a focus, said Ms. Nghipondoka - ""real life issues like economics, practical emotional issues like how to have a healthy marriage and even issues like how one can use the Internet for the betterment of mankind.""
Ms. Portillo added: ""The conference showed me how people can live spiritually powerful lives while doing everyday careers.""
Giuseppe Robiati, managing director of an industrial group based in Milan, Italy, who made a presentation at the gathering, said the event addresses a wide range of issues to help young people.
""This year the participants were able to look into the relationships between spirituality, psychology and the modern economy,"" he said.
A major goal was to empower participants to go back to their own communities and be of service to others.
""I get so much inspiration from seeing the people that are successful because of their dedication to their Faith,"" said Ms. Nghipondoka. ""And that encourages me to be as excellent as I can be -- both in my work and in the Faith. I have seen that it can be done and I know that I can do it, too. But to do it, means to do it.  ...At the end of the day it comes down to me implementing these ideas in my own life.""
Participants also said they gained a better appreciation for their religion.
""I feel that Changing Times helped me in my general understanding of spiritual truths - and in particular the Baha'i spiritual teachings of our time,"" said Mr. Fradella. ""The conference helped me to gain a very broad understanding of how to apply Baha'i principles to activities as diverse as being a fine artist to working in a board room.""
Some of the speakers at the conference included:


Mary K. Radpour, a licensed clinical social worker in private practice who said she believed most mental health problems could be resolved through taking care of one's spiritual needs.


Fariborz Sahba, an architect who designed and built what CNN has called one of the most visited buildings in the world - the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, India. In a presentation titled ""The Architecture of Life,"" he compared life to water, saying that one can view water in different ways -- from something that simply takes the form of its container to something as lofty as a beautiful rainbow. He asked his listeners to look at life through their higher vision and see the rainbows that exist everywhere.


Mark Bamford, an award-winning film writer and director whose first short film, ""Hero,"" played at international film festivals and was sold worldwide for television use. He pointed out that people in the entertainment world often can offer lessons to those seeking to balance spiritual and material needs.",HLUBOKA NAD VLTAVOU,,Czech Republic
502,2007-01-24,[],"Iranian Baha'is facing another ""cycle of repression,"" says report","NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, United States — The Iranian government appears to be laying the foundation for a new cycle of persecution against Iranian Baha'is, said a human rights organization specializing on Iran.
The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC) said in a report released last week that recent events in Iran, especially when viewed through the long history of religious persecution against Iranian Baha'is, is cause for alarm.
""Given the Islamic Republic's history of implacable hostility towards the Baha'is, and the (Islamic Republic of Iran) leadership's personal animus towards the faith, the IHRDC is greatly concerned that the Baha'i community in Iran may soon face another cycle of repression and violence,"" states the report.
The 60 page study, titled ""A Faith Denied: The Persecution of the Baha'i of Iran,"" outlined a number of trends that bode ill for Iranian Baha'is.
These trends include the ""return of populist conservative politicians,"" ""growing tensions between the Islamic Republic and the international community over Iran's nuclear program,"" the blatant collection of intelligence on Baha'is, and increased anti-Baha'i articles in the news media.
Released on 15 January 2007, the report also catalogs the long history of persecution directed against Iranian Baha'is, seeking to show how recent events ""are consistent with the decades of implacable hostility displayed by the clerical establishment prior to the Islamic Revolution and identifies many of these same clerics who today hold positions of political power,"" according to an IHRDR press release.
The report also said that:
-- The Shi'a clerical establishment in Iran has long regarded the Baha'i Faith as a heretical deviation from Islam. The Baha'i community has suffered most severely when the clerical influence in national affairs has been strongest.
-- Earlier campaigns against Baha'is, such as in the 1950s and early 1980s, saw the use of propaganda to cultivate and justify social persecution, creating negative stereotypes. These stereotypes continue to have repercussions today.
-- Despite its wide recognition outside Iran as an independent world religion, the Faith has been effectively criminalized in Iran, through efforts to categorize it as a political threat. This categorization has been reinforced by frequent accusations of espionage or other anti-revolutionary criminal activity.
""Practicing members of the Baha'i faith are subjected in the Islamic Republic of Iran to a level of social exclusion and harassment that shocks the conscience,"" said Tom Parker, Executive Director of the IHRDC. ""Community leaders have been murdered and sites of irreplaceable religious significance destroyed.
""Ordinary Baha'is are refused access to education and employment opportunities and cannot openly worship. They have become third class citizens in the country in which their faith was born. It is difficult to imagine a more clear-cut case of religious persecution,"" said Mr. Parker.
Established in March 2003 by an international group of human rights advocates, scholars, and lawyers, the IHRDC seeks to ""objectively and systematically document human rights violations committed in the Islamic Republic of Iran since the 1979 revolution,"" according to its website.
The full report can be read there at http://www.iranhrdc.org.",NEW HAVEN,CONNECTICUT,United States
503,2007-01-31,[],Congo Republic issues stamp for World Religion Day,"BRAZZAVILLE, Congo Republic — The Congo Republic this month became the second country to issue a postage stamp for World Religion Day, an annual event commemorated in dozens of cities and towns around the globe.
The stamp was presented here on 20 January 2007 at a World Religion Day program that drew more than 250 participants from eight religious communities. Agents were on hand to sell both the stamps and first-day covers.
World Religion Day was first celebrated in 1950, when the national governing body of the Baha'i Faith in the United States established it to call attention to the essential oneness of the world's religions and to show that religion is the motivating force for world unity.
The day is celebrated with interfaith discussions, conferences and other events that foster understanding among the followers of all religions. World Religion Day, which always falls on the third Sunday in January, is traditionally commemorated a day early in Brazzaville.
The new stamp from the Congo pictures a globe surrounded by the symbols of 11 religions. Across the top it says, in French, ""God is the source of all religions.""
Sri Lanka issued a World Religion Day stamp in 1985 that pictured symbols of eight religions.
In 1999, Singapore issued a postage stamp that listed the names of nine major religions along with the words ""Unity in Diversity"" and a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Inter-Religious Organization of Singapore. The release of the stamp coincided with World Religion Day, although it did not actually carry those words.  Sri Lanka stamp issued in 1985In Entebbe, Uganda, organizers of the World Religion Day commemoration there announced that they had requested their national postal service to issue a stamp for the occasion next year.
At their celebration this year, hosted by the Entebbe Municipal Council, participating religious leaders signed a declaration to form the Entebbe Inter-Faith Coalition. The signers pledged to use ""the unifying power of religion to instill in the hearts and minds of all people of faith the fundamental facts and spiritual standards that have been laid down by our Creator to bring them together as members of one family.""
Communities across Canada and the United States also held observances for this year's World Religion Day, as did Hong Kong and towns in Australia, Bulgaria, France, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and a number of other countries.",BRAZZAVILLE,,Congo Republic
504,2007-02-11,[],Ethiopian giraffe captures children's hearts,"ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The marriage of a local schoolteacher and an American software developer has resulted in the birth of a young giraffe that has captured the imagination of children in Ethiopia.
Tsehai, a hand puppet and star of a new television show in the Amharic language, is the brain-child of Bruktawit and Shane Etzenhouser.
Styled after classic children's programs like ""Sesame Street,"" ""Tsehai Loves Learning"" is designed to help youngsters with reading and also develop other skills, including interacting responsibly with the environment. Indeed, the curious and adventurous Tsehai lives in a world of computer graphics fashioned to resemble the Ethiopian outdoors.
""The show is performing well so far,"" said Seifu Seyoum, head of program services for ETV, the national TV station. ""I myself have two children, and every morning they want to watch Tsehai. There are many children and parents who like this show.""
""Tsehai"" is the first TV program in Ethiopia to use puppets and animation to teach letters, numbers and shapes, with all instruction in the dominant language of the country. The program also offers social and moral lessons, and introduces issues such as stress, the loss of a parent, even something as serious as the child slave trade in Africa.
The show airs on weekends, with each eight- to 10-minute episode running for two weeks before a new show debuts. Children who want to see it more often can watch reruns on DVDs, which the Etzenhousers sell.
For the couple, even the production of the show represents a love story. ""We do it because we love the children of Ethiopia,"" Mr. Etzenhouser said.
He and his wife, both members of the Baha'i Faith, met while teaching in Addis Ababa at the Two Wings Academy, a school inspired by Baha'i principles.
Mr. Etzenhouser, 35, had studied multimedia in university and hoped to work in television. ""I came to Ethiopia to volunteer at Two Wings and to explore avenues of making an Ethiopian children's TV show,"" he said.
For his wife, who is 25, the idea of a television program was something new.  Bruktawit and Shane Etzenhouser pose with puppets Tsehai, the yellow giraffe, and Tsehai's younger brother, Fikir.""I have always wanted to do something big in education but never thought it would be a TV show,"" she said. ""But when I met Shane I thought there was something great in this idea he had.""
The two were married in May 2004 and joke that Tsehai is their first child.
""Tsehai really is what we feel for each other,"" Mrs. Etzenhouser said. ""It is our personal love story. A lot of people ask us why we don't have kids. It's been more than two years, and in Ethiopia a lot of couples would have had a child by now. We say, 'We do. Look -- we have Tsehai!'""
Ethiopia, a country of 74 million people, has a literacy rate of 41 percent among people over the age of 15, according to the United Nations Development Programme. The Etzenhousers hope ""Tsehai Loves Learning"" will contribute to improving reading among children.
""Unless children are sent to private kindergartens, most will not receive the type of education they will need to become good students,"" Mrs. Etzenhouser said. ""Without this attention being given to these children at an early stage of their development, most will suffer during the rest of their school careers.""
Shlomo Bachrach, an economic and educational adviser to the Ethiopian government who lives in Washington, D.C., recently discussed ""Tsehai Loves Learning"" with the Associated Press. ""The show is perfectly pitched to the Ethiopian audience,"" Bachrach was quoted as saying. ""In a culture where TV is still pretty much a novelty, it has a great impact. When kids watch it, they watch it with an intensity you wouldn't believe.""
Dagmawit Eshetu, the mother of children ages four and six, is among the many parents who have written letters to the Etzenhousers.
""This program really engages them,"" she wrote. ""They learn to think and participate in the program. We see a change of character in them, especially in applying simple but very important rules such as washing with soap and water before and after eating and the need to drink pure water.""
The Etzenhousers noted that the Baha'i teachings place great importance on the education of children.
""My inspiration is from the Baha'i Faith,"" Mrs. Etzenhouser said. ""It helps me remember that we are all connected and that it is important for us to care for each other.""
The couple did their homework before launching the program.
""We did a lot of internet research,"" Mr. Etzenhouser said. ""We got a lot of data from universities. We watched lots of shows like 'Sesame Street,' 'Blues Clues,' 'Oobi' and 'The Wiggles.' We tested the shows at local schools so we could see what material worked with the children.""
""Tsehai Loves Learning"" is designed primarily for children aged three to six - children too young for government schools in Ethiopia. The couple felt their combined skills - his as a software developer and hers as a teacher of young children -- were right for the project.
""The show addresses the needs of children at a critical age,"" Mrs. Etzenhouser said. ""It helps them see the value in academic accomplishment. It also helps them to have a positive attitude and to see giving back to their communities as a good thing.""
Nine episodes of ""Tsehai Loves Learning"" have been aired since its premier last September.
""We are working on our 10th episode right now,"" Mr. Etzenhouser said. ""We are stepping up production and have hired three more people. We have created stories for the next four episodes and have outlined the stories for episodes 15 through 18.""
UNESCO provided a grant to help with the first four programs. A private company, Jolly Jus, provides support in the form of advertisements, and  DVD sales also generate revenue.
The couple said they hope to announce soon the details of a new grant from an international nongovernmental organization that will help keep their dream moving forward.
""It's so cute to see the kids in our neighborhood being proud of us and saying 'We know them!'"" Mrs. Etzenhouser said. ""I just really want to keep it going. I can't imagine doing anything else.""
""To see it out there is super rewarding -- to see kids singing the songs,"" her husband added. ""We go around town and people ask us what we do. When we tell them that we work on the show it feels as though parents and children change in the way they see us.""
But Mrs. Etzenhouser said much work remains.
""We are still at the baby stage of 'Tsehai,'"" she said. ""We still need to get to the remote areas. We need to get it on radio. We are on the road though. We are watching our baby grow.""",ADDIS ABABA,,Ethiopia
505,2007-02-19,[],Fabrication begins on components for Baha'i temple in South America,"TORONTO, Canada — After months of testing a key computer model for the unique  Baha'i house of worship to be built in Chile, architects have announced that fabrication of components for the structure is now beginning.
The milestone comes just as the design for the building received a coveted architectural award - a citation from Architect magazine in its annual Progressive Architecture competition. The awards, established in 1954, are among the most prestigious honors for projects that have not yet been built.
The Baha'i temple in Chile is one of eight projects from around the world that received an award or citation in the program this year.
""For architects, it's the award that recognizes designs that go in a new direction,"" said Siamak Hariri of Hariri Pontarini Architects of Toronto, the firm that designed the house of worship and is overseeing its construction. Representatives of the firm traveled to New York last month for the awards ceremony.  Hariri Pontarini Architects of Toronto have two full-time teams, one in Canada and one in Chile, working on the temple project.Mr. Hariri describes the building as a ""temple of light."" The structure will be created by nine translucent alabaster and cast-glass ""wings,"" which during the day will allow sunlight to filter through. At night the temple will emit a warm glow from the interior lighting.
The huge segments that will form the sides and dome of the building are being fabricated in Toronto and then will be transported to Chile.
""It's a little bit unorthodox, but it's the most cost effective way to do it,"" Mr. Hariri said of doing part of the work off-site. Five countries, including Chile, were considered for the fabrication, but the Canadian bid turned out to be the least expensive, he said.
Extensive and detailed testing, now in its final stages, has proved that a key computer model for the temple ""was 100 percent accurate,"" he said. This was exciting news to the architects because it means the project now proceeds to actual fabrication without significant adjustments, he said.
Part of the testing involved fabrication of a one-sixth scale model of one of the steel frames that will form the sides of the temple.
The engineering software used for the model is often employed in the aerospace industry but rarely has been used by architects, Mr. Hariri said.
It will take two to three years to complete the pieces of the temple that are being fabricated in Canada. At the actual site in Chile, construction of the foundation is tentatively set to begin next October.
The temple in Santiago will be the eighth such Baha'i house of worship. All have a dome and nine sides but otherwise differ greatly in appearance. The other temples are located in India, Germany, the United States, Australia, Panama, Uganda and Samoa.
The house of worship in Chile, like the others, will be financed entirely by voluntary contributions from Baha'is around the world. The cost of the Chile project has been estimated at US$27 million.
In the Baha'i scriptures Baha'u'llah designates the houses of worship as gathering places for prayer and meditation, which in the future are envisioned to be the center of a group of buildings housing social, humanitarian, educational and scientific institutions.",TORONTO,,Canada
506,2007-02-25,[],Baha'i girls to bring a message of hope to UN meeting on women,"NEW YORK, United States — Among the hundreds of girls coming to the United Nations this week to discuss the problems facing girl children around the world will be a dozen with a distinctive viewpoint: their religion teaches that they are equal to boys.
""For Baha'is, it is a basic element of their faith that we must establish equality between women and men, not to mention girls and boys,"" said Fulya Vekiloglu, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""In a world where religious traditions often stand at the heart of discriminatory practices, this is a rather unique perspective, and one that ought to be a pattern for the future,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu, who also directs the Community's Office for the Advancement of Women.
""So we are hopeful that the 12 young Baha'i girls who are coming to New York for the Commission on the Status of Women next week can bring concrete examples of equality and empowerment in action.""
Girl delegates will be coming from Baha'i communities in Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, Sweden, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the United States to the UN Commission on the Status of Women meeting, which this year will address as its priority theme: ""The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child.""
Many of the delegates have experience helping other girls or in teaching principles of equality to their peers, added Ms. Vekiloglu, who is also a member of the Working Group on Girls of the NGO Committee of UNICEF.
""In their own communities, young as they are, they have taken a leading role in advocating for equality and in teaching that concept to other young people,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu. Among those coming to New York are:
-- Anisa Andrade de Araujo, 17, from Brazil. Born into a Baha'i family, Anisa has been engaged in teaching moral education classes for children in Brasilia. Among other things, these emphasize the equality of the sexes.
""Kids are the ones who will lead humanity,"" Anisa said of her teaching efforts. ""If you nourish in them some virtues and spiritual manners, for a significant number of people this world would be a decent place to live.""
-- Ahenliema Koijam, 16, of India. A Baha'i since 2001, Ahenliema has been working with children and youth groups in her native city of Imphal since 2003. She has also participated in a public hearing on human rights there, and is especially concerned about the rights of girls in the province of Manipur, which surrounds Imphal.
""The children of Manipur are facing many forms of discrimination,"" said Ahenliema. ""In most of the rural areas, children, especially girls, are not allowed to go to school. They are considered as private property and made to do all the household work. Many girl children come to sell vegetables in the market places right from the early morning and go back late in the afternoon.""
-- Holly May Smith, 13, from the United Kingdom. Born into a Baha'i family, Holly grew up in Zambia but has lived in the United Kingdom for the last two years, where she is part of a Baha'i youth group that meets every week to discuss topics on spiritual and moral principles, including the equality of women and men.
""While I was in Zambia I noticed that a lot of women got a raw deal,"" said Holly. ""I was surprised to come here [to the UK] and find that women here have it pretty bad too. Women here have to worry about what they wear, how they look, how much they weigh. That is not liberating! Here, women are exploited by advertising and the media. I think it is so unfair that a woman and a man can do the same job and the man will get more money.""
The Commission on the Status of Women meets this week, from 26 February to 9 March 2007. Baha'i girls will also participate in several important side events.
On Wednesday, 28 February, they will participate in an event titled ""Eliminating Violence Across Generations"" at 1:15 to 2:45 pm at Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium in the UN Building. The event is sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations and co-sponsored by the Baha'i International Community.
On Thursday, 1 March, Ahenleima Koijam will participate in a panel discussion on the topic of ""Gender-Based Violence: Consequences Across the Life Span,"" held 10 to 11:45 am at the UN Church Center, Boss Room, 8th floor.",NEW YORK,,United States
507,2007-02-28,[],Iranian Baha'is face continuing discrimination in higher education,"NEW YORK, United States — A growing number of Baha'is admitted to Iranian universities this year have been expelled, powerful evidence that Baha'i students in Iran still face severe discrimination and limited access to higher education.
After more than 25 years during which Iranian Baha'is were outright banned from attending public and private universities in Iran, some 178 Baha'i students were admitted last fall to various schools around the country after the government changed its policies and removed religious identification from entrance examination papers.
As of mid-February, however, at least 70 students had been expelled after their universities became aware that they were Baha'is.
""The high percentage of expulsions - which are all explicitly connected to the students' identities as Baha'is - suggests at best that the government is turning a blind eye to discrimination in higher education, and, at worst, is merely playing a game with Baha'i students,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
""While we are happy that for the first time since the early 1980s a significant number of Iranian Baha'i youth have been able to enter and attend the university of their choice, the government's long history of systematic persecution against Baha'is certainly calls into question the sincerity of the new policies,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
She noted, for example, that another 191 Baha'i students, having successfully passed national college entrance examinations last summer, were unable to enter university this year, either because of the limited number of places for the course of their choice or for other reasons unknown to them.
""International law provides that access to education is a basic human right, and Iranian universities have no excuse for denying students who have successfully passed their examinations the right to attend simply because they are Baha'is,"" added Ms. Ala'i.
""As long as any Baha'i is unjustly denied access to higher education, we can say that the years of systematic persecution and discrimination against Baha'i students has not yet ended, and we must call for this injustice to be rectified,"" she said.
The largest religious minority in Iran, Baha'is of all ages have faced systematic religious persecution since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. More than 200 Baha'is have been killed, hundreds have been imprisoned, and thousands have had property or businesses confiscated, been fired from jobs, and/or had pensions terminated.
According to a secret 1991 government memorandum, Baha'is ""must be expelled from universities, either in the admission process or during the course of their studies, once it becomes known that they are Baha'is.""
One of the chief means the government has used to enforce this policy was to require that everyone sitting for the national college entrance examination state their religion on the test registration forms. Test forms that listed ""Baha'i,"" or that had no listing, were rejected.
In 2004, apparently in response to continued pressure from the international community, the Iranian government removed the data field for religious affiliation. About 1,000 Baha'i students successfully sat for the examination that year and hundreds passed, many with very high scores.
Later that same year, however, in an action that Baha'i International Community representatives characterize as a ""ploy,"" exam results were sent back to Baha'is with the word ""Muslim"" written in, something that officials knew would be unacceptable to Baha'is, who as a matter of religious principle refuse to deny their beliefs.
Government officials argued that since the Baha'is had opted to take the set of questions on Islam in the religious studies section of the test, they should be listed as Muslims. Baha'is contested the action and were rebuffed; no Baha'i students entered university that year.
The same thing happened in 2005. Hundreds of Baha'i students took and passed the national examination, only to find that the government had listed them as Muslims. Baha'is again contested the action, but without successful redress, and no Baha'is matriculated in 2005.
Last summer, again acting on good faith, hundreds of Baha'is took the national examination. This time, as indicated in the figures above, hundreds have passed, and some 178 were accepted into universities.
Throughout the fall, reports came out of Iran indicating that many of those who had been accepted were being refused entry or expelled once the universities learned that they were Baha'is. As of February, the confirmed figure totaled 70 Baha'is expelled.
""Accounts we have received from those who have been expelled or denied registration at the university of their choice clearly indicate the issue is their Baha'i identity,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""One student, for example, received a phone call from Payame Noor University on 18 October, asking whether he was a Baha'i. When he replied in the affirmative, he was told that he could not be enrolled.
""Later, after visiting the university, the student was told that the university had received a circular from the National Educational Measurement and Evaluation Organization, which oversees the university entrance examination process, stating that while it would not prevent the Baha'is from going through the enrolment process, once enrolled, they were to be expelled.
""Another Baha'i student at that same university was told that students who do not specify their religion on registration forms would be disqualified from continuing their education there,"" she said.
Ms. Ala'i also said that the Baha'i International Community has learned that all universities in Iran except one still include a space for religion on their own registration forms.
""This raises the grave concern that the 191 additional Baha'is who passed their examinations this year but were refused places may in fact be the subjects of discrimination,"" she said.
""We call on the international community to continue to monitor this situation closely,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""We would also ask for the continued efforts of educators and university administrators around the world who have participated in a campaign to protest the treatment of Baha'i students in Iran.""",NEW YORK,,United States
508,2007-03-01,[],Baha'is begin annual period of fasting,"HAIFA, Israel — Venezuelan college student Oscar Ponte joined the Baha'i Faith last August and this month will observe its fasting period for the first time.
When he told his mother about it, she was alarmed. After all, he is a young man of slight build, and she was worried his health would suffer.
""But it's a privilege to do the fast!"" he told her emphatically. ""It's only once a year, and it's a commandment of God.""
His mother apparently understood, and, according to Mr. Ponte, she smiled her assent.
Around the world, Baha'is age 15 to 70 begin their annual 19-day fast on 2 March, abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sundown each day. They do it in obedience to a law established by Baha'u'llah, the founder of their faith. There are exemptions for people who are sick, pregnant women, nursing mothers and a few other categories.
""It's an evolution of the basic principle of fasting that has existed in previous religions,"" said Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani, co-author of a book titled ""Laws of the Kitab-i-Aqdas.""
""Vestiges of the ordinance of fasting can be found in almost all living religions except Zoroastrianism, which affirmatively prohibits fasting,"" the book states.  Oscar Ponte of Venezuela describes the fast as a time to try to know God better.Mrs. Ma'ani, who has taught classes about the laws of God, says she feels that Baha'u'llah has made the fast easier than in some of the other religions.
For example, Jews fast only one day, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, but they abstain from food and drink for more than 24 hours at a single stretch, she explained.
The Muslim tradition is similar to the Baha'i practice, except that each day Muslims fast from dawn to dusk – a longer period than from sunrise to sundown. Also, Muslims follow a lunar calendar, meaning that the fast sometimes falls during the summer when the days are long and can be very hot, Mrs. Ma'ani said.
The Baha'i fast always comes just before the equinox in March so in most of the world there are only about 12 hours of abstention. In the few places where the days are appreciably longer, believers can go by the clock and fast about 12 hours rather than exactly from sun-up to sundown.
""Baha'u'llah doesn't want us to suffer just for the sake of suffering,"" Mrs. Ma'ani said.
Fasting is symbolic – ""a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires,"" according to the Baha'i writings.
""It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul,"" the writings say.
Additionally, Baha'u'llah said fasting helps people become better aware of the sufferings of the poor.
'Abdu'l-Baha, the son and appointed successor of Baha'u'llah, described how the Prophets of God – including Moses, Jesus and Baha'u'llah – all fasted. Thus, he said, the Baha'i period of fasting allows believers to get closer to the founders of the great religions by experiencing the same thing.
Duane L. Herrmann, compiler of a handbook about the Baha'i fast, notes that abstention from eating is not the real point. The point, he says, has to do with the ""inner spirit of detachment, of which eating (is) merely a symbol or outward reflection.""
As Mr. Ponte in Venezuela summed up his own newfound understanding, ""During the fast, we make an effort to know God better.""",HAIFA,,Israel
510,2007-03-07,[],Official character of Baha'i expulsions in Iranian university revealed,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has obtained a document that appears to confirm double-dealing by Iran in its policy towards Baha'i students seeking higher education.
The document, a 2 November 2006 letter from the headquarters of Payame Noor University to its regional branches, states that it is government policy that Baha'i students ""cannot enroll"" in Iranian universities and that if they are already enrolled, ""they should be expelled.""
""This document provides proof of Iran's duplicitous behavior regarding Iranian Baha'i students,"" said Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal representative to the United Nations.
""In its public face, Iran claims that it has finally opened the doors to Baha'i students, after some 25 years of keeping them out of public and private universities in Iran,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""But, as evidenced by this confidential memorandum from the Payame Noor central office, the real policy is apparently to simply expel Baha'is as soon as they can be identified.""
Indeed, the content of the letter sharply contradicts denials issued last week by an Iranian government spokesperson when asked to comment on figures released by the Baha'i International Community showing that a large number of Baha'i university students have been expelled so far this year, solely because of religious discrimination.
According to a report by Reuters on 28 February 2007, a spokesperson for the Iranian mission to the United Nations, who had requested his name not be used, was asked about the high percentage of expelled students and replied: ""No one in Iran because of their religion has been expelled from studying.""
Until two years ago, all Baha'i students were kept out of universities by the requirement that everyone list their religion on entrance examination forms. Baha'is were automatically rejected.
After pressure from the international community and human rights organizations, Iran changed its policy and dropped the religious affiliation requirement.
Last autumn, hundreds of Baha'is passed the examination and some 178 were admitted into the university of their choice. So far this school year, however, at least 70 Baha'i students have been expelled as universities have learned that they were Baha'is.
The 2 November letter was issued on the letterhead of Iran's Ministry  of Science, Research and Technology, and goes out from Payame Noor's ""Central Protection Office"" to directors of the university's regional centers.
""With respect, according to the ruling of the Cultural Revolutionary Council and the instructions of the Ministry of Information and the Head Protection Office of the Central Organization of Payame Noor University, Baha'is cannot enroll in universities and higher education centers,"" states the letter.
""Therefore, such cases if encountered should be reported, their enrollment should be strictly avoided, and if they are already enrolled they should be expelled.""
Payame Noor University is ""the largest state university in terms of student numbers and coverage,"" according to the university's website, with some 467,000 students in 74 degree programs at 257 study centers and units throughout the country.
So far this year, at least 30 Baha'i students have been expelled from Payame Noor.
**To view the document in English, click here.
**
(.pdf will open in a new window)
**To view the document in Persian click here.
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(.pdf will open in a new window)
For more information about the expulsion of Baha'is from universities in Iran, click here.",NEW YORK,,United States
511,2007-03-18,[],"Baha'i women and girls ""active and dynamic"" at UN women's meeting","UNITED NATIONS, United States — Last autumn, Anisa Fadaei started a discussion group on women's issues at her high school. Meeting every two weeks at lunch, about a dozen girls discuss issues like domestic violence, unequal pay rates, and trafficking in girls.
The topics were unfamiliar to most of the participants, which is the point.
""Before we started, most of the others didn't have a clue about gender equality issues or violence against women,"" said Anisa, who is 17 and lives in the town of Stroud, in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. ""We live in quite a nice area and so most of my friends didn't realize that such problems with inequality were going on around the world.""
Though young, Anisa is committed to raising awareness about gender issues. She is involved in the youth caucus of the UK National Alliance of Women's Organizations, and she has been the featured speaker at several school-wide assemblies on women's topics. She was recently profiled in a UNICEF newsletter that focuses on how young people can get involved with global issues.
Anisa was one of at least 12 girls and 36 women and men from 27 countries who came to represent their national Baha'i communities at the 2007 UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which ended on 9 March. The group represented the largest delegation of Baha'is ever at the annual meeting of the Commission, which has in recent years become a global rallying point for activists on women's issues.
An examination of the Baha'i delegation offers a snapshot of how Baha'is around the world are striving in their local and national communities to promote the equality of women and men, which is a basic principle of the Baha'i Faith.
Among those attending the Commission this year, for example, were:
-- Ahenleima Koijam, a 16-year-old student from Imphal, India, who has been working with children and youth groups since 2003, and has also participated in a public hearing on human rights, where she talked about problems facing girls in the province of Manipur.  Forty-eight women, men, and girls from 27 countries composed the Baha'i delegation to the 2007 United Nation Commission on the Status of Women, the largest ever delegation of Baha'is to the annual meeting. This group photograph does not show the entire delegation.-- Mitra Deliri, a 48-year-old teacher who recently founded a school for underprivileged girls in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The school, the Chipua Institute for Social Transformation, tutors some 70 girls in English, math, and science, and also vocational skills.
-- Ruth Montgomery-Anderson, a 49-year-old midwife from Greenland, who has recently completed several films for the Ministry of Health on issues that touch the lives of women in Greenland. One film, for example, explores family life in Greenland, while another discusses issues of rape and sexual abuse.
-- Jutta Bayani, a 52-year-old businesswoman from Mamer, Luxembourg, who was recently appointed by her city's mayor to a consultative commission on gender issues. ""The appointment came, I believe, as a result of my longstanding involvement in women's activities, especially at the national level,"" said Ms. Bayani.
""The United Nations is looking for models about how to implement its various programs, and in the case of these Baha'i women from around the world you have some concrete examples of effective activities at the local and national levels to promote the advancement of women,"" said Fulya Vekiloglu, director of the Baha'i International Community's Office for the Advancement of Women.
This year's Commission meeting drew nearly 2,000 people, representing some 334 organizations. Among them were some 200 girls from around the world, a response to the theme of this year's Commission, which was ""The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child.""
In addition to the main meeting by governments to discuss that theme and other issues, the UN, government missions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) sponsored more than 170 ""parallel events"" - panel discussions, workshops, briefings and other activities aimed at exploring issues facing women and girls around the globe.
""The Baha'i delegation's participation in all aspects of the Commission was active and dynamic,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu, who is also one of the Community's representatives to the United Nations. ""The delegates were observers in official meetings, speakers in panel discussions, and active members of various caucuses. They also made many interventions in workshops, presenting Baha'i perspectives and experiences at the grassroots level.""
Ahenleima Koijam, the girl from India, for example, was a featured panelist at a workshop titled ""Gender-Based Violence: Consequences Across the Life Span,"" held on 1 March at the UN Church Center.
Side by side with older women from around the world, many of them acknowledged experts, Ahenleima told the audience about the conditions faced by women and girls in rural areas outside Imphal.
""Many girls are forced to get married at an early age,"" said Ahenleima, saying that girls face various forms of violence, both physical and psychological, even from before birth. ""Early marriage often results in the birth of a low-weight child. Fifty-six percent of girls suffer from anemia, and 40 percent suffer from stunted growth.""
Ahenleima's answer to this and other problems was to increase support for education, especially for girls. ""A girl's most important influence is on her family,"" noting that even when young girls have children, their role in raising the next generation is nevertheless powerful. ""The mothers need to be educated properly, as they are the first line of educators.""
Other activities that featured specific involvement by Baha'is included a 2 March panel discussion on ""Ethical Perspectives on Transitional Justice and the Girl Child,"" which was sponsored by the UN office of the Baha'i community of the United States; a 25 February workshop on CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all Kinds of Discrimination Against Women) and the CRC (Child Rights Convention), which was moderated by Ms. Vekiloglu; and a 2 March ""Girls' Perspective"" meeting with Yakin Erturk, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, which was held at the Baha'i International Community's offices.
""I think the meeting with Yakin Erturk, which gave her and other UN officials a chance to hear directly from girls, really captured the spirit of the Commission this year, with its focus on girls and their concerns,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu, noting that the meeting was co-sponsored by the Community and the NGO Committee on UNICEF's Working Group on Girls.
Ms. Vekiloglu also said the Baha'i delegation held a one-day planning session during the Commission to discuss how Baha'is can further promote the advancement of women in their own countries. ""We looked at what Baha'is are doing in their regions, and also what they can do in the future,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu.
Anisa Fadaei, the Baha'i girl from Stroud, participated in a panel discussion on 1 March titled ""Eliminating Violence across Generations."" Held in the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium at the UN building, the discussion featured not only Anisa but also her mother, Zarin Hainsworth Fadaei, and her grandmother, Lois Hainsworth. The event was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the UN and the Baha'i International Community, and also featured a performance of the Children's Theater Company.
In her presentation, Anisa stressed the need for young women to educate their male peers about the equality of women and men.
""We need to tell more boys what is going on,"" said Anisa, when asked by someone in the audience about how to promote the kinds of social changes need to end violence against women and to promote their advancement.  ""For me, personally, we need to raise awareness.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
513,2007-03-20,[],Golden tile from Baha'i shrine goes on display in museum,"ALEM, Netherlands — The Baha'i community of the Netherlands has given a golden tile from one of its sacred shrines to a museum that specializes in roof tiles.
In a ceremony last month, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Netherlands gave the tile on permanent loan to the Dutch Roof Tile Museum in Alem, a small riverside village in the heart of Holland.
Museum owner Huub Mombers said the tile - from the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, Israel - is the only one among the 3,000 tiles in his collection that is gilded - covered with a glaze made with real gold.
""I have never seen one like this before,"" Mr. Mombers said, explaining that most ""gold"" tiles are simply painted a gold color.
The tile given to the museum was actually created more than 50 years ago, one of more than 12,000 golden tiles custom-made to cover the dome of the Baha'i shrine on Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Mr. Mombers opened the museum two years ago to showcase a collection of tiles from around the world that he had amassed over 20 years.
""We are familiar with gold roof tiles,"" he said, ""but they are all paint. With this tile, it is pure gold. ... I have seen a factory in Germany that has made gold roof tiles for rich people in Saudi Arabia, but they are all paint.""
True gilded tiles are so unusual that the Baha'is had trouble finding a factory that would fill their order, wrote Ugo Giachery, a prominent Baha'i from Rome who in 1948 was given the task of locating such a company. He had already been turned away from factories in several European countries when he decided to try the Netherlands, known worldwide for its ceramics.
""Our inquiries were either received with incredulity or were declined for technical reasons,"" wrote Dr. Giachery in his book titled ""Shoghi Effendi: Recollections.""
But when he reached the last Dutch company on his list, he struck gold. It was a small factory called Westraven, near Utrecht. The tile business had been founded by two brothers named Ravesteyn in 1844 (although the firm's predecessor had roots in tile-making as far back as 1661).
""At the time, Westraven was in a unique position,"" said Marcel Hermens, author of a history of the company. ""They had a man in the factory who had been experimenting with glazes, especially golden glaze. They also had a manager who searched constantly for new markets and challenges.""
The manager, Robert de Brauw, was a chemical engineer by profession and was struggling to make a success of the factory. Mr. de Brauw told Dr. Giachery the factory had only made flat gilded tiles for vertical suspension, never curved tiles for a dome. ""But we are willing to try,"" he said.
Months of research
Thus began months of research to determine the exact materials for the tiles and the glaze, as well as the optimum procedure for firing in the kiln.
""Not only did the tiles and their golden coating have to be able to withstand all weather conditions, their shape and size also posed a problem,"" said Jelle de Vries, who researched the history of the Baha'i Faith in the Netherlands for his doctoral thesis.  The Dutch Roof Tile Museum is located in an old church and contains several thousand roof tiles. Shown here are owner Huub Mombers, in center holding the gilded tile, and others present for the ceremony last month.""Since it is not possible to saw glazed tiles once they have come out of the kiln, one has to calculate in advance what changes will occur during the firing process. And this had to be done not once, but 50 times since so many different shapes and sizes were needed to cover the surface of the dome.""
Dr. de Vries is the one who discovered the coincidence that Holland was home to both the factory that made the Baha'i tiles, and a museum that exhibits roof tiles. Thus it was arranged to bring a spare golden tile that had been in storage in Haifa to give to the museum, which is located in an old church in Alem.
Mr. Mombers said his new exhibit, which includes a photo of the Baha'i shrine along with the tile, is displayed prominently in the center of the museum.
""This tile is very special,"" he said. ""I have seen gold on pottery but never on tiles. With pottery, you have a couple of pieces. With these tiles you had to do it with 13,000.""
The Westraven factory was rare, Mr. Mombers said, because even companies that might have had the technical know-how to make the tiles would have declined because the job was too risky financially.
""Everyone was afraid to do this because it was gold,"" he said. ""No one was willing to guarantee it. You can imagine that if you don't get the job right, working with gold you can be financially ruined.""
Mr. Mombers' tile collection includes specimens from many countries and regions - Europe, China, Nepal, Africa and more. But not one of his other tiles is gilded.
""I know of a building in Athens with copper, but I have never seen a building with gold tiles,"" he said.
The Westraven factory
Encountering Robert de Brauw, director of Westraven Faience and Tile Making, was like ""finding a ray of light on a dark sea of uncertainty,"" wrote Dr. Giachery, the Baha'i representative who had been searching for a tile maker.
""From the very beginning of our conversation he won my confidence and trust, and relieved me of all my anxiety,"" Dr. Giachery wrote.
""He was a chemical engineer by profession, a member of the nobility, and had taken on the management of this modest factory at the end of the war, and he was struggling to make it successful,"" Dr. Giachery stated.
""That Mr. de Brauw had been trained as a chemist was a great asset to our project, because three of the four problems in the production of the Shrine's tiles were of a chemical nature: namely, the composition of the tiles, the golden coating, and the glazing. The fourth issue consisted of several material aspects which physics and engineering were to solve and in which Mr. de Brauw was also very proficient,"" Dr. Giachery wrote.
Calculating the size and shape of each tile was a monumental task. The dome is a partial sphere -- with both horizontal and vertical curve - but it straightens to a drum toward the bottom. The size and shape of each tile depended on its position on the dome.
Westraven had to come up with about 200 different sizes and shapes to properly cover the surface.
The calculations had to take into account that tiles change slightly when fired -- and the beige clay tiles were baked three times, first with a clear glaze, then with the prime orange glaze and finally with a 15 percent gold solution.
""It took months of experimentation and testing,"" said Mr. Hermens, the Westraven company historian. The contract for the work was signed in Utrecht in September 1952.
Mr. de Brauw was willing to take on the project partly because he had a works manager named Karel Bazuine who had been experimenting with a golden glaze for use on outdoor surfaces, the historian said.
When preparations were complete, the tiles were hand-formed out of clay, likely out of different plaster casts for the different sizes, Mr. Hermens said. They were ""biscuit baked"" in a big stone peat oven, and glazed in a special enameling oven.
The tiles were shipped to Haifa in early 1953, and the first ceremonial tiles laid in April of that year. By August, the shrine was finished, complete with golden dome.
More facts:
-- The tiles do not overlap when laid. Each tile is tapered from a thickness of 20 millimeters at one end to 6 millimeters at the other.
-- Records say that Westraven made more than 12,000 tiles for the Shrine of the Bab. About 10,500 full tiles were actually laid on the dome, along with a number of partial tiles. Extras are still in storage.
-- On each of the 18 segments of the dome, there are approximately 600 tiles in 70 rows.
-- The tiles at the bottom of the dome are 188 by 176 millimeters, the ones at the top 188 by 70 millimeters.
The shrine itself
The shrine is the resting place of the Bab, regarded by Baha'is as a Messenger of God and forerunner to Baha'u'llah. This building, and the resting place of Baha'u'llah located near Acre, north of Haifa, are considered by Baha'is to be the holiest spots on earth.
The Bab was executed by the authorities in Persia, now Iran, in July 1850, and His remains hidden in that country until 1899 when they were brought to Acre. In March 1909, the remains were interred at their present site.
For many years, the shrine consisted of a simple, four-sided building with nine rooms. In the early 1940s, Shoghi Effendi, the head of the Baha'i Faith, directed the design of an arcade around the shrine and a superstructure above it to be crowned with a golden dome. William Sutherland Maxwell was the architect. Construction began in the late 1940s.
Shoghi Effendi's construction manager in Haifa was Leroy Ioas, who in turn worked with Ibraham Lahim, known as Abu Khalil, a local stone mason. Abu Khalil was credited with the difficult job of getting the gilded tiles placed quickly and correctly on the dome.",ALEM,,Netherlands
514,2007-03-23,[],Baha'is celebrate new year,"LONDON, England — Baha'is around the world celebrated their new year this week, with those in Vietnam holding a special ceremony to mark the government's issuing a certificate of operation for their activities.
In London, the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is hosted a reception at the House of Parliament. British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent a message referring to the ""unique contribution"" of the Baha'i community.
""The words of your founder, that 'the earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,' have perhaps an even greater resonance in 2007 than ever before,"" Mr. Blair wrote. ""The universal challenges of climate change, and its potentially disastrous impact on millions of people across the globe, remind us forcefully that we are all fellow citizens of the world, all sharing in its destiny.
""As we confront these challenges I have no doubt that you, and your fellow Baha'is in other countries, have much to contribute to the debate and the pursuit of possible solutions, drawing on the tradition of working for social justice of which Baha'is can rightly be so proud,"" Mr. Blair wrote.
Opposition leader David Cameron also sent a message, remembering that Baha'is in some countries face persecution because of their faith. ""Freedom to worship and to hold religious belief is a fundamental right which we must always cherish,"" Mr. Cameron stated.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, about 280 people attended a reception where the government Committee for Religious Affairs presented a certificate giving recognition to Baha'i activities.
The state news agency announced the reception and quoted Ngo Yen Thi, head of the Committee for Religious Affairs, as saying, ""The State policy on religion respects and ensures freedom of belief and religion for all Vietnamese citizens as stipulated in the country's first constitution in 1946 and in revised versions.""
In Singapore, members of the Baha'i Faith invited hundreds of guests to join them for food, music and cultural dance performances to celebrate the new year. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan was the guest of honor, according to an article in The Straits Times.
The Baha'i new year - called Naw Ruz, literally ""new day"" in the Persian language - falls on March 21, and usually is celebrated that day or the evening before. The Baha'i calendar, now in year 164, has 19 months of 19 days each, with intercalary days added to reach the 365 days of the solar year. The Baha'i Faith originated in 1844.
The Faith has about 5 million followers, who live in some 235 countries and territories.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
515,2007-04-05,[],Baha'i schoolchildren in Iran increasingly harassed and abused by school authorities,"NEW YORK, United States — Baha'i students in primary and secondary schools throughout Iran are increasingly being harassed, vilified, and held up to abuse, according to recent reports from inside the country.
During a 30-day period from mid-January to mid-February, some 150 incidents of insults, mistreatment, and even physical violence by school authorities against Baha'i students were reported as occurring in at least 10 Iranian cities.
""These new reports that the most vulnerable members of the Iranian Baha'i community -- children and junior youth -- are being harassed, degraded, and, in at least one case, blindfolded and beaten, is an extremely disturbing development,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""The increasing number of such incidents suggests a serious and shameful escalation in the ongoing persecution of Iranian Baha'is,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""The fact that school-aged children are being targeted by those who should rightfully hold their trust -- teachers and school administrators -- only makes this latest trend even more ominous.""
Ms. Dugal said the Baha'i International Community has been aware of scattered reports of abuse directed at schoolchildren but has only recently learned that young Baha'is are now widely being forced to identify their religion -- and are also being insulted, degraded, threatened with expulsion, and, in some cases, summarily dismissed from school.
""They are also being pressured to convert to Islam, required to endure slander of their faith by religious instructors, and being taught and tested on 'Iranian history' in authorized texts that denigrate, distort, and brazenly falsify their religious heritage,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""They are also being repeatedly told that they are not to attempt to teach their religion.""
According to Ms. Dugal, one Baha'i has reported that the school-age children of a relative in Kermanshah were called to the front of the classroom, where they were required to listen to insults against the Faith.
""Another student, accepted at an art institute, has been followed by the authorities and on three occasions seized, blindfolded, and beaten,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""While a few of these may be isolated attacks, the extent and nature of this reprehensible activity has led the Baha'is in Iran to conclude that this is an organized effort,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Of special concern, she added, was the fact that a high proportion of the attacks against high school students have been against girls.
""While the attacks reported to have taken place in elementary and middle schools were leveled evenly against boys and girls, those at the high school level targeted girls to a far greater degree: of 76 incidents, 68 were against Baha'i girls,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Ms. Dugal added that the ages of the children and junior youth affected are as follows: at the elementary school level, grades 1-5, students 6 to 11 years old; at the middle school level, grades 6-8, students 11 to 13 years old; and at the high school level, grades 9-12, students 14 to 17 years old.
The reports of attacks on innocent Baha'i schoolchildren come at a time when a growing number of older Baha'i students seeking to enter Iranian universities have been expelled after being identified as Baha'is.
So far this year, at least 94 college-age Baha'i students have been expelled from institutions of higher education. That figure is up from 70 as reported in late February.
Since the Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979, the 300,000-member Iranian Baha'i community has faced ongoing and systematic persecution. In the early 1980s, more than 200 Baha'is were killed, hundreds were imprisoned, and thousands were deprived of jobs and education.
At the present time, more than 120 Baha'is are out on bail and awaiting trial on false charges, solely because of their religious beliefs and activities. Over the last year, as well, international human rights groups have expressed concern at the Iranian government's efforts to step-up their covert monitoring and identification of Baha'is.",NEW YORK,,United States
516,2007-04-09,[],Combating peer pressure a focus of Baha'i program,"PERTH, Australia — Like young teens everywhere, Jani Song often feels social pressure to conform – even when the things that are fashionable may also be harmful.
""When you're in high school, you see the popular, or cool, group and they often take drugs,"" said Jani, who is 14 and in 10th grade. ""You see people drinking or doing other sorts of stuff. And you kind of just want to do it because you want to follow the crowd.""
A program established by the Baha'i community here for youths aged 12 to 15 is helping Jani and others like her develop tools to resist such influences and establish their own values.
Some 160 young people, about half of them members of the Baha'i Faith, belong to small groups that follow a specially developed curriculum, part of which involves learning to avoid harmful behavior.
""When you do these classes, and you really know the reason why not to do it, your brain automatically tells you not to do it,"" Jani said.
That kind of impact is one reason that about 20 of the Baha'i-sponsored groups – designed for youths aged 12 to 15 – have sprung up in Perth over the past three years.
The program is designed to empower young people both spiritually and morally, said Shirin Reyhani, the coordinator for the state of Western Australia for what the Baha'is call ""junior youth groups.""
""It gives them the tools needed to recognize the moral issues underlying the choices they make,"" Ms. Reyhani said of the program. ""It also develops in the youth a power of expression.""
The curriculum is designed to achieve specific goals, including step-by-step problem-solving, nurturing virtues, and social awareness. Organizers say the activities also foster improvement in reading, writing, mathematics and science.  One of the aims of the curriculum is to develop in young people their ability to express themselves well.The groups typically meet once a week, and participants play games, discuss issues, study literature and organize service projects. The sessions are facilitated by an older person, called an animator, who serves as a moderator rather than a teacher.
Youths who have become involved say the gatherings are not only spiritually enriching but also fun.
""It's a pretty good course,"" 14-year-old Calvin Martin said of the group he attends. ""You get to learn lots of new stuff, and I've met lots of new people. ... It's pretty fun – lots of different activities to do.""
Yann Vissac, 14, agrees. ""I come to these classes because they teach me things which are interesting. And my friends are here. A lot of people don't feel certain about themselves these days. They don't have much self-confidence. Maybe these classes can help those people.""
Jani Song said the classes are more effective at helping her see the value in good behaviors because the discussion points come from peers.
""We get lectures in class about drugs, but what's the point?"" she said. ""I don't listen to that kind of stuff. I think that if you take this class you'll really understand why it's necessary not to do things [that are bad] ""
Parents say the program helps equip youngsters to make choices based on their own values rather than on what their peers are doing.
""My main concern is that my son has a strong sense of self to know how to deal with the demands of his social environment and issues that he's up against. That's what I feel he gets from this course,"" said Vivian Vissac, the mother of Yann.
""I like the emphasis on developing the wholeness of the students – their inner resources, their sense of self, their sense that they can do and contribute,"" she said.
Gayle Corbauld has two daughters in the program and feels it has enhanced their best personal qualities.
""They are reflective, and they have a sense of responsibility about what they are doing,"" she said of her girls. ""They feel they have control of what they are able to manage in a social situation. Rather than just repeating behavior, they can improve and make things better for themselves and for others.""
The curriculum for the program was developed over the past decade at various Baha'i institutions around the world, and by one estimate, Baha'i communities worldwide now operate some 3,000 junior youth groups involving 25,000 people.
The animators are volunteers who receive special training. Ms. Reyhani, 24, a schoolteacher as well as a junior youth coordinator, said that many of the animators in Perth are themselves alumni of an older junior youth program.
""These groups work because they put young people in a group with their friends,"" Ms. Reyhani said. ""They feel like they are in a safe environment.""
She said the learning that takes place in the groups is different from regular school.
""The focus in the classroom is one of competition,"" she said. ""Competition with yourself to do better than you did last time. Competition with your classmates to be the best in the class, that type of thing. In the junior youth groups we try to get the kids to focus on their own personal development rather than comparing themselves to others.""
Also, in regular school the teacher must be an authority figure that maintains discipline; in a junior youth class, the animator is more a friend, she said.
""The children themselves love coming to the classes,"" added Mrs. Corbauld. ""They like the interaction with other people. They like also to sound out some of the difficulties they might have had in school, or somewhere else during the week. They can bring them along to the group and they know they can open it up and discuss it.""",PERTH,,Australia
517,2007-04-16,[],Cyprus Arts and Music Festival planned for June,"LIMASSOL, Cyprus — The Cyprus Arts and Music Festival planned for June will feature Baha'i musicians, actors, visual artists and speakers at a venue on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
The event -- which will include a film festival -- will be held from 23 to 29 June 2007 at a hotel in Limassol on the island nation of Cyprus.
""The festival is a multidimensional cultural event focusing on the performing and graphic arts, music, films, literature and drama,"" said Khosrow Afkhampour, program director for the event. ""It aims to provide a platform for the proclamation of Baha'i ideas through artistic expression.""
Performers will include violinist Bijan Khadem-Missagh, actress Beverly Evans, pianists Nancy Lee Harper and Alfredo Matera, and singers Ahdieh Bahiee and Ranzie Mensah, among others. Ariana Economous, artistic director of a modern dance company on Cyprus, will perform a solo act.
Suheil Bushrui will present a session on the literary study of the Baha'i writings. Other literary topics will include the poetry of Rumi and the work of Kahlil Gibran, author of ""The Prophet"" who in 1912 met with 'Abdu'l-Baha, at that time the head of the Baha'i Faith.
The festival will also feature arts workshops, planned in collaboration with the Baha'i Academy for Arts in the United Kingdom. Sarah Clive, Rob Weinberg, Aidan Mathews, and Shirin Maanian will be among the participants.
The film festival, planned in collaboration with the Harmony Film Festival in Australia, will feature works produced or directed by Baha'i filmmakers from around the globe.  Classical singer Ranzie Mensah will perform in Cyprus, accompanied by pianist Alfredo Matera.",LIMASSOL,,Cyprus
518,2007-04-18,[],New 'Baha'i World' volume published,"HAIFA, Israel — A new volume of ""The Baha'i World"" is now available, offering three new essays, a profile of an outstanding development project, and a wealth of information about the Baha'i Faith today.
The book is the latest in a series of annual volumes that survey activities of the Baha'i community during the previous year.
""It covers events throughout the world, digests major communications and statements from Baha'i institutions, provides up-to-date facts, figures and information, and showcases some of the exciting advances in the field of social and economic development,"" said Robert Weinberg, senior editor of the publication.
The 288-page book contains three new essays, one of which questions whether Western liberal democracy can be a model for a future world order. Another focuses on climate change and its ethical challenges, while a third explores the concept of identity and how our own identity influences our attachments and loyalties.
The new publication also includes: (1) a profile of Baha'i-inspired development programs in Cambodia; (2) a directory of major Baha'i websites; (3) an update on the situation of Baha'is in Iran and Egypt; (4) a description of new translations of Baha'u'llah's writings found in ""The Tabernacle of Unity,"" as well as a list of new books in English; (5) obituaries; (6) basic Baha'i reading list and glossary.
""I am particularly excited by the report on Cambodia,"" Mr. Weinberg said, referring to a chapter about grassroots tutorials and health and agricultural programs in that country.
""The project really opened my mind up to the idea of civilization-building,"" he said. ""Within the program are the seeds to raise up a new generation of people. You can see that the Baha'i community is creating a whole new way of living that is touching thousands of people.""  This year's ""Baha'i World"" includes photos and quotes at the beginning of each chapter.The book is ideal for presentation to libraries and organizations, and for communities to keep as a historical record for their own reference, Mr. Weinberg said.
""It presents the Baha'i community and teachings in a way that is very relevant to the world and the current issues in society,"" he said.
""The Baha'i World"" can be ordered from the Baha'i Distribution Service in the United States and Australia and from Baha'i Books UK in the United Kingdom.",HAIFA,,Israel
519,2007-04-23,[],Baha'is celebrate 'King of Festivals',"HAIFA, Israel — Baha'is around the world are celebrating the Festival of Ridvan, which marks the anniversary of Baha'u'llah's declaration in 1863 that He was a new messenger of God.
Ridvan – 21 April to 2 May each year – commemorates the 12 days that Baha'u'llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha'i Faith, camped on the banks of the Tigris River near Baghdad and, while there, proclaimed his mission to a small group of followers.
Every year, on the first day of Ridvan, Baha'is in thousands of localities around the globe vote for their local governing councils. Also during the festival, national conventions are held in some 180 countries and territories, during which delegates vote for the national governing bodies of the Baha'i Faith.
Baha'u'llah called Ridvan the ""King of Festivals"" and the ""Festival of God,"" among other names.  In Budapest, Hungary, people break into small groups to study a message from the Universal House of Justice about the nature of Baha'i elections. Participants then elected their local governing council for the coming year. (Photograph by Edit Kalman)In 1863, He was in Baghdad, already exiled from His native Iran for a decade, when authorities ordered Him to move to Constantinople (now called Istanbul).
Before leaving, He spent 12 days by the Tigris in a garden which he called Ridvan (Arabic for ""paradise"") while preparations were made for the journey and farewells said to people in Iraq.
""The thoroughfare to the riverside brimmed with people, men and women, young and old, from all walks of life, who had gathered to see Him go and bewail His departure,"" wrote H.M. Balyuzi in a biography of Baha'u'llah.
It was during this time that Baha'u'llah announced to His companions that He was the promised one of God, foretold in the religions of the past.
Today, in addition to electing local and national governing bodies, followers of Baha'u'llah often celebrate Ridvan with devotional meetings, artistic and musical presentations, or other types of gatherings, depending on the country.",HAIFA,,Israel
520,2007-04-24,[],"Religion could help fight AIDS, says study","GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Strategies to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people could be more effective if they tapped into the power of religious belief and practice.
That is the finding of researchers who studied the knowledge and attitudes of young people in relation to HIV/AIDS and sexual behavior.
The study, sponsored by UNICEF and conducted by the Varqa Foundation here, found that young people who knew and followed the teaching of their religion were much less likely to have engaged in sexual intercourse than those who did not, by a rate of 18 percent to 45 percent respectively.
""Prevention strategies for the spread of HIV/AIDS should harness religious belief and practice, especially in societies such as Guyana where religious affiliation remains strong,"" wrote the study's authors in an article published in the March 2007 issue of the International Journal of STD and AIDS.
Guyana has the third highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, which is the second-most afflicted region in the world.
""Many specialists working in international development are somewhat uncomfortable with faith-based efforts at personal and community transformation -- such as to prevent HIV-AIDS,"" said Brian O'Toole, the lead author in the study, in an interview.
""But this study suggests that in a country like Guyana, where many people have strong faith-based beliefs, it might be possible to draw on spiritual inspiration to address some of the problems facing society,"" said Dr. O'Toole, who is also director of the Varqa Foundation, which is a Baha'i-inspired social and economic development agency based in Guyana.
Other authors included Roy McConkey, a professor in the health promotion group at the Institute of Nursing Research at the University of Ulster; Karen Casson, also of the University of Ulster; Debbie Goetz-Goldberg, a researcher with Health for Humanity, another Baha'i-inspired agency; and Arash Yazdani, a youth volunteer.  Young people in Guyana involved in a program called Youth Can Move the World helped collect data to study the correlation between religious belief and the spread of HIV/AIDS.More than 2,000 people aged 12-20 were surveyed for the study. They completed anonymous, self-reporting questionnaires about sexual behavior, their understanding of HIV/AIDs and the way it spreads, and attitudes towards issues like virginity and condom use.
Ninety-five percent of respondents were aware that HIV could be contracted from sexual contact with someone who was HIV positive. However, less than a third (29.5 percent) were able to state up to three other ways that HIV could spread and only 37 percent were able to name three ways of self-protection.
The survey also found that in Guyana, nearly 25 percent of young people aged 12-14 were sexually active, a percentage that rose to more than 33 percent for those 15 and older. Nearly half of the males over the age of 15 were sexually active, according to the survey.
Respondents were asked if they were aware of their religion's teaching on sexual matters and whether they followed it. Just over 35 percent of the young people said they did, with another 22 percent knowing the teaching but not following it.
The authors also concluded that peer education should be another element in any strategy of HIV/AIDS prevention.
""The content and delivery of educational inputs must be capable of being adapted to local contexts preferably by persons who are very familiar with those situations,"" wrote the authors. ""In this respect, peer education would appear to offer some promise.""
Dr. O'Toole noted that the study was carried out by a network of young people who themselves had been inspired by a faith-based, peer-education leadership training program known as Youth Can Move the World (YCMTW), also sponsored by the Varqa Foundation.
""Usually in this type of survey you get a couple of hundred responses,"" said Dr. O'Toole. ""We were able to get several thousand because of the network of young people established by the Youth Can Move the World project.""
Founded by Varqa in 1997, the YCMTW program has used peer education methods to train more than 7,000 Guyanese young people in strategies to prevent alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence.
Among other things, the program uses inspirational passages from the holy writings of the major religions in Guyana to help young people draw on their spiritual heritage in an effort to prevent risky behavior. In Guyana, about 50 percent of the population is Christian, 35 percent is Hindu, 10 percent is Muslim. The remaining five percent of the people belong to other religions, including the Baha'i Faith.",GEORGETOWN,,Guyana
524,2007-04-25,[],German town re-erects monument,"BAD MERGNTHEIM, Germany — A Baha'i memorial removed when the Nazis were in power has been restored by municipal authorities in this resort town in southern Germany. The stone commemorates the visit in 1913 of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the successor of Baha'u'llah as head of the Baha'i Faith.
The original memorial was erected in 1916 but removed in 1937 at a time when the Baha'i Faith was outlawed by the Nazis.
'Abdu'l-Baha took an extended trip to Europe, North America and back to Europe between 1911 and 1913 and took a side trip from Stuttgart to Bad Mergentheim - a small, quiet town known for its health spa - on April 7-8, 1913.
He spent the night there at the invitation of Consul Albert Schwarz, a government official who was the owner of the hotel and mineral bath and also a member of the Baha'i community.  The original monument in Bad Mergentheim, pictured here, was removed during the Nazi regime.The new memorial was unveiled earlier this month, on 7 April, by Mayor Lothar Barth accompanied by Bahman Solouki, a representative of the Baha'i community of Germany.
""Bad Mergentheim can be proud that 'Abdu'l-Baha came here,"" the mayor said at the ceremony. ""The Baha'i Faith is one of the six major world religions -- there is no other way to put it -- and this should be honoured accordingly.""
He continued: ""I consider this a good sign. It shows that in Bad Mergentheim we are a tolerant society, that we integrate people of different faiths in our town and are cosmopolitan enough for that.""
Dr. Solouki noted that the German Baha'i community two years ago marked its 100th anniversary, and that 'Abdu'l-Baha's time in their country was a significant part of their history.
""'Abdu'l-Baha's visit of 1913 was a milestone for us German Baha'is,"" he said. ""We are greatly blessed by it. He was in Stuttgart; He was in Esslingen twice, each time for a week, and two days of that time He spent here in Bad Mergentheim.""
Sussan Rastani, a Baha'i who lives in Bad Mergentheim, thanked local authorities for putting up the monument.
""In these times of religious intolerance and even religious fanatism, it is exemplary of the town authorities and the resort administration to re-erect this memorial stone in remembrance of 'Abdu'l-Baha, who served as an example of love and tolerance towards all religions and people,"" she said.
-- German Baha'i News Service",BAD MERGENTHEIM,,Germany
525,2007-05-01,[],Successful musical got its start at Baha'i conference,"BRISBANE, Australia — Management consultant Dorothy Marcic always tried to make her seminars entertaining as well as informative.
This time she outdid herself.
She took a presentation about the equality of the sexes, filled it with Top 40 songs that reflect the status of women, and made a Broadway-type show out of it.
The musical has played successfully in a half dozen U.S. cities - current runs in Boston, Detroit and Atlanta have been extended - and now it has made its international commercial debut in Australia. Some 600,000 people have seen it, and more are coming each day.
""Respect: A Musical Journey of Women"" traces the women's movement through the lyrics of  songs - ""I Will Follow Him,"" ""Someone To Watch Over Me,"" ""Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend,"" ""I Am Woman,"" ""I Will Survive,"" and dozens of others.
The songs span more than a century and illustrate the modern history of women with startling accuracy, says Dr. Marcic, 57, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States.
""The show is about the emerging equality of women,"" she explains. ""At the beginning of the 20th century, the songs show women who are all pretty codependent.""
By the time the century ended, many songs were about strength and independence -- ""Hero"" by Mariah Carey, ""Independent Woman"" by Destiny's Child, ""A Woman's Worth"" by Alicia Keys.
In between, Dr. Marcic says, came stages of anger and rebellion (""You Don't Own Me"" by Leslie Gore, ""These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"" by Nancy Sinatra) and cynicism (""Material Girl"" by Madonna).  The lyrics of Top 40 hits accurately chronicle the women's movement, according to Dorothy Marcic, who wants audiences to have fun as they listen to all the songs she compiled.In the musical, Dr. Marcic makes it all fun, but she does have genuine academic credentials. A faculty member at Vanderbilt University before devoting herself full-time to the musical, she has written 11 books, including ""Respect: Women and Popular Music.""
One reviewer called it a ""highly creative book that uses the musical history of women throughout the past century as a springboard to synthesize cultural, political and world events, as well as business, psychology, and spirituality.""
Baha'i conference
Dr. Marcic, whose doctorate is in organizational behavior and communication, is a member of the Baha'i Faith, a key principle of which is the equality of men and women. A presentation for a Baha'i conference in Florida in 1999 was the genesis of the musical. She was already experimenting with music in her seminars and decided to expand on the idea, putting the songs front and center for that appearance.
The Florida audience ""went crazy,"" she recounts. When people demanded a repeat performance, ""I realized I was onto something.""
Over the next several years, Dr. Marcic developed what originally was a one-woman show - she was the woman - into a four-person musical with professional singers. Several producers purchased rights to the show for different U.S. cities, and when a top Australian producer saw a performance in Boston, he signed on, too.
Dr. Marcic looks at ""Respect: A Musical"" as a means of communicating to many people one of her key religious beliefs - that women and men are equal in the sight of God.
""It's kind of my way of bringing the spirit of the Baha'i Faith to a larger audience,"" she says. ""Music is so powerful.""
Throughout her career she has tried to combine an appeal to the intellect with an appeal to the emotions. The musical, she says, does this.
Reviewers agree. ""A soaring message of strength and confidence shines through by the final moments, leaving the audience with a lasting smile and a connection to (the) characters - women of their past and potential role models for the future,"" wrote Stephanie Angelyn Casola in Detroit, where the director is Hinton Battle, winner of three Tony Awards including best actor for ""Miss Saigon.""
Christine Howey of Cleveland Scene, wrote: ""This time the You go, girl! shouts are being triggered by a musical march through the 20th century, tracing the travails and triumphs of women as they have clawed their way from second-class citizenship to empowerment. ... Imaginative staging and a relentlessly effusive cast make it all work disarmingly well.""
""Respect"" is now more than half-way through its eight-week run in Brisbane, Australia, and tickets are being sold for performances elsewhere in Australia and in New Zealand. Future plans include Minneapolis and Green Bay in the U.S., England and possibly Ireland. Negotiations are under way for 20 more countries.
People often ask Dr. Marcic if the show will ever make it to Broadway. She has sold the rights for New York City to a producer, but at the moment there are no particular plans.
'Respect' Down Under
The Australian producer, Jim McPherson, who has some 400 previous shows to his credit, was enthusiastic about ""Respect"" from the moment he saw it.
""I loved the music, I loved the treatment of the music, I loved the story,"" said Mr. McPherson, who with co-producer Michael Lasky and the production company GFOUR put up his own money for the Australian version. The songs in the show are well known in Australia, he said, but the narrative was altered to appeal to local audiences.
""The music transcends boundaries,"" he said. He noted that Dr. Marcic's creation is family entertainment, unlike the risque - and hugely popular - ""Menopause, the Musical,"" which he also brought to Australia.
""'Respect' is definitely more powerful, more empowering, more respectful of women,"" Mr. McPherson said, explaining that it illustrates how over the past century, women have gone from being afraid of and subservient to men, to being equal and independent.
""That interests me no end,"" said Mr. McPherson, who is the father of five - four of them daughters. On top of that, he said, the show is fun.
""It's a joyous night in the theater,"" he said.",BRISBANE,,Australia
526,2007-05-01,[],What 'Respect' says about women,"BRISBANE, Australia — A hundred years ago, popular songs about women tended to reflect their dependence on men, Dr. Dorothy Marcic, a former university professor, says. And most of the time, women themselves didn't even do the singing -- men did.
""It wasn't really until the 1920s that women sang in any numbers,"" she says, noting that this coincided with women getting the vote in the U.S. and other countries.
The oldest song in her musical ""Respect"" is ""Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home,"" from 1902. The lyrics relate how Bill Bailey's wife threw him out of the house, apparently because he beat her, then ""moans the whole day long"" for him to come home.
""I'll do the cookin', darlin', I'll pay the rent, I know I done you wrong,"" the song goes.
The tune ""I Wanna Be Loved by You"" came out in 1928 and became famous as the song of animated superstar Betty Boop.
""Basically it says that the only thing I want in life is to fulfill your desires,"" Dr. Marcic says, adding that the same idea appears in many songs, all the way through to the 1960s. ""There was a blip in the 1940s when the men went off to war and women took over factory and office work. But after the war women lost their jobs when men returned and they were sent back to the kitchen.""
Feminine domesticity continued in the 1950s - ""If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake"" is one famous song from the time. But Dr. Marcic points out that this was also the decade of Rosa Parks' famous refusal to give up her seat in the front of an Alabama bus, and this event helped inspire a new feeling among women.  The playbill cover.""'You Don't Own Me' came out in 1964, and it was really the first song to push back,"" she says. Helen Reddy's ""I Am Woman,"" with its famous declaration ""I am strong, I am invincible,"" was No.1 in 1972.
Then there was Janis Ian's ""At Seventeen,"" the No.3 song in 1975, talking about the disappointments of love, and Madonna's ""Material Girl"" from 1985, when cynicism has taken over.
A turning point came in the 1980s, Dr. Marcic says, with songs like Whitney Houston's ""Greatest Love of All,"" referring to the love of oneself and the attendant responsibility for one's own successes and failures. Later came ""Hero"" by Mariah Carey, ""Independent Woman"" by Destiny's Child, and ""Video"" by India.Arie, all reflecting a stronger, more confident woman.",BRISBANE,,Australia
530,2007-05-09,[],"Climate change creates moral issues, says panel","UNITED NATIONS, United States — As the scientific consensus on global warming grows, it's time to look more closely at how to share the economic, social, and humanitarian burdens that climate change will likely bring.
That was the main message of a panel discussion on ""The Ethical Dimension of Climate Change,"" organized by the Baha'i International Community and held here on 30 April 2007 during this year's UN Commission on Sustainable Development.
""If sea levels rise at the rates they are predicting, we may see hundreds of millions of refugees,"" said Arthur Lyon Dahl, president of the International Environment Forum, a Baha'i-inspired organization.
""Where will they go? Who will take them in? What does it mean about immigration regulations?"" asked Dr. Dahl, noting that these were only some of the moral and ethical questions that are being posed by the looming effects of climate change.
Sponsored by the nations of Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, with assistance from the UN Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), the event became one of the most talked-about side events at the Commission this year, said Tahirih Naylor, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""The timing of the event on the opening day of the Commission really helped to bring attention to the ethical issues surrounding climate change, helping to frame discussions at the Commission, at least among nongovernmental organizations and major groups,"" said Ms. Naylor.
The panelists included Enele Sopoaga, former Permanent Representative of Tuvalu to the UN; Om Pradhan of the UN-OHRLLS; Don Brown, project coordinator of the Collaborate Program on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change; Tony Barnston of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society at Columbia University; Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Fellowship Program Director of GreenFaith; and Dr. Dahl, who is a Baha'i and also the coordinator of the UN Environment Programme environmental diplomacy program at the University of Geneva.
Dr. Brown, who is at the Rock Ethics Institute at Pennsylvania State University, said the moral and ethical issues that accompany rising sea levels or widespread crop failures will be matters of life and death for many people.
""How much warming should we tolerate?"" he asked. ""What is the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases that the world should identify as a target? There is no more obvious moral and ethical issue than this issue. It will literally determine who lives and who dies, whether Tuvalu survives, whether the Marshall Islands survive.""
Such issues, Dr. Brown said, will force multilateral institutions like the United Nations to rethink international law and norms.
Ambassador Sopoaga said the issues for nations like Tuvalu are particularly stark.
""The future will be catastrophic for all communities, for all countries, but particularly for those who have already been identified as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,"" he said, noting that some forecasts suggest that small island states will disappear entirely under the rising ocean.
""It is a moral obligation, beyond political obligation or economic obligation, to help countries like Tuvalu and small island developing states, and of course the least developed countries,"" he said. ""We have to do something urgently.""
Mr. Pradhan of the UN-OHRLLS said that the latest predictions indicate that small island nations would be ""simply wiped out.""
""This is the time to remind the international community that ethics and morality do play a very important role in any human activity, especially when we have a situation where climate change is affecting such a large number, especially the poor and vulnerable,"" he said.
All the panelists agreed the release of recent studies by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UK's Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change have established a high level of confidence that climate change is real and that the consequences will be great.
""Some of the people against acceptance of global climate change demand something like at least 98 percent certainty,"" said Mr. Barnston. ""We have somewhere around 90 percent or the low 90s. To me that's pretty high. It's not 75 percent like it was a decade ago.""
All of the panelists also agreed that preventing the most drastic consequences of climate change would require that many people change their behavior - such as by driving fuel-efficient cars, shifting to renewable energy, and the like.
The question now, Mr. Barnston said, is how to motivate humans to change their behavior.
""When we discover something inconvenient to our lifestyle, it takes years to adjust to it, years to accept it, to believe it, and then to do something about it,"" he said, giving as examples the discovery that smoking is harmful or sunburns are not healthy. ""We have to shorten the time lag before all levels of society accept that climate change is a danger just like cigarette smoking is a danger.""
Dr. Dahl and Rabbi Troster both said that religious belief could be an important factor in providing the motivation for ethical behavior.
""How do we create a willingness to make the sacrifices that are going to be necessary,"" asked Dr. Dahl. ""How do we build a sense of global solidarity when we are all facing the same common challenges?
""Religion is that dimension of society that has traditionally been responsible for morality and ethics,"" he answered. ""We have to look at moderation. And all religions have taught about being content with very little.""
Rabbi Troster said religious communities believe that the attitude in which humanity views itself in relation to creation is fundamental in changing behavior.
""This is central to the concept of moral action,"" he said. ""If we change our attitudes, we will change our behavior.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
531,2007-05-13,[],Government of Slovakia recognizes the Baha'i Faith,"BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — The government of Slovakia has officially registered the Baha'i Faith as a religious community, guaranteeing the group the right to own property, observe holy days, disseminate literature and engage in a host of other activities.
The recognition was the result of an application submitted by the Baha'is which was supported by signatures of some 28,000 residents of the country.
""The registration will enable us to more effectively help and serve all Slovak residents and make our programs more accessible to both children and adults,"" Jitka Spillerova, a spokeswoman for the Slovakian Baha'is, said. ""The state guarantees registered churches and religious communities the legal status and possibility of functioning in public life.""
Recognition by the state also allows a religion to request government funds, but Mrs. Spillerova said the Baha'is will not request such money now or in the future because their activities are financed strictly through voluntary contributions of enrolled members.
""We would like to thank the thousands of people who supported our registration,"" Mrs. Spillerova said.
The law governing the recognition of a religious community bestows the right to become a legal corporation; for adherents to teach their faith to others, including as religious education in schools; to have their own schools and universities; to hold meetings without informing the authorities; to operate certain social or cultural establishments, including hospitals; to publish literature; and generally to carry out activities throughout the greater society.
Jan Juran, part of the government office involved in reviewing applications for recognition, said factors include not only whether a religious group is law-abiding and promotes good health and morality but also whether the religion supports humanitarian principles and tolerance of others.
Mrs. Spillerova noted that Baha'i belief includes respect for other religions and appreciation of diverse cultures. She said activities of the Slovakian Baha'i community include programs of moral education for children and youth, study courses for adults, and devotional meetings for people of every belief.
""Our intention is to create an opportunity for people to pause in their daily rush and think about the timeless truths that are taught by all the world's religions and how people can apply these truths in their life,"" she said.
The Baha'i Faith has had followers in what is now Slovakia since the early 20th century. It joins 17 other religious communities – the others are Christian or Jewish – currently recognized by the government.",BRATISLAVA,,Slovakia
543,2007-05-14,[],Funeral and memorial service planned for Samoan head of state,"APIA, Samoa — A state funeral is planned for 18 May for the Samoan head of state, His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, to be followed on 20 May by a memorial service at the Baha'i House of Worship near Apia. He passed away on the evening of 11 May in a hospital in Apia.
A follower of the Baha'i Faith, he was one of the longest reigning monarchs in the world. He was 94 years old.
""His service to the people of Samoa as Head of State was distinguished by the high principles, genuine compassion and personal humility that characterized the constancy of his concern for the welfare of all,"" the Universal House of Justice, the international Baha'i governing body, said in a statement to the National Spiritual Assembly of  the Baha'is of Samoa.
""As the first reigning sovereign to accept the Message of Baha'u'llah, he set a record that will forever illumine the annals of our Faith, one that future generations will increasingly extol,"" the House of Justice said. ""His great interest for well-nigh four decades in the Faith's progress was reflected in the enthusiastic affirmation of his belief whenever the opportunity presented itself and in the abiding joy with which he regarded the construction in 1984 of the Mother Temple of the Pacific Islands in Samoa....""
He himself participated in the dedication of that temple, one of only seven such Baha'i houses of worship in the world. The other six, located in Australia, India, Germany, Uganda, the United States, and Panama, will also hold services in his memory.
He had been head of state since the country gained independence from New Zealand in 1962.
The state funeral will be at 10 a.m. on 18 May in front of the Parliament Building, with a government-organized prayer service the day before. Entombment will be in the Malietoa Family crypt a few meters from the Parliament building.  His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, center, head of state of Samoa, died on 11 May 2007. He is pictured at the dedication in 1984 of the Baha'i House of Worship in his country. At right is his wife, Lili Tunu, and at left, Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani.The memorial service at the Baha'i House of Worship near Apia will be on 20 May, organized by the Baha'i  assembly. Earlier, on 13 May, a prayer service was held, attended by more than 200 Baha'is, family, friends, government officials, and representatives of churches and the diplomatic community.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark was one of the first to offer condolences. ""Throughout his long reign as Head of State, Malietoa represented Samoa with wisdom, humor, and insight,"" she said in comments published in the New Zealand Herald.
His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II was born on 4 January 1913. His wife, Lili Tunu, died in 1986. They have two sons and two daughters.
Samoa comprises several islands in the South Pacific about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. The population is about 200,000.",APIA,,Samoa
544,2007-05-16,[],Baha'is elect national assemblies,"GIZO, Solomon Islands — Surrounded by a tent community of refugees from the recent earthquake and tsunami, the Baha'is of the Solomon Islands forged ahead with their annual convention where they elected the nine members of the national governing council of their faith.
When the earthquake hit the South Pacific on April 2 and the resulting tsunami crashed into the Solomon Islands, a number of people from the area were at a meeting at the Baha'i center in Gizo, a small provincial capital.
The Baha'i center there happens to be on a mountain -- the highest point on that particular island -- so no one at the meeting was hurt, but a number of participants returned home to find their villages destroyed. The young granddaughter of a Baha'i couple was among the 28 people who died.
Since then, families have camped on the property of the Baha'i center -- which had already been designated the venue for the annual national Baha'i convention April 27-29. Delegates to the convention said that far from dampening the spirit of the meeting, the presence of the refugees created a warm and loving atmosphere for the gathering.
""The friends have manifested nobility, patience, and radiant acquiescence in enduring their hardship,"" the delegates wrote in a message from the convention. The refugees -- who are receiving aid from their national Baha'i organization, from the government and from international relief agencies -- are now in the process of rebuilding their homes or looking to relocate.
The newly elected governing council, called the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Solomon Islands, was one of 178 similar institutions formed in nations and territories around the world in recent weeks. Baha'i annual conventions are traditionally held in late April during the period known as Ridvan, commemorating Baha'u'llah's declaration of His mission in 1863.
At national conventions in other countries:  -- In Auckland, New Zealand, Baha'is marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their National Spiritual Assembly. At a special event held at the Auckland Museum, 600 people - including a number of international visitors and guests - heard congratulatory remarks by the governor general, Anand Satyanand, and a keynote address by a Baha'i speaker, Murray Smith.
-- In Paraguay, special note was made that some of the elected delegates were very young; similarly, a message from the convention in Venezuela said their new National Assembly ""shines for the diversity of the age and ethnicity of its members.""
-- Delegates at a number of the conventions sent messages conveying support for Baha'is in Iran and Egypt, where government persecution is resulting in the denial of education and other rights of citizenship to followers of the Baha'i Faith.
At virtually all the conventions around the globe, participants read and consulted about the annual message from the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith. Referred to as the Ridvan 2007 message, it stressed the importance of teaching the Baha'i Faith and of systematic grassroots programs that involve increasing numbers of people in study circles, devotional programs, and activities for children and young teenagers.
Individuals in each country who this year were elected to their Baha'i National Assembly will serve next year as delegates to the International Convention, held every five years in Haifa, Israel, where the world headquarters of the Baha'i Faith is located. The purpose of that gathering is to elect the nine members of the Universal House of Justice and to consult on the affairs of the Baha'i Faith.",GIZO,,Solomon Islands
547,2007-05-21,[],Baha'is celebrate anniversary of their faith,"HAIFA, Israel — May 23 marks the anniversary of the night in 1844 when a young man in Persia named Siyyid Ali-Muhammad quietly announced that He was a Messenger of God, come to herald a new age for the world of humanity that would fulfill prophecy for Christians, Muslims, and followers of other religions.
For the people who are now Baha'is, it was the birth of their religion.
Baha'i communities around the world celebrate the anniversary with special devotional programs and gatherings on the evening of May 22. Believers suspend work, and children and youth take off from school.
A 25-year-old merchant at the time of His declaration in 1844, Siyyid Ali-Muhammad became known as the Bab, which is Arabic for ""gate."" He said His mission was to prepare the way for a universal Messenger of God who would soon appear, as predicted in the scriptures of the world's major religions. One of the followers of the Bab, later known as Baha'u'llah, announced in 1863 that He was that Messenger.
Baha'is consider both the Bab and Baha'u'llah to be founders of their faith.
The Bab's declaration of His station was made in the city of Shiraz in what is now Iran. He almost immediately attracted a large following, which governmental and religious authorities found threatening. Some 20,000 of His followers were killed, and the Bab Himself was executed by firing squad in 1850 in the northern Iranian city of Tabriz.
His remains are entombed in Haifa in a beautiful, golden-domed shrine surrounded by gardens on the side of Mount Carmel.",HAIFA,,Israel
548,2007-05-24,[],"Rainn Wilson talks about Hollywood, his family and the Baha'i Faith","LOS ANGELES, United States — Actor Rainn Wilson is used to talking to the media - he is part of the award-winning cast of the U.S. television series ""The Office,"" and his recent role in the movie ""The Last Mimzy"" brought a flurry of new interviews. Time magazine, TV talk-show hosts and others came calling.
A member of the Baha'i Faith, he seems just as comfortable discussing his spiritual beliefs as he does shooting the breeze about Dwight Schrute, the pompous assistant manager he plays on ""The Office,"" the American version of a popular British TV show of the same name.
His show, seen weekly by 8 million people in the U.S. alone, also airs in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, parts of continental Europe, Australia, Saudi Arabia, parts of Latin America, Singapore, and several other countries.
His other acting credits include the character of Arthur Martin in the series ""Six Feet Under"" and a one-episode stint in ""Entourage,"" both on the U.S. cable network HBO; guest hosting ""Saturday Night Live"" on U.S. television;  and movie roles in ""Almost Famous,"" ""America's Sweethearts,"" ""Galaxy Quest,"" ""House of 1000 Corpses,"" ""Sahara,"" and ""My Super Ex-Girlfriend.""
In a recent interview with U.S. Baha'i News, he talked about Hollywood, his family, his life and his beliefs. Here is that interview, reprinted with permission:
Q: Rainn, what was it like to grow up in the Baha'i Faith?
A: When you grow up with a spiritual foundation that asks you to be conscious of the fact that all races are created equal, that men and women are equal and that all religions worship the same (God), it helps you see the world as one family and not get lost in the traps of political, social, and economic belief systems that can lead you astray. I always think of myself as a world citizen. It's a powerful thing.
Q: You stepped away from the Baha'i Faith in your 20s and returned to it 10 years later. What happened in that decade?
A: I was in New York City, going to acting school, and I was going through a rebellious phase. I didn't want anyone telling me what to do. I was disenchanted with things that were organized. It was a spiritual journey I was on. And this is reflected in and supported by one of the central tenets of the Baha'i Faith, which obliges every spiritual seeker to undertake an individual investigation of truth.  Funnyman and Baha'i, Rainn Wilson.I started at ground zero. I decided I didn't know if there was even a God. I read religious books of the world. I asked myself, ""If there is a God, how do we know what He wants us to do and what He wants for us? Do we read books? Do we buy crystals? Do we follow certain gurus? Do we sit under a tree? Because surely this omniscient creator has some kind of plan in store for mankind.""
Q: And that line of thinking led you back to the Baha'i Faith?
A: Yes, it brought me back to the Baha'i way of viewing things. I came to realize I did believe in God. I couldn't conceive of a universe without someone overseeing it in a compassionate way. It just made the most sense to me that God gradually is unfolding a plan for humankind. That there is progressive revelation -- the Baha'i belief that God sends Messengers for each day and age. I re-read books about the Baha'i Faith. And I came back to believing that Baha'u'llah was the Promised One and Messenger for this day and age. My quest took me from age 21 to 31. I'm 41 now.
Q: Your wife (author Holiday Reinhorn) recently became a Baha'i. How did that come about?
A: She wasn't a Baha'i when we got married in a Baha'i ceremony almost 12 years ago. I never pressured her to join the faith. But she started attending Ruhi (a curriculum based on the Baha'i Writings) classes in the L.A. area and became interested. And the birth of our son, Walter, now 2 1/2, was such a miracle that she found herself saying prayers and spiritually connecting to the faith. She became a Baha'i in 2004. We pray with Walter every night before he goes to bed.
Q: What is it like being a Baha'i in Hollywood?
A: There's a predisposition to link corruption and Hollywood. ... Shoghi Effendi (Guardian of the Baha'i Faith) wrote about this. The problem is that everything you hear in the news is about the superficiality, immorality, and degradation of Hollywood. But that is just not the case. Only a certain percent of the population is like that. It's probably the same percentage as for doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers, any profession. Some of the most morally conscious, kindest, most compassionate people are in the entertainment industry, people who want to affect the world and make it a better place through telling human, heartfelt stories.
Most people in Hollywood haven't heard of the Baha'i Faith, so they ask questions. I've had the opportunity to mention it in several articles and TV interviews, such as on ""The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.""
For years Holly and I hosted a belief night -- a devotional gathering where we invited people of different religious beliefs to our home. We asked them to bring something to share about their spiritual path. Belief in God was not required. We had atheists, Christian Scientists, Buddhist monks. ...
Recently I've been asked to speak a lot more about the Baha'i Faith. And I'll be working as a spokesperson with the Mona Foundation, a Baha'i-inspired not-for-profit organization that tries to provide quality education to all children, raise the status of women and girls, and build community.
Q: How does the Baha'i Faith figure in your life now?
A: My feeling about the faith is that it provides a practical guideline for living one's life. So much about religion has to do with rigid, sacrosanct preciousness. I don't live my life that way, and I don't feel that's what Baha'u'llah teaches. He wants us to live rich, full, loving lives in service to God's will and the human family.
I like being a Baha'i who has an out-there sense of humor. God gives us talents and faculties, and making people laugh is one of mine. I don't have to be digging latrines in Honduras to serve humanity. 'Abdu'l-Baha and Baha'u'llah talk a lot about using the arts to uplift people. When 'Abdu'l-Baha was with the early believers, nine times out of 10 he would make a joke.
Q: Speaking of delicate sensibility: Have you had to turn down roles because they conflicted with what's taught in the Baha'i Faith?
A: I've turned down many roles because they're morally repugnant. I have chosen to play spiritually lost characters, but only because I feel doing so served the greater good. In ""My Super Ex-Girlfriend,"" my character was so preposterous and ludicrous in his sexism that it was clear the message was not about degrading women. In fact, the women characters are the most together, courageous and strong people in the movie.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of the Baha'i Faith?
A: I love how democratic the faith is, that it has no clergy, no people telling us how to interpret the word of God. In this day and age we see how corrupt clergy can lead mankind down so many bad roads.
My favorite quote from the Baha'i Faith is from 'Abdu'l-Baha: ""If religion be the cause of disunity, then irreligion is surely to be preferred."" For the disenfranchised to know that 'Abdu'l-Baha is a proponent of having no religion if there's disunity. ... And for those who say they don't like ""organized religion,"" don't worry: The Baha'i Faith is one of the most disorganized religions on the planet - NOT!",LOS ANGELES,,United States
549,2007-05-27,[],Baha'is commemorate anniversary of the ascension of Baha'u'llah,"HAIFA, Israel — On May 29, Baha'is around the world will observe the 115th anniversary of the ascension of Baha'u'llah, the founder of their faith.
Baha'is recognize Baha'u'llah as the divine educator who, as the one promised in the scriptures of all the world's religions, has come to inaugurate a new age of peace and justice for the entire human race.
Edward Granville Browne, a prominent scholar from Cambridge University, was granted an audience with Baha'u'llah near Acre, Palestine, in 1890, two years before Baha'u'llah's passing, and recounted the meeting this way:
""The face of him on whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one's very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow.... No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain!""
Baha'u'llah passed away in the early morning of May 29, 1892, at the age of 74.
Baha'i historian H.M. Balyuzi later wrote: ""Many there were who came to mourn Him. They did not bear allegiance to Him, they could not see in Him the Redeemer of Mankind, yet they knew that a great Being had gone from their midst.
""They were from diverse backgrounds and sects and faiths and nations - officials and leading figures and priests, learned men and poets and men of letters, rich and poor, Druses, Sunni and Shi'ih Muslims, Christians of diverse denominations, and Jews. From other cities renowned in the history of the world, such as Damascus and Aleppo and Cairo, they sent their eulogies and poems and panegyrics and tributes.
""And Baha'u'llah, at the time of His ascension, was still a prisoner of the Turkish government.""
Baha'u'llah was laid to rest in the northernmost room of a house adjacent to where He had been living outside of Acre. The shrine is the holiest place in the world for Baha'is - the point to which they turn in prayer and visit on pilgrimage.",HAIFA,,Israel
552,2007-06-07,[],"Attacks on Iranian Baha'is, from the elderly to young schoolchildren, continue unabated","NEW YORK, United States — Reports and documents filtering out of Iran over the last six months indicate a widespread and calculated effort by the government to maintain and gradually intensify the persecution of Iranian Baha'is.
The evidence tells of continued efforts by the government to identify and monitor Baha'is; further incidents of abuse and discrimination directed at Baha'i students and children; stepped-up efforts to deprive Baha'is of their livelihood; and ongoing attacks on the Baha'i Faith in the official news media.
""The cumulative trend is one of an exceedingly ominous nature, and something of grave concern to Baha'is around the world,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""The considered view is that these recent incidents are being provoked and often methodically planned by the Information Ministry, in order to create fear, make the Baha'is physically vulnerable, and instill in them social and occupational insecurity,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""The clear intent is to separate Iranian Baha'is from their fellow citizens by generating suspicion, mistrust, and even hatred so that the social, economic, and cultural progress of this innocent religious minority continues to be blocked and its community life destabilized.'
To read more about recent attacks on Iranian Baha'is:
English
Persian
To read this news story in Persian, go to http://bahai.org/persian/persecution/newsreleases/07-06-07",NEW YORK,,United States
553,2007-06-24,[],"In Brazil, positive spin spells TV success","BLUMENAU, Brazil — The host of a long-running television talk show for women, Shideh Granfar, has a simple formula for success: ""Keep it positive.""
She recalls the time a cockroach crawled out of some food on camera, threatening the reputation of a restaurant being featured on the program.
She quickly turned things around by making a joke of the scene and then pointing the cameras at the not-so-tidy recesses of the studio, thus showing that the cockroach wasn't the restaurateur's fault.
""I explained to the viewers that the food had been here for a long time and that studios are not the cleanest places,"" she recounts, ""and I reassured them that the standards of cleanliness at the restaurant are really different. Then I took the cameraman on a tour of the studio, showing the viewers that even though the set looks beautiful, the studio is another story.
""The episode was a hit, and everyone was talking about it,"" she continues. ""The restaurant people were happy, too.""
Shideh - all the viewers call her by her first name - has hosted more than 500 weekly installments of ""Mulheres"" (Portuguese for ""Women"") for TV Galega, and this year she was cited by the local office of the Brazilian National Commercial Training Service for outstanding service by a woman in the field of communication and the arts.
""Shideh is one of those people that we always want to have around us: for her laughter, for her sparkle, for her manner of assuming there is a solution to everything - that the hard way is simply the 'least easy' way,"" said Valther Ostermann, a prominent local newspaper columnist who spoke at the ceremony where she received the recent award.  'Everyone is looking for happiness,' says TV host Shideh Granfar.Indeed, Shideh - who is creator, producer, director and host of her program - is known for her infectious laugh and her ability to put a positive twist on whatever life puts in front of her.
Her outlook on life, she explains, comes from her practice of the Baha'i Faith.
""As Baha'is we believe in looking for the best in people. So when I have someone on the show I try to make them feel comfortable. I do not try and put them in a corner and make them look bad. We try to bring out the best of what people have to give. I think that the show serves as a model of positiveness, especially to women.""
Shideh says the subjects she addresses on the show bear a direct relation to her religious belief.
""'Mulheres' relates to the Baha'i Faith through the various subjects we choose to address in the development and betterment of the quality of life for women,"" she says. ""The Baha'i writings say a lot about this issue. We also have an editorial opening where we use thoughts, prayers, and material from the writings of the Faith which address the theme of the day."" (See video).
She sees the role of the show as providing an uplifting experience for viewers, given that she thinks people tend to be unhappy about many aspects of their lives.
""When you show them good and positive things, people just love it.,"" she says. ""They're so grateful and they tell me, 'You're always laughing!' But what they don't know is that giving them the opportunity to see good in life is what makes me happy.""
She believes it was this upbeat attitude - plus her views on the equality of women and men - that led TV Galega owner Altair Carlos Pimpao to hire her 10 years ago for the show in Blumenau, a city of 300,000 people in southern Brazil.
Mr. Pimpao had watched her lead a Baha'i meeting and found her to be an articulate speaker and a natural host.
Best of all, Mr. Pimpao realized, she and other Baha'is believe strongly in the advancement of women and equality of the sexes. He is not a Baha'i, but he understood their belief and thought this was just the kind of person he needed for the new show.
Often the guests on the hourlong program are local experts in fields relating to education or health. Discussion centers on how the issues relate to women, although Shideh says surveys show that half her viewers are men.
""They (men) are interested and curious about women's subjects,"" she notes. ""Men try to understand the world of women, our dreams and goals in life so they can have better relationships with us. It is great to see how many men are interested. ... We get men calling us while we are on air and asking questions for their wives and friends. By doing this they contribute to the development of ideas and at the same time growth in their own lives and their relationships.""
""Mulheres"" airs live on Tuesday evenings, and viewers may call in with questions and comments. A tape of each program is rebroadcast on Wednesdays and Sundays, and shows are available on the Internet at  Jump TV.
""It has been a rewarding experience,"" Shideh says of hosting the show. ""It's funny. I can be having the worst day of my life, and as soon as I get into the studio I am happy and laughing.""
Shideh, who has been married for 26 years and has two children, travels frequently. She says that through her travels she has learned something that she tries to share on her show: ""Humanity is humanity, everywhere you go,"" she says. ""Everyone is looking for happiness.""",BLUMENAU,,Brazil
567,2007-07-02,[],Canadian school teaches 'we' instead of 'me',"HAWNIGAN LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada — It's only three words - a total of six letters. But the ""Me to We"" slogan helps students understand what service is all about, says the principal of the Maxwell International School, located in the woods of Vancouver Island.
""By adopting what Canadian youth activist Craig Kielberger calls the 'Me to We' philosophy, we help our students to be less 'me'-centered and more centered on the needs of others,"" said the principal, Dan Vaillancourt.
""Through service to others, students develop empathy and understanding while being exposed to many of the social issues that plague society,"" he said. ""Working with the elderly, the handicapped, the homeless, the sick, the less fortunate - both here and abroad - will reinforce in our children the belief that we are all responsible for creating a better world.""
Since its founding by the Baha'is of Canada nearly two decades ago, Maxwell International School - a college-preparatory institution, grades 7 to 12, with an enrollment of 150 students from some 25 countries - has placed heavy emphasis on service.
Many schools around the world offer academic credit for service projects, but Maxwell does not. Involvement in the greater community is simply a part of who they are - and a key part of what comprises a Maxwell education.
""It is all part of the learning at Maxwell,"" Mr. Vaillancourt said.
Overall, programs at the school reflect a spiritual view of humanity; use of practical, integrative and theme-based projects; the encouragement of creative and artistic expression in all aspects of school life; and the use of service as a tool for learning.
""Maxwell's aim is to encourage students to become servants to humanity, to see the world as an arena for community action, and to determine their active roles as transformers of society,"" the principal said.
The students come up with projects on their own, through organized programs, with the assistance of faculty or staff, or at the request of outside parties.  Maxwell students in grades 7 to 11 took part in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, sorting their ""catch"" for recycling.Some of the more prominent service projects are:


Emergency Response Team - Students are trained in first aid, search and rescue, response to fires and earthquakes, traffic control, and other procedures. They assist professional crews in the event of an emergency.


Dance and theater workshops -  Music, dance, and drama are used to convey social messages on contemporary issues such as racism, poverty, gender prejudice, substance abuse, peer pressure, justice, and gossip. Presentations are given at area elementary schools and community gatherings, and Maxwell students sometimes travel during their vacation periods for performances.


Portland Island Marine Park Stewardship Program - For 15 years, Maxwell students have been working through the Ministry of Parks and Recreation to help control an invasive plant on Portland Island. Data collected by the students provide the ministry with the only long-term record available about the management and removal of this plant. Maxwell has received government recognition for its participation.


Rotary International Interact Club - Students work with Rotary, a well-known service organization, on both local and international projects.


One recent service project, called Sprouts, was started by students and involves educating the entire Maxwell community on environmental issues, said Sharon Welsh, director of development at the school.
She said the school encourages students to tackle international projects.
""In 2006 two Maxwell students traveled to Japan to provide leadership for a summer Dance Workshop program,"" she said.
And this year, four students are going to Tanzania for a summer arts program.
""These youth, three 14-year-olds and one 18-year-old, will join a Maxwell graduate who is on a year of service in Tanzania,"" Ms. Welsh said. ""The project was identified and planned by the youth, who worked evenings and weekends throughout year to raise funds and prepare. ...""
The school has devised mechanisms to make service projects more effective and also to help students understand the nature of service, especially as a way of life. A key component is students being divided into groups of 12 or so, of different ages and backgrounds, and assigned a teacher as an adviser.
""The role of the adviser is to encourage, mentor, empower, and accompany the students on their journey of learning through service,"" said Mr. Vaillancourt. ""Each Adviser Group chooses a service project of some kind to work on throughout the year. These service projects may be local, regional, national, or international in scope.""
Laura Veary, a former faculty member who managed the school's community service programs, said some students are reluctant at first to take part in service projects but most do learn the benefits of spending time to help others.
""Students feel good about themselves as they see their accomplishments and the effect of their contributions,"" said Mrs. Veary. Most students, she said, become motivated to continue to be of service as adults.
Katie Yurychuk, 17, graduates this month and was the student leader of the Maxwell Emergency Response Team.
""The sense of service that Maxwell gives us helped me see myself as part of a world community,"" she said. ""There is so much that we do here that helps us have a more holistic mindset instead of a self-centered mindset. I give 100 percent of that to Maxwell.""
Galen Humber, 16, is finishing 10th grade and has been the coordinator for his grade for the Portland Island Marine Park Stewardship program. He said being part of the international community at Maxwell is helping him and his classmates look beyond themselves.
He illustrated his point with this story: ""(One) day during home room we had a free period. Half of us decided to go and play dodge ball. When we came back we found the guys who didn't come writing letters to Baha'i communities around the world to encourage them to send their children to our school. We all thought this was a great idea.""",HAWNIGAN LAKE,BRITISH COLUMBIA,Canada
568,2007-07-08,[],Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab,"HAIFA, Israel — On July 9, Baha'is around the world commemorate the date in 1850 that the Bab - one of two main figures in the founding of their Faith - was executed by a firing squad in Iran, then called Persia.
The Bab, whose name means ""gate"" in Arabic, had declared in 1844 that He was a messenger of God sent to prepare the way for the long-awaited promised one of all religions who would come to establish an age of universal peace. In 1863 Baha'u'llah announced publicly that He was that promised one.
The Bab attracted tens of thousands of followers, and the unease and commotion created by His message led the authorities to put him to death on a charge of heresy. He and a disciple who begged to share His martyrdom were executed by a firing squad of 750 soldiers in a public square in Tabriz.
The remains of the Bab are now entombed in Haifa, Israel, in a beautiful shrine on Mount Carmel.
How the Bab was brought to Haifa to His final resting place is in itself a special chapter in Baha'i history. Indeed, 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah who was the head of the Baha'i Faith from 1892 to 1921, considered providing a fitting burial for the Bab to be one of the key duties and accomplishments of his ministry.  Transferring the sacred remains of the Bab to Haifa and laying them in their permanent resting place was one of the chief accomplishments of 'Abdu'l-Baha, according to his own testimony.The remains of the Bab had been rescued by His followers from a ditch near the execution site and were carefully hidden in Iran for nearly half a century.
In 1899, at the behest of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the remains were transported - under great threat from civil and religious authorities and others - by  way of Isfahan, Kirmanshah, Baghdad and Damascus, to Beirut and then by sea to Acre north of Haifa where 'Abdu'l-Baha lived.
'Abdu'l-Baha hid the remains for another decade before presiding over an emotional ceremony on Mount Carmel where he himself placed the sacred trust at a specially prepared site that had been designated by Baha'u'llah for the final resting place of the Bab.
Much later, an exquisite shrine with a golden dome was built over the tomb. This building has become one of the best known landmarks of northern Israel and is a place of pilgrimage for Baha'is from all over the world.",HAIFA,,Israel
569,2007-07-23,[],Tasmanian Baha'i Center gets dome,"HOBART, TASMANIA, Australia — A huge dome has been lifted into place atop the new Baha'i Center of Learning on the island of Tasmania, an Australian state that lies south of the mainland.
Six years in the planning and three years in the building, the new center boasts a 300-seat auditorium and other facilities that will be used not only for core Baha'i activities but also by the wider community in Hobart, which is the state capital, and beyond.
""The circular nature of the dome will represent the never-ending cone of learning,"" Ann Stark of the Baha'i Council of Tasmania said in comments published in a local newspaper. ""The center's facilities will be made available to the people of Tasmania.""  Construction of the new Baha'i facility in Hobart incorporates principles of energy efficiency, water conservation, and use of nontoxic and recyclable materials.The dome was lifted by crane as a small crowd of Baha'is and others watched.
The inspiration for the center came after the death in 2000 of Soheila Mirkazemi and her son Naveed in a car accident in Hobart. The Naveed Foundation was established and has been raising the funds for the center.
Walter Jaros, another member of the Baha'i Council of Tasmania, said the goal is to open the new facility by the end of 2007. It includes a library; office space for the Baha'i regional council and for the board that will oversee the operation of the center; rooms for meetings and activities; and the large auditorium that will have stackable chairs for better flexibility in using the space, he said.
The Web site for the center says it will be used for activities exploring how to use the ""insights of religion, science and the arts for ... spiritual, intellectual and social development,"" with a goal toward building a peaceful and sustainable world community.
In keeping with this vision, the facility was designed with an eye to achieving the highest possible standards of energy efficiency and water conservation. The principal architect was Stuart McKenzie Hall of Hobart.
Tasmania has about 250 registered Baha'is, Mr. Jaros said. The population of the state is nearly 500,000.",HOBART,TASMANIA,Australia
570,2007-07-31,[],Iranian Baha'i students shut out of vocational education,"NEW YORK, United States — Iranian Baha'is seeking to enter Iran's technical and vocational institutes have been effectively barred from admission for the coming academic year, since the application to sit for the entrance examinations leaves them with no option but to deny their faith, which Baha'is refuse to be coerced into doing.
The Baha'i International Community learned recently that the 2007 form for the entrance examination for undergraduate courses under the technical and vocational education system indicates that only one box may be marked for religion.
The applicant is given three choices - Zoroastrian, Jewish, or Christian - and if none of the boxes is marked, the form explains, the applicant will be considered Muslim. This is unacceptable to Baha'is.
""Under this system, Baha'is cannot fill out the application without a de facto denial of their faith, which is against their religious principles,"" said Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal representative to the United Nations.
""Accordingly, Iranian Baha'is will not be able to take this entrance examination, and so they are effectively blocked this year from obtaining technical and vocational education in Iran.
""Such a denial of access to education violates the internationally established right to education, to which the government of Iran has agreed, and reflects yet another facet of Iran's continuing persecution of the Baha'i community of Iran,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The Baha'i International Community decries the government's actions not only against Baha'i students - who are deprived of higher education solely for their religious beliefs - but also against any other Iranian students who are being denied access to higher education on clearly insupportable grounds, such as for giving voice to beliefs or opinions that are not officially endorsed, Ms. Dugal said.
Last autumn, after more than 25 years during which Iranian Baha'is were outright banned from attending public and private universities, several hundred Baha'i students were admitted to various educational institutions around the country. This came about after the government stated its position that the reference to religion on entrance examination papers to nonspecialized universities and colleges did not identify university applicants by their religion, but only gave the religious studies subject on which they had been examined. This clarification was accepted by the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith.
The acceptance of Baha'i students at Iranian universities has, however, been short-lived, Ms. Dugal said.
According to the latest figures from Iran, of the Baha'i students who took the national entrance examination last year, ultimately some 200 were admitted and enrolled. Over the course of the school year, however, over half that number - at most recent count, at least 128 - have been expelled as school officials discovered they were Baha'is. This has led observers to conclude that Iran's statements last year were nothing more than a ruse intended to quell international protest over the denial to Baha'i students of access to higher education.
""This latest news about the registration form for technical and vocational education only serves to further confirm that Iran continues to play games with Baha'i students in their country, and that its promises of access to higher education for them are hollow,"" said Ms. Dugal.
To read this news story in Persian, go to http://www.bahai.org/persian/persecution/newsreleases/31-07-07",NEW YORK,,United States
572,2007-08-12,[],Hip-hop hits spiritual chords,"LOS ANGELES, United States — Be cool. Be religious. Yes, you can watch MTV and still have morals.
Some music professionals in Los Angeles - all of them Baha'is and all knee-deep or more in the entertainment industry - have come out with what one recording artist terms a ""straight-up Baha'i album.""
The group calls itself the Dawnbreaker Collective, the album is named ""Arise,"" and the music is, well, cool.
Rap, rock, funk, R&B, spoken-word - all are represented.
""Come talk with Me, speak heavenly, remember Me, O son of Spirit,"" sings Tara Ellis on one of the hip-hop tracks. She has recorded with rap star Eve and with Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas fame, and is unapologetic about her current contribution to a religious record.
""This was an incredible project to part of,"" she says. ""It's different to the stuff that most of us do because this is a straight-up Baha'i album. It's us being Baha'is and doing what we love. ...
""It's the sound of our times but in a good way.""  Andy Grammer is one of 17 artists who performs on ""Arise"" by the Dawnbreaker Collective.Benny Cassette - he's a hip-hopper and producer who has worked with Mos Def, Willie Nelson, Eve, and Akon, and is slated to release a solo album on Universal Records - says the idea is to talk religion with young people in a language they understand.
He and the other artists - 17 of them altogether - wanted to ""create something that Baha'i kids can listen to as easily as they listen to some of the other popular music out there.""
""You know,"" he says, ""they look up to the people they see on MTV and things. So what we are trying to do with this album is show them that there are people who work with the MTVs of the world but still hold to our values - which they can do, too.""
Hundreds of Web messages from the U.S. and around the world suggest that Benny and company are on the right track.
""I just discovered your music,"" writes a woman named Sandra from Cameroon. ""Really, I didn't imagine rap could be so inspiring.""
From Dorina in Germany: ""I like this special new style of performing Baha'i themes. Do you know what important work you are doing?""
Part of the album's new style is the way sacred scripture is used.
""This album has introduced the world to a different way of treating the (Baha'i) writings,"" says Vahid Brooks, one the  featured artists. ""We are not being disrespectful or anything. All we are doing is using the writings in a language that makes sense to us and the people we live with.""
Benny Cassette says that although the album is inspired by the Baha'i Faith, ""we are trying to make music for the world. ... Ultimately we want to create a doorway for people to access the Faith.""
The songs on ""Arise"" are not really scripture set to music, explains Jamie Lewis, manager of the Dawnbreaker Collective.
""It's more a vibe or a feeling,"" he says. ""The album was created by the artists praying and deepening together and then going off and writing the songs.""
Love for their religion is what led the artists to make the album, adds Benny.
""I can remember thinking to myself that I will not be happy having any song on this album that I couldn't see myself sitting down and listening to with 'Abdu'l-Baha,"" he says. 'Abdu'l-Baha was the son of the founder of the Baha'i Faith, and Baha'is look to him as the best example of how to live.
""The arts are extremely powerful,"" says Michael Mathenge, a member of the Dawnbreaker Collective who goes by the name Mathai. ""They can inspire, and they can motivate anyone if they are used in the right way. This is what we are trying to do.""
The artists who created ""Arise"" - in addition to Benny Cassette, Tara Ellis, Vahid Brooks, and Mathai (""Solomon Coal"") - include Andy Grammer, Robert ""Iodine"" Sinclair, Jamal ""J-Bird"" DeGruy, Ruth Foreman, Rey ""Rey Loo"" Luna, and Jason ""Matu"" Greene. Also contributing were Jamey Heath, Deep Red, Rance, Dorothy Dixon, Devon Gundry, Fondi Dixon, and John Barnes the Third. Oscar DeGruy makes a guest appearance, and Allison Anastasio designed the album cover.
The album can be purchased online at http://www.dawnbreakercollective.com/ and through iTunes, and it is increasingly available internationally at outlets where Baha'i books and materials are sold.",LOS ANGELES,,United States
573,2007-08-19,[],South African film shows faith in action,"CAPETOWN, South Africa — Two professional filmmakers have finished an hourlong documentary about three Baha'is and how they practice their faith, and the film is being aired on television in South Africa and neighboring countries.
""Baha'i Faith: A Way Forward"" was produced by Ryan and Leyla Haidarian at the request of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, which has licensed rights to the documentary for two years.
""We created this film to show what the Baha'i Faith has to offer on a practical level for the world,"" Mrs. Haidarian said.
The film gives an introduction to the Baha'i Faith and focuses on three individuals in South Africa and how their faith is reflected in service to others:  Leyla and Ryan Haidarian made the documentary for the South African Broadcasting Corporation.-- Eunice Mabaso turned her home into an orphanage after her brother and his wife died and she took in their four children. Over the years, hundreds of other orphans - many of them living in poverty in the streets - came to her home for shelter, love, and protection. ""We can change the poverty and crime of this earth,"" she says. ""The future of South Africa will become brighter.""
-- Iraj Abedian, an economist and policy adviser to the government, tries to address problems resulting from extremes of wealth and poverty. One of his projects is a collective home-financing program that helps low-income working people save money and invest, but he is careful to emphasize that his work is based on principles from what he believes is a divine plan. He says you can look at the world as a construction site, ""full of dust and mud and rubbish, and yet see in it the (new) edifice that is rising. ... To be at work on the construction site - it's exciting.""
-- Tahirih Matthee helps provide training programs for people with no experience using computers and the Internet. Her course includes education about gender equality - she points out that equality of women and men is an explicit teaching of the Baha'i Faith - and also information about HIV/AIDS prevention. ""For something to be successful, you need vision,"" she says. ""Every person can be happy when things are ideal, but our true nobility lies in the journey of being happy precisely when things are not ideal.""
The new film includes historical photos of the Baha'i community of South Africa, including its founding during the time of apartheid.
""In those days, the Baha'is stuck to the letter of the law, but they didn't really stick to the spirit of the law,"" says the film. A fundamental principle of the Baha'i Faith is the unity of the races and the elimination of prejudice.
Great precaution was taken for the first election of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of South Africa. It was held in a farmhouse, and whites entered through the front door, black Africans through the back door.
""If the security police approached, the African Baha'is began cleaning and cooking. The white Baha'is played cards and socialized,"" the narrator relates.
The Haidarians produced and financed the documentary through their company, Race Productions, in South Africa. The film can be seen on the Web at www.doubletake.tv/cms/way-forward-english. The Web site also gives information for ordering a DVD.
Ryan Haidarian heads up development and production at the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, the organization that produced the Academy Award-winning film ""Tsotsi."" A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin in the United States, Mr. Haidarian won several awards for a documentary about famed American football coach Darrell Royal.
Leyla Haidarian has worked as a journalist, actress, and filmmaker in Europe, North America and Africa, and can currently be seen playing a supporting role in a South African drama series.",Cape Town,,South Africa
575,2007-08-27,[],Confidential Iran memo exposes policy to deny Baha'i students university education,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has received a copy of a confidential 2006 letter from Iran's Ministry of Science, Research and Technology instructing Iranian universities to expel any student who is discovered to be a Baha'i.
The letter refutes recent statements by Iranian officials, who say Baha'i students in Iran face no discrimination - despite the fact that more than half of the Baha'i university students enrolled last autumn were gradually expelled over the course of the 2006-2007 academic year.
""This latest document, which flatly states that Baha'i students should be expelled from universities once they are discovered, proves unequivocally that Iranian authorities remain intent on utterly blocking the development of Iranian Baha'is, despite what they say to the outside world,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Along with other recently received reports and documents, the letter exposes a duplicitous campaign by Iran to pretend that it does not violate the internationally recognized right to education while, in fact, the government is actually continuing to implement its secret, long-term plan  to prevent Baha'i students from obtaining a university education.
""Coupled with ongoing reports of physical and economic harassment directed against Baha'is of all ages and in all regions of the country, this latest development should serve to remind those who care about human rights that Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i community remains gravely threatened,"" she said.
""Not only Baha'is, but also others - students expelled under directives that target them on absolutely baseless grounds; women whose human rights are grossly violated through the enactment or perpetuation of discriminatory laws; and other victims of injustice in that land - need international defense,"" she added.
The 2006 letter is from the Central Security Office of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) and was issued by its director general, Asghar Zarei, to 81 universities around the country. Stamped ""confidential,"" the exact date of the letter is undecipherable, although its contents are legible. (Document 1 in the list of original documents.)
""(I)f the identity of Baha'i individuals becomes known at the time of enrollment or during the course of their studies, they must be expelled from university,"" states the letter, which was signed by Mr. Zarei. The Ministry of Science, Research and Technology oversees all state-run universities.
The directive flatly contradicts public and private statements of Iranian government officials over the last several years. They have sought to portray their educational system as open to Baha'is and free of discriminatory practices.
In early March, for example, newspapers carried a story by the Reuters news agency reporting that some 70 Baha'i students had been expelled from universities in Iran since autumn 2006.
In the Reuters story, however, an anonymous spokesperson for the Iranian Mission to the United Nations was quoted as saying in reply: ""No one in Iran because of their religion has been expelled from studying.""
The number of 70 students expelled as of March 2007 as reported by Reuters has since risen to more than 128, out of approximately 200 who were enrolled last autumn after more than 25 years during which Baha'i students were banned from universities in Iran.
Last year, as well, deceitful statements by Iranian officials came to light when Clare Short, a member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, received a communication from Hamid Reza Arefi, the charge d'affaires of the Iranian Embassy in London, who likewise denied that Baha'is are discriminated against in their access to higher education in Iran.
""Although Bahaism (sic) is not recognized as an official religion but by law Baha'is are entitled to equal rights,"" wrote Mr. Arefi in an 8 June 2006 letter to Ms. Short, adding: ""In Iran, no individual is excluded from higher education solely because of his/her ideology.""
Similar statements have been made by Iranian diplomats and officials in other venues.
The 2006 letter from the MSRT's Central Security Office also makes a clear reference to the secret 1991 Golpaygani memorandum about Baha'is, which was released to the public in 1993 by a United Nations official. (Document 5.)
Despite Mr. Arefi's assurances that Iranian Baha'is are legally entitled to equal rights, other voices state that the Golpaygani memorandum takes precedence.
That 1991 memorandum outlined a comprehensive plan to ""block"" the development and progress of the Iranian Baha'i community. The 1991 memorandum states for example that Baha'is shall be denied ""any position of influence"" and that ""employment shall be refused to persons identifying themselves as Baha'is.""
The 1991 memorandum states clearly that Baha'is ""must be expelled from universities, either in the admission process or during the course of their studies, once it becomes known that they are Baha'is.""
Signed by Hujjatu'l Islam Seyyed Mohammad Golpaygani, secretary of the Iran Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council, the 1991 memorandum was approved by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. As such, it reflects the highest policy of the government.
A number of fair-minded Iranian individuals have offered sympathy and a measure of support for the plight of the Baha'is; however, they are largely powerless in the face of the official policy of the government to oppress the Baha'is, Ms. Dugal said.
""The Baha'i International Community asserts that unless and until the Iranian government revokes this pernicious document, there is little hope of any justice for the Baha'is of Iran,"" she said.
The Baha'i International Community has also recently received several other documents and letters that clearly indicate the policy outlined in the 2006 letter is being actively implemented.
These documents include:
-- A second, follow-up letter from the MSRT's Central Security Office to officials at Payame Noor University, dated 17 March 2007, which instructs them to ""prevent the enrollment of the Baha'i applicants."" (Document 2.)
-- An 18 May 2007 letter from the academic counseling and higher education office at Guilan University to the director of university academic affairs, asking for the immediate discharge of a Baha'i student. (Document 4.)
-- A 27 May 2007 letter, also from the academic counseling and higher education office at Guilan University, to the above-mentioned  Baha'i student, notifying the student that she has  been ""disqualified"" from studying at Guilan, as required by the 1991 Golpaygani memorandum. (Document 3.)",NEW YORK,,United States
576,2007-08-29,[],"Rebirth can follow breakdown, says best-selling author","MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, Canada — Thomas Homer-Dixon, author of the Canadian best seller ""The Upside of Down,"" says he has spent a lot of time working out a diagnosis of what is wrong in the world today. His conclusion, he says, is scary.
""We are in real trouble,"" he said in a talk at the 31st annual conference of the Association for Baha'i Studies in North America, held in mid-August near Toronto. More than 1,200 people from 16 countries attended the four-day conference.
He said five enormous pressures - demographic change, energy scarcity, environmental damage, climate change, and the widening gap between rich and poor - are bearing down on humanity. These problems are magnified by the interconnectedness of people today and the increased capacity for destruction, he said.
People want to turn for leadership to supposed experts - in finance, in science - thinking that someone at the top should know the answers, he said.
""But something tells us that the experts really don't know what is going on,"" said Professor Homer-Dixon, who is the director of the Trudeau Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Toronto.
Although not a member of the Baha'i Faith, Professor Homer-Dixon said he agrees with Baha'is that individuals must become knowledgeable about problems and solutions rather than waiting for leaders to provide top-down strategies.
""It is time for us to stop expecting others to take care of us - those knights on white horses,"" he said. ""As power has moved down the hierarchy, responsibility has moved down that social hierarchy, too.""
Knowledge is key, he told his audience, many of whom were academics, scholars, or highly trained professionals.
Surveys have shown, he said, that a significant number of Americans of college age do not know that the earth revolves around the sun in one year.
""How can you have a conversation about climate change if you are talking to someone who does not know this?"" he said.
Although Professor Homer-Dixon gives a pessimistic assessment of the crises in the world, he looks for hope in what he dubs ""catagenesis"" - rebirth through breakdown.
""This is the opportunity for you Baha'is,"" he said, proceeding to quote from the writings of Baha'u'llah on the subject of knowledge and hope: ""Knowledge is as wings to man's life, and a ladder for his ascent. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not those which begin with words and end with words. ...""
(Sandra Bean contributed to this article.)
(For reports from the Canadian Baha'i News Service on the recent conference of the Association for Baha'i Studies, go on the Web to www.bahainews.ca. For information about the association itself, go to www.bahai-studies.ca.)",MISSISSAUGA,ONTARIO,Canada
577,2007-09-14,[],Universal House of Justice addresses Iranian Baha'i students,"HAIFA, Israel — In the wake of new evidence that Iran has lied about its intention to allow Baha'i students into universities, the Universal House of Justice has sent a letter to Iranian Baha'i youth encouraging them to respond with composure, perseverance, and a redoubled commitment to work towards the common good in Iran.
""With an illumined conscience, with a world-embracing vision, with no partisan political agenda, and with due regard for law and order, strive for the regeneration of your country. By your deeds and services, attract the hearts of those around you, even win the esteem of your avowed enemies,"" wrote the Baha'i international governing council in a letter dated 9 September 2007.
The letter comes after disclosures that indisputably reveal the double game being played by the Iranian government in the execution of its long-term plan to block the development of the Iranian Baha'i community.
A major element of that plan has been to prevent Baha'i youth from obtaining higher education. More than half of the Baha'i students in university last year have been expelled for no reason other than their religion.
Recently, the Baha'i International Community disclosed the existence of a confidential government memorandum instructing Iranian universities to expel any student who is discovered to be a Baha'i, refuting statements by Iranian officials who say Baha'i students face no discrimination.
So far this year, more than 800 of the 1,050 Baha'is who sat for entrance examinations have not received their test results, allegedly because their files are ""incomplete,"" even though Baha'is made every effort to comply with the application process. No explanation has been given to them as to how their applications were incomplete. Without the test results, the students have been unable to apply to university for the coming academic year.
""These official acts are disappointing and shameful,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice. ""This action of the government in obstructing youth, Baha'i or otherwise, from access to higher education stands in contrast to the noble history of Iran's past attainments.""
The letter recounts the long history of official government efforts to deprive Baha'is of access to higher education, noting that Baha'i students were initially banned from universities in Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
""Then, consequent to a concerted worldwide effort - involving governments, educational institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals - that raised questions about this situation, your government's representatives responded by averring that the reference to religion on the forms was not to identify university applicants by belief but only to specify the religion on which they wished to be examined.""
Accordingly, ""as a gesture of good will and so as to find a solution to an issue that adversely affects the good name of Iran, the Baha'i community accepted this apparent clarification. At long last, you were able to feel hopeful that the way would now be clear for you to continue your education,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice.
Recent events, however, ""call to mind heart-rending episodes in the history of the Faith, of cruel deceptions wrought against your forebears,"" the letter continued. ""It is only appropriate that you strive to transcend the opposition against you with that same constructive resilience that characterized their response to the duplicity of their detractors.""
In that regard, the Universal House of Justice urged Iranian Baha'i youth to avoid any impulse to ""rise against their oppressors,"" ""flee for refuge,"" or ""capitulate to their fate.""
Rather, the Universal House of Justice wrote:  ""Service to others is the way. ...  Strive to work hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder, with your fellow citizens in your efforts to promote the common good.""
 Letter of the Universal House of Justice in English.
 Letter of the Universal House of Justice in Persian 
 Timeline of events in the Iranian government's effort to deny Baha'i youth access to higher education",HAIFA,,Israel
578,2007-09-21,[],Iranian government campaign against Baha'is shows new facets,"NEW YORK, United States — The bulldozing of a Baha'i cemetery in Iran last week is the latest in a series of incidents in a government-led campaign of hatred against Baha'is.
The destruction of the cemetery by individuals using heavy equipment occurred between 9 September and 10 September near Najafabad, on the outskirts of Isfahan. What happened there is nearly identical to what happened in July in Yazd, where another Baha'i cemetery was extensively damaged by earth-moving equipment.
The list of anti-Baha'i incidents is growing, as are human rights violations against other groups in Iran.
In Najafabad, a few days before the destruction of more than 100 Baha'i graves, threatening letters were delivered to some 30 Baha'i families. In May, in Mazandaran province, the unoccupied homes of six Iranian Baha'is were set on fire. In June, in Abadeh, vandals wrote hateful graffiti on Baha'i houses and shops.
Since May, Baha'is in at least 17 towns have been detained for interrogation. Six new arrests have been reported. In Kermanshah, a 70-year-old man was sentenced to 70 lashes and a year in prison for ""propagating and spreading Bahaism and the defamation of the pure Imams."" In Mazandaran, a court has once again ruled against three women and a man who are charged with ""propagation on behalf of an organization which is anti-Islamic.""
All these events are results of the Iranian government's long campaign to incite hatred against Baha'is, a spokeswoman for the Baha'i International Community said today.
""This should be a cause for concern among human rights activists everywhere,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
She appealed to the world to hold the Iranian government accountable for its actions and to help prevent the situation from deteriorating into further violence. Baha'is in Iran number about 300,000 and represent the largest religious minority in the country.  ""Hezbollah is awake and despises the Baha'is"" reads this piece of graffiti on a building in the city of Abadeh. Dozens of hateful anti-Baha'i slogans have been painted on homes, offices and cemetery buildings in various locations in Iran.""Put in a historical context, these kinds of attacks too often have been a prelude to campaigns of oppression and violence that are far worse.
""While some of these incidents may seem to be minor, the fact that such events are increasingly commonplace and reported as occurring in virtually every region of Iran shows that the persecution of Baha'is remains official government policy, and therefore is something for which Iran must be held accountable,"" she said.
""The graffiti in Abadeh included slogans such as 'Death to Baha'is, the mercenaries of America and England,' 'Hezbollah despises the Baha'is,' 'Baha'is - mercenaries of Israel' and 'Baha'is are unclean' - phrases that relate directly to government propaganda that has been disseminated in Iranian news media in recent years,"" Ms. Ala'i said.
She noted that other groups in Iran are also suffering human-rights violations.
""In recent months, the Iranian authorities have been carrying out a widespread crackdown on civil society, targeting academics, women's rights activists, students, and journalists,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Among the anti-Baha'i incidents reported in recent months are the following:
-- On 19 June 2007, a report was received that a 70-year-old man of limited means had been arrested in April 2007 in Kermanshah. Authorities charged him with the possession of three Baha'i CDs. He was tried on 23 April 2007 and charged with ""propagating and spreading Bahaism and the defamation of the pure Imams."" His lawyer was given only 10 minutes to prepare a defense. Although the verdict has not been published, the judge orally sentenced him to one year in prison, which he is currently serving, and 70 lashes. The latter part of the sentence has not yet been carried out.
-- On 18 June 2007, a 34-year-old man was arrested at a hardware store in Tabriz where he worked and taken to an unknown location. Two days later, he succeeded in phoning his family to let them know he was alive. A police security agent contacted Baha'is in Tabriz and said some of the man's neighbors who are members of the Basiji morality squads had alleged that he had insulted Islam. His family managed to visit him and reported that he had been subjected to a two-day interrogation. He remains in custody.
-- On 28 May 2007, a husband and wife in Abadeh, near Shiraz, were arrested in their home by agents of the Information Ministry. The agents seized books, family videos, photographs, CDs, telephone directories, documents, a cellular phone, a computer, and minutes of the meetings of the small group of Baha'is that coordinates the affairs of the local community on an ad hoc basis. The couple were interrogated about the activities of the Baha'is. The wife was released after eight hours; the husband was transferred to Shiraz, where he was held in prison until 29 June 2007 and released on bail. He is charged with teaching the Baha'i Faith.
-- On 8 May 2007, the provincial court of appeal of Mazandaran denied the appeal of three women and one man who were arrested in 2005 in Ghaem Shahr and charged with ""propagation on behalf of an organization which is anti-Islamic."" The case has been referred to the Supreme Court. All are out on bail. (Original court document in Persian; English translation.)
-- On 25 April 2007, the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Sari sentenced a Baha'i to a year in prison and four years of exile to the town of Bijar. The individual was charged with ""teaching activities against the system of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the benefit of groups and various organizations opposing the system.""
-- During April and May 2007, a number of Baha'is were summoned for interrogation or were questioned by telephone by officials of the Ministry of Information or the police in various localities, including in Babolsar, Bandar Abbas, Bandar Torkman, Bojourd, Gilavand, Damavand, Hamedan, Karaj, Lahijan, Shahinshar, Tehran, and Yaftabad. The questioning focused on seeking information about Baha'i activities and about the Baha'is themselves. A report has been received that a bank in central Jiruft in the province of Fars had been ordered to produce a printout of all accounts held by Baha'is.
-- The Baha'i International Community received a copy of a letter from the government agency responsible for providing veteran's benefits stating that an individual Baha'i, who suffered extensive disability following his incarceration as a prisoner of war in the Iran-Iraq conflict, was not eligible to pension benefits because he belongs ""to the Bahaist sect."" (Original government letter in Persian; English translation.)
-- Attacks on the Baha'i Faith continue in the mass media, including on the Internet. Newspapers in Khorasan and Mazandaran have recently published items maligning Baha'is, while anti-Baha'i pamphlets and tracts have been distributed in Shiraz and in the schools in Shahinshar, Ahvazk, and Babol Sar.
-- Reports have been received of banks refusing to grant loans and officials refusing to issue or renew business licenses solely on the grounds that the applicants were Baha'is. In Sanandaj, a bank official stated that the bank had received 14 loan applications from Baha'is, all of which will be rejected. Bank staff in Sari informed Baha'is who had applied for a loan, ""It has been asked of us not to provide loans and other services to Baha'is.""
-- In Hamadan, the owner of a grocery store that had been operated by his family for 48 years tried to have the business license transferred to his name after the death of his father. He was told by a government official that business licenses for grocery stores would not be issued to Baha'is. He was told: ""Wherever you go, even to the United Nations, you will end up here, where you will get the same clear answer.""",NEW YORK,,United States
579,2007-09-24,[],Baha'i world loses most distinguished member,"HAIFA, Israel — The worldwide Baha'i community has lost its most distinguished member with the death of Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa.
He passed away on the evening of 22 September 2007 at his home in Haifa.
In 1955, Dr. Varqa was appointed to the high rank of ""Hand of the Cause"" by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Baha'i Faith. Dr. Varqa served in that capacity, on the international level, for 52 years until his passing. He was the last survivor of the 27 Hands of the Cause who were alive when Shoghi Effendi passed away in 1957.
Dr. Varqa came from a well-known Iranian family that has served the Baha'i Faith with distinction for generations. After obtaining a doctorate from the Sorbonne in Paris in 1950, he taught in Iran at the universities of Tabriz and Tehran and served the Baha'i community there in various administrative capacities. In 1979 he moved to Canada, and later established his residence in Haifa to serve at the Baha'i World Center.
He was born in 1911 in Tehran, Iran, and received his name from 'Abdu'l-Baha in memory of his grandfather, who had been killed for being a follower of Baha'u'llah.
Dr. Varqa traveled to many countries as a representative first of Shoghi Effendi, then of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Baha'i Faith. In that capacity, Dr. Varqa attended the first national conventions held in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Congo, Mauritania, Central African Republic, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Czechoslovakia and Greenland.
Dr. Varqa is survived by three daughters and six siblings. His funeral took place the morning of 24 September, with burial in the Baha'i cemetery in Haifa.  Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa served the Baha'i Faith as a Hand of the Cause for 52 years.",HAIFA,,Israel
580,2007-10-05,[],Baha'i testifies at U.N. about understanding among religions,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — A Baha'i from Tanzania - where different religious communities live peacefully together - testified yesterday before the United Nations General Assembly on how to promote religious understanding.
Addressing an informal hearing on ""Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace,"" Mitra Deliri said that in her country, ""large Christian and Muslim populations live side by side, intermarry and celebrate each other's religious festivals.""
""It is a living example of religious pluralism,"" she said. ""This coexistence did not come about by accident but rather as a result of the vision and deliberate action of Tanzanian leaders, dating back to the country's first president...,"" she said.
Ms. Deliri, who represented the Baha'i International Community at the two-day hearing, also said it was important for governments to create a climate where freedom of religion or belief is clearly upheld in law and in practice.
""Such a climate must be free from incitements to violence or hostility in the name of religion,"" she said. ""Where contentious opinions about religions are expressed, it is the responsibility of the state to provide for right of reply.
""As a minimum standard, both sides must be afforded the right to respond in a peaceful and legal manner so as to allow the public to arrive at their own conclusion. It is in this climate that understanding and cooperation can take root,"" she said.
She recommended a number of strategies for promoting interreligious and intercultural understanding. They included establishing a universal, mandatory educational policy and curriculum on religion and education and using the news media to promote respect, prevent conflict and achieve increased social cohesion.
Ms. Deliri was among approximately two dozen representatives of nongovernmental and religious organizations from around the world who addressed the General Assembly yesterday.
Other speakers, for example, included Paul Knitter of the Union Theological Seminary in the USA, Gamal I. Serour of the International Islamic Center for Population Studies and Research at the Al Azhar Centre in Egypt, Sohan Lal Gandhi of the Anuvrat Global Organization in India, Fatima Ahmed of Zenab for Women in Development in Sudan, and Steven Rockefeller of Earth Charter International in the United States.
The hearing on interreligious and intercultural understanding was scheduled to continue today with a high-level dialogue among governments.
The Baha'i Faith, with its belief in the oneness of humanity and the oneness of religion, has long promoted religious harmony and supported interfaith dialogue and activity.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
581,2007-10-12,[],New Baha'i representative to open office in Brussels,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Sarah Vader has joined the Baha'i International Community as a representative to the United Nations.
In addition to working at U.N. offices in Geneva, Ms. Vader will establish an office in Brussels aimed at strengthening the BIC's ties with the European Union. In that role, Ms. Vader will work closely with national-level Baha'i affiliates in the 27 countries that are members of the EU.
""With the integration of Europe moving forward at a fast pace, the Baha'i International Community decided it was time to open an office closer to the institutions of the European Union,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""In this endeavor, we are pleased to have on board Ms. Vader, who brings a high degree of expertise in dealing at the international level with businesses, civil society, and governments, as well as a comprehensive understanding of European culture and institutions.""
In her work in Geneva, Ms. Vader's portfolio of issues will include human rights and the advancement of women. In Brussels, her portfolio will include all areas of concern to the Baha'i International Community and its affiliates in Europe.
Before assuming this position, Ms. Vader was associate director for the Open Forum and Special Projects at the World Economic Forum, where she had worked since 2000.
In that role, she managed the Open Forum, a series of sessions held outside the congress center during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. It brought together global business leaders and representatives of civil society to discuss globalization, poverty, and other international issues.
Her work included developing the global governance portfolio for the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in 2004 and 2005 and managing civil society input to the Forum before that.
A native of Switzerland, Ms. Vader, 31, has a degree in international law from the University of Paris 1, Pantheon-Sorbonne. As part of her education, she did internships at the International Committee of the Red Cross and at the Paris branch of the BIC's Office of Public Information.
She has served on the national governing body of the Baha'is of Switzerland since April 2002. She is fluent in English and French and conversant in German, Italian, and Persian.
""I am pleased with this change in my professional path, and look forward to taking on the challenges of working for the Baha'i International Community, a nongovernmental organization that is active across such a wide range of issues at the United Nations and in other international organizations,"" said Ms. Vader.
""Through my work at the World Economic Forum, I saw the importance of bringing together governments, businesses, and civil society in a multi-stakeholder approach, so it will be of great interest to apply this experience here.
""I look forward, also, to working closely with the 27 national affiliates of the Baha'i International Community in Europe as we seek to bring our concerns to the attention of the European Union,"" she said.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
582,2007-10-19,[],Baha'is celebrate Birth of the Bab,"HAIFA, Israel — On 20 October, Baha'is of the world celebrate the Birth of the Bab, the first of the two divine teachers central to the founding of the Baha'i Faith.
""Bab,"" which means ""gate"" in Arabic, is the title assumed by Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad, born on 20 October 1819 in Shiraz, Iran, then called Persia.
In 1844, He proclaimed that He was a messenger of God sent to announce the imminent coming of an even greater prophet who would bring teachings for an age of universal peace. Nineteen years later, one of the Bab's followers, who took the title Baha'u'llah, announced that He was that new prophet.
The Bab, whose teachings attracted tens of thousands of followers, was executed in 1850 in the public square in Tabriz, Iran, on the order of the government.
Much later, His remains were entombed on Mount Carmel in Haifa, and His shrine is now a place of pilgrimage for followers of the Baha'i Faith.",HAIFA,,Israel
583,2007-10-25,[],Young Zambian teens pull together in service program,"SINAZONGWE DISTRICT, Zambia — The Tonga tribe has lived in southern Zambia for hundreds of years, and members are proud of their longstanding traditions and strong social codes. But leaders say some of the customs are eroding - young people, for example, no longer seem to respect the elderly.
A new program involving hundreds of young teens working in small groups may help change that - and simultaneously help the youngsters get along better with each other.
""The groups have started with helping old people in the community,"" said Siankuku Sabantu, a local fisherman.
""This is something that sometime back was normal but in recent years has stopped. Now the youth have again started helping old people by drawing water for them, gathering firewood and cleaning their homes,"" he said.
The groups are part of what is known in the Baha'i Faith as the Junior Youth Program, a worldwide effort to help young people aged 12 to 15 - ""junior youth"" - make good moral choices in their daily lives.
Thirty-eight groups have formed in the Sinazongwe District, and they had their official launch earlier this month. They join another 130 groups in other parts of Zambia that comprise as many as 2,000 participants across the nation. Some are members of the Baha'i Faith, but as many as three-fourths are not.
Chief Sinazongwe, a Tonga tribal leader and also a Baha'i, believes the program - where youth offer service to others as well as studying a text - helps give the young teens a ""sense of nobility.""
""The youth are better behaved,"" he said, ""and a lot of people are noticing it.""
""This program,"" he continued, ""is helping them to see what values are important. They are finding a sense of self worth, and realizing that they are important.""
Chuungu Malitonga, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Zambia, has been monitoring the development of the Junior Youth Program for the last two years. What's happening in Sinazongwe is not unusual, he said.
""From the beginning the program asks the junior youth to look at themselves in the context of their societies,"" he said. ""It encourages them to take ownership for the conditions of those societies.... It doesn't take too long for the program to produce the type of results we are seeing in Sinazongwe.""  African drums added to the festivities at the launch of the Junior Youth Program in the Sinazongwe District of Zambia.In Zambia, the youth groups meet at least once a week, often on the weekend.
""The two major activities at the moment are study of a text and a service project,"" said Mr. Malitonga. ""They have also undertaken some outings but this is not a strong component yet.""
The groups - most have about a dozen members - usually meet in their village, under a tree or in a small hut, for study sessions of two hours or so, using a text specifically developed for the program.
The first book they use tells the story of a young girl and her older cousin who comes to visit for the school holidays. Together the girls discuss their hopes and possibilities for the future. The story is designed to help youngsters develop moral foundations to guide their decisions and direct their actions.
For the service component, some of the activities are planned and some are spontaneous.
""Recently there was a funeral in the village and the members of the group gathered all the firewood and drew all the water for the bereaved family,"" said Mr. Sabantu. ""Another good service they are offering is to maintain a clean environment around the borehole which is the only source of water in the village.""
In some villages, the youngsters go to rural hospitals, visit patients and help clean.
The entire Sinazongwe District is rural, with most villagers making a living by fishing - the area abuts Lake Kariba, the largest manmade lake in Africa - as well as farming and herding.
Olivia Hamoonga, 15, a Christian, is one of the participants in the Junior Youth Program in the Sinazongwe District.
""I feel that my reading and comprehension skills have improved since I joined the group,"" she said. ""Also, in our group, we pay a lot of attention to respecting yourself and respecting adults, and to offering service to society.""
Each group is helped by a trained animator, or facilitator, many of whom are themselves young, only a few years older than the members.
In their training, animators learn techniques to help the young teens develop their spiritual and intellectual capacities and prepare them to perform acts of service in their communities.
Tobias Siavwapa, 21, a goat trader in the Sinazongwe District, is one of the animators. A Christian, he said he joined the program because he sees the world changing rapidly and worries about the youth.
""I see many youth doing things that are not beneficial to them such as smoking and drinking. I heard about the junior youth idea, and I knew that it is at this age that a difference can be made,"" he said.
""Being part of the group helps the youth learn to do things that are good for their lives and learn to serve the community. I see this when they help people, fetching water and wood for old people.""
In only a few months, he said, he has seen some of the youngsters change.
""At first some of the youth were very naughty and a little disruptive. Others had serious reading and writing difficulties,"" he said. ""But even after a month of work, I can see behavior improving and their reading and writing becoming better.""
Chief Sinazongwe says the program helps the young people develop a sense of responsibility.
""This is their land, their country, their environment,"" he said. ""They are now learning to take care of these things. They are the future leaders. If they do not learn to do these things, who will do them when we are gone?""
Mr. Malitonga says one reason the program is successful is that the groups promote interaction between members on one side, and the older youth who often serve as animators on the other side. The younger ones look up to their older helpers, he said.
The careful balance between the two components - study and social action - also is a key to success, he said.
""It is not enough to just give the participants the theory,"" Mr. Malitonga said. ""The program really encourages them to put this theory into practice and be of service to their community.""
Mr. Sabantu - who is a Baha'i and has lived in southern Zambia his whole life - said since the program started he is noticing more harmony among the youngsters. Boys in the area, he said, spend most of their time in small groups tending cattle - groups that sometimes behave like small gangs and get into fights with each other.
""An immediate change that came from these classes has been the cessation of the fights among the herder boys who have joined the groups,"" he said. ""There is also more interaction among them, more harmony. The boys and the girls are also working together in the community, not just in school.""",SINAZONGWE DISTRICT,,Zambia
584,2007-10-28,[],Arctic warming is one focus of conference,"OTTAWA, Canada — Some of the notable effects of global warming are being felt by people who don't contribute much to the problem - those who live in the Arctic.
So says John Stone, who for 10 years has worked with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a key international group that directs assessments of global warming. The IPCC is the winner, along with Al Gore, of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
Scientists announced last summer that the Arctic ice pack retreated more this past year than in any year since satellites began tracking the ice sheet.
""This is happening in a part of the world whose contribution to climate change has been small,"" Dr. Stone said at the 11th annual conference of the International Environment Forum, a Baha'i-inspired group.
People living in the Arctic, he said, ""have bonds to the earth (that) are extremely close ... and (their) coping capacity is strained and commuity infrastructure and ecosystems becoming far more vulnerable.""
John Crump, Polar Issues coordinator of the United Nations' Environment Programme's GRID-Arendal, said that while the Inuit people have a long history of resilience and adaptation, ""the question is how much adaptation is possible and how much adaptation can the world expect.""
The problem will not be solved by simply relocating communities at risk, he said.
""It will take concerted, collective, and coordinated action at the international level"" to meet the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol and much more ""to work our way out of climate change,"" said Mr. Crump.
""The cost of inaction is much higher, and the most vulnerable regions will pay the most, first. But in the end we will all pay,"" he said, suggesting that there is a high moral and cultural cost for displacing an entire people.
The Arctic was only one focus of the conference, held in mid-October in Ottawa. For a longer report about issues discussed at the gathering, go to the Web site of the Canadian Baha'i News Service.
Reported by the Canadian Baha'i News Service",OTTAWA,,Canada
585,2007-10-31,[],Remote Baha'i school adds two new grades,"BUNISI, Papua New Guinea — In the remote village of Bunisi in Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea, the age you start school doesn't depend on how old you are – it depends on whether you can handle the hike to and from class.
Each morning, children trek for two hours, walking 2,000 feet down the mountain to the Ikara Primary School. And each afternoon, they hike back up.
Not easy for a 7-year-old.
""By the time the children get to school they are exhausted,"" said Jalal Mills, a Baha'i familiar with the educational system in Bunisi. ""Then they are expected to concentrate in class and learn.""
But now the situation is changing, at least for the first and second graders. Last month, the Bunisi Elementary School, which until recently only served preschoolers, added new classrooms.  A festive meal – with a wild boar cooked outdoors – was part of the celebration for the new school buildings.Operated by the Baha'i community of Bunisi, the school serves students in preschool and now grades one and two from nearly a dozen nearby villages, covering an area with a population of perhaps 1,000 people. The pupils come from different religious backgrounds.
""The people are happy that the Baha'is have helped build a school to provide education for the boys and girls of the area,"" said Kessia Ruh, who in September traveled by helicopter from Rabaul to attend the inauguration of the new classrooms.
A Baha'i counselor, Ms. Ruh said the Baha'is themselves were eager to have outside visitors for the ceremony. ""They hadn't had visitors from outside the area, and they wanted other neighboring villages to know that the Baha'i friends from (other places) would come,"" she said.
The school was started in 1995 by local Baha'is, who were concerned about the lack of educational opportunities for their children. They began with a preschool and spent last year working to add the new classrooms. They hope to expand further, perhaps adding a grade each year. Some 50 Baha'is live in Bunisi, with another few hundred in the surrounding area.
Instruction in the school is in the local language, Umaikana, because that is the norm in the country for the first three years of school. Students pay the equivalent of about US$3 a term and, because it is a government-registered school, public subsidies pay another US$99 per term for each child.
The school has three teachers, offering class for some 75 children in all. Two of the teachers are Baha'is, but most of the students are not. Religious instruction is limited to specified periods, and several religions are taught.
Even for Papua New Guinea, Bunisi is remote. Located 4,600 feet above sea level near the Milne Bay area in the eastern part of the country, Bunisi doesn't appear on most maps – it is just one of many small villages that dot the area. The closest settlement with electricity and running water is Rabaraba, a coastal station reached by a two-day walk through the mountains.
Bunisi itself has no electricity, no running water and no telecommunication services. Most of the people are subsistence farmers.
In addition to Ms. Ruh, other guests of honor at the inauguration were Chief Sigeru Buapa of the Bunisi area and the headmaster of the Ikara Primary School, where older children from the area will continue to attend classes.
All the guests joined in singing and dancing with local residents and hundreds of other visitors from the area who had hiked to Bunisi to participate in the festivities.
The land for the school was donated by the chief.
""Before, I used this land to hunt cuscus, and now I give it for the future generations to hunt for education,"" he said at the inauguration ceremony for the new classrooms.",BUNISI,,Papua New Guinea
586,2007-11-07,[],Photos on new Web site bring into focus the life of Baha'u'llah,"HAIFA, Israel — A new Web site featuring photographs that help viewers experience the life of Baha'u'llah has been launched by the Baha'i International Community.
Some of the photographs have not been published before, and many of them have had only limited distribution.
The launch of the Web site comes just before the Baha'i holy day on 12 November that marks the anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah.
""The purpose of the Web site is to provide illustration of Baha'u'llah's life through photographs of places and artifacts and relics associated directly with Him,"" said Douglas Moore, director of the Office of Public Information of the Baha'i International Community.  Historical photographs such as this one of Adrianople help viewers understand the world in which the revelation of Baha'u'llah unfolded.""We've tried to bring together a unique collection of photos, many of them not generally available, so that you get a better sense of Baha'u'llah's life and the time period in which He lived,"" Mr. Moore said.
Rather than providing a comprehensive history or literary presentation of the Baha'i Faith, the new Web site aims rather to be impressionistic.
""It's more contemplative, more experiential,"" Mr. Moore said.
Thus it complements other Web sites that do provide a more complete description of the religion, he said.
Baha'u'llah was a Persian nobleman who in the 19th century claimed to be nothing less than a new and independent Messenger from God, the one whose advent was anticipated by all the divine Messengers of the past - including Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad - and foretold in the holy books.
Baha'u'llah, who was born in 1817, was exiled from his native Tehran and banished to the Ottoman Empire - to Baghdad, Constantinople (now Istanbul), and finally Acre.
""The new Web site is appropriate for a range of audiences, not only Baha'is and those who have a deep interest in the Baha'i Faith, but also people who, from an academic or historical perspective, want to see what kind of photographic documentation exists for such a unique figure as Baha'u'llah,"" Mr. Moore said.
He noted that the Web site does not include a photograph of Baha'u'llah Himself. Such a photograph does exist, but it is treated with extreme reverence and viewed only in special circumstances; it is never published by Baha'is, nor would Baha'is reproduce it.
The photographs on the Web site are from the archives at the Baha'i World Center in Haifa.
The address of the site is www.bahaullah.org.",HAIFA,,Israel
587,2007-11-16,[],Human rights groups issue report on Egypt,"NEW YORK, United States — Egypt should end discriminatory practices that prevent Baha'is and others from listing their true religion on government documents, said Human Rights Watch and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights in a major report released this week.
The 98-page report, titled ""Prohibited Identities: State Interference with Religious Freedom,"" focused on problems that have emerged from Egypt's practice of requiring citizens to state their religious identity on government documents but then restricting the choice to Islam, Christianity, or Judaism.
""These policies and practices violate the right of many Egyptians to religious freedom,"" stated the report, which was released on 12 November 2007.
""Because having an ID card is essential in many areas of public life, the policies also effectively deny these citizens a wide range of civil and political as well as economic and social rights,"" the report said.
The Baha'i International Community welcomed the report.
""We want to thank Human Rights Watch and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights for calling the world's attention to the human rights situation in Egypt,"" said Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal representative to the United Nations.
""The discriminatory practices identified by the report do indeed gravely affect Egypt's Baha'i community, as well as others in Egypt who seek to enjoy the freedom to believe as they choose, a right that is guaranteed by international law.
""Our hope is that Egyptian authorities will now be encouraged to end their discriminatory practices, which could be dissolved with the stroke of a pen without harming the majority religious communities in the least,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The joint HRW/EIPR report examined in detail how the limited choice offered to citizens in declaring their religion affects the daily life of Baha'is and also of converts from Islam.
""While the Egyptian government's approach adversely affects anyone who is not Muslim, Christian, or Jewish, and anyone who would prefer to keep their convictions private, in Egypt today the greatest impact has been on adherents of the Baha'i faith and on persons who convert or wish to convert from Islam to Christianity,"" said the report.
Further, the report said, this ""limited choice is not based on any Egyptian law, but rather on the Ministry of Interior's interpretation of Shari'a, or Islamic law. An Egyptian citizen has no option to request a religious identification different from one of these, or to identify him or herself as having no religion. If he or she insists on doing so, authorities refuse to issue a national ID or related document reflecting the requested religious identification.""
""People without national IDs forfeit, among other things, the ability to carry out even the simplest monetary transactions at banks and other financial institutions. Other basic daily activities – engaging in a property transaction, acquiring a driver's license, obtaining a pension check – also require a national ID.
""Employers, both public and private, by law cannot hire someone without an ID, and academic institutions require IDs for admission. Obtaining a marriage license or a passport requires a birth certificate; inheritance, pensions, and death benefits are contingent on death certificates. The Ministry of Health has even refused to provide immunizations to some Baha'i children because the Interior Ministry would not issue them birth certificates accurately listing their Baha'i religion,"" the report continued.
""These policies and practices violate Egyptian as well as international law,"" said the report.
Human Rights Watch, whose offices are in New York, states on its Web site that it is the largest human rights organization based in the United States. Its researchers investigate human rights abuses in all regions of the world.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights is an independent Egyptian human rights organization that was established in 2002 to promote and defend individual rights and freedoms, according to its Web site. It is based in Cairo.
The report received considerable media attention after its release. The Associated Press, Agence France Presse, the BBC, Reuters, and the Voice of America all carried articles.
To read HRW's summary of the report, go to this link:
 http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/11/12/egypt17306.htm",NEW YORK,,United States
588,2007-11-20,[],U.N. committee approves resolution about rights violations in Iran,"NEW YORK, United States — A committee of the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution today expressing ""deep concern"" about ""ongoing systematic violations of human rights"" in Iran.
Put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 41 other countries, the resolution took note of repression and persecution aimed by the Iranian government at groups ranging from women and women's rights defenders to the news media and labor groups, as well as various ethnic and religious minorities, including Iranian Baha'is.
The resolution passed the General Assembly's Third Committee by a vote of 72 to 50 with 55 abstentions on 20 November 2007. The vote essentially assures passage of the resolution in a final vote by the entire Assembly scheduled for December.
Its passage followed a call by Iran for ""no action"" on the motion, a vote that itself failed by 78 to 79, with 24 abstentions. That vote, also taken today, was seen as an important test of the General Assembly's will to examine human rights issues in specific countries when warranted.
""We are pleased that the General Assembly did not shy away from its responsibility to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as identified in the U.N. Charter,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Not only for Iranian Baha'is but for other persecuted groups and individuals in Iran, expressions of concern by the international community such as this remain the most important source of protection and encouragement.
""And it is especially important that Iran's efforts to sideline this kind of resolution through procedural maneuvering has failed again this year,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""The vote against the so-called 'no action' motion before passage of the resolution itself makes a powerful statement about the importance of country-specific resolutions such as this.""
A ""no action"" motion is a procedure that, if passed, will prevent member states at the United Nations from even debating a particular resolution. It is being increasingly used to allow countries to avoid having to give a yes-or-no vote on politically sensitive issues, such as human rights, and so to escape the scrutiny of the world at large, Ms. Dugal explained.
The resolution itself clearly describes a deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, expressing ""serious concern"" about ""confirmed instances"" of  ""torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging and amputations""; public executions, including stoning, and the ""[a] rrests, violent repression, and sentencing of women exercising their right to peaceful assembly, a campaign of intimidation against women's human rights defenders, and continuing discrimination against women and girls.""
The resolution also notes ""increasing discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minorities"" including Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and Baha'is.
Regarding Baha'is, the resolution notes particularly that there have been ""attacks on Baha'is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Baha'is and prevention of (Baha'is) from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically; an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and detention.""
The resolution also discusses ""ongoing, systemic and serious restrictions of freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of opinion and expression, including those imposed on the media and trade unions, and increasing harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, from all sectors of Iranian society, including arrests and violent repression of labour leaders, labour members peacefully assembling and students.""
For more information, visit https://news.bahai.org",NEW YORK,,United States
590,2007-11-30,[],Ugandans study approaches to development,"KAMPALA, Uganda — After five frustrating decades of stalled attempts at development, a group of Ugandans have come together to examine the experience in their country and search for effective approaches.
A cross-section of community leaders, policy makers, and educators discuss their thinking in a new film, which was premiered in Kampala last month before an audience that included former Prime Minister Kinto Musoke and other dignitaries.
""Development has not fulfilled its promises,"" states businessman Gimoro Laker-Ojok at the beginning of the film, which is titled ""Opening a Space - The Discourse on Science, Religion and Development in Uganda.""
""In the 1950s and '60s, the disparities between rich and poor in Uganda were not this marked,"" continues Daisy Namono of CELSOL Consulting Services. ""There is a need to look at what went wrong.""
From the Rev. Sam Ebukalin, who works with a program called Yiga Ng' Okola (Learn As You Work): ""Development has, for the past 50 years, missed its target. ... What is missing?""
""We need to go back to the drawing board in some cases,"" says Elizabeth Kharono, program coordinator for Living Earth Uganda.
Produced by the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity, a nonprofit corporation associated with the Baha'i International Community, the film then develops the gist of the argument - that development programs have tended to view the poor as ""bundles of needs"" rather than as contributors to solutions.  Former Ugandan Prime Minister Kinto Musoke participates in the discussion at the premiere of the new film.""They are looking at poor people as people who don't have anything to offer,"" states Basil Wanzira of the Poverty Alleviation Community Development Foundation.
""Opening a Space"" promotes the idea that people are not to be considered passive recipients of aid, rather they themselves should help formulate policy and bring about change. And they should do this using knowledge gained from both science and from religion.
""There is a need to have wider participation by the very people who will be affected by the policy,"" Dr. J.J. Otim, presidential adviser for agriculture, says in the film. ""We strongly now believe in Uganda, if there is any policy that the government wants to put in place, it must follow a participatory approach, ... it must not be designed in the offices.""
Several other key themes emerge in the film:
-- Humans are spiritual beings, so for effective change to occur, spiritual realities should be considered alongside material well-being.
-- Science and religion offer complementary systems of knowledge, both of which should be applied to the question of development.
-- Not only do the poor need access to knowledge to address the many challenges they face, they themselves should help generate the knowledge that guides policy-making.
The debut of the film on 30 October 2007 drew more than a hundred people. In addition to the former prime minister, Sita Masamba, the director of UNAFRI, and John Mitala, head of the Ugandan civil service, were in attendance.
Rebecca Kadaga, the deputy speaker of  Parliament, gave the keynote address. She said the ideas were so compelling that she would arrange for all the members of Parliament to see the film.
""There was a lot of excitement around the possibilities this dialogue could offer,"" said George Olinga of the Ugandan Baha'i Office for External Affairs. ""This DVD has stimulated many ideas around new and different ways of thinking about development.""
Dr. Haleh Arbab, director of the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity, said Uganda now has four working groups who are discussing what development would look like if it were based on the concepts outlined in the film.
""We want people not to become consumers of packages offered by development organizations but to become creators, decision-makers,"" she said.
The institute she heads has promoted the discourse on science, religion, and development in several countries - notably India in addition to Uganda - as part of its mission to explore new concepts and models of social transformation.",KAMPALA,,Uganda
591,2007-12-04,[],"In Ghana, innovative literacy program brings dramatic results","GONUKROM VILLAGE, WESTERN REGION, Ghana — For years, Owusu Ansah Malik thought his native language, Twi, was second-rate. English, the national language of Ghana, was emphasized at his school.
But a program that offers instruction, books, and mentoring in Twi has helped the 16-year-old see the value of his mother tongue – and improved his English literacy at the same time.
""I thought our Ghanaian language was too poor to be learned, since its teaching was not encouraged,"" said Owusu, who is in Class Eight at the Gonukrom Junior Secondary School. ""But with this program, I realized that our language is rich and can be learned. It has also helped me to read English easily.""
Owusu is one of 22,000 students in Ghana who have participated in the ""Enlightening the Hearts"" literacy program, which is aimed at helping young people age 9 to 15 read and write in their own language.
Operated by the Olinga Foundation for Human Development, a Baha'i-inspired nongovernmental organization, the program has offered training in more than 260 remote primary and junior secondary schools in Ghana's Western Region since 2000.
By all accounts Enlightening the Hearts is highly successful, helping to triple the literacy rates among participants and winning praise from students, parents, teachers, and government education officials.
""The methodology makes it so simple to acquire language skills,"" said Samson Boakye, a teacher at the Anyinabrim primary school. ""The syllabic approach is excellent. Then there is transfer of knowledge from the Ghanaian language to the English language. Children are therefore reading the English language fluently.""
Along with its distinctive method for teaching literacy, the program also incorporates elements of moral education by emphasizing virtues drawn from religious scriptures – another feature that has drawn praise.
""Why I like this program mostly is the moral aspect of the book which will no doubt help children to become good citizens in the future,"" said Ayyub Yaku Aidoo, a teacher at the Samreboi primary school.
The origins of the project go back to 1996, when the Baha'i community of Ghana initiated a literacy campaign. It was handed off to the Olinga Foundation in 2001. The foundation itself was started by a group of Baha'i educators in 2000.
The foundation was named after Enoch Olinga, one of the first Africans to accept the Baha'i Faith. Its mission is to promote universal basic education, to empower young people, and, according to its Web site, ""to build the capacities needed to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization on the African continent.""
In addition to the Enlightening the Hearts literacy campaign, the Olinga Foundation has three other programs: (1) a capacity-building program for community leaders, (2) community-development facilitator training, and (3) a junior youth empowerment project.
In all of its programs, the foundation draws on Baha'i social and spiritual principles, emphasizing specifically the equality of women and men, the right to universal basic education, and the need to eliminate prejudice.
At present, the literacy program reaches the largest population, and has drawn the most attention. ""This is our main program,"" said Leslie Casely-Hayford, director of the foundation. ""We believe literacy and moral education are essential to the progress and development of society.""
The literacy project currently operates in two districts in the Western Region, Wasa Amenfi West and Wasa Amenfi East, and plans are well advanced to offer the program in a district in Ghana's Eastern Region. The focus is on remote and underserved school populations.  Teacher Victoria Kwofie leads students in their work at the Anyinabrim primary school.""The program places great emphasis on reaching children in deprived-area schools, which are often off the main road,"" said Dr. Casely-Hayford.
Once schools are selected, the foundation provides specialized training and on-site supervision for teachers, and books and other materials for students. About 40 to 50 schools are chosen each year.
The program has had impressive results. In its own surveys of select schools, the project found that the average baseline literacy rate from 2002-2006 was about 17 percent. Among those students who were tested after completing the 10-month program, the literacy rate averaged 52 percent.
""That represents a tripling of the literacy rate,"" said Dr. Casely-Hayford, noting that a 2004 World Bank report indicated that literacy among Ghanaian children in primary school is extremely low. By one measure, the report said, fewer than five percent of students showed mastery of English in 2000.
An evaluation by the district education office found that students in schools participating in the program also performed exceptionally well in the Ghanaian language subject section of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The project's success, said Dr. Casely-Hayford and others, stems largely from its practice of using the local language as the language for literacy instruction.
""Experience over the last five years in three language groups – Twi, Ewe, and Dagbani – has proven that this approach speeds the learner's ability to acquire basic literacy skills, and increases their confidence by using a phonetic and syllabic approach,"" said Dr. Casely-Hayford.
Leonard Nubuasah, national program coordinator for the Olinga Foundation, said that many children quickly become literate during the nine-month program.
""The children can transfer their knowledge of literacy in their own language easily into the English language,"" said Mr. Nubuasah, a former teacher who has been with Olinga for five years.
Another key to the program's effectiveness is the motivational impulse generated by the emphasis on moral education and the use of the Holy Writings of the three major religions practiced in the region.
""Access to Holy Writings can also stimulate individual and collective transformation,"" said Dr. Casely-Hayford. ""It also ensures human capacity development such that a child's full potential is realized.""
The moral values discussed in the workbooks are patience, honesty, trustworthiness, love, humility, obedience, purity, kindness, and modesty.
""We used these nine virtues because they are highly embedded in our Ghanaian society at the local level,"" said Mr. Nubuasah. ""The Christian preachers talk about them, the Muslims discuss them, and they are also found in the Baha'i Faith. These are the three main religions here, and these virtues are the building blocks for our children.""
Mr. Nubuasah said that another sign of the project's success is that about 75 percent of the schools that have participated in the nine-month program have continued to use the methodology.
""We know this because every year we continue to supply these schools with books, and we continue to monitor the program by visiting each school – if they are not too remote – two or three times a year,"" said Mr. Nubuasah.
Last year, Michael Nsowah, acting director general of the Ghana Education Service, wrote a letter recommending that other educational districts in Ghana consider adopting the Olinga Foundation's literacy program.
""They have been highly effective in the regions they have worked in,"" said Mr. Nsowah. ""They have increased reading and literacy levels and brought values into the learning environment. All my regional offices were happy with their work.""
""They do a lot of work in remote places that are difficult to access. They provide both learning materials and skills development. This is an important thing for a country like Ghana that does not have too much money,"" said Mr. Nsowah.
Cost-effective
Because of its emphasis on cost-effectiveness, the program has been able to reach large numbers of children through teacher training and the provision of literacy materials. According to Dr. Casely-Hayford, it costs about US$300 to open a program in a new school and support that school for one year.
The project receives most of its support from the Baha'i International Community's Office of Social and Economic Development. It has also received support from the Canadian International Development Agency, the National Spiritual Assembly of Ghana, and the North American Women's Association of Ghana, along with several other groups and individuals across the world.
The emphasis on providing specialized training to teachers is another factor in the program's success.
To date the program has trained over 350 primary and junior secondary school teachers. The training has two main goals: encouraging and enabling teachers to improve the quality of education in schools through better literacy instruction and to introduce the concepts of moral education and personal transformation.
Mr. Nubuasah said many teachers were at first unmotivated and unsure about how to teach children how to read and write, especially using the local language.
""But the Holy Writings of the Baha'i Faith, especially, speak about the importance of education and the station of teachers,"" said Mr. Nubuasah. ""This becomes a source of motivation.""
Entwi Bosiako, the head teacher at the Gonukrom primary school, said the methodology taught by the Olinga Foundation was simple and easy to use, as were the textbooks.
""This has motivated me to teach the Ghanaian language,"" said Mr. Bosiako, 39. ""The Holy Writings used for reflections during the training workshop are also a source of inspiration and motivation.""
District education officials say the program's success extends beyond the simple promotion of literacy.
""Our students have had problems with reading,"" said Nana Bobbie, assistant director of the Wassa Amenfi West district education office. ""When Olinga started, we saw improvements in the places that they were working. We also saw that people started talking about values and we were impressed. So the work that they are doing has had a good impact on education as a whole.
""Also the teachers ... have now become excited by the training. I think this is another key to the foundation's success.""
""We really appreciate their help,"" said Mr. Bobbie. ""Morality has broken down so badly in Ghana. We had been looking for a way to salvage the situation for a while. Then the Olinga Foundation came with their books and values. We really like the moral education attached to the literacy campaign.""",GONUKROM VILLAGE,WESTERN REGION,Ghana
592,2007-12-06,[],"Violence against women needs global attention, says panel at the U.N.","UNITED NATIONS, United States — Government and civil society representatives called for renewed attention to the issue of preventing violence against women in a panel discussion here this week.
The discussion, which was organized by the Baha'i International Community and the Christian Children's Fund in cooperation with the U.N. missions of France and the Netherlands, looked at ways that national and local communities around the world can intensify efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women.
""Despite significant progress, violence against women and girls continues to be a global problem,"" said Fulya Vekiloglu, director of the Baha'i International Community's Office for the Advancement of Women. ""So the effort to organize this discussion is one way to help keep this on the agenda of governments and nongovernmental organizations, and especially to focus on the implementation of recent international agreements to fight and prevent violence against women.""
Panelists included Fabien Fieschi, first secretary of the Permanent Mission of France to the U.N.; Hedda Samson, first secretary of the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the U.N.; Mike Wessells, senior child protection adviser of the Christian Children's Fund; and Michael L. Penn, an associate professor of psychology at Franklin and Marshall College, who represented the Baha'i International Community.
The discussion was moderated by Carolyn Hannan, director of the U.N.'s Division for the Advancement of Women, UN/DESA.
Mr. Fieschi outlined the importance of a resolution passed by the U.N. General Assembly last year that called for governments and civil society to take stronger measures to eliminate violence against women.
The 2006 resolution was intensely negotiated, he said, but was nevertheless adopted by consensus. ""The resolution also recognized the important role of civil society in the fight against violence against women,"" he said.
Ms. Samson noted that the 2006 resolution places important obligations on states to ""prevent, investigate, and punish"" violence against women.
She noted, however, that it also emphasizes preventive measures, such as training for health workers, teachers, law enforcement personnel, and others.
Mr. Wessells stressed the importance of engaging religious and community leaders in efforts to change social norms that allow violence against women and girls.
Communities and prevailing attitudes can be ""significant barriers"" to reducing violence against women, but ""communities can also be vital supports for women,"" he said.
Dr. Penn talked about the importance of strategies aimed at changing old patterns of thinking in men, boys, and communities.
In particular, he said, legal measures to eradicate violence against women should be accompanied by local, national, and international initiatives that cultivate and inspire the human spirit and promote a consciousness of the ""dignity and nobility of all people.""
He emphasized that everyone has a responsibility to fight practices and attitudes that lead to violence against women. As an example, he discussed the problem of pornography becoming accepted as a legitimate form of entertainment.
""The trend towards the marketing and commercialization of pornography around the world is one that ought to concern governments, NGOs, and local communities,"" said Dr. Penn. A number of studies have shown that pornography socializes men into relations with women and girls that are ""dangerous for their psychological, social, physical, and moral health,"" he said.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
593,2007-12-09,[],Finnish TV talk show host finds success in unconventional approach,"HELSINKI, Finland — Television talk shows often use conflict as their formula to win viewers, but a young producer in Finland is making a go of it with a different model.
On his Monday night program, Aram Aflatuni presents a problem, then has a panel of experts try to solve it using consultation and cooperation.
""I don't believe in confrontational journalism,"" he says. ""I do not think that it is an effective way of finding solutions.""
His hour-long show - ""Harkaa Sarvista,"" or ""Grab the Bull by the Horns"" - this week wraps up its first season of 15 episodes and has attracted as many as 345,000 viewers. Average viewership was 220,000 - 20 percent of the TV audience for its time period.
In Finland, TV shows often look for confrontation and ""sometimes quite aggressive debate,"" said Juho-Pekka Rantala, a television executive who works on this show and others. ""'Harkaa Sarvista' is different. It is looking for solutions.""
Viewers are invited to submit an issue for consultation. If chosen, the person goes on the air and presents the problem to the panel.
Mr. Aflatuni, 31, is a member of the Baha'i Faith and said he tries to use part of a consultation model used by Baha'is as the starting point for his show.  Aram Aflatuni, seen here on the set of his late night prime time show, has been working on television for 11 years.It is a model that asks participants to remain personally detached from the ideas presented as everyone seeks a single truth or best outcome. No one ""owns"" or takes credit or blame for any idea offered during the consultation.
""It's a brave show because it is different,"" said Laura Jansson, a psychologist and human relations specialist who has appeared on the program.
""In principle, the consultative model is a key to the show's success,"" said Mrs. Jansson, who is a Baha'i. But viewers and even participants generally are unaware of the principles behind what is going on. More obvious, she said, is the skill of the host in guiding the conversation.
""People in the world  today are very egotistical,"" she said. ""They try and push everything through themselves and make themselves look good.... Aram keeps people focused on the issue and not themselves.""
Immigration, asylum, schizophrenia, boss-employee relations, intercultural communication, and health care issues are among the subjects that have been addressed.
One week, a young refugee from Eritrea who was facing deportation appeared on the program and outlined his predicament. To weigh solutions, Mr. Aflatuni had gathered a lawyer, a clergyman, a psychologist, the head of a nongovernmental agency, a politician, and another refugee.
The discussion revealed some facts and produced some ideas, including a suggestion from the other refugee that the young man could go underground and thus avoid deportation. Not surprisingly, other panel members didn't feel that was the best idea - going underground is illegal and also psychologically harmful.
The panel suggested ways that the man might be able to stay in Finland legally and also talked about how he could prepare himself for the possibility of deportation.
It turned out that although the young immigrant had been working, his employment had not been deemed full-time and had not satisfied the authorities.
It wasn't anything that a good lawyer couldn't fix by talking to the various parties, and several attorneys indeed came forward after the show and offered their services free of charge. The young man no longer faces imminent deportation, and his case is being reconsidered by the authorities, Mr. Aflatuni said.
MORE DETAILS
Still, Mr. Aflatuni's goal with the program is to go beyond resolving the dilemma of one individual and shed a broader light on society.
""One aspect of the show is to raise awareness of humanitarian issues,"" he said, noting that sometimes this means ""putting pressure on the system"" by informing the public of difficult situations or outright injustices.
""People have an inflated idea of the human rights situation in Finland,"" he said.
One unusual program addressed the subject of triplets, and the difficulties of parents of modest means trying to cope with three newborn babies.
""A woman from the Triplets' Association came on the show and said you really cannot do it without help,"" Mr. Aflatuni related. Also invited to speak was the father of a set of young triplets, and some 30-year-old triplets who described the experience of their family.
As a result of the program, one Finnish city changed its policy for public aid and will provide a helper five days a week for one family with three new babies, Mr. Aflatuni said.
Future TV plans
Mr. Aflatuni is determined to continue exploring the use of consultation on television as a way to resolve problems, but he says the challenges are stiff.
""There is pressure on me to change the show and make it more confrontational,"" he acknowledges. ""But I think this will kill the spirit of the show. If you bring negative elements in, you destroy this consultative model that we are developing.""
He remembers one show where he invited doctors and nurses to discuss a health-care crisis, but tempers were short and people indeed became confrontational.
""It is too hard to find a solution under those circumstances,"" he said.
He said he had better success with a program that featured a 32-year-old convict who was being released from prison after 10 years. The man seemed serious about going straight but felt overwhelmed by a large debt that he owed.
On the program, the panel of experts counseled him to dismiss thoughts of the debt for the time-being and concentrate on getting a job. They also coached him about the way he seemed to cultivate his ""tough-guy"" image rather than exhibiting the humility that would help him in the working world.
""He still has an attitude problem,"" Mr. Aflatuni said, recounting that the man had found a job but then lost it. ""Harkaa Sarvista"" might revisit the case for a discussion of where things had gone wrong and how they might be made aright.
The idea of following a problem, periodically evaluating how the supposed solutions are working, and changing course or adjusting details as needed, is part of Mr. Aflatuni's vision for the program.
He said his biggest challenge as producer stems from his program being based on an untried concept.
""We don't have examples of a show like this on TV,"" he said. ""It would have been easier to use an older show as a model. But as it is, we are the people that are creating the model.""",HELSINKI,,Finland
594,2007-12-19,[],"U.N. General Assembly expresses ""deep concern"" about human rights in Iran","UNITED NATIONS, United States — The United Nations General Assembly yesterday adopted a resolution expressing ""deep concern"" about ""ongoing systematic violations of human rights"" in Iran.
Adopted by a final vote of 73 to 53, with 55 abstentions, the resolution took note of repression and persecution aimed by the Iranian government at groups ranging from women and women's rights defenders to the news media and labor groups, as well as various ethnic and religious minorities, including Baha'is.
""We are happy that the General Assembly, the most globally representative body of United Nations, has seen fit once again this year to call attention to the dire situation in Iran, where Baha'is and other groups continue to face oppression and persecution by the government,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Our hope now is that the Iranian government will heed the opinion of the international community and stop the systematic violation of human rights directed against its own people,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The resolution, put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 41 other countries, describes the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, expressing ""serious concern"" about ""confirmed instances"" of ""torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging and amputations""; public executions, including stoning, and ""arrests, violent repression, and sentencing of women exercising their right to peaceful assembly, a campaign of intimidation against women's human rights defenders, and continuing discrimination against women and girls.""
The resolution, the 20th on Iran since 1985, also notes ""increasing discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minorities"" including Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and Baha'is.
Regarding Baha'is, the resolution notes particularly that there have been ""attacks on Baha'is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Baha'is and prevention of (Baha'is) from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically; an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and detention.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
595,2007-12-20,[],Egyptian court to rule on new religious freedom cases,"CAIRO, Egypt — A court is expected to rule early next week on two cases related to the government's policy on religious affiliation and national identity papers, an issue that has been hotly debated here in recent months and a focus of international human rights concerns.
The first case involves a lawsuit by the father of twin children, who is seeking to obtain proper birth certificates for them. The second concerns a college student, who needs a national identity card to re-enroll in university.
Both are set for ""final judgment"" by the Court of Administrative Justice in Cairo on 25 December 2007. In both cases, the individuals involved are unable to obtain government identification papers because they are Baha'is.
""The world has increasingly come to understand the basic injustice imposed by the Egyptian government's policies on religious affiliation and official documents -- and the court has before it in these two cases the chance once again to right that wrong,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community.
""Last year, under pressure from Muslim fundamentalists, the Supreme Administrative Court rejected a lower court decision that had required the government to include the word 'Baha'i' on official documents. These two new cases offer a compromise solution, asking merely that the religious affiliation field be left blank or filled in with the word 'other,'"" added Ms. Dugal.
The government requires all identification papers to list religious affiliation but then restricts the choice to the three officially recognized religions -- Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Baha'is are thus unable to obtain identification papers because they refuse to lie about their religious affiliation.
Without national identity cards -- or, as in the case of the twin children, birth certificates -- Baha'is and others caught in the law's contradictory requirements are deprived of a wide range of citizenship rights, such as access to employment, education, and medical and financial services.
These problems were highlighted in a report issued in November by Human Rights Watch and the Cairo-based Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR).
""Employers, both public and private, by law cannot hire someone without an ID, and academic institutions require IDs for admission,"" said the report. ""Obtaining a marriage license or a passport requires a birth certificate; inheritance, pensions, and death benefits are contingent on death certificates. The Ministry of Health has even refused to provide immunizations to some Baha'i children because the Interior Ministry would not issue them birth certificates accurately listing their Baha'i religion.""
The issuance of birth certificates is at the heart of the first case, which concerns 14-year-old twins Imad and Nancy Rauf Hindi. Their father, Rauf Hindi, obtained birth certificates that recognized their Baha'i affiliation when they were born.
But new policies require computer generated certificates, and the computer system locks out any religious affiliation but the three officially recognized religions. And without birth certificates, the children are unable to enroll in school in Egypt.
The second lawsuit was filed by the EIPR last February on behalf of 18-year-old Hussein Hosni Bakhit Abdel-Massih, who was suspended from the Suez Canal University's Higher Institute of Social Work in January 2006 due to his inability to obtain an identity card because of his refusal to falsely identify himself as either a Muslim, a Christian, or a Jew.
In both cases, lawyers representing the Baha'is have made it clear that they are willing to settle for cards or documents on which the religious affiliation field is left blank or filled in, perhaps, as ""other.""
This solution is what makes these two cases different from the lawsuit that was rejected by the Supreme Administrative Court last year, said Hossam Baghat, director of the EIPR.
""The negative ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court has forced us to file these new cases,"" said Mr. Baghat, whose organization has been at the forefront of defending Egyptian Baha'is in this controversy. ""The facts are extremely similar to the case that we lost last year, but we are calling this time for documents without any religious affiliation.
""For us, this is really the test for the government and the judiciary on this issue. Because if the main problem is the fact that the Baha'i Faith is not recognized in Egypt, then there should be no grounds for them to deny these Egyptian citizens documents that are necessary for their daily life without any reference to religion.""
Mr. Baghat said the cases also have implications for religious freedom in general in Egypt.
""So far, the problem only affects Egyptian Baha'is, but the same problem could arise in theory with Egyptians who are adherents of Buddhism or Hinduism,"" said Mr. Baghat. ""But it is also important for people who do not wish to be identified with any religion, which is a right guaranteed by both Egyptian and international law.""
For Egyptian Baha'is, the facts of life on the ground continue to deteriorate in the absence of a solution, said Labib Hanna, a spokesperson for the Egyptian Baha'i community.
""We are not able to do anything without valid identification papers,"" said Dr. Hanna, who is a professor of mathematics at Cairo University. ""We cannot renew a driver's license, we cannot obtain permanent employment, and we cannot send our children to school.""
He said many Baha'is are able to meet the needs of daily life by taking temporary positions, dealing with banks, schools, or other institutions where they have an established relationship, or by continuing to use old, paper-based identification cards that allowed for other options in the religious affiliation field.
""We are trying to survive,"" said Dr. Hanna. ""But it is difficult. We are struggling.""",CAIRO,,Egypt
596,2007-12-25,[],Beyond expectations: Weekly gathering surprises hosts,"COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, United States — A couple of neighbors in this southern U.S. city have been throwing a weekly ""spiritual party"" - a prayer meeting - and the reaction to it has surprised them.
""When the devotional gathering started, all our friends just came out of the woodwork,"" said J. B. Frush-Marple, who with his friend Oak Ritchie co-hosts the meetings at Mr. Ritchie's house.
""People who I never would have thought would be receptive to prayer were just energized by it,"" said Mr. Frush-Marple, 33.
Three people came to the first gathering a year ago, and regular attendance now is about 15. Once 25 people showed up. Some are neighbors, some are friends, some are friends of friends.
The pair are usually the only Baha'is. Others are Christian - both Protestant and Catholic - and still others don't label their religion, or perhaps would say they are unbelievers.
The gatherings are held each Tuesday and begin with a simple dinner prepared by the two friends, followed by devotions. Usually Mr. Ritchie, a professional musician, starts by singing a Baha'i prayer. Sometimes people sing with him.
Then others say prayers. Some read verses from Baha'i prayer books available at the gathering. Others say prayers from their own religious tradition. Still others pray in their own words.
Mr. Ritchie, 28, said the comfortable environment of his home helps the guests relax and get into the experience of prayer.
""It's not an unfriendly building somewhere. It's not a church, or a Baha'i Center. It's my home. It's like a spiritual party where everyone is noticed,"" said Mr. Ritchie, who is known as ""Oak.""
Lloyce Nelson is a neighbor who has gotten to know the two men only in the past year but said she feels like she has known them forever.
""I love the fact that they are open to people of all religions to come, pray, talk and examine their lives,"" said Ms. Nelson, who is a Christian.
""Prayer is an intimate thing,"" she said. ""In sharing that intimacy you become closer to people.""
Mr. Ritchie said his friends like coming to the gatherings because they provide a place where people can explore some of the deeper aspects of themselves yet the format isn't complicated.
""It's the simplicity of the gathering that people like,"" said Mr. Ritchie. ""You know, coming together to break bread and say prayers with each other.""
Justin H. Williams has attended the gatherings. He is a blind man that describes himself as a ""wandering warrior."" He also clearly identifies himself as a Christian.
""People are afraid of what they don't know,"" Mr. Williams said. ""But there is nothing to be afraid of here. Getting together to say prayers, singing, talking and having dinner shouldn't scare anyone! Sometimes I'll notice that I'm the only Christian there, but it's still okay.""
Mr. Williams said that these meetings create an environment that helps people become closer.
""This is one of the only times that praying with a group has brought me closer to them,"" he said. ""I believe that with a Baha'i Faith devotional you are going to be closer to people than you can be at other prayer meetings. Because it is more intimate. There are only a couple of you in that room and you really get to know each other on another level - a spiritual level.""
Mr. Frush-Marple, who himself became a Baha'i about a year ago, said the meetings are easy to host.
""To tell you the truth, all we prepare for them is food,"" he said. ""Oak and I will put out prayer books and things, but the experience on the night is really an organic one. People are able to go with what they are feeling.
""I think we associate group prayer with a ritualistic practice,"" he said. ""But here it's just our souls communing together. These meetings present a different paradigm when it comes to community prayer.""
The gatherings have a noticeable effect on people, said Mr. Ritchie.
""At the end of the meeting you can see a serenity in people - you just know they are at peace,"" he said. ""When people that experience this together meet in other places they can fall right back into that serenity. It's a new kind of comfort with people. It's like the type of comfort two people that have been through a lot of tests and trials have with each other.""
Ms. Nelson said she has noticed changes around the neighborhood, too.
""I've seen some positive changes in some of the young people,"" she said. ""There is one young man I know that tells me no matter what is going on in his life, and there is a lot going on, he always feels better leaving the meeting than he did when he went in.""",COLUMBIA,SOUTH CAROLINA,United States
597,2007-12-25,[],Egypt religious freedom cases continued to 22 January,"CAIRO, Egypt — Court hearings on two lawsuits filed by Baha'is over the government's policy on religious affiliation and national identity papers have been continued until 22 January 2008.
The two cases, the first by the father of twin children who is seeking to obtain proper birth certificates for them and the second by a college student who needs a national identity card to re-enroll in university, had been set for ""final judgment"" by the Court of Administrative Justice in Cairo today.
But the hearings were unexpectedly postponed. The court indicated it is still deliberating on the cases.
The cases both arise from the fact that the Egyptian government requires all identification papers to list religious affiliation but then restricts the choice to the three officially recognized religions – Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Baha'is are thus unable to obtain identification papers because they refuse to lie about their religious affiliation.
Without national identity cards -- or, as in the case of the twin children, birth certificates – Baha'is and others caught in the law's contradictory requirements are deprived of a wide range of citizenship rights, such as access to employment, education, and medical and financial services.
(Update: On 22 January 2008, it was announced that the cases had been continued until 29 January 2008.)",CAIRO,,Egypt
598,2008-01-20,[],People's Theater from Germany goes international,"OFFENBACH, Germany — After six years of perfecting a technique that combines drama and discussion as a means to communicate with youth, a German theater group has gone international.
Individuals or agencies in four countries have commissioned People's Theater to give performances or offer training in the technique, said Erfan Diebel, one of the  administrators of the drama group. In the coming months, the troupe also expects to perform in at least three additional nations, he said.
The technique involves a cast of young, amateur actors presenting a skit that highlights a common problem among youth, such as negative peer pressure, lack of patience with others, or backbiting. At a critical moment in the drama, the action is frozen and the audience discusses how one might respond to the situation.
In Luxembourg, officials at the Ministry of Education think the method shows enough promise that they commissioned People's Theater to train 17 staff members from various schools around the country, then take a tour of some of  the schools to show the program in action.
""During role play, actual life situations are simulated and experienced,"" Patrick Wesquet, a social educator from the ministry, said of the program. ""The player tries to act according to his role. He ... experiences the feelings and thoughts of the others, learns to accept them in their roles, and develops empathy.""
After the pause in action in the skit and the audience discussion, the actors, with help from the students, try to act out some of the suggestions.
""The young people ... recognize themselves in the role and whether or why their suggestion has contributed to the resolution of the conflict,"" Mr. Wesquet said.
Besides Germany and Luxembourg, countries where People's Theater is giving performances or providing training include Austria, Liechtenstein, and Israel. Additional shows are set for the United Kingdom, Serbia, and Switzerland, Mr. Diebel said.
Mr. Diebel and some of the others involved in the project are members of the Baha'i Faith and say part of their motivation is to put into practice the teachings of their religion about social justice and moral leadership.  MORE DETAILS
Mr. Wesquet of the Education Ministry in Luxembourg noted that the role of schools in the life of young people seems to be growing.
""More and more frequently, schools are no longer seen as being merely a place for learning, but also a place for living,"" he said. ""The teachers and the staff of the school psychological services are able to assume an increasingly important role alongside the parents.""
""The aim of this project is to promote the personal and social skills of young people,"" he said.
""During adolescence young people have to cope with a variety of challenges, such as establishing more mature relationships with their peers, developing an ethical system of values, practicing socially responsible behavior, adopting male/female gender roles, emotional independence from parents and other adults, preparation for marriage, family and a profession, and acceptance of their own physical appearance,"" he continued.
""The theater offers a great opportunity to try out these demands in a 'playful' way,"" he said.
Peter Schumacher, who was involved in bringing People's Theater to Austria, explains it this way: ""Especially during puberty, teenagers tend to hide their insecurities behind a mask of coolness and arrogance. In a game situation, however, a young person is totally confronted by himself and his personality.""
""Such an experience is very moving,"" added Dr. Schumacher, who is the head of the youth department the Tyrolean Chamber of Labor. The chamber sponsored a function where Tyrolean school directors were invited to see People's Theater perform.
Afterwards the school directors asked the chamber to have the drama group return to Austria for presentations at eight vocational schools, Mr. Diebel said.
Reaction
Mr. Diebel says there is strong anecdotal evidence that the program is effective. For example, the group heard from a teacher in Germany a week after People's Theater had done a drama presentation called ""Apple Pie"" that addressed the human quality of patience - the teacher said that afterwards, whenever the students behaved impatiently, she merely said the words ""Apple Pie"" and immediately they corrected their behavior.
""I will keep everything in my head,"" wrote a youngster from another school who watched a performance. ""It's something that is easy to imitate.""
Another youth described a personal response during the program: ""I was contemplating a lot, and I also raised my hand a lot.""
Still another student said, ""I like that you stop the skit when there is a problem, so that we can solve it.""
Mr. Diebel said one key to the success of the program is that the actors are very young - usually between 18 and 25 years old - making it easier for children and youth to relate to them.
""All of you are very cool,"" wrote one young fan to the troupe.
Background
People's Theater was started by in 2001 by Erfan Enayati of Offenbach. He got the concept of stopping the action to allow for audience discussion from a Russian television program, ""The Happy Hippo Show,"" developed by Shamil Fattakhov, a member of the Baha'i Faith who lives in Kazan, Russia.
Support for People's Theater comes from foundations, schools and the City and District of Offenbach, along with a host of other organizations, companies and individuals, Mr. Diebel said.
The performers are young people who volunteer to be a part of the program for a year, he said.",OFFENBACH,,Germany
599,2008-01-29,[],"Amnesty International, US State Department call for release of Baha'i prisoners in Iran","GENEVA, Switzerland — In the wake of a US State Department call for Iran to release Baha'i prisoners, Amnesty International has issued an ""urgent action"" appeal on their behalf.
The three prisoners were taken into custody in Shiraz, Iran, last November and are serving a four-year sentence on charges connected entirely with their belief and practice in the Baha'i Faith.
""We urge the regime to release all individuals held without due process and a fair trial, including the three young Baha'i teachers being held in a Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Shiraz,"" said Sean McCormack, a spokesman for the State Department on 23 January 2008.
Amnesty International issued its appeal on 25 January. It calls for human rights activists around the world to write directly to Iranian government officials on behalf of the Baha'i prisoners, asking why they have been detained and calling on authorities not to ill-treat or torture them.
""Haleh Rouhi Jahromi, Raha Sabet Sarvestani and Sasan Taqva, all Baha'is (a religious minority), have been detained by the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz since 19 November 2007,"" states the appeal, which was posted on Amnesty International's Web site on 25 January 2008.
""Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language,"" the appeal advises, ""stating that Amnesty International would consider them to be prisoners of conscience if they are detained because of their Baha'i faith... calling for their release if they are not to be charged with a recognizably criminal offence and brought to trial promptly and fairly"" and ""calling on the authorities not to torture or ill-treat them...""
The Amnesty International appeal recounts the story of the three prisoners, who were initially part of a group of 54 Baha'is who were arrested in May 2006 as they took part in an effort to educate underprivileged children in Shiraz.
Most of the 54 were released after a few days, although Ms. Rouhi, Ms. Sabet and Mr. Taqva were held for about a month. Then, in August 2007, 53 of those arrested were notified by a local court that they were accused of ""offenses relating to state security,"" according to the appeal.  Sasan TaqvaMs. Rouhi, Ms. Sabet and Mr. Taqva, moreover, were sentenced to four years in prison, although they remained out on bail. Then, on 19 November 2007, the three were told by telephone to go to the Ministry of Information office in Shiraz to retrieve items that had been confiscated in the May 2006 arrests. Instead, they were incarcerated.
""When they did not return home, family members who had accompanied them were given conflicting information by intelligence officials,"" says the appeal. ""The officials tried to claim that the three had not entered the building, even though their relatives had seen them do so. Eventually, their relatives were informed that the three were still being held at the Office of the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz.""
The appeal lists the ages of the prisoners as follows: Ms. Rouhi, 29; Ms. Sabet, 33; and Mr. Taqva, 32.
According to the AI Web site, urgent action appeals are transmitted to a network of more than 100,000 human rights activists in 70 countries.
Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, said that the BIC is gravely concerned for the welfare of the three Baha'i prisoners.
""We hope that the urgent action appeal from Amnesty International, as a signal from human rights defenders worldwide, and the US State Department's statement, will help resolve their unjust detentions,"" she said.
Ms. Ala'i said the appeal was especially timely because Mr. Taqva has an injured leg, from an automobile accident before his imprisonment, which requires medical attention.
""The problem with his leg is extremely serious and painful,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""It is understood that he requires surgery to remove a metal pin that had been inserted previously.""
Ms. Ala'i said that charges against the three, rather than involving any legitimate concern over ""state security"" stem entirely from accusations by the court that the Baha'is had been involved in the ""indirect teaching"" of the Baha'i Faith.
""In fact,"" said Ms. Ala'i, ""the three individuals were engaged in an effort to help underprivileged children in their city, through a program of training that emphasizes moral virtues.
""It is mind-boggling that the government of Iran would consider such efforts to be any type of threat -- and wholly unwarranted that such activities should result in lengthy prison sentence.
""There is no doubt that these three are prisoners of conscience, held solely because of their belief in and practice of the Baha'i Faith,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""We know this because among those arrested in May 2006 were some individuals who are not Baha'is. They were released within a day and have never faced charges.""
The US State Department statement also took note of the ""death under suspicious circumstances"" of Ebrahim Lotfallahi, an Iranian student of Kurdish descent detained by the Ministry of Intelligence on January 6. ""We call on Iranian authorities to conduct a full investigation,"" said Mr. McCormack. His statement also expressed concern over the continued detention of three Amir Kabir University students.
The Amnesty International appeal can be read in full at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/report/info/MDE13/017/2008
The US Department of State statement can be read at:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/jan/99632.htm
Read this story in Persian",GENEVA,,Switzerland
600,2008-01-29,[],Egypt court upholds Baha'i plea in religious freedom cases,"CAIRO, Egypt — In a victory for religious freedom, a lower administrative court here today ruled in favor of two lawsuits that sought to resolve the government's contradictory policy on religious affiliation and identification papers.
The Court of Administrative Justice in Cairo upheld arguments made in two cases concerning Baha'is who have sought to restore their full citizenship rights by asking that they be allowed to leave the religious affiliation field blank on official documents.
""Given the degree to which issues of religious freedom stand at the heart of human rights issues in the Middle East, the world should cheer at the decision in these two cases today,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""The compromise offered by the Baha'is in these two cases opens the door to a way to reconcile a government policy that was clearly incompatible with international law -- as well as common sense,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""Our hope now is that the government will quickly implement the court's decision and allow Baha'is once again to enjoy the full rights of citizenship to which they are duly entitled,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The decisions today concerned two cases, both filed by Baha'is, over the issue of how they are to be identified on government documents.
The first case involves a lawsuit by the father of twin children, who is seeking to obtain proper birth certificates for them. The second concerns a college student, who needs a national identity card to re-enroll in university.
The government requires all identification papers to list religious affiliation but restricts the choice to the three officially recognized religions -- Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Baha'is are thus unable to obtain identification papers because they refuse to lie about their religious affiliation.
Without national identify cards -- or, as in the case of the twin children, birth certificates -- Baha'is and others caught in the law's contradictory requirements are deprived of a wide range of citizenship rights, such as access to employment, education, and medical and financial services.
These problems were highlighted in a report issued in November by Human Rights Watch and the Cairo-based Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR).
""Employers, both public and private, by law cannot hire someone without an ID, and academic institutions require IDs for admission,"" said the report. ""Obtaining a marriage license or a passport requires a birth certificate; inheritance, pensions, and death benefits are contingent on death certificates. The Ministry of Health has even refused to provide immunizations to some Baha'i children because the Interior Ministry would not issue them birth certificates accurately listing their Baha'i religion.""
The issuance of birth certificates is at the heart of the first case, which concerns 14-year-old twins Imad and Nancy Rauf Hindi. Their father, Rauf Hindi, obtained birth certificates that recognized their Baha'i affiliation when they were born.
But new policies require computer generated certificates, and the computer system locks out any religious affiliation but the three officially recognized religions. And without birth certificates, the children are unable to enroll in school in Egypt.
The second lawsuit was filed by the EIPR last February on behalf of 18-year-old Hussein Hosni Bakhit Abdel-Massih, who was suspended from the Suez Canal University's Higher Institute of Social Work in January 2006 due to his inability to obtain an identity card because of his refusal to falsely identify himself as either a Muslim, a Christian, or a Jew.
In both cases, lawyers representing the Baha'is have made it clear that they were willing to settle for cards or documents on which the religious affiliation field is left blank or filled in, perhaps, as ""other.""
This solution is what makes these two cases different from the lawsuit that was rejected by the Supreme Administrative Court last year. In that ruling, the Supreme Administrative Court rejected a decision by the lower that upheld the right of Baha'is to be properly identified on government documents.
For more information go to:
https://news.bahai.org/story/595
and/or
http://www.bahai.org/persecution/egypt",CAIRO,,Egypt
601,2008-01-31,[],New tactic obstructs Baha'i enrollments in Iranian universities,"GENEVA, Switzerland — More than a million students take Iran's national university entrance examination each year. So Halaku Rahmaniyan was extremely pleased when he learned he had placed 76th from the top.
""I was happy, because I knew that it was a good result and that I could enter any subject in any university with that ranking,"" the 18-year-old student from Tehran wrote in a blog recently.
He did not understand why, then, he still had not been accepted anywhere by December. So Mr. Rahmaniyan called the national Education Measurement and Evaluation Organization (EMEO), which administers the exam, and spoke with a top official.
The official, too, was puzzled -- until Mr. Rahmaniyan said he was a Baha'i.
""Suddenly, after the word 'Baha'i,' he discontinued the call,"" wrote Mr. Rahmaniyan.
Then he received a letter from the EMEO.
""Respectfully, in response to your request for the issuance of a certificate of ranking for the year 2007, we would like to inform you that owing to you having an incomplete file, issuance of a certificate of ranking is not possible,"" stated the letter.
The story is one of many from Iran in recent months that highlight the latest tactic by the Iranian government in its long-running campaign to block Baha'is from access to higher education: to claim that their examination files are somehow ""incomplete.""
Almost 800 of the more than 1,000 Baha'is who sat for and properly completed the entrance exam in June 2007 have received word that their files are ""incomplete"" -- thus preventing their enrollment.
""These latest figures show that, despite its denials, the Iranian government is continuing its campaign to prevent Baha'is from going to university,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
""The tactic of claiming that the examination files of Baha'i students are somehow 'incomplete' is yet another ruse by the government to act as if it respects human rights while covertly moving ahead with its persecution of Baha'is,"" said Ms. Ala'i, noting that none of the some 900 Baha'is who sat for the examination in 2006 received a notice of ""incomplete files.""
For more than 25 years, Baha'is have been banned from public and private universities in Iran. After pressure from the United Nations, governments, and academic, educational and human rights organizations, the government indicated in 2004 that it would stop asking university applicants about their religious affiliation, which seemed to open the door to Baha'i enrollments.
Each year since then, however, the government, which has been actively pursuing a campaign to identify all of the Baha'is in Iran and therefore is able to target Baha'i university students, has come up with some type of obstruction.
For the 2006-2007 academic year, the main tactic used to deprive Baha'is of access to higher education was expulsions.
As noted above, about 900 Baha'i students sat for the exam in June 2006. Nearly 500 passed and were listed as eligible to apply to university. Yet of the roughly 200 who ultimately managed to enroll in university in autumn 2006, the majority were gradually expelled over the course of the academic year.
The students were expelled as their identity as Baha'is became known to university officials.
That those expulsions reflect official government policy was confirmed in a confidential 2006 letter from Iran's Ministry of Science, Research and Technology instructing Iranian universities to expel any student who is discovered to be a Baha'i.
Baha'i students have been speaking out on blogs and in other forums. Nevertheless, the names have been withheld in the following accounts to protect their identity.
In October, a male student from Hamadan, who was expelled last year, told how many Baha'i students wished to educate themselves in part to help advance the development of their country.
""In order to better play our role in the reformation and distinction of this sacred land, we ask the respected officials to remove all obstacles for the entrance and continuation of the education of Baha'i students and lovers of knowledge at all universities in the country,"" he said.
In February, a young woman wrote to a high official to ask why she had been suddenly expelled from Payame Noor University.
""Of what crime have we been accused?"" she asked. ""After many years of yearning to receive a university education, I was ultimately given permission to enroll at a university this current year. Alas, I was expelled because of my religion after attending classes for a few weeks.""
As noted, for the 2007-2008 academic calendar, of the more than 1,000 students who sat for and properly completed the entrance examination, nearly 800 were excluded because of ""incomplete files.""
Mr. Rahmaniyan learned of his high score from an Internet posting in the fall. ""I ranked 54th in the regional quota and had come 76th nationwide,"" he wrote in a blog entry.
""Soon after, I found out that most of the Baha'i youth of my age group, were not even permitted to see their exam results because of having what had been announced on the Internet as 'incomplete file,'"" he wrote. ""My joy turned into sorrow....""
Ms. Ala'i noted that Mr. Rahmaniyan's case is not unusual. Many Baha'is this year, as in previous years, scored well on the national university entrance examination but were not allowed entry, even though other students with lower scores were allowed to enroll, she said.
""The low percentage of Baha'is in university in Iran is not because of low test scores or poor academic achievement,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""It is simply because the government has sought by various means to block Baha'is from enrolling or staying in university.""
In 2004 and 2005, she said, the Baha'is were prevented from enrolling because the government sent back the examination papers with the word ""Islam"" printed in the data field for a prospective student's religion. That was unacceptable to Baha'is until it was clarified in 2006 and 2007 that that notation only meant the student had passed the exam's section on Islam, and did not indicate religious identity.
""Despite repeated protests by Western academics, university officials, and college students in many countries, not to mention resolutions at the United Nations and efforts by human rights organizations, Iran has clearly continued its campaign to prevent Baha'is from gaining access to higher education, even while they claim that no such discrimination exists.
""A serious effort by the government to end this injustice would be a first step towards showing the world its genuine commitment to international human rights standards and equal treatment of all its citizens regardless of their religious belief,"" said Ms. Ala'i.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
602,2008-02-06,[],Iranian Baha'is sentenced to prison were helping underprivileged youth,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Accusations by the Iranian government that 54 Baha'is were engaged in anti-regime ""propaganda"" when they were arrested almost two years ago are patently false, the Baha'i International Community said today.
In November, three of that group were re-arrested and imprisoned for four years. The others have reportedly been given suspended one-year sentences.
""Far from working against the government, the Baha'is who were arrested in May 2006 were engaged in a humanitarian project aimed at helping underprivileged young people in the city of Shiraz,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
""Charges by the government that suggest otherwise are nothing less than an attempt to repress Iranian Baha'is generally and to deflect international criticism of Iran's human rights record,"" she said.
Concern over the status of the Baha'is sentenced in Shiraz was highlighted last week after an Iranian government spokesperson accused them of engaging in anti-government ""propaganda,"" according to wire service reports. (While those reports put the total arrests at 54, Baha'i sources indicate that only 53 Baha'is were arrested in May 2006.)  Class in Shahlabad, outside Shiraz, Iran.That charge of anti-regime propaganda came several days after the US State Department and Amnesty International expressed concern over the fact that three of the Baha'is arrested had been summarily imprisoned in November for terms of four years.
According to Agence France-Presse, an Iranian judiciary spokesman, Ali Reza Jamshidi, confirmed the prison sentences for the three and also told reporters on 29 January that 51 others had received suspended one-year jail terms, conditional on their attendance of courses held by the state's Islamic Propaganda Organization.
""The accounts emerging from Iran tell of a government that is desperate to justify its actions in the jailing of three innocent people by accusing them of teaching the Baha'i Faith, which is synonymous with 'anti-regime propaganda' in the government's twisted perspective, said Ms. Ala'i. ""This is further evidenced by the requirement that the others attend re-education classes, which are clearly aimed at coercing them away from their religious beliefs.
""While teaching the Baha'i Faith cannot be considered a crime of any sort, given that freedom of religion is protected by international law, the fact is that the Baha'is who were arrested almost two years ago in Shiraz were not working to spread Baha'i teachings -- rather they had initiated and were participating in a number of literacy and youth empowerment projects in various locations in and near Shiraz.
""Moreover, the group had introduced the projects to the Islamic Council of the city of Shiraz in 2005 and had subsequently received a letter from the Cultural Commission granting permission to continue their activities,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Ms. Ala'i also discussed charges, made in court documents, that the use of a workbook titled ""Breezes of Confirmation,"" which focuses on teaching language skills and basic moral principles, constitutes part of the evidence that Baha'is were teaching the Baha'i Faith.
""The fact is,"" said Ms. Ala'i, "" 'Breezes of Confirmation' makes no direct reference to the Baha'i Faith -- and its lessons reflect moral lessons common to all religions.
""In view of the government's continued rebuff of international appeals for the immediate release of the three prisoners, it is important to provide a detailed account, so as to set the record straight,"" said Ms. Ala'i. The names of the three are Haleh Rouhi Jahromi, 29; Raha Sabet Sarvestani , 33; and Sasan Taqva, 32.
Read an account of the development of the social service projects initiated by the Baha'i community of Shiraz.
View a sample lesson from the workbook ""Breezes of Confirmation""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
604,2008-02-15,[],Baha'i International Community issues statement on poverty eradication,"NEW YORK, United States — A new statement from the Baha'i International Community calls for a coherent, principle-based approach to the eradication of global poverty.
BIC representatives introduced the statement, ""Eradicating Poverty: Moving Forward as One,"" yesterday at a luncheon held at their offices across from the United Nations. About 40 representatives from various nongovernmental organizations and UN agencies gathered for the presentation.
Tahirih Naylor, a Baha'i representative to the United Nations, said the statement was released to coincide with the 46th Commission for Social Development at the United Nations, which runs 6-15 February 2008.
""This year, the commission is focusing on the themes of promoting full employment and decent work for all,"" said Ms. Naylor. ""These are important aspects of poverty eradication, but we wanted to advocate a more coherent approach, one that looks at the wide range of issues that must be addressed in an integrated way if global poverty is to be eliminated.""
The statement calls on both institutions and individuals internationally to put essential moral principles, such as unity and justice, first.  It recasts the underlying nature of poverty, saying it ""can be described as the absence of those ethical, social and material resources needed to develop the moral, intellectual and social capacities of individuals, communities and institutions.""
The statement also examines a number of specific topical areas where poverty alleviation efforts can be most effectively focused.  These include leadership and governance, human rights, gender, sustainable development, agriculture, employment, individual responsibility, education, and religion.
Those gathered for the presentation were addressed by Nikhil Seth, from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and Julia Berger, senior researcher and writer for the Baha'i International Community.
Mr. Seth said the statement's ""key message is that solidarity of action is what we need. If we can galvanize that spirit, we'll have won the battle.""
Mr. Seth, who is director of the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination at DESA, shared his experience in developing nations, including his native India, and recommended an additional focus on country-specific solutions. ""Generic solutions are not sufficient,"" he said, noting that land issues and culture play strong roles. ""A community-specific analysis is needed to tackle poverty.""
Mr. Seth also stressed the related problem of hunger. ""The problem of malnourishment requires a whole different set of interventions,"" he said, saying that in his country more than 40 percent of children under 5 are malnourished.
Mr. Seth also noted that international agencies sometimes place too much emphasis on measuring poverty rather than doing something about it.
""Macroeconomic aggregates do not really capture the indignities of poverty the way your statement has done so beautifully,"" he said.
Ms. Berger said that the issue of poverty is inextricably linked to other complex factors such as human rights, development, and environmental circumstances.  It is a positive indication, she said, that the UN community is beginning to realize the interconnectedness of all these factors and focusing on ways to formulate an integrated approach.
""Not to overstate the case, but the change in thought required to get to this point is like the Copernican revolution of recognizing that the earth revolves around the sun, and not the other way around,"" Ms. Berger said.
Ms. Naylor said the statement was initially drafted in response to a call from the UN Human Rights Council for a consultation on ""draft guiding principles"" to help focus the discussion on the link between human rights and extreme poverty.
As part of that process, the BIC contacted selected members of the Baha'i community around the world and asked them to organize discussions on poverty and human rights involving individuals from the local level.
""These discussions took place in six countries – Brazil, Guyana, Haiti, India, Namibia and Turkey – and the consultations there provided first-hand experiences and impressions from individuals who are most affected by poverty.""
To read  Eradicating Poverty: Moving Forward as One,  click here.
read this story in Persian",NEW YORK,,United States
605,2008-02-19,[],Building unity with community prayer,"HEIDELBERG, Germany — Twenty-five-year-old Andreas Rolle is in his final year of university, studying to become an elementary-school teacher. Like many students, he describes his daily life as ""frenzied.""
But he has discovered a small island of peace in his schedule: a prayer meeting every two weeks hosted by five Baha'is, also students in Heidelberg, a university town of 150,000 people.
""Going to these meetings helps me to refocus,"" said Mr. Rolle, a student at the Heidelberg University of Education. ""I do not like missing even one.""
Others, students and nonstudents alike, have likewise found the gathering to be a refuge from the pressures of modern life.
Dominick Muller, a music student at the Pop Academy, likes that ""one consciously or deliberately comes to quietness and reflects about themselves.""
""Afterwards there is also the possibility to talk about these thoughts and reflections with the other people,"" said Mr. Muller, who describes himself as having no religious background.
He said he likes thinking about issues in an environment removed from school and his other activities.  The gatherings start with prayers, followed by conversation and reflection. Good food is also an attraction, the hosts say.Organizers of the meeting believe prayers create a special atmosphere.
""I think they really help people,"" said Sarah Warner, one of the hosts. ""Even if they don't realize it in the beginning, there will be an inner transformation, like being more attentive to spirituality in other people and in their own life.""
Nikolai Werner, another host, agreed. ""It is the prayers that bring people together,"" he said. ""Using the energy of the prayers we find new ways to see each other.""
The fact that the gatherings don't have an official religious leader - Baha'is do not have clergy - is another factor in the success of the gatherings, said Nassim Aiff, another of the organizers.
""It makes the meeting very open,"" she said. ""Everyone can contribute with their own idea. Also it can't really go wrong because there is no set of rules. If people like to talk about the things that were in the quotations, they can. They don't have to, though.""
The gatherings in Heidelberg are part of a global effort by the worldwide Baha'i community to host devotional gatherings in neighborhoods everywhere. There are now more than 17,000 such meetings, with hundreds of thousands of participants.
About a dozen people gather every two weeks for this meeting in Heidelberg.
""I think it is the atmosphere that attracts the people most,"" said Ms. Aiff. ""And of course the good food. But mainly the atmosphere, having a chance to be completely themselves, not having to worry about what people might think about them.""
Chandriah Rama, a software engineer working for SAP in Heidelberg, said he enjoys the gatherings because they make him feel relaxed.
""There is good meditation, and the meeting has very nice people,"" he said.
Mr. Rolle said he never imagined that he could feel so comfortable in a group of people.
""The devotional gathering makes us connect on more than just a religious level.... I love it all. The food, reflecting, being in a prayerful state, the moments being together, meditating, telling stories and laughing together.""
He said that what he finds most extraordinary is that although the gathering is organized by Baha'is, it is inspiring for others, too.
""I believe that devotional meetings bring people together and form tighter bonds,"" he said.
It is this type of response that encourages Baha'is in their belief that such meetings can help lay the foundation for peace.
""Coming together to say prayers on a regular basis with friends and family will change the world,"" said Nassim Ghazanfari, another of the hosts. ""That's why I'm doing it.""",HEIDELBERG,,Germany
606,2008-02-22,[],Draft Iranian law threatens gross human rights violations,"NEW YORK, United States — The Iranian Parliament is considering legislation that would institutionalize a series of gross human rights violations, affecting not only Baha'is but many others, even outside of Iran, the Baha'i International Community said today.
Of greatest concern is a section that would mandate the death penalty for anyone who converts from Islam to another religion, a provision that would affect not only Baha'is but also Christians, Jews, and others.
""This proposed law goes against all human rights norms and standards, including international treaties that Iran itself has agreed to,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""It is important for the international community to speak out, now, before it is too late and the draft code becomes Iran's law of the land.""
The proposed law also would extend the government's reach over alleged security violations outside the country, give legal effect to discriminatory practices already in wide use against Baha'is and others, and redefine a series of ""religious"" and other crimes so vaguely as to place in jeopardy virtually any group facing government disapproval.
""If adopted, the code will permit the government and the clergy to act with impunity against Iran's citizens on the sole basis of their religious affiliation,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""This is not only an affront to the people of Iran; it is an offense to all who seek to uphold fundamental human rights.""
Ms. Dugal said the new section on religious conversion -- defined as apostasy -- is especially severe, in that its language mandates the death penalty for anyone who converts from Islam to another religion and does not immediately recant.
""The text uses the word Hadd, meaning that it explicitly sets death as a fixed punishment that cannot be changed, reduced or annulled,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""In the past, the death penalty has been handed down -- and also carried out -- in apostasy cases, but it has never before been set down in law.
""The law also extends to naming as apostate any follower of a religion other than Islam who had one parent who was a Muslim at the time of his or her conception. Thus, for instance, the child of a Muslim and a Christian who chooses to adopt the Christian faith would be considered an apostate under the terms of the law and therefore subject to execution,"" Ms. Dugal said.
Another troubling section of the proposed code would extend ""security"" laws outside the country, exposing those outside Iran to the government's reach.
""Iran is apparently not content with targeting those it considers its opponents only within its borders,"" said Ms. Dugal, explaining that Article 112 of the proposed code refers to actions ""against the government, the independence and the internal and external security of the country.""
""Since the notion of 'security' is not defined in the law, any action can be qualified as such,"" Ms. Dugal said. ""Indeed, many Iranian Baha'is have been falsely accused of activities against the security of the state.
""If the new penal code is adopted, Iranian Baha'is -- and others -- all over the world would likewise be liable for actions taken outside Iran that are considered contrary to Iran's security.""
The code's vagueness with respect to ""offending the sacred"" and other crimes would give the government free license to act against any group it disapproves of, said Ms. Dugal.  ""The code includes articles that refer to the commission of unspecified crimes or felonies, as well as articles referring to those guilty of 'corruption and mischief on the earth,'"" she said.
""It would also institute capital punishment for anyone who 'insults the Prophet,'"" Ms. Dugal explained. ""Such provisions place many groups, including Baha'is, in an extremely vulnerable position, since an 'insult' to the Prophet can be defined in almost any context, especially where religious belief is concerned.""
In related developments, the presidency of the European Union recently expressed ""serious concern"" over the ""deteriorating situation"" of the Baha'i community in Iran.
""The EU expresses its serious concern at the worsening situation of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran, in particular to the plight of the Baha'i,"" said the EU Presidency on 7 February 2008.
""The EU is concerned about the ongoing systematic discrimination and harassment of Baha'is in Iran, including the expulsion of university and high school students, restrictions on employment and anti-Baha'i propaganda campaigns in the Iranian media.""",NEW YORK,,United States
607,2008-02-25,[],Baha'is celebrate Ayyam-i-Ha and prepare for annual fast,"SOLANO, Philippines — Baha'i children love Ayyam-i-Ha because it's a special period of the year devoted to charity, hospitality, social events, and the giving of gifts.
Because of the leap year, they have an extra day this year. Ayyam-i-Ha extends from Feb. 26 to March 1, so the added day of Feb. 29 comes during this time.
In Solano, a town of 50,000 people north of Manila, the children are used to filling the period with family and community activities. A visit to a home for the elderly, an evening for public prayers, a day of fun in the park, singing for the inmates at a prison - these are typical activities, said Holly Celeste, a local Baha'i.
""Basically during this period we focus on our children,"" she said. ""This is usually done by friends and family coming together to do service-oriented activity with the children. The idea is for the children to come together and learn what fun being of service can be.""
Similarly, Baha'is around the world celebrate Ayyam-i-Ha with prayers and special activities, which are a prelude and preparation for the annual fasting period, March 2 to 20.  Children in Solano, in the Philippines, enjoy music during last year's Ayyam-i-Ha festivities at the local Baha'i center.""Ayyam-i-Ha"" means literally the ""Days of Ha"" (""ha"" is an Arabic letter), and in the Baha'i calendar they form the intercalary days that fill out the 365 or 366 days of the solar year. The Baha'i calendar consists of 19 months of 19 days each, giving 361 days, requiring the addition of four or five more days.
The calendar was established by the Bab, the prophet who was the forerunner of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, Baha'u'llah. But it was Baha'u'llah who specified that the Days of Ha should be inserted in the calendar just before the month of fasting.
Baha'u'llah said of Ayyam-i-Ha: ""It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name.""",SOLANO,,Philippines
608,2008-02-26,[],"Baha'i fast ""essentially a period of meditation and prayer""","LOS ANGELES, United States — Baha'is around the world will arise for prayers before sunup on March 2 as they begin their yearly fasting period – ""an annual renewal of faith,"" says Emerson Boergadine, a young photographer in Los Angeles.
""It's an invigoration, an annual cleansing,"" he said of the fast, which is a special time for prayer and also involves abstaining from food and drink between sunrise and sundown for 19 straight days. Members of the Baha'i Faith ages 15 to 70 observe the fast, which ends just before the Baha'i new year on March 21.
Mr. Boergadine, who is 28 and will be observing the fast for the 14th time, said it helps a person focus on their essential spiritual nature.
""While you are practicing detachment from the physical world, you are reminded of your attachment to the spiritual world,"" he said.
Shoghi Effendi, the head of the Baha'i Faith from 1921 until his passing in 1957, described the fast in this way: ""It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul.""
Lorenia De La Vega – a native of Mexico who grew up in the United States and is currently working in Spain as a translator – joined the Baha'i Faith last October and will be observing the fast for the first time.
""Everyone that I've spoken with says that the fast is one of the most incredible experiences you can have,"" said Ms. De La Vega, who is 25. ""I am really looking forward to it. They say that it is an incredible time of personal growth. The phrase that I've heard everyone saying is you're cleansed of everything else except prayer and that your senses feel alive.""
It is the focus on prayer that she particularly is looking forward to.
""Prayer is one of the most important things in my life,"" she said. ""I used to think that it was just something to do to calm yourself down. But I've had amazing experiences with prayer ever since I became a Baha'i.""",LOS ANGELES,,United States
609,2008-02-26,[],"Equality of women and men can improve economic performance, says economist","UNITED NATIONS, United States — Equality between the sexes can have a real world economic effect, potentially improving the economic performance of nations and corporations.
That was among the ideas offered by noted economist Augusto Lopez-Claros, speaking yesterday at the United Nations on behalf of the Baha'i International Community.
Addressing the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women at a High-Level Roundtable on  ""Financing for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women,"" Dr. Lopez-Claros noted that a number of studies have shown a close connection between national economic performance and the degree to which women are integrated into a national economy.
""The efficient operation of our increasingly knowledge-based economy is not only a function of adequate levels of available finance, a reasonably open trade regime for goods and services, but, more and more, is also dependent on our ability to tap into a society's reservoir of talents and skills,"" said Dr. Lopez-Claros, director of the Global Competitiveness Report 2006/2007 at the World Economic Forum.
""When, because of tradition, a misunderstanding of the purpose of religion, social taboos or plain prejudices, half (the) ...  population is prevented from making its contribution to the life of a nation, the economy will suffer.""  Two representatives of the Baha'i International Community addressed a High-Level Roundtable on ""Financing for Gender Equality"" at the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women on 25 February 2008.Dr. Lopez-Claros was one of some 40 Baha'i delegates to the meeting of the commission, which runs this year from 25 February to 7 March.
Also addressing yesterday's High Level Roundtable was Fulya Vekiloglu, co-chair of the Working Group on Girls of the NGO Committee on UNICEF, who is also a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
She urged the commission to make a greater effort to promote social policies that protect, empower, and ""invest in"" girls at the national and local levels.
""Investments in girls have amazing cascading benefits,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu, speaking in her role as co-chair of the NGO Working Group on Girls. ""When girls are healthy, well-educated and empowered to contribute to their families and societies, we all benefit.""
She also urged the commission to promote policies that would help provide better data about women and girls.
""In too many places and at too many times, girls continue to be invisible, lumped together with women by some and with children by others,"" said Ms. Vekiloglu. ""Gender equality and women's empowerment cannot be accomplished unless we adopt a life-cycle approach to this critical issue. Unless we ensure the visibility of girls, we can never guarantee women's rights.""
Other members of the Baha'i delegation to the Commission on the Status of Women include Zarin Hainsworth, president of UNIFEM in her native Britain; Mehr Afhasi, who works with UNIFEM in Sweden; Shama Pande of Nepal, who works with USAID in the area of NGO funding; Forough Olinga of Uganda and Nalina Jiwnani of India, who represent the Baha'i offices for the advancement of women in their countries; and Sovaida Ma'ani Ewing, a lawyer whose most recent service was with the Legal Advisor's Office of the U.S. State Department and who is the author of ""Collective Security Within Reach,"" published last month.
Other Baha'i delegates come from Australia, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Germany, Hawaii, Japan, Malawi, Puerto Rico, and Switzerland.
A statement by the Baha'i International Community - addressed to the current session of the Commission on the Status of Women - is titled ""Mobilizing Institutional, Legal and Cultural Resources to Achieve Gender Equality."" It can be found at: http://bic.org/statements-and-reports/bic-statements/08-0201.htm.
To read more about Baha'i activities at the Commission on the Status of Women, visit the BIC homepage at http://bic.org/.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
610,2008-03-10,[],"In the Queensland outback, 'Fari's Day' means fresh produce","ATHERTON, QUEENSLAND, Australia — Fariborz Rameshfar operates what must be one of the longest fruit and vegetable runs in the world – every two weeks a 2,000-kilometer trek through the outback of Queensland, delivering produce to people with scant access to this type of fresh food.
And he has been doing it for 18 years.
His customers – on cattle stations, in isolated settlements, in small towns – call the day he arrives ""Fari's Day.""
His 13-ton, refrigerated truck carries up to eight tons of cargo – fresh lettuce, potatoes, bananas, tomatoes, onions, and apples, along with milk, cheese, bread, processed meat, and newspapers. He'll also transport special orders for people who ask.
Mr. Rameshfar, 57, has made a decent living from the business but says he probably could do equally well if he stayed home near Atherton and did his work there.  Fariborz Rameshfar likes mixing with the people as he stands by his truck, selling fruits and vegetables in small settlements and towns and on big ranches in the Australian outback.The fact is, he likes providing a unique service.
""What inspires me to keep on doing this job is my faith as a Baha'i,"" he said. ""I want to be of service ... and this way I can serve by bringing fruit and vegetables to where they are desperately needed.""
Four decades earlier, a similar kind of motivation had spurred him to leave his native Iran and head to Africa to help with Baha'i projects. When it proved impossible to get into university there, he came to Melbourne, on the southern coast of Australia. That was in 1973.
He met his wife, Ivy, in Melbourne and in 1983, shortly after their marriage, they decided to move to north Queensland, giving up a comfortable lifestyle near family and friends to help in the development of Baha'i community in the Atherton Tablelands. There they have raised their daughters, Saphira and Nikka.
Atherton is in a tropical area of Australia, on a mountainous plain that offers extremely fertile land for farming – thus the idea for a business built around fresh produce.
His run takes him south and west, down off the Tablelands to the normally dry outback, although recent heavy rains have broken a decade-long drought, with overflowing creeks causing him unusual delays.
He says the traveling has brought many rewards, including seeing nature at its finest.
""There are kangaroos and emus and seasonal birds, especially the thousands of budgerigars who sit on the power lines making the whole thing green,"" he said. ""The wildflowers are amazing, too.""
But the best thing is the friendships.
""I know everybody and everybody knows me,"" he says.
(Article and photographs provided by the Australian Baha'i News Service.)",ATHERTON,QUEENSLAND,Australia
611,2008-03-19,"[611, 505, 218]","In the shadow of the lotus, peace and calm prevail","NEW DELHI, India — Every day, the people come. Thousands of them. At times it's a constant stream of humanity. Eight thousand people a day, 10,000, sometimes 15,000. On holidays 30,000, even 50,000. And once, 150,000.
Yet everyone is calm, orderly, sometimes waiting in line to leave their shoes in a hidden checkroom and climb the stairs to the building they call the Lotus Temple. Inside, the mood is one of serenity. Considering the vast numbers of people who make their way around the property, the peacefulness perhaps is surprising.
""We are impressed - the discipline,"" said Ramesh Cheruku, who with his wife and young son had come from Hyderabad in the south of India for their first visit to the Baha'i House of Worship, located in the capital city of New Delhi.
With more than 4.6 million visitors last year, the temple is one of the most popular spots on earth, in a league with St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and not far behind the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Many of the visitors are from India, but people come from all over the world. They are Hindus, Christians, atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, and, of course, Baha'is. There are families, couples, single people, schoolchildren, tour groups.
Many come to see a stunning piece of architecture - and stunning it is. Still, their behavior suggests something more.
""Peace of mind,"" murmured Reeta Singhai when asked how she felt after her first walk through the temple, whose outward form is like a lotus flower. It has 27 ""petals,"" arranged in threes so that the structure has nine sides, just like the other six Baha'i houses of worship around the world.
It is exactly this feeling of peace that the public relations director, Shatrughun Jiwnani, mentioned as he pondered the question about what appeals to visitors, most of whom are inside the temple only a few minutes.  Baha’i youth come from around the world to volunteer their service as guides at the House of Worship.""They suddenly find themselves in a place that is quiet,"" he said. They pause ""and maybe for a few moments look inside themselves.""
""You can almost start to hear your own thoughts,"" agreed Sarang Joshi. A native of India now living in the United States, he was impressed by what he called the ""spiritual nature of the building.""


In brief

Day to day at the temple
The Baha'i House of Worship in India is open to the public every day except Monday. Holidays are popular times for visiting.
Entry is free of charge. The property is operated solely with funds provided through the voluntary contributions of Baha'is around the world.
Shaheen Javid, general manager of the temple, said there are about 100 paid workers, some of whom are Baha'is or have become Baha'is since working there.
There are also about 40 Baha'i volunteers, virtually all of them young people who, at their own expense, come for a few months to serve as guides or helpers. Last year, volunteers came from about 70 countries. They stay on the premises in a dormitory-like facility built for the purpose.
The Information Center
Visitors to the House of Worship may request a pamphlet explaining the basic teachings and history of the Baha'i Faith, but otherwise - unless they ask to go to the nearby Information Center - there is no particular attempt to teach them about the religion.
""You come and experience the place, and if you have the curiosity, you ask,"" said Shatrughun Jiwnani, the public relations director. ""One of the principles of the Baha'i Faith is the individual investigation of truth. People have to find out for themselves.""
The Information Center provides extensive displays about Baha'i history, teachings, and sacred writings, as well as information about social and economic programs in various parts of the world. Films in both Hindi and English are screened at regular intervals.
Visitors may fill out an optional card requesting more information or asking how to join the Baha'i Faith. A number of visitors have asked to take part in Baha'i study circles or sign up their sons and daughters for children's classes or youth groups. Such gatherings are held in many locations throughout New Delhi and India, including on Sundays at the temple property itself.
The auditorium at the Information Center is sometimes used for special events, including a series called ""One Ocean: Celebrating Unity Through the Arts."" The series offers performances of music and dance, often from other countries and often sponsored by a foreign embassy or international group.
Construction of the temple
The temple site was purchased in 1953 and covers 26 acres. Construction on the House of Worship began in April 1980, and the temple opened to the public on 1 January 1987. The cost of construction was about $10 million, with all funds coming from Baha'is in India and around the world.
The architect was Fariborz Sahba of Canada, who was also the project manager for construction.
The temple has been the subject of hundreds of articles in publications around the world, and has received the following honors:

Award for excellence in religious art and architecture from the International Federation for Religious Art and Architecture. 1987.
Award for structural design from the Institute of Structural Engineers of the United Kingdom. The citation honors Mr. Sahba ""for producing a building so emulating the beauty of a flower and so striking in its visual impact."" 1988.
From the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, its international award for the excellence of the temple's outdoor illumination. 1988.
From the American Concrete Institute, award for a finely built concrete structure. 1990.
From GlobArt Academy of Vienna, Austria, GlobArt Academy 2000 award in recognition of ""the magnitude of the service of (this) Taj Mahal of the 20th century in promoting the unity and harmony of people of all nations, religions and social strata, to an extent unsurpassed by any other architectural monument worldwide."" 2000.

Other Baha'i houses of worship
The Baha'i House of Worship in India is one of seven Baha'i temples in the world. The others are located in Australia, Germany, Panama, Samoa, Uganda, and the United States. Baha'is refer to the individual temples as a Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, an Arabic term meaning the ""dawning place of the mention of God.""
For general information about Baha'i houses of worship, including a photo gallery, go to www.bahai.org/faq/community_life/temples.



""It's really interesting how that's captured by the architecture,"" he said.
Mr. Jiwnani said most people stay inside for only a few minutes, but such a visit can still be meaningful.
""Maybe two hours of quiet at home means nothing, whereas two minutes in the temple can move you,"" he suggested, noting that there are many people who visit frequently.
""People like it that there are no sermons or lectures here. They are able to bring their own religion and sit and pray or meditate.""
India - with 1.1 billion people the second most populous nation in the world - is a country rich in religious tradition. More than 80 percent of the people are Hindus, with Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, the Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Judaism, and others also represented.
All Baha'i houses of worship are built for people of all religions to worship to God, reflecting the belief that the different religions come from the same God and in fact represent unfolding chapters in one divine reality.
It is envisioned that in the future, such Baha'i temples will be the center of a group of facilities, including, for example, hospitals, educational and scientific institutions, perhaps a home for the aged. (A few visitors have heard this and promptly called to see if they could get on the list for such a home. Shaheen Javid, the general manager of the House of Worship, says he must tell them that it is a vision for the future but there are no actual plans yet for the auxiliary institutions.)
Inside the temple
Inside the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, the main indoor space is called the Prayer Hall and has seating for 1,300 people. On most days, there are readings for five or six minutes each hour - from Baha'i, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian holy writings.
Visitors are briefed before they enter, partly about what they will not see. There are no statues, no photographs of major Baha'i figures, no altar, no representations of Hindu gods, of Buddha or of Jesus.
This fact disappoints some of the visitors. Seven-year-old Akhil Rekulapelli, on holiday from the United States with his family, was a bit perplexed. ""I thought there would be gods there,"" he said.
The simplicity of the interior is striking, highlighting the beautiful lines of the arches, the different textures of the materials, the design and height of the dome. Millions of visitors have walked through the building since it opened 21 years ago, but the temple still seems fresh, unsullied. Some would say uplifting, spiritual.
Around the periphery, in simple lettering in both Hindi and English, are quotations from the writings of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith, about the nature of life and religion.
""Wert thou to speed through the immensity of space and traverse the expanse of heaven, yet thou wouldst find no rest save in submission to Our command and humbleness before Our Face,"" reads one of them. ""Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire We test the gold, and with gold We test Our servants,"" says another.
Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is the most recent in a line of Divine Messengers that includes Krishna, Zoroaster, Buddha, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, and the Bab, all of whom came to teach the unfolding plan of God for humanity.
Visitors to the House of Worship are told that it is dedicated to the oneness of God, the oneness of humanity, and the oneness of religion - beliefs at the heart of the teachings of Baha'u'llah.
""The purpose of the Baha'i House of Worship is to remind the people that we are one human family created by the one true God - we should come to this place and forget our differences,"" said Mr. Jiwnani.
The lotus
Mr. Jiwnani thinks that most people do go away from the temple with a sense of the place and what it stands for.
""It ends up being a spiritual experience, although that is not why most people come,"" he said. ""People understand that the House of Worship stands for respect for all the faiths.""
In India, the fact that the temple is shaped like a lotus flower is significant, he noted, explaining that Asian religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrian - all have special associations with the lotus flower.
The lotus represents purity, and since the flower is often found in dirty and stagnant water, the symbolism of a pure human spirit rising above the dross to its true station is especially meaningful, Mr. Jiwnani said.
""The House of Worship is not designed in any traditional religious architecture,"" he continued. ""It has a universal shape, so everyone feels welcome.""
Fariborz Sahba of Canada, the architect for the temple, said he chose the lotus shape precisely because of its myriad spiritual connotations.
""The lotus represents the Manifestation of God, and is also a symbol of purity and tenderness,"" he has said in published comments. ""Its significance is deeply rooted in the minds and hearts of the Indians.""
Mr. Jiwnani said people sometimes ask about similarities between the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, which opened in 1973, some 14 years before the Baha'i temple.
The concept of each building is different, he said: The Baha'i temple was inspired by the shape of a lotus flower and is round; the opera house is meant to suggest sails on a ship, ""billowing"" in one direction. Construction methods also were different, Mr. Jiwnani noted.
The temple and the Baha'is
India has more than a million Baha'is, the largest number of any country in the world, but there is no question that the temple has increased awareness of the religion, said A.K. Merchant, one of the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India.
""It has given us an identity,"" he said of the House of Worship. ""Now we need to teach what the inspiration behind the building was.""",NEW DELHI,,India
613,2008-03-18,[],Dean of Westminster Abbey highlights need for unity,"LONDON, England — A passage from the Baha'i teachings about the relationship between human beings and the environment was read as part of the 2008 observance of Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey.
""The Environment - Our Future"" was the theme of this year's program, held on 10 March in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II, head of the Commonwealth; Prince Philip; and representatives of all 53 nations of the Commonwealth and of the major religions.
In opening remarks, the Very Rev. Dr. John Hall, dean of Westminster, talked about the need for unity among people.
""As human beings we are too ready to think of what divides us rather than what unites us,"" he said. ""Commonwealth Day is an opportunity to concentrate on how we are united: as human beings; as citizens of the Commonwealth; as inhabitants of one world; as children of one heavenly Father, each one made and loved by God and precious in His sight.""
In her Commonwealth Day message, Queen Elizabeth observed that all actions that help protect the environment can ""have a real and positive effect on the lives of others.""
""It is important to remember that the environmental choices available in some countries may not be an option for others,"" she noted.
""In some parts of the world, for example, fossil fuels can be used more sparingly and buildings can be made of more efficient, sustainable materials; but it is far harder to expect someone to adapt if he or she relies on the trees of a local forest for fuel, shelter and livelihood. If we recognize the interests and needs of the people who are most affected, we can work with them to bring about lasting change.""
Representatives of the United Kingdom's nine major religions read passages from their faith traditions on the subject of the environment.
The secretary for external affairs of the UK Baha'i community, Robert Weinberg, read a combination of two extracts of letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, for the Baha'i contribution to the program.
""We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it,"" he read. ""We need a change of heart, a reframing of all our conceptions and a new orientation of our activities. The inward life of man as well as his outward environment have to be reshaped if human salvation is to be secured.""
The colorful program included music and dance from various Commonwealth countries, including an African children's choir, an extract from Joseph Haydn's oratorio, ""The Creation,"" sung by New Zealand-born soprano Madeleine Pierard, and an exuberant performance by the London-based Maori cultural group Ngati Ranana.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
614,2008-03-21,[],Baha'is celebrate new year ,"EUREKA, New Zealand — Baha'is celebrated their new year today with programs and festivities in thousands of localities around the globe.
New Zealand Baha'is were among the first to mark Naw Ruz - literally ""new day"" - because their nation lies just west of the international dateline.
In the Waikato region, Baha'is and their friends from the whole area gathered for an international dinner in Eureka, a small rural settlement in the dairying heartland of the country. Sandra and Babak Paymani began the tradition last year on their three-acre property, pitching a marquee festooned for the occasion in their garden.
""Naw Ruz is all about getting together and celebrating with friends, neighbors and work colleagues,"" Mr. Paymani said.
The smorgasbord ranged from Persian cuisine to lamb cooked Tongan style in an umu, or underground oven, by local Baha'i Melini Taufalele.
Mr. Taufalele, who said he learned the method of cooking as a child growing up in Tonga, described an umu as being similar to a Maori hangi where food is cooked using super heated rocks buried in a pit oven. ""With an umu we leave the rocks in the pit and only remove the embers to prevent smoking the food. It's an easy way of cooking for large numbers of people.""
Melini said preparing an umu was a social affair. ""Everyone can join in. It's a real family thing.""  Melini Taufalele and Geoff Jervis uncover the umu, the underground oven used for their Naw Ruz dinner in Eureka, a small rural settlement in New Zealand.The Waikato Baha'i community is geographically widespread. A region of lush green hills, bush and farmland, with exceptional surf on the West coast, the area has the scenic Waikato River winding through its landscapes and intersecting the regional hub of Hamilton, one of New Zealand's larger cities. Dairy farming is the backbone of the local economy.
Elsewhere in the country, some 150 young people were able to celebrate together in Christchurch because the annual New Zealand Baha'i Youth Conference happened to be planned for this weekend.
""This will be the first time the national youth conference will be taking place over Naw Ruz,"" said Rebeccah Hindin-Miller, a university student in Christchurch. The youth celebrated with dance performances, music, food, and prayers.
The Baha'i calendar, which today begins the year 165, has 19 months of 19 days each, with intercalary days added to reach the 365 or 366 days of the solar year. Naw Ruz comes at the end of the Baha'i month of fasting, a special period of prayer and meditation during which Baha'is abstain from eating and drinking between sunup and sundown.",EUREKA,,New Zealand
617,2008-04-04,[],Vietnamese Baha'is reach milestone with election of National Spiritual Assembly,"HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — The Baha'is of Vietnam have reached a historic milestone with the election - for the first time in many years - of a national Baha'i administrative body in that nation.
The Baha'i Faith is established in virtually every country of the world, and in most nations the Baha'is each year elect a National Spiritual Assembly of nine individuals to administer their affairs and guide the community.
In Vietnam, the Baha'i national convention and election held 20-21 March were the first since the unification of North and South Vietnam in 1975.
""This is important because it was the first time in 33 years that the government had approved that such a gathering could take place,"" said Joan Lincoln, a special emissary of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith. Mrs. Lincoln traveled from the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, to Ho Chi Minh City for the occasion.
""It was a deeply moving affair,"" she continued. ""I was told that a number of the Baha'is hadn't seen one another in many years.""
Preparations for the convention, including drafting the charter for the Baha'i governing body in Vietnam, were undertaken in consultation with the government, which sent three representatives to observe the election.
The voting took place at the small Baha'i Center in Ho Chi Minh City on the first day of the convention, followed the next day by a consultative session in a much larger hall that had been decorated with flowers of congratulation sent by various government and police agencies. More than 20 officials from the central, provincial and district governments attended the session, which was highlighted by the adoption by the Baha'is of the new charter.
Documents now will be submitted to the government for the next stage in the official recognition of the Baha'i Faith in Vietnam.  An emissary of the Universal House of Justice, Mrs. Joan Lincoln, pays a courtesy call to the vice chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City at the seat of government there.A number of people attending the activities had joined the Baha'i Faith in the 1950s and 1960s and had remained firm in the religion despite the years of restrictions on certain activities.
""The high point for me,"" Mrs. Lincoln said, ""was seeing the Baha'is from all over Vietnam, the north, the central, and the south, who had been so steadfast for over three decades, remaining obedient to the government and to the Universal House of Justice and waiting patiently until they could re-establish their activities fully.
""It was thrilling to see the delegates greet one another, and that the older believers had been able to bring up their children as Baha'is, and to see so many young couples with their own children - the third generation of Baha'is - at the convention.""
A particularly emotional moment, Mrs. Lincoln said, was the announcement of the results of the election of the National Spiritual Assembly. Among the nine members are Baha'is both young and old, from different areas of Vietnam.
Mrs. Lincoln expressed appreciation for government gestures toward the Baha'is.
""They had taken many measures to show their support,"" she said, noting that representatives from the government-run press and television attended some of the activities and reported on them.
""The warm relations between the new National Spiritual Assembly and the government were impressive to me,"" she said.
She also mentioned the Baha'i youth and ""how present in the organization of the convention they were - saying the prayers, singing passages from the Baha'i writings, manning the computers, handling the logistics, the food, the microphones, raising the spirit ... doing all the things that youth do.""
As part of the convention, Mrs. Lincoln presented to the government of Vietnam a gift from the Universal House of Justice consisting of a framed, color facsimile of two of the personal seals of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith.
Nguyen Thanh Xuan, vice chairman of the Government Committee on Religion, accepted the gift, and also gave the Baha'is a framed portrait of Ho Chi Minh. Mrs. Lincoln earlier had paid a courtesy visit to a government office in Ho Chi Minh City where gifts also were exchanged.
During the convention, a special message from the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of Vietnam was read.
""The Baha'i Community of Vietnam is regaining ground on a trail that leads to a constructive future,"" the message said, in part. ""In restoring your National Spiritual Assembly, with the gratefully acknowledged support of your national government, you now enter upon a period of dynamic development of far-reaching virtue and influence.""
On the night of 20 March, more than 200 Baha'is and friends from around the country joined in a new year's celebration, followed the next morning by the convention session with some 300 people in attendance. They were the largest gatherings of Vietnamese Baha'is in three decades.
Special guests for the historic convention and the new year's celebration, included, in addition to Mrs. Lincoln, representatives of the Baha'i communities of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, and Thailand, and Mr. Jaya Gopan Ramasamy of Malaysia, representing the Baha'i Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia.
For the Baha'is of Vietnam, restoration of their National Spiritual Assembly represents a key achievement in the process to gain official recognition from the government. A major step was taken a year ago when authorities issued a certificate recognizing Baha'i activities.
The Baha'i Faith was established in Vietnam in 1954. In 1957 Baha'is there joined with a number of other countries in southeast Asia to form a Regional Spiritual Assembly, and in 1964 the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Vietnam was formed.
(Note: On 7 April 2008, additional attendance figures were added to the fourth paragraph from the end.)",HO CHI MINH CITY,,Vietnam
618,2008-04-07,[],Connection between racism and mass atrocities addressed by panel,"NEW YORK, United States — The relationship between racism and mass atrocities was the focus of a panel discussion co-sponsored by the Baha'i International Community to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
""Genocide is not a natural disaster,"" said Payam Akhavan, an associate professor of law at McGill University, whose appearance was sponsored by the Baha'is. ""It is a man-made disaster, an instrument through which ruthless leaders exercise power at the expense of millions.""
Professor Akhavan and eight others spoke on 27 March 2008 at the Church Center at United Nations Plaza in New York. The event was titled ""Eliminate Racism: Prevent Mass Atrocities.""
Craig Mokhiber of the U.N. human rights office in New York had a somber assessment: ""The struggle against racism is unfortunately not on the forward path many of us thought it was on a decade ago.""
Racism is a global phenomenon, he said, made worse by impunity for the perpetrators of atrocities committed under its influence. The concept of ""the other"" is what perpetuates racism, he said.
Mr. Mokhiber suggested that racism is the result of ""us,"" plus ""the other,"" added to an unequal power structure and hatred inflamed by politicians and the media.
""Defeating this paradigm is the central struggle against racism today,"" he said.
The Dutch ambassador to the United Nations, Piet de Klerk, agreed that racism is alive in many forms and that making a connection between racism and atrocities is ""very appropriate.""
Reducing individuals to representatives of specific groups makes it easy to perpetrate mass atrocities, he said.
Among the others who spoke at the event were Raymond O. Wolfe, the Jamaican ambassador to the United Nations; Yvette Rugasaguhunga, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan massacre; and Mark Weitzman of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The discussion was moderated by Tahirih Naylor, a representative to the United Nations of the Baha'i International Community.  Payam Akhavan of McGill University said governments sometimes turn a blind eye to events that lead up to atrocities against groups of people.In his remarks, Professor Akhavan said that in some respects genocide is predictable and therefore preventable.
""There is a long process of cynicism and indifference which in the end erupts into genocide,"" he said.
Too often, he said, ""governments turn a blind eye on the road to genocide. No member state (of the U.N.) will send troops without a pressing national interest. We have to stop thinking the cavalry is going to come. It's not.""
Still, he said, there are success stories.
In Macedonia, the deployment of U.N. peacekeepers saved lives in the conflict between the Slavs and the Albanians, he noted.
And in Africa, the Burundi Leadership Training Program initiated dialogue between opposing camps. ""This simple but timely initiative (may) have prevented mass killings in Burundi,"" Professor Akhavan said.
Bringing to justice the perpetrators of atrocity is vital, he said, because impunity sends the message that crime does pay. ""We have to make sure that those governments which have spoken in such lofty terms about the ICC (International Criminal Court) begin to deliver on their promises,"" said Professor Akhavan.
A survivor's story
Yvette Rugasaguhunga, now an investment banking analyst in New York, told how in Rwanda at the age of 14 she watched her older brother hacked to death by a group of men with machetes.
A Tutsi, she survived by masquerading as a Hutu and taking precarious shelter in enemy territory.
She described life with one of the people there: ""He would come home at night covered with blood from killing Tutsis all day, but would be sweet to me because he thought I was not one of them. ... He never would have been nice to me if he knew I was Tutsi.""
Durban Declaration
Mr. Mokhiber of the U.N. human rights office said the Durban Declaration from the 2001 World Conference Against Racism recognized the need to ""remember the crimes of the past and tell the truth about history.""
Ambassador de Klerk of the Netherlands said his government was taking measures to put into action several of the goals of the Durban Declaration, including creation of an Equal Treatment Commission, a National Action Plan, and other efforts to create an infrastructure for combating racism at all levels of society.
On an international level, he noted the Fundamental Rights Agency, the Council of Europe, and the work of the International Criminal Court at The Hague. He also cited the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) movement which provides a more preventive approach to racial discrimination.
Briefly ...
-- Mr. Weitzman of the Simon Wiesenthal Center gave a presentation of what he termed ""digital terrorism"" - computer games with hateful intentions and graphic brutality. ""The combination of technology and terror is the greatest danger the world today faces,"" he said.
-- The U.N. ambassador from Jamaica, Raymond Wolfe, reported that to date, US$80,000 has been contributed by 17 countries to erect a memorial at the United Nations to victims of slavery - a monument to honor their memory and also serve as a reminder.
-- The panel discussion marked not only the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which falls on 21 March each year, but also the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, which is observed on 25 March. The discussion was also part of a series of dialogues on human rights in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The discussion was sponsored by the Sub-Committee for the Elimination of Racism of the NGO Committee on Human Rights at the United Nations, in cooperation with the Dutch and Jamaican U.N. missions and the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In addition to the Baha'i International Community, co-sponsors were the American Psychological Association, the Church of the Brethren-On Earth Peace Agency, Franciscans International, the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the International Union of Anthropological & Ethnological Sciences, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, and the International Council of Women.",NEW YORK,,United States
620,2008-04-22,[],Baha'is to elect Universal House of Justice,"HAIFA, Israel — A global election process that began with people in 100,000 cities and villages around the world will culminate on 29 April when delegates gather here to elect the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith.
Representatives of some 170 nations will cast ballots for the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, which has its seat at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa. The election is held every five years.
Bahá’í elections are distinctive in that there are no nominations, no campaigning, and no discussion about which individuals should be elected.
The delegates to the International Bahá’í Convention – members of all the Bahá’í national governing bodies around the world – vote by secret ballot for the nine people they believe best suited for membership on the supreme institution of their Faith.
The Bahá’í writings state that voters should try to choose people “of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience.”
For Bahá’ís, the Universal House of Justice is the highest religious authority. It guides the worldwide Bahá’í community in its development and in its response to changing world conditions, provides for Bahá’í pilgrimage, holds in trust and maintains the Bahá’í holy places, and administers international Bahá’í funds.
Any male age 21 and over is eligible for election to the Universal House of Justice. Both women and men serve on all other Bahá’í institutions—international, continental, national and local.
The election process began well over a year ago when Bahá’ís in some 100,000 localities around the world began meeting in district conventions to elect delegates to their own national conventions. At those gatherings, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of each country is elected.
The members of those national councils gather as electors at the global level for the International Bahá’í Convention, to be held from 29 April to 2 May in Haifa.
About 1,200 delegates are expected to attend the convention. Those unable to attend send ballots by mail.
The establishment of the institution of the Universal House of Justice was called for by Bahá’u’lláh Himself, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.",HAIFA,,Israel
621,2008-04-22,[],New Zealand Police support race unity initiative,"AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The New Zealand Police, a government department, has signed a formal funding agreement with the Baha’is for a speech contest for teenagers about race unity.
The Race Unity Speech Award, now in its eighth year, was established by Bahá’ís and already had received the support of the national Human Rights Commission. The nationwide contest is open to students in the last three years of high school.
The New Zealand Police has pledged NZ$50,000 (US$39,500) over a five-year period and also is supporting the competition in a variety of other ways at both the regional and national levels.
“The NZ Police is committed to reducing both the incidence and the effects of crime.  We see this Baha’i initiative as a valuable tool to reducing crime through supporting youth to improve race relations,” said Superintendent Pieri Munro, commander of the Wellington Police District.
The topic for this year’s competition was “Finding Common Ground - He Rapunga Tahitanga,” with presentations allowed in either English or Maori. Contestants were asked to comment on the following quotation: “We belong to an organic unit (the world) and when one part of the organism suffers, all the rest of the body will feel its consequences.”
Students from throughout New Zealand compete in regional heats. This year, 17 contestants advanced to the national semifinals, and six to the finals, held 5 April at a national conference at the Bahá’í Community Center in Auckland City.
The winner was Charon Maseka from Taita College in Wellington, who shares the first-place prize money –  NZ$1,500 (US$1,185) – with her school.
Funds from sponsors are used for prizes, travel costs for entrants competing in the finals, venue hire, and shields given to winners.
Dr. Rajen Prasad, former Race Relations Conciliator and currently Chief Families Commissioner for the government, led the six-member judging panel this year.
“I have been involved with the Race Unity Speech Award since its inception,” Dr. Prasad said. “Quite apart from the quality of the entries and the confidence displayed by the young participants, this contest enables some serious examination of race relations by young people. They often come up with thoughtful analysis and many sound ideas for accepting and celebrating difference. In my view, this contest ought to receive widespread support, and every school should be encouraged to participate.”
Here is the opening of the eight-minute speech given by this year’s winner:
“Dear Racial Harassment:
“I am writing this letter to inform you that our relationship is officially done. You are no longer a citizen of my heart. For too long I have battled in my mind your voice versus humanity. You were everywhere with me, at the workshop, school, church, the hotel and even at the ballot box.
“What a deception! You made me hate color, so that I could spread your violence. You lived deep, deep, deep within me so that only ethnicity would rule. You’re still so hot and heavy that everybody wants to ride in your Chevy, fully pumped, with hatred, inequality and cruelty. You’ve brought an avalanche of condemnation, a mockery against the struggle.
“So, here I am returning all of your gifts, and rejecting all your myths. I confess I am no longer impressed. Boom boom boom, this heart beats to the rhythm of humanity. So, in case you forgot, our relationship is officially done.”
Besides Dr. Prasad, judges included representatives of the Human Rights Commission, the Speech Communications Association, and the New Zealand Police.",AUCKLAND,,New Zealand
622,2008-04-23,[],Leaving after many years of service in the Holy Land,"HAIFA, Israel —  Two members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith, are leaving after many years of service in the Holy Land.
The Universal House of Justice announced in November 2007 that it had given permission to Mr. Hartmut Grossmann and Mr. Glenford E. Mitchell to relinquish their membership, but they will continue serving until the next election of the body, scheduled for next week.
Mr. Mitchell was first elected as a member of the Universal House of Justice in 1982 and after that to successive five-year terms. Mr. Grossmann was elected in 2003. The Seat of the Universal House of Justice is located at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa.
All nine members of the Universal House of Justice are elected at the International Baha'i Convention, which is held every five years. The 10th such convention is scheduled for 29 April to 2 May in Haifa, with an expected attendance of more than 1,000 delegates.
Mr. Mitchell, 73, was born in Jamaica and has worked in the United States as an assistant editorial director for a publishing company, a magazine editor and a managing editor. He taught English and journalism at Howard University. He served as the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States from 1968 until his 1982 election to the Universal House of Justice. He and his wife, Bahia, will be returning to the United States.
Mr. Grossmann, 74, who was born in Germany, was a lecturer and head of the German Department of the Translators' Training Institute at Joensuu University in Savonlima, Finland. He has served on the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of Germany and of Finland and was a member of the Baha'i Continental Board of Counsellors for Europe. In 1988, he was appointed to serve on the Baha'i International Teaching Centre in Haifa. He and his wife, Ursula, will be moving to Finland when they leave Haifa next month.",HAIFA,,Israel
623,2008-04-24,[],Young Baha'is address UK parliamentarians on human rights,"LONDON, England — Four young people offered their view of human rights at a reception this week in the United Kingdom Houses of Parliament.
The reception is an annual event hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom used this year’s reception to announce a program of activities planned to mark the 60th anniversary next December of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
One of the messages presented by Ruth Banda, Jenna Nicholas and Collis Tahzib, all members of the Baha’i Faith, and their friend Lavina Hassasing, was that there is a difference between the principle of human rights and the reality of human rights.  Jenna Nicholas, 18, addresses the reception in the UK Parliament. Photograph: Andisheh Eslamboli.""As the ideals of human rights become more mainstream, we hope that our generation can play its part to fulfil the promise of dignity and equality for all,"" Miss Nicholas, 18, told the 100-strong audience, which included members of Parliament and the House of Lords, and representatives of the media, various faith communities, and nongovernmental organizations.
""As young citizens at the beginning of a new century, my friends and I have reflected on what the values enshrined in the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights mean to us today in a world much more connected than it was in 1948,"" she said. ""As a young Baha'i, I recognize in the two key concepts of equal rights and dignity, the secular expression of the ideas I acknowledge within my faith.""
""I was born in the country of Zambia,"" Miss Hassasing, 20, told the guests, ""and across my home country and indeed the African continent, social and economic rights are fundamental to the ability of people in exercising civil and political rights. Without an education, it is more difficult to participate meaningfully in political processes.… Many girls are denied the opportunity to an education. In many families, particularly in rural areas, parents opt to educate their male children while they prepare the female children for marriage.""
Miss Banda, also 20, who studied with Miss Hassasing in Zambia, added:
""Having had the opportunity to go to an international school that promotes education (for girls), we hope to help others realize what they as human beings are entitled to.""
""The record of some states in guaranteeing rights for their own citizens remains ultimately woefully inadequate and lamentably defective,"" said Collis Tahzib, who is 15. ""It falls to our generation to realize the promise of human rights.""
In a special message to the reception, held on 22 April, Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote: ""I would like to express my respect and admiration to those attending this reception, and the wider Baha'i community which makes an important contribution to British life.
""The Baha'i community has a long, proud and respected tradition and contributes much to today's Britain,"" wrote Mr. Brown, ""Your faith includes a clear obligation to work towards religious tolerance and respect for other faiths, an aim shared by both myself and a wide range of different communities across Britain.
""The Baha'i community can be proud of its success in working to foster cohesive and integrated communities.""
The All Party Friends of the Baha'is group was formed in 1999. It is open to members of Parliament from across the political spectrum. Group members offer motions and Parliamentary Questions and speak in debates on issues concerning Iran, Egypt and human rights. Members have also taken other actions including writing private letters to ministers and to the Iranian embassy.
The chairman of the All Party group, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament Lembit Opik, assured the guests of the All Party group's commitment to continue acting on behalf of Baha'is in various parts of the world.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
624,2008-04-27,[],Delegates arrive in Haifa for International Bahá'í Convention,"HAIFA, Israel — A thousand delegates from 153 countries have arrived – from the southern tip of Africa, to Siberia, to the Americas, to remote Pacific islands – to participate in the 10th International Bahá’í Convention.
On Tuesday, 29 April, they will gather to elect the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, a task that delegates view as both a sacred duty and a supreme privilege.
“I’ve been preparing myself since November, when I got the ballot,” said Bakary Bojang, 31, a delegate from Gambia. “I give praise that I have the opportunity and the health to be here.”
The convention, held every five years, runs from 29 April to 2 May at the Haifa International Convention Center. In addition to the election, it will include consultation on issues and concerns facing the worldwide Baha’i community.
The delegates are all members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of their countries, elected councils that oversee Baha’i activity in a particular jurisdiction. The balloting process to elect the Universal House of Justice is unlike any other election system in the world.
“There are no nominations and no campaigning,” said Erica Toussaint, 61, a delegate from the United States. “Rather, each elector writes down the names of nine people they feel are the most qualified to serve.  Delegates from Uzbekistan to the Baha'i International Convention visit the Baha'i holy places and gardens on Mount Carmel within hours of their arrival in Haifa on 26 April.“The process is free from the constraints that I’ve seen in other electoral processes around the world, which for me makes it very profound and moving,” she said.
Preparing for the four-day convention presented a number of logistical hurdles, said Anja Nicke, project manager of the International Convention Office.
“One of the biggest challenges was just communications with National Spiritual Assemblies,” said Ms. Nicke, 35, who was a schoolteacher before coming to the Bahá’í World Centre as a volunteer in September 2004.
“For us, it is a simple matter to send an e-mail or make a telephone call,” she said. “But some National Assemblies are in countries that are torn by war or poverty, and such types of communications are not always so easy.”
In one case, she said, a National Assembly was out of contact for two weeks because someone had stolen the wires that connected them to the Internet and telephone system.
For delegates, the importance of prayer was foremost in their minds as they discussed how they would prepare themselves for voting.
“We have many things to pray for,” said Francis Reimers, 65, from the Marshall Islands, explaining the process by which he decides who to vote for. “I come and I mix with people and I pray about who I am going to vote for and I try to reflect on the people I know.”
The Baha’i writings say that in all Bahá’í elections, which take place annually at the local and national levels and every five years internationally, the emphasis is on choosing individuals with qualities “of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience.”
Thelma Khelghati, a delegate from Guinea, said Bahá’í elections differ from traditional electoral systems where “aggressive, ambitious individuals with influence and financial means, or at least the ability to mobilize financial means, end up being the ones we elect.”
Rather, she said, Bahá’í elections are a “spiritual process where the delegates or voters reflect on the demonstrated qualities and experience of all whom they know, and then vote for those whom they feel best combine the needed qualities for a given post.”
Lise Raben, a delegate from Denmark who has participated in five international Baha’i conventions, said the entire process is a great experience. “The feeling of unity is very strong when you see hundreds of people gathered to elect our supreme institution that governs the Bahá’í world. The feeling of love and unity makes an International Convention very special and absolutely different from political elections, where the different candidates often try to exhibit their opposites in a bad light.”
The Universal House of Justice has its permanent seat on Mount Carmel in Haifa. Situated in the Akka/Haifa area are many holy sites of the Baha’i Faith, including its holiest, the burial place of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the religion.
The Universal House of Justice is the international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith. It guides the worldwide Bahá’í community in its development and in its response to changing world conditions.",HAIFA,,Israel
625,2008-04-28,[],Bahá’í World News Service launches new Web site,"HAIFA, Israel — The Bahá’í World News Service has launched a new Web site that includes an expanded home page and a section designed to meet the needs of journalists. The address remains the same – www.news.bahai.org.
The section for media representatives includes brief descriptions of the Bahá’í Faith and its beliefs and history; a list of Houses of Worship; a style guide with spellings and definitions of names and terms; photos for downloading; and contact information.
All the pages for BWNS news, features, photos, slide shows, and video have been redesigned.
The makeover is the first stage in a plan to redo all the sections on www.bahai.org, the international Web site of the Bahá’í Faith. The new home page for that site also appears today.
Also, nine countries have been added to a page that provides links to Web sites and contact information for many of the national Bahá’í communities around the world. The goal is to have a link for every country.
All the Web sites are maintained by the Bahá’í International Community’s Office of Public Information at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa.",HAIFA,,Israel
626,2008-04-28,"[620, 624]",Convention delegates pray at holy places,"ACRE, Israel — Less than a kilometer outside this fortified medieval city in northern Israel is a whitewashed mansion, surrounded by elaborate gardens, known as Bahji.
For Bahá’ís, it is the holiest place on earth.
Beneath one of the buildings in the garden, the earthly remains of Bahá’u’lláh were laid to rest in 1892 – and today that structure is known as the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh.
It is understandable, then, that delegates arriving from 153 countries for the 10th International Bahá’í Convention are streaming to Bahji as part of the process to prepare themselves for tomorrow’s election of the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing body of the Bahá’í Faith.
“We came out Saturday night, on the last bus, at 11 p.m.” said Bahia Ettehadieh, 53, a delegate from Austria, “and it was amazing to see so many friends still here at midnight.
“They had come from the remotest places on earth, and many had been traveling for 24 hours or more, very tired, but they were so full of spirit and happiness,” she said.
The Bahá’í writings offer explicit instructions about how Bahá’í elections are to be conducted – and the first and foremost prerequisite is that they be held in an atmosphere of prayer and reflection.  Delegates from Cameroon walk toward the Shrine of Baha'u'llah at Bahji, near Acre.The 1,000 some delegates gathered here followed those instructions by visiting not only Bahji but many of the other Bahá’í holy sites in the Acre-Haifa area in northern Israel.
Deshon Fox of the Bahamas visited the House of Abbud in Acre Sunday morning. It was there, in 1873, that Bahá’u’lláh revealed the Kitab-i-Aqdas, “the Most Holy Book,” which outlines the main principles and laws of the Bahá’í Faith.
“Ultimately, what Baha’is get out of the experience of going to these holy places is a centering,” said Mr. Fox,  a young civil engineer who like other delegates is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly  of the Bahá’ís in his home nation.
“We all take away a little of that experience into the election process. It reminds us of the sacrifice others have gone through for the Faith,” he said.
Polin Rafat of Norway was deeply moved after visiting the prison cell in Acre where Bahá’u’lláh was incarcerated for two years after His arrival in the holy land in 1868.
“Bahá’u’lláh suffered in that cell so that we could stand here today in this beauty and prepare to elect the House of Justice,” said Ms. Rafat, referring to the beauty of the gardens at Bahji and elsewhere in the Acre-Haifa area that Bahá’ís have since adorned their holy places with.
For some of the delegates, it was their first time in the holy land – and they were overwhelmed.
“I was in seventh heaven,” Agim Kotoni, 56, of Albania, said after his visit to Bahji. “I was looking so much forward to seeing something like this, and Bahá’u’lláh has fulfilled my wish.”
For Mr. Kotoni and others, an added feature of the experience was visiting the shrines and holy places in the presence such a diversity of Bahá’ís from all parts of the world.
“The Bahá’ís in my city, it is like we are a family,” said Mr. Kotoni, who is a police officer in Kabaja. “But now, here, I see that we are also a single family all over the world.
“Everyone you meet, it is not like I am meeting them for the first time – it’s like I have known them for years,” he said. “They offer so much love and respect and spirituality. I am uplifted and full of emotions.”
Hilda Abelinti, 41, of Suriname, was likewise struck by the sense of community she felt with other Bahá’ís from around the globe.
“Every time I meet a new person, I believe more what Bahá’u’lláh says – that we are ‘one people,’” she said.
“Everyone may speak a different language, but we all believe the same thing – we try to do what Bahá’u’lláh teaches – to live in unity and respect.”
Tomorrow, delegates will assemble in the Haifa International Convention Center to cast votes for the nine members of the Universal House of Justice.
They will use a unique electoral process that does not allow campaigning and uses no nominations. Instead, each delegate will write down nine names – the names of those individuals who they feel are best qualified to guide the worldwide Bahá’í community for the next five years.",ACRE,,Israel
627,2008-04-29,"[620, 624, 626]","In a global procession, ballots are cast for the Universal House of Justice","HAIFA, Israel — In a ceremony that combined spiritual dignity with global diversity, a thousand Bahá’ís from 153 countries cast ballots today in an election to choose the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá’í  Faith.
For nearly three hours, delegates to the 10th International Bahá’í Convention filed decorously, one by one, onto a majestically adorned stage, each dropping a ballot into a simple wooden box.
The votes will be tallied overnight and the results announced here tomorrow.
The event was a study in globalism, a hallmark of the Bahá’í Faith, which has some five million followers and is established in virtually every nation.
Delegates were called by name, in alphabetical order by country. Many proudly wore traditional or native dress, an acknowledgment of their belief in the concept of unity in diversity.
The result was colorful and joyous, as women in bright ethnic dresses or simple pantsuits mixed with men in Western business suits or gaily decorated tribal costumes.
The balloting process began with prayers, followed by brief remarks from Penny Walker, chairman of the convention.
“We gather together here with hearts full of excitement at the achievements of the Bahá’í world in the last year, and with hearts full of gratitude to Bahá’u’lláh for making it possible that this extraordinary assembly of His followers, from every corner of the earth, could come together in the Holy Land, to elect the Universal House of Justice, the supreme body of our Faith,” said Dr. Walker.
Dr. Walker, who holds the position of International Counsellor in the Bahá’í Faith, outlined the voting procedure, in which the delegates write down the names of nine men they feel are most qualified to serve on the Universal House of Justice.
“As you know, the Bahá’í electoral process is finally spiritual in character, a unique feature of our divinely ordained administration,” she said. “Let us remember the words of Shoghi Effendi, which urged us to approach this task of election with selflessness and detachment, … ‘with a purity of motive, a freedom of spirit and a sanctity of heart.’”
The delegates to the convention are the members of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assemblies of the world, who were themselves elected by delegates chosen at the grassroots level in their own countries. Thus virtually every adult Bahá’í in the world had the opportunity to participate in the election of their supreme body, an event that occurs every five years.
About 500 of the 1494 delegates could not be present for voting, for personal or other reasons. Those who could not attend sent ballots by mail, and there were numerous pauses in the procession as tellers brought forward absentee ballots, removed an identifying outer envelope, and dropped the inner contents into the ballot box.  Members of 166 National Spiritual Assemblies submitted ballots, with 153 countries represented in person at the convention. Delegates from Canada are pictured here.In the case of Iran, where 300,000 Bahá’ís face intense persecution and Bahá’í administration has been outlawed, the absence of delegates was noted by the placement of 95 red roses at the front of the stage and the reading of a message from Iranian Bahá’ís.
“Even though circumstances deprive us of the bounty of attending this luminous gathering, we are nonetheless with you in spirit, and present to you this bouquet of flowers as a token of our love and affection,” the message said.
The nature of Bahá’í elections
Today’s balloting reflected a unique election process that emphasizes qualifications over promises, and inclusiveness over money or other barriers to office.
There are no parties or platforms, all forms of campaigning are strictly avoided, and no nominations are made. Rather, after prayer and reflection, each delegate simply writes down the names of nine individuals who he or she feels are best qualified to serve.
These instructions are followed in all Bahá’í elections, guided by the statement in the Bahá’í writings that electors should vote for people who posses qualities “of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience.”
At the local and national levels, any adult Bahá’í is eligible for election. For the Universal House of Justice, any adult male Bahá’í from anywhere in the world is eligible for election. Membership is limited to men because of a specific stipulation in the Bahá’í sacred writings, the wisdom of which will become clear in the future.
While some observers have asked how it is possible to manage an election without parties, campaigning or nominations, Bahá’ís believe their system helps protect against divisiveness and such things as vote-mongering, campaign debts, or factionalism.
“Because there is no nomination process -- there are no ‘candidates’ per se -- and therefore no campaign,” said Susanne Tamas, a delegate from Canada.
“As a result, there is no opportunity for individuals to be encouraging others to vote for them, whether by magnifying their own qualities or finding fault with other candidates.
“Underlying this whole process is reliance on prayer and efforts of the delegates to keep themselves informed of the activities of the Bahá’í community worldwide,” she said.
Ballot integrity
During the voting, a number of procedures were taken to ensure the integrity of the balloting process – some of which were visible and others less so.
Foremost, the current Universal House of Justice was seated as a body, front and center, as obvious observers to the process.
Then, as vote casting began, the ballot box was tipped towards the assembled delegates, to show that it was empty. And when the voting was completed, it was sealed with tape bearing the signature of the chief teller, Thelma Khelghati, a delegate from Guinea.
Ms. Khelghati was assisted by three other tellers on stage, who carefully checked voters and absentee ballots against a master list of delegates and observed to be sure that ballots were carefully placed in the box.
There were 19 tellers plus the chief head teller and an assistant, and the names of all were announced. They had been selected by the Universal House of Justice, receiving notification of their role upon arrival in Haifa.
“The tellers come from all parts of the world, from different backgrounds, so they are there to witness and vouch for the process,” said Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, the ballot officer for the convention.
This year, delegates from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Taiwan, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vanuatu, and Zambia were selected as tellers.
The tellers will be sequestered in a counting room at the Seat of the Universal House of Justice until the ballots are counted and cross-checked, a process that in some past years has taken well beyond midnight.
“The electoral process actually began last year, with the election of the National Spiritual Assemblies, … when the process of verifying those names began,” said Ms. Ma’ani. Members of those national councils serve as delegates to the International Convention.
“Then, when the ballots come in by mail, every name is checked against a database to be sure that the person sending the ballot is indeed a member of the National Spiritual Assembly,” she said.
The ballots themselves are sheets of paper printed with blank rectangular fields for nine names (and another field for the country or other identifying term as may be needed). The ballots are perforated between each name, and once in the counting room, the tellers separate each ballot into nine strips, yielding more than 13,000 individual votes.
The tellers work in teams of two, said Ms. Ma’ani, under the supervision of the head tellers, cross checking and then sorting the paper strips into a series of alphabetized boxes to complete the tally.
“The process is completely manual,” said Ms. Ma’ani. “There is no doubt.”
No one leaves until the counting is done. Meals, as necessary, are brought in once the ballot box is unsealed. When finished, the tellers all sign the results and they are presented to the Universal House of Justice for approval.",HAIFA,,Israel
628,2008-04-30,"[624, 626, 627]",Baha'is celebrate most important festival at most holy site,"ACRE, Israel — Followers of Bahá’u’lláh from more than 150 countries gathered yesterday at what for them is the holiest spot on earth – the tomb of Bahá’u’lláh – to celebrate Ridván, their most important festival.
This year’s celebration at Bahjí, outside Acre in northern Israel, was special because it came during the 10th International Bahá’í Convention, currently under way in nearby Haifa.
A thousand delegates from around the world – a true representation of the global community of five million Bahá’ís – joined with nearly a thousand other Bahá’ís for a program of prayers and readings and to circumambulate together the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh.
With 2,000 people in attendance, the stream of Bahá’ís making their way through the beautiful gardens of Bahjí stretched more than half a kilometer as they walked together around the sacred tomb, where in 1892 the earthly remains of Bahá’u’lláh were laid to rest.
The nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, led the procession. Many of the convention delegates came in distinctive native dress, highlighting the diversity and international character of the Bahá’í community.  Many delegates wore their native dress -- from Western business suits to the colorful garb of specific regions of South America, Africa, and Asia.Gerda Haug, a delegate from Germany who was participating in such an event for the first time, said circumambulating the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh with Bahá’ís from around the world was a memorable experience.
“It was a symbol to me,” she said, “not just something spiritual but more than that: We were all walking together in one direction, devoted to what Bahá’u’lláh taught, guided by the Universal House of Justice – it was a great moment.”
Ridván – Arabic for “paradise” – is a 12-day festival commemorating the 12 days in 1863 that Bahá’u’lláh spent in the Garden of Ridván in Baghdad. It was during that period that He announced publicly for the first time that He was God’s Messenger for this age, the latest in a line of divine teachers that includes Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, and others.
The Festival of Ridván goes from 21 April to 2 May, and the first, ninth, and 12th days of the period are marked as specific holy days. Yesterday’s commemoration was for the ninth day of Ridván.",ACRE,,Israel
629,2008-04-30,"[626, 627, 628]",Baha'is elect Universal House of Justice ,"HAIFA, Israel — The results of the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the governing body of the Baha’i Faith, have been announced.
Delegates to the Tenth International Baha’i Convention cast ballots yesterday for membership in the council that serves as the head of the religion.
Those elected are Farzam Arbab, Kiser Barnes, Peter Khan, Hooper Dunbar, Firaydoun Javaheri, Paul Lample, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, and Gustavo Correa.
Members are elected for five-year terms.
The Universal House of Justice has its permanent seat at the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Membership requires residence in Haifa.
Any Baha’i male age 21 and over is eligible for election. Both women and men are eligible for election or appointment to all other Baha’i institutions.
In His teachings, Baha’u’llah provided for the elected institution of the Universal House of Justice, which gives a continuing source of divine authority to guide the worldwide Baha’i community and to legislate on matters not spelled out in the Baha’i sacred writings.
The delegates that voted in the election are themselves members of national Baha’i governing bodies from around the world. They were chosen in earlier elections in their own countries.
The Baha’i Faith, which has more than 5 million followers, is established in almost every nation.",HAIFA,,Israel
630,2008-05-02,"[627, 628, 629]","Systematic training initiative showing results, say convention delegates","HAIFA, Israel — There is a new wind blowing in the Bahá’í world.
That message came through loud and clear in three days of consultations at the 10th International Bahá’í Convention.
Delegates from 153 countries described how a systematic, grassroots process of community-building -- focused on training, learning and service -- is creating a new dynamism in Bahá’í communities worldwide and striking a chord in wider society.
On the convention floor and in the hallways, delegates talked about how the emphasis on service to humanity through four core activities – children’s classes, devotional meetings, study circles, and programs for young teens – is starting to yield results in country after country.
In India, for example, more than 80,000 people have completed a study circle based on material from the Ruhi Institute in Colombia, and some 6,000 people have advanced to  the seventh book in the same series of material.
As a consequence, said Nazneen Rowhani, a delegate from India, many people have become interested in the Bahá’í Faith, and thousands have become Bahá’ís since last May.
“So India’s challenge has been how to mobilize a substantial percentage of these new believers into the field of service,” said Ms. Rowhani.
Reports from other countries described similar degrees of success at both energizing Bahá’ís and reaching out to others – all with the ultimate goal of addressing the ills that afflict humanity.  Classes for both adults and children that focus on service to others are increasingly attracting participants, delegates reported.-- In Colombia, in an area known as Norte del Cauca, the number of people involved in core activities has risen dramatically since 2005, when a cyclical campaign to inspire more involvement was begun. Hundreds of young teens have participated in the junior youth empowerment program, and a thousand have attended devotional gatherings. There are about a hundred neighborhood children’s classes. As a result of this increased activity, said Carmen Caldas Hernandez, the number of Bahá’ís has doubled.
“Our reflection gatherings have become like a party, like a feast, where we celebrate the achievements of the previous cycle,” said Ms. Hernandez, describing the atmosphere at periodic Bahá’í meetings to assess the progress of core activities.
-- In Kenya, since January 2005, the number of people who have completed Ruhi Book 7 in an area known as Tiriki West has  risen sharply and the number in children’s classes has reached more than 1,000.
-- In Brazil, an effort to reach out to young teens around Porto Alegre now has hundreds of participants. Such classes for “junior youth” do not teach the Bahá’í Faith but rather focus on improving literacy and thinking and articulation skills, and encouraging better moral choices – all designed to “empower” young people.
The classes have been so successful, said Katherine Monajjem, a delegate from Brazil, that some local public school officials have embraced them as a model. “One school supervisor was so impressed that, although she is a Baptist, she asked that her young son be trained in the program,” said Ms. Monajjem.
Such reports were echoed, often on a smaller scale, by delegates from countries where Bahá’í communites have also begun more intensive outreach efforts.
“What we’re seeing are the fruits of a worldwide education process that is trying to empower the Bahá’í community with the skills that it needs to enrich their own community and also carry the message of Bahá’u’lláh to others,” said Joan Lincoln, a Counsellor at the International Teaching Centre at the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa. She is involved in monitoring many of these efforts.
“What  Bahá’í children’s classes have to offer is character development,” she said. “What junior youth programs have to offer is assistance to young people trying to find their place in a very chaotic world.”
The situation in the world at large was very much on the minds of the some 1,000 delegates at the convention. In addition to the mechanics of systematized study and outreach, delegates discussed wider topics relating to the deteriorating social conditions in the world, from the crisis in moral education to the impact of HIV/AIDs in Africa.
In particular, many delegates responded passionately to a letter from the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, that discussed the new dynamism in Bahá’í communities worldwide and said its impact on wider society will only come to the degree that Bahá’ís live lives of high morality and “champion the cause of justice.”
“Sustaining growth … will depend on the qualities that distinguish your service to the peoples of the world,” said the message, released as part of the Festival of Ridvan observed by Bahá’ís at this time every year.
“So free must be your thoughts and actions of any trace of prejudice – racial, religious, economic, national, tribal, class, or cultural – that even the stranger sees in you loving friends.
“So high must be your standard of excellence and so pure and chaste your lives that the moral influence you exert penetrates the consciousness of the wider community,” said the message.
Muin Afnani, a delegate from the United States, like others, observed that the essential teachings of the Bahá’í Faith emphasize the importance of service to humanity at large.
“When we look at the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, we see that service meant serving the poor and people of all classes, all ranks,” said Dr. Afnani. “The core activities of the plan are really bringing us back to a focus on serving the people.”
Gregory Dahl, a delegate from Bulgaria, explained that the new emphasis on a few core activities, along with a systematic process of learning and reflection, is indeed aimed at building up the Bahá’í community’s capacity for such service.
“The whole orientation of the Bahá’í Faith is service to humankind, and we can do that better if we can do that systematically,” said Mr. Dahl.",HAIFA,,Israel
631,2008-05-12,"[628, 629, 630]",The faces of the Bahá'í world,"HAIFA, Israel — Experiencing the diversity of the human family can be humbling, as Bahá’ís attending their recent international convention learned.
One can meet an industrialist from Italy, a civil engineer from Barbados, and a presidential advisor from South Africa – but realize that a 25-year-old student from South America is equally impressive with her knowledge of how to organize classes for children and youth.
Or discover that the Ph.D. who works with the international research agency speaks two languages, but the woman who owns a small business in Cameroon speaks five.
A thousand delegates from more than 150 countries came to Haifa for the 10th International Bahá’í Convention, and at least some participants say the diversity was unprecedented.
Gregory C. Dahl, who formerly worked at the International Monetary Fund and has attended many U.N.-related meetings, had never seen anything like it.
“This is easily the most diverse gathering of people on the planet,” he said of the convention. He compared it to a U.N. meeting but said the diversity at the Baha’i gathering came not just from the different nationalities but from the backgrounds of the participants.  Dr. Ibrahim Amoussa was a delegate from Gabon. Each country was represented by the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of that nation.“At the United Nations, there are representatives from many countries, but not from so many different social, economic, and professional classes,” said Mr. Dahl, who attended the Baha’i convention as a delegate from Bulgaria. He noted that the others from Bulgaria included someone who works for a coal-mining company, another employed by an insurance company, a musician, and a secretary.
The purpose of the Bahá’í convention, held every five years, is to elect the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith. Delegates also consult about their experiences and concerns. The nine delegates from each nation are themselves the elected members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of their country.
Alan Smith of the Virgin Islands was attending his sixth International Bahá’í Convention and said he noticed a difference this year.
“It’s feeling far more international,” he said, attributing the change not to additional countries but to more diverse groups of delegates from within each country.
Among the delegates from Russia, for example, were two ethnic Russians; one Russian with Estonian ancestry; two individuals of Buryat-Mongolian ethnicity from Eastern Siberia; a Tatar, whose family background is Muslim; an Osetin woman from the Caucasus; and an American-born man descended from Russian Jews who is married to a Russian and lives in Siberia.
From the United States came a federal judge, a psychologist, a medical doctor, a corporate retirement plan manager, and an administrator who works with health-care issues for Native Americans. Some are white, some are black, and one is American Indian of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Sicangu Lakota.
From Albania came a police officer, a lawyer, a teacher, a secretary, some from the northern part of the country, some from the south.
From Venezuela came “younger” and “older” – three of the delegates were 25 years old, and two were in their 60s or older.
Daniel Woodard, an engineering student from Caracas, said he realized at the convention that not only is the Bahá’í community diverse but that it truly encompasses the whole world. He was even more heartened by the unified spirit, as Bahá’ís and others work together to create a better world.
“Despite the fact that there are now many of us, and we are so diverse, nobody is being left behind,” he said of the people he saw. “We are so intertwined that as we move forward, if someone falters or has difficulties, they will be sustained and helped by the others.”
More about the delegates to the International Bahá’í Convention:

The oldest delegate, from Niger, was 82. The youngest was a woman from Belarus who turned 21 last August and was elected to her National Assembly in a by-election in November. (The minimum age for election is 21.)
Delegates came from almost everywhere, from Greenland in the north to Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand in the south; from Kiribati just west of the international date line, around the world to Samoa just east of the date line. Those remote islands were balanced by delegates from the world’s great cities – London, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Buenos Aires.
Twelve delegates were 25 years old or younger.
English was the main language, and most participants apparently were comfortable with it because only about 320 participants requested earphones to listen to translation to Spanish, French, or Russian. (Convention organizers also noted that a small handful of people might not have been able to manage any of the four official languages and required one-on-one help with translation.)
More than 40 percent of the convention delegates were women.",HAIFA,,Israel
632,2008-05-15,"[602, 601, 599]",Six Bahá'í leaders arrested in Iran; pattern matches deadly sweeps of early 1980s,"NEW YORK, United States — Six Bahá’í leaders in Iran were arrested and taken to the notorious Evin prison yesterday in a sweep that is ominously similar to episodes in the 1980s when scores of Iranian Bahá’í leaders were summarily rounded up and killed.
The six men and women, all members of the national-level group that helped see to the minimum needs of Bahá’ís in Iran, were in their homes Wednesday morning when government intelligence agents entered and spent up to five hours searching each home, before taking them away.
The seventh member of the national coordinating group was arrested in early March in Mashhad after being summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence office there on an ostensibly trivial matter.
“We protest in the strongest terms the arrests of our fellow Bahá'ís in Iran,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations. “Their only crime is their practice of the Bahá’í Faith.”
“Especially disturbing is how this latest sweep recalls the wholesale arrest or abduction of the members of two national Iranian Bahá’í governing councils in the early 1980s -- which led to the disappearance or execution of 17 individuals,” she said.  “The early morning raids on the homes of these prominent Bahá’ís were well coordinated, and it is clear they represent a high-level effort to strike again at the Bahá’ís and to intimidate the Iranian Bahá’í community at large,” said Ms. Dugal.
Arrested yesterday were: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All live in Tehran. Mrs. Kamalabadi, Mr. Khanjani, and Mr. Tavakkoli have been previously arrested and then released after periods ranging from five days to four months.
Arrested in Mashhad on 5 March 2008 was Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, who also resides in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was summoned to Mashhad by the Ministry of Intelligence, ostensibly on the grounds that she was required to answer questions related to the burial of an individual in the Bahá’í cemetery in that city.
On 21 August 1980, all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Iran were abducted and disappeared without a trace. It is certain that they were killed.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Iran was reconstituted soon after that but was again ravaged by the execution of eight of its members on 27 December 1981.
A number of members of local Bahá’í governing councils, known as local Spiritual Assemblies, were also arrested and executed in the early 1980s, before an international outcry forced the government to slow its execution of Bahá’ís. Since 1979, more than 200 Bahá’ís have been killed or executed in Iran, although none have been executed since 1998.
In 1983, the government outlawed all formal Bahá’í administrative institutions and the Iranian Bahá’í community responded by disbanding its National Spiritual Assembly, which is an elected governing council, along with some 400 local level elected governing councils. Bahá'ís throughout Iran also suspended nearly all of their regular organizational activity.
The informal national-level coordinating group, known as the Friends, was established with the knowledge of the government to help cope with the diverse needs of Iran’s 300,000-member Bahá’í community, which is the country’s largest religious minority.
Read this story in Persian",NEW YORK,,United States
633,2008-05-19,[],Bahá’í-inspired development program highlighted at U.N. meeting,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — A Bahá’í-inspired program that has trained thousands of people in Honduras and Colombia to contribute to rural development was highlighted as a model for sustainable development at a major U.N. meeting this month.
The program, known as  SAT -- an acronym for Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial (Tutorial Learning System) -- was presented in a three-hour workshop during the 16th session of the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development, held 5-16 May at U.N. headquarters in New York.
The Bahá’í International Community also sponsored two side events at this year’s session of the commission – a panel discussion on “The Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change: Implications for Africa’s Agricultural and Rural Development” and another titled “Sustainable Development Without Rural Women?”
Nineteen Bahá’ís from nine countries attended this year’s commission as civil-society participants, said Tahirih Naylor, a representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations.
“Occurring against a backdrop of both the food and climate change crises, the commission this year provided a key platform for Bahá’í delegates to emphasize the importance of agriculture … in our global development strategy,” said Ms. Naylor.
SAT program
The SAT workshop, titled “SAT: A Model for Building Capabilities for Sustainable Rural Development,” was part of the commission’s “Learning Centre” program and featured an extended discussion of the spiritual and moral principles that undergird the initiative.  The Baha’i International Community sponsored a discussion on climate change and the implications for agriculture in Africa on 5 May 2008 in New York. From left are Dwight Allen of Old Dominion University; Stephen Connor of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University; Bani Dugal of the BIC; Modest Jonathan Mero of the Mission of Tanzania to the U.N.; and Don Brown of Penn State University.“It’s not simply about poverty alleviation,” said Erin Murphy-Graham, a faculty member in education at the University of California, Berkeley. “Development is about building human capabilities.”
Dr. Murphy-Graham, a Bahá’í who has researched the effects of the SAT in Honduras, particularly in terms of the empowerment of women, said the program seeks first to develop capabilities in individual and group decision-making, given that individual transformation must parallel societal transformation.
“We don’t see that these two processes can be separated,” she said.
Barry Smith, one of the founders of the Bayán Association, a Bahá'í-inspired nongovernmental organization in Honduras that has made extensive use of the SAT program, said it is different from other initiatives in that it develops people’s attitudes, skills, insights and knowledge, and empowers participants by showing they have what is necessary to improve their own circumstances.
“There is sometimes a dependency mind-set under which people don’t have a sense of agency,” said Dr. Smith. But with this program, there is a “rigorous rethinking of fundamental assumptions about the nature of development and its protagonists.”
The SAT program was developed by FUNDAEC, a private educational foundation based in Cali, Colombia.
Climate change
The panel discussion on the ethical dimension on climate change focused on the impact global warming is likely to have on agriculture and rural development in Africa, and how understanding the moral dimensions of climate change is critical to addressing the unfolding crisis.
“We need to educate for the reality of our interdependence,” said Dwight Allen, a specialist in educational reform at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
“We need tools (for) solving problems from a moral perspective. Education can provide some of these tools,” said Dr. Allen, who is a Bahá’í.
He also noted that women and youth are untapped resources in efforts to address the challenges of climate change.
Rural women
The BIC-sponsored discussion on sustainable development and rural women highlighted the fact that, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, women are responsible for half the world’s food production and, in developing countries, produce between 60 and 80 percent of food.
“We have to come to terms with the fact that the face of the farmer is female,” said Jeannette Gurung, an expert in forestry and gender development with Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN).
Dr. Gurung said agricultural funding and management institutions should be more responsive to women, and that women themselves must learn their rights and demand the services and assistance they need.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
634,2008-05-21,"[632, 602, 599]",Bahá'í International Community rejects Iranian allegations on recent arrests,"NEW YORK, United States — Allegations by Iran that six Bahá’ís were arrested last week “for security reasons and not for their faith” are utterly baseless and without documentation, said the Bahá’í International Community today.
“All of the allegations issued in a statement on Tuesday by the Iranian government are utterly baseless,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, referring to statements made in a press conference given yesterday in Tehran by Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham, at which he acknowledged the arrest and imprisonment of six Bahá’í leaders last week.
“The allegations are not new, and the Iranian government knows well that they are untrue,” Ms. Dugal said. “The documented plan of the Iranian government has always been to destroy the Bahá’í community, and these latest arrests represent an intensification of this plan.
“The group of Bahá’ís arrested last week, like the thousands of Bahá’ís who since 1979 have been killed, imprisoned, or otherwise oppressed, are being persecuted solely because of their religious beliefs. The best proof of this is the fact that, time and again, Bahá’ís have been offered their freedom if they recant their Bahá’í beliefs and convert to Islam – an option few have taken.
“Far from being a threat to state security, the Bahá’í community of Iran has great love for their country and they are deeply committed to its development. This is evidenced, for example, by the fact that the vast majority of Bahá’ís have remained in Iran despite intense persecution, the fact that students denied access to education in Iran and forced to study abroad have returned to assist in the development of their country, and the recent effort by Bahá’ís in Shiraz to provide schooling for underprivileged children – an effort the government responded to by arresting some 54 Bahá’í participants in May 2006,” said Ms. Dugal.
In its coverage of Mr. Elham’s press conference, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that the six Bahá’ís were arrested “for security reasons not for their faith.” The IRNA report also quoted Mr. Elham as saying that the six Bahá’ís were somehow linked to “foreigners, the Zionists in particular.”
Ms. Dugal addressed that issue also, saying:
“The charges linking the Bahá’ís to Zionism are a distortion of history: The Bahá’í Faith has its world headquarters in Israel because Bahá’u’lláh was, in the mid-1800s, sent as a prisoner to the Holy Land by two Islamic countries: Ottoman Turkey and Iran.
“The charge that Bahá’ís are Zionists, which has in fact been made against Bahá’ís for the last 30 years by Iran, is nothing more than an effort by the government to stir animosity against Bahá’ís among the Iranian population at large. This is but the most recent iteration in a long history of attempts to foment hatred by casting the Bahá’ís as agents of foreign powers, whether of Russia, the United Kingdom, or the United States—and now Israel—all of which are completely baseless.
“The real issue, as it relates to Bahá’ís, who are committed to nonpartisanship and nonviolence, is the ideology of the government, which has undertaken a well-documented effort to utterly block the development of the Bahá’í community not only through arrests, harassment and imprisonment but also by depriving their youth of education and preventing adults from obtaining a livelihood.
“We would ask whether issues of state security rather than ideology were involved in recent incidents such as the destruction of a Bahá’í cemetery and the use of a bulldozer to crush the bones of a Bahá’í who was interred there; the harassment of hundreds of Bahá’í schoolchildren throughout Iran by teachers and school officials in an effort to make them reject their own religion; or the publication of dozens of defamatory anti-Bahá’í articles in Kayhan and other government-sponsored news media in recent months,” said Ms. Dugal.
She also noted that over the years, a number of government officials, clerics, and members of the judiciary have in fact made statements in private noting the nonpartisan conduct of the Bahá’í community and the unjustified nature of government charges against Bahá’ís.
She added that the present government’s ideology is based in large part on a belief that there could be no Prophet following Muhammad. The Bahá’í Faith poses a theological challenge to this belief.
“Freedom of religion is the issue and Iran itself is a signatory to international covenants that acknowledge the right of individuals to freedom of religion or belief, including the right to change one’s religion,” Ms. Dugal said.
“What the Iranian government cannot tolerate is that the Iranian people are less responsive to the government’s propaganda, because they see the reality — that Iranian Bahá’ís love their country, are sincere in their desire to contribute to its well-being, are peace-loving, and are law-abiding — and that these qualities stem from their beliefs. Consequently, there is growing sympathy for the Bahá’ís. Increasingly, people at all levels of the society are coming to their defense both privately and publicly, and there is growing interest in and attraction to the Bahá’í Faith amongst the population,” Ms. Dugal said.",NEW YORK,,United States
635,2008-05-27,"[634, 632, 602]",Iranian Baha’i leaders being held incommunicado; growing concern for their fate,"NEW YORK, United States — Six Baha’i leaders who were arrested nearly two weeks ago are being held incommunicado, without access to lawyers or relatives, and the Baha’i International Community is increasingly concerned about their fate.
“Although initial reports indicated they were taken to Evin prison, in fact we don’t know where they are, and we are extremely concerned,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.
“What is clear is that none of their fundamental rights are being upheld. They have had no access to family members or counsel. We don’t even know if they have been before a judge or whether they have been formally charged.
“All we know is what a government spokesperson said last week, which is that they were arrested for ‘security reasons,’ a charge that is utterly baseless.
“We appeal to the international community, human rights groups, and people of conscience, as well as the news media, to continue their efforts to press the Iranian government so that the rights of these people as detainees be upheld and that they be allowed access to counsel and general communication with the outside -- as a minimum step,” said Ms. Dugal.
The six, all members of the national-level group that helped see to the minimum needs of Baha’is in Iran, were arrested on 14 May 2008 in an early morning sweep that is ominously similar to episodes in the 1980s when scores of Iranian Baha’i leaders were rounded up and killed.
A seventh member of the national coordinating group was arrested in early March in Mashhad after being summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence office there.
The whereabouts of none of the seven are known, said Ms. Dugal.
“We understood that the six were taken to Evin prison -- the seventh remaining in Mashhad -- principally because some of the government agents who arrested the six on the 14th had documents indicating they would be taken to that notorious place,” she said.
“However, in light of the fact that relatives have made repeated attempts to learn more about the fate of the seven, and in all cases have been met with evasion and conflicting stories from government officials, we must now say that we don’t know where they are -- and that our level of concern for their fate is at the highest,” Ms. Dugal said.
Arrested on 14 May were: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All live in Tehran.
Arrested in Mashhad on 5 March was Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, who also resides in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was summoned to Mashhad by the Ministry of Intelligence, ostensibly on the grounds that she was required to answer questions related to the burial of an individual in the Baha’i cemetery in that city.
Last week, Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham gave a press conference at which he acknowledged the arrest and imprisonment of the six. News reports quoted Mr. Elham as saying on 20 May that the six were arrested for “security issues” and not because of their religious beliefs.
Those assertions -- the only public statement by the government about the arrests -- were immediately rebutted by Ms. Dugal.
“The group of Baha’is arrested last week, like the thousands of Baha’is who since 1979 have been killed, imprisoned, or otherwise oppressed, are being persecuted solely because of their religious beliefs,” Ms. Dugal said on 21 May.",NEW YORK,,United States
636,2008-05-28,[],Holy day marks 116th anniversary of the passing of Baha’u’llah,"ACRE, Israel — Four hundred Baha’i pilgrims will be among the thousand followers of Baha’u’llah from around the world who gather at His burial site on 29 May at 3 a.m. to commemorate the 116th anniversary of His passing.
Around the globe, tens of thousands more will turn their faces in the direction of the same shrine – for Baha’is, the holiest spot on earth – in remembrance of the night in 1892 that Baha’u’llah passed away at His home near Acre in the Holy Land.
His remains were entombed on the same property, now a site of pilgrimage for members of the Baha’i Faith the world over.
Many of those who attend the program at the Shrine of Baha’u’llah will also be able to visit His home, the Mansion of Bahji, for a few minutes of private prayer in the very room where He spent His final hours.  The quadrant of the gardens at Bahji nearest the Shrine of Baha’u’llah is known as the Haram-i-Aqdas – the most holy sanctuary. A thousand Baha’is will be seated in chairs set up in the outer ring for a program of prayers and readings to commemorate the anniversary of His passing, after which they will form a long procession to circumambulate the shrine.The room is maintained exactly as it was during the time of Baha’u’llah – even a pair of His shoes is there for the pilgrims to see.
Baha’u’llah was born in Tehran, Iran, but He and a large group of His followers were banished from their native land in 1853 and forced to go first to Baghdad, then on to what was the Ottoman Empire and the remote prison city of Acre.
Pilgrims also are able to visit His prison cell in the old walled city and three houses, including the one at Bahji, where He eventually was able to stay when authorities eased the stricter confinement of the prison barracks.
Baha’is believe that Baha’u’llah is the Messenger of God for this age, the most recent in a line of divine educators that includes Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Mohammed, Moses, and Zoroaster, among others.
The anniversary of the Ascension of Baha’u’llah is one of nine holy days on which Baha’is suspend work.",ACRE,,Israel
638,2008-06-12,[504],Ethiopian children’s TV show receives honor,"ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — “Tsehai Loves Learning,"" an Amharic-language educational television show that is produced and broadcast in Ethiopia, received an award at the Prix Jeunesse International 2008, the premiere festival recognizing outstanding children's television programming. The event is held every two years in Munich, Germany; the award was presented on 4 June.
The program is the brainchild of Bruktawit Tigabu and Shane Etzenhouser of Addis Ababa, a married couple who are both Baha’is. The show -- designed for preschool children and featuring a hand puppet named Tsehai who is a giraffe -- is styled after classic children’s programs such as “Sesame Street.”
The show won the Prix Jeunesse Next Generation Prize for an entry that is “inspirational, innovative, and inspired by a great idea” but that was produced “under difficult circumstances.”
The prize brings a monetary award of 6,000 euros and a year of mentoring from the sponsors, which include the Australian Children's Television Foundation, the BBC, Disney Germany, KRO (Dutch Public Broadcasting), Nickelodeon International, and ZDF (German Television Network).
""Winning an award at the Prix Jeunesse is considered the highest honor in children's media,"" Ms. Tigabu said.
""For many of Ethiopia's children, the show is the closest thing to early childhood education they have ever received,"" Mr. Etzenhouser noted.
“The Baha'i writings have been a major inspiration for us,” he continued. “The writings on the education of children and on service were what inspired us to make this program. We also relied heavily on Baha'i prayers and writings to uplift us whenever we’ve run into difficulties with the show or whenever we've gotten discouraged. …  We don't have a background in television, so the tasks and responsibility inherent in what we are trying to do are enormous.”
In a statement about the award to “Tsehai Loves Learning,” Prix Jeunesse said: ""The jury was hugely impressed by the program's ability to talk to children, to be creative as well as communicative, on an extremely limited budget. … We all felt that 'Tsehai Loves Learning' was inspired by a great idea born out of the needs of its audience – which after all is the basis of all great TV.”
""Tsehai Loves Learning"" went on the air in September 2006 with new 10-minute episodes debuting every two weeks for repeated broadcasting. The show is currently on hiatus.",ADDIS ABABA,,Ethiopia
639,2008-06-22,"[585, 470, 269]",Quiet revolutionaries,"DASDOI, UTTAR PRADESH, India — At first glance nothing about these eight people would tell you that they are founders of schools.
They come from the unlikeliest of backgrounds. One was a high-school dropout, another a TV mechanic, yet another a village “doctor.”
Nor is it always easy to guess – at first sight anyway – that what they are running are schools. For example, Ram Vilas Pal, the TV mechanic, shares a property with his brother – part of the land is home to a cowshed, the other part home to the school.
What is common to all eight is their passion for social transformation and their conviction that school is the place for this to happen. Indeed, as the soft-spoken Mr. Pal says, in India people often expect this from a school.
“The community and the family depend on the school to create a responsible citizen out of the child,” he said. “When a child is found misbehaving, people ask him, ‘Is this what your teacher teaches you in school?’”
At a time when many young people leave their villages in search of jobs in the cities, these eight – all but two are in their 20s – have chosen to stay back and help mold the next generation. And they are doing it without large investment and without making tall promises to parents.
Most of them set up their community schools by seeking the help of the villagers for land and basic furniture and by employing educated but unemployed rural youth as teachers. In return, they promise to provide good overall education for very modest fee (for a high school student, for example, it might be 50 rupees, or US$1.25, a month).
For the villagers, this is a welcome alternative to the existing state-run schools which charge no fees but where standards are so dismal that, as one parent put it, “you will find eighth-standard children who cannot count from one to 10.”
Today there are eight of these community schools spread out in villages in the Kakori, Banthra, and Kharagpur blocks of the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. They are not far from Lucknow, the state capital.
Some of the schools, like Vinod Kumar Yadav’s Glory Public School with 160 students, are doing well. Others, like Mr. Pal’s Nine Point School in Dasdoi with 73 children, are barely breaking even. Still others, like Brajesh Kumar’s Covenant Public School, are in urgent need of help. (For next year, Mr. Kumar plans to move his school to a different location.)
Assistance from FAS  A mathematics class at New Ideal Academy in a village near Lucknow meets in the open air, while students in another class gather at a table under the shelter.Helping all of them chart their course and stay afloat is the Foundation for the Advancement of Science (FAS), a nongovernmental organization based in Lucknow.
FAS assists the schools by training their teachers, guiding them through difficult times, and even providing salaries for one or two teachers when the going gets tough. It is also preparing a new, innovative curriculum for use in the schools.
It was this foundation – after years of experimentation with setting up rural educational initiatives that were self-sustaining and self-sufficient – that spearheaded the establishment of the community schools.
“We had worked with many tutorial schools in Uttar Pradesh that were externally funded and that eventually failed. This made us realize that the solution had to come from within the village, with the villagers using mainly their own resources,” explains an officer of FAS.
For the community schools, he said, FAS started out by looking for individuals with the motivation, the vision and the willingness to struggle and persevere. Itself an NGO inspired by Baha’i ideals, it did not take the foundation long to find these individuals among the educated but unemployed Baha’i youth in the villages surrounding Lucknow.
The people working at the foundation knew that the young people were going to face an uphill task in setting up the schools, but they also knew from past experience that such a struggle brings with it a sense of ownership. As one of them put it: “Setting up a school in a village is a difficult job that requires both commitment and great effort. When these youth suffer for the school, their resolve is strengthened and their attachment to the school is intensified.”
Parents’ point of view
A man named Sunderlal, sitting outside his hut, is asked why he sends his son – who is beside him playing with a bicycle tire – to Brajesh Kumar’s school. His answer is immediate: “Because children of his school are good and respectful.”
This becomes a common refrain among parents and villagers when asked about the community schools.


In brief

How the schools operate
A common challenge for the schools is to provide classes for all ages with only a handful of teachers.
Ram Vilas Pal explains how he addresses this at his school in Dasdoi:
""Depending on how many students we have in different standards, we put them into groups. For example, we put nursery and kindergarten in one group, students of 1st, 2nd and 3rd in another, 4th and 5th standard students in another, and finally there is a group of high school students.
“Each group has one teacher. The method she follows is to teach a lesson to students of one level while students of other levels in the same group are given class work to do.… Thus we manage by alternating between assigning class work and teaching lessons.”
Also, he says, they try to balance difficult subjects with easy ones. In the group, when some of the students are working with a difficult subject – mathematics, for example – the others are given something easier so that the teacher can devote more attention to the first class.



Mr. Kumar explains why: “Our whole reason for starting these schools was not just to provide better quality of the same thing that is available everywhere but also to give something new and much-needed in the form of moral education.”
All the schools use a curriculum developed by the international Baha’i community for the moral education of children and young adolescents.
Mr. Kumar, who holds a master’s degree in education that presumably could guarantee him a comfortable job in the city, says: “I could have done many other things that would give me more money and involved less effort. But here I am doing something not for myself but for the village as a whole by bringing about moral, social, economic, and intellectual change.”
The community schools are faced with the same social problems that plague rural India, chief among them the caste system and discrimination against the girl child.
C. Bhagwandin, a member of the gram panchayat (governing council) in the village of Dasdoi, confesses that caste differences initially posed a barrier to sending his daughter to Mr. Pal’s school.
“Since he was of a different caste, I was initially reluctant,” Mr. Bhagwandin says. “However, seeing that his students could really read and write, that they behaved well and since the only other option was to send her to a school in another village, I decided to overlook this fact. And I haven’t regretted my decision.”
Teaching values
In all the schools, the message of equality and the need for mutual respect is instilled from the earliest stages using various techniques, including incorporating the arts into the curriculum.
For example, “we have found that the most effective way to teach these values to students, is through the use of skits and songs,” says Mr. Yadav.
Discrimination against the girl child is dealt with through a more proactive approach, given that these are areas where traditionally women do not leave the home, much less receive an education.
“We visit the homes of parents in the village and talk to them about the importance of sending their daughters and not just their sons to school. And after a period of patient counseling, they understand,” explains Mr. Pal.
Right now, perhaps the most important challenge before these young entrepreneurs is to keep their schools profitable. Problems include spiraling costs, regular defaulting in fee payment, and children being pulled out of school to be used for agricultural labor.
While the owners will continue to seek solutions, FAS remains confident of the overall potential for the schools to become successful educational institutions and to bring about palpable social and cultural change in the villages. Indeed, the foundation already has plans to help 20 more unemployed young people start such schools in Uttar Pradesh.
Article and photographs by Arash Vafa Fazli.",DASDOI,UTTAR PRADESH,India
640,2008-06-19,"[635, 632, 602]",Seven jailed Iranian Baha’is make brief contact with families,"NEW YORK, United States — Seven prominent Baha’is imprisoned in Iran have each been allowed a brief phone call to their families, the Baha’i International Community has learned.
The calls were the first contact with the jailed Baha’is since six of them were arrested on 14 May in pre-dawn raids at their homes in Tehran. The seventh was arrested in March in the city of Mashhad.
The Baha’i International Community has learned that on 3 June, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet and Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi were permitted to make short phone calls to their families. Mrs. Sabet had been detained in Mashhad on 5 March but on 26 May was transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran, where it is believed the others are also being held.
Later it was confirmed that Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm also have made brief phone calls to their families.
No charges have been filed against any of the seven, who comprise the entire membership of a coordinating committee that saw to the minimal needs of the 300,000-member Baha’i community of Iran.
In 1980, all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Iran were taken away and presumed killed as they were never heard from again. A year later, after the Assembly had been reconstituted, eight of the nine members were arrested and killed.
Besides the seven committee members imprisoned in Tehran, about 15 other Baha’is are currently detained in Iran, some incommunicado and most with no formal charges.",NEW YORK,,United States
641,2008-06-30,[],Nobel laureates call for release of Iranian Baha’i prisoners,"NEW YORK, United States — Six Nobel Peace Prize laureates have issued a statement calling on the Iranian government to free immediately seven prominent Iranian Baha’is imprisoned in Tehran.
The six Nobel winners, under the banner of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, called on the Iranian government to guarantee the safety of the Baha’is –- being held in Evin Prison with no formal charges and no access to lawyers -- and to grant them an unconditional release.
“We are thankful to these internationally prominent activists for calling publicly for the release of our fellow Baha’is, who are detained for no reason other than their religion,” said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.
The Nobel laureates supporting the statement are:
-- Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan Maguire, founders of the Peace People in Northern Ireland and winners of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976;
-- Rigoberta Menchu Tum, a leading advocate of ethno-cultural reconciliation in her native Guatemala and Nobel winner in 1992;
-- Professor Jody Williams, international campaigner for the banning of land mines, winner in 1997;
-- Iranian human rights lawyer Dr. Shirin Ebadi, winner in 2003;
-- Kenyan environmental activist Professor Wangari Muta Maathai, Nobel winner in 2004.
Their statement, issued on the letterhead of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, reads:
“We note with concern the news of the arrest of six prominent Baha’is in Iran on 14 May 2008. We note that Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm are members of the informal group known as the Friends in Iran that coordinates the activities of the Baha’i community in Iran; we further note that another member of the Friends in Iran, Mrs Mahvash Sabet, has been held in custody since 5 March 2008; we register our deepest concern at the mounting threats and persecution of the Iranian Baha’i community.
“We call on the Iranian Government to guarantee the safety of these individuals (and) grant their immediate unconditional release.”
The Nobel Women's Initiative was established in 2006 by the six women laureates - representing North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa – to contribute to building peace by working together with women around the world. Only 12 women have ever won the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Women’s Initiative maintains an office in Ottawa, Canada.",NEW YORK,,United States
642,2008-07-08,[],Baha’i shrines chosen as World Heritage sites,"QUEBEC CITY, Canada — A United Nations committee meeting here has determined that two Baha'i shrines in Israel possess ""outstanding universal value"" and should be considered as part of the cultural heritage of humanity.
The decision today by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee means that the two most sacred sites for Baha'is - the resting places of the founders of their religion - join a list of internationally recognized sites like the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, and Stonehenge.
The World Heritage List also includes places of global religious significance like the Vatican, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the remains of the recently destroyed Bamiyan Buddhist statues in Afghanistan.
The Baha'i shrines are the first sites connected with a religious tradition born in modern times to be added to the list, which is maintained by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The two shrines, one near the recognized heritage site of Old Acre on Israel's northern coast and the other on Mount Carmel in Haifa, are the resting places of Baha'u'llah and the Bab, the founders of the Baha'i Faith.
Baha'is believe that both Baha'u'llah and the Bab were messengers of God; their resting places are sites of pilgrimage for a religious community of some five million believers. The shrine of Baha'u'llah is the focal point of prayer for Baha'is all over the world, giving it an importance comparable to the Western Wall in Jerusalem for Jews and the Kaaba in Mecca for Muslims.
Born in Iran, Baha'u'llah was banished to Acre in what was then the Ottoman Empire, where he died in 1892. The Bab was executed in Iran in 1850, and His remains were later moved to Haifa for burial.  The Shrine of Baha’u’llah near Acre, north of Haifa – the holiest spot on earth for members of the Baha’i Faith – also is part of the World Heritage designation.The two shrines are noteworthy for the formal gardens that surround them, blending design elements from many cultures. In addition to Baha'i pilgrims, they attract hundreds of thousands of visitors and tourists every year.
""We welcome the UNESCO recognition, which highlights the importance of the holy places of a religion that in 150 years has gone from a small group found only in the Middle East to a worldwide community with followers in virtually every country,"" said Albert Lincoln, secretary-general of the Baha'i International Community.
""The Baha'i community is particularly grateful to the government of Israel for putting forward this nomination,"" he said.
The World Heritage List was established by UNESCO in 1972 to identify, protect, and preserve places of ""cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value."" So far, 184 nations have signed the World Heritage Convention, which defines the general standards of selection for the list, and more than 850 sites have been recognized, including natural areas, such as East Africa's Serengeti and Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
The World Heritage Committee is composed of 21 states that are signatories of the World Heritage Convention. It meets annually in the home country of its chairperson. This year's chair is Dr. Christina Cameron of Canada, and the gathering in Quebec, which is itself a world heritage site, corresponds with that city's 400th anniversary celebrations.",QUEBEC CITY,,Canada
643,2008-07-08,"[643, 643, 643, 643]","""People can sense the presence of God""","ACRE, Israel — Muslims to Mecca, Jews to Jerusalem, Christians to Bethlehem, Buddhists to Lumbini - and Baha'is to Acre.
The holiest spots on earth to Baha'is - the resting places of Baha'u'llah and the Bab, the founders of the Baha'i Faith and both considered Manifestations of God - attract thousands of pilgrims and visitors each year.
Now the sites, located in northern Israel, have been named to the UNESCO World Heritage list in recognition of their ""outstanding universal value"" to the common heritage of humanity.  The Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, framed by formal gardens and terraces, is one of two major Baha’i properties named as a World Heritage site.By any measure, the sites are beautiful. Stunning formal gardens surround them - the Shrine of Baha'u'llah in the countryside near Acre, north of the city of Haifa, and the Shrine of the Bab, a golden-domed building on the slope of Mount Carmel in the heart of Haifa itself.
Pilgrims will tell you that the outward beauty is but a symbol, an expression of love for the Messengers of God who lie entombed there and a beacon of hope for the future of humanity.
""It's hard to put into words,"" said Gary Marx, on pilgrimage from his home in Michigan in the United States. ""You can describe things physically, but it's really not about that. Pilgrimage is an experience that goes back to the dawn of mankind. It's a yearning to connect with spiritual reality ... and to connect with yourself.""
Although the two shrines have specific meaning for Baha'is, their spiritual nature appeals to others as well.
""People who are not Baha'is come here and say it is like a piece of heaven falling from the sky,"" said Taraneh Rafati, who has served for the past 10 years as a pilgrim guide to the Baha'i holy sites.
""Whether you are a Muslim, Jew, Christian, Buddhist, in the holy texts, heaven is described. It is like this,"" she said, mentioning the peacefulness, the beauty. ""You come and feel close to your Lord. It is free of charge, and it is for everyone.""
Visitors, tourists, and pilgrims
Half a million people visited the shrine areas last year, many of them tourists wanting to see the gardens and get a close look particularly at the Shrine of the Bab, a famous landmark in Israel that looks out over the city of Haifa and Haifa Bay, and beyond that to the Mediterranean Sea.
More than 80,000 of those visitors entered the shrine itself, removing their shoes and walking silently into the room adjacent to the burial chamber of the Bab. Some just want a peek but many linger to read a prayer of Baha'u'llah that adorns one of the walls, or engage in their own meditation or prayer. Some are visibly moved.
""There was one group of Catholics, and they all went to their knees as soon as they entered,"" remembers one of the guides.
Baha'i pilgrims participate in a special nine-day program that includes visits to both shrines. Guides say that individuals have different reactions to the experience.
""The response is as varied as the people who come,"" said Marcia Lample, a pilgrim guide for the last five years.
Some people, for example, cannot immediately go in the shrine when they arrive. ""They feel unworthy,"" she explained. For others, the sacred shrines are like a magnet, pulling them in.
""Some people go in and stay for hours. Some stay for four minutes. It doesn't matter. They stay as long as they need to stay,"" Mrs. Lample said.


Acre’s first Baha’i pilgrims
Baha’i pilgrimage to Acre began shortly after 1868, when Baha’u’llah arrived at the ancient walled city as a prisoner of the Ottoman Empire.
He had been banished from His native Iran 15 years earlier, and lived successively in Baghdad, Istanbul, and Edirne before being sent to Acre, then a remote outpost of the Ottoman Empire used as a place of exile.
Devoted followers from Iran determined His whereabouts and would travel on foot for months just to catch a glimpse of Him. Not allowed inside the city walls, the pilgrims would stand outside and look toward the citadel, hoping Baha’u’llah would come to a window on the second floor where He was confined, even for a minute, so they could see Him wave His hand.
Later, when authorities allowed Baha’u’llah to live outside the barracks, pilgrims could sometimes enter His presence to show their devotion and listen to His explanations of the new revelation from God.
Sometimes He would write a tablet – a prayer or other communication – for the pilgrims to take back to Iran or elsewhere to Baha’is thirsty for contact with the leader they considered the mouthpiece of God for this age.
After His passing, pilgrims still came – to pray at His resting place and to pay their respects to His son, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, whom Baha’u’llah had appointed to succeed Him as head of the Baha’i community, and later to Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith.
As the religion spread around the world, the believers came from farther away, including the first group of Western pilgrims, mainly Americans, who arrived in 1898. They were allowed a special visit to the tomb, and a member of the group, May Bolles, later wrote this:
“As we gazed upon the veiled door our souls stirred within us as though seeking release, and had we not been upheld by the mercy of God we could not have endured the poignancy of joy and sorrow and love and yearning that shook the foundations of our beings.”


The Shrine of Baha'u'llah
The Shrine of Baha'u'llah is the holiest spot on earth for Baha'is - the place they turn to each day in prayer.
""It's amazing inside,"" said Farzin Rasouli-Seisan, 26, on pilgrimage from Sydney, Australia. ""You go in and it leads to a garden inside - there are flowers and a couple of trees, all under a skylight. There are a number of rooms, and one of them is Baha'u'llah's resting place. You can't go in that room, but there is a step where you can put your head down.""
Mrs. Rafati says of being in the shrines: ""It is not that we are worshipping the dust or worshipping a wall - it is the connection that the place has with our beloved. We do not go there to worship the flowers. We go to there to pour out our heart.""
The shrine is also special because it is adjacent to the country house where Baha'u'llah lived the last years of His life. Pilgrims can go there and enter His room - the room where He passed away in 1892 - restored to the way it was when He was present. Some of His actual belongings can be viewed.
Baha'u'llah lived at the estate, called Bahji, the final years of His life, after authorities loosened the restrictions that had kept Him inside the prison city of Acre for years following His banishment from His native Iran.
The golden dome in Haifa
Before He passed away, Baha'u'llah was able to go several times to nearby Haifa, and He gave explicit instructions to establish the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel.
The Bab - who in 1844 in Iran had announced that He was a Messenger of God who had come to foretell the imminent arrival of a second Messenger even greater than Himself, namely Baha'u'llah - had been executed in 1850 in the public square in Tabriz. His followers hid His remains for years, waiting for the time they could provide a proper burial.
Half a century later, the sacred remains were taken to Haifa and finally laid in their permanent resting place on Mount Carmel, in the Bible described as the ""mountain of the Lord.""
The golden dome that crowns the shrine was completed in 1953 along with an extension of earlier gardens at the site. In 2001, a series of beautiful garden terraces was completed, both above and below the shrine, stretching more than a kilometer up the side of Mount Carmel.
The experience of the pilgrim
Baha'is plan and save their money for years to be able to come to Acre and Haifa, Mrs. Lample said.
""They get a chance to pray in the place where the founder of their faith has walked, where He revealed the word of God, where He suffered for them and for the unity of the human race,"" she said. ""And mostly they come to pray in the places which contain the precious remains of the central figures of their religion.""
Roger and Cathy Hamrick, who live in North Carolina in the United States, came in June for their first pilgrimage.
""We have been married almost 30 years, and we have been wanting to come that whole time,"" Mrs. Hamrick said. ""Going to the shrines is like the culmination of a spiritual journey of a lifetime. How can anything compare to putting your forehead on the sacred threshold?""
Pilgrimage also helps Baha'is see their faith in practice, Mr. Hamrick said. The main teaching of the Baha'i Faith is the unity of mankind under one God, and people who come to the Holy Land meet Baha'is from all around the world.
""There is such joy in experiencing the oneness of the human family,"" he said. ""It is unlike anything I have ever done.""
Mrs. Lample said that pilgrims also attend talks and programs about the development of the Baha'i Faith around the world, which helps them envision how their own community back home fits into the bigger picture.
Still, she said, the main purpose of pilgrimage is praying and meditating at the shrines, and it is almost always a special experience.
""People can find something,"" she said. ""There is a spirit surrounding these places. It is palpable. People can sense the presence of God.""",ACRE,,Israel
644,2008-07-06,[],Baha’is commemorate martyrdom of the Bab,"HAIFA, Israel — This week Baha’is mark the 158th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Bab, one of the two central figures in the founding of their religion.
On 9 July 1850, at noon, the Bab was put to death by firing squad in the public square of Tabriz, Iran.
Six years earlier, He had declared that He was a messenger of God whose mission was to prepare the way for the imminent arrival of the Promised One of all religions who would come to establish a new age of peace and prosperity in the world. In 1863, Baha’u’llah announced publicly that He was that Promised One.
The Bab attracted tens of thousands of people to His teachings, thousands of whom were killed in persecutions that swept Iran. Finally, authorities had the Bab Himself put to death in an attempt to stamp out the new religion.
A half century after His execution, His sacred remains were brought to Haifa for entombment on Mount Carmel. Today His shrine is one of the most famous landmarks in Israel, and the Baha’i Faith is established in virtually every country.
The anniversary of the martyrdom of the Bab is one of nine holy days when Baha’is suspend work. It is commemorated with prayers and special programs at noon on 9 July.",HAIFA,,Israel
645,2008-07-28,"[641, 634, 632]","Arsonists in Iran target Baha’i homes, vehicles","NEW YORK, United States — Acts of arson targeting homes and vehicles are the latest violent tactics directed against the Baha’is of Iran.
“In the early hours of the morning of 18 July, the house of the Shaaker family in Kerman went up in flames, only weeks after their car had been torched and in the wake of a series of threatening phone calls,” said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.
“As would be expected in the light of the mistreatment Baha’is in Iran are routinely receiving, the officials who investigated the fire either ignored or dismissed obvious signs of suspicious activity, including a muffled explosion, simply saying that it was the result of an electrical problem,” she said.
At least a dozen cases of arson that target Baha’is have been reported in Iran in the last 15 months, Ms. Dugal said. She gave the following examples:  The home of the family of Mehran Shaaker of Kerman, Iran, was gutted by fire on 18 July 2008. Family members had received theatening phone calls, and their car had been the target of a recent arson attempt.-- On 15 July at 1:15 a.m., Molotov cocktails were thrown into the front courtyard of the home of Khusraw Dehghani and his wife, Dr. Huma Agahi, in Vilashahr, only months after anonymous threats directly related to her being a Baha’i forced Dr. Agahi to close her clinic in nearby Najafabad where she had practiced medicine for 28 years.
-- On 25 July, the car of a prominent Baha’i in Rafsanjan, in Kerman province, was torched and destroyed by arsonists on motorbikes. Soheil Naeimi, the owner of the car, and 10 other Baha’i families in the town had received threatening letters from a group calling itself the Anti-Baha’ism Movement of the Youth of Rafsanjan that, among other things, threatened jihad (holy war) against the Baha’is.
-- On 10 June, an outbuilding on the property of the Mr. and Mrs. Mousavi, elderly Baha’is living in the village of Tangriz in Fars province, was destroyed by fire when it was doused with gasoline. The Mousavis, along with their two sons who were sleeping close to the building, narrowly escaped injury when the gasoline tank used to start the fire exploded. The Mousavis believe that the perpetrator thought they were all sleeping in the hut when he set the fire. Mr. Mousavi issued a formal complaint against the person they suspected, but the legal office has declined to pursue the case because the suspect swore on the Qur’an that he was not guilty. Out of respect for the Qur’an, the Mousavis have dropped the charges.
-- On 4 April, the home of a Baha’i was set on fire in Babolsar, in the north of Iran.
-- In February in Shiraz, a 53-year-old businessman was attacked on the street, chained to a tree, doused with gasoline, and assaulted by unknown persons who then attempted to throw lighted matches at him.
-- Also in Shiraz in February, several arson attempts were made against vehicles and a home belonging to Baha’is.
-- On 1 May 2007, arson destroyed the home of ‘Abdu’l-Baqi Rouhani in the village of Ivil, in Mazandaran.
-- In Karaj, the burial section of a Baha’i cemetery was set on fire.
“These latest attacks follow the authorities’ attempts to deprive the Iranian Baha’i community of its leadership,” Ms. Dugal said, referring to the arrests in March and May this year of the seven members of Iran’s national Baha’i coordinating group, all of whom are still locked up in Evin Prison in Tehran without any charges and without access to an attorney or to their families.
“As Baha’is worldwide watch with alarm this escalation in violence,” she added, “their fears that a sinister plan of persecution is unfolding become increasingly confirmed. Their only hope is that enough voices of protests are raised around the world to compel the government in Iran to put an end to this violence.”",NEW YORK,,United States
646,2008-07-29,[],Most Holy Book of Baha’i Faith published in Norwegian,"BEITOSTOLEN, Norway — The Baha’i book known as the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the “Most Holy Book,” has been published in Norwegian for the first time, bringing to about 30 the number of different language editions of the work.
The book, originally written in Arabic, was presented this month at a ceremony in Beitostolen attended by more than 300 Baha’is and their guests.
“I am really looking forward to reading the book in Norwegian,” said 19-year-old Dehlia Eide of Stavanger, who participated in the ceremony. “This is an incredibly important book.”
The volume is the pre-eminent work of Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i Faith, and contains teachings and laws for the development of human society, said Douglas Moore, spokesman for the Baha’i International Community.
Baha’is believe that Baha’u’llah is the most recent Messenger of God in a line that includes Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Krishna, and others, and that the main teaching of God for this age is the unity of the human race. The Baha’i writings refer to the Kitab-i-Aqdas as the “charter of the future world civilization.”
In the book, Baha’u’llah reveals laws, ordinances and exhortations on a number of subjects, among them prayer, marriage, divorce, burial, the Baha’i calendar, the age of maturity, the nature of work, obedience to government, and education.
A key feature of the Kitab-i-Aqdas is its reference to Baha’i administration and the institutions that today govern the religion, Mr. Moore said.
Parts of Baha’i scripture – the writings of Baha’u’llah total the equivalent of some 100 volumes – have been translated into more than 800 languages, but the Kitab-i-Aqdas is challenging because of the eloquent style of Arabic and the way the revelation of spiritual teachings is interwoven with the giving of laws, he said.
In addition, certain supplementary materials as well as other Baha’i scripture must be considered in concert with the Kitab-i-Aqdas to gain an appropriate understanding of the intent, Mr. Moore said; the laws are meant to be introduced gradually as a world civilization develops.
Baha’u’llah wrote the book in 1873 while a prisoner of the Ottoman Empire in Acre in what is now Israel. It was first translated by the Baha’i World Centre into English in 1992.
Among the languages into which the Kitab-i-Aqdas has been translated, in addition to Norwegian and English, are Albanian, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Marathi, Oriya, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
The Norwegian edition was presented on 9 July during an annual summer school held by the Baha’is of Norway.
(Story clarification: On 7 August 2008, the language in the first and penultimate paragraphs of this article was adjusted for clarity. Also, Marathi was added to the list of languages in the penultimate paragraph.)",BEITOSTOLEN,,Norway
647,2008-07-31,[],Vietnam recognizes Baha’is as religious community,"HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — The government of Vietnam has given full recognition to the Baha’i community as a religious organization.
A certificate was presented to representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Vietnam at a ceremony on 25 July.
It was the final act in a series of steps that included the election four months ago of the Baha’i Assembly – itself a landmark event in that it was the first time in many years that elections for the governing council were held. Government representatives were on hand to observe the balloting.
The head of the central government’s Committee for Religious Affairs, Nguyen The Doanh, officiated at last week’s ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City.
The official government news agency reported the event and referred to comments by the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is, Mr. Nguyen Thuc: “(He) said the Government's recognition of the Baha'i religion ‘charts a new course of development for the entire Baha'i community’ and motivates followers to make more contributions to social and humanitarian activities and to drive to preserve traditional spiritual values.”
The Baha’i Faith was established in the country in 1954, and the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Vietnam was elected 10 years later. In the mid-1970s, formal activities of the community were suspended.
The Vietnam News Agency said last week’s ceremony means that “the Government's Committee for Religious Affairs has recognized the Baha'i Community of Vietnam as a religious organization able to operate on an equal footing with other religions.”
Baha’is of Vietnam are now working on consolidating their community, gathering accurate statistics, and expanding social projects to serve the people of Vietnam, particularly in the area of education.",HO CHI MINH CITY,,Vietnam
648,2008-08-03,"[641, 634, 632]",Baha’is reject allegations of subversive activity in Iran,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha’i International Community categorically rejects statements by an Iranian prosecutor that seven Baha’is detained in Tehran have “confessed” to operating an “illegal” organization with ties to Israel and other countries.
“We deny in the strongest possible terms the suggestion that Baha’is in Iran have engaged in any subversive activity,” said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations. “The Baha’i community is not involved in political affairs. Their only ‘crime’ is the practice of their religion.”
“The seriousness of the allegations makes us fear for the lives of these seven individuals,” she said.
She was responding to Iranian newspaper reports of statements by Hasan Haddad, deputy prosecutor general for security at the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
Ms. Dugal said that seven Baha’is arrested earlier this year were members of a committee that helped attend to the needs of the 300,000 Baha’is in Iran.
“That is no secret – the government knew perfectly well about the existence of this committee long before its members were arrested, just as the government knows perfectly well that these people are not involved in any underhanded activity,” she said.
Ms. Dugal said the detentions are part of a well-documented, decades-long campaign to stamp out the Baha’i community in Iran, and that the latest accusations follow the same pattern as previous unfounded charges.
“Suggestions of collusion with the state of Israel are categorically false and misleading. The Iranian authorities are playing on the fact that the Baha’i world administrative center is located in northern Israel,” she said.
“The Iranian government completely ignores the well-known historical fact that the Baha’i Faith was centered in Iran until 1853 when the authorities there banished the Baha’i prophet-founder, who was forced into exile and eventually imprisoned in Acre on the Mediterranean coast under the Ottoman Turkish regime. That area happens to be in what is now Israel.”
Ms. Dugal said many Baha’is in Iran – including members of the coordinating committee before their imprisonment – are frequently detained for questioning about their activities. The Baha’is, she said, have nothing to hide and try to answer truthfully whenever they are interrogated.",NEW YORK,,United States
649,2008-08-05,[],American jazz musicians compose winning song for Olympics,"BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA, United States — Two U.S. jazz musicians combined their knowledge of Chinese music, Brazilian samba, and American jazz to write one of the songs being featured at the Beijing Olympic Games.
“Beijing Olympics Hao Yuing (Good Luck),” composed by Phil Morrison and Keith Williams, was one of only about 30 works selected in the final phase of a competition sponsored by the Beijing Olympic Committee.
The contest began four years ago, with the final segment alone drawing more than 3,000 entries, organizers said. The Olympic Games begin on 8 August.
Although songs were solicited from everywhere, rules said that compositions should reflect “the unique cultural background and humanism of Beijing and China.”
Mr. Morrison and Mr. Williams – long-time Baha’is who have recorded in China and performed there numerous times over the past decade – were told that they were the only American-born artists with a winning song in the competition. Only a handful of songs from outside China were selected as winners, according to the notification letter they received.
The lyrics of their song convey some of the principles of the Baha'i Faith: “Just one human family – the earth will celebrate – for world unity” and “Promoting peace and friendship for all – the world will come together – we’ll open up the gate.”
The two, along with a drummer or other musician, perform as the Phil Morrison Trio featuring Keith Williams.
Mr. Morrison, a bassist and composer, has worked as a musician virtually his whole life, first in his native Boston and later touring internationally. He played for about five years with the group of Freddy Cole (younger brother of Nat King Cole), during which time he frequently performed in Brazil. He now lives in Brunswick, Georgia, in the United States.
Mr. Williams, originally from San Francisco, is a singer, pianist, composer, and arranger who graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton, and for five years had his own trio in Atlanta. He also lives in Brunswick.
As leaders of the World Unity Jazz Ensemble – a name they still use for certain performances – Mr. Morrison and Mr. Williams released the albums “China Sky” and “Hollow Reed.”
In the Olympic song competition, many of the winning compositions are anthems, but Mr. Williams said “Beijing Olympics Hao Yuing” has more the flavor of a party celebration.
“The lyrics say, ‘Come join us in the human family,’” he said, noting that they had been told that their song would be on the official Olympics CD put out by Sony Music.
Their composition for the Olympics can be heard on the Web site www.philmorrisontrio.com.",BRUNSWICK,GEORGIA,United States
650,2008-08-12,"[648, 641, 634]","Iranian media attacks on Baha'is and Nobel Prize Winner Shirin Ebadi seek to stir ""irrational fears and prejudices""","NEW YORK, United States — Fraudulent claims in the Iranian news media about seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders and the efforts of Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and others to defend them represent an effort by the government to prevent Baha'is from having adequate legal representation – and also to stir up “irrational fears and prejudices,” the Baha'i International Community said in a statement today.
“Reports published in government-run news outlets point to an effort on the part of the authorities to use the mass media to spread accusations that the seven prisoners have engaged in subversive activities, and to continue to deprive these Baha’is from any access to legal counsel by maligning Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, the well-known Iranian human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner who, together with her colleagues, has stated her readiness to defend the Baha’is,” said the statement.
The statement, posted to the Baha'i International Community’s United Nations Office Web site, responds to allegations that Mrs. Ebadi’s daughter has become a Baha'i, that Baha'is are agents of Zionism, and that when Iranian Baha'is communicate with the Baha'i Faith’s international governing body in Israel, it is somehow a “conspiracy.”
“The Iranian government seizes every means at its disposal to stigmatize the Baha’is and then, within the poisoned atmosphere it has itself created, when it wants to discredit someone, it asserts that the person is a Baha’i,” the statement said. “Mrs. Ebadi is not the first individual upon whom this tactic has been used.  As a lawyer, Mrs. Ebadi defends individuals and groups of many different backgrounds; this does not mean that she necessarily espouses their beliefs.  What, then, is the state-sanctioned press trying to insinuate when it contends that her daughter is a Baha’i?”
The full statement can be read at:
http://bic.org/statements-and-reports/featured/Iran-Intensifies-Disinformation.htm",NEW YORK,,United States
651,2008-08-27,[651],Baha'is imprisoned in Yemen may face imminent deportation to Iran,"NEW YORK, United States —  Three Baha’is currently imprisoned in Yemen are facing the possibility of imminent deportation to Iran, where Baha’is are intensely persecuted and they would likely face imprisonment or torture.
“We are gravely concerned about the fate of these three Baha'is, who are being held without charges in a case that is clearly based on religious persecution,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
“Although the three have lived in Yemen for more than 25 years, they hold Iranian passports and we have come to believe that the Yemeni government may be planning to deport them to Iran, where the government is waging a systematic campaign against Baha'is.
“While calling for their immediate release, our primary concern today is to ask that the Yemeni government resist any impulse to deport these three Baha'is to Iran – or any other country. Deportation to any country for three individuals with well established businesses and families for their religious beliefs would be grossly unjust, but deportation to Iran, where they face the possibility of torture, would be a clear violation of international human rights law,” said Ms. Dugal.
The three Baha'is were arrested in June, apparently in relation to their belief in and practice of the Baha'i Faith, along with a Baha'i of Iraqi origin.
The three Baha'is of Iranian origin who were arrested are Mr. Zia'u'llah Pourahmari, Mr. Keyvan Qadari, and Mr. Behrooz Rohani. A fourth Baha'i, Mr. Sayfi Ibrahim Sayfi, was also arrested and faces the possibility of deportation to Iraq.
The three Baha'is of Iranian background all have successful businesses in Yemen, and their families are well established there.
The arrests occurred in the capital, Sana’a, on the night of 20 June 2008, when some 20 armed security officers carried out raids at several Baha'i homes. During the raids, papers, CDs, photographs and a computer were also confiscated.
Although no formal charges have been filed, government officials have indicated that the Baha'is were arrested on the suspicion of “proselytizing” in a manner against Yemeni law, which the Baha'is deny.
Since their arrest, the Baha'i International Community has been working through diplomatic channels to obtain their release.
“Our hope has been to prevent this case from becoming a major human rights matter, over the issue of religious persecution. Deportation to Iran would certainly be a matter for international concern, and such an action would be out of character with the Yemeni government’s past record on human rights issues.
“Under international laws on the freedom of religion, there is no question that Baha'is – and others in Yemen – should be free to practice their faith. While the situation is still unfolding, we stand by the right of Baha'is in Yemen and elsewhere to practice their religion in all aspects, without the fear of being forced to leave their adopted country,” said Ms. Dugal.
There are approximately 250 registered Baha'is in Yemen, and the community has enjoyed relative freedom for its members to quietly practice their faith.",NEW YORK,,United States
652,2008-08-29,[],A musical life that goes on and on,"RIED, Austria — Composer Russell Garcia is 92 years old and still making music. Not only that, he’s touring internationally.
This week, in the town of Ried in northern Austria, in front of an audience of 200 people, he conducted a local orchestra and choir in a work that he and his wife created.
Titled “A Path to Peace,” the piece was inspired by the Baha’i writings and includes original music by Mr. Garcia and lyrics by his 77-year-old wife, Gina Mauriello Garcia. Photographs and quotations projected above the stage illustrate conditions in the world that prevent peace, as well as ideas and principles that would promote peace.
“My wife and I wrote this show because we thought there was a great need for people to understand these issues,” said Mr. Garcia, who in the 1950s and ‘60s was a composer, arranger, and conductor in Hollywood.
He worked at MGM, Universal Studios, and NBC Studios, including for the TV shows “Rawhide” and “Laredo”; composed the score for the 1960 cult classic “The Time Machine”; and arranged and conducted the album “Porgy & Bess” featuring Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong,
“He’s made music for many people like Marlon Brando, Sophia Loren and Charlie Chaplin,” said Faramarz Farid, a Baha’i in Austria who helped organize this week’s concert. “To have him here is really exciting. It is also important for people to understand the message in his show.”  Mr. Garcia says he's never worked a day in his life. He says he just writes music and people pay him for it.“Everyone knows that peace is important, but many people don’t know how to find it,” Dr. Farid said. “As Baha’is we believe we have the solution, and that is what this show is about.... Baha’u’llah shows us how to find peace.”
Near the beginning of the half-hour piece comes a quote from Albert Einstein: “War is dual suicide, nobody wins a war.” Then come Baha’i passages taken from “The Promise of World Peace,” a 1985 message to the world written by the Universal House of Justice.
Mr. Garcia said he and his wife looked for nine major principles from the message and incorporated them in the work. Principles that promote peace include the equality of men and women, universal education, and the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty.
“It’s very peaceful music,” said Arnold Renhardt, the director of the 17-person choir that performed at the concert. “I also think it has an important message. It shows that if people want, they can live together in peace.”
Gottfried Tischler, who teaches Catholic theology at a public school in Ried and is not a Baha’i, was asked to read some of the quotations for the performance and said he was pleased to do so.
“I think it is particularly important to offer people such events,” he said, “even if you risk having just 10 people who actually take up on this message. They will all benefit from it and then they can act as multipliers, taking the message to others.”
Mr. Tischler noted that he was impressed with the mixed audience.
“I saw people that I thought would never go to such a concert,” he said, adding that he would remember for a long time a song called ""Glory in that you love all people.”
He also said he thought all the listeners would take something home from the performance, whether it be an idea or an image – “especially the one sentence at the beginning of the show: ‘Peace or annihilation – YOU have the CHOICE.’”
Mr. Tischler’s wife, Agnes, commented that the music made a deep impression on her but “the words were very important, too.”
“I think it was very important for people to take these words home with them,” she said.
Russell and Gina Garcia became Baha’is in 1955 and since then have worked to promote the teachings of Baha’u’llah. Both originally from the United States, they moved to New Zealand in 1969.
“We’ve dedicated our lives to trying to build a better world,” said Mr. Garcia “I’m still receiving so many different offers that I have to turn down work.”",RIED,,Austria
653,2008-09-15,[],Youth program in tough town offers key ingredient – hope,"PORTICI, Italy — Alberto Liccardi, 12, lives in the southern Italian city of Portici and says he has some advice for friends that hang out in the streets.
“Instead of doing nothing in the middle of the road, come to the Baha’i Center. It is better for you,” he offers.
Alberto is one of a handful of youth in Portici, a city of 60,000 just southeast of Naples, who have signed up for a Baha’i program for young teens that operates around Italy and elsewhere.
There are about 25 such youth groups in Italy with more than 130 participants. Three-fourths of the youngsters come from outside the Baha’i community.
Designed for youths aged 11 to 14, the program aims to help participants understand their spiritual nature, respect themselves and others, and be of service to the society around them.
Yes, say organizers, the program may help keep kids off the streets where they can get into trouble, but the goals are loftier than that.
Through discussion, service projects, the study of certain texts, games, and music, the youth gain an understanding of their nobility as human beings, said Antonella Demonte, the Baha’i in charge of the program in Italy.
This in turn helps the youngsters resist negative peer pressure and can offer hope and a pattern for a life of service to others, she said.
This is especially important where unemployment, crime, teen pregnancy, and other problems contribute to hopelessness among youth, she said.
“Also, Portici is densely populated and faces economic problems – it is a challenging place to live,” she continued.  Through discussion, service projects, the arts, and games, the classes in Portici help young people learn respect for themselves and others and how to serve the community.Like Alberto, Anna Deluca is only 12, but she is old enough to see what goes on among many of her peers.
“They live in a bad situation,” she says. “They are always on the street, they fight, they smoke…. They live like they were already adults.… At 12 years old they already go dance in other cities, in discos.”
Anna joined the Baha’i program last year, and she talks about responsibility and respect – two key themes of the curriculum.
“Kids don’t have a sense of responsibility for their actions,” she says, “and they don’t respect anybody.”
In Portici, organizers of what Baha’is call the “junior youth” program – in Italian, Attivita’ per giovanissimi – this month are starting their new year and, like last year, expect at least a dozen youngsters to sign up.
Irene Cuce, a 21-year-old Baha’i student at Universita di Verona, spent six months in Portici volunteering with the program. She describes it as a project that helps youth learn about their own spiritual attributes through discussion and by providing service to their communities.
“We can see the results from the program,” she says. “The youngsters feel more comfortable. They feel they can be something in their lives. They have respect for each other now – you can see it in the way they talk with each other.”
Ciro Cangiano, 16, spent three years in the program and agrees that it helps young teenagers develop new values.
“I discovered qualities I didn’t know I had,” he says, “like patience, like wanting to help others.”
Concetta Rosetti, whose 12-year-old daughter, Carla, participates in the Baha’i program, seems equally enthusiastic.
“I think my daughter has become more helpful compared to before. And she has always been insecure, but since she has been going to the Baha’i Center she has become more open to others, and more self-confident,” says Mrs. Rosetti.
She hopes that what her daughter learns in the program will help her make her way in the world.
“There are difficulties to find jobs, and unfortunately Portici doesn’t offer great opportunities for the future of our children,” she says.
Ivana Carluccio, 32, a Baha’i in Portici, strongly supports the program, which she says addresses the causes of despair by focusing on the positive spiritual qualities in each person and the talents one has to help others.
“When you work for this project, you realize that you are doing it because it’s the only solution, the only practical way to really help these youth,” Ms. Carluccio said.
Raffaele Olivieri started in the program two years ago and indicates that things have changed for him: “I think this project gives the youth the possibility to have a more positive vision of their future and as a result the possibility of changing society.”
About the program
Groups are generally small – six to 12  youngsters – to provide ample opportunity for each person to participate, especially in discussion. In Portici, the 12 youths who joined last year were divided into two smaller groups for their classes, which met every Wednesday at the Baha’i Center.
Each group is led by a trained animator, who often is just a few years older than the class members. The relationship between the animator and the participants is key, notes Caroline Custer, a Baha’i who is familiar with the program.
“A special kind of relationship is established,” she says, “which stems from the way animators understand the unique potentialities and capacities of the youth.”
“Also, the atmosphere of the meetings is unique,” she continues. “It is not like a class in school, yet it is not like an informal gathering of friends. The meetings are joyous but at the same time serious.
“Another beautiful aspect of the program is the way material, intellectual, and spiritual excellence are all presented as important aims and are integrated in the junior youth activities.”",PORTICI,,Italy
654,2008-09-28,[],Melburnians turn to ‘Soul Food’ for nourishment,"MELBOURNE, Australia — Melbourne stands out as a multicultural metropolis – Malaysian restaurants, Japanese paper shops, music venues with bands from Senegal to Indonesia, all within strolling distance of one another. Not surprising, then, that Melburnians have adopted a Baha’i devotional meeting with a difference.
Called “Soul Food,” the gathering – held once a month in a theater at the imposing State Library of Victoria – combines readings from the world’s great faiths with reflections from leading philosophers, interspersed with live and recorded music by some of Melbourne’s most noted performers.
The program, which this year marks its third anniversary, at one point was listed at No.10 among “20 things to do in Melbourne,” published by the city’s main newspaper.
The readings and music are augmented by photographs and videos that illustrate particular themes – generosity, the equality of men and women, purity of heart, unconditional love – all set against a candle-lit background.
""It has been a great success, with participants coming from all backgrounds and walks of life, some even traveling from outside Melbourne to attend,” says Monib Mahdavi, who with his friend Nima Ferdowsi established the event, based on a similar one in Adelaide in South Australia.
“(Soul Food) has clearly shown that there are many people in the community who share our vision and are seeking opportunities to explore their spiritual development,” Mr. Mahdavi says.
The event quickly built a following, with average attendance around 120 people, he says.
Kristian Hetyey, who was brought up Catholic and now is investigating other religions, is a regular at the gathering.
“It helps me reflect on the month, I guess it’s that internal reflection where you just think about things,” he says. “Sometimes in life it’s easy to just keep plowing through the challenges of every day, but this removes you from the everyday; it questions our existence, it prompts you in a way that provides insight and wisdom.  Some of the musicians who perform at Soul Food are well-known locally, and a diversity of instruments and styles is presented.“Obviously it draws on all religions throughout history, and some of the most amazing concepts that the world has ever known, so from that point of view it’s a great combination of things which I haven’t found anywhere else,” he says.
“It’s only about an hour, but it can be really powerful,” he continues. “Essentially it’s building unity in our society, which most religions don’t do.”
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, with a population of well over 3 million in the metropolitan area.
The Soul Food gathering is the first Sunday of each month, at 10:30 a.m. On 7 September, the theme of the morning was “Prison of Self.”
Playing live music was Bob Sedergreen, winner of a jazz award as Australia’s best keyboardist.
Quotations, complemented by videos and photographs projected on a screen, came from Confucius, Albert Einstein, Khalil Gibran, James Joyce, St. Teresa of Avila, and Oscar Wilde.
The religious readings came from the Baha’i writings, an indigenous American elder, Hindu scripture, Islam, the Bible, and Zen Buddhism.
“I feel blissful when sitting in the room, listening to the music and quotations and watching the always appropriately selected pictures,” said Monica Subai, who attends regularly.
The music
“I am always amazed how carefully and lovingly the program is put together,” said Ms. Subai, who is not a member of the Baha’i community. “It is very powerful with its message about world peace, humanity, and everything else that is offered to the audience. And the live music is really a treat.”
Ruth Roshan books the musicians.
“I try to have a great diversity of instruments and styles,” she says, “and I’m very keen on high-quality performances.
“And, of course, it has to suit the reverence and atmosphere of Soul Food. In the Baha’i teachings, music is a ladder for the soul, and utilizing performance helps people open up,” she says.
Most of the performers are not Baha’is, she notes, and many are well-known in Melbourne.
“Because Soul Food is such a service for people to sit down and think and reflect, (the musicians) are very happy to perform, and they get such great feedback from the people who attend,” she says.
Mr. Ferdowsi, one of the founders, says the performances sometimes go beyond music.
“We’ve also featured dancers, and we have had people in the past do tai chi moves to the music,” he says. “All of these performances are respectful to the writings, and bring out the spirit of what’s being read.”
“Soul Food is a simple concept but a unique one, which allows people to enjoy inspiring writings without feeling like they have to make an immediate commitment.”
“Also,” he adds, “the music is absolutely beautiful.”
(Article for Baha’i World News Service by Corinne Podger, with additional material from Australian Baha’i News.)",MELBOURNE,,Australia
655,2008-10-01,[],"Baha’i Studies conference attracts 1,400 people from 23 countries","SAN DIEGO, United States — The 32nd annual conference of the North American Association for Baha’i Studies drew some 1,400 people from 23 countries - the largest-ever representation from outside the United States and Canada.
The gathering, held this year in San Diego, had as its theme “Religion and Social Cohesion.” The four-day conference concluded on 1 September.
The presenter of the 26th Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture was Hushmand Fatheazam, former member of the Universal House of Justice, who offered “Some Observations on the Scope and Value of Baha’i Scholarship.”
The speaker for the opening plenary was Paul Lample, member of the Universal House of Justice, who spoke on “Learning and the Unfoldment of the Baha’i Community.”
In the past decade, Baha’is around the world have focused on how to develop a “culture of learning,” a concept that was central to Mr. Lample’s talk.
“The culture of learning that is emerging is characterized by dialogue rather than debate, by constructive experience at the grassroots level rather than elaborate planning from the top, by systematization rather than freneticism, by reflective refinement rather than derogatory criticism,” he said.
Mr. Lample elaborated several times on the well-known Baha’i belief that science and religion are not in conflict.  Hushmand Fatheazam, former member of the Universal House of Justice, presents the 26th Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture at the conference of the North American Association for Baha’i Studies.“The Baha’i teachings,” he said at one point, “offer an approach to reality that encompasses a scientific worldview but is more comprehensive, addressing a wider range of questions that are essential to human progress.”
(A copy of Mr. Lample’s speech is available at http://www.bahai-studies.ca/conferences.php.)
Mr. Fatheazam shared personal stories and insights drawn from his decades of Baha’i service, including 40 years as one of the nine elected members of the Universal House of Justice.
While underlining the vital contributions of Baha’i scholarship to the development of the Baha’i Faith and the progress of society, he cautioned against the temptations of intellectual pride that scholars from all traditions have historically been susceptible to, and urged Baha'is to pursue paths of scholarship with the utmost humility.
Mr. Fatheazam promoted scholarship as the continued independent search for truth incumbent upon all human beings. He highlighted the importance of this role by emphasizing the two identities of the Baha’i Faith, one as a religion, described through the analogy of the tree, and one as a limitless reality, described through the analogy of light.
Others who addressed the conference during plenary sessions, and their topics, included:
-- Joy DeGruy, “Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome.”
-- Robert Rosenfeld, “Creating a Mosaic: A Journey to Social Cohesion.”
-- Ismael Velasco, “Achieving Reconciliation in a Conflicting World.”
-- Mary Darling and Clark Donnelly, who talked about their television series “Little Mosque on the Prairie,” broadcast in more than 80 countries.
-- Mojgan Sami, “From Counting to Contributing: Moving from Participation to Partnership in the Advancement of Civilization.”
-- Nazanin Zargarpour, chairing a panel of young scholars who addressed “Scholarship, Practice, and the Five Year Plan.” Panelists included Ashkan Monfared, Eric Harper, Kamal Sinclair, and Jenny Wilson.
Dozens of other speakers gave presentations in the break-out sessions. (See article about prayer and healing.)
More information about this and past ABS conferences is available on the ABS Web site.",SAN DIEGO,,United States
656,2008-10-01,[],Praying for the sick – can science prove it helps?,"SAN DIEGO, United States — Proving scientifically that it helps to pray for a sick person is an elusive proposition, says Dr. Taeed Quddusi, one of the speakers at the 32nd annual conference of the North American Association for Baha’i Studies.
The first problem, he said, is designing an experiment, given that we are not sure of the desired result of a prayer.
“Is the point of prayer to prolong life?” he said during an interview after the conference.
He proceeded to answer, based on his understanding of the Baha’i teachings: “The point of our existence on this planet isn’t simply a longer life. The point of our existence is to know God, to worship God, to serve God.”
What about cases in which prolonging life would mean condemning a person to additional suffering, he asked. Then what is the desired result of the prayer?
And if we are not sure what effect we are seeking when we pray, how can a scientist assess the success of a prayer?
“We don’t really know what we are measuring,” Dr. Quddusi said.
“The Effects of Prayer on Healing and Recovery: A Review of the Literature” was the title of his presentation at one of the break-out sessions of the four-day Association for Baha’i Studies conference, which wound up on 1 September in San Diego. (See article.)
Dr. Quddusi, in his third year as a resident surgeon in otolaryngology at the University of Manitoba in Canada, says his review of the literature showed that studies of the efficacy of prayer have come up with mixed results.
But “meta-analysis” – where results are aggregated – shows no measurable effect, he states.
Does this mean prayer doesn’t work?
No, he says, because, in addition to the problem of determining what to measure, there are many factors that confuse the issue – factors that don’t necessarily lend themselves to scientific analysis. For example:
-- Does the fervency of the prayer matter? If so, how do you measure it?
-- Does the number of people praying for a sick person make a difference?
-- What about the worthiness of the “recipient” of the prayers? And what role does divine forgiveness play?
-- Should you take into account the seriousness of the illness?
-- Does the professed religion of the people involved, or absence of religion, influence the outcome?
-- Is it possible to have a true control group, given that people are always praying for other people, and the grace of God is constant and limitless?
In his presentation, Dr. Quddusi quoted a number of passages from the Baha’i writings indicating that prayer is essential but also that the effects of prayer are not always obvious.
Baha’i teachings about prayer
He said the Baha’i writings include the following: “Worship thou God in such wise that if thy worship lead thee to the fire, no alteration in thine adoration would be produced, and so likewise if thy recompense should be paradise.”
Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith who is considered by His followers to be a Messenger of God, instructs people to resort to “competent physicians” in times of sickness, but He also reveals prayers containing supplications for healing.
Some of the prayers for healing were described in the following way by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, the son of Baha’u’llah and appointed interpreter of His teachings: “The prayers which were revealed to ask for healing apply both to physical and spiritual healing. Recite them, then, to heal both the soul and the body. If healing is right for the patient, it will certainly be granted; but for some ailing persons, healing would only be the cause of other ills, and therefore wisdom doth not permit an affirmative answer to the prayer.”
Dr. Quddusi also read this quotation from ‘Abdu’l-Baha: “Ask whatsoever thou wishest of Him alone…. With a look He granteth a hundred thousand hopes, with a glance He healeth a hundred thousand incurable ills, with a nod He layeth balm on every wound.”
‘Abdu’l-Baha talks specifically about prayer and healing in this passage read by Dr. Quddusi: “Disease is of two kinds: material and spiritual. Take for instance, a cut hand; if you pray for the cut to be healed and do not stop its bleeding, you will not do much good; a material remedy is needed.”
And more: “Illness caused by physical accident should be treated with medical remedies; those which are due to spiritual causes disappear through spiritual means…. Both kinds of remedies should be considered. Moreover, they are not contradictory, and thou shouldst accept the physical remedies as coming from the mercy and favor of God, who hath revealed and made manifest medical science so that His servants may profit from this kind of treatment also. Thou shouldst give equal attention to spiritual treatments, for they produce marvelous effects.”
In another quotation read by Dr. Quddusi, ‘Abdu’l-Baha describes specifically how a prayer for the sick might work:
“(Spiritual healing) results from the entire concentration of the mind of a strong person upon a sick person, when the latter expects with all his concentrated faith that a cure will be effected from the spiritual power of the strong person, to such an extent that there will be a cordial connection between the strong person and the invalid. The strong person makes every effort to cure the sick patient, and the sick patient is then sure of receiving a cure….
“But all this has effect only to a certain extent, and that not always. For if someone is afflicted with a very violent disease, or is wounded, these means will not remove the disease nor close and heal the wound.”
Scientific research
Dr. Quddusi said he would be eager to see a study based on the description from ‘Abdu’l-Baha about how prayer can work. But the doctor pointed out that even in the unlikely event one could design an appropriate experiment (“How do you find someone who is ‘spiritually strong’?” he asked), it would be difficult to prove anything, given that ‘Abdu’l-Baha himself said the prayers would have an effect “only to a certain extent, and that not always.”
So far, Dr. Quddusi said, scientific research on the efficacy of prayers for healing has been in situations completely different from that described by ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
For example, in some studies, patients in a specific coronary care unit in the United States were assessed for how well they fared after heart surgery. In each study, half the patients were randomly selected to have a person or persons unknown to them say prayers for their recovery. The patients were not told if they were among those being prayed for.
Dr. Quddusi said that in general, no measurable effects of prayer were found, a result he does not find surprising given the circumstances.
In fact, at one point in his presentation, he posed the question of whether God would turn away from His intended purpose because of a human’s expressing their desires.
He quoted from a study by Dr. Edward C. Halperin, a researcher at Duke University: “One would have difficulty accepting the concept of a God who preferentially heals people who, in a clinical trial, are selected to be prayed for by strangers rather than healing those randomly assigned to receive no prayer. God should not be conceived of as so capricious.”
And from a study by L. Roberts et al: “An omnipotent God may be noncompliant with the limitations of a randomized controlled trial, (resulting in) contamination of both control and intervention group….”
Dr. Quddusi also posed whether intercessory prayers were a form of “testing God,” and quoted from the Bible: “It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”; Luke 4:12. (Earlier in the presentation, he had quoted another verse: “Ask and ye shall receive”; John 16:24.)
In his talk, he even offered two quotations from scientists about whether prayers for healing could be harmful:
-- “Religious people who become upset by the belief that God has abandoned them or who become dependent on their faith, rather than their medical treatment, for recovery may inadvertently subvert the success of their recovery.” – Lynda Powell et al, in American Psychologist.
--  “Are the prayers reaching a Higher Power that might, upon having Its attention called to a nonbeliever, actually respond to the request unfavorably?” – Dr. Julie Goldstein.
Dr. Quddusi concluded his presentation by stating that he did not believe scientific research into the efficacy of prayer was blasphemous, as some people have suggested.
But he acknowledged later that he was doubtful that science will ever be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of prayer in promoting healing.
Does that matter?
“No, I guess not,” he admits. “But it would be cool to prove it.”",SAN DIEGO,,United States
657,2008-10-03,[],Iran’s new school year again excludes Baha’is,"NEW YORK, United States — As the new academic year got under way, young Baha'is in Iran again found the door to higher education closed.
Although in its public stance the Iranian government maintains that Baha'is are free to attend university, reports over the past few weeks indicate that the policy of preventing Baha'is from obtaining higher education remains in effect.
Baha'i students attempting to gain admittance to universities and other institutions this fall found that their entrance examination results were frozen and their files listed as “incomplete” on the Web site of the national testing organization.
Baha’is who had successfully enrolled in universities in previous years continue to be expelled.
And those who have sought redress through the courts have been disappointed, their cases rejected.
“As has been the case for the last four years, the Iranian government continues to use a series of devious ploys to prevent young Iranian Baha’is from receiving higher education,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.
“The effect of the government’s policies is to close the doors of universities to Baha’is, despite Iran’s supposed commitment to international laws upholding the right to education.
“Our plea to the international community, and especially to professors, administrators and students everywhere, is that they raise their voices on behalf of Iranian Baha’i students,” said Ms. Dugal.
According to reports from Iran, the principal method this year by which authorities are preventing Baha’is from enrolling in university is by blocking their examination results and declaring their files “incomplete.”
The tactic was used last year, too, but this year it became evident that many of the Baha’i students had been identified earlier in the application process. When they tried to log on to the national university examination Web site, rather than seeing their exam results, they got a Web page with the words “Error – incomplete file.” (See screen shot in Persian, and English translation.)
The Web page to which they were automatically directed had a URL (Internet address) ending with the words “error_bah” – an apparent reference to the fact that their files were declared in “error” because they were Baha’is. (The complete address was http://82.99.202.139/karsarasari/87/index.php?msg=error_bah)
The error message is displayed despite the fact that Baha’i students had dutifully filled out all required information and successfully sat for the examination.
Last year, for the 2007-2008 academic year, of the more than 1,000 Baha’i students who sat for and satisfactorily completed the entrance examination, nearly 800 were excluded because of ""incomplete files.""
Without complete files, enrollment in all public and most private universities in Iran is impossible.
Students who have contested the fact that their files were improperly listed as incomplete have so far met a deaf ear in Iranian courts.
In a ruling last April in Branch 1 of the Court of Administrative Justice, a Baha’i student who filed a grievance against the national Education Measurement and Evaluation Organization (EMEO) had his case dismissed.
“In light of the fact that the (EMEO) does not recognize the plaintiff as having fulfilled the requirements, the plaintiff’s case has no merit and is thus dismissed,” the court ruled. (See court document in Persian, and English translation.)
The same court rejected the claim of another Baha’i university student who had been expelled because of his religious belief and had approached the court seeking readmission.
In rejecting that case, the court made a reference to the 1991 Golpaygani memorandum which outlines a broad plan to block the “progress and development” of the entire Iranian Baha’i community, including by expelling Baha’i university students.
The court wrote, “Considering that the plaintiff meets the criteria as defined by the (1991 Golgaypani memorandum) ratified by the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution and is thus considered to have failed and has no valid argument to prove that there has been a violation of the guidelines in order to justify his claim, his grievance is not recognized.” (See court document in Persian, and English translation.)
Recent reports also indicate that Baha’is who are enrolled in universities – and there are now very few such Baha’is – continue to be expelled as their religious beliefs become known.
In August, for example, a student at Fazilat University was just three weeks from graduation when she was brought before authorities; when she refused to recant her faith, she was dismissed from the university.
Despite a record of deceitful dealings by the government, there is increasing evidence of support for Bahá'í students by many Iranians, both inside and outside of Iran.
Notable among them was an article by Ahmad Batebi, a prominent human rights activist now in exile. That article, “The Bahá’ís and Higher Education in Iran,” published 2 September 2008 in Rooz Online, protests the denial to Bahá’ís of access to higher education and the persecution of the Bahá’ís of Iran generally. (See article in English and Persian.)",NEW YORK,,United States
658,2008-10-13,[],"Blog Action Day creates unity for social action, says organizer","SYDNEY, Australia — Bloggers everywhere – including people who write some of the most subscribed-to blogs in the world – will discuss the subject of poverty during the second annual Blog Action Day, set for 15 October.
So far more than 8,000 bloggers with an estimated 10 million readers have committed to the project, and – if last year’s Blog Action Day is an indication – the numbers could increase significantly by the end of the designated day. TechCrunch, LifeHacker, ReadWriteWeb, and ProBlogger are among the well-known blogs that have signed on.
One of the main organizers, Collis Ta’eed, says the concept of Blog Action Day fits well with his Baha’i beliefs and his understanding of Baha’i teachings about social action.
“Our idea is to give bloggers a platform and enable them to take a day out of their schedule to do something socially positive,” said Mr. Ta’eed, an Australian who works internationally as a professional Web designer.
“It puts Baha’i principles into action in the sense that people should get outside themselves and do something for the greater community,” he continued. “The Baha’i Faith puts a big responsibility on the individual to take action.”
The Internet in general, and blogging specifically, offer a unique way of communicating, and Blog Action Day plugs into that, said Mr. Ta’eed.  Collis and Cyan Ta’eed are two of the principal organizers of Blog Action Day. ‘Our idea is to give bloggers a platform and enable them to take a day out of their schedule to do something socially positive,’ Mr. Ta’eed said.One quarter of the world’s top 100 blogs (as listed by Technorati) have signed up to participate, he said.
The idea of Blog Action Day is for blog publishers to view a critical social issue from their own perspective, and do it all at once, in effect generating a multi-faceted global discussion on a specific topic.
“If your blog normally deals with finance, then you would discuss poverty from that angle,” Mr. Ta’eed said. “If your blog normally deals with technology, you would discuss it from that angle.”
He said that bloggers wanting to support the project can go to www.blogactionday.org and register, and anyone can check the same Web site for other avenues of participation, including calling in to a 12-hour radio talk-a-thon on BlogTalkRadio.
The event is not-for-profit, and there are no fees. Persons wanting to make a monetary contribution – and one of the suggestions to bloggers is to donate the day’s income – should do so to a charity of their choice or to an official Blog Action Day charity listed on the Web site, Mr. Ta’eed said.
Leo Babauta, author of the hugely popular ZenHabits blog and another of the organizers of Blog Action Day, said the project brings together thousands of conversations happening on different blogs.
“It forms a huge conversation about one important topic, and in changing the conversation, we change people’s thinking and their actions,” said Mr. Babauta, who is not a Baha’i.
He said he always hopes that his blogging work will engage people in dialogue and change lives “at least a little.” Blog Action Day is the “ultimate extension of that hope,” he said.
“When Collis (Ta’eed) asked me to help him start it up in 2007, I jumped at the opportunity,” he said. “This is what blogging should be.”
Last year’s Blog Action Day focused on the subject of the environment. More than 20,000 bloggers participated, offering input from thousands of unique perspectives, Mr. Ta’eed said. The project keys into the “unity in diversity” often discussed by Baha’is, he noted.
A passage from the Baha’i writings also helped guide him, he said.
“The quotation says the ‘honor and distinction of the individual’ consists of him being a source of social good,” Mr. Ta’eed said.
The idea of Blog Action day is “to empower all the thousands of bloggers to do just that,” he said.",SYDNEY,,Australia
659,2008-10-17,[],Baha'is to mark Birth of the Bab,"HAIFA, Israel — Baha'is around the world will observe a holy day - the Birth of the Bab - on 20 October.
One of nine holy days on which Baha'is suspend work, the date marks the anniversary of the birth - in 1819 in Shiraz, Iran - of Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad, known to history as the Bab.
In 1844, the Bab announced that He was the Promised One foretold in the great religions and that His mission was to alert people to the imminent coming of an even greater Divine Messenger, namely Baha'u'llah. Baha'is consider both the Bab and Baha'u'llah to be Messengers of God.
The Bab, who was a descendent of the prophet Muhammad through both His father and mother, attracted tens of thousands of followers in His native land. In 1850, by order of the government, He was executed in the public square of Tabriz, in northern Iran.
His remains were later brought to Haifa and entombed on Mount Carmel. His shrine, with its golden dome, is the most famous landmark of Haifa.
There is no prescribed ceremony or service for celebrating the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab. Baha'is often plan devotional meetings or musical programs and gather for activities and fellowship.",HAIFA,,Israel
660,2008-10-22,"[657, 650, 648]",UN report cites Iranian government’s violations against Baha’is,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his concern over human rights violations in Iran against Baha'is, other minorities, women and juveniles.
In a 20-page document released on Monday, Mr. Ban responded to a request from the General Assembly last December for a “comprehensive report” on the human rights situation in Iran.
While noting some positive achievements, Mr. Ban stated that although Iran’s constitution guarantees a wide range of fundamental freedoms, “in practice there are a number of serious impediments to the full protection of human rights.”
His report expressed concern about the use of torture, a “high incidence of executions,” and “an increase in rights violations targeting women, university students, teachers, workers and other activist groups.”
The report devoted nearly a full page to the situation of Iran’s 300,000-member Baha’i community, which is that country’s largest religious minority. The report points out that Article 14 of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran stipulates “protection for non-Muslims.”
Yet, “reports continue to be received about members of the Baha’i community being subjected to arbitrary detention, false imprisonment, confiscation and destruction of property, denial of employment and government benefits, and denial of access to higher education,” Mr. Ban’s report said.
“A significant increase has been reported in violence targeting Baha’is and their homes, shops, farms and cemeteries throughout the country. There have also been several cases involving torture or ill-treatment in custody.”
Mr. Ban expressed concern over the harassment of Baha'i schoolchildren and the arrest of seven Baha'i leaders earlier this year.
“While the secretary general’s report recognizes some advances that Iran may have made, it points out that the government of that country has committed many clear and egregious violations of human rights against Baha'is and others,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
“It is important to note that the report comes directly from a request last year by the General Assembly in its resolution on Iran, demonstrating once again the critical role of the international community in bringing human rights violations to light,” Ms. Dugal said.
“We hope that the General Assembly will pass a resolution again this year to put pressure on Iran to meet its commitments to international standards,” she said.
To read the full report: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/63/459",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
661,2008-10-24,"[657, 632]",Iranian report confirms innocence of Shiraz Baha'is,"NEW YORK, United States — An Iranian inspector who examined the 2006 arrests of a group of young Baha’is in Shiraz, Iran, filed a confidential report dated June 2008 confirming what Baha’is have said all along: that their activities were strictly humanitarian in nature and did not involve the “illegal” teaching of the Baha’i Faith.
The report – signed  by Vali Rustami, inspector and legal advisor of the Office of the Representative of the Supreme Leader for the province of Fars – was  published by the Human Rights Activists of Iran on 23 October. The report was addressed to the representative of the Supreme Leader in the province and states that it was done at his request.
Three of the 54 Baha’is who were arrested were later sentenced to four-year prison terms and are still incarcerated in Shiraz.
The report states that not only was there no mention of religion in their activities, but that youths who attended the classes told him they wanted to continue. “They stated ‘We … truthfully learned a lot from this group and would like them to come back to us again,’” the investigator said in his report.
A Baha’i spokeswoman said the report underscores the injustice perpetrated against the Baha’is.
“It is a manifest injustice that the young Baha’is of Shiraz continue to remain in prison when even an internal investigation has essentially proved their innocence, even under the twisted terms that define criminality in Iran,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations. “The government’s lies are indefensible,” she added.
The arrests in May 2006 garnered international news media attention and prompted expressions of concern by many governments.  This report dated 16 June 2008 says that three young Baha'is who are still in prison in Shiraz were involved only in nonreligious educational activities. They were convicted of engaging in subversive anti-government ""propaganda.""The group, composed of 54 young Baha’is and a number of Muslim friends, had been engaged since 2004 in a series of humanitarian projects to promote literacy and moral empowerment among underprivileged youth in and around Shiraz, mostly through small-group classes organized on Friday mornings in poor neighborhoods.
Members of the group were rounded up by government agents on 19 May 2006. While their Muslim colleagues and one Baha’i among them were released immediately, 53 Baha’is were held for periods ranging from several days to more than a month.
Then, in mid 2007, they were convicted on spurious charges, apparently relating to accusations that they had been engaged in the “indirect teaching” of the Baha’i Faith, considered illegal in Iran despite international laws upholding freedom of religion. Later, in January 2008, while speaking to journalists about the imprisonment of three of the group, a government spokesman said they had been engaged in anti-government ""propaganda.”
However, the confidential report, issued 16 June 2008 and addressed to the “representative of the Supreme Leader in the province (of Fars) and the Imam Jum’ih of Shiraz,” states that all of those interviewed for his investigation indicated there was no mention of the Baha’i Faith during the classes – essentially contradicting the government’s claim.
The investigator states, for example, that he interviewed local young people who participated in classes led by the Baha’is, as well as a retired police colonel, and all stated that the classes were strictly educational in nature.
“‘From the beginning of their activities…, these individuals held these charitable, humanitarian classes once a week, helping junior youth and youth,’” the report says, quoting a retired police colonel by the name of Jeddi. “‘The activities of these classes were writing, drawing, and teaching hygiene and moral values, and there was no mention of religious or political matters. There was never any mention or any statement regarding Bahaism.’”
Inspector Rustami also said he interviewed eight of the young people who participated in the classes. “They stated that this group had been involved in activities such as teaching moral education, drawing, calligraphy, social skills, and that there had been no discussion concerning politics, or discussions which were against religious, legal and cultural standards.”
The three Baha’is in prison are Haleh Rouhi, Raha Sabet, and Sasan Taqva. Last January, Amnesty International issued an action alert on their behalf, suggesting they were prisoners of conscience, held solely for their religious beliefs.
Ms. Dugal said the arrests and imprisonment of the Baha’is have always been wrongful, since in any event international law protects the right to “teach” one’s religion.
“However, in this case, no such ‘teaching’ was done,” she said. “The Baha’is and their Muslim colleagues were solely engaged in a humanitarian effort to serve poor children and young people in their region through free classes in literacy, hygiene, and the promotion of good moral values.
“For this effort, three Baha’is are being held in prison, which, in light of this new report, has become a matter of unconscionable cruelty, One of the individuals imprisoned went for a time without proper medical treatment for an injury to his leg, suffered after an automobile accident.
“Our hope now is that with the public release of this report, the Iranian government will release the three and exonerate them and the other 50 people.”
“Further,” said Ms. Dugal, “we would expect the Iranian government to end its long-running campaign to blacken the name of Iranian Baha’is through similar false charges – and to release others that have been similarly accused, such as the seven Baha’i leaders currently being held in Evin prison.”
(To visit the Web site of Human Rights Activists of Iran, which has the original document in Persian, go to: http://hrairan.org/Archive_87/1135.html)
Editor's note: Details were added to the second paragraph of this article on 26 October 2008 to reflect more fully the identifying information on the inspector's report.",NEW YORK,,United States
662,2008-10-26,[],Baha’is observe International Day for Eradication of Poverty,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Asked to open a United Nations meeting on poverty, Kevin Locke recited an “eagle” prayer in his native Lakota Sioux dialect.
“The eagle is a symbol of the ascendant nature of the human spirit, of the innate capacity of the human spirit to rise to nobility,” explained Mr. Locke at a UN roundtable to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The event was held 17 October.
“The eagle is compelled to fly upward,” he said. “The eagle sees the light of the new day and in its joy calls out, ‘I am the first to fly with the new day.’”
And then, referring to global efforts to eliminate poverty, Mr. Locke said, “We are all striving to escape the darkness.”
His contribution to the UN roundtable was one of a number of efforts that Baha’is around the world undertook in support of the poverty-awareness day, established by the UN in 1993.
-- In Uganda, the Baha’i community organized two events, a press conference to present a statement on poverty eradication and a special service at the Baha’i House of Worship in Kampala. Also, a Baha’i representative participated in a nationally televised program about poverty.
-- In Australia, Baha’is co-sponsored a panel discussion titled “Eradicating Poverty: Educating Girls.” Representatives from government and academia offered comments, as did two young girls aged 7 and 11. UNIFEM Australia (the UN Fund for Women) was co-sponsor of the event, which was also supported by AusAID, the Australian government’s aid agency.
-- In Germany, a “poverty tool kit” was created for use by local Baha’i communities in observing the day. The kit contained a PowerPoint presentation, documents offering Baha’i perspectives on poverty eradication, and selections from the Baha’i holy writings on the importance of eliminating extremes of wealth and poverty.
-- In Argentina, Baha’is in Buenos Aires planned an extensive program featuring devotions, a talk on “the spiritual solution to the economic problems,” and several artistic presentations, including a play about two young people from different social and economic backgrounds.
Other events featuring Baha’i participation were planned in El Salvador, Kenya, Mauritius, and the United States.
Mr. Locke, a Baha’i who is well-known as a Native American flutist and hoop dancer, was invited by the Baha’i International Community to the UN roundtable in part because he is from the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota, one of the poorest areas of the United States.
Tahirih Naylor, a representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, also addressed the roundtable, which was titled “Turning rhetoric into action -- building effective partnership to combat poverty and exclusion.” The event brought together more than two dozen government representatives, UN officials, activists, and representatives of nongovernmental organizations.
Ms. Naylor spoke as chair of the NGO Committee for Social Development, stressing the importance of bringing new voices into the discussion on how to end poverty.
“We have to see this as a learning process,” she said. “Some say we already know all this…. But to really engage in looking at what true participation is, we have to listen and to have an attitude of learning as we approach the development of these programs and policies.”
Baha’i communities around the world in recent years have instituted both short- and long-term development projects, ranging from grassroots activities in villages to integrated agencies serving a wide range of needs in a given region.
“(Poverty Eradication) Day is an opportunity to recognize existing efforts, renew commitments, and set new goals,” said Ms. Naylor. “Baha’i communities around the world seek to contribute their perspectives and lessons learned in their work at the local and national levels towards this aim in their commemorations.”",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
663,2008-10-30,[],UN convenes Global Forum of faith groups,"ISTANBUL, Turkey — The Baha’i International Community was among the religious groups and nongovernmental organizations that participated in a two-day Global Forum of Faith-based Organizations, convened by the United Nations Population Fund.
The gathering, held in Istanbul on 20-21 October, addressed population and development issues related to HIV-AIDS, reproductive health, gender equality, and violence against women.
Fulya Vekiloglu, who specializes in women’s issues and serves as a representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, attended.
In an intervention during a panel discussion on “Violence against Women and Women’s Empowerment,” she stressed the need for attitude change and how faith-based organizations have a unique role in this regard. She also read a short Bahá'í prayer at the closing ceremony of the Global Forum.",ISTANBUL,,Turkey
664,2008-11-02,[],Ugandan project doesn’t stop at literacy,"NEBBI DISTRICT, WEST NILE REGION, Uganda — Being literate means being able to read useful information – that's why the first unit in the UPLIFT literacy program tells how to treat malaria.
Later units deal with farming methods, nutrition, hygiene and safety, making compost, environmental challenges, and so on.
""When I compare my condition and that of my friends who have not attended UPLIFT courses, I can see a big difference,"" says villager Alisa Poli, speaking in Alur, the main language in this part of Uganda.
Earlier this year – at the age of 63 – she began the UPLIFT program and already can read.
The “T” in UPLIFT stands for transformation, a concept at the heart of the program, says program director Hizzaya Hissani. The full name of the initiative is the Uganda Program of Literacy for Transformation.
“UPLIFT uses literacy as a vehicle for social and economic transformation,” explains Dr. Hissani, who with five fellow Baha’is began the program in 2001.
Since that time, more than 6,700 local residents have completed the literacy training, and – with new support from the Norwegian and Ugandan governments – UPLIFT has committed to training 4,000 more people by the end of 2009.
What participants learn
Those who have been through the course – UPLIFT uses the term “learners” – tend to talk about its holistic nature rather than the isolated skill of reading.
“My attitude about things has changed a lot,” says Kulastika Okwong, a 61-year-old mother of seven who has completed the UPLIFT training. “I was really ignorant. I didn’t know how to treat malaria, and I didn’t know how to make compost…. We lived day-to-day. We ate all the food I produced, and we had no savings.”
Mrs. Okwong, whose husband is one of 10 field coordinators for UPLIFT, says she used to feel like a “dependent” person; since going through the training she feels more independent.
“I used to go to witch doctors when someone was sick, but now I try medicine made of neem leaves. If that doesn’t work, we go to the health center,” she says. “I used to think that school meetings were a waste of time, but now I see they are important. Reading books is important, too.”
For the past year she has worked as a community health assistant, appointed by the government. She is one of about 10 former UPLIFT participants who have been asked to do this type of work.
“If it was not for UPLIFT, I wouldn’t have been appointed,” she says.  Hizzaya Hissani, UPLIFT program director, uses a bicycle to travel from village to village to monitor the program and consult with participants.Mrs. Okwong and her family live in Ogido, one of 73 villages in the Nebbi District where UPLIFT is active.
The Nebbi District – population 500,000 – is one of the poorest areas of Uganda, located in the northwest section of the country, far from the capital of Kampala and the international airport at Entebbe. Subsistence agriculture and fishing form the basis of the local economy.
The district is divided into 19 subcounties, and UPLIFT is active in 11 of them.
Dr. Hissani, who is originally from neighboring Kenya, first visited the West Nile region of Uganda in 1999.
“I was shocked to find that 12 people had recently died of malaria,” he recounts. “On further investigation, I found that these people were illiterate and that there was gross land mismanagement in their farming operations.”
He consulted with several Baha’i friends in Uganda who worked in development and they came up with the idea of the UPLIFT program.
How the program works
Dr. Hissani, who has a doctorate in the field of functional literacy, worked out a curriculum that speeds literacy by having students learn certain key words, then break them down into syllables and use those syllables to form new words.
Learning to read with texts that discuss malaria and farming methods – subjects of immediate importance to the lives of the participants – helps motivate the students and makes the program more useful to them.
“The approach is to look at the needs of the community as a whole and to relate the content of the program to the lives of the learners,” Dr. Hissani said.
Each class is led by a trained mentor, who in turn reports to a coordinator. UPLIFT currently has about 100 active mentors, all volunteers, and 10 coordinators who receive small salaries. The program used to average about 45 people to a class, but with the expansion made possible by a grant from the Norwegian government, and in-kind support from the Ugandan government, the classes now average around 70 people.
Learners attend class – often in the open air, often sitting on mats – twice a week for a year (except during harvest season). The experience of UPLIFT has been that about 90 percent of the participants become functionally literate with the year.
So far the program has operated in the Alur language, but Dr. Hissani says they have begun field-testing an English version. English and Swahili are the official languages of Uganda but many other languages are spoken locally.
One key element of the program has turned out to be the response from women in the Nebbi District – so far more than 80 percent of UPLIFT participants have been female.
(Mrs. Okwong points out that as a child, her brothers were sent to school but she was obligated to stay home and cook and do domestic work. She says she always was looking for the opportunity to learn to read and write.)
Another key to the success of the program is the acceptance of people from different faiths – not just Baha’is but Christians, Muslims and others are among the mentors and the learners. One of the activities now associated with UPLIFT is interfaith devotional programs where participants read passages from different faith traditions.
Results
Opio Hannington, a local official in the Panyango subcounty in the Nebbi District, said his office has been working with UPLIFT for four years and that he is highly encouraged by results.
“UPLIFT has created a sense of unity, awareness to demand services, and cooperation,” he said. “It has brought collaboration … and understanding.”
Hassan Ringtho, chairperson of the local government in Paidha subcounty, said UPLIFT has been particularly effective with older people.
“Before, old people thought that they could not learn,” he said, “But now they believe they can learn…. Now they feel they have the ability to change their way of life.”
He stressed the point that attitudes can change.
“If one used to spend the whole day drinking, and now he drinks for only one hour, hasn’t the attitude changed?” he asked. “People follow models and examples. UPLIFT officials are the models and examples.”
Alfred Okwai, one of the UPLIFT coordinators, said the program specifically tries to train mentors to be role models to the community.
“Most of our mentors are positively different from others who did not attend the course,” he noted.
Mrs. Poli, the 63-year-old who recently learned to read through the UPLIFT program, recounts many ways her life has changed.
“Before, I could not bother with cleanliness at home,” she says. “Now, after realizing that hygiene is the basis for health, I have built a pit latrine, a kitchen, a drying rack, even an animal shelter.”
She says she also has joined a small “savings group” initiated by some UPLIFT learners so that she could begin saving money.",NEBBI DISTRICT,WEST NILE REGION,Uganda
665,2008-11-04,[],Zambia gathering is first in series of 41 conferences,"LUSAKA, Zambia — Some 750 Baha’is from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe gathered in Lusaka last weekend for the first of 41 regional Baha’i conferences scheduled over the next four months in cities around the globe.
The unprecedented series of gatherings comes at the midway point of a five-year effort by Baha’is to decentralize many of their activities and organize study circles, devotional meetings, and classes for children and young people at the neighborhood level.
“I feel that the conference was exactly what we needed to inspire, encourage and boost our spirit…,” said Musonda Kapusa of Lusaka.
Participants came from all nine provinces of Zambia and from neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe. Five traditional African chiefs, all Baha’is and supporters of the Baha’i work in their areas, were among those who attended.
The 41 conferences – in cities from Abidjan to Yaounde, reaching geographically from Vancouver to Sao Paulo to London to Johannesburg to Ulaanbaatar to Auckland – are being held in response to a call by the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that heads the Baha’i Faith.  Sehla Masunda, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Zimbabwe, was one of 80 Baha’is from her country to attend the conference in Lusaka.In a letter to the Baha’is of the world announcing the conferences, the House of Justice indicated that the purpose of the gatherings was to celebrate achievements in grassroots community-building, and to discuss the lessons learned and deliberate on how to involve more people in a particular approach to improving the societies they live in – an approach that combines spiritual development with community service.
Efforts by Baha’is at the neighborhood level should continue, “no matter how severe the crises engulfing the world around them,” the House of Justice said in its letter.
“Financial structures once thought to be impregnable have tottered and world leaders have shown their inability to devise more than temporary solutions, a failing to which they increasingly confess,” the letter said. “Whatever expedient measures are adopted, confidence has been shaken and a sense of security lost.”
The long-held Baha’i belief that material and spiritual civilization must advance together, undoubtedly has been reinforced by the world situation, the letter said.
People at the conference in Lusaka – 550 from Zambia, 80 from Zimbabwe, and 120 from Malawi – heard a special message addressed to them from the Universal House of Justice and also consulted on the earlier letter, dated 20 October and already translated into some of the languages of the attendees – Tonga, Lunda, Bemba, Chewa, and Shona.
The focus of the gathering then shifted to planning for upcoming activities, as “men, women and even the children pondered and made heartfelt pledges to serve their neighbors and friends, and work together to improve their communities purely for the love of God,” said a news release from the Baha’is of Zambia.
“Everyone is worried about what to do because the world is changing for the worse, but the answer is in the teachings of God if only we can apply them to our daily lives,” one participant said.
Among those attending the Lusaka conference were four counselors, individuals with special responsibilities in the Baha’i community: two from southern Africa, Maina Mkandawire of Malawi and Garth Pollock of Zambia, and two who attended as representatives of the Universal House of Justice, Uransaikhan Baatar of Mongolia and Stephen Birkland of the United States, both of whom currently serve at the Baha’i World Center.
Nearly a dozen choirs from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe were on hand to provide music and add to the spirit of the gathering.
“It was such a big and wonderful gathering,” said Heighten Ngangula of Zambia. ""I never attended (anything like this) since I became a Baha’i.”",LUSAKA,,Zambia
666,2008-11-07,[],Photograph collection posted to Web site,"HAIFA, Israel — A collection of 500 photographs of Baha’i activities around the world is now available for viewing and downloading on the official Baha’i Web site.
The link to the specific Web section, titled “Attaining the dynamics of growth: Images from five continents,” is www.bahai.org/attaining/.
The photographs, commissioned by the Baha’i World Centre, were among thousands done as part of a project leading up to the International Baha’i Convention, held last spring in Haifa. Delegates from almost every country in the world participated in the convention, making it a showcase for the diversity of the human family.
The images show Baha’is in their home communities participating in the core activities of study circles, children’s classes, junior youth activities, and devotional gatherings. A separate section is devoted to social and economic development.  Mulanje, MalawiThe photographs are of Baha’is and their friends in cities, towns, and villages in 18 different countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Malaysia, Malawi, Mongolia, Nepal, Panama, Sarawak, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Zambia.",HAIFA,,Israel
667,2008-11-11,[],Baha’is mark the Birth of Baha’u’llah,"SEOUL, South Korea —  The Baha’i center in Seoul was the site of a special program – one of thousands around the world – marking the 191st anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, which occurred on 12 November 1817 in Tehran, Iran.
The anniversary is one of nine holy days during the year on which Baha’is suspend work.
Activities were planned in cities, towns, and villages around the globe, including at Baha’i Houses of Worship, at national and local Baha’i centers, at public facilities, and in private homes.
In Seoul, Baha’is treated their guests to dinner, music, readings, and a special presentation for the holy day.  In Seoul, music, food, and a special presentation were part of the holy day commemoration.Considered by His followers to be a Manifestation of God in a line of divine teachers that includes Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Krishna, Buddha and others, Baha’u’llah attracted thousands of followers before His passing in 1892, in Acre in what is now Israel.
Today the Baha’i Faith is established in virtually every country and has about 5 million adherents.",SEOUL,,South Korea
668,2008-11-11,[665],Big turnout for regional Baha’i conferences,"JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — More than a thousand Baha’is from nearly a dozen countries came together for a regional conference that turned out to be the largest Baha’i gathering ever held in South Africa.
A simultaneous conference this past weekend in Nakuru, Kenya, also drew more than a thousand participants.
After only the second weekend of a four-month series of 41 conferences to be held around the world, organizers are finding that interest in the gatherings is so high that they are having to regroup and adjust plans to accommodate larger numbers of people.
In Johannesburg, planners originally estimated that about 500 people would come, according to a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of South Africa. They revised expectations to 800, but when more than 1,000 people appeared, preparations fell short.
“We have run out of everything – except spirit and commitment,” one of the organizers reported within hours of the start of the conference.  Some 1,200 people came to Nakuru, Kenya, during the second of 18 consecutive weekends of Baha’i regional conferences around the world. Nakuru is one of 41 cities and towns that will host a gathering.The convening of 41 two-day conferences was announced on 20 October in a letter to the Baha’is of the world from the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha’i Faith.
The purpose of the gatherings, the letter said, is for Baha’is to celebrate recent achievements in grassroots community-building and to plan their next steps in organizing core activities in their home areas.
The first of the 41 conferences was convened on 1 November in Lusaka, Zambia, and coming this week are gatherings in Bangalore, India; Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Bangui, Central African Republic.
In Johannesburg, a mere two weeks ago the National Baha’i Assembly announced details of that conference and urged Baha’is from all around southern Africa to come, calling it a “thrilling opportunity to gather together to consult. ...”
People from Angola, Botswana, La Reunion, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, and Swaziland responded.
“The conference is stunning,” one of the organizers reported by noon the first day. “Some of the very veteran Baha’is were tearfully jubilant at the sight of so many friends from so many places. It was encouraging and inspiring from the moment the conference registration opened.”
Well over half the participants at Nakuru were from Kenya, but there also were 200 people from Uganda, 100 from Tanzania, 42 from Ethiopia, four from Mozambique, and three from southern Sudan.
“The spirit of the conference was very high as most participants had never attended any international conference,” said the initial report from the gathering.",JOHANNESBURG,,South Africa
669,2008-11-18,"[668, 665]","Baha’is gather in DRC despite war, other challenges","UVIRA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — A war close at hand and myriad financial and security challenges did not stop nearly 800 people from reaching a historic Baha’i conference in Uvira.
Most of the participants came from the DRC, but 13 were from Burundi and four from Rwanda.
“Although all our belongings were taken from us on the way here, we made it to the conference,” said Francois Njiangani, who lives in the province west of Uvira.
Twenty-one people arrived from North Kivu province – a site of the current unrest. Uvira, in South Kivu province, is roughly 200 kilometers from Goma, the capital of North Kivu.
Mr. Njiangani indicated that the current insecurity did not deter him from his Baha’i activities, saying he would return home and rededicate himself to community-building efforts, which he termed “a way out, a help for the whole of humanity.”
Ngoy Kalonda of North Kivu said being at the conference created hope and motivated her to continue Baha’i activities in her community, too.
A security officer from the Uvira area – previously unfamiliar with Baha’i teachings – appeared at some of the sessions and afterward stated that he thought the conference came exactly “at the right time, in the right place.”  Uvira is only about 200 kilometers south of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province where much of the current unrest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is centered.He said if Baha’is are able to put into practice their teachings of peace and unity – and spread their message on all continents – the world will be transformed.
The conference was one of three held on 15-16 November – the others were in Bangalore, India, and Bangui, Central African Republic – that are part of a series of 41 Baha’i gatherings being held around the world in a four-month span.
The purpose of the conferences is for Baha’is to discuss developments in their core activities at the neighborhood level, and also to make plans for the coming months.
“It almost felt like the heat of the joy and enthusiasm of the participants was competing with the burning heat of the African sun,” said one participant at Uvira, attempting to explain the mood.
The conference was such a beacon of hope that one man walked 300 kilometers from his home in Lulenge province.
Similar stories were reported at the conference in the Central African Republic, where more than 40 people walked between 50 and 100 kilometers – or farther – to reach the gathering, the first Baha’i event of its type ever held in the country. Some 800 people came for the conference, a number which stretched the capacity of the venue. The conference was held in the Parliament building in the capital city – the largest hall that organizers could find to accommodate the expected crowd.
Nearly twice that number – some 1,500 people – attended the conference in Bangalore, which included participants from India as well as Sri Lanka and the Andaman Islands.
Many were excited that the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha’i Faith, had convened the conferences and was sending an individual message to each gathering.
The unprecedented conferences come half-way through a five-year effort by Baha’is to decentralize their activities and organize devotional meetings, study circles, and classes for children and youth at the neighborhood level.
Reports on individual conferences: https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",UVIRA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
670,2008-11-21,[],"UN rejection of Iranian ‘no-action motion’ is victory for human rights, say Baha’is","UNITED NATIONS, United States — The Baha’i International Community praised the United Nations General Assembly for today rejecting a so-called “no-action motion” on human rights in Iran.
Such a motion, if it had passed, would have used procedural rules to set aside a resolution that is sharply critical of the Islamic Republic of Iran over its use of torture, the high incidence of executions, the “violent repression” of women, and “increasing discrimination” against Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Sufis, and Sunni Muslims, among other minorities.
That resolution subsequently passed the Assembly’s Third Committee, by a vote of 70 to 51 with 60 abstentions, in a second vote today. The resolution will now be sent for final approval by the full Assembly in mid-December.
“This motion allowed governments an easy way to evade their responsibility to protect international human rights, and by rejecting it they have cleared the way for a thorough investigation of human rights abuses in Iran,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the BIC to the United Nations.
“The UN General Assembly therefore deserves praise for rejecting the motion, which was sponsored by Iran in an obvious effort to evade international condemnation for its worsening human rights record.
“Our hope is that such no-action motions, which essentially use a procedural ploy to avoid a legitimate discussion of human rights issues, will now become a thing of the past. If so, this represents a victory for the rights of people everywhere,” said Ms. Dugal.
A no-action motion is a procedure that prevents member states at the UN from even debating a particular resolution. It is being increasingly used to allow countries to avoid having to take a position on politically sensitive issues, such as human rights, and so to escape scrutiny, Ms. Dugal said.
“Using procedural motions in this way gives unscrupulous countries the chance to turn a blind eye to the oppressive actions of a member state, all the while pretending that they care about human rights. The international community should no longer stand for this.
“If it had passed, it would have been an affront to those Iranians, particularly inside their homeland, who have so bravely spoken out against the abuses of their government. Increasingly, Iranian lawyers and human rights activists have sought to uphold due process and defend the rights of their fellow citizens, often at considerable risk,” said Ms. Dugal.
Failure of the motion, by a vote of 81 to 71 with 28 abstentions, cleared the way for the Assembly’s Third Committee, which oversees human rights issues, to consider the actual resolution on Iran’s human rights situation. That vote came minutes later.
The resolution was put forward by Canada and, before the vote, had the sponsorship of more than 40 countries. It expresses “deep concern at the ongoing systematic violation of human rights” in Iran, noting especially recent “confirmed instances” of torture, public executions, and the “violent repression” of groups such as “women exercising their right of peaceful assembly.”
The resolution also calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to “address the substantive concerns” on human rights that were highlighted in a recent report by the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Issued in October, Mr. Ban’s report said “there are a number of serious impediments to the full protection of human rights” in Iran. It likewise expressed concerns over torture, executions, the rights of women, and discrimination against minorities. (To read the full report, go to: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/63/459.)
The resolution calls on Iran to “end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views” and to “uphold due process of law rights and to end impunity for human rights violations.”
The resolution takes particular note of attacks on Baha’is, noting “increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Baha’is, preventing members of the Baha’i Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically, and the arrest and detention of seven Baha’i leaders without charge or access to legal representation.”
Ms. Dugal noted that there are at least 20 Baha’is currently in jail, including the national Baha’i leadership of seven members who were arrested last March and May and are being held in Evin prison without charges. More than 100 more have been arrested and released on bail over the last four years as part of a stepped-up government effort at persecution.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
673,2008-11-27,"[669, 668, 665]",Bus crash doesn’t stop travelers from reaching Quito conference,"QUITO, Ecuador — The series of 41 conferences being held in cities around the world continues to be historic for the Baha’i Faith, not only for the number of participants (over 12,000 and counting) but also for people’s determination to overcome obstacles to get to the gatherings.
The first conferences, which were in Africa, brought stories of people traveling a hundred kilometers or more on foot – a reflection of their eagerness to accept an invitation from the Universal House of Justice and meet with representatives of the supreme elected body of their religion. Meeting Baha’is from outside their locality, in some cases for the first time, was also a big motivation.
Conferences this past weekend brought more tales of sacrifice, determination and attempts to resolve travel problems – sometimes unsuccessfully.
Among the most moving stories was that of the indigenous people of the Colombian Guajira, the arid peninsula at the northernmost tip of South America.  Two friends from the Guajira peninsula look relaxed in Quito after weeks of hurried preparations, followed by a three-day bus ride that was interrupted by a serious accident.The minute the Baha’is there received the letter from the Universal House of Justice calling them to a conference in Quito, Ecuador, they organized themselves into committees to see how many people they could help make the trip. Finances were only part of the problem. One of the most important committees was the document committee, charged with the daunting task of helping people get national ID cards, passports, and vaccinations in the space of three short weeks.
One rural youth began raising money by taking on as many odd jobs as he could find. He walked all the way to the nearest city to get his vaccination only to be told to return another day, which he did. But in the end he couldn’t go – he is under-age and crossing the border to Ecuador requires written consent from his father, who lives in Venezuela and couldn’t be reached in time. The young man joyfully contributed his hard-earned cash – the equivalent of about US$8 – to help others make the trip.
On the day of departure, 14 Baha’is from the area had managed to get their documents in order and raised or borrowed the minimum funds for a trip to Ecuador. They boarded buses in their regional capital of Riohacha at 4 p.m. the Tuesday before the conference, giving them the three days they needed to reach Quito.
Thirteen hours out of Riohacha, the bus collided head-on with a truck, killing the driver’s assistant, breaking the leg of one of the Baha’is, and virtually destroying the bus. The passengers were taken to the nearest hospital. Among the Baha’i group, it was determined that the one man who was seriously hurt would have to return home but the others, once they were patched up, could continue on.
Now out of money, which had been spent to deal with the accident, the group proceeded, stopping off in the Cali area to join up with other Baha’is – and try to clean their blood-stained clothes before heading out on the final 18-hour leg of their journey.
In Quito, other stories were not as dramatic but still inspiring. A young woman, age 17, upon learning that she wouldn’t be able to travel without getting an ID document from the government, persevered until she reached the governor of her region. He was so impressed by her diligence and desire to take part in the event that he personally granted her the document.
Conferences this past weekend, in addition to Quito, included New Delhi and Kolkata in India, and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For people traveling from Bangladesh to Kolkata there were severe challenges with documentation. Getting passports rapidly was difficult – the conference was announced on 20 October, leaving barely a month – but current conditions at the border between Bangladesh and India apparently have affected the visa process. About 200 Baha’is in Bangladesh did their best to get the papers they needed, with many of them waiting in line for up to three days at the Indian consulate to apply for a visa. All but 30 were turned away and thus could not go to Kolkata.
Reports on individual conferences: https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",QUITO,,Ecuador
674,2008-11-30,[],UK Foreign Policy Centre challenges Iran on human rights,"LONDON, England — The Foreign Policy Centre, a leading foreign affairs think tank in Britain, has published a new report on Iran titled “A Revolution Without Rights: Women, Kurds and Baha’is Searching for Equality in Iran.”
The report concludes that, although the world is focusing on Iran’s nuclear issue, the rights of women and minorities must not be overlooked.
Published as a pamphlet, the report was presented at a public program at the Houses of Parliament on 25 November, coinciding with United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The document evaluates the Iranian government’s compliance with its own constitution and looks at how the country’s treatment of women and minorities measures up to the international agreements it has signed.
UK Foreign Office Minister Lord Mark Malloch-Brown wrote the preface, describing the report as an “important contribution to the debate, and an important part of ensuring that improving Iran’s human rights record stays firmly on the agenda worldwide.”
“Iran consistently fails to meet the international commitments that it is signed up to,” he wrote. “It ignores its own laws and terms of its own constitution such as arbitrary arrest and the denial of due process. And it is increasingly – and worryingly – using vague, national security-related charges such as ‘acting against state security’ and ‘propaganda against the system’ against individuals who are exercising their right to peaceful protest.”  The Foreign Policy Centre report challenges Iran to fulfill its obligations under international law and its own constitution, said Centre Director Stephen Twigg.The launch of the report was held at Portcullis House in the House of Commons. Among those who addressed the audience were Member of Parliament Mike Gapes, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee; Baroness Haleh Afshar, professor of politics and women’s studies at the University of York; Iranian human rights activist Nazanin Afshin-Jam; Drewery Dyke of Amnesty International; and Kaveh Mussavi, head of Public Interest Law, Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, University of Oxford.
Highlighting particularly the ongoing persecution faced by the Baha’is, Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, Baroness Afshar said, “The treatment of the Baha’is is appalling, unacceptable and – in every way – not only against accepted human rights regulations but the ancient traditions of Iran, a culture that has always been characterized by tolerance.”
The presentation was chaired by former government minister Stephen Twigg, now director of the Foreign Policy Centre.
“This report challenges Iran to fulfill its obligations to its own citizens under international law and its constitution,” said Mr. Twigg. “We must support the tireless work of Iranian human rights activists working to bring change in their own country and make sure their struggle is not overlooked as the international community focuses on the nuclear issue.”
“International pressure really does make a difference in human rights cases,” said Ms. Afshin-Jam, who is president of the Stop Child Executions Campaign.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
675,2008-12-02,"[673, 669, 665]",Baha’i conferences circle the globe,"ANTOFAGASTA, Chile — Baha’i conferences last weekend circled the globe – from Chile to Cameroon to the Philippines.
It was the fifth of 18 consecutive weekends that will see conferences in a total of 41 cities, all having been convened by the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha’i Faith.
In Antofagasta, 600 people from Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, and southern Peru gathered, many of them representing indigenous groups who, as one participant put it, offered “a defiant response to prejudice and raised a flag for unity in diversity.”
In Yaounde, Cameroon, nearly 1,200 participants came from across that country as well as from Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Sao Tome and Principe. Manila hosted more than 1,000 people from the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, and Marshall Islands.  In Manila, some 700 Baha’is from the Philippines were joined for a Baha’i conference by 300 people from at least seven other countries or territories.For reports of the conferences, go to: https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",ANTOFAGASTA,,Chile
676,2008-12-07,"[696, 694, 695]",Baha'is mark 60th anniversary of Human Rights Declaration,"NEW YORK, United States — Many Baha'i communities around the world are observing Human Rights Day this week - which this year has special significance because it marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In New York, the Baha'i International Community will host a one-day seminar on ""Freedom of Religion or Belief: Perspectives and Challenges after Sixty Years of United Nations Protection.""
The seminar, on 8 December, will entail two panel discussions featuring, among others: Felice Gaer of the Jacob Blaustein Institute who serves on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; Azza Karam of the United Nations Population Fund; Cole Durham of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University; and Malcolm Evans of the University of Bristol School of Law.
""Human Rights Day is especially significant this year because human rights seem to be under attack from many directions,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, who will also speak at the event in New York. ""This year, given that it is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights' 60th anniversary, it is all the more important, as that document sets the strongest normative standards for freedom of religion or belief.""
Around the world
A number of Baha'i communities at both the national and local levels have planned events for Human Rights Day, commemorated each year on 10 December. Following are some examples:
In Canada, Baha'is are sponsoring or co-sponsoring at least 10 events, including a two-day ""Human Rights Global Dignity Conference"" in Victoria, British Columbia, held 6-7 December.
A number of events with Baha'i participation are taking place at various Canadian universities, including McGill in Montreal, and, in British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia.
Local observances will be held in Chilliwack, Abbottsford, Colwood, Maple Ridge, and Langley in British Columbia, and in Richmond Hill and Okaville in Ontario.
""We have been encouraging our Local Assemblies to hold events,"" said Gerald Filson, a spokesman for the Baha'i Community of Canada.
In Brazil, Baha'is will participate in the XI National Human Rights Conference in Brasilia on 15-18 December. About 1,500 people are expected to attend, among them elected delegates from the 27 Brazilian states, guests and observers.
The Baha'i Community of Brazil has prepared a new edition of the ""Human Rights Pathway,"" an exhibition of 30 posters - representing the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - designed to line a corridor where people can pass through to view. The new edition of the ""Pathway"" was printed using language and drawings produced by middle school students from Guara, a city in the outskirts of Brasilia, and with partial financial support of the Organization of Ibero-American States.
In the United Kingdom, the Baha'is community produced two pamphlets for distribution in schools and universities that connect the persecution of Baha'i university students in Iran with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which specifies the right to an education.
""Our Baha'i youth in various places are also organizing seminars, events, and presentations,"" said Robert Weinberg, a spokesman for the Baha'is of the United Kingdom.
He said Baha'is were also supporting an open letter, signed by a number of prominent educators, religious leaders, and academics from throughout Great Britain that criticizes Iran's policy of denying Baha'is access to higher education. The letter is to be released on Human Rights Day.
In Austria, the Baha'i community organized an event on 6 November 2008 at the Vienna Baha'i Center that commemorated the imprisonment and murder of Viennese Baha'is of Jewish background during World War II. That ceremony also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In India, Baha'is are sponsoring a program in Lucknow that will launch a discourse on eradication of childhood poverty in collaboration with UNICEF of Uttar Pradesh.
Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950, Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948. Over the years, a network of human rights instruments and mechanisms has been developed to ensure the primacy of human rights and to confront human rights violations wherever they occur.",NEW YORK,,United States
677,2008-12-09,"[675, 673, 669]",Baha’i conference series reaches the United States,"CHICAGO, United States — The first conferences in the United States in the current series of 41 Baha’i gatherings being held around the world attracted nearly 8,500 people this past weekend, and another three this coming weekend are expected to draw a similar number.
Frigid temperatures and snowstorms didn’t keep 2,340 people from arriving in suburban Chicago for a conference, while 3,500 gathered in Atlanta and 2,600 in Portland, Oregon.
The Atlanta conference was the largest of the 17 conferences held to date. The weekend of 6-7 December was the sixth of 18 consecutive weekends of conferences, being held at the call of the Universal House of Justice, the head of the Baha’i Faith.
In addition to the three events in the United States, a conference was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, that attracted some 650 people from six countries.  Friends from different cities in Kazakhstan enjoyed the chance to see each other while at the Almaty conference last weekend.Next weekend will see conferences in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Stamford, Connecticut.
For reports of the conferences, go to: https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",CHICAGO,,United States
678,2008-12-11,[],Ethics stressed at UN conference on climate change,"POZNAN, Poland — In its contributions to the UN Climate Change conference in Poznan, Poland, this week, the Baha’i International Community stressed the importance of addressing the ethical and moral issues that surround global warming and its impact on the world’s peoples.
“The search for solutions to climate change has revealed the limits of traditional technological and policy approaches and has raised difficult questions about justice, equity, responsibility and obligation,” said the BIC in a working paper released at the conference.
Titled “Seizing the Opportunity: Redefining the Challenge of Climate Change,” the paper offers initial considerations from a Baha’i perspective as the world faces the challenge of global warming.
“As communities and policy-makers worldwide have wrestled with these questions, they have brought us all to the threshold of a tremendous opportunity,” said the paper.
“It is the opportunity to take the next step in the transition from a state-centered mode of interacting on the world stage to one rooted in the unity which connects us as the inhabitants of one biosphere, the citizens of one world and the members of one human civilization.” (See BIC paper.)
Representatives of the BIC also participated in two side events at the conference, both of which were likewise aimed at addressing the moral and ethical issues that stem from global warming.
Both events were organized by the Collaborative Program on the Ethical Dimension of Climate Change at the Rock Ethics Institute at Penn State University, and both carried the title “Moral and ethical issues that must be faced in implementing the Bali roadmap.”
On Monday, 8 December, Baha’i representative Peter Adriance spoke on a panel discussion under that title, on the topic “Summoning the courage: Arising to the ethical challenge of climate change.”
In his remarks, Mr. Adriance stressed the importance of embracing the concept of the oneness of humanity as the overriding ethical and moral principle in addressing climate change.
“There is a great opportunity for the world to make the transition from operating only from a national perspective to a global perspective,” said Mr. Adriance.
On Tuesday, 9 December, Baha’i representatives participated in a daylong seminar, also organized by the Collaborative Program on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change.
“The work of the United Nations conference is at a crucial point,” said Tahirih Naylor, a Baha’i International Community representative to the United Nations, who headed the Baha’i delegation in Poznan. “And our goal in our contributions here is to encourage world leaders and leaders of thought to include a consideration of the moral and ethical impact of the decisions they are making.
“For example, the principle of justice demands that governments move outside their own limited national interests, and so look at this problem in terms of its global reach and impact. Climate change is a problem of international scope, and it requires a level of cooperation that humanity really hasn’t faced in the past.”
The Baha’i International Community is one of hundreds of nongovernmental organizations attending the two-week Poznan conference, which runs through 12 December.
Starting today, government ministers and other top officials from nearly 200 nations will participate in a two-day, high-level segment aimed at completing key elements of an ambitious global climate change deal next year.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to address the high-level segment today and will appeal to the gathered leaders to not let the food, financial and other current crises dissuade them from taking urgent action on climate change.
The Poznan conference marks the half-way point in efforts to reach agreement on a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol, the legally binding regime for reducing greenhouse gas emissions whose first commitment period ends in 2012. The process began in Bali, Indonesia, last year.",POZNAN,,Poland
679,2008-12-15,[],Faith groups sign human rights statement,"THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Groups and individuals around the world this month have been commemorating the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which occurred on 10 December 1948. The United Nations has designated the anniversary each year as Human Rights Day.
Last week the Baha’i International Community was one of 11 faith groups whose representatives gathered at an international interreligious conference at The Hague to sign the 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement. The event was organized by Justitia et Pax Netherlands in cooperation with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For each of the signatories, the document represents a commitment to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms both within and outside their faith community. Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, signed on behalf of the Baha’is.
The document states, “While representing different faith traditions, we come together in unity to stress that religion has been a primary source of inspiration for human rights as our sacred writings and teachings clearly show.”
Organizers said the conference marked the first time that major world religions have jointly emphasized the importance of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands was on hand for the signing of the document, which occurred on 10 December.
In New York, in a separate event to mark the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Baha'i International Community sponsored a seminar on 8 December on ""Freedom of Religion or Belief: Perspectives and Challenges after Sixty Years of United Nations Protection.""
Speakers included Felice Gaera of the Jacob Blaustein Institute who serves on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; Azza Karam of the United Nations Population Fund; Cole Durham of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University; and Malcolm Evans of the University of Bristol School of Law.
Ms. Dugal, the Baha’i representative, welcomed the participants and discussed why religious freedom is so important – both to Baha'is and others.
“More than one-half of the world's population lives under regimes that severely restrict or prohibit the freedom of their citizens to study, believe, observe, and freely practice the religious faith of their choice,” she said.
“The freedom to change one's religion or belief has not been expressed with such clarity in any international instrument since the Declaration,” she stated.
She also noted that the Baha'i International Community is “well-acquainted” with persecution based on religion. “The enduring and systemic persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran, which has continued with varying degrees of intensity over the last 150 years, has manifested in a variety of ways,” she said.
The goal, she continued, should be “to create the conditions, legal, economic, political, social and spiritual, which allow human potential to emerge and flourish – that very potential which has continually driven forward human civilization, by seeking out new avenues of knowledge and refining human relationships and the organization of human society.”
“The human mind,” she added, “endowed with reason and conscience, must be free to search for truth and to believe.”
MORE DETAILS
In other countries, among the Human Rights Day events with Baha’i participation were the following:
In the United Kingdom, students took the theme “Education is a Human Right” and hosted events to raise general awareness and also point out that in Iran, Baha’is and others are often denied access to education.
At Queen Mary, University of London, Professor Eric Heinze of the  School of Law addressed a special meeting hosted by the Baha’i student society and spoke about the origins and importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In Cardiff, students and friends gathered in the Nelson Mandela Room at the university’s Student Union to hear presentations and watch videos about human rights, access to education and personal experiences of living in Iran. The program was followed by a late-night prayer vigil for human rights in the world. Also in Wales, some 100 students at Brynmawr comprehensive school in Blaeneu heard a presentation about young people in Iran being denied access to education.
Students at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, participated in a letter-writing campaign supported by members of the university’s Amnesty International group.
In Canada, the Victoria Multifaith Society in Victoria, British Columbia, sponsored a two-day Human Rights Global Dignity Conference on 6-7 December with more than 150 participants. Gerald Filson, former chair of the Canadian International Human Rights Network and representative of the Canadian Baha’i community, was one of the featured speakers.
Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford, past president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War who recently joined the Baha’i community, offered a presentation that included a focus on the “world’s newest superpower” – civil society. The conference included music, displays, and workshops, including one for children, “Becoming Your Best Self,” organized by Linda Kavelin-Popov.
Dr. Filson also spoke at a program in Abbotsford, British Columbia, sponsored by local Baha’is and the Fraser Valley Human Dignity Coalition, where he outlined both successes and failures in the promotion of human rights over the past 60 years.
In total, Baha’is participated in a dozen commemorative events in Canada, including a conference on 9 December at McGill University in Montreal, held in collaboration with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and the John Humphrey Center for Peace and Human Rights, and a gathering on 10 December at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.
In India, the local Baha'i community of Kannur in the state of Kerala organized a meeting in collaboration with the local chapter of Amnesty International. Held in the Baha'i Centre Hall, the meeting featured an address by P.K. Premarajan, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of India.
In the United States, Kit Bigelow, representing the Baha’is of the United States, read a Baha’i prayer at a Human Rights Day luncheon attended by more than 200 people on 10 December. The annual event was sponsored by the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area, the DC Commission, and the Office on Human Rights.
Baha’is also attended a ceremony on 8 December held in the Treaty Room of the U.S. State Department by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice honoring outstanding human rights defenders in the civil society and government.
Also, representatives attended a conference on 2 December sponsored by the American University Washington College of Law and the American Society of International Law titled “Realizing the Promise of Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Examining the First 60 Years and Beyond.”
In Brazil, the Baha’i community prepared a revised edition of the “Human Rights Pathway,” an exhibition representing the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Baha’is will be among the 1,500 participants of the four-day XI National Human Rights Conference that opens today, 15 December, in Brasilia.
In Australia, the Baha’i Regional Council of Western Australia welcomed more than 100 guests to a program where the focus was the ongoing relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the need for unending vigilance.",THE HAGUE,,Netherlands
680,2008-12-16,"[675, 673, 669]","Manhattanites start small, aim high with class for children","NEW YORK, United States — As one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the United States, Manhattan’s Upper East Side might seem like an unlikely place to start building a new world civilization.
“The Upper East Side is quite well-to-do,” explained Monette Van Lith, a Baha'i and a newcomer to the neighborhood, addressing nearly 2,000 people gathered for a Baha’i regional conference in nearby Stamford, Connecticut, this past weekend. “One example I give is that even the dogs wear coats – and sometimes shoes and hats.”
“It is intensely materialistic,” she said, and then added: “But maybe that is just on the surface.”
Ms. Van Lith and her daughter, 9-year-old Sophie Lincoln, are counting on that last notion. They hope to introduce their neighbors to the global process by which Baha'is around the world are seeking to spiritualize society by working from the ground up.
Sophie, with the help of her mother, has recently started a Baha'i children’s class, inviting her schoolmates every Saturday for a course of study that, while fun and engaging, emphasizes the importance of moral virtues and spiritual ideas.
“I attend an international school in New York and there are a lot of children from around the world, from different countries and different religions,” Sophie told the audience, adding that her friends are “very busy. There is ballet and birthday parties, swimming and piano.”  At a conference in Stamford, Connecticut, Baha’is from throughout the northeastern U.S. discussed the core activities they sponsor at the neighborhood level.But, she said, “I think children my age have a lot of questions that they don’t get answers to. Like who is God, why are there different religions, how should we pray, what happens when you die?”
Already, Sophie said, she has three young friends who come regularly to the class, which is held in her home.
“Because it is still small, I am trying to invite more of my friends so it can continue and grow,” she said.
Sophie’s was one of dozens of stories heard in Stamford as Baha'is from nine northeastern U.S. states gathered to talk about the next stage of the evolution of their community.
Growth, certainly, was a main theme at the conference. There is a new energy in Baha’i communities as individuals have begun to grasp the importance of initiating specific core activities designed to engage society at large.
These activities, undertaken at the neighborhood level, include children’s classes, small groups engaged in the study of spiritual topics and in acts of service, devotional gatherings, and activities for young teenagers. They are the key, said conference speakers, to building the foundation for a new world civilization from the grass roots up – for everyone.
“The purpose of growth is to establish a world civilization, affected by the message of Baha'u'llah,” said Sophie Clark, who recently joined the Baha'i community after attending one of the study circles.
The teachings of Baha’u’llah revolve around the essential oneness of humanity and the belief that human beings were created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.
“We are not about expanding and recreating patterns of old,” said Hooshmand Sheshbaradaran of Hoboken, New Jersey, who was a workshop facilitator at the Stamford conference. Baha’is, he said, are not trying to re-create a series of traditional churches or congregations.
“It is about evolving, it is about stepping out and building a new world order,” he said.
The Stamford gathering was one of three Baha’i conferences on 13-14 December, all part of a current series of 41 conferences being held over a four-month period in cities around the world. The others this past weekend were in Dallas and Los Angeles. Conferences next weekend will be in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Kuching, Sarawak, in Malaysia. The series concludes on 1 March 2009.
For reports of the conferences, go to: https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",NEW YORK,,United States
681,2008-12-18,"[696, 694, 695]","UN General Assembly expresses ""deep concern"" about human rights in Iran","UNITED NATIONS, United States — The United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution expressing “deep concern at serious human rights violations” in Iran.
The resolution, which passed by a vote of 69 to 54, specifically criticized Iran’s use of torture, the high incidence of executions, the “violent repression” of women, and “increasing discrimination” against Bahá’ís, Christians, Jews, Sufis, Sunni Muslims, and other minorities.
“Iran should reflect upon and glean from this vote that, sadly, countries from Finland to Fiji are more concerned about the rights of ordinary Iranian citizens than the Iranian government itself,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Bahá'í International Community to the United Nations.
“The General Assembly is the world’s most representative body, and the fact that this represents the 21st such resolution expressing concern over human rights in Iran since 1985 should leave no doubt that this is not about ‘politicization,’ as the Iranian government likes to say, but a genuine concern for universally acknowledged rights.
“Regretfully, despite outcries like this and the recent report of the UN secretary general, the human rights situation in Iran grows worse each day. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful that expressions of concern like this will cause Iranian leaders to rethink their stance on human rights in respect for the rights that have been so widely accepted by other nations,” she said.
Ms. Dugal also noted that Iran comes up for Universal Periodic Review in the Human Rights Council in 2010. Iran should take note of the international community’s concern and make all efforts to improve its deplorable human rights record.
Today’s resolution was put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by more than 40 other countries. It also specifically takes note of the recent report by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, issued in October, which also expressed concern about human rights in Iran, and calls on Iran to address the “substantive concerns” voiced therein.
In that report, Mr. Ban said “there are a number of serious impediments to the full protection of human rights” in Iran. It likewise expressed concerns over torture, executions, the rights of women, and discrimination against minorities. (To read the full report, go to: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/63/459.)
The resolution asks the secretary general to prepare an update on Iran’s progress over the coming year. It also calls on Iran to “end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views” and to “uphold due process of law rights and to end impunity for human rights violations.”
The resolution takes particular note of attacks on Bahá’ís, noting “increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Bahá’ís, preventing members of the Bahá’í Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically, and the arrest and detention of seven Bahá’í leaders without charge or access to legal representation.”
Ms. Dugal noted that there are at least 20 Bahá’ís currently in jail, including the national Bahá’í leadership of seven members who were arrested last March and May and are being held in Evin prison without charges. More than 100 others have been arrested and released on bail over the last four years as part of a stepped-up government effort at persecution.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
682,2008-12-23,"[696, 694, 697]",Baha’is call for reopening of human rights center in Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The Baha'i International Community today expressed grave concern over the closing by the Iranian government of Shirin Ebadi’s Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran and called for its reopening.
“The closing of Mrs. Ebadi’s office is a blow to human rights for the whole of Iran,” said Diane Ala’i, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
“The spokesperson of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that the reason behind the closure was that the Center has no license. But it would be a simple matter to give them one. Otherwise, the fact that the Iranian government would shut down the office of its most famous human rights defender, who is Iran’s only winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and the first Muslim woman so recognized, can only be perceived by the world at large as further evidence that the government has no regard for rights and freedoms.
“Mrs. Ebadi and her colleagues are engaged in defending numerous individuals and groups in Iran, and the closure of the Center will certainly interfere with their efforts and impede the adequate legal representation that they are committed to providing,” she said.
Among those being defended by Mrs. Ebadi and her organization are the seven Baha'i leaders who are currently being held without charge in Evin prison in Tehran. The seven were arrested in March and May in an ominous sweep that was reminiscent of when Baha'i leaders in the 1980s were rounded up and executed.
”Regardless of the attempts against human rights defenders in Iran, Mrs. Ebadi and her colleagues are courageously pursuing their work. For the good of the country, we call upon the Iranian authorities to resolve the administrative issue, and to allow the Center to reopen immediately,” said Ms. Ala’i.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
683,2008-12-23,[],Baha’i conference series completes eighth week,"SAO PAULO, Brazil — The series of 41 Baha’i conferences being held around the world continued this past weekend with gatherings in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Kuching, Sarawak, in Malaysia.
The 1,700 people gathered in Brazil and the 1,300 in Malaysia represented the largest Baha’i conferences ever held in those countries.
Members of the Baha’i Faith from Paraguay and Uruguay joined those from across Brazil for the Sao Paulo event, which, like the other conferences in the series, was called to provide Baha’is an opportunity to celebrate achievements in their community-building activities and also consult about plans for future work.
The Kuching conference included participants from the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, as well as other close-by territories.  The 1,300 people gathered in Kuching, Sarawak, in Malaysia, made it the largest Baha'i event ever held in that region.It was the eighth of 18 consecutive weeks of conferences being held in cities around the world at the call of the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha’i Faith.
Next week’s conference is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, followed the week after by gatherings in London and in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",SAO PAULO,,Brazil
684,2008-12-28,[],Restoration work begins on Shrine of the Bab,"HAIFA, Israel — Work has begun on a four-year restoration project on the golden-domed Shrine of the Bab, one of the holiest sites in the Baha’i world and Haifa’s best-known landmark.
The Shrine of the Bab stands at the center of the Baha’i gardens, on the side of Mount Carmel overlooking Haifa Bay and the Mediterranean Sea. The gardens and shrine are among the most visited sites in Israel.
The domed structure was completed 55 years ago and now requires restoration and updating, including structural reinforcement against earthquakes, restoration of stonework, replacement of iron decorative elements with stainless steel, upgrading of the electrical system, and refurbishment of the dome with new tiles.
There will be no change in the design, use or general appearance of the building.
The work will be undertaken in such a way to keep the shrine open to both Baha’i pilgrims and the general public throughout most of the project, except during summer months. Starting in May or June of 2009, the structure will be covered with scaffolding and canvas sheeting for about two years. The project will cost approximately US$6 million, with funds coming entirely from the voluntary contributions of the Baha’is of the world.
The shrine is the burial place of the Bab, revered by Baha’is as a Messenger of God and one of the Central Figures of the Baha’i Faith.
The Bab was executed in 1850 in the public square in Tabriz, Iran, and His remains later brought to Haifa, where they were laid to rest in the present location in 1909.
The original building covering the tomb was a one-story rectangle. The domed superstructure – made of granite and marble quarried in Italy, with gilded roof tiles from the Netherlands – was added later and was completed in 1953.
The burial place of the Bab, and that of Baha’u’llah near Acre, north of Haifa, are considered by Baha’is to be the most sacred places on earth. Earlier this year, the two shrines and their surrounding gardens were chosen by UNESCO as World Heritage sites – part of the cultural heritage of humanity.",HAIFA,,Israel
685,2008-12-31,"[683, 680, 677]","Conference series reaches halfway point with 40,000 participants","KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A series of 41 conferences is bringing together unprecedented numbers of Baha’is in country after country, with more than 40,000 people having participated so far.
The 18-week series reached the halfway point last weekend with a gathering in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Previous weekends have seen as many as four simultaneous conferences, in cities from Almaty to Yaounde.
The conferences began on 1 November and conclude on 1 March.
The events – with their focus on providing an opportunity for reflection on achievements to date and the work ahead – have been described as a turning point for the participants.
“For many individuals, it has been a life-changing opportunity,” said one Baha’i who as an appointed counselor has attended several of the gatherings. “It has helped them gain a clearer vision about their life, their identity as a Baha’i, and their identity as a Baha’i community.”
Around the world, members of the Baha’i Faith are involved in four core activities at the neighborhood level – devotional meetings, study circles, children’s classes, and activities for young adolescents. One person has described the goal of the activities as “spiritual transformation” brought about by “praying together, studying together, educating children, and empowering junior youth.”  A participant from Kyrgyzstan, center, listens intently as a young woman from Kazakhstan speaks during a workshop at the conference in Almaty on the weekend of 6-7 December.Praveen Mallik of India, who provided assistance at the conferences in New Delhi and Bangalore, said the events indeed have offered a better perspective of what is being accomplished at the local level.
“These conferences are really an eye-opener for all of us,” he said. “They provided us the opportunity to realize the strength of the process of community-building. People sensed the process of transformation of society.”
Many of the conference participants have talked about the Baha’i belief in the unity of the human race and how that teaching has been reflected in the gatherings.
“The conference illustrated the uniting power of the Baha’i Faith,” said Ehsan Hemmat of the Dominican Republic, who attended the conference in Quito, Ecuador. “People of different nationalities and cultures got together in an atmosphere of love, joy, unity of vision, and unity of thought, and they left the conference more united in action.”
One feature of the conferences is workshops for discussing plans to promote Baha’i core activities in specific communities.
“We already are witnessing the effect of the conference in an acceleration in the number of activities,” Mr. Hemmat said a mere five weeks after the gathering in Quito.
Crystal Shoaie of Bolivia said similar reports have come in after conferences in Antofagasta, Chile, and Sao Paulo. “We are hearing case after case of individuals and groups that are already carrying out the plans and commitments made at a conference,” she said.
Another feature of the conferences is the connection with the Universal House of Justice, the head of the Baha’i Faith which on 20 October invited all Baha’is to attend a gathering in their area.
In that respect, Mr. Hemmat called the Quito event “a channel of inspiration.”
“You could feel that you were honored by the Universal House of Justice to be invited to the conference,” he said. “You could feel the spirit of the Holy Land touching the hearts of participants. Some of the people were walking around with tears in their eyes.”
The same thing happened in India, Mr. Mallik said. “Every believer received a loving personal invitation from the House of Justice,” he said, and people did their very best to respond – with “maximum material and physical sacrifice.”
For reports of the conferences, go to:
https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",KUALA LUMPUR,,Malaysia
686,2009-01-06,"[685, 683, 680]","London, Abidjan host landmark conferences","LONDON, England — London hosted its largest Baha’i gathering in 45 years with a regional conference last weekend that brought together 3,200 people from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Greenland.
A World Congress held in Royal Albert Hall in 1963 was the only bigger Baha’i gathering in the city. More than 6,000 people attended that.
This time the conference was at the Business Design Centre in the central London Borough of Islington. The gathering was one of 41 Baha’i conferences being held over a four-month period in cities around the world, all convened by the Universal House of Justice, the head of the Baha’i Faith.
The conferences began on 1 November in Lusaka, Zambia, and will wind up on 1 March in Kiev, Ukraine.
This past weekend there were two conferences, the one in London and another in Abidjan with 1,200 participants from Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.  In Abidjan, 1,200 people came together for the eighth of nine conferences to be held in Africa in a four-month span.For a list of all the conferences, with links to articles and photographs, go to:
https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",LONDON,,United Kingdom
687,2009-01-13,[],"Attendance nears 50,000 people at conferences","GUADALAJARA, Mexico — In Mexico, the prayers were in Spanish, Mayan and Nahuatl. Across North America, in Toronto, they were in English, French, and the Northern Tutchone language.
But the spirit was the same – members of the Baha'i Faith coming together in regional conferences to celebrate past achievements and to plan for upcoming activities.
The gatherings last weekend in Guadalajara and Toronto were part of the series of 41 conferences in cities around the world convened by the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha'i Faith.
The conferences began on 1 November and will finish on 1 March. Nearly 50,000 people have participated in the 27 gatherings to date.
Some 4,000 attended the Toronto conference, which attracted people from throughout eastern Canada, including Nunavut, and from Bermuda.  Young people join for a presentation at the conference in Toronto, which with 4,000 people was one of the largest gatherings in the current series.In Mexico, 600 people – from Baja California in the northwest to Chiapas and Quintana Roo in the southeast – participated.
""This was a small conference compared to some in other countries,"" said one of the Mexican attendees, ""but its heart and spirit were enormous – enough to cover a country as big as Mexico.""
Next weekend there will be gatherings in Vancouver, Canada; Managua, Nicaragua; and Lae, Papua New Guinea.
(Correction: On 14 January 2009. a correction was made in the name of one of the languages given in the first paragraph.)",GUADALAJARA,,Mexico
688,2009-01-15,"[697, 695, 696]",Six Baha'is arrested in Iran; one worked for Shirin Ebadi's rights organizations,"GENEVA, Switzerland — At least six Baha'is were arrested in Iran yesterday, including a woman who worked at human rights organizations connected with Nobel prize winner Shirin Ebadi.
According to reports received from Iran, the six were arrested after government security agents raided the homes of at least 11 Baha'is. During the raids, they also confiscated Baha'i books and other items, such as computers and photographs.
Among those arrested was Jinous Sobhani, who worked as an assistant for the Organization for Defending Mine Victims and also for the Defenders of Human Rights Center. Both were founded by Mrs. Ebadi.
In an interview with CNN, Mrs. Ebadi said today that Ms. Sobhani had been laid off from both organizations after government agents raided Mrs. Ebadi's offices and shut them down in December.
While some reports indicate that more than six Baha'is were arrested yesterday in Tehran, those confirmed so far include Ms. Sobhani, Mr. Shahrokh Taef, Mr. Didar Raoufi, Mr. Payam Aghsani and Mr. Aziz Samandari. Mr. Golshan Sobhani was also arrested but was released a few hours later. It is unclear whether he is related to Ms. Sobhani.
""The arrest of these individuals reflects not only the grave situation facing Baha'is in Iran but also the overall human rights situation there,"" said Diane Ala'i, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""As far as we know, all of these people were arrested primarily because they are Baha'is,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
But she confirmed the fact that Ms. Sobhani worked for the two organizations founded by Mrs. Ebadi.
""The connection of Ms. Sobhani to the work of Mrs. Ebadi's organizations points to the gravity of the situation in Iran, where the government seems intent on stifling any expression of the importance of human rights or religious freedom,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
In December, the Baha'i International Community condemned the closing of Mrs. Ebadi's Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran and called for its reopening. (See earlier story.)
(Correction: In the fifth paragraph, the spelling of the surname of Mr. Shahrokh Taef was corrected. 16 January 2009)",GENEVA,,Switzerland
689,2009-01-20,"[685, 683]","Gathering in Lae draws 1,500; in the Americas, series is complete","LAE, Papua New Guinea — From every corner of Papua New Guinea, the Baha’is came – and that was not easy.
They were eager to reach the city of Lae to attend a regional conference – one of 41 being held in cities around the world at the call of the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha’i Faith.
But at Rabaul on the Papua New Guinean island of New Britain, the long-threatening volcano was acting up, requiring Baha’is who wanted to attend the conference to be ferried out by helicopter to a landing spot where they could then catch a boat or plane to Lae, on the main island of New Guinea.
Boats to Lae had their problems, too. One group of travelers was almost stranded when their craft blew its engine. Similar challenges were experienced by some of those who traveled by bus. Others walked long distances – up to a week – in a country where most of the people live in rural villages, many of them settlements that are isolated and difficult to reach.
But at 8 a.m. sharp on 17 January, right on schedule, the two-day conference in Lae got under way with 1,500 people in attendance.
The 41 conferences – being held over a four-month period that will end on 1 March – are meant to give an opportunity to Baha’is to celebrate recent achievements in community-building work and to plan future activities.  The Vancouver gathering was one of two held in Canada. All 13 conferences in the Americas are now over. The series spans 41 conferences around the globe.People in Papua New Guinea were showing the same eagerness to accept the invitation from the Universal House of Justice that Baha’is in Africa demonstrated earlier at the eight conferences held so far on that continent. In some African countries, people literally traveled through a war zone to reach their regional Baha’i gathering. Others walked as much as 100 kilometers or more, so determined were they to attend their conference.
Many other stories of sacrifice have surfaced at the 30 conferences held to date, as Baha’is demonstrate their interest in meeting to consult on how best to serve their local communities.
Last weekend, in addition to the conference in Lae, gatherings were held in Managua, Nicaragua, and Vancouver, Canada. Those two represented the final conferences of 13 that were held in the Americas. Earlier gatherings were held in Toronto, Canada; six cities in the United States; Guadalajara, Mexico; Quito Ecuador; Antofagasta, Chile; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Some 55,000 people have attended the 30 conferences to date.
For links to reports of the conferences, go to https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",LAE,,Papua New Guinea
690,2009-01-27,"[689, 685]",World’s coldest capital hosts Baha’i conference,"ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia — The coldest capital city on earth was the gathering place last weekend for 1,800 Baha’is from Mongolia, Russia, and other nations – called together to celebrate achievements in community-building work and make plans for future activities at the local level.
Temperatures reached minus 30 C a day or two before the conference as people made their way to the gathering. Some of the Baha’is from eastern Mongolia had to get special permission from the government to travel during a major snowstorm, but they made it safely to Ulaanbaatar and were pleased to be part of the gathering, the first of its kind to be held in the country.
The event was one of 41 such conferences convened by the Universal House of Justice, the head of the Baha’i Faith, in cities around the world over a four-month span.  Simultaneous conferences were held in Sydney, Australia (shown here), Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Madrid, Spain.Simultaneous conferences were held last weekend in Madrid, Spain, and Sydney, Australia. The gathering in Sydney drew nearly 5,500 participants, making it the largest Baha’i conference ever held in the Southern Hemisphere. The event in Madrid included some 1,400 participants from peninsular Spain, the Canary Islands, and Portugal.
The 33 conferences to date have attracted some 63,900 people. Coming this week are events in Auckland, New Zealand, and Battambang, Cambodia, to be followed the next weekend by conferences in Frankfurt, Germany, and Padua, Italy.
Eighteen consecutive weeks of conferences will conclude on 1 March in Kiev, Ukraine.
For links to reports and photographs from all the conferences held to date, go on the Web to:
https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/
(Editor's note: The attendance figures for the gathering in Ulaanbaatar and for all conferences combined were corrected on 28 January 2009.)",ULAANBAATAR,,Mongolia
691,2009-01-30,"[688, 682, 681]",Baha'i International Community deplores destruction of Khavaran cemetery,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The destruction earlier this month of a cemetery in Iran used for the mass burial of hundreds killed in the aftermath of the Islamic revolution in 1979 is an outrageous violation of human dignity, the Baha'i International Community said today. More than 50 Baha'is were among those buried at the site.
""The destruction of the Khavaran cemetery by government agents goes against all concepts of respect for the dead in any culture, including values preached in Islam,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""We join with other human rights groups inside and outside of Iran in condemning this shameful deed, which is yet another sign of the intolerance of the current Iranian regime,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Located southeast of Tehran, the Khavaran cemetery was used as the burial site for hundreds who were killed in the early years of the Iranian revolution.
Earlier this month, a group of unidentified individuals using bulldozers demolished an area of the cemetery known as the ""graveyard of the infidels,"" the area where many of the people executed in the early years of the revolution were buried.
Reports indicate the group clearly represented a branch of the government. It was also reported that the officials told the cemetery custodian that the parcel was being demolished to develop a green space or park.
Human rights groups inside and outside of Iran have since registered protests.
On 20 January 2009, Amnesty International called on Iranian authorities to ""immediately stop the destruction of hundreds of individual and mass, unmarked graves in Khavaran, south Tehran, to ensure that the site is preserved and to initiate a forensic investigation at the site as part of a long-overdue thorough, independent and impartial investigation into mass executions which began in 1988. ...""
Iranian human rights advocates, including Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, have also condemned the cemetery's destruction.
""We have recently learned that Khavaran cemetery, where the victims of the illegal massacre of political prisoners in the 1980s and especially 1988 are buried, has been destroyed by some officials,"" the Human Rights Defenders' Centre said in a statement issued on 25 January, according to Agence France-Presse. ""The Human Rights Defenders Centre condemns this ugly and appalling act and notes that everyone including the authorities is required to maintain the dignity of the dead.""
At least 50 Baha'is were buried in the same section of the cemetery, all victims in the early 1980s of the government's campaign to systematically persecute Iranian Baha'is for their religious beliefs.
Specifically, it is known that eight members of the national Baha'i governing body killed on 27 December 1981 are buried there, along with six members of the Baha'i Spiritual Assembly of Tehran, killed on 4 January 1982. It is likely that other Baha'is were buried there, too.
According to a Baha'i whose husband is buried at the site, most of the graves in that section of the cemetery were unmarked, designated only by numerical row markers.
""They called it the place for 'infidels,'"" said the widow, who currently resides outside of Iran. ""They just gave us row numbers, and that is how I knew where my husband was. But there were no markers and we were not allowed to identify which grave was which.""
(Editor's note: On 9 February 2009, after additional verification had been received concerning the identities of Baha'is who were buried in the Khavaran Cemetery, the number given in the first paragraph was raised accordingly.
On 19 August 2015, a further correction was made to the 11th paragraph of this story, to more accurately reflect the number of Baha'is buried in the particular section of Khavaran cemetery referred to in the preceding paragraphs of the article .)",GENEVA,,Switzerland
692,2009-02-03,"[690, 689]","Cambodia hosts 2,100 Baha’is at historic gathering","BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — Some 2,100 Baha’is from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam gathered in Cambodia’s second-largest city for a historic conference that had citizens of all four nations sitting side by side to discuss service activities in their communities.
The gathering last weekend was one of a series of 41 Baha’i conferences being held in major cities around the world. The events began on 1 November in Lusaka, Zambia, and will conclude on 1 March in Kiev, Ukraine.
More than 67,500 people have participated in the conferences, with only six of the 41 events still remaining.  In addition to the gathering in Cambodia, a simultaneous conference was held in Auckland, New Zealand, for 10 countries and island groups in the Pacific.In Battambang, a representative of the provincial government, Aem Thoeurn, addressed the conference and emphasized the diverse nature of the gathering.
“The unity of religion and the harmony of its followers is essential for peace,” he said. “Your gathering here is proof that this is possible.”
He expressed the wish that “each one of us will bring this (spirit) back to our own people.”
As in many of the cities hosting the conferences, Baha’i organizers in Battambang were challenged to find a venue large enough for all participants. The Battambang city hall fit the bill, with 1,500 people filling the main auditorium and others watching proceedings by video link from tents set up outdoors.
A simultaneous conference was held last weekend in Auckland, New Zealand, where 1,700 people from 10 countries and Pacific island groups gathered.
All the conferences are being held at the call of the Universal House of Justice, the head of the Baha’i Faith. The purpose is to celebrate achievements in community-building and make plans for future work. This includes devotional gatherings; children’s classes; and programs for the moral education of young people.
For links to reports and photographs from the conferences held to date, go on the Web to:
https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
693,2009-02-10,"[692, 690, 689]","Fifty years ago, landmark gatherings lifted Baha’i world","FRANKFURT, Germany — A historic Baha’i conference in Frankfurt last weekend brought to mind an earlier gathering in the same city a half century before – one that was also a milestone in Baha’i history.
Last weekend’s event in Frankfurt was one of the current series of 41 conferences around the globe marking the half-way point of a five-year effort involving establishment of community-building activities in tens of thousands of neighborhoods and villages. So far some 75,000 people have participated in the gatherings.
By comparison, the five Intercontinental Conferences of 1958 came half-way through a 10-year program to establish the Baha’i Faith in every country and major territory in the world. Total attendance 50 years ago was about 5,400 people.
The announcement of the 1958 gatherings – in addition to Frankfurt they were to be held in Kampala, Uganda; Sydney, Australia; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Chicago in the United States – was one of the final acts of Shoghi Effendi, head of the Baha’i Faith from 1921 until his passing in November 1957.
Although he died unexpectedly two months before the conferences began, Shoghi Effendi himself planned many of the details, including naming his personal representative to each of the gatherings and announcing the special gifts he would send, among which were provisions for a photograph of Baha’u’llah to be viewed by all of those in attendance.
Like the current conferences, the earlier gatherings had as two of their objectives the celebrating of achievements in Baha’i work as well as deliberating on how to continue to meet goals.
In addition, three of the 1958 host cities were sites of soon-to-be-built Baha’i temples, and Shoghi Effendi – the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith – had announced that he would send precious and historic items for the foundation-laying ceremonies.
The difference of a half century
The plan of growth that covered the period of 1953-1963 concentrated on diffusion, and it carried the Baha’i Faith throughout the world. More than 100 countries and territories were opened in the first year and by the end of the decade the Faith had been brought to most nations. The number of national governing bodies grew from 12 to 56, and communities were established in more than 11,000 individual localities.
Recent plans concern the multiplication and enrichment of activities at the local level. The number of localities today is nearly 10 times that of 1963, and current efforts are focused on establishing study circles, devotional gatherings, and activities for children and young teens not only for Baha’is but for the wider community in all of these areas.
Many similarities, however, exist between the conferences then and now. Representatives of the head of the Baha’i Faith – Shoghi Effendi in the 1950s, the Universal House of Justice now – addressed every gathering.
Specific planning for future work was a key element on each agenda – attendees in 1958 viewed Shoghi Effendi’s maps depicting progress at the midpoint of the 10-year plan, and current attendees are consulting on programs of growth in key areas.  Amelia Collins, center, was the representative of the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith at the July 1958 gathering in Frankfurt. Other Hands of the Cause present, from left, were Jalal Khazeh, Enoch Olinga, Zikrullah Khadem, Adelbert Muhlschlegel, Hasan Balyuzi, John Ferraby, John Robarts, Hermann Grossmann, and Ugo Giachery. Also present but not pictured was Musa Banani. (Baha’i World Centre photograph)The sheer size of the conferences was notable both times. The Frankfurt gathering of 1958 drew 2,300 people, more than most of the current conferences but exactly half the number of participants in last weekend’s event in the same city.
And the Sydney conference two weeks ago attracted 5,400 people – equal to the total for all the gatherings in 1958 and nearly 20 times the 300 participants that convened in Sydney 50 years ago.
In 1958, the five conferences were scheduled with one every two months, beginning in January and winding up in September. The current series of 41 gatherings began on 1 November, with up to four conferences held every weekend for 18 consecutive weeks.
Highlights from 1958
An unexpected feature of the conferences in 1958 was the opportunity it afforded the Baha’is to come to terms with the sudden loss of Shoghi Effendi.
One writer called the Kampala conference “a magnet to the sorrowing Baha’i world.”
Shoghi Effendi’s widow, Ruhiyyih Khanum, was his designated representative to that gathering.
“Poignant indeed was her presence,” wrote a chronicler at the time. “The heart, the light, the life” of all the sessions, said another.
Ruhiyyih Khanum herself offered a tribute to Shoghi Effendi at the conference, and told the gathering, “I hope that each one of you will go back from this conference … just like a blazing fire … and create a worthy memorial to our beloved Guardian.”
Other noteworthy facts from the 1958 conferences:
–  More than half the 2,300 people who attended the earlier Frankfurt gathering traveled from Iran for the event. At this month’s event in that city, a gift of red roses onstage represented the Baha’is of Iran.
–  Just as people were gathering in Jakarta for the conference in Indonesia, government permission to hold the gathering was rescinded. Two planes were chartered, and all the people who could travel went to Singapore, then part of Malaya, where arrangements were hastily made for a gathering. Official accounts of the conference list it as taking place in both Jakarta and Singapore.
–  Eleven Baha’is with the rank of Hand of the Cause of God, one of whom was Shoghi Effendi’s personal representative, attended the Frankfurt conference of 1958.
–  Three of the five venues in 1958 were also sites of conferences in the current series – Frankfurt, Sydney, and Chicago.
–  Four of the earlier venues are sites of Baha’i houses of worship. The temple near Chicago had been completed in 1953. Foundation-laying ceremonies were held during the conferences in Kampala and Sydney, and those temples opened in 1961. The house of worship near Frankfurt opened in 1964.
Memories
At least nine people – and possibly more – at last weekend’s gathering in Frankfurt were also at the conference in 1958.
Uta von Both of Germany spoke of the earlier event in a presentation this past weekend. The 2,300 participants in 1958 represented 57 countries, she told the audience. She said one of the themes had been the need for Baha’is to move to new areas, and 133 people committed themselves to such a move.
Ian Semple of Switzerland recalled how the representative of Shoghi Effendi, Amelia Collins, stood by the photograph of Baha’u’llah as people approached to view it, distributing rose water to each person.
Ursula Grossmann, originally from Germany and now living in Finland, said the flavor of the two gatherings was different.
“The conference in 1958 was much smaller than the one today, and the countries from the east weren’t allowed to join,” she said. “Today that is possible – we have representatives from Macedonia, Kosovo, Hungary, Poland, and others present, and that gives a whole new atmosphere.”
Foad Kazemzadeh of Germany, who attended the 1958 conference as a youth, remembered it thus:
“The Baha’is had lost their dearly loved Guardian only a few months before. How eagerly they listened at the conference to the tribute which Hand of the Cause Amelia Collins paid to their beloved Shoghi Effendi in her personal recollections.
“Especially for the many, many believers who had come from Iran, her words were a solace to their wounded hearts. It is such a shame that due to the suppression of the Baha’is in Iran, no one could come this time. The bouquets of red roses that you see on the different stages are a sign that their empty places are sorely felt.”",FRANKFURT,,Germany
694,2009-02-12,"[632, 696, 695]","Jailed Iranian Baha'is should be released, not put on trial, says BIC","GENEVA, Switzerland — Reports that seven imprisoned Baha’is have been accused of espionage and other crimes and that their case will be referred to the Revolutionary Court next week are deeply concerning, potentially marking a new and dangerous stage in Iran’s persecution of Baha’is, said the Baha’i International Community today.
“The accusations are false, and the government knows this,” said Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva. “The seven Baha’is detained in Tehran should be immediately released.”
Word of a possible trial against imprisoned Baha’is came yesterday in an Iranian ISNA news agency report quoting Tehran’s deputy public prosecutor, Hassan Haddad. According to the report, a case will be sent to the revolutionary courts next week accusing the seven Baha’is of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic.”
It is presumed that the seven referred to by Mr. Haddad are the group of Baha’i leaders from Tehran who were arrested last year in raids reminiscent of sweeps nearly 30 years ago at the start of the Islamic revolution. Those sweeps led to the execution of dozens of Baha’i leaders at the time.
The seven Baha’i leaders have been held in prison for over eight months and no evidence against them has been brought to light. Further, at no time during their incarceration have the accused been given access to their legal counsel, Mrs. Shirin Ebadi. Mrs. Ebadi has been threatened, intimidated, and vilified in the news media since taking on their case and has not been given access to their case files. In December, the government moved to shut down the offices of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre, which was founded by Mrs. Ebadi. “The government must now allow Mrs. Ebadi access to the prisoners and to their files,” said Ms. Ala’i.
All Baha’i elected and appointed institutions were banned by the government in 1983; most of the members of the previous three national governing councils having successively been executed. In the absence of a national governing council (known as a “National Spiritual Assembly”), the ad hoc leadership group, called the “Friends in Iran,” was formed with the full knowledge of the government and since then has served as a coordinating body for the 300,000 Baha’is in that country. The various governments in power in Iran since 1983 have always been aware of this group. In fact, over the years government officials have routinely had dealings with the members of this group, albeit often informally. “To now say that the ‘Friends in Iran’ is an ‘illegal’ group is fallacious,” said Ms. Ala’i.
Systematic campaign
The prosecution of the leaders is just one step in a 30-year-long systematic campaign orchestrated by the government to eliminate the Baha’i community as a viable entity in Iran, the birthplace of the Baha’i Faith. Documentary evidence has been provided by United Nations agencies on this campaign.
The arrest of the Baha’i leadership takes place in the context of a severely and rapidly escalating campaign of attacks against the Baha’i community that has included the creation and circulation of lists of Baha’is with instructions that the activities of the members of the community be secretly monitored (PDF); dawn raids on Baha’i homes and the confiscation of personal property; a dramatic increase over the past two months in the number of Baha’is arrested; daily incitement to hatred of the Baha’is in all forms of government-sponsored mass media; the holding of anti-Baha’i symposia and seminars organized by clerics and followed by orchestrated attacks on Baha’i homes and properties in the cities and towns where such events are held; destruction of Baha’i cemeteries throughout the country and demolition of Baha’i holy places and shrines; acts of arson against Baha’i homes and properties; debarring of Baha’is from access to higher education and, increasingly, vilification of Baha’i children in their classrooms by their teachers; the designation of numerous occupations and businesses from which Baha’is are debarred; refusal to extend bank loans to Baha’is; sealing Baha’i shops; refusing to issue or renew business licenses to Baha’is; harassment of landlords of Baha’i business premises to get them to evict their tenants; and threats against Muslims who associate with Baha’is.
Ms. Ala’i said the nature and timing of the reported accusations against the seven Baha’is and possible trial are ominous.
“The charges of spying for Israel are often used by the Iranian government when it wishes to push forward a false case against Baha’is,” said Ms. Ala’i. “Since the early 1930s, the Baha’i Faith’s antagonists in Iran have insisted that the religion was instead a political sect created by imperialist governments attempting to weaken Islam. Baha’is have successively been accused of being tools of Russian imperialism, British colonialism, American expansionism, and most recently, of Zionism.
“The international headquarters of the Baha’i Faith is based today within the borders of modern-day Israel purely as a result of the banishment of the Faith’s founder, Baha’u’llah, by the Persian and Ottoman empires in the mid-19th century. In 1868, 80 years before the state of Israel was founded, Baha’u’llah was exiled to perpetual imprisonment in the city of Akka.”
“If the Baha’is are accused of spying for Israel, then why do they not hide their identity?  Why were hundreds previously executed for refusing to recant their faith and embrace Islam? Why have thousands been deprived of their jobs, pensions, businesses and educational opportunities? Why have holy places, shrines and cemeteries been confiscated and demolished? All of this demonstrates a concerted attempt to destroy a religious community,” Ms. Ala’i said.
**Other charges **
The other charges are equally false, she said.
“Accusations of ‘insulting religious sanctity’ are more about the Iranian government’s own intolerance of other religions or beliefs than any imaginary disrespectfulness of Baha’is towards Islam. It is well known that Baha’is recognize the divine origin of Islam and accept Muhammad as a true Prophet.
“As for the idea that the seven have been working against the regime, these people have been under constant surveillance and have been interrogated and detained previously.
“The government knows that the seven, following the principles of the Baha’i Faith, have refrained from involvement in any partisan political activity, whether local, national, or international. Like other Baha’is, they reject violence and any involvement in overthrowing governments.  The Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the worldwide Baha’i community, has recently spoken to this issue in a message to the Baha’is in Iran (PDF).
“Because the government knows such accusations are false, we can only conclude that this is yet another step in the escalation of its decades-long crackdown on Iranian Baha’is,” said Ms. Ala’i.
Although news reports did not specify the names of the accused, the seven who were arrested last year are: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm (See profiles).
All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad.
Ms. Ala’i also noted that at this time, some 30 other Baha’is are imprisoned in Iran solely on account of their religion. Close to 80 more Baha’is are out on bail, having posted deeds of property and business licenses as collateral for bail. They are awaiting trial on similarly false charges. They are also innocent and should be released, she said.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
695,2009-02-12,[],Lives of service: Profiles of seven imprisoned Baha’is,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The following are a series of short biographical profiles of the seven Baha'i leaders currently being held in Evin prison in Iran. Six were arrested in their homes in Tehran on 14 May 2008. A seventh had been arrested earlier, on 5 March 2008, while visiting Mashhad.
As the profiles will show, all have served Iranian society and also the Baha'i community extensively. As well, like most Iranian Baha'is, they have all experienced varying degrees of persecution since the Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979.
Their current imprisonment is particularly alarming because of their leadership position as members of a national-level coordinating group known as the “Friends in Iran.” All Baha’i elected and appointed institutions were banned by the government some 30 years ago, following the Islamic revolution. In the absence of a national governing council (“National Spiritual Assembly”), the “Friends in Iran” was then formed with the full knowledge of the government and since then has served as an ad hoc coordinating body for the 300,000 Baha’is in that country. The various governments in power in Iran since then have always been aware of the Friends in Iran; in fact, over the years the government has routinely had dealings with the members of the Friends, albeit often informally.
The seven people arrested last spring constitute the entire current membership of the Friends, which is one reason their sweeping arrests are so alarming. All have been held without official charges, although a report this week from the semi-official ISNA news agency said the cases would be sent to the revolutionary courts with accusations of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic.”
In these profiles, there are a number of references to the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE). The BIHE was established by Baha'is in the late 1980s as an alternative institution of higher education after Baha'i youth were banned from public and private universities in Iran in the early 1980s. Accordingly, many of the Friends or their family members received education from the BIHE or its adjunct, the Advanced Baha'i Studies Institute (ABSI), or they have contributed to its work as lecturers or instructors.
In recounting the voluntary service these individuals rendered to the Baha'i community, there are also references to various institutions, such as national or local governing councils, known as Spiritual Assemblies, various committees, or the Auxiliary Board, which comprises a group of individuals appointed to inspire, encourage, and promote learning. Most of these institutions have since been banned or dissolved in Iran because of government persecution.
Profiles available here »",GENEVA,,Switzerland
696,2009-02-15,"[632, 694, 695]",Swift international reaction to pending trial of Iranian Baha'is,"NEW YORK, United States — International reaction to news that Iran may soon  put on trial seven Baha'i leaders for espionage and other charges came swiftly last week as governments, parliamentary leaders and human rights organizations expressed strong criticism of any such trial. Many called for the immediate release of the Baha'is.
The group of seven has been imprisoned in Tehran since last spring. Since then, no formal charges had been announced, but the Iranian news agency ISNA reported last Wednesday that the Baha’is would be accused of “espionage for Israel, insulting [Islamic] religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic.” The Baha’is have had no access to their attorney, Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi.
In the United States, the Department of State condemned “the Iranian government’s decision to level baseless charges of espionage against seven leaders of the Iranian Baha’i community.”
“Authorities have detained these Baha’i for more than nine months without access to legal counsel or making public any evidence against them. The accusations reported in Iranian and international media are part of the ongoing persecution of Baha’i in Iran,” Department of State spokesman Robert Wood said Friday.
In London, Amnesty International issued an “urgent action” appeal on behalf of the seven,  calling for their “immediate and unconditional release.”
In Canada, Member of Parliament and former Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler spoke in the House of Commons and expressed concern that the trial could lead to the death penalty for the seven Baha'is. He called  the charges “trumped up.”
“The systematic and systemic abuse of the Bahai minority in Iran unfortunately manifested itself again this week as seven members of the Friends of Iran group, already being held for almost a year in the notorious Evin Prison, were charged on Wednesday with spying for Israel, insulting Islam and spreading propaganda against the state,” Mr. Cotler said.
In Germany, Bundestag member Dr. Peter Ramsauer, leader of the Christian Social Union party, expressed “deep concern” over the fate of the seven. “Our minimum expectation for a fair trial is unconstrained access for the defense attorney, the Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, to her clients and to have a public trial,” he said.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a statement saying “it is disappointing that the Iranian government is demonstrating that it will use any pretext, however baseless, to harass and detain those whose religious beliefs differ from those enforced by the state.”
“Due process, something to which Iran is committed as a signatory of the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is absent from this case,” commission Chair  Felice D. Gaer said in the statement.
Last week’s report from the ISNA news agency did not specify the names of the accused, but it was assumed to refer to Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
They constitute the membership of an informal coordinating body known as the Friends, which – with the knowledge of the government – was established some years ago to see to the minimum needs of Iran’s 300,000-member Baha'i community after its elected governing bodies were banned by government decree in 1983.
A spokeswoman for the Baha'i International Community last week stated emphatically that the seven are innocent of all charges and are being held solely because of their religious belief.
“The accusations are false, and the government knows this,” said Diane Ala’i, the representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva. “The seven Baha’is detained in Tehran should be immediately released.”
In its “urgent action” appeal last Thursday, Amnesty International said it “considers the charges to be politically motivated and those held to be prisoners of conscience, detained solely because of their conscientiously held beliefs or their peaceful activities on behalf of the Baha’i community.
“If convicted, they would face lengthy prison terms, or even the death penalty,” the organization said.
Other human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations made similar statements.
In Washington, Freedom House published a condemnation of Iran over the possibility of a trial for the seven, saying: “The five men and two women should be released immediately, along with dozens of other Baha'is who are in prison for exercising their human right to religious freedom.”
The Institute for Religion and Public Policy, also based in Washington, called the charges “absurd.”
“The arrest of Iran’s top Baha’i leaders has simply been another move to intimidate and undermine the faith’s followers. Iran has an especially poor record in respecting the right to worship of non-Shiite Muslims, and we call on them to drop the charges and release the prisoners,” said the institute’s president, Joseph K. Grieboski.
(Note: On 15 February, a correction was made to state that Freedom House is based in Washington.)",NEW YORK,,United States
697,2009-02-15,"[696, 694, 695]",Baha’is express gratitude for open letter of support,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha’i International Community has issued a statement of gratitude to the Iranian intellectuals, scholars, writers, journalists, activists, and artists throughout the world who signed an open letter apologizing for their silence during Iran’s long-running persecution of the Baha’is.
The open letter from the Iranians – dated 3 February and signed so far by 243 men and women living in 19 countries – had asked Baha’is to forgive them “for the wrongs committed against the Baha’i community of Iran” over the last century and a half.
“We will no longer be silent when injustice is visited upon you,” the letter said after enumerating some of the ways Baha’is have been persecuted, from “barbaric murders” to depriving youth of higher education.
In response, the Baha’i International Community told the signatories that the letter “brought a degree of solace and relief to the pain that your Baha’i fellow citizens endure.”
“On their behalf and that of the Baha’is throughout the world we convey our profound gratitude and appreciation for a deed of such historical moment,” the Baha’i message said, referring to the publication of the open letter.
The letter was particularly significant, said the Baha’i response, in that it rejected the milieu of intimidation created by Iranian authorities throughout the decades that served to silence “those fair-minded and informed individuals who had always wished to rise up” in support of the Baha’is.
Indeed, in a press statement yesterday, the organizers behind the letter said that many more people would like to sign.
“We are confident,” their statement said, “that many more individuals, responsible and humane individuals, both inside and outside Iran, will add their seal of approval to it, as they become aware of such a letter, and we hope that the independent and committed Iranian media will join us in disseminating this message.”
The open letter began with the heading “We are ashamed! A century and a half of oppression and silence is enough!”
“We are ashamed that during the last 30 years, the killing of Baha’is solely on the basis of their religious beliefs has gained legal status and over 200 Baha’is have been slain on this account,” said one clause.
“We are ashamed that a group of intellectuals have justified coercion against the Baha’i community of Iran,” the letter continued.
The letter ended thus: “We stand by you in achieving all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights. Let us join hands in replacing hatred and ignorance with love and tolerance.”
The Baha’i response also ended with a statement of hope: “The ardent hope of Iranian Baha’is is to be able to labor, shoulder to shoulder, with their compatriots for the progress and exaltation of their country that it may assume its seat of honor and glory among the family of nations.”
The open letter was initially signed by 42 people but more than 200 others added their signatures in the 10 days after it was first published. Their countries of residence were listed as Iran, Sweden, Canada, United States, Great Britain, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Malaysia, Denmark, Belgium, Mexico, Turkey, Switzerland, and Norway.
The Muslim Network for Baha’i Rights has offered a response, stating that such a letter “by a group of Iranian intellectuals and activists (was) truly inspirational. Change and progress cannot be brought about until mistakes of the past are acknowledged and admitted, and a resolve is made for them to never be repeated.”
The network answered the “We are ashamed …” clauses of the open letter with declarations of “We are proud …”
“We are proud that after a long period of silence, voices of protest are now being registered,” the network wrote on its Web site. “We are proud that in the face of the increasing attacks against the Baha’is of Iran, the intellectual community refuses to be silent. … We are proud of your speaking out against the painful reality in Iran.”
Another response came from the Institute on Religion & Public Policy based in Washington, D.C.
“The open letter is a great first step in publicizing and accepting societal responsibility for the way Baha’is have been persecuted over the last 150 years,” said Joseph K. Grieboski, president of the institute. “Now it’s up to the Iranian government to do the same and stop its abuse of the community.”",NEW YORK,,United States
698,2009-02-17,"[692, 690, 689]",Istanbul hosts 38th in series of 41 conferences,"ISTANBUL, Turkey — The 38th conference in the series of Baha’i gatherings occurring around the world was held last weekend in Istanbul, drawing 925 participants, mainly from Turkey, Cyprus, and Albania.
Istanbul is the only city hosting a conference where Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, set foot.
Baha’u’llah was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1817. In 1853, the Iranian authorities banished Him from His homeland to Baghdad, then part of the Ottoman Empire (see The Life of Baha'u'llah Web site). This marked the beginning of 40 years of exile which, after Baghdad, took Him to the Turkish cities of Istanbul and Edirne, and culminated in perpetual imprisonment in Acre, then a remote Ottoman outpost.  Map shows the exiles of Baha’u’llah after He left Tehran. Constantinople is now called Istanbul.Some 75,000 people have participated to date in the conferences, which began on 1 November and will conclude on 1 March. Scheduled for this coming weekend are gatherings in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Accra, Ghana, followed the next week by the last of the series of 41, which will be in Kiev, Ukraine.
To read a report of last weekend’s conference in Istanbul, go to: https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/
To see photographs with a narrative about the life of Baha’u’llah, including His exile in Istanbul, go to:
http://www.bahaullah.org/",ISTANBUL,,Turkey
699,2009-02-18,"[697, 696, 695]","European Union expresses ""deep concern"" over seven Baha'i prisoners","GENEVA, Switzerland — The European Union yesterday issued a statement expressing its “deep concern” over Iran’s plans to bring seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders to trial for espionage and other charges soon.  The Baha’i International Community has called for their immediate release, maintaining their innocence and characterizing the regime’s claims as an “escalation of its systematic crackdown on the Baha’is.”
The EU statement coincided with increasingly sharp anti-Baha'i rhetoric from Iranian officials, who said a trial for the seven might come within a week.
The seven Baha'i leaders have been imprisoned in Tehran for more than eight months, during which no formal evidence has been brought against them and they have not been given access to their legal counsel, Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi. Another 30 Baha’is are imprisoned in Iran, while 80 other prisoners have been released on collateral.
The European Union said it was concerned that, “after being held for so long without due process, the Baha’i leaders may not receive a fair trial.
“The EU therefore requests the Islamic Republic of Iran to allow independent observation of the judicial proceedings and to reconsider the charges brought against these individuals.”
The document was endorsed by the entire 27-nation membership of the EU, along with Turkey, Croatia, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine, and Moldova.
Separately, in Brazil yesterday, the president of the Human Rights Commission of the Federal Chamber of Deputies sent an open letter to Iran, asking for the release of the Baha´i prisoners.
“The peace-loving, humanistic principles and practices for which the Baha’is are known in Brazil have earned this community respect and credibility among the country’s human rights supporters,” said Deputy Pompeo de Mattos. “There is therefore no reason to doubt the credibility of their claims.”
Other such strong statements of support have been issued over the past several days from governments and parliamentarians in a number of countries, including Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Meanwhile, an official Iranian news agency report yesterday quoted a judiciary spokesman as saying the seven Baha'is “would attend their hearing sessions within one week.”
According to an Islamic Republic News Agency story, the spokesman, Ali-Reza Jamshidi, told reporters at his weekly press conference yesterday that the “seven committed criminal acts including spying for foreigners.”
Mr. Jamshidi stated that the Baha'is would “definitely be allowed to use legal counsel,"" though they have had no access to their lawyer to date.
His statement followed a harsh report on Sunday that quoted Iran’s prosecutor general as saying the government plans the “complete destruction” of Baha'i administration in Iran.
“The administration of the misguided Baha’i sect at all levels is unlawful and banned, and their ties to Israel and their opposition to Islam and the Islamic regime are clear,” said Iranian Prosecutor General Ayatollah Ghorban-Ali Dorri Najafabadi, according to a report in Fars News.
“The danger they pose to national security is documented and proven and therefore it is necessary that any substitute administration that acts as a replacement for the original be confronted through the law,” said Ayatollah Najafabadi.
Diane Ala’i of the Baha'i International Community said the activities of the Baha’i leaders had to do with meeting the minimum spiritual and administrative needs of the 300,000-member Baha’i community of Iran. She said Ayatollah Najafabadi’s attempt to portray their actions as “dangerous” was baseless and that the government is well aware that there is no truth to such allegations.
“How can the chief prosecutor equate something so harmless as a group of individuals who get together to give spiritual guidance and administer such things as marriages and burials and children’s moral classes with something that threatens Iran’s national security?” said Ms. Ala’i, the Baha'i International Community’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
“After they banned Baha'i administration in Iran in 1983, the government has always been aware of and informed of the activities of these ad hoc groups.
“In the eyes of the government, the only real ‘crime’ of the seven currently in Evin prison – along with the some 30 other Baha'i prisoners currently held in Iran – is that they hold a religious belief that is different from the majority in Iran, and that is something that the current regime finds intolerable,” she said.
Ms. Ala’i also discussed remarks made yesterday by Mr. Jamshidi in response to a question about Ayatollah Najafabadi’s statements. Mr. Jamshidi was quoted as saying: “Any acts which could be taken as propaganda against Islam, Iran and its Islamic establishment is definitely considered a crime and its perpetrators would be legally encountered.”
“The fact is that the Baha'i Faith is the only independent world religion other than Islam that accepts the divinity of Muhammad and reveres the Qur’an – along with the holy books of all the world’s great religions. There is nothing anti-Islamic or anti-Iran about the Baha'i Faith, its teachings, or the practices of its followers. The government cannot impose its own interpretation of Islam on the Baha’i Faith and conclude that the Baha’i Faith is anti-Islam,” Ms. Ala'i said.
“Indeed, the lives of the seven leaders currently in prison reflect lifelong efforts to promote the best development of Iranian society as a whole, through the promotion of education, social and economic development, and adherence to moral principle,” she said.
Earlier this week, the British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell issued a statement saying the Iranian government “appears to be increasingly using vaguely worded charges to target human rights defenders and religious minorities.”
“It is hard,” said Minister Rammel on Monday, “not to conclude that these people are being held solely on account of their religious beliefs or their peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and association.”",GENEVA,,Switzerland
700,2009-02-24,"[698, 693, 692]",Regional conferences in Ghana and Azerbaijan conclude,"ACCRA, Ghana — Accra was host this last weekend to the largest of the nine regional conferences held in Africa with 1,700 participants from eight countries.
The Accra gathering was held concurrently with the regional conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. They were the 39th and 40th in the series called for by the Universal House of Justice and begun on 1 November in Lusaka, Zambia.
The conference in Accra included about 950 participants from Ghana itself, 156 from Benin, 140 from Burkina Faso, four from Cape Verde, three from Guinea Bissau, 106 from Niger, 137 from Nigeria, and about 200 from Togo.
The regional conference for Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkmenistan drew 360 people to Baku, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, to celebrate achievements in the Baha’i work of the last two and a half years and consult about future goals. A hotel and conference center at the seaside served as the venue for the gathering, which attracted 27 Baha’is from Turkmenistan and 47 from Georgia, along with a large contingent from Azerbaijan and a few participants from other countries.  In Baku, Azerbaijan, some of the conference participants consult during a workshop. People from Turkmenistan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan attended the gathering, held on 21-22 February.Reports from participants tell of a sense of invigoration among the attendees, brought to further heights by music, drama, and dances from the many cultures gathered together. “This conference is like rain after an unbearable heat,” said Yegana Farzaliyeva, 20, of Azerbaijan.
Next weekend’s conference in Kiev, Ukraine, is the 41st, the last of the series. Some 77,000 people have attended the conferences, which have been organized to review achievements of the worldwide Baha’i community in the present stage of its growth, and to consider the next steps in moving the community forward.",ACCRA,,Ghana
701,2009-03-03,"[700, 698, 693]",Historic 18-week conference series comes to an end,"KIEV, Ukraine — The historic series of 41 Baha’i conferences that began four months ago in southern Africa wrapped up last weekend in eastern Europe with a gathering in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.
Some 730 people – mostly from Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Armenia, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia – attended the Kiev event, which like all 41 of the conferences was convened by the Universal House of Justice.
An estimated total of 77,700 people participated in the series, which began 1 November and continued for 18 consecutive weeks, spanning the globe and attracting Baha’is from the largest Western cities to the smallest villages in South Sea islands.
Two of the gatherings – in Los Angeles and Sydney – drew more than 5,000 participants, and Frankfurt and Toronto each passed the 4,000 mark.  Baha'is from eight eastern European countries were among the 730 participants in Kiev.Baha’is around the world were inspired with stories of sacrifice and dedication as people walked long distances or braved difficult conditions in order to celebrate achievements in community-building activities and consult on future plans.
Attendance at almost all the conferences far surpassed initial estimates, often sending organizers scrambling to find larger venues or additional rooms to accommodate the overflow crowd.
The conferences came at the half-way point of a five-year plan to establish Baha’i activities in neighborhoods and villages around the world.
For links to reports of the conferences, go to https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/",KIEV,,Ukraine
702,2009-03-06,"[699, 697, 696]",Baha'i International Community sends letter to Iran's chief prosecutor,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has issued an open letter to Iran's prosecutor general outlining the tragic history of the persecution of Baha'is in that country, explaining their innocence in the face of accusations made by the government, and asking for fairness in any upcoming trial of seven Baha'i prisoners.
Sent late yesterday by email to Ayatollah Qorban-Ali Dorri-Najafabadi, the letter also suggests that the government's continued oppression of Baha'is will ultimately have a wide impact on Iranian society as a whole.
""Your Honor, the decisions to be taken by the judiciary in Iran in the coming days will have implications that extend well beyond the Baha'i community in that land - what is at stake is the very cause of the freedom of conscience for all the peoples of your nation,"" said the six-page letter, dated 4 March 2009.
""It is our hope that, for the sanctity of Islam and the honor of Iran, the judiciary will be fair in its judgment.""
The letter comes after a series of statements from Ayatollah Najafabadi quoted in the Iranian news media leveling charges at the Baha'is and stating that the ad hoc arrangements that tend to the spiritual and social affairs of the Baha'i community of Iran are illegal.
""The Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow any movement to harm the national security through illegal and unauthorized organizational activities,"" he said, referring specifically to Baha'is, according to an account published by the Islamic Republic News Agency.
The seven members of the group that had been coordinating the affairs of the Baha'is at the national level and who have been in prison for some 10 months, responded to the declaration from their prison cell. They stated that if the current arrangements for administering the affairs of the Baha'i community are no longer acceptable to the government, to bring them to a close would not present a major obstacle. They said this is now being done, to further demonstrate the goodwill that the Baha'is have consistently shown to the government for the past 30 years.
The letter, which was also sent to the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations and published late yesterday on the Web site of the United Nations office of the Baha'i International Community, carefully outlines the facts of the oppression of the Iranian Baha'i community since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979.
""While the harassment and ill-treatment of Baha'is continued uninterrupted during this period, they have been taken to new levels of intensity in recent years as certain elements that have historically been bent on the destruction of the Baha'i community have assumed growing influence in the affairs of the country,"" says the Baha'i International Community in the communication.
It notes that it was only in response to that persecution that small ad hoc groups were set up to ""tend to the spiritual and social needs"" of Iran's 300,000 Baha'is - and that for more than 20 years the government has worked with those structures.
At the national level, the group was known as the ""Yaran,"" which means ""Friends"" in Persian. The ""Khademin,"" or ""Those Who Serve,"" performed a similar function at the local level.
""Then last year the seven members of the Yaran were imprisoned, one of them in March and the remaining six in May. ... The conditions of their incarceration have varied in degree of severity over the course of the past several months, with the five male members confined at one time to a cell no more than ten square meters in size, with no bed,"" the Baha'i International Community points out.
The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad.
""Finally,"" the letter continues, ""after some nine months of imprisonment, during which time not a shred of evidence could be found linking the members of the Yaran to any wrongdoing, they were accused of 'espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic,' and it has been announced that their case will soon be submitted to court with a request for indictment.
""This announcement was followed almost immediately by news reports which indicated that you had written to the Minister of Intelligence stating that the existence of the Yaran and the Khademin in Iran is illegal, while at the same time raising the question of the constitutional right of Iranian citizens to freedom of belief. You then made an official announcement to this effect.
""Your Honor, the events of recent years and the nature of the accusations made raise questions in the mind of every unbiased observer as to the intent behind the systematic perpetration of injustice against the Baha'is of Iran. Even if there might have been some misunderstandings about the motives of the Baha'i community during the early turbulent days of the revolution, how can such suspicions persist today? Can it be that any member of the esteemed government of Iran truly believes the false accusations which have been perpetuated about the Baha'is in that country?""
The letter also notes that many prominent Iranians have recently arisen to defend Baha'is, linking the overall struggle for human rights in Iran and the situation of the Baha'is.
""And we hear in the voices raised by so many Iranians in defense of their Baha'i compatriots echoes from their country's glorious past. What we cannot help noting, with much gratitude towards them in our hearts, is that a majority of those coming out in support of the beleaguered Baha'i community are themselves suffering similar oppression as students and academics, as journalists and social activists, as artists and poets, as progressive thinkers and proponents of women's rights, and even as ordinary citizens.""
To read the full letter, go to:
https://www.bic.org/sites/default/files/pdf/prosecutor-general-iran-en.pdf
To read the letter in Persian, go to:
https://www.bic.org/sites/default/files/pdf/prosecutor-general-iran-fa.pdf",NEW YORK,,United States
703,2009-03-16,[],Egyptian court removes barriers to ID documents for Baha'is,"GENEVA, Switzerland — A court in Egypt today removed any grounds for preventing Baha'is from receiving proper official identity documents, clearing the way for an end to years of deprivation for Egyptian Baha'is - and opening the door to a new level of respect for religious privacy in Egypt.
The Supreme Administrative Court dismissed an appeal by two Muslim lawyers that sought to prevent implementation of a lower court ruling last year that said Baha'is can leave blank the religious classification field on official documents, including all-important identity cards and birth certificates.
""We are pleased that the court has finally put this matter to rest, removing any possible excuse that would prevent the government from issuing official documents to Egyptian Baha'is,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Our expectation now is that the government will move swiftly to bring this ruling into practice and, at long last, grant Baha'is the essential right that all citizens have of possessing proper documents.""
Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), said the ruling actually goes far beyond the issue of rights for Egyptian Baha'is.
""This is the first time that the Supreme Administrative Court has found that any Egyptian has the right to keep their religious convictions private, even if the state does not recognize their belief system,"" said Mr. Bahgat, whose organization handled legal representation for Baha'is in court.
""The final ruling is a major victory for all Egyptians fighting for a state where all citizens enjoy equal rights regardless of their religion or belief,"" he said.
Mr. Bahgat said that because the Supreme Administrative Court is the highest court on such matters, there can be no further appeal to this case - and that, therefore, there should be no delay in the government's implementation of the new policy.
""The government policy that justified mistreatment of Egyptian Baha'is has now been firmly and finally struck down,"" he said.
For nearly five years, since the government began introducing a computerized identity card system that locked out all religious classifications except Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, Baha'is have been unable to get documents essential to day-to-day life. Among other things, they have been blocked from obtaining education, financial services, and even health care in government hospitals.
In April 2006, a lower administrative court upheld the right of Baha'is to be explicitly identified on official documents. But in December that year, the Supreme Administrative Court reversed that decision.
In a compromise, Baha'is proposed using a dash or the word ""other"" on documents, instead of being forced to list themselves as Muslim, Christian, or Jewish, and, on 29 January 2008, a lower court again ruled in their favor. But then two Muslim lawyers, who oppose anything that might be seen as even tacit recognition of the Baha'i Faith, filed an appeal.
In response, government officials took a ""go slow"" attitude on implementing the lower court ruling, saying they wanted to wait until all legal issues were cleared up.
The ruling today came in the case of 14-year-old twins Imad and Nancy Rauf Hindi who have been deprived of birth certificates and were unable to legally attend school in Egypt.
In recent weeks, several other cases involving Baha'is have been likewise resolved in their favor. But the Rauf Hindi twins' case was the final case to be settled.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
704,2009-03-18,[],Naw-Ruz this year marks centenary of entombment of the Bab,"HAIFA, Israel — On March 21, Baha'is around the world will mark Naw-Ruz - their new year - a date that this year coincides with the 100th anniversary of the interment of the remains of the Bab on Mount Carmel.
On Naw-Ruz in 1909, 'Abdu'l-Baha, then the head of the Baha'i Faith, laid to rest the mortal remains of the Bab. 'Abdu'l-Baha personally placed the precious trust in its place in a building he had had constructed on Mount Carmel in Haifa.
The original structure was later surrounded by a formal colonnade and crowned with a golden dome to make it a fitting burial site for the Bab, the first of two Messengers of God associated with the Baha'i Faith. Both lived in the 19th century, with the Bab's mission being to announce the imminent coming of Baha'u'llah, considered by Baha'is the long-awaited promised one of all religions.
The Bab was executed in the public square in Tabriz, Persia (now Iran), in 1850, and His remains were hidden in that country for nearly 50 years until being secretly brought to the Holy Land and hidden another decade before being laid to their final rest.  The original building is still visible at the Shrine of the Bab. The colonnade and golden dome were added later, with the work completed in 1953. (Photo copyright Baha'i World Centre)Baha'u'llah was also from Persia but was banished from His native land and eventually exiled to the Acre-Haifa area. Before His passing in 1892, Baha'u'llah gave instructions to 'Abdu'l-Baha to have the remains of the Bab brought from Persia and interred at a specific site on Mount Carmel.
'Abdu'l-Baha thus arranged for the purchase of the land; the building of an adequate structure for the interment; and a road to the site on what at that time was still a rough, undeveloped mountainside. The Baha'is of Rangoon, Burma, sent a sarcophagus to use for the entombment.
The circumstances of that significant event 100 years ago are described in the Baha'i history ""God Passes By"":
""'Abdu'l-Baha had the marble sarcophagus transported with great labor to the vault prepared for it, and in the evening, by the light of a single lamp, he laid within it, with his own hands - in the presence of believers from the East and from the West and in circumstances at once solemn and moving - the wooden casket containing the sacred remains of the Bab. ...""",HAIFA,,Israel
705,2009-03-19,[],"Web site offers information for visiting Baha'i gardens, shrines","HAIFA, Israel — A new Web site with information for visiting the Baha'i shrines and gardens in Haifa and Acre was introduced today by the Baha'i International Community.
The Web site gives details about tours, hours, and the gardens themselves, as well as information about visiting the Shrine of Baha'u'llah in Acre and the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa. The shrines are the resting places of the founders of the Baha'i Faith.
Letting people know what to expect when they visit the properties is a major aim of the Web site, said Albert Lincoln, secretary general of the Baha'i International Community. The site gives maps and suggestions for visitors, answers frequently asked questions, and also notes when people might find the gardens closed, such as on Baha'i holy days.  Details of tours, hours of opening, and information about visiting the Baha'i shrines in Haifa and Acre is available on the Web site.The launch of the Web site - called ""The Baha'i Gardens"" - coincides with an expanded array of public tours.
Half a million people come to the properties each year, making them among the most visited sites in the eastern Mediterranean region. Last year the shrines and gardens were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list as having ""outstanding universal value"" for humanity.
A major impetus for creating the Web site was to make visitor information available in the local languages, Mr. Lincoln said. In addition to English, the site already offers Hebrew, and Arabic will be added as soon as possible. Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel.
Public tours have changed in that people may check the Web site for the hours of the main ""Panorama Tour"" and the languages in which it is offered. Reservations are no longer required.
More specialized tours are available for groups, depending on their interests. Such tours must be arranged ahead of time.
""Organized groups often want a more in-depth experience,"" Mr. Lincoln said. ""They want to learn more, in addition to visiting the gardens.""
Besides providing practical details for visitors, the new Web site includes information about the Baha'i Faith and also such resource material as extracts from an architectural study of the Baha'i properties in Acre and Haifa.
The address of the new Web site is www.ganbahai.org.il.",HAIFA,,Israel
706,2009-04-02,[],Canada's Parliament condemns persecution of Baha'is in Iran,"OTTAWA, Canada — Canada's House of Commons has unanimously adopted a strongly worded motion condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran and calling on the Iranian government to release Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Tehran.
The motion, which was approved on 30 March, stated that the accusations against the Baha'is – espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic – are charges ""frequently used by Iranian authorities to target human rights defenders and religious minorities, and there is nothing in the history or teachings of the Baha'i community to lend any credence to such charges.""
The motion was addressed in a debate on the floor of the House of Commons which lasted some 90 minutes. Members of Parliament from all four of Canada's political parties spoke of the long history of persecution suffered by Iran's Baha'is and the current ""campaign of hatred and incitement"" against the Baha'i community there, noting that these current attacks ""constitute a number of warning signs that often foreshadow widespread ethnic, racial or religious cleansing.""
Decrying the ""persistent and pervasive"" violation of the human rights not only of Iran's Baha'is but of all Iranian citizens who have suffered repression at the hands of extremist elements in that country, members of Parliament also expressed deep admiration for Iran's people and ""the enormous contribution"" that Iran's ""great civilization"" has made to humankind.
The resolution concludes:
""Therefore, be it resolved that this House condemns the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i minority of Iran and calls upon the government of Iran to reconsider its charges against the members of the Friends in Iran, and release them immediately or failing this, that it proceed to trial without further delay, ensuring that the proceedings are open and fair and are conducted in the presence of international observers.""
Seven of the Baha'is imprisoned in Tehran had comprised an ad hoc group called the ""Friends in Iran"" that tended to the minimum needs of the 300,000-member Baha'i community in Iran.
The seven were rounded up a year ago and have been detained ever since, without access to legal counsel. Accusations against them were only recently announced, but no hearing or trial has yet been held. More than 30 Baha'is are currently jailed in Iran because of their religion.
Here is the wording of the full motion adopted by the Canadian House of Commons:
""Whereas, the House of Commons recognizes that on 14 May 2008, six members of an informal group known as the Friends in Iran that oversee the needs of the Baha'i community in Iran were arrested and taken to the political prisoners section of Evin prison in Tehran, where the seventh member was already being held, following her arrest in Mashhad in March 2008.
""And whereas, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in October 2005, uncovered a confidential letter from the Command headquarters of the Armed Forces of Iran ordering the identification and monitoring of all Baha'is and their activities.
""And whereas, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief stated on March 20, 2006, that she 'also expresses her concern that the information gathered as a result of such monitoring will be used as a basis for the increased persecution of and discrimination against, members of the Baha'i Faith, in violation of international standards ... The Special Rapporteur is concerned that his latest development indicates that the situation with regard to religious minorities in Iran is, in fact, deteriorating.'
""And whereas, the Baha'i community of Canada is gravely concerned for the safety of these seven Baha'is, who have been held without formal charges, access to legal counsel or evidence brought against them, and being subjected to harsh treatment and interrogation with very restricted visits from family members for more than nine months.
""And whereas, Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi - who announced her intention to defend the Baha'is in court - has since been harassed and her offices have been closed.
""And whereas, the Deputy Prosecutor General has announced that these prisoners will be tried by the Revolutionary court on charges of 'espionage on behalf of Israel', 'insult to the sacredness (of Islam)' and 'propaganda against the regime' - all of which are capital offences.
""And whereas, such charges are frequently used by Iranian authorities to target human rights defenders and religious minorities and there is nothing in the history or teachings of the Baha'i community to lend any credence to such charges.
""And whereas, these arrests have taken place in the context of an upsurge of arbitrary arrests, raids on home, expulsion of university students, harassment of school children, destruction of graveyards, virulent attacks in government controlled media.
""Therefore, be it resolved that this House condemns the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i minority of Iran and calls upon the government of Iran to reconsider its charges against the members of the Friends in Iran, and release them immediately or failing this, that it proceed to trial without further delay, ensuring that the proceedings are open and fair and are conducted in the presence of international observers.""",OTTAWA,,Canada
707,2009-04-17,[],Egypt officially changes rules for ID cards,"CAIRO, Egypt — Egypt’s Ministry of Interior this week published a decree that allows individuals to obtain government documents without identifying themselves as belonging to a particular religion.
The decree is the result of a recent Egyptian Supreme Administrative Court ruling – in a case involving Baha’is – that on government ID cards and other documents, individuals may put a dash in the field denoting religious affiliation.
“We are very pleased that the Egyptian government has moved to officially change the regulation that prevented Baha'is and others from realizing their rights of citizenship,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.
The computerization of ID cards introduced by the government had locked out all religious classifications except Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. This had meant that Baha'is were unable to get documents essential to day-to-day life.
The decree was signed by General Habib al-Adly, Egypt’s Interior Minister, and dated 19 March 2009, and was published on 14 April in the official gazette. According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), which represented Baha’is in many of the recent court cases concerning religious affiliation on government documents, the decree amends the Implementing Statutes of Egypt’s Civil Status Law of 1994. It specifically instructs officials to place a dash (--) before the line reserved for religion in the official documents of citizens who can show that they, or their ancestors, were followers of a religious belief other than the three recognized by the state.",CAIRO,,Egypt
708,2009-04-19,"[682, 696, 691]",Baha'is and rights groups say Iranian president must address discrimination at home,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The Baha’i International Community joined two human rights organizations in calling on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to address discrimination in his own country when he speaks this week at the conference known as Durban II.
The statement was issued as a joint news release by the Baha’i International Community, the Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LDDHI), and the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH).
In addition to calling on the Iranian president to address discrimination against ethnic minorities, women, and religious minorities, the three organizations also ask him to redress the problem of incitement to hatred.
“Of particular concern is the manner in which the government-controlled news media has vilified adherents of the Baha’i Faith,” the statement said, citing the hundreds of articles, radio and television programs, Internet postings, and pamphlets containing hate speech that have been disseminated in Iran in recent years.
The Durban Review Conference is being held under the auspices of the United Nations. The purpose is to evaluate progress towards the goals set by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in 2001.
(To read the news release issued by the three organizations, go here.)",GENEVA,,Switzerland
709,2009-04-24,[],"For 70th year, Buenos Aires elects assembly","BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — This week, for the 70th year, the Baha'is of Buenos Aires gathered to elect their local Spiritual Assembly – one of the two oldest of what are now 600 such Baha'i governing councils throughout South America.
A special program featuring historical photographs was presented at the annual meeting of the Buenos Aires' Baha'is on 20 April, said Behrooz Khomassi, who has researched local Baha'i history and helped prepare the program.
""The first assembly of Buenos Aires was elected on the 10th of May in 1940,"" he said.  The Spiritual Assembly of Buenos Aires was first elected in May 1940. This group, and that of Bahia, Brazil, were the first such assemblies in South America. (Photo courtesy of the Baha'is of Buenos Aires)Published documents from the period list Buenos Aires and Bahia, Brazil, as being the first two Baha'i assemblies in South America.
Both cities were visited in 1919 by the famed Baha'i travel teacher Martha Root, known for her journeys around the world to present the Baha'i message to royalty, government officials, civic leaders, newspaper editors, and the public at large.
In 1940, another prominent Baha'i, May Maxwell, also came to Buenos Aires, but she died within three days of her arrival on 27 February. Mr. Khomassi said her passing served as a catalyst for Baha'i activity in the city – two months later its first Spiritual Assembly was formed.
Worldwide, elections for local Baha'i assemblies are held annually at the beginning of the Festival of Ridvan, which goes from 21 April to 2 May and marks the anniversary of Baha'u'llah's declaration in 1863 that He was a new messenger of God. There are thousands of localities around the globe that hold such elections.
Also during Ridvan, virtually every national Baha'i community holds a convention where delegates elect their National Spiritual Assembly. Some 180 such elections will be held this year.
Assemblies at both the national and local level have nine members, and all Baha'is aged 21 or over who live in the jurisdiction are eligible for election.",BUENOS AIRES,,Argentina
710,2009-04-24,[],British prime minister sends Ridvan message to Baha'is,"LONDON, England — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a message to UK Baha'is to mark Ridvan, the most important Baha'i festival. In it he expressed his ""respect and admiration"" for the British Baha'i community which, he said, ""makes a contribution to British life out of all proportion to its size.""
In the letter, which was addressed to the annual reception hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is, Mr. Brown welcomed the Baha'is' ""participation in public life"" and described as ""tragic"" the prejudice and discrimination faced by some Baha'is in the world.
His sentiments were echoed by leaders of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, and the archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England, all of whom also sent messages to the reception.
""The Baha'i emphasis on equality, unity, social justice, and human rights does credit to your faith,"" wrote David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party.
Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, called Ridvan ""a time to acknowledge and reflect on the valuable social and cultural contribution made by the thousands of Baha'is living in the UK.""
""The Baha'i community,"" he said, ""can be very proud of its active role in promoting religious tolerance, peace and unity across the world.""  Bahar Tahzib, whose father was killed in Iran in the 1980s and whose uncle is currently imprisoned, speaks at the Ridvan reception.The prime minister's message pointedly addressed the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran:  ""At the forefront of all of our minds this Ridvan is the fate of the seven Baha'i leaders awaiting trial in Iran. We have raised our concerns with the Iranian government and I urge the authorities to ensure that these individuals receive a fair trial and ask them to put an end to discrimination against the wider Baha'i community within Iran.""
A message written on behalf of the archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, said he has ""made clear to the Iranian authorities his profound disapproval of the way in which the leadership has been treated since their arrest and detention in harsh conditions and without charge last year. The charges now brought go against all the experience of Baha'is as peaceful people and loyal citizens of their countries.""
The prime minister's letter was read by Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell, who attended the reception along with 80 other guests, including leading figures from nongovernmental organizations and different religious communities. The event was held on the terrace of the House of Commons on 22 April.
The 12-day Festival of Ridvan marks the anniversary of the announcement in 1863 by Baha'u'llah that He is God's Messenger for this age, the latest in a line of divine teachers that includes Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, and others.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
711,2009-04-26,[],Youth art project brings citation for Nunavut resident,"IQALUIT, NUNAVUT, Canada — Beth McKenty moved to sparsely populated northeast Canada – to Iqaluit on Baffin Island – in 1999 to fulfill a pledge, made 45 years earlier, to devote part of her life to reducing youth suicide.
Within two weeks of arriving she had begun a project to help children build self-esteem by exploring their creativity. The Arctic Youth Art Initiative has since grown to involve hundreds of children.
Ms. McKenty's efforts were acknowledged this month when she was one of 75 individuals from across Canada named as recipients of the Caring Canadian Awards for 2009. Created in 1996 by the Canadian Governor General, the award is presented to individuals and groups whose unpaid, voluntary contributions over a number of years provide extraordinary help or care to people in their community.
It has been a long and often surprising road for Ms. McKenty from her birthplace of Snowflake, Manitoba, to Iqaluit, population 7,200 and the capital of the Nunavut territory. In addition to several decades in Wisconsin, where she worked as a freelance journalist and raised a family, she has lived in Japan, China, and Russia, and she has taught at the Navajo College at Tsaile, Arizona, in the United States.
""I started out on a farm in Manitoba, one of seven children,"" she said. ""My father was from pioneer stock and a veteran who served at Vimy Ridge. My mother, a nurse, was an Icelandic immigrant. We grew up in a home with an openness to the whole world.
""In 1954, my younger brother took his own life. One way I dealt with the anguish was to make a promise to myself that some day, somehow, I would do something to help reduce youth suicide.""
It was the day of her brother's funeral that she first heard of the Baha'i Faith. As she learned of Baha'u'llah's world-embracing principle of unity, she felt it matched the values she had grown up with. A life of Baha'i activity has followed.
""I was so busy and the years went by, but my plan always included fulfilling my promise to my brother,"" she said. ""Then in 1999, two things happened simultaneously. I read that the rate of youth suicide in newly formed Nunavut was seven times the Canadian average. Around the same time, I attended the Baha'i National Convention in Montreal where I learned of opportunities for service in the Arctic. Here was my chance.""  The young people are offered space and materials for their work, but Beth McKenty says she ""never really instructed these children."" (Photo copyright 2004 Nunatsiaq News. Used with permission.)By October, she had moved into Baha'i House in Iqaluit, located on the Arctic tundra not too far south of the Arctic circle.
'I came with a purpose'
""I came with a purpose but didn't have a method,"" she said. ""Earlier, I had had my own artist's studio for two years and had brought my paints with me to Iqaluit. Two weeks after getting there, I heard some strange sounds and discovered two boys trying to throw stones over the house, but missing. I opened the door and asked if they'd like to come in for hot chocolate.
""Since I'd been painting, I asked them if they would like to paint, too. I explained that with red, yellow, and blue they could mix any color except white. They were shy but accepted. I was astounded at what they could paint. Their work was so northern. The wonderful heritage of the Inuit was evident in these children. They returned later with one or two friends. That's how this project began.
""I never really instructed these children. I just facilitated by providing a space and good quality materials. In addition to the painting, the children enjoy games, prizes, lunch, and occasional 'multiple' birthday parties.""
Although located in Baha'i House, the project is separate from Baha'i gatherings and is offered as a service to the community. Little by little, a special format developed with greeting time followed by preparation of palettes, brushes, paper, and paint for each child.
""I soon learned,"" Ms. McKenty recalled, ""that it matters to give exactly the same amount of materials to each child as they intently watch the preparation. I ask for six or seven minutes of silence at the beginning of painting. I've learned talking disturbs the creative moment. Often, silence continues a long time as the young artists become absorbed in what they are creating.""
Saturday morning sessions
Gradually more children came, bringing their friends. Today, the Saturday morning workshops still average five to 20 participants, from 4 to 14 years of age.
""There are many benefits to the project beyond the art,"" Ms. McKenty said. ""It is also important that children make friends here. A child who has been very unpopular with others can produce something unusual or very beautiful. This changes the others' feelings and the child's sense of worth.
""I can't say for sure that as an adult they won't take their lives, but I know there is much less chance of it if they have become proud of their work, give and receive praise, and learn more about human relationships.
""My experience shows me that every human being is an artist. When we recognize it, it helps inform us about our own soul.""
The Arctic Youth Art Initiative has steadily expanded, including visits to schools. With the support of other individuals and organizations, workshops have been held in eight other settlements in Nunavut, including the two most northerly, Resolute and Grise Fiord. Participants' work has been shown in the Nunavut Legislature, in Iqaluit's Nunatta Sanukkataangit Museum, as well as the Glenbow Museum in Calgary and the Marion Scott Inuit Art Gallery in Vancouver.
This summer, two especially gifted young artists are being given two weeks of individual instruction and visits to galleries and museums by the Ottawa School of Art, in recognition of the eight years they have regularly come to the workshops.
""Life is so rich for me as a Baha'i,"" said Ms. McKenty. ""I have learned to look at each human being, quite literally, as family. My hope is that this is part of what children feel here, that we are really united in what we are doing, that I am not a teacher from a different place, just a friend.
""It was overwhelming to me, returning two years ago from the funeral of my son Jack Jr. in Los Angeles, to answer the doorbell and find an enormous basket of orchids and lilies delivered with a note from 'your friends, the taxi drivers of Iqaluit.' Although this project is aimed at children, apparently it has reached other hearts, and my own continues to be educated by this privilege of living and working in Iqaluit.""
Editor's note: This article was first published by the Canadian Baha'i News Service.",IQALUIT,NUNAVUT,Canada
712,2009-05-08,[],"Australian National Assembly marks 75th year; like Iran's, it was first elected in 1934","SYDNEY, Australia — A congratulatory message from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was read to Australian Baha’is as they celebrated the 75th anniversary of their National Spiritual Assembly at an event in Sydney. Participants remembered the Baha’is in Iran, who would be marking the same anniversary if not for the decades of persecution in that country.
Both Iran and Australia elected their first national Baha’i governing councils in 1934.
In Sydney, more than 2,500 people turned out on 25 April for a special anniversary event at the Sydney Convention Centre, followed the next day by a reception on the grounds of the Baha’i House of Worship.
A spokesperson for the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia said at the reception that the Iranian Assembly was dissolved in 1983.
This occurred after the Iranian Prosecutor General called for the dismantling of the Bahá’í administrative structure. Persecution of the Iranian Bahá’ís had intensified in the years immediately following the Islamic Revolution in 1979. During that time all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran were abducted and disappeared without a trace, assumed to have been killed. Individuals subsequently elected to the same Assembly were then executed along with scores of other Bahá’ís.  The anniversary celebration coincided with this year's national Baha'i convention in Australia. Convention participants are shown here during a break.About 40 Baha’is are currently in prison in Iran because of their religion, including seven men and women who had a leadership role in helping see to the needs of the 300,000-member Baha’i community there.
Delegates to the annual Baha’i convention in Australia referred to Iran in a message: “We grieve for the 30 years lost to the Bahá’í administration in Iran and salute those who gave their lives as a result of their service to that institution as well as the selfless dedication of the Iranian friends throughout their long oppression.”
Prime minister sends greetings
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd sent a message for the anniversary event, read by Member of Parliament Laurie Ferguson.
In his own address, Mr. Ferguson complimented the Australian Baha'i community: “Your organization is in the forefront of tolerance, debate, and rationality.""
He said he was particularly concerned by the persecution of Baha'is in Iran.
Also speaking at the reception was Dr. Peter Khan, a member of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha’i Faith.
Dr. Khan said that since its establishment in 1934, the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia had dedicated itself to fulfilling the central mission of the Baha’i Faith – to be a source of harmony, unity, and understanding among diverse people.
The National Spiritual Assembly of Australia is one of 180 such Baha’i governing councils in the world. In virtually all countries, elections are held annually during the festival of Ridvan, which runs from 21 April to 2 May.
Some 90 delegates from throughout Australia attended their national convention – held at the Sydney Baha’i Centre from 24-26 April – and voted in the election for the National Assembly. All Baha’i elections are by secret ballot, without nominations or campaigning.
Australia and New Zealand originally had a joint National Spiritual Assembly, but growth in the number of the Baha’is in both countries led to formation of two separate governing bodies in 1957. New Zealand also celebrated the 75th anniversary during the recent Ridvan period.",SYDNEY,,Australia
713,2009-05-12,[],Iranian Baha'i leaders may face new accusation on anniversary of imprisonment,"NEW YORK, United States — The seven Baha'i leaders currently imprisoned in Iran are facing the anniversary of their arrest this Thursday, along with new and extremely grave accusations, after spending a year in jail without formal charges or access to their lawyer, Shirin Ebadi.
""Despite their obvious innocence and the call by many for their immediate release, these seven men and women have been in legal limbo for a year now, against all international human rights standards,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Moreover, their families have recently been told of a possible new charge - 'the spreading of corruption on earth,' which goes by the term 'Mofsede fel-Arz' in Persian and carries the threat of death under the penal code of the Islamic Republic of Iran,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""The sequence of events surrounding their detention exposes a shameless travesty of justice. Notwithstanding their having been subjected to intensive interrogations, it took a full seven months before they were given even a single pretext for their detention. On February 10, 2009, the Iranian Student News Agency quoted Tehran deputy prosecutor Hassan Haddad as having said that the investigation of these individuals was complete and that 'the case will be sent to the revolutionary court next week' and that these Baha'is are accused of 'espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.' The international protest expressed by governments and civil society was immediate and widespread, causing the Iranian authorities to review their approach.
""Now a new wrongful accusation reportedly has been added some three months after the investigation was supposed to have concluded. The charge of being spreaders of corruption was used against the Baha'is who were executed in the years immediately following the Islamic revolution. That it may now be resorted to in this case is a further demonstration that the authorities have no basis for any allegation against these seven individuals, other than blatant religious persecution. This action against the Baha'i leadership reflects the government's sharply increased persecution of the entire Iranian Baha'i community of more than 300,000 members.
""The upcoming anniversary of their arrest offers an important milestone and we ask that the international community re-state once again in the strongest terms its demand for their immediate release, or, at least, for a fair and open trial that meets international standards of justice,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Ms. Dugal also noted that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has frequently emphasized the importance of ""justice and human dignity"" and ""the establishment of a just world system,"" such as when he addressed the UN Durban Review Conference in Geneva last month.
""How can the calls of the Iranian leadership for justice in the international sphere be taken seriously if they do not grant justice to their own citizens? In Iran, by all accounts universally agreed upon human rights are routinely ignored, not only for Baha'is but also for women, journalists, and others who only seek dignity and justice,"" she said.
The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad.",NEW YORK,,United States
714,2009-05-19,[],Baha'is participate in U.N. Sustainable Development session,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — As one of the youngest representatives from a nongovernmental organization to attend this year's U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development, it was natural that 19-year-old Alicia Cundall would participate in the youth caucus.
But she didn't expect to be appointed by the group to deliver their main statement to the plenary session of governments, which she did on 14 May.
""I didn't want to read it but the people in my group said it would make sense for me to do it because I had worked really hard on it,"" said Ms. Cundall, who is an environmental science student at the University of Toronto and one of six youth delegates from the Baha'i International Community to this year's session of the commission, held 4-15 May.
The youth statement sought to emphasize the commission's responsibility to take future generations into account as it grapples with this year's agenda, which focused on the food crisis, agriculture, and Africa.
""In times of crisis we're often urged by convenience or panic to fall back on old practices and cheap fixes,"" said Ms. Cundall, reading the youth statement.
""But we cannot continue along this road,"" the statement said. ""We must ensure that wherever possible, even if it's hard, even if it costs more now, we prioritize truly sustainable practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.""  ""Climate Ethics"" was a Learning Center side event sponsored by the Baha'i International Community during the session of the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development. The event was held on 4 May.Tahirih Naylor, the Baha'i representative to the U.N. who specializes in sustainable-development issues, said that the goal in sponsoring so many young people at the meeting was to emphasize the role of education and capacity building as an essential component of sustainable development.
""Youth, with access to quality education and training, can be the protagonists of their own development,"" she said.
In addition to the Youth caucus, Baha'i delegates – 12 in all – participated  in the Women's caucus, the NGO caucus, and the Indigenous Peoples caucus.
The Baha'i International Community sponsored and participated in several side events at this year's session of the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development. These included:
-- A Learning Center program on ""Climate Ethics."" The interactive course intended for policy makers and others sought to enable participants to identify key ethical and moral responsibilities that should guide decision-making in the area of climate change.
The discussion focused on how the threats of climate change to agriculture, rural development, and land productivity should be addressed within an ethical framework that allows nations to move beyond national interest to consideration of the common good.
Facilitators included Donald A. Brown, associate professor of environmental ethics, science and law, Penn State University; Marilyn Averill, an attorney and doctoral candidate in environmental studies in the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado at Boulder; and Peter Adriance, NGO liaison for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
-- A panel discussion on ""Poverty and the Climate Crisis"" organized by the Working Group on Poverty and Climate Change of the NGO Subcommittee on Poverty Eradication. The event featured Fred Matwang'a of the Kenyan mission to the United Nations; Kiara Worth, a specialist in sustainable development from South Africa; Dessima Williams, ambassador of Grenada to the United Nations; and Ms. Averill of the University of Colorado. The event was moderated by Anita Wenden, convener of the Working Group on Poverty and Climate Change.
Ms. Worth, 25, who was one of the Baha'i delegates, presented a one-woman dramatic presentation titled ""Theatre of Survival: Grassroots Climate Change Communication."" She appeared as an old and wizened village songoma who tells the story of young white scientists overtaking her village with complicated charts and numbers, demanding that the people change the type of crops they grow.
""It's often difficult to communicate scientific concepts without taking into account the existing cultural realities,"" said Ms. Worth, explaining why she chose to use theater for her contribution – a technique she often employs in her work with Golder Associates in promoting sustainable development in South Africa.
""The beauty of theater is that anyone can do it and it can be adapted to various social messages,"" she said.
(The Web site of the United Nations Office of the Baha'i International Community at http://www.bic.org/  has additional information, including links to video with portions of some of the presentations.)",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
715,2009-05-19,[],Baha'is observe Declaration of the Bab,"HAIFA, Israel — On 23 May, Baha'is around the world will celebrate the 165th anniversary of the birth of the Baha'i Faith.
The holy day marks the Declaration of the Bab, who in 1844 announced that He was a new divine Messenger, sent to herald a new age for humanity and to prepare the way for Baha'u'llah, the universal Messenger of God expected by people of all religions.
The house in Shiraz, Iran, where the Bab first made His announcement had been preserved as a Baha'i holy site, but in 1979 – 30 years ago this year – it was destroyed by a mob aided by Revolutionary Guards.
The Baha'i calendar dates from 1844, with the year 166 B.E. (Baha'i era) now under way.
The Declaration of the Bab is one of nine holy days during the year on which Baha'is suspend work.",HAIFA,,Israel
716,2009-05-26,[],Ascension of Baha'u'llah commemorated,"ACRE, Israel — On 29 May 1892 – 117 years ago this week – Baha’u’llah passed away at His home outside Acre.
Baha’is around the world each year commemorate the date with special devotional programs, many turning in the direction of His burial site as they pray. To Baha’is it is the most sacred spot on earth.
The Shrine of Baha’u’llah is adjacent to the home where He lived His final years. To the end He was a prisoner of the Turkish Empire, even after authorities allowed Him to live outside the walls of the prison city of Acre.
His passing in 1892 followed nearly 40 years of exile from His native Iran, first in Baghdad and later in Turkey before His incarceration in Acre in 1868.
Baha’is accept Baha’u’llah as the Manifestation of God for this age, the latest in a line a divine prophets that includes Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, and others.
The Ascension of Baha’u’llah is one of nine holy days during the year on which Baha’is suspend work.",ACRE,,Israel
717,2009-05-27,"[713, 696, 695]","Australia, Canada call for immediate release of imprisoned Baha'is","CANBERRA, Australia — The Australian Parliament has called on the government of Iran to release seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders “without delay.”
A motion from the House of Representatives expresses “serious concern” that the detained Baha’is have had no access to legal representation and have not been subject to due legal process.
It also expresses concern about charges of “spying, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic Republic, and that these charges could attract the death penalty.”
Finally, the motion calls on Iran to “to respect rights to freedom of religion and the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression and association, in accordance with international human rights conventions.”
Six members of Parliament from both major parties spoke in support of the motion, which was approved on 25 May. One of them was Mr. Luke Simpkins.
“I would like to be able to say there has been some progress since I last spoke on this issue,” he said, “but the cause of justice in Iran has only gone backwards in the last few months.
“It has recently been publicized that the Baha’i seven may face another charge, that of spreading corruption on earth, which is in addition to the other charges reportedly laid. It is my firm view that all these charges have no validity and remain inconsistent with the teachings of the Baha’i Faith.”
IN OTTAWA, the Canadian government also issued a statement, published on 14 May – the one-year anniversary of the imprisonment of six of the seven Baha’i leaders. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon said his government “calls upon the Iranian authorities to immediately release the seven Baha’i leaders and to cease the harassment of members of the Baha’i Faith.”
He said Canada is “deeply troubled by the continued imprisonment of these Baha’i leaders, without charge or legal representation.”
“We believe they are being detained solely because of their faith,” he said.
IN BRUSSELS, the Presidency of the European Union has issued a strong statement expressing “deep concern about the increasing violation of religious freedom in Iran.”
The statement specifically names 13 individuals – five Christians, seven Baha’is, and one Shiite – who the EU says are currently imprisoned for legitimate expression of religious belief.
About the Baha’is, it says “evidence suggests that the persecution deliberately aims to suppress Baha’i religious identity and legitimate community activities.”
“Concerns relating to this case are further reinforced by numerous reports of official harassment of members of the Baha’i community, including detentions; police summons and pressure to desist from community religious activities,” said the statement, issued on 25 May.
The seven Baha'is referred to in all the pronouncements are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
All but Mrs. Sabet were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. The seven are being held in Evin prison in Tehran.
(Editor's note: The photograph was added to this Web page on 2 June 2009. Wording describing the statement from the European Union was changed on 8 June 2009.)",CANBERRA,,Australia
718,2009-06-14,[],Jazz singer Tierney Sutton takes a spiritual look at 'Desire',"LOS ANGELES, United States — Tierney Sutton is hardly alone among jazz vocalists in trying to bring a spiritual dimension to her music. But lining up jazz standards with the sacred writings of the Baha'i Faith takes the idea a step further, says Britain's Daily Express in a review of her new album.
The disc, called ""Desire,"" features 11 well-known songs and has been garnering rave reviews since its release earlier this year. The first and last tracks – ""It's Only a Paper Moon"" and ""Skylark"" – are introduced by spoken extracts from The Hidden Words, a work by Baha'u'llah that states spiritual truths common to religion throughout the ages.
Ms. Sutton's new album – her eighth – ""comes across as a powerful, even spiritual, musical statement about the nature of human desire, both good and bad,"" says one online review.
""Material things that we want or desire are not usually a path to happiness,"" Ms. Sutton explains, ""and are not usually a path to ourselves.""
A member of the Baha'i Faith since the age of 18, she has emerged as one of the outstanding jazz singers of the past decade – ""a serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level,"" said the New York Times at one point.
Ms. Sutton, whose previous two albums each won Grammy nominations, says she has wanted for years to do a record challenging the modern tendency to exalt material wealth and self-gratification over humanity's higher, spiritual nature. Finally, the time was right.
The key, she said, is the 15-year relationship she has with her band – Christian Jacob on piano, Trey Henry and Kevin Axt on bass, and Ray Brinker on drums – and the way the five have learned to work together and with the music.
""I wouldn't have set about doing this in the first years that our band was together,"" Ms. Sutton says. ""We are a collective and make all our decisions collectively. As time went by, we were all craving to get deeper – both musically and conceptually. We'd reached a place where we were all very comfortable about doing this.""
Sacred writings  The Tierney Sutton Band includes Christian Jacob on piano, Trey Henry and Kevin Axt on bass, and Ray Brinker on drums.As she began work on the album, she set about exploring the literature of the world's religions to find relevant extracts to use.
""My 12-year-old son and I have held an interfaith children's class for the last six or seven years, so I had all the books from the different traditions to go to,"" she says. ""I read through all of them looking for texts about materialism. Of course, all faith traditions speak of this but in the end, I found that Baha'u'llah's writings seemed to be the most direct and concise in terms of materialism.
""In the course of researching this album, my understanding of the Hidden Words changed, and I now see the core issue of the book as humanity's struggle between its spiritual nature and materialism.""
It took her many years to consider her work as a singer as a form of service to others.
""There are deep prejudices in our society about the usefulness of artists,"" says Ms. Sutton, who grew up in Milwaukee in the central United States and now lives in Los Angeles. ""I first set out to study Russian because I thought I would be able to serve humanity with it.""
In the process of pursuing a bachelor's degree in Russian, she discovered jazz.
""I knew there was something spiritual there, but I couldn't see standing on a stage singing 'do-be-do' as service,"" she remembers. ""Then, after about 10 years, we started to get reviews where the critic could catch in our performances something of what I was trying to convey as a Baha'i.""
Following one of her shows, a New York Times' review said she ""conveyed a sense of jazz singing as an extension of spiritual meditation in which adherence to an ideal of balance and consistency and, yes, humility took precedence over any technical or emotional grandstanding.""
Letters from listeners began to confirm her in the idea of service.
""One man wrote to me and said our concert had given him his first experience of joy since his 20-year-old son had died the year before,"" she says. ""Another email came from a man who was thinking of taking his own life. He heard one of our songs on the radio and came to our concert that night, and he changed his mind.""
Finding harmony
Ms. Sutton says she sees her voice as just another instrument in the ensemble. The band is incorporated, with each member an equal partner in the finances.
""Look at the state of art and music in the world. It's in a very sorry state. I see people changed by listening to the level of excellence in this band,"" she says.
""We want to offer our experience as a model to corporations and all sorts of organizations who struggle with problem solving. We are inspired by a true process of consultation. When we set out to make a song, one person puts out an idea and the others contribute theirs. We all know each other extremely well. We have different styles, strengths and weaknesses,"" she notes.
""We can only do what we do if we remain united. Unity changes the way you do everything. And when we are onstage we always need to have a deep and profound sense of humility. We are there to serve the music.""
Ms. Sutton is one in a line of accomplished jazz musicians who have been inspired by the Baha'i teachings, most notably Dizzy Gillespie, one of the 20th century's foremost trumpeters. She believes that there are parallels between the way that jazz works and concepts found in the Baha'i Faith.
""Despite what people think, jazz is not a kind of music without rules,"" she says, ""but its rules create a structure that inspires diverse expression. In the band, we all trust each other to follow certain rules. Likewise, the diversity and the variation of individual Baha'i experience are vast and personally directed in many ways, but there are core values or principles guiding it.""
When she saw the beautiful gardens and terraces of the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, she says she found herself thinking about some of the solos by Christian Jacob, the pianist in her band.
""There was intricacy and beauty and great variation, but all in harmony. That's very much in the tradition of the best jazz.""",LOS ANGELES,,United States
719,2009-06-24,[],Reports of a trial date for Baha'i leaders falsely accused of espionage,"BIC NEW YORK, United States — According to information conveyed by the authorities in Evin prison to the family members of the seven Baha'is who have been imprisoned in Tehran, Iran, for over a year, their trial date has been set for 11 July 2009. This information has been provided to the family members only orally and, as information conveyed by officials concerning the judicial process has often proved unreliable, it is possible that the Iranian authorities may find some reason to change the trial date.
The seven were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have been held more than a year without formal charges or access to their attorneys. Official Iranian news reports have said the Baha'is will be accused of ""espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.""
The trial is apparently scheduled to be held at Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court. This is where American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi was recently convicted of espionage and sentenced to 8 years imprisonment. She was eventually released, but only after an international outcry at the clear politicization of the case and manifestly unjust legal procedures.
""These seven individuals are facing completely false charges,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. ""They - along with the some 30 other Baha'is currently in prison in Iran - are innocent of any wrongdoing and are being held solely because of their religious beliefs.""",BIC NEW YORK,,
720,2009-06-26,[],The Universal House of Justice addresses a message to the Baha’is of Iran,"HAIFA, Israel — The Universal House of Justice has addressed the following message dated 23 June 2009 to the Baha’is of Iran in light of recent events in that country:*  *  *23 June 2009
To the Bahá’ís of Iran
Dearly loved Friends,
With hearts grieved by events unfolding in Iran, we address this letter to you, the steadfast followers of Bahá’u’lláh in that land. To the concern for your safety that has long weighed on us is now added mounting fear for the safety of millions of Iranian men and women, so many of them at the pinnacle of their youth, their vast potentialities yearning to be realized. How rapidly have veils been rent asunder! Cruelty meted out in calculated measures to you and others over the years has been unleashed in the streets of Iran for all humanity to see. No matter what the turn of events, we are confident you will adhere firmly to the fundamental principle of our Faith that strictly prohibits any involvement in partisan political activity by individual Bahá’ís or by Bahá’í institutions. Yet you cannot remain aloof and insensitive to the suffering of your people. Decades of hardship have prepared each of you to stand as a beacon of strength in the circle of your family and friends, your neighbours and acquaintances, radiating hope and compassion to all those in need. Keep alive in your hearts the feeling of confidence that the future of Iran holds bright promise, the certitude that the light of knowledge will inevitably dispel the clouds of ignorance, the conviction that concern for justice will protect the nation from falling prey to calumny, and the belief that love will ultimately conquer hatred and enmity. You have demonstrated in the example of your lives that the proper response to oppression is neither to succumb in resignation nor to take on the characteristics of the oppressor. The victim of oppression can transcend it through an inner strength that shields the soul from bitterness and hatred and which sustains consistent, principled action. May the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá resound: “Iran shall become a focal centre of divine splendours. Her darksome soil will become luminous and her land will shine resplendent.” You and your compatriots are in our continued prayers.
The Universal House of Justice",HAIFA,,Israel
721,2009-06-29,[],German town marks 700-year anniversary with programs at Baha'i temple,"LANGENHAIN, Germany — The European Baha’i House of Worship – the most prominent landmark in a wide area around Langenhain – was the site of events this month celebrating the 700-year anniversary of the village.
The mayor of Hofheim, of which Langenhain is a part, and more than 300 townspeople gathered at the temple where a choir from Langenhain sang Christian psalms, alternating with works performed by the national Baha’i choir.
The program culminated with the choirs joining together to sing words of Baha’u’llah set to music from Mozart.
“From the very first sound, everyone could feel that it was something extraordinary,” one of the Baha’is said of the finale. “The very special, prayerful atmosphere lasted a long time – nobody spoke or applauded.”
The event was followed by a second program – a “musical matinee” – at the nearby Baha’i center where the choirs again sang for the hundreds of visitors. Both programs took place on 1 June and were attended by local officials as well as representatives of the Protestant and Catholic churches.
Several of the Langenhain chorus members commented that they had long wanted to sing at the Baha’i House of Worship.  Several Langenhain choir members said they had long wanted to sing at the European Baha'i House of Worship, located in their village. They finally had the opportunity at an event celebrating the 700 years of Langenhain.“It was a great joy for us,” choir conductor Andrea Post said. Her group of about 30 singers actually comprised two choirs that joined forces for the special events – the New Langenhain Choir and a local traditional choir that was founded in 1844.
Anniversary events in the village of Langenhain will continue for several months. The weekend of 29 May to 1 June included many activities, among them an ecumenical service at the local Protestant church, a historical landmark dating back to 1748.
The European Baha’i House of Worship, visited by about 25,000 people each year, opened in 1964. It is one of seven such Baha’i temples around the world.
The village of Langenhain, which was annexed to Hofheim in 1972, today has a population of 3,200 people. It is located about 25 kilometers west of Frankfurt.",LANGENHAIN,,Germany
722,2009-07-06,[],"Ethics at heart of economic crisis, says EBBF","GENEVA, Switzerland — Any response to the world economic crisis must address ethics, given that the crisis is ""fundamentally one of trust and integrity,"" the European Baha'i Business Forum said in a statement published last week.
Furthermore, the situation requires an ethical response ""at all levels"" – from individuals, from corporations, and from governments and regulatory entities, said the statement, released as some 400 representatives from dozens of countries and organizations gathered in Geneva for a two-day Global Ethics Forum.
As people reshape their thinking, certain principles must be considered, said the EBBF.
""We need to replace the concept of self-centered materialism with that of service to humanity,"" the EBBF said. Cooperation must replace competition, the statement continued; ethical behavior must replace corruption, gender balance must replace sexism, world unity must replace protectionism, justice must replace injustice.
""EBBF promotes and welcomes engagement with the widest possible community to develop together the new framework,"" the statement said.
""We call on peoples from all businesses, countries, and walks of life to work together to build a new economic system based upon equity and justice,"" it concluded.
More than 20 members of the European Baha'i Business Forum participated in the Global Ethics Forum, held 2-3 July at United Nations headquarters in Geneva.
EBBF issued the statement in an effort to contribute to new ways of thinking that will help companies and countries develop new models as they navigate the current crisis.
""There is a growing need for alternatives,"" said Daniel Truran, secretary general of the EBBF. ""People are thirsty for a different way of working and of conducting their organizations.
""In times of crisis, the search for the 'right' way forward – a direction that was not the one that got us into this crisis – is stronger than ever,"" he said.
The European Baha'i Business Forum was founded in 1990 and now has nearly 400 members in some 60 countries.
Among its activities, the EBBF:
– organizes or participates in more than 250 events a year at the local, national, or international level;
– designs university and postgraduate courses for young professionals, particularly those who are concerned about being confronted with a business environment that conflicts with their own ideals and values;
– publishes materials to offer ideas and background to its members and others, and posts online interviews with individuals who are trying to practice values-based leadership in their work.
The organization lists its seven core values as ethical business practices, social responsibility in business, values-based leadership, sustainable development, a new paradigm of work, partnership of women and men in all fields of endeavor, and nonadversarial decision-making through consultation.
The EBBF Web address is http://ebbf.org",GENEVA,,Switzerland
723,2009-07-13,"[720, 695, 697]",Trial for seven Baha'i leaders reportedly delayed,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Iranian officials have reportedly told families of the seven Baha'i leaders currently held in Evin prison in Tehran that their trial has been delayed. No new trial date was given.
Held for more than a year, the seven were reportedly to have been tried on Saturday, although this information, too, was based on oral reports from officials, and such reports have often been unreliable in the past.
The seven were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have been held more than a year without formal charges or access to their attorneys. Official Iranian news reports have said the Baha'is will be accused of ""espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.""
The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad.
The Baha'i International Community has repeatedly said that the seven are being held solely because of their religious beliefs, calling for their immediate release.
Such appeals for the release of the seven have been echoed by governments and human rights groups around the world. On Friday, Amnesty International issued a press release calling on Iranian authorities to release the seven. On Thursday, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, responding to a letter from Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist who spent almost four months in an Iranian cell, likewise urged the release of the seven. Also on Thursday, European Parliament member Angelika Beer, speaking on behalf of the Parliament's delegation for Iran, called for the release of the seven, or, at the least, urged that any trial be free, fair and open.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
724,2009-07-16,"[723, 720, 702]",British Baha'is meet with Prime Minister Brown on Iran concerns,"LONDON, England — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met this week with members of the U.K. Baha'i community and underlined his government's concern over the seven Baha'i leaders being detained in Iran.
Mr. Lembit Opik, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is group, accompanied three Baha'i representatives to the meeting, held yesterday at the prime minister's office in the Houses of Parliament.
One of the Baha'is, Mrs. Bahar Tahzib – originally from Iran but now living in England – shared with Mr. Brown her first-hand experience of religious persecution. Her father was executed in Iran in June 1980 for being a Baha'i, and her uncle, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, is one of the seven Baha'i leaders arrested in the spring of 2008 and jailed since then in Evin prison in Tehran.
Charges against the seven have been reported in government-controlled mass media as ""espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic"" – accusations the Baha'i International Community categorically denies. No formal charges have been filed, however, and the seven Baha'is have had no access to attorneys.
Families of the prisoners had been informed that there would be a trial this past week, but now the families reportedly have been told there is a delay. No new trial date has been given.
Before their arrest, the prisoners were members of an informal committee looking after the affairs of Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i community, the country's largest non-Muslim religious minority. At least 30 Baha'is are currently being held in Iranian prisons because of their religion.
""I was very touched by the prime minister's genuine expressions of sympathy and concern,"" Mrs. Tahzib said after yesterday's meeting with Mr. Brown.
""My uncle is 75 years old, and he is being kept in unsuitable conditions for more than a year,"" Mrs. Tahzib said she told the prime minister. ""This is clearly a cause of great concern for the family, and their wish is for a fair trial.""
Mr. Opik noted that recent events in Iran have shown the world the methods – including manipulating the judiciary process – that the Iranian government uses to impose its will.
""The examples of the case of Roxana Saberi, the protesters picked up on the streets, in their homes and hospital beds, and the arrests of foreign and domestic journalists, among others, illustrate a pattern of arbitrary arrest, coercion, false confessions, baseless charges, and summary judgments,"" he said.
The other Baha'is who met with Prime Minister Brown were Dr. Kishan Manocha, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, and Mr. Barney Leith, director of diplomatic relations for the U.K. Baha'i community.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
725,2009-08-12,"[724, 702, 695]",Due process ignored as trial date is set for Iranian Baha'i prisoners,"GENEVA, Switzerland — In yet another example of the denial to Baha’is in Iran of their rights to justice, including due process, judicial officials have reportedly set next Tuesday as the trial date for seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders – despite the fact that the lead lawyers registered with the court to represent them are either in prison or outside the country.
Further, efforts to have the accused released on bail have not succeeded. The investigation against them was concluded months ago but they remain incarcerated, without access to their legal counsel and with only the barest minimum contact with their families – contact that did not begin until some five months’ after their arrest, when they were finally taken out of solitary confinement.
Authorities recently sent to Abdolfattah Soltani, a key member of the legal team representing the seven Baha’is who is himself currently imprisoned in Evin prison, a notice saying that 18 August has been set as the trial date for the seven Baha’is. Dated 15 July, the writ of notification for the seven gives 9 a.m., 18 August, as the date for the trial, in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. That is the same court that tried Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi.
The writ of notification giving 18 August as the trial date was specifically addressed to Mr. Soltani, a well-known human rights lawyer and a principal of the Tehran-based Defenders of Human Rights Center, which was founded by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi and has since last year undertaken to defend the seven Baha’is.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Ebadi, the senior member of the legal team, remains outside the country.
“The judiciary’s decision to schedule the trial under these circumstances is an effrontery and yet another tactic aimed at depriving the seven Baha’i leaders of competent legal counsel,” said Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
“The Iranian authorities know full well who is serving as legal counsel for the Baha’is. Indeed, authorities have several times tried to pressure the seven to change lawyers.
“It is the height of absurdity to issue a trial notice to a lawyer who has himself been unjustly imprisoned,” she said.
“The willingness of Iran’s judiciary to flout the most fundamental internationally accepted norms of jurisprudence were brought to light in the widespread publicity attending the trial of Roxana Saberi.
“More recently, the attention of the world has been focused on the show trial of scores of individuals arrested in post-election turmoil in Iran, also without due process and which has included ‘confessions’ that were clearly coerced through torture,” said Ms. Ala’i.
The Baha’i International Community has called for the human rights of all the people of Iran to be respected and upheld. “Today, then, we raise the call on behalf of our innocent co-religionists, whose only ‘crime’ is their religious belief, and who face the most severe punishments if they are found guilty of the trumped-up charges against them.
“Instead of going on trial, they should be immediately released on bail, and, at the very least, be given adequate time for their attorneys to prepare a defense,” said Ms. Ala’i.
Ms. Ala’i also said that the 18 August trial date could not be taken as firm, noting that the families of the seven had been told in June they were to be tried on 11 July, only to have that date come and go.
“Given the past history of this case, the utter lack of concern for procedure on the part of authorities, and the current situation in Iran, it is simply not possible to know when the proceedings will actually begin,” she said.
The seven Baha’i prisoners are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have since been held without formal charges or access to their lawyers at Evin prison in Tehran.
Official Iranian news accounts have said the seven are to be accused of ""espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic,” charges that are rejected completely and categorically.
The ongoing imprisonment of the seven and pending trial is particularly alarming because of their leadership position as the former members of a national-level coordinating group known as the ""Friends in Iran."" Some 25 years ago, other Baha’i leaders were executed after being rounded up in a manner similar to the way in which these seven were arrested last year.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
726,2009-08-14,[],"First identification cards issued to Egyptian Baha'is using a ""dash"" instead of religion","CAIRO, Egypt — Two young Baha'is at the center of a court case over religious identification on government documents have received new computerized ID cards showing a ""dash"" instead of their religion.
Imad and Nancy Rauf Hindi received the new cards on 8 August 2009. They are the first such cards to be issued following a ruling by the Egyptian Supreme Administrative Court that cleared the way for the government to issue documents without reference to religious identity.
""We welcome this development and are now hopeful that the Egyptian government will begin granting more identification cards and related documents to Baha'is and others,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community.
For nearly five years, since the government began introducing a computerized identity card system that locked out all religious classifications except Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, Baha'is have been unable to get ID cards and other documents essential to day-to-day life in Egypt.  Official Egyptian national identification card issued to Nancy Rauf Hindi on 8 August 2009, showing a ""dash"" on the back in the field reserved for religious affiliation.In April 2006, a lower administrative court upheld the right of Baha'is to be explicitly identified on official documents. But in December that year, the Supreme Administrative Court reversed that decision.
It was proposed that a dash or the word ""other"" be used on documents, instead of the Baha'is being forced to list themselves as Muslim, Christian, or Jewish. That case specifically involved the 16-year-old Rauf Hindi twins, who had been unable to attend school in Egypt for lack of proper documents.
On 29 January 2008, a lower court again ruled in their favor. But then two Muslim lawyers filed an appeal.
On 16 March 2009, the Supreme Administrative Court rejected the appeal and the Ministry of Interior soon after that issued a decree specifying that individuals can now obtain government documents without identifying themselves as belonging to a particular religion.",CAIRO,,Egypt
727,2009-08-17,"[725, 702, 695]",Trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders postponed,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran has been postponed until 18 October, the Baha'i International Community learned today.
According to Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva, following a request for postponement of the trial from Mr. Hadi Esmaielzadeh and Ms. Mahnaz Parakand – attorneys from the Defenders of Human Rights Center who are representing the seven Baha'is – the court has decided to delay the hearing for two months.
Two senior members of the legal team, Nobel laureate Mrs. Shirin Ebadi and Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani, were unable to attend the hearing as Mrs. Ebadi is out of the country and Mr. Soltani is in prison, having been detained on 16 June 2009 in the wake of the civil unrest following the presidential election in Iran.
""Our hope now is that our seven innocent co-religionists will be released on bail,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
The seven Baha'i prisoners are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have since been held at Tehran’s Evin prison without formal charges or access to their lawyers.
Official Iranian news accounts have said the seven are to be accused of ""espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic.""
The Baha'i International Community categorically rejects all charges against the seven, stating that they are held solely because of religious persecution.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
728,2009-09-17,"[482, 678, 530]",Conference: Religion joins with science to address environment issues,"WASHINGTON, United States — People’s spiritual beliefs affect their attitude toward climate change, with religious groups increasingly helping to frame humanity’s response to environmental issues.
That was one of the messages from a session at the 33rd annual conference of the  Association for Baha’i Studies, held in mid-August in Washington, D.C. The gathering drew nearly 1,000 participants from some 20 countries.
The theme of the conference was “Environments,” and one of the plenary speakers was Peter G. Brown, a geography professor at McGill University in Montreal who has participated in the Moral Economy Project of the Quaker Institute for the Future.
Dr. Brown said the current economic paradigm is bringing mayhem to the planet and that people need to learn to think of themselves as citizens, not consumers.
“We need a different image of ourselves,” he said − an image that sees humanity as part of a long “co-evolutionary” process. Rather than asking how to better exploit the earth's resources, humanity should be asking how to live with an ethic of respect and reciprocity for all life, he said.
Society’s concept of morality is too limited, he continued, suggesting that a moral framework must be applied to systems, not just to individuals.
“We have not been able to connect our scientific knowledge with our moral systems,” he noted.  Artist Otto Don Rogers of Canada delivers the Balyuzi Memorial Lecture, focusing on the arts as a spiritual endeavor. He spoke on 15 August 2009 in Washington.A Baha'i speaker, Peter Adriance, described how religious groups and faith communities are increasingly collaborating with the environmental movement. He quoted Mary Evelyn Tucker, co-founder of the Forum on Religion and Ecology, as saying that “no other group of institutions can wield the particular moral authority of the religions.”
Mr. Adriance listed a dozen initiatives by various groups that focus on spiritual or moral aspects of creating a sustainable environment. Among those that he mentioned were:
-- A first-of-its-type report from the Sierra Club titled ""Faith in Action: Communities of Faith Bring Hope for the Planet.""
-- Programs sponsored by the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life.
-- A paper from the Worldwatch Institute titled “Engaging Religion in the Quest for a Sustainable World”; part of the text was included in the 2003 State of the World report.
-- The Green Sanctuary program initiated by the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth.
He quoted Gus Speth from the 2007 Yale Conference Report: “Religions played key roles in ending slavery, in the civil rights movement, and in overcoming apartheid in South Africa, and they are now turning attention with increasing strength to the environment.”
Mr. Adriance also quoted from a 1991 statement by the Baha’i International Community calling for a spiritual response to address global problems: “The changes required to reorient the world toward a sustainable future imply degrees of sacrifice, social integration, selfless action, and unity of purpose rarely achieved in human history. These qualities have reached their highest degree of development through the power of religion.”
This year’s conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies (North American chapter) was held from 13-16 August, concurrently with the annual meeting of the International Environmental Forum, a Baha’i-inspired organization addressing the environment and sustainable development.
Arthur Dahl gave the opening address and said that the conference theme of “Environments” would explore the relationship “between our outer and inner environments, between the planet and our souls, between science and spirituality.”
“We still look at economic issues separately from social or environment questions despite all the efforts to integrate them,” said Dr. Dahl, who is president of  the International Environment Forum and a former official with the United Nations Environment Program.
Speaking to an audience that included many scientists, he warned of the “spiritual danger in the pride to think that we can know everything through science.”
Science uncovers facts, he noted, and he gave the example of science proving that smoking causes lung cancer. But science is powerless to change behavior − what changes behavior is spiritual and cultural transformation, he said.
Balyuzi lecture
A highlight of the conference was the Balyuzi Memorial Lecture by Canadian artist Otto Don Rogers, said Kim Naqvi, one of the organizers of the gathering. Works by Mr. Rogers hang in a number of museums – among them the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
“He challenged the community to consider the arts as both an intellectual and spiritual endeavor,” said Dr. Naqvi.
Mr. Rogers explored the concept of space and said even scientists do not understand it very well; in the past it was sometimes referred to as the “ether.”
Cezanne, he noted, was one of the first painters to leave gaps − spaces − in his paintings, making it possible for the mind to move into his works. “Space is not simply a curtain that hangs behind everything, physicists have found, but it has an intelligence and form,” he said.
“Recent research on brain function has revealed interesting insights,” he continued. “Physicists had thought that the brain’s some two billion neurons are connected in one long string. Yet now, with the development of high-powered microscopes, they have discovered that each neuron is bonded by its own memory. One cluster of neurons is bound to another by some type of memory, but they do not touch.”
He said scientists have concluded that the synapses between cells are the secret sites of communication. Likewise, he said, a painting is about the space between things, the way the dark relates to the light, the fast to the slow, stillness to motion, and all happening simultaneously.
He arranged for images of eight of his most recent works to be projected on huge screens during the address, and he encouraged the audience to “appreciate the static.”
“We artists wonder,” he said, “at viewers who read the title of a work, spend a few seconds, and then move on.”
More information about the conference is available from the Canadian Baha’i News Service and from the International Environmental Forum.
(Julia Berger, Sandra Blaine, and Parvin Rowhani contributed to this article.)",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
729,2009-09-23,[],"Ethics are 'missing dimension' in climate debate, says IPCC head","NEW YORK, United States — The inequities and injustices that are likely to occur on a global level because of climate change mean that world leaders must carefully examine the moral and ethical dimensions of global warming, said Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, chairman of the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
""The impacts of climate change are going to be inequitable, unequal, and severe in many parts of the world,"" said Dr. Pachauri, who spoke today at a breakfast meeting at the Baha'i International Community offices.
""We have to think at a much higher level. And I think this is where ethics comes in so critically as the missing dimension in this debate,"" he said.
Dr. Pachauri's comments came at the official launch of an appeal, directed at world leaders gathered at this week's UN Summit on Climate Change, to emphasize the importance of the moral and ethical dimensions of global warming and its impact in their deliberations.
The appeal was drafted by the Baha'i International Community and has been signed by 25 nongovernmental organizations, religious groups, and policy institutes. The document calls on world leaders to ""consider deeply the ethical and moral questions at the root of the climate change crisis.""
""The quest for climate justice is not a competition for limited resources but part of an unfolding process towards greater degrees of unity among nations as they endeavor to build a sustainable, just and peaceful civilization,"" the appeal states.
Tahirih Naylor, a Baha'i representative to the United Nations, said the purpose of the document is to call attention to the fact that climate change is more than a political, economic and scientific problem.
""There is a moral and ethical dimension to climate change that must be addressed,"" said Ms. Naylor. ""For example, we know that wealthy nations have contributed more to climate problems than the poor nations, and so there is an element of justice that must be considered in any long-term solution.""
Dr. Pachauri said that while science can provide the building blocks for understanding the impact and likelihood of climate change, it will be important for citizens groups and individuals to provide the motivation for action.
""I feel you really cannot rely on the leaders, you really cannot rely on the nation states,"" he said. ""You really need a groundswell of grassroots action and grassroots consciousness on what needs to be done. If that is happening, then leaders will follow.""  Dr. Pachauri called for a ""groundswell of grassroots action"" on what needs to be done to address the challenge of global warming. He spoke in New York as world leaders were gathering at the United Nations.He encouraged the representatives of civil society gathered for the breakfast meeting to continue to work to keep the moral and ethical issues front and center in the climate debate.
""You have to persevere and persist,"" he said. ""If you do, you certainly will be able to change the nature of the debate.""
He said, especially, that the long term impact of climate change on future generations must be taken into account. ""Ethics demands that action has to be taken early,"" he said.
Dr. Pachauri also said he expects that whatever its outcome, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December is unlikely to be the final word on the subject.
""When the IPCC's fifth assessment comes out in 2013 or 2014, there will be a major revival of interest in action that has to be taken,"" said Dr. Pachauri, speaking of the periodic assessments rendered by the group of more than 400 scientists around the world that he leads. ""People are going to say, 'My God, we are going to have to take action much faster than we had planned.'""
As chairman of the IPCC, Dr. Pachauri accepted the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded jointly to the IPCC and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore for their work in warning of the potential impact of global warming.
Among the organizations that have signed the appeal are the International Peace Research Association, Oxfam International, Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries, Solar Cookers International, Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural (WOCAN), and the Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO).
The document presented today is titled ""Moral and Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change: Appeal to World Leaders."" The text follows:
*We, the undersigned non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, leaders of the world's religions, and other members of civil society, urge the governments of the world to participate in the UN High Level Event on Climate Change through representatives at the highest level and unequivocally call on them to: *
*– Consider deeply the ethical and moral questions at the root of the climate change crisis-questions of justice and equity that will determine the survival of cultures, ecosystems, and present as well as future generations; *
– Recognize that the quest for climate justice is not a competition for limited resources but part of an unfolding process towards greater degrees of unity among nations as they endeavor to build a sustainable, just and peaceful civilization;
– Distinguish their contributions to this High-Level Event by demonstrating trust, justice, solidarity, and a vision of prosperity for the most vulnerable populations;
*– Demonstrate courage and moral leadership as they articulate the vision and secure the foundations for a comprehensive and legally binding agreement during the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCC and the 5th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in December 2009; and *
*– Ensure that commitments in all arenas of the climate change challenge are guided by ethical and moral considerations so as to inspire the trust and confidence of individuals, communities and institutions to effect the changes needed to build a sustainable civilization. *
We call on the gathered leaders to summon the same spirit and sense of urgency that led to the creation of the United Nations, to forge a climate change agreement worthy of the trust of humankind.
Baha'i International Community,
Company of the Daughters of Charity of  St. Vincent de Paul,
Congregation of Notre Dame,
The Congregations of St. Joseph,
The Fellowship of Reconciliation,
Franciscans International,
GRATIS Foundation,
Initiatives of Change International,
International Peace Research Association,
International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation,
International Public Policy Institute,
International Women's Anthropology Conference,
Loretto Community,
Oxfam International,
Passionists International,
School Sisters of Notre Dame,
Sisters of Charity Federation,
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur,
Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries,
Solar Cookers International,
SustainUS,
UNANIMA International,
WEDO,
WOCAN",NEW YORK,,United States
730,2009-09-29,[],Music and the arts a highlight of summer gatherings,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Singing was the draw at a festival of choirs in the Congo, while in Venezuela, both plastic arts and music played a key role at the annual Baha'i summer school.
In the United Kingdom, the long-running Academy for the Arts gave 300 people the opportunity to focus on art, music, writing, or dance at a summer retreat. And in the United States, renowned Baha'i singer Narges and the Unity Bluegrass Band were among the performers who added an artistic element to the 50th year of the popular Green Lake conference.
All four events are sponsored by Baha'is and took place in August. Other seasonal events in a host of countries also featured the arts, including an annual Arts Week in both Bulgaria and the Netherlands.
The choir festival in the **Democratic Republic of the Congo **was the second such gathering since the annual event resumed after a 12-year hiatus caused by war and unrest in the eastern part of the country.
""Before the war, every year there was the festival,"" said Ahmad Parsa, a resident of neighboring Rwanda who attended part of the three-day event.
Some 16 choirs – mostly youth – presented original songs focusing on the life of Baha'u'llah and of the Bab. Each year, a theme is announced beforehand, and singers prepare new material.
The event is always in the province of South Kivu, but the exact locale changes. This year it was held in Sange, where local residents gave a warm welcome to the hundreds of festivalgoers and a Christian church allowed use of a property it owned for the venue, Mr. Parsa said.
At this year's seasonal school in **Venezuela **– held annually at the Baha'i institute in the city of Cabudare – a portion of each day was set aside for arts-related activities.
""We worked with clay for two days and then made papier mache instruments – tambourines, rain sticks, maracas – the other two days,"" said Nuriyeh McLaren, who helped plan the school.  At the Baha’i summer school in Venezuela, young Key Aray joins in during a creative art project. Arts and music were part of the program each day for all age groups.""The last night we had a bonfire, and everybody took the instruments they had made and we sang songs and played them,"" she said. ""One of the nights we also had a talent show, and people sang, danced, did mini-dramas on all different topics – Baha'i themes, cultural themes, taking care of the environment. ...""
Youngsters aged 11 to 15 had two sessions specifically dedicated to the importance of the arts and how to use them for service to others, she added. ""In general, all the children's classes and pre-youth workshops had an artistic activity of some kind – painting, coloring, dramas, music, pasting, cutting, story-telling.""
The theme of the summer school was ""Hoy Te Sumas Tu"" (Today You Join In), which is the title of a song written by one of the Baha'is. ""It was taught and sung during the whole school, and everybody still sings it all over the country,"" Ms. McLaren said.
Baha'i Academy for the Arts
In England, the annual Academy for the Arts offered 19 different courses and attracted people from around the world, said Margaret Appa, who has been involved with the event since its founding in 1993.
""Participants work on one course for the week,"" she said.
Offerings included songwriting, watercolor painting, dance, public speaking, acting, audiovisual production, choir directing (the name of the course was ""Leading a choir when all you can do is sing""), and drawing. A class on writing, both fiction and nonfiction, was titled ""Write to change the world."" Three of the 19 classes were designed for youths aged 11 to 16.
""It's very much a family event,"" she said.
The Academy for the Arts, which this year was held at Wellington College, Berkshire, is aimed at giving people an environment in which to study an area of the arts and develop their creativity.
""We work completely by encouragement,"" Mrs. Appa said, ""to be warm and loving, but also to be challenging. We strive for excellence, but one person's excellence is not the same as another person's.""
Participants also are treated to a schedule of evening performances, films, and talks by guest speakers – ""something to stretch people,"" Mrs. Appa said.
""We have discovered over the years that some of the people, during the year, never go to a play, never go to a concert, never go to see a film,"" another of the organizers noted.
The Academy for the Arts has grown from about 25 participants its first year to this year's 300 – 270 students and 30 tutors and staff members.
In the United States, the annual Green Lake Baha'i Conference in central Wisconsin – always known for its stellar lineup of speakers – this year celebrated its 50th anniversary with outstanding performing artists as well.
""The Green Lake committee has been superb at elevating the arts,"" noted one conference participant.
The singer Narges – who has performed at major international venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, and Winston Churchill Hall in London – had appeared previously at Green Lake and returned for the golden anniversary.
A special treat was a presentation by the Unity Bluegrass Band, an ensemble that had been popular in the Chicago area back in the 1970s and 1980s and had played at Green Lake once before, in 1977.
""They had not been together in 20 years, and they had a reunion there and performed to a very appreciative crowd,"" said Ellen Price, who was in the audience. ""People were up on their feet, dancing to the music.""
Performances were offered both on the main stage at the conference and at a coffee house. Among the presenters were the singer-musician Alessandro and two women who performed an original drama by Beth Carrier about events following the martyrdom of the Bab in 1850.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
731,2009-09-30,[],Prominent Iranians call for religious liberty,"WASHINGTON, United States — A best-selling author and an Oscar-nominated actress are among those who have called for religious freedom in Iran, including an end to the persecution of Baha'is in that country.
Some 1,400 people heard Azar Nafisi, author of ""Reading Lolita in Tehran,"" and Shohreh Aghdashloo, Academy Award-nominated actress for ""House of Sand and Fog,"" speak at a public gathering this month at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium. Both Dr. Nafisi and Ms. Aghdashloo were born in Iran, and neither is a member of the Baha'i community.
Dr. Nafisi spoke passionately about the common humanity of all people and the suffering of one being the suffering of all. She particularly focused on minorities in Iran and pointed to the example of the Baha'is.
""I ask myself,"" she said, ""how does it feel to be deprived of every single basic human right in a country you call your own, in a country where you have been born into the language and the culture, a country where your parents and your parents' parents ... have lived and contributed to, what does it mean to be deprived of the right to education, of the right to property, of even the right to life?""
She said the struggle is ""not a political struggle, it is an existential one."" It goes beyond the Baha'is, she said, to ""every single person in Iran who dares to be different, who dares to express his or her desire for the freedom to have a choice.""
""Baha'is in Iran have become the canaries in the mine,"" she said. ""You want to know how much freedom the Iranian people enjoy today, you go to the fate of its Baha'is.""
Depriving people of their individuality is a way of killing them, she said. ""It is worse, in fact, than just being plainly murdered. To deny your humanity, your individuality, is to be dead.""  Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo spoke by video to the gathering in Washington, saying she stands ""with many others around the world"" in supporting the Iranian Baha'is.""The show trials that have been going on in Iran – all these people coming from such different backgrounds, such different ages, such different political and religious beliefs, all of them deprived of their individuality,"" she said.
The defendants, she said, were forced into confessing that ""whatever they believed in, whatever lifestyle they led ... was a farce and sham. That is another way of killing people.""
Ms. Aghdashloo, addressing the gathering via video from Los Angeles, said everything she had ""ever read or understood about the Baha'i Faith"" is that it stands for the oneness of humanity and inherent nobility of all human beings.
""I stand with many others around the world in conveying our unified voice in support of the Baha'is in Iran and wish to speak out against the ongoing and deplorable actions of the Iranian government,"" she said.
The event in Washington, held on 12 September, was dedicated to the Baha'is who are jailed in Iran, including the seven ""leaders"" who have been detained in Tehran's notorious Evin prison for more than a year on trumped-up charges of ""espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic.""
It was one of a number of gatherings held in recent months across the United States to offer prayers for the prisoners, including events in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and now Washington.
In San Francisco – at the Herbst Theatre, where the United Nations Charter was signed in 1945 – Dr. Abbas Milani, director of the Iranian Studies program at Stanford University, was the principal speaker.
""For Iran, the treatment of the Baha'is in the last 150 years, our society's acts of omission and commission, what we said and did or failed to say and do, all create an embarrassing blot of shame on our history,"" he said.
""Iran can't become a democracy unless it has had a full reckoning with its Baha'i problem,"" he said. ""Iran can't be a democracy unless the Baha'is are considered full citizens of the society and their faith – like those of Zoroastrians, Jews, Christians, Muslims, or members of any other faith, belief, or even disbelief – is recognized as a private matter where the state, social institutions, or actors have no right of inquiry, interference, or harassment.""
In Washington, one of the speakers was Dwight Bashir, associate director for policy at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
He quoted from U.S. President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo earlier this year, directed to the Muslim world: ""People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind and the heart and the soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it's being challenged in many different ways. ... Among some Muslims, there's a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of somebody else's faith.""
""The last part of President Obama's statement is exactly what we are witnessing in Iran today,"" Dr. Bashir said.
For a video of Azar Nafisi's talk: http://vimeo.com/6727194
For Shohreh Aghdashloo's message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yeb_HDTRkbA
For Abbas Milani's presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy4vItX1YxI",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
732,2009-10-15,"[725, 724, 702]",Secretary general of UN releases report criticizing human rights abuses in Iran,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday expressed strong criticism of Iran's human rights record, voicing concern about the use of excessive force after the recent presidential election, the harassment of women's rights activists, the ongoing execution of juveniles, and the continued persecution of minorities, including Baha'is.
In a 19-page report written specifically to address a request made last December from the UN General Assembly about human rights in Iran, Mr. Ban said there have been ""negative developments"" in the area of civil and political rights since 2008.
The year saw ""an increase in human rights violations targeting women, university students, teachers, workers and other activist groups, particularly in the aftermath of the elections,"" Mr. Ban said.
""Members of various ethnic and minority groups faced harassment, violence and, in some cases, persecution,"" he added, noting that ""a pattern of concern arises with respect to the protection of minorities, including the Baha'i community, the Arab minority in Khuzestan, the Nematollahi Sufi Muslim community, the Kurdish community, the Sunni community, the Baluchi community, and the Azeri-Turk community.""
The report made specific mention of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders who were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have since been held in Evin prison, noting that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has written to Iran ""on numerous occasions to express concern and seek clarification"" about the status of the seven.
Mr. Ban also noted that during the year reports ""continued to be received about members of the Baha'i community being subjected to arbitrary detention, confiscation of property and denial of employment, government benefits, and access to higher education.""
The report, which was dated 23 September 2009 but actually released yesterday, focused extensively on the government's response to post-election protests. It noted that Mr. Ban himself had on 22 June issued a statement ""expressing dismay at the post-election violence, particularly the use of force against civilians, which had led to the loss of life and injuries.""
That statement, the report noted, called on the authorities to respect fundamental civil and political rights, especially freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of information. It also called for an immediate stop to the arrests, threats, and use of force. Yet, the report noted, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the following day that he rejected the secretary general's statement.
Like a similar report he issued last year, Mr. Ban also took note of reports of Iran's continuing execution of juveniles, reports of the use of torture, and the oppression of women's rights activists.
""I encourage the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to address the concerns highlighted in the report and to continue to revise national laws, particularly the new penal code and juvenile justice laws, to ensure compliance with international human rights standards and prevent discriminatory practices against women, ethnic and religious minorities, and other minority groups,"" he said in the report's conclusion.
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations said Mr. Ban's report was extremely welcome – and timely.
""Although Mr. Ban has praised Iran for some developments, such as government's pursuit of the redistribution of wealth and poverty reduction, overall the report is quite damning,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""He also makes a number of suggestions about how Iran could make a constructive response, such as by opening the country to visits by special UN human rights monitors, and we sincerely hope that Iran will heed his call.
""Mr. Ban paints a grim picture of the situation in Iran, clearly indicating that the human rights situation has worsened since his report last year. Our hope, therefore, is that the UN General Assembly will again adopt a resolution this year urging Iran to live up its international human rights obligations.""
To read the full report:
""The situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
733,2009-10-16,[],Trial of seven Baha'is in Iran scheduled for 18 October,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders in Iran is scheduled for Sunday. However, defense lawyers have not received the standard advance notification required under Iranian law.
""It is unclear whether the trial will take place on Sunday, or whether it will be postponed again,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
""If the trial does not go ahead, the seven Baha'is should be released on bail, as Iranian law requires,"" she said. ""They are completely innocent of the accusations against them and should not have been imprisoned in the first place.""
Ms. Ala'i explained that Iranian law requires that attorneys receive a writ of notification at least two business days before any trial takes place. She noted that Friday is not a business day in Iran,  and since lawyers have not yet received the notice, it may be an indication that the trial will be delayed again.
The trial for the seven prisoners had originally been scheduled for 18 August. But on 17 August it was postponed to 18 October, after court officials agreed to requests from defense attorneys for more time to prepare, since they had not been given adequate access to the prisoners.
The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have been held in Tehran's Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there without formal charges or access to lawyers.
Official news agencies in Iran say the seven are accused of ""espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic."" They also reportedly face charges of ""spreading corruption on earth.""
""All of these accusations are absurd and baseless,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""Take, for example, the idea that they have been spying for Israel. That stems entirely from the fact that the religious and spiritual center of the Baha'i Faith is, through a fact of history, located in Haifa, Israel.
""Just as a Catholic archbishop is expected to communicate with the Vatican, so it is that these seven – with the knowledge of the Iranian government – communicated with their spiritual center, which happens to be in Israel. There is nothing wrong with that.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
734,2009-10-18,"[733, 732, 731]","Trial of seven Baha'is delayed, no new date set","GENEVA, Switzerland — Although the trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran for more than 17 months was scheduled for today, when attorneys and families arrived at the court offices in Tehran they were told it would not take place. No new trial date was given.
""The time has come for these seven innocent people to be immediately released on bail,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
""The seven, whose only 'crime' is their religious belief, are once again in legal limbo, held with no idea of the legal process ahead of them. The whole charade cries out for an end to their unlawful detention,"" she said.
The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
Official Iranian news accounts have said the seven are to be accused of ""espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic."" They have also been charged with ""spreading corruption on earth.""
Last week, it appeared likely that the trial would indeed be postponed again, since attorneys for the seven had not yet received the proper writ of notification.
""The fact that their attorneys did not receive proper notification and that there is no new date for the trial is just one among many gross violations of Iran's own legal procedures, not to mention the violations of due process recognized by international law, that have marked this case from the beginning,"" said Ms. Ala'i.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
735,2009-10-27,"[729, 728, 714]","Baha'is join global plan for ""generational change"" on climate change","NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community today announced that it has become a partner in a United Nations-sponsored program to promote ""generational change"" to address climate change and environmental sustainability.
The program, which is co-sponsored by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to promote lifestyle changes that will help slow global warming and other environmental problems during a seven-year period from 2010 to 2017.
""We are very pleased to join with other world religions and with the United Nations in this inspiring initiative to promote lasting change in the way people interact with the environment,"" said Tahirih Naylor, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""The significance of this effort is the manner in which it capitalizes on the strengths of faith communities – such as their strong grassroots network and the transformative power of religious belief – to address environmental problems at their foundation, which is human behavior.
""One of the long-term goals of the Baha'i Faith is to promote the positive transformation of individuals and communities, and to this end we already sponsor thousands of study circles, children's classes, devotional gatherings, and youth groups in more than 180 countries.
""We look forward to learning more about the efforts of other faith communities and are confident that we can make a useful contribution to this exciting program,"" she said.
Ms. Naylor will join representatives of the world's other religions next week at Windsor Castle when the ARC/UNDP program is formally launched. The event, scheduled for 2-4 November, will feature a keynote speech by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and will be hosted by HRH The Prince Philip.
More than 200 faith and secular leaders are expected to be present, and many faith groups will announce commitments to practical initiatives, like the Baha'i plan, to meet global environmental challenges. Joining Ms. Naylor as a Baha'i representative to the event will be Arthur Lyon Dahl, a former deputy assistant executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, an author, and a well-known specialist on coral reefs and biodiversity.
Ms. Naylor noted that the BIC has been a member of ARC since its founding, and has consistently sought to support its program of interfaith conservation efforts.
""The worldwide Baha'i community has long been involved in promoting sustainable development and in creating small-scale projects that include environmental conservation,"" she said. ""And so this initiative is especially exciting because of the way it concretely addresses the underlying attitudes and values that are at the root of many of humanity's environmental problems.""
Specifically, said Ms. Naylor, Baha'is around the world will be encouraged to explore the relationship of humans to the environment as articulated in the Baha'i sacred writings and to take action at the individual and community level.
""In our experience, connecting the hearts of people to sacred writings is the best way to provide the motivation for social change and action,"" she said. ""As well, Baha'is will be encouraged to engage in acts of service related to environmental sustainability.""
At the present time, Ms. Naylor said, many thousands of Baha'is in virtually every country are engaged in a coherent framework of action that promotes the spiritual development of the individual and channels the collective energies of its members towards service to humanity.
These activities include the systematic study of the Baha'i writings in small groups in order to build capacity for service; devotional gatherings aimed at connecting the hearts of participants with the Creator; neighborhood children's classes that offer lessons aimed at laying the foundations of a noble and upright character; and groups that strive to assist young teens to navigate a crucial stage of their lives and become empowered to direct their energies toward the advancement of civilization.
The Baha'i International Community is an international nongovernmental organization that represents the worldwide Baha'i community, which has some five million members in 100,000 localities spread through virtually every country. Its members come from nearly every ethnic group, culture, profession, and social or economic background.
ARC is a secular body that helps the major religions of the world to develop their own environmental programs, based on their own core teachings, beliefs and practices. It was founded in 1995 by Prince Philip. Its members include 11 major world religions.",NEW YORK,,United States
736,2009-11-04,[],World’s major religions present action plans on environment,"WINDSOR, England — Leaders representing the world's major religions, including the Baha'i Faith, gathered yesterday at historic Windsor Castle to formally launch a series of action plans involving their communities in a long-term effort to protect the environment.
They were joined by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in a celebratory meeting that emphasized the role religion can play to inspire grassroots change and make ""peace with the planet.""
""I have long believed that when governments and civil society work toward a common goal, transformational change is possible,"" said Mr. Ban. ""Faiths and religions are a central part of that equation.
""Indeed, the world's faith communities occupy a unique position in discussions on the fate of our planet and the accelerating impacts of climate change,"" he said.
The three-day event – which ended at noon today – was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), which was founded in 1995 by Prince Philip.
The core session of the gathering was yesterday's meeting at Windsor Castle, where representatives of each religious group presented a seven-year plan designed to promote ""generational change"" in attitudes towards the environment.  Baha'i delegates Arthur Lyon Dahl and Tahirih Naylor receive certificates at the Windsor Castle gathering. They are pictured with Prince Philip, founder of ARC; Martin Palmer of ARC; and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.Thirty-one plans were presented, reflecting representation by virtually all of the world's independent religions: the Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism, and Sikhism.
In general, the plans sought to offer concrete, practical steps for action.
The Muslim plan, for example, calls for the establishment of an umbrella organization, Muslim Associations for Climate Change Action (MACCA), that will represent Islamic nations and faith communities from around the world. It also calls for an Islamic environmental labeling system, a ""Green Hajj"" so that within 10 years the traditional Islamic pilgrimage will be recognized as environmentally friendly, and the construction of a model ""green mosque"" to showcase best practices in heating, light, and design.
The Sikh plan urges all Sikh gurdwaras – temples – to recycle, compost, use green energy, use eco-stoves, start rainwater harvesting, purchase reusable plates and cups.
Representatives of the Baha'i Faith presented a plan that focuses on using a system of regional training institutes to encourage within the worldwide Baha'i community ""acts of service related to environmental sustainability.""
""Baha'is believe that religious belief and spirituality lie at the foundation of human motivation and behavior,"" said Tahirih Naylor, a Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations who was one of two Baha'i delegates to the Windsor event.
""We believe that efforts to change harmful human behavior – such as those actions that contribute to global warming or environmental degradation – can be greatly facilitated by processes that lead to a better understanding of our own relationship to God, and of humanity's relationship with nature. It is from such understanding that action naturally arises.""
The approximately 200 representatives from religious communities, environmental groups, and international agencies who gathered in Windsor also met in a series of plenary sessions and workshops at the Harte and Garter Hotel to discuss how they can reach a new level of collaboration in the face of global warming, water shortages, deforestation, and other environmental threats.
""Climate change is complex, and dealing with it requires us to change at many levels,"" said Olav Kjorven, assistant secretary general of the United Nations and director of the Bureau of Development Policy at the UN Development Programme. ""It requires a change of ethos. Religions have an unparalleled ability to reach out to people at the grassroots and to touch hearts and minds. Religious institutions are the third largest actors in international markets. Environmentally friendly purchasing decisions by them would have a huge impact across the world.""
Tony Juniper, special adviser to the Prince of Wales' Rainforests Project and former executive director of the Friends of the Earth, likewise emphasized the important role that religions can play.
""Scientific rationalism gave rise to good science, which in turn gave rise to strong political arguments for cleaning up the environment,"" Mr. Juniper said.
""As a result, governments dealt with acid rain and other environmental threats. But these changes were only superficial,"" he said.
""Purely scientific rationalism cannot change our fundamental understanding of who we are and how we should live. Religion and science must work together to bring about a fundamental transformation in our relationship to the world. This kind of change needs a spiritual foundation,"" he said.",WINDSOR,,United Kingdom
737,2009-11-11,"[586, 336, 636]",Baha'is celebrate the Birth of Baha'u'llah,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — On 12 November, Baha'is around the globe will celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith.
Gatherings are held in thousands of localities – in homes, at public facilities, at local and national Baha'i centers, and at Baha'i Houses of Worship.
Baha'is invite their friends and the public to join them in offering prayers and celebrating with special programs, artistic performances, and refreshments.
The date is one of nine holy days during the year when Baha'is suspend work.
Baha'u'llah was born in 1817 into a noble family in Tehran, the capital of Persia.
In 1853, He was exiled from His native land to Baghdad, where in 1863 He announced that He was the bearer of a new revelation from God that would bring unity to the peoples of the world. He was later exiled to Acre, in present-day Israel, where He passed away in 1892.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
738,2009-11-20,"[725, 717, 702]",UN resolution on Iran sends powerful message on human rights,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — The approval today of a strongly worded resolution on human rights in Iran sends a powerful signal to the Iranian government that the world is gravely concerned about how Iran treats its citizens, said the Baha'i International Community.
The resolution, approved by a vote of 74 to 48 by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, expressed ""deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran."" The list of violations included oppressive measures taken after the June presidential election and ""increasing discrimination"" against minority groups, including Baha'is.
""This year's resolution – which is among the most forcefully worded in more than 25 years of resolutions on Iran – sends a potent message to the government there, stating vigorously that the international community will not turn a blind eye to human rights violations,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""The General Assembly identifies numerous violations, including the use of torture, the repeated abuse of legal rights, the violent repression of women, and the ongoing discrimination against minorities, including Baha'is, who are Iran's largest religious minority and are persecuted solely because of their religious belief,"" she said.
The resolution also expresses concern over the treatment of ""Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and their defenders.""
""The resolution also sharply condemns Iran's severe curbs on freedom of expression and its use of violence to silence dissent after the presidential election in June,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""We can only hope that, given the severity of the resolution's expression, Iran will at long last heed the international community's recommendations and change its ways.""
The resolution, which was put forward by Canada and cosponsored by 42 other countries, calls on Iran to better cooperate with UN human rights monitors, such as by allowing them to make visits to Iran, and asks the UN secretary general to report back next year on Iran's progress at fulfilling its human rights obligations.
Noting the turmoil that followed the presidential elections, the resolution devoted eight paragraphs to express ""particular concern"" about oppressive measures used by the government to suppress dissent. It noted specifically the persecution of journalists, human rights defenders, students and ""others exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and association.""
It also noted the ""use of violence"" against ""Iranian citizens engaged in the peaceful exercise of freedom of association, also resulting in numerous deaths and injuries."" And it criticized the holding of ""mass trials and denying defendants access to adequate legal representation.""
It makes extensive mention of the persecution of Baha'is, expressing concern over ""attacks on Baha'is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha'is, preventing members of the Baha'i Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically.""
The resolution also notes the continued detention of seven Baha'i leaders who were arrested in March and May 2008, stating they have faced ""serious charges without adequate or timely access to legal representation.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
739,2009-12-04,[],Parliament of the World's Religions under way in Melbourne,"MELBOURNE, Australia — Baha'is from five continents are making presentations at the Parliament of the World's Religions – an event now held every five years in the modern continuation of an initiative begun more than a century ago.
The seven-day parliament, which opened on 3 December in Melbourne, is expected to draw as many as 8,000 individuals from virtually every world religion and faith group. Among those expected to participate are such international figures as the Dalai Lama and theologian Hans Kung.
It was at the inaugural Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in 1893, that the Baha'i Faith received one of its first public mentions in the West.
""That earlier gathering, which in some respects represents the beginning of the interfaith movement, created hope for a new spirit of unity among the religions,"" said Natalie Mobini, spokeswoman for the Australian Baha'i community.
""The main organizer said later that it had emancipated the world from bigotry,"" she said. ""At first, there indeed were signs of change. But it is apparent that we have a great deal more work to do to achieve our common aim of establishing brotherhood and peace.
""The belief that all the major religions come from God and are part of His plan for humanity is central to the Baha'i Faith,"" she continued. ""Thus the work to strengthen ties among the different religions is an arena of activity that we feel passionately about.""
More than 70 Baha'is are attending the Melbourne event, participating at virtually every level of the parliament – from panel discussions on climate change and interfaith relations to artistic presentations to hosting a devotional gathering.
Among the Baha'i participants are:
– Professor Brian Lepard, a human rights specialist from the University of Nebraska in the United States, who is examining from a Baha'i perspective the concept of the right to development. Dr. A. K. Merchant, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India, will speak at the same session.
– Lucretia Warren, a Baha'i from Botswana and a speaker at the past two parliaments, who is participating in a session on ""Interfaith and the Future of Africa.""
– Native American Kevin Locke, a well-known performer of the Lakota hoop dance, who is leading a session titled ""There are no back row seats in the Hoop of Life.""
– British authors Moojan Momen and Wendi Momen, who are presenting a panel discussion on ""Building Peace in the Pursuit of Justice: A Baha'i Approach.""
– Australian Baha'i Arini Beaumaris, who will speak on ""Spirituality and Women's Leadership.""
– Recording artists Shadi and Shidan Toloui-Wallace, who will perform during the concert of sacred music scheduled for the evening of 6 December.
Baha'is also are making presentations on environmental topics, consistent with the overall theme of the parliament, ""Make a world of difference: Hearing each other, healing the earth.""
""The healing of the physical planet ... requires that we address spiritual principles,"" Dr. Mobini added.
Baha'is of Australia are hosting a spiritual observance open to all participants at the parliament; an evening of music, drama, and dance featuring national and international artists; and presentations on topics ranging from the journey of the soul to the role of women in interfaith work.
The modern Parliament of World Religions began in 1993 in Chicago on the centenary of the original event. It is now held every five years. In 1999 it took place in Cape Town, South Africa, and in 2004 in Barcelona, Spain.
Information about the parliament is available at http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/",MELBOURNE,,Australia
740,2009-12-09,"[598, 524, 693]",Human Rights Day in Germany puts spotlight on Iran,"LANGENHAIN, Germany — Youth from a drama troupe joined with local dignitaries this week to address themes of exclusion and prejudice as they commemorated Human Rights Day with the Baha'i community of Germany.
The program took place at the Baha'i National Center, on the grounds of the European Baha'i House of Worship, with more than 200 people in attendance.
The performance by the People's Theater, a youth project in the city of Offenbach, took a look at relationships between native Germans and immigrants, while other parts of the program focused on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran, especially a group of some 50 young people in Shiraz who are being punished for organizing activities for underprivileged children. Three of the Shiraz group are serving four-year prison sentences.
""I find it deeply shocking that the Baha'i youth in Shiraz engage in social activities in the same way as we do in Offenbach, but with one difference – whereas here in Germany our efforts are rewarded with prizes, the Baha'i youth in Shiraz must pay for their services to Iranian society with prison sentences and other coercive measures,"" said Peggy Habermann, coordinator of the People's Theater.
Kamal Sido, head of the Near East division of the Society for Threatened Peoples, attended the gathering and offered words of support for those persecuted in Iran.
The chairwoman of the Green Party in the German federal state of Hesse, Kordula Schulze-Asche, expressed indignation over the human rights violations perpetrated in Iran, as did Gisela Stang, mayor of Hofheim, which encompasses Langenhain.  Over 200 people attended the Human Rights Day program at the Baha'i National Center in Germany on 6 December 2009. The building is near the European Baha’i House of Worship.Messages were read from two members of the German Federal Parliament, Erika Steinbach of the Christian Democratic Union and Omid Nouripour of the Green Party.
Ingo Hofmann, representing the Baha'i community of Germany, presented an overview of the current situation of the Baha'is in Iran. In Shiraz, he said, Haleh Rouhi, Raha Sabet, and Sasan Taqva, had organized, with permission from authorities, an educational program for underprivileged children. They were later accused of having propagated the Baha'i Faith, even though a report commissioned by the government concluded that their activities were strictly humanitarian. The three were sentenced to prison terms.
Before performing ""Souls of Shiraz,"" a piece composed for the occasion, musician Anke Keitel spoke of the invisible ties she feels with those imprisoned in Iran.
""Haleh, Raha, and Sasan believe just like me in the universality of human rights. They strive to foster the well-being of humanity, just as I do. And they are just as young as I am,"" she said.
Human Rights Day is celebrated annually around the world and marks the anniversary of the adoption – on 10 December 1948 – by the United Nations General Assembly of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.",LANGENHAIN,,Germany
741,2009-12-11,"[739, 736, 663]",Appeal for tolerance at Parliament of the World's Religions,"MELBOURNE, Australia — How can interfaith dialogue and religious freedom flourish when one religion declares that another is not a religion? Are tolerance and cooperation only possible among people who share the same doctrinal view of the world?
These questions were posed by a representative of the Australian Baha'i community at one of the sessions at the Parliament of the World's Religions, which has come to an end after a week of speeches, panel discussions, devotional programs, and artistic presentations.
Dr. Natalie Mobini made her remarks during a 30-minute presentation on the fifth day of the parliament, within a session on religious conflict and persecution that focused on Myanmar, Thailand, and Iran.
Reflecting on the origins of the interfaith movement – in particular the first Parliament of Religions in 1893 – Dr. Mobini related how its principal organizer believed that it had ""emancipated the world from bigotry.""
""The interfaith movement has continued to be inspired by the vision of a world in which the followers of different faiths are able not merely to engage with one another in a spirit of tolerance and respect but also to collaborate in contributing to the advancement of society,"" she said
""At the same time, the havoc that religious intolerance is continuing to wreak in our world now poses a more serious threat to humanity's progress and well-being than at any previous time in history.""  Gary Sterling sings a passage from the writings of Baha’u’llah at the opening ceremony of the parliament. (BWNS photographs by Rachael Dere)Dr. Mobini explored how the interfaith movement might encourage mutual respect and cooperation among the followers of all religions and beliefs. She asked how dialogue can occur when one religion attempts to delegitimize another because of underlying theological differences.
In the case of Iran, the results of such an attitude have included the imprisonment of the Baha'i community's leaders, the desecration of its cemeteries, and the destruction of its holy places.
Referring to the Islamic government of Iran denying that the Baha'i Faith is a religion, Dr. Mobini asked, ""Is this not the same as the past, when Christianity claimed that Islam is not a true religion?""
""And when the machinery of the state is used for the purpose of eliminating that religion, the challenge moves into sharper focus,"" she said.
The lives lost during the crusades highlighted the prejudice that colored the attitudes of Christians towards Muslims in past centuries because Christianity did not recognize Islam as a ""divine"" religion, she noted.
""Christians today have, however, been able to transcend that intolerance without compromising their own theological beliefs and engage in interreligious dialogue with Muslims with an open-minded spirit. The world needs to learn from this.""
Dr. Mobini cited examples of Islamic and other religious leaders who have held respectful dialogue and collaborated with others in spite of theological differences.
""Should not everyone seek to find within the particular framework of his or her beliefs how to set aside exclusionist claims in order to collaborate with followers of religions whose beliefs are different?"" she asked.
In the case of Iran, the Baha'i Faith does not need to be recognized as ""divine"" in origin, said Dr. Mobini, ""but simply asks that the fact of its existence be accepted and the rights of its followers upheld.""
Responding to a question from the audience about what action individuals can take to combat such instances of human rights abuses, she replied that the support of the interfaith movement was appreciated. She said that the transformation of attitudes begins at the grass roots and urged individuals to take the spirit of the parliament back to their communities.
More than 5,000 people from some 80 countries attended the parliament, which ran from December 3 to 9. Some 70 members of the Baha'i community played an active role in the proceedings, including participating in panel discussions with members of other religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam as well as indigenous faiths and traditions.
""It is evident that growing numbers of people are coming to realize that the truth underlying all religions is in its essence one,"" Dr. Mobini said.
""This is the challenge of all of us here and to all who desire to overcome religious intolerance and hatred: how to live up to a 'golden rule' that is at the heart of each of the world's religions; urging us to treat the followers of other faiths as we ourselves would wish to be treated.""",MELBOURNE,,Australia
742,2009-12-17,"[736, 735, 728]",Climate ethics is talking point at Copenhagen conference,"COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Acceptance of the ethical dimension of climate change has risen to a new level of importance in discussions at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, say members of the Baha'i delegation.
""It is no longer just a small group that is talking about the moral and ethical dimensions of the issue – these ideas are becoming part of the discourse at Copenhagen,"" said Duncan Hanks, executive director of the Canadian Baha'i International Development Agency.
""We hear it from people at the podium, in discussions in the hallways, and we see it on banners saying things like 'Climate justice now,'"" he said.
Peter Adriance, another member of the Baha'i delegation, said the focus on ethics and justice has also helped bring about a realization on the part of many at Copenhagen that climate change must be considered beyond the bounds of domestic politics.
""The local and national and the international are very much linked on the climate issue,"" he said. ""If a representative of a country says 'I am not going to take measures to reduce carbon emissions because it is going to hurt the economy,' more and more people are asking the logical question: 'Then, does that mean you don't have obligations outside your border?' So the whole discourse on climate ethics is calling attention to the international obligations that nations have towards each other.""
The UN conference aims to strike a new international agreement to reduce global emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Such a pact would succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
In addition to government leaders and negotiators from 192 countries, the conference has drawn participants from international agencies, the news media, and a diverse sampling of other organizations, ranging from environmental groups to corporations.  At a press conference on the Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change, Baha’i representative Tahirih Naylor, left, said that climate change is “challenging humanity to rise to the next level of our collective maturity.”The delegation of the Baha'i International Community, registered with the United Nations as an international nongovernmental organization, comprises some 20 people.
Tahirih Naylor, a Baha'i representative to the UN, said many of the difficulties encountered during the conference have served to highlight the need for international cooperation to protect the environment.
""Tackling climate change requires concern for the welfare of all humanity over self-interested nationalism,"" she said. ""The findings of science should not be distorted to serve political ends. Whatever disagreements there may be on the causes of climate change, it is clear that protecting our environment should be viewed not only in technical and economic terms, but also as a moral and ethical challenge for the whole world.""
She agreed that statements by government leaders, civil society representatives, and others have begun increasingly to make reference to the importance of justice and morality in dealing with the issues of environmental protection.
At a press conference last week on the Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change, held as part of the Copenhagen event, Ms. Naylor said that it is ""critical for the religions to come together around this issue, to call for action from the leaders of the world, and also to take action within our own communities.""
""We feel that climate change is challenging humanity to rise to the next level of our collective maturity, a maturity which calls us to accept our fundamental unity, the fact that we are all one people living on one finite planet, that we are all brothers and sisters,"" she said.
""We recognize that the quest for climate justice is not a competition for limited resources,"" she said, ""but part of an unfolding process toward greater degrees of unity among nations. ...""
At the Copenhagen summit, scheduled to end Friday, the Baha'i International Community sponsored or participated in a number of events that focused on the subject of climate ethics.
These events included:
-- A panel discussion on ""The Role of Religion in Combating Climate Change,"" held at the Copenhagen Baha'i Center on 8 December and featuring Bent Melchior, former chief rabbi of the Jewish Community in Denmark; Ole Birch, vicar and chairman of the Climate Group of the National Council of Churches in Denmark; and Mr. Adriance of the Baha'i International Community.
-- A press conference on the Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change, held 9 December in the main conference media area, which expressed the united views of diverse faith communities on the importance of taking action on climate change. Ms. Naylor was among the participants.
-- A press conference on ""Climate Ethics"" held by the Collaborative Program on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change, moderated by Mr. Adriance. Baha'i delegates contributed to the drafting of the statement issued by the group.
-- A panel discussion on ""The Moral and Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change,"" held at the Klimaforum09 on 12 December and featuring Don Brown, associate professor of environmental ethics, science, and law at Pennsylvania State University; Philo Morris, representative of the Medical Mission Sisters from India; and Dr. Arthur Dahl, a Baha'i who is a former official with the UN Environment Programme.
-- A preconference event, the Climate Sustainability Platform, held 3-6 December at the Climate Expo in Copenhagen, organized by Uchita de Zoysa of Sri Lanka. Four members of the Baha'i-inspired International Environment Forum participated: Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, Victoria Thoresen, Onno Vinkhuyzen, and Dr. Dahl.",COPENHAGEN,,Denmark
743,2009-12-18,"[738, 732, 740]",UN gives final approval to resolution criticizing rights violations in Iran,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — The United Nations General Assembly gave its final stamp of approval today to a strongly worded resolution condemning Iran for a long list of human rights violations.
By a vote of 74 to 49, with 59 abstentions, the General Assembly confirmed an earlier vote by its Third Committee in November on a resolution that expresses ""deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran.""
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said the resolution sends a stern message to Iran.
""Day by day, human rights continue to deteriorate in Iran,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""This vote matters very much because the General Assembly has now fully, clearly, and powerfully expressed itself over Iran's flagrant abuse of human rights.
""Our hope is that the government will heed this call and begin to respect the universally recognized rights of its citizens.
""As a first step to that, Iran could allow independent UN special rapporteurs into their country, as called for by the resolution,"" she said.
The list of violations outlined this year was among the most extensive in some 25 years of UN resolutions on human rights in Iran.
Specifically, the resolution expresses concern about oppressive measures taken after the June presidential election, the use of torture, the repeated abuse of legal rights, the violent repression of women, and ""increasing discrimination"" against minority groups, including ""Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and their defenders.""
It makes extensive mention of the persecution of Baha'is, expressing concern over ""attacks on Baha'is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha'is, preventing members of the Baha'i Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically.""
The resolution also expresses concern over the continued detention of seven Baha'i leaders who were arrested in March and May 2008, stating they have faced ""serious charges without adequate or timely access to legal representation.""
Ms. Dugal noted that attorneys for the seven were recently informed their trial has now been set for 12 January 2010. Two earlier trial dates for the seven had been set but were postponed for various reasons.
""This year's resolution points out the degree to which Iran has abused the legal process and denied many of their citizens the right to a fair trial.
""We therefore remain gravely concerned about the likely trial of these seven innocent Baha'is, who have been wrongly accused and improperly held. The charges against them are utterly baseless, and they should be released immediately,"" said Ms. Dugal.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
745,2010-01-05,"[738, 725, 695]",Trial of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran looms,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Recent developments in Iran have raised grave concern about the ultimate fate of the seven Baha'i leaders who are scheduled to go on trial next Tuesday.
""The Baha'i community in Iran has all too often been subjected to campaigns of vilification and false charges devised to deflect the attention of a disquieted population onto the Baha'is and away from those in power,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva. ""And now, in these days leading to the trial, there are signs that once again the Baha'is are being made scapegoats.
""Rather than accepting responsibility for the turmoil in the country, the Iranian government seeks to lay the blame on others, including foreign powers, international organizations and media outlets, students, women, and terrorists. Now the Baha'is have been added to this long list of alleged culprits,"" she said.
""Over the past several days, Iranian state-sponsored media have accused the Baha'is of being responsible for the unrest surrounding the holy day of Ashura,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""This is clearly aimed at rousing public sentiment against the seven Baha'is being held in Evin prison. We are particularly concerned that the government, or ultraconservative elements within it, may use the turmoil in Iran as cover for extreme measures against these wrongly imprisoned individuals.
This concern deepened on Sunday, she said, when authorities rounded up 13 Baha'is from their homes in Tehran, took them to a detention center, and tried to get them to sign a document saying that they would not engage in any future demonstrations.
""Putting two and two together, the situation facing these Baha'i leaders is extremely ominous. We are deeply concerned for their safety.
""We expect their trial to be nothing but a show trial, with a predetermined outcome,"" she said.
""Should anything happen to any of these seven Baha'is before or after the trial, the Iranian government must be held responsible,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""We ask that the international community indicate clearly to Iran that it will be watching and that it expects any trial to be public and held in accordance with internationally recognized principles of due process.""
The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. They were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have been held in Evin prison ever since.
Official Iranian news accounts have said the seven are to be accused of ""espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic."" All of the charges are utterly baseless, said Ms. Ala'i.
Trial dates were previously announced for July, August, and October but were postponed each time. In December, lawyers were notified that 12 January had been set as a new date.
Ms. Ala'i noted that persecution of Baha'is in Iran had intensified steadily throughout 2009. Currently, some 48 Baha'is are imprisoned, and many others across the country have been subjected to home searches, confiscation of personal property, and revolving-door arrests. Since last March, some 60 Baha'is have been arrested and imprisoned for periods ranging from overnight to several months.
An anti-Baha'i campaign in the news media campaign has also continued, she said, culminating in the absurd accusations last week that Baha'is were involved in provoking the recent civil unrest on the Ashura holy day on 27 December.
The semiofficial Fars News Agency, for example, reported the next day that Ne'mattollah Bavand, described as an ""expert"" in political affairs, said ""Bahaism under the leadership of Zionism is behind the latest crisis and unrest.""
Ms. Ala'i said these statements have raised concern among the Baha'is that there may be a coordinated effort to introduce these false accusations at the upcoming trial.
Among the 13 arrested on 3 January were relatives of two of the imprisoned leaders, including Negar Sabet, daughter of Mahvash Sabet; Leva Khanjani, granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani; and her husband, Babak Mobasher. Others arrested were Jinous Sobhani, former secretary of Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, and her husband  Artin Ghazanfari; Mehran Rowhani and Farid Rowhani, who are brothers; Nasim Beiglari; Payam Fanaian; Nikav Hoveydaie and his wife, Mona Misaghi; and Ebrahim Shadmehr and his son, Zavosh Shadmehr.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
746,2010-01-06,"[629, 627, 626]",By-election announced for two members of Universal House of Justice,"HAIFA, Israel — The Universal House of Justice has announced that it has approved the requests of two of its members, Mr. Hooper Dunbar and Dr. Peter Khan, to relinquish their positions owing to their advanced age and the heavy burden of work involved in membership.
The announcement came in a letter addressed to all National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i Faith around the world. In the letter, the House of Justice said the two men would continue to serve until completion of a by-election to replace them.
The nine members of each National Assembly serve as electors for the House of Justice, which is the head of the Baha'i Faith. The election will be conducted by mail, with results scheduled to be announced at Naw-Ruz, the Baha'i new year, on 21 March.
The regular election of the Universal House of Justice is every five years, when the members of the National Assemblies serve as delegates to the International Convention and vote for all nine members of the international governing body. The last election was in April 2008.
Dr. Khan was first elected to the House of Justice in 1987 and Mr. Dunbar in 1988.",HAIFA,,Israel
747,2010-01-09,"[745, 743, 725]",Baha'i International Community rejects allegations that arrested Baha'is had weapons in homes,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The Baha'i International Community today categorically rejected new allegations by the Iranian government that arms and ammunition were found in the homes of Baha'is who were arrested in Tehran last Sunday.
""This is nothing less than a blatant lie,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. ""Baha'is are by the most basic principles of their faith committed to absolute nonviolence, and any charge that there might have been weapons or 'live rounds' in their homes is simply and completely unbelievable.
""Without doubt, these are baseless fabrications devised by the government to further create an atmosphere of prejudice and hatred against the Iranian Baha'i community. For more than a century Baha'is have suffered all manner of persecution in Iran and have not resorted to armed violence, and everyone knows this. Unfortunately, the Iranian government is once again resorting to outright falsehoods to justify its nefarious intentions against the Baha'i community. It should know that these lies will have no credibility whatsoever.
""We are particularly concerned by the fact that these accusations come just days before the scheduled trial of seven Baha'i leaders, who have been locked up for nearly two years on equally unfounded charges,"" she said.
""All of these latest accusations are so far-fetched as to be ludicrous if they were not so obviously aimed at putting innocent lives at risk,"" she said. ""As we have said before, rather than accepting responsibility for the turmoil in the country, the Iranian government seeks to lay the blame on others, including foreign powers, international organizations and media outlets, students, women, and terrorists.""
On Friday, several news agencies reported that Tehran's general prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, said the Baha'is who were arrested on Sunday ""were arrested because they played a role in organizing the Ashura protests and namely for having sent abroad pictures of the unrest.""
""They were not arrested because they are Baha'is,"" said Mr. Dolatabadi, according to Agence France Presse. ""Arms and ammunition were seized in the homes of some of them.""
Ms. Ala'i also rejected Mr. Dolatabadi's assertions that Baha'is were involved in the planning of the Ashura demonstrations, or in any violent or subversive activity related to the recent turmoil in Iran.
""For the past 30 years, Iranian Baha'is have been subjected to the worst forms of persecution, ranging from arbitrary execution to the exclusion of their children from school,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""Yet they have responded only through means that are peaceful and legal.""
Seven Baha'is leaders are scheduled to go on trial on Tuesday on trumped-up charges of espionage, ""insulting religious sanctities,"" and ""propaganda"" against the government. They have been held in Evin prison since mid-2008. The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
On Sunday, 13 Baha'is were arrested in early morning raids on their homes in Tehran. Three have been released but 10 remain detained at Evin prison.
They are: Leva Khanjani, granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani, and her husband, Babak Mobasher; Jinous Sobhani, former secretary of Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, and her husband Artin Ghazanfari; Mehran Rowhani and Farid Rowhani, who are brothers; Payam Fanaian; Nikav Hoveydaie; and Ebrahim Shadmehr and his son, Zavosh Shadmehr.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
748,2010-01-12,"[747, 743, 731]",First session held in trial of Baha'i leaders in Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial was marked by numerous violations of legal due process.
After about three hours, the hearing ended. Authorities indicated that today’s proceeding was merely the “first session,” and no date for future sessions was given.
""We understand that no observers were allowed in the court,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. ""We find this completely outrageous, given that these seven have been held purely because of their religious beliefs, in total contradiction to any human rights standards.
""We understand that even the lawyers had to argue their way inside the court – lawyers who in any case had virtually no access to the accused for nearly two years.
""At the same time, the prisoners' interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence and a film crew were seen going in, raising questions about the nature of the trial,"" she said.
Ms. Ala'i also noted that an Iranian Web site linked to state-run television posted a story Monday evening announcing that the trial had already begun and listing the same baseless accusations made in the past against the seven.
""In any event, all of these accounts point to a trial that is highly irregular, very similar to the show trials that have been held in Iran in recent months,"" she said.
The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have been held in Tehran's Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there without formal charges or any access to lawyers.
""Whatever happens, it is clear that the trial of these seven innocent people represents the trial of an entire religious community, and is an attempt to further intimidate and ostracize all Iranian Baha'is simply because they hold a different religious viewpoint from those in power.""
Note: The headline and article were updated at 9 p.m. on 12 January 2010 (Geneva time).",GENEVA,,Switzerland
749,2010-01-13,"[747, 743, 731]",World reacts to the trial of the seven Baha'i leaders,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Iran's decision to begin the trial yesterday of seven Baha'i leaders has triggered a strong international reaction, including a call by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi for their immediate release and ultimate acquittal.
""If justice is to be carried out and an impartial judge should investigate the charges leveled against my clients, no other verdict can be reached save that of acquittal,"" said Mrs. Ebadi, in comments posted on WashingtonTV, a Web-based news service in the United States.
Mrs. Ebadi, who is one of the lawyers for the seven, said she had carefully read the dossier of charges against them and ""found in it no cause or evidence to sustain the criminal charges upheld by the prosecutor.""
Others also expressed concerns about the fairness of the trial, calling for it to be open and held in accordance with international legal standards. Governments and prominent individuals in the European Union, the United States, Brazil, India, and Canada issued strong statements of concern.
The European Union statement came yesterday, echoing an earlier call for international observers to be allowed in the trial of the seven Baha'is.
""The EU recalls that freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a fundamental and undeniable right which shall be guaranteed in every circumstance,"" the statement said. ""The EU calls for a just, fair and open trial respecting all international standards and obligations. ...""
In Brazil yesterday, Luiz Couto, the president of the Human Rights Commission of the Federal Chamber of Deputies, said in a letter to the Iranian ambassador to Brazil that it appears the ""trial is not transparent and public,"" and that any closed trial would violate the right to a full and fair defense.
""We consider the freedom of religion and belief – that of Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Baha'is, and all other religious expressions – a fundamental human right for democracy, both in the east and west,"" said Congressman Couto.
On Monday, the United States Department of State condemned Iran's decision to move ahead with the trial.
""Authorities have detained these persons for more than 20 months, without making public any evidence against them and giving them little access to legal counsel,"" said Philip J. Crowley, assistant secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State. ""These persons are entitled to due process.""
In India, prominent Indians called upon the government to take up the issue of the Baha'i persecution with Tehran. ""Our country has a long record of pluralism and tolerance and must speak out,"" said Maja Daruwala, director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, according to The Hindu newspaper on Saturday.
In Canada, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon issued a statement on Friday expressing deep concern about the ongoing detention of the seven Baha'i leaders. ""It is deplorable that these individuals were detained on the sole basis of their faith and have been denied a fair trial,"" said Mr. Cannon.
Leading human rights barrister Cherie Blair in an interview today with the BBC World Service called for the release of ""this group of people who live a religion which preaches peace and did nothing whatsoever to deserve this trial.""
In the WashingtonTV interview, Mrs. Ebadi, who is currently outside Iran, also offered a glimpse of what happened yesterday inside Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, where the ""first session"" of the trial was held.
She said only two lawyers of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, which she established, were able to be present in the court. And that in spite of a request for an open hearing, the court was closed.
The charges against the seven were reiterated yesterday in news accounts in government-sponsored news media. They were given as: espionage, ""propaganda activities against the Islamic order,"" the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, the sending of secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and ""corruption on earth.""
Diane Ala'i of the Baha'i International Community said the seven have consistently and categorically denied such accusations. ""We can be certain that they also did so in front of the judge yesterday,"" she said.
The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have been held in Tehran's Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there without formal charges or any access to lawyers.
Prior to their arrest, the seven served as an appointed, ad hoc group known as the ""Friends."" Their role, carried out with the government's knowledge, was to see to the minimum spiritual and material needs of Iran's Baha'i community, which has been without formal leadership since its elected governing bodies were disbanded in response to a government decree in 1983.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
750,2010-01-20,"[748, 648, 635]",Date set for seven Baha'i leaders' next court session,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Iranian authorities have notified the lawyers of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders that the next session of their trial will be held on 7 February, the Baha'i International Community learned today.
At their first court appearance, held 12 January in Tehran, the charges were read to the seven, who categorically denied the accusations.
""While we know little about what actually took place inside the court, we can now say for certain that these seven innocent Baha'is stood up and firmly rejected all of the charges against them,"" said Diane Ala'i of the Baha'i International Community.
""We can also say that, based on the international outcry that accompanied the first session of their trial, the world is watching this proceeding closely and that the Iranian government will be held accountable for any injustices,"" she said.
The charges against the seven, according to accounts in government-sponsored news media, were: espionage, ""propaganda activities against the Islamic order,"" the establishment of an ""illegal administration,"" cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and ""corruption on earth.""
The seven defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have been held in Tehran's Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there without formal charges or any access to lawyers.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
751,2010-01-27,"[750, 747, 743]",Detention of ten Baha’is leads to fears for other prisoners,"NEW YORK, United States — Concern is growing over the lack of information about the status of 10 Baha'is who were arrested earlier this month in Iran.
In addition to worry about their safety, there are fears that charges against these 10 will be used to create false evidence in court against the seven Baha'i leaders who have been held since 2008 and whose trial is set to resume on 7 February.
""Our concern is that in the absence of any evidence against the seven leaders, the authorities may be attempting to build a case by perhaps forcing these newly arrested Baha'is to 'confess' that they were involved in organizing December's Ashura demonstrations under orders from their 'leadership',"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Any such claim would be absurd, given that the seven leaders have been in prison for the last two years,"" she said.
Since their arrest on 3 January, statements have been made in Iranian state-sanctioned media that the 10 possessed arms and ammunition in their homes as part of an anti-government plot related to the December demonstrations.
The 10 have virtually disappeared into Iran's detention system, said Ms. Dugal.
While it is not known whether any of these 10 were in fact present at the Ashura demonstrations, any suggestion that they were central to the organization of these events or that they possessed arms to be used against the government is completely without foundation, she said.
""In the three weeks since these Baha'is were detained, their families have had no contact with them, aside from a brief telephone message to one family member on 11 January.""
While families have been unable to contact the 10, it has been learned that they have been transferred recently to Gohardasht prison in Karaj.
""A cell mate of some of the Baha'i prisoners was recently released, and this individual informed the families of this transfer,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""We don't know exactly what this means, but we do know that families tried to bring clothes and money to the prisoners. The money was accepted by authorities in Karaj, but not the clothing.""
The 10 Baha'is who were arrested on 3 January are Mrs. Leva Khanjani, granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani, one of the seven Baha'i leaders, and her husband, Mr. Babak Mobasher; Mr. Artin Ghazanfari  and his wife, Mrs. Jinous Sobhani, former secretary of Nobel laureate and human rights attorney Shirin Ebadi; Mr. Mehran Rowhani and Mr. Farid Rowhani, who are brothers; Mr Payam Fanaian; Mr. Nikav Hoveydaie; and Mr. Ebrahim Shadmehr and his son, Mr. Zavosh Shadmehr.
On 12 January, the formal arraignment of the seven leaders was held in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
According to accounts in government-sponsored news media, the seven have been charged with: espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and corruption on earth.
In court, the defendants explicitly denied all of these charges.
Ms. Dugal said the judge has reportedly indicated that the next session of the trial on 7 February will be open and the families will be permitted to attend. The first court appearance was closed to the public.
The seven ""leaders"" are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
This group of seven and the 10 Baha'is arrested on 3 January are among hundreds of Baha'is who have been detained in the ongoing persecution of Baha'is - a systematic campaign that has increased in severity in the last few years.",NEW YORK,,United States
752,2010-01-28,"[598, 516, 486]","Young people aim for a ""coherent"" life as they plan their future","SANTA ROSA DE COPAN, Honduras — Having a belief system is not so difficult, said 25-year-old Nava, participating in a recent university seminar in Honduras. The challenging part is building your life around your beliefs.
More than 1,500 young people addressed this challenge at recent Baha'i gatherings in five countries – Honduras, Italy, Australia, England, and the Philippines.
The youth are trying to examine their lives at a time when they have the opportunity to develop a lifestyle and career path that incorporate the values and activities which they believe can shape the kind of world they want to live in.
Nava Kavelin, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, helped facilitate sessions for some of the 60 university students from Central America who signed up for a 10-day seminar in Santa Rosa de Copan in early January.
Participants explored educational paths in light of their beliefs, said Ms. Kavelin. Among the professions they discussed was advertising.
""We looked at the mass media and the messages it communicates. We talked about how the media can paint people in a less-than-favorable light – yet as Baha'is we believe in promoting the nobility of man,"" Ms. Kavelin said.
""The question for university students becomes, how will I use my degree to promote the values I agree with – and to not promote values that I don't agree with.""
Students of business and economics discussed how some business models are in agreement with their principles and some aren't, she said.
""The participants are learning to become owners of their own education rather than passive recipients, looking critically at how the classes they take can help them with their objectives,"" Ms. Kavelin said.
""A coherent life""
Luke Bolton, 22, of New York was one of 300 young people from 39 countries who attended the six-day conference in Italy, which was aimed at assisting participants to see all aspects of their life as complementary elements devoted to the service of humanity.
Since Mr. Bolton's return home, he and colleagues at his office have discussed the subject of not compromising your principles while working at your job.  In the Philippines, students discussed themes such as the coherence between material and spiritual civilization, and how language influences action. (Photograph by Klyne Ally Peralta)""One thing that resonates with people is living a coherent life,"" he says.
Some of the participants at the conference, held in Verona in late December, talked about having useful skills and good jobs – but still feeling that their work is not related to the type of community-building activities that Baha'is believe are vital to grassroots change in the world.
Those people, Mr. Bolton said, tended to feel that they need to devote more of their time to service to the community. Some discussed how they could use job skills – computer knowledge, for example – outside of work and apply it to service.
""New vigor to the concept of service""
Service to humanity was at the crux of a message sent by the Universal House of Justice to the more than 800 Baha'i youth who gathered in early January at a conference in the Australian coastal city of Wollongong.
""Central to your role in the present day is to give new vigor to the concept of service – being devoted to high ideals far removed from purely selfish interests, oriented to advancement of society, and committed to the welfare of humanity,"" the House of Justice wrote to the youth.
The young people seem to be taking the guidance to heart.
""The conference helped me to raise my level of consciousness about the individual and society,"" Negin Sedaghat of Sydney said afterwards.
The presentations ""challenged the youth to move beyond their frivolous pursuits,"" said another young woman.
""We are not just here to engage in idle talk but to put everything into practice,"" commented a third.
""Greater coherence and a life of service,"" said Rewa Worley of Auckland, New Zealand, summing up the message he was taking home from the conference.
Building capacity among youth
A key feature of the conference in England, held at the University of Warwick in Coventry, was that the young people themselves were running it.
Bonnie Smith – who at only 16 is a veteran of dozens of Baha'i gatherings – said the difference was noticeable.
""Suddenly a lot of youth I had never seen before were giving talks and performances,"" she said. ""The idea was to give the youth skills that they could take home with them.""
Aryan Ziaie, at age 20 one of the four main organizers, guessed that about a third of the 346 registered participants were presenters or performers or in some way contributed their skills to the event.
""The purpose of this conference was developing capacity,"" he said. ""It was run by the youth - people who hadn't done this before. It is a hallmark of the success of the conference.""
A first-year law student at the London School of Economics, Mr. Ziaie said a more typical conference might have two or three keynote speakers. This one had many.
Even at his university, when he and his friends have serious discussions about social change, the assumption seems to be that only a handful of people will be the catalyst – ""top down,"" he said.
The mood at the conference was different, he said, with a ""grassroots sharing of experiences.""
""You saw people pledging their future to learning about how to effect social transformation,"" he said. ""They are conscious of this, and they know where to look for the guidance.""
The Baha'i youth seemed to have changed in the past year, he observed.
""You can tell by the level of conversations,"" he said. ""They share experiences so that they can further refine their activities. They plan, they act, they reflect – they have been brought up with this dynamic.""
He said his own experience at the gathering was of less social chitchat and more time spent in focused discussion.
""The vision was clearer,"" he said.",SANTA ROSA DE COPAN,,Honduras
753,2010-01-31,"[750, 747, 743]",Baha'is condemn lack of due process at trial in Iran,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has issued a statement condemning the trial of 16 individuals in Iran yesterday as a ""violation of all internationally accepted standards of legal due process.""
The statement highlights the lack of proper legal representation for the defendants and the use of unreliable ""confessions"" in the trial. One of the 16 on trial is a Baha'i.
""The use of coerced 'confessions' and the denial of adequate legal representation reflect the Iranian authorities' growing assault on human rights,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
The complete statement follows:
The trial yesterday of 16 individuals in Iran, apparently accused of participating in the Ashura demonstrations on 27 December, stands in violation of all internationally accepted standards of legal due process.
While facts are unavailable to the Baha'i International Community concerning 15 of the defendants in the court proceedings, it can confirm that one individual – identified only as ""P.F."" in government reports – is a Baha'i.
The show trials in the aftermath of the June 2009 presidential election, at which defendants have been forced to read statements incriminating themselves, have completely discredited ""confessions,"" such as the one purportedly made by ""P.F.,"" both inside and outside of Iran. It is well known that such confessions are obtained while prisoners are under extreme duress, often after being exposed to such appalling tactics as food and sleep deprivation, fake executions, threats against their families, and worse. Rather than accepting responsibility for the turmoil in the country, the Iranian government organizes such show trials in order to lay the blame on innocent citizens and others.
While it is claimed that the court proceedings are open, not even the families of the defendants are notified of the trial of their loved ones.
The person identified as P.F., along with nine other Baha'is who were arrested on 3 January in Tehran, has not been able to contact his family, has been denied access to a lawyer, and was not allowed to choose his own legal representation. The government-appointed lawyer who acted on behalf of P.F. did nothing more than to accept the ""confession"" of his client and make a pro forma request for leniency.
The Iranian government is well aware that it is a fundamental principle of the Baha'i Faith that its followers strictly refrain from involvement in any partisan political activity, whether local, national, or international. Consequently, the arrest of ten Baha'is on 3 January, a full week after the Ashura demonstrations, and the claims that Baha'is were behind the recent anti-government turmoil have come as a complete surprise to the Baha'i community. These fabricated accusations clearly appear to be not so much about some Baha'is participating in the Ashura demonstrations. They point instead to a scenario which has been concocted by the authorities to justify placing further restrictions on the activities of the Baha'i community. This is but the most recent tactic in the ongoing systematic campaign of persecution that seeks to eliminate the Baha'i community as a viable entity in that country.
We call on governments and fair-minded people throughout the world to join us and raise their voice to protest against the blatant violations of human rights in Iran, of which yesterday's trial is only the most recent example.",NEW YORK,,United States
754,2010-02-02,"[711, 718, 754]","Prestigious exhibition presents ""New Garden""","BRISBANE, Australia — Traditional Pacific island bark cloth stenciled with designs depicting a vision of a ""New Garden"" was one of the artworks commissioned for a prestigious exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery.
The sixth Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art – APT6 – is now well into its four-month run and features works by some of the best-known artists of the Pacific region.
Prominent New Zealand artist Robin White was invited to participate, with organizers mentioning a possible collaboration with a tapa artist from Fiji. Eventually Mrs. White proposed that she work with two Fijians, Leba Toki and Bale Jione.
All three artists are Baha'is and used their vision of a future society to inspire their work.
""What we wanted to do was to present our vision of what Fiji could be – and what it will be,"" said Mrs. White.
In Fiji, she explained, almost all of the world's great religions are represented by a significant portion of the population – Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, and a small but growing Baha'i community.
""That makes it special,"" she said. ""Somehow we wanted to get that idea across.""  Fijian artists Leba Toki and Bale Jione flank Robin White as the trio poses during a break from their work on the exquisite bark-cloth art commissioned for the exhibition known as ""APT6.""The tapa – or masi, as the Fijians call the craft of tapa and the plant from which it is made – is traditionally made for a wedding, and the artists indeed used that concept.
""The idea was not about a literal wedding between two individuals but rather the idea of a marriage of cultures – namely the indigenous and Indian cultures that constitute contemporary Fijian society – connected by bonds of love and respect,"" Mrs. White said.
In the end, many elements were incorporated into their tapa. For the main piece, a vision of the Shrine of the Bab in the Holy Land and its surrounding terraces was combined with images of importance to Fijians.
An unusual collaboration
For Mrs. Toki, the mere act of a Fijian like herself collaborating with a New Zealander to create artwork on tapa was a breakthrough.
""I knew that only the Fijians can do the tapa,"" she said, remembering her skepticism when Mrs. White first contacted her for an earlier project. ""I was thinking, 'How can we work together?'""
For Mrs. White, it was during her travels in the Pacific that she had gotten the idea of a collaboration. Already a well-known artist in other media, she had known about the tapa produced in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. But when she saw a particularly beautiful piece hanging in the transit lounge in the Nadi airport, she decided she must learn the technique for making it.
In Fiji, she met Mrs. Toki at a Baha'i gathering and later at the Toki residence noticed some beautiful tapa on the wall.
""Who did these?"" Mrs. White asked.


Materials used to make the ""New Garden"" tapa
The “canvas”:
The bark cloth itself comes from the bast, or ""skin,"" of the paper mulberry. The outer bark is discarded, the hard inner stalk is used for firewood or staking plants in the garden, and the skin is dried and stored. When required for making masi, the dry strips are soaked in water and then beaten. The strips are overlaid as they are beaten, as in a felting process.
The paint, or kesa:
The inner skin of the dogo, or mangrove, provides the raw material for kesa, the liquid paint used for printing the patterns. A stone is used to pound pieces of dogo, which are then boiled to form the kesa.
The pigment:
The pigment for the paint consists of black soot and brown clay, or umea, that is dried and scraped to make a fine power. To produce the soot, a wick is prepared from scraps of bark cloth. This is dipped into kerosene and burned in an enclosed tin oven. The soot collects on the inside upper surface of the oven and is carefully removed and stored in a tin. The soot is mixed with the kesa and umea to make loloa – black paint.
(Source: Robin White)


When she discovered that Mrs. Toki herself was the artist, an idea was born. At first Mrs. Toki was reluctant to work jointly – she had never heard of the type of tapa she did being created by anyone other than Fijians. But when she discovered that Mrs. White indeed was an artist, she was willing to give it a go. And when they began collaborating, she found the relationship rewarding.
""Working together is very powerful,"" Mrs. Toki says now. ""Different races, both giving ideas.""
She said a pattern of consultation, action, and reflection - familiar to all three women through their Baha'i activities - became a key part of the creation of their artwork for the APT6 exhibition.
The trio completed their new work several months ago and traveled to Brisbane in early December for the opening of APT6 and to participate in stimulating conversations with other artists from throughout the Asian Pacific region.
The exhibition runs through 5 April.In Fiji, Mrs. Toki lives in Lautoka, known as Sugar City because of a large sugar mill located in the town. The idea of sugar became one of the starting points for the three artists as they developed concepts for their commissioned work.
""Sugar (became) a metaphor for the sweetening of relationships between people,"" Mrs. White said, explaining how their thinking progressed.
""The real Sugar City is the city of God,"" she continued.
This image led the artists to picture the Baha'i gardens and terraces on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel - gardens known for their beauty and perfection and thus symbolic of a transformed society, Mrs. White said.
""That seemed like a visual framework,"" she said.
The main tapa they made shows the Baha'i shrine on Mount Carmel with its terraced gardens. At the base is a sugar plantation. Taro – a food staple in the Pacific that is believed to be one of the earliest cultivated plants – is depicted as growing on the terraces.
That tapa is a large wall hanging, 12 by 8 feet, and is accompanied in the exhibition by a second piece for the floor. The artists also created other elements, including the garments for the ""wedding,"" that also will remain part of the collection at the Queensland Art Gallery.
They named the work ""New Garden"" – ""Teitei Vou"" in the Fijian language – words taken from the writings of Baha'u'llah.
The art of the tapa
Mrs. White said the artistic decoration of bark cloth remains part of the culture in Fiji.
""Young girls in the Lau group of islands in Fiji, where Leba and Bale come from, all do this kind of tapa work,"" she explained, ""and some become skillful at doing specialized aspects of it such as designing and cutting stencils. In the village setting, the women all work together. If someone is getting married, the women get together to make the tapa.""
""It's a sacred cloth,"" Mrs. White said. Traditionally it has been used for various occasions and now, with the European influence, is used even more extensively – for tablecloths and other items, for example.
For the artwork for APT6, Mrs. Jione acquired the raw material for making the tapa on her native island of Moce and took it to her current home in Suva, the capital of Fiji which is located on the island of Viti Levu.
There she and her husband worked together to beat it into sheets before taking it across the island to Lautoka where Mrs Toki lives. Mrs. White then joined them in Lautoka for a few months – Fiji is a four-hour flight from New Zealand – and the three artists worked together to make the designs and do the painting.
Mrs. Jione said the stenciling is much easier now than in the old days. Her grandmother, for example, used banana leaves for the stencils, but they were difficult to work with and not very durable. Now the artists use X-ray film, and the stencils can be used over and over.
""Because of film, many more people can do the painting,"" she said.
In the early stages of the APT6 project, Mrs. White spent time reading about Fiji as part of her preparation.
""I did a lot of research into the history,"" she said. She discovered how the Fiji of today is a result of indentured laborers being brought from India to work on the sugar plantations, and how Mahatma Gandhi supported efforts to bring the human trafficking to an end.
In recognition of this period of history and the suffering associated with it, the size of the main tapa - 12 by 8 feet - was made in the dimensions of the living quarters issued to the Indian laborers who were obliged to live three to a room.
""Everything in the artwork has significance,"" Mrs. White said.
More about the APT6 exhibition
The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art – now in its sixth edition – runs through early April in the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane. The exhibition includes 313 artworks by some 160 artists from 25 countries.
This year's show includes for the first time artists from North Korea, Iran, Turkey, Tibet, Cambodia, and Myanmar - a fact that Mrs. White finds significant. The presence of North Korean artists is particularly interesting, she said.
""To see their work included in the APT seems to me a very important thing,"" she noted.
The Triennial, she said, brings together artists from diverse backgrounds living in the world's largest land mass and scattered across the world's largest ocean.
""I am fascinated with how culture and belief informs their work,"" she said of the participating artists. Some of the pieces have a deeply spiritual aspect, she said, and some reflect social or political issues.
She noted that a work that is overtly Baha'i perhaps is more accepted and appreciated here than in many other venues.
Queensland Art Gallery Director Tony Ellwood said collaboration among artists of different countries was a hallmark of the exhibition.
""Much of APT6 draws on the extensive network of relationships, within the region and beyond, that has always been integral to the Triennial's spirit,"" he said.
In addition to the tapa created by the three Baha'is of New Zealand and Fiji, some of the collaborative art projects in APT6 include ""The Mekong,"" a collection of works from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar, and ""Pacific Reggae,"" a selection of Pacific reggae music videos, concert clips, documentaries, and performances.
For information on APT6, go to www.qag.qld.gov.au/apt6
For the page about the three tapa artists, go to http://qag.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/current/apt6/artists/robin_white,bale_jione-and-_leba_toki",BRISBANE,,Australia
755,2010-02-05,"[490, 664, 653]","Amid wreckage in Haiti, new birth brings hope","PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Little Tina Rose Wome came into the world on 28 January in a makeshift clinic, fashioned from a classroom at the Anis Zunuzi Baha'i School on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.
An entire team of visiting doctors and nurses was on hand for her arrival – the first birth at the school in the 30 years since its founding.
The delivery was poignant in another way, too – Magdalah Wome had been pregnant three times previously but none of her other babies survived childbirth. Tina Rose is the first she has taken home – a home which now is no more than a tent pitched in front of the rubble that at one time was a house.
International relief agencies have reported that dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince on 12 January is one of the biggest challenges they have ever faced. As many as 170,000 people are believed dead, and the number of homeless may top one million.  Dr. Munirih Tahzib, a pediatrician from Hoboken, New Jersey, treats a child next to a collapsed school in a village outside of Port-au-Prince. At a separate stop at an orphanage, Dr. Tahzib and other volunteers examined 150 children in need of medical attention.""Whatever you see on television, it is 10 times worse,"" said Dr. Munirih Tahzib, a pediatrician from New Jersey who helped organize the medical team. ""We would meet people whose entire family had been killed and their house destroyed. Yet they would just pick up and carry on. That is what kept us going.""
Indeed, the inspiration provided by the Haitian population is a common refrain in reports from the scene. ""The Haitians are not just sitting back with their hands out. They're doing a lot of the heavy lifting – so humble in its nature, it seems invisible,"" Time magazine said. ""They dig survivors out of the wreckage by hand, not with big yellow machines.""
The 18 members of the particular medical team that welcomed Tina Rose into the world were from the United States and Canada. They had come to Haiti to deliver medical supplies and treat as many patients as possible during the week they were able to stay. Additional goals were to teach people how to recognize and treat infection, and assess needs for sustainability.
The 18 visitors, many of whom were Baha'is, had made arrangements to set up their tents in the yard at the Anis Zunuzi school and create a temporary clinic in the classrooms that were still standing.
Yves and Susanna Puzo, who have long been associated with the school, lost their home in the earthquake but helped arrange for food and logistical support for the medical team, which included two pediatricians, two orthopedic surgeons, four obstetricians/gynecologists, an intensive care specialist, a hospital doctor, a nurse, a respiratory therapist, and a fourth-year medical student.
Now back home, members of the group have already had follow-up consultations about how they can provide ongoing assistance to efforts by Haitians – including the local Baha'is – to rebuild their country.
""We all learned the power of grassroots action,"" said Dr. Tahzib.
(The collection of 30 photographs accompanying this article provides more information about the efforts of the medical team.)",PORT-AU-PRINCE,,Haiti
756,2010-02-07,"[751, 749, 748]",Baha'i leaders make second court appearance,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders appeared in court today in Iran for a second session of their trial.
The session was once again closed, and family members were not permitted in the courtroom, the Baha'i International Community has learned.
The hearing, which lasted just over one hour, does not seem to have gone beyond procedural issues. No date was given for any future sessions.
The seven were arrested nearly two years ago and have been held in Tehran's Evin prison since that time, spending the first year there without formal charges or access to lawyers.
After several postponements, their trial officially began on 12 January, when the seven were arraigned in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
That session was also closed to the public, but accounts in government-sponsored news media said the defendants were formally charged with espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and corruption on earth.
All the charges have been categorically denied. The defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
757,2010-02-16,"[753, 738, 731]",Nations rally to defend human rights in Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Countries from around the world have voiced strong concern at the United Nations Human Rights Council over Iran's deteriorating human rights record.
In speeches yesterday and in documents filed with the Council, nations and human rights groups described the degree to which Iran has failed to live up to its obligations under international human rights law.
""The good news is that governments and organizations are rallying to defend innocent Iranians, who have over the last year seen their human rights so gravely violated,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""The bad news is that Iran continues to ignore such appeals,"" she said, speaking after yesterday's session of Council, which specifically focused on Iran's human rights record.
Muhammad Javad Larijani, secretary general of the Islamic Republic of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, told the session that there is religious freedom in Iran and that no Baha'i is persecuted for his beliefs. If any Baha'is are imprisoned, he said, it is because of ""illegal activities"" as a cult.
""Put bluntly, Iran once again completely discredited itself before the eyes of the international community,"" said Ms. Ala'i, noting that last week Iran arrested at least 14 more Baha'is.
Among those arrested, she said, was Niki Khanjani, the son of one of the seven Baha'i leaders who are currently on trial on false charges.
""As the Nobel laureate Mrs. Shirin Ebadi has recently stated in an open letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Iran is now trying to increase pressure on prisoners by taking their relatives hostage,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""Jamaloddin Khanjani is 76. He has been incarcerated for almost two years – and then they arrested his granddaughter at the beginning of January and now, his son.""
""These are the desperate acts of a regime that is frantically lashing out to blame others for its troubles and to suppress any viewpoint that is different from its own ideology,"" she said.
The majority of countries who spoke out against Iran focused on the violence following last June's presidential election and also on the situation of the country's religious minorities.
Brazil called for Iran to extend rights to all religious groups in the country, saying Baha'is should enjoy the same rights as everyone. Mexico said all minorities – particularly the Baha'i community – must be able to practice their religion.
""Romania and Slovenia devoted almost the entire allotment of their time to discussing the increasing repression of Iran's Baha'i community,"" reported Ms. Ala'i.
Human rights groups, in documents filed with the Council, made similar points.
""Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, individuals belonging to minorities in Iran are subject to an array of discriminatory laws and practices,"" wrote Amnesty International in its statement. ""Minorities suffering persecution include ethnic and linguistic minorities such as Kurds, Arabs, Azerbaijanis, Turkmen and Baluchis, and religious minorities such as Baha'is and the Ahl-e Haq.""
""The government systematically denies rights associated with freedom of religion to members of the Baha'i faith, Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority. In most cases, including the persecution of the Baha'i community, the government uses 'security' as a pretext for detaining individuals and denying them basic due process rights,"" said a statement from Human Rights Watch.
The session was part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a relatively new procedure that seeks to review the human rights record of all 192 United Nations member states once every four years. This year is the first time Iran has come up for review.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
758,2010-02-16,"[735, 714, 609]",Baha'is offer decision-making model at UN commission,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — A new model of decision-making among peoples of different cultures would contribute to integration ""at this time of transition to a new social order,"" according to a new Baha'i statement.
The statement was prepared for the 48th United Nations Commission for Social Development, which concluded on 12 February. The commission is the chief UN body charged with following up on the World Summit on Social Development held in 1995 in Copenhagen, where world leaders outlined principles that would characterize a new ""society for all."" These principles included respect for diversity and participation of all people.
The Baha'i International Community said in its statement that it was offering its experience in the method of consultation used by Baha'i communities around the world – a key component in creating unity among people.
The consultative process, the Baha'i statement said, rests on the understanding that all human beings are essentially noble – ""they possess reason and conscience as well as capacities for inquiry, understanding, compassion, and service to the common good.""
Mr. Ming H. Chong of Singapore, a delegate to the commission who presented a summary of the Baha'i statement, said afterward that understanding the nobility of all humans prevents people from dismissing others as needy rather than being in charge of their own development.
""If you start with (this) understanding, then you have a different perspective, one that avoids labels like 'marginalized' and 'poor,'"" he said. He explained that he was a child of immigrants to Singapore and had learned that such labels create the wrong impression of entire groups of people.
""Language shapes the way we think,"" he said. ""It creates mental pictures of how we see the world. Some of these mental pictures are not always positive – those that dehumanize migrants, for example.""
The Baha'i statement to the UN commission suggested that the human body can serve as a model for comparing the integration of the world's cultures and peoples. ""Within this organism, millions of cells, with extraordinary diversity of form and function, collaborate to make human existence possible. Every least cell has its part to play in maintaining a healthy body,"" the statement said.
This image can be used to envision the world's peoples as one human family and understand how each culture plays a part in the functioning of the whole, Mr. Chong explained.
In consultation as practiced in Baha'i communities, great value is placed on the diversity of perspectives and contributions that individuals bring to the discussion.
""Actively soliciting views from those traditionally excluded from decision-making not only increases the pool of intellectual resources but also fosters the trust, inclusion, and mutual commitment needed for collective action,"" the Baha'i statement said.
A key feature of Baha'i consultation is that ideas belong to the group rather than to individuals.
""Detachment from one's positions and opinions regarding the matter under discussion is imperative – once an idea has been shared, it is no longer associated with the individual who expressed it, but becomes a resource for the group to adopt, modify, or discard,"" the statement said.
A diversity of opinions, however, is not sufficient – it ""does not provide communities with a means to bridge differences or to resolve social tensions,"" it continued.
""In consultation, the value of diversity is inextricably linked to the goal of unity. This is not an idealized unity, but one that acknowledges differences and strives to transcend them through a process of principled deliberation,"" the statement said. ""It is unity in diversity.""
The Baha'i International Community participated in or cosponsored several other activities during the Commission for Social Development, which ran from 3 February to12 February. Among other things, Baha'is sponsored a panel discussion on freedom of religion or belief, offered a presentation on ""Child Participation for Social Integration"" featuring the New York-based Children's Theater Company, and contributed to NGO consultations leading to a Civil Society Declaration to the Commission.
The panel discussion – titled ""Freedom of religion or belief: A forgotten pillar of social integration?"" – was held at Baha'i offices on 5 February. It featured presentations by Brian Grim, a senior researcher at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life; Dr. Anupam Ray of the mission of India to the UN; John Mosoti of the mission of Kenya to UN; and Azza Karam, a senior researcher with the United Nations Population Fund.
Participants discussed how freedom of religion contributes to social integration, focusing in part on the success of multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies like India and Kenya in achieving relative harmony.
""To the extent that efforts towards social integration will reflect the diverse voices and aspirations of the world's people, governments will need to tackle one of the most challenging and neglected issues of our time – ensuring every individual's freedom of conscience, religion or belief,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN, who introduced the discussion.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
759,2010-02-19,"[757, 753, 756]",Next court date for Baha'i leaders will be 11 April,"GENEVA, Switzerland — A third court date has been announced for seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran, the Baha'i International Community has learned.
The trial proceedings – begun on 12 January after the seven had been incarcerated in Tehran's Evin prison for 20 months – will continue on Sunday, 11 April, according to information conveyed orally to their attorneys.
Government-sponsored news media reported that at the first hearing, the seven were charged with espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and corruption on earth.
The defendants categorically deny all accusations.
A second hearing, held on 7 February, was concerned mainly with procedural matters.
The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. They were responsible for tending to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's 300,000 Baha'is, after formal Baha'i institutions were dissolved in 1983.
The court proceedings have come at the same time as more Baha'is have been arrested in Tehran. About 13 individuals were rounded up on 3 January, with 10 of them still in custody, and another 13 were detained last week, with 11 of them still jailed.
There are at present about 60 Baha'is in detention in various cities in Iran.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
760,2010-02-22,"[757, 753, 756]",Court date for Baha'i leaders now announced as 10 April,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The third court session for seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran is scheduled for 10 April, a day earlier than originally announced.
Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, said attorneys in Iran have now received written notice of the court date, confirming it as 10 April, a Saturday. The earlier notification was oral.
The seven defendants have been imprisoned since 2008 and only last month were presented with formal charges – including espionage and ""corruption on earth"" – which they categorically deny.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
761,2010-03-04,"[609, 592, 487]",Media portrayal of women is focus of panel,"NEW YORK, United States — When Jan Floyd-Douglass decided to buy a new car, she bypassed suitable models from eight different manufacturers – and then wrote to tell them why.
""I love your car but I didn't buy it because I don't like your advertisements because they demean women,"" wrote Ms. Floyd-Douglass, who is on the board of the Women's National Commission in the United Kingdom.
She told the story during a panel discussion titled ""Portrayal or Betrayal: How the Media Depicts Women and Girls"" held at the UN offices of the Baha'i International Community. The event was planned in conjunction with the annual session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which began on 1 March.
Along with the other panelists, she noted that sexualized images of women in advertising are so commonplace as to seem innocuous.
""My message is, if we don't actually do anything about this, we are complicit in it,"" said Ms. Floyd-Douglass.  Michael Karlberg of Western Washington University speaks at a discussion titled ""Portrayal or Betrayal: How the Media Depicts Women and Girls."" The Baha'i International Community hosted the event at its UN offices in New York.Also on the panel was Sarah Kasule, director of the Mother's Union for Uganda, who said that the way women are portrayed in the African media can be equally negative.
""They are depicted as symbols of sex. Or as something to do with making men comfortable, or giving care,"" she said.
This trend in the media is a result of both individual choices and institutional forces, added Dr. Michael Karlberg, who is an associate professor in the department of communications at Western Washington University.
""On one hand,"" he said, ""people everywhere are choosing to consume media that feeds base appetites that we have inherited from our animal nature. On the other hand, media institutions have been constructed in ways that purposefully stimulate, reinforce, and exploit these base appetites.""
The result is a ""feedback cycle"" that has created a media environment that is ""unjust, unhealthy, and unsustainable,"" observed Dr. Karlberg.
He said any effort to address the problem must consider the structure of media institutions.
""The assumption is that the media is just another commodity. But the media is not just another commodity. It is a process that facilitates democratic deliberations. It is a process that creates culture.""
Part of the problem, he said, is that the media's real product is not content but the delivery of an audience to advertisers. The result is that the media strives to manufacture audiences in the cheapest way possible, through a ""high-sex, high-violence, high-conflict content. It doesn't take talent or research or investigative journalism. Yet it stimulates the appetites, much the same way that a high-salt, high-sugar, and high-fat junk food diet does.""
The discussion, held on 3 March, was moderated by Baroness Joyce Gould, chair of the UK Women's National Commission.
She said recent studies show that images demeaning to women are increasingly used in the mass media and have an unhealthy impact on the psychological development of both girls and boys.
""For girls, it is about being told they need to be more attractive to men. And for boys, it is about looking upon girls as sexual objects,"" said Baroness Gould.
Dr. Karlberg spoke of efforts the Baha'i community is making to try to counter the ill effects of exposure to such images in the media by offering moral education for children and young people.
""Baha'is, like people everywhere, are struggling to raise and educate children,"" he said. ""They are trying to do this in a way that cultivates their inherent nobility, that releases their spiritual potential, and that helps them recognize the deep sources of purpose, meaning, and happiness in life.
""It is clear that such spiritual education can be a very important factor in making children less susceptible to messages in their media environment. It is also a very important factor in making children more likely to make thoughtful choices about media consumption as they grow older.""
Some counter trends in Uganda may be helpful, said Ms. Kasule, who described how literacy and education levels of women and girls are rising in that country.
""There are many programs for girls to read and write. This is important because they will be able to access information, to access media reports, and then they can respond.
""So I believe things are changing for the better,"" she said.",NEW YORK,,United States
762,2010-03-20,"[629, 627, 358]",Two new members elected to Universal House of Justice,"HAIFA, Israel — The Universal House of Justice has announced the results of a by-election for two of its nine members.
The new members are Stephen Birkland and Stephen Hall, elected in balloting in which members of national Baha'i governing bodies around the world serve as electors. The voting was done by mail, and results were conveyed today to all Baha'i National Spiritual Assemblies.
The Universal House of Justice is the head of the Baha'i Faith. Its permanent seat is at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, and all members reside here for the duration of their service.
The regular election of the nine members of the House of Justice occurs every five years at an international convention, held in Haifa. The most recent election was in 2008.
The by-election was necessary to fill two vacancies created when the House of Justice approved the request of two members, Mr. Hooper Dunbar and Dr. Peter Khan, to relinquish their positions owing to their advanced age and the heavy burden of work involved in membership.",HAIFA,,Israel
763,2010-03-22,"[762, 629, 622]",Two members of Universal House of Justice leaving after decades of service,"HAIFA, Israel — Two members of the Universal House of Justice, Mr. Hooper Dunbar and Dr. Peter Khan, are leaving Haifa after decades of service at the Baha'i World Centre.
The results of a by-election to replace them on the nine-member House of Justice were announced on 20 March, with the change effective immediately. The Universal House of Justice, which has its permanent seat in Haifa, is the head of the Baha'i Faith.
The last regular election of the nine members took place in 2008. All have five-year terms, but the House of Justice gave permission to Mr. Dunbar and Dr. Khan to relinquish their positions owing to their advanced age and the burden of work associated with membership.
Mr. Dunbar, 72, has served in Haifa since 1973 when he was called to the Baha'i World Centre as a member of the International Teaching Centre. He was first elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1988 and since then has been elected to successive terms.
Originally from Los Angeles, as a young man he was an actor on stage, screen and television, making films with Columbia, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Twentieth Century-Fox. In 1958 he began 15 years of residence in Latin America, where he worked as a translator and educator. Mr. Dunbar served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Nicaragua before being named to the Auxiliary Board for Protection. In 1968 he was appointed to the Continental Board of Counselors in South America and served in that position five years until moving to the Holy Land.
He is an accomplished painter whose works have been shown in Europe and elsewhere. He is the author of a book-length study guide to the Kitab-i-Iqan (Book of Certitude), one of the major works of Baha'u'llah, and of ""Forces of Our Time: The Dynamics of Light and Darkness,"" published last year. Mr. Dunbar and his wife, Maralynn George Dunbar, have one son. They will be establishing their new residence in California.
Dr. Khan, 73, was first elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1987 and has served as a member since that time.
Born in New South Wales, Australia, he earned a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Sydney and then went to the University of Michigan in the United States as Fulbright postdoctoral fellow before becoming a member of the faculty there. He returned to Australia in 1975 to professorial positions, first at the University of New South Wales and then at the University of Queensland.
Dr. Khan has published widely in his profession and from 1978 to 2000 was a member of the editorial board of the journal ""IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory."" He is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and a senior member of the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
His Baha'i service included membership on the Auxiliary Board, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia, and the Continental Board of Counselors for Australasia before his appointment in 1983 as a member of the International Teaching Centre in Haifa. He served in that capacity until his election to the House of Justice.
Dr. Khan has lectured widely on Baha'i subjects and has written numerous articles on the Baha'i Faith. With his wife, Dr. Janet Khan, he is the author of ""Advancement of Women: A Baha'i Perspective."" They will now make their home in Australia.
The next regular election of all nine members of the Universal House of Justice will be at the International Baha'i Convention in Haifa in 2013.",HAIFA,,Israel
764,2010-04-09,"[757, 753, 756]",Next trial session in Iran for Baha'is set for tomorrow,"GENEVA, Switzerland — A third session of the court proceedings against seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders is scheduled for tomorrow in Tehran.
It is unknown whether the hearing – scheduled in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court – will be open to families of the defendants and other observers. The first two sessions were closed.
The seven defendants, who have been imprisoned for two years, were responsible for tending to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's 300,000 Baha'is.
In January of this year they were finally presented with formal charges, which include espionage and ""corruption on earth"" – accusations that they categorically deny.
For more information, see recent news stories at https://news.bahai.org/story/760 and https://news.bahai.org/story/759. For further background and photographs, see https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/",GENEVA,,Switzerland
765,2010-04-10,"[756, 748, 745]",Court date for Iranian Baha'i leaders is 12 April,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The Baha'i International Community has learned that there was a miscommunication as to the date of the trial of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Tehran.
A court session believed to have been scheduled for today is set for Monday, 12 April.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
766,2010-04-12,"[756, 749, 748]",Third court session held for Baha'i leaders in Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders were called to court today in Tehran for a third session in their trial. The hearing was again closed, and no details are available.
""We know that a session did take place, but we do not have any specific information from reliable sources,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""These seven innocent Baha'is will soon enter their third year of imprisonment,"" she said. ""At the very least, they should have been released on bail pending the outcome of the tortuous judicial process they have been subjected to. This is unacceptable in light of international human rights law.""
The seven have been held in Tehran's Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008. No court hearing was held until 12 January this year when they appeared in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court and charges were read.
Accusations include espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and ""corruption on earth.""
A second court session on 7 February was largely procedural.
The seven defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 and the others on 14 May 2008.
They have categorically denied all the charges.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
767,2010-04-13,[],Update on third trial session of Iranian Baha'i leaders,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Details are emerging from yesterday's court appearance in Tehran of seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders.
The Baha'i International Community has learned that when the prisoners arrived at the court, their families were not allowed to enter, signaling a closed hearing.
Inside the courtroom, however, the prisoners saw numerous officials and interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence – along with a film crew which had already set up its cameras.
Concerned over the presence of non-judicial personnel in a supposedly closed hearing, the Baha'is – with the agreement of their attorneys – declined to be party to the proceedings.
The judge adjourned the session and did not announce a date for continuing the trial.
""The Islamic Republic of Iran should immediately set free these seven innocent prisoners,"" said Diane Ala'i, Baha'i representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
""The dictates of justice demand no less,"" she said. ""They are now about to enter the third year of their incarceration on baseless charges which they have categorically denied and for which the government has no evidence whatsoever.
""At the very least, they should be released on bail and steps be taken to ensure that their trial is conducted fairly, in accordance with international standards of jurisprudence.
""If their confinement is to continue, the harsh conditions under which they are being held must be improved,"" she said.
Yesterday's session was the third in the ongoing trial of the seven Baha'is, who have been accused of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and ""corruption on earth,"" among other charges. Their first court appearance was 12 January this year.
The seven defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 and the others on 14 May 2008.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
768,2010-04-23,"[513, 704, 705]",Work advances on restoration of Haifa's golden-domed shrine,"HAIFA, Israel — With great care and patience, a dozen trusted workers are going over the entire stone surface of Haifa's renowned Baha'i shrine, mending and cleaning every spot that shows damage from half a century exposed to the elements.
The stone restoration of the burial place of the Bab – one of two divine Messengers associated with the Baha'i Faith – is only one part of a four-year project that is bringing the benefits of 21st century engineering and building expertise to a structure whose first rooms were completed in 1909.
The initial phase of the work – structural reinforcement to increase resistance to earthquakes – began in 2008 and is virtually finished.
""A new concealed steel structure, masonry reinforcements, and concrete work are largely complete,"" said Saeid Samadi, architect and manager for the project. ""The stone restoration should be finished by the end of the summer, and other work is well under way.""
In addition to stonework and structural reinforcement, the painstaking restoration includes replacing the golden tiles on the dome, gilding anew the elements that feature gold leaf, replacing the red floor tiles inside the shrine, restoring the original ornamental balustrades, refurbishing the wood and metal doors and windows, installing new electrical and environmental control systems, and waterproofing.
The entire project is scheduled for completion in April 2012, but the exterior should be finished sooner, Mr. Samadi said. The refurbishing includes both the original one-story building that was completed a century ago and the outside colonnade, superstructure, and golden dome that were finished in 1953.  Workers are going over the entire stone exterior of the shrine and repairing every spot that shows signs of damage from 50 years of exposure to the elements. Jubin Nakhai, shown here, is an experienced stone carver from Canada. (Baha’i World Centre photo. All rights reserved.)""The expectation is that by early October 2011, when the Baha'i pilgrimage season begins, visitors will be able to see the shrine in its full beauty and grandeur,"" Mr. Samadi said. ""At the moment much of the exterior of the building is blocked from view.""
In fact, extraordinary care has been taken to shield the restoration work from the public so that pilgrims and other visitors can continue to enter the shrine for prayer and also experience the beauty and peacefulness of the gardens.
Access to the tomb itself is suspended only during three summer months when no formal Baha'i pilgrimages are scheduled.
The Baha'i shrine on Mount Carmel is one of the most visited sites in the Holy Land. The building, overlooking Haifa Bay and the Mediterranean Sea, is known for its beauty and for the adjacent gardens that stretch up and down the mountain.
In 2008, the Shrine of Baha'u'llah north of Haifa, near Acre, and the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel were chosen for the UNESCO World Heritage list, sites of ""outstanding universal value"" that should be considered part of the ""cultural heritage of humanity.""
The restoration work will not result in any change in the design or general appearance of the Shrine of the Bab.
Behind the massive scaffolding and the custom-fitted mesh that currently shrouds the upper portion of the Shrine of the Bab, members of the stone restoration team are well along in their task.
Work actually began five years ago, when experts in Italy were consulted about the stone, its particular qualities, and possible techniques for restoration. Then came laboratory tests, research into the causes of deterioration, experimentation with restoration methods and materials, and commissioning of experts from England, the Netherlands, and the United States to come to Haifa and work with the Baha'is in refining the techniques to be used.
The methods were applied first on another restoration project – that of the International Archives Building which stands near the Shrine of the Bab at the Baha'i World Centre. That project, now finished, required 30,000 man-hours for the stone restoration alone.
Currently, the staff is gearing up for the replacement of the gilded tiles on the dome of the Shrine of the Bab. Removal of the original tiles has begun, and an agreement has been finalized for the fabrication of new ones.
It represents the final stretch of a five-year process involving in-depth studies and laboratory tests on how best to manufacture high-performance ceramics that in appearance resemble the original tiles. (See previous article at https://news.bahai.org/story/513).
All aspects of the project have received the same careful scrutiny, Mr. Samadi said.
""We have sought the best expertise available, used the most sophisticated methods, and studied and tested every element. It took us two years to find exactly the right red floor tiles – in France – to replace the damaged ones in the shrine. Restoring the balustrades has taken us 2,000 to 3,000 hours of work,"" he said. ""This is a very big project.""",HAIFA,,Israel
769,2010-04-28,"[712, 709, 617]",Latin America marks key anniversary in establishment of Baha’i Faith,"SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — El Salvador and 20 other nations in Latin America and the Caribbean are this month electing their national Baha'i assembly for the 50th time.
The anniversary not only marks a milestone in the establishment of the Baha'i Faith in the Western Hemisphere, but the formation of those 21 assemblies in 1961 helped pave the way for the election two years later of the Universal House of Justice, the nine-member body that is now the worldwide head of the Baha'i Faith.
""To be able to elect the House of Justice, we first had to elect national assemblies,"" explained Gabriel Torres, who was a member of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of El Salvador.
Mr. Torres shared his memories at a special session during El Salvador's 50th national convention, held this past weekend at the new Baha'i center in the capital city of San Salvador.
Others who spoke were Quentin and Jeanne Farrand – also among the nine people elected to the first Salvadoran Baha'i National Spiritual Assembly.  The first National Spiritual Assembly of El Salvador was elected in 1961. All nine members appear in this official photograph. In back from left are Napoleon Gonzalez, Quentin Farrand, Marcia Steward de Matamoros, Rafael Garcia, Marco Antonio Martinez, and Jeanne de Farrand. In front, Jose Maria Padilla, Marta de Herrador, and Gabriel Torres.""It was such an emotional moment when (we learned) that 21 countries in Latin America would all form their national assemblies in 1961,"" Mrs. Farrand said.
At the time, added Mr. Farrand, there were just 24 active Baha'is in El Salvador. ""I remember that there were only 11 people at the first summer school we had. Now our Baha'i Institute is too small to hold all the people.""
There are several thousand Baha'is in El Salvador now, despite upheavals caused by civil war in the 1980s and early '90s that forced many people from their homes and significantly reduced the size of the Baha'i community.
More important than numbers, however, is the progress being made at the grassroots level to work with the wider community in contributing to the betterment of society, said Gabriela Velis, 32.
""Our work is aimed at raising the capacity of people to take charge of their own spiritual, social, and intellectual development,"" she said.
Activities include gatherings that strengthen the devotional character of the community; classes for children; groups that channel the energies of young people; and study circles where participants explore the application of spiritual teachings to their lives.
Festival of Ridvan
National Baha'i elections are held during the 12-day Festival of Ridvan, which begins each year on 21 April. Ridvan marks the anniversary of Baha'u'llah's declaration in 1863 that He is the Messenger of God for this age, the most recent in a line of divine educators that includes Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Mohammed, Moses, Zoroaster, and others.
In its annual message for the Ridvan period addressed to the Baha'is of the world, the Universal House of Justice observed the growing ability of National Spiritual Assemblies across the globe to think and act strategically in nurturing community-building processes at the local level.
As core activities multiply, the message noted, they will be sustained by ""men and women eager to improve material and spiritual conditions in their surroundings.""
In addition to El Salvador, other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean where Baha'is are electing their National Spiritual Assembly for the 50th year include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Historical photographs from the first national Baha'i election in each of these countries may be seen at https://news.bahai.org/story/ridvan2010/photographs.html.",SAN SALVADOR,,El Salvador
770,2010-05-05,"[729, 758, 736]",Alternatives to consumer culture focus of new Baha'i document,"NEW YORK, United States — A new statement challenging the common assumption that human beings are slaves to self-interest and consumerism has been issued by the Baha'i International Community.
A more profound look at human nature would reveal the ability to respond to a higher calling, suggests the document – issued this week for the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development as it began its annual two-week session.
""The culture of consumerism ... has tended to reduce human beings to competitive, insatiable consumers of goods and to objects of manipulation by the market,"" it says.
In fact, ""the human experience is essentially spiritual in nature: it is rooted in the inner reality – or what some call the 'soul' – that we all share in common,"" it states.
The document, titled ""Rethinking Prosperity: Forging Alternatives to a Culture of Consumerism,"" challenges the view that there is an intractable conflict between what people want – which supposedly is to consume more – and what humanity needs.
""Much of economic and psychological theory depicts human beings as slaves to self-interest,"" it says. ""The faculties needed to construct a more just and sustainable social order – moderation, justice, love, reason, sacrifice and service to the common good – have too often been dismissed as naive ideals. Yet, it is these and related qualities that must be harnessed. ...""
Peter Adriance, a member of the Baha'i International Community's delegation to the Commission, said the statement is a contribution to a dialogue on the development of a 10-year framework to encourage new programs that advance sustainable consumption and production.
""The document deals with the issue of consumerism by reflecting on the question of what is human nature,"" he said. ""We must look at who we are and what our purpose in life is.
""The transition to sustainable consumption and production is one of the great challenges of our times, and to achieve it will require a transformation in both thought and action. The cultural forces at play are powerful and demand re-examination if we are to move forward,"" he said.
The statement can be read at http://bic.org/statements-and-reports/bic-statements/10-0503.htm.
Panel discussion
As a further contribution to the work this year of the Commission on Sustainable Development, the Baha'i International Community will cosponsor a panel discussion on 10 May on the same topic as the statement.
Panelists will include Tim Jackson of the United Kingdom's Sustainable Development Commission; Victoria Thoresen of the Norwegian Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living; Jeff Barber of the U.S.-based International Coalition on Sustainable Production and Consumption; and Luis Flores Mimica of Consumers International, based in Chile.
The discussion will be moderated by Duncan Hanks of the Canadian Baha'i International Development Agency. It is cosponsored by UNESCO and the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations.",NEW YORK,,United States
771,2010-05-10,"[767, 757, 743]",Calls for action as Iranian Baha'i leaders enter third year in prison,"NEW YORK, United States — As seven Baha'i leaders in Iran enter their third year of imprisonment, new details about the harsh conditions of their incarceration have emerged, prompting renewed calls for their immediate release.
The prisoners are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.
""These innocent Baha'is have now been locked up for two full years in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, under conditions which clearly violate international standards,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. ""We call on the Iranian authorities to release them now, and ask the international community to join us in this plea. The dictates of justice demand no less.""
The prisoners, former members of an informal group known as the Yaran, or ""Friends,"" used to attend to the spiritual and social needs of the several hundred thousand Baha'is of Iran. They have been held in Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 – six of them on 14 May and one of them two months earlier.
No court hearing was held until 12 January this year when they appeared in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court. Charges including espionage, propaganda activities and ""corruption on earth"" were all denied. Further appearances took place on 7 February and 12 April.
""In the three trial sessions that have so far taken place, no evidence has been provided whatsoever of wrongdoing – making it all the more obvious that the prisoners are being held only because of their religious belief,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""If their freedom is not immediately granted, at the very least they should be released on bail. Steps should be taken to ensure that their trial is expedited and conducted fairly, in accordance with international standards,"" she said.
Severe prison conditions
Friday marks the second anniversary of the group's imprisonment, and details continue to emerge about the severe conditions under which they are being held. It is known, for example, that the two women and five men are confined to two cells which are so small that they restrict adequate movement or rest.
""They have neither beds nor bedding,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The place has a rancid smell, and they are permitted to have fresh air for only two hours each week. They have a light that if turned off during the day makes it impossible for them to see anything.
""Contact with their loved ones is restricted to one 10-minute telephone call a week, or visits which are mostly conducted through a glass barrier,"" Ms. Dugal said.
""Such inhumane conditions show no regard for the principles outlined in international agreements for the treatment of prisoners, which provide that no one may be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment,"" she said.
""The prisoners' own requests for modest improvements to their conditions remain unaddressed, and as a consequence their health is suffering.
""These people are innocent, and there is no reason they should be made to suffer like this,"" she said.
According to the journalist Roxana Saberi – who shared a cell for three weeks with two of the Baha'i prisoners – the women are confined in a small space. ""They roll up a blanket to use as a pillow,"" she said. ""The floor is cement and covered with only a thin, brown carpet, and prisoners often get backaches and bruises from sleeping on it. ... When I was with them, we were allowed into a walled-in cement yard four days a week for 20 to 30 minutes.""
See section below for ""Glimpse inside Evin prison.""
International action
The Universal House of Justice – the head of the Baha'i Faith – has called for the worldwide Baha'i community to host special prayer meetings across the globe this Friday, to remember the Baha'is of Iran and all their compatriots who are similarly subject to oppression.
""It grieves our hearts to contemplate the passing of yet another year in which the seven former members of the Yaran remain imprisoned on baseless charges for which the authorities have no evidence whatsoever,"" the House of Justice has written.
The second anniversary, they say, calls to mind the ""multifarious forms of oppression"" being faced by Iran's Baha'i community, including ""interrogations, summary arrests and imprisonment, deprivation of the means to a livelihood, wanton destruction of property, and the denial of education to Baha'i students.""
A collective gesture of solidarity with the imprisoned Baha'i leaders has also been called for by the human rights network United4Iran. They are asking sympathizers worldwide to replicate the dimensions of the cells in Evin prison, and document themselves confined to the space. Photographs and video clips will be then shared on the Internet to bring the international community's attention to the ongoing arbitrary imprisonment being endured by the seven.
Details about the United4Iran campaign can be found here.
During her time in Iran's Evin prison, journalist Roxana Saberi met a number of fellow women prisoners who gave her strength and inspiration as she faced the interrogations of her keepers and the harsh conditions of the jail itself.
Among these were the two women Baha'i leaders, Fariba Kamalabadi and Mahvash Sabet, with whom Ms. Saberi shared a cell for about three weeks in early 2009.
""Fariba and Mahvash were two of the women prisoners I met in Evin who inspired me the most,"" said Ms. Saberi in a recent interview. ""They showed me what it means to be selfless, to care more about community and beliefs than about oneself.""
Ms. Saberi's description of the conditions facing the two Baha'i women offers considerable insight into what it is like to be unjustly incarcerated in Iran today – a situation experienced not only by Baha'is, but by hundreds if not thousands among the journalists, women's activists, and human rights defenders who are currently held in Iran.
According to Ms. Saberi, the two Baha'i women are confined in a small cell, with two little, metal-covered windows and no beds.
""They must sleep on blankets,"" said Ms.Saberi. ""They have no pillows, either. They roll up a blanket to use as a pillow. They use their chadors as a bed sheet.
""The floor is cement and covered with only a thin, brown carpet, and prisoners often get backaches and bruises from sleeping on it.
""The bathroom is down the hall, and prisoners must get permission to use it,"" she said.
Exercise periods were also limited. ""When I was with them, we were allowed into a walled-in cement yard four days a week for 20 to 30 minutes,"" she said. ""We were allowed to take a shower and wash our clothes by hand on the other three days of the week.""
Before she joined them, the two had for a time each been kept in solitary confinement, and they had no access to outside news or books – save for the Qur'an and a few Islamic prayer books.
""When I was with Mahvash and Fariba, they tried to keep a routine of reading those books that are allowed in prison, watching the state-run TV news, exercising in place in the cell, and praying,"" Ms. Saberi said.
""I believe they always kept in mind the fact that their behavior in prison could have consequences for the wider Baha'i community. They seemed to feel this was both a responsibility but also a blessing, something that gave them strength to carry on,"" she said.
Comments from Ms. Saberi adapted from an interview in One Country, the newsletter of the Baha'i International Community, Volume 20, Issue 3.",NEW YORK,,United States
772,2010-05-12,"[770, 761, 758]",'Rethinking Prosperity' is topic for panel at United Nations,"NEW YORK, United States — Professor Tim Jackson doesn't hold back when describing today's consumer culture:
""We are encouraged to spend money we don't have, on things we don't need, to create impressions that don't last, on people we don't care about.""
Professor Jackson, a member of the Sustainable Development Commission of the United Kingdom, made his comments at a panel discussion held this week in conjunction with the current session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.
The Baha'i International Community cosponsored the discussion, titled ""Rethinking Prosperity: Forging Alternatives to a Culture of Consumerism.""
Countries are being driven further into debt – not to mention potential environmental catastrophe – by levels of consumerism that do not contribute to sustainability, Professor Jackson said.
The answer, the panelists proposed, is to reconsider the nature of the consumer culture that relentlessly urges people to adopt a lifestyle based on the acquisition of new and more material goods.
A representative of Consumers International, Luis Flores Mimica of Chile, observed that there are many people in the ""developing world"" who have not yet taken up the consumer-based lifestyle, which he said was largely filled with ""empty aspirations.""
""There is no way they can continue to follow the path of 'development' as labeled that way in the 1950s,"" he said.
'Redefining progress'
Jeff Barber, executive director of Integrative Strategies Forum in the United States, said one place to start ""redefining progress"" would be to consider the vast research about what really makes people happy. Much of that shows that material consumption does not necessarily lead to a feeling of well-being.  Cover of the Baha'i statement issued for the 2010 session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.Victoria Thoresen, of the Norwegian Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living, suggested that a way to help humanity make the shift to a system of sustainable values is to recognize our essential oneness – and to consider that humanity is now collectively moving from an adolescent stage towards maturity.
""Constructive change depends upon individuals being able to recognize spiritual principles and to identify patterns and processes of development in society,"" said Ms. Thoresen, who is a Baha'i.
Duncan Hanks, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, announced the publication of the new Baha'i statement, also titled ""Rethinking Prosperity: Forging Alternatives to a Culture of Consumerism.""
""At a time when oil spews forth uncontrolled in the Gulf of Mexico, we feel both the immediacy and urgency to rethink what fair and just progress is,"" he said. ""We have been rethinking what true prosperity looks like.""
What is needed first, Mr. Hanks said, is public discourse on the nature and purpose of human development, along with the recognition that each individual has a contribution to make in building a more just and peaceful social order.
Professor Jackson agreed. ""We need a better concept of prosperity, a shared prosperity, a lasting prosperity, a prosperity built around the concept of people's capacity to flourish, within the confines of a finite planet,"" he said.
The discussion, held on 10 May at the New York offices of the Baha'i International Community, was cosponsored by UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization - and the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations. The 2010 session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development runs through 14 May.
Read more about the statement, ""Rethinking Prosperity: Forging Alternatives to a Culture of Consumerism"" here.",NEW YORK,,United States
773,2010-05-24,"[771, 767, 757]",Human rights abuses in Iran focus of global campaigns,"GENEVA, Switzerland — A global day of action demanding an end to human rights abuses in Iran has been called for Saturday, 12 June.
The initiative – coordinated by human rights group United4Iran – is being cosponsored by numerous organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Nobel Women's Initiative, the Baha'i International Community, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, FIDH (Federation Internationale des ligues des Droits de l'Homme), and Pen International.
""In our support for this nonpartisan initiative, we are standing together with ordinary citizens throughout the world to draw attention to the continuing and widespread abuse of human rights in Iran,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
The prominent nongovernmental organizations are joining with a wide range of local, student and Internet-based groups to host simultaneous events in cities and on campuses around the globe. Online initiatives include sending messages to specific recipients in support of individual prisoners of conscience. The campaign website can be visited here.
An ""overwhelming"" response
Earlier this month, United4Iran marked the second anniversary – on 14 May – of the jailing of seven Baha'i leaders in Tehran's Evin prison, calling for individuals to show support by replicating the size of the small jail cells and taking a photograph.  Supporters of the United4Iran campaign on 14 May outlined the cramped dimensions of the cells of the seven Baha'i leaders in Tehran's Evin prison. This photograph is from Liechtenstein.""The response was overwhelming,"" reported the United4Iran website. ""Notes, emails, video, old photographs of the leaders, former students, (and) community representatives from all the world participated.""
As a gesture of solidarity, supporters were asked to mark off the size of the cells shared by the Baha'i prisoners then occupy the space, so as to better appreciate their suffering.
The cells of the Baha'is in Evin prison do not have beds, forcing the prisoners to sleep on the concrete floor.
A video was posted online to show some of the photos the organization received.  View the video here.
United4Iran also published an old photograph of one of the jailed Baha'is, Fariba Kamalabadi, with one of her former students. The student sent the picture to United4Iran along with words from a letter she wrote to her teacher: ""Now that you are in prison ... for making the world a better place, ... it brings tears to my eyes. And all I can do is pray. The things you taught me I will always know.""
""We are grateful for this outpouring of sympathy being offered to the people of Iran who are subject to oppression,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
The website of United4Iran can be viewed here.
Other initiatives
Several other organizations have recently launched campaigns in support of Iran's oppressed Baha'i community.
The latest newsletter of the French branch of the organization Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT-France) includes a call for action in support of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, as well as 12 other Baha'is who have been recently detained.
On 14 March, Amnesty International requested messages of goodwill be sent to prisoners of conscience in Iran in order to mark the traditional Persian new year holiday.
The detained leaders of Iran's Baha'i community were included among seven cases selected by Amnesty International.
To date, almost 600 messages have been received for the Baha'i prisoners – both individually and collectively – from as far afield as Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and the United States. More details of Amnesty International's campaign can be found here.
The seven Baha'i leaders jailed in Tehran for the past two years are among about 36 Baha'is currently imprisoned in Iran because of their religion.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
774,2010-05-28,"[384, 234, 752]",Irish President makes historic visit to Baha'i Centre,"DUBLIN, Ireland — The President of the Republic of Ireland, Mary McAleese, has praised the universality of the Baha'i teachings and the contribution its members make to the life of their nation.
""You are marked out as people with values that are worth observing, worth learning from, worth looking at, worth imitating and so never be in any doubt of the value you are every single day in this world,"" President McAleese told a gathering of some 60 Baha'is during her first ever visit to the national Baha'i Centre in the Irish capital.
""Something you probably do not know, and I am sure it is true of many of you, is that in and through your lives, you are extraordinary ambassadors for your Faith,"" she said in impromptu remarks.  During her visit, President McAleese, right, spoke with young Baha'is from the Dublin areaPresident McAleese, first elected as Ireland's President in 1997, made her special visit to the Baha'i Centre on 30 April to mark the Festival of Ridvan, the anniversary of Baha'u'llah's declaration in 1863 that He is the most recent in a line of divine Messengers that includes Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Mohammed, Moses, Zoroaster, and others.
The President also expressed concern about the persecution of Baha'is in other countries. She said it was both sad and remarkable that a Faith with such principles would attract, in any shape or form, violence from others.
""And on this evening I think we just keep in our hearts those who are paying such a dear price for their fidelity to that simple human and divine charism that reaches right into the heart of humanity,"" said President McAleese.
""How fortunate all Irish people are to live in a State where followers of all religions or none are free to practice,"" she added, according to The Irish Times, which covered her visit.
During the reception, President McAleese was presented with a specially bound edition of the Baha'i book, The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah, in both English and the Irish language.
Brendan McNamara, the Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Republic of Ireland, described the President's visit as ""a milestone - a very joyous occasion.""
""She was very generous and spoke with everybody present,"" said Mr. McNamara, ""particularly taking time to encourage the youth - in whatever they were doing - to make a contribution to the future of Ireland.""",DUBLIN,,Ireland
775,2010-06-01,"[773, 771, 757]",Fourth court date for imprisoned Baha’i leaders set for 12 June,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran are scheduled to make their fourth court appearance on 12 June, the Baha'i International Community has learned.
The date coincides with the first anniversary of last year's contested presidential election in Iran, as well as a global day of action aimed at calling attention to human rights abuses in that country.
The trial of the seven began on 12 January after they had been incarcerated without charge in Tehran's Evin prison for 20 months.
At the first hearing, held in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, the Baha'is categorically denied charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and ""corruption on earth,"" among other allegations.
A second appearance on 7 February was concerned mainly with procedural issues.
The third session on 12 April, which was purportedly a closed hearing, was adjourned after the seven – with the agreement of their attorneys – refused to be party to the proceedings because of the presence of nonjudicial personnel.
""To have spectators, including a film crew, in a supposedly closed hearing while denying entry to the defendants' families was unacceptable,"" said Diane Ala'i, Baha'i representative to the United Nations in Geneva. ""There would be no objection if the trial were to be open and conducted in accordance with international standards.""
""In the court sessions held so far, no evidence of wrongdoing has been presented. As their lawyers have confirmed, the defendants are completely innocent and are being persecuted solely for their religious belief,"" Ms. Ala'i said.
""The Iranian government should know that its actions against these innocent citizens are under scrutiny throughout the world,"" she said.
""Once again we call for their immediate release. Failing that, the seven should – at the very least – be released on bail pending a fair trial.""
The seven defendants are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. Before their imprisonment, they attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community, which numbers more than 300,000. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 and the others on 14 May 2008.
There are currently some 38 Baha'is in detention in various cities in Iran.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
776,2010-06-11,"[775, 773, 771]",Global call for release of Iranian Baha'i leaders as trial session looms,"NEW DELHI, India — On the eve of the fourth court hearing for Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, voices are being raised around the world for them to be freed.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of  Delhi has addressed Iran's Supreme Leader calling for the release of the seven, ""or at the very least for them to be released on bail and await a fair and open trial in accordance with the international standards of jurisprudence.""
""In the court sessions held so far, no evidence of wrongdoing has been presented, as their lawyers have confirmed,"" Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao wrote in a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dated 5 June 2010.
Yesterday, the social activist and spiritual leader, Swami Agnivesh, led a peaceful procession through the streets of New Delhi to Hyderabad House, a government-owned venue used for major events and press conferences.
Campaigners – many of them wearing masks – carried banners and placards depicting the seven Baha'i leaders, as well as images of other prisoners currently being held.
Swami Agnivesh told the gathering that humanity demands love and respect for all and should allow people of different belief systems and ideologies to co-exist in peace and solidarity, reported The Hindu newspaper.
Global initiative  One of United4Iran's mobile billboards has been launched in London, England. It features the image of the seven Baha'i leaders and the slogan, ""Unjustly jailed for their religion"".The march in New Delhi was a prelude to tomorrow's global day of action, which demands an end to human rights abuses in Iran, and marks the one-year anniversary of last year's contested presidential election.
The initiative - coordinated by United4Iran - is being cosponsored by numerous organizations including Amnesty International and the Baha'i International Community.
Prominent nongovernmental organizations are joining with a wide range of local, student and Internet-based groups to host simultaneous events in cities and on campuses around the globe. The campaign website can be visited here.
In the United Kingdom, a mobile billboard depicting the seven Baha'i leaders has been launched in London in order to bring attention to their plight.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Representative Frank R. Wolf, yesterday submitted a statement to the Congressional Record calling for renewed support for the seven.
""The world cannot turn a blind eye to this regime's brutal repression of its own people,"" said Mr Wolf.
""We must continue to advocate for due process and a fair trial for these seven Baha'i leaders and for basic rights for the community as a whole which according to the recently released report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, ""has long been subject to particularly severe religious violations in Iran."""" he said.
UN Human Rights Council
Concerns have also been expressed this week in a debate at the 14th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The situation of  Iran's persecuted Baha'i community was raised on Tuesday, 8 June, on behalf of the European Union by Spain. It was also mentioned in contributions made by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States of America.
""We fear that the already poor human rights situation in Iran will continue to deteriorate if the international community does not continue to call the Iranian government to account for its actions,"" said the Canadian representative.
In addition to endorsing the statement of Spain, seven member states of the European Union specifically mentioned their own concerns about the persecution of  Baha'is.
Austria reported how it ""remains gravely concerned about the discrimination and harassment of religious minorities, in particular members of the Baha'i and the trial against seven of their leaders, which we follow very closely.""
The trial of the seven Baha'i leaders began on 12 January after they had been incarcerated without charge in Tehran's Evin prison for 20 months. At the first hearing, held in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, the Baha'is categorically denied charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and ""corruption on earth,"" among other allegations.
The seven defendants are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. Before their imprisonment, they attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community, which numbers more than 300,000.
There are currently some 41 Baha'is in detention in various cities in Iran.",NEW DELHI,,India
777,2010-06-13,"[776, 774, 772]",Ongoing trial of Iran's Baha'i leaders highlighted on global day of action,"BRUSSELS, Belgium — On a global day of action highlighting human rights abuses in Iran, the European Union and the Prime Minister of Canada issued strong statements calling for Iran to respect international law.
In a declaration made on behalf of the European Union, its High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, said, ""We call on Iran to respect fair trial rights as enshrined in article 14 of the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights). Discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities and women are other areas of concern.""
""We are disturbed by serious reports of ill-treatment and torture of those detained and imprisoned as well as allegations of forced confessions,"" the EU declaration said. ""The EU will be closely monitoring the ongoing trial of Baha'i leaders in this regard.""
""We take this opportunity to reassure the people of Iran that they have not been forgotten: the EU will continue to speak out and to call on the Iranian authorities to respect the rights of their citizens in accordance with the international obligations to which they have committed under the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and other human rights treaties,"" the statement concluded.
The EU declaration was issued on Saturday, 12 June – the same day that the seven Baha'i leaders returned to court in Tehran for the start of the fourth session of their trial, which continues today.
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, also urged Iran to respect the rights of its Baha'i community and ""cease persecuting it, discriminating against it and detaining its members.""  In Brazil, human rights campaigners carrying masks depicting Iran's seven Baha'i leaders gathered in front of the Brazilian National Congress, Brasilia.""We note the trial of the seven leaders of the Baha'i community was to take place today,"" said Mr. Harper in a statement marking the one year anniversary of Iran's 2009 presidential election, ""and we call on the Iranian regime to ensure that due process is respected.""
""Iran has made absolutely no progress in the last year toward addressing the legitimate aspirations of its people.  In fact, its regime has been even more repressive.  Iran's continued, blatant disregard for the rights of its citizens must end,"" he said.
Calling upon Iran to uphold its human rights commitments, the Prime Minister urged the Iranian government ""to respect diverse social and political groups and their freedom of expression, and to engage these groups in a constructive dialogue that will serve to strengthen the rich fabric of the Iranian nation.""
United Kingdom appeal
In London, the government of the United Kingdom also issued a statement saying, ""This trial comes at a time when we are remembering the human rights abuses surrounding the elections in Iran a year ago.""
""I call on the Iranian Government to ensure, without delay, that the rights of these individuals are fully protected,"" said the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, Alistair Burt on Friday, 11 June, ""that they are given due legal process, including being released on bail and given a fair and transparent trial, in accordance with international standards.""
The minister also called on the Iranian government ""to cease the harassment of, and to also respect the rights, of many members of minority groups who continue to face arrest and lengthy prison sentences, often on vaguely worded charges of acting against national security.""
Worldwide day of action
In more than 80 cities around the world, people took to the streets yesterday to call for an end to human rights abuses in Iran. In South Africa, buses are carrying images of Iranian prisoners of conscience as part of the campaign, organised by human rights group United4Iran.
""This is not about party-politics or calls for punitive action,"" said one campaigner in Johannesburg, ""this is a principled call to respect the human rights of every person.""
In Berlin, Germany, a group erected a replica prison cell at the city's historic Brandenburg Gate. A display depicting the seven Baha'i leaders read, ""Ideals cannot be locked up. But people with ideals can be. In Iran, these people need your help.""
""For more than two years the seven Baha'i leaders have been under arrest without justification,"" said a supporter. ""They are imprisoned only because they are Baha'is. Today it is the Baha'is. Tomorrow it could happen to the Sunnis, Jews, Christians or other minorities.""
""I hope we are sending a powerful signal of solidarity to the people in Iran,"" said another. ""The Iranian people should know that our thoughts are with them.""
In Brazil, campaigners carrying masks depicting Iran's seven Baha'i leaders gathered in front of the Brazilian National Congress last Wednesday to call for their release.
Congressman Mr. Luiz Couto - a former President of the Commission of Human Rights and Minorities - told the gathering that a person's faith is an intrinsic human right, necessary for the development of an individual and his contribution to society.
Referring to the situation of the Baha'is in Iran at a Plenary Session of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies, another congressman, Deputy Paulo Delgado, said that human rights policies in the democratic world are ""inescapable and do not admit exceptions."" Mr. Delgado expressed his hope that the international community realizes that the ""anguish and suffering of a religious minority"" is something that ""can happen to any of us.""",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
778,2010-06-14,"[777, 776, 771]",Trial of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders appears to have ended,"NEW YORK, United States — The trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran seems to have come to a conclusion after three days of successive court hearings.
The seven appeared in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on the morning of Saturday, 12 June and returned to Evin Prison shortly after noon.
The Court was reconvened the next day, as well as this morning.
""We can confirm that a court session was held today in Tehran,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, ""and it seems from what we have heard that the trial itself has now concluded. But we have no further information at this time.""
The defendants are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm.
Before their imprisonment, they attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community, which numbers more than 300,000. They have been held in Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 - six of them on 14 May and one of them two months earlier.
Their trial began on 12 January this year after they had been incarcerated without charge in Evin prison for 20 months. At the first hearing, the seven categorically denied charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and ""corruption on earth,"" among other allegations.
A second appearance on 7 February was concerned mainly with procedural issues. The third session on 12 April, which was purportedly a closed hearing, was adjourned after the seven - with the agreement of their attorneys - refused to be party to the proceedings because of the presence of nonjudicial personnel.
Read profiles of the seven Baha'i leaders",NEW YORK,,United States
779,2010-06-24,"[772, 742, 729]","Religious leaders call for action on the environment, poverty and peace","WINNIPEG, Canada — World leaders meeting in Canada have been urged to take ""inspired leadership and action"" to halt poverty, protect the environment, and end violent conflict.
The challenge was made in a statement drafted by representatives of the world's religions, who gathered at the University of Winnipeg in advance of this week's G8 and G20 summits in Toronto.
""Acknowledging our common humanity and embracing the imperative to treat all persons with dignity, we affirm that no one person is more or less valuable than another,"" said the statement.
""We urge the political leaders to consider first the vulnerable among us, particularly our children, and to work together to address the dehumanizing scourge of poverty and injustice, and practice and promote care for our common environment, the Earth,"" the statement said.
The World Religions Summit 2010 was the sixth in a series of interfaith gatherings associated with the annual G8 meetings. It brought together more than 80 participants from all of the world's major faiths including, for the first time, representatives of the Baha'i community.
Religious leaders from more than 20 countries attended, including each of the G8 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Reverend Dr. James Christie, secretary general of the Summit, said the meeting and its output was directed principally at the leaders of the so-called ""Group of 8"" countries because they represent the nations that have the most power to effect change in the world.
""The reality is that these nations have the money, they have the clout, and they make a difference,"" said Dr. Christie.  The 2010 World Religions Summit was addressed by Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire, Canadian senator and former Force Commander of UNAMIR, the United Nations peacekeeping force for Rwanda between 1993 and 1994. Photograph by Louis Brunet.Some participants said it was also important for the religious communities themselves to redouble their own efforts to address the three main topics of their discussions – poverty, the environment, and peace.
""We are living in a very critical period in history,"" said His Holiness Aram I, of the Armenian Orthodox Church. ""I believe what is important for us is building community. It is not just living side-by-side, coexisting peacefully. It is a question of building integrated communities, communities of integrated diversity, accepting and respecting the others, but living together.""
""We have to tell the G8 and the world that we religions not only speak together but that we are working together to build communities of integrated dialogue,"" he said.
Baha'i participation
Among the Baha'i representatives at the Summit was Susanne Tamas of Canada, who was joined by Baha'is from five other countries - France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
""We believe that spiritual principles need to be brought into the discussion of such challenges as poverty, the environment, and peace and security,"" said Ms. Tamas. ""We want to create a space where the political leaders can reflect and make decisions for the long term, and for the common good, rather than on short-term, national concerns.""
""We're also here to learn – because these issues are complex and we need to learn what other faiths are saying about them,"" she said.
As a prelude to the Summit, the Baha'i community of Canada sponsored a seminar on human rights and religious freedom. The day-long event – held in Winnipeg on Monday, 21 June – brought together four human rights experts from different religious backgrounds who concluded that the right to freedom of religion must be upheld to ensure that its influence on society is progressive and positive.
""Courageous and concrete"" actions
The statement, issued after three days of deliberation at the World Religions Summit 2010, called upon political leaders to take ""courageous and concrete"" actions.
Regarding poverty, it said more than a billion people are ""chronically hungry"" and that women, children and indigenous peoples are among those most affected.
""The magnitude of poverty would be overwhelming were it not for the knowledge that this global inequity can be transformed into a shared life of human flourishing for all. Together, we have the capacity and the global resources to end extreme poverty and its impacts,"" the statement said.
On the subject of the environment, the statement noted that all faith traditions ""call us to careful stewardship of the Earth."" It warned of the effects of climate change and said ""bold action is needed now.""
Governments were also called upon to halt the nuclear arms race, and to make new investments to create a ""culture of peace.""
The Summit condemned religiously-motivated terrorism and extremism with the faith leaders committing themselves ""to stop the teaching and justification of the use of violence between and among our faith communities.""
The statement was presented to Steven Fletcher, Canada's Minister of State for Democratic Reform. Mr. Fletcher promised to deliver it to the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, for presentation to the G8 leaders.
Read the Statement from the World Religions Summit 2010, here.",WINNIPEG,,Canada
780,2010-06-28,"[779, 778, 774]",Homes demolished in campaign to drive Baha'is out of Iranian village,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Homes belonging to some 50 Baha'i families in a remote village in northern Iran have been demolished as part of a long-running campaign to expel them from the region.
The action occurred in Ivel, Mazandaran, when inhabitants – incited by elements inimical to the Baha'i community – blocked normal access to the village, while allowing trucks and at least four front-end loaders to begin leveling the houses.
Amateur video, shot on mobile telephones and posted by Iranian human rights activists on the Internet, showed what appeared to be several buildings reduced to rubble as well as fiercely burning fires.
The demolitions are the latest development in an ongoing, officially-sanctioned program in the area which has targeted every activity of the Baha'is.
""They're being forbidden to associate with Muslims, or even offer service to their friends and neighbours,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""Even the smallest acts of good will – such as taking flowers to someone who's sick in hospital or donating gifts to an orphanage – these are being seen as actions against the regime.""
Most of the Baha'i homes in Ivel have been unoccupied since their residents fled after previous incidents of violence or as a result of official displacement. In 2007, for example, six of their houses were torched.
""Baha'is have lived in this area for more than 100 years and it once had a large community,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""But in 1983, a few years after the Iranian revolution, at least 30 families from this and neighboring villages were put on buses and expelled.
""Since then, they have tried to seek legal redress to no avail, while returning in the summer to harvest their crops,"" she said.  Ivel is a remote village in the province of Mazandaran in northern Iran, about 90 kilometres from the city of Sari.The day after the demolitions took place, a Baha'i man who visited the site with his family to harvest his produce was beaten and insulted by other residents. In the past, those who are trying to drive the Baha'is out have set upon them when they tried to enter the neighborhood to rebuild or renovate their properties.
Persistent government attacks on Baha'is in all the mass media – along with inaction by local officials to protect them – have continued to incite hatred against the Baha'is in the region and throughout Iran, said Ms. Alai.
""This latest action shows the degree to which the authorities have completely failed to live up to their responsibilities to protect the Baha'is and their religious freedom,"" she said.
Members of the Baha'i community have made repeated complaints both before and after the latest incident to local government officials, including to the provincial governor in Sari. In every case, knowledge of the demolitions or the motive behind them was denied.
While reports about the latest action began appearing on various Persian-language websites last Friday, the Baha'i International Community was only able to confirm details of the incident today. Latest reports indicate that 90 percent of the Baha'i homes have now been demolished.
On 28 June, the Persian-language radio station, Radio Farda, broadcast an interview with Mr. Derakhshan, one of the Baha'is whose property was destroyed in the village of Ivel.
Excepts from the interview are transcribed below:
Mr. Derakhshan: We had heard some rumours about the destruction of the village and the burning of homes of the Baha'is but did not believe that such a thing could happen. However, we went to the offices of the governor general, the governor and the deputy governor in that district and informed them that this was what [the villagers] had said they were planning to do, and asked whether it was true. We were told not to worry and that there was not such a possibility; we believed them.  However, when Mr. Mahmoud Piri and his family were going to [their home] in Ivel, as soon as they arrived in the village he was severely beaten and verbally insulted.  He was told that he should not be there.  At that point he noticed that they were destroying his home.
Radio Farda: Who were the people who beat and verbally abused Mr. Piri?
Mr. Derakhshan: The local residents - because they had told him that he should immediately leave the area and that he was not to get close...for 48 hours. Unfortunately, with the help of the local residents, they destroyed 50 houses, using four bulldozers. It is shocking to see 50 houses demolished and burned in one instant.
Radio Farda: What is happening to the residents of these homes and what happened to their belongings?
Mr. Derakhshan: Every house we go to, we hear their lamentations. I should mention that these friends were not living there. During the first few years after the revolution, on [28 June 1983]  these people were expelled from their homes. They [the residents of the village] told them that they had to convert to Islam; they were imprisoned in a mosque, threatened and beaten with shovels and axes.  They were then thrown out of the village.
Since those events, these Baha'is go to the village once a year for two to three days to harvest their crops. Of course they have to obtain a permit from the officials to be able to go there and stay in their own homes for a few days and cultivate their lands, even though most of their lands were confiscated.
Radio Farda: You mean that the owners of these homes and farms were made to obtain permits in order to be allowed to go to their own homes?
Mr. Derakhshan: Precisely. Each time or each year when they wanted to go there they had to obtain permits from the Justice Administration to be allowed to stay in their own homes for two or three days. We complained to a number of authorities concerning this issue and we were treated unkindly. When we went to the office of the deputy governor and told them that they were destroying our homes, we were told that the letters of complaint that we had written were considered to be in opposition to the regime. They even threatened to arrest us. We told them, ""Our homes are being demolished right this minute. We are Baha'is and your fellow-citizens. We are not your enemies. We are not from Israel, England or America. By God, we are Iranian citizens. What should we do?  God is our witness, we do not know what to do. Please help us.""
**Radio Farda: Are the people who are involved in these activities the local residents or some government officials? **
Mr. Derakhshan: What do you think? How could 50 homes - each having a wood storage area and a place for keeping animals - be demolished without prior arrangements? We informed [the authorities] before and during the demolition. What do you think the answer is? Besides all our friends [the Baha'i residents of the village] also informed the authorities, but unfortunately nothing was done to prevent this event.
Radio Farda: Do you think that the bulldozers were probably brought by the order of the governor or the deputy governor?
Mr. Derakhshan: We do not know and cannot say that it was ordered by someone. All we know is that unfortunately everything has been completely destroyed. It should be mentioned that when we visited the office of the governor general, we told his deputy that there was a possibility that such an incident may occur. His response amazed us; he said, ""The governor general is like a physician in any society, if he feels that there is a malignant tumour in the body of the society he tries to remove it.""  I now ask you a question, ""How could the Baha'i farmers in the village of Ivel be considered as that malignant tumour?""
This transcript was added on 29 June 2010 to the original Baha'i World News Service report published on 28 June.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
781,2010-07-07,"[754, 718, 711]",New music embraces diversity of cultures,"OSLO, Norway — Since his breakthrough as a composer more than 30 years ago, Lasse Thoresen has been searching for a musical language that brings the world's diverse cultures together.
Now, one of his innovative vocal works is being acclaimed for the similarities it draws between ancient and modern, as well as Scandinavian folk music and sounds more associated with the Middle East. The piece, titled Opus 42, has won a prestigious music award.
The Nordic Council Music Prize was searching for a work ""in which all involved play their own part."" Facing competition from 12 other composers, Professor Thoresen was delighted to win the 350,000 Denmark Kroner (US$56,000) prize.
""This strikingly beautiful piece reveals the common denominators in ancient and ultra-modern sounds, drawing our attention to the similarities between Scandinavian folk traditions and the music we might find in, say, the Middle East or India,"" wrote the Adjudication Committee for the Prize, which includes members from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
""It represents a renewal not just of Nordic vocal music, but of score-based vocal music in general,"" the Committee said.
""There are scales very similar in Scandinavian folk music to things you can find in the East,"" said Professor Thoresen. ""Neither of them elaborate harmony in a very developed way as was done in western classical music.""
Opus 42 also incorporates the traditional overtone singing of Mongolia, in which the singer manipulates the resonances created as the air travels from the lungs to the mouth and nose.  The vocal ensemble, Nordic Voices, believed by the composer Lasse Thoresen to be the only group in the world that can cope with the demands he places on his performers. Photo: Guri Dahl.""That takes a few years to learn,"" said the composer. ""For singers to do that, they must have quite a new oral training. So as a part of this project, a system of training was developed to master these techniques.""
""I think it is important to regard cultural differences as a resource and not as a threat,"" he said. ""Even if you cannot escape from your own cultural conditioning, in some ways you can embrace other cultural sensibilities and reflect them in your own cultural context and produce an example of fruitful coexistence of cultural differences.""
Opus 42 is a collection of four vocal pieces, titled ""Sun Prayer,"" ""Funeral Psalm,"" ""Heavenly Father,"" and ""Dual Doodles."" The first was commissioned by the Bergen International Festival, the other three by the Osa Festival, which brings together Norwegian folk and classical musicians. The work has been performed by a Norwegian vocal ensemble, Nordic Voices, which the composer believes to be the only group in the world that can cope with the demands he places on his performers.
Receiving the Nordic Prize is already opening doors for the composer. There are new collaborations being planned with music festivals and some television work.
""Concert organizations are always very prudent in actually performing contemporary music. They think it is too narrow and the audience will flee from the hall if they play it!"" said Professor Thoresen. ""So it helps if the composer  they are programming is recognized and has a name.""
Born in Oslo in 1949, Lasse Thoresen has loved music ever since he can remember. He began taking piano lessons at age seven; by 15 he was an accompanist for his school's choir; and at 16 he had composed his first piece. In 1971, he joined the Baha'i Faith.
As his career progressed, he took a position as a professor at the Norwegian State Academy for Music. In May 2001, his oratorio Terraces of Light was performed on the occasion of the inauguration of the spectacular garden terraces around the Baha'i Holy Places on Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.
Professor Thoresen is now working on a major work for the Latvian Radio Choir – one of the most acclaimed choirs in the world – and will also spend more than a year composing a concerto for viola which will be premiered in 2012.
Click here for a video interview and extracts of the music.",OSLO,,Norway
782,2010-07-11,"[780, 778, 777]",The Baha'is of Ivel: Undaunted spirit,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Following the demolition of Baha'i homes in the Iranian village of Ivel – reported last week – there is another story that must also be told: that of sympathetic villagers who have commiserated with their Baha'i neighbors over the injustices they have been forced to endure.
It is also the story of an undaunted spirit and a commitment to social good that continues to enable the Baha'is to transcend their prolonged persecution and be active participants in the social and economic development of their village.
Service and persecution
In its earliest days, Ivel was the summer residence for sheep farmers from the surrounding region of Mazandaran. There have been Baha'is in the village for more than a century and a half. Indeed, since the years immediately following the establishment of their Faith in mid-19th century Iran, the Baha'is have comprised about half of Ivel's total population. All the while, they have lived side by side with their Muslim neighbors in comparative harmony.
Unfortunately, however, outside elements strongly inimical to the Faith have periodically sought to stir up the local population against the Baha'i community, resulting in intermittent persecution – ranging from life-threatening to less harsh forms of harassment.
In 1941, for example, lives were imperiled when gangs from outside roused local citizens to attack the Baha'is. The Baha'is were arrested, severely beaten and subjected to extortion; their houses and belongings were plundered. Finally, they were banished to a village seven kilometers away. When the situation eased some months later, the Baha'is returned to their homes and farms.
The lengths to which those holding enmity towards the Baha'is would go are perhaps best summed up in an incident that occurred in the mid-1950s when a member of the newly-established ""Hojjatieh"" society arrived in Ivel. Hojjatieh – a semi-clandestine traditionalist Shia organization – was founded on the premise that the most immediate threat to Islam was the ""heresy"" of the Baha'i Faith, which had to be eliminated.
When this individual proved unsuccessful in his attempts to drive a wedge between the Muslims and the Baha'is, he endeavoured to prevent their cows from grazing in the same pasture, on the basis that the Baha'i cows were ""unclean"".
For a few days, the cattle belonging to the Baha'is were confined to their barns while those of the Muslims went to graze. The Baha'is repeatedly referred the matter to the village head, appealing for compassion to be shown to the animals. Consequently, a decision was made to have the cows enter the pasture from opposite sides, so as to respect the decree. This did not accord with the natural instincts of the livestock, who continued to graze together.  The home of Mr. Abdolbaghi Rouhani – a Baha'i from Ivel – after it was set on fire by unknown arsonists in May 2007.Contribution to social progress
Throughout the years, notwithstanding the efforts to repress them, the Baha'is have actively contributed to the betterment of life in their village. In addition to the role they played in the area's agriculture, they established a school at which local children, regardless of their religion, were educated. By 1946, when the Iranian government had begun to organize rural schools and assumed responsibility for the one in the village, Ivel's school extended to six elementary level classes in which some 120 pupils from Ivel and seven other nearby villages were receiving general education.
In 1961, in another example of service to their community, the Baha'is completed a bath house for use by the villagers, which included modifications to the local reservoir and the introduction of modernizations to improve the facility's levels of hygiene and the general health of the people.
Escalation of attacks
Following Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979, the situation for Baha'is in Ivel deteriorated. Land was confiscated and attempts to regain it proved unsuccessful. Baha'is were denied access to health clinics and other institutions that they themselves had helped establish. Muslim children were encouraged by their teacher to harm their Baha'i classmates. When parents protested, the teacher found other means to persecute his Baha'i pupils, including failing them in their exams.
In June 1983, the Baha'is were forced out of their homes and transported by bus to the nearest major city, Sari. When they arrived, the authorities made them go back. Returning to Ivel, they were locked into a local mosque. More than 130 of them – including children and the elderly – were held captive for three days without food and water. When pressure to make them recant their faith failed, they were allowed to return home. However, that same night, they were attacked by villagers. A few were taken off by the mob, others were injured, and more were forced to hide in a nearby forest.
Since that time, many of the Ivel Baha'is have resided nearby and return to the village only in the summer to plant and harvest their crops and tend to their properties. According to Natoli Derakhshan, a Baha'i from Ivel who was interviewed recently by the Persian-language Radio Farda, ""Each time or each year when they wanted to go there they had to obtain permits from the Justice Administration to be allowed to stay in their own homes for two or three days.""
In the past three years, the Baha'i International Community has monitored an increase in efforts to put pressure on the Baha'is of Ivel to leave the region altogether. ""Their empty homes have been burned, Baha'is have been subjected to verbal and physical attacks, and the 100-year old Baha'i cemetery was confiscated and sold for conversion into residential property,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""Numerous complaints have been filed at all levels but, in general, the Baha'is are only met with indifference. The authorities say that there's little they can do in the face of the opposition Baha'is face from the local residents,"" she said. ""In every case, knowledge of the demolitions or the motive behind them was denied by local government officials.""
""What we are witnessing in Ivel, and the surrounding region of Mazandaran, is part of a wider campaign to humiliate and dishearten all the Baha'is and prevent them from practicing their faith in any way whatsoever,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""The government has certainly demonstrated thus far that if it is not behind it, it is either unwilling to stop it or incapable of doing so.""
In recent weeks when Mr. Derakhshan heard stories about the imminent destruction of the Baha'i homes in the village, he went with other Baha'is to various officials to find out if the rumors were true. ""We were told not to worry and that there was not such a possibility; we believed them,"" he told Radio Farda.
""We do not know and cannot say that it was ordered by someone,"" he said. ""All we know is that unfortunately everything has been completely destroyed.""
Local and international support
There are, however, many villagers in Ivel who are deeply troubled by these developments. In an interview with the Rooz Online website, Mr. Derakhshan paid tribute to those who have expressed dismay and concern at the ill-treatment of their Baha'i neighbors: ""These days many of our Muslim folks sat together with us with tearful eyes, and apologized to us, and held our hands!  We are thankful to them all.""
The news from Ivel has also received widespread attention from further afield – in the world's news media and online news services, including a host of Persian language outlets.
Among the English language reports, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty ran a story on 29 June with the headline, ""Baha'i Houses Demolished In Iran."" It also carried video of the incident which had been obtained by Human Rights Activists of Iran.
Also on 29 June, the National Review Online published an article under the headline ""Regime Razes Bahai Homes in Iran.""
A feature on the BBC website, titled ""Iran's Bahai community fear rise in persecution"", began: ""First there are the images of wooden beams on fire. Then buildings come into view, some without windows and doors, others reduced to rubble. The shaky mobile phone footage posted on YouTube by Iranian human rights activists shows scenes of destruction filmed secretly from inside a car...The reports from Ivel residents say that by June 22, almost 50 houses belonging to Bahais had been flattened.""
""Several of these websites have offered places for comments by readers,"" said Ms. Alai. ""After enduring so much persecution for so long, we are certain that the Baha'is of Ivel appreciate the support of people from all over the world – including many sympathetic Iranian citizens – who have taken the time to express their outrage over this latest incident.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
783,2010-08-03,"[782, 768, 576]","Spanish author discovers ""bridge between East and West""","MADRID, Spain — When author Rafael Cerrato decided to pay a short visit to the north of Israel in 2006, little did he suspect that it would give rise to a new book.
Passing through the city of Haifa, he was deeply impressed by the buildings and gardens of the Baha'i World Centre, situated on the slopes of Mount Carmel.
""I was amazed,"" said Mr. Cerrato. ""I immediately thought I had to discover what lay behind that beauty.""
Returning to Spain, the author – who is Roman Catholic and has written extensively about religion – started looking into the history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith and was fascinated by what he found out.
""I discovered that the long-awaited bridge between East and West – which many politicians and intellectuals have tried to create with the Alliance of Civilizations and such – already exists,"" he said.
""Without losing any of the principles of previous religions, the Baha'i social teachings have it all – the need for supranational bodies, the equality between men and women,
universal education... I believe in these principles and they attract me – so I have no problem in broadcasting them.""
During his research, Mr. Cerrato also became impressed by ""the great faith and steadfastness"" that the Baha'i community of Iran shows in the face of opposition.
He decided to write a book charting the story of the Baha'i Faith, with an emphasis on the severe oppression its members have experienced at the instigation of the authorities in Iran – the land of the Faith's birth – since its inception in the middle of the 19th century.  Rafael Cerrato, author of ""Desde el corazon de Iran"", discusses his book during a presentation in Saragossa, Spain. To his left is Carmen Pueyo, a member of the Spanish Baha'i community.The book, titled Desde el corazon de Iran – Los baha'is: La esperanza oprimida (From the Heart of Iran – The Baha'is: Oppressed Hope), has recently been published by Erasmus Ediciones. It is one of the first major works written in Spanish about the genesis and  persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran.
Mr. Cerrato's book has been described in one review as a ""deftly handled, well-documented and panoramic journey.""
The reviewer, Enrique Cordoba – a columnist for El Nuevo Herald – wrote, ""I celebrate that Cerrato has published this book...for those who want to inform themselves of a doctrine that should be studied.""
Miami-based radio journalist Ninoska Perez Castellon wrote that it is ""a necessary book... It's a call to the world to ensure that the abuses against the Baha'i community in Iran are not left to fall into obscurity.""
""It is because of the integrity of writers like Rafael Cerrato that we can become deeply familiar with a subject that should be on the front page of newspapers,"" she wrote.
Born in Cordoba in 1951, Mr. Cerrato studied economics in Malaga before devoting his energy to exploring what he describes as the ""great truths not recorded in history but that are key to understanding our present.""
Religion plays a major role in that understanding.
""I have always thought man is a 'religious animal' – even more than the political animal that many philosophers have defined,"" said Mr. Cerrato. ""Without religion, social phenomena or the evolution of the world cannot be understood.""
In his 2005 work, Letter to Fernando Sanchez Drago, he drew comparisons between the founders of Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. The following year, Lepanto, the Unfinished Battle explored the history of the West's relationship with Islam.
""Religion should be a force for good and a unifying element,"" he said. ""But, unfortunately, it is the cause of many problems. The origin of these problems is not religion itself...They are mainly caused by the distortion men make of its content and message.""
Mr. Cerrato has lived for 10 years outside of Barcelona, close to the popular pilgrimage destination of Montserrat, from which he derives his own spiritual inspiration.
He is also passionate about traveling and immersing himself in the world's diverse cultures. After carrying out numerous speaking engagements and book signings in Spain, he will be visiting the United States next month to speak about From the Heart of Iran at the prestigious Books and Books store in Miami, Florida.
""I consider Miami to be the gate to America for the Spanish-speaking culture,"" he said.
Gilbert Grasselly – a professional translator based in Hollywood, Florida – agrees. ""There's a very large Spanish-speaking population here in Miami Dade County. It's an important point for Hispanics.""
Mr. Grasselly has been asked to translate From the Heart of Iran into English.
""He's calling the public's attention to what's happening,"" said Mr. Grasselly. ""It touched me when I read these histories. It's very moving.""
Mr. Cerrato hopes that his book will inform Spanish-speaking readers both about the the situation the Baha'is face in Iran, and the values for which they are prepared to suffer.
""I hope it will open the eyes of leaders, journalists, and intellectuals who read it – if they do – about the plans and actions of the present government in Iran.""
""And at the same time, I hope they see that, through the Baha'i Faith, many constructive processes of dialogue can be opened between East and West.""",MADRID,,Spain
784,2010-08-05,"[783, 782, 777]",Detention extended for seven Iranian Baha'i leaders,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The imprisonment of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran has been extended for a further two months, the Baha'i International Community has learned.
The trial of the seven concluded on 14 June. No verdict has yet been given.
""These innocent Baha'is have now been held for more than two years under a series of successive orders for their 'temporary' detention, which by law must not exceed two months,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
On 24 July, two days after the most recent two-month prison term concluded, the defense attorneys for the seven once again issued a formal request that the prisoners be released on bail, as permitted under Iranian law.
Since then, the judge presiding over the case has told the prisoners that their detention had once again been extended for two months.
The attorneys have now submitted a written objection to the extension, said Ms. Alai.
""There is no legal basis whatsoever to refuse the request that the defendants be released on bail,"" she said.
The seven prisoners are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. They categorically deny charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and ""corruption on earth,"" among other allegations.
Before their incarceration, the seven attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community, which numbers more than 300,000. They have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 – six of them on 14 May and one of them two months earlier.
Their trial consisted of six brief court appearances which began on 12 January after they had been imprisoned without charge for 20 months, during which time they were allowed barely one hour's access to their legal counsel.
""That these people – held purely for their religious beliefs – have now entered the third year of their so-called 'temporary' incarceration under such inhumane conditions constitutes a deplorable violation of their human rights,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""The Iranian government must know that its actions are under close international scrutiny and that it is held wholly responsible for this terrible injustice,"" she said. ""Once again, we call upon the authorities in Iran to take immediate action to release them.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
785,2010-08-08,"[769, 772, 781]",Online conference offers new experience of world citizenship,"BRASILIA, Brazil — For the 20 people gathered at Guitty Milani's home, the path to world peace begins with small actions.
""When we talk about making the world better and transforming it, people normally don't know what to do. But the important thing is that if each one does a share, the result is really big and can really change the human mind,"" said Geraldo Faria, a systems analyst.
The discussion here on Tuesday 3 August was just one element of a global ""e-conference"" that is likely to have spawned many more such meetings internationally.
The World E-Conference on Culture of Peace and Sustainability, from 2-6 August, was conceived around a website, which features speeches by prominent experts on peace and sustainability, including the Dalai Lama and fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate Adolfo Perez Esquivel, along with author Hazel Henderson.
""We are trying an experiment with global cooperation, seeking to connect both individuals and organizations with large networks, so that we can develop a new experience of global citizenship and global governance,"" said Carlos Emediato, coordinator of the conference and founding member of Globalnet, a Brazilian-based international network of organizations dedicated to the promotion of a culture of peace.  The World E-Conference on Culture of Peace and Sustainability offered an online mix of keynote talks by prominent thinkers, exploratory films, and artistic expression.""This means focusing on some very concrete problems in the world and seeing how local communities can cooperate to help solve these problems,"" he said.
Tahirih Naylor, a Baha'i International Community Representative to the United Nations, was featured as a keynote speaker in the e-conference. Her talk, titled ""Significance and Opportunity,"" discussed in broad terms the challenges facing humanity as it moves towards global civilization.
""Having passed through the stages of our collective infancy and childhood, we find ourselves, as humanity, in a turbulent transitional period, approaching our full physical capacity, but not yet informed by the wisdom and judgment that comes from maturity,"" said Ms. Naylor.
By embracing humanity's inherent ""spiritual qualities,"" we can overcome the traits of ""ego, greed, apathy and violence"" that stand in the way of creating a new global culture of cooperation, she said.
The Baha'i community of Brazil was actively involved in the event's organization. Iradj Roberto Eghrari, a Baha'i serving on the conference's executive committee, said the idea to hold an online event, with local satellite meetings, came about primarily as a cost-saving measure.
""We wanted to hold a global conference to mark the end of the UN International Decade for the Culture of Peace,"" said Mr. Eghrari. ""But the costs were too high. So we decided that instead of spending money on one big conference, we should spend that towards the betterment of society itself, and then have an e-conference so that everyone can have discussions about their experiences and ideas locally but in a shared way globally.""
At least three other discussion programs – in the cities of Canoas, Belo Horizonte and Manaus – were held and others were expected to be organized spontaneously as people became inspired by the website.
At the gathering in Brasilia, 12-year-old Jade Lima, certainly got the point: ""To change the world, it's necessary to start from an attitude of love,"" she said. ""It's like planting a tree. Small attitudes can change the world.""
The conference site also showcased a number of videos depicting how communities around the world are striving to put new values into action. Individuals and groups were encouraged to download or stream the presentations and discuss them. They could then post their thoughts on a conference blog. The content will remain available online for a few days after the conference ends.
Presentations submitted by the Baha'i International Community to the World Conference on Culture of Peace and Sustainability included short films highlighting the work of educational initiatives at the local level. One profiles the Cambodian Organization for Research, Development and Education – CORDE – where young people learn English, take classes related to moral education, and assume responsibility for educating the next generation of children. Others feature Baha'i-inspired endeavors such as a literacy project in Guyana, an educational initiative in Honduras, and the programs of  Fundación para la Aplicación y Enseñanza de las Ciencias – FUNDAEC – which, for more than three decades, has empowered young people in Colombia to arise in service to society.
Other international partners sponsoring the conference included the Global Ecovillage Network, Green Cross International, the International Festival of Peace, the Playing for Change Foundation, the World Cafe Foundation, and the World Peace Prayer Society.
National level partners included: Asociacion Educar (Argentina), Associacao Palas Athena (Brazil), Bioneers (USA), the Dhammakaya Foundation (Thailand), the Institute for Planetary Synthesis (Switzerland), the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (South Africa), Mil Milenios de Paz (Argentina), Resurgence Magazine (UK), the Tamera Community (Portugal), UNIPAZ - Hollistic International University (Brazil),and  the Women World Summit Foundation (Switzerland).",BRASILIA,,Brazil
786,2010-08-08,"[782, 780, 783]","Reports say Iran's Baha'i leaders ""sentenced""","NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has received reports indicating that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received jail sentences of 20 years.
The two women and five men have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 – six of them on 14 May and one of them two months earlier.
""If this news proves to be accurate, it represents a deeply shocking outcome to the case of these innocent and harmless people,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""We understand that they have been informed of this sentence and that their lawyers are in the process of launching an appeal,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The prisoners – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – were all members of a national-level group that helped see to the minimum needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community, the country's largest non-Muslim religious minority.
The trial of the seven consisted of six brief court appearances which began on 12 January this year after they had been incarcerated without charge for 20 months, during which time they were allowed barely one hour's access to their legal counsel. The trial ended on 14 June.
The defendants were accused of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges are completely and categorically denied.",NEW YORK,,United States
787,2010-08-11,"[786, 782, 783]",International outcry at prison sentences for Iranian Baha'i leaders,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Reports that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received prison sentences of 20 years have been met with condemnation from governments and human rights organizations around the world.
Australia, Canada, France, Germany – and the President of the European Parliament – have all expressed strong statements of concern.
They are calling for the prisoners to be released on bail, for an annulment of the judgment, and for Iran to demonstrate that the trial was fair and in accordance with international standards.
Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, said that his country was ""deeply disturbed"" by the sentences that were ""passed without either written judgments or due process."" He urged Iran to grant bail to the prisoners.
Germany described the outcome of the trial as a ""massive setback for all those who engage themselves for the promotion of human dignity and human rights in Iran.""
Markus Loning, commissioner for human rights and humanitarian aid at Germany's Foreign Office, said Iran must annul the judgment and ""provide a fair and transparent court procedure.""
""There are major doubts as to the compliance with the basic legal rights during the judicial proceedings,"" he said.  The seven Baha'i prisoners, photographed several months before their arrest, are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet.France expressed its ""consternation"" at the 20-year jail term.
At a press briefing, Christine Fages, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, stated that Iranian authorities should stop persecuting Baha'is and other religious minorities and ""respect the freedom of religion and conscience as defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran has freely signed up.""
Australia has also shared its deep concern at the sentences. ""We continue to call on Iran to ensure that all trials are fair and transparent and are conducted in accordance with Iran's international obligations,"" said a spokesman for the Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In a statement issued today, the President of the European Parliament – Jerzy Buzek – called the sentences ""a shocking signal and an immense disappointment for all who have hoped for an improvement of the human rights situation in Iran.""
""Iran has committed itself to international standards and I underline that this includes also the respect and protection of religious freedom,"" he said.
International human rights organizations have additionally joined the chorus of protest against the reported prison sentences.
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said the sentencing of the Baha'i leaders was ""politically motivated, discriminatory, unjust, and illegal under Iranian and international law.""
""They have been sentenced for being Baha'is, nothing else, and their incarceration thus expresses a policy of oppression of the Baha'i Faith and its members,"" said Aaron Rhodes, spokesperson for the Campaign.
Amnesty International described the Baha'i leaders as ""prisoners of conscience jailed solely on account of their beliefs or peaceful activities on behalf of the persecuted Baha'i minority.""
""The seven were held for months without charge before being subjected to a parody of a trial. They must be immediately released,"" said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa deputy director.
In a statement, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI) asked for the Iranian government to ""act in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as international human rights instruments ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran.""
Human Rights Watch demanded the Iranian judiciary to release the seven immediately ""given that no evidence appears to have ever been presented against them, and they have not been given a fair and public trial.""
""For more than two years now the Iranian authorities have utterly failed to provide the slightest shred of evidence indicating any basis for detaining these seven Baha'i leaders, let alone sentencing them to 20 years in prison,"" said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East division at Human Rights Watch.
Iran should take concrete steps that show it is committed to protecting the fundamental rights of Baha'is, said Mr. Stork
""The immediate and unconditional release of the seven Baha'i leaders would be a good start,"" he said.
Diane Ala'i, Baha'i representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the Baha'i International Community deeply appreciates the committed support offered so far by governments and human rights organizations.
""These statements demonstrate that increasing numbers of people of all races and religions throughout the world want to see justice done in Iran – not just for the Baha'is but all of its citizens who face gross human rights violations,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""For how much longer will the Iranian authorities remain oblivious to these upraised voices?"" she said.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
788,2010-08-13,"[786, 787, 782]","U.S.A. joins Netherlands, U.K. and European Union in chorus of condemnation at prison sentences","GENEVA, Switzerland — The United States of America has said it ""strongly condemns"" the sentencing of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders to 20 years imprisonment.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the act as a ""violation of Iran's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.""
In a statement dated 12 August, Secretary Clinton said that the United States is ""deeply concerned with the Iranian government's continued persecution of Baha'is and other religious minority communities in Iran.""
""Freedom of religion is the birthright of people of all faiths and beliefs in all places,"" she said.
""The United States is committed to defending religious freedom around the world, and we have not forgotten the Baha'i community in Iran.""
""We will continue to speak out against injustice and call on the Iranian government to respect the fundamental rights of all its citizens in accordance with its international obligations,"" said Secretary Clinton.
The statement from the United States came as reports reached the Baha'i International Community that the seven Baha'i leaders have been transferred from Tehran's Evin Prison, where they had been incarcerated for more than two years.  The seven Baha'i prisoners, photographed several months before their arrest, are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet.They have been taken to Gohardasht Prison - also known as Rajaishahr Prison - in Karaj, some 20 kilometers west of the Iranian capital.
Other support
Support for the prisoners has also been expressed by the European Union, in a statement made by Baroness Catherine Ashton, the E.U.'s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
""The European Union expresses its serious concern about the sentencing of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran to 20 years imprisonment and calls for their immediate release,"" the declaration said.
""The verdict appears to be based on the defendants belonging to a religious minority and the judicial process was seriously flawed, respecting neither Iran's international commitments under the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) nor its national legislation regarding fair trial rights.""
""The EU recalls that freedom of thought, conscience and religion are fundamental rights
which must be guaranteed under all circumstances according to article 18 of the ICCPR
which the Islamic Republic of Iran has signed up to and ratified.""
""The EU calls on Iran to put an end to the persecution of the Baha'i community,"" said Baroness Ashton.
In the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was ""appalled"" to hear of the prison sentences, describing them as a ""shocking example of the Iranian state's continued discrimination against the Baha'is.""
""It is completely unacceptable,"" said Mr. Hague in a statement released on Wednesday.
""The Iranian judiciary has repeatedly failed to allay international and domestic concerns that these seven men and women are guilty of anything other than practicing their faith. It is clear that from arrest to sentencing, the Iranian authorities did not follow even their own due process, let alone the international standards to which Iran is committed. The accused were denied proper access to lawyers, and there is evidence that the trial was neither fair nor transparent.""
""I call on the Iranian authorities urgently to consider any appeal against this decision, and to cease the harassment of the Baha'i community. I further call on the Iranian Government to ensure that the rights of all individuals are fully protected, without discrimination, and that it fulfils its obligations to its own citizens as set out in the Iranian constitution,"" said Mr. Hague.
The Netherlands' Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Verhagen, expressed his country's concern at ""the poor execution of the judicial process in the case of the seven Baha'i leaders"" and its fears that the arrest and sentence is ""based solely on discrimination of religious belief.""
""That these people seem to be condemned because of their faith is shocking,"" said Mr. Verhagen.
""I urge the Iranian authorities to abide by their international human rights obligations. The Baha'i leaders have a right to a fair trial and they must be released as soon as possible.""
Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the President of the European Parliament earlier expressed strong statements of concern at news that Iran's seven Baha'i leaders have each received prison sentences of 20 years, as reported by the Baha'i World News Service on 11 August.
Human rights organizations
Human rights organizations - including Amnesty International, FIDH and Human Rights Watch - have issued calls for the prisoners to be released, for the judgment to be annulled, and for Iran to demonstrate that the trial was fair and in accordance with international standards.
""This is an outrageous miscarriage of justice and one more example of how the Iranian regime is a gross violator of human rights and religious freedoms,"" said Leonard Leo, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. ""The prosecutions and sentences are, pure and simple, politically and religiously motivated acts, and the Commission calls for the unconditional release of these seven individuals.""
Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva said the actions of the Iranian authorities, against individuals who are innocent of any crime, represent an ""outrageous travesty of justice that defies adequate description.""
""At every stage of the case - from their illegal detention and the brutal conditions of their confinement, through the trial, and now to a completely unlawful imprisonment - not even the most basic and fundamental norms of justice were respected.""
""We welcome the message coming loud and clear from governments and human rights organizations throughout the world. It is time for Iran to right the wrongs it has done.""
(The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.)",GENEVA,,Switzerland
789,2010-08-15,"[786, 787, 788]",Harsh sentences are a judgment against an entire religious community,"NEW YORK, United States — The harsh prison sentences handed down to seven Iranian Baha'i leaders who are absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing is a judgment against an entire religious community, the Baha'i International Community said today.
Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, whose Defenders of Human Rights Center represented the Baha'i defendants, said she was ""stunned"" by the reported 20-year jail terms.
""I have read their case file page by page and did not find anything proving the accusations, nor did I find any document that could prove the claims of the prosecutor,"" said Mrs. Ebadi in a television interview, broadcast on 8 August by the Persian-language service of the BBC.
The flagrantly unjust sentence has provoked vehement protest from governments throughout the world - including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S.A. The European Union and the President of the European Parliament have also joined the chorus of condemnation, along with numerous human rights organizations - including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and FIDH - as well as other groups, and countless individuals. Read international reaction here.
""The trumped-up charges, and the total lack of any credible evidence against these seven prisoners, reflects the false accusations and misinformation that Iran's regime has used to vilify and defame a peaceful, religious community for an entire generation,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
Ms. Dugal noted that the seven have reportedly been transferred to Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, a facility about 20 kilometers west of Tehran. ""The reason for the move is not yet known and it is too early to assess the implications for the prisoners,"" she said. ""It does, however, clearly impose an added burden to their families, who now have to travel outside Tehran to visit their loved ones.""
The seven - Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - were all members of a national-level group that, with the government's knowledge, helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of Iran's Baha'i community.
""That these manifestly innocent people should each be jailed for 20 years after a sham trial is utterly reprehensible,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""We ask the Iranian government: Does such a callous disregard for justice contribute to the advancement of Iranian society? Or does it, rather, further diminish your credibility among your own people and among the nations of the world?""
Ms. Dugal said the Baha'i International Community condemns the widespread injustice perpetrated by the Iranian authorities against others throughout Iran, whether religious minorities, journalists, academics, civil society activists, women's rights defenders, or others.
A catalogue of abuses  The seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Tehran are pictured together with their spouses, before their arrest in 2008.Even before the sentences were pronounced, the arrest, detention and trial of the seven leaders was a two-year long catalogue of abuses and illegal actions, both under international law and Iranian statutes.
""Iranian law requires that detainees be quickly and formally charged with crimes. The seven Baha'is were held at least nine months before any word of the charges against them were uttered by officials, and even then it was at a press conference, not in a court setting,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""For a long time, the seven were also denied access to lawyers. When they were allowed contact, it lasted barely an hour before their so-called trial began,"" she said.
""Detainees who have been charged also have the right to seek bail and to be released pending trial. The seven have continually been denied bail, despite numerous requests.""
""These are black and white concerns, not subject to interpretation,"" she said.
Systematic persecution
Since 1979, Iran's 300,000-strong  Baha'i community has endured a government-sponsored, systematic campaign of religious persecution. In its early stages, more than 200 Baha'is were killed and at least 1,000 were imprisoned, solely because of their religious beliefs.
In the early 1990s, the government shifted its focus to social, economic and cultural restrictions aimed at slowly suffocating the community and its development. Measures included depriving Baha'is of their livelihood, destroying their cultural heritage, and barring their young people from higher education.
Since 2005, there has been a resurgence of more extreme forms of persecution, with increasing arrests, harassment, violence, and arson attacks on Baha'i homes and businesses.
This systematic campaign of attacks has included:

the creation and circulation of lists of Baha'is with instructions that the activities of the members of the community be secretly monitored;
dawn raids on Baha'i homes and the confiscation of personal property;
summary arrest and interrogation of Baha'is throughout the nation;
daily incitement to hatred of the Baha'is in all forms of government-sponsored mass media;
the holding of anti-Baha'i symposia and seminars organized by clerics followed by orchestrated attacks on Baha'i homes and properties in the cities and towns where such events are held;
destruction of Baha'i cemeteries across the country;
demolition of Baha'i Holy Places and Shrines;
acts of arson against Baha'i homes and properties;
denying Baha'is access to higher education;
vilification of Baha'i children in their classrooms by their teachers;
the designation of numerous occupations and businesses from which Baha'is are debarred;
refusal to extend bank loans to Baha'is;
the sealing of Baha'i shops;
refusal to issue or renew business licenses to Baha'is;
harassment of landlords of Baha'i business tenants to force their eviction.

Specific examples of persecution in recent weeks include:

homes belonging to some 50 Baha'i families in the remote northern village of Ivel being demolished as part of a long-running campaign to expel them from the region;
the intelligence service that has an office in every university and governmental organization in Iran instructing university officials at Shaheed Beheshti University not to have any business dealings with companies owned by Baha'is;
two Baha'i-owned optical shops in Tehran receiving warning letters from the Opticians' Trade Union to close down, after similar shops in Khomein and Rafsanjan were forced to close;
an anti-Baha'i tract, titled Supporters of Satan, being widely distributed in the city of Kerman. The tract purveys misrepresentations of Baha'i history, including falsely asserting that the Baha'i Faith was a creation of the British;
truckloads of construction refuse and soil being dumped on graves in the Baha'i cemetery of Boroujerd. Buildings in the Baha'i cemetery in Mashhad - including the place where the prayers were recited - were severely damaged by heavy machinery.

Currently, including the seven leaders, some 50 Iranian Baha'is are in prison, some of them incarcerated for months at a time in solitary confinement cells, designed only for temporary detention.
""The pattern is clear: the Iranian government is systematically persecuting Baha'is for no reason other than their religious beliefs,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""The government knows that the Baha'i teachings advocate non-violence and non-involvement in politics. Yet this campaign is rigorously pursued with one aim in sight - the eradication of the Baha'i community as a viable entity in Iran,"" she said.
""In this light, the imprisonment of the seven must be seen as an attempt to decapitate a community's leadership, and strike a devastating blow to Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority.""
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them.  It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community.
The Special Report can be read at: https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/.",NEW YORK,,United States
790,2010-08-26,"[789, 787, 788]",Global support intensifies for Iran's seven Baha'i leaders,"GENEVA, Switzerland — An increasing number of governments, human rights groups and prominent individuals are raising their voices against the harsh prison sentences handed down earlier this month to Iran's seven Baha'i leaders.
As lawyers for the prisoners prepare to appeal against the 20-year jail terms, the government of New Zealand has voiced its concern that the trial ""was conducted in a manner that was neither fair nor transparent.""
""New Zealand is dismayed that Iran has failed to uphold its international human rights commitments, and its own due legal processes in this case,"" said Foreign Minister Murray McCully.
""The sentences appear to be based wholly on the fact that these people are members of a minority religious group,"" said Mr. McCully, in a statement issued on 20 August.
""New Zealand calls on the Government of Iran to protect the fundamental rights of all its citizens, and to end its ongoing and systematic persecution of the Baha'i,"" he said.
The governments of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States of America, as well as the European Union and the President of the European Parliament, have already condemned the sentencing of the seven. See https://news.bahai.org/story/787 and https://news.bahai.org/story/788.
In the wake of calls from numerous international organizations for the prisoners to be released, groups focused specifically on human rights abuses in Iran - such as the Human Rights Activists News Agency and United4Iran - as well as Amnesty International, have now launched letter-writing campaigns encouraging supporters to call for justice for the seven. Prominent individuals, including British barrister Cherie Blair, have also been raising their voices in support of the Baha'i leaders.
Minority Rights Group International (MRG) – which campaigns on behalf of disadvantaged minorities and indigenous peoples – has expressed its deep concern over the lengthy sentences.  Artwork questioning the sentencing of the seven Baha'i leaders is displayed on the campaign page of the United4Iran website.""Given that independent observers were not allowed to attend the trial, and the history of persecution that the Baha'i community has faced in Iran, the outcome will do nothing to encourage faith in the Iranian justice system,' said Carl Soderbergh, MRG's Director of Policy and Communications.
""MRG calls on Iran to quash the convictions and release the defendants immediately,"" Mr. Soderbergh added.
Human rights campaigns
Before their arrest in 2008, the seven prisoners were all members of a national-level group known as the ""Yaran"" – or ""Friends"" – that helped to see to the minimum needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community.
Among the human rights groups now calling for justice, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) is asking people throughout the world to join a ""We are Yaran"" campaign of letter writing.
The HRANA draft letter states: ""There is no evidence in support of the charges leveled against these Baha'is, and the ultimate judgment of imprisonment is unjust and insupportable.""
United4Iran – a non-partisan global network promoting fundamental human and civil rights in Iran – is requesting that visitors to its website call attention to the plight of the prisoners, by sending email letters to world leaders and Iranian officials.
Considering the advanced ages of several of the Baha'i leaders, says the group, ""the IRI (Islamic Republic of Iran) has effectively dealt life sentences.""
A spokesperson for United4Iran said that, as of Wednesday, more than 1100 messages had been sent via the website link.
In the United States, Amnesty International is urging its members to write to the head of Iran's judiciary to protest the trial and sentencing.
Individual voices
Noted British barrister Cherie Blair called the legal proceedings against the seven a ""sham trial"" in an article published on Wednesday by The Guardian newspaper in the UK.
""During two years of incarceration, lawyers working with [Nobel laureate Shirin] Ebadi were granted less than two hours with their clients,"" wrote Ms. Blair. ""They had only a few hours to examine the case files, comprising hundreds of pages. In the little time they were granted, they discovered the files were compiled by officials from the ministry of intelligence, despite Iranian law stipulating that such agents 'should not be entrusted with the investigation ... of the accused.'
""The catch-all charge of espionage exposes the reality behind the regime's cruel behaviour. Over the years, Baha'is have found themselves accused of being tools of Russian imperialism, British colonialism, American expansionism and most recently Zionism.
""But when we learn that Baha'is accused of spying for Israel are offered exoneration and the restoration of all the rights of citizenship if they will simply recant their faith, we can see such charges are totally baseless.
""The desecration of Baha'i cemeteries, the demolition of shrines and confiscation of Baha'i property are unlikely punishments for a band of spies.
""The truth behind this sentence is that it is an attempt to decapitate Iran's 300,000 strong Baha'i community. As members of Iran's biggest religious minority, they have suffered decades of discrimination, harassment and appalling treatment. Most recently, 50 Baha'i homes were razed in northern Iran, and we know of at least 47 other Baha'is currently imprisoned,"" wrote Ms. Blair.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, the Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, today called the 20-year jail terms for the Baha'i leaders ""a most appalling transgression of justice and at heart a gross violation of the human right of freedom of belief.""
""I unite myself in prayer for those of the Baha'i Faith who are suffering at this present time in Iran and also to the many other peoples of goodwill who are suffering for their faiths in other parts of the world,"" said Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien.
In a video statement posted on YouTube, the actor and comedian Omid Djalili said he was ""very upset"" by news of the prison sentences.
""The Baha'i Faith is a peaceful religion with a world embracing vision of unity for all people, of all faiths. It is a staunch defender of human rights. So the fact that these seven are held in prison as if they are perpetrators of the most heinous crimes is just ridiculous,"" said Mr. Djalili, whose clip received more than 8,000 views in its first few days.
""International outcry will continue""
The prisoners - Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - denied all the allegations made against them which included espionage, propaganda against the Islamic republic and the establishment of an illegal administration. They are now incarcerated in Gohardasht prison in Karaj, some 20 kilometers west of Tehran.
""By all accounts, the charges against them were utterly baseless, and the trial itself was nothing but a charade,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""For as long as they are held in prison, this international outcry will continue,"" she said.
A Baha'i World News Service Special Report containing articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha’i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment and trial, and the allegations made against them - can be read at: https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/.
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
791,2010-08-30,"[789, 787, 788]",UN panel criticizes Iran’s repression of minorities,"GENEVA, Switzerland — A United Nations panel of experts has expressed concern over Iran’s continued repression of ethnic and religious minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
In conclusions issued last Friday, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) questioned why Iranian minorities – such as Arabs, Azeris, Balochis, Kurds and Baha'is – are so poorly represented in Iran’s public life.
The Baha'i International Community has welcomed the panel’s findings that categorize Iran’s persecution of Baha'is as a matter of discrimination based on race, ethnicity or religion.
“This finding is important because it represents the opinion of a body of international experts on discrimination – including many from countries that are friendly to Iran,” said Diane Ala’i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
“As such, their criticism of Iran, even if couched in somewhat mild diplomatic language, represents further evidence that the world community will not turn a blind eye to Iran’s ongoing persecution of Baha'is – which are that country’s largest non-Muslim religious minority – nor, for that matter, to the violation of the human rights of any of that nation’s citizens,” said Ms. Ala’i.
Committee’s concern
In its conclusions about Baha’is and other minority groups, CERD urged Iran to “carry out a study of members of all such communities that would enable the State party to identify their particular needs and draw up effective plans of action, programmes and public policies to combat racial discrimination and disadvantage relating to all areas of the public life of these communities.”
The recommendation followed a series of exchanges on 4-5 August with an Iranian delegation that came before the Committee to defend their human rights record.
Committee members appeared quite skeptical about Iran’s efforts to meet the mandates of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which the Committee monitors, including a number of members from countries that have generally friendly relations with Iran, such as Brazil, India, and Turkey.
Reports from human rights groups
Alternative reports submitted by human rights groups were more critical, noting that Baha'is have since 2005 faced an upsurge in arbitrary arrests and detentions, the demolition of properties, and the denial of rights to education, employment, and social participation.
“Since the beginning of 2010, numerous Baha’is have been sentenced to imprisonment,” said the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI), and Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) in a joint report.
Amnesty International noted that “derogatory articles and other media pieces” frequently appear in state-run media. “Such practices are of particular concern in relation to the Baha'i community.”
This is not the first time that the Committee has spoken out about Iran’s treatment of Baha'is. In similar concluding observations issued in 2003, the Committee noted with concern “the reported discrimination faced by certain minorities, including the Baha’is, who are deprived of certain rights” which “appear to be discriminatory on both ethnic and religious grounds.”
The Committee in 2003 went on to recommend that Iran “ensure that all persons enjoy their right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, without any discrimination based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin,” and also that Iran allow “students of different origins to register in universities without being compelled to state their religion.”
Ms. Ala’i noted that although the Committee’s primary concern is racial discrimination, that mandate is broadly interpreted by the United Nations as including all forms of discrimination, including religious discrimination.
“Members of the Baha'i Faith come from various ethnic backgrounds, but the fact that this committee has identified the intense religious discrimination against the Iranian Baha'i community as something it must look into shows from yet another angle how deep the oppression of Baha'is and other minorities is today in Iran,” said Diane Ala’i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
“The intense questioning during the dialogue session with Iran, moreover, clearly displayed the skepticism with which the international community views Iran’s efforts to defend what is otherwise indefensible in terms of human rights violation,” she said.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
792,2010-08-30,"[704, 769, 586]","100 years ago, historic journeys transformed a fledgling faith","HAIFA, Israel — One hundred years ago, 'Abdu'l-Baha, the eldest son of Baha'u'llah and His appointed successor as head of the Baha'i Faith, embarked on a series of journeys which, over the course of three years, took Him from the Holy Land to the Nile delta, from the Pacific coast of North America to the banks of the River Danube.
Despite His advanced age, 'Abdu'l-Baha set out in August 1910 to present Baha'u'llah's teachings about the dawning of a new age of peace and unity, to high and low alike. These historic journeys launched a fledgling faith on its way to becoming a world religion.
""He was sixty-six years old,"" the Universal House of Justice has written in a special message, dated 29 August, to mark the centenary, ""an exile since childhood, with no formal schooling, a prisoner for forty years, in failing health, and unfamiliar with Western customs and languages. Yet He arose, without thought of comfort, undeterred by the risks involved...""
""With the inauguration of 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels to the West, the Cause of Baha'u'llah, hemmed in for more than half a century by the hosts of enmity and oppression, burst its restraints.""
Breakthrough into new cultures
Following the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, when all political and religious prisoners of the Ottoman Empire – including 'Abdu'l-Baha and His family – were set free, He began to plan sharing, in person, the Baha'i teachings with the world beyond the Middle East. Two years later He left the confines of the Holy Land, heading first to Egypt where he stayed for one year.
Then, in August 1911, 'Abdu'l-Baha set sail for Europe, spending a month in London and two months in Paris. After returning to Egypt for the winter, He set off again in March 1912 for an eight-month long tour of North America, followed by second visits to London and Paris, as well as journeys to Austria, Germany, Hungary and Scotland.
""From the time of Baha'u'llah's passing, the Baha'i Faith's spread to North America and Europe had been a very significant development,"" says Moojan Momen, an historian based in the United Kingdom, ""but these communities were rather few in number.""  The City Temple, London, where 'Abdu'l-Baha gave His first ever public talk on 10 September 1911. ""The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion,"" He told the congregation.""So 'Abdu'l-Baha's visits not only saw Him generally proclaiming the Baha'i teachings further afield, but also consolidating the religion's breakthrough into new cultures.""
At 'Abdu'l-Baha's first ever public talk – given at the City Temple church in London on 10 September 1911 – 'Abdu'l-Baha told the congregation, ""The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion.""
""Over and over again, He stressed the need for understanding between people, for bringing religions together, for world peace,"" explains Paris-based writer Jan Jasion, who is researching 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels in Europe. ""He wanted to bring people closer to God and for them to understand the reality of religion and rid themselves of superstitions.""
'Abdu'l-Baha was also able to participate comfortably in discourses about themes that lay outside of the Middle Eastern experience. ""For example, the great dangers of racism;"" notes Firuz Kazemzadeh, emeritus professor of history at Yale University, ""the relationship between capital and labour, and the conflict between worker and employer; the impending Great War; and federalism as a solution to the problems among the States.""
For three years, 'Abdu'l-Baha tirelessly addressed thousands of people – including clergymen, journalists, academics, diplomats,  philosophers, suffragettes, and social reformers. He also – perhaps most importantly for Him – met with, and attended to the needs of, the poor.
Among those deeply impressed by Him was Dr. David Starr Jordan, the American scientist and university administrator, who famously said, ""'Abdu'l-Baha will surely unite the East and the West, for He walks the mystical path with practical feet.""
Dr. T. K. Cheyne of Oxford, the celebrated theologian, spoke of 'Abdu'l-Baha as the ""Ambassador to Humanity.""
""What is striking is that, while 'Abdu'l-Baha had a great deal of praise for progressive thinkers, He was also very clear-eyed and uncompromising in His assessment of the ways in which they fell short of their own ideals,"" says Kenneth E. Bowers, the current Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. ""He challenged people to rise above their own understanding of reality, to a higher level of realisation – a spiritual level as well as the social.""
There were other aspects of 'Abdu'l-Baha's personality that further delighted those He met, says Mr. Bowers.
""He carried Himself remarkably well in cultures that were entirely alien to Him. I think one of the things we should remember about Him – and which we sometimes forget as a characteristic of a 'spiritual' figure – is that He was someone who was extremely witty and charming.""
""A major religious event""
By the time 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels came to an end, the nascent Baha'i community had received a wider vision of their Faith, and citizens of nine countries, on three continents, had been informed of the Baha'i teachings for the first time.
""At the beginning of 'Abdu'l-Baha's ministry, the Baha'i Faith was a fairly obscure religious movement. There was very little accurate information about it anywhere,"" says Moojan Momen. ""By the end of His life, not just in Europe and North America but all over the world - in Asia, the Pacific, Australia, South Africa, South America - large numbers of people knew about the Faith and had a positive impression of it.""
""His travels were certainly a major religious event of the 20th century,"" says Dr. Momen. ""They had much the same sort of effect as St. Paul's journeys which had a sizable impact on the spread of Christianity.""
Kenneth E. Bowers believes it is impossible to conceive of today's American Baha'i community, for example, without taking 'Abdul-Baha's visit into account. ""Through His life and words, He was the personification of Baha'u'llah's teachings. He inspired the first handful of Baha'is not only to spread their Faith but, just as importantly, withstand all sorts of tests. In a very tactful, loving and wise way, He set the example to be followed.""
As a result of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journeys, the Baha'i community began to propagate His ideas further and these became reinforced in the general population. ""This is where the real impact of His visits lies - in the capacity of the community He raised to continue what He taught them after all these years,"" says Firuz Kazemzadeh.
In its letter, the Universal House of Justice invites today's worldwide Baha'i community to reflect not only upon what 'Abdu'l-Baha achieved and set in motion, but on the work still left to do.
His words and actions during His travels, the Universal House of Justice writes, offer ""an abundance of inspiration and manifold insights"" for meeting the challenges of the present day.",HAIFA,,Israel
793,2010-09-16,"[789, 790, 788]",Prison sentences for Iran's Baha'i leaders reportedly reduced to 10 years,"NEW YORK, United States — The 20-year prison sentences received by Iran's seven Baha'i leaders have reportedly been reduced.
The Baha'i International Community has learned that the lawyers representing the seven were informed orally yesterday that the 20-year jail terms have now been changed to 10 years.
The seven - Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - were all members of a national-level group that, with the Iranian government's knowledge, helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community.
The trial of the seven consisted of six brief court appearances which began on 12 January this year after they had been incarcerated without charge for 20 months. They were allowed barely one hour's access to their legal counsel during that time. The trial ended on 14 June.
The defendants were accused of propaganda activities against the Islamic order and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges were completely and categorically denied.
The seven were moved from Evin Prison after receiving their sentence to Gohardasht prison in Karaj.
Reports of the 20-year sentence provoked a chorus of condemnation from governments around the world - including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.A. The European Union and the President of the European Parliament also joined the protest, along with numerous human rights organizations, other groups and countless individuals.
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The Special Report can be read here. *",NEW YORK,,United States
794,2010-09-16,"[793, 789, 790]",Support for Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders spreads worldwide,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The call to release seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - whose prison sentences have reportedly been reduced to 10-years each - is spreading around the world.
Prominent figures in India, medical professionals in Austria, a Muslim leader in El Salvador and human rights activists in Germany have added their voices to the concern already expressed by numerous governments and non-governmental organizations who have publicly condemned the sentences.
In an open letter, 31 leading figures from India's religious communities, judiciary, civil society organizations and academia, wrote that the ""only crime that these seven individuals - two women and five men, the oldest among them being 77 years old - have committed is that they are Baha'is. They are peace-loving and obedient to the law of their land and have worked for the betterment of Iranian society.""
The letter, dated 31 August, was sent by Maja Daruwala, the Director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, to the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to India.
""India and Iran have had historic ties of language, poetry, architecture, music and religion,"" the letter said. ""In the name of these ancient ties that bind our two nations, we call on the Government of Iran to act according to the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which it has ratified. These provisions mandate the upholding of the principles of justice and freedom - principles cherished by all great religions of the world and all nations.""
""In speaking up for these seven Baha'i leaders we are therefore also standing up for the 300,000 Iranian Baha'is, who constitute that country's largest religious minority, whose lives have been blighted and whose progress has been crippled by the injustices that have so systematically and remorselessly been visited upon them,"" they wrote.
Medical Professionals for Human Rights in Iran
In Austria, a group called Medical Professionals for Human Rights in Iran have also issued an open letter, addressed to Iran's Head of Judiciary, Sadeq Larijani.
The letter - signed by Dr. Ali Gushih, Professor Dr. Sirus Mirza'i and Professor Dr. Mihrdad Baghistaniyan - calls for the ""seven leaders of the Baha'i community in Iran"" to be released as soon as possible.
Among other requests, the letter asks that the human rights of all Iranian citizens be respected and for a stop to arbitrary arrests and raids on people's homes.
Day of action in Berlin
The sentencing of the seven was also protested at a large gathering held on 12 September in Berlin, Germany, which included participation by some 400 people, including numerous human rights advocates.
In front of the city's historic Brandenburg Gate, Markus Loning, Human Rights Commissioner of the Federal Government of Germany, stressed that the continuous flouting of human rights in Iran cannot be tolerated: ""We will not tolerate how in Iran, with its civilization and culture, human rights are still disregarded and trampled upon.""
Claudia Roth, chair of Germany's Green Party, called the arrest and conviction of the seven Baha'is, ""an act of sheer arbitrariness and nothing else"".
Freedom of faith and religion are not acts of ""mercy of those in power"" or ""governmental clemency"", said Ms. Roth, but a ""cornerstone of the human rights conventions of the present.""
Frauke Seidensticker, deputy director of the German Institute for Human Rights, stressed the obligation of the Iranian government to honor its commitments to article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  ""The Baha'i community is distinguished by speaking out for the human rights not only of its own members but also for others whose human rights are violated. Therefore they deserve our solidarity and our deepest respect,"" she said.
Another of the speakers, Mehran Barati - an Iranian politician living in Berlin - said that the seven Baha'i prisoners deserved the gratitude of the people of Iran.
""...the people of Iran should thank and appreciate these brave and courageous individuals who steadfastly stood firm for their beliefs and their faith,"" Mr. Barati said in a television interview after the event.
The day of action, organised by the human rights network United4Iran, included the display of messages of solidarity, spelled out in one meter high letters.
Other action
Sheikh Abderrahman Agdaou of El Salvador's Muslim community has also spoken up for the seven prisoners. In a message posted on 9 August on a personal, online social network page, Sheikh Abderrahman wrote of his hope that the seven would be freed, and that the Iranian authorities would be illumined ""so that these persons may live free as God created them.""
In Australia, the Australian Partnership of Religious Organizations (APRO) added its support to ""deep concern"" already expressed by the Australian government at the sentencing of the Baha'i leaders.
""We call on the Iranian government to respect and protect the right of all Iranians, including Baha'is and other religious minorities, to profess and practise the religion of their choice,"" APRO wrote on 8 September.
There has also been extensive press coverage of the sentence around the world.
An opinion piece published on 29 August in the European edition of the Wall Street Journal, titled ""Why Iran's Bahai Matter"", said: ""For more than three decades, the Bahai have formed the ground zero for repression in Iran. Rights groups say there is no evidence for the charges against the Bahai leaders, though Tehran's accusations should tell you all you need to know about who they are. The followers of this 19th-century religion hold unity among peoples as their main tenet. That, combined with their spiritual base in Israel, has made them the heretics that ayatollahs love to hate.""
An article by American journalist Roxana Saberi - who was charged and imprisoned after allegations of espionage in Iran - praised the courage and spirit of the two women among the jailed Baha'i leaders. Ms. Saberi shared a cell with Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi in Tehran's Evin Prison early last year.
""I came to see them as my sisters, women whose only crimes were to peacefully practice their religion and resist pressure from their captors to compromise their principles,"" wrote Ms. Saberi.
""They felt it their duty to serve not only Bahais but all Iranians...,"" wrote Ms. Saberi in The Washington Post on 28 August . ""I know that despite what they have been through and what lies ahead, these women feel no hatred in their hearts. When I struggled not to despise my interrogators and the judge, Mahvash and Fariba told me they do not hate anyone, not even their captors.""
The seven Baha'i leaders - Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - denied all the allegations made against them which included espionage, propaganda against the Islamic republic and the establishment of an illegal administration.
They are now incarcerated in Gohardasht prison in Karaj, some 20 kilometers west of Tehran.
The governments of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America, as well as the European Union and the President of the European Parliament, earlier condemned the harsh sentences received by the seven.
Groups focused specifically on human rights have also launched letter-writing campaigns encouraging supporters to call for justice. See https://news.bahai.org/story/787, https://news.bahai.org/story/788 and https://news.bahai.org/story/790.
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
795,2010-10-07,"[793, 789, 790]",UK heads of religion call for release of Iran's seven Baha'i leaders,"LONDON, England — Britain's most prominent heads of religion have called for the release of the seven Baha'i leaders serving prison sentences in Iran.
A statement by the United Kingdom's religious leaders – describing the sentencing of the seven as a ""gross violation of the fundamental human right to freedom of religion"" – was signed by, among others, the Archbishop of Canterbury – who is the head of the worldwide Anglican communion; the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster; the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth; and the Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Great Britain.
The statement notes that despite calls from the international community calling upon the Iranian authorities to follow ""humanitarian and legal norms"", the seven were sentenced ""for reasons which in the view of all independent observers are solely based on their faith.""
""These sentences form part of a wider picture over many years of severe harassment of the Baha'i community,"" says the statement.
The seven Baha'i leaders – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – were all members of a national-level group that, with the Iranian government's knowledge, helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community.
After being incarcerated without charge for 20 months, and six brief court appearances, the seven were each reportedly sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for propaganda activities against the Islamic order and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges were completely and categorically denied. It was reported last month that the sentences have been reduced to 10-year jail terms.
""We view this act as a gross violation of the fundamental human right to freedom of religion and call on the Iranian government to fulfill their obligations under article 18 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights to review the case and to ensure that the treatment of these 'prisoners' accords with justice and due process as defined in the Iranian constitution and law,"" wrote the United Kingdom's religious leaders.
""We call upon all governments and people of good will to call upon the the Iranian authorities to review this decision and to cease harassment of the Baha'i community.""
""We extend our sympathies to the Baha'i community at this difficult time and hope that the widespread and growing international concern over this matter will cause the Iranian authorities to correct this flagrant injustice,"" the statement said.
The statement is signed by The Most Reverend Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury; The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster; Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks; Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain and chair of Religions for Peace UK; Mr. Jay Lakhani, Hindu Academy; Mr. Arjan Vekaria JP, President, Hindu Forum of Britain; Dr Indarjit Singh CBE, Network of Sikh Organisations; and Dr Natubhai Shah MBBS PhD, Network of Jain Organisations, Council of Dharmic Faiths.
Reports of the sentencing of the seven Baha'i leaders has provoked a global chorus of condemnation from governments, human rights organizations, other groups and countless individuals. On 26 August, Cardinal Keith O'Brien – the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh and head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland – also condemned the imprisonment of the seven describing it as a ""most appalling transgression of justice and at heart a gross violation of the human right of freedom of belief.""
""We are deeply moved by the sympathy and solidarity expressed by the UK's significant religious leaders for our beleaguered brethren in Iran,"" said Dr Kishan Manocha, the United Kingdom Baha'i community's director of external affairs.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
796,2010-10-18,"[795, 793, 789]",UN Secretary General voices concern over human rights abuses in Iran,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has once again expressed strong concern over Iran's ongoing human rights violations, including its persecution of Iranian Baha'is.
In a report issued Thursday, Mr. Ban highlighted his continuing concerns over Iran's use of torture and the death penalty, its poor treatment of women, and repeated violations of due process of law and of freedom of assembly, speech and religion.
The report also strongly criticized Iran's failure to protect the rights of minorities, such as the Baha'i, Sufi, Baluch and Kurdish communities.
Over the last year, Mr. Ban said, there was ""a noticeable increase in application of the death penalty, including in cases involving political opponents and juvenile offenders. Discrimination persisted against minority groups and in some cases amounted to persecution.""
The Secretary-General has been ""deeply troubled"" by reports of ""excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and detentions, unfair trials and possible torture and ill-treatment of opposition activists in relation to the post-election unrest in 2009.""
This year's report quite specifically highlighted Iran's ongoing ""discrimination and harassment"" of its Baha'i community.
""Members of unrecognized religions, in particular the Baha'i, who comprise the country's largest non-Muslim religious minority, face multiple forms of discrimination and harassment, including denial of employment, Government benefits and access to higher education,"" said the report.
""Some members of the Baha'i community have faced arbitrary detention or the confiscation and destruction of their property.
""Fires had been deliberately set to partially or totally destroy homes and vehicles, and a cemetery in Marvdasht had been vandalized. The incident was allegedly reported to a number of Government agencies, but no official action has been taken,"" the report said.
The report also took note of the trial and reported sentencing of seven Baha'i leaders, observing that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed ""deep concern"" over the absence of international observers and the lack of due process in that trial, which concluded in June.
""The High Commissioner voiced grave concern that the criminal charges brought against the above-mentioned individuals appeared to constitute a violation of the Islamic Republic of Iran's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in particular those of freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression and association,"" said the report.
Mr. Ban's report was released in response to last year's resolution of the UN General Assembly on human rights in Iran. That resolution specifically asked the Secretary General to report on any progress Iran makes during the year on human rights issues. It is the third such report that Mr. Ban has issued on human rights violations in Iran in as many years.
""What is surprising is the degree to which the government of Iran has completely ignored these annual reports from the UN Secretary General, who has so clearly articulated in them the international community's concerns about Iran's failure to meet its human rights obligations,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""For three years now, Mr. Ban has called attention to Iran's abusive and illegal treatment of women, juveniles, minorities, and journalists, not to mention common citizens who merely wish to voice their own concerns.
""Mr. Ban has also repeatedly expressed concern over Iran's systematic and on-going persecution of the Iranian Baha'i community, who are discriminated against solely because of their religious belief.
""We believe that the time has come for the UN General Assembly – to which this report is directed – to appoint a special envoy to monitor the human rights situation in Iran,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
797,2010-10-29,"[792, 768, 642]",Holy place restoration sheds light on region's heritage,"ACRE, Israel — After more than three years of restoration and conservation work, a Baha'i sacred site is offering a glimpse into the industrial and spiritual heritage of this part of the Holy Land.
From the Roman era into the early 20th century, mills on this site – some two kilometers southeast of the old city of Acre – produced the flour to feed the area's population.
""This was a very significant agricultural hinterland for the city,"" points out Albert Lincoln, Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community. ""The mills were part of what was probably one of the region's largest industrial complexes. They were first documented in 1799 by the French delegation surveying the area in connection with Napoleon's intended conquest.""
But for Baha'is, this place has spiritual significance, adds Mr. Lincoln. ""It's one of the most beautiful holy places associated with the presence of Baha'u'llah here during the late 19th century.""
In 1875 – eight years after Baha'u'llah's incarceration within the walls of the prison city of Acre – His son 'Abdul-Baha rented an island formed by two water canals, diverted from the Na'mayn river to power the flour mills. On this island, 'Abdu'l-Baha created an exquisite garden for His father Who, by then, had suffered more than two decades of imprisonment and exile. Baha'u'llah called the garden ""Ridvan"" – meaning ""paradise"".
A swamp drainage scheme to curb malaria and increase arable farmland in the 1930s and 1940s deprived the garden of its unique island setting. But now, with the restoration of the water canals, the Ridvan Garden is an island once again. This week, some 280 Baha'is – from as far afield as Mongolia, Rwanda and El Salvador – became the first pilgrims since 2007 to visit this holy place.  Some of the 15 flour mills that once operated in parallel at the southern end of the Ridvan Garden have also been restored. This view shows the mill buildings, and some newly-created island features in the water.A ""verdant isle""
After 'Abdu'l-Baha's acquisition of the island, pilgrims from Iran and neighboring countries brought shrubs, trees and flowering plants to populate the flower beds. During their long overland journeys, some of the travelers watered the plants at the expense of their own thirst.
As restrictions on His movements were gradually relaxed, Baha'u'llah made His first visits to the garden. He went there often, sometimes staying overnight in a modest house on the island.
The spot also became known outside of the Baha'i community. Laurence Oliphant, a British writer who visited in 1883, remarked, ""Coming upon it suddenly it is like a scene in fairy land...The stream is fringed with weeping willows, and the spot, with its wealth of water, its thick shade, and air fragrant with jasmine and orange blossoms, forms an ideal retreat from the heats of summer.""
Using historic photographs and descriptions, an international team of architects and engineers has restored the Ridvan garden to its original character, assisted by the Israel Antiquity Authority which provided a conservation survey of the entire site and carried out part of the work.
""Our mission was to re-create the island as it had been at the time of Baha'u'llah,"" says Khosrow Rezai, a representative of the design team who oversaw the project. ""So our task was to investigate and find as much historical evidence as we could about how it looked, so we could bring the island back to life.""
The two water canals have been reinstated on either side of the garden at their original locations, leading to the flour mills – some of which have also been restored. ""We found an aquifer 40 meters underground and are using it to feed the canals,"" says Mr. Rezai. ""But the configuration of the canals gives the impression that the water is once again coming from the mountains and is flowing out towards the ocean.""
With the re-creation of the garden's original setting, pilgrims can now experience the feeling of a spiritual retreat. ""We have tried to convey, to the extent possible, the tranquillity of the garden prepared by 'Abdu'l-Baha as a place where Baha'u'llah could find rest,"" says Mr. Rezai. ""Being able to see the water gives you an amazing feeling. You cross it, you smell it, you hear it. Hopefully it transmits the sense of happiness and joy that Baha'u'llah felt.""
Albert Lincoln agrees that the restoration has brought about a radical change in the atmosphere of the place. ""It's part of the territory that comes with being a religion born in historical time – as opposed to archaeological time – that we have the possibility of doing authentic restoration and of recreating quite closely the feeling that prevailed when Baha'u'llah was actually here. He referred to it as 'Our Verdant Isle' and wrote some beautiful things in which he describes Himself actually sitting in the garden at the time when it had water around it.
""In one passage, Baha'u'llah says that He was here in the garden enjoying 'its streams flowing, and its trees luxuriant, and the sunlight playing in their midst.' The whole narrative that goes with it is an outdoors narrative – it's sun, wind, water – all these factors,"" enthuses Mr. Lincoln.
A unique holy place
Just visible on the southern horizon from the site, Mount Carmel rises up, the location of the Shrine of the Bab and its monumental garden terraces. They – along with the Shrine of Baha'u'llah and its environs north of the Ridvan garden – were named UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2008.
But the Ridvan Garden is unique among Baha'i holy places, says Mr. Lincoln. ""In the others, the gardens surround buildings and structures. But here, the holy place is in itself a garden, and on a more intimate scale than the others.""
""With its conservation – and the restoration of the flour mills – the whole site says something about the historical roots of the Baha'i Faith in this land and how they are intertwined with the history of the country,"" he says.",ACRE,,Israel
798,2010-11-18,"[796, 793, 789]",UN resolution sharply critical of Iran for continuing human rights violations,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — A committee of the UN General Assembly today sharply criticized Iran for its continued and increasing violations of human rights.
By a vote of 80 to 44, the Assembly's Third Committee approved a resolution that ""expresses deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations"" in Iran. There were 57 abstentions.
The vote came after Iran attempted a ""no-action motion,"" aimed at blocking the resolution by calling for adjournment of the debate. The motion failed by a vote of 51 in favor to 91 against, with 32 abstentions.
In its specifics, the resolution takes note of recent reports of Iran's continued use of torture, an intensified crackdown on human rights defenders, ""pervasive gender inequality and violence against women,"" and discrimination against minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
""The wording of the resolution, which is the 23rd such condemnation of Iran since 1985, leaves no doubt that the world remains deeply concerned with Iran's continued human rights violations,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
The five-page document echoes concerns expressed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who issued a report in October that criticized Iran's use of torture and the death penalty, its poor treatment of women, and repeated violations of due process of law, as well as its failure to protect the rights of minorities, such as the Baha'i, Sufi, Baluch and Kurdish communities.
The resolution also calls on Iran to cooperate with international human rights monitors and to allow them into the country.
""The Baha'i International Community strongly welcomes this resolution, not only for its clear-sighted view of what is happening in Iran but also for its call for increased monitoring,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""As the resolution notes, it has been more than five years since Iran allowed UN officials into the country to investigate reports of human rights violations - something that is clearly unacceptable, especially for a country that claims to the world that it has nothing to hide.""
Put forward by 42 co-sponsors, the resolution's passage today by the Third Committee virtually assures final approval by the General Assembly Plenary in December.
The resolution devoted an entire paragraph to Iran's treatment of members of the Baha'i Faith, cataloging an extensive list of recent incidents and attacks on Baha'is.
In particular, it noted ""increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha'is, preventing members of the Baha'i faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically, the confiscation and destruction of their property,” and “the vandalizing of their cemeteries.” It also expressed concern over the recent trial and sentencing of seven Baha'i leaders, saying they were ""repeatedly denied the due process of law.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
799,2010-11-19,"[798, 793, 789]","Three Baha'is, jailed for humanitarian work, begin fourth year in detention","NEW YORK, United States — Despite compelling evidence that they never committed a crime, three Iranian Baha'is today begin their fourth year in captivity.
The two women, Haleh Rouhi and Raha Sabet – and Mr. Sasan Taqva – were arrested in May 2006, along with some 51 other Baha'is and a number of Muslim friends, for their participation in an education program for underprivileged children in and around the city of Shiraz.
While their 10 Muslim co-workers and one Baha'i with learning difficulties were released immediately, the remaining Baha'is were convicted of ""indirect teaching of the Baha'i Faith."" Ms. Rouhi, Ms. Sabet and Mr. Taqva received four year jail terms. The other 50 were given one year sentences, suspended pending their attendance at mandatory Islamic classes.
It is believed that today, after three years, they continue to be held under the harshest of conditions in a temporary detention center.
""Under Iranian law, the Intelligence Ministry cannot imprison citizens in such centers, only detain them for interrogation,"" says Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. ""We understand that conditions have been totally unacceptable for the long-term imprisonment these three have suffered.""
The trial and detention have violated both Iranian and international law, says Ms. Dugal. ""And every piece of evidence – including a report commissioned from an Iranian official – has pointed to their innocence.""
Authorities refused to take notice of that investigator's conclusion. When the report became public, he subsequently wrote another account, rejecting the findings of his original report.
""The Iranian government has utterly failed to address such an obvious miscarriage of justice,"" says Ms. Dugal. ""This is yet another case of religious persecution, pure and simple.""
""Why else would three individuals, whose main 'crime' was their engagement in humanitarian projects aimed at helping their fellow citizens, continue to be locked up in this way?"" she says.
Jailed for helping the poor
The idea of specifically working with the young people of Shiraz began in a study group organized by Ms. Sabet, who had been involved in aid efforts after the 2003 Iranian earthquake.  One of the classes organized for young people in Katsbas, outside Shiraz, Iran.Initially, she and her friends worked in Katsbas, a suburb with a reputation for drug abuse and criminal activity. There, the group tutored children preparing for their end-of-term exams. With the full blessing of local parents, efforts extended to include assisting the children to develop social skills and moral values.
As their project grew to serve more than 200 children in Katsbas, the group was successful in receiving a permit from the city council to operate.  Another effort started up in Sahlabad, also facilitated by both Baha'is and Muslims. A further initiative – carried out by 14 tutors – involved 100 young people at an educational center.
The group also organized weekly art classes for young cancer patients – an activity that was enthusiastically received by the head of a local hospital. Additionally, regular visits were also made to orphanages and facilities for disabled children.
Arrests and conviction
On 19 May 2006, police simultaneously arrested tutors and project leaders in six locations.
Following the release of their Muslim co-workers, the remaining Baha'is were let go after the course of the following few days and weeks. Ms. Rouhi, Ms. Sabet, and Mr. Taqva were held for nearly a month.
A brief, formal trial was held more than one year later.  The Baha'is were accused of, among other things, ""indirect teaching of the Baha'i Faith"" – based on their use of an educational textbook called Breezes of Confirmation. The text, however, makes no mention of the Baha'i Faith, only presenting moral lessons that are explored through a series of stories. Despite the fact that the city's Cultural Council had approved the use of the book, the verdict declared that permission had been obtained through deceit.
""The charges against them were baseless and unacceptable under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, an international treaty which Iran has signed, that protects the right to manifest belief in 'worship, observance, practice and teaching,'"" says Bani Dugal.
""For a start, it was clear that their activities were strictly humanitarian in nature. Secondly, the court even acknowledged that the text they were teaching from had no explicit reference whatsoever to the Baha'i Faith. Even some of their Muslim co-workers said they were unaware that their co-workers were Baha'is or that any 'teaching' was going on,"" she says.
Most of the Baha'is, because of their young age, received suspended one year sentences, pending their attendance at mandatory classes organized by the Islamic Propaganda Organization. At these classes, Baha'i beliefs and history were ridiculed, insulted and distorted.
But Ms. Sabet, Ms. Rouhi, and Mr. Taqva, were sentenced to four years imprisonment: three years for ""organizing illegal groups"" and one year ""for teaching for the benefit of groups that are against the Islamic regime.""
Temporary detention center
On 19 November 2007, Ms. Sabet, Ms. Rouhi, and Mr. Taqva were called to the local office of the Ministry of Intelligence, ostensibly to retrieve belongings that had been seized earlier. This proved to be a deception. When they arrived, they were immediately locked in holding cells.
Three years on, it is believed that they continue to be detained in the same conditions. Mr Taqva has been kept alone for the whole time in a claustrophobic cell. The women were originally incarcerated together in another small cell, normally used for short-term detainees. Today they are all being held apart from each other. They have no windows, beds or chairs, and have only recently been given mattresses. It is reported that all three detainees have developed chronic back pain.
From time to time, they have been granted ""temporary releases"" but have always had to return to the detention centre to serve out their four-year terms.
For much of the imprisonment, Mr. Taqva has additionally been suffering severe pain from a leg injury, once sustained in a car accident, and sciatic and muscle weakness caused by the lack of all basic facilities. Although he has twice been briefly released for surgery, he remains for the most part without adequate medical attention. Daily exercise and access to fresh air is limited to 30 minutes each day when he is taken, not outside, but to a room that has no roof. Every time he leaves his cell, he is blindfolded.
The continuing detention of Mr. Taqva and his two co-workers is in violation of international standards and legal norms, says Bani Dugal. ""Under Iranian law, people convicted of crimes have the right to incarceration in a prison designed for long-term confinement, where there is access to adequate medical facilities, food, and hygiene. The continued detention of these three innocent people in cells designed for short-term stays violates not only common decency but national law.""
Confidential report ignored
In June 2008, Vali Rustami – inspector and legal advisor of the Office of the Representative of the Supreme Leader for the province of Fars – submitted a confidential report, made at the request of the representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in the province.
Mr. Rustami confirmed that not only was there no mention of religion in the activities of the prisoners, but that the young people who attended the classes told him they wanted to continue. ""They stated 'We ... truthfully learned a lot from this group and would like them to come back to us again,'"" Mr. Rustami reported.
When his account became public, he wrote another version which distorted his original findings.
Far from posing any threat to their society, says Ms. Dugal, it is clear that the three were trying their best to serve their society. ""In winning the gratitude of those they served, the Baha'is provoked the ire of their government. Only unbridled animosity and hatred could be at the heart of such a perversion of justice as is witnessed in this case.""
""After three years of imprisonment, the refusal of the authorities to put an immediate halt to the cruel treatment of these people defies reason. We continue to call on the international community to raise their voices in defense of these individuals – as well as the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders and the thousands of others in Iran today who are being deprived of their human rights,"" she says.",NEW YORK,,United States
800,2010-11-28,"[611, 721, 218]","Excavation work commences for Chile's ""temple of light""","SANTIAGO, Chile — Excavation work is under way for the new Baha'i House of Worship for the South American continent, in the Chilean capital of Santiago.
The ground work comes after a prolonged search for a site and unprecedented technical challenges, which included the invention of an entirely new material for the building's exterior. The site has now been set at a location in the hills of Peñalolén, a ""commune"" within metropolitan Santiago, at the foot of the Andes.
""We are pleased to inform you that excavation work has now commenced in Chile on the land where the last continental House of Worship is to stand,"" the Universal House of Justice wrote on 26 November, expressing its hope that the Baha'is throughout the world would ""be heartened to learn of the milestone now reached...""
""Many obstacles have been overcome to reach this point,"" the House of Justice noted.
Siamak Hariri – of the Canadian architecture firm Hariri Pontarini Architects, which has designed the House of Worship – is delighted. ""It's really a very rewarding moment,"" he says. ""We've found an extraordinary site, visible from all over Santiago. Even if you come into the airport from other places in the world, you'll see it in the distance.""
The House of Worship, with its surrounding water gardens of plant species native to the region, will cover some 10 hectares of a 50 hectare site. Excavation is now being carried out of an area measuring 62 meters in diameter, to prepare for the building's foundations and the area around it. The diameter of the House of Worship itself is approximately 30 meters.  The beautiful location of the site of the Baha'i House of Worship for Chile, in the hills of Peñalolén, a ""commune"" within metropolitan Santiago, at the foot of the Andes.Baha'i Houses of Worship
Baha'i Houses of Worship are distinctive buildings, open to everyone, where visitors can simply pray and meditate in a serene atmosphere, or - at certain times - listen to the holy scriptures of the world's religions being recited and sung. An integral concept of each House of Worship is that they will, in due course, provide a spiritual center around which agencies and institutions of social, humanitarian, and educational service will be established for the surrounding population.
When completed, the edifice in Santiago will be the eighth in a series of Baha'i Houses of Worship, and the final one to be erected to serve an entire continent. The seven others are in Australia, Germany, India, Panama, Uganda, the United States and Western Samoa.
""Striking and original""
The project to construct a Baha'i House of Worship in Chile was announced in 2001. A call for submission of designs was made the following year by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Chile, eliciting 185 entries from more than 80 countries.
The design brief called for a domed structure with nine entrances which, symbolically, would welcome people from all directions of the earth for the praise and glorification of God.
From a shortlist of four entries, Hariri Pontarini Architects was given the go-ahead to develop its scheme, described by the Universal House of Justice in its recent message as a ""striking and original design.""
The building consists of an arrangement of nine translucent ""wings,"" rising directly from the ground, and giving the impression of floating over a large reflecting lily pool. The wings will allow sunlight to filter through during the day, while at night the House of Worship will emit a warm glow from its interior lighting.
The innovative design required that an entirely new form of cast glass be invented for the building's exterior. ""That was an exploratory journey that took some 18 months,"" says Mr. Hariri, whose team needed to develop technologies that would ensure the building's survival in the environmental conditions of the location, a highly active seismic zone.
""We've done the testing. It has been marked out, vetted and peer-reviewed,"" says the architect. ""All the permits are signed. So now is the perfect time for the construction process to commence.""
Award-winning design
Since it was first unveiled, the design for the House of Worship has been praised in more than 40 international journals, and received numerous accolades. Canadian Architect featured the building as one of its 2004 Awards of Excellence. A judge described it as representing ""a rare convergence of forces that seem destined to produce a monument so unique as to become a global landmark...""
Most recently, in August, a global panel of almost 100 judges named the House of Worship joint winner in the World Architecture News ""Civic Building - Unbuilt"" award category.
""It was a nice coincidence to win this award at this particular time, just as the excavation work was about to begin"" says Mr. Hariri.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
801,2010-12-07,"[798, 799, 793]",Open letter speaks out for the rights of all Iranians,"NEW YORK, United States — In an open letter to the head of Iran's Judiciary, the Baha'i International Community today contrasted the country's persecution of Baha'is with Iran's own call for Muslim minorities to be treated fairly in other countries.
""We...request that the Baha'is in that country be granted their full rights of citizenship, in order that they may be able to fulfill their heartfelt aspiration to contribute, alongside their fellow citizens, to the advancement of their nation,"" says the letter.
""This, indeed, is no more than what you rightfully ask for Muslim minorities who reside in other lands. Baha'is merely seek the same treatment from you,"" the Baha'i International Community states.
Respecting the rights of Iranian Baha'is now would ""signal a willingness to respect the rights of all the citizens of your country,"" the letter says.
The document, dated 7 December and addressed to Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq Larijani, states that the injustices meted out on Iran's Baha'i citizens are a ""reflection of the terrible oppression that has engulfed the nation."" Redressing the wrongs suffered by the Baha'is would ""bring hope to the hearts of all Iranians that you are ready to ensure justice for everyone.""
""Our call, then, is in reality a call for respect of the rights of all the Iranian people,"" the Baha'i International Community says.
""How can a just society, or a just world, be built on a foundation of irrational oppression and the systematic denial of basic human rights to any minority? Everything your country overtly professes to seek on the world stage is contradicted by your treatment of your own people at home.""
Read the full letter in English
Read the full letter in Persian
""Reprehensible measures""
The letter catalogs in detail the ""many reprehensible measures"" resorted to by officials during the detention, trial, sentencing and appeal, of the seven Baha'i leaders, who formerly served as the members of a national-level group that – with the Iranian government's knowledge – helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of the Baha'is of Iran.
The seven were accused of propaganda activities against the Islamic order and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges were categorically denied.
The letter charts how the prosecutors at the trial of the seven were “ultimately unable to present any credible evidence in support of their claims.” The trial, it observes, ""was so devoid of the impartiality that must characterize judicial proceedings as to render the process a complete mockery.""  ""How was it,"" the letter asks in this respect, ""that the verdict issued by the judges could refer to the religion of the defendants as a ‘misguided sect’?”
""...[W] at is now starkly visible to all is the willingness of the authorities to trample the very standards of justice they are mandated to uphold on behalf of the peoples of Iran,"" the open letter states.
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations says that there was never any foundation to the charges that the seven had acted against the interest of Iran.
""To add to this manifest injustice, the judiciary has not yet formalized the appeal verdict,"" says Ms. Dugal, ""thus depriving the prisoners of the right to seek bail or to be granted leave from prison.""
""In defiance of all reason, the prisoners are now in the third year of what is still termed a ‘temporary’ detention,"" she says.
Appalling conditions
After receiving their sentence, the seven Baha'i leaders – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – were moved from Evin Prison to Gohardasht prison in Karaj.
""They are now effectively placed in exile in contravention of Iran's statutes governing the transfer of prison inmates,"" says Bani Dugal. ""Amongst other indignities, they are forced to endure appalling filth, pestilence, exposure to disease, and quarters so crammed that it is difficult for them to lie down or even to perform their daily prayers.""
""It is clear from recent reports that their health has deteriorated and they have no access to adequate medical treatments,"" she says.
Reports of the trial and sentencing of the seven provoked a chorus of condemnation from governments around the world. The European Union and the President of the European Parliament also joined the protest, along with prominent religious leaders, numerous human rights organizations, and countless other groups and individuals.
""We join with governments and well-meaning people throughout the world, as we call upon Iran's Head of the Judiciary to immediately set these seven innocent Baha'is – and, along with them, all of the Baha'is incarcerated across the country – free,"" says Ms. Dugal.",NEW YORK,,United States
802,2010-12-14,"[801, 798, 799]",Two Shiraz Baha'is released after three years in prison,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Two of the three Iranian Baha'is, imprisoned for their participation in an education program for underprivileged children, have been freed after serving more than three years of their four-year jail terms.
It is reported that Haleh Rouhi and Sasan Taqva were released from the temporary detention center where they had been held for the duration of their incarceration, on Wednesday 8 December. Their co-worker Raha Sabet remains in prison.
Ms. Rouhi, Ms. Sabet and Mr. Taqva were involved in projects in and around the city of Shiraz which focused on teaching literacy, social skills and moral values to children. They were arrested in May 2006, with some 51 other Baha'is and 10 Muslim friends. The Baha'is alone were convicted of ""indirect teaching of the Baha'i Faith.""
It is believed the release of Ms. Rouhi and Mr. Taqva was part of an amnesty for 649 prisoners, granted by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the end of November on the occasion of Eid al-Ghadir, a Shiite Muslim festival.  Haleh Rouhi – pictured here before her arrest – was born in Shiraz in 1977. Although denied access to private university for being a Baha'i, she was able to obtain a law degree from the Baha'i Institute of Higher Education. For a time, she was employed at the Iran Radiator Company and served as a member of the Baha'i Youth Committee of Shiraz. Before her arrest, government agents often carried out surveillance on her home because of her Baha'i activities.""While we welcome the news of this release, it does not take away from the fact that there has been a gross miscarriage of justice,"" says Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""Their release is by no means the end of the story,"" she says. ""When will Raha Sabet be freed? When will the appalling injustice being suffered by the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders end? What about the 50 or more other Baha'is currently in prison purely because of their religious beliefs?""
Jailed for helping children
The educational program in Shiraz was carried out by the three Baha'is and their friends with the full knowledge and permission of the city council. Yet the three were sentenced to three years imprisonment for ""organizing illegal groups"" and a further year ""for teaching for the benefit of groups that are against the Islamic regime."" The other Baha'is were given one year sentences, suspended pending their attendance at mandatory Islamic classes.
On 19 November 2007, the three were locked into holding cells and continued to be held in the same temporary circumstances for a full three years.
""Their detention in such conditions has been in violation of international standards and legal norms, as well as Iran's own laws,"" says Diane Ala'i.
""Even a report later made at the request of the representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in the province of Fars confirmed that there was no mention of religion in the educational activities organized by these three innocent people,"" she says.
""It is well known that when the report became public, another version was issued which distorted the original findings,"" adds Ms. Ala'i. See https://news.bahai.org/story/661.
A renewed call to release the three was included in the open letter, dated 7 December 2010, addressed by the Baha'i International Community to the head of Iran's Judiciary.
""Whether or not there are Baha'is in prison, our calls for an end to the persecution of the Baha'is of Iran will not cease until all of them are granted their full rights of citizenship,"" says Ms. Ala'i. ""Only in that way can they fulfill their desire to contribute, alongside their fellow citizens, to the advancement of their nation.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
803,2010-12-21,"[801, 798, 789]",Iran's human rights record condemned by United Nations,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — In a vote today, the United Nations once again strongly condemned Iran for failing to live up to international human rights standards.
By a vote of 78 to 45, with 59 abstentions, the UN General Assembly confirmed a resolution that expressed “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations.” In more than two decades of such resolutions about Iran, the vote passed with one of the highest percentages ever.
The resolution specifically expressed concern over Iran’s “intensified crackdown on human rights defenders and reports of excessive use of force, arbitrary detentions, unfair trials and allegations of torture,” as well as its “pervasive gender inequality and violence against women,” and its discrimination against minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
“The world community has clearly spoken. It is outraged at Iran’s continued and intensifying violations of human rights,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
Welcoming the result, Ms. Dugal noted that the resolution documents a wide range of violations – from torture to the oppression of women to the persecution of minorities. ""All of this has been going on for too long, and it is high time that Iran pays heed to the call of the international community and complies with the standards of international law,” she said.
The resolution devoted an entire paragraph to Iran’s treatment of members of the Baha'i Faith, cataloging an extensive list of recent anti-Baha'i activities. These included: “increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha’is, preventing members of the Baha’i faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically, the confiscation and destruction of their property, and the vandalizing of their cemeteries…”
It also expressed concern over the recent trial and sentencing of seven Baha'i leaders, saying they were “repeatedly denied the due process of law.”
Worldwide condemnation
The UN vote has coincided with a renewed protest – from numerous governments, organizations and prominent individuals – at the persecution of Iran’s Baha’is.
In a statement dated 17 December, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Lawrence Cannon, reiterated his country’s deep concern at the “ongoing failure of the Iranian authorities to meet their domestic and international legal obligations.”
“The Government of Canada stands firmly with the people of Iran against human rights abuses and discrimination, as well as ill treatment of women and minorities,” said Mr. Cannon.
A number of India’s prominent citizens have also recently called upon Iran to respect its minorities. Among them, former Deputy Prime Minister, L. K. Advani, appealed for justice for the seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders. “The attitude of a country and a nation towards minority religion is the touchstone of how civilized a country it is,” he said, on 17 December.
In a debate on freedom of religion in Germany's Parliament, also held on 17 December, members of Parliament spoke out on the situation of Baha'is in Iran. Christoph Strässer MP –  human rights policy spokesman for the Social Democrats – noted that the Baha'i community, ""ever since it was founded, has been dedicated to peace and tolerance...""
Street campaigns about the human rights situation in Iran have been held in the German cities of Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Mainz and Taunusstein.
""We have gathered here to protest the alarming situation of Baha'is, of human rights in general and the climate of fear that exists for Baha'is, for women, for youth, for bloggers, for journalists,"" said Omid Nouripour, MP for Frankfurt, speaking at the event in the city, ""and we raise our voices to show the world that the people of Iran need our help.""
Christian Solidarity Worldwide has also called for the release of the Baha’i prisoners. “Clearly the seven Baha'i leaders are being held solely on account of their faith,” said CSW’s Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston on 10 December, “and this contravenes Iran’s international legal obligations.”
In Australia’s parliament last month, members specifically referred to Iran’s discrimination against, and failure to protect the rights of, minorities – including the Baha’i, Sufi, Baluch, and Kurdish communities - as well as the trial and sentencing of the seven Baha'i leaders.
Reports of the 10-year jail terms previously provoked a chorus of condemnation from governments around the world – including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union and the President of the European Parliament also joined the protest, along with numerous human rights organizations, other groups and countless individuals.
In its annual International Religious Freedom Report, published in November, the United States Department of State  reported  that the Iranian government’s respect for religious freedom has continued to deteriorate, creating a “threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shi'a religious groups, most notably for Baha'is.”
“The U.S. government has publicly condemned the treatment of the Baha'is in UN resolutions,” said the report.
The most recent United Nations resolution was put forward by 42 co-sponsors and approved in a preliminary form in November by a committee of the General Assembly, also by an overwhelming vote against Iran.
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
804,2011-01-04,"[803, 800, 797]",Future plans discussed at global gathering,"HAIFA, Israel — Senior officers of the Baha'i Faith from around the globe have gathered at the Baha'i World Centre to discuss the future development of the worldwide community and its activities.
The conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors commenced on 28 December. Plenary sessions – which ran until 1 January – are now being followed by further consultations among geographic groups.
79 of the world's 81 Counsellors, from some 58 countries, are in attendance. They were appointed to a five-year term of office by the Universal House of Justice on 26 November 2010. 33 of them are serving as Counsellors for the first time.
The main focus of the Counsellors' deliberations was outlined in a document from the Universal House of Justice, presented at the gathering. The message provided detailed analysis of community-building activities in recent years and clear direction for their future evolution.
Among the developments highlighted was a rise in the capacity of some 350,000 individuals worldwide, as a result of their participation in a training program, ""to shape a pattern of life distinguished for its devotional character.""
Other features of the global process of learning currently under way in the Baha'i world community include regularly held spiritual education classes for the ""youngest members of society, close-knit groups for junior youth, and circles of study for youth and adults...""  No fewer than half a million people at any given time are now taking part in such activities, the message noted.
This educational process – described by the Universal House of Justice as a ""potent instrument for spiritually empowering the masses of humanity to take charge of their own destiny"" – contributes to the establishment of a distinctive pattern of community life which, in turn, offers a framework for the spiritual, social and material advancement of society.
The further strengthening of this process was among the major points of discussion at the gathering. During both consultative sessions and informal conversations, the Counsellors shared their experience and insights and explored ways to progress activities further.
In its message, the Universal House of Justice also spoke of the rectitude of conduct, spirituality, and freedom from prejudice that must characterize the life of individuals and their service to society.
Such qualities, which must be constantly cultivated – accompanied by a profound spirit of love and unity among participants – are integral pre-requisites for the success of all Baha'i initiatives.
""The fact remains that prejudices of all kinds – of race, of class, of ethnicity, of gender, of religious belief – continue to hold a strong grip on humanity,"" the Universal House of Justice stated.
The approaches and methods of the Baha'i community seek ""to build capacity in every human group, with no regard for class or religious background, with no concern for ethnicity or race, irrespective of gender or social status, to arise and contribute to the advancement of civilization.""
Another topic of discussion at the conference was the relationship between individuals, institutions and community. ""Throughout human history, interactions among these three have been fraught with difficulties at every turn,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice, ""with the individual clamouring for freedom, the institution demanding submission, and the community claiming precedence.""
""A new conception of each, appropriate for a humanity that has come of age, is emerging,"" the message said, prompting consultation on how cooperation and reciprocity can increasingly characterize the relationships that bind these three elements of society.
In a further letter addressed to the Baha'is of the World, dated 1 January on the occasion of the closing of the conference, the Universal House of Justice described the Counsellors' deliberations as ""insightful and clear visioned, well grounded and confident...""
Following almost ten days of intensive study, reflection and consultation, the Counsellors will return to their countries with a clear mandate to communicate the insights and inspiration they have received to national and local Baha'i communities.",HAIFA,,Israel
805,2011-01-16,"[803, 801, 796]",Arsonists threaten reprisals if Baha'is befriend Muslims,"GENEVA, Switzerland — A recent wave of arson attacks on Baha'i-owned businesses in Rafsanjan, Iran, appears to be part of a campaign to fracture relationships between Baha'is and Muslims in the city.
After around a dozen attacks on shops - carried out since 25 October 2010 - some 20 Baha'i homes and businesses have been sent a warning letter addressed to ""members of the misguided Bahaist sect.""
The anonymous document demands that Baha'is sign an undertaking to ""refrain from forming contacts or friendships with Muslims"" and from ""using or hiring Muslim trainees."" The Baha'is are also told not to teach their Faith, including on the Internet.
Should the conditions be accepted by the recipients, the letter states, ""we will guarantee not to wage any attack on your life and properties.""
""For more than two months now, innocent Baha'is have been having their businesses fire-bombed,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva. ""Some of them have suffered more than one arson attack on their properties.""  Wreckage in a Baha'i-owned stationery shop, after an attack by unknown arsonists on 22 November, 2010.""Now, in addition to their livelihoods, their very lives are being threatened unless they promise to isolate themselves from their friends and neighbours,"" she said.
""What are the perpetrators of such attacks and threats hoping to achieve?"" asked Ms. Ala'i. ""All it demonstrates for the whole world to see is the religiously motivated hatred being fomented by certain elements in Iranian society.""
Ms. Ala'i noted that Baha'is have approached local authorities asking for an investigation. ""But nothing has been done,"" she said.
""Unbelievably, they've even been accused by some of starting the fires themselves, under instruction from foreign governments.""
The attackers have particularly targeted household furniture repair businesses, home appliance and optical stores owned by Baha'is.
On 15 November, for example, fires were started in two appliance sales and repair shops, causing damage that exceeded tens of thousands of US dollars. One of the shopkeepers subsequently rented a neighboring property to continue his trade and installed a security door. One month later, despite the precautions, attackers managed to force an explosive substance into the shop through a hole they made in the roof, resulting in a blast that blew the door five meters into the air and shattered windows.
Most recently, on 2 January, another repair shop was set ablaze when a hose pumped a flammable liquid past metal sheets the owner had installed for protection.
A newsletter published by a Muslim cultural foundation in Rafsanjan stated that the attacks have been provoked by the fact that some trades have been ""monopolized"" by Baha'is in the city. A Muslim-owned coffee shop was also set ablaze after the newsletter mistakenly identified it as Baha'i-owned.
""Economic pressure on Iran's Baha'i community is already acute, with both jobs and business licenses being denied to Baha'is,"" said Diane Ala'i.
""These attacks and threats are yet another, particularly vicious form of persecution against ordinary citizens who are simply trying to earn their living and practice their faith.""
On 21 December, the United Nations confirmed a resolution that expressed ""deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations"" in Iran. The resolution specifically condemned Iran's discrimination against minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
806,2011-01-18,"[800, 611, 721]","Fifty years on, Uganda's Baha'i temple stands as a symbol of unity and progress","KAMPALA, Uganda — At a ceremony to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Baha'i House of Worship here, Uganda's Chief Justice has praised the temple's continuing contribution to the unity of religion and social transformation.
""It is a reminder of what is to be put in place for a better future,"" the Honorable Mr. Benjamin J. Odoki told some 1000 visitors who gathered in Kampala last Saturday for festivities to mark the temple's golden jubilee.
""Celebrations such as this are a gracious reminder to us to count our blessings, to put God at the center of our lives, and to look at civilization as basically spiritual in nature,"" said Chief Justice Odoki, who was guest of honor at the event.
The first Baha'i House of Worship on the continent – known as the ""Mother Temple of Africa"" – was built between 1957 and 1960 on Kikaya Hill, three miles north of Kampala.
Chief Justice Odoki, who recalled that he was a student in the city when the temple opened, said that the House of Worship has had a ""discernible impact on the lives of those who have been associated with it and those who have visited it.""
""It has attracted, and brought in through its doors, the diversity of the kindred of the earth who have found spirituality inside it,"" he said.
A spiritual and social purpose
On 15 January, participants from some 18 countries – including a dozen African nations – gathered for a program of prayers and choral singing inside the House of Worship to mark the anniversary. Outside, visitors were given a taste of the various community building activities that the Baha'i community today offers.  Around 1000 people from 18 countries attended the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the inauguration of the Baha'i House of Worship in Kampala, Uganda. On the evening of 15 January, the outer paths encircling the temple were lined with candles and visitors entered for an impromptu prayer gathering, during which spontaneous group singing broke out.""It is the combination of social welfare and acts of service that will regenerate the world,"" remarked Chief Justice Odoki, acknowledging the foundation of Baha'i schools ""based on moral principles where children of different races and backgrounds have cultivated lasting relationships based on the principle of oneness of humanity.""
The concept of the Baha'i House of Worship, as envisaged by Baha'u'llah, not only incorporates a central meeting place for prayer and meditation but, in time, a range of facilities to serve the social and educational needs of the surrounding population.
""Areas of education are very important,"" said the Chief Justice. ""They are the foundation for development. This is a very important social obligation of the religious groups, to be able to uplift the people because of the abject poverty the communities face, including ignorance and disease.""
The House of Worship provides a range of educational programs in its grounds including study circles for adults and youth, as well as several children's classes every Sunday.
""These are for everyone,"" remarked Aqsan Woldu, who lives close to the temple and often serves there. ""One of the things the children learn in these classes is the presence of God. We have stories about the Messengers of God and what the attributes of God are and what we should develop.  And beyond that we have songs, because music is food for the soul and everyone should sing and learn.""
""In the future, I think the House of Worship will be the central point, the pivot,"" said Mr. Woldu, ""and the surroundings will be these schools, a hospital, and so on. People will come up and say prayers at the House of Worship and then go back to their duties.  This is a beautiful thing.""
Religious unity
Robert Byenkya – another Ugandan attending the golden jubilee – noted how people of all ages benefit from the temple's programs. ""They are welcome to enter and worship at their convenient time,"" he said. ""Children, junior youth, the aged, people who are mature, they can come to be together.""
When people of different faiths - Christians, Muslims and Baha'is among them - pray together at the House of Worship, there is a special atmosphere, added Mr. Woldu. ""The temple plays a big role in that people who had some kind of prejudice towards other religions, when they come here, they see that we're all saying prayers from different Holy Scriptures. Once you are inside the House of Worship we are one in the name of God. And that just brings us together.""
For the last fifty years, the temple's expansive gardens have also proven to be a popular place for visitors to rest and contemplate. ""When its school time, you find a lot of students on the hill, reading,"" said Brenda Amonyin, who lives in Kampala. ""Some people come and pray. They say their private prayers in the temple during the week days when the temple is open. Others come on Sundays.""
Chief Justice Odoki particularly thanked the Baha'i community for maintaining the gardens. ""They represent the spiritual purity to unite the world,"" he said.
""New heights of service""
In further comments, the Chief Justice expressed that he found it remarkable that the ""Mother Temple of Africa"" was built in Uganda.
""I am informed that the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith referred to Uganda as the spiritual heart of Africa,"" said Chief Justice Odoki. ""This is very striking given that the heart is the vital organ that pumps blood to all other parts of the body.""
""We should try to comprehend the significance of the institution of the temple and why it is a bounty to the African community in general,"" he said. ""We should think about the world that is in turmoil and the role justice has to play in putting the affairs of the world in order and the importance of the role of the Baha'is in community building.""
""It is my sincere expectation that you continue to exercise a positive influence on all those who come under this shadow,"" he told the gathering, ""and guide humankind to new heights of service to the cause of unity and peace.""",KAMPALA,,Uganda
807,2011-02-15,"[805, 803, 801]",Grave concern for safety of Iran's imprisoned Baha'i leaders,"NEW YORK, United States — Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders have been transferred to more brutal sections of their prison complex.
In the case of the two Baha'i women, the circumstances of the move have raised concerns that it may have been orchestrated as a means of creating an insecure environment that threatens their lives.
The Baha'i International Community has learned that one of them – Fariba Kamalabadi – has already been physically threatened by inmates since being sent to the notorious Section 200 of Gohardasht Prison.
""Apparently, the atmosphere is highly charged in this section, and there is a great deal of tension and animosity among the inmates,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
Mrs. Kamalabadi was transferred to Section 200 on Saturday 12 February, along with Mahvash Sabet.
""It is difficult to be certain about the reason for the move,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""However we believe that, since their arrival at Gohardasht, the Baha'i women – despite their own extremely challenging situation – have nonetheless been a constant source of comfort and hope to other inmates. The prison authorities apparently became alarmed that the two women began to receive signs of respect from a growing number of prisoners.  As a justification for the increased harsh treatment, the authorities accused the two of teaching the Baha'i Faith.""
Throughout their entire imprisonment, added Ms. Dugal, the two women have conducted themselves in a spirit of service to others. In early 2009, for example, they shared a cell at Evin prison with Iranian-Japanese-American journalist Roxana Saberi, who later wrote that they had helped her through her ordeal.
Last week, a general announcement was made to all prisoners that they were not to have any contact with the two Baha'i women. Undeterred, however, fellow inmates continued to seek them out.
""After the women were transferred, a number of prisoners made their way downstairs to visit them in their new quarters, despite efforts by the guards to restrain them,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Mrs. Kamalabadi and Mrs. Sabet were told that – prior to the move – the inmates in Section 200 had been ""warned"" about them, she said.
Harsh and unsanitary conditions
The seven Baha'i leaders were sent to Gohardasht prison, about 50 kilometers west of Tehran, in August last year. Having previously been incarcerated in Tehran's Evin prison without charge for 20 months, they were accused of espionage and the establishment of an illegal administration among other allegations. All the charges were denied. After a brief trial, they were sentenced to 10 years in prison.
While Gohardasht is infamous for its harsh and unsanitary conditions, the Baha'i prisoners were at first kept segregated from some of the more violent elements at the complex. They also had relatively frequent access to outdoor exercise areas.
But over the past few weeks, all seven of them have been moved from the quarters they originally occupied into sections where conditions are much worse.
The five men were transferred three weeks ago to a wing set aside for political prisoners, known as Section 4, which is more crowded and reportedly under close surveillance. They are now suffering severe physical deprivations.
""Three of them are together in one cell, with the other two sharing another cell,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""There are two beds in each cell, so one of them has to sleep on the floor.""
""The inmates in this part of the prison are able to go outside for fresh air only at designated times, whereas previously they could do so whenever they wished,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Appeal to governments
""In our open letter of 7 December 2010 to the head of Iran's judiciary, we stressed that such an odious and degrading environment is unworthy of even the most dangerous criminals,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""We say to the Iranian government once again – does it believe the principles of Islamic compassion and justice to be consistent with the imposition of such conditions on innocent citizens?""
""We continue to call upon governments and people of good-will throughout the world to take whatever action they can to impress upon the Iranian government that its actions are being watched, and that it will be held responsible for the safety of these and the more than 50 other Baha'is who are imprisoned throughout Iran,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Before their arrest in 2008, the seven – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – were members of a national-level group that helped see to the minimum needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community.
Reports of the trial and sentencing of the Baha'i leaders provoked a worldwide chorus of condemnation from governments - including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.A. The European Union, and the President of the European Parliament also joined the global protest, along with numerous human rights organizations, other groups and countless individuals.
On 21 December last year, the United Nations confirmed a resolution that expressed ""deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations"" in Iran. The resolution specifically condemned Iran's discrimination against minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
Special Report – ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",NEW YORK,,United States
808,2011-02-17,"[779, 785, 772]",Capacity building crucial to eradicating poverty,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Initiatives to address poverty should give attention to strengthening the moral, ethical and spiritual capacities of individuals and communities.
That was among the messages delivered by the Baha'i International Community and other non-governmental organizations at this year's United Nations Commission on Social Development.
""Efforts to eradicate poverty must be guided by a vision of human prosperity in the fullest sense of the term – a dynamic coherence between the material and spiritual dimensions of human life,"" said May Akale, a representative of the Baha'i International Community, in an oral statement to the Commission on Monday 14 February.
""Poverty, as has often been stated, is not merely the lack of material resources, but also the absence of those ethical and social resources that create an environment in which individuals, through social institutions and communities, can develop to their fullest capacity,"" said Ms. Akale.
Such efforts at capacity building should stress helping individuals ""cultivate the capacities to become protagonists of their development.""
This is especially so where it concerns the next generation, she said. ""Of particular concern in seeking to develop these capacities are the many influences at work on the hearts and minds of children and youth.""
""It is important to appreciate the extent to which young minds are affected by the choices of their families and communities. No matter how unintentional, choices which condone deficient ethical norms, such as the admiration for power, the seeking of status, the glorification of violence and pre-occupation with self-gratification, exercise a profound influence on young minds.""
Read the full oral statement delivered at the UN Commission on Social Development (PDF).
""Building Vibrant Communities""
As a side event to the Commission, the Baha'i International Community sponsored a gathering at its offices, titled ""Building Vibrant Communities:  Strengthening Capacities for Justice, Equity and Collective Action.""
Held on 10 February, the event took the form of a participatory ""World Cafe."" Some 30 representatives from non-governmental organizations took part in an informal discussion, co-sponsored by the International Movement ATD Fourth World and the Huairou Commission, which helps economically disadvantaged women organize for change.
Conversations centered on identifying the elements needed to create communities that are economically and socially healthy.
""Extreme poverty is a violation of human rights,"" said Cristina Diez, who represents ATD Fourth World to the United Nations, adding that the most excluded and stigmatized members of society ""challenge us to think of the world in a different way.""
Justice, equity and collective action must be exercised to ensure that all members of a community can have input into decisions that affect the entire group, she said.
Shannon Hayes of the Huairou Commission spoke about working with the consequences of AIDS in communities. Transparency, tolerance, inclusiveness, empowerment and democratic processes are some of the characteristics that need to be brought to the task of community building, she said.
Erin Murphy-Graham, an assistant professor of international education at New York University and a Baha'i, sought to answer the question, ""What is a community?"" Honesty, civic engagement and a concern for others are all necessary features, she said.
Following the speakers' presentations, participants met in smaller groups to discuss the features of a healthy society. Many concluded that the values of justice, equity and unity would need to be included in conversations about building spiritually and materially prosperous communities.
Education and empowerment, particularly of women and youth – they decided – would help to develop the skills and confidence needed for community members to recognize and demand their rights.
The United Nations Commission on Social Development meets annually to consider issues relating to poverty, social integration, and employment. This year's session commenced on 9 February and concludes this Friday, 18 February.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
809,2011-03-07,"[808, 770, 758]",Rethinking education for girls and women explored at UN,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — The education of women and girls, which is critical to the advancement of society, should include elements that acknowledge the importance of spiritual and moral development.
That was among the main points of a statement and program of events offered by the Baha'i International Community (BIC) at the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Participants from Belize, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam, made up the BIC delegation to the Commission, held from 22 February until 4 March.
The theme of this year's event was ""access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women's equal access to full employment and decent work."" Government delegates and non-governmental organizations from around the world reflected the theme in speeches, panel discussions and workshops.
""Education and Training for the Betterment of Society""
In its statement to the Commission, the Baha'i International Community observed how, in the realm of education, ""spiritual and moral development has often been divorced from intellectual and vocational training.""
""Imparting the ability to reflect on and apply spiritual, moral, and ethical principles will therefore be indispensable to the task of building a prospering world civilization,"" it said.
This also requires a re-thinking of educational processes.
""Every educational program rests on fundamental assumptions about human nature,"" said the statement. ""A child – far from an empty vessel waiting to be filled – must be seen as 'a mine rich in gems of inestimable value,' their treasures being revealed and developed for the benefit of mankind only through the agency of education.""
Read the full statement here (PDF).  Senior Policy Adviser on Education for UNICEF, Dr. Changu Mannathoko, participating in a panel discussion at the Baha'i International Community's New York offices on 23 February, as part of the annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.Curriculum reform
A panel discussion, titled ""Rethinking Education for Girls and Women:  Beyond the Basic Curricula,"" was held at the BIC's New York offices on Wednesday 23 February.
Among the panellists, Dr. Changu Mannathoko – Senior Policy Advisor on Education for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) –  said that in many countries, the current curriculum for girls is too often focused on the expectation that they will do particular jobs.
""The present curriculum is not transformative enough for it to change the lives of girls and women,"" said Dr. Mannathoko.
What needs to happen instead, she said, is to ensure that opportunities for boys are also available to girls. ""It can't be designed just for boys, it must be for both,"" she said.
Dr. Mannathoko also spoke about the problem of HIV/AIDS in southern Africa and the need to look at gender behavior in terms of preventing rape and violence against women.
Boys speak out
The Baha'i International Community also hosted a series of events sponsored by a coalition of non-governmental organizations, including the National Alliance of Women's Organizations (NAWO) from the United Kingdom.
An unusual aspect of the program was the participation – sponsored by Widows Rights International – of six young men and boys, who contributed their own fresh insights into what can be done to support equality.
At a workshop titled ""Boys Speak Out,"" Charlie Clayton, 17, from the UK, reported on a school project in Sweden where gender equality was stressed from a young age. When both sexes were expected to work together equally, he said, the ""boys were calmer and the girls were more confident.""
Mibaku Mollel, 23, from Tanzania shared his experiences of engaging other young African men in assisting more than 130 widows in villages to apply for microloans to start businesses.
""If more men and boys helped women, more women would have education. They would become teachers and the community would grow,"" said Mr. Mollel.
Creation of UN Women
One of the most discussed topics at this year's Commission was the creation of a new agency, UN Women.
Established by the United Nations General Assembly in July last year, UN Women consolidates the work on women's issues that was previously handled by four separate agencies.
UN Women's leader, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, introduced herself to the Commission on 22 February, explaining the agency's aims.
""This is a vision of a world where women and men have equal rights and opportunities, and the principles of gender equality and women's empowerment are firmly integrated in the development, human rights, and peace and security agendas,"" said President Bachelet.
Over the past four years, a number of NGOs – including the Baha'i International Community – were deeply involved in supporting the creation of UN Women. Eventually, a coalition of more than 27 organizations in 50 countries joined the Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) campaign, an effort that many say was critical in the effort to get UN Women approved by the General Assembly.
""We are very pleased about the creation of this new agency,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""It is an important step, and it will hopefully give greater impetus and coherence to the work of the United Nations in its work for gender equality and the advancement of women.
""Our hope now is that governments will fully fund UN Women, so that it can deliver on its promises. We also want UN Women to engage with civil society in a substantive manner at all levels, global, regional and national,"" said Ms. Dugal.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
810,2011-03-09,"[807, 805, 803]",Human rights groups renew support for Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders,"NEW YORK, United States — The global support for Iran's seven jailed Baha'i leaders is continuing as one of the prisoners begins her fourth year in detention.
Mahvash Sabet – a schoolteacher and mother of two – has been incarcerated since 5 March 2008. For the first 175 days of her imprisonment, she was detained in solitary confinement.
On 14 May 2008, six other prominent Iranian Baha'is were also arrested. After 20 months held without charge in Tehran's Evin prison, all seven were accused in court of espionage and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges were denied. They are now serving 10-year jail terms at the notorious Gohardasht prison.
The recent transfer of the prisoners to harsher conditions within the jail has prompted renewed concern from human rights organizations. Amnesty International USA is now asking its members to send greetings cards for the forthcoming Persian new year to the seven Baha'is and a number of other Iranian prisoners of conscience.
""Grave concern""
A joint statement from three major organizations last month called upon the international community to act with urgency for the release of the seven.
""Subsequent transfers and worsening conditions of detention lead us to believe that the well-being and lives of the detained Baha'i leaders are at risk and their ongoing arbitrary detention places them in a clear and present danger that requires urgent reaction,"" said the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Iranian League for Human Rights (LDDHI) and the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC).
In a news release issued by FIDH on 18 February, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi reminded the international community that ""none of the prisoners were granted a fair trial and their continuing arbitrary detention is of grave concern.""
""I call once again for their immediate release and a cessation of all harassment against the Baha'i community,"" said Mrs. Ebadi, who is also a senior member of the legal team that is defending the seven Baha'is.
Minority Rights Group International (MRGI) also issued a report saying that the ""scale of repression against minority groups in Iran is a central but under-reported factor in the renewed struggle for democracy"" and that the ""persecution of any Iranian minority is most pronounced in the case of the Baha'is.
""The informal leadership of the Iranian Baha'i community, who have been detained since 2008, were sentenced in 2010 to ten years of imprisonment on charges of conspiring against the Islamic Republic, and their lawyers...have also been subject to intimidation, imprisonment, and attacks,"" said the report.
On 23 February, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed deep concern at ""the persecution of Iranian citizens at the hand of their government...""
""Iran's leaders also continue to persecute ethnic and religious minorities,"" said Secretary Clinton.
""We are troubled by reports that, of the dozens of prisoners executed in 2011, most are ethnic minorities. At the same time, Baha'is and other religious minorities continue to be subjected to arbitrary arrests and prosecutions, harsh sentences, and unsafe prison conditions. We call on Iran to free all political prisoners and persecuted minorities...The world will continue to watch and will hold accountable those responsible for these actions,"" said Secretary Clinton.
The conviction and sentencing of the seven was also mentioned in the 2011 World Report issued in January by US-based human rights group Human Rights Watch. ""The [Iranian] government accused them of espionage without providing evidence and denied their lawyers' requests to conduct a prompt and fair trial,"" it said.
Greetings for the Persian new year
Amnesty International USA has called upon its members to send greetings cards for the forthcoming Persian new year to the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders.
The action notes that ""Nowruz,"" which means ""new day,"" is an ancient Persian holiday celebrating the first day of spring and the coming of the new year.
""On this Nowruz we want to remember several courageous prisoners of conscience in Iran with Nowruz greetings,"" said the organization.
Referring to the seven Baha'i leaders, Amnesty International  wrote, ""Although they have done nothing more than peacefully practice their religion, they were convicted on serious, but baseless, charges including 'espionage for Israel,' 'insulting religious sanctities' and 'propaganda against the system.'""
The group also suggests sending cards to seven other Iranian prisoners of conscience, depicting scenes ""in keeping with the spirit of the holiday and the message of hope and renewal.""
""The support of Amnesty International USA is greatly appreciated,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""The awareness generated by Amnesty and other groups – along with expressions of concern by governments and international organizations – remains the main source of protection and comfort for these innocent prisoners and others who are deprived of their rights in Iran,"" she said.
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",NEW YORK,,United States
811,2011-03-11,"[810, 807, 805]",Sorrow as jailed Baha'i leader is unable to attend wife's funeral,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The Baha'i International Community has described as ""desperately cruel"" the fact that one of Iran's seven Baha'i leaders has been unable to attend the funeral of his own wife.
81 year old Mrs. Ashraf Khanjani – who was married to Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani for more than 50 years – died yesterday morning at the family home in Tehran. She had been unwell for many months.
Mr. Khanjani, 77, is serving a ten-year jail term at Iran's notorious Gohardasht prison, along with six other Baha'is who were all members of a national-level ad hoc group that attended to the needs of Iran's Baha'i community.
""This is a desperately cruel turn of events,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""For an innocent man to be denied the opportunity to be with his devoted wife as she passed away, and then to be unable to attend her funeral – this shows the depth of inhumanity to which the Iranian authorities have sunk,"" said Ms. Ala'i.  The funeral of Mrs. Ashraf Khanjani, held in Tehran on Friday 11 March 2011. Between 8,000 and 10,000 mourners from throughout Iran were reportedly in attendance.""Islamic compassion and justice are nowhere to be seen,"" she said.
It is understood that the funeral of Mrs. Khanjani, held early today in Tehran, attracted between 8,000 and 10,000 mourners from all walks of life. Ministry of Intelligence officers were also reportedly present, filming the proceedings.
Mrs. Khanjani had devoted her life to raising her four children as well as caring for others whose parents were unable to feed and clothe them.
""She was looking after up to 40 or 50 children at any one time, without any regard for their religious background,"" said Ms. Alai. ""This is the kind of person she was – kind and generous, and a beacon of hope dedicated to maintaining the unity of their family in the face of harsh religious persecution.""
Prior to the 1979 Iranian revolution, Mr. Khanjani was a successful factory owner. His brick-making factory – the first automated such facility in Iran – employed several hundred people before he was forced to shut it down and abandon it, because of the persecution he faced as a Baha'i. The factory was later confiscated by the government.
In the early 1980s, Mr. Khanjani served as a member of the soon to be disbanded National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Iran, a group that in 1984 saw four of its nine members executed.
Later, Mr. Khanjani was able to establish a mechanized farm. But the authorities made it difficult for him to operate. Their restrictions extended to his children and relatives and included refusing loans, closing their facilities, limiting business dealings, and banning travel outside Iran.
Mr. Khanjani was arrested and imprisoned at least three times before his latest incarceration in May 2008.
""Life over the past three years since this most recent arrest has been particularly hard on his wife and family,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""After Mr. Khanjani was transferred to Gohardasht last August, travelling some 100 kilometers there and back every fortnight for the women has been an extra burden to bear.""
To add to their ordeal, Mr. and Mrs. Khanjani's immediate family has been particularly targeted by the Iranian government, with a number of them experiencing arrest and imprisonment.
""At least today, at this very difficult time, Mr. Khanjani and his family can take comfort in the fact that the thoughts and prayers of governments, organizations and people of goodwill throughout the world are with them,"" said Ms. Ala'i.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
812,2011-03-15,"[811, 810, 807]",Baha'is who offered education to earthquake-hit Iranian region arrested,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Iranian authorities have arrested a number of Baha'is who provided education to children in a region devastated by an earthquake seven years ago.
The Baha'i International Community has so far been able to confirm the arrest of four Baha'is this month in connection with the provision of kindergarten-level education in Iran's Kerman Province, south-east of Tehran.  Two other Baha'is from the city of Kerman were also arrested on Sunday 13 March. Their involvement in education projects has not yet been confirmed.
""More than 26,000 people died and one in five teachers in the city of Bam reportedly lost their lives in the 2003 earthquake,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""These Baha'is were offering a vitally needed service to children whose education system had been all but completely destroyed.""
Last week, the Iran Student News Agency, reported that the prosecutor-general of the revolutionary court in Bam announced that a ""number of Baha'is"" had been arrested for ""promoting their programs under the guise of kindergartens in Bam, Kerman and Tehran."" Mohammad Reza Sanjari claimed that Baha'is ""took advantage"" of the need for cultural, social and educational measures following the earthquake.
""This latest round of arrests is yet another example of the widespread, and intensifying, religious persecution being carried out by Iran against its 300,000-strong Baha'i minority,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""This and other recent actions suggest that the authorities will stop at nothing to keep Baha'is away from Muslims, even when the Baha'is are providing a service to those in their society in desperate need.""
Three Baha'is from Isfahan – including two 18 year olds – were also arrested earlier this month while teaching children.  They were subsequently released.
Some 79 Baha'is are currently being held in prison in Iran.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
813,2011-03-24,"[803, 801, 789]",UN Human Rights Council appoints monitor for Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — For the first time since its creation five years ago, the UN Human Rights Council has appointed a special investigator to monitor Iran's compliance with international human rights standards.
The decision, by a vote of 22 to 7 with 14 abstentions, reflects the world's growing impatience with Iran over its increasing violations of human rights.
""This vote is quite historic,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""The decision today to create a new mandate to examine Iran's compliance with human rights standards marks a new stage in the Council's exercise of its responsibilities to uphold and protect the fundamental human rights of all peoples throughout the world.
""The world community has heard once too many times Iran's claims that it does not violate human rights - when, in fact, it has become among the worst offenders in the world today,"" said Ms. Ala'i, who noted that the resolution passed by a resounding margin, and had co-sponsors from every region of the world.
In its resolution today, the 47-member Council also called on Iran to allow the investigator, who is known as a Special Rapporteur, to visit the country. If Iran allows it, it would be the first such visit by a human rights investigator from the UN since 2005.
The resolution, which had 52 co-sponsors, including many members of the United Nations who are not currently on the Council, followed the release of a new report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about human rights in Iran.
That report, issued 14 March, expressed concern about a wide range of human rights violations in Iran.
""The Secretary-General has been deeply troubled by reports of increased executions, amputations, arbitrary arrest and detention, unfair trials, and possible torture and ill-treatment of human rights activists, lawyers, journalists and opposition activists,"" wrote Mr. Ban.
Mr. Ban's report also expressed concern about continuing reports of the persecution of minority groups in Iran. He specifically highlighted reports of persecution against Iranian Baha'is, and noted as well that members of the Arab, Armenian, Azeri, Baloch, Jewish, and Kurdish communities have also reportedly faced discrimination and persecution.
In the case of Baha'is, Mr. Ban noted that a number of Baha'is have been arrested recently, and that seven Baha'i leaders were sentenced to long prison terms after a trial last year that many felt was unjust.
""The High Commissioner for Human Rights raised their case several times in letters to and meetings with the Iranian authorities, expressing deep concern that these trials did not meet due process and fair trial requirements,"" said Mr. Ban, noting that the High commissioner had asked Iran to allow independent observers in to monitor the trial but the request was rejected.
Mr. Ban added that although the seven were charged with espionage and acting against national security, the High Commissioner expressed concern that the charges brought against them in fact appear to be a violation of their internationally recognized right to freedom of religion and belief, and freedom of expression and association.
Mr. Ban also noted that the UN also has been receiving reports of persecution directed against Christians.
And he said that members of the Kurdish community have continued to be executed on various national security-related charges including Mohareb.
Finally, Mr. Ban expressed concern over the fact that Iran has not allowed any UN human rights Special Rapporteurs to visit the country since 2005. He encouraged Iran to ""facilitate their requested visits to the country as a matter of priority in order that they might conduct more comprehensive assessments.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
814,2011-03-30,"[813, 812, 811]","Shock at ""duplicity"" as 20-year sentence for Iran's Baha'i leaders is reinstated","NEW YORK, United States — Just six months after Iran's appeal court reduced to 10 years the jail terms handed down to seven Baha'i leaders, the prisoners have been told that their original 20-year sentences have been reinstated.
The Baha'i International Community has reacted with shock and dismay at the news.
""We can confirm that the seven have been told by prison authorities that the ruling of the appeal court has been rescinded,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""But nothing has been seen in writing by the prisoners or their attorneys, so we cannot know precisely on what grounds the reduced jail terms have now been set aside.
""It seems, however, that there was a challenge by the Prosecutor General who can appeal any court judgment he believes contradicts Shariah law,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Only last month, the international community was told that the 10-year prison terms were confirmed when the Iranian Embassy in Brussels presented a document to a European Parliament briefing, in which it is clearly stated that the court initially issued 20 year sentences for ""espionage, acting against National Security and forming an illegal cult.""  However, the document then went on to say that the verdict was later reviewed and ""decreased to 10 years' imprisonment.""
Notwithstanding repeated requests, no one has ever received an official copy of the original verdict or the ruling on appeal, said Ms. Dugal.
""This has all the appearance of a ploy, calculated to enable the authorities to manipulate the outcome to suit their own ends. Any fair minded observer can see the duplicity, crass cynicism and vile motives of the Iranian authorities in their prosecution of this case.
""From the initial, illegal, 30-month detention of the seven – through the gross irregularities of their trial – to the judiciary's refusal to issue any official verdict to the defendants or their lawyers, the actions of the authorities have demonstrated at every turn that the decision to impose harsh sentences was predetermined,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""Loyal, law-abiding citizens""  Participants at the 16th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, 21 March 2011. For the first time in its five year history, the Council appointed a special investigator to monitor Iran's compliance with international human rights standards. The decision, by a vote of 22 to 7 with 14 abstentions, reflected the world's growing impatience with Iran over its increasing violations of human rights. UN Photo by Jean-Marc Ferre.The seven, who were all members of a national-level ad hoc group that attended to the needs of Iran's Baha'i community, were incarcerated in Gohardasht prison – about 50 kilometers west of Tehran – in August last year, following a brief trial after which they were each sentenced to 20 years in jail.
One month later, the appeal court revoked three charges that accused the seven of engaging in acts of espionage, collaboration with the State of Israel, and the provision of classified documents to foreign nationals with the intention of undermining state security.
""At the same time, the judiciary – determined to find the Baha'is guilty of something – said that their service to the Baha'i community was basically illegal and fixed their sentences at 10 years,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The refusal of the authorities to provide prison officials with the necessary documentation regarding the case has also precluded the prisoners from securing temporary leave on compassionate grounds or to obtain much needed medical attention and care, she added.
""The judiciary sanctimoniously claims to be serving the cause of justice while persistently trampling upon the rights of loyal, law-abiding citizens,"" she said.
International condemnation
The imprisonment of the Baha'i leaders has provoked a worldwide chorus of condemnation from governments - including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The European Union and the President of the European Parliament have also joined the protest, along with numerous human rights organizations and other groups, religious leaders, and countless individuals.
""It seems that the wide-ranging international pressure did impel the Iranian judiciary to reduce the original prison sentences,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""Now, however, they must have concluded that they can simply return to the original plan.
""But voices raised during this last month alone should tell them otherwise,"" she noted.
Last week, the UN Human Rights Council voted to appoint a special investigator to monitor Iran's compliance with international human rights standards.
The resolution followed the release of a report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, expressing concern about reports of the persecution of minorities in Iran, which specifically highlighted the case of its Baha'i community and the imprisonment of the seven Baha'i leaders.
In his message of 20 March 2011 for the traditional Persian New Year, U.S. President Barack Obama highlighted human rights abuses in Iran saying, ""The world has watched these unjust actions with alarm...We have seen...the Bahai community and Sufi Muslims punished for their faith...""
Members of all political parties in the Netherlands parliament's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs addressed a letter on 17 March to the Iranian Parliament, expressing ""deep concern about reports on violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief"" in Iran and calling for the immediate release of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders. Three days earlier, in India, more than 90 prominent citizens renewed their call in an open letter for the release of the seven.
""The persecution of Baha'is has been particularly pronounced,"" said an article in the Wall Street Journal on 15 March, penned by Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi who shared a cell in Evin Prison with the two women Baha'i leaders. ""After Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, many Baha'is were executed and several disappeared. Some have seen their cemeteries desecrated or had their homes burned to the ground.""
Bani Dugal reiterated the fact that the treatment of the seven is taking place against a backdrop of state-sanctioned incitement to hatred against Baha'is.
""Arson attacks on their places of business, attempts to force them out of their homes, along with a litany of other violations of their rights, have become all too familiar and continue to grow daily. Some 79 Bahais are today in prison in Iran.""
""The Iranian government must know that its actions towards the Baha'is – and all others who suffer oppression at its hands – have only served to sully its reputation further.
""We will not cease in our call to governments, organizations and fair-minded people everywhere, to take whatever steps they can to register the strongest possible protest against Iran's actions,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",NEW YORK,,United States
815,2011-04-06,"[814, 813, 812]",Governments condemn Iran's reversal on jail terms,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Governments and human rights organizations have been swift to condemn the reinstatement of 20-year jail sentences for Iran's seven Baha'i leaders.
The seven were informed last month by prison authorities that the 10-year sentences – imposed after an appeal court revoked three charges against them in September last year – have now reverted to the lower court's ruling of 20-year jail terms. Nothing has been seen in writing by the prisoners or their attorneys.
The development has provoked immediate and widespread response – both publicly and privately. Statements have been made by the European Union and European Parliament, as well as by governments, institutions and individuals, in Brazil, France, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.
All of these voices of support are combining throughout the planet to give this clear message to the Iranian authorities: Whether or not you intentionally took this action when global attention was focused on the drama unfolding in other parts of the Middle East, you cannot fail to appreciate that the world is closely watching your actions towards your own people, including the Baha'is in your country. You cannot hide this systematic abuse of innocent citizens.
Diplomatic support
In a statement dated 1 April, Baroness Catherine Ashton – the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – said she was ""disturbed"" by the latest news concerning the Baha'i leaders. ""I call on the Iranian authorities to clarify the legal situation of the seven individuals concerned,"" she said. ""They and their lawyers should be given the requisite access to all relevant documentation regarding their cases.""
Baroness Ashton called for the immediate release of the seven and an end to the persecution of religious minorities in Iran.
The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, also expressed his ""grave concern"" at developments. ""I appeal to the Iranian authorities to stop the unjustified detention of these religious leaders and provide more clarity and legal explanations in a transparent manner regarding their case,"" said Mr. Buzek, in a statement on 4 April.
""The freedom of religion or belief is one of the most fundamental human rights,"" he said.
The United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary, William Hague, stated that he was ""deeply disturbed"" to learn that the 20-year prison sentences have been reinstated.
""In August last year, I made clear that we believe the leaders are fully entitled to practice their faith,"" said Mr. Hague on 4 April. ""I stand by what I said then, and once again call on the Iranian judiciary to review the case and to cease persecution of the Baha'i Faith.""
""I am also concerned by the reports that the seven are facing physical threats from other inmates and guards in the prison they have been moved to,"" Mr. Hague added.
""This is yet another example of the Iranian authorities' disregard of the legitimate rights of the Iranian people. While restating that I do not believe there are adequate grounds to detain the leaders, I urge the Iranian authorities to ensure their safety while in custody, and provide them with full legal rights under Iranian law.""
Germany's Foreign Office Commissioner for Human Rights policy, Markus Löning, described the prison sentence as ""scandalous.""
""The fact that this decision is taken in secret shows once more that Iran is not prepared to be transparent and respect fundamental constitutional principles,"" said Mr. Löning, on 5 April.
In its statement, dated 1 April, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of France strongly condemned ""the violence, discrimination and harassment against the Baha'is in Iran which prohibit them from exercising their freedom of religion or belief...""
The United States described the sentencing as an ""unprecedented step"" and a violation of Iran's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."" A Department of State press briefing – in Washington D.C. on 31 March – was told that the United States was ""deeply troubled"" by reports of the reinstatement of the former prison sentence.
In Brazil, Federal Deputy Luiz Couto – former President of the Human Rights and Minorities Commission – addressed a plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies and called upon the National Congress, Brazilian society and other countries to express their support to the Baha'i community.
""The accusations that keep the Baha'i leaders imprisoned are completely false, invented with the intention to justify the unacceptable, purely religious persecution,"" said Deputy Couto on 4 April.
An open letter, already signed by some 90 prominent citizens from throughout India, has attracted more high-level signatories since news broke of the restoration of the 20-year sentence.
Senior members of the judiciary – including a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India – as well as prominent figures in education, have now joined the campaign.
""As citizens of India, a country that has rightfully prided itself in exemplifying for the world the spirit of coexistence and tolerance, we express our deep concern for the imprisoned Baha'is and their families"" the statement says.
""Deeply entrenched discrimination""
A number of human rights organizations have also reacted strongly to reports of the 20-year jail terms.
Amnesty International has described Iran's latest move as ""vindictive"" and ""outrageous.""
""Yet again, the Iranian authorities are manipulating their own justice system to persecute members of a religious minority,"" said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty's director for the Middle East and North Africa.
""Instead of doubling their sentences, the authorities should be setting the Baha'i leaders free, right now, and guaranteeing their freedom to practice their religion free from threat or persecution.
""Such arbitrary and vindictive acts are a salutary reminder of why the UN Human Rights Council voted recently to create a Special Rapporteur on Iran. The Council's decision came not a moment too soon,"" said Mr. Smart.
""This is the latest example of the deeply entrenched discrimination faced by the Baha'i minority in Iran,"" he observed, adding that it ""is also a reminder to the international community of how little regard the Iranian authorities pay to international human rights standards on freedom of belief, association, expression and the right to a fair trial.""
""The reinstatement of such a severe sentence on the Baha'is is a further blow to the group,"" said Stuart Windsor, National Director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, who added ""it is clear that both the Baha'is and certain Christian communities are being targeted solely on the grounds of their faith.
""The international community must press Iran to release all detainees who are held solely on account of their religion,"" said Mr. Windsor. ""The Iranian government must also ensure that the members of the Church of Iran...receive due process, and are acquitted of all charges that have no legal bearing under Iranian law.""
The seven Baha'i leaders – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahid Tizfahm – were all members of a national-level ad hoc group that attended to the needs of Iran's Baha'i community. They are incarcerated in Gohardasht prison - about 50 kilometers west of Tehran.
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
816,2011-04-12,"[797, 792, 642]",Beauty of restored Shrine set to dazzle visitors and pilgrims,"HAIFA, Israel — After more than two years of extensive restoration work, Haifa's golden-domed Baha'i Shrine has been unveiled, to the delight of visitors, pilgrims and residents of the city.
Early this morning, the final set of covers was removed from the Shrine's dome, revealing almost 12,000 new, gilded tiles, crowning the immaculately restored building on Mount Carmel.
""Today the 'Queen of Carmel', concealed from the gaze of the public for the larger part of the project, is unveiled and resplendent again..."" announced the Universal House of Justice, after visiting the Shrine to offer prayers of thanksgiving.
Haifa's Mayor, Advocate Yona Yahav, later joined civic dignitaries and guests at a celebratory reception, held in the city's historic German Templar colony with its spectacular view of the Shrine and its terraced gardens.
""I am the first Mayor of Haifa who was actually born here,"" said Mr. Yahav. ""In 1954, I witnessed the Shrine's superstructure being built. To see these renovations is very touching. They are of the utmost importance.""
The Shrine of the Bab and its gardens are renowned the world over for their beauty and tranquillity. In 2008, it was inscribed – along with the Shrine of Baha'u'llah near Acre – as a site of ""outstanding universal value"" on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Last year alone some 760,000 tourists and 7,500 Baha'i pilgrims and visitors were welcomed here.
""The Shrine affects the whole set up of Haifa,"" said Mayor Yahav. ""It is the core and symbol of this tolerant and multi-cultural city.""
Two years ahead of schedule  The Mayor of Haifa, Advocate Yona Yahav, addressed guests at a celebratory reception to mark the completion of the restoration of the Shrine of the Bab. ""This is really something unique,"" said Mr. Yahav. ""in this city, in Israel - in fact in the world."" Photo credit: Baha’i World Centre photo. All rights reserved.In a message sent to the worldwide Baha'i community, the Universal House of Justice recounted how the ""restoration of this majestic edifice was preceded by three years of preparations, entailing comprehensive studies to assess its condition, to analyse the impact of the environment upon it, and to determine approaches and materials for the renovation that would remain faithful to the original design as well as withstand the rigours of time.""
More than 50 years of exposure to Haifa's climate and environmental conditions had taken their toll on the superstructure's stonework and dome when work began in 2008.
Saeid Samadi, project architect and manager, says experts estimated such a restoration would normally take five to six years. ""We originally targeted April 2013 for its completion. It is a tribute to the total dedication and unity of everyone involved that the project has been completed in less than three years.
""The team truly appreciated the importance of the place and never forgot where they were working,"" says Mr. Samadi. ""We were all inspired by the Baha'i principle that everything should be created to the highest state of perfection.""
The project required the restoration and conservation of the interior and exterior of the original 1909 structure, as well as measures to strengthen the Shrine against seismic forces. An entirely new retrofit design – combining concrete, steel and carbon fibre wrap technology – was needed for the whole building, from its foundation and original masonry to its octagon, drum and dome. More than 120 rock anchors were fixed into the mountain behind newly fortified retaining walls.
""Some 80,000 man-hours were spent on significantly improving the Shrine's resistance to earthquakes"" says Mr. Samadi. ""but it is all concealed from view and does not affect the beauty and grandeur of the original architecture at all.""
Restoring the stone and dome
Progress on the Shrine restoration was significantly helped along by an earlier two-year project on the nearby International Baha'i Archives building, says Mr. Samadi.
""We studied the Shrine and researched materials and techniques while still working on the Archives. That experience generated a lot of momentum. We knew the experts; we perfected the skills and techniques. With the Shrine, we did not finish one job before starting another. We were working on the structure, carrying out the stone restoration, doing many things at the same time.""
More than 50,000 man-hours were spent on the stonework by the staff of the restoration office and volunteers - including many young people - from Australia, Canada, China, Ecuador, Germany, India, Kenya, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Vanuatu, all trained by expert conservators.  Every square centimetre of the building's exterior was checked and restored.
""For the original superstructure, Carrara marble was wanted but it was not easy to come by after the Second World War,"" says Mr. Samadi. ""The only stone available was Chiampo marble. When we were researching to see how it has been restored in Europe, we discovered that – because of its nature – it has not been used anywhere else for exterior cladding, just for flooring. There was no background knowledge on how to do it.""
New techniques also had to be developed to replace the Shrine's golden tiles. For two years, efforts were made to see if the badly eroded old tiles could be restored. ""We checked the condition of every single tile but, as a result of their exposure to the elements, many were broken beyond repair and the rest could not be restored back to their original beauty,"" says Mr. Samadi.
After several years of research, a Portuguese firm was contracted to produce new tiles in more than 120 different shapes and sizes. Leading-edge technology was employed to manufacture each tile from pure porcelain, covered with layers of glazing and gold solution, and finished with a highly durable final coating.
""The company had never done anything like this before,"" says Mr. Samadi. ""They are renowned for museum-quality porcelain artefacts. But the result is perfect. Not only are the tiles beautiful, they are five to six times more abrasion-resistant than the originals.""
An expert mason and tile setter from New Zealand – Bruce Hancock – was flown in to supervise the work to be carried out by the staff of the restoration office. ""We had to learn as we went,"" Mr. Hancock says. ""Ordinarily, you lay tiles but they are usually square. These tiles are all shapes and sizes. Every row is curved.
""Initially, I was concerned how we were going to create that curve, but these tiles were designed and detailed in such a way that they just did it themselves. They seemed to have a life of their own.  If we did the right thing – getting the two corners right – they did the right thing. It was just amazing.""
The dome of the Shrine of the Bab ""now shines in the plenitude of its splendour,"" observed the Universal House of Justice in its message.
""This is really something unique,"" Haifa's Mayor Yona Yahav told guests celebrating the completion of the restoration project, ""in this city, in Israel - in fact in the world.""",HAIFA,,Israel
817,2011-04-14,"[758, 808, 770]",Egyptian Baha'is seize opportunity to discuss their nation's future,"CAIRO, Egypt — In a contribution to the sweeping changes now under way in their society, Egyptian Baha'is are calling for a far-reaching consultative process about their country's future.
In an unprecedented open letter, the Baha'is of Egypt say the nation must look beyond expedient solutions and existing models in other societies, and seek instead ""a new, truly progressive approach."" Read the open letter here.
Making an ""enlightened choice"" could influence the course of human development in the entire region, and even impact the world, the letter says.
Such an approach would include engaging all concerned people – especially the young – in a national conversation, by which they would become protagonists of their own development. Emphasis is also placed on identifying and applying fundamental guiding principles, and avoiding the temptation of moving too quickly to deals and decisions about the distribution of power.
Since its release earlier this month, the letter has been distributed to prominent figures in Egyptian public life – including religious leaders, politicians, legal practitioners, human rights activists, writers and artists. It has also been circulated to the press and media, and is being widely disseminated via websites and ""blogs.""
Online publication of the letter is already generating positive responses.
One reader has described it as a ""very deep, humanitarian, civil, and progressive statement.""
""The letter I've just read is like a very good guidebook for many years to come,"" another commented.
""Let us take every single step in building up our new Egypt with lots of care, patience, consultation, trust..."" wrote yet another.
A process of consultation
In the letter, the Baha'is of Egypt suggest that the challenge before their country is to initiate a process of consultation about the principles that are to inform the reshaping of society.
Egyptians will avoid the risk of falling into the pattern of any existing models – which see no advantage in empowering people – to the extent that all can be enabled to participate in the consultative processes.
""The ongoing and wide-scale involvement of the population in such a consultative process will go a long way towards persuading the citizenry that policy-makers have the creation of a just society at heart. Given the opportunity to participate in such a process, we will be confirmed in our newly awakened consciousness that we have ownership of our own future and come to realize the collective power we already possess to transform ourselves,"" the letter says.
Essential principles
The letter also suggests that Egyptians carefully consider a series of principles, essential to inform the reshaping of their society.
""Too often, change brought about by popular protest eventually results in disappointment...That is why it is vital that we endeavor to achieve broad consensus on the operating principles that are to shape a new model for our society,"" write the Baha'is of Egypt.
""This is a painstaking task. To fashion from divergent conceptions a coherent set of principles with the creative power to unify our population will be no small accomplishment.""
Such principles include: the equality of men and women; universal education – offering the best means to safeguard the freedom that the people have won; and the fostering of a new spirit  that combines respect for scientific enquiry and the values of religion as the best path to material progress.
A ""mature society demonstrates one feature above all others: a recognition of the oneness of humanity,"" the letter states. ""How fortunate, then, that the most abiding memory of recent months is not of religious divisions or ethnic conflict, but of differences being put aside in favour of a common cause.""
A ""national conversation""
Beginning the ""national conversation"" called for by the letter, online readers have been sharing their comments on websites. Here is a sample of some of the remarks:
""Forging a new path along the lines outlined in this powerful letter...would not only benefit all the people of Egypt but also inspire all countries of the world. We pray that Allah will guide the decision makers to weigh carefully such principles proposed so thoughtfully by the Baha'is.""
""The choice we have is to embrace [these principles] and make the transition relatively painless, or resist them and make it infinitely more difficult.""
""I am very hopeful that the political leaders and leaders of thought in Egypt would take this mighty prescription into account. They do not have much choice, when it comes to social order, harmony, and respect of the rights of minorities...""
""This amazing statement...is both lofty and practical. Would that all Egyptians were required to read and discuss it at length before making any decisions about the future of their glorious country.""
Critical juncture
The open letter is the first opportunity that Egyptian Baha'is – who have faced repression for more than 50 years – have had to communicate directly with their countrymen.
""This chance is one for which we have longed,"" the Baha'is write, rejoicing that ""at such a critical juncture in our nation's history, we are able to make a humble contribution to the conversation which has now begun about its future and to share some perspectives, drawn from our experience and that of Baha'is throughout the world, as to the prerequisites for walking the path towards lasting material and spiritual prosperity.""
A presidential decree, issued in 1960 and subsequently enforced by subsequent governments, dissolved Baha'i administrative institutions and banned organized activities. Arrests, investigations, police surveillance, house searches and the destruction of Baha'i literature followed.  Moreover, as Baha'is could not legally marry, they had no recourse before the courts regarding family allowances, pensions, inheritance, divorce, alimony and child custody.
In recent years, Egyptian Baha'is suffered discrimination under national laws that required government documents to list an individual's religion – and which also limited that listing to one of three official religions. After a prolonged campaign in which numerous human rights campaigners and people of goodwill supported the Baha'i community, the courts ultimately ruled in their favour, a decision that was widely seen as an important victory for freedom of thought and conscience.
Despite these and other examples of oppression, Egyptian Baha'is maintained their positive outlook and – as a fundamental tenet of their faith – have continued to commit their energy to the betterment of their society.
""I hope that all the efforts combine together for a better Egypt for all of us and not for the interest of one group of people at the expense of others,"" an online reader of the open letter remarked.",CAIRO,,Egypt
818,2011-04-20,"[817, 816, 814]","'Abdu'l-Baha's legacy to Egypt recalled, 100 years on","COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — As the open letter from the Baha'is of Egypt, calling for a national conversation about the future of their country, begins to generate widespread interest, similar discussions among Egyptians 100 years ago have been vividly brought to life in a new book.
In Abbas Effendi – recently released by Al-Kamel publishers in Beirut – University of Maryland Professor Suheil Bushrui explores in particular the contribution made by 'Abdu'l-Baha Abbas Effendi, eldest son of Baha'u'llah. The book is available in a printed edition and also for download from the Baha'i Faith in Egypt blog.
It is the first time that 'Abdu'l-Baha's story has been told for a modern Arabic-speaking readership, largely unaware of His legacy to their society.
During His stay in Alexandria, between September 1910 and August 1911, 'Abdu'l-Baha conversed with Egyptians from all walks of life about the fundamental principles required for the building of a peaceful and prosperous society.
""I thought it was important to present 'Abdu'l-Baha, not necessarily as a religious leader,"" says Professor Bushrui, ""but more as a great mind who was able to convey an understanding of the importance of religion at a time when materialistic civilization was prevailing in Europe and America, and the Muslim world was overcome with political and other ambitions.""
""I have to say – even for me as a lifelong Baha'i – through the writing of this book I have come to be far more aware of the unique personality of 'Abdu'l-Baha and His immense achievement in promoting cultural and religious dialogue between the worlds of the East and the West,"" says Professor Bushrui.
The book has already garnered high praise from contemporary Arab thinkers, whose appreciation of 'Abdu'l-Baha echoes that of their counterparts a century ago.  The cover of Suheil Bushrui's book, titled ""Abbas Effendi"", depicting a historic view of Alexandria.Internationally-recognized Middle East expert Edmund Ghareeb has described the book as ""a pioneering and highly informative work.""
""Abbas Effendi is a superbly careful and informative piece of scholarship,"" wrote Dr. Ghareeb, ""which makes a major contribution to knowledge of the Middle East at a crucial period of its modern history, and adds considerably to our knowledge of this unique reformer...""
In a review, published in the Lebanese daily newspaper As-Safir, author Mahmud Shurayh remarked how 'Abdu'l-Baha ""found no embarrassment in teaching the messages of Christ and Muhammad in the Jewish synagogues, the message of Muhammad in Christian churches and the message of religion in atheist assemblies, because He saw in the union of east and west a portal to a new world where justice, unity and peace reign.""
The distinguished Lebanese poet Henri Zoghaib commented that 'Abdu'l-Baha was the first to initiate a serious dialogue among religions.
""With this book..."" wrote Mr. Zoghaib, ""I discovered the nature of the teachings that 'Abdu'l-Baha had disseminated concerning the oneness of east and west, and of His message calling for the oneness of religions.""
Prominent admirers
At the age of 66 - and free to travel after a lifetime spent as a prisoner and exile - 'Abdu'l-Baha arrived in Egypt for one month's rest, but stayed for an entire year because of concerns for His health. See news.bahai.org/story/792
Yet He believed He had a particular mission to accomplish in Egypt, notes Professor Bushrui.
""Firstly, to revive the truth and purity of religious faith – whether Muslim or Christian – and, secondly, to bring East and West together.""
Numerous prominent Egyptians, including the last Khedive of Egypt and Sudan – Abbas Hilmi Pasha – exhibited particular reverence towards the Head of the Baha'i Faith.
""The jurist and scholar Muhammad Abduh also admired 'Abdu'l-Baha greatly and wrote Him a letter,"" recounts Professor Bushrui. ""When you read it, you can see it's from someone who recognized that 'Abdu'l-Baha had a special divine light in his heart and mind.""
May Rihani – niece of Ameen Rihani, the founding father of Arab-American literature and another of 'Abdu'l-Baha's admirers – has acclaimed the book, Abbas Effendi, as a ""gift to humanity.""
""We need 'Abdu'l-Baha's voice more than ever before in these present turbulent times of religious fanaticism, misunderstandings among the cultures of the world, and an easy readiness for confrontation,"" says Ms. Rihani, who is the Senior Vice President and Director of the Global Learning Group at the Academy for Educational Development, based in Washington D.C.
A century later, echoes of 'Abdu'l-Baha's voice can be heard throughout the open letter from today's Egyptian Baha'is to their fellow citizens.
The letter states that acceptance of the principle of the oneness of humanity ""calls for a profound re-examination of each or our own attitudes, values and relationships with others – ultimately, for a transformation in the human heart.""",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
819,2011-04-26,"[800, 611, 218]",Dignitaries launch silver jubilee year for Lotus Temple,"NEW DELHI, India — Prominent political figures praised the impact made by the Baha'i House of Worship on Indian society, as the building's 25th anniversary year got underway in New Delhi.
More than 400 guests – including government officials, along with representatives of the diplomatic community and non-governmental organizations – gathered at the House of Worship for the festive inauguration of its silver jubilee year.
""When I am in this beautiful Baha'i temple environment,"" the former President of India Dr. A.P.J. Kalam told the gathering, ""I see everywhere around me harmony in thinking, harmony in action and harmony in every way of life.""
Describing the House of Worship as ""a temple of peace, a temple of happiness and a temple of spirituality,"" Dr. Kalam extended his best wishes to the Baha'i community in its efforts to eradicate prejudice, disharmony and conflicts in society.
""One of the greatest missions of this temple of harmony is to transmit the message to give and give to the entire humanity,"" he said.
India's current President, Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil sent her ""warm greetings and felicitations,"" in a special message to the celebration, held on 20 March.  A traditional Indian-themed dance performance, titled ""Rainbow"", led by renowned dancer and choreographer Swagatha Pillai, was also part of the program to mark the inauguration of the 25th anniversary year of the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi.A traditional Indian-themed dance performance, titled Rainbow, led by renowned dancer and choreographer Swagatha Pillai, was also part of the evening's programme.
After the speeches and performances at the Temple's Information Center, guests attended a special service in the House of Worship, which included prayers from the children's choir of the Little Angels School of Gwalior.
An ""iconic structure""
The Baha'i House of Worship, popularly referred to as the ""Lotus Temple"", is one of the most visited monuments in the world.  Completed in 1986, it has received an average of 4.3 million visitors every year – from all nations, religions and walks of life.
Kumari Selja, Indian Minister of Culture, described the House of Worship as ""certainly one of the many facets that make India incredible.""
""The Temple itself stands as an iconic structure reflecting the true essence and cultural ethos of our great nation which has welcomed people of all Faiths to its shores and sheltered them,"" Ms. Selja wrote in a message for the occasion.
""Like the lotus which blossoms pure above muddied waters, we too can rise above differences of caste, creed, class, community, nationality and gender and put forth our best efforts towards making the world a beautiful place,"" she wrote.
Communal harmony
The promotion of communal harmony as a prime focus of the Baha'i community was highlighted by Nazneen Rowhani, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India.
""While the edifice of the Temple is dedicated to the worship of God,"" Ms. Rowhani said, ""it should not become divorced from the social, humanitarian, educational and scientific pursuits which shall in the fullness of time afford relief and sustenance to the poor, solace to the bereaved, and education to those who suffer from lack of it.""
India's Minister for Tourism, Subodh Kant Sahai, highlighted Baha'i social and educational activities in his message to the gathering. ""As its contribution to the advancement of Indian society,"" he wrote, ""the Baha'i House of Worship serves as a venue for non-denominational activities such as the spiritual and moral education for children and young people, as well as gatherings where adults systematically study spiritual principles and their application in daily life.""
The House of Worship symbolizes India, wrote Mr. Sahai, ""combining eternal and universal values with a forward looking approach.""
Further events are planned throughout the year in every state of India to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the House of Worship.",NEW DELHI,,India
820,2011-05-04,"[769, 712, 617]",Historic landmark elections for European Baha'i communities,"LLÍRIA, VALENCIA, Spain — Along with 10 other European countries, the Baha'is of Spain have elected their National Spiritual Assembly for the 50th time.
Elections for national Baha'i institutions throughout the world take place at conventions during the 12-day festival of Ridvan, which begins each year on 21 April and ends on 2 May.
As part of Spain's 50th national convention programme, delegates and visitors heard recollections of earlier elections from those who participated in them.
Rouhollah Mehrabkhani – now 90 years old – arrived from Iran in the 1950s to help establish a Baha'i community in Spain. He was among the nine members elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly in 1962.
""Those early Baha'is had qualities that I believe we can learn a lot from today in our work to help others,"" said Mr. Mehrabkhani.
""They were willing to sacrifice their material comfort to promote the best interests of their community and fellow-citizens, some of them even suffering imprisonment and expulsion from the country for their Baha'i service during Franco's authoritarian regime,"" he said, recalling life under Spain's then leader.
The convention also viewed a video message sent by Charles Ioas from the United States, who left his homeland in 1954 to become one of the first Baha'is to settle in the Balearic Islands. Along with Mr. Mehrabkhani, Mr. Ioas is the only member of the first National Spiritual Assembly still living.
""The 1962 election was exhilarating,"" said Mr. Ioas. ""It was a milestone, a very significant development for us. We formed and started to function. Then, after a period, the official recognition came.""  90-year old Rouhollah Mehrabkhani attended the 50th national convention of the Spanish Baha'i community, held in Llíria, Valencia, 29 April – 1 May 2011. Mr. Mehrabkhani arrived from Iran in the 1950s to help establish a Baha'i community in Spain. He was among the nine Baha'is elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly in 1962.A ""yearning to transform society""
Today there are more than 4,000 Baha'is in Spain. Their activities include the hosting of gatherings that strengthen the devotional character of the community; classes for children; groups that channel the energies of young people; and study circles where participants explore the application of spiritual teachings to their lives and develop skills to serve the community.
One delegate to the national convention expressed his belief that the desire shown by youth in North African countries in recent months to be protagonists in their own development was not limited to those nations.
""Young people in Spain also show that longing for change because they just don't see what the future holds for them,"" said Manuel Melgarejo from Toledo. ""They also have that exact same yearning to transform society and influence their own collective destiny.""
In its annual message for the Ridvan period, addressed to the Baha'is of the world and studied at all national conventions, the Universal House of Justice celebrated the fact that a longing to contribute to societal development, especially from the young, ""is able to find such eloquent expression in the work the Baha'i community is carrying out to build capacity for effective action amongst the diverse populations of the planet.""
Another delegate to the convention, Diana Jiménez – whose late father Antonio served as a member of Spain's first National Spiritual Assembly – remarked how the services of the early Spanish Baha'is were inspired by Baha'u'llah's vision for the development of a united, global society.
""It is my hope that this convention will likewise become a similar catalyst to enable the Baha'i community to share that vision with society to an even greater extent over the next 50 years,"" said Mrs. Jiménez.
11 new institutions
In addition to Spain, Baha'is have just elected their National Spiritual Assembly for the 50th time in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland.
At the 1962 convention in Spain, a Baha'i prayer book in Spanish was put on sale for the first time, with the approval of the governmental authorities.
Preparing Baha'i introductory literature was also an important early task for the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Netherlands.
Gunter Vieten was a 32-year old journalist when he was elected to that institution. ""We had nearly no printed material – maybe one or two pamphlets,"" he recalled. ""The first Baha'i literature I received was such a simple piece of paper – the kind of thing I would never usually have looked at – that I was astonished that I was so taken by the content of it.
""I was born in Germany, so Dutch was not my first language. But, with the help of friends, we managed to write new materials. For years I participated in the writing, printing, distributing – it was a lot of organizing.""
The anniversaries not only mark a milestone in the establishment of the Baha'i Faith in Europe, but the formation of those 11 assemblies in 1962 helped pave the way for the election the following year of the Universal House of Justice.
In April 1963, Gunter Vieten joined members of National Spiritual Assemblies from throughout the world to take part in that first international election.
""I don't know if I completely understood what I was part of and it is still difficult for me to really understand it,"" he said. ""As a journalist, I used my eyes, I used my senses, but still it was something beyond my normal observation.""",LLÍRIA,VALENCIA,Spain
821,2011-05-10,"[815, 814, 813]",Third anniversary in prison for Iran's Baha'i leaders,"NEW YORK, United States — As seven Baha'i leaders in Iran complete their third year in jail, the Baha'i International Community has confirmed that the two women amongst them have been transferred to another prison.
The seven were all members of a national-level ad hoc group that helped attend to the needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community.
This Saturday, 14 May, six of them – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahid Tizfahm – will begin their fourth year behind bars. The seventh member of the group – Mahvash Sabet – was arrested three months earlier than her former colleagues, on 5 March 2008.
After an illegal 30-month detention in Tehran's Evin prison, they were tried on trumped-up charges and sentenced in August 2010 to 20 years in jail. They have been held at Gohardasht prison since that time.
""We now know that Mrs. Kamalabadi and Mrs. Sabet were transported on Tuesday 3 May to Qarchak prison, some 45 kilometres from Tehran,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""We understand that they are incarcerated with up to 400 other prisoners in a large warehouse-type room with minimum facilities,"" she said.  Fariba Kamalabadi, left, and Mahvash Sabet, right. The Bahai International Community has confirmed that they were transported on Tuesday 3 May from Gohardasht prison - where they have been since August 2010. They are now being held at Qarchak prison, some 45 kilometres from Tehran.""It is not clear if this is to be a long term arrangement, but any amount of time held in any prison is too long for these innocent people.""
The five men are still being held under close scrutiny in a wing of Gohardasht prison, reserved for political prisoners.
Anniversary observations
Events are taking place around the world over the next few days to mark the third anniversary of the arrest of the seven.
In the U.S.A. on Thursday 12 May, a special reception will be opened in Washington D.C. by U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, who recently introduced bipartisan resolutions in the House of Representatives and Senate calling attention to the continued plight of Iran's Baha'is.
In the Netherlands, members of religious communities and interreligious networks are being invited to offer prayers – on Friday and Saturday in the country's places of worship – for freedom of religion or belief in Iran.
A special ""Solidarity Concert"" is being planned in India to remember all victims of human rights abuses. The concert will be held at the auditorium of the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi on Wednesday 18 May.
Global outcry
The imprisonment of the Baha'i leaders has provoked widespread protests from governments throughout the world. The European Union and the President of the European Parliament have also joined the condemnation, along with numerous human rights organizations and other groups, religious leaders, and countless individuals.
Recently, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, reiterated his deep concern about the ""ongoing plight of the seven Baha'i leaders and the continued attacks on the Baha'i Faith in Iran.
""Your dignity and patience is admirable in the face of such severe discrimination and intimidation for simply staying true to your faith,"" Mr. Cameron wrote last month in a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Cameron expressed his hope that the recent appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur –  to monitor Iran's compliance with international human rights standards – and the imposition by the European Union of sanctions would ""convey to Iran the strength of international concern over its human rights record and demonstrate that continued rights violations will not go unnoticed.""",NEW YORK,,United States
822,2011-05-11,"[818, 817, 806]",Burundi elects national Baha'i assembly after 17 years,"BUJUMBURA, Burundi — The Baha'is of Burundi are celebrating after their National Spiritual Assembly was elected for the first time in 17 years.
The Baha'i Faith was first established in the landlocked, Eastern African republic in the 1950s. But civil war and unrest during recent decades made it difficult for the Baha'i community to administer its affairs.
""Everyone is very, very happy that after such a long time, the Baha'is in Burundi have been able to re-elect their National Assembly,"" said Ahmad Parsa, who attended the election on behalf of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa.
""And it is not only the Baha'is in Burundi who are happy,"" said Mr. Parsa. ""In neighbouring countries, they are all rejoicing to know their sister country has its National Spiritual Assembly again.""  Three Batwa people who attended the first national convention in 17 years of the Baha'is of Burundi. From left to right: Delphin Sebitwa – who was among the nine people elected to the National Spiritual Assembly, Christine Ndayikengurutse, and Cyriaque Mpawentmana.All 19 delegates – themselves elected by the wider Baha'i community of Burundi – participated in the election, held from 29 April to 1 May, at the national Baha'i centre in the Nyakabiga neighbourhood of the capital, Bujumbura.
Among the delegates were three members of the Batwa, an ancient pygmy people who have traditionally suffered ethnic prejudice and general exclusion from society. One of them, Delphin Sebitwa, was among the nine people elected to serve on the new National Spiritual Assembly.
""I don't think we yet understand the importance of this moment,"" said Mr. Parsa. ""Hopefully, this new light that has been turned on will illuminate the whole country.""",BUJUMBURA,,Burundi
823,2011-05-16,"[821, 815, 814]","Three years on, Iran's imprisoned Baha'i leaders symbolize the oppression of a nation","GENEVA, Switzerland — The injustice being faced by countless citizens of Iran has been highlighted around the world, as supporters marked three years since the arrest of the country's imprisoned Baha'i leaders.
In a message dated 14 May, addressed by the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of Iran, the jailed leaders were referred to as true prisoners of conscience. The letter also spoke of the numerous Iranian men and women who have accepted to face hardship for the sake of defending their freedom and human rights.
Their plight was recalled at special gatherings, which included a reception on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.; a service at the Baha'i House of Worship in Sydney, Australia; and prayer meetings, held in numerous places of worship throughout the Netherlands.
Reception in Washington D.C.
In the United States, some 300 congressional staff, representatives from human rights groups, media personnel and community members, attended a meeting at Washington's Hart Senate Office building on 12 May, while a worldwide audience logged on to a live webcast of the event.
The event was hosted by U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, who spoke about a resolution he recently introduced condemning the persecution of the Baha'is.
""I have been very focused on the condition of Baha'is in Iran,"" said Senator Kirk. ""Especially thinking about the seven Baha'i leaders, I think we need to begin to memorize their names.
""They are serving 20 years in prison on baseless charges and I am here today, as I have been for many months now, showing my support for them, and more importantly introducing their individual names to the American people,"" said Senator Kirk, who recited aloud the names of the seven prisoners to the audience.
They are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. They were formerly members of a national-level ad hoc group that helped attend to the needs of the country's 300,000-strong Baha'i community.  A poster, issued by the United4Iran campaign, showing the total days spent in prison by Iran's seven Baha'i leaders at the conclusion of their third year. The campaign calls upon supporters to make their own posters indicating the number of days of imprisonment, or to take a picture or video holding this pre-prepared poster.U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Kathleen Fitzpatrick told the reception that, while democratic evolution, change and reform is under way in the Middle East, ""the Iranian authorities continue to use the brutal tactics of repressing their citizens, even as at times they applaud protesters in other areas...""
""Baha'i and other religious minorities...continue to be subject to arbitrary arrest, persecution and unjust sentences,"" said Ms. Fitzpatrick. ""These circumstances typify not only the life of religious minorities in Iran but also of all Iranians and reflect the oppression that has engulfed the nation at the hands of its leaders.""
In his remarks, Kenneth E. Bowers – Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States – noted that those ""languishing in Iranian prisons"" include not only Baha'is but ""lawyers who do nothing more than represent their clients, journalists attempting to ensure that the public receives accurate information, and others such as students and bloggers who express views that the regime does not see as supportive of their policies.""
In other speeches, U.S. Representative Michael Grimm praised the resilience of the Iranian Baha'i community; actor Eva LaRue shared stories about the two women in the group; and Iraj Kamalabadi, brother of Fariba Kamalabadi, delivered closing remarks.
Grammy-award winning musician KC Porter performed a new song, titled Yaran, which he composed after learning about the prison conditions and the overwhelming evidence of the Baha'i leaders' innocence.
Events in Australia and the Netherlands
More than 500 people also observed the third anniversary at a special interfaith service on the theme of justice, held yesterday at the Baha'i House of Worship in Sydney, Australia. Among the special guests in attendance was the convener of the Australian Partnership of Religious Organizations, Professor Abd Malak, an Egyptian Coptic Christian.
The Australian government among many others has been active and vocal in their support of the seven Baha'i leaders – and human rights in Iran more broadly – said Natalie Mobini-Kesheh, Director of the Australian Baha'i community's Office of External Affairs.
""It's important that we, as the public, continue to voice our concern, so that the Iranian government knows that the world is watching,"" she told a reception held in the House of Worship's information centre.
Also in attendance was Mehrzad Mumtahan, a nephew of Saeid Rezaei, who spoke of the hope the prisoners feel, knowing that total strangers are thinking of them.
In the Netherlands, 24-hour vigils and other prayer gatherings were held throughout the country to mark the anniversary. In Amsterdam, special prayers were said at the Roman Catholic Salvator church. At the city's Russian Orthodox church, the names of the seven prisoners – as well as Christian and Jewish victims of religious persecution in Iran – were read aloud.
A Protestant church in Veldhoven, the Sisters of Charity congregations in Hertme and Eindhoven, and the Hindu Shree Raam mandir in Wychen, also joined the commemoration. In Utrecht and the Hague, prayers were said in Jewish synagogues.
""I stay connected in prayer with those brave ones,"" said Awraham Soetendorp, Rabbi of the Reform Jewish community of the Hague. ""May all the prayers together open the door to freedom.""
The human rights group, United4Iran, launched a poster campaign drawing attention to the fact that by 14 May, the seven had suffered 7,734 days in prison. The campaign calls upon supporters to make their own posters indicating the number of days of imprisonment, or to take a picture or video holding the pre-prepared poster, pictured above.
Further events marking the anniversary are being planned around the world, including a ""Solidarity Concert"" in New Delhi, India, this Wednesday.
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
824,2011-05-17,"[809, 808, 770]",UN Commission discusses ethics behind the environmental crisis,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Focusing solely on the material aspects of the environmental crisis, while ignoring its moral and ethical dimensions, will not ensure humanity's long term survival.
That was among the perspectives under discussion at this year's UN Commission on Sustainable Development, held from 2–13 May.
""We have passed beyond the global tipping point that we have been anticipating for decades,"" Jeffrey Sachs – director of the Earth Institute and a special adviser to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – told the Commission on 11 May.
""We are now living on a planet of environmental turmoil,"" observed Professor Sachs, noting an increase in the number of floods, droughts, and food and water shortages around the world.
""Fundamentally, we have a global ethics crisis,"" he said, because, ""while we need to find a path towards sustainable development, we are scrambling instead for resources and advantage.""
Ashok Khosla, a former director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), also highlighted the need to recognize the values underlying sustainable development.
Gross Domestic Product ""measures all the things that don't count in our real lives,"" said Mr. Khosla.  Vanessa Timmer – co-founder and executive director of the One Earth Initiative, ""Rethinking the Good Life"" – speaks at a panel discussion, held at the New York offices of the Baha'i International Community on 11 May as part of the 19th UN Commission on Sustainable Development. The panel brought together specialists from four continents with experience in assessing and promoting the underlying values that could help ensure humanity's long term survival.""Whatever it is we really care about – happiness and love – doesn't figure in the GDP at all,"" he said.
""Making the Invisible Visible""
A panel discussion – also held on 11 May and sponsored by the Baha'i International Community – sought to explore ways in which cultural, educational, and spiritual components can be brought into the sustainable development discourse.
Titled ""Making the Invisible Visible: Values and the Transition to Sustainable Consumption and Production"", the panel was moderated by Duncan Hanks of the Canadian Baha'i International Development Agency.
""There is no doubt of the importance of understanding and getting the material consideration of this discussion right – to adequately address the policy considerations, legal frameworks, financial mechanisms,"" said Mr. Hanks.
""However, to allow the discussion to focus merely on the material aspects...only covers part of the story.
""We are hearing new discussions and language about the dynamic coherence between the material and value-based or spiritual dimensions of sustainable consumption and production, between the hardware and the software – the physical and the spiritual – and we are witnessing an increased willingness to explore not only the policy and technical ramifications but the very values that ultimately influence attitudes and transform behaviours,"" he said.
Five other panelists from four continents offered thoughts about ways that the consideration of values can be brought into discussions about sustainable consumption and production, in order to motivate the changes in human behaviour needed to sustain life on the planet.
""The values debate is at the heart of what our future is going to look like,"" said Vanessa Timmer, co-founder and executive director of the One Earth Initiative, ""Rethinking the Good Life"".
She noted that values and behaviour are intimately connected, and that a discussion of values also frames the discussion – and the direction – of behaviour.
Researchers, said Ms. Timmer, have found that if the argument is made for buying a hybrid car on the idea that it will save money – instead of also saving the environment – the discussion is kept on material grounds.
""The idea is to use both – give numbers but embed them within a larger conversation about how this is going to help us move towards a new sense of community and affiliation with others,"" she said.
Victoria Thoresen of the Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living in Norway analyzed a series of specific values that have a bearing on sustainable development – including detachment, moderation, trust, justice, and hope.
The concept of justice, she said, ""provides us with the possibility to move from the self-centeredness that dominates our world to a way of being, a mode of sharing, a way of moving beyond our complicated, confused world where hope barely exists.""
Also on the panel were: Luis Flores Mimica, Consumers International, Latin American Office (Chile); Elona Hoover, Researcher, ESDinds Project: Developing Values-based indicators for Sustainable Development, University of Brighton (UK); and Kiara Worth, Sustainable Development Specialist (Papua New Guinea). The meeting was co-sponsored by PERL, One Earth, and Consumers International.
As another contribution to the discussion at this year's Commission, the Baha'i International Community called further attention to its 2010 statement, ""Rethinking Prosperity: Forging Alternatives to a Culture of Consumerism."" See https://news.bahai.org/story/770.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
825,2011-05-22,"[823, 821, 815]",Baha'i educational programme targeted in raids,"GENEVA, Switzerland — A coordinated series of raids have been carried out on the homes of several Iranian Baha'is, active in a community initiative to provide a higher education programme for young members who are barred from university.
Reports indicate that raids took place on Saturday 21 May on as many as 30 homes  in Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and Shiraz. It is now understood that some 14 Baha’is have been arrested.
""All of the targets were homes of individuals closely involved with the operations of the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
The Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) was established in 1987 as a community initiative to meet the educational needs of young Baha'is who have been systematically denied access to higher education by the Iranian government. The BIHE has been described by the New York Times as ""an elaborate act of communal self-preservation.""
""The Institute has been a remarkably creative – and entirely non-violent – response to the Iranian government's on-going effort to stifle the normal human development of the Baha'i community,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""The Iranian authorities – not content with debarring Baha'is from university solely on account of their religious beliefs – are now cruelly seeking to shut down the community's efforts to provide its youth with higher education through alternative means.
""The government's actions are utterly unjustifiable,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
This is not the first time that the BIHE has come under attack from Iranian authorities. One of the biggest blows was a series of sweeping raids carried out in 1998 during which some 36 members of the BIHE's faculty and staff were arrested, and much of its equipment and records – located in more than 500 homes – was taken. Other actions against the operations of BIHE were carried out in 2001 and 2002.
These attacks – and Iran's general policy prohibiting young Baha'is from entering higher education – have been met with strong condemnation by governments, academics, UN agencies, civil society organizations and others.
Among the numerous actions taken, university professors and chaplains around the world have sent letters of protest to the UN Secretary-General and the leaders of Iran; in 2006, the president of Princeton university in the United States raised the matter with the Iranian representative to the UN; Spain's House of Deputies has passed a strongly-worded resolution on the situation; Wolfson College, Oxford, also voted through a resolution in November 2007, as did the University of Winnipeg in Canada.
""These latest raids appear to be another concerted attempt to attack the BIHE, which the authorities have long sought to do,"" said Diane Ala'i.
""We are calling upon governments and educational organizations throughout the world to register with the government of Iran their strong disapproval of its systematic, ongoing efforts to deny to young Baha'is their fundamental human right to access higher education.""
Special Report
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. The Special Report contains a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.
(Article updated 23 May 2011. The second and third sentences originally read, ""Initial reports indicate that raids took place yesterday on houses in Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and Shiraz. As many as 30 people may already have been arrested."")",GENEVA,,Switzerland
826,2011-05-25,"[825, 823, 821]",Two Iranian Baha'i leaders returned to Evin prison,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The two women amongst Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders have been returned to Tehran's notorious Evin prison.
The Baha'i International Community has confirmed that Fariba Kamalabadi and Mahvash Sabet are now back behind bars in the jail where their incarceration began three years ago.
The transfer of the two women to Evin followed a brief spell held in reportedly appalling conditions at Qarchak prison, some 45 kilometers from Tehran.
It is understood that family members of the two prisoners have now been able to visit them at Evin.
Mrs. Sabet and Mrs. Kamalabadi – along with five male colleagues – were members of a national-level ad hoc group that helped attend to the needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community. After an illegal 30 month detention in Evin, they were tried on trumped-up charges and each sentenced in August 2010 to 20 years in jail.  Farah Motallebi – a niece of Iranian Baha'i prisoner Fariba Kamalabadi – addresses an audience of some 250 people at a Solidarity Concert held at the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, India, 18 May 2011, to mark the third anniversary of the arrest of the seven Baha'i leaders, pictured behind her. Mrs. Motallebi called for Iran to uphold human rights and justice for all its citizens, irrespective of their affiliation to any belief, religion or ideology.Following the trial, the seven were sent to Gohardasht prison, where the five men are still being held under close scrutiny in a wing reserved for political prisoners.
Global support
An ongoing series of events is marking the third anniversary of the detention of the seven Baha'i leaders. See https://news.bahai.org/story/823.
In India, more than 250 supporters gathered for a Solidarity Concert, held at the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi.
Emmy award-winning journalist Rohit Gandhi informed the audience of a campaign in which more than 100 prominent Indians have petitioned the Iranian authorities to release the seven, as well as others in Iran who have been unjustly imprisoned.
""Today this is the support of those representing the members of parliament, judiciary, members of legislative assemblies, religious leadership, academics, artists, human rights organizations, media and other civil society agencies,"" said Mr. Gandhi, calling upon India and the world community to impress upon Iran to treat all its citizens with justice.
The Baha'is  in Iran are truly reflecting the face of the Iranian public, he said.
Also present at the concert, held on 18 May, was Farah Motallebi from Orissa – a niece of Fariba Kamalabadi – who spoke of the 7,734 days spent in jail by the seven, under harsh physical and psychological conditions.
""They were imprisoned only because they were Baha'is,"" said Mrs. Motallebi.
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
827,2011-05-25,"[826, 825, 823]",Arrests are part of official campaign to block development of Iranian Baha'is,"NEW YORK, United States — The series of raids carried out on some 30 homes of Baha'is, who were offering education to young community members barred by the government from university, is the latest action in Iran's ongoing policy to keep its largest non-Muslim religious minority on the margins of society.
Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Baha'is have been systematically deprived of higher education. With nowhere else to turn, the community initiated its own educational programmes.
""The Iranian authorities are clearly determined to make it impossible for the Baha'i community to educate its youth whose opportunities are blocked by the state,"" said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Denying people the right to education is a denial of their right to exist as free and productive human beings – and to make a contribution to their society,"" she said.
Some 16 Baha'is were arrested on, or after, Saturday 21 May. One has since been released. Eight other Baha'is were interrogated by Intelligence Ministry officers and released afterwards.
""This action demonstrates the lengths to which Iran is willing to go in its campaign to demoralize Baha'i youth, erode their educational hopes and eradicate the Baha'i community as a viable group within their country,"" said Bani Dugal.
She also pointed out that, in pursuing its policy, the Iranian government is flagrantly abusing international law.
Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ""everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.""
Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognizes ""the right of everyone to education,"" and that, ""higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity.""
""Iran ratified both Covenants in 1975,"" noted Ms. Dugal.
""Shameless persecution""
Initial news of the arrests has provoked condemnation from governments, non-governmental organizations, human rights activists, and others.
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) has called for the immediate release of the prisoners.
""These attacks on the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education must stop and authorities should immediately release Baha'is recently detained,"" said Hadi Ghaemi, spokesperson for the ICHRI.
""Iran's discrimination against Baha'is in the sphere of education is part of an ongoing policy of religious persecution and a clear violation of its international obligations,"" he added.
The chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Leonard Leo, said, ""The Iranian government will stop at nothing in its shameless persecution of the Baha'is in Iran.""  A 2006 confidential communication from the director general of the Central Security Office of Iran's Ministry of Science, Research and Technology – which oversees all state-run universities – instructed 81 universities to expel any Baha'i students. ""[I]  the identity of Baha'i individuals becomes known at the time of enrolment or during the course of their studies, they must be expelled from university,"" stated the letter.""It's not enough that authorities already have a policy in place preventing Baha'is from attending Iranian universities – the government is now systematically trying to dismantle the Baha'i community's internal initiative to ensure that its youth have the opportunity to get an education beyond high school.""
With these arrests, said Mr. Leo, ""the number of Baha'is currently imprisoned is approaching 100, a number not seen in more than two decades.""
""Progress and development blocked""
During the years immediately following the 1979 Islamic revolution, large numbers of young Baha'is were expelled from education. At the college-level, the ban was virtually total.
The brutal targeting of Baha'is by the new regime – including the execution of more than 200 prominent members – was met with widespread international criticism, including a series of UN resolutions condemning Iran's human rights violations.
The government softened its approach, allowing elementary and secondary schoolchildren back into school. But university students remained excluded.
That the government's hope through such policies was to see Iran's 300,000 Baha'is vanish into obscurity – while evading international sanctions – was confirmed with the discovery of a secret memorandum that outlined a plan to ""block"" the ""progress and development"" of the Baha'i community.
That memorandum, signed in 1991 by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, specified a series of repressive measures against Baha'is, including expelling students from universities if they are discovered to be Baha'is.
The Baha'i Institute for Higher Education
A simple mechanism was employed to exclude Baha'is from higher education. Everyone who took national university entrance exams was asked to declare their religion. Applicants who were not one of the four officially recognized religions in Iran – Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism – were turned away.
Baha'is sought to mitigate the effects of the ban by initiating their own community education programme in the late 1980s, known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE). Baha'i professors and lecturers who had been dismissed from their positions gave freely of their time and experience to teach Baha'i students at home and via correspondence courses.
""The Iranian government has made repeated attempts to bring to a halt this quiet, peaceful and vital initiative,"" explained Bani Dugal.
In 1998, government agents arrested at least 36 people after raiding more than 500 homes, and confiscated much of the BIHE's equipment and records. The raids drew considerable international condemnation.
In an apparent response to the pressure, Iran officially announced in late 2003 that it would drop the declaration of religious affiliation on university application forms.
Continuing prohibition
Since that time, Iranian government officials have claimed their educational system is open to Baha'is and free of discriminatory practices.
But a variety of means have been devised to obstruct Baha'is entering higher education. These have included creating barriers to admission in the national computer system and widespread efforts to expel Baha'is if they manage to enrol in classes.
One young Baha'i recently told the ICHRI, ""I was barred from education even before enrolling as an undergraduate. Instead of receiving my college entrance exam results, the phrase 'your file is incomplete' was sent to me and thus I never got the chance to enrol.""
In 2006, a confidential communication from the director general of the Central Security Office of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology – which oversees all of Iran's state-run universities – instructed 81 universities to expel any Baha'i students.
""[I]  the identity of Baha'i individuals becomes known at the time of enrolment or during the course of their studies, they must be expelled from university,"" stated the letter.
Expulsions have occurred in the past few months in Tehran, Yazd, Mazandaran and Isfahan. In a number of cases, the action was carried out shortly before Baha'i students were about to take final exams.
A Baha'i who was studying engineering in Yazd was recently denied access to his online student account after his name was deleted from the system. The National Education Measurement and Evaluation Organization in Tehran informed him that Baha'is have no right to higher education. When he requested a written document stating the reason for his expulsion, he was refused.
With few other options open to them, many young Baha'is continued to carry out their studies with the BIHE.
""Blocking access to education may superficially appear to be of less concern than physical attacks on the community or the imprisonment of its leaders,"" said Bani Dugal, ""but the consequences of the policy will resonate for generations.""
""These injustices are a reflection of the terrible oppression that has engulfed the whole of Iran. Large numbers of young people are being excluded from higher education based on their political or religious beliefs, or the exercise of their freedom of expression,"" she said.
""Our call is for the Baha'is of Iran – and all who are the victims of such abuse – to be granted their full rights of citizenship so they may fulfil their heartfelt aspiration to contribute to the advancement of their nation.
""Showing respect now for the rights of the Iranian Baha'is would signal a willingness on the part of the authorities to respect the rights of all their citizens,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The sixteen Baha'is (and their cities of residence) arrested on, or after, Saturday 21 May are Afrouz Farmanbordari (Gohardasht); Foad Moghaddam (Isfahan); Vahid Mahmoudi, Vahid Mokhtari, Farhad Sedghi, and Ramin Zibaie (Karaj); Amir-Houshang Amirtabar, Navid Asadi, and Sadaf Sabetian (Sari); Amanollah Mostaghim (Shiraz); Mahmoud Badavam, Soheil Ghanbari, Noushin Khadem, Kamran Mortezaie, and Shahin Negari (Tehran); and Danial Oji (city of residence unknown). It is understood that Vahid Mokhtari has already been released.
Special Report
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. The Special Report contains a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",NEW YORK,,United States
828,2011-05-30,"[816, 797, 642]",UNESCO chief inaugurates square for tolerance and peace in Haifa,"HAIFA, Israel — In the Middle East, Haifa is known as one of the region's most ethnically and religiously diverse cities, including Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and Baha'is among its residents.
And so it was fitting that on her first visit to the Baha'i gardens here, the Director General of UNESCO spoke of the challenges facing multi-cultural societies.
""Managing diversity raises some of the most difficult questions of this 21st century – inside our societies and outside, with our neighbours and globally,"" said Irina Bokova, formerly the Foreign Affairs Minister for Bulgaria.
Ms. Bokova was speaking at a special ceremony held in the Baha'i gardens to inaugurate the UNESCO for Tolerance and Peace Square, situated at the point where Haifa's historic German Templer colony meets the terraced gardens of the Shrine of the Bab.  A road sign, in Arabic, English and Hebrew, for the UNESCO for Tolerance and Peace Square is unveiled in Haifa, Israel, 29 May 2011, in the presence of: (front row, from left to right) the Most Reverend Dr. Elias Chacour – Archbishop Metropolitan of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church for Acre, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee; Dr. Albert Lincoln – Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community; Ms. Irina Bokova – Director General of UNESCO; and Advocate Yona Yahav, Mayor of Haifa.The newly-named square in Haifa will ""stand for the tolerance and the peace that we seek to build and to deepen – in this region, and across the world,"" she remarked.
""I am more than convinced that the only ways to build a more peaceful and equitable world are through education and dialogue – to deepen understanding, to strengthen mutual respect and to prepare the ground for reconciliation..."" said Ms. Bokova who, in October 2009, became the first woman to head the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
""If wars start in the minds of men; it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed,"" she said, citing the UNESCO manifesto.
The ceremony also coincided with the 10th anniversary of the official opening in May 2001 of the garden terraces of the Shrine of the Bab. In 2008, a UNESCO committee meeting held in Quebec, Canada – at which Ms. Bokova was present – decided to inscribe the Shrine and terraces, along with the Shrine of Baha'u'llah near Acre, on the World Heritage list, as sites of ""outstanding universal value.""
Future development plans for the UNESCO for Tolerance and Peace Square include upgraded stonework and decorative floral plantings in the centre of its traffic circle, establishing a symbolic bridge between the German Templer colony and the Baha'i gardens.
Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community, Albert Lincoln, welcomed Ms. Bokova to the ceremony, along with other invited guests including the Mayor of Haifa, Advocate Yona Yahav; the Most Reverend Dr. Elias Chacour, Archbishop Metropolitan of the Melkite Catholic Church for Acre, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee; and other representatives of Haifa's Arab and Jewish communities.
""Haifa really is a city of peace and a living example of how the Middle East could and should be,"" said Dr. Lincoln, describing as ""normality"" the wide variety of religious, ethnic and cultural groups who live and work side by side in the city.
""Normality need not explain itself, but perhaps we do need to remind ourselves and others from time to time of its essential foundations,"" said Dr. Lincoln.
""The human race, with all its diversity, is one family..."" he said. ""But even in the city of peace, normality cannot be taken for granted. It needs nurturing and defence.""
Thanking Ms. Bokova and her staff for their work, Dr. Lincoln concluded, ""UNESCO plays a leading role in the critical work of nurturing and defending this kind of normality all around the world by promoting peace, education and the recognition of the universal values in the infinite diversity of the world's cultures.""",HAIFA,,Israel
829,2011-05-31,"[779, 772, 824]",Religions unite to urge G8 leaders to take bold action on global issues,"BORDEAUX, France — Representatives of the Baha'i Faith have joined a call for the G8 bloc of nations to take bold action on the interconnected crises faced by humanity.
Two Baha'i delegates gathered with Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Shinto and Sikh colleagues, as well as members of interfaith organisations, at the Religious Summit in Bordeaux to deliberate on matters related to the agendas of the G8 Deauville Summit and the G20 Cannes Summit, scheduled for 3-4 November 2011.
Summit Moderator His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel Adamakis, Co-President of the Council of Churches of France, told participants that they were face-to-face not just as religious leaders but as representatives of humanity, speaking with one voice to the leaders of the G8 and G20 countries.
That voice was heard in a unanimously agreed statement drafted at the meeting and later presented to the Secretary General of the G8.
In addition to recommendations on five major themes – reforming global governance, the macro-economic situation, climate change, development, and investing in peace – the statement called for representatives from the African continent and the Middle East to be included in the G8 and the G20 meetings.
""Our diverse backgrounds and experience enriched our consultation,"" the statement said.
""The trauma of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster described by our Japanese colleagues, the experience and aspirations of our friends from countries in the Middle East and the deep concern of our African colleagues at the continued marginalization of their voice underlined the urgency of the issues under consideration.""
The statement concluded by urging the G8 and G20 ""to continue to expand and strengthen the needed global response to global challenges.""
""We – leaders of diverse religious communities throughout the world – re-commit ourselves to working together across religious lines for the common good and with governments and other partners of good will. We remain convinced – each in accordance with the teachings of their tradition – that justice, compassion and reconciliation are essential for genuine peace,"" the statement said.
Baha'i representation
""The participants in this Summit demonstrated a sincere desire to find a way to translate the spiritual principles that inform their worldview into concrete and practical recommendations that would assist G8 leaders to address the challenges facing humanity,"" said Baha'i representative Susanne Tamas from Canada.
""The genuine respect and keen interest with which people listened to one another and sought to deepen their understanding of complex issues was very impressive,"" said Ms. Tamas.
Fellow Baha'i delegate Barney Leith, from the United Kingdom, agreed.
""The spirit of unity that infused the gathering was deeply moving,"" he said.
""There was a strong sense in which all those at the Summit understood themselves to be part of a single human family and to be utterly committed to reminding leaders of powerful nations of their moral commitment to reducing human suffering.""
The G8 Religious Leaders Summit was held in Bordeaux on the 23-24 May. It was the seventh in a series of interfaith gatherings aimed at identifying areas of moral consensus among religions. Previous Summits were held prior to each G8 Summit in the United Kingdom (2005), Russia (2006), Germany (2007), Japan (2008), Italy (2009) and Canada (2010).",BORDEAUX,,France
830,2011-05-31,"[829, 828, 827]","""Baha'i Question"" cited at European Parliament human rights hearing","BRUSSELS, Belgium — Victims of religious intolerance are not just people deprived of the right to practice their faith – they suffer abuses in every aspect of their daily lives.
This observation was made at a hearing held before the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights.
Penelope Faulkner – a member of the European Platform on Religious Discrimination and Intolerance (EPRID) – highlighted the degree to which freedom of religion or belief is threatened around the world.
It is a ""massive problem,"" said Ms. Faulkner. ""Especially in countries where the state...incites hatred, religious minorities are defenceless.
""They lose their rights, their livelihood and, in many cases, their lives.""
""This is the case of the Baha'i in Iran where the authorities implement a systematic plan to deal with what they call the 'Baha'i Question' – with specific directives to block access to education, confiscate property, deny employment and deny citizenship rights to anyone known to be Baha'i,"" said Ms. Faulkner.
Her comments came just days after some 16 individuals were arrested in Iran for trying to operate an informal university to provide education to Baha'is who have been barred from higher education by the government. See https://news.bahai.org/story/827.
Ms. Faulkner also noted that recent research has found that 70% of the world's population is living in places where religious freedom is restricted or abused.
""It is in every continent, every community, including Europe. The devastating toll of the human suffering in recent months shows that EU policies in this area are not only needed but much overdue,"" she said.
""Human beings are responsible""
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, told the hearing that he sees such violations on a daily basis.
""And what shocks me most is the degree of hatred against religious minorities between communities – hatred often nourished by a paradoxical combination of fear sometimes bordering paranoia and contempt,"" said Professor Bielefeldt.
But such hatreds can be overcome, he said.
""After all, it is human beings who are responsible, human beings who also can change, groups of human beings who can also evolve in their conviction. This is something we must always take into account.""
Professor Bielefeldt told the hearing – held on 26 May – that freedom of religion or belief is a universal human right, which must be also interpreted to encompass the broadest interpretation of religion.
""You see lots of countries in various regions of the world that promise freedom of religion or belief in their constitution then say, 'O.K. There are three options – you can be Jewish, Christian, Muslim. Period.'
""Sometimes it's five options. Sometimes it's six options. Sometimes it's no religions. But the starting point – if you really stick to the universalistic nature of human rights – must be the dignity of human beings and their self-understanding.
""If you know human beings, their self-understanding is very, very, very diverse,"" he said.
But, Professor Bielefeldt noted, the United Nations treaties concerning the issue clearly state that freedom of religion or belief  ""protects theistic, non-theistic, atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief...This is the universalistic spirit, and not only spirit but also letter of human rights and freedom of religion. And this is really under threat.""
A broader context
Also on the panel was the Baha'i International Community's representative to the European Union, Sarah Vader. She suggested that freedom of religion or belief should be considered in a ""broader context of democracy and human rights protection.""
""The EU should pay particular attention to being inclusive and fair, enabling the participation of all – including those more vulnerable groups such as women, youth, ethnic and religious minorities,"" said Ms. Vader, who was also speaking on behalf of EPRID, a coalition of non-governmental organizations in support of freedom of religion or belief of which the Baha'i International Community is a member.
""In relation to the EU's future policy on freedom of religion or belief, it is necessary for the process to be open, transparent and inclusive, and find a way of involving civil society at different levels, whether it be here in Brussels or at the level of capitals and delegations at the EU,"" she said.
Ms. Vader offered a series of recommendations by which the EU could improve its overall monitoring and approach to freedom of religion or belief, such as by establishing a special envoy for religious freedom and preparing an annual report on the progress worldwide made towards freedom of religion or belief.
Special Report
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. The Special Report contains a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
831,2011-06-14,"[830, 827, 825]",Worldwide outrage at Iran's attack on Baha'i educators,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Governments, organisations and educators have condemned Iran's latest attack on an initiative offering higher education to young Baha'is barred from university.
The government of Austria, more than 80 prominent Indians, and top academics from the United Kingdom, are among the latest to voice their support for Iranian Baha'is' right to education. Human rights groups have also joined the call for the release of imprisoned Baha'i educators.
Some 39 homes associated with the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) have recently been targeted. Twelve BIHE staff and faculty members remain in prison, three weeks after initial raids. Five others were also arrested and subsequently released, while more Baha'is associated with the Institute were summoned for interrogation by the Ministry of Intelligence.
""The latest house searches and arrests demonstrate a further effort in order to block access to education for the Baha'i community,"" said Michael Spindelegger, Austria's Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister.
""The right to education is a fundamental human right for everyone, independent of his or her religion. The restriction of access to education for young Baha'is is unacceptable.""
""To persecute people because of their Faith is a clear violation against human rights. Iran must observe its international obligations,"" Dr. Spindelegger said, on 1 June.
Iran's Ministry of Science and Technology has now reportedly declared all BIHE activities to be illegal.
""Barring Baha'is from university exposes the government's own ignorance,"" a group of leading academics in England wrote in an open letter, published in The Guardian on 11 June.
""Young Baha'is who cannot study are denied a basic human right,"" the letter said. ""Their desire to contribute to society is being strangled at the start of their adult lives.""  Governments, human rights organizations and people of good will around the world are calling on Iran to release some 15 Baha'i educators, who have now been imprisoned for more than three weeks. Among the articles about the arrests, reports have appeared in Brazil's 'O Globo' newspaper, and on the websites of CNN International and 'University World News.'""Academics, students and politicians should join common cause for Baha'i students in Iran. The authorities must be taught that human rights are universal,"" wrote the signatories, who included professors from Oxford, Cambridge and other prestigious universities.
In India, more than 80 prominent citizens – representing the judiciary, academics, religious leadership, NGOs, human rights groups and the corporate sector – have signed a petition to the Iranian Government calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the BIHE prisoners.
""The recent atrocities heaped upon this persecuted community...deserves the strongest condemnation from every upholder of human dignity and honour in India and the world,"" says the petition, whose signatories include Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, a former judge of India's Supreme Court, and Miloon Kothari, a former UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing.
""The consequences of this policy of disallowing the Baha'i youth to have access to higher education will be detrimental not only for the Baha'i community of Iran, but also for the nation as a whole.""
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is also urging Iran to end its discriminatory educational policies. ""Despite being a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), by which countries pledge to uphold international standards of religious freedom for all citizens, Iran is clearly targeting both the Baha'is and certain Christian communities solely on account of their beliefs,"" said CSW's chief executive, Mervyn Thomas.
""CSW calls on the Iranian government to honour its commitments under the ICCPR and ensure that religious minorities are able to enjoy the freedoms outlined within the covenant.""
In the United States, Senator Mark Kirk – who earlier this year introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution criticizing Iran's persecution of Baha'is – said the international community must ""strongly condemn"" the latest arrests.  ""I pledge to redouble our efforts in the Senate on behalf of the Iranian Baha'i community and all citizens of Iran who yearn for human rights, freedom and democracy,"" said Senator Kirk.
A seminar – held at the University of California, Berkeley, on 22 April – highlighted the issue of human rights abuses in Iran, including the barring of Baha'is and others from higher education. The audience of academic staff, students and guests included Brazilians, Anglo-Americans, Nicaraguans, Salvadorians, and Afghanis.
Firuzeh Mahmoudi, co-founder and executive director of United4Iran, spoke of the courage of a number of recently imprisoned students in Iran.
The Iranian government has breached its international human rights obligations in many ways, said Ms. Mahmoudi, including ""freedom of expression, freedom of association, belief, religion, privacy, right to participation in public forums, gatherings and protests; freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention; right to due process and fair trials; freedom from torture; from movement – that means being able to leave Iran, right to membership and participation.""
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom have also demanded the release of the prisoners. See https://news.bahai.org/story/827.
Among the articles about the attack on the BIHE in the world's media, reports have appeared in Brazil's O Globo newspaper, The Washington Post and on Australia's ABC radio, as well as on the websites of CNN International, University World News, Radio Free Europe, and The Huffington Post.
The situation of the Baha'is in Iran will further be highlighted on Wednesday 15 June at a seminar to be held in the United Kingdom's Houses of Parliament, and on Sunday 19 June at a major event organized by Rio's Commission for Combating Religious Intolerance, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Article updated 16 June 2011. The original caption for the lead photograph reported the release of only one of the detainees.)
Special Report
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. The Special Report contains a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
832,2011-06-16,"[831, 827, 825]","Exemplary life of service ""in the face of relentless oppression""","SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, United States — Right up until his final moments, Valiollah Toosky's thoughts were in Iran, with his students and colleagues at the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE).
His sister recalls in particular that, on the last day of his life, he was telephoning Iran from the United States where he had gone for medical treatment.  Foremost on his mind was the arrest of fellow faculty members.
""Right at noon, the very last phone call he ever made, was to his colleagues in Iran,"" said Bahereh Smith. ""His only concern was about how they were going to continue the BIHE. That was his last concern...""
A few hours later, 55 year old Mr. Toosky died, after a six month battle with brain cancer.
Mr. Toosky was well-known and well-loved for his dedication to his students and to the BIHE. He was a co-founder of the Institute, set up as an informal community initiative to provide for the education of young Baha'is officially barred from higher education. At the time of his death, Mr. Toosky was a coordinating member of the Institute's civil engineering and architecture departments.
It was no surprise, then, that more than 350 people gathered for his memorial service last weekend – held at the Baha'i Centre in San Clemente – to celebrate the life of a humble man, for whom service to others was the first priority.
""He believed that education is important,"" said Mr. Toosky's brother, Taraz. ""He was a good architect and knowledgeable person and he had this opportunity to do this type of service and he was good at it.""
""He did anything they asked him. He did driving, he did cleaning, he did teaching. His home was open for the classes. He was providing food for the students. He was that type of person. He never said 'I just teach.' He did everything.""
Messages of condolence were received by Mr. Toosky's family from around the world.
In its announcement of his passing, the Architects Centre at Tehran University described Mr. Toosky as a ""dear colleague"" and ""beloved individual.""
The Universal House of Justice – the head of the worldwide Baha'i community – recalled his ""many years of exemplary, steadfast service...in the face of relentless oppression...""
His efforts, ""to educate Baha'i youth have left a rich and enduring legacy for future generations,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice on 10 June.
Mr. Toosky died on 31 May, just days after Iranian authorities raided more than 30 homes of Baha'is associated with the BIHE. Twelve staff and faculty members remain in prison, bringing the total number of Iranian Baha'is behind bars to almost 100.
Iran's Ministry of Science and Technology has now reportedly declared all activities of the BIHE to be illegal, in a move that attempts to legitimise its persecution of the Baha'is.
A ""source of courage""
""The experience of Mr. Toosky and his family reflects in many aspects the various methods of persecution that Iran's 300,000 Baha'is have been subjected to since the 1979 Islamic Revolution,"" said Farhad Sabetan, a spokesperson for the Baha'i International Community.
Mr. Toosky's father-in-law was the secretary of the local Baha'i assembly in Tehran before being abducted and murdered in 1980.
Following an earlier attack by the Iranian government on the BIHE in 1998, Mr. Toosky was arrested and interrogated in prison for a few days.
His three sons have all been barred from entering higher education because of their beliefs. The eldest passed his university entrance exam with a very high mark but was never permitted to take up his place; the other two also both passed their exams only to be later rejected for having ""incomplete"" files, a common tactic used by the Iranian authorities to block Baha'i students.
Mr. Toosky's sister is the wife of Behrouz Tavakkoli, one of Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, currently serving a 20-year jail sentence on trumped up charges.
""Despite enduring many hardships, Mr. Toosky was an extraordinary source of courage and reassurance to others, particularly to Baha'i prisoners and the families of Baha'is executed by the Iranian authorities,"" said Farhad Sabetan.
""He had a tremendous love for his homeland and longed to return there to assist the Baha'i youth with their education. That was the aspect of his life he cherished the most,"" said Dr. Sabetan.
In a tribute to Mr. Toosky sent from Iran to be read at his funeral, one of his students wrote, ""Perhaps if he had migrated to the west, he would have been offered a prestigious position in one of the universities there and would have lived a comfortable life. Perhaps if he had not stayed here to be subjected to physical and emotional abuse, he would be in perfect health and would be with his family now.
""Perhaps if he had not volunteered to undertake a number of stressful tasks, he would not have lost his health so soon.  There are a number of other 'maybes'; however, I am sure that if he had left, he would not have been given the opportunity to partake of a number of great services...""
Another tribute read at the funeral, said: ""You left this world too soon; so quickly that we did not have a chance to make up for all the things you did for us in this earthly life. You trained us so well that, if we receive your continuous assistance, each one of us might have the ability to become another architect like Mr. Toosky.""
Special Report
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. The Special Report contains a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",SAN CLEMENTE,CALIFORNIA,United States
833,2011-06-17,[],Panel explores crisis of human rights in Iran,"LONDON, England — Iran's human rights record has come under scrutiny at a seminar held in the United Kingdom's Houses of Parliament.
The panel discussion – which included members of Parliament, experts and human rights activists – was co-hosted by the UK All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is, along with human rights groups United4Iran and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).
""It is no exaggeration that the human rights situation in Iran is in crisis,"" said Nazila Ghanea, a lecturer at the University of Oxford and an editor of the Journal of Religion & Human Rights.
Dr. Ghanea charged the Iranian government with being ""the main engine of intolerance, hate and persecution,"" pointing out that the systematic campaign of religious persecution against Baha'is, and the harassment, imprisonment and torture faced by all minorities or vulnerable individuals, are ""instigated and perpetuated"" by the authorities.
The government is ""continually sending memoranda, laws, instructions and threats to civil servants, to universities, to teachers, to private businesses, instructing them to get rid of staff, students, and other individuals, who belong to 'deviant' groups, who are Baha'is, or who are politically active – who ask the wrong questions,"" said Dr. Ghanea.
Children are humiliated and bullied in schools, she added, ""not by other children, but under instruction of government authorities and by their teachers.""
Dr. Ghanea noted that this repression is now targeting a ""wider and wider profile of people who are allegedly dissidents."" In its prejudice against nearly the entire population, she said, ""the Iranian regime had failed...to recognise the rich diversity of Iranian civilisation.""  Omid Djalili, actor and comedian, addresses a seminar on human rights in Iran held at the United Kingdom's Houses of Parliament on 15 June. Mr. Djalili praised the fortitude and perseverance of the Iranian Baha'i community. Seated beside him is Khataza Gondwe of Christian Solidarity Worldwide.Women's rights activist and lawyer Shadi Sadr, who was imprisoned in Iran, spoke of the grievous situation of women prisoners.
They are ""deprived of many rights that are given to them...in accordance with international law...and the laws of Iran,"" she said.
Ms. Sadr highlighted the extreme violence faced by women prisoners during interrogation which, through the fear it causes, inhibits the activism of women across the country.
Recent years have also witnessed increased persecution against Christians in Iran.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide's Khataza Gondwe referred to the Iranian authorities' practice of using hate speech against minorities, citing a ""prolific outpouring of inflammatory rhetoric"" against the Christian community. According to Dr Gondwe, the rhetoric claims that Christians had ""inserted themselves into Islam like a parasite,"" and were part of ""perverted cults"" and ""foreign conspiracies.""
Recalling the warmth and hospitality of ordinary Iranians he met during his visits to the country, Mike Gapes MP – a former member of the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee – contrasted the behaviour of the Iranian government in the interests of ""security"" with a ""young, dynamic, vibrant society"" that wants to ""engage with the world.""
Only when the Iranian government recognises all of its ethnic and religious groups, and accords them equal rights, will Iran's security be assured, said Mr. Gapes.
""The biggest security is human security,"" he said.
Held on Wednesday 15 June, the seminar was the latest in a range of activities taking place around the world to mark the third anniversary of the arrest of Iran's seven Baha'i leaders. They were detained on baseless charges, convicted without evidence and in violation of due process, and are each serving 20-year jail sentences.
A message sent to the seminar from leading human rights barrister, Cherie Blair QC, said Iran's imprisonment of the seven ""shames the country's leaders."" Mrs. Blair called for the Iranian authorities to ""free the Baha'i leaders and comply with their commitment to religious freedom.""
Anglo-Iranian actor and comedian Omid Djalili – who was also on the panel – said that the seven were ""holding on to their personalities and their identities"" by staying true to their principles and faith. Mr. Djalili also praised the fortitude and perseverance of the Iranian Baha'i community as a whole.
Kishan Manocha, Director of the Office of Public Affairs of the UK Baha'i community, concluded that the seminar ""underlines the extent of the human rights crisis in Iran, and it reminds us that not only Baha'is but other religious minorities, women, journalists and others are subject to ongoing human rights violations.""
Special Report - ""The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders""
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
834,2011-06-20,"[833, 832, 830]",Rally in Rio calls for Iran to respect human rights,"RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Representatives from government, religious communities and civil society organizations were among the 800 human rights supporters who gathered to call upon Iran to cease its persecution of Baha'is and other religious minorities.
Participants travelled from all over Brazil to take part in the rally, held at Rio's Copacabana Beach yesterday, some spending up to 15 hours on buses to get there.
Almost 8,000 images depicting the faces of Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders were on display at the beach, corresponding to the number of days of detention the seven had suffered after three years in prison. The photographs were arranged in a large circle, representing the world, and the union of people of all races and nations.
In his remarks, Brazilian congressman Chico Alencar set the tone for the day's activities, saying, ""Religious freedom is something that cannot be touched.""  In Brazil, human rights campaigners circle around almost 8,000 images depicting the faces of Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, on Rio's Copacabana Beach. The photographs were arranged to represent the world, and the union of people of all races and nations.A Jewish participant, Natan Klabin, agreed. ""We know well what it is to be persecuted because of one's religion, and thus we know how important it is to show solidarity with other repressed minorities,"" he said.
Babalowa Ivanir dos Santos – representing the Afro-Brazilian religion, Candomble – spoke of the persecution his community has often faced. ""This is why we feel that we must protest against all kinds of religious intolerance. I hope one day we will no longer need to promote demonstrations like this one, in any country,"" said Mr. Santos.
One thousand yellow vests – printed with the phrases ""Today we are all Baha'is"" and ""Free the 7 Baha'is imprisoned in Iran"" – were distributed, along with leaflets about religious freedom. Musicians also contributed to the programme, performing songs on the themes of freedom and solidarity.
Brazilian Baha'i Iradj Eghrari said that demonstrating solidarity among religions is essential to show the Iranian authorities that persecution is not only a matter of concern for Baha'is.
""If a person does not demonstrate support towards persecuted religious minorities, he or she may well be the next victim of religious intolerance,"" said Mr. Eghrari.
The seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders were members of a national-level ad hoc group that helped attend to the needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community. After an illegal 30 month detention, they were tried on trumped-up charges and each sentenced in August 2010 to 20 years in jail.",RIO DE JANEIRO,,Brazil
835,2011-06-26,"[834, 833, 832]",Iran's human rights violations: international condemnation spreads,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The worldwide outcry against the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community has been joined by the Chilean Senate, a Muslim Senator in Canada, and prominent Indian organizations.
The latest calls – for an end to both the imprisonment of Iran's seven Baha'i leaders and the continuing detention of 12 staff and faculty members of the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) – have coincided with the sending of a message to the Baha'is of Iran by the Universal House of Justice.
The letter, written in Persian and dated 17 June, dismisses as ""baseless"" and ""absurd"" statements by the Iranian authorities that the Baha'i community's effort to educate its young members is ""illegal.""
It also upbraids those in Iran who, it says, have shunned true Islamic values, the laws of their land, and the nation's proud history of learning and knowledge, and have allowed themselves – based on ignorant religious prejudice – to deny young citizens of their higher education.
""Unjust detention""
In Chile, the Senate has unanimously asked President Sebastián Piñera to ""strongly condemn"" Iran for its ""rigorous and systematic persecution of Baha'is.""
In a resolution approved unanimously on 15 June, the Chilean Senate specifically mentioned the arrests last month of BIHE faculty and staff, objecting to the ""unjust detention of those individuals.""
The Senate noted that, ""since 1979 the government of Iran has systematically denied higher education to young adherents of its largest non-Muslim religious minority, the large Baha'i community of 300,000 believers.
""The government also has sought to suppress the efforts of the Baha'is to establish their own initiatives, including the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE).""
A passionate plea
In the Canadian Senate, Senator Mobina Jaffer has asked for ""new steps"" by Canada to ""call Iran to account for its unacceptable treatment of the Baha'is.""
Senator Jaffer – who is Canada's first Muslim Senator – spoke for more than 15 minutes on 21 June about the human rights situation in Iran, decrying the country's ""brutal campaign of oppression against its citizens.""
""Last September, the UN catalogued the abuses perpetrated by Iran, including torture and cruelty, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, public executions and executions of juvenile defenders, the use of stoning as a measure of execution, violation of women's rights, violations of the rights of minorities, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association and freedom of opinion and expression,"" she said.
Much of her speech, however, was devoted to a discussion of the Iranian government's persecution of Baha'is, saying that the situation ""is a case study of the real intentions of the Iranian government with respect to its human rights obligations.""
""The persecution faced by Baha'is in Iran today has few parallels in human history,"" said Senator Jaffer. ""This is a community of more than 300,000 people that for more than 30 years has been subject to an often explicit state policy focused on its destruction. The intensity of pressure felt by this religious minority is almost impossible for us, as Canadians, to imagine, yet it is our duty as senators, indeed as fellow human beings, to raise our voices in solidarity with their cause.
""Baha'is face prosecution in Iran because a hardline clerical elite views their religion as illegitimate, and they are therefore considered to be apostates or opponents of Islam. This attitude toward Baha'is is spread by lies and misinformation channelled through state-controlled media. Baha'is are often falsely accused of being foreign agents working secretly against the nation. The result of such disinformation campaigns is widespread ignorance that perpetuates a culture of prejudice,"" she said.
Senator Jaffer's formal ""inquiry"" means that the Senate will take up the discussion about Iran when it reconvenes in the autumn.
Iran's actions ""shameful""
In India, prominent people are continuing to raise their voices against the imprisonment of BIHE staff and faculty members.
The Better Education Through Innovation (BETI) Foundation in Lucknow – which is dedicated to the education of girls – has expressed its ""firm and committed solidarity in condemning action taken against the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education.""
""It is indeed surprising that the Islamic Republic of Iran should resort to action which not only deny Baha'is of their inherent Human Rights but also goes against the edicts of the Holy Quran which repeatedly stresses the need for gaining the highest and best education possible..."" wrote Sehba Hussain, founder director of the BETI Foundation and a member of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
""Reactions taken by the Government in Iran are shameful in the eyes of the True Believers as well as the Almighty,"" wrote Ms. Hussain.
In a letter to the Iranian ambassador to India, accompanying a petition signed by 86 leading figures, Maja Daruwala – director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiatives – expressed the signatories' ""strongest condemnation of the brutal acts of persecution against Iranian Baha'is,"" particularly ""those associated with the noble work of providing access to education to Baha'i youth who have been systematically denied their right to education...""
""We also ask the government of Iran to honour its own obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and allow all its citizens access to higher education irrespective of their ideology or beliefs,"" wrote Ms. Daruwala.
Special Reports
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community.
Another Special Report includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
836,2011-06-29,"[835, 834, 833]",Lawyer for jailed Baha'i leaders speaks out at European Parliament,"BRUSSELS, Belgium — One of the lawyers who defended Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders has made an impassioned plea for justice during an extraordinary meeting held at the European Parliament.
Mahnaz Parakand told the meeting that the expectation of the people of Iran is ""not to be left alone by the governments and international organizations whose primary policy is the respect of humanity and human rights...""
All of Iran's peoples are ""held in a large prison named the Islamic Republic of Iran,"" she said, ""under various oppressions and sufferings, and are imprisoned, tortured and executed for a number of allegations.""
The meeting, held yesterday at a conference room within the European Parliament, was Ms. Parakand's first public appearance since fleeing her homeland after learning she was about to be arrested for her support of the seven Baha'i leaders and other cases, including that of Nasrin Sotoudeh – herself a lawyer, sentenced to 11 years in prison for representing human rights activists.
Members of the European Parliament – joined by staff from the European Commission and the European External Action Service – heard Ms. Parakand give a detailed account of the case of the seven, and of the escalating persecution faced by their co-religionists.
""The pain and suffering that the Baha'is have to endure are in addition to the cruelties suffered by all the people of Iran,"" she said.
Expressing gratitude that she could ""talk freely and without any restrictions, and without feeling unsafe and being afraid of being imprisoned and tortured,"" Ms. Parakand said she felt honoured to be ""the voice of the martyrs who were executed merely for their beliefs,"" and ""to speak loudly on behalf of those who spent a number of years in prison and were tortured merely for voicing their opinion...""
Ms. Parakand said that she also spoke on behalf of ""those who are barred from employment in government positions and those who have been deprived of higher education; those whose homes have been destroyed and even their cemeteries desecrated only for their beliefs; those individuals who are constantly harassed when pursuing private businesses, because of having a belief other than the one that is ruling the country.""
Alluding to the Iranian authorities' recent attack on the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education – a community initiative offering higher education to young Baha'is barred from university – Ms. Parakand said she represented ""the people who are deprived of having any kind of institutions for the education of their children, who are barred from entering schools and public universities.
""If there are such institutions, they are closed and their managers are arrested and imprisoned,"" she said.
""I want to talk about those children who are not free to express their beliefs, otherwise they would be dismissed from school; talk about those who do not have the freedom of choosing their own friends and whose friendship with individuals who are not Baha'is is considered to be teaching the Baha'i Faith, leading to their being imprisoned and tortured.""
A catalogue of injustices
Ms. Parakand is a member of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre, founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, which handled the defence of the seven Baha'i leaders. At yesterday's meeting Ms. Parakand was able to provide the first detailed account of what happened behind closed doors during the trial of the seven Baha'i leaders last year, presenting a long list of injustices and legal mis-steps by the Iranian court system.
These included the clandestine arrests of the seven – without summons – in 2008; their initial detention in solitary cells, without contact with their families; individual interrogations and their illegal imprisonment for more than two years without access to legal counsel; their trial on trumped-up charges; and the subsequent appeal procedure that saw their 20-year sentences reduced to 10 years, and then reinstated.
""The bill of indictment that was issued against our clients...was more like a political statement, rather than a legal document,"" recalled Ms. Parakand. ""It was a 50-page document...full of accusations and humiliations leveled against the Baha'i community of Iran, especially our clients.  It was written without producing any proof for the allegations.
""There was only one bill of indictment issued for all the seven leaders...against all the legal standards, without specifying what kind of offence each one of them had been accused of,"" she said.
The meeting heard that prior to the trial, during the two and a half years of illegal detention, neither Ms. Parakand nor her colleagues were allowed to visit their clients.
""We diligently studied the case file, which contained over 2,000 pages, over the period of one month and studied each page carefully, trying to find out how and based on what reason, document, proof or witness the freedom of seven individuals had been taken away from them in that manner. Fortunately, we could not find any document or legal reason proving that any of the accusations that were leveled against our clients were true,"" she said.
""We were hoping that they would be exonerated, as there was no reason for them to be convicted.""
After reviewing the case file, the lawyers were allowed only one meeting with the prisoners. ""Our visit with the clients was conducted in such a condition that the prison authorities were monitoring, and the women present were clandestinely taping our conversation...This act violates the right of the clients to freely describe what happened to them in prison,"" explained Ms. Parakand.
Recalling the trial, Ms. Parakand spoke of numerous violations of legal procedures, and the presence in court of Ministry of Intelligence agents, intended to intimidate the defendants.
""One of the conditions of a fair trial is the impartiality of the presiding judge,"" said Ms. Parakand, whereas in this case, ""the presiding judge...was using the same language and phrases outlined in the bill of indictment such as 'perverse Bahaist sect.' This clearly shows the lack of impartiality of the presiding judge and an unfair trial based on one's belief.""
During the trial, the judge often cut short the clients' defence statements on the pretence that their argument was considered to be 'teaching Bahaism', she said.
""The injustice imposed upon our clients...is a reflection of the oppression forced upon all the Baha'is who live in Iran,"" added Ms. Parakand.
Appeal for continued action
Ms. Parakand concluded by urging governments and organizations to demand that Iran modify its internal discriminatory laws against intellectual and religious minorities, and coerce those countries that violate human rights to follow precisely the content of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
She also appealed to the European Union to send a representative to Iran to investigate the situation of the seven Baha'i leaders, ""to improve their unlawful current circumstances and to take necessary measures for their immediate release.""
Ms. Parakand's appearance at the European Parliament was at the invitation of Barbara Lochbihler, a German MEP, who is the chair of the Parliament's delegation for relations with Iran. Ms. Lochbihler assured Ms. Parakand that the situation of human rights in Iran is not forgotten.
In addition to the seven leaders, some 90 Baha'is are currently imprisoned in Iran, including nine staff and faculty members of the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education, still detained after raids on 39 Baha'i homes last month.
Special Reports
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community.
Another Special Report includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
837,2011-07-04,"[836, 835, 834]","Academic conference explores ""othering"" of Iranian Baha'is","TORONTO, Canada — Iranian scholars, many from globally prominent universities, gathered here for a groundbreaking academic conference on the persecution of Iran's Baha'is.
Titled ""Intellectual Othering and the Baha'i Question in Iran,"" the conference examined how Iranian authorities have sought to exclude Baha'is from social, political, cultural, and intellectual life by portraying them as outsiders in their own land – a process known as ""othering.""
The event, held from 1-3 July, was the first major academic conference at a top-ranked university to focus on the persecution of Iran's Baha'is in any context.
""This conference is not a Baha'i studies conference,"" said one of its organizers Mohamad Tavakoli. ""It is an effort to understand the use of repression in the history of modern Iran and how the 'othering' of Baha'is has become a mechanism of mass mobilization for the legitimization of the state and for the creation of political-religious ideology.""
Dr. Tavakoli – a well-known scholar on Iran and the Middle East from the University of Toronto – said the idea for the conference came from his own research into the degree to which various Iranian groups had used anti-Baha'i rhetoric and made a scapegoat of Baha'is to gain political power, both in the past and the present.
Within this framework, the talks and papers – presented by scholars from such diverse backgrounds as atheism, Baha'i, Christianity, humanism, Islam and Judaism – ranged across a wide territory: from early efforts to vilify Baha'is by painting them as colonialist agents of the British and Russians, to the use of modern propaganda techniques that, for example, falsely characterize Iranian Baha'is as part of a cult that uses ""brainwashing"" techniques to steal away Muslim children.
One presentation described how memoirs and oral histories by clerics have been used to demonize Baha'is since the 1979 Revolution. These memoirs, said Shahram Kholdi – a PhD candidate from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom – represent a large pool of literature, largely unexamined in the West, which has been used to create a revisionist narrative of the founding of the Islamic Republic, aimed at the faithful.
Attacking Baha'is – often using indirect language – is a frequent theme of these memoirs, said Mr. Kholdi. ""Baha'is are often portrayed as foreign agents,"" he said, explaining that Baha'is are described as part of an external force behind the oppressive measures of the Pahlavi regime. ""So they use Baha'is to legitimize their own revolutionary history.""
Politicians also frequently used pogroms against Baha'is for political reasons, explained Homa Katouzian, a professor of Oriental Studies at Oxford University, who examined a 1924 incident where an anti-Baha'i demonstration led to the assassination of the American vice consul in Iran. Baha'is were ""a particularly soft target,"" he said.
Historical parallels  Human Rights lawyer Abdol-Karim Lahidji was honored at a special reception on Friday at the University of Toronto for his work in promoting human rights in Iran. The tribute came during a conference on ""Intellectual Othering and the Baha'i Question in Iran,"" held 1-3 July 2011. Dr. Lahidji is among the most well-known Iranian lawyers in international circles and is the author of numerous books and articles on human rights. ""If other people's rights are violated, you have to defend them too. This is the struggle of every single one of us,"" Dr. Lahidji told the conference.Several speakers made comparisons between the oppression of Iranian Baha'is under the Islamic Republic and other historical efforts to portray a particular religious or ethnic group as outsiders – something that has often led to wider pogroms or worse.
The father of Rhoda Howard-Hassmann – a professor of international human rights at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada – was a Jewish refugee who fled Nazi Germany. Professor Howard-Hassmann said the descriptions she heard at the conference about abuses directed against Baha'is were all too familiar.
""The talk of the desecration of graves, the conspiracy theories, ...the accusation that they are a cult that is stealing children – these are all characteristics of extreme retribution, if not pre-genocide,"" she said.
""This is a political phenomenon, caused by a regime and its manipulation of political beliefs. It is not something that simply exists among the people.""
In his talk, Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, a professor of Persian studies at the University of Maryland, examined the destruction of Iran's Baha'i holy places and properties. He recounted a long list of Baha'i sites that have been destroyed – from village Baha'i centres in the late 19th century to the House of the Bab, one of the most sacred Baha'i sites in the world, which was razed by mobs incited by Muslim clerics, shortly after the Islamic Revolution.
Professor Karimi-Hakkak compared such demolitions to attacks on other major religious sites, for example the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan, saying that their purpose was often to assert the power of the majority over the minority, and to place the minority in the category of the ""other.""
When a Shiite believer destroys buildings or graves, he said ""they demonstrate that religious minorities must obey them and they have no power to protect their holy sites or their revered graves.""
Other scholars made references to pogroms against the Ottoman Armenians and against Orthodox Christians in Soviet Russia.
Contemporary relevance
The relevance of the ""Baha'i question"" to larger issues of religious intolerance and political repression worldwide was also explored, as participants considered what lessons can be learned from the Baha'i experience.
Several contributors said they believed that the Baha'i case now exemplifies the increasing oppression that is being felt by all Iranians, especially since the crackdown that followed the 2009 presidential election. This has led many ordinary Iranians to sympathize and identify with Baha'is, they said.
""I think the atrocities committed against the Baha'is are being intuitively registered and included among the most significant cases of human rights violations in Iran,"" said Reza Afshari, a professor of history at Pace University in New York. ""At last, this has led to a growing recognition that human rights do matter and that their violations are by-products of the country's authoritarian rule and intolerance culture, mediated by the Shiite mullahs' direct intrusions into the realms of national politics.""
Ramin Jahanbegloo – a professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto, who himself spent four months in prison in the Islamic Republic of Iran – spoke about the importance of including the Baha'i question in any future effort at national reconciliation. He compared such a process to what happened in South Africa, saying the first step in rebuilding and healing a future Iran would be to forgive - rather than forget.
In this regard, he said, it was important to ""bring to light the dark episodes"" of Iran's collective life, such as the persecution of Baha'is. ""Forgiveness does not mean forgetting,"" he said.
The conference ended with a talk by noted Iranian human rights lawyer Abdol-Karim Lahidji, who examined several international legal instruments that can be used to protect against the type of discrimination that was the meeting's theme.
Dr. Lahidji spoke boldly about the need for greater respect for human rights in Iran – and the need to grant Baha'is full rights of citizenship.
""Freedom of conscience, freedom of belief, freedom of religion – and not to believe in any religion – has to be recognized,"" he said, stressing the importance of passionately defending human rights and the victims of discrimination, whether they are members of your own particular group or not.
""If other people's rights are violated, you have to defend them too. This is the struggle of every single one of us,"" he said.
Special Reports
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community.
Another Special Report includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",TORONTO,,Canada
838,2011-07-06,"[837, 836, 835]",Jailed Iranian Baha'i leader appears on Dutch postage stamp,"HILVERSUM, Netherlands — A series of special postage stamps portraying victims of human rights abuses in Iran has been launched in the Netherlands.
Current and forthcoming stamps in the series depict the acclaimed poet Simin Behbahani; trade unionist Mansour Osanlou; Mahvash Sabet – one of Iran's seven Baha'i leaders; and human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh.
The stamps are officially accepted by the Netherlands' national postal service and are valid for use on mail.
The initiative was the brainchild of Mina Saadadi, managing editor of media organization Shahrzad News, which produces radio programs and online content in Persian and English.
""Here in the Netherlands, we have the possibility to publish and design our own stamps,"" said Ms. Saadadi. ""There are a lot of violations of human rights in Iran, so we thought, 'Why don't we cover the different sections of Iranian society and give a face to those who are under pressure?'""
Shahrzad News has entered into partnerships with relevant organizations to produce and promote the stamps. The one depicting Mansour Osanlou, the imprisoned leader of a transport workers' union, has been used on letters to Iran from the Dutch federation of trade unions – Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV) – concerning the situation of Iranian labor activists.
Five thousand copies of the stamp showing Mahvash Sabet have just been printed.
""It's very moving to see the face of someone who has been willing to sacrifice everything for her values going out on letters and postcards all over the world,"" said Marga Martens of the Netherlands Baha'i community.
A trained psychologist, Mrs. Sabet worked as a teacher and a principal at several schools. After the 1979 Islamic revolution, however, along with thousands of other Baha'i educators, she was fired from her job and barred from working in public education.
Mrs. Sabet has been incarcerated since 5 March 2008. She was the first to be arrested of a seven-member, national-level ad hoc group that helped attend to the needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community. After an illegal 30-month detention, the seven were tried on trumped-up charges and each sentenced in August 2010 to 20 years in jail.
""In many ways, this stamp not only represents the seven leaders – and the other 90 or so Baha'i prisoners in Iran – but all who are victimized for standing up for their principles,"" said Ms. Martens.
""At a time when the Iranian authorities are clamping down on community initiatives to educate young Baha'is who are banned from university, Mrs. Sabet - as a teacher, a mother and a Baha'i - symbolizes a commitment to education, and the right to freedom of religion for all.""
Nasrin Sotoudeh – whose face will appear on another stamp in the series – is a prominent lawyer who has represented numerous victims of human rights abuses, including prisoners sentenced to death for crimes committed when they were minors. In January this year, authorities sentenced Ms. Sotoudeh to 11 years in prison for charges that include ""activities against national security"" and ""propaganda against the regime."" Additionally, she has been barred from practicing law and from leaving Iran for 20 years.
83-year old Simin Behbahani – also to be depicted on a stamp – is one of the most prominent figures in modern Persian literature. Called the ""lioness of Iran"" by her admirers, she is also unable to leave the country.
Shahrzad News is publishing articles about the stamps and presenting them at events including, for example, a conference held in the Netherlands last week attended by some 300 Iranian women.
""They were glad to hear about the idea of giving a face to people who are struggling in Iran,"" said Ms. Saadadi.
""The art is for groups to be able to connect together with others while focusing on their own issue. It is very important to work with others; ethnic minorities, religious minorities, other movements, are not loud enough to be heard alone.""",HILVERSUM,,Netherlands
839,2011-07-08,"[838, 837, 836]","British legal bodies highlight ""dire situation"" of human rights in Iran","LONDON, England — Two prominent legal associations are calling upon the United Nations' new special investigator for Iran to examine the ""dire situation"" of human rights defenders and alleged ""dissidents"" in the country.
In a joint statement, the Law Society and the Solicitors' International Human Rights Group are asking the UN Human Rights Council's newly-appointed Special Rapporteur on Iran to tackle such issues as ""how 'dissidents,' who are deemed to have threatened national security on the flimsiest of grounds, are treated...""
The statement highlights the cases of ""peaceful protesters who have called for the end of discrimination against women, and academics who have countered the cynical exclusion of their co-religionists from tertiary education by setting up a university to cater for excluded Baha'i youth.""
Nine people are still being detained following a series of raids carried out seven weeks ago on 39 homes of Baha'is who were offering education to young community members barred by the government from university.
The UN Human Rights Council voted in March this year to appoint the special investigator to monitor Iran's compliance with international human rights standards. The appointment to the post of Ahmed Shaheed – a former Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Maldives – was announced last month.
The Law Society described the appointment as a ""positive step.""
""The Law Society and the Solicitors Human Rights Group have appealed to Iran several times in recent years about particular human rights cases, and we are familiar with many of the serious issues surrounding human rights in the country,"" said Law Society president Linda Lee.
Lionel Blackman, the chair of the Solicitors' International Human Rights Group, said the Special  Rapporteur also ""needs to boldly look beyond the explicit mistruths stated by the Iranian authorities – such as those by Mohammad-Javad Larijani, Secretary-General of the High Council for Human Rights last month, that Iran does not arrest any Baha'i in Iran just for being a Baha'i.
""A well documented record of over three decades by a range of credible sources suggests the contrary. Indeed the very national representatives of this religious minority community have just entered the third year of imprisonment of a 20 year sentence which stemmed from a highly flawed legal process,"" said Mr. Blackman.
Latest reports suggest that more than 100 Baha'is are now incarcerated in Iranian prisons.
The statement, issued on 6 July, also expresses concern over ""the detention and debarring of lawyers who have fulfilled their professional calling by defending the rights of opposition activists, journalists, ethnic and religious minorities and juvenile offenders, as well as other victims of grave human rights violations.""
""The lack of due process, independence of the judiciary and equality before the law jeopardizes the universal human rights of all Iranians,"" said Linda Lee.
The Law Society represents thousands of solicitors in England and Wales. The Solicitors' International Human Rights Group promotes awareness of international human rights within the legal profession, encourages human rights lawyers outside of the United Kingdom, and conducts related missions, research, campaigns and training.
Special Reports
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community.
Another Special Report includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
840,2011-07-15,"[763, 712, 410]","Peter J. Khan, 1936-2011","HAIFA, Israel — Dr.  Peter J. Khan, former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away today in Brisbane, Australia. He was 74 years old.
The Universal House of Justice has sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies:*  *  *We grieve at the sudden passing of our dearly loved former colleague Peter J. Khan, whose many years of service in the Holy Land, concluded so recently, are still fresh in our memories.  By any measure, his was a remarkable life, one of earnest striving, of unbending resolve, of unflinching dedication to principle, and of constancy of effort.  Discovering the Faith in his early youth, he had an unbroken record of outstanding service that included membership of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia, of the Auxiliary Board for Propagation in North America, of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Australasia, and of the International Teaching Centre and that culminated in his election to the Universal House of Justice on which body he served for twenty-three years.  His considerable intellectual gifts manifested themselves in every aspect of his service to the Cause of God:  in his stalwart defence of the Covenant, in the exemplary manner in which he discharged his manifold administrative duties, in his acquainting generations of youth with the transforming vision of Shoghi Effendi, in his championing the advancement of women, in his diligent attention to the stewardship of the Faith's material resources, and in his presentations of the verities of the Cause with uncommon eloquence and endearing humour to unnumbered audiences-lifting hearts, stimulating minds, galvanizing spirits.  The Faith of God has lost a distinguished servant.
Our condolences are extended to his beloved wife Janet, his collaborator and devoted companion.  We shall offer ardent prayers at the Sacred Threshold that his illumined soul may be joyously received in the Abha Kingdom and immersed in the ocean of divine grace.  We call upon the friends to hold befitting memorial gatherings in his honour throughout the Baha'i community, including in all the Houses of Worship.
The Universal House of Justice",HAIFA,,Israel
841,2011-07-17,"[840, 388, 209]","Dr. Peter J. Khan: A ""remarkable life""","BRISBANE, Australia — With the passing of Dr. Peter J. Khan, the worldwide Baha'i community has lost a ""distinguished servant.""
""By any measure, his was a remarkable life, one of earnest striving, of unbending resolve, of unflinching dedication to principle, and of constancy of effort,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice, on learning of Dr. Khan's sudden passing on 15 July.
Dr. Khan – who was 74 years old when he died – was a member of the Universal House of Justice for 23 years, until his return to Australia in May last year.
Peter Jamel Khan was born in New South Wales on 12 November 1936 to Fazal and Hukoomat Khan from Khassi Kalan in the Punjab region of India. Four years before their son's birth, they were among the first Indian immigrants to settle on Australia's eastern coast.
When he was 12 years old, Dr. Khan, his parents and sister, became the first Muslims in Australia to join the Baha'i Faith. From that time onwards, he dedicated his life to promoting the Baha'i teachings, starting his life of service as an active youth member of the Yerrinbool Baha'i community.
At the age of 21, he was elected a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia, on which he served until 1963.
Dr. Khan became an electrical engineer, receiving his BSc (1956), his BE (1959), and his doctorate (1963) – all from the University of Sydney. From 1963 to 1967, he lived in the United States as a Fulbright postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, and remained there as a professor of electrical engineering until his return to Australia in 1975. He became a visiting professor at the University of New South Wales and an associate professor at the University of Queensland from 1976 until 1983. He was also a fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, a senior member of the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and a member of the editorial board of its journal, Transactions on Microwave Theory.
During his stay in the United States, Dr. Khan served as a member of the Auxiliary Board for Propagation of the Baha'i Faith. Later, on his return to Australia, he served as a Continental Counsellor for Australasia until his appointment in 1983 to the International Teaching Centre, when he and his wife, Janet, transferred their residence to the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel.
Dr. Khan was first elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1987, serving until April 2010 when he relinquished his position owing to advanced age and the heavy burden of work involved in membership.
""His considerable intellectual gifts manifested themselves in every aspect of his service,"" noted the Universal House of Justice, recalling in particular Dr. Khan's commitment to the education of young Baha'is, the ""exemplary manner in which he discharged his manifold administrative duties,"" and his championing of the Baha'i principle of the equality of men and women.
In this latter respect, he co-authored Advancement of Women – A Baha'i Perspective (1998) with his wife, Janet, who was described by the Universal House of Justice as Dr. Khan's ""collaborator and devoted companion.""
An engaging public speaker, Dr. Khan's ""uncommon eloquence and endearing humour"" inspired audiences around the world, ""lifting hearts, stimulating minds, galvanizing spirits,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice.",BRISBANE,,Australia
842,2011-07-24,"[836, 829, 820]",Government minister praises Baha'i contribution to Luxembourg,"LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg — The Luxembourg Baha'i community's involvement in society has been praised by a high-ranking government minister on a special visit to the national Baha'i centre.
Minister of Finance Luc Frieden made his remarks at a celebration marking National Day, the official birthday of His Royal Highness Henri, Grand-Duke of Luxembourg.
Citing the importance of the values of tolerance and unity, the minister expressed the government's gratitude to the Baha'is for their commitment to the life of the country.
""The value of a religious community, or any other organization, should be a reflection of the contribution it makes towards the development of society,"" said Mr. Frieden.
To that end, Mr. Frieden spoke of the importance of people being involved in the community in which they live, ""looking more to the common good and the effects of their actions on others.""
Amir Saberin, the chair of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Luxembourg described the occasion as ""very historic and significant for us.""
""For the first time, Mr. Frieden came in order to show the government's appreciation and recognition of the work of the Baha'i community,"" said Dr. Saberin.
""He wanted to know what we are doing practically. We talked about education and how we are particularly trying to be involved with our fellow citizens to give responsibility to, and develop the potential of, young people.""
Dr. Saberin also mentioned the situation in Iran today where young Baha'is are barred from entering university, and their subsequent efforts to continue their education are branded as illegal.
In response, Mr. Frieden expressed his support for an increased focus on education, mutual respect and the ""fundamental values inherent to all civilization.""
The minister was accompanied at the event – which took place on 21 June – by two deputies of the Luxembourgish Parliament, Martine Stein-Mergen and Fernand Kartheiser.",LUXEMBOURG,,Luxembourg
843,2011-07-27,"[839, 838, 837]","Iran: Baha'is educating their youth is a ""conspiracy"" against the state","GENEVA, Switzerland — Some nine weeks after they were arrested, 11 Iranian Baha'is – associated with an initiative offering higher education to young community members barred from university – are now reportedly facing charges.
The Baha'i International Community has learned that, by establishing the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education, the 11 are accused of ""conspiracy against national security"" and ""conspiracy against the Islamic Republic of Iran.""
""What could possibly motivate the Islamic Republic to make such a charge?"" asks Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
A widespread international outcry has followed the latest attack on the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), in which some 39 homes were raided at the end of May. Of the 19 BIHE staff or faculty members who were originally detained in connection with the raids, 11 remain in prison.
""Callous action""
The recent targeting of the BIHE is the latest attempt in an ongoing policy to keep Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority on the margins of society. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, young Baha'is have been systematically deprived of higher education. With nowhere else to go to, the community initiated its own educational programme. This, in turn, has come under attack on numerous occasions by the Iranian authorities who have now declared it ""illegal.""
""This callous action is all part of a systematic plan to impoverish the Baha'is of Iran,"" explains Ms. Ala'i. ""The authorities are clearly determined to drive Baha'i youth, who long to contribute to their society, out of their homeland.
""Baha'is have been banned from higher education for three decades. And now, their own peaceful initiative – to meet a need created by the government's own actions – is branded a conspiracy against the state.
""Iran's actions are being closely scrutinized at home, and around the world by governments, organizations and fair-minded individuals. It's time for the international community to vigorously challenge the Iranian government on this matter,"" she says.
Families' fears
The families of the 11 prisoners are fearful that their loved ones will be held for a prolonged period.
""We know that in the case of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders, they should have been released within two months; the court had not brought forward any evidence to justify their continued imprisonment,"" says Ms. Ala'i.
""When the attorneys for the defendants objected to this detention, the court made up new charges against them to justify keeping them in custody. They were illegally held for almost two years under the original writ for their detention.""
Worldwide condemnation
The outcry against the latest attack on the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education has spanned the world, from Australia to Zambia.
Universities Australia – representing all 39 of the country's universities – raised the issue on 28 June with the Director-General of UNESCO. ""Australian universities are united in their strong support for facilitating access to education for all, irrespective of religious faith,"" the organization wrote.
In a statement on 1 June, Austria's Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger described the restriction of access to education for young Baha'is as ""unacceptable.""
Congressman Luiz Couto, former president of Brazil's Human Rights and Minorities Commission, told the Brazilian National Congress on 2 June, ""The action of the authorities towards individuals associated with the BIHE demonstrate the clear intention of Iranian government to carry out their policy of the elimination of the Baha'i community.""
Senator Mobina Jaffer – the first Muslim woman appointed to Canada's upper house – informed the Canadian Senate on 21 June that the attacks are ""not only on the students and the faculty of the Baha'i education institute, but on the cherished idea that education is the birthright of all.""
In Chile, on 15 June, the Senate unanimously asked President Sebastian Pinera to ""strongly condemn"" Iran for its ""rigorous and systematic persecution of Baha'is."" The resolution specifically mentioned the arrests of BIHE faculty and staff, objecting to the ""unjust detention of those individuals.""
Professors from Oxford, Cambridge and other leading universities in England wrote an open letter on 11 June, calling for academics, students and politicians to support the right of Baha'is to access higher education in Iran. ""The authorities must be taught that human rights are universal,"" they wrote to The Guardian newspaper. ""Barring Baha'is from university exposes the government's own ignorance.""
Thousands of postcards have been dispatched in all regions of France and the Netherlands, describing the situation. Radio features about the postcard campaign were broadcast on French radio stations.
On 9 June, Christoph Strasser, Member of Germany's Parliament and spokesperson on human rights of the Social Democrats, addressed a letter of protest to the Iranian ambassador to Germany. ""All humans have the right to education,"" wrote Mr. Strasser. ""With Baha'is being prohibited from studying at universities, your government is injuring fundamental human rights.""
Condemning the raids and arrests, New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully, described the denial of higher education to the Baha'is in Iran as ""reprehensible.""
Some 80 prominent citizens of India signed a petition to the Iranian Government calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the prisoners. ""The consequences of this policy of disallowing the Baha'i youth to have access to higher education will be detrimental not only for the Baha'i community of Iran, but also for the nation as a whole,"" they wrote.
The Chairman of  Ireland's Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, along with members of the Committee – which includes Members of Parliament and Senators – met with Iran's Ambassador to Ireland and raised the matter with him, requesting that the Ambassador convey their concerns to his authorities in Tehran. The Ambassador undertook to do so.
The Al Seyassah newspaper in Kuwait published an article on 24 May reporting the attack against BIHE.
Students at the University of Zambia launched a two-week long postcard campaign ""in support of BIHE and the right to education."" The postcard depicted Zambian students on one side and – on the other – a message for Iran's minister of science, research and technology stating ""Baha'is should be able to enter universities as faculty and staff and as students who can get a degree.""
""We continue to call upon governments, organizations and people everywhere to urge Iran to allow Baha'is their fundamental human right to education and to release these prisoners immediately,"" says Diane Ala'i.
Special Reports
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community.
Another Special Report includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
844,2011-07-31,"[824, 809, 808]","At the UN and online, young people are talking about sustainable development","UNITED NATIONS, United States — Increasing numbers of young people are expressing their views about global problems – and how to solve them – in a wide range of settings.
That was among the insights that emerged at a workshop for young people held here titled, ""Our Voices, Our Aspirations: A Youth Dialogue on Sustainable Development.""
The meeting was organized on Tuesday 26 July at the United Nations offices of the Baha'i International Community, as a side event to this week's UN High-level Meeting on Youth.
Representatives from 400 youth groups joined ambassadors, NGOs and UN officials for the two-day UN meeting, held 25-26 July, titled ""Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding."" Talks ranged across a wide variety of issues of concern to the younger generation, including jobs, poverty and sustainable development.
""Our workshop was designed to complement those wider discussions and offer the participants a platform to have a dialogue about sustainable development,"" said Ming Hwee Chong, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.  Young people from around the world gathered together in New York at the UN High Level Meeting on Youth, 25-26 July 2011, to discuss solutions to such global challenges as poverty reduction and environmental degradation. This workshop, held at the UN offices of the Baha'i International Community on Tuesday 26 July focused in part on how new communications technologies can foster an improved dialogue among youth around the world.Some 30 participants gathered for an opening panel presentation, followed by conversations in small groups.
During the panel, Nathan Forster spoke about a project by his organization, Alas de Rio, which examines ways in which video and social media can be used to communicate ideas about sustainable development across conventional barriers of language and culture.
""We have seen success in a lot of projects, in terms of mobilizing for action or for a social cause, through various online networks and platforms,"" said Mr. Forster, whose organization is focused on involving young people in the Rio + 20 environmental conference scheduled for next year.
Iyinoluwa Samuel Aboyeji of the World Youth Alliance expressed his hope that young people would focus on mobilizing for change with families and communities, as opposed to merely lobbying governments.
""In families and communities, values are passed from generation to generation,"" he said. ""So the general idea is that in order to promote sustainable development, the main contact should be the family and the community,"" said Mr. Aboyeji.
Nur Shodjai, a Baha'i, introduced a pilot project called ""Voices of Youth"" that strives to capture the views of a younger group, aged 11-15, through video interviews.
Ms. Shodjai explained that the views of the young are not necessarily given due attention since they are not considered to have mature opinions. ""But they have a lot to contribute,"" she said.
""At this age, they are at a special time of their lives; they are developing the capacity to understand and analyze events around them and to come up with a creative solution. So they have a great deal to communicate in terms of ideas and attitude.""
After breaking into groups for focused discussions, participants reported the results of their deliberations back to the larger group.
Among their suggestions for action were: working to improve local decision-making, so that decisions are decentralized and better matched to local conditions; emphasizing environmental education; and focusing on families and local communities in efforts to promote sustainable development.
""It was particularly interesting to see how social media and information technologies can be used by youth as they try to play a more active role in this dialogue,"" said Ming Hwee Chong.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
845,2011-08-10,"[843, 839, 837]","In new affront, authorities say they will bury an Iranian Baha'i as a Muslim","GENEVA, Switzerland — In an outrageous new incident of religious discrimination, authorities in the city of Tabriz, Iran, have refused to allow Baha'is to bury a relative in accordance with Baha'i law – and instead have promised to entomb the deceased woman without a coffin under Muslim rites.
""To anyone who understands the culture of the Middle East, the idea that the government would force a family to bury their loved one according to the rites of another religion is beyond the pale,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
She noted that according to Baha'i rites of burial, the deceased must be interred in a coffin, whereas under Muslim law, no coffin is used.
""This incident demonstrates the almost unbelievable length to which Iranian authorities are willing to go to express their prejudice and animosity against Baha'is,"" she said.
The incident began on Monday when authorities in Tabriz told the family of Mrs. Fatemeh-Soltan Zaeri that they would be unable to bury her in the local cemetery according to Baha'i law. Instead, they said, she would have to be interred according to Muslim customs.
The family objected, noting that the cemetery has always been accessible to members of all religions in the area to bury their dead as they wished.
In response to this protest, authorities demanded that Mrs. Zaeri be buried without a coffin – and they withheld her body for 48 hours, preventing them from taking her body somewhere else.
Yesterday, when the family member contacted cemetery authorities again, pleading that her body be released so they could bury her elsewhere, they were advised that she would be buried on Thursday anyway, without a coffin, in a Muslim ceremony – and that only her husband would be allowed to be present.
This is but the most recent incident in a long history of problems facing Baha'is over the proper burial of their dead. In many cities in Iran, Baha'is have long been blocked from using Muslim cemeteries, but have instead been allowed to create their own.
However, these Baha'i cemeteries have been frequently vandalized and desecrated.
In the past year or so, Baha'i cemeteries in Tehran, Ghaemshahr, Marvdasht, Semnan, Sari, and Isfahan have been defaced, bulldozed, or in some way blocked to the Baha'i community. In late April, a small Baha'i cemetery in Gilavand with only four graves was desecrated by intruders using a tractor; all four tombs were destroyed. Earlier, in March, a Baha'i family in Najafabad was prevented from burying a loved one in the Baha'i cemetery there, despite their having secured a permit to do so.
""Iranian officials repeatedly deny that their government persecutes Baha'is on account of their religion.  Harassment over Baha'i burials and the desecration of cemeteries are clear indications that the persecution is based solely on religion and not the result of any threat posed by Baha'is,"" said Ms. Ala'i.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
846,2011-08-23,"[845, 843, 839]",New reports of human rights violations highlight situation of Iran's Baha'is,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Iran's treatment of its Baha'i citizens has been identified as a major area of concern in three important new surveys carried out by international human rights organizations.
The reports have recently been issued by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Minority Rights Group International (MRG) and Amnesty International.
The highlighting of the situation of Iranian Baha'is within the broader framework of international human rights violations has been welcomed by the Baha'i International Community.
""Each of these reports surveys a major issue area – minorities, women prisoners, or the Middle East in general – and each accordingly places the ongoing persecution of Baha'is in that context, demonstrating the interconnected and interrelated nature of rights violations,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""We likewise express our grave concern about human rights violations directed at other groups in Iran, such as women, journalists, and human rights defenders, as well as ordinary citizens seeking the right to freedom of expression,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""Release all women prisoners of conscience""
In its report on women prisoners, Paris-based FIDH called on Iran to ""release all women prisoners of conscience unconditionally and immediately.""
Iran is currently unjustly holding at least 47 such women prisoners, wrote FIDH on 13 August.
Six Baha'i women are listed by FIDH, including Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, both serving 20 year sentences for their membership of a national-level ad hoc group that helped attend to the needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community. Last year, they were unjustly convicted of espionage and other trumped-up charges that were wholly related to their practice of the Baha'i Faith.
Also included in the report is Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer who has represented numerous victims of human rights abuses including Baha'is and prisoners sentenced to death for crimes committed when they were minors. In January this year, authorities sentenced Ms. Sotoudeh to 11 years in prison for charges that include ""activities against national security"" and ""propaganda against the regime."" Additionally, she has been barred from practicing law and from leaving Iran for 20 years.
Other cases highlighted by FIDH include those of women's rights supporter Mahboubeh Karami, serving a three-year prison term; journalist Hengameh Shahidi, jailed for six years; student activist Bahareh Hedayat, sentenced to nine and a half years; and film actress Marzieh Vafammehr, who is being arbitrarily detained.
""The international community should express full support for the Iranian women's movement and its fight for the establishment of basic freedoms, equal rights and respect for human rights in Iran,"" said Karim Lahidji, vice-president of FIDH and President of the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI).
Situation for Baha'is ""remained dire""
In MRG's annual survey of minority populations around the world, published in London last month, the spotlight falls upon problems facing women from minority and indigenous communities.
They are often targeted for rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and killings – specifically because of their ethnic, religious or indigenous identity.
""The situation for Baha'is in Iran remained dire in 2010,"" said the report's section on Iran, highlighting that the trial and sentencing of Iran's seven Baha'i leaders took place without ""independent observers.""
It also reported that Iranian Baha'is face restrictions on access to education and employment and the ""arbitrary destruction of their homes, arrests, and confiscation and destruction of property.""
Amnesty International – in a special supplement to its Wire magazine on the theme ""50 Years of Defending Rights in the Middle East and North Africa"" – observed that Baha'is are among the many religious minorities that populate the Middle East ""sometimes regarded with deep-seated suspicion and hostility that make them vulnerable to abuses of their human rights.""
The three reports can be read in full at the following URLs:
International Federation for Human Rights
Minority Rights Group International
Amnesty International
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community.
Another Special Section includes articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of the latest developments, a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
847,2011-08-24,"[844, 824, 809]",Religions in Catalonia unite to promote global change,"BARCELONA, Spain — A dialogue about how religions can contribute to achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has come to fruition with a new publication in Spanish.
In a significant interfaith initiative for Spain, Baha'is, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Christians – Evangelical, Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Universal Unitarians – gathered together to explore their beliefs in relation to the MDGs which all 193 UN member states and other international organizations agreed to achieve between the years 2000 and 2015.
""Catalonia has been a pioneer in Spain in interfaith dialogue,"" said Lluís Cirera Font, a Baha'i who has served for several years on the Initial Group for Interfaith Dialogue, created under the auspices of the UNESCO Centre for Catalonia.
The concept of a publication reflecting the group's discussions emerged after two years of regular meetings, he said.
""The idea came about that this should not be only for us but should also be useful for society in general. When we decided to discuss the Millennium Development Goals and the contribution that religions could make towards their objectives, the idea of the book took hold.""
The book was first issued in Catalan, followed now by a Spanish edition – titled Religiones y Objetivos del Milenio (""Religions and the Millennium Goals"") – published by the UNESCO Centre of Catalonia, supported by the Foundation for Pluralism and Coexistence. An English-language version is also in preparation.
""Without a spirit of sincere conversation, of a longing to learn and understand others, of in-depth dialogue among people of diverse backgrounds, the book would not have been possible,"" said Mr. Cirera.
Spiritual principles
The first section of the publication reviews the contributions which the various religious communities are making to achieve the MDGs at the local level.
It is an effort that requires not only economic and political decision, but a great deal of will power, said Mr. Cirera.
""The book attempts to reflect religion's ability to motivate people into action and overcome the limitations and paralysis of will in a world that is sunk in hedonism and materialism. If the spiritual principles that religion offers were taken more into account by those who make decisions, the result of efforts would undoubtedly be better and longer lasting.""
Another element of the book is the inclusion of passages from Holy Scriptures relevant to the promotion of social and economic progress.
""With this collection of quotations, anyone will realize that all peoples, even from different religious backgrounds, can work together towards common goals,"" said Mr. Cirera.
Case studies of good practice within the different communities are included, each example chosen to inspire their respective members, as well as other readers, to make their own contribution to the process. There are also statements from the international leaders or representatives of each community.
""The culture of peace and dialogue as well as the willingness to work together towards a more equal development of all humanity have converged in this publication in an emblematic way,"" said Francesc Torradeflot, Secretary of the Initial Group for Interfaith Dialogue and a member of the UNESCO Centre for Catalonia.
""They do so by also giving an example of coherence between the local level – the interfaith dialogue work of a Barcelona group – and the global level, being the contributions from international religious leaders,"" said Mr. Torradeflot.
""Religious and spiritual traditions are contributing and can continue to contribute effectively to achieving the MDGs locally and globally. This publication is an example of good practice that can become a guide for many,"" he said.
The publication has been warmly welcomed by both religious and other organizations. The Roman Catholic religious teaching order Carmelitas Vedrunas, for example, has organised several training sessions based on the book for its nuns, who are now able to apply the various religious perspectives in schools where students come from diverse backgrounds.
""I believe that interfaith dialogue should serve to build bridges between people,"" said Lluís Cirera Font. ""It is not an argument about who is right on specific issues that are sometimes too complex but rather, seeing those essential aspects that can be shared by all and building upon them.
""Although the external response to spiritual concerns may be different – the result of the historical and social conditions of each period of time – basically what drives such actions comes from one single source, from the same origin. Indeed it is one common faith,"" he said.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) originated from the Millennium Declaration, adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2000 following the three-day Millennium Summit of world leaders.
The Declaration asserted that every individual has the right to dignity, freedom, equality, a basic standard of living that includes freedom from hunger and violence, and encourages tolerance and solidarity.
The eight MDGs are: the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; the achievement of universal primary education; the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women; the reduction of child mortality rates; the improvement of maternal health; the combating of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; the ensuring of environmental sustainability; and the establishment of a global partnership for development.",BARCELONA,,Spain
848,2011-08-27,"[846, 845, 843]",Open letter to Iran calls for an end to oppression of students,"NEW YORK, United States — In an open letter to Iran's minister for higher education, the Baha'i International Community is calling for an end to ""the unjust and oppressive practices"" that bar Baha'is and other young Iranians from university.
Read the letter in English here
Read the letter in Persian here
""This letter affirms every person's duty to acquire knowledge so that they can contribute their talents and skills to the betterment of society,"" said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""To actively deprive any youth of education is reprehensible and against all legal, religious, moral, and humanitarian standards. No government should deny this fundamental and sacred right to its citizens.""
The five-page letter addressed to Kamran Daneshjoo, Iran's Minister of Science, Research and Technology, recounts in particular the history of Iran's systematic, 30-year campaign to deny higher education to young Baha'is and its attempts to outlaw an informal community arrangement – known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) – which makes use of the volunteer services of dismissed professors to teach Baha'i youth.
Press reports in Iran have recently announced that BIHE has been declared illegal.
""How is it that a government would debar a population of young citizens from access to higher education and then, when their families, with the help of one another, make private arrangements that bring them together in their homes to study such subjects as physics and biology, pronounce such activity to be 'illegal' by citing laws that are in fact intended to guide the operation of educational institutions that serve the general public?"" asks the open letter.
""Why is the government so ruthless in the face of the earnestness of Baha'i youth to obtain higher education?  Are not the professors in your universities calling upon their own students to cultivate the same commitment to learning?""
Official government policy
The letter catalogs various strategies employed by the Iranian authorities over the years to enact an official government policy to exclude Baha'is from institutions of higher learning.
Baha'is sit for the university entrance examination, ""only to discover that they have been disqualified on the wholly specious claim that their applications were ""incomplete"".  Universities refuse to enroll many of those who pass the examination.  A small number who are able to enroll because their religion is overlooked at the time of registration are later expelled. In some particularly cruel instances, these expulsions have been effected just weeks or days prior to the completion of their courses of study.""
""To any careful observer,"" the letter says, ""it is evident that the only reason a few Baha'i youth have been admitted into your universities is that such actions permit your government's officials to deny that you prohibit Baha'is from gaining access to higher education – a claim that is blatantly duplicitous.""
A ""fresh measure of tribulation""
""And now a fresh measure of tribulation has befallen the Baha'is,"" the letter continues, ""as they are subjected to harsh treatment in interrogations about their involvement with their informal efforts for the education of youth. Individuals who assist with the educational program are threatened with imprisonment. Parents who host classes are notified that their homes will be expropriated if the classes continue. And students are warned against attending their classes and are instructed that they will never obtain a higher education so long as they do not abandon their faith and declare themselves to be Muslims.""
Yet, the letter remarks, when representatives of the Iranian government are confronted with these facts in the international arena, they maintain that no one is deprived of education in Iran on religious grounds.
""How regrettable that the representatives of the Islamic Republic repeatedly peddle such obvious falsehoods, further undermining your government's credibility. When will the officials in Iran bring to an end the entrenched practice of saying one thing to Baha'is while offering a range of conflicting reassurances on the global stage?""
Despite being denied higher education and never receiving formal qualifications, many students of the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education have excelled to such a degree that universities in other countries have accepted them for post-graduate studies.
""What has evoked the deep admiration of the professors and classmates of those who have gone abroad for such studies,"" the letter says, ""is the determination evinced by these students to return to Iran after the completion of their studies despite the numerous obstacles they face, and their readiness to accept every manner of hardship in their longing to contribute to the advancement of their country...""
""Why is such dedication to the betterment of the country unappreciated in Iran?"" the Baha'i International Community asks.
Worldwide condemnation
The latest attack on the Baha'i Institute of Higher Education has prompted a global outcry. The raids three months ago on the homes of BIHE staff and faculty members, and the subsequent imprisonment of a number of them, has been condemned in the parliaments of Brazil, Canada and Chile; censured by high-ranking ministers and parliamentarians in Austria, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States; provoked statements from prominent citizens in India and educators in Australia and the United Kingdom; and prompted campaigns of protest from organizations and individuals, which proliferate through online social networks and around university campuses on all continents.
The letter also recounts instances where many government officials to whom Baha'is appeal for redress – including staff in the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology itself – sympathize with Baha'is while telling them that their hands are tied by orders from their superiors.
""With this letter, we are joining with all those people of goodwill throughout the world who are raising their voices in protest,"" said Bani Dugal.
""We are saying to the Iranian government that this injustice and oppression must now end.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",NEW YORK,,United States
849,2011-09-16,"[848, 846, 843]",Lawyer arrested ahead of trial of Baha'i educators,"GENEVA, Switzerland — As a number of Baha'is in Iran await trial for providing higher education to youth barred from university, the Baha'i International Community has been distressed to learn of the arrest of a lawyer who was preparing to defend them.
Abdolfattah Soltani – a senior member of the legal team representing the prisoners – was arrested last Saturday. Mr. Soltani was a co-founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center along with four other lawyers including Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi. The Tehran-based Center was shut down in a police raid in December 2008.
An Amnesty International appeal calling upon Iran to release Mr. Soltani immediately has described him as ""one of the bravest human rights defenders in Iran...""
""One by one courageous Iranian lawyers are being summoned and then arrested, or have to flee their homeland,"" observed Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""We are deeply concerned at the detention of Mr. Soltani,"" she said. ""What precisely are the motives of the Iranian authorities for this arrest, just before his clients are expected to face trial?""
Seven Baha'is are still in prison in connection with their involvement in an informal educational program in which Baha'i professors, debarred by the Iranian government from practicing their professions, voluntarily offer their services to teach young community members who are banned from higher education.
Press reports in Iran have recently announced that the program – known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) – has been declared illegal.
Iranian authorities carried out raids three months ago on some 39 homes of administrators, staff and students of BIHE. The seven still detained are Mahmoud Badavam, Nooshin Khadem, Vahid Mahmoudi, Kamran Mortezaie, Farhad Sedghi and Ramin Zibaie – all arrested 22 May; and Riaz Sobhani – arrested 14 June.
""Many people associated with the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education have been arrested and interrogated,"" said Diane Ala'i. ""Some have been imprisoned and then released. In addition to the seven who remain in prison, four others connected with BIHE were detained earlier this week.""
Details of any imminent legal proceedings have been hard to establish, she said.
""We have received no formal report of the charges leveled against them, other than an indication that the accusations are once again related to matters of national security. Despite their best efforts, the lawyers have only been able to meet with three of the currently detained Baha'is.""
""We call upon governments, organizations and people of good will everywhere to do whatever they can to dissuade Iran from perpetrating yet another appalling miscarriage of justice,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",GENEVA,,Switzerland
850,2011-09-19,"[849, 848, 847]",Brazilians march together to demand justice,"RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The ongoing persecution of Iran's Baha'i community featured prominently as 25,000 people from Brazil's diverse traditions marched to defend the right to religious freedom and call for justice.
Established in 2008 by Rio's Committee for Combating Religious Intolerance (CCIR), the Religious Freedom Walk initially aimed to call attention to the prejudice faced in Brazil by followers of traditional Afro-Brazilian religions. Since then, the march has become an annual event, growing from 2,000 participants at the first rally to this year's record figure.
Yesterday, Afro-Brazilian religious leaders were joined by Roman Catholics, Muslims, Jews, Protestants, Buddhists and Baha'is, all united in their aim to draw attention to intolerance.
Baha'is distributed 1,000 yellow vests bearing the slogan, ""Today, we are followers of all religions"" –  a sentiment that was happily worn by participants from the different communities.
In the opening speech of the rally, CCIR's coordinator, Babalorixa Ivanir dos Santos, highlighted the persecution faced by Iranian Baha'is and called the crowd's attention to the ""group in yellow"" who, in his words, ""are active supporters of the cause of religious freedom in Brazil.""
Leaders and representatives from the gathered communities then addressed the rally about the need to respect others.  Baha'is who participated in Rio's Religious Freedom Walk, 18 September 2011, call for justice for the persecuted Baha'i community in Iran. Baha'is attended the rally from seven Brazilian states – Goias, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, Parana, Bahia – and from the Federal District.""Prejudice, stereotypes and lack of information about the various religious traditions make people behave irrationally against those who have different beliefs,"" Brazilian Baha'i Iradj Roberto Eghrari told the crowd.
""It is as if they stop seeing these 'other people' as human beings, as people who deserve respect and fair treatment,"" he said.
Mr. Eghrari spoke of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders who have been kept behind bars since 2008, sentenced to 20-year jail terms on trumped-up charges.
""There are many similarities between the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran and the Afro-Brazilian religions here,"" he said. ""Properties are destroyed and confiscated, children are harassed and youth cannot have access to education because of their beliefs. And the only way in which the oppressors agree to leave these people alone is if they agree to recant their faith – but how can you forcefully remove a religious belief from a person without tearing him or her completely apart?""
Religious intolerance generates racism and threatens democracy,  said Babalorixa Ivanir dos Santos.
""Religion is a cause of war in the world, but here we are bringing the religions together to dialogue,"" he said.
""Our movement is not religious, it does not promote any faith, just the right to be respected.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",RIO DE JANEIRO,,Brazil
851,2011-09-22,"[806, 800, 819]","Australian society ""enriched and ennobled"" by Baha'i temple","SYDNEY, Australia — On the fiftieth anniversary of Australia's Baha'i House of Worship, dignitaries have paid tribute to its contribution to the life of the community.
""Our society is enriched and ennobled by the temple,"" said the Mayor of Pittwater, Councillor Harvey Rose.
""It's a beacon from the sea, and the land and the sky...a beacon which lights the way to a better world – a world where antagonism and division is replaced by one of unity, of construction and of hope,"" Councillor Rose told a reception ahead of a special anniversary service.
The Mayor added that the temple and the Baha'i community have ""an important role not only in our community, but in the broader Australian community.""
The reception held last Sunday launched a week of events marking the golden jubilee of the temple's inauguration. The service that followed was characterised by the Baha'i principle of unity in diversity – with singing in the Aboriginal Wirradjuri language, as well as Arabic, English and Samoan. Passages from Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Islamic scriptures were also read.  The Baha'i House of Worship in Sydney, Australia, specially illuminated for an interfaith prayer ceremony on Wednesday 21 September 2011 to mark the United Nations International Day of Peace. The service was part of a week of celebrations marking the fiftieth anniversary of the temple.""A silent sentinel of faith""
Located in beautiful hills and bushland above Sydney's northern beaches, the House of Worship opened in September 1961 after four years of construction. It is one of only seven such temples in the world.
Open to all people, the purpose of Baha'i Houses of Worship is to provide a central gathering place for prayer and meditation as well as, in time, a range of facilities to serve the social and educational needs of the population.
Pittwater's Member of Parliament, Rob Stokes – who read at Sunday's service – said that the temple ""stands as a silent sentinel of faith, of inclusion, of a real spiritual strength.""
Activities marking the fiftieth anniversary have included daily programs at the House of Worship, a children's art show on building a peaceful community, and an exhibition. This coming weekend, there will be guided tours and a program at which visitors can sample Baha'i community building activities.
Last night, neighbors and visitors from further afield approached the illuminated temple along a candle-lit path for a special interfaith prayer ceremony to mark the United Nations International Day of Peace.
Australia's Channel 10 broadcast its three weather segments from the temple gardens. Other media coverage of the anniversary has included articles in the local press, mentions in the Sydney Morning Herald and an ABC radio breakfast show segment outlining the teachings of the Baha'i Faith.
""A momentous occasion""
In a special message, Barry O'Farrell MP – the Premier of New South Wales – wrote that the House of Worship's golden anniversary is ""a momentous occasion not only for the Baha'i religion, but for New South Wales as a whole.""
""The Baha'i community plays an important part of New South Wales' diverse social fabric, and it is important that we continue to promote and celebrate diversity, tolerance and community in the State,"" said the Premier.
""This idea encapsulates the ethos of the Baha'i religion as it seeks to unify all religions and humanity. This temple and the Baha'i community have indeed achieved this.
""I believe that there is a lot to be learned from the Baha'i Faith, which through its values of unity and equality has only enhanced the multicultural tapestry of New South Wales.""",SYDNEY,,Australia
852,2011-09-26,"[849, 848, 846]",Desmond Tutu and Jose Ramos-Horta join calls for release of Baha'i educators,"NEW YORK, United States — As a number of Baha'i educators appear in court in Iran, two Nobel Peace Prize winners have sharply criticized the Iranian government, comparing its actions to ""the Dark Ages of Europe"" or the ""Spanish Inquisition.""
The remarks by Desmond Tutu, the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, and Jose Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor, appear in an open letter to the academic community published today in the Huffington Post, under the title ""Iran's war against knowledge.""
In the letter, the Nobel laureates call upon the Iranian government to release unconditionally and drop charges against the seven Baha'is currently on trial in Iran for their educational activities.
""The forward progress of humankind in the last centuries has been fueled, more than any other factor, by increasing access to information, more rapid exchange of ideas, and in most parts of the world, universal education,"" they write.
""So it is particularly shocking when despots and dictators in the twenty first century attempt to subjugate their own populations by attempting to deny education or information to their people.
""Not only is it futile in the long term, it makes them appear fearful of the very age they live in, and haunted by the new thinkers in their midst.""
""Perhaps the most glaring example of this fear today is the denial of higher education to the members of the Baha'i Faith in Iran – a peaceful religion with no political agenda, which recognizes the unity of all religions,"" says the letter.
Court appearances
The publication of the open letter has coincided with reports that trials have now begun in Iran for seven Baha'i educators. They were detained in connection with an informal community initiative known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), which gave Baha'i professors – debarred by the Iranian government from practicing their professions – the opportunity to teach young community members who are themselves banned from university.
""Those arrested were neither political nor religious leaders,"" observe Archbishop Tutu and President Ramos-Horta in their letter. ""They were lecturers in subjects that included accounting and dentistry, who today face the prospect of decades in prison. The crime with which they are charged –  delivering higher education to Baha'i youth.""
The Baha'i International Community has learned that six of the seven – imprisoned after raids last May on some 39 homes of Baha'is associated with BIHE – are now being tried in pairs.
""The lawyer who was preparing to defend them is himself now in prison; two of the prisoners reportedly had court hearings yesterday; two were scheduled to appear today and two tomorrow – and it seems that another was in court last week,"" said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""All the signs are that we cannot expect a fair trial,"" she added.
Ms. Dugal expressed the gratitude of the Baha'i International Community to Archbishop Tutu and President Ramos-Horta.
""We thank them, as well as all the governments, organizations and people of goodwill throughout the world whose efforts send a clear message to the Iranian authorities that their actions are being closely watched and condemned,"" she said.
Expelled for their beliefs
The open letter also highlights the plight of other Iranian youth who have been expelled from universities ""for their beliefs or for holding viewpoints determined to be counter to the ruling party, including pro-reform views.""
""We believe it is important to recognize that these actions are neither the result of or dictated by the Islamic faith. One need only look at the Dark Ages of Europe or the Spanish Inquisition to see that Iranian Ayatollahs are certainly not the first to use religion as the cloak to attempt to forcibly suppress ideas and knowledge that they fear could threaten their power. The rich philosophical and artistic Iranian traditions, the contributions of Iranian scholars worldwide, and the actions of the Muslim community members who have aided and supported the BIHE, are testament to the fact that the actions of their leaders are no reflection of the Muslim faith or the many good-willed Muslims in Iranian communities,"" the letter says.
""And while we believe that both historically and in today's 'wired' world it is futile to suppress the quest for knowledge, there are many in Iran whose lives are being threatened or damaged by the attempt.
""They need our support.""
Among other demands, the Nobel laureates are urging the academic community to register with their Iranian counterparts their disagreement with, and disapproval of, any policy which bars individuals from higher education based on their religious background or political persuasion.
Worldwide condemnation
The international outcry at Iran's persecution of Baha'i educators has spanned the world in the past four months, from Australia to Zambia.
On 5 September, Baroness Catherine Ashton – High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs – expressed her ""serious concern"" about the attack on BIHE.
Three days earlier, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said the arrests of BIHE staff  ""are based on unfounded charges of conspiring against national security. This institute provides valuable educational services to the Baha'i community, which is denied formal higher education in Iran.""
The seven Baha'i educators facing trial are: Vahid Mahmoudi and Kamran Mortezaie, who reportedly appeared in court yesterday; Mahmoud Badavam and Nooshin Khadem, who were scheduled to appear today; and Ramin Zibaie and Riaz Sobhani, who will appear tomorrow. It is understood that Farhad Sedghi appeared in court on Tuesday 20 September.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",NEW YORK,,United States
853,2011-09-28,"[852, 849, 848]",Shohreh's story: How Iran violated a top student's rights,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Like many young people the world over, Shohreh Rowhani grew up with high hopes of a good university education.
But now she has run up against a system which – while promising opportunity on the surface – is cruelly designed to block her and other young Iranians from ever getting a degree.
Ms. Rowhani is a Baha'i, and her experience is made all the more unjust by the fact that she is among Iran's most gifted students; she ranked 151 in the country after passing the national university exam in her chosen field of languages. In other words, her result put her among the top 1% of candidates who took the exam.
Buoyed by her impressive grades, Ms. Rowhani – who comes from the northern Iranian city of Nowshahr – began the online process of selecting her courses. But when the results of those applications were listed, she discovered that her submission had been rejected as an ""incomplete file.""
It is a phrase well known to young Baha'is. For several years now, the term has appeared frequently as one among several ruses crafted to prevent them from actually matriculating even if they pass the national university exams.
Undeterred, Ms. Rowhani courageously went to the regional office that oversees the examination process and asked officials to explain what was wrong.
""They told me that this has happened because you are a Baha'i,"" she reported in a letter recently sent to several human rights organizations.
""Since you are a Baha'i you do not have the right to enter university,"" she was told.
She decided to take her case to the next level, managing to get a meeting with the head of the admissions department.
When confronted, this official simply ""expressed his regret for this matter and told me that there is nothing he can do,"" said Ms. Rowhani. ""He said there is no way out of this and even if you enter university you would be expelled after three or four terms.""
She asked him if the results would have been different if she had said she was a Muslim.
""He said it makes no difference, as they know you,"" she wrote. ""'The ministry of intelligence has identified your family and all of the Baha'is already.'""
""They told me that I will not get any result, no matter who I might refer to,"" she said.
The experience of Shohreh Rowhani is also a familiar story for thousands of Baha'is in Iran who are barred from higher education on religious grounds.
Even for the fortunate ones who might be offered a place, expulsion often follows during the course of their studies. In recent months, two students at the Isfahan University of Technology were prevented from registering for the next term, also for having ""incomplete documents;"" a Baha'i studying English literature was thrown out of the University of Kerman; a biomedical engineering student at the University of Sahand was dismissed; and a physics student at the University of Mazandaran was expelled after completing eight semesters on the honor roll and gaining admission to a Master's program.
Three decades of exclusion
All kinds of methods have been used by Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution to prevent Baha'is from attending university – firstly, by expelling them all, and then, imposing an outright ban on their accessing higher education.
In response to international condemnation, the Iranian government changed the rules in 2003, declaring that Baha'is could now take the examination. But when nearly a thousand Baha'is moved ahead in good faith, they encountered new barriers.
At first, exams were returned with ""Islam"" written in the religious affiliation slot – something unacceptable to Baha'is, who are taught by their faith to tell the truth at all times, especially about their religious beliefs.
So the government indicated that the word ""Islam"" referred only to the particular sub-test on religion that each applicant is required to take, allowing Baha'is in good conscience to apply for higher schooling. Then, in the mid-2000s, a number of Baha'is successfully entered various universities around the country – only to find that they were then often expelled soon after matriculation.
In March 2007, for example, the Reuters news agency reported that some 70 Baha'i students had been expelled that academic year from universities in Iran. In that report, an anonymous spokesperson for the Iranian Mission to the United Nations was quoted as saying in reply: ""No one in Iran because of their religion has been expelled from studying.""
After another international outcry, Iran changed tactics again. Baha'is who took the exam began to find their results were simply being withheld. When they went to the national website to find out their scores, many received the message that they had ""incomplete files"" – leaving them in a bureaucratic limbo.
""Unjust and oppressive practices""
In an open letter sent last month to Iran's minister for higher education, the Baha'i International Community called for an end to the ""unjust and oppressive practices"" that bar Baha'is and other young Iranians from university.
The letter also addressed the government's crackdown on the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), an informal community initiative run by Baha'is to educate their youth who are barred from university. In May, government agents raided the homes of more than 30 individuals associated with the BIHE and arrested 14 of them. Seven educators have this week appeared in court. Dozens more, including students, have been called in for interrogation – all in an effort to close the project down.
""Such actions, as you know, have been conducted as a matter of official government policy and as part of a systematic campaign to eliminate the Baha'i community as a viable entity in your country,"" said the open letter, addressed to Kamran Daneshjoo, the Minister of Science, Research, and Technology.
For Shohreh Rowhani and her co-religionists, the fight for their right to education continues.
In her letter to human rights organizations she has expressed her desire that everyone should ""know how senselessly my rights have been violated.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",GENEVA,,Switzerland
854,2011-10-03,"[792, 797, 820]",European Baha'is mark centenary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journeys,"LONDON, England — Baha'is in Europe have been commemorating the 100th anniversary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's historic Western travels by reflecting on the qualities of His unique character.
In France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, groups of friends have been studying the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha and discussing how it can today inspire their services to the community around them.
'Abdu'l-Baha (1844-1921) was the eldest son of Baha'u'llah and His appointed successor as head of the Baha'i Faith. Following the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, when all political and religious prisoners of the Ottoman Empire – including 'Abdu'l-Baha and His family – were freed, He began to plan presenting, in person, the Baha'i teachings with the world beyond the Middle East. In August 1911, He set sail from Egypt for France, staying first a few days in Marseille before going on to Thonon-les-Bains and then to Geneva, Switzerland, for four days.
""Tireless efforts""
On 27-28 August, a gathering held at Geneva University reflected upon the significance of 'Abdu'l-Baha's stay in Switzerland and its relevance to the work of the Baha'i community today.
""The whole notion of service was so present throughout the weekend,"" observed John Paul Vader, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Switzerland. ""We looked at how 'Abdu'l-Baha's example inspires us to serve: how He stimulated the building of communities, how He served humanity, and influenced public thought. These are the same things that Baha'is are working on now.""
""What really struck everyone was the fact that 'Abdu'l-Baha was able to undertake such a strenuous journey at such an advanced age,"" said Dr. Vader. ""We are often very comfortable and consider travelling maybe an hour somewhat tiring – but we saw how tireless He was in His efforts.""
In a message sent in April this year, the Universal House of Justice shared how 'Abdu'l-Baha, during His travels, expounded the Baha'i teachings in ""homes and mission halls, churches and synagogues, parks and public squares, railway carriages and ocean liners, clubs and societies, schools and universities.""
""To all without distinction – officials, scientists, workers, children, parents, exiles, activists, clerics, sceptics – He imparted love, wisdom, comfort, whatever the particular need,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice.  In Bristol, on 23-25 September, local Baha'is recalled 'Abdu'l-Baha's weekend visit 100 years ago. Here they can be seen outside the house where 'Abdu'l-Baha stayed. Prayers, storytelling, songs and dramatic presentations, held at two locations in the city, were described as ""uplifting"" and ""inspiring"" by participants.At the annual Baha'i residential school, held in Evian, France, from 27 August to 3 September, participants explored what it means to be ""walking in the path of 'Abdu'l-Baha"" as they discussed the current activities of their communities.
""Thoughts of 'Abdu'l-Baha were always present, in the main speeches and any artistic moment,"" said Laurence Dia, an organizer of the school. ""We realised that by following in His footsteps, we would find the powers we need to go ahead in our efforts – and go further.""
""Glorious message of unity""
'Abdu'l-Baha arrived in London for a four-week stay on 4 September 1911. At His first ever public talk – given at the City Temple church six days after His arrival in the city – He told the congregation, ""The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion.""
Around the United Kingdom, groups of friends have been using the centenary as an opportunity to consider how to apply lessons from 'Abdu'l-Baha to their own lives.
On 10 September, in the town of Reading – for example – Baha'is gathered with their neighbors to study the words that He had spoken at the City Temple exactly 100 years earlier. One participant, a taxi driver from Ghana, remarked on how the love and unity mentioned in 'Abdu'l-Baha's talk was present in the spirit of the meeting. Another neighbor, of Nepalese origin, commented on 'Abdu'l-Baha's ""glorious message of unity.""
At a meeting in Epsom held on the same day, the town's Mayor – Councillor Sheila Carlson – remarked that she thought schoolchildren should learn about 'Abdu'l-Baha along with Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa.
On the anniversary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journey to Bristol, 23-25 September, actors, storytellers and musicians shared accounts of the weekend He spent in the city and the profound impression He made on the people He encountered.
""A response of love""
In London, a specially-commissioned play depicting 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit as seen through the eyes of his host, Lady Blomfield, was premiered on 15 September in the historic setting of Leighton House Museum.
In the audience were people who today stay at 97 Cadogan Gardens, the apartment block where 'Abdu'l-Baha lived during His visit. One remarked that it was ""wonderful to learn a little more of this fascinating history of my home.""
""It was so extraordinary to meet the daughter of a woman who lives there and witness her astonishment at the spiritual history of the building,"" said Sarah Perceval, who wrote the script and played the role of Lady Blomfield.
""Everyone had such a heartfelt response to the evening...really a response of love,"" she said.
Royal message
Two days later, extracts from the play were performed at the church of St. John's, Smith Square, where the Westminster Baha'i community gathered with their friends, 100 years after 'Abdu'l-Baha had addressed its congregation at the invitation of the then Archdeacon of Westminster, Basil Wilberforce.
A highlight of the meeting was a special message received from Princess Helen, the great grand-daughter of Queen Marie of Romania (1875-1938), who was the first royal personage to embrace the Baha'i teachings.
""For me, the message of this great faith is as important today as it has always been,"" wrote Princess Helen.
""In an increasingly secular society, where market forces, rampant consumerism and selfishness are considered virtuous, the Baha'i Faith offers an alternative way of living, rooted in the propagation of justice, unity and the establishing of peace to bring about prosperity and collective well-being.
""Historically...messengers of such radicalism have been considered subversives. This  seems to have been true of 'Abdu'l-Baha, who because of His deep faith in God's goodness and guidance spent most of his life in exile.
""Lesser men would have become bitter separated from their homeland, but that was not so of Abdu'l-Baha. He chose a different path and became a great ambassador of peace and justice, and a welcome guest among all peoples of good will and faith. Such people are unique, inspirational and challenging, and we need to hear their messages of hope,"" wrote Princess Helen.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
855,2011-10-04,"[853, 852, 849]",Baha'i International Community calls for release of Christian pastor facing death sentence,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The Baha'i International Community has joined the call for the release of Youcef Nadarkhani, a Christian pastor from Rasht, Iran.
Pastor Nadarkhani, who is the father of two young children, leads a network of house churches. He was found guilty of apostasy – ""turning his back on Islam"" – and ""converting Muslims to Christianity,"" and sentenced to death in September 2010.
Iran's Supreme Court recently asked for a re-examination of the case to establish whether or not he had been a practising Muslim adult before he converted to Christianity. The court ruled he was not but, nevertheless, is still guilty of apostasy because he has Muslim ancestry.
The case has sparked strong condemnation from governments, organizations and religious leaders around the world.
Then on 1 October, following this global outcry, Iranian state media suddenly reported that Pastor Nadarkhani had in fact been sentenced for other reasons – including violent crimes, extortion, Zionism and being a traitor. These charges had never once been mentioned throughout the entire period when Pastor Nadarkhani was charged, tried, sentenced, up to and including the most recent court hearing.
Statement of the Baha'i International Community
We join with the global chorus of condemnation protesting the sentencing of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, and calling for his release.  Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, pictured with his younger son. Photo credit: Christian Solidarity Worldwide.For a court of law to rule against someone from Muslim ancestry who has freely chosen to be a Christian is yet another instance of the brutality being meted out by the Iranian authorities on their own people.
The recent public proclamation reporting that the charges against Pastor Nadarkhani have been changed – as a result of the global outcry at his conviction – only further exposes the arbitrary nature of decisions made by the judiciary system of Iran and the transparent injustice of the situation.
The sentence he faces is not only reprehensible; it is a violation of every legal, moral, spiritual and humanitarian standard.
Which temporal government in the world can reasonably decide it has the power to curtail freedom of belief?  Belief is not something that can be taken away or bartered; it is a matter of conviction, of the heart, the mind and the soul, beyond the realm of any government's control.
The Baha'i community understands well the challenging circumstances facing minorities living in Iran today.  And now it is evident that those minorities which are nominally recognized by the state are as equally subordinate to the majority as those who have no rights.
There is little need to rehearse here the endless list of executions, torture, imprisonments, privations and other afflictions that are being meted out on the sorely-tried people of Iran.
Everything that country's representatives profess on the world stage is contradicted by their treatment of their own people at home.  Yet, its officials travel freely to other nations where they are offered a platform from which to broadcast their untruths, denying the callous treatment of their own citizens while displaying pretensions of good will for the people of the world.
There is much to be done to alert the people of the world to the hypocrisy of a government which is widely and continually oppressing its people.
There is much to be done for humanity to be alerted to what is going on inside Iran and to be awakened to the appalling memory of what can occur when we fail to act against state-sponsored campaigns of hatred.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
856,2011-10-06,"[851, 806, 800]","Iconic ""Lotus Temple"" focus of worldwide campaign","NEW DELHI, India — Step onto a bus in Ottawa, Canada; open a magazine in Paris, France; or look upwards at Rimini's railway station in Italy – all around the world, India's Baha'i House of Worship is capturing the public's attention.
To coincide with its 25th anniversary year, the lotus-shaped temple is being depicted on striking posters in 14 countries from South Africa to Japan, from the U.S.A. to Singapore.
It is all part of the Incredible India campaign, the Indian government's international strategy to showcase the cultural diversity and special achievements of the country.
""India represents the spirituality of all mankind,"" said the Honorable Union Minister for Tourism, Subodh Kant Sahai, ""and the Baha'i temple is the one place where people belonging to any faith or religion can go for meditation or prayer.""
The Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi opened in December 1986 after more than six years of construction. It is estimated that 70 million people have visited the temple since its opening – averaging 8,000 to 10,000 every day – making it one of the world's most visited buildings.  The Indian government's ""Incredible India"" campaign is showcasing Delhi's Baha'i House of Worship in 14 countries, alongside captions describing what the temple represents. Pictured here are, left, a poster for a travel exposition in Milan, Italy; top right, a billboard in Las Vegas, U.S.A.; and bottom right, street signs in New Delhi itself.""This is a unique place to be visited,"" said Sultan Ahmed, Minister of State for Tourism. ""It has world-class architecture, serene surroundings and an elevating atmospere.""
The temple is one of only seven Baha'i Houses of Worship in the world, open to all people for silent worship and contemplation.
This message of inclusiveness is also a feature of the Incredible India campaign, said Naznene Rowhani, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India.
""Everybody who sees these posters will know that it is a temple, but more importantly, also what it stands for and symbolizes. These posters proclaim it to be the 'Baha'i House of Worship – India's symbol of communal harmony,' or 'India's symbol of the oneness of humankind,' or of 'unity of religions,'"" said Ms. Rowhani.
A message of peace
Immediately following the Incredible India initiative, the image of the temple will also be appearing as part of another campaign in Delhi itself. The Delhi Meri Jaan (""My Beloved Delhi"") initiative was launched last year.
""We commemorate 25 years of the temple and 100 years of the existence of the modern Delhi that we have today. It's a great coincidence."" explained Shelia Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi.
""This is a beautiful building. It has become an iconic symbol.""
The appeal of the temple is that it ""encompasses everybody,"" the Chief Minister added.
""The Baha'i Faith is a very attractive faith. The message it gives to mankind is one of peace, prosperity and happiness..."" she says.
Around 4,000 visitors from more than 50 countries are expected to attend the 25th anniversary celebrations at the House of Worship next month.
""As these poster campaigns clearly show, the temple belongs to everybody – every religion, creed and people,"" said Naznene Rowhani, ""so it is natural that the celebration of its 25th anniversary will also be inclusive of everybody.""",NEW DELHI,,India
857,2011-10-10,"[853, 852, 848]",Philosophers and theologians worldwide condemn Iran's attack on Baha'i educators,"NEW YORK, United States — More than 40 distinguished philosophers and theologians from 16 countries have joined the condemnation of Iran's policy to bar young Baha'is and others from higher education.
In an unprecedented global initiative, the 43 prominent academics – of Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim backgrounds – have signed an open letter, published today in (The Daily Telegraph)[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/8816662/Religious-academics-denounce-persecution-against-Irans-Bahai-minority.html] (UK), and reported in the (Folha de Sao Paulo)[http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/mundo/987523-leonardo-boff-assina-carta-aberta-em-favor-dos-bahais-no-ira.shtml] (Brazil).
The letter condemns in particular recent attacks by the Iranian authorities on an informal educational initiative of the Baha'i community – known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) – in which Baha'i professors, debarred by the Iranian government from practicing their professions, voluntarily offer their services to teach young community members who are banned from higher education.
Seven Baha'is associated with BIHE recently made their first court appearances after being imprisoned for four months. They were detained after a series of raids on 22 May, in which 39 homes associated with BIHE were targeted. The Institute's activities have since been declared ""illegal.""
""As philosophers, theologians, and scholars of religion, living throughout the world, we are raising our voices in protest against the recent attack by Iranian authorities on the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education,"" the open letter states.
""To acquire knowledge and learning is the sacred and legal right of all; indeed, the state is obliged to provide it. In Iran, the government has done the opposite...""
""Attacks such as these, against the rights of citizens to organize and be educated in freedom, can no longer be tolerated. We call upon the Iranian government not only to cease its persecution of Baha'is, but to provide, and promote, education for all.""
Among the most celebrated academics backing the call is Dr. Charles Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at McGill University, Canada. He signed the letter, he said, out of his deep sense of ""conviction that there ought to be 'no compulsion' in religion.""
It is also ""connected to my disquiet about the Iranian revolution,"" said Professor Taylor, ""and the way its finer ideals have been hijacked by people who are abusing their faith in order to make it serve as a tool of mobilization against the 'enemy.'""
Another prominent figure to add his name to the list is Hilary Putnam, Cogan University Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Harvard, U.S.A.
""Ever since the American and French revolutions at the end of the eighteenth century, the aspiration of peoples of different ethnicities, nationalities, and creeds for their fundamental human rights, including the right to worship as one's conscience dictates and the right to education, have gained momentum,"" said Professor Putnam.
""The persecution of the Baha'i university students in Iran is a shameful attempt to turn the clock back to the dark ages. Their cause deserves the support of enlightened and moral people everywhere,"" he said.
Signatories
Charles Taylor – Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, McGill University, Canada
Hilary Putnam – Cogan University Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Harvard University, U.S.A.
Cornel West – Class of 1943 University Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University, U.S.A.
Leonardo Boff  – Professor Emeritus of Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, and Ecology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Brazil
Stanley Hauerwas  – Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics, Duke University, U.S.A.
Ebrahim Moosa  – Professor of Religion & Islamic Studies, Duke University, U.S.A.
Graham Ward  – Regius Professor of Divinity, Oxford University, U.K.
John Milbank  – Professor in Religion, Politics and Ethics, University of Nottingham, U.K.
Rabbi David Novak  – J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Chair of Jewish Studies, Professor of Philosophy, University of Toronto, Canada
Tahir Mahmood  – Chairman, Amity University Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, former member, National Minorities Commission and former member, Law Commission of India, New Delhi, India
Moshe Idel  – Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Abdulkader Tayob  – Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Xinjian Shang  – Professor of Philosophy, Peking University, China
William Desmond  – Full Professor of Philosophy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; Adjunct Honorary Professor of Philosophy, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Ireland
Kevin Hart  – Edwin B Kyle, Prof of Christian Studies and Chair of Religious Studies, University of Virginia, U.S.A.; Professor Of Philosophy, Australia Catholic University, Australia
Murray Rae  – Professor of Theology and Head of the Department of Theology and Religion, University of Otago, New Zealand
Asghar Ali Engineer  – Founding Chairman of Asian Muslim Action Network; Head of Center for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai, India
Remi Brague  – Chair of the Study of Religion, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany
A. Rashied Omar  – Research Scholar of Islamic Studies and Peacebuilding, University of Notre Dame, U.S.A.; Imam at Claremont Main Road Mosque, Cape Town, South Africa
Joshua Cho  – President and Professor of Christian Thought, Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary, Hong Kong
Douglas Pratt – Professor of Religious Studies, Waikato University, New Zealand
Ashok Vohra – Professor of Philosophy, Delhi University, India; Indian Council of Philosophical Research
Carver Yu – President and Professor of Christian Thought, China Graduate School of Theology, Hong Kong
Laurie Zoloth – Professor of Medical Humanities and Bioethics, Professor of Religious Studies, Northwestern University, U.S.A.
Pilgrim W.K. LO – Professor of Systematic Theology, Chairman of Institute for Luther Studies in the Asian Context, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong
Philip Goodchild – Professor of Religion and Philosophy, University of Nottingham, U.K.
Paul Morris – Professor of Religious Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
James E. Faulconer – Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding, Brigham Young University, U.S.A.
Rod Benson – Ethicist and Public Theologian, Tinsley Institute, Morling College, Australia
Hassan Mwakimako – Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies, Pwani University College, Kenya
Yunus Dumbe – Lecturer in Islamic Studies, Islamic University College, Ghana
Joseph Cohen – University Lecturer in Philosophy, University College Dublin, Ireland
Adam Miller – Professor of Philosophy, Collin College, Texas, U.S.A.
Elaine Wainwright – Professor of Theology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Raphael Zagury-Orly – Head of the MFA Program, Bezalel School of Design and Fine Arts, Israel
Felix O Murchadha – Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
Na'eem Jeenah – Associate Lecturer of Political Studies, University of the Witwatersrand; Coordinator of Masjidul Islam in Johannesburg, South Africa
Kathleen Flake – Associate Professor of American Religious History, Vanderbilt Divinity School, U.S.A.
Rabbi Aryeh Cohen – Associate Professor of Rabbinic Literature, American Jewish University, U.S.A.
Jeffrey Bloechel – Associate Professor of Philosophy, Boston College, U.S.A.
William Hackett – Research Fellow and Lecturer in Philosophy, Australian Catholic University, Australia
Rabbi Akiba Lerner – Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies, Santa Clara University, U.S.A.
Nathan Oman – Assistant Professor of Law, William and Mary School of Law, U.S.A.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.
Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community.
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",NEW YORK,,United States
858,2011-10-13,"[857, 853, 852]","UN Secretary General ""deeply troubled"" by developments in Iran","UNITED NATIONS, United States — For the fourth consecutive year, the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has strongly criticized Iran's record on human rights, saying violations have ""continued and intensified"" over the last 12 months.
Iran has stepped up its crackdown on human rights defenders, women's rights activists and journalists, Mr. Ban said in a report released yesterday.
Read the Secretary General's report
The Secretary General said he was ""deeply troubled"" by recent developments, which included a ""notable increase"" in the country's use of the death penalty, along with a rise in unfair trials, amputations, and the use of torture, arbitrary arrest and detention.
Mr. Ban called on the Iranian government to respect the rights of all its citizens – but noted especially the ""important and constructive role the human rights lawyers and activists play in protecting human rights,"" encouraging  Iran to ""fully guarantee freedom of expression and assembly and to open up greater space for their independent work.""
Restrictions on ""unrecognized religious minorities,"" were also highlighted in the report with ""serious concern"" being expressed, particularly at the ongoing persecution of Iran's Baha'i community.
Iranian Baha'is face limits on access to higher education, Mr. Ban said, noting that this form of discrimination culminated this year in a government effort to shut down the informal initiative to educate young members of the Baha'i community barred from university.
""According to numerous reports, on 21 May 2011, security forces conducted raids on the homes of individuals involved in the activities of the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education and arrested 15 of its members in various cities, including Gohardasht, Isfahan, Karaj, Sari, Shiraz, Tehran and Zahedan..."" he said.
Mr. Ban also discussed the fate of seven national Baha'i leaders, arrested in 2008 and sentenced to some 20 years imprisonment in 2010 – noting that their excessive sentence was upheld earlier this year.
""The High Commissioner for Human Rights has raised this case several times in letters to and meetings with the Iranian authorities, expressing deep concern that these trials did not meet the requirements of due process and fair trial,"" he said.
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, welcomed the report and its conclusions.
""Taken as a whole, Mr. Ban's report has once again indicted the current Iranian regime, documenting the government's wide-ranging effort to silence the growing demands of its citizenry for justice, democracy, and transparency.
""Baha'is have long suffered from the Islamic Republic's ongoing and ever-increasing inability to tolerate any viewpoint or opinion that falls outside the official script. Mr. Ban's report clearly documents the degree to which so many others – from women to journalists to lawyers – are also bearing the brunt of this oppression.
""The report also outlines Iran's refusal to cooperate with UN special rapporteurs, who have since 2005 been denied permission to visit Iran so that they can investigate the situation there.
""We hope the international community will duly take note and continue its effort to see that Iran ends the unjust persecution of its own citizens,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
859,2011-10-16,"[858, 813, 803]",UN monitor for Iran presents first findings on human rights abuses,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — In his first report, the newly appointed UN investigator into human rights in Iran has appealed to the Iranian government to create a culture in which the fundamental rights and freedoms of minorities and women are protected.
Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed also urged Iran to refrain from repressing dissent, expressed concern about the deteriorating health of some prisoners, and repeated an earlier request to be allowed to visit the country.
The interim report – submitted to the UN General Assembly at its 66th session now under way in New York – follows concerns about Iran expressed last week by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
Read the Special Rapporteur's report
The Special Rapporteur, who took up his duties on 1 August, states that – instead of presenting a substantive report – he is focussing on presenting his proposed methodology for dealing with Iran, and cataloging the most recent trends in its human rights situation, gleaned from first-hand testimonies offered to him by individuals and organizations since his appointment.
These include widespread abuses against political and women's rights activists, journalists, filmmakers, human rights lawyers, and environmental campaigners; the use of torture against detainees; the imposition of the death penalty in the absence of proper judicial safeguards; requests for exorbitant bail requirements; and the lack of independence of judges.
The Special Rapporteur also expresses his concerns about human rights violations against minority groups including Arabs, Azeris, Baha'is, Balochs, Christians, Kurds, Sufis and Sunni Muslims.
In relation to Iran's Baha'i community, Dr. Shaheed reports that its members have ""historically suffered multifaceted discrimination, including denial of jobs, pensions and educational opportunities, as well as confiscation and destruction of property.""
At least 100 Baha'is, including seven community leaders are currently imprisoned in the Islamic Republic, says the report.
""The majority of those detained allegedly face national security-related charges and have undergone judicial proceedings that lacked due process and fair trial standards,"" Dr. Shaheed writes.
In conclusion, the Special Rapporteur emphasizes his desire for constructive dialogue with the Iranian Government, the international community and civil society.
""We welcome Dr. Shaheed's call upon the Iranian government to engage more closely with the international community in strengthening human rights safeguards for its citizens,"" said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in New York.
""It is within Iran's power to create a culture of tolerance that prevents discrimination against women, religious and ethnic minorities, and protects their freedoms to associate and express themselves freely,"" she said.
""The ball is now in Iran's court. We urge them to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, who must be allowed to fulfil the mandate given to him by the United Nations Human Rights Council.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, profiles of imprisoned educators, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
860,2011-10-18,"[859, 858, 857]",Baha'i educators sentenced,"NEW YORK, United States — Seven Baha'i educators in Iran have each received four- or five-year prison sentences, according to reports received by the Baha'i International Community.
Verdicts against the seven were reportedly handed down by a judge at Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
The educators have been detained for almost five months in connection with their involvement in an informal community initiative – known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) – in which Baha'i professors, debarred by the Iranian government from practicing their professions, offer their services to teach young community members who are banned from university.
Two of the individuals, Vahid Mahmoudi and Kamran Mortezaie, were each sentenced to five years imprisonment.
Four year jail terms were given to BIHE lecturers Ramin Zibaie, Mahmoud Badavam and Farhad Sedghi, consultant Riaz Sobhani, and helper Nooshin Khadem.
Read profiles of the BIHE prisoners
""It is not even clear at this stage what the exact charges were against these innocent souls, whose only desire was to serve young people who have been unjustly barred from higher education on purely religious grounds,"" said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""What kind of society makes educating the young a punishable crime?"" she said.
Two other Baha'is associated with BIHE – husband and wife Kamran Rahimian and Faran Hesami, both psychology instructors – are also still being held without charge.
Global protest
The most recent attacks carried out against BIHE continue to provoke condemnation from governments, organizations, academics and young people throughout the world.
More than 70 academics in Australia, including University of Ballarat vice-chancellor, David Battersby, have signed an open letter protesting Iran's educational discrimination against Baha'is and calling for the immediate release of the imprisoned educators.
On 10 October, 43 prominent philosophers and theologians in 16 countries signed a letter of protest. “To acquire knowledge and learning is the sacred and legal right of all; indeed, the state is obliged to provide it. In Iran, the government has done the opposite...” wrote the academics.
Two Nobel Peace Prize laureates –  Desmond Tutu, the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, and Jose Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor – in another open letter, sharply criticized the Iranian government, comparing its actions to ""the Dark Ages of Europe"" or the ""Spanish Inquisition.""
On 5 October, resuming a Canadian Senate debate about the Baha’is in Iran, Senator Hugh Segal described the suffering heaped on Baha’is as “systematic and brutal, especially when the Baha’i are known as a peaceful faith that embraces the sanctity of all religions.”
“The official Iranian oppression of Baha’i … is a clarion call to humanity and to free peoples and democracies everywhere to look directly at the harsh colors of the Iranian reality and not look away until the challenge is faced head on,” said Senator Segal.
Around 112 Baha’is are currently behind bars in Iran because of their religion. This includes the seven Baha’i leaders, serving 20-year jail terms on trumped-up charges. The cases of some 300 other Baha’is are still active with the Iranian authorities.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",NEW YORK,,United States
861,2011-10-21,"[860, 859, 858]",Report exposes Iran's media campaign to demonize Baha'is,"NEW YORK, United States — In a wide-ranging media campaign that has gone largely unnoticed outside of Iran, hatred and discrimination are being systematically stirred up against the country's 300,000-member Baha'i minority.
In a report released today, the Baha'i International Community documents and analyzes more than 400 press and media items over a 16-month period, that typify an insidious state-sponsored effort to demonize and vilify Baha'is, using false accusations, inflammatory terminology, and repugnant imagery.
[Read the full report](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/861_Inciting-Hatred_BIC Report_Web_111024.pdf) (PDF)
""This anti-Baha'i propaganda is shocking in its volume and vehemence, its scope and sophistication,"" said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""It's all cynically calculated to stir up antagonism against a peaceful religious community whose members are striving to contribute to the well-being of their society,"" she said.
Titled Inciting Hatred: Iran's media campaign to demonize Baha'is, the report's main conclusions are:
• anti-Baha'i propaganda originates with – and is sanctioned by – the country's highest levels of leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who gave a highly discriminatory speech in the holy city of Qom a year ago;
• the campaign spurns international human rights law and norms, including a precedent-setting resolution passed earlier this year at the United Nations Human Rights Council that specifically condemns and combats the negative stereotyping and incitement to hatred of religious minorities;
• Baha'is are branded as ""outsiders"" in their own land and as enemies of Islam in a manner that is clearly calculated to provoke the religious sensibilities of Iranian Shiite Muslims;
• the campaign aims to deflect attention away from calls for democracy in Iran by using Baha'is as an all-purpose ""scapegoat"" – and, in so doing, to smear those who oppose the government as well as human rights campaigners as Baha'is, ""as if that were the most heinous crime.""
• the authorities disseminate ludicrous conspiracy theories including that foreign broadcasters, in particular the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Voice of America (VOA), are controlled by or under the influence of Baha'is because they report stories about human rights violations in Iran;
""The diverse content of these attacks demonstrates tremendous effort and commitment of resources by the Islamic Republic,"" says the report.
""Many attacks are built on gross distortions of Baha'i history; some attempt a strategy of guilt by association through lumping Baha'is together with completely unrelated groups – such as 'Satanists' or the Shah's secret police; still others deploy a tactic of connecting Baha'is with 'opponents' of the regime, which allows the Government to discredit both the Baha'is and its opponents in a single transaction. The campaign makes extensive use of the World Wide Web, and often uses graphic images that portray Baha'is as fiendish ghouls or agents of Israel.""
Bani Dugal said the demonization of Iran's Baha'i community is a matter that deserves the attention of governments, international legal institutions, and fair-minded people everywhere.
""The campaign not only clearly violates international human rights law,"" she said, ""it also utterly contradicts Iran's long-standing claim at the UN and elsewhere that it is working to support measures to outlaw or condemn hate speech directed against religions or religious followers.""
""The parallels between the campaign of anti-Baha'i propaganda in Iran today and other state-sponsored, anti-religious campaigns of the past are undeniable. History shows us that such campaigns are among the foremost predictors of actual violence against religious minorities – or, in the worst case, precursors of genocide.
""It is time for Iran to be told that such egregious violations of international law and norms cannot be tolerated,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Special Section – Inciting Hatred: Iran's media campaign to demonize Bahá'ís**
A Special Section of the Baha'i International Community United Nations Office website presents the full report, Inciting Hatred: Iran's media campaign to demonize Bahá'ís* in English and Persian, as well as an online only 197-page appendix that summarizes each of the 400-plus documents or articles that were collected during the period of this survey, from 17 December 2009 to 16 May 2011.*",NEW YORK,,United States
862,2011-10-23,[],UN religious freedom expert: Iran is systematically persecuting Baha'is,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Iran's persecution of Baha'is is among the most ""extreme manifestations of religious intolerance and persecution"" in the world today, according to a UN expert.
The remarks of Heiner Bielefeldt – Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief – came during a press conference here in response to a question about a new report that documents the Iranian government's media campaign to demonize Baha'is.
""The Iranian government has a policy of systematic persecution..."" said Dr. Bielefeldt, ""with the view of even destroying that religion worldwide...It's a very clear, clearly articulated policy of extreme hostility.""
Asked whether he had received any response from Iran to his statements on the issue, Dr. Bielefeldt replied, ""The typical response is the following: Bahaism is not a religion, it's a cult, it's an evil cult.""  The report, ""Inciting Hatred – Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is,"" was launched on Friday 21 October at the New York offices of the Baha'i International Community (BIC). Pictured here are, left, Bani Dugal, the BIC's Principal Representative to the United Nations; and, right, Diane Ala'i, BIC Representative to the UN in Geneva. The report reflects the Iranian government's ""irrational fear"" and ""great contempt"" of its Baha'i community, said Ms. Ala'i.""They distinguish...between genuine religions – in their understanding the divinely revealed religions Judaism, Christianity and, of course, Islam – and the rest,"" he said. ""So this is a problem.
""I mean they really excommunicate, systematically, the Baha'is from the application of freedom of religion or belief by simply denying their faith to have the status of a religion.  And this is something states cannot do.""
Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right, he said at the press conference on Thursday.
""The starting point must be the self-understanding of human beings. Their deep convictions...That is what counts,"" he said.
Inciting Hatred
One aspect of the Iranian government's campaign against Baha'is is documented in the report, Inciting Hatred: Iran's media campaign to demonize Baha'is, which provides evidence of a state-sponsored strategy to vilify the Baha'i community.
The report, launched on 21 October, highlights false accusations of Baha'is being involved in a variety of subversive practices including being anti-Islamic, morally corrupt, and agents for foreign powers.
Responding to the findings, Faraz Sanei – Iran researcher with the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch – told CNN that rights groups have long documented Iran's actions against Baha'is, designed to ""deprive them of their ability to freely manifest the beliefs and teachings of their faith.""
The report, said Dr. Sanei, provides ""valuable insight into the mechanics of a less documented and more insidious element of this campaign – anti-Baha'i propaganda propagated by official and semi-official media outlets, and the degree to which hate speech further exposes an already vulnerable minority group to discrimination and attacks by private actors.""
At the report's launch, Bani Dugal – Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations – noted that Baha'is in Iran ""are particularly vulnerable to campaigns such as this because they don't have any right to reply.""
Special Section – Inciting Hatred: Iran's media campaign to demonize Bahá'ís**
A Special Section of the Baha'i International Community United Nations Office website presents the full report, Inciting Hatred: Iran's media campaign to demonize Bahá'ís* in English and Persian, as well as an online only 197-page appendix that summarizes each of the 400-plus documents or articles that were collected during the period of this survey, from 17 December 2009 to 16 May 2011.*",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
863,2011-11-04,"[862, 861, 860]",Attacks on Baha'is continue as Iran's human rights record comes under further UN scrutiny,"GENEVA, Switzerland — As a United Nations body concluded that Iran's persecution of Baha'is is clearly violating one of the world's major human rights treaties, the Baha'i International Community has learned of a recent wave of attacks on Baha'is and their property.
In Rasht, three women were arrested on charges of activity against national security following terrifying raids on 16 Baha'i homes. In Semnan, around ten Baha'i-owned shops were sealed up by the authorities and two business licences were cancelled. In the city of Sanandaj, it has been reported that authorities have attempted to persuade groups of Baha'is to give an undertaking not to participate in gatherings – known as the Nineteen Day Feast – held in the homes of their co-religionists.
""These recent events have all the appearance of being centrally coordinated,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, ""and clearly contradict statements we often hear from the Iranian authorities that Baha'is are entitled to the same rights as others and that activities related to personal beliefs and community affairs are permitted.""
More than 100 Baha'is are currently held in Iranian prisons. They include the community's seven leaders – each serving 20-year jail sentences on trumped up charges – and seven educators imprisoned for their involvement in an informal initiative established to help young Baha'is barred by the government from higher education.  But that is not the whole story.
In addition to those already behind bars, more than 300 Baha'is who have been previously arrested and then released are either awaiting trial or the call to begin serving out their sentences. The sums they have been required to post for bail – most often using property deeds or business licenses as collateral – are exorbitant.  Hundreds of Baha'i homes have been raided and personal belongings – including books, computers, mobile phones, photographs and documents – have been confiscated.
All of this constitutes a further drain on the resources of Baha'is who are already being subjected to wide-ranging and systematic efforts to impoverish them through tactics such as: being debarred from owning – or working in – more than 25 types of business; the summary cancellation of business licenses; the sealing up of Baha'i-owned shops; the threatening of employers against hiring Baha'is; and the banning of young Baha'is from higher education.
Yesterday, the UN Human Rights Committee – a body of 18 independent experts – criticized Iran's non-compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the country has signed and ratified.
The Committee's findings came two weeks after a hearing at which an Iranian government delegation sought to defend their human rights record. The delegation's 27-page written report claimed that ""no Iranian citizen enjoys priority over others due to his/her race, religion or particular language.""
During the hearing, numerous questions were posed by the Committee about Iran's treatment of Baha'is. One Committee member, Ahmad Fathalla of Egypt, said that since religion and conviction or belief are given the same status in the ICCPR, Iran must allow Baha'is the right to manifest their beliefs ""both individually and in community with others, both in public or in private,"" even if the authorities do not consider the Baha'i Faith to be a religion.
Concern was also expressed over a wide range of other human rights violations, including the high rate of death sentences, the lack of women in top government positions, and the widespread use of torture.
Among its conclusions, the Committee urged Iran to ""take immediate steps to ensure that members of the Baha'i community are protected against discrimination in every field, that violations of their rights are immediately investigated, that those found responsible are prosecuted and that they are provided with effective remedies.""
Welcoming the Committee's report, Diane Ala'i said, ""The UN Human Rights Committee is telling Iran to stop making excuses and to live up to its commitment to protect the rights of all its citizens to enjoy complete freedom of religion.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",GENEVA,,Switzerland
864,2011-11-07,"[863, 862, 861]",Trial of Baha'i educators: condemnation spreads,"GENEVA, Switzerland — As more information has emerged regarding the trial of seven Baha'i educators, the worldwide outcry at the persecution of Iranian Baha'i students and teachers continues to spread.
In recent days, politicians in Brazil, academics in Germany and Ireland, and an international group of distinguished filmmakers, have condemned the systematic barring of Baha'is from higher education in Iran, and the Iranian government's attack on the Baha'i community's informal efforts to educate its own young members.
The Baha'i International Community has recently learned that the seven jailed educators – all lecturers or helpers with a community initiative known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) – were taken to court on two separate days, handcuffed and chained at the ankles. There, in the presence of their attorneys, they were informed of the verdict and their sentences.
""Neither the defendants nor their lawyers has seen a written copy of the verdict,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, ""but we know from transcripts taken down by people present at the hearing that the seven were found guilty of 'membership in the deviant Bahaist sect, with the goal of taking action against the security of the country, in order to further the aims of the deviant sect and those of organizations outside the country.'""
The judgements also cast the activities of the accused in BIHE as crimes – and as evidence of their supposed aim to subvert the state, added Ms. Ala'i.  The sentencing of seven Baha'i educators, and the Iranian authorities' attack on the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education, continue to spark outrage around the world. Pictured are examples of reaction from politicians, organizations, academics and prominent indivudals.Two of the Baha'is, Vahid Mahmoudi and Kamran Mortezaie, each received five years imprisonment, while four year jail terms were given to Mahmoud Badavam, Nooshin Khadem, Farhad Sedghi, Riaz Sobhani and Ramin Zibaie.
""The authorities know full well that there is no truth whatsoever to the charges,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""The prohibition on foreign diplomats attending court – and the refusal of the judiciary to provide written documentation of the verdict – show how unjustifiable the assertions and actions of the government are, and clearly expose the blatant religious discrimination that is at the heart of this case.""
Ongoing condemnation
In the past five months since they were first detained, the outcry at the incarceration of the seven educators has spanned the world. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has led the criticism of Iran's actions, along with such prominent global figures as Nobel Peace Prize laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Jose Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor. In October, some 43 distinguished philosophers and theologians in 16 countries signed an open letter protesting against the attack on BIHE.
Last Friday, in Ireland, more than 50 academics called upon the Iranian authorities to cease attacking Baha'is and allow access to higher education for all. ""It is hard to believe that any government would deny the right to education to a group of students,"" they wrote to the Irish Times. ""It is clear from these actions that the Iranian authorities are determined to block the progress and development of these young people by denying them an education solely on the basis of their religion.""
In Germany, some 45 prominent professors also demanded the immediate release of the seven. In a letter dated 25 October to Iran's Minister for Science, Research and Technology, they wrote, ""We insist upon the unrestricted observance of the right of higher education for all citizens of your country in accordance with international norms...""
Four days earlier, Markus Loning – Germany's Foreign Office Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid – said: ""The accused must have a right to a transparent process according to the principles of the rule of law."" Rolf Mutzenich, foreign policy spokesperson for Germany's Social Democratic parliamentary group described the judgement as ""unacceptable, and the religious intolerance it reflects is intolerable....It is urgent and necessary for the Iranian government to end its discrimination against the Baha'is and to respect their basic rights to education and to practice their faith.""
Last week, 26 filmmakers, producers and actors urged the government of Brazil to defend the rights of filmmakers, journalists and Baha'i educators and call upon Iran to immediately release them. Among the signatories to the open letter, reported in the prestigious Folha de São Paolo newspaper, were such acclaimed directors as Hector Babenco, Atom Egoyan, Mohsen Makhmalbaf and Walter Salles.
In a statement on 20 October, Brazilian Federal Representative Luiz Couto – former president of the country's Human Rights Commission – said, ""We all know the work that is developed by the Baha'is in Brazil in the areas of equality, justice and human rights; and many of us are also familiar with their educational work in the communities...Why can't these people have the right to profess their faith?""
Support for the imprisoned educators has also come from Scholars at Risk (SIR), an international network of over 260 universities and colleges in 33 countries dedicated to promoting academic freedom, and freedom of thought, opinion, expression, association and travel.
""[T] e facts suggest an attempt to exclude Baha'i individuals from higher education opportunities in Iran, and raise serious concerns about a wider campaign to limit the ability of intellectuals and scholars generally to work freely in Iran,"" SIR wrote on 31 October.
""Scholars at Risk finds these suggestions particularly distressing and unfortunate, given Iran's rich intellectual history and traditional support for the values of scholarship and free inquiry.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",GENEVA,,Switzerland
865,2011-11-14,"[851, 806, 800]","Lotus temple embodies ""message for the world of today""","NEW DELHI, India — On the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Baha'i House of Worship here, Delhi's Chief Minister has praised the impact the temple has made on Indian society, and beyond.
""This is a very iconic building of India. There's nothing like this anywhere else,"" Sheila Dikshit told the crowd attending the temple's silver jubilee festivities. ""It is thanks to this temple that Delhi has also found a way to reach the hearts of millions of people all over the world.""
The Chief Minister's remarks came as she paid a special visit on the final morning of a weekend-long celebratory program, at which more than 5,000 visitors from throughout the sub-continent – as well as almost 60 other countries – gathered at the temple's grounds.
""I wish I could express in words my joy,"" Mrs. Dikshit told the celebration. ""Your message is the message for the world of today. The Baha'i Faith is the faith that teaches us all are equal. It rises above any narrow consideration of humanity.""
In its message to mark the occasion, the Universal House of Justice noted the temple's ""power to harmonize the manifest diversity of its visitors, to awaken nobility in hearts, and to strengthen hope for peace.""
""Under the shadow of this magnificent edifice, millions who seek God have found tranquillity and been uplifted by the songs of praise and exaltation that rise from its inner sanctum,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice.  The Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs. Sheila Dikshit – pictured left – greets the more than 5,000 visitors assembled for the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Baha'i House of Worship, 11-12 November 2011. She is welcomed to the stage by Naznene Rowhani, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India.Greetings were also received from the President of India, Mrs. Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil, and former President, Dr. A.P.J. Kalam.
""The House of Worship with its beautiful environment transmits a message on how to celebrate the differences existing in the society,"" Dr. Kalam wrote. ""This culture of celebrating the differences in the society is the greatest contribution made by (the) Baha'i Faith to humanity.""
The Baha'i House of Worship, popularly referred to as the ""Lotus Temple"" – because of its award-winning design inspired by a lotus flower – is one of the most visited buildings in the world. Over the past quarter of a century, it has received an average of 4.3 million visitors every year – from all nations, religions and walks of life.
Open to all people, the purpose of Baha'i Houses of Worship is to provide a central gathering place for prayer and meditation as well as, in time, a range of facilities to serve the social and educational needs of the population.
The temple in New Delhi – observed the Universal House of Justice – ""has not only given expression to humanity's deep-felt longing to worship God but also demonstrated its efficacy in translating and transfusing that worship into a dynamic and dispassionate service for the betterment of humankind.""
The growing contribution made by the House of Worship to Indian society was noted by India's Minister for Tourism, Subodh Kant Sahai, who wrote how it ""serves as a venue for non-denominational activities such as the spiritual and moral education for children and young people, as well as gatherings where adults systematically study spiritual principles and their application in daily life.""
The message that ""worship is not complete unless it is translated into service,"" was reiterated throughout the weekend's presentations, on such themes as communal harmony, social transformation, the education of children, and the empowerment of youth.
The contribution of young people was evident in the devotional programs, artistic presentations and talks, which included addresses by a number of individuals and representatives of organizations who received ""Champions of Social Transformation"" awards.
Temple's builders honored
Concluding her remarks, the Chief Minister of Delhi paid tribute to the House of Worship's architect, Fariborz Sahba of Canada – who was also in attendance – and those who maintain the temple today.
""Above all, I'd like to bow my head in front of those who keep this building looking as it did on the first day,"" said Mrs. Dikshit.
Six members of the building's original construction team were presented with a special commemorative gift. Among them was Anumolu Ramakrishna, former president and deputy managing director of Larsen & Toubro Ltd. – the engineering firm which built the temple.
""A construction project needs unity,"" said Mr. Ramakrishna. ""Unless all work unitedly, it doesn't work.""
""This temple could not be built today,"" he added, ""That type of committed workman, that craftsmanship, is not there anymore. This building is a jewel.""",NEW DELHI,,India
866,2011-11-18,"[865, 806, 769]",South African Baha'is reflect on 100 years of racial unity,"JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Today, Baha'is here of all backgrounds can freely meet together and demonstrate their belief in the oneness of humanity. But this has not always been the case.
Among the stories told at the centenary commemoration of the South African Baha'i community were those recounting the perils faced by Baha'is who were trying to follow their faith during the hardest years of apartheid.
""The community reflected on the role of the early Baha'is in promoting unity in a country with a volatile and racially segregated past,"" said Khwezi Fudu, a spokesperson for the Baha'is of South Africa.
""But we also celebrated – through musical, dramatic and audio-visual presentations – the contribution that the Baha'i community has made to the country in the areas of racial unity, moral education of children and young people, gender equality and interfaith dialogue.""
In a message to the gathering, held at the national Baha'i center on 12 November, former South African President Thabo Mbeki said, ""We are...greatly encouraged by the fact that as you have responded to the challenges of human development you have sought not only to deliver services but also to nurture the capacity of all human beings to develop themselves, including their morality.""  The Baha'i Diversity Choir performs at the celebration of the centenary of the Baha'i Faith in South Africa.""We are honored and feel greatly strengthened that we have members of the Baha'i Faith in our country and among us,"" he added.
A multi-racial election
Dignitaries and guests attending the commemoration heard how, after the Baha'i Faith first arrived in South Africa in 1911, people of all races gradually joined the community.  By 1956, when the community was sufficiently large to initially elect a regional governing council, Baha'is from southern Africa of varied racial backgrounds gathered at a small farm in Highveld.
As a precaution, Reginald Turvey – an acclaimed painter who was a Baha'i – was posted on the road to the farmhouse as a lookout. If the security police approached, he was to signal and the voters would then disperse. The African Baha'is would pretend to be cleaning and cooking while the white community members would pretend to be playing cards.
That historic election went off without a hitch – its result a testimony to the Baha'i principle of racial unity: of the nine members elected, two were black and one was a colored South African, along with a Swazi and a Mozambiquan, and four whites.
Distinguished guests
Guests at the centenary commemoration included South Africa's former first lady,  Zanele Mbeki; the Sigcau royal family of the AmaMpondo people; Agostinho Zacarias – the United Nations' Resident Coordinator;  and other distinguished individuals, including government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, artists, media and corporate representatives, academics, religious leaders and social activists.
The Australian High Commissioner – Her Excellency Mrs. Ann Harrap – who gave a keynote address that explored issues such as the empowerment of women, described the occasion as ""entertaining, inspirational and educational.""
""I was overwhelmed by how the Baha'i community has come together to present what they have contributed to South African society over the past 100 years,"" she said.",JOHANNESBURG,,South Africa
867,2011-11-21,"[863, 862, 859]",UN strongly condemns Iran's human rights violations; European Parliament joins global outcry,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Using some of its strongest language to date, the United Nations General Assembly has roundly condemned Iran for its ""serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations.""
By a vote of 86 to 32, with 59 abstentions, the Assembly's Third Committee today approved a six-page resolution that catalogs a wide range of abuses in Iran, including ""a dramatic increase"" in executions, the use of torture, the systematic targeting of human rights defenders, pervasive violence against women, and continuing discrimination against minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
Read the full resolution here
""With its long and detailed list of crimes against ordinary citizens, this year's resolution has condemned the behavior of the Iranian authorities in the strongest language we have yet seen,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN.
""The result can leave no doubt about what the world community thinks of Iran's relentless efforts to violate virtually every human right,"" she said.
The resolution follows recent reports from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the new Special Rapporteur on human rights for Iran that were also strongly critical of the Islamic Republic's human rights abuses.
Areas of concern
Co-sponsored by 42 countries, the resolution lists some 16 areas of concern, ranging from torture and an increased use of the death penalty to the ""systematic and serious restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly"" and ""severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.""
It also mentions concerns over ""unlawful interference"" with individual privacy, citing the state's monitoring of correspondence, emails, and voicemail.
Iran's persistent failure at upholding due process of law is also highlighted, which includes ""the systematic and arbitrary use of prolonged solitary confinement, the lack of access of detainees to legal representation of their choice, the refusal to consider granting bail to detainees, and the poor conditions of prisons, including the serious overcrowding and poor level of sanitation, as well as persistent reports of detainees being subjected to torture and rape and other forms of sexual violence.""
""Escalating attacks on Baha'is""
Continuing violations and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities are another cause for concern, in particular the problems facing Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis and Kurds, as well as discrimination against Christians, Jews, Sufis, Sunni Muslims and Zoroastrians.
""[E] calating attacks on Baha'is and their defenders,"" are reported, ""including in State sponsored media, a significant increase in the number of Baha'is arrested and detained, including the targeted attack on the Baha'i educational institution, the reinstatement of twenty-year sentences against seven Baha'i leaders following deeply flawed legal proceedings, and renewed measures to deny Baha'is employment in the public and private sectors.""
The resolution calls upon Iran to ""eliminate discrimination against, and exclusion of, women and members of certain groups, including members of the Baha'i faith, regarding access to higher education, and to eliminate the criminalization of efforts to provide higher education to Baha'i youth denied access to Iranian universities.""
The country must also cooperate with the UN and its officials in efforts to monitor human rights compliance.
""This resolution is a powerful testimony to the degree to which all Iranians – not just a few minorities or dissidents – are living under a state of siege, where harassment, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, torture and the threat of death have become daily concerns,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The resolution – which is expected to be confirmed by the full Assembly in December – also requests that the UN Secretary General issue a report on human rights in Iran again next year.
European resolution
A similarly strong resolution condemning Iran for its human rights violations was adopted by the European Parliament last Thursday. Read the resolution here.
The resolution likewise cited numerous concerns, ranging from increased executions and the widespread use of torture to the systematic oppression of human rights defenders, journalists, women and minorities.
The European Parliament also took note of Iran's increased persecution of Baha'is, noting they ""suffer heavy discrimination, including denial of access to education"" and that seven Baha'i leaders remain imprisoned and ""over 100 community members remain under arrest.""
""We welcome these resolutions and hope that the Iranian government will finally heed the international community's call for an end to such practices and a return to the rule of law,"" said Bani Dugal.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, profiles of imprisoned educators, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
868,2011-11-24,"[829, 779, 816]",Network aims to make pilgrimage a greener experience,"ASSISI, Italy — An estimated 100 million people make some kind of pilgrimage every year, some for a few hours, others for days or months.
To address the environmental impact of these journeys – and to assist the world's holy places to become as environmentally sustainable as possible – a new network has been launched which brings together pilgrim sites from 10 faith traditions.
They range from the Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, and the Armenian Orthodox holy city of Etchmiadzin, to Jerusalem – a major pilgrimage destination for the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths.
The Baha'i World Centre – and the city of Haifa, Israel, where it is located – have also become founding members of the Green Pilgrimage Network. Last year alone, the Baha'i holy places attracted around 750,000 pilgrims and visitors.
""The Green Pilgrimage Network will ask the faithful to live, during the most intense of religious experiences, in a faith-consistent way,"" said Martin Palmer, Secretary-General of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), which has established the Network in association with WWF.
""To travel to a holy place in such a way as to treat the whole world as sacred is to be a true pilgrim,"" said Mr. Palmer.  Jalal Hatami, Deputy Secretary-General of the Baha'i International Community – pictured right – speaks with Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent at the launch of the Green Pilgrimage Network. Behind them, from left to right, are Sara Morrison, Vice President Emeritus of WWF International; Alliance of Religions and Conservation Secretary-General Martin Palmer; and Danny Ronen, general manager of Haifa Tourist Board. Photograph: ARC/Katia Marsh.The Network was launched in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent at the Sacred Land celebration, held in Assisi from 31 October to 2 November. The event also marked 25 years of religious action on the environment since the first Assisi gathering in 1986 when faith leaders were invited to consider how their beliefs, practices and teachings could help protect the environment.
This year, some 90 delegates from around the world – representing all the major faiths – took part in a two-day conference which examined the way forward for religion and environmentalism, and the Green Pilgrimage Network.
The Baha'i International Community was represented at the event by Jalal Hatami, its Deputy Secretary-General.
""The Baha'i World Centre is discussing with the authorities in Haifa how to make the city more ecological,"" said Mr. Hatami. ""This includes promoting the use of public transport among all citizens and greener practices in the hospitality sector, improving the management of energy and water, and encouraging more recycling and waste reduction.""
Mr. Hatami described hearing about the various initiatives already under way in various holy cities as ""very inspiring.""
""It demonstrated that the faith communities have much to say about the environment and can really make an impact if they work towards common goals,"" he said.",ASSISI,,Italy
869,2011-11-28,"[652, 718, 781]",Composer dedicated life to building a better world,"KERIKERI, New Zealand — Russell Garcia, who has died at the age of 95, was an influential composer, arranger, and conductor, who dedicated his talents to promoting the teachings of the Baha'i Faith around the world.
In a career spanning eight decades, Mr. Garcia recorded more than 60 albums under his own name, and worked with stars such as Louis Armstrong, Charles Chaplin, Ella Fitzgerald and Judy Garland.
Born in Oakland, California, on 12 April 1916, Mr. Garcia began writing and arranging music while still a boy. He composed for radio programs, for television shows including Rawhide, and films such as The Time Machine (1960).
A teaching post at the Westlake School of Music in Los Angeles also resulted in Mr. Garcia writing The Professional Arranger Composer. The book and its sequel ""continue to be basic handbooks for anyone who wants to understand the process of arranging and composing,"" the music critic Don Heckman told the Los Angeles Times.
During the Second World War, Mr. Garcia fought in the ""Battle of the Bulge"" in Belgium.  In 2008, at the age of 92, Russell Garcia embarked on a concert tour of Austria, which was reported by the Baha'i World News Service.""This is absolute insanity, people shooting at strangers,"" the composer said, vowing that – if he came out of it alive – he would dedicate himself to world peace.
Mr. Garcia and his wife, Gina, joined the Baha'i Faith in 1955 and, from then on, devoted their lives to promoting its principles. In 1966, when he was at the peak of his musical career, they sold their home and possessions, bought a boat, and set sail, carrying the Baha'i teachings to the islands of the Pacific Ocean.
""Not many people have the chance to follow their hearts with no financial worries,"" Mr. Garcia later said.
The couple spent six years on their trimaran, The Dawn-Breaker, anchoring in – among other places – Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Tahiti. During their travels, they fell in love with New Zealand and settled there permanently.
Mr. Garcia continued to compose, arrange and conduct until the end of his long life. In 2005, the Los Angeles Jazz Institute honored him for his contribution to jazz. In 2009, he and his wife were awarded the Queen's Service Medal by Queen Elizabeth II. Together, they regularly volunteered their services to teach primary school children in New Zealand about spiritual qualities – using songs, stories and creative exercises.
On learning of his passing on 20 November, the Universal House of Justice recalled how Mr. Garcia also ""devoted himself to the creation of a range of musical compositions as a means of spreading the light of Baha'u'llah.""
His ""prodigious efforts"" in the application of artistic endeavor to promote the oneness of humanity were noted by the Universal House of Justice.
In an interview, Mr. Garcia once said. ""We see mankind as one. So any goal that is not to help everybody is not a good goal.""
""We've dedicated our lives to trying to build a better world,"" he said.",KERIKERI,,New Zealand
870,2011-12-01,"[410, 543, 869]",President of Pacific island nation visits Baha'i World Centre,"HAIFA, Israel — The head of state of the Republic of Palau has paid an official visit to the Baha'i World Centre.
President Johnson Toribiong with his wife, Mrs. Valeria Toribiong, were welcomed by a member of the Universal House of Justice, Mr. Stephen Hall, and his wife, Mrs. Dicy Hall, on 25 November. Also in the receiving party was a member of the International Teaching Centre, Mrs. Zenaida Ramirez.
Palau is one of the world's youngest sovereign states, located in the Pacific Ocean, 800 kilometers east of the Philippines. President Toribiong himself requested the visit to the Baha'i World Centre while on a state visit to Israel.
At a reception held in the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, Mr. Hall presented the president with the book, Baha'i Shrine and Gardens in Haifa and Acre. A laser-etched crystal memento of the Shrine of the Bab was also presented to Mrs. Toribiong.  The president of the Republic of Palau, Mr. Johnson Toribiong, and his wife, Mrs. Valeria Toribiong – pictured center – are shown visiting the terraces of the Shrine of the Bab, Haifa, Israel, on Friday 25 November. Guests also included representatives of the municipality of Haifa.""The president – who is an attorney by profession – expressed his appreciation of the Baha'i teachings on justice,"" said Kern Wisman, representative of the Baha'i International Community, who was a member of the welcoming party.
After speeches, the delegation – which also included Palau's Justice Minister, Mr. John Gibbons, and guests from the municipality of Haifa –  visited the Shrine of the Bab and its surrounding terraced gardens, which particularly interested Mrs. Toribiong who, in her role as first lady, has done much to promote the beautification of her country.
""It is an impressive experience when a head of state is able to see something of the essence, character, scope and scale of the Baha'i Faith – and respond with such respect to the beauty and dignity of this holy place,"" said Mr. Wisman.",HAIFA,,Israel
871,2011-12-01,"[359, 841, 388]","Ian C. Semple, 1928-2011","HAIFA, Israel — Mr. Ian C. Semple, former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away today in Switzerland. He was 82 years old.
The Universal House of Justice has sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies:*  *  *Our hearts are laden with sorrow at the passing to the Abha Kingdom of our dearly loved former colleague Ian C. Semple, staunch, clear-sighted, outstanding servant of the Blessed Beauty. Having embraced the Cause of God in the prime of his youth while at university, he devoted his considerable energies, eloquent pen and keen intellect to its protection and to the promotion of its vital interests throughout the rest of his life. A distinguished record of six decades of uninterrupted labour in the Divine Vineyard included service as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, of the Auxiliary Board for Propagation in Europe and of the International Baha’i Council, and culminated in forty-two years of membership of the Universal House of Justice from its establishment in 1963 until 2005. The shining qualities of his being, his immense courtesy, surpassing humility, purity of heart, irrepressible joy and unfailing optimism – all born of an unshakeable faith in the Word of God and its capacity to redeem humankind – endeared him to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
We extend our loving sympathy to his beloved wife, Louise, to his dear children, Michael, Nicholas and Jennifer, and to his grandchildren for the loss they have sustained and pray for the bounties of God to surround them. May Ian’s valiant soul receive a joyous welcome in the celestial realms above and be richly rewarded for his fealty and his exemplary dedication to duty. We call upon the friends everywhere to hold memorial gatherings in his honour, including befitting commemorative services in the Houses of Worship throughout the world.
The Universal House of Justice",HAIFA,,Israel
872,2011-12-02,"[867, 863, 852]","Senator highlights ""warning signs"" in Iran's treatment of Baha'is","OTTAWA, Canada — Canadian Senator Romeo Dallaire, the former UN peacekeeping force commander who tried to stop the 1990s genocide in Rwanda, has said that Iran's current actions against Baha'is remind him of what he witnessed in Africa.
""The similarities with what I saw in Rwanda are absolutely unquestionable, equal...and in fact applied with seemingly the same verve,"" said Senator Dallaire.
""We are witnessing a slow-motion rehearsal for genocide,"" he warned.
Senator Dallaire's remarks came as part of a Senate inquiry into the persecution of Iranian Baha'is. The imprisonment of Baha'is for no reason other than their belief, he told the Senate, is comparable with the Rwandan situation.
Read Senator Dallaire's speech here.
""(T)he prisons of Rwanda were filled with Tutsi people for almost the same reasons, except their crime was based on their ethnicity, rather than their religion,"" he said.
Another parallel can be found in the persecution of Baha'i educators who try to teach young community members in the face of government efforts to ban them from university.
""Any Iranian who identifies as Baha'i is barred from higher education, from holding a position in the government, or from partaking in the political process,"" he said.
""These attacks against the Baha'i leaders and teachers are troubling enough as human rights violations. However, they are even more disturbing because they took place in the context of the Iranian state's severe repression of the entire Baha'i community. A similar scenario played out in Rwanda where the Tutsi ethnic minority was not allowed access to higher education in their country. They had to leave the country in order to access higher education.""
In 1994, Senator Dallaire commanded the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda that was ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the mass slaying of an estimated 800,000 Rwandans. He has since become honored and respected around the world for his humanitarian work and his courageous defense of people under threat. He has also been a member of the UN Secretary General's Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention.
When the facts and trends of the persecution of Iranian Baha'is are put together, he said, it amounts at a minimum to something he called ""ideological genocide.""
""An essential element of ideological genocide is the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Baha'i community as a separate religious entity. It is this intent...that requires our urgent and deliberate attention.""
Beyond that, he said, there remains the possibility of mass atrocities if Iran's repression of Baha'is is not checked.
""The alarming increase in incarceration among the Baha'is and, most particularly, among their leadership, the disproportionate sentences and unreasonable bail and the vile propaganda that paints Baha'is as cultish and part of a Zionist conspiracy to undermine the Islamic state of Iran is all...false. It is all an instrument to excuse the deliberate actions by that government to destroy that religion within their boundaries.""
""Make no mistake, these are not only indices of past and present persecution; they are warning signs of mass atrocities, of genocide. Let us not witness another one, fully conscious of what the consequences are,"" he said.
The Canadian Senate inquiry into the issue of Iran's persecution of Baha'is was initiated by Senator Mobina Jaffer. In remarks made on 21 June, Senator Jaffer called for ""new steps"" by Canada to ""call Iran to account for its unacceptable treatment of the Baha'is.""
In October, Senator Hugh Segal also addressed the inquiry describing the suffering heaped on Baha'is as ""systematic and brutal,"" especially when they are known as a ""peaceful faith that embraces the sanctity of all religions.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",OTTAWA,,Canada
873,2011-12-05,"[872, 867, 863]",Concerns for imprisoned Baha'i educators voiced in Senate,"OTTAWA, Canada — At the Canadian Senate enquiry into the persecution of Iranian Baha'is, Canada's first Muslim senator has strongly criticized Iran for its prosecution and imprisonment of Baha'i educators.
Senator Mobina Jaffer said that it was ""unprecedented"" that Iran has now criminalized the education of young people.
""What cruelty is this, that a government would imprison its citizens for educating others and make the process of learning a crime?"" she asked the Senate.
Read Senator Jaffer's speech in full
Senator Jaffer herself initiated the enquiry in June this year, one month after Iranian authorities raided some 39 homes of Baha'is associated with an informal community initiative –  known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education –  established to teach young Baha'is barred from university.
Addressing the enquiry, Senator Jaffer said that her concern was now for seven Baha'i educators who have received four- and five-year jail terms.
""Among those sentenced to four years in prison was Nooshin Khadem, a permanent resident of Canada and an MBA graduate of Carleton University,"" she said.
""Nooshin came to Canada because Carleton University recognized her Baha'i Institute studies as the equivalent of an undergraduate education. She then transported her education back to Iran to teach others.""
""Now she is in jail for committing the 'crime' of transporting her education.""  The seven Baha'i educators sentenced to prison are (top row, left to right): Mahmoud Badavam, Ramin Zibaie, Riaz Sobhani, Farhad Sedghi; (bottom row, left to right) Noushin Khadem, Kamran Mortezaie, and Vahid Mahmoudi. Ms. Khadem is an MBA graduate of Carleton University, Ottawa.Among other Baha'is who have recently been arrested and imprisoned, two also received degrees in Canada – qualifications which Iran now calls ""illegal,"" Senator Jaffer noted.
Married couple Kamran Rahimian and Faran Hessami completed graduate studies in psychology counseling at the University of Ottawa.
The Baha'i International Community has recently learned that Ms. Hessami was released on bail on 28 November. Both she and her husband are still awaiting trial. Their two-year-old son has had to live with relatives while both of his parents were in prison.
""As a nation that upholds human rights and values religious pluralism, we must continue to stand up and directly face the threat presented by Iran to its own people,"" Senator Jaffer said last Thursday.
""Iran may not listen today, but the Iranian people are listening. They must know that Canada stands with them and will continue to speak up for their fundamental rights and freedoms.""
Also last week, Senator Romeo Dallaire – the former UN peacekeeping force commander who tried to stop the 1990s genocide in Rwanda – told the Senate enquiry that Iran's current actions against Baha'is remind him of what he witnessed in Africa.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",OTTAWA,,Canada
874,2011-12-08,"[873, 872, 867]",Heads of medical schools urge Iran to release jailed Baha'i educators,"WASHINGTON, United States — Almost 50 leaders of medical education in the United States have joined the worldwide protest against the Iranian government’s persecution of Baha’i students and educators.
Forty-eight Deans and Senior Vice-Presidents – who between them head more than a third of American medical schools – have signed an open letter addressed to Iran’s representative to the United Nations. The letter was published on the Persian-language “Association Against Education Discrimination” website on 7 December – the day that Iranian student movements annually commemorate Student Day.
“We are writing as individuals who are leaders of globally recognized educational institutions to voice our concern about the treatment of Baha’i students and educators in Iran,” the letter says.
“As leaders of medical education, we believe that education is an inherent human right. At our respective institutions, we have hosted and continue to host students, residents, fellows, and faculty irrespective of their religious beliefs from all over the world. We have welcomed this diverse population into our educational communities to contribute to the discovery and dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of humanity.”
The letter’s chief signatory – Dr. Philip Pizzo, Dean of Stanford University’s School of Medicine – helped collect the signatures last month at the annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Council of Medical School Deans.
The statement details the systematic attack launched by Iranian authorities against an informal community initiative – known as the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) – which was set up to provide education for young Baha’is barred from university. Seven Baha’is associated with BIHE are now serving four- and five-year jail terms.
“The arresting of BIHE faculty and administrators as well as the banning of generations of Baha’is from education solely on the basis of their religious background are violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights to which Iran is a State Party,” the letter continues.
“We therefore urge your government to release the instructors and administrators of BIHE from prison. We also request that your government extend Baha’i students and faculty in Iran the same rights to education that we offer every student and professor at our institutions regardless of their heritage, religion or country of origin.”
The open letter was published on the same day that the situation of Baha’i educators and students was raised in a joint statement by an international group of lawmakers – US Senators Mark Kirk and Joseph Lieberman, Canadian MP Irwin Cotler, British MP Denis MacShane, Australian MP Michael Danby, Italian MP Fiamma Nirenstein, and Lithuanian MP Emanuelis Zingeris.
Continuing outcry
These latest actions come just days after Senator Mobina Jaffer, Canada’s first Muslim senator, told a Canadian Senate enquiry that it was ""unprecedented"" that Iran has now criminalized the education of young people.
The condemnation of the imprisonment of the seven Baha’i educators has spanned the world. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has led the criticism of their sentences, along with such prominent figures as Nobel Peace Prize laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Jose Ramos-Horta, and Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire, the former UN peacekeeping force commander who tried to stop the 1990s genocide in Rwanda.
In October, some 43 distinguished philosophers and theologians in 16 countries signed an open letter protesting against the attack on BIHE.
In Germany, some 45 prominent professors have demanded the immediate release of the seven, while in Australia, letters of protest have been sent by 73 university academics, and Universities Australia, representing the vice-chancellors of all Australian universities.
Last month, more than 50 academics in Ireland called upon the Iranian authorities to allow access to higher education for all, while  26 professionals from the cinema industry urged the government of Brazil to defend the rights of filmmakers, journalists and Baha'i educators and called upon Iran to immediately release those imprisoned.
Signatories
Philip Pizzo MD – Dean, Stanford University School of Medicine
Stephen K. Klasko MD MBA – CEO USF Health; Dean University of South Florida College of Medicine
D. Craig Brater MD – Dean, Indiana University School of Medicine
Lois Margaret Nora MD MBA – Interim President/Dean, Commonwealth Medical College
Jerry R. Youkey MD – Founding Dean, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville
Robert Folberg MD – Founding Dean, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
James Woolliscroft MD – Dean, University of Michigan Medical School
Paul Katz MD – Founding Dean, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
J. Kevin Dorsey MD PhD – Dean & Provost, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Harold L. Paz MD MS – Senior VP for Health Affairs, Dean Penn State College of Medicine
Terence R. Flotte MD – Dean, Provost & Exec. Dep. Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Marsha D. Rappley MD – Dean, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine
M. Dewayne Andrews MD – Sr. VP & Provost & Executive Dean, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Paul B. Roth MD – Chancellor & Dean, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center
Larry W. Laughlin MD, PhD – Dean, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine
Thomas L. Schwenk MD – Dean, VP Health Sciences, University of Nevada Reno
Steven Berk MD – Dean, Executive VP, Texas Tech University, Health Sciences Center
Mark B. Taubman MD – Dean, VP Health Sciences, University of Rochester
Peter S. Amenta MD PhD – Dean, UMDNJ, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Lawrence G. Smith MD – Dean, Hofstra University, School of Medicine, North Shore LIJ
Robert L. Johnson MD – Dean, UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School
Steven J. Scheinman MD – Dean Emeritus, Upstate Medical University
S. Ray Mitchell MD – Dean, Georgetown University, School of Medicine
Frederick Morin MD – Dean, University of Vermont, College of Medicine
Michael E. Cain MD – Dean, VP for Health Sciences, University at Buffalo
John P. Fogarty MD – Dean, Florida State University, College of Medicine
Ralph A. O’Connell MD – Dean & Provost, New York Medical College
John A. Rock MD – Dean & Senior VP for Medical Affairs, Florida International University
William L. Roper MD – Dean & CEO, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine
Charles J. Lockwood MD – Dean & VP, Ohio State University, Medical Center
Paul R. Cunningham MD – Dean, East Carolina University, The Brody School of Medicine
B. P. Sachs MD – SVP & Dean, Tulane University, School of Medicine
Charles P. Mouton MD – Dean & Senior VP, Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine
Jeff Susman MD – Dean, Northeastern Ohio
Betty M. Drees MD – Dean, University of Missouri – Kansas City, School of Medicine
Pamela B. Davis MD PhD – Dean & VP for Medical Affairs, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine
Paul Rothman MD – Dean, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Wiley Souba MD – VP for Health Affairs & Dean, Dartmouth Medical School
Roger Hadley MD – Dean, Loma Linda University
Thomas A. Deutsch MD – Dean, Rush University, Chicago, Medical College
Debra H. Fiser MD – Dean, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Larry Shapiro MD – Dean, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Daniel V. Schidlow MD – Interim Dean, Drexel University College of Medicine
Valerie Montgomery Rice MD – Executive VP & Dean, Morehouse School of Medicine
Peter F. Buckley MD – Dean, Georgia Health Sciences University, Medical College of Georgia
Mark S. Johnson MD – Dean, Howard University
Andrew L. Chesson MD – Dean, LSU Health Shreveport
Karen Antman MD – Dean, Provost Boston University School of Medicine
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
875,2011-12-18,"[806, 774, 839]",Bangladeshi judges and lawyers attend unique conference on Baha'i law,"DHAKA, Bangladesh — Almost 180 legal professionals from around the country gathered here for a conference on the Baha'i Faith and the personal and family laws that apply to its members.
Held in the auditorium of the country's Supreme Court, the unprecedented event aimed to prepare advocates and judges who might be required to assist Baha'is with legal matters, such as marriage and inheritance.
In Bangladesh, there is a division between ""public"" and ""private"" – or ""personal"" – laws, with family affairs dealt with under religious practice. Some 90 percent of the country is Muslim, and Islamic personal and family laws are well understood.
""It is significant because if there is any problem among Baha'is, and they go to regular courts, the judges have to rule according to Baha'i personal law,"" said Jabbar Eidelkhani, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors who spoke at the conference.
""So the advocates and judges that attended this conference, as well as training sessions previously, will now know more about how such laws apply to Baha'is,"" he said.
The day-long conference, held on 3 December, was opened by Mizanur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh's Human Rights Commission.
""If religion is for ensuring human dignity then the Baha'i personal law is something which addresses that theme. In this respect it is not different than any other religion,"" said Dr. Rahman.
Also addressing the conference was Justice Delwar Hossain, who presented a keynote paper on the origin and background of Baha'i personal laws, and advocate Samarendra Nath Goswami, the event's main organizer, who discussed the significance of Baha'i laws to legal professionals. Mr. Goswami has previously conducted small training sessions on the subject.
There have been Baha'is in Bangladesh since the 1920s. The first local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Dhaka in 1952. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Bangladesh was established in 1972, shortly after the country declared its independence. There are an estimated 13,000 Baha'is currently living in the country.",DHAKA,,Bangladesh
876,2011-12-19,"[874, 873, 872]",UN condemnation of Iran reflects growing intolerance for human rights violations,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Reflecting the international community's increasing intolerance for human rights violations, the UN General Assembly today condemned Iran for oppressing its citizens.
By a vote of 89 to 30 with 64 abstentions, the Assembly approved a resolution that expressed ""deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations"" in the country.
The vote came after Iran attempted a ""no-action motion,"" aimed at blocking the resolution by calling for adjournment of the debate. The motion failed by a vote of 100 against, 35 in favor, with 42 abstentions.
Such resolutions on human rights in Iran have come before the Assembly virtually every year since 1992, and this year's measure – already approved by the General Assembly's Third Committee last month – passed by the widest margin yet seen.
""The Assembly's vote this year makes absolutely clear the international community's utter frustration with Iran's continuing oppression of its citizens,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""The wide margin of this year's vote also reflects the international community's impatience with the violation of human rights everywhere, and an increased willingness of a growing number of nations to speak out on behalf of human rights,"" she said.
Another factor in the large margin was the sense of frustration many nations felt over Iran's repeated refusal to cooperate with the UN in receiving special human rights investigators, said Ms. Dugal.
She noted that Iran has not yet allowed a visit to the country from Ahmed Shaheed, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.
""Since the appointment of Ahmed Shaheed, Iran has not welcomed him to the country and, in fact, has even questioned the legitimacy of his appointment,"" said Ms. Dugal.
This year's resolution expressed concern over a wide range of abuses in Iran, including ""a dramatic increase"" in executions, the use of torture, the systematic targeting of human rights defenders, pervasive violence against women, and continuing discrimination against minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
Co-sponsored by 42 countries, the resolution specifically lists some 16 areas of concern, also including the ""systematic and serious restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly"" and ""severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.""
About Baha'is, the resolution noted ""escalating attacks on Baha'is and their defenders."" It reported ""a significant increase in the number of Baha'is arrested and detained"" and ""renewed measures to deny Baha'is employment in the public and private sectors.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
877,2012-01-08,"[876, 875, 874]",Baha'i International Community mourns passing of human rights expert,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The Baha'i International Community has expressed its condolences over the passing of noted human rights lawyer and Tunisian jurist Abdelfattah Amor.
Professor Amor – who has died at the age of 68 after suffering a heart attack – was best known internationally for his 11 years of service as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, from 1993 to 2004.
""As the Special Rapporteur, Professor Amor was among the world's foremost defenders of the right to freedom of religion or belief,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN in Geneva.
""He bravely spoke out on behalf of individuals and groups around the world who faced religious discrimination, regardless of the political consequences,"" she said.
In 1995, Dr. Amor visited Iran – among the few UN human rights investigators to do so – and subsequently issued a ground-breaking report that cataloged that country's widespread discrimination against religious minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
A Muslim, Dr. Amor boldly pointed out the degree to which Iran had failed to live up to international human rights standards regarding freedom of religion or belief.
""His report relied on detailed interviews and careful legal analysis and is still considered a milestone in human rights reporting today,"" said Ms. Alai.
Among other things, for example, Dr. Amor pointed out in 1996 that individuals have the freedom to ""have or adopt"" a new religion, as well as to retain their own religious belief, regardless of national laws that might say otherwise, such as is the case in Iran.
In another report issued in 1997, Dr. Amor made clear that governments are not to be the arbiters of what is legitimate religion, deserving of protection under human rights law. ""It is not the business of the State or any other group or community to act as the guardian of people's consciences and encourage, impose or censure any religious belief or conviction,"" he wrote, a statement that was seen as significant in the face of claims made by Iran about Baha'is.
""Our hearts go out to his family, to the Tunisian people, and to the human rights community everywhere, who are sure to mourn his sudden passing,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Dr. Amor was born 4 March 1943 in Tunisia. After receiving a law degree in 1967, he undertook advanced legal studies in Paris. In his early career, he served as a university professor in Tunisia, serving, for example, from 1987 to 1993 as dean of the faculty of legal, political and social science at the University of Tunis.
In 1998, during his mandate as UN Special Rapporteur, he was elected to serve on the UN Human Rights Committee, where he continued to be a powerful advocate for the right to freedom of religion or belief. He was a member of the Committee at the time of his death.
In 2011, after the Tunisian Revolution, he was appointed as president of the National Commission for the Investigation of Corruption and Bribery under the regime of former Tunisian President Ben Ali.
Read more about Dr. Amor's 1995 report, here.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
878,2012-01-09,"[874, 873, 864]",Canadian university presidents speak out for Baha'i educators,"TORONTO, Canada — Two pre-eminent university presidents are urging all of their fellow Canadians to join them in calling for an end to Iran's persecution of Baha'i educators and students.
The appeal comes from Canada's former minister of foreign affairs and president of the University of Winnipeg, Lloyd Axworthy, and Allan Rock – who is president of the University of Ottawa and former Canadian ambassador to the UN.
In an article in the Canadian edition of The Huffington Post, they speak of how ""deeply troubled"" they are that Baha'is are denied access to higher education in Iran, and express concern that ""the brutal regime in Tehran has turned a deaf ear"" to calls to end the systematic persecution.
Read the article here.
""As Presidents of Canadian universities,"" they write, ""we attach enormous value to access by young people to the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in tomorrow's world. We regard education as the key to a better future for all peoples, and believe passionately that each person has the right to an education.""
Their article particularly draws attention to the attack launched by Iranian authorities on an informal community initiative – known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) – which was set up to provide education for young Baha'is barred from university.
Among those arrested in May last year for their association with BIHE was Nooshin Khadem – an MBA graduate of Carleton University in Ottawa. She is now serving a four-year jail term. A married couple currently awaiting trial, Kamran Rahimian and Faran Hessami, completed their graduate studies in psychology counseling at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Education.  The seven Baha'i educators sentenced to four- and five-year jail terms are (top row, left to right): Mahmoud Badavam, Ramin Zibaie, Riaz Sobhani, Farhad Sedghi; (bottom row, left to right) Noushin Khadem, Kamran Mortezaie, and Vahid Mahmoudi. Ms. Khadem is an MBA graduate of Carleton University, Ottawa.""They were charged with teaching without valid accreditation,"" the article states. ""The Iranian authorities confiscated their U of O degrees and then alleged that they had never earned them.""
Presidents Axworthy and Rock are encouraging ""all Canadians to add their voice in calling on the Iranian government unconditionally to drop all charges against educators, to halt all further aggression towards the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education and to allow the Baha'i access to education. The Baha'i of Iran must know that in resisting the cruel oppression of those who persecute them, they do not stand alone.""
The article concludes with the two presidents stating that they are ""proud to join"" with a ""growing group of academics, university administrators and notable advocates for peace including Desmond Tutu, Romeo Dallaire and Jose Ramos-Horta"" who are ""condemning the Iranian regime's denial of the right to education.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",TORONTO,,Canada
879,2012-01-10,"[878, 877, 876]","UN investigator who revealed Iran's ""Baha'i Question"" memorandum dies aged 93","SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Reynaldo Galindo Pohl, a noted legal scholar who uncovered significant evidence of human rights violations in Iran in the late 1980s and early 1990s, passed away here last Thursday.
A prominent diplomat and professor of law, Prof. Galindo Pohl was well known internationally even before his 1987 appointment as the United Nations Commission on Human Rights' Special Representative on Iran. He had served as El Salvador's UN ambassador and was also – among other posts – the director of legal affairs for the Organization of American States.
But in the field of human rights, his eight years as Special Representative were particularly significant, principally for a series of reports that authoritatively documented the intense, often brutal, violations committed by Iran against its own citizens.
In 1990, for example, Prof. Galindo Pohl cited numerous interviews and documents to expose the Iranian government's extensive use of execution and torture, and lack of judicial safeguards.
""The Baha'i International Community wishes to express its deep condolences over the passing of Professor Galindo Pohl, whose impact and influence in the field of human rights will long be remembered,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""His tireless efforts to interview victims, their families, and others with direct or inside knowledge of the kinds of violations that the government hoped to keep secret became an essential feature of his reports to the UN Commission on Human Rights. These were critical in calling the world's attention to the brutality of the regime at the time,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Prof. Galindo Pohl's 1993 report to the Commission was notable for its disclosure of the so-called ""Baha'i Question"" memorandum, a previously secret 1991 letter – issued by the Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council – that established a national policy for dealing with Iran's Baha'is, setting limits on their educational, economic and cultural activities.
""The public release of this memorandum was extremely important,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""It documented how the highest levels of the Iranian government had devised a plan to completely block the development of the Baha'i community in ways that would draw less attention than the executions and imprisonments carried out in the 1980s – but which would still eventually result in the end of the Baha'i community as a viable entity.""
Prof. Galindo Pohl visited Iran three times during the course of his mandate and, on those visits, often boldly challenged Iranian authorities by conducting interviews in prison or with individuals that the government otherwise sought to prevent from meeting with him. He was also known to be scrupulously fair, reporting the extensive inquiries he made of Iranian officials – and also their responses.
Born 18 October 1918 in Sonsonate, El Salvador, Prof. Galindo Pohl was a graduate of the University of El Salvador, where he obtained a doctorate in law and social sciences. In 1950, he was elected President of the National Constitutional Assembly. He also served as Minister of Education from 1950 to 1956. From 1960 to 1964, he was a member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.",SAN SALVADOR,,El Salvador
880,2012-01-13,"[879, 878, 877]",Debate highlights dangerous escalation of religious persecution in Iran,"LONDON, England — Members of Parliament here have sharply criticized Iran for its human rights violations, focusing especially on the ""steep rise"" in the persecution of religious minorities.
In a debate held at Westminster Hall on Wednesday 11 January, MPs highlighted the fact that virtually every religious minority in Iran is now facing oppression.
Some 19 MPs, representing the UK's three major parties, participated in the debate.
Watch video coverage of the debate, here.
Read a transcript of the debate, here.
In the opening speech, Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside, described the persecution of Baha'is as ""pervasive and escalating dangerously.""
""The repression takes a number of forms in an ongoing and systematic persecution,"" said Mrs. Ellman. ""It means arbitrary arrest and imprisonment and the denial of access to higher education and areas of employment. The homes and businesses of Baha'is have been subject to arson attacks, cemeteries have been destroyed, and children have been harassed.""
She also expressed concern over the 20-year prison sentences being served by seven Baha'i leaders and Iran's continuing effort to bar young Baha'is from higher education.
Noting remarks made recently by Canadian Senator Romeo Dallaire, Mrs. Ellman said that it ""is extremely important that the world does not wait until there is a genocide. It should heed warning and take further action to put pressure on the Government of Iran to stop what they are doing.""
Participants also raised the issue of the increasing persecution of Christians in Iran. Andrew Selous, MP for South West Bedfordshire, reported that at least eight Christian leaders have been murdered since 1979, and expressed particular concern over the case of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was sentenced to death for apostasy in 2010 and has since been the focus of an international outcry.
Stewart Jackson, MP for Peterborough, spoke of ""regular raids on gatherings"" of Christians, ""harsh interrogations and torture...including demands for the recantation of faith and for information on the identities of fellow Christians; detention for long periods without charge and other violations of due process; convictions for ill-defined crimes or on falsified political charges; the economic targeting of the Christian community through the demand of exorbitant bail payments; and the threat of imminent execution of a house-church pastor.""
Regarding Iran's Jewish community, Martin Horwood, MP for Cheltenham, reported ""increasing evidence that anti-Semitism is growing there, and that the small Jewish community there is being blamed for the actions of the Israeli Government.""
At the end of the debate, Alistair Burt, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said that while 2011 showed that demands for human dignity are irrepressible, Iran is moving in the opposite direction.
""Human rights are universal,"" said Mr. Burt, ""and Iran's failure to meet its obligations is punishing and stifling the fulfilment of the wishes and aspirations of millions of people.""
Mr. Burt assured those present that the UK will continue to press other countries to support resolutions expressing concern over Iran's human rights record in the United Nations and at the Human Rights Council.
Dr. Kishan Manocha, Director of the Office of Public Affairs of the Baha'i Community of the United Kingdom, has welcomed the wide ranging discussion.
""The fact that such a good number of MPs, representing all parties, participated really reflects a high level of concern about Iran's human rights record, and especially its rising religious intolerance,"" said Dr. Manocha.
""We are, of course, pleased that Baha'is were prominently mentioned,"" Dr. Manocha added. ""But we are also happy that UK Parliamentarians are focusing on the problems faced by other religious minorities. We need to speak as one on the situation of religious intolerance in Iran.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.  *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
881,2012-01-19,"[880, 879, 878]","Even in death, Iran's Baha'is face persecution","GENEVA, Switzerland — Eighteen years ago, Baha'is in the Iranian city of Sanandaj were allocated a one-hectare parcel of barren land at the side of a road for use as a cemetery.
This rocky mountainside, devoid of vegetation, was hardly prime real estate but – after the first burial there in the autumn of 1993 – local Baha'is got together to landscape the site, dig out the rocks and replace the soil. They planted and watered by hand 250 cypress and fir saplings, contributed by the Office of Agriculture. They installed electricity and built a small room where bodies could be prepared for burial.
At every step of the way, proper permits were obtained. When the Baha'is wanted to dig a well, permission was sought and granted from the regional water board. At every expiry date, the permit was correctly renewed.
Impressed by the transformation of the site, the Office of Natural Resources suggested that the Baha'is consider planting trees on public land adjacent to the cemetery, thereby expanding the green zone. As a result, the largely Sunni Muslim residents of Sanandaj came to respect the place as a symbol of the Baha'i community's peaceful presence in their city.
But now, the area's beauty and greenery appears to have instigated a change in official attitudes. Authorities want to repossess the cemetery, reasserting the state's claim on the land – even though Baha'is were once granted the deeds. An order for it to be confiscated, and the buildings and graves to be destroyed, will be heard in court at the end of this month.  In another example of vandalism of Baha'i-owned cemeteries in Iran, gravestones near Najafabad were left in a heap by a bulldozer that destroyed the Baha'i burial ground in September 2007.Recent harassment of Baha'is in Sanandaj does not bode well for the verdict. On 19 December, Ministry of Intelligence agents carried out early morning raids on 12 Baha'i homes in the city. Baha'i books, pamphlets and photographs were confiscated, along with compact discs, audio cassettes, computers, mobile telephones, computer drives, and various personal documents.
""In the light of this upsurge of persecution of the Sanandaj Baha'i community, it looks like the fate of the cemetery has already been decided at the order of the Ministry of Intelligence,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
In an announcement on 17 January, the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan called upon the authorities to practice “tolerance and acceptance of other beliefs.” It described the “new wave of pressure and restraints against the Baha’i community” as “inhumane and illegal actions…in violation of civil and political rights treaties and conventions.”
Disturbing the departed
Under Iran's present regime, the case of Sanandaj is not unique. Since 2007, there have been more than 30 incidents of vandalism, arson, or other problems related to Baha'i-owned cemeteries or efforts by Baha'is to properly bury their dead.
""Not content with only persecuting the living, the Iranian authorities seek to disturb the peace of even those who have passed on,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""This is the latest in a long string of attacks on Baha'i cemeteries and burial rites. All are in complete violation of international standards of human rights and any decent person's understanding of respect for the dead.""
Among recent examples:
– A newly established cemetery in Sangsar, Semnan Province, given to local Baha'is by the municipality, was vandalized by unknown intruders in March 2011. The graves were piled high with dirt, the trees were uprooted, and the two small rooms were destroyed.
– In July 2010, graves in the Baha'i cemetery of Jiroft, Kerman Province, were destroyed by unknown intruders using bulldozers.
– In late May 2010, the Baha'i cemetery in Mashhad was vandalized at night using a front-end loader and other heavy machinery. The cemetery's walls, the mortuary, and the place where prayers were recited were severely damaged.
Other incidents have involved efforts by authorities to interfere with Baha'i burial rites.
In Tabriz, for example, Baha'is had been allowed access to the city's public cemetery for years. In August last year, the family of a recently deceased Baha'i woman was told that she would have to be interred with Muslim rites. The woman's remains had to be buried in a Baha'i cemetery in another town. A similar incident occurred last October when the body of a Baha'i man was taken from Tabriz to another Baha'i cemetery some 100 kilometers away and buried without his family being informed.
""Iranian officials in international fora consistently claim that Baha'is are not treated differently from others and are only 'punished' when they do something illegal,"" said Diane Ala'i. ""What precisely have these dead people done to deserve such treatment?""
""The beautification of the cemetery in Sanandaj and its surroundings is evidence of the sincere and positive contribution Iranian Baha'is wish to make to their country. What is equally evident is that the authorities find such a thing impossible to accept.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *
*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *
*The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",GENEVA,,Switzerland
882,2012-01-20,"[881, 880, 879]","Slovakian politicians call Iran's persecution of Baha'is ""chilling"" and ""abhorrent""","BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Treatment of the Baha'is in Iran has ""escalated to an institutionalised and blatant policy of persecution,"" according to a proclamation issued by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Slovakian parliament.
The proclamation describes the Iranian government's incitement to hatred based on religion and belief as ""abhorrent."" It also states that  the ""regime's endeavors to persecute Baha'is is chilling indeed,"" and demands an end to Iran's ""spiralling efforts to destroy the Iranian Baha'i community.""
Baha'is ""must be guaranteed their full and equal human rights"" and ""be allowed to contribute to the public life and development of Iran along with their fellow citizens,"" wrote the Foreign Affairs Committee.
""The fact that this Committee has taken on the situation of Baha'is in Iran is important for two reasons,"" said its chairman, Frantisek Sebej.
""One, because the democratic parliaments of the world must care about and deal with the denial of human rights of suppressed minorities in other parts of the world, at least for the reason that we are the luckier ones who live in a free world and have the obligation to care for others.""  Members of the Slovak Republic's Foreign Affairs Committee studied the situation of the Baha'is of Iran at a hearing on 7 December 2011. Addressing the Committee, pictured center, is Andrea Polokova, a representative of the Baha'i community of Slovakia.""The second reason is that with such a resolution we can help the Baha'i community.""
Noting ""a sharp increase in the systematic, government-supported program to destroy the Baha'i community in Iran,"" the statement also describes the destruction of Baha'i holy sites and cemeteries as an ""atrocious blow to religious cultural heritage of significant value for humankind."" It calls for the immediate release of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders and the Baha'i educators jailed for their association with the Baha'i Institute of Higher Education.
""At issue are denial of the right to life, liberty and security of person; violent attacks; arbitrary arrests and imprisonments; denial of access to education; confiscation and destruction of personal community property; and the denial of employment, pensions and other benefits,"" the proclamation says.
The Committee – which approved the proclamation at a meeting held yesterday in the building of the National Council of the Slovak Republic – also resolved to send the statement to senior figures in Iran, including President Ahmadinejad.
""Though I do not expect that the Iranian Government will stop the persecution of Baha'is,"" said Dr. Sebej, ""at least it will not dare to do more horrific things while thinking that no one is watching and nobody cares.""
Further information
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.",BRATISLAVA,,Slovakia
883,2012-01-25,"[882, 881, 880]",Romanian personalities demand human rights for Iran's Baha'is,"BUCHAREST, Romania — Almost 70 prominent Romanians are calling upon the government of Iran to grant Baha'is their fundamental human rights.
Sixty-eight celebrated figures – from the worlds of academia, arts, banking, business, media and medicine – have signed a petition, appealing to the Iranian authorities to cease its systematic campaign of persecution of the Baha'is, ""who seek only their rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the right to life, the right to liberty and security of person, the right to education and work, and the right to practice their religion...""
The letter was instigated by Radu Gabrea, a renowned film director, along with Istvan Haller of Romania's National Council for Combating Discrimination.
Among the signatories are internationally-acclaimed actress Maia Morgenstern, best-known for her portrayal of Mary in The Passion of the Christ; television news presenter Andreea Berecleanu; well-known drummer Ovidiu Lipan Tândărică; and a former government minister, Ilie Serbănescu.
The petition highlights the case of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, as well as Iran's ""repeated attempts to hinder the progress of the Baha'i community's efforts to educate its young people,"" and a ""litany of other abuses and violations of their fundamental rights.""
""We do not understand...why the Iranian state sanctions the incitement of hatred against the Baha'is in Iran, why it allows fire bombings and torchings of their places of business, and other forms of terrorization, that seek to drive them out of their towns and cities..."" the petition states.
""We do not understand why they are harassed when burying their dead, why Baha'i cemeteries are desecrated, why they are denied business licenses, why their businesses and properties are confiscated, and why the Baha'is are denied work and pensions.""
Della Marcus of the Romanian Baha'i community said it is unprecedented for such a large number of prominent people to speak up for the cause of the Baha'is in Iran.
""We pray that this petition will contribute to making it clear to the Iranian government that there are many around the world that do not accept their state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'is,"" said Ms. Marcus.
Further information
The International Reaction page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.",BUCHAREST,,Romania
884,2012-01-26,"[883, 882, 881]",New crackdown highlights campaign to block progress of Iranian Baha'is,"NEW YORK, United States — The Iranian government's systematic strategy to drive Baha'is to economic ruin shows no sign of abating.
According to reports received by the Baha'i International Community, a renewed campaign is under way in Kerman, the major city in south central Iran.
""We have learned that the Public Places Supervision Office is denying the renewal of licenses – and revoking some existing ones – for Baha'i-owned businesses in the city,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""A wide range of professions are being targeted – from computer sales and repair shops to real estate brokers. Baha'is involved in the sale of iron alloys, steel, or gold are losing their licenses, as are Baha'i-owned businesses relating to food products, and health and cosmetic services, such as opticians,"" she said.
Baha'is in Kerman have also been told that they are not allowed to own a large number of shops on the same street.
""The authorities have even gone so far as to revoke the licenses of business partners of Baha'is, who are not themselves members of the Baha'i Faith,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, many thousands of Baha'is have lost their jobs or sources of livelihood. In 1993, the UN disclosed an Iranian government memorandum – endorsed by the country's Supreme Leader – that explicitly outlines a plan to ""block"" the ""development of the Iranian Baha'i community.""
In addition to the barring of young Baha'is from higher education, said Ms. Dugal, it is clear that the authorities are continuing with a range of other actions to carry out this policy.
""We have received accounts of at least 60 incidents in the past five years, designed to curb the economic prospects of Baha'is,"" she reported.
Some recent examples include:
– From 2 to 12 January 2012, more than 70 percent of Baha'i-owned businesses in Sari and Ghaemshahr (Mazandaran province), and a number in Gorgan and Gonbad (Golestan province), were searched in order to find some excuse on which to threaten or arrest Baha'is. Authorities even searched the houses of Baha'is that are working from home, in some cases more than two years since they closed up their stores;
– In July 2011, the Baha'i owner of a shop in Abadan received a notice from the Union for Retailers and Manufacturers of Jewelry, Watches and Glasses asking him to return his work license and liquidate his assets within 24 hours;
– In June 2011, an optical shop was sealed on the pretext of transferring the license to a new location. The head of the Public Places Supervision Office indicated that the order to seal the shop was issued by the higher authorities.  The shop had been previously closed by the authorities in December 2008, along with four other Baha'i shops in Nazarabad. But after a legal battle, the owner managed to reopen in a new location, only to have it sealed again.
–  After a wave of arson attacks on a dozen Baha'i-owned businesses in Rafsanjan, Iran, in late 2010, some 20 homes and businesses were sent a warning letter demanding that Baha'is sign an undertaking to ""refrain from forming contacts or friendships with Muslims"" and from ""using or hiring Muslim trainees.""
– In early 2009, in the city of Semnan, the association of Trade Unions passed a by-law stating that no Baha'i should receive a business license. Soon after, a number of Baha'i-owned businesses and shops throughout the city were subsequently sealed or shut down.
– In an example of another kind of economic pressure, a Baha'i in Isfahan – shortly before being fired from his work – requested from the social security agency that he be allocated the amount that had been deducted from his wages for his pension. He received notice that his request was not being pursued as it was a ""non-issue,"" given the fact that the reason for his losing his job was his membership in ""the deviant Bahaist sect."" The notice specified that he and another 14 individuals were fired based on the legal prohibition on their being hired in the first place, and thus their claims were of no account.
""International law firmly spells out the right of individuals to be free to work and earn a livelihood, without discrimination,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""Last month, the international community voted overwhelmingly at the UN to condemn Iran for its ongoing and recurring human rights violations. Surely it's time that Iran realizes that it can no longer get away with oppressing its citizens and thinking that no one will notice.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*A Special Section includes detailed information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. *
*Another Special Report offers articles about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *
*The International Reaction page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",NEW YORK,,United States
885,2012-02-01,"[818, 783, 646]",Baha'i holy writings made widely available to Korean public for first time,"SEOUL, South Korea — An ambitious project to translate a collection of Baha'u'llah's writings into Korean reaches fruition this month with the book's publication.
The volume, known in English as Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, will be the first Baha'i book in Korean to be widely available from bookshops and online retailers.
""The main reason for publishing Baha'i literature in our language is to reach out to the whole of society with this new message for humanity,"" said Hee Jin Koo, a member of the task force overseeing the publication.
First published in English in 1935, Gleanings is a well-loved anthology of some of the writings of Baha'u'llah, which were originally penned in Persian and Arabic. The selection includes extracts on such themes as the purpose of life, the unity of religion, and the spiritual requisites of peace and civilization.
Work began on the new translation in 2003 when a small group began meeting to discuss a few paragraphs or pages each week.  Among the Baha'is overseeing the publication of ""Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah"" in Korean are, pictured from left to right, Won Pill Jung, So Jeong Park, Young Kyung Kim and Hee Jin Koo.""A particular challenge was the translation of certain religious terms,"" said So Jeong Park, who worked on the book. To find a standardized vocabulary, the task force drew on words commonly used in Korea's various religious traditions – including Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. For other terms, an original translation had to be devised.
The first draft was completed in late 2010, followed by a full year of rewriting and revisions.
In addition to the 410 pages of Baha'u'llah's text, the new edition includes a preface that introduces the history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith to a general audience. A lengthy glossary also explains terms found in its sacred writings.
""We hope these features will greatly increase the accessibility of the book,"" said Dr. Park.
The decision to make Gleanings available in major bookstores, through libraries and universities, and via online retailers, came late last year after the manuscript was finalized. Earlier translations of extracts from Gleanings were previously widely used by individuals and at Baha'i meetings but, until now, no Baha'i literature has been so accessible to the Korean public.
In particular, it is believed that publishing an electronic edition will have a great impact.
""It means everybody can download it onto their own gadget,"" said Hee Jin Koo, ""and they are the ones who will participate in distributing and disseminating it far and wide.""",SEOUL,,South Korea
886,2012-02-06,"[829, 808, 844]",Inequality between rich and poor highlighted by UN panel,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — While the economic crisis has led many to focus on inequalities at the national level, the extremes between rich and poor internationally have also grown to become a threat to global stability.
That was among the themes raised by a panel here, held as part of this year's session of the UN Commission for Social Development, which runs until Friday.
Focusing on the Commission's theme of poverty eradication, the discussion – organized by the Baha'i International Community and co-sponsored by ATD Fourth World – brought together top-level UN diplomats, officials from UN agencies, and representatives of non-governmental organizations.
In his remarks, Ambassador Jorge Valero – Permanent Representative for Venezuela to the UN and Chair of the Commission for Social Development – blamed growing inequality on the excesses of global capitalism.
""Inequality and poverty, climate change and the destruction of ecosystems are outstanding issues on the international agenda,"" said Ambassador Valero.  Among the top-level UN diplomats brought together for a discussion on Wednesday 1 February was Ambassador Jorge Valero, pictured left, Permanent Representative for Venezuela to the UN and Chair of the Commission for Social Development. Also present were Christine Bockstal, center, Chief of the Technical Cooperation and Country Operations Group for the Social Security Department of the International Labour Organization; and Sara Burke, right, Senior Policy Analyst at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.""These calamities can only be effectively addressed by attacking the structural causes that generate them: a consumerist, selfish and predatory global system that is based on the commodification of man and nature.""
Jomo Kwame Sundaram, UN Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development, said that while the issue of inequality is often examined from the national viewpoint, two-thirds of global inequality stems from differences between countries.
International differences are ""very, very stark,"" he said, noting that such inequalities have increased over the last three decades.
""The big promise of financial globalization was that if you ease restrictions, there will be a free flow of capital, and it will flow from rich to poor. This didn't happen. Capital flowed uphill, from the poor to the rich,"" said Dr. Sundaram.
Other participants in the panel – held on Wednesday 1 February – included: Isabel Ortiz, Associate Director of Policy and Practice at UNICEF; Christine Bockstal, Chief of the Technical Cooperation and Country Operations Group for the Social Security Department of the International Labour Organization; and Sara Burke, a Senior Policy Analyst at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
Dr. Ortiz reported that the top 20 percent of the world's population has more than 80 percent of the world's income – but the poorest 20 percent have less than one percent of the global income.
""National redistribution is not enough to address inequality,"" she said. ""There is a strong link between high income inequality and social unrest and economic instability.""
In his remarks, Ming Hwee Chong of the Baha'i International Community (BIC) drew attention to recent remarks made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about income inequality at all levels increasing over the last 25 years, posing a serious barrier worldwide to poverty eradication and social integration.
Mr. Chong said it is time to ask some critical questions regarding the relationship between poverty eradication and the economic extremes that now exist in the world.
Introducing a BIC statement prepared for the Commission, Mr. Chong noted that relationships of dominance – one nation over another, one race over another, or one class or gender over another – contribute to inequitable access to resources and knowledge.
The statement also expresses concern that a ""materialistic worldview, which underpins much of modern economic thinking, reduces concepts of value, human purpose and human interactions to the self-interested pursuit of material wealth.""
Mr. Chong said that – while much attention has been paid to the political, policy and transactional dimensions of the current crisis – the aim of the discussion was to collaborate on ""creating a space to dig deeper in order to bring to the surface some of the underlying assumptions that shape our economic and social reality.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
887,2012-02-14,"[886, 885, 884]",Australian MPs call upon Iran to protect human rights,"CANBERRA, Australia — In a motion supported by both government and opposition MPs in Australia's House of Representatives, parliamentarians have urged their counterparts in Iran to promote and protect the fundamental human rights of Iranian citizens.
Iranian MPs are also called upon specifically to investigate the denial of access to higher education for student activists, Baha'is and others, and to seek a judicial review of the trials of the seven former Baha'i leaders, as well as human rights defenders and lawyers.
Read the motion and transcript of the debate here.
Opening yesterday's debate, Melissa Parke – the MP for Fremantle – noted an increase in serious human rights violations in Iran since the subject was last debated in Australia's Federal Parliament on 15 November 2010.
""In 2011, Iran was cited repeatedly, including by the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the major international human rights NGOs for violating international human rights law,"" she said.  Melissa Parke – the Member of Parliament for Fremantle – who moved the motion debated by Australia's House of Representatives on 13 February 2012. Ms. Parke said it is ""difficult to understand the degree of hostility by the authorities in Iran"" towards Baha'is.Ms. Parke noted eight areas – reported last September by Ban Ki-moon – in which the Iranian government is committing serious, systematic violations against the human rights of its own people, including the failure to protect freedom of religion.
""But the Iranian state has perhaps been most savage in its oppression of the Baha'is...In my experience, they are gentle and peace loving people, so it is difficult to understand the degree of hostility by the authorities in Iran towards them,"" said Ms. Parke.
Several of the Baha'i prisoners have family members who are Australian citizens, she added, ""brother, sister, aunts, nephews and nieces – who wonder if they will ever see their loved ones again.""
Welcoming the motion and debate, Australian Baha'i Community spokesperson Natalie Mobini said, ""Our community has immediate relatives of some of those unjustly imprisoned and they will be heartened at this forthright motion from our nation's MPs.""
During the debate, the MP for Wills, Kelvin Thomson, noted a claim by an Iranian representative at the UN that the Baha'i organisation in Iran was political rather than religious, that it was illegal and that its organisation had been 'closed.'
""This quite blood-curdling response clearly displays a contempt for the basic concepts of freedom of speech and expression, including freedom of religious expression,"" Mr. Thomson said.
Kelly O'Dwyer, MP for Higgins said she stood together with somebody from the opposite side of the chamber in condemning Iran's human rights abuses.
""There must be no more serious and heinous act in this world than a government turning on its own people and committing violent atrocities on its own citizenry,"" said Ms. O'Dwyer.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*A Special Section includes detailed information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. *
*Another Special Report offers articles about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *
*The International Reaction page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",CANBERRA,,Australia
888,2012-02-21,"[887, 884, 883]",Iran's human rights abuses condemned at national events,"WASHINGTON, United States — Recent national-level events held in the United States, Bulgaria and Canada reflect the ongoing global outcry at the Iranian authorities' crackdown on Baha'is.
A reception in the U.S. Capitol building on 15 February brought together some 100 Congressional staff, US agency officials, and representatives of human rights and religious NGOs.
The gathering sought to promote the passage of House Resolution 134 and Senate resolution 80, which condemn the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community, including the 20-year imprisonment of seven Baha'i leaders. They also call for sanctions against Iranian officials who are ""directly responsible for egregious human rights violations in Iran, including against the Baha'i Community.""
""We must let the Iranian government know that we are not going to tolerate the unjust persecution of the Baha'is or of any religion or of any Iranian citizen,"" Representative Michael Grimm of New York told the audience. ""It's time for us to speak out and to raise awareness.""
Representative Howard Berman of California – a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee – listed a series of abuses against Iranian Baha'is and asked, ""What kind of a sick regime treats citizens this way?""  At a receptionheld on 15 February in the U.S. Capitol building, Felice Gaer – a Commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom – addressed Iran's systematic demonizing of Baha'is. ""We are talking about people who have been not just imprisoned but systematically turned into something not human,"" said Ms. Gaer.Felice Gaer, a Commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, addressed Iran's systematic demonizing of Baha'is as part of an effort to ""make sure they don't exist anymore.""
""We are talking about people who have been not just imprisoned but systematically turned into something not human,"" said Ms. Gaer. ""Why and how?  By denying them their existence, by denying them their basic rights, by denying them the right to education, the right to work, the right to marry, the right to bury the dead, the right to inherit, the right to be human and to live as human beings.""
Ms. Gaer's remarks came two days after the Religious Freedom Caucus of the US House of Representatives hosted a briefing on human rights in Iran, which included discussion of a recent report by the Baha'i International Community, titled Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is. The report examines how the Iranian government systematically uses state-controlled media to stir hatred against Baha'is.
Bulgarian conference
In Sofia, Bulgaria, on 9 February, a conference on Iran's effort to bar young Baha'is from higher education drew participation from government officials, diplomats, academics and human rights groups.
Georgi Kalaydzhiev of the Bulgarian Prime Minister's office pledged the support of the Prime Minister in helping to defend Iranian Baha'is, saying, ""We are most willing to help in this cause for respect for human rights and freedom of all religious communities.""
""In the past, we were also in a situation of suppression and now we see the results, the need for spiritual development..."" "" said Mr. Kalaydzhiev. ""That's why we feel most sincere compassion for the problems of the Baha'is in Iran.""
Canadian Senate hearing
Continuing a hearing initiated late last year, a number of Canadian senators have also spoken out this month about prisoners unjustly held in Iran, including human rights lawyers and activists, journalists and Baha'is.
On 7 February, Salma Ataullahjan – a Muslim Senator – raised the case of one of the seven Baha'i leaders currently serving a 20-year jail term. ""I condemn the deplorable abuse of human rights of the Iranian regime and call for the immediate release of unlawfully held prisoner Behrouz Tavakkoli,"" said Senator Ataullahjan.
Senator Romeo Dallaire, who in December 2011 said Iran's treatment of Baha'is had reached ""pre-genocidal conditions,"" also cited examples reported in Inciting Hatred.
""Together with demonizing images, this propaganda fuels intolerance in the most fundamentalist segments of Iranian society. Extremism exists,"" he said.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*A Special Section includes detailed information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. *
*Another Special Report offers articles about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *
*The International Reaction page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
889,2012-02-21,"[854, 792, 543]",Queen launches Diamond Jubilee year with multifaith reception,"LONDON, England — Representatives of the United Kingdom Baha'i community joined members of eight other religions at a special gathering to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
At a reception held at Lambeth Palace – official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury – Baha'is, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs and Zoroastrians discussed their beliefs with the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, and showed them treasured objects from the various faiths.
Highlighting the ongoing centenary commemorations of 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels to Egypt and the West, the Baha'i community displayed a robe that He had worn. Baha'i representative, Shirin Fozdar-Foroudi, described the simple robe as a reminder of the spirit of 'Abdu'l-Baha whose life of service was an example to all.
The exhibit also included a framed calligraphic rendering of words from 'Abdu'l-Baha's first ever public speech, delivered on 10 September 1911 at London's City Temple: ""The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion.""  A robe worn by 'Abdu'l-Baha and a framed calligraphic rendering of words from His first ever public speech, delivered on 10 September 1911 at London's City Temple: ""The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion."" The historic items were exhibited at a reception held at Lambeth Palace to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.The Queen listened and carefully followed the text as the words were read by Dr. Fozdar-Foroudi.
The Baha'i delegation also consisted of Patrick O'Mara – Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, Nasrin O'Kane from Northern Ireland and Liam Stephens from the Isle of Skye.
""The Queen spoke to us of how widespread the Baha'i community appears to be,"" said Dr. Fozdar-Foroudi.
""We also took the opportunity to thank her and the Duke of Edinburgh for the services that they have rendered over the past 60 years in promoting the principles of unity, equality and justice among the diverse peoples of the Commonwealth,"" she said.
The reception held on 15 February was one of the Queen's first public engagements to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee year.
Addressing the gathering, the Queen said, ""Faith plays a key role in the identity of millions of people, providing not only a system of belief but a sense of belonging.""
""Our religions provide critical guidance for the way we live our lives and for the way in which we treat each other.""
""It can act as a spur for social action. Indeed religious groups have a proud track record of helping those in the greatest need.""
The Queen concluded by sending good wishes to each of the faith groups represented by the guests, ""in the hope that – with the assurance of the protection of our Established Church – you will continue to flourish and display strength and vision in your relations with each other and the rest of society.""",LONDON,,United Kingdom
890,2012-02-21,"[887, 884, 881]",Groundbreaking documentary exposes century-old Iranian taboo,"LOS ANGELES, United States — A feature-length film that examines the persecution of Iran's Baha'is opens here this week, ahead of a program of screenings throughout the United States and in other countries.
Iranian Taboo is the work of celebrated Dutch-Iranian filmmaker Reza Allamehzadeh.
""In spite of the fact that I'm banned from entering my homeland, I managed to film deep inside Iran with the help of devoted friends who risked their lives to film the footage that I needed,"" said Mr. Allamehzadeh, who is not a Baha'i.
""I have made several challenging documentaries during my long career as a filmmaker – but none of them was as difficult to make as Iranian Taboo,"" he said.
Starting inside Iran, the film follows the journey of a Baha'i woman and her 14-year old daughter who decide to sell all of their belongings and leave the country to take refuge in the West.
It also shows the efforts that the Iranian Baha'i community has made to educate its own young members who are barred from higher education and – for the first time – gives a voice to Baha'i landowners who have suffered prolonged persecution in the village of Ivel in the northern province of Mazandaran.
Mr. Allamehzadeh said he chose to call the film Iranian Taboo because he has found that even those Iranians who believe Baha'is should have their human rights remain silent on the matter.  Dutch-Iranian filmmaker Reza Allamehzadeh, director of ""Iranian Taboo."" He said, ""It is the most personal documentary I have ever made.""""I should have started making this movie sooner,"" said Mr. Allamehzadeh. ""While I was researching, I realized that all different sectors of society based on their gender, ethnicity, language and religion are under pressure, but Baha'is have the highest degree of deprivation – not even their dead are safe and their cemeteries are being attacked. Therefore, my view is to solely focus on the human rights aspect and I wanted to depict how much the rights of Baha'is are being violated.""
""Iranian Taboo is the most personal documentary that I have ever made,"" he said.
Another breakthrough for the project was securing interviews with Iranian politicians, authors and academics who have rarely spoken publicly about Iran's ""Baha'i question."" Among them, Abolhassan Banisadr – who served as the first president of Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Also speaking on camera, human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Shirin Ebadi, questions the barring of Baha'is from certain professions. ""To work...to make an honest living or to get a work permit, to open up a shoe repair shop or a restaurant, you don't have to be a Muslim,"" says Mrs. Ebadi. ""Where in Islam does it say that a shoemaker has to be Muslim?""
Iranian Taboo opens on Friday 24 February in Los Angeles and will be screened in the coming weeks in the Netherlands; in Montreal and Toronto in Canada; and – in the U.S.A. – in Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando, San Diego, San Fransisco and Washington D.C. Full screening details can be found at the film's website.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*A Special Section includes detailed information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. *
*Another Special Report offers articles about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *
*The International Reaction page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",LOS ANGELES,,United States
891,2012-02-24,"[865, 851, 806]",Building of House of Worship in Chile reaches important milestone,"SANTIAGO, Chile — A significant milestone has been reached in the building of the Baha'i House of Worship here with the signing of contracts essential to the construction.
The innovative design for the Temple consists of nine translucent elements that rise from the ground – giving the impression of floating over a reflecting pool – and meet at a central oculus, 30 meters above.
The building's skeletal framework will support 500 tons of exterior and interior cladding. The outer surface will consist of 3000 square meters of panels made with an entirely new method of casting glass. 2000 square meters of robotically cut and carved translucent marble will create a luminous interior ceiling.
After 10 months of tendering and negotiation, the contract for the superstructure and cladding was awarded on 16 February to Gartner Steel and Glass GmbH. Based in Germany, it is well-known for developing and constructing complex three-dimensional structures.
""We have reached a wonderful moment,"" said Siamak Hariri of the Canadian firm Hariri Pontarini Architects, ""the fulfillment of eight years of research, design development, engineering, the preparation of complete tender documents in both Spanish and English, inventing and casting the glass – all of this alongside finding and purchasing a marvelous site and preparing the necessary permits.""  The beautiful location of the site of the Baha'i House of Worship for Chile, in the hills of Peñalolén, Santiago, at the foot of the Andes. In the foreground can be seen the excavation and grading work for the House of Worship's foundation and plaza which has been completed ahead of schedule.""We had to prove to ourselves and the fabricators that constructing this building was not only achievable, but that it was achievable under very complex design constraints, budgetary limitations and severe seismic conditions,"" said Mr. Hariri.
State-of-the-art computational modeling and analysis had to be used to enhance the resistance of the temple to severe earthquakes.
""The geometry and the curvature make this building very complex, each element acting together with the others,"" he said. ""Glass and stone are so brittle and the tolerances are so tight. All the joints are recessed which means the system has to be very stiff and completely water-tight. But the foundation has to deal with any rapid movements in the earth.""
Along with the contract for the superstructure and cladding, other important contracts have also recently been signed. The construction of the foundation of the building and all concrete work was awarded on 30 January to Chilean contractor, Fernández Wood Constructora S.A. On 17 February, Paris-based EDM-Projets was signed to provide the interior cladding.
""This is really a significant milestone,"" said project manager, Saeid Samadi. ""It means we now have schedules from the contractors by which we can measure the progress of work and the estimated completion dates.""
Excavation and grading work for the House of Worship's foundation and plaza began in November 2010. Following early completion of that stage, work began on 9 February this year on the basement, service tunnel, main floor and mezzanine structure.
""Two things are very delicate about this next stage,"" said Mr. Samadi. ""Firstly, when we finish the columns of the basement, we are installing ten base isolators made in the San Francisco Bay Area, which will isolate the building itself from the foundation in case of seismic activity.""
""Secondly, when we carry out the concrete work, steel parts made by the fabricators of the superstructure will be embedded in the concrete. This requires ultimate precision because the entire superstructure will sit on them.""
One stage that is already completed is the building of all the essential facilities on the site for the construction team and workers. Other projects soon to commence include the creation of the temple's infrastructure and the landscaping of the site – including reflective pools, pathways, steps, fences and gates. Plans for a 1.1 kilometer alternative access road, an entry plaza and gate are also under way.
Siamak Hariri attributes the progress made so far to ""an excellent team dynamic at play on the project.""
""It's a wonderful process between our engineers, architects, managers, legal experts – all working together,"" he said.
Saeid Samadi agrees. ""The one thing that makes this project stand out is the loving dedication of the many individuals working on it. We try to extend this spirit to everyone who works on this extraordinary structure.""",SANTIAGO,,Chile
892,2012-02-24,"[871, 840, 869]","Anneliese Bopp, 1921-2012","HAIFA, Israel — Anneliese Bopp, former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away on 20 February at Bad Brückenau in Northern Bavaria, Germany. She was 90 years old.
The Universal House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies on 21 February.* * *We are deeply saddened at the passing of dearly loved Anneliese Bopp, tireless promoter of the Faith of Baha'u'llah. Born to a family closely connected with the earliest stirrings of the Cause in Germany, she was a steadfast handmaiden of the Blessed Beauty whose efforts over so many years did much to advance His Faith on the European continent. Among her innumerable contributions was an intimate involvement in the construction of the Mother Temple in Europe, completed while she served as Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany. In 1970 she was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe; nine years later she was called to serve as a Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, in which capacity she laboured, until 1988, with exemplary devotion.  Even in her life's twilight, Anneliese attentively followed developments in the Faith and vital matters pertaining to the progress of humankind. We remember with profound admiration her indomitable spirit, her clarity of thought, her disarming candour; we grieve the loss of one of the Faith's champions.
To her family, and to all who loved her, we extend our sympathy, assuring them of our heartfelt prayers in the Holy Shrines for her soul's joyful passage into the eternal realms.  We advise the holding of befitting memorial gatherings in her honour by the friends everywhere, including in all Houses of Worship.
The Universal House of Justice",HAIFA,,Israel
893,2012-03-02,"[890, 888, 887]",Amnesty International report condemns Iran's human rights abuses,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The Baha'i International Community has noted with alarm a new Amnesty International report that highlights the widening crackdown on dissent in Iran.
The document, titled 'We are ordered to crush you': Expanding Repression of Dissent in Iran, cites a wave of recent arrests of lawyers, students, journalists, political activists, filmmakers, and religious and ethnic minorities.
Read the full report here.
Widespread restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly are described, as well as torture, other ill-treatment and poor conditions in detention.
Particular concern is expressed at the high rate of public executions – around four times more in 2011 than in the previous year – and Iran's continuing execution of juvenile offenders, which is strictly prohibited under international law.
The Iranian authorities also see the internet and social media as a major threat, said Ann Harrison, Interim Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme. ""Anything from setting up a social group on the internet, forming or joining an NGO, or expressing your opposition to the status quo can land you in prison,"" she said.
The document reports an increase in the number and severity of attacks against Baha'is – attacks that have ranged from arrests to arson, and the publishing of slanderous articles in the press.  These pages from the Amnesty International document depict some of the prisoners and detainees mentioned in the report. They include Rozita Vaseghi (picture 4), a Baha'i from Mashhad serving a 10-year jail term and banned from leaving Iran for a further 10 years; the seven former leaders of the Iranian Baha'i community (7), who are each imprisoned for 20 years; and human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani (12), who was arrested on 10 September 2011 and is now held in Tehran's Evin Prison pending completion of his trial.""Non-Muslims, especially the Baha'i community, have been increasingly demonized by Iranian officials and in the Iranian state-controlled media,"" says the report. ""In 2011, repeated calls by the Supreme Leader and other authorities to combat 'false beliefs' – apparently an allusion to evangelical Christianity, Baha'ism and Sufism – appear to have led to an increase in religious persecution.""
Welcoming the report, Diane Ala'i – the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva – said, ""What it confirms is something Iranian Baha'is have known for years. Anyone who falls outside the government's very narrow concept of what is socially or politically acceptable is now an official pariah in Iran, and subject to severe consequences.""
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*A Special Section includes detailed information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. *
*Another Special Report offers articles about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *
*The International Reaction page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *
*The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",GENEVA,,Switzerland
894,2012-03-02,"[889, 886, 868]","In Morocco, symposium explores religion, spirituality and education","MARRAKECH, Morocco — What is spirituality? How can religious education encourage it? And what role do both religion and spirituality play in fostering human well-being?
Those were among the questions considered by educators, academics and theologians from the world's religions – including the Baha'i Faith – at the ""International Symposium on Religion, Spirituality, and Education for Human Flourishing,"" held here 24-26 February.
The event – co-convened by the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace (GHFP) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations – encouraged discussion about how young people can be better educated about religion and spirituality, in order to address such present-day issues as economic injustice and environmental degradation.
""The world today is facing a series of unprecedented challenges,"" said Scherto Gill, secretary general of GHFP and convener of the symposium. ""At the same time, we are also faced with tremendous opportunities, where humans can unite and live together in global solidarity with each other, within a greater global community that works towards the common good.""
To meet such challenges and maximize opportunities, she said, the world needs to redefine its concept of ""human flourishing"" away from a purely economic growth model to one that includes concepts of justice, spirituality and an understanding of wider community.
""Meaning, connectedness, and moral ethics are derived from the spiritual dimension of being human,"" said Dr. Gill. ""So there is a pressing need to educate in order to develop a deeper awareness of the spiritual dimensions of our lives.""  Participants from the world's religions – including the Baha'i Faith – attended the ""International Symposium on Religion, Spirituality, and Education for Human Flourishing,"" held in Marrakech, 24-26 February 2012.Participants described the symposium as thought-provoking and inspiring. Among them, Jocelyn Armstrong – a New Zealand-based educator – said it helped her to understand the importance of taking a holistic approach to religious education.
""You can discuss issues like honesty and integrity in the classroom, and then look at how religions encourage those virtues,"" she said, ""or how religions value the environment.""
Diane Evans, a chaplain at Hereford Sixth Form College in the United Kingdom, said correct knowledge is often lacking about religious beliefs. ""The more we can come together to talk about how to improve religious education, the more we can hopefully put into place programs that can eradicate a lot of the tensions,"" she said.
The deliberations were inspired by 20 papers submitted by the participants, including a working document from the Baha'i International Community (BIC) which explored how concepts of religion and ""human flourishing"" can be better integrated into education.
""This led to a discussion about the difference between religious education and spiritual education,"" said BIC representative, Ming Hwee Chong.
""It is only through education,"" he said, ""that the latent potential of every human being can develop, be expressed, and ultimately serve to benefit the individual and his or her community.""",MARRAKECH,,Morocco
895,2012-03-02,"[889, 891, 885]","Government launches ""Year of Service"" initiative at national Baha'i center","LONDON, England — A government-sponsored initiative to encourage people of all beliefs to help improve their local neighborhoods has been launched at the national Baha'i center here.
The program, titled ""A Year of Service,"" aims to recognize the role of faith in inspiring charitable work, and promote collaboration between the United Kingdom's nine major faith communities – Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian.
Twelve special volunteering days are being held during 2012, each of them coinciding with an existing religious festival and focusing on a distinct theme for community action.
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles MP, joined faith leaders and guests of all ages for the launch and first volunteering day on 28 February at 27 Rutland Gate in London – the national Baha'i center. The occasion also marked the annual Baha'i Intercalary Days, a period specifically dedicated to service and hospitality.
""A Year of Service is a wonderful celebration of the practical contribution that faith groups make to enrich their neighborhoods and improve the lives of those around them,"" Mr. Pickles said ahead of the launch. ""We would be poorer by far without their contribution...""  Volunteers from a range of religious communities decorated cakes and wrapped gifts to be distributed at a homeless shelter in the west of London. The activity was part of the launch and first volunteering day of ""A Year of Service,"" a UK government-sponsored initiative to encourage religious communities to collaborate in serving society. The launch was held at the national Baha'i center on 28 February 2012.Some 50 guests of all faiths assisted in the decorating of cakes and the wrapping of donated clothing and toiletries, all of which were later distributed at a church-sponsored shelter for the homeless in the west of London.
Speaking on behalf of the Baha'is of the UK,  Kishan Manocha said, ""Faith should be a source of joy, of bringing people together in common purpose.  We hope that the launch will give vivid expression to these special fruits of faith and inspire us all in our efforts to improve our neighborhoods.""",LONDON,,United Kingdom
896,2012-03-06,"[809, 761, 754]",Forum at UN discusses role of rural women farmers,"NEW YORK, United States — Listening to and supporting rural women is fundamental to ending poverty and hunger, and achieving peace and development that is sustainable.
That was the message from Michelle Bachelet, executive director of UN Women, who opened the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women here on 27 February.
The main theme of the Commission, which runs until Friday, is ""the empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges.""
To support the theme, the Baha'i International Community issued a statement and hosted an interactive forum on 1 March, co-sponsored by the World Farmers Organization (WFO), which offered a space for rural women farmers to share their experiences.  UN Women's executive director Michelle Bachelet delivers the introductory speech at the opening of the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, held in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York, 27 February 2012. Pictured right is Marjon Kamara, Chair of the Session. Photo Credit: UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras.The story of one – Cesarie Kantarama from Rwanda – was typical of the challenges that face many of them. When she started out she had little land and no capital or support. ""But once I joined the women farmers' association, I started to get training and knowledge which reinforced my confidence,"" Ms. Kantarama told the gathering. ""...[I]  really starts when you are a member of an organization that gives you the confidence to seek out other opportunities and feel productive.""
The importance of training was reinforced by Alice Kachere of the National Smallholder Farmers' Association of Malawi. ""You can give women better seeds, but if they don't know how to use those seeds, it means nothing,"" she said.
WFO president Robert Carlson emphasized Michelle Bachelet's point about the importance of careful listening.
""We can't impose our views of what rural women farmers need,"" he said. ""There has to be some local involvement that gives direction on how their needs are to be assisted. They need to set their goals.""
In its statement to the Commission, the Baha'i International Community examined the connection between the empowerment of women and the construction of a new and more just social order.
""We sought to share the idea that for the empowerment of women to reach fulfillment, there must be a change in the hearts and minds of people, and in the structures of society,"" said May Akale, who led the BIC's delegation.
""More specifically, there needs to be recognition, on a fundamental level, that women and men are equal, and for social progress to take place, they need to work hand-in-hand.
Other activities hosted by the BIC for this year's Commission included a discussion on ""Rural Women and Stakeholders: Framing Joint Actions;"" an event that examined the stereotyping of religious women; and a panel discussion, titled ""Older Women: Rights, Voice, Action.""",NEW YORK,,United States
897,2012-03-14,"[896, 895, 894]",UN monitor highlights failure of Iran's justice system,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The United Nations investigator into human rights in Iran has sharply criticized the country's system of justice and human rights record.
UN Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed told a meeting of the Human Rights Council here that he had received testimony from more than 141 witnesses which highlighted ""multifarious and systematic deficits in the Government's capacity to ensure respect for human rights.""
And in his formal written report to the Council, Dr. Shaheed focused to an extent not previously seen in UN investigations of Iran on the overall failure of the country's justice system. Violations of due process were chronic, he said, and ""vaguely defined security provisions"" are applied in ways that ""unduly limit freedom of expression, association and assembly.""
""In many cases, witnesses reported that they were arrested for activities protected by international law, and that they were detained in solitary confinement for prolonged periods with no access to legal counsel or family members, and in the absence of formal charges,"" Dr. Shaheed told the meeting.
The Special Rapporteur reported a dramatic increase in the number of executions carried out in the Islamic Republic – more than 600 during the year 2011, many for crimes not considered serious under international law. Iranian authorities have also stepped up their detention of journalists and lawyers, he said, and continued their persecution of ethnic and religious minorities.  Country and NGO representatives at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, participating in an interactive dialog with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 12 March 2012.Baha'is continue to be arbitrarily arrested and detained for their beliefs, noted Dr. Shaheed, in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Baha'is are also subjected to ""severe socio-economic pressure,"" facing deprivations of ""property, employment and education.""
Monday's session offered an interactive dialogue between the Special Rapporteur and Human Rights Council members. His concerns were promptly echoed by a majority of the nations addressing the session. Some 15 countries specifically highlighted the situation of Iran's Baha'is.
Brazil's delegate – João Genésio de Almeida Filho – said his government had a ""particular concern"" about ""allegations of the systematic persecution of members of unrecognized religious communities, particularly the Baha'i community.""
Referring to Iran's state-sponsored campaign of demonizing Baha'is in the media, Veronika Stromsikova – delegate of the Czech Republic – said her country concurred with Dr. Shaheed's observation that ""the government's tolerance of an intensive defamation campaign against members of the Baha'i community incites discrimination"" in breach of international treaties.
Bani Dugal – the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations – reported that Baha'is in Iran today face ""multiple violations, across the entire spectrum of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights"" running ""literally from kindergarten to the grave.""
""We also agree with your presentation of the underlying obstacles,"" she told Dr. Shaheed, ""including elements of the legal framework and lack of adherence to the rule of law – none of which are being addressed by the government.""
""As you clearly state, impunity continues to prevail in Iran, and certain individuals are exempted from laws and regulations meant to restrain the abuse of power,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran
*A Special Section includes detailed information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. Another Special Report offers articles about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *
*The International Reaction page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *",GENEVA,,Switzerland
898,2012-03-18,"[891, 800, 505]",Book and website launched to accompany building of House of Worship,"SANTIAGO, Chile — As construction of the innovative Baha'i House of Worship gets under way here, a new book and website have been launched to meet growing interest in the Temple and what it represents.
The publication, Donde Brilla La Luz (""Where the Light Shines""), aims to respond to questions about the Baha'i Faith and includes reflections on the impact that the House of Worship is intended to make on the society around it.
It has been written by Daniel Duhart from Chile, Helen Mirkovitch-Kohm of Costa Rica and Jairo Roldan from Colombia.
""It is a very exciting time to launch this book, parallel to the advances in the construction of the Temple,"" said Mr. Duhart.
""All three of us have a common love for Latin America and its destiny. In comparison with other introductory books about the Baha'i Faith, this one particularly reflects on the needs of the continent and how the Baha'i teachings can contribute to finding a constructive way to approach those needs.""
For example, said Mr. Duhart, the themes of unity and justice are very important for Latin Americans as they ""represent an unfinished desire in our history.""
""What we have learned in the Baha'i community about how these two principles can be applied at both the individual and societal levels could be a very important contribution towards endeavors in Latin America to build a just and unified society,"" he said.
It is anticipated that Donde Brilla La Luz will soon be widely distributed through bookshops and promoted in the media.  The website for the Baha'i Temple of South America, has been launched in Spanish, Portuguese and English at http://templo.bahai.cl. It aims to address the questions that the project is generating – about the temple's concept, design and construction, and the Baha'i teachings that have inspired it.Online information
Also providing specific information about the House of Worship is a new website in Spanish, Portuguese and English at http://templo.bahai.cl.
The site provides facts about the building's design and construction, offers a contact page and a section about the Baha'i Faith and its teachings, and answers frequently asked questions about the Temple and the concepts that inspire it.
It is hoped that the site will also communicate the positive contribution that the Temple can make over time to Chilean society. The concept of the Baha'i House of Worship, as envisaged by Baha'u'llah, not only incorporates the central meeting place for prayer and meditation but, in time, a range of facilities and activities that serve the social and educational needs of the surrounding population.
""There is a growing realization that the construction of this Temple represents more than just an extraordinary building,"" said Daniel Duhart. ""Parallel to this, there is another construction process going on – of community building, in which increasing numbers of all ages are advancing together on a path of service to humanity.""
""As this consciousness grows, the impact of this whole process on our society will acquire new dimensions,"" he said.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
899,2012-03-20,"[897, 893, 890]",Scientists call for release of Baha'i educators,"COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — An international body that monitors the human rights of scientists around the world, and assists those in need, is urging the Iranian authorities to free imprisoned Baha'i educators.
In a letter addressed to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Committee on International Freedom of Scientists of the American Physical Society is appealing to the Iranian government to ""immediately and unconditionally release"" all imprisoned individuals affiliated with the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) and to ""allow the Baha'i Institute to freely operate, and to ensure that all Iranian students have access to higher education.""
""Those arrested are not political or religious leaders. They were lecturers in subjects ranging from accounting to dentistry..."" the letter states. ""The Committee believes it is a human right for educators to educate a younger generation...""
""We urge the Iranian government to reconsider its policy and realize that barring a group of Iranians from education and economic advancement will ultimately be to the detriment of Iran's economy and progress for all its citizens.""
The condemnation of the imprisonment of Baha'i educators has spanned the world. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has led the criticism of their sentences, along with such prominent figures as Nobel Peace Prize laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Jose Ramos-Horta.
Set up as an informal community initiative, BIHE offered education to young Baha'is barred from university because of their religion. ""This policy of excluding the largest religious minority in Iran, places the Baha'is on the margins of society..."" the Committee wrote on 29 February.
Some 39 homes of Baha'is associated with BIHE were raided in a coordinated attack in May 2011. Lecturer Kamran Mortezaie is now serving a five-year jail term. Mahmoud Badavam, Noushin Khadem, Farhad Sedghi, Riaz Sobhani and Ramin Zibaie are each serving four year prison sentences. The judgments against them cast their activities in support of BIHE as crimes and as ""evidence"" of their purported aim to subvert the State. Two psychology teachers – Faran Hesami and her husband Kamran Rahimian – have also been sentenced to four years in prison.",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
900,2012-03-22,"[899, 897, 890]",Iran's abuses of religious freedom condemned,"WASHINGTON, United States — Iran remains one of the worst abusers of the right to religious freedom in the world, according to a new report.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has described how the ""government of Iran continues to engage in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, including prolonged detention, torture, and executions based primarily or entirely upon the religion of the accused.""
Conditions continued to deteriorate during the past year especially for Baha'is, as well as Christians and Sufi Muslims, the USCIRF wrote in its (annual report)[http://www.uscirf.gov/images/Annual%20Report%20of%20USCIRF%202012(2).pdf] published on 20 March.
""Even the recognized non-Muslim religious minorities protected under Iran's constitution – Jews, Armenian and Assyrian Christians, and Zoroastrians – faced increasing discrimination, arrests, and imprisonment,"" the report said.
A two-page section devoted to the situation of Iran's Baha'is highlighted ""increasingly harsh treatment, including increasing numbers of arrests and detentions and violent attacks on private homes and personal property."" The report also described attacks on Baha'i-owned businesses, the denial of the right to higher education, vandalism of Baha'i cemeteries, the vilification of Baha'is in state-controlled media, and efforts to collect information on members of the Baha'i community and monitor their activities.
The report recommended that the US ""continue to speak out publicly and frequently at the highest levels about the severe religious freedom abuses in Iran, and draw attention to the need for the international community to hold Iranian authorities accountable in specific cases."" In particular, it asked US officials to call for the release of jailed Baha'i leaders and educators, as well as other Baha'is in prison on account of their religion, and for all charges to be dropped against those Baha'is who have cases pending against them.
Officials are also urged to ask Iran to ""rescind immediately laws that permit members of the Baha'i faith to be killed with impunity, permit the Baha'i community to practice their faith in Iran, and allow full access for Baha'is to study in public universities without discrimination."" The report also called for the release of all Christians in prison on account of their religion or belief, and for all pending charges against Christian converts to be dropped.",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
901,2012-03-23,"[900, 899, 890]",UN Human Rights Council extends mandate of Iran monitor,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The United Nations Human Rights Council has voted by an overwhelming margin for a continuing investigation into human rights violations in Iran.
Yesterday's vote of 22 to 5 with 20 abstentions came after two major UN reports sharply criticized Iranian authorities.
""This result is a clear indication of the Council's concern over Iran's abysmal record on human rights,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
The vote extended for a year the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed. Last week, Dr. Shaheed delivered his first report to the Council, condemning the failure of Iran's justice system to protect the rights of citizens. He also expressed concern over a rise in executions, the increased detention of journalists and lawyers, and continuing persecution of ethnic and religious minorities, including Baha'is.
In another report released yesterday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon documented a long list of new or recent violations, including allegations of the use of torture, summary executions, and the persecution of religious minorities.
""The Secretary-General is deeply troubled by reports of increased numbers of executions including in public, executions of juvenile offenders, amputations, flogging, arbitrary arrest and detention, unfair trials, torture and ill-treatment, and the crackdown on media professionals, film makers, human rights defenders, lawyers and opposition activists,"" the report said.  The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre.Mr. Ban also expressed concern over Iran's failure to cooperate with UN investigators. He reported that Iran had last year responded only once to 17 communications sent by Special Procedures mandate holders such as Dr. Shaheed.
Diane Ala'i noted how Iran's ambassador had told the Council that his country has been wrongly accused of human rights violations, and that it only seeks to cooperate with the international community.
""This vote and these reports should be a wake-up call for Iran,"" she said. ""Very few countries would now dare to say there are not serious violations of human rights in Iran. What the world wants is real answers from the Iranian authorities – not lip service about cooperation or baseless attacks against the Special Rapporteur.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
902,2012-03-29,"[897, 893, 890]","Iran's seven Baha'i leaders: 10,000 days in prison","NEW YORK, United States — Sunday 1 April marks 10,000 days that Iran's seven former Baha'i leaders have spent in prison between them – a period throughout which they have been deprived of the rights accorded to prisoners under Iran's own laws and regulations.
Prior to their arrests in 2008, the seven were members of an ad hoc national-level group which attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community. They are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. Ms. Sabet was detained on 5 March 2008. Her six colleagues were arrested in early morning raids on their homes on 14 May 2008.
Some 20 months after being held without charge in Tehran's Evin prison, a trial began on 12 January 2010. It consisted of six brief court sessions, all devoid of due legal process. The seven were charged with, among other things, espionage, propaganda against the Islamic republic, the establishment of an illegal administration – charges that were all rejected completely and categorically by the defendants. They were each sentenced to 20-years imprisonment.
The five men are currently serving out their sentence at Gohardasht prison, some 50 kilometers west of Tehran. The two women are in Evin prison after previously being held in Gohardasht and a brief stay in appalling conditions at Qarchak prison.
On Sunday – in an initiative coordinated by human rights group United4Iran – large images of the seven will be displayed on mobile billboards and in other settings in some 12 major cities around the world.
""Those of us with the ability to speak out need to be the voices of those who have been silenced,"" said Firuzeh Mahmoudi, United4Iran's director and founder. ""We hope this action will bring worldwide attention to the plight of the seven Baha'i leaders, and also remind us of all other prisoners of conscience who remain behind bars and who need our unwavering support on their behalf.""",NEW YORK,,United States
903,2012-04-01,"[902, 901, 900]",U.S. Senate calls for release of religious prisoners in Iran,"WASHINGTON, United States — The United States Senate has passed a resolution condemning the government of Iran for its systematic campaign of persecution of Baha'is and calling for the release of all Iranian prisoners held solely for their religious beliefs.
The resolution – approved by unanimous consent on Thursday – also called for sanctions against Iranian officials directly responsible for human rights violations.
""Despite five international human rights treaties to which it is legally bound, the Iranian government continues to persecute those who seek to exercise their freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion,"" said Senator Mark Kirk, a Republican from Illinois who introduced the resolution.
Senator Richard Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois who co-sponsored the resolution, added: ""It is past time for the state-sponsored religious persecution of the Baha'is in Iran to come to an end. The passage of this resolution affirms that the American people stand with the Baha'i in their quest for some of our most basic human rights: security and religious freedom.""
The resolution took note of recent international measures that have cataloged the growing oppression of Baha'is and other religious minorities in Iran, such as recent reports on human rights in Iran by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
The resolution also listed a series of incidents dating back to 2008 where Iranian Baha'is have been arrested and imprisoned ""solely on the basis of their religion.""
These incidents included the arrest, trial, and 20-year sentences handed down to seven national Baha'i leaders.
Iran was called upon in the resolution to ""immediately release the seven leaders and all other prisoners held solely on account of their religion."" President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton were also urged to utilize measures available under the 2010 Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act to ""sanction officials of the Government of Iran and other individuals directly responsible for egregious human rights violations in Iran, including against the Baha'i community.""",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
904,2012-04-03,"[903, 901, 900]",World calls for unconditional release of Baha'i leaders and other Iranian prisoners of conscience,"NEW YORK, United States — The plight of Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders has been capturing the public's attention in 12 of the world's major cities, where a day of action marked the combined total of 10,000 days that the seven have so far spent in prison.
In an initiative coordinated by human rights organization United4Iran, the image of the seven was widely displayed on Sunday 1 April – on mobile billboards, buses, bicycles, a canal boat, and T-shirts.
The billboard image of the Baha'i leaders was a mosaic of smaller photographs of hundreds of people currently jailed in Iran including journalists, trade unionists, politicians, student and women's activists, and religious leaders.
""The plight of these seven is representative of the countless Iranian men and women who have been jailed for defending their freedom and human rights,"" said Firuzeh Mahmoudi, United4Iran's director and founder.  The mobile billboard image of the Baha'i leaders seen around the world was a mosaic of smaller photographs of hundreds of people currently jailed in Iran including journalists, trade unionists, politicians, student and women's activists, and religious leaders.""Our message to the seven is this: The world has not forgotten you, and we will continue to fight for your freedom and that of other Iranian prisoners of conscience.""
In New Delhi, India, around 200 campaigners carrying banners marched across the city in an action that was co-supported by the Trans Asia Alliance and the Asian Center for Human Rights. The Center's director Suhas Chakma said, ""Iran has failed to respect international human rights standards on fair trial and therefore must release the seven unconditionally.""
In South Africa, buses displaying the image of the seven prisoners are following routes in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria.
A large truck bearing the same image toured Brazil's federal capital, Brasilia. Brazilian supporters wore T-shirts that spelled out ""Libertem Baha'is Irã"" (""Free Baha'is Iran"").
In Berlin, Germany, the picture of the seven was displayed around the city on special bicycles. The initiative was launched by German Member of Parliament Serkan Tören, who is a Muslim of Turkish origin. ""I urge the Iranian Government to grant the Baha'i Faith community the right of religious freedom to which Iran has an obligation under international law. I urge the international community to maintain pressure on Iran in order to fulfill its international obligation,"" said Mr. Tören.
In the Netherlands, the poster of the prisoners travelled by barge on Amsterdam's canals while mobile billboards also generated interest as they toured Sydney (Australia), Paris (France), Wellington (New Zealand), London (U.K.) and Washington D.C. (U.S.A).
The seven Baha'i prisoners are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. Prior to their arrests in 2008, they were members of an ad-hoc national-level group which attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community. They are each serving 20-year jail terms handed down after six brief court sessions characterized by a lack of due legal process. The seven categorically denied such charges as espionage, propaganda against the Islamic republic and the establishment of an illegal administration.
""The seven were, and remain, totally innocent of any wrongdoing,"" said Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal representative to the United Nations.
""Ten thousand days of their lives have literally been stolen from them forever – days which they would have dedicated to the service of their fellow countrymen,"" she said. ""The day is long overdue when these prisoners are freed to be able to make their contribution to the country they love.""",NEW YORK,,United States
905,2012-04-15,"[854, 818, 792]",Christian dignitaries greet Baha'i community on historic anniversary,"NAPLES, Italy — Prominent Christian clergymen paid tribute to the Baha'i community here, 100 years after the ship carrying 'Abdu'l-Baha to the United States of America docked in Naples.
Their remarks were conveyed at a special commemoration attended by more than 250 guests, held at the city's maritime station to mark the centenary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's presence in the port, on board the steamship Cedric.
In a letter read to the gathering, the Archbishop of Naples – Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe – expressed his hope that the celebrations ""be occasions of spiritual enrichment and a renewed impetus for the building of a more just and unified society.""
In another message of greeting, Monsignor Salvatore Giovanni Rinaldi – the Bishop of the Diocese of Acerra – said, ""My personal wish and that of the Acerra Christian community is that the message of the founder of the Baha'i Faith, Baha'u'llah, Messenger of God, who promoted a process of the unification of humanity, may progress and fully establish itself in order to bring about one human family gathered under one God.""  'Abdu'l-Baha (1844-1921), photographed in Paris during His historic travels 1910-1913.Professor Roberto Tottoli of the Naples University of Oriental Studies told the Baha'is of his ""interest in your future initiatives, for my own personal interest but also for the interests of the Department that I represent, which cannot help but regard with admiration the activities of your religious community.""
Special guests who were present and offered remarks included representatives from the Buddhist network Soka Gakkai International and the Waldensian Evangelical Church. All of them ""expressed their joy in sharing with the Baha'i community such a solemn and meaningful moment,"" said Julio Savi, the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Italy.
'Abdu'l-Baha (1844-1921) was the eldest son of Baha'u'llah and His appointed successor as head of the Baha'i Faith. Following the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, when all political and religious prisoners of the Ottoman Empire – including 'Abdu'l-Baha and His family – were freed, He began to plan presenting, in person, the Baha'i teachings to the world beyond the Middle East. From August to December 1911, He made visits to France, Switzerland and England before returning to Egypt for the winter.
Then, on 25 March 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha boarded the Cedric – which regularly travelled between Alexandria and New York City, stopping in Naples. It had been suggested that 'Abdu'l-Baha might prefer to travel on the maiden voyage of the ill-fated S.S. Titanic but, He reportedly said, he preferred a longer sea journey. He arrived safely in New York City on 11 April.
At the centenary gathering, held in Naples 31 March to 1 April, Hartmut Grossmann, a former member of the Universal House of Justice, invited participants to reflect on a letter of the Universal House of Justice of 29 August 2010 which described how the ""words uttered by 'Abdu'l-Baha during His travels, and the deeds He undertook with such consummate wisdom and love, offer an abundance of inspiration and manifold insights...""
Attendees also enjoyed musical presentations, the performance of a traditional Neapolitan tammurriata dance, and a visual history of Italy's Baha'i community which linked the activities of modern day Italian Baha'is with the pioneering efforts of their forebears.",NAPLES,,Italy
906,2012-04-22,"[898, 851, 856]",Plans to build new Houses of Worship announced,"HAIFA, Israel — With the construction under way in Chile of the last of the continental Baha'i Houses of Worship, plans have been announced for the building of the first two national Baha'i Temples – in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Papua New Guinea.
The historic announcement was made yesterday by the Universal House of Justice in its annual message to mark the first day of Ridvan, the holiest festival in the Baha'i year.
Baha'i Houses of Worship are distinctive buildings, open to all, where visitors can simply pray and meditate in a serene atmosphere, or listen to the holy scriptures of the world's religions being recited and sung. Each House of Worship provides a spiritual center around which agencies of social, humanitarian, and educational service are established for the surrounding population.
This institution weds ""two essential, inseparable aspects of Baha'i life: worship and service,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice.  Baha'is from the Oro Province of Papua New Guinea at a conference held in the city of Lae in January 2009. ""Oro oro oro"" means ""Welcome welcome welcome."" The Universal House of Justice has announced that a new national Baha'i House of Worship is to be built in Papua New Guinea.In addition to the two new national Temples, consultations are to commence in five regions of the world on the creation of local Houses of Worship. The locations are: Battambang, Cambodia; Bihar Sharif, India; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Norte del Cauca, Colombia; and Tanna, Vanuatu.
These are among the places where Baha'i communities are cultivating a ""devotional spirit that finds expression in gatherings for prayer and an educational process that builds capacity for service to humanity,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice.
Referring to the Houses of Worship, the letter concluded: ""From these Dawning-Points of the Remembrance of God will shine the rays of His light and peal out the anthems of His praise.""",HAIFA,,Israel
907,2012-04-27,"[904, 903, 901]",Guam joins global condemnation of Iran's human rights abuses,"HAGǺTÑA, Guam — The Senate of the western Pacific island territory of Guam has called upon the United States of America to keep up its pressure on Iran over human rights abuses.
A resolution was unanimously passed this morning by the island's 15-member legislature. Fourteen senators voted in favor of the resolution, with none against. One senator was absent and did not vote.
Guam – the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands – is a U.S. territory with its own elected governor and legislature. The resolution, which was co-sponsored by the Senate's speaker Judith Won Pat and two other senators, urges the U.S. Congress and President – on behalf of the people of Guam – to ""continue their efforts in calling upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure that the nation's youth will not be denied access to higher education because of their faith.""
The resolution specifically cites Iran's official government policy to ""ensure that 'progress and development' of the Baha'is 'are blocked' with explicit directives that Baha'is 'must be expelled from universities...'""  Situated in the western Pacific, Guam is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands. A United States territory, it has its own elected governor and legislature.""Although we are small on Guam and far away and removed from the situation in Iran, we want to show the world that we have compassion for the Baha'is' suffering and persecution,"" said Benjamin J.F. Cruz, vice-speaker of the Senate and a co-sponsor of the resolution.
Legislative Secretary Tina Rose Muña Barnes added, ""When I put my name on the resolution to co-sponsor it, I did so with conviction because I believe that education and knowledge is a key to success. And knowing youth are being denied that opportunity I asked myself, how can I not stand up and add my voice? We should not be afraid to stand up and say, 'I want to help.'""
The Senators' made their remarks at a public hearing on 16 April, ahead of today's vote.
The first recorded mention of the Baha'i Faith in Guam was 1936. Today there are some 200 Baha'is on the island. ""It is our hope that this resolution will hasten the end of denial of education to the Baha'i youth of Iran and will allow them to be free to serve their country and the world,"" said a spokesperson for the Guamanian Baha'i community.",HAGǺTÑA,,Guam
908,2012-04-27,"[896, 886, 752]",Panel examines the role of young people in social change,"NEW YORK, United States — Preparing the world's young people for the future will require new directions in education that emphasize their role as global citizens.
That was among the ideas presented here at a panel discussion, sponsored by the Baha'i International Community, as a side event to the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, 23-27 April.
Titled ""Youth and Adolescents: Educating the Protagonists of Social Change,"" the panel sought to address the main theme of this year's Commission.
Young people should be taught ""the concept of fundamental human rights, and the concepts of tolerance, peace and diversity,"" said Ambassador William A. Awinador-Kanyirige, the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the UN.
""If we don't do this, along with the basic sciences and communication skills, then we are not helping the youth to realize themselves fully,"" he said.  A view of the UN Commission on Population and Development, as it met for its 45th session on the theme, “Adolescents and Youth,” 23-27 April 2012. UN Photo/Paulo FilgueirasOpening the discussion, Bani Dugal – the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN – said, ""We want to explore educational processes that help young people to recognize and develop their potentials...and to see themselves as protagonists of change in their own lives, in the life of their communities, and in the world.""
""Many of the approaches to education today treat students in a very passive way, as receptacles of information rather than active members of their community,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Panelist Alicia Cundall, a student at the University of Toronto, said young people are anxious to become strategic partners in helping to plan the world they will inherit.
""I have learned that adolescents and youth are idealistic in the best way,"" said Ms. Cundall. ""We won't take no for an answer, we stand up for what we believe, we challenge the status quo, our mindsets and attitudes are flexible and malleable and we are able to change our ways to adapt to changing times more easily than adults. We have a whole lot of energy and enthusiasm.""
Programs for young people, she said, should stress the importance of service to the community and experiential learning.
As part of its contribution to this year's Commission, the Baha'i International Community issued a statement addressing the theme. The document noted that there are no fewer than one billion people worldwide between the ages of 10 and 19 – and yet half live in poverty and some 25 percent survive on less than a dollar a day.
""The future of today's society will depend to a great extent on the manner in which educational programs and methods are designed to release the latent potential of youth and prepare them for the world they will inherit,"" said the statement.
The full statement can be read here.",NEW YORK,,United States
909,2012-05-07,"[905, 889, 769]","Fifty years on, European Baha'i communities recall landmark elections","OSLO, Norway — Tributes have been paid to the Baha'i Faith on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Norwegian National Spiritual Assembly.
In Oslo, some 100 special guests participated in a celebratory gathering. Among them, Shazia Mushtaq – a representative of Norway's Islamic Council – praised the ""many beautiful elements"" in the commemorative event, which included spoken tributes and musical performances.
Ivar Flaten, a Church of Norway priest, remarked that he found in the Baha'i teachings, ""a special emphasis, not only on tolerance but also on acknowledging each other."" His comments were echoed by Lise Tørnby, Chief Executive of Norway's Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities, who said that one thing that characterizes Baha'is is their ""willingness for dialog.""
In his keynote address, Thor Henning Lerstad – a journalist and Baha'i – described the call to all human beings to acknowledge the unity of religion as ""perhaps the most notable challenge the Baha'i Faith poses, from a Nordic perspective...""
""Tolerance is not enough; it is also necessary to recognize other peoples' beliefs,"" he said.  At the national convention of the Baha'is of Italy, Mario Piarulli – a surviving member of the country's first National Spiritual Assembly, elected in 1962 – recounts his memories of the community's early history.Today Baha'i activities in Norway include the hosting of gatherings that strengthen the devotional character of the community; classes for children; groups that channel the energies of young people; and study circles where participants explore the application of spiritual teachings to their lives and develop skills to serve the community.
""We live in a time where less attention is given to the nurturing of human beings' spiritual nature,"" noted Shahla Bahrami, another Norwegian Baha'i. The activities offered by the Baha'i community help to refine this nature, she told the gathering held on Friday 27 April.
This year also marks the 50th anniversaries of the formation of National Spiritual Assemblies in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. In a number of them, a period of commemoration was allocated at the national Baha'i conventions which happen each year during the period of the Ridvan festival, 21 April to 2 May.
To the Baha'is of Switzerland, the Regent for Liechtenstein – His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois – wrote, ""Upon learning that the National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland, which is currently responsible for the Baha'i community of Liechtenstein, will celebrate its 50 years in existence, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the community on this anniversary and express my best wishes and God's blessings for the future.""
The Swiss National Assembly in turn sent anniversary greetings to the neighboring Baha'i community of Italy. The Italian national convention heard Mario Piarulli, a surviving member of its first National Spiritual Assembly, recounting his memories of the community's early history.
Mr. Piarulli's expressed his sincere wish that ""the young people present today may – in 50 years, on the occasion of the centenary commemoration – look at these, our years, as crucial in accelerating the maturation of a world spiritual civilization...""
In the Netherlands, former and current National Spiritual Assembly members marked their 50th anniversary with the reading of the names of each of the 51 Baha'is who have served on the institution during those years.
The anniversary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Portugal was celebrated at the national convention held for the first time in a new national Baha'i center. ""The physical space that hosted the Convention was thus a material symbol of the growth and progress of the Faith over the previous half century,"" reported Portugal's National Spiritual Assembly.
Baha'is in Luxembourg observed the golden jubilee of their National Spiritual Assembly with a tribute to the first Baha'i to settle in the country, British-born Honor Kempton. ""The convention was invigorated by the sacrifices made by the Baha'is of previous decades,"" said Assembly member Amir Saberin, ""and focused on how the foundation built in the last half-century may become the platform for even greater accomplishments in the next.""",OSLO,,Norway
910,2012-05-14,"[907, 904, 903]",Persecution intensifies as former Baha'i leaders mark anniversary behind bars,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Iran's former Baha'i leaders begin their fifth year in prison today amid an intensification of the persecution of their co-religionists.
The seven prisoners each face the bleak prospect of 16 more years in jail for crimes they did not commit. Next week also marks the first anniversary of raids on homes of Baha'is associated with an informal initiative offering higher education to community members barred from university.  Nine educators later received harsh prison sentences.
The detention and conviction of these and other Baha'is is a reflection of the oppression facing all Iranians who desire freedom and the progress of their country, said the Universal House of Justice in a letter dated 11 May 2012 sent to the Baha'is of Iran.
In its message, the Universal House of Justice noted how the intensifying cruelty towards the Iranian Baha'i community is now also engulfing children. Among recent attacks, the letter highlighted the confinement in prison for a few days of a two-year old boy with his mother, the beating and burning of the hand of a school pupil by her teacher after the girl did not take part in congregational prayers, and the violent abduction by officials of a mother before the eyes of her two young children.  On 18 September 2011, tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil – an example of the activities taken by ordinary people around the world in defense of the Baha'is of Iran and the principle of religious freedom.""From schoolchildren to the elderly, from the seven former leaders to ordinary villagers, no Baha'i in Iran is spared the cruel and calculated persecution which the Iranian government and its agents are constantly devising,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
The seven former leaders have been given the longest sentences – 20 years each – of any of the prisoners of conscience currently held in Iranian jails, Ms. Ala'i added. ""Conditions are harsh with poor food and bad sanitation and most of them have experienced significant health problems. Yet during these four years, not one of them has been granted any type of furlough – something to which a prisoner is entitled under Iranian law.""
Global support
The Universal House of Justice observed in its letter that, over the past year, governments and organizations have continued to defend the rights of Baha'is and other oppressed Iranians. Among such supporters, statesmen and officials – including some Muslim politicians in both the East and the West – civil agencies, universities and prominent personalities have declared the persecution of Baha'is to be unjust and have called for it to cease.
Recent action has included the unanimous passing of a resolution in the United States Senate – on 29 March – calling for the release of the seven former leaders. Three days later, the plight of the prisoners captured the public's attention in 12 of the world's major cities, when widespread publicity marked the combined total of 10,000 days that the seven had spent behind bars.
Fair-minded Iranians, including artists, are also defending the rights of their oppressed Baha'i compatriots and demanding their freedom, noted the Universal House of Justice.
""Blind prejudice and superstition pervades Iran today and irreparable damage has been done to the name and reputation of Islam,"" said Diane Ala'i. ""We welcome and join with every effort made by people of good will – both in Iran and around the world – to condemn the extent and violence of the oppressions faced by the people of Iran.""
The former Baha'i leaders are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahid Tizfahm.  Ms. Sabet was detained on 5 March 2008. Her six colleagues were arrested in raids on their homes on 14 May 2008.
Prior to their arrests, the seven served on an ad hoc national-level group which attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community. During six brief court sessions, devoid of due legal process, the seven faced trumped-up charges that were all rejected completely and categorically by the defendants.
They were each sentenced to 20-years imprisonment. The five men are currently being held at Gohardasht prison, some 50 kilometers west of Tehran. The two women are in Evin prison in the capital.
Some 39 homes of Baha'is associated with the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) were raided in a coordinated attack in May 2011. Educator Kamran Mortezaie is now serving a five-year jail term. Mahmoud Badavam, Noushin Khadem, Farhad Sedghi, Riaz Sobhani and Ramin Zibaie are each serving four year prison sentences. The judgments against them cast their activities in support of BIHE as crimes and as ""evidence"" of their purported aim to subvert the State. Two psychology teachers – Faran Hesami and her husband Kamran Rahimian – were also sentenced to four years in prison. Another BIHE administrator Vahid Mahmoudi was released on 8 January 2012 after his five-year sentence was reportedly suspended.
Since August 2004, some 556 Baha'is have been arrested in Iran. There are about 109 Iranian Baha'is currently in prison because of their religion. To date, the cases of some 451 Baha'is are still active with authorities.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
911,2012-05-16,"[910, 907, 904]","On anniversary of arrests, Canadian MPs highlight Iran’s human rights violations","OTTAWA, Canada — In a wide-ranging debate that took place on the fourth anniversary of the arrest of imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders, members of the Canadian Parliament voiced their grave concern about worsening violations of human rights in Iran.
Earlier on Monday 14 May, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs – John Baird – marked the anniversary by issuing a statement which said, ""Iranian authorities continually undermine the right to freedom of religion by tolerating and even encouraging persecution of Baha'is, Christians and members of other minority religious communities. Freedom of religion is a universal human right.""
""We urge Iran to uphold its international obligations and allow for freedom of religion, and to respect the fundamental rights of its people,"" said Minister Baird.
Opening the debate in the House of Commons, Deepak Obhrai – Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs – said that Iran's refusal to respect human rights obligations is a ""violation not just of universally recognized norms and standards but of those enshrined within its own constitution.""
Read a full transcript of the debate here.
Mr. Obhrai and other speakers highlighted, among other things, the Iranian authorities' suppression of women's rights, attacks on journalists, artists, independent trade unionists, and civil society, and the persecution of minorities.
""With respect to religious minorities, Iran remains a dangerous place for members of numerous communities, including the Baha'i,"" said Mr. Obhrai, a Conservative MP from Alberta.
""For years, this peaceful community has been targeted by the Iranian authorities and subjected to discrimination and detention. Baha'i leaders have been arrested and imprisoned for practicing their faith.
""Iranian officials have also made statements to try to link the Baha'i to the political unrest in that country. These are trumped-up accusations and a cause of concern for the safety and well-being of those unjustly detained in Iran.""
Irwin Cotler, a Liberal MP from Montreal, told the debate that the plight of Iran's Baha'is offers a looking glass into the situation of human rights in Iran in general, and the ""criminalization of innocence.""
""Simply put, the persecution and prosecution of these Baha'i is a case study of the systematic if not systemic character of Iranian injustice as a whole,"" said Mr. Cotler, ""including arbitrary arrest and incommunicado detention, false and trumped-up charges.""
Scott Reid, a Conservative from Ontario, added ""Baha'is face what really amounts to a systematic effort to exterminate the religion,"" calling Iran's persecution of Baha'is ""one of the great tragedies of modern times.""
Welcoming the debate, Susanne Tamas – director of government relations for the Canadian Baha'i community – said it was significant that representatives from all of Canada's major parties spoke and were unanimous in expressing their concerns.
""The debate was very heartfelt and very much appreciated,"" said Ms. Tamas.",OTTAWA,,Canada
912,2012-05-27,"[911, 910, 907]","Report reveals ""grim picture"" of human rights in Iran","WASHINGTON, United States — Iran's human rights record continued to display ""many negative trends"" last year, according to a US government spokesman.
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Michael H. Posner, described the current situation as ""a very grim picture.""
Speaking at the press briefing on the 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Mr. Posner noted – among other abuses in Iran –intolerance of dissent, restrictions on freedom of speech, unfair trials, and extensive use of the death penalty.
He also particularly highlighted the 20-year prison sentences given to each of Iran's seven former Baha'i leaders. ""It is a human rights situation that is very disturbing, and we'll continue to call it out,"" he said.
The 2011 annual report, released last Thursday 24 May, devoted some 77 pages to the situation in Iran, detailing a continued ""crack down on women's rights activists, ethnic minority rights activists, student activists, religious minorities, and environmental activists"" – including members of the Baha'i Faith.
One section describes, for example, how the constitution in Iran allows the government to seize property acquired ""in a manner not in conformity with Islamic law"" and how this law has been used to harass religious minorities, particularly Baha'is.
The annual Human Rights Reports assess each country's situation against universal human rights standards. Their findings inform U.S. policymakers and serve as a reference for other governments, international institutions, non-governmental organizations and other interested individuals.
Launching the report, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, ""These reports, which the United States Government has published for nearly four decades, make clear to governments around the world: We are watching and we are holding you accountable. And they make clear to citizens and activists everywhere: You are not alone. We are standing with you.""",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
913,2012-05-31,"[912, 911, 910]",Calls for Iran to uphold right to education intensify,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The Baha'i International Community has joined with 16 other non-governmental organizations to call upon the government of Iran to urgently address the state of higher education in the country.
A joint statement addressed to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is the latest in a growing number of protests around the world at Iran's abuses of the right to education.
In their statement launched today, the 17 organizations note that more than 600 students, and some university lecturers, have been arrested since 2009 for peacefully expressing their opinions. Hundreds have been deprived of education for their political beliefs, while student gatherings, publications, and organizations have been shut down.
""The right to education for all persons without discrimination is explicitly guaranteed under international instruments, which Iran has accepted or to which it is party,"" they write. ""It is also guaranteed under Iran's Constitution.""
In addition to the Baha'i International Community, the statement is signed by such organizations as Amnesty International, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Human Rights Watch and United4Iran.
Read more about the statement here.
They also note that Iran's minorities face systematic deprivation and discrimination in education. ""Authorities have prevented – and specifically targeted – members of the Baha'i Faith from pursuing higher education solely on the basis of their religious beliefs..."" the statement says.
In May 2011, Iranian authorities raided homes of Baha'is associated with an informal community initiative, known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE). A number of Baha'i educators were arrested and are currently serving four- or five-year jail terms.
The statement strongly urges Iran to release ""immediately and unconditionally all Iranian students and higher education personnel who have been jailed for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, including educators at the Baha'i Institute of Higher Education, and including those who have expressed political opinions...""
Iran is also urged to abolish ""all policies and practices that discriminate against or otherwise violate the rights of religious and ethnic minorities...particularly the Baha'i community, including in regard to their access to higher education and academic freedom.""
Other recent actions
A report released on 17 May by the Iranian Advocacy Council for the Right to Education (ACRE) – an organization founded by students who have been banned from education – also detailed the discrimination faced by university students in Iran.
""The educational apartheid has specifically gained speed over the past three years, with hundreds of students...banned from pursuing their education through rulings issued by disciplinary committees on campuses and the Ministry of Science's disciplinary committee,"" the report stated.
In Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Students' Union Council at Queen's University passed a motion on 26 April condemning Iran's denial of access to higher education for Baha'is and others.
The Council called on its Executive Management Committee to adopt ""a policy to assist ... BIHE thus allowing us to build links through education and resource sharing that will benefit the Baha'i community in Iran during a time of oppression and open persecution.""
In an editorial published on 23 May in Embassy – Canada's foreign policy newspaper – Roger Blockley, former Carleton University Dean of Graduate Studies, wrote, ""Canadian university presidents should approach their national and international organizations with a view to sanctioning Iranian universities until they accord Baha'i students equal treatment.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
914,2012-06-10,"[896, 868, 829]",Sustainable development focus for Rio conference,"RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — In 1992, the Rio Earth Summit was one of the largest events ever organized by the United Nations. Now, world leaders are preparing to return to the city to consult about the global path to sustainable development – an idea that was first broadly raised here two decades ago.
Representatives from governments, the private sector, and civil society – including members of the worldwide Baha'i community – are joining the deliberations on how to reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection.
While the Rio+20 Conference, officially known as the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, opens in 10 days time, as many as 50,000 people are also expected for a series of parallel events, some of which are already under way.
Baha'i delegate Peter Adriance was present at the Earth Summit in 1992. ""We have made significant progress on certain aspects of sustainable development since then,"" he said. ""The term is much more widely understood and used now. Many communities, businesses and institutions have adopted new and innovative approaches to address the challenges of sustainability.""
""On the other hand, many issues are so much more pressing than they were 20 years ago. Some of the same challenges persist, and in addition we have a heightened concern over such matters as climate change and the worldwide economic crisis.""
The importance of ethics and spirituality as motivating factors in the promotion of sustainable development will be a major thread of the Baha'i contribution to Rio+20.
""One of our main aims will be to talk to other participants about the broad moral and ethical principles that lie behind efforts to eliminate the extremes of wealth and poverty and to preserve the earth's environment for future generations,"" said May Akale, who – with Daniel Perell – is heading the 13-strong Baha'i International Community delegation to the Conference.
""Our goal is to talk about some of the deeper issues involved in sustainable development,"" added Mr. Perell, ""asking questions like 'What does it mean to be a member of the human family?' and 'How does that influence our daily lives or affect the institutions of governance in the world?'""
Baha'i participation at the Conference includes:
– The submission of a formal statement from the Baha'i International Community.
– The co-sponsorship of two side events at the main UN conference site on 13 June addressing the topics of the “extremes of wealth and poverty in a green economy” and “synergies between faith values and education for sustainable development.”
– Participation in ""Youth Blast,"" a parallel conference for young people. Specifically, the Baha'i International Community is sponsoring an interactive workshop on ""trusteeship in the context of sustainable development.""
– The organization of two side events by the Brazilian Baha'i community at the People's Summit, a parallel civil society conference that commences this Friday. The sessions will explore ""spiritual principles for development"" and the ""social role of religions.""
– Members of the Baha'i-inspired International Environment Forum will participate in several pre-conference meetings, including the ""Global Research Forum on Sustainable Consumption and Production,"" and the ""Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development.""",RIO DE JANEIRO,,Brazil
915,2012-06-11,"[869, 781, 638]",Robert Hayden – poet and Baha'i – honored on postage stamp,"WASHINGTON, United States — Robert Hayden, the first African-American to be appointed United States Poet Laureate, has been honored on a postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service.
The portrait of Mr. Hayden – who was a Baha'i – appears in a special series of 10 stamps depicting America's most important 20th century poets.
Born in 1913, Robert Hayden attended Detroit City College and earned a master's degree at the University of Michigan where he was mentored by the celebrated poet W.H. Auden.
Mr. Hayden became acquainted with the Baha'i teachings in 1943 and was drawn to their focus on racial harmony.
""He wrote several poems about his Baha'i religious faith,"" said an article on the US Philatelic website, ""which bolstered his belief in the oneness of all humanity and in the spiritual value of the arts.""
Launching the series of stamps, a U.S. Postal Service press statement said, ""The poems of Robert Hayden reflect his brilliant craftsmanship, his historical conscience, and his gift for storytelling. Many of his works render aspects of the black American experience with unforgettable vividness; others are more personal.""  Robert Hayden (1913-1980) was the first African-American named Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a post later renamed Poet Laureate of the United States.In 1976, Mr. Hayden was named Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a post which was later renamed Poet Laureate of the United States. He taught at Fisk University in Nashville for 23 years and then at the University of Michigan from 1969 until his death in 1980 at age 66.
The other poets honored on the collection of stamps are Elizabeth Bishop, Joseph Brodsky, Gwendolyn Brooks, E.E. Cummings, Denise Levertov, Sylvia Plath, Theodore Roethke, Wallace Stevens and William Carlos Williams.",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
916,2012-06-14,"[913, 912, 911]",Factory closures highlight economic strangulation of Iran's Baha'is,"GENEVA, Switzerland — A recent intensification of attacks on Baha'i-owned businesses in Iran further demonstrates the Iranian authorities' determination to suffocate the economic prospects of the Baha'is of that country, solely on account of their religious beliefs.
The Baha'i International Community has learned that on 28 May, Intelligence Ministry agents raided and sealed two factories, with full or partial Baha'i ownership, in the central northern city of Semnan. One of the factories – which manufactured vertical blinds – employed 51 staff, 36 of whom were not Baha'is. The other, a lens grinding factory, had two Baha'i and six other employees.
""These factory closures not only illustrate the bitter animosity that the Iranian authorities hold towards Baha'is,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva. ""They also show that, in this ongoing effort to strangle the Baha'is economically, the authorities are perfectly happy to cause other workers – including Shia Muslims – to face economic hardship as well.""
In late 2008, Semnan's Chamber of Commerce – along with 39 member trade unions – decided to stop issuing business licenses and managerial permits to Baha'is, and to cease renewing current licenses. Existing business licenses and permits for Baha'is were revoked and confiscated. Since that time, at least 15 Baha'i-owned shops and manufacturing businesses in the city have been sealed up depriving dozens of families of an income. Banks have refused to extend loans to Baha'is; Baha'i farmers have been harassed; and citizens have been urged not to patronize Baha'i-owned businesses.
The information has come to light as the annual conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO) concludes in Geneva. The ILO is the principal intergovernmental body promoting and protecting rights to employment and vocational education.
On several occasions in recent years, the ILO has called on the Iranian government to end its persecution of Baha'is. In 2010, for example, its Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations strongly urged the Iranian government ""to take decisive action to combat discrimination and stereotypical attitudes, through actively promoting respect and tolerance"" for Baha'is and ""to ensure that authorities and the public were informed that discrimination against religious minorities, in particular the Baha'i would not be tolerated.""
""Regrettably the Iranian authorities show no signs of paying attention to such serious and urgent appeals from the ILO and other international organizations,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
**The ""Baha'i Question"" **
The recent attacks in Semnan are a graphic example of the implementation of various measures outlined in a 1991 Iranian government memorandum to deal with the so-called ""Baha'i Question."" The memorandum – approved by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei – called for the progress and development of Baha'is to be blocked.
Furthermore, the arbitrary arrest, interrogation and imprisonment of Baha'is has intensified in Semnan. Homes and properties – including the Baha'i cemetery – have been fire-bombed, vandalized and covered with hate graffiti. Similar attacks have occurred against Baha'is and their properties throughout Iran.
""The situation in this one city offers a case study of how authorities are seeking to suppress and block the development of Baha'is to the maximum degree possible,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""Official and semi-official elements – including the police, the courts, local officials, and the clergy – are all being coordinated to starve out a peaceful minority community,"" she said.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
917,2012-06-21,"[908, 896, 886]","Rio+20: ""Hope and optimism"" for unified action","RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — World leaders seeking to promote sustainable development should embrace the principle ""that each one of us enters the world as a trust of the whole and, in turn, bears a measure of responsibility for the welfare of all.""
This concept is among several being explored by the Baha'i International Community (BIC) in its participation at Rio+20 – the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – which ends here tomorrow.
In its statement to the Conference, the BIC says the idea of a ""world-encompassing trusteeship"" challenges the ""ethical basis of loyalties that do not extend beyond the nation state.""
""As long as one group of nations perceives its interests in opposition to another, progress will be limited and short-lived,"" says the statement.
Among the other areas being highlighted by the BIC are the need for a principle-based approach to collective decision-making and the importance of addressing both extremes of the poverty-wealth spectrum.  An hourglass-shaped 'Peace Monument"" in Rio bearing the words of Baha'u'llah was re-dedicated on 17 June 2012. The monument was an initiative of the Baha'i International Community and the Baha'i community of Brazil for the 1992 Earth Summit. More than 100 people attended the ceremony including the UN Secretary-General for Rio+20 Sha Zukang, the monument's designer Siron Franco, and Eduardo Paes - mayor of Rio.More than 80 heads of state and government, along with some 50,000 representatives of international agencies, civil society, and other groups, have attended the Conference, which has aimed to assess progress on sustainable development since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
Two major themes in relation to sustainable development – a green economy and the institutional framework – have been discussed in numerous forums here over the last few weeks and were addressed in the BIC statement.
Thirteen BIC delegates have attended Rio+20, representing a diversity of national backgrounds. ""The common thread in our contributions has been the betterment of humanity,"" said BIC delegate Daniel Perell. ""We have sought to share ideas on such themes as trusteeship and human oneness – all with the overall goal of helping to create a just, global civilization that is sustainable in the long term.""
In addition to attending the main Conference, Baha'is also organized, co-sponsored, or participated in a wide range of side events and parallel conferences. These included:
– A panel discussion on the ""Elimination of Extremes of Wealth and Poverty in a Green Economy Context"" which explored the social, economic and moral dimensions of growing income inequality.
– Participation in the ""Youth Blast"" – a parallel UN conference for young people, held 7-12 June. The BIC sponsored an interactive workshop on ""trusteeship in the context of sustainable development.""
– The re-dedication of a peace monument, built in 1992 by the BIC and the Baha'i community of Brazil as a contribution to the Earth Summit. The hour-glass shaped sculpture contains soil from nearly 150 countries. The re-dedication was attended by Sha Zukang – UN Secretary-General for Rio+20 – and Eduardo Paes, mayor of Rio.
– Assistance with the Rio People's Summit, the parallel civil society conference. Brazilian Baha'is were involved in organizing workshops on ""spiritual principles for development"" and the ""social role of religions.""
""We are challenged here at Rio+20 to look beyond national self-interest and loyalties, and to be concerned with the welfare of the whole,"" said Daniella Hiche, the Brazilian Baha'i community's human rights officer, at a press conference held at the Rio+20 headquarters.
BIC delegate May Akale, summing up the whole event, noted: ""The challenges are complex, humanity's expectations are high, and the disappointments at the pace of progress can be deep.""
""What is obvious is that we are evolving towards unified action. Much remains to be done, but the possibilities for relationships to develop and advance implementation on what has been agreed upon in Rio are endless. And that is the source of great hope and optimism.""",RIO DE JANEIRO,,Brazil
918,2012-06-26,"[818, 905, 854]",Centenary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journeys marked in North America,"WILMETTE, IL., United States — Thousands of Baha'is and their friends across the United States have been observing the centenary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's eight-month sojourn in their country.
Following the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, 'Abdu'l-Baha – the eldest son of Baha'u'llah and His appointed successor as head of the Baha'i Faith – was freed after more than half a century of exile and imprisonment. Immediately, He began to plan how to present, in person, the Baha'i teachings to the world beyond the Middle East.
From 11 April to 5 December 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha traversed the north American continent, continuing an extraordinary journey that had already taken him to Egypt, England, France, and Switzerland.
Baha'is throughout the United States are commemorating this journey by reflecting upon the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha and discussing how His example can inspire their services to the community today. In addition, a number of larger-scale commemorative activities have been initiated by the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly – in Chicago, New York City, Washington D.C. and at the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette.
On 29 April, the House of Worship hosted three special services, designed to provide a unique opportunity for people to remember 'Abdu'l-Baha 100 years after He broke the ground and laid the cornerstone upon which the House of Worship was built.  Illinois Congressman Robert Dold addressed the audience at the Chicago Theatre on 28 April 2012, acknowledging Baha'i efforts to build a more unified society.Among the speakers at an event held at the historic Chicago Theatre that same weekend was U.S. Congressman, Representative Robert Dold, who grew up close to the House of Worship. He called the building a ""beacon,"" describing its ""beautiful grounds, its gorgeous structure"" and its significance as ""a peaceful place of worship, a place that is open to one and all.""
Mr. Dold explained how, during 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels, He ""met with people of diverse backgrounds in both private and public settings, often giving talks to hundreds of people. And everywhere He went, He spoke about the oneness of humanity...""
""Baha'is in this area have been working with people of all faiths and backgrounds to promote cooperation and unity and have been striving to build a better world,"" said Mr. Dold. ""I'm so very proud to represent the Baha'is of the 10th Congressional District and also to have the House of Worship in Wilmette be part of our community.""
A demonstration of race unity
Among the themes addressed 100 years ago by 'Abdu'l-Baha in the United States was racial harmony. This was illustrated at the Chicago commemoration by the ""Unity in Music"" children's theater company from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who presented a dramatic recreation of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit to the Bowery neighborhood in Manhattan where He paid particular attention to an African-American boy.
The experience, said the company's director Kathy Wurzer, was very meaningful for the children who performed – the majority of whom are not Baha'is.
Seeing them react to stories of what 'Abdu'l-Baha did to bring the races together was ""quite touching,"" she said. ""We have children from a wide variety of backgrounds who are participating. When they saw the amount of people that came to something like this, they began to realize the significance of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit to the U.S.""
'Abdu'l-Baha's call for America's separate races to come together as one family was also explored in Washington D.C on 12 May. During a performance of one of her poems titled, ""The Difference,"" award-winning teacher Dona Denize declared: ""There is but one color, and that is the color of servitude.""
Throughout 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels – said Valerie Dana, a member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly – He ""talked about spiritual transformation, being of service to humanity, seeing the face of God in all, and understanding that the work we do in service to humanity brings us closer to God.""
""So a fitting remembrance,"" she said, ""would be undertaking a pattern of action that reflects the purpose for which He came.""
A further centenary event is scheduled for San Francisco on 9 September.",WILMETTE,ILLINOIS,United States
919,2012-08-02,"[913, 912, 911]",A dark picture of religious freedom in Iran,"WASHINGTON, United States — In a report released Monday, the United States painted a dark picture of religious freedom in Iran, documenting how the government there oppresses the followers of virtually every religious minority in the country, restricting their religious activities, limiting their economic prospects, and imprisoning them when they tell others about their beliefs.
""Government rhetoric and actions created a threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shia religious groups, most notably for Baha'is, as well as for Sufi Muslims, evangelical Christians, Jews, and Shia groups that did not share the government's official religious views,"" said the 2011 annual US Department of State's report on International Religious Freedom in its section on Iran.
""Baha'i and Christian groups reported arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and confiscation of property. During the year, government-controlled broadcast and print media intensified negative campaigns against religious minorities, particularly Baha'is.
""All religious minorities suffered varying degrees of officially sanctioned discrimination, particularly in the areas of employment, education, and housing. Baha'is continued to experience expulsions from, or denial of admission to, universities,"" the report said.
Issued annually since 2001, the report analyzes the status of religious freedom around the world, examining progress or regression in every nation outside the US.
The report gave special attention this year to the impact of political and demographic transitions on religious minorities, the effects of conflict on religious freedom, and ""the rising tide of anti-Semitism.""
""Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion,"" said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, introducing the report at a press conference at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
""This right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance,"" said Secretary Clinton.
Suzan Johnson Cook, the US Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, said that freedom of religion is not just an American right but the right of all people.
""It goes hand in hand with freedom of expression, freedom of speech and assembly, and when religious freedom is restricted, all these rights are at risk,"" said Ambassador Cook. ""And for this reason, religious freedom is often the bellwether for other human rights. It's the canary in the coalmine.""
The section on Iran was especially critical, stating that the ""government's respect for and protection of the right to religious freedom continued to deteriorate.""
""The legal system fosters religious abuse and discrimination,"" said the report, noting that the ""constitution and other laws and policies severely restrict freedom of religion.""
The report sought to document such abuse, and it found that virtually all religious groups outside the Shia Muslim majority faced discrimination.
""Harassment and arrests of Sufis also continued during the year,"" said the report, noting that some 60 Sufis had been arrested in September after confrontations with security forces.
Christians also faced continuing discrimination. The government last year confiscated some 6,500 Christian Bibles, the report said, and it continued to imprison Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who has been sentenced to death for apostasy.
""Zoroastrians also reported detentions and harassment,"" the report said, describing the October arrest of Yashin Jamshidi, a Zoroastrian in Karaj.
Situation of Baha'is highlighted
The situation of Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i community was highlighted prominently throughout the report. Among other things, the report noted that Baha'is are precluded from enrollment in state-run universities, banned from the social pension system, and prohibited from ""officially assembling or maintaining administrative institutions.""
The report also stated clearly that Baha'is are persecuted because of the religious beliefs.
""The government arbitrarily arrested Baha'is and charged them with violating Islamic penal code articles 500 and 698, relating to activities against the state and spreading falsehoods, respectively,"" said the report, noting that 95 Baha'is were imprisoned and 416 had active cases in the judicial system at the end of 2011.
""Often the charges were not dropped upon release, and those with charges pending against them reportedly feared arrest at any time. Most were released only after paying a large fine or posting high bail. For some, bail was in the form of deeds of property; others gained their release in exchange for personal guarantees from a ""guardian"" that the offender would appear in court, or the granting of a work license.
""Government officials reportedly offered Baha'is relief from mistreatment in exchange for recanting their religious affiliation, and if incarcerated, made recanting their religious affiliation a precondition for release,"" said the report.
The report noted that ""Baha'i graveyards in a number of cities were desecrated by unspecified actors, and the government did not seek to identify or punish the perpetrators.""
It also said Baha'is and their properties had been the subject of arson attacks. ""In all cases, police said nothing could be done to find the perpetrators,"" said the report.
Baha'is also ""experienced an escalation of personal harassment,"" the report said, ""including receiving threatening notes, compact discs, text messages, and tracts.""
The report also discussed actions by the State Department last year in support of Iranian Baha'is, noting that its spokespersons had called ""unprecedented"" the re-imposition of a long, 20-year prison sentence for seven imprisoned national Baha'i leaders, and that they had also last year criticized ""the lack of due process"" in that sentencing, saying it was a violation of Iran's commitments under international law.",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
920,2012-08-08,"[919, 916, 913]",The Baha'is of Semnan: A community under fire,"NEW YORK, United States — A dramatic intensification of persecution of Baha'is in the Iranian city of Semnan has been described as ""distinctive and alarming"" by the Baha'i International Community.
Dozens of attacks since 2009 against a large number of Semnan's Baha'is have been carried out by officials, semi-official groups, and plainclothes agents. At least 30 Baha'is have been arrested, with several now serving long prison sentences; homes and shops have been targeted by arsonists; and numerous Baha'i-owned businesses have been shut down by authorities.
Baha'is in the city are also facing ongoing harassment, marked by the close and constant surveillance of state security agencies, hate speech from clerics, abuse directed against Baha'i children, and vandalism of  the Baha'i cemetery.
""It seems that in Semnan the Iranian authorities are oppressing the Baha'is with a particular intensity by mobilizing and coordinating official and semi-official elements,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""These include various government offices and departments, the police, the courts, local officials, and the clergy.""  A home in Semnan sprayed with offensive graffiti which, when translated into English, reads: ""Down with the pagan Baha'i. Down with America and Britain.""""This coordinated approach is at once distinctive and alarming. Their aim in all of this is to enforce ever more strongly the government's long-established policy of seeing that the progress and development of Baha'is are blocked,"" she said.
For Baha'is in Iran oppression has been a feature of life ever since the Faith's founding in the mid-19th century. But since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Baha'is have faced a government-sponsored strategy of persecution, suffering countless raids, arrests, and imprisonments in a systematic campaign which intensified in 2005 and further escalated in 2008-2009.
The disproportionate number of attacks against Semnan's Baha'is flared up after a series of widely publicized anti-Baha'i seminars and rallies was organized in the city in late 2008 and 2009. The homes of some 20 Baha'is were subsequently raided by authorities who seized Baha'i materials, computers, and mobile telephones. Nine Baha'is whose homes were raided were arrested, all on entirely false charges relating purely to their practice of the Baha'i Faith.
Since 2009, some 26 Baha'is from Semnan have been sentenced to a total of more than 70 years in prison. Eight are currently in prison having recently received sentences – ranging from six months to six years. Additionally, another Baha'i is serving a period of internal exile upon the completion of his jail term. A further four are released on bail awaiting trial and eight more are sentenced but free pending appeal or awaiting the summons to begin their imprisonment. Several more have been interrogated.
Three months ago, Adel Fanaian was sentenced to six years in prison for charges that included ""mobilizing a group with the intent to disturb national security"" and ""propaganda against the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran."" These false charges stem simply from his efforts to offer moral development classes for children and youth and help young people obtain a college education.
Bani Dugal noted however that, despite the hateful anti-Baha'i propaganda disseminated in the city, the majority of Semnan's citizens reportedly harbor no ill will towards Baha'is, and many seek association with them. ""Indeed, many Baha'is have Muslims as relatives and close friends,"" she said.
""The situation should be carefully examined by all those who seek to restore the due process of law and respect for human rights in Iran. These attacks carried out by semi-official elements or agents in plainclothes reflect yet another insidious attempt by the Iranian government to flout international standards of justice without overtly calling attention to itself.""
""We call upon governments everywhere to condemn Iran's flagrant violation of human rights – rights that are set out in international covenants to which Iran is a signatory.""
The Baha'is of Semnan - A Case Study in Religious Hatred
The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles, information and resources related to the case of the Baha'is of Semnan. It reports the systematic campaign of persecution in the city, a chronology of major incidents, and provides background information on incitement to hatred and Iran's blueprint for the strangulation of the Baha'i community.",NEW YORK,,United States
921,2012-08-14,"[906, 898, 891]",Newsreel shows work commencing on House of Worship,"SANTIAGO, Chile — The first video newsreel documenting progress in the building of the Baha'i House of Worship here has been launched online.
The newsreel, titled ""Progress on the Construction of the Baha’i House of Worship for South America,"" is in Spanish with English subtitles. It is available to view via the official website.
The video presents a brief overview of the nature and purpose of Baha'i Houses of Worship and introduces the innovative design of the building for Santiago, which will be the last continental House of Worship to be erected.  The excavation and grading work beginning on the building's foundation and plaza is also shown, along with the construction of essential on-site facilities for project personnel.
The project was announced by the Universal House of Justice in 2001. The successful design, selected from 185 entries from more than 80 countries, has won several international accolades.  A computer-generated sectional view of the Baha’i House of Worship, under construction in Santiago, Chile. Image © Hariri Pontarini Architects.Baha'i Houses of Worship are distinctive buildings, open to all, where visitors can pray and meditate in a serene atmosphere, or – at certain times – listen to the holy scriptures of the world's religions being recited and sung.  It is envisaged that each House of Worship will provide a spiritual center around which agencies and institutions of social, humanitarian, and educational service will be established for the surrounding population.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
922,2012-09-06,"[920, 919, 916]",Banned from making their mark,"NEW YORK, United States — In practically any other country of the world, a teenage chess champion, a national judo standout and a talented pianist would be valued as contributors to their society.
In the example of three young Iranians, however, being members of the Baha'i Faith has meant a ban on competing and performing at the highest levels.
Judoist Khashayar Zarei, chess player Pedram Atoufi, and pianist Pegah Yazdani are all victims of Iran's systematic policy – spelled out in a government-backed 1991 memorandum – to ""block"" the progress and development of Baha'is and ""deny them any position of influence.""
Khashayar's story
As Iran brought home a record haul of medals from the 2012 Olympic Games in London, 19-year-old Khashayar Zarei could only dream of what might have been.
In his age and weight class, Khashayar is one of the country's finest judoists. But he has been barred from competition because he is a Baha'i.
""Despite the fact that on three occasions I came first in my weight group on the national team, as a result of my belief in the Baha'i Faith, I have been banned from participating in the Asian World competitions,"" Khashayar wrote in a letter published by the Human Rights Activists News Agency.
To add to Khashayar's disappointment, he was recently stopped from pursuing his architectural studies at Shiraz University because of his religious beliefs. Officials told him they had received instructions to expel him in a confidential letter from the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. This is also part of official government policy: that once it becomes known a student is Baha'i, he or she must be expelled.
Khashayar is not alone among Iranian youth in having his hopes thwarted.
Application forms for admission to special programs for gifted students require the applicant to specify his or her religion, allowing administrators to disqualify Baha'i candidates; there is no option to leave the section blank. One Baha'i – a distinguished year two high school student in the city of Sari – was recently expelled from her gifted school. Two others were denied the opportunity to take part in a Science and Mathematics Olympiad for prodigies. In Tehran, an outstanding Baha'i student who reached a high level in the ""Robocup"" technology initiative was barred from registering in a school to prepare herself for competing at the national and international levels. And in 2008, the Baha'i International Community learned how the parents of one student were told by a sympathetic school administrator that all school principals in Marvdasht had received verbal instructions to give students of ""the Bahaist sect"" and other minorities only a passing grade in their school examinations – regardless of their actual level of performance – so as to prevent them from being eligible to enter universities.
Chess champion
This type of exclusion is not new. After winning a national chess championship in 1991 at the age of 16, Pedram Atoufi was told he could not represent Iran at the Asian Chess Championships because he was a Baha'i.
Following the 1979 Islamic revolution, chess was banned in Iran for a whole decade. So when Pedram won the country's first national tournament for youth in 12 years, he was thrilled at the opportunity to represent his country in international competition.
But when he went to obtain his passport, he was handed a form and told to mark his religion.
""I wrote Baha'i,"" he said. ""The person who was processing my form said 'If you put Baha'i, it's not easy to get a passport.'""
Pedram was informed that the only possibility was to visit the president of the Iran Chess Federation, who could send him on a team visa. The president, however, became enraged upon hearing that Pedram was a Baha'i and sent a letter to the Federation's members in every state saying that Pedram was barred from competing in any official chess tournaments. That year, no one was sent to compete for Iran in the Asian Chess Championship.
Pedram's ban was gradually relaxed over four years, leaving only a prohibition on international competition. When his team won the national championship in 1997, he was replaced and his teammates represented Iran in the international stages.
Today, Pedram lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he runs a club which aims to cultivate a sense of unity through chess. He cannot return to his homeland; a good friend who went to the youth chess championship with him was only recently released from jail.
Pianist in exile
The denial of higher education to Baha'is also applies to other forms of artistic and professional education.
Barred from pursuing her musical ambitions in Iran, Pegah Yazdani traveled alone to Moscow in 1998 to study piano. She cried for the whole flight.
""Emotionally it was a really tough time; I had to leave everyone behind,"" she said. ""At the same time I was very excited because I was going to pursue my dream.""
Completing her instruction after five years, she obtained her degree and returned to Iran to her family, hoping to perform and open a piano school.
She was offered a part-time job at Tehran's conservatory. But when employees were asked to fill out a form asking them to mark their religion, Pegah was fired and banned from giving music lessons or playing recitals.
""If they see 'Baha'i' there, they don't even look at you, they just deny the form,"" she says.
""I knew I wasn't able to do anything in Iran. I wouldn't be able to study there. I wouldn't be able to work. I wouldn't be able to live there normally.""
Accepted in 2007 into the London College of Music and Media, Pegah took a masters degree in Piano Performance and now lives in Canada where she is truly engaged in music – performing, teaching piano, and also working as a ballet accompanist.
Despite her ordeal, Pegah – now 36 – says she still loves her country very much and wishes she could return. She hopes that one day soon the Baha'is that remain in Iran will be allowed to make their full contribution.
Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal representative to the United Nations, says the Iranian government's strategy towards Baha'is is denying the country the benefit of a host of talents and capacities.
""The lengths to which Iran will go to prevent young Baha'is from obtaining higher education has grown more and more convoluted and extreme,"" she said. ""These stories are pitiful examples of a state-sponsored campaign which, in the end, only deprives Iran of the valuable and exciting contributions that could be made by some of the country's best and brightest young people.""",NEW YORK,,United States
923,2012-09-07,"[922, 920, 921]",Prominent speakers address justice and reconciliation,"MONTREAL, Canada — The establishment of justice and genuine reconciliation demands greater attention to the challenging work of rebuilding human relationships on the basis of love and mutual regard across historical barriers of injustice and ignorance.
That was among the messages conveyed by distinguished contributors to the 36th conference of the Association for Baha'i Studies which attracted more than 1,400 participants here, 9-12 August 2012.
Former Canadian Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Irwin Cotler MP, gave a personal account of the principles that he has striven to apply throughout his career. His observations ranged from efforts to help dissidents before the collapse of the Soviet Union through to initiatives to advance justice in the Middle East today, including in Iran.
Lawyer Louise Mandell Q.C. – a renowned Aboriginal rights advocate – spoke about the contribution all citizens can make to reconciliation, through their personal, family and community lives.
""Social change happens in the hearts and minds of people, causing them to act differently,"" she said. ""The force of reconciliation can only be carried out by the society.""
Referring to the presence in Canada exactly a century ago of 'Abdu'l-Baha, Ms. Mandell added, ""The key to reconciliation – and 'Abdu'l-Baha led the way – is through unity in diversity.""  Lawyer and Aboriginal rights advocate Louise Mandell – pictured left – participating in the 36th conference of the Association for Baha'i Studies North America, held in Montreal, 9-12 August 2012.The program of the conference was designed to reflect many of the subjects addressed by 'Abdu'l-Baha – the eldest son of Baha'u'llah and His appointed successor as head of the Baha'i Faith – during His historic journey to the United States and Canada in 1912.
During His stay in Montreal from 30 August to 9 September 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha's talks ranged across a number of issues of public concern – including the rights of women, the elimination of prejudice and racism, universal education, justice and peace.",MONTREAL,,Canada
924,2012-09-18,"[850, 834, 917]",Marchers in Rio call for freedom to believe,"RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — A message of human solidarity from a medieval Persian poet was prominently displayed at Rio's famous Copacabana beach, as part of this year's Walk in Defense of Religious Liberty.
Human rights group, United4Iran, in collaboration with the Brazilian Baha'i community unfurled a large banner containing a text by Sa'di which is also to be found displayed at the entrance of the United Nations headquarters in New York. In translation, it reads: ""Human beings are members of a whole/In creation of one essence and soul./If one member is afflicted with pain,/Other members uneasy will remain./If you've no sympathy for human pain,/The name of human you cannot retain.""
The verse was on show at the event, held Sunday 16 September, which brought together tens of thousands of Brazilians – including Baha'is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hare Krishna and Santo Daime practitioners, and members of Afro-Brazilian religions Umbanda and Candomble.
Their walk called for the principle that everyone should have the freedom to believe and practice their beliefs.
The support of the Brazilian people for the beleaguered Iranian Baha'i community was particularly on display. Marchers carried pictures of prisoners of conscience fixed to umbrellas, including Iran's seven former Baha'i leaders who are now serving the fifth year of their 20-year jail terms.
The walk was organized by Rio's Commission to Combat Religious Intolerance. ""There is more attention focused on this issue,"" said its spokesperson Ricardo Rubim, ""an awareness of what religious intolerance is, which means that the number of attacks on religions can be reduced.""",RIO DE JANEIRO,,Brazil
925,2012-09-18,"[924, 922, 920]",Slovak academics tell Iran to free Baha'i educators,"BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — More than 80 leading academics are calling upon the Iranian government to end its persecution of Baha'i educators and students.
The Slovak Republic's former Prime Minister, Professor Iveta Radičová, and a former Education Minister, Professor Ján Pišút, are among the 84 prominent figures to sign an open letter, launched at a press conference here on Monday.
The letter expresses their ""displeasure regarding the treatment of Baha'i students and teachers in Iran.""
""These individuals are being punished by the state administration because of their efforts to become educated,"" it states.
The letter was drafted in response to the Iranian government's longtime policy of barring Baha'is from higher education as well as systematic efforts to shut down an informal Baha'i community initiative to educate its young people.  Professor Ivan Kraus – pictured second from left – spoke at a press conference launching an open letter he signed along with more than 80 Slovak academics calling for an end to the persecution of Baha'i educators and students in Iran.The signatories are calling upon the Iranian authorities to release a number of Baha'i educators who are currently serving four- or five-year jail terms. They also want Baha'i students to be given the same rights to education that Slovakia's academic institutions grant every student and teacher ""regardless of tradition, religion or country of origin.""
The open letter was prepared in cooperation with the president of the Institute for Public Affairs, Dr. Gregorij Mesežnikov. He told yesterday's press conference that he found it unconscionable for any government to deny rights to an entire group merely because of their belonging to a certain religion.
Welcoming the initiative, Jitka Spillerová of the Slovak Baha'i community said the academics ""have sent a message to the Iranian government that they cannot hide the injustices they are committing against their country's Baha'is and other intellectuals – not even from a public that is so geographically distant.""
In January this year, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Slovak parliament issued a proclamation describing the Iranian government's incitement to hatred based on religion and belief as ""abhorrent."" It also demanded an end to Iran's ""spiralling efforts to destroy the Iranian Baha'i community.""",BRATISLAVA,,Slovakia
926,2012-09-23,"[925, 924, 922]",UN experts' concern for religious minorities in Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Two United Nations Special Rapporteurs have expressed their deep concern at the situation of minority religions in Iran.
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, has joined with the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, to call for a ""thorough and independent review"" of ""all cases against individuals arrested and prosecuted on charges related to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion and belief.""
""No individual should be arrested for peacefully exercising the rights to freedom of religion and belief, expression and association,"" they said.
Dr. Shaheed stressed that the arrest and prosecution of individuals for religious affiliation runs counter to the protection of minority religions in Iran's Constitution and represents a violation of the country's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran ratified in 1975.
The Special Rapporteurs welcomed the recent release of Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who had received the death sentence on a charge of apostasy. The experts highlighted however the arrest and detention of hundreds of Christians over the past few years and called on the Iranian authorities to ""ease the current climate of fear in which many churches operate...""  Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, left, pictured with his wife, Fatemah, and their two young sons. Photo credit: Christian Solidarity Worldwide.""Iran possesses the basic legal framework to guarantee Christians, as a group, the right to freedom of religion, and should ensure that this right is granted in practice as well,"" said Dr. Bielefeldt, who noted that ""the right to conversion in this context is an inseparable part of freedom of religion or belief...""
He also called for the protection of  Baha'is and other religious minorities who are not recognised in Iran's Constitution. The cases of 495 Baha'is are still active with Iranian authorities, with some 111 Baha'is currently serving prison sentences.
The conviction of apostasy and death sentence for Pastor Nadarkhani – who was born to Muslim parents but converted to Christianity at the age of 19 – sparked strong condemnation from governments, organizations and religious leaders around the world. In October 2011, the Baha'i International Community issued a statement in his support describing the sentence as ""reprehensible"" and ""a violation of every legal, moral, spiritual and humanitarian standard."" Earlier this month, Pastor Nadarkhani's charge was reduced to ""evangelizing Muslims,"" and his sentence to three years, which he was credited with having already served.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
927,2012-10-15,"[926, 925, 924]","""Grave concern"" over Iran's human rights abuses","UNITED NATIONS, United States — Two new high-level reports issued here last week expressed concern over continuing human rights violations in Iran, highlighting intensifying attacks on journalists and human rights defenders and continuing discrimination against women, girls, and minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
In his annual report on Iran to the UN General Assembly, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed ""grave concern"" over reports of torture, amputations, unfair trials, overuse of the death penalty, and the persecution of minorities, including Baha'is.
Ahmed Shaheed, the special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, also released his report to the Assembly, saying he had this year ""catalogued a wide range"" of human rights violations, including illegal limits on freedom of expression, failures of legal due process, attacks on freedom of religion, and the wrongful imprisonment of children.
""These violations are products of legal incongruities, insufficient adherence to the rule of law, and the existence of widespread impunity,"" said Mr. Shaheed.
Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said the two documents paint a grim picture of life for the people of Iran.
""The two reports tell of a country where fundamental freedoms such as the rights to due process, speech, assembly, and religious belief are consistently and harshly denied, even though Iran has pledged to uphold such freedoms.
""They also outline the degree to which Iran has refused to cooperate with international human rights monitors, such as Mr. Shaheed, in defiance of the international community, which has repeatedly called on Iran to live up to its obligations under international law,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Mr. Ban's report highlighted the situation of journalists, human rights defenders, and women's rights activists, who he said are increasingly targeted by the Iranian government as it seeks to limit freedom of expression or assembly.
""As of December 2011, at least 40 journalists had reportedly been imprisoned, with several others at risk of arrest,"" said Mr. Ban.
Mr. Ban also noted that human rights defenders have reportedly been tortured while in detention all for ""peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, association and assembly.""
He also took note of the situation of minorities, highlighting in particular Iran's Baha'i community. More than 474 Baha'is have been arrested since 2004, he said, and Baha'is face ""severe socioeconomic pressure."" He noted for example that Baha'i students are prevented from pursing higher education.
Dr. Shaheed's report extensively discussed freedom of religion, specifically addressing the situation of Baha'i, Christian, and Dervish communities in Iran. ""Members of both recognized and unrecognized religions have reported various levels of intimidation, arrest, detention and interrogation that focus on their religious beliefs,"" said Dr. Shaheed.
Dr. Shaheed devoted two paragraphs to the situation of the Baha'i community of Iran. He noted that while the government claims that Baha'is have ""equal legal, social and economic rights,"" he continues to receive reports that Baha'is ""face intimidation and arrest because of their religion.""
""For example, on 17 February 2012, officials reportedly arrived at a charity event in Mashhad, demanded the cell phones of all present, required them to report on their personal details, and identify their religion in writing and in front of a video camera....
""Moreover, individuals that identified themselves as Muslims were reportedly separated from Baha'is, questioned about their relationships with Baha'i attendees and released. The authorities then reportedly proceeded to arrest a number of Baha'is,"" wrote Dr. Shaheed.
Dr. Shaheed also expressed concern about revisions to Iran's national ""Islamic Penal Code,"" which he said treats men and women unequally and institutionalizes religious discrimination.
""For example, article 558 of the revised Islamic Penal Code stipulates that diya (blood money) be equally distributed to religious minorities that are recognized by the Constitution. However, equitable application of the law does not apply to religions that are not recognized by the Constitution, such as the Baha'i.""
His report also expressed concern over violations of the rights of children, noting in particular that Iran itself had recently announced that some ""70 children that had not committed any crime lived in prisons because their mothers were imprisoned."" Other reports, he noted, indicated that as many as 450 innocent children are wrongfully imprisoned in this way.
""In addition to being deprived of childhood experiences, these children are also exposed to poor prison conditions, including poor hygiene and malnutrition, which drastically impair their physical, emotional and cognitive development and place them at a serious disadvantage when they are released with their parent,"" wrote Dr. Shaheed.
Dr. Shaheed concluded: ""The submissions and interviews considered for this report provide a deeply troubling picture of the overall human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including many concerns which are systemic in nature.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
928,2012-10-31,[],"UN expert troubled by ""climate of fear"" in Iran","UNITED NATIONS, United States — The United Nations expert on human rights in Iran has told the General Assembly that he is ""deeply troubled"" by the situation in the country, describing a ""climate of fear"" where journalists, human rights defenders and minorities face wrongful arrest and imprisonment with little hope of legal due process.
Ahmed Shaheed reiterated his call for the immediate release of all ""prisoners of conscience"" in Iran, highlighting the current incarceration of more than 40 journalists and some 30 human rights defenders.
In his report, Dr. Shaheed also expressed alarm at the general lack of due process rights in Iran. Of some 99 former prisoners he interviewed, ""approximately 60 percent reported the use of prolonged solitary confinement, 80 percent stated they were beaten, and over 60 percent alleged they were denied access to a lawyer.""
In interactive discussions held on 24 October, several national delegations specifically raised the situation of Baha'is, expressing concern over Iran's persecution of religious minorities. Dr. Shaheed responded by saying that Baha'is particularly face persecution because they are not recognized by the Iranian government as a religion, which leads to discrimination in such things as education.
At a seminar held two days earlier at the International Peace Institute in New York, Dr. Shaheed described Baha'is as ""the most persecuted religious minority in Iran,"" noting that they face a whole range of discrimination – from being unable to practice their faith to being denied access to basic services.
UK parliament debate
In London, also on Wednesday 24 October, United Kingdom members of Parliament from across the political spectrum held a debate at Westminster Hall, focusing on the Iranian government's systematic persecution of Baha'is and other religious minorities.
Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, said ""that any state can treat its religious minorities in this way is shocking and all the more so given the religious underpinning of the current regime and its oft-stated claim to respect human rights.""
Mr. Burt said the United Kingdom will continue to support Dr. Shaheed ""in his crucial role of investigating human rights violations and seeking genuine engagement from Iran to address international concerns.""
Naomi Long, MP for Belfast East, said the persecution of Baha'is reflects the ""wider persecution of other religious and cultural minorities in Iranian society.""
""The situation is clearly grave,"" she said, ""and the treatment of the Baha'i community is an indicator of the lengths to which the Iranian authorities are willing to go in the persecution of religious and cultural minorities.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Burt called upon the Iranian government to embrace values such as mutual respect and tolerance. ""Iran has a shameful record of detentions of human rights defenders, journalists and bloggers, and seems callously ready to use tools such as the death penalty in order to intimidate,"" he said. ""The quiet determination of the Baha'is to co-exist peacefully with fellow Iranians as part of a diverse and tolerant Iranian society should be embraced by Iran's government.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
929,2012-11-04,"[842, 820, 905]",Mayor pays tribute to Luxembourg Baha'is on anniversary,"LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg — The first election 50 years ago of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Luxembourg has been commemorated here with a monument in a central city park.
The large stone bearing the words of Baha'u'llah – ""The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens"" – was unveiled in the Parc de Merl on 30 October by the city's mayor Xavier Bettel, accompanied by the municipal magistrate Viviane Loschetter, members of the city council, and other special guests.
The council also planted an oak tree in the park as a gift to the Baha'i community to mark the anniversary.
""A tree is a symbol of life,"" said Mayor Bettel, ""It grows organically and bears fruit from which all of us may benefit.""  The commemorative stone cites, in French, the famous quotation from Baha'u'llah, ""The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.""""I also firmly believe that our society has to open up to new thoughts and beliefs which have become part of this society..."" Mr. Bettel added. ""The city of Luxembourg not only consists of 61 per cent of foreign citizens but unites an ever growing variety of different beliefs and convictions. This is why I have planted this tree as a tribute to the Baha'i community.""",LUXEMBOURG,,Luxembourg
930,2012-11-25,"[925, 907, 889]",Hungarian personalities speak out for human rights in Iran,"BUDAPEST, Hungary — A host of well-known personalities have joined a campaign here to show support for victims of human rights abuses in Iran.
Under the banner, ""Prominent Hungarians for Human Rights in Iran,"" the celebrities say they want to encourage sustained international attention on the issue, which includes the ongoing violations faced by Iran's Baha'i community.
""I sincerely hope that the situation in Iran will improve in the near future in the direction of democracy, recognition of basic human rights, and freedom,"" said campaigner Kinga Göncz, a member of the European Parliament and former Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
""We all know – and I believe in my heart – that the culture of a country is greatly enriched by diversity of any kind including religious diversity,"" said Ms. Göncz.
""If Iran supports its religious minorities such as the Baha'i community this can only enhance the country.""
Internationally acclaimed folk singer Márta Sebestyén – who is a UNESCO Artist for Peace – said she is also saddened by the situation in Iran.
""Baha'i students are banned from university and news reporters are imprisoned,"" said Ms. Sebestyén. ""This is very painful. It is the same as cutting off a birds' wings or telling someone like me I am not free to sing.""
Additional personalities who have joined the campaign include: MP Ágnes Osztolykán; journalists Ilona Bayer, Soma Mamagésa and Kata Jaksity; actors Sándor Csányi and Károly Gesztesi; international fencing champion Ivan Kovács; and musicians including Orsi Kozma and rapper L.L. Junior.
Other prominent Hungarians are lining up to post video messages supporting the campaign in the coming months. Messages can be viewed online here.",BUDAPEST,,Hungary
931,2012-11-27,"[930, 928, 927]","UN vote registers ""deep concern"" over Iran's human rights violations","UNITED NATIONS, United States — Citing a long list of abuses, a UN committee today expressed ""deep concern"" over ""ongoing and recurring"" human rights violations in Iran.
By a vote of 83 to 31 with 68 abstentions, the General Assembly's Third Committee called upon Iran to stop such violations, to release prisoners of conscience, and to open its doors to international human rights monitors.
Among other things, the resolution noted Iran's alarming use of the death penalty, the systematic targeting of human rights defenders, journalists and bloggers, and the ""pervasive gender inequality and violence against women."" It also expressed concern over continuing discrimination against minorities, including the persecution of Iranian Baha'is.
The resolution was the 25th on human rights violations in Iran by the Third Committee since 1985 – and its length and specificity reflected the international community's continuing alarm over increasing violence against Iranian citizens by their government, said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""The atmosphere in Iran continues to worsen for all Iranian citizens,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""If your viewpoint is different from that of Iran's authoritarian regime, you are fundamentally in grave danger.""
""For the Baha'is – who are Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority – there has been persistent and worsening persecution at the hands of the government and its agents,"" she said.
""This has been accompanied by increasing violence and a deliberate intensification of pressure aimed at disrupting Baha'i community life as a whole and destroying their viability.""
Ms. Dugal noted that more than 115 Baha'is are currently behind bars for their religious beliefs, and that hundreds more are in the legal system waiting to know their fate.
The text of the resolution – which was put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 43 other countries – also calls on Iran to better cooperate with UN human rights monitors, particularly by allowing them to make visits to Iran, and asks the UN secretary general to report back next year on Iran's progress at fulfilling its human rights obligations.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
932,2012-12-05,"[929, 905, 854]","A century on, legacy of ‘Abdu’l-Baha honored at UK government reception","LONDON, England — Government ministers and members of parliament here welcomed more than 80 Baha’is to a unique event to pay tribute to ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 100 years after His visit to Britain.
It was the first time the British government has hosted a special reception specifically for the Baha’i community.
‘Abdu’l-Baha (1844-1921) was the eldest son of Baha’u’llah and His appointed successor as head of the Baha’i Faith. From 1910-1913, following His release from a lifetime of exile and imprisonment, ‘Abdu’l-Baha made an historic series of journeys to present Baha’u’llah’s teachings to audiences outside of the Middle East. His two visits to the British Isles took place in September 1911, and from December 1912 to January 1913.
The reception was held by the government’s Department for Communities and Local Government on Wednesday 28 November. Welcoming the guests, Secretary of State Eric Pickles MP expressed appreciation for the contribution Baha’is make to UK society. He praised the “little bits of kindness” he had observed among the Baha’is and added, “We wouldn’t tick along quite so well without Baha’is in our community.”
Don Foster MP – who is Minister for Integration – told the gathering that, of all the significant people to come from his home constituency of Bath, he was proud to include Ethel Rosenberg, a founding member of the British Baha’i community.  UK Minister for Integration, Don Foster MP, addresses a reception held for Baha’is at the headquarters of the Department for Communities and Local Government, 28 November 2012.“You continue to distinguish yourselves in the professions, the arts and particularly in the vital areas of education and conflict resolution,” Mr. Foster told the Baha’is.  ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s “important truth” that “we should pursue peace together and differences of race and division between religions must cease is as true today as it was then,” he continued.
Kishan Manocha, speaking on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United Kingdom, thanked Mr. Pickles for hosting the event, describing it as a “tremendous honor and pleasure.”
Writer and actor Annabel Knight – who is a Baha’i –  noted that ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit was a landmark occasion for the fledgling community which helped the small band of British Baha’is to cement their identity and put service at the heart of their community life.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
933,2012-12-06,"[932, 931, 930]",Exploring new frontiers of learning about peace,"COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — The new incumbent of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace has been describing aspects of the program's future development.
Professor Hoda Mahmoudi was speaking at her inaugural lecture, held at the University of Maryland's Stamp Student Union Colony Ballroom on 16 November 2012.
The Chair's ultimate goal, Prof. Mahmoudi told a distinguished audience, is to explore new frontiers of learning about peace.
""The study of peace is more than the elimination of war and violence,"" she said. ""Peace stems from an inner state – one that is supported by values. Here the aspiration for peace is an attitude, a will and a yearning which promotes the discovery and implementation of practical measures for peace.""
Founded in 1993 within the University's College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Chair is an endowed academic program that advances interdisciplinary examination and discourse on global peace, generating knowledge that promotes the interests and well-being of humanity.
""Knowledge must take us to new ways of conceptualizing the world as a unity,"" said Prof. Mahmoudi. ""In this way we can carry out research in pursuit of knowledge that is relevant and valid to our ever-changing global community.""
In a wide-ranging address, Prof. Mahmoudi particularly highlighted two subjects that are central to the current discourse about peace: human nature and the significant changes taking place in the world today.
""Many are resigned to the view that violence and warring are inborn human behavior and therefore unchangeable,"" she said. ""Such beliefs are often responsible for – and lead to – a paralysis of will in all of us...which is not easy to reverse but must be overcome.""
""Here the role of education is vital in removing unfounded views about human nature.""
Conventional theories and ideas are also being tested on every side regarding the rapid rate of change in modern society, she said. ""The depth and breadth of the interconnectedness of the global order cannot be denied. However, the lack of capacity and ability of governmental and social institutions to accommodate the on-going changes and in successfully addressing new problems is a serious threat to world peace and stability.""
""The Baha'i Chair for World Peace has a unique responsibility to advance an educational process that will create a body of tested knowledge which can be applied to foster the emergence of a more just, secure and sustainable international order,"" she said.
Prof. Mahmoudi holds a Ph.D. in Sociology, an M.A. in Educational Psychology, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Utah. Prior to joining the faculty of the University of Maryland, she most recently served for 11 years at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel.
The inaugural address can be viewed online here.",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
934,2012-12-18,"[931, 930, 928]",Artworks convey personal stories of persecution,"SYDNEY, Australia — Works of art by a group of Australian-Iranians are highlighting the issue of religious persecution in Iran.
A new exhibition here includes works by artists all of whom have family or friends who have faced oppression and imprisonment by the Iranian regime, in particular for their membership of the Baha'i Faith.
The artists are painter and digital artist Shadi Eshragi, writer Maryam Master, photographer Leila Barbaro, and ceramic and multi-media artist Mehrzad Mumtahan. They are hoping the exhibition – staged in the ""At the Vanishing Point-Contemporary Art Inc."" gallery in Newtown – will contribute to calls for the just treatment of all Iranian citizens.
Real-life stories reflected in the artworks include the case of a bright and popular girl who was shamed in front of her classmates and then expelled from school; the abduction and incarceration of a quiet and unassuming family man; the imprisonment of a pregnant woman who subsequently gave birth while behind bars; and the dismissal from his post of a respected university professor because of his beliefs.  Pictured at the exhibition's opening on 15 December are: (from left to right): writer Maryam Master; painter and digital artist Shadi Eshragi; Brendan Penzer, managing director of ""At the Vanishing Point-Contemporary Art Inc.""; Monir Rowshan, exhibition co-curator; and artist Mehrzad Mumtahan.The show's opening on Saturday 15 December was attended by some 70 guests including Catherine Cusack, member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, representing the state premier Barry O'Farrell; the deputy mayor of Marrickville, Councilor Emanuel Tsardoulias; and  Philip Ruddock M.P.
Describing the exhibition as ""incredibly important,"" Ms. Cusack said it ""speaks the truth about injustice and oppression and it is moving in its authenticity. Although the exhibition exposes a terrifying oppression on the other side of the planet, it is, I think, very Australian – the way in which the artists have banded together, shared, drawn upon their creativity and skill using their art to speak...directly to our emotions.""
The gallery's managing director Brendan Penzer, expressed his pleasure at being able to display the works, saying his organization had a proud history of staging ""exhibitions that encourage us all to engage in dialogue and discourse around important contemporary cultural, political, social and ecological issues.""",SYDNEY,,Australia
935,2012-12-20,"[934, 931, 930]","UN decries Iran's ""serious ongoing and recurring"" human rights violations","UNITED NATIONS, United States — The UN General Assembly today expressed ""deep concern"" over Iran's ""serious ongoing and recurring"" human rights violations, decrying abuses that include torture, an increase in executions, widespread restrictions on freedom of expression, and discrimination against minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
By a vote of 86 to 32 with 65 abstentions, the General Assembly called upon Iran to stop such violations, to release prisoners of conscience, and to open its doors to international human rights monitors.
""This vote signals loud and clear the international community's refusal to accept Iran's ongoing and intensifying repression of its own people – or the government's claims that such violations do not take place,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""The list of abuses outlined in this resolution is long and cruel. Overall, the picture it paints is of a government that is so afraid of its own people that it cannot tolerate anyone who holds a viewpoint that is different from its own repressive ideology.""
""For the Baha'is, there has been persistent and worsening persecution at the hands of the government and its agents,"" she observed.
The text of the resolution – which was put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 43 other countries – calls on Iran to better cooperate with UN human rights monitors, particularly by allowing them to make visits to Iran, and asks the UN Secretary General to report back next year on Iran's progress at fulfilling its human rights obligations.
The resolution was the 25th such on human rights violations in Iran by the General Assembly since 1985.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
936,2012-12-21,"[908, 894, 752]","In New Delhi, seminar explores ending violence against children","NEW DELHI, India — Ending the maltreatment and abuse of young people is a global challenge that must be urgently addressed.  This was among the central themes of a recent seminar on ""Ending Violence against Children,"" held in the environs of the Baha'i House of Worship here.
""The protection of children from violence is a priority for action,"" Dora Giusti – a child protection specialist with UNICEF in India – told the seminar. ""The need is for a multi-faceted approach to build a protective environment for children.""
The seminar on 22 November was organized to observe National Communal Harmony Week, the 2012 commemoration of the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, and to mark 20 years since India acceded to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The event was sponsored by the Baha'i community of India in association with the National Foundation for Communal Harmony, the North India Chapter of the Global Network of Religions for Children, and the India Alliance for Child Rights.
Participants included representatives of government, non-governmental organizations, academicians, students, and journalists, along with families from the regions of Gujarat and Assam.
Among the topics addressed were corporal punishment, policies and processes for the protection of children, and the underlying causes of violence in today's society.
Shanta Sinha, Chair of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, emphasized the need to build a culture of non-violence if the issue is to be addressed long term. Vinay Srivastava, a professor of anthropology at Delhi University, agreed, adding that while individual parents, educators and care givers need to look at their own attitudes and behaviors towards children, there should also be studies made to address the culture of violence in society and what structures may need changing.
""An essential concept for progress in this area is that of trusteeship, said Farida Vahedi, director of the Indian Baha'i Office of Public Affairs, recognizing that ""every child is born into this world as a trust of the whole of humanity.""
""It is only when children's right to spiritual education, nutrition, health, shelter, security and safety are ensured that they can take up their responsibility to work for humanity's progress and development,"" said Ms. Vahedi.",NEW DELHI,,India
937,2012-12-26,"[935, 934, 930]","UN Iran expert raises ""access to education"" at seminar in UK parliament","LONDON, England — The Iranian government's policy of excluding those it deems ""ideologically unsound"" from higher education is eroding progress made in women's access to secondary education, creating significant obstacles for minorities, and undermining academic freedom.
Those were among the concerns expressed at a seminar, held at the UK parliament, by Ahmed Shaheed – the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.
Stressing the importance of global scrutiny of Iran on its human rights record, Dr. Shaheed noted that the ""international community has an indispensable role to play in continuing to support the voices of Iranian citizens that continue to demand that the right to education become a reality for all.""
The seminar, held on 18 December, was organised by the UK parliament's All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is group and chaired by Nic Dakin, member of parliament for Scunthorpe.  A panel of human rights experts addressed a seminar held on 18 December at the UK parliament, exploring the issue of access to education in Iran.Among other contributors to the discussion was Scott Sheeran, Director of the Human Rights in Iran unit at the University of Essex Human Rights Center. He explored the complex connections that link the right to education to other rights, such as the rights of minorities, non-discrimination and equality before the law, and freedoms of expression, religion and belief.
Daniel Wheatley of the UK Baha'i community shared details of the lengths to which Iran's government has gone to exclude Baha'is from access to higher education, while Tahirih Danesh – an independent researcher on women's rights – paid tribute to imprisoned human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
938,2013-01-01,"[937, 935, 934]",Marathon run highlights Iran's human rights abuses,"BANGALORE, India — More than 500 people, ranging in age from primary school children to senior citizens, took to the streets here to support a marathon run which aimed to raise awareness about human rights abuses in Iran.
The early morning run, which followed a circuit around the city's Ulsoor lake, was organised by the Classic Road Runners Athletic Club of Bangalore. It was the debut public event for the club which decided to take the opportunity to highlight the issue of human rights after conversations with local Baha'is.
Spectators cheered on the runners while waving banners calling for the release of prisoners of conscience in Iran.
""Though the severe persecution of the Baha'is in Iran was the idea that gave the impetus to this run,"" said Dr. A.J. Ansari, the club's Vice-President, ""this persecution is a symptom of a global problem where certain sections of our worldwide family suffer discrimination as well as active violation of basic rights  for reasons that would be disconcerting to any fair minded observer.""
The event was held on Sunday 9 December to mark United Nations Human Rights Day the following day.  At a marathon, organised by the Classic Road Runners Athletic Club of Bangalore, spectators carried banners calling for the release of prisoners of conscience in Iran.",BANGALORE,,India
939,2013-01-03,"[938, 937, 935]",U.S. House of Representatives resolution condemns Iran's persecution of Baha'is,"WASHINGTON, United States — The United States Congress has called on Iran to release Baha'is imprisoned solely for their religious beliefs.
In a resolution passed on 1 January, the House of Representatives expressed its condemnation of Iran's ""state-sponsored persecution"" of Baha'is.
""Ordinary Iranian citizens who belong to the Baha'i Faith are disproportionately targeted, interrogated, and detained under the pretext of national security,"" said the resolution, which was the 12th such measure approved by the US Congress since 1982.
Sponsored by Representatives Robert J. Dold, Daniel Lipinski, and Brad Sherman, the bill took note of Iran's wrongful imprisonment of seven former Baha'i leaders, each currently serving 20-year prison terms. It also condemned the unjust arrest and incarceration of Baha'i educators and administrators of an informal community effort to provide for Baha'i youth who are otherwise excluded from higher education.
""The (Iranian) regime has sought to make life as a Baha'i in Iran simply unlivable,"" said Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in a statement before the vote. ""This resolution draws attention to their plight, and calls on the Iranian regime to end its campaign of abuse against the Baha'i.""
More specifically, the resolution urged President Obama and his Secretary of State to utilize measures approved in 2010 to ""sanction officials of the Government of Iran and other individuals directly responsible for egregious human rights violations in Iran, including against the Baha'i community.""
""The Baha'i community is encouraged by the emphasis the U.S. Congress has placed on the human rights abuses in Iran,"" said an official of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.  ""We are convinced that this continued international pressure has kept the situation for the Baha'is in Iran from getting much worse.""
At the present time, there are approximately 116 Baha'is imprisoned in Iran for their religious beliefs. More than 670 Baha'is have been arrested since mid-2004, and thousands more have been deprived of jobs, education and the right to religious freedom.",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
940,2013-02-10,"[865, 806, 851]",Work advances on House of Worship in Chile,"SANTIAGO, Chile — A new video detailing progress of the construction of the Baha'i House of Worship for the South American continent has been released.
The video highlights the completion of the building's concrete foundation, the beginning of construction work on the basement and service tunnel, and the installation of ten isolators to counteract seismic activity. It can be viewed online through the official website.
Construction began with site excavation and the installation of utility lines in November 2010 and advanced to major concrete work in March 2012.
When completed, the edifice in Santiago will be the eighth in a series of Baha'i Houses of Worship, and the final one to be erected to serve an entire continent.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
941,2013-03-05,"[937, 935, 939]",New UN report calls for release of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — The UN's independent investigator on Iran has called for the immediate release of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, asking that Iran ""fully honor"" its legal commitments to freedom of religion or belief.
The plea came last week from Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, in his annual report to the Human Rights Council, which is based in Geneva.
In a separate report to the Council, also issued on 28 February 2013, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon underscored the serious concerns raised by Dr. Shaheed. Mr. Ban highlighted the magnitude and scope of ongoing human rights violations in Iran, including the widespread use of torture, the detention of lawyers and journalists, and continuing repression of minorities.  In this latter respect, he noted that ""serious discrimination in law and in practice against ethnic and religious minorities continues to be reported, especially against the Baha'i community.""
""An ongoing anti-Baha'i media campaign resulted in increasing attacks on its members and their properties,"" said Mr. Ban. ""This national campaign that consists of anti-Baha'i pamphlets, posters, seminars and the broadcasting of anti-Baha'i speeches on radio networks appears to be tacitly condoned by the authorities."" He said there has been a ""notable increase"" in the arrest and detention of Baha'is, with more than 100 currently in prison.
Overall, Mr. Ban said ""human rights violations have continued, with an intensified crackdown on journalists, human rights defenders and women's rights activists.""
Dr. Shaheed's report described how the Iranian government uses torture, solitary confinement, and arbitrary arrest and detention in a continuing crackdown on journalists, human rights defenders, and others.
He also expressed concern over laws and practices that repress women, noting that women face gender disparity in employment, education, and freedom of movement. He said women's rights activists ""continue to be harassed for making statements that criticize policies or Government actions.""
About Baha'is, Dr. Shaheed conveyed ""alarm"" about the ""systematic persecution of members of the Baha'i community,"" which includes ""severe socioeconomic pressure and arrests and detention."" He called on the Iranian government to ""consider the immediate release of prisoners of conscience such as (Christian) Pastors Behnam Irani, Farshid Fathi, as well as the leaders of the Baha'i community.""
The seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – have been wrongfully imprisoned since 2008.  In 2010, they were convicted on false charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison, which is currently the longest sentence of any prisoner of conscience in Iran.
Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, welcomed both reports, saying that they ""offer powerful documentation of the degree to which Iran continues to deny its citizens their fundamental human rights"".
Ms. Ala'i continued: ""The reports depict a country where not only Baha'is, but also journalists, women, human rights defenders and numerous ethnic and religious minorities face severe repression.
""Yet in the United Nations, and at the Human Rights Council, Iranian diplomats continue to deny that anything is wrong, claiming that Iran is a pillar of democracy and a strong proponent of human rights.""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
942,2013-03-06,"[941, 938, 930]",Increasing violence against Iranian Baha'is engineered by government,"GENEVA, Switzerland — In a report released today, the Baha'i International Community documents hundreds of incidents of torture, physical assault, arson, vandalism, cemetery desecration and the abuse of schoolchildren directed against the Iranian Baha'i community since 2005 – all carried out with utter impunity.
""The entire situation puts the Baha'is in an impossible position because they must ask for justice and protection from the same authorities who are systematically inciting hatred against them and from a judicial system that treats virtually every Baha'i who is arrested as an enemy of the state,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
""This report shows that attacks on Baha'is are engineered by government agents and actively encouraged by the authorities and the Muslim clergy in Iran – and that attackers are well aware that they will go unpunished,"" added Ms. Ala'i.
Titled ""Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community,"" the 45-page report provides case studies and statistics that document a rising tide of violence against Baha'is – and the complete absence of prosecution for attackers.
Focusing on the seven year period from 2005-2012, the report says there have been at least 52 cases where Baha'is have been tortured or held in solitary confinement while in detention. It likewise documents another 52 incidents where Baha'is have been physically assaulted – sometimes at the hands of officials and sometimes at the hands of plainclothes or unidentified attackers.
The report also describes some 49 acts of arson against Baha'i homes and shops, and at least 42 incidents of cemetery desecration. There have also been at least 30 cases of vandalism directed against Baha'i properties, more than 200 instances of threats made against Baha'is, and some 300 incidents of abuse directed against Baha'i schoolchildren.
""Many of the attacks documented in the report – such as the cases of torture or assault during arrests and imprisonment – are undertaken directly by government agents,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""Other attacks, such as arson, cemetery desecration, and vandalism, often come in the middle of the night, by unidentified individuals.
""But in all cases, these violators need to be brought to justice, as is required by the international laws to which Iran is a party. The government's unwillingness to prosecute for these crimes, then, is yet another element in their overall campaign of religious persecution against the Baha'i minority,"" said Ms. Ala'i.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
943,2013-03-08,"[840, 892, 871]","Mas'ud Khamsi, 1922-2013","HAIFA, Israel — Mas'ud Khamsi, former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away on 5 March in Lima, Peru.
The Universal House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies on 8 March.* * *Our hearts were grieved to learn of the passing of dearly loved, stalwart promoter of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, Mas'ud Khamsi, whose long record of distinguished service we recall with such admiration.  In 1957, in response to the goals of the Guardian's Ten Year Crusade, he left Iran as a pioneer to South America, participating in some of the earliest efforts to reach its highly receptive indigenous populations.  Following his return to Iran, he was appointed to the first contingent of Continental Counsellors in 1968 as a member of the Board for Western Asia.  He departed once again for South America within months and, for the next fourteen years, served as a Counsellor in that continent.  In 1983 he was appointed as a member of the International Teaching Centre, in which capacity he laboured for a decade.  His endeavours thereafter continued unabated, even at an advanced age.  In every service he rendered – in the treks he undertook on foot from village to village across vast mountain ranges; in his efforts to encourage young people; in the travels he pursued, bringing his zeal for teaching to some of the remotest parts of the globe – he displayed a generosity of spirit, a warmth of heart, and a determination and courage that were borne of utter consecration and complete loyalty to the Cause of Baha'u'llah.
We extend our deepest sympathy to his dear wife, Jane, his children, and other members of his family and assure them of our fervent supplications at the Sacred Threshold for the progress of his devoted soul in the realms of God.  We advise the holding of befitting memorial gatherings in his honour in all Houses of Worship and in Baha'i communities throughout the world.
The Universal House of Justice",HAIFA,,Israel
944,2013-03-12,"[908, 914, 886]",BIC statement explores a new concept of empowerment,"NEW YORK, United States — Concepts of empowerment that pit one group against another should be discarded in favor of a new vision where social transformation is approached as a collective enterprise in which all people are able to participate.
That was among the main themes of a statement issued by the Baha'i International Community (BIC) to the recently concluded UN Commission on Social Development.
""The impulse to rectify social inequalities is unquestionably noble, but us/them dichotomies only perpetuate and reinforce existing divisions,"" said the statement, which was titled ""Empowerment as a Mechanism for Social Transformation.""
""Careful thought needs to be given to ways in which empowerment can be approached as a universal and shared enterprise and not something the 'haves' bestow on the 'have nots.'""  One way to avoid such extremes is to understand humanity as a single social organism, suggested the statement.
""Implicit in such a conception are characteristics such as the interdependence of the parts and the whole, the indispensability of collaboration, reciprocity and mutual aid, the need to differentiate but also harmonize roles, the need for institutional arrangements that enable rather than oppress, and the existence of a collective purpose above that of any constituent element.""
The statement was among the BIC's contributions to this year's Commission, which was held 6-15 February, and took as its priority theme the ""empowerment of people"" in addressing poverty, social integration, and full and decent employment.
On 7 February, the BIC sponsored a panel discussion on the topic. Among the panelists was the Commission's Chairperson, Sewa Lamsal Adhikari, who said empowerment is increasingly seen by the UN as a vital issue in addressing social transformation.
""Empowerment of people is at the root of social development,"" said Mrs. Adhikari. ""It is becoming one of the core elements that underpin efforts towards the achievement of the three core goals of the World Summit for Social Development: poverty eradication, full and productive employment and decent work for all, and social integration.""
""As such, empowerment is a means towards the ends of social development."" Mrs. Adhikari is Charge d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations.
Ming Hwee Chong, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, suggested that it was no accident that the theme had reached center stage in discussions about social development.
""It is a natural evolution of the development discourse,"" said Mr. Chong, who moderated the panel. ""It is reflective of what is happening around the world, part of an expanding consciousness of who we are, what our potential is, both individually and collectively, as the human race.""
Other speakers at the 7 February side event – formally titled ""Empowerment: Of Whom? By what means? Towards what ends?"" – included Rosa Kornfeld Matte, director of the National Service for the Elderly in Chile; Corinne Woods, director of the Millennium Campaign; and Yao Ngoran from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
A second panel discussion sponsored by the BIC on 8 February, titled ""Empowerment in Action,"" offered reflections by grassroots development practitioners.
Hou Sopheap, executive director of the Cambodian Organization for Research, Development and Education (CORDE), said his organization takes a ""learning by doing"" approach that aims to build capacity in youth so that they can better serve their communities.
A Baha'i-inspired organization offering supplementary educational programs to more than 3,000 young people in northwest Cambodia, CORDE requires its students engage in acts of service to their home communities in addition to textbook work. ""So everything has a component of study and of action,"" he said.
Judith Therese Eligio-Martinez, program coordinator for the Baha'i-inspired agency, Bayan Association in Honduras, likewise said service is at the core of their program, which currently reaches some 6,000 high school age students in 12 of Honduras's 18 departments.
""It is built upon the belief in the capacity of the individual to make decisions for him or herself, and to help develop the capacities of three major actors (in community development): the individual, the community, and institutions,"" said Ms. Eligio-Martinez.
Developed in Colombia by a Baha'i-inspired organization, FUNDAEC, and known by the acronym SAT, for ""Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial"" in Spanish, the program trains and coordinates community-based tutors who then offer a high school education appropriate for rural areas.
""We consider SAT to be a creative way of becoming educated, but with its center being the idea of service to humanity and making the world a better place to live, on a local level as much as possible,"" said Ms. Eligio-Martinez.  ""And in this way, we feel we are contributing to empowerment.""",NEW YORK,,United States
945,2013-03-18,"[941, 942, 939]",Persecution of Baha'is in Iran extends across all stages of life,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The attacks against Baha'is in Iran represent one of the clearest cases of state-sponsored religious persecution in the world, said Heiner Bielefeldt, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.
Speaking 6 March 2013 in Geneva at a side event during the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council, Dr. Bielefeldt discussed the release of a new report by the Baha'i International Community, which documents rising violence against Iranian Baha'is and the utter impunity enjoyed by attackers.
""It's really one of the most obvious cases of state persecution,"" he said, noting that the repression faced by Baha'is spans ""all areas of state activity, from family law provisions to schooling, education, and security.""
He asked participants at the side event – which drew some 50 representatives from governments, the UN, and non-governmental organizations – to visualize the impact such wide-ranging persecution has on an individual as he or she moves through the stages of life.
""Imagine what that means for a child, in school, maybe even kindergarten, sometimes even in the preschool phase, of young life. To be exposed to the stigma, to be told there is something wrong with your family, that you have to change, you have to adapt,"" said Dr. Bielefeldt.
""Then, as the child gets to the age of higher education, now the problem is how to get access,"" he continued. ""We have lots of cases of Baha'is who have been expelled from universities and other sectors of higher education.""
""Imagine what it means if a person wants to gather position in life, to get a job. There is not the slightest possibility for a Baha'i to take a position in any public sector (job). But even in the private sector, there is mobbing and stigmatization.""
""How can a person start a family life, if in family law there is no official space for Baha'is to conclude valid marriages?"" he asked, noting that this deficiency affects concerns ranging from inheritance to rights of custody.
Attacks do not even end with death, he added. ""There is the experience of desecration of cemeteries... (of) cemeteries being also bulldozed down by someone.""
Pointing to the report, titled ""Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community,"" Dr. Bielefelt said that the increasing violence against Iranian Baha'is – and the degree to which attackers escape prosecution for their crimes – is clear.
""Not only do Baha'is have to expect a lack of protection – government agencies are very often inimical, hostile forces.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
946,2013-03-22,"[945, 942, 941]",UN vote highlights human rights violations in Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The United Nations Human Rights Council today voted by an overwhelming margin for a continuing investigation into human rights violations in Iran.
""For years, the Iranian government  has made excuses or blamed others in the face of mounting documentation that it severely represses its citizens in gross violation of international law – but the wide margin of today's vote confirms that the world is not buying its justifications,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
""Iran needs to start cooperating with the Council by allowing Dr. Shaheed to visit the country so that he can carry out his work,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""The fact that Dr. Shaheed has never been invited to visit Iran is merely more evidence of the Iranian government's disregard for international human rights mechanisms.""
The vote, 26 to 2 with 17 abstentions, came after new reports by the investigator, Ahmed Shaheed, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Both reports expressed serious concern about the Iranian government's continued violations of human rights, discussing its widespread use of torture, the wrongful detention of journalists and lawyers, and discrimination against women and minorities.
Dr. Shaheed, whose formal title is Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, introduced his 77-page report in speech to the Council on 12 March.
Referring to the persecution of religious minorities in Iran, he said ""that 110 Baha'is are currently detained in Iran for exercising their faith; that at least 13 Protestant Christians are currently in detention centres across Iran; and that Dervishes, members of the Yarasen faith, and Sunni Muslims continue to be the subject of punitive activities, raising serious concern about the situation of religious minorities in the country.""
Mr. Ban's report to the Council also drew attention to a ""notable increase"" in the arrest and detention of Baha'is and said an ""ongoing anti-Baha'i media campaign resulted in increasing attacks on its members and their properties.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
947,2013-04-11,"[944, 908, 896]",Causes of violence against women examined at UN,"NEW YORK, United States — Breaking the cycle of violence against women will require basic changes at the level of culture, attitudes and beliefs – including a fundamental reconception of prevailing notions of power.
These were among the ideas offered to this year's United Nations Commission on the Status of Women by the Baha'i International Community (BIC).
Addressing the 57th Commission's main theme of the ""elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls,"" the BIC issued a statement stressing the importance of taking steps to prevent violence against women instead of merely reacting to it.
""Prevention must begin by identifying and addressing the underlying causes of the violence rather than its symptoms. Efforts aimed at prevention must consider the prevailing conceptions of gender identity and of power, and the forms of discrimination and disadvantage that place women and girls at risk of violence.""
The conception of power especially needs to be ""seriously questioned and fundamentally redefined,"" said the statement.
""The dominant thinking of power as 'power over' must be replaced with the concept of 'power to' – power as a capacity of the individual or of the collective.""
It continued: ""Distorted expressions of power and authority promote in children attitudes and habits that are carried to the workplace, to the community, and to public life.""
The eight-person BIC delegation to the 57th Commission, which was held 4-15 March 2013, sought to contribute these ideas – and to ""build bridges and bring people together,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the BIC to the United Nations.
""The last time the Commission focused on violence against women was in 2003, and member states were unable to agree on an outcome,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""As we spoke with delegates and other non-governmental organizations the consensus was clearly for a strong outcome document this year.""
The Commission's agreed conclusions, indeed, were hailed by many groups for their language in support of women's rights and concrete measures to prevent violence and protect women.
""The Commission affirms that violence against women and girls is rooted in historical and structural inequality in power relations between women and men, and persists in every country in the world as a pervasive violation of the enjoyment of human rights.""
The document also focused on preventative measures, such as education and awareness-raising, as well as efforts to address gender inequalities in the political, economic and social spheres.",NEW YORK,,United States
948,2013-04-23,"[816, 519, 797]",Two members of Universal House of Justice leaving after years of service,"HAIFA, Israel — Two members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith, are leaving after many years of service in the Holy Land.
The Universal House of Justice announced in November 2012 that it had permitted Dr. Farzam Arbab and Mr. Kiser Barnes to relinquish their membership, but they will continue serving until the election of the body which is scheduled for next week.
All nine members of the Universal House of Justice are elected at the International Baha'i Convention, which is held every five years. The 11th such convention is scheduled for 29 April to 2 May in Haifa, with an expected attendance of more than 1,000 delegates.
Dr. Arbab, 71, was first elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1993.  Mr. Barnes, 70, was elected in 2000.",HAIFA,,Israel
949,2013-04-27,"[948, 519, 816]",Delegates arrive for International Baha'i Convention,"HAIFA, Israel — More than 1,000 delegates representing 157 countries have arrived here to participate in the 11th International Baha'i Convention.
A global election process that began with Baha'is in more than 100,000 cities and villages around the world culminates on Monday, when delegates will gather to elect the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Baha'i Faith.
First elected 50 years ago in 1963, the Universal House of Justice is entrusted by Baha'u'llah in His own writings with exerting a positive influence on the welfare of humankind, promoting education, peace and global prosperity, and safeguarding human honor and the position of religion. It is responsible for applying the Baha'i teachings to the requirements of an ever-evolving society and legislating on matters not explicitly covered in the Faith's sacred texts.  Delegates from all over the world arrived in Haifa this week to participate in the 11th International Baha'i Convention.The convention, held once every five years, runs from 29 April to 2 May. In addition to the election, it will include consultation on various issues related to the work of the worldwide Baha'i community.
The election process began more than a year ago when Baha'is around the world began meeting in district conventions to elect delegates to their own national conventions. At those national gatherings, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of each country is elected annually. The members of these Assemblies gather as electors at the global level for the International Baha'i Convention.
As well as the delegates attending the convention in person, more than 400 are sending their ballots by mail.",HAIFA,,Israel
950,2013-04-29,"[949, 948, 946]",Baha'is elect Universal House of Justice,"HAIFA, Israel — More than 1,000 Baha'is from 157 countries cast their ballots today in the election to choose the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith.
For some three hours, the delegates to the 11th International Baha'i Convention filed one by one across the stage, each dropping a ballot into a simple wooden box.  The event was characterized by a spirit of reverence and joy, with each voter being called by name, in alphabetical order by country.
The delegates to the convention are the members of Baha'i National Spiritual Assemblies, who were themselves elected by delegates chosen at the grassroots level in their own countries. Thus, virtually every adult Baha'i in the world has the opportunity to participate in the election of the Universal House of Justice.
Around 400 delegates who could not attend sent ballots by mail.  Each absentee ballot was brought forward by a teller, who removed an identifying outer envelope and dropped the inner contents into the ballot box.
In the case of Iran, where the Baha'i community faces intense persecution and there is no National Spiritual Assembly, the absence of delegates was noted by the placement of a bouquet of red roses at the front of the stage.  Delegates gathered in Haifa for the 11th International Baha'i Convention.During the voting, a number of procedures were taken to ensure the integrity of the process and when the voting was completed, the ballot box was sealed with tape bearing the signature of the head chief teller, Karen McKye, herself a delegate from Canada. She was assisted by three other tellers on stage, who carefully checked voters and absentee ballots against a master list of delegates and saw to it that ballots were carefully placed in the box.
The result of the election will be announced tomorrow.",HAIFA,,Israel
951,2013-04-30,"[950, 849, 848]",Universal House of Justice elected,"HAIFA, Israel — The results of the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice have been announced.
More than 1,500 ballots were cast yesterday for membership of the council that serves as the head of the Baha'i Faith. Those elected for the next five-year term are Paul Lample, Firaydoun Javaheri, Payman Mohajer, Gustavo Correa, Shahriar Razavi, Stephen Birkland, Stephen Hall, Chuungu Malitonga, and Ayman Rouhani.
The election marked the 50th anniversary of the first election of the Universal House of Justice in 1963. The supreme governing council of the Baha'i Faith is entrusted by Baha'u'llah in His own writings with exerting a positive influence on the welfare of humankind, promoting education, peace and global prosperity, and safeguarding human honor and the position of religion. It is responsible for applying the Baha'i teachings to the requirements of an ever-evolving society and legislating on matters not explicitly covered in the Faith's sacred texts.
The delegates that voted in the election are themselves members of national Baha'i governing bodies from around the world. They were chosen in earlier elections in their own countries.",HAIFA,,Israel
952,2013-05-04,"[951, 950, 949]",New film explores community-building throughout the world,"HAIFA, Israel — A documentary film about the efforts of Baha'i communities in four locations around the world has been released on the World Wide Web.
The film, titled Frontiers of Learning, explores processes of community development under way in thousands of localities worldwide by presenting four case studies from four continents: the northern part of the Bolivar region in Colombia; the city of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the city of Toronto, Canada; and the town of Bihar Sharif and surrounding areas in Bihar state, India.
Among other examples, the film shows how young teenagers in Toronto and Bolivar are channeling their energies in service to others and taking responsibility for the education of the next generation. The segment on Lubumbashi highlights how community-building initiatives have allowed women to play a full part in the life of their communities. Educational activities launched by Baha'is in Bihar Sharif have similarly assisted participants to reject deeply rooted prejudices of caste and gender.
Frontiers of Learning was first shown earlier this week at the 11th International Baha'i Convention. It is available to download and view online here.",HAIFA,,Israel
953,2013-05-04,"[952, 951, 950]",Eleventh International Baha'i Convention: A global community reflects,"HAIFA, Israel — More than 1,000 representatives of the Baha'i world community gathered here, 29 April-2 May, for a unique global event that was infused with joy, reverence and purpose.
The eleventh International Baha'i Convention marked the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Convention in 1963 at which the Universal House of Justice – the international governing council of the Baha'i Faith – was first elected.
A global election
The Convention saw the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice for the coming five year term. In a unique electoral process, all forms of campaigning, electioneering and nominations are strictly avoided. Rather, after prayerful reflection, the assembled delegates silently and privately wrote down the names of nine individuals who they felt would be best able to serve on the institution.
For more than three hours, the representatives then filed across the stage to deposit their votes in a simple wooden box. The following day, the result was announced, and the new membership of the Universal House of Justice received a warm and reverent welcome from the gathering. See https://news.bahai.org/story/951.
A learning community
Central to the proceedings were consultative sessions during which delegates from more than 150 countries – women and men representative of every background and walk of life – had the opportunity to share their thoughts, experiences and insights as part of a global learning process.  A group photograph of the 11th International Baha'i Convention. The bouquet of red roses in the foreground noted the absence of delegates from Iran.The main focus of deliberations was outlined in a letter from the Universal House of Justice, presented to the Convention.  The message described the work before the Baha'i community as it strives to contribute to the spiritual and material advancement of civilization.
Many of the insights shared from diverse localities around the world – particularly concerning the efforts of young people to take responsibility for the spiritual education of those younger than themselves – had a universal resonance for delegates.
""I begin to identify with what people are talking about and I see the same challenges that we face and how people are managing to overcome it,"" said Nancy Oloro Robarts, a delegate from Uganda. ""And I start to appreciate that the Baha'i world is one.""
Ximena Osorio from Colombia noted a visible change in the picture that is emerging of today's worldwide Baha'i community.
""Sometimes you don't realize it because you are in your own country, considering your own challenges,"" she said. ""But when you come here you can see that things are moving forward, we are changing and building a culture that is different.""
""And all these different activities and elements that we are trying to apply at the very local level have an impact at the global level.""
Tributes to the Baha'is of Iran
The proceedings included several vibrant musical presentations from various countries.  In one, representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo paid special tribute to the long-suffering Baha'i community of Iran.
""Though they are physically not present at this Convention, they are spiritually with us,"" one of the singers told the gathering.
The absence of the Baha'is of Iran – where the Baha'i community faces intense persecution and its administration has been dissolved – was noted by the placement of a bouquet of red roses at the front of the stage for the duration of the Convention.
**Vision and confidence **
As delegates returned to their respective countries, all took heart from the words of the Universal House of Justice which observed ""the Baha'i community moving steadily forward, advancing in understanding, eager to acquire insights from experience, ready to take on new tasks...""
Vijitha Serasinghe, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Sri Lanka, said both his vision and confidence had been raised by his participation in the Convention.
""I see unity in diversity and the oneness of humanity in reality,"" said Mr. Serasinghe.  ""I have a strong feeling to go back and carry out our activities with a lot more confidence than before.""",HAIFA,,Israel
954,2013-05-05,"[946, 945, 942]","""Five Years Too Many"" campaign begins","NEW YORK, United States — To mark the five year anniversary of the wrongful imprisonment of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders, the Baha'i International Community is launching a campaign to call for their immediate release – and to draw attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.
""On 14 May, the seven innocent Baha'i leaders will have been behind bars for five full years, unjustly imprisoned solely because of their religious beliefs,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""We are asking people of good will around the world to raise their voices in an effort to win their freedom and the freedom of other innocent prisoners of conscience in Iran,"" she said.
The campaign will run from 5 May through 15 May, under the title ""Five Years Too Many."" Around the world, Baha'i communities and other groups are planning public events that focus on the plight of the seven, who face 15 more years in prison, and whose 20-year sentences are the longest of any current prisoners of conscience in Iran.
""The arrest of the seven Baha'i leaders on false charges, their wrongful imprisonment, and severe mistreatment while in detention are emblematic of the suffering of the Iranian Baha'i community as a whole – and, indeed, the situation of the hundreds of other innocent prisoners of conscience who have been incarcerated for their beliefs,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""Their long sentences reflect the Government's determination to completely oppress the Iranian Baha'i community, which is the country's largest non-Muslim religious minority.""
Six of the seven Baha'i leaders were arrested on 14 May 2008 in a series of early morning raids in Tehran. The seventh had been detained two months earlier on 5 March 2008.
Since their arrests, the seven – whose names are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – have been subject to an entirely flawed judicial process.
During their first year in detention, the seven were not told of the charges against them and they had virtually no access to lawyers. Their trial, conducted over a period of months in 2010 and amounting to only six days in court, was illegally closed to the public, demonstrated extreme bias on the part of prosecutors and judges, and was based on non-existent evidence.
Today the seven endure harsh conditions in two of Iran's most notorious prisons. The five men are incarcerated at Gohardasht prison in Karaj, a facility known for its overcrowding, lack of sanitation, and dangerous environment. The two women remain at Tehran's infamous Evin Prison.
The Baha'i International Community has created a special section on its website to focus on the campaign. It features articles and documents about the lives and situation of the seven Baha'i leaders, along with a blog that will report on activities and events in the campaign as they happen.
The URL for that site is http://www.bic.org/fiveyears.",NEW YORK,,United States
955,2013-05-06,"[954, 946, 945]","Baha'is face particularly severe violations amid deteriorating religious freedom in Iran, says US","WASHINGTON, United States — In its annual report on international religious freedom, the United States said religious freedom in Iran has continued to deteriorate over the past year, especially for religious minorities such as Baha'is, as well as for Christians and Sufi Muslims.
""The government of Iran continues to engage in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, including prolonged detention, torture, and executions based primarily or entirely upon the religion of the accused,"" said the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal advisory body.
""Physical attacks, harassment, detention, arrests, and imprisonment intensified,"" said the USCIRF. ""Even some of the recognized non-Muslim religious minorities protected under Iran's constitution – Jews, Armenian and Assyrian Christians, and Zoroastrians – face harassment, intimidation, discrimination, arrests, and imprisonment.""
The annual report examines the situation of religious freedom in all countries outside the US. Since 1999, Iran has been listed as a ""country of particular concern"" by the US Department of State.
This year's report devoted nearly two pages to the situation of the Baha'i community of Iran.
""The Baha'i community has long been subject to particularly severe religious freedom violations,"" said the report. ""Iranian authorities view Baha'is, who number at least 300,000, as 'heretics,' and repress them for 'apostasy' and other baseless charges.""
It noted that since 1979, the Iranian government has been responsible for the deaths of more than 200 Baha'is and dismissed more than 10,000 from public sector and university jobs.
""Baha'is may not establish places of worship, schools, or any independent religious associations,"" said the report. ""Baha'i cemeteries, holy places, and community properties are often seized or desecrated, and many important religious sites have been destroyed. The Baha'i community faces severe economic pressure, including denials of jobs in both the public and private sectors and of business licenses.""
The report said over the last two years, ""Baha'is have faced increasingly harsh treatment, including increasing arrests and detentions and violent attacks on private homes and personal property.""
It noted that more than 650 Baha'is have been arbitrarily arrested since 2005, and that at least 110 Baha'is were held in prison as of February 2013, twice the number in early 2011.
""Iranian authorities have gone to great lengths in recent years to collect information on Baha'is and monitor their activities,"" said the report. ""During the reporting period, dozens of Baha'is were arrested throughout the country, including in Tehran, Babolsar, Karaj, Nazarabad, Shahrekord, Semnan, Mashhad, Bandar Abbas, Shiraz, and Ghaemshahr. In most of these cases, Ministry of Intelligence officials appeared at their homes, searched the premises and confiscated computers, books and other materials, and then made arrests. In most cases, no formal charges were filed.""
The report also mentioned the situation of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naemi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm, noting that they have been imprisoned since 2008 on ""an assortment of dubious charges, ranging from espionage to 'corruption on the earth.'""
""In August 2010, the seven were sentenced to 20 years in prison. The two women currently are held in Evin prison while the five men are held under appalling conditions in the notorious Gohardasht prison outside Tehran. Attorneys for the seven Baha'is, including Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi, have had extremely limited access to their clients and court proceedings,"" said the report.
The full report can be read at http://www.uscirf.gov/",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
956,2013-05-12,"[955, 946, 945]","""Five Years Too Many"" campaign gathers momentum","BIC NEW YORK, United States — Throughout the world people are raising their voices in a global campaign to free the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders.
The ""Five Years Too Many"" campaign marks the fifth anniversary of the arrest of the seven and seeks to highlight their entirely unjust and wrongful imprisonment and the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.
""Midway through our ten-day campaign we have seen an overwhelming and heartfelt response from both ordinary people and prominent individuals,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
Among the highlights of the response so far have been:
• A call for the immediate release of the seven issued by Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr.
• An Op-ed article by Lloyd Axworthy, former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Canada, which states that the treatment of Iran's Baha'i minority is a ""litmus test"" for Iran's intentions in the international arena.
• An artistic installation on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, created by noted artist Siron Franco, featuring a huge mural based on the concept that ""human beings should be free as birds.""
• A legal seminar in London at the Law Society of England and Wales which focused on the seven's wrongful imprisonment.  Among the speakers was Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
Six of the seven Baha'i leaders were arrested on 14 May 2008 in a series of early morning raids in Tehran. The seventh had been detained two months earlier on 5 March 2008.  In Hofheim, Germany, on 5 May, the Baha'i community sponsored a screening of ""Iranian Taboo,"" a documentary film by prize winning Iranian-Dutch director Reza Allamehzadeh about the persecution of Iranian Baha'is.Since their arrests, the seven leaders – whose names are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – have been subject to an entirely flawed judicial process, and were ultimately sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, the longest of any current prisoners of conscience in Iran.
Many who have spoken out on their behalf have used the occasion to connect their situation to the plight of the hundreds of other prisoners of conscience in Iran.
At a forum in Washington DC on Monday, 6 May, for example, Thomas O. Melia, of the US Department of State, said the wrongful imprisonment of the seven was ""emblematic"" of the persecution faced by Baha'is throughout Iran – and a ""reminder"" of the situation of other minority religious communities who are currently facing persecution by the Iranian government.
""This is a government that also prevents Sunnis from worshiping, flogs Sufis, and detains Zoroastrians without charge simply for who they are,"" said Mr. Melia. ""This is a government that raids house churches and arrests Christian leaders for their activities. The government discriminates harshly also against Jews and confiscates property from a variety of religious communities.""
The campaign runs until 15 May. Further information can be found at http://www.bic.org/fiveyears",BIC NEW YORK,,
957,2013-05-13,"[955, 946, 945]",Four top UN human rights experts call for immediate release of seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Four high-level United Nations human rights experts today called on Iran to immediately release the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders.
In a press release issued on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the arrest of the seven, the four experts emphasized that the seven are held solely because of their religious beliefs, that their continued imprisonment is unjust and wrongful, and that Iran's treatment of religious minorities violates international law.
""The Iranian government should demonstrate its commitment to freedom of religion by immediately and unconditionally releasing these prisoners of conscience,"" said Ahmed Shaheed, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran. ""These cases are apparently characterized by failures to safeguard fair trial standards and jeopardize overall religious freedom in Iran.""
Joining Dr. Shaheed, with each contributing their own short statement to the press release, were El Hadji Malick Sow, head of the UN's  Working Group on arbitrary detention; Heiner Bielefeldt, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; and Rita Izsak, the UN Independent Expert on minority issues.
""These seven Baha'is are imprisoned solely for managing the religious and administrative affairs of their community,"" said Mr. Malick Sow. ""These persons were condemned after trials which did not meet the guarantees for a fair trial established by international law.""
Ms. Izsak noted that Baha'is are Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority. ""Their existence and religious identity must be protected under the UN Declaration on Minorities,"" she said. ""Otherwise, their right to profess and practice their own religion freely and without interference or any form of discrimination may be violated.""
Dr. Bielefeldt said ""Iran must ensure that Baha'is and other unrecognized minority faiths can practice their beliefs without hindrance and fear.""
Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the statements send an ""unequivocal"" message to Iran.
""It is an extremely powerful signal, sent by those in the United Nations system who are most directly concerned with monitoring human rights in Iran, that the government's treatment of Baha'is is unacceptable,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""Their findings, based on their careful examination of the situation in Iran, leave no room for Iranian government officials to justify the imprisonment of these seven individuals – or the more than 100 other Baha'is currently imprisoned in Iran because of their religious beliefs,"" she said.
The press release from the four experts comes as Baha'is and other groups are engaged in a global campaign – themed ""Five Years Too Many"" – that seeks to highlight the entirely unjust and wrongful imprisonment of the seven and the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.
Six of the group were arrested five years ago tomorrow, on 14 May 2008. The seventh had been arrested two months earlier, on 5 March 2008. Their names are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm.
At the time of their arrest, the seven were members of an ad hoc group tending to the spiritual and social needs of the Iranian Baha'i community, which has been intensely persecuted by the Iranian government since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
In a 2010 trial lasting six days, the seven were wrongly convicted of various ""crimes"" – such as espionage or working against the regime – and sentenced to 20 years in prison, the longest sentences of any prisoners of conscience currently held in Iranian prisons.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
958,2013-05-23,"[955, 946, 957]","Iranian Baha'is face ""widespread and entrenched"" discrimination says UN Committee","GENEVA, Switzerland — Yesterday the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights issued a series of pointed recommendations to the Iranian government – recommendations that included a plea for Iran to ensure that all citizens, regardless of religious belief, enjoy full rights without any discrimination.
The Committee specifically referred to the Baha'i community, expressing its concern that Iranian Baha'is face ""widespread and entrenched discrimination, including denial of access to employment in the public sector, institutions of higher education, as well as to benefits of the pension system.""  It recommended that Iran ""take steps to ensure that members of the Baha'i community are protected against discrimination and exclusion in every field.""
Diane Alai, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, welcomed the Committee's findings, known as ""concluding observations.""  She said: ""The Committee's report highlights the extent of the persecution of Baha'is in Iran, which includes employment, education, and cultural issues.""
She noted that Committee members questioned Iranian officials during a day-long session earlier in the month, asking, among other things, why the government feels it has to recognize a particular religion at all in order to grant individuals certain rights, and why discrimination against Baha'is appears to be so pervasive.
""People are the holders of their freedom of religion, and that is not the public power of states,"" said Nicolaas Schrijver, a Committee member from The Netherlands, during the 1 May session with Iranian officials.
In its report, the Committee also recommended that Iran take steps to guarantee ""the unhindered access of Baha'i students to universities and vocational training institutions.""
The report also covered a wide range of other human rights violations in Iran, from concern over discrimination against women and ethnic minorities in education and employment to the lack of protection for independent trade unions.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
959,2013-06-12,"[940, 806, 865]",New video for House of Worship in Chile released,"SANTIAGO, Chile — A new video for the House of Worship for the South American continent in Santiago, Chile has recently been made available in English and Spanish.  It can be viewed online at the House of Worship's official website.
Titled ""the Blossoming of a Vibrant Community"", the newsreel is the third in an ongoing series of presentations about the House of Worship situated in the mountains overlooking Santiago.  It focuses on the efforts occurring in parallel to the physical construction of the edifice – in particular those concerned with its contribution to community life.
In one section the video provides an explanation of the vision that the House of Worship represents: that worship of God and selfless service to humanity are inseparable aspects of life.
It goes on to describe the initial efforts being made in neighborhoods surrounding the site of the House of Worship that give everyone – regardless of age, background, belief or level of experience – the opportunity to actively participate in service to the community.  A group consults in the vicinity of the construction site for the House of Worship for the South American continent.Another section shows how presentations are being offered at universities and regular educational site visits are being hosted to share the complex characteristics and execution of the project with the wider community.
Construction for the House of Worship began in November 2010 and advanced to major concrete work in March 2012.  When completed, the edifice in Santiago will be the eighth in a series of Baha'i Houses of Worship, and the final one to be erected to serve an entire continent.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
960,2013-06-13,"[955, 956, 945]","""Five Years Too Many"" campaign leads to global outpouring of support","BIC GENEVA, Switzerland — A global outpouring of support and concern for the plight of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – and for the situation of other prisoners of conscience in Iran – marked worldwide commemorations of the fifth anniversary of the arrest of these Baha'is.
Statements calling for the immediate release of the seven came from every continent, issued by government officials, religious leaders, human rights activists, and ordinary citizens during 10 days in May as part of the ""Five Years Too Many"" campaign. Local and national media reports also carried news of the campaign around the world.
""Our hope is that the government of Iran will understand clearly that the seven Baha'i prisoners, who have been unjustly and wrongfully held for five long years simply for their religious beliefs, have not been forgotten,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
""Our ultimate hope, of course, is that Iran will immediately release the seven – and all other prisoners of conscience in Iran,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
As the campaign came to a conclusion, one theme that emerged was the degree to which religious leaders around the world find Iran's persecution of Baha'is unconscionable.
In South Africa, Shaykh Achmat Sedick, vice president of the national Muslim Judicial Council, used a Five Years Too Many campaign event on 15 May to talk about freedom of religion from an Islamic perspective. He described how the teachings of the Qur'an support religious freedom – and added that Iran's persecution of the Baha'i community is entirely unjust.
On 14 May, some 50 religious leaders representing virtually every religious community in the United Kingdom sent a letter to UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, calling on him to demand that Iran immediately release the seven.  The Eiffel Tower was the backdrop for the Five Years Too Many campaign event in Paris, held 12 May, which featured the creation of a video calling for the release of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders.Signatories to the letter included Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury; Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth; and Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, an Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain.
""Iran has abandoned every legal, moral, spiritual and humanitarian standard, routinely violating the human rights of its citizens,"" they wrote. ""The government's shocking treatment of its religious minorities is of particular concern to us as people of faith.""
And in Uganda, the Inter-Religious Council issued a joint statement with the Baha'i community there calling on Iran to respect the fundamental human rights of Iranian Baha'is.
""These sheer violations of basic human rights of Iran's religious minorities by the regime of that country gave rise to international outrage from governments and civil society organizations and all freedom-loving people worldwide,"" said Joshua Kitakule, Secretary General of the Council, on 15 May in Kampala.
Other significant responses during the final days of the campaign included:
● A letter calling for the ""immediate release of the seven"" by prominent people in India, signed by L. K. Advani, chairman of Bharatiya Janata Party; Soli Sorabjee, former Attorney General of India; Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief Imam of the All India Organization of Imams of Mosques; and Miloon Kothari, former UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, among others.
● A series of statements issued by prominent Austrians in support of the seven, including one by Efgani Donmez, the first Muslim elected to the Austrian Parliament, who said ""The Baha'is in Iran are part of the society, part of the Iranian culture. They should also have the (same) rights as all the other citizens in Iran.""
● A speech in Ireland by campaigner and Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental, who said the discrimination faced by Iranian Baha'is sadly reminded him of what happened to the Jews in Nazi Germany. ""I can very well identify with the struggle that the Baha'i religion suffers in Iran,"" said Mr. Reichental on 15 May in Dublin.
● A video message by Nico Schrijver, a member of the Senate of the Netherlands and vice-chairperson of the Geneva-based UN Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, who said: ""The leaders of the Baha'i community have been detained for the sole reason that they are Baha'is. This is of course a complete violation of human rights law.""
The campaign, which ran 5-15 May, quickly found support from others, including Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr, and Lloyd Axworthy, former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Canada, as previously reported.
Among the most notable expressions of concern was a joint press release by four UN human rights experts, issued on 13 May, which stated that the seven are held solely because of their religious beliefs, that their continued imprisonment is unjust and wrongful, and that Iran's treatment of religious minorities violates international law.
Six of the seven Baha'i leaders were arrested on 14 May 2008 in a series of early morning raids in Tehran. The seventh had been detained two months earlier on 5 March 2008.
Since their arrests, the seven leaders – whose names are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – have been subject to an entirely flawed judicial process, and were ultimately sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, the longest of any current prisoners of conscience in Iran.
Further details can be found at the campaign website, located at: http://www.bic.org/fiveyears.",BIC GENEVA,,
961,2013-06-28,"[960, 958, 957]",Sacred site in Baghdad destroyed,"BIC NEW YORK, United States — The worldwide Baha'i community has learned that the house of Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, in Baghdad, Iraq – a profoundly sacred site known as the Most Great House – has been destroyed.  The precise circumstances surrounding the demolition are not yet clear.
Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations said: ""This deplorable act has robbed people throughout the world of a priceless piece of their spiritual heritage.""
""While the details are not yet clear, there should be no doubt as to the Baha'i community's strength of feeling about this terrible and shocking deed"", she continued.
""The Baha'is of the world are, of course, heartbroken by the news.  Yet, as always, they remain positive and focused on their efforts to promote peace and contribute to the betterment of their communities"", she added.
The Most Great House was Baha'u'llah's place of residence for much of the time of His exile from Iran to Baghdad, Iraq.  The site is located close to the banks of the River Tigris.",BIC NEW YORK,,
962,2013-07-09,"[961, 960, 701]",Conferences for youth striving to serve their communities begin,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Youth striving to contribute to the well-being of their communities have begun gathering in a series of conferences called for by the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith.  The first of the 114 youth conferences, scheduled between now and October of this year, were held this past weekend in Papua New Guinea, Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Indonesia.
Among the themes to be discussed at each conference are the unique characteristics that distinguish the period of youth, the great responsibility facing young people to contribute to the betterment of society, and the importance of fostering an environment of encouragement.  Many expected to attend are already engaged in offering acts of service in their own neighbourhoods and villages, including efforts to help those younger than themselves to channel their energies for the progress of their communities.
In a letter addressed to all participants dated 1 July 2013, the Universal House of Justice observed that ""although your realities are shaped by a broad diversity of circumstances, yet a desire to bring about constructive change and a capacity for meaningful service, both characteristic of your stage of life, are neither limited to any race or nationality, nor dependent upon material means.""  At each of the conferences, participants planned how best to serve their communities upon their return home.The same letter encouraged the participants to see the gatherings as part of an ever-expanding conversation about the well-being of their communities.  Study sessions, group consultations, and artistic presentations will be common to the programme of each conference.   More information, including individual conference reports, can be found on the official website.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
963,2013-08-01,"[960, 955, 945]",ILO expresses concern over economic repression of Iranian Baha’is,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The International Labor Organization (ILO) has expressed ""deep concern"" over continuing economic and educational discrimination against Baha'is in Iran.
In particular, an ILO committee charged with monitoring global compliance with the right to non-discrimination in employment and occupation said the case of Iranian Baha'is remains ""particularly serious"" because of ""systematic discrimination"" by the government.
""The ILO is a tripartite body representing governments, workers, and employers from around the world. The committee's report, released in late June, is therefore especially significant because it represents the opinion not just of governments but also of workers and employers,"" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""The fact that it has joined the outcry of international concern over Iran's continued discrimination against Baha'is in the workplace and education is an important yardstick of global opinion.""
""Indeed, not only has Iran failed to make progress at eliminating discrimination, the situation has grown worse,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""Since January of this year, there has been a sharp increase in the number of Baha'i shops that have been closed or had their business licenses revoked.""
Ms. Ala'i said, for example, that some 32 Baha'i-owned shops were closed in Hamadan late last year, and, with two exceptions, all other Baha'i shopkeepers in that city were summoned by the authorities for questioning in late February. Many of those shopkeepers later had their shops closed.
""One Baha'i shop in Hamadan was closed down because the shopkeeper refused to open the shop on Baha'i holy days,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""When he began to sell goods out of his truck, his vehicle was confiscated. His residence was also raided and his bank account closed. Such forms of discrimination against Baha'is are occurring throughout Iran.""
Discrimination in higher education against Iranian Baha'is has also continued, said Ms. Ala'i, noting that this discrimination also extends to vocational schools, which fall under the ILO's area of concern.
""A number of vocational schools were among the 81 Iranian universities that were specifically instructed to expel any students who were discovered to be Baha'is in 2006,"" said Ms. Ala'i, referring to a confidential memorandum issued by the government.
The ILO committee's report, in its conclusions, ""urged the Government (of Iran) to take decisive action to combat discrimination against ethnic minorities and unrecognized religious minorities, in particular, the Baha'is.""
The report also quoted worker, employer, and government representatives about the situation in Iran. Such comments are kept anonymous to ensure the committee's independence from pressure by governments.
""The Worker members stated that in spite of numerous examinations of this case, no real progress had been made to comply with the Convention,"" said the report. ""The lack of ability of the Government to repeal even the most patently discriminatory legislation and regulations was deeply regrettable.""
The worker members also proposed that a high-level mission be sent to visit the country as soon as possible, with the goal of fact-finding and setting a time-bound action plan aimed at ensuring compliance with the Convention, said the report.
Employer members, likewise, ""urged the Government to take concrete steps to ensure comprehensive protection against direct and indirect discrimination on all the grounds enumerated in the Convention.""
Several governments, including the European Union and Canada, were also quoted in the report.
The government representative from Canada, for example, said religious minorities faced persistent and pervasive discrimination.
""Members of the Baha'i Faith were discriminated against in access to education, universities and occupations in the public sector; they had been deprived of property, employment and education. The Government's continued failure to respect its obligations under the Convention in the face of repeated calls for change by the Committee demonstrated a lack of seriousness and good faith,"" said the government member from Canada, according to the report.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
964,2013-08-14,"[206, 655, 871]","Hushmand Fatheazam, 1924-2013","HAIFA, Israel — Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam, former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away yesterday in Vancouver, Canada.  He was 89 years old.
The Universal House of Justice has sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies:* * *We have learned, with profound sadness, of the passing of our dearly cherished, greatly esteemed former colleague Hushmand Fatheazam.  Tenderness of spirit, profound knowledge, noble humility, and tireless endeavour characterized his highly valued services rendered over the course of many decades, whether as a member of the Universal House of Justice for forty years beginning in 1963, as Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of India, or as an enkindled pioneer, avid proponent of teaching among the masses, and inspired author.  His wholehearted and resolute defence of the community of the Greatest Name was unwavering, and his determination in the face of adversity unyielding.  Gifted with a unique eloquence in Persian prose and verse, he leaves a remarkable legacy of deploying the power of that language in service to the Cause.  Beyond a distinguished record of consecrated exertion in the path of the Blessed Beauty, he will also be remembered for his manifold outstanding personal qualities, for his delightful humour, and for his kindly and radiant heart that exuded an all-embracing love.
We extend our deep condolences to his dear wife, Shafiqih, and to his bereaved sons and other family members and assure them of our ardent supplications at the Sacred Threshold that his illumined soul may reap a rich reward in the Abha Kingdom.  The friends throughout the world are called upon to hold memorial meetings in his honour, including befitting commemorative gatherings in all Houses of Worship.
The Universal House of Justice",HAIFA,,Israel
965,2013-08-26,"[963, 955, 945]",Reports of the killing of an Iranian Baha'i received,"BIC NEW YORK, United States — Reports have been received that a well-known member of the Iranian Baha'i community, Mr. Ataollah Rezvani, has been killed in or around the port city of Bandar Abbas in Southern Iran.  The event is believed to have taken place on Saturday 24 August 2013.  Available information indicates that Mr. Rezvani's life had been threatened by fanatical elements within the city's authorities.
Further details of Mr. Rezvani's death are not yet available, but will be reported as soon as they are confirmed.",BIC NEW YORK,,
966,2013-08-27,"[965, 963, 945]",Murder of Mr. Ataollah Rezvani was religiously motivated,"BIC NEW YORK, United States — From the available information it is now clear that the murder in Iran of Mr. Ataollah Rezvani was religiously motivated.
It is understood that Mr. Rezvani was shot in the back of his head and that his body was found in his car near the railway station on the outskirts of Bandar Abbas, the city where he resided with his family.  Information received thus far points to the possibility that his assailants had forced him to drive to that location.  His body was discovered following a search when he failed to return home.
Mr. Rezvani was well-known as a Baha'i and was loved and respected by the people of Bandar Abbas for his honesty and helpfulness.  As a young man, he was expelled from his engineering studies at university because he was a Baha'i.  He nonetheless came to be regarded as an expert in water purification, and his work took him to other cities.  Recently, owing to pressure and threats from agents of the Ministry of Intelligence, he was dismissed from his work and had to resort to selling water purification equipment.  These agents had also been bringing pressure to bear on him to leave the city.  More recently, he had begun receiving menacing telephone calls from unknown persons.  It should also be noted that on several occasions in the past few years senior local clerics have attempted to incite the population through incendiary sermons against the Baha'is of the city.",BIC NEW YORK,,
967,2013-09-25,"[966, 963, 945]",President Rouhani's UN speech and the question of human rights in Iran,"NEW YORK, United States — Having heard Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's address to the United Nations today, the world will be watching to see how he will, beyond his general call for hope and moderation around the world, address the essential question of human rights in Iran.
The Baha'i International Community is eagerly waiting to see what practical steps President Rouhani and his government will now take to redress human rights violations faced by Iran's ethnic and religious minorities, including Baha'is, the country's largest non-Muslim religious minority, as well as other sectors of Iran's population.
""In particular, we are hoping that President Rouhani will take steps to accord to the Baha'is their full rights as Iranian citizens,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community.
""A first step would be to revoke the provisions of the 1991 secret memorandum issued by the Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council and signed by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. That document calls for the Baha'is to be treated in such a way that 'their progress and development are blocked' and it sets out policies aimed at eliminating the Baha'i community as a viable entity in Iran.
""For more than 30 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has systematically persecuted Baha'is, solely because of their religious beliefs, which promote peace, obedience to law and pose no threat to the government.
""A critical first test of his real intentions, then, is whether President Rouhani will begin to release the more than 115 Baha'is who are currently in prison in Iran, all wrongfully held on false or trumped up charges,"" said Ms. Dugal.
For more details about the persecution of Baha'is in Iran, go to: http://www.bic.org/persecution-bahai-community
To read the 1991 secret memorandum, go to: https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/feature-articles/the-1991-memorandum-on-the-bahai-question",NEW YORK,,United States
968,2013-09-30,"[966, 963, 945]","The Secretary-General of the Baha'i International Community, Dr. Albert Lincoln, steps down after nineteen years","HAIFA, Israel — The Baha'i International Community announces that its Secretary-General, Dr. Albert Lincoln, is stepping down today after nineteen years of service in that position.
The Secretary-General is the senior officer acting on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, the world governing body of the Baha'i community, in the conduct of its external affairs, including relations with Israel, the host-country of its World Centre.
In this capacity, Dr. Lincoln represented the Baha'i community in international fora and interactions with Government representatives, diplomats, high officials and leaders of thought from many parts of the world.  His term of office saw a broadening of relations between the Baha'i World Centre and the people of Israel, including the minority communities, and his efforts in this field were recognized by an honorary doctorate conferred by the University of Haifa in 2010 and an Award of Merit from the City of Haifa in 2013.
Before moving to the Baha'i World Centre, Dr. Lincoln practiced law in France and Africa for 23 years.  During this period, he served pro bono as the special representative of the Baha'i International Community in Africa, dealing with threats to religious freedom in Mali, Gabon, Guinea, and the Republic of the Congo, while researching, writing and presenting papers on the proposed United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Religious Intolerance.
Dr. Lincoln was a Fulbright Lecturer at the Law Faculty of the University of Bangui and is a frequent speaker and presenter to academic and other audiences on a variety of subjects including inter-faith understanding, heritage preservation, and various aspects of the history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith.  He has published several articles and has given numerous interviews on radio and television and for the internet, documentary films, and print media, in English, French and Hebrew.",HAIFA,,Israel
969,2013-10-01,"[966, 963, 945]",Dr. Joshua Lincoln appointed as Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community,"HAIFA, Israel — The Baha'i International Community is pleased to announce the appointment of Joshua Lincoln as its new Secretary-General, effective today.
The Secretary-General is the senior officer acting on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, the world governing body of the Baha'i community, in the conduct of its external affairs, including relations with Israel, the host-country of its World Centre.
Dr. Lincoln comes to the Baha'i International Community following a career with the United Nations, including serving in senior positions in New York and Geneva and several field assignments in Africa.
Dr. Lincoln has a background in academic research and holds a Ph.D. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Born in the United States and raised in central Africa, he is married and has two children.",HAIFA,,Israel
970,2013-10-02,"[966, 963, 945]",Youth arise to serve as conferences draw to a close,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Since early July, tens of thousands of young people from communities spanning the entire globe have responded to the call of the Universal House of Justice to participate in a series of 114 youth conferences that have been held in scores of localities, on every continent.  Whether travelling to conference venues by crowded buses in densely populated cities, or walking for days from remote villages, or spending over a week in ships on open sea voyages, these youth have gathered and earnestly discussed how they may contribute to the betterment of society and ultimately the world.
The vibrant spirit and focused determination which have permeated each gathering, together with the insights that were gleaned during the highly participative sessions, have enhanced the capacity of the youth to respond with wisdom, courage, and humility in addressing the ills currently facing society.  The goal of these conferences has been to provide additional impetus to the community-building endeavours spearheaded by Baha'is throughout the world.  The response of the youth has been remarkable - they have wholeheartedly embraced this goal, now extending their conversations beyond the conferences, and implementing the plans formulated together, to effect the material and spiritual transformation of their own neighbourhoods and villages.  Patna, IndiaAs the conclusion of these gatherings draws nearer, the impact on the participants is already becoming visible as can be seen in the highlights of the conferences in the short video clips now featured on the official website. The page includes insights shared by one of the participants about the vision of civilization building at the heart of this undertaking.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
971,2013-10-23,"[946, 927, 928]","Despite promises, Iran continues to violate human rights, says UN report","UNITED NATIONS, United States — Despite recent signals by Iran that it intends to improve on its human rights record, there has been little evidence of change, according to a report issued yesterday by the UN's expert on human rights in that country.
""The human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to warrant serious concern, with no sign of improvement,"" said Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
Among other things, Dr. Shaheed expressed concern over Iran's high level of executions, continuing discrimination against women and ethnic minorities, poor prison conditions, and limits on freedom of expression and association.
He also said that religious minorities in Iran, including Baha'is, Christians, Sunni Muslims, and others, ""are increasingly subjected to various forms of legal discrimination, including in employment and education, and often face arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment.""
His report, which will formally be presented today to the UN General Assembly, devoted several paragraphs to the persecution faced by Iran's Baha'i community.
""The Special Rapporteur continues to observe what appears to be an escalating pattern of systematic human rights violations targeting members of the Baha'i community, who face arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, national security charges for active involvement in religious affairs, restrictions on religious practice, denial of higher education, obstacles to State employment and abuses within schools,"" he wrote.
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN, welcomed the report, saying that it provided a clear picture of what has been happening in Iran—and continues to happen even since the election of President Hassan Rouhani, who has made public promises for improvement.
""Recent reports from Iran give disturbing details indicating there has been no improvement whatsoever,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""Indeed reports to our office actually indicate a worsening of the situation facing Baha'is in Iran. And we note that although much has been made in the news media of recent releases of a few prisoners of conscience, no member of the Baha'i Faith has yet been included among them.""
Ms. Dugal stated: ""What we see is the continuation of the usual tactics, attempting to delude the international community and to appease the family of nations, even as repression continues at home with full force. The Baha'i community in Iran, like many other minorities in that country, remains deprived of its most basic rights, including ultimately the right to exist as a viable community. Iran's government must be held accountable for this hypocrisy and double standards.""
She continued: ""In Iran's official reply to Dr. Shaheed's report, the government claims that 'the citizenship rights of followers of other faiths including Baha'is are entirely observed.'
•  If this is so, how is it that the barrage of hate-filled incitement against the Baha'is continues unabated in the state-controlled media, and has indeed intensified in recent weeks?
•  If this is so, how is that ordinary Baha'is face constant cruel harassment in earning a basic livelihood and official government documents explicitly prohibit Baha'is from engaging in dozens of professions while in practice they are debarred from many more.
•  If this is so, how is it that all the properties of the Baha'i community remain confiscated and even Baha'i cemeteries are not immune from destruction?
•  If this is so, what is the explanation for an official edict to 81 universities not to accept Baha'i students and why is the government decree expelling any student who is discovered to be a Baha'i still in full force?
•  If this is so, how is it that even the courageous lawyers who defend the Baha'is against injustice are themselves thrown into prison?
•   And if this is so, why would the country's Supreme Leader issue a fatwa declaring Baha'is as ""unclean"" and call for them to be systematically identified and socially ostracized?
These and countless other actions, all of which are evidence of obvious religious discrimination, establish beyond the shadow of doubt the presence of a chilling, state-organized, insidious campaign aimed at the eradication of a religious community in the land of its birth.""
""How long"" asked Ms. Dugal ""will the Iranian government persist in its duplicity?""
For more information, go to: http://www.bic.org/media/media-information",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
972,2013-10-28,"[942, 971, 967]",New video documents Iranian government's sponsored violence against its own Baha'i citizens,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Parva Rahmanian and her family used to run a flower shop in Iran – until the government revoked their business license.
The reason given was simple: as Baha'is, they were ""unclean"" – and so were their floral designs. The uncleanliness of the Baha'is was, to the world's great shock and outrage, the subject of a recent fatwa by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
""We received a letter from the Justice Bureau saying that as a florist one's hands get wet while decorating flowers, and given that Baha'is are considered unclean by the high-ranking clerics..., the work permit was revoked,"" says Ms. Rahmanian in a new video released today by the Baha'i International Community.
Ms. Rahmanian's story is one of many personal accounts of persecution faced by Iranian Baha'is featured in the 17-minute video, which is titled ""Violence with Impunity"" and is available on the BIC's YouTube channel.
The new production, which is available in English and Persian, is based in part on a recent report of the BIC with the same title, which was released in March. However, the video also features numerous new interviews done over the last six months in the United States and Europe.  Parva Rahmanian, one of the people interviewed in the video.""This new video takes the dramatic statistics documented in our earlier report and illustrates them with personal accounts of what it means to live in a country where the very authorities that are supposed to protect your rights are the ones behind your oppression,"" said Diane Ala'i, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
Naim Sobhani, for example, describes what it was like as a child growing up in Iran and having to face vilification from teachers.
"" 'These Bahai's are dirty, they are unethical, they are unclean non-believers, do not dine with them, do not socialize with them, do not befriend them,'"" he recounts his teachers as saying. ""As a child in the elementary school, hearing the teacher saying this sort of things in a classroom to your classmates in the class,"" said Mr. Sobhani, who now lives in the United States.
Also featured are several human rights activists.
Mahnaz Parakand, an attorney who defended Baha'is before having to flee Iran herself, talks about how the government uses false charges of espionage to prosecute and imprison Baha'is.
""The only reason they cite for espionage on the part of the Baha'is is that the shrines of the great figures of the Baha'i Faith are located in Israel, which are considered sites of pilgrimage for the Baha'is,"" said Ms. Parakand.
""As a Muslim, when I go to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage, does the mere fact that the House of God, the Kaaba, is located in Saudi Arabia mean all Muslims in the world could be spying for Saudi Arabia in their native countries?"" she said.
Karim Lahidji, president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), says Iran's policy has been ""to increase the pressure on the Bahai community so that in the best case scenario they would relinquish their beliefs.""
The original  report documents a rising tide of violence directed against the Iranian Baha'i community - and the degree to which attackers enjoy complete impunity from prosecution or punishment.
From 2005 through 2012, for example, there were 52 cases where Baha'is have been held in solitary confinement, and another 52 incidents where Baha'is have been physically assaulted. Some 49 incidents of arson against Baha'i homes and shops, more than 30 cases of vandalism, and at least 42 incidents of cemetery desecration were also documented.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
973,2013-11-11,"[972, 971, 967]",Baha'is in Iran told to leave town or face knife attacks after raids on 14 homes,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Following raids on 14 Baha'i homes in the Iranian city of Abadeh last month, government agents summoned the occupants for questioning and urged them to leave town or face possible deadly attacks from city residents.
""The clear aim of the raids and questioning was to create an atmosphere of intimidation and fear, so that the Baha'is of Abadeh would be encouraged to leave the city,"" said Diane Ala'i, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
According to Ms. Ala'i, agents from the Shiraz office of the Ministry of Intelligence, with agents from Abadeh, launched the raids at about 8 am on 13 October 2013. The homes were searched, and Baha'i books, CDs, computers, and other items, including photographs, were confiscated.
During questioning, several Baha'is were told that local residents ""don't like you"" and that ""when you are on the street, they might attack you and your children with knives.""
Ms. Ala'i said, however, that not only is there no evidence that the people of Abadeh themselves are against the Baha'is but that the experience of the Baha'is says the opposite is true.  Interior of a Baha’i home in Abadeh, Iran, after agents of the Ministry of Intelligence conducted a raid on 13 October 2013. Agents also summoned occupants for questioning, where they were threatened and urged to leave the city.""The real story is that the government is the culprit behind such threats and attacks,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""The people of Abadeh have nothing against Baha'is and many love to associate with them freely.
""In at least 52 cases since 2005 around the country, Iranian Baha'is have been physically assaulted - and these have almost always come after the clear instigation of plainclothes agents, the clergy, or the government-controlled media, which has waged a campaign to incite hatred against Baha'is,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
In the recent raids on Abadeh, she said, at least one resident from each home was summoned to the local office of the Ministry of Intelligence for questioning. Among those summoned were several young people, including two who were visiting relatives.
The agents urged the Baha'is to leave the city. ""If you get attacked by people on the street, we cannot guarantee your safety,"" one Baha'i was told.
""Of special concern is that some of those who were summoned for interrogation were youth, who were asked about their activities, said Ms. Ala'i. ""Others were asked to sign 'contracts' promising not to communicate with other Baha'is or to hold meetings other than a customary, monthly meeting for worship.""
Agents also closed down a shop that had been owned by a Baha'i, sealing its doors with official notice that said: ""This shop has been shut down by warrant of the general and revolutionary prosecutor of the city.""
""Regrettably,"" said Ms. Ala'i, ""the situation in Abadeh marks yet another incident showing that despite promises by Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, the situation for Baha'is has not improved. If anything, it has worsened.""
Ms. Ala'i noted, for example, that the government has taken no action to bring to justice the killers of Ataollah Rezvani, a Baha'i whose killing in August was religiously motivated. Nor, she said, have any of the more than 100 Baha'i prisoners been released, despite their complete innocence.
Abadeh is a small city of about 60,000 people midway between Shiraz and Isfahan in central Iran. It has a sizable Baha'i population, and has been the site of other anti-Baha'i activities in recent years.
In the past, for example, a number of Baha'is found anti-Baha'i graffiti written on the walls and doors of their houses and shops. Among other things, the graffiti said: ""Death to Baha'is-spies of America and Israel"" and ""Baha'is are unclean.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
974,2013-11-19,"[973, 972, 971]",UN calls on Iran to live up to its human rights promises,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Today's vote expressing concern over Iran's continued human rights violations demonstrates that the international community will not be swayed by mere promises of improvement, said the Baha'i International Community.
""By its resolution today, the UN General Assembly says clearly that it expects deeds instead of just words from Iran on human rights,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""During his election campaign, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani promised a 'civil rights charter' that would provide equality for all citizens without discrimination based on race, gender or religion,"" observed Ms. Dugal. ""It is now time for President Rouhani to take action on this promise.""
""The strength and depth of the resolution, moreover, indicate just how little has changed in Iran in recent months,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""Mr. Rouhani also promised the widespread release of prisoners of conscience, but so far only a few prisoners have been released. And none of them have been Baha'is.""
By a margin of 83 to 36 with 62 abstentions, the Assembly's Third Committee approved a powerfully worded resolution that said Iran ""continues to catalog a wide range of systematic human rights violations.""
Among other things, the resolution expresses ""deep concern"" over Iran's continued use of torture, high rate of executions, lack of legal due process, and ongoing discrimination against women and minorities, including religious minorities, such as members of the Baha'i Faith, among other groups.
While the resolution welcomed recent promises by President Rouhani to improve human rights, ""particularly on eliminating discrimination against women and members of ethnic minorities and promoting freedom of expression and opinion,"" the six-page document nevertheless listed many ongoing violations of international human rights law. It also included recommendations for corrective action.
The resolution, for example, devoted several paragraphs to the ongoing persecution of Iranian Baha'is, expressing concern over ""targeted attacks and murders,"" ""arbitrary arrests and detention,"" and ""restriction of access to higher education on the basis of religion.""
And it called on Iran to ""emancipate the Baha'i community, to release the seven Baha'i leaders held since 2008 and to accord all Baha'is, including those imprisoned because of their beliefs, the due process of law and the rights that they are constitutionally guaranteed.""
""Today's resolution is actually a blueprint for what Iran must do to live up to its obligations under the international human rights agreements to which it is a party,"" said Ms. Dugal.
She noted that more than 100 Baha'is are currently in prison, held solely for their religious beliefs.
""The resolution calls for Iran to 'immediately and unconditionally release all those who have been arbitrarily arrested and detained for exercising their rights to freedom of religion or belief,' among other things. Baha'is certainly fall into this category,"" observed Ms. Dugal.
Ms. Dugal also said that educational and economic oppression continues against Iranian Baha'is. ""Earlier this month, for example, the Reuters news service produced a long investigative report that, among other things, showed how the government has over the years confiscated many Baha'i-owned properties - and then used profits from them to finance policies that, basically, contribute to the persecution of Baha'is.""
The resolution was put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 46 other countries. It also calls on Iran to better cooperate with UN human rights monitors, such as by allowing them to make visits to Iran, and asks the UN secretary general to report back next year on Iran's progress at fulfilling its human rights obligations.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
975,2013-11-27,"[940, 800, 865]","In Santiago, work commences on House of Worship's superstructure","SANTIAGO, Chile — Significant progress is being made in the construction of the Baha'i House of Worship here, the final one to be erected to serve an entire continent.
Work has been completed on a complex three-storey structure and underground service tunnel, requiring more than 2,000 cubic metres of concrete and 190 tonnes of reinforced steel.
Now the next major phase of the project - the erection of the Temple's distinctive superstructure - has commenced.
The recent developments were announced in a letter from the Universal House of Justice, dated 26 November.
""We are delighted to share news of the progress on the construction of the continental House of Worship for South America rising in the foothills of the Andes in Chile,"" the Universal House of Justice wrote.
The 30-metre high superstructure will include an exterior envelope made of cast-glass pieces that will be mounted on some 3,200 aluminium frames, as well as more than 8,000 robotically milled panels of translucent stone which will clad the Temple's interior.
They are being fabricated in several facilities in Europe and the Americas and shipped to Chile for assembly and installation by a small team of engineers now working on-site together with local contractors, staff, and volunteers.  An early model of the Baha’i House of Worship for the South American continent, stimulating how it will appear at night.""Discernible on the horizon from the city of Santiago is the structure's central scaffolding tower, upon which has been hoisted into prominent position the steel oculus ring that will unite eighteen arched tubular columns at the uppermost point of the edifice,"" observed the Universal House of Justice.
When completed, the edifice in Santiago will be the eighth in a series of continental Baha'i Houses of Worship-distinctive buildings, open to everyone-established to integrate worship with service.
An integral concept of each Baha'i House of Worship is that it is a place of prayer and meditation as well as a spiritual center around which agencies and institutions of social, humanitarian, and educational service will emerge to serve the surrounding population.
Two videos released
A new video depicting the progress of the House of Worship's construction has recently been released. It shows the completion of the concrete structural elements and highlights the fabrication work of the components of the building's superstructure. A second video shows initiatives that are under way to develop vibrant united communities dedicated to the service of humanity in the neighborhoods surrounding the House of Worship. The videos can be viewed here in English, and here in Spanish.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
976,2013-12-16,"[973, 972, 974]","Baha'i cemetery in Sanandaj, Iran, attacked and partly destroyed","GENEVA, Switzerland — Among the many acts of persecution to which the Baha'is in Iran are being subjected, one of the most heartless is the wanton desecration of their cemeteries. Most recently, attackers have destroyed portions of the Baha'i cemetery in Sanandaj, Iran, which has in recent years been threatened by local authorities who have sought to raze the site and repossess its land. The attack follows recent efforts by local officials to reclaim the site, which had been officially allocated to Baha'is some 20 years ago.
Reports from Iran say the morgue, where bodies are washed, along with the prayer room, a water tank, and the walls of the cemetery were destroyed sometime in the morning on 12 December 2013.
""We don't have all the details about this attack yet, but it appears to have been the result of a government effort to confiscate the cemetery land and destroy its buildings and graves,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""Baha'is hold the legal deed to the land, and have even won support from many of their Muslim neighbors for their efforts to beautify the property and its surroundings. At one point, they planted more than 250 trees there.
""But elements of the government have more recently sought to reclaim the property, even seeking a court order to raze the buildings and graves. The Baha'is of Sanandaj fought back in the courts but their protests have now apparently failed to protect their rights,"" she said.
Ms. Ala'i said there was little doubt the incident was stirred by religious hatred.
""Since 2005, there have been at least 42 similar such attacks on Baha'i cemeteries around the country, and the long battle in Sanandaj over this property has been tinged with anti-Baha'i overtones.
""Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, has promised to uphold civil rights for all Iranian citizens - and so we hope that he will now call for an immediate and official investigation into this, and to take action to restore the rights of the Sanandaj Baha'i community,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Sanandaj is a medium-sized city of roughly 300,000 people in western Iran. The Baha'i community there has faced a number of attacks in recent years. In December 2011, government agents raided 12 Baha'i homes in Sanandaj, confiscating Baha'i books, computers, mobile telephones, and even children's diaries.
In 2007, the cemetery was vandalized and hate graffiti with messages like ""Death to the Baha'is"" and ""Baha'is are unclean"" was written on its walls.
Yet it is also true that Baha'is have also won considerable support from many in the community for their efforts to beautify the cemetery.
At one point, the Office of Natural Resources suggested that the Baha'is consider planting trees on public land adjacent to the cemetery, thereby expanding the green zone. As a result, the largely Sunni Muslim residents of Sanandaj came to respect the place as a symbol of the Baha'i community's peaceful presence in their city.
Only after this process of beautification did local authorities begin to reassert their claim to the land.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
977,2013-12-16,"[960, 977, 976]",Seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders send letter to President Rouhani,"NEW YORK, United States — The seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders have written a letter to President Hassan Rouhani, commenting on his proposed ""Charter of Citizen's Rights.""
During his campaign for election earlier this year, President Rouhani promised such a Charter, saying it would aim to end discrimination on the basis of race, sex or religion.
A draft version of that Charter was posted to a government website in Persian on 26 November 2013, giving Iranian citizens 30 days to offer comments on it.
The text of the letter - signed by the seven, whose names are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - is given below in its entirety.
The seven are currently more than five years into 20-year prison sentences on wrongful charges related solely to their religious beliefs and practice, the longest sentences of any current prisoners of conscience in Iran.  Photos of the seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders, top from left Behrouz Tavakkoli, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Mahvash Sabet; bottom from left, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Saeid Rezaie and Afif Naemi.Translation of a letter from the former Yaran to the President of Iran
Your Excellency, Dr. Hassan Rouhani,
In the life of every nation there are moments of profound significance, when seemingly simple actions can turn the tide of history, when age-old misunderstandings can begin to be resolved, and when a new chapter in the destiny of its people can begin.  Your Excellency's recent public call for participation in a common discourse about the rights and responsibilities of citizens has kindled in hearts the light of hope that such a moment may have arrived for the people of Iran and for the destiny of this sacred land.  Appreciating this invitation, we are impelled by a moral duty towards our homeland, and especially by a deep concern for the youth of our country, to add our voice to this significant discourse.
We take this action from within our prison cell, notwithstanding the considerable obstacles in our path, as a band of law-abiding citizens who more than five years ago were arrested and have since suffered imprisonment simply for our efforts to manage the internal affairs of the Baha'i community of Iran.  We write this letter at this critical and decisive juncture lest history should judge us harshly as having failed in our duty.
Dr. Rouhani, Your Excellency,
Although the sole fact of demonstrating an interest in reviewing and upholding the rights of the individual is in itself highly significant, we find it necessary here to state emphatically that, in our view, the oneness of all peoples and their fundamental liberty are not merely civil and legal constructs-they are spiritual principles whose source is the one Divine Creator, who made all humankind from the same stock.  The people of Iran, justifiably, wish to prosper and flourish in their individual and collective lives.  They wish to see their children advance, their youth tread the path of progress, and their nation enjoy a state of peace and tranquillity.  Yet, surely, none of these aspirations can be accomplished unless social and legal conditions make it possible for all the constituent elements of society to be treated equally and well, for all individuals to be accorded their basic human rights, and for no one to be subjugated and oppressed by reason of their ethnicity, gender, religious belief, or any other distinction.
The present discourse on the rights of citizens centres on a charter currently being drafted, yet we believe that, beyond seeking comment about the contents of that document, your invitation is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the state of our country and consider the character of the society in which we wish to live.  For such a reflection to be effective, it seems essential that we should first ask ourselves searching questions about the state of our society and the environment in which we wish to raise future generations.  We must look deep into our hearts.  Given that our land has suffered every kind of prejudice, discrimination, aggression, and social ill-a suffering whose consequences are apparent in all departments of our nation's collective life-we must ask ourselves:  what are truly the most vital principles that would fulfil our highest aspirations for our nation, and what are the means to establish these principles?  How do we respect the nobility of every individual?  How will a constructive environment be fostered in which all the different constituent parts of society can thrive?  What are the necessary conditions that would enable women to contribute their full share?  How do we wish children to be treated?  How do we enable minorities-ethnic, religious, or other-to make their contribution to the betterment of society shoulder to shoulder with others?  What is to be done so that differences of views and beliefs are properly respected?  How do we eradicate violence from our society?  How do we guarantee the right to education for all?  These are among the thoughts that should inform us as we search for the principles that must guide our society and shape the formulation of the rights of its citizenry.
Your Excellency,
Seeking the views of the various elements of society about the future can, of course, represent a first step towards building a progressive country, but what is of foundational importance is that the nation's school curriculums be reviewed to ensure that the soil is prepared in which a progressive culture may take root, a culture established upon fundamental principles such as the nobility of humankind and the equality of all before the law.
To document the citizens' rights and enshrine them in a charter may well be an important initiative in the course of a country's development, but if such a charter is not carefully drafted or, worse still, if it is deliberately crafted as a means to exclude, it could be used as a tool for justifying discrimination and perpetuating oppression.  Therefore, beyond the benefits that accrue from a free and open discourse and appropriate educational programmes, it is imperative for the protection of the people's rights, first, to enact laws that explicitly protect these rights, and, second, to fashion the necessary structures that prevent an arbitrary interpretation of the law.  The dismissal of thousands of Baha'i citizens from government posts, the execution of more than two hundred innocent Baha'is, the expulsion of thousands of students from universities, the sentences handed down during the past eight years to hundreds of Baha'is-indeed, what has happened in our own case, and the judicial process that led to a twenty-year jail sentence for each one of us-are all salutary lessons that illustrate our point and amply demonstrate the need for safeguards in how the law is applied.  In all the years that we had the honour to serve the Baha'i community of Iran, the authorities had full knowledge of our involvement in this work.  Then, one day, as a result of warped thinking and on the whim of certain individuals in authority, it was decided that our service should be deemed illegal, and consequently, we have spent nearly six years behind bars.
Your Excellency,
If no effective solutions are devised, under conditions where individual rights can be trampled upon so arbitrarily, who can be certain that the fate that has befallen us today will not befall him tomorrow.
In closing, we wish Your Excellency every success in your sincere service to the great nation of Iran in the path of justice, freedom, and equality.
Respectfully,
Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Shahriari, Behrouz Azizi-Tavakkoli, Fariba Kamalabadi, Afif Naimi",NEW YORK,,United States
978,2013-12-18,"[977, 974, 971]","UN General Assembly again expresses ""deep concern"" over continuing human rights violations in Iran","NEW YORK, United States — The United Nations General Assembly today expressed ""deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations"" in Iran, showing that the international community will not be swayed by mere promises of improvement.
By a vote of 86 to 36 with 61 abstentions, the Assembly approved a powerfully worded resolution that, while welcoming recent promises by Iran's new president to improve human rights, nevertheless cited alarm over unjustified executions, the use of torture, limits on freedom of assembly and expression, and ongoing discrimination against women, ethnic minorities, and religious minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
""We welcome the fact that the international community clearly prefers action instead of words, and the world has thus made it clear by this vote today that it expects Iran to live up to the new promises it has made, as well as its commitments under international law,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Iran has not changed its ways yet. This is certainly true for Iranian Baha'is, who see no let-up in the ongoing, systematic persecution that has been directed by the government since 1979.
""As the catalog of violations in this resolution makes clear, neither has Iran relented in its oppression of millions of other Iranian citizens who only desire to share in the fundamental freedoms that enjoyed by the citizens of most other countries,"" she said.
Among other things, the resolution expresses ""deep concern"" over Iran's continued use of torture and its high rate of executions, noting the ""high frequency of the carrying out of the death penalty in the absence of internationally recognized safeguards.""
The resolution also noted ""widespread and serious restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of association and of opinion and expression,"" the ""systematic targeting and harassment of human rights defenders,"" and ""pervasive gender inequality and violence against women.""
On the question of discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, the Assembly expressed concern about discrimination against ""Arabs, Azeris, Balochis and Kurds and their defenders,"" along with ongoing ""severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief"" affecting ""Christians, Jews, Sufi Muslims, Sunni Muslims and Zoroastrians and their defenders.""
The resolution devoted more than one paragraph to the situation facing Iranian Baha'is, noting their ""continued persecution"" including ""targeted attacks and murders, without proper investigation to hold those responsible accountable, arbitrary arrests and detention, the restriction of access to higher education on the basis of religion, the continued imprisonment of the leadership of the Iranian Baha'i community, the closure of Baha'i-owned businesses and the de facto criminalization of membership in the Baha'i faith.""
Ms. Dugal noted that more than 100 Baha'is are currently in prison, held solely for their religious beliefs.
The resolution was put forward by 47 countries. It also calls on Iran to better cooperate with UN human rights monitors, such as by allowing them to make visits to Iran, and asks the UN secretary general to report back next year on Iran's progress at fulfilling its human rights obligations.
Today's resolution was the 26th such resolution by the General Assembly since 1985.
For more information, go to http://www.bic.org",NEW YORK,,United States
979,2014-02-07,"[977, 978, 976]","Three Baha'is stabbed in Iran, apparently a religious hate crime","GENEVA, Switzerland — In an apparent hate crime, three Baha'is were stabbed in their home in Birjand, Iran, by an unidentified intruder on Monday 3 February, the Baha'i International Community has learned.
The three – a husband and wife and their daughter – survived but are currently in intensive care at a nearby hospital.
According to reports from Iran, the attacker – who was masked – entered the home of Ghodratollah Moodi and his wife, Touba Sabzehjou, at about 8 p.m.
He immediately assaulted Mr. Moodi, Mrs. Sabzehjou, and their daughter, Azam Moodi, with a knife or sharp instrument, seriously injuring all three of them.
Mr. Moodi was injured in his abdomen and side; Mrs. Sabzehjou was wounded in the neck. Both lost consciousness from the loss of blood.
Ms. Moodi, although also seriously hurt, was able to call the police and all three were taken to the hospital, where they are being closely monitored.
Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the attacker's only goal appears to have been to kill three innocent Baha'is in their home.
""As such, there can be no doubt that this crime was religiously motivated. Mr. Moodi was well-known as a leader in the Baha'i community in Birjand.
""Our immediate concern is for the recovery of the Moodi family. But we are also concerned that authorities in Iran begin immediately to investigate this crime and bring the perpetrator to justice.
""The sad fact is that there have been more than 50 physical assaults on Iranian Baha'is since 2005 – and none of the attackers has been prosecuted or otherwise brought to justice. And at least nine Baha'is have been murdered under suspicious circumstances in the same period, and the murderers have likewise enjoyed impunity.
""Most recently, for example, a Baha'i in Bandar Abbas was killed – and police have yet to charge anyone with the crime. Mr. Ataollah Rezvani, who was also a leader in the Baha'i community in his locality, was murdered in his own car by a gunshot to the head on 24 August 2013.
""If the new government of President Hassan Rouhani is sincere about his assertion that, under his presidency, all Iranian citizens will enjoy equal rights, then this new case should be taken extremely seriously, starting with an immediate search for the man who attacked the Moodi family.
""What is heartening is that once again non-Baha'i Iranians are registering their deep concern and support for the Baha'is of Iran, as evidenced by several online reports asking that Baha'is be treated with justice,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
(Note: this version corrects the spelling of the name Mavadi to Moodi.)",GENEVA,,Switzerland
980,2014-02-08,[],"""To Serve Humanity"" – youth discuss contributing to the betterment of society in a series of short films","HAIFA, Israel — A series of short films, collectively entitled To Serve Humanity, has been released on the World Wide Web today – exactly one year after the announcement by the Universal House of Justice of a convocation of conferences for young people throughout the world.
To Serve Humanity explores, through the diverse voices of a few of the 80,000 young people who participated in the 114 gatherings, the ways in which young people can contribute to the spiritual and material well-being of their communities.  As the young participants articulate insights on themes covered at each conference, what it means for their generation to be dedicated to the service of humanity is brought to life.
Among other examples, the films show how young people on every continent draw on the same concepts – such as friendship and mutual support – as they take responsibility for making a significant contribution to the development of their neighbourhoods and villages.  The segment on the theme of ""coherence"" highlights how clarity about one's purpose allows a young person to see each aspect of life as part of a coherent whole.
To Serve Humanity is available to download and view online here, with options for watching the films with subtitles in Arabic, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.  A dubbed version is also accessible in Persian.",HAIFA,,Israel
981,2014-03-09,"[959, 543, 889]",Prime Minister of Samoa pays tribute to Baha’i community on 60th anniversary,"APIA, Samoa — The Prime Minister of Samoa has expressed his gratitude to the country's Baha'i community for its long service to the development of Samoan society.
The Honorable Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi made his remarks during celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Baha'i Faith in the Pacific island nation.
""I take this opportunity to express the appreciation of the government for the important contribution that you make to the spiritual life of our country,"" he said.
The Prime Minister noted that the work of the Baha'i community, along with all churches in Samoa, is paramount in bringing out the best in people.
A number of Cabinet Ministers joined the Prime Minister and representatives of the Baha'i community at a special observance, held at the Samoa Tradition Resort on Tuesday 14 January, 2014.
He additionally assured those gathered that the Samoan Government strives to protect the right of all to worship.
""We are also very conscious of abuses of human rights and freedom that persists in many countries around the world,"" he said. ""As part of Samoa's engagement internationally through its membership with the UN, Samoa endeavors to support efforts to protect the rights of people in various countries including Iran where the Baha'i Faith struggles through persecution.""  The Baha’i House of Worship in Samoa: “an edifice dedicated to the union of worship and service” wrote the Universal House of Justice, that is “fostering bonds of unity from heart to heart, adding impetus to the regenerative process of community building” throughout Samoa.The Baha'i Faith was first established in Samoa in 1954 with the arrival there of a Swiss-Australian woman, Lilian Wyss. The Samoan Head of State from 1962-2007, His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II,  became the first reigning sovereign to accept the Baha'i Faith. He dedicated the Baha'i House of Worship in Tiapapata in 1984. A special commemorative service was held there on 12 January for Baha'is and their friends to celebrate, reflect and review milestones in their community's development.
In a message marking the anniversary, the Universal House of Justice wrote, ""We are delighted to see that the Baha'i House of Worship in Samoa – an edifice dedicated to the union of worship and service – is fostering bonds of unity from heart to heart, adding impetus to the regenerative process of community building throughout your island nation.""
A member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Samoa, Peseta Demetrius Fogaseuga Taofiga, said the events offered an occasion to reflect on the challenges and accomplishments of the past six decades.
""It is also an opportunity to consult on ways and means to build better communities, and to continue serving Samoa and its people,"" he said.",APIA,,Samoa
982,2014-03-14,"[975, 959, 940]",House of Worship newsreel highlights recent developments,"SANTIAGO, Chile — The latest in a series of video newsreels showing the progress of the construction of the Baha'i House of Worship in Santiago has been released and can be viewed online in Spanish and English at the official website.
Titled ""Construction, Worship and Service"", this episode describes a number of significant developments in the construction process since October 2013 related to the erection of the superstructure and the initial work on the adjacent landscaping and facilities, which includes pathways laid out along the five hectares of land.  The newsreel also highlights how the building is emerging in parallel with the surrounding community's evolving understanding of the ways in which individual and collective worship find practical expression in service to humanity.
Construction of the House of Worship began in November 2010.  When completed, the edifice in Santiago will be the last of the Baha'i Houses of Worship erected to serve an entire continent.  Workers gather for their daily safety briefing on the construction site in this photo from January 2014.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
983,2014-03-18,"[978, 974, 977]",Concern over persecution of Iranian Baha'is at UN Human Rights Council,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Overall, human rights in Iran have not improved substantially since the election of President Hassan Rouhani last year, despite his promises to grant citizens more rights and to end discriminatory practices, according to Ahmed Shaheed, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
In a presentation to the Human Rights Council yesterday, Dr. Shaheed said that while Iran had made a few positive steps towards strengthening human rights, the government continues to violate international legal standards, oppress women, and persecute ethnic and religious minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
""Hundreds of individuals reportedly remain in some form of confinement for exercising their fundamental rights, including some 39 journalists and bloggers, 92 human rights defenders, 136 Baha'is, 90 Sunni Muslims, 50 Christians, and 19 Dervish Muslims,"" Dr. Shaheed said.
The session marked the formal presentation of his annual report to the Council. In that report, which was issued last week, and before the Council yesterday, Dr. Shaheed noted that while Iran's proposed charter of citizen's rights is ""a step in the right direction,"" it nevertheless ""falls short of strengthening protections for the equal enjoyment of human rights for women and members of the country's religious and ethnic minority communities.""
""It also fails to address the use of cruel, inhumane or degrading punishment, including flogging, hanging, stoning and amputation.""
""The charter does not ban the execution of juveniles and also fails to address concerns about the use of capital punishment, in particular for offenses that do not meet the standards for most serious crimes under international law,"" Dr. Shaheed said.
Last week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also released his annual report to the Council on human rights in Iran. He said that he found no improvements for Baha'is and other religious minorities, and few improvements in Iran's human rights situation overall.
""There have been no improvements in the situation of religious and ethnic minorities, who continue to suffer severe restrictions in the enjoyment of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights,"" said Mr. Ban. ""Religious minorities such as Baha'is and Christians face violations entrenched in law and in practice.""
Yesterday, during Dr. Shaheed's presentation, known as an interactive dialogue, country delegations and non-governmental organizations were allowed to respond and ask questions.
At least nine countries specifically expressed concern about the ongoing persecution of Iranian Baha'is. They included Australia, Belgium, Botswana, France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The European Union, in its statement, also mentioned the Baha'is.
Ireland said: ""The situation of members of religious minorities continues to be of concern.""
""We note in particular the information contained in the Special Rapporteur's report on the situation of the Baha'is, including that they are regularly prosecuted for participation in their community affairs, including by facilitating educational services and publicly engaging in religious practices, such as attending devotional gatherings, but that they are typically charged with political or security crimes, such as espionage or 'propaganda against the ruling system.'""
Botswana said: ""We also ask Iran to eliminate discrimination against religious minorities, including Baha'is.""
Switzerland asked why Baha'is are ""subjected to growing oppression, despite the fact that they are very discreet in Iran"" and are ""not critical of the government.""
Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, also participated in the session, as did a number of other NGO representatives.
""To date, there has been no improvement in the situation of Iranian Baha'is,"" Ms. Ala'i  said, addressing Dr. Shaheed. ""As you indicated yourself, 136 Baha'is are in prison solely on religious grounds, not one Baha'i youth has been able to complete his or her studies in an Iranian university and most of them are denied access in the first place, shops continue to be sealed, work in the public sector is prohibited, cemeteries are desecrated, and incitement to hatred in state-sponsored media is rampant.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
984,2014-03-27,"[983, 978, 979]",UN votes to continue special investigation of human rights violations in Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The UN Human Rights Council’s overwhelming vote today to extend the mandate of its special investigator on Iran shows that the international community is pleased with Ahmed Shaheed’s excellent work and it expects Iran to make good on its promises to improve human rights, said the Baha'i International Community.
“The vote today to extend the mandate of Ahmed Shaheed is a powerful signal that the world expects action – not just words – from President Rouhani and his government on human rights,” said Diane Ala’i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
The vote, 21 to 9 with 16 abstentions, came after new reports by Dr. Shaheed, the Council’s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Both said Iran has generally failed over the last year to address its persistent human rights problems.
While Dr. Shaheed and Mr. Ban took note of small improvements, by and large they said that Iran continues to make numerous and serious human rights violations. These include high rates of improperly adjudicated executions, the ongoing oppression of women, the use of torture, and the wrongful imprisonment of journalists, human rights defenders and minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
“Hundreds of individuals reportedly remain in some form of confinement for exercising their fundamental rights, including some 39 journalists and bloggers, 92 human rights defenders, 136 Baha’is, 90 Sunni Muslims, 50 Christians, and 19 Dervish Muslims,” said Dr. Shaheed during the presentation of his report to the Council last week.
Ms. Ala’i said the path forward for Iran is quite clear.
“Iran can begin by releasing, among others, the 136 Baha’is who are in prison solely for their religious beliefs,” said Ms. Ala’i. “The government can also easily allow Baha’i youth to attend university. And the practice of raiding Baha’i homes and arbitrarily arresting occupants can be halted with the stroke of a pen in Tehran.""
“Given that Baha’is are committed to non-violence and obedience to legal authorities, these measures would pose no threat to the government and could be rapidly instituted,” said Ms. Ala’i.
“Iran must also address the concerns of the international community by allowing Dr. Shaheed to visit the country,” said Ms. Ala’i. “The fact that Dr. Shaheed has never been invited to visit Iran is merely more evidence of the Iranian government’s disregard for international human rights mechanisms.”",GENEVA,,Switzerland
985,2014-03-30,"[951, 952, 953]",Official website for Universal House of Justice launches,"HAIFA, Israel — A new official website of the Baha’i Faith has been launched providing general information about the Universal House of Justice – the international governing body of the Baha’i community – and making available selected statements and letters that have been written by it or prepared under its supervision.
The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years by representatives of over 170 national Baha’i communities.  The most recent election took place in April 2013, the fiftieth anniversary of when it was established.
The official website for the Universal House of Justice can be viewed at universalhouseofjustice.bahai.org.",HAIFA,,Israel
986,2014-04-03,"[924, 936, 944]","In India and Brazil, events promote freedom to believe","NEW DELHI, India — Freedom of belief must be a fundamental element of societies that are sustainable and equitable.
That was the message being promoted at a recent seminar held in New Delhi, as well as at events in Brazil's major cities.
At the conference held at India's National Baha'i Centre, Professor Shiv Visvanathan of O.P. Jindal Global University called on those present to re-conceptualize the fundamental assumptions at the basis of the discourse on freedom and belief.
""Diversity is embedded in human rights,"" said Prof. Visvanathan, challenging participants to think beyond legal mechanisms and embrace a different ethical framework to facilitate the peaceful coexistence of diverse perspectives.
The seminar, which was held on 5 March, was jointly organized by the Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony and the Baha'i community of India.
Eleven panelists – including Akhtarul Wasey, senior professor of Islamic studies at India's National Islamic University, and Rabbi Ezekiel Malekar, head of the Jewish community in New Delhi – participated in discussions which called for the discourse on diversity to move beyond tolerance towards genuine respect, the recognition of human interdependence, and the promotion of freedom of expression.
Celebrating diversity in Brazil
In Brazil, the National Day Against Religious Intolerance – an initiative of the Brazilian government – brought people of diverse faiths together in a variety of events to promote greater respect and understanding.
In Brasilia, an interfaith event was held at the city's Temple of Good Will on 21 January.
""There was a quiet time during which leaders and representatives of the various religious denominations shared their gifts of prayers, song, or messages,"" said Luiz Mourao, a representative of the city's Baha'i community.  Two Baha'is perform at an event initiated by the Commission on Combating Religious Intolerance in Brazil. The gathering on 21 January provided an opportunity for representatives of each religion in the commission to share a greeting and musical performance.A ceremony was also held at the City Hall in Campinas, Sao Paulo State, which brought together some 200 representatives of religious denominations, as well as artists and politicians. The aim was to promote a culture of peace, justice, and respect for different religious and philosophical beliefs.
""It was an event of great importance to disseminate the message of the need for understanding between religions and to establish relationships with representatives of religious and governmental organizations,"" said Alexandre Beust, a representative of the local Baha'i community.
In Rio de Janeiro, the Commission on Combating Religious Intolerance also hosted an event where representatives of participating religions had the opportunity to meet each other and offer performances. The Baha'i community was represented by the music duo Marta and Bia, who have previously appeared at Rio's Walk in Defense of Religious Liberty, traditionally held in September at Copacabana beach.",NEW DELHI,,India
987,2014-04-07,"[984, 983, 979]",In an unprecedented symbolic act senior cleric calls for religious coexistence in Iran,"NEW YORK, United States — In a symbolic and unprecedented move, Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, a prominent Muslim cleric in Iran, announced today that he has gifted to the Baha'is of the world an illuminated work of calligraphy of a paragraph from the writings of Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-founder of the Baha'i Faith.
This move comes in the wake of several recent statements by religious scholars in the Muslim world who have set out alternative interpretations of the teachings of Islam in which tolerance of every religion is, in fact, upheld by the holy Qur'an.
""This is a most welcome and hopeful development with possible implications for the coexistence of the peoples of the world,"" said Ms. Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community at the United Nations.
Ayatollah Tehrani states on his website (see translation of statement) that he prepared the calligraphy of the verse as a ""symbolic action to serve as a reminder of the importance of valuing human beings, of peaceful coexistence, of cooperation and mutual support, and avoidance of hatred, enmity and blind religious prejudice.""
Ayatollah Tehrani presents this exquisite gift to the Baha'is of the world, particularly to the Baha'is of Iran, who he says ""have suffered in manifold ways as a result of blind religious prejudice.""  He further states that this act is ""an expression of sympathy and care from me and on behalf of all my open-minded fellow citizens.""
In response, Ms. Dugal stated: ""The Baha'i International Community is deeply touched by this act of high-mindedness and the sentiments of religious tolerance and respect for human dignity that prompted it.""
""This bold action by a senior Muslim cleric in contemporary Iran is unprecedented,"" said Ms. Dugal.  ""It is also remarkable in light of the ongoing and systematic persecution of the Baha'i community in that country by the Islamic government.""
The intricate artwork must have taken several months to painstakingly prepare by hand.  It features at its center, a symbol known to Baha'is as ""The Greatest Name"" – a calligraphic representation of the conceptual relationship between God, His prophets and the world of creation. The gift measures at approximately 60cm x 70cm and is illuminated in a classical style. Ayatollah Tehrani's other artworks include the illumination of the Qur'an, the Torah, the Psalms, the New Testament, and the Book of Ezra. His illumination of the Psalms is currently being held in the United States Library of Congress.  An illuminated calligraphic work by Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, containing the words of Baha'u'llah.The excerpt that Ayatollah Tehrani chose to cite in the gift is taken from Baha'u'llah's Kitab-i-Aqdas – ""Most Holy Book"". It reads ""Consort with all religions with amity and concord, that they may inhale from you the sweet fragrance of God. Beware lest amidst men the flame of foolish ignorance overpower you. All things proceed from God and unto Him they return. He is the source of all things and in Him all things are ended.""
On previous occasions, Ayatollah Tehrani has with great courage publicly voiced concern about the ongoing and severe persecution of religious minorities, including the Baha'is in Iran. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, hundreds of Baha'is have been killed and thousands have been imprisoned. There are currently 115 Baha'is being held in prison solely on the basis of their religious beliefs. Baha'is in Iran are denied access to higher education, obstructed from earning a livelihood, prevented from burying their dead in accordance with their own burial rites and subjected to the demolition and desecration and expropriation of their cemeteries, all because of their religion.
Ayatollah Tehrani's hope is that this gift ""which will be kept by the Universal House of Justice [the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith] will serve as a reminder of the rich and ancient Iranian tradition of friendship and of its culture of coexistence.""",NEW YORK,,United States
988,2014-04-15,"[987, 984, 983]","Senior Anglican leaders praise ""significance"" and ""courage"" of Iranian ayatollah's gift to Baha'is","LONDON, England — Two senior leaders of the Church of England have praised the ground-breaking action of an Iranian ayatollah who last week called for religious ""coexistence"" by dedicating to the Baha'is of the world, and particularly the Baha'is of Iran, an illuminated calligraphic rendering of a passage from their sacred texts.
Lord Rowan Williams of Oystermouth, the former archbishop of Canterbury, said the gift of Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani was of ""immense significance"".
""It represents not only a personally gracious gesture but also a strand within the Islamic world at its best and most creative which is deeply appreciative of all that helps human beings to respond to God's will for peace and understanding,"" said Dr. Williams.
""Along with many others of all faiths, I shall pray that this marks a turning point in Iran's attitudes to the Baha'i community, and I give thanks for the courage and generosity which have motivated this gift.""
Earlier, Christopher Cocksworth, the bishop of Coventry, said he was ""heartened to learn"" of Ayatollah Tehrani's gift to Baha'is.
""Given the systemic and long standing suffering experienced by the Baha'i community in Iran, this is an imaginatively courageous step by a senior Iranian Islamic scholar,"" said Dr. Cocksworth on 9 April.
Ayatollah Tehrani's ""action reminds us all that despite the dehumanising nature of many of today's conflicts, religious leaders have a shared responsibility to encourage freedom of religion and belief and to foster a deeper respect for human dignity,"" said Bishop Cocksworth, who is the Church of England's lead bishop in the Lords on foreign policy.  Dr. Christopher Cocksworth, bishop of Conventry, Anglican Church. Bishop Cocksworth called Ayatollah Tehrani's gift to the Baha'is a ""courageous step"". (Photo courtesy of Dr. Cocksworth's office)Ayatollah Tehrani's gift was announced on 7 April 2014 when he posted an image of the work on his website, along with a personal statement about his intentions in creating an illuminated calligraphic rendering of several verses from Baha'u'llah's Kitab-i-Aqdas, the ""Most Holy Book"".
""I present this precious symbol – an expression of sympathy and care from me and on behalf of all my open-minded fellow citizens who respect others for their humanity and not for their religion or way of worship – to all the Baha'is of the world, particularly to the Baha'is of Iran who have suffered in manifold ways as a result of blind religious prejudice,"" said Ayatollah Tehrani.
News of the action was quickly spread by news organizations and social media last week.
In addition, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), which advocates for religious freedom, issued a statement on Friday  that praised Ayatollah Tehrani's action.
""Ayatollah Tehrani's kind gesture to the Baha'i community is particularly welcome at a time when the community is being actively targeted and vilified by the Iranian regime,"" said Mervyn Thomas, CSW's chief executive.
""Dozens of Baha'is are languishing in jail and the community is subject to attack, harassment and intimidation. CSW urges President Rouhani to emulate the Ayatollah's inclusivity by upholding the rights of the Baha'i community as equal citizens and to guarantee freedom of religion or belief for all religious communities.""
The preparation and dedication of Ayatollah Tehrani's gift was undertaken at great personal risk, given that the Iranian government refuses to recognize the Baha'i Faith as a religion and has systematically persecuted Baha'is since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
989,2014-04-17,"[987, 988, 984]",Religious leaders and prominent thinkers in India respond to Iranian cleric's courageous act,"NEW DELHI, India — In India, a number of prominent religious leaders have commended the recent decision of Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani to gift an artistic rendering of a verse from the Baha'i sacred writings to the Baha'is of the world.  This action represents a profound appeal for religious coexistence and the recognition of the human dignity of all members of society.  Ayatollah Tehrani's gift was accompanied by a statement calling for an end to ""blind religious prejudice"" against the Baha'is of Iran.
In recent days, leaders of the Buddhist, Islamic, Jain, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities have responded with statements of support and hope.
In a response to this unprecedented gesture by an Iranian religious leader, the head of the Islamic Centre of India, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, commented: ""This friendliness towards a beleaguered religious minority is an exemplary act.  It underscores the principle of the equality of all people before God, irrespective of religious belief.""
""Islam teaches brotherhood and unity with all peoples on earth, and Ayatollah Tehrani's exalted act is in accordance with the fundamental teachings of God.""
Bhikshu Pragyanand of the Indian Buddhist Society (Bhartiya Buddha Samiti), a regionally prominent leader who is based in Lucknow, said Ayatollah Tehrani has set ""an example for religious leaders of the world.""
""His exhortation for the avoidance of hatred, enmity, and blind religious prejudice is very needed in today's world where freedom of conscience and freedom of belief are under constant threat in many countries,"" said Bhikshu Pragyanand.
Representing the Sikh community, Rajendra Singh Bagga, president of the Lucknow Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, said Ayatollah Tehrani's gift ""once again proves that humanity, compassion and peaceful coexistence is a very base of every religion of the world.""
H. S. Sepai, leader of the Lucknow Parsi Anjuman of the Zoroastrian community, said Ayatollah Tehrani has shown ""the way towards realization of world unity and world peace.""
Shailendra Jain, national vice president of Bhartiya Jain Milan, called Ayatollah Tehrani's statement ""path-breaking."" ""His noble gesture for the Baha'is of the world is to be appreciated by one and all,"" he said.
Prominent individuals in the academic and development communities have also responded with praise, including the well-known social scientist Amitabh Kundu.  Dr. Kundu, an internationally recognized author of more than 25 books on economics, development, and social science, said he felt ""happiness and satisfaction"" upon learning of Ayatollah Tehrani's action.
""Let us hope that this is a beginning of a new beginning,"" he further commented. ""This would be the view and hope of all right thinking people in India desiring to live in an inclusive world.""
Rakesh Kumar Mittal of the Kabir Peace Mission called Ayatollah Tehrani's action ""courageous,"" saying that he has ""stood up for freedom of belief and the equality of all before God.""
Ayatollah Tehrani's gift was dedicated to the Bahai's of the world and sent to the Universal House of Justice - the governing council of the worldwide Baha'i community.  It was announced on 7 April 2014 when he posted an image of the work on his website, along with a personal statement about his intentions in creating an illuminated calligraphic rendering of a verse from Baha'u'llah's Kitab-i-Aqdas, which translates as the ""Most Holy Book.""
At the heart of this verse are the following words: ""Consort with the followers of all religions with amity and concord.""
Ayatollah Tehrani's action has received wide coverage in the media, as well as statements of praise from Christian leaders.",NEW DELHI,,India
990,2014-04-20,"[985, 951, 950]",Ridvan message made available on Universal House of Justice website,"HAIFA, Israel — The 2014 Ridvan message of the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the world has been made available this year for the first time on the new official website for the Universal House of Justice.
The message can be found at universalhouseofjustice.bahai.org.",HAIFA,,Israel
991,2014-04-24,"[952, 890, 638]","In Myanmar, prize-winning feature film sheds light on misunderstood minority","YANGON, Myanmar — In a remote rural town of Dou Ngan Kha not far from Myanmar's border with Thailand, tribes from the Kayan people gather every year for a National Festival. Through ceremonies, music and dance, the annual event serves to preserve their traditions and celebrate their achievements.
Part of Myanmar's Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority, Kayans have lived here for generations but, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, civil unrest forced many Kayans to flee Myanmar for Thailand. Often misunderstood in their own homeland, the Kayan Lahwi women in particular have become known around the world for the coils of decorative brass rings they wear around their necks.
This month's Festival honoured two filmmakers who have brought the Kayan culture to a wide audience through a feature-length drama that has been acclaimed in Myanmar and further afield.
In front of high-ranking officials, as well as the region's Roman Catholic Archbishop Matthias Shwe and senior Buddhist monks, the creators of Kayan Beauties - writer and director Aung Ko Latt, who is a member of Myanmar's Baha'i community, and screenwriter Hector Carosso from New York City - were presented with awards that expressed the profound appreciation of the Kayan people.
The film tells the story of three Kayan women who travel from their village to sell handicrafts in a distant city. A young girl who has recently acquired her first brass rings accompanies them. In the city, human traffickers abduct the girl. So, far from home and out of their element, the women find themselves involved in a desperate search for their friend.  Director Aung Ko Latt discusses a scene with his actors during the filming of Kayan Beauties, a feature film that has brought the Kayan culture to a wide audience for the first time.Aung Ko Latt first visited the region some years ago at the request of Archbishop Shwe to teach music in the villages. He stayed almost eight months.
""From the very beginning, I felt a strong connection to the people and to their culture,"" said Mr. Latt. ""The Archbishop has been a strong advocate of the Kayan, often offering refuge to them and other groups. Through our conversations, I had the spark of an idea for the film.""
Minority groups are, as a whole, marginalized in Myanmar, explained Hector Carosso, ""and with regard to films, normally not considered. And the horrible reality of human trafficking is growing in every country of the world.""
Mr. Latt's desire to create a film about the Kayan was very much motivated by his Baha'i beliefs. ""Very simply, humankind is one,"" he said. ""Kayan Beauties is a movie for humankind, containing lessons and ideas for all humans.""
""No religion accepts discrimination, trafficking and selling people.  Also, the promotion of women's empowerment is strong in the story. It shows that in remote areas and villages, there are real people; they are not somehow less than city people.""
The recognition at the Kayan National Festival is not the first time in recent months that Kayan Beauties has won acclaim. It received the Special Jury Award at the ASEAN International Film Festival in Kuching, Malaysia, becoming the first film in Myanmar's history to win an international accolade. Last December, at the 56th Annual Myanmar Academy Awards, Mr. Latt won in the Best Cinematographer category and the film also took the award for Best Sound. Kayan Beauties was the first Myanmar film to incorporate the international standard of Dolby digital sound technology.
To produce the film, its makers were faced with some major technical, logistical and financial obstacles, along with overcoming censorship issues. All the equipment had to be sourced from other countries and the Myanmar crew trained to learn how to use it. Permission also had to be sought from several different Ministries in order for Mr. Carosso to be able to enter some of the areas where they filmed.
Despite these challenges, the finished film has succeeded in promoting a greater appreciation of the Kayan people and their culture.
""We wanted to show that serious issues can be addressed in Myanmar films and that people will go to watch it, whereas the prior assumption was that only comedies, action films and weepy dramas could capture the audience,"" said Mr. Latt.
""The challenge now is for future filmmakers in Myanmar to address other serious issues in dramatic and compelling ways.""",YANGON,,Myanmar
992,2014-04-25,"[987, 988, 989]",Ayatollah Tehrani's gift stirs global conversation on religious coexistence,"NEW YORK, United States — The ground-breaking gift of a senior Iranian cleric to the worldwide Baha'i community is beginning to stir a global conversation about religious coexistence and freedom of religion.
More statements of support for the actions and words of Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani have been issued in the United Kingdom and India, and other prominent individuals are offering comments in the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States.
The response comes after Ayatollah Tehrani bravely gave to the Baha'is of the world a calligraphic rendering of Baha'i sacred verses, along with a plea for religious ""coexistence"".
In the United Kingdom, Catholic Archbishop Kevin McDonald said in a statement on Thursday: ""In interreligious relations it is vital that adherents of different religions come to understand each other more deeply and more sympathetically. This development within the Iranian context is therefore particularly significant and welcome."" Archbishop McDonald is director of the Office for Interreligious Relations of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
Also on Thursday in the United Kingdom, Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church issued a statement praising Ayatollah Tehrani, saying he prays that the promotion of tolerance and coexistence will ""become increasingly manifest not only in Iran but across the Middle East and the world.""
""Within the last few years it has become increasingly apparent that one of the most important rights to preserve is that of religious freedom, yet many across the world remain persecuted for their beliefs and are denied that very basic right,"" said Bishop Angaelos.  ""As Christians we believe that God created individuals with a freedom to choose and practice their personal religion and belief, and viewing this as an essential gift we continue to advocate for all who are entitled to this,"" he said.
Harry van Bommel, a Member of Parliament in the Netherlands, published news of Ayatollah Tehrani's actions on his blog, saying: ""The action of this Ayatollah is important and does not stand alone. There are a growing number of religious scholars who together form a constructive and principled voice [for religious coexistence] that deserves to be supported and promoted.""  Catholic Archbishop Kevin McDonald, Director of the Office for Interreligious Relations of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. In his statement on Thursday, he said, “In interreligious relations it is vital that adherents of different religions come to understand each other more deeply and more sympathetically"".In the Netherlands, prominent journalist and Middle East affairs expert Eildert Mulder has published a column in the newspaper Trouw extolling Ayatollah Tehrani's action and calling him an ""advocate for real freedom of religion or belief"". Ayatollah Tehrani's gift was a ""striking"" action aimed at promoting tolerance between the different religions, he said.
In India, Soli Sorabjee, the country's former Attorney General, and Amitabh Behar, a noted civil society activist, both discussed Ayatollah Tehrani's actions in terms of minority rights.
Mr. Sorabjee called Ayatollah Tehrani's words and deeds ""courageous"" in a land where ""minorities have been suffering human rights violations"" and discrimination.
""This senior cleric has indeed articulated constructive and principled voice of commitment to religious tolerance and respect for human dignity which is the dire need in the conflict-ridden societies in many nations and states,"" said Mr. Sorabjee.
Mr. Behar, who is Executive Director of the National Foundation for India, which works for social justice philanthropy in India, said he hoped Ayatollah Tehrani's gesture would ""create a more conducive environment for minority rights in Iran.""
""(W)e globally see a spurt in intolerance and discrimination against the minorities of all kinds,"" said Mr. Behar. ""In these times all acts to strengthen a plural and tolerant society and polity are most welcome. We need to celebrate diversity and acts of courage which build a peaceful and just society.""
In Spain, representatives of the humanist movement Comunidad del Mensaje de Silo de Alcala de Henares wrote an open letter to the Iranian Embassy in Spain, praising Ayatollah Tehrani and calling for greater religious tolerance.
""It is clear that from a people in whom Poetry is a value and a perspective on life, one could not hope for more than an act as brave as that which has been done, recognizing universal human values such as equality and respect, regardless of what religion one professes,"" wrote Fernando Montalban, Mabel Naya and Marisol Gonzalez.
In the United States, the FaithStreet website published an article by Michael Karlberg, a professor at Western Washington University who has a special interest in constructive resilience, on its OnFaith blog that linked Ayatollah Tehrani's actions to a list of others who have acted courageously in support of human rights and tolerance.
Ayatollah Tehrani's ""message is urgently needed in Iran and his actions provide a model that should be emulated by growing numbers of thoughtful and courageous Iranians,"" said Dr. Karlberg.  ""(H)is message and his actions are universally relevant. They offer a model of enlightened discourse and enlightened action that deserves support and emulation in every nation where prejudice and intolerance prevail.""
Ayatollah Tehrani's gift was announced on April 7, 2014, when he posted an image of an illuminated calligraphic work quoting several verses from Baha'u'llah's Kitab-i-Aqdas, the ""Most Holy Book"".
At the heart of the work are the following words: ""Consort with the followers of all religions with amity and concord.""
The calligraphic work was accompanied by a three-page statement, which, among other things, said: ""I present this precious symbol – an expression of sympathy and care from me and on behalf of all my open-minded fellow citizens who respect others for their humanity and not for their religion or way of worship – to all the Baha'is of the world, particularly to the Baha'is of Iran who have suffered in manifold ways as a result of blind religious prejudice.""
Last week, religious leaders in India and Church of England clerics in the United Kingdom also issued statements of praise for Ayatollah Tehrani's actions.
There is also a growing discussion in the Arab world about the impact and importance of Ayatollah Tehrani's actions.",NEW YORK,,United States
993,2014-05-01,"[983, 979, 987]",Destruction of historic Baha'i cemetery under way in Shiraz by Iranian Revolutionary Guards,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community was shocked to hear the news that Iran's Revolutionary Guards has begun excavation in a historically important Baha'i cemetery in Shiraz. The site is, among other things, the resting place of ten Baha'i women whose cruel hanging in 1983 came to symbolize the government's deadly persecution of Baha'is.
""Reports from Iran came in yesterday that the excavation has begun and graves are being destroyed. Some 40 to 50 trucks are lined up to remove the earth and accelerate the work,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""We are urgently calling on the international community to raise its voice in protest at this disturbing act.
""We also appeal directly to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to halt this act of desecration.""
Reports received so far indicate that workers for the Revolutionary Guards had completed an excavation some 1.5 meters deep and 200 square meters in area. The hole is near a number of very old gravesites in the western part of the cemetery but is not yet deep enough to have disturbed the remains, it is believed.
Ms. Dugal said the local Baha'is have made appeals directly to the Revolutionary Guards asking that it construct the proposed  building on the areas of the site where there are no graves, and turn the areas with the graves into a green space, leaving the dead undisturbed.
""Appeals were made to various city and provincial authorities, including the commander in chief of the Revolutionary Guards, the municipality of Shiraz, the Friday prayer Imam, the governor of the city, Iran's prosecutor general and the head of the judiciary, with no results,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Owned and used by the Baha'is of Shiraz since the early 1920s, the site was confiscated by the government in 1983, at which time its grave markers were leveled and its main buildings destroyed. Its ownership has since changed. Three years ago, the provincial office of the Revolutionary Guards announced it had taken over the site, and a sign was posted indicating that it planned to build a ""cultural and sports building"" there.
Some 950 Baha'is are buried in the cemetery.
Among the prominent individuals at rest in the cemetery are the ""ten Baha'i women of Shiraz,"" who were hanged on 18 June 1983 at the height of the government's campaign of execution against Baha'is. Between 1979 and 1988, more than 200 Baha'is were killed in Iran.
The ten women, who ranged in age from 17 to 57, were convicted of ""crimes"" such as being ""Zionists"" and the teaching of children's classes – the equivalent of ""Sunday school"" in the West. Their wrongful and dramatic execution drew condemnation from around the world. After their sentencing, for example, US President Ronald Reagan issued a plea for clemency for them and 12 other Baha'is who had been sentenced to death.
During their trial, the ten women were told that if they recanted their faith, they would be released. ""Whether you accept it or not, I am a Baha'i,"" replied 28-year-old Zarrin Muqimi-Abyanih. ""You cannot take it away from me. I am a Baha'i with my whole being and my whole heart.""
The youngest among them, Mona Mahmudnizhad, only 17 at the time of her death, has been immortalized in songs and videos. Her conspicuous innocence and brave demeanor in the face of death made her and the nine other women international symbols of Iran's harsh repression of Baha'is.
Attacks on Baha'i cemeteries have been a common feature of the persecution of Baha'is in Iran in recent years. Between 2005 and 2012, at least 42 Baha'i-owned cemeteries were attacked in some manner.
These attacks, often carried out with implicit if not direct government support, have involved the firebombing of mortuary buildings, the toppling of gravestones, the uprooting of landscape shrubbery, the spray-painting of anti-Baha'i graffiti on cemetery walls, and the exhumation of bodies.",NEW YORK,,United States
994,2014-05-08,"[993, 987, 984]",Shiraz cemetery demolition continues by the Revolutionary Guards,"NEW YORK, United States — Despite a worldwide outcry, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards is continuing to destroy a historic Baha'i cemetery in Shiraz, Iran.
The ongoing demolition – which is understood to be taking place without a permit from municipal authorities – continues unabated. Ironically, President Hassan Rouhani's advisor on religious and ethnic minorities spoke last Friday in a synagogue in Shiraz and called on Iranians to respect the rights of religious minorities. All the while, the revolutionary guards were carrying out the ongoing destruction in another part of the city.
""Baha'is around the world have been moved by the overwhelming expressions of outrage in the media and particularly from Iranians both inside and outside of Iran who condemn this deplorable act,"" said Ms. Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
Many Iranians have responded with anger, registering their concern online.
""I'm a Shiite Muslim and now my religion is placing a great burden on me because it is destroying the cemetery of another religion,"" wrote someone in response to a story on Radio Farda, an Iranian news website. ""Mr. Rouhani, please wake up from your sleep.""
On Facebook, on a Persian-language page dedicated to promoting the spirit of citizenship, an individual posted an article about the Shiraz cemetery's destruction, saying that whether someone was pro-government or against it, religious or atheist, how could one imagine supporting such an action. ""Which one of you supports this act committed against our Baha'i compatriots by the Islamic Republic?""
Ms. Dugal added: ""Given the historic character of this ground, where some 950 Baha'is are buried, including ten women who were hanged in 1983 for their refusal to recant their Baha'i belief, this continuing action is not only illegal but morally outrageous.""
Noting that the news has been widely discussed in the news media and online, Ms. Dugal called on the international community to continue to raise its voice against the Guards' action, in the hope that it will motivate the authorities in Iran to press harder for them to stop the demolition.
""Given that his own advisor has been travelling the country calling for respect for religious minorities, we would hope that President Rouhani himself would step in and get the Revolutionary Guards to stop this desecration,"" she said.  Photos of the destruction of a historic Baha’i cemetery in Shiraz by the Revolutionary Guards.Word of the cemetery's demolition emerged on 1 May after the Baha'i International Community learned that Revolutionary Guards had in late April dug up an area of some 200 square meters and lined up some 40 to 50 trucks for continuing excavation.
It has since been learned that the appropriate municipal authorities had not issued a permit for the excavation, a legal procedure required for any such work. The Guards, who took ownership of the site three years ago and announced plans to build a new cultural and sports building there, ignored the legal requirement.
Ali Younesi, the special advisor to President Hassan Rouhani for ethnic and religious minorities, who issued a call for religious tolerance while visiting a synagogue in Shiraz, is reported to have said: ""Iran belongs to all Iranians from every minority group and they all have the right to live with peace among other people."" He added: ""No one has the right to violate the rights of any minorities.""
Ms. Dugal said Mr. Younesi's remarks seemed to make a mockery of the government's ability to control the Revolutionary Guards.
""Here we have a top presidential advisor to Hassan Rouhani calling for Iranians to respect the rights of religious minorities, in a talk given at a Jewish holy place no less, while the revolutionary guards are hard at work in another part of the city destroying the holy ground of another religious group,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""The irony, let alone the injustice, is incredible.""",NEW YORK,,United States
995,2014-05-13,"[994, 987, 992]",Muslim leaders embrace Ayatollah Tehrani's call for religious coexistence,"LONDON, England — Muslim leaders in Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, India, and Iran are echoing the call for religious tolerance and ""coexistence"" with Baha'is, issued last month by a senior Iranian religious leader.
The expression of support is significant because many Muslim leaders interpret Islamic teachings as saying that only three faiths – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – are divine in origin and therefore legitimate as systems of religious belief. This has led to restrictions on religious freedom in some countries.
The statements of these Muslim leaders are all the more noteworthy as they are made against a backdrop of ongoing severe repression of the Baha'i community in Iran, that country's largest non-Muslim religious minority. Among the wide-ranging acts of relentless persecution throughout the country are the imprisonment of infants with their Baha'i mothers, the continued denial to Baha'i students of access to higher education, obstruction of the right to earn a livelihood, and the desecration and destruction of Baha'i cemeteries, most recently in Shiraz.
In Pakistan, Allama Abulfateh G. R. Chishti, chairman of the Universal Interfaith Peace Mission, wrote that ""Islam in its true nature is a preserver of minority religions under it.... As the Qur'an says: 'There is no compulsion in Religion....'""
He said, however, Baha'is have been persecuted in Iran ""because religion today has been misinterpreted by the religio-political, and exploited by them for their vested interest.""
Therefore, he wrote, Ayatollah Tehrani's ""voice must not be taken lightly,"" saying that he has risked ""his own life by raising the issue of the security of a minority religion in Iran.
""All the peace loving and believing in freedom religions should support the Ayatollah if they really wish to end religiously motivated violence,"" he said.
In the United Kingdom last week, the founder of the British Muslim Forum said he hoped Ayatollah Tehrani's initiative would ""result in bringing much needed understanding"" between Muslims and Baha'is in Iran and elsewhere.
""The Forum congratulates the Ayatollah for his courageous and dignified act and sincerely hopes that it will open the door of constructive inter-faith relations between the two faith communities in Iran,"" wrote Maulana Shahid Raza on 5 May 2014.  Hojatoleslam Mohammad Taghi Fazel Meybodi, a high-ranking cleric in Iran.Yesterday, Fiyaz Mughal, director of Faith Matters, an interfaith and anti-extremist organization based in the United Kingdom, published an article in the Huffington Post that praised the actions of Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, who in April bravely gifted to the Baha'is of the world an illuminated work of calligraphy featuring verses from the Baha'i sacred writings.
""[T] e symbolism of [his] 'reaching out' comes in the wake of several recent statements by religious scholars in the Muslim world who have set out alternative interpretations of the teachings of Islam in which tolerance of every religion is, in fact, upheld by the holy Qur'an,"" wrote Mr. Mughal.
Ibrahim Mogra, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, likewise summed up this burgeoning global conversation recently, also commenting on the significance of Ayatollah Tehrani's gift to Baha'is.
""He has reminded us that Islam is a religion of peace that recognizes diversity of every kind as part of God's design for his creation,"" wrote Imam Mogra on 21 April 2014 in an article  featured on the website of Britain's The Guardian newspaper.
""The Ayatollah has done something unprecedented in Iran,"" continued Imam Mogra. ""And he is part of a growing trend in that country; others have also championed the inalienable rights of all Iranian citizens. Islam has a history of defending minorities and protecting their religious rights and freedoms.""
In Bahrain, a similar expression of support came from a prominent Muslim journalist: Es'haq Al-Sheikh, who wrote in Alayam that Ayatollah Tehrani's gift to Baha'is was an ""act that reflects a heightened understanding of the Holy Qur'an's call for religious coexistence.""
""People are free to decide what should comprise their religious beliefs – all religions with no exception are equal in rank theologically,"" wrote Mr. Al-Sheikh, in an article headlined: ""Allow for the Baha'i Faith amongst us.""
""Since its inception, the Baha'i Faith has faced persecution, oppression, punishment and disdain – a matter that contradicts the spiritual and intellectual freedom of coexistence amongst all religions, with no exception, including the Baha'i Faith,"" wrote Mr. Al-Sheikh.
After Ayatollah Tehrani's gift to the Baha'i world was announced on 7 April, expressions of moral and theological support began to come in from Muslim leaders.
On 10 April, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, head of the Islamic Centre of India, issued a statement saying: ""This friendliness towards a beleaguered religious minority is an exemplary act. It underscores the principle of the equality of all people before God, irrespective of religious belief.
""Islam teaches brotherhood and unity with all peoples on earth, and Ayatollah Tehrani's exalted act is in accordance with the fundamental teachings of God,"" said Maulana Khalid Rasheed.
And in Iran last week, a high-ranking cleric – while not mentioning Ayatollah Tehrani – declared that interpretations of Islam that hold Baha'is to be impure are incorrect – and that Baha'is should therefore enjoy equal rights.
""Like all other religious jurists who believe that [all] people are ritually pure, I also believe that Baha'is are pure,"" wrote Hojatoleslam Mohammad Taghi Fazel Meybodi.
""In accordance with the citizenship rights of all citizens of a country, Muslims, Baha'is, Zoroastrians, or any people holding any set of beliefs should enjoy rights equal to those of any other citizens of the country,"" wrote Hojatoleslam Meybodi in an essay on Iranwire, which has been translated by Iran Press Watch.
""There should be no difference between a Baha'i, a Jew and other religious minorities in other situations such as the right to education, the right to earn a living, the right to select one's residence, etc.,"" continued Hojatoleslam Meybodi.
The public reaction to these ideas has been considerable.
Mr. Al-Sheikh's article in Alayam has been shared extensively through social media.
And individuals posted some 234 comments to The Guardian's article by Imam Mogra before the discussion page was closed.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
996,2014-05-14,"[985, 977, 953]",The Universal House of Justice applauds efforts to promote coexistence,"HAIFA, Israel — In a letter issued yesterday, on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders, the Universal House of Justice has spoken of a growing ""chorus for justice"" inside Iran.
The letter, addressed to the Baha'is of Iran, praised this development: ""How pleased we are to see that, through the audacious and selfless deeds of individuals who seek progress for their homeland, the culture of peaceful coexistence among peoples and religions characteristic of the bygone traditions of your venerable nation is undergoing a renaissance.""
""Promoters of justice, artists, statesmen, thinkers, and other enlightened citizens of Iran—even prisoners of conscience from within their jail cells—are breaking their silence,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice.
This letter is issued against a backdrop of ongoing severe repression of the Baha'i community in Iran, the country's largest non-Muslim religious minority.
""This chorus for justice, which began first in the far-flung regions of the world and gradually attracted to itself the voices of Iranians outside their homeland, is now rising to new and unprecedented levels inside Iran,"" said the Universal House of Justice.
The House of Justice also reminded the Baha'is in Iran that ""beyond recognition of the injustice meted out to you, the enlightened minds of your fellow citizens are more and more attentive to the principles you espouse and live by, and which are the means for the rehabilitation of every society.  Principles such as the sanctity of human dignity; the oneness of humankind irrespective of tribe, race, or belief; the equality of men and women; freedom from prejudice; commitment to knowledge and learning; the abolition of extremes of wealth and poverty; the containment of greed; the harmony of faith and reason—these they increasingly recognize as essential for a progressive future.""
It added that the ""awakening"" of consciousness in Iran ""should not be underestimated.""
""You know well that, for every reported statement of support for you and for these principles, there are many who voice the same sentiments in private and who are now, in light of the current circumstances, learning how to express their views openly and to join the cohort of those who defend your rights and labour for peaceful coexistence.
""Consider how that spurious narrative, which the ailing minds of the prejudiced and the limited conceptions of the fanatics have concocted and for whose propagation they have, for 170 years, assiduously striven, has within just a few years become widely recognized to be utterly false.""
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said the growing call for justice for Iranian Baha'is kindles a light of hope in the hearts of all oppressed people in Iran.
""The support which has been witnessed over the past several weeks for our Baha'i compatriots in Iran, and which has indeed been growing steadily over the past several years, is unprecedented,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""Moreover, we laud these courageous women and men who are today speaking out, at considerable risk to themselves, for Iranian Baha'is.""
Six of the seven Baha'i leaders were arrested on 14 May 2008 in a series of early morning raids in Tehran. The seventh had been detained two months earlier on 5 March 2008.
Since their arrests, the seven – whose names are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – have been subject to an entirely flawed judicial process that has completely ignored international requirements for human rights and legal protections.
During their first year in detention, the seven were not told of the charges against them and they had virtually no access to lawyers. Their trial, conducted over a period of months in 2010 and amounting to only six days in court, was illegally closed to the public, demonstrated extreme bias on the part of prosecutors and judges, and was based on non-existent evidence.
Their 20-year sentences are the longest given to any current prisoners of conscience in Iran. The harshness reflects the government's resolve to oppress completely the Iranian Baha'i community, which faces a systematic, ""cradle-to-grave"" persecution that is among the most serious examples of state-sponsored religious persecution in the world today.",HAIFA,,Israel
999,2014-05-15,"[996, 995, 987]",Human rights champions in Iran commemorate sixth anniversary of imprisonment of Baha'i leaders,"GENEVA, Switzerland — In an unprecedented show of solidarity, influential Iranian personalities, human rights activists, journalists, and a prominent religious leader gathered this week in Tehran to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the imprisonment of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders and to express support for them.
News of this highly significant gathering spread rapidly through online and social media yesterday. The centerpiece of the coverage was a photograph of those assembled in a private home around a large photograph of the seven.
The meeting reflects a growing movement by Iranians inside and outside of the country who stand for the belief that ""Iran must be for everyone"" and who reject the persecution of that nation's Baha'is and oppose the government's stance in oppressing them, as noted yesterday in a letter from the Universal House of Justice to Iranian Baha'is.
A detailed account of the gathering was published on SahamNews, a reformist Iranian website.  Nargess Mohammadi, a prominent women's rights activist and the vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center.""Until last year there would have been no possibility of a gathering such as this and we couldn't even speak about the pain we hold in common,"" said Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights lawyer and defender who was recently released from Evin prison. Ms. Sotoudeh was incarcerated with a number of Baha'i women including Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, two of the seven-member group of Baha'i leaders.
""Mahvash and Fariba have kept up their spirit with extraordinary perseverance and they go forward with an amazing valor,"" she continued. ""We are here together because the Baha'i community was oppressed and our mothers and fathers did not pay attention to this matter.""
""We know the Baha'is for their honor and upright qualities,"" said Nargess Mohammadi, a prominent women's rights activist present at the gathering.
""I hope that one day our society reaches the stage where Baha'is, too, will be able to work and study,"" said Ms. Mohammadi, vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, which has defended the seven in court and was founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.
Other prominent activists and leaders present at the gathering included: Muhammad Maleki, the first head of Tehran University following the Islamic Revolution; Masumeh Dehghan, an activist and wife of Abdolfatah Soltani, a well-known lawyer who represented the seven and who is himself currently in prison; and Jila Baniyaghoob and Issa Saharkhiz, two prominent journalists who have also spent time in prison.
Mr. Maleki was quoted by SahamNews as saying: ""I know very well that Baha'is are forbidden to go to university."" He continued, ""All beliefs must be respected. Let us honor one another's beliefs and put divisions aside... We have to work on common principles such as freedom.""
Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, a senior Muslim cleric who recently called for religious coexistence, was also present at the gathering.
""Perspectives have to change,"" said Ayatollah Tehrani, according to SahamNews. ""And I think now is an opportune moment for this.""
Muhammad Nourizad, a former journalist with the semi-official Kayhan newspaper, who was himself recently in prison, likewise attended the gathering. He was quoted as saying: ""Before I went to prison, I was weighed down by prejudice. But after I was freed from prison, the heavy weight of prejudice was lifted from me and my outlook has changed.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1000,2014-05-16,"[999, 996, 995]","Honoring the ""unseen"" heroes in promoting religious freedom and coexistence","NEW YORK, United States — In this world of division and conflict, it takes a special kind of courage for those in a dominant group to break ranks and speak out on behalf of the oppressed, especially when this comes at great personal risk.
Examples, often overlooked, can be found in many places, such as when Albanians refused to round up Jews during World War II, when two Italian priests sheltered minority Tutsi orphans from genocide in Rwanda in the 1990s,  when Muslim and Christian women negotiated the release of children held hostage by a rebel group in Sierra Leone, or, more recently, when a senior Iranian cleric bravely called for coexistence with Baha'is.
These and other stories of ""unseen valor"" were highlighted at an event yesterday that brought together United Nations ambassadors, academics, UN officials, and representatives of civil society in a discussion about the importance of citizen action in support of religious freedom and atrocity crime prevention.
""The people we have heard about should become our role models, our champions, and guide our actions,"" said Adama Dieng, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. ""Let us be inspired by them to speak out and to act against intolerance, discrimination, and violence.""
Sponsored by two NGO committees at the United Nations, ""Unseen Valor: Acts of Interfaith Courage in the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief"" was held at the office of the Baha'i International Community in New York.
Bani Dugal, President of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, one of the sponsoring committees, said the event was inspired by the recent actions of Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, who publicly gifted to the Baha'is of the world an illuminated work of calligraphy highlighting a passage from the writings of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith.
""This is a very courageous act given the systematic persecution of Baha'is in Iran,"" said Ms. Dugal, who is also Principal Representative of the BIC to the UN.
""At the UN, discussions about human rights and in particular, freedom of religion or belief, often revolve around the role of Member States and international law.
""However, we know that citizen action is equally important in upholding freedom, and this event seeks to highlight those individuals who speak out, often at great personal peril, to demonstrate solidarity with those at risk, to inspire and influence others to enrich the environment with unity and harmony,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Ferit Hoxha, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Albania to the United Nations, told the dramatic story of how Albanians, as a people and a nation during World War II, welcomed and protected Jews from Nazi persecution – despite German occupation and great risk to those who offered shelter.  Adama Dieng, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, speaking yesterday at ""Unseen Valor"".""There were a handful of countries in Europe that stood up and saved thousands of Jews,"" said Ambassador  Hoxha.
But what makes the Albanian story unique, he said, is that ""every member of the Jewish community living in Albania survived the Holocaust.""
""Like no other occupied country, Albania became a Jewish sanctuary and it had ten times more Jews within its border at the end of the war compared to the beginning.""
""There is no need for any imagination or effort to understand that those times and years were dark for Albanians themselves,"" said Ambassador Hoxha. ""Risks were high, threats to life were everywhere, and hiding Jews under Nazi occupation was simply a death threat for the entire family.""
Jacqueline Murekatete told a personal story of how, with the help of two courageous Italian priests at the St. Anthony's orphanage in Nyanza, Rwanda, she survived the 1994 genocide, during which more than a million ethnic Tutsis were killed by members of the Hutu majority. Her parents and all her brothers and sisters, however, did not survive.
""Many times these two Italian priests were threatened,"" said Ms. Murekatete, who is an internationally recognized human rights activist and founder of Jacqueline's Human Rights Corner, a genocide prevention and education program. ""They were physically abused. But every time they were called by their embassy and told they could be evacuated, they refused.
""They told the embassy that unless they could bring the children, like myself, they would not leave,"" she said. ""And so over 300 Tutsi children survived.""
William Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace International, told a number of stories about religious leaders working behind the scenes around the world to quell religious or ethnic conflict.
In Sierra Leone, during a brutal civil war that lasted from 1991-2002, a group of Muslim and Christian women boldly negotiated the release of 50 child captives held by the Revolutionary United Front, said Dr. Vendley, who is also Chair of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the UN, which co-sponsored the event.
""They went into the bush completely unarmed,"" he said. ""And their strength was that they were women and they were all mothers.""
That act of courage helped open the door to the peace accords that finally ended the war there in 2002, said Dr. Vendley.
""I am one who believes that if these women, Muslims and Christians together, hadn't done what they had done, the path would not have been as direct to a final solution,"" he said.
In the telling of these stories, many of the speakers yesterday said that it is such individual or small-group acts of courage that have broken down the barriers of hatred or intolerance that attempt to strip some groups of their humanity.
In that context, Special Adviser Dieng said he saluted ""the wisdom and courage"" of Ayatollah Tehrani.
""I echo his call for 'religious coexistence' with Iranian Baha'is,"" stated Mr. Dieng, saying he ""shows us that Islam's peaceful legacy is not just history: it must also be the future.
""Courage is like a flower that blossoms in concrete,"" said Mr. Dieng. ""It can foster human dignity by challenging stereotypes and stigma and – in the best cases – save lives.""
Likewise, Borislava Manojlovic, an expert in conflict analysis and resolution at Seton Hall University, referring generally to such actions, said that when individuals or leaders ""depart from the norm,"" it can lead to ""a variety of transformational outcomes in support of peace.""
She had discussed how individuals had given shelter to Muslims in the recent conflict in the Central African Republic. ""Choosing peace in the midst of a conflict can be dangerous,"" said Dr. Manojlovic, noting that members of the majority risk being shunned by their own communities.
""But a true, sustainable peace comes about when someone in the system is able to imagine a way to create a discontinuity in the vicious cycles of revenge (which often underlie such conflicts) and act upon it,"" said Dr. Manojlovic.
""This is a choice an individual, a group, or a state makes,"" she said.",NEW YORK,,United States
1001,2014-05-17,"[988, 991, 996]","In London, UK Secretary of State praises Baha'i ideals","LONDON, England — At a reception held in the Houses of Parliament here, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has stated his admiration for the Baha'i Faith and its ideals.
The Baha'i principle of the oneness of mankind is one ""which we strive to promote in the UK,"" the Right Honorable Eric Pickles MP told a gathering of more than 100 guests.
""We all have in common our basic humanity and it's this oneness that inspires the Baha'i Faith.""
Mr. Pickles was speaking at the Houses of Parliament on 30 April at a celebration of the annual Baha'i festival of Ridvan. Among those present were government officials, parliamentarians, representatives of faith communities and civil society organisations, and foreign diplomats.
""Your message of unity ripples down the ages,"" Mr. Pickles said.
The activities that Baha'is offer in neighbourhoods and localities, designed to build bonds of community and encourage spiritual renewal, were also singled out for praise from the Secretary of State.
""Your knack in promoting oneness is inspiring – and a little humbling,"" he said.
Welcoming the guests, Louise Ellman MP – who is the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'i Faith – said that 'we want to showcase the Baha'i community' and its contributions to UK society, while also raising awareness about the situation of the persecuted Baha'is of Iran.  Among the guests at a reception held in the UK Houses of Parliament, 30 April 2014, marking the Baha'i festival of Ridvan were Lord Hylton – pictured left – and Lord Avebury – second from right.The Ridvan festival marks the first public declaration by Baha'u'llah – the Faith's Prophet-founder – in a garden in Baghdad, in April 1863. There He informed His friends and family members of His mission to unite the human race and establish universal peace.
""The Baha'i Faith is associated with a garden,"" said Sahba Besharati, speaking on behalf of the Baha'i community, ""the Garden of Ridvan, and the word Ridvan means Paradise – aptly so, since Baha'u'llah's vision was to transform this troubled world into a heavenly garden, where diversity is celebrated, and where the different colours and shapes of the flowers of the garden serve to further enhance the beauty and the harmony of the whole garden.""
In 2012, Mr. Pickles launched the 'A Year of Service' initiative at the National Baha'i Centre in London, and last year he hosted a group of Baha'is to celebrate the centenary of the visit to the United Kingdom by 'Abdu'l-Baha – the eldest son of Baha'u'llah and His appointed successor as head of the Baha'i Faith.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1002,2014-05-18,"[996, 999, 992]",Senior law officers in Bangladesh praise courageous symbolic action for coexistence,"DHAKA, Bangladesh — Four leading jurists in Bangladesh have commended the action of a prominent Iranian religious leader who has called for coexistence of all religions, including Baha'is.
Advocate Md. Abdus Salam Mondal, Deputy Attorney General of Bangladesh, wrote that Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani's action ""is a true expression of the spirit and message of Islam that believes in equal coexistence with the followers of all religions."" He also stated that ""the Baha'is, like the followers of all other religions, have the right to profess their religion unhindered.""
Three founding members of the Bangladesh Minority Lawyers' Association – Barrister Nikhilesh Dutta, Advocate Cyril Sikdar, and Advocate S. N. Goswami – made similar statements.
Barrister Nikhilesh Dutta, former Deputy Attorney General and social activist, who has been practicing law in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh since 1978, praised Ayatollah Tehrani, ""who has initiated a positive note for the followers of the Baha'i religion through his noble gift of calligraphy to them"". He further expressed hope that the people and the government of Iran would follow suit. Mr. Dutta was the first national who was called to the Bar in Bangladesh, in 1972.  In 2007, in recognition of his services, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II conferred a knighthood on him.
Advocate Cyril Sikdar, former Ambassador of Bangladesh in Nepal, who has held a law practice in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh since 1976, stated that Ayatollah Tehrani's statement is ""a brave expression of the true feelings of sincere Muslims of the world"". Mr. Sikdar also said that Ayatollah Tehrani's call for religious tolerance is ""in full accord with the beliefs and hopes of the Muslims of Bangladesh who strongly believe that people of all religions should be allowed to coexist and work on the progress of their country.""
Advocate S. N. Goswami, who, in addition to co-founding the Bangladesh Minority Lawyers' Association, is Founder-Editor of the monthly journal ""Bangladesh Law Times"", noted that Ayatollah Tehrani's gift of calligraphy to the Baha'is of the world – and particularly to the Baha'is of Iran – ""is a very praiseworthy act fully in line with the Teachings of the Holy Qur'an.""
These four senior law officers join a rapidly growing number of individuals in countries across the world, including within Iran itself, who are raising their voices in support of Ayatollah Tehrani's courageous stand for religious tolerance. The resounding call for an end to the relentless persecution of Iran's Baha'is by their government has brought both consolation and reassurance to the Baha'is  throughout the country, who are deeply grateful for the expressions of solidarity they are receiving from fellow citizens and other well-wishers further afield.",DHAKA,,Bangladesh
1003,2014-05-21,"[987, 995, 996]",Continuing praise for Ayatollah Tehrani’s call for religious coexistence,"SAO PAULO, Brazil — The dramatic initiative of a senior Iranian religious leader, who last month called for coexistence with Baha'is, continues to stir a global conversation about religious tolerance and freedom of belief.
Statements by prominent religious leaders and other thinkers have recently been made in Brazil, Canada, Spain, and South Africa in response to the actions of Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, who on 7 April 2014 gifted to the Baha'is of the world an illuminated calligraphic work of Baha'i holy verses.
In Brazil, noted Liberation theologian Leonardo Boff expressed admiration for Ayatollah Tehrani's gesture, saying he is ""serving the cause of peace among religions – the basis for peace among peoples.""
""It is impossible not to remember, in this context, the extraordinary experience of seven centuries of peaceful coexistence and profound dialogue between the followers of Allah who lived in the Spain of Averroes and Avicenna, amongst great other poets, living alongside Christians like the Franciscan priest Raimundo Lullo,"" wrote Dr. Boff, who currently serves as Professor Emeritus of Ethics, Philosophy of Religion and Ecology at the Rio de Janeiro State University.
Also in Brazil, Federal Deputy Chico Alencar recently delivered a statement to Congress praising Ayatollah Tehrani's gesture, calling it a ""symbolic action for us to remember the importance of valuing human dignity and of peaceful coexistence.""
""Beyond that, he states that independent of the religion, people should live in cooperation and avoid hatred, enmity and religious prejudice,"" said Deputy Alencar, explaining he was citing Ayatollah Tehrani's actions as a reminder to other Federal Deputies that laws should ""promote educational, social and political practices aligned with ideas of peace and peaceful coexistence among all Brazilians....""
In Canada, James Christie, director of the Ridd Institute for Religion and Global Policy at the University of Winnipeg, wrote a letter commending Ayatollah Tehrani's actions.
""His words and his gift augur a rising tide of reconciliation, peace and hope among religions upon which all people of good will must surely comment and act, not for fortune, but in faith,"" said the Rev. Prof. Dr. Christie.  Leonardo Boff, who currently serves as Professor Emeritus of Ethics, Philosophy of Religion and Ecology at the Rio de Janeiro State University.In South Africa, Gary Eisenberg, chairman of the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies, wrote a letter to Ayatollah Tehrani, commending him on his gesture towards the Baha'is, calling it ""a symbol of respect for the innate dignity of human beings, for fellow-feeling and peaceful coexistence regardless of religious affiliation, denomination or belief.""
""We pray that the message of tolerance and compassion found in the Koran and repeated in your message to the Baha'i community will spread among the other leaders in your country so that all the peoples of Iran become free to live as equals in your beautiful land,"" wrote Mr. Eisenberg.
And in Spain, Eva Borreguero, a professor at the Complutense University of Madrid, and Antonio Sanchez Bayon, a professor of law at Universidad Camilo Jose Cela, expressed support for Ayatollah Tehrani and his message.",SAO PAULO,,Brazil
1004,2014-05-22,"[1003, 996, 987]",Global outcry over continued imprisonment of Baha'i leaders in Iran,"NEW YORK, United States — Around the world, government officials, the news media, and human rights activists have once again raised their voices in protest over the continued imprisonment of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders.
The outcry has come on the sixth anniversary of their wrongful imprisonment. Six of the seven were arrested on 14 May 2008, and all are now serving 20-year sentences, the longest terms of any current prisoners of conscience in Iran.
Perhaps the most dramatic commemoration of their arrest and imprisonment was held in Tehran on 12 May when nearly a dozen human rights activists, journalists, and a religious leader gathered with Baha'is at a private home.
Shown together in a dramatic photograph widely circulated online, the group included human rights lawyers Nasrin Sotoudeh and Nargess Mohammadi; Masumeh Dehghan, an activist and wife of Abdolfatah Soltani, an imprisoned human rights lawyer;  Muhammad Maleki, the first head of Tehran University following the Islamic Revolution; Jila Baniyaghoob, Issa Saharkhiz, and Muhammad Nourizad, prominent journalists who have also spent time in prison; and Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, a senior Muslim cleric who recently called for religious coexistence with Baha'is.
Outside Iran, observances, commemorations or other events have been held in Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, among other countries.
These events also coincide with the release of a major new documentary film about the persecution of Iranian Baha'is, ""To Light a Candle"", produced by prominent filmmaker and journalist Maziar Bahari.
Also noteworthy has been the number of high-profile editorials and commentaries that have been published in major news outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, the Guardian, the National Post, and The Huffington Post. A number of commentaries have been published in Persian-language media as well. Virtually all have called for the release of the seven.
""As Iran approaches the anniversary of Hasan Rouhani's presidential victory, the Islamic Republic's human-rights record, particularly its treatment of religious minorities, remains abysmal"", wrote Robert George and Katrina Lantos Swett in The Wall Street Journal on 19 May 2014. ""This is especially true for the Baha'is, Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority.""  Andrew Bennett, Canada's Ambassador for Religious Freedom.Writing for the Guardian's Tehran Bureau on 19 May, Ramin Ahmadi said the fate of the seven – and all Iranian Baha'is – is ""the fate of all Iranians who do not conform in one way or another.""
""Their religious freedom, their human rights are an essential prerequisite for our freedom, our human rights"", wrote Mr. Ahmadi, co-founder of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center.
Dr. George and Dr. Swett, who both serve on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, wrote: ""As with the cases of jailed Christian pastors, such as Saeed Abedini and Farshid Fathi, the Tehran regime shows no signs of wanting to free the so-called Baha'i seven – Baha'i leaders jailed on spurious charges, from espionage to ""spreading corruption on the earth"" – nor of stopping the persecution of its Baha'i population, which numbers more than 300,000.""
Irwin Cotler, writing in Canada's National Post, also used the sixth anniversary of the arrest of the seven to call attention to human rights violations generally in Iran.
He called the 20-year sentences ""a virtual death sentence for some, given their advanced age"", adding that ""the Iranian regime has made the very membership in and practice of the Baha'i religion a crime in itself."" Mr. Cotler is a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Government officials have also expressed concern.
In the United Kingdom, the Foreign Office issued a press release calling for the release of the seven.
""Six years ago today, seven leaders of the Baha'i faith in Iran were imprisoned for 20 years each for practicing their religion,"" said Hugh Robertson, Minister of State for the Middle East. ""I call on the Iranian authorities to release them as a matter of urgency. I was also deeply concerned to learn of the recent reports of the desecration of a Baha'i cemetery in Shiraz, where approximately 950 Baha'is are buried.""
In Canada, Andrew Bennett, the Ambassador for Religious Freedom, issued a statement on 14 May noting the sixth anniversary of the arrest of the seven and expressing sadness that ""the situation for Iran's religious minorities remains dire, with nothing to show but President Rouhani's empty promises.""
""Iran's Baha'is, Christians, Dervishes and Sunni Muslims continue to face harassment, arbitrary arrest, imprisonment and mistreatment by Iranian authorities for practicing their faith and participating in their religious communities,"" said Dr. Bennett.
Others commemorated the sixth anniversary of the arrest of the seven in diverse ways.
In the United States, the newly-released documentary ""To Light a Candle"", produced and directed by former Newsweek Tehran correspondent Maziar Bahari, premiered in a half-dozen cities in North America in May, including Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, and Chicago.
Writing in The Huffington Post, journalist Omid Memarian called the film ""a turning point in addressing the circumstance of Baha'is in Iran.
""It unveils decades of repression, persecution and intimidation against a peaceful community of Iranians whose lives have been dramatically undermined by religious intolerance by the Iranian ruling class"", wrote Mr. Memarian.
Also in the United States, four Members of Congress have drafted a letter to President Barack Obama about the deterioration of human rights in Iran. The letter, which devotes a paragraph to the situation of the seven Baha'i prisoners, is currently circulating Congress, gaining additional signatories.
In addition, thirteen faith-based organizations in the United States, including the American Jewish Committee, the American Islamic Congress, the Anti-Defamation League, the Baptist World Alliance, and the Hindu American Foundation, have sent a letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry, saying that the treatment of the seven is ""emblematic of a deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.""
""We are deeply concerned about religious freedom and human rights in Iran,"" states the letter. ""We ask you to call for the release of the [seven] and all prisoners of conscience in Iran, and to speak out for the fundamental rights of all citizens of Iran.""
In Brazil, representatives of the Baha'i community, the National Council of Christian Churches, the Brazilian Spiritualist Federation, and of the United Religions Initiative gathered for prayers in front of the Brazilian Congress building.
They were joined by Senator Ana Rita, president of the Human Rights Commission of the Brazilian Senate, who called for the immediate release of the seven and an end to the persecution of Iranian Baha'is.
On that same day, Senator Eduardo Suplicy took the floor in the plenary session of the Brazilian Senate and spoke in defense of the seven.
In South Africa, SAFM, the largest talk radio station in the country, carried a 30-minute program on 15 May that focused entirely on the systematic and ongoing persecution of Baha'is in Iran.
The seven Baha'i leaders formed the entire membership of the now-disbanded group known as the ""Yaran"" or ""Friends in Iran"", which operated with the explicit knowledge of the government to tend to the spiritual and social needs of the 300,000-member Baha'i community of that country.
On 14 May 2008, in a series of early morning raids in Tehran, six of them were arrested: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. A seventh member of the group, Mahvash Sabet, had been detained two months earlier on 5 March 2008.
Afterwards, the seven leaders were subject to an entirely flawed judicial process. During their first year in detention, the seven were not told of the charges against them and they had virtually no access to lawyers. Their trial, conducted over a period of months in 2010 and amounting to only six days in court, was illegally closed to the public, demonstrated extreme bias on the part of prosecutors and judges, and was based on non-existent evidence.
""The bill of indictment that was issued against our clients...was more like a political statement, rather than a legal document,"" said one of their lawyers, Mahnaz Parakand. ""It was a 50-page document...full of accusations and humiliations leveled against the Baha'i community of Iran, especially our clients. It was written without producing any proof for the allegations.""
Today the seven endure harsh conditions in two of Iran's most notorious prisons. The five men are incarcerated at Gohardasht prison in Karaj, and the two women remain at Tehran's Evin Prison. They are all in special wards for prisoners of conscience, where they face added restrictions and heightened surveillance.",NEW YORK,,United States
1006,2014-06-03,"[1004, 1003, 996]",Faith leaders call for release of Iran's imprisoned Baha'is,"LONDON, England — Representatives from the United Kingdom's major religious communities have called for the immediate release from prison in Iran of that country's seven former Baha'i leaders.
The call came at an unprecedented commemorative meeting in Westminster Abbey, held on 27 May, to mark the sixth anniversary of their imprisonment. The seven are each currently serving 20-year jail sentences, the longest faced by any of Iran's prisoners of conscience.
The gathering took place in the Abbey's historic Jerusalem Chamber. Dating from the late 14th century, it is the room where committees translated the Authorized Version of the Bible in 1611, and prepared subsequent revised editions.
Welcoming the guests, the Reverend Andrew Tremlett – Canon of Westminster Abbey – explained how the Abbey ""aspires to be a place that gathers people of all faiths and none, so it is absolutely right that this occasion is happening here.""
The program included prayers and reflections delivered by representatives of the Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities. After the contributions, seven of the faith leaders each lit a candle, representing a prisoner.  The Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Canon of Westminster and Rector of St. Margaret's, welcomes participants to the commemorative gathering at Westminster Abbey, 27 May 2014, marking the sixth anniversary of the imprisonment of Iran's seven former Baha'i leaders.Parliamentarians, government officials, civil society actors, academics, and representatives of interfaith organizations were also in attendance. Louise Ellman MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is group, said that the event was taking place ""in the context of an ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran"".
The Iranian government's treatment of its Baha'i community is the litmus test of its regard for the human rights of all its citizens, Ms. Ellmann added.
""Today I reiterate the call in urging the Iranian authorities to release the (Baha'i leaders) unconditionally and immediately.""
Two prominent faith leaders – a Sunni Muslim and a Coptic Orthodox Christian – also offered remarks. In a video message which was screened to the gathering, Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra – who serves as an imam in Leicester – said that ""no religion teaches us to treat others wrongly and oppress them... Iran has the opportunity to demonstrate to the world that Islam is indeed a religion of compassion and peace"".
Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom said that ""we stand with, and pray for, the Baha'i community, both here and around the world, and pray for the safe return of their leaders to them"".
""We pray for a change of heart, a change of policy. We pray for a change of thought and understanding,"" said Bishop Angaelos.
Speaking on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, Fidelma Meehan said it was ""heartwarming"" to see such a diverse group of people gather in support of the human rights of the Baha'is in Iran.
Ms. Meehan also noted that government, interfaith, and civil society support in the United Kingdom was matched by a ""growing awareness"" around the world of the true intentions of the Baha'is to ""strive for the spiritual and material welfare of others"". Even in Iran, she said, a number of ""promoters of justice, artists, statesmen, thinkers, and other enlightened citizens"" have recently ""broken their silence"" in defense of the human rights of Iranian Baha'is.
In her concluding remarks, Ms. Ellman said, ""Voices calling for change, voices speaking out against oppression must be heard – and after that, action must follow.""
The seven Baha'i leaders formed the entire membership of the now-disbanded group known as the ""Yaran"" or ""Friends in Iran"", which operated with the explicit knowledge of the government to tend to the spiritual and social needs of the 300,000-member Baha'i community of that country.
On 14 May 2008, in a series of early morning raids in Tehran, six of them were arrested: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. A seventh member of the group, Mahvash Sabet, had been detained two months earlier on 5 March 2008.
Afterwards, the seven were subject to an entirely flawed judicial process. During their first year in detention, they were not told of the charges against them and had virtually no access to lawyers. Their trial, conducted over a period of months in 2010 and amounting to only six days in court, was illegally closed to the public, demonstrated extreme bias on the part of prosecutors and judges, and was based on non-existent evidence.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1007,2014-06-04,"[995, 1002, 1004]","In the Arab world, a new discourse on religious coexistence takes root","MANAMA, Bahrain — Throughout the Arab world, a new discussion on how to live peacefully side by side with the followers of all religions has begun to take shape.
This discourse is inspired partly by the dramatic call of an Iranian Ayatollah for religious coexistence with Baha'is, but has since taken on a life of its own, becoming a heartfelt discussion about the situation of religious freedom in Arab lands.
""Man was created 'free,' and from the Islamic perspective, 'freedom' is not a mere right, but rather a duty accountable by law,"" wrote 'Abdu'l-Hamid Al-Ansari, an expert on Islamic law in Qatar, writing in the Kuwaiti newspaper Aljarida on 26 May.
""Islam grants 'religious freedom' to those who are at variance with it in belief and worship (as stated in the Qur'an): 'To each among you have we prescribed a law and a system.'
""Hence,"" wrote Dr. Al-Ansari, a former dean in Islamic studies and law at the University of Qatar, ""what will remain of the meaning of 'freedom' if we prevent the followers of other religions from practicing their religions?""
Professor Suheil Bushrui, an authority on religious and interfaith issues in the Arab world, said the region ""is an area where there are without any doubt tremendous forces of fanaticism, but at the same time there is an opening of the mind, and a tremendous desire to create a new way of thinking.
""Part of this new thinking is that violence is not what religion teaches, and there is an increasing discussion that emphasizes that freedom of worship and freedom of religion are guaranteed by the Qur'an itself,"" said Professor Bushrui, who is director of the George and Lisa Zakhem Kahlil Gibran Research and Studies Project at the University of Maryland.  Dr. 'Abdu'l-Hamid Al-Ansari, a former dean in Islamic studies and law at the University of Qatar.This discussion is reflected in a growing number of news articles and commentaries on the theme of religious coexistence that have been published in recent weeks throughout the Arab world.
A number of Arab commentators have indicated they were inspired by the actions of Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, an Iranian cleric who recently created a calligraphic work of Baha'i holy verses and sent it as a gift to the Baha'is of the world, along with a statement on the need for coexistence with Baha'is, who face intense persecution in Iran.
In Bahrain, respected journalist Es'haq Al-Sheikh published a commentary in the newspaper Alayam saying that Ayatollah Tehrani's calligraphic gift offered insights about the need for bold action to promote the principle of religious coexistence in the entire region.
""The call of this Iranian cleric creates a genuine invitation for a spirit of peaceful and stable religious coexistence, firmly established in tolerance among all religions,"" wrote Mr. Al-Sheikh on 21 April, in an article headlined: ""Allow for the Baha'i Faith amongst us.""
""This is a blessed call that must take its path to...the Arabian Peninsula and all the Arab countries, to give Baha'is their rights in practicing their religion, and for those countries to strengthen their own concept of citizenship through justice and equality between all religions and beliefs in our Arab societies,"" wrote Mr. Al-Sheikh.
Clovis Maksoud, the former ambassador of the League of Arab States to the United Nations and a renowned author, scholar, and educator, said: ""There is no doubt that there is a trend against dogmatism and intransigence among all religions at this moment."" Dr. Maksoud added: ""There is a discovery of what is common amongst the religions much more than what distinguishes them from each other.
""And what the Ayatollah has done, and the gift he has given to the Baha'is, is a testimony (to this) in a very subtle way. And it applies not only to what has happened to Baha'is but also what is happening in many situations between Shiites and Sunnis, and between Christians and Muslims,"" said Dr. Maksoud in an interview.
Dr. Maksoud said the need is to go beyond the idea of mere tolerance or even coexistence. ""I want to be in the process of co-discovery to see what unites and what is diverse. I want to enjoy diversity as an exercise in spiritual inclusion and practice.""
Mahmoud Chreih, a noted author, editor, and scholar in Lebanon, also said the new message of coexistence is clearly supported in the Qur'an and in other Islamic texts.
""The Qur'an is clear – the verses are clear about tolerance – so there is no problem with the text of Islam,"" Mr. Chreih said. ""The problem is how it is applied.""
Accordingly, he said, the message of Ayatollah Tehrani and others resonates throughout the region.
In Iraq, one of the most senior Shia clerics, Ayatollah Seyed Hosein Sadr, recently gave a long interview outlining a similar vision of religious coexistence and freedom of belief.
""I do not believe in dichotomy in God's message, just as I do not subscribe to dichotomy or conflict between God and mankind,"" said Ayatollah Sadr on 14 May in an interview published by Din Online. ""I believe that such presumption stems from erroneous understanding by religious fanatics and radicals....
""Religion should not be used to suppress mankind, or to force him or her, or cause pressure or duress; religion is meant to guide mankind to a more noble life, and to imbue feelings of joy and good fortune, to offer meaning and value to life,"" said Ayatollah Sadr.
Ayatollah Sadr was also asked about a recent statement he made, in which he urged Muslims to have cordial relations with Baha'is. ""I might not agree with followers of a certain religion, but that does not mean that I can deprive them of their natural human rights,"" he said. ""Religion has bidden us to treat others with equity and justice, even our enemies. As God has said: 'Collective animosity should not make you cease being just!  You must observe fairness and justice, and that is closer to piety.'""
Ahlam Akram, a prominent Arab activist for peace, wrote on 24 April in Elaph: ""Surprisingly, and perhaps hopefully, a number of Muslim clergymen have adopted a new understanding of the teachings and principles of Islam, an understanding that takes a positive stance based on the spirit of the religion, and believes that the Holy Qur'an encourages coexistence between religions; in fact it welcomes it.""",MANAMA,,Bahrain
1008,2014-06-12,"[996, 985, 168]","On the eve of the World Cup, the Universal House of Justice responds to Brazilian President's invitation","SAO PAULO, Brazil — In response to an invitation by the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, the Universal House of Justice has released a message to the people of that country and beyond for the occasion of the 20th World Cup, which begins today.
President Rousseff had written to the Universal House of Justice inviting it to provide a statement regarding the promotion of world peace and harmony among the peoples of the world.  She further expressed her certainty that the message would contribute to the advancement of universal human values.  Leaders of other religions have also been asked to send messages.  The President's letter referred to the Brazilian government's desire to use the occasion of the World Cup to further the cause of peace and combat all forms of racial discrimination.
Dated 6 June 2014, the message of the Universal House of Justice can be found here.",SAO PAULO,,Brazil
1009,2014-06-17,"[1007, 1006, 1003]","On three continents prominent Muslims denounce persecution of Iran's Baha'is, call for religious coexistence","PARIS, France — In the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, prominent Muslims have spoken out recently against the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran, denouncing the religious intolerance that is the motivating force behind the oppression of that country's largest religious minority.   Inspired in part by Iranian Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, who recently issued a call asking specifically for ""coexistence"" with Baha'is, Ayatollah al-Faqih Seyyed Hussein Ismail al-Sadr, the most senior Shi'a cleric in Baghdad, Iraq; the Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa; and Dr. Ghaleb Bencheikh, Chair of Religions for Peace in France, have all praised Ayatollah Tehrani's action as both principled and courageous, endorsing his appeal for a fresh discourse on the shared values among different religions as part of an effort to promote harmonious coexistence.
In Baghdad, in an extended interview published online on 14 May 2014, Ayatollah al-Faqih Seyyed Hussein Ismail al-Sadr, founder of the Humanitarian Dialogue Foundation, said discussions about such shared values can help overcome dogmatism and fanaticism.
""All of us, before adhering to a certain religion, group, or doctrine, are human beings,"" said Ayatollah Sadr. ""As such, we share many values, thought processes, and natural dispositions, which are the elements that allow us to come together and engage in a discourse that would give us a greater understanding of others, and thus gain a deeper understanding of each other, which, in turn, leads us to establish a harmonious coexistence.""
In the interview, Ayatollah Sadr also addressed the question of the Baha'is.  ""The Qur'an addresses us all as 'children of Adam',"" he said, ""and according to Imam 'Ali, peace be upon Him, people are of two kinds – either your religious brother, or your equal in creation.  I might not agree with followers of a certain religion, but that does not mean that I have the right to deprive them of their natural human rights or deny them their rights as citizens of a nation.""  A poster featuring images of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders in Iran.Ayatollah Sadr, who is well known for his efforts to promote dialogue among religious and secular groups, called for a ""human discourse"" about religious harmony and coexistence.  His objective, he said, is to ""engage in all discourses that contribute to the formation of a progressive humanity with a new vision that can build a healthy society, which, in turn, contributes to building successful nations.""
Last October, Ayatollah Sadr issued a religious edict or fatwa concerning how Muslims should behave towards Baha'is, in response to a question posed to him by someone who noted that some Muslims believe that they should not have any interactions with Baha'is.
""God Almighty has ordered us to deal with all our brothers and sisters from other religions and faith with kindness, based in justice, mercy and love,"" he said. ""Therefore, there is no objection to interacting and associating within the general human fundamentals between Muslims and their brothers from other religions and beliefs.""
On 16 May 2014, the Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa issued a statement praising Ayatollah Tehrani's ""noble act"" which, it noted, accorded ""due recognition to the Baha'i community"".  The Council also expressed hope that Ayatollah Tehrani's action would lead to ""official recognition of the rights of this religious community whose aims and objectives are solely for peace and tolerance on earth for all"".
And in Paris, in a video posted online, Dr. Ghaleb Bencheikh, a highly respected Muslim theologian and well-known in France for his promotion of interfaith activities and as the presenter of the weekly television program ""Islam"", commended Ayatollah Tehrani's ""magnificent"" gesture.
""I hope he will inspire others very soon,"" said Dr. Bencheikh.  ""It would be wonderful if he had ambassadors who spoke in his name.  For the moment he has none, not that I know of in any case.  Well then, we will proclaim ourselves as his ambassadors.""
Condemning the persecution of Iran's Baha'is as being ""in disdain of law"" and ""an intolerable scandal"", Dr. Bencheikh urged that discourse on religious co-existence be carried forward.  To this end he immediately arranged for a round-table event, jointly hosted by Religions for Peace and the Baha'i Community of France, to be held in Paris on 27 June, under the title:  ""Promoting religious co-existence – shared reflections in tribute to the action of Ayatollah Masoumi-Tehrani"".  Dr. Bencheikh has also raised the possibility of a larger such gathering to be held this coming winter.
""We should not lose hope,"" said Dr. Bencheikh.  ""The greatest cathedrals begin with a stone.  This stone is laid.  If you want men to fraternise, bring them together to build cathedrals.  Here the cathedral is not a physical edifice.  It is the cathedral of universal fraternity.  So, then, it begins with a word, a gesture, a sign of friendship that we need to know how to build upon.""",PARIS,,France
1010,2014-06-18,"[1009, 999, 994]","Threatening anti-Baha'i posters distributed in Yazd, Iran","GENEVA, Switzerland — A highly inflammatory and threatening flier calling Baha'is ""godless"" was distributed in the city of Yazd, Iran, last week on the eve of an important Shiite holy day.
The anonymously authored leaflet was posted on walls and also placed on the homes and cars of Baha'is, said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""The distribution of this poster was obviously timed to inflame religious passions against Baha'is, who are a minority in Yazd and throughout Iran,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""The basic message of the poster is that it is a religious duty to attack Baha'is and to destroy their properties.
""The targeting of Baha'i homes and vehicles is also equally ominous, sending a message: 'We know who and where you are,'"" she added.  Translation of flier: ""Bahaism is a movement that has risen against the true religion of Islam; from the perspective of the sacred Sharia, it is an [apostasy] and is wholly condemned such that Baha’i individuals, from the perspective of Islam, have no right to any form of security, whether pertaining to their lives or their belongings, and their blood is worthless. Thus, in light of the recent blatant activities of this godless faction, every Muslim individual must stand up against any activity by this movement and combat them even at the cost of his own life."" (Photo courtesy of Human Rights Activists News Agency)The distribution of the flier in this mid-sized central Iranian city came on 12 June 2014, on the eve of Shabe-barat (the ""night of deliverance""), which honors the birth of Imam Mahdi and is an important holy day for Shiite Muslims.
The flier claims that according to Sharia law, the ""blood"" of Baha'is ""is worthless,"" and that ""every Muslim individual must stand up against any activity by this movement and combat them even at the cost of his own life.""
A similar version of the poster had been delivered to at least five Baha'i homes in Yazd last January. That flier was signed by ""Hizbu'llah"" (the Party of God).
Ms. Ala'i said it was the government's duty to denounce such acts publically and to find and prosecute the perpetrators of such hateful messages, and to protect Baha'is as citizens of Iran.
""Unfortunately, the government has for too long allowed the perpetrators of such attacks to act with impunity. In recent years, there have been literally hundreds of attacks or threats against Baha'is and their properties, and no one has been prosecuted for such actions,"" she said.
Ms. Ala'i noted, for example, that three Baha'is were attacked in their home in Birjand in January by an anonymous intruder wielding a knife and that a Baha'i was shot and killed in Bandar Abbas last August. There have also been a number of incidents of the desecration of Baha'i cemeteries in recent months, such as efforts by the Revolutionary Guard to destroy an historic Baha'i cemetery in Shiraz.
""Unfortunately, the government has too often been a willing participant in the circulation of hate material against Baha'is. Top officials and government media outlets regularly spew anti-Baha'i propaganda – and the volume of such items has in fact increased dramatically this year,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
In January, said Ms. Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community had catalogued at least 55 anti-Baha'i articles on Iranian websites. That rose to 72 in February, 93 in March, 285 in April, and 366 in May.
""The government has created an atmosphere where those who harbor hatred against Baha'is can act with complete impunity,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""And without fear of prosecution, we are gravely concerned that life-threatening attacks against Baha'is are all too likely to continue.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1011,2014-07-11,"[982, 851, 806]",Commemorations mark fiftieth anniversary of European Baha'i House of Worship,"LANGENHAIN, Germany — Prominent religious and political figures gathered here at the start of a program of festivities to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Baha'i House of Worship on the European continent.
In the opening reception held at Germany's National Bahá'í Center on 3 July, the Minister of State and head of the Chancellery of the state of Hesse, Mr. Axel Wintermeyer, addressed an audience of some 130 people.  In his remarks, he extolled the Bahá'í teachings for promoting ""dialogue that is characterized by a respect and tolerance for all religions"".
""Many violent conflicts in the world are motivated by religious intolerance,"" Mr. Wintermeyer said, ""and world peace is not possible without religious peace.""
""The Baha'i House of Worship, in contrast, is a symbol for religious coexistence and tolerance. Everybody is welcome.""
The head of the Round Table of Religions in Germany, Reverend Dr. Franz Brendle, also addressed the audience, expressing his gratitude for the contribution Bahá'ís are making to interreligious dialogue and for their community-building efforts.  Axel Wintermeyer, Minister of State and head of the Chancellery of Hesse, addressed a gathering held at the national Baha'i center in Germany, 3 July 2014, to mark the 50th anniversary of the European Baha'i House of Worship.""You are characterized by your peaceful attitude towards others,"" said Dr. Brendle.
Professor Ingo Hofmann, a representative of the Bahá'í community in Germany, explained that worship alone is not sufficient for the establishment of a just and prosperous society.
An integral concept of each Baha'i House of Worship is that it provides a spiritual center around which agencies and institutions of social, humanitarian, and educational service can be established for the surrounding population.
""Work conducted in the spirit of service to humanity is true worship of God,"" said Professor Hofmann.
The House of Worship was dedicated on 4 July 1964 after three-and-a-half years of construction. It was declared a cultural monument for Hesse in 1987 and is considered a major landmark of the Main-Taunus district.
Highlighting the building's distinctive design, Wolfgang Exner, a town councilor from Hofheim am Taunus, emphasized how proud the people of the region are to have ""this jewel of architecture near us"".
""We love to bring guests here and proudly show them our Baha'i temple,"" he said.
Also present in the audience was Teuto Rocholl, the architect of the Temple.  Mr. Rocholl attended the reception with his wife and daughter as the guests of honor.
Following the reception, those present attended a special devotional program in the Baha'i House of Worship.
The 50th anniversary festivities continued on Sunday 6 July when the German Baha'i community hosted an annual Sommerfest on the grounds of the Temple. Some 3,000 visitors came from the surrounding neighborhoods as well as further afield. A cultural program included interactive theater and musical performances from The Mood, a local youth choir from Langenhain. Four devotional programs took place within the House of Worship during the day.
An art exhibition marking the anniversary is also being held throughout the month of July, showing paintings and photography inspired by the House of Worship by 12 artists from Langenhain and the surrounding region.",LANGENHAIN,,Germany
1012,2014-07-20,"[1007, 1011, 1001]","In Luxembourg, President of Chamber of Deputies expresses appreciation for work of Baha'i community","LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg — The President of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies has thanked the Baha'i community for its activities to build bridges between different elements of society.
""For me the efforts carried out by the Baha'is can be summarized by the word 'cohesion,'"" Mars Di Bartolomeo told some 100 guests gathered at a celebration of National Day, the official birthday of His Royal Highness Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
""Unity in diversity is more than a slogan for the Baha'i community,"" said Mr. Di Bartolomeo, ""it is the very foundation of their belief and actions.""
Mr. Di Bartolomeo began his speech with a well-known quotation from the Baha'i sacred writings: ""The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.""
""This principle of the oneness of humanity, taught by Baha'u'llah, touched my heart from the very first time I heard it,"" he said.
""Since then, for many years, I have had the opportunity to work together with Baha'is in social projects...and I can testify to the sincerity with which Baha'is are striving to implement these teachings.""
The Baha'is, he said, are ""inviting all their fellow citizens to work with them side by side for the betterment of society.""  Some 100 guests – including politicians, and representatives of religious groups and civil society – gathered at Luxembourg's national Baha'i center on 26 June.Also present at the event – which took place at Luxembourg's national Baha'i center on 26 June  – were three other Members of Parliament including Viviane Loschetter, President of the Parliamentary Group of the Green Party. Representatives of religious groups and civil society were also among the guests.
Other elements of the program included an introductory speech by Wafa Arzani, chairperson of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Luxembourg, as well as readings of selections from the Baha'i writings and a musical presentation.",LUXEMBOURG,,Luxembourg
1013,2014-08-06,"[1009, 1010, 994]",Shiraz cemetery destruction resumes,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has resumed its demolition of a historic Baha’i cemetery in Shiraz, Iran, after pausing for several months in the face of international pressure and the expression of outrage on the part of Iranians from all walks of life.
Reports from Iran indicate that the Guard has now removed human remains from some 30 to 50 of the 950 graves of Baha'is in the cemetery, placing them in an open canal to make way for the construction of a new cultural and sports complex.
In June, the Guards held a public celebration of their progress in clearing the site. In advance of that celebration, to which the media was invited, they used a heavy roller to compact the ground. A carpet was then laid over a number of graves and the commander of the Guards gave a speech attacking Baha'is.
“The manner in which the Revolutionary Guards have gone about destroying these sacred grounds and, now, celebrating its demolition goes beyond the pale in terms of humane behavior,” said Diane Ala’i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
“Clearly, this latest action – a public celebration held upon the graves of innocent people – is an attempt by the Guards to justify to an increasingly outraged Iranian public the desecration of the cemetery and the treatment of Baha'is generally,” she said.  A poster at the entrance to the cemetery provides images of the Revolutionary Guards’ planned construction of a sports and cultural complex that will include a library, mosque, restaurant, theatre, child care facility and sports hall.“We call on the government of Iran to immediately put a stop to this desecration, and we ask the international community to likewise voice its concerns about this outrageous development,” said Ms. Ala’i.
According to Ms. Ala’i, members of the Shiraz Baha'i community have pleaded with local authorities to enforce a permanent halt in the construction, offering also a compromise in which the sports complex could be built on the site away from areas where Baha'is are buried, while the graveyard itself is turned into a green space.
The Baha'is have been told, however, that local authorities have no control over the Revolutionary Guards, who acquired the land about three years ago.
Demolition of the cemetery – established in the 1920s – was first begun in late April with the digging of a large, shallow excavation. That was halted after the international media reported on the desecration and other governments expressed concern.
More recently, however, concrete has been poured for a foundation, and a number of signs have been posted proclaiming the Guards’ plan to build a sports and cultural complex that will include a library, mosque, restaurant, theatre, child care facility, and sports hall.
Of note, during the public celebration of the demolition’s progress, held 14 June, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards of Fars Province, gave a speech attacking Baha'is and calling the Baha'i Faith a “foul”, “perverse sect”.
According to IranWire, this same commander or another high-ranking official in the Revolutionary Guards of Fars Province subsequently stated, “We will use a vehement approach with those who teach about the perverse sect in this province.... Their religion, or sect, is not genuine.”
At the same time, Baha'is in the province have given voice to their deep anguish over the site’s destruction. In an open letter written to local authorities in May, for example, a 50-year-old Baha'i woman spoke of facing decades of oppression, capped now by this latest attack on a place where the bodies of her father, mother, and sister – who were all killed by the government in the 1980s – had been laid to rest.
“Yesterday…the cemetery where the bodies of my beloved family were buried was dug up and the soil was loaded onto trucks and taken away, so that no trace of evidence would be left of the crimes and atrocities committed by you over the past thirty years,” she wrote.
“End this long-standing rancor and enmity,” she said. “We are your countrymen, your fellow citizens, your neighbors, your family, and your relatives.  We work for the dissemination of love; we adore affection and kindliness; and believe we all have a right to the life which God has bestowed upon us.”",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1014,2014-08-07,"[1009, 1007, 1003]",Religious representatives in Netherlands respond to Iranian cleric's call for coexistence,"THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Fourteen representatives of faith organizations gathered here on 2 July to study the statement made by Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani last April on religious coexistence in Iran.
Ayatollah Tehrani gifted an illuminated work of calligraphy to the Baha'is of the world as a ""symbolic action to serve as a reminder of the importance of valuing human beings, of peaceful coexistence, of cooperation and mutual support, and avoidance of hatred, enmity and blind religious prejudice"".
As a prominent Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Tehrani's courageous act has resonated with individuals and groups throughout the world, inspiring a growing conversation on the need to transcend religious prejudice and intolerance and strive for a harmonious interaction between society's diverse religious adherents.  His action is particularly significant in light of a continued campaign of persecution against Baha'is in Iran, which has witnessed intensification in recent months.
Inspired by Ayatollah Tehrani's statement, the Dutch religious representatives explored related issues within the Netherlands, discussing how they can exert influence within their own communities to promote peaceful religious coexistence and address any existing attitudes of superiority.
In a letter of appreciation to the Ayatollah which they composed together, the representatives stated, ""We wish to wholeheartedly support your efforts, by working for the eradication of notions of religious intolerance in our country and to take practical initiatives to eliminate conflict from our society and foster instead love and fellowship, solidarity and altruism.""
""We firmly believe that this is the mission called for by our respective religious scriptures and traditions, our prophets and saints,"" they said.
""We are aware that much patient and persistent work remains to be done, that we should especially accompany the youth of our communities and society at large in their endeavor to serve society...""
""We stand ready to work together in this mighty and glorious enterprise – the building of a collective conscience – in which we feel united with you and the many other people of goodwill in Iran and beyond,"" the letter concluded.
Media coverage
Ayatollah Masoumi-Tehrani's statement has evoked responses from diverse religious figures around the world, including Islamic leaders on three continents, who have raised their voices in support of his gesture and the content of his message.
The Iranian cleric's significant action was also recently mentioned in a commentary in The Christian Science Monitor, on 24 July, which highlighted the efforts of prominent Muslims to promote understanding among religions. Referring to these acts, the article, which was also reprinted in the Daily Times in Pakistan on 26 July, stated: ""All these gestures of interfaith understanding may not seem like much during conflict and brutal suppression. Yet they help create the conditions for a change in thinking, in part because they are so startlingly unthinkable...""",THE HAGUE,,Netherlands
1015,2014-08-19,"[1013, 1010, 1009]",Increase in arrests highlights continuing persecution of Baha'is in Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The arrest last week of five Baha'is in Tehran signals a rising tide of detainments and imprisonments of Baha'is in Iran in recent months.
Since June, at least 14 Baha'is have been arrested, a trend that exemplifies a pattern of systematic persecution of Iranian Baha'is by the government, this despite its claims to uphold international standards of human rights.  In Yazd, 20 Baha'is who had originally been acquitted of charges leveled against them in 2012 learned in August 2013 that their cases had been re-opened and all 20 sentenced to prison, notwithstanding the judge’s admission that they were being treated unjustly.  The Baha'is appealed the case and, in a flagrant miscarriage of justice, the sentences against all 20 were upheld.  The deputy head of the Justice Administration told the lawyers of the Baha'is that: “The accused are members of a hostile sect who have no citizenship rights.”
More than 100 Baha'is are currently in prison on false charges related entirely to their religious beliefs, while thousands more are subjected to various forms of discrimination and harassment, including denial of access to university and increasingly severe economic repression.
The latest arrests in Tehran, for example, appear to be related to ongoing efforts to prevent Baha'is from earning an adequate living. The five were arrested after agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the optical shop where they work on 11 August 2014. In February 2014, an optical shop owned by a Baha'i in Tabriz was closed down by the authorities on the grounds of ""market saturation"", but Muslim owners of optical shops in the same location experienced no such difficulties. It is understood that ""market saturation"" has only been used in the cases of Baha'is. Clearly the government is disallowing Baha'is in some cities to own certain types of business on the grounds that too many Baha'is are engaged in it.
Arrested were shop owners Aladdin (Niki) Khanjani and Babak Mobasher, along with three employees, Naser Arshi-Moghaddam, Ataollah Ashrafi and Rouhollah Monzavi. Mr. Khanjani is the son of Jamaloddin Khanjani, one of the seven Baha'i leaders who are currently serving 20 year prison sentences on false charges including espionage.
Agents also confiscated their computers and other electronic devices and took a large amount of goods and products from their shop.  A photograph of Baha'is from across Iran who were arrested in 2012 and were all tried in Yazd at the same time.A sixth employee, who is not a Baha'i, was also arrested but then released that afternoon.
""A number of pro-government websites accused the five of smuggling eyeglasses but the fact that agents released the only person who is not a Baha'i taken during the raid proves that their arrest and detention is based solely on religious persecution,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""Altogether, this sudden spike in the arrest and detention of Baha'is highlights the fact that the government continues to persecute Baha'is throughout Iran in a wide range of ways, from blocking their access to higher education, to economic sanctions, to the day-to-day harassment of Baha'is when they seek to worship together.""
Ms. Ala'i said this broad-based oppression ignores all standards of justice.
""For example, 20 Baha'is who had been arrested two years ago, later tried in Yazd on spurious accusations, and who were out on bail pending an appeal were told in April that their extreme sentences – totaling 58 years for the group – had been upheld.
""This ruling came despite the fact that the judge who had originally presided over the case expressed sympathy for the defendants in open court, but was then apparently instructed to simply uphold the long sentences for their alleged crime of 'propaganda against the regime'.
""Indeed, the judge reportedly agreed in principle that the activities in question were simply those required to meet the needs of the community, such as performing marriages and divorces, seeing to children's education, overseeing funerals, and helping the poor and needy.
""Subsequently, the Baha'is sought redress through the Justice Administration and were told by the Head of that agency, 'This is exactly what you deserve. In fact we were too lenient. You do not even count to be considered for anything, let alone your citizenship rights,'"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Other incidents involving the arrest and detention of Baha'is in recent months include:
• On 5 August, government agents in Shiraz arrested four Baha'is. Vahid Dana, Saeid Abedi, and Bahiyyeh Moeinipour were arrested at their homes, while Adib Haqpazhuh was arrested at his workplace. To date, no information has been received about their whereabouts or status.
• On 27 July, a Baha'i in Vilashahr was arrested and beaten after refusing to work on a secret computer program for the Revolutionary Guards.
• On 8 July, Saghi Fadaie was summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence office in Mashhad. After a few hours she was taken to her home, where agents searched her belongings and took her into detention.
• On 2 June, three Baha'is were arrested in Mashhad. Their names are May Kholousi, Dori Amri, and Shayan Tafazoli.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1016,2014-09-04,"[1015, 1013, 1010]",Three top UN human rights experts call for a halt to Shiraz cemetery destruction,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Three high-level United Nations human rights experts today called on Iran to halt the ongoing destruction of a historic Baha’i cemetery in Shiraz, Iran, saying the action is an “unacceptable” violation of freedom of religion.
In a joint news release, Heiner Bielefeldt, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, and Rita Izsak, the UN Independent Expert on minority issues, said they were “dismayed” at reports that demolition work had resumed in August.
“Cemeteries, like places of worship, are an essential part of how people exercise and manifest their right to freedom of religion or belief. Their significance goes beyond their physical presence,” said Dr. Bielefeldt.
“Attacks on cemeteries are unacceptable and are a deliberate violation of freedom of religion or belief,” he added. “The government of Iran must take urgent action.”
Dr. Shaheed said “Baha’is have religious rites and practices for the disposal of the deceased in their own cemeteries and the government has the obligation not only to respect them but to protect them from destruction.”
Ms. Izsak urged the Iranian government to take concrete steps to protect religious minorities.  Plans to build a sports and cultural complex over a Baha’i cemetery have resumed with concrete being poured into the site where the graves of Baha’is were excavated in order to lay the building foundation. Demolition of the cemetery, which began in late April, had temporarily stopped after the international media reported on the desecration and other governments expressed concern.“The Baha’is have been subjected to persecution and acts of violence,” said Ms. Izsak. “The authorities must protect them from further discrimination and stigmatization.”
“Measures should be put in place to protect and maintain the cultural heritage of religious minorities, including burial grounds and other sites of religious significance,” she added.
The cemetery is the resting place of some 950 Baha’is, many of whom were historic or prominent figures in the Baha’i community of Iran. Interred at the site, for example, are ten Baha'i women whose cruel hanging in 1983 came to symbolize the government's deadly persecution of Baha'is.
Demolition at the site first began in April, undertaken by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, apparently to make way for the construction of a new sports and cultural center.
After the excavation of a large but shallow hole, demolition was halted for several months in the face of international pressure and the expression of outrage on the part of Iranians from all walks of life.
But in August, reports emerged from Iran saying that the Revolutionary Guards had resumed construction on the site, removing human remains from some 30 to 50 graves and pouring a concrete foundation for the complex, which will reportedly include a library, mosque, restaurant, theatre, child care facility, and sports hall.
Members of the Shiraz Baha'i community have pleaded with local authorities to enforce a permanent halt in the construction, offering also a compromise in which the sports complex could be built on the site away from areas where Baha'is are buried, while the graveyard itself is turned into a green space.
The Baha'is have been told, however, that local authorities have no control over the Revolutionary Guards, who acquired the land about three years ago.
Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva, welcomed the statement of the three UN officials.
“We are grateful for the strong stand that these three independent human rights experts have taken on the situation in Shiraz,” said Ms. Ala’i.
“The statement by Dr. Bielefeld, Dr. Shaheed, and Ms. Izsak is a clear signal to Iran that these acts are completely unacceptable, and that it is the responsibility of the government to uphold and enforce its commitments to human rights law, regardless of who the perpetrators are.”
“The current government has made numerous promises to improve its human rights record but failed to take action. Words must now be followed by deeds,” said Ms. Ala’i.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1017,2014-09-08,"[1015, 1007, 996]",A closer look at religious coexistence through recent events,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — When a member of Iran's ecclesiastical class gifted a calligraphic presentation of the words of Baha'u'llah to the Baha'is of the world in April 2014, the act was unprecedented and stood in sharp contrast against a backdrop of 170 years of uninterrupted religious persecution.
While the gift that Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani made to the Baha'i community is, in and of itself, highly noteworthy, for Baha'is it is the motivation that lies at its heart that merits public commendation and attention.  The fact that he has in the past made similar overtures to Christians points to a deep longing to promote coexistence in his native land.  Yet he is not alone; multitudes in Iran and throughout the world yearn for peace and harmony; most acknowledge that they themselves do not know how this can be achieved.
An understanding of the historical circumstances preceding the occasion of this senior cleric's gift provides a point of reference in the recent wave of comments and responses from religious leaders around the world about peaceful coexistence.  An illuminated calligraphic work by Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, containing the words of Baha'u'llah. The quotation reads: Consort with all religions with amity and concord, that they may inhale from you the sweet fragrance of God. Beware lest amidst men the flame of foolish ignorance overpower you. All things proceed from God and unto Him they return. He is the source of all things and in Him all things are ended.Historical context
Since 1844 when the Baha'i Faith was founded, its adherents have suffered, under successive governments, an endless wave of persecutions.  More than 20,000 adherents have been killed for their religious beliefs, and thousands upon thousands have endured unjust imprisonment.   Executions, murders, torture, and violent assaults have been among the more overt forms of persecution.
But persecution of Baha'is in Iran has taken other forms as well: widespread confiscation of properties, administrative centers, and Holy Places; desecration of some of the community's most holy sites as well as cemeteries; vandalization of homes, including acts of arson; harassment of Baha'i children in their classrooms; dissemination of gross misrepresentations of the Baha'i teachings and history in educational materials studied in schools; exclusion of youth from higher education; random cessation of business licenses; closures of shops; and the list runs on.
To this day, Baha'is are regularly portrayed as religious heretics, as being associated with immorality and the occult in religious sermons and through state-sponsored media.  At the same time, they are also regularly accused of being spies for various governments.  And religious leaders have repeatedly incited populations to violence against the community with virtual impunity.
Since 1979, more than 200 Iranian Baha'is have been killed and hundreds more have been tortured and incarcerated.
And in the years since the revolution, how many of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes have been brought to justice?  The answer is none.
Showing no signs of improvement, the persecution of Baha'is in Iran is a policy of that country's government.  But it is the religious leadership in Iran that has been largely to blame for fomenting in the population prejudice and hatred directed toward the Baha'i community.  Indeed, a memorandum of the Iranian government leaked in 1993, indicating that progress of Baha'is in Iranian society should be effectively ""blocked"", bore the signature of the country's highest ranking religious figure, Ali Khamenei.  And more recently, he issued a fatwa in which the people of Iran were told to avoid all dealings with Baha'is.
It is against this backdrop of blind religious prejudice fueled by the ecclesiastical leaders that Ayatollah Tehrani became the first cleric of his rank in post-revolutionary Iran to highlight a central Baha'i belief drawn from the most sacred text of the Faith and the right of the community to practice its religion in the country of its origin.
The months that have followed have revealed how his gesture has resonated with a deep-seated yearning in people of goodwill everywhere, including leaders from a wide range of religions and denominations, as well as academics, journalists, and human rights advocates both in Iran and around the world.
A month after the calligraphic work was gifted, a number of prominent human rights leaders in Iran – for the first time collectively – voiced their public support for the Baha'is and their seven imprisoned former leaders, on the sixth anniversary of their incarceration. Ayatollah Tehrani was present at that meeting, where he stated, ""Perspectives have to change... and I think now is an opportune moment for this.""
Beyond the boundaries of Iran, Ayatollah Tehrani's initiative has also inspired positive reactions by certain high-ranking officials in the Muslim world, giving further impetus to the conversation regarding religious coexistence taking shape in their countries.
These outcomes have touched the Baha'i community not because of any particular changes for their circumstances within Iran, as recent reports indicate that persecution of the Baha'i community has actually intensified in recent months, but rather because they relate to one of the most cherished aspirations of the Baha'is from the earliest days of the existence of their religion.
Over 100 years ago, as 'Abdu'l-Baha, son of Baha'u'llah and head of the Baha'i Faith after His passing, stopped for one year in Egypt prior to His historic journey to the West, the theme of religious unity featured often in his interactions with prominent individuals and the media.
As His journey continued in Europe and North America, He reiterated in many public addresses that, just as mankind is one, religions are likewise one, and that while in outward form religions are many, their reality is one, just as the ""days are many, but the sun is one"".
More recently, in its letter to the world's religious leaders in 2002, the Universal House of Justice identified religious prejudice as an increasingly dangerous force in the world.
""With every day that passes, danger grows that the rising fires of religious prejudice will ignite a worldwide conflagration the consequences of which are unthinkable,"" it wrote. ""The crisis calls on religious leadership for a break with the past as decisive as those that opened the way for society to address equally corrosive prejudices of race, gender and nation.""
The path ahead
History has demonstrated that even the smallest act can have far-reaching consequences.  Notwithstanding that the incident perhaps most frequently cited in this regard – the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand as having ignited World War I – is a negative one, it is equally true that a single instance of altruism can spark a rise in consciousness that ultimately propels the advancement of a community; a society; a nation; the world.
Those who seek solutions to the havoc being wrought across the Middle East at this very hour readily acknowledge that sectarian prejudice and fanaticism lie at the heart of the intractable problems that beset the people of that region.  The action taken by Ayatollah Tehrani, one act of many by people and groups motivated by a yearning for peace, unveils a parallel unfolding process in contrast to the horrors that religious extremism is inflicting on the world, one that offers the hope of constructive change and the possibility that in such an action can be gleaned a seed which, if tended, may yet become a tree that will in turn propagate a forest.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1018,2014-09-12,"[1017, 996, 991]","In Malaysia, music and prayers reflect hopes for greater harmony","SUBANG JAYA, Malaysia — Hundreds of Malaysians joined with dignitaries from government, religious communities, and other organizations at a unique musical prayer gathering aimed at improving racial and religious harmony in their country.
Seven hundred people attended the Merdeka Unity Devotional on Sunday 31 August, organized by the Malaysian Baha'i community in response to their government's call for widespread prayer meetings to mark Independence Day.
""It is evident that in recent decades, the force unleashed by our ethnic mix has grown stronger,"" observed Tan Sri Joseph Kurup MP, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, who was the guest of honor at the event.
""Our communities seem to have grown apart... our schools have become less diverse and our communities more polarized. This is not a problem we can ignore in the hope it will go away,"" he said.  Dignitaries, including representatives of government and religious communities, attended the Merdeka Unity Devotional on the final day of the first Baha'i Musical Festival 2014. They are pictured here observing a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17.Mr. Kurup expressed his ""deepest gratitude"" to the Baha'i community ""for working hard to promote and preserve our unity for generations to come.""
But ""we cannot be satisfied by prayer meetings of this kind once a year,"" he added. ""Rather we urge people of diverse backgrounds and faiths in our neighborhood to come together in prayer in home settings, as often as possible.""
Also expressing her appreciation to the Baha'i community, Sarojini Pasupathy – a member of the Federation of Malaysian Sri Lankan Organisations – said, ""For the first time after some time of feeling divided, I felt the oneness of Malaysians.""
""It was so beautiful and touching. With more functions like yours, we will definitely overcome this negative trend and make Malaysia a harmonious country again.""
As part of the program, a 95-voice choir sang musical settings of sacred scriptures. The gathering also observed a poignant period of silence in remembrance of almost 300 passengers and crew who lost their lives on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on 17 July.
The gathering was the culmination of Malaysia's first Baha'i Music Festival which had begun two days earlier at the Subang Jaya Baha'i Center, some 20 kilometers west of the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Ranging in age from 9 to 62 years old, the Festival's participants traveled from all over Malaysia as well as Singapore to discuss their experiences of community building activities in their own localities. In workshop meetings, they shared their musical skills, learned how to work more collaboratively, and developed approaches that could employ their talents in the further development of their home communities.
The oldest attendee – known as Uncle Chin, who traveled from the state of Sabah to attend – was one such enthusiastic participant, joining in communal singing, composing music with a group, and beating out rhythms in a drum circle.
""If you think you're too old, I can't help you,"" he joked with his fellow musicians. ""But if you want to feel younger and happier then join us!""",SUBANG JAYA,,Malaysia
1019,2014-09-15,"[1015, 1016, 1017]",New report on Iran's failed promises on human rights,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Iran has completely failed to live up to a series of promises it made regarding its treatment of Iranian Baha'is four years ago, says the Baha'i International Community in a new report.
Titled ""Unfulfilled Promises"", and launched today at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, the report discusses 34 specific pledges made by Iran in February 2010 at the UN Human Rights Council that in some way could address human rights violations faced by members of Iran's Baha'i community.
""Iran has utterly failed in every case to fulfill the commitments it made to improve human rights in relation to its treatment of Baha'is when it stood before the Human Rights Council four years ago,"" said Diane Ala'i, the BIC's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, discussing the report.
""The Council is built on the idea that its members will be honest and sincere in their pursuit of human rights, and Iran's record of 'unfulfilled promises' is a sad testimony of the gap between that country's rhetoric and reality,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
The pledges made by Iran came during a procedure known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Held on each member state every four years, the UPR is designed to be a process that treats all states equally in considering their human rights records. Iran's first review was in February 2010, and it will undergo its next review in October 2014.
During its 2010 review, Iran accepted 123 recommendations made by other countries about specific steps it could take to improve its human rights.  Among other things, ""Unfulfilled Promises"" discusses the sharp rise in anti-Baha'i propaganda this year. As illustrated by this chart from the booklet, the number of anti-Baha'i articles in official or semiofficial Iranian media rose from 55 in January 2014 to 565 in June 2014.Four of those recommendations referred specifically to Iran's treatment of the Baha'i community.
Specifically, three recommendations accepted by Iran called for a ""fair and transparent"" trial for the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders, who, in fact, were being tried at the time of the UPR, in 2010.
""Unfortunately, as everyone knows, that trial was marked by numerous violations of due process, from a closed courtroom to obvious judicial bias,"" said Ms. Ala'i, noting that their lawyers have said the indictment against the seven was ""more like a political announcement, rather than a legal document"" that was ""written without producing any proof for their allegations.""
Another recommendation called on Iran to ""judicially prosecute"" those who incite hatred against Baha'is.
""Yet, during the first half of 2014, the volume of such media attacks rose sharply, from 55 in January to at least 565 in June,"" said Ms. Ala'i, recounting figures from the report. ""Yet the government has done nothing, as these attacks are made at the government's instigation.
""Baha'is continue to be denied access to any form of Iranian mass media where they could counter the false statements and allegations being made about them and their faith, the purpose of which is nothing less than an attempt to rouse the general population against the Baha'is and to justify the persecution of them,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Another 26 recommendations cover human rights, such as protection from torture or freedom from economic and educational discrimination, that have also been withheld from Iranian Baha'is in recent years.
""Our report shows, on a recommendation-by-recommendation basis, how none of these commitments have been fulfilled,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
There are currently more than 100 Baha'is in prison, she noted, all held solely because of their religious beliefs.
Today's launch, held in room XXIV at the Palais des Nations, also featured the presence of Mahnaz Parakand, one of the lawyers who helped to defend the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders during their trial in 2010.
She said it was clear that the outcome of the trial had been pre-determined.
""The judiciary has become a place to limit the freedom of people,"" said Ms. Parakand. ""The judges of the revolutionary court have become machines that simply sign the sentences that had been decided by the Ministry of Information.
""Everything in the way the trial took place showed that it was the trial of the Baha'i community of Iran, not of the seven leaders,"" Ms. Parakand said.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1020,2014-09-16,"[906, 982, 1011]",Design of Colombian House of Worship unveiled,"NORTE DEL CAUCA, Colombia — The design for the local Baha'i House of Worship in the Norte del Cauca region of Colombia was unveiled Sunday at a meeting held at the site designated for its construction.
A small team from the Colombian architectural firm, CUNA, presented the approved plans before an audience of 500 people from the region and further afield. Speaking on behalf of the firm, Eduard Lopez, one of the architects working on the project, expressed the team's gratitude for having been given the opportunity to participate in this initiative.
Describing the process by which the team developed the design for the Temple, Mr. Lopez explained that its members spent many hours, over the course of months, visiting different communities and groups in Norte del Cauca, listening to their ideas and thoughts about the House of Worship, coming to understand their aspirations, and participating in their community-building activities.
""We understand that this is a deeply emotional process for you,"" he said. ""It is also deeply emotional for us.""
""People tell us that we are designing this House of Worship.  But it is actually all of you who have designed it, and we are channeling your ideas.""
Mr. Lopez went on to explain how the team studied the natural surroundings and the architecture of the homes in the region in order to prepare a design that would not only be in harmony with the culture of the people, but also with the physical environment.  Youth perform a traditional dance from the region.""We chose the materials for the buildings with a number of variables in mind,"" Mr. Lopez explained. ""We wanted materials that were from this region; materials that would not harm the natural surroundings.""
""The central concepts behind the design were simplicity and unity. This is how we find that God has made nature,"" he further elaborated.
In a letter to the Baha'is of the world on 1 August, the Universal House of Justice articulated the nature of the task before the architects working on designs for the local Baha'i Houses of Worship which are to be constructed in seven localities around the world in the near future:
""Architects are presented with the singular challenge of designing Temples 'as perfect as is possible in the world of being' that harmonize naturally with the local culture and the daily lives of those who will gather to pray and meditate therein. The task calls for creativity and skill to combine beauty, grace, and dignity with modesty, functionality, and economy.""
Norte del Cauca comprises a number of towns with long stretches of sugar cane fields between them. It is a largely rural region. The land for the House of Worship is situated in the small community of Agua Azul. In the backdrop stand the Andes mountains.
In this setting, at approximately 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the architectural team unveiled the Temple design.
The presentation was preceded by a traditional Colombian dance and a number of songs performed by the community. There was a palpable air of excitement as people gathered under tents that had been erected on the Temple land, over the area where the central edifice will be built.
""It was a moment we have been waiting for for months,"" explained Nilma Aguilar Vilas, who was born on the outskirts of Puerto Tejada, a town just a few kilometers away from the Temple land.
Mrs. Vilas was one of a number of people in Puerto Tejada who joined the Baha’i Faith as youth in the early 1980s and began to participate in educational programs inspired by its teachings.
""All my friends eventually studied in these programs,"" she said. ""So many of the young women were educated through their programs, and they have been the ones who have made a profound difference in this area.""
Monica Campos was also born in Norte del Cauca, in the small town of Santander de Quilichao.  Reflecting on the historical context that had brought the House of Worship to her people, she explained that ""the House of Worship is the materialization of forty years of development in Norte del Cauca. Not only has the Baha’i Faith developed in the region over these decades, but the region has developed together with the Baha’i Faith.""
""Understanding this historical context,"" she continued, ""helps us see that the House of Worship belongs to all the people of the region.""",NORTE DEL CAUCA,,Colombia
1021,2014-09-25,"[1019, 1015, 1016]",Iran switches tactics to conceal how it prevents Baha'is from entering university,"TEHRAN, Iran — Shadan Shirazi had always been an exemplary student, showing special strength in math and science, according to numerous accounts in the Persian media. So it was not surprising that she scored well when she took the college entrance examination in math and physics.
In fact, she placed 113th out of all Iranians – estimated to be more than a million – who took college entrance examinations earlier this year.
Yet despite her high score, and her keen desire to learn, Ms. Shirazi has been blocked from entering university. The reason: she is a Baha’i.
That young Iranian Baha’is are being denied access to higher education is well known. Their tribulations have been the subject of numerous news stories and even major documentary films.
But Ms. Shirazi’s story sheds light on a new tactic adopted this year by the government to prevent young Iranian Baha’is from entering Iranian universities. The story of her injustice has also stirred the outrage of many Iranians, who have told and re-told it on more than two dozen Persian-language websites.  In a photograph posted earlier this month to several Persian-language websites, Muhammad Nourizad, a former journalist with the semi-official Kayhan newspaper, and Muhammad Maleki, the first head of Tehran University following the Islamic Revolution, are seen on their knees in humility before a group of Baha’i students.The new tactic involves an apparent effort by the government to deprive Baha’is of any document or paper that can be used to prove that they were denied access to higher education because of their religious beliefs. In recent years, for example, they were told that their files were “incomplete” when they tried to get college entrance examinations results. Whether flashed on a computer screen and printed out or delivered by letter, that message left a paper trail.
This year, however, Baha’is like Ms. Shirazi are being told to go the local testing office for their results. There, often after considerable evasion and runaround, they are ultimately shown but not physically given papers that say only Muslims and “officially recognized minorities” are allowed to  be accepted into university.
Significantly, they are also singled out as Baha’is, despite the fact that they never made any such indication on examination forms or other papers.
“The Iranian government’s new tactics in their treatment of Baha’i students represent the latest evolution in a series of ploys designed to deny Baha’is access to higher education without raising the concern of the international community,” said Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
“As best as we can tell, this new procedure entails identifying Baha’i university applicants and then calling them in so they can quietly be confirmed as ineligible under the government’s unjust policies and then be sent away without any documentation or proof that it was because they are Baha’is that they were prevented from enrolling.
“This new tactic is nothing but subterfuge and it completely contradicts repeated statements by Iranian officials to the world at large that Iran does not discriminate on the basis of religion in higher education,” said Ms. Ala’i.
As noted, more than two dozen Persian-language websites have told Ms. Shirazi’s story and of her encounter with government officials. Among other things, they report that one official, Morteza NorBakhsh of the EMEO Academic Board, told Ms. Shirazi and her family that as much as he might like to help, his hands were tied by higher authorities.
According to one account, Mr. NorBakhsh reportedly told Ms. Shirazi’s father – who himself was denied access to university in 1986 – that: “We could not do anything for the Baha’is then and now we also cannot do anything for them.”
Another website recently gave an account of how a different girl and her family were told by Mr. NorBakhsh that: “I can’t do anything about what the President says.”
In another development, two former government officials involved in previous efforts to prevent Baha’is from going to university met recently with a group of Baha’is to apologize.
In a photograph posted to several Persian-language websites, Muhammad Nourizad, a former journalist with the semi-official Kayhan newspaper, and Muhammad Maleki, the first head of Tehran University following the Islamic Revolution, are seen on their knees in humility before a group of Baha’i students.",TEHRAN,,Iran
1022,2014-09-25,"[1021, 1019, 1016]",Iran's national university entrance guide discriminates against a wide range of potential students,"The university entrance guide for Iran's national university system, which must be followed by all students seeking to study at both public and private colleges and universities in Iran, is quite specific about what beliefs applicants must have before applying for a university place.
Specifically, according to page four of the 2014 version of the booklet, those seeking university entry must express ""belief in Islam or in one of the religions specified in the Constitution.""
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran quite specifically mentions only three other officially recognized religions in addition to Islam: Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism.
Baha'is, despite the fact that their religion originated in Iran in the 1840s, are thus quite specifically excluded.
University application also requires potential students to indicate that they not acting with ""enmity"" towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. Examples of enmity include ""taking up arms"" against the government, involvement in anti-revolutionary groups (Muharib) or ""propagating materialism and man-made religions.""
These qualifications provide a second reason to exclude Baha'is, inasmuch as the Baha'i Faith is not recognized as a divinely-revealed religion in the voluminous anti-Baha'i hate propaganda disseminated by the government.
And, of course, the same section can be used to exclude a wide range of other applicants with other beliefs.
The university entrance guide states that applicants can expect to be excluded if they are unable to provide proof of their lack of ""immoral behavior."" They must also have the ""physical ability"" appropriate for their chosen field of study.  Page 4 of Iran’s national university entrance guide includes the following criteria: “Belief in Islam or in one of the religions specified in the Constitution,” which are limited to Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism. Applicants are also required to indicate that they are not acting with “enmity” towards the Islamic Republic of Iran and that they do not engage in “immoral behavior.” Taken all together, these stipulations can be used to exclude a wide range of applicants, including Baha’is.Taken altogether, then, even a cursory reading of these conditions exposes their discriminatory intent.  The first requirement-belief in Islam or in one of the religions explicitly named in the Constitution-is intended to exclude those with other beliefs from studying at Iran's universities.
The second condition, regarding enmity towards the Iranian system of government, gives the authorities wide latitude to block any applicant whom they wish to exclude.
The section on ""immoral behavior,"" likewise, appears to allow the exercise of arbitrary judgment in determining what precisely may constitute ""immoral behavior.""
The final requisite, ""having the physical ability appropriate to the chosen field or fields of study,"" may well be used as a pretext to prevent women and individuals with physical disabilities from enrolling in particular courses.",,,
1023,2014-09-25,"[1021, 1019, 1015]",Human rights and the Baha'i question absent from President Rouhani’s UN speech,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's speech to the United Nations today failed to address a number of fundamental human rights issues in Iran, including the reason for Iran's continued unjust persecution of Baha'is.
""A year ago, President Rouhani came to office making numerous promises to improve the human rights situation in Iran, including a pledge to end religious discrimination,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Sadly, he has failed to fulfill these promises, and his lack of any mention of human rights in his speech today at the United Nations only serves to underscore this.""
Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued his annual report on human rights in Iran, saying likewise that the human rights promises of President Rouhani have gone largely unfulfilled.
""Despite President Rouhani's signals of greater openness to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, the Government has failed to put in place an enabling and safe environment that is conducive to free expression"", said Mr. Ban.
""Religious minorities such as Baha'is and Christians face violations entrenched in law and in practice. Harassment, home raids and incitement to hatred are reportedly commonly applied by the authorities to suppress the Baha'i community,"" he also said.
Ms. Dugal added that ""the litmus test for Iran's sincerity in addressing human rights is how it treats the minority Baha'i religious community, which is well-known all over the world for its commitment to peace and poses no threat to the government.
""Yet more than 100 Baha'is remain in prison, and thousands are deprived of access to higher education or discriminated against in the economic sphere, all as a matter of government policy.  New tactics are used to increase the deniability of such discrimination.""
Ms. Dugal noted that President Rouhani spoke about the various ""delusions"" that are inflaming extremism and hatred against Iran.
""However, Iran has spread its own delusional ideas about the Baha'i Faith. During President Rouhani's tenure, government-sponsored, anti-Baha'i propaganda has actually increased,"" she said, noting that during the first six months of 2014, incidents of anti-Baha'i propaganda in government-run media increased by a factor of 10, from 55 in January to 565 in June.
Ms. Dugal said the absence of any reference by President Rouhani to a plan for improving Iran's human rights record requires the world to ask of him a series of hard questions.
""First, when will Iran live up to the human rights it has agreed to protect under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which includes freedom of assembly, protections for due process, and freedom of religion?
""Second, when will the government stop its systematic persecution of Iranian Baha'is, who wish to work for the betterment of their country? How, in this era, can such a peaceful segment of society be denied this opportunity?""",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
1025,2014-09-28,"[1023, 1021, 991]",Documentary film charts Iranian Baha'is' peaceful response to oppression,"LONDON, England — A powerful new documentary film, telling the story of the Baha'is of Iran and their peaceful response to decades of state-sponsored persecution, had its UK premiere on 12 September.
Using interviews, personal stories, and archival footage – often smuggled out of Iran at great personal risk – the film, titled To Light a Candle, highlights the constructive resilience of Iran's young Baha'is who, in the face of systematic attempts by the Iranian regime to bar them from higher education, developed an informal arrangement known as the Baha'i Institute of Higher Education (BIHE), through which they could have access to university-level courses.
""It's a beautiful and simply told documentary that will hopefully draw attention to an issue that is in and out of the news only very sporadically,"" said the Anglo-Iranian actor and comedian Omid Djalili, who introduced the screening at the Hackney Picturehouse in London.
The film has been made by acclaimed journalist and filmmaker Maziar Bahari. He was Newsweek's Iran reporter from 1998 to 2011 and has produced a number of other documentary films about Iran. Mr. Bahari is not a member of the Baha'i community.
""The story needed a level-headed journalistic approach and that's precisely what it got,"" said Mr. Djalili, who described the documentary as ""both extraordinary and highly emotional.""  Journalist Maziar Bahari with actor/comedian Omid Djalili at the UK premiere of Mr. Bahari's film, To Light a Candle, 12 September 2014.The film vividly documents that the threat of arrest and imprisonment is a daily reality for Iran's Baha'is, as academics barred from pursuing their professions attempt to educate young people in private homes.
The premiere of the film was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Mr. Djalili. In addition to Maziar Bahari, the panel included international human rights lawyer Payam Akhavan.
""In order to justify the widespread repression in Iranian society, an enemy needed to be constructed and this fell on the Baha'is,"" Dr. Akhavan said. ""The conception of the Baha'is that the regime has put together is based on paranoia and hatred and has nothing to do with the reality of the Baha'i Faith and its community.""
Both Dr. Akhavan and Mr. Bahari acknowledged, however, that in recent years increasing numbers of Iranians have changed their minds about the Baha'i community.
""Many people are learning from the Baha'is,"" Mr. Bahari said, adding that, in the past, Iranians ""were indifferent to the fate of the Baha'is. We didn't care to care... I find it shameful we didn't hear about any Baha'is being kidnapped and killed.""
""People will eventually reconcile with that shameful past,"" Mr. Bahari said. ""Most young Iranians today have Baha'i friends despite the fact the government continues to harass them and portray them in the same negative light.""
""For me – and this is one of the reasons I wanted to make this documentary – the Baha'is are a barometer for what's going on in Iran. If the country opens up a little, perhaps through a reformist government, the Baha'is are given certain freedoms. When society is more repressed, it's the Baha'is who are the first victims.""
Mr. Bahari used the premiere to announce an international ""Education is Not a Crime Day"", to be marked on 27 February 2015, which he hopes will raise awareness of the right to education.
""These sorts of international events, which focus on some of the key themes the documentary raises, are not only instrumental in drawing attention to the hardships the Baha'is have had to endure over many decades in Iran, they incite positive change,"" he said.
""While Baha'is continue to face injustice, and as long as Iranian authorities treat them as second-class citizens, much remains to be done.""
Watch the trailer for To Light a Candle here.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1026,2014-10-20,"[1025, 1017, 1007]",Baha'i Faith featured in iWonder,"LONDON, England — iWonder, the BBC’s interactive educational site, has featured the Baha'i Faith today in its newest piece.
Titled “Can a religion accept other faiths as true?”,  the multimedia article highlights the central Baha'i belief that all of the world’s great religions are equally valid.  It also provides a brief historical account of the origins of the Baha'i Faith and the vision of its founders.
The author, Rev. Peter Owen Jones, hosted “Around the World in 80 Faiths”, an eight-part television series which aired on the BBC in 2009. The show covered a wide range of faith traditions from across the planet and had a segment on the Baha'i Faith, which has been incorporated in iWonder’s new feature.
iWonder explores a variety of topics of interest, ranging from religion and ethics, to science and arts.
BBC’s iWonder article on the Baha'i Faith can be found here.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1027,2014-10-31,"[1023, 963, 1027]",Widespread attack launched in Iran against Baha'i businesses,"NEW YORK, United States — Just as the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review of Iran's human rights record is taking place in Geneva and representatives of that country protest that they safeguard and uphold the human rights of all their citizens, the authorities in one region of Iran have launched a widespread, pre-planned, systematic attack against Baha'i business owners.  This has brought further pain and hardship to countless families who are already suffering from the consequences of government policies aimed at nothing less than the economic strangulation of the Baha'i community in Iran.
On the morning of Saturday 25 October, the authorities descended on no fewer than 79 Baha'i-owned shops in Kerman, Rafsanjan, and Jiroft, summarily sealing the premises which were closed to allow the proprietors to observe a Baha'i Holy Day.
In a blatant attempt to besmirch the good reputation of the Baha'i owners, the authorities displayed banners at the shops asserting that the owners had violated the rules governing business and trade practices.
The Baha'is have justly earned high repute among their fellow citizens for honesty and trustworthiness in all their dealings – including among their Muslim employees and colleagues, as well as their customers and clients.  Members of the Baha'i community are bending every effort to pursue justice through the legal avenues available to them, even though it is clear that the action against them is state-sponsored.  They are also calling upon the authorities to provide evidence for the unfounded accusations leveled against so many Baha'i shop-owners, including specific laws and standards that have purportedly been breached.
""Representatives of a state that claims its Constitution and laws are based upon Islamic teachings and principles would do well to consider the impact of their duplicities on the younger generation and the future of their country,"" said Ms. Bani Dugal, Representative of the Baha'i International Community.  ""We call upon all governments to exert pressure upon the government of Iran to stop this and all other forms of discrimination against the Baha'is of Iran, who remain innocent of the accusations levelled against them and seek only to contribute to the advancement of their nation as loyal, law-abiding citizens.""",NEW YORK,,United States
1028,2014-10-31,"[1027, 1023, 1019]",Iran fails to address calls for greater religious freedom,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Iran's response during a major review of its human rights record today failed to adequately address repeated calls by other governments here for greater respect for religious freedom and an end to discrimination against religious minorities, including Baha'is.
""Sadly, what we saw at today's Human Rights Council session was an attempt to gloss over the issue of religious discrimination, repeatedly cited as a concern by other governments,"" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
""And in response to questions posed by member states about Baha'is, Iran's representative once again completely distorted the facts and hypocritically stated that Baha'is enjoy all citizenship rights.
""If there were the least thread of truth in what he said, why then on Saturday were at least 79 Baha'i-owned shops in Kerman, Rafsanjan, and Jiroft, summarily closed by officials because proprietors had stopped doing business to observe a recent Baha'i holy day. Those closures obviously violate the freedom of these Iranian citizens to practice their religion,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""Moreover, why has it been over 30 years since Baha'is have been officially allowed to attend university or work in the public sector or even be gainfully employed in their own businesses?"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Ms. Ala'i noted that governments from every region raised the issue of religious intolerance in Iran, and that concern over the treatment of Baha'is - along with Christians, Sunni Muslims, and Sufis - were frequently and specifically raised.
She further noted that governments also repeatedly raised concern over evidence of widespread discrimination against women, the imprisonment of journalists and human rights defenders, and the excessive use of the death penalty, especially in the absence of legal due process.
""Sadly, the comments made by Iran's representatives once again were clearly nothing less than prevarication, whether it be on the issue of religious freedom, freedom of the press or assembly, or due process in legal proceedings,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Ms. Ala'i noted that Iran's representatives also tried to introduce the concept of the ""multicultural universality of human rights"".
""Such a concept would give the government a license to interpret international human rights law as it pleases, something it is already doing in the case of the Baha'is and women, among others,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Today's session represented a once-in-four-years review before the Human Rights Council, a process known as Universal Periodic Review (UPR). More than 100 governments made statements, submitted questions or offered recommendations to Iran.
There are currently more than 100 Baha'is in prison in Iran. Baha'is are also denied access to higher education and officially discriminated against in many categories of employment. The government has also waged a well-documented hate campaign against Baha'is in the news media and severely restricted their right to practice their religion freely.
Iran last faced a UPR in February 2010. At that session, members of the Council made 188 recommendations on how Iran could improve its adherence to international human rights law. Iran ""accepted"" or promised to fulfill some 123 of those recommendations - at least 34 of which specifically affect Baha'is and their situation.
Yet Iran has utterly failed to implement any of those previous 34 recommendations, a fact documented in a recent report of the BIC titled ""Unfulfilled Promises"". The Baha'i Faith is the largest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran.
""How Iran treats their Baha'i citizens is really a litmus test on how the government respects the rights of all its citizens,"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""Baha'is are entirely non-violent and pose no threat to the government, and so there is no reason why it cannot simply and reasonably uphold their rights.""",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1029,2014-11-11,"[1028, 1027, 1023]",International writers plea for release of imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leader,"LONDON, England — As part of a global campaign to defend persecuted writers, PEN International has called for the release of Mahvash Sabet, one of the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders.
In an effort to draw attention to the plight of some 900 novelists, poets, and journalists who were harassed, imprisoned, murdered, or ""disappeared"" last year, the writers’ organization has selected five among them to highlight in a week-long campaign, of which Ms. Sabet is the first.
PEN International said that Ms. Sabet and the six other imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders ""suffered appalling treatment and deprivations during pre-trial detention"" before being sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment ""after six brief court sessions characterized by their lack of legal due process"".
Novelist Alberto Manguel wrote an impassioned open letter addressed to Ms. Sabet, which was published Monday in The Guardian newspaper.
Ms. Sabet's poems bear ""witness to society's injustices, prejudices and inability to understand that no matter what society might do to a poet, the poet's words will still be free in the minds of the readers, and continue to conjure up ideas, engage the mind in conversation,"" wrote Mr. Manguel.  Ms. Sabet's book of poetry, ""Prison Poems"", recounts her experiences in prison, and was published in 2013.""Prison Poems,"" Ms. Sabet's book of poetry, was published in 2013. A teacher and educator, she has been detained since March 2008, charged with and ultimately sentenced on wholly fabricated charges of ""espionage"" and ""propaganda against the Islamic Republic"".
PEN International is planning to publish open letters to four other imprisoned writers this week, as part of a campaign which will culminate in its 33rd annual Day of the Imprisoned Writer on 15 November. The campaign asks PEN members – who represent authors in more than 100 countries – to sign a petition asking for the immediate release of Ms. Sabet.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1030,2014-11-19,"[1029, 1028, 1027]",UN sends strong signal to Iran on human rights,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — The UN Third Committee today sent a strong signal to Iran, exhorting its government to live up to its international human rights obligations.
By a vote of 78 to 35, with 69 abstentions, the General Assembly's Third Committee approved a resolution expressing ""deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations"" in Iran.
The six-page resolution listed the high frequency of executions, torture, restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression, the targeting of journalists, pervasive gender inequality, and religious discrimination – including against Iranian Baha'is – as among the Assembly's concerns.
""Passage of this resolution sends a strong signal to Iran that, despite international hopes for improved relations, the international community will not turn a blind eye to human rights violations in that country,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""It also makes clear that the international community does not accept Iran's repeated assertions that human rights are improving.
""Certainly, for Iranian Baha'is, there has been no improvement, and the atmosphere of religious discrimination throughout the country has only grown worse,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The Third Committee's approval of the resolution follows strongly-worded reports from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed, who both expressed alarm over broad and continuing human rights violations in Iran.
Mr. Ban's report noted for example that there have been no improvements in the human rights situation for religious and ethnic minorities. ""Religious minorities such as Baha'is and Christians face violations entrenched in law and in practice,"" he wrote.
Dr. Shaheed, the UN's special investigator on human rights in Iran, also discussed a wide range of violations, from the lack of legal due process, especially for executions, and ""continuing arbitrary arrests, detention and prosecutions of individuals for exercising their fundamental rights.""
Dr. Shaheed devoted ten paragraphs to the ongoing persecution of Iranian Baha'is, noting that they face wide-ranging discrimination in education and work, and that more than 100 Baha'is are in prison.
Today's resolution noted ""with concern"" that Iran had a ""poor record"" of implementing the promises it made four years ago during its first Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.
It specifically highlighted Iran's ""continued discrimination, persecution, and human rights violations"" against Baha'is, calling for the release of seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders, an end to the ""criminalization of efforts to provide higher education to Baha'i youth"", and the general ""emancipation"" of the Iranian Baha'i community.
Introduced by Canada, the resolution had 45 other co-sponsors, and was the 27th such annual resolution on human rights in Iran by the General Assembly since 1985.
Like previous resolutions, it called on Iran to allow international human rights monitors to visit Iran.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
1031,2014-12-16,"[1028, 1027, 1021]",Hateful propaganda sparks concern for Baha’is of Rafsanjan,"NEW YORK, United States — Against the backdrop of increasing economic pressures, a recent anti-Baha'i demonstration and a hateful speech delivered by a cleric have raised concerns for the safety of the Baha'is of Rafsanjan, a city in Iran.
Hojatoleslam Abbas Ramezani-Pour, the Friday prayer Imam of Rafsanjan, declared in a speech at the end of November that, according to religious fatwas, Baha'is are ""unclean"" and that it is ""forbidden"" to conduct business and trade with them.
""The rightful wishes of the people, which are that they [the Baha'is] should not be in this city, must be realized,"" Mr. Ramezani-Pour stated.
""This Imam has, in fact, called for the Baha'is to be expelled from Rafsanjan,"" said Ms. Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. ""Such negative remarks by a known cleric in the city are extremely worrisome and show a deep level of discrimination.""
""The closure of businesses in that city and the economic harassment of Baha'is are already causing immense hardship for Baha'is there,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Several days before the speech of Mr. Ramezani-Pour, an anti-Baha'i demonstration was held in front of the governor's office in Rafsanjan.
Reports from pro-Iranian government media allege that these demonstrations were spontaneous and initiated by the local population. However, photos show instead a clearly planned event, using pre-printed placards obviously prepared in advance. Some placards read ""The Baha'is are inherently unclean"", and others ""no room for faithless sneaks in Muslim bazaars"".
""Hateful remarks and the dissemination of falsehoods against the Baha'is in Iran are not new"", said Ms. Dugal. ""But these incidents are ominous because of past occasions where statements by religious leaders and efforts to incite hatred against a certain group led to serious consequences.""
For example, on 24 August 2013, Mr. Ataollah Rezvani, a well-known Baha'i in the city of Bandar Abbas was shot and killed in his car.  It is of note that a few years before his murder, the Friday prayer Imam had incited the local population against the Baha'is, referring to them as ""un-Islamic.""  He further called on the people of the city to ""rise up"" against the Baha'i community.
Of course, Baha'is are not the only group to be identified from the pulpit.  More recently, the Friday prayer Imam of Isfahan gave a provocative speech in which he stated that warnings were no longer enough in the fight to ensure the proper use of the Hijab – or the head scarf – by all women; force and violence were now necessary.  Shortly after his address, several women had acid thrown at their faces for not wearing what the authorities regard as appropriate attire whilst out in public in the city.
""The statements of clerics in Iran have an influence on the thoughts of those who follow them"", said Ms. Dugal. ""Where is the government? Can the complicity of the government be seriously denied?""
In October of this year, 50 Baha'i shops were closed in the city of Kerman, 23 in Rafsanjan and six in Jiroft – all in the same province. In recent months, an increase in the number of closures of Baha'i businesses and shops shows a coordinated plan for inflicting further pressures on the Baha'is of Iran.
● A business closure in July resulted in 20 locals in Ghaemshahr being left jobless.
● In September 2014, a Baha'i in Yazd whose business license had been refused despite her repeated representations to the Public Places Supervision Office (PPSO), was told by a director of the PPSO in Yazd Province that he had received a circular from the higher authorities instructing his office not to issue a business permit to any Baha'i applicant and that this would be undertaken gradually, presumably in an effort to prevent adverse publicity in the international media.  It should further be noted that, at one point in her efforts to retain the business, she was advised by the local trade union to have it registered under the name of a Muslim.  When she did so, the individual concerned was threatened by PPSO officials, who pressured him, albeit unsuccessfully, to sign an undertaking pledging that neither the Baha'i nor any of her Baha'i colleagues would ever show their faces inside the store.
● In August 2014 it was reported that three veterans, who had been prisoners of war and who were receiving the pension to which they were entitled had been summoned to the Veterans' Affairs Foundation and told that if they did not write their religion as Muslim, their pensions would be stopped.  They refused to recant their faith and are now receiving no pension.
● In October 2014, it was reported that business licenses of four Baha'is in the city of Yazd were not renewed.
● In November 2014, in Isfahan, the residences of a number of Baha'is who were working from home were entered by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and the work areas 'sealed' to indicate no further work could be done.",NEW YORK,,United States
1032,2014-12-18,"[982, 1020, 1011]","On foothills of the Andes, light ascends and inspires","SANTIAGO, Chile — The most recent in a series of newsreels on the construction of the Baha’i House of Worship for South America has been released.
Opening with time-lapse photography, the film provides a glimpse of the emerging beauty of the temple, which rests on the foothills of the Andes Mountains overlooking the city of Santiago.
Among the developments related to the construction process, the video highlights the significant progress made on the wing-like shells that comprise the nine sides of the temple.  With the steel frames of each shell now assembled, the placement of thousands of faceted cast glass panels that will form their exterior is well under way.  Upon completion, the nine translucent sides will allow natural light to fill the House of Worship.
A theme that features prominently in this newsreel is the contribution of youth from around the world who have been inspired by the House of Worship to dedicate a period of their lives to serve at the temple site and in community-building activities in nearby localities.  Construction workers install the oculus for the House of Worship for South America outside Santiago, Chile.“What I love most about the temple is that it is for everyone,” says one of the youth volunteers in the video. “It’s not just for a specific group of people, it’s open to everybody.”
In addition to the spirit of service that is animating the efforts of young volunteers, the newsreel also highlights recent events, listed below, that convey a sense of how a growing consciousness of the House of Worship is permeating the surrounding population:
● A tour was held for over 130 students from a nearby school in which participants discussed the integral role of youth in the betterment of society.
● Young Baha’is from the temple project participated in a commemoration for the Day of Youth and Solidarity in Penalolen.
● 30 civil servants from different departments in the municipality toured the temple land and learned about the Baha’i Faith and the nature and purpose of the House of Worship.
● Adolfo Ibanez University hosted a conference on the development of the House of Worship, featuring the architect, Siamak Hariri.
● For the first time, a Senator of the Republic of Chile made an official visit to the temple site.
The latest newsreel from Chile can be found here.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1033,2014-12-18,"[1031, 1030, 1029]",UN resolution voices global concern over human rights violations in Iran,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Today the UN General Assembly strongly expressed its concerns over ongoing human rights violations in Iran.
“Unfortunately, as today’s resolution demonstrates, Iranians do not enjoy even basic human rights, such as freedom of assembly or religious belief, and it is their own government that is the chief violator of their rights,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
She commended the firm position taken by the UN on the issue.
“This resolution is one of the few forms of support Iranian citizens have in the face of a regime that has for 35 years refused to uphold international human rights law.
“This is especially true for Iran’s Baha'is, the country’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, who continue to face systematic and widespread persecution solely because of their religious belief,” said Ms. Dugal.
Today’s resolution, which was approved by a vote of 83 to 35 with 68 abstentions, expressed “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations” in Iran.
It listed specific concerns over the “alarming high frequency” of executions in Iran, its use of torture, widespread restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression, discrimination against women, and the persecution of minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.
The vote today confirms an earlier vote, taken in the Assembly’s Third Committee in November, on the same resolution.
It follows strongly worded reports from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, who both expressed alarm over broad and continuing human rights violations in Iran.
Mr. Ban’s report noted, for example, that there have been no improvements in the human rights of religious and ethnic minorities. “Religious minorities such as Baha'is and Christians face violations entrenched in law and in practice,” he wrote.
Dr. Shaheed also discussed a wide range of violations, from the lack of legal due process, especially for executions, and “continuing arbitrary arrests, detention and prosecutions of individuals for exercising their fundamental rights”.
Dr. Shaheed devoted ten paragraphs to the ongoing persecution of Iranian Baha’is, noting that they face wide-ranging discrimination in education and work, and that more than 100 Baha’is are in prison.
Introduced by Canada, the resolution had 45 other co-sponsors, and was the 27th resolution on human rights in Iran approved by the General Assembly annually since 1985.
Like previous resolutions, it called on Iran to cooperate with the UN, specifically by allowing the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran to visit the country.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
1034,2014-12-29,"[1033, 1031, 1016]",Two months in the morgue: One facet of campaign to make Iranian Baha’is invisible,"GENEVA, Switzerland — The body of a Baha'i has been held in the morgue for nearly two months in the large, southern Iranian city of Ahvaz because local officials have refused to allow the man's burial.
Shamel Bina passed away on 28 October but remains unburied, despite numerous appeals from his family and others, who have appealed to numerous officials from the governor general to the city's Friday prayer leader, to no avail.
The family's agony is compounded by the fact that, earlier this year, the Baha'i cemetery here was closed by authorities in a cruel fashion: its entry door to the walled compound was welded shut and bricked up.
The episode is the latest in a series of incidents in recent months where Iranian officials have blocked or interfered with the burial of Baha'is – or sanctioned the destruction of their cemeteries – apparently as part of a campaign to force Baha'is to deny their own religious identity.
In another city, Semnan, the Baha'is were told that in order to be issued a permit to bury their deceased relatives, they must sign an undertaking. In this form, they are asked to have no marking on the graves except the names and dates of birth and death and not to create green space in the cemetery since that is considered a promotion of their faith. Similar orders were issued earlier this year for the Baha'i cemetery of Sangsar.
""In recent years, more than 40 Baha'i cemeteries have been attacked, vandalized or closed, and in numerous cases the burial of Baha'is has been blocked or interfered with by authorities,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
""The overall pattern that emerges is of a government-coordinated effort to make Baha'is invisible in Iran by eliminating one of the few remaining public signs of their existence – their own distinctive cemeteries – and to force them to abide by Muslim rites as yet another means to force Baha'is to deny their faith,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
The most well-known of these incidents has been the effort since April by the Revolutionary Guards in Shiraz to destroy the historic Baha'i cemetery there to make way for a new sports and cultural complex.
That effort is continuing, despite a call for a halt to that work in September by three UN human rights experts. Recent reports say the construction work is ongoing, and some 5,000–6,000 square meters of land have now been excavated or built upon.
""It goes beyond common justice that Iranian Baha'is not only face widespread persecution across the entire span of their lives – deprived of education, jobs, and freedom of worship – but that they also are repeatedly being denied the dignity of a decent burial,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
Other incidents in this campaign include:
● The case of Ziba Rouhani, who died in October in Tabriz. For at least eight days, she was refused burial in the Tabriz Baha'i cemetery by local officials unless she were to be buried without a casket, which would be contrary to Baha'i burial laws.
● The case of Miss Mahna Samandari, a talented young girl who became disabled, who passed away recently in Tabriz at the age of 11. Reports received in November said she was also denied burial in the cemetery in Tabriz.
● In November, government authorities closed the Baha'i cemetery in Mahmoudiyeh in Isfahan province, saying Baha'is would no longer be allowed to be buried there.
● In June in Tabriz, reports emerged that officials had refused to allow the burial of Tuba Yeganehpour and two other Baha'is in the public cemetery there.
● In April, the grave of a prominent Baha'i buried in the Baha'i cemetery in Sabzevar was destroyed by a bulldozer by an unknown individual. As with other such incidents in recent years, it is clear that no one could use this type of heavy equipment without the sanction of the authorities.
● In an eight month period in the city of Tabriz, the remains of at least 15 Baha'is have been refused burial in the public cemetery there, and their families have been forced to send them to another city.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1035,2015-01-04,"[1017, 1018, 1011]","Panel explores migration, media, and misperception","LANGENHAIN, Germany — How does the media influence our sense of identity? How does it shape our perception of those different from us? How does it reinforce ""otherness""? These questions animated a recent panel discussion on German media’s depiction of international migration in that society.
Titled ""Exclusion in Germany: Is Media Honoring its Responsibility?"", the event was held on 7 December 2014 at the Baha'i National Centre outside Frankfurt to mark UN Human Rights Day.  It was organized by the Baha'i community in partnership with the Foundation for the International Weeks against Racism, a German NGO. The audience included members of European Parliament, religious representatives, and members of the public.
Canan Topcu, a Turkish-born journalist and member of the Neue deutsche Medienmacher (New German Media Makers), moderated the panel discussion, which comprised: Ms. Ursula Russmann, editor at Frankfurter Rundschau, a daily newspaper; Dr. Markus End, a social scientist and Board Member of the Association of Antiziganism Research; and Ms. Mahyar Nicobin, a representative of the Baha'i community.
Panelists discussed challenges faced by journalists in trying to write about the complex topic of migration. In addition to the normal pressures of time constraints and limitations on story length, journalists face demands by news organizations for sensationalized stories and the reduction of complex themes into simplistic narratives.  Canan Topcu, a Turkish-born journalist and member of the Neue deutsche Medienmacher (New German Media Makers) moderated the panel discussion at the National Baha'i Centre outside Frankfurt, Germany on 7 December 2014.Discussing his recently published study on the portrayal of the Roma in German media, Dr. End explained that ""certain words in the media are code words for groups of people"".
""For example,"" he said, ""the German word 'Armutszuwanderung' (signifying 'poverty migration') has become synonymous with immigrants from southeastern Europe, in particular, the Roma.""
He also explained that language and images in the media consolidate stereotypes and prejudices in society, accentuating the ""othering"" that comes to characterize popular attitudes towards some ethnic minorities.
Regarding images used for stories, panelists discussed how journalists often draw from stock photographs in databases provided by news organizations.  The photos available often lack context, reinforce stereotypes, and objectify populations.
Of the more than 230 million international migrants documented by the UN in 2013, 1.2 million entered Germany, making it second only to the United States.
Ms. Saba Detweiler, one of the organizers of the event, explained that, as in many other countries, Germany has witnessed the issues of migration and integration move to the forefront of public consciousness.
Describing the motivation behind the event, she explained that the issue is close to the hearts of the Baha'is, who are working with increasing numbers of like-minded groups to overcome the corrosive effects of prejudice and to foster harmony among the diverse elements of society.
""This event was one contribution of many that thoughtful groups and individuals are carrying out throughout Germany,"" she said, ""and we hope there will be many others to come.""",LANGENHAIN,,Germany
1036,2015-01-16,"[1034, 1017, 1025]",Baseless indictment of Yemeni Baha'i after 14 months of harsh imprisonment,"NEW YORK, United States — In a betrayal of justice, authorities in Yemen have indicted Hamed Kamal bin Haydara, a Yemeni national, of being a spy for Israel and converting Muslims to the Baha'i Faith.
These charges come at the start of the second year of his imprisonment.  Throughout this time, Mr. bin Haydara has been held without charge and has endured various forms of torture as well as intense psychological abuse.
Mr. bin Haydara's wife, Elham, told Reuters News Agency that her husband had been subjected to severe torture during his imprisonment in order to extract a confession, which the authorities have failed to get.  As a result, Mr. bin Haydara is now suffering from chronic health conditions.
""The charges against Mr. bin Haydara are baseless and nonsensical and come after over a year of mistreatment, including solitary confinement, during which, privately, the authorities have repeatedly admitted their religious motives for the imprisonment,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.  Hamed Kamal bin Haydara with his family, before his imprisonment.""Mr. bin Haydara is a well-respected and sincere family man who has not broken any laws. Baha'is do not proselytize as a matter of principle, and all native Yemenis who have joined the Baha'i Faith have done so of their own conviction,"" Ms. Dugal added.
""The accusation of spying for Israel is a grotesque distortion of reality,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""The historical circumstances that led to the establishment of the administrative and spiritual center of the Baha'i Faith occurred well before the existence of the State of Israel.""
""Obedience and loyalty to one's government is a central principle in Baha'i teachings and the notion that Baha'is would engage in espionage is utterly absurd,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""Baha'is have been part of Yemen for decades and are known throughout the Arab region, indeed the world, for their peaceful nature and attitude of selfless service to society.""
Ms. Dugal added: ""The Baha'i International Community condemns this unlawful action against Mr. bin Haydara and calls for his immediate release. The charges are entirely fabricated and are without a shred of evidence.""
These comments come amid accusations by the authorities that Mr. bin Haydara is not a Yemeni national and has forged his name to enter the country.
Mr. bin Haydara was in fact born on Socotra Island in Yemen and has lived in the country as a citizen. His father, a physician, moved to Yemen from Iran in the 1940s and was granted Yemeni citizenship by the Mahra Sultan of Qishn and Socotra, in recognition of his sterling service to the poor in society. Citizenship was naturally and rightfully passed down to his son. The Sultan gave Mr. bin Haydara's father his Yemeni name as an honor and in recognition of his respect for his adopted country.
""Mr. bin Haydara is a devoted husband, a father of three young girls, and loyal citizen of Yemen,"" Ms. Dugal continued. ""But perhaps the most ironic and telling element of this indictment is that the authorities have condemned Mr. bin Haydara for 'demonstrating high moral standards', through which he has won the confidence of his fellow citizens.""",NEW YORK,,United States
1037,2015-01-20,"[985, 666, 368]",New international website of the Baha'i community launched,"HAIFA, Israel — The website of the worldwide Baha'i community at www.bahai.org has been launched in a new version, representing the latest stage in the development of an official presence on the Web that extends back to 1996. The site explores the beliefs and writings of the Baha'i Faith and presents the experience of those throughout the world who, inspired by the teachings of Baha'u'llah, are striving to contribute to the betterment of society.  The landing page for the ""What Baha'is Believe"" section of the new Bahai.org website.The revised site highlights two broad sections – ""What Baha'is Believe"" and ""What Baha'is Do"" – and features a new presentation of the Baha'i Reference Library.
The section entitled ""What Baha'is Believe"" aims to organize a selection of central beliefs of the Baha'i Faith into a few thematic areas, such as The Life of the Spirit, God and His Creation, and Universal Peace. ""What Baha'is Do"" explores how Baha'is, together with those who share their aspirations, are working for social progress.
The site also includes a new version of the Baha'i Reference Library, the authoritative online source of the Baha'i writings, containing selected works of Baha'u'llah, The Bab, 'Abdu'l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice, as well as other Baha'i texts.",HAIFA,,Israel
1038,2015-02-01,"[1025, 1021, 1023]",Archbishop Tutu condemns denial of education to Baha'is of Iran,"CAPE TOWN, South Africa — In a statement published on 30 January, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African social rights activist and Nobel Peace Laureate added his voice to the chorus of condemnation of the denial of the right of Baha'is to higher education by the government of Iran.
Posted on the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation website, the statement reads: ""The Iranian government says that education is a crime for Baha'is. But I want to tell you that we can change that – we can give voice on their behalf. We can tell the government of Iran, and the world, that banning the Baha'is or any group from higher education is hurting Iran and the Iranian people. Our bitter experience of apartheid demonstrates that discrimination of all types hurts us all. Iran's government is denying its own people the services of thousands of Baha'i engineers, doctors, and artists, who could help Iran, Iranians and the world.""
The statement was made as part of the Education is Not a Crime campaign, which began in November 2014, following the release of the film To Light a Candle, a documentary by Mr. Maziar Bahari, an acclaimed journalist and filmmaker and a former Newsweek correspondent in Tehran.
The Education is Not a Crime campaign has gained the support of numerous prominent individuals from around the world. Among these are Nobel Laureates – Ms. Mairead Maguire, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Ms. Tawakkol Karman, and Ms. Jody Williams. Mr. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, an Iranian filmmaker, Dr. Mohammad Maleki, former president of the University of Tehran, and Ms. Azar Nafisi, an Iranian writer and professor have also expressed their support.  A recent statement from Archbishop Desmond Tutu comes as part of the Education is Not a Crime campaign.The film highlights the constructive resilience of Iran's young Baha'is who, in the face of systematic attempts by the Iranian regime to debar them from access to higher education, developed an informal arrangement through which they could have access to university-level studies. The campaign features voices of support from around the world for the Baha'is in Iran and will include a global day of action on 27 February.
""The right to education is a human right which should not be denied to any human being"", said the statement of Dr. Maleki, published on the website of Education is Not a Crime. ""It is not acceptable to deny any one this right on the account of belief, religion, sex or any other criteria.""
The Baha'is in Iran have faced systematic and ongoing persecution in their homeland since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. In line with its intention to eradicate the Baha'i community as a viable entity, the government in that country has denied them even the most basic rights. In addition to the right to enter universities, Baha'is are banned from working in the public sector and are repeatedly obstructed from earning a livelihood. Over the years, hundreds of Baha'is have also been illegally detained and imprisoned solely because of their beliefs.",CAPE TOWN,,South Africa
1039,2015-02-08,"[1038, 1025, 1021]","""Education is Not a Crime"" gains momentum","LOS ANGELES, United States — Education is Not a Crime, a worldwide campaign drawing attention to the constructive response of the Baha'i community to the Iranian government's systematic denial of university education to young Baha'is, is gaining momentum as it nears its global day of action, 27 February.
The campaign's website highlights the breadth of efforts by authorities in Iran to persecute the Baha'is there, and it provides historical context.
Calling on people around the world to participate in the campaign, the homepage states, ""Education is a crime in Iran. But we can change that"".
Launched in November 2014, the campaign, organized by Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian journalist and filmmaker who was himself imprisoned in Iran in 2009, was inspired by the film ""To Light a Candle"", a documentary made by Mr. Bahari.  Maziar Bahari, a prominent Canadian-Iranian filmmaker and journalist who produced the documentary film “To Light a Candle”, which explores the systematic persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran. (Photo courtesy of Foreign and Commonwealth Office)The film uses interviews, personal stories, and archival footage – often smuggled out of Iran at great personal risk – to explore how the Baha'is in Iran, in the face of ongoing oppression, have found creative ways to respond to injustice. In particular, it highlights the constructive resilience of Baha'i youth who have expressed their desire to pursue their education by developing informal arrangements through which they could have access to university-level studies.
The campaign is leading up to a major event titled Education Is Not A Crime Live 2015, to be held in Los Angeles on 27 February, where ""To Light a Candle"" will be shown – one of hundreds of screenings to be held around the world on that day.
A significant element of this campaign is the support it has received from across the world. Notably, a growing number of Iranians have decided to defend the rights of the Baha'is against decades-long efforts by authorities and religious leaders in Iran to misrepresent the Baha'i community.
""Many people are learning from the Baha'is,"" Mr. Bahari said during the premier of his film in London this past September. He added that, in the past, Iranians ""were indifferent to the fate of the Baha'is. We didn't care to care.""
""Most young Iranians today have Baha'i friends despite the fact the government continues to harass them and portray them in the same negative light,"" Mr. Bahari said.
The Education is Not a Crime campaign has been endorsed by many prominent individuals. These include Nobel Peace laureates such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi, Tawakkol Karman, Jody Williams, and Mairead Maguire. In addition, it has won the support of a number of other artists and intellectuals including Nazanin Boniadi, Abbas Milani, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Azar Nafisi, Omid Djalili, Eva LaRue, and Mohammad Maleki, former president of the University of Tehran.
A section of the site has been devoted to providing information on how individuals can become involved in the initiative. In addition, numerous videos have been posted, both on the website and the Facebook page of the campaign, by people around the world who have sent messages supporting the right of the Baha'is in Iran to study.
""Education is a basic human right,"" says an individual in his video posted on the website. ""It's like...the right to livelihood, safety or work, right to shelter. It's a basic human right, it's not a crime. Deprivation of it is a crime.""",LOS ANGELES,,United States
1040,2015-02-15,"[1035, 1029, 1011]",Outstanding collection of Baha'i literature finds permanent home,"SANDY, England — An extensive library of Baha'i books and related literature has been opened to academic researchers, exactly 35 years to the day after the passing of the library's founder.
When he died in London on 12 February 1980, the distinguished scholar, historian, and writer Hasan M. Balyuzi (1908-1980) left behind an extraordinary collection of some 10,000 books, as well as a vast quantity of manuscripts, original letters, maps, documents, periodicals, and unpublished items – some of them dating back to the nineteenth century.
Mr. Balyuzi's wish was that his personal collection would be made available ""for the benefit of all who seek knowledge"" and – in a codicil to his will – called for the establishment of the ""Afnan Library"". Mr. Balyuzi was a member of the distinguished Afnan family, and was a great-grandson of a brother-in-law of The Bab (1819-1850), one of the twin Prophet-Founders of the Baha'i Faith.
""Father had a lifelong love affair with books,"" said Robert Balyuzi – one of the scholar's five sons, four of whom were present at the official opening of the library's permanent home.  The Afnan Library is now permanently housed in a former Chapel in the market town of Sandy, close to Cambridge.""He loved the look of books, the feel of them, the smell of them and they were his constant companions...He regarded those books in his possession not as being owned by him, rather that they were in his temporary custody,"" said Mr. Balyuzi.
The Afnan Library Trust was established in 1985 to manage and further grow the collection as well as find a suitable building to house it. In April last year, the opportunity arose to purchase a dignified venue – a recently refurbished, former chapel in the small market town of Sandy, close to Cambridge.
""Since he died, we've been raising the finances and thinking about what the ideal physical arrangements should be,"" said Moojan Momen, one of the Afnan Library's trustees.
""We tried three different buildings in the past which all turned out not to be suitable, and now we've got this one which has all the facilities,"" said Dr. Momen, who was the late Mr. Balyuzi's research assistant. ""So we're really very happy with this. We think this is now going to be the home of the library on a permanent basis.""
The building was officially opened on 12 February 2015 by the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, Colin Osborne.
""This building is an important part of Sandy's heritage, occupying a prominent place in the Market Square area,"" said Mr. Osborne. ""I really am delighted that the trustees of the Afnan Library have chosen Sandy and this building in particular.""
""I wish the library every success and hope that everybody that comes along finds it peaceful and tranquil, and is able to do the research they want to,"" Mr. Osborne concluded.
Mr. Balyuzi collected not only Baha'i literature but also texts concerning other religions, history, the Middle East, and a range of diverse subjects. Since 1980, the Library has also received bequests of books and papers from members of the Baha'i community, as well as continuing to acquire new publications to keep the collection up to date.
It is now expected that researchers will make use of the library as Mr. Balyuzi wished.
""By appointment, anyone can come who needs to have access to this sort of material,"" said Dr. Momen. ""At the moment, it is really unique in the world because there isn't anywhere else where you can go and get access to this amount, range, and depth of Baha'i material.""",SANDY,,United Kingdom
1041,2015-03-03,"[1039, 1038, 1025]",Los Angeles marks Education is Not a Crime Day,"LOS ANGELES, United States — Over 1100 people gathered at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, 27 February to honor those Baha'is who have been denied the right to higher education in Iran.
""Education is Not a Crime – Live 2015"" was a major event for the ""Education is Not a Crime"" campaign launched in November 2014 by Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian journalist and filmmaker who was himself imprisoned in Iran in 2009. The campaign was inspired by the film ""To Light a Candle"", a documentary made by Mr. Bahari.
""To Light a Candle"" highlights the constructive resilience of Baha'i youth who have expressed their desire to pursue their education by developing an informal arrangement, called the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), through which they could access university-level studies.
Over the course of the weekend in over 300 localities around the world, from the Antipodes to Canada, from the United Kingdom to Brazil, and India to the Netherlands, the film was screened. There have been numerous interviews with university lecturers who serve as volunteer tutors of BIHE students and the highlighting of the denial of access to higher education to the Baha'i youth of Iran. Articles and reports have been published on many websites including the Daily Beast, the Globe and Mail, Star Tribune, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the Irish Times, The Telegram, Pittsburg Post-Gazette,  Amnesty International, and World Religion News.
At the Los Angeles event, it was announced that letters had been received from four members of the California congressional delegation – Karen Bass, Janice Hahn, Alan Lowenthal, and Edward Royce (Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives), emphasizing the importance of universal education and written in support of the event.  Actress Eva LaRue performs a dramatic reading of an Iranian Baha’i student’s thoughts before being incarcerated.The evening featured a range of musical performances interspersed among narrative readings and live interviews with Baha'is about the persecution they had experienced in Iran, conducted by Mr. Bahari.
In a conversation on stage with the evening's emcee, actor Rainn Wilson, Mr. Bahari commented that when he first learned of the story of the Baha'is he was ""surprised by the way they resisted through education and nonviolence"". He added that ""many people around the world need to learn from the Baha'is"".
Actress Eva LaRue performed an emotional dramatic narrative written by Alistaire Taylor.  It was based on the thoughts of Keyvan Rahimian – a Baha'i sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for his involvement with BIHE – as he was awaiting the call that would summon him to begin his incarceration.
In addition, Quattro Sound, a Grammy Award-nominated instrumental ensemble, performed an upbeat and rhythmic piece.
There followed an interview conducted by Mr. Bahari with Farideh Samimi, the wife of one of the eight members of the second National Spiritual Assembly (the national governing body of Baha'is) in Iran who were arrested, summarily tried, and executed in December 1981.
Actor Justin Baldoni recited a fictional narrative of a young woman named Behfar, who, in attempting to take university qualifying exams in high school, is refused permission to sit for the exams because she is a Baha'i. She then declares that the ""government will never stop us from studying. Education is one of the 12 pillars of our religion"".
Mr. Bahari also interviewed Marjan Davoudi about being expelled from university in the early 1980's. She said that the Dean of the university told her: ""You are not human. You are lower than an animal. Get the hell out of my office."" Although heartbroken, she told herself at that time that she would never stop learning. She later had the opportunity to take correspondence courses with Indiana University, explaining that all of the materials, except for one original textbook kept in a central location, were photocopies. It took her twelve years to obtain her Bachelor's degree from Indiana University.
Later, a touching narrative was read by actor Anthony Azizi which portrayed Sonia, a fictional Baha'i student, who was taught from an early age that Baha'is do not lie about who they are. She was put to the test when the receipt of her prize for best student in her high school was made conditional on her denying her Faith. She refused, lost her chance to go to university, and eventually enrolled in BIHE.
This was followed by one of three short clips from ""To Light a Candle"". Mr. Bahari then added that the Iranian government will make every form of accusation against Baha'is, but the nature of its accusations are such that they actually increase the curiosity of Muslim youth about the Baha'i Faith.
The two-hour programme concluded with a lively and rhythmic musical finale featuring Ozomatli, Quattro Sound, Ellis Hall, and K.C. Porter – an appropriate way to end an evening that, though it had many somber moments, was also full of inspiring instances. Ultimately, it was a celebration of the Iranian Baha'i community's resilience in the face of adversity.",LOS ANGELES,,United States
1042,2015-03-12,"[1035, 1041, 1018]",Conference explores nexus of governance and religion,"BARCELONA, Spain — Over 50 people gathered at ""The Conference on Governance and Religion"", held recently at the iconic Palau Robert in Barcelona, Spain.
The conference was cosponsored by the Baha'i community of Spain in collaboration with seven other organizations and institutions, including the University of Barcelona, UNESCO's Association for Interreligious Dialogue, and the Government of Catalonia's General Directorate of Religious Affairs.
Organizers wanted to promote a dialogue on new, just, and peaceful forms of social organization, drawing on insights from science and religion, explained Sergio Garcia, a representative of the Baha'i community.
""The purpose of the Congress was to open a space for reflection on the contribution of religion to social progress in general and to the structures, processes, and instruments of good governance in particular,"" said Dr. Garcia. ""A challenge that had to be faced was how to generate a collective space instead of a space where different individuals come to present their paper and go.""  A panel presentation and discussion on ""religion and social change"", during a conference on religion and governance held in Barcelona, Spain.The event's opening day was focused on the theoretical dimensions of the subject of governance and religion and explored a number of related themes. What followed on the second day were presentations on the practical contributions of religion to social progress.
The first of the five panels featured sought to define the concept of governance and its relationship with religion. ""The concept of governance"", as noted by Nuria Vahdat, the first presenter, ""encompasses the way in which the formal government, NGOs, community organizations, and the private sector manage public affairs and resources.""
Historian Amin Egea then examined how religion has inspired high moral standards that have made possible progressive forms of social organization in different eras.  ""Ultimately"", he said, ""the efficacy of institutions governing society depends on the qualities of the people participating in them.""
On the second panel, Mar Griera, the Director of the Institute of the Sociology of Religion at Universitat Autonomo de Barcelona, challenged the commonly held view that pluralistic and modern societies lead to the marginalization of religion. In her presentation, she explored how religion can flourish in modern societies, citing empirical data to support her conclusions.
Dr. Griera's comments were reinforced by her co-panelist Silvia Albareda Tiana, a professor of education at the International University of Barcelona. ""The humanist perspectives which religion offers, can promote a more holistic human development,"" Dr. Tiana stated, ""and religious foundations help to improve the conditions for more just, equitable, and sustainable societies.""
On the second day, two presentations offered glimpses into the role of religion in social progress.  The first explored how numerous spaces for interfaith dialogue in Spain have promoted religious freedom and diversity, and the second looked at the social contributions of religion to a globalized world.
In the final session, Jose Rodriguez, a professor of sociology at the University of Barcelona, shared insights from studies that suggest religion contributes significantly to happiness through its promotion of social cohesion and altruistic action.
Reflecting on the effort of the collaborating organizations to promote a dialogue on governance, Dr. Garcia explained that the conference ""may be seen as an effort to open a new forum where different actors representing all sectors of society can contribute collectively to the evolution of social thought in areas of relevance for the betterment of society"".
The congress was the second of a series in the coming years that will explore different aspects of governance, such as global governance, political economy, media and public agenda, and collective security.",BARCELONA,,Spain
1043,2015-03-13,"[1034, 1033, 1031]",Top UN officials say human rights violations in Iran continue unabated,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Members of minority groups, including Baha'is, continue to face persecution and discrimination in Iran, despite promises by the government to the contrary, according to two high level UN officials.
In reports to the Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also expressed concern over the continuing high rate of executions in Iran, the jailing of journalists and human rights activists, the lack of freedom of expression, and discrimination against women.
The reports were issued on the eve of next week’s session on Iran’s response to the Council’s 2014 Universal Periodic Review (UPR). In October 2014, at the Council’s review of Iran’s human rights record, governments from around the world made 291 recommendations to the Iranian government regarding steps it could take to ameliorate its human rights violations. At a session scheduled for Thursday, 19 March, the Iranian government will indicate which of these recommendations it plans to accept.
Dr. Shaheed, in a report issued yesterday, expressed a particular concern that widespread human rights violations continue unabated despite numerous promises from Iran to take steps to end or ameliorate them at Iran's 2010 UPR session.
""The Special Rapporteur recognizes a number of Government efforts to implement the 2010 UPR commitments, but regrets that a majority of them remained unimplemented by 2014 and that underlying causes of violations highlighted during the UPR and in his 2011 and biannual 2012, 2013, and 2014 reports remain unaddressed,"" said Dr. Shaheed.
Altogether, he added, the fact that other governments had given 291 recommendations to Iran in October 2014 ""reflect this reality"" that human rights are unimproved.
Dr. Shaheed said, for example, that violations against Iran's Baha'i community remain unabated.
""Despite statements from high-ranking officials that Baha'is are entitled to citizenship rights, they continue to face discrimination, arrest, and arbitrary detention in connection with their religion,"" said Dr. Shaheed.
""Between September and December 2014, security forces in the cities of Isfahan, Tehran, Shiraz, Hamedan, Karaj and Semnan reportedly arrested at least 24 Baha'is, bringing the total number of Baha'is in detention to 100.""
Mr. Ban, in his report, which was issued 3 March, also expressed concern over Iran's continuing persecution of Baha'is.
""Members of ethnic and religious minority groups continue to face persecution, including arrest and imprisonment, the denial of economic opportunities, expulsion from educational institutions, deprivation of the right to work, and closure of businesses and the destruction of religious sites, such as cemeteries and prayer centers,"" said Mr. Ban.
The two senior officials also expressed concern over the continued detention and harassment of journalists, human rights defenders, and women's rights activists.
""The continued crackdown on media professionals, the pervasive restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression, including the closure of newspapers and magazines, and the ongoing monitoring, filtering and blocking of websites that carry political news and analysis raise great concern,"" said Mr. Ban.
Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, welcomed both reports and urged governments to vote in favor of continued international monitoring of Iran's human rights situation when the resolution to renew the mandate for the Special Rapporteur comes before the Council later this month.
""As both Ahmed Shaheed and the Secretary-General have clearly indicated, Iran continues to violate the human rights of its people at all levels of society, whether you are a woman, a journalist, a lawyer, or a religious or ethnic minority – or simply an average citizen,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""Iran has long promised to respect the human rights of its citizens but it remains evident that these promises are hollow, and that the only protection for Iranians comes from continued monitoring and expressions of concern by the international community,"" she said.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1044,2015-03-22,"[1045, 1034, 1041]",UN Special Rapporteur commends documentary on denial of education for Baha'is in Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — A high UN official has praised the film ""To Light a Candle"", a documentary on the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran, as an important effort in making better known the plight facing young Baha'is who are being deprived of access to higher education in Iran.
Speaking at a side event to the 28th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, commended the film, stating that ""it is important to use a medium as accessible as a movie documentary to convey the message about rights"".
Speaking to the audience after the screening, Dr. Shaheed commented: ""I consider the Baha'is to be the most persecuted minority in Iran.""
""I am quite distressed by what appears to be a systematic policy of discrimination against Baha'is, including in the education sector,"" he further stated, adding that the policy is quite explicit, to the extent that Baha'is are expelled from university if their religious beliefs become known.
Also present at the showing was the film's director, Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian journalist and filmmaker who was imprisoned in Iran in 2009.
""I am not a Baha'i, but I care deeply about the situation of Baha'is in Iran and human rights in general in Iran,"" said Mr. Bahari.
""Throughout the past 35 years, whenever we see that the situation in Iran has become more repressive, we've seen that the first victims of this repression are the Baha'is,"" said Mr. Bahari.  ""As Dr. Shaheed rightly said, the Baha'is are the most persecuted minority in Iran, and as such they are a barometer of what is going on in Iran.""
The screening of the film was sponsored by the Baha'i International Community and the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH).
Country representatives, NGOs, human rights activists, and other groups participating in the sessions of the Human Rights Council attended the event.
""To Light a Candle"" highlights the peaceful and constructive response of Baha'is to a longstanding ban on their youth from attending universities, one dimension of a comprehensive, government-sponsored campaign of persecution of the Baha'i community in that country.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1045,2015-03-19,"[1043, 1034, 1031]",Iran's UPR response offers bleak outlook for Baha'is and human rights,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Iran's limited and conditional acceptance of just two out of ten recommendations made by other governments about its ongoing persecution of Baha'is today suggests there will be no significant change in government policy in the near future – and a bleak outlook for human rights generally in Iran.
""The sad reality is that Iran has largely refused to accept recommendations made by the international community that it end discrimination against Baha'is, offering instead to the Human Rights Council only token concessions on the issue,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
She noted that Iran gave only partial acceptance to two recommendations that specifically mentioned Baha'is in its response to October's Universal Periodic Review at the Council, rejecting completely the other eight.
""Other governments in October offered some very strong and significant recommendations about how Iran could end its systematic persecution of Baha'is, but Iran has walked away from them almost entirely, accepting only two in a limited and conditional manner,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""Based on this – and their past record of failure to live up to recommendations made at the 2010 UPR – we doubt there will be any improvement in the near future for Baha'is, who are persecuted in Iran solely for their religious beliefs,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
In a statement read today to the Council, Ms. Ala'i observed that during the October UPR, ""Mr. Javad Larijani, the head of the delegation, claimed that Baha'is 'are dealt (with) under the so called citizenship contract' and 'enjoy all the privileges of any citizen in Iran,' and that 'they have professors at the university' and 'students at the university.'
""But recently Ayatollah Bojnourdi, who was one of the drafters of the Charter for Citizenship Rights, publicly said: 'We never say that Baha'is have the right to education; Baha'is don't even have citizenship rights!'
""This is the sad truth of the reality in Iran,"" Ms. Ala'i told the Council.
Ms. Ala'i expressed the hope that, in its desire to prove to the world its oft-stated respect for the Universal Periodic Review, Iran will begin with the easy step of allowing Baha'is unrestrained access to higher education, a development that would be in line with the two recommendations it has partially accepted.
What Iran accepted and rejected today
At Iran's formal UPR session in October, other governments made 291 recommendations about how Iran might improve its human rights record. At its outcome session today, Iran accepted 130 of those. It gave partial acceptance to 59 of them, and it rejected completely 102 of them. Of those that mention Baha'is, two fell into the partial acceptance category, one from Chile and one from the Czech Republic. They were:
138.111. Adopt provisions to prevent all forms of discrimination against women and girls and, in particular, promote access to higher education for members of the Baha'i community and other religious minorities (Chile);
138.131. Review its legislation and policy so as to ensure freedom of religion of persons belonging to religious minorities, including Baha'i, as well as protection of their other human rights without any discrimination (Czech Republic);
Their partial acceptance, however, was conditioned by Iran's statement ""that full implementation of some of these recommendations is contrary to our constitution, basic laws and Islamic values"" and ""the course of action required to amend current laws need time and lengthy deliberations among different constituent parts in the legislative process.""
The eight recommendations regarding Baha'is which were rejected are as follows:
138.125. Put an end to acts of repression against ethnic and religious minorities, in particular Baha'is, and take effective measures to put an end to discriminatory policies against them (Luxembourg);
138.126. Eliminate reported discrimination against religious minorities such as the Baha'is and offer better legal protection to such communities (Sierra Leone);
138.128. Take measures to ensure non-discrimination in law and in practice against ethnic and religious minorities, including arbitrary detention and exclusion from higher education and government employment, as well as governmental interference in private employment, against persons belonging to the Baha'i community (Sweden);
138.129. Cease all discrimination against members of religious and ethnic minorities, including Baha'is, Dervishes, Christians, Ahwazi Arabs, Balochs and Kurds, and ensure respect for freedom of religion (Australia);
138.130. End discrimination in law and practice against all religious and ethnic minorities such as Baha'is, Sufis, Kurds and Sunni Arabs, and ensure full protection of their rights (Austria);
138.132. Put an end to discrimination and repression against people because of their ethnic and religious affiliation, including Baha'is, Kurds, Ahwazis and Christians (France);
138.133. End discrimination in law and practice against religious and ethnic minorities, including the Baha'i community (Lithuania);
138.134. Take steps to prevent discrimination and incitement to hatred against the Baha'i or any other ethnic or religious minority, regardless of whether it is officially recognized (Mexico).",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1046,2015-03-26,"[1044, 1045, 1041]",UN votes for continued monitoring of human rights in Iran,"GENEVA, Switzerland — In a clear rejection of Iran's claim that the human rights situation in that country has improved, the UN Human Rights Council today extended the mandate of its Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
""The Council's vote to renew the mandate of Ahmed Shaheed sends a strong signal to Iran that the world does not accept mere promises on human rights but rather expects concrete action,"" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International community to the United Nations in Geneva.
The vote, 20 to 11 with 16 abstentions, came after Dr. Shaheed and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Council that, among other human rights violations, Iran continues to discriminate against ethnic and religious minorities, including Baha'is, while also repressing women, suppressing freedom of expression, and executing people without fair trials.
Ms. Ala'i said the sharp contradiction between Iran's words and actions was revealed numerous times during the Council's 28th session, such as during its Universal Periodic Review outcome session on 19 March when Kazem Gharibabadi, the deputy secretary general for human rights in Iran, claimed ""all citizens"" enjoy the full range of human rights in Iran.
""Iran's assertions that all of its citizens enjoy legal protection and the full range of political, economic, social and cultural rights is flatly contradicted by the treatment of its large Baha'i minority, who continue to face widespread persecution,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
""Some 100 Baha'is are wrongly imprisoned solely because of their religious beliefs, thousands more are excluded from higher education, and the Baha'i community as a whole is discriminated against in employment and prevented from freely assembling for worship and community activities.
""The treatment of the Iranian Baha'is is an accurate barometer of what is happening generally in Iran, which, as stated by Dr. Shaheed and Mr. Ban, is an indicator of ongoing violations of a wide range of human rights in that country.
""If Iran genuinely wished to make good on its talk, it could easily start by allowing Baha'is to attend university, a step that would be easily implemented – and something that Dr. Shaheed could bring to the Council next year as a sign of improvement,"" said Ms. Ala'i.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1047,2015-03-29,"[1020, 1032, 1011]","In rural Colombia, seeds of transformation take root","AGUA AZUL, Colombia — In Norte del Cauca, the land is blanketed by sugar cane plantations. They run for miles, under the watchful gaze of the Andes.
Scattered amid the expanse of monoculture fields, villages and small farms dot the terrain. In recent decades, these traditional farms and the lush greenery of the region have been largely overtaken by vast fields of sugar cane crop.
Here, in the village of Agua Azul, and in neighboring communities, people have been talking about the revival of the natural habitat. This conversation was catalyzed in April 2012, when it was announced that a Baha'i House of Worship was to be built here for the people of the region.
Over the period since the announcement, as the community has set out to prepare itself for this momentous development, a heightened consciousness of the nature and purpose of the House of Worship has given rise to an acute awareness about the physical environment and its relationship to the spiritual and social well-being of the population.
""There were several meetings early on, when plans for the Temple were announced,"" explains Ximena Osorio, a representative of the Colombian Baha'i community. ""People were inspired by the concept of the House of Worship, how it brought together devotion and service, how it was to be a place of worship for everyone.""
""Gradually, conversations arose about the types of trees and flowers that would surround the Temple,"" says Ms. Osorio. ""They wanted the landscape to capture the beauty and diversity of the region.""
Over time, the conversation evolved. ""An idea emerged,"" continues Ms. Osorio. ""We would grow a native forest on the land surrounding the Temple site. ""
The idea took root, and a team coalesced around the project.
Hernan Zapata, affectionately referred to within the community as ""Don Hernan"", recently joined the initiative. A traditional farmer from the neighboring village of Mingo, he has worked the land his entire life.  In Agua Azul, youth contribute to the construction of benches surrounding an area where plants are being cultivated for the land surrounding the site for the Baha'i House of Worship.Today, his is one of the remaining traditional farms in the region, and many of the species which are found on his land have all but disappeared in surrounding areas. His land provides a glimpse into the rich ecological diversity that had characterized Norte del Cauca only decades ago.
""The truth is that Norte del Cauca was once an immense forest,"" explains Don Hernan. ""But all of that has been destroyed. Now none of it exists.""
""One thing I want with this project,"" he explains, ""is that new generations should know what once existed. This native forest that we are going to grow should be a school, should be a place of learning.""
The project has captured the imagination of many others in the region as well. Throughout neighboring villages, individuals have begun to donate seeds and plants that can be grown on the land around the Temple site and in a greenhouse that has been built for the project by local volunteers.
Contributions have included indigenous species, such as the rare ""Burilico"" tree, which is near extinction in the region.
For Gilberto Valencia, a local factory worker and member of the project team, this initiative has connected him to his family history in Norte del Cauca.
""I've always been very motivated to know more about the land and about farming because, while I am not a farmer, I come from a long line of farmers. My father and his father always had a farm that they cultivated for the subsistence of the family, and for the sale of goods to others.""
The project inspired Mr. Valencia, who is married and a father, to begin studying environmental engineering.
""When I began working on the land surrounding the House of Worship, I felt at that moment, that the thing that we were going to build was going to change the natural environment,"" he said. ""This is a chance to change the destiny of the region.""
Mr. Valencia now works on the project alongside his ten year old son, Jason, the project team's newest and youngest member.
In recent months, Jason has found himself immersed in the project, helping to transplant seeds and saplings to the temple site and working alongside his father to cultivate and protect the surrounding land.
""I have learned about trees I never knew existed,"" says Jason, speaking about his experience. ""I love working with my father on this project because, together, we're going to revive many of the plants that have been lost.""
For Alex Hernan Alvarez, a resident of Agua Azul and member of the project team, what is happening in the village has profound implications for the children.
""Here, in Norte del Cauca, we don't have land or spaces like this, open for everyone. I have three children, and it is very gratifying for me to think that I will leave something for them,"" says Mr. Alvarez.
""Knowing that a verdant forest and magnificent House of Worship will bloom for future generations inspires in me a profound sense of dedication.""
Speaking of one of the indigenous trees of the region – the 'Saman' tree – Mr. Alvarez states, ""The Saman is a traditional tree, beautiful and large. When my children go to the land to pray, they will have a place to sit, under that tree. This motivates me every day. This brings me joy.""
While the House of Worship is not yet built, in many important ways, it is already carrying out its purpose, inspiring the inhabitants of the region to connect with the sacred and reach for greater heights of service to their communities.
""The idea of the Temple, what it represents,"" says Ms. Osorio, ""is in itself cultivating in all of us – children, youth and adults – an appreciation for the importance of a life centered around worship of God and service to humanity.""",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1048,2015-04-04,"[1042, 1035, 1018]","Symposium reframes dialogue on secular society, religion, and the common good","VANCOUVER, Canada — Leading Canadian scholars, public servants, and civil society actors gathered here for a symposium at the University of British Columbia from 22 to 24 March to explore the meaning of building a ""whole society"" and the constructive role of religion in the secular, public sphere.
Organized by a national committee representing a cross-section of civil society organizations in Canada, including the Public Affairs Office of the Canadian Baha'i Community, the conference, titled ""Our Whole Society: Bridging the Religious-Secular Divide"", involved some 140 participants.
Speakers included: Andrew Bennett, Canada's Ambassador for Religious Freedom; Marie Wilson, a commissioner with Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Doug White, Director of the Centre for Pre-Confederation Treaties and Reconciliation at the University of Vancouver Island; and Gerald Filson, Director of Public Affairs of the Baha'i Community of Canada and Chair of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, among others.
Dr. Filson gave the following perspective on the insights gleaned from the conference: ""Many spoke about the importance of giving greater space in society to the positive influence which the concepts and principles of religious thinking can provide, that freedom to believe is a necessary condition in secular societies even as we safeguard the gains in social harmony and the richness of culture which pluralism brings to modern societies.""
""In the final analysis it is the love and fellowship and an attitude that others matter to each of us which will create the foundations of a society in which all members of the human family will be able to participate in the discourses that shape society,"" continued Dr. Filson.
This year's conference followed a similar event held in May 2013 at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.  Geoffrey Cameron, Principal Researcher for the Baha'i Community of Canada, and member of the conference's steering committee explained: ""We began this initiative about four years ago, when a small group of people came together out of a shared concern to articulate more clearly the positive role of religion in Canada's public discourse.""
""We held one conference and continued working with each other and a network of others,"" continued Mr. Cameron. He elaborated that their dialogue sought to generate greater understanding about how society could ""reconcile religion, secularism and the common good"".
The conference featured plenary sessions addressing several overarching themes: the proper role of religion in the public sphere; the merits and limits of secularism; the process of reconciliation between diverse peoples; how to define the common good in the context of religious pluralism; the scope and limits of religious freedom; and the role of youth in society.  A panel discussion at ""Our Whole Society: Bridging the Religious-Secular Divide"" conference, held 22-24 March 2015 at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.Interspersed between these presentations were workshops where practitioners shared insights from experience.
""We need to move beyond the binary of religious versus secular, public versus private, faith versus reason, and concentrate instead on working together for the good of our whole society,"" stated the Reverend Karen Hamilton, the General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches, in the opening presentation.
Discussions on occasion explored the tension in secular societies between two aspects of religion's place in public life: on the one hand, secularism provides an approach to governance that includes basic rights to religious liberty for the individual; on the other, when taken too far, it can restrict the role of religious perspectives in public discourse.
Professor Paul Bramadat, one of Canada's leading scholars of religion, cautioned, ""it is important to keep religious tools and concepts alive in public discourse and not lose their meaning through secular 'translation'.""
However, Alia Hogben, director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, made the case that society needs criteria to assess the role of religion in public life: ""Does this religion contribute to the common good? Does it serve the well-being of all? If so, then it should be admitted into public discourse"" she said.
Professor John Stackhouse, a theologian at Regent College, posited that the diversity of religions in Canada requires every religion to re-examine its teachings in order to ""excavate the grounds on which to live with others who are different"".
Prof Stackhouse also highlighted the importance of religion's place in the web of social institutions.
""Part of building a whole society,"" he said, ""is investing in 'intermediate organizations' between the individual and the state – such as religious groups and civil society."" Religions, he explained, face pressures in the secular world because they present obstacles to consumerism.
One of the highlights of the event was a session with Dr. Andrew Bennett, Canada's Ambassador for Religious Freedom. Bennett described the relationship between the defence of religious freedom and the promotion of human dignity, which are essential to define a common life together.
""It is important for institutions in society to have the competence to engage with diverse religions,"" he said. ""Religious literacy informs peoples' actions in society, and it is through open conversations with each other that we improve this literacy.""
The conference also looked at the role that young people play in constructive social transformation.  Speaking during a workshop on youth and the spirit of social change, Christine Boyle, Director of the NGO Spirited Social Change, noted that ""many social movements led by youth reflect a spiritual longing to create a better world through selfless service.""
Another speaker, Eric Farr from the Baha'i community, echoed these thoughts, stating that ""many youth aspire for a vision of spiritual change – that is, a vision of a more unified and just society...We need to trust in the capacity of all and the longing of all to contribute to the well-being of the whole.""
The closing address of the conference was given by Doug White, in a session titled ""Recognizing our oneness: Reconciliation as the challenge of our time"". Addressing this theme, Mr. White, a former Chief of Snuneymuxw First Nation, said that dialogue would need to move beyond many of the adversarial relationships which currently characterize Canadian society.
""Pitting yourselves against each other is not a pathway to reconciliation"" he said. ""We need an active and full discourse about the social change necessary to realize reconciliation in society. This can come either from great suffering or reaching out and seeking understanding between different people in society.""
""(Reconciliation) demands a new mindset and orientation to ourselves, each other and with those around us. This is a spiritual, moral, and ethical challenge...""
Reflecting on the event, Mr. Cameron said, ""We were very pleased with the quality of conversation at the conference, and the genuine excitement expressed at the ideas shared by other participants.""
He explained that the conference is part of an ongoing ""process of collective inquiry"".
""It is collective because it is growing and expanding to include more people. And it is an inquiry because we are motivated and unified by the questions we ask, not the presumption that we have the correct answers.""",VANCOUVER,,Canada
1049,2015-04-09,"[1048, 1042, 1018]",Religious leaders and World Bank commit to ending extreme poverty,"WASHINGTON, United States — A group of diverse religious leaders has issued a statement giving strong support and ""moral consensus"" to a World Bank-initiated effort to end extreme poverty in 15 years.
The statement, ""Ending Extreme Poverty: A Moral and Spiritual Imperative"", was released today at a media teleconference featuring World Bank President Jim Young Kim and representatives of the religious groups which drafted it, including Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Ending extreme poverty will require a comprehensive approach that tackles its root causes – including preventable illness, a lack of access to quality education, joblessness, corruption, violent conflicts, and discrimination against women, ethnic minorities and other groups,"" said the statement, whose authors included representatives of the Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh faiths.
""It will also call for a change in the habits that cause poverty – greed and hedonism, numbness to the pain of others, exploitation of people and the natural world,"" said the statement.
Ms. Dugal said Baha'is were happy to participate in the initiative and to endorse the statement.
""In general, faith has the capacity to tap the deepest reservoirs of human motivation and therefore release the collective will and raise the consciousness of the people, in a way that brings the moral dimension of poverty to the fore,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""In the Baha'i view, individuals have a responsibility to assist the poor, but societies and their institutions are responsible for creating the conditions where poverty can be eradicated.
""Efforts to fulfil that responsibility and to promote the well-being of all have been blocked largely by the pursuit of self-interest and overall disunity that sadly seems to characterize many of our individual and institutional pursuits today.
""What is needed is a new vision of society where cooperation is the dominant mode of social and economic interaction, and where recognition of our underlying oneness and interdependence is firmly upheld,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The statement emerged from a February 2015 meeting of religious leaders, representatives of faith-based organizations, and Bank officials, which was convened as part of an overall effort by the World Bank Group to bring an end to extreme poverty worldwide by 2030.
In his invitation to religious representatives, Dr. Kim explained that ""the most sensible and smart plan"" for ending extreme poverty ""will likely fall short unless we can also capture the moral imagination of people.""
More than 30 religious leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations who participated in the process which led to the ""Moral Imperative"" statement have pledged to support efforts to end extreme poverty through their programs and work, if not already so engaged.
Ms. Dugal said Baha'i communities around the world seek to contribute to the eradication of poverty mainly through efforts at the grassroots level to build capacity through education and other processes, with the goal of enabling individuals everywhere to become protagonists of their own progress and development.
""These efforts, which Baha'i communities around the world are currently engaged in, also encourage individuals to consider their social responsibilities towards others,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""At the national and international levels, we also seek to participate in discourses that emphasize the moral and spiritual dimension of development and social progress.""
In addition to Ms. Dugal, today's media teleconference included the Reverend David Beckmann, President of Bread for the World; the Reverend Nicta Lubaale, General Secretary of the Organization of African Instituted Churches; Ms. Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service; Dr. Sayyid Syeed, National Director of the Islamic Society of North America; and the Reverend Jim Wallis, President of the Sojourners.",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
1050,2015-04-14,"[1048, 1042, 1035]",Dialogue on development advances in India,"INDORE, India — Approximately 90 academics, development practitioners, and university students gathered for a seminar here on 7 April, to explore the direction of development planning and policies in India.
Organized by the Baha'i Chair for Studies in Development at Devi Ahilya University in Indore, the seminar, titled Applying Spiritual Principles and Scientific Methods to Development Practice, brought together leading thinkers to explore how social and economic development in the country can be approached holistically and its benefits be extended to all sections of society equitably.
In preparation for the seminar, panelists studied a document prepared by the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity on the experiences of an Indian development organization, Seva Mandir, which helped to frame the discussions throughout the day. Titled, May Knowledge Grow in our Hearts: Applying Spiritual Principles to Development Practice, the paper describes Seva Mandir's efforts to apply spiritual principles and scientific methods to bring about social transformation.
The seminar began with a ceremonial lighting of the lamp, a symbolic act signifying the dispelling of the darkness of ignorance and sorrow. The University's Vice Chancellor Dr. D.P. Singh, who delivered the inaugural address, set the tone for the discussions to follow by highlighting the need to reorient development plans and policies based on a non-fragmented conception of the human being.
In the panel discussion that followed, Mr. Shravan Garg, a senior journalist, noted that India needed to bring the knowledge systems of science and religion together to forge a path of development that avoided the dangers of materialism and consumerism on the one hand and religious fundamentalism on the other.
Also on the panel, Dr. Ranjana Sehgal, Professor at the Indore School of Social Work, warned that the consequences of pursuing mere economic development untempered by the country's strong spiritual heritage, could be seen in the rise of ""intolerance, corruption, terrorism, and crime, especially those against women.""  Mr. Shravan Garg (at the podium). Seen on the stage from left to right – Dr. Shirin Mahalati, Dr. Ganesh Kawadia and Dr. P.N.Mishra.In deliberating on those spiritual principles that have particular relevance to development practice, the speakers identified the oneness of humankind and the interconnectedness of human beings with nature as among the foremost.
""For development to be truly effective it has to transform hearts and to transform hearts we need an atmosphere of love and unity. Development work draws on unity; it should also strengthen unity,"" said Dr. Janak Palta McGilligan, a Baha'i development practitioner who was recently awarded by the government of India with the Padma Shri, one of the country's highest civilian honors in recognition of her work.
Panelists also discussed the relationship between wealth and development and explored spiritual principles that provide insights into responsible attitudes towards wealth.
Dr. Ganesh Kawadia, Head of the School of Economics at the University, mentioned that since the time of Adam Smith, development has been equated with wealth creation.
""The market was considered the most efficient and fair mechanism to do this to the benefit of both buyer and seller,"" he said. However, he added that this could only be realized on condition of perfect competition in the market, a theoretical criterion that has never been realized in practice.
""What we see today then,"" he said, ""is the failure of the market. Wealth generation is pursued independent of ethical considerations, resulting in exploitation and injustice.""
Commenting on the blind pursuit of economic growth, Mr. Garg explained that it has disrupted the essential relationships on which people's sense of well-being rests.
""Millions of people in India derive a sense of well-being from culture and spirituality and not economic wealth.  Their sense of well-being is rooted in their habitat from which they derive their overall sustenance. When in the name of economic development people are moved from their land and deprived of their water resources or their forests, they become displaced not only materially but also socially, emotionally, and spiritually.""
Dr. Arash Fazli, a collaborator with the Baha'i Chair, added that when we are conscious of the spiritual bonds that tie us to each other and to our environment, individuals acting purely on self-interest to maximize personal gain no longer makes sense.
""Development comes to be seen as a collective enterprise in which we seek our own well-being in serving the well-being of all. A selfless spirit of service becomes our motivator,"" said Dr. Fazli.
Although panelists recognized that the goal of treading an alternative path of development that would bring together science and religion seemed daunting, there was a consensus among the speakers that deliberations of this nature involving ever larger numbers of concerned citizens were urgent and vital.
""The processes of globalization are taking this materialistic model of development to country after country,"" stated Mr. Garg. ""We need to find a model of development that is true to our ethos but is also based on science. We need to open to the world and get the best from the world without losing the good that we have.""
Commenting on the seminar, Dr. Shirin Mahalati, Head of the Baha'i Chair, observed that for the students and faculty who participated, the event provided an opportunity to reflect on ways of overcoming the limitations of materialistic models of development through an appreciation of the role spiritual principles and scientific methods play in the advancement of civilization.",INDORE,,India
1051,2015-04-30,"[1032, 1047, 1020]",Sacred symbol placed at apex of Chile temple,"SANTIAGO, Chile — In the early morning of 29 April, just before dawn, 65 representatives of various institutions and agencies of the Baha'i community, assembled within the superstructure of the Baha'i House of Worship for South America to commemorate a charged and meaningful milestone in its construction—the placement of a Baha'i symbol at the apex of the temple.
On that special day, the ninth day of Ridvan, a calligraphic rendering of the invocation ""O Glory of the All-Glorious"", referred to as the Greatest Name, was lifted into position some twenty-nine meters above the ground, at the highest point of the temple's dome.  As it was raised towards its destination, the voices of the choir could be heard chanting sacred verses in a joyful and reverent atmosphere.
Decades ago, the late Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum—wife of the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith and Hand of the Cause of God—had prepared a small ornamental silver case containing dust collected from the inner Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land.  That silver container was placed within the heart of the wooden carving of the Greatest Name, before it was raised to its permanent spot at the apex of the House of Worship, symbolically connecting the House of Worship with the Holy Land and the spiritual center of the Baha'i Faith.  Members of institutions and agencies of the Baha'i community look on as a silver container holding dust from the Shrine of the Bab is placed in the wood-carved rendering of the Greatest Name.The carving of the symbol of the Greatest Name was itself a significant process, explained Mr. Samadi, the project manager for the House of Worship. Crafted out of the wood of a tree native to Chile, named roble pellin, the Greatest Name was ""made with the hands and love of Chilean artisans,"" he stated.
Reflecting on the event, Mr. Rodriguez, member of the National Assembly of the Baha'is of Chile, stated,  ""This was an incredible day, marking a profoundly spiritual process which connects us with the center and essence of our Faith"".",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1052,2015-05-04,"[1046, 1045, 1043]",Four released while eight remain in prison,"NEW YORK, United States — Four Baha'is involved with the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), who had been unjustly imprisoned in Iran four years ago, have been released after completing their sentences, while concern remains for eight others who are still languishing in jail.
Mr. Ramin Zibaie, Mr. Farhad Sedghi, Ms. Noushin Khadem and Mr. Mahmoud Badavam were arrested on 21 May 2011 in a coordinated raid during which some 17 Baha'is from several cities across Iran were arrested because of their involvement in the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education—an informal initiative for providing university-level studies to Baha'i youth deprived of the right to higher education in the country.
""The Baha'i International Community is pleased with the release of these prisoners who were forced to spend four years of their lives confined to their prison cells only for assisting young people to study,"" said Ms. Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. ""However, we are still very concerned about the eight others who remain in prison for charges related to the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education. It is also equally worrying that over 100 Baha'is continue to languish in Iranian jails.""
Immediately after the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Baha'i students were expelled from the nation's universities and Baha'i professors and lecturers dismissed from their positions. After years of efforts to get the government to reverse its decision, in order to meet the needs of the youth to gain education, the Baha'i community made some informal arrangements to use the voluntary services of dismissed Baha'i professors to provide an education to the deprived Baha'i youth. The participants did not expect to receive an official degree, nor was anyone promised any other benefit such as prospects of employment. However, even this initiative is considered illegal by the government of Iran.
""It is as though one were to deny certain citizens access to available food supplies and when they undertake with untold hardship to cultivate their backyards in order to survive, declare their efforts illegal and destroy their crop,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""Persistence in these dehumanizing acts serves only to expose the irrational determination of the authorities to block the social and economic progress of the Baha'is.""
The Baha'is who were arrested in May 2011 were tried between September-October 2011. Mr. Badavam, Mr. Zibaie, Ms. Khadem and Mr. Sedghi were, on two separate days, taken to court and informed of their verdicts, whilst in handcuffs and with their ankles chained.
No written copy of the verdicts was provided to the prisoners or their lawyers. However, transcripts made by those present at the hearing as well as the accusations leveled against some later indicate that the Baha'is were found guilty of such charges as ""membership of the deviant Bahaist sect with the goal of taking actions against the security of the country"" and ""collaboration with the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education.""  Mahmoud Badavam (left), Ramin Zibaie (center), and Farhad Sedghi (right)—three Bahá'ís involved with the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education—were released from prison after completing their four-year sentence.""The assertions made against these individuals were vague and completely without foundation, and designated their actions as illegal,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""The question is, what is illegal? To study? To learn? To accompany others in their quest to gain knowledge? Why debar Baha'i youth from studying or gathering together to learn, or disallow a dismissed professor from sharing his or her learning with young people who are deprived of higher education? And why imprison those who teach science and other subjects at home to these youth?""
""Ultimately, what is illegal, a government policy that excludes its citizens from higher education on the basis of their religious affiliates or the efforts of a community to educate its own youth? The four Baha'is who have been released, and those still imprisoned, are ordinary individuals who were exercising their basic human rights,"" she said.
(Correction added 6 May 2015: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that eight BIHE prisoners remain in prison.)",NEW YORK,,United States
1053,2015-05-14,"[1046, 1029, 1053]",Global campaign on seventh anniversary of arrest of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders launched,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has today launched a campaign to mark the seventh anniversary of the wrongful arrest and imprisonment of the seven former Baha'i leaders in Iran.
The campaign will run until 21 May 2015. Events are being planned around the world by Baha'i communities and others to call attention to the plight of the seven, who were arrested in 2008. The plight of some 90 other Baha'is in Iran - as well as other prisoners of conscience there - will also be highlighted.
""What the events of the past year have demonstrated ever more clearly to the people of Iran and others from around the world who promote peace and concord is the stark contrast between the peaceful intentions and selfless service of the Baha'i community and the lamentable and inhuman acts of those who, under the influence of ignorant religious prejudice, continue to perpetrate injustices against you,"" wrote the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith, in a letter to Baha'is in Iran earlier this month.
The campaign will take the theme ""Seven Days in Remembrance of Seven Years for the Seven Baha'i Leaders."" Each day in the next seven days, events will focus on a different member of the seven, who are Mahvash Sabet, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm.
Facebook event pages in English and Persian have been set up as rallying points and a hashtag has been designated: #7Bahais7years. There is more background at www.bic.org/7Bahais7years
The seven formed the entire membership of the now-disbanded ad hoc group tending to the spiritual and social needs of the Iranian Baha'i community in the absence of formally elected Baha'i leadership, which was banned in 1983.
Ms. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008, while the other six were arrested on 14 May 2008. In 2010, the seven were tried and wrongfully convicted on charges of ""espionage"" and ""spreading propaganda against the regime,"" among other false accusations. They were sentenced to 20 years in prison, the longest terms of any current prisoners of conscience in Iran.  Banner image in the campaign marking the 7th anniversary of the wrongful imprisonment of the former members of the Yaran",NEW YORK,,United States
1054,2015-05-20,"[1053, 1052, 1046]",European Parliamentarians call for release of Iranian Baha'i prisoners,"BRUSSELS, Belgium — Together with many voices from within Iran—including Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights lawyer there—and from outside, five members of the European Parliament are calling for the immediate release of the seven imprisoned former Iranian Baha'i leaders saying, among other things, that such religious persecution is ""unjust"" and ""unacceptable"".
The five MEPs—Cornelia Ernst of Germany, Ana Gomes of Portugal, Tunne Kelam of Estonia, and Andrew Lewer and Julie Ward of the United Kingdom—made individual video statements as part of a global campaign designed to call attention this month to the seventh anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of the seven Baha'is, collectively known as the Yaran—the friends.
""We join this appeal for their immediate, unconditional release,"" said Mr. Kelam, ""because no country can claim that it has normal conditions for its citizens when a part of their citizens—some minority—is being persecuted systemically and so cruelly.""
Ms. Gomes said: ""It is really quite unacceptable that these Iranian citizens, who do not want more than to actually serve their country, their people, in service to the very peaceful teachings of the Baha'i Faith, be in prison and be charged with accusations that are totally baseless.""  Cornelia Ernst of Germany, MEP.Ms. Ward said that it is ""very difficult to understand why the Iranian regime would be so aggressive and so cruel"" towards its Baha'i citizens, who represent a faith of ""peace, humanity, gender equality and fairness"".
Mr. Lewer said Iran should be held accountable for its human rights violations generally, and particularly for its persecution of Baha'is. ""With so much attention on Iran at the moment because of the nuclear talks,"" he said, ""I think it is important that these issues are not overlooked.
""Human rights and religious freedom should remain something that we stay concerned about even as we make progress, possibly, with Iran in other areas,"" said Mr. Lewer.
Ms. Ernst said: ""We are strictly against the fact that individuals such as the Baha'is are being imprisoned because they speak in favour of the right for education or because they support the right to practice their religion.
""This is something that is absolutely unacceptable,"" she said.
Rachel Bayani, representative of the Baha'i International Community's Regional Office to the European Union, said the videos reflect the sincere concerns of European Parliament over Iran's treatment of Baha'is.
""These statements are a powerful expression of solidarity of the representatives of the people of Europe towards the people of Iran,"" said Ms. Bayani.
The video statements, which have also been posted to a campaign page on Facebook, can be viewed here.
Also available is a statement by Nasrin Sotoudeh addressing the seventh anniversary of the wrongful imprisonment of the former members of the Yaran.  Ms. Sotoudeh was herself imprisoned in Iran with the Baha'i women who are among the seven now imprisoned.  Her video statement is available here.
In 2010, the seven, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm, were tried and wrongfully convicted on charges of ""espionage"" and ""spreading propaganda against the regime,"" among other false accusations. They were sentenced to 20 years in prison, the longest term of any current prisoners of conscience in Iran.",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1055,2015-05-26,"[1051, 1032, 1047]",Newsreel marks new developments in Chile,"SANTIAGO, Chile — The eighth in a series of newsreels documenting the construction of the Baha'i House of Worship for South America has been released and can be viewed online in Spanish, English, and Portuguese at the official website.
The title of the episode, ""Connection with South America"", highlights the impact that the erection of the House of Worship is having not only on surrounding communities in Chile but across the continent.
The video describes progress that has been made over the past several months on the construction process, including the placement of marble panels in the interior of the central edifice, the near completion of the flat glass cladding on its exterior, and the removal of its temporary central tower, exposing its unique and beautiful interior, unobstructed. The video ends by capturing the placement of a sacred Baha'i symbol at its apex during a special event last month.
The newsreel also marks several significant visits to the House of Worship since the start of the new year: the Minister of Justice for the island nation of Samoa, Ms. Fiame Naomi Mata'afa; the Intendant of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Mr. Claudio Orrego; and the Mayor of Penalolen, Ms. Carolina Leitao.  The latter two speak in the video about the significance of the House of Worship for the surrounding area and the value it brings to Chilean society.
When completed, the edifice in Santiago will be the last of the Baha'i Houses of Worship erected to serve an entire continent.  Volunteers work on landscaping and drainage system",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1056,2015-05-26,"[1054, 1053, 1052]",Global solidarity with seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'is,"NEW YORK, United States — A global campaign to call attention to the long and unjust imprisonment of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders spawned a worldwide outcry this month on the seventh anniversary of their arrest.
From simple village assembly halls to government chambers, individuals and groups raised their voices to denounce the unjust incarceration of the seven, along with the 110 other Baha'is currently jailed for their religious beliefs and other prisoners of conscience in Iran.
""We were touched by the depth and heart with which people around the world, from so many different backgrounds and experiences, came together in support of the seven wrongfully imprisoned Baha'i leaders in Iran,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community's United Nations Office, which coordinated the campaign.
""The degree to which people everywhere understand the magnitude of injustice experienced by Iranian Baha'i citizens as a result of government policy was truly highlighted by this campaign.  We can see their support in not only the official statements that the campaign generated, but also the songs, poems, personal stories and other demonstrations of solidarity it produced.  The suffering of the Baha'is is mirrored in that of other religious minorities and free-thinkers in Iran.  An improvement in conditions for the Baha'i community will signal a greater respect for the human rights of all citizens,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The campaign took the theme ""Seven Days in Remembrance of Seven Years in Prison for the Seven Baha'i Leaders.""
Each day of the week-long campaign, starting 14 May 2015, was dedicated to one member of the seven: Mahvash Sabet, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm.
The campaign prompted numerous articles in the news media, statements of support from senior government officials, parliamentarians, and human rights organizations, and hundreds if not thousands of events and observances organized by individuals and groups around the world to honor the seven.
In moving displays of sympathy and unity with the imprisoned Baha'i leaders, relatives and friends of the seven posted numerous personal accounts and recollections. The niece of Saeid Rezaie, Pooneh Heidarieh, recorded a video honoring her uncle. Other video interviews with relatives of Fariba Kamalabadi and Behrouz Tavakkoli, were also widely distributed.  A number of relatives of the seven were quoted in an extensive article on Iranwire.  The imprisoned individuals are, top from left, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Mahvash Sabet; bottom from left, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Saeid Rezaie and Afif Naeimi.The campaign was most visible on social media, using the hashtag #7Bahais7years. Two Facebook event pages in English and Persian also served as rallying points for the campaign.
""What was most inspiring about this global campaign was that it highlighted, through a vibrant social media community, the injustices faced by the seven imprisoned Baha'is. We saw messages, videos, and images on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter from nearly every continent, displaying a wide variety of creative expression,"" said Ms. Dugal.
For example, in Germany and Austria, young people who had gathered at previously scheduled conferences to consult and plan about serving humanity through neighborhood processes and projects decided to dedicate their time and musical devotions to the seven.
In Zaragoza, Spain, a group dressed in striped prison costumes gathered in front of the provincial council building, holding signs calling for all prisoners of conscience in Iran to be freed.
And in India, in the village of Barama in Assam, a group of children arranged a special prayer meeting in an orphanage on 20 May. Photos show children holding up signs saying: ""We are with you Yaran."" (Yaran means ""friends"" in Persian.) This was a frequent slogan on signs at vigils around the world - from Vietnam to Brazil, South Africa to Australia - as people young and old came together to share stories, say prayers, and sing songs in support of Iran's persecuted Baha'i citizens.
Officials from around the world have been among those raising their voices in support of the prisoners:
● In Brussels, five members of the European Parliament issued video statements calling the imprisonment of the seven ""cruel"" and ""unacceptable.""
● In Brazil, Federal Deputy Luiz Couto, former president of the national human rights committee, and at least two other Federal Deputies, lent their support to the campaign.
● In Canada, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rob Nicholson issued a statement saying the continued imprisonment of the seven ""serves as disturbing reminder of the Iranian regime's blatant disregard for religious freedom.""
● In Germany, Human Rights Commissioner Christoph Strasser issued a statement calling for the immediate release of the seven. ""The seven detainees were each sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in a trial that lacked any transparency and disregarded fundamental rule-of-law principles,"" he said.
Other human rights activists and organizations also raised their voices.
● Nasrin Sotoudeh, an Iranian lawyer who was for a time imprisoned with several members of the seven, recorded a video statement calling their 2010 trial ""utterly unjust"" and asking Iranian authorities to ""release them today.""
● Mahnaz Parkand, an Iranian lawyer who defended the seven at their 2010 trial and was later forced to flee Iran, spoke out several times while visiting Washington DC, explaining how Iran prevented the seven from receiving a fair trial.
● Sini Maria Heikkila of Christian Solidarity Worldwide issued a video statement saying ""if Iran is serious about addressing human rights concerns, ensuring the rights of religious minorities is a vital first step.""
● Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said in a blog post that Iran's brutal treatment of Baha'is highlights the ""true nature"" of its government. ""The truth about life in the Islamic Republic is revealed not by the smooth diplomats it sends abroad for international negotiations, but by the suffering of these peaceful and vulnerable citizens,"" said Mr. Abrams.
Actors and musicians added their voices to the campaign, as well. British actor/comedian, Omid Djalili, recorded a video message for the imprisoned Baha'is. ""We say seven years, seven Baha'is, that is seven years too many."" Also in the UK, actress Fiona Wade lent her support in a video statement. On 20 May, Shane Lynch, of the Irish band, Boyzone, issued his own message honoring Behrouz Tavakkoli.
Musicians Grant Hindin Miller and Sonbol Taefi from New Zealand created a special music video for the occasion and, in the USA, singer-songwriter Shadi Toloui-Wallace released a special song written for the seven.
""We are moved by the international show of support for these seven Baha'i leaders. It is through efforts such as these, taken around the world - at the grassroots level, in the media, and among government officials - that awareness will be raised about their plight,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""We hope that these calls for their release serve to ensure that in 2016 a campaign marking their eighth year of captivity will not be necessary.""",NEW YORK,,United States
1057,2015-06-16,"[1031, 1027]",Baha'i shopkeepers in Iran pressured against observing their religious holy days,"GENEVA, Switzerland — Tens of Baha'is' shops in the cities of Rafsanjan, Kerman, Sari and Hamadan have been sealed by government authorities in an effort to pressure Baha'is not to observe their religious holy days.
These shops, mostly small businesses, offering services like household appliance repairs or the sales of automobile parts or clothing, were sealed in April and May when the owners closed their stores in observance of Baha'i holy days during those months.
Further to these closures, Iranian authorities told some of the shopkeepers that if they do not sign a pledge that they will only close their stores on recognized national holidays their business licenses will be revoked and their stores closed permanently.
""This recent attempt by authorities in Iran to prevent Baha'i shop owners from observing Baha'i holy days on a few days of the year is an act against the laws of Iran itself and one which violates international human rights norms,"" said Ms. Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community's United Nations office in Geneva.
""Such small enterprises are virtually the only means of economic subsistence left to Baha'is and their families in Iran today"" said Ms. Ala'i. ""Baha'is have been banned from all government employment and other private sector businesses are frequently pressured to dismiss them.""
Many or all of these same shops had been shut down by authorities last October when at least 80 shops in those same cities as well as in the city of Jiroft were closed by authorities after the owners temporarily closed their businesses to observe Baha'i holy days. After extensive appeals by the Baha'is, and some international publicity about the closings, the shops were eventually allowed to reopen. These actions have been reported in the 2015 annual report of the European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance titled ""State of Freedom of Religion or Belief"".
""These recent developments take the persecution against the Baha'is in Iran to a new level entirely, because it is not as if the Baha'is openly advertise that they close their shops because of a Baha'i holy day,"" Ms. Ala'i said. ""They merely wish to exercise their right to freedom of worship.""  Opening Session of the 104th International Labour Conference, where the topic of discrimination in the workplace is a major concern. (Credits: Pouteau / Crozet —https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilopictures/ 17723189434/in/album-72157653410486208/)""It is all clearly part of a continuing effort by the government to make Baha'is invisible by striving to eliminate all aspects of their existence,"" she said.
The news comes just as governments, employers, and workers' representatives from around the world gather in Geneva for the 104th International Labour Conference, where the topic of discrimination in the workplace is a major concern.
""The fact that news of these incidents, blatant examples of religious persecution, come as the world is discussing workplace discrimination only serves to highlight once again the degree to which Iran has failed to live up to international human rights norms,"" said Ms. Ala'i.
She noted that in 2014, the International Labour Organization, at the 103rd International Labour Conference, called on Iran to address discrimination against Baha'is, saying it has ""deep concern"" regarding ""the systematic discrimination against members of religious and ethnic minorities, particularly the Baha'is, and once again urges the Government to take immediate and decisive action to address such discrimination"".
Baha'is are officially restricted from engaging in certain types of businesses. In 2007, the Public Places Supervision Office issued a letter to police throughout the country saying Baha'is should be banned from ""high-earning businesses"" and from ""sensitive"" categories, such as the press, jewelry, photography, and computer and Internet-related businesses, as well as the food industry.
Moreover, small shops run by Baha'is have not only been the subject of frequent closures by government agents but also arson attacks and other assaults, perpetrated in an atmosphere where hatred against Baha'is has been incited through a national anti-Baha'i media campaign, as has been documented previously.",GENEVA,,Switzerland
1058,2015-06-25,"[1049, 1050, 886]",UN seminar highlights global citizenship education,"NEW YORK, United States — On June 15, UN permanent missions from France, Korea, Nigeria, Qatar, and the United States co-organized a seminar titled ""Global Citizenship Education for a Just, Peaceful, Inclusive and Sustainable World"", held at UN Headquarters in New York City.  The Baha'i International Community and UNESCO were among seven NGOs and UN organizations that co-sponsored the event.
The seminar—archived on UN Web TV—engaged diplomats, UN officials and civil society actors in a dialogue on fostering global citizenship.  The focus was on education that engenders universal human values conducive to the construction of a more peaceful and sustainable world.
Daniel Perell, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN, moderated the second of two sessions, titled ""Opportunities Based on Application in the Field"", which focused on efforts to explore models for global citizenship education.
In his brief introductory comments, Mr. Perell connected global citizenship to the principle of the oneness of humankind, which he described as having a material as well as spiritual dimension, quoting a well-known passage from Baha'i sacred scriptures: ""The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.""
""Global citizenship education receives wide support at the level of concept,"" he said. ""The challenges come when we talk about what it looks like in practice.""
The seminar, he explained, was a place for actors from various institutions and fields of endeavor to exchange insights and experiences and advance understanding.
Ambassador Oh Joon of the Republic of Korea to the UN gave the introductory remarks for the seminar.
""Global citizenship education is now more widely recognized in the context of a shifting paradigm regarding the role of education in the twenty-first century,"" he stated.
""Given the strong need to tackle global challenges, such as violent extremism, global citizenship education shares the importance of a common understanding of universal values, such as justice, human rights and dignity, gender equality, and cultural diversity.""
Ambassador Oh also strongly linked global citizen education to sustainability and explained that it had been ""incorporated into the UN's sustainable development goals as an important dimension of development for all"".
The event featured a range of panelists, including diplomats from the sponsoring countries, representatives of civil society, and educational experts.  Prominent among the themes was the idea that education alone will not necessarily result in constructive participation in society.  There was a consensus among panelists that education must incorporate human values if it is to result in a sense of responsibility to the well-being of society, from the local to the international spheres.
One of the panelists, Ramu Damodaran of the United Nations Academic Impact Secretariat, spoke about the important role civil society has played in bringing new ideas to the United Nations. He noted, for example, that among the first mentions of the concept of ""world citizenship"" as an element of sustainable development came in a 1993 statement from the Baha'i International Community to the first session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.
In recent years, the idea of education for global citizenship has taken on increased prominence because of its inclusion in the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which call for ""all learners (to) acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development"", including the promotion of ""global citizenship"".
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2012 launched the Global Education First Initiative (GEFI), which seeks to spur renewed efforts to reach global education goals. Fostering global citizenship is one of three priority areas on which the program focuses.
[View the flier of the program and a concept note here (PDF).](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/GCE_Event flier_0615.pdf)",NEW YORK,,United States
1059,2015-07-08,"[1059, 980, 962]",Youth conference inspires hope and action in CAR,"BANGUI, Central African Republic — On the morning of 15 June, more than 400 young people from the Central African Republic (CAR) gathered with great anticipation for the opening session of a long-awaited youth conference. It was the last in a series of 114 that were held in selected cities around the world.
This conference, like the 113 others, was originally planned for 2013.  But in March of that year, Bangui, the capital city of CAR, was engulfed by waves of violence that swept across the country.  The security situation was too volatile to allow the conference to take place.
Over the course of the intervening months, the Baha'i community sought ways to enhance its contributions to peace in the country, largely through educational endeavors and efforts to build bridges with groups working for social harmony.  The youth waited patiently for another opportunity to hold the conference.
When the announcement was made that the conference was indeed happening from 15 to 17 June, the news generated tremendous enthusiasm not only in the country but abroad.
In the opening session—covered by Television Centrafricaine, Radio Centrafrique, and Radio Notre Dame—participants were greeted with a letter addressed to them by the Universal House of Justice.  Participants look on during one of the musical performances.""Nearly two years have passed since over 80,000 of your peers gathered in historic conferences across the world that we called for in our message of 8 February 2013,"" the message stated.
""Conditions in the Central African Republic during the period that the conferences were being convened prevented you from holding your own gathering and engaging together in the conversation that so inspired the hearts and illumined the thoughts of your contemporaries elsewhere,"" it continued. ""We are delighted that you too now have the opportunity to meet and deliberate in a similar manner.
""Your discussions will no doubt assist you to sharpen your vision of a spiritually and materially prosperous society, one which you can help to bring about through your words and actions.  You must, in this light, hold firm to the conviction that the progress and happiness of each one of you is inextricably intertwined with the progress and happiness of your communities.""
The gathering provided a space for young people to reflect on their place in the world.  They studied materials prepared for the conference together in small and large groups and committed themselves to working for the betterment of their communities, a goal all the more laudable when set against the backdrop of sectarian conflict and suffering that afflicts their country at this time.
Over the three days, those who attended discussed a number of themes, including the characteristics of the period of youth and the distinct role their age group can play in bringing about constructive social change; what it means for society to advance both materially and spiritually; how to foster an environment of mutual support in which the contributions of all who wish to work for the common good are welcomed; and the importance of assisting the younger generation to navigate early adolescence, helping them to avoid the effects of destructive social forces.
Such enthusiasm was generated in the groups that some wanted to plan straight away what paths of service to their community they would pursue after the conference, explained Mr. Zowé Tiba Nganyadé, one of the organizers.
In reflecting on the preparations for the conference, Mr. Nganyadé explained, ""It is a major logistical challenge to host such an event in a country where the infrastructure has been destroyed, where water and electricity have become rare commodities.""
Yet, amid those conditions, the announcement of the conference ""generated such excitement that even young people living in the zones still under rebel control expressed their desire to attend"", although many could not travel to the conference due to the unstable circumstances in the country.
""Some traveled a week to make it,"" said Mr. Nganyadé.
With the closing session, the conference brought to conclusion the series of youth conferences called for by the Universal House of Justice in 2013.",BANGUI,,Central African Republic
1060,2015-07-13,"[1048, 1042, 908]",Theme of youth features at interreligious Congress,"ASTANA, Kazakhstan — For growing populations of youth across the planet to become constructive participants in the life of society and contributors to social progress, a fundamental shift in thinking is required about the role of religion in society.
This was one of the main points made by the Baha'i International Community delegation to the 5th World Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Kazakhstan on 10-11 June.
This year's Congress, chaired by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, had 80 delegates representing some ten religions and over forty countries.  Among those who attended were Ban Ki Moon, Secretary-General of the UN, and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
The Baha'i International Community was represented by Joshua Lincoln, Secretary-General of the Baha'i International Community, Serik Tokbolat from the Baha'i International Community Office at the United Nations, and Lyazzat Yangaliyeva, the Director of the Office of Public Information for the Baha'is of Kazakhstan.  Lyazzat Yangaliyeva, the Director of the Office of Public Information for the Baha'is of Kazakhstan, and Joshua Lincoln, Secretary-General of the Baha'i International Community, at the 5th World Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.The focus of the Congress was dialogue among religions, and between religions and leaders of thought and government.  Reflecting on the Congress, Ms. Yangaliyeva commented that the striking diversity of faiths present brought into sharp focus the challenge and necessity of cooperation among them if humanity is to build a more peaceful world.
On a panel discussion titled ""The Influence of Religion on Youth: Education, Science, Culture, and Mass Media"", Mr. Lincoln spoke about positive social change, young people, and the role of religion.
""Religious communities are communities of practice where spiritual teachings are translated into social reality,"" he stated.  ""Within them, a process of capacity building that enables young people to participate in the transformation of society, and protects and nurtures them, can be set in motion.""
In his comments, Mr. Lincoln also spoke about the contrasting images that have come to define youth in popular thought. Although vulnerable to radicalization on one extreme and apathy and inertia on the other, his remarks highlighted the promise that lies in the young generations.
""Young people can see the contradictions in this world,"" said Mr. Lincoln. ""We know that youth have an acute sense of justice, a yearning for meaning and purpose, a desire to serve and contribute meaningfully, a thirst for knowledge and an innate attraction to what is good and beautiful.
""These characteristics are intrinsic, though they may remain latent and dormant in whole populations when the education and moral empowerment of youth is neglected.""
For religion to play a positive role, its leadership must, however, ""scrutinize the orientation that has become deeply embedded in so many communities toward the 'other', and challenge the pervasive and harmful claims of privileged access to truth that have fueled some of the most bitter conflicts in the world.""
Religious extremism and religious co-existence were some of the other issues discussed at the Congress.
Convened every three years, the Congress is an initiative of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Its Secretariat is headed by the President of the Senate, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The next Congress will be held in 2018.",ASTANA,,Kazakhstan
1061,2015-07-17,"[1034, 976, 845]",Baha'i family in Iran forced to give up body of a loved one for unlawful burial,"NEW YORK, United States — The recent experience of a Baha'i family in Sanandaj, a town in the Kurdistan province of Iran, highlights the cruel absurdities practiced by the Iranian authorities towards some of its citizens, members of this faith community—the largest non-Muslim religion in the country.
On 12 July 2015, a Baha'i, Mrs. Baji Muhammadifard passed away and her family sought a burial permit to inter her body in the Baha'i cemetery in Sanandaj.  This was refused, with the officials insisting—against the existing laws in Iran—that Mrs. Muhammadifard's body be laid to rest in the Baha'i cemetery in Ghorveh, a town located approximately an hour and a half's journey from Sanandaj.
Agreeing to burial in Ghorveh would have forced the family to ignore the Baha'i burial law requiring bodies to be interred within an hour's journey from the place of death.  The road from Sanandaj to Ghorveh is extremely hazardous, passing as it does through mountains.  Despite this, in an effort to persuade the family that Baha'i law would not be broken, the authorities told the family that an ambulance—which could exceed the speed limit—would carry the body.
Local authorities sympathetic to the plight of the Baha'is told the family that a memorandum from the Supreme National Security Council has stated that the Baha'is are only to be allocated one cemetery in any province, an inhumane and illegal directive applied to no other group of citizens in the country, which has never been shared previously with the Baha'is.
""The Iranian authorities seem to have brought themselves down to a new level of absurdity and malice; extending their prejudiced attacks on the Baha'i community beyond the grave,"" said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community Office to the United Nations in New York.
The refusal to allow the burial to take place in the Baha'i cemetery in Sanandaj, an area made beautiful and verdant through decades of effort by the community, meant that the family had to keep the body of their loved one in cool conditions at home.  This was done with the help of friends.
The family knew that if the body were in the public morgue, it would be taken by the authorities without their knowledge or permission and buried with no Baha'i rites being observed.
Members of the wider community who came to mourn Mrs. Muhammadifard's passing were most sympathetic to the family's situation.  There was a swell of public support in the town, with attention being drawn to the unreasonable behavior of the authorities.
The officials responded by summoning the son of the deceased for interrogation.  Finally, after four hours of grueling questions and threats, he was forced to give up his mother's body.  Soon after, just as the grief-stricken family had feared, the body was taken by the authorities, placed in an ambulance and sent, unaccompanied by any family member, to Ghorveh cemetery.  The mourners were left in tears and distress.  After an hour the family could not contain their anxieties any longer and travelled to Ghorveh to see what had happened to the body of their loved one.
Iranian law requires every town to provide, within its boundaries, cemetery plots for the burial of all its citizens and makes it unlawful for a municipality to accept for burial bodies from outside its jurisdiction.
“The Iranian government is now summarily breaking its own laws in its persecution of Baha'is.  What is the reason for this behavior?  The government of Iran should be asked to explain its actions to the international community,” said Ms. Dugal.  “I wonder what the people of Iran and of the world—especially the youth—think of such actions being taken by a government that prides itself in its adherence to the sacred religion of Islam?”",NEW YORK,,United States
1062,2015-07-18,"[1051, 1047, 1020]",Dawn unveiling for Cambodian temple design,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — As the sun rose over Battambang yesterday, the melodies of prayer filled the morning air, in a spirit of reverence, exultation, and thanksgiving.
These dawn prayers began the event for the unveiling of the design of the first local Baha’i House of Worship for the people of this region of Cambodia, which has in recent years witnessed the emergence of a vibrant community life centered on worship of God and service to humanity.   The events of the day involved dignitaries as well as inhabitants of the surrounding communities, numbering over 300 people. Some had walked, while others made their way using various forms of transport to arrive on time for the early morning program.
Sochet Vitou Tang, the architect of the project, was deeply moved by the occasion as he addressed the audience.  “It is an especial pleasure to stand here on the sacred land which will host the local Baha’i House of Worship for Battambang, in the Kingdom of Cambodia,” he said.
Mr. Tang described the purpose of the project as being to create a place of tranquility where the mind and soul could find rest and solace, a place where the spiritual and material dimensions of life would be harmonized.  Some 300 people gathered under tents for the unveiling of the design of the local Baha'i House of WorshipHe further explained that the House of Worship would become a center where people of all persuasions could “come to learn about life, about the environment, and the world beyond; a place where we come to build a unified world.”
Then to gasps of joy and excitement, the model for the temple was unveiled by the architect and local village chiefs. Simultaneously, banners showing features of the design were unfurled around the marquee under which the participants were gathered. The highly charged moment was greeted with thunderous applause and those present—including many youth and children—came forward to examine the model with eager eyes.
The youth then offered a moving song they had composed expressing the meaning of the House of Worship in their lives.
In the evening, a reception was held for local and regional authorities at which the governor of the Battambang region, Mr Chan Sophal, was in attendance, as well as the Chairman of the Battambang Provincial Council.
In his remarks, Governor Sophal commented that “the Baha’i  community has been greatly contributing to the spiritual and material development of the country”.
What he found particularly striking, he said, is “that the Baha’i House of Worship to be built is not only for the Baha’is but for all of humanity”.  And he was  attracted by “the concept that the Baha’i House of Worship is not only a place for prayer and worship, but also a place that inspires service to the community.”
An overarching theme throughout the day was the role of prayer in humanity’s individual and collective life, highlighted by the opening gathering at dawn, and how it must be wedded to service to humanity for the realization of its full effect.
The inhabitants have drawn inspiration from a recent message of the Universal House of Justice regarding Houses of Worship in which it explains that “the creation of a new pattern of how society can be” is seen in “the endeavours of community building”.
“Taken in its entirety,” it continues, “the pattern fosters capacity for service. Essential to that pattern is the devotional meeting—a communal aspect of the godly life.”
Battambang is the second local Baha’i House of Worship whose design has been unveiled.  It will be one among five local Baha’i Houses of Worship which are due to be built in the coming years.",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1063,2015-07-30,"[1059, 665, 1047]",Lunda Baha’is examine future of their society,"MWINILUNGA, Zambia — Hundreds of members of the Baha'i Faith from the Lunda population gathered in the Northwestern Province of Zambia on 24 July to celebrate their history and deliberate on their contribution to the development of their people.
The conference brought together people of all ages in a discussion on how the teachings of the Baha'i Faith are being applied to the life of their society. They, in the light of the spiritual principles of the Baha'i Faith, examined various aspects of their culture, identifying those contributing to the advancement of their community and that should be carried forward and those which might need to be set aside.
Chief Ntambu, one of the traditional leaders in the area and a member of the Baha'i Faith, was among the participants. ""We must manifest a new culture and develop a new identity founded upon principles animating our faith,"" he said to a stirred gathering of over 550 women and men, young and old.
In a spiritual and joyful atmosphere characterized by song and dance, the participants consulted on enhancing the foundations of family life, educating the young, especially girls, and on contributing more effectively to the spiritual and material wellbeing of society through a moral framework inspired by the Baha'i Faith.
""If we do not offer our children the best education possible and have an interest in their moral and academic advancement, then negative habits will be passed on to the generations,"" said an older gentleman at the 3-day conference.  A traditional song and dance welcoming participants at the gathering""Parents must also educate themselves on the significance of marriage and have meaningful conversations with their children on the subject,"" remarked a young woman.
Through an exchange of ideas, the participants contributed to tracing the path of the progress of their people over the last five decades and clarified what steps they will now take together in their villages and towns which are in parts of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia.",MWINILUNGA,,Zambia
1064,2015-08-24,"[1048, 1042, 1035]",Irish Baha'is hold conference on inclusive society,"KILKENNY, Ireland — One of the pressing questions in the Irish nation, as in many others across the world, is how to build a cohesive society where different groups can live together in harmony and integrate into the wider community.
This was the theme of a conference organized by the external affairs office of the Baha'i community of Ireland on 3 August, titled ""The New Irish as 'Us' — Identity and Integration in Modern Ireland"".  200 people attended the one-day event, where speakers included a list of prominent figures from Ireland and abroad.
Patricia Rainsford, Director of the external affairs office and one of the organizers of the event, reflected afterward about the purpose of the conference:
Although discrimination, alienation, and social exclusion have been present in Irish culture towards some of its own populations, explained Ms. Rainsford, ""Ireland has only been dealing with relatively large numbers of people from diverse global backgrounds for around 10 years"".
One of the ways the conference proposed to tackle this subject is to bring greater attention to the question of identity in Ireland.  Ann O'Sullivan, a journalist and psychotherapist, speaks about the impact of rejection and exclusion on individuals and society.A Canadian genocide expert who helped to establish the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, Payam Akhavan, talked about the importance of recasting the Irish identity to reflect the growing consciousness of the oneness of humanity.
""For the first time in human history we cannot define ourselves through otherness, rather we have to define ourselves inclusively,"" said Professor Akhavan, who nevertheless acknowledged the difficulties of reframing our identity.
Professor Akhavan was joined by a number of speakers including Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental and singer-songwriter Sharon Murphy.
Mr. Reichental, who described his experience as a young boy in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, stated that ""genocide doesn't begin in the gas chamber; it begins in the playground and the neighborhood"".
""We must all work to combat racism and discrimination and when we see wrong-doing we must be careful not to become bystanders,"" he further said.
Sharon Murphy's impassioned presentation moved the audience to tears as she described her experiences growing up as a black child in the Ireland of the 1960s and 70s.
Other speakers at the Kilkenny event were Ann O'Sullivan, a journalist and psychotherapist, who explored the consequences of exclusion for both individuals and society.
Karen McHugh from Doras Luimni, a human rights NGO that supports migrants and asylum-seekers, presented an overview of asylum seeking and how it differs from other forms of migration.
Among the speakers was also an Irish resident from Zimbabwe, Donnah Vuma, who is currently seeking asylum for herself and her three children.  In her presentation, she described asylum as ""a second chance, a chance to be safe and not in constant fear for yourself and your children"".
The event received press coverage in the Irish Times.",KILKENNY,,Ireland
1065,2015-09-03,"[282, 412, 818]",Extraordinary life bridged East and West,"HAIFA, Israel — Suheil Bushrui, devoted Baha'i, distinguished scholar, and tireless champion of the cause of peace, passed away yesterday in Yellow Springs, Ohio, at the age of 85.
Professor Bushrui hailed from a family with a remarkable history that traces back to the earliest days of the Baha'i Faith.  His deep commitment to the teachings of Baha'u'llah found expression in his outstanding contributions to interreligious and intercultural understanding, in his efforts to bridge the divide between East and West, and in his dedication to the realization of the cardinal principle of the Baha'i Faith—the oneness of humankind.
His contributions to the fields of literature and education in the Arabic and English-speaking worlds were distinctive.  He penned a vast number of books and scholarly articles on themes that ranged from literature to religion to world order.  He was one of the world's foremost scholars of Arabic and English literature and the first non-Westerner to be appointed as Chair of the International Association of the Study of Irish Literature.
In his life as an educator, Prof. Bushrui taught at universities in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and America and was the first Arab national to be appointed to the Chair of English at the American University of Beirut, a position he held from 1968 to 1986.
In 1992, Prof. Bushrui became the first incumbent of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, a position he held until his retirement from the post in 2005.  He vigorously pursued the mission of the Baha'i Chair to develop alternatives to the violent resolution of conflict, promote global education, and explore spiritual solutions for otherwise intractable social ills.
Most recently, until earlier this year, Prof. Bushrui was the Director of the Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace at the University of Maryland and was Senior Scholar of Peace Studies at the Center for International Development and Conflict Management.
Throughout a prolific career, Prof. Bushrui received numerous accolades and honors, including the Lebanese National Order of Merit, London University's Una Ellis-Fermor Literary Prize, the Silver Medal of Merit of the Vatican-sponsored Military and Religious Order of Constantine and St. George, the University of Maryland's Outstanding Faculty Award, a Maryland Governor's Citation for excellence in education, the Life Achievement Award of the Alumni Association of the American University of Beirut, the Temple of Understanding's Juliet Hollister Award for exceptional service to interfaith understanding. Previous recipients of the Hollister award include: Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan; Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama; and President Nelson Mandela.
Yet, his life's work extended beyond the confines of his scholarly endeavors or formal contributions on the national and international stages. Prof. Bushrui worked with generations of young people to promote a culture of peace and was recognized in the many countries in which he taught for the transformation he brought to the lives of his students.
In a tribute to him by the Universal House of Justice this evening, beyond his intellectual accomplishments, the qualities of character that endeared Prof. Bushrui to countless individuals throughout the world were especially highlighted:
""We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of dearly loved and highly esteemed Suheil Bushrui, whose many decades of tireless service to the Cause of God and to humanity evoke profound appreciation.  His widely acclaimed scholarly contributions to Arabic and English literature were animated by a lifelong yearning—inspired by the Baha'i ideals of the oneness of humanity and religious truth—to introduce the rich literary, cultural and spiritual heritage of East and West to each other and to disclose the universality of the human spirit underlying them.  Above all else, what distinguished his extraordinary record of academic and other accomplishments was the radiance of a sterling character illumined by attributes of the soul that call to mind 'Abdu'l-Baha's depiction of the learned as those 'versed in the secrets of divine wisdom and informed of the inner realities of the sacred Books; who wear in their hearts the jewel of the fear of God, and whose luminous faces shine with the lights of salvation'.""
Prof. Bushrui is survived by his wife Mary, his daughter Nadia and son-in-law James Malarkey, his grandsons Michael (wife Nadine), Daniel, and Kevin, and great-grandson Marlon.",HAIFA,,Israel
1066,2015-09-15,"[906, 991, 638]","Across oceans, spirit of sacrifice binds two communities","PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — The Pacific Ocean is home to one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world.  In this nation—Papua New Guinea (PNG)—over 800 languages are spoken, and some 700 tribal groups inhabit the mountainous terrain.
Recently, one of Papua New Guinea's two major national television channels, EMTV, aired a special episode prepared in partnership with the Baha'is of PNG, juxtaposing their experience in the country—in which the Baha'i community has witnessed an efflorescence of community life in recent decades—against the harsh conditions experienced by the Baha'is in Iran, who are enduring an ongoing, state-sponsored persecution of their community.  Though far from one another in distance and in the realities of their cultural and social settings, the documentary reflects the profound connection that the Baha'is in PNG feel with their co-religionists in Iran.
The documentary features aspects of the teachings and history of the Baha'i religion, which originated in Iran in the mid-ninteenth century but has had strong roots in PNG since the 1950s. The first segment of the program tells the story of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith to PNG and the contributions of several individual Baha'is whose dedication to the people of the islands impacted the development of the Baha'i community and the society at large.  Apelis Mazakmat, the first indigenous Baha'i of the country. He was one of several early Baha'is in Papua New Guinea who were highlighted in a documentary program on the Baha'i Faith.Mr. Apelis Mazakmat, the first indigenous Baha'i of the country, is among the figures from the early history of the Baha'i Faith in PNG who are introduced in the film.
Quoted in the documentary, former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Julius Chan, described Mr. Mazakmat as a ""living legend in promoting and maintaining an integral approach to the development of a just and prosperous society"".
The documentary also tells the story of Ms. Violet Hoehnke, an Australian Baha'i who moved to PNG in 1954, taking to its shores for the first time the teachings of the Baha'i Faith. Ms. Hoehnke was a champion of the principle of the oneness of humankind, and the video highlights her dedication to this fundamental Baha'i principle.
""A trained nurse who was widely known as 'Sister Vi,' Ms. Hoehnke was the matron of the first integrated hospital in the country,"" describes the narrator.
""Ms. Hoehnke invited local people to her home in the Admiralty Islands and held first aid classes for them, which prompted criticism from members of the European community, who practiced racial segregation. As a result, the hospital authorities quickly transferred her to a hospital in Rabaul on a nearby island.""
In the second segment, the focus is on the persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran, drawing attention to the persistent waves of oppression and attack since the earliest days of the religion, including executions and imprisonments after the revolution in Iran in 1979.
The program's final segments describe the endeavors of the Baha'i community for the betterment of society in PNG and worldwide.  Highlighting the efforts of the Baha'is to bring about unity and harmony, the film surveys a range of efforts to contribute to constructive social transformation.",PORT MORESBY,,Papua New Guinea
1067,2015-09-16,"[1058, 1049, 1048]",Faith leaders contribute to UN Agenda 2030,"BRISTOL, England — The Baha'i International Community (BIC) and representatives of 23 other major religious traditions have offered to the United Nations (UN) ideas and action plans in support of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)—called Agenda 2030, the UN's primary development agenda for the next 15 years.
Referred to as ""the Bristol Commitments"", contributions from the various religious groups were presented and discussed at a two-day event, titled ""Faith in the Future"", in Bristol, UK, from 8-9 September.  The event was co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC).
In its contribution to the meeting, the BIC elaborated on the vital role of religion in the success of the SDGs.
""Religion has been a feature of human civilization since the dawn of recorded history and has prompted countless multitudes to arise and exert themselves for the well-being of others,"" it explained in a written statement. ""When true to the spirit of its transcendent founders, religion has been one of the most powerful tools for the creation of new and beneficial patterns of individual and collective life.""
Yet the BIC also emphasized that ""the link between religious conviction and service to the common good is by no means automatic"".  Daniel Perell, a representative of the Baha’i International Community to the UN, addresses participants in the “Faith in the Future” event in Bristol.""Clearly there is much to learn about how noble ideals become expressed in committed, sustained action,"" it further explained.
Addressing the Baha'i community's efforts to contribute to development, the document highlights a range of endeavors, including educational processes to build capacity in individuals and groups to take charge of their own moral, social, and economic development.  In some cases, these efforts evolve over time and lead to the emergence of ""the capacity to engage in relatively complex areas of activity and to establish working relations with agencies of government and civil society"".
Martin Palmer, ARC secretary general, highlighted that the commitment by religious leadership to be a force of social good in the context of the SDGs builds on a long legacy stretching back centuries.
The Director of UNDP's team on the post-2015 development agenda, Mr. Paul Ladd, formally accepted the Bristol Commitments from the faith communities on behalf of the UN.
Speaking of the key role religious leadership will need to play, Mr. Ladd said, ""More than 80 percent of the world's people express a religious affiliation.  Knowing this, it becomes clear that the UN needs to work closely with faith communities over the next 15 years if the new global goals for sustainable development are to be achieved.""
Daniel Perell, a representative of the BIC to the UN, spoke about the transformational power of religion, which can tap human motivation at the deepest levels.
""We can all think of examples where the central figures of our faiths have changed hearts, minds, and lives—the course of history—through seemingly small actions,"" said Mr. Perell, addressing the attendees of the event.
""It is these small actions, endowed with purity of motive that, in the aggregate, will change the world. We have the opportunity now to commit ourselves to a global, universal endeavor, agreed upon by the nations of the world. We can take this good start and make it transformational.""
The Bristol Commitments will be presented to the UN General Assembly this month, when the SDGs will be formally adopted.
(Photos 1, 3, 4 and 5 taken from ARC — The Alliance of Religions and Conservation — at flickr)",BRISTOL,,United Kingdom
1068,2015-09-18,"[1048, 1042, 1064]",Religion in public life discussed with Scotland's leader,"EDINBURGH, Scotland — The recently-elected First Minister of Scotland has met with representatives of religious communities to discuss the role of faith in public life, the importance of interfaith dialogue, and the support offered by religious communities to the humanitarian crisis in southern Europe.
""Interfaith work and the contribution of faith groups is essential in transforming lives and building a stronger, fairer and equal Scotland,"" First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told an Interfaith Summit, held on 8 September.
In her remarks, the Director of Interfaith Scotland Maureen Sier—who is a Baha'i—observed that ""there are increasing opportunities for interfaith dialogue and engagement because there is a critical and growing need and this is being recognised both in public and private discourse"".
Dr. Sier, who worked with the Equality Unit of the Scottish Government to organise the Summit, called for further investment in interfaith education for young people.
""Young people need to catch the vision, be inspired by the possibilities and see the hope in the connections and friendships,"" Dr. Sier said.
""People are hungry for a different story about religion and the story of interfaith engagement is a powerful and hopeful narrative,"" added Dr. Sier.  ""It is a counter-narrative to bigotry, sectarianism and extremism; the challenge for interfaith organisations is to tell the story ever more powerfully and to somehow get the media to listen.""
Scotland is highly regarded in Europe as taking the lead in promoting mutual understanding of the teachings, traditions and practices of different faith communities.
Jeremy Fox, the Baha'i representative, said in his remarks, ""I would like to suggest that Scotland is in many respects a leader in this domain and that it should not hesitate to make this practice known in other countries.""
Mr. Fox expressed the Scottish Baha'i community's appreciation of the recognition that Ms. Sturgeon and her government give to the positive contribution that Faith communities can make to society.
He shared a statement by Baha'u'llah which, he told the First Minister ""relates to what we believe you and your government are attempting to do, but also relates to all of us gathered round this table.""
The statement of Baha'u'llah reads, ""Our hope is that the world's religious leaders and the rulers thereof will unitedly arise for the reformation of this age and the rehabilitation of its fortunes. Let them, after meditating on its needs, take counsel together and, through anxious and full deliberation, administer to a diseased and sorely-afflicted world the remedy it requireth.""
The summit was held in the Cabinet Office of Bute House, the First Minister's residence in Edinburgh.  The building is two houses along from 7 Charlotte Square, where 'Abdu'l-Baha stayed during his sojourn in the city in January 1913.
Attendees represented a wide range of religious communities—including Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh—as well as national and local interfaith  organisations.",EDINBURGH,,Scotland
1069,2015-09-29,"[1046, 1045, 1043]",Iranian President Rouhani's speech to UN falls short on human rights,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community expressed its disappointment over Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's failure to address the human rights situation in his country during his speech today at the United Nations.
""While we note the promise of coexistence and dialogue with other nations that marked President Rouhani's speech, we are extremely disappointed that he did not discuss any steps he would take to improve the human rights of Iranian citizens,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
Ms. Dugal said President Rouhani has failed to end religious discrimination, despite promises to do so, something that was raised last week by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his annual report on human rights in Iran to the General Assembly.
She noted in particular that Mr. Ban expressed concern about ""reports of persistent discrimination"" against ethnic and religious minorities, while noting that President Rouhani had himself made commitments aimed at ""ensuring equality, upholding freedom of belief and religion, extending protection to all religious groups and amending legislation that discriminates against minority groups.""
""President Rouhani has now had two full years to live up to the promises he has made regarding an end to religious discrimination in Iran. Sadly, despite all his talk, little progress has been made,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""In the case of the Iranian Baha'i community, the government has actually intensified its anti-Baha'i propaganda campaign in the media. The arbitrary arrest and detention of Baha'is has continued, and Baha'i youth are still banned from higher education.""
Ms. Dugal said more than 7,300 items of hate propaganda directed against Baha'is have been published in government-sponsored Persian media since President Rouhani took office in August 2013.
The government has also continued its crackdown on Baha'i businesses, said Ms. Dugal, adding that there have been more than 200 individual incidents of economic oppression against Baha'is under President Rouhani's administration, whilst the exclusion of Baha'is from public sector employment, begun in the early 1980s, continues.
""With 74 Baha'is currently in Iranian prisons, solely because of their religious beliefs, it is clear that President Rouhani's promises for change are hollow,"" she said.
""At a time when world leaders are meeting with President Rouhani, the Secretary-General's report is a sober reminder that the human rights situation in Iran desperately needs to remain on the international agenda,"" she said.
""How long must Iranian Baha'is face persecution? How long must they wait before they can go to university, be allowed to bury their dead without obstruction, or live without fear of imprisonment?"" she said.
Ms. Dugal also acknowledged the recent article by former Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari, who wrote last week that ""[t] e best way to test the Iranian government's will for a new chapter in its relationship with the rest of the world is to question them about their treatment of 300,000 Iranian Baha'is.""
""Mr. Bahari, who was himself imprisoned in Iran in 2009, correctly points out that when Iranian officials are asked to explain why they persecute Baha'is, 'they simply don't tell the truth'. The world must ask why President Rouhani not only refuses to discuss reports of human rights violations generally but also avoids addressing his government's unwillingness to confront the Baha'i question,"" said Ms. Dugal.
(Editor's note: On 30 September 2015, a correction was made in paragraph seven to more accurately reflect the number of items of hate propaganda — directed against Baha'is — which had been published in government-sponsored Persian media since President Rouhani took office in August 2013.)",NEW YORK,,United States
1070,2015-10-02,"[991, 649, 718]",Words of Baha'u'llah resound through historic church,"LONDON, England — The spot where St. Giles' Cripplegate church stands in the heart of the City of London has been the setting for acts of devotion towards God for more than a thousand years.
Now the words of Baha'u'llah have been added to the hymns of praise that have resonated for centuries through this special place of worship - one of the few surviving medieval churches in London.
A prayer penned by the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, set to music by Norwegian composer Lasse Thoresen, opened a programme of works—showcasing the best of European contemporary choral composing—on Wednesday 30 September, given by the acclaimed vocal ensemble, the BBC Singers.
The composer was inspired to write the piece, titled 'Mon Dieu, mon adore' after experiencing a very profound and blissful state of peacefulness while meditating.  Norwegian composer Lasse Thoresen pictured in St. Giles' Cripplegate church, London, ahead of a performance of his composition based on a prayer by Baha'u'llah, 'Mon Dieu, mon Adore', 30 September 2015.""I just sat amazed for maybe 15 minutes,"" said Professor Thoresen, ""and when it was over, I went immediately over to the piano and struck a few chords to try to re-create that kind of atmosphere.""
He then sought out some verses from the Baha'i sacred writings that would reflect the feelings he had experienced.
""I found a prayer of Baha'u'llah which begins, 'My God, my Adored One, my King, my Desire! What tongue can voice my thanks to Thee?' And while I was composing, it seemed to sound very French in harmony. So I then looked for a French translation of the text.""
The piece was composed as a part of a major commission that Prof. Thoresen received from the International Bergen Music Festival.  Each of the compositions selected for the performance were drawn from a continent-wide search for choral works.  In addition to Prof. Thoresen, eight other composers from five different countries were chosen.
""The BBC Singers are among the finest groups in Europe so it's a privilege to be performed by them,"" he said, ""as well as to also have this work broadcast by the BBC.""
Born in Oslo in 1949, Prof. Thoresen composed his first music at the age of 16. As his career progressed, he took a position as a professor at the Norwegian State Academy for Music. His work has been highly acclaimed in Norway and internationally.
Many of the composer's other works are also inspired by Baha'i texts.
""I take a lot of inspiration from these writings when I'm composing—especially the parts that pertain to creativity,"" Prof. Thoresen said.
In May 2001, Prof. Thoresen's oratorio Terraces of Light was performed on the occasion of the inauguration of the spectacular garden terraces around the Baha'i Holy Places on Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1071,2015-10-06,"[1035, 1048, 1064]",Canadian Baha’i refugee experience sheds light on topical issue,"OTTAWA, Canada — The Baha’i Community of Canada in partnership with the Canadian Immigration Historical Society as well as Carleton University’s Centre for Public History, Migration and Diaspora Studies Initiative, and its Department of History, organized a one-day symposium on the Iranian Baha’i refugee program in Canada, which ran from 1981 to 1989.
Held at the university on 21 September, the event had some 100 people in attendance, including academics, civil servants, students, and community members.
“The Iranian Baha’i refugee program was the first significant refugee program in Canada after the Indochinese refugee movement, which started in the late 1970s,” explained Geoffrey Cameron, principal researcher with the Baha’i Community of Canada. “Canada was the first country to open its doors to Baha’i refugees fleeing violent persecution in Iran.”
The symposium focused on the program in the decade after the 1979 revolution in Iran, during which some 2,300 Baha’is fleeing persecution were placed in over 200 communities across Canada.  Their resettlement was part of a special program designed in the 1980s by the Canadian Government, in cooperation with the national governing body of the Baha’i community—the National Spiritual Assembly—of Canada.  Canada’s program was used as a model to open doors to resettlement for some 6,000 more Baha’i refugees in 25 countries around the world.
Professor Howard Adelman, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at York University and a leading scholar in refugee studies, observed that the Baha’i community in Iran was targeted because they “reflect the spirit of modernity in their universalism”.
Mina Sanaee, who was among the refugees resettled in Canada, recalled the traumatic period.  “Each Baha’i (who left Iran) faced a supremely painful decision (to leave) after patiently enduring daily acts of violence and injustice.… We were dispirited,” Ms. Sanaee said.  Prof. Howard Adelman, Professor Emeritus, York University, Founding Director of the Centre for Refugee Studies, presents at the Symposium at Carleton University. (Photo by Emad Talisman)Yet, the refugee program provided a ray of hope for those fleeing persecution.  Ms. Sanaee recalled the encouragement she felt when she discovered that Canada had a resettlement process for Iranian Baha’i refugees.  “You will be scattered like gems across the country,” Douglas Martin, the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada at that time, told her, after he had returned from visiting Baha’i refugees in Pakistan.
Gerry Van Kessel, who was Director-General of Operations for Refugee Affairs in the 1980s, commented that his work on the Baha’i program had been a “career highlight”. When Mr. Martin approached the government for their assistance, there was an existing structure to facilitate the settlement of Baha’is from Iran. However, Van Kessel observed that what made the program work was the “trust and credibility” developed between Baha’i representatives and public servants. “That’s how you get cooperation… and your credibility with us made this work.”
Participants in the conference also heard from the perspective of refugees and civil servants in the field. All of those who worked on the program recalled Mona Mojgani, who served as the Director of the International Baha’i Refugee Office until it was dissolved in 1989.
“Mona made our jobs easier… she helped us to organize the Baha’is for us, and she understood how we worked. We trusted her,” said Dennis Scown, who was the immigration program manager in Islamabad during the 1980s.
Mark Davidson, now Director-General at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, was on his first posting to Islamabad, and he recalled being astounded by the remote locations to which Baha’is were resettled. More than 100 local communities as far away as Sandspit, BC, were sponsoring Baha’is.
Afsoon Houshidari, who spoke on one of the panels at the conference, was four years old when her family fled Iran, and she shared her personal anecdotes and recollections of waiting for resettlement in Karachi and the excitement of preparing for departure to come to Canada.  She only recently discovered that her family’s visas were signed by her co-panelist, Dennis Scown.
The audience also heard from the experiences of other Baha’i refugees who came to Canada in the 1980’s, as well as from the perspective of community members who welcomed the arrival of the refugees. Panelists commented that each experience was unique, and many involved trauma and great difficulty. The resilience of the Baha’i refugees was often strengthened by their beliefs and the unique cross-cultural connections made with their co-religionists and other Canadians.
The day concluded with final reflections about placing the Baha’i refugee program in a wider context—as a case study that forms part of the landscape of Canadian history and public policy.
Reflecting on the event, Mr. Cameron said, “At a time when the large-scale movement of people, and particularly those seeking asylum, is presenting profound challenges to policy makers and citizens everywhere, we feel this reflection on the experience of the Iranian Baha’i refugees in Canada yields certain lessons, which although modest, appear to provide relevant insights at this particular juncture.”
Mr. Cameron explained that the symposium was an opportunity to explore lessons from the Canadian response in the 1980’s and its cooperation with the Baha’i community of Canada to settle refugees.  Beyond the policy response, however, Mr. Cameron highlighted the contributions of agencies and individuals in implementation of the program, noting “their creativity, flexibility, and desire to do the right thing”.
Commenting on the role of the Baha’i community in the success of the program, Mr. Cameron said, “We sought to understand what the government could and couldn’t do and then committed ourselves to working within those parameters. Many of the government officials commented that the orientation of the Baha’is and their worldview made the whole program work smoothly.”
More information about the symposium is available here: www.symposium.bahai.ca
Further background on the Baha’i refugee program, can be found at http://reviewcanada.ca/magazine/2013/07/a-quiet-exodus/",OTTAWA,,Canada
1072,2015-10-08,"[1067, 1060, 1058]",Migration and role of religion discussed at major European gathering,"WARSAW, Poland — The Brussels Office of the Baha'i International Community (BIC) recently participated in Europe's largest annual human rights and democracy conference—the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM). The event was organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and took place from 21 September until 2 October in Warsaw, Poland.
57 countries from among the OSCE states were joined by a number of other agencies—including OSCE structures, civil society organizations and a range of relevant actors.
The session on tolerance and non-discrimination, which dealt in particular with combating racism and xenophobia, focused on discrimination against religious communities. OSCE-participating States had previously committed to the prevention of such intolerance and discrimination by ""encouraging the development of comprehensive domestic education policies"" as well as ""through increased awareness raising measures"".
During the session, Rachel Bayani, representative of the BIC, encouraged the OSCE to explore how educational processes and capacity-building endeavors can reinforce the collective awareness of humanity's oneness, especially among the youth and younger generations.
In her comments, Ms. Bayani stated that ""intolerance and discrimination essentially are manifestations of a tendency to identify narrowly with certain social, cultural, physical or other such characteristics and place them at the center of our understanding of self"".
""In order to help prevent such narrow identifications, there is a need to search for ways to strengthen the collective awareness of humanity's underlying oneness and to broaden the understanding of our primary over-arching human identity,"" she continued.
The session on freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief provided an opportunity to discuss existing challenges to the full exercise of the right to the above in the OSCE area and the means by which all relevant actors, including religious communities, can work together in order to address these challenges.
Ms. Bayani said that the promotion of the right to freedom of religion or belief needs to go hand in hand with a deeper understanding of how religion contributes to the advancement of society.
""It is not surprising that perceptions of how religion contributes to society tend to get clouded, given some destructive expressions of religious belief that appear throughout the world and in Europe today,"" she stated.
""There is a need to start a collective process of identifying a framework that will allow the constructive powers of religion to find expression. The Bahai International Community encourages the OSCE to start a process of exploring how religion, its principles, its concepts and its insights, contribute to resolving conflict, to facilitating greater social harmony and to creating stable and peaceful societies.""
Video coverage of the BIC contributions on tolerance and non-discrimination as well as on freedom of religion or belief are available at http://www.osce.org/odihr/181256.",WARSAW,,Poland
1073,2015-10-14,"[933, 1067, 1050]",Conference on peace draws hundreds at university,"COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — Leading international experts gathered at a conference in the U.S. to address issues related to global peace.
Some 300 people attended the 'Global Transformations: Context and Analytics for a Durable Peace' conference at the University of Maryland on 7 to 9 October, organized by the Baha'i Chair for World Peace and the Baha'i International Community.
""We really wanted to learn about obstacles preventing peace from becoming a reality in our world today,"" said Dr. Hoda Mahmoudi, holder of the Baha'i Chair and one of the conference speakers.
Top academics and practitioners shared research and insights on themes relevant to peace during the conference.
In her presentation, Dr. Prudence Carter, a sociologist at Stanford University, looked at the nexus of race, education and inequality, and spoke about the need for a movement to cultivate empathy and understanding as part of efforts to address inequality in society.
Education is one of the major conduits for improving the effects of gender, race and class inequality, she explained.
In another session on women in peace-building efforts, Dr Anne-Marie Goetz, a professor at New York University, said peace talks have been more successful in countries where women are included as major actors in the process. She stressed the critical need to include women in peace-building efforts.
""Peace talks remain stubbornly male-dominated,"" said Dr Goetz.  In 1985, Madam Ruhiyyih Rabbani, the widow of Shoghi Effendi and a Hand of the Cause of God, presented The Promise of World Peace to United Nations Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar.Presentations also addressed a range of other themes, including human rights and global governance, architecture for social inclusion, and resource conflict.
The conference marked the 30 year anniversary of the release by the Universal House of Justice of a document entitled The Promise of World Peace. It was that same groundbreaking document—outlining the prerequisites for and challenges to peace—which inspired the founding of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace in 1993.
In commenting on the timeliness of the event, Dr. Mahmoudi explained that ""there is an urgent need to explore alternative possibilities to address the current threats that are responsible for destabilizing the international order and inflicting violence and harm on millions of people throughout the world"".
The Baha'i Chair for World Peace is a forum for research and discourses on world peace, drawing on ""insights from religion"" while aiming ""to develop a sound scientific basis for knowledge and strategies that lead to the creation of a better world"".",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
1074,2015-10-15,"[1067, 1049, 1072]","UN goals need 'common will', says BIC","NEW YORK, United States — The collective ability of the people of the world to willfully work towards their own development will be crucial in implementing major UN goals, the Baha'i International Community (BIC) says.
That is the theme of a new BIC statement released this week which seeks to offer a contribution to Agenda 2030.
The sustainable development goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN General Assembly last month for achievement by 2030 include calls to ""end poverty in all its forms everywhere"", ""achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls"", and ""promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth"".
The BIC praised the process by which the UN crafted the goals, noting that it involved input from eight million people in more than 193 countries, representing ""the largest consultation ever conducted by the UN"".
""People are at the center of Agenda 2030, and this is a major victory,"" says the statement, entitled ""Summoning Our Common Will"".
""But care must be taken lest people be treated primarily as passive objects to be developed, rather than as protagonists of development in and of themselves. The ability of people, individually and as members of communities and institutions, to achieve something they collectively value is therefore an indispensable means of achieving lasting progress.""
The statement offers the experience of the worldwide Baha'i community as an example of one group that is ""striving to learn about the tangible development of their neighborhoods, villages, and communities"".  UN logo (by Steve Calcott/Flickr)""To the extent that this experience can contribute to development efforts benefitting the whole of society, in keeping with the cardinal principle of the oneness of humankind, we are happy to offer it for exploration and conversation.""
""Consciousness of the oneness of humankind must be the bedrock of any strategy that seeks to engage the world's population in assuming responsibility for its collective destiny,"" the statement says.",NEW YORK,,United States
1075,2015-10-20,"[1025, 991, 890]",Award-winning film explores power of religion,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Internationally renowned Iranian director, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, has made available to the general public his award-winning film, The Gardener.
Filmed in the Baha'i gardens on the slopes of Mount Carmel and in the outskirts of the fortress city of Acre, it is an exploration of religion, reflected in a dialogue between father and son.
The two characters represent the differing views of two generations. For the father, played by Makhmalbaf himself, religion possesses a profound power. While that power has been used for destructive ends, Makhmalbaf argues that it has also been channeled towards peace, forgiveness, and love—and can be again.
""I want to know why some religions lead to violence and why others don't,"" he tells his son in the film.
The son, played by Makhmalbaf's own son, Maysam, argues that all religions eventually lead to oppression and violence.  What ensues is a rich exploration of the theme.
The film which was premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in Korea has won best documentary at the Beirut International Film Festival.
It has received extensive media coverage across the globe. The New York Times describes the film as ""an intimate, discursive inquiry into religious belief"". Referring to what it called the ""grammar and discourse of this unusual film"", the popular Indian daily The Hindu called it ""simultaneously rational, intelligent, poetic, and above all intensely civilised"".
With more than 20 feature films to his name, Makhmalbaf has won over 50 awards and been a juror in over 15 film festivals.
Until this week, the film, which was made in 2012, had been available only in festivals around the world and in selected screenings.
Watch the film here.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1076,2015-10-21,"[1025, 1075, 890]",Documentary shows trial of executed Baha'is,"NEW YORK, United States — Previously unseen footage of the 1981 trial of members of the governing body of the Baha'i community in Iran has been broadcast for the first time as part of a documentary about Iran's judicial system.  The members of that body were all executed by firing squad shortly after their brief trial.
The documentary, Iranian Revolutionary Justice, which was broadcast in English on BBC World News and in Persian on BBC Persian, explores the functioning and impact of ""revolutionary courts"" in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It includes interviews with family members of some of the Baha'is shown in the trial footage as well as experts on Iran and human rights. Individuals from two other groups who faced intense persecution and experienced the trials first hand are also featured.
""The Baha'is are not the only group who have been persecuted in Iran, although the injustices perpetrated against them have been systematic and part of the official government policy of Iran since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution,"" says Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in New York.
""The film shows a justice system that violates virtually every accepted element of due process, from arbitrary arrest and detention to closed trials and biased judges.  The same system which executed Baha'is in the past continues to imprison them today.""
On 13 December 1981, eight members of Iran's National Spiritual Assembly—a nine-member elected national council that forms part of the Baha'i administrative structure in all countries—were arrested at their meeting in the home of a local Baha'i. Fourteen days later, on 27 December, all eight members were secretly executed by a firing squad.
The names of those executed were, Mr. Mehdi Amin-Amin, Mr. Jalal Azizi, Dr. Ezzatollah Forouhi, Mrs. Jinous Mahmoudi, Dr. Mahmoud Majzoub, Dr. Sirous Rowshani, Dr. Ghodratollah Rowhani, Mr. Kamran Samimi.  Ms. Mahnaz Parakand, a prominent Iranian lawyer who was herself imprisoned in Iran, is one of the experts interviewed in the BBC documentary, Iranian Revolutionary Justice. (photo: BBC/screenshot)Families were not notified of their trial or executions. Their bodies were buried unceremoniously in barren land reserved by the government called Kufr Abad—the land of infidels.
The footage, recently discovered and now broadcast more than 30 years later, shows two hours of the trial of seven male members of the National Assembly. The eighth arrested female member, Mrs. Jinous Mahmoudi, does not appear to be part of the trial. However, she and the other seven members were executed at the same time.
""What I saw in the film can be summed up in one sentence: lack of a just trial,"" says Dr. Shirin Ebadi, a prominent Iranian lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who is interviewed in the documentary.
In the footage, seven members of the National Assembly are shown sitting in a row. For an approximate total of one hour and 30 minutes of the two hour video, the judge, who is not shown throughout the film, speaks of the accusations against the Baha'is, giving the seven defendants only 26 minutes to speak.
""The meaning of defense (in court) is not for the prosecutor to say to the defendant you must say this about this topic,"" comments Ms. Mahnaz Parakand, another prominent Iranian lawyer who was herself imprisoned in Iran.
Throughout the court proceeding of the seven Baha'is, unfounded and baseless allegations are made against them and the Baha'i community. In one example, they are accused of defaming the name of the Islamic Republic internationally by providing the media with news of the expulsion of Baha'i students from schools.
""It is as if expelling Baha'i students from school for being Baha'i is a government secret,"" says Dr. Payam Akhavan, a professor and a former Legal Advisor to the Prosecutor's Office of UN International Criminal Tribunals.
""The most ridiculous part is where the prosecutor even accuses those primary students who were expelled from school of being spies.""
The documentary highlights the lack of due process of law in Iran's justice system. This is shown in the absence of any legal representation or real evidence against the defendants, insufficient time to respond to accusations, biased judges, and pressure and even threats against lawyers who defend the accused.
In the case of the eight Baha'is, the footage ends before the conclusion of the trial and it is not known whether their sentence was pronounced in court. However, according to the verdict, all eight Baha'is were sentenced to death as well as the subsequent confiscation of their properties. They were executed on the same day as the trial.
""This documentary brings to light the baseless and absurd accusations for which Baha'is have been persecuted for over 30 years,"" says Ms. Dugal.
""To this day the government denies them even the most basic rights as citizens. The persecution is without justification and not even a single piece of documentary evidence has yet been produced for the allegations against them. It has impacted the lives of generations, from young infant to frail elderly.""
Today, Baha'is are still denied the right to higher education and employment in the public sector as well as benefits of the pension system. They are unjustly arrested and imprisoned. There are currently over 70 Baha'is who are in prison in Iran only because of their beliefs. Their cemeteries are destroyed, businesses and shops are attacked or closed, and the government's extensive use of the mass media as a means to denigrate systematically and vilify the Baha'is has increased in recent years.
""It isn't just about the past,"" says Dr. Akhavan. ""It's about the present reality of the challenges that we face in moving Iran towards a culture of human rights.""",NEW YORK,,United States
1077,2015-10-23,"[1072, 1071, 1035]",Mass migration heightens awareness of humanity's 'organic unity',"THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The mass movement of refugees across Europe is heightening consciousness of the 'organic unity of humanity', the Baha'i International Community has said at a major conference on refugees and exiles.
The annual general conference of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) held 14 to 16 October in the Hague, Netherlands, brought together 150 participants, including members of civil society and non-governmental organizations protecting and advancing the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons.
Volker Turk, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection in the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), commented that Europe is facing an unprecedented moment in history amid the mass movement of refugees and migrants.
Speaking about the expressions of solidarity in some regions where refugees are hosted by the local population, he said that it was encouraging to see the fundamental goodness of people manifesting itself.
Michael Diedring, Secretary General of ECRE, addressed the audience, focusing on the human dimension of the issue in his comments:
""While many people put a disproportionate focus on numbers and statistics, we must never forget that each number represents a person, an individual with intrinsic value and human rights,"" he said.
In its contribution, the Baha'i International Community drew particular attention to the profound interconnectedness of humanity:
""The movement of populations illustrates that the peace, stability and prosperity of the different regions of the world are interconnected and that solutions cannot be intelligently considered in isolation from this global reality.
""Social, institutional and legal arrangements that meet the needs of one region, but do not take into consideration those of another, are proving insufficient. What is becoming apparent is that the movement of populations is but the latest symptom of a much deeper and far-reaching concern.""
As part of the evening program, the participants of the meeting were invited to the Mauritshuis museum, which hosts a world-renowned collection of Dutch and Flemish painters, including Rembrandt, Rubens and Breughel.
Dorine Manson, director of the Dutch Council for Refugees, linked the event to what is known as the Dutch Golden Age:
""What led to the prosperity of Amsterdam in the 17th century was the arrival of refugees from all over Europe. It was thanks to them, their diversity, skills and entrepreneurship that what was once a small port city developed into the most important port and commercial center in the world by 1630. And it is thanks to that wealth that the Golden Age painters were able to contribute to the cultural heritage of Europe and the world.""
ECRE is the largest pan-European alliance, comprising 90 non-governmental organizations protecting and advancing the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons.",THE HAGUE,,Netherlands
1078,2015-10-25,"[1048, 1050, 1068]",Malaysians find common ground in noble aspirations,"KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Up to 18 faith-based and youth organizations gathered earlier this month, together with a member of the Malaysian Parliament, for a conference on the critical role of youth in the development of Malaysian society.
Organized by the Baha'i community of Malaysia, the event hosted over a hundred representatives for a series of plenary talks and roundtable discussions on the subject. Attendees shared experiences working in diverse settings at the grassroots and drew up lines of action to take to their communities.
""Appreciating the capacities of young people for the constructive development of our society is a matter of tremendous importance at this juncture of history, in Malaysia and around the world,"" explained Omna Sreeni Ong, the Malaysian Baha'i community's Director of External Affairs and one of the organizers of the event.  Malaysian member of parliament, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Kurup addresses the gathering. (photo: Baha'i community of Malaysia)Addressing the participants, Malaysian Member of Parliament, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Kurup, stated:
""I hope your active participation in this discourse will enhance your qualities, attitudes, and abilities to reflect on the role of youth in community-building and ways in which you can contribute further towards the betterment of society,"" he said, addressing the conference.
""You will need to break with past traditions and practices and set a true path of fellowship and accompaniment in serving one another in your communities.""
""No longer can youth be seen merely as the sign of a hopeful future,"" said Vidya Subramaniam, representing the Baha'i community of Malaysia, commenting on the integral part youth must play in the life of society. ""The time has come for us to see ourselves as vital protagonists.""
""The scene was striking,"" said Mrs. Sreeni-Ong, reflecting on the depth of the dialogue and the diversity of the representatives at the conference.
""The dynamism of the participants was surpassed only by the sense of harmony and peace that pervaded the event.""",KUALA LUMPUR,,Malaysia
1079,2015-10-29,"[1075, 1068, 1067]",Norway royals host interfaith dialogue,"OSLO, Norway — Members of Norway's Baha'i community attended a special gathering hosted by the King and Queen of Norway.
Up to 90 representatives from diverse religious organizations were invited to the royal palace in Oslo earlier this month as part of efforts to promote greater inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue and understanding.
In his opening remarks, King Harald of Norway expressed his desire to contribute to the unity of the country, whose population is diversifying rapidly.
""When the Queen and I travel in our country we experience the diversity of cultures and religions very closely: by food, culture, through conversations with people who have roots from other parts of the world,""  King Harald of Norway told those present, which included members of  Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities.
""Then we reflect: This is Norway. This is Norway anno 2015. And just that is so exciting: The Norwegian identity—the manifold peoples who are now Norwegians—is in constant change. We need solidarity. This is important to remember, especially in these days.""  Up to 90 representatives from diverse religious organizations gathered at the royal palace in Oslo earlier this month as part of efforts to promote greater inter-religious dialogue and understanding. (Photo by Baha'i community of Norway)In her speech, Queen Sonja of Norway stressed the importance of the joint efforts of religious organizations in promoting unity.
""This event, initiated by the royal family in cooperation with the Interfaith Council, is a unique event and as such represents a model for dialogue for the rest of society,"" said Arne Kittang, one of the representatives of Norway's Baha'i community, who attended the event.",OSLO,,Norway
1080,2015-11-05,"[1055, 1051, 1032]",'Embodied Light' exhibition features Chile House of Worship,"TORONTO, Canada — The construction of South America's first Baha'i House of Worship has been at the center of an exhibition in Canada this week.
Titled ‘Embodied Light: The Bahá’í Temple of South America’, the exhibition features photos and material samples of the temple in Santiago and a lecture by the temple’s architect, Siamak Hariri.
""The aim was to achieve an interplay of seeming contradictions: stillness and movement, simplicity and complexity, intimacy and monumentality, solidity and yet a building capable of dissolving in light,"" said Hariri, who spoke at the exhibition opening in Toronto on 29 October.
""The architectural challenge was to design a sister temple to the existing temple of North America, while also enabling it to find its own unique presence at the foot of the Andes.""
The temple design uses cutting edge digital technology and advanced engineering solutions to create a design that 'helps lift the spirit', Hariri said.  The Baha'i House of Worship in ChileWork on the temple began in 2010. The temple will be inaugurated in 2016 and will be the last continental Baha'i House of Worship to be erected.
In a letter dated 1 August 2014, the Universal House of Justice explained that scores of people were being welcomed to the temple for prayer and discussion on its significance.
""The friends in Santiago, supported by others from throughout the Americas, have been diligently striving to prepare the surrounding population for the emergence of the House of Worship; increasing numbers are participating in the community-building endeavours, and a stream of visitors are being welcomed to the Temple site for prayer and discussion on the practical and spiritual dimensions of the enterprise. Measures are currently being put in place in that country in anticipation of the many demands that are sure to arise once the Temple is inaugurated in 2016.""
The exhibition will be run until 13 November. For more information on the progress of the House of Worship, visit here.",TORONTO,,Canada
1081,2015-11-08,"[1077, 1072, 1048]",Role of religion explored at Council of Europe Exchange,"SARAJEVO, Bosnia And Herzegovina — Religion is a powerful source of human motivation and society should gain a deeper understanding of how to benefit from its influence, the Baha'i International Community (BIC) has said at a major Council of Europe meeting.
Political and religious leaders as well as civil society representatives and academics attended the Council of Europe Exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 2-3 November.
The meeting explored the theme of ""building inclusive societies together"", focusing on the role of religion in the public sphere and how religious and non-religious education in schools could promote more tolerant communities.
Rachel Bayani, Baha'i International Community representative to the European Union, said: ""There is a need to analyze some of the assumptions on which current societal arrangements rest and to ensure that they do not deprive society of the constructive role religion can play.""
""Religion is a very powerful source of positive human motivation, and we need to gain a deeper understanding about how to tap into that source for the benefit of society as a whole,"" she continued.
Other themes during the meeting included how religious and secular thought could help prevent the spread of radicalization and violent extremism.  Conference themes included the role of religion in the public sphere and the promotion of tolerance through education. (Photo by Council of Europe)Austria's Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said religious leaders shared the common responsibility of making the world a better place for everyone.
""Religion is the solution, not the problem,"" said the minister.
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Anne Brasseur, emphasized the symbolism of the gathering taking place in Sarajevo, the scene of one of the most tragic conflicts in the past, whilst at the same time being an emblem of both the crossing of civilizations and religious co-existence.
Annual Exchanges organized by the Council of Europe—a major regional organization comprising some 47 member states—aim to promote human rights and democracy and to provide a platform for open and transparent dialogue on various societal issues.",SARAJEVO,,Bosnia And Herzegovina
1082,2015-11-15,"[1062, 1080, 1020]",First groundbreaking for a local House of Worship,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — Saturday 14 November witnessed the first groundbreaking for a local Baha'i House of Worship.
Some two hundred community members from the region of Battambang in Cambodia gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion, beginning with prayers at dawn.  The event coincided with the commemoration of the Twin Holy Birthdays—the Birth of the Bab and the Birth of Baha'u'llah.
Though yet unbuilt, the House of Worship is becoming part of the fabric of community life, and developments related to its construction are viewed as a collective endeavor, galvanizing the surrounding population.  It is, as described by the Universal House of Justice, connecting ""two essential, inseparable aspects of Baha'i life: worship and service"".  Some 200 community members attended an event marking the groundbreaking.The groundbreaking commemorated yesterday marks a milestone—the first of its kind—among the seven locations announced by the Universal House of Justice in 2012 to raise a Baha'i House of Worship in the coming years.",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1083,2015-11-17,"[1076, 1069, 1054]",Europeans voice concern about the economic oppression of Iranian Baha'is,"BRUSSELS, Belgium — Prominent Europeans, including members of parliament, are calling on Iran to end its economic repression of Baha'is.
Among the most prominent of such expressions was one that came from the European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance, urging the ""Iranian authorities to end the continuous and systematic economic oppression of the members of the Baha'i Faith in Iran"".
""Baha'is are blocked from obtaining higher education, are banned from all forms of employment in the public sector and are not issued work permits for a wide range of businesses,"" said Dennis de Jong, co-chair of the Intergroup.
""These policies reflect a clear effort by the government to strangle the economic life of the Baha'i community, and they are unacceptable under both international law and common human decency,"" said Mr. de Jong.
Other prominent Europeans expressing concern over Iran's economic repression of Baha'is include Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Klaus Buchner of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with Iran.
""They are deprived of access to education and to certain professions and now their private businesses are even being shut down,"" said MEP Buchner, who was quoted in a new video on the subject, released this week.
At the national level, a number of parliamentarians are also speaking out.
In Germany, Member of Parliament Omid Nouripour said the exclusion of Baha'is from ""all areas of the life of society"" is ""robbing thousands of its own citizens in a discriminatory manner of their basic rights"".
""Whosoever speaks about the restoring of trade, but prevents tens of thousands of individuals of the possibility of free enterprise, discredits himself,"" said Mr. Nouripour.
In the United Kingdom, MP Baroness Berridge, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief, said Iran's moves to close Baha'i-owned shops ""are another element of the Iranian authorities' multi-faceted efforts to extirpate a viable Baha'i community"".
MP Alistair Carmichael, an officer of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Baha'i Faith said: ""As Iran opens up to greater trade and exchange with the international community, Iranian Baha'is should be able to contribute towards the prosperity of their nation and earn a living for their families as much as any other citizen.""
In the Netherlands, MP Harry van Bommel called the economic oppression of Baha'is ""very worrisome"", adding: ""Shop closings or the refusal of renewing a business license is not just a violation of economic rights, it seems like another effort by the Iranian authorities to impoverish and eradicate the Baha'i community as a viable entity in Iran.""  Dennis de Jong, Member of the European Parliament, co-chair of the European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance (Photo by European Parliament)In Spain, a government expert on religious affairs has expressed his concern.
""Iran is missing an opportunity to take advantage of the energy, constructive force and potentiality that the Baha'i minority has by vetoing them to work, whether in the public or private sector,"" said Ricardo Garcia, the former deputy director general for Religious Affairs in the Ministry of Justice, who now serves on the Ministry's national advisory commission for religious affairs.
The new video released by the BIC also features comments from a range of civil society leaders, including Bernadette Segol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation.
""The trade union movement wants the ILO core labour standards to be applied everywhere in the world and want human rights to be included in any deal or any trade agreements,"" said Ms. Segol.
Ioana David—president of the European Confederation of Junior Enterprises for the 2014-2015 academic year—said ""As students we feel disgraced that Baha'i students are denied the right to study in university.""
""It is hard for us to understand how on purpose you would deny the rights to think and to work for your own country,"" said Ms. David.",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1084,2015-11-19,"[1076, 1083, 1069]",Baha'is face new wave of arrests in Iran,"BIC NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i community in Iran is facing yet another wave of arrests and shop closures.
In a coordinated attack on the community by Iranian authorities on Sunday 15 November, twenty Baha'is were arrested in three cities after their homes were raided and searched.
The arrests occurred in the cities of Tehran, Isfahan and Mashhad.  The confirmed names are as follows:
6 in Tehran
Mr. Sahba Farnoush
Ms. Negar Bagheri
Ms. Nava Monjazeb
Mr. Yavar Haghighat
Mr. Navid Aghdasi
Ms. Helia Moshtagh
9 in Isfahan
Mr.Keyvan Nik-Aien
Ms. Parvin Nik-Aien
Ms. Yeganeh Agahi
Mr. Matin Janamian
Mr. Arshia Rowhani
Ms. Zarrin Agha Babaie
Mr. Adib Janamian
Mr. Sahab Rowhani
Mr. Vahid Karami
5 in Mashhad
Ms. Sanaz Eshaghi
Ms. Nika Pakzadan
Ms. Farzaneh Daneshgari
Ms. Nagmeh Zabihian
Ms. Nakisa Hajipour
Additionally, 28 shops were closed down by the authorities in Mazandaran and Kerman.  Significantly, these closures took place a day after the Baha’i community marked two of the most significant Baha’i Holy Days—the Birth of the Bab and the Birth of Baha’u’llah, which fall on consecutive days—by refraining from work.  For shop owners, this entails closing their stores—an act which then leads to a punitive response from the authorities, who have frequently prevented the Baha’is from reopening their shops.  Indeed, some shops that were closed after the Twin Holy Days in 2014 have yet to be permitted to reopen.
Further details are pending.
(Editor's note: On 24 November 2015, five more names were added to the list of Baha'is arrested on 15 November: 4 in Isfahan and 1 in Mashhad.  Further, in paragraph 4, the number of shop closures was changed to more accurately reflect updated information.)",BIC NEW YORK,,
1085,2015-11-20,"[1069, 1046, 1045]",UN condemns Iran for continuing human rights violations,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — The UN expressed ""serious concern"" yesterday over Iran's continuing human rights violations, affirming that increased engagement with the international community on some fronts does not mean that Iran is no longer expected to uphold international standards for its people.
""In September, President Hassan Rouhani told the UN a 'new chapter' had been opened this year for his country, but the passage of this resolution today shows that the international community still expects action on human rights, not mere words,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, following the UN vote.
Ms. Dugal noted that at least (20) Baha'is in Tehran and elsewhere were arrested last weekend, and at least (28) Baha'i-owned shops were sealed in a continuation of the government's campaign of economic repression against Baha'is. (See Editor's note below.)
""The sad fact is that human rights violations in Iran have continued unabated since President Rouhani came to power two years ago, as is shown by Iran's ongoing arrests and shop closures—and by the depth and strength of this resolution,"" said Ms. Dugal.  Tally board from the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly passes resolution on the promotion and protection of human rights in Iran.""The resolution cites a wide range of abuses, such as the lack of due process, widespread discrimination against women and the persecution of minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The resolution was passed by the Third Committee of the General Assembly, which monitors human rights issues worldwide. The vote was 76 to 35 with 68 abstentions.
Among other things, the resolution expresses ""serious concern"" about ""ongoing severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief"".
It also urges the government to release the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, and ""to eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination, including the closure of businesses, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities"".
""The resolution is quite specific in detailing all of the human rights violations that are currently ongoing in Iran, and it also lays out clearly how Iran could live up to its obligations under international law,"" said Ms. Dugal.
""For example, it calls on Iran to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran by accepting, for example, his repeated request to visit the country, and it asks Iran to follow through on recommendations made at the Universal Periodic Review last year,"" said Ms. Dugal.
The resolution was put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 42 other countries. It follows reports on human rights in Iran by Ahmed Shaheed, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who both expressed concern over Iran's continued violations of international human rights law.
For more information, go to https://www.bic.org
(Editor's note: On 24 November 2015, two corrections were made in paragraph three to more accurately reflect the number of arrests and shop closures that occurred on the weekend of 13 to 15 November.)",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
1086,2015-11-27,"[1037, 985, 586]",Baha'i Media Bank online,"HAIFA, Israel — The Baha'i Media Bank, which was originally launched in 2006, has been made available again.
The site provides access to a large collection of Baha'i images, including photographs of the Baha'i community, historical figures, and holy places, for use in publications, websites, and media presentations. The site will be updated with new additions.
The Baha'i Media Bank can be found at http://media.bahai.org.",HAIFA,,Israel
1087,2015-12-14,"[1074, 1067, 1049]",At COP21 Baha'is see movement toward unity,"PARIS, France — The outcome of last week's UN Conference on Climate Change, known as COP21, which resulted in an accord signed by 196 nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reflects a significant step towards greater unity and cooperation among nations as the world learns to face major global challenges, says the Baha'i International Community (BIC).
""From the perspective of unity in action, the Paris conference must be considered a success,"" said Serik Tokbolat, a representative of the BIC to the United Nations. ""While some have suggested the final document falls short of what is really needed to prevent major effects from climate change, the world has proven its ability to come together at the global level and to consult deeply about its future.""
Mr. Tokbolat represented the BIC as part of a Baha'i delegation to the conference, which brought together thousands of representatives of government, business and civil society.  The UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) tweets a passage from the BIC's official statement for COP21, titled ""Shared Vision, Shared Volition: Choosing Our Global Future Together"".""Our focus, in our activities, discussions and statements, was to call attention to the need for individuals, communities, and institutions everywhere to develop new patterns of action and interaction that can help humanity collectively take a more balanced attitude toward the environment.
""Humanity can take steps to prevent the negative effects of climate change and improve its relationship with the planet if it acts with vision and volition,"" he said.
The main contribution of the Baha'i International Community to COP21, he said, took the form of an official statement, titled ""Shared Vision, Shared Volition: Choosing Our Global Future Together.""
The document explains that ""sustainable patterns of individual and collective life will ... require not only new technologies, but also a new consciousness in human beings, including a new conception of ourselves and our place in the world.""
The International Environment Forum (IEF), a Baha'i-inspired organization, also participated in the event.  Both the BIC and the IEF organized, co-sponsored, or participated in a number of side events to COP21.
Arthur Dahl, president of the IEF and a retired Deputy Assistant Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said, ""the IEF sought to broaden the discussion of climate change beyond the science and technological solutions to include the values-based social transformation that will be fundamental to implementing the Paris Agreement.
""It supported this with practical examples of the learning in Baha'i communities, as in Vanuatu and Malaysia after natural disasters, and in Baha'i-inspired courses on climate change, as well as in research on values-based learning to motivate sustainable lifestyles and on mechanisms of accountability in international governance.""",PARIS,,France
1088,2015-12-18,"[1085, 1046, 1045]",Ongoing human rights violations in Iran spotlighted in UN vote,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — Last month, 20 Baha'is were arrested by the Iranian authorities, which also carried out a series of coordinated shop closures, affecting some 28 Baha'i-owned businesses. Today the UN expressed ""serious concern"" about such religious discrimination in Iran, along with other continuing human rights violations.
By a vote of 81 to 37 with 67 abstentions, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution addressing the overall human rights situation in Iran, expressing concern not only about religious persecution but also the government's frequent use of the death penalty, failure to uphold legal due process, restrictions on freedom of expression, and ongoing discrimination against women and ethnic minorities.
""We welcome this resolution,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. ""It shows that the international community remains aware and concerned about Iran's continued violations of the rights of its citizens in a wide range of areas, despite government rhetoric to the contrary and its promises to improve.
""Certainly for Iranian Baha'is, the government's policy of systematic and widespread persecution remains unchanged. Just last month, as the General Assembly was considering this resolution, Iranian authorities arrested 20 Baha'is in three cities, while also closing at least 28 Baha'i businesses in another six cities. Such actions demonstrate the wide ranging and centrally directed nature of its anti-Baha'i program,"" said Ms. Dugal.
Among other things, the resolution expresses ""serious concern"" about ""ongoing severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief"".
It also urges the government to release the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, and ""to eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination, including the closure of businesses, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities"".
The resolution was put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 44 other countries. It follows reports on human rights in Iran by Ahmed Shaheed, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who both delineated numerous examples of Iran's continued violations of international human rights law.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
1089,2015-12-21,"[999, 1039, 1075]","In another brave gesture, senior cleric calls for justice","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, a senior Muslim cleric in Iran, has courageously called on his nation's people to uphold a higher standard of justice and dignity for all of their countrymen and women.
In a recent article on his website, he has dedicated a new piece of calligraphy—a passage from the writings of Baha'u'llah—to the Baha'is who were arrested on baseless charges in November of this year. The extract chosen by Ayatollah Tehrani, taken from ""The Hidden Words"", speaks to the undaunted response of the Iranian Baha'i community to ongoing and systematic persecution.
This symbolic action follows on his gift to the Baha'is of the world in April 2014 of an illuminated calligraphic rendering of a verse from the Baha'i writing that says, ""Consort with all religions with amity and concord"".
His recent article (available here in Persian) expresses the hope that his act ""may raise the conscience of my fellow countrymen by considering increasing their respect for human dignity and not focusing their attention on different ethnicities, languages and religions"".
He also challenges his compatriots to examine the chasm between the values espoused by their religion and the acts of oppression perpetrated in its name.  A calligraphic work by Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, containing the words of Baha'u'llahAyatollah Tehrani has also posted a statement on his Facebook page (available here in English) in which he calls upon ""progressive people of Iran to advance the topic of civil rights for all Iranians, irrespective of religion, sex, race, and ethnicity.
""National identity and not religious differences should be regarded as the unifying agency for all citizen of that country. Aggrandizing differences instead of accentuating similarities results in nothing but oppression and corruption,"" the statement continues.
Ayatollah Tehrani's voice is raised together with the voices of a growing number of Iranian intellectuals and artists, both within and outside Iran, who are promoting a culture of justice and coexistence and speaking out on behalf of Baha'is and other groups facing oppression in Iran.  See 'other stories' below.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1090,2015-12-24,"[1048, 1072, 1050]",Exploring the foundations of peace,"COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — It is 30 years since the Universal House of Justice released The Promise of World Peace, a groundbreaking statement addressed to the peoples of the world on the subject of global peace.
Presented to over 80 world leaders, The Promise of World Peace was published at a time when the question of a nuclear annihilation loomed large over humanity.  Yet, it asserted that global peace is the inevitable next stage of humanity's social evolution.  Whether the path to peace would entail enormous suffering, however, would depend on the decision of the world's leaders and its peoples.  The letter provided a compelling exploration of the root causes of peace and extended the challenge of peace well beyond the questions of disarmament and security, to the deep-seated social disorders that act as barriers to peace.
Its release inspired the founding of The Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland in 1993.
""The head of the Center for International Development and Conflict Management at the university was very interested in the peace statement and said, 'Why not have a program on campus that explores this process-oriented approach to peace',"" explains Dr. Hoda Mahmoudi, the current holder of the Baha'i Chair.
As an academic program at the University of Maryland, the Chair provides a forum to advance research on global peace issues.  ""Since its inauguration,"" describes Dr. Mahmoudi, ""international academics and experts have been invited to participate in various forums and present insights on peace-related topics ranging from the advancement of women, structural racism, and the root causes of prejudice to understanding human nature and climate change.
""Within an academic setting the Baha'i Chair is trying to bring in new thinking about these issues, but, above all, thinking that also is willing to address values.""
Our approach has also sought to integrate diverse disciplines in the pursuit of new insights in humanity's efforts to create a more peaceful world, Dr. Mahmoudi further explains.
""We invite many scholars to come and address barriers to peace,"" Dr. Mahmoudi says. ""One of the requests we make is that they talk about solutions. Academics are good at diagnosis, and we are grateful for that.  But the Chair is also seeking insights that can shed light on the seemingly intractable barriers to peace.
""This is a very difficult area, the solutions are not always clear.
""At no time does the Baha'i Chair believe that it has the answers. What it does believe that it's doing is engaging in a process of learning, research and education, to gain a more profound understanding of the barriers to peace and ways forward.""
The Baha'i Chair not only brings in leading research on peace-related themes but also, in many ways, challenges some of the fundamental assumptions that have become consolidated in contemporary discourse and which block progress towards peace.
One such barrier, identified by the Universal House of Justice in The Promise of World Peace, is the belief that humanity is inherently and incorrigibly selfish.  Addressing this subject in her inaugural address in 2012, Dr. Mahmoudi explained:
""Today, unfortunately, aggression and conflict characterize our social order, an order that encompasses political, religious, economic and cultural systems.  In fact, many are resigned to the view that violence and warring are inborn human behaviors and, therefore, unchangeable. Such beliefs are often responsible for and lead to a paralysis of will among individuals, a cognitive numbness that is not easy to reverse, but which must be overcome. Here, the role of education is vital in removing unfounded views about human nature.""
The Baha'i Chair's mission extends beyond dialogue between academics and experts and into the classroom.  In her classes, as well as in talks open to the entire student body, Dr. Mahmoudi aims not only to expose students to the leading edge of thinking in academia but also to promote a culture of peace at the university and beyond.
The campus-wide community is also invited to conferences organized by the Chair.  Earlier this year, up to 300 people attended a major conference, titled 'Global Transformations: Context and Analytics for a Durable Peace', which was co-hosted by the Chair together with the Baha'i International Community.
""We attract a lot of students around diverse disciplines,"" says Dr. Mahmoudi. ""We're promoting a dialogue in which students interact with academics and practitioners, and often profound questions are asked.
""We can see that when we bring different minds together in a dialogue that is non-adversarial and that seeks to promote understanding, thought advances,"" says Dr. Mahmoudi.
Through its various forums, the Baha'i Chair captures emerging insights and publishes them as contributions to the discourses relevant to global peace.
Dr. Mahmoudi is the third holder of the Baha'i Chair, following Suheil Bushrui (1993-2006) and John Grayzel (2006-2011).
More information on the Baha'i Chair can be found here.",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
1091,2015-12-29,"[1037, 953, 949]",Momentous conference opens,"HAIFA, Israel — The Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors commenced this morning.
Some 80 senior officers of the Baha’i Faith hailing from nearly every part of the globe have arrived at the Baha’i World Centre.  In the coming days, these individuals—referred to as Counsellors— will consult on the development of the worldwide Baha’i community in the immediate years ahead.
For three days prior to the start of the conference, the Counsellors visited the Baha'i Shrines and other sacred places associated with the Faith to draw inspiration and spiritually prepare for the consultations that begin today.
A message from the Universal House of Justice for the occasion will provide the focus for the consultations throughout the gathering.  Participants will deliberate on the next stage of the capacity-building process under way in the Baha'i community through which Baha'is are collaborating with others and learning to contribute to the spiritual, moral, and material advancement of the societies where they reside.
Every five years, the Universal House of Justice appoints a total of 81 Counsellors around the world, who organize their work through five Continental Boards.  The conference is held shortly after the new appointments.
The Counsellors work to support elected Spiritual Assemblies around the world by promoting learning within the Bahai community and stimulating the development of vibrant patterns of community life.  In the institution of the Counsellors, the Baha’i community has a system through which the lessons learned in the remotest spots on the globe can benefit  the worldwide Baha’i community in its efforts to apply the teachings of Baha’u’llah.
For more information about the administrative structure of the Bahá’í Faith, see here.",HAIFA,,Israel
1092,2016-01-02,"[1091, 1037, 952]",Lofty aims mark close of conference,"HAIFA, Israel — The conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, which commenced on 29 December, came to conclusion earlier today with a message of the Universal House of Justice addressed to the Baha'is of the world.
Over the past five days, the conference enabled a global conversation about the next stage of the  development of Baha’i communities around the world.
The Counsellors consulted on the path of development that unfolds as Baha’i communities learn, together with others, how Baha’u’llah’s teachings apply to a vast array of social settings, from the remotest of villages to sprawling urban centers, and across diverse cultural realities.
Their consultations, stimulated by a message of the Universal House of Justice addressed to them for the occasion, touched on a number of themes, including how an educational process that builds capacity for service to humanity can be strengthened and its reach extended, how increasingly formal organizational arrangements emerge as a growing numbers of people participate in community-building endeavors and as complexity increases, and how the devotional character of a community can be enhanced as gatherings for worship, open to all, take root in communities and multiply, kindling a desire to be of service to the common good.
The discussions also explored how efforts to contribute to the revitalization of communities in thousands of localities across the planet and to the betterment of society as a whole could be intensified in the coming years.
Some 80 Counsellors from 60 countries attended the conference. The consultations were translated into six languages simultaneously throughout the meeting.",HAIFA,,Israel
1093,2016-01-08,"[1090, 1081, 1078]",Bahrain lectures address peace,"MANAMA, Bahrain — The road to peace is long and arduous, but the journey is not in vain.  This was among the main messages offered by Dr. Sawsan El-Hady in talks she delivered on 8 and 9 December, in Bahrain.
An Egyptian scholar of the Arabic language who has championed the cause of peace throughout her life, Dr. El-Hady addressed some 100 people—academics, authors, NGO representatives—over the two days of her visit.  Her talks, which led to vibrant discussions among the participants, explored the cultivation of peace at the grassroots, the role of the individual in promoting a harmonious society, and the invaluable contribution of women to peace processes, among other themes.
While acknowledging the formidable challenges before humanity, Dr. El-Hady's talks offered a hopeful vision for the future. But much, she argued, would depend on laying the groundwork for harmonious coexistence among diverse populations.
""Creating a society characterized by peaceful coexistence requires persistent effort,"" she said.
Progress toward peace, she explained, would not reach its goal without addressing the question of justice in society.
She also spoke about the importance of establishing unity, based on recognition of our common humanity.
""Unity, a pre-requisite for peace, finds its meaning in realizing the value of our diversity and appreciating the unique gifts that each person brings to the mosaic of humanity.""
A movement towards a more peaceful society requires a reevaluation of the role of religion, Dr. El-Hady further explained.  While religion has been distorted and used for harmful ends, she emphasized its power to change patterns of thought and action, establish a sense of a common human identity, and promote a moral character and world-embracing vision.  Dr. Sawsan El-Hady gives a presentation about the contribution of women in establishing peace on 9 December 2015 at the Bahrain Society for Sociologists.Dr. El-Hady, a Baha'i, is one of the first female graduates of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, an institution renowned for being the oldest university in Egypt and regarded by many as the chief center of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world.  Dr. El-Hady has helped establish Arabic programs at universities in several countries during her distinguished career.  Her lectures were organized in cooperation with the Bahrain Baha'i Society, a Baha'i-inspired NGO that promotes social harmony and peace.
The events build on a growing discourse in Bahrain on peaceful coexistence.",MANAMA,,Bahrain
1094,2016-02-01,"[1037, 1086, 985]",Bahai.org launches in six new languages,"HAIFA, Israel — Efforts to make the official website of the worldwide Baha'i community available in nine major languages are well under way.  Today, the core of the sections entitled ""What Baha'is Believe"" and ""What Baha'is Do"" has been made available in Arabic, French, Chinese, Persian, Russian and Spanish.
The site will also go up in Hindi and Portuguese later this year.
The new site was launched in English a year ago.  It explores the teachings and writings of the Baha'i Faith and presents the experience of people throughout the world who, inspired by the vision of Baha'u'llah, are striving to contribute to the betterment of society.",HAIFA,,Israel
1095,2016-02-04,"[1047, 1059]","After catastrophe, youth lead reconstruction in Vanuatu","TANNA, Vanuatu — Ten months after Cyclone Pam devastated Vanuatu, the island of Tanna has made remarkable strides towards recovery, with youth at the heart of the process.
Tanna lies in the South Pacific Ocean along the archipelago making up the Republic of Vanuatu. It is one of five locations worldwide in which the first local Baha'i Houses of Worship will soon be raised.
Over the past decade, Baha'is and their fellow islanders have been working to strengthen the fabric of community life there. In villages throughout the island, collective worship has become part of the regular pattern of life. Baha'is have witnessed a rise in social harmony and cooperation between different groups.  Barriers that had previously divided people have gradually fallen away. And urged on by the support of village chiefs, the young people of the community have, in recent years, found the means to contribute to the betterment of their society through a variety of practical projects.
In March 2015, the island of Tanna was ravaged by Cyclone Pam—a tropical cyclone with wind speeds reaching up to 320 km/h.
""Our houses were being blown away one by one,"" explained a mother from the village of Tumah Mine. ""We decided to take refuge at the school in the next village.  We had to walk for about one kilometer.  It was going to be a very dangerous walk as many large trees and branches were falling, and objects were flying everywhere.
""I prayed and asked Baha'u'llah to please protect us, especially our children.  Sometimes we had to run, sometimes we crawled, and other times we lay flat.""
Despite Cyclone Pam's catastrophic impact on the island of some 30,000 people—destroying not only houses, buildings, and roads but also decimating local agriculture—there were remarkably few fatalities.
Director of the Vanuatu Immigration Service Henry Tamashiro—a Baha'i in the national capital, Port Vila—has been following developments on Tanna very closely and has been struck by the response of the population there, during and after the storm.  Iala Jacob, a local coffee farmer on the island of Tanna, in the newly-established nurseryDescribing the community's priorities in the immediate aftermath of the storm, he explains, ""They tried to re-conceptualize the meaning of 'relief phase' and 'reconstruction phase' in light of what they had been learning about community-building.
""They concluded that the response to the cyclone could not just be about building structures. The most important thing to the community was to make sure the education of the children and youth would continue.""
The first priority then, Mr. Tamashiro explains, was to reconstruct the buildings that had hosted classes for the young. Those structures would also be used to house the vulnerable members of the community.
Mr. Tamashiro particularly emphasizes the pivotal role youth have played during and after the storm. A year and a half before Cyclone Pam, some 600 youth from Tanna attended a conference in Port Vila organized by the Baha'i community.  They joined over a thousand young people from several Pacific islands.  Mr. Tamashiro credits the conference for reinforcing a high sense of purpose among the youth and an orientation to service for the betterment of their communities.
Following the cyclone, this sense of purpose was manifested to great effect.  While the storm was raging across the island, the youth of Namasmetene village, seeing almost all of the houses blown away, helped to carry the children and the elderly to a school where the people of the village took refuge.
""They demonstrated a spirit of selflessness in helping others, ensuring all were safe...They lit fires to make sure everyone was warm and dry and all were fed. They did not care just for their own families, they cared for all,"" said Mrs. Naiu, a Baha'i from the village. ""Many families are still thanking them. They say if it were not for their help, they would not have survived.""
The people of the island have had a strong sense of ownership and participation in their own recovery.  For example, speaking about the impact on local agriculture, Iala Jacob, who is the founder and chairman of a local coffee farmer's cooperative which is patterned on Baha'i principles, explains:
""The cyclone destroyed most of the coffee farms. Soon after the cyclone the Board of our cooperative met and decided to set up a nursery and plant 36,000 coffee seedlings...We will soon distribute the seedlings free of charge among the farmers.""
Mr. Jacob expects that the seedlings will be enough to cover about 22 hectares of farmland and will assist the coffee farmers to get off the ground again after the devastation of the storm.
Reconstruction has stimulated the community to reassess its building practices and learn how to draw more resourcefully from local materials. In August 2015 local Baha'is in Tanna began to rebuild a center in Nakayelo that had been destroyed by the cyclone. The site had been an important center of activity.
About 20 local youth worked together with an architect from Papua New Guinea to design and start the construction of four buildings on the site. As part of these efforts, they also began experimenting with potential building materials that could be found locally.
""The intention of these experiments is to learn about sustainable building practices using resources within their environment,"" said Henry Lape, the architect who was assisting with the project.  He added that the group of youth would continue a process of learning, experimentation, and building after his departure.
Reflecting on the reconstruction process in Namasmetene village, Mrs. Naiu says, ""These projects encouraged the community members to arise and take charge of the reconstruction process rather than waiting for an aid agency. We knew that we should not depend on aid donors, but that we should take charge of our own development.""
Far from deflecting the community from its course, the cyclone has served to reinforce its commitment to the progress of its people, explains Henry Tamashiro.  And in the aftermath of the storm, amidst all of the work to rebuild, there is a great excitement about the House of Worship soon to be erected for the entire island.
Mr. Tamashiro attributes the inspiring response of the people of Tanna to their trust in Divine Will, even in the face of such a severe natural disaster that continues to impact their lives so many months afterwards.
""All they say is 'Thank God'. They thank God for saving their lives and the lives of their children. For them, all the material things they have lost are secondary.""",TANNA,,Vanuatu
1096,2016-02-19,"[1078, 1060, 1059]",Delhi seminar explores role of youth in social transformation,"NEW DELHI, India — India has the largest youth population in the world, a reality that holds both tremendous promise and potential challenges for the future of the country.
Recently, the Indian Institute of Public Administration and the Office of Public Affairs of the Bahá’ís of India organized a seminar at the India International Centre on the subject of youth, entitled The Role of Youth in Social Transformation.  Over 40 people attended the event on 10 February 2016, comprising representatives of civil society, government, media, and faith organizations.
Young people are needed as leaders and decision makers in spaces where the course and direction of society as a whole are determined.  Examining this theme, the seminar looked specifically at youth in community building, the impact of media on youth, and the contribution of youth in addressing climate change.
“It’s necessary to include the voices of youth in a meaningful way,” said Farida Vahedi, a Bahá’í working as the head of Youth Empowerment and Capacity Building at the City Montessori School in Lucknow and convenor of the Quality Education Forum of India.  Ms. Kiran Soni Gupta—Additional Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India—delivering the inaugural address at the seminar on “Role of Youth in Social Transformation” in New Delhi.“Integrating young people into formal structures of power is of course advantageous for a variety of reasons, but simply feeding ‘young’ voices into ‘old’ systems, if unaccompanied by more substantive forms of participation, runs the risk of degenerating into mere tokenism.”
Representing the Indian Government, Kiran Soni Gupta, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of the Youth Affairs and Sports, agreed.  “The concept of leadership needs to be redefined,” Ms. Gupta said in her talk at the beginning of the day, setting the tone for the consultation that followed.  “It is the youth who can bring a fresh wave of ideas and innovation in society.”
This theme was the root of the issues explored during the first panel, which addressed the role of youth in community building.
Following this, the second panel, which examined the impact of media on youth, discussed ways that digital media can be harnessed to be used in a positive manner, as well as being aware of the negative ways in which it is used now.
Finally, the final panel, led by four individuals with a background in the field of sustainability, looked at the contribution that youth can make to the issue of climate change, particularly in India—a growing society with the potential to have a significant impact on the environment.  “Youth must devise new solutions to climate change,” said Tishyarakshit Chatterjee, the director of the Indian Institute of Public Administration.  “Solutions must emerge from young minds.”
In all of these areas, facilitating steps forward will require learning, capacity building, motivation, and volition, said Mrs. Vahedi.  To empower youth to become leaders, new systems of decision making and collaboration must be developed.  “Systems characterized by an unbiased search for truth, an attitude of cooperation and reciprocity, and an appreciation for the vital role every individual can play in the betterment of the whole.”
Pooja Tiwai, a Bahá’í youth in Delhi, spoke as one of the panelists addressing the contribution of youth to community building efforts.   Speaking of her peers, she explained that they dream of a better world and wish to make a contribution to social progress.
“Yet, how to go about bringing such change is a question they are faced with,” she said.  While there are many positive forces in society which can propel them in this direction, there are also many negative forces which pull them back and become a barrier in achieving the high ideals they cherish. Hence the need for constructive programs that can creatively channelize the energies of a large number of youth.
The seminar was the second co-organized by the the Indian Institute of Public Administration and the Office of Public Affairs of the Bahá’ís of India on the subject of youth in society.",NEW DELHI,,India
1097,2016-02-25,"[1081, 1048, 1042]",Spanish publication explores dimensions of governance,"MADRID, Spain — The first of a series of conferences on governance, initiated by the Baha'i community of Spain, has led to a new publication entitled La gobernanza y sus enfoques (Approaches to governance).
The book, which contains the presentations given at the conference on the subject, resulted from the successful collaboration of governmental, faith-based, and civil society organizations, and included the private sector.
""The Baha'i community of Spain has been committed to learning about models of social organization based on principles of cooperation and reciprocity, social justice, peace, and environmental sustainability,"" explained Sergio Garcia, the Director of the Baha'i Office of Public Affairs in Spain and editor of the new publication.
""This conference was part of a broader effort to participate in discourses in Spain that deal with the betterment of society.""  La gobernanza y sus enfoques (Approaches to governance) was published earlier this month in Spain.Also representing the Baha'i community of Spain at the event, Nuria Vahdat Owrang described how the Office has been working with organizations oriented toward the common good.
""In addition to participating in conferences and roundtables,"" she said, ""we considered organizing a new venue in collaboration with other organizations.  That is how the first conference on governance, held at the Centro de Estudios Politicos y Constitucionales (Center for Political and Constitutional Studies), came about.""
Why governance?
""When we began to look more closely at the issue,"" explained Dr. Garcia, ""the Office found a number of reasons to engage it more vigorously.
""For example, we noticed the public yearning for more effective models of governance, especially among the youth; the existence of groups of people in Spain coming from different sectors who were already reflecting—at the level of theory and practice—on governance; the importance of good governance in managing collective issues; and the experience of the Baha'i community with its own system of internal governance.""
The new publication provides a range of contributions.  It also challenges certain assumptions in contemporary thought that, according to Dr. Garcia, have become unquestioned and reified and appear to be obstacles to social progress.
In this light, these conferences and the associated publications aim to bring together the insights of diverse people who are thinking deeply about governance and exploring new patterns and dynamics in practice.  It opens a space for them to have an ongoing conversation, stimulate new practices in society, and even inform policy.
The publication includes contributions from Ricardo Garcia Garcia, former Director of Government Relations with Religious Groups under the Ministry of Justice of the Spanish Government, and Inigo Baldres, an economist whose presentation describes a movement in Spain to explore alternative economic models, referred to as Solidarity Economy Network.
Sergio Garcia of the Baha'i Office of Public Affairs edited the book.  His article describes the pressing issues related to governance and shares insights from the experience of the Baha'i community with its nascent and evolving governance structures.
This is the first publication in what the Office intends to be a series of volumes on governance.  Plans are in place for a second book, connected to the conference on governance and religion, held at the Palau Roberts of Barcelona.",MADRID,,Spain
1098,2016-03-03,"[1090, 1073, 1058]",Local economies point to the future,"INDORE, India — How does a nation whose economy is growing by 7 percent a year allow for economic prosperity without fueling the rising inequality between rich and poor?  How does it connect with the global market system without losing its spiritual and social values?  These were some of the questions that were explored at a recent symposium titled ""Strengthening Local Economies for a Just Global Order"", held on 23 February at Devi Ahilya University in Indore.
Some 150 faculty and students participated in the event, organized by the Baha'i Chair for Studies in Development and the University's School of Economics.
This dialogue on strengthening local economies was initiated seven years ago when the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity organized a series of seminars on the discourse on science, religion, and development in India.  The Baha'i Chair in Indore is now giving greater attention to local economies in light of the growing concern in the country about the negative effects of globalization, particularly on rural populations.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Shirin Mahalati, Head of the Baha'i Chair, stressed the need to avoid dichotomies on the question of globalization, where it is either rejected wholesale or blindly embraced with no thought of its effects.
""We have to learn the balance of opening ourselves to the globe without losing all that we have that is precious,"" she said.  Dr. Debashis Debnath, an anthropologist specializing in tribal populations, addresses the audienceA rich dialogue about various dimensions of social and economic development in India followed, focusing primarily on the question of local economies.  Speakers discussed some of the challenges and shortcomings of the current approaches to globalization and offered insights about various interventions that could assist India to navigate the path forward.
The keynote speaker, a well-known Indian economist, Amitabh Kundu, emphasized the need to strengthen local and regional economies as a response to the growing inequality and ecological degradation that India faces as its doors open to the global market.
He also proposed that thinking at the level of local economies can help India find creative solutions to dealing with the challenge of sustaining economic growth while at the same time controlling carbon emissions.  ""We need a paradigm shift that involves changes in lifestyles and production processes, and this will require interventions to strengthen the local economy.""
Arash Fazli, a researcher with the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity and collaborator with the Baha'i Chair, also talked about the opportunity to learn about new economic approaches at the level of villages.
""Village economies have their own logic that allows certain features of the community to be maintained—for example, the relationship to nature and social cohesion,"" he said.  ""We need to draw on both modern and traditional systems, without imitating the former or romanticizing the latter.
""When village economies develop, why must they be limited to either capitalist or socialist models?"" We are seeking to forge new patterns and new models.""
The Dean of Social Sciences, Dr. Kanhaiya Ahuja, emphasized the need for economic models that would reinforce the values of community life, such as compassion, contentment, cooperation, justice, and a sense of duty towards the common good.
""Unfortunately,"" he mentioned, ""at present economic growth is being driven by consumerism and competition that are destroying these values.""
Speakers also discussed the need for economic growth to be balanced and just, requiring development to be viewed within a broader vision of the spiritual and material prosperity of humanity.
""Economic models today give humanity a very limited range of options in explaining human behavior,"" Dr. Fazli said.  ""One is to explain it in terms of greed, self-interest, and profit motive. The other is to say that the only way to organize society is to have absolute equality.  The path to move past these limitations is becoming clearer.""
""We have to account for people's own sense of themselves as being more than material beings, more than just highly intelligent animals.  We have to learn about and develop models—inspired by a more holistic sense of the human being—that can explain behavior.  These models don't currently exist.""
""Focusing on economic activity at the local level allows a population to learn to modernize collectively and in a consultative manner so that values the community holds dear are not sacrificed by blindly adopting external models,"" stated Dr. Fazli. ""An active process of learning is under way at the level of villages and localities as they apply certain economic and spiritual principles with the aim of achieving prosperity in the whole sense of the word. This is a process that can gain in strength day after day.""",INDORE,,India
1099,2016-03-06,"[1083, 1085, 1084]",Seminar highlights links between religious freedom and economic prosperity,"LONDON, England — In Iran, the Baha’i community continues to endure intense persecution solely based on religious belief, a blatant violation of a fundamental human right.  Unfortunately, throughout the world, freedom of religion or belief is one of the most violated rights.
An emerging body of research is suggesting that ensuring such freedoms within business could not only address a major social ill, but also be an unrecognized asset to economic recovery and growth.  On 2 March 2016, a seminar held at the UK parliament, and hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Baha’i Faith, heard that there is a strong correlation between religious freedom, economic freedom, and other civil political freedoms.
“These findings are useful in our discussions with business,” said panelist Professor Brian Grim, President of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation. “And there’s a lot that the business world can offer to the human rights community.”
Business leaders and entrepreneurs, it was suggested, might develop a long-term interest in engaging with this area of the international human rights discourse, while their perspectives on these matters might also add an important dimension to the understanding of government and parliamentarians.
“Business is the crossroads of culture, commerce, and creativity. What brings everyone together and produces a successful service, innovation, or production is a common goal,” said Prof. Grim, who highlighted the efforts of one major automobile manufacturer which, realizing it employs people from almost 140 countries, offers an annual award for intercultural and interfaith innovation.
The seminar, which attracted some 70 participants—including parliamentarians, civil servants, academics, human rights activists, business professionals, and faith community leaders—was opened by Jim Shannon MP, who also chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief.  Louise Ellman (centre), the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Baha'i Faith, joins in a small group discussion.“Religious freedom is a fundamental component of peace and stability,” Mr. Shannon said. “Without religious freedom, talented people are pushed away.”
The matter needs to move up the political agenda, Mr. Shannon said, to ensure greater economic prosperity, stability, and security.
Also on the panel was Baroness Anelay of St Johns, the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. She said, with intolerance increasing around the world, this commitment is needed more than ever.
“Freedom of religion or belief is not just an optional extra alongside the broad spectrum of human rights. It is a key human right in and of itself,” she said.
“Where freedom of religion or belief is not fully respected, it follows that democratic values and the rule of law are not fully implemented.”
One of the keys to success is education, she said. “We need to ensure that children appreciate from the earliest age that everyone must be valued equally.”
Another panelist, Dr. Nazila Ghanea—Associate Professor of International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford—stressed the importance of every individual having the freedom to decide whether or not to adopt a religion or belief.
""The prerequisite to freedom of religion and belief is the freedom to independently investigate the truth and adopt a belief, be it religious or not,” said Dr. Ghanea.
Referring to the Baha’i International Community document Freedom to Believe, Dr. Ghanea quoted, “The primary task of the soul will always be to investigate reality, to live in accordance with the truths of which it becomes persuaded, and to accord full respect to the efforts of others to do the same.”
Dr. Ghanea asked how such values can be advanced, noting that efforts to transfer standards across different cultures can lead to resistance.
“International standards need to be digested in a meaningful way and people need to make them their own,” she said. “Consultation is a very important way of trying to ingrain values in neighborhoods and societies.”
Participatory discussion groups were then held where innovative ideas were explored to enhance awareness, support religious freedom, and equip businesses with tools and ideas.
The seminar is intended to be the first step in a longer process to build a deeper conceptual understanding of issues of freedom of religion or belief in British political life and society.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1100,2016-03-08,"[1082, 1062, 906]",Cambodia temple earthworks completed,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — Following the  design unveiling in mid-July of last year and the groundbreaking in November, work on the local Baha'i House of Worship in Battambang, Cambodia, has reached a new milestone.  A major phase of the earthworks has recently been completed, captured in new aerial video footage.
To prepare the two hectare area, 23,000m3 of earth were excavated, moved, and compacted to accommodate the platform where the central edifice of the House of Worship will be raised.  This land will also include modest auxiliary structures and pools surrounding the temple, which will be maintained in a similar manner to natural ponds found in neighboring villages.
Work on the foundation to support the House of Worship is scheduled to commence in the coming weeks, and construction of the central edifice is forecasted to begin in June 2016.  Earthworks were recently completed on the temple site in Battambang, Cambodia.The House of Worship in Battambang, which will give expression to the vibrant collective life there—centered on worship of God and service to humanity—has come to reflect the dynamic spirit of the community and is already galvanizing its inhabitants.
Continued progress on the project is being carefully documented through a variety of approaches, such as aerial and time lapse photography, with the hope that the community will have a visual story depicting the emergence of the first local House of Worship in the country.
The Battambang House of Worship is one of two local Baha'i Houses of Worship whose designs have been unveiled. Five local Baha'i Houses of Worship are due to be built in the coming years.",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1101,2016-03-16,"[1048, 1081, 1060]",UN focuses on religion to prevent violence,"WASHINGTON, United States — Religious leaders and faith-based organizations across the world are meeting to understand their role in preventing incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes.
""Religion can be key in countering this issue,"" said Gerald Filson, Director of Public Affairs of the Baha'i Community of Canada and Chair of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation.  The Canadian Baha'i community has been vigorously engaged in a discourse in that country on the constructive role of religion in society.
Dr. Filson represented the Baha'i community in the most recent of the regional meetings organized by the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect.  The forum was held at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington D.C. on 29 February to 1 March and was one of five that are taking place all over the globe during the year to explore this important theme.
In his contribution to the dialogue, Dr. Filson discussed the importance of educational programs for youth, which he explained cannot be overstated. ""Youth are looking for positive messages and want to change the world for the better. Religious leaders need to give systematic focus on programs for this age group.""
Present at the D.C. meeting were UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng, President of the U.S. Institute for Peace Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Secretary General and UN Ombudsman John Barkat, and Representative of the World Council of Churches Rudelmar Bueno De Faria.
The diversity at the worldwide seminars has allowed for a rich exchange of experiences and the sharing of positive actions from an array of different groups.  For instance, at the meeting held in Amman, Jordan, one presenter referred to the initiative of Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani in Iran as ""an example of a good fatwa"".
Participants at each of the conferences held thus far (see Editor's note below) developed regional strategies to prevent and counter incitement to discrimination, hostility, and violence.  The strategies discussed in the D.C. meeting included mapping incitement issues and trends, developing and circulating alternative messages or counter-speech that can be spread, engaging those responsible for incitement in dialogue, building education programs, seeking political support, and strengthening inter-religious activities.
""This series of meetings reflects in many ways the response called for in the Universal House of Justice's 2002 Message to Religious Leaders which asked, among other things, for religious leaders to speak out against religious extremism and accept the divine basis of all world religions,"" Dr. Filson said.  He also noted how often speakers talked about the importance of the concepts of ""one humanity"" and ""one God"", and referred to unity, harmony of all religions, equality of women and men, and the importance of responding to hate with love.
""Comments at the meeting also seemed to indicate that religious leadership in the Americas now appears able to undertake that fundamental reorientation that can set aside long-standing religious prejudice,"" Dr. Filson said.
(Editor's note: On 1 April 2016, a change was made to paragraph 7 to clarify that only three of the five scheduled regional conferences have taken place.)",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
1102,2016-04-18,"[1094, 1037, 1086]",New websites reflect breadth of Baha'i communities worldwide,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A wave of official Baha'i websites, numbering over 40 and spanning the world, have emerged recently.  In addition to the launch of new international sites, such as Bahai.org, the Baha'i Media Bank, and the official website of the Baha'i International Community, a number of new national websites have also appeared.
Many national communities have been learning how to articulate their evolving understanding of the aims and activities of the Faith through the medium of the Web.  Taking into consideration the social realities in their countries, many of these new sites also attempt to convey a vision of the betterment of society.
In some countries, the launch of a national website has signaled the first official presence of the Baha'i community on the Web.  Such has been the case in the Arab region, where new national websites have been launched in ten countries.  Throughout the region, the launch of official Baha'i websites has been a historic development for the Baha'i community.
In Tunisia, for example, the first official Baha'i website was launched in the region, and Baha'is have witnessed a growing number of opportunities to contribute to the progress of the nation in various forums since.  The website has served as one avenue through which the community has shared with its fellow citizens how it is working with them for the construction of a just and peaceful society.
Reflected in the efflorescence of these new sites is the breadth of countries and cultures in the Baha'i world.  As each community develops further, its national website will continue to evolve.  Official website of the Bahá’ís of TunisiaThe list of communities spans across many regions, from Myanmar to Kazakhstan, South Africa to France, Turkey to the Netherlands, and Colombia to the United States.
A comprehensive list of national websites of the Bahá'í community can be found at http://www.bahai.org/national-communities/.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1103,2016-04-25,"[851, 841, 906]","Joy Stevenson, 1919-2016","HAIFA, Israel — Joy Stevenson, former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away today in Queanbeyan, Australia.  She was 97 years old.
The Universal House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies on 25 April.*  *  *We were greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Joy Stevenson, distinguished maidservant of Baha'u'llah, whose dedicated endeavours for the Cause of God spanning several decades were crowned by her serving for ten years as a Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre.  Before taking on responsibilities connected with the worldwide promulgation and protection of the Faith, she made a distinctive contribution to the advancement of Baha'i communities in Australasia as a Counsellor and an Auxiliary Board member and as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia.  To her gift of exceptional spiritual perception she added a remarkable ability to nurture the capacity of others, most especially of the youth.  She will also long be remembered for her kindly and loving nature, as well as for her earnest enthusiasm in teaching.
To her children and other members of her family we extend our heartfelt condolences.  At the Sacred Threshold we will supplicate Baha'u'llah for the progress of her radiant soul throughout the worlds of God.  We ask, too, that commemorative gatherings be convened in her honour in all Houses of Worship and in Baha'i communities everywhere.
The Universal House of Justice",HAIFA,,Israel
1104,2016-04-27,"[1060, 1048, 1097]","""Woven by the Mercy of God"": Conference highlights religion's role in social change","MADRID, Spain — A recent interfaith event, co-hosted by the Baha'i community of Spain, drew 200 participants to explore how religious communities can collectively work for the betterment of the world.
Titled ""Woven by the Mercy of God"", the event was held on 17 April 2016 and organized by multiple religious groups, including the International Monastic Association for Interfaith Dialogue, the social and missionary action section of the national Catholic Church of Spain, Turkish House, and the Baha'i community.
In the opening remarks, representatives of the Baha'i community identified the aims of the gathering as understanding the underlying unity among the religions of the world and exploring the role of religion in addressing complex issues facing humanity.
""All religious traditions capture certain facets of the great mystery,"" said D. Jose Luis Navarro, Catholic priest and President of the International Monastic Association for Interfaith Dialogue, acknowledging the inherent unity of diverse religions.
""Spain has a long tradition of interfaith activities,"" said Sergio Garcia, Director of the Baha'i Office of Public Affairs in Spain. However, he noted that a challenge often encountered in these fora is to raise the discussion of issues beyond the abstract. A goal of this event was to ground conversations in practical actions that could be taken by the various religious groups present.
""Despite what we see done at times in the name of religion today, the truth is that religion has been the cause of great social progress in the past,"" said Mr. Garcia, ""we can harness its power for the common good today as well.""  Participants at an interfaith conference titled ""Interwoven by the Mercy of God"" in Madrid.Participants explored the implications for the application of spiritual teachings to daily life and to the challenges facing their society. ""Truth does not mean anything unless, in connection with justice, we try to apply it in the world,"" said Rabin Mario Stofenmacher of the Masorti Bet-El community.
Attendees acknowledged that the participation of various actors in society is required to achieve social change. ""Transformation of society requires building capacity at the levels of the individual, the institutions, and the community,"" said Miryam Sanz, representative of the Baha'i community of Spain. ""This process of positive change, in light of the vision of Baha'u'llah, must lead to a just, unified, prosperous, and sustainable world, where everyone can contribute to the generation of knowledge about social development.""
Among the conclusions of the gathering was that religion must play a more significant role in combating prejudice and fanaticism.  The religious communities represented identified this as an important first area of action.",MADRID,,Spain
1106,2016-05-05,"[950, 758, 628]",Communities elect national governing councils,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Baha'i communities around the world have elected their national administrative bodies in a unique electoral process.
Each year, during the Baha'i festival of Ridvan, delegates in virtually every country around the world gather together to elect the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of their country, a nine-member council responsible for guiding, coordinating, and stimulating the activities of the Baha'is in its jurisdiction. This year, national elections took place over two weekends:  23–24 April and 30 April–1 May.
Baha'i elections are distinct for their lack of nomination and campaigning. The entire process is free of electioneering, nomination or canvassing. Electors vote by secret ballot at national conventions for the nine people they believe best suited for membership on the national governing council according to their conscience in a spirit of prayer, giving consideration to moral character and practical ability.  Participants at the 2016 national convention in Tanzania.National conventions are also an occasion for delegates to consult and share insights about the progress of the Baha'i community in their country. ""I have attended conventions before, but this was the first time as a delegate, and it really felt like I was attending for the first time,"" shared one participant at the national convention in South Africa. ""It's a wonderful experience to listen to the friends' consultations and reflect together as a national community on how the House of Justice is guiding us. I am excited to take this all back home.""",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1107,2016-05-14,"[1046, 1025, 945]",Global campaign on anniversary of arrest of Iranian Baha'i leaders,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has marked the 8th year anniversary of the unjust imprisonment of the seven former Baha'i leaders in Iran with a global campaign to call for their immediate release.
The campaign theme ""Enough! Release the Baha'i Seven"" calls to attention the plight of these seven individuals, and, beyond them, the plight of Iran's Baha'is who have faced relentless and systematic persecution orchestrated by the Iranian regime.
More background about the campaign can be found at a special section of the website of the Baha'i International Community at www.bic.org/8-years/enough-release-bahai-seven.  The hashtag for the campaign is: #ReleaseBahai7Now.",NEW YORK,,United States
1108,2016-05-19,"[1107, 1046, 987]",Reaction to meeting with a Baha'i exposes the truth,"NEW YORK, United States — A storm of furious denunciation, in reaction to a simple meeting between two friends in a private home, has dramatically exposed the duplicity of the Iranian authorities who have repeatedly claimed that their treatment of Baha'i is not motivated by religious prejudice.
The encounter which has generated the controversy was the visit of Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of former president of Iran Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, to the home of Fariba Kamalabadi, one of the seven former Baha'i leaders who have been in prison since 2008.
Tens of senior clerics and political figures were quick to denounce Ms. Hashemi, with a Grand Ayatollah even calling for her prosecution because of her meeting with a Baha'i.  Another high-ranking figure described ""friendly relations"" with Baha'i as ""treason against Islam and the Revolution"".  ""Consorting with Baha'is and friendship with them is against the teachings of Islam"", said one Ayatollah whilst another described the Baha'is as ""deviants"" who must be ""isolated"" and asserted that meeting with a Baha'i is itself ""an absolute religious deviation"".  The head of the judiciary as well as its first deputy have confirmed the possibility of Ms. Hashemi's prosecution which has been specifically demanded by many clerics as a lesson to the rest of society.
Speaking in New York, Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations said: ""What is surprising is the candour, the scale, and the high-profile of the regime's reaction.  From a Grand Ayatollah, designated as a 'source of emulation', to senior religious and political figures as well as the executive organs of the government, consistent statements have now shown, beyond the shadow of doubt, that it is religious prejudice which motivates their treatment of the Baha'is. And in doing so, this collective reaction has laid bare the mendacity of the Iranian government's representatives in international human rights forums and has flatly contradicted their claims."" Ms. Dugal added: ""Let this be a moment of absolute clarity for the whole world"".
""Just imagine what it is like to be a Baha'i in Iran when even those who visit you in your home are publicly condemned in this way and are threatened with prosecution"".
The meeting between the two women came about during a five day period when Mrs. Kamalabadi was allowed to leave prison before being required to return for the completion of her ten-year sentence.
Ms. Hashemi, who is also a former member of the Iranian parliament, spent six months in the same prison as Mrs. Kamalabadi in 2012 after being convicted of ""spreading propaganda against the ruling system"".  The women who had not seen one another since Ms. Hashemi's release were renewing their friendship forged in prison.
""Despite the furore of criticism that has greeted this humanitarian gesture, a simple interaction of two citizens, there have also been countless fearless individuals—human rights activists, journalists, academics, and ordinary citizens—who have defended the right of Baha'is to normal human relations in their own country"" said Ms. Dugal. ""But we hope more such voices will be raised so that the efforts aimed at the systematic isolation and 'othering' of the Baha'i community in Iran does not succeed.""
Ms. Dugal added: ""The extraordinary threats and condemnation expressed by many clerics and authorities stand in contrast with the courageous statements and actions in recent years by several senior clerical figures and religious thinkers in Iran and beyond who have spoken out in favour of coexistence, tolerance, and equality for every citizen.  We hope that the voice of conscience will lead the rest of the clerics to end their silence and to show that true religion cannot condone cold-hearted hatred, estrangement and apartheid.""",NEW YORK,,United States
1109,2016-05-25,"[1100, 1047, 1020]",Ground broken for the Colombia House of Worship,"NORTE DEL CAUCA, Colombia — Sunday marked the historic groundbreaking for the local Baha'i House of Worship for Norte del Cauca in Colombia.
Some 700 people gathered on the temple land in the small village of Agua Azul, in the municipality of Villa Rica, including the Mayor, Mrs. Jenny Nair Gomez.
Addressing the audience, Mrs. Nair Gomez explained how the House of Worship ""resonates with the vision of spirituality that our forbears taught us"".
""For us Nortecaucanos, to have a House of Worship is a source of pride,"" she said.  ""We want above all to establish a spirit of brotherhood.  We share this land, and this is our House of Worship.  As neighbors, we draw inspiration from it to work together for the advancement of our village and region.""
The event comprised devotions and talks by dignitaries and representatives of Baha'i institutions.
Marking the actual groundbreaking, a symbolic ceremony combined the soil brought by representatives of some 60 communities.  The soil was deposited in a traditional clay vessel, called a ""tinaja"", typically used for water.  The soil symbolizes freedom, as the land in this region was inhabited by former slaves—Afro-Colombians who left large plantations and settled in Norte del Cauca in the nineteenth century. The ceremony connected the groundbreaking of the temple with the history of the region.
The House of Worship, whose design was unveiled in September 2014, is one of the first local Baha'i temples to be built, among four others announced by the Universal House of Justice in 2012. The House of Justice has described the local temple as ""a focal point of worship, a nerve centre of community life"" where the people of the community can gather ""at daybreak for humble invocation before flowing out of its doors to engage in their daily pursuits"".  A joyous occasion for those who attended the historic groundbreaking ceremony.The grounds of the House of Worship will also include facilities for institutions and agencies dedicated to promoting community well-being, bringing together worship and service as two essential and inseparable elements of Baha'i life. There is a vibrant Baha'i community in Norte del Cauca that is working with the people of the region for the spiritual and material advancement of neighborhoods and villages in the area, and the Temple will naturally be an integral component of this process of community building that surrounds it.",NORTE DEL CAUCA,,Colombia
1110,2016-05-26,"[1087, 1074, 1067]",Baha'i community participates in first World Humanitarian Summit,"ISTANBUL, Turkey — With a rising tide of natural disasters and widespread civil unrest, the community of nations is realizing the critical need to work more closely to ensure effective responses to humanitarian crises.
This realization led to the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit, organized by the United Nations and held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 23 and 24 May 2016. The summit brought together government leaders, as well as leaders from business, aid agencies, civil society, and faith-based organizations.
""A record number of people—130 million—need aid to survive,"" said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during his opening remarks at the Summit. ""More people have been forced from their homes than at any time since the end of the Second World War.""
A statement released by the Baha'i International Community (BIC) for the occasion, titled ""Rising Together:  Building the Capacity to Recover from Within"", draws on the experience of the Baha'i community in recent decades with community-building and responses to natural disasters.  The document highlights the ongoing Baha'i efforts at the grassroots, which are focused on developing capacity in individuals, communities, and institutions in a process of social transformation that greatly enhances a community's resilience.
Commenting on the summit, Bani Dugal, representative of the BIC to the United Nations, said, ""It seems critical at this juncture for the institutions and organizations engaged in disaster relief to learn how to effectively engage communities that are directly affected, to consult with them, plan with them, and learn with them.""
""Ensuring that development continues after the world's attention has moved on to the next challenge is critical to the long-term prosperity of communities affected by a disaster and depends on the participation of the populations that have been affected.""
""We are learning that the work of disaster relief can be unifying and bring out the strength of a community,"" said Steve Karnik, another representative of the BIC at the event. ""Rather than viewing this work merely as a response to a natural disaster, we can understand these moments, tragic as they are, as the time for communities to marshal their material and moral resources and become stronger and more resilient for the future.""  Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, gives the opening remarks at the World Humanitarian Summit, held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 23-24 May. Photo: World Humanitarian Summit""Assuming ownership of their own development has become a foundational element of Baha'i communities' response to disasters and more broadly in social and economic development,"" said Mr. Karnik. ""Our experience has emerged from efforts of Baha'i communities throughout the world that have suffered natural disasters.  And we have learned that the stronger the pattern of collective life in a community, the greater its resilience.""
Mr. Ban's opening remarks drew attention to the importance of nations coming together to address meaningfully the challenges that the rising wave of disasters in the world presents for humanity.
""A generation of young people feels that we have lost our way,"" he stated. ""We are here to shape a different future. Today we declare: We are one humanity, with a shared responsibility.  Let us resolve here and now not only to keep people alive, but to give people a chance at life in dignity.""
To advance a learning process on this subject and how it and like-minded organizations can play their part, the BIC will bring together various social actors next month in its New York office to reflect on the outcomes of the summit.",ISTANBUL,,Turkey
1111,2016-06-22,"[1077, 1072, 1101]","Cooperation central to fighting intolerance, says BIC","BRUSSELS, Belgium — The urgent need to combat discrimination and hate crimes in Europe and the world at large calls for higher degrees of cooperation between civil society organizations, stated the Baha'i International Community (BIC) Brussels Office at a recent seminar, titled ""Turning words into action to address anti-Semitism, intolerance and discrimination"".
Hosted by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Parliament Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI) from 16 to 17 June 2016 in Brussels, the seminar was organized out of ""an urgent need to help support and strengthen the existing good work undertaken by civil society coalitions and encourage the building of additional strong civil society inter-communal and interfaith networks to prevent and end all forms of hate crime and discrimination"".  Over sixty participants attended, including Members of the European Parliament and representatives of a range of civil society organizations.
In her address at the seminar, Rachel Bayani, representative of the BIC, spoke about the need for coalitions to build stronger bridges of understanding through deep engagement in collaborative efforts to work for social harmony.  ""Coalitions should be encouraged to reach higher and higher levels of unity of thought and develop a common vision for the world we are trying to move towards,"" she stated.  ""We, members of civil society, regardless of the specific groups we represent, should not look merely at our own interests but should seek to further the interests of all members of society.""
Mrs. Bayani explained that such a shift requires difficult work ahead to build greater unity.  ""Without a sense of common vision, fragmented world views will continue to exist.""
Plans are under way for a series of events organized by OSCE with the aim of strengthening collaborative efforts among organizations of civil society to address intolerance and discrimination.",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1112,2016-06-26,"[1111, 1064, 1035]",European conferences highlight need for inclusive societies,"VIENNA, Austria — With the rise in refugees entering Europe, greater attention is being given to building inclusive societies. This was one of the themes at two events last week: the Fundamental Rights Forum, held in Vienna from 20 to 23 June titled ""Rights, Respect, Reality: the Europe of Values in Today's World"", and the Council of Europe Conference of International NGOs, held in Strasbourg from 20 to 24 June. The Baha'i International Community (BIC) Brussels Office was represented at both events.
In Vienna, the BIC joined some 700 other participants for the event, which was convened by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. State Ministers and Members of the European Commission and the European Parliament attended together with diverse stakeholders and civil society actors. The Forum provided for a dynamic and open conversation between all those present and focused on three themes: inclusion, refugee protection, and the digital age.
The conference in Strasbourg saw international NGOs from forty-seven member countries of the Council of Europe discuss a range of topics, including social cohesion and migration.  BIC representatives Tala Ram (left) and Collis Tahzib (right) at the Council of Europe Conference of International NGOS in Strasbourg.Commenting on both events, representative of the BIC Brussels Office, Rachel Bayani, stated that ""These gatherings and the themes they addressed reflect the sincere concern across all sectors of society to ensure that those who have been living here and those who have newly arrived can have dignified lives and contribute to society.""
The gathering in Vienna was opened by the President of Austria and Patron of the Fundamental Rights Forum, Heinz Fischer. ""The ongoing refugee crisis has brought the discourse on inclusion and equality in European societies to the forefront,"" he said. ""Diversity enriches our democracies and facilitates our prosperity... It is a fact that xenophobia and fears of 'the other' are on the rise. But it is also true that we have never had more awareness, as well as robust laws and policies to fight discrimination and inequality, and to prosecute hate crimes"".
In his keynote address to the Vienna Forum, Frans Timmermans, First Vice President of the European Commission, emphasized the importance of building an inclusive society: ""We can only succeed...if we succeed in including those who become our neighbors, getting to know them, helping them to express their potential, to build a future for themselves and their families and contribute to the economic and social life of the societies in which they live.""
In Strasbourg, Anna Rurka, President of the Conference of International NGOs pointed out that ""Immigration has not caused the crisis in Europe—there is a crisis in the world at large, of which immigration into Europe is a symptom"".
At a workshop in the Fundamental Rights Forum, the BIC contribution focused on the need to strengthen our shared human identity: ""European society today is essentially a sample of the World's population. To ensure the inclusion and participation of everyone, we need to nurture a sense of common identity and revisit some of our assumptions about human nature.
""Differences between the peoples of the world are assumed to be pronounced, centuries-old, ineradicable, and productive of conflict. Any attempt to foster inclusion needs to revisit that assumption. Today's reality needs a conception of our identity that is wider, one which expands to include all of humanity. It means that we need to develop a strong sense of loyalty or responsibility towards all of humanity, rather than only towards those sharing similar characteristics. It means that institutions, communities, and individuals look at the interest of each member of the human family, rather than only their own"".",VIENNA,,Austria
1113,2016-06-30,"[962, 1059]",Five decades of guidance foster a growing youth movement,"This summer marks fifty years since the Universal House of Justice first addressed a letter specifically to Baha'i youth around the world. Written in June 1966, the letter emphasized the centrality of the role of youth in bringing about a better world.
Over the decades since, generations of young people have dedicated themselves to community-building endeavors and the advancement of their societies. In recent years, the youth conferences called for by the House of Justice in 2013 drew more than 80,000 young people together and sought to channel their energies toward constructive processes in society—through service to others, dedication to the well-being of the generations to come, living a coherent life, and forging new patterns of human interaction based on the principle of the oneness of humankind.  Youth at a gathering in Vancouver, Canada in May 2016.In the years since the 114 conferences, this global movement has inspired gatherings across the planet, at all levels of society, where youth reflect together, consult, and plan how to serve their communities.  Following the conferences, over 100,000 more youth have taken part in numerous encounters.
Over the coming months, countless groups of young people around the world will come together to continue along this path.  Their exertions are a reminder of the message of the House of Justice written to their counterparts fifty years ago, calling them to fields of service through which they can remake ""the character of human society"".",,,
1114,2016-07-12,"[1048, 1081, 1090]",Faiths' contribution to peace explored at Presidential Palace in Colombia,"BOGOTA, Colombia — Approaching a highly anticipated, historic peace agreement in Colombia between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), President Juan Manuel Santos invited over 100 religious representatives to gather at the Presidential Palace on 4 July 2016.
Given the unique role that religion plays in inspiring individuals and communities to work together for the common good, this event sought to explore the contributions religion can make to the peace process in Colombia, a country which has endured almost seven decades of violent civil conflict.
Addressing the audience, President Santos spoke about the common aspiration among all religions for peace and harmony. Drawing on sacred scriptures, he quoted a passage from Baha'u'llah: ""So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.""
Speaking about the event, Ximena Osorio, a representative of the Colombian Baha’i community, said, “Our government considers religious communities to be important social actors. Religions have a reach that the government doesn’t have, for example in more remote regions and at the grassroots.”  Deputy of the Interior Carmen Ines Vasquez speaks about the role religions can play in building peace in Colombia.This thought was acknowledged at the conference by government officials as well. “You are key in this process of achieving peace, as spiritual leaders of Colombia,” said Deputy Minister of the Interior Carmen Ines Vasquez, who, during her speech, reiterated the importance of working together to achieve a lasting peace through forgiveness and reconciliation.
“In recent years there has been a growing interest in better understanding the role religious actors have in promoting the welfare of society,” said Mrs. Osorio during her comments at the event. “This trend has been driven by a growing awareness of the immense reservoir of potential that religious communities have to contribute to the advancement of many social causes.”
The upcoming peace agreement seeks to bring to a close decades of conflict that have claimed approximately 220,000 lives and generated untold trauma in their wake. The peace talks, which started in 2012, are expected to come to fruition on 20 July 2016 with the signing of the agreement.",BOGOTA,,Colombia
1115,2016-07-17,"[1089, 1107, 1009]",More voices from Islamic countries call for Iran to stop persecuting Baha'is,"DHAKA, Bangladesh — A group of Bangladeshi lawyers have joined the increasing numbers of Muslim intellectuals, religious leaders, and professionals worldwide who have called for an end to the persecution of Baha'is in Iran.
In a letter dated 29 May 2016, signed by a dozen ""law professionals of Bangladesh"", the group says it wishes to ""express our condemnation to the government of Iran for the arrests of the Baha'is, including their seven leaders, only because of their religious belief and their imprisonment without any recourse to justice.""
They continue: ""The fact that the Baha'is are a peaceful community and the largest minority of Iran and being subjected to a premeditated program of hostility especially by the government who have closed the doors of all socio-economic opportunities including jobs, education and security for them is contrary to the norms of any civilized society, and, absolutely unacceptable!""
The group ends by calling for the immediate release of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders. They also urge Iran to stop its propaganda campaign against Baha'is.
The 12 Bangladeshi lawyers join a growing number of Muslim religious leaders, scholars, and human rights activists around the world who have chosen to speak publicly against Iran's systematic persecution of Baha'is in recent years.
In May, for example, five Iranian religious scholars published a statement decrying Iran's oppression of Baha'is and calling for tolerance towards those who believe differently.  A letter signed by a dozen law professionals in Bangladesh calling for an end to the persecution of Baha’is in Iran.Abdolali Bazargan, Hasan Fereshtian, Mohsen Kadivar, Sedigheh Vasmaghi and Hasan Yousefi-Eshkevari noted that the ""followers of the Baha'i religion have been oppressed because of their religion and beliefs for decades,"" according to a translation by Iran Press Watch.
""Criticism and rejection of the beliefs of a sect or religion cannot justify violence and tyranny against its followers,"" said the five scholars, adding that ""Islam supports freedom of religion and belief. The Qur'an has affirmed this important point in several verses.""
Other Muslim religious leaders have, likewise, begun to make similar calls for tolerance toward Baha'is.
Ayatollah Tehrani's action, which included giving to the Baha'is of the world an illuminated work of calligraphy featuring a sentence from the writings of Baha'u'llah, calling for religious coexistence with Baha'is was quickly praised by many Muslim religious leaders.
These included Dr. Ghaleb Bencheikh, a highly respected Muslim theologian and well-known in France for his promotion of interfaith activities who in 2014 condemned the persecution of Iran's Baha'is as being ""in disdain of law"" and ""an intolerable scandal.""",DHAKA,,Bangladesh
1116,2016-07-21,"[1080, 1055, 1051]",New website launched for Chile House of Worship,"SANTIAGO, Chile — A new website for the Baha'i House of Worship in Santiago, Chile, has recently been launched.
The site, which can be accessed at templo.bahai.cl, has been redesigned in the lead up to the Temple's inauguration in October of this year. The beauty of the Temple's design, which the architect, Siamak Hariri, has described as ""embodied light"", is captured in the imagery and graphics throughout the site.
The new website highlights the central theme that underlies the purpose of Baha'i Houses of Worship: the union of worship and service. It also provides brief descriptions of how this theme is finding expression in activities that connect the Temple to the community that surrounds it.
This Temple will serve the entire South American continent, and is the last of the continental Baha'i Houses of Worship to be built. Several of the first national and local Baha'i Temples are now in the process of being built in countries around the world.  Interior page on Temple and Community.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1117,2016-08-11,"[1095, 1059]",Songs to inspire social change,"CHONGON, Ecuador — Near Ecuador's southwestern coast lies the town of Chongon. For the past four years, this small locality has brought together young adults from across Latin America for an innovative songwriting workshop.
Participants all have an interest and talent in music as well as experience working with young people in Baha'i-inspired educational programs. The aim of the workshop is to produce music on themes relevant to the lives of adolescents, give voice to their noble sentiments, and reinforce standards to which they aspire.
""In our work with adolescents, we often help them to reflect on the impact of negative social forces on their lives, including through some popular music. But these conversations can be disheartening if we are not able to offer any positive alternatives,"" said Monica Solano, one of the workshop organizers.
In this connection, the series of gatherings in Chongon has generated music that provides young people with an alternative to the prevalent messages in much of popular music today.
""With each workshop, we are trying more and more to reflect the voice of the youth,"" explained Katty Scoggin, another of the workshop organizers. ""We aim to create lyrics and melodies touching on concepts that appeal to people's higher nature and that speak to the reality of the lives of youth at the same time.""  Participants at the most recent annual songwriting workshop in EcuadorSongs produced in this year's workshop address the theme of spiritual identity. The participants spent the first few days of the seminar speaking to adolescents and youth in Chongon about this topic, as well as studying some of the Baha'i Writings and texts from Baha'i-inspired educational programs that touch on this theme. Then they composed lyrics, hoping to reflect the aspirations, feelings, and experiences of these youth in songs that are relevant to their lives.
The songs are shared with communities in the area through concerts, weekly sessions with high school students, visits with families, and in youth groups. They are also sung regularly in activities throughout south and central America.
Randy, a 20-year-old from Chongon who, together with a  group of her peers, has been engaged in Baha'i-inspired educational programs since she was in her early teens, said that the songs from earlier workshops reinforced many of the concepts that she learned in these programs. These in turn helped her to navigate certain decisions in her life.
""In school, sometimes I would have a moment of doubt, thinking that maybe something is not so wrong because it doesn't hurt anyone,"" explained Randy. ""But then I would remember what I had learned in the group, what my true identity is, and that would help me to reflect and make the best decision.""
For the workshop participants, the experience has yielded a richer understanding of adolescence and the realities that younger youth face in their communities and has heightened their commitment to the well-being of the next generation.  And given that the process of writing songs involves exploring questions faced by young people within the context of their own societies, the participants' understanding of their own communities has also been enhanced.
One of the most popular songs from previous workshops, ""Pedrito"" (Click here for mp3 download), is an upbeat and uplifting song about a youth who must decide what to do as he faces some moral dilemmas.
Another of the songs from previous workshops with enduring popularity among the youth of Chongon is entitled ""Mi meta es servir"" (""My goal is to serve""). Its lyrics, translated into English below, appeal to the aspirations of youth all over the world to develop their talents and abilities while contributing to the betterment of the world:
While I ponder my future
I know I must discover my talents
And making the right decisions
If I try I will receive confirmations
Many doors open
When I serve others
I know that my efforts bear fruit
Because God will assist me
Today I walk determined to serve
Serve mankind
The wind blows and urges me to press on
And discover new ways of life
Like a bird that wings its flight
The sky is its greatest yearning
Many doors open
When I serve others
I know that my attempts bear fruit
Because God will assist me
Today I walk determined to serve
Serve mankind
The annual songwriting workshops are part of a broader process of learning about how various means of communication can be used to bring about constructive change to communities—a change that takes into account both the spiritual and material dimensions of community life.
(Editor's note: On 12 August, a change was made to the first paragraph to correct an error in the geographic location of Chongon.)",CHONGON,,Ecuador
1118,2016-08-23,"[1036, 1115, 1107]","""We are all Baha’is""—Spirit of solidarity grows to unprecedented levels","SANA'A, Yemen — An extraordinary wave of support by organizations and individuals has kindled hope in the hearts of the Baha'is of Yemen in the wake of recent arrests there.  It has also revealed the degree to which the motivation of Baha'is to build unity has resonated with so many in that country and across the region. One statement of support opened with this dramatic assertion of solidarity: ""We are all Baha'is"".
On 10 August, armed, masked soldiers raided an educational gathering organized jointly by the Nida Foundation for Development as well as the Baha'i community of Yemen on the theme of moral empowerment and service.  More than sixty participants were arrested, among them youth and children.  Half were Baha'is and, currently, it is believed some fourteen remain in prison, including young mothers.
Yet the raid has provoked an unprecedented response from citizens and civil society.  Widespread coverage in the region's media—on television, on the Internet, and in print—has also highlighted the constructive endeavors of the Baha'i community and the baselessness and illogicality of the arrests.
Two of the leading daily pan-Arab newspapers—Al-Arab and Al Quds Al-Arabi—covered the story extensively. Among the countless other news sources that have published related stories have been Al Morasel, Al Modon, Akhbar Al Khaleej, Gulf Eyes, Al Masdar, Mosnad News, Sadaa Adan, and Yemen Shabab.
""Why arrest a group of peaceful Baha'is when the country is full of arms dealers, gangs, instigators of sedition, saboteurs, spies, and lurking terrorists? What courage is there in the arrest of a group of defenseless children and youth, when Yemen is full of thousands of murderers, thieves, criminals, gangs, and armed religious militias?"" asks writer Sadiq Al-Qadi in an article on Al-Morasel News titled ""For the Sake of Faith, Nation, and Humanity: Release the Baha'is"".
""How does the country benefit from persecuting a group that believes in obedience to one's country? What benefit in arresting people who regard work as worship and strive to serve the community?"" continues the article.  Messages have been circulating on social media calling for freedom for the Baha'is and appealing for the unity and understanding. The messages here are organized from left to right: ""A society cannot advance if it continues to see an enemy in those who are different. It is blind prejudice and heresy towards others. It is a savagery committed by some who claim perfection, and see imperfection in others."" ""The Baha'is of Yemen are unjustly in prison!"" ""Say no to violence!""The Nida Foundation and the Baha'i community in Yemen have been involved in programs for the empowerment of youth so that they become oriented towards the social, moral, and intellectual development of society in practical ways.  Both have also been concerned with raising the status of women and promoting the concept of equality and, in particular, the education of the girl child.  Furthermore, the Nida Foundation has held discussions with tribal leaders on the profound implications of peace, reconciliation, and co-existence in that war-torn society.
Support also has come from tribal leaders and fellow citizens of various backgrounds.  For example, on the website of ""The People of the Quran""—a Muslim religious order also called the Quranis, which has millions of adherents throughout the Arab region—the peaceful nature of the educational gathering was emphasized. The site stated that the event had been held ""in an atmosphere of love and loyalty for Yemen; a program filled with enthusiasm, determination, and selflessness to serve the causes of peace and coexistence, community building, and unity among the children of their country.
""We are all Baha'is!"" begins their statement.
""If you want to spread an ideology, persecute it! This sums up the human experience with any new way of thinking,"" the statement continues.
Amnesty International's regional office has issued a statement condemning the government's actions.  ""The arbitrary arrests of Baha'i people for doing nothing more than attending a peaceful community event is completely unjustifiable. It is just the latest example of authorities' persecution of minority faiths,"" said Magdalena Mughrabi, the organization's Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Program.
Social media has also been alight with numerous messages and many hashtags have been set up, some in English and others in Arabic, by the supporters of Baha'is. #Free_Bahais; #Free_Bahai_Mothers; #Freedom_For_Bahais; and many similar hashtags have drawn attention to the arrests and highlighted the high character and aims of the Baha'is.
Many statements of support have echoed similar themes, namely the relevance of the activities of the Baha'is for the betterment of Yemen in a time of greatest need for constructive effort. Indeed, so overwhelming and widespread has been the reaction of Yemeni society in support of the detainees that some have questioned who might be the real instigators of this incident.
The Baha'i International Community Office at the UN in New York has also issued a statement providing details of the arrests.
Perhaps one of the most powerful interventions to date has been made by Arwa Othman, until recently a Minister in the government of Yemen and now a human rights activist. She wrote, ""National Security: What function do you have today?  The country is in flames from the war and you have forgotten your duties and raided an educational gathering for the youth which had just the same goals as those espoused in the civics text books your children study at school.
Her statement continued: ""The children, youth, and women who you arrested are not an enemy on whom you need to declare war and imprison, in violation of their rights—especially children's rights.  What evidence did you find in among the paper clippings of paper and crayons that a crime had been committed?
Highlighting the contrast with the real challenges of the region, Ms. Othman stated: ""What threat prompted you to enter a community building as if it was hosting a terrorist cell that was threatening public safety and the country's sovereignty? What military camps did you discover in the memories of each child, woman, and teenager?  What sleeping cells of religious and sectarian sedition, working for the interest of the enemies of Yemen, did you find in those civilized surroundings?
Finally, referring to the women who had been arrested, she wrote: ""What has come over you that you have arrested them?  Their children are suffering from bereavement and loss!  Some of those children are infants!  What has happened to you and to your honor, National Security?""",SANA’A,,Yemen
1119,2016-09-06,"[1118, 1115, 801]",BIC calls on President Rouhani to end systematic economic oppression,"NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has called on Iran's President, Dr Hassan Rouhani, to end the severe economic oppression imposed on the Baha'is in that country.
The call is contained in a letter addressed to President Rouhani which shows how, since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Baha'is in Iran have been the target of many ongoing acts of persecution, including a relentless campaign of economic strangulation which continues to the present day and shows no sign of improvement since his election.
Read the letter in Persian here
Read the letter in English here
The letter signed by Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, draws attention to the stark contradiction between statements espoused by the Iranian government regarding economic justice, equality for all and reducing unemployment on one hand, and the unrelenting efforts to impoverish a section of its own citizens on the other.
The letter highlights the ways in which this economic campaign has been waged against the Baha'is as a deliberate policy: expulsion of employees from the public sector; severe limitations in the private sector; exclusion from a wide range of trades and professions under the offensive pretext of their being religiously ""unclean""; confiscation  of assets; harassment of businesses; and closure of shops. Even the setting of high amounts as bail when Baha'is are arbitrarily arrested has a terrible economic effect on the community.
Beyond these, the letter also identifies the economic impact of the oppression on young Baha'is-artists, athletes and students. ""The economic consequences resulting from the denial of opportunities to Baha'i youth to nourish their God-given talents are considerably more serious than many other forms of oppression"", the letter states.
Referring  to this systematic discrimination as ""economic apartheid"", the letter pointedly asks the President: ""How can the deliberate policy of a government be to impoverish a section of its own society?  How will those who are responsible for the financial, social, and psychological consequences of these discriminations justify what they have done?  What religious or civil standard allows for a calculated exclusion of a population from participation in the economic life of its own country?  How can talk of building a just and progressive society continue in the midst of such systematic injustice?""
The letter calls on President Rouhani to review urgently the situation of the Baha'is and to remedy the situation.
Recently a moving and powerful documentary produced by a few individuals in Iran that gives a glimpse of the tremendous economic suffering of the Baha'is has attracted media attention.  Amnesty International, USA has posted the documentary on its Middle East and North Africa Facebook page.
A special report on the economic oppression of Iran's Baha'is published in 2015 by the Baha'i International Community can be viewed here.
(Photo of Hassan Rouhani taken from World Economic Forum, at flickr)
(Editor's note: on 8 September 2016 a correction was made to the ninth paragraph specifying that the documentary mentioned was posted on the Middle East and North Africa Facebook page of Amnesty International, USA.)",NEW YORK,,United States
1120,2016-09-16,"[1062, 1082, 1100]",Cambodian Temple progress inspires collective action,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — It has been eight months since construction work started on the local Baha'i House of Worship in Battambang.
Since the groundbreaking in November of last year and the completion of the earthworks in March, access roads have been built, ponds have been dug, and foundations laid.  Construction of the central edifice has also begun and is well underway.  Its design was unveiled on 17 July 2015.
New video footage, showing progress of the construction process as well as a tree-planting project, is available here.
Parallel to the construction work has been a growing number of activities that are contributing to the spiritual and material progress of communities in and around Battambang.  Inspired by the House of Worship, activities have multiplied and a spirit of prayer and devotion has increasingly permeated the area.
While building has progressed apace, participation of local inhabitants volunteering on the Temple land has demonstrated how the development of the House of Worship is a collective enterprise.  Scores of adults, youth, and children have offered time and energy to contribute to projects on the Temple land.
Most recently, on Monday 12 September, over 150 gathered for a tree-planting day.
""It was a perfect day for the project,"" said Daravuth Keo, a representative of the Bahai community in Cambodia. ""The soil was wet and ready for the plants. We started with prayers.  Then we discussed the purpose and significance of the project.  People formed into different teams.  Some were designated to plant the trees, some to work in the nursery, and others to carry out various tasks.""  Aerial footage of the Temple siteOrange, avocado, papaya, lemon, and coconut trees were transplanted together with weeping willows, flame of the forest, chicken tail, foxtail, and yellow flower trees.  Some 150 trees were planted that day alone.
Young people have played an especially important part in the rising sense of community solidarity and the flowering of service endeavors in Battambang.
""At the tree planting event, we talked with a large group of youth together, and they shared their reflections,"" explained Mr. Daravuth. ""Many youth shared the idea that the community activities have provided them with a framework for service to society, helped build their capacity to provide moral education to children and younger youth, and taught them to build knowledge with others for the betterment of the world.
""Some commented that this has helped them to stay away from drugs, to focus their energies on building unity, developing community, and walking with others on a path of service.""
The House of Worship in Battambang is expected to be completed by late 2017.  It is one of five localities that were designated by the Universal House of Justice in 2012 to have a local Baha'i House of Worship.",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1121,2016-09-25,"[1114, 1047, 1090]",Colombian Baha’is release open letter for peace,"CALI, Colombia — The Baha’i community of Colombia has released an open letter appealing to all Colombians to seize an “historic opportunity” and work for the cause of peace.  The letter comes in advance of the signing of a peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) on 26 September.
The agreement is a major milestone on the path to peace in Colombia, which has suffered more than fifty years of violence in the world’s longest continuous armed conflict.
The Baha’i community’s letter celebrates the achievements of the peace negotiations while acknowledging that the hard work of building a just and harmonious society lies ahead.
“The eyes of the world are on Colombia,” says the statement. “May we arise to provide a model that will inspire and edify the hearts of our fellow human beings across the planet.”
The open letter represents a recognition of the opportunity now opened to Colombians to forge new patterns of interaction and habits of thought.
Over decades, the Colombian Baha’i community has been promoting a culture of peaceful and purposeful existence in many regions of the country through educational processes that seek to empower children, youth, and adults to promote the well-being and unity of their communities.
“We have seen that small, voluntary acts of service can produce profound and lasting changes in families, children, and their neighborhoods,"" explained Ximena Osorio, a representative of the Colombian Baha’i community. ""Each individual has the potential to become an active agent of social change and contribute to building a peaceful society.”  Classes for the moral and intellectual development of youth have been a feature of the Baha’i community’s contribution to well-being and peace in Colombian society.The open letter also presents a caution: “Our peace is, in a word, fragile.  It demands a level of integrity to rise above polarized debate, to revert to higher principles to which all societies aspire, to that common ground that is the foundation of consensus.”
“But beyond words,” it continues, “participation may perhaps find its most powerful expression in deeds—in the flowering of countless acts of voluntary service across the country that imbue our society with a new spirit of hope for the future of Colombia.”
The statement, which was published in Spanish, can be found here in English.",CALI,,Colombia
1122,2016-09-29,"[1111, 1110, 1087]","Focus on what unites us, says BIC","WARSAW, Poland — In the face of growing racism and xenophobia, now is the time to focus on what unites us. This was one of the key points made by the Baha'i International Community (BIC) at a recent forum of European leaders in Warsaw, Poland, taking place from 19 to 30 September.
For the second year in a row, the BIC participated in the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a platform for 57 States to meet with a number of other OSCE agencies and civil society actors committed to human rights and democracy.
Addressing the participants in a session on tolerance and non-discrimination, the BIC Brussels Representative said, ""One of the most pressing questions...is how people of diverse backgrounds are to live together... and how to counter discrimination, racism, and xenophobia.  Rachel Bayani from the Baha'i International Community Brussels Office""A lot of thinking and work goes into devising different strategies to counter specific forms of prejudice,"" she continued. ""Of equal importance is the need to gain a much deeper understanding of what unites us.""
The BIC also commented that our readiness to articulate what constitutes our common humanity is what ultimately underlies our commitment to the elimination of prejudice.
In its comments, the BIC encouraged the OSCE to explore ""how educational processes can help nurture in this generation and generations to come a rich, robust and expansive sense of common identity and develop amongst European populations a strong loyalty with and responsibility towards all of humanity, rather than only towards those sharing similar social, cultural, national, or physical characteristics"".
In the session on ""Fundamental freedoms, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief"", the BIC contribution focused on coalition-building.  In particular, it highlighted the growing tendency between a variety of social actors, whether religious or not, to speak up for each other and to build coalitions in order to promote freedom of religion and belief.
Echoing this sentiment, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Prof. Heiner Bielefeldt, praised the movement toward partnership and collaboration between various groups, noting in particular partnerships between ""minority"" and ""majority"" groups.
""One sign of hope that was also alluded to in various speeches,"" he commented, ""is the collaboration that we have experienced and that we see now developing between different organizations.""",WARSAW,,Poland
1123,2016-09-30,"[1116, 1080, 1032]",Anticipation rises for Chile Temple inauguration,"SANTIAGO, Chile — A surge of excitement and anticipation is palpable among the Baha'i community in Santiago and abroad as the inauguration of the last of the continental Baha'i Houses of Worship approaches.
The President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, is expected to attend the opening ceremony with other dignitaries.
Growing media coverage has brought attention to the significance of this landmark, and recent articles (see here and here for examples) have highlighted the uniqueness of this sacred structure. Like all Baha'i Temples, its nine-sided design stands as a unifying symbol of the oneness of humankind. The firm behind the Temple's design, Hariri Pontarini Architects, has described it as ""a Temple of light, expressing a faith of inclusion"".  An interior view of the Baha'i House of Worship for South America.A feature report, produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, offers a compelling exploration of the conception and design of the Temple.
Meanwhile, the Baha'i community of Chile is preparing to welcome thousands of people for the inauguration, which will take place from 13-16 October. Representatives of indigenous populations and national Baha'i communities throughout Latin America, along with individuals and groups from nearly every other continent, will join the celebrations for the three days following the public opening.
Live video coverage of the public opening ceremony will be provided on the Baha'i World News Service website on 13 October, 14:00 GMT, for approximately 90 minutes. People around the world will be able to watch this historic event, marking the dedication of the final continental Baha'i Temple.
A video capturing the majesty of the superstructure is available here.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1124,2016-10-07,"[1063, 1087, 1090]",Hopeful BIC looks to future of Africa,"ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Africa has a great contribution to make to the future of world civilization, explains Prof. Techeste Ahderom, representative of the Baha'i International Community's (BIC) regional office in Africa.
The BIC is an international non-governmental organization representing the worldwide Baha'i community. Established in 1948, the BIC has offices at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, as well as regional offices in Brussels, and most recently Jakarta and Addis Ababa.
The establishment of the BIC Addis Ababa Office (BIC AAO) two years ago was a significant step forward in the Baha'i community's efforts to contribute to the development and prosperity of the African continent.  The BIC AAO works in collaboration with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental entities operating on the African stage for the betterment of society.
""We are interested in learning about those burning questions of the African people and our society as well as the issues that the African Union has formally identified as central to the progress of the continent,"" says Prof. Ahderom.
""Institutions and governments are saying, 'We will silence all guns in Africa' and 'Without peace there can be no development'.  But beyond these expressed hopes, we need to learn what these ideas mean in practice and how to achieve them.""
In this context, working with the African Union has been especially important for the BIC Office. The African Union is an organization which aims to achieve greater unity and solidarity between African countries and citizens.
In January of 2015, the BIC was one of only fifteen faith-based organizations invited to contribute to the African Union's ""Agenda 2063:  The Africa We Want"", a document approved by African leaders. Agenda 2063 provides a vision and strategy for the continent's future. It captures the widespread aspirations of the African people to end conflict, establish freedom to pass across borders, realize the rights of women and children, and ensure that prosperity is shared across all populations.  BIC Representative Prof. Techeste Ahderom chairing a session at a policy dissemination event ""Emerging partners in Africa's post-conflict recovery"", held in Addis Ababa in June 2016.""It was very interesting to note that what they intend to achieve in 50 years' time is very much aligned with the vision of the Baha'i Faith—no more wars, conflicts settled, peace in a full sense,"" says Prof. Ahderom.  ""Women will play their rightful role in society.  And people will be able to travel across borders without problems.""
""There are understandably those who have a deep skepticism and are detractors, but we do not feel that this is the right attitude.""
One of the exciting developments of the last two years is that the BIC AAO has been able to work with a number of associates drawn from Baha'i communities across the continent as the Office has focused its energies on engaging in some of the most critical issues facing Africa now: the environment and climate change, inequalities between the materially rich and poor, the equality of women and men, financing for development, universal education, and of course peace and security.
The BIC AAO believes that the long-term goals of Agenda 2063 can only be achieved with a commitment to the education of African children and youth.  To this end, the Office has chosen to participate in venues dealing with this vital subject and was invited to address participants at the annual Day of the African Child event in June.
""Children's education is a long-term strategy for the African continent.  If at an early stage children can be taught the principles of the oneness of humanity and unity in diversity, if intellectual capacity can be cultivated with spiritual qualities, then we can build the future we want,"" stated the BIC in a presentation at the event.
Commenting further on the topic, Prof. Ahderom says, ""The long term goal of education and equality in Africa will be built one brick at a time. The short term goal is to end conflict, but the long term vision is to build.
""Contributing to the constructive processes in Africa is what Baha'i communities are trying to do as well.  We are also early in this process, still at the learning stages.""
Looking into the future, Prof. Ahderom is very optimistic.  ""Yes there are challenges to be sure, some of the most tremendous challenges.  But Africa also has the resources, the ingenuity, and the heart not only to address them but to be a light to the rest of the world.
""This is the BIC's vision for Africa.""",ADDIS ABABA,,Ethiopia
1125,2016-10-11,"[1123, 1113, 1121]",Dramatic footage captures Chile Temple developments,"SANTIAGO, Chile — The final newsreel on the construction of the Baha'i House of Worship for South America has been released as the highly-anticipated dedication of the Temple approaches.  The video highlights major developments over the past year and the growing connection of the community to the Temple and the activities of service and worship that it has inspired.
The establishment of this Temple marks the final step in a more than century-long period during which continental Baha'i Houses of Worship have been built across the planet.
Since July 2012, a series of videos has documented the construction process as well as developments in the surrounding community. A central theme of these newsreels has been the deep connection between the physical building of the House of Worship and spiritual forces that have been set in motion around it.  An aerial view of the Baha'i House of Worship for South America and its surroundings at the foothills of the Andes mountains, in Santiago, ChileA growing awareness of the power of prayer has been among the most profound effects of the Temple on the surrounding community.  This has been closely tied with a rising expression of commitment to the well-being of humanity through the multiplication of acts of meaningful service.
The dedication ceremony for the Temple begins on Thursday 13 October at 14:00 GMT. Live video coverage of the public opening ceremony will be provided at that time on the Baha'i World News Service website for approximately 90 minutes, and a video recording will be available soon after.
The Baha'i community of Chile has also begun to welcome people for the inaugural conference from 14 to 16 October. Representatives of indigenous populations and national Baha'i communities throughout Latin America, along with individuals and groups from nearly every other continent, are arriving to participate in the celebrations. Live video coverage of the conference can be viewed at http://dedicacion.templo.bahai.cl from Friday 14 October to Sunday 16 October.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1126,2016-10-12,"[1125, 1123, 1116]",Century-long process about to culminate,"SANTIAGO, Chile — The dedication of the Baha'i House of Worship taking place in Santiago, Chile, signifies a historic conclusion to a century-long process of raising up continental Baha'i Houses of Worship around the world.
A House of Worship is a pivotal institution of Baha'i community life, ordained by Baha'u'llah as a sacred structure open to all and referred to as ""Mashriqu'l-Adhkar"", which translates to ""Dawning Place of the Mention of God.""
The first Baha'i House of Worship was completed in 1908 in the city of Ishqabad in Russian Turkistan (now Ashgabat, Turkmenistan).  The Mashriqu'l-Adhkar complex included the central Temple, a travellers' hospice, schools, medical and other facilities. After being expropriated by the Soviet authorities, the House of Worship was seriously damaged in an earthquake and eventually demolished in 1963.
During the twentieth century, as the Baha'i community grew and spread globally, plans to build one House of Worship on each continent gradually began to unfold. These buildings became known as continental ""Mother Temples"".
The first of these in Wilmette, USA, just north of Chicago, took some four decades to complete, opening in 1953. This beautiful, inventive building required the pioneering of new technology to bring the vision of its architect to fruition.
Continental Houses of Worship in Kampala, Uganda, and Sydney, Australia, were both inaugurated in 1961. Another near Frankfurt, Germany, was dedicated in 1964. The ""Mother Temple of Latin America"" in Panama City, opened eight years later, and the ""Mother Temple of the Pacific Islands"" was completed in Apia, Samoa in 1984. These elegant buildings appear to blend naturally into their surrounding landscapes, encircled by beautiful gardens of rare and native plants, which enhance the beauty of the sites and their atmosphere of spirituality.
The House of Worship for the Indian subcontinent in New Delhi, India, was completed in 1986. Inspired by the ancient symbol of the lotus flower, this monumental edifice has since become one of the world's most visited buildings, winning numerous architectural awards.  Bahá’í Houses of WorshipThe very design of a Baha'i House of Worship, inviting everyone equally within its embrace, symbolizes the oneness of humankind.  It is open to all people for silent prayer and meditation, as well as for regular devotional programs that consist of readings from the Sacred Writings of the world's religions. There are no rituals or ceremonies, no pulpits or sermons, nor is there collection of money. In essence, these Houses of Worship are a gift from the Baha'i community to humanity, funded entirely by the voluntary financial contributions of individual Baha'is all over the world.
Although a Baha'i Temple is a universal place of worship, its purpose is not solely to provide a place for prayer and meditation. Rather, Houses of Worship are conceived of as institutions that will contribute to the social and economic progress of the populations for whom they are sanctuaries of peace and reflection.  They are expressions of the deep connection between worship and service.  Around each House of Worship, essential dependencies will in time emerge, dedicated to social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific pursuits.
With the opening of the ""Mother Temple of South America"" in Santiago, the Baha'i community's process of constructing Houses of Worship at the continental level is completed.  The process of building national and local Houses of Worship has now begun in several locations across the world where a vibrant Baha'i community life, characterized by worship and service, has emerged.
In 2012, the Universal House of Justice drew attention to the day in 1912 when 'Abdu'l-Baha, with his own hands, broke the ground for the Mother Temple of the West:
""'Abdu'l-Baha, standing before an audience several hundred strong, lifted a workman's axe and pierced the turf covering the Temple site at Grosse Pointe, north of Chicago. Those invited to break the ground with Him on that spring day came from diverse backgrounds-Norwegian, Indian, French, Japanese, Persian, indigenous American, to name but a few. It was as if the House of Worship, yet unbuilt, was fulfilling the wishes of the Master, expressed on the eve of the ceremony, for every such edifice: 'that humanity might find a place of meeting' and 'that the proclamation of the oneness of mankind shall go forth from its open courts of holiness'.""",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1127,2016-10-12,"[1126, 1125, 1123]",Where spirit and form fuse: reflections on the architecture of the Chile Temple,"SANTIAGO, Chile — Siamak Hariri is visibly moved as he surveys the Baha'i House of Worship here that has taken his Toronto-based architectural team, and hundreds of other contributors from all around the world, some 14 years to bring to completion.
""You have a sense of what it will be because you've been so intimately involved in every detail,"" he says, ""but it's so much more than our imaginations could have predicted.""
The architect has returned to Santiago to see the building for the first time in its finished state and is clearly delighted by the results which he says could not have been foreseen, despite the years of highly detailed design and preparation.
""We looked at it on the computer a million times,"" he says, ""but the effect of it - the way that the light is captured in the glass, how it comes through and just touches the marble - that was one of our biggest worries. Would that in fact happen? It was a theory, we tested it, and we hoped that it would. But now that we see it, it's way beyond what we could have imagined.""
The House of Worship, according to the architecture website ArchDaily, ""defies rational thought and veers into the realm of the emotional.""
It is a masterpiece of state-of-the-art engineering which at once has the presence of an ancient monument and the appearance of a natural form that has sprung organically from its environs.
""The temple appears otherworldly,"" wrote renowned Canadian author Noah Richler in the design magazine Azure, ""yet of the mountainside and belonging to it.""  An interior view of the House of Worship. “The way that the light is captured in the glass, how it comes through and just touches the marble...it’s way beyond what we could have imagined,” explains the architect, Siamak Hariri.Now, as final preparations are made for the House of Worship's dedication ceremonies, the light-suffused building already possesses an ineffable spirit which will intensify in time as prayers, the reading of sacred scriptures and songs of worship resound through its auditorium.
Mr. Hariri says that his team consciously knew the power a building can have to affect the soul, but the challenge to evoke such a sense was a profound one.
""How do you make a single room that is a material structure but has a spiritual effect? It's a tough assignment.""
At the outset, it was decided that inspiration for the structure would not come from other buildings.
""We were not going to look at architecture,"" he says. ""New civilization and new expression means that we could not take too much from what is around us right now.""
Rather, the team went in search of a ""feeling"", hoping that visitors to the Temple would have the sense that they were gazing up at the heavens or turning towards the light, just as a plant moves to face the sun.
""I think that you try for it but you cannot predict the deep emotional impact,"" Mr Hariri says. ""We were very deliberate in aiming for that ethereal glow, the softness, the upward spiraling. But it has gone way beyond that.""
""For example, we were hoping for that kind of rawness of the surface concrete against the shimmering quality of the glass. But this is really magic, because of all the effects of light and material, and movement against those materials.""
Innovation and creativity
It was in 2002 that the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Chile invited design proposals from architects for the last of the continental Baha'i Houses of Worship. Specifically it was to be ""a nine-sided domed structure with nine entrances to symbolically welcome people from all directions of the earth for prayer and meditation.""
But Mr. Hariri - whose firm Hariri Pontarini Architects entered the competition - says the brief was also open enough to leave room for innovation and creativity.
Inspiration for elements of the design were found in, among other things, the veins of a leaf, the interwoven threads of Japanese baskets, and the depiction of the softness of robes in oil paintings.
A multidisciplinary team, from engineers to musicians, worked with the architects to conceive the structure. Three-dimensional modelling software called CATIA, used in aerospace engineering and rarely in architecture, was adopted to map out the design.
""Thirteen years ago this was breathtakingly hard,"" says Mr Hariri. ""We were the only ones in Canada who were working in CATIA.""
Writing at the time, Lisa Rochon — architecture critic for Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail — described the ""structural ambitions of the project"" as ""formidable.""
Yet a building that at many points in its development seemed impossible to achieve, particularly in a location prone to earthquakes, has been magnificently realized. In its finished form, nine identical wing-like panels of translucent cast glass curve around to form the temple's dome. Natural light passes through the glass and floods the white marble interior while at night, light emanates softly from within the structure.
To retain the luminescent quality of glass, while having the strength of stone, a team of artists, engineers, and architects had to create a material that was fit for purpose, structurally and visually. With the help of celebrated glass artist Jeff Goodman, known for his ornate blown glass chandeliers, a new approach to casting glass was tested in more than 200 different forms before being finalized.
""Its innovative cast-glass skin is a victory for the architects, engineers, fabricators, and contractors who sweated every detail to make sure it could withstand the rigors of its mountainside location,"" Deborah Soonian Glenn wrote for the American monthly, Architectural Record.
The innovations in technology and design are combined with traditional Chilean craftsmanship and materials. Every fixture, the seating and the lighting, has been treated with the same, loving attention to detail.
""We were trying to get a candlelit, monastic feeling,"" says Mr. Hariri. ""And it's even better than we imagined.""
Designing for future generations
Standing now at the House of Worship for the first time since its completion, the architect, reflective and deeply moved, is thinking of the generations of visitors who will enter beneath its dome in centuries to come, seeking out its atmosphere of peace and tranquility, and finding in its message of hope and unity the inspiration to devote themselves to service to the community.
""It's the culmination of a few years of work for us, but it's going to be there for a long time,"" he reflects.
""Deep down I am thinking of my children and my grandchildren, and all of the millions of souls that this building might touch. I can imagine them in the temple.""
""I have never experienced this with a building before,"" he says, ""not on the first day.""",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1128,2016-10-13,"[1127, 1126, 1125]",Temple hailed as a transcendental ‘gift’ to Chile and the continent,"SANTIAGO, Chile — On the outskirts of Santiago, in the foothills of the Andes, an extraordinary event took place today—the long-anticipated public dedication of the Baha’i House of Worship for South America and the last remaining continental Baha’i Temple to be constructed.
Some 500 guests from Chile, including senior figures from the government and civil society, as well as representatives from South, Central, and North America and the Caribbean, and further afield, gathered for the first of a series of opening ceremonies this coming weekend that will bring more than 5,000 Baha’is from 110 countries beneath the House of Worship’s soaring dome.
Opening the dedication ceremony, Felipe Duhart—secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Chile—said that the desire of the Baha’is is that “the House of Worship will become the heart and nerve centre for this whole community,” and “a refuge for prayer.”
This role the House of Worship has as a “transcendental space that looks for unity and respect for all religious backgrounds” was emphasised by the representative of the President of Chile, Minister Secretary General Nicolás Eyzaguirre.
“It is a Temple which makes our landscape a more beautiful one,” he added. “It will become an icon and it will remind us how important it is to find the unity between the city and nature.”
The Temple is located outside of Santiago in Peñalolen, a commune whose name in the local language means “reunion of brothers.” As the site for the final continental Baha’i House of Worship, there could be no better name, and no better location.  Minister Secretary General Nicolás Eyzaguirre, representative of the President of Chile, addresses visitors at the welcome reception.The governor of the Santiago Metropolitan Region (see editor's note below), Claudio Orrego, addressed the audience in moving terms. Echoing the Minister’s remarks, he explained that the Temple was seen as a “huge gift” to the citizens of Chile and beyond.
“Today we see the beauty of its creation, together with all the divine and human forces that have made it possible,” Mr. Orrego said.
“Santiago will be different from now on because of this beautiful temple that has been given to us…It doesn’t matter what religion we belong to, what creed we profess, our cities are full of the thirst for silence and to transcend.”
The assembled guests—many of them attired in traditional costume—ascended the steps up the mountainside for the first devotional programme to be held in the House of Worship, in which welcoming remarks were made by the representative of the Universal House of Justice, Mrs. Antonella Demonte, and prayers and holy scriptures were recited and sung by a 60-strong choir made up of singers from Chile and Baha’i communities from the rest of the world.
One prayer for unity was sung in the indigenous Mapuche language of Chile by Berta Blanco, who was among the first of her people to join the Baha’i community more than 40 years ago.
“I think the Temple is going to bring a lot of changes for my family, for my community, for my people, for the tradition I come from,” she said.
Representatives from Chile’s diverse religious communities also welcomed the establishment of the Temple in their city.
Father Georges Abed of the Syrian Orthodox church has lived and worked in Santiago for some 26 years. He described the House of Worship as “a great gift for the society here, because it helps opens their minds and see the brotherhood of their citizens in the city.”
Rabbi Daniel Zang, representing the Jewish community, said, “It’s part of our worship to pray together, that all mankind can come together and ask God for peace and brotherhood.”
Today, the power of the Temple to unite humanity in all of its varied cultures and colours—as well its unique position between the city and the mountains—was on full display.
(Editor's note: On 14 October 2016, a correction was made to paragraph 7 to reflect accurately Mr. Orrego's title as governor or ""intendant"" of the greater Santiago Metropolitan Area.
On 15 October, corrections were made to the captions of photographs 10 and 12.)",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1129,2016-10-15,"[1128, 1127, 1126]",Day 1: Galvanic conference opening celebrates history and achievements,"SANTIAGO, Chile — The vibrant color, music, and splendor of the cultures of South America’s diverse peoples were on display at the opening of a historic conference here.  The audience, numbering nearly five thousand, was galvanized as it celebrated the opening of the Bahá’í Temple for South America.
View a video capturing the joy and energy of those attending this momentous event.
The stage of Santiago’s Movistar arena was the setting for the first session. Prayers, talks, musical performances, dances, and dramatic presentations—involving all ages—offered a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of South America and explored the relationship between the continent and the Baha’i Faith.
Representing the Universal House of Justice, Mrs. Antonella Demonte read a special message addressed to the gathering at “a moment of high achievement for the Bahá’í world after much earnest striving”.
“The process of raising up Bahá’í Houses of Worship, an endeavour whose origins can be traced back to the days of the Blessed Beauty Himself, has reached the point where today a Mother Temple stands upon the soil of every continent,” read the message.
“A powerful spiritual beacon is now in full blaze at the foot of the Andes,” the message said, describing the House of Worship as a vital institution which embodies “two essential and inseparable aspects of Baha’i life: worship and service.”  A representative of the Wayuu people of the Guajira region of Colombia addressed the audience on day 1 of the conference.The program that followed explored the history and unfoldment of the Baha’i Faith in South America.
Among the first Baha’is to set foot on the continent to share their beliefs were three brave North-American women—Martha Root, Leonora Armstrong and May Maxwell. Their heroic efforts in the early decades of the twentieth century were vividly brought to life by three actors in a dramatic presentation, titled Las Rosas Blancas de America.
The conference also explored the subsequent achievements of dynamic Baha’i communities that sprang up across the continent and the receptivity of pure-hearted people of that region from all backgrounds who responded to the message of Baha’u’llah.
An especially moving theme of the day was the historical response of the indigenous peoples who “embraced the vision of Bahá’u’lláh and His Faith, recognizing the power of His Word to liberate the soul and transform society”.
Speakers from among the indigenous representatives captivated the audience with their accounts.
Music and artistic performances filled the arena with the joyful spirit of the occasion.
Two more days remain of the conference, during which many further facets of the development of the Faith will be explored.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1130,2016-10-16,"[1129, 1128, 1127]",Day 2: House of Worship rises from concept to reality,"SANTIAGO, Chile — On the second day of the conference marking the opening of the final continental Baha'i House of Worship, participants reflected on the significance of the edifice and its role as a focal point for institutions that will emerge to serve the surrounding population.
Claudio Orrego, the former Mayor of Penalolen and now governor of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, described how the Temple came to be situated at the foothills of the Andes.  Expressing his gratitude on behalf of the people of Santiago, he described the Temple's presence there as a ""gift of love"".
The morning session also paid tribute to the hundreds of people who had contributed to raising the House of Worship.
Juan Carlos Quiroz spoke on behalf of all of the workers on the project. He told the crowd that many of those who had worked on the construction of the Temple were not present, including young volunteers from a variety of countries who, at times, took on the lion's share of the heavy work.  He acknowledged the immense, collective endeavor that had given rise to the sacred edifice now being inaugurated.
Among the presentations in the day was a moving historical account of Baha'i Houses of Worship that helped to put into context the occasion being celebrated.
Ximena Osorio, a Colombian Baha'i, spoke of the importance of temples in every religious dispensation and highlighted a unique concept that is associated with Baha'i Houses of Worship:  A group of around 450 participants approaches the Temple.""In the Baha'i community devotion must find expression in action,"" she explained. ""Prayer, though essential for the inner life of the human being, should lead to actions that give outer expression to inner transformation.""
Drawing attention to the very first Baha'i House of Worship—built in Ishqabad (now Ashgabat, Turkmenistan) in 1908—she described how, in its very fiber, the concepts of service and worship were interwoven. That first House of Worship included buildings that served as a travelers' hospice, a school, and medical facility.  The education of girls became a priority of the flourishing Baha'i community of the time.
Also addressing the audience, the architect of the Temple, Siamak Hariri, provided a fascinating glimpse into the design process that resulted in the unique structure of the House of Worship in Santiago.  His talk honored the many people on the construction team who, in a variety of roles, brought this collaborative effort to such a successful conclusion, and he voiced the architecture team's deep sense of gratitude for the privilege of playing a role in this magnificent project.
""For this, we are immensely thankful,"" he said.
First visits to the Temple
Throughout the afternoon, groups of around 450 participants traveled in buses for their first visit to the House of Worship and a special devotional program. Often overcome with emotion, joy and gratitude were visible on their beaming faces as they approached the Temple, some through rainfall that added a sense of wonderment to the scene.
Ernestina Cahuaza Chimpuqai, an indigenous Baha'i from Peru, embraced the Faith of Baha'u'llah more than 30 years ago.  She flew for the first time in her life to participate in the inauguration of the House of Worship.
""I am very happy and very grateful,"" she explained, speaking in her native tongue, ""because of the blessing that God has given me to visit the Temple.""
Celebrating the work of the global Baha'i community
For those remaining at the main conference venue while Temple visits took place, representatives of national Baha’i communities presented how they combine a life of service with worship, as well as insights into their own history and aspects of their culture.
Some of the presentations focused on endeavors of social action and educational initiatives, including examples from various countries in the Americas.
Participants, for instance, highlighted a production of a television series in Ecuador that explores aspects of family life in a neighborhood. The SAT (Sistema Aprendizaje Tutorial) program—which has received government accreditation and recognition by the governments of Colombia and Honduras and provides secondary education to rural youth—was also presented.
Social and economic development initiatives in Chile itself were among the other examples discussed, including one of eight Baha’i-inspired radio stations in South America—named Radio Baha’i—which has worked closely with the indigenous Mapuche people.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1131,2016-10-17,"[1130, 1129, 1128]",Day 3: Looking to the future,"SANTIAGO, Chile — As the sun rose behind the Andes, more than 250 people representing various indigenous populations of South America entered the newly-dedicated continental Baha'i Temple.  The melodies of the choir permeated that sacred space, as Baha'i scriptures in Spanish and the Mapuche language, resounded through the Temple's auditorium, touching the hearts of those present.
This moving scene ushered in the final day of the special inauguration ceremonies that have unfolded since Thursday.
Speaking after the dawn visit, Paicavi Painemal Morales, an indigenous Baha'i from Temuko in Chile explained that ""As Mapuches, we pray in many different places—we are very connected to the land and to nature.
""When we pray,"" he continued, ""we pray directly to God and so for this reason the Temple is very special for us—and it is for this reason that many Mapuche are Baha'is.""
Jesus Angel Gudino was among the first of Argentina's Guarani people to accept the Baha'i teachings in the early 1970s. ""I am very happy to be here,"" said Mr. Gudino, ""because this event shows the unity of everything—the cultures, the people: all is put into practice.""
""It was impossible for me to imagine such a great number of people,"" he said. ""We were so small when I first became a Baha'i.""
A member of the Wayuu from the north of Colombia, Carlos Javier Epiayu Herrera, was determined to tell his family and friends back home everything that he had been experiencing over the past several days.
""All the knowledge that we acquire here we will apply in our country and we will share it.""  A special program was held early Sunday morning for representatives of indigenous populations in South America.This special dawn visit to the Temple on the final day reflected the significance given to the indigenous peoples' contribution to the advancement of civilization—a theme that was present throughout the conference and highlighted on day 3.
A presentation by Baha'is from the northern region of Brazil drew attention to the love expressed in the Baha'i writings for indigenous populations.  Baha'i sacred scriptures place particular emphasis on their capacity to illumine the world.
""Their awakening is a decisive moment in the life of the Faith and the life of these peoples,"" said the Brazilian delegation.
As in the day before, groups of up to 500 people from among the nearly five thousand conference participants continued to make their first visits to the House of Worship.
Further reflections on service
Inspired by the vision of the Temple as an institution that weds together worship of God and service to humanity, representatives of national Baha'i communities from around the continent and further afield continued to share their experiences with social action.
In particular, a number of presentations were made about transformative educational processes initiated by Baha'i communities or Baha'i-inspired organizations. From small grassroots projects to larger, well-established institutions, examples were presented from such countries as Brazil, Suriname, Panama, and Bolivia.
A delegation from northern Brazil described how a program for 11-14 year olds was offered to a school in response to lack of spiritual values in the national school curriculum. A video showed the director of the school expressing gratitude for this program, which reaches around half of the pupils. ""We are building a new history here,"" she said.
Gustavo Ortega from the Nur University in Bolivia, which is also working to apply Baha'i principles to both its academic curriculum and administrative structures, told the conference, ""We started a process that has changed education in our country."" The University has become recognized for its commitment to fairness, gender equality, and the generation and application of knowledge.
Individuals also shared the benefit of learning from other communities around the continent and applying what they discovered to their own activities.
Preparing for the future
The final session of the conference lifted and directed the vision of participants toward the months and years ahead.
In a keynote address, a former member of the Universal House of Justice, Dr. Farzam Arbab emphasized the great role that indigenous populations have in the “process of the spiritualization of the peoples and the nations"".
Dr. Arbab asked those present to look toward the future: ""What will be the fruits that our efforts produce under the influence of the spiritual forces that now emanate from this House of Worship?""
Calling on those present to carry back with them to their countries the spirit of the conference, representative of the Universal House of Justice, Antonella Demonte, in the closing moments, drew the attention of the conference to the power of unity and love that had permeated the gathering of nearly five thousand people—what she described as ""collective spirit"".
""How much more powerful is collective action!"" she proclaimed.
(Editor's note: Additional photographs were added to the story on 18 October 2016.)",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1132,2016-10-21,"[1110, 1087, 1119]","Mass urbanization demands reimagining community life, says BIC","QUITO, Ecuador — We need a fundamental reimagining of collective living, says the Baha'i International Community (BIC) in a statement released this week, titled ""New Patterns of Community Life in an Urbanizing World"".
The statement addresses the Habitat III conference organized by the United Nations in Quito, which ended yesterday.  This was the third UN conference on sustainable urban development, the first having taken place in Vancouver in 1976.
In the past decade, for the first time in history, the number of human beings living in urban settings has surpassed the 50% mark.  This shift from rural to urban settlements is one of the most significant issues the world faces today, with profound social, humanitarian, and ecological implications.
""Urbanization in its current incarnation is not a process that can continue indefinitely,"" states the BIC in the document. ""Large-scale migration to urban centers has, in many cases, led to social fragmentation, the depletion of limited ecological resources, and profound feelings of isolation and despair.""
The statement proposes that to deal with the formidable challenges arising from the accelerating mass urban-rural migrations across the planet ""will require conceptions of life in rural and urban settings to be thoroughly reimagined, drawing on the accumulated knowledge of the past, the scientific advances of the present, and a compelling vision of the future"".
To navigate a path forward, argues the BIC, will require ""sustained investigation for the foreseeable future"".  The document highlights certain core issues that merit attention.  ""Prominent among these is an explicit concern with reviving the concept of community,"" it states.
""If community is to further the progress of society in its own right—complementing the roles played by individuals and social institutions—a much more expansive conception of community life must be actively embraced. New patterns of action and interaction will have to be built, and new forms of relationship and association constructed.""
The document addresses a range of issues, including the need to integrate groups and populations that have traditionally been marginalized, to open spaces for the participation of people at different levels of decision-making, and to help foster a sense of common identity and united vision.  Drawing on the experience of the worldwide Baha'i community, the BIC also emphasizes the vital role of education in creating prosperous and healthy human settlements, particularly as a way to enable young people to ""translate high ideals into practical realities and make a meaningful contribution to the fortunes of humanity"".
Habitat III, formally known as the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, is part of an effort to reinvigorate global political commitment to the sustainable development of towns, cities, and rural settlements, according to the UN. The conference involved as many as 45,000 people—including government leaders, UN officials, and civil society representatives.
""Among the main ideas that the Baha'i International Community hoped to bring to the discourse at Habitat III is that efforts to create a greater sense of community among individuals, whether in highly urbanized environments or rural villages, is the key to creating an urban agenda that promotes genuine prosperity and human happiness,"" said Serik Tokbolat, a representative of the BIC to the United Nations. ""And this requires serious consideration of the moral and spiritual dimensions of human life.""
Conceived in this way, Mr. Tokbolat explained, efforts to foster a sense of community can help national governments, local authorities, and civil society organizations in their search for ways to improve the nature of community life in both urban and rural settings.",QUITO,,Ecuador
1133,2016-10-26,"[966, 1119, 1085]",Baha’i murdered in Iran—victim of religious hatred,"NEW YORK, United States — In an appalling act of violence, a Baha’i has been stabbed to death by two men who admitted they attacked him because of his religious beliefs.
Farhang Amiri, 63, was murdered outside his home on 26 September 2016 in the city of Yazd, Iran, where he and his family have long resided.
On the previous night, two young men visited the residence of Mr. Amiri under the pretense of wanting to purchase his van.  Mr. Amiri was not home.  His son, who answered the door, was surprised and indicated that he was not aware of any plans by his father to sell the vehicle. The two men, however, insisted.  When he asked for their contact information, they made excuses and left.
On the evening of the murder, the same two individuals returned, met with Mr. Amiri himself, and violently attacked him outside his residence. Hearing his screams, a family member, who was then joined by several other people, found him severely injured with multiple stab wounds in the chest.
Shortly after the attack, local shopkeepers apprehended a man who was running away from the scene and delivered him to the police. The second culprit was also captured.
While being questioned by the police in front of witnesses, the two suspects admitted to killing Mr. Amiri with a knife they had brought with them for this purpose. When asked about their motive, one of the suspects answered that he carried out the murder because he knew Mr. Amiri was a Baha’i.  A photograph of Farhang Amiri placed atop a floral bouquet at his funeral“Such a heinous act is a consequence of a longstanding, systematic effort by the Iranian authorities to encourage hatred and bigotry against Baha’is,” said Ms. Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.
“Just in the city of Yazd alone, there have been multiple acts of persecution over the past few years, including dozens of wrongful arrests and imprisonments as well as scores of raids on Baha'i residences and businesses,” said Ms. Dugal.
This is not the first incident of persecution against Mr. Amiri’s family. His children had their businesses and residences searched last year by government agents who confiscated laptops, telephones, and other items.
Further, in early August of this year, another Baha’i in Yazd was told, while being interrogated by government agents, that they knew of people in the city who had expressed intentions to kill Baha'is.
“The Baha’i International Community is outraged at the murder of Mr. Amiri,” said Ms. Dugal. “It is deeply concerned about the ongoing and relentless persecution of the Baha’is in Iran that serves as a backdrop to such acts of violence.”
She noted that there has been an increase in hate propaganda against Baha’is in the official Iranian media. In a new report, the BIC says more than 20,000 such items have been disseminated over the last three years.
Ms. Dugal commented that Mr. Amiri, who worked as a driver and also a farmer, lived a modest and honorable life.
“He was known among his neighbours for his kindness, gentleness, wisdom, and humility,” she said. ""He had no quarrel with anyone.  His family environment was marked by love and tenderness, and he encouraged his four children to be honest and trustworthy.”
Ms. Dugal further stated that the Iranian government must ensure that the cause of justice is uninterrupted by considerations of religious affiliation.
“Open-minded Iranians, together with the international community, are now eager to see how justice will be carried out and wonder when the incitement and the prevailing atmosphere that make possible such heinous deeds will come to an end,” said Ms. Dugal.
(Editor's note: Additional photographs were added to the story on 27 October 2016.)",NEW YORK,,United States
1134,2016-10-28,"[1132, 1122, 1121]","In Spain, quest for social progress draws on science and religion","BARCELONA, Spain — The Baha’i community of Spain has been exploring how to bring together different sectors of society—government, NGOs, academia, the private sector, and faith-based organizations—to collaborate for social progress. At the heart of this endeavor has been a conviction that, when oriented toward the betterment of society, a dialogue that engages science and religion can give rise to new and important insights necessary to navigate a rapidly changing world.
Their exploration has yielded a number of developments over the past several years. This month, a new publication titled Gobernanza y religión (Governance and Religion) has been released, compiling contributions from leaders of thought in Spain on the transition toward more just and peaceful forms of social organization.
Edited by the Office of Public Affairs of the Baha’i community of Spain, the publication considers the contribution of religion to social organization in general and to governance in particular. The publication is one of the outcomes of a conference held last year in Barcelona.
“There is a growing consensus here that we need new models of social organization to address the complex realities of a world confronted by an increasing number of challenges, whether environmental, social, or structural,” explains Sergio Garcia, Director of the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs and editor of the new publication.
“One dimension of this is to discover new forms of governance. We believe to make such a leap requires us to look at all the systems humanity has, and religion is one of the most powerful.
“Religion is one of the two systems of knowledge and practice, together with science, that has propelled civilization. What we are learning is to draw on the insights of religion and its constructive contributions to navigate the new realities we face.”  A panel presentation during a conference on religion and governance held in Barcelona, Spain, in March 2015.The publication covers a breadth of relevant subjects, exploring both theoretical and practical aspects of religion’s contributions to social organization. Among the themes it highlights is the historical role religion has played in inspiring new modes and patterns of human interaction and conceptions of governance.
Some of the authors seek in their chapters to identify principles, approaches, and mechanisms for better and more effective forms of governance, drawing on experiences in which religion has played a role in decision-making, conflict resolution, and social action.
The belief that religion would disappear as societies become more modernized has proven inaccurate, argues the publication. While in some societies the influence of religion in the public sphere has been controlled and relegated to the private life of the individual, it has continued to exert a profound influence on the development of thought and behavior at the individual and collective levels. This influence on hearts and minds should not be underestimated.
Gobernanza y religión is the latest publication in the Serie Gobernanza (Governance Series) and is one the outcomes of a conference co-sponsored by the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs in Spain, as well as the University of Barcelona, UNESCO’s Association for Interreligious Dialogue, and the Government of Catalonia’s General Directorate of Religious Affairs.
“Many interfaith groups and grassroots organizations in Spain have been thinking about these ideas already,” explains Dr. Garcia. “With these conferences, we wanted to bring those experiences into a broader discussion with social actors from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector to better understand the practical problems of governance and explore the possibilities for new models.”
Future conferences will explore other aspects of governance, including political economy and collective security.
The first publication in this series, La gobernanza y sus enfoques (Approaches to governance), was released earlier this year"".",BARCELONA,,Spain
1135,2016-11-03,"[987, 988, 989, 992, 995, 996, 999, 1002, 1003, 1007, 1009, 1014, 1017, 1089]","Courageous cleric divides painting, promotes unity","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In recent years, individuals and groups from within and outside of Iran have raised the call for justice, human rights, and a culture of inclusion in the country. Though more and more voices are joining this chorus, it is still rare to see any vocal support from among Iran's ecclesiastical class. On occasions when a clerical figure in Iran does speak out in support of the rights of citizens and minorities, it can inspire hope in countless hearts.
Against this backdrop, Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, a high-ranking religious cleric in Iran who is also a calligrapher and artist, has stood out for his public dedication to unity. His contributions to social harmony in Iran have drawn attention and acclaim in many parts of the world.
Recently Ayatollah Tehrani has painted a new work which he has divided into eight parts corresponding with eight religious groups in the country. He has dedicated parts of the painting to Zoroastrians, Jews, Christians, Mandaeans, Yarsanians, Baha'is, and Sunni and Shia Muslims in the country, all of whom he considers ""essential aspects of Iran's national culture as well as the entire region's spiritual and religious reservoir.""  A section of artwork by Ayatollah Tehrani, which he has dedicated to the Baha’i community of Iran.""Our national identity would be incomplete without each one of them,"" he writes in a statement on his website.
The dividing of his painting symbolizes the fragmentation of the diverse populations that constitute Iran's citizenry-a fragmentation he attributes to religious fanaticism and claims of privileged access to truth.
Explaining the symbolism of dividing his painting, he states: ""As the body politic of human society would suffer because of estrangements and separations, likewise each section of this piece would be incomplete if it remains unaccompanied by the other sections. This piece is only complete when all the parts are put together.""
In the past, Ayatollah Tehrani has made other gestures of reconciliation and brotherhood toward religious minorities. In April 2014, for example, he gifted a calligraphic rendering of a sacred verse from the Baha'i writings to the Baha'is of the world. His action at once acknowledged the persecution of Iran's largest religious minority and expressed a wish that the Baha'is of Iran should be allowed their rightful place beside their fellow citizens, working for the prosperity and happiness of their country.
His courageous actions as a member of Iran's religious clergy have resonated with many inside and outside of the borders of that country and inspired a number of his counterparts from other Muslim denominations as well as other religions around the world to voice their support for his actions towards peaceful religious coexistence.  (See side bar for related stories)
With this latest action, Ayatollah Tehrani captures the yearning of many of his fellow citizens for ""a future where this land does not only belong to a certain religion, class, ethnicity, or ideology but belongs, without discrimination, to all Iranians, regardless of religion, attitude, or gender"".",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1136,2016-11-07,"[1119, 1133, 1136]",Forced closure of shops in Iran on an unprecedented scale,"NEW YORK, United States — Over one hundred Baha'i-owned businesses in cities across Iran, including Sari, Ghaemshahr, and Bandar Abbas, were sealed by Iranian authorities after they were temporarily closed to observe Baha'i Holy days on 1 and 2 November.
This action took place despite recent statements made by the UN Special Rapporteur of Freedom of Religion and Belief, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, prominent Iranian lawyers (e.g. Dr. Abdol-Karim Lahidji and Dr. Shirin Ebadi), and an appeal from the Baha'i International Community to the President of Iran for such economic suppression to cease.  Example of seal used by the Iranian authorities to prevent Baha'is from reopening their shops after closing them in observance of a Baha'i Holy day.A recent letter from the Baha'i International Community to the President of Iran explains how sealing Baha'i businesses is one of the many tactics employed by the authorities in their economic apartheid against the Baha'is in Iran. Other means include categorically denying at least three generations of Baha'is access to governmental jobs, excluding them from working in businesses partly or wholly under the direction of the government, delaying or preventing them from acquiring private job licenses, and depriving them from access to formal university education.
“The sealing of so many businesses demonstrates the emptiness of assurances by the Iranian government that the Baha'i community is not discriminated against,” said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community. “We call upon the international community to denounce these unjust actions and exhort the Iranian government to take immediate, visible, and substantive measures to reverse the situation,” she added.",NEW YORK,,United States
1137,2016-11-08,"[1120, 1100, 1082]",House of Worship inspires children and youth to plant for the future,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — For months now, scores of volunteers from nearby communities in Battambang have gathered regularly to work on the landscaping of the local Baha'i House of Worship being constructed there.
This spirit of collective service has become contagious.  One sign of its spreading influence has been a welling up of enthusiasm and a wish among children to have their share in this historic development.
Neighboring communities have responded to this growing enthusiasm by organizing gardening projects at the Temple site open to children, youth, and adults of all ages.  In Battambang, a spirit of collective service has become contagious. One sign of its spreading influence has been a welling up of enthusiasm and a wish among children to have their share in this historic development.Hundreds of volunteers have participated in the projects.  They gather for prayers in the early morning and then start off a full day of gardening, planting frangipani trees and ixora shrubs on the land surrounding the rising central edifice.  Some 900 plants have been transplanted onto the site.
""Now we can see the ixora and frangipanis smiling to the sunlight,"" said one participant, reflecting on his experience at the most recent collective gardening event.  He added that he was happy to be able to help make the grounds of the Temple beautiful so others would be able to enjoy the gardens when visiting in the future.  His sentiments are widespread.
Battambang is one of the first five localities worldwide that have been selected by the Universal House of Justice for the construction of a local Baha'i House of Worship.  The Temple is expected to be completed by late 2017.",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1138,2016-11-16,"[1119, 1136, 1133]",Iran's human rights failures condemned by world community,"UNITED NATIONS, United States — The UN yesterday expressed serious concerns about ""severe limits"" on the right to freedom of religion or belief in Iran, and specifically about the ongoing persecution of Iranian Baha'is.
The rebuke—the 29th such censure since 1985—came in an annual resolution on human rights in Iran, approved by a vote of 85 to 35 with 63 abstentions by the General Assembly's Third Committee.
The vote followed a September report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that said Baha'is ""are the most severely persecuted religious minority"" in Iran.
Further, a new report on the persecution of Baha'is in Iran was released by the Baha'i International Community on 25 October.
Yesterday's resolution also expressed concern over Iran's ""alarmingly high"" use of the death penalty, its ""widespread and systematic use of arbitrary detention,"" and the persecution of political opponents, human rights defenders, journalists, and women's and minority rights activists.
""While Iran has sought to normalize its relations with the world, the passage of this resolution shows that the international community still feels that the human rights situation in the country remains an issue and requires serious attention,"" said Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN.
""Certainly, in the case of Iranian Baha'is, things have changed for the worse. Among other things, the government has shifted its tactics to more sophisticated and less quantifiable forms of persecution, social, economic, and educational in nature, with the aim of making it harder to document cases of persecution.
""Economic strangulation is also spreading further. Just two weeks ago, for example, the government shut down more than 100 Baha'i shops throughout the country after their owners had closed to observe Baha'i holy days, reflecting one element of severe economic discrimination - as documented in a recent letter to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani,"" said Ms. Dugal.
She also noted that the government continues to arrest and imprison Baha'is and that young Baha'is are blocked from attending university.
""Overall, the government's program against Baha'is amounts to a highly coordinated effort to destroy this community as a viable entity,"" she said.
The resolution also called on Iran to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, whose repeated requests to visit Iran have been denied. Ahmed Shaheed, who was the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran until 31 October, issued a report in September that took note of an intense anti-Baha'i propaganda campaign waged by the government, saying also that Baha'is continue to be imprisoned and discriminated against economically.
The resolution was introduced by Canada and had 41 co-sponsors.",UNITED NATIONS,,United States
1139,2016-11-18,"[1124, 1132, 1122]",Exploring religion’s contribution to peace in Southeast Asia,"JAKARTA, Indonesia — Religion has a unique contribution to make to social progress and the realization of peace.
This is one of the ideas that the Baha’i International Community (BIC) Regional Office in Jakarta has been exploring since its establishment two years ago.
“Religion and spirituality are deeply rooted in the hearts of Southeast Asian people,” explains Mr. Chong Ming Hwee, representative of the BIC Regional Office in Jakarta. “Featuring prominently in our daily lives, religious principles and values permeate our consciousness, thoughts, decisions, and actions.
“There is a need for us to re-examine religion’s place in the modern world and to arrive collectively at new insights about the contributions it can make to the advancement of the whole of society,” Mr. Chong continues.  The creation of the BIC Jakarta Office in 2014, based in Indonesia, marked a milestone in the Baha’i community’s efforts to contribute to thought about social and spiritual advancement in Southeast Asia.In this connection, the BIC Jakarta Office has been contributing to a dialogue about how spiritual teachings can foster consciousness of the oneness of humankind by building a sense of human identity that transcends religious, ethnic, and national divides.
At the heart of this endeavor is a belief that religion—as a system of knowledge that provides unique insight into human nature and society—has a power to tap human agency and inspire commitment to action in individuals and whole populations.
“Perhaps more than ever, we need to understand religion’s constructive power which, despite its abuse over the centuries and today, we believe can enable people to overcome age old prejudices and work together for a harmonious and just society,” explains Mr. Chong.
The history of the Baha’i Faith in Southeast Asia stretches back to the time of Baha’u’llah. In the late 1800s, two Baha’is traveled extensively throughout the region, visiting towns and villages that are located in present-day Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. As a result of their efforts to share the Baha’i teachings with others, several early Baha’i communities were formed.
Over the many decades that have followed, Baha’i communities have become established in every country of the region, working to promote unity and build communities in which the central principles of the Baha’i Faith—such as the oneness of humankind and the equality of women and men—would progressively find expression in new patterns of interactions and relationships.
The creation of the BIC Jakarta Office in 2014 marked a milestone in the Baha’i community’s efforts to contribute to thought about social and spiritual advancement in Southeast Asia.  Here, all of the major world religions are present, and the question of religion’s role in promoting peace and unity is highly relevant.
The BIC’s efforts are carried out in collaboration with others, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Southeast Asia’s major regional organization. These efforts have included participation in various conferences and forums, the organization of spaces for dialogue among diverse actors, and the publication of articles.
In the last year, for example, the BIC assisted with an ASEAN Foundation project exploring the role of faith-based organizations in contributing to the betterment of the region.  A BIC representative was also invited to give a keynote address at the 2nd Annual Malang International Peace Conference in August.
Reflecting on the dynamism of the people of Southeast Asia, Mr. Chong states that the progress being made in the dialogue on peace “reflects their desires and aspirations for a better region.”
""We hope that growing circles of individuals and groups will work shoulder-to-shoulder for the betterment of our societies.”",JAKARTA,,Indonesia
1140,2016-11-28,"[1132, 1122, 1112]",Learning to live together:  Is religion doing enough?,"BIC NEW YORK, United States — Religious leaders have a responsibility to consider if their actions are helping people learn how to live together—or keeping them apart.  This message formed part of the keynote address given by a Bahá’í representative at an international conference on security.  Diane Ala’i spoke about the critical role that religious leadership can play, as well as the harm that can be caused by insisting that only one faith hold religious truth.
“Building peaceful societies and safeguarding freedom of religion and belief depend on the abandonment of claims of exclusivity and finality by religious leaders,” she said.
In her address to the Global Summit on Religion, Peace and Security, which brought together senior official from the United Nations, ambassadors, and representatives from other European governments, Ms. Ala’i rejected the idea that religious communities only needed to put up with each other.  “Living side by side is not enough,” she explained.  “People of different faiths must learn to live together.”
Her remarks echoed the themes of a well-known letter addressed to the World’s Religious Leaders in 2002 by the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing body of the Bahá’í Faith.  It drew attention to the unavoidable conclusion that, all too frequently, organized religion has been an obstacle to brotherhood and peace rather than helping to bring it about.
Ms. Ala’i stressed that another way was possible—that the real influence of religion in the community should be to bring people together.  This was not just hypothetical.  Bahá’í communities around the world have direct experience of how this can be achieved.
“We are finding,” she continued, “that collective service to the common good is a powerful factor in dispelling misunderstandings between people.”
This has even proved true in an environment like Iran, where the authorities and the religious leaders are openly hostile towards the Bahá’ís and are taking every possible measure to isolate them and keep them apart from mainstream society.  “The community has been able to contribute to the changing of hearts and minds in the country through the constructive resilience it has demonstrated in the face of decades of oppression, working shoulder to shoulder with fellow citizens for the betterment of Iranian society,” Ms. Ala’i said.
“In its constructive approach to social change, it has witnessed a rising level of support from fellow Iranians within and outside of the country in recent years.”
Alongside other international organizations, the Bahá’í International Community was a participant at the three-day summit which was organized by the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect as well as the International Association for the Defence of Religious Liberty.
The text of this article was updated on 17 March 2017.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1141,2016-12-06,"[1131, 1130, 1129]",Temple for South America awakens sense of the sacred,"SANTIAGO, Chile — As growing numbers of people discover the newly inaugurated Baha'i House of Worship in Santiago, Chile, many are rediscovering a sense of the sacred as they are enfolded in the Temple's glass and marble wings.
The Temple has had over 40,000 visitors since its inauguration in October. Whether from Santiago or further afield, they are drawn to the House of Worship for a variety of reasons. Some are keen to see the building that has won international praise for its architecture. Others, curious about a Temple inspired by a Faith about which they may have little awareness, come to learn more. And yet others arrive searching for a sense of sacredness that is lost in today's world.
""We had expected large numbers of visitors but have been surprised by just how many have come in the first month alone,"" explained Jenny Perez, a representative of the Chilean Baha'i community.
With this large wave of visitors, a relationship is forming between the city and the Temple, perched on the foothills of the Andes mountain range, overlooking it. Those who arrive find not only a beautiful space for contemplation and prayer, open to all, but also a place from which to draw inspiration and reconnect to a higher purpose.  Participants in a discussion group on the Temple grounds in Santiago, Chile.Popular media sources and websites have been attempting to capture the experience of visiting the Temple through innovative means, such as 360-degree photography.
In order to enrich the experience of those who arrive, the Baha'i community has opened up informal spaces for conversations on the Temple land. These spaces allow visitors who are interested to learn more about the nature and purpose of the House of Worship, to explore spiritual themes and concepts, and to contemplate the implications of a life dedicated to the betterment of society.
""We hope that the Temple will be a setting where people can explore, to the extent they wish, a deeper understanding of what a sacred or spiritual experience can be, and how it is connected to the way that we each contribute to the well-being of each other and of the world,"" explained Ms. Perez.
(Editor’s note: On 11 December 2016, a correction was made to the second paragraph to reflect that the number of visitors to the Temple since its inauguration has been 40,000, not 25,000.)",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1142,2016-12-15,"[1132, 1122, 1134]",Recasting the national conversation,"LONDON, England — Can we change the character of our national conversation and the terms on which we talk to one another?
Recently, the UK Baha’i Office of Public Affairs invited a group of parliamentarians, journalists, academicians, and civil society actors to explore this question. The dialogue which ensued benefited from the rich and diverse experiences of the participants. Numbering fifty, attendees included representatives from the Religion Media Centre, the British Humanist Society, SOAS University of London, the Rand Corporation, and the 3 Faiths Forum, among others.
In a statement addressed to the participants, the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs wrote: “Many challenging conversations are being held at all levels of society, which are of great significance to our shared future. These conversations include the nature of our shared national values, social cohesion, the equality of women and men, the role religion plays in public life, migration, freedom of speech, freedom of religion or belief, and the economy.
“In order for our society to progress, it is clear that all who are concerned need to be enabled to participate fully in these discussions,” the statement continued.
The seminar opened with presentations that were given by the 5 panelists followed by a discussion and a Q&A session. People then divided into smaller groups to discuss specific themes in greater depth.
Opening the session, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government—commented that “from the dawn of time we have used dialogue as a means of resolving differences, recognizing humanity, and overcoming tests.”  Panel speakers included the following (from left to right): Justine Huxley, the Director of St. Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace; Karnagie Sharp, a BBC journalist; Martyn Barrett of the University of Surrey; and Michael Karlberg, a Professor of Communication Studies at Western Washington University.Prof. Martyn Barrett of the University of Surrey drew attention to a critical yet underappreciated dimension of efforts to build a more harmonious society—friendship.
“Hostility, intolerance, and prejudice can be reduced by bringing individuals from different cultural groups into contact with each other,” he said. “Ideally, this contact should allow for meaningful friendships to develop and should involve activities aimed at achieving common goals. In other words, cooperation rather than competition should define interactions between people.”
Another of the opening speakers, Prof. Michael Karlberg of Western Washington University, discussed the need for modes of dialogue that are based on cooperation and interdependence. “As 2016 draws to a close,” he stated, “We need to ask ourselves, soberly: How are civil disagreement and combative debate working out for us? Are they leading to the world we want to leave behind for our children? Are they enabling us to solve the mounting social and environmental problems we are facing in the twenty-first century? Are they promoting meaningful forms of social cohesion?
“What we need is a more mature model of public discourse that reflects the understanding that we are all members of an interdependent social body and that we have the potential for altruism, just as we do for egoism,” he continued. “To realize our altruistic potential, however, requires education, effort, and free will.”
The Director of St. Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, Dr. Justine Huxley, spoke about avoiding the trap of creating two sides to every issue.  If this can be done, she explained, then dialogue can demonstrate its tremendous potential to bring people from different backgrounds together.
Challenging questions were also raised about how the media shapes the character of public dialogue. Speakers discussed how the media can sometimes exacerbate conflict by presenting issues as binary choices, where people are forced to take sides rather than being given a way to explore the complexities of social issues today in a more nuanced manner.
“It is the duty of journalists to present issues in a way that encourages people to work together,” said Karnagie Sharp, a BBC journalist. Ms. Sharp acknowledged that this duty is not easily fulfilled, especially when the media is driven by profit.
“The sad truth is that sensationalism sells. There is irresponsible journalism that sets us on a path of hatred and destruction and actively works against social cohesion,” she stated.
Prof. Karlberg addressed a similar point in his presentation as well, arguing that “commercially-mediated public discourse tends to lead to a war of words between the most extreme voices in the public sphere and advertising-financed media can become a hindrance to social cohesion.”
Reflecting on the event afterward, representatives of the UK Baha’i community commented on some of the early insights from the event:
“Many of the participants highlighted the fact that this style of participatory and inclusive dialogue was a novel and unique contribution to existing forms of dialogue in Parliament. They also commented on the timely nature of this event and how it is very much needed within the current social and political landscape. A clear question that was posed at the end of the seminar by participants was, ‘What happens next?’  And there is much anticipation for further engagement and action.
“We are hopeful that this vital conversation around dialogue will continue in the coming months and expand to growing numbers of people who are committed to building a more cohesive and harmonious society.""
The event was hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Baha’i Faith and chaired by two Members of Parliament, Louise Ellman MP and the Right Honourable Alistair Carmichael MP. It was held in the Portcullis House on 7 December.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1143,2016-12-19,"[1119, 1138, 1136]",UN General Assembly rebukes Iran for human rights record,"NEW YORK, United States — Today the international community firmly denounced a wide range of human rights violations in Iran.
By a vote of 85 to 35 with 63 abstentions, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution expressing “serious concern” about Iran’s high rate of executions without legal safeguards, ongoing use of torture, widespread arbitrary detentions, sharp limits on freedom of assembly, expression, and religious belief, and continuing discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities, including Baha’is.
“The vote today makes clear that the world remains deeply concerned about the way Iran treats its own citizens, while also raising questions about Iran’s genuine willingness to live up to its obligations as a member of the international community,” said Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
“Sadly, the list of ongoing human rights violations in Iran is long,” continued Ms. Dugal. “Despite the denials of Iranian officials, signs of progress are difficult to perceive. This is especially true for Iranian Baha’is, who face, among other forms of oppression, a policy of ‘economic apartheid’ from their government, which at every turn seeks to deprive them of jobs, education, as well as the freedom to practice their religion as their conscience dictates.
“In early November, for example, 124 Baha'i-owned shops and businesses were sealed by the government after their proprietors closed for two days to observe an important Baha'i holy day.
“In addition, Baha’is continue to be blocked from freely attending university, and are subject to all manner of other restrictions. They also face arbitrary arrest, detention, and imprisonment for legitimate religious activities,” said Ms. Dugal.
She noted that about 86 Baha’is are currently in prison and that, since 2005, more than 900 Baha’is have been arrested and at least 1100 incidents of economic exclusion have been documented.
“The situation has not improved under the administration of President Hassan Rouhani,” she added.  Since he took office in August 2013, at least 185 Baha’is have been arrested and there have been at least 540 incidents of economic exclusion.
Among other things, today’s resolution called on Iran to eliminate “all forms of discrimination, including economic restrictions” against religious minorities in Iran. It also called for the release of “all religious practitioners imprisoned for their membership in or activities on behalf of a recognized or unrecognized minority religious group, including the seven Baha’i leaders.”
The resolution was introduced by Canada, and co-sponsored by 41 other nations. It is the 29th such resolution expressing concern about human rights violations in Iran by the General Assembly since 1985.",NEW YORK,,United States
1144,2016-12-25,"[1139, 1122, 1096]",Leaders in Pakistan highlight urgent need for harmony of religion,"LAHORE, Pakistan — The Baha'i International Community (BIC) has emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of human oneness in fostering peaceful coexistence between different religions.
Speaking at an event organized by the government of Pakistan to promote interfaith harmony—the International Seerat Conference in Lahore—BIC representative Chong Ming Hwee stated ""In the human body, cooperation ensures the functioning of that system... Similarly, civilization can be seen as the outcome of a set of interactions among closely integrated, yet diverse components—components which have transcended the narrow purpose of tending to their own existence.""
""And just as the viability of every cell and every organ depends upon the health of the body as a whole, so should the peace and prosperity of every individual, every family, and every people be sought in the well-being of the entire human race.""
The Conference was held on 11 and 12 December 2016, taking place on the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Leaders in Pakistan, recognizing the urgent need for interfaith harmony, used the occasion to draw attention to the role of religion in creating unity. The conference, which was attended by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, also included representatives of different religious communities and government officials.
""To be a part of this historic conference convened by the government of Pakistan, where contributions of religious minorities were welcomed and embraced, was very heartening,"" said Mr. Chong. ""Not only did the gathering attest to how the teachings and example of Prophet Muhammed emphasized interfaith harmony, but it also affirmed foundational truths that are common to all religions, namely the oneness of God and of humanity.""",LAHORE,,Pakistan
1145,2016-12-30,"[1117, 1095, 1047]",Embracing oneness means rethinking prosperity and development,"LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg — Unity Foundation, an organization started by a small group of Baha'is 25 years ago and inspired by the teachings of the Faith, has been one of several Baha'i-inspired agencies that assist social and economic development organizations around the world to access essential funding. The challenge before it is how to facilitate the flow of funds from one part of the world to another while preserving and strengthening a local community's ownership and capacity to direct its own path of development.
Baha'i endeavors for social and economic development operate on the principle that populations should be the protagonists of their own material, spiritual, and intellectual advancement, not just recipients or mere participants. The majority of such initiatives are sustained by resources in the local communities that are carrying them out. Some efforts continue to grow in scale and complexity and eventually require financial resources from outside the community to enable them to extend proven practices and have even greater impact.
Agencies inspired by the Baha'i teachings, such as Unity Foundation, have been learning about raising financial resources in support of development initiatives that have reached a certain level of growth and complexity. In these instances, Baha'i institutions that have been following such organizations closely arrange contact with the Foundation.
These projects fall mainly into two categories: those that provide education for children through the establishment of community-based elementary schools and those that develop the capacities of youth in rural areas to become promoters of community well-being.
""Guided by our principles, we do not initiate, carry out, or manage the development projects in other parts of the world,"" said Fernand Schaber, the President of Unity Foundation's Board of Directors. ""We see ourselves as equal partners with those projects that receive funds. Our role is to represent their vision to the donor community in Luxembourg.  Mr. Yves Wiltgen of Unity Foundation with Mrs. Maina Mkandawire, director of Bambino Foundation, during an interview with a radio station in Luxembourg""We also do not choose the projects. They are recommended to us through certain Baha'i institutions. We have learned that working within this system helps us to avoid the many pitfalls that can arise in local communities when financial resources are not provided through appropriate channels.""
A central element of the Foundation's understanding of development is its conception of prosperity.
""We recognize the importance of being prosperous in material means, infrastructure, and technology, but it is of equal, if not greater importance, for communities to be prosperous in family and societal unity, in harmony, in high-mindedness, in peace, in generosity, in justice, and in equality between men and women,"" explained Board of Directors member Angela Roldan. ""The hope is that children in every society will grow up with a heightened awareness that the accumulation of wealth should not only benefit themselves but be a source of the wealth and happiness of others.
""From this perspective then, we do not adhere to the practice of dividing the world into groups of 'the developed' and 'the underdeveloped.' Every country in the world has a long way to go in learning how to reach true prosperity. What is required is a global process of learning, in which each nation and people, all on an equal footing, can contribute its share of insights and be seen as a protagonist along its own path of development. And this is the principle that we try to reflect in our relationships with our partners in other parts of the world,"" Dr. Roldan said.
In the context of arranging funds for projects around the world, the Foundation is learning how to contribute to the discourse on development in Luxembourg, drawing on the experiences being generated globally from the projects with which it works.
""The conversations we have with donors are not just about fund raising. More broadly, these conversations are raising consciousness about the concepts and principles central to development,"" said Yves Wiltgen, the Foundation's Public Discourse Officer. ""We are promoting a dialogue around these ideas in different spaces, including with individual donors, in schools, in the media, and in special gatherings or other events.
""Interestingly, people see that insights generated in other parts of the world are also applicable to the development of Luxembourg. For example, knowledge is being gained about how communities can become united around higher aspirations and how people can take initiative to help others in their communities,"" continued Mr. Wiltgen.
The work of Unity Foundation has advanced in collaboration with the Luxembourg Government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has developed a deep appreciation for the principles guiding the organization. Together, the Foundation and the Ministry have facilitated the flow of more than €3 million to projects in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia over the past five years.
On 19 November, Unity Foundation hosted a formal dinner to mark its twenty-fifth anniversary. One hundred sixty individuals attended the event at the Cercle Cite in Luxembourg. Guests included people from the business, media, and government sectors, as well as other individuals who have supported the Foundation's work.
""This event was a lot more than a celebration of twenty-five years of Unity Foundation,"" stated Mr. Wiltgen. ""It is a sign of a certain level of consciousness that material wealth in one part of the world and its absence in others is not acceptable when we consider the whole world as one family.""",LUXEMBOURG,,Luxembourg
1146,2017-01-06,"[1075, 991, 1025]",Film on education and love inspires audiences around the world,"LILONGWE, Malawi — A movie about a brother and sister in a rural village in the heart of Africa is demonstrating the power of film to contribute to constructive social change and stimulate meaningful conversations.
Mercy's Blessing, written and directed by May Taherzadeh, is a moving and profound exploration of the connection between love and sacrifice in the midst of social injustice. It has received widespread acclaim and, since 2015, has already won ten international film awards.
The film is centered on the story of two siblings. The older, named Blessings, wants to raise his younger sister, Mercy, and himself out of poverty through education. As obstacles mount for the family, Blessings becomes increasingly conscious of the injustices around him and the power of choice.
""The idea was to show a person in a dire situation making a selfless sacrifice. This ability to sacrifice, to be generous and think of the well-being of another, is a reflection of the strength of the human spirit."" Ms. Taherzadeh said.
Mercy's Blessing draws attention to issues ranging from the education of girls to the prevalence of child brides and is currently being used as a part of the United Nations Joint Programme for Girls' Education in Malawi to spearhead a nationwide campaign.
The themes the film addresses—privilege, equality, sacrifice, and responsibility—have connected to audiences around the world. In addition to its release to film festivals and smaller venues in 2015, Mercy's Blessing has been shown in association with various initiatives in a number of countries including Vanuatu, Ireland, South Africa, the United States, and the Netherlands to advance discussions about human rights, social justice, and the equality of women and men.
Some organizations have screened the film and organized an accompanying workshop to reflect on the emotions and questions the story evokes and to think about community development. Young people viewing the film have been especially moved by the idea that individual choice and sacrifice can effect positive change, even in the midst of structural injustices that ultimately require broader societal transformation as well.  Mercy, played by Hazel Roberts, attends class. A still shot from the film Mercy’s Blessing.With a background in documentary filmmaking, Ms. Taherzadeh, who grew up in Malawi, was interested in exploring how a fictional story could touch hearts using the power of art. ""A quotation from the Baha'i writings that has always inspired me says that art can better awaken noble sentiments than cold rationalizing, especially among the mass of the people,"" she explained. ""While it is an African story, the film shows universal themes of love and sacrifice, hope and despair, that remind us of our common humanity. It is wonderful to see how the film inspires courage for change in people everywhere, living in very different circumstances.
""Nobody is where they are only because of themselves. We are all here because of the sacrifices of somebody else.""
While the film is not yet publicly released, its trailer can be found here.
(Update (22 June 2017): Mercy’s Blessing is now available online.)",LILONGWE,,Malawi
1147,2017-01-11,"[1133, 1143, 1136]",Suspicious killing of Baha'i in Iran,"BIC NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has learned about the killing of a Baha'i in Iran, under suspicious circumstances.
A report received on 9 January indicated that Ahmad Fanaian was found dead, having sustained severe burns to his body. Mr. Fanaian was an elderly and respected man from Semnan Province.
This killing comes at a time of ongoing, systematic oppression of Baha’is in Semnan Province, which has been the focus of extensive anti-Baha'i activity. In 2012, the Baha'i International Community published a special report detailing numerous acts of violence and discrimination against Baha'is there.
Further details are expected in the coming days.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1148,2017-01-18,"[1037, 1102, 1040]",New publication of Baha'u'llah's Writings released,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A new volume of Baha'i sacred texts, Days of Remembrance: Selections from the Writings of Baha'u'llah for Baha'i Holy Days, is being released today, making available to the world a selection of newly translated Writings of Baha'u'llah.
Days of Remembrance offers forty-five selections revealed specifically for, or relating to, the nine holy days annually commemorated by the Baha'i community. It has been published in anticipation of the celebration of the two hundred-year anniversaries of the Birth of Baha'u'llah and the Birth of the Bab in 2017 and 2019 respectively, for which Baha'i communities across the planet are currently preparing.
The observance of holy days is an important feature of every religion, and the upcoming bicentenary commemorations, the first of which will occur in October 2017, will bring together communities through gatherings open to all, in villages, towns, and cities around the world.
These sacred events are being planned at a time when Baha'i communities are learning about the enrichment of the devotional aspects of community life and about the relationship between worship of God and service to humanity.
Regarding the commemoration of holy days, the preface of the new volume states: ""This remembrance has both a personal dimension, providing a time for reflection on the significance of these events, and a social dimension, helping to deepen the identity and foster the cohesion of the community.""
Days of Remembrance is available on the Baha'i Reference Library.
The book can be ordered through the US Baha'i Distribution Service.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1149,2017-01-29,"[1103, 943, 892]","Fred Schechter, 1927-2017","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Fred Schechter, former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away on 27 January 2017 in California, U.S.A. He was 89 years old.
The Universal House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies on 29 January.*  *  *We feel great sorrow as we mourn the passing of humble, loving, steadfast servant of the Cause of God, Fred Schechter.  His wide-ranging achievements, spread over many decades, are the fruits of a life lived with selfless devotion to the Faith.  Not long after enrolling as a Baha'i, he answered the call of the beloved Guardian for believers to go to Africa, and there he was named a Knight of Baha'u'llah for French Somaliland.  He also travelled as a pioneer to several countries in Latin America.  His efforts to encourage Baha'i youth were a notable feature of his thirteen years as a Continental Counsellor in the Americas, years which culminated in his appointment to the International Teaching Centre.  His wisdom, kindness, and good humour, combined with a practical approach and friendly demeanour, enabled him in so many settings to advance the Cause and to help others develop a capacity for service.
In the Holy Shrines we will supplicate for the progress of his illumined soul, now reunited in the realms above with his dear wife Julia.  To his three children, as well as other family members, we offer our condolences.  We call for memorial gatherings to be held in his honour in all Houses of Worship and in Baha'i communities throughout the world.
The Universal House of Justice",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1150,2017-02-03,"[1145, 1142, 1134]",Champion of women’s emancipation celebrated,"BAKU, Azerbaijan — The story of Tahirih, a Bahá’í heroine born of Azeri roots, has long been a symbol of inspiration in the country of Azerbaijan. She was one of the pre-eminent champions of the equality of women and men in the nineteenth century.
On 25 January, Azerbaijan’s National Museum of History held a celebration of women’s education in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries where Tahirih’s dedication and contributions to the advancement of women were recognized.
“Tahirih is held in high regard; she is not only renowned within the Bahá’í Faith but also well-known and respected throughout the East,” explained Azer Jafarov, professor at Baku State University.
“She influenced modern literature, raised the call for the emancipation of women, and had a deep impact on public consciousness.
“The fulfilment of Tahirih’s vision of emancipation has found greater expression over time,” continued Dr. Jafarov. “It is the rise of a sun that brings about enlightenment to the human heart.”
A recently published book on Tahirih’s life and works was presented at the conference by Salahaddin Ayyubov, a representative of the Bahá’í community. The presentation highlighted Tahirih’s impact on the advancement of women. Also discussed at the event were her contributions to poetry, for which she is well known.
“Tahirih is a great personality to whom Christian, Atheist, and Muslim writers have all paid homage. Her far-reaching vision of reality sheds light on the aspirations of everyone who yearns for peace and harmony,” said Ali Farhadov, a researcher for the National Museum of History in Azerbaijan.  Azerbaijan’s National Museum of History held a celebration of women’s education in the 19th and 20th centuries where Tahirih’s dedication and contributions to the advancement of women were recognized.“Today, not only women of the East, but the entire planet must learn from her character and life, which is an embodiment of freedom of thought, emancipation of women, and the attitude of independent search for the truth.”
A statue in central Baku of a woman casting aside her veil is said to have been influenced by the story of Tahirih. The monument, known as “the statue of a liberated woman,” was built in 1960 by the sculptor Fuad Abdurrahmanov.",BAKU,,Azerbaijan
1151,2017-02-12,"[1145, 1142, 1140]",Seeing capacity for meaningful contribution in all populations,"BIC NEW YORK, United States — It is vital for aid agencies to see the populations they work with as protagonists of their own advancement. This message formed part of the opening address of a representative of the Baha'i International Community at a recent conference on social development at the United Nations.
""Relationships of mutual support and assistance will increasingly be seen as our greatest source of strength,"" said Daniel Perell, BIC representative and NGO Committee for Social Development chairperson, in his opening remarks on 1 February 2017 at the 55th UN Commission for Social Development, held this month in New York.
""Whether wealthy or poor, rural or urban, a doctorate or illiterate, we all depend on each other, and we all have much to learn about a functioning society,"" Mr. Perell continued.
The idea that all populations have the capacity to contribute to their own development was one of the central themes of a statement shared by the BIC at the UN Commission.
The statement notes that while international aid organizations increasingly acknowledge the ""agency of low-income communities,"" the people in them are ""rarely embraced as capable and equal partners in a collaborative enterprise.""  The BIC delegation to the 55th Commission for Social Development. Left to right: Aaron Dahm, Yasmin Roshanian, Eric Farr, Rodrigo Lemus, Bita Correa, Mark Scheffer, Nava Kavelin, Arash Fazli, Saphira Rameshfar, Daniel Perell, and Serik Tokbolat.It is ""vital for the United Nations system to develop its ability to see capacity and strength in populations that, at times, may have been given labels such as 'marginalized,'"" reads the statement.
Bita Correa, a member of the BIC's delegation to the Commission, noted in particular the role that youth can play in building communities when their contributions are supported and encouraged.
Ms. Correa shared the example of the work of FUNDAEC (Fundacion para la Aplicacion y Ensenanza de las Ciencias), a Baha'i-inspired agency in Colombia.
In her remarks on 3 February at an event hosted by the BIC on the topic ""Rising Generations: Youth as Drivers of Prospering Communities,"" Ms. Correa told the story of a group of young people on the north coast of Colombia who undertook a service project to promote better practices in garbage and waste disposal-an effort that ended up transforming the habits of their entire community.
These youth had been engaged in a study program that emphasized their own agency, stressed the importance of learning together, and encouraged projects of service to the whole community. They decided to focus on environmental issues, and over a period of six months, they analyzed the patterns of consumption in the community, identifying specific measures they could take to address the issue. Ultimately, said Ms. Correa, this lead to the community re-organizing its entire approach to the matter, thanks to the initiative and example of young people.
""One thing we have observed in the various programs that are being offered by the Baha'i community worldwide has been the willingness and energy with which youth have engaged when given the chance,"" she said. ""They want to participate. They want to see that their actions actually have an impact.""",BIC NEW YORK,,
1152,2017-02-15,"[1135, 1102, 1138]",Baha'is of Iran website launches,"BIC GENEVA, Switzerland — Following the wave of national Baha'i websites that have launched in recent years, the site of the Baha'i community of Iran went online earlier today.
The website, which can be accessed at bahaisofiran.org, covers a range of topics and presents the history, activities, and aspirations of the Baha'i community in Iran.
""The site of the Baha'is of Iran provides visitors with an understanding of the nature and purpose of the Baha'i Faith, its rich history in the land of its birth, and how the Baha'i community in Iran is working side by side with its fellow Iranians for the betterment of that society,"" explained Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.  A screenshot from Bahaisofiran.org, the official website for the Baha'i community in Iran, which launched earlier today.""What strikes you when you look at the site is how the teachings of the Baha'i Faith and the principles it promotes reflect the aspirations of the people of Iran, most especially the youth, and the profound desire in that society for material progress that is balanced with moral and spiritual advancement.
""Given the restrictions on the Baha'i community in Iran and the fact that there are no Baha'i institutions in that country, our office is very pleased to have been able to help host the site,"" said Mrs. Ala'i.
Although the official website of the worldwide Baha'i community has recently been made available in Persian and a number of other languages, the new ""Baha'is of Iran"" website is the first website of the Baha'i community of Iran. This development is especially important at a time when a large volume of anti-Baha'i propaganda has proliferated in that country. Since 2013 alone, more than 20,000 such pieces have been disseminated in Iran's media.
The content and rich photography on the new website conveys the diversity of the Baha'i community in Iran, while also providing a sense of hope that religion as a reality can be a source of inspiration and give rise to constructive action for the common good. Its design evokes the vibrancy and color found in Iran's geography, art, and cultural history.",BIC GENEVA,,
1153,2017-02-23,"[1121, 1114, 1047]",Temple construction reaches new milestone,"AGUA AZUL, Colombia — Plans for the construction of the local Baha'i House of Worship in Agua Azul, a village in Norte del Cauca, Colombia, have recently reached an important milestone. Construction officially began in January, after building contracts were formalized with a local firm in the region.
Following the groundbreaking ceremony in May 2016, the three-meter high central mound on which the 18-meter tall Temple will stand has been completed, and the foundational work for the surrounding auxiliary structures has been laid. In time, these structures will be painted in the bright colors traditional to buildings in Colombia.
Parallel to the progress on building the House of Worship has been the reinforcement of activities, ongoing for some time now, that contribute to the spiritual and material progress of communities in and around Norte del Cauca. Inspired by the Temple, these community-building activities have multiplied, and a spirit of prayer, devotion, and participation has begun to increasingly permeate the area.  Contractors start work on the Temple site in Agua Azul, a village in Norte del Cauca, Colombia, where a local House of Worship is being built.This same spirit has found expression in practical projects. Since the property for the House of Worship was acquired in December 2013, the community has been undertaking a reforestation project on an 11-hectare piece of land adjacent to the Temple site. The initiative has helped to reintroduce native vegetation to the area, which was decimated by years of monoculture plantations of sugarcane. The team committed to the project has already successfully raised 43 species of plants on the land, which is designated for a Bosque Nativo, or native forest.
""Working in a team to recover many of the lost plant species that are part of this land has been one of the most inspiring parts of the project,"" said Jason, 12 years old and the youngest member of the reforestation team.
In March, the team is planning a special community project to invite individuals from the surrounding communities to bring various plant species from their own homes or farms as a contribution to the Bosque Nativo.
The relationship between the environment of the region and the community is also expressed in the design of the House of Worship, which was inspired by the shape of the cocoa pod, a plant that grows abundantly in Colombia and is integral to the identity of the landscape and the lives and economy of the people.
""The Temple is already becoming a source of inspiration, a source of development,"" said Julian Gutierrez Chacon, the architect for the House of Worship, reflecting on the future of the community. ""People are disoriented and have many stresses, and for them the Temple will be a north star, a compass that will reorient lives.""
The design for the Temple in Norte del Cauca was announced in 2014. It is one of the first local Baha'i Houses of Worship to be built, among four others announced by the Universal House of Justice in 2012.",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1154,2017-03-09,"[1151, 1140, 1132]","Gender equality essential for progress, says BIC in new statement","BIC NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has released a new statement on the advancement of women and the vital relationship between gender equality and true prosperity.
The document was published in preparation for the Commission on the Status of Women to be held at the United Nations next week. The Commission is the UN's principal annual global forum for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. It promotes women's rights and shapes global standards for equality.
The BIC's statement, ""Toward Prosperity: The Role of Women and Men in Building a Flourishing World Civilization"", connects the equality of women and men with the advancement of society in general.
The statement explores a holistic conception of progress, calling for a vision beyond mere economic prosperity. The advancement of women must entail more than economic empowerment, argues the BIC. Women play a pivotal role in social transformation for a more just, peaceful, and equitable world when they are able to meaningfully participate in every sphere of life.
Although there have been substantial strides in gender equality over the decades, far more remains to be accomplished, states the BIC. Access to education and other important areas have greatly increased; however, systematic and structural injustice continues to suppress women's potential and serves as a major obstacle to progress.
""Until these inequalities are thoroughly uprooted from the fabric of society, humanity will remain mired in the conflict, despair, confusion, and imbalance that have come to define much of modern life,"" reads the statement.
Yet the publication describes the path towards prosperity, despite its many obstacles, as paved with hope.
The BIC United Nations Office New York will explore these issues during the Commission, which will take place from 13-24 March. Information about the sessions the BIC will host and participate in is available here.
The statement ""Toward Prosperity: The Role of Women and Men in Building a Flourishing World Civilization"" can be found here.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1155,2017-03-19,"[1117, 1146, 1114]",Catalyzing an education revolution: Brookings Institution highlights Baha'i-inspired program,"WASHINGTON, United States — In the last twenty years, remarkable strides have been achieved in providing access to education for children around the world. However, research in the field of education is showing that increased schooling has not automatically led to increased learning. The United Nations estimates that 250 million children are not able to read, write, or perform basic math, whether they have been to school or not.
Addressing what it calls a ""learning crisis"", the Brookings Institution — a major think tank in the United States-started an initiative in 2015 called ""Millions Learning"". The study sought to identify educational interventions where not only access to schools was improving, but also learning itself.
One of the programs featured in the report is the Baha'i-inspired initiative Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial (SAT, or in English, the Tutorial Learning System). Since its beginnings in the 1970s in Colombia, SAT has expanded across Latin America to reach more than 300,000 students, and it has been accredited and recognized by a number of governments.
The ""Millions Learning"" report highlights 14 educational programs that show increased learning outcomes through innovative approaches to schooling. A major criterion of the study was that these programs could be scaled up in size and implemented in other settings in a sustainable way.
According to Brookings, SAT is ""catalyzing an education revolution"" by ""transforming how education is conceptualized, designed, and delivered.""
""SAT is radically different from the traditional secondary school and high school model, and it is cutting edge in so many ways,"" said Jenny Perlman Robinson, author of the case study for the Brookings Institution. ""It focuses on skills that are beyond the traditional academic skills, such as moral and character development, and it conceives of learning as something much broader.""  A group of seventh graders learning about preparing orchard plots for planting crops as part of the SAT program in HondurasUnderlying all endeavors of the SAT program is the philosophy of nurturing a generation of socially minded young people who can support and sustain development in their own communities. Its innovations in rural education are redefining learning as a moral endeavor, drawing on a process of action and research.
SAT bridges theory with practice by linking classroom work with practical projects, like encouraging students to learn mathematics and science in the context of growing vegetables or using their language abilities to start small study groups to promote literacy.
SAT was initially developed by the NGO Fundacion para la Aplicacion y Ensenanza de las Ciencias (FUNDAEC, or in English, Foundation for the Application and Teaching of the Sciences) to contribute to the progress of rural communities. FUNDAEC conceived of SAT as a strategy for advancing social and economic development, not as a program to fill the vacuum in secondary education. However, it quickly became apparent that education was the way to achieve that goal.
One pioneering difference between SAT and other widely accepted classroom models is the concept of ""tutors."" Teachers working with SAT are referred to as tutors, and their role is defined as guiding and facilitating the learning process, rather than only imparting information. The lack of hierarchy is ""an important distinction"", wrote Brookings, as it creates a culture of mutual respect and trust between tutors and students.
""This relationship radically changes the teaching-learning process,"" the report said. ""Its distinctiveness is further reflected in the program's emphasis on dialogue and debate, as well as close teacher-student exercises that are normally performed in a circle or in small groups.""
Additionally, unlike traditional education models, SAT places a large emphasis on community service. ""Community service is not seen as just an add-on to the teaching. Instead, it's very much a part of the core curriculum,"" explained Ms. Robinson.
""When we've presented the ideas that underlie the framework of SAT to others, we get responses like 'I'm excited about this, but it's utopian,'"" said Erin Murphy-Graham, a professor at the University of California Berkeley and the author of Opening Minds, Improving Lives: Education and Women's Empowerment in Honduras. ""But it's not utopian — it's actually something that has been implemented, that has been tested, that has been refined. It's an educational program that has been able to incorporate a very specific and very precise conceptual framework around the role of knowledge in advancing civilization, and it's possible. We're not talking about the distant future. We're talking about things that are happening right now, on the ground, in several countries in Latin America.""
The case study on the SAT program, titled ""Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial: Redefining Rural Secondary Education in Latin America,"" was written by Christina Kwauk and Jenny Perlman Robinson and published by the Brookings Centre for Universal Education in July 2016. A copy is available online.",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
1156,2017-03-26,"[1154, 1146, 1150]",BIC offers expanded perspective at CSW,"BIC NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community (BIC) contributed to the discourse on the advancement of women during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) this year.
""The discussions at the UN raised fundamental questions about how the situation of millions of women around the world—economic, social, and otherwise—can best be improved,"" said Saphira Rameshfar, a representative of the BIC to the UN.
The Commission on the Status of Women is the single largest forum for UN Member States and other international actors focusing on women's rights and empowerment. Every year, it attracts thousands of participants from around the world. The theme of this year's Commission, running from 13-24 March 2017, was ""Women's Economic Empowerment in the Changing World of Work.""
""Economic empowerment cannot be equated with women simply occupying the same positions as men within the existing social order—an order that has generated tremendous disparities of wealth and resources, treated the natural environment as a reservoir of resources to be exploited at will, and prioritized economic growth over other vital concerns such as the health of families, the stability of communities, and indeed the psychological and emotional well-being of workers themselves,"" Ms. Rameshfar said.
Instead, the BIC proposed that women would need to have an integral and critical role in establishing new patterns of thought and behavior and new social structures that reflect the principle of the equality of women and men and the oneness of humankind.  At the discussion hosted by the BIC to present its statement, panellists             from several prominent NGOs joined Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of             BIC to the UN (center), in a panel discussion  on the economic structure             of society, the role of the family, and the period of youth as they relate             to gender equality.The BIC contributed in many forums, including by sharing its statement, ""Toward Prosperity: The Role of Women and Men in Building a Flourishing World Civilization,"" to the Commission; screening the film Mercy's Blessing; hosting an event to explore faith and feminism; and conducting a discussion to examine the role of youth in gender equality, among others.
At the discussion hosted by the BIC to present its statement, panellists from several prominent NGOs offered their reflections on the economic structure of society, the role of the family, and the period of youth as they related to gender equality.
Religion contributes to cultural norms for the economic empowerment of women, said Azza Karam, Senior Advisor to the Multilateral Affairs Branch of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and member of the panel. ""People think this area is just a small domain of the global conversation about human rights,"" she said. ""But it is essential to realizing the sustainable development goals.""
At the Commission's Youth Forum, which convened more than 700 young people from around the world, BIC collaborator Eric Farr suggested that one way faith communities can contribute to gender equity is by adopting a systematic process of learning.
""We actually don't know what a society that's truly based on principles of gender equality looks like; such a society has never existed,"" said Mr. Farr. He continued by explaining that the equality of women and men is an ideal toward which we, as one human family, must work. Humanity's efforts will require an ongoing process of dialogue and learning. ""What we need is to develop a new body of knowledge that draws on the insights of humanity's great systems of knowledge, religion and science,"" he concluded.
Commenting on the significance of this international discourse to the Baha'i community, Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the BIC to the UN, said ""The Baha'i Faith explicitly states that the equality of women and men is not merely desired, but an eternal spiritual truth essential to humanity's advancement and the establishment of peace.""",BIC NEW YORK,,
1157,2017-03-29,"[1137, 1120, 1100]",Construction progresses on Cambodia Temple,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — Excitement is stirring in Battambang as anticipation builds for the completion of the first local Baha'i House of Worship. Scores upon scores of inhabitants in the region have been galvanized to offer service to their communities, as well as at the Temple site, where hundreds of shrubs and flowers have been planted since the initiation of this historic endeavor.
Additionally, construction of the central edifice and surrounding buildings has advanced rapidly, and recent aerial video footage captures the beauty of the emerging structure and the surrounding land.
Some of the most notable recent developments include the completion of a number of auxiliary buildings on the land and the erection of the steel roof structure for the main edifice, which is soon to be followed by cladding and glazing of the roof.  The local Baha'i House of Worship in Battambang, Cambodia.Once the roof is set by mid-April, the Greatest Name motif will be raised inside the House of Worship, marking yet another significant milestone in the construction process.
In the midst of the growing excitement among the local population, the Provincial governor of Battambang, H.E. Chan Sophal, paid a visit to the Temple site on the first of March. He met with members of the community and had a chance to survey developments.",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1158,2017-04-03,"[1098, 1096, 1050]",Moving tribute by India’s President,"NEW DELHI, India — 2017 marks the two hundred year anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, and thousands of Baha’i communities in localities around the world are preparing to commemorate this momentous occasion in October of this year.
In India, as preparations advance, the Baha’i community has received from the President of India—His Excellency Pranab Mukherjee—a moving tribute honoring this bicentenary year.  President Mukherjee’s message draws attention to the relevance today of Baha’u’llah’s well-known statement, “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,” and calls on all Indians to reflect on the life and vision of Baha’u’llah.  Message of His Excellency Pranab Mukherjee, President of India",NEW DELHI,,India
1159,2017-04-06,"[1148, 1092, 985]",Naw-Ruz receptions promote harmony,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In August 1868, Baha'u'llah and his companions arrived by sea to the prison-city of Akka under an Ottoman edict of perpetual banishment. His exile resulted in the Holy Land becoming home to the spiritual and administrative heart of the Baha'i world. Those serving at the Baha'i World Centre have since those earliest days tried to exemplify, through their life and work, a consciousness of the oneness of humanity.
The annual celebration of Naw-Ruz, the Baha'i New Year, has been an occasion when the Baha'i World Centre has brought together in fellowship a diverse range of people from society. In addition to a commemoration at the World Centre itself, a set of receptions are held in Akka and Jerusalem around the same time.
This year, local authorities, religious leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths, and representatives of civil society, came together on 24 March in old Akka at a historic former residence of 'Abdu'l-Baha for a Naw-Ruz reception. The 95 guests included mayor of Akka Shimon Lankry, Member of Knesset Zohrair Bahloul, the city's Chief Rabbi, a prominent Muslim Sheikh, the Greek Orthodox Archimandrite, a Catholic Reverend, and other leaders of religious and civil society organizations in the city.  Sarah Vader, Deputy Secretary-General of the Baha'i International Community, opened the celebration with remarks about the meaning of Naw-Ruz for Baha'is and the significance of coming together to celebrate this holy day. ""Naw-Ruz is about renewal and hope,"" reflected Ms. Vader afterward.The participants at the event exchanged good wishes on the occasion of Naw-Ruz and had an opportunity to discuss a well-known passage from Baha'u'llah: ""This span of earth is but one homeland and one habitation. It behoveth you to abandon vainglory which causeth alienation and to set your hearts on whatever will ensure harmony.""
The reception in Jerusalem brought together an array of guests to commemorate the festive occasion of the new year. Sarah Vader, Deputy Secretary-General of the Baha'i International Community, opened the celebration with remarks about the meaning of Naw-Ruz for Baha'is and the significance of coming together to celebrate this holy day.
""To Baha'is, Naw-Ruz is not just a calendar event. Rather it is an opportunity to reinvigorate the powers of the spirit and to re-examine matters of the heart and conscience. It begins with the idea that the renewal in the world of nature is in fact a symbol of spiritual renewal, and an occasion for the individual to explore how to contribute to the material and spiritual welfare of others,"" reflected Ms. Vader afterward.
""This annual event is an occasion for the Baha'is to celebrate the new year with governmental, societal, and community leaders and to open a space for people of diverse backgrounds to join in fellowship and celebrate our common heritage as a human family,"" she said.
This year, the reception was also an opportunity to recognize the public service and contributions to coexistence of the honorable Salim Joubran, Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel, who is retiring this year. Justice Joubran, who grew up and lives close to the Baha'i holy places in Akka and Haifa, served on the Court for fourteen years and championed coexistence and justice during his career.
Introducing Justice Joubran at the event, Joshua Lincoln, Secretary-General of the Baha'i International Community, commented that ""the Baha'i concept of justice in its spiritual, personal, and social dimensions holds so exalted a station that it is associated with the name and title of the supreme administrative institution of the Baha'i community, the Universal House of Justice.""",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1160,2017-04-09,"[1101, 1048, 1093]",UN recognizes role of religion in protecting human rights,"BEIRUT, Lebanon — Too often, religion is portrayed primarily as a divisive force in society. The abuse of power by segments of religious and political leadership, the fueling of prejudice and superstition, and violations of human dignity and honor, are highlighted in popular media and discourse.
""These distortions of religion undermine a powerful force that can help combat the very ills in society that are tearing it apart,"" explained Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community (BIC) to the UN in Geneva. ""This is true especially because religion speaks to the highest aspirations of human beings and inspires them to act for the greater good in a way that few other things, if any, can.
""The challenge before us is to look at religion from a different angle and draw on those universal principles of love, of justice, of forgiveness, and of concern for our fellow human beings, all of which lie at the heart of religious belief,"" she continued.
Ms. Ala’i’s sentiments are shared widely among conscientious leaders and organizations, which have been in dialogue for years about how they can work together to combat ignorance, hatred, and prejudice.
A recent chapter in this unfolding dialogue took place in Beirut at the “Faith for Rights” meeting organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 28–29 March.
In his opening remarks, Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, attributed the root cause of human rights violations to an absence of a deep sense of justice. To address this void, he explained, religion must play a pivotal role in upholding respect for the dignity and equality of all humankind.
In fact, in recent years, the UN has been appealing to religious communities to share in the responsibility of safeguarding human rights. ""Religion and human rights are not in contradiction—quite the contrary,"" said Ms. Ala'i.  Several of the participants at the meeting of experts on ""Faith for Rights,"" organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Beirut from 28-29 March 2017. Among those pictured are Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, and Diane Ala'i, representative of the BIC to the UN in Geneva (fourth and fifth from the left, respectively).Speaking about the Faith for Rights meeting, she said, ""There was this consensus about the need to show the unifying nature of religion—a force for peace, not for war; a force for unity, not for violence; a force for understanding, not for fanaticism.""
Religious leaders and civil society actors, hailing from around the world, explored ways to cooperate in safeguarding human rights for all. The result was the preparation of two documents: the Beirut Declaration on ""Faith for Rights"" and 18 Commitments on ""Faith for Rights.""
A substantial number of those present came from the Middle East and represented a range of religious communities and faith-based organizations.
The 18 Commitments on ""Faith for Rights"" draw on many religious writings. The decision to choose 18 was an allusion to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which protects the right to freedom of thought and religion.
Among those sacred texts selected for the document is a passage quoted from 'Abdu'l-Baha during a talk in New York City in June 1912: ""The essential purpose of the religion of God is to establish unity among mankind. The divine Manifestations were Founders of the means of fellowship and love. They did not come to create discord, strife and hatred in the world. The religion of God is the cause of love, but if it is made to be the source of enmity and bloodshed, surely its absence is preferable to its existence; for then it becomes satanic, detrimental and an obstacle to the human world."" The passage is included in Article 9 of the 18 Commitments on ""Faith for Rights."" The entire talk can be found in The Promulgation of Universal Peace.
It is hoped that the Commitments and Declaration from the UN's ""Faith for Rights"" meeting in Beirut will be read and endorsed by government officials in an upcoming conference to be held in Rabat, Morocco.",BEIRUT,,Lebanon
1161,2017-04-13,"[1077, 1035, 1081]",Rethinking religion in Germany,"BERLIN, Germany — With the accelerated movement of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa over the past several years, German society is encountering a changing cultural and religious landscape. These shifts are stimulating profound societal reflection on fundamental issues.
""Thought leaders in Germany are asking foundational questions, especially about religion and its expression in public life,"" explains Saba Detweiler, a representative of the German Baha'i community.
These questions are not confined to Germany. Among some in Europe, an age-old assumption that religion would gradually fade out of the public sphere and become only a private matter has been turned upside down. ""People are seeing that religion is an essential part of humanity's collective life. It is not going away. For this reason, it is important to better understand the nature and contributions of religion and to have a dialogue about its positive expression in society,"" explains Ms. Detweiler.
Yet, the Baha'i community has also found that traditional spaces for discussions on religion—primarily interreligious forums—are often not oriented to explore the questions now arising in Europe and elsewhere. ""It seems that the conversation needs to move beyond interreligious dialogue, beyond issues of theology and rituals, to allow for a more rich discourse on religion's contribution to the betterment of society and the common good,"" says Ms. Detweiler.
One of the more challenging questions is whether religion can be seen as something more than just groupings of differing sects and denominations at odds with one another. ""This is what we are interested in exploring—the idea that religion can be seen as a cohesive force in society and as a system of knowledge that has, together with science, propelled the advancement of civilizations,"" she continues.
Part of the reason that German society is now grappling with questions around religion, explains Ingo Hofmann, Director of the Baha'i Office of External Affairs in Germany, is that many Germans are seeing religion practiced in ways that are foreign to them. This has made them more aware of their own religious norms and beliefs, even among those who do not typically associate themselves with organized religion.
Naturally, this process has stimulated curiosity and a quest to build mutual understanding but has also given rise to fears and xenophobia. As national conversations on migration and religion have gained momentum in recent years, the Baha'i community of Germany has been learning how to work side by side with its fellow citizens and various organizations to begin a constructive dialogue on the questions arising from the changing landscape in the country.
Striving to make a meaningful contribution, the Baha'i community has, over the past year, organized a series of forums on religion's role in the public sphere. These culminated in a conference on 24 March, titled ""Further thoughts on Religious Pluralism,"" in which some sixty individuals from government, civil society, media, and faith-based groups attended.  Participants consult in small groups at the ""Further thoughts on Religious Pluralism"" conference.Aydan Ozoguz, the German government's State Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Integration, sponsored the conference. The event was co-hosted by the Baha'i community of Germany and the Anne Frank Foundation, an organization dedicated to human rights education and fostering dialogue between groups of diverse backgrounds.
In the opening comments, Mrs. Ozoguz spoke about the common aspiration among all religions for peace and harmony. ""Religion shapes trust in our fellow human beings and in the possibility of establishing social cohesion,"" she said.
She highlighted the supportive and compassionate response of many Germans to the influx of refugees in the summer of 2015 as an example of how faith can animate action and service to others. ""Dedicating ourselves to the well-being of our fellow human beings is essential to building solidarity and a strong sense of community.""
Mrs. Ozoguz also included in her address a passage from Baha'u'llah as an example of the call of religion to humanity to rise to high ideals: ""Consort with all religions with amity and concord, that they may inhale from you the sweet fragrance of God. Beware lest amidst men the flame of foolish ignorance overpower you.""
Addressing the participants on behalf of the Baha'i community of Germany, Saba Detweiler stated that ""bringing people together for peace is at the heart of every religion. This is a facet of true religion.""
Relationships in society between various groups and even between neighbors are too often superficial, she explained. What is required is a radical reconceptualization of human relations in which people see themselves as fundamentally part of one human family and regard each other with respect, compassion, and understanding.
At the heart of the conference was the idea that, because religion plays a central role in the lives of the majority of the human race, its place in society must be examined deeply and better understood. Yet this message was not simply a call for religion to be regarded as a constructive force in society. It also presented a challenge: if religion is to contribute to social harmony and greater bonds of friendship between people, religious leadership and religious communities need to reflect profoundly on those aspects of belief and practice that can create divisions and foster prejudice. At the same time, if religion's role is to become an increasingly positive force for harmony in society, social institutions will need to reshape their relationship with religion and let go of many of the harmful assumptions that leave little to no room for religion to play a part in the public sphere.
A number of other important themes were discussed over the course of the day. For instance, Daniel Bax, Editor for the German daily newspaper Tageszeitung, Die Taz spoke about the importance of dialogue dispelling perceived clashes in identity and belief.
""No one will disagree that religion has an influence on culture,"" he stated. ""Nowadays, however, this notion of influence is misused. Culture has become falsely conceptualized as something that is static and limited to certain characteristics.""
Mr. Bax challenged this view of culture and its relationship to identity. People, he argued, have many different dimensions to their identity.
""These perceived clashes of different opinions, cultures, etc., have to be teased apart through dialogue in order to come to an understanding of how we in our diversity can live together in harmony. People are not only defined by their religious beliefs but have many other characteristics, qualities, and talents that can contribute to the common good. The concept of 'the other' has to be challenged. It cannot be simply that a person becomes 'the other' because he or she has a different religious belief.""
Such a mindset, he explained, can lead to the conception that ""others"" are ""enemies.""
Prof. Heiner Bielefeldt, former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and professor at Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen-Nurnberg, also addressed the conference.
""We need spaces to constantly remind ourselves of freedom of religion and belief and develop our understanding of it further. This is not done by dividing every one up into groups first and then trying to build bridges between them, but rather by creating open structures, where differences do appear, but because of a topic of common interest, they go away or enrich or at least can be resolved.""
Reflecting on the event, Ms. Detweiler commented:
""With this conference, we hoped to open a space for societal actors from academia, media, civil society and religious communities, to engage in exploring the role of religion in the public sphere and its relationship to social harmony and progress in a diverse society."" The conference, she explained, represented one step forward in an ongoing dialogue that will need to keep building momentum in the coming months and years.
Looking ahead, the Baha'i community of Germany and the Anne Frank Foundation plan to continue their collaboration in advancing this important dialogue in their society.",BERLIN,,Germany
1162,2017-04-17,"[1070, 1079, 781]",Distinguished composer casts light on prisoner's poems,"OSLO, Norway —  At a recent major international music festival, one composition stood out in particular for its portrayal of faith and spiritual transformation under great oppression.
Well-known Norwegian composer Lasse Thoresen was inspired by the poetry of Mahvash Sabet, a Baha'i imprisoned in Iran for her faith. His musical composition, Prison Poems, shares the title of the volume of Mrs. Sabet's poetry, adapted into English from Persian.
For Mr. Thoresen, what inspired him most about the poems is the story of transformation brought about through suffering and the potential of the human spirit to transcend external conditions and meet hatred with love.
""Mahvash Sabet has been held in prison under terrible conditions for nearly ten years. She has endured torture and abuse,"" Mr. Thoresen said. ""We often think of those who are subjected to such treatment as victims. But there is nothing in Mahvash Sabet's poetry indicating that she sees herself as a victim.""
""We are dealing with spiritual resources that first unfold in critical situations,"" he continued. ""We get to follow Mahvash Sabet on her journey into the darkness and suffering of prison, through the shattering of her identity, and finally to her ascent into a state of luminous love.” Mrs. Sabet was arrested in 2008 and jailed along with the six other members of the Yaran, an informal council of seven Baha'i individuals in Iran responsible for managing the affairs of the Iranian Baha'i community. After 1983 when the government had dissolved the national and local Baha'i administration, the Baha'i community established this informal arrangement with the full knowledge of the authorities.
Mrs. Sabet and the other six members of the Yaran were held without charge for over a year and a half. Before their trial began in early 2010, they had received only about one hour's access to their legal counsel and had undergone appalling treatment in prison. After a trial characterized by lack of due legal process, they were convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for, among other things, espionage, propaganda against the regime, and spreading corruption on earth.
When that initial sentence was met with international condemnation, the appeals court revoked three of the charges against them and reduced their sentences to ten year terms. (See Editor’s note below.)  The premier of the musical composition Prison Poems coincided with the release of a Norwegian translation of Mahvash Sabet's book of poetry, upon which his work is based.Throughout the course of her incarceration, Mrs. Sabet, an educator by profession, has been writing poetry. The quality and volume of the poems she has produced is an astonishing feat considering the harsh conditions of her imprisonment. Journalist Roxana Saberi who shared a cell in Evin prison with Mrs. Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, another member of the Yaran, has previously described the cell they were kept in, a room four by five meters in size with no beds or pillows. A piece written for the Washington Post recalls that the two women were permitted one pen between them, which they highly cherished.
On the fifth anniversary of Mrs. Sabet's imprisonment, a collection of her poetry was adapted into English and published. The volume, Prison Poems, has attracted widespread acclaim both for the literary quality of the poems and its moving portrayal of the sufferings of Iran's Baha'is and Mrs. Sabet's fellow prisoners in Iran's notorious Evin and Raja'i Shahr prisons.
For Mr. Thoresen, the intensity of the poetry was such that he did not want to put the words themselves to music, but rather to create a ""sound scenography"" around the poems. ""I didn't want to have the texts sung,"" he explained. ""They are too naked, too pared down. They are so authentic that I didn't want to embellish them.""
The resulting piece creates a striking audio backdrop for selected poems which are read by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani, a renowned author living in France, who adapted Mrs. Sabet's poems into English. It also features an intricate solo flute melody representing the emotional content of the material, as well as recordings of prayers being chanted by Mrs. Kamalabadi, to whom many of Mrs. Sabet's poems are dedicated.
Roxana Saberi's recollections of the kindness shown to her by these two imprisoned members of the Yaran—Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi—illustrate the compassion and love infusing Mrs. Sabet's poetry, compassion that extends to her fellow inmates and even her captors.
In one of her poems, she writes:
The shriek of birds at dawn confirmsthat it's long since nightingales sang in this garden.But though we say nothing, our silence affirmsThat we weep for the violets hidden among these thorns.
I have written a message on a nasturtium leafand hung it on my door, like a charm.It says: 'There's a warm heart waiting here,and a mother's open arms.'
Mr. Thoresen's piece premiered at the Oslo International Church Music Festival in March 2017. The concert also coincided with the release of a Norwegian translation of Prison Poems. Both the concert and the publication received widespread national and regional media coverage, including three major newspapers and two radio programs in Norway.
(Editor’s note: On 18 April 2017, a change was made to paragraph 8 to accurately reflect the current prison sentence of the former members of the Yaran, which is set at 10 years.)
(Update, 26 November 2017: A high-quality recording of Prison Poems is now available online.)",OSLO,,Norway
1163,2017-04-21,"[1200, 651, 1036, 1118]",Ominous wave of Yemen arrests raises alarm,"BIC NEW YORK, United States — Orders for the arrest of at least 25 Baha'is have been issued by certain authorities in Sana'a who are harassing the Yemeni Baha'is and pressuring them to recant their faith.
The baseless and nonsensical accusations levelled against the Baha'is include showing kindness and displaying rectitude of conduct in order to attract people to their Faith. These accusations bear a striking resemblance to those encountered by the Baha'is in Iran, and in fact, reports indicate the influence of Iranian authorities behind incidents transpiring in Yemen.
Recent events constitute disturbing developments in a series of assaults heaped upon the Yemeni Baha'i community. These include the 2013 arrest and ongoing court case of Mr. Hamed bin Haydara, as well as the mass arrest of over 60 participants, half of whom were Baha'is, at an educational gathering in 2016. Mr. Kaiwan Qaderi, who was among those arrested, has been in prison for over eight months. Also, just weeks ago, an employee of the Red Cross who is a Baha'i was arrested on 5 April in Sana'a simply because of his faith.
""We call upon the international community to unitedly denounce these alarming and ominous actions undertaken by specific authorities in Yemen, including the National Security and the Prosecutor's Office and demand that they stop this recent wave of arrests and release the Baha'is in prison, who are in grave danger,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Let us not,"" was her strong plea, ""stand by and allow a case of tyranny and injustice against a religious community to unfold.""  Mr. Badi'u'llah Sana'i, a prominent civil engineer in Sana'a Yemen, recently arrested for being a Baha'i.Immediately preceding the call for their arrest, on Monday 17 April, dozens of Baha'is received telephone calls between 10:30 p.m. and midnight and were told that they should appear in court the following morning. Aware of recent efforts to persecute the Baha'is and given that no official court order had been presented to them, the Baha'is agreed to send several lawyers in their stead.
However, one Baha'i, Mr. Badi'u'llah Sana'i, a prominent civil engineer in Yemen followed the advice given to him at his workplace and appeared at court on 18 April. He was immediately arrested, confirming the suspicion that the request for Baha'is to appear at court was a ploy for their arrest.
On 19 April, two additional Baha'is, including Mr. Walid Ayyash, a member of a prominent Yemeni tribe, were arrested by authorities as they were driving from the city of Ibb on route to Hudaydah. Their whereabouts are presently unknown and concerns are mounting as to their safety.
Many Baha'i families in Sana'a had to leave their homes in order to avoid being unjustly detained, including Mr. Haydara's wife, who has been fighting for his release for over three years while caring for their three daughters and is now herself on the list of those to be arrested.
During a turbulent period of civil conflict in Yemen in recent years, the members of the Baha'i community there have refused to side with one group or another and have instead endeavored to serve all people, placing particular emphasis on a youthful generation eager to dedicate its energies to the regeneration of their society.
Many Yemeni leaders from various factions have already expressed sympathy with the Baha'i community. Even amongst the Houthi authorities in Sana'a within whose jurisdiction these persecutions are taking place, some key figures, including a minister, have expressed dissatisfaction with the continuous persecution of the Baha'is, and some have even condemned these recent attacks through social media.
""We are confident in the support of many more fair-minded people of Yemen of whatever group or strata, who surely agree that the Baha'i community should be permitted to live alongside others and contribute to the betterment of their society, especially during such a difficult time for their country,"" said Ms. Dugal.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1164,2017-04-24,"[1146, 1063, 1059]",Oneness and equality inspire enthroned chief,"NIKKI, Benin —  In the West African country of Benin, a chief of the Fula people is focusing on the unity of the diverse populations of his land.
The Fula are widely dispersed across North Africa. They are regarded as the largest nomadic pastoral community in the world—although in more recent times many have settled and now work as farmers, merchants, and artisans, among other occupations. A predominantly Muslim community, it was the Fula people who spread Islam across West Africa, and traditionally, Fula chiefs have been Muslim.
For the first time, this position of moral and customary authority for the approximately 100,000 Fulani living in the area is held by a Baha’i. High Chief Djaouga Abdoulaye, a 76-year-old retired school teacher, was enthroned in July of last year. He became a Baha’i in the 1980s when the Faith initially came to Benin.
This change in leadership signaled a new precedent, which was at first met with reservations by certain members of society. However, High Chief Djaouga’s example, and in particular his commitment to unity and oneness, have contributed to harmonious ties between local clergy and tribal leaders in the region.
His enthronement ceremony was a vibrant and joyful gathering that attracted 5,000 people and reflected the principle of unity in diversity. The event was also broadcast on national radio and television.  Members of the community outside the palace of High Chief Djaouga Abdoulaye, also referred to as Junwuro Makayra“The size of this ceremony was without precedent,” said Saadou Saidou, who attended the event. “The fact that Junwuro (High Chief Djaouga) is an intellectual and, above all, that he has the qualities he has, means that we, his subjects, know that great things will be done during his reign.”
Speaking about the influence of the Baha’i Teachings in his life, High Chief Djaouga said that the principles of the oneness of humanity and the equality of men and women, guided by a high moral standard, have inspired his understanding of leadership.
“Since I became a Baha’i, I have begun to understand the standard of excellence put forth in the Baha’i Writings,” he said.
His commitment to justice and hope for strengthening unity comes through in his decisions. The High Chief’s court has emerged as a place his subjects can turn to for the resolution of conflicts, where the wealthy will not receive special favors, where bribery has no place, and where one’s social position will not influence the decision.
When asked about his goals and hopes for his community, High Chief Djaouga stated that he wishes to help his traditionally nomadic people find a solution to the difficulties caused by being considered stateless and therefore unable to obtain proper identity papers. Above all, he hopes to foster unity among the Fula people.",NIKKI,,Benin
1165,2017-04-30,"[1122, 1151, 1111]","Peace-building requires new capacities, empowerment","BRUSSELS, Belgium — Building and sustaining peace in societies that are undergoing violent conflict remains a formidable challenge before humanity. In recent years, a growing number of governments and non-governmental organizations interested in advancing peace-building efforts in conflict-afflicted societies have focused on the relationship between resilience of local populations and the capacity for a successful transition to peace.
Recently in the context of the Global Strategy of the European Union on Foreign and Security Policy, a call for contributions on the theme of resilience was issued. In response, the Brussels Office of the Baha'i International Community (BIC) submitted a statement titled ""Peace and Resilience: Engaging Effectively at the Local Level.""
The statement addresses the importance of appreciating and drawing on local capacities within a population: ""One of the defining characteristics that has emerged in the conversation on resilience is the attempt to look for existing sources of strength and capacity at the local level within conflict-affected societies and seek to build on these as a vehicle for lasting transformation.""
""While insights and resources from international actors are essential, a strength-based framework will recognize that peace is not transposed from outside, but must be driven by constructive sources within,"" the statement continues.
Drawing on the points above, the BIC argues that local communities should be seen as the drivers of their own peace-building efforts, from the conception of a process through its implementation and follow through. While it states that peace cannot be imposed on any group from the outside, the document also acknowledges the critical role of international interventions in empowering societies facing conflict. According to the BIC, what is important in these interventions is the attitude:The particular posture adopted is instrumental in creating a climate in which local skills, knowledge and capacities can develop and find full expression. A truly participatory form of engagement allows peace-building processes to draw on the understanding of those who have insights into their immediate social reality, appreciate cultural dynamics and concerns, are able to identify and navigate existing local networks, and can discern needs and opportunities.—Baha'i International CommunityThe BIC's contribution comes at a time when Baha'is worldwide are gaining new insights about the development of vibrant and harmonious communities. At the heart of their efforts is the conviction that local populations should and can support their own material and spiritual advancement.
""The experience of the Baha'i community, while modest, is yielding some very important insights,"" comments Rachel Bayani, representative of the BIC. ""We are finding that to create the societal conditions as well as the individual and collective commitment to peace-building requires the cultivation of spiritual capacities,"" she continues. ""For instance, it is critical that we learn how to build the capacity to forgive others after being profoundly wronged or to sacrifice short-term gains that may only profit a few for the benefit of the whole, including taking actions for the prosperity of generations to come.
""Ultimately, the goal of peace-building should be to address the underlying conditions that caused the conflict in the first place. For this to happen, the different segments of society have to learn to see that they are interdependent—that they are not inherently in conflict with each other. They need to see their diversity as an opportunity, rather than as a threat.""",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1166,2017-05-07,"[1106, 990, 1148]",Festival of Ridvan celebrated around the world,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE —   For 12 days at the end of April and beginning of May, Baha'i communities around the world celebrated their most holy festival: Ridvan.
This annual festival marks the anniversary of the days Baha'u'llah spent along the River Tigris in Baghdad.
In 1863, Baha'u'llah stayed in a garden on the banks of the Tigris River for 12 days, during which His many admirers in the city came to bid Him farewell. Baha'u'llah announced to the friends gathered with Him during those days that He was God's Messenger for a new age, foretold in the world's scriptures. He called the garden they were gathered in ""Ridvan,"" meaning ""paradise.""
The Ridvan period was also a time when Baha'u'llah proclaimed the foundational spiritual principles that lie at the heart of His teachings—signaling the arrival of a new stage in the evolution of the life of humanity, characterized by peace and an end to violence.
Today, the festival of Ridvan is the most joyous of Baha'i holy days. In villages, towns, and cities around the world, Baha'i communities celebrate these special days with gatherings open to all.  A Ridvan celebration in Manurewa, New ZealandIn thousands of localities around the globe on the first day of Ridvan, Baha'is also vote for their local governing councils. And throughout the 12-day festival of Ridvan, national conventions are held in some 180 countries and territories, during which delegates gather to vote for their National Spiritual Assembly, a nine-member council responsible for guiding, coordinating, and stimulating the activities of the Baha'is in its jurisdiction. Baha'i elections are distinct for their lack of nomination and campaigning. This year, national elections took place over two weekends: 22-23 April and 29-30 April.
Every year on the first day of Ridvan, the Universal House of Justice addresses a message to the Baha'is of the World. This year's message calls attention to the reality that ""humanity's ultimate well-being is dependent upon its differences being transcended and its unity firmly established.""
""Every contribution Baha'is make to the life of their society,"" it states, ""is aimed at fostering unity; every community-building endeavour is directed towards the same end.""",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1167,2017-05-12,"[1107, 1053, 999]",Global campaign launches for imprisoned Baha'i leaders,"NEW YORK —   The Baha'i International Community is launching a global campaign calling for the immediate release of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders, unjustly imprisoned now for nine years.
The campaign, which takes the theme “Not Another Year,” raises awareness about the seven women and men unjustly arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for their religious beliefs. This sentence was reduced to 10 years in 2015 after the overdue application of a new Iranian Penal Code.
""Our expectation is that these seven brave individuals will be released in the coming year as they complete their sentences,"" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""But the reality is that they never should have even been arrested or imprisoned in the first place and that, under the terms of Iranian law, they should long ago have been released on conditional discharge.
""In fact these seven, their families, and, indeed, the entire Iranian Baha'i community are all subject to injustice and cruelty, to oppression and tyranny. They all face unjust policies of economic strangulation, the unabated denial of access to higher education, and unprosecuted and malicious attacks on Baha'is and their properties, not to mention extensive negative propaganda in the official media,"" she said.
In a message addressed to the Baha'is of Iran on the occasion of the anniversary of the imprisonment of the seven, the Universal House of Justice states:
""Some of the events of the past year have left no doubt in the minds of the people of Iran and beyond, that the rigid fanaticism and worldly considerations of some among the religious leaders are the real motive for all the opposition and oppression against the Baha'is.""
It further states: ""the representatives of the country on the international stage are no longer able to deny that these acts of discrimination are in response to matters of belief and conscience. Officials, lacking any convincing explanation for their irrational conduct and unconcerned at the damage done by their narrow policies to the name and credibility of the country, find themselves unable even to give a plausible answer to why they are so apprehensive about the existence of a dynamic Baha'i community in that land.""
The campaign for the seven imprisoned Baha'is, which begins today, aims to secure the immediate release of the seven, who are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm, the eldest of whom is over eighty years in age.  The seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Tehran in 2008 are pictured with their spouses prior to their arrests.Similar to campaigns from previous years, it commemorates the anniversary of the arrest of six of the seven on 14 May 2008. It will be supported by videos, songs, and activities designed to call attention to their plight.
The campaign this year also focuses on all the events they have missed during their nine years in prison, the joys—and sorrows—of day-to-day life with their families and loved ones.
""All seven were married with children and, prior to their arrests, had rich family lives,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""All seven were also extremely active in working for the betterment of their community—not to mention Iranian society as a whole.
""Further, their long-running imprisonment has meant, among other things, that they have missed out on the birth of numerous grandchildren, the joyous weddings of children and close relatives, and the funerals of family members and dear friends.
""They have been forced to celebrate their national and religious holidays in prison, instead of in the company of their loved ones. And, while in prison, they have been unable to tend to their farms and businesses, which have languished or, in at least one case, been destroyed by the government,"" she said.
The Baha'i International Community calls on the Iranian government to immediately release them, as well as the other 86 Baha'is currently behind bars in Iran—all held solely for their religious beliefs.
More background about the campaign can be found at a special section of the website of the Baha'i International Community.",NEW YORK,,United States
1168,2017-05-14,"[1153, 1109, 1047]",Video shows development of Colombia Temple,"AGUA AZUL, Colombia — In Norte del Cauca, a steady stream of developments continues to unfold as the community prepares for the completion of a local Baha'i House of Worship.
Although this area of the country has experienced decades of rich developments in the spiritual and material advancement of its people, the announcement in 2012 of plans to construct a House of Worship there have inspired surrounding communities to reach new heights of service, enrich the devotional aspects of community life, and strengthen the bonds of fellowship and unity.
Just released, new video footage highlights recent progress in the construction process, which began in January 2017.  Progress is well under way on the Temple in Agua Azul, in the Norte del Cauca area of Colombia. It is anticipated that the House of Worship will be completed in early 2018.Foundational work for the surrounding auxiliary structures has also been initiated. In time, these buildings will be painted in the bright colors traditional to buildings of the region.
Norte del Cauca is one of five localities designated by the Universal House of Justice in 2012 to have a local Baha'i House of Worship. The Temple is expected to be completed in early 2018.",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1169,2017-05-17,"[1163, 1118, 1036]",Tribal leaders stand in solidarity with Yemeni Baha'is,"SANA'A, Yemen — Hundreds of Yemenis—led by tribal leaders and human rights activists—gathered on Monday morning, 15 May 2017, to denounce the recent call for the arrests of several Yemeni Baha'is and to demand their immediate release.
Currently, five Baha'is, including tribal leader Walid Ayyash, remain in prison or detention under the direction of authorities in Sana'a. The detainees have not been allowed to receive visitors. Many more Baha'is are under the threat of being arrested.
""There are clear indications from reports within the country that certain authorities there have been instructed from Iran to carry out these unjust actions and have no other motive but to persecute the Baha'i community,"" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
""Not surprisingly, such interference from another country is arousing solidarity among the Yemeni people on an unprecedented scale in defense of the Baha'is, who are their friends, brothers, sisters, neighbors, and fellow tribespeople. It has also led to far greater awareness of the Baha'i Faith among the people of Yemen. And of course history shows that if you persecute the innocent, their cause will only spread.""
Leading the campaign against Baha'is in Yemen has been a member of the Prosecution Office in Sana'a, Rajeh Zayed. Reports indicate that, during the peaceful demonstrations on Monday morning, Mr. Zayed threatened the crowd with a weapon and attempted to incite violence against those present.
Despite shots being fired by security forces, the crowd remained peaceful, and fortunately no one was hurt.
""These Yemeni tribespeople and activists have courageously shown their support for the Baha'is, despite themselves becoming targets of attack,"" said Ms. Dugal. ""Their expression of solidarity, especially during such a difficult time for their country, is sincerely appreciated by the Baha'i International Community.""
""Indeed,"" Ms. Dugal added, ""their actions testify to the principle of the oneness of humankind and show that we are closely tied together so that the pain and joy of one becomes the pain and joy of another. We ardently hope and pray that the senseless persecution of the Baha'is in Yemen comes to an end and energies can be directed instead towards loftier aims such as an end to the violence ravaging the country and the eradication of disease and malnutrition now afflicting major segments of the population across that land.""
(Editor's Note: A change was made to paragraphs 5 and 6 on 18 May 2017 to reflect new reports that indicate shots had been fired by security forces.)",SANA’A,,Yemen
1170,2017-05-16,"[1162, 1117, 1075]","'Luminous, abstract beauty': Artist's impact revisited","VENICE, Italy — As thousands of art lovers from all around the world flock to Venice over the coming months for its famous Biennale exhibition, one of the city's major museums is hoping to re-establish an American painter as a significant figure in the development of modern art.
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, situated on the south bank of Venice's Grand Canal, is honoring Mark Tobey (1890-1976), who became a member of the Baha'i Faith in 1918. Born in Wisconsin, Tobey was one of the twentieth century's most cosmopolitan of artists. An inveterate traveler-he eventually settled in Switzerland‒Tobey was always better known in Europe than in his homeland, his importance overshadowed by his younger American counterparts from the 'Abstract Expressionist' school, notably Jackson Pollock, whose large scale canvases of poured and dripped paint revolutionized art in the 1950s.
Yet, as this exhibition demonstrates, it is timely to re-evaluate Tobey's influence on the development of so-called 'all-over abstraction'. Curator Debra Bricker Balken has spent ten years bringing some 70 works together, from 40 different collections, and is captivated by Tobey's painting. “I continue to be sustained just by the astonishing beauty of this work,"" said Ms. Bricker Balken. ""Tobey's 'white writing' is luminous, it is metaphysical and is also elegiac... It draws on his own interior life in a way that we don't see with many of the artists with whom he is grouped.""
Tobey, whose mature 'white writing' works are made up of pulsing webs of lines inspired by oriental calligraphy, explicitly acknowledged the direct influence of the Baha'i Faith on his painting. William Seitz, curator of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in the 1960s, wrote that Tobey ""made line the symbol of spiritual illumination, human communication and migration, natural form and process, and movement between levels of consciousness.""
""He has often stated,"" explained Seitz, ""that there can be no break between nature, art, science, religion, and personal life... Few religions have given the concept of oneness such pointed emphasis, and few modern artists have dealt with it as explicitly as has Tobey.""  Mark Tobey
Linee della citta(Lines of the City), 1945
Tempera su carta
45.4 x 55.25 cm
Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA, Lascito Edward Wales Root, 1957.36High distinctions
Towards the end of his life, Tobey was the recipient of some of the highest distinctions that the European art scene of his time could bestow. He won the gold medal at the Venice Biennale in 1958‒the first American painter to do so since 1895. In 1961, a major retrospective of his work was held at the Louvre in Paris, an unprecedented achievement for a living and American artist.
But while Pollock and his New York-based contemporaries have long been given a prominent place in the history books, Tobey's influence on, and contribution to, the radical development in American abstract painting mid-century has been under-recognized.
It is perhaps partly because of the small scale, the range, and the spirituality and delicacy of Tobey's works‒as well as his particularly personal approach, outside of any movement or 'school'‒that resulted in his being almost completely sidelined from the story of modern art. Yet his influence on other painters is known to have been significant.
With paintings spanning the 1920s through to 1970, the Guggenheim exhibition surveys the breadth of Tobey's work and reveals its extraordinarily nuanced yet radical beauty. A restless experimenter, Tobey was never satisfied with just one approach to picture making, saying, ""At a time when experimentation expresses itself in all forms of life, search becomes the only valid expression of the spirit.""
Art as worship
In the Baha'i Faith, art is regarded as worship. ""The more thou strivest to perfect it, the closer wilt thou come to God,"" wrote 'Abdu'l-Baha to the American portrait painter Juliet Thompson, who first introduced Mark Tobey to the Baha'i Faith. ""That is to say, when thy fingers grasp the paintbrush, it is as if thou wert at prayer in the temple.""
Debra Bricker Balken believes that the Baha'i teachings clearly impacted Tobey's work.
""I think that it is one of the features of his subject matter,"" she said. ""His pictorial inventions and experimentations are linked with his deep faith actually, elaborating on his inner or spiritual life.""
Being a Baha'i gave Tobey's work its spiritual context and content as well as the freedom to find his own pictorial language to express it. Principles, such as the independent investigation of truth, are reflected in the evolutionary development of his paintings on display at the Guggenheim, and through the explicitly spiritual concepts he sought to express. His acceptance of the Baha'i Teachings challenged him to see oneness as the fundamental principle governing human interactions and social evolution in a new era of material progress and spiritual awakening. He described his paintings as a ""kind of self-contained contemplation.""
""One is surrounded by the scientific, naturally one reflects it,"" he said, ""but one needs the religious side. One might say the scientific aspect interests the mind, the religious side frees the heart.""  Mark Tobey
Mondo(World), 1959
Tempera su cartone
diametro 29.8 cm
Collezione privata, New York'Breathtaking' response
The subtlety and spirituality of Tobey's paintings is already impressing the first visitors to have viewed the Venice exhibition.
""It's been very interesting to me to see the reactions of various figures who have seen this installation over the past few days,"" said Ms. Bricker Balken. ""Everybody is just taken by the breathtaking, astonishing, luminous abstract beauty of these canvases. They are a surprise.""
When the exhibition travels to the Addison Gallery of American Art in Andover, Massachusetts, later in the year, it will be the first time in four decades that there has been a Tobey retrospective in the United States.
""The notion of melding Eastern and Western traditions was very important and in the United States in the 1940s, it was perhaps not the most popular thing to do,"" said Judith Dolkart, the Addison's director, ""but his embrace of a kind of universalism and also the notion that one could draw from more than one tradition was quite radical and important.""
'Immense diversity'
Guggenheim director Philip Rylands also believes Tobey's work is a combination of his spiritual orientation and his particular experience of twentieth century life.
""When you see a retrospective monographic show like this, you get the hang of it,"" said Dr. Rylands. ""The man's travails, his ups, his downs, his influences, when he stalled, when he was prolific, how the work changes, the figurative origins of his abstraction‒all those things come through and you get a sense of immense diversity and a richness of creativity.""
With the inclusion of two of Tobey's paintings in last year's hugely successful Abstract Expressionism show at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, and now with this ambitious exhibition in Venice, Debra Bricker Balken thinks that Tobey's legacy is ripe for reappraisal.
""I hope so,"" she said. ""In fact it's more than a hope or aspiration, I believe so.""
Dr. Rylands agrees.
""I would like to think that all artists that are in the history books, who made wonderful art, will have their time again if they haven't got it already,"" he said. ""Tobey richly deserves it.""
A World in Crisis
In contemplating the significance of Tobey's contributions to the arts and more broadly to the advancement of thought, the principles that inspired him in his own time and found expression in his work are, perhaps more than ever before, relevant and needed today.
""The root of all religions, from the Baha'i point of view, is based on the theory that man will gradually come to understand the unity of the world and the oneness of mankind,"" wrote Tobey in 1934. ""It teaches that all the prophets are one... that science and religion are the two great powers which must be balanced if man is to become mature. I feel my work has been influenced by these beliefs. I've tried to decentralize and interpenetrate so that all parts of a painting are of related value... Mine are the Orient, the Occident, science, religion, cities, space, and writing a picture.""
Mark Tobey: Threading Light is at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, until 10 September 2017 and at the Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, 4 November 2017-11 March 2018.  Mark Tobey
Cammino della storia(Advance of history), 1964
Guazzo e acquerello su carta
62.2 x 50.1 cm
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice",VENICE,,Italy
1171,2017-05-24,"[1048, 1161, 1077]",Citizenship and Religion explored in Canada,"OTTAWA, Canada — As the people of Canada prepare to celebrate 150 years since the confederation of their country, there has been a wide-ranging national conversation about the past, present, and future of relations between its diverse citizens. One aspect of this discussion has been the changing role of religion and spirituality in society in the context of increasing religious and ethnic diversity and a resurgence of Indigenous culture and ways of life.
Over the last several years, the Baha'i community has spearheaded an initiative to bring together leading thinkers from all sectors of society to explore the place of religion in public life. A question before Canada's Baha'i Office of Public Affairs has been how to create a space for meaningful exploration, where a variety of insights can shed light on a topic and collective understanding can advance.
A series of conferences held since 2013 in Montreal, Vancouver, and this year in Ottawa have aimed to foster such an environment and have invited prominent voices in Canada's public discourse to examine religion's role in society.
In his opening remarks to this year’s conference in Ottawa from 8–9 May 2017, Geoffrey Cameron, representative of the Baha’i Community of Canada and chair of the program committee, said “This is a special conference that exists as a kind of ongoing conversation. It draws from Canada’s national interfaith networks, but it is not an interfaith conference in a conventional sense.”
He continued: ""What we want to do is help to frame an ongoing public conversation about the role of religion in Canadian society.""  Yasmin Ratansi (left), the first female Muslim Member of Parliament, sits with MPs John McKay (middle) and Garnett Genuis (right) at the conference in Ottawa on the role of religion in Canadian society.""One of the questions that for us has been at the heart of this conversation is how the growing diversity of our population can be a resource for acting together,"" noted Gerald Filson, Director of Public Affairs for the Baha'i Community of Canada and former Chair of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, which sponsored the event.
""As Canada has become more religiously diverse, there has been an expectation that the public sphere should be secular, that overtly religious perspectives should not have a place in public discourse. While the intention of that kind of secularism has historically been to ensure greater equality between religious groups in public life, many have expressed concern that it also constrains people from participating fully in the life of society,"" said Mr. Cameron.
Professor John Borrows, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law, observed in his keynote address to the conference, ""There is a danger of replacing one kind of (religious) exclusivity with another kind of secular exclusivity, which can trap us in a singular narrative and banish valuable vocabularies of compassion.""
""Ideas must be placed in comparison and contrast to others. When I recognize my own views are partial I am open to expand my understanding,"" he continued. ""As each wave of peoples joins our society, their stories need to be added to our stock of stories.""
Andrew Bennett, former Ambassador for Religious Freedom, added that so long as diverse religious and ethical views are advanced peacefully and in respect of human dignity, they have a place in our pluralistic society.
A key theme at the conference was about the role of spiritual concepts and language in the process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and the implications of that process for the role of spirituality in public life. ""Reconciliation is a spiritual conversation about our shared humanity and the kind of society we want to create for tomorrow,"" said Karen Joseph, CEO of the civil society group Reconciliation Canada. ""Reconciliation is a way of life. It is a spiritual covenant.""
A major contribution made by philosopher and writer John Ralston Saul in his keynote address was that the approach to integrating religious diversity in Canada does not have to be defined by the perspectives on secularism that emerged in the context of 18th century France. ""We have the opportunity to have a whole new conversation,"" he said. ""We have to ask where we are, why do we belong here, and what are our obligations to each other.""
""We can't move forward while talking within a tradition of thought that is designed to eliminate difference. I believe that a gathering around spirituality is a gathering that recognizes complexity,"" Mr. Saul continued.
The conference concluded with a panel discussion on Parliament Hill, bringing together Members of Parliament from three political parties, including Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party, and Yasmin Ratansi, Canada's first female Muslim MP.
""Our aim with the conference was to show that it is possible to enrich our national public discourse by including a variety of religious and secular voices in conversation with each other,"" reflected Mr. Cameron. ""Now we have to extend this discourse into other spaces, bringing the same commitment to mutual understanding and cooperation.""
The series of ""Our Whole Society"" conferences have engaged about 500 participants, and are sponsored by the members of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, including the Baha'i Community of Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Faith in Canada 150, and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.",OTTAWA,,Canada
1172,2017-06-01,"[1113, 918, 218]",Bicentenaries highlight unity,"CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — As the Baha'i community prepares to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the Harvard Divinity School is also commemorating its bicentenary.
This confluence of noteworthy anniversaries has more in common than the mere overlap of dates. In the late 19th and first half of the 20th centuries, a number of eminent American philosophers, artists, and writers connected to both the Baha'i Faith and Harvard University were engaged in a dynamic, emerging discourse on unity.
This was a subject of a recent presentation, which addressed how the Baha'i principle of unity expressed itself in the development of the American Baha'i community. The presentation took place at Harvard's Center for the Study of World Religions and was titled ""The Religion of Unity and the Unity of Religion."" It was given by Sasha Dehghani, a visiting scholar at Harvard, who is doing research on the Baha'i Faith as an independent world religion.
""When I first arrived at Harvard,"" said Dr. Dehghani, ""Prof. Francis Clooney, Director of the Center of the Study of World Religions, welcomed me by saying: 'We need religions today that create unity and tear down walls.'""
Addressing how the concepts of unity and the oneness of humankind shaped Baha'i endeavors in the early years of the American Baha'i community, Dehghani highlighted major milestones and discussed some of the significant thinkers of that time.
The earliest public mention of the Baha'i Faith in the United States was at the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, where the concept of the unity of religions was among the most remarkable topics explored.
The spirit that animated the World's Parliament that year inspired Sarah Farmer, the owner of the Green Acre Inn in Maine and one of America's early religious innovators, to offer conferences on progressive subjects in the sciences, arts, and religion. These gatherings brought together leading writers, educators, philosophers, artists, and activists and opened a space for ideas to be exchanged and for thought to advance.
In his book Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality, historian Leigh Eric Schmidt comments on the impact of Green Acre on public discourse in the early twentieth century: ""The Green Acre gatherings thrived for more than two decades; the World's Parliament lasted all of seventeen days.""  Sarah Farmer was one of America's early religious innovators. She owned the Green Acre Inn in Eliot, Maine, and offered conferences on progressive subjects in the sciences, arts, and religion. These gatherings brought together leading writers, educators, and philosophers. Farmer eventually became a Baha'i and travelled to Akka for pilgrimage at the turn of the century. When 'Abdu'l Baha visited America in 1912, he stayed at Green Acre. (Photo from the Eliot Baha'i Archives, published by 239days.com)Eventually, Sarah Farmer's work brought her into contact with the Baha'i Faith, and she traveled to Akka at the turn of the century to meet 'Abdu'l-Baha, who later visited Green Acre during His journey to America in 1912. Many of 'Abdu'l-Baha's talks in the United States over the course of that year focused on the unity of religions and unity among the races, particularly between black and white Americans.
During the early twentieth century, a number of America's religious thinkers were in touch with Farmer or visited Green Acre and participated in the dynamic exchange of ideas that took place there. Among them were the Harvard scholars William James and W.E.B. Du Bois, two of the most prominent and influential American writers and philosophers of the time.  William James, in turn, invited Ali Kuli Khan, an Iranian diplomat and prominent member of the Baha'i community, to give presentations on the Baha'i Faith at Harvard University.
Du Bois, who had been a student of James, received his doctorate from Harvard and was the first African American to do so, graduating in 1895. His work as the founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) brought him into contact with 'Abdu'l-Baha, who gave a speech at its fourth conference in 1912. Du Bois, as pointed out by Guy Mount in his research, later published the speech in the official magazine of the NAACP, along with a photograph of 'Abdu'l-Baha.
A contemporary and close colleague of Du Bois, Alain Locke was also among the most eminent thinkers of the time. Locke was the first African American Rhodes Scholar, and he is often remembered as the ""Dean"" of the Harlem Renaissance. In a biography on Locke, Christopher Buck suggested that Du Bois may have been the one who introduced Locke to the Baha'i Faith. He received his PhD from Harvard in 1918, the same year he became a Baha'i. Du Bois and Locke's profound contributions to philosophy were recognized widely—the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. compared their influence to that of Plato and Aristotle.
The early American Baha'i community also included Albert Vail and Stanwood Cobb, graduates of the Harvard Divinity School and prior Unitarian ministers. Vail published an impressive article on the Baha'i Faith emphasizing its principle of unity in the Harvard Theological Review in 1914.
While the Harvard University and Green Acre represented significant meeting points for leading writers and philosophers of the time, Dehghani's lecture also noted that the influence of the emerging discourse on unity reached other prominent thinkers in the northeastern United States.
The Lebanese-American artist, poet, and writer Kahlil Gibran lived in Boston in the early twentieth century. Best known for his work The Prophet, Gibran's writings explored the unity of humankind and of religion. Gibran was introduced to 'Abdu'l-Baha through Juliet Thompson, a Baha'i and fellow artist, and in the spring of 1912, he had an opportunity to sketch a portrait of 'Abdu'l-Baha and attended several of 'Abdu'l-Baha's talks.
The pursuit of unity within the American Baha'i community expressed itself in the creation of devotional spaces open to all. In 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha laid the cornerstone of the first Baha'i House of Worship in the Western hemisphere, which was dedicated in Chicago in 1953 and remains today a potent symbol of the unity of all people and religions.
Dehghani noted that it was fortuitous that this bicentenary period allowed for an opportunity to reexamine such a critical issue—the unity of the human race. In reflecting on this moment, he commented that it is timely to consider the place of the Baha'i Faith among the world religions and the implications of the principle of the oneness of humankind, as set down by Baha'u'llah, at this moment in history.",CAMBRIDGE,MASSACHUSETTS,United States
1173,2017-06-04,"[1041, 1039, 1038]","Murals as symbols of solidarity, resilience","NEW YORK —  Marthalicia Matarrita is a Latina artist from New York City. Although her life is a world away from Iran, Ms. Matarrita’s artwork connected her with Education is Not a Crime, a street art campaign to raise awareness of the denial of education to Baha’i students in Iran.
It is a formally instituted state policy of the Iranian government to ban the Baha’is, Iran’s largest religious minority, from teaching and studying in universities. Matarrita was born and raised in Harlem, a historic New York City neighborhood known as a center of African-American and Hispanic life and culture. Because of her own experience struggling with institutionalized injustice as she was pursuing an education in the city, Ms. Matarrita forged a personal connection with the stories of the Baha’i students for whom she painted a mural on a public school in Harlem.
Her mural—a child and a flower symbolizing the seed that education plants—is just one of many across Harlem and around the world calling for equality through art as part of the Education is Not a Crime campaign.
The story of the unusual street art campaign and the history of the human rights issue behind it are captured in the new documentary Changing the World, One Wall at a Time.
Education is Not a Crime
Education is Not a Crime was started by the Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Maziar Bahari in 2014. Mr. Bahari is not a Baha’i himself, but he has worked to expose the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran for several years, notably beginning with the release of his documentary To Light a Candle in 2014.
Mr. Bahari’s background and work over the years connected him to the plight of the Iranian Baha’i community. In 2009, he was arrested under the charge of being a spy and imprisoned for four months. His prison experience was profoundly transformational, and upon his release he began to dedicate his life’s work to the improvement of human rights conditions in Iran.
Many human rights activists, including Mr. Bahari, see the Baha’is in Iran as a barometer issue, meaning that if Baha’is are being mistreated, their civil liberties disrespected, and their human rights denied, it’s an indication that the government of Iran is not sincere in its claim to respect the human rights of any groups.
Mr. Bahari’s work, both with the Education is Not a Crime campaign and To Light a Candle, draws attention to the distinctive response of the Iranian Baha’i community to oppression through the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), an informal university program that is implemented in living rooms and through online courses. Over the last thirty years, BIHE has assisted thousands of Baha’i youth to complete their education in a number of fields. Many students have continued onto their masters and doctorate programs at well-known universities around the world which have accepted its graduates for further studies.  The mural “To Blossom” by artist Tatyana Fazalizadeh is located at PS92 in Harlem. It is a part of the Education is Not a Crime campaign, which raises awareness about the denial of education to Iranian Baha’i.Raising consciousness through street art
Denial of education in Iran is a human rights issue. Street art may not be the most obvious choice for raising awareness about such a topic, but its uncommon nature is one of the reasons why the campaign has been so successful, said Saleem Vaillancourt, the coordinator of Education is Not a Crime.
“Essentially, as far as human rights in Iran are concerned, the automatic audience is probably already saturated. Everybody who is going to know about it knows about it,” said Mr. Vaillancourt. “So it’s about finding people who don't know about the denial of education to Baha’is in Iran, but who care because they care about education, or religious freedom, or things like the arts, or they care because they connect with the issue on a personal level.”
The campaign, while global in reach, had a particular focus in Harlem because of the community’s response to the message about access to education. Initially, this response surprised the campaign, said Mr. Vaillancourt.
“We would go into the neighborhood and say, ‘We’re painting these murals because there’s this group of people in a country far away and something you’ve never heard about is happening to them.’ And it was honestly a very convoluted attempt to explain what we were doing and why we were doing it. But in Harlem, people understood very quickly. They would say, ‘Yes, education is important, and people in our community have been denied it too,’” said Mr. Vaillancourt.
This response to the campaign was not limited to Harlem—around the world, Education is Not a Crime has touched very diverse populations. In South Africa, the murals painted in Cape Town and Johannesburg created a parallel between the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran and apartheid. The mural painted in New Delhi, India, evoked the long-ingrained caste system, illustrating education as the way to move beyond prejudice.
“Street art acts as a social equalizer in a country such as India with huge economic disparities,” said Harsh Raman, the artist of the mural in New Delhi. “You can be rich or poor, but everyone can enjoy public art and is free to have their own interpretation of it. It’s art for everyone but can be owned by no one.”
The film: Changing the World, One Wall at a Time
The team working with Education is Not a Crime combined the analog format of murals with the digital nature of sharing videos and pictures of the campaign online to create a dynamic message that reached people all around the world. Changing the World, One Wall at a Time evolved from the shorter videos that were posted and shared from the early days of the campaign.
The worldwide nature of the campaign is reflected in the film, featuring interviews with the artists involved, as well as members of communities around the world reacting to the art on the walls of their buildings.
“The film was this amazing opportunity to tell the story of these artists and their innovative, artistic responses to the issue. It was an opportunity to put, for example, an Iranian Baha’i and an American Latina woman together to share their commonalities and understand the different ways they overcame the problems in their lives,” said Mr. Vaillancourt. “It was just an extraordinary bringing together of pieces.”
The Changing the World, One Wall at a Time world premiere was in Harlem on 5 May 2017. It will premiere in Los Angeles this Monday, 5 June at Raleigh Studios (details and tickets are available online). Information on other screenings can be found on the Education is Not a Crime website. The release of the documentary online is anticipated in several months.",NEW YORK,,United States
1174,2017-06-13,"[1162, 1117, 1170]",Video seeks to bring sacred words to masses,"MELBOURNE, Australia — Released last Friday, a new music video features Australian popular singer and performer Nathaniel Willemse singing a prayer by Baha’u’llah.
The song, titled “Power Over All Things,” was composed this year in honor of the two hundred year anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, which is being commemorated in October. Inspired by the hopeful vision in the Baha’i writings, the song is one of countless musical expressions unfolding across the planet in this momentous year, ranging from grassroots initiatives to national and international projects undertaken by professional artists.
Nathaniel, who is familiar with the Baha’i teachings, is originally from South Africa but rose to success as a pop singer in Australia. He chose this project because he felt connected to the beauty of the words in the prayer and the relevance of its message for the world today.  Pop musician Nathaniel Willemse (credit: Eva Rinaldi), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nathaniel_Willemse_2014.jpg“I feel that this is a very powerful prayer for aid and assistance,"" he said, ""and in this much sensitive time around the world we really need more of these powerful words available.”
The song was composed by musical producer and songwriter Anise K., whose belief in the power of music to touch the human heart and to inspire has been largely influenced by the Baha’i Faith.
As the idea for the video was forming, Anise K. explained that he and Nathaniel consulted about capturing the right tone. In developing the concept, Anise K. wanted it to be filmed in nature, evoking Baha’u’llah’s love for nature and His retreat into the wilderness for two years of His life.
Regarding the selection of the lyrics for the song, a prayer was selected which was revealed by Baha’u’llah in a tablet to Queen Victoria in 1868: ""O my God! I ask Thee, by Thy most glorious Name, to aid me in that which will cause the affairs of Thy servants to prosper, and Thy cities to flourish. Thou, indeed, hast power over all things!""
In that well-known message, Baha’u’llah emphasized the unity of the human race and praised Queen Victoria for abolishing slavery and for entrusting to representatives of the people the powers of government.
Reflecting on the project and its aspirations, Nathaniel explained: “I hope that this will be a prayer that will uplift people and bring them together.”",MELBOURNE,,Australia
1175,2017-06-18,"[1062, 1020, 229]",Design of Vanuatu Temple unveiled,"TANNA, Vanuatu — In a momentous development for the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, the design for the local Baha’i House of Worship was unveiled today.
The design is captivating in its simple yet striking form, inspired by the coconut and banyan trees of the island and the natural forms of the landscape.
“This structure will be the embodiment of serenity and represent the archipelago’s history and culture,” said Ashkan Mostaghim, the Temple’s architect.
Double-sided roofs made of reeds and sugar-cane leaves rise to a central point, making the Temple appear as a nine-pointed star. The walls of the House of Worship are designed to be created using stakes and plaited reeds, drawing on local architecture of the region.
“The interior space is defined by light,” said Mr. Mostaghim. Throughout the day, light will stream through the open screens and delicate glass oculus. The Temple has space for 300 visitors and a choir to be present—both for community devotions and private meditation and prayer in a space of serenity.  An interior view of the Temple, which will seat 300 people.A jubilant celebration in Tanna on 18 June 2017 marked the unveiling of the Temple’s design. The program included readings from different sacred texts, signifying that the Temple is open to all.
The House of Worship will enhance the vibrant community life on Tanna. A sense of collective ownership of the Temple, even before its design had been unveiled, was already present in the consciousness of the island’s inhabitants. In the early stages of the design process, numerous people from the island, including chiefs and other tribal leaders, submitted ideas for the structure of the central edifice and gathered for meetings to discuss its purpose and implications for their society.
“The design of the House of Worship in Tanna has been inspired by the Baha’i writings, and we have endeavored to portray its principles in the structure,” said the architect. The Temple will uniquely symbolize the unity of all people and the integral connection of worship of God and service to humanity.",TANNA,,Vanuatu
1176,2017-06-21,"[1175, 1020, 1128]",Unveiling galvanizes island,"TANNA, Vanuatu —  Over a thousand people gathered Sunday, 18 June, for the unveiling of the design for the local Baha'i House of Worship in Tanna in the island nation of Vanuatu, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.
Hailing from Tanna, neighboring islands, and further afield, participants included government dignitaries, tribal chiefs, and representatives from various religious groups including Yapinap, an indigenous belief system.
During his remarks at the gathering, President of Nikoletan Tanna Island Council of Chiefs, Chief Freeman Nariu Sawaram, emphasized the importance of unity, sharing the analogy of the diverse organs of the human body working together for a common purpose. ""We are here today to launch a starting point in a journey by the Baha'i community,"" he said. ""We have to join hands, work together, and forgive one another. Then we can achieve whatever the whole body requires and build a better Tanna.""  Many of the island's inhabitants were dressed in Tannese traditional costumes to welcome the unveiling of the Temple design.""Unity is a strong powerful force for our nation that will change our society,"" said Chief Sawaram in an interview later. ""The answer to progress and true development is unity—without this we cannot advance forward. Our people must know this truth.""
The event was a collective celebration for the island. Its inhabitants have come to see the House of Worship as a sacred space that will belong to all of their people. Plans for the raising of the Temple have been a rallying point for unity with a palpable impact on the sense of comradery and oneness among the island's population.
""Our forefathers predicted that one day the people of the island would unite, work and live together, and consult with each other,"" said a prominent tribal leader, Chief Mikim Teinakou. ""I see the fulfillment of their vision in this Temple.""
The Chairman of the Yapinap Nasuman Asul Peoples Association spoke about the impact of planning for a Temple in Tanna: ""I praise the Baha'i community for this Temple, which will educate us to have respect for the sacred, to stop our disputes over land, and to bring respect and unity to our villages.""
Sunday's ceremony began with a devotional program that included writings from a number of major faiths and traditions, followed by singing and dancing, and then the unveiling of the Temple design.
Celebrations began in the morning and continued with much joy and excitement through the afternoon, punctuated by prayer, song, and dance.
""The unveiling of the design was amazing,"" said a youth from the nearby island of Efate. ""It captures the culture of the Tannese people—how humble they are, how beautiful, how respectful, and how happy.""
Another participant remarked, ""The unveiling ceremony brought so much joy to my heart that I am certain the transformation that the Temple will bring to our society will be great, so great.""",TANNA,,Vanuatu
1177,2017-06-27,"[1124, 1087, 1063]",African leaders tackle environmental goals,"LIBREVILLE, Gabon — When addressing issues of climate change, we need to adopt a holistic perspective, said the Baha’i International Community at a recent meeting on the environment that convened leaders in Africa.
“We have to look at the spiritual and material dimensions. How do we live with nature harmoniously?” asked Solomon Belay, Representative of the BIC Office in Addis Ababa. “We need a coherent view of environmental issues and a plan based on that.”
The meeting in Gabon from 10–11 June 2017 brought together around 45 representatives from United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the PanAfrican Climate Justice Alliance, African Union Commission, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), and the Pan-African Parliamentarian’s Network on Climate Change, among others.
The BIC has been engaged in a conversation with UNEP about the contribution faith-based organizations can make to the UN’s environmental goals, and this month’s meeting was an opportunity for African leaders to build consensus around environmental issues in preparation for the third meeting of the UN Environmental Assembly at the end of the year.
Participants at the seminar in Gabon discussed innovative environmental solutions that would accelerate the implementation of the UN’s sustainable development goals in Africa. While this meeting signals yet another advance in efforts to protect the environment, the conversation on the environment still remains relatively fragmented, said Dr. Belay.  The Regional Consultation meeting for Africa Major Groups and Stakeholders from 10-11 June 2017 in Libreville, Gabon. BIC Representative Solomon Belay is sitting 3rd from the left.“The spiritual dimension is almost completely missing,” he commented.
At the meeting, the BIC Office shared its statement, “Shared Vision, Shared Volition: Choosing Our Global Future Together,” which was originally prepared for COP21, the UN Conference on Climate Change, in December 2015.
“Our relationship with nature should be examined at all levels,” said Dr. Belay, drawing attention to portions of the statement that call to individuals, institutions in society, and the community as a whole to embrace responsibility for change.
“Establishing sustainable patterns of individual and collective life will require not only new technologies, but also a new consciousness in human beings, including a new conception of ourselves and our place in the world,” the statement reads.
Following June’s meeting in Gabon, there are plans to hold another gathering with a greater emphasis on the contribution of faith-based organizations to environmental issues.",LIBREVILLE,,Gabon
1178,2017-07-02,"[1134, 1077, 1035]",Forced migration calls for faith in action,"MADRID — In a stirring display of solidarity and good will, some 300 representatives of religious communities and civil society organizations gathered for a conference in Madrid on an issue of acute concern—forced migration. The event was held at the Iglesia de Jesus Church in Madrid on 20 June 2017, the International Day for Refugees.
A poignant presentation by Reuters photographer Juan Medina captured the urgency of the refugee issue in Europe through a collection of his photographs and a video documenting the journey of refugees into Europe.
“It’s important to show these images, however shocking, time and again—as many times as necessary,” said Mr. Medina. “Some say you can become desensitized by so many pictures of suffering, and they will have less of an effect. I think it’s important to tell their story, and remember the sufferings of those who had to leave their country.”
“These photos show the harsh reality of what it means to be an immigrant. There is a sharp contrast between the exhausted refugees that are swept in by the shore, struggling to remain alive and locals strolling along the beach.”  The gathering was enriched with artistic presentations, including a performance of indigenous music from Latin America.In 2015, the Spanish government pledged to the European Union to receive over 17,000 refugees. To date, 1,200 have arrived, prompting a growing discussion in the country.
In recent years, the Baha’i community in Spain has recognized the necessity for a more substantial and profound dialogue on migration and the implications of having greater awareness of the issue. Its efforts have rested on the conviction that religion has a critical role to play in cultivating a common sense of humanity as well as in mobilizing communities to contribute to social harmony and peace.
Together with a group of other civil society and faith-based organizations, the Baha’i community of Spain convened the recent conference, where diverse participants shared their experiences and renewed their commitment to take action in welcoming and supporting refugees. The event was also a forum through which participants sought to speak to the conscience of their people and kindle the light of compassion in Spanish society.
“The purpose of this event is to underline the important role religious communities are playing in the reception and integration of refugees into their own communities and to give voice to the varied experiences and knowledge acquired through their contributions to society,” said Leila Sant Massarat, who chaired the gathering and represented the Baha’i community of Spain.
“Regardless of the language we speak, our skin tone or place of birth, we are all human beings and share the same primary identity.”
The conference highlighted the efforts of various faith-based groups in Spain to play a constructive role with the rising number of refugees arriving into the country. The representative from the Sant’Egidio community, a Christian organization, described an initiative taken by his community to encourage kindness and understanding by reading the names of all the newly arrived refugees. “We can sometimes forget that refugees have an identity and a name,” he said.
Director of Public Affairs for the Baha’i community of Spain, Sergio Garcia, noted other contributions of the various faith groups in support of refugees, citing, for example, an initiative of the Muslim community to ensure that food was prepared and available for families in need and the experience of a Jewish group assisting youth in a refugee camp.
“There was a real spirit of solidarity among participants,” said Dr. Garcia. “It was striking how harmoniously these different groups consulted and operated.”
Reflecting the unified spirit that emerged from the gathering, the conference ended with a meal at dusk for everyone to share on the occasion of Ramadan.",MADRID,,Spain
1179,2017-07-12,"[1161, 1158, 1050]","Transcending differences, treasuring diversity","NEW DELHI — Shiv Visvanathan visited the Indian state of Gujarat in 2002. There had been an outbreak of violent communal riots, and over a thousand people had died.
That tragedy was a stark reminder that diversity, which should be regarded as a powerful resource for a community, is too often a source of conflict. Yet, according to Dr. Visvanathan, a prominent public intellectual and social scientist in India, we cannot simply appeal to human rationality to move past the tensions that give rise to violence. We need a broader conception of knowledge—one that draws not only on scientific inquiry and insights but also on knowledge systems that address the spiritual and mystical dimensions of life.
“It’s ironic,” said Dr. Visvanathan, reflecting on the tragic episode in Gujarat, “While people considered religion to be the cause of the problem, I found that religion taught you the power to heal.”
Dr. Visvanathan was the keynote speaker at the symposium, “Treasuring Diversity—The Role of Religion in Building an Inclusive Society,” organized by the Baha’i community of India on 29 June. Held on the grounds of the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi, the event gathered leading Indian academics and NGO representatives to discuss the relationship between religion and diversity and to explore new ways of conceptualizing both.
Around the world, the ties binding diverse groups are often proving too superficial to withstand the disruptive forces they now face—deepening injustice, a widening gap between the wealthy and the poor, rising religious fundamentalism and sectarian violence, rural to urban migration, environmental crises, to name but a few. Diversity, which is a priceless resource for the enrichment of society, is being exploited to pit groups against each other and advance political and economic agendas.  Shiv Visvanathan is a professor at the Jindal Global Law School and Director of the Centre for the Study of Knowledge Systems, OP Jindal Global University. He was the keynote speaker at the recent symposium, “Treasuring Diversity—The Role of Religion in Building an Inclusive Society,” organized by the Baha’i community of India.In 1994, Dr. Visvanathan had been an observer at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa after apartheid had been abolished. He witnessed there that forgiveness became possible because of a profound Southern African spiritual philosophy, referred to as Ubuntu, which stresses the innate interconnectedness of humanity.
“You could not create unity without this religious consciousness,” he said. What he had come to appreciate about the perspective there was that diversity was understood as essential to a real sense of wholeness.
For the Baha’i community of India, it is very timely to open a space for thinkers and practitioners concerned with social harmony to bring their insights into one room and explore ways forward. An overarching conviction among those present was that religion has an invaluable part to play in helping people appreciate diversity, overcome prejudice and hatred, and work toward peace.
In the opening remarks, Arash Fazli, principal researcher at the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity in India, acknowledged the misuse of religion that has given rise to prejudice and blind imitation, both in the past and present. “Religious practices that cultivate hatred and prejudice are distortions and perversions of the true spirit of religion which aims to create unity,” said Dr. Fazli.
Binding the fractures that exist between diverse populations in a profound way, he argued, requires an evolving understanding of the crucial and unique role of religion in building unity, especially in a time when many societies are beset by forces of insularity and intolerance.
This poses a challenge for religious communities, Dr. Fazli said. “For religion to fulfil its responsibility, it needs to meet certain conditions: it should instill a profound consciousness of the oneness of humankind, should be in harmony with science and reason and distinguished from superstition and blind imitation, should promote the independent investigation of truth, and should acknowledge the oneness of all religions.”",NEW DELHI,,India
1180,2017-07-18,"[1112, 1035, 1077]","Europe’s future entwined with world, says BIC","BRUSSELS — “The future of Europe is intrinsically linked to the future of the global community,” stated the Baha’i International Community (BIC) Brussels Office in a meeting at the European Parliament on 27 June.
The high level dialogue brought together policy makers and faith leaders to discuss the direction Europe should take in the coming decade.
The meeting at the European Parliament, and a second held on 7 July at the European Commission, came on the heels of the sixtieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, a major historical milestone in the formation of the EU. A new publication—the “White Paper”—was prepared by the European Commission for that historic occasion and has set in motion a series of dialogues on the future of Europe.
In her comments at the European Parliament event, BIC representative Rachel Bayani highlighted the critical need today to recognize the interconnectedness of the global community.  A meeting of faith leaders and policy makers at the European Commission on 7 July“Our policies cannot only be concerned with creating increased prosperity for our continent alone,” she stated. “Solutions that consider the well-being of one part of the world without adequately considering others are proving inadequate. The advantage of the part is best reached by the advantage of the whole.”
At the European Commission meeting, the BIC expanded on this idea, using a poignant example—forced migration.
“The movement of populations into Europe, especially as a result of global inequality, has demonstrated that we cannot isolate one part of the world from the issues affecting humanity in another,” commented Ms. Bayani.
To build consensus about Europe’s path forward will require a robust conversation among the diverse populations on the continent, argued Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans. He commented that “across Europe, we feel extremely comfortable with the company of people who are like us and that we seek dialogue with those with whom we already agree. But the only way forward for a society as diverse as Europe’s is to come to a common understanding of the values we share.”
Responding to his comments, Ms. Bayani pointed to the presence of both faith and secular organizations as an example of the kind of dialogue between different worldviews that would be needed to overcome fragmentation and build mutual understanding.
Reflecting on the meetings afterward, the BIC noted a challenge facing Europe today: regardless of the different worldviews held by its citizens, Europe will have to fundamentally re-examine its relationship to and understanding of religion.
The subject of religion has become more prevalent in Europe’s public discourse recently. While for many years, an assumption prevailed that religion would become less important as the forces of modernity advanced; the experience of the past decades has shown this not to be the case.
“A question for Europe, then,” stated the BIC, “is how to find a model of public discourse in which religion can play a constructive part in shaping society.”",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1181,2017-07-21,"[1173, 1038, 577]","A peaceful, persistent response to injustice","BIC GENEVA — Thirty years ago, the Baha’i community of Iran embarked on a remarkable endeavor. Denied access to formal education by the country’s authorities after their numerous appeals, they set up an informal program of higher education in basements and living rooms throughout the country with the help of Baha’i professors and academics that had been fired from their posts because of their faith. This gradually came to be known as the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE).
Since its inception, BIHE has helped educate thousands of individuals, many of whom have been accepted into nearly 100 universities around the world to pursue graduate studies. Many BIHE graduates that complete their post-graduate studies abroad will return to Iran to serve their communities. Thanks to advances in technology, BIHE’s students are now taught by professors from across the globe. Those who offer their expertise and knowledge to the education of Baha’i youth in Iran, have witnessed first-hand the students’ high ideals and commitment to the pursuit of knowledge.
“The Baha’i response to injustice is neither to succumb in resignation nor to take on the characteristics of the oppressor,” explained Diane Ala’i, representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, quoting a letter from the Universal House of Justice.
“This,” she said, “is the fundamental definition of constructive resilience.”
“Of course, the Baha’is are not the only ones that have responded non-violently and positively to oppression, but they are finding a different way of doing that, which is more focused on their role in serving the community around them together with others,” said Ms. Ala’i.
Despite efforts by the Iranian authorities to disrupt BIHE’s operation by raiding hundreds of Baha’i homes and offices associated with it, confiscating study materials, and arresting and imprisoning dozens of lecturers, it has grown significantly over the past three decades. It relies on a variety of knowledgeable individuals both in and outside of Iran to enable youth to study a growing number of topics in the sciences, social sciences, and arts. Overall, not only has BIHE survived thirty years, it has thrived.
Studying at BIHE is not easy. Because it’s not a public university, there is no funding available, and many students hold down full-time jobs. It is common to travel across the country to go to monthly classes in Tehran. Sometimes, students will have to commute from a home on one side of the city to the other in the middle of the day, because these are the only spaces available to hold classes. Despite these logistical challenges, students meet high academic standards.  With its young people banned from public institutions of higher education in Iran since the early 1980s, the Baha’i community of Iran established BIHE in 1987. BIHE operates in private homes and through correspondence and online courses.“I have talked to BIHE students who said when their teacher was arrested and put in jail and all their materials were confiscated, they would get together for class just the same,” said Saleem Vaillancourt, the coordinator of the Education is Not a Crime campaign, which brings attention to the issue of denial of education to the Baha’is in Iran. “These students continued studying together, despite the fact that they didn’t have a teacher. This was their attitude, it didn’t seem remarkable to them. They just said this is what we have to do, because they had a commitment to the process.”
Universal education is a core belief of the Baha’i Faith, and when the authorities in Iran sought to deny Baha’i students this critical and fundamental right, the Baha’i community pursued a peaceful solution—never for a moment conceding their ideals, never surrendering to their oppressor, and never opposing the government. Instead, for decades, it has been seeking constructive solutions, a show of its longstanding resilience.
In Iran, persecution of the Baha’is is official state policy. A 1991 memorandum approved by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei states clearly that Baha’is “must be expelled from universities, either in the admission process or during the course of their studies, once it becomes known that they are Baha’is.”
Other forms of persecution torment the Baha’is in Iran as well. An open letter dated 6 September 2016 to Iran’s President from the BIC draws his attention to the economic oppression faced by the Baha’is there. The letter highlights the stark contradiction between statements espoused by the Iranian government regarding economic justice, equality for all, and reducing unemployment on the one hand, and the unrelenting efforts to impoverish a section of its own citizens on the other.
“The Baha’i community in Iran wasn’t going to let itself go quietly into the night. It wasn’t going to allow itself to be suffocated in this way,” said Mr. Vaillancourt.
A distinctly non-adversarial approach to oppression fundamentally characterizes the Baha’i attitude towards social change. The Baha’i response to oppression draws on a conviction in the oneness of humanity. It recognizes the need for coherence between the spiritual and material dimensions of life. It is based on a long-term perspective characterized by faith, patience, and perseverance. It at once calls for obedience to the law and a commitment to meet hatred and persecution with love and kindness. And, ultimately, this posture has at its very center an emphasis on service to the welfare of one’s fellow human beings.
“I think we see in the world today the breakdown of communities that people would not have thought could happen so easily. We’ve come to realize that living side by side is not enough. We need to live together and know one another, and the best way to know one another is to start working for the betterment of society,” said Ms. Ala’i.
“As the Baha’is in Iran have begun to do this in a more conscious way, other Iranians have come to know their Baha’i neighbors and understand that much of what they had heard about the Baha’is from the government and clergy were lies. As they have become more involved in the life of the communities where they live, the Baha’is have witnessed an immense change in the attitude of other Iranians towards them.”
The Baha’i response to oppression is not oppositional and ultimately strives toward higher degrees of unity. Its emphasis is not only on collective action, but on inner transformation.
This strategy is a conscious one employed by the Baha’i community. Going beyond the tendency to react to oppression, war, or natural disaster with apathy or anger, the Baha’i response counters inhumanity with patience, deception with truthfulness, cruelty with good will, and keeps its attention on long-term, beneficial, and productive action.
The Baha’i Institute for Higher Education embodies all of these elements.
“BIHE is an extraordinary achievement,” commented Mr. Vaillancourt. “Perhaps the least known, longest-running, and most successful form of peacefully answering oppression that history has ever seen. It sets the best example I know of for this particular Baha’i attitude to answering persecution or answering the challenging forces of our time, where we try to have an attitude, posture, and response of constructive resilience.”",BIC GENEVA,,
1182,2017-07-25,"[1133, 966, 1119]",Religious discrimination explicit in Iran's penal code,"BIC NEW YORK — A court in Yazd has recently sentenced a man convicted of the public murder of a Baha'i to just 11 years in prison and two years away from home. The court justified the sentence by stating that according to the Islamic penal code, the accused and the victim are not equal for the general purpose of retributive justice. This astonishing provision clearly and deliberately deprives non-Muslims of the legal right to seek justice on equal-footing with the country's Muslim majority.
The murder of Farhang Amiri, a 63-year-old father of four children, occurred in September 2016 in Yazd on the street outside his home in public view. He was brutally stabbed to death by two brothers who immediately admitted to having been motivated by religious hatred.
The younger man was sentenced to half of his brother's sentence for aiding in the murder. The two men confessed to stabbing Farhang Amiri to death with the explicitly stated intention of killing a Baha'i.
These sentences for the killing of an innocent man clearly demonstrate the inherent discrimination and injustice at the heart of Iran's penal code, which treats its own citizens on an unequal basis because of their religious belief.
""Such a verdict undermines the Iranian authorities' claims to equality for all their citizens before the law. Clearly, the legal system encourages violence against Baha'is, the largest religious minority,"" said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. ""We call on Iranians to consider how their society can possibly advance when the legal system, which should dispense justice, manifests such breath-taking inequity.""",BIC NEW YORK,,
1183,2017-07-30,"[991, 1139, 1179]",Aung San Suu Kyi gathers Myanmar religious leaders,"YANGON, Myanmar — Every year for decades, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has held a memorial service in honor of nine politicians, including her father, who were assassinated six months before Myanmar gained independence from Britain. This year's service on 19 July marked the seventieth anniversary of General Aung San's death.
Originally initiated by Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi and her mother, the annual memorial service has become an important space for uniting diverse groups in prayer and peace over many years.
In the majority Buddhist Myanmar, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi this year sought to specifically bring together minority religious groups, including Baha'i, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim religious leaders. During the commemoration, she spoke warmly of the Baha'i community and its teachings on unity.
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi has long been known for her commitment to promoting peace and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 in recognition of her leading a non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights. This came against the backdrop of civil and ethnic conflict that had plagued the country since the mid-1900s, when it gained independence after more than a century of colonization. Over the past several years, Myanmar has been in a period of marked transition, gradually opening up to the world.  Aung San Suu Kyi (center left) with representatives of the Baha'i community of Myanmar (from left to right: U Shwe Thee, U Myint Zaw Oo, U Tin Win)""Aung San Suu Kyi realizes the role of religious leaders is very important for nation building and peace so she organized such a gathering,"" said Auxiliary Bishop John Saw Yaw Han who attended the event, as reported by ucanews.com.
Another participant U Saung Lwin Aung, a Muslim leader from Yangon, told UCA News, ""The gathering of all religious leaders is very important as hate speech is growing in the country, so we must join hand in hand to fight it through love speech.""
""As the unity of the human race and the need to eliminate all forms of prejudice and establish peace are among the foremost principles of Baha'u'llah's teachings, the quest for peace in Myanmar is very dear to the hearts of the Baha'is here,"" said U Myint Zaw Oo, a representative from the Baha'i community reflecting after the meeting on the significance of bringing together the diverse religious leaders on that momentous occasion.
The Baha'i community in Myanmar is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to the time of Baha'u'llah when, in 1878, two believers introduced the Baha'i Teachings to the people of Myanmar (referred to as Burma at the time). From that point onward, the nascent community grew quickly and became well established in the country.",YANGON,,Myanmar
1184,2017-08-08,"[375, 1146, 1170]","Pioneering actor, now 100, reflects on life, faith, and change","KENILWORTH, United Kingdom — When the 22-year old Earl Cameron arrived in England from Bermuda in 1939, most of the people of Caribbean origin whom he met there were struggling to find work.
""It was quite impossible for a black person to get any kind of job,"" recalls Cameron, who reaches his 100th birthday today. ""The attitude was that they should go back to their own homeland. Some of them were veterans of the First World War, and even they couldn't get a job. When I look back, that was the condition.""
""Today it's different and I'm glad I came at that time to be able now to see some of the wonderful changes that have taken place.""
Bermuda-born Cameron, who became a Baha'i in 1963, is taking the opportunity of his centenary to reflect on his life and career as an actor. And his own role in breaking down the color bar for British audiences should not be underestimated. According to the British Film Institute's Screenonline guide to film and television history: ""Earl Cameron brought a breath of fresh air to the British film industry's stuffy depictions of race relations. Often cast as a sensitive outsider, Cameron gave his characters a grace and moral authority that often surpassed the films' compromised liberal agendas.""
Discovering the Baha'i Faith
As Cameron continued to work steadily through the early 1960s, he found himself searching for answers to life's questions. He had been troubled from his time in the merchant navy when he spent five months on a ship travelling to India.
""On this ship there were fights almost every day. I must say they were a very quarrelsome bunch of seamen for the most part! And then I saw Kolkata with all of its hungry people on the streets, and wondered, 'Why? Why is the world like this?'
Cameron found his questions answered by an old friend from Bermuda whom he met again in London. His friend was a Baha'i.
""Everything appealed to me,"" Cameron explains. ""But we argued backwards and forwards. It took me some time to understand the difference between just an outstanding human being and what Baha'is call a Manifestation of God. When the penny dropped, I realized the difference of a Christ, or a Muhammad, or a Baha'u'llah, and from that moment on I could accept everything I read from Baha'u'llah.""
Fully dedicated to his Baha'i beliefs, Cameron made a dramatic move of another kind, by uprooting with his family to the Solomon Islands to help in the development of the Baha'i community there. When he returned to the United Kingdom 15 years later, he picked up his acting career where it had left off. Continuing to work through his eighties and nineties, he had a major role as a controversial African leader in The Interpreter (2005), which starred Nicole Kidman, as well as cameo appearances in The Queen (2006) with Dame Helen Mirren, and Inception (2010).
Breakthrough into acting
Two years after his arrival, tired of carrying out menial jobs, Cameron had a lucky break: he was asked to cover a role in a popular musical theater show, Chu Chin Chow, when one of the actors in the cast did not turn up for work. His acting career took off and, for the next four decades, his face and rich, golden voice, became a well-known fixture on stage, and then on screen.
""I realized that there were very few parts to be had,"" Cameron explains. ""I didn't kid myself. I'd been in the theater for at least eight years by the time I did my first film and I knew it was very limited. But I realized also at the time how fortunate I was to get that very first film.""
That film was Pool of London (1951), considered groundbreaking in its employment of a leading, black character, and in its depiction of an interracial romance.
""It's a wonderful part,"" he says, ""and still remains I think the best film I've done. It was fully true to life and very typical of England at that time,"" he recalls.  Earl Cameron at an event organized by the British Film Institute in October 2016 with a screening of Pool of London (1951)—Cameron’s first film—on the occasion of his induction to the Screen Nation Hall of Fame. (Photo Screen Nation Media 2016: Photography Carl Barriteau)Seminal BBC television dramas that explored racism followed, including The Dark Man (1960), in which Cameron played a taxi driver facing prejudice in his workplace. At the same time, his became a familiar face in many classic television series of the era, including Doctor Who and The Prisoner. He also played opposite Sean Connery as James Bond's Caribbean ally Pinder in Thunderball (1965).
One film of which Cameron is particularly proud to have been involved with was the dramatization of the story of the Prophet Muhammad, The Message (1976). Cameron played the King of Abyssinia, or Negus, who offered safe haven to early Muslims in the time of the Prophet. The British Film Institute described his performance as a ""scene-stealing cameo.""
""How could I possibly turn down such a nice part like that?"" he smiles. But despite personal critical and popular acclaim, roles in films were few and far between for black actors.
""Always I had to wait months before I got another part. Now it has changed to some degree and there are many brilliant black actors. But for the most part you have to go to Hollywood to get recognition.""
At one point in his career, Cameron did even consider crossing the Atlantic and trying his luck in American films. ""But I was married with five children,"" he says. ""My wife was white and myself black, and California wasn't a very welcoming place for mixed marriages. So I thought, 'No, I'm not going to expose my family to the kind of racism that I was bound to encounter.' So I forgot about it.""
""I say now that I was very fortunate. Because at that time, I know I would have got caught up in that way of life. So I look back on it and thank God I did not go to Hollywood.""
An extraordinary contribution
In the last decade, Cameron has been the recipient of many honors. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the high accolade of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year Honors list, and last year he became the first inductee into the Screen Nation Foundation's Hall of Fame, which celebrates individuals of African Caribbean heritage who have made extraordinary contributions on screen. He has also been lauded in Bermuda where the main theater in Hamilton was renamed The Earl Cameron Theater in 2012. He is hoping to make a journey there in October for a special presentation.
As he enters his eleventh decade, Earl Cameron is still very much alert, keen to continue acting, and contribute to Baha'i community activities.
""We need to realize that God has a plan for humanity and each individual one of us is somewhat part of that plan,"" he says. ""God has a plan that this world will become a world of peace. The immediate future seems dire. With the conditions that are prevailing, humanity will sooner or later have no choice but to return to God's guidance.""
""There's hardly a minute of my life when I'm not thanking God for my existence on this earth and having found this wonderful Faith. To me if I had lived a million times again and not had the Baha'i Faith it would all be for nothing.""",KENILWORTH,,United Kingdom
1185,2017-08-11,"[1157, 1100, 1062]",Preparations for Temple inauguration accelerate,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — In just three weeks, the people of Battambang will celebrate the dedication of their local Baha'i House of Worship. New video footage captures recent progress and highlights the beauty of the Temple.
The final step in the construction will be the placement of a calligraphic rendering of the invocation ""O Glory of the All-Glorious,"" referred to as the Greatest Name, within the Temple's dome, planned to occur next week.  The House of Worship at nightThe dedication, which will take place on 1 September 2017, will be marked by a two-day conference bringing together over 2,000 people from Battambang, as well as every other region of Cambodia. A number of Cambodian dignitaries will attend, as well as invited representatives of Baha'i communities in Southeast Asia.
The Temple is a frequent topic of conversation among the local population. Even before its completion, it has galvanized action towards the betterment of the community and brought together neighbors in prayer and fellowship.
In a letter dated 18 December 2014, the Universal House of Justice explained that a Baha'i House of Worship is a ""collective centre of society to promote cordial affection"" and ""stands as a universal place of worship open to all the inhabitants of a locality irrespective of their religious affiliation, background, ethnicity, or gender and a haven for the deepest contemplation on spiritual reality and foundational questions of life, including individual and collective responsibility for the betterment of society.""",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1186,2017-08-15,"[1148, 1158, 1172]",Singapore's Prime Minister honors bicentenary anniversary,"SINGAPORE, Singapore — As the two hundred year anniversary of Baha'u'llah's birth approaches, leaders around the world from the international to local level are honoring the momentous occasion with special tributes.
Recently, Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, addressed a message to the Baha'i community of his country:
""Baha'u'llah's teachings of unity and peace are cherished values in our multi-racial and multi-religious society,"" stated the message, dated 31 July 2017. ""I am heartened that the Baha'i community is active in inter-faith engagements, and continues to promote understanding, dialogue and interaction among people from different religions.""
""Your efforts will go a long way in enhancing mutual respect in a multi-faith society and strengthening Singapore's social harmony,"" it continues.
The Prime Minister's tribute is among a number that have already been received by Baha'i communities around the world. In Vietnam, in honor of the upcoming bicentenary celebrations, senior government officials, including Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, met with representatives of the Baha'i community and expressed appreciation for the community's contributions towards the country's development through activities that are improving living conditions and promoting education. Since the message from the President of India earlier this year, similar tributes have now been received from the Vice President and several other high-ranking members of the national government, as well as the Chief Minister of one of the states of India and other officials. At the local level, the City Council of Rosario, Argentina, passed a government resolution honoring the bicentenary anniversary and recognizing Haifa as its sister city. In the United States, the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has also passed a resolution to honor the birth of Baha'u'llah and urge its citizens to work for the realization of peace, justice, and solidarity.  A copy of the letter dated 31 July 2017 from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong",SINGAPORE,,Singapore
1187,2017-08-21,"[1185, 1051, 1062]",Sacred symbol raised in Cambodia Temple,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — Yesterday, the sacred Baha’i symbol representing the connection between God, His Manifestations, and mankind was raised within the local Baha’i House of Worship in Battambang, Cambodia, and installed at the apex of its dome.
The placement of the Greatest Name symbol marks an important milestone. The symbol is a calligraphic rendering of the word “Baha,” meaning glory. The vertical line represents the Holy Spirit proceeding from God through His Manifestations to humanity, and the twin stars represent the Bab and Baha’u’llah.
Representatives and members of the Baha’i community gathered for a small ceremony on 20 August 2017 in a spirit of reverence and prayer as the sacred symbol was lifted 11.8 meters above the ground to the apex of the Temple’s dome. After it was affixed in place, everyone at the Temple gathered for devotions.  The team who raised and installed the symbol of the Greatest NameIn the coming days, a small ornamental case, originally purchased by Shoghi Effendi and containing dust from the inner sanctuary of the Shrine of Baha’u’llah, will be placed within the structure of the House of Worship. It will symbolize the profound spiritual connection between the Temple and the center of the Baha’i Faith.
For the global Baha’i community, this first local House of Worship signals a new stage of development. The Temple will be inaugurated on 1 September 2017.",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1188,2017-08-25,"[67, 336, 868]",New Pilgrim Reception Centre opens in Haifa,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE —  A new Pilgrim Reception Centre has opened this month, ready to receive a growing number of pilgrims and visitors at the spiritual and administrative center of the Baha’i Faith.
The three-story stone structure, which is located immediately to the west of the Shrine of the Bab, will receive the season’s first pilgrim group in October, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.
The new Reception Centre makes it possible for several hundred pilgrims to visit the Baha’i World Centre at the same time, expanding the previous capacity.
Every year, several thousand pilgrims and visitors from every corner of the world visit the Baha’i World Centre to pray and meditate at the Shrines of Baha’u’llah and the Bab and the surrounding gardens. Pilgrims are spiritually uplifted and draw inspiration from the time they also spend at historical sites associated with the lives of the central figures of the Faith, as well as visiting the edifices dedicated to its worldwide administration.  The exterior of the new Pilgrim Reception Centre, which is located immediately to the west of the Shrine of the BabPilgrims represent the “life-blood” of the centre of their faith—like blood flowing to the heart, pilgrims journey here, bringing with them news of their Baha’i communities at home, and they return to their homes taking back joy, inspiration, and insights.
The first Baha’i pilgrim house in Haifa was built in 1909. For more than a century, several different locations around the city have received the thousands of visitors who have come to undertake pilgrimage to the holiest sites on earth for Baha’is.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1189,2017-08-31,"[1062, 1185, 1127]",Spirit and aspirations of a people: Reflections of Temple's architect,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — Every day since Sochet Vitou Tang embarked on the journey to design the Baha'i House of Worship in Battambang just over two years ago, there has been a sense of joy in the process.
""Of course, the day our design was selected was a moment that stands out,"" says the Cambodian architect. ""But I have enjoyed every day of working on this project and seeing the way of life of a Baha'i community.""
In mid-2014, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Cambodia invited a number of architects from the region to participate in a design selection process, seeking the conception of an edifice that would create an atmosphere of unity, peace, and spiritual upliftment. Those architects—among them Mr. Tang's team, Architecture Design Intelligence (ADI)—were invited to visit the project site in Battambang and learn about the Baha'i community there, obtaining a sense of its spirit and aspirations.
""That was when I started to feel like this was going to be a real project,"" says Mr. Tang, about his visit to Battambang in August 2014. ""We started to do more research about the Baha'i Faith, and the more I could see the significance of the project, the more I was inspired to commit my heart and soul.""
Throughout his career, spirituality has played a large role in Mr. Tang's work. The architect himself is Buddhist, and through the project he learned much about the teachings of the Baha'i Faith. It was the principle of unity that struck him most profoundly—unity of religion, of all communities, of all races and people that is brought about through the intimate relationship between worshipping God and serving mankind.
The architecture team sought to portray in the design the consonance between ""being""—that is to say, increasing one's understanding of the divine teachings and reflecting spiritual qualities in one's personal life—and ""doing""—that is, arising in service and accompanying other souls.
""The idea of a Baha'i Temple was completely new to me,"" Mr. Tang reflects. ""If you talk just about the scale and size, it is not that large a project. But if you talk about the function and purpose of the Temple, it is, to me, a great building.""  Sochet Vitou Tang, the Temple’s architectThe requirements set before the team at ADI challenged them to design a Temple that would reflect the local culture of Cambodia, as well as inspire feelings of harmony and peace. In planning the Temple, they were told that, when possible, it would be preferable to construct the building from materials indigenous to the region, striving to raise a modest yet beautiful structure.
To design an edifice that would both be coherent with the environment and evoke feelings of unity, Mr. Tang drew inspiration from Cambodia's rich architectural heritage. The team then sought to design a Temple in keeping with the community, way of life, and natural environment of Battambang—a Temple that would evince spiritual qualities, harmonizing the material and spiritual worlds.
The Baha'i Faith first came to Cambodia in the 1950s. However, it was not until the 1990s that the Baha'is had begun to emerge as a group respected for their dedication to service, development, and education.
It was the strong connection between service to the community and worship to God cultivated through decades of careful attention and effort in Cambodia that led the Universal House of Justice to announce in 2012 that Battambang would be among one of the first localities in the world to build a local House of Worship.
The Temple, which will be dedicated tomorrow, stands as a tribute to the enthusiasm with which the people of Battambang, and indeed throughout Cambodia, have responded to the Faith's ideals. Its design is distinctively Cambodian, reflecting the traditional beauty and refinement of the culture while using modern architectural techniques.
Signaling their readiness for this new ""dawning point of light,"" the community that lives around the House of Worship has already been permeated by a spirit of prayer and devotion. Throughout the many months of construction, they volunteered their assistance to this collective enterprise.
Reflecting on the entire process, Mr. Tang considers the unique approach his team adopted of integrating the pursuit of material perfection and manifesting spiritual principles in their work on the Temple. ""I am thankful for this small part in making the Baha'i House of Worship in Battambang a reality,"" he says.
""It has been the kind of project that pushes you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It challenges your imagination as an architect to create something dedicated to the purpose of serving people from all walks of life. It is the kind of thing that I have really loved to do.""",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1190,2017-09-01,"[1189, 1129, 1137]","""A new dawn is breaking"": House of Worship inaugurated in Cambodia","BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — Some 2,500 people have gathered this morning at a conference to mark the historic dedication of the local Baha'i House of Worship in Battambang.
""A new dawn is breaking,"" announced the Universal House of Justice in a letter addressing the participants, referring to the historic nature of this development for the Baha'i community.
The vibrant colors, music, and splendor of Cambodia's culture were on display during the morning's program, which began with prayers, readings, and traditional dance. The program also included remarks by several officials from the national and provincial governments as well as the architect and representatives of the Baha'i community.  2,500 people are attending the dedication ceremony, which is being held in a tent on the grounds of the House of Worship.Following the opening session, participants have been visiting the Temple in groups of 250 for a program of prayers, the first including invited dignitaries and officials. Each group also spends time at a special exhibit, in which it learns about some of the foundational aspects of these edifices, including spiritual empowerment through education, worship and service, and individual and collective transformation.“It is an edifice of noble purpose, erected by a people of noble spirit.”—The Universal House of Justice  The vibrant colors, music, and splendor of Cambodia's culture were on display during the morning's program, which began with devotions and a traditional dance.""The emergence of a House of Worship in Battambang,"" wrote the House of Justice, ""is a testament to how brightly the light of faith shines in the hearts of the friends there. Its design, the work of an accomplished Cambodian architect, reflects the grace and beauty of that nation's culture; it uses innovative techniques but blends them with forms traditional to the region; it unquestionably belongs to the land from which it has risen...It is an edifice of noble purpose, erected by a people of noble spirit.""
""May those who pass through its portals feel their spirits soar within, may their worship of the one true God strengthen the bonds of affection between them, and may their love for God be expressed through the service they render to those around them.""  The House of Worship in Battambang",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1191,2017-09-01,"[1190, 1128, 1189]",Day 1 of Temple dedication captured in video highlights,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — As the first day of the Temple dedication conference comes to a close in Battambang, video highlights capture the day's joyous and exhilarating events.
""We are all gathered here to celebrate the inauguration of an edifice that has been erected for the sole purpose of the glorification of the one true God, the creator of what is in heaven and on earth, which has the noble aim of uniting hearts together,"" explained representative of the Universal House of Justice, Ms. Sokuntheary Reth, in special remarks made within the Temple following the morning program. ""This is the fruit of a transforming process set in motion a long time ago, by dedicated and courageous souls set out to bring the healing message of God to the golden land of the Kingdom of Cambodia.""  Representative of the Universal House of Justice, Ms. Sokuntheary Reth (center), walks with government representatives and representatives of the Baha'i community.The morning program, held under a tent on the Temple land, consisted of prayers, traditional dance, and talks by government representatives and the chairman of the Baha'i National Assembly of Cambodia.
In groups of 250, people then entered the Temple, where they heard remarks from the representative of the House of Justice as well as sacred writings and prayers read and chanted in that hallowed space.
The conference program continues tomorrow, beginning with a devotional program in the early morning.",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1192,2017-09-02,"[1191, 1190, 1189]",Inauguration conference concludes,"BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — The historic dedication conference for the local Baha'i House of Worship in Battambang concluded today just before dusk. Highlights and interviews from day 2 are captured in a short video.
Throughout the weekend, speakers highlighted the significance of the House of Worship for the region and for the Baha'i community in Cambodia.  The transformation of the land on which the Temple was built symbolized a process of spiritual and social transformation that had been unfolding in the region in recent years and lends hope for even greater advancement in the years to come.
""Once a barren and very quiet place, which not many people would want to pass through, it has now turned into a beautiful garden, attracting people from all walks of life, day and night,"" stated Chiem Chan Sophoan, Deputy Governor of Battambang, in his remarks at the conference.
""I would like to emphasize that this local House of Worship will be assuming a very important role in unifying all people of different religions,"" he continued. ""This House of Worship will not only be one of the public attractions in Battambang, but it will also attract spirituality for the people who will be gathering in this edifice.""
Visits to the Temple continued throughout the day, allowing the 2,500 people attending the conference to enter that sacred space, immerse themselves in prayer and meditation, and hear the uplifting welcome of the representative of the Universal House of Justice for the dedication, Ms. Sokuntheary Reth, who serves as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia.
The Temple will officially open to the public on 5 September 2017.",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1193,2017-09-04,"[1158, 1096, 1186]",India's Prime Minister and new President pay tribute to Baha'u'llah,"NEW DELHI — Following the tribute of India's President in April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and newly-elected President Ram Nath Kovind have released messages for the occasion of the 200 year anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah.
""Baha'i Faith gives the world a vision of universal brotherhood,"" wrote Prime Minister Modi in his letter to the Baha'i community of India. “Its messages of love and respect aim to make the world a beautiful place that celebrates harmony and peace.""
Speaking of the Baha’i community in India, he wrote: ""Since the revelation of the Prophet Baha'u'llah, Baha'i Faith has found wholehearted acceptance in India, where one of its most dynamic communities has flourished since then.”  And he further commented that institutions such as the Baha’i House of Worship—referred to as the Lotus Temple—“epitomize” the “spirit of fellowship and universal brotherhood.”  A tribute dated 30 August 2017 from Prime Minister Narendra ModiPresident Ram Nath Kovind, who assumed office at the end of July this year, addressed his own message to the Baha'is, writing, ""India's well-being depends on the ever greater commitment among its citizens to the principle of unity in diversity...The exertions of the Baha'i community offer hope that the goal of oneness can be achieved.""
Other officials in India—including the former President, the Vice President, high-ranking members of the national government, and the Chief Minister of one of the states of India, and a number of local officials—have also released statements in honor of the bicentenary.",NEW DELHI,,India
1194,2017-09-06,"[1148, 365, 196]",New edition of The Baha'is published this month,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A new edition of The Baha'is publication, with entirely new content and vibrant imagery and design, is scheduled to be released on 14 September 2017.
The Baha'is offers a survey of the teachings and history of the Baha'i Faith as well as the efforts of the Baha'i community to contribute to the advancement of society.
Prepared in this special year of the 200th anniversary of Baha'u'llah's birth, which will be commemorated in thousands of localities throughout the world next month, the publication provides a glimpse into the extraordinary life and vision of Baha'u'llah and the influence of His message on the hearts and minds of countless people.
The Baha'is covers a number of themes including the oneness of humankind, universal peace, the harmony of science and religion, Baha'i endeavors in social and economic development, and the administrative system of the Baha'i Faith.
One of the most critical themes it explores is the role of religion in the contemporary world. ""Religion has experienced a resurgence as a social force of global importance,"" reads the opening article.  The Baha'is will be published a little more than a month before the 200-year anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah. The publication gives a glimpse into His extraordinary life and influence.""Religion today cannot be exactly what it was in a previous era. Much of what is regarded as religion in the contemporary world must, Baha'is believe, be re-examined in light of the fundamental truths Baha'u'llah has posited: the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of the human family.""
The Baha'is has long been a popular introductory work for people interested in learning more about the Baha'i teachings and the activities of the Baha'i community. The first edition was published in 1992, and a subsequent version was released in 2005.
Copies of The Baha'is can be ordered online at the U.S. Baha'i Distribution Service website.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1195,2017-09-12,"[1178, 1193, 1172]","As bicentenary nears, celebrations multiply","BRUCK AN DER LEITHA, Austria — A local Baha'i, Sussan Zarifzadeh, worked with the mayor's office to organize the event. Mrs. Zarifzadeh and her family have in recent years assisted refugees to settle in Bruck. It was this work that first drew the attention of the mayor and inspired him to offer to host a commemoration in honor of the Baha'i community.
In country after country, preparations for the bicentenary of the birth of Baha'u'llah are accelerating and giving rise to a range of expressions, including works of art, tributes from national and local leaders, and community celebrations.
A striking example unfolded in the Austrian town of Bruck an der Leitha, where a festival for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah was organized by the office of the Mayor on 8 September 2017. With nearly 200 people in attendance at the town hall, the celebration brought together community leaders and townspeople in honor of Baha'u'llah's message of peace and unity.
Mayor Richard Hemmer emphasized the Baha'i teachings on unity in his remarks at the celebration. History has been stained by violence, he explained, and we should never forget the atrocities of the past. He pointed to the Baha'i community as an example of a group that has chosen a path of peace, nonviolence, and inclusion.  The celebration last week in Bruck an der Leitha of the bicentenary of Baha'u'llah's birth attracted over 200 guests from the town and surrounding area.Like many towns throughout Europe, Bruck an der Leitha—situated on the Leitha river near the border with Slovakia—has seen growing numbers of refugees from Syria and other countries. The town of Bruck had taken in a small number of migrants until 2015, when a number of tragic deaths of refugees in Austria drew attention to the issue. The community of Bruck was deeply affected and became determined to work more vigorously to ensure the successful settlement of refugees.
The town formed an organization called Unser Bruck Hilft! (Our Bruck Helps!) to assist with the resettlement of refugees. Knowing that the Baha'i community had previously assisted a group of refugees from Turkey to settle in the town, the organization requested its help. Initially, the Baha'is offered practical assistance, such as arranging for medical care. However over time, they began working with others in the town to provide a program for the education and upliftment of the recently resettled youth.
The relationship between the local government of Bruck and the Baha'is there has grown over the last several years through their work together. The mayor's decision to hold a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Baha'u'llah's birth was a recognition of the contributions of the Baha'is to the local community.
The celebration, held at the town hall, was open to everyone in Bruck and the surrounding areas. The festivities included a number of musical performances, including an original choral composition of words of Baha'u'llah put to music. An exhibit featuring the main teachings of the world's major religions highlighted the imperative of unity.
Many guests at the event expressed their appreciation that the bicentenary celebration allowed for every member of the community to contribute in some way. From a small performance by the local music school to presentations offered by government officials to the preparation of refreshments, many people helped with the festivities.
Dorothy Khadem-Missagh of the Baha'i community commented, ""The people of Bruck did not just come to enjoy the bicentenary celebration; they also contributed to it. And as a result, we all came closer together and grew in consciousness about the need to work for the betterment of the world.""",BRUCK AN DER LEITHA,,Austria
1196,2017-09-14,"[1193, 1186, 1172]",Leaders continue to honor bicentenary,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Tributes in honor of the bicentenary from local and national leaders from diverse parts of the world continue to be received by Baha'i communities, most recently from Australasia, Central Asia, and South America.
In New Zealand, Prime Minister Bill English has addressed a message to the Baha'i community of his country. ""Many in New Zealand and around the world will be celebrating this very special anniversary, and I hope you enjoy the festivities with your family and friends,"" he states in his letter.
Earlier in the year, in his message to the Baha'i community of Australia on the occasion of Ridvan, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wrote an uplifting tribute, acknowledging this special bicentenary year.
""Australia's Baha'is are a community of warmth and welcome; a community of music and charity; a community that rejoices in its identity and yet extends its counsel of respect and equality to all,"" wrote Prime Minister Turnbull in April. ""We are truly citizens of the world and our shared commitment to friendship, inclusion and harmony is what lies at the heart of our success.""  A letter of greeting from New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English to the Baha'i community thereIn Kazakhstan, the Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Civil Society, Berik Aryn, addressed a letter to the Baha'i community there, writing:
""We hope that the followers of the Baha'i Faith will, through their spiritual service, promote the further consolidation of the strong relationship between government entities and religious groups, as well as between the different faith groups in Kazakhstan.""
In Argentina, a number of local and regional officials in the province of Santa Fe have sent video greetings to the Universal House of Justice and to the city of Haifa.
Other gestures from officials in Rosario, Argentina, have included a number of municipal and provincial decrees, radio interviews, a flag-raising celebration, and messages of greeting.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1197,2017-09-18,"[1144, 1139, 1195]",Leaders mark bicentenary in Pakistan,"ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — All over the world, Baha'i communities are preparing for the 200 year anniversary of Baha'u'llah's birth, which will be celebrated on 21 and 22 October 2017. Already in the month leading up to this significant occasion, commemorations have been held in a growing number of countries.
In Pakistan, Member of Parliament Asiya Nasir hosted a gathering at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services in honor of the upcoming bicentenary. In her work, Ms. Nasir has been involved with initiatives for interfaith coexistence and harmony, and the celebration held on 12 September 2017 was no exception.
Over 100 parliamentarians, diplomats, and religious leaders were invited to attend the gathering, the theme of which was based on a well-known passage from Baha'u'llah: ""The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.""  A tribute to the Baha'i community for the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith HarmonyMs. Nasir was among a number of speakers at the event whose presentations highlighted this crucial theme.
""This event brought together representatives from many diverse religious groups-Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Baha'i-to celebrate unity,"" said Marzieh Kamal, a representative from the Baha'i community.
The conference was organized following a message from the Federal Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony in Pakistan to the Baha'i community.
""Peace and unity are the pivotal teachings of the Baha'i Faith, and the Baha'i community of Pakistan are a peace loving community,"" wrote Federal Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf in a letter dated 16 August 2017. ""Their contribution towards the betterment of individual, society and the country are truly admirable and have been in harmony with efforts being made by our Government of Pakistan.""
Federal Minister Yousaf concluded his message by offering well wishes to the Baha'i community and expressing his confidence in its continued efforts to work for the peace, progress, and prosperity of Pakistan.",ISLAMABAD,,Pakistan
1198,2017-09-19,"[1029, 1162, 838]",Decade of unjust imprisonment ends for Mahvash Sabet,"BIC NEW YORK — After enduring ten years of unjust imprisonment and harsh treatment, Mahvash Sabet's sentence has come to an end. She is one of the seven members of the former leadership group of the Baha'is in Iran known as the Yaran, who were jailed on false and baseless charges.
During her confinement in Iran's notorious Evin and Raja'i Shahr prisons, Mrs. Sabet distinguished herself by the loving care and kindness she extended to her fellow prisoners. Journalist Roxana Saberi, who shared a cell in Evin with Mrs. Sabet and fellow Yaran member Fariba Kamalabadi, has written about how their compassion touched the lives of other inmates, as well as a touching recollection of how they cared for her during her hunger strike.
While in prison, Mrs. Sabet, a former teacher and school principal who also worked with the National Literacy Committee of Iran, found solace in writing poetry. Her remarkable compositions were collected and adapted into English, published in a volume entitled Prison Poems in 2013 that was widely praised for its literary quality and profound subject matter.
As has occurred with prisoners of conscience, writers, thought-leaders, and poets who have been wrongly imprisoned throughout history, the power of Mrs. Sabet's ideas and beliefs was only amplified by her persecution.
The plight of its author attracted attention to this deeply moving collection of poetry, inspiring PEN International to feature Mrs. Sabet in a campaign to defend persecuted writers. Her poems also inspired a musical composition by award-winning composer Lasse Thoresen, performed at an international music festival in Oslo earlier this year.
Mrs. Sabet, now 64 years old, was arrested in March 2008. The six other members of the Yaran were imprisoned in May of the same year. All seven members were held without communication with the outside for weeks, were subjected to solitary confinement, and suffered appalling treatment and deprivations, including psychological and physical hardships.
""Although Mrs. Sabet is being freed from prison, she will still not achieve full freedom,"" said Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in New York. ""She will return to a society where Baha'i youth are deprived of access to higher education and public jobs, where attacks on small Baha'i-owned shops are increasing, cemeteries are being desecrated, Baha'is are vilified in state sponsored media on a daily basis and where they are arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned for their beliefs.""
The other imprisoned members of the Yaran are also expected to complete their sentences in the coming months. They include Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, 55; Mr. Jamalodin Khanjani, 83; Mr. Afif Naeimi, 55; Mr. Saeid Rezai, 59; Mr. Behrooz Tavakkoli, 65; and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm, 43.
""We hope that their release will start a new chapter for the treatment of the Baha'is in Iran and that the government will begin to remove the obstacles in its way to abide by the promise it has made of 'creating justice for all Iranians equally,'"" said Ms. Dugal.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1199,2017-09-22,"[1141, 1130, 1128]",Bicentenary inspires gift of trees,"SANTIAGO, Chile — The Baha’i community of Chile recently donated 2,000 trees to the city of Santiago.
This gift came from the Native Flora Project, a tree-planting initiative at the Baha’i House of Worship in Chile. The trees were donated in honor of the upcoming bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, which will be celebrated next month on 21 and 22 October.
The Mayor of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Claudio Orrego, visited the House of Worship to accept the donation on behalf of the city and to learn about the tree-planting project.  The trees donated to Santiago were raised on the land surrounding the Baha’i House of Worship. The community donated some of these plants to the city, where they will be planted in parks and other areas.Since the beginning of construction on the House of Worship, hundreds of volunteers have been gathering at the Temple site every weekend to plant trees, and more than 9,000 trees and hundreds of other plants now flourish on the land.
The community was inspired to start the project after reflecting on the potential contribution of the House of Worship to the surrounding area.
Maggy Canales is one of the organizers of the Native Flora Project. She explained that the project is improving the conditions of the forest’s ecosystem, and it has brought the community together to work for the conservation of native plant species.
Members of Santiago’s community from students to environmental NGOs to scout troops have all volunteered their time to the project. Many of the seeds are collected from the trees growing in the foothills of the Andes and planted in a greenhouse on the Temple land. These trees have been planted around the Temple or donated to local schools and communities within and around Santiago.
Mayor Orrego spoke about the significant impact of the House of Worship on the well-being of Santiago, calling it a “great gift for everyone.” During his visit, Mr. Orrego spoke with volunteers at the greenhouse and expressed his appreciation for the many opportunities that the Temple has opened for Santiago.
The trees donated by the Baha’is will be planted in parks, in medians on city roads, and next to streams in areas of the city without much vegetation.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1200,2017-09-26,"[455, 1086, 586]",Baha’i Media Bank: Reflecting world-embracing vision,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — As the historic 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah next month approaches, the Baha’i Media Bank has undergone a major update.
For nearly 11 years, the site has served as a reservoir of visual resources for publishers, journalists, videographers, and students, among others.
With over 1,600 photographs as well as maps and graphics, the site is categorized under five main headings: activities of the Baha’i community, administration and agencies, buildings and places, history, and gatherings and conferences.  This photo of the Shrine of the Bab is among the new photos of Baha’i holy places and other significant sites included on the Media Bank.The site provides a glimpse into the diversity of the Baha’i community and the breadth of its activities unfolding at the grassroots as well as at the national and international levels. It also contains a number of historical photographs.
The site content will be periodically updated and new photographs added to the various collections. The Baha’i Media Bank can be found at: media.bahai.org",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1201,2017-09-28,"[1195, 1186, 1172]",Bicentenary website connects the world,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A new international website for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah was launched today.
The website will unfold in stages over the course of the next month. Currently featuring artistic endeavors created for this special occasion, articles on the life and revelation of Baha’u’llah, and tribute messages from national and local leaders, the site will expand in a dynamic fashion over the coming weeks, notably to include a feature film about the life of Baha’u’llah, which will go up on 18 October. The website will be available in 6 languages—English, Russian, Spanish, French, Persian, and Arabic.
Beginning at the first sunset on 20 October in the Pacific region and ending at the last on 22 October in the Americas, the site will be updated with photos, news, and other media from scores of locations over the course of those 72 hours. There are also plans to include video coverage from some of the Baha’i Houses of Worship.
The bicentenary website will connect the world by capturing the celebrations of people from all walks of life in selected localities across the globe as they celebrate the life of Baha’u’llah and His unifying message. These localities will be illustrative of the thousands of other celebrations that will be unfolding in country after country throughout the planet.
The Universal House of Justice has written that the Twin Holy Days are an opportunity for all “to commemorate moments when a Being peerless in creation, a Manifestation of God, was born to the world.”",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1202,2017-10-02,"[1193, 1050, 1179]",Historic Battle of Haifa commemorated in New Delhi,"NEW DELHI, India — On 23 September 1918, during the final year of World War I, Indian soldiers played a decisive role in the Battle of Haifa. In what is believed to be one of the last cavalry charges in modern military history, the soldiers carried out an attack that allowed the British forces to capture Haifa from the Ottoman army. As they did so, they also ended up ensuring the safety of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
India’s part in this historic battle was commemorated on 20 September 2017 at an event in New Delhi hosted by a think tank, the India Foundation. The event, titled The Centennial Commemoration of the Battle of Haifa, included politicians, civil servants, members of the military and armed forces, some of whom were descendants of the soldiers who fought in the battle, and representatives from the Baha’i community of India.
Addressing the audience, Major Chandrakant Singh, Secretary of the Indian War Veterans Association, said, “In researching the Battle of Haifa, I came upon the fascinating history of the Baha’is and their central figure ‘Abdu’l-Baha. I came to the conclusion that the story of the Battle of Haifa and the story of the Baha’is are so closely interlinked and so inspiring that everyone in India should know them.”  Some of the presenters at the Commemoration of the Battle of Haifa, held on 20 September 2017 in New Delhi. Naznene Rowhani, representative of the Baha’i community, is standing third from the left.Indeed, safeguarding ‘Abdu’l-Baha was one of the lesser-known outcomes of the battle, explained Brigadier M.S. Jodha, the grandson of the captain who took charge of the Indian forces after the commanding officer was killed. Mr. Jodha described the military intricacies of the battle in his presentation.
‘Abdu’l-Baha had been a prisoner of the Ottoman Empire since His childhood. He was freed from incarceration in the prison city of ‘Akka in 1908 when the Young Turk Revolution led to the discharge of all religious and political prisoners. Following his release, ‘Abdu’l-Baha moved his residence to Haifa, where he was overseeing the construction of the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel.
During the early years of World War I, though no longer imprisoned, ‘Abdu’l-Baha faced repeated threats against His life by authorities that were antagonistic toward Him and the Baha’is. The Commander of the Ottoman fourth army corps had even threatened to crucify ‘Abdu’l-Baha if the Turkish army were ever to be displaced out of Haifa.
It was under these circumstances that the dramatic Battle of Haifa unfolded, during which two regiments of Indian cavalry soldiers played a critical role in capturing the city from the well-entrenched Turkish and German soldiers.“‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke of India as a land endowed with brilliant capacity, and expressed the hope that they would work to unite its peoples.”—Naznene Rowhani, representative of India's Baha'i communityVarious speakers talked about the dramatic events of the battle as Indian cavalry regiments led a bold uphill charge toward Ottoman artillery positions on Mount Carmel. Though the Indian soldiers—the Jodhpur Lancers and the Mysore Lancers—were armed only with lances and spears and faced machine gun fire as they charged forward, their victory was unexpectedly swift, and Haifa was captured with relatively few casualties.
According to a historical account by Hasan Balyuzi, after the battle, Indian army soldiers were sent to the gates of the house of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. He “was sitting calm and unperturbed in the forecourt of his house.”
In her presentation, a representative of India’s Baha’i community, Naznene Rowhani, recounted stories of some of the Indian soldiers who met ‘Abdu’l-Baha two days after the battle and were invited by Him to have tea. “It was a picturesque and striking scene,” she said. “‘Abdu’l-Baha, sitting with representatives from India, Persia, the Kurdistan region, Egypt, and England, some dressed in military suits, others wearing turbans and Indian caps, and all receiving sweets from His own hands.”
Ms. Rowhani also related the comments made by ‘Abdu’l-Baha to two Indian officers—Mir Mumtaz Ali and Rasidar Rahim Sher Khan—who met with Him: “He told them that when they returned to India he wished for them to engage in another kind of warfare, a war against self and passion. He said that ‘he who gains victory over his self is the real conqueror, has proved his power, and will become the recipients of God’s blessings.’ ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke of India as a land endowed with brilliant capacity, and expressed the hope that they would work to unite its peoples.”",NEW DELHI,,India
1203,2017-10-04,"[1196, 1193, 1186]",Messages of appreciation from leaders continue,"COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The Baha’is of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have received statements of encouragement and appreciation from leaders in their countries honoring the two hundred year anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, which will be celebrated around the world on 21 and 22 October.
In his message, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, extended his greetings to the Baha’i community and expressed his appreciation for the contributions it is making “towards the country’s goodwill and prosperity.”
Asaduzzaman Noor, Bangladesh’s Minister of Cultural Affairs, highlighted the “pivotal aim of the Baha’i Faith being unity and fellowship amongst the diversified races and peoples of the earth” stating that it “is a welcome principle in a world torn with strife and discord.”  In a message dated 30 August 2017 to the Baha’is of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe offered his greetings to the Baha’i community and praised it for “contributing tremendously towards the country’s goodwill and prosperity.”The message continues: “In the words of Baha’u’llah: ‘Ye are all the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch.’”
Malaysia’s Baha’i community was addressed by Joseph Kurup, a Minister in the Department of Prime Minister Najib Razak. “The Baha’i community has been an active promoter of inter-faith dialogue and also a genuine protagonist of unity and harmony among the multi-ethnic and multi-religious population of this country...Baha’u’llah’s teachings on the oneness of the world of humanity and His call for a world embracing vision encapsulated in the phrase ‘the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens’ are essential both for establishing national unity as well as promoting global understanding and peace.”
In Nepal, messages from Deputy Prime Minister Gopal Man Shrestha and Minister for Home Affairs Janardan Sharma were received by the Baha’i community, expressing warm greetings for the occasion of the bicentenary.
“Baha’u’llah’s message that God is one and all human beings are members of the same family is always relevant in a country like ours where there is so much social, cultural, and religious diversity,” wrote Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha.",COLOMBO,,Sri Lanka
1204,2017-10-06,"[1170, 1162, 1146]","Hearing ""the Divinity in the music"": Dizzy Gillespie remembered at 100","NEW YORK — Dizzy Gillespie is remembered not only for his genius as a trumpeter who broke new ground in jazz but also for his long-standing dedication to the teachings of Baha’u’llah.  Reflecting on the life and accomplishments of this iconic figure 100 years after his birth would be incomplete without reflecting on the Baha’i belief that seemed most to inspire and drive his work—that all human beings are part of one family.
“Dizzy represented an organic breakthrough in music,” asserts jazz pianist Mike Longo about Dizzy Gillespie, his late collaborator and friend.
“His music is from such a deep place,” Longo says, scanning the walls of his apartment on Riverside Drive on Manhattan’s upper west side. Framed photographs capture the decades of a musical partnership that ranged from playing sold-out concerts in major venues to private practice sessions at Gillespie’s home in Englewood on the other side of the Hudson River. But jazz was not the only uniting factor in Gillespie and Longo’s enduring friendship. Both men were attracted to Baha’u’llah’s message of oneness and unity—principles that would lead them to embrace the Baha'i Faith.
“The night I joined the band was the night he heard about the Baha’i Faith,” says Longo.
When Gillespie encountered the Baha’i Faith for the first time, after a concert in Milwaukee, he discovered that it immediately resonated with his thinking—and his music.“When I encountered the Baha’i Faith, it all went along with what I had always believed. I believed in the oneness of mankind. I believed we all come from the same source, that no race of people is inherently superior to any other.”—Dizzy Gillespie“Jazz is based on the same principles as the Baha’i Faith,” says Longo. “Interracial mixing was way back when jazz first started. Dizzy described jazz as a marriage between African rhythm and European harmony and so, if you look at that from a broader perspective, that’s a marriage between the black race and the white race. And Dizzy’s music specifically, when they say that the Prophet unleashes a new power in the universe, Dizzy’s concept of bebop…is a reflection of that.”
Gillespie’s deep commitment to unity and justice expressed itself through the inclusive spirit that characterized his music and his interactions with people of all walks of life.
Bebop pioneer
Born John Birks Gillespie in Cheraw, South Carolina, on 21 October 1917, Dizzy Gillespie was at the cutting edge of the bebop jazz phenomenon in the 1940s, often considered the most radical and vital music of its time. Bebop is characterized by its high energy tempos and rapid key changes, complex chord progressions, and dazzling improvisations around a melody.
“They were doing very difficult things,” explains British jazz and art critic Martin Gayford. “Gillespie’s technique alarmed other trumpet players, particularly because he was playing so high.”  Trumpeter James Morrison performs with the James Morrison Trio and the BBC Concert Orchestra under conductor John Mauceri at the 2017 BBC Proms. (Photo courtesy of the BBC)“While Charlie Parker came up with the phrasing and the rhythmic approach, Gillespie’s contribution was more the technical side of the harmony and great showmanship.”
“The photographs that typify the bebop era are of Dizzy, with his beret and goatee beard,” says Gayford.
That vibrant persona and sheer technical virtuosity—with Gillespie’s trademark cheeks ballooning out bullfrog-like around the mouthpiece of his distinctive bent trumpet—make him a hard act for trumpeters to follow today.
“When, at the age of 8, I first heard a recording of his music, I was just astonished by what the trumpet could do,” says James Morrison, the celebrated Australian musician who was at the helm of an anniversary tribute concert held at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 4 August 2017, as part of the world-famous BBC Proms concert season.
“I have always been inspired by his way of playing the trumpet,” says Morrison. “I’m very heavily influenced by him.”
Morrison, who played with Gillespie on a number of occasions, believes his outgoing personality helped to make his innovative music a lot more accessible.
“He was there pushing boundaries, but he was so approachable as a person. There is a clichéd idea that an innovator has to be a dark, brooding person, off in his own world. But Dizzy was so garrulous and made such a great connection with the audience.”“This music doesn’t come from thinking. You can’t think and play at the same time. It comes from behind the mind, so there’s a sort of a bliss place back there that’s totally spiritual. That is the animating force to our music... The power that Baha’u’llah unleashed is the animating force in the arts.”—Mike LongoEncountering the Baha’i Faith
It was just such an audience member who first introduced Gillespie to the Baha’i Faith. Beth McKenty, a Canadian who attended one of his shows in Milwaukee, had been inspired to reach out to him after reading about the tragic death of Charlie Parker, bebop’s co-originator. Parker was a saxophonist, who had at one point claimed that Gillespie was the “other half of his heart.” He died in 1955 at the age of 34, following a long period of drug addiction.  Gillespie during a visit to the Baha’i World Centre in 1985“Beth had called Dizzy and told him, ‘Charlie Parker didn’t have to die like he died’ and could she talk to him,” remembers Longo. “And so that night, she and her husband came and Dizzy was sitting with them at the table and she told him about the Baha’i Faith and gave him a lot of literature.”
After a period of intense reading and studying, Gillespie formally accepted the Baha’i Faith on 5 April 1968, the night after the assassination of Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. The musician was attracted by the emphasis given in Baha’u’llah’s teachings to unity, particularly by their assertion of the harmony of science and religion, the equality of women and men, and the oneness of humanity.
“He and I were both very upset about the racial situation here with all the riots and everything,” says Longo. “We were talking and I said, ‘It don’t have to be like that,’ and I remember we were saying, ‘There’s got to be somebody that represents the way we feel,’ and that’s when he discovered the Faith.”
Gillespie wrote in his autobiography, To Be or Not to Bop, “When I encountered the Baha’i Faith, it all went along with what I had always believed. I believed in the oneness of mankind. I believed we all come from the same source, that no race of people is inherently superior to any other.”
“Dizzy was tuned into the vibe,” says Longo.
Gillespie had long been interested in exploring the rhythms and harmonies of diverse cultures, and Longo believes his music evolved even further after he embraced the Baha’i teachings.
“It got deeper,” he says. “If you listen to the chronology of his recordings, when he embraced the Afro-Cuban thing, the music went to a much deeper level… It went to a world level. And if you think about the Faith, that was a reflection of all the people coming together, it went on to a level as close as a human being can get to perfection.”
Becoming a Baha’i influenced Gillespie’s life in every way. He wrote that it gave him “a new concept of the relationship between God and man—between man and his fellow man—man and his family.”
“I became more spiritually aware, and when you’re spiritually aware, that will be reflected in what you do,” wrote Gillespie.
And jazz musicians, Gillespie believed, were among “the people most ‘in tune’ with the Universe.”
“What is more appropriate than a musician being in tune with nature and with our Creator?” he wrote. “The best example is the way that they perform; how do they come up with things that have never been played before? Where did they get it? They have to have some kind of divine inspiration.”
Longo concurs. “This music doesn’t come from thinking. You can’t think and play at the same time. It comes from behind the mind, so there’s a sort of a bliss place back there that’s totally spiritual. That is the animating force to our music. In fact all of the arts, and sciences as well. The power that Baha’u’llah unleashed is the animating force in the arts.”
“Dizzy said, ‘What you hear is the divinity in the music.’”“In the Baha’i religion we don’t believe in cutting loose anything good. Cut loose your heritage? Baha’is believe that you bring it in and work with others. Bring it into the whole just like a master painting. Because I’m purple and there’s another cat who’s orange doesn’t mean that we can’t come into one big compatible complementary arrangement.”—Dizzy GillespieThe United Nation Orchestra
“Gillespie was around for a very long time,” reflects Martin Gayford, “from the 1940s right through to the 1990s. So he became something of an elder statesman of jazz, and a great encourager of young talent.”
The most ambitious, and final, fusion of his music with his religious beliefs was Gillespie’s formation of his United Nation Orchestra, with which he toured the world in the 1980s. The Baha’i principle of building unity that maintains and celebrates cultural diversity was Gillespie’s key inspiration for the big band made up of younger musicians from the United States and outstanding players and singers from Brazil, Cuba, and Panama.
“That’s what he believed in,” says Longo, “and so that’s what the principle of the United Nation Orchestra was.”
“In the Baha’i religion we don’t believe in cutting loose anything good,” Gillespie wrote. “Cut loose your heritage? Baha’is believe that you bring it in and work with others. Bring it into the whole just like a master painting. Because I’m purple and there’s another cat who’s orange doesn’t mean that we can’t come into one big compatible complementary arrangement. Just contribute from your own uniqueness, but don’t get over in their groove. Stay outta theirs!”
A lasting legacy
Since his death in 1993 at the age of 75, Dizzy Gillespie continues to be revered by enthusiasts the world over. His music has become the subject of academic study and symposia; his recordings are constantly being remastered, reissued, and rediscovered by younger generations. In the coming months, tribute concerts marking 100 years since his birth are taking place across the globe.  These two new murals in Harlem were painted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Dizzy Gillespie’s birth in October 1917.“When you pay a tribute to someone, there’s that question – do you imitate them?” says James Morrison. “And I believe, sound-wise—no. There are recognizable ‘Dizzyisms’ in what happens, but a true tribute is to create the atmosphere. It’s always like he was having a party, and he would take that onto the stage. I’ve always felt that’s what I wanted to do too.”
But Mike Longo believes Gillespie’s music is still not fully understood. Speaking at the trumpeter’s funeral in 1993, Longo told the congregation that, “a lot of people know what Dizzy played but they don’t know how he played.”
“At this point in time most of the educators and so forth are imitating it,” he says. “They don’t understand the concept, they understand the notes. So they imitate the notes and they try to imitate the feeling, but they’re not coming up with the essence yet. So he’s not fully appreciated yet.”
“Might be another 100 years before that happens,” Longo laughs.",NEW YORK,,United States
1205,2017-10-09,"[1203, 1201, 851]",Australian leaders honor bicentenary,"CANBERRA, Australia — The Baha’i community of Australia has received messages of greeting from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and a number of other national and local leaders for the occasion of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.
“This is a time for great celebration of Baha’u’llah’s life and His teachings of unity, friendship, and goodwill,” wrote Prime Minister Turnbull. “Ideas of love and acceptance should be cherished and upheld by all Australians, as they are values upon which our nation has become a beacon of harmony and tolerance.”
Among the sentiments expressed by these numerous leaders in Australia is the appreciation of how the Baha’i community has been contributing to societal harmony.
“The Baha’i community is a vital part of the rich and diverse religious tapestry that makes Australia such a diverse and tolerant society,” wrote Governor General Peter Cosgrove in a message to the Baha’is.  “This is a time for great celebration of Baha’u’llah’s life and His teachings of unity, friendship, and goodwill,” wrote Australian Prime Minister Turnbull to the Baha’i community.Mark McGowan, Premier of Western Australia, voiced similar sentiments, writing, “The Western Australian Baha’i community is an active and growing part of our vibrant society, making significant contributions to the social, cultural and religious fabric of our state.”
“You have demonstrated beyond doubt that, in multicultural Australia, our diverse communities truly are greater than the sum of our parts,” wrote Bill Shorten, Member of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition.In Australia, a commemoration for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah for government and civil society leaders will be held on 16 October at the Parliament House in Canberra.",CANBERRA,,Australia
1206,2017-10-13,"[1195, 1197, 1172]",A global mosaic takes shape,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — From the island nations dotting the Pacific to the vast lands of the Americas, preparations in tens of thousands of localities for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah next week are finding expression in a flourishing of activities.
Inspired in this momentous period, individuals and communities have been producing original works of art, including film, painting, poetry, and music. Stories of sacrificial and selfless acts of service have multiplied and given rise to countless more. And gatherings of prayer and celebration are already taking place in many parts of the world, bringing together people of all walks of life.


A youth group in El Chamizo, Colombia, moved by the teachings of Baha’u’llah on unity and oneness asked for permission to commemorate the bicentenary of His birth at their school. Sixty people, including teachers, parents, and classmates attended the celebration which included moving accounts of Baha’u’llah’s life.


Throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo—one of the first countries in the world to be charged with building a national Baha’i House of Worship—plans for the bicentenary in cities, towns, and villages there are expected to attract vast participation. To begin the period of bicentenary celebrations in the country at the beginning of this month, nearly 900 people paraded three kilometers through the streets of Lubumbashi holding banners and signing songs.


Japan has the highest concentration of places of worship in the world. As an act of worship in commemoration of this bicentenary period, the Baha’i community in Yamaguchi has been honoring the spiritual heritage of the city by visiting historic, sacred sites—some of which are over 1,000 years old—and, with a heightened sense of reverence, praying at each.
In Papua New Guinea, the remote village of Daga was in need of a photocopier that could print invitations to the bicentenary celebration for thousands of people. A group of friends carried the machine over mountains and through forests, delivering it to the village. It is expected that more than 4,000 people will attend the celebrations next weekend.
  Bicentenary celebrations at a school in El Chamizo, Colombia
Baha’i communities throughout the Netherlands have been enthusiastically planning celebrations in their localities. The national postal service issued two limited edition stamps, designed by the Baha’is in Netherlands, in honor of the momentous occasion. The Dutch Baha’i community has used these stamps to mail invitations for bicentenary celebrations in their country.
The Karnataka state of India has been experiencing the worst drought in over four decades, which has significantly impacted the agriculture of the region. Families in the Baha’i community in one village there decided to each set aside a pound of rice, so they would be able to host and feed the entire village of 1,500 during the bicentenary celebrations.
In Kazakhstan, the approaching bicentenary has inspired the making of a film about the history of the Faith in the country, beginning with its arrival to the region in the 19th century. The film begins telling the story of the vibrant community of Ishqabad (in modern-day Turkmenistan) that built the first Baha’i House of Worship.
The Baha’i community of Ireland has created a series of 95 video clips about the teachings and life of Baha’u’llah, in honor of the 200th anniversary of His birth. One video has been released every day and will continue until the bicentenary.

A mosaic of humanity, diverse and noble, carrying out acts of worship and service, can be seen forming across the surface of the planet.
The occasion is prompting people the world over to reflect on the life of a Figure Who accepted 40 years of imprisonment and exile to proclaim the oneness of humanity, inspiring generations to contribute to the construction of a peaceful and just world.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1207,2017-10-16,"[1196, 1203, 1205]",Baha'i communities receive more public messages,"LONDON — In connection with the bicentenary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, some Baha'i communities have reached out to local and regional officials and, in certain instances, national leaders to bring to their attention this historic occasion. In some cases, Baha'i communities have extended invitations to them to join in their celebrations. A number of these individuals have sent messages of good will to the Baha'is in their locality, region, or nation.
British Prime Minister Theresa May is among a group of leaders in Europe and North America who have addressed letters of encouragement to Baha'is in their countries.
Referring to Baha'u'llah, the Prime Minister wrote, ""His life, his teachings and his compassion continue to inspire people around the world, and we can all learn from his generosity and wisdom.""  ""The UK Baha'i community is an important part of British society,"" wrote Prime Minister Theresa May.In the United States, former President Jimmy Carter sent his best wishes to the American Baha'i community.
""As many of our people struggle with persistent systemic injustice against African Americans and Indigenous Nations, chronic violence against women, religious conflict, and endless war, the centrality of peace, human equality and religious unity found in the Baha'i writings and activities can serve as an inspiration to those of all faiths and creeds,"" President Carter wrote in his 10 October message.
The President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, addressed a message to the Baha'i community of his country, conveying his best wishes and highlighting certain fundamental principles from Baha'u'llah's teachings and their implications.
Messages of appreciation have also been received from the Office of the President of Germany, from the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs in Romania, and from a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and Minister of Research, Innovation, and Science for the Government of that province, whose statement was released in a video.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1208,2017-10-18,"[952, 980, 1201]",“Light to the World”: Film about Baha’u’llah released online,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — “Light to the World,” a film about the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah commissioned by the Universal House of Justice was released today on the official website for the bicentenary commemoration.
The film tells the story of Baha’u’llah’s remarkable life and the impact of His teachings on communities around the world.
“Light to the World” is available in all the languages of the Bicentenary site: English, Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Hindi, Persian, Arabic and Swahili.
The 51-minute film can be viewed here.  A screenshot from “Light to the World” shows a group of young people engaged in community-building activities.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1209,2017-10-20,"[1208, 1161, 1140]",200th anniversary sparks thoughtful reflections at BIC celebrations,"BIC NEW YORK — The historic 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah is being celebrated around the world at every level from the grassroots to the international.
Recent receptions held by the Baha’i International Community in New York, Geneva, and Brussels to mark the bicentenary allowed for reflections on the challenges facing humanity today and how insights from Baha’u’llah’s teachings have shed light on them.  Participants at the reception in the BIC United Nations Office, New York, for the commemoration of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llahNew York
Addressing the gathering held by the BIC’s United Nations Office in New York, one of the guests of honor, Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations Laura Elena Flores Herrera said: “Baha’u’llah asks each of us to develop a sense of world citizenship, and a commitment to stewardship of the earth. As Baha’is, you have the knowledge that can pave the way for a brighter future for generations to come, and now, more than ever, the voices of the followers of Baha’u’llah need to be heard, and those teachings extended beyond that, which I know you work hard at doing every day.”
“We look forward to your support and collaboration as together we build a world where there is no place for otherness, where peace is no longer an illusion, and in this way, truly achieving Baha’u’llah’s vision for heaven on earth.”
The New York reception on 10 October included a devotional program with excerpts from the writings of Baha’u’llah set to music and a screening of selected clips from a film prepared at the Baha’i World Centre for the bicentenary anniversary.
Azza Karam, a senior UN official, spoke warmly of the strong relationship between the BIC and the United Nations.
“I wanted to share something that I read in the statement that came out of the Baha’i International Community,” said Dr. Karam in her concluding comments. “‘The needs of this day Baha’u’llah has articulated include, but are not limited to, the equality of the sexes, the independent investigation of truth, the harmony between religion and science, and the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty.’ Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the United Nations mandate, in the words of a Prophet. What more powerful words could there be.”
Geneva
Earlier that day at the BIC UN Office in Geneva, a bicentenary celebration was held at the Hotel de la Paix, where ‘Abdu’l-Baha stayed during his visit to Geneva in 1911. The program included addresses from a number of distinguished guests including Ibrahim Salama, Director of the Human Rights Treaties Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“One of the first quotes that struck me from the Baha’i Faith is that ‘All human beings have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization,’” said Mr. Salama in his remarks.
“There are two distinct features, I think, in the Baha’i Faith which are crystal clear. One is this commonality that we are all contributing to something. It is a Faith which is open, and that is the first feature of a healthy contribution to humanity. Secondly, it is a community which is very active in world affairs, social affairs, economic affairs, United Nations affairs, not from within a theological standpoint, but from a humane standpoint,” said Mr. Salama.
Joelle Fiss spoke about her earlier exposure to the Baha’i Faith in which she learned about the persecution of Baha’is in Iran. Her comments in the evening addressed the Baha’i idea that religion is progressive in nature, unfolding over time. Speaking of the Baha’i belief in the oneness of humankind, she said, “The idea of universality is striking in the Baha’i Faith.”
Ms. Fiss is a member of the Panel of Experts of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.“...we need to show oneness in something real, not only in words, but in practice.”—Jan FigelBrussels
The Brussels BIC Office’s reception on 17 October featured keynote speeches from Mairead McGuiness, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Jan Figel, the European Union’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief outside of the EU.
A vivid display of excerpts from the writings of Baha’u’llah superimposed on the colorful paintings of a Baha’i artist provided a striking backdrop for the speakers.
“The Baha’i Faith offers a particularly valuable insight into the common spiritual heritage of all people, leaving you open to seek the good in each religion and belief system,” stated Ms. McGuiness. “Recognising our common humanity is something which can lead to better understanding not just between different religious communities, but also beyond national and ethnic barriers. Indeed, this is also the fundamental insight shared by Europe’s founding fathers in the political domain. As your Faith put it: ‘True religion transforms the human heart and contributes to the transformation of society.’”
Jan Figel spoke about Baha’u’llah’s teachings on the oneness of humanity and the universality of these values, which have been enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He said, “The role of religion in individual or community life is about transcendence, spirituality, a sense of living, of orientation in life. But it also means how to relate, religare, religione. It’s about linking together. And here I want to underline that the importance is not to separate from others, but through linking with others understand that there is one world, there is one humanity, and there should be oneness in our minds and hearts if we are sincere followers of one truth.”
Speaking of the universal values that bind humanity, he said: “I’m glad that the Baha’i community promotes this approach, because we need to show oneness in something real, not only in words, but in practice.”",BIC NEW YORK,,
1210,2017-10-20,"[1201, 1194, 1208]",Bicentenary website shifts to focus on 72 hours of celebration,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The setting of the sun over the Pacific islands of Kiribati a short while ago marked the start of the global commemoration of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha'u'llah.
Over this period—spanning a total of 72 hours beginning in Kiribati on 20 October and ending at sunset in Hawaii on 22 October—celebrations will be held in thousands of localities throughout the world.
Programs at six Baha'i Houses of Worship will be available for view through a live stream on the official bicentenary website. The first of these will come from the Temple in New Delhi, India, and will begin today at 13:00 GMT. A full schedule of the live streaming program is available on the site.
Glimpses of the festivities will be captured through a sampling of stories, photos, and videos on the bicentenary website. A regularly updated feed will show a few of the artistic presentations, service projects, commemorative gatherings, encounters with dignitaries, and other acts undertaken around the world to celebrate the life and teachings of Baha'u'llah.
""As the world now faces its most pressing challenges yet, we acclaim Baha'u'llah, born two hundred years ago...as the One Whose teachings will usher in that long-promised time when all humanity will live side by side in peace and unity,"" the Universal House of Justice wrote in its October 2017 message for the occasion.
The period of celebration commemorates the birth of both Baha'u'llah, born 200 years ago in 1817, and the Bab—the forerunner of Baha'u'llah's Revelation—born in 1819. These Twin Holy Days are celebrated on consecutive days as one annual festival.
Coverage on the bicentenary website begins soon after 8:00 GMT on 20 October and concludes at 4:00 GMT on 23 October. Documenting for the first time the worldwide events marking the anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the website will connect the world by providing a vista of some of the thousands of celebrations.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1211,2017-10-21,"[1210, 1209, 1208]","Sunset brings light over Oceania, Asia, Africa","BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — From Apia to Tokyo to Lubumbashi to Delhi, a striking array of bicentenary celebrations for the birth of Baha’u’llah unfolded throughout the day on Friday.
In Samoa and India, celebrations were held at Baha’i Houses of Worship, marking the beginning of the 200-year anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.
Countless other commemorations took place among close friends and neighbors. In Akita, Japan, for example, a small group of youth joined a celebration in the home of one their friends, where they watched Light to the World, a recently released film about Baha’u’llah and then made watercolor paintings to embellish quotations from His writings.“I always thought the prominent figures in the past were oppressive towards the weak,” said one of the youth while painting. “I was surprised to learn that Baha’u’llah gave up His wealth to actually help the downtrodden.”
In a village near Chiang Mai, Thailand, a student—one of only two Baha’is there—had hoped to invite a few friends and neighbors to a small commemoration at his residence. Unexpectedly, word of the celebration spread throughout the village, prompting a request to hold the gathering in the public community hall instead. More than 60 neighbors joined him to celebrate and watch a screening of Light to the World. The head of the village read before the audience the public message of the Prime Minister of Thailand to the Baha’i community there.
Some celebrations were on a larger scale. Hundreds walked together in parades held in a number of cities, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Vanuatu.
“Today was a blessing to all,” said one of the participants from the island of Efate in Vanuatu. “It lit up the spirit of the celebration.”  Youth in Akita, Japan, gather in a home to celebrate the bicentenary.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1212,2017-10-22,"[1211, 1210, 1209]","As the earth turns on its axis, torch is passed on to Europe, Americas","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — From a performance by the State Philharmonic Symphony in Azerbaijan, through intimate gatherings in living rooms across Europe and the Americas, to a prayer meeting at a national monument in Washington D.C., moving west across the world, communities carried on the torch of festivities celebrating the light of Baha’u’llah’s life and teachings on the occasion of the bicentenary of His birth.
In Norway, Baha’i communities throughout the country coordinated the lighting of beacons in towns and cities from north to south, inspired by the national tradition of burning cairns on mountaintops to signal an important event. While lights dotted the country on Friday night, friends gathered inside their homes to offer prayers and tell stories about the life and person of Baha’u’llah. A map of the trajectory of the beacons can be seen here.  A performance from the State Philharmonic Orchestra in Azerbaijan in honor of the bicentenaryA special feature of the last few hours has been the screening of the film Light to the World in every country. “I thought that the video would mostly be about the life and history of Baha’u’llah. But I realized that it’s about how people today have been affected by His teachings and have made them their own. I realized that His words must be something very meaningful since people all around the world have been responding to His words and writings for the past 200 years,” commented one young person after seeing the film in Japan.
Another said: “After watching the film, I saw that people all around the world are doing these activities, and I realized how blessed I am to be included among those who have come across and are studying Baha’u’llah’s words.”
Receptions with dignitaries and officials were also held in many countries, including Kazakhstan and Austria. Across Moldova, communities held joyful celebrations outside to commemorate the bicentenary. In Santa Tecla, El Salvador, the town hall was packed with people who gathered to watch the film Light to the World.
Prayers continued to be offered at the Houses of Worship on every continent, including Frankfurt, and Wilmette. In Santiago, the Temple attracted nearly 5,000 visitors, many participating in services and other events including viewing an exhibition, attending talks, and taking part in children’s activities.
Live streaming of events at Houses of Worship will continue throughout the day, beginning with a broadcast from Kampala, Uganda, starting shortly [7:30 GMT, schedule].",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1213,2017-10-22,"[1212, 1211, 1210]",World illumined by light of bicentenary celebrations,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Two hundred years after the birth of Baha’u’llah, countless communities in every corner of the globe are honoring His compelling vision of a better world.
In Iran, the land where Baha’u’llah was born and where His Faith has suffered endless waves of persecution, one of the many simple gestures of unity came from a Muslim family, who offered a beautifully decorated cake as a gift to their Baha’i neighbors in honor of the bicentenary. Particularly poignant was the fact that some members of that family only a generation before had been antagonistic towards the Faith and had even refused to touch Baha’is, believing them to be unclean.
Throughout Europe, gatherings both large and small have attracted many participants today. In Paris, at an apartment that was once graced by the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, a small group of dignitaries and other prominent officials met this morning to say prayers together. This intimate event followed a set of round table discussions held by the Baha’i community on social cohesion and inclusion in France.  Princess Soamsawali watches a dance performance at a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s birth in Bangkok.Another significant aspect of the bicentenary period in France unfolded in Corsica. For the first time, a selection of Baha’i prayers and writings has been translated into the Corsican language and published in a bilingual Corsican and French book. A musical composition in Corsican can be heard here.
In Thailand, the Royal Family was represented by Princess Soamsawali at the bicentenary celebration held at the Baha’i Centre in Bangkok. The evening’s program featured music, prayers, and traditional Thai dances. The gathering was attended by nearly 250 participants and was one of many commemorations held in the country today.
At the Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Vancouver, Canada, over 200 participants gathered to commemorate the bicentenary with traditional indigenous dance and music. A dignitary from a local First Nations community welcomed everyone with a prayer in his native language.
“I prayed that you would all recognize the truth in Baha’u’llah’s words,” he told the audience afterwards.
Baha’is have at times been astounded by the number of their friends and neighbors who wish to participate in celebrations. A community of just ten Baha’is in Ohio received 150 guests at a formal dinner that they hosted yesterday.
Across the continent of Africa, communities have been celebrating in every setting, gathering in homes for prayers, meeting in the streets for parades, and holding commemorations that reach thousands of people. These festivities are animated by a spirit of joy—some including singing, drumming, or dancing.
The film Light to the World has continued to be screened throughout the weekend in living rooms, cinemas, stadiums, and tents.
At Baha’i Houses of Worship across the world, thousands have gathered throughout the weekend for celebrations. A broadcast of the most recent devotional program at the Temple in Wilmette will start at 20:30 GMT and can be live streamed on the official bicentenary website.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1214,2017-10-23,"[1213, 1212, 1211]",Sunset in Hawaii closes extraordinary period of worldwide celebrations,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — With sunset in Hawaii moments ago, the period marking the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth has come to a close.
Over the last 72 hours, a cross-section of humanity, unprecendently diverse, in virtually every spot on the globe, joined in a striking diversity of action to commemorate the birth of Baha’u’llah.
Countless individuals were inspired by the festivities surrounding the bicentenary and were moved by their encounters with the life and writings of Baha’u’llah.  At a celebration of the bicentenary in South AfricaOne of the more than 27,000 visitors who viewed an exhibit on the life of Baha’u’llah held in Frankfurt said, “My wife and I were just talking before we came here about how life was without purpose. But then we visited this exhibition. Here we have found the answer to our purpose in life.”
In Suriname, Vice President Ashwin Adhin planned to attend a reception for the bicentenary held at the National Baha’i Centre. After a short program which included prayers, a film about the history of the Faith in Suriname, and a talk, he decided to cancel his plans so he would have time to speak with the Baha’is about community-building in the young country. On the same day, the Baha'i community of Canada received a public message of good-will from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, one of the last of a wide array of such messages received in recent days from officials.Many celebrations throughout the world featured screenings of the film Light to the World, which tells the story of Baha’u’llah’s life and the impact of His teachings. A participant at a gathering in East Asia said, “After watching the film, everyone was saying ‘Baha’u’llah’ with so much ease and comfort...It was as if they had known Him for many years and He was a familiar Figure to them.”
At a national celebration in Madrid, one attendee said, “the message of Baha’u’llah is exactly what humanity needs. Listening to these principles is not just a matter of hearing a beautiful message, it is essential for the progress of the human race.”",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1215,2017-10-23,"[1163, 1213]",Attacks in Yemen and Iran coincide with bicentenary period,"BIC NEW YORK — Yemeni security forces raided a Baha’i gathering in Sana’a yesterday, opening fire on the small group of people assembled to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.
The attack occurred in the family home of prominent tribal leader Walid Ayyash, who was abducted in April and whose whereabouts are currently unknown. The attackers were reportedly in four cars and an armored vehicle, which they used to break down the front door of the house. They arrested Mr. Ayyash’s brother, Akram Ayyash.
“There is now unequivocal consensus about Iran’s role in the persecution of the Baha’is in Yemen, especially in Sana’a, which is currently under the control of Iranian-backed militias,” said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community at the United Nations.
Persecution ramped up in August 2016 when Houthi militias abducted 65 individuals attending Baha’i activities, including six children. Approximately half of those detained were Baha’is. Again in April of this year, a call was issued for the arrest of over 25 Baha’is, including many prominent members of the Baha’i community who assist with organization of community affairs at the national level. Eight Baha’is currently remain detained, and it is unclear where a number of them are being kept.
Arrests of Baha’is in Yemen have drawn international censure and, in September of this year, led to a United Nations resolution—introduced by Egypt on behalf of the Arab Group and adopted by the UN Human Rights Council—calling for the immediate release of all Baha’i detainees.
Earlier this year, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, said that the pattern of persecution Baha’is face in Yemen eerily mirrors the pattern of persecution in Iran.
The Baha’i community has also been targeted within Iran in the recent bicentenary period. Between 18 and 21 October, some 19 individuals were arrested in Kermanshah, Tehran, and Birjand, and the homes of 25 Baha’is were raided. Twenty-six Baha’i-owned shops around the country were sealed off by authorities because the owners observed the Holy Day on 21 October. These closures occurred in Shiraz, Marvdasht, Gorgan, and Gonbad.
“The juxtaposition of these actions with the countless examples of joyful and uplifting celebrations by Baha’i communities around the world couldn’t be more striking. This contrast exposes the ruthless determination of certain authorities in Iran in perpetuating the persecution of the Baha’is and violating their basic human rights both within Iran and outside its borders,” said Ms. Dugal.
(Editor’s note: An amendment was made to paragraph 4 on 24 October 2017 in order to explain that not all 65 individuals detained at the Baha’i gathering in August 2016 were Baha’is.)",BIC NEW YORK,,
1216,2017-10-30,"[1209, 1124, 1213]",Bicentenary celebration at BIC Addis Ababa,"BIC ADDIS ABABA — As communities throughout the world celebrated the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah this month, the Baha’i International Community’s Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, co-hosted a commemorative gathering on 19 October with the national Baha’i community of Ethiopia.
The evening’s program included songs in Ethiopia’s three national languages, the screening of an excerpt from the film Light to the World, and an exhibition of artwork by children inspired by the teachings of Baha’u’llah. The event was attended by about 150 guests, including officials from the African Union, the Ethiopian government, and several UN agencies.  One hundred fifty guests gathered at the celebration of the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth hosted by the BIC’s Addis Ababa Office and the Baha’i community of Ethiopia.In his welcoming address to those present, BIC representative Solomon Belay spoke about the work of the Office in Addis Ababa.
“Collaboration and collective inquiry are vital to our efforts to explore questions and challenges with others,” he stated.
“How, for example, can broad segments of humanity more meaningfully contribute to the construction of flourishing societies?” asked Mr. Belay. “How will relationships between individuals, communities, and institutions need to be reimagined to more effectively contribute to social progress? How can global efforts be infused with a compelling vision of human prosperity that gives rise to a sense of common purpose?”
“By fostering such conversations, we hope to help generate knowledge and new perspectives on global and continental challenges. We take this particular occasion to invite everyone to join hands with us in this process of learning together how to improve the society we are living in.”",BIC ADDIS ABABA,,
1217,2017-10-31,"[1198, 1215, 1029]",Second member of Yaran released,"BIC NEW YORK — Fariba Kamalabadi, a member of the former leadership group of the Baha’is in Iran, recently concluded her unjust, ten-year prison sentence.  She is the second individual from among the former Yaran to be released.
Although no longer bound by the confines of prison, Mrs. Kamalabadi, a developmental psychologist, will return to life in a country that has not changed with respect to its prejudicial and unjust treatment of Baha’is. She will encounter, among many other forms of oppression, a media landscape that is entirely hostile to the Baha’i community. She will also be extremely limited in her access to opportunities in both the public and private sector for gainful employment simply because she is a Baha’i—a limitation designed and implemented by the government of Iran after the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Mrs. Kamalabadi, 55, was part of the ad-hoc group known as “the Yaran,” or the Friends, which tended to the basic spiritual and material needs of the Iranian Baha’i community and was formed with the full knowledge and approval of authorities there after formal Baha’i institutions were declared illegal in Iran in the 1980s. She and five other members of the group were arrested in May 2008 after an early morning raid on their homes. Another member, Mahvash Sabet, was arrested two months earlier, in March 2008, and was released last month after completing her sentence.  Fariba Kamalabadi was recently released from jail, upon concluding her unjust prison sentence.The five remaining members of the Yaran are also expected to complete their sentences in the coming months. They include Jamalodin Khanjani, 84; Afif Naeimi, 56; Saeid Rezai, 60; Behrooz Tavakkoli, 66; and Vahid Tizfahm, 44.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1218,2017-11-01,"[1214, 1213, 1211]","Bicentenary website to remain resource, inspiration","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A complete selection of nine video recordings from the celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah held at Baha’i Houses of Worship and sites where future Houses of Worship will be built is now available online.
The bicentenary website has captured—through broadcasts, videos, photos, stories, and artistic expressions—the range of celebrations held on every continent. Reports have continued to be published on the website since the 72-hour period of worldwide celebrations ended at 4:00 GMT on Monday 23 October.Among these recently added accounts is a report of a reception in Bahrain that attracted 120 guests, including government officials, religious leaders, writers, and others, focusing on Baha’u’llah’s teachings of unity and peace. Another, from Indonesia, highlights an event in Jakarta attended by a wide swath of the city’s inhabitants, which featured songs, dances, and other cultural programs.
Although coverage of events related to the bicentenary has ended and further content will not be added to the site, it will remain available as a source of inspiration to Baha’i communities around the world in their efforts with others to apply Baha’u’llah’s teachings.  A classical music performance at a bicentenary celebration in Stockholm, SwedenAs the Universal House of Justice wrote in its October 2017 message for the occasion: “Baha’u’llah calls for good deeds, kind words, and upright conduct; He enjoins service to others and collaborative action. And to the task of constructing a world civilization founded on the divine teachings, He summons every member of the human race.”",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1219,2017-11-06,"[1181, 1178, 1209]",Law conference highlights atrocities against religious minorities,"WASHINGTON D.C. — Why does it take unimaginable atrocities against religious minorities for the world to respond?
“The question requires us to look at the way we deal with oppression today,” stated Diane Ala’i, representative of the Baha’i International Community United Nations Office in Geneva, at a panel discussion on freedom of religion or belief at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Comparative Law (ASCL) in Washington, D.C., held 26-28 October.
Ms. Ala’i pointed to the mechanisms at the UN that aim to defend religious minorities: the appointment of Special Rapporteurs, the resolutions adopted at the Human Rights Council and other such bodies, the Universal Periodic Review, and the utilization of media to raise awareness and bring governments to account, among others.  Diane Ala’i, representative of the Baha’i International Community United Nations Office in Geneva, speaks at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Comparative Law.“Each of these has proven to be effective in curbing extreme persecutions, but there are still limitations when relying only on legal norms and international interventions. There are chronic conditions of oppression that are much more difficult to address. They demand from leaders—especially religious leaders—to take an honest look at how their rhetoric affects social conditions in their countries.”
Looking at the rise of religious persecution within a society, she said, “It often begins with ‘othering,’ which is systematically cultivated in society through the development of stereotypes, myths, and lies that are attributed to a minority group.”
“It is interesting to note that the lies that are spread are generally very well thought through and culturally designed to tap into primordial fears of the given audience.” The case of the Baha’i community in Iran, in which the calculated, sophisticated process of “othering” that for many decades has allowed clerics, authorities, and the media there to dehumanize the Baha’is in the eyes of the Iranian populace, was used as an example.
The challenge in Iran is that the strategy of persecution has shifted over the years in order to make international scrutiny harder. The more visible violations of human rights, like the executions carried out in the 1980s, have been replaced by much more insidious forms which can have more devastating effects. But arbitrary arrests, banning Baha’i youth from higher education, and closing virtually every avenue of economic subsistence to segments of the Baha’i population continue. And these are combined with a prolific media campaign that leaves Iranians no opportunity to get accurate information about the Baha’i community. “These are also devastating, but they do not evoke the same response as an acute outbreak of religious violence,” stated Ms. Ala’i.
In this chronic, decades-long condition of oppression, the Baha’i community has responded in a distinctive way. It has not accepted the state of victimhood. It has kept hope, it has forgiven those who have perpetrated these injustices, and it has continued to kindle the love of others in the hearts of its community members.
“Despite the vast forces directed at strangulating their community,” she continued, “the Baha’is are gradually winning over a growing number of their fellow Iranians through their attitude, integrity, and their persistent attempts, against all odds, to contribute to the betterment of society with their fellow citizens, shoulder-to-shoulder.”
“This is beginning to break down the barrier of ‘otherness.' We are seeing that some fair-minded Iranians have begun to stand up for the Baha’is—not only courageous lawyers and human rights defenders, but also others.”",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
1220,2017-11-09,"[1170, 1162, 1142]",Exhibition of Baha’u’llah’s writings opens at British Museum,"LONDON — The British Museum is showing rarely-seen original handwriting of Baha’u’llah, as well as other archival items associated with His life, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of His birth, which was celebrated around the world on 21 and 22 October.
The exhibition opened on Monday 6 November during a reception, attracting over 100 people and bringing together representatives from academia, the arts, and the media.
One of the central themes of the exhibition is the power of the Word, which refers to divine revelation, a concept fundamental to the origins of all the world’s great faiths.  The British Museum is showing rarely seen original handwriting, as well as other archival items associated with the life of Baha’u’llah. The exhibition opened on Monday 6 November during a reception that brought together representatives from academia, the arts, and the media.Reflected in His many writings, Baha’u’llah’s revelation addresses a vast array of subjects, ranging from the ethical and moral dimensions of the life of the individual to the societal principles and practices that can enable humanity to transition to the next stage of its collective development—the emergence of world civilization.
The exhibition’s introductory panel reads, “Baha’u’llah (‘Glory of God’) wrote over 100 volumes of text setting out his vision for humanity: to build a world of peace and justice. Baha’u’llah taught that the ‘Word,’ as revealed to the founders of all the great faiths, could inspire humans to transform society and establish great civilisations.”
In His lifetime, Baha’u’llah’s writings were recorded as they were revealed. In some instances, Baha’u’llah, in masterful calligraphy, wrote with His own hand some of the sacred verses that constitute His vast body of writings.“It is quite remarkable to think that such a simple instrument as the reed pen of Baha’u’llah...was the means through which He set out His vision for a united humanity.”—Representative of the UK Baha’i communityOften, Baha’u’llah would recite verses aloud, and these would be transcribed by secretaries. Eyewitness accounts of individuals who observed the manner by which Baha’u’llah’s writings were revealed shed light on the extraordinary nature of these works. To keep up with the large volume of verses, secretaries would rapidly transcribe His words in an often illegible handwriting that only they could read, referred to as “Revelation Writing.” The exhibition includes an example of these original texts.  The British Museum is showing rarely-seen original handwriting of Baha’u’llah, as well as other archival items associated with His life, to mark the 200th anniversary of His birth. Here, an example “Revelation Writing” is on display.Later, these texts would be rewritten, at times requiring Baha’u’llah to decipher them, before a final copy was ready to be shared. Baha’u’llah’s writings spread far and wide across the Ottoman and Persian lands and further afield, reaching to the Far East.
The display in the British Museum’s John Addis Gallery will be open to the public until 22 January 2018. During a period of worldwide celebrations honoring the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, the British Museum exhibition opens another window into His extraordinary life and works and the immeasurable influence that His Word has had on the world.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1221,2017-11-14,"[1143, 1119, 1138]",UN condemns Iran’s human rights violations for 30th time,"UNITED NATIONS — A committee of the United Nations General Assembly today condemned Iran for its continuing violations of human rights, the 30th such resolution since 1985.
By a vote of 83 to 30 with 68 abstentions, the Third Committee of the General Assembly approved a five-page resolution expressing concern over illegal practices ranging from torture, poor prison conditions, arbitrary detention, and curbs on freedom of religion or belief to state-endorsed discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities as well as women.
The resolution expressed specific concern over Iran’s treatment of members of the Baha’i Faith, the country’s largest non-Muslim religious minority. It highlighted the economic and educational discrimination against them and called on Iran to release the more than 90 Baha’is who are unjustly held in Iranian prisons.
“We welcome this resolution and its strong condemnation of Iran’s ongoing human rights violations,” said Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.
“Despite the Iranian government shifting its strategy of oppression and supporting a vigorous public relations campaign to deny the existence of such violations, the resolution today shows that other governments have not been deceived and that Iran’s failure to heed international law remains high on the international agenda,” said Ms. Dugal.  By a vote of 83 to 30 with 68 abstentions, as shown at the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the resolution expressing concern over human rights violations in Iran was approved. Photo credit: UNThe resolution follows a strongly worded document from the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Asma Jahangir. Her 23-page report, released earlier this session, catalogued a broad range of rights violations by Iran.
Ms. Jahangir cited “serious human rights challenges” including “the arbitrary detention and prosecution of individuals for their legitimate exercise of a broad range of rights; the persecution of human rights defenders, journalists, students, trade union leaders, and artists; a high level of executions, including of juvenile offenders; the use of torture and ill-treatment; widespread violations of the right to a fair trial and due process of law, especially before revolutionary courts; and a high level of discrimination against women and religious and ethnic minorities.”
She also highlighted the situation of Iranian Baha’is, noting that “members of the Baha’i community have continued to suffer multiple violations of their human rights.”
Ms. Jahangir in particular called attention to the case of Farhang Amiri, a Baha’i who was stabbed to death in September 2016 and whose confessed killers were swiftly released on bail.
“Despite the fact that they have been documented for years, these violations continue unabated and with full impunity, as shown by the release of the murderer of a Baha'i,” she said, referring to Mr. Amiri.
Ms. Jahangir’s report also noted that “thousands of Baha’is have been expelled from their jobs, with their pensions having been terminated, and have been banned from employment in the public sector.
“Companies are pressured to dismiss Baha’i employees, banks are forced to block the accounts of Baha’i clients, and Baha’i business licenses are either not issued, not extended, or deliberately delayed.”",UNITED NATIONS,,
1222,2017-11-16,"[1153, 1047, 1168]",Community galvanized as Temple’s construction proceeds,"AGUA AZUL, Colombia — The local Baha’i House of Worship in Norte del Cauca is rising out of the land, clearly visible to the village that has been awaiting its arrival.
Christina Mosquera’s daily bus route from Santander de Quilichao to Puerto Tejada passes through Agua Azul and by the Temple site. Often she hears the route’s travelers, many from neighboring villages, wondering about the edifice under construction. “They ask whether it is a hospital, a recreation center, or a school,” said Ms. Mosquera, a Baha’i from the region who has been involved with the work of the reforestation project on the Temple land.
The heightened awareness is connected to recent significant progress on the construction of the House of Worship. The structure has become much more visible to those passing on the road below the Temple site, on foot, by bus, or otherwise. The Temple’s central edifice is now a tangible form—the concrete structure has been completed and nine timber masts have been raised. The masts form the inner dome of the House of Worship and are crowned by a steel ring-beam in which the Greatest Name will be encased.  Bonds of unity and cooperation have been strengthened in Norte del Cauca through efforts to build the Temple and strengthen community life.Every day through the window of the bus, Ms. Mosquera has watched the Temple’s construction advance since it began in January. In light of the burgeoning curiosity about the structure, she arranged with her bus drivers to be able to share information about the Temple with fellow passengers. The bus often slows down while passing the property so she has time to speak about the House of Worship.
“I tell them that the House of Worship is being built there—a center for all the souls to connect with God, to connect with the creator,” said Ms. Mosquera. “People ask if everyone can really come to the House of Worship, and I tell them yes, everyone can come and pray.”
Bonds of unity and cooperation have been strengthened in Norte del Cauca through the processes set in motion by the Temple project and the dynamic community-building activities in surrounding villages and towns. During the recent celebrations for the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, the village’s numerous festivities attracted hundreds to activities ranging from acts of service, such as planting 200 trees, to invitations for community prayer and worship.“At a time of so many crises in the region and in the world, the Baha’i House of Worship stands apart for its potential for social good.”—Journalist Raúl CharáA House of Worship expresses the coherence between the natural environment of the region and the life of the community. This relationship is symbolized most visibly through the Temple’s design, which was inspired by the cocoa pod, a plant that grows abundantly in Colombia. Yet many aspects of the Temple project strive to evince this unity through their systems—efforts have been made for the House of Worship and its auxiliary structures, for example, to receive between 70 to 100 percent of their power from solar panel systems.
On the land where the House of Worship sits is a forest where the community has been undertaking an initiative to reintroduce native vegetation to the area. The natural flora had been previously decimated by years of monoculture plantations, but in the years since the reforestation project has begun, a number of plants have been recovered, some of which had been thought to be almost entirely lost to the northern region of Colombia.
“The Temple is a unique project,” said journalist Raúl Chará at a recent press conference. “At a time of so many crises in the region and in the world, the Baha’i House of Worship stands apart for its potential for social good.”",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1223,2017-11-20,"[816, 1220, 1170]",Structure & spirit: Italian museum features Baha’i architecture,"VICENZA, Italy — The Palladio Museum hosted an exhibition this month featuring several of the most iconic buildings of the Baha’i Faith, built with Italian marble.
The exhibition, titled “Architecture and Marble: Dialogue Between Ingenuity and Matter,” was organized by Margraf, the Italian company that cut and chiseled the marble for the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the International Baha’i Archives building, the terraces in the Baha’i Gardens in Haifa, and the Continental Baha’i Houses of Worship in India and Samoa.
Formerly known as Industria Marmi Vicentini, the company, which was founded in Chiampo, Italy, was established in 1906. Over the more than 100 years of its existence, it has had the opportunity to work with numerous architects on extraordinary projects.
“Among its many big projects all over the world, Marmi Vicentini felt that the work with the Baha’is has been especially meaningful,” said architect Sohrab Youssefian, referring to the special opportunity to explore over the decades how spiritual principles can give rise to new forms of architectural expression, which have touched and inspired hundreds of millions of people.  Paolo Marzotto, former president of Industria Marmi Vicentini and 92 years old, cuts the ribbon at the reception opening the Palladio Museum exhibition. On the right is Silvio Xempero, the general director of Margraf.The buildings featured in the exhibition have aimed to reflect the intangibility of the sacred in physical structures. Concepts central to Baha’u’llah’s teachings, such as the oneness of humankind, the essential harmony of science and religion, the coherence between material and spiritual dimensions of life, and the power of the sacred to inspire humanity’s noblest endeavors, are embodied in these architectural feats.
“Spirituality is not an abstract thing. It is the noblest matter of man,” said Mr. Youssefian at the exhibition’s opening reception.
Having worked with Margraf throughout the decades as a representative of the Baha’i community, Mr. Youssefian was visibly moved by the exhibition, which demonstrated the extraordinary results of many years of fruitful collaboration.
“I was struck by the opportunity to reflect again on these architectural achievements,” explained Mr. Youssefian. “They call to mind a verse from Baha’u’llah, in which he says that even the stones of the earth today call humanity to the divine.”
The relationship between the work of the Baha’i community and the northeastern region of Italy stretches back to the 1940s when marble from Chiampo was used to build the mausoleum of the Shrine of the Bab. During his ministry, Shoghi Effendi used Chiampo marble for the Monument Gardens in Haifa on Mount Carmel. After his own passing, arrangements were made for the column in London marking the resting place of the Guardian to be fashioned from the same stone.
The exhibition included archival materials, such as original designs, charts, documents, photos, and videos. Part of the exhibition was dedicated to the technical evolution of the company’s work, which has advanced significantly over the last century.
Hossein Amanat and Fariborz Sahba, two Baha’i architects who designed the featured buildings, were also present at the reception and addressed the audience.
“Architecture and Marble: Dialogue between Ingenuity and Matter” was open between 19 October and 19 November 2017, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, celebrated last month by millions around the world. The exhibition received widespread media coverage in Italy and was attended by around 1,000 visitors—attracting particular attention from those in the field of architecture.",VICENZA,,Italy
1224,2017-11-30,"[1008, 1121, 1207]",Special session marks bicentenary in Brazil’s Congress,"BRASILIA, Brazil — In an extraordinary display of solidarity, 10 members of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, representing eight political parties, gathered for a special session of Congress to speak, one after another, about the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah.
Held in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, the event—referred to as a Solemn Session—brought together over 350 people from 20 of Brazil’s 27 states. Included among them were representatives of two major indigenous groups, who had come on behalf of their people to honor the historic anniversary.
“To immerse oneself in Baha’u’llah’s teachings is to be immersed in the purest of humanity’s contributions to the world,” stated Congresswoman Erika Kokay in her remarks at yesterday morning’s event.
“The Baha’i community is, in a very concrete sense, intimately aware of the sufferings of humanity and at the same time of the nobility and beauty of the human condition. It is this beauty that gives us hope for the construction of a just and equal world,” she continued.  The Solemn Session was attended by over 350 people. During the event, 10 congressmen and women, from eight political parties, spoke about the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah.The special session, which was originally planned for some 50 minutes, ran for nearly two hours, as a series of representatives of the Chamber of Deputies—the lower house of Brazil’s National Congress—explored Baha’u’llah’s teachings for the betterment of the world and shared aspects of His life. Many of them were deeply moved and emotional as they addressed the diverse audience.
Noting Baha’u’llah’s central teachings, Congressman Chico Alencar spoke about the importance of the constructive contributions of true religion to social progress. Mr. Alencar also highlighted the sufferings of Baha’u’llah, explaining that throughout His life, Baha’u’llah endured oppression in order to bring teachings that would free humanity from it.
Many of the speakers remarked on the extraordinary, rarefied environment of the session.
“The atmosphere of reverence, the respect for the sacred, and the unified attention of all present, struck us deeply,” explained Carolina Cavalcanti, representative of the Baha’i community in Brazil. “Many of the congressmen mentioned how unusual it was that representatives from such divergent political parties could find themselves in such a state of agreement.
“They found that the teachings of Baha’u’llah connected with their highest aspirations. They saw in these principles what is important for promoting the well-being of humankind,” said Ms. Cavalcanti.In an unusual break in protocol, one of the Congressman presiding over the session, summoned the Secretary of the National Assembly of the Baha’is of Brazil to the podium to address all present.
Congressman Luis Couto, who together with his colleague Erika Kokay had called for the Solemn Session, read out the statement of the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo Maia, for the occasion:
“Many of the teachings of Baha’u’llah are present in our legal system like the equality of men and women, the elimination of prejudices of race, gender, social class, and others. Some of these ordinances that are part of our Constitution were proffered by Baha’u’llah in the nineteenth century.”
“Baha’u’llah proposed a world unifying vision as the solution for many of the current troubles of humanity,” continued the statement. “He did this long before the creation of the United Nations, the European Union, and many other mechanisms of global integration. Actually, his objective was loftier than political and commercial alliances. He envisioned the brotherhood of all religions and ethnic groups through the spiritualization of the human character.”
Yesterday was not the first time the Baha’i Faith was recognized by Brazil’s highest legislative body. In 1992, a Solemn Session was held to pay tribute to Baha’u’llah on the centenary of His ascension.",BRASILIA,,Brazil
1225,2017-12-05,"[1198, 1217, 977]",Third member of Yaran completes 10 year sentence,"BIC NEW YORK — Behrooz Tavakkoli, one of the seven members of the former leadership group of the Baha’is in Iran who were imprisoned due to religious beliefs, has completed his unjust 10-year prison sentence. Mr. Tavakkoli is the third member of the Yaran to leave prison.
Mr. Tavakkoli, 66, was part of the ad-hoc group known as “the Yaran,” or the Friends, which tended to the basic spiritual and material needs of the Iranian Baha’i community and was formed with the full knowledge and approval of authorities there after formal Baha’i institutions were declared illegal in Iran in the 1980s. He and five other members of the group were arrested in May 2008 after an early morning raid on their homes. Another member, Mahvash Sabet, was arrested two months earlier, in March 2008.  Behrooz Tavakkoli with his wifeAside from Mr. Tavakkoli, Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi have also been released from prison. The four remaining members of the Yaran who are expected to complete their sentences in the coming months include Jamaloddin Khanjani, 84; Afif Naeimi, 56; Saeid Rezai, 60; and Vahid Tizfahm, 44.
Mr. Tavakkoli experienced discrimination for being a Baha’i throughout his life, which mirrors the situation for the Baha’i community in Iran in the present day. After studying psychology and serving in the army as a lieutenant, he faithfully cared for the physically and mentally disabled as a government social worker, yet was expelled in the early 1980s because he was a Baha’i. Today, not only are Baha’is excluded from employment in the public sector as well as various professions in the private sector, Baha’i-owned shops and businesses are regularly sealed by the authorities after they are temporarily closed to observe Baha’i Holy Days. In the last few years alone, hundreds of such businesses have been sealed, depriving scores of families of an income.
Prior to his current imprisonment, he also experienced intermittent detainment and harassment and, in 2005, was jailed for four months without charge, spending most of the time in solitary confinement. In recent months, arrests of Baha'is have been intensifying in cities such as Kermanshah, Birjand, and Rasht, and today, approximately one-hundred Baha’is are held in prisons across Iran solely because of their religious beliefs.
(Editor’s note: On 6 December 2017, two photos were added to the story.)",BIC NEW YORK,,
1226,2017-12-10,"[1144, 1197, 1165]",Faith and peace explored in Pakistan,"ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Religion has a unique power to inspire individuals and communities to work for peace. It can reach the roots of motivation and elicit heroic acts of love and service to humanity.
This was the central message of the Baha’i representative at the recent International Seerat Conference held in Pakistan on 2 December 2017.  More than 1,000 people, including representatives of the Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Baha’i faiths attended the event organized by the Pakistan Government’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
Representing the Baha’i International Community, Suzan Karaman spoke about the timeliness of bringing together people of diverse religious beliefs.  Representing the BIC at the International Seerat Conference, Suzan Karaman spoke about the power of religion to inspire individuals and communities to work for peace.“These kinds of spaces open new possibilities. Here, not only can we discuss the importance of dialogue, unity, and love for humanity, we can also show it in action,” said Ms. Karaman at a special evening gathering on interreligious harmony.
“It is important that we learn to draw on the constructive powers of religion to channel human endeavors toward peace,” she continued, as she addressed diverse religious leaders in the session. “The Baha’i International Community and the Baha’i community of Pakistan stand ready to work for peace in Pakistan and the world.”
Many representatives at the evening session recognized the challenges posed by intolerance and prejudice and discussed the importance of promoting a culture of mutual respect.
“There was a general acknowledgement that all religions emphasize the need to see each other first and foremost as human beings,” said Ms. Karaman, after the event. “This is essential if we are to work for unity and ultimately peace.”
In her comments in the evening program, she acknowledged the efforts of many faith communities to contribute to societal harmony and emphasized the concept of love, which lies at the heart of every faith.
“The violence being perpetrated in the world in the name of religion has nothing to do with true religion,” she said.
The conference took place on the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. The President of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain, gave the keynote address.",ISLAMABAD,,Pakistan
1227,2017-12-16,"[1165, 1090, 1073]",Exploring vistas beyond mere tolerance,"ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Hoda Mahmoudi, holder of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, recently joined five other international scholars and a number of faith representatives for a critical exploration of the concept of ""tolerance"" in socially and religiously diverse societies. The venue was the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Institute in the UAE.
Titled ""Tolerance in the UAE: Histories and Reflections on Religious Tolerance and the Modern Nation-State,"" the workshop explored how tolerance is deployed and framed in modern states and how that compares with the lived experiences of religious minorities.
""The traditional understanding of tolerance does not offer a solution for the increasingly complex issues of our time,"" said Prof. Mahmoudi in her lecture at the event. She emphasized the need for new theories and conceptions of how society should be organized and how relationships between people should be conceived for the building of deeper and more solid foundations for peace.  Current holder of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace, Prof. Hoda Mahmoudi (center), presented at two events in the United Arab Emirates last month.""Globalization seems to be pushing aside old institutions that are unable to respond to a rapidly changing world. A new paradigm is needed to explore the axes that divide and to find common areas of understanding that unite,"" she explained. ""This approach allows for the sharing of common characteristics amongst societies, while also accepting that modernity can take on multiple forms and patterns of institutionalization.""
Prof. Mahmoudi also discussed religion's place in the global transformations under way. ""The theory of secularization that was popular in Western academic discourse in the 1960s and 1970s-the idea that as societies became more modern, religion would simply disappear-has been rejected. It is clear that religion remains a central element of the lives of many people in modern societies, and that religious diversity is increasing.
""The question is no longer simply the place of religion in the increasingly contested and changing institutional configurations of states and national cultures, but the contribution of religion in the construction and integration of an interconnected global society,"" she concluded.
NYUAD professor Justin Stearns, who co-organized the event, writes that ""the workshop brought together representatives of different religious communities in the UAE with academics who work on the roles religion and religious tolerance play in the modern state.
""The workshop was successful in putting these two distinct communities into intense conversation and in throwing light on the various historical trajectories of religious communities in the UAE. In addition, the comparative examples that were discussed helped contextualize the promise and limitations of the very concept of tolerance itself.""
Faith representatives from Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Baha'i, Sikh, and Hindu communities in the United Arab Emirates attended the workshop on 13-14 November 2017. It was one of two events that involved the Baha'i Chair in the UAE that week. The second was a panel on the role of women in creating inclusive societies, held at the Dubai International Financial Center on 18 November.
A video about the Baha'i Chair for World Peace is available here.",ABU DHABI,,United Arab Emirates
1228,2017-12-18,"[1149, 1103, 964]","Hartmut Grossmann, 1933–2017","BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Hartmut Grossmann, former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away on 17 December in Germany. He was 84 years old.
The House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies on 17 December.* * *Our hearts are grieved to learn of the passing of our dearly loved former colleague Hartmut Grossmann.  A distinguished son of an illustrious father, he poured out his life in uninterrupted service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, as a teacher, pioneer, and member of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Germany and Finland, the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe, the International Teaching Centre and, ultimately, of the Universal House of Justice.  He combined immense personal warmth, generosity of spirit, and serene humility with utter consecration, unwavering obedience, firmness in the Covenant, and vigilance in the protection of the Faith.  His cheerfulness and dedication touched and inspired the hearts of all those who crossed his path, and heightened their enthusiasm for service.  His tireless efforts to raise pioneers and nurture nascent Bahá’í communities left a legacy that will be felt for generations.
We are ardently supplicating at the Sacred Threshold that his noble soul may be richly rewarded and that he may be joyously reunited with his beloved wife, Ursula, who so recently ascended to the Abhá Kingdom.  We extend our deepest condolences to his dear daughters, Kerstin, Claudia, Anke, Maren, and Barbara and their families, and will pray that their grieving hearts may be solaced.  The friends everywhere are advised to hold befitting memorial gatherings, including commemorative services in his honour in all Houses of Worship.
The Universal House of Justice",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1229,2017-12-21,"[1221, 1119, 1138]","For 30th time, UN General Assembly censures Iran for persecution of Baha’is","UNITED NATIONS — On Tuesday 19 December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly called on Iran to end ongoing violations of human rights, including its persecution of members of the Baha’i Faith, the country’s largest non-Muslim religious minority.
The call came in a resolution, adopted by a vote of 81 to 30, with 70 abstentions, that expressed concern over Iran’s ongoing violations of human rights. It was the 30th such resolution since 1985.
Among other things, the five-page resolution censured Iran for illegal practices including torture, poor prison conditions, arbitrary detention, curbs on freedom of religion or belief, and state-endorsed discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities.  United Nations vote tally board for the General Assembly resolution on IranThe resolution expressed specific concern over Iran’s treatment of Baha’is. It highlighted the economic and educational discrimination against them and called on Iran to release the more than 90 Baha’is who are unjustly held in Iranian prisons.
The UN resolution urges Iran to cooperate with the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran. This year’s report of the special rapporteur, Asma Jahangir, cited “serious human rights challenges” in Iran. A report to the Assembly from UN Secretary General António Guterres this year also expressed serious concern about a wide range of human rights violations by Iran.
The Assembly’s Third Committee initially approved the resolution on 12 November 2017; this vote by the Assembly as a plenary body confirms its final adoption.
The resolution was sponsored by Canada, and it had 42 co-sponsors.",UNITED NATIONS,,
1230,2017-12-31,"[1124, 1155, 1146]","African leaders address education, empowerment for children","KHARTOUM, Sudan — African leaders, concerned with the state of children on the continent, gathered to discuss child rights and welfare at a major biannual summit this month.
Government representatives from Sudan, Angola, Cameroon, and Sierra Leone joined United Nations agencies, NGOs, and media organizations at the regional meeting in Khartoum. Among these actors was the Baha’i International Community Addis Ababa Office, which was able to offer a distinct perspective on the subject.
“The Baha’i International Community, of course, is not here to create policy,” said BIC Representative Solomon Belay. “However it is our aim to highlight and explore some of the principles underpinning the pressing matter of the welfare and prosperity of children.”
These principles include promoting the education of the girl child, preserving the dignity and nobility of every human being, emphasizing the importance of both spiritual and material education, and ultimately the fundamental oneness of humanity.  Participants at the gathering of African leaders to address child rights and welfare.This month’s summit was hosted by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). It is a space for government and policy leaders to gather and regularly consider the work of the United Nations initiatives to safeguard the rights of children. Although still relatively new, the regional BIC office in Addis Ababa has been endeavoring over the past few years to bring insights from the growing body of experience of the global Baha’i community to the African stage.
The work of Baha’i communities throughout Africa prioritizing moral, spiritual, and intellectual education for children informed the BIC’s contribution to the ACERWC summit earlier this month in Khartoum.
At the center of the Baha’i contribution to the summit was raising the critical importance of empowering young people, safeguarding their well-being in society, and nurturing a socially-minded generation.
“In order to realize the greatest potential of children and youth, it is imperative for society to come together to support the spiritual and moral development of young people on the continent,” said Dr. Belay.",KHARTOUM,,Sudan
1231,2018-01-02,"[1214, 1190, 1175]",2017: A momentous year for the Baha’i world,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — 2017 was a year of far-reaching developments in the Baha’i world.
Houses of Worship
Less than a year after the inauguration of the last continental House of Worship in 2016, the first local Baha’i Temple was dedicated in Battambang, Cambodia, in September.
“A new dawn is breaking,” wrote the Universal House of Justice about the occasion.  Read the coverage of the inauguration ceremony, including an interview with the Temple’s architect.In Norte del Cauca, Colombia, a community is preparing for its own local House of Worship. Construction began in January and has progressed significantly in the months since. Video footage shows the Temple during various stages of construction.
In a remarkable moment for the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, the design for the local Temple was unveiled in June. Over a thousand people gathered on the island to celebrate the design’s unveiling.  Many of the Tanna’s inhabitants were dressed in traditional costumes to welcome the unveiling of the Temple design in June.Since the continental House of Worship for South America opened to the public just over a year ago, it has received an astonishing 500,000 visitors. Over 75,000 visited in October alone, when the bicentenary celebrations were held. It has also received a number of prestigious architectural awards. But even more striking than these recognitions and the hundreds of thousands of visitors is the timeliness of a structure that embodies the concepts of unity and oneness.  A striking sight from July—the House of Worship surrounded by snowBicentenary
The 200th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s birth created a moment of pause. It offered not only a chance to celebrate His life, but also an opportunity to reflect on the implications of His teachings for the life of humanity and to look back at the emergence of the world religion He founded, tracing its unfoldment from tumultuous origins in 19th century Persia to its rise as a global faith that unites an incredibly diverse set of communities in one common enterprise.  Celebrations of the bicentenary were captured on bicentenary.bahai.org.The aim of Baha’u’llah’s teachings is essentially this bringing together of humanity to contribute to the emergence of a world civilization founded on the recognition of the oneness of mankind.
“Baha’u’llah asks each of us to develop a sense of world citizenship, and a commitment to stewardship of the earth. As Baha’is, you have the knowledge that can pave the way for a brighter future for generations to come, and now, more than ever, the voices of the followers of Baha’u’llah need to be heard,” said Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations Laura Elena Flores Herrera at the Baha’i International Community bicentenary gathering held in New York.  A gathering in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, to commemorate the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth  Thai Princess Soamsawali watches a dance performance at a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s birth in Bangkok.A film produced for the occasion, Light to the World, was shown at screenings in every corner of the earth in settings from homes to theaters to stadiums. “After watching the film, I saw that people all around the world are doing these activities, and I realized how blessed I am to be included among those who have come across and are studying Baha’u’llah’s words,” said one young person in Japan after viewing the film.
Glimpses of the remarkable celebrations from around the world are captured on bicentenary.bahai.org, where a letter from the Universal House of Justice written for the occasion is also available.Engaging with society
Messages from some 200 public officials written on the occasion of the bicentenary were received by Baha’i communities around the world. Over 30 of these letters of recognition and support came from heads of state and government, and many addressed the contribution of Baha’is to the promotion of peace, social cohesion, equality, and education.  Some of leaders that addressed messages of support and recognition to the Baha’i community on the occasion of the bicentenary included heads of state and government. Top (left to right): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May; and first President of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda. Bottom (left to right): Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong; and former American President Jimmy Carter.At various gatherings attended by government leaders, NGOs, and faith groups, the Baha’i community offered its contribution to pressing matters, such as the role of religion in society, migration, peace, the environment, education, and gender equality.  Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, the Lower House of its National Congress, held a special event to honor the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.  Aydan Özoguz, Germany’s State Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Integration, speaking at an event co-hosted by the Baha’i community of Germany and the Anne Frank FoundationArts, culture, and publications
From exhibitions at well-known museums to celebrations of the contributions of artists, 2017 provided a glimpse of the power of the spiritual to inspire art. Countless creative expressions welled up from the grassroots in commemoration of the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth.  A classical music performance at a bicentenary celebration in Stockholm, SwedenFrom May through September, a retrospective of Baha’i artist Mark Tobey’s work was on display at the Guggenheim museum in Venice. Also at museums this year, an exhibition of Baha’u’llah’s writings opened at the British Museum in London. In Italy, the firm Margraf hosted a display at the Palladio Museum of several of the most iconic buildings of the Baha’i Faith, built with Italian marble.  Handwriting of Baha’u’llah on display at the British MuseumRenowned Baha’i musician Dizzy Gillespie, who would have been 100 this year, was remembered in multiple tribute concerts around the world. An interview with Gillespie’s longtime friend and colleague offered a look into the way the spiritual and social principles of the Faith influenced his music.
This year saw many publications from the Baha’i community. In January, Days of Remembrance, a compilation of Baha’u’llah’s writings for holy days was released for the first time in preparation for the bicentenary. A new edition of The Baha’is magazine was published in September, and an official website for the Baha’i community of Iran went online in February. Also on the web, the Baha’i World News Service launched a redesign of its website in March accompanied by a mobile application and podcast; the Baha’i Media Bank released a new collection of images in September; and the bicentenary website, which remains online as a historical record, captured celebrations from around the world.  A new edition of The Baha’is was published in September. Copies can be ordered online at the U.S. Baha'i Distribution Service website.Persecution of the Baha’i community
Throughout this year, which encompassed many occasions for celebration, Baha’i communities in Iran and Yemen continued to face persecution.  A group of five Baha’i women prisoners and five other prisoners of conscience created a white silk crochet in honour of the bicentenary. They then used the crochet to create a photographic composition to give voice to their sentiments.In April, authorities in the city of Sana’a ordered the arrest of over 25 Baha’is, including prominent tribal leader Walid Ayyash, whose whereabouts are still unknown. During the bicentenary, security forces raided a small Baha’i gathering, opening fire and arresting Akram Ayyash, Walid’s brother.
“The juxtaposition of these actions with the countless examples of joyful and uplifting celebrations by Baha’i communities around the world couldn’t be more striking,” said Bani Dugal, Representative of the BIC United Nations Office New York.
Persecution in Iran continued unabated throughout the year, including the systematic denial of university education to Baha’i youth, economic oppression of the Baha’i community, and other human rights violations.
As ten years of unjust imprisonment drew to a close, authorities began to release the former members of the Yaran, an ad-hoc leadership group that previously administered the affairs of the Baha’i community in Iran.  They were arrested in 2008. The group was formed with the full knowledge and approval of the authorities after formal Baha’i institutions were declared illegal in Iran in the 1980s. Mahvash Sabet, 64, Fariba Kamalabadi, 55, and Behrooz Tavakkoli, 65, have completed their prison sentences and left jail; however, four members still remain in prison.  Mahvash Sabet (left) and Fariba Kamalabadi (right) both recently concluded unjust prison sentences, on account of being members of the ad-hoc group known as the Yaran.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1232,2018-01-09,"[1036, 1118, 1163]",Outcry over appalling death sentence of Yemeni Baha’i,"SANA’A, Yemen — Over 100 known activists, lawyers, and leaders of thought have raised their voices over the past week in protest of the ordered death sentence of Yemeni Baha’i Hamed bin Haydara, unjustly imprisoned four years ago for his religious beliefs.
Mr. Haydara was sentenced to public execution by the Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a on 2 January. The local judge also called for the dissolution of all elected Baha’i institutions, placing the entire Baha’i community in imminent danger.
Yet, in the wake of this outrageous sentence in Sana’a, a city controlled by the Houthis, a wave of support throughout the region for the Baha’i community in Yemen has gained momentum.
Particularly noteworthy has been the response in the Arab world. Prominent media organizations there have publicized the case, characterizing the charges against Mr. Haydara as a clear and serious violation of human rights. A petition was launched and has so far gathered numerous signatures of leaders and well-known individuals in the region. The Yemeni Initiative for Defending Baha’i Rights, an activist group that was formed in April, has reached tens of thousands in the country through publishing posts about the case.
“Numerous reports clearly point to the insidious involvement of the Iranian authorities in Yemen’s persecution of the Baha’i community,” said Bani Dugal, Representative of the Baha’i International Community United Nations Office in New York.
This ruling is unprecedented in the persecution of the Baha’is in Yemen and mirrors acts of injustice faced by the Baha’i community in Iran.
Mr. Haydara was arbitrarily arrested at his workplace on 3 December 2013 and has been in prison since. His case has been notable for its complete lack of due process.
The Yemeni Baha’i community has been increasingly persecuted by the authorities in Sana’a in recent years. Currently, six other Baha’is are in prison in Sana’a and have been denied basic human rights.",SANA’A,,Yemen
1233,2018-01-16,"[1063, 1164, 1059]",A vision of peace: Stories from the Democratic Republic of the Congo,"KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — The sun rises in the Congolese village of Ditalala, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air. For generations, the people of this village have been drinking coffee, which they grow themselves, before heading out to work on their farms. Over the past few years, this morning tradition has come to take on a deeper significance. Many families in the village have been inviting their neighbors to join them for coffee and prayers before starting the day.
“They’ve transformed that simple act of having a cup of coffee in the morning,” says a recent visitor to Ditalala, reflecting on her experience. “It was truly a community-building activity. Friends from the neighboring houses would gather while the coffee was being made, say prayers together, then share the coffee while laughing and discussing the issues of the community. There was a sense of true unity.”  Neighbors enjoy a morning coffee together in Ditalala.The central African nation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced, for over a century, a series of violent struggles. The most recent war from 1998–2002 is estimated to have claimed over 5.4 million lives, making it the world’s deadliest crisis since World War II. For the last two years, it has been the country with the highest number of people displaced by conflict—according to the United Nations, approximately 1.7 million Congolese fled their homes due to insecurity in the first six months of 2017 alone.
Yet, there are communities throughout the country that are learning to transcend the traditional barriers that divide people. Inspired by Baha’u’llah’s teachings, they are striving for progress both material and spiritual in nature. They are concerned with the practical dimensions of life, as well as with the qualities of a flourishing community like justice, connectedness, unity, and access to knowledge.
“What we are learning is that when there are spaces to come together and discuss the teachings of Baha’u’llah in relation to the challenges facing their community, people will come and consult about what we can do together to find solutions to our problems,” reflects Izzat Mionda Abumba, who has been working for many years with educational programs for children and youth.
“When everyone is given access to these spaces, there is nothing that separates us—it’s no longer about who are Baha'is and who are not Baha'is. We are all reading these writings and in discussing them we find the paths to the solutions for whatever we are doing. Inspiration comes from these writings and directives,” he says.
The story of this country is a remarkable one. The process which is unfolding seeks to foster collaboration and build capacity within all people—regardless of religious background, ethnicity, race, gender, or social status—to arise and contribute to the advancement of civilization. Among the confusion, distrust, and obscurity present in the world today, these burgeoning communities in the DRC are hopeful examples of humanity’s capacity to bring about profound social transformation.  In Ditalala, villagers prepare for the day by gathering for prayers.A path to collective prosperity
The village of Walungu is in South Kivu, a province on the eastern side of the country, bordering Rwanda and Burundi. In recent years, a spirit of unity and collaboration has become widespread among the people of Walungu. They pray together in different settings, bringing neighbor together with neighbor, irrespective of religious affiliation. This growing devotional character has been complemented by a deep commitment to serving the common good.
At the heart of Walungu’s transformation has been the dedication of the village to the intellectual and spiritual development of the children.
Walungu is a remote area of the country. Years ago, the community was not satisfied with the state of formal education available for their children. In response, a group of parents and teachers established a school in the village with the assistance of a Baha'i-inspired organization that provides teacher training and promotes the establishment of community-based schools.
Distinct from traditional educational institutions, community schools, such as the one in Walungu, are initiated, supported, and encouraged by the local community. Parents, extended family, other members of the community, and even the children have a deep sense of ownership and responsibility for the functioning of their school.
When the school opened in 2008, it was comprised of only one grade taught by a single teacher. After a year, the community was able to add another grade and employ a second teacher. Gradually, the school grew, adding more students, grades, and teachers. Today, it is a full primary school with over 100 students.  A teacher presents a lesson in a community school in Walungu, Democratic Republic of Congo.However, the community faced certain challenges as the school began to grow larger. They did not have the funds to pay the teachers a salary or take care of the school. Realizing that something needed to be done to support the school financially, they called a meeting with all the parents and others involved. At the meeting, the director of the school suggested that he could teach them how to weave baskets, and that if they could sell the baskets in the market they would have some funds that could be used to pay the school fees. Sixty-seven parents signed up, happy at the prospect of learning a new skill and being able to support their children’s education themselves. To this day, all of them are still weaving baskets, which are sold in the markets of the surrounding villages.
Basket-weaving has remained a collective activity—typically, the parents gather to work on them together, sometimes teaching each other new weaving techniques. And these gatherings have become something more. They are a space to talk about spiritual and profound matters as well.
“The women and men are not coming only to weave,” explains Mireille Rehema Lusagila, who is involved in the work of building healthy and vibrant communities. “They begin with a devotional meeting, they read holy writings together. They are improving their literacy, teaching each other how to read and write. The people there have told me that this activity is helping them not only to progress in a material sense but also on a spiritual level.”  Members of the community in Walungu weave baskets and sell them in the markets to raise funds for the functioning of their community school.Towards unity, youth lead the way
Along the eastern border of the country in the Kivu region, young people are taking ownership of the development of the next generation. In the village of Tuwe Tuwe, there are 15 youth working with some 100 young adolescents and children, helping them to develop a deep appreciation for unity and navigate a crucial stage of their lives.
For several years, youth have been at the vanguard of transformation in this community. In 2013, a group of young Baha'is and their friends returned from a youth conference with a great desire to resolve the tension and hostility between their villages.“We believe that our villages are capable of...living like the children of one same family.”—Youth in Tuwe TuweAt the conference, the group studied themes essential to a unified community, such as the importance of having noble goals, the idea of spiritual and material prosperity, the role of youth in serving and improving their localities, and how to support each other in undertaking meaningful action.
In reflecting on the experience, Mr. Abumba, who travels often in the region to support Baha'i-inspired educational programs, shares a story about how these young people became a force for unity.
“When these youth returned to their respective communities they saw that hostilities were increasing between their two villages because of conflict over their agricultural fields. The youth asked themselves: ‘what can we do to find a solution and help the adults understand that we should live in harmony?’ And they decided to take action together,” says Mr. Abumba.
“The idea they came up with was to organize a football match involving the youth of both villages and to hold it in a field between the villages, in the hopes that the parents would come and watch. For them, it was not about who would win or lose the match. Their goal was to bring a large number of people from both villages together to the same place and to try to give a message about how to live in unity.”
These young people prepared for the match—they bought a football and created the teams of each village with members of different tribes. Finally, the moment came. Quite a big crowd from both villages turned up because it was a Sunday. Those watching were impressed by the way the youth played for the joy of the game.
“Then at the end of the match, the youth spoke to the crowd,” explains Mr. Abumba. “They said ‘You have seen how we played and how there was no conflict between the youth of one village and the youth of the other village. And we believe that our villages are capable of this, of living like the children of one same family.’ Then the chiefs of the villages took the stage and told those gathered that it was time to turn a new page and start to live and work together.
“In these villages, there are different tribes who are often in conflict,” Mr. Abumba concludes. “The people there are drawing on the teachings of Baha’u’llah to find ways to address these deep-rooted problems. And the Baha'i-inspired educational programs are giving youth in particular a voice to be a force for positive change in their communities.”
A village named ‘Peace’
A remote village in the central part of the country, Ditalala is connected to the closest town by a 25 kilometer path, sometimes travelled on foot, sometimes via off-road vehicle.
Susan Sheper, who has lived in the DRC since the 1980s, recalls that on her first visit to Ditalala 31 years ago, some Baha'is had come to meet her at the train and walk with her on the five-hour journey by foot to the village. “We got off the train and were just enveloped by this group of singing, happy Baha'is, and then they said to us, ‘Can you walk a little bit?’”
And with that Mrs. Sheper was on her way, with an escort of singing Baha'is, walking 25 kilometers through the night.
“It was an extraordinary experience,” Mrs. Sheper recalls, “and they never stopped singing, they would just move from one song to the next. You know, they have that experience of having to walk long distances, and it’s the singing that keeps you going because your feet just move to the rhythm.”  Music infuses every aspect of life in the village.Although at that time there was a vibrant Baha'i community in the village, which used to be called Batwa Ditalala, there were distinct barriers between different groups, including the Baha'is.
“So flash forward 31 years, and I went back to Batwa Ditalala,” says Mrs. Sheper. “And one of the things I learned very quickly was that it was no longer called Batwa Ditalala.”
The term Batwa refers to the Batwa people, who are one of the main “Pygmy” groupings in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They have been marginalized and exploited because of discrimination against them based on their hunter-gatherer way of life and their physical appearance. This has created a complex reality of prejudice and conflict wherever they live in close proximity to settled agricultural populations.
“But today, those barriers have been so broken down by Baha’u’llah’s teachings of oneness and the elimination of prejudice, they no longer call the village Batwa Ditalala. They just call it Ditalala,” Mrs. Sheper explains.
The word ditalala means peace in the local language—and the village itself has been transformed by a vision of peace.
“The people there told me that there used to be very distinct divisions between them in the village, but that because of Baha’u’llah’s teachings they don’t see themselves as different tribes anymore, they see themselves as being united,” Mrs. Sheper relates. “They told me that life is much better when there is no prejudice.”
Baha’u’llah’s teachings have reached almost everyone in Ditalala and their influence is evident in many dimensions of the lives of the population. Today, over 90 percent of the village participates in Baha'i community-building activities, ranging from coffee and prayers in the mornings to spiritual and moral education classes for people of all ages.
Ditalala’s chief often supports the activities of the Baha'i community. He encourages the community to gather for consultation, a central feature of decision-making for Baha'is.  Chiefs in the village of Ditalala, Democratic Republic of CongoThe people have also undertaken a number of endeavors to improve their social and material well-being, including agricultural, maternal healthcare, and clean water projects; constructing a road; and establishing a community school.
A luminous community
Throughout the DRC, tens of thousands of people have responded to the message of Baha’u’llah. The celebrations of the 200th anniversary of His birth in October were extraordinarily widespread—countless numbers participated in the festivities held across the country. It is estimated that as many as 20 million people saw the television broadcast of the national commemoration, attended by prominent government and civil society leaders.
The country has also been designated by the Universal House of Justice as one of two that will have a national Baha'i House of Worship in the coming years.
Amidst all of its recent developments, what stands out so vividly about the community is that it is moving forward together.",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1234,2018-01-25,"[1179, 1193, 865]",New educational facility opens at Baha’i Lotus Temple,"NEW DELHI, India — The Baha’i House of Worship is an institution at whose heart is the intimate connection between worship of God and service to humanity. At the Lotus Temple in New Delhi, this relationship is becoming more tangible with the inauguration of a new educational center on its grounds.
“The purpose of this center is to build community,” explains Shaheen Javid, General Manager of the House of Worship. The educational facility, which can accommodate hundreds, will be used to host camps, courses, and seminars for youth and young adults who are involved in efforts to improve their communities.
Inspired by the Baha’i principles of oneness of humankind and justice, thousands of youth in Delhi are at the heart of far-reaching community-building activities. Throughout the city, these young people are teaching classes for the spiritual education of children that develop in them a deep appreciation for the unity of all peoples, races, and religions. They also work with junior youth to develop their powers of expression and their capacities for service to their communities.“The purpose of this center is to build community.”—Shaheen Javid, General Manager of the House of WorshipBeyond their commitment to the next generation, many youth also organize prayer gatherings that bring neighbors together and foster social harmony, and they host and participate in classes that enable adults to explore the spiritual nature of existence and to take concrete action in service to their communities and society.
“These young people who are engaged in this process are coming to realize the importance of spiritual progress,” said Carmel Tripathi, the Director of the Office of Public Information at the House of Worship. “Now, when they are able to study at the new facility, they can start every day with prayers in the Temple.
“They are working together to transform their inner lives and outer conditions.”  Baha’i Houses of Worship are referred to as “the dawning-place of light” by ‘Abdu’l-Baha.The need for more spaces to gather, work, study, and pray has begun to emerge as the number of youth moved by this vision of unity and peace has grown in New Delhi. Previously, programs, seminars, and courses would be held on the grounds of the House of Worship on an ad hoc basis, using facilities that had been built there for other purposes, such as the accommodation of the Temple’s staff. With the opening of the new educational facility, many more will be able to attend these programs than was possible before.
“To have such a dynamic and flourishing movement of young people dedicated to service to their communities, many of whom come from the surrounding neighborhoods, meeting and learning together right here in the shadow of the Temple is something very special. It’s giving us a glimpse of what it means to have a House of Worship where a community can come to be focused on service and united in prayer,” said Tabriz Alam, who assists with the coordination of Baha’i educational efforts in New Delhi.
Beyond the opening of the educational facility, there have been other important developments at the House of Worship. Access to the Temple in New Delhi has been recently made easier by the opening of a new metro line with a stop in close proximity. The last time metro access was improved, in 2010, the number of annual visitors to the Temple grew from around 3 million to 5.6 million. Staff at the House of Worship anticipate a similar jump in numbers with the opening of the new line.
The Temple in New Delhi, which opened in 1986, receives 10,000–15,000 visitors on weekdays and over 35,000 on weekends. It is one of eight continental Baha’i Houses of Worship throughout the world. These edifices, including the local and national Temples that are beginning to emerge, embody the concepts of unity and oneness, and stand as lights in their communities.",NEW DELHI,,India
1235,2018-02-02,"[1151, 1140, 1209]","Poverty eradication only possible with structural transformation, says BIC","BIC NEW YORK — Ending poverty demands more than modifications in social and economic policies, no matter how skillfully conceived and executed these may be. It requires a profound rethinking of how the issue of poverty is understood and approached. This idea was at the heart of the remarks of a representative of the Baha’i International Community that opened the 56th UN Commission for Social Development on 29 January 2018.
“Humanity’s collective life suffers when any one group thinks of its own well-being in isolation from that of its neighbors,” said Daniel Perell, BIC representative and chairperson of the NGO Committee for Social Development, during the opening session of the conference in New York City.
“Rejection of this foundational truth leads to ills that are all too familiar,” continued Mr. Perell. “Self-interest prevails at the expense of the common good. Unconscionable quantities of wealth are amassed, mirrored by reprehensible depths of destitution.”  The United Nations’ 56th Commission for Social Development runs from 29 January to 7 February 2018.The 56th session of the Commission for Social Development, which concludes on 7 February, focuses on strategies for eradicating poverty. It explores many dimensions of this complex and vexing issue, including the necessity of realizing the equality of women and men, the promise and potential pitfalls of technology, issues of disability and inclusion, as well as the special role of families, communities, and youth.
The BIC prepared a statement for the Commission calling for a profound shift in thinking. Referring to the Commission’s aim of “eradicating poverty to achieve sustainable development for all,” the statement explains that it “is not simply a matter of expanding access to material resources, challenging as that can be. Rather, it is an endeavor of structural and social transformation on scales never attempted before. And the magnitude of that work calls for new ways of understanding individual human beings and society as a whole.”
The statement goes on to challenge the largely unquestioned assumption that a major obstacle to addressing poverty is a scarcity of material resources in the world.
“(A)t the systemic level, the assumption that ‘there isn’t enough money’ fundamentally misreads the relevant realities of the world. Financial resources are becoming increasingly concentrated in certain segments of society,” writes the BIC in its statement. “The challenge, then, is not one of scarcity, but rather the choices and values that must inform the allocation of resources.”
Beyond the question of financial resources, the BIC statement highlights the vast capacity latent in humanity to transform the world and ultimately solve its most perplexing challenges. To move in this direction, however, implies a new paradigm of thought, in which all people are seen as reservoirs of capacity that, when enabled, can contribute to the betterment of the world.
Many other organizations and individuals at the Commission are similarly questioning the prevailing patterns of thinking and action in efforts to end poverty. Former Director-General of the International Labour Organization and keynote speaker Juan Somavía, for example, spoke during the Commission about the need to revisit how people living in poverty are perceived. “Empowering people to be part of the process is not a mechanical thing, because you respect people, you understand that the dignity and the value of the human being is absolutely essential,” he said. “They have not lost their dignity because of the situation in which they find themselves, and they do not see themselves as a statistic.”
Speaking on the event, Mr. Perell commented, “the Commission continues to have great potential. It is a pleasure to be among so many government and civil society representatives who are proactively searching for new solutions and increasingly questioning the consequences of current structures. The test will be the degree to which these conversations can be further advanced at the international level and, perhaps more importantly, can begin reshaping thinking and practice at the national and local community levels.”",BIC NEW YORK,,
1236,2018-02-10,"[1119, 1181, 801]",Leading lawyers take Iran to task,"BIC GENEVA — In an open letter released yesterday, 25 prominent intellectuals and experts in human rights law called on Mohammad Javad Larijani, Head of the High Council for Human Rights in Iran, to acknowledge the long-standing state-sponsored persecution of Baha’is in Iran in light of newly-released and abundant evidence. Publication of the letter was first reported earlier today by British newspaper The Times.
The letter follows the recent launch of the Archives of Baha’i Persecution in Iran website, which compiles thousands of official documents, reports, testimonials, and audio-visual materials revealing irrefutable proof of relentless persecution. The new site was created in response to rising interest within and outside Iran to understand the depth and breadth of the persecution of Iran’s Baha’is.
Mr. Larijani has in the past brazenly denied that Baha’is are persecuted in Iran. The signed letter released today cites, as an example, Mr. Larijani's false statement in October 2014 at Iran’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN, during which he claimed that Iranian Baha’is “are dealt with under the so-called citizenship contract” and “enjoy all the privileges of any citizen of Iran.”
“The records found on the new website, however, present a different story,"" states the letter. Drawing on the body of evidence on the site, the signatories call on Mr. Larijani to “ensure justice, to examine the website, and reconsider...previous statements.”  A court verdict from the government’s Department of Justice regarding the murder of a Baha’i man which states that, “as the victim was a Baha’i at the time of accident… and the fact that the provision of blood money [diyeh] is only legally applicable to Muslims,” the accused is acquitted of charges.The information available on the archival website covers a wide range of violations by Iranian authorities, documenting systematic discrimination, arrest and imprisonment, execution, economic oppression, denial of education, acts of destruction and violence, and incitement to hatred.“(H)ow can the prevention of thousands of young people from access to university be considered fair?”—Open letter signed by 25 experts in human rights lawThe letter reminds Mr. Larijani that the Iranian Constitution requires the government and Muslims “to treat the non-Muslim individuals with good conduct, in fairness and Islamic justice, and must respect their human rights.” It pointedly asks, “(H)ow can the prevention of thousands of young people from access to university be considered fair? How can Islamic justice be upheld when efforts are made to exclude an entire community from participating in the economic life of their own country?”
“Such a diverse array of prominent individuals interceding on behalf of the Baha’is in Iran is deeply moving,” commented Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva. “We hope others will peruse the contents of this new website and respectfully raise their voices so that the Iranian authorities may give due consideration to the requirements of justice and truthfulness and take appreciable steps to bring the longstanding, systematic persecution of the Baha’is in Iran to an end.”
The open letter’s co-authors come from Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Further information can be found at www.bic.org.",BIC GENEVA,,
1237,2018-02-12,"[473, 496, 1221]",Champion of justice Asma Jahangir leaves legacy of courage,"BIC GENEVA — The Baha’i International Community has expressed its condolences for the passing of Asma Jahangir, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran and greatly-admired champion of the dignity and rights of all people. She passed away at the age of 66 in Lahore, Pakistan, on Sunday 11 February.
Mrs. Jahangir was highly regarded for her longstanding dedication to human rights and women’s rights throughout her life. She served as Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions from 1998 to 2004. Following this, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, during her time as the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief from 2004 to 2010. She was the first female leader of Pakistan’s Supreme Court bar association.
“Asma Jahangir was a staunch defender of the rights of the Baha’is in Iran from the time that she was Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief,” said Diane Ala’i, Representative of the BIC United Nations Office in Geneva.
“It was she who courageously brought to light the 29 October 2005 letter signed by the Chairman of Command Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces that ominously asked that Baha’is be identified and monitored,” Ms. Ala’i said.
“With her passing, humanity has lost a true champion of justice.”
Following her death, heartfelt tributes to her life have been expressed by people from around the world.",BIC GENEVA,,
1238,2018-02-16,"[1225, 1217, 1198]",Fourth member of Yaran released,"BIC NEW YORK — After ten years of unjust imprisonment for his beliefs, Saeid Rezaie, one of the seven members of the former leadership group of the Baha’is in Iran, has today completed his wrongful sentence.
Mr. Rezaie and six of his colleagues were arrested in 2008 after an early-morning raid on their homes. They were part of the ad hoc group known as “the Yaran” (the Friends) which tended to the basic spiritual and material needs of the Iranian Baha’i community. The group was formed with the knowledge and tacit approval of authorities after formal Baha’i institutions were declared illegal in Iran in the 1980s. Mr. Rezaie is the fourth individual from among the former Yaran to be released.
Now, after ten years, he returns to a society that has changed little in terms of its treatment of the Baha’i community.
“Although Mr. Rezaie and three other members of the Yaran have been released, the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran continues unabated,” said Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva. “From prison, Mr. Rezaie will go back to a community that is still under immense pressure from the government and faces discrimination and persecution for no other reason than belief in the Baha’i Faith.”  Saeid Rezaei completed an unjust 10-year prison sentence today.Before he was imprisoned, Mr. Rezaie, who is an agricultural engineer, ran a successful farming equipment business. He is one of the many members of the Baha’i community who has suffered injustice as a result of economic-related persecution. Baha’i-owned shops and businesses are regularly closed by the authorities after owners are harassed. In the last few years, hundreds of such businesses have been closed and scores of families have been deprived of an income. In an open letter to President Hassan Rouhani, the BIC referred to this discrimination as “economic apartheid.”
The three remaining members of the Yaran are expected to complete their sentences in the coming months. They include Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, 84; Mr. Afif Naeimi, 56; and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm, 44.
For more information, go to bic.org.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1239,2018-02-18,"[1114, 1064, 1195]",Irish President urges Baha’is to press on,"DUBLIN, Ireland — The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, hosted a delegation of some fifty Baha’is, including children, youth, and adults, at a reception on 12 February at his official residence.
During the gathering, which was hosted to celebrate the bicentennial year, President Higgins offered remarks, commenting warmly on his association with the Baha’i community and highlighting the teachings and principles of the Baha’i Faith.
Speaking of the Baha’i principle of the oneness of humankind, President Higgins said, “It is this commonality, this ‘oneness’ of the human race that inspires the Baha’i Faith, which is inspirational to us all.
“Your kindness and generosity in looking out for the vulnerable, reaching out to people of all faiths, and indeed those of no faith, is both inspiring and humbling. It takes wholehearted and sustained effort and a generosity of spirit to open our hearts and homes to those who are different by virtue of language, history, religion, politics, perspective, culture, or identity,” he continued.  Irish President Michael Higgins greets members of the Baha’i community at the reception for the bicentenary.At the reception, the National Assembly of the Baha’is of Ireland presented President Higgins with a hand-bound copy of a selection of the Baha’i writings translated into the Irish language, also known as Gaelic. The translation was published during the bicentenary period and happened to coincide with a nationwide effort to promote the Irish language.
President Higgins thanked the Baha’i community for the gift, mentioning that it was a “practical and positive contribution” to the nation’s efforts.
Member of the National Assembly Brendan McNamara also spoke at the event, sharing the aspirations and efforts of the Baha’i community to contribute its share to the betterment of society and to an increasingly unified and just world.“It is this commonality, this ‘oneness’ of the human race that inspires the Baha’i Faith, which is inspirational to us all.”—President Michael Higgins“The President’s remarks will serve both as an encouragement to the Baha’i community and also as a challenge—that we do not falter in our efforts to live by the noble principles that animate our efforts,” said Dr. McNamara.
In his concluding remarks at the reception, President Higgins addressed the Baha’is of Ireland, saying: “The work you do within your faith communities, the work you do in the civic space to explain the character and needs of those communities, the work you do in contributing to the strength and diversity of the civic space—these are all vital investments in breaking down the things that get in the way of healthy, flourishing, communal relations. I know you will continue to inspire and motivate young people, and ensure the Baha’i Faith will go from strength to strength, continuing to bring people together here and around the world.”",DUBLIN,,Ireland
1240,2018-02-22,"[1222, 1168, 1153]",Colombia Temple rises,"AGUA AZUL, Colombia — In Norte del Cauca, the local Baha’i House of Worship is rising from the land. As each day passes, its shape becomes more distinct, signaling the near completion of this highly-anticipated development for the region.
Significant progress has been made on the construction of the central edifice in recent weeks. The main structural components have been completed, work has begun on the flooring and wall finishes, and the placement of roof tiles has started.
The distinctive vertical ridged dome of the House of Worship and its rich terracotta coloring is evocative of the cocoa pod, which has special significance to the people of the region as a symbol of vitality, hospitality, and their relationship with the land.  Ancillary buildings at the House of Worship in Norte del Cauca are being painted in vibrant colors.The crowning piece of the Temple’s roof, symbolic of the cocoa flower, is currently under construction—when ready it will be installed and the Greatest Name symbol, a calligraphic rendering of the word ‘Baha,’ meaning glory, which is sacred to Baha’is, will be raised within it.
While the central edifice forms the heart of the Temple complex, a number of ancillary buildings are also being constructed. These buildings will support the endeavors of the local population to build capacity for service to humanity. The simple but elegant structures, which are painted in the bright colors traditional to the region, reflect the vibrancy of the communities throughout Norte del Cauca.
In its conception, the local House of Worship in Norte del Cauca is harmonious with the natural and social environment. For instance, solar energy will be harnessed to power all the buildings on the Temple complex, and the site incorporates a system that allows the reuse of rainwater such as for the ponds. Further, the central edifice has been designed as an open-air structure, with ornamental gates installed at the nine entrances to allow for natural cooling and ventilation. This openness further enhances the relationship between the sacred space of the interior and the beauty of the natural world beyond. Resting on a three-meter landscaped mound, the Temple will afford views onto the gardens, lakes, and native forest—regenerated by the project—all of which form the Temple complex, set against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains.",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1241,2018-02-27,[],European voices join global community to condemn persecution of Yemeni Baha’is,"BIC BRUSSELS — Over 100 Members of the European Parliament and national Parliaments throughout Europe have signed a statement calling for the immediate release of all Baha’i prisoners in Yemen, including Hamid bin Haydara, who was sentenced to death by public execution earlier this year. The letter is addressed to the Houthi authorities who control Sana’a, the capital city.
Against the backdrop of a recent wave of persecutions directed at the Baha’i community in Sana’a, the 103 signatories of the letter—including from Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom—have joined numerous voices around the world in condemning the actions of the Houthi authorities. Just last month, multiple UN human rights experts issued an appeal to the Houthi authorities to quash the sentence against Mr. Haydara. The European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights also addressed this matter in its session in January 2018.
Currently, seven Baha’is are in prison in Sana’a and have been denied basic human rights. Among them, Hamed bin Haydara has been held the longest. Mr. Haydara was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a, Yemen, on 2 January 2018. He has been in prison since December 2013, when he was arbitrarily arrested at his workplace. Mr. Haydara’s case has been notable for its complete lack of due process. At Mr. Haydara’s recent hearing, the local judge also called for the dissolution of all elected Baha’i institutions, placing the entire Baha’i community in danger.",BIC BRUSSELS,,
1242,2018-03-04,"[1078, 1195, 1239]",Celebration takes participants on journey of Baha’u’llah’s life and teachings,"KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The Baha’i community of Malaysia welcomed more than 300 guests for a creative exhibition on the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah. Held on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on 24 and 25 February 2018, the event commemorated the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah and welcomed Members of the Malaysian Parliament, the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, other religious leaders, and notable members of civil society organisations and governmental agencies.
Guests were guided through a series of thematic zones that followed the history of the Baha’i Faith and explored its central principles. The flow of ideas in the exhibition was inspired by the October 2017 message from the Universal House of Justice written for the bicentenary.
Datuk Lok Yim Pheng, a Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, commented on how the efforts of the Baha’i community to build communities at the grassroots were tangible expressions of the principle of the oneness of humankind.
She noted that this was the first time that she had seen the concept of the oneness of humankind presented in such a profound manner.  Guests at the commemoration moved through a series of “zones” in which they learned about various aspects of Baha’u’llah’s teachings and life. In zone 1, participants watched an opening video that oriented them before setting out on their journey through the exhibition.Another Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission, Jerald Joseph, shared that the Baha’i principles of consultation and independent investigation of truth were “important points that came out” from the event.
“Such a brilliant philosophy in religion,” he stated. He went on to say that “the Baha’i Faith emphasizes the sense of inquiry,” in contrast to a dogmatic and doctrinaire approach to truth. “That itself was seen through the journey presented in the exhibition,” Mr. Joseph said.
The arts featured prominently throughout the two days of the exhibition, especially in highlighting how spiritual principles have practical expression for social betterment. In one of the displays, two volunteers performed a short theatrical presentation explaining how, when in harmony, individuals, institutions, and communities can bring about profound constructive change. In another, a short clip from the film Light to the World was shown, followed by some remarks about the inseparable connection between individual and societal transformation.
The exhibition sparked thoughtful reflections on the part of many of the guests. Executive Committee Member of the Malaysian Youth Council Thai Ming Yeow emphasized the importance of promoting common ground for the betterment of the world.
Many of the over 300 visitors also expressed that they were impressed by the creative approach to the exhibition and how young people played such an important part in the event.
“In Malaysia, with people of diverse backgrounds we find that the arts are an excellent medium to connect hearts and touch souls across cultures and ethnicity,” said Ho Yuet Mee, member of the Baha’i Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia, commenting on the resourcefulness and creativity of the organizers.
“The exhibition was a testament to the power of unity as proclaimed by Baha’u’llah,” explained Dylane Ho, a representative of the Baha’i community of Malaysia. “For many, the conviction that the oneness of humanity is a reality rather than merely an ideal was deeply felt, not only in the presentations on the life of Baha’u’llah and the application of His Teachings, but also in the atmosphere created in the space itself.
“So many hearts have been connected through the forces released in this bicentennial period,” she continued.",KUALA LUMPUR,,Malaysia
1243,2018-03-12,"[1154, 1156, 1146]",Exploring an expanded conception of women’s empowerment,"BIC NEW YORK — It is time for a more expansive conception of women’s empowerment, asserts the Baha’i International Community in a new statement. The discourse on women’s empowerment must move beyond mere concern for the participation of women in the economic life of society, as important as this is, and look at releasing the vast potentialities of women for the progress of the world.
“(T)he path from doubt to self-confidence, from silence to voice, from passivity to action, cannot be understood only in terms of entering the labor market or integrating into a global production chain of one kind or another,” the statement says. “The development of capacity must concern itself with all aspects of human existence—economic as well as social, intellectual, cultural, spiritual, and moral.”
Titled “Beyond Mere Economics: A Moral Inquiry into the Roots of Empowerment,” the statement was prepared for the UN’s 62nd annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which begins today and comes on the heels of worldwide celebrations of International Women’s Day on 8 March.  The Baha’i International Community has released a statement for the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which begins today on 12 March. This image is from last year’s CSW, which also featured several noteworthy contributions from the BIC.This year’s CSW focuses on the empowerment of rural women. Highlighting this theme, the BIC statement draws on the insights of women in different settings around the world who are engaged in social transformation in their communities and societies.
Among its main recommendations, the statement proposes that educational systems need to be remodeled to release the full potential of women and assist them to develop “capabilities for service to the community and society.” Drawing on the experience of the worldwide Baha’i community, it proposes that as women become empowered and contribute to the transformation of their communities at many different levels, they become more visible, challenging pre-existing gender dichotomies and “inherited assumptions about social patterns and the roles played by women and men.”
“There are many examples around the world of instances in which women and men are working shoulder to shoulder as mutually respected partners,” says the statement.
Looking at the advancement of women in the broader context of the advancement of society as a whole, the statement explores a number of important questions.
“One issue before the Commission on the Status of Women, then, is replication of what is working. How can a culture in which women and men jointly and joyfully contribute to the common good be built in society after society,” asks the BIC’s statement.
“What is possible to achieve in local communities—not just in a few pilot programs or for the duration of a funding cycle but indefinitely into the future and all around the world?”
Examining such questions and their solutions will contribute to a global process of learning which will enable humanity to advance collectively on this issue, asserts the statement.
The Commission on the Status of Women runs from 12 to 23 March 2018.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1244,2018-03-17,"[1217, 1225, 1238]",Oldest member of Yaran completes decade-long imprisonment,"BIC NEW YORK — After a decade of unjust imprisonment and harsh treatment in Iranian prisons, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, 85, completed his ten-year sentence yesterday. He is one of the seven members of the former leadership group of the Baha’is in Iran known as the Yaran, who were jailed on false and baseless charges.
Mr. Khanjani, the oldest of the seven, is the fifth to be released since September 2017. The Yaran was an ad-hoc group which tended to the basic spiritual and material needs of the Iranian Baha’i community. It was formed with the full knowledge and approval of Iranian authorities after formal Baha’i institutions were declared illegal in Iran in the 1980s.
“Mr. Khanjani and the other members of the Yaran should have never been put in prison to begin with,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations. “They not only committed no crimes, but even contributed to the betterment of their communities and their country.”  Jamaloddin Khanjani (center) reunited with friends and familyBorn in 1933 in the city of Sangsar, Mr. Khanjani grew up on a dairy farm and eventually started a successful charcoal production business. He eventually established the first automated brick factory in Iran, ultimately employing several hundred people. In the early 1980s after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, he was forced to shut down that factory and abandon it, putting most of his employees out of work because of the persecution he faced as a Baha’i. The factory was later confiscated by the government.
In the 1990s, Mr. Khanjani was able to establish a mechanized farm on properties owned by his family. However, the authorities placed many restrictions on him, making it difficult to do business. These restrictions extended to his children and relatives and included refusing loans, closing their places of business, limiting their business dealings, and banning travel outside the country.
“The treatment accorded to Mr. Khanjani and other members of the Yaran throughout their lives represents the treatment suffered by the entire Baha’i community for generations,” said Ms. Dugal.
Iranian Baha’is continue to face the threat of arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, economic discrimination, and the denial of access to higher education. Economic-related persecution against them has particularly escalated in recent years resulting in what the Baha’i International Community has called, in an open letter to President Rouhani, an “economic apartheid against a segment of Iran’s population”.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1245,2018-03-20,"[1244, 1238, 1225]",Youngest member of Yaran completes ten year imprisonment,"BIC NEW YORK — Vahid Tizfahm completed his 10-year sentence yesterday. At 44, he is the youngest of the seven former Baha’i leaders in Iran who were unjustly imprisoned for their religious beliefs in 2008.
Mr. Tizfahm is the sixth member of the former group, known as the Yaran, to complete his sentence and be released. All seven members of the Yaran were arrested in March or May of 2008 and spent months in detention before receiving their charges. They were eventually sentenced to 10 years in prison through a legal procedure that lacked any semblance of due process.
“We are, of course, happy that Mr. Tizfahm and other members of the Yaran are reuniting with their families,” said Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva. “But there can be no joy over the fact that Mr. Tizfahm has spent a decade of his life in prison for no other reason than his faith–barred from his family, friends, and community in his 30s and 40s.
“It should also be absolutely clear that this step does not reflect an improvement in the situation of Iranian Baha’is as a whole,” said Ms. Ala’i, noting that they continue to face economic discrimination, are deprived of access to higher education, and remain subject to arbitrary arrest and imprisonment.
Mr. Tizfahm is an optician and was the owner of an optical shop in Tabriz, where he lived until early 2008, when he moved to Tehran.
He was born on 16 May 1973 in the city of Orumiyeh where he spent his childhood and youth. At the age of 23, he married Furuzandeh Nikumanesh. They have a young son, who was in the third grade when his father was arrested in 2008. As a result of his imprisonment, Mr. Tizfahm was not able to be present during some of the most important moments in his son’s life.
“The members of the Yaran, and indeed the entire Baha’i community in Iran, have endured enormous human rights violations at the hands of their government, which is, in reality, meant to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of its citizens,” stated Ms. Ala’i. “It’s unfortunate that, instead, it has taken every measure to deprive an entire segment of its population of the ability to live and contribute freely to the betterment of their country.”
Following the recent launch of the Archives of Baha’i Persecution in Iran website, a group of prominent lawyers and judges from around the world wrote to the head of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights calling to his attention the vast collection of documentary evidence of the oppression of the Baha’i community, which he has brazenly denied.
With Mr. Tizfahm’s release, only one member of the Yaran, Mr. Afif Naeimi, 55, remains in prison. His sentence is due to be completed in the coming months.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1246,2018-03-21,"[1066, 906, 1176]",Design of national temple unveiled at Naw-Ruz amidst great joy,"PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — In a historic event earlier today, the design for the national Baha’i House of Worship of Papua New Guinea (PNG) was unveiled. The House of Worship will be one of two national Baha’i temples to be constructed in the world in the coming years, signifying a new milestone for the Baha’i world community.
Some five hundred people gathered at the temple site in the capital city, Port Moresby, to honour this unprecedented occasion, which was celebrated at Naw-Ruz, the Baha’i New Year.
Traditional music and dance from representatives of various regions of the country imbued the celebration with joy and excitement. A group from Madina village, home of the first indigenous Bahá’í in PNG, performed a sacred dance to mark the occasion.
The program began with the chanting of a Baha’i prayer by a small chorus of youth. “From the vantage point of this elevated position overlooking the Waigani valley and the buildings and commerce in the distance and feeling the cool breeze in the heat of the day, these words of God were poignant indeed,” described one of the participants.  The national temple will be able to seat 350After an uplifting devotional program, the Secretary of the National Assembly of PNG gave a presentation on the concept of a House of Worship.
“In the Baha’i writings, the House of Worship is described as a collective center of society to promote cordial affection,” said Confucius Ikoirere, the National Secretary, in his opening remarks. “It stands as a universal place of worship open to all the inhabitants of a locality, irrespective of their religion, background, ethnicity, or gender.” Mr. Ikoirere also talked about the significance of the temple to community building and how it represents the coherence between service and worship and is unique in the annals of religion.
Originally from New Zealand, Rodney Hancock—one of two individuals who brought the Baha’i Faith to PNG in the 1950s—was asked to unveil the temple design before the audience.
A group of women from Mount Brown sang a song in their traditional language, describing how their forefathers and mothers had accepted the Baha’i Faith and had said that they did not know all that the Faith would bring but that it would bring wondrous developments in the future. While pointing to the beautiful rendering of what the House of Worship will look like, the group said that they know now what their people had meant.
The architectural team—composed of indigenous architect from PNG Henry Lape and Saeed Granfar—also addressed the audience. They explained that  the “search for a universal theme” for the temple was “a profound challenge in a country with more than 700 distinct cultural groups.
“One subtle image which time and again stood out to us was that of the art of weaving,” continued Mr. Lape and Mr. Granfar in their talk. “In traditional village life, which remains alive and vibrant in Papua New Guinea today, and in urban households alike, woven surfaces and objects are found in abundance. It is an image which resonates closely with ‘home’ for many of us, a functional and inherently beautiful art form which we interact with daily.”
The architects’ reflections also touched on how the House of Worship will be a space where the people of PNG can unite in the worship of God and find inspiration to serve humanity together. “The craft of weaving is analogous to the process of building unity in diversity. Individual strands come together to form something infinitely stronger than the object’s constituent parts, and the whole draws on the contributions of each individual strand.”
The central edifice of the House of Worship will have a seating capacity of 350. The nine gable-roofed entrances reflect a traditional structure that is associated with the sacred throughout several major regions of the country.",PORT MORESBY,,Papua New Guinea
1247,2018-03-28,"[503, 838, 915]",Countries around the world design commemorative Baha’i stamps,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Across the globe, communities have been exploring many different ways to honor the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah during the bicentenary year. In several countries, including Austria, Brazil, Cambodia, Germany, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, one tribute honoring the historic occasion has been the release of commemorative postage stamps.
The designs of these stamps are inspired by Baha’i symbols and architecture. In Cambodia, for instance, the postage stamp features the newly opened local House of Worship in Battambang. Also featuring a Temple in its design is a stamp released in Germany—in this case it is the continental House of Worship for Europe in Langenhain, Germany. Other stamps drew on iconic Baha’i symbols, such as the nine-pointed star. One of the stamps issued in the Netherlands features a famous calligraphic work containing sacred words in the form of a bird of paradise—the work of prominent 19th century Persian artist Mishkin-Qalam.  A commemorative stamp issued in Malaysia for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llahThis was not the first time commemorative stamps have been issued for historic Baha’i occasions. In 1992, the year marking the centenary of the passing of Baha’u’llah, postage stamps were released in several countries, including Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada.
That year also included other noteworthy anniversaries for which stamps were designed. In Panama, a stamp featuring the continental House of Worship for Central America was released in 1992, which was the twentieth anniversary of the Temple’s dedication. Guyana issued a stamp that year marking the arrival of the Baha’i Faith in the country half a century prior. In 2001, Israel released a stamp in commemoration of the official opening of the Terraces.
Many countries were first opened to the Baha’i Faith between 1953 and 1963 in a global ten-year plan. A number of commemorative stamps were released at the 50 year mark of the establishment of the Faith in some of these countries. Monaco and the Solomon Islands were among the countries that issued stamps for these “golden jubilee” anniversaries.
Baha’i designs on postage stamps stretch back many decades. In the late 1940s, a set of stamps featuring the House of Worship in Chicago was issued in Santiago, Chile. In a remarkable turn of events several years later, Santiago was designated as the location for the future continental House of Worship for South America.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1248,2018-04-02,"[1121, 1165, 1142]",Re-examining reconciliation,"VICTORIA, Canada — Prof. Jeremy Webber, Dean of Law at the University of Victoria, looked out at a packed room. Government officials, Indigenous and religious leaders, students and academics, and members of the community had gathered for a symposium on reconciliation between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people of the country.
The event sought to promote greater understanding about a fundamental question relating to reconciliation, raised by Prof. Webber in his opening remarks: “How should we approach engagement with religion and spirituality in the process of reconciliation?”
For the Baha’i community of Canada, this question is fundamental to a process of promoting justice and rebuilding relationships of trust, friendship, and cooperation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.  The audience at day 2 of the symposium, where some 120 people gathered for a series of panel discussions on the past, present, and future of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.A dynamic, decades-long public conversation about the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people was energized by a report released in 2015 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indian Residential Schools (TRC), which investigated the impacts of Canada’s residential school system over many decades on indigenous children, families, and communities. This system of schooling was designed to assimilate Indigenous children into Canadian society by removing them from their families, cultures, languages, and spiritual traditions. Its effect was described by the TRC as “cultural genocide.”
The Baha’i community of Canada was an active participant in the work of the TRC. There are Baha’is among the survivors of the residential schools, and some testified before the Commission. At the national gatherings of the TRC held across the country, dozens of Baha’is volunteered to be of assistance to the participants.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada made a submission and gift to the TRC in 2015, which was accompanied by a public presentation by Deloria Bighorn, Chairperson of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada. The Baha’i community also produced a short film, The Path Home, which it screened in Ottawa in association with the final national gathering.
It is within this broader context that the Baha’i Community of Canada worked with the University of Victoria Faculty of Law and the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation to offer the recent symposium in March, which was titled “Rethinking the relationship between spirituality and reconciliation.”“We are here to create a world in which the suffering of people is diminished and the nobility of people is enhanced. Our work is to re-create society with principles of justice and oneness.”—Deloria BighornThe event brought together a number of leading thinkers, including many of Canada’s most prominent scholars of Indigenous law. It was held in the First Peoples House at the University of Victoria and coincided with the launch of the world’s first Indigenous law program, providing an occasion to examine how spirituality is conceptualized and applied within an evolving field of law as well as what implications this might hold for thinking more broadly about social change.
Speaking at the symposium on behalf of the Baha’i community, Mrs. Bighorn expressed her hopes for the gathering: “We are here to create a world in which the suffering of people is diminished and the nobility of people is enhanced. Our work is to re-create society with principles of justice and oneness.”
The symposium opened on 8 March with a public lecture in downtown Victoria, held to coincide with an annual week-long festival of research, art, and innovation. In addition to the 750 people in attendance, 5,000 people watched the opening online, as Prof. John Borrows and Prof. Val Napoleon spoke about the role of the sacred in Indigenous law. Borrows and Napoleon are leading a new initiative at the University of Victoria law school to offer a joint degree in Indigenous Law and Common Law.
On 9 March, 140 people gathered for a series of panel discussions on the past, present, and future of reconciliation. Those discussions were framed by a concept note prepared for the symposium, and participants grappled with the various ways in which colonization in Canada had disrupted the connection between Indigenous peoples and their spiritual and cultural heritage.
While the presentations addressed the tragic effects of colonization, occasions for hope and moments of intercultural interaction were also highlighted. One such moment was when Dr. Chelsea Horton described efforts by Indigenous and non-Indigenous Baha’is in Canada during the 1960s to stimulate a public conversation about “the right to an identity” by respecting and fostering Indigenous cultures.
The theme of social change was expanded upon by Dr. Roshan Danesh, a lawyer and Baha’i, who spoke on the first panel. Dr. Danesh commented, “There is a new dynamism and opportunity, as well as tension, as we learn how to talk and reflect on reconciliation.” He challenged those gathered to “question the architecture of our society…as we struggle to take the transformative actions that are needed.”
Douglas White, Director of the Centre for Pre-Confederation Treaties and Reconciliation at Vancouver Island University, touched on the kind of transformation that is needed in Canadian society. He noted that despite the importance of legal processes, they are “insufficient by themselves because of their hyper adversarial nature.”
“How do we inspire Canadians to be something different?” White—who is a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation and a Baha’i—continued, asking if aspirations can transcend mere coexistence and tolerance. “I don’t want my children to be tolerated. I want my children to be loved by you, so that their well-being will be a concern to all Canadians.”
Prof. Borrows closed the proceedings by calling the participants to an active process of reflection on the day’s events, so that they could be more deeply understood. He said that this involves “engaging a greater mystery in our relationships to each other.”
The symposium was the latest in a series of ongoing contributions the Baha’i community has made to a national public discourse about reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.",VICTORIA,,Canada
1249,2018-04-04,"[1240, 1222, 1153]",Flower of Colombia Temple Blooms,"AGUA AZUL, Colombia — The crown at the top of the roof of the local Baha’i House of Worship in Colombia has been installed, marking an important milestone for this historic initiative.
The yellow structure that sits atop the terracotta-tiled roof represents the blooming cocoa flower—an iconic symbol in the country—and was put into place soon after the first day of spring, which corresponds with the Baha’i New Year. It is made out of a fluorescent material that absorbs sunlight in the day and lights up naturally with the sunset.
In the coming weeks, a calligraphic rendering of the word ‘Baha,’ meaning glory, will be installed within the roof’s crown. Every Baha’i House of Worship has a variation of this sacred symbol within it.  Workers put the crown at the top of the roof of the local House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia.Ever since the temple was announced by the Universal House of Justice in 2012, surrounding communities have felt a sense of collective ownership for its development.
“The construction of the Temple has certainly had an impact on the community,” said local youth Jean Paul Viafara Mora, age 18. “It has opened a healthy space for people to enter, and provided an alternative to the kinds of activities people undertake that may not be very good for them.”
He continued: “The Faith has a spiritual potency that is affecting all of us, contributing to our spiritual development and connection with our Creator.”
As the project has progressed, efforts to build a spiritually and materially vibrant community have advanced together with the construction. For the last five years, members of the community have been working on a reforestation project on the grounds of the House of Worship. The initiative has helped to reintroduce native vegetation to the area, which was decimated by the proliferation of sugarcane plantations across the land over many decades.
The revival of the natural habitat in Norte del Cauca has corresponded with a spiritual awakening in the population, where gatherings for prayers in all kinds of settings bring together neighbors in a spirit of unity and love. Many from among the population have found common paths of service to the community, strengthening neighborly bonds while working shoulder to shoulder.  Members of the community walk in the grounds around the Temple. The land here has already become a haven for visitors to find peace, to meditate, and to enjoy the beauty of the natural habitat.A major aspect of the reforestation project has been the spiritual connection between the people and the land. The community often holds devotional meetings on the land of the Bosque Nativo, or native forest, in the mornings before commencing work.
These developments have attracted the attention of many in the region, including local Mayor Jenny Nair Gomez, who recently visited the Temple grounds. She expressed her eagerness for the Temple to open to the people soon, and it is clear that she shares the community’s enthusiasm about the impact of this major development for the area. Mayor Nair Gomez committed herself to working for positive social progress alongside the many people who have been inspired by the Temple.
(Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated in paragraph 3 that all Baha'i Houses of Worship have the Greatest Name symbol raised at the apex of the roof. This was corrected on 8 April 2018.)",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1250,2018-04-13,"[1095, 1047, 1181]","After devastating hurricane, community unites in reconstruction","ROSEAU, Dominica — Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm, was one of the most severe Atlantic hurricanes on record. When it swept through the Caribbean some seven months ago, the destruction it left in its wake was staggering—homes destroyed, agricultural fields ruined, and communities decimated. International media coverage at the time rightly focused on the loss and tragedy that the people of the islands had suffered.
But in the months since, another story has unfolded in the Caribbean—one that is hopeful, positive, and not commonly told. It is the story of communities, throughout the islands, that have discovered in tragedy the power of unity, cooperation, and collective action to rebuild the physical environment and strengthen the social and spiritual connections that bind neighbors together. It is these connections that are essential for resilience in times of trial.
When natural disasters strike, communities that are united in their efforts “are more capable of taking meaningful and effective steps to respond and recover,” wrote the Baha’i International Community (BIC) in a statement published in May 2016. “(E)xperience has shown that people can exhibit remarkable resilience, selflessness, resourcefulness, and creativity in such times.”  Kalinago territory, Dominica, where the community rallied together to build greenhouses in which seedlings could be sprouted to help restore the agricultural fields that were decimated by the hurricaneThe island of Dominica is one such example. Though relatively small in size, the local Baha’i communities on the island saw themselves not as helpless victims, but as protagonists in the transformation of their physical and social environments.
In the Kalinago territory of Dominica, a primarily rural and indigenous region that was particularly hard hit by Hurricane Maria, aid was slow to reach the area in the storm’s aftermath, with food, water, and other supplies that were earmarked for the region never making it out of Roseau, the capital city.
Recognizing the critical needs of their neighbors in the weeks following the storm, the Baha’is in the area were able to bring together community leaders, neighbors, friends, and others to consult on what they could do given the resources available to them. They decided to build several greenhouses to quickly re-establish food crops that had been decimated by the storm. Several residents offered their land to be used for the greenhouses where seeds could be planted and also plots of land where, later, the resulting seedlings could be transplanted.
“Building the greenhouses brought the community together in a profound way,” explained Siila Knight, a Baha’i from Barbados who visited Dominica to provide logistical support on behalf of the BIC. “Neighbors and friends joined together and worked from early morning until evening, bringing whatever materials they could spare or salvage and sawing planks from fallen coconut palms. After finishing their work for the evening, they would gather again for collective prayers.”
“It was very touching,” she continued. “Somehow everyone could feel the spiritual atmosphere while working together.”  Friends and neighbors gather in front of a greenhouse they constructed together. The community in this part of the remote Kalinago territory has begun to hold classes for children and young adolescents on the site, as well as prayer gatherings open to all.Drawing on what was being learned in Kalinago, the Newtown neighborhood in Roseau also gathered to consult about how its inhabitants could take charge of the reconstruction efforts in their own community. On a Sunday in early January, dozens in the neighborhood discussed what needed to be done most urgently in the wake of the damage left by Hurricane Maria.
As residents consulted, there was hope present at the meeting in Newtown. Together they made plans to remove the logs and rubbish that were clogging the harbor and blocking access to the ocean, which is vital to their fishing community. Inspired by the work in the Kalinago territory, they decided that they could use some of the lumber retrieved from the bay to build a greenhouse where seeds could be sprouted rapidly and distributed for planting at farms whose crops had been destroyed.
“I’ve seen how all of these efforts have given everyone hope,” said Ms. Knight, who has been involved in the reconstruction work taking place in both communities. The community witnessed firsthand the power of consultation to solve difficult problems and foster a collective will for action.
By March, the Newtown neighborhood, with some financial and logistical assistance from the BIC, had made substantial progress in addressing those aspects of the reconstruction that were possible for the local inhabitants to carry out themselves. They also arranged for therapists to come to the community and provide counselling for those who had experienced tragic loss from the devastation of the hurricane.  Neighbors in the Newtown neighborhood of Roseau help clear the bay of debris following the destruction left by the hurricane.Both communities quickly found that these projects provided not just practical assistance, but also a space for neighbors and friends to gather, reflect, pray, and study. In the Kalinago territory, the greenhouses became a collective rallying point. The community began to hold moral and spiritual education classes for children and young adolescents on the site, as well as prayer gatherings open to all. They would set up an array of seats from sawn tree stumps.
At first, the only seeds they could obtain for the greenhouses were for bok choy, a vegetable unfamiliar to the people of the region. But they planted it anyway, and soon developed recipes for the leafy green that families shared with each other. Later they were able to plant additional crops such as pumpkins, beans, carrots, cabbages, lettuce, watermelon, chives, tomatoes, parsley, and okra.
In the months since the greenhouses were constructed, the seedlings grown there have been used to establish crops and provide food for the inhabitants of several villages in the region. The community has also worked to assist other endeavors, such as building a new roof for the community library and obtaining supplies for a few schools in the territory.
Voicing an opinion held by many, an inhabitant of a village in the Kalinago territory shared: “What we have done together with the Baha’is—this is the first time that we have seen someone make a promise to help and actually fulfill it.”",ROSEAU,,Dominica
1251,2018-04-15,"[1246, 1176, 906]",Local Temple design unveiled in Kenya,"MATUNDA SOY, Kenya — Marking a historic moment, the design for the local Baha’i House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya, was unveiled at a gathering today that brought together over 1,000 people.
In a spirit of joy and excitement, the guests gathered to celebrate the occasion at the site where the future House of Worship will be built. The event included remarks offered by representatives of the Baha’i community and local officials as well as singing, drumming, and traditional dancing. Trees donated by neighbors in surrounding communities were then planted on the grounds.
“This unveiling ceremony brings so much joy to our hearts,” said a representative of the Baha’i community. “This Temple will be a focal point of worship, a nerve center of community life, a place where souls will gather at daybreak for humble invocation and communion before we flow out of its doors to engage in our daily pursuits.”  An illustrative rendering of the House of Worship is simple yet striking in form, inspired by the huts traditional to Matunda Soy.Senior Village Elder Violet Ombeva also addressed the audience, expressing her happiness that such a beautiful structure will be built in the area.
The design of the House of Worship is simple yet elegant in form, inspired by huts that are traditional to the region. The Temple’s architect, Neda Samimi, will be the first woman whose design for a Baha’i House of Worship was selected.
The concept design features a two-tiered structure that will accommodate about 250 visitors. The exposed roof beams highlight the nine sides of the edifice and are drawn together at an apex skylight beneath which will be placed the Greatest Name. The design incorporates an intricate and expressive pattern that uses the diamond shape, a familiar motif in Kenyan culture. The Temple’s construction will be undertaken with materials from the region—its roof will use local slate, and the walls will be made from stone sourced from quarries nearby.  At the celebration of the unveiling of the design of the local House of Worship in Matunda SoyThe process leading to this milestone for the community began with grassroots efforts to cultivate a devotional spirit and an educational process that builds capacity for service to humanity. Along the way, the design of the House of Worship has developed in tandem with the community’s efforts in other fields and has been refined over time.
“The Temple’s purpose is to serve Matunda Soy and its environs,” said Mrs. Samimi. “Its intention is to serve humanity, irrespective of race, religion, or tribe.”
Kenya is one of five countries that was designated by the Universal House of Justice in 2012 to build a local Baha’i House of Worship. Baha’i Temples are open to all as a space for worship and reflection.
(Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that Neda Samimi was the first woman to design a Baha’i House of Worship. The text was revised on 16 April 2018 to reflect a more accurate statement, which is that she is the first female architect whose design has been selected.)",MATUNDA SOY,,Kenya
1252,2018-04-20,"[1231, 1210, 1201]",New section of bicentenary site widens window on celebrations,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — A new section of the bicentenary website was made available moments ago.
The new feature provides an expanded view—from over 150 countries and territories—of initiatives and celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.
Visitors can explore the greatly increased content, including image galleries, music, and videos, by region. The website reflects both the global scope of the celebrations and the diverse cultural settings in which Baha’u’llah’s life and teachings were honored.  A banner on the homepage connects people to the new section.First launched in September 2017, the site has unfolded in stages to feature artistic endeavors, articles on the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah, public messages from national and local leaders, a letter from the Universal House of Justice, and a feature film about the life of Baha’u’llah. Over the 72-hour period in October during which the bicentenary was commemorated, as the world turned twice on its axis, the site provided a regularly updated sampling of celebrations across the globe.
With the addition of the new section, the site will serve as a historical record of the worldwide outpouring of love for Baha’u’llah and dedication to His vision of a just and peaceful world.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1253,2018-04-22,"[629, 208, 948]",Leaving after many years of service in Holy Land,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Two members of the Universal House of Justice are leaving after many years of service at the Baha’i World Centre.
Mr. Gustavo Correa, 70, and Dr. Firaydoun Javaheri, 72, who have served on the international governing body of the Baha’i Faith for 10 and 15 years respectively, requested permission to resign their office last year.
The House of Justice accepted their request and in November 2017 announced that Mr. Correa and Dr. Javaheri would be leaving after the 12th International Baha’i Convention taking place later this month.
The Convention will be held from 29 April to 2 May 2018 in Haifa, with an expected attendance of more than 1,300 delegates from around the world.
Mr. Correa is from Colombia. He was elected to the House of Justice in 2008. Dr. Javaheri was born in Iran and spent much of his life in Africa—first in The Gambia and subsequently in Zambia. He was elected to the Universal House of Justice in 2003.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1254,2018-04-25,"[1253, 1252, 949]",Worldwide representatives gather for 12th International Convention,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Some 1,300 delegates representing more than 160 countries have arrived in Haifa to participate in the 12th International Baha’i Convention.
The International Convention is a unique gathering held every five years in Haifa, the administrative and spiritual center of the Baha’i world community. Delegates hail from virtually every nation. Over the course of the convention, they participate in a series of consultative sessions and elect the Faith’s international governing body, the Universal House of Justice.
The consultations at International Convention are generally concerned with the development of the Baha’i Faith and the contributions of Baha’i communities to the progress of society. One of the primary areas of discussion is how Baha’u’llah’s teachings—such as the oneness of humankind, the equality of women and men, the harmony of science and religion, and the independent investigation of truth—are finding expression in a vast array of social settings, from the remotest of villages to large urban centers, and across diverse cultural realities.  Delegates from around the world stand in line at the Haifa International Convention Centre.The delegates attending this year’s International Convention are members of the annually-elected governing Baha’i councils of their countries. Referred to as National Spiritual Assemblies, these institutions guide and support the activities of the Baha’i community within their respective jurisdictions.
On 29 April, the delegates will gather to elect the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, a task that is undertaken as both a sacred duty and a privilege.
Delegates have a period of spiritual preparation before participating in the Convention. This entails time to pray and meditate in the Sacred Shrines in Haifa and Akka as well as to visit historical Baha’i holy places.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1255,2018-04-27,"[1155, 1194, 1117]",Publication explores advancements in development efforts worldwide,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Released online today and distributed to delegates at the 12th International Baha’i Convention, a new edition of the publication For the Betterment of the World provides an illustration of the Baha’i community’s ongoing process of learning and action in the field of social and economic development.
The publication, prepared by the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Baha’i World Centre, highlights fundamental concepts that guide Baha’i efforts in social action. Among its core premises are that “(a)ll of the earth’s inhabitants should be able to enjoy the fruits of a materially and spiritually prosperous society” and that “every population has the right and responsibility to mark out the path of its own progress.”
Much of the publication is dedicated to providing practical examples of projects undertaken in diverse parts of the world, irrespective of typical dichotomies—rural and urban, “North” and “South.” It describes a sampling of Baha’i development endeavors across a broad spectrum, ranging from grassroots efforts of limited duration undertaken by individuals or small groups, to sophisticated programs of social and economic development implemented by Baha’i-inspired nongovernmental organizations. The publication also explains how, most often, development endeavors emerge and advance within localities that have a pronounced sense of community and a growing collective consciousness.  For the Betterment of the World describes a sampling of Baha’i development endeavors across a broad spectrum. Baha’i social and economic development initiatives address various aspects of community life, and the publication explores some of these, such as education, health, agriculture, the economic life of communities, arts and media, and the advancement of women.Baha’i social and economic development initiatives address various aspects of community life, and For the Betterment of the World explores some of these, such as education, health, agriculture, the economic life of communities, arts and media, and the advancement of women.  The publication also explores how knowledge is being captured and systematized by organizations and Baha’i institutions at various levels of society, from the grassroots to the international.
Regardless of the specific nature or scale of an initiative, Baha’i endeavors for social and economic development operate on the principle that populations should be the protagonists of their own material, spiritual, and intellectual advancement, not just recipients of aid or mere participants. All Baha’i-inspired initiatives are motivated by a desire to serve humanity and seek to promote the social and material well-being of all people. Taken together, Baha’i social action efforts represent a growing process of learning that is concerned with applying the teachings of Baha’u’llah, along with knowledge accumulated in different fields of human endeavor, to social reality.
This edition of For the Betterment of the World is the third, following versions published in 2003 and 2008. Copies of the new publication have been made available to the more than 1,300 delegates that have arrived for the International Baha’i Convention, which begins on 29 April 2018. A copy of the new edition can also be accessed on Bahai.org.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1256,2018-04-29,"[1254, 1253, 1255]",Delegates cast ballots to elect Universal House of Justice,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — In a rarefied and spiritual atmosphere, representatives of more than 160 national Baha’i communities cast their ballots for the election of the Universal House of Justice earlier today.
“The attendance of delegates at the 12th International Baha’i Convention this year is unprecedented in number,” remarked Alison Milston, Counsellor Member of the International Teaching Centre, opening the proceedings. “It is a befitting symbol of how the Baha’i Faith has advanced in the two centuries since the appearance of Baha’u’llah.”
Following a selection of prayers, over 1,300 representatives from around the Baha’i world, one-by-one, filed across the stage at the Haifa International Convention Centre and placed their ballots reverently into a designated wooden box. Including absentee ballots, the total number of representatives participating in the election surpassed 1,500.
The casting of ballots this morning was the culmination of a global electoral process in which every adult Baha’i can participate. Baha’i elections are distinctive for their lack of nominations and campaigning. The delegates to the International Convention, made up of the membership of all national Baha’i assemblies, vote by confidential ballot for the nine individuals they believe are best suited for membership on the House of Justice.The mandate given to the Universal House of Justice by Baha’u’llah Himself includes exerting a positive influence on the welfare of humankind, promoting education, peace, and global prosperity, and safeguarding human honor, among many other responsibilities. The House of Justice is charged with applying the Baha’i teachings to the requirements of an ever-evolving society.  Delegates from Ghana pray before the voting process begins.Since its formation at the First Baha’i International Convention in 1963, the House of Justice has preserved the organic unity of the worldwide Baha’i community, guiding it to develop its capacity to contribute to the emergence of a prosperous global civilization and to translate Baha’u’llah’s vision of world peace into reality.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1257,2018-04-30,"[1254, 1166, 1256]",Delegates celebrate Ridvan festival in Bahji,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — More than 2,000 people representing a cross section of the human race came together today in Bahji to celebrate the festival of Ridvan, marking the anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s proclamation of His station as a Messenger of God.
The attendees included delegates from more than 160 countries who are taking part in the 12th International Baha’i Convention. Many of the delegates wore the distinctive dress of their country or people, representing the remarkable diversity of the worldwide Baha’i community.The historic occasion of Baha’u’llah’s proclamation took place 155 years ago in a garden—referred to by Him as Ridvan, meaning “paradise”—on the banks of the Tigris River near Baghdad. Baha’u’llah and a group of companions stayed in the garden for 12 days, during which He also proclaimed the foundational spiritual principles that lie at the heart of His teachings—signaling the arrival of a new stage in the evolution of the life of humanity.
The festival of Ridvan is regarded by Baha’is around the world as the most joyous of Baha’i holy days.  More than 2,000 people came together in Bahji to celebrate the festival of Ridvan.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1258,2018-04-30,"[1256, 1253, 1257]",Universal House of Justice elected ,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — The results of the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha’i Faith, have been announced.
Yesterday, delegates to the 12th International Baha’i Convention cast ballots to elect the House of Justice.
The elected members are Paul Lample, Chuungu Malitonga, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, Stephen Hall, Ayman Rouhani, Stephen Birkland, Juan Francisco Mora, and Praveen Mallik.
Members are elected for five-year terms.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1259,2018-05-01,"[1254, 1256, 1257]",Hope and purpose shine through at International Convention,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Joy, focus, and a strong sense of purpose are characterizing consultations at the 12th International Baha’i Convention.
In an extraordinary display of unity in diversity, delegates from around the world have been describing developments in their Baha’i communities and sharing experiences that are yielding valuable lessons about community-building and social transformation.
“We are fully aware that in our work spiritual forces will assist us,” said Sophie Menard, a delegate from France. “But we will have to show a high level of devotion, sacrifice, and heroism.”“Such is the power of the teachings of Baha’u’llah that, even in territories in the middle of the ocean, their light can radiate.”—Ana Sancho, delegate from the Canary Islands“We see our world changing,” said Dorothy Whyte, a delegate from Jamaica. “We see it demonstrated here at the International Convention. We can take what we are consulting on here, go home, and spread it throughout the entire world.”
“Humanity is going through two processes that are very clear—disintegration and integration,” said Plinio Lacayo, a delegate from Costa Rica. “The process of disintegration is advancing rapidly, and humanity is suffering. But because of this, we know that we have to work harder and harder. We have to be more intense, more active, and more constant.”  Delegates listen intently, many receiving simultaneous translations, as a representative from France speaks.“I live on the small island of Yap,” said Sophia Laiyolap, a delegate from the Caroline Islands, addressing the Convention. “Just six years ago, the majority of the people on the island, including myself, were unaware of the person of Baha’u’llah. Today, there are more than 1,000 people who are connected and inspired by His teachings.”
“Such is the power of the teachings of Baha’u’llah that, even in territories in the middle of the ocean, their light can radiate,” said Ana Sancho, a delegate from the Canary Islands.
The convention will come to a close tomorrow. After further consultations, delegates will celebrate the 12th day of Ridvan, the last of the holy days commemorating a 12-day period when Baha’u’llah proclaimed, 155 years ago, His divine message to a band of companions in exile with Him in Iraq.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1260,2018-05-02,"[1208, 1255, 952]",New film gives voice to communities around the world,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — An innovative new documentary film about the community-building efforts of the Baha’i world, as seen through the eyes of local populations, was released today on Bahai.org.
A Widening Embrace has been produced through a creative, grassroots process in which teams of often young people have documented the efforts of their own communities around the world to effect social change.
Drawing on footage taken by those teams over the course of a year, the film tells a story of transformation unfolding in 24 communities representing different realities and contexts. It focuses on three main themes: universal participation as a path toward collective prosperity, the vital role of young people in the transformation of society, and the emergence of a range of social and economic development initiatives that spring up from the spiritual aspirations of a population.
While one outcome of the film project is the documentary itself, another important dimension is the capacity that has developed in numerous local populations to document and describe what their communities are doing and learning in the context of social progress.
A Widening Embrace was screened at the 12th International Baha’i Convention in Haifa, enriching the consultations of the 1,300 delegates present. Many of the themes discussed over the days of the Convention were highlighted in the practical examples presented in the documentary.
The film, which was commissioned by the Universal House of Justice, is available in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, and Persian. The 77-minute film can be viewed here.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1261,2018-05-03,"[1259, 1257, 1260]","Delegates return home energized, inspired","BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — With the celebration of the 12th day of Ridvan on the hallowed grounds around the Shrine of Baha’u’llah in Bahji yesterday afternoon, the extraordinary period of the 12th International Baha’i Convention came to a close.
Following the election of the Universal House of Justice on the first morning of the Convention, the delegates spent the next three days consulting on how the teachings of Baha’u’llah are finding concrete expression in their communities and societies. They also explored how insights from this process can be offered to those in the world who are interested in building unity and peace.
“It’s so beautiful to see the world come together to consult—men and women from different backgrounds and a wide array of ages, working shoulder to shoulder to build a new world,” said Yevgeniya Poluektova, chairperson of the last session, in her closing remarks.
Many delegates attributed the growing opportunities before their communities to the celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, which was accompanied by an upwelling of support from public figures and dignitaries, as well as from countless neighbors, friends, and coworkers who attended the festivities.As members of the elected national councils that guide the affairs of the Baha’i communities in their respective countries, the delegates also reflected on how the institutions on which they serve can increasingly nurture environments in which individuals and communities are empowered and grow in capacity to take action for the betterment of the world.
Delegates spent the final morning in a rich consultation about the involvement of Baha’i communities in the life of their societies. In particular, they discussed their communities’ experience with social and economic development endeavors as well as their participation in forums and settings where contemporary issues of concern to their societies are being considered by government and civil society organizations.
Ouawi Tchompaare, from Chad, talked about the decade-long experience of a Baha’i-inspired development organization in the country supporting dozens of community schools in rural and urban settings. “We focus on two lines of action at this time: a health program, which focuses on prevention and hygiene, and an agriculture program about crops and fields.
“Among the children in these schools, we have seen a dramatic change in hygiene and cleanliness standards, which has in turn inspired families to adopt new patterns in their homes,” Mr. Tchompaare said.  Following the extraordinary Convention period, delegates are now leaving the holy land and returning home inspired and energized.“In Kazakhstan, there is a widespread concern about the disenchantment of youth with the state of the world. The Baha’i community is participating in a discourse concerned with the spiritual aspirations of youth. What we are finding is that this offers them hope and a path for constructive change,” said Lyazzat Yangaliyeva, a delegate from Kazakhstan.
Describing efforts being made in Spain, delegate Sergio Garcia shared: “We understand that our work with different discourses in our country is a long term endeavor. Ultimately, we are working for peace in the world, but we also realize that the path is long and that we need to learn together what the next steps are, for example how to prevent and stop conflict between peoples and how to foster cohesion among diverse populations in our country.”
The delegates’ deliberations were framed by a message from the Universal House of Justice surveying the progress of the worldwide Baha’i community and outlining the needs and questions faced by the community at this time. Many of the themes discussed over the days of the Convention were highlighted in the practical examples presented in the documentary A Widening Embrace, which is now available online.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1262,2018-05-11,"[1141, 1234, 1128]",South America Temple bridges two eras,"SANTIAGO, Chile — On the edge of Santiago in the foothills of the Andes, the continental Baha’i House of Worship for South America has been illuminating the mountainside for over a year and a half. In that time it has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to its radiant edifice, which has received multiple prestigious architecture awards.
Since its dedication in October 2016, the Temple has been a recipient of an International Architecture Award as well as awards for structural artistry from the Institution of Structural Engineers, for innovation in architecture from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, for innovation from the American Institute of Architects, for design excellence from the Ontario Association of Architects, for “Best in Americas, Civil Buildings,” from World Architecture News, and for Architectural and Cultural design from American Architecture Prize.
But the Temple’s impact has been much more than that. It has also impacted the hearts and minds of the people in Santiago and beyond.
“People understand that the House of Worship is here to help with the spiritual development of our society,” explained Rocio Montoya, from the public affairs office of the Chilean Baha’i community.  Marble interior surface of the nine panels of the continental Baha’i House of Worship of South America“There are many families that are coming to the Temple. Religious groups come to pray together. Many people in their advanced years also come for hours and sit at the picnic tables and enjoy fellowship. People here see the House of Worship more and more as their Temple.”
The House of Worship has become a sanctuary for thousands upon thousands of visitors. They gather on its grounds each week to immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural landscape. They pray and meditate in the tranquil atmosphere of the central edifice. They participate in a range of uplifting conversations and activities oriented toward the betterment of the surrounding communities.
“Young people especially are finding that programs on the Temple grounds help them to gain a deeper and nobler sense of purpose,” said Jenny Perez, a representative of the Chilean Baha’i community. “They focus not only on their personal development, which is very important, but also on the development of their communities.”
Like other continental Baha’i Temples, the House of Worship for South America was an innovative architectural endeavor that had international scope. The project broke new ground in architecture and engineering, and it drew on the material support of the worldwide Baha’i community. Yet the more than decade-long project emerged at a time when Baha’i communities were also learning intensively about the spiritual and social development of neighborhoods and villages, and the construction process developed in parallel with community-building endeavors in the surrounding area.
“It is in the consciousness of the people,” said Ms. Perez. “They feel its impact. People are asking, why is this beautiful structure here? How did it come about? What is its purpose? How can we learn more?”“People here see the House of Worship more and more as their Temple.”—Rocio Montoya, Chilean Baha'i public affairs officeThe award-winning House of Worship—the final continental Baha’i Temple—is a bridge between two eras. With its complex aerospace engineering technology, it embodies the architectural ingenuity and uniqueness of the Baha’i continental Temples. But like the Temples now rising for local and national communities, it has emerged in the midst of a vibrant community-building process.
The Temple has become a focal point for learning about the dynamic relationship between worship of God and service to humanity. The surrounding community has contributed to a native flora project on the land. The Temple hosts programs for the moral and spiritual empowerment of youth, who become committed to the progress of their communities. And on its grounds are numerous events, some held in collaboration with the municipality and some with local and national NGOs.
With the dedication of the local Baha’i House of Worship in Battambang, Cambodia, last year and several more local and national Temples planned for the coming years, Baha’i communities will be learning much more about how these structures, embedded in a locality, can be in harmony with the social and material environment and support the advancement of a population.
(Editor's note: A correction was made to the last paragraph.)",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1263,2018-05-18,"[1063, 1117, 1233]","Lunda people draw on Baha’i teachings to transform culture, music","MWINILUNGA, Zambia — A young man strums his guitar as others sway along beside him. “Enu mwakweñewa! Tabanaka yakudinuña,” he sings. The group repeats the line, and so begins this song quoting Baha’u’llah’s statement: “The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers.”
This is a familiar scene for the Lunda people in southern Africa. Collective singing is an essential element of Lunda communication and culture, and it not only marks the milestones of life but is also integrated into many daily activities and interactions.
“Our singing is inspired by our culture and tradition,” says Gregory Kaumba, a member of the Baha’i community in Mwinilunga. “But now, much of what we sing about is influenced by the Baha’i writings.”
The evolution of this aspect of the community’s culture is part of a broader transformation occurring, one that is remarkable for the extent to which Baha’i communities among the Lunda people have taken charge of their own development and are consciously deciding what kind of changes they want to see in their families and villages.
This profound dialogue about the future of the Lunda people was given impetus by a conference held in 2015 that brought together hundreds of Lunda Baha’is to discuss how the teachings of Baha’u’llah are being applied to the life of their society. A special focus was given to aspects of their culture. The participants at the conference consulted about how to strengthen elements of their culture that contribute to unity and a stronger community. The unifying act of group singing, for example, has been continually nurtured.
At the conference, the centrality of singing to this culture was evident.
“I remember at the Lunda conference after a very touching talk from Chief Ntambu, there was just an explosion of singing,” Gregory recalls. “It’s hard to single out someone. You cannot say this person is the one singing this song. When the friends are really touched, songs will start spontaneously. One song finishes another begins. You know, you can see it, you can tell that people have been touched just from the way that they sing. It's not something you can force and say ‘friends, sing with vigor.’ But when touched they just do it naturally.”Since the conference, the Lunda Baha’is along with their friends and neighbors have continued striving to learn how to remain true to their rich cultural and spiritual heritage while strengthening the expression of Baha’i principles such as unity, justice, and the equality of women and men, in their individual and collective lives.
Through these efforts, a process of social transformation has accelerated which is reflected in changes in the people’s music.“We are learning to compose songs that uplift us and speak to our nobility.”—Daniel Kaumba“The songs of the Lunda people touch on every aspect of life: love, marriage, birth, loss, and even football,” explains Daniel Kaumba, Gregory’s brother, who is also a Baha’i and has been working in the field of education and development in the area. “There are many traditional songs that people would sing all day. But some of these songs were actually quite negative—they would insult and belittle others, or broadcast another person’s mistakes to everyone.
“Now people are reflecting more on how those types of songs did not help us feel united, and they are focusing on singing and composing songs with good messages.
“We are learning to compose songs that uplift us and speak to our nobility,” Daniel continues.  Music is an important part of life among the Lunda population.With the goal of songs that are uplifting in mind, the Lunda Baha’is have been conscious of the centrality of music to their culture. Given this centrality, they have also seen how singing can be used in a divisive way.
“When we think about singing, we are thinking about which elements of our culture promote unity,” says Gregory. “It used to be that singing groups would sometimes attack people of a different religion in their songs,” says Gregory. “But we started to compose songs in which we are not attacking any population. Gradually this influenced the other groups. Now they had seen a religion which was singing songs that embrace them also. So they began to sing songs embracing other religions. That felt like a big shift in the culture—for those songs that were dividing people to be replaced by songs that unite.
“At Baha’i events, space is given to both Baha’i songs and to traditional songs that have a positive message. People in the community started talking about this and expressing appreciation for this approach, because it doesn’t view traditional songs and ceremonies as sinful.”
In Mwinilunga, as the choir continues its song, their voices harmonize: “Ye are the fruits of one tree.” Their singing and swaying to the melody mirrors the song’s message of unity, a message the Lunda Baha’is are trying to share in more and more songs.
“Music should uplift the spirit,” Daniel says, reflecting on this positive movement.
“When there is an event that has brought joy to the hearts of the people, it is expressed in music. And when there is anything that has saddened their hearts—that too is expressed through song. You can feel the soul of the people in their singing.”",MWINILUNGA,,Zambia
1265,2018-06-08,"[1255, 1243, 1146]",Advancement of women and girls featured at major forum on development,"BRUSSELS, Belgium — Eight thousand people gathered earlier this week for a major forum focused on the theme: “Women and girls at the forefront of sustainable development.” The occasion was the European Commission’s annual event, European Development Days, which was held on 5 and 6 June in Brussels. Among the many participants, which included non-governmental organizations and faith-based groups, were heads of government, members of royal families, and European officials.
“The advancement of women is not simply about women occupying the same positions as men in our current society or opening room for women to participate within the existing social structures,” said Baha’i International Community (BIC) representative Rachel Bayani in her remarks at a session organized by the BIC Brussels Office on the first day.  Vice President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala addresses the audience at the BIC session on 5 June 2018. Photo Credit: EDD 2018“We need new structures and relationships, conceptualized and shaped by women and men together, responding to the needs of an increasingly global and interconnected society,” she continued.
The session, held on 5 June, focused on the education of the girl-child, a subject that the BIC has addressed for many decades and which is rooted in the teachings of Baha’u’llah. Vice President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala, who addressed the BIC event, emphasized the critical importance of ensuring education for girls in social and economic development efforts.
At the session, the BIC screened Mercy’s Blessing, an award-winning film about the education of girls.
The conference, which closed Wednesday, covered a wide range of topics relating to women’s empowerment and the protection of women’s rights in the context of social and economic development.",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1266,2018-06-14,"[1060, 1096, 752]",Cohorts of university students inspired to act,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Dozens of university students in southern Florida in the United States recently spent two weeks—the beginning weeks of their summer holidays—in what might be regarded as an unusual way. They have been focused intensively on studying and consulting about social transformation. They have been thinking about their part, individually and collectively, in the emergence of a peaceful and just global civilization.
In the next six months, groups like this will gather in many regions throughout the world. Thousands of university students, from North, Central, and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia, will immerse themselves in similarly intensive learning environments. They will do this without the traditional incentives of grades, certificates or diplomas, or a pathway to a job.
“We talk a lot about how youth have capacity and want to bring about change. But then, I think, in this space you actually get a glimpse of what they are capable of and the idealism within them to transform society. You catch a glimpse of how, if youth have an opportunity to participate in an educational program that assists them to pursue their intellectual and spiritual growth and to develop their capacity to contribute to the transformation of society, they can become such a profound source of change,” explains Arash Fazli, who has worked with this program in Asia for many years.
“For me personally,” continues Dr. Fazli, “seeing the sincerity of some of these participants, the way they respond to concepts in the material, the kind of attraction that they have for these ideas, for a vision of nobility that is expressed in the materials, that helps dispel a lot of the cynicism that unfortunately young people absorb from society.” The program is offered by the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP). Founded in 1999, ISGP is a non-profit research and educational organization inspired by the Baha’i teachings. One of the purposes of ISGP is to explore, with others, the complementary roles that science and religion—as evolving systems of knowledge and practice—can play in the advancement of civilization. As part of its efforts to build capacity in individuals and to create spaces for learning about the betterment of society, ISGP offers a sequence of four annual seminars.
Just over a decade ago, 30 participants attended the very first ISGP seminar for undergraduate students, which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Since then, the program has reached over 5,000 students from 103 countries.
Among the aims of these seminars is to assist participants to see their university education as integral to their efforts to contribute to the transformation of society. The seminars seek to strengthen their aspirations for a more just and unified world by giving them an opportunity to reflect on the nature of profound change — on what it requires and how it might occur.  A group of youth attend the seminar in Kazakhstan, where the seminars have taken place since 2010.“Many students come to the seminars understanding that youth have a very particular role to play in processes of social transformation,” explains Talia Melic, who is part of the ISGP coordinating team in France. “They want to be able to lead lives of service and to contribute to humanity in all aspects of their lives. They come in with some practical questions, which are a source of motivation for them to learn more, for example, ‘How can I put my studies and future profession to the benefit of humanity?’”
“The students ask very serious and conscientious questions about their future and how to make these kinds of decisions in an integral way,” Ms. Melic says. “One thing that I’ve  heard from participants that really resonates with them is the understanding that the university space has intrinsic value: it’s a space where they can serve as well as build capacity to serve. And this occurs through the knowledge they’re acquiring or through the opportunities that are open to them to converse with their peers and professors or through exploring how Baha’i principles apply in their fields.”
“The seminars help them explore religion not only in terms of their personal lives but also how it relates to civilization building. They explore how spiritual principles relate to the issues that humanity is grappling with, like climate change, racism, and economic inequality,” she continues.
Students are also assisted to think beyond superficial or simplistic conceptions of change. At the same time, the seminars aim to buffer participants from the cynicism that seems to set in as young people pass through tertiary education and enter the work force—a cynicism that stems from disillusionment about whether their own contributions can make a difference and more generally whether the world can really change for the better.
The content studied over the four years of the seminars helps them see their education as more than merely a path to a job or a vehicle for the advancement of an individual career; it helps them to see how their fields of study can be highly valuable to their ability to contribute to society’s movement in a positive direction, toward unity, justice, and the realization of the oneness of humankind.“They explore how spiritual principles relate to the issues that humanity is grappling with, like climate change, racism, and economic inequality.”—Talia MelicOver the course of the four years, students explore a range of subjects, such as the relationship between science and religion, in which they contemplate the importance of developing scientific capabilities. They learn to analyze social forces and consider how they can channel their energies most effectively for the benefit of society. In addition, they also have the opportunity to explore how the spiritual and material dimensions of life reinforce each other, especially at that important juncture of their lives as they choose their professions and determine a path for their future.
“University students have to navigate very difficult challenges during their undergraduate years. They are bombarded by so many messages about what the purpose of life is, what is success, what is happiness, what is a good life, and how important it is that you fight to achieve that life for yourself,” reflects Aaron Yates, who is part of a coordinating team for the seminars in North America.
Mr. Yates discusses how contemporary education often does not provide students with an understanding of the complexity of society. “A lot of educational programs do not assist students to have a grasp of society as something more than a collection of individuals. Even the idea of institutions is not something that is often explored in depth. So attention is not given to understanding what an institution is or the ways that institutions actually give structure to our society. That limits our ability to think about what it means to contribute to the betterment of the world beyond the individual level.”
“What appears to motivate many of the participants who attend the seminars is that they see in Baha’u’llah’s Revelation a vision of a better world, and the seminars represent an opportunity for them to come together with others who are like them—who are facing similar challenges, who are in a similar stage of life,” Mr. Yates explains. “This is actually a really critical moment in their lives when they're making decisions about their futures and the direction that they are going to take, and the seminars are an opportunity for them to think very carefully, very deeply about how they can translate the vision in Baha’u’llah’s Writings into practice in their lives in order to contribute to the betterment of the world that we all have to live in.”
“The space that the seminars offer for young people to explore these kinds of questions is not very easy to find anywhere else,” he says.
Linnet Sifuna, who coordinates the seminars in Kenya, reflects on the growth of the program there over the past several years. “In the first year of the seminars, we had a small group which we had gathered through various outreach efforts. But after that first year, the youth who participated went back to their homes and shared with the rest, so the numbers we received the next year were very high, much higher than the first year.”
“At first we thought maybe it’s just the excitement of youth coming together, but later we came to understand that they’re gaining a lot from the seminars. It is helping them to think about their university education in new ways and inspiring them to learn and to be of service in their communities,” continues Ms. Sifuna. The unfoldment of the seminars over the past decade is an inspiring story. At its heart is the conviction that young people have a fundamental role to play in the transformation of society and in the progress of an ever-advancing, global civilization.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1268,2018-06-23,"[1249, 1240, 1222]",Colombia Temple nears completion as dome is adorned with sacred symbol,"AGUA AZUL, Colombia — The sacred Baha’i symbol known as the Greatest Name was raised to the apex of the dome inside the local Baha’i House of Worship in Agua Azul, Colombia, on Friday.
A small gathering, including representatives of the Baha’i community, witnessed this significant moment, marking the near-completion of the world’s second local House of Worship. Following the recitation of prayers, the carved teak Greatest Name symbol was raised 15 meters to be placed at the inner apex of the dome.
The Greatest Name is a calligraphic representation of the invocation “O Glory of the All-Glorious.” A version of the symbol is placed in every Baha’i Temple. The Temple's crowning piece, which rises 18 meters, represents the blooming cocoa flower, an iconic symbol in Colombia.  Carpenters from the firm that carved the Greatest Name symbol prepare it to be raised to the apex of the dome of the local House of Worship in Agua Azul, Colombia.In the coming weeks, an ornamental silver case filled with dust from the inner sanctuary of the Shrine of the Bab will be placed within the Temple. Also, a carpet that had been placed in the Shrine will be displayed in the Temple’s reception building. These acts will represent the profound connection between this local House of Worship and the spiritual center of the Baha’i Faith.
This Temple is one of the five local Baha’i Houses of Worship whose construction was announced by the Universal House of Justice in 2012. Following the inauguration ceremony next month, the Temple will open to the public.",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1269,2018-06-29,"[1264, 1254]",Counsellors’ conversation on spiritual transformation and social change: Part 2,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Senior officers of the Baha’i Faith, members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, recently met for a conference at the Baha’i World Centre following the 12th International Baha’i Convention to reflect on major developments in Baha’i communities around the world.
During their recent conference, groups of Counsellors joined in conversations that were captured by the Baha’i World News Service for a series of podcasts on community building, spiritual transformation, and social change. In this episode, Alain Pierre Djoulde, Clément Thyrrell Feizouré, Maina Mkandawire, and Judicaël Mokolé – all members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa – discuss selected Baha’i-inspired endeavors in the field of education.
Their conversation is informed by the experience of several Baha’i-inspired organizations involved with education and highlights certain principles drawn from Baha’u’llah’s teachings that help inform their approach to development.
“Fundamentally, we start from the assumption that each human being has been endowed with the potential to contribute to their own transformation and the transformation of their society,” explains Mr. Djoulde, who follows the work of Emergence Foundation in Cameroon. “And each people, each community has been endowed with all the capacities that allow it to develop. So, the role of [our educational program] is to help individuals to become more conscious of the potential that God has given them, and how they can use that potential for the well-being of their community.”
Mr. Feizouré, who works with Ahdieh Foundation, a Baha’i-inspired organization that promotes community schools in the Central African Republic, adds: “Our approach to development consists above all in developing the capacity of the local population itself to take charge of the education of its children.”  Clément Thyrrell Feizouré, a member of the Board of Counsellors in Africa, works with Ahdieh Foundation, a Baha’i-inspired organization that promotes community schools in the Central African Republic.“The approach that we take is completely in the field. It involves us having conversations with the local population about education – about intellectual, spiritual, and moral education. Then the community itself decides to construct its own school, and our role is mostly to help the community develop its capacity by training teachers and accompanying the process of education that is put into place,” he continues.
Mrs. Mkandawire works with a similar initiative, Bambino Foundation, in Malawi. Speaking of the experience there, she says: “With community schools, the community takes responsibility of the education that their children are involved in. The teachers are from the community itself, and they are very dedicated. The community can see the transformation in the children because there is now a unified purpose for both the parents and the teachers to make sure that the children’s education goes well. So, we find that there is a lot of involvement and commitment from the parents to make sure that their children are learning. In most cases, these schools are run by the community itself. The families pay a little just to support the teacher. And the teachers don't get much, but it’s the service to their community, to their village, that motivates them to teach so that they see some change for the better.”
The organizations that support community schools focus on providing teacher training and improving the quality of education as the school expands. Their experience has shown that premature introduction of funds to an endeavor can create challenges that may lead to dependency on outside support or disunity. Such educational institutions emerge where the spirit of worship and service is pronounced; in these places there is also a heightened consciousness of collective responsibility to the advancement of their community.
Mr. Mokolé, who also works with Ahdieh Foundation in Central African Republic, explains that the experience of this Baha’i-inspired organization with community schools has generated insights that have been useful to the government in its work to provide education throughout the country: “It allowed the government to see a possible way to overcome the question of finances that was the limiting factor in supporting teachers at community schools – an approach focused on raising consciousness and changing the mentality of the parents so that they can themselves take charge of supporting the teachers that are educating their children.”",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1270,2018-07-04,"[1264, 1226, 1179]",Education uplifts in Mentawai Islands,"TUAPEIJAT, Indonesia — In the 1950s, the Baha’i Faith arrived in the Mentawai Islands, a group of 70 islands off the coast of Indonesia. Many Mentawai communities embraced Baha’u’llah’s teachings, such as the fundamentally noble character of the human being, the oneness of humankind, and the importance of education in releasing the vast potentialities latent in the human mind and soul.
In the following years, providing access to education became a priority. Schools, open to all children, were established in villages throughout the islands. By 1963, at the First Baha’i World Congress, held in London, a young man from Mentawai addressed the audience of more than 6,000 people from more than 40 nations. The young man, who had participated in the educational programs offered by the Baha’i community, spoke about the developments in his homeland.
Subsequent decades brought challenges for the Baha’is of Indonesia until 2014, when the Faith was recognized by the Ministry of Religion as an independent faith. Yet throughout this time, the Baha’i community of Indonesia gradually contributed to education in the islands.
In commemoration of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, the Baha’i community of Indonesia, together with a Baha’i-inspired organization in the Mentawai Islands, organized a conference on the role of spiritual education in building peaceful and prosperous communities. The event was held in Tuapeijat on 16 April.  The Mentawai Islands are a group of 70 islands and islets west of the coast of the larger Indonesian island of Sumatra.The non-governmental organization, called Unity in Diversity Foundation, or Yayasan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (YBTI) in Indonesian, promotes the establishment of locally owned and operated schools in the remote communities that make up the Mentawai Islands and provides vocational training for teachers.
“If we look around us, we can see many economic, political, and social conflicts,” said Mr. Nikanor Saguruk, Deputy Head of the local parliament, in his opening remarks to the seminar. “But today we are very grateful to YBTI for the opportunity to discuss in this seminar how unity, tolerance, and oneness – the keys to a prosperous nation – can be achieved through education.”
The conference was attended by a number of government officials, including Dr. Muharram Marzuki, Head of the Center of Research and Development at Indonesia’s Ministry of Religion. Teachers from five schools established by YBTI also participated and performed a traditional Mentawai dance to open the event.
In her remarks to the conference, Mrs. Seminar Siritoitet, Representative of the Regent of the District of Mentawai Islands, recalled the lack of schools available for Mentawai children in the past and the efforts of the Baha’i community there over many decades to improve the educational situation in collaboration with others.
Pastor Panulis Saguntung, in his keynote address, also recalled this long-standing history. He shared his childhood memories of attending a school in a remote Mentawai village in the 1960s that was run by two teachers, one a Christian and the other a Baha’i. The teachers, he explained, worked together and held classes in the village church since there was no school building.“... We are very grateful to YBTI for the opportunity to discuss in this seminar how unity, tolerance, and oneness – the keys to a prosperous nation – can be achieved through education.”—Nikanor SagurukOne of the members of the board of YBTI, Dr. Manoochehr Tahmasebian, explained in a presentation how the organization’s approach to education and building unity is inspired by principles drawn from the teachings of Baha’u’llah. Fundamental among these, he stated, was the importance of spiritual education that encourages the development of the qualities needed to build peace and social harmony. The goal of such education is not to provide religious instruction or to convert students to a particular faith. Rather, YBTI aims to assist young people from various backgrounds to learn to promote unity in diversity and to contribute to the progress of their society.
YBTI’s endeavors are part of broader, but still nascent, efforts by Baha’is in the Mentawai Islands to contribute to the field of education. The Baha’is there continue to extend and strengthen an educational process that helps people to build capacity to be of service in their communities, for example through offering opportunities for the moral and spiritual education of children and youth.
Meanwhile, YBTI’s schools are currently focusing on strengthening various aspects of their functioning such as the quality of academic and moral instruction, explained Dr. Tahmasebian. They are also learning about how to foster a greater sense of community ownership for the schools. This is done through regular visits by teachers to parents to converse about the progress of their children. The schools also aim to provide spaces for parents to study and discuss education-related concepts to help reinforce the work done in the classroom to develop the intellectual and spiritual capabilities of the next generation.",TUAPEIJAT,,Indonesia
1271,2018-07-12,"[1179, 1161, 1048]",Casting a spotlight on media and religion in India,"NEW DELHI — How can media coverage of religion contribute to greater understanding and foster social harmony? This question, among others, animated a dynamic forum co-hosted by India’s Baha’i community on Saturday in New Delhi.
The event highlighted how, in the media, faith is too often associated only with negative expressions of religious practice, such as superstition, prejudice, oppression, and exclusion. With a rising tide of religious extremism over the past decades, religious violence has also garnered an abundance of attention in the media.
Yet religion is vast and multifaceted, and its many constructive contributions to communities and to civilization itself are overlooked in popular discourse and media. This reality rings especially true in Indian society, according to Saturday’s panel of speakers, which included prominent media figures, government officials, scholars, and faith representatives.  Speakers at the roundtable meeting (from left) Dr. Mona Mehta, deputy editor of The Speaking Tree; Mr. N.K. Singh, a former general-secretary of the Broadcast Editors’ Association; Ms. Sandhya Jain, a political analyst and independent researcher, listen intently to the conversation.According to the Director General of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) K. G. Suresh, part of the problem is the lack of understanding about religion among media practitioners. “Journalists should understand the true nature of religion – that it contributes to love and unity, it inculcates virtues and morality,” said Mr. Suresh in his opening remarks as the chair of the forum on Saturday. “Religion should not be identified with the false godmen who exploit people and engage in criminal activities. They should focus on stories of harmony and loving co-existence between people of different religious communities and not just look for cases of conflict.”
Panelists discussed some of the challenges associated with the current media model. For instance, they explored how the publication of stories is often driven by sensationalism. The pace at which news is reported often compromises the need for depth, accuracy, and nuance in a subject as complex as religion. While identifying the shortcomings of current media, the panel acknowledged the difficulty of finding a way forward. One of their main conclusions was that journalists need forums to pause and reflect on their coverage and the impact it has on perception and behavior.
IIMC and the Office of Public Affairs of the Baha’is of India jointly hosted the gathering, called “Covering Religion with Sensitivity and Understanding in an Interdependent World,” held at the Institute’s campus in New Delhi.
“We are trying to learn with others how the spiritual principles found in major religions can be applied to the transformation of individuals and society and for the betterment of the world. Given the great power of the media in shaping public perceptions and discourses, the Baha’i community of India and the IIMC felt there is a great need to have a conversation with media professionals about the way they cover religion,” explained Nilakshi Rajkhowa, Director of the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs in India.
At the event, print and broadcast journalists spoke frankly about what they perceive as challenges in reporting on religion, including the over-coverage of conflict and under-reporting of harmony among religious groups. Several speakers argued that in India, where religion is a strong presence in people’s lives, media’s responsibility to cover religion in a thoughtful and accurate manner takes on special importance and contributes to the way groups perceive their relationships to one another and society at large.
Panelist Chandan Mitra, a Member of Parliament and the editor and managing director of The Pioneer newspaper, spoke about the need to appreciate religion’s unique influence on society. “If we are aiming for a value-based society, we cannot ignore religion. Religion gives us our sense of dharma or morality.”
Reflecting on the event afterward, Mrs. Rajkhowa said, “Journalists can benefit from such spaces for deep, conscious reflection on their profession.” In the coming year, IIMC and the Baha’i community of India plan to continue the discussion on media and religion in a series of roundtable events.",NEW DELHI,,India
1272,2018-07-18,"[1266, 1264, 1074]",Youth lead on development in UN Forum,"BIC NEW YORK — In a series of dynamic panel discussions organized by the Baha’i International Community (BIC), a delegation of young adults consulted about their generation’s responsibility in establishing peaceful and just societies and redefining the nature of leadership and power. The context was a major annual United Nations conference held from 9 to 18 July.
How can the responsibility of working for the betterment of the world be not solely the occupation of a relative few experts and professionals but rather the right of all—an expression of what it means to be human?
This question was on the mind of Liam Stephens, a BIC delegate and panelist from the Netherlands.
“Thinking in this way allows everything we do – work, studies, family life – to move us toward a peaceful and just society. It allows us to see that everyone has a distinctive contribution to make to this work,” Mr. Stephens told his fellow panelists.
BIC delegates to the UN’s 2018 High Level Political Forum joined representatives from collaborating organizations in a series of BIC panels focusing on the contributions young people can make in achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals, referred to as Agenda 2030. The Forum is an annual gathering of member states of the UN and others to review progress toward the achievement of the SDGs; alongside the Forum, non-governmental organizations such as the BIC hold related events. The three panels explored the strength inherent in diversity, the construction of peaceful and resilient societies, and capacity building for the transformation of community life.
As young people participate more fully in the life of society, they begin to explore fundamental questions about how society advances and what can either foster or hinder progress. Participants in the BIC panels noted that advancing society requires building capacity for meaningful change among larger and larger numbers of people.
Discussions also focused on new approaches to leadership, based on a more constructive understanding of power and authority.
“As inherited concepts of dominance and control are left behind and the power of cooperation and unity of thought and action are embraced, capabilities inherent in youth surface and can be directed toward the common good,” explained Emmanuel Zapata Caldas, a BIC delegate and panelist from Colombia.
Young people develop the capacity to identify the positive and negative forces at work in their communities; they rely on the power of consultation to make wise group decisions; and their deepest desires are to serve society selflessly, Mr. Zapata Caldas said.  Panelist and BIC delegate from Canada Eric Farr (right) discusses the role of youth in society during a panel held this month.Speaking to young people who aspire to lead processes of social change, panelist Upasana Chauhan, UN representative for the Man Up campaign, urged them to bring others along in the work: “A leader is not one who just races ahead him or herself alone, but the one who takes the whole group along as well,” Ms. Chauhan noted. “When you are 10 steps ahead of someone else, take 15 minutes at the end of the day and take that person along to whatever situation is helping you learn and advance.”
Participants also discussed the implications of the concept that humanity is like an interconnected human body, a central theme throughout the Baha’i teachings, appreciating the numerous ties of interconnection among the peoples of the world.
One young panelist from Afghanistan – Bahman Shahi, a delegate from the peace-building organization Search for Common Ground – noted the importance of such bonds in contemporary society and the future, by referring to a classic poem:  “It talks about how the human being is just one body and that when any one part hurts, the whole body hurts. This is what the world needs to recognize.”
Another important theme participants discussed was identity, exploring how certain conceptions of the self can create a sense of unity and oneness while other conceptions can heighten a sense of otherness and promote division. All three events in the series sought to explore how to build foundations for a sense of shared identity.
“In those essential aspects of life – in the capacity of every human being to dream, to think, to create; in the longing of every heart to find happiness, to grow, to connect with others – we are without distinction,” explained Saphira Rameshfar, BIC representative and one of the organizers of the series.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1273,2018-07-20,"[1189, 1127, 1020]","On eve of dedication, architect reflects on culture, environment, spiritual principle","AGUA AZUL, Colombia — When architect Julian Gutierrez Chacón was invited to participate in a design selection process for the Baha’i House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia, he was unfamiliar with the Baha’i Faith.
Now, his firm’s design for the second local Baha’i Temple in the world has become a tangible reality. The edifice will be inaugurated on Sunday.
Reflecting on the Temple’s design process, Mr. Gutierrez Chacón describes how the spirit of the people of Norte del Cauca and the Baha’i community there touched him deeply. “Undoubtedly, to know the Baha’is and share so much with them and especially the people of Norte del Cauca, has made us believe more in people, in their goodness and humility,” he states.
“This experience has restored our hope that a better world is possible. Professionally, we have learned a lot, but most importantly, it raised us up to a state of social and environmental consciousness that transcends the technical. We feel privileged to have been a part of this historic endeavor.”
Mr. Gutierrez Chacón and his team at CUNA Engineering and Sustainable Architecture focus on projects that seek harmony with the natural and social environment of the surrounding communities. They have brought their experience in these areas to bear on their approach to the House of Worship. Yet, for Mr. Gutierrez Chacón and his colleagues, this project has been unique because it has also ventured into the realm of what he describes as “spiritual architecture.”
Mr. Gutierrez Chacón explains that, amid feelings of disorientation and distress that many feel about the current state of the world, “the Temple is like a North Star, a compass. It can provide orientation for our lives.”
The Baha’i teachings on oneness—of God, of humanity, and of religion—are embodied in the basic shape of all Baha’i Temples. Feeling a strong connection to the principle of oneness, Mr. Gutierrez Chacón says, “To express this in a building is a very attractive and interesting challenge.”
The Universal House of Justice wrote in its 1 August 2014 message to the Baha’is of the World that architects of Baha’i Houses of Worship “are presented with the singular challenge of designing Temples ‘as perfect as is possible in the world of being’” and “that harmonize naturally with the local culture and the daily lives of those who will gather to pray and meditate therein.” The House of Justice has also written that Temples wed “two essential, inseparable aspects of Bahá’í life: worship and service.”
These two elements of community life have flourished in Norte del Cauca over decades of efforts to strengthen community bonds and build new patterns of relationships based on unity and justice.
It was in this context that the architectural team undertook its historic project. In striving to create a structure that is coherent with the local culture, values, and aesthetic, the team familiarized itself with the life of the surrounding communities, participating in their activities. The team also came to appreciate the deep connection the people of Norte del Cauca feel for the land and the environment.Baha'i Temples wed “two essential, inseparable aspects of Bahá’í life: worship and service.”—The Universal House of JusticeConnecting the Temple to the historic landscape of the region inspired a reforestation project on the grounds surrounding the House of Worship. Referred to as the Bosque Nativo, the surrounding land is now home to a budding native forest, in contrast to neighboring sugar cane plantations that have replaced the rich diversity of the area’s indigenous flora.
“The Bosque Nativo is recovering what was lost by the community,” states Mr. Gutierrez Chacón. Biologists have been helping to find the original species of plants of this area.
“As we began to study more about the native plants, we realized the significance of the cocoa tree. Before the sugar cane industry came in, cocoa was a source of many things for the community – economy, hospitality in the home, a source of nutrition, and energy as a drink.”
The architectural team also noted that the buildings of Norte del Cauca were traditionally made of earth, using mud-ball adobe, rammed earth, or clay bricks. Large overhanging roofs are typical and are often made of baked earth tiles.  Julian Gutierrez Chacón and his team at CUNA Engineering and Sustainable Architecture designed the Baha’i House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia.“The cocoa and the earth,” he says as he shows some photographs of the cocoa plant and the local architecture that inspired the team. “These were some of the things we were researching and using as an approach to consider a concept.”
The cocoa seed is fragmented into strips, but the strips are held together as one. “We used the earth in the roof and walls of the Temple to create this fragmented, familiar form for the nine sides,” Mr. Gutierrez Chacón says.
He further elaborates on the cocoa plant motif: “We wanted the Temple to have a crown – where we could place the Greatest Name – and this also feels similar to the flower of the cocoa seed, from which life is propagated.” This crown, a yellow structure that sits atop the terracotta-tiled roof, is made out of a fluorescent material that absorbs sunlight in the day and lights up naturally with the sunset.
The cooperation among the many people involved in the Temple project has been a highlight for Mr. Gutierrez Chacón. The professionals involved, he says, “saw this experience as more than just another job. Everyone was inspired from the beginning by the Baha’i philosophy and was conscious of what a positive impact this project will have for humanity.”
The House of Worship, Mr. Gutierrez Chacón reflects, is “a beginning point from which things radiate out to the life of the people.”",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1274,2018-07-21,"[1268, 1249, 1047]",Norte del Cauca eagerly anticipates Temple dedication,"AGUA AZUL, Colombia — Anticipation for Sunday morning’s opening of the Baha’i House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia, is building. More than 1,000 guests from across the country are expected for the ceremony, which begins at 9 a.m. local time, 14:00 GMT.
The Temple’s inauguration ceremony marks a historic occasion for the people of Norte del Cauca, home to what is now the world’s second local Baha’i House of Worship.
When attendees arrive Sunday morning, they will witness the beautiful central edifice, its surrounding buildings, and an emerging native forest.
Read more here about the Temple’s design process and its architectural team.  This view shows the Colombia Temple from an ancillary building.",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1275,2018-07-23,"[1274, 1273, 1268]",Colombia Temple dedicated in joyful ceremony,"AGUA AZUL, Colombia — Sunday’s daybreak saw more than 1,000 people gather to celebrate a historic moment as Colombia’s first Baha’i House of Worship opened its doors to all.
Gathered in the shadow of the Temple, attendees awaited their visits to the interior of the central edifice as a spirit of joy and eager anticipation filled the air. The opening of the Temple marks a new stage in the unfoldment of the Baha’i Faith in Norte del Cauca, where the Faith has had roots for more than four decades.
“We can hardly bear the great joy we feel knowing that we now have a House of Worship here,” said Carmen Rodriguez, from the nearby town of Villa Rica, reflecting on the significance of the moment.
Buses arrived shortly after dawn with people filing to a large tent where the ceremony was held. Following opening presentations, the participants walked to the central edifice for prayers.
“I believe that the House of Worship is a very important spot for not only Norte del Cauca but also the whole region,” says Hender Martínez, from the nearby town of Santander de Quilichao. “The atmosphere inside the Temple is something totally unique. You feel tranquility and peace.”  People walk past the Temple’s ancillary buildings for their visit to the interior of the central edifice. The group was led by Carmen Elisa de Sadeghian, the representative of the Universal House of Justice to the gathering (Front row, right).Many attendees had participated in the early discussions about the design of the Temple during the months following its announcement in 2012 by the Universal House of Justice. “I was in those early community meetings about the creation of the House of Worship. Each person was able to contribute ideas and concepts for the design. Now, we can see the outcome of this process,” described Carlos Ever Mesur from the nearby village of Mingo.
Sunday’s opening included remarks from the representative of the Universal House of Justice, Mrs. Carmen Elisa de Sadeghian, local dignitaries, and the Temple’s architect. Mrs. de Sadeghian read a letter of the House of Justice addressed to the attendees. “This House of Worship stands now as a symbol of the beauty inherent in the noble people of this region and its design evokes the generosity of their land,” states the letter, dated 22 July 2018.
“This historical moment today is not the end of a process,” said Mr. Gustavo Correa, a former member of the Universal House of Justice who spoke at the opening. “It is a very significant step in an enterprise that aims to bring material and spiritual prosperity to a whole region.”
Ms. Jenny Nair Gómez, the mayor of Villa Rica, also addressed the audience in an uplifting talk that recalled the first time that her office was approached about the idea of a House of Worship. “We are very honored to have this House of Worship in Norte del Cauca,” she exclaimed. She was one of four mayors that attended the event.
In his talk about the history of the Faith in the region, former member of the Universal House of Justice Dr. Farzam Arbab said: “As we contemplate today after almost half a century of continuous progress, some words that characterize the peoples of the region and their aspirations come to mind: an enormous spiritual receptivity; a keen spiritual perception; a sincere respect for intellectual achievements; an immense capacity for joy and pain which embrace one another; an unpretentious kindness and generosity of heart; untamed determination; and a brilliance of spirit which the winds of oppression cannot extinguish.”
Music and traditional dancing was featured as a central part of the opening and captured the spirit of the event.
“The House of Worship: an emblem of our history, a symbol of progress for the entire region,” sang a musical group as dancers performed. The piece, titled “The Soul of Norte del Cauca,” is about the arrival of the Baha’i Faith to the region and how Baha’u’llah’s teachings are given expression in the hopes and aspirations of the people. The group also performed a song called ""La Cumbia del Jardinero.""Following the opening program, Mrs. de Sadeghian led the first of five groups to a devotional program inside the House of Worship. The program consisted of prayers and quotations from the Baha’i writings, some of which were sung by a choir. Each group remained afterward for a period of silent prayer before making way for the next set of inauguration participants.
The event Sunday marks the opening of a month-long inauguration period. In a series of weekly visits to the Temple, 1,500 people are expected to participate in a special program called “My First Visit to the Baha’i House of Worship.” The program will include many of the features of Sunday’s dedication ceremony, allowing many more people to participate in the historic opening of the Temple.
The dedication of the House of Worship in Colombia follows the opening of another local Temple in Cambodia in September and precedes the opening of five more Baha’i Houses of Worship. Temples in India, Kenya, Vanuatu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Papua New Guinea are anticipated to open in the coming years.",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1276,2018-07-26,"[1150, 1162]",Heroine of women’s emancipation celebrated in Azerbaijan,"BAKU, Azerbaijan — The heroine, under the admiring gaze of the Persian king, listens to his proposal. Give up your faith, marry me, and enjoy a life of luxury as my favorite queen, was his bid.
The audience of 450 people watches this scene with bated breath.
With grace, wisdom, and courage, Tahirih declines his offer. She chooses instead to devote her life to a Cause she believes is destined to transform the world.
The performance, staged on 8 July at the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre, was the opening of Daughter of the Sun, a new play about the life of Tahirih, an influential poet, scholar, and champion of women’s emancipation.
The opening night stirred performers and audience members alike.
“Tahirih is a hero of not only one religion but of all of humanity,” Sayman Aruz, a poet and Head of the Department of South Azerbaijan Literature in the Azerbaijan Writers Union, told the audience after the play. “She lived and died for divine and spiritual values for the whole of humanity. She has no parallel in the history of the East. She is the voice of freedom for millions.”
The play comes at a time when the life of Tahirih is gaining renewed attention and interest in Azerbaijani society.
A book on Tahirih’s life and works was translated and published in 2016, catalyzing a growing interest among the people of Azerbaijan about the life of this iconic champion of women’s emancipation. After learning about Tahirih, journalist Kamale Selim Muslimgizi was so inspired that she committed herself to producing Daughter of the Sun. Ms. Muslimgizi recruited about 30 students from a dozen universities in Baku to act in the play.
“Tahirih lived and died for the cause of truth,” Ms. Muslimgizi says. “This project changed my life. Before I had only ideas and dreams, but now I have spiritual power to make change. Tahirih gave me courage to act for the common good.”“Tahirih is a hero of not only one religion but of all of humanity.”—Sayman AruzTahirih was born to a prominent religious family in early 19th century Qazvin, Iran. She showed great interest in matters that, at that time, were regarded as beyond the capacity of women and inappropriate for them to pursue. Despite the obstacles before her, Tahirih became a renowned poet and scholar whose influence, which was felt profoundly in her time, has not waned with the passage a century and a half.
In 1844, Tahirih became the first woman to accept the teachings of the Bab, the forerunner of Baha’u’llah, and became one of the leading figures in a movement that would spread across Persia and further afield, bringing into its ranks tens of thousands of believers in the span of a few years.
The title, “Tahirih,” was given to her by Baha’u’llah, Whom she met in 1848 at the historic Conference of Badasht. The word means “the Pure.”
It was at that important conference that Tahirih removed her veil. The act was considered unthinkable in 19th century Persia, a patriarchal society where women had little role in the public sphere. In that history-altering moment, she proclaimed that equality between women and men had been ushered in and that the teachings of the Bab signified a break from the traditions of the past — a “stunning trumpet-blast,” as described by Shoghi Effendi.
Four years later, as the Persian government undertook its brutal persecution of the Bab’s followers, Tahirih was taken into captivity in Tihran. Refusing to recant her faith, she was executed, her dying words ringing across the century that followed: “You can kill me as soon as you like, but you cannot stop the emancipation of women.”  An actor playing Tahirih’s cousin, who played an important role in connecting her to the intellectual and religious thought movements in society, speaks with two other relatives of Tahirih in a scene of the play.Daughter of the Sun highlights Tahirih’s unmatched courage, a quality that has influenced generations of people. Nigar Aliyeva, the lead actor who plays Tahirih, explains:
“Tahirih said in the play, ‘I was born as Zarrin Taj but lived as Tahirih.’ While acting in the role of Tahirih I felt that I have changed. I am not a person like before. Now my life’s refrain is: ‘I was born as Nigar but will live as Tahirih.’”
In the performance, dramatization of scenes from Tahirih’s life were interspersed between segments of narration and the reading of selections from her poetry.
One audience member commented after the performance: “I now realize how courageous we should be and how we have to raise our voices against oppression and tyranny.”
Tahirih has long attracted interest among scholars. Western Orientalists of the 19th century wrote of her influence on literature and gender equality. In recent years, there have been numerous academic articles and books about her as well as translations of three volumes of her poetry into English.
Artists have also sought to depict her important influence on humanity, with playwrights, novelists, musicians, and filmmakers creating works inspired by her life and character.
Tahirih wrote in Persian, Arabic, and Azeri, a widely spoken language in Qazvin and the surrounding region. Azeri is also the main language of Azerbaijan.
The play will continue its run in Baku and in the coming months will go on stage in other cities across the country.",BAKU,,Azerbaijan
1277,2018-07-31,"[1275, 1251, 1246]","Following Colombia Temple opening, first visits begin","AGUA AZUL, Colombia — Marking the local community’s response to the opening of the new Baha’i House of Worship, hundreds of residents from nearby communities joined for prayers in a joyful gathering on Sunday.
More than 300 people – the majority of whom live a short walk from the Temple – participated in a special gathering to visit the Temple for the first time. Sunday’s gathering, called “My First Visit to the Baha’i House of Worship,” was held in the afterglow of 22 July’s historic dedication ceremony and included many of its elements such as the reading of a letter of the Universal House of Justice about the dedication, talks by a local mayor and the Temple’s architect, as well as musical and dance performances. “My First Visit” programs are scheduled for the following three weeks, allowing more people from local communities to participate in the Norte del Cauca Temple’s historic opening.
(Update, 17 August 2018: Since this article was published on 31 July, two additional “My First Visit” programs have been held, with a total participation of about 600 people. More than 900 people have visited the Temple for the three programs held so far. This coming Sunday will be the final such program. The Temple remains open for public visits throughout the week. With the series of special gatherings and daily public opening hours of the Temple, the House of Worship is taking root in the Norte del Cauca region.)
“Today, we are enjoying the fruits of the seeds we have nurtured for years,” said Alba Marina Fory Micolta from the nearby town of Primavera.
“Before there were so few of us, and now there are many of us. We are now a tree with many flowers, flowers with much energy, strength, and strong values,” added Ms. Fory Micolta, who decades ago became one of the first people in Norte del Cauca to embrace the Baha’i Faith.
Many people who made their first visit on Sunday described feelings of spiritual strength as a result of praying in the Temple.
“When I stepped in the House of Worship, I looked at the rays of light. It was impressive, because it is something that we can feel, that gives us strength, gives us life,” Gloria Amparo of Agua Azul described. “I felt this strength embody me. The Temple is something that we really need in our region.”  More than 300 people, mostly from nearby towns, visited the House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia, on Sunday.Jenny Nair Gómez, the mayor of the nearby town of Villa Rica, participated in Sunday’s visit and plans to attend the following three Sunday gatherings. She noted the importance of informing people from the neighboring towns about the Temple’s opening.
“We are very honored to be the host of this House of Worship,” Ms. Gómez noted. “It is more than just a physical structure. It is a site that will allow us to keep strengthening our spirituality, regardless of our beliefs.”
The House of Worship is a physical manifestation of the connection between worship and service present in the community-building activities of the Baha’is of Norte del Cauca. Its doors are open to all.
“Now that the House of Worship is open, we will feel a great spiritual impact in the surrounding area, in our people, towns, and villages,” said Mariana Lopez, a youth from the nearby town of Jamundi. “Everything will change.”",AGUA AZUL,,Colombia
1278,2018-08-07,"[1269, 1264, 1254]",Counsellors’ conversation on spiritual transformation and social change: Part 3,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — During a conference at the Baha’i World Centre, groups of Continental Counsellors joined in conversations that were recorded by the Baha’i World News Service for a series of podcasts on community building, spiritual transformation, and social change.
The first episode looked at spiritual and moral education programs for young people. The second highlights experiences with community schools in Africa. In this podcast episode, Counsellors explore the relationship between worship and service and discuss family life, community, and race unity. Sokuntheary Reth speaks about the effect of an interwoven pattern of worship and service on the character of a community, drawing on the experience of the Baha’i community in Battambang, Cambodia, where a local Baha’i House of Worship was erected last year.
“After we had the Temple,” Ms. Reth explains. “We could see that people gained more understanding of prayer, about the meaning of prayer, and the power of prayer. They feel that when they come as a whole family, it helps the family to become closer to each other and much more united.”
Also, Mark Sisson from the United States and Taraz Nadarajah from Australia discuss family life, community, and race. They draw especially on experiences in Sydney, Australia, and San Diego, United States. In their conversation, they explore both how social forces are affecting society and how Baha’i communities are learning about transcending those forces to build new patterns of community life based on the oneness of humankind.  Sokuntheary Reth, a member of the Board of Counsellors in Asia, discusses the effect of an interwoven pattern of worship and service on a community.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1279,2018-08-14,"[1087, 1042, 1067]","Imagining UN's evolution, global governance specialists collaborate","STOCKHOLM — As the world grows more interconnected and as the imperative to unite humanity becomes ever more strongly felt, systems of global governance need to evolve. This idea is at the core of an award-winning proposal to reshape global governance, put forward by three Baha’is who specialize in aspects of governance in international affairs.
“Many of the problems we face are global in nature. They cannot be solved without some kind of stronger mechanism of international cooperation,” says Augusto Lopez-Claros, an international economist and co-author of the proposal.
The United Nations provides a foundation for global governance, but the proposal makes a case for a stronger international governing body. The proposal outlines a mechanism with two legislative bodies: one with national representatives and the second with delegates who represent particular global issues, such as the environment, human rights, and others. It would also include a strengthened executive branch with an international security force, as well as a well-trained international judiciary that regularly makes binding decisions.  This graphic, created by the proposal's authors, gives an overview of the system of global governance that Arthur Dahl, Maja Groff, and Augusto Lopez-Claros put forth.The proposal was one of three winners of the New Shape Prize in May from the Global Challenges Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to stimulate discussions on systems for managing global risks.
Dr. Lopez-Claros, former Director of Global Indicators Group at the World Bank Group and currently a senior fellow at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, collaborated with Maja Groff, an international lawyer based in The Hague, Netherlands, and Arthur Dahl, a former senior official with the U.N. Environment Programme and current President of the International Environment Forum, on the proposal to reform the U.N. and other global institutions. Titled “Global Governance and the Emergence of Global Institutions for the 21st Century,” the proposal highlights the need for a system of global governance capable of effectively addressing the major contemporary challenges facing humanity.
“The principles and various aspects of our proposal draw upon the wisdom of multiple generations and thinkers from a variety of backgrounds,” says Ms. Groff, who works with the Hague Conference on Private International Law. “We hope to engage with the common aspirations of humanity.”
Dr. Dahl noted that the past decades have exposed the limitations of the U.N. system to solve issues that cross national boundaries, a challenge that requires new thinking about the U.N., its further evolution, and its mandate. “A range of inherently global crises cannot be solved outside the framework of global collective action involving supranational cooperation and a fundamental rethinking of the meaning of ‘national interest,’” the paper describes.
For the three authors, this means it is necessary to build upon structures that exist in the U.N.
“Taken together, our proposals would ensure that the U.N. moves as soon as possible to a model of coherent governance, analogous to what we expect from effective national government systems with capacities for ongoing monitoring and rapid response to current and emerging global risks,” Ms. Groff explained.",STOCKHOLM,,Sweden
1280,2018-08-20,"[1276, 1184, 1278]","Musical about escaping slavery raises consciousness, inspires conversation and action","EDINBURGH, Scotland — Determined to break free from the shackles of slavery, Henry Brown undertook a dangerous journey. The year was 1849, and he was one of the 3 million enslaved people living in the United States. He shipped himself in a wooden crate from a plantation in the southern state of Virginia to the northern city of Philadelphia. Slavery was already outlawed there, and a group of abolitionists received him, helping secure his liberation.
History would remember him as Henry “Box” Brown.
This month, his extraordinary story has been vividly brought to life at Edinburgh’s world-famous Fringe Festival. A new stage musical, Henry Box Brown, is thrilling and challenging audiences during a 21-day run at the city’s prestigious Assembly Rooms. The show’s creator, Mehr Mansuri, a Baha’i, wanted to take on the subject of racial inequality. In view of the cardinal Baha’i principles of the oneness of humankind and the elimination of all forms of prejudice, the subject of racial equality has been dear to Ms. Mansuri’s heart. Drawing on the arts as a powerful medium for raising consciousness, she and her colleagues have created an experience that stimulates constructive conversation and inspires action and social change.
“I was searching for a story for a musical that would touch on a hero in American history from African descent,” says Ms. Mansuri — who with her family escaped persecution as a child for being a Baha’i in her native Iran. Settled in New York, she has been taking theater into public schools for two decades.
Ms. Mansuri was at a book fair with her nephew when she first came across the story of Henry Brown in a children’s picture book. It immediately struck a chord with her.
“The wounds are so deep, and we often feel so inadequate to open wounds we can’t close,” she says. “It’s really difficult and painful to conduct any discourse on the subject of race and not feel ill-equipped to do it.”The show’s director, Ben Harney, describes how he was attracted to the story.
“The piece was very intriguing to me,” Mr. Harney, a Tony Award-winning actor, explains. “It’s an amazing story of vision, heroism, boldness, courage, and audacity. And the backdrop is a very merciless and unfriendly set of circumstances, and the cost is high.... I really was touched, moved, and inspired by the piece.”
In 1848, after his children and pregnant wife were sold to new owners in North Carolina, Henry Brown resolved to escape slavery no matter the brutal punishment he might receive or the other risks of the journey. With the help of a white clergyman and a slave-owning gambler, Henry Brown was packed into a box — 3 feet long, 2 feet 8 inches deep, and 2 feet wide — and had himself shipped 300 miles to freedom by boat and train.  This photo captures a scene from Henry Box Brown. The musical draws on the rich legacy of 19th-century spirituals, which arose out of the suffering and hardships endured by enslaved peoples of African descent. These pieces often convey deep spiritual values and insights.“All these songs have come from oppression, from forgiveness of the oppressors, songs that distracted you from the brutality of the life that you were in, ”explains the show’ s musical director and co - composer.“All of these songs are connected to God…”While Henry Brown is the show’s protagonist, he is not its only hero. The musical invites the audience to think about the nature of real change — how it is brought about by the courageous actions of numerous individuals, like the ones in the story. It seeks to engage audience members and encourage them to see themselves also as protagonists of meaningful change for the betterment of the world around them. After a performance, audience members are given an opportunity to discuss the themes in the musical, and each is asked to make a personal pledge of action. “Then we send their pledges back to them in four months and invite them back, so hopefully the theater becomes a kind of village that comes together again,” says Ms. Mansuri.
One of the show’s cast, Najee Brown, has noticed audience members taking these conversations and pledges to heart.
“I know 100 percent that people are walking away feeling like they learned something, and that’s probably the most important part,” Najee Brown says. “How do I apply what I just saw to my everyday life? How do I make a difference after watching this?”
The impact of Henry Box Brown is heightened by the rich musical selections that run throughout it. Its musical score revives a number of 19th-century spirituals.
“All these songs have come from oppression, from forgiveness of the oppressors, songs that distracted you from the brutality of the life that you were in,” says Jack Lenz, the show’s musical director and co-composer and a Baha’i.
“All of these songs are connected to God, which is really what music is for, why we have it. It has always been connected with the worship of God and universality of sentiment and feelings, the recognition of what it is to have this sustaining power in your life, and especially if you lived through slavery.”“How do I apply what I just saw to my everyday life? How do I make a difference after watching this?”—Najee BrownThe musical brings together 16 performers — including world-class gospel and R&B singers from New York’s Christian Cultural Center, and leading Off-Broadway performers — who have become keenly aware of the resonance the show has for modern audiences.
“It’s very timely, and that’s both wonderful and kind of unfortunate, in that it has elements of a story that seem to click so consistently with things that are coming out in our world today,” reflects Mr. Harney. “The story of this man who was subjugated and yet who was literate ... who ultimately got to the point where it was too much. I mean, what an amazing idea. I’ll mail myself!”
Najee Brown says that “the conversations get really heavy, and sometimes I have to take a step back.”
“You’re tackling a lot of heavy subjects about what they say — you know, racism, unity — and I learned a lot about the way people think. And I’ve learned patience because not everybody understands why things like this are important. But these conversations help put things in perspective.”
Following its international premiere run in Edinburgh, Henry Box Brown will tour through 25 cities in the United States, starting in Flint, Michigan, in November. It is hoped that throughout the United States the show will continue to stimulate thoughtful conversations and inspire people to act in constructive ways. Good theater should do just that, explains Mr. Harney.
“There’s a lot of resonance, and levels and layers of things that become subject matter for education and conversation and social activism,” he says.",EDINBURGH,,Scotland
1281,2018-08-27,"[1282, 1284, 1208, 1202]","Out of exile, a light to the world — 150th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s arrival in Holy Land: Part 1","The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of podcasts about the 150th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s arrival in the Holy Land. This brief article is the introduction to the first of the podcast episodes.
BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — This week marks the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Baha’u’llah in the Holy Land, the last banishment in a series of exiles decreed by two monarchs. The Akka/Haifa area has since become the spiritual and administrative center of the Baha’i world, home to the community’s holiest sites. “This exile was an act of oppression and injustice and persecution, but Baha’u’llah turned this act of oppression into a journey of humanity toward spirituality and freedom,” explains Nader Saiedi, Professor of Iranian Studies at University of California, Los Angeles. “This time becomes the main turning point in the mission of Baha’u’llah and, in a sense, a turning point in the cultural history of humanity.”
Baha’u’llah was banished from his homeland of Persia in 1853, initiating a series of exiles. The Persian and Ottoman governments thought that by sending Baha’u’llah to a far-off prison, they would extinguish the light of His religion.
On 12 August 1868, Ottoman troops surrounded Baha’u’llah’s house in Edirne, known at that time as Adrianople, and authorities told Him he was banished again. To where, they would not say. It was almost two weeks later, after Baha’u’llah and His companions had begun their journey, that they learned their destination: Akka, an ancient prison city in Ottoman Palestine, known also as Acre.  This recent photo shows the House of Rida Big, one of the homes Baha’u’llah lived in during his time in Edirne, Turkey. The Ottoman Empire banished Baha’u’llah from Edirne on 12 August 1868, eventually sending him to Akka. The edifice in Edirne is now a holy place, which Baha’is can visit.“Acre became for the Ottomans a place where, first of all, they had a prison for criminals, and then, a place for exile of all kinds of people who they thought should be watched over. The Baha’is were of that category,” explains Professor David Kushner, a historian who specializes in the Ottoman Empire.
Akka was a historic city that had passed through the hands of several civilizations and was once a prominent center in Ottoman Palestine. By 1868, however, the Ottomans used it as a prison colony, a desolate city where Baha’u’llah was sent to be forgotten.
Now, thousands of Baha’is visit the Akka/Haifa area every year for pilgrimage, an act of devotion to the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1282,2018-08-31,"[1281, 1284, 1208, 1202]","Out of exile, a light to the world  — 150th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s arrival in Holy Land: Part 2","*The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of podcasts about the 150th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s arrival in the Holy Land. This brief article is the introduction to the second of the podcast episodes. Listen to part 1 in the series here.
*
BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The sailboat drifted slowly across the bay under the brutal summer sun, delivering Baha’u’llah and His fellow prisoners to Akka. It was 31 August 1868, 150 years ago Friday. Akka did not have proper landing facilities, so the boat stopped in the shallow waters outside the city. As the prisoners waded in the water to the sea gate, they encountered a hostile and jeering crowd.
Baha’u’llah was taken from the sea gate, through the city’s narrow and winding alleys, to the barracks, used at the time as a prison.
“The arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in ‘Akká marks the opening of the last phase of His forty-year long ministry, the final stage, and indeed the climax, of the banishment in which the whole of that ministry was spent,” Shoghi Effendi writes in God Passes By, a history of the first century of the Baha’i Faith. “The period of His incarceration in ‘Akká brought with it the ripening of a slowly maturing process, and was a period during which the choicest fruits of that mission were ultimately garnered.”  Baha’u’llah entered Akka on 31 August 1868 through the sea gate, which can be seen left of center along the sea wall. This photo, from 1920, shows what the sea gate would have looked like at the time of Baha’u’llah’s arrival, with water running directly to the wall. Today, this area along the old sea wall is a paved promenade.The horrible conditions of the city and the dreadful treatment Baha’u’llah and His companions received upon arrival were meant to signal their imminent demise and the end of Baha’u’llah’s Cause. Yet, Baha’u’llah’s description of that scene paints another picture entirely: ""Upon Our arrival, We were welcomed with banners of light, whereupon the Voice of the Spirit cried out saying: ‘Soon will all that dwell on earth be enlisted under these banners.’” Akka would be the setting for some of the most extraordinary developments in Baha’i history.
It would be from His prison cell in Akka that Baha’u’llah would produce some of His most weighty writings. Among these were letters addressing individually a number of the kings and rulers of His time: Pope Pius IX, Napoleon III, Czar Alexander II, Queen Victoria, and Nasiri’d-Din Shah. It was also in Akka where He later revealed His Most Holy Book, the Kitab-i-Aqdas.
Baha’u’llah would live the remaining years of His life in the prison city and its surrounding area. His resting place at Bahji, just outside the old city of Akka, is the holiest place in the world for Baha’is.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1283,2018-09-05,"[1148, 1252, 1200]",New feature for releasing sacred Baha’i Writings launched,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A new feature of the Baha’i Reference Library, anticipated in the annual message of the Universal House of Justice at Ridvan this year, became available online today.
The new feature will allow passages or Tablets from the Baha’i Faith’s writings, which in the course of the work at the Baha’i World Centre are translated and prepared for publication, to be released online when they become available.
The 109 items made available today through the new facility include selections from the works of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha in English translations and Persian originals.
This initiative complements the intensive effort underway to systematically catalog and index the content of the Baha’i sacred texts to facilitate their publication, both in their original languages and in English translation. In its message this year, the House of Justice referred to new volumes of Baha’i writings rendered into English that are set to be published in the coming years.
Accompanying today’s development, the Reference Library has also been updated with substantial enhancements to the site. These include a new design for reading texts, a more powerful search tool, and a download format for electronic publication.  The Baha’i Reference Library now has a simplified reading experience, with continuous scroll and navigation menus in the top corners.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1284,2018-09-14,"[1282, 1281, 1208]","Out of exile, a light to the world — 150th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s arrival in Holy Land: Part 3","The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of podcasts about the 150th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s arrival in the Holy Land. This article is the introduction to the third of the podcast episodes. Listen to part 1 in the series here and part 2 here.
BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A century and a half ago, Baha’u’llah arrived in the Holy Land as a prisoner in the most harrowing of conditions. Despite His great suffering, He penned a series of extraordinary writings addressing the kings and rulers of His time. Those historic works called upon humanity, through its leaders, to work for the building of a just world civilization founded on the oneness of humankind. He urged the rulers of His time to set aside their differences, establish a system of collective security and move toward disarmament, to champion the cause of justice, to show the utmost care and consideration for the well-being and rights of the poor, and to work toward a lasting peace. He praised the system of representative government and the abolishment of slavery.
The third and final podcast episode on the 150th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s arrival in the Holy Land contains interviews that explore these historic messages. The vision in these works is relevant not only to the world of the 19th century and today, but far beyond this generation, foreseeing the reorganization and transformation of the entire planet and the emergence of a global civilization that is spiritually and materially coherent.  This photo from 1907 shows the barracks where Baha’u’llah and His companions were taken after arriving in Akka on 31 August 1868. It was inside this prison where Baha’u’llah penned some of His messages to the kings and rulers of the world.“It is remarkable how Baha’u’llah’s vision from 150 years ago addresses our current situation,” says Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community,  anticipating the gathering of world leaders next week in New York for the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“The issues these leaders face today are formidable: peace and security, nuclear disarmament, climate change, the widening gap between the rich and the poor, human trafficking, migration, and the list goes on,” continues Ms. Dugal. “The need for international cooperation is greater now than ever.”
Baha’u’llah’s letters to the leaders of His time are translated into English and published in The Summons of the Lord of Hosts. The most momentous of these writings, according to Shoghi Effendi, is the Surih-i-Muluk, or Surih of Kings, revealed in Edirne, Turkey. In this tablet, Baha’u’llah addresses rulers of the East and West, religious leaders, philosophers, lawmakers, and more. He sets forth the character of His mission and the standards of justice that must govern the behavior of leaders. A uniquely powerful and visionary work, the Surih-i-Haykal, or Surih of the Temple, includes individual letters to five leaders: Pope Pius IX, Napoleon III of France, Russia’s Czar Alexander II, Queen Victoria, and Nasiri'd-Din Shah of Iran.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1285,2018-09-18,"[1241, 1232, 1215]",Baseless charges in Yemen signal intensified persecution,"SANA'A, Yemen — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi authorities have, in a court hearing Saturday, targeted some 20 Baha’is with a string of baseless charges. This action comes at a time when the leader of the Houthis has incited the population to violence against Baha’is and other religious minorities.
These absurd charges—which include espionage and apostasy—have been primarily leveled against individuals who hold administrative roles in the Baha’i community, but extend to other Yemeni Baha’is including a teenage girl.
Saturday's hearing began with only the judge, the prosecutor, and other court officials present; neither the Baha’is being charged nor their lawyers were informed of the announcement. The next hearing is scheduled for 29 September in Sana'a, to which the judge has summoned those absent from the first court session.
“These charges are extremely alarming and mark a severe intensification of pressure at a time when the Baha’i community is already being threatened and the general humanitarian crisis in the country requires urgent attention,” said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
“We have every reason to be concerned about the safety of the Baha’i community in Yemen. We urge the international community to call upon the authorities in Sana'a to immediately drop these absurd, false, and baseless accusations against these innocent individuals, who have been maliciously charged simply because they have been practicing their Faith.”
The religiously motivated accusations by Houthi authorities in Yemen’s capital city, Sana’a, at Saturday’s court hearing come amid a systematic effort to oppress Yemeni Baha’is, including through hate speech, arrests, imprisonment, and a death sentence.“We urge the international community to call upon the authorities in Sana'a to immediately drop these absurd, false, and baseless accusations...”—Bani Dugal“The manner in which the Houthis are targeting the Baha’i community in Yemen is eerily reminiscent of the persecution of Baha’is in Iran in the 1980s, during which the leaders of the Baha’i community were rounded up and killed,” Ms. Dugal added.
In a televised speech in March, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, vilified and denounced the Baha’i Faith. He incited the Yemeni people to violence, urging them to defend their country from the Baha’is and members of other religious minorities.
Within days of his speech, several Yemeni news sites reiterated these attacks, and a prominent Houthi writer and strategist commented on social media that “we will butcher every Baha’i”. Similar sentiments were expressed by religious authorities in Sana’a, including the Mufti of Yemen, Shams al-Din Muhammad Sharaf al-Din, who was educated in Iran and was appointed by the Houthis last year.
Currently, six Baha’is are imprisoned for their beliefs. Among them, Hamed bin Haydara, detained since 2013, was sentenced in January to public execution for his faith following a protracted and unjust trial. Abdu Ismail Hassan Rajeh, the same judge who presided over Mr. Haydara's farcical case, is overseeing the trial of the recently charged Baha’is.
For more information visit the website of the Baha’i International Community.",SANA’A,,Yemen
1286,2018-09-21,"[1260, 1208, 955]",“A Widening Embrace” extra features released,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — New features complementing the recently produced documentary film A Widening Embrace were made available online today.
Three short films highlight aspects of the community building endeavors of Baha’is and like-minded friends around the world. Totaling about 32 minutes, the new features cover three themes: nurturing younger generations, exploring the empowerment of junior youth, and communities learning to advance together.
A Widening Embrace, released in April on Bahai.org, tells the story of the transformation of communities unfolding throughout the world by featuring the process in 24 communities representing different realities and contexts. The 77-minute film and its new features were produced in an innovative way, drawing on footage recorded by local teams who documented the efforts of their own communities to effect constructive change.  This scene from Panama is in one of the three additional short films added to complement A Widening Embrace, an innovative production drawing on footage recorded by local teams who documented the efforts of their own communities to effect constructive change.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1287,2018-09-27,"[1283, 1148, 885]",New Maori prayer book connects hearts with the divine,"HAMILTON, New Zealand — While translating Baha’i writings into his native Maori language, Tom Roa encountered a conundrum. This deeply spiritual indigenous language has a word for spirit but not for soul.
“In the Bible this word, wairua, means soul and spirit. But in The Hidden Words they are two distinct ideas. So, we had to make a distinction,” explains Dr. Roa, professor of Maori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato, referring to efforts to translate one of Baha’u’llah’s most well-known works.
The resulting word for soul, wairua-ora, is a combination of the word for “spirit” and a word meaning “living” — living spirit.
This was one of the many complexities of translating Baha’i writings to the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand. A 14-year effort, during which two other major translations of Baha’i works were published in Maori, culminated in the release this month of the first substantial Baha’i prayer book in that language.
Providing access to prayers in Maori was a key motivation for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of New Zealand when it undertook the process in 2004. A small team of Baha’is worked with Dr. Roa, who has translated other spiritual texts into the Maori language, including the Bible and the Quran.  Baha’i prayers translated into the Maori language were read at the event commemorating the release of the newly published Baha’i prayer book. Here, Huti Watson reads a prayer.The translation work began first with The Hidden Words, Baha’u’llah’s preeminent ethical work, and Baha’u’llah and the New Era, an introduction to the Faith written by J. E. Esslemont.
“The prayer book was the jewel,” says James Lau, a member of the translation team. “All our efforts were crowned with the jewel.” Mr. Lau explains that the translation process was not simply a technical task. The team became very unified over the years, exploring profound spiritual themes through their efforts to understand and translate spiritual concepts into the Maori language.
“The Baha’is were committed to the idea that there should be a Maori prayer book, and I am happy to have been part of that process,” Dr. Roa says. “The Maori-speaking Baha’is are thankful that they can talk to God using their language.”
As with many of the world’s indigenous cultures, the Maori culture has many deeply spiritual concepts and ideals.
“In the ancient prayers of the Maori, there is a phrase Matangi i Reia,” explains Huti Watson, who is Maori and a member of New Zealand’s National Spiritual Assembly. “It describes a place in the heavens and means ‘the perfumed gardens.’ This is a concept that Baha’u’llah also talks about. Having prayers in Maori links us more to the reality of these words.”
Mrs. Watson said she recently noticed a Baha’i prayer translated into Maori being circulated on Facebook. The prayer, written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha about children, was being posted by mothers.
“People would say, ‘Wow this is beautiful. This is exactly what I want,’” Mrs. Watson notes.
This endeavor comes amid broader efforts to revive the Maori language. Dr. Roa, who has been at the forefront of these efforts, says that Maori speakers are a declining share of New Zealand’s population. Maori people make up only 15 percent of New Zealand’s population, and only a fifth of them can have a conversation in Maori, Dr. Roa notes.
However, there is a growing interest in learning the language: “In the first half of the 20th century, many of our elders spoke of being punished physically for speaking Maori in school. Now we have schools crying out for teachers of Maori.”",HAMILTON,,New Zealand
1288,2018-10-04,"[1090, 1073, 933]",Baha'i Chair explores overcoming racism,"COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — This year's annual lecture of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace focused on the subject of race. Held on 20 September at the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park, the lecture is part of an ongoing focus on structural racism and the root causes of prejudice.
""To date, we have held 11 separate lectures or symposia bringing 22 of the most prominent, leading scholars in questions of race to present their findings,"" explains the holder of the Chair, Hoda Mahmoudi.  ""The Baha'i writings explain that until America makes major advances in race relations and in removing structural injustices, the country will not achieve stability, true prosperity, and happiness.""
This year's keynote speaker, Jabari Mahiri believes that it is time to re-examine the terms on which race is discussed and racial justice pursued. Dr. Mahiri is Professor of Education and the William and Mary Jane Brinton Family Chair in Urban Teaching at the University of California, Berkeley.  Hoda Mahmoudi, the current holder of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, College ParkIn his lecture, titled ""Deconstructing Race/Reconstructing Difference: Beyond the U.S. Paradigm,"" he proposed that, although race has no basis in scientific fact, it has been one of the most powerful constructs used to divide people, create social hierarchies, and propagate injustice.
Speaking before an audience of 370 faculty, administrators, students, and guests, he argued that it is time to transcend the ""black-white binary"" and to break out of what he calls ""the color bind."" Race artificially and falsely categorizes people and compels them to ""perform"" according to their race group, he explained. These categories create a hierarchy of status based on race and reinforced by social forces and institutions, allowing injustice and oppression to persist.
Describing numerous ethnographic interviews, Dr. Mahiri explored how transcending the standard categorization of people by race would liberate people to construct identities that are rooted in science and their authentic selves, or their ""micro-cultural identities,"" which he regards as genuine, fluid, and complex.
Dr. Mahiri also emphasized the universal human identity that binds all people and is scientific fact. Recognizing the oneness of humanity allows for true diversity to flourish.
Reflecting on the event, Dr. Mahmoudi says that the lecture was well received by the audience and stimulated many thought-provoking questions.
""We have seen how this series on structural racism and the roots of prejudice has resonated with the aspirations of so many students on campus who want a more just and unified society,"" explains Dr. Mahmoudi. ""More and more students are expressing their interest in contributing to the work of the Chair.""
The Baha'i Chair will continue exploring the theme of structural racism and the roots of prejudice and to bring leading scholars in the field to share their findings and insights. It will host a major panel discussion in November where several of the leading scholars in this area will explore solutions to structural racism.",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
1289,2018-10-12,"[1271, 1142, 1202]","Baha'i news publications seek to elevate thought, inspire action","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — One hundred years ago, near the final days of the First World War, the Baha'i world awaited news of the safety of 'Abdu'l-Baha given the extension of the theater of war to Haifa. The Baha'i community was still young but already deeply united despite being scattered across most of the planet. Among the instruments that kept it connected and informed were the nascent news services that had begun to take shape in those early decades of the 20th century.
The news of 'Abdu'l-Baha's safety reached that global community through Star of the West, one of the first of the international Baha'i news publications. It was originally published in 1910 under the name Bahá'í News. In 1911, however, it took on its iconic title, Star of the West, and in some 20 pages of its first volume under that title covered historic developments in the construction of the Baha'i House of Worship in the United States, published messages from 'Abdu'l-Baha, and shared reports from around the world.
Star of the West would go on to become one of the first news publications to gain widespread distribution in the then-nascent Baha'i world community. Since that time, international Baha'i news has connected an increasingly global and organically united community, keeping readers abreast of major developments and serving as a valuable instrument for the sharing of new insights and knowledge. Over the years, these publications developed in sophistication and reach, addressing wide audiences and exploring a broad array of topics. And throughout, these publications have striven to embody the values contained in the sacred writings of the Faith.
In one of His well-known works, Baha'u'llah described ""the pages of swiftly appearing newspapers"" as ""the mirror of the world"" and ""an amazing and potent phenomenon,"" reflecting ""the deeds and the pursuits of diverse peoples and kindreds."" In The Secret of Divine Civilization, initially published anonymously in 1875, 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote that it was ""urgent that beneficial articles and books be written, clearly and definitely establishing what the present-day requirements of the people are, and what will conduce to the happiness and advancement of society."" He stated that ""These should be published and spread throughout the nation, so that at least the leaders among the people should become, to some degree, awakened, and arise to exert themselves along those lines which will lead to their abiding honor.""  World Order magazine was first published in 1935. It made available essays, poems, personal recollections, and historical pieces. The periodical brought together into one volume works by scholars, poets, artists, and practitioners from various fields of endeavor. The first volume also included excerpts from a letter by Shoghi Effendi titled “The Goal of a New World Order.”In the first issue of Star of the West, editors Albert R Windust and Gertrue Buikema explained that they adopted the name from a phrase used by 'Abdul-Baha. Encouraging their efforts, 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote: ""thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious, and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide..."" Not only was Star of the West a vital source of information for Baha'is around the world, but it was also often the first place of widespread publication of writings from 'Abdu'l-Baha, and, later, Shoghi Effendi.
Star of the West began after an earlier publication, New York Baha'i Bulletin. Believed to be the first English-language Baha'i news publication, New York Baha'i Bulletin had only five issues from September 1908 to May 1909. These early periodicals emerged during a time when the printed word was still the main source of news — radio news would not begin until a decade later. They were developed in contrast to, and in the context of, an evolving media landscape, where, especially in the United States, many editors were printing sensational stories intended to appeal to mass audiences - an approach referred to as ""yellow journalism.""
In the following years, other Baha'i communities started their own news publications. In 1917 in Ishqabad, Turkistan, where the world's first Baha'i House of Worship had recently been built, the Baha'is started Khurshid-i khavar, a news magazine whose name means Sun of the East. In India, a journal called Bahai News started publishing in English and Persian in 1921. That same year in Germany, two publications began, Sonne der Wahrheit, meaning Sun of Truth, and Wirklichkeit, meaning Reality. Then, Akhbar-i-Amri, a publication from Iran whose name means News of the Cause, was first published in 1922. A year later, The Dawn began publishing in Burma, in Burmese, English, and Persian. Herald of the South was a journal for Baha'is in Australia and New Zealand, beginning in 1925. This growth in Baha'i periodicals continued as the Faith spread around the world.
During his ministry as Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, Shoghi Effendi encouraged the publication of national and local newsletters, writing in 1925 that they should aim to report on ""matters that are strictly Baha'i in character, as well as ... topics of a humanitarian, ethical and religious nature.""
The publication of The Baha'i World in 1926 marked a new stage in the capacity of the Baha'i community to provide reports and statistics, capture experience from diverse countries, and disseminate important insights and analyses. Each edition covered the progress of the international Baha'i community over a defined period.
In 1935, the first volume of World Order magazine was published, including essays, poems, personal recollections, and historical pieces. The periodical brought together into one volume works by scholars, poets, artists, and practitioners from various fields of endeavor. The first volume also included excerpts from a letter by Shoghi Effendi titled ""The Goal of a New World Order.""
""A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity,"" envisioned Shoghi Effendi in that letter, one of a series written by him between 1929 and 1936.
Today, there has been a proliferation of regional and national Baha'i publications. At the international level, the Baha'i World News Service (BWNS) reports on developments of the worldwide community, and the Baha'i International Community (BIC) covers news relating to efforts at the United Nations and other international forums as well as providing major updates on the persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran and Yemen.
The Baha'i World News Service began publishing online in 2000, picking up the reins of the former Baha'i International News Service which was a biweekly printed newsletter. BWNS now also provides podcasts. In the coming months, in addition to English and Persian, stories will be made available in Spanish and French.
In recent years, BWNS has sought not only to inform readers of developments in the Baha'i world but to explore new insights emerging from Baha'i practice-whether at the grassroots level in such areas as social and economic development or in participation in the prevalent discourses of society, through which Baha'i communities are striving to contribute to the advancement of society at the level of thought. At the heart of these efforts has been the exploration of themes central to humanity's well-being and progress: the equality of women and men, the environment and climate change, the role of religion in society, and migration and integration, to name a few.
Stories about social transformation are gathered from communities around the world and at many different levels of society. While seeking to capture the diversity of the human experience and the particular efforts of a population, the News Service also aims to draw out universal principles and lessons that are applicable and relevant to every society.
As the mechanism of communication envisioned by Shoghi Effendi has been realized, a growing community has increasingly found itself able to connect, remain informed, and draw lessons generated from earnest and sincere efforts of people around the world to apply the teachings of Baha'u'llah for the betterment of their societies. These efforts to make available news to a global community call to mind the words of 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1875:
""The publication of high thoughts is the dynamic power in the arteries of life; it is the very soul of the world. Thoughts are a boundless sea, and the effects and varying conditions of existence are as the separate forms and individual limits of the waves; not until the sea boils up will the waves rise and scatter their pearls of knowledge on the shore of life.""",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1290,2018-10-19,"[1060, 1271, 1072]",Overcoming prejudice and intolerance essential for a safer world,"ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Faith communities can contribute to a safer world by combating religious prejudice and intolerance.
This message was at the heart of the Baha’i contribution to the 6th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held on 10 and 11 October in Kazakhstan’s capital city.
“There has not been a time when humanity has needed greater unity and cooperation,” explains Lyazzat Yangaliyeva, a representative of the Baha’i community at the Congress. “It is very timely for a forum that seeks to promote the unity of religions and orients a dialogue between religious leaders toward the betterment of the world.”
“The Baha’i contribution here focused on one of the major causes of division in the world today—religious prejudice.”  (from left) Joshua Lincoln, Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community; representative Lyazzat Yangaliyeva from the Baha’i community of Kazakhstan; Guldara Assylbekova of the International Center of Cultures and Religions; and Serik Tokbolat, also representing the Baha’i community of KazakhstanIn his presentation at a panel on religion and globalization, Baha’i International Community Secretary-General Joshua Lincoln called to mind the current challenges facing humanity. “As any glance at the news will confirm, the nature and future of globalization are uncertain. This week alone, we have received dire warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Monetary Fund about the ecological and financial future of the planet.”
Overcoming barriers to cooperation is essential for progress, he asserted. “The Baha’i writings warn of the dangers of religious fanaticism and hatred. Religious beliefs should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among people.”
“Two concepts that are essential for addressing religious prejudice are dialogue and moral education,” explains Ms. Yangaliyeva. The Baha’i contribution at the Congress focused on these two themes.
“The root cause of religious prejudice is ignorance,” she continues. “We emphasized how ignorance is addressed through education that raises moral standards, eliminates prejudice, empowers young people to assume their rights and responsibilities in society, promotes a patriotism that recognizes the oneness of humanity, and finally, focuses on service to family, community, and humanity.”
In the panel presentation, Dr. Lincoln spoke about how dialogue must go beyond present patterns of protest and negotiation. “Oppositional debate, propaganda, and systems of partisanship that have long existed are all fundamentally harmful to the task of searching for the truth of a given situation and for the wisest choice of action. The individual participants must instead aim to rise above their respective points of view, to function as members of a body,” he explained.
The conference included two plenary sessions and several panel discussions. Also, in their capacity as religious leaders, the attendees signed on to a 23-point commitment.
The four-person Baha’i delegation included two other representatives of Kazakhstan’s Baha’i community, Askhat Yangaliyev and Serik Tokbolat.
“It has been uplifting for the Baha’i community of Kazakhstan to be able to participate for the second time in this Congress,” reflected Ms. Yangaliyeva afterward. “We noted with appreciation how each faith community was treated with dignity and respect and interacted in a spirit of harmony and fellowship.”
The triennial Congress, organized by Kazakhstan’s government and hosted by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, was attended this year by 82 delegations from 46 countries, representing a diverse range of religions and nationalities. Kazakhstan Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the proceedings. The next congress will be held in 2021.",ASTANA,,Kazakhstan
1291,2018-10-31,"[1288, 1090, 1073]",Toward global peace: Baha’i Chair assembles leading specialists,"COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — The pursuit of global peace and security requires a transformation in the systems of global governance and the power dynamics that define them today. It demands the participation of all segments of humanity.
These conclusions were voiced across a wide range of presentations at the Baha’i Chair for World Peace conference about global peace and security—held on 16 and 17 October at the University of Maryland, College Park.
“The pursuit of peace must be sustained indefinitely because the barriers are big and complex,” says Hoda Mahmoudi, holder of the Baha’i Chair. “We have to bring new thinking into this process. We have to raise consciousness about this complex endeavor. We have to bring more like-minded people together to explore the ideas and essential strategies.”
“As the third decade of the tumultuous, rapidly-changing 21st century approaches,” Dr. Mahmoudi adds, “promoting a deeper understanding of peace is imperative.”
Through talks and panel discussions, videos of which are available online, the conference focused on five themes considered by the Chair to be critical to understanding the challenge of global peace and security: leadership and governance, peace and technology, gender equality, human nature, and structural inequalities.
“To end violence from war we have to change the way we view and build peace,” stated Severine Autesserre, a political science professor at Columbia University. She focused on success stories of peace building in countries that suffered from prolonged conflict, drawing particular attention to the characteristics of effective outside intervention, such as humility, flexibility, a learning attitude, and true respect for the local population.  The Baha’i Chair for World Peace held a conference about the challenge of global peace and security on 16 and 17 October at the University of Maryland, College Park. Margarita Quihuis, co-director of the Peace Innovation Lab at Stanford University, spoke about the importance of the values behind technology in one of the conference’s keynote addresses.“Ultimately, many successful examples of peace building in recent years have involved innovative grassroots initiatives led by local people and at times supported by foreigners,” Dr. Autesserre said.
Valentine Moghadam pointed to the work of womanstats.org, a research project that highlights the relationship between the status of women and the security and stability of a state. Improving the status of women, Dr. Moghadam argued, is essential to attaining a peaceful world.
“The degree of equality of women within countries is the best predictor of how peaceful or conflict-ridden those countries are,” stated Dr. Moghadam, a professor of sociology and international affairs at Northeastern University. “Increasing gender equality is expected to have cascading effects on security, stability, and resilience within a country as well as internationally.”
A number of talks also stressed the need for structural changes to the global system in the process of building a peaceful world civilization.
W. Andy Knight, from the University of Alberta, described how decisions and institutions governing the global order have been “frozen in time” since the middle of the 20th century.
“Today, many of these institutions created after the Post-World War II period are proving to be defective, inefficient, ineffective, and largely irrelevant. Especially when it comes to maintaining peace and security, many of these organizations are top-down without very much input from the bottom-up,” noted Dr. Knight, a professor of political science. “So it’s time for new thinking about global governance, particularly in this era of turbulence and disorder.”
A related point was raised by Craig Murphy, a professor of political science at Wellesley College, who spoke on the need for greater equality and “deep cooperation” to address global problems.
“Our global governance tools aren’t fit for purpose,” Dr. Murphy argued. “We face a set of global problems which cannot be solved without transnational cooperation, deep cooperation.” A major challenge, he proposed, is that the current system of global governance is rooted in a patriarchal foundation that runs back to the earliest civilizations, in which war and plunder are central. The system, therefore, has inherent limitations.
“If we really want to solve this problem, which all of us need to solve,” Dr. Murphy stated, “we need to have a politics of broad, complex solidarity across all of the lines of inequality. And this is something that is for all of us.”""The pursuit of peace must be sustained indefinitely because the barriers are big and complex. We have to bring new thinking into this process.""—Hoda MahmoudiTransformation was also a theme in the talk from Sheryl Lightfoot, an associate professor of both First Nations and Indigenous studies as well as political science at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Lightfoot highlighted how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted in 2007, was a significant global achievement that fundamentally challenges the global human rights system.
“Recognizing and accommodating for Indigenous rights is a pathway to peace and justice and better understanding in society. It’s not the states that are at issue. It’s not the societies that are at issue. It’s the old colonial doctrines and practices and discourses and the ways of doing business that have to be eradicated and redesigned,” explained Dr. Lightfoot.
Many attendees commented on the depth of the exploration of the highlighted themes, as well as their acute relevance to the state of the world today.
Dr. Mahmoudi expressed hope that conference attendees and those who watch its videos online gain insights about peace: “Knowledge is so important as a catalyst toward transforming the individual, society, and ultimately the world.”
The Baha’i Chair, established in 1993, studies and contributes to the global conversation around peace. Over the past year, the Chair hosted a series of lectures focused on structural racism and the root causes of prejudice. This series continues on 6 November with a panel discussion organized to explore solutions to systemic racism.",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
1292,2018-11-06,"[1184, 1177, 1170]",Man of the Trees: Pioneering environmentalist remembered,"OXFORD, United Kingdom — The International Tree Foundation is in the midst of an ambitious plan—plant 20 million trees in and around Kenya’s highland forests by 2024, the organization’s centenary.
That goal is one of the many living expressions of the ideals espoused by Richard St. Barbe Baker (1889-1982), founder of the organization. Mr. Baker, who was best known as St. Barbe, was a pioneering environmentalist and early British Baha’i who had a far-reaching vision and initiated practices that have become common and widespread today. A re-evaluation of this influential environmental pioneer is now under way, thanks to the work of the International Tree Foundation and the publication of a new biography. The recent attention comes at a time that the consequences of global climate change are increasingly apparent to humanity.
“Long before the science of climate change was understood, he had warned of the impact of forest loss on climate,” writes Britain’s Prince Charles, in the foreword of the new biography about St. Barbe. “He raised the alarm and prescribed a solution: one third of every nation should be tree covered. He practiced permaculture and agro-ecology in Nigeria before those terms existed and was among the founding figures of organic farming in England.”
Having embraced the Baha’i Faith as a young man in 1924, throughout his adventurous life, St. Barbe found in the teachings of Baha’u’llah the embodiment of his highest aspirations for the world. His deep faith was expressed in a love for all forms of life and in his dedication to the natural environment.
“He talks about the inspiration he received from the Faith and from the writings of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha,” explains Paul Hanley, the author of a new biography about St. Barbe—Man of the Trees: Richard St. Barbe Baker, the First Global Conservationist. “St. Barbe had a world embracing vision at a time when that wasn’t really common. His frame of reference was the whole world.”
St. Barbe noted this connection with Baha’u’llah’s vision of the oneness of humanity when he went on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Baha’u’llah.  At age 91, St. Barbe participates in a ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the Baha’i House of Worship in Sydney, Australia.“(H)ere at Bahji (Baha’u’llah) must have spent his happiest days. He was a planter of trees and loved all growing things. When his devotees tried to bring him presents from Persia the only tokens of their esteem that he would accept were seeds or plants for his gardens,” St. Barbe later wrote in his diary, quoted in Mr. Hanley’s book.
St. Barbe then recalled a passage from Baha’u’llah’s writings: “‘Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind.’ Yes, I thought, humankind, humanity as a whole. Was it not this for which I had been striving to reclaim the waste places of the earth? These were the words of a planter of trees, a lover of men and of trees.”
St. Barbe also maintained a sustained contact with Shoghi Effendi, who encouraged him in dozens of letters and sought his advice when selecting trees for Baha’i Holy Places in Akka and Haifa. St. Barbe described how the inscribed copy of The Dawn-Breakers that Shoghi Effendi sent him became his “most treasured possession.”
“I would read it again and again, and each time capture the thrill that must come with the discovery of a New Manifestation,” St. Barbe wrote.  St. Barbe stands in front of his vehicle during his the Green Front Against the Desert expedition in 1952. (Credit: University of Saskatchewan Library, University Archives & Special Collections, Richard St. Barbe Baker Fonds)The International Tree Foundation, which St. Barbe originally named Men of the Trees, is just one of many organizations he established in his lifetime. It is estimated that, as a result of his efforts, the organizations he founded, and those he assisted, some 26 billion trees have been planted globally. He was so dedicated to tree planting, in fact, that he took an international trip at age 92 to plant a tree in memory of a close personal friend, a former prime minister of Canada. St. Barbe died a few days after accomplishing the purpose of that trip.
“I think people should know about Richard St. Barbe Baker because his legacy still lives on,” says the Foundation’s chief executive, Andy Egan.
“Today we try to walk in St. Barbe’s footsteps,” adds Paul Laird, the Foundation’s programs manager. “We have a sustainable community forestry program, which reaches out and tries to work particularly with groups and local community-based organizations that are close to the real situation—the people themselves doing things for themselves, who understand the threats of land degradation and forest loss, and what that actually means for them.”
From early childhood in England, St. Barbe was attracted to gardening, botany, and forestry. He would run among his family’s trees, saluting them as if they were toy soldiers. Later, as a young man awaiting the start of his university classes in 1912, he took a job as a logger where he lived in Saskatchewan, Canada. He could no longer treat the trees as his friends.
“This area had been virgin forest and one evening, as I surveyed the mass of stricken trees littering the ground, I wondered what would happen when all these fine trees had gone,” St. Barbe wrote at the time. “The felling was wasteful, and I felt sick at heart.”
That experience would be a defining one for St. Barbe. He decided to study forestry at Cambridge University, beginning a lifetime dedicated to global reforestation. Afterward, he moved to British-ruled Kenya, where he set up a tree nursery. While there, he witnessed the effects of centuries of land mismanagement.""He saw that fundamentally these forests belonged to the people of Kenya and you needed to work with the people to conserve the forests.""—Paul Laird, International Tree FoundationWorking as a colonial forester, St. Barbe was expected to employ top-down forest management practices. This went against the practices of the indigenous Kikuyu people, who used a traditional method of farming where they burned down trees to create rich soil. St. Barbe wanted to encourage a form of agriculture that promotes the growth of a forest conducive to farming while also protecting the soil from erosion and respecting the culture and wisdom of the local population. The tribal leaders were not open to the planting of new trees, calling this “God’s business.”
To honor the traditions of the Kikuyu people and promote an awareness of their significant role in tree planting and conservation, St. Barbe looked to one of their long-held traditional practices—holding dances to commemorate significant moments. From this integration of cultural values and environmental stewardship was born the Dance of the Trees in 1922.
“So instead of trying to push them and force them into tree planting, he said let’s make this consistent with the culture. So he approached the elders there, discussed it with them and they had this Dance of the Trees which led to the formation of the Men of the Trees,” says Mr. Hanley.
Along with the Men of the Trees’ co-founder, Chief Josiah Njonjo, St. Barbe developed a deeper understanding of the important ecological, social, and economic roles of trees in the life of humanity.
“Behind St. Barbe Baker's prescience was his deep spiritual conviction about the unity of life,” Charles, the Prince of Wales, writes. “He had listened intently to the indigenous people with whom he worked.”
St. Barbe’s ventures into what is now called social forestry were looked upon with some skepticism. As a colonial forester, he was expected to protect forests that belonged to governments.
“He was extraordinary in that he broke through that,” says Mr. Laird. “He saw that fundamentally these forests belonged to the people of Kenya and you needed to work with the people to conserve the forests.”
This community-led approach remains core to the work of the International Tree Foundation.
“His caring nature for all life is something that really shines through,” says Mr. Egan. “He very much helped to give birth to this idea that it wasn’t just a professional thing about planting trees. It was something that ordinary people in communities could and should be doing. In a way they’re in the best place to actually protect the forests…so their role should be very much recognized and supported and celebrated.”
In researching St. Barbe’s biography, Mr. Hanley discovered that the forester “was definitely very advanced in his thinking. And his whole philosophy of the integration and unity of human society, but also of the natural world, were fairly radical concepts at the time.”""I was enthralled by the sublimity of the language. Here was beauty personified.""—Richard St. Barbe BakerWhen St. Barbe first encountered the teachings of Baha’u’llah in 1924, he found his ideas of nature and humanity confirmed. A Christian with a deep respect for indigenous religious traditions, St. Barbe recognized the truth in Baha’u’llah’s teachings about oneness—the oneness of religion, the oneness of humankind, and the interconnectedness of all life. The Faith’s writings also employ imagery from nature to help convey spiritual truths.
“I began to read some translations from the Persian,” St. Barbe wrote, reflecting on his pilgrimage to the Shrine of Baha’u’llah. “‘In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love.’ I was enthralled by the sublimity of the language. Here was beauty personified.”
In 1929, while on a mission to establish a branch of the Men of the Trees in the Holy Land, St. Barbe traveled to Haifa to visit Baha’i sacred sites. Pulling up in his car outside of the home of Shoghi Effendi, St. Barbe was surprised to see the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith coming out to welcome him and handing him an envelope. It contained a subscription to join the Men of the Trees, making Shoghi Effendi the organization’s first life member.
“He talks about the meeting with the Guardian as the most significant moment in his life, and it really…galvanized him,” says Mr. Hanley.
Through a continued correspondence, Shoghi Effendi encouraged St. Barbe’s efforts. For 12 consecutive years, he sent a message to the World Forestry Charter gatherings, another of St. Barbe’s initiatives, which were attended by ambassadors and dignitaries from scores of countries.
St. Barbe’s work took him to many countries. He was appointed Assistant Conservator of Forests for the southern provinces of Nigeria from 1925 to 1929. He also planned forests on the Gold Coast. In the United States, he launched a “Save The Redwoods” campaign and worked with President Franklin D. Roosevelt to establish the American Civilian Conservation Corps which involved some 6 million young people. After World War II, St. Barbe launched the Green Front Against the Desert to promote reforestation worldwide. One expedition in 1952 and 1953 saw him trek 25,000 miles around the Sahara, leading to a project to reclaim the desert through strategic tree planting. In his late 80s, St. Barbe traveled to Iran to promote a tree planting program. He stopped in Shiraz, the birthplace of the Baha’i Faith, where he was asked to inspect an ailing citrus tree at the House of the Bab, a place of pilgrimage for Baha’is.
The Men of the Trees grew into the first international non-governmental organization working with the environment. By the late 1930s, it had 5,000 members in 108 countries, and its own journal for members, titled Trees.
“Originally it was created because it seemed that St. Barbe just got so many letters and invites and correspondence,” says Nicola Lee Doyle, who today compiles the annual journal. “He was telling people constantly where he was going to be and what he was going to be talking about. So they needed a way to just give everybody the information, and that’s how it started—but then it developed.”
Today, Trees is the world’s longest-running environmental journal.  St. Barbe, facing left, shakes hands with a friend at a reunion of the original founders of Men of the Trees in the 1950s. Men of the Trees was founded in 1924 after St. Barbe’s work in Kenya.Successive generations of environmentalists have credited St. Barbe as igniting their passion for their work.
“Sometimes it was the little things he did—like writing an article, or doing a radio interview—that would connect with some youth in some distant country,” says Mr. Hanley. “And several of these people went on to become very significant figures in the environment movement.”
“His legacy is probably related to the fact that he was indefatigable,” Mr. Hanley adds. “It was quite incredible—thousands of interviews, thousands of radio broadcasts, trying to alert people to this idea, and it really did have an impact on the lives of many people who have gone out and protected and planted trees.”
St. Barbe’s pioneering thinking can be particularly valuable now as humanity grapples with the challenges presented by climate change. Indeed, one of humanity’s most pressing challenges is how a growing, rapidly developing, and not yet united global population can live in harmony with the planet and its resources.
“It is now clear that had we heeded the warnings of St. Barbe Baker and other visionaries, we might have avoided a good deal of the environmental crises we face today,” Prince Charles writes. “Richard St. Barbe Baker’s message is as relevant today as it was ninety years ago and I very much hope that it will be heeded.”",OXFORD,,United Kingdom
1293,2018-11-08,"[1290, 1271, 1248]",Probing violent radicalization,"MADRID — The rise of violent radicalization has sparked a sense of urgency in and across many societies. In Spain, where radicalization has become a growing concern, the Baha’i community has sought to contribute meaningfully to the prevalent thinking about this vexing issue.
In addition to approaches that seek to address radicalization at the level of policies, security measures, and technological interventions, there is a need for a deeper, evolving understanding of religion and its constructive role in society today. Representatives of Spain’s Baha’i community underscored this point in a recent high-level exploration of the causes of and responses to violent radicalization. At the core of faith, they argued, is the recognition of our profound oneness.
Co-organized by Spain's Baha’i community, a conference on 26 October brought together some 70 people—among them officials from Spain’s military and intelligence agencies, other government representatives, academics, journalists, and activists—in a dynamic exploration of this topical subject.  More than 70 people attended a daylong seminar about radicalization, organized by the Baha’i community of Spain in collaboration with several other organizations. The seminar was held on 26 October at the Center of University Studies associated with the King Juan Carlos University in Madrid.The discussions touched on concepts vital to responding to radicalization: the need for widespread consultative processes that build common understanding among the diverse segments of society; a due regard for the insights of both science and humanity’s great spiritual traditions; the delegitimization of violence as a response to oppression; the effective integration of newcomers; the liberating power of education; and the opportunity for all people to participate in the life of society.
“These are fundamental elements in efforts to overcome violent radicalization, especially when it is religiously motivated,” noted Sergio Garcia, the director of the Spanish Baha’i community’s Office of Public Affairs. Central to efforts to eradicate radicalization is an understanding of religion that allows for its constructive powers to be realized, he argued.
Spain’s Baha’i community has been participating in a growing discourse on the role of religion in society, in which radicalization has been an important topic. The daylong seminar at the Center of University Studies associated with the King Juan Carlos University in Madrid was the first in a series aiming to advance understanding about the causes of and responses to religious radicalization.
In the seminar, speakers noted how radicalization is a gradual process that manifests both in a person’s thoughts and actions. Religion has often been misused as a powerful force for directing motivation toward destructive ends, speakers noted.
“In exploring the connection between religion and violent radicalization, it is important to look honestly and objectively at the way religion has been manipulated to give impetus to this phenomenon,” said Leila Sant from the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs in Spain. Ms. Sant highlighted the need for a more robust conversation about religion.
“Despite the abuse of religion today and throughout history, there is no other phenomenon that reaches into such depths of motivation and inspires human beings to dedicate themselves to a higher cause,” said Dr. Garcia. “It is ultimately the power latent in religion that can transform anger and hatred into love and respect for the inherent dignity of others. The Baha’i writings teach that religion has an essential role in overcoming religious fanaticism, which is described as ‘a world-devouring fire.’”
“Once the religious dimension of radicalization is understood,” explained Dr. Garcia, “then it can be addressed from other social, political, and economic angles such as identity, strategy, political aims, and nationality.”
According to Ms. Sant, the event was a success not only because of the rich ideas that were shared. “This was not a space where people came, gave speeches, and then left. It was a space where a dialogue unfolded and everyone’s understanding advanced together.”",MADRID,,Spain
1294,2018-11-14,"[1287, 1283, 885]",Baha’i Most Holy Book published in Cebuano,"MANILA, Philippines — Gil Tabucanon remembers being a boy, sitting beside his grandmother and listening to her read the Bible in their native Cebuano language.
“I loved the music of the Cebuano Bible. It was ingrained in me as a little boy. The melodies were in me,” Dr. Tabucanon says, describing the tonality of his mother tongue, spoken by about 20 million people in the central Philippines. “I wanted to do that for the Kitab-i-Aqdas.”
After more than a decade of effort, Dr. Tabucanon completed his translation of the Most Holy Book of the Baha’i Faith, which was published last month by the Philippines Baha’i Publishing Trust. This translation makes available to an entire population Baha’u’llah’s book of laws, first penned in Arabic about 1873 while He was still imprisoned within the city of ‘Akka. The Kitab-i-Aqdas was also translated into the Philippines’ most widely spoken language, Tagalog, in 2003.
“Reading or hearing the Word of God in one's mother tongue touches heartstrings that are only accessible in that language,” explains Adore Newman, the Secretary of the Philippines’ National Spiritual Assembly. “This is another bounty of a beautiful translation, to be connected to the Manifestation of God on such a profoundly heartfelt level.”
The Universal House of Justice has written in the introduction to the Kitab-i-Aqdas: “Of the more than one hundred volumes comprising the sacred Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Kitab-i-Aqdas is of unique importance. ‘To build anew the whole world’ is the claim and challenge of His Message, and the Kitáb-i-Aqdas is the Charter of the future world civilization that Bahá’u’lláh has come to raise up.”  Baha’u’llah revealed the Kitab-i-Aqdas in this room in the house of Udi Khammar, where He was confined in 'Akka about 1873. This photo shows the room during the 1990s.Although Baha’u’llah’s writings are in both Arabic and Persian, Baha’u’llah used Arabic in those texts where precise meaning was required for the articulation of principles and laws. Baha’u’llah also employed in the Most Holy Book a beautiful prose with elements of poetry, such as rhythm, metaphor, and personification. Shoghi Effendi rendered about a third of the text into English, providing a model for the final English publication. The House of Justice explains that the translation of the remaining text strove for three qualities: “accuracy of meaning, beauty of English, and conformity of style with that used by Shoghi Effendi.”""(T)he Kitáb-i-Aqdas is the Charter of the future world civilization that Bahá’u’lláh has come to raise up.""—The Universal House of JusticeIn 1992, the first authorized translation of the Kitab-i-Aqdas was published, making it available in English. Writing shortly afterward, Suheil Bushrui explained in his book The style of the Kitab-i-Aqdas: Aspects of the Sublime: “It is now the task of translators in different countries around the world to render the Kitab-i-Aqdas into their own native tongues, basing their renderings upon the authorized English translation but referring as needed to the text of the original. The special difficulties encountered by the English translators are no less likely to pose a challenge to these other translators. Their daunting task is to convey in a foreign language the unique qualities of a book concerned not only with mapping out a new way of life for the individual and society, but with bringing about a future state of ‘true understanding in a spirit of love and tolerance’ throughout the world.”
Dr. Tabucanon was a young man when he embraced the teachings of Baha’u’llah. A lawyer by profession, he began translating the Baha’i sacred texts into Cebuano with a small book of prayers before working on The Hidden Words, Baha’u’llah’s principal ethical text. In 1999, he translated a compilation of prayers and writings used for the Nineteen Day Feast. He completed the Kitab-i-Aqdas after three attempts, starting from the beginning each time: first in 2004, then in 2009, and finally in 2014.
Translating from English, Dr. Tabucanon found it challenging to ensure the text utilizes the tonality and onomatopoeic nature of Cebuano.
“Translation is not about a one-to-one correspondence from English to Cebuano. There has to be both faithfulness to the original language and the musicality of the vernacular,” he notes. “I learned that as a boy, from my grandmother.”",MANILA,,Philippines
1295,2018-11-16,"[1241, 1236, 1221]",UN resolution calls for end to Iran’s rights violations against Baha’is,"UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations General Assembly’s Third Committee called on Iranian authorities to end ongoing human rights violations against the Baha’is in Iran.
A resolution, adopted Thursday by a vote of 85 to 30, with 68 abstentions, expressed “serious concern regarding ongoing severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.”
The international community noted in the resolution Iran’s attacks on Baha’i places of worship and cemeteries and “other human rights violations, including harassment, intimidation, persecution, arbitrary arrests and detention, denial of access to education and incitement to hatred that leads to violence against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities.”
Tens of thousands of Baha’is experience educational, economic, and cultural persecution on a daily basis for merely practicing their faith. At present, more than 70 Baha’is remain imprisoned in Iran for their beliefs.  Baha’is in Iran also experience incitement to hatred and attacks. This photo shows a graffiti marking from a cemetery in Hamadan saying, “death with most severe torture.”“It is hoped that this resolution sends a strong message to the Iranian authorities that ongoing violations against the Baha'i community will not go unnoticed,” said Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community’s United Nations Office. “Any form of discrimination against religious minorities for merely practicing their faith is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
The resolution also calls on the Iranian government to release from prison Afif Naeimi, a member of the former group known as the Yaran, which tended to the basic spiritual and material needs of the Iranian Baha’i community. The other six members of the former ad-hoc group were released over the past year after serving 10-year prison sentences given through a legal procedure that lacked any semblance of due process.
The resolution was sponsored by Canada and had 34 co-sponsors.
The long history of the state-sponsored persecution of the Baha’is in Iran is well documented. The Archives of Baha’i Persecution in Iran website compiles thousands of official documents, reports, testimonials, photos, and videos revealing irrefutable proof of relentless persecution. The October 2016 report ""The Baha’i Question Revisited: Persecution and Resilience in Iran"" also describes the Iranian government’s systematic persecution of the Baha’is.",UNITED NATIONS,,
1296,2018-11-16,"[1228, 1149, 1103]","Shapoor Monadjem, 1933-2018","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Shapoor Monadjem, a former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away on Thursday in Maringá, Brazil. He was 85 years old.
The Universal House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies on Friday.*  *  *The passing of Shapoor Monadjem, distinguished and greatly loved servant of the Blessed Beauty, has brought much sadness to our hearts.  We call to mind, at this moment, his immense dedication to the teaching work, knowledge of the Faith, and insight into the application of its principles.  These qualities were much in evidence when he was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil and during the decade he served as a Continental Counsellor in the Americas.  As a member of the International Teaching Centre, his talents and energies were determinedly focused upon the worldwide propagation and protection of the Faith.  The wide-ranging services he undertook in his lifetime also included the promotion of the Right of God as a Deputy Trustee of Ḥuqúqu’lláh.  A kindly and gentle soul, good-humoured and brimming with creative inspiration, he was also blessed with considerable administrative abilities, honed in many different settings, which he deployed with great effect in service to the Cause of God.
To his dear wife, Bahareh, and to his children and grandchildren we extend our condolences and an assurance of our supplications in the Holy Shrines for his soul’s blissful passage into the realms of the eternal.  We also ask that memorial gatherings be convened in his honour in all Houses of Worship and in Bahá’í communities across the world.
The Universal House of Justice",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1297,2018-11-26,"[1281, 1202, 918]","Remembering ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s call for unity, a century after World War I","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Today, Baha’is commemorate the Day of the Covenant, a day dedicated to the remembrance of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s unique station in Baha’i history. A century after the end of World War I—the bloodiest conflict humanity had ever known until then—today’s remembrance also harks back to ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s urgent efforts to promote peace in the years preceding the war, His critical actions to ease suffering during the crisis, and the relevance of His call for peace today.
During His tour of Europe and North America from 1911 to 1913, ‘Abdu’l-Baha often described Europe as on the brink of war. “The time is two years hence, when only a spark will set aflame the whole of Europe,” He said in an October 1912 talk. “By 1917 kingdoms will fall and cataclysms will rock the earth.”
Newspaper reports of His talks highlighted His warnings to humanity of an impending war and the urgent need to unify:

“The Time Has Come, He Says, for Humanity to Hoist the Standard of the Oneness of the Human World…” –The New York Times, 21 April 1912
“APOSTLE OF PEACE HERE, PREDICTS AN APPALLING WAR IN THE OLD WORLD” –The Montreal Daily Star, 31 August 1912
“PERSIAN PEACE APOSTLE PREDICTS WAR IN EUROPE” –Buffalo Courier, 11 September 1912
“Abdul Baha Urges World Peace” –The San Francisco Examiner, 25 September 1912

In July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the Great War began.  An article in The New York Times on 21 April 1912 describes the talks ‘Abdu’l-Baha gave while visiting the city.Noting the significance that ‘Abdu’l-Baha gave to the issue of peace, Century of Light, a publication commissioned in 2001 by the Universal House of Justice, states: “From the beginning, ‘Abdu’l Bahá took keen interest in efforts to bring into existence a new international order. It is significant, for example, that His early public references in North America to the purpose of His visit there placed particular emphasis on the invitation of the organizing committee of the Lake Mohonk Peace Conference for Him to address this international gathering.... Beyond this, the list of influential persons with whom the Master spent patient hours in both North America and Europe—particularly individuals struggling to promote the goal of world peace and humanitarianism—reflects His awareness of the responsibility the Cause has to humanity at large.”
Having raised the warning and urged the world to work for peace, ‘Abdu’l-Baha returned on 5 December 1913 to Haifa, then part of the Ottoman Empire. Aware of the coming war, He took steps to protect the Baha’i community under His stewardship and to avert a famine in the region. One of His first decisions upon returning to the Holy Land was to send home all the Baha’is who were visiting from abroad.
Less than a year later, war broke out in Europe. As the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary, the Allied Powers—including France, Britain, and eventually the United States—formed a strict blockade around Haifa. Communication and travel in and out of the area were almost impossible. Haifa and Akka were swept into the hysteria of war.
To protect the resident Baha’is of Haifa and Akka from danger, ‘Abdu’l-Baha decided to move them to a nearby Druze village called Abu-Sinan, while He remained in Akka with only one other Baha’i. However, bombardment by the Allied forces necessitated that He eventually join the other Baha’is in the village; at one point, a shell landed, but did not explode, in the Ridvan Garden near Akka. ‘Abdu’l Baha had the Baha’is in Abu-Sinan establish a dispensary and a small school for the area’s children.
‘Abdu’l-Baha also intensified efforts to protect the surrounding populations. He directed Baha’i farmers in the Jordan River Valley to increase their harvest yields and store extra grain in anticipation of a future shortage. After the war broke out and food supplies became scarce, He ensured that wheat would be distributed throughout the region. In July 1917, for example, He visited one farm in Adasiyyih, in present-day Jordan, for 15 days during the wheat and barley harvest. He had the surplus carried by camel to the famine-stricken Akka-Haifa area.“Agony filled (‘Abdu’l-Baha’s) soul at the spectacle of human slaughter precipitated through humanity’s failure to respond to the summons He had issued, or to heed the warnings He had given.”—Shoghi EffendiThroughout His ministry as the head of the Baha’i Faith, from Baha’u’llah’s ascension in 1892 to His own passing in 1921, ‘Abdu’l-Baha was in constant correspondence with Baha’is around the world. But during the war, His contacts with those outside the Holy Land were severely restricted.
Still, during this time, ‘Abdu’l-Baha took on two of His well-known works: Memorials of the Faithful and Tablets of the Divine Plan. The first was the publication of a series of talks He delivered during the war, eulogizing 79 heroic Baha’is. The latter was a series of letters, written in 1916 and 1917, that laid the foundation for the global spread of the Baha’i Faith.
Eventually, during the war, ‘Abdu’l-Baha resumed weekly gatherings in His home, warmly greeting visitors and meeting with people from all segments of society, including Ottoman, British, German, and other military and government figures.
“Agony filled His soul at the spectacle of human slaughter precipitated through humanity’s failure to respond to the summons He had issued, or to heed the warnings He had given,” Shoghi Effendi later wrote about ‘Abdu’l-Baha during this time in God Passes By.  Indian lancers march through Haifa after it was captured from the Ottomans in September 1918 (Credit: British War Museum, accessed through Wikimedia Commons).Following Haifa’s liberation on 23 September 1918, the city was in a frenzy. ‘Abdu’l-Baha maintained an atmosphere of calm and dignity as He received a continual flow of visitors including generals, officials, soldiers, and civilians. News of His safety gave relief to Baha’is around the world. With the end of the war, ‘Abdu’l-Baha would soon meet many more Baha’is and other visitors from abroad as the doors to that sacred land were open again.
While Europe was jubilant with the end of the Great War and a world-embracing institution was taking form in the League of Nations, ‘Abdu’l-Baha wrote in January 1920:
“The ills from which the world now suffers will multiply; the gloom which envelops it will deepen. The Balkans will remain discontented. Its restlessness will increase. The vanquished Powers will continue to agitate. They will resort to every measure that may rekindle the flame of war.”
Conscious of the threat of yet another war, ‘Abdu’l-Baha showed great interest in movements working for peace. In 1919, for example, He corresponded with the Central Organization for a Durable Peace at The Hague, which had written to Him three years earlier. In a message, referred to as the Tablet to The Hague, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, while praising the organization, was also candid in stating that peace would require a profound transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to the spiritual truths enunciated by Baha’u’llah.
“At present Universal Peace is a matter of great importance, but unity of conscience is essential, so that the foundation of this matter may become secure, its establishment firm and its edifice strong,” ‘Abdu’l-Baha wrote in that letter. “Today nothing but the power of the Word of God which encompasses the realities of things can bring the thoughts, the minds, the hearts and the spirits under the shade of one Tree.”
In His will, Baha’u’llah appointed His oldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, as the authorized interpreter of His teachings and head of the Baha’i Faith. Upholding unity as the fundamental principle of His teachings, Baha’u’llah established a Covenant through which His religion would not split into sects after His passing. Thus, Baha’u’llah instructed His followers to turn to ‘Abdu’l-Baha not only as the authorized interpreter of the Baha’i writings but also as the perfect exemplar of the Faith’s spirit and teachings.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1298,2018-12-03,"[1297, 1293, 1291]",Contributing to social transformation—reflections on Baha’i participation in discourses,"Representatives of a number of national Baha’i communities recently gathered at the Baha’i World Centre to reflect on the past several years of experience learning about participation in the discourses of society. The Baha’i World News Service took the opportunity to interview groups of representatives about the experiences and insights they have gained in this area of endeavor. Listen to one of these conversations in this week’s story.
The next report, to be published later this month, will include an interview about one specific discourse that is becoming more prevalent in countries around the world: the role of religion in society. BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In recent years, national Baha’i institutions and regional agencies have been systematically participating in the discourses of society, such as migration and integration, social cohesion, race unity, the role of religion in society, and climate change, to name a few.
The phrase “participation in the discourses of society” is being used more and more to describe the involvement of the Baha’i community in the broad conversations focused on social betterment.
Discourses take place at different levels. Individuals can contribute to discourses in their professions or fields of study. Many individuals and communities are drawn into discourses on issues vital to their neighborhoods and villages. Non-governmental organizations inspired by the Baha’i teachings—for example, in the area of social and economic development—contribute to discourses related to their efforts. The Baha’i community’s formal involvement in discourses related to the well-being and progress of society is facilitated at the national and international levels by offices of external affairs and the Baha’i International Community, respectively.
“There are conversations that are happening all around society in which different people are participating,” Vahid Vahdat, from Brazil, explains in the podcast. “You have government officials, you have the media, you have religious communities, you have local organizations, national organizations, NGOs, and they are all concerned with certain subjects. How does our society advance the equality of men and women? How do we deal with prejudice? How do we bring about united societies? So as a Baha’i community we are taking part in these conversations.”
No matter the setting, Baha’is are learning to contribute insights and experiences that are relevant to the profound challenges facing humanity today. In so doing, they strive to adopt a posture of humility, engage in genuine conversation, generously contribute relevant Baha’i principles, and learn with and from other like-minded individuals and groups.
“It's not just about the Baha’is contributing ideas; it’s about everybody in the wider society trying to advance this thinking and change the trajectory of humanity's ultimate development just a little bit, incrementally over time,” notes Ida Walker, from Australia.
This conception of participating in discourses is about cooperation, collaboration, and inclusivity. “It requires the participation of every member of society,” adds Saba Detweiler, from Germany. “And by engaging in conversations with different people, with different organizations, our common understanding will find expression in action. And action can take different forms.”  Ida Walker (second from right), who works with the Office of External Affairs in Australia, speaks in a seminar about social cohesion with participants from around the country. The gathering was held last week on the grounds of the Baha’i House of Worship in Sydney.Baha’i efforts to contribute to the advancement of thought find their origins in the very beginnings of the Faith’s history. Baha’u’llah, while a prisoner and exile in Edirne and later in Akka, addressed the rulers of His time. He put forth far-reaching spiritual principles and wrote on a range of topics including issues of great concern to world leaders at the time, for example, calling for the establishment of international peace and disarmament and the abolition of slavery, praising the benefits of representative government, and challenging rulers to give due regard to the rights and dignity of the poor. Another example is ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s penetrating analysis of Persian society in a widely disseminated treatise to the people of Iran, penned in 1875, about the conditions that would conduce to the progress and prosperity of the nation.
Since its establishment in 1948, the Baha’i International Community (BIC) has consistently sought to contribute constructively to international discourses at the United Nations. From its earliest days, the BIC promoted the advancement of women and the education of the girl child, the latter becoming a major topic of discourse in development circles starting in the 1980s and a strategic focus of development efforts since. World citizenship education is another such topic that was advanced by the BIC and has also become a widely recognized element in the UN’s efforts to promote education. Today, the BIC participates in numerous discourses including the equality of women and men, human rights, and sustainable development.
In this podcast, Ms. Detweiler from Germany interviews a group of Baha’i representatives about the experience of the Baha’i community in contributing to discourses on the national and international stages: Rachel Bayani from the BIC Brussels Office, Mr. Vahdat from Brazil, and Karl Wightman from the United Kingdom.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1299,2018-12-12,"[1230, 1227, 1216]",BIC joins Arab leaders to advance sustainable development goals,"CAIRO — Amid growing concerns in the region about serious challenges—hunger, armed conflict, environmental degradation, human rights, and more—Arab leaders gathered in Egypt’s capital city last month to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It was the first time the Baha’i community had an official presence at a space convened by the Arab League, a regional organization of about 20 nations in North Africa and the Middle East.
The second annual Arab Sustainable Development Week, held from 19 to 22 November, focused on the Arab region’s efforts to reach the 17 targets in the global Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030.
“The participants in this meeting took ownership of the question of sustainable development as their agenda, and there was a conscious effort to make sure all took part,” said Solomon Belay, a Baha’i International Community (BIC) representative who attended the meeting.
Dr. Belay, from the BIC Addis Ababa Office, was joined by Shahnaz Jaberi from Bahrain and Hatem El-Hady from Egypt.
“It was significant that the Baha’i community participated in such a forum where leaders of Arab states and regional spokespersons were coalescing around the critical issue of sustainable development,” explains Mr. El-Hady.
The BIC representatives noted the participants’ heightened consciousness and insights about the SDGs as they related to the specific challenges in the region. The statement, Summoning Our Common Will: A Baha’i Contribution to the United Nations Global Development Agenda, was distributed at the event.
Recognizing that the summit was a great step forward in the region, Ms. Jaberi highlighted the need to broaden the conversation: “It seems that the focus needs to go beyond technological and economic advancement. We underscored the importance of moral values and spiritual insights in our conversations throughout the event.”
The Baha’i representatives also noted that the conference strengthened relations among fellow regional actors. More than 120 diplomats, government officials, representatives of regional and international organizations, businesses, and academics attended the event. Speakers included Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, among a number of other leaders in the Arab region.",CAIRO,,Egypt
1300,2018-12-18,"[1295, 1241, 1236]",UN resolution calls for end to Iran’s persecution of Baha’is,"UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations General Assembly has condemned Iran’s ongoing human rights violations against Baha’is and others facing severe restrictions on the freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief.
On Monday, the General Assembly approved a resolution passed by its Third Committee last month that calls upon the Iranian government to “release all religious practitioners imprisoned for their membership in or activities on behalf of a recognized or unrecognized minority religious group, including the remaining imprisoned member of the Baha’i leadership.”
The international community also noted in the resolution Iran’s attacks on Baha’i places of worship and cemeteries as well as “other human rights violations, including harassment, intimidation, persecution, arbitrary arrests and detention, denial of access to education and incitement to hatred that leads to violence against” Baha’is and other religious minorities. The vote was 84 to 30, with 67 abstentions.
Read more about the resolution from the Baha’i International Community.",UNITED NATIONS,,
1301,2018-12-19,"[1178, 1077, 1072]","On migration, BIC sees need for cooperation, focuses on root causes","MARRAKECH, Morocco — More than a quarter billion people have left their home countries—many compelled by war, economic deprivation, or environmental degradation—in search of a better future elsewhere. To address this growing movement of populations, world leaders gathered last week at a historic conference where 164 nations adopted the first-ever United Nations global agreement on a common approach to international migration.
Called the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the non-binding pact aims to foster a cooperative international approach to migration and reduce the risks and challenges for people on the move.
“Understanding the deeper causes of international migration is forcing us all to look at how the affairs of an increasingly global society are organized,” says Baha’i International Community (BIC) representative Simin Fahandej, who participated in the conference held on 10 and 11 December in Marrakech, Morocco. “This agreement has brought the countries of the world into a global conversation about an issue that has mostly been dealt with at the national or regional level.”
Over the past five years, the Baha’i community has been engaged in national and international forums focused on migration. It has been working with diverse social actors to better understand the deeper causes of forced migration, its impact on societies, and insights that can help humanity to move forward in addressing this issue through consultation and collaboration.
“It seems inevitable that movements resulting from inhumane and intolerable circumstances will continue to increase unless there is a broad and concerted effort to address the underlying causes,” explains Ms. Fahandej. “The Global Compact for Migration highlights the willingness of many in the international community to look fundamentally at some of those causes and to begin to ask searching questions: What about current structures, systems, and attitudes is perpetuating the conditions causing millions of people to leave their homelands? How can we expect substantial change in the movement of populations if the structures that propel inequality and war do not change?”
The BIC representatives also noted the acknowledgment by leaders that, although global challenges must be addressed collectively, the precise nature of the questions facing the different regions of the world vary.
“This led to a discussion about the responsibilities of different regions,” adds Rachel Bayani, who attended the conference on behalf of the BIC Brussels Office. “Some would need to reflect on how their policies—for instance, on trade, on investment, on the environment—inadvertently affect the socio-economic conditions in the countries of origin. Others would need to explore how they could address the conditions within their own countries that are forcing people to leave.”  Migrants are depicted in artwork at the main entrance of the venue of the UN conference to adopt the Global Compact for Migration, held on 10 and 11 December in Marrakech, Morocco. (UN Photo/Sebastien Di Silvesto)A BIC statement issued ahead of the conference reiterates the need for a global focus on migration and “a long-term approach” that “calls for a far-reaching, multi-dimensional, dispassionate and informed conversation around the issue of migration.”
“That conversation cannot fall short of examining social, political and economic structures, systems and attitudes that underpin and perpetuate the current order,” the statement asserts. “It needs to include a genuine reflection on how this order can be redesigned to ensure an adequate response to the needs of masses of the world’s population living in situations of war, poverty and oppression. Most importantly, it needs to be based on the understanding of the indisputable interconnectedness of our societies, and the reality that humanity’s collective life suffers when any one group thinks of its own well-being in isolation from that of its neighbours.”
The conference was conceived in September 2016 when the UN General Assembly unanimously agreed to prepare a global migration agreement and to meet this month to adopt its text. The process has not been without challenges; nearly 30 UN member states have since backed out of the agreement.
The 34-page global compact is a non-binding declaration that aims to ensure a life of safety and dignity for migrants and to better manage the movement of populations. The agreement includes 23 objectives for “safe, orderly, and regular migration,” including: minimizing the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave their home country, managing international borders, eliminating all forms of discrimination and promoting evidence-based public discourse to shape perceptions of migration, and strengthening international cooperation.“Most importantly, (the conversation) needs to be based on the understanding of the indisputable interconnectedness of our societies, and the reality that humanity’s collective life suffers when any one group thinks of its own well-being in isolation from that of its neighbours.” —The Baha’i International CommunityThroughout the event, many government leaders noted the need for an international solution to the challenges placed on nations by migration. “We must equally address the drivers and outcomes of irregular migration,” explained Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised the compact’s focus on “the foundations of international cooperation.” She added that “globalization, if we want to give it a human face, can only be shaped in such a humane way when all countries on this planet have fair and equal opportunities to develop.”
About 3,200 people attended the conference, including representatives of more than 150 countries.
Read more from the BIC about its statement at the UN conference.
(Editor’s note: On 19 December, to more accurately reflect the text of the Global Compact, the first paragraph of this story was modified and a second added.)",MARRAKECH,,Morocco
1302,2018-12-20,"[1300, 1245, 1244]","Last member of former Yaran ends prison term, persecution continues","BIC GENEVA — The last imprisoned member of the former leadership body of the Baha’i community in Iran was released from prison today after serving an unjust 10-year prison sentence for merely practicing his faith. Iran’s Baha’is, however, continue to face daily, pervasive persecution.
Afif Naeimi, 56, was arrested on 14 May 2008 and charged with, among other false claims, espionage, propaganda against Iran, and the establishment of an illegal administration. Mr. Naeimi and the other six former members of the Yaran—an ad-hoc body tasked with tending to the spiritual and material needs of the religious community—faced those charges more than a year after their arrest in a sham trial without any semblance of legal process. Authorities sentenced Mr. Naeimi and the other former members of the Yaran to 10 years in prison.
While detained, Mr. Naeimi experienced severe health problems, often receiving inadequate treatment. Authorities made a cruel determination that the brief time Mr. Naeimi, a father of two from Tehran, spent in a hospital recovering would not be counted as part of his sentence.
“We are of course happy that Mr. Naeimi has been released. However, this should by no means be seen as an improvement of the situation of Iranian Baha’is as a whole,” said Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations. “The stark reality is that scores of Baha’is still remain imprisoned in Iran because of their beliefs and tens of thousands more face intense persecution including denial of access of higher education, shop closures, and harassment.”  Afif Naeimi and his wife in Tehran earlier todayIran’s pervasive and systematic persecution of the Baha’i community—including revolving arrests, arbitrary court sentences, and shop closures—has been condemned in recent months by the United Nations General Assembly, the European Parliament and United States House of Representatives, as well as the Australian, and Swedish parliamentarians. Furthermore, an increasing number of Iranians within and outside Iran have denounced the persecution. Just last month, a group of Iranian Muslim intellectuals condemned the “systematic and deeply rooted violation of Baha’i citizens’ rights” and described it as “being inhumane and contrary to religious and moral obligations.”
The long history of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of the Baha’is is well documented. The Archives of Baha’i Persecution in Iran website compiles thousands of official documents, reports, testimonials, photos, and videos revealing irrefutable proof of relentless persecution, including the killing or execution of more than 200 Baha’is since the Iranian revolution in 1979. The October 2016 report “The Baha’i Question Revisited: Persecution and Resilience in Iran” also describes the Iranian government’s systematic persecution of the Baha’is.",BIC GENEVA,,
1303,2018-12-27,"[1298, 1293, 1291]",Why religion is in the spotlight again,"Representatives of a number of national Baha’i communities recently gathered at the Baha’i World Centre to reflect on the past several years of experience learning about participation in the discourses of society. The Baha’i World News Service took the opportunity to interview groups of representatives about the experiences and insights they have gained in this area of endeavor. Listen to the second of these conversations in this week’s story. Part one is available here.
BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The accelerating movement of populations across borders, increasing religious diversity, growing interreligious tensions, sectarian violence, youth discontent and vulnerability to radicalization: these and other factors are combining to bring religion to the forefront of discourse in virtually every region of the world and on the international stage. Conscious of the forces of change sweeping across their societies, societal leaders are pursuing constructive ways to address humanity’s most pressing challenges. In this context, some governments, scholars, prominent thinkers, and civil society actors have sought to better understand the positive contributions that religion and faith communities can make to society. “There was a time in Canada when it was assumed that religion would fade away,” Geoffrey Cameron says in the podcast. “Notwithstanding the relative degrees of prosperity and progress in the world, our societies face immense social, political, and cultural challenges. And it's hard to think that those challenges can be overcome without honestly engaging the insights that exist within religion. We have to look for new ways to talk about religion, not only as it contributes to our own personal lives but also how it relates to the social transformation of our communities.”
“We need to gain this unifying vision of the role of religion in society,” explains Lyazzat Yangaliyeva, from Kazakhstan. A generation ago, that country emerged out of the former Soviet Union and its government-mandated scientific atheism. As a multi-faith nation today, Kazakhstan is trying to draw on religion’s constructive powers for the betterment of society. “We are exploring what an important role religion can play in, for example, strengthening morality among youth or in coping with the different social challenges that our country now faces, such as corruption.”
Reflecting on the current reality in India, Arash Fazli adds: “In the past decade or so, to some extent, the question of religion has been tied to the question of social cohesion and unity. And partly this is because of the increasingly loud and brazen voices from within extreme religious fundamentalist groups who have become more and more dominant in the public domain.”
“So, when we started to think about how to have a meaningful engagement with other social actors on the role of religion in society, we found the most ready theme that needed to be addressed was this question: how can we dispel the various misconceptions about religion that cause disunity between religious communities and how can we, in a sense, put out there a conception of religion that is actually unifying?”
In this podcast episode, Dr. Cameron, Ms. Yangaliyeva, and Dr. Fazli are interviewed by Rachel Bayani, who also draws on her experience as the representative of the Baha’i International Community Brussels Office.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1304,2018-12-31,"[1231, 1259, 1275]",2018 in review: progress and insights,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — For the Baha’i world, 2018 was marked by a wide range of developments. Through its podcast and written articles, the Baha’i World News Service sought to capture some of these developments and to explore new insights emerging from Baha’i endeavor.
Stories in the past year, which began in the afterglow of the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth, covered a diversity of topics.
Twelfth International Baha’i Convention
Held every five years, the International Baha’i Convention is a moment for representatives of every national Baha’i community to consult about the progress of the Faith in their lands and to vote for the members of the international governing body, the Universal House of Justice.  More than 1,500 ballots were cast in the election of the Universal House of Justice on 29 April. In a rarefied and spiritual environment, this delegate from Alaska was the first to cast a ballot.Representing 166 countries, more than 1,000 delegates attended the convention in Haifa. Delegates were shown a new documentary film about community building efforts around the Baha’i world. The occasion was also a time to make available a new section of the website for the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth.  A new documentary film, A Widening Embrace, was produced through a creative, grassroots process in which local teams documented the efforts of their own communities to effect social change.Houses of Worship
The Baha’i world in 2018 witnessed the dedication of the second local Baha’i House of Worship. In July, more than 1,000 people attended a special dedication ceremony for the Temple in the Norte del Cauca region of Colombia.  Participants enter the Colombia Temple for their first visit during the 22 July inauguration ceremony. Five groups of about 220 people each filled the Temple for a devotional program, which included prayers and readings from the Baha’i writings.The Temple’s dedication marked a new stage in the unfoldment of the Baha’i Faith in the region, where the Faith has had roots for more than four decades. The inauguration included a first visit to the Temple with great reverence, led by a representative of the House of Justice. The sharing of music, dance, and other artistic expression helped to create a joyful atmosphere for the occasion. Residents from nearby communities continued to visit the Temple for a series of special visits on the four Sundays following the 22 July ceremony.  During the Colombia Temple’s inauguration ceremony on 22 July, dancers perform the song “La Cumbia del Jardinero,” which uses a metaphor of a gardener to describe the process of spiritual education.Designs for Baha’i Temples in Papua New Guinea and Kenya were also unveiled in 2018.  The design of the national House of Worship in Papua New Guinea was unveiled in a joyous event on 21 March in the country’s capital city of Port Moresby.In New Delhi, an educational facility was added to the Baha’i Lotus Temple, which continues to be a vibrant center of life for the city and beyond. The continental House of Worship first opened in 1986 and has had more than 100 million visitors. In Santiago, the Temple for South America has not only earned international recognition for its innovative architecture but is also a point of attraction and inspiration for people in Santiago and beyond.
Arts and Social Transformation
From collective expressions of music and drama at the grassroots to performances at prestigious venues, the Baha’i world continued to explore the nature of the connection between the arts and social transformation. The Baha’i World News Service wrote about a few examples of artistic expression from Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, and Zambia.
Inspired by the life of Tahirih—an important figure in early Baha’i history—Azerbaijani journalist Kamale Selim Muslimgizi produced the play Daughter of the Sun. The stage performance highlighted Tahirih’s unmatched courage throughout her life as an influential poet, scholar, and champion of women’s emancipation.  This scene from the play Daughter of the Sun depicts when Nasiri’d-Din Shah, the king of Persia, met with Tahirih, offering to marry her if she recanted her faith. Tahirih turned down the offer with poetry: “Kingdom, wealth, and power for thee / Beggary, exile, and loss for me / If the former be good, it’s thine / If the latter is hard, it’s mine.”At Edinburgh’s world-famous Fringe Festival, a new stage musical, Henry Box Brown, vividly brought to the life the story of a man who escaped slavery by shipping himself in a box out of the southern United States to freedom. Drawing on the arts as a powerful medium for raising consciousness, the show stimulates constructive conversation and inspires action and social change.  Members of the cast of Henry Box Brown act out a scene from the musical, which was staged at the world-famous Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.And in northwestern Zambia, where collective singing is an integral part of daily life, the Lunda people have been drawing inspiration from the Baha’i teachings to channel the power of music to unite.

A Lunda singing group in Mwinilunga, Zambia, sings “The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers.”
Participation in the discourses of society
Efforts of the Baha’i community to contribute to the betterment of society at the level of thought are one of the themes followed by the Baha’i World News Service. Listen to parts 1 and 2 of a series of podcasts about the involvement of the Baha’i community in broad conversations focused on social betterment.
This year, the Baha’i International Community participated in forums focused on poverty, the equality of women and men, the role of youth in society, and international migration. National Baha’i communities also contributed to discourses on a range of themes, such as preventing radicalization in Spain, interreligious dialogue in Kazakhstan, the role of media in fostering social harmony in India, and reconciliation in Canada. In the United States, the Baha’i Chair for World Peace organized seminars on the themes of global peace and overcoming racism.  The Baha'i community of Spain co-organized a conference on 26 October on the subject of radicalization.An article also explored the efforts of the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity, a Baha’i-inspired educational and research organization that holds seminars to help young adults reflect on their part in the emergence of a peaceful and just global civilization.  The Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity holds a series of seminars for university students to help them see their education as integral to their efforts to contribute to the transformation of society. Seminars for university students were held in more than 40 countries this year. These participants gathered at a seminar in Brazil.Social and economic development
Various examples were reported this year of Baha’is engaging in social and economic development endeavors. A new edition of For the Betterment of the World detailed many examples of Baha’i contributions in this area.  A new edition of For the Betterment of the World was published in April. The publication illustrates the Baha’i community’s ongoing process of learning in action in the field of social and economic development.Groups of Continental Counsellors discussed Baha’i-inspired educational endeavors in Africa. In the Caribbean island nation of Dominica, a hopeful community united to rebuild after a devastating hurricane. And on the other side of the globe in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia, a conference reflected on the role of spiritual education in the development of peaceful and prosperous communities.  In the months following September 2017, when Hurricane Maria devastated the Caribbean island of Dominica, the community united in reconstruction efforts. Here, youth and adults work together to build a greenhouse in the island’s Kalinago territory.And in its 9 November message to the Baha’is of the world, the Universal House of Justice announced the establishment of a new global institution to “promote and coordinate the efforts of the worldwide community in social and economic development.”
The development of Baha’i communities at the grassroots
The profound impact Baha’u’llah’s teachings are having in communities around the world formed the basis of a number of other reports by the News Service. In January, an article featured how some villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are learning to transcend the longstanding barriers that divide people.  Residents in the village of Ditalala, which means peace, have witnessed a profound transformation in their community, inspired by the teachings of Baha’u’llah.In a series of podcast episodes, the News Service interviewed groups of Continental Counsellors about insights emerging from community building efforts around the world.Finally, the new film A Widening Embrace, which was released in April and mentioned above, tells the story of transformation unfolding in 24 communities representing different realities and contexts. A trio of short films accompanying the documentary was released in September, describing more about the process of social change being seeing in communities around the world.
Access to the Holy Writings
This year also saw the publication of new translations of the Baha’i writings as well as the implementation of a new feature of the Baha’i Reference Library. In its Ridvan message, the Universal House of Justice stated that the “feature will allow previously untranslated and unpublished passages or Tablets from the Holy Writings to be released online over time.”  A collection of more than 100 previously unpublished and untranslated selections from the Baha’i writings was published on 5 September on the Baha’i Reference Library, which was also updated with new site enhancements.In New Zealand, the first substantial book of Baha’i prayers was published in the indigenous Maori language, while in the Philippines, the Kitab-i-Aqdas was rendered into the widely-spoken Cebuano language.  In September, a Baha’i prayer book in the Maori language was published, the first substantial collection of Baha’i prayers in the indigenous language. This photo shows a celebratory event announcing the publication at a local Maori community meeting grounds near Hamilton, New Zealand.A year of historic anniversaries
A century and a half after Baha’u’llah’s arrival to the Holy Land, the Baha’i World News Service produced a special series of podcasts about that significant period in history. The 3-part series explored the context into which Baha’u’llah was arriving in Akka on 31 August 1868, the events surrounding the day of His arrival, and the series of extraordinary writings He penned, addressing the kings and rulers of the time.
This year was also the centenary of the end of World War I, one of the most devastating conflicts in human history. In the years preceding the war, ‘Abdu’l-Baha made urgent efforts to promote peace. Once the conflict broke out, He took critical actions to ease suffering in the region. His call for peace, stating that it would require a profound transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to the spiritual truths enunciated by Baha’u’llah, perhaps has even greater relevance today.  This 1920 photo shows ‘Abdu’l-Baha walking from His house on Haparsim Street in Haifa. He worked tirelessly to promote peace and to tend to the safety and well-being of the people of Akka and Haifa.Persecution of Iran’s and Yemen’s Baha’i communities continues unabated
The Baha’i communities in Iran and Yemen continue to face persecution.
In Iran, the last four imprisoned members of the former leadership group, the Yaran, were released from prison this year. Still, as the seven former members of the Yaran have now completed their unjust 10-year prison sentences, the country’s Baha’i community continues to suffer under the weight of state-sponsored systematic persecution.
Earlier this month, the United Nations condemned the country’s ongoing human rights violations against Baha’is. In January 2018, the Baha’i International Community launched the Archives of Baha’i Persecution in Iran website, prompting 25 prominent intellectuals and specialists in human rights law to call on Iran’s top human rights official to acknowledge his country’s long-standing state-sponsored persecution of the Baha’is. Iranians within and outside Iran have continued to denounce the persecution. Just last month, a group of Iranian Muslim intellectuals condemned the “systematic and deeply rooted violation of Baha’i citizens’ rights” and described it as “being inhumane and contrary to religious and moral obligations.”
In Yemen, a Baha’i who has been imprisoned unjustly for his religious beliefs since December 2013 was sentenced to death in January. The man, Hamed bin Haydara, remains in a prison in Sana’a, Yemen. In September, the country’s Iranian-backed Houthi authorities also targeted some 20 Baha’is with a string of baseless charges, including espionage and apostasy.  In January, the Baha’i International Community launched the Archives of Baha’i Persecution in Iran website. The website compiles thousands of official documents, reports, testimonials, photos, and videos revealing irrefutable proof of relentless persecution. It was created in response to rising interest within and outside Iran to understand the depth and breadth of the persecution of Iran’s Baha’is. The release prompted 25 prominent intellectuals and specialists in human rights law to call on Iran's top human rights official to acknowledge his country’s long-standing state-sponsored persecution of the Baha’is.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1305,2019-01-06,"[1270, 1269, 1255]",Material and spiritual education: 30 years of School of the Nations,"MACAU — A Baha’i-inspired international school in Macau is marking its 30th anniversary this academic year. School of the Nations has become an educational institution highly regarded for its academic rigor and its integrated approach to the moral and intellectual development of its students.
“The school’s founders saw the need for an educational approach that develops students’ intellectual powers together with the moral and spiritual foundations that will guide them throughout life,” says Victor Ali, Executive Director of the Badi Foundation, the school’s parent organization.
“The school had very humble beginnings. It started in an apartment. And there were more teachers than students,” adds Vivek Nair, the school’s director.
School of the Nations opened in 1988 with five students and seven teachers. It grew rapidly, attracting nearly 100 students in its second year and nearly 200 in its third year. Eventually, the Macau government donated land where a 7-story facility was opened in 2008. That new building includes a library that is also accessible to the public throughout the week.
Today, School of the Nations has 600 students from kindergarten through high school and 100 teachers.
“We see ourselves as exploring what it means to be a Baha’i-inspired school,” adds Mr. Nair. Drawing inspiration on principles such as the harmony of science and religion, the oneness of humankind, and the independent investigation of truth, the school takes innovative approaches in refining and offering its curriculum in a manner that builds on sound educational approaches.  In its early years, School of the Nations operated out of different apartment buildings in Macau.While garnering international recognition for its high academic standards, the school places a particular emphasis on students contributing to the well-being and progress of their society. Service projects are part of the curriculum, and students see the improvement of the material and social conditions in their communities as an essential aspect of their development.
The school also serves Macau in other ways. For instance, educators throughout Macau use teacher-training materials developed by School of the Nations. A local university sends students for a year-long internship program at the school, where they learn about the school’s educational methods.
School of the Nations is one of more than 800 Baha’i-inspired educational institutions around the world. Rather than providing programs for religious instruction or indoctrination, these endeavors have as their primary objective the development of capacity in generation after generation to contribute meaningfully to the betterment of society. They are among the many social and economic development efforts of varying degrees of complexity that Baha’is are carrying out, which operate on the principle that populations should be the protagonists of their own material, spiritual, and intellectual advancement, not just recipients or mere participants.
The school is a high performer in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and was the first in Macau to offer the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, the two most widely recognized international qualifications accepted by the majority of universities in the world. Graduating students often attend highly regarded universities in East Asia, Europe, and North America. The school also has a strong special education program for students with special needs.
The moral education component began in the form of classes supplementary to the core curriculum of English, Mandarin Chinese, history, math, science, and other subjects. But increasingly, the school has been learning about the integration of this dimension into every subject.
“One area of learning for us is how to integrate moral education into all subjects,” Mr. Nair says.
For students in grades six to eight, for example, the school uses a moral empowerment program, offered by the Badi Foundation. The program engages young people in the study of educational texts to learn to identify local needs and engage in service projects and activities to improve the social and material reality of their communities. The program also helps young people to understand the application of moral principles, such as kindness toward others, service to one’s community, honesty and generosity, and unity and harmony among one’s family, friends, and neighbors. The emphasis on moral principles aims to inspire youth to be dedicated to the progress of their society.“We see ourselves as exploring what it means to be a Baha’i-inspired school.”—Vivek Nair, School of the Nations DirectorThe school has a mid-year project where groups of students work together to try to understand a current social problem. “This year’s project is about wealth inequality,” Mr. Nair explains. “So, they will study different countries and begin to understand some of the causes of the extremes of wealth and poverty and try to gain insights about how to begin to address these challenges,” he adds.
Their efforts to work in a learning mode—characterized by the process of action, reflection, consultation, and study—have been central to the school’s growth over three decades. This allows challenges to be examined, lessons to be learned, and modifications to be made. School administrators and teachers meet regularly to not only consult on operational matters, but also to deepen their understanding of the sort of education they are offering, Mr. Nair says.
Today, about 80 percent of the students and nearly half of the teachers are local to Macau, deeply rooting the school in the community. When teachers and students consult on service projects, for example, they have an intimate understanding of the community they have lived in their whole lives and deep connections with other people who can help.
For more information on Baha’i education endeavors, read For the Betterment of the World.",MACAU,,
1306,2019-01-17,"[1303, 1298, 1079]",The evolving Baha’i perspective on interfaith dialogue,"This is part three in a series of stories about the Baha’i community’s participation in the discourses of society. Read part 1 here and part 2 here.
OSLO, Norway — Recent international interfaith gatherings highlight a growing awareness in the world. Many social actors are seeing in interreligious dialogue a new potential to channel the constructive powers of faith for the betterment of society.
“If we all have humility instead of insisting on the exclusivity of our own perspectives, then we begin to learn from each other,” says Britt Strandlie Thoresen, who heads Norway’s national interfaith organization. As a Baha’i, her commitment to interreligious dialogue springs from a belief in the power of fellowship to foster unity. “We are striving to find a common path together—a path to building a better world with each other.”
Today, the interfaith movement can reflect on more than a century of experience cultivating dialogue between people of different faiths. At the end of the 19th century, the burgeoning movement seemed to hold great promise for ushering in a recognition of the oneness of religion. The 20th century painted a very different picture. Two world wars, a seemingly intractable rise of sectarian violence, religious fundamentalism, and radicalization have left many disenchanted with religion and wary of the value of the movement.
The interfaith movement, however, has made impressive contributions toward promoting unity among the world’s religious communities. Increasingly, people are conscious of how the movement can go even further in helping humanity to attain higher degrees of unity in addressing its most weighty challenges.
For Baha’is, a century of participation in interfaith activities worldwide has sparked a deep reflection in recent years. What is the potential of the spaces opened up in the name of interfaith dialogue? What are its aims and hopes today? How can we participate in a discourse that draws on the insights of religion but goes further to explore their relevance to a world in disarray?
“One way of looking at religion is as a phenomenon that transcends any one faith or sect,” explains Venus Khalessi, who represented the Baha’i community at the G20 Interfaith Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last September. One of the aims of participation in interfaith dialogue, she explains, is to draw out universal principles and learn from each other’s experiences applying them. The point is to work toward a more peaceful and just world. “In this sense, religion can be seen as a system of knowledge and practice that is evolving and offers insights and values that can help society advance.”  Britt Strandlie Thoresen (second from right), chair of the Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities in Norway, speaks among five panelists at a major annual national meeting in the town of Arendal. The event brings together government leaders, civil society, and faith communities to discuss major issues affecting the country. Here, Mrs. Thoresen speaks at a panel on the environment. The event was called “The Cathedral of Hope,” held on the water to highlight pollution of the oceans and other environmental issues.The view that religion has a vital and constructive role to play in the life of humanity was shared by representatives of many religious groups at the G20 Forum. The conference’s concept paper describes religion’s prominent role in many societal issues.
“Acknowledged or unacknowledged, around the world religion addresses the challenging problems societies and nations face as well as broader societal well-being,” the paper states. “Without the investment of time and resources that religiously-motivated organizations and individuals provide, the United Nations’ SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) are unattainable.”
In November, more than 8,000 people from around the world gathered in Toronto, Canada, for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, another major forum for the global interfaith movement. Baha’is organized sessions on relevant themes such as the empowerment of youth, the relationship between religion and citizenship, the principle of oneness, the equality of women and men, race unity, and more. In all, more than 60 presentations were offered by Baha’is, often in collaboration with people of different faiths.
Mrs. Thoresen sees great value in continuing to invest time in interfaith activities. “We are learning step by step. We are learning to listen, reflect, and communicate with one another in a way that builds common understanding.”
“In this setting, it is important not to dwell on differences but to try to build on what we all have in common, and that is a lot actually,” she continues. The Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities in Norway, which Mrs. Thoresen chairs, not only holds regular interfaith gatherings in Oslo but also promotes interreligious dialogue in local communities throughout the country.“We need a kind of dialogue that can harness the power of religion to help humanity tackle its most challenging problems.” —Gerald FilsonInterfaith activities vary widely. Some groups primarily seek fellowship; others are oriented toward social change. Since Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, for example, the country has been increasingly conscious of its religious diversity and has been seeking to cultivate a pluralistic society. Interfaith dialogue has played a critical role in building a common vision for the future. And more broadly in the Arab region, the United Nations Development Programme organized a conference in December, bringing together religious representatives, including Baha’is, for a review of how faith communities are enhancing social cohesion and tolerance.
In addition to the evolving landscape of interfaith activities, some Baha’i communities are observing a new frontier: moving beyond traditional interreligious dialogue to include a wider sweep of society.
“We need a kind of dialogue that can harness the power of religion to help humanity tackle its most challenging problems,” explains Gerald Filson, a Baha’i who used to head the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, the country’s preeminent interreligious organization. “In Canada, we are finding that secular and religious actors can work together in pursuit of the common good. Opening spaces for this sort of collaboration has helped the discourse advance and new possibilities to open up.” The Baha’i community there has co-organized several major national conferences about religion in the public sphere, bringing together civil society and faith-based organizations, academics, and government representatives.
In Spain, a recent seminar focused on confronting violent radicalization, bringing together a high-level panel of security specialists, policymakers, and scholars to better understand and address a growing problem in Europe.
“We have to keep moving forward together—widening the circle to include all people. Only through transcending divides and working side by side for our common destiny can we begin to address the real problems of the world in a way that actually uplifts and brings people together in an understanding beyond rhetoric,” Dr. Filson says.
In their participation in discourses related to religious coexistence, the role of religion in society, and interfaith dialogue, growing numbers of people and groups are learning to draw out religion’s constructive contributions to society, and the Baha’i community is striving to contribute its share to this vital cause. In its efforts, it is finding inspiration in the Universal House of Justice’s April 2002 letter to the world’s religious leaders.",OSLO,,Norway
1307,2019-01-24,"[1306, 1303, 1159]",Interfaith gathering of senior representatives followed by visit to Shrine of the Bab,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In a pronounced show of interreligious unity, 10 representatives of the Christian, Druze, Jewish, Muslim, and Baha’i faiths, were joined by 17 Roman Catholic bishops and their advisers from abroad for a special interfaith discussion on religious coexistence on 14 January. After, the diverse group visited the Shrine of the Bab.
The panelists, who represented each of the participating religious communities, focused on how their coreligionists can not only nurture a spirit of mutual tolerance and coexistence but also collaborate on efforts to build unity. A number of speakers noted that the principles of dialogue, tolerance, respect, coexistence, and love for one another are highlighted throughout their sacred scriptures. And in order to create bonds of unity among people of different religions and dispel indifference and prejudice, it is important for people to communicate with and know each other, several of the panelists explained.
Following the discussion at the Baha’i World Centre, prayers were recited in Arabic, English, and Hebrew. The 50 participants then walked to the nearby Shrine of the Bab, a domed building on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, Israel, where the sacred remains of the Herald of the Baha’i Faith are entombed.  Father Yousef Yakoub (left) recited the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi in Arabic, English, and Hebrew as audience members and fellow panelists (from left) Emir Muhammad Sharif Odeh, Baha’i International Community Deputy Secretary-General Shervin Setareh, Rabbi Naama Dafni-Kelen, Bishop Michel Dubost, Sheikh Jaber Mansour, Rabbi David Metzger, and Sheikh Rashad Abo Alhigaa stood in reverence.The Catholic clerics were visiting the Holy Land on behalf of the Pope and the Church for an annual meeting to show support to the Christian community; they hailed from a dozen different countries, mostly in Europe and North America. Father Yousef Yakoub, the leader of Haifa’s Maronite Christian community, who co-organized the event, recited the stirring Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:
“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.”",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1308,2019-01-25,"[1305, 1255, 1259]",Baha’i International Development Organization board of directors meets,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The board of directors of the Baha’i International Development Organization has convened for the first time. The establishment of the new institution was announced by the Universal House of Justice in its 9 November message to the Baha’is of the World.
A five-member board of directors, appointed in November for a five-year term, met at the Baha’i World Centre and began consulting on the Development Organization’s aims and work.
Regarding the new institution’s mandate, the House of Justice writes that its “primary purpose will be to facilitate learning about development by fostering and supporting action, reflection on action, study, consultation, the gathering and systematization of experience, conceptualization, and training—all carried out in the light of the Teachings of the Faith.”
Rapid advances in Baha’i communities have helped make possible the establishment of the Development Organization, representing a new stage in the work of social and economic development in the Baha’i world.
Since the Faith’s early years, Baha’is have striven to apply Baha’u’llah’s teachings to improve the material and spiritual aspects of their societies. In 1983, the House of Justice created the Office of Social and Economic Development (OSED) to assist it in promoting and coordinating the Baha’i community’s social and economic development efforts. OSED has now evolved into the Baha'i International Development Organization.
Over 35 years, Baha’i endeavors in this field have strengthened markedly, and a framework for social action has taken shape. Worldwide, there are scores of nongovernmental Baha’i-inspired social and economic development organizations as well as tens of thousands of development activities and projects undertaken by Baha’is and other collaborators. These efforts fall along a spectrum of complexity and address an array of challenges in areas related to education, literacy, health, the environment, support for refugees, the advancement of women, empowerment of junior youth, elimination of racial prejudice, agriculture, local economies, and village development. The Development Organization will carry forward this work on an expanding scale and at higher levels of complexity.
The board of directors will draw on the newly inaugurated Baha’i Development Fund, to which Baha’is may contribute, to assist both long-standing and emerging development efforts worldwide.
The 9 November message announcing the Development Organization’s establishment coincided with the 199th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. The House of Justice announced the establishment of OSED 35 years earlier, also on the anniversary of the Bab’s birth.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1309,2019-02-06,"[1283, 1148, 1281]",A collection of Baha’u’llah’s mystical writings published,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A new volume of Baha’u’llah’s mystical works is now available online and in print.
The Call of the Divine Beloved has five newly published selections from Baha’u’llah’s writings, including a poem revealed during His time in the Black Pit of Tehran. The book also contains revised translations of two of Baha’u’llah’s well-known works, the Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys.
For the first time, an authorized English translation of one of Baha’u’llah’s most renowned poetic works, Rashh-i-‘Ama, or The Clouds of the Realms Above, is made available. Perhaps the earliest fruit of Baha’u’llah’s pen, Rashh-i-‘Ama is one of the few writings He authored in His native land of Persia. The work, composed in 1852 during His four-month imprisonment in the Black Pit, is a poetic reflection on His first intimations of His station as a Manifestation of God.
The remaining six of the publication’s seven works were revealed by Baha’u’llah during His time in Iraq, from 1853 to 1863. After being released from His cruel and unjust imprisonment in Tehran, Baha’u’llah and His family were banished to Baghdad in a perilous journey through the dead of winter. For three months they traversed the snowy mountains of Western Iran, inadequately equipped for the conditions and Baha’u’llah Himself physically frail from His months of imprisonment in abhorrent conditions.
In Baghdad, a small and dejected band of Babis, whose Leader had been executed by firing squad nearly three years earlier, had fallen into a state of disarray and disunity. Baha’u’llah withdrew Himself from the turmoil of the community to the mountains of Kurdistan, where He lived a life of solitude, in near-constant prayer and meditation for two years—a period reminiscent of Moses’ withdrawal to Mount Sinai, Christ’s 40 days and nights in the wilderness, and Muhammad’s retreat to the cave on Mount Hira.
Assuming the identity of a dervish and clad in humble garb, Baha’u’llah was at first unknown to the people of the region. Stories soon spread of a man of extraordinary wisdom and eloquence found in the mountains. Numerous religious leaders and mystics were drawn to Baha’u’llah, often traveling long distances to visit Him.
Two years after His withdrawal, Baha’u’llah, at ‘Abdu’l-Baha's request, returned to Baghdad, a moment Shoghi Effendi has described as “a turning point of the utmost significance in the history of the first Bahá’í century.” Baha’u’llah’s return revived and animated the Babi community.
The subsequent period, Shoghi Effendi wrote, saw an “enormous expansion in the scope and volume of Bahá’u’lláh’s writings…”. The Sufis and clerics who had come to revere Baha’u’llah while He was in the mountains of Kurdistan were now flocking to Baghdad to visit Him. It was during those years when He penned some of His most renowned works, including the Seven Valleys.
The Call of the Divine Beloved is available on the Baha’i Reference Library; the book can be ordered through the United States Baha’i Publishing Trust.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1310,2019-02-14,"[1303, 1298, 1172]",Advancing a discourse on race unity in the U.S.,"WASHINGTON — From its earliest days, the United States Baha’i community has been dedicated to the cause of race unity. This strong sense of mission in the American Baha’is was ignited by ‘Abdu’l-Baha during His visit to North America in 1912 when He often admonished them to see no difference between black and white, to accept that all belong to one human race. Today, the Baha’i community has been reflecting on how it can best contribute to the cause of race unity amid a growing awareness in the country about the entrenched nature of prejudice and structural injustice. “The discourse on race in America has re-surged into the national consciousness,” P.J. Andrews explains in the most recent Baha’i World News Service podcast episode. “So, it is really unavoidable to have a conversation about race in America. And we feel there is a lot to contribute from the Baha’i perspective.”
A renewed sense of purpose is discernible in the Baha’i community’s longstanding dedication to race unity. One of the ways American Baha’is have been working for this cause is through involvement in public discourse. Participation in discourses occurs in scores of community-building efforts at the grassroots, in hundreds of projects and activities for social action, in the involvement of thousands of individuals at the professional level and in other public settings, and in the official efforts of the Baha’i community on the national stage.
At the national level, the U.S. Baha’i Office of Public Affairs is leading the charge. In the latest Baha’i World News Service podcast episode, two of its staff members, Mr. Andrews and May Lample, discuss the Office’s efforts to participate in constructive social spaces exploring racial justice and unity.
The Baha’i Office of Public Affairs has long been engaged in prevalent discourses in the U.S., such as sustainable development, the advancement of women, human rights, and, in more recent years, race. The Office has spent the past two years attending forums on race throughout the country, meeting with some of the leading thinkers on the subject, and learning with and from like-minded social actors. It has also been bringing into the discourse important insights from the Baha’i teachings. In its efforts to promote unity and contribute to discussions focused on societal betterment, the Office has interacted with lawmakers and government officials and collaborated with civil society organizations and media actors.
One of the questions the Office is asking is what role faith plays in overcoming ingrained prejudice and structural injustice. Religious communities in the U.S. have had a complicated relationship with race. Religion has inspired great acts of sacrifice and heroism for the greater good, but it has also been used to justify oppression and reinforce otherness.
Conscious of the complex and multifaceted nature of religion’s contribution to societal unity, Mr. Andrews and Ms. Lample reflect in the podcast episode on a nascent initiative undertaken by the Office—a series of national level conversations called the Faith and Race Dialogues. These gatherings bring social actors in the U.S. capital together in pursuit of overcoming and transcending racial prejudice. They are one of the many ways the U.S. Baha’i community is striving to heal the wounds of racism and explore a unifying path forward.  A participant in the Faith and Race Dialogue in September speaks during the gathering.The Faith and Race Dialogues focus on concepts and ideas that underlie action, Mr. Andrews and Ms. Lample explain in the interview. The dialogues aim to elevate discussions above the acrimony and contention that often prevent the discourse on race in the U.S. from advancing.
The Baha’i community is not naïve about the magnitude of the challenge facing society. The Faith and Race Dialogues, Mr. Andrews and Ms. Lample say, are one modest example among the many ways that Baha’is in the U.S. are engaged in the discourse on race unity. And these initiatives across the country will need to expand and intensify in the coming years.
These efforts build on a long legacy within the Bahá’í community. Since the community’s earliest days, Baha’is in the country have been trying to address the problem of racial prejudice, which Shoghi Effendi has described as “the most vital and challenging issue confronting the (American) Bahá’í community…”. ‘Abdu’l-Baha inspired the American Baha’is to initiate a series of race amity conferences in the early 20th century, and He patiently guided a racially diverse community to struggle against the forces of prejudice and disunity.
During His visit to North America, ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke on race unity in spaces such as the renowned Howard University, a historically black college, as well as the annual meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s preeminent civil rights organization. The NAACP’s co-founder, writer and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, was in correspondence with ‘Abdu’l-Baha and published His talk as well as His photo in the organization’s magazine, The Crisis.
In a talk at the Hull Settlement House in Chicago on 30 April 1912, speaking to some of the country’s most progressive social actors of that time, ‘Abdu’l-Baha underscored the importance of religion in overcoming racial prejudice. Despite the numerous commonalities between human beings, He explained, racial prejudice would be insurmountable without tapping the deepest wells of human potential:
“(T)here is need of a superior power to overcome human prejudices, a power which nothing in the world of mankind can withstand and which will overshadow the effect of all other forces at work in human conditions. That irresistible power is the love of God. It is my hope and prayer that it may destroy the prejudice of this one point of distinction between you and unite you all permanently under its hallowed protection.”",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
1311,2019-02-20,"[1223, 1158, 1239]","In President’s call for unity, Italian Baha’i community sees common aim","ROME — The Italian president’s call for unity and coexistence in a widely-viewed speech has prompted a discussion about the importance of unity amid an increasingly polarized public discourse.
Seeing common ground with themes of President Sergio Mattarella’s annual New Year’s Eve speech, the Italian Baha’i community decided to write to him. Its letter expressed appreciation for the president’s earnest call to unity and highlighted some concepts underlying the efforts of Baha’is working for the betterment of their country.
“We too feel, Mr. President, in our daily life, in our relationship with colleagues, friends, family and acquaintances a growing desire for unity. Some questions seem to be recurring,” the Baha’i community wrote in its 18 January letter to the president. “What is the destiny of our people? What values, principles, rights and duties should guide our community? What contribution can every individual, youth, and adult, rich or poor, man or woman, Italian or immigrant, give in building a more just and united society, conscious of its high aim?”
The president sent a reply on 4 February to the Baha’i community’s letter, expressing gratitude for its comments.
The president’s 14-minute New Year’s Eve speech, broadcast on the Internet and major Italian television stations, was watched live by more than 10 million people. “It was notable for its call to unity amid a divisive political environment in Italy,” explains Guido Morisco, from the Italian Baha’i community’s external affairs office.
“To feel like a community means to share values, perspectives, rights, and duties,” President Mattarella said in his speech. “It means envisioning ourselves in a shared future, to be built together. It means responsibility, because each of us is, to a greater or lesser extent, a protagonist of the future of our country.” President Mattarella also candidly assessed some of his country’s challenges—particularly unemployment and high public debt—and greeted the country’s 5 million immigrants.
“We’ve been very happy to hear our president talk with such a positive attitude and hope for the future,” says Denise Cumella, also from the Baha’i office.  This is the first Baha’i institution in Italy, the Local Spiritual Assembly of Rome, in 1948. Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery is standing on the far right and was a member of that body.While this is the first time the president has corresponded with the Baha’is, the community has long engaged with its government. “This conversation with the institutions of our society started in the 1950s when the first Baha’is arrived in Italy. It is an expression of the constant love and respect for our nation and its institutions,” notes Alessandro Benedetti, also with Italy’s Baha’i external affairs office.
In October 2017, a special commemoration for the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth was organized in the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Italian lawmakers, religious leaders, and civil servants met in the Parliament’s Sala del Refettorio, where records and laws of the Italian legislature are kept and special events are occasionally held.
“The Baha’is of Italy are committed to giving expression to a vision of unity in their activities all over the country,” Mr. Morisco adds.",ROME,,Italy
1312,2019-02-28,"[1310, 1303, 1298]","Australia, diversity, and the pursuit of social cohesion","SYDNEY — Vital to participation in the discourses of society is the Baha’i principle of consultation. In the latest Baha’i World News Service podcast episode, two representatives of Australia’s Baha’i community discuss what they are learning about consultation's power to build greater unity of thought and action in society. Ida Walker and Venus Khalessi, from Australia’s Baha’i external affairs office, have been representing the Baha’i community in one of the most pressing discourses in Australian society—the discourse on social cohesion.
Like many other countries, Australia is grappling with the question of how to foster harmony and cohesion among a population that is increasingly diverse in its ethnic, religious, and cultural makeup. As the government, civil society organizations, and the media have sought to understand this issue better, the Office of External Affairs has been present in the social spaces where social cohesion is being discussed on the national stage.
“We’re really trying in these conversations with others to find language that can help the conversation tip in a direction, which fosters unity and frees us from false dichotomies or assumptions about one another,” Ms. Walker explains.  Participants in the September 2017 Religious Leaders Forum prepare for their discussion on social cohesion, hosted on the grounds of the Baha’i House of Worship in Sydney. The Baha’i community has participated in these forums for several years.“We drew on the principles of consultation so that we could have a collective inquiry into certain realities, where everyone’s input is owned by the whole, to really examine how to build social cohesion more closely. Then we were able to contribute to a growing body of knowledge for the benefit of all participants,” Ms. Khalessi adds.",SYDNEY,,Australia
1313,2019-03-08,"[1263, 1063, 1308]",Milestones in Zambia: two new educational facilities seek to uplift through knowledge,"MWINILUNGA, Zambia — Traditional chiefs and government officials attended two special ceremonies in recent weeks to dedicate new educational facilities—marking milestones in educational developments in Zambia. More than 250 people attended the dedication of educational buildings in Mwinilunga on 22 February while another 130 attended the opening of a community agricultural center in Kabwe on 1 March.
At the heart of the process of social transformation under way in Zambia is a conviction that every population has the right and responsibility to mark out the path of its own progress. Education and training are viewed as means for unlocking people’s latent capacities for contributing to the development and progress of their communities and society at large.
In Mwinilunga, in the country’s northwest, the new facilities will support a preschool, gatherings for women, educational programs, and youth gatherings for the region’s people, explained Kennedy Chanda, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Zambia.“The official opening of these facilities in the presence of the chief, headmen, and government officials shows that they belong to the people,” Mr. Chanda added.
The opening of the new preschool and offices for Baha’i and Baha’i-inspired educational programs based in Mwinilunga comes amid a period of profound developments in the region. Since the Baha’i teachings were introduced to the Lunda people in 1962, many have identified with Baha’u’llah’s teachings and sought to apply them for the material and spiritual progress of their people.
“Development is meaningful when the local people develop capacity to take responsibility, and this institute focuses on capacity building,” District Commissioner Mwiya Thurani Ryan said at the opening ceremony.Also addressing the audience, Senior Chief Kanongesha acknowledged the Baha’i community’s efforts to ensure the education of girls and promote equality in society, encouraging the Baha’is to do more.
The facilities are utilized by the Eric Manton Baha’i Institute, which has long provided vital educational programs and meeting spaces for the community. The first building was opened in October 1998 to provide space for educational activities organized by the Baha’i community, which had only a large meeting hall since 1968. The Institute is named after a Baha’i from the United Kingdom who moved to Zambia in 1952 to introduce the teachings of Baha’u’llah to people there.  A Baha’i choir sings during the dedication ceremony of the new facilities at the Eric Manton Baha’i Institute in Mwinilunga, Zambia, on 22 February.About 500 kilometers to Mwinilunga’s southeast in Kabwe, the capital city of the country’s Central Province, another community gathered to witness the opening of the Ngungu Center for Community Agriculture. The community agriculture center in the city’s Ngungu township opened after a decade of work in the region by the Baha’i-inspired Inshindo Foundation.
“Inshindo Foundation believes that knowledge lies at the center of social progress,” the organization’s national coordinator, Mubanga Malitonga, said in a speech at the 1 March opening. “The Ngungu Center for Community Agriculture is meant to be a community-based center through which knowledge related to sustainable food production can be generated and shared among community members.”
The agricultural center will be staffed by local residents closely connected to the area’s food production systems. The staff will work with participants of Inshindo’s educational programs to learn about the application of sustainable systems of food production on small experimental plots of land. These insights will then be shared with local farmers who themselves are involved in the work of the agricultural center by contributing their own farming methods, Ms. Malitonga explained.  Provincial Minister Sydney Mushanga, also a member of parliament, attended the 1 March opening of the Ngungu Center for Community Agriculture.The opening in Kabwe was attended by Provincial Minister Sydney Mushanga, who also addressed the attendees.
“This center holds great promise for further advancement of the learning processes at the grassroots in the area of sustainable food production. I am pleased that you have regarded it as a place where knowledge about agriculture will not only be shared to community members, but will also be generated,” said Mr. Mushanga, a member of parliament.",MWINILUNGA,,Zambia
1314,2019-03-11,"[1301, 1299, 1243]","At UN Commission on the Status of Women, BIC highlights principles of oneness, equality","BIC NEW YORK — The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women begins today, with more than 9,000 people expected to attend the international body’s preeminent forum on gender equality. In its statement to this year’s Commission, the Baha’i International Community (BIC) highlighted the need for effective models of governance, education, and economics based on new principles.
“A theme as weighty as providing social protection to all, particularly the most vulnerable—the majority of whom are women and children—must be considered in the light of a greater truth: that all of humanity is one, and all of humanity must benefit from the plentiful resources of our shared homeland,” the BIC statement reads.
The Commission’s 63rd session, taking place at the U.N. headquarters in New York City through 22 March, focuses on social protection systems, access to public services, and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
The BIC statement, Creating the World Anew: Leaving No One Behind, draws in part on the experience of the Baha’i community in the field of education, connecting it to advancing the status and participation of women in all spheres of society.  The Baha’i International Community addressed a statement to the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women. A printable PDF version is available here.“While quality education does depend, to some degree, on a flow of material resources, the experience of many Baha’i communities at the grassroots suggests that even in the most remote and poverty-stricken areas of the world, there is a wealth of human resources that with time, attention, and the wise channeling of material means, can flourish,” the statement explains.
The worldwide Baha’i community’s experience has shown that initiating an educational process that develops intellectual and moral capabilities does not need to wait until physical infrastructure is in place, the statement continues. “A quality education requires attention to the entire educational process—the training of the teachers, the selection or development of appropriate curricula, the creation of an environment that is conducive to learning, and the engagement of the community within which the learning process unfolds. These different dimensions can be supplemented and strengthened by material resources, to a degree. Yet, even more crucial is ensuring that teachers and students be involved in a process of capacity building that releases the powers of the human spirit.”
The BIC statement also probes the inadequacy of contemporary social structures to bring about the equality of women and men and all that it implies for the progress of society:
“Given that many of the systems and structures of society were designed precisely to reinforce domination and inequality, significant resources must also be channeled towards learning about effective models of governance, education, and economics structured around an entirely new set of principles: that human beings are one, that women and men are equal, that the emergent powers of the collective can be released through cooperation and reciprocity, and that humanity’s progress will be greatly bolstered by the full participation of all people in creating the world anew.”  Baha’i International Community delegates prepare for the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which begins today.The BIC will host a panel discussion on Thursday about role of education in advancing gender equality. The discussion will offer perspectives on addressing some of the social forces that entrench inequalities disadvantaging women and girls, economic arrangements that promote equality, and holistic quality education for girls and boys. Read the panel’s concept note here. The event will be covered live on the BIC’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages.
For more information, visit BIC.org.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1315,2019-03-17,"[1289, 1252, 1283]",Baha’i World News Service becomes available in Spanish and French,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The Baha’i World News Service is now available in French and Spanish. A language-switching icon on the service’s English-language homepage allows users to view translated versions of the website.
French and Spanish translations of articles will typically be available within a few days of their publication in English.
An archive of dozens of previously published stories is available on both the French and Spanish sites. Efforts are underway to translate older stories to fill the archive.The Baha’i World News Service, established in 2000, publishes thought-provoking and inspiring stories about developments in the global Baha’i community. In 2017, the News Service began producing a podcast and launched a smartphone app (available on Android and iOS). The News Service can also be found on Instagram and Twitter, and is available through an email subscription as well.
The Baha’i World News Service is part of the Bahai.org family of websites, which includes the main Bahai.org site, the Baha’i Reference Library, the Baha’i Media Bank, and the special site made in commemoration of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.
Together with the Persian-language version of the news site, the Baha’i World News Service is now available in four languages.  Plans are in place to make it eventually available in all of the languages of Bahai.org, which is in Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1316,2019-03-20,"[1252, 1210, 1201]",New year heralds second bicentenary period,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Sunset today marks the Baha’i new year, Naw-Ruz, which is being celebrated around the world, heralding an eagerly anticipated second historic bicentenary.
October 2019 will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the forerunner and herald of the Baha’i Faith, the Bab, whose dramatic ministry paved the way for the appearance of Baha’u’llah. On 29 and 30 October, Baha’is, together with their neighbors, families, and friends, will commemorate the births of these Twin Luminaries.
In the coming months, a new website will be launched as part of the Bahai.org family of sites to honor this bicentenary. The site, like the one launched a month before the first bicentenary in 2017, will unfold in stages, eventually including a film specially commissioned for the occasion as well as regular updates from celebrations around the Baha’i world.
In preparation for the coming bicentenary, a collection of 43 images associated with the life and mission of the Bab has been published online for the first time. Five aerial videos of the Shrine of the Bab and its vicinity were also published online. The collection can be found on the Baha’i Media Bank. The photos were added to sections about the Bab and His sacred Shrine. Also, three graphics for the coming bicentenary were added to a section about Baha’i Holy Day celebrations.  This image of the Shrine of the Bab at sunrise is among those added to the Baha'i Media Bank.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1317,2019-03-23,"[1251, 1109, 1082]",Groundbreaking reflects unifying spirit of Kenya temple,"MATUNDA, Kenya — A vibrant community in this rural part of Kenya gathered Saturday to witness the groundbreaking of the first local Baha’i House of Worship in Africa.
The site of the future Baha’i temple sits about 4 kilometers west of the town of Matunda, in an area surrounded by maize and other farms. Home to some of the earliest Baha’i communities of Kenya, the area known as Matunda Soy has seen a remarkable process of spiritual transformation take root in recent decades.
“The development of the first House of Worship in Kenya arises out of the hard work and sacrifice made in the path of service by the friends of the Matunda Soy cluster,” said Christopher Songok, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa.
Participants in Saturday’s celebrations highlighted the unifying effect of the temple’s coming construction.
“I am excited that people from all religions are welcome to worship at the temple,” said Alice Juma from the nearby community of Lwanda.
“This ceremony is a truly spiritual event. I see this huge multitude—the young, the old, men and women all brought together in peace and obedience to almighty God,” expressed Peter Webonya of Matunda.  This rendering shows the design for the Kenya temple, which broke ground today in Matunda, Kenya.The joyous and unifying groundbreaking was held just two days after the Baha’i new year, Naw-Ruz, on a warm day. Attendees included local dignitaries, religious leaders, and visitors from around Kenya as well as Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. People began arriving Friday night, some by foot, others on motorcycles, cars, and buses, continuing throughout this morning, greeting each other with warm embraces and songs.
At the midday ceremony, a hushed crowd of about 1,200 people listened reverently to opening prayers. Then, Ruth Vuyiya, a much-loved Baha’i known affectionately as Mama Ruth, set the temple’s cornerstone on the red soil. Ms. Vuyiya was joined by her daughter, members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Kenya, construction contractors and the temple’s architect Neda Samimi. After the ceremonial groundbreaking, attendees celebrated the moment in song and ululations.  This aerial photo shows the site of the local Baha’i House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya during Saturday’s groundbreaking.“The House of Worship has extraordinary significance in the community. It is the spot where noble souls offer supplication. It is a visible manifestation of the Lord,” Townshend Lihanda, another member of the Board of Counsellors in Africa, said.
The House of Worship will be embedded in the vibrant and dynamic community-building efforts, involving not only Baha’is but also embracing the greater community in the Matunda Soy area. “Baha’i community-building activities in a locality are an invitation to young and old, women and men, to recognize the importance of their spiritual life and to work towards nurturing it by acquiring qualities that help not only their individual growth but are conducive, too, to the development of the community as a whole,” explained Japheth Kokal, a member of Kenya’s National Spiritual Assembly.  The choir of the hosting Lwanda community sings during the groundbreaking of the Matunda Soy temple.The groundbreaking took place almost one year after its elegant and simple design, inspired by the region’s traditional huts, was unveiled at the same site. The design incorporates an intricate and expressive pattern that uses the diamond shape, a familiar motif in Kenyan culture. Exposed roof beams punctuating the nine sides of the edifice will be drawn together at an apex skylight. Inside, the skylight will sit atop a Greatest Name symbol, and 250 people can be seated. The temple will be built from local materials.
In 2012, the Universal House of Justice announced plans for the construction of seven Houses of Worship. Two have already been built, the first in Battambang, Cambodia and the second in Norte del Cauca, Colombia. In addition to this temple in Kenya, two other local Houses of Worship and two national Houses of Worship are also in progress.",MATUNDA,,Kenya
1318,2019-03-31,"[1293, 1271, 1312]",A frank look at the news and its social impact,"MADRID — A group of prominent Spanish journalists met recently to grapple with the news media’s impact on social cohesion and the rise of radicalization. The setting was a roundtable discussion on 15 March, organized by Spain’s Baha’i Office of Public Affairs at the King Juan Carlos University Center for University Studies.
“The function of journalism is to make objective information known to the public for the common good,” argued Rafael Fraguas, co-founder of the major daily newspaper El Pais.  “Today information is conflated with opinion. The compromising of objectivity—the highest form of honesty—in the news media is leading to ignorance, and it is clear today where ignorance is taking society.”
The event involved a roundtable discussion among five individuals who work with some of Spain’s major media organizations: Mr. Fraguas; Jesús Bastante, the editor in chief of the online publication Religión Digital; Beatriz de Vincete de Castro, a lawyer and media personality; Francisco Castañón, director of the online magazine Entreletras; and Juana Pérez, an editor with the international news agency Pressenza.  The discussion took place before an audience of some forty students and faculty.
Participants explored the conflicting forces that are shaping news coverage today. Immediacy and cutbacks in funding have restrained the ability of journalists to pursue in-depth analyses.  These same forces incentivize sensationalized and superficial stories that often seek to appeal to emotions of anger and mistrust. Yet, many journalists are deeply aware of these trends and want to pursue more profound stories that explore the complexities of a situation affecting society and to help build understanding.
“In society, there are processes of disintegration and hopelessness that attract large audiences and processes of integration that instill hope but are not always covered. Therefore, journalists have to choose between putting on a show and making judgements, and informing in a trustworthy manner that fosters hope,” Ms. Pérez explained in the discussion.  A roundtable discussion held at the Center of University Studies associated with the King Juan Carlos University in Madrid on 15 March focused on the role of media in fostering unity in society.Layla Sant from the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs explained the aims of the event. “Media has an impact on how society sees and perceives reality,” she said. “This dialogue is an early and necessary step in building conversation in our society about the values and framework that can enable the media to fulfill its role and responsibility for the betterment of society.”
The roundtable emerged from a seminar co-organized by the Baha'i community in October on the prevention of violent radicalization. “We found an important theme to explore further is the place of the news media in the positive and negative forces playing out in society today,” said Dunia Donaires, also of the Office of Public Affairs. “So we decided to organize a series of discussions for journalists to analyze elements that initiate radicalization, such as polarizing and conflictual coverage, and explore how the media might counter these.”
The Office of Public Affairs is planning future roundtables. It aspires to give momentum to a growing conversation in the country about the values and responsibilities of the media and ultimately to lead to further actions that can foster social harmony. The Office is also working with the Autonomous University of Madrid to teach a three-day summer school course about the prevention of violent radicalization.",MADRID,,Spain
1319,2019-04-04,"[1312, 1311, 621]","Following tragedy, New Zealand’s Baha’is work for unity, healing","CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — In the weeks after a deadly terror attack, the people of New Zealand, still in mourning and shock, are responding with a newfound resolve and dedication to eradicate prejudice and hatred from their society.
Public expressions of solidarity—including a nationally-broadcast memorial gathering Friday afternoon in Christchurch’s Hagley Park—highlight the spiritual qualities of the people, such as unity, tolerance, and kindness.
Amid the country’s outpouring of both grief and support for the 50 victims killed and 50 injured, the Baha’i community has joined its fellow citizens in efforts to promote mutual respect and social harmony. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of New Zealand released a public statement condemning the attacks, expressing its profound sorrow, and conveying its hope that the tragedy will catalyze efforts to work toward peace, unity, and social inclusion. The National Assembly also encouraged the Baha’is “not to despair, but work steadily and show love to all,” in a letter dated 16 March.
“We wanted to encourage the Baha’i community, and indeed the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, to see through their deep shock to glimmerings of hope and to rally their energies towards drawing upon sources of spiritual strength to work towards a more united country where such a terrible act could never again occur,” explained Suzanne Mahon, the Secretary of the National Assembly.  This photo shows some of the hopeful and loving messages in the street art.In Christchurch, some 20 individuals involved in Baha’i community-building activities in a neighborhood where some of the victims lived met the day after the attacks to consult on how to offer meaningful support. First, they decided to visit their neighboring families who had been struck by the tragedy to offer condolences and support. Also, adults, youth, and children in the neighborhood collectively initiated a street art project, writing hopeful and loving messages on sidewalks, using chalk. Their creative expression quickly caught on as others throughout the city were inspired to contribute to the sidewalk art. Messages included, “We are flowers of one garden” and statements about the importance of unity.
“This simple action that children, youth, and adults were able to take part in was an expression of love and solidarity and provided a wide range of people an outlet to express themselves in a meaningful way,” added Vahid Qualls, who assists with the neighborhood’s activities and is a member of the National Assembly.
Two days after the attack, the local Baha’i community of Christchurch dedicated its Sunday morning devotional gathering to those lost in the tragedy, their families, and communities.
The Baha’i community’s annual Race Unity Speech Awards, co-organized with the national police and other partners since 2001, will come at a crucial time this year. “We knew before that racial and religious prejudice can lead to hate and tragic violence, and that the work of promoting unity is serious and vital. But never before has it seemed so urgent,” said Aidan MacLeod, one of the event organizers.  Students perform a haka, a dance traditional to the Maori people of New Zealand, during the 2017 Race Unity Speech Awards.“People in New Zealand are now talking frankly about racial prejudice and the need for unity. People are saying that we have been too complacent. There’s a desire for both reflection and decisive action,” Mr. MacLeod added.
The annual event includes a special program in which high school students give speeches about race unity. This year, there will also be two conferences for youth throughout the country to discuss their efforts to work toward a more just and peaceful society.  The New Zealand Baha’i community co-organizes a conference for youth alongside its annual Race Unity Speech Awards. Here, participants in last year’s conference consult during a small group session. (Credit: Tom Mackintosh)Among many other developments, 16 religious leaders in New Zealand, including a Baha’i representative, sent a message of love and support to the Muslim community on Friday.
“Under such an onslaught we religious leaders are keenly aware of our need ... to draw upon the deepest resources of our diverse spiritualities and traditions. In this, the targeted Muslim people have themselves given noble and generous examples,” the religious representatives wrote.
Baha’is in New Zealand are also seeing at this time the power of devotional gatherings. The National Assembly encouraged the Baha’is to see devotional gatherings as “sources of spiritual strength over the coming weeks and months for thousands of New Zealanders.” Devotional gatherings offer a space to make the profound connection between prayer and selfless deeds that promote the betterment of humanity.",CHRISTCHURCH,,New Zealand
1320,2019-04-11,"[1291, 1288, 1132]","Cities, technology, and happiness: a look at the future","COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — Does city life make for happy citizens? What does a prosperous city look like? And what will be the values shaping cities in the future?
“In The Secret of Divine Civilization, ‘Abdu’l-Baha repeatedly uses ‘happiness’ to make a point about how leaders should develop political, economic, social, and cultural structures in order to advance the spiritual, material, and physical well-being of their citizens, to whom they are responsible,” says Hoda Mahmoudi, the current Holder of the Baha’i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, College Park.
“Our most recent event brought to light how important happiness is to all aspects of human development and offered evidence-based results regarding the many factors that help to promote the happiness of people and society.”
Held on 4 and 5 April, the Baha’i Chair’s two-day conference brought together leading scholars and practitioners from diverse disciplines to better understand the dynamics of urban life. More than half the world’s population lives in urban areas, and the United Nations projects that this proportion will reach more than two-thirds by 2050. Concerned with the implications of this trend, speakers explored how urban infrastructure—from its physical elements such as buildings, highways, or power lines, to intangible ones such as social support, community organizations, or spirituality—affects the future of humanity.  Carrie Exton from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) argued that researchers and journalists interested in trying to gauge the prosperity of societies focus too much on gross domestic product, a measure of a country’s economic output, rather than on indicators of happiness and well-being.One of the topics explored by presenters was whether happiness can be measured, and, if so, how.
Speaking to the conference’s attendees, Dr. Mahmoudi proposed that the concept of happiness is not merely an individualistic aim or a personal goal but a collective enrichment indicated by greater equity, inclusivity, access, health, security, and overall well-being. The subsequent talks looked at various dimensions of this broader conception of happiness.“Any view of (the relationship between) infrastructure and happiness must contend with inequality in its myriad forms.”—Carol Ryff, the Director of the Institute on Aging and a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin-MadisonFor instance, Carrie Exton from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) argued that researchers and journalists interested in trying to gauge the prosperity of societies focus too much on gross domestic product, a measure of a country’s economic output, rather than on indicators of happiness and well-being. Dr. Exton’s work at the OECD has been to monitor happiness and progress in the 36 member countries as a way of determining societal well-being.
Carol Ryff, the Director of the Institute on Aging and a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, heads a major longitudinal study on health and well-being in which she studies 12,000 people in the United States. In her comments, Dr. Ryff noted the impact of the stark inequalities in American society today, arguing that greater attention needs to be given to this urgent matter. “Any view of (the relationship between) infrastructure and happiness must contend with inequality in its myriad forms. We must attend to the differential access to quality housing, schools, jobs, food, neighborhoods, and green space.”
Houssam Elokda, the Director of Operations and Masterplanning Lead with the Vancouver-based company Happy City, focused on how urban inequalities can be reinforced by a city’s transportation infrastructure. “When driving a car is the only mode of commute—the only option to access all the opportunities (of a city)—then you are telling those who can’t drive, … maybe they’re too poor, they’re too young, too old, or they have a disability, you are telling them that this city is not for them, that they are not meant to access these opportunities,” Mr. Elokda said.
Mr. Elokda also explained: research confirms that commuting by walking or riding a bicycle leads to greater happiness than commuting by car. To make this possible, however, cities need to invest to make these modes of transportation safer and more accessible to all residents, for instance, by building proper sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and other relevant infrastructure.  Dubai is a rapidly developing city in the desert of the United Arab Emirates. Cities face complex and unprecedented questions that have deep implications for humanity's future. Who determines the direction of cities' development? What values underpin decision-making processes? Will inequality continue to worsen? How will technology impact happiness and well-being? Both the physical infrastructure of a city, such as buildings and highways, and intangible elements, such as social support, community organizations, or spirituality, can have a bearing on the well-being of humanity.Evidence was also shown that cities, in part because of their infrastructure, can either restrict or facilitate residents’ participation in decision-making processes in their community. This can happen, for example, through “soft infrastructure,” such as laws, norms, and customs, explained Lok Sang Ho, the Dean of Business at Chu Hai College of Higher Education in Hong Kong. “We need to think about how to improve our institutions and cultural heritage so that they can be inclusive and positive in cultivating the values of love, fortitude, and engagement so that we all accumulate the spiritual capital that unites us,” Dr. Ho said.
Technology’s role in cities also featured prominently in the conference. For example, speakers explored how, as cities become filled with more digital technologies—from wireless Internet to self-driving cars to the ubiquitous presence of surveillance cameras—it will be important to think critically about the values underlying these technologies and whether they promote or restrict people’s agency. “You can actually encode values in the way you design the technology,” noted Ricardo Alvarez, a researcher with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Senseable City Lab. “This is important because when you look at the large-scale systems that we’re putting together, it actually falls on us as society to frame the constraints and limits of a technology.”
The conference helped to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the questions facing cities today. In reflecting on the interconnectedness of the planet, Dr. Mahmoudi later commented that the revolutionary changes affecting society must be seen through the lens of the oneness of humankind. “This vital principal is ‘not only applicable to the individual,’” she said, drawing on a well-known passage by Shoghi Effendi, “but is concerned primarily with the ‘nature of those essential relationships that must bind all the states and nations as members of one human family. It implies an organic change in the structure of present-day society.’”
Recordings of the talks can be found on the Baha’i Chair’s YouTube channel.",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
1321,2019-04-19,"[1318, 1293, 1290]","Canadian Parliament explores Internet, social media, and hate speech","OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Canada — As societies have woken up to the reality that the Internet can be a platform for hate speech that leads to violence, a Canadian Parliament committee is studying this phenomenon and gleaning insights from several faith communities, including the Baha’is.
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights recently began its study of online hate speech, bringing together for a hearing on 11 April representatives of several religious and other civil society organizations to discuss ways of combating the issue.
“Young people need access to education that teaches them from the earliest years that humanity is one family,” explained Geoffrey Cameron, representing the Baha’i Community of Canada’s Office of Public Affairs. “They require education and mentorship that goes beyond a simplistic condemnation of hatred or a set of dos and don’ts regarding their online activity.”
The widespread proliferation of social media has given hate speech a larger audience online. This has led to the glorification of violence and hateful actions, several speakers at the committee hearing said. For example, the first of the two Christchurch mosque terrorist attacks was livestreamed on Facebook for 17 minutes, and many violent extremists have been inspired by online discussion forums and social media posts, speakers noted.
Dr. Cameron highlighted the need for educational processes that help young people navigate a polarized and deceptive information environment online: “Youth need help to develop a strong moral framework within which they can make decisions about their online activities, like which content they choose to share and consume, and how they use their powers of expression when communicating with friends and strangers online.”  Geoffrey Cameron of the Canadian Baha’i community’s Office of Public Affairs attended a Canadian Parliament committee hearing about combatting online hate speech. Dr. Cameron was among representatives of nine religious and other civil society organizations discussing the issue.The significance of education, central to the Baha’i contribution at the hearing, was noted by others, including the committee’s vice chair, Member of Parliament Tracey Ramsey. “I think a core piece of what we’re looking at here is (for) people (to) understand how to identify what is a legitimate piece of media and what is something that is sharing perhaps hateful messages on the Internet and how to distinguish between those things,” Ms. Ramsey said.
The discussion also explored the tension between respecting freedom of expression and regulating hate speech online as well as the prospect of technical solutions to reporting and monitoring hate speech or designating legitimate news sources.
The hearing brought to light a growing awareness that governments and citizens cannot be naive about online technologies and their impacts on society. Questions about the value systems embedded in different online technologies, about privacy, misinformation, and hate speech, and about social isolation and increased risk to vulnerable populations, are among many concerns being explored by a wide range of social actors such as governments, educators, civil society, and individuals.
Amid this complex landscape, helping young people to develop a moral framework to navigate online content and their contributions is an important dimension that should not be overlooked, Dr. Cameron added.
Updated, 21 June 2019: The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights published a report earlier this week on its study of only hate speech. The report quotes the testimony of the Canadian Baha’i community, as well as other speakers at the panel in April, and makes recommendations for how the Canadian government could ""better mitigate the incitement of hatred through online platforms.""",OTTAWA,ONTARIO,Canada
1322,2019-04-24,"[1250, 1095, 1319]","In Mozambique, community mobilizes after cyclone","DONDO, Mozambique — Mud homes had melted, crops flooded, and electricity and phone connections were out. Cyclone Idai had devastated this largely rural region known as the Beira Corridor on 15 March.
After days of deluge, the Local Spiritual Assembly of Dondo gathered on the morning of 19 March to take stock of the community’s needs. Convening the meeting was a challenge; telephone lines were down, and the only way to reach each other was by going to each other’s homes.
The cyclone, one of the worst ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, first made landfall as it tore through the port city of Beira with sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour. Idai made its way 30 kilometers inland to the town of Dondo and by nighttime was in Zimbabwe, weakened but still dumping torrential rain. After the cyclone dissipated, heavy rain continued for days, flooding the region’s waterways and turning them into an “inland ocean,” as described by a United Nations official. More than 1,000 people have died in the storm and its aftermath; thousands more remain displaced in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Health officials are working to stem an outbreak of cholera, a disease transmitted through dirty water. As of Monday, 6,596 cholera cases and eight deaths have been reported, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
In Dondo, the Baha’i community relied on its experience organizing community-wide activities to contribute to the area’s recovery. Devotional gatherings and an emphasis on moral and spiritual education have fostered a sense of communal solidarity that extends beyond the interests of any one group to the whole community. Ultimately, a rising spirit of service has found expression in a growing desire to put others ahead of self and an emphasis on consultation and collective action.  Two young Baha’is Frederico Coutinho (top center) and Elisha Antonio (left) traveled from other communities in the Beira Corridor of Mozambique to assist the Dondo’s recovery from Cyclone Idai. Here they join other young people in rebuilding the home for a resident of Dondo.In the immediate aftermath of the storm, before outside help could arrive, Dondo’s Assembly decided to take action. It identified two priorities: ensuring people had a roof over their heads and combatting price gouging.
“We realized we have a team of young people who can help,” explained Erick Mhiriri, a member of Dondo’s Assembly and the country’s National Spiritual Assembly.
Young adults participating in different educational activities have been helping to repair and rebuild homes damaged by the cyclone.
“They work together. They eat lunch together. They pray together,” Mr. Mhiriri said. “And after their work, they reflect and plan what they do the next day.”
So far, they have rebuilt three homes and repaired two. The young people continue to work on homes destroyed by the cyclone, now seeing this effort as a part of their service to the community, Mr. Mhiriri added.  This home was among the many destroyed when the rain softened the dry mud and melted it off the stick structure.Anticipating post-disaster price gouging, just after the storm, the Assembly of Dondo, drawing principally on its own resources, bought food and soap at lower wholesale prices and prepared small food kits for families in need. The Assembly carefully identified the most vulnerable families—typically those with young children or the elderly—and gave them about a week’s supply of food.
“People see that it is a privilege to be able to help others who lost more than we did,” said Arild Drivdal, the Secretary of Mozambique’s National Spiritual Assembly, who also visited Dondo shortly after the cyclone hit. “The Assembly of Dondo took on a strong role. They didn’t use a fixed formula. They assisted families on a case-by-case basis depending on their needs.”
The country’s National Spiritual Assembly received help from the worldwide Baha’i community, which provided financial and logistical assistance as well as guidance based on the lessons learned in this area of action by other communities that recovered from natural disasters.
With support from the Baha’i International Community, the prayers of Baha’is around the world, and the devoted efforts of the local population here, the people of Dondo are reminded of that fact that they are not alone. They are part of an interconnected global community contributing to the betterment of humanity, Mr. Mhiriri said.
A month after Idai, people in Dondo, an area that relies largely on communal farming, are resilient, carrying on with their daily responsibilities, according to Mr. Mhiriri. Yet, the community has to navigate dangers ahead, such as the spread of infectious diseases.
The government and aid agencies have also been responding to needs throughout Mozambique, including in Dondo. The United Nations allocated $20 million in emergency funds days after the cyclone hit, the Mozambique Red Cross and partners are distributing shelter kits to people in need, and international aid organizations have been vaccinating against and treating cholera in the weeks following the cyclone. The international humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders reported on 15 April that cholera cases in Dondo are contained and being addressed, and the UN reports that the number of new reported cases continue to decline.",DONDO,,Mozambique
1323,2019-04-28,"[1296, 1228, 1149]","Donald Rogers, 1935-2019","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Donald Rogers, a former member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away in the early hours of this morning in Canada. He was 83 years old.
The Universal House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies today.*  *  *With deep sadness we mourn the passing of Donald Rogers, ardent teacher of the Faith whose attraction to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh as a young man shaped several decades lived in devoted service.  He was a highly accomplished artist of international standing, and his work demonstrated a profound relationship to the sacred; his prodigious talents were often the means through which other souls became acquainted with the dawning of the new Day of God.  The years he served as an Auxiliary Board member and then as a Continental Counsellor were followed by the decade he spent as a member of the International Teaching Centre.  In his later years he continued his consecrated endeavours, including on the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada.  Unstinting in his efforts to serve the Faith and with great accomplishments to his name, he remained a man of humility and selflessness, gracious and gentle.
We offer our heartfelt condolences to his dear wife, Barbara, and to his children Klee, Sasha, and Julie, and we assure them of our supplications in the Holy Shrines for the progress of his illumined soul throughout the eternal realms.  All Bahá’í communities are asked to hold memorial gatherings in his honour, including in every House of Worship.
The Universal House of Justice",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1324,2019-05-01,"[1309, 1283, 1148]",67 selections from Baha’i writings published online,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Sixty-seven selections from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha were published for the first time today on the Baha’i Reference Library, including His two well-known and historic Tablets to The Hague. The online publication of the works is a feature of the Reference Library. Launched in September, the feature enables the release of Baha’i writings that, in the course of the work at the Baha’i World Centre, are translated and prepared for publication.
The selections—34 English translations and 33 Persian originals—include several tablets referencing communications with Leo Tolstoy, the renowned Russian writer and admirer of the Baha’i Faith, as well as Isabella Grinevskaya, also a Russian author and a Baha’i who wrote plays about the lives of Baha’u’llah and the Bab.
The Tablets to The Hague were written in the aftermath of World War I to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague. The first Tablet, which is of substantial length, includes ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s analysis of the attainment of international peace within the context of the need for wider political, economic, and cultural change. About half of the first letter, penned on 17 December 1919, was translated and published in Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. It is now being published in its entirety. An early translation of the second, shorter letter, written on 1 July 1920 in response to the Organization’s reply to the first Tablet, had been published in Star of the West in January 1921.
When ‘Abdu’l-Baha wrote the two letters, the Paris Peace Conference was bringing together world leaders to discuss the terms of peace following the end of World War I. The conference led to the establishment of the League of Nations. While praising the League’s aims, ‘Abdu’l-Baha was candid in explaining that it was too restricted to realize peace. He explained that peace would require a profound transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to the spiritual truths enunciated by Baha’u’llah. In the first message, ‘Abdu’l-Baha also identifies many important Baha’i principles, such as the abolition of all forms of prejudice, the harmony of science and religion, the equality of women and men, that religion must be the cause of love, and others.
In the second Tablet, ‘Abdu’l-Baha returns to the idea of the importance of religious faith to the establishment of peace, explaining that His “desire for peace is not derived merely from the intellect: It is a matter of religious belief and one of the eternal foundations of the Faith of God.”  The Baha’i Reference Library has 67 newly published selections from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 34 of which are English translations and 33 are Persian originals.In His message to Isabella Grinevskaya, ‘Abdu’l-Baha praised her efforts to stage theatrical performances about the Bab and Baha’u’llah but cautioned her that people’s attention at that moment was focused on “war and revolution.” However, He added, “the time for staging it will come” and it will “have a considerable impact” in Europe.
Ms. Grinevskaya’s play about the Bab was first staged in St. Petersburg in January 1904. Mr. Tolstoy read the play and wrote Ms. Grinevskaya to praise her and share his sympathy with the Baha’i teachings, according to an article by Martha Root in the 1934-1936 edition of The Baha’i World.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1325,2019-05-07,"[1324, 1308, 797]",Universal House of Justice announces architect for Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The recent call of the Universal House of Justice for the construction of the permanent Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Akka has galvanized the Baha’i world. The selection of the edifice’s architect and the establishment of a fund to support the historic project were made known earlier today.
In a letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies, the House of Justice announced the appointment of Hossein Amanat as the Shrine’s architect. The distinguished Iranian-Canadian architect is best known for his designs of three of the buildings of the Arc on Mount Carmel in Haifa as well as the Azadi Tower in Tehran.
Plans for the construction of the Shrine were revealed by the House of Justice in its annual Ridvan message. “The Bahá’í world is being summoned to build the edifice which will forever embosom those sacred remains,” states the message. The Shrine will be built in the vicinity of the Ridvan Garden in Akka, a place Baha’u’llah visited on several occasions in the later years of His life.
“It is our heartfelt desire that this sacred edifice will be raised up through the universal participation of the friends,” the House of Justice wrote today.  The Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha will be constructed in the vicinity of the Ridvan Garden in Akka. Baha’u’llah visited the Ridvan Garden several times, which Shoghi Effendi described as one of His “favorite retreats.”The day after His passing in Haifa on 28 November 1921, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s remains were placed in a vault within the sacred Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel, a temporary arrangement until such time that a separate shrine would be erected in His honor. ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s funeral was unprecedented in the region for the number and diversity of those who participated. Some 10,000 people attended—more than a quarter of the city’s population—representing every class, religion, and race there.
The Shrine will be “of a character befitting the unique station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” the House of Justice also wrote. Designated by Baha’u’llah as “Ridvan”, meaning paradise, the garden near which the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha will be built is a holy place visited on Baha’i pilgrimage. The garden lies about 2 kilometers outside the old city of Akka, where Baha’u’llah was held prisoner from 1868 to 1877, after which He lived in the countryside surrounding that historic fortress city. After the passing of Baha’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha continued to live in Akka for most of the remaining years of His life. He eventually moved to Haifa from where He undertook His historic journeys to Egypt and the West.  More than 10,000 people attended ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s funeral, held on 29 November 1921, the day after His passing. This photo shows the start of the funeral procession outside of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s home in Haifa at the bottom of Mount Carmel. His remains were temporarily laid to rest in a vault inside the Shrine of the Bab. The House of Justice announced the construction of a permanent Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1326,2019-05-12,"[1303, 1161, 1160]",Questioning current modes of thought and action: European Parliament looks to the future,"BRUSSELS — The Baha’i International Community (BIC) is seeking a new kind of dialogue in the world, one that is more consultative, unifying, inclusive, one in which new approaches and new thinking can emerge. In spaces at the United Nations and numerous regional organizations, this pursuit is leading to promising developments.
“It’s unrealistic to address the issues currently facing humanity and Europe without trying to overcome patterns of fragmented thought that often characterize public discourse. However difficult this seems, we will need to start forming a collective vision of the future of our society,” BIC Brussels Office representative Rachel Bayani said at an event co-organized by the BIC, the European Parliament, and the University of Groningen on Monday.
“One of the areas of fragmentation in thinking today is the discourse on the role of religion, whether in Europe or in the world at large,” stated Mrs. Bayani in the opening remarks. “The challenge is to create a meaningful conversation where we all take the time to question our own paradigms, patterns of thought, and assumptions and to create a discourse on the role of religion in European society which is nuanced, informed, and dispassionate.”
The roundtable discussion sought to stimulate an exploration of Europe’s changing religious landscape and a rethinking of religion’s role in helping European societies address their various contemporary challenges. Some 50 policymakers, practitioners, and academics attended.  The roundtable discussion sought to stimulate an exploration of Europe’s changing religious landscape and a rethinking of religion’s role in helping European societies address their various contemporary challenges.The event was structured so that an academic’s presentation on a subject was followed by a response by a European policymaker, who would then explore the implications and challenges of that subject for policy. A rich discussion ensued between each presentation.
The distinctive event was part of the Article 17 dialogue — the dialogue between the European Parliament and religious and philosophical organizations. It was organized under the patronage of First Vice-President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness. Fearghas O’Beara, Administrative Coordinator of the European Parliament’s Article 17 Dialogue, attended the forum.
The concept of secularism was one of the major threads of the conversation. Benjamin Schewel, a lecturer from the University of Groningen, explored various definitions and understandings of secularism. For instance, secularism can mean the exclusion of all expressions of faith in the public sphere. Alternatively, it can also be a way to protect diversity of various religious and non-religious belief systems and their public expression. “The European Union is a secular political entity. But what precisely this secularity means is not fixed in stone,” Dr. Schewel, who is a Baha’i, stated.
He evoked the metaphor of a road and its guardrails. “The guardrails do not tell us what direction in which to build the road,” he explained. “Similarly, secularism can provide certain limits and safeguards within European societies, but it cannot itself answer the deeper questions about where society is headed and what kind of society we want to build.” It was these deeper questions, he argued, to which religion can contribute insights and its community-building powers.
Among other topics discussed was religious heritage and the evolving role of places of worship in Europe. With fluctuations in congregation sizes, religious communities are searching for new meanings and functions for historic churches and synagogues, explained Todd Weir, a professor from the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies.  Benjamin Schewel (right), from the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, speaks as his colleague Todd Weir listens.The event also explored the interconnection of religion and gender, allowing for a nuanced and thoughtful exploration. Brenda Bartelink, also a senior researcher from the University of Groningen, spoke about the critical need to foster a dialogue around religion and gender that is constructive and non-adversarial and that avoids dynamics of polarization.
Liam Stephens, a Ph.D. candidate from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration and a Baha’i, discussed the role of religion in fostering resilience to radicalization. One contributor to radicalization is young people’s search for purpose, Mr. Stephens notes. Religion, he asserted, serves as a powerful source of a higher and altruistic purpose that motivates constructive action within individuals and communities. “For vast numbers of the world’s population,” he said, “religion offers a source of love, hope, meaning and solidarity, and helps to overcome apathy and despair.”
The open, exploratory discussion freed participants from the pressure of making immediate policy decisions and opened a distinctive conversation which many expressed hope would be replicated.
One idea appeared certain for all present—that all human groups are searching for meaning and for a vision of the future. “This common aspiration is a powerful point of unity,” the BIC reflected.",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1327,2019-05-16,[6348],"Encouraged by Prime Minister Ardern, New Zealand’s youth press to end racism","AUCKLAND, New Zealand — For nearly two decades, New Zealand’s Baha’is have been promoting a discourse on race unity through an annual process that brings together high school students from across the country. This year, the culmination of that process occurred in the shadow of the Christchurch terrorist attacks that shook this nation. Praised by the country’s prime minister, about 100 youth and young adults gathered on Saturday to probe the critical issue of race unity.
Initiated by the Baha’i community and sponsored by the national police, the Human Rights Commission, and others, the Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui have provided a national platform for high school students to express their ideas of how the country can improve race relations. This year, 180 students gave speeches at regional events throughout the country, and the six best speakers were chosen to speak again at last week’s national gathering in Auckland. Accompanying those speeches was a daylong conference where scores of youth from around the country examined this critical issue.
“I would like to pass my warm wishes to everyone taking part in this year’s Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wrote in a letter dated 7 May. “Over the past eighteen years, the Race Unity Speech Awards have provided young people with a space to deepen their understanding of race relations issues, and share their views on how we can all help to promote unity in Aoteaora.”
The young people’s speeches brought to light insights about race and the oneness of humanity.
“Pigmentation should have nothing to do with how we treat one another. Unfortunately it does,” said David Faalau-Solia of Sacred Heart College in Auckland. “Now, some say God created different races and with that comes all these problems. However, God created one race, that is, the human race. Human beings created racism.”  The conference was accompanied by an evening program where six high school students gave speeches on race unity. (Credit: Ben Parkinson)Initially started as a speech contest for high school students, the gathering’s organizers in 2005 decided to include a conference to enrich the conversation about race unity among young participants. This year, organizers called the conference by its Maori word hui.
This year, in the aftermath of the March terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, the national conversation about racial and religious prejudice has intensified.
“It shouldn’t take 50 lives for us to finally realize that racism still lives in New Zealand, and it shouldn’t take 50 lives for us to come together as one,” said Nina Gelashvili of Kuranui College in Wairarapa.
The speech awards and hui have had an especially timely impact, Prime Minister Ardern said. The event has received widespread coverage in the country’s news media. Also, the country’s Minister for Youth, Peeni Henare, and seven other Members of Parliament attended the gathering.
“I wish you all the best for this year’s Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui, and I am sure the event will inspire thoughtful, open and positive discussion. Allah-u-Abha,” Prime Minister Ardern concluded in her half-page message.
The day-long conference, held at the Te Mahurehure Marae in Auckland, focused on the theme of speaking for justice and working for unity.
“The hui is a unique space where you have mostly high school students but also Members of Parliament and leaders of significant NGOs in the country,” explained Tarn Austin, one of the organizers from the Baha’i community. “It’s a kind of space where there’s really a sense of connection between the youth and policymakers.”“Now, some say God created different races and with that comes all these problems. However, God created one race, that is, the human race.”—David Faalau-Solia of Sacred Heart College in AucklandIn addition to small group conversations, the conference included a panel discussion. The speakers—writer Lynda Chanwai Earle, Maori lawyer and activist Kingi Snelgar, and community leader Mehpara Khan—reflected the country’s diversity. Each speaker complemented and built on the comments of the others, enriching the day’s thoughtful exploration of the concepts of justice and unity.
“Throughout the hui, participants repeatedly said that this is an incredible space where we interact with people who are different from us but have the same sense of purpose,” Mr. Austin said. “But people are also asking, ‘How can we bring this back to where we came from? How do we ensure that there is action that comes out of this and it’s not an isolated event?’”
The young participants left with concrete plans to contribute to race unity and societal harmony. They are also drafting a collective statement on race relations.
Organizers also held two regional conferences earlier this year: one in New Plymouth on 1 March and another in Wellington on 6 April, bringing together a total of about 60 participants.
Videos from the 19th annual speech awards can be found online.  The conference also included a panel discussion among writer Lynda Chanwai Earle, lawyer and Maori activist Kingi Snelgar, and community leader Mehpara Khan. (Credit: Ben Parkinson)",AUCKLAND,,New Zealand
1328,2019-05-20,"[1316, 1297, 1282]","In this bicentenary year, remembering the birth of a new Faith","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — On 22 May 1844, 175 years ago, an eager scholar and seeker of truth approached the gates of Shiraz. Standing outside this historic city known for its roses, its cypress trees, and its long tradition of poetry, he was searching for a new messenger of God. His arrival would lead him to a profound discovery. It was in Shiraz on that evening that he first met the Bab. In the conversation that followed, the Bab made known that He was the Founder of a new religion that was to prepare the world for the coming of Baha’u’llah and presaged the latest stage in humanity’s social evolution.
The events of this night are the origins of the global Baha’i community’s endeavors for the betterment of the world. From community building activities, to projects of social action, to involvement in public discourse, those seeking to put into practice Baha’u’llah’s teachings find the origin of their efforts in that first conversation.
This October marks the bicentenary of the Bab’s birth. In this year, the Baha’i World News Service is examining some of the most salient moments in the life of the Bab. The latest podcast episode focuses on the night of His declaration. This year, it is being celebrated around the world from sundown Thursday to sundown Friday.
The podcast episode explores how the heroism and sacrifice set in motion by the Bab’s declaration relates to the world today: “Though separated from our own time by two centuries, the society in which the Báb appeared resembles the present day world for the sense of oppression and for the longing of so many to find answers to slake the soul's thirst to know,” the Universal House of Justice wrote in its Ridvan 2018 message.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1329,2019-05-23,"[1283, 1252, 1200]",The Baha’i World publication launches online,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The Baha’i World publication was launched online today.
The website makes available a selection of thoughtful essays and long-form articles on a range of subjects of interest to the wider public, conveying advancements in Baha’i thought and action and reflecting the Faith’s purpose in the world.
The Baha’i World volumes were established under the direction of Shoghi Effendi shortly after the start of his ministry as Guardian in 1921. The first volume was released in 1926 under the title The Baha’i Yearbook, and new volumes were published until 2006. Over time, many of its original functions began to be fulfilled by official national websites and the family of sites associated with Bahai.org, including the Baha’i World News Service, as well as publications, such as The Five Year Plan, 2011-2016: Summary of Achievements and Learning and For the Betterment of the World. An archives section  of the new website provides the historic first six volumes. Additional volumes and selected articles will be added over time.
The site launches with articles that explore various themes that include technology, peace, rural development and agriculture, the emergence of Baha’i Houses of Worship, and humanitarian relief.  Released in 1926 under the title The Baha’i Yearbook, printed editions of the The Baha’i World were published until 2006.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1330,2019-05-31,"[1327, 1311, 1260]",Kiribati President attends annual Baha’i convention,"SOUTH TARAWA, Kiribati — At the closing session of the Baha’i community’s national convention, held in a traditional island meeting house, this country’s president greeted the convention’s attendees.
“Allah’u’Abha,” President Taneti Maamau said to the convention’s more than 200 attendees on 28 April. President Maamau said he was pleased with the presentations by the youth and children and offered a gift, a custom in Kiribati culture when attending a traditional community gathering.
The President’s attendance reflects an effort in Kiribati and many other Baha’i communities to converse with their governments about their common aim of the betterment of their society.
In Kiribati, a country of 33 far-flung islands and atolls, the Baha’i community has long invited the president to the national convention, an annual gathering held to elect the country’s National Spiritual Assembly and consult on issues of importance to the country.
President Maamau attended for the first time in 2016. Last year, the vice president and about 30 other guests, including other government officials and traditional leaders, attended. The president, who often visits gatherings of the country’s religious communities, also attended the country’s celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah in October 2017 and wrote a message of congratulations to the Universal House of Justice. These interactions reflect a deep connection, based on a profound desire to work for the betterment of Kiribati, between the country’s Baha’i community and its government and other societal institutions, explained Angus Morrison, the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly.
The endeavors of Baha’is on the island of South Tarawa were also featured in A Widening Embrace, a film released last year by the Universal House of Justice. The film shows how the Baha’i community works alongside government and schools to provide a Baha’i-inspired educational program in schools.
In other countries, Baha’is are in conversations with their governments as well. Most recently, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wrote the country’s Baha’is on 7 May to encourage their longstanding efforts to promote race unity through organizing an annual dialogue among young people.
In Rwanda, in addition, Justice Minister Johnston Busingye wrote on 10 April to the Baha’i community saying he commends its “commitment towards establishment of peace, unity and prosperity for the People of Rwanda, especially through cultivating conditions that are most conducive to the emergence of unity in any setting….” This was written in response to a letter sent by the country’s National Spiritual Assembly to national authorities expressing the Baha’i community’s sympathy on the 25th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi people.
And, earlier this year in Italy, the Baha’i community decided to write to its country’s president after he called for unity and coexistence in a widely-viewed speech on New Year’s Eve. Its letter expressed appreciation for the president’s earnest call and highlighted some concepts underlying the efforts of the Italian Baha’is working for their society’s betterment. The country’s president replied, expressing gratitude for the community’s comments.",SOUTH TARAWA,,Kiribati
1331,2019-06-05,"[1329, 1292, 1252]",Baha’i World article highlights centrality of agriculture,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In The Baha’i World, authors take a deep dive into contemporary questions, exploring insights from the Baha’i teachings and the experience of the Baha’i community. In his article Begin with the Village: The Baha'i Approach to Rural Development, Paul Hanley explores the topic of agriculture in an increasingly urbanizing world.
In the article, published on 23 May, Mr. Hanley underscores the emphasis the Baha’i writings give to agriculture as a central feature of civilization, touching on four themes. First, a sustainable future, Mr. Hanley argues, requires a reevaluation of agriculture and the imperative to live in harmony with the environment at a time when humanity faces a growing ecological and climate crisis. His article next examines the implications for agriculture of the spiritual principle that material wealth is not an end in itself. Mr. Hanley explores how the Baha’i community is placing knowledge and learning, rather than wealth, at the center of development.
Another important idea Mr. Hanley notes is how sustainable development of agriculture can help humanity to live in harmony with the natural environment. The fourth theme is the primacy of capacity building in every population to contribute to sustainable development in agriculture; in the current community building endeavors of Baha’is around the world, capacity can be built for the development of villages through the training institute, Mr. Hanley explains.  This photo shows ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the Holy Land in 1920. In his article, Mr. Hanley describes how ‘Abdu’l-Baha stimulated sustainable farming practices in the village of ‘Adasiyyih, a few kilometers southeast of the Sea of Galilee in present-day Jordan.Mr. Hanley also draws a thread from social action guided by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the early 20th century to the Baha’i world’s contemporary social and economic development endeavors. Referring to earlier research looking at ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s agricultural stewardship in the Levant, Mr. Hanley provides a compelling account of how ‘Abdu’l-Baha stimulated sustainable farming practices in the village of ‘Adasiyyih, a few kilometers southeast of the Sea of Galilee in present-day Jordan.
The Baha’i World examines themes related to civilization building, periodically making available new articles. Other pieces on the recently launched website cover topics such as technology, peace, the emergence of Baha’i Houses of Worship, and humanitarian relief.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1332,2019-06-12,"[1243, 1278, 1269]",Overcoming prejudice through education,"NEW DELHI — The latest episode of the Baha’i World News Service podcast explores how an educational process that seeks to release the potentialities of the human soul and mind can lead to profound social transformation, in this case overcoming long-held societal prejudices and superstitions about women. Women in India are overcoming sentiments and prejudices that prevent their full participation in society. A group of young women in a large neighborhood of New Delhi, India, has been determined to help its community develop a different attitude toward women who are in their menstrual cycle.
Pooja Tiwari, who facilitates the group as part of the Preparation for Social Action (PSA) program, explains that women on their periods can be considered “impure” and are separated from aspects of community life. Though this cultural feature has no basis in reality—scientific or spiritual—it is entrenched in the consciousness of much of the local population. “While discussing this, a member of the group said, ‘During these days, we cannot go to the temple. We cannot touch anything. We cannot sleep on the bed but have to sleep on the floor,” explains Ms. Tiwari.
The group decided to organize an awareness campaign to promote an understanding of menstruation that is grounded in science and also rooted in spiritual belief.
After a study of the science behind the menstrual cycle, the group felt that it is critical to help people appreciate how a woman’s period “is an important element for the birth of a human being.” Ms. Tiwari explains, “The idea was brought up that during these days, we should respect women and that they require healthy and nutritious food.”
PSA is a Baha’i-inspired program implemented in 17 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific. The program is organized to help young people develop a set of scientific and spiritual capabilities that enable them to become promoters of the well-being of their communities.  The special gathering was held in the International Teaching Centre Building at the Baha’i World Centre in February.Ms. Tiwari is joined in the interview by Bhavna Anbarasan, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia. Ms. Tiwari and Ms. Anbarasan spoke with the News Service in February when they were at the Baha’i World Centre. They were among a group of 30 people, representing eight localities around the world where a robust Baha’i educational and community building process is engaging thousands or tens of thousands of people. At the heart of these efforts has been local populations building capacity to bring about social change through the application of fundamental Baha’i principles—such as the oneness of humankind, the harmony of science and religion, and the equality of women and men—to their own social reality.
The stimulating conversations at this gathering are connected to the decades-long process in which Baha’i communities at all levels, from the grassroots to the global, have been creating spaces for sharing experiences and insights arising out of community building efforts. The gathering demonstrated how people around the world are contributing profound insights relevant to the future of humanity. It also showed that, rather than being confined to a privileged elite, the advancement of knowledge is a right and responsibility of every human being.",NEW DELHI,,India
1333,2019-06-17,"[1306, 1303, 1233]",Faith as catalyst of social change: Perspectives from the Congo,"KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo  — When representatives of Christian, Muslim, and Baha’i communities first gathered at a Kinshasa juice shop in February, one question above all animated their conversation: How could they articulate to others the deep connection between religion and constructive social change?
That first informal discussion in the Congolese capital city has since evolved into a vibrant dialogue about the power of faith to unify people and give impetus to peace.
“We all had a common vision. We are convinced that religion is a source of unity, so let’s not just talk about it. Let’s take action,” explained Rachel Kakudji, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Baha’i Office of External Affairs. One of the steps the nascent group undertook was to organize a day-long forum highlighting how spiritual principles and concepts impact many aspects of society, such as economics, governance, law, health, education, the media, and art.
For years, the Baha’is have been working alongside fellow religious communities in Kinshasa to give expression to this desire for unifying action. The recently formed interfaith group has been gathering regularly since its inception, calling its meetings the United in Diversity Social Space.
This collaboration is yielding many fruits. For instance, the group has already organized a day-long seminar last month and prepared a short documentary film, featuring interviews with leaders of different faith communities discussing the importance of their collaboration. They explore themes such as how sustainable development contributes to peace and how education can awaken a sense of duty and service, among other topics. Yet, Ms. Kakudji explains that beyond these specific initiatives has been the unfoldment of a process in which people of diverse belief systems are working together, consulting through challenges, and relying on the process of action, reflection, and consultation to make systematic progress.  Hundreds of people attended an interfaith march in Kinshasa last month.Bringing together religious, academic, and student speakers, the recent seminar focused on a diverse range of topics, for example how economics can promote collective well-being, how good health is a dimension of a culture of unity, and how education is central to development. Leaders of the faith communities organizing the space spoke about the centrality of spiritual principles to social progress.
“To grow and develop, the world must draw strength from unity,” explained Alex Kabeya, a member of Congo’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly. “It is encouraging to see religious leaders and their believers work together in good will, because the process of transformation then reflects the sincerity necessary to contribute to sustainable peace.”
Leaders of some of the faith communities involved, including several Christian groups and the Muslim community, also reflected later on the interreligious collaboration.
“In the holy Quran, unity is what God recommends to men. A true Muslim seeks peace with everyone,” noted Moussa Chirala, the coordinator of the National Confederation of the Muslim Youth of Congo.
Willy Masaka, the national president of the Protestant Youth of Congo, emphasized how the principle of unity in diversity applies to work with all religions: “With this forum for peace, we want to open the voice of unity in diversity beyond ourselves with different religious denominations.”
The seminar was preceded a week earlier by a march in downtown Kinshasa, attended by some 3,000 people. The participants ended their hour-long march at a stage where different presenters shared music and other artistic performances that touched on the importance of unity, caring for the environment, and other aims.
Ms. Kakudji said they plan to screen the documentary film in the coming weeks on a local television channel as well as with their partners in the United in Diversity gatherings.
Updated, 2 July 2019: The documentary was aired recently on local television. The 32-minute film can be seen on YouTube.",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1334,2019-06-23,"[1275, 1262, 1234]",Momentous gathering focuses on Houses of Worship,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — With the inauguration of three new Baha’i Houses of Worship over the past three years and more about to be constructed, the Baha’i world community has been engaged in an intensive process of learning about these sacred structures.Insights from Baha’i Houses of Worship: Part 1The Baha’i World News Service interviewed representatives of Houses of Worship in Chile, India, and Uganda, which can be heard in a two-part podcast. Part one of the podcast, which focuses on the spiritual experiences people are having at Temples, is being published with this article. Part two will be made available in the coming weeks.Subscribe to the BWNS podcast for additional audio content.RSS  |  iTunes  |  SoundCloud  |  Tunein  |  iHeart  |  StitcherThis month, a unique gathering brought together representatives from around the world to explore what is being learned about every one of the Houses of Worship. More than 30 people gathered for the consultations, coming from Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Germany, India, Panama, Samoa, Uganda, and the United States.
“We’ve been discovering how a House of Worship reflects the spiritual aspirations of a people,” said Eduardo Rioseco, the director of the Temple in Santiago, Chile. Since its dedication in 2016, over a million people have visited the House of Worship, and it has become a central feature of life for the people of the surrounding community and an iconic symbol of unity for the city. “For many people visiting the Temple, it has been a discovery to connect with their own spiritual identity. So, in a way, to go to the House of Worship is to come back home,” Mr. Rioseco reflected.
The consultations touched on a range of topics, from practical requirements of managing a Temple to its profound spiritual and social impacts on surrounding populations. How does the path to the central edifice reinforce visitors’ longing for mystical connection and spiritual meaning? What dynamics begin to emerge in a community as a House of Worship is built and becomes a collective center of worship open to all? What is being learned about the relationship between a growing devotional character in a community and a multiplication of acts of service for the betterment of society? Participants explored these questions and many more over the course of the three-day meeting.  The Baha’i House of Worship in Langenhain, Germany, was dedicated in 1964.Some communities have experience with more sophisticated social and economic development endeavors, and these were also a subject of discussion. Of particular interest was the unifying influence Houses of Worship are having on surrounding populations.
Administrators of Temples also presented various environmental initiatives. In New Delhi, India, for instance, wastewater is treated on-site and used to water the gardens, and solar panels provide a substantial portion of the Temple’s electricity usage. In Norte del Cauca, Colombia, the Temple is built alongside a native forestry project that is helping to restore indigenous plants. The native forest is reconnecting the local population to its natural environment, largely overtaken by monoculture farmland.
At the heart of the conversation was one of the central themes associated with Baha’i Houses of Worship: they are sanctuary for all people. “The Temple doesn’t belong to the Baha’is, although Baha’is are the ones managing and taking care of it. The Temple belongs to each and every human being,” noted Santos Odhiambo, the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Uganda.
In addition to the 10 Houses of Worship currently open, five more are in development: Construction began on a temple in Kenya in March; designs have been chosen for Temples in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu; work is also underway for temples in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and India.  The oldest of all 10 Baha’i Houses of Worship, the Temple in Wilmette, Illinois, United States, opened in 1953.The Baha’i World News Service interviewed representatives of Houses of Worship in Chile, India, and Uganda, which can be heard in a two-part podcast. Part one of the podcast, which focuses on the spiritual experiences people are having at Temples, is being published with this article. Part two will be made available in the coming weeks.
An in depth exploration of Houses of Worship can be found in a newly published article on The Baha’i World website.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1335,2019-06-29,"[1308, 1303, 1299]",Bringing the insights of religion into development,"BRUSSELS — Last week, Europe’s foremost annual conference on social and economic development brought together more than 8,000 participants, among them societal leaders and non-governmental organizations, to tackle the issue of global inequalities.
The conference, called European Development Days (EDD), reflected a shift that is occurring in development thinking. There is a growing recognition that social and economic development should not be viewed as an activity one group carries out for another. Nor is it any more viable to ignore the spiritual aspirations and convictions of a population and the vital contribution religion makes to development.
“It is not acceptable to see the masses of humanity as passive recipients of aid,” explained Rachel Bayani, representative of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) and moderator of one of the EDD panel discussions called “What’s religion got to do with it?”, held on 18 June. “Whatever the nature of the support from outside, development activity should emerge from within a community and belong to the people and institutions that are implementing it.”
Co-organized by World Vision International, ACT Alliance, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Brot für die Welt, EU-CORD Network, and the BIC, the panel explored how religious groups and faith-based organizations constitute a major component of local capacity in many settings.
“Faith and religion are what motivate most people in the world, for good or for ill. It’s hard to see how a development activity can emerge and belong to the people on the ground if those essential elements are not part of the equation,” Mrs. Bayani asserted in her opening remarks.
Six panelists from Europe, South America, and Asia, joined a packed room in a discussion that sought to move beyond simplistic conceptions of religion as either good or bad in the context of development. The discussion conveyed a more nuanced understanding, allowing for a genuine exploration of religion’s potential for constructive transformation.  Rachel Bayani, the Representative of the Brussels Office of the Baha’i International Community moderated the discussed titled, “What’s religion got to do with it?”. (Credit: EDD Brussels)Rev. Christo Greyling of World Vision International described the importance of working with local faith communities to create development policies and practices together, taking into consideration the aspirations, hopes, and beliefs of the true stakeholders—local populations. “You need to start specifically with the universal principles of the values that they already agreed on, values such as the dignity of human being, the need to stand up for justice,” Rev. Greyling said.
The importance of empowering local populations was echoed by other panelists, such as Henriette Geiger, with the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development: “Nothing can be imposed from the outside. You can only work with what you have locally.”
Other speakers highlighted the need to decouple religion and tradition and to see that many prevalent beliefs and practices in a population do not originate from religious scripture. “We need to read and understand the texts with more progressive and open minds and think of what is real religion, which is about spiritual things … and not go into the trap of tradition that is presented as religion,” said Mohammad Abou Zeid, a senior judge from the Family Court of Saida, Lebanon.
The space opened a rich discussion between religious actors and policymakers, bridging a historical divide that has proven unproductive and harmful for meaningful progress.  More than 70 people attended the event. The panel discussion can be heard here.",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1336,2019-07-03,"[1328, 1316, 1276]","As momentous bicentenary approaches, communities prepare","LANGENHAIN, Germany — After prayers in the Baha’i House of Worship, as sunlight passes through the dome’s diamond-shaped windows, a group walks down a geranium-lined path to the National Baha’i Center. Inside are sacred items related to the life of the Bab, the Prophet-Herald of the Baha’i Faith. The relics are part of an exhibition created by Germany’s Baha’i community to commemorate the upcoming bicentenary of the Bab’s birth.
In 1844, the Bab brought a new Revelation to humanity, setting in motion a spiritual movement that rapidly spread across what was then Persia. Stories of the Bab’s Cause and the heroism of those who followed it spread to the East and the West. His life and teachings captured the imaginations of numerous Western writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Attendees of the exhibit were guided in small groups, starting first in the nearby Baha’i House of Worship for prayers. Many hundreds of people attended the exhibition, which was displayed during the 12 days of Ridvan.The 200th anniversary of the Bab’s birth occurs on 29 October, and around the world people are preparing for the momentous occasion. The new exhibition in Germany is just one example. The exhibit, held from 21 April to 2 May, displayed three original items from the German Baha’i community’s archives, each related to the life of the Bab: a lock of His hair, some fragments of His clothes, and a piece of the wall of the castle of Mah-Ku, where He was imprisoned for nine months. The exhibit also includes original items related to the life of Baha’u’llah, as well as a passage written by the Bab about Baha’u’llah and another by Baha’u’llah about the Bab. Many hundreds of people from around the country attended the exhibit, and many expressed profound emotions at being able to see items so closely connected to the lives of those two Sacred Figures.
“The theme here was the Word of God and the remarkable connection between the Twin Manifestations of God,” explained Saba Khabirpour, the Secretary of Germany’s National Spiritual Assembly.
Germany’s Baha’is have undertaken numerous other steps to prepare. In nearby Gauangelloch, a village of 2,300, organizers of a spiritual education program for children and youth have been holding regular service projects, involving about 80 people, in honor of the Twin Bicentenaries. Efforts began in 2017 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, and they are continuing throughout the period linking that historic anniversary with the forthcoming bicentenary.
“Both celebrations are so intricately linked to the whole development of the community,” said Katrin, a Baha’i living in Gauangelloch. “It’s not just two big events that are separated by two years, but really they’re part of an ongoing process of community building.”  A group of junior youth in Gauangelloch repaired and repainted park benches last year as part of a service project in honor of the twin bicentenaries.Amid the mounting joy and excitement, the bicentenary has especially animated young people, who are finding inspiration in the lives of the heroes and heroines of the Faith from the time of the Bab—individuals who courageously faced the dark forces of blind imitation, superstition, prejudice, and corruption. Many of them were youth and young adults, like the Bab Himself.
In February, a three-day youth conference brought together some 500 young people from around the country. They shared the stories of those early heroes—such as Tahirih and Badi. Though separated by time, participants could see the profound connection between the heroism of the Bab and His followers and the selfless and courageous service of so many young people working for unity today.
“The oneness of humanity was not a utopia or a dream for me anymore,” said one of the participants, reflecting on the impact of the conference. “The vision of Baha’u’llah became much more realistic to me to see how so many people were united.” Inspired by the gathering, participants re-dedicated themselves to serving their communities and made concrete plans for their return home.  Seeing youth from a diversity of backgrounds studying, planning, and collaborating on how to be a source of positive change in their communities, participants at the conference explored practical ways to express the principles of the Baha’i Faith.“The idea was to have a spiritual impulse that would set the tone for this holy year,” explained Sahar, one of the organizers of the youth conference, held near Frankfurt. “The stories of these youth have inspired a lot of action and helped us to draw on spiritual concepts such as sacrifice, understanding your reality, service, teaching, and selflessness.”
Samuel, another of the conference’s organizers, found that the conference not only inspired the participants but helped them to see that they are not alone. “Many youth attending the conference said they felt much more reassured knowing that there are so many others walking this path of service,” he explained. “Really, just at this conference, there are 500 other youth learning about this.”
Other local communities around Germany are also preparing for the bicentenary, focusing on integrating the coming celebration into their community building efforts as well as visiting friends and family members to deepen connections and bonds of love. In Mannheim, for example, the community is organizing storytelling nights in different neighborhoods and plans to produce podcasts of the narratives being shared. In Muenster, a group formed a choir and is planning an artistic performance in honor of the bicentenary in October.",LANGENHAIN,,Germany
1337,2019-07-09,"[1318, 1293, 1303]","In Spain, a dynamic conversation aims to prevent radicalization","TRES CANTOS, Spain — In Spain, academics, journalists, and government and military officials are grappling with violent radicalization, attempting to understand its root causes and to prevent its proliferation. A recent university course co-organized by the country’s Baha’i community brought to light some of the emerging and leading thoughts from a variety of perspectives.
“The purpose of this course is to continue reflecting on the nature of radicalization and ways of addressing it, paying special attention to religion’s impact in society,” said Leila Sant, with the Spanish Baha’i community’s Office of Public Affairs. “In addition, the course tries to offer different perspectives on this phenomenon of radicalization in an effort to give a complete, unfragmented picture.”
The class was offered through a university in Madrid (UAM) from 1 to 3 July. More than 20 specialists in various fields were involved in offering the course, which was organized around about a dozen roundtable discussions. Organized in collaboration with UAM Professor Ricardo Garcia, the course not only allowed students to benefit from the insights being shared, but also opened a dynamic space for contributors to deepen their own understanding of the complexity of violent radicalization.
For several years the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs has been engaged in a discourse on the role of religion in society, which led to a focus on the causes of violent radicalization. The Baha’i writings teach that true religion has a central role in overcoming religious fanaticism, that the power latent in religion can transform anger and hatred into love and respect for the inherent dignity of others. The university course was a natural outcome of this long-term effort, Ms. Sant explained. The Office has recently organized related spaces, such as a day-long seminar on the same theme as well as a roundtable discussion with journalists about the social impact of news.
The relationship between religion and radicalization featured prominently in the course. Prof. Garcia noted that religion can be regarded as both the cause and the solution of radicalization; combatting religious extremism requires understanding the logic of religion, giving due regard to its influence on the lives of many people, and learning to work with religious communities to build social harmony.  (From left) Defense ministry official Amparo Valcarce, UAM Professor Ricardo Garcia, and members of Spain’s parliament Carlos Rojas and Miguel Gutiérrez all spoke on a panel about politics and radicalization. Ms. Valcarce, Mr. Rojas, and Mr. Gutiérrez are members of three of Spain’s four main political parties.The course went beyond simplistic ideas about radicalization to explore its many dimensions.
“It is positive for society to be open to new ideas that are introduced through nonviolence, to listen to perspectives other than your own. That is healthy,” Ms. Sant explained in the course’s opening session. “However radicalization is characterized by seeing a group of people as other than your own, seeing things as black and white, seeing very absolute ideas. This can take you eventually toward othering and violence.”
Course speakers also explored how partisan politics push people to have an us-and-them mentality about supporters of parties other than their own. In a saturated media environment that favors spectacle, only language that is divisive and extreme is heard, speakers explained.
“It is very important not to trivialize politics and to remember that in essence all human beings are equal in dignity,” noted Esteban Ibarra, the president of the Movement Against Intolerance.
Another theme that emerged was the importance of all people having an opportunity to benefit from and contribute to the progress of society. This is particularly vital for newcomers to the country. Speakers, including representatives of the national police and military, explained that social integration is promoted through mentorship and networks such as religious communities.
“In spite of the fact that in Spain there are equal opportunities, some groups find themselves in more disadvantaged social positions,” said Oscar Prieto, a professor from the University of Girona who has pioneered mentorship programs to help young people at risk of social exclusion. “It is because of the lack of people who support them and who act as informal mentors to solve common difficulties in daily life that some people have less possibilities of social advancement.”
Local and national media covered the course widely, as it featured prominent speakers such as the president of the country’s constitutional court, a leader in the country’s civil guard, and leading journalists. The organizers plan to publish a book with the discussions featured in the course and organize future courses through the university.",TRES CANTOS,,Spain
1338,2019-07-17,"[1322, 1250, 1110]","In natural disasters, capacities of local communities vital","BIC NEW YORK — With a rising risk of natural disasters around the world, the relationship between local capacity and preparedness and international and national assistance was examined as part of a dynamic discussion hosted by the Baha’i International Community (BIC).
“As we move from the global level to the regional, national, local, and community, the silos that sometimes divide us start to dissipate. We see at the community level, the community leader is also a neighbor, also a teacher. Everyone wears so many hats,” said Daniel Perell, a BIC representative. “That level of common enterprise that is so common at the neighborhood level needs to rise up to the international level.”
International response to natural disasters is vital to bringing to stricken areas urgent humanitarian relief, material resources, and knowledge. But alongside aid, the role of local capacity and preparedness is a vital area of learning, speakers noted. For the Baha’i community, the power of unity and collective enterprise as well as the importance of certain capacities at the local level has been demonstrated in a number of cases natural disaster recovery in recent years.
Dozens of participants, representing a diversity of non-governmental organizations with experience in natural disaster response and recovery, joined the discussion held on Friday alongside the United Nations’ High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The event was co-organized by the BIC, the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction. Mami Mizutori, the Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, also attended and spoke.  The Baha’i International Community’s delegation to the United Nations High Level Political ForumThe Forum, which began on 9 July and continues through Thursday, is an annual gathering for U.N. member states and NGOs to reflect on progress in the Sustainable Development Goals, 17 global targets that the international community aims to reach by 2030. Friday’s panel was one of three organized by the BIC, focusing on different target areas of the Development Goals. The other two panels, held on Thursday, focused on how education can empower youth to contribute to the progress of their societies and conceptualizing peace not merely as an absence of conflict but as a condition of collective thriving.
In its statement to the Forum, the BIC commended the international community’s consensus around the Sustainable Development Goals, but cautioned that “translating those aspirations into lived reality will require a tremendous expansion of Agenda 2030’s ‘spirit of strengthened global solidarity’. Crucial in this regard will be ensuring that recognition of the interconnected nature of humanity is a principal consideration in both policy-making and action.”
Friday’s disaster response panel showed the diversity of organizations that are thinking about the critical role of local communities. Central to this is the relationship between national and international policy and local capacity and ability to organize. Several speakers discussed the importance of global disaster response and recovery, but noted that national and international policies need to be made in concert with local communities and informed by their own practices.  Willy Missack, who works with Oxfam in Vanuatu, shares his country’s experience in connecting policymaking to community practices, explaining that meaningful policies come when the government and civil society organizations work together.Willy Missack, who works with Oxfam in Vanuatu, shared his country’s experience in connecting policy-making to community practices, explaining that effective policies come when the government and civil society organizations work together. Transformation, he noted, comes from unified action at the grassroots, but this needs to be coordinated with the national level.
Kathryn Adams, executive director of Haiti-based LIDÈ, spoke about her organization’s efforts to help locals develop expertise in medical, psychological, legal, and other skills necessary to disaster response. “We don’t do enough in disaster response to embed resilience. By that I mean finding ways to turn disaster response into an opportunity to empower people to build tools for future use,” Dr. Adams explained.
The Baha’i community’s experience indicates that people can exhibit remarkable resilience, selflessness, resourcefulness, and creativity during times of disaster. In its 2016 statement, Rising Together: Building the Capacity to Recover from Within, the Baha’i International Community wrote that communities “that have been especially effective in responding have – prior to the disaster – been consciously working to create distinctive and beneficial patterns of collective life.” In short, localities where the fabric of community life is strong are more resilient and better equipped to respond to disasters.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1339,2019-07-24,"[1334, 1262, 1234]",Exploring how Houses of Worship are connecting with their societies,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In the second podcast episode about Baha’i Houses of Worship, Felipe Duhart and Eduardo Rioseco of Chile, Santos Odhiambo of Uganda, and M. A. Ghanbari of India explore the impact that Temples are having on visitors and on surrounding populations. Creating a sacred space open to all has given rise to greater consciousness of and action for the betterment of society. “Service is the way to transform ourselves and society,” explains Mr. Rioseco. “And in the Houses of Worship, really you can find many avenues to do that. It’s a question that each visitor and each person that interacts with the House of Worship takes home. How do we keep transforming ourselves and society—in our neighborhood, in our family, in our workplace? Wherever we interact with others this question accompanies us. And the Temple inspires us in all those places.”
The interviews followed a unique gathering last month at the Baha’i World Centre, where more than 30 individuals gathered to explore what is being learned about all 10 Temples currently in operation. The participants hailed from Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Germany, India, Panama, Samoa, Uganda, and the United States.
Part one of their discussion can be heard here.  (Clockwise from left) M. A. Ghanbari of India, Eduardo Rioseco of Chile, Santos Odhiambo of Uganda, and Felipe Duhart of Chile speak in the latest Baha’i World News Service podcast episode about the evolution of Baha’i Houses of Worship.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1340,2019-08-01,"[1325, 1282, 1257]",Communities feel spiritual impulse of pilgrimage,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Many have waited a lifetime for this moment. Before them are swaying cypresses and towering eucalyptus trees that stand guard, red geraniums that cascade along the terrace to the east, precisely groomed lawns and hedges that symbolize striving for perfection, and flowering jasmine shrubs that welcome the newly arrived pilgrims as they make their way along the smooth pebble pathway on their first visit to the Shrine of Baha’u’llah.
Inside, they pray silently and pilgrimage begins.
For a century and a half, people have been making Baha’i pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In the early days, pilgrims would visit Baha’u’llah in person, often traveling great distances by foot; after the passing of Baha’u’llah in 1892, pilgrimage consisted of visiting His Shrine and, once it was finally constructed, the Shrine of the Bab.
“Pilgrimage is a story of love. You love Baha’u’llah and you come to see where He revealed many of His significant writings, you see where He lived, you see His personal items—the history comes alive,” said Taraneh Rafati, who, as a pilgrim guide, accompanies pilgrims during their visits to the Baha’i Holy Places in the Akka-Haifa area.  Baha’i pilgrimage consists of time for prayer and meditation in the Shrines, including the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel in Haifa.Today, thousands of people each year, representing the diversity of humanity, make Baha’i pilgrimage. Many who undertake this sacred act sacrificially save money for years or decades to journey to the Holy Land.
The process of traveling to revered locations that form part of one’s spiritual heritage is common to the world’s religious traditions. Baha’i pilgrimage represents a period of reflection and renewal, of deep meditation and prayer, and of transformation. Its fundamental purpose is for the pilgrim to visit the sacred Shrines of the Bab and Baha’u’llah. During the nine-day program, pilgrims also have an opportunity to see historical sites associated with the lives of the Central Figures of the Faith and many of the early heroines and heroes of the Cause. A special reception by the Universal House of Justice and several evening talks and presentations over the course of the nine days also enrich the pilgrims’ experience.
In recent years a new program has been started in which groups of people from a single country or from a small region of a country undertake pilgrimage together. This has enabled more and more people to plan for and realize their hope of going on pilgrimage. Some of the groups come from remote and isolated parts of the world.  Two pilgrims enter the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.Many of those who make the journey note how moving it is to see the diversity of the human family engaged in an act of worship and reflection and to see people who are striving to refine themselves in order to serve humanity with ever greater dedication. Fellow pilgrims hail from every corner of the world, and they find on their pilgrimage a practical expression of oneness and unity.
“We see how people from around the world, regardless of nationality, race, and religion, can abandon all negative thoughts and actions and come together in peace,” said Lala, a pilgrim from Azerbaijan.
In July, a group from Cameroon made pilgrimage together, as part of the new program. The group’s interpreter, Chonwain, described how, although his primary responsibility was to translate for the French speakers in the group, he felt the profound spiritual effect of pilgrimage.
“When you accompany pilgrims at every blessed stage, when you move along with them and make every effort to help them with language, when you move in the steps of these pilgrims on their visits to the holy Shrines, your heart is here on pilgrimage,” Chonwain explained.
In addition to the formal group pilgrimage program, many communities around the world are organizing themselves informally to make pilgrimage together. Recently, one such group traveled from Utrecht, Netherlands, where the members of the group work side-by-side in a dynamic Baha’i community building effort.
“We are asking ourselves how this great privilege can impact our service to the community back home,” explained one of the Dutch pilgrims from the group, whose focus in the Netherlands has been working with young people in a spiritual and moral empowerment program. Two of her companions on pilgrimage were among the youth she has been studying with for three years. “Visiting the sacred Shrines with these youth has been deeply moving for me,” she reflected.  Pilgrims enjoy the beauty of the Ridvan Garden during their visit to the holy site.A group living and engaged in community building activities in a district of Chiayi, Taiwan, recently undertook pilgrimage together. “It’s like we’re an extended family, traveling together and caring for each other,” said Chiu, one of the pilgrims from the group. “We’re a lot stronger than before.”
The group included a few families with young children. Wendy, another pilgrim from the group, described how her 4-year-old son was nervous about entering one of the Shrines. “So my daughter, who is 6, says, ‘Do you want your soul to grow strong like a tree? Come into the Shrine and pray with me,’” Wendy recounted.
To assist individuals and families to apply for pilgrimage online, a new website has been launched at pilgrimage.bahai.org. The site also includes a film about the sacred experience of pilgrimage.  Pilgrims walk through the gardens in Bahji.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1341,2019-08-06,"[1310, 1298, 1248]","Power of history: the pursuit of truth, justice, and unity","WASHINGTON — Our common story is a powerful means through which we come to understand our history, our present, and our future. In the United States, the lives, suffering, and contributions of the enslaved people from Africa and their descendants have historically been overlooked in the nation’s narrative of progress and prosperity.On Wednesday, a number of organizations gathered at Georgetown University’s Slavery Archive in Washington, D.C., to have an intimate, profound discussion on this critical topic and to explore how a renewed national narrative can contribute to racial reconciliation and, ultimately, the transformation of society. The U.S. Baha’i Office of Public Affairs (OPA) organized the space with Georgetown University’s Slavery Archive and the Maryland State Archives.“So much of where we are in the U.S. in terms of race and racism has to do with our history. And so much of that history remains untold and, not only untold but also distorted, to hide the truth of what has happened,” says May Lample from the OPA.“In order to address inequality and racism in the U.S., we have to start to tell the story of how we got here. But the challenge before us is to tell that story in a way that is not divisive and that allows us to see history as progressive. At the same time we need to acknowledge that there are many setbacks, forces of disintegration and forces of integration. There are challenges on the road to progress.”The U.S. Baha’i Office of Public Affairs (OPA) has been intensively engaged in a discourse on race unity, participating in numerous forums across the country, engaging various social actors, and organizing spaces for dialogue that can inform understanding and constructive action. One of its ongoing initiatives has been its Faith and Race Dialogues, in which it has brought together faith based organizations to explore the role that religion and spirituality bring to overcoming the bane of racism.Some of the participants from the Faith and Race Dialogues began to explore together the impact of America’s history on racial dynamics in the country today. Their meeting was held at Georgetown University in the U.S. capital city and included an exhibition of some items from the school’s slavery archive. The university established the archive in 2016 to properly organize and curate material related to its owning and eventual sale of 272 enslaved men, women, and children in 1838.Several descendants of enslaved people attended the gathering, highlighting the importance of giving voice to the thousands who were enslaved and whose stories have never been told. The university has tried to make their stories known through archival materials, artifacts, and oral histories passed down from generation to generation.“The conversation explored the question of how to repair the harm that has been done,” explained P.J. Andrews, from the OPA. “We think of these problems as being in the past, but these systems and values continue to perpetuate themselves.”“Still, we also know that things are not fated to always be this way. We are not just powerless in the face of history and social forces that continue to assail society today. We are hopeful, and we all as human beings have agency to build the world anew. The history of the human race also shows that.”",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
1342,2019-08-09,"[1316, 1345, 1343]",Special bicentenary collection added to Baha’i Media Bank,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — A collection of 86 images and videos related to the bicentenaries of the births of Baha’u’llah and the Bab has been added to the Baha’i Media Bank, as preparations for the highly anticipated, historic celebrations of the birth of the Bab gain momentum around the world.The new section, called Special Bicentenary Collection, includes photographs related to the Shrines of the Bab and Baha’u’llah, aerial videos of the Shrine of the Bab and the terraces, bicentenary graphics in nine languages, and images and videos offering glimpses of the October 2017 celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.The Bab was the forerunner and herald of the Baha’i Faith, whose dramatic ministry paved the way for the appearance of Baha’u’llah. Their births, which fall on consecutive days, are celebrated annually. On 29 and 30 October of this year, the births of these Twin Luminaries will be celebrated in countless locations in every part of the world.Designated accounts on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube are regularly updated with images and videos in honor of these two events.The Baha’i Media Bank, created in 2006, is a reservoir of visual resources for communities worldwide, publishers, journalists, videographers, and students, among others. The more than 1,200 photos are categorized under five main headings: activities of the Baha’i community, administration and agencies, buildings and places, history, and gatherings and conferences.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1343,2019-08-14,"[1345, 1346, 1342]",Artistic expressions blossom across the globe,"The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab.
BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Preparations for worldwide celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab, the forerunner and herald of Baha’u’llah, are giving rise to diverse artistic expressions inspired by the lives and teachings of these Twin Luminaries.Music, film, theater, painting, and poetry are among the forms of art being created by individuals and communities from virtually every part of the world. These works are prompting reflection on the remarkable origins of the Baha’i Faith, its teachings, and their implications for the life of humanity.
As preparations gain momentum in the weeks to come, expressions of devotion and service will continue to intensify in vastly diverse cultural contexts that reflect the richness and oneness of the human race.
Designated accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are regularly updated with images and videos in honor of the upcoming bicentenary of the birth of the Bab as well as the celebrations in 2017 of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.This is the cover of a music album created in Singapore in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.This collage art from the United Arab Emirates was inspired by the teachings of the Bab.One of a series of pieces reflecting on the spiritual nature of human beings, this digital art from the United States draws on the concept of interconnectedness and was created in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.The laser wood art from Australia, depicting the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, was created for the occasion of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.Baha’is in Norway recently staged a play about the life of the Bab.A painting from a series that will be shown in an upcoming exhibition in Kazakhstan's capital city.This is one of several paintings by an artist in Costa Rica whose work is inspired by the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1344,2019-08-18,"[1332, 1339, 1334]",The transformative power of prayer: How devotional gatherings are taking root in Uganda,"KAMULI DISTRICT, Uganda — Humanity has always relied on prayer as a source of guidance and connection with God. In the latest episode of the Baha’i World News Service podcast, Charles Oloro and Michael Okiria from Uganda speak about how growing numbers of people are attending regular gatherings for collective prayer and experiencing its transformative power. Known as devotional gatherings, these spaces are open to all people in a community and free of ritual; no one person has a special role. The gatherings are also offering people in the community space to discuss their spiritual and material needs.
“We are seeing this new culture of friends coming together and turning to God to actually seek guidance for whatever is happening in their communities,” Mr. Oloro says. “Any soul can come to this space and inhale these heavenly fragrances.”
Mr. Okiria and Mr. Oloro spoke with the Baha’i World News Service when they were at the Baha’i World Centre as part of a consultation among representatives of eight localities around the world where a robust Baha’i educational and community building process is engaging thousands or tens of thousands of people. The two were representing a cluster of villages and towns in Uganda known as Kamuli South. At the heart of these community building efforts has been local populations building capacity to contribute to social change through applying fundamental Baha’i principles to their social reality.
“People are actually talking among themselves about the needs of the community and consulting together to try to find some solutions to the challenges their communities are facing,” Mr. Okiria explains.
In February, the Universal House of Justice also published a compilation of Baha’i writings and guidance about prayer and devotional life, available on the Baha’i Reference Library.",KAMULI DISTRICT,,Uganda
1345,2019-08-20,"[1342, 1218, 1086]",Preparations gain momentum worldwide for bicentenary,"The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab.
BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Waves of diverse undertakings inspired by the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah are sweeping across the globe as Baha’i communities prepare to mark the second historic bicentenary with special celebrations in October.Gatherings, open to all, dedicated to prayer are infusing neighborhoods and villages with a renewed spirit of hope and a heightened consciousness of humanity’s oneness. Other initiatives in these settings, also aimed at contributing to a community’s prosperity, are increasing in number as the 200th anniversary of the Bab’s birth approaches.
The accompanying photo gallery provides glimpses of such activities.
Designated accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are regularly being updated with images and videos in honor of the upcoming celebrations and those held in 2017 to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.A group of youth in Ukraine are creating a film about the lives of the early followers of the Bab.Families in Assam, India, gather to consult about how they can enhance the spirit of collective worship and service in their community.In East Palo Alto, California, United States, more than 150 people gathered for a special conference to make plans for the upcoming bicentenary of the birth of the Bab and to share about the lives and teachings of the Twin Founders of the Baha’i Faith.Youth in the Mariana Islands decided to beautify their community in preparation for the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab and began by cleaning up and painting a local bus stop. They were inspired to undertake this service project by their participation in devotional gatherings.In Singapore, community members are beginning to consult about bicentenary preparations. As part of these gatherings, some are reflecting on the various artistic expressions created during the celebrations of bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah in 2017 and consider plans for new pieces.Young people in the Central African Republic participate in a community march as part of efforts to celebrate the upcoming bicentenary.The Baha’i community of Portugal is recording a six-part television program on themes about the life and teachings of the Bab.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1346,2019-08-23,"[1345, 1343, 1342]","In Africa, preparations energize and focus communities","The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab.

NAIROBI, Kenya — As communities in Africa prepare for the upcoming bicentenary celebrations, a diversity of efforts are bringing into focus the significance of the historic anniversary. Creative projects, energizing planning gatherings, and endeavors to share accounts about the life of the Bab are occurring in the months before the celebrations.
In Kenya, a film team has been traveling the country and interviewing people about the Faith’s history there. The filmmakers have recorded conversations with some of the first Baha’is in Kenya, many of whom were attracted to the teachings of Baha’u’llah and the Bab several decades ago. In reflecting on the history of the Faith in their own country, these interviewees have also been recalling the early history of the Faith during the time of the Bab, said Edward Amaya, one of the filmmakers working on the project.  In Kenya, a film team is interviewing a family about the history of the Baha’i Faith in their country.“In the process of recording these interviews, we have been joined by younger friends who are now seeing how to include these elder believers in the bicentenary celebrations,” Mr. Amaya explained.
One Kenyan Baha’i, currently living in Mombasa and who, as a young person, led a Baha’i choir, is now teaching younger people songs about the life and teachings of the Bab. Slightly up the coast in Kilifi, two older residents who are unable to attend celebrations at the distant Baha’i center offered their homes to host the bicentenary celebrations.  Several dozen people participated in a special conference in Mbotoro, Cameroon, to meet people interested in learning about the Baha’i Faith and participating in the preparation and celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.In other countries, traditional chiefs have been participating in a constructive dialogue about applying the Baha’i teachings in their villages. At one such gathering in the Plateaux region of the Central African Republic, chiefs also met to study Baha’i writings about prayer, life and death, and other topics. In the Western Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, traditional chiefs, who draw on the Baha’i teachings to administer their villages, discussed the transformative power of Baha’u’llah’s revelation.  Youth in Emalahleni, South Africa, participate in a special gathering to reflect on their role in society. Several hundred young people have been participating in such gatherings throughout the country.Groups of young adults are also gathering to reflect on their role in society today. In South Africa, several hundred youth, engaged in serving their communities, gathered in recent months to study and make plans to further contribute to the life of their societies.
“The youth can see themselves serving their community, and this vision is becoming clearer,” explained Mlingane Poswayo, who works with a group of youth in the Mamelodi township of Pretoria, South Africa. For example, young adults are supporting each other to make strong moral choices while some are also arising to support groups of younger youth in studying and undertaking projects to improve life in their community.
More than 1,000 young people are expected to participate in a series of special local gatherings next month throughout South Africa, Mr. Poswayo added.  Young people in Kigali, Rwanda, have also been meeting at a weekly youth night to prepare for the bicentenary, turning their focus recently to developing the skill of storytelling.Young people in Kigali, Rwanda, have also been meeting at a weekly youth night to prepare for the bicentenary, turning their focus recently to developing the skill of storytelling. “It’s a space the youth love and enjoy,” said Nasim Parsa, who helps organize the youth nights. “They’re building closer friendships and are inspired. As we read about these young people in the history of the Faith, it also helps us to reflect on our lives and our choices.”
Energizing gatherings have also been occurring for participants to reflect on their communities and ways to be of service generously. In Cameroon, hundreds of people have attended eight such conferences throughout the country, enabling participants to “have meaningful conversations about participating in the preparations and celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab,” explained Alidu Wirba of Cameroon’s Baha’i community.",NAIROBI,,Kenya
1347,2019-08-27,"[1326, 1310, 1298]",Baha’i studies: Aiming to apply spiritual principles to humanity’s social progress,"OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Canada — Baha’i studies involves the effort to understand Baha’u’llah’s teachings, correlate them with the perspectives of humanity across diverse fields, and attempt to apply them to humanity’s current issues and challenges. The Association for Baha’i Studies’ 43rd annual gathering, held earlier this month in Canada’s capital city, featured thought-provoking and lively discussions on topical issues. The 1,400 conference attendees reflected on their efforts to contribute to spiritual and social transformation through the application of principles such as justice and oneness.
“One can critique the current social structures, but more can be done to, for example, inspire a hopeful vision for society,” explained Julia Berger, the secretary of the Association’s executive committee.
This year’s four-day conference also reflected an important re-visioning of the Association’s annual gathering. “We’ve tried to reimagine the conference to look more broadly at the intellectual life of the Baha’i community. We’ve taken very deliberate steps and are highlighting nascent but significant initiatives,” Dr. Berger said.  The annual conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies brought together 1,400 people for a lively discussion on contributing to social progress. (Credit: Monib Sabet)One of those initiatives is the Association’s effort with “working groups,” a collection of people building capacity to engage in a common professional or academic exploration and study. These groups—which meet throughout the year and are focused on topics such as media, economics, healthcare, education, and law—are beginning to analyze the implicit assumptions and concepts in their fields. Participants are relating this collaborative exploration of the deeper questions and concerns in their fields with the Baha’i teachings and the experiences of the community.
The group focused on economics, for example, began studying different threads of thought related to the extremes of wealth and poverty. Some then began exploring the role of community in economic life and how assumptions about human nature have shaped economic thought and practice. The growing Baha’i experience in community building and social action, as well as the Baha’i teachings about the nobility of people, also shed light on these questions.
The long-term objective is to help advance thinking in different fields in ways that foster the application of spiritual principles such as justice and unity to the needs of society, explained Selvi Adaikkalam Zabihi, who helps coordinate the working groups for the Association.
“We are in the early stages of this work, and our understanding is evolving as the groups move forward and we learn along with them,” Ms. Adaikkalam Zabihi noted.
This year’s plenary talks included topical themes such as racial justice, spiritual and moral development of youth, and reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous people in Canada. Conference organizers explained that they wanted to highlight approaches and principles that would also aid Baha’i participation in the discourses of society.  The 43rd annual Association for Baha’i Studies conference created an opportunity for attendees to reflect on their efforts to contribute to spiritual and social transformation. (Credit: Louis Brunet)The conference provided opportunities for individuals to strengthen their capacity to participate in broad conversations focused on social betterment. This participation includes the contribution of individuals to discourses in the social and professional spaces in which they find themselves. Baha’i communities also contribute to social discourses through the formal involvement of their national and international institutions with various agencies of their societies.",OTTAWA,ONTARIO,Canada
1348,2019-08-29,"[1346, 1345, 1343]","In Americas, spirit of oneness moves communities in anticipation of bicentenary","The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada — The global momentum of bicentenary preparations is building through the Americas. Artistic expressions, thoughtful presentations on the past and present, and other activities give a glimpse of how the continent’s diverse populations are readying themselves for the upcoming historic anniversary of the Bab’s birth.
During this period, neighborhoods across Canada are experiencing a new impulse of energy. In one neighborhood of Vancouver, devotional gatherings as well as educational programs for children and youth are increasing in these months.
“As a team we are seeing every moment before this bicentenary as precious,” says Hoda Toloui-Wallace, who lives in the area. “Our orientation is to reach out to as many friends to become protagonists in the betterment of society. There is a real spirit of joy in seeing more people channel their energies and find their place on a path of service.”  Young people in Ecuador participate in a recent three-day gathering to learn more about the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah.Across the United States, communities are drawing growing numbers to local celebrations and other activities. Many places held special summer school gatherings, placing a particular focus on the life and teachings of the Bab. Energizing conferences have allowed participants to reflect on ways to generously serve their community and intensify this effort in the lead-up to the October bicentenary. Artistic endeavors are also underway through the creation of paintings, craft projects, and film screenings.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Baha’is are putting a special focus on the history of the Faith in the city. A series of events is planned for September to commemorate the centenary of the arrival of Martha Root, a notable early Baha’i, in the Argentine capital. Also, on the day of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab in October, a special gathering will be held at the resting place of May Maxwell, a prominent early American Baha’i who died in Buenos Aires in 1940.
This deep connection with history also found expression in Vila Velha, Brazil, where the local community is planning a drama featuring monologues of six early followers of the Bab.
“The six of us are very excited about it. We are enjoying writing the monologues,” says Bahiyyih Maani Hessari. “We’re nervous for the play, but we’re also very happy and willing to do our best.”  Communities through the United States have been preparing for the upcoming bicentenary. These photos (clockwise from left) show a devotional gathering inside the Prayer Hogan at the Native American Baha’i Institute in the Navajo Nation, a special gathering in Dallas, and the participants in the Indiana Baha’i Summer School. These gatherings are among many happening as part of an increase in community building efforts before the October celebrations.Also in Brazil, A Tarde, a major newspaper in Salvador, featured the Baha’i community in its latest Sunday magazine. The special section featured 6-page cover article about the Baha’is of Salvador, their history from when Ms. Root first visited a century ago, their present efforts to contribute to life in Salvador, and their plans for the upcoming bicentenary celebrations.
Communities throughout the Americas have been holding special gatherings about the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah. For example, in Kingston, Jamaica, an arts workshop to create and present different creative works was held. In Ecuador, people in the country’s southern region recently met for a three-day camp focused on themes inspired by the Bab and Baha’u’llah’s vision for humanity. In La Bomba, Costa Rica, there are a variety of efforts such as a weekly devotional gathering that includes sharing accounts from the lives of the Bab and early heroes and heroines of the Baha’i Faith. And in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, youth are meeting to learn and tell stories about the life of the Bab.
Elsewhere, along the continent, four Baha’i Houses of Worship radiate the spirit of the bicentenary period, acting as a focal point for preparations. A gathering at the Temple in Agua Azul, Colombia, brought together dozens of community residents to discuss different themes from the life of the Bab. In all of the Houses of Worship in the Americas—in Chile, Colombia, Panama, and the United States—devotional gatherings will be held during the bicentenary holy days and plans are underway in some for live online broadcasts of the celebrations.
Designated accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are regularly being updated with images and videos in honor of the upcoming celebrations and those held in 2017 to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.  Community members meet for a gathering on the grounds of the Baha’i House of Worship in Agua Azul, Colombia. The group was studying and reflecting about the life of the Bab.",VANCOUVER,BRITISH COLUMBIA,Canada
1349,2019-09-02,"[1339, 1334, 1271]",Role of sacred space: A conversation on places of worship,"NEW DELHI — A diverse group of participants in India’s capital city explored the role that places of worship play in contemporary society.
Held on Thursday on the grounds of the Baha’i Lotus Temple, a well-known place of worship in India and abroad, a symposium organized by the country’s Baha’i community brought together about 80 people, including religious leaders, students, scholars, and others. Participants examined how temples, churches, mosques, and other sacred sites can aim to unite people and stimulate deep contemplation on spiritual reality as well as life’s foundational questions.
This conversation has particular significance in the country, where religious coexistence is a prevalent topic of discussion, organizers explained. Some speakers noted that places of worship are vital for collective religious experience. The symposium gave speakers an opportunity to reflect on how these sacred spaces can be more inclusive and create a unifying dialogue.
“These places of worship offer opportunities for creative transformation of individuals and communities,” said Bindu Puri, the chair of the Center for Philosophy at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. “They can create spaces where people come together across religions.”  Bindu Puri, chair of the Center for Philosophy at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, discusses the role of places of worship in society.Nilakshi Rajkhowa of India’s Baha’i community explained: “Sites for worship have been a mainstay in the spiritual life of the individual as well as the community. Therefore, it seemed timely to begin what we hope will be an ongoing conversation from which to glean insights about these sacred places.”
Participants explored the concept of a House of Worship in the Baha’i writings, which explain that such structures should be open to everyone, regardless of religion, background, ethnicity, or gender. Several speakers expressed their particular appreciation for the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi; the thousands who visit the lotus-shaped structure daily see it as a haven in which to pray and meditate. The Temple is also a catalyst for service in the surrounding neighborhood, providing space for and stimulating participation in a dynamic educational process that involves people of all ages in systematic study and action aimed at uplifting their neighborhoods spiritually, socially, and materially.
“This is a beginning of a series of conversations about the role of places of worship in society,” said Carmel Tripathi, with India’s Baha’i community. “Most of the participants expressed that they really needed a space like this to share their thoughts, and we are eager to organize more gatherings about this topic with the media, students, and others.”",NEW DELHI,,India
1350,2019-09-06,"[1348, 1346, 1201]",Bicentenary website to reflect worldwide celebrations,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A new international website for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab was launched today.
The website will unfold in stages over the next eight weeks. Currently featuring artistic endeavors created for the occasion, and articles on the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah, the site will expand dynamically over time. A special letter from the Universal House of Justice about the historic anniversary will be published. Dawn of the Light, a feature film commissioned for this upcoming bicentenary, will also be released by the end of this month. The website is available in 10 languages—Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili.
The bicentenary website will connect the world by capturing the celebrations of people in selected communities across the globe as they recall the lives of the Bab and Baha’u’llah and Their unifying message. These glimpses will be illustrative of the thousands of other celebrations that will be unfolding in virtually every country.  The bicentenary website features a small sample from among many artistic expressions created by individuals and communities around the world.On the Twin Holy Days, the website will capture glimpses of a wave of celebrations that will sweep across the planet. This coverage begins at sundown on 28 October in Kiribati and ends at sundown on 30 October in Hawaii. Photos, news, and other media from scores of locations will be published over the course of those 72 hours. There are also plans to include video coverage from Baha’i Houses of Worship.
Preparations have been reported in the Baha’i World News Service as well as dedicated Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube accounts; coverage on these platforms will continue.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1351,2019-09-10,"[1350, 1348, 1346]",Worldwide spirit of bicentenary inspires communities throughout Europe,"The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab.
LIMERICK, Ireland — The worldwide energy of bicentenary preparations is prompting an efflorescence of activity in country after country. In Europe, communities calling to mind this significant anniversary are producing music inspired by the Bab’s life and teachings, bringing history to life through drama, and redoubling their commitment to constructive action.
More gatherings dedicated to prayer and reflection, in homes and public places, are drawing people together in Limerick, Ireland. “We are creating as many beacons of light in our city and county as we can over the next seven weeks,” explains Trisha Rainsford of Limerick’s Baha’i community. Many residents have been opening their homes for collective worship, offering a space where anyone can seek contemplation.
Several plays are being staged across Europe. A meeting in Mantova, Italy, to discuss the development of the community’s spiritual education programs included a performance about important moments in the lifetime of the Bab; the drama helped the audience to see the connection between that history and their present-day efforts.
In France, playwright Malene Girot Daquin had always wanted to tell the story of Tahirih, the heroic follower of the Bab who was the first woman to recognize Him as a Manifestation of God. “With the upcoming bicentenary of the Bab, I felt that the time was right,” Ms. Girot Daquin explains. The play, which focuses on the final part of Tahirih’s life when she was imprisoned and eventually executed for her belief in the Bab, was performed in part at an event in southern France. There are plans to also stage it at local theaters elsewhere in France and Switzerland. “Tahirih faced her fate with determination and courage,” Ms. Girot Daquin adds.  In France, playwright Malene Girot Daquin wrote a play about Tahirih, the heroic follower of the Bab who was the first woman to recognize Him as a Manifestation of God. The drama does not portray Tahirih as one of the actors, but some of her poems are recited.Tahirih’s inspiring life has prompted other stage performances and efforts to recall her important contributions. In North Macedonia, for example, a poet is translating Tahirih’s verses into Macedonian for the bicentenary.
Calling to mind the history of the Babi Faith, the community of Camberley, United Kingdom, has been telling stories in community gatherings about the Letters of the Living, the Bab’s first 18 followers who each independently recognized Him in 1844. “The impact of connecting to these early believers has been phenomenal,” says Shadeh Rahimi-Irandoust. “In different social spaces, these names and this history come up. Researching and telling these stories have brought that period to life and made it much more relevant for us.”
Seeing the relevance of the Bab’s message to today is one of the topics explored in an album of music being recorded in honor of the upcoming bicentenary by Spain’s Baha’i community. Artists from around the country and the Canary Islands are writing and recording pieces in a diversity of genres and styles as well as different local languages from Spain. The piece below is called Bienamado Bab, which means Beloved Bab, and is about the Bab’s announcement to humanity.Young people in Switzerland have written and narrated a short film about the life of the Bab in the style of a Kamishibai theater, a form of street theater and storytelling from Japan. “When I was growing up, there were many things I didn’t know about the lives of the Manifestations of God,” explains Emma Burnand, 14, who helped make the film. “It was helpful to learn more about these Figures myself, and then prepare the Kamishibai theatre to share our new knowledge.”  Germany’s Baha’is have undertaken numerous steps to prepare for the upcoming bicentenary. Recent efforts include storytelling gatherings to bring the early history of the Faith to life, a group’s visit to a small town that has memorialized ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit there in 1913, and a growing number of young people arising to serve their neighborhoods.Hungary’s Baha’i community is one of several that is channeling an interest in the Faith’s history into a printed publication. A 46-page book published in honor of the bicentenary details the 10 days that ‘Abdu’l-Baha spent in Budapest toward the end of His two-year journey through Europe and North America. During His visit to the city, ‘Abdu’l-Baha gave lectures to full halls and had many more intimate conversations, explaining to countless people the Baha’i Faith’s teachings and their relevance to the life of societies He was visiting.
To beautify their neighborhood, young people in Chisinau, Moldova, were assisted by a local artist in painting a mural. Moved by this spirit of service, fellow youth joined the project as it got underway. The artwork includes this passage from the Baha’i Writings: “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”  The community of Nuuk, Greenland, has also been preparing for the upcoming bicentenary. At a recent gathering, participants explored ideas for how to commemorate the Bab’s bicentenary. “The spiritual atmosphere was so wonderful,” a community member expressed.",LIMERICK,,Ireland
1352,2019-09-18,"[1316, 1345, 1351]",Members of parliament honor bicentenary,"The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab.
CANBERRA, Australia — Members of Parliament have honored the historic 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab, highlighting the contributions of Baha’i communities to the life of their societies.
The House of Representatives of the Australian Federal Parliament held a 30-minute session on Monday during which members congratulated the country’s Baha’i community on the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab. The comments followed a private member's motion with cross-party support.Among other points, the motion stated that the House of Representatives “considers the Baha’i community a valued part of Australian society,” “commends the contribution that Australian Baha’is make to social cohesion, unity and community building in Australia,” and “provides assurance that it holds the Baha’i Faith, its leadership and its practicing members in the highest regard, in light of their focus on serving others with excellence.”
MP Julian Leeser said in Monday’s session: “Baha’is seek to serve their community through cooperation and support to achieve good social outcomes.”
Another MP, Anne Aly, began her comments with a passage from Baha’u’llah's Writings: “‘It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.’ That’s one of my favorite quotes, because it speaks to the universality of the human race unfettered by the imagined borders of nationhood and the constructed boundaries of race.”
Meanwhile in the United States, the California State Senate has also acknowledged the Baha’i community’s contributions to society in honoring the upcoming bicentenary. State Senator Henry Stern introduced the idea of commemorating the bicentenary with a proclamation from the legislative body.“Throughout California, Baha’i communities strive to collaborate with others to promote peace, justice, and unity, applying the spiritual principles to their lives and serving their fellow citizens in neighborhoods across our state,” the state Senate’s leader Toni G. Atkins told her colleagues. “In their celebration of diversity and commitment to a good life for all of us, the Baha’is represent the better angels of our state.”",CANBERRA,,Australia
1353,2019-09-20,"[1325, 1324, 1297]",Design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha unveiled,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — The Universal House of Justice has today released the highly-anticipated design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to all National Spiritual Assemblies.
For Baha’is, ‘Abdu’l-Baha occupies a station without parallel in the religious annals of humankind. In a letter today, the House of Justice states that the structure envisaged in the design seeks “to honor ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s unique position” and “to reflect at once His lofty station and His humility”.
“This should be unlike any other building,” explains Hossein Amanat, who has been selected as the architect for this historic initiative. “It seeks to manifest ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s selflessness, wisdom, openness, acceptance, and kindness towards all people, to embody His love for gardens and nature, and to reflect His progressive and forward-looking approach.”
As well as a selection of images illustrating the design concept, a video has been released that allows the viewer to see both the central structure and its surroundings.  Garden and plaza approaching the Shrine“‘Abdu’l-Baha had expressed His wish regarding where He should be buried,” explains Mr. Amanat, a distinguished Iranian-Canadian architect. “He had said to an early believer that if something should happen to Him and He should pass away, ‘Abdu’l-Baha wanted to be buried under the sands between Haifa and Akka, which He described as the pathway trodden by the loved ones and the pilgrims.”
In a prayer composed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recited by visitors to His resting place, He expresses this supplication to God: “Make me as dust in the pathway of Thy loved ones.” This idea in the prayer is one of the organizing principles of the design.
“Considering the essence of these words and referring to ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s attributes, one is hesitant to design an imposing structure for His resting place. His wishes must be taken into consideration,” Mr. Amanat says, “but not to such a literal extent that His station is not revered and recognized. His resting place must be new and unique, and not like any other building.”
Visitors will walk on a path designed to facilitate stages on a meditative journey toward the Shrine at the central point of the garden.
“The interior of the Shrine is envisioned to be a place of diffused light and quiet contemplation. ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s resting spot is placed at the center of this serene space, and a sunburst pattern emanating from His resting place will embrace the whole garden, symbolizing the radiance that ‘Abdu’l-Baha brought to the people of the world,” says Mr. Amanat.
“Abdu’l-Baha was a modern Man,” he continues. “He was a harbinger of the new—His words were new, the Teachings of His Father that He promulgated were new, and He called humanity to a new set of relationships. This building seeks to reflect that.”
The video is also available on YouTube.  Nighttime bird’s-eye view",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1354,2019-09-23,"[1350, 1260, 1208]",“Dawn of the Light”: New bicentenary film explores search for truth and meaning,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Dawn of the Light, a new feature film commissioned by the Universal House of Justice for the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab, was released today on the bicentenary website, bicentenary.bahai.org.
The film follows the personal search for truth and meaning undertaken by eight people from different parts of the world. Each one describes the journey to discovering that God has sent two Divine Manifestations for today, the Bab and Baha’u’llah, Who are revolutionizing human thought and behavior.
The stories of the eight individuals are explored against the backdrop of the remarkable life of the Bab, the forerunner of Baha’u’llah.
Available in Arabic, English, French, Persian, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili voiceover and subtitled versions, the 48-minute film can be viewed here. The film can also be viewed on YouTube.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1355,2019-09-27,"[1327, 1311, 1272]","Dutch parliamentary year begins with interfaith gathering, gives voice to youth","THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Prince’s Day opening celebrations in the Netherlands, marking the new parliamentary year and held annually by faith communities, this year provided a platform for youth to contribute to the national discourse on the environment.
The event, attended by the country’s prime minister, members of parliament, the mayor of The Hague, ambassadors, and faith communities, provided an occasion for over 1,000 participants to reflect on the future of their country.
“Whoever looks in the eyes of a child sees that his or her future is important,” said Ad van der Helm, chair of the program. “Our decisions, or our lack of decisions now, will affect their environment. If we care now, they can live.”
The faith communities of the country, he continued, “wish to connect the voices of the youth and the voices of the future to the voices of those who bear responsibility at this time. All generations, all layers of society, all groups, languages, and cultures living in our country, share in the responsibility for this earth, our world.”  Namara van Bekkum, a 16-year-old youth representing the Dutch Baha’i community, gave the main address for the Prince’s Day event.Namara van Bekkum, a 16-year-old youth representing the Dutch Baha’i community, opened the main address for the event with a passage from ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s First Tablet to The Hague, written nearly a century ago in the aftermath of World War I to a peace organization based in the city: “Until the minds of men become united, no important matter can be accomplished.”
Her comments were part of a program that stimulated profound reflection through readings of sacred texts, moments of silence, musical performances, and remarks by additional presenters.
Ms. van Bekkum underscored the importance of recognizing the spiritual dimensions of human identity. “How can our rapidly growing and developing world population live in harmony with the earth and its limited natural resources? We simply consume too much of what is produced in the wrong manner,” Ms. van Bekkum said in her speech. “A new consciousness is needed in how we human beings interact with the natural world. We need to pay attention to those spiritual characteristics that are compatible with the oneness of humanity and harmony with nature, for example fairness, honesty, love for the earth and human beings, generosity, and detachment from material things.”
In preparing her presentation, Ms. van Bekkum drew on her experiences with community building endeavors. “We have many conversations with people where I live on topics like justice and unity. Many see that this is what we need right now,” she says. “And everywhere in the world, people—youth, kids, and adults—are having more conversations about the importance of unity in climate change.”  Marga Martens, chair of the event’s organizing committee and a representative of the Netherlands’ Baha’i community, addressed the gathering.Marga Martens, chair of the event’s organizing committee and a representative of the Netherlands’ Baha’i community, explains that “this year’s event was the first time a youth gave the main speech. That was an intentional choice by the committee to give voice to the country’s young people.”
The gathering is the outcome of close and unified collaboration among religious communities in the Netherlands. “We don’t see each other as separate groups presenting their own piece. We see each other as one community,” Ms. Martens said.",THE HAGUE,,Netherlands
1356,2019-09-29,"[1354, 1351, 1348]",Rapidly approaching bicentenary galvanizes communities across Asia ,"The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab.
BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — Across the vast lands of Asia, preparations for the bicentenary gain momentum daily.
As the sun rises in Battambang, residents near the local Baha’i House of Worship gather at dawn to pray and consult about their plans for the upcoming historic anniversary. “We are doing our best to be ready for the celebrations and to provide opportunities for many people to contribute to community building efforts,” says local resident Chanserey Ing.
The Temple, acting as a focal point for preparations, is attracting growing numbers of visitors who come to pray and reflect on their efforts to contribute to the life of their society. A group of Buddhist monks and several university students, for instance, recently visited the local House of Worship to explore the Baha’i teachings and their implications for social progress.  Shopkeepers in in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, pause for a moment in their busy day to reflect on profound questions about the spiritual dimensions of life. Their discussion draws inspiration from the life of the Bab and the relevance of the Baha’i teachings to the state of the world today.Such purposeful conversations as these are also taking place among friends and neighbors throughout the continent. For example, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, shopkeepers pause for a moment in their busy day to reflect on profound questions about the spiritual dimensions of life. Their discussion draws inspiration from the life of the Bab and the relevance of the Baha’i teachings to the state of the world today.  Community members in Daidanaw, Myanmar, repair a road in the village.Elsewhere in Asia, the Baha’i community of Daidanaw, Myanmar, is undertaking special projects in honor of the bicentenary, including the repair and construction of a neighborhood road.
Throughout India, communities are vigorously preparing for the coming bicentenary in a variety of ways. In New Delhi, activities at the Baha’i Lotus Temple are attracting growing numbers of people from diverse backgrounds to pray and serve together. In Bramhapara, in the state of Assam, youth and young adults have built a covered meeting area to hold spiritual education classes for young people. In the town of Ahwa, the community has dubbed a segment of the film A Widening Embrace in Dangi, a local language spoken in Gujarat and other states. The film, community members say, will help more people to understand the purpose and aims of the Baha’i community and its activities.  Throughout India, communities are vigorously preparing for the coming bicentenary in a variety of ways.A group of youth in Istanbul, Turkey, has recently painted a colorful mural on a building in their neighborhood. This project has inspired others in the area to join the effort to beautify their surroundings. “We carried out this project to raise awareness in our region about the importance of serving together,” says one of the youth from the group.
Many individuals and communities are channeling their joyful spirit of this special period into music. In Azerbaijan, a group of musicians, poets, and other artists has produced an album of songs in Azeri, English, Persian, and Russian. Another group in Jordan has recorded a song about the Bab and His early followers. Some of the Bab’s prayers have been put to music by a Baha’i from Kuwait. In Itanagar, India, a group has composed an album putting to music Baha’i writings in various Indian languages.",BATTAMBANG,,Cambodia
1357,2019-10-01,"[969, 1307, 1159]",David Rutstein appointed as Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The Baha’i International Community today announced the appointment of Dr. David Rutstein as its new Secretary-General. He is succeeding Dr. Joshua Lincoln who had been serving in this capacity since 2013. The Secretary-General is the senior officer acting on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, the world governing body of the Baha’i community, in the conduct of its external affairs, including its relations with Israel, the host-country of its World Centre.
Dr. Rutstein comes to the Baha’i International Community following an international career as a senior health executive and physician. He served as a primary care physician in Micronesia and held multiple administrative positions within the United States government’s Department of Health and Human Services, including as a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service, and a term as the Deputy Surgeon General of the United States. He was also the vice president for medical affairs for a private healthcare system in China and founded a global public health charity. Dr. Rutstein holds an M.D. from Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School and an M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is married and has three children.
Dr. Lincoln holds a Ph.D. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Prior to joining the Baha’i International Community, he worked for the United Nations, serving in various field assignments in Africa as well as senior positions in New York and Geneva.
Reflecting on his tenure, Dr. Lincoln said: “It’s been a privilege to serve in this position—one that requires the maintenance of effective relations and growing partnerships with government authorities, with universities and communities, and with all sectors of civil society. The Baha’i gardens and shrines in Haifa and Acre, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites, are now visited by over a million people annually. With this comes a thirst for meaningful dialogue. I’ve noticed the same internationally, whether in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the United States, or elsewhere. Despite very different social realities in these countries, I’m struck by the commonality of issues discussed by governments, scholars, and secular and religious institutions, chief among them being extremism, climate change, and advancing the well-being of individuals while simultaneously building strong and sustainable communities.”  Dr. Joshua Lincoln",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1358,2019-10-02,"[1220, 1354, 1352]","British Library marks bicentenary, exhibits works of the Bab and Baha’u’llah","LONDON — The British Library is marking the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab with various initiatives alongside the launch of a new website, Discovering Sacred Texts, and companion exhibition, which feature examples of the Faith’s original texts.
Drawing from its vast collection, the library is displaying three rare and exquisite pieces in its Treasures Gallery: an original of the Bab’s own handwriting, in the shape of a five-pointed star; calligraphic exercises written by Baha’u’llah in His childhood; and an example of “Revelation Writing”, the form in which Baha’u’llah’s words were recorded at speed by His secretaries as they were revealed. These manuscripts will be displayed at the library for the next six months.  Visitors viewing original works of the Bab and Baha’u’llah on display at the opening evening of an exhibition in the British Library’s Treasure GalleryThe exhibition opened in conjunction with the library’s new online educational resource which includes digitized selections of sacred texts from the world’s religions. “Through the project we have made the British Library’s significant collection of Baha’i manuscripts accessible online,” says Alex Whitfield, Learning and Digital Programmes Manager.  This tablet of the Bab, an original in His own handwriting, is on display at the British Library.The new educational website “will provide an invaluable tool for students, teachers, lifelong learners, and anyone with an interest in the great world religions,” says Dr. Whitfield. The site includes pages introducing the Baha’i Faith, its sacred texts and Central Figures.
Coinciding with the launch of the site and exhibition is the publication of an article by Moojan Momen, specially commissioned by the library for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. Dr. Momen writes about the three original works on display at the exhibition, set in the context of a brief historical account of the life of the Bab.
To further mark the bicentenary, the library invited actor and comedian Omid Djalili to stage his  one-man show A Strange Bit of History recounting events surrounding the appearance of the Bab and Baha’u’llah. The four-day run of performances concluded this week.
Jon Fawcett, head of events at the British Library, saw the show 25 years ago and has never forgotten it. “It struck me as a brilliant piece of storytelling,” he says.
In the performance, Mr. Djalili plays 16 different roles. The main characters are an executioner and a camel driver. “The executioner represents the reaction of the authorities at the time of the Bab,” says Mr. Djalili, “while this lowly camel driver represents both the appeal of the Baha’i Faith to people from every stratum of society and, at the same time, the sense of expectation during the Bab’s time when, all over the world, people were spiritually searching.”
In the play Mr. Djalili also portrays five modern-day performance poets. “They in turn comment on what’s going on in the world, talking about their own search,” he says, “but they also convey the sense that we are living at a great time, when two Divine Messengers have appeared in the world.  One of many digitized manuscripts in the British Library’s Discovering Sacred Texts website, this illuminated leaf is from a volume of Baha’u’llah’s Writings.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1359,2019-10-07,"[1338, 1335, 1314]","At General Assembly summit, civil society given prominent voice","BIC NEW YORK — At a first-of-its-kind meeting at the United Nations, non-governmental organizations deliberated, alongside senior government and UN officials, on the status of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Civil Society Forum, attended by over 500 individuals, was held for the first time during the General Assembly’s High Level Week, a space typically reserved for world leaders.
Delivering the forum’s opening remarks and co-moderating the discussion, Baha’i International Community representative Daniel Perell remarked that humanity is “standing at the precipice collectively” and that the condition of the world calls for “decisive, constructive steps.” The barrier to action, however, is not ignorance, noted Mr. Perell. “The gap is in commitment, in creativity and, most of all, in courage.”
“The systems and structures in place are a patchwork of treaties and institutions, a far cry from the organic wholeness of humanity and the earth.” Mr. Perell stated that today’s historic imperative is “to rethink the narratives, habits, and systems which have brought humanity to this point.”  Daniel Perell, a representative of the Baha’i International Community, addresses attendees at the Civil Society Forum during the SDG Summit. (Credit: IISD)Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, an assistant secretary-general at the United Nations, stated: “It is clear that the SDGs will be reached with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders, and all people,” and that this Forum is a reflection that action by a diverse array of actors “is the only way to navigate the complex challenges we are facing today.”
Many insights emerged from the discussion. Speakers underscored the importance of working toward the SDGs as an entire system, with countries, NGOs and others engaged in a common effort. Others underscored the significant role civil society organizations have in helping to solve global problems, working alongside governments and the UN.
“Though many are skeptical of the utility of another United Nations forum, spaces such as these could also be seen as a step toward bringing the lived experiences of those impacted by policies into the halls of decision-making” said Mr. Perell reflecting on the forum.
“We are hopeful that the report from this meeting will contribute substantively to future deliberations at the United Nations,” Mr. Perell added. “This precedent for more inclusive processes is a victory.”
The SDGs are the UN’s blueprint for social and economic development. One of their most significant features has been the opening of new avenues for participation to more segments of society.
Watch the video of the full session here, and Mr. Perell's remarks here.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1360,2019-10-10,"[1356, 1351, 1348]",Bicentenary preparations intensify throughout Australasia,"This fifth and final article in a series on preparations for the bicentenary highlights efforts across Australasia.

SOUTH TARAWA, Kiribati — Across Australasia, communities are filled with anticipation for the coming bicentenary and are honoring this special period through an abundance of artistic works and vibrant community activities.
There is a long and rich history in this region of marking celebrations with traditional dance. A well-known dance troupe in South Tarawa, Kiribati, is offering a series of performances along the island’s main road, presenting stories about the Bab and His mission. “The bicentenary is so special, and we want to let every soul on South Tarawa know about it,” says Therese Bakineti, an island resident.
In the Tongan island of Tongatapu, youth from several communities are rehearsing traditional dances to be performed at upcoming celebrations.
A group of musicians in Christchurch, New Zealand, is honoring the bicentenary by setting Baha’i prayers and writings to music in the Maori language. Naming their effort the Waiata Project—from a Maori word for song or chant—they have created an album of nine songs in both traditional and contemporary styles. “Being Maori myself, this project made me connect a lot more with my language and with the prayers,” explains D. J. MacDonald, a 17-year-old musician who helped compose the music. “My hope is that these waiata strengthen the Maori language and bring people together in New Zealand. I want us to be united over these songs.”In diverse settings throughout Australasia, people are also coming together to reflect on the special nature of the bicentenary, by viewing the film commissioned for the occasion, Dawn of the Light, and by turning their attention to a message of the Universal House of Justice about the bicentenary.
These and many other initiatives are strengthening community bonds across this region and channeling the energies of growing circles of people toward constructive processes in society. For example, the community in Lae, Papua New Guinea, is raising a building to house educational activities. In a suburb of Port Vila, Vanuatu, friends, neighbors, and government officials recently set out together to clean a river, clearing trash and planting riverbank grasses to prevent soil erosion. In a neighborhood near Sydney, Australia, dozens of households are inviting friends and neighbors to gatherings for prayer and reflection on the teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah and their application to humanity’s social progress.  At the site of the future Temple in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the community met for prayers on a recent national holiday, and young people spoke about the life of the Bab and the upcoming bicentenary.The bicentenary has also been marked at the national level, including in Australia where the Federal Parliament last month held a session honoring the historic anniversary of the birth of the Bab.
A special feature of this region that is lending further impetus to preparations for the bicentenary is the presence of two Baha’i Houses of Worship, with two more that are under development. At the Temple in Sydney, some 200 people gathered recently for a conference to reflect on their community-building efforts. Drawing on the welcoming spirit of the Temple, participants spoke with visitors and residents of the surrounding neighborhood about the edifice and the teachings it represents. “A lot of people are starting to see who the Bab and Baha’u’llah were and why they’re so important to the world today. Their teachings about the oneness of mankind, the oneness of religion, and the equality of women and men are essential for our society,” notes Steven Maaelopa of Sydney.
Sites in the Pacific islands where Houses of Worship stand or will be built in the coming years are also acting as focal points of celebration and profound reflection during the bicentenary period. At the site of the future Temple in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the community recently met for prayers on a national holiday, and young people spoke about the life of the Bab. At the Temple site in Tanna, Vanuatu, a sense of collective ownership is permeating surrounding communities as residents learn about the nature and purpose of Houses of Worship and contribute to its development.  At the Temple in Sydney, devotional gatherings and meetings to reflect on community building efforts are regularly taking place in the lead-up to the bicentenary.",SOUTH TARAWA,,Kiribati
1361,2019-10-11,[1323],"‘Ali Nakhjavani, 1919–2019","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — ‘Ali Nakhjavani, former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away in the early hours of this morning in France. He was 100 years old.
The House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies today.*  *  *With sorrowing hearts we convey the news that in the early hours of this morning our deeply cherished, illumined, and illustrious former colleague ‘Alí Nakhjavání ascended to the worlds beyond.
We mourn the loss of an extraordinary figure who leaves behind a distinguished legacy of uninterrupted service to the Cause of God.  In the course of a singularly remarkable life that began in the closing years of the Heroic Age and extended to the very fringes of the second century of the Formative Age, he shone in the firmament of selfless devotion to Bahá’u’lláh and was called upon to be involved in many a major development in the rise of the Administrative Order, whether as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, as an intrepid pioneer to Africa in the Ten Year Crusade, as a member of the African Auxiliary Board when it was first created, as a member of the Regional National Spiritual Assembly of Central and East Africa at its inception, and as a member of the International Bahá’í Council when it was first elected, a prelude to his membership on the Universal House of Justice when it was established in 1963.  He brought to his decades of monumental service absolute fidelity to his beloved Guardian, an exceptional depth of knowledge of the Cause, leonine commitment to the defence of the Covenant, intense ardour for the teaching work, rare spiritual acuity, and a radiant heart brimming with love for everyone who crossed his path.  His was a life of profound spiritual attainment lived at the hinge of history.  May his utter consecration, his adamantine faith, and his unswerving dedication to duty inspire generations to come.
We supplicate at the Sacred Threshold for the progress of his noble soul, that it may be richly rewarded, and that it may be united with his valiant pillar of support, his beloved wife Violette.  Our condolences are extended to his dear daughter and son, Bahiyyih and Mehran, and to their families, and we pray that their grieving hearts may be solaced.  The friends are called upon to hold memorial meetings in his honour, including befitting gatherings in all Houses of Worship throughout the world.
The Universal House of Justice",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1362,2019-10-14,"[1320, 1291, 1288]","Thinkers challenge social structures, link women’s empowerment to peace and progress","COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — In a recent conference held by the Baha’i Chair for World Peace, academics and practitioners from diverse fields examined the inseparable relationship between the advancement of women and the creation of prosperous and peaceful societies.
Talks and panel discussions at the two-day event held last month at the University of Maryland, College Park, examined the inadequacies of contemporary social structures to address the major challenges facing humanity today and explored the leading role women must play in the pursuit of genuine solutions.
“Despite the progress being made toward women’s equality, by no means are we close to fully understanding the scale of change required to bring about full equality between women and men,” explained Hoda Mahmoudi, holder of the Chair. “We will have to create a new social order with new norms and institutions that are constructed with the full and equal participation of women.”
Speakers at the event critically examined the major obstacles that prevent the participation of women in all the spheres of society. Among their conclusions were that that societal structures today concentrate decision making at all levels in the hands of a relative few, largely excluding women; that science is misused to reinforce prejudices about women and, in some cases, to justify the abuses of men in certain positions of power; and, that laws and policies often exclude or disadvantage women, blocking their progress or establishing ceilings.  Speakers and attendees converse during a break at the recent Baha’i Chair conference about the equality of women and men.Panel discussions also focused on the contributions that women are making to positive social change. Margaret Satterthwaite of the NYU School of Law spoke about indigenous women around the world who are learning to work with and shape legal systems to overcome oppressive structures. Brandy Thomas Wells, a historian from Oklahoma State University, described the contributions of African-American women to 20th century and present-day peace movements.
Other speakers described the significant contributions made by women to peace-building efforts, noting that peace negotiations in which women are included as major actors tend to be more fruitful and long-lasting.
“Where women are represented in higher numbers in civil society groups and in legislation, there is less violence and war,” Dr. Mahmoudi says. “According to many studies, higher levels of women's equality are associated with a lower propensity for conflict both between and within states.”
Speakers also emphasized the need for structural changes in society to bring about the equality of women and men. Marie Berry of the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies described how incremental reforms would not be sufficient.
“How are we actually seeking to build movements that change systems and don’t replicate the violence of those systems? How do we build movements that challenge and dismantle those systems and rebuild more just, more inclusive, more democratic, and more peaceful societies?” noted Dr. Berry.  A student asks a question during the recent Baha’i Chair conference that focused on the equality of women and men.Reflecting on the conference, Dr. Mahmoudi explains that the event has revealed important questions about the requirements for new patterns of thought and behavior and for new social structures which reflect the principle of the equality of women and men.
The empowerment of women is one of the Baha’i Chair’s five central themes on which it focuses as part of its mandate to advance research and dialogue on global peace. The Chair will continue to open spaces for leading academics and practitioners to exchange ideas and explore new insights about the advancement of women and its relationship with global peace and prosperity.
The conference’s talks and panel discussions can be viewed on the Baha’i Chair’s YouTube channel.  During one of the panel discussions, Brandy Thomas Wells, a historian from Oklahoma State University, speaks about the contributions of African-American women to 20th century and present-day peace movements.",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
1363,2019-10-22,"[1317, 1251, 1109]",Construction progresses on Kenya Temple,"MATUNDA, Kenya — A new stage of development has been reached in the construction of the first local Baha’i House of Worship in Africa. The foundation of the central edifice has now been laid and work on other structural elements is advancing.
The 1.5-meter central mound on which the 18-meter-tall Temple will stand has been completed. Work on columns has begun and construction of its auxiliary structures, such as a visitor’s center, is well under way. The Temple’s design, simple yet elegant in form, was inspired by huts that are traditional to the region.
Since the groundbreaking ceremony in March, interest in the Temple and what it represents has been growing among the region’s inhabitants.
“The devotional spirit in local communities has been enriched as more people come to better understand the nature and purpose of Houses of Worship,” says Stephen Mwangi, the Temple’s project administrator. “Many new gatherings that bring together friends and neighbors for prayer have been initiated in local communities since construction began.”  Workers build the Temple’s structural columns.Located just west of the town of Matunda, the site of the future Baha’i Temple is in a region that is home to some of Kenya’s earliest Baha’i communities, where patterns of worship and service to humanity have been fostered over decades.
“Nearby residents,” Mr. Mwangi continues, “are visiting the Temple site to pray and offer service, demonstrating a growing sense of ownership for the development of the Temple and the surrounding land.” Mr. Mwangi noted that numerous plants and trees have been donated for a nursery and a core of people are dedicated to its maintenance. The nursery, which houses over 1,000 plants and trees of 100 varieties, will eventually provide for the beautification of the Temple grounds.
The Kenya Temple follows two other local Baha’i House of Worship which were raised in Battambang, Cambodia, and Norte del Cauca, Colombia. Other countries designated by the Universal House of Justice to build a local Baha’i Temple include India and Vanuatu.  The Kenya Temple’s construction crew carefully laid stones, on which concrete was later poured to form the building’s foundation.",MATUNDA,,Kenya
1364,2019-10-24,"[1360, 1354, 1350]",Anticipation mounts: A guide for 72 hours of bicentenary coverage,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — On Monday at sunset in the Line Islands in Kiribati, a global community will begin a period of celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab, the Prophet-Herald of the Baha’i Faith.
From the small island nations in the Pacific, celebrations will then spread across Australasia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, as sunset moves westward with the rotation of the earth. With sunset on the following day, the world will begin celebrating the birth of Baha’u’llah, Who was born 202 years ago in 1817.
The birthdays of the Bab and Baha’u’llah occur back-to-back on the Baha’i calendar and are referred to as the “Twin Birthdays.” The Baha’i writings state that “these two days are accounted as one in the sight of God.”
72 hours of celebrations
Baha’i Holy Days are held from sunset to sunset. This year, the birthday of the Bab begins at sunset on 28 October and ends at sunset on 29 October, when the birthday of Baha’u’llah begins.
In any given city, the total time marking the celebrations is 48 hours, or two whole days (sunset 28 October to sunset 30 October). But globally, the total period for the two holy days lasts 72 hours. This is because around the earth each day’s first sunset over land occurs in the Line Islands, just west of the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean; the last sunset is in the Hawaiian island of Kauai, which lies just east of the International Date Line.
The International Date Line, which is an artificial marker demarcating the change of one calendar day to the next, runs from north to south. It takes three rotations of the earth, 72 hours, to cover two sunsets across the planet (see graphic).  This graphic explains why the bicentenary celebrations worldwide last 72 hours.Staying connected to celebrations worldwide
The bicentenary celebrations across the planet open a window into the diversity of the human family and its essential oneness.
As the earth spins on its axis and celebrations begin in different lands, the world can be updated with information on the festivities occurring in particular places.
The international website Bicentenary.Bahai.org, launched last month, will begin covering bicentenary celebrations around the world at Monday’s sundown in Kiribati, that is 4:15 a.m. GMT. The site will be regularly updated with glimpses into the celebrations in more than 100 countries.
Currently, the site features articles on the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah, a special letter from the Universal House of Justice about the historic anniversary, and Dawn of the Light, the film commissioned for the bicentenary.
The website is available in 10 languages—Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili.
In addition to the website, the following platforms will publish stories, photos, and videos from or related to the bicentenary:


The Bahá’í World News Service: bwns.org


YouTube: youtube.com/thebahaifaith


Instagram: @twinbirthdays


Facebook: facebook.com/twinbirthdays

  The @twinbirthdays Instagram page provides updates of bicentenary celebrations and preparations around the world.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1365,2019-10-25,"[1307, 1364, 1357]","For bicentenary, Shrine of the Bab opens to thousands of visitors, community leaders","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Terraces cascading down the mountainside were illuminated as thousands of residents of Haifa and surrounding cities and villages walked through the Baha’i gardens at night. At the midpoint of the terraces, the iconic Shrine of the Bab beamed brightly as a symbol of hope and peace.
This two-night special program was attended by more than 16,000 people earlier this month, and today community leaders from Haifa participated in a more intimate gathering that included a walk down the terraces to the sacred Shrine.
Around the world, people are preparing for the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab. To mark that historic anniversary at the Baha’i World Centre, the gates to the terraces on Mt. Carmel, normally open to the public only in the daytime, were opened on two evenings, 16 and 17 October. People from all walks of life—among them Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze—attended the special occasion. Haifa, home to the Shrine and terraces, is known for its long history of communal harmony.
Visitors had the opportunity to inquire about the Baha’i Faith, its history, and the bicentenary as they walked the terraces and entered the magnificent domed Shrine, where the remains of the Prophet-Herald of the Baha’i Faith have been laid to rest. Many also entered the Shrine to pray and meditate.  Visitors around the Shrine of the Bab, when the sacred structure and its surrounding terraces were open to the public at nightAround the Shrine, the evening was characterized by a spirit of reverence, as children and adults silently entered to pray. Many expressed deep spiritual feelings inside the Shrine.
“All I can say is that it is as if this place is like a piece of heaven. It’s like God has taken a piece of heaven and dropped it here,” said one resident who lives near the terraces.
“I wish I could stay on the terraces for the whole night,” expressed another visitor.
“One more time! One more time!” a four-year-old girl insisted to her parents after another visit to the Shrine.  Two hundred people, among them Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem, public servants, university officials, and civil society actors, attended a reception earlier today, held in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.Today, commemorations continued with a reception that hosted 200 people, among them Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem, public servants, university officials, and civil society actors. The program included a film about the life of the Bab and remarks by the Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community in Haifa.
After the reception, participants walked down the terraces from the top of the mountain, ending their journey at the Shrine.  Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem, second from right, also attended today’s reception that included a visit to the Shrine of the Bab and the Haifa Pilgrim House.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1366,2019-10-28,"[1365, 1364, 1358]","Worldwide celebrations begin, live updates on bicentenary site ","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Moments ago in the Line Islands of Kiribati, sunset initiated a wave of joyous celebrations that will encircle the planet over the next 72 hours.
During this special period, individuals, families, communities, and whole populations reflecting the diversity of the human family will gather in numerous settings to celebrate the lives of two divine Luminaries Who, in the words of the Universal House of Justice, “inaugurated a new stage in social evolution: the stage of the unification of the entire human family.”
This year’s celebrations are especially significant because they mark the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.
Celebrations around the world can be followed on the bicentenary website, which will have live updates every few minutes, as well as on a number of other online platforms. Special gatherings held at Baha’i Houses of Worship will be broadcast as well.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1367,2019-10-28,"[1365, 1281, 1307]",President of Israel visits World Centre to honor bicentenary amid wave of commemorations in Haifa and across the globe,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — On Sunday, President of Israel Reuven Rivlin came to Haifa to honor the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab.
The visit follows a recent reception for local leaders and a special two-evening opening of the Shrine of the Bab and the terraces on Mt. Carmel, which saw more than 16,000 visitors walk through the Baha’i gardens, with many entering the Shrine, in a stirring display of joy, reverence, and social harmony. A  brief film about the Bab was shown at the bicentenary reception.""The values of tolerance and respect are well integrated into the two cities where the Baha’i World Centre is based—Akka and Haifa,” remarked President Rivlin during his visit. “The State of Israel is proud and delighted to host Baha'i believers and the World Centre for the Baha’i Faith, which promotes values of peace and unity among different religions.”
During his visit, President Rivlin joined Dr. David Rutstein, the Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community, on a visit to the Shrine of the Bab and a walk through the surrounding gardens.
With sunset this evening, the Twin Baha’i Holy Days have commenced at the Baha’i World Centre, and commemorations will be held on 29 and 30 October to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab and the 202nd anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah at Their sacred Shrines.  A reception for local leaders and dignitaries in the Haifa and Akka areas was held on Friday. Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem (second from the right) talks with Carmel Irandoust (center) from the Baha’i International Community in Haifa.The history of the Baha’i Faith is deeply connected with the Holy Land and goes back more than 150 years. After the martyrdom of the Bab in the Persian city of Tabriz in 1850, Baha’u’llah and His family and closest companions underwent a series of exiles. Baha’u’llah’s last banishment was to Akka in 1868, where He lived the remaining years of His life. August 31 last year marked the 150th anniversary of His arrival to the Holy Land, which was explored in parts 1, 2, and 3 of a podcast series published by the Baha’i World News Service.
After the martyrdom of the Bab, His remains were recovered and concealed by the Baha’is until a final resting place was established on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, where today a magnificent Shrine illuminates the mountainside, surrounded by terraces and gardens.
This week, celebrations are being held in virtually every country as people mark the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab and the 202nd anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah on 29 and 30 October, respectively. Stories, videos and photographs from celebrations around the world are available on the bicentenary website.  After sunset, the Shrine illuminated the mountainside in Haifa.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1368,2019-10-30,"[1366, 1365, 1360]",Celebrations have now encircled the globe,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Activities and celebrations honoring the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab are multiplying rapidly since sunset in Kiribati on Monday. As sunset on the 28th occurred in place after place, moving westward across the entire globe, it initiated a period of celebrations in every land.
Reports from around the world reflect a diverse range of activities for the bicentenary, including profound conversations, prayer and meditation, visits to the homes of friends and family, artistic expressions, the distribution of booklets and special newsletters, service projects, large parades through city streets, celebrations in family homes and neighborhood centers, national commemorations with dignitaries and societal leaders, and devotional gatherings at Baha’i Houses of Worship.
At the grassroots especially, activities have flourished beyond any expectation. Numerous reports have come in about intimate celebrations in homes, where families share stories and pray together, recounting episodes from the life of the Bab. Similarly, larger community gatherings in neighborhoods and localities, open to all, have occurred across the planet. Many celebrations have screened the film Dawn of the Light, and attendees have studied the October 2019 message of the Universal House of Justice written for the occasion of the bicentenary.  A celebration at a high school in Gwalior, IndiaIn several instances, where communities faced natural disasters or acute social upheaval, Baha’i communities have responded by turning their energies toward alleviating in some way the suffering of their fellow inhabitants and drawing on the inspiring life of the Bab to bring hope.
The flourishing of activities witnessed over the past day reflects a growing capacity in recent years within the Baha’i community to build new patterns of community life, in which service, collective worship, collaboration, mutual respect and collective learning, have come to characterize interactions among families, neighbors, and friends.
During this bicentenary period, people throughout the world are finding a source of inspiration and hope in remembrance of the figure of the Bab, gentle and kind in His disposition yet courageous and indomitable in the face of oppression and injustice.  A service project in Ebreichsdorf, Austria  A celebration with devotions held at the Temple site in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1369,2019-10-31,"[1368, 1367, 1366]","72 hours, one world","BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The remarkable period that just ended with sunset in Hawaii has opened a new window onto the world. Over the course of three rotations of the Earth, humanity on every land commemorated the anniversaries of the births of the Bab and Baha’u’llah.
These days of commemoration offer a glimpse into a humanity that is rarely, if ever, so profoundly depicted in its oneness. Neither borders, nor conflicts between nations, nor prejudices of class, race, religion, or culture, were able in the least to obscure the reality that all humanity is one.
The description below, from the message of the Universal House of Justice on the occasion of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab, was illustrated through the multitude of examples that flowed in over these days:
“… these are communities that define themselves by their commitment to the oneness of humanity. They value the rich diversity represented by all the world’s kindreds, while maintaining that one’s identity as a member of the human race has precedence before other identities and associations. They affirm the need for a global consciousness, arising from a shared concern for the well-being of humankind, and they count all the peoples of the earth as spiritual brothers and sisters. Not content with simply belonging to such communities, Bahá’u’lláh’s followers are making constant effort to invite like-minded souls to join them in learning how to put His teachings into effect.”
Two centuries ago during His brief and dramatic ministry, the Bab suffered exile, imprisonment, and martyrdom at the hands of a fanatical leadership that was determined to snuff out His light and keep the populace in darkness. He Himself during His imprisonment in the remote fortress of Mah-Ku was kept in darkness, denied even a candle at night. In contrast to that oppression, His Shrine on Mt. Carmel stands lit every evening as a reminder that His light, and indeed the light of Baha’u’llah for Whom He paved the way, cannot be put out.
The celebrations that encircled the planet brought to vivid life the well-known passage of Baha’u’llah: “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1370,2019-11-06,"[1339, 1334, 1317]",“The hand of the community crafted the outcome”: Baha’i House of Worship receives prestigious international prize,"TORONTO — The prestigious biennial Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) International Prize is not a typical architectural award.
An international jury of six highly distinguished architects has to choose a building that stands out for being “transformative within its societal context” and “expressive of the humanistic values of justice, respect, equality, and inclusiveness.” This they have to do from among an extraordinary selection of architectural structures from around the world that have impacted the social life of the communities within which they were built.  “The Bahá’í Temple was a community project. Numerous volunteers worked on this project, similar to a way a community project works in a small village, but this was on a global scale,” explains Diarmuid Nash, a distinguished Canadian architect and Chair of the Jury.   “But the Temple went beyond the community,” he continues. “It extended the principles of the Bahá’í Faith—that every person is equal, that every person can come here to reflect and regenerate. It had this impact that rippled beyond the community and attracted more and more people from all walks of life.”This year’s RAIC International Prize of $100,000 was awarded to the Bahá’í House of Worship for South America. The prize money is being dedicated to the long-term maintenance of the Temple. Commissioned by the Universal House of Justice and designed by Canadian architect Siamak Hariri, the House of Worship for South America has become an iconic symbol of unity for Santiago and well beyond.  Overlooking the city from the foothills of the Andes, the Temple has received over 1.4 million visitors since its inauguration in October 2016. The House of Worship has not only symbolized unity but it has given expression to a powerful conviction that worship of the divine is intimately connected with service to humanity.
The connection between the built environment and the well-being of society was a preeminent concern for the Jury of the RAIC Prize.  Diarmuid Nash, the Jury Chair, explains that three architectural projects were selected as finalists for the transformative impact they had on their respective communities. “The Bahá’í Temple was a community project. Numerous volunteers worked on this project, similar to a way a community project works in a small village, but this was on a global scale.”  The House of Worship has received more than 1.4 million visitors since its inauguration in October 2016.“But the Temple went beyond the community,” he continues. “It extended the principles of the Bahá’í Faith—that every person is equal, that every person can come here to reflect and regenerate. It had this impact that rippled beyond the community and attracted more and more people from all walks of life.”
The process of selection was rigorous and extended over six months. Jury members were asked to perform site visits as part of their research and selection process.  “We asked Stephen Hodder, former President of the Royal Institute of British Architects and guest Juror, to visit this project,” says Mr. Nash. “We thought he would have a dispassionate eye.”
Mr. Hodder visited the Temple for three days earlier this year and spent a significant amount of time with the local community. He later shared his impressions with the Jury, referring to the House of Worship as “truly transformational, timeless and spiritual architecture, the like of which I have never experienced, and the influence of which extends way beyond the building.”
Speaking about Mr. Hodder’s visit, Mr. Nash says “Stephen said to me that he had not felt such an emotional impact since he had walked into Ronchamp, which is a very famous chapel all of us have visited in our architectural careers. It is a touchstone of modern architecture. He said ‘this goes beyond Santiago, it reaches out to the world.’”
Mr. Hodder in his comments to the Jury shared the following thoughts:
""How can it be that a building captures the spirit of ‘unity,’ a sacred place, or command a prevailing silence without prompting? The interior space spirals upwards vortex-like culminating with the oculus within which is the inscription ‘O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious’. Seating orientates to Haifa and the Shrine of the Báb, the forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh…. But why do people flock to the Bahá’í Temple? Is it the garden, planted with native species and lovingly cared for by volunteers, or the view over Santiago and remarkable sunsets, or the curious object set against the mountains? The Temple is the anchor…At night, the opacity of the cast glass outer skin, and the translucency of the Portuguese marble inverts, and the dome appears to glow ethereally from the inside…. The Temple has not only afforded a focus for the Bahá’í community but in their commitment to ‘service’ also for the neighbourhood and its well being.""  The Baha’i Temple for South AmericaIt was not only the impact of the Temple on society but also the nature of its craftsmanship that struck the Jury.  “It was lovingly assembled,” says Mr. Nash. “The woodwork, the stonework, and the glasswork—they all have the sense of a hand shaping them, which is remarkable for a project so sophisticated.  This had a powerful impact on the Jury.  There was this sense that the hand of the community had crafted the outcome.”
In the wake of the award, Mr. Hariri has been reflecting on the endeavour. “Hundreds of people sacrificially worked on this project with great dedication, enormous skill, and put themselves forward at the very frontier of what’s possible in architecture,” he explains.
“The Temple reflects an aspiration. What architects do is put into form aspiration. When you have a chance like this, where the aspirations are so great, it requires the furthest reaches of imagination to meet that challenge.”
The award was presented on 25 October at a ceremony at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto. “Above all,” said Mr. Hariri in remarks he made that evening, “our gratitude extends to the Universal House of Justice which was our unwavering source of guidance, courage, and constancy.”
Mr. Nash, who was there, says that as the talk finished people were standing and cheering. “We were all very inspired. It’s a project that has a life of its own. It is supposed to be a building built to last 400 years. I suspect it will go well beyond that.”  The Baha’i House of Worship is open to all people as a sacred space for meditation and prayer.",TORONTO,,Canada
1371,2019-11-11,"[1369, 1368, 1367]","At BIC, bicentenary celebrations explore peace, oneness of humanity","BIC ADDIS ABABA — Baha’i International Community offices brought together dignitaries and leaders of international organizations for celebrations of the historic 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab earlier this month. The gatherings, held at BIC offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday and in New York City on 1 November, explored the relevance of the Bab and Baha’u’llah’s teachings two centuries ago to the conditions of the world today.
In Addis Ababa, Solomon Belay, a representative of the Baha’i International Community, focused his presentation on the imperative of peace and the emphasis placed on it in the Baha’i teachings. “The reality of peace is so complex that no individual or organization can claim to grasp and promote it alone. We all need to come together and consult on the possibility, prerequisites, and the way of peace.”
In New York City, the celebration was held in the BIC offices where attendees explored some of the implications of the oneness of humanity.
“The conviction that we belong to one human family is at the heart of the Baha’i teachings,” Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community, said to the celebration’s attendees. She noted that acceptance of this principle “calls on each of us to strive to overcome all forms of prejudice—whether racial, religious, or gender-related.”  The bicentenary celebration held at the BIC office in New York City included many joyful discussions about the significance of the Baha’i teachings.The celebrations served as an opportunity to reflect on the current state of world affairs, as well as the impact that the teachings of the Baha’i Faith are having on diverse populations. Participants in New York’s celebration watched excerpts from the film Dawn of the Light, which demonstrates the implications of some of the core Baha’i teachings in addressing contemporary forms of oppression in diverse settings around the world.
“Profound changes in the structures of society are, of course, essential to lasting peace,” noted Emily Osvold of the BIC, as she introduced a section of the film about individuals working for peace in their communities. “The role of women, of young people, of education, and our economic models—all require reexamination. But individuals need not wait for structural change before contributing to peace. Each person has the potential to become an active agent of social change and to contribute to building a peaceful society.”
Reflecting on the film, one participant noted, “My heart was touched by the message of love. This message is really what gives meaning to all of our lives, and is applicable to all of us, no matter our background.”
In the film, which tells the stories of eight people’s personal search for truth and meaning, one of the interviewees underscores this message of love: “The unquestionable truth is love. Love is what we share with everyone in our society. Love is the reason we exist.”  Dozens of dignitaries, representatives of international organizations, and others attended the bicentenary celebration at the BIC office in New York City.",BIC ADDIS ABABA,,
1372,2019-11-14,"[1300, 1295, 1241]",UN to Iran: End human rights violations against Baha’is,"BIC NEW YORK — Iran has once again been condemned by the international community for its ongoing human rights violations. A United Nations General Assembly committee has expressed its serious concern about the country’s continued attacks against religious minorities, including the Baha’is.
This came in a resolution adopted today by a vote of 84 to 30, with 66 abstentions, from the Third Committee of the General Assembly.
The six-page resolution expressed “serious concern about ongoing severe limitations and increasing restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, … against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities, including ... members of the Baha’i faith.”
This resolution follows two recent reports on Iran. Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, noted in his July report that, “Over the past 40 years, the Baha’is, considered to be the largest non-Muslim and unrecognized religious minority in the Islamic Republic of Iran ... have suffered from the most egregious forms of repression, persecution and victimization.” Additionally, the Secretary-General in a September report about Iran included the following recommendation: “The Secretary-General urges the Government to ensure the protection of minority groups and individuals, and to uphold and implement legislation that protects them.”  The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution that expresses its serious concern about Iran’s continued attacks against religious minorities, including the Baha’is.Meanwhile, in Geneva, during the 34th session of the Universal Periodic Review, a large number of countries criticized Iran for its violation of the rights of religious minorities which led to six recommendations that specifically refer to the Baha’is.
“We welcome this resolution and its condemnation of Iran’s egregious human rights violations,” said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.
“The passage of this resolution sends a strong message to the Iranian authorities that continuous violations against the Baha’is and other religious minorities are well-noted by the international community, and ongoing discrimination and harassment of any religious minority group for simply practicing their faith will not be tolerated.”
The resolution will be confirmed by the plenary of the General Assembly this December.  The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution that expresses its serious concern about Iran’s continued attacks against religious minorities, including the Baha’is, by a vote of 84 to 30, with 66 abstentions.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1373,2019-11-17,"[1334, 1176, 1175]","Milestone for Vanuatu Temple uplifts, galvanizes island","LENAKEL, Vanuatu — A unifying and festive ceremony marked the groundbreaking of the local Baha’i House of Worship for the island of Tanna in Vanuatu.
About 2,000 people were joined by representatives of the national government and members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the country for Sunday’s ceremony, which was held on the Temple site in the town of Lenakel.
“This House of Worship will be a place for joy and delight, a collective center for the hearts of all people, a place that will unite us all, a place where we will chant the words of God,” said Annick Nakal Nanua, a member of the country’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly. Speaking about the decades-long history of the development of the Baha’i community in Vanuatu, she continued, “Today we are not just celebrating the groundbreaking, but also celebrating a significant milestone of a process that began many, many years ago.”  Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu and President of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs Willie Plasua together drive the kakel—a traditional wooden spade—into the soil, symbolizing the start of construction on the local Baha’i House of Worship on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu.Government and traditional leaders recognized the significance of the occasion and expressed their gratitude to the Universal House of Justice for choosing Tanna as the site of a Baha’i Temple. Many senior officials attended Sunday’s ceremony, including Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu and all 17 members of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs.
“This Temple will symbolize what we wish to see in Vanuatu in the years to come, which is peace and unity among us all, irrespective of belief,” noted Minister Regenvanu. “This is what we need in Vanuatu.”
Paul Windie, the vice president of the Tafea Provincial Council, also addressed the audience: “In our culture when a person—child or adult—wishes to find peace, he or she takes shelter under a banyan tree. This House of Worship provides us a place where we can meditate deeply about our spiritual reality. This is where an individual makes a spiritual connection with God.”
“The House of Worship is where an individual listens to his or her soul,” he commented.  A dance troupe performs during the groundbreaking ceremony for the local Baha’i House of Worship on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu.Following prayers, speeches, and celebratory dances, the gathering culminated with the official breaking of the ground. A traditional wooden spade, called a kakel, was passed from representatives of the local and national Baha’i communities and eventually to Minister Regenvanu and the president of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs, Willie Plasua. Standing before the gathering’s attendees under the hot midday sun, the two national leaders together drove the kakel into the earth.
Local chiefs had presented the kakel to the Baha’i community in a customary ceremony the day before to honor the eight tribes of Tanna that together offered the land for the Temple.
One of the traditional chiefs, Allan Dan of the Nalu people, spoke on behalf of the eight tribes that unitedly offered the land. “This sacred project will be the source of harmony and will ensure our region will have healthy growth, where the material and the spiritual are in harmony.”
The Universal House of Justice first announced in 2012 that Tanna would be home to one of five local Temples to be built around the world. In July 2017, the Temple’s design was unveiled in a festive and galvanizing ceremony. In its 2014 Ridvan message, the House of Justice highlighted Tanna as an example of a community where an entire population is moving toward a vision of material and spiritual prosperity, for which Baha’is around the world are striving.  Sunday’s groundbreaking ceremony was attended by many residents of Tanna and other islands of Vanuatu.",LENAKEL,,Vanuatu
1374,2019-11-24,"[1246, 1334, 1339]",Construction advances on historic first national Baha’i House of Worship,"PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — Construction is advancing on the national Baha’i House of Worship for Papua New Guinea, which is being built in Port Moresby. Already, the excavation work is completed, and the Temple’s foundation is now being laid.
The foundation is expected to be complete by December, and work on the steel superstructure will begin in January.
The Temple is the first to be designated as a national Baha’i House of Worship, being for the population of an entire country. The start of the construction for the Papua New Guinea Temple follows the completion in 2016 of a century-long endeavor to build continental Baha’i Houses of Worship and the inauguration of two local Houses of Worship in 2017 and 2018.  With the foundation expected to be complete in December, construction crews expect to begin work on the Temple’s steel superstructure in January.Featuring a weaving pattern that is a universal element of Papua New Guinea culture, the Temple’s design was unveiled last year on Naw-Ruz.
“The design is based on the idea of unity,” explains Confucius Ikoirere, the Secretary of the country’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly. In this diverse Pacific Island nation, where hundreds of languages are spoken and thousands of different cultural groups exist, weaving is a common act, Mr. Ikoirere adds. “We all use weaving to decorate our homes. We all use woven baskets. We sleep on woven mats. Weaving is found everywhere. It’s a symbol of unity.”
“And the House of Worship is an ultimate symbol of unity, where everyone is welcome for prayer and meditation.”
After receiving formal approval from National Capital District’s building board in August to commence construction, the Baha’i community held a simple dawn prayer gathering at the Temple site in September and soon after began construction work. Since then, the efforts have been progressing steadily.
“People are learning that this Temple is not just for the Baha’is,” says Henry Lape, one of the Temple’s architects. “The House of Worship belongs to the community. Everyone and anyone can come here to meditate and pray.”  A worker carefully prepares the Temple’s foundation.The project has garnered support from local residents and government officials.
“It’s a beautiful design that will attract visitors and lift the city’s landscape,” Minister for Lands and Physical Planning John Rosso explains in a recent meeting with representatives of the Baha’i community. Minister Rosso, among other government officials, has visited the Temple site, which is located on the same property as the Baha’i community’s national offices.
The central edifice will have nine gabled-roof entrances made of timber. Located on a hilltop in the country’s sprawling capital city, the House of Worship will include gardens and other spaces—in addition to its central edifice—for quiet meditation and prayer. Port Moresby’s city manager, Bernard Kipit, notes that “such structures are needed in the capital city.”  The concrete boom pump stretches high in the sky.The site has already been serving as a place for prayer, adds Saeed Granfar, Mr. Lape’s co-architect. “There is a great sense of reverence by the community toward the House of Worship site. Whenever people would come to visit, there would be a visible change in pace, demeanor, and attitude when approaching and spending time close to the location of the central edifice.”
Plans for the Papua New Guinea Temple were announced by the Universal House of Justice in its Ridvan 2012 message. Around the world, there are currently 10 Houses of Worship. Communities are learning how these sacred structures reflect the spiritual aspirations of a people and inspire service aimed at transforming society.  Before construction began, the Temple site was already serving as a place of prayer for the community. In August, community members gathered for a devotional gathering at the site.",PORT MORESBY,,Papua New Guinea
1375,2019-11-26,"[1329, 1283, 1350]",“Baha’i World” articles explore uniqueness and dramatic impact of the Bab,"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In its latest articles, The Baha’i World focuses on the figure of the Bab, Who was born 200 years ago. The Bab is a divine Messenger and the Herald of the Baha’i Faith.
The distinctive nature of the Bab’s station and character, the extraordinary drama that unfolded as tens of thousands responded to His teachings, and the deep impact His life and message had on countless other people in His homeland and abroad—these themes are explored in three articles now available on the publication’s website, BahaiWorld.Bahai.org.
In “A Twofold Mission,” Elham Afnan looks at some of the most distinctive characteristics of the Bab’s life and Writings, highlighting the rare combination of qualities that have come to be associated with Him.
“Tales of Magnificent Heroism,” by Robert Weinberg, provides a survey of responses to the Bab by writers and artists of the time and over the subsequent century, revealing just how extensive was knowledge of the Bab and His new religion and how captivating the dramatic story of His life and the lives of His followers.  The article “Tales of Magnificent Heroism” includes a series of portraits of writers and artists who were impacted by the message of the Bab. The portraits shown here are (clockwise from top left) Isabella Grinevskaia, Jules Bois, Charlotte Despard, and Robert Hayden.The site includes a special piece from the archives of The Baha’i World, an essay by Mary Maxwell—later known as Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum after her marriage to Shoghi Effendi in 1937. In the article, first published in the 1932–1934 volume, Ruhiyyih Khanum reflects on the dominant themes of The Dawn-Breakers, an early narrative of Babi history.
Over the course of this year, communities in every land have commemorated the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab. The celebrations around the world have shed light on just how far-reaching has been the impact of the Bab’s mission in the world.
The Baha’i World volumes began in print form in 1926 under the direction of Shoghi Effendi, providing a remarkable historical record of the development of the Baha’i Faith. In May of this year, a website was launched for The Baha’i World, which periodically publishes new pieces and works from the archives. The Baha’i World has introduced an email subscription service, through which readers can be notified when new articles are published.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1376,2019-11-29,"[1371, 1369, 1368]",National bicentenary gatherings shine light on social themes ,"WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Recent bicentenary commemorations for societal leaders were celebratory occasions as well as moments of reflection on the challenges of our time.
In some communities, leaders were moved to express their appreciation of the Baha’i community’s contributions to society during this special period. For example in Wellington, New Zealand, Member of Parliament Priyanca Radhakrishnan hosted a bicentenary celebration in the country’s Parliament Buildings. “I can see that the work that you do in Aotearoa is rooted in the values and beliefs of the Faith,” MP Radhakrishnan said, “for example inculcating values of love, unity, and kindness amongst children, encouraging young people to be constructive agents of change, and contributing to discussions across New Zealand on some of the challenges that face us as a nation.”
A conference organized last month in Kyiv, Ukraine, brought together religious scholars, representatives of different Faith communities, students, and others to explore how the common underlying values of religion can contribute to societal progress.
“We want to investigate in this conference how we can go beyond simply recognizing what is common in all religions and act together to establish peace,” said Alla Baranova, Secretary of the Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly of Ukraine and current head of the All-Ukrainian Council of Religious Associations.  The conference organized by Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, the Ukrainian Association of Religious Studies, and the country’s Baha’i community, included talks about the significance of the life and teachings of the Bab.Organized by Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, the Ukrainian Association of Religious Studies, and the country’s Baha’i community, the gathering included a session on the Bab’s life and teachings and highlighted the life of one of His earliest followers—Tahirih. Tahirih is an iconic figure in the cause of women’s advancement. In 19th century Iran, she called for a profound transformation in society’s conception of women and advocated change in the habits and attitudes of society.
Tahirih’s courage and heroism were also the subject of a documentary shown at a bicentenary celebration for dignitaries, representatives of civil society, journalists, and others in Tunis, Tunisia. The screening, held at L’Agora cinema, led to a vibrant discussion on the equality of women and men.
In Sydney, Australia, to honor the bicentenary, the Baha’i community organized a conference on social cohesion and inclusion. “The bicentenary period is an opportunity to reflect on Baha’i teachings related to knowledge, compassion, and justice,” explained Ida Walker, of the country’s Baha’i Office of External Affairs. “This conference provided a space to learn from the experiences of one another and build on the efforts of many individuals and organizations to overcome prejudice and injustice and foster inclusion in society.”  Participants in a conference held in Sydney, Australia, shortly after the bicentenary discuss their efforts to contribute to social cohesion in the country.At national gatherings in numerous countries, participants discussed the spirit of renewal brought by the Bab, as the Herald of Baha’u’llah, and the relevance of the Baha’i teachings in addressing the challenges of their societies. Attendees of many celebrations watched Dawn of the Light, which tells the story of eight people as they search for truth and meaning. They describe how their discovery of the Baha’i teachings brought hope and a way forward in addressing the social ills of our time. At a commemoration in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, the film resonated with a large audience, many of whom were visibly touched by its message.
Other national governments also honored the historic period with special receptions. The Australian Parliament marked the anniversary during a session of its House of Representatives as well as an event last month in the distinguished setting of the Senate Alcove of Parliament House. The United Kingdom Parliament also held a celebration for the bicentenary, hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group in Portcullis House. Malaysia’s minister for national unity and social well-being, Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy, recognized the Baha’i community’s contributions to the country at a bicentenary celebration.
And at a reception in Madrid, Spain, held for national leaders, Ana Gallego, a director general of the country’s ministry of justice, explained that “the mission of the Bab aimed to elevate the status of women, promote universal education and the harmony of science and religion, and overcome prejudice, corruption, and fanaticism at a time and place where these ideas were revolutionary.”  South Africa’s Baha’i community held a bicentenary celebration for national dignitaries.In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where Baha’u’llah spent two years of His life, a commemoration focused on the history of the Faith in the region. Speaking about the significance of the bicentenary and the Twin Birthdays, a local leader, Sheikh ‘Abdu’l-Rahman Al-Naqshbandi, described the period of Baha’u’llah’s two-year stay in and around the mountains of Sulaymaniyyih more than a century and a half ago. The Figure of Baha’u’llah and the stories of His time there have stayed with the local population, Sheikh Al-Naqshbandi said. “Much was said and continues to be said about (Baha’u’llah); that He had a mission, knew God, and came to Hawraman.”
Sheikh Al-Naqshbandi continued, describing that his account of the life of Baha’u’llah relies not on written history, but on the stories about His life that remain alive in the hearts and minds of the region’s population. “If you speak the name of Baha’u’llah in Hawraman, everyone will know Him and what He spoke about. … I hope His teachings continue to spread and prosper, and that it becomes a source of attention. These teachings are richer and loftier than the diamond.”  United Kingdom Member of Parliament Jim Shannon spoke at a celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab, held at Parliament, on 28 October.",WELLINGTON,,New Zealand
1377,2019-12-08,"[1272, 1096, 1113]","Exploring the distinctive role of youth, Germany’s Baha’is give impetus to an expanding conversation","BERLIN — In recent months, Germany’s Baha’i community has created diverse spaces to explore the unique contributions young people make to society. Through these spaces, momentum has been given to a growing conversation, amid a national discourse on youth, revealing new insights about the distinctive role of the younger generation in society.
Over the last six months, the Baha’i community’s Office of External Affairs has organized gatherings, each with dozens of participants, in different settings to explore these questions: in Teterow, a small town in the country’s east with a diminishing young population; in central Frankfurt, a busy urban center with many young professionals; and in Hagen, a mid-sized industrial city where the discussion brought together several youth from immigrant families. Following the gatherings, the insights from those spaces were discussed in articles, podcasts, and videos on a specially created website.
“We noticed there were many conversations about youth, but not with youth,” says Gabriella Brutto, from the Office of External Affairs. “So we decided to work with local organizations to invite people of all ages to discuss what helps youth to develop their potential to contribute to society and what hinders youth from engaging.”  Participants in the discussions about the role of youth in society explored the potential young people have to contribute to the progress of society as well as the obstacles before the younger generation in expressing its aspirations for society.After meeting with other organizations working with youth around the country, the Office identified some core questions. How do different generations work together? What are the obstacles that prevent members of the younger generation in expressing their hopes for society? And how are the conditions created for young people to engage constructively?
Through the discussions, it has become clear that many people shared the same hopes and aspirations both for themselves and society, Ms. Brutto explains. What these conversations have confirmed is that many youth have a deep longing to contribute to society through their professions, hobbies, families, and other ways.
Something distinctive about today’s youth in particular is that most, in Germany, grew up immersed in online technology such as social media—discussions explored the implications of the younger generation having grown up this way. One of the most significant ideas that came up, for example, was that youth are thus connected to large networks of peers that transcend physical location, creating a greater openness to diversity. Participants also discussed the different qualities that are more common in this time of life, for example, altruism, openness, and vigor.
The workshops have also created a space to share the experience of the German Baha’i community in engaging youth to offer service to their communities in cities and towns around the country. Much has been learned about channeling the great potential and enthusiasm of youth into acts of service. Among the most profound contributions of youth is focusing on the development of the next generation, working with adolescents to realize their intellectual and spiritual potential.",BERLIN,,Germany
1378,2019-12-18,"[1324, 1297, 1284]","100 years on, remembering ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s call for peace in the First Tablet to The Hague","THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A century ago yesterday, ‘Abdu’l-Baha penned what has come to be known as the First Tablet to The Hague, an exploration of the profound societal changes required for the attainment of international peace. Marking this occasion, the Baha’i community of the Netherlands on Tuesday night held a special commemorative event  at its National Center in The Hague.
Attendees—among them religious leaders—discussed themes from the Tablets to The Hague. “Peace is at the heart of humanity and ‘Abdu’l-Baha in His letter is helping us see how we can reach it,” explained Marga Martens, a representative of the Netherlands’ Baha’i community. “Peace is inevitable, but we have to work hard to reach that state in the world.”
Addressing the Executive Committee of the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague, ‘Abdu’l-Baha writes in the Tablet’s opening lines, ""Your intention deserves a thousand praises, because you are serving the world of humanity, and this is conducive to the happiness and welfare of all.”
In the tablet, ‘Abdu’l-Baha explains that peace would require a transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to fundamental spiritual principles enunciated by Baha’u’llah, such as the abolition of all forms of prejudice, the harmony of science and religion, and the equality of women and men, among others.
While an English translation of the first half of the tablet was published in Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1978, the complete translation was prepared in May this year and presented on the Baha’i Reference Library.
A photographic chronology recently published on a website by Jelle and Adib de Vries in the Netherlands sheds light on events surrounding ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Tablets to The Hague. The website describes how two Baha’is in Iran, Ahmad Yazdani and ‘Ali-Muhammad Ibn-i-Asdaq, wrote to ‘Abdu’l-Baha in 1915 about the Central Organization for a Durable Peace. He encouraged them to introduce the Organization to the Baha’i teachings on peace. The Organization wrote to ‘Abdu’l-Baha in 1916, but wartime communications into the Holy Land were blocked.  This image from 1916 shows the secretary’s office of the Central Organization for a Durable Peace. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had corresponded with the Organization in response to letters addressed to Him by its Executive Committee. (Credit: bahaigeschiedenis.nl)The Organization’s letter reached ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Haifa three years later, in the aftermath of World War I. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá responded immediately, sending Mr. Yazdani and Mr. Ibn-i-Asdaq to deliver His message in person. According to Dr. de Vries’ research, they arrived in The Hague in May 1920 only to find that the Central Organization for a Durable Peace had virtually dissolved.
Nevertheless, the Organization replied to ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s message, prompting Him to write what is known as the Second Tablet to The Hague. In it, He asserts that “our desire for peace is not derived merely from the intellect: It is a matter of religious belief and one of the eternal foundations of the Faith of God.”
The goal of world peace is central to Baha’i belief. In 1867 and 1868, Baha’u’llah addressed an extraordinary series of tablets to the kings and rulers of the world, urging them to set aside their differences, to establish a system of collective security and move toward disarmament, to champion the cause of justice, to show the utmost care and consideration for the well-being and rights of the poor, and to work toward a lasting peace.
From 1911 to 1913, ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke extensively during His tour of Europe and North America about the imperative of peace and warned that Europe was on the brink of war.
In a letter dated 28 November 1931, Shoghi Effendi states that the oneness of humanity “calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world—a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life ….”
The Universal House of Justice in October 1985 penned a significant message on the subject of world peace, known as The Promise of World Peace. In January of this year, the House of Justice also released a message addressing contemporary challenges facing humanity, in which it states that “the establishment of peace is a duty to which the entire human race is called.” The House of Justice further states that although “world unity is possible—nay, inevitable—it ultimately cannot be achieved without unreserved acceptance of the oneness of humankind.”
“Unity, in its Bahá’í expression, contains the essential concept of diversity, distinguishing it from uniformity,” the House of Justice writes. “It is through love for all people, and by subordinating lesser loyalties to the best interests of humankind, that the unity of the world can be realized and the infinite expressions of human diversity find their highest fulfilment.”  This is an image of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, walking outside his home on Haparsim Street in Haifa in 1920, the same year that the First Tablet to The Hague was delivered to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace.",THE HAGUE,,Netherlands
1379,2019-12-22,"[1376, 1352, 1193]",India’s president honors the Bab’s historic bicentenary,"NEW DELHI — Honoring the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab, India’s President Ram Nath Kovind and more than 160 dignitaries, civil society and faith leaders, academics, and artists gathered at the country’s National Baha’i Centre for a historic reception on Tuesday.
Addressing the gathering, President Kovind stated that “the contributions made by the Baha’i community of India, along with others, many of whom are present at the gathering, have helped build vibrant communities across India.”
“This includes working for the education of both girls and boys, expanding the concept of worship to include work carried out in a spirit of service, and seeking to bring about spiritual, social, and material progress simultaneously,” he continued.  Indian President Ram Nath Kovind addresses the more than 160 attendees of a reception held in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab at the National Baha’i Centre in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday.Reflecting on the event, Nazneen Rowhani, the Secretary of India’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly, said that “it was an immense honor for the Baha’i community to receive the president at this historic gathering. This was also an opportunity to share with President Kovind about the advancement of the Baha’i Faith in India.”
The country’s Baha’i community has been focused on cultivating peace at the grassroots and contributing to prevalent thinking about social harmony, including raising schools that emphasize both material and spiritual education and participating in social discourses concerned with the status of women, the rights and welfare of children, and religious coexistence.
Expressing its appreciation and gratitude, the Baha’i community presented the head of state with a plaque made of the same marble that was used to build the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi. The Temple is one of the country’s most recognized structures and has come to be seen as a symbol for unity, a place of worship and meditation for thousands of visitors each day from all walks of life.
At the gathering, the president greeted each attendee, among whom were youth engaged in their community’s efforts to effect social change. President Kovind was also joined by his wife and their daughter. This is the first time that a president of India has visited the National Centre.
Speaking of Baha’i communities throughout the world, President Kovind said “these communities are defining themselves by their commitment to the oneness of humanity—thereby echoing the proud Indian tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” referencing a well-known Sanskrit phrase that means “the world is one single family.”  President Ram Nath Kovind and his family are joined in a photo by the members of India’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly.",NEW DELHI,,India
1380,2019-12-31,"[1304, 1231, 1369]",2019 in review – A year of historic developments,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — The Baha’i World News Service, reflecting on 2019, provides a brief overview of stories in the past year about developments in the global Baha’i community and a glimpse of the extraordinary worldwide celebrations that took place in honor of the second historic bicentenary.200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab
October 2019 marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Báb, as the forerunner and herald of the Baha’i Faith, whose dramatic ministry paved the way for the appearance of Baha’u’llah. The bicentenary was celebrated worldwide at every level, from the grassroots to the international.
In villages and neighborhoods across the globe, bicentenary preparations began months in advance, prompting an unprecedented intensification of community building activities and an outpouring of artistic works to mark the occasion, reflect on its significance, and recall the momentous life of the Bab. In the lead-up to the anniversary, the News Service reported on these preparations and celebrations in each continent: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australasia, and Europe. Based on what had been learned in 2017, the celebrations were much more broadly based on this occasion at the grassroots of society.  A service project in Ebreichsdorf, Austria, undertaken by a group of youth during the bicentenary period.Notable events also took place at the national level. In the United Kingdom, the British Library launched a remarkable exhibition displaying examples of the Faith’s original texts and hosted an acclaimed one-man play for the occasion; in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States members of Parliament commemorated the bicentenary, acknowledging the Baha’i community’s contributions to the life of society; and in India, the country’s Baha’i community held a special reception for President Ram Nath Kovind.  A bicentenary celebration held in New Zealand’s Parliament Buildings included a presentation about this artistic Tapa cloth made in honor of the bicentenary that depicts the Shrine of the Bab amid 19 terraces on Mount Carmel.At the Baha’i World Centre, President of Israel Reuven Rivlin visited the Shrine of the Bab to honor the bicentenary. On another occasion, a reception was held for community leaders, and the terraces on Mount Carmel as well as the Shrine of the Bab were opened to thousands of visitors for a two-night special program.
The Baha’i International Community offices honored the bicentenary by bringing together dignitaries and other officials to explore the relevance of the Bab and Baha’u’llah’s teachings to the conditions of the world today.
A film commissioned for the bicentenary, Dawn of the Light, was screened in countless locations around the world. The film follows the personal search for truth and meaning undertaken by people from different parts of the world.  The community in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, held a screening of the film Dawn of the Light as part of celebrations honoring the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab.Glimpses of celebrations were captured on the international website Bicentenary.Bahai.org, where a letter from the Universal House of Justice written for the occasion is also available.
The Shrine of Abdu’l-Baha
This year, the Universal House of Justice announced plans for the construction of a sacred structure, distinctive in its design, to be built to honor ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Who holds a unique station in religious history. In May, the House of Justice announced its selection of the Shrine’s architect, and in September it unveiled the structure’s design concept.
The Shrine will be built in the vicinity of the Ridvan Garden in Akka, a holy place visited on Baha’i pilgrimage—a spiritual journey to the Holy Land taken by thousands of people from around the world each year.  Design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, displaying the front entrance of the Shrine.Baha’i Houses of Worship
The News Service covered a variety of stories this past year on what is being learned about the social impact of Baha’i Temples in communities around the world and on advancements in the construction of new Houses of Worship in Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.  A dance troupe performs during the groundbreaking ceremony for the local Baha’i House of Worship on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu.A two-part podcast (Part one | Part two) featured interviews with participants of a unique gathering that brought together representatives from 10 countries to explore insights emerging about these structures. In another podcast, representatives from a community in Uganda, where a Temple has stood for over 50 years, explored how collective prayer is influencing society at large.In Chile, the Temple was recently recognized for its transformative impact on society and for being “expressive of the humanistic values of justice, respect, equality, and inclusiveness.” In India, the Baha’i community hosted a symposium examining how places of worship can aim to unite people and stimulate deep contemplation on spiritual reality and life’s foundational questions.  The House of Worship for South America was awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s prestigious International Prize.Publications online and in print
The past year saw the publication of new selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as well as the launch of new websites—the Baha’i World publication and the News Service in French and Spanish.
A new volume of Baha’u’llah’s mystical Writings was made available online and in print in February, including a translation of one of His most renowned poetic works, Rashh-i-‘Ama, or The Clouds of the Realms Above. In May, 67 selections from ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Writings were published for the first time on the Baha’i Reference Library. In August, several collections of images on the Baha’i Media Bank were updated.  A new volume of Baha’u’llah’s mystical writings, The Call of the Divine Beloved, was made available in print and online in February.Social and economic development
The News Service reported on various examples this year of advances in Baha’i social and economic development endeavors. In Macau, a Baha’i-inspired school that seeks to develop intellectual and moral excellence in its students celebrated its 30th anniversary. In Zambia, decades-long educational processes gained momentum with the opening of new educational facilities in two regions of the country. A podcast episode explored how a group of young women from India helped their communities to overcome superstitious attitudes that have ostracized women for generations. The News Service also reported on how a united and hopeful community in Mozambique mobilized to contribute to recovery efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai.  The dedication ceremony for the new educational facilities in Mwinilunga, Zambia.And, the five-member board of directors of the newly established Baha’i International Development Organization convened its first meeting in January to consult on its aims and work. The emergence of this new institution at the international level portends significant advances in this area of endeavor in the years to come.
Participation in the discourses of society
Efforts of the Baha’i community to contribute to the betterment of society at the level of thought continued to be a prominent theme covered by the News Service in 2019.
The Baha’i International Community this year participated in forums on the equality of women and men, the role of religion in development, the role of local communities in humanitarian relief, and the status of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
National communities worldwide have participated in many forums where contemporary issues of concern to their societies are being considered by government and civil society actors. Themes explored in these communities have included the role of religion in promoting constructive social change, race unity, and issues concerning social and economic development.  In an episode of the Baha’i World News Service podcast, two representatives of Australia’s Baha’i community discussed what they are learning about consultation’s power to build greater unity of thought and action in society.In Spain, the Baha’i community hosted prominent journalists in a roundtable discussion on news media’s impact on social cohesion and the rise of radicalization. In Canada, at a Parliament Committee hearing about combatting online hate speech, representatives of the Bahá’í community highlighted the importance of cultivating a strong moral framework to understand and analyze online media. In Italy and Kiribati, Baha’i communities expressed to their countries’ presidents a shared hope for a unified society. A podcast interview with representatives of Australia’s Baha’i community highlighted the power of consultation to build unity of thought and action in society. In the United States, the Baha’i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, College Park, organized several conferences on prevalent issues, including the future of cities and the inseparable relationship between the advancement of women and the creation of prosperous and peaceful societies.  In June, more than 70 people attended a session on religion’s role in development, moderated by a Baha’i representative. The session was part of the European Development Days, a major international conference in Brussels. (Credit: EDD Brussels)The News Service also reported on the importance of the participation of youth in social discourses. Young people explored critical issues such as race unity in New Zealand, the environment in the Netherlands, and the younger generation’s distinctive role in contributing to social transformation in Germany.  Six finalists spoke at the Race Unity Speech Awards in Auckland, New Zealand. The annual event is organized by the Baha’is, the national police, and other partners. (Credit: Ben Parkinson)Persecution of the Baha’is in Iran and Yemen
Against the backdrop of these advances worldwide, the persecution of the Baha’i communities in Iran and Yemen continued.
Earlier this month, the United Nations condemned Iran’s ongoing human rights violations, as the country’s Baha’i community continues to suffer under the weight of state-sponsored systematic persecution. During the celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab, Iranian authorities raided gatherings in homes, arrested Baha’is, and sealed off business that were closed in observance of the Holy Days. Over the course of the year, Baha’is in Iran have experienced ongoing persecution, including revolving arrests and home raids; multiple court cases, in some instances yielding sentences of up to 10 years; and continued expulsion of students from university on the basis of their Faith. Many businesses owned by Baha’is remain sealed by order of local authorities.  A United Nations General Assembly committee has expressed its serious concern about the country’s continued attacks against religious minorities, including the Baha’is.   United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the General Assembly during a recent session. (UN Photo/Cia Pak)In Yemen, six Baha’is have remained in prison in Sana’a, one of whom, Hamed bin Haydara, is under a sentence of death. The six have been detained between two-and-half and six years each. During the appeals hearings for Mr. Haydara, the prosecution had repeatedly pressured the court to not only uphold the verdict to execute him but also to deport all Baha’is and ban their entry into the country. In September, the U.N. Human Rights Council condemned the Houthi persecution of the Baha’is.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1381,2020-01-08,"[1007, 1150, 1276]",Peaceful coexistence only possible with full participation of women,"SOUSSE, Tunisia — How do we address inequalities between women and men on our path to peaceful coexistence? How can we overcome cultural barriers to achieve greater advancement of women?
“These are major questions in our country, but there is little consensus on the issues,” said Mohamed Ben Moussa, a representative of the Tunisian Baha’i community, at a discussion on the advancement of women held last week in Sousse. The gathering, organized by the country’s Baha’i community, brought together some 40 people, including religious and civil society leaders, at a “cultural café”—a new kind of forum emerging in Tunisia in which people from every stratum of society meet to exchange ideas and explore insights about the progress of their society.  Participants explore questions concerning social structures and new patterns of thought and behavior required for a new culture to emerge, one based on cooperation among all people, especially between women and men, in all spheres of life.“Our country has been held up as an example for the advancement of women in the Arab region,” Mr. Ben Moussa continued, “but many people feel that we have reached a plateau. The laws of our country have advanced, but it is essential for our culture to advance as well. We must examine family structures, how children are educated from an early age, and how we can foster a culture of cooperation among all people, especially between women and men, in all spheres of life.”
The question of the advancement of women has gained prominence in recent years as a new constitution and legal changes have instituted greater protections for women. Representatives of various groups—Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and the indigenous Amazigh people—contributed to the conversation, highlighting how coexistence is only possible when women are able to participate fully in the life of society.
“The oppression of women exists in all fields,” said Sahar Dely, a director of an Amazigh cultural organization. “Oppressive constraints are linked to other matters such as religious, racial, and cultural differences.”
Ms. Dely described stereotypes in society that excuse violence against women and spoke of the achievements that become possible for women when attitudes towards them change, citing stories of female leaders of the past, including Tahirih—a Baha’i heroine and champion of women’s emancipation.  “Today, we have to address cultural matters before any legal changes can be realized. If nothing is changed within the collective imagination of Tunisians, the role of women in society will not be transformed.”  A short film produced by the Tunisian Baha’i community as a contribution to the discourse on the advancement of women was screened at the recent event in Sousse.A short film inspired by Baha’u’llah’s teachings on the principle of the equality of women and men was also screened at the gathering. The film, produced by the Tunisian Baha’i community as a contribution to the discourse on the advancement of women, tells the story of Tahirih alongside decades of striving for social progress in the country.",SOUSSE,,Tunisia
1382,2020-01-13,"[1325, 1353]",A momentous endeavor begins: Groundwork being laid for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Work has begun on the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. The chosen site near the Ridvan garden in Akka has been prepared, and construction of the building’s foundation is progressing.
During the Ridvan festival last April, the Universal House of Justice made an announcement that exhilarated the Baha’i world: the time had come to raise a befitting Shrine that would be the final resting place for the sacred remains of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Enthusiasm has mounted over the months since with the announcement of the architect and the unveiling of the design concept for a unique edifice that will honor a figure with a distinct station.  The site for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the vicinity of the Ridvan garden (bottom right).While these developments occurred, construction work began with a thorough examination of the site’s ground composition and drainage, involving exploratory drilling at 29 points.
Next, to allow work with heavy machinery to progress on the soft soil even in damp winter conditions, a 50 centimeter platform of compacted stone was laid across the whole circular area—170 meters in diameter—that will enclose the Shrine and surrounding landscaping. Concrete piles have been driven 15 meters deep, on which the foundation of the central structure is now being built.  In April 2019, the Universal House of Justice announced that the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha would “lie on the crescent traced between the Holy Shrines in Akka and Haifa.”At the same time, preparations have begun for the next stages of the project: detailed architectural and landscaping plans to realize the design concept are being drawn up, and a search for suitable sources of building materials is well under way.
Collaboration with local authorities has been essential, whether in obtaining the necessary permits, fostering understanding of the project among neighboring residents, or working with the Israel Antiquities Authority to ensure that the rich history of the area is respected and preserved.
Throughout the design process, care has been taken to account for environmental factors. The Ridvan garden, located on a low-lying plain by the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, is protected by walls and earthworks that were built several years ago to help secure the gardens against flooding.  The Shrine will be built on a gently sloping berm that will raise the central structure several meters to account for rising sea levels.  ‘Abdu’l-Baha spent the last years of His life in Haifa and was interred there in a vault within the Shrine of the Bab.‘Abdu’l-Baha was a resident of Akka for four decades. He arrived as a prisoner and an exile alongside His Father, Baha’u’llah. Despite the many tragedies and adversities He suffered there, He made Akka his home and dedicated Himself to serving the people of the city, especially its poor. In time, He came to be known and revered throughout the region.
He spent the last years of His life in Haifa, and upon His passing was interred there within the Shrine of the Bab. When His earthly remains are transferred to the permanent Shrine, Akka will witness the return of a figure Who left an indelible mark on that city.
The News Service will continue to cover the developments of this momentous endeavor through articles and brief notices, which will be collected in a new section of the website.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1383,2020-01-19,[],Akka mayor and religious leaders honor ‘Abdu’l-Baha at ceremony,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Last Monday, the mayor of Akka, Shimon Lankri, and dignitaries representing the city’s religious communities and other local organizations gathered to honor ‘Abdu’l-Baha at a tree-planting ceremony coinciding with the start of the construction of His Shrine.
“For Baha’is, diversity is beauty,” Mr. Lankri said in his remarks at the ceremony. “Like the flowers and plants of a garden, their worldview is that  diversity creates beauty. I think this worldview is true, and we embrace it here.”
The ceremony, held on the site of the Shrine, was attended by around 50 guests including leaders of the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze communities, officials of local government, and academics from educational institutions in the area. David Rutstein, Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community, and Hossein Amanat, architect of the Shrine, were among several representatives of the Baha’i community who were also present.After a viewing of the design concept for the Shrine and a recitation of prayers revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Mr. Lankri and Dr. Rutstein gave brief remarks before carrying an olive tree together to a chosen location. Guests helped plant the tree in a spot in the garden where it will be able to grow for years to come.
“The spirit of ‘Abdu’l-Baha shines through a hundred years later,” says Dr. Rutstein. “Seeing the many segments of Akka’s population coming together in their happiness that ‘Abdu’l-Baha is returning to their city—this calls to mind how He worked to create unity here.”  Shimon Lankri, Mayor of Akka, and David Rutstein, Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community, carry an olive tree during a ceremony coinciding with the start of the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1384,2020-01-28,"[1236, 782, 780]","Imprisonment, confiscation, denial of most basic civil rights: A surge in persecution of the Baha’is in Iran","BIC GENEVA — Iranian authorities are preventing Baha’is across the country from obtaining national identification cards, while a series of home raids, confiscations, arrests, and attacks on properties have unjustly targeted Baha’is. These developments are part of a surge in persecution against the Baha’i community in Iran.
Members of several religious minorities in the country face restrictions in applying for a new national identification card, removing a previous facility that allowed the option “other” to be selected instead of one of four recognized religions—Islam, Christianity, Judaism, or Zoroastrianism. The decision to remove that option now prevents Baha’is from obtaining their identification cards, depriving them of basic civil services such as applying for a loan, cashing a check, or buying property.
“Despite continuous claims by Iranian officials inside the country and in UN fora that Baha’is have citizenship rights,” says Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) in Geneva, “the authorities are institutionalizing yet another mechanism which aims to destroy the Baha’i community as a viable entity; thereby extending a four-decade-long and relentless campaign of persecution against Baha’is across virtually every dimension of life—the cultural, social, educational and economic. Even so, the Baha’is of Iran continue to strive to live in accordance with the teachings of their Faith, which uphold truthfulness as ‘the foundation of all human virtues.’ How could Baha’is who apply for their national identification cards, for public sector jobs, or to enroll in a universities be punished simply for being truthful?”  A court has ruled that all properties belonging to Baha’is in the village of Ivel—some of which they have owned since the mid-19th Century—be confiscated on the basis that Baha’is have “a perverse ideology” and therefore have no “legitimacy in their ownership” of any property.In another troubling development, a court has ruled that all properties belonging to Baha’is in the village of Ivel—some of which they have owned since the mid-19th Century—be confiscated on the basis that Baha’is have “a perverse ideology” and therefore have no “legitimacy in their ownership” of any property. There have been other attacks on Baha’i properties and confiscations of their possessions in the past three months, including one case where a Baha’i home was entirely destroyed.
Moreover, dozens of Baha’is have been arrested, and dozens more have received religiously motivated prison sentences. These sentences amount to a combined prison time of nearly a century, with some individuals sentenced to over ten years of incarceration.
“The Baha’i International Community is alarmed by the recent wave of persecution against the Baha’i community in Iran and calls upon the international community to shine a spotlight on these issues, which represent a major further deterioration”, says Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the BIC.  The village of Ivel, Mazandaran, has been home to a farming community for centuries, and Baha’is for over 160 years.For more information on the situation of Baha’is in Iran, visit the website of the Baha’i International Community, which includes archives of Baha’i persecution in Iran.",BIC GENEVA,,
1385,2020-01-29,"[1233, 1333, 669]",Chiefs seek lasting peace in light of spiritual truths,"KAKENGE, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — Earlier this month, residents of Kakenge in the Central Kasai province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo listened to a remarkable program on local radio. It was a live broadcast of a conversation between some 60 village and tribal chiefs, many of whom were on opposing sides of armed conflict only a year ago, discussing the true purpose of religion, the unity of the human family, the promotion of material and spiritual progress, and the critical role of women in building a peaceful society.
In view of tensions that remain, the country’s Baha’i community invited chiefs from the Central Kasai region to a three-day conference to explore how principles from Baha’u’llah’s writings can shed light on matters of practical and immediate concern for their society.
Lambert Kashama, a leading administrative official in the area, described what drew him to this conference: “During the period of tribal conflict that Kakenge and its surroundings experienced, I would see Baha’is from the two opposing tribes working together and coming to consult with me about what was to be done to restore peace. This is why I have come here today to understand more about these teachings.”  At a three-day conference in Bukavu, South Kivu, chiefs explored how principles from Baha’u’llah’s writings can shed light on matters of practical and immediate concern for their society.The long-standing Baha’i community of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spent decades contributing to constructive social change, especially through educational initiatives at the grassroots. In the past few years, they have been in conversation with chiefs in various regions of the country to explore together paths towards a society characterized by principles such as harmony, justice, and prosperity.
“This Faith teaches unity in practice,” commented Chief Walter Melangu.“We will no longer guide our people in darkness, now that the light has appeared through these teachings, which we shall never forget.”—Joint statement by chiefs in South KivuA focus of discussion at the recent conference was the Baha’i principle that all humanity is one, regardless of race, nationality, or tribe. The chiefs found the gathering to be a unique opportunity to decide on practical action that could turn tense coexistence among tribes and religious groups into constructive, peaceful collaboration.
Jean-Baptiste Shamba, the chief of the Nkinda Katenge village, decided at the conference that as soon as he would return to his community, he would gather every person whom he had seen as an enemy in order to make peace and seek mutual pardon. “Following these teachings,” he said at the conference, “I will reconcile the rancor that I have with my brothers. Our conflict was based on ignorance. Henceforth we will speak as friends for the good of our community.”
Another notable result of the conference was the decision by many of the chiefs to call meetings of all the women in their villages, realizing that their participation was essential for reconciliation to be successful.  Chief Nkayi Matala of the Lushiku village (right) and Chief Mbindi Godée of the Ndenga Mongo village. These women were among dozens of traditional chiefs who came together at a conference in Kakenge, Central Kasai, described as “a remarkable step forward that opens up many new possibilities for realizing the unity of peoples and the prosperity of our communities.”At another conference this month in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, chiefs discussed the same themes as their peers in Central Kasai. Some expressed that conversations like these had the potential to prevent conflict in the future. “We understand that peace is not something that development organizations bring us: it is a state of the soul and spirit when people decide to contribute to their communities.”
Lavoisier Mutombo Tshiongo, Secretary of the country’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly, who attended both conferences, described their significance, saying: “These gatherings of chiefs represent a remarkable step forward that opens up many new possibilities for realizing the unity of peoples and the prosperity of our communities.”
“These conferences allow chiefs who have gone to war in the past to come together,” says Justin Kamwanya, another member of the National Spiritual Assembly. “The fact that they express themselves, that they all share the same food, greet, and embrace—most of all, that they are coming together around religion, around the Word of God—this is the catalyst that allows a durable peace to come about.”
“We have seen that the world is evolving,” reads a statement jointly signed by 26 chiefs at the end of the conference in Bukavu. “We will no longer guide our people in darkness, now that the light has appeared through these teachings, which we shall never forget.”  A local choir performs at a conference for chiefs in Bukavu, South Kivu. Their songs expressed some of the themes discussed at the conference, which included the true purpose of religion, the unity of the human family, the promotion of material and spiritual progress, and the critical role of women in building a peaceful society.",KAKENGE,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1386,2020-02-09,"[1335, 1111, 1312]",Transcending differences through a unifying language,"BRUSSELS — At a recent European Parliament panel discussion, the Brussels office of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) led an exploration of how institutions and civil society actors can develop language that at once respects diversity and fosters shared identity. This discussion comes at a time when questions of identity and belonging occupy a central place in contemporary discourses across Europe.
The panel, attended by some 40 policymakers and civil society representatives, was hosted by Julie Ward and Samira Rafaela, two members of the European Parliament Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI), and chaired by the BIC Brussels office.
Ms. Ward expressed that she welcomed this conversation, giving an opportunity to frame these issues from a new perspective, and remarked on the power of language as a tool for either fostering cohesion or inciting division.
“We should value diversity as a unifying factor,” said Ms. Rafaela, “but how do we address this through language? We need to create language that is respectful towards people rather than laying blame on others. How can a language be developed that fosters a strong sense of loyalty to all of humanity?”  The European Parliament panel discussion on the role of language in fostering a shared identity was hosted by two members of the European Parliament Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI)—Samira Rafaela (right) and Julie Ward (center)—and chaired by the BIC Brussels office—represented by Rachel Bayani (left).In a paper prepared for the discussion and distributed to participants at the gathering, the BIC office highlighted that much of the thinking about language has been directed towards celebrating diversity and promoting peaceful coexistence. Language reflects people’s attitudes toward one another and shapes their thoughts. The BIC suggests that, while it is essential to have language that respects differences, overemphasizing this can reinforce the notions of “us and them” that must be overcome.
The panel, therefore, focused on how institutions and social actors can address the root of the issue: that although celebrating diversity and advocating co-existence represent a step forward, a shared identity is needed to chart a path towards harmonious societies.  Various organizations attending the European Parliament panel discussion provided insights and perspectives into the critical issue of language and identity, themes which occupy a central place in contemporary discourses across Europe.Pascal Jossi, a representative of an agency that assists firms and institutions to create inclusive organizational cultures, spoke about how the language used to describe differences among people can lead to a sense of othering. “It’s not about finding the best category to place someone in,” he said “but building a new reality in which everybody feels welcome.”
Mr. Jossi shared his experience as someone of Cameroonian descent born in Belgium and raised in Luxemburg, who in each of these places found himself referred to in terms that separated him from the majority. “This kind of tension will remain,” he said, “until we remodel our interactions. I don’t think adding or removing specific words from our vocabulary will alone make language a catalyst for creating an inclusive society; we have to examine what attitudes and assumptions underlie the way we speak to one another so that we can begin engaging in a way that builds trust and unity.”
“We are learning to speak in ways that enable us to establish interdependent and cooperative relationships,” said Mathieu Marie-Eugenie, describing his experience facilitating workshops with youth in the Paris area that promote coexistence and cooperation through poetry and artistic expression. “In an environment of trust and kindness, we are able to tell ourselves ‘I am a person who belongs within humanity,’ or in poetic language, ‘I am a drop, and I am a part of the ocean.’”
“Beyond our individual identities,” said Rachel Bayani, representative of the BIC, in her remarks at the forum, “we need to conceive of an overarching, shared identity, one which can unite, which is based on the understanding that humanity is one and that all the peoples of the world are part of the same human family. This is essential if the splintering of humanity into opposing groups is to give way to greater degrees of unity, and if the rich manifestations of diversity are to be constructively woven into the fabric of social life.”  Attendees of the European Parliament panel discussion in which some 40 policymakers and civil society representatives discussed how to transcend differences through unifying language.",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1387,2020-02-13,"[1087, 1177, 1292]",How can humanity live in harmony with the planet?,"WINDSOR, United Kingdom — A cross section of social actors in the United Kingdom, including scientists and representatives of civil society and religious communities, recently gathered at St. George’s House in Windsor Castle to examine how religion can inspire unity of thought and action on climate change issues. Established more than 50 years ago by the Duke of Edinburgh, St. George’s House is an organization that aims to promote dialogue on major issues facing British society.
“Protecting the environment is clearly more than a question of reducing carbon emissions,” says Karl Wightman, representing the country’s Baha’i Office of Public Affairs at the gathering. “The real issue here is perhaps the most profound question humanity has ever faced—how can we envision a sustainable future and an interdependent civilization?”
The group reflected on the diverse spiritual, secular, and academic perspectives offered and considered fundamental questions about collective environmental efforts.  St. George’s House in Windsor Castle is a meeting place for dialogue on major issues facing British society.  A group of social actors gathered there to consider fundamental questions about collective environmental efforts. Beyond technical solutions to immediate problems, they felt, humanity must also ask searching questions about the prevalent consumer culture and its underlying values.There was consensus among participants that what is needed goes beyond technical solutions to immediate problems. Humanity must also ask searching questions about the prevalent consumer culture and its underlying values. “What we need is a new understanding as to what happiness is,” said one participant. Another participant noted that “religion contains teachings that ameliorate the human tendency toward consumption and instead promote contentment.” Infinite growth, participants felt, on a planet with finite resources, is unsustainable.
The discussion also highlighted the idea that religion should be viewed as more than an instrument for mobilizing people. Religious teachings shed light on the relationship between society and the natural world and speak to the underlying question of excessive materialism that is associated with the exploitation and degradation of the environment.
As a collective contribution to the discourse on climate change, the insights from this consultation will inform a joint paper that will be submitted to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26).  A cross section of social actors in the United Kingdom, including scientists and representatives of civil society and religious communities, gathered at St. George’s House in Windsor Castle to examine how religion can inspire unity of thought and action on climate change issues.Religious communities have been significant contributors to previous sessions of this conference. For the landmark conference held in Paris in 2015 (COP 21), the Baha’i International Community (BIC) prepared a statement, which comments on the role of religious faith in this issue.
The BIC statement reads in part: “Establishing sustainable patterns of individual and collective life, will… require not only new technologies, but also a new consciousness in human beings, including a new conception of ourselves and our place in the world.
“From where will this consciousness arise? And where will the volition and self-discipline needed to embody it in countless cities, towns, and villages be found? Qualities such as the capacity to sacrifice for the well-being of the whole, to trust and be trustworthy, to find contentment, to give freely and generously to others derive not from mere pragmatism or political expediency. Rather they arise from the deepest sources of human inspiration and motivation. In this, faith has shown itself to be key, whether in the efficacy of sustainability efforts or the capacity of the human race.”",WINDSOR,,United Kingdom
1388,2020-02-24,"[1301, 1171, 1071]",Religion and the integration of new arrivals into Canadian society,"TORONTO — The arrival of newcomers from all parts of the world is a central aspect of life in Canada. The Canadian Baha’i community reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of the country, and has long been learning about the role of religion in building a peaceful and cohesive society—a major theme of discussion in a series of seminars held over the past year in collaboration with the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs.
“Canadian society has become quite secular,” says Geoffrey Cameron, director of public affairs for the Baha’i Community of Canada, “as a result, we have lost some capacity in our public discourse to talk openly about the role and contribution of religion to society. Many newcomers to Canada come from societies where religion exerts a strong social influence, and this contrast can contribute to tensions. These seminars revealed that it is possible to have a much more open and informed conversation about how religion can be drawn upon as a resource to generate shared understanding and promote common values in the pursuit of a more unified and cohesive society.”  The Canadian Baha’i community has long been learning about the role of religion in building a peaceful and cohesive society within the country’s diverse population—a major theme of discussion in a series of seminars held over the past year in collaboration with the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs.A total of four seminars were held in the series from last March to February. The first gathering looked at some of the challenges newcomers face, such as religious intolerance and a lack of understanding of their faith. The last three seminars examined a range of issues, such as how religion can promote social cooperation or sometimes reinforce divisions of “us” and “them”, how religion can foster the participation of newcomers in the life of society, and the challenges associated with integration of newcomers from various religious backgrounds in a secular society. Around 100 people, including academics, civil society organizations, and representatives of religious communities, participated in discussions across the four seminars.
“The assumption that faith is private,” said Shari Goldberg, director of Shema and Iqra’: The Jewish-Muslim Text Project, “and the need for it to be separate from the public sphere enables a ritualistic exclusion of religion from the national conversation.”  She explained that such an exclusion can create an “othering” of newcomers.  At a series of four seminars held at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs, panelist shared perspectives on the role of religion in building a peaceful and cohesive society, drawing on academic research, practical experience, and the teachings of diverse faiths.In the most recent seminar, panelists highlighted the important role that youth from newly arrived families play in promoting the spiritual dimension of human life in the public sphere.
Nuzhat Jafri, executive director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, said that youth can engage in efforts to correlate the principles and values of their religion to assist with the integration process and to allow them to contribute meaningfully to Canadian society.
“Youth are at the edge of the family,” said Esther Maloney, a panelist and director of the Illumine Media Project, “the ones who are bridges between the family and the community.” Yet, she observed that youth can be held back when media portrayals give them the feeling that their spiritual aspirations, values, and knowledge are not welcome in the public sphere. “The arts,” she suggested, “offer openings to explore questions of identity and purpose along with a number of other vital themes in a community context… where religious and secular themes can be powerfully explored.”
“We have a particular approach to developing content,” she continued, “which is rooted in the principles of the Baha’i Faith… Our content tells stories of diverse young people and their families in ordinary circumstances who see themselves as contributors to the development of their own lives and the lives of their communities”.  A series of seminar discussions in Toronto on the role of religious belief and communities in the integration of newcomers to Canadian society showed that an open and informed conversation about how religion can be drawn upon as a resource to generate shared understanding and promote common values in the pursuit of a more unified and cohesive society.Within the public conversation about the integration of newcomers into Canadian society, Dr. Cameron explains, it is helpful to consider the Baha’i concept of oneness. “There is a tendency to reduce the integration conversation to ‘us and them’ when in fact we have to start from the position that we are part of the same human family,” he says. “This requires us to be engaged in a process of mutual learning and adaptation.”
“Unity in diversity,” he continues, “is an essential principle of social progress, one that is reflected in the values and activities of the Baha’i community of Canada.”",TORONTO,,Canada
1389,2020-03-02,"[1385, 1379, 1332]",Village chiefs discuss the future at unprecedented gathering in India,"GAPCHARIYAPUR, India — At a time when religious tensions have been increasing, this rural area in the state of Uttar Pradesh recently saw 30 village chiefs, or pradhans, of different religions, castes, and affiliations gather for a constructive and united discussion on their shared responsibility for the prosperity and the spiritual well-being of their people. This one-day conference was organized by the Baha’i community, which is engaged in social and economic development initiatives that address various aspects of community life in the country, especially the empowerment of women.
“I have been a pradhan for 20 years,” said one of the participants, “and have been to many meetings, but never have I seen a gathering where I have felt such joy, talked about the purpose life, and had such a holistic consultation on so many aspects of our work.”
“The work of pradhans,” added another, “has been for the physical needs of the residents of our villages—providing shelter for the homeless and care for the sick. But at a gathering like this our thinking changes: we begin to consider the spiritual needs of the population as well.”  A village chief, or pradhan, in Uttar Pradesh, India, speaking at a conference on their role in social progress. “The work of pradhans,” said one participants, “has been for the physical needs of the residents of our villages…. But at a gathering like this our thinking changes: we begin to consider the spiritual needs of the population as well.”The 30 pradhans represent some 380 villages in the region, comprising a total of 950 villages and around 1 million people. Each is the leader of an elected council responsible for several villages.
Inspired by news of similar gatherings in other countries, notably the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Baha’is of the region decided that it was timely to hold a focused conversation on social issues that could unite thought on serving the common weal.
“Right now in India, people look at differences between religions and make them a cause for division,” says Elham Mohajer, chair of the Baha’i administrative council that serves Uttar Pradesh, “so we invited some officials to come together and discuss their role in light of a profound reflection on the life of the spirit and the meaning of service.  We made an effort to show how all religions have teachings that illuminate any subject of social importance.”
Study material prepared for the conference focused on several ideas that are emphasized in the Baha’i teachings, including the eternal life of the soul and its implications for one’s purpose in this world, justice and trustworthiness in positions of responsibility, and the promotion of a vibrant community life. Each theme was accompanied by quotations from the Baha’i writings and the Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian scriptures.  Village chiefs (pradhans) gathered in Gapchariyapur, Uttar Pradesh, with their families and representatives of the Baha’i community of India. “Right now in India, people look at differences between religions and make them a cause for division,” says Elham Mohajer, “so we invited some officials to come together and discuss their role in light of a profound reflection on the life of the spirit and the meaning of service.”This conference was brief, but in spite of their busy roles the pradhans asked for such conversations to become a regular occurrence, saying that more than a day would be needed to address these themes. “This was a special opportunity because all of us were able to participate equally,” was one comment. “It is often only the most senior officials who get to express their views.”
Planning is also under way for conferences in other parts of India.
“This is, of course, a long process, and it needs to start and follow on a trajectory,” the Baha’i community explained at the conference. “At every stage there needs to be consultation, planning and then reflection on how to move ahead. The energies of the entire population need to be channeled both in implementing government schemes and in creating spaces focused on the betterment of the community life.
“But as we work together and learn together, we start moving towards the establishment of vibrant communities, one step at a time.”  Ashok Kumar Rajput, a village chief, adorns his fellow pradhan with a garland in a sign of welcome. Mr. Rajput worked closely with the Baha’i community to gather his colleagues to draw on the insights and experience arising from initiatives in their communities inspired by Baha’u’llah’s teachings.",GAPCHARIYAPUR,,India
1400,2020-03-09,"[1317, 1313, 1234]",Communities collaborate to build educational facility with environmentally sustainable technologies,"NAMAWANGA, Kenya — Volunteers from the village of Namawanga and the surrounding area joined together in recent months to undertake the construction of an 800-square-meter educational facility for their village.  The Kenyan Baha’is, who managed the project, found that years of experience with community-building activities enabled them to create a collaborative environment for this undertaking and to make creative use of locally sourced materials and tools. The building will act as a center for the Baha’i community’s efforts to raise capacity for service to humanity.
“The need for these facilities is very urgent in many Kenyan communities, but the question was how do we do this,” says Alfred Mango, architect for the project and a member of Kenya’s Baha’i community. “There had to be a means to achieve this kind of construction.”  Volunteers from the village of Namawanga, Kenya, and the surrounding area joined together in recent months to undertake the construction of an 800-square-meter educational facility for their village.For many years, the local Baha’i community here has been engaged in activities aimed at collective worship, spiritual education, and social and economic development. Through their participation in these initiatives, many people in Namawanga have gained experience in coordination and planning, united decision-making, and collective action.
This enabled them, Mr. Mango continues, to identify “a building method that would be sustainable, affordable, and would involve the community’s participation.”
The project used a hydraulic machine that presses bricks made of nine parts soil and one part cement. The machine, simple to use and made freely available by the Kenyan government, enables groups and communities to produce interlocking bricks that are simple to assemble with no need for mortar.  The project to build an educational facility in Namawanga used a hydraulic machine that presses bricks made mostly of soil from the site. The machine produces interlocking bricks that are simple to assemble with no need for mortar.All this reduces labor and material costs dramatically. It also has environmental benefits—the bricks do not need to be transported to the site and are dried in the sun rather than fired in a kiln. The facility has other sustainable technologies, such as an on-site wastewater treatment system. Plans are in place to install solar-powered lighting; together these technologies will cut utility costs by about half, Mr. Mango says.
“Producing the bricks was challenging at first, but in the end it was a victory—we molded 40,000 units,” says Elizabeth Wanyonyi, who serves on Namawanga’s Baha’i Local Spiritual Assembly.
“The construction project actually started with just the community of Namawanga. But then it grew to involve the surrounding region,” explains Ms. Wanyonyi.  When nearby communities learned of the project in Namawanga, they all pledged to send volunteers for several days or weeks at a time.When nearby communities learned of the work, they all pledged to send volunteers for several days or weeks at a time. Volunteers dug up soil, operated the brick-making machine, and assembled the structure of the building. Others provided meals or contributed financially.
“Every day the spirit of consultation and reflection kept us going as we learned through action,” explains Moses Kisudia, who is part of a committee of Kenya’s Baha’i community that manages the development of new local and regional buildings. “And because we need to have such facilities in other communities in Kenya, we also invited volunteers from other areas to learn so that when their time comes they can extend the skills to others.”
He adds that the collective nature of the project affects how the community thinks about this facility: “You could see on the day we opened the building that people took it as something they themselves own, a fruit of their labor.”  The local Baha’i community in Namawanga has long been engaged in activities aimed at collective worship, spiritual education, and social and economic development. The new facility provides the necessary space for these community-building efforts to advance further.",NAMAWANGA,,Kenya
1401,2020-03-13,"[1322, 1250, 1095]",Hope and support in Italy during a global health crisis,"MANTUA, Italy — In a time when many parts of the world are grappling with the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, Baha’is in some of the most affected areas are finding ways to be of service to their societies. Years of experience with community-building activities have equipped them to respond with creativity and resourcefulness to the current circumstances.
In Italy, where preventive measures have now confined most people to their homes, communities continue activities that bring hope. Many such initiatives have temporarily moved online, with people holding video conference calls to provide support to one another, to pray together, and to advance the educational endeavors of the Baha’i community that build bonds of friendship and capacity for service to society.
A teacher of children’s moral education classes describes how she has been working through these conditions: “I prepare some digital and audiovisual material for the class and distribute it online to families. The children do the work at home, and then discuss with their parents and siblings.”
In other countries where schools are closed, Baha’is are remotely helping children with homework assignments. Children are also coming together in small online groups to help one another with their school work.  The educational endeavors of the Baha’i community that build bonds of friendship and capacity for service to society continue to advance in the face of movement restrictions in Italy and other countries as families work together in their homes with online support.Baha’is in Italy are phoning family and friends, colleagues and acquaintances—simply to offer a voice of encouragement. Many of these calls have led to profound conversations and have strengthened bonds of friendship.
“This moment is making us realize that we are not invincible,” says a member of the Italian Baha’i community. “This is an opportunity for us to reflect on questions that, maybe at other times in our lives we do not spend enough time considering.”
In a letter sent to the Baha’is of Italy on Tuesday, the country’s National Spiritual Assembly says: “We have seen countless examples of solidarity and loyalty among health workers, teachers, professionals of every kind, and responsible citizens, who have readily responded to this emergency, demonstrating the innate nobility of human beings. Our true nature is one of giving, serving, and contributing to progress.”",MANTUA,,Italy
1402,2020-03-20,"[1401, 1316, 1159]",Naw-Ruz around the world brings hope and spiritual renewal,"KUWAIT CITY — During this time of a global health crisis, Baha’is around the world are finding creative means of marking Naw-Ruz—their new year and the first day of spring—while strictly adhering to public health measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This day is a symbol of renewal, an occasion when all can reflect on their spiritual reality and how they can contribute to the well-being of their society.
A group of youth in Kuwait have created a short video exploring how Naw-Ruz has been a unifying event across several religions and cultures.  A group of youth in Kuwait marked Naw-Ruz by creating a short video exploring how the Holy Day has been a unifying event across several religions and cultures.Individuals in other countries are recording songs and other media, and bringing joy to those around them in many other ways.
More than 180 people across Belgium and Luxembourg held a celebration together online, all connecting from their homes. This was one of countless such events that took place today across the world. One young man, who was able to connect despite the technical limitations of the refugee facility where he lives, said, “It’s my pleasure to be beside you and other lovely friends. I wish you the best in the new year, I’m so glad for having such friends.”  More than 180 people across Belgium and Luxembourg held a celebration together online, all connecting from their homes.These efforts are a response to the message from the Universal House of Justice marking this special occasion, which states:
“However difficult matters are at present, and however close to the limits of their endurance some sections of societies are brought, humanity will ultimately pass through this ordeal, and it will emerge on the other side with greater insight and with a deeper appreciation of its inherent oneness and interdependence.”
The News Service will continue to cover stories on how communities around the world are responding constructively to the current difficult circumstances.",KUWAIT CITY,,Kuwait
1403,2020-03-23,"[1285, 1232, 1036]",Court upholds death sentence against Yemeni Baha’i,"BIC GENEVA — An appeals court in Sana’a, Yemen, ruled on Sunday to uphold a religiously-motivated death sentence against Hamed bin Haydara, a Baha’i who has been imprisoned since 2013.
Mr. Haydara was sentenced to public execution in January 2018 after four years of sham trials, in a verdict that also called for the confiscation of his assets and the dissolution of Baha’i institutions. The appeals process had already extended over eighteen hearings before the most recent, set to be held on 31 March, was abruptly rescheduled to Sunday.
The Baha’i International Community condemned the death sentence of Mr. Haydara in the strongest terms. “At a time when the international community is battling a global health crisis, it is incomprehensible that the authorities in Sana’a have upheld a death sentence against an innocent individual solely because of his beliefs instead of focusing on safeguarding the population, including Baha’is,” says Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.
Mr. Haydara was arbitrarily arrested in December 2013 and has faced a lack of due process ever since. Held for 14 months without charges, he was later prevented from attending the lower court hearing when his sentence was issued.
He moreover suffered torture, including beatings, electrocutions, and intense psychological abuse. Mr. Haydara’s severe mistreatment extended to denial of medical treatment, forced signing of documents while blindfolded, and denial of visitors, including his wife and daughters.
“The Baha’i International Community is utterly dismayed at this outrageous verdict and it calls on the court and the Houthi authorities to take immediate action to overturn this unjust sentence,” says Ms. Ala’i.
Mr. Haydara is one of six Baha’is currently imprisoned in Sana’a for their beliefs.  Hamed bin Haydara, a Yemeni Baha’i, was arbitrarily arrested in December 2013 and has faced a lack of due process, mistreatment, and torture ever since.",BIC GENEVA,,
1404,2020-03-25,"[1402, 1401]",Rising to the occasion in a global crisis,"SYDNEY — As the global health crisis continues to cause disruptions to society in all parts of the world, efforts of Baha’is to serve humanity increase in intensity. Communities are quickly and creatively adapting to new forms of interaction suited to public health requirements and focused on the specific spiritual and material needs that have now emerged.
“There is a deep resolve to serve our neighborhoods,” says Venus Khalessi of the Australian Baha’i community’s Office of External Affairs. “Even with limits to social contact, we are trying to strengthen our contributions to the life of society—especially reaching out to those who are older or vulnerable and being conscious of the needs of each other.”
At the same time as current conditions prompt fear and anxiety, people across the world are finding hope in prayer. Everywhere, large numbers of people are connecting online over short distances or across continents to share uplifting devotions.  At the House of Worship in Wilmette, United States, regular devotional programs have been temporarily moved online and include a visual presentation meant to convey the feeling of sitting in the Temple.The Baha’i Houses of Worship have long been centers and symbols of the spirit of collective worship. Like other public places, they have had to close their doors as a preventive measure. Yet in communities where Baha’i Temples exist, new approaches are being taken to infuse wider segments of society with the spirit these structures embody.
In Santiago, Chile, 19 short videos of the Temple accompanied by a prayer set to music have been produced and disseminated online. At the House of Worship in Wilmette, United States, regular devotional programs have been temporarily moved online and include a visual presentation meant to convey the feeling of sitting in the Temple.  A Baha’i spiritual education class for children in Austria takes place online. “These forms of media have allowed us to continue classes for children, which they need as much as ever. The ideas of resilience, caring for community, and togetherness that we look at are relevant to them as they navigate these times.”Baha’i educational efforts continue during these disruptive conditions. Communities have been encouraged by Baha’i institutions to conduct these activities in a way that respects government guidelines and prevents physical contact.
“Our community adapted incredibly fast,” says Leyla Tavernaro-Haidarian from the Austrian Baha'i community's Office of External Affairs. “Within days, all activities that build capacity for service to society were moved online. These forms of media have allowed us to continue classes for children, which they need as much as ever. The ideas of resilience, caring for community, and togetherness that we look at are relevant to them as they navigate these times.”
A youth from London who teaches classes for the spiritual education of children in his neighborhood describes how he and others are finding meaningful ways to serve under these conditions: “Consulting about this shift in action triggered a thought: as the situation develops could we try to see every parent as a potential teacher?” This youth is now supporting parents through telephone conversations.  Children from India’s Baha’i community took on a project to raise awareness of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and encourage sanitary practice well before their area was affected.Baha’is in countries in Africa and Asia that had not been heavily affected by the outbreak took active steps to raise public awareness about the virus. A group in Motibasti, Nepal, prepared informative banners—taking care to keep a safe distance and use protective gear as needed—and provided critical information about principles of personal and collective hygiene. Efforts have also been made to provide soap for handwashing.
Reflecting on the changes in her society, Dr. Tavernaro-Haidarian says that “whether in balcony conversations among neighbors or in the way public figures and journalists are speaking, one can see a big shift in the focus of discourse here in Austria toward an enlarged sense of shared identity in facing a global challenge. Concepts of unity and solidarity are receiving serious attention. Various groups are putting their differences aside to address this problem, and people are reaching out across religious backgrounds to pray together.”
Nilakshi Rajkhowa, of the Baha’i Office of External Affairs in India, notes a similar trend in her country. “We feel that this is the time when we can reach out to everyone for a profound conversation on spiritual and social transformation, because people have become more conscious of a central idea at the heart of Baha’u’llah’s message: we are all one, we are interdependent, and we are all called on to support one another.”",SYDNEY,,Australia
1405,2020-03-27,"[1401, 1377, 1338]","Youth group distributes food, gains city and National Guard support","NEW ROCHELLE, New York — When the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) began causing disruptions to life in their neighborhood, a group of youth quickly turned their attention to pressing needs arising from school closures. In this suburb of New York City, these youth have been studying and serving together in Baha’i activities that develop their capacities for service to society.
As schools shut two weeks ago, many children were left without an important source of daily meals. While official arrangements for food distribution would soon be in place, the group of youth realized that the friendships and experience they had collectively developed through community-building initiatives, including food distribution efforts, would allow them to organize an immediate response in the interim.
“These youth have been learning about their spiritual development within a community, and about the strength that comes from facing a difficult situation together” says Timothy McKnight, a resident and community organizer in the neighborhood.
“In these times,” Mr. McKnight continues, “they have the volition to say ‘Our service to our community doesn’t stop, it adapts.’ It’s now about making sure people are doing well and trying to help out in the best way we can when we have to keep our distance and prevent spreading the disease.”  A group of youth in New Rochelle, New York, drew on the friendships and experience they had collectively developed through community-building initiatives to organize the distribution of food and other necessities in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.The night that school closures were announced, the youth contacted the board of education and spoke to various vendors in the area, who agreed to donate meals. They arranged for the community room in their apartment complex to be made available as a distribution point, with measures to ensure physical distancing and sanitation.
The board of education informed families, and they were able to pick up hot meals the next day. This gave children access to good food at home while minimizing contact.
“Because the youth were nimble and had the latitude to take action within their neighborhood,” says Nima Yousefian, who works with this group of youth in their activities, “they were able to be initial responders in a crisis, complementing the government response.”The actions of the group caught the attention of city officials. On the second day of school closures, the arrangement they had set up was adopted as an official food distribution point staffed by the state’s National Guard.
“There is obviously a very long way to go in this situation,” says Mr. Yousefian, “and the city will have countless needs during the crisis. But the youth are continuing to think about what they can do to help.”",NEW ROCHELLE,,New York
1406,2020-03-30,"[1405, 1404, 1401]",Children in Luxembourg send love and encouragement to healthcare professionals,"ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE, Luxembourg — Children in Luxembourg participating in moral education classes offered by the Baha’i community have been learning about being of service to one’s society. In an expression of this theme, they have been moved to do what they can for those who are making sacrifices during the current health crisis. Many have sent messages of love and appreciation to healthcare professionals and others who are carrying out essential services.
The teacher of a children’s class called Les petites pierres précieuses (Little Gemstones) in Esch-sur-Alzette says, “Our class, which has been meeting online, had the idea of making cards and drawings expressing thanks to those working in essential services during this crisis: doctors, hospital and laboratory personnel, staff of pharmacies and grocery stores, sanitary workers, etc.”
The teacher sent digital copies of the drawings and cards to a hospital and to the National Health Laboratory in neighboring Dudelange along with a message of encouragement. The laboratory shared its joyful response on social media: “This weekend, the National Health Laboratory team received a big message of encouragement from the hands of little artists, coming to us from Esch-sur-Alzette.”  A message posted on Twitter by the National Health Laboritory in Dudelange, Luxembourg, in appreciation for cards and drawings sent by children who participate in a Baha’i moral education class.Another group of children similarly prepared cards conveying their gratitude and recognition of the selfless acts of those performing vital services. Local doctors and staff of pharmacies and grocery stores warmly received the messages, and many of the recipients were moved to tears.",ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE,,Luxembourg
1407,2020-03-31,"[1404, 1406, 1401]",Village members prepared weeks in advance to protect their community,"BAŠELJ, Slovenia — Taking proactive steps to help their community face the challenges of the current global health crisis, youth and adults in this small village of some 450 people have been finding creative ways to share information and arrange for access to necessities.
Three weeks ago, a group of youth participating in Baha’i educational programs that develop capacities for service to society took action to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“When our group was reflecting on how it could serve our community,” says one of the youth, “we all thought about the coronavirus. Everyone was worried about it even though it had not reached our village yet. So we decided to help inform people about what they could do about the situation.”
Finding reliable information online from the country’s National Institute of Public Health, they made a poster sharing the steps each individual could take to prevent the transmission of the disease, and displayed it prominently in a public place.  A group of youth in Bašelj, Slovenia, took steps to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), creating an informative poster sharing the steps each individual could take to prevent the transmission of the disease, and displayed it prominently in a public place.Not long after, as measures to reduce physical contact came into effect in the area, it was necessary to find a way for people to access food and other supplies while avoiding physical contact.
“In a village,” says Aleksandra, a Baha’i who lives in the community, “we come together when there is a need and find a way to address it.”
She reached out to food and produce delivery businesses whose usual customers, mostly restaurants, no longer had the same need. Finding that these businesses were happy to deliver to homes, she was able to let the entire village know about these services through an online group they had established to convey news.
These efforts to enable food delivery in a way that would minimize contact were reinforced when the mayor of Bašelj invited local farmers to offer their produce directly through the municipality.
Members of the Baha’i community have observed that people are having conversations about the importance of unity, collaboration, family and friends; the need for spiritual renewal, less materialism, and a greater consciousness of how we can each contribute to our society.
“This is a small place where people have long been serving together regardless of differences in their religion or race” says Aleksandra. “We try to have universal collaboration. But even here, this period is different, and most of us see it as a time to reflect on how we live our lives. People see the world is very interconnected: whether something happens here or farther away, sooner or later it will affect us.”  Two sisters in Bašelj, Slovenia, who are part of a group of youth participating in Baha’i educational programs that develop capacities for service to society. They now connect online with the other members of their group from their home, in accordance with public health guidelines.",BAŠELJ,,Slovenia
1408,2020-04-02,"[1404, 1401, 1311]",Youth in Italy create media to inspire vision of a better world,"MANTUA, Italy — Seeing the glimmerings of a collective identity in the world’s response to the global health crisis and inspired by the vision of a better world, groups of young Italians are using media to explore profound themes related to social transformation.
“An unprecedented collective effort is required on the part of humanity at this time,” describes one of the youth in a video she shared online, “one that requires us to develop our capacity to truly take care of one another.”
These youth are fostering a greater sense of unity during this crisis by offering songs and artistic presentations online. They are compelled, as a young person from Trentino puts it, “by a hope that burns in the heart.” In an effort to build bonds of friendship between people of all backgrounds, the youth have also helped to create a website on which prayers and sacred writings can be posted by anyone.  Youth in Italy are fostering a greater sense of unity during the current health crisis by offering songs and artistic presentations online.A source of inspiration for these efforts is ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s assertion that humanity is to be regarded as “the waves of one ocean, the drops of one sea, the flowers of one rose-garden, the trees of one orchard, the grains of one harvest and the plants of one meadow.”
In one of their videos, a youth speaking about being of service to others says, “this is not going to be the last challenge we face, but we know that we can overcome this if each of us is motivated out of our love for humanity to give up something less important for something more important.”
The youth have noted that people are asking profound questions about the very nature of society and the relationships among various entities and that many are calling for basic assumptions about how the world is ordered to be reexamined.There is a greatly heightened consciousness of humanity’s inherent oneness. As one young person says, many now wish to explore how to “organize our society in such a way as to make decisions for the good of all.”
Another youth describes unity as “not just an emotion or a beautiful idea”, but central to “facing the challenges that will inevitably come.” Another young Italian shared that as people are becoming acutely conscious of their personal responsibility toward the collective, what is becoming apparent is that achieving a better world “requires discipline and much love toward all.”",MANTUA,,Italy
1409,2020-04-04,"[1404, 1408, 1344]",Radio broadcasts in Uganda comfort and inspire amidst crisis,"KIYUNGA, Uganda — With new public health directives prohibiting gatherings, the Baha’is in this rural area have taken to radio to bring hope and joy to their neighbors, encouraging prayer within each home. These daily broadcasts are prompting a conversation across households on the importance of prayer as a source of strength during these exceptionally difficult times.
When the president of Uganda issued guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), he called for places of worship to close for several weeks. At the same time, he encouraged the people of the country, whatever their religion, to continue to pray within their homes.
Through decades-long efforts aimed at social progress, Ugandan Baha’is have seen how communities with strong bonds of friendship and a devotional character can demonstrate great perseverance in times of crises.
“We started to explore ways we could inspire our fellow citizens, our brothers and sisters in the country, given the sense of hopelessness and sadness that was beginning to affect many people,” says Drake Nangoli, a member of the Ugandan Baha’i community. “Since our interpersonal interactions were now limited, we looked at using local radio stations and other broadcast services.”  The small studio and mass-communication device in the center of Kiyunga, Uganda. The local leadership made the broadcasting equipment available to the Baha’is and has been supportive of this effort, encouraging villagers to listen, participate in the discussions, and pray in their homes.In Kiyunga, for example, local authorities have made the village’s mass-communication device available for the Baha’is to offer a 90-minute evening program. This device is a centrally-located loudspeaker which, during the quiet evening hours, can be heard clearly throughout several neighboring villages.The local Baha’is are presenting a program that includes readings of prayers, sacred writings, and exploration of issues of common concern. Listeners are encouraged to draw on prayer as a source of daily spiritual sustenance and as a means to reflect on how each person can alleviate suffering in society.
A young Baha’i, Gerald Mukungu, says, “What can the youth do to reinforce this conversation started by the broadcast? I’ve seen the usefulness of having this conversation and will try to take it further within my family, and with my friends.”  Image features residents of the same household. Devotions taking place within a home in Kiyunga, Uganda. The broadcasts are becoming part of the daily routine for families who gather to pray for relief of suffering in their country and across the world.The local leadership has been supportive of this effort and is encouraging villagers to listen, participate in the discussions, and pray in their homes. “We are happy to work with the Baha’is to assist people to understand the importance of relying on prayer in this trying moment,” says Anthony Musamali, the interim Council Chairman in Kiyunga. “If this is reinforced, it can elevate the character of the inhabitants and inspire noble acts among them.”
One local leader says, “I was touched by the message, and now I wonder how this conversation can continue even beyond this period. We need to make the conversation continuous such that the devotions continue to occur.”
Inspired by this effort, other communities in Uganda have started similar broadcasts on local radio stations and mass-communication devices.",KIYUNGA,,Uganda
1410,2020-04-06,"[1409, 1404, 1381]",Faith groups in Tunisia call for harmony between science and religion,"TUNIS, Tunisia — The Baha’i community in Tunisia has joined with diverse religious and civil society organizations to address a message to the people of the country conveying hope and assurance during the current health crisis. Reflecting on the difficult circumstances prevailing in the world, the letter calls for both science and religion to guide an effective response.
“All members of the body of humanity are facing this crisis as equals,” the statement reads in part. “It has impelled us to develop spiritual qualities such as unity, compassion, and understanding as well as a spirit of collective devotion and common enterprise. This reality demonstrates the necessity of an orientation toward service to the common good rather than personal interest.”
The letter, which has received attention in Tunisia and the wider region, was the outcome of conversations among faith groups and various social actors in the country who have fostered close bonds of friendship through their participation in a discourse on coexistence.
Recognizing the need for urgent action, these groups are calling for a greater understanding of the relationship between science and religion. Their letter aims to dispel views that may be at odds with science or the advice of health professionals; to promote respect for safety measures put in place by the government; and to foster the understanding that religion is a source of inspiration and insight into our shared identity as human beings.
“The current situation has prompted us to re-examine our basic assumptions as a society,” says Mohamed ben Moussa of the country’s Baha’i office of external affairs. “In such a time as now, we all see the need for a hopeful message that would encourage further conversations about questions that are being raised.”
“Religion should be in harmony with science and reason,” Mr. Ben Moussa continues, “and set apart from superstition and blind imitation.”
In other countries, including Bahrain and Indonesia, Baha’i communities have also released statements expressing hope and calling for greater degrees of harmony in their respective societies.",TUNIS,,Tunisia
1411,2020-04-08,"[1352, 1205, 1404]",Australian Prime Minister expresses gratitude to Baha’i community ,"SYDNEY — It is a hundred years since the arrival of the first two Baha’is in Australia, Clara and Hyde Dunn. As the country’s Baha’i community prepares to celebrate this centenary in a manner appropriate to current circumstances, it has received a warm message of appreciation and encouragement from the Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison.
Sent in anticipation of the Baha’i Ridvan festival later this month, the message expresses gratitude for the contributions the Australian Baha’i community has made to society over the last century.
It also calls attention to the role the Baha’i community can continue to play “in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis” that requires the collaboration of all Australians. “During this time of challenge, I know you can draw strength from the Baha’i teachings—and its commitment to the well-being of humanity, especially the most vulnerable.”
Quoting from a statement recently made by the Universal House of Justice about humanity’s “inherent oneness and interdependence,” the Prime Minister echoes its sentiments: “The world is more in need than ever of the hope and strength of spirit that faith imparts.”
In its forthcoming statement on Friday marking the start of the year-long centenary period, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Australia acknowledges the Prime Minister’s message and calls for an intensification of the spirit of service.
“While, at this uncertain time, we may not be able to gather together in person, or travel long distances,” the Assembly writes, “we can pray for the well-being of all, we can look for new and creative ways to serve our neighbors and friends and continue the community building process.”",SYDNEY,,Australia
1412,2020-04-09,"[1404, 1409, 1407]",Youth in Sierra Leone produce film to protect community against coronavirus,"MAKENI, Sierra Leone — Having been directly affected by the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and determined to help protect their community from the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), young people in this area of Sierra Leone created a film to make information about effective health measures more accessible in their society.
“Looking back to the time of Ebola,” says one of the youth, Koroma Bashiru, “of course some of us were victims—we lost our fathers and mothers, aunts and uncles. This was a bitter experience.
“But we are inspired by the Baha’i writings, which say that young people have an essential role in service to society. So if the world is again suffering from another deadly disease, we know that we need to come together, we need to work for humanity, we need to offer selfless service to our community.”
These youth, who have been participating in Baha’i educational programs that develop capacities for service to society, drew on the assistance of students at a local film school to create the video, which uses music and dramatization to promote health measures needed at this time to protect against this crisis.  Youth in Sierra Leone, who have been participating in Baha’i educational programs that develop capacities for service to society, created a video that uses music and dramatization to promote health measures needed at this time to protect against this crisis.With the educational tool they have created, these youth are assisting doctors, village leaders, and other members of the community to raise awareness as broadly as possible. The video is being broadcast by the media group Africa Young Voices (AYV) and shared among families for viewing in homes.
“With such a world crisis,” says Alhaji Bangura, member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Sierra Leone, “we have to contribute to disseminating the information that is needed most.”
“I think this is our responsibility,” adds Koroma. “We need to be steadfast despite the challenge we are all facing. We are still working as a team so that our society does not go through what it went through before.”",MAKENI,,Sierra Leone
1413,2020-04-10,"[1404, 1389, 1322]","Local Assemblies, individuals, and communities in India respond in unison","NEW DELHI, India — In a surge of activity nationwide, India’s Baha’i community is urgently responding to provide necessities for their fellow citizens during this global health crisis.
Drawing on its experience with undertakings that contribute to spiritual and social progress, the Indian Baha’i community is striving to identify specific local needs—be they social, material, or spiritual—to rapidly mobilize resources.
“This tragic situation, as painful and difficult as it is, is bringing out the finest qualities in people,” says Naznene Rowhani, member of the Indian National Spiritual Assembly, “and we’re seeing local spiritual assemblies take an essential role in galvanizing the community into action.
“In city after city, village after village, we see that a greater consciousness of our common humanity is emerging among many people. This is spurring them on to help others and to transcend traditional barriers and prejudices that keep them apart.”  To respond to the great need for personal protective equipment, Local Spiritual Assemblies are collaborating with tailors to make and distribute face masks.In the early stages of the crisis, Baha’i communities together with local organizations and institutions raised awareness about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In Nashik, the Baha’is assisted local police to run a public information campaign about preventive health measures, finding creative ways to disseminate facts and combat misinformation. They are now collaborating with the authorities to create support structures for the most vulnerable people in their community, for example safely delivering medicine to those who are confined to their homes.  Local Spiritual Assemblies in various parts of the country, such as in Assam, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, are coordinating efforts to prepare and distribute thousands of bags of food to citizens whose economic situation has become precarious because of the crisis.Many efforts across the country have been spearheaded by Baha’i Local Spiritual Assemblies, which are executing plans to help meet the practical needs of their fellow citizens. In response to an urgent call from the Health Minister of Maharashtra for blood donations, the Local Spiritual Assembly of Maleagaon rallied many people to respond.
The Local Spiritual Assembly of Devlali is ensuring that families have access to government programs, including one that significantly cuts the price of grain. The Local Assembly is also working with authorities to assist grocery store owners to remain open while maintaining health measures. During this period when schools are closed, it is also assisting principals to ensure that no student goes without food.
Local Spiritual Assemblies in other parts of the country, such as in Assam, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, are coordinating efforts to prepare and distribute thousands of bags of food to citizens whose economic situation has become precarious because of the crisis.  Homes for the elderly are being visited in communities throughout India by cadres of people to provide protective masks and share accurate information about the coronavirus.In one village, a construction company owned by local Baha’is used its trucks and other resources to bring food to 2,500 distressed households across 50 remote villages.
In Gujarat, local Baha’is used their tractors, with permission from the authorities, to transport dozens of stranded migrant workers to their homes hundreds of kilometers away.
To respond to the great need for personal protective equipment, Local Spiritual Assemblies are also collaborating with tailors to make and distribute face masks.
Homes for the elderly are being visited by cadres of people to provide such masks and share accurate information about the coronavirus.
Individuals are creating media content that explores spiritual themes and holding online prayer meetings, at a time when the hearts of many are yearning to turn in collective contemplation to their Creator.  A devotional program broadcast from the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi. Individuals are creating media content that explores spiritual themes and holding online prayer meetings, at a time when the hearts of many are yearning to turn in collective contemplation to their Creator.“The resources of any community are naturally limited,” says Ms. Rowhani, “however, with hope, creativity and the spirit of generosity, we are seeing a reservoir of energy being channeled into concrete action to allay greater suffering.
“All of this has required the full participation of individuals, entire communities, and Baha’i institutions collaborating with authorities and coordinating the efforts of thousands of people. These key players are working together and supporting one another to do what is required for the collective good.”",NEW DELHI,,India
1414,2020-04-13,"[1404, 1332, 1095]",Providing food security in the face of a global health crisis,"PORT VILA, Vanuatu — Confronted with the possibility of food shortages because of the global effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, some individuals engaged in a Baha’i-inspired educational program called Preparation for Social Action (PSA) have taken steps to protect their communities.
“My group is constantly thinking of ways it can serve our community, and now that the coronavirus is coming, what should we do?” says one participant from Tanna, Vanuatu. “We cannot sit idly and do nothing about it. We need to actively arise and serve our society.”
The PSA program, which has been implemented in 17 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific, raises capacity in young people to apply knowledge drawn from both science and religion for the development of their communities.  A covered nursery used for agricultural training in the Preparation for Social Action program, in Vanuatu. With the support of the Foundation for the Betterment of Society, a group of women on Tanna Island who participate in the program built a similar structure in their community, enabling them to protect seedlings from volcanic ash-fall and provide for neighbors who lost their crops.Although Vanuatu has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus so far, the effects on international travel and trade have caused economic hardship and reduced food imports. Measures taken by the government to prevent the disease from spreading have required the usual activities of the PSA programs to cease, but groups of participants are taking steps to not only maintain food supplies for their fellow citizens, but also to encourage others in their countries to do the same.
Many participants are now expanding personal gardens and planting crops that can be harvested quickly, so as to create reliable sources of food over the coming months of uncertainty.  Local community members begin cleanup work at a school after Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, was struck by Cyclone Harold. The degree of unity and collective action fostered through the educational activities of the Baha’i community, including Preparation for Social Action (PSA), has enabled many people to respond swiftly and to begin rebuilding and replanting.Recent natural disasters in Vanuatu have only exacerbated the current crisis. The northern islands of the country were struck last week by a devastating storm, Cyclone Harold, while Tanna has experienced volcanic ash-fall that has damaged crops. Nevertheless, the degree of unity and collective action fostered through the educational activities of the Baha’i community, including PSA, has enabled many people to respond swiftly and to begin rebuilding and replanting.
“I feel it is our responsibility to share our knowledge and experiences,” says Anika Naiu, a PSA student in Tanna. “You know, it is easy to lose hope, for example, during a cyclone or because of the coronavirus. We need to be a source of courage and hope to the other members of our community so that they do not focus too much on these challenges, but think of what they can do to move forward. It brings me a lot of joy to serve my fellow brothers and sisters.”  A group of participants in Uganda—with support from the Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation, which implements the program in the country—is making use of local radio to promote awareness about food production.The capacities developed through the PSA program are proving essential in other countries where it is offered. A group of participants in Uganda, with support from the Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation, which implements the program in the country, is making use of local radio to promote awareness about food production.
This organization, inspired by the initiative of the youth, is now using its resources to ensure that food production continues and stores of food maintained over time. It is, for example, offering its own land for planting and making funds available to purchase seeds.
“There is a direct relationship between hope, an attitude of service to others, and constructive action,” says a representative of the Foundation for the Betterment of Society, another organization that offers PSA in Vanuatu. “When we put the needs of others above our own, this brings hope. And, when we remember our spiritual reality, our sense of hope is strengthened, regardless of our physical condition.”  The Baha’i community on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, has remained hopeful and joyful in the face of a devastating cyclone and the challenges cause by the global health crisis.",PORT VILA,,Vanuatu
1415,2020-04-15,"[1404, 1413, 1401]",Youth move to forefront of grassroots response throughout the US,"CHICAGO — Young people across the United States who have been engaged in Baha’i community-building efforts are swiftly responding to a host of needs arising in their communities from the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“There are deep bonds of friendship between people that have for months or years been working together to contribute to social progress,” says Candace Vance, who follows Baha’i social and economic development activities of the country. “Because of this and the love they have for their communities, many young people are finding that they can’t just watch this crisis go by; they’re using the skills and capacities that they have developed through their participation in Baha’i educational programs to assist those in need.”  A family in Rockwall, Texas, prepared protective masks for non-medical use and left them for neighbors.A youth from Chicago describes the nature of her group’s efforts. “We’ve developed tools over time to map volunteers and various materials in our neighborhood, and now we’re able to use these to quickly connect people to various necessities, such as collecting and distributing disinfectant wipes.”
Other youth from the area have been creating informative videos about health measures in languages commonly spoken in the community. They are also assisting families that face language barriers to access government services.  Families in Illinois place quotations from the Baha’i writings in public view to bring joy and reflection to passers-by.Such barriers exist in many other areas, such as in Prince William County, Virginia, where many parents, without access to translators, had been unable to adequately access school programs for their children.
“At first we thought that children missing classes was related to Internet access, but we were wrong,” says a youth from a group that had been engaged in Baha’i educational programs. “It was actually because the parents had no idea of what the school arrangements were.”
These youth, having identified the families requiring additional assistance, are now holding regular online sessions to disseminate administrative information in various languages and to assist their peers with assignments.
In the Triangle area of North Carolina, another group of young people has organized response teams to assist with food distribution, financial aid, and academic tutoring for their neighborhood, where at least six languages are commonly spoken.  Youth in Delaware prepared a tutorial to assist older adults in their community with ordering supplies online. Other youth in Chicago have been creating informative videos about health measures in languages commonly spoken in the community.From children in Los Angeles, California, who prepared care packages for their neighbors, to youth in Delaware who prepared a tutorial to assist older adults in their community with ordering supplies online, Baha’is of all ages and in all parts of the country are considering the unique needs of their communities and are reaching out to build friendships and to be of service to their society.
“Now more than ever,” says Mrs. Vance, “we are seeing incredible expressions of generosity and creativity across the country. People everywhere are striving to help one another, to keep everyone safe. We are moved to action when we reflect on the spiritual reality of a human being, which is to give generously to others and to act in solidarity.”",CHICAGO,,United States
1416,2020-04-18,"[1404, 1385, 1233]",Networks in the Congo keep thousands informed and inspired,"KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — The Baha’is of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are drawing on community ties to keep tens of thousands of people updated on preventive health measures and hopeful news.
“The Congolese Baha’is have focused for years on building communities founded on spiritual principles of unity and interdependence,” says Rachel Kakudji of the Baha’i community’s Office of External Affairs. “In this new situation, the importance of the bonds of trust and friendship developed in small neighborhoods and villages has become all the more essential.”
On the basis of its experience with social and economic development efforts in agriculture, education, and health, the Baha’i community of the country is publishing a series of new articles on its national website to provide advice, such as what crops to plant to ensure food security.
Through the networks of thousands of Congolese participating in Baha’i community-building efforts, this information is being rapidly disseminated in cities and rural areas alike.  The Congolese Baha’is are drawing on community ties to keep tens of thousands of people updated on preventive health measures and hopeful news.Youth involved in Baha’i educational programs that develop capacity for service are finding creative ways to promote greater degrees of unity among their fellow citizens and dispel misconceptions about the outbreak. Young people in Mbuji-Mayi, Eastern Kasai province, for example, wrote a song in the Tshiluba language answering questions posed by younger youth about the disease.
“The lyrics are intended to teach the whole community about the crisis and inspire solidarity as we change our daily patterns to save lives,” says Sinclair Mbiya, one of the songwriters. “The youth were eager to sing their song Tutshimuna COVID-19, which means ‘Overcoming COVID-19.’” A major broadcaster is playing the song on radio throughout the region.Timely information has been vital in assisting communities to act early and draw inspiration from other parts of the country. In the province of South Kivu, Baha’is in the village of Canjavu are rallying the entire population to action while maintaining safety measures put in place by the government.
“On the economic level, the health crisis does not scare us because we have been investing in education, for some time, that raises our capacity for service to society and for economic activity,” says a resident of the village. “We had noticed that, despite sincere offers of support to our community, many people still had to go to the mines to meet the needs of their families.
“Today, in our village, we have nearly 3,700 people out of 3,920 who are involved in community-building activities in a sustainable manner. In our village, Baha’is, Catholics, and Protestants support one another without prejudice or other obstacles between them: we work together, we learn together, we pray together.”
Another resident, who operates a business in Canjavu, distributed some of his stores of disinfectants to families in the community and provided instructions on how to sanitize surfaces in the home.
“A large part of the population has access to information, but this is not the same as internalizing and accepting it,” says Mrs. Kakudji. “The Baha’i community, as a trusted voice, is reinforcing messages that can help people take precautions, remain hopeful, and help each other face this challenge in a spirit of love and collaboration.”",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1417,2020-04-20,"[1213, 1380, 1304, 1231]",New addition completes bicentenary websites: a unique glimpse of unity in diversity,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — A new section, featuring images, videos, and music from commemorations of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab, now completes the two bicentenary websites.
These websites stand as a permanent testament to how Baha’is and many of their compatriots throughout the world—from major urban centers to remote rural locations—commemorated the bicentennial anniversaries of the birth of Baha’u’llah and the Bab in 2017 and 2019, respectively.  The bicentenary websites stand as a permanent testament to how Baha’is and many of their compatriots throughout the world commemorated the bicentennial anniversaries of the birth of Baha’u’llah and the Bab in 2017 and 2019, respectively.An outpouring of love and esteem from an extraordinarily diverse cross-section of humanity characterized the worldwide commemorations of the births of these Twin Luminaries over two 72-hour periods.
Throughout that time, a feed of live updates on the websites offered simultaneously in over nine languages a rare panorama of the human family. The flow of posts provided glimpses of the countless artistic expressions and acts of service and devotion that were everywhere taking place. The websites also made available live broadcasts of devotional programs held in Baha’i Houses of Worship on every continent.  Throughout the 72-hour bicentenary period, a feed of live updates on the websites offered a rare panorama of the human family.The final additions now made to the bicentenary websites include country pages illustrating the diversity of celebrations that these historic occasions inspired in over 150 countries and territories.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1418,2020-04-22,"[1404, 1401, 1388]",Community of English learners support one another during health crisis,"VANCOUVER, Canada — Over the past 15 years, a Baha’i-inspired program for English learners in Vancouver has brought together thousands of people to practice language skills in the context of conversations on topics of social importance. Now, the deep bonds of friendship that have been developed are proving to be a source of vitality and resilience during this challenging time.
“Strong friendships and a spirit of collective endeavor have been consciously nurtured in the English Corner program,” says Simon Grandy, director of Colibri Learning Foundation. “Past and present participants are finding they can draw on each other, not just to get through these rough times but to keep a conversation going about how they can apply profound ideas from the Baha’i teachings in service to society.”
When English Corner groups come together, participants build more than just language skills. At each meeting, they explore themes such as friendship, unity, and the responsibility of communities to care for all. They reflect on how each topic affects them as individuals, how it affects society, and what they can do to put into action the ideas discussed.
With Vancouver under lockdown measures, study sessions have been moved online.
“I think it is very important to keep in touch between us as a community in these stressful days,” says Aislinn, one of the participants. “I feel more at ease and optimistic because I am still in touch and learning with others.”  At each meeting, English Corner groups explore themes such as friendship, unity, and the responsibility of communities to care for all.Recently, a facilitator of the program received an unexpected phone call from someone who had participated 10 years ago but had since returned to Italy. While confined to his home because of public health measures in that country, this person recalled the warmth of interactions he had shared with his group, “It’s very lonely here and I remembered the meaningful conversations we used to have and wanted to reach out.”
“Sometimes we don’t realize how significant a heart-to-heart conversation can be,” says Simon.
Another participant in the program explains, “During the crisis, English Corner has been really helpful. … We could feel empathy for one another because we could know that everyone feels worried about this situation. Our world is big yet we are all close to each other in friendship.”",VANCOUVER,,Canada
1419,2020-04-23,[],Work presses on at the site for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — The momentous process of raising the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha continues to advance, while work practices adhere to all public health measures required by the authorities that ensure the safety of personnel on the construction site.
A tower crane now rises over the site, assisting the work to lay the foundations for the edifice. On Thursday, the support piles that had been driven deep at the center of the site were capped with a layer of concrete that will help provide stability for the structure to be erected above.
The foundations that will support the north and south entrances leading toward the central structure and the walls that will enclose an inner garden area are taking shape. As a result, an imprint of the design’s elegant geometry is now visible for the first time.  Aerial view of progress on the construction work for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.Although certain operations have necessarily slowed or stopped, progress is being made at each stage with the approval of local authorities.
The detailed designs needed for future work are taking their final shape while preparations for further stages of construction have begun. Initial tests are underway on innovative techniques needed to build the intricate marble-clad trellis and skylights that will stretch out from the central structure to the surrounding gardens.  Preparations to pour a layer of concrete to cap the support piles that had been driven deep at the center of the site for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1420,2020-04-25,"[1404, 1303, 1290]",Working through crisis fosters greater societal unity in Kazakhstan,"NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan — The current global health crisis is causing many people to reflect deeply on the future of their society. In Kazakhstan last week, the Baha’i community convened an online discussion with academics, government officials, social actors, and religious representatives to explore how their collaborative efforts under the current circumstances are strengthening societal unity.
“During these difficult times we as a nation have had to look beyond the present, setting aside any historical feelings of disunity, to imagine what our country could look like when we emerge from this crisis,” said Timur Chekparbayev, a representative of the country’s Baha’i Office of Public Affairs.
The Office held the discussion as part of its efforts to contribute to the discourse on social cohesion.
“In response to this crisis,” said Serik Tokbolat, a representative of the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs, “we are not giving up hope but are turning our eyes to the possibilities for a degree of social unity we have never seen before.”
Participants considered that one of the signs of a harmonious society is the ability of its citizens, communities, and institutions to act in concert and make decisions for the well-being of all.
“Institutions, both public and government, will need to go deeper into understanding how to make collective decisions and explore related principles,” said Zaira Koishinova, a historian.  The Baha’is of Kazakhstan convened an online discussion with academics, government officials, social actors, and religious representatives to explore how their collaborative efforts under the current circumstances are strengthening societal unity.“In these circumstances, the importance of mutual trust becomes clear,” remarked Arman Kozhakhmetov, a member of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, “Promoting trust requires open and clear decision-making. When people see that mistakes are recognized and corrected, trust is born and issues can quickly be solved.”
Offering a perspective from the Hindu community, Askhat Adilbayev said that “people are increasingly talking about the spiritual and finding many answers in religious scriptures. Trust is born in faith. We have an opportunity before us to become closer to the sublime spiritual values that foster our development.”
Participants shared a strong sentiment that the past does not have to define the future.
“Governments, organizations, and communities are building the way forward together. Many who previously interacted as rivals are now extending a helping hand to one another,” said Karlygash Kalilakhanova, of the N. Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Inter-religious Dialogue.
Reflecting on the event, Lyazzat Yangaliyeva, member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Kazakhstan, says that “an idea that has been central to the organization of public life and considered as the engine of progress is competition. But it’s now becoming clear to many that this idea is outdated. Overcoming the difficulties we face today requires high degrees of unity and the participation of all.”",NUR-SULTAN,,Kazakhstan
1421,2020-04-29,"[1370, 1246, 906]",Local Temple design unveiled in India,"NEW DELHI — The design for the local Baha’i House of Worship to be built in Bihar Sharif has been unveiled. In light of the prevailing circumstances, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of India chose to make the announcement online today in lieu of the ceremony that would have marked the historic event.
This will be the second Baha’i temple in India. The House of Worship in New Delhi that has stood as a symbol of hope and unity in the country for decades has become a beloved place of spiritual reflection and renewal for Indians of all faiths and traditions.
“We have personally experienced the power of a space to inspire in the architecture of the Lotus Temple, which many of us have been visiting since we were children,” stated the firm that designed the new temple. “We appreciate that the Baha’i House of Worship in Bihar Sharif needs to offer a setting for the experience of the divine, while being humbly rooted in its surroundings.”“Bihar is a fertile land and its many villages present a timeless scene of Indian rural life,” says Suditya Sinha, one of the architects. “The House of Worship is coming up in this lush, rural setting. Inspired by traditional architecture and crafts, we chose to use brick made from local earth. The land is literally and metaphorically molded into the form of the temple.”
Drawing on patterns found in the Madhubani folk art of Bihar and the region’s long architectural heritage, the firm created a design with a repeating pattern of arches. The domed edifice will step up from nine arches at the base, multiplying until each segment appears to merge into a single geometry. Openings at the center of the dome and in each ring of arches will reduce the weight of the ceiling while allowing gentle light to filter in.  Openings at the center of the dome and in each ring of arches will reduce the weight of the ceiling while allowing gentle light to filter in.Reflecting on the power of prayer, Naznene Rowhani of the National Assembly says: “in the difficult times we are passing through, people are finding more than ever the need to turn to their Creator. Therefore, constructing the temple in Bihar Sharif now has even greater meaning, and we feel that we must continue this process while ensuring the safety and health of all involved in its construction.”
The new temple and its grounds will serve to enhance the connection between service and worship present in the community-building activities of the Baha’is of Bihar Sharif. With its doors open to everyone, the temple will foster a culture of inclusion and cooperation among all people.  The domed edifice will step up from nine arches at the base, multiplying until each segment appears to merge into a single geometry.",NEW DELHI,,India
1422,2020-05-01,"[1404, 1407, 1414]",Community banks in Nicaragua take early precautions,"MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Before concerns about the global coronavirus outbreak were in the public consciousness, a Baha’i-inspired community banking program in Nicaragua took initiative to implement safety measures for the handling of money and made arrangements for transactions to take place online and by telephone.
“These banks are founded on the Baha’i principles of service and care for the well-being of all,” says the program’s national coordinator. “So, with the economic challenges and the evolving health crisis, we have not only been conscious of continuing vital services that support the economic life of the community but also of ensuring that our operations do not put people at risk.”The way the program works is by offering training to groups of 10 to 30 people, who then begin to save small sums and make modest loans available to bank members at a reasonable rate. The banks are managed entirely by the members themselves and interest earned is divided proportionally according to the amount each person holds in savings. As a bank grows, it is also able to provide financial support for social and economic development initiatives in the community.  Photograph taken before the current global health crisis. Community banks in Nicaragua inspired by Baha’i principles are managed entirely by the community members.Over the last 15 years, the program has grown in Nicaragua to serve several localities and is recognized in the country for its distinctive approach.
“The banks’ experience and underlying principles have informed their response to the global health crisis,” says the national coordinator. “We recognize that we are not just businesses looking to our own affairs but are here to serve the common welfare. We have the responsibility to be an example of sound and safe business practices during these times.”",MANAGUA,,Nicaragua
1423,2020-05-03,"[1420, 1408, 1404]",Looking beyond the health crisis in the Kurdistan region of Iraq,"ERBIL, Iraq — Online forums, now a common feature of life in many places, have become a venue for promising conversations in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Baha’is of the region have been organizing weekly forums where academics, social actors, faith leaders, and government officials are examining spiritual principles that have drawn people together in this time of crisis and exploring how these principles can help shape public life in the future.
A running theme has been the oneness of humanity and how society suffers when any one group considers its own needs without thought for others.
“These conversations are allowing us to sincerely and genuinely learn from each other,” said Tahireh Abaychi, representative of the Baha’is of the Kurdistan region. “It’s not that any one of us has the answers. We’re seeing one another through a new lens with the interests of all at heart.”
New perspectives are allowing participants to challenge assumptions that underlie prevalent modes of thought, questioning the idea that self-interest drives prosperity and that progress depends on its expression through unrestrained competition.  A running theme of weekly online forums among social actors in the Kurdistan region of Iraq has been the oneness of humanity and how society suffers when any one group considers its own needs without thought for others.The current circumstances, participants noted, are showing just the opposite—an outpouring of generosity that transcends differences is what contributes to the progress of all. Such expressions of good-will, some participants observed, have had their most profound affect in small geographic areas, where people can come to know one another, understand each other’s needs, and take action for the benefit of their fellow citizens.“What is happiness? What are needs? What is prosperity? These terms can now be redefined,” said another participant. “A culture of consumption promotes the value that our worth is based on how much we can consume and accumulate. But we are now seeing that giving selflessly needs to be an organizing principle.""
Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, including the director of the ministry’s department of coexistence, noted that these discussions are proving helpful in formulating plans for promoting societal values.
“The government is actively looking at policies that can help our society to come through this crisis more resilient and more attentive to needs. These conversations will help with that process,” said one of the officials from the ministry.
Reflecting on the discussions to date, Mrs. Abaychi says: “The question is how can we ensure that principles which have for so long been at the margins of thought or viewed as idealistic be brought to the center of the public consciousness and policy making?
“This will require a recognition of our essential oneness and many acts of true and selfless generosity—meaning, that the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand has given.”",ERBIL,,Iraq
1424,2020-05-06,"[1423, 1386, 1335]",BIC Brussels: Finding ways to stay in touch,"BRUSSELS — During this unique period, when online communications are being used more than ever by social actors to exchange ideas, the Brussels Office of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) has launched a quarterly newsletter to share more widely insights emerging from its efforts to contribute to contemporary discourses in Europe.
“Establishing a newsletter seemed timely in the context of limitations to social interaction,” says Rachel Bayani of the Brussels Office. “It serves to synthesize key insights and questions that are emerging in prevalent discourses and seeks to connect our collaborators with the breadth of topics being addressed. The newsletter is one way to include more people in conversations and to build joint understanding with them.”
Over the past ten years, the Brussels Office has been coordinating the efforts of Baha’is to work with the European Union, Council of Europe, and other European organizations.  Over the past ten years, the Brussels Office has been coordinating the efforts of Baha’is to work with the European Union, Council of Europe, and other European organizations.The Office’s approaches and contributions are based on Baha’i principles, explains Mrs. Bayani. “They not only inform the ideas that our Office contributes to discussions, but also our posture in consultations on vital questions. We are here to jointly explore with others how concepts related to global prosperity, justice, and our interdependence can be applied to social issues in the European context.”
The Brussels Office of the BIC is participating in several discourses, including on migration, social cohesion and diversity, and peace-building in societies undergoing violent conflict.
It also hosts gatherings of its own on broad themes such as the role of religion in European society and on other issues of pressing concern in Europe, such as the use of inclusive language and even the development of artificial intelligence. These gatherings are being increasingly noted as forums where new approaches and new thinking can emerge.  The Brussels Office of the Baha’i International Community hosts gatherings of its own on broad themes such as the role of religion in European society and on other issues of pressing concern in Europe, such as the use of inclusive language and even the development of artificial intelligence.In the first issue of the newsletter, the Brussels office offers initial reflections on the global health crisis. “Within the span of a few months,” the Office writes, “our global society and systems have been tested in new and profound ways. A widespread discourse is emerging regarding the next stage of our collective lives. … it is necessary to revisit and assess the fundamental principles guiding our current system of global governance. This will require a profound reexamination of the attitudes and assumptions which currently underlie it.”",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1425,2020-05-08,"[1329, 1375]",Series on “Baha’i World” to focus on themes related to global health crisis,"BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, questions about humanity’s future loom large. The online publication The Baha’i World is, in this context, initiating a series of articles that focus on major issues facing societies as they look ahead.
“The current global pandemic has demanded drastic action,” write the editors. “It has also made evident the need for profound reflection on how humanity will emerge from this crisis. Will we move towards a more just and peaceful world?”The first article in the series, published earlier today, looks at questions around government’s role in social welfare. Future articles will explore a range of topics such as economics, migration, and agriculture and food security, among others. The new series will join existing articles on peace, technology, rural development, and humanitarian relief.  A new article on The Baha’i World website entitled “The Role of Public Institutions in Ensuring Social Well-Being” looks at questions around government’s role in social welfare.The website also features a new pictorial essay depicting the settings most closely associated with the Bab and His Faith.
The Baha’i World began in print form in 1926 under the direction of Shoghi Effendi. In May of last year, the website was launched to house new articles that deal with Baha’i perspectives on contemporary themes. An email subscription service is available, allowing subscribers to be informed when new articles are published.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1426,2020-05-11,"[1404, 1343, 1117]","Arts reveal beauty in the world, cast light on current situation","BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — In these unique times, the arts have been particularly important in stimulating reflection on the spiritual dimension of human life and inspiring hope. Baha’is and their compatriots throughout the world have been drawing on the arts to cast a light on themes that are captivating the public consciousness, such as humanity’s interconnectedness.
“Creative initiatives are providing people a way to reach out to friends and to help relieve their anxiety. Artistic works can increase the feelings of hope, cohesion, and unity in a society,” says Simina, a sketch artist from Romania.
People of all ages, especially youth, have found ways to uplift the spirits of their fellow citizens through music, podcasts, paintings and drawings, theatre, puppet shows, poetry, and digital designs. Such works have focused on revealing the beauty that exists in the world and conveying new perspectives on current circumstances.
Nadiv, a young musician from Kenya, reflecting on the use of the arts to express constructive ideas says: “We’ve been able to address issues of common concern during the pandemic through music, and to bring people together to take part in collective expressions of solidarity. The arts have really been a voice for the voiceless. When you can’t say something directly, you can express it through creative means.”
The arts have been drawn upon by many to show appreciation for those working in essential services and to provide communities with information about health measures.
Meadow, a painter from the United States, says that “by using our hands and our voices, we’ve seen how everyone can create something beautiful and inspiring for others to enjoy. Creativity allows inspiration to flow, lifting our spirits and helping those around us.""
The following is a small selection of the many artistic expressions produced during this period that have been inspired by the Baha’i teachings.  Baha’is in Latin America and Spain have been producing uplifting music videos for youth. This song titled “La fuerza del amor”, meaning the strength of love, encourages young people to translate positive thoughts into actions.  Teachers of children’s moral education classes in Italy have recorded a puppet show on the theme of justice and shared it on the website, “Stelle Splendenti” (Brilliant Stars).  This website, one of several initiatives of the country’s Baha’i community, was created in response to the coronavirus pandemic and makes available multimedia resources to help families explore with their children the spiritual qualities most needed at this time.Three siblings in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have produced podcast episodes telling stories from the history of the Baha’i Faith that demonstrate perseverance in the face of challenges.  Young people who have been participating in educational programs of the Baha’i community in Nanaimo, Canada, held an online youth camp and reflected on how they can be of service to others during this time of crisis. This video was made by these youth to explore the theme of humility.  Young people from Minsk, Belarus, have created a video in which they recite poems they have written about seeing the beauty of humanity and of good deeds.  An artist from the United States has created a video to share painting skills and the spiritual concepts that have inspired her work.  A one-man play from Romania titled “Exile to Paradise” explores significant historical events in the Baha’i Faith. Multiple recordings of the actor playing different roles were edited together to convey a seamless narrative.  A family in the United Kingdom performs a selection of live music on the theme of humanity’s essential oneness. Many such broadcasts have been made throughout the world from living rooms to stimulate reflection on profound spiritual principles.  An initiative of several musicians in Auckland, New Zealand, titled “Illuminate the World”, has been bringing people together to create musical works that shed light on challenges facing their society.  Children in Berlin, Germany, who participate in Baha’i education classes, have made drawings on the theme of hope for the residents of a home for the elderly  A collective of artists from Norte del Cauca, Colombia, have produced a lively song with a message about taking health precautions.  This piece, called “In the Heart of Unity”, is about how hope can spread from heart to heart. It was inspired by conversations among a group of young people who gather weekly online to share ideas about how they can continue to serve their societies under present circumstances.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1427,2020-05-15,"[1402, 1344, 1339]","Prayer awakens feelings of solidarity, enriches collective life","BUCHAREST, Romania — In the span of a short few months acts of devotion and generosity have come into greater focus in humanity’s collective life, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt societies and cause great suffering.
“The soul’s natural impulse to pray, to turn to its Creator at times of joy or difficulty, was so often muted and forgotten in the distractions of daily life,” says Ivone Marlen Scărlătescu, member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Romania. “But now, with this crisis, people are being reoriented toward their spiritual nature, the thing that unites us all, and are realizing the importance of prayer.”
The Baha’is of Romania, responding to growing interest in prayer within their country, have been holding online devotional gatherings for all who wish to join. “Bridges to greater dialogue are being built as people come to pray together daily,” says Mrs. Scărlătescu. “People’s hearts are starting to beat as one. We are witnessing a new form of camaraderie based on prayer, solidarity, and care for each other.”  A family in Indonesia prays together. “When a few people gather to pray and think deeply about the meaning of the sacred words they are saying, they gain a clearer vision of what is important and feel more united. They are able to make decisions and take action to address the needs they see around them,” says Rina Tjua Leena of Indonesia’s Baha’i office of external affairs.These comments echo sentiments expressed by many people throughout the world. In East Borneo, Indonesia, as a group of friends began to gather online to pray for the well-being of their country, they found it natural to reflect on how they could help others in their immediate neighborhoods. Their conversations have led to an initiative that produces and distributes masks to those who need them most.
“When a few people gather to pray and think deeply about the meaning of the sacred words they are saying, they gain a clearer vision of what is important and feel more united. They are able to make decisions and take action to address the needs they see around them,” says Rina Tjua Leena of Indonesia’s Baha’i office of external affairs.  A devotional program broadcast live from the House of Worship in Australia.People who once felt invisible or unnoticed—even to their neighbors—are finding that collective prayer has the power to make friends of strangers. In places where Baha’i Houses of Worship stand, live broadcasts of devotional programs and online gatherings for collective prayer have brought many people together, allaying anxieties and inspiring hope.
In Santiago, Chile, a participant of these devotional gatherings explains how coming together to pray has created bonds of friendship among people who were previously unknown to each other.
“Neighbors are now continually offering support whenever they can. If someone goes to the supermarket or the pharmacy, they let others know in case they need something.”
But feeling a sense of interconnectedness has not been dependent on access to the Internet. In many parts of the world, people have established networks of phone calls to join each other in prayer or prepared radio broadcasts of devotional programs for their localities.  Baha’is in Kamuli, Uganda, have been broadcasting daily programs on the importance of a devotional life.In Kamuli, Uganda, where Baha’is have been broadcasting daily programs on the importance of a devotional life, David Waiswa, a resident of the area, says: “This daily moment of prayer becomes a time when all members of a family can look at profound questions together and even consult about family matters.
“In the environment of love, unity, and understanding created through prayer, family members not only become more thoughtful toward one another, but also more aware of the needs of the community around them.”  Baha’is in the United Arab Emirates create a short film about the importance of prayer and service to society.Hanan Ihsan, a young person from Jordan, reflects on moments of devotion with her peers: “What has helped us get through this difficult time has been turning toward God and praying together. And also to talk about how this pandemic affects our lives, how we can help each other get through this hard time, and how our society can progress beyond this crisis.”",BUCHAREST,,Romania
1428,2020-05-20,[],Efforts in Indian village invite participation,"BOOKANAKERE, India — As nationwide lockdown measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus remain in effect, the Baha’is of India continue in their efforts to support and uplift their fellow citizens. An initiative in the village of Bookanakere is one example of countless other such efforts under way throughout the country, bringing to light what is possible when people combine their modest resources for the benefit of all.
“Fostering unity has always been a guiding principle for us in the community and is at the heart of what we do,” says Kumar Nayak of the Baha’i Local Spiritual Assembly of Bookanakere. “We have realized the value of working unitedly in overcoming difficult situations.”
Bookanakere is one of many parts of the country where daily wage earners and their families have been severely impacted by the lockdown. Out of concern for their well-being, the Baha’is of this village collaborated with local authorities and other residents to provide some 100 families in the area with food supplies and other essentials.  A statewide news channel in Karnataka reports on the efforts of the Baha’is of Bookanakere, India, to provide some 100 families in the area with food supplies and other essentials.  The initiative was supported by members of the Gram Panchayat—the local governing authority—who participated in visits to the families.The initiative was supported by members of the Gram Panchayat—the local governing authority—who participated in visits to the families. Although undertaken without fanfare, the efforts were reported on by a statewide TV news channel in Karnataka in a recent broadcast: “During this time, people who are prosperous are buying necessary materials from shops for their sustenance, but many families who depend on daily wages are facing severe hardship.
“In this situation, the members of the Baha’i Local Spiritual Assembly and other residents of Bookanakere have come forward to help… families in need by distributing food packets.”
Santosh Kumar, another member of the Local Spiritual Assembly, reflecting on the effort says: “Each one of us is responsible to contribute to the well-being of all. When we make efforts to help each other it inspires collective action and creates an environment in which everyone is motivated to contribute. We now see many more groups of people in the village stepping forward to address the crisis in their own way.”",BOOKANAKERE,,India
1429,2020-05-24,"[1423, 1388, 1303]",Canadian podcast series explores essential principles in wake of pandemic,"TORONTO — The Baha’i community of Canada has launched a new podcast, beginning with a mini-series titled “Resilience in the face of adversity.” Episodes in the series explore how insights from religion can shed new light on contemporary challenges amid the current public health crisis.
“This crisis is giving rise to a new consciousness in our society, as more people are thinking about our interdependence, the need for solidarity, and the values that we want to see reflected in our communities,” says Geoffrey Cameron of the country’s Baha’i Office of Public Affairs.
“The experience of Baha’is in community building efforts provides some insight into these themes. Our hope is that more people will join in the conversation we are trying to promote on this podcast.”
The series brings together academics and social actors to look at questions pertinent to Canadians, such as the power of religion to inspire constructive thought and action and the importance of service to one’s society.
In the first episode, a professor of public ethics and a doctor working on the frontlines explore how service to others could remain a prominent feature of public life beyond the crisis.
“One of the basic tenets of most if not all faiths is our human connectedness and our responsibility for each other,” says John Milloy, director of the Centre for Public Ethics at Martin Luther University College. “We live in a world that is divided all the time by economics, by geography, by politics—and yet here’s one case where we literally are all in this together. Hopefully that sense of shared humanity will be something that lives on after this and will strengthen our world.”The Public Discourse · The Public Discourse - EP 1 - Service To OthersIn the second episode, released last Wednesday, on religion’s power to inspire new ways of thinking, Eric Farr of Canada’s Baha’i community, describes how people have come to see humanity’s essential oneness with greater clarity and conviction under the current circumstances. Echoing the sentiments of other participants, he expresses the hope for this principle to become firmly established in the public consciousness and to stimulate deep reflection on its implications for the structures of society.
Hannah Marazzi from Cardus, a faith-based think tank, says: “I've noticed that the people around me are revisiting what it means to be human. When I look around me, when I listen to those that I have phone calls with, I'm beginning to see a return to really important questions like: What do I put my hope in? What responsibility do I have towards my neighbor? How can I reorient my life according to what deeply matters?”The Public Discourse · The Public Discourse - EP 2 - The Power Of ReligionDr. Cameron, reflecting on these conversations, says: “We hope that this podcast can shine a light on an evolving conversation about the values we share and the role of religion and spirituality in our society. We are also looking ahead and talking about our aspirations for the future.”
Episodes of the new podcast, titled “The Public Discourse,” will be released weekly for the next month on the website of the Office of Public Affairs.",TORONTO,,Canada
1430,2020-05-26,"[1414, 1387, 1362]","Pandemic highlights need to address moral dimensions of climate change, scholars warn","COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — The current global health crisis and its consequences have prompted renewed warnings about environmental challenges ahead. A recent online conference held by the Baha’i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland provided participants with a forum to examine these challenges at a time of heightened consciousness about humanity’s oneness and its relationship with nature.
“The current global health crisis… shows how individuals, communities, institutions, and governments must come together to address a common concern,” said Hoda Mahmoudi, holder of the Baha’i Chair for World Peace, in her opening remarks at the conference. “[This] crisis calls for non-partisan, united action based on scientific evidence and ethical considerations. It demands moral courage. The same is true for climate change.”  Speakers at the conference, including Maxine Burkett, Professor of Law at the University of Hawaii, explored the need to build partnerships, trust, and shared purpose in facing environmental challenges across the world, while ensuring that the focus remains on the most vulnerable.Richard Houghton, Senior Scientist at the Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts, spoke about the decrease in global emissions, acknowledging the tragic nature of the circumstances.
“People are becoming, by necessity, more ingenious and more conservative of their resources. This should provide lessons about what works. … I’m hoping we can use this educational period as a time to take climate change more seriously. What we’re doing in response to the virus may carry over to what needs to be done for the climate.”
Planned as a virtual meeting months ago in order to avoid emissions produced by air travel, the conference was able to proceed in spite of the health crisis and brought together researchers from Australia, Cambodia, Hawaii, and the United States. Contributors provided perspectives from a range of academic disciplines.  In discussions at the conference, Kyle Whyte, Professor of Philosophy and Timnick Chair at Michigan State University, emphasized that policies around the introduction of new energy technologies must carefully consider questions concerning justice and equity.Kyle Whyte, Professor of Philosophy and Timnick Chair at Michigan State University, emphasized that policies around the introduction of new energy technologies must carefully consider questions concerning justice and equity, especially those relating to indigenous people and vulnerable groups. He cautioned that “an energy transition which so many people believe is just an inherently good thing” could be looked at 50 years from now as having led to the displacement of entire populations.
He and Melissa Nursey-Bray, Interim Head of Social Sciences at the University of Adelaide, Australia, both expressed that local communities must be involved in decision-making processes that affect them. Dr. Nursey-Bray said that in “moving towards the future and a global solution, we actually need to look at local place-based responses.”  “The current global health crisis… shows how individuals, communities, institutions, and governments must come together to address a common concern. … The same is true for climate change,” said Hoda Mahmoudi, holder of the Baha’i Chair for World Peace, at a recent online conference.Dr. Mahmoudi, reflecting on the conference, describes how assumptions about the economy, consumerism, health, and wellbeing—all of which have enormous social and environmental implications—are now being challenged:
“The foundation of the environmental, economic, and social crises that all peoples face today is really a spiritual crisis. These significant problems cannot be solved without some agreement among the peoples of the world about who we are as human beings: What is our moral responsibility to one another and as trustees of the planet? What principles can we unite around? So when we speak of the oneness of humankind, it is not just about fellowship and kindness, but a call to construct a different world with a totally new approach to resolving problems that, as this virus has shown, are intricately interconnected. After this crisis, we may have an opportunity to take steps in this direction.”
All presentations made at the conference may be viewed online.",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
1431,2020-06-01,"[1378, 1430, 1385]",Prerequisites for peace penned 100 years ago reverberate today,"THE HAGUE, Netherlands — In the aftermath of World War I and the devastating 1918 flu pandemic, two Baha’is set out from the Holy Land in May 1920 to deliver a message written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague. This message, referred to as the First Tablet to The Hague, explored principles required for profound societal transformation.
“This tablet continues to speak to us today,” says Sherene Devid-Farag of the Dutch Baha’i community’s Office of External Affairs. “It helps us see, point by point, the elements that are needed for a peaceful world, including the equality of women and men, the harmony of religion and science, the promotion of education, and the elimination of all forms of prejudice. These same principles inspire countless movements, organizations, and people in their efforts toward social justice today. What we need to realize across all these endeavors is that we are all companions on the same path toward peace.”
The Baha’is of the Netherlands and Religions for Peace Netherlands co-hosted an online conference last Thursday, marking the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the tablet to its destination. The commemoration was originally planned to take place at the Peace Palace in The Hague but was later moved online due to the coronavirus outbreak.  In the aftermath of World War I and the devastating 1918 flu pandemic, two Baha’is set out from the Holy Land in May 1920 to deliver a message written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague. (Credit for featured images: bahaigeschiedenis.nl)Participants explored the themes from the First Tablet to The Hague in light of current circumstances.
“What ‘Abdu’l-Baha was telling us is that faith is the light that eliminates the darkness of fear… What is needed is the deliberate commitment to come together as people of all faiths and take action [based] on our common principles,” said Azza Karam, Secretary-General of Religions for Peace International.
Speaking on the theme of the oneness of humanity, Britt Bakker, vice-president of Religions for Peace Netherlands, said: “It is in these remarkable times that we are painfully, but at the same time beautifully, confronted with our… connectedness.”
Awraham Soetendorp, a Jewish rabbi in The Hague, shared his hope that people might one day look back at this time as a crucial moment “when we found the wisdom and courage to truly cooperate beyond borders out of mutual trust, when we thus turned great peril into great promise and fashioned a new compassionate world order in which no one was left behind.”  The commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the First Tablet to The Hague to its destination was originally planned to take place at the Peace Palace but was later moved online due to the coronavirus outbreak.Marga Martens, Secretary of the Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly of the Netherlands, in reflecting on the event and the vision for peace presented in the tablet, says:
“The remedy to these ills are the principles elucidated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. We all have the choice to work toward them, both in our personal lives and as a society. Just as turning to the advice of a physician is essential when we are ill, it is the spiritual medicine of these principles that will help us go to the roots of society and create a beautiful change.”",THE HAGUE,,Netherlands
1432,2020-06-06,[],Conversations on social cohesion gather momentum in Australia since pandemic,"SYDNEY — Since the pandemic began conversations on racial and economic disparities, conceptions of ‘us’ and ‘them’, and lack of participation in decision-making processes have gained prominence in Australia. These and other issues were explored in an online seminar held last week by the Australian Baha’i Office of External Affairs as part of its efforts to contribute to the public discourse on social cohesion.
“Although this crisis has exposed more inequalities and prejudiced attitudes, it has also spurred a movement toward seeing ourselves more as a family,” says Ida Walker of the Office of External Affairs. “If we were to see that one member of a family had to suffer for another to prosper, we would readily acknowledge the imbalance. We need to see all of society in a similar way.”
In the online seminar titled “Bouncing Back or Bouncing Forward?” Ms. Walker discussed with Hugh Mackay, a prominent Australian author and social psychologist, how their society could reconsider its notions of identity, prosperity, and economic life in order to address social divides.  In the online seminar titled “Bouncing Back or Bouncing Forward?” the Australian Baha’i Office of External Affairs explores with Hugh Mackay, a prominent Australian author and social psychologist, how Australian society could reconsider its notions of identity, prosperity, and economic life in order to address social divides.“We have been forced by this experience to recognize that we actually have the capacity to be more compassionate,” said Mr. Mackay. “This society, with very few exceptions, [is] showing that we are prepared to live for a while in a completely different way in order to care for each other. And I think that is a very promising sign.”
Mr. Mackay also observed that reduced mobility in light of the crisis has led to a return of neighborhood life and has allowed people residing in the same apartment building or street to see each other as part of one community. “These are not people we chose to live with, but they are people who carry this peculiar human status of ‘neighbor’. … And the key to the health of any society is that citizens act like neighbors.”
The online seminar, which drew 250 participants, was held as part of the Australian Baha’i community’s efforts to advance a conversation on social cohesion through a series of roundtables.  Participants in the seminar included officials, civil society organizations, journalists, academics, and representatives of faith communities, many of whom expressed how the ideas discussed would inform their own contributions to diverse fields, including government policy.  Photograph taken before the current global health crisis. The Australian Baha’i community holds periodic roundtables, such as the one featured here, with diverse social actors, academics, and faith communities to advance conversations on social cohesion.In reflecting on the seminar and past roundtables, Ms. Walker says: “Our aim with these discussions is to contribute to building consensus on issues of national concern among the many sections of society.
“By applying the principle of Baha’i consultation we have found that a space is created where diverse perspectives are harmonized and points of unity are amplified. For example, each person offers their perspective without being attached to it, allowing everyone to explore it. Selflessness, love and cordiality are what is needed to reach consensus and unity of action.”
Through these discussions, the Baha’i Office of External Affairs is bringing together various perspectives in a document that seeks to convey an inclusive vision about social cohesion in Australia. This document will be presented to government and civil society organizations later this year.
“The fullest expression of any spiritual conviction can only be found in action. We need spaces at all levels, especially in neighborhoods, where people can consult to better understand one another and seek solutions to issues facing our society. Consultation provides opportunity to create greater cohesion by allowing people to draw on spiritual principles, diverse perspectives, and positive values from their cultures.”",SYDNEY,,Australia
1433,2020-06-11,"[1384, 1372, 1236]",Escalation in persecution of Baha’is in Iran: tried in court and imprisoned for their beliefs,"BIC NEW YORK — The Iranian authorities have escalated their persecution of the Baha’is, targeting at least 77 individuals across the country in recent weeks despite the present health crisis afflicting the country.
Baha’is in the provinces of Fars, South Khorasan, Mazandaran, Isfahan, Alborz, Kerman, Kermanshah, and Yazd have been arrested, summoned to court, tried, sentenced to jail, or imprisoned, all under baseless accusations and for no reason other than a deep-seated antagonism to the Baha’i Faith and its teachings which emphasize truthfulness, equality of men and women, safeguarding the rights of all people, and the harmony of science and religion.
In addition, Iran’s state-affiliated media have stepped up the public defamation of the Baha’is through an increasingly coordinated spread of disinformation about their beliefs by using television channels, newspapers, radio stations, websites, and social media to denigrate and to ostracize the Baha’is. The Baha’is, meanwhile, are not permitted to respond publicly, denying their fellow citizens the opportunity to investigate the truth themselves.
In one instance, a court in South Khorasan Province has sentenced nine Baha’is from three to six years of imprisonment. These include an elderly man, whose advanced age puts his health at great risk if he is imprisoned. In Fars Province 12 Baha’is were sentenced from one to 13 years of imprisonment under spurious charges. In recent days, six Baha’is in South Khorasan Province were summoned and have had to present themselves for imprisonment; four more were arrested in Kerman and Yazd provinces; another Baha’i in Alborz Province was sentenced to one year of imprisonment and two years of internal exile; and yet another Baha’i in Isfahan province was summoned to serve a prison sentence.
After being arrested and released on large bails, these individuals have faced months, and sometimes years, of waiting between their arrest, trial, appeal court, and the beginning of a jail term, adding an enormous additional burden psychologically. Such cruel tactics have been employed repeatedly by the authorities in recent years, as part of their systematic persecution of the entire Baha’i community.
“The recent incidents have placed great pressures on so many families,” said Ms. Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community. “Subjecting them to the constant threat of imprisonment under these circumstances and emotional anguish associated with it is yet another attempt to place greater strain on the community. And to do all this during a health crisis, at an alarmingly escalated rate without any justification whatsoever, is extremely cruel and outrageous.”
For more information on the situation of Baha’is in Iran, visit the website of the Baha’i International Community, which includes archives of Baha’i persecution in Iran.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1434,2020-06-12,"[1363, 1317, 906]","In Africa: As one temple rises, anticipation builds for another","MATUNDA, Kenya — Although at very different stages of development, the sites designated for Baha’i Houses of Worship in Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are providing an early glimpse of the rising spirit of hope and unity.
“The emerging temple has already become a symbol of unity around here. People are coming to see what’s happening,” says Stephen Mwangi, project administrator for the local Baha’i House of Worship being built in Matunda, Kenya.
People of different religions from nearby villages have been gathering on the temple site for collective devotions since before construction began. A growing number of residents of the area, feeling a sense of ownership for the project, have also been helping with various tasks, including tending an onsite plant nursery.  Aerial view of the central edifice and grounds of the local Baha’i House of Worship in Matunda, Kenya.The temple grounds have also become a gathering place for young people participating in Baha’i educational programs that develop capacities for service. Vivian, a youth from Matunda, says: “Worshipping God transforms us inwardly and is expressed outwardly, which means putting our faith into action through selfless acts.”
Wesley, another youth from the area, says that “as people of all faiths participate in this project and in devotional meetings at the temple site, they come to see how the House of Worship stands for the oneness of humanity and the betterment of society through positive actions.”  Photograph taken before the current global health crisis. People of different religions have been gathering at the site of the Baha’i House of Worship in Matunda, Kenya, for collective devotions since before construction began.In spite of challenges caused by the pandemic, Baha’is in Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have persevered and found creative ways to proceed with the temple projects while maintaining safety measures put in place by their governments.
With the foundations laid for the central edifice of the House of Worship in Kenya, the temple’s nine walls have now been raised, and supports for the design’s elegant sloped roof are being put in place.  A growing number of residents in villages surrounding the site of the local Baha’i House of Worship in Matunda, Kenya, have been helping with various tasks, including tending an onsite plant nursery.In the Democratic Republic of the Congo anticipation is building for the unveiling of the design for the national Baha’i House of Worship. The temple site which is located in the capital city, Kinshasa, is currently being prepared for the construction phase. Volunteers from the local area and from across the country have been helping with upkeep of the grounds, gathering at the start of each day to pray together.  People of various faiths from the local area and from across the country who assist with the upkeep of the site for the national Baha’i House of Worship in the Democratic Republic of the Congo gather at the start of each day to pray together.Sam Katombe, community liaison officer for the project to build the House of Worship in Kinshasa, says:
“Worship, like the roots of a tree, draws nourishment from the soil of divine love. And service is like the sap that brings life into the community. Those who are offering their time and energy to provide the people of their country with a beautiful spot for devotion and meditation are helping to raise an edifice dedicated to unity and love for all.”",MATUNDA,,Kenya
1435,2020-06-19,"[1233, 1418, 1305]",Distinctive role of teachers comes to light in times of crises,"BANGUI, Central African Republic — Limited web accessibility in certain regions of the world has not prevented some educators from continuing with formal schooling during the pandemic.  Baha’i-inspired community schools in such places have found creative ways of adapting to present circumstances and serving their students’ educational needs.
“These schools are born from the desire of local people—parents and teachers—to provide a high standard of education to children, integrating academic and spiritual elements and raising them to contribute to the progress of their society,” says Judicaël Mokolé of Fondation Nahid et Hushang Ahdieh, which supports community schools in the Central African Republic. “They are intimately linked to the life of the community and have been important institutions for helping people through these circumstances.”
Clément Feizouré, director of the Baha’i-inspired organization, adds, “The community feels that the school is theirs. Our organization helps with developing capacity for teaching and administration, but community members have ownership over the school’s management, resources, and educational program. They have continued to uphold this responsibility during these disruptive times.”  Students of a community school in Bangui, Central African Republic, study at home. “The approach of decentralized schools is opening unexpected doors,” says Mr. Mokolé. “This has given us the possibility to help parents increase their understanding of educational principles and skills, which is precious because the home is the primary locale for the education of children.”Classes are now being held in the homes of parents with a limited number of children, as permitted within the current health measures in the country. Additional volunteer teachers are being trained to ensure that each small group of families has someone who can help the students with their writing, reading, and arithmetic activities, along with lessons on spiritual themes.
“The approach of decentralized schools is opening unexpected doors,” says Mr. Mokolé. “This has given us the possibility to help parents increase their understanding of educational principles and skills, which is precious because the home is the primary locale for the education of children.”  Parents with their children who are enrolled in Baha’i-inspired community schools in the North Sumatra region of Indonesia, where in-person lessons have had to be suspended. Teachers of community schools in the country have been going to the homes of their students to drop off and pick up homework assignments.A Baha’i principle underlying these schools is that local communities can be protagonists in the education of their children. With such a sense of ownership, communities have been committed to sustaining educational programs during the pandemic while adhering to safety measures put in place by their governments.
In Indonesia, where in-person lessons have had to be suspended, teachers of community schools have been going to the homes of their students to drop off and pickup homework assignments.
In other places, families have pooled their resources to assist teachers so that community schools could continue to operate during this time of economic difficulty. In Malawi, for example, parents have been providing teachers with produce from their farms. Some families have been working the teachers’ plots while they are occupied with their classes.
“Since it is the parents in the community who have chosen the individuals who serve as teachers of their children, trust has existed between them from the beginning” says Andrew Nhlane, national coordinator of community schools with the Bambino Foundation in Malawi. “That’s why, in the current situation, they wish to continue supporting the teachers.”  Teachers at a community school in Langathel, Manipur, India, distribute schoolwork to parents to carry out with their children at home as a precautionary measure during the health crisis.In Kalchini, West Bengal, India, the relationships of trust built between parents and teachers of such schools also extend beyond activities in the classroom. When an organization was searching for volunteers in the village to distribute food supplies, residents asked that the community school teachers assist, saying they would distribute the supplies with fairness.
In another region of the country, Machasana Koijam, who works with a community school in Langathel, Manipur, says:
“The Baha’i teachings tell us that one of the greatest services we can offer is the education of children.  Parents know the sacrifices the teachers are making, especially now, to educate their children in the sciences as well as in spiritual matters so that they can develop a good character and be a light to the world.”",BANGUI,,Central African Republic
1436,2020-06-24,"[1341, 1310, 1432]",Statement on racial prejudice spurs vital conversation in the US,"CHICAGO — A public statement from the Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly of the United States on racial prejudice and spiritual principles essential for progress toward peace released days ago has already stimulated critical reflection across the country.
The statement comes at a moment when recent tragedies and long history have intersected to bring anti-Black racism and other forms of prejudice to the forefront of public consciousness in the United States and across the world.
The message reads in part: “To create a just society begins with recognition of the fundamental truth that humanity is one. But it is not enough simply to believe this in our hearts. It creates the moral imperative to act, and to view all aspects of our personal, social, and institutional lives through the lens of justice. It implies a reordering of our society more profound than anything we have yet achieved. And it requires the participation of Americans of every race and background, for it is only through such inclusive participation that new moral and social directions can emerge.”
The statement was released on 19 June, a date traditionally dedicated to commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Initially published in the Chicago Tribune, it has also appeared in dozens of other publications, reaching a wide range of people.
Youth across the country have been examining how the statement can assist them in their efforts to contribute to greater harmony and understanding among their fellow compatriots. Participants in a recent national forum on race unity drew on ideas from the statement to illuminate their discussions.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. A message to the people of the United States written by the Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly spurs on a conversation on the elimination of racial prejudice in which the Baha’i community has long been engaged in many spaces.The message voiced by the National Assembly is one of hope, speaking about what is required to address the root causes of racism: sustained and concerted effort guided by the recognition of the fundamental truth that the human family is one.
This view is informed by the experience of a national Baha’i community in which, since its inception at the turn of the 20th century, people of African and European descent and eventually of all origins have joined hands to labor towards the elimination of racial prejudice.
May Lample of the country’s Baha’i Office of Public Affairs says that this message addresses profound questions that people are raising. “Americans are asking who we are as a society. What do we believe, and what will we tolerate? How much longer will we allow suffering to continue before we take action to make substantive change?”
P.J. Andrews, also of the Office, says: “In the culture of ‘othering’ in which we’re embedded, diversity can be seen as a source of weakness. But in truth diversity is a source of wealth. Unity in diversity is something that strengthens us spiritually as a society.”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. Participants at the Dialogue on Faith and Race gathering held by the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs in the United States.Speaking about current circumstances, Anthony Vance, Director of the Office of Public Affairs, states: “It is remarkable that in just a short span of weeks, demands for racial justice have not only been strongly renewed but are made with a much broader base of support throughout the US population. With smart phones everywhere to record events, injustices that the Black community has spoken about for generations have become indisputable fact. Large segments of society have become conscious of this reality to a degree where inaction becomes untenable. In seizing this opportunity to act, Baha’is seek to undertake or expand activities, learn, think systematically, and, perhaps most importantly, persist over the long term to make a lasting advance toward justice and unity.”",CHICAGO,,United States
1437,2020-06-29,"[1404, 1414, 1432]",Nepalese village develops agricultural capacity as long-term strategy,"MOTIBASTI, Nepal — With many migrant workers returning home amid the pandemic, the Baha’i Local Spiritual Assembly of Motibasti, Nepal, is looking at what it can do to enhance the community’s capacity to produce its own food.
“There are now many NGOs and agencies that are helping people with their immediate needs,” said Hemant Prakash Budha, member of the Local Spiritual Assembly. “But the Assembly realizes that it can think about long-term solutions. This village has the land and the skills to produce food. But how can we manage if we don’t organize our agricultural efforts as a community?”
The Local Spiritual Assembly has been consulting weekly since the start of the pandemic to help identify and meet the needs of the community. Recently, it has been connecting returning migrant workers with opportunities to farm uncultivated plots belonging to area residents.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. People in Kanchanpur district, Nepal, engaged in educational activities of the Baha’i community that build their capacities for service to society.“Our attitude is not one of dependence, where some people have everything and others are lacking” says Prasad Acharya, a resident of Motibasti. “We see how all can contribute to the community. This is an aspect of the Baha’i principle of the oneness of humanity: that all are one family and all prioritize for the needs of others.”
Drawing on local knowledge and expert advice, the Assembly has assisted families to determine which crops and livestock will provide the best sources of nutrition for the village.  A member of the Baha’i Local Spiritual Assembly of Motibasti, Nepal, meets with the mayor to deliver a letter describing an irrigation challenge faced by some village members.The Assembly has been resourceful in helping the community to overcome obstacles. For example, when one part of the village found that it lacked water for irrigation, the Assembly sought assistance from local and regional officials who arranged for a well to be drilled.
Mr. Prakash Budha, reflecting on these experiences, states: “The community is concerned about a potential food crisis, the increasing price of goods, and other issues such as children’s education. When people consult in a spiritual way—lovingly and kindly—they start to become aware of the opportunities before them and how they can move forward. Consultation creates the hope that you can take action and change things.”",MOTIBASTI,,Nepal
1438,2020-07-02,"[1434, 1421, 1246]",Design unveiled for first Baha’i Temple in the DRC,"KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo — After much anticipation, the design for the national Baha’i House of Worship to be built in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was unveiled today through an online announcement by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the country.
“This has been a long-awaited moment for the Baha’is of the DRC,” says Lavoisier Mutombo Tshiongo, Secretary of the Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly. “With firm feet, we are taking a new step toward raising our first House of Worship, here in the heart of the African continent, giving a new impulse to all our efforts to serve our society.”  The site of the House of Worship, on the outskirts of Kinshasa, overlooks the Congo River from the edge of a fertile valley.The design, created by Wolff Architects in Cape Town, South Africa, is inspired by traditional artworks, structures and natural features of the DRC, as well as by the Baha’i sacred teachings, particularly by the spiritual concept that God’s bounty is unceasingly flowing over all people.The site of the House of Worship, on the outskirts of Kinshasa, overlooks the Congo River from the edge of a fertile valley. This river, whose tributaries gather rain from every part of the country into one great stream, provides a powerful image of the coming together of all people that is reflected in the design of the temple. The patterns that will adorn the outside of the dome of the central edifice will express this idea in a style reminiscent of the artwork of various Congolese peoples.  An interior view of the design for the national Baha’i House of Worship to be built in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Commenting on the design, the architects state: “We were inspired by an image of 19th Century Congolese architecture which showed the most beautiful structures that appear to have finely woven bamboo facades with a parabolic roof made of palm leaves. These houses were located amongst giant baobab trees. ... The undulating roof of the temple makes reference to this history.”  View of the Congo River from Kinshasa. This river, whose tributaries gather rain from every part of the country into one great stream, provides a powerful image of the coming together of all people that is reflected in the design of the temple. The patterns that will adorn the outside of the dome of the central edifice will express this idea in a style reminiscent of the artwork of various Congolese peoples. (Credit: Susan Sheper)The House of Worship will embody the vibrant devotional spirit that has been fostered over the decades by the Baha’is of the DRC. Over 200,000 people across the country, of all ages and faiths, regularly participate in Baha’i devotional gatherings in their neighborhoods and villages. Even with current lockdown measures, the intensity of this devotional life has only increased while maintaining safety measures put in place by the government.  Photographs taken before the current health crisis. The national House of Worship of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will embody the vibrant devotional spirit that has been fostered over the decades by the Baha’is of the country. Over 200,000 people across the country, of all ages and faiths, regularly participate in Baha’i devotional gatherings in their neighborhoods and villages.Reflecting on these experiences, Mr. Mutombo says, “People from all religious communities are coming to Baha’i devotional meetings, reflecting together on the needs of our society and growing in camaraderie.
“The House of Worship will be built with nine doors facing every direction and will be open to all people, allowing for the principle of unity in diversity to become a daily reality. At this moment when the world is passing through one of the worst crises in recent times, the emergence of this temple signifies the pivotal role that prayer plays in inspiring hope and moving all to action.”",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1439,2020-07-10,"[1436, 1381, 1362]",Baha’is of PNG release statement in wake of increased gender-based violence in society,"PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — After a recent series of tragic events, public calls for an end to violence against women have intensified in Papua New Guinea. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the country have issued a statement on the equality of women and men, speaking to a global concern that has been exacerbated during the pandemic.
Published in a national newspaper and on social media, the statement is stimulating constructive conversations in the capital city, Port Moresby, and beyond.
“Gender-based violence has become so deeply entrenched in our country,” the National Assembly writes in the statement. “It is a… manifestation of a chronic disease affecting our society. The Baha’i community believes that this disease, from which our progress and prosperity is so severely crippled, is in part due to the failure to recognize the equality of men and women.”
Reflecting on this statement, the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, Confucius Ikoirere, says, “This is a moment when our society is thinking deeply about how its culture and traditions affect women. Religious communities have a responsibility to be a source of guidance and to help dispel superstitions that harm women. The hope is for this statement to create opportunities for individuals to speak about this important subject, so that this conversation can take root in all homes and penetrate communities.”
The statement highlights several Baha’i principles which it says are essential for a society that is to reflect the equality of women and men. What has drawn particular attention, as the statement circulated on social media, is a passage quoted from the Baha’i writings that likens men and women to the two wings of a bird—both of which need to be strengthened equally for the bird to fly.
“The reality is that some attitudes common in society place women as inferior to men, restricting them to the home and excluding them from decision making,” says Gezina Volmer, Director of the Baha’i Office of External Affairs in Papua New Guinea. “A profound principle of the Baha’i Faith expressed in the statement is that the soul has no gender. Once people come to appreciate this and other related spiritual truths, they see that there is no basis for inequality in society. This leads to a significant change in perception of and conduct toward women. It creates a greater understanding of unity and allows for consultation on equal terms between men and women.”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. A devotional gathering at the site of the future national Baha'i House of Worship in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.Felix Simiha, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, says, “During the pandemic families are strengthening a habit of coming together to pray, which is essential to the process of Baha’i consultation. When a family makes decisions through consultation, women, men, and children have a voice and violence has no place.”
The statement is a contribution of the country’s Baha’i community to the discourse on equality.  The principles it conveys are at the heart of Baha’i community-building and educational efforts in Papua New Guinea.
“Aspects of our culture can change, particularly when we teach new values to our children from a young age,” says Zha Agabe-Granfar of the country’s Baha’i Office of External Affairs. “We see firsthand how girls and boys learn to interact with unity and collaboration, and then bring these lessons home to their families.
“From large cities to the remotest areas, we are seeing positive changes in communities striving to embody the equality of women and men. Women are being encouraged to study, their voices are valued, they are taking on decision-making roles, and barriers that had previously excluded them from full participation are being removed.”",PORT MORESBY,,Papua New Guinea
1440,2020-07-15,"[1434, 1430, 1291]",“What have we learned from the health crisis?” Peace Chair asks researchers,"COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, United States — Over the past months, the pandemic has afflicted millions with illness, economic hardship, and other crises, prompting a heroic response from people of all walks of life, especially frontline workers. These unprecedented times have also stimulated profound discussions about social progress.
In April, the Baha’i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland invited researchers to contribute articles for a series titled “Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic”.
“This crisis is revealing both sides of human nature, leading us to think about how we wish to emerge from this period,” says Hoda Mahmoudi, holder of the Baha’i Chair for World Peace. “Will we have made real positive strides—not in appearances only—in achieving greater unity and solidarity?”
The articles explore the effects of the pandemic on economies, the environment, the media, and other areas of life. A common theme is how the health crisis has revealed vast inequalities in society.
Alison Brysk of the University of California, Santa Barbara, describes racism and human rights abuses as diseases that are propagated in society through ‘othering’ and ‘social atomization’. Dr. Brysk notes that overcoming adversity and oppression have historically depended on social solidarity. “This suggests that our ability to confront the epidemic of dehumanization will be the key not just to survive the coronavirus epidemic, but to survive as a civilization.”  The Baha’i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland has invited academics and social actors to offer their reflections on the health crisis and the lessons emerging during this period. The articles explore the effects of the pandemic on economies, the environment, the media, and other areas of life. A common theme that runs throughout the written pieces is how the health crisis has revealed vast inequalities in society.Dafna Lemish of Rutgers University in the United States writes about digital inequalities. The dominant theme in public discourse about children’s use of media, Dr. Lemish explains, had been about “screen time,” but now the focus may be changing: “… digital inequalities have been exposed clearly during this crisis as a symptom of many deep structural social inequalities: inequalities of ownership of media and access to internet and streaming services; inequalities created by living conditions that do not allow for proper/desired media use; and inequalities of digital literacy, knowledge and skills for making the best use of media.”
Melissa Nursey-Bray of the University of Adelaide explores how capitalism and consumerism in urban settings have been disconnecting people from each other and from nature, and offers thoughts on how the pandemic is providing a glimmer of hope for different ways of living.
“Our attention, previously consumed by leisure and desire to purchase, has been replaced by the need to pay attention to other, yet also very important, everyday practices, ones that involve our family, and emphasize more local lifestyles and priorities,” writes Dr. Nursey-Bray. The article also explores the need for creating urban spaces where people can gather and engage in dialogue about sustainable living.  Photographs taken before the current health crisis. Founded in 1993 within the University’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Baha’i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland is an endowed academic program that advances interdisciplinary examination and discourse on global peace, generating knowledge that promotes the interests and well-being of humanity.Commenting on another theme in the series—the empowerment of women—Dr. Mahmoudi states: “A high proportion of essential workers during the pandemic have been women. While making enormous contributions to society, for example, as healthcare providers and sanitary workers, many women have also been taking on a large share of the work at home, caring for young and elderly members of their families. And yet, sadly, violence toward women has increased.
“Women have always had a significant role in any society, but their important contributions are often overlooked and unappreciated. Women’s full participation in constructing a different world in which they have full equality of education and opportunity and an equal voice in decision-making is essential in order to create sustainable social order. Until they have full equality, peace will never be realized.”
Reflecting on the contributions thus far, Dr. Mahmoudi says: “The intention of this series has been to broaden understanding and knowledge, which in turn makes more action possible. Change has always begun when a small group of people with lofty yet realistic ideals and a spirit of hope begin to take determined action.”
Articles in this series are being published on the blog of the Baha’i Chair.",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
1441,2020-07-22,"[1425, 1375, 1329]","“Baha’i World” articles examine migration, existential stress","BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Two new articles have been published today in the online publication The Baha’i World, which is releasing, in the context of the current pandemic, a series of articles on themes relevant to the well-being and progress of humanity.
“Rethinking Migration from a Global Perspective” explores the relationship between social transformation and the movement of human populations within and across borders. The article highlights insights from the Baha’i teachings and the social sciences in pursuit of greater understanding of a global phenomenon that affects virtually every society.
The concept of transformation is approached from another perspective in “The Light Was in the Darkness: Reflections on the Growth that Hides in the Pain of Suffering.” This article looks at existential stress, a form of suffering that is unique to the human experience, and probes its relationship to individual growth and development, drawing on the rich spiritual and philosophical heritage of humanity.  Two new articles on The Baha’i World website entitled “Rethinking Migration from a Global Perspective” and “The Light Was in the Darkness: Reflections on the Growth that Hides in the Pain of Suffering” explore different aspects of social transformation.The Baha’i World website makes available a selection of thoughtful essays and long-form articles on a range of subjects of interest to the wider public, conveying advancements in Baha’i thought and action and reflecting the Faith’s purpose in the world.
An email subscription service is available, allowing subscribers to be informed when new articles are published.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1442,2020-07-28,"[1441, 1301, 1178]","Agricultural policies key to addressing drivers of migration, says BIC Brussels","BRUSSELS — In order to address the arrival of migrants and asylum seekers, countries often take measures, such as border control and migrant quotas, that tend to deal with immediate issues. In recent years, however, there has been growing recognition of the need for a long-term view that takes into account the underlying causes of migration.
The contribution of the Brussels Office of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) has included focus on the underlying drivers of migration and it has encouraged thinking in this regard. The Office has been creating discussion spaces, including with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, to explore with policymakers and civil society organizations some of these drivers.
Rachel Bayani of the Brussels Office speaks about the relevance of certain spiritual concepts to these discussions. “The Baha’i principle of the oneness of humanity has profound implications for how people in one place consider the impact of their decisions and actions not only on their own surroundings but on the whole of humanity. A new approach to policy responses to migration and displacement should consider this principle, because the well-being of Europe cannot be advanced in isolation from that of the rest of the world.”
One of the drivers that the Office has drawn attention to has been the link between agricultural policies and the causes of migration in Africa. In the most recent gathering on this topic, the Brussels Office of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations co-hosted an online discussion last week, bringing together over 80 policymakers and other social actors from Africa and Europe.  Some of the participants at an online discussion hosted by the Brussels Office of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, bringing together over 80 policymakers and other social actors from Africa and Europe to explore links between European agricultural policies and the adverse drivers of migration and in Africa.“In recent years, there has been an acknowledgement that more attention needs to be given to factors compelling people to leave their country of origin,” says Ms. Bayani. “We wish to examine how different policy areas, including agriculture, trade, investment, and the environment impact the drivers of migration.”
“Tracing the positive and negative consequences of policies is difficult, but this should not prevent efforts to do so in order to develop long-term strategies with the well-being of all humanity in mind.”
Participants at the gathering traced the path that migrants often take from rural areas to cities, and from there to other countries and continents. Discussions cast a light on how economic and environmental crises, the loss of land by farmers, and other factors that drive people to leave rural areas in Africa have ripple effects across the continent and beyond.
“Where migration starts is where the people are in rural areas. If people are discontent in their rural areas, they are pushed to cities, and then further abroad,” said Geoffrey Wafula Kundu, Program Coordinator for Migration at the African Union Commission.Jannes Maes, president of the Council of European Young Farmers, noted that positive cultural attitudes around farming, particularly among rural youth, are an important element in strengthening rural communities in any part of the world.
“Changing the mindset toward farming will require removing barriers,” says Mr. Maes. “The main barriers—in Europe but also those that we hear from our African colleagues—are access to land, to supply chains, and to investment, even if there is no ‘home-grown capital’ to build on. These have to be tackled by the whole of our societies.”  Performing soil analysis at the Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation for Science and Education, a Baha’i-inspired organization in Uganda.Jocelyn Brown-Hall from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations says, “… we want to make sure that agriculture is part of the solution and is not overlooked when it comes to migration.”
Leonard Mizzi of the European Commission Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development observed that actions now being taken to effect a sustainable economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis provide an opportunity to create more resilient agricultural systems. “COVID has exposed fragilities around systems such as trade. What type of food systems will be more resilient to future shocks? … If we don’t have a systems approach that will really address these things, we cannot recover. Solutions from the top down will not work. We need a farmer- and human-rights-driven process.”
Kalenga Masaidio of the Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation for Science and Education, a Baha’i-inspired organization in Uganda, explained the importance of allowing rural communities to participate in generating knowledge about agricultural systems.
“The main issue is empowering individuals and rural community members so that they can take ownership of their own social, economic, and intellectual development,” says Mr. Masaidio. “Rather than us thinking that solutions to these problems will always come from outside… development should start right from the rural communities.”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. Several Baha’i-inspired organizations in Africa have carried out initiatives enabling rural communities to participate in generating knowledge about agricultural systems. “When efforts to contribute to social progress draw on both science and insights from religion, opportunities and approaches emerge that would otherwise not be visible,” says Rachel Bayani.Reflecting on these discussions, Mrs. Bayani, states: “The pandemic has so prominently highlighted flaws in the international order and how unity is needed to tackle any problem efficiently. Simply having a space where policymakers and social actors across continents can think together in light of a heightened understanding of our essential oneness is an important step in addressing an issue of international concern.
“When efforts to contribute to social progress draw on both science and insights from religion, opportunities and approaches emerge that would otherwise not be visible.”",BRUSSELS,,Belgium
1443,2020-07-30,"[1403, 1285, 1232, 1036]",Six Baha’is imprisoned by the Houthis freed in Yemen,"An Arabic translation of this article is available here.
BIC GENEVA — The Baha’i International Community has just confirmed that six prominent Baha’is have been released from prison after being wrongfully detained for several years by the Houthi authorities in Sana’a, Yemen.
The six Baha’is—Mr. Hamed bin Haydara, Mr. Waleed Ayyash, Mr. Akram Ayyash, Mr. Kayvan Ghaderi, Mr. Badiullah Sanai, and Mr. Wael al-Arieghie—are in a safe location where they can recuperate after enduring extremely difficult conditions for three to nearly seven years in prison.
Following these releases, the Baha’i International Community has called for the lifting of all charges against these six individuals and the other Baha’is charged, the return of their assets and properties, and, most importantly, the safeguarding of the rights of all Baha’is in Yemen to live according to their beliefs without risk of persecution.
“We welcome the releases today yet remain gravely concerned,” said Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community. “As Yemen’s search for durable, societal peace continues, Baha’is must be able—like all Yemenis—to practice their faith safely and freely, in keeping with the universal principles of freedom of religion or belief. This is not possible until the charges are lifted.
“The Baha’i International Community expresses its gratitude to the UN Special Envoy for Yemen as well as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. We also thank those governments and non-governmental organizations that have provided their support throughout this process.”Related background informationMr. Haydara, an engineer, was arrested because of his beliefs at his workplace in December 2013. Following a long court case which lacked due process he was sentenced to death in 2018. His appeal was rejected in 2020.
Mr. Ghaderi, a project officer, was arrested in 2016 when a gathering was raided. In April 2017, Mr. Waleed Ayyash, a Yemeni tribal leader, was arrested on his way to Hudaydah and was held in an undisclosed location. The following month, Mr. Al-Arieghie, a civil rights activist, was abducted by the authorities in Sana’a, and Mr. Sana’i, a prominent civil engineer in Yemen in his late 60s, was arrested in front of his workplace. In October 2017, Mr. Akram Ayyash, a manager of a nonprofit organization, was arrested during a raid by security forces on a Baha’i celebration. In September 2018, these five, along with nineteen others, were indicted at a court hearing in Sana’a under baseless charges.
The release of the six comes four months after the televised address by Mr. Mahdi Al Mashat, President of the Supreme Political Council in Sana’a, in late March 2020 ordering the release of all Baha’i prisoners and a pardon for Mr. Haydara.",BIC GENEVA,,
1444,2020-08-04,"[1442, 1098, 1050]",“Making cities belong to those who work to build them”: Baha’i Chair in India looks at urbanization,"INDORE, India — Of the hundreds of millions of people employed in the informal economy in Indian cities, tens of millions have returned to their rural homes because of the pandemic. This mass exodus has awakened public consciousness to the precarious condition of people working in this sector, many of whom live in informal urban settlements without social protections.
The Baha’i Chair for Studies in Development at Devi Ahilya University, Indore, sees this period as especially important in promoting long-term approaches to development thinking. The Chair has been bringing together economists and academics in a series of online gatherings titled “Making Cities Belong to those Who Build Them” to examine the effects of the pandemic on marginalized people.
Arash Fazli, Assistant Professor and Head of the Baha’i Chair, explains how a new conception of human nature—one that sees the nobility of every human being and protects each one against prejudice and paternalism—is essential to any discussion on development.
“People living in urban poverty, particularly those who have migrated from rural areas, are predominantly spoken of as a pitiful group who suffer oppression and have all kinds of needs, or who are at most a source of labor. Yet to define people by the circumstances of their oppression is to deny them their full humanity.
“Advancing toward a more sustainable, prosperous, and peaceful future for our cities first requires a recognition of the nobility of each human being. Those who live in informal settlements lead meaningful and productive lives through creativity and ingenuity, strong social bonds, and spiritual convictions that give them joy, hope, and resilience in the face of dire circumstances.”  The Baha’i Chair for Studies in Development at Devi Ahilya University, India, sees this period as especially important in promoting long-term approaches to development thinking. The Chair has been bringing together economists and academics in a series of online gatherings titled “Making Cities Belong to those Who Build Them” to examine the effects of the pandemic on marginalized people.The Baha’i Chair was established nearly 30 years ago to promote interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the field of development from a perspective that regards human prosperity as an outcome of both material and spiritual progress.
At the most recent gathering held by the Chair, participants explored how urban development can become more inclusive of marginalized people.
Partha Mukhopadhyay of the Centre for Policy Research, Delhi, spoke about the different reasons given by migrants for returning to their home villages. “They have come to the city to support their families, and during difficult times they feel responsible to take care of those who remain in the village. At the same time, they don’t have faith that they will be taken care of in the city should something happen to them. … At these two levels, you realize that [migrants] still don’t belong to the city even if they have spent their entire working lives there.”  Caroline Custer Fazli, a research scholar with the University of Bath, United Kingdom, and member of the Indian Baha’i community, said at the gathering that research in informal settlements in Indore, India, has highlighted rich elements of the residents’ culture that often go unrecognized.Discussions also highlighted the need for structures that allow marginalized populations to advocate for themselves. Siddharth Agarwal, of the Urban Research Centre, New Delhi, spoke about several strategies of social solidarity that have emerged in his organization’s experience, including the formation of women’s groups that are able to assess their communities’ needs and seek for their rights to be upheld through a process of “gentle but persevering negotiation” with authorities.
Vandana Swami, a professor at Azim Premji University, Bangalore, observed that “cities have never been built for the poor,” and that urban areas attempt to keep the existence of people living in poverty out of view.  Siddharth Agarwal, of the Urban Research Centre, New Delhi, spoke about several strategies of social solidarity that have emerged in his organization’s experience, including the formation of women’s groups that are able to assess their communities’ needs and seek for their rights to be upheld through a process of “gentle but persevering negotiation” with authorities.In reflecting on the seminar, Dr. Fazli explains how ideas inspired by the Baha’i teachings can shed light on questions concerning development. “The long term purpose of these conversations is to provide new language and concepts which can allow new ways of thinking about urban development and effecting policy.
“Common ways of looking at this subject are from the perspective of access to material resources. While it is true that those living in poverty lack material means, they lead lives of meaning and purpose. When we recognize that social progress has a material and a spiritual dimension, we begin to see all the inhabitants of the city as potential contributors to the material and spiritual prosperity of the whole.
“Poverty is a great injustice that must be systematically addressed. But experience has shown that even well-meaning development interventions create dependence, exploitation and resentment when they are based on paternalistic assumptions about people living in poverty. Ultimately development will only bear enduring fruits when people become protagonists in their own development and are assisted to work with others in society to achieve common goals for collective social progress. Seeing the potential in everyone to contribute to this process, requires going beyond materialistic frameworks of thought and seeing the moral and spiritual capacities of people.”
A recording of the seminar may be viewed here.",INDORE,,India
1445,2020-08-11,"[1442, 1437, 1414]",Fostering self-sufficiency: FUNDAEC encourages local food production,"CALI, Colombia — As the pandemic took hold in Colombia, uncertainties about many aspects of life quickly set in. FUNDAEC, a Baha’i-inspired organization in the country, recognizing that the crisis would have long-term ramifications, looked at how it could be of practical service to society at a time of dire need.
Leslie Stewart, the Executive Director of FUNDAEC, explains how the organization swiftly directed its attention to supporting local food production initiatives. “The country’s economy has been severely affected, with more than 10 million people who are now unemployed.
“Given this situation, food production, which is a component of our different educational programs aimed at development, became a central issue at the start of the pandemic. Since March, FUNDAEC has focused on four broad areas in supporting initiatives aimed at food self-sufficiency: creation of home gardens, cultivation of larger farming plots, food processing, as well as distribution and commercialization.”FUNDAEC (Fundación para la Aplicación y Enseñanza de las Ciencias) was founded in Colombia in 1974 and has been dedicated for over 40 years to developing capacity in people to contribute to the well-being of their societies. In this most recent undertaking, it drew on its decades of experience and research in the area of food production to create online workshops, assisting people to learn about different aspects of agriculture, for example seed selection, soil health, pest and disease management, and the harvest.  Selecting seeds of a maize variety to plant at a facility of the University Center for Rural Wellbeing in Perico Negro, Cauca, Colombia.Ms. Stewart describes how FUNDAEC’s approach to development is inspired by the Baha’i principles of the harmony of science and religion, oneness of humanity, and selfless service to society. “In our efforts to contribute to social progress—in its material and spiritual dimensions—we believe there needs to be a dialogue between science and religion. Agriculture plays a crucial role in the building of civilization. It is important to the processes of community life, and should benefit from insights found in both religion and science.
“However, materialism, which has been directing the development of agricultural systems, has not been able to bring prosperity to all, and the issue of food is becoming central to that discussion. So how can spiritual principles help in the way we understand development and food production? For example, we need to ensure that agricultural practices are based in fairness and cooperation, and that efforts are carried out with humility and appreciation toward the land and the environment.
“We have found that during this period people are naturally discovering a sense of common purpose—seeing that they can take an active role in transforming their adversity into an opportunity to be of service to their fellow citizens—and that our role as an organization has been to try and channel energies in a helpful way.”  Members of a family in Puerto Eugenio, Córdoba, Colombia, plant crops on a “community learning plot” they started together with other members of their community and with the assistance of a group of young people studying FUNDAEC material as part of the Preparation for Social Action program.In Aipe, central Colombia, a group of people collaborated with the Baha’i Local Spiritual Assembly to begin a small farm. Having developed relationships with the Mayor’s office and a local agronomist, this effort inspired some 13 families around the designated land to start their own gardens, leading to a first harvest that could be shared with over 70 people. In turn those individuals who benefited from the harvest have been drawn into the efforts and are finding great purpose in serving their community through food that is healthy, organic, and fairly distributed.
“The example that people are setting in producing food for their communities is contagious,” says Ever Rivera, a coordinator of FUNDAEC’s programs. “People who have not produced food before have the example, as well as the support and accompaniment, of those around them. Even the daily conversations between neighbors are generating local knowledge about food production.”  A family in Riohacha, la Guajira, Colombia, has planted several species of crops on a plot of 40 square meters. Having learned to enrich the soil with natural fertilizers, and plant aromatic species as a biologic control to protect the crop, the family is now harvesting the fruit of their efforts.Arelys, a participant in the food production initiatives in Tuchín, has been struck by how people have started to connect with the land around them in a different way. She says, “Families have felt motivated realizing that they can produce food in spaces they already own, and people have seen what positivity can come from moments of crisis.”
Yesneyer from Aipe explains how in her town there is no culture of agriculture and food is generally imported from the countryside. However, FUNDAEC’s online courses have been helping people to look at their land differently. “We have realized the potential for planting seeds in virtually any piece of land where there is soil!”  A family in Villa Rica, Cauca, Colombia, is using recycled containers to grow vegetables, herbs, and spices on their terrace. Various garden plants help attract bees and repel pests. They have shared their harvest with four other families and are helping others in their community to start growing plants in their own homes.In addition to the workshops, FUNDAEC has been producing and distributing a monthly bulletin that connects participants across the country to a growing body of knowledge being generated from the local initiatives.
As part of its ongoing efforts, the organization also contributes to a discourse on agriculture among government officials, academics, and civil society organizations. “It is about opening a dialogue between the farmer who has this deep traditional knowledge and the student of agronomy who brings the best practices of modern science”, says Ms. Stewart. “This dialogue avoids, on the one hand, undue romanticizing about a ‘simpler way’ in the past, and on the other hand, uncritical acceptance of modern technologies. Instead it allows for the building of an alternative system that brings together the profound traditions of the farmer and spiritual principles—being thankful to nature and understanding the impact of one’s relationship with the land for future generations—with the insights and best practices from modern agronomy.”  A family in Puerto Tejada, Cauca, Colombia made use of limited space by growing herbs and vegetables in recycled containers hung from a wall.Over 1,500 people across the country have now become engaged in almost 800 agricultural initiatives facilitated by FUNDAEC since the pandemic. Reflecting on the initial harvests from these initiatives, Ms. Stewart states:
“Harvest time is a very special time. It invites reflection and allows people to appreciate that, just as the plants grow, we also grow in our capacities as people and as a community. Participants are seeing how certain spiritual qualities are essential in this effort. Unity is needed for a quick collective response to a need in times of crisis. Faith is needed to trust that the seeds planted will germinate. Patience is necessary to wait for plants to grow and develop, and to face the small setbacks along the way. Love, perseverance, and diligence are required in order to carry out the daily tasks.
“This period has been a time to be thankful for the ‘generosity’ of the Earth, by caring for it and protecting it.”",CALI,,Colombia
1446,2020-08-19,"[1436, 1415, 1310]",Building bridges: Parent University on racial equality in the US,"SAVANNAH, United States — Parent University, a Baha’i-inspired organization in the United States, is drawing on its decades-long experience of promoting racial equality in Savannah, Georgia, to foster greater societal unity at a time of heightened consciousness in the country about racial prejudice. The organization is building bridges between community members and representatives of local government, including the mayor and the chief of police, by hosting constructive online discussion spaces to explore issues of equality and justice.
“The issues facing the community can be resolved through an attitude of learning,” says Michael O’Neal, executive director of the organization. “Parent University emerged more than 20 years ago—at another moment of tension over racial inequalities in Savannah’s education system—as a way of connecting parents, city and school officials, and other community members in a learning environment where we could apply the principle of Baha’i consultation instead of the oppositional attitude that had led to impasse.” In such gatherings, the perspectives of diverse members of the community are heard in order to reach consensus on action.
Parent University now runs educational programs that allow parents and teachers to regularly consult on issues facing their community, often with the participation of school administration and the municipal government.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. Through discussion spaces hosted by Parent University based on the principle of Baha’i consultation, the perspectives of diverse members of the community are heard in order to reach consensus on action.Within days of the eruption of unrest across the country over police violence toward African-American citizens, the organization invited Savannah’s chief of police to an online discussion with members of the public. Acknowledging that the concerns of community members were shared by officials helped to create the mutual understanding needed for a constructive conversation to take place. “I am appalled and disturbed by what I’m seeing,” said Police Chief Roy Minter. “I wear this uniform to work, but I live every day as an African-American male, so I never, never forget where I came from, I never forget what I’ve gone through…”
Subsequent conversations have strengthened a sense of shared purpose among different segments of society toward improving systems of public safety.
“We know that crisis brings creativity and opportunity,” said Mayor Van Johnson at a recent discussion hosted by Parent University. He observed that opportunities were now being created for decision-making to include “people who have never been at the table before.”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. Parent University runs educational programs that allow parents and teachers to regularly consult on issues facing their community, often with the participation of school administration and the municipal government.The mayor and the chief of police highlighted the critical role that Parent University plays in enabling close engagement between parents and local institutions and between diverse segments of the community that would otherwise rarely interact. “It is important for us to be on a call like this and to continue using numerous avenues to improve relationships, but also with the youth in our communities,” said Police Chief Minter.
Looking to the future, Mr. O’Neal speaks of the transformation that is needed in the relationships between different social actors. “Attitudes of conflict and opposition are not how we will get rid of racism. We must establish collaborative and inclusive relationships among individuals, communities, and institutions of society based in the realization of humanity’s oneness.”",SAVANNAH,,United States
1447,2020-09-01,"[1429, 1406, 1404]",Healthcare professionals see distinctive role for community during pandemic,"JOUBERTON, South Africa — Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals have been working tirelessly to keep people around the globe safe from the coronavirus. The Baha’i World News Service spoke with some Baha’is engaged in this field to highlight a few practical examples of the role of strong community ties in dealing with the health crisis.
In South Africa, Sina Parastaran describes recent efforts of a clinic he operates in the Jouberton township to draw on the strength of the community to respond to different needs arising from the health crisis. “New possibilities emerge when you realize that every human being has the potential to serve their society.”
Drawing on the assistance of those who have recovered from the coronavirus, Dr. Parastaran and his colleagues have created an online network of people in the area who can share their experience with others. This network allows people to provide emotional support to those who are quarantined and recovering from mild cases of COVID-19 and to help answer their non-medical questions.  A group of youth group in Soweto, South Africa, participating in an outdoor devotional gathering while maintaining safety measures put in place by the government. Baha’is working in healthcare in the country have been drawing on the strength of the community to respond to different needs arising from the health crisis.Prakash Kaushal, a senior medical official in Indore, India, explains the significance of the spiritual life of a community in assisting those who are ill. “A community has a great role in creating a supportive environment for patients and their families. This can be through praying together, staying constantly in touch, and providing them with certain necessities if needed. This is the time the family and the patient need love from the community. This keeps their spirits up and helps them to overcome the disease with a spirit of peace, confidence, and faith in God by surrounding them with love, support and prayers.”
Early on in the pandemic, Nasim Ahmadiyeh, a doctor in a Kansas City, US, hospital, realized how close friendships fostered through years of community-building efforts of the Baha’is of that city could be channeled to assist residents of a neighborhood in which cases of the coronavirus were growing.
Dr. Ahmadiyeh and others quickly mobilized resources to meet a pressing need—the translation and dissemination of accurate information about COVID-19 in the language commonly spoken in this neighborhood. More recently, those engaged in these efforts have been hosting a series of discussion spaces—while maintaining safety measures put in place by the government—allowing residents in this neighborhood to consult on various protective measures.  Efforts in a Kansas City, US, to mobilize local resources to meet pressing needs have led to a series of discussion spaces—while maintaining safety measures put in place by the government—allowing residents in this neighborhood to consult on various protective measures, including the production of masks for community members.These healthcare professionals all describe how, in spite of the physical and mental fatigue they experience each day, consciousness of spiritual reality allows them to tap into a vast reservoir of energy and strength. Kgomotso Mabilane, an anesthesiologist in a South African hospital that has had to manage an outbreak in Pretoria, explains that joining others for prayer and reflection on profound concepts found in the Baha’i teachings has helped her and her colleagues to navigate such taxing times with hope and determination.
“The thing about COVID-19 is that it isolates people,” says Dr. Mabilane. “Being part of a community and having support from others is essential. The online devotions that I have with friends not only bring comfort and hope in times of grief, but open my mind to other ways of looking at difficulties we encounter every day, seeing the joy of serving others and the opportunities for personal growth. This is how you go home and become whole again to be of service to more patients tomorrow.”",JOUBERTON,,South Africa
1448,2020-09-07,"[1347, 1436, 1408]",“Beyond Critique to Constructive Engagement”: Thousands gather in virtual ABS conference,"DALLAS,  United States  — More than 3,000 people in North America and other parts of the world recently participated in the annual conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS), which was held virtually this year.
Originally planned for Dallas, Texas, the conference had to be entirely reshaped as a result of the public health crisis. The event, which usually lasts three or four days, took place over two weeks.
“The transition to a virtual conference prompted the Association to rethink its approach in which all participants would feel welcome and have the tools and resources to access materials and sessions, and to know that their contribution is needed and valued,” says Julia Berger, Secretary of the ABS executive committee.
This year’s theme was “Beyond Critique to Constructive Engagement.” Presentations and discussions looked at different issues in light of the Bahá’í teachings—including the implications of the pandemic for the world, scientific truth and objectivity, and the role of media in social transformation.  More than 3,000 people in North America and other parts of the world recently participated in the annual conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS), which was held virtually this year.The question of how society can advance toward harmonious and equitable relations among its members of diverse racial backgrounds was at the forefront of discussions. Conference participants examined foundational concepts underlying constructive action to bring about a pattern of life that reflects the principle of the oneness of humanity.
An area of exploration was how prevalent conceptions of power as a means of domination, often seen in terms of contest, contention, division and superiority, can shape the discourse on racial justice, and how such conceptions must be re-examined in light of new notions of power.
A presentation at the conference, given by Derik Smith, a professor at Claremont McKenna College, looked at the experience of the American Bahá’í community, particularly those of African descent, in contributing over a century to racial equality in the country. Dr. Smith says that “In their effort to promote race unity in an American context badly corroded by racism, Black Bahá’ís have been avoiding modes of contest and conflict by calling upon the powers of the human spirit, such as unity, love, and service. These are subtle powers, but they are deeply transformative. In the Bahá’í teachings, we find perspectives and language that help us to describe and talk about this kind of power, associated with words such as ‘release,’ ‘encourage,’ ‘channel,’ ‘guide,’ and ‘enable.’”  Photograph taken at previous year’s conference. The aim of ABS is to create spaces where people can explore Bahá’í teachings, correlate them with the perspectives of humanity across diverse fields, and attempt to apply them to humanity’s current issues and challenges.The aim of ABS is to create spaces where people can explore Bahá’í teachings, correlate them with the perspectives of humanity across diverse fields, and attempt to apply them to humanity’s current issues and challenges.
In response to circumstances this year, more than 20 “reading groups” were formed in the weeks before the conference to enable participants interested in a particular field of study to engage with relevant literature and consult together. Insights from these discussions were woven into the conference program and presentations.
“A key element of learning is bringing together different perspectives in a collaborative environment in order to advance understanding,” says Selvi Adaikkalam of ABS’s committee for collaborative initiatives. “Sustained initiatives like the reading groups provide opportunities to develop the depth, rigor, and ongoing discussion needed to identify and rethink certain fundamental assumptions within different disciplines and professional fields.”  A feature of this year’s ABS conference was a film festival in which several filmmakers presented works that explore Bahá’í perspectives on contemporary themes.Another feature of this year’s conference was a film festival in which several filmmakers presented works that explore Bahá’í perspectives on contemporary themes.
Amelia Tyson, one of the festival organizers, says, “The approach we took was to curate the whole festival in a way that engages filmmakers and others to think critically about the role of media and film in society, the implications of the stories that are told, what they say about human nature and our place in the world, and what impact films have on us.”
Recordings of selected conference sessions will be made available online through the ABS website.",DALLAS,,United States
1449,2020-09-13,"[1266, 1418, 1404]",University students engage in conversations on social change,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — In this period of heightened uncertainty, youth have especially been confronted with many questions about the direction in which the world is headed and their place in it. To assist university students in navigating these questions, the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP) has been creating spaces for young people to come together in focused discussions.
A participant from Canada says: “By identifying relevant spiritual concepts—such as unity and justice—our discussions are helping us to reflect on the current situation and to gain new perspectives.”
These gatherings, largely held online, complement a four-year seminar program offered by ISGP to university students, who are taking the opportunity to reexamine many of the concepts and ideas studied in the seminars in light of the pandemic and their efforts to serve society at this time.
“One of the concepts that has brought clarity to our analysis of present conditions is from the Bahá’í teachings, which state that humanity is reaching its collective maturity, when its essential oneness will be recognized and will give shape to new social structures. This movement toward maturity involves both processes of disintegration and integration. But if all we see is disintegration, then we do not get an accurate picture and are left with hopelessness. Through these discussions we are learning to detect progress, no matter how subtle it may be, and to think about the ways we can contribute to our society,” says a participant from France.  Youth participating at a gathering of ISGP in South Africa.In whatever country they reside, the health crisis is making more apparent to participants and their peers the need to reconsider the relationship between the individual and society.
One participant from France says: “Many people are revisiting prevalent notions of what it means to be a good citizen and ideas about the ‘social contract’. Not harming others is simply not enough. Recognizing our essential oneness and making this a reality implies something far greater.”
“The health crisis has further exposed the inequalities that exist in our society and has made more evident the responsibility that we all have to those around us,” says a fellow participant.
A student from Russia states: “New conceptions are needed based on the organic unity of mankind, the nobility of the human soul, and the twofold moral purpose of the individual to develop their own inherent potentialities and contribute to the transformation of society.”
Such discussions are leading participants to examine further the relationship between science and religion, particularly how both science and religion—as evolving systems of knowledge and practice—can work together to eradicate prejudices and superstitions and to propel human progress.  University students in Brazil at a gathering of ISGP.A participant from Brazil states: “A great deal of information is being propagated on social media about the virus that is confusing. If we use science as a means for investigating the world, we will understand the methods and tools through which conclusions about reality can be reached. Religion helps us to consider how spiritual principles, like justice and the interconnectedness of humanity, can be applied to issues such as economic inequality that have become even more exacerbated during the pandemic.”
A facilitator from the Central African Republic (CAR) describes efforts by participants to provide reliable information about the health crisis to their communities.
“United action guided by both science and religion is required in finding solutions to the pandemic. We are learning how to draw on science—staying informed of what scientists across the world are saying about the pandemic, consulting with each other to weigh new information—to assist our families and neighbors by dispelling the misinformation that clouds people’s thinking and spreads confusion, fear, hopelessness and prejudice. At the same time, we are guided by the spiritual concepts explored in the Bahá’í teachings, particularly the understanding that all humanity is as one body and whatever affects one nation can affect any other.”  University students from Jordan at a gathering of ISGP.Participants of the gatherings have been emphasizing the caution and wisdom needed when using social media to discuss the current health crisis. “There are online conversations about the pandemic that appear to be progressive in nature and attractive to young people concerned with the transformation of society,” says a participant from India. “But some have deep partisan political undercurrents, which can quickly unravel into highly charged debates that lead to discord.”
Another participant from India says, “The way we show forth our thoughts and ideas, combining a language that critically analyzes our social reality, with that of hope and possibilities, has become even more important during the pandemic.”
As university students reflect on the concepts and ideas discussed during these gatherings, they are identifying constructive conversations around them in which they can take part with fellow students and others, such as the role of religion in society, the intellectual and moral education of children and youth, and the material and spiritual dimensions of true prosperity.While recognizing the value of contributing to public discourse in diverse social spaces, participants are also seeing how it is possible for them to effect social change at the level of community.
“Thinking about how any one of us can change society is very complex,” says a participant from Russia. “We can, however, see change through the efforts of people acting together at a neighborhood or village level and within their professions. We can learn about service and cooperation at these levels.”
“A challenge still is that many urban neighborhoods are large, similar to the size of a small town. But the pandemic has shrunk our space and made us see our neighbors in a different light. People living in high-rises helping each other has given us a glimpse of what community life on a small scale can look like and how unity can be built in different settings.”  Ongoing gatherings have been held in Canada, and across the globe, for youth to continue to study ISGP seminar materials.These discussions are providing participants with hope, helping them to resist the disheartening effects of the forces of disintegration of society and to see how they can align their efforts with the forces of integration that are propelling humanity towards a bright future.
“This is not a moment to let time slip away, waiting for a return to a so-called ‘normalcy’,” says a participant from India, echoing the sentiments of many others engaged in these conversations. “There is so much to do if we want to contribute constructively during this period.”",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1450,2020-09-17,"[1441, 1375, 1329]","Latest “Bahá’í World” essays delve into economic justice, racial unity, community building","BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Earlier today, The Bahá’í World website published three new articles on themes highly relevant to the well-being and progress of humanity.
The essay “Community and Collective Action” describes the hopeful efforts of groups of people around the world to build a new kind of community based on the oneness of humankind and explores the vision and process guiding these efforts.
Overcoming the long-standing plague of racial injustice is the subject of the article “Spatial Strategies for Racial Unity,” which inquires into the nature and approaches of Bahá’í educational programs and community building efforts which seek, in the context of neighborhoods and villages, to raise capacity for service to humanity.
The growing disparities around the globe between the wealthiest and poorest members of society is the subject of the article “Is Economic Justice Possible?” The article surveys the world’s current economic condition and explores the implications of Bahá’í principles on the enormous challenge of building an economic system that is just, benefiting all of humanity.
The Bahá’í World website makes available a selection of thoughtful essays and long-form articles on a range of subjects of interest to the wider public, conveying advancements in Bahá’í thought and action and reflecting the Faith’s purpose in the world.
An email subscription service is available, informing subscribers when new articles are published.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1451,2020-09-21,"[1243, 1154, 1359]","BIC marks 75 years of UN, envisages path to just global order","BIC NEW YORK — As the United Nations marks its 75th anniversary, the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) has released a statement on the occasion. That the UN has persisted in spite of numerous challenges and has so far lasted three times the 25-year lifespan of the League of Nations—humanity’s first serious attempt at global governance—is an impressive accomplishment, says the BIC.
The statement highlights the need for systems of global cooperation to be strengthened if humanity is to address the serious challenges of our time and seize the immense opportunities of the coming years for progress.
It explores elements necessary for a movement toward enduring, universal peace, including: the acknowledgement of the oneness and interdependence of the human family; a genuine concern for all, without distinction; the ability of nations to learn from one another, and a willing acceptance of setbacks and missteps as inevitable aspects of the learning process; and, the conscious effort to ensure that material progress is connected to spiritual and social progress.
“Collaboration is possible on scales undreamt of in past ages, opening unparalleled prospects for progress,” the statement reads. “The task before the community of nations… is to ensure that the machinery of international politics and power is increasingly directed toward cooperation and unity.”
The BIC, in its statement, sees this to be an opportune moment for the international community to begin building consensus about how it can better organize itself, suggesting several initiatives and innovations that may be worthy of further consideration. For example, a world council on future affairs that could institutionalize consideration of how policies might impact generations to come and give attention to a range of issues such as preparedness for global crises, the use of emerging technologies, or the future of education or employment.
Titled “A Governance Befitting: Humanity and the Path Toward a Just Global Order,” the statement is being released to coincide with the UN General Assembly’s commemoration today of the 75th anniversary. It was sent today to the Secretary General of the UN and to the ambassadors of Member States.
Coming at a time when the global health crisis has prompted a deeper appreciation of humanity’s interdependence, this anniversary year has given rise to discussion about the role of international structures and reforms that can be made to the UN.
The statement is one of several contributions the BIC is making to these discussions. It will continue its exploration of the profound themes in the statement at an online meeting next month with UN officials and ambassadors.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1452,2020-09-24,[],"Violette Haake, 1928–2020","BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Violette Haake, a former member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away on 24 September 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. She was 92 years old.
The Universal House of Justice has sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies.*  *  *Our hearts sorrow at the passing of dearly loved Violette Haake.  Reared in a distinguished family tracing its roots to the early history of the Faith, she served the Cause of God with utter dedication over many decades, first in her native Iran, and later in the United States and Australia.  Whether when pioneering, or during her time as an Auxiliary Board member, or as a Continental Counsellor in Australasia, and most especially in the ten years she served as a member of the International Teaching Centre, her intrepid spirit and radiant enthusiasm for teaching were ever in evidence as she rallied the friends, particularly the youth; poured out encouragement; and fanned the flame of love for Bahá’u’lláh in the hearts.  Violette possessed a character that blended extraordinary resilience, steadfastness, and inner strength with unfailing kindness, a nurturing instinct, and true joy.  To the last, hers was a life devoted to the service of the Lord.
To her husband, Roderic, and her daughter, Susanne, we extend our heartfelt condolences, with an assurance of our supplications at the Sacred Threshold for the progress of Violette’s luminous soul as it plunges into the sea of light in the world of mysteries.  The believers in every land are asked to arrange memorials in her honour, including in all Houses of Worship, as circumstances permit.
The Universal House of Justice",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1453,2020-09-26,[],"Farzam Arbab, 1941–2020","BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Farzam Arbab, a former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away on 25 September 2020 in San Diego, United States. He was 78 years old.
The Universal House of Justice has sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies.*  *  *With grief-stricken hearts we mourn the sudden passing of our former colleague, our dearly loved brother Farzam Arbab, news of which has brought us fresh sorrow.  His brilliant mind, loving heart, and vibrant spirit were ever turned towards the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, seeking to draw from it insights that, through the process of education, could build spiritual and intellectual capacity within entire populations. Born in Iran, he studied in the United States before settling in Colombia as a pioneer. His outstanding gifts fitted him, it seemed, for a distinguished career in the physical sciences—but Providence had determined otherwise.  His rigorous scientific training was instead applied to the work of the Faith.  He recognized that the verities contained in the Bahá’í writings concerning spiritual and social transformation and the entry into the Faith of the masses of humanity demanded persistent effort to learn how to bring them about; the investment of his whole being in this great enterprise was complete and constant.  Throughout his time as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Colombia, as a Continental Counsellor, as a member of the International Teaching Centre, and finally as a member of the Universal House of Justice for two decades, his unshakeable belief in the capacity of all of God’s children, especially of young people, was the hallmark of his service to the Cause.  Always insightful, always discerning, always attuned to spiritual reality, this man of exceptional vision lived a life shaped by the harmony between scientific truth and true religion.
To Sona, his beloved wife, and to Paul, his cherished son, as well as to other family members, we extend our heartfelt condolences at this unexpected loss. We supplicate in the Sacred Shrines for the progress of his illumined soul as it commences its journey into the eternal realms of God. May it be lovingly welcomed to its heavenly home. All Bahá’í communities are urged to arrange memorials, as circumstances permit, including in all Houses of Worship, to mark the passing of much-loved, illustrious Farzam Arbab.
The Universal House of Justice",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1454,2020-09-29,[],Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Foundations completed ,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Following the announcement of the design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá some months ago, the foundations of the edifice have now been laid and construction is approaching a new stage. The project has continued since the start of the pandemic, with appropriate health measures in place to protect the safety of all the personnel involved.The past months have seen the construction of stable foundations, supported by deep underground piles. A platform across an area of 2,900 square meters was recently cast at the center of the site with an overnight concrete pour, bringing the central foundation work to completion.  With an overnight concrete pour, a platform across an area of 2,900 square meters was recently cast at the center of the site, bringing the central foundation work to completion.Within the wider circle of the site, the base is being laid for the sloping gardens that will rise from the encircling path to culminate over the spot where the sacred remains of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá will rest.
The complex process of obtaining the necessary permit for the final stages of construction is now complete. Local authorities have granted permission for the implementation of the design of the Shrine, allowing for the raising of the central structure above and beyond the footing and foundation.  The complex process of obtaining the necessary permit for the final stages of construction is now complete. Local authorities have granted permission for the implementation of the design of the Shrine, allowing for the raising of the central structure above and beyond the footing and foundation.  The foundations of the edifice have now been laid and construction is approaching a new stage. Within the wider circle of the site, the base is being laid for the sloping gardens that will rise from the encircling path to culminate over the spot where the sacred remains of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá will rest.The Bahá’í world is drawing inspiration from the example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in carrying out this momentous undertaking amid the global health crisis.Though confined to the city of ‘Akká and facing tremendous challenges, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá directed the construction of a befitting mausoleum on Mount Carmel, the Shrine that would eventually be the permanent resting place for the remains of the Báb.
“Every stone of that building, every stone of the road leading to it, I have with infinite tears and at tremendous cost, raised and placed in position,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is recorded as having remarked.  The Bahá’í world is drawing inspiration from the example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in carrying out this momentous undertaking amid the global health crisis.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1455,2020-09-29,[],"Douglas Martin, 1927–2020","BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Douglas Martin, a former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away on 28 September 2020 in Toronto, Canada. He was 93 years old.
The Universal House of Justice has sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies.*  *  *With mournful hearts already brimming with sorrow, we announce the passing of our much-loved, much-admired former colleague, Douglas Martin.  Having embraced the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh as a young man, he with all his heart dedicated his life to the Cause of God over successive decades of outstanding service.  The special gifts he possessed for presenting the Faith with clarity and vision shone through as much in his scholarly writings as in his public presentations, including in vigorous defence of the Bahá’í community in Iran.  Much of this work was undertaken while he simultaneously discharged weighty responsibilities in the administration of the Faith.  This included a quarter century spent as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, most of that time as its Secretary.  His scintillating intellect and uncommon grasp of the grand forces of history, combined with his formidable powers of expression, were much in evidence during the years he spent as director-general of the Bahá’í International Community’s Office of Public Information, a prelude to the twelve years he served as a member of the Universal House of Justice.  Resolute, ingenious, and blessed with piercing insight, he will be immensely missed.
We pray ardently that dear Douglas, now reunited with his beloved wife, Elizabeth, may be received with joy in the Abhá Kingdom, and that his illumined soul may ever soar in the limitless realms above.  The friends in every community are called upon to honour his memory by convening memorials, including through devotions at every House of Worship, as circumstances permit.
The Universal House of Justice",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1456,2020-10-02,"[1432, 1408, 1318]",Pandemic sparks critical reflection on journalism,"AMMAN, Jordan — Earlier this year, as the pandemic was sweeping across the globe, something unusual happened in news reporting—profound ideas about social transformation and acts of solidarity were making headlines worldwide. Although less pronounced now, news outlets continue to feature such stories, many of which would have been considered irrelevant or insignificant before the crisis.
Responding to increased interest among media professionals about new approaches to the field, Bahá’í communities in several countries have been exploring with journalists and others how the media can contribute to societal harmony and stimulate thoughtful conversations on issues facing humanity.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. The Bahá’ís of Jordan have been hosting roundtable discussions with journalists on how the media can be a source of hope for society.The Bahá’ís of Jordan have been hosting roundtable discussions with journalists on how the media can be a source of hope for society. “The Bahá’í teachings envision the media as a vital element of society with the potential to be a mirror for the world, reflecting the range of experience of diverse people,” says Tahani Ruhi, of the country’s Bahá’í community’s Office of External Affairs.
“At certain points in the past few months, a fuller picture of the world has been reflected in news reporting: not just of sensational narratives, but also of the constructive processes that exist in every community. The media’s power to inspire hope has become especially visible during this time. Due attention has been given to positive developments—big and small—that show the nobility of people and their capacity to put the needs of their fellow citizens ahead of their own.”  A discussion with journalist held by the Bahá’í community of Jordan.Ghada al-Sheikh of the Al-Ghad newspaper, a participant of the roundtable meetings, says: “These discussion spaces are allowing us to better understand important concepts related to progress and to think deeply about their implications for our work. Our consciousness of our mission as journalists is being strengthened as we consult together on issues of social and economic solidarity and how the media can contribute to people’s sense of priorities.”
The roundtable participants in Jordan have also been looking at the impact of structural factors in a media industry shaped by commercial interests. “Media practitioners should not view themselves as competitors, but as collaborators. We are seeking truth, whatever form of media we produce,” said Mahmoud Hishmeh, director of the East and West Center for Dialogue and Sustainable Development, during one of the discussions.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. A series of structured discussions held by the Bahá’í community of Australia in collaboration with First Draft and the Centre for Media Transition, is bringing together media practitioners to reimagine the Australian media landscape.On the other side of the world, the Australian Bahá’í community has also been bringing journalists and others in media together to examine how to be conducive to social cohesion, an issue of great significance in the country. One such effort includes a series of structured discussions, in collaboration with First Draft and the Centre for Media Transition, bringing together media practitioners to reimagine the Australian media landscape.
“By drawing on the principles of Bahá’í consultation we have had the opportunity to exchange diverse experiences respectfully and in an environment that is encouraging and dynamic,” says Venus Khalessi of the Office of External Affairs. “In what is often a fast-paced environment, where complex decisions are made under immense time pressure, media practitioners appreciate the opportunity to step back and reflect on how to apply guiding principles and values to the situations they face.”  The Australian Bahá’í community has been bringing journalists and others in media together to examine how to be conducive to social cohesion, an issue of great significance in the country.At one gathering, Alan Sunderland, Executive Director of the Organization of News Ombudsmen and Standards Editors, said, “There are a lot of people talking at the moment about how the media can do more than just highlight divisions, but can talk about things that unite us. That is challenging for journalism, which traditionally is built on a conflict model, one where you find problems to expose. Finding ways to be constructive while recognizing that there is a fundamental requirement for journalism to ask difficult questions is a really interesting issue to explore.”
Participants at the most recent gathering in Australia expressed that the current health crisis has shown more than ever the responsibility of media to act for “the greater good of humankind.” Just as there is a need for accuracy in reporting facts, participants have noted the need for stories to convey values conducive to harmony. Examples of this during the pandemic have included a greater effort by news outlets in the country to report on stories of community-driven response and resilience.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. The Bahá’ís of Spain have been having conversations with journalists and other social actors about the need to overcome division and polarization in response to crises.Meanwhile in Spain, the Bahá’í community has also been having conversations with journalists and other social actors about the need to overcome division and polarization in response to crises.
“Early in the pandemic, new topics entered the public consciousness,” says Sergio García of the country’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs. “Media outlets focused on discussions of the need for greater international cooperation; the need to transform economic models to be more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient; and many other profound ideas in all areas of life.
“Though older patterns of media coverage reemerged after some time, this change showed a glimpse of how media can open the horizons of human thinking and foster a deep discussion about our common future in a shared world. Media contributes to setting the tone for relations among different elements of society, and it can generate the feeling that we are one world and one people who need to work as such to address our common challenges.”",AMMAN,,Jordan
1457,2020-10-09,"[1449, 1445, 1435]",University applies lessons learned from COVID first wave,"SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia — Despite the challenges facing all educational institutions, Nur University in Bolivia has been striving to cope with present circumstances and adapt quickly by drawing on lessons learned from the first wave of COVID-19.
The Bahá’í-inspired educational institution has found two aspects of the learning experience to be essential during this time. One is that students should be closely engaged and not left to themselves. Another is that thoughtful consideration should be given to identifying technologies suitable for present circumstances.
“All of the staff are being especially thoughtful—for instance, trying to call students and determine their needs, and recording every online class for those who could not connect to live online sessions,” says William Shoaie, the rector of the university.  Established 38 years ago in Santa Cruz, Nur University has grown to become a significant center of education in Bolivia. The university offers a range of programs in the arts and sciences and emphasizes the development of moral capacities as an important aspect of all areas of study.A special committee has been formed to look after the needs of students, speaking with them about their situation and helping them find accommodations where needed. Professional resources for medical advice and counselling have also been made available.Conscious use of technology
With the move to online study, the university has been consciously selecting technologies for its operations. Mr. Shoaie says, “We are mindful that introducing any technology has implications for processes and relationships, because each technology favors certain kinds of interaction and can have long-lasting effects.”
In the first semester, which began in March, some teachers offered recorded lectures to students and interacted with them through group messages. Although this made lessons easily accessible, the collective experience of students learning together was lost. Some students were less engaged than those in classes that were held through group video discussions.  With the move to online study, the university has been consciously selecting technologies for its operations.In the vision of Nur, education entails much more than conveying information and knowledge. “A lot of the learning process is based on interaction among diverse students and faculty, which provides something that the content of a course alone does not. People who study by themselves can learn the same subject matter, but in terms of the underlying skills, attitudes, and moral and spiritual qualities that one needs in order to contribute more effectively to society, it is better to work and learn with many different people.
“So an important aspect of adapting has been to maintain as much interaction as possible among staff and students.”An expanded understanding of education
Mr. Shoaie explains that although the pandemic has created many challenges, the university sees new possibilities for enhancing educational approaches. “We are not simply trying to replicate previous dynamics and patterns,” he explains, “but are being proactive in improving the educational experience in ways that we could not have imagined before.
“Because teachers and students have been open to discovering new modes of interaction through the use of certain technologies, learning is no longer confined to set hours or a place. For example, students communicate in messaging groups when they have questions; teachers and other students respond, providing supplementary materials. Our minds were structured around meeting in person, but now the dynamics are more organic. The teacher’s role is that of a facilitator rather than someone who stands in front of a class and conveys knowledge. We have had to reconceptualize some things, seeing the learning process as much more engaging and participatory than before.  In the vision of Nur, education entails much more than conveying information and knowledge. “A lot of the learning process is based on interaction among diverse students and faculty, which provides something that the content of a course alone does not.”A new vision by the students
One student named Romina reflects on the transition in the mode of education, saying: “Even though this situation with virtual classes has been difficult, we have been encouraged by the perseverance and care of the university to continue, and have been provided with the tools needed.”
A unique feature of Nur University’s approach is that it promotes service to society as a critical element in one’s life.
“The spirit of service that we develop at Nur University,” Romina continues, “has meant that we have not been passive during this crisis. Rather, we have been joining friends and others to help alleviate suffering.”  All the changes that Nur University is making this year are allowing it not only to be a place where people are being educated, but to continue to serve as a body of people acting collectively to improve the condition of their society.All the changes that Nur University is making this year are allowing it not only to be a place where people are being educated, but to continue to serve as a body of people acting collectively to improve the condition of their society.
Sassan, a final-year student, says, “You can feel that the university has a new spirit this year. You can see it in the conversations friends are having and their commitment to serving their fellow citizens with a greater sense of purpose.
“The pandemic has strengthened the identity of students at Nur University who, as part of their education, are learning to be attentive to the needs of their society, seeing each other through this difficult time.”
Established 38 years ago in Santa Cruz, Nur University has grown to become a significant center of education in Bolivia. The university offers a range of programs in the arts and sciences and emphasizes the development of moral capacities as an important aspect of all areas of study.",SANTA CRUZ,,Bolivia
1458,2020-10-14,"[1426, 1223, 1170]",Pioneering pottery sought unity of East and West,"LONDON — One hundred years ago, two potters—one English, the other Japanese—embarked upon a creative enterprise with the aim of uniting the art and traditions of East and West.
Bernard Leach was born in 1887 in Hong Kong and raised in Japan and Singapore. From his earliest years, he advocated the need for the East and West to meet and merge. His idealism and passionate concern for humanity, which found expression through his craft, were later strengthened and expanded as he embraced the Bahá’í Faith.
From its founding in 1920, the Leach Pottery, established by Leach with his friend Shoji Hamada in St. Ives, England, became one of the most significant and influential crafts workshops in the world. Its centenary is now being marked by a number of special exhibitions, including at the Crafts Study Centre—based at the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham—and at the historic Whitechapel Gallery. At the Leach Pottery itself, a program of creative initiatives is also celebrating the anniversary.
“Leach would regard the pot as a kind of repository, not just of material but of ideas, of thoughts, of characteristics,” says Professor Simon Olding, Director of the Crafts Study Centre. “He deeply believed in the notion of hand, heart and head working together, and he could wed those to his own sense of spiritual and humanistic life.”  Bernard Leach teaching Japanese students at the Marusan kiln, Fujima. From the Bernard Leach archive at the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, BHL/12677.A synthesis of East and West
The young Leach studied drawing and printmaking in London, returning to Japan in 1908 with the intention of teaching etching. Some of his first works—showing his mastery of line drawing—are on display in Farnham, many of them from the collection of the late Alan Bell, a Bahá’í who worked for Leach in the 1970s. Bell’s archive, which was recently acquired by the Crafts Study Centre, includes many pieces that have never before been publicly displayed.
“The start of the exhibition relates his very earliest and unseen student drawings to his very early Japanese etchings,” says Prof. Olding. “It’s the first occasion where Leach is physically locating himself through that line in Japan, both in his self-portraits but also in his depiction of landscape. Japan is deeply set into his mind and his practice.”  One of the very first Raku pots that Leach made with the assistance of an unknown maker, Tokyo, 1911. © Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, P.75.67.In Japan, Leach became enthralled by the country’s ceramic traditions and devoted himself to learning the craft, evolving an approach that combined Eastern and old English techniques. Then, in 1920, he and Hamada accepted sponsorship to set up a pottery in St. Ives. But Cornwall’s lack of wood—essential for fueling the kilns—and its poor supply of local clay and natural materials for glazes, made it a less than promising environment for what they had set out to do. Persevering through many challenges and near-disasters, Leach and Hamada were convinced they were founding a new era for the artist-craftsman potter, reinstating the notion of truth to materials, and the beauty of simple design and subtle colors. Their belief in the synthesis of East and West was foundational to their approach.
“Leach introduced iconography from East Asian ceramics into his own work,” says Prof. Olding.  “You can see that interplay between the UK and Japan both formally and informally.” Simple decorative motifs that Leach perfected for his pots included leaves, birds, and fish.  A vase by Bernard Leach, titled ‘Solomon among the Lilies’, on show in the Kai Althoff Goes with Bernard Leach exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, London. Image courtesy of Leicester Museums © Bernard Leach Estate.Belief and practice
The potter’s personal convictions were fortified by his discovery of the Bahá’í Faith—introduced to him by his friend, the American painter Mark Tobey—which Leach formally accepted in 1940. One of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings that particularly resonated with him was “…that the true worth of artists and craftsmen should be appreciated, for they advance the affairs of mankind.”
Leach had always believed that people using beautiful, handmade crafts could contribute significantly to the well-being of society. But, in time, he came to realize that attaining greater levels of unity was the only solution to meeting the larger challenges facing humanity. “I believe that Bahá’u’lláh was a Manifestation and that His work was to provide the spiritual foundation upon which the society of mankind could be established,” he wrote. His spiritual sensibilities were further stirred when in 1954 he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The experience of praying in the Bahá’í Shrines reinforced his feeling that he should step up his efforts to contribute to greater unity between East and West.
“Art, as we endeavor towards perfection, is one with religion, and this fact is better recognized in the East,” Leach wrote towards the end of his long life. “Our dualism commenced when we separated intellect and intuition, the head from the heart, and man from God.”  Bernard Leach with his son, David and students in the Old Pottery in St. Ives, England. From the Bernard Leach archive at the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, BHL/8999A.The importance of training was also central to the Leach Pottery’s practice. Students and apprentices were taken on from the surrounding area and overseas, creating a uniquely international environment. Rigorous workshop discipline was seen as the essential foundation for students’ future success as potters, as apprentices were tasked with repeatedly producing more than 100 standard designs, ranging from egg cups to large cooking pots.
“Leach,” notes Prof. Olding, “did not, in essence, move away from what he regarded as these founding principles and pots. These apprentices then established their own potteries, working in that same sort of idiom, seeing the small scale studio pottery as the means by which they could lead a hard but fulfilling creative and emotional life.”  A young visitor examines a Bernard Leach jug at the installation, Kai Althoff goes with Bernard Leach at the Whitechapel Gallery, London, 7 October 2020 – 10 January 2021. Photo: Polly EltesAn enduring legacy
The tradition Leach established dominated Western pottery for much of the twentieth century, attracting countless admirers around the world. At the Whitechapel Gallery, the contemporary German artist Kai Althoff has selected 45 of Leach’s pieces from major collections, for which he has designed special vitrines.
“Althoff is drawn to Bernard Leach’s work and his approach to making objects,” says curator Emily Butler. “He’s very interested in this synthesis of beauty and utility, how art and objects can be lived with and can be useful. Through the exhibition’s title, Kai Althoff goes with Bernard Leach, he’s saying I’d like my philosophy of work to be like Bernard Leach’s.”  Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada admiring an English medieval pitcher, 1966. From the Bernard Leach archive at the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, BHL/12872.Hamada died in 1978 and Leach the following year, aged 92, but visitors still travel from all over the world to St. Ives to see where these two potters founded a way of working that built an enduring friendship and understanding between cultures. To mark its centenary, the Leach Pottery had planned a year-long program of activities, much of which they have been forced to postpone or modify because of the pandemic.
“Leach Pottery has always demonstrated resilience against an ever-changing backdrop,” says its present Director Libby Buckley, “and has stood and survived the test of time, continually innovating and responding to challenges.  And, in the determined spirit of our founders, this is how we continue to operate unabated.”
“We are sure people will continue to celebrate with us, learning from, honoring, and continuing the legacies of Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada in fresh and exciting modern ways throughout this critical year for us, and well into the future.”",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1459,2020-10-16,"[1415, 1401, 1322]",Youth in Beirut create disaster recovery network,"BEIRUT — In the days after the explosion that rocked Beirut in August, a group of youth engaged in Bahá’í community-building efforts quickly met to make plans for assisting with relief and recovery. They created a volunteer network called the “Helping Hub” to coordinate the actions of people around them, an initiative that has evolved in subsequent months to respond to ongoing needs.
“We knew we had to help in any way possible,’” says Karim Mouzahem, one of the young people spearheading the initiative.
The youths’ ongoing activities aimed at spiritual and moral empowerment had given them experience with fostering cooperation and a sense of shared endeavor among small groups of people. Now they could channel this capacity to build a volunteer network.
“We decided to take a very small step, which was to open a messaging group and invite all of our friends and people that we met through our community-building efforts to track others who were in need of assistance and to identify initiatives that were already underway.
“When we started out, we were thinking, ‘We are only 10 youth. How can we help?’ But we wished to serve our community and our country, and felt hopeful as the 10 participants quickly grew to 80 volunteers of different ages and backgrounds joining and offering assistance.”  Everyone involved shared a spirit of service, giving them the energy needed to work through difficult conditions.Everyone involved shared a spirit of service, giving them the energy needed to work through difficult conditions. For over a month, they were distributing 300 meals daily as well as arranging clothing donations, helping to clean up damaged properties, covering broken windows, and carrying out other tasks. They were careful to use appropriate equipment and take safety measures to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus.
The youth at the center of the initiative knew from experience that the energy and sense of urgency that volunteers felt would be channeled most effectively through systematic action. Every morning, before going out to help on the ground, tasks would be distributed among the volunteers. In the evenings, the group would reflect with everyone involved about the experience of that day, carry out a needs assessment and come up with a new list of tasks for the following day.
Hoda Wallace, a member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Lebanon, says, “It was very encouraging to see how this small group of youth arose to action. Though young, they have been serving their communities for years and developing their capacities through an educational process, based on the Bahá’í teachings, that helps them see themselves as agents in addressing the needs of society. They have gained organizational skills, such as the ability to maintain basic statistics, to plan based on resources, and to operate in a mode of learning that came naturally as they organized the Helping Hub.”  The youth at the center of the initiative knew from experience that the energy and sense of urgency that volunteers felt would be channeled most effectively through systematic action.Those working at the core of the initiative found support in praying together with their community in online gatherings. Mrs. Wallace says, “Prayer sustained and brought many people together over those days of shock and sadness and brought hope. We are seeing the importance of a devotional spirit, which helps us strengthen social ties and deepen spiritual roots that have made us more resilient in the face of this disaster.”
Many of the volunteers were themselves affected by the crisis but found hope in service to others. Maha Wakim, a clinical psychologist, says, “My office was destroyed, and it was devastating for me. Instead of sitting and feeling helpless, I joined the Helping Hub when a friend introduced me to them. It was the first step of my healing journey. It helped me get up and feel like I am doing something and helping others. Seeing how everyone came together made a big difference for me.”  Every morning, before going out to help on the ground, tasks would be distributed among the volunteers. In the evenings, the group would reflect with everyone involved about the experience of that day, carry out a needs assessment and come up with a new list of tasks for the following day.Although the Helping Hub emerged in response to the immediate aftermath of the Beirut explosion, in recent weeks it has given greater attention to long-term development and has increasingly collaborated with other groups and organizations to address ongoing challenges. The youth have been in a position to gather information from the ground, which is meticulously recorded and used to bring different needs to the attention of other organizations that are in a better position to help.
Lara Mansour, who has worked with Helping Hub from its first days, states: “A core aspect of the Bahá’í educational process is the development of capacity for long-term action through increasing degrees of unity among people. When we were on the ground we saw the need for organization. For example, one area of Beirut was flooded with offers of food, water, and other assistance, while other areas received less attention, or none at all. So we have now started another initiative that helps organizations to coordinate efforts among each other.
“This has allowed different social actors to consult and act in a united way. There are now online meetings with 50 people talking about goals around which we are all united. Having developed a collective vision and a sense of purpose gives all of us greater capacity to address needs with the support of external assistance.”
Karim reflects on what this experience has meant for young people. “All of us youth have had a reality check about our true purpose in life. Those weeks when we were on the ground helping people from morning to night were very difficult, but very beautiful because we were together and our service brought us hope. As we return to our daily lives, we realize that we are not satisfied with working day to day without a sense of purpose. We have to serve our communities, because this is where true happiness comes from.”",BEIRUT,,Lebanon
1460,2020-10-18,"[1438, 1434, 1385]",Groundbreaking for House of Worship celebrated across DRC,"KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — Construction of the national Bahá’í House of Worship in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was inaugurated on Sunday with a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of the future temple and broadcast on national television. Situated on the outskirts of Kinshasa, the site was host to government officials, representatives of religious communities, and traditional chiefs. At the same time, celebrations were held across the vast country as countless people joined in prayer to mark this important milestone.
The National Spiritual Assembly, in a letter written for the occasion, says that the House of Worship embodies the essential elements of the Bahá’í concept of worship and service, “both so vital to the regeneration of the world. Therein lies the secret of the loftiness, the potency, and the unique position of the House of Worship as one of the most outstanding institutions conceived by Bahá’u’lláh. … The ceremony today has great significance, comparable to the sowing of a seed in the soil in the hope of seeing it grow and, before long, produce the most valuable fruits.”  Current health guidelines allowed for a beautiful gathering to take place with the necessary protective measures.The arrival of this long-awaited moment and what it represents has stirred communities throughout the country. Bashilwango Mbaleeko, secretary of the Regional Bahá’í Council of South Kivu, explains that although people throughout the vast country of the DRC are physically distant from the site, the spirit of oneness already emanating from that spot is fueling their efforts to serve their society with greater intensity. “Every step of progress has been celebrated across South Kivu and the country. We see the rise of this edifice as an outcome of decades of efforts toward social transformation.”
Lavoisier Mutombo Tshiongo, the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the DRC, says that the presence of diverse people at the event signifies the unifying role of a House of Worship. “This is not only a Bahá’í place of worship, it is a House of Worship for everyone to offer prayers to their Creator. This temple will be the embodiment of unity and represents a new milestone in the development of Congolese society. In one of His writings, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has said that raising up such places of worship will allow people ‘to gather together, and, harmoniously attuned one to another, engage in prayer; with the result that out of this coming together, unity and affection shall grow and flourish in the human heart.’”  Lavoisier Mutombo Tshiongo, the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the DRC, says that the presence of diverse people at the event signifies the unifying role of a House of Worship.The immense impact of prayer on the patterns of community life was discussed by traditional chiefs in the Western Kasai region who had gathered on Friday to reflect on the House of Worship. Chief Bope Ngokadi of Mpempe village said, “We see in the Bahá’í devotional gatherings the involvement of diverse people; we are all walking together in unity. Praying has brought a positive impact, the village has changed. I have changed.
“People who were always in conflict and not talking together are now together in harmony. The power of the Word of God is immense. This is what has united those who were in conflict.
“Even as the chief of this locality I was not always united with other officials, but we have become so through devotional gatherings. This is what has allowed us to live as one community. This is what the House of Worship represents.”  The immense impact of prayer on the patterns of community life was discussed by traditional chiefs in the Western Kasai region who had gathered on Friday to reflect on the House of Worship.The groundbreaking ceremony coincided with the Bahá’í Holy Day celebrating the Birth of the Báb. Current health guidelines allowed for a beautiful gathering to take place with the necessary protective measures. The ceremony, which was broadcast online through a live stream and covered on national TV news channels, culminated with the laying of a symbolic first stone on the spot where the new edifice will rise.
Plans to build a national House of Worship were announced in 2012. Since then the Bahá’ís of the DRC have been identifying architects and a suitable site for this unique structure.  The design of the House of Worship in Kinshasa is inspired by traditional artworks, structures and natural features of the DRC.This House of Worship is one of several Bahá’í temples under construction around the world, each with a unique design that reflects the unifying roles of worship and service. The design of the House of Worship in Kinshasa is inspired by traditional artworks, structures and natural features of the DRC. The image of the Congo River, whose tributaries gather rain from every part of the country into one great stream, symbolizes a coming together and uniting of the world and is expressed through the patterns that will adorn the outside of the dome in a style reminiscent of the artwork of various Congolese peoples.",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1461,2020-10-22,"[1451, 1279]",“A Governance Befitting”: BIC launches statement on eve of UN’s 75th anniversary,"BIC NEW YORK — The Bahá’í International Community (BIC) launched a statement on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, inviting UN officials, ambassadors of member states, non-governmental organizations and other social actors to explore themes concerning humanity’s movement toward universal peace.
The statement, “A Governance Befitting: Humanity and the Path Toward a Just Global Order,” has, in the brief time since its publication in September, already begun to stimulate profound reflection and thoughtful discussion about the role of international structures.
Commenting on the statement, H.E. Alvaro Albacete, Ambassador of Spain and Deputy Secretary General of KAICIID, says, “The idea of global coalitions is very much embedded in the [statement]  … I want to pay tribute to actors very important to forge global coalitions, not only UN member states. And, I want to focus on the importance of religious actors in forging those global coalitions. The role is very important in areas such as development, education, health, and so on.
“Today, in the UN, we count on a very innovative body which is the Multi-Faith Advisory Council. It’s the first step as religious voices are heard at the United Nations. And it happens that that body is chaired by the Bahá’í community and its representative, Bani Dugal. I want to congratulate the Bahá’í Community for the good work that it is doing through that important body at the United Nations.”  Commenting on the statement, H.E. Alvaro Albacete, Ambassador of Spain and Deputy Secretary General of KAICIID, says, “The idea of global coalitions is very much embedded in the [statement]  I want to focus on the importance of religious actors in forging those global coalitions. The role is very important in areas such as development, education, health, and so on.”Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, says of the statement: “It speaks powerfully to the moment of now and to the needs of every single human being on this earth and every single institution.” She continues: “I am particularly taken by how clear and articulate and eloquent the statement is on the need for us to … come together. The Bahá’í Faith has always inspired me to understand something that is fundamental to all faith traditions around the world: the acknowledgement … of the fact that we are all one. … Our survival on this planet, the planet’s survival, is fundamentally dependent on whether or not we will get this simple fact deep into our systems. We thrive when we are one. We self-destruct when we believe that our boundaries matter.”
Fergus Watt, of the coordination group for the UN 2020 campaign, says the statement “focuses on some of the broader international trends that are animating human progress toward a world community.”
Mr. Watt highlights how the concept of unity presented in the statement is one “that embraces diversity of national, legal, cultural, and political traditions, but situated within an ethical basis that reminds us of the shared values that are intrinsic to humans everywhere: an acknowledgment of interdependence, a shared ethic of justice, and a recognition that humanity is one.
“The statement also recognizes that the transformation that is ongoing is a gradual process, it is a step-by-step process, but that every step makes the next possible.”  The statement, “A Governance Befitting: Humanity and the Path Toward a Just Global Order,” has, in the brief time since its publication in September, already begun to stimulate profound reflection and thoughtful discussion about the role of international structures.Sovaida Ma’ani Ewing of the Center for Peace and Global Governance says, “We are becoming aware that being one organism makes us open to global challenges. But we realize that we lack precisely the global decision-making structures needed to tackle these problems. This is why new structures such as a directly-elected international body are needed.”
Richard Ponzio, Director of the Stimson Center’s Just Security 2020 Program, highlights the notion of a global civic ethic mentioned in the statement as essential to building toward greater degrees of international cooperation, stating: “Everybody has their own definition of a global civic ethic. It is great to see it referred to in ‘A Governance Befitting,’ and how no issue with that scope and significance has challenged us to come together and build not only a global structure, institutions, norms, and tools to respond to [global] challenges, but to also have ethical and moral principles that underpin these institutions. That is at the heart of a global civic ethic.”  The BIC is looking ahead, seeing the coming quarter century—stretching from the United Nations’ 75th anniversary to its centenary—as a critical period in determining the fortunes of humanity.The BIC is looking ahead, seeing the coming quarter century—stretching from the United Nations’ 75th anniversary to its centenary—as a critical period in determining the fortunes of humanity. The launch event, which welcomed some 200 attendees across the world, was an invitation to further exploration and one of many contributions the BIC is making to discussions about the need for systems of global cooperation to be strengthened.
Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community, states: “We hope this is the beginning of a series of conversations that will be part of a movement of change to bring us to the centenary of the UN as a much more evolved world order characterized by equality, unity, lasting peace, and understanding among the governments and peoples of the world. The next 25 years are of critical importance for the life of humanity.”",BIC NEW YORK,,
1462,2020-10-27,[],"Bahá’í Radio: Stations invite participation, connect people during pandemic","TALAVERA, Philippines — Radio stations operated by Bahá’í communities in several countries have found a renewed purpose during the pandemic, acting as a source of critical information and an anchor of community life when other forms of interaction have been limited.
Radyo Bahá’í in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines has played a significant role during the health crisis in creating a sense of togetherness through participatory programs dedicated to prayer and uplifting music reflective of the culture of the region. Its broadcast radius of 90 kilometers has also allowed the station to transmit crucial messages to remote areas which would otherwise be difficult to reach.
Christine Flores, director of Radyo Bahá’í, says, “Families are spending so much more time together, and we hope to contribute to a home environment characterized by unity and cooperation. For example, prayers and songs are broadcast every hour during the day, many contributed by listeners. Praying regularly is key to upliftment and inspiration. We are spiritual beings, and it is natural for us to connect with our creator in our homes.”  Radyo Bahá’í in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines has played a significant role during the health crisis in creating a sense of togetherness and transmitting crucial messages to remote areas within its broadcast radius of 90 kilometers.The station is also assisting with educational needs in the region by collaborating with the country’s Department of Education. Regular broadcasts of education materials by Radyo Bahá’í reach thousands of children whose schools are closed because of public health measures. These educational broadcasts are supplemented with songs and stories inspired by the Bahá’í teachings on such themes as truthfulness, generosity, patience, and kindness.
“The radio has been an important instrument in fostering a sense of belonging and connection between people during a time of distancing,” says Mrs. Flores. “A collective spirit is needed to face this crisis. A shared identity is strengthened when people hear programs reflecting their culture in their own local language and when they are contributing to content. Normally, information and ideas are passed around as people meet each other, but now the radio station is helping fill this need in our region.”  The public schools district supervisor during a broadcast of educational programs that reach thousands of children whose schools are closed because of public health measures.Across the Pacific Ocean, a Bahá’í-inspired radio station in Panama has focused on inspiring acts of service and attending to practical needs during the pandemic. Listeners are given the opportunity to offer support to those living in rural areas struggling to access public services given the restrictions on movement.
Fabio Rodriguez, coordinator of the station, says, “Our programs emphasize service and the idea that all people have the right to contribute to society. The station welcomes people from the area to assist in the production of programs, who are able to convey the reality of their shared experiences and their hopes in a way that speaks to the hearts of their fellow community members. This in turn encourages more people to see themselves as active participants in shaping the life of their communities.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. One area of focus of Chile Bahá’í Radio has been the preservation of language and culture of the Mapuche people.Elsewhere in Latin America, Chile Bahá’í Radio based in Labranza, Chile, has been in close dialogue with surrounding indigenous communities to ensure that programs speak to their needs and aspirations. One area of focus of the station has been the preservation of language and culture of the Mapuche people.
“The radio plays a vital role in promoting the noblest aspects of the Mapuche people, and contributes to a sense of hope and comfort in this crisis,” says the coordinator of the station, Alex Calfuquero.
“Early morning prayer is a fundamental tradition, and Mapuche prayers are often included in the station’s devotional programs, which are sometimes broadcast from the Bahá’í temple in Santiago.”  Prayers in the indigenous Mapuche language are a part of regular broadcasts of Chile Bahá’í Radio.Katty Scoggin, who collaborates with the radio stations in Chile and Panama, reflects on recent experiences: “These Bahá’í radio stations have been operating for years and years. They have been a part of the local culture. These initiatives are not just a one-sided broadcast service, they have a meaningful presence in the communities they serve.
“In media, there are the people who create something, and the people who consume content—usually just as recipients. We are trying to learn about something different. These radio stations assist with raising capacity for service to society and give a voice to the whole community.”  During the health crisis, Radyo Bahá’í in the Philippines has been creating a sense of togetherness through participatory programs dedicated to prayer and uplifting music reflective of the culture of the region.",TALAVERA,,Philippines
1463,2020-10-30,"[1462, 1420, 1262]",New Constitution: Conversations in Chile pave new path,"SANTIAGO, Chile — In the lead-up to the vote this week in Chile to establish a new constitution, conversations about building an equitable society have taken greater focus throughout the country. Over the past year, the Bahá’ís of Chile have been contributing to these discussions by creating spaces at every level, from the grassroots to national, to examine with their fellow citizens the foundations for a materially and spiritually prosperous society.
“This is a historic time for Chile,” says Felipe Duhart, Secretary of the country’s Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly. “We all have a rare opportunity to think collectively about the principles around which to organize our country.”
As part of its efforts to contribute to the national discourse on social progress, the Bahá’í community has most recently been working with a civil society organization, Ahora nos toca participar (Now is our turn to participate), to create discussion spaces across the country. A series of gatherings in recent months led to a national event involving thousands of participants. The Bahá’ís of Chile have given special attention at these gatherings—which are continuing alongside the constitutional process—to ensure that the voice of women and indigenous peoples is heard.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. Over the past year, the Bahá’ís of Chile have been contributing to discussions about social progress by creating spaces at every level, from the grassroots to national, to examine with their fellow citizens the foundations for a materially and spiritually prosperous society.At a recent gathering, Veronica Oré, director of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Santiago, explained how certain assumptions need to be re-examined: “The historical moment in which we find ourselves, the impact of the pandemic, the awakening of a collective conscience, are driving our country to search for a new framework for society.”
“Beyond reforms,” Ms. Oré continued, “a profound transformation is required. … The proposal is that we do not look at progress only through the perspective of economic growth, but that we also consider spiritual concepts, such as justice and our essential oneness. When we think about educational policies, about constitutional changes, let us also rethink our assumptions about human nature, seeing the nobility of every human being.”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. A group of Mapuche community members visiting the Bahá’í House of Worship in Santiago. The Bahá’ís of Chile have given special attention to ensure that the voice of women and indigenous peoples is heard in special gatherings held over the last year that seek to contribute to a national discourse on social progress.Luis Sandoval, of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of Chile, says, “The aspirations for change manifested in Chilean society—relating to issues such as the extremes of wealth and poverty, equality between men and women, the protection of nature, and the economy—have a common element: challenges in all these areas can be traced to a model of society that places material development at the center of life and of relationships. This is insufficient; we have to go beyond this and recognize the spiritual dimension of life.”
Mr. Duhart explains that underlying all these conversations is a call for justice. “This principle can guide a process for social change in a direction that will be beneficial to all people. The Bahá’í conception of justice places this as a pillar of a united society. Justice puts all people as one before God, and helps us understand how individuals, communities, and institutions form an interconnected whole. Spiritual principles such as justice provide pillars for a society where each of us, with our capacities, can develop and play our part.”  Many profound discussions about the future of Chilean society have taken place over the last year on the grounds of the Bahá'í House of Worship in Santiago, exploring issues such as the extremes of wealth and poverty, equality between men and women, the protection of nature, and the economy.Ms. Oré, explains how the potential for achieving greater unity is realized through the House of Worship: “In the four years since its inauguration, the temple has received some two million visitors from all walks of life and backgrounds. Over the past year, the House of Worship has especially acted as a magnetic center where invitees to special gatherings have come, and after participating in devotions, have engaged in profound discussions about issues of national concern. It’s evident through the thoughtful interactions here that we can build a stronger society together.”",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1464,2020-11-05,"[1457, 1435, 1422]",Working hard to serve all students,"LAS MORAS, El Salvador — In March, when schools across El Salvador had to abandon face-to-face instruction because of the pandemic, a Bahá’í-inspired school in the country found a tremendous reservoir of capacity in families, teachers, and other community members to help maintain a high standard of education for all of its 200 students.
“Unity has been essential to progress during this crisis,” says Vanesa Renderos, principal of the Riḍván School established in 1989. “We have been learning to work as a team with the entire community to continue educating the children. The teachers are going out of their way for their students, striving to achieve educational quality and promoting moral concepts that have been like a pillar in this moment of crisis.”  Teachers at the Riḍván School have been offering classes online and through other means, including at a safe distance in neighborhood streets where families have limited or no internet access.Marcella Contreras, a teacher at the elementary school, says, “Like everyone else, we have been experiencing an unprecedented year. Yet, thanks to the Bahá’í teachings about service, the light of hope has kept shining for parents and my colleagues, encouraging us to serve these precious gems, our students. During this time, teachers have learned to become much closer to the students’ families, who have been integral to the process.”
Early on, the school sent out a series of surveys to assess the circumstances of each family. As the year has progressed, it has responded on a case-by-case basis when difficulties are raised by parents.
In addition to offering classes online, teachers are conducting lessons at a safe distance in neighborhood streets where families have limited or no internet access. The school is now working within government guidelines to reintroduce limited in-person learning, adhering to public health measures.
Rene Lemus, a collaborator with the school, explains that teaching methods have had to be responsive to the needs of each age group. “The youngest children need the highest engagement from the parents to learn effectively. These are the children who would suffer the most from a gap in their education, and the method of online classes is not as effective for them. So the Riḍván School has created an at-home program, where teachers accompany parents of the younger children in homeschooling.”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. Moral and spiritual education are essential aspects of students’ learning at the Riḍván School and have been integrated into programs during the crisis.Moral and spiritual education are essential aspects of students’ learning at the school and have been  integrated into programs during the crisis.
“Our spirits have been strengthened by thinking about what is most important—helping and serving one another,” says one student. Another adds, “The spiritual aspect of our studies has helped give me all the strength I need to move ahead in these difficult times. I have great love for my teachers and classmates, because everyone is concerned about the needs of others and less focused on themselves.”
Mr. Lemus reflects on the close collaboration between parents and teachers in recent months and the impact this has had on the community as a whole. “Bringing school into the home has had an effect on broader education and literacy for some parents who did not themselves have the opportunity for formal education when they were younger. The student is sitting in front of the screen learning, and at the same time, the parent is sitting next to his or her child and is also learning.
“In the past, all matters of education were left in the hands of the school. But new circumstances are demonstrating that everyone—the school, the teachers, and the parents—must play a part. A new path for the intellectual and spiritual education of an entire community is emerging.”",LAS MORAS,,El Salvador
1465,2020-11-11,"[1461, 1431, 1371]",Peace Week: Role of global governance in establishing peace,"BIC GENEVA — The Geneva Office of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) has joined with civil society actors, academics, and representatives of UN agencies and international organizations to contribute to discussions on peace-building initiatives around the world at Geneva Peace Week, which concluded last Friday.
“Peace is one of the greatest concerns of humanity today,” says Simin Fahandej, a representative of the Geneva Office. “Although there is a long road ahead, there are constructive forces moving humanity toward greater collective maturity. By bringing together different actors, Peace Week provides an important international forum for the exchange of ideas, particularly at a time when many of the challenges to peace have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”  The Geneva Office’s contributions to discussions focused on the critical need for strengthening systems of global cooperation, drawing on the BIC’s recent statement “A Governance Befitting.” In a seminar held by the Office last week, three members of the Bahá’í community with expertise in the fields of governance, economics, and the environment explored some of the implications of the BIC statement and its call for a “global civic ethic.”Arthur Lyon Dahl, president of the International Environment Forum, observes how the BIC statement draws attention to the need for strengthening legal frameworks relating to the environment.  “Too much of the present global system of environmental governance is voluntary. The best efforts of some are neutralized if not reversed by the contrary actions of others driven by national or economic self-interest.
“The environmental crisis is pushing us to an acknowledgement of our global interdependence as we see that the welfare of any segment of humanity is inextricably bound up with the welfare of the whole.”  A session at Geneva Peace Week in 2019. Since 2014, the annual event has gathered civil society actors, academics, experts and officials to learn about peace-building initiatives around the world.Augusto Lopez-Claros, executive director of the Global Governance Forum, says the statement “speaks about possibilities that crisis often open up for marked social change.
“One of the things that has struck me is … the kind of rethinking that is taking place in the world today about spending priorities. I think that all of a sudden governments are realizing that the way we have allocated the resources of the state involves a lot of inefficiencies and misplaced priorities. One hears, for instance, of the need now to redefine security more in terms of social and economic welfare rather than to think of security strictly in militaristic terms, which is what we have tended to do at least since the UN was created in 1945.”  Maja Groff, an international lawyer based in The Hague, Netherlands, highlights the theme of human capacity, saying of the BIC statement: “It holds a very, very positive vision for humanity, for our ability to solve global challenges. … If we, collectively, fundamentally and finally, at last accept our commonality, … if we have this clear acknowledgement of our essential unity then new possibilities will open.”
Reflecting on the discussions that took place over Peace Week, Ms. Fahandej states: “Knowledge about the need to establish peace is not enough. As the BIC statement says, the machinery of international politics and power has to increasingly be directed toward cooperation and unity. We all need to see each other as part of the same human family. That is the imperative need of this age, of this moment.”",BIC GENEVA,,
1466,2020-11-13,"[1411, 1205, 1352]",Australian Prime Minister and MPs mark community’s centenary at Parliament,"CANBERRA, Australia — The Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, and other national leaders have expressed their warm appreciation to the Australian Bahá’í community on the occasion of the centenary of its establishment in the country.
“The Bahá’í Faith is one of inclusion and respect,” the Prime Minister said. “People of the Bahá’í Faith contribute to our social good through the values of equality, truth, and respect. These values mirror our national commitment to a rich and diverse multicultural, multi-faith society. … For the past 100 years the Bahá’í Community have been a generous and valued faith group in our Australian community. Faith is as much about connectedness as it is about belief. It’s about community. It brings us together in so many ways.”
Noting the challenging circumstances that have marked this centenary year, the Prime Minister continues, “I want to thank the Bahá’í community for finding ways to continue celebrating your faith and connecting your community while honoring the commitment to keeping our community as a whole safe in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. … may the hope we all share and the importance of faith guide us through these challenges that we face together.”  In his message for a parliamentary reception marking the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh and the centenary of the Bahá’í community in Australia, Anthony Albanese, the leader of the opposition, stated: “The Bahá’í Faith teaches that we are all equal members of a single human family who share this planet as our common bond. It is a philosophy that we share in so many ways.”The Prime Minister’s recorded remarks were conveyed at a parliamentary reception for the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh held Tuesday at Parliament House in Canberra. Guests from government—including 14 members of parliament—as well as faith communities, diplomats, and other organizations joined, with a limited number in person and others online.
The Prime Minister was joined in his sentiments by other national leaders. Anthony Albanese, the leader of the opposition, said in his message, “The Bahá’í Faith teaches that we are all equal members of a single human family who share this planet as our common bond. … There is so much for you to celebrate, not least the spirit of your community and your principles of unity and social cohesion through love, and, of course, respect for all of humanity.”
After these events, the Australian Senate unanimously passed a motion on Thursday, expressing that it is “delighted to celebrate the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, and to commemorate 100 years of the Bahá’í community in Australia.”  Member of Parliament Jason Falinski (third from left) with representatives of the Bahá’í community during a visit to the Bahá’í House of Worship in Sydney last week to mark the centenary.The history of the Bahá’í Faith in Australia began in 1920 with the arrival of two Bahá’ís from the United States, John Henry Hyde Dunn and Clara Dunn. From their early efforts, this community has grown to include a great diversity of people contributing to the material and spiritual progress of their society.
During a visit to the Bahá’í House of Worship in Sydney last week to mark the centenary, Member of Parliament Jason Falinski said, “The fact that the Bahá’ís have chosen to spend their centenary, celebrating it by bringing people together speaks immensely about their contribution to Australia and indeed the world itself.
“Your contribution to our community is only growing. … Your message and your beliefs of unity, of harmony, and of wisdom are things that all of us, especially those of us who represent communities across Australia, should not only take to heart but should seek to practice on a daily basis.”
The full video message of Prime Minister Scott Morrison may be viewed here, and the message from the leader of the opposition, Anthony Albanese, here.  The Australian Bahá’í community is celebrating the centenary of its establishment in the country. The history of the Bahá’í Faith in Australiabegan in 1920 with the arrival of two Bahá’ís from the United States, John Henry Hyde Dunn and Clara Dunn.",CANBERRA,,Australia
1467,2020-11-16,[],Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Structure rises above foundations,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Since the completion of the foundations for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the first vertical elements are now being raised. The subterranean portion of the structure, which will lie beneath the circular geometry, is also beginning to take shape.
Work is advancing to lay the concrete platforms that will provide stability to the landscaping berms on either side of a central plaza.
The selection of photos below provides a view into the work currently underway.As with the central foundations, many support piles were driven deep into the ground, and these are now being capped with a layer of reinforced concrete in several stages to create platforms for the landscaping berms.A close up of a portion of the structure.The design of the Shrine incorporates two sloping berms enclosing the central plaza. An intricate trellis above the plaza connects the berms to the inner part of the structure. A concrete platform is being prepared for each berm, providing stability to the landscaping that will sit above.“Void former” blocks are fitted together to separate the concrete platform from the soil.Once “void former” blocks are put in place, reinforcement bars are laid for the concrete pour.As one segment of the platform is completed, preparation continues on the next. The construction of concrete platforms for the berms is nearing completion.Step by step, the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá continues.
The News Service will continue to cover developments of the project through articles and brief notices, which may be viewed in a special section of the website.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1468,2020-11-19,"[1433, 1372, 1300]",UN resolution condemns human rights violations in Iran,"BIC NEW YORK — A committee of the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution Wednesday, calling on Iran to observe human rights for all its citizens, including members of the Bahá’í Faith.
The Third Committee of the General Assembly approved the resolution by a vote of 79 to 32, with 64 abstentions.
The resolution calls on Iran to “eliminate, in law and practice, … all forms of discrimination on the basis of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including economic restrictions, ... the denial of and restrictions on access to education, including for members of the Bahá’í faith...” The resolutions also urges an end to “other human rights violations against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities.”
For over 40 years, the entire Bahá’í community in Iran has been subject to continuous state-sponsored persecution, which the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) describes as multidimensional and affecting every one of its members across generations, within every phase of life, and even in death.
The BIC says, “While the specific tactics employed by the Iranian authorities have sometimes changed, their aim of destroying the Bahá’í community as a viable entity in Iran continues in full force.”
Bani Dugal, the BIC’s Principal Representative to the United Nations, says, “Through various means, the authorities maintain focus on this goal by striving to exclude Bahá’ís from the public sphere, prevent them from expressing their beliefs, impoverish them economically, undermine their intellectual advancement, erase traces of their history and culture, as well as spread disinformation about them and incite the public so as to create an environment of hatred against them.
“Let us hope that Iran will at long last pay heed to the recommendations in this resolution and the international community’s call for it to uphold the human rights of its citizens.”
The resolution will be confirmed by the plenary of the General Assembly in December.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1469,2020-11-20,"[1374, 1246, 1439]",Papua New Guinea: House of Worship takes shape,"PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — Coming into view from all directions as one approaches the Waigani area of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, is the rising structure of the Bahá’í House of Worship currently under construction. Once completed, the House of Worship will act as a focal point for devotion and service to society, open to people from all backgrounds.
“In Papua New Guinea, where there are more than 800 languages and as many tribes, the House of Worship represents unity for all the people of the country,” says Confucius Ikoirere, Secretary of the country’s Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly. “The design of the temple, which is based on traditional weaving patterns, is itself symbolic of unity. This art form is found everywhere in the country, from baskets created for special occasions or use in everyday life to matts woven for family and friends. Weaving calls to mind how we come together among our diverse backgrounds and customs.”  The rising structure of the Bahá’í House of Worship comes into view from all directions as one approaches the Waigani area of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.Since the foundations of the House of Worship were completed last December, work has progressed on an intricate steel structure for the central edifice that traces the unique weaving pattern of the exterior. An innovative design for the steel dome, devised by Werkstudio, an engineering firm based in Germany and Poland, provides the required strength with an economical use of material.  Since the foundations of the House of Worship were completed last December, work has progressed on the intricate steel structure for the central edifice.The structural system interfaces with the nine entrance canopies that provide lateral strength to the temple. This system, parts of which are nearing completion, will eventually support a steel dome mesh that will at its apex reach a height of approximately 16 meters above floor level.  The structural system will eventually support a steel dome mesh that will at its apex reach a height of approximately 16 meters above floor level.Designs are being finalized for wood panels that will adorn the entrances of the temple, using local timber. Planning is also under way for gardens that will surround the central edifice.
Mr. Ikoirere says, “The House of Worship will provide an environment where people will find solace and peace, to give time to their Creator and find inspiration to serve humanity.”  Parts of the structural system are nearing completion.",PORT MORESBY,,Papua New Guinea
1470,2020-11-25,"[1466, 1432, 1448]",“Creating an Inclusive Narrative”: Australian publication points to shared identity,"SYDNEY — How can a society with diverse views on history, culture, and values—some seemingly at odds with each other—forge a common identity that transcends differences and does not privilege some groups or diminish the worth of others?
The Bahá’ís of Australia embarked on a two-year project to explore this and related questions with hundreds of participants—including officials, organizations of civil society, journalists, and numerous social actors—across all states and territories.Podcast — “Creating an Inclusive Narrative”: Australian publication points to shared identityAustralian Bahá’ís launch publication on social cohesion after two years of conversations among officials, academics, social actors, and people throughout the country.Subscribe to the BWNS podcast for additional audio content.RSS  |  iTunes  |  SoundCloud  |  Tunein  |  iHeart  |  StitcherA new publication titled Creating an Inclusive Narrative is the fruit of these discussions and was launched last week at a five-day national conference on social cohesion and inclusion held by the country’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.
In the opening session of the conference, Governor of New South Wales Margaret Beazley reflected on the important role that government and institutions can play in strengthening bonds among citizens.
“The inclusivity of the discussions that led to the excellent Bahá’í document Creating an Inclusive Narrative… is in itself an excellent example of an institution taking the time and the steps to engage in a multi-level process of discourse with people of diverse backgrounds, genders, abilities and disabilities, culture, and faiths.”  In another session of the conference, Member of Parliament Anne Aly quoted Bahá’u’lláh’s statement “The Earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.” She continued, “I think that’s the starting point for social cohesion. To see ourselves all as equal citizens of a world that goes beyond national borders, that goes beyond the differences of race, the differences of religion, the differences of social or economic status.
“This is what attracts me most to the Bahá’í Faith. This central tenet of the equality of mankind.”
Initiating a process of learning
Ida Walker of the Office of External Affairs describes how the project began: “In 2017, the discourse on social cohesion was emerging prominently on the national stage. There was a great need at that time—and still now—for unifying spaces in which people could explore this issue, free of limitations—to have enough time, without dominating voices, where people could listen and be heard.”
By 2018, the Office of External Affairs had become more engaged in this discourse. With the encouragement of different social actors and government departments, the idea for Creating an Inclusive Narrative began to take shape.
“We knew that the process had to involve diverse voices from different realities throughout the country—east and west, rural and urban, and from the grassroots to the national level. And in order for this to scale, we needed many people who could facilitate,” says Ms. Walker.
By mid-2019, small gatherings were being held in a few states. As more facilitators from different regions of the country were identified, more gatherings could be held. Ms. Walker explains: “Orientation sessions allowed facilitators to reflect deeply on the qualities and attitudes that would be required for creating unifying spaces. These sessions provided them with opportunity to think about how they could ask probing questions.  The publication Creating an Inclusive Narrative is the fruit of two years of conversations among officials, academics, social actors, and people throughout Australia.“It was important that facilitators were residents of the areas in which gatherings were taking place, ensuring their familiarity with local issues and concerns. This approach, to our surprise, meant that facilitators and participants could continue their discussions in between the monthly gatherings, resulting in growing enthusiasm and interest among participants to continue the process.”
The project eventually sustained monthly gatherings concurrently across several states, resulting in a total of 50 roundtables.
Transcending differences
One of the participants from the discussion spaces explored the need for deeper connections among the diverse people of the country: “What we are seeing in Australia is that lots of different pathways have come together in a really unique situation to create a knot of narratives that are bound together. … but how willing are we now to enmesh these stories? … If we are not enmeshed then we’re all these separate things and have no relationship with each other.
“If Australia is a work in progress, then how willing are we to create something new?”Ms. Walker explains further that promoting diversity in all spheres of society, although essential, is not enough alone to bring people closer together or create consensus on vital matters. “Stories of indigenous peoples, European settlers, and more recent migrants must be voiced, but also reconciled.
“When the Office of External Affairs first began to engage in the discourse on social cohesion, we heard many social actors say that these stories were running alongside one another but not woven together. This project has allowed different segments of society to discover a narrative that would allow all the people of our country to see themselves on a common journey.”  Participants in the process discussed how any attempt to transcend differences would need to address the question of history. Drawing on the rich insights from these conversations, Creating an Inclusive Narrative begins with this topic in a section titled “Where have we been?”Early on in the project, participants in the process discussed how any attempt to transcend differences would need to address the question of history. Drawing on the rich insights from these conversations, Creating an Inclusive Narrative begins with this topic in a section titled “Where have we been?”, calling attention to the rich and ancient history of the land and highlighting the challenges and opportunities of present times: “A common thread running through our history is stories of good and bad times, moments worthy of both shame and pride. No nation has an unblemished record, yet those who have endured displacement and suffering, especially Indigenous peoples, have shown tremendous resilience. The power of the human spirit to transcend injustice and overcome crisis is a primary characteristic that has enriched and shaped the evolution of our society.”Identifying shared values
Participants in the project recognized that, although difficult at first, identifying common values would be necessary to overcoming barriers to greater degrees of harmony. Venus Khalessi of the country’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs describes the effect the pandemic has had on the ability of the participants to develop a greater sense of shared identity. “At first, there was hesitation from participants to speak about values out of the fear of offending others. But as the pandemic hit, everyone saw that when faced with crisis, people became more kind, more generous, and more open to strangers. This had a significant impact on how we saw ourselves as a society and on our ability to articulate the kinds of values we wished to see lasting beyond the crisis. Our shared human values became a reference point, including spiritual principles such as justice, compassion, and our inherent oneness.”  Photographs taken before the current health crisis. Over two years, the Bahá’ís of Australia explored questions related to shared identity with hundreds of participants—including officials, organizations of civil society, journalists, and numerous social actors—across all states and territories.These discussions have revealed that a vital capacity is required for identifying shared values, described in the publication as an “openness to adaptation and flexibility in embracing beliefs, values and practices that are helpful in addressing the issues of today, and discarding those that are outdated.”
Some of the values, qualities, and characteristics identified by participants and captured in the publication include: the oneness of humanity and unity in diversity; consultation as a means for collective decision-making; recognizing the nobility and dignity of all people; collaboration, a posture of learning in all matters, and an openness to new ways of living.  The project eventually sustained monthly gatherings concurrently across several states, resulting in a total of 50 roundtables.Broadening the conversation
Ms. Walker explains how this experience has revealed that the challenge to finding common ground is not a lack of shared values, but rather that there is a lack of spaces where people can come to know one another at a deeper level. She says, “The problems we are experiencing cannot be solved by one group for another. We see so much capacity in the country that can be released simply by providing spaces where shared values and vision can be fostered and translated into action. Many people, by being part of the round-table process, have strengthened their resolve to contribute to society.”
Brian Adams, director of the Centre for Interfaith and Cultural Dialogue at Griffith University in Queensland, who also served on the Advisory Board for Creating an Inclusive Narrative, says of the project: “We are not trying to artificially create a broad identity. We are trying to tease out the threads that make up our identity and weave them together into this narrative. … [this process] is something that is done through collaboration and respectful listening, and a lot of work to create that identity together.”  Member of Parliament Jason Falinski visits the Bahá’í House of Worship in Sydney, where he was presented with a copy of Creating an Inclusive Narrative.Natalie Mobini, director of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs and a member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Australia, explains the possibilities for engaging many more segments of society as a result of the relationships that have built among institutions, government, and civil society through this process. “When the Office of External Affairs embarked on this initiative, I don’t think we realized how big it would become. One of the project’s most promising outcomes is the relationships built among those who have participated. A network of people spanning the country—from groups and community leaders at the local level to state and national government departments—has emerged.”
In her remarks at the conference, Dr. Anne Aly, MP, drew on insights from academic literature to explore how new conceptions of social cohesion can more broadly permeate society. “Much like how we cannot consider peace to merely be the absence of war, so too social cohesion cannot merely be considered the absence of discord or disunity within a society.” She continued to explain that social cohesion should not be treated as a siloed policy area, but that all policies should contribute to a more cohesive society.
Dr. Anne Aly, MP, also referred to the following passage from the Bahá’í writings, describing it as relevant to discussions on social cohesion: “Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. … Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. … Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering...”
The Creating an Inclusive Narrative document, recordings of conference sessions, and more information about the project can be found on the website of the Australian Bahá’í community’s Office of External Affairs.",SYDNEY,,Australia
1471,2020-12-02,"[1463, 1423, 1420]",Gatherings in Indonesia provide fertile ground for hope,"JAKARTA, Indonesia — What began as a small online space organized by Indonesia’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs to explore foundational spiritual principles amid the global health crisis has expanded to include over 200 social actors, government officials, and representatives of diverse religious communities.
Musdah Mulia, a prominent Islamic scholar and women’s rights activist who has collaborated with the Office in holding the gatherings, comments on the character of the spaces, stating: “They are very positive and constructive in efforts to build peace in Indonesia. They involve people from different beliefs and religious backgrounds and help to bridge the differences among them. These gatherings have become a meeting place to foster friendship with each other and to eliminate prejudice and stigma.
“We have to reorient our religious views to make a positive contribution to humanity. We should not be attached to the symbols and accessories of religion.”  Rina Tjuna Leena of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs, says that the diversity of Indonesia’s 270 million people as well as its founding principles—known as Pancasila—create fertile ground for hopeful conversations. “Many people feel a longing for a society that truly reflects the principles of peace and unity that are core ideals of the country: that faith should unify us rather than divide; that we are one people across the 17,000 islands of Indonesia; that our society strives for fair-mindedness and social justice for everyone.”
Acknowledging the significance of the meetings, the head of the Centre of Religious Harmony in the Ministry of Religion, who was a moderator at a recent gathering, asked for the rich insights that are emerging from these discussions to be sent as recommendations to the ministry for consideration in policy development.  Rina Tjuna Leena of Indonesia’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs says, “In a short span of time, these seminars have shown in a small way the kinds of conditions in which barriers can come down.”Among the issues being examined in the gatherings has been social inequality and the divisions between majority and minority groups. Noting the need for conversations to get at the root causes of stark divisions, Mrs. Leena says, “Society today is based on the assumption that human beings are different from each other, are in competition, and will use power to manipulate others.
“Unless the principle of oneness is understood fully, there will never be a long-lasting solution to the issues we face. This requires a new conception of the relationships between all members and elements of society in terms of the power of unity and love. Such relationships would not become a means of domination but of encouragement and inspiration.”  Participants of the gatherings are drawing on insights from the discussions to stimulate thinking in their own areas of work.
Agnes Dwi Rusjiyati of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission reflected at one seminar about the implications of the Bahá’í principle of unity in diversity for her work as a media regulator. “The media does much to shape perception. Too often, it has been used as a tool to stoke division. But we can take steps to create a media environment that acts in a more positive direction, such as providing encouragement through coverage of those things that unify people and strengthen the social fabric.”
When discussion turned to the role of religion in a world of rapid technological change, Amanah Nurish, a professor of religious studies, pointed to the Bahá’í teaching of the harmony of science and religion. “This principle helps us see the critical role that both science and religion play in the modern world. Scientific progress needs to be guided by a spiritual and moral commitment to apply it appropriately. At the same time, developing a scientific way of thinking helps us tell what is true from what is false and frees us from religious ignorance and prejudice that have become a source of conflict.”  As participants have come together for intellectually stimulating discussions, many have found an even deeper connection through regular prayer gatherings held by the Indonesia’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.As participants have come together for intellectually stimulating discussions, many have found an even deeper connection through regular prayer gatherings held by the Office of External Affairs. Prayer is recognized as an important part of life in Indonesia, but coming together across faiths to share in this act was a new experience for many.
Mrs. Leena says, “In a short span of time, these seminars have shown in a small way the kinds of conditions in which barriers can come down. This is one of many steps that needs to be taken in a long process of social transformation.”",JAKARTA,,Indonesia
1472,2020-12-07,"[1424, 1429, 1432]",“Topics that move Austria”: New video blog casts light on pressing issues,"VIENNA, Austria — A new vlog to explore issues of national concern in Austria was launched Saturday by the country’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.
“Like everyone else, most of our conversations with other social actors have moved online. Although this has had its challenges, it has also presented new opportunities,” says Leyla Tavernaro of the Office of External Affairs.
“For example, we can now document parts of our conversations and make them available to many other people interested in the same topics.”
Dr. Tavernaro explains how the new vlog, titled “Themes that move Austria,” will explore topics including environmental protection, migration, social cohesion, and the role of youth in social transformation.In the first episode, environmentalist Marlene Nutz from an organization called Fridays for Future Austria discusses the relationship between science and religion as it relates to the future of the planet. “I think if we only have science, then we might be familiar with the facts … but do we feel connected to our planet? Can we really feel that our house is on fire?”
Another episode, which will be posted in the coming weeks, explores the question of identity and migration with Kenan Güngör, an expert on the issue. He says of this initiative of the Office, “It is refreshing to see a religious community actively engage in these important societal topics.”  Instagram account of the Austrian Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.In explaining other aspirations for the vlog, Dr. Tavernaro states: “By documenting conversations in this way, this initiative will allow people to follow the evolution of ideas as certain concepts are explored over time.
“For example, in conversations where we are looking at the question of identity—asking ‘what does it mean to be Austrian, European, or someone who has come from a different country?’—those engaged in related national discourses will be able to come back periodically and see how thinking is expanding and new insights are emerging.”
Upcoming episodes planned by the Austrian Bahá’í Office of External Affairs will include discussions on the issue of racism and social cohesion, and the role of education in raising public consciousness about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The vlog can be found at https://www.bahai.at/diskurs/.",VIENNA,,Austria
1473,2020-12-11,"[1460, 1438, 1434]",Work progresses on Houses of Worship in the DRC and Kenya,"KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — Construction work on Bahá’í Houses of Worship in two African communities is steadily progressing.
Less than two months since the groundbreaking for the national Bahá’í House of Worship in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, excavation is complete for the main ring of the edifice’s foundations.
In Matunda Soy, Kenya, construction of the local House of Worship has continued in spite of heavy rains and other difficulties. The central edifice is now at an advanced stage of completion. Work on the roof and decoration of doorways and external walls is underway. A reception center and other ancillary buildings on the site are also nearing completion.
In both places, the projects are inspiring activities of service and devotion on and off the temple sites.Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo
The following selection of images show the early stages of construction in Kinshasa.After a groundbreaking ceremony in October, excavation began for the foundations.A process known as concrete blinding creates a smooth surface to work on. Masonry blocks are then used to create formwork for the reinforced concrete foundations.With the masonry mostly laid, the footprint of the future temple takes shape.Volunteers from the local community around the temple site are helping in various tasks, including tending to a nursery for plants that will be used in the gardens.The site of the House of Worship has already become a place of prayer, where people gather every morning to sing and recite prayers and passages from the Bahá’í writings and draw inspiration for daily service to their community.Matunda Soy, Kenya
The following selection of images shows the current stage of progress in Matunda Soy.With the completion of concrete walls and roof beams of the central edifice, work has continued on steelwork for the roof, cladding for the external walls, and decorations for the pillars and doorways. A reception center (visible to the right of the central edifice) and other ancillary buildings are approaching completion.All steel work is now in place to support the tiles and skylights that will make up the roof.The steelwork is covered with waterproofing and plaster.One of the nine entrances to the central edifice. The trellis around each doorway will incorporate glass between two layers of wood. Decorative plaster for the external columns and the doorways has been completed.Planters are being prepared on the plinth around the central edifice.Left: The reception center with the central edifice visible in the background. Right: Work continues on one of the ancillary buildings that will provide services to visitors.As construction across the site advances, work is beginning on the gardens and paths that will surround the temple.Members of the community discussing the future of the temple. The local House of Worship will be a center of community life in Matunda Soy, inspiring acts of worship and service throughout the area.",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1474,2020-12-15,[],Gender equality: Families as basis for change,"NEW DELHI — A gathering held recently by the Bahá’ís of India looked at the need to reconceptualize the institution of the family based on the principle of equality between women and men. Among the attendees of the gathering were organizations concerned with the issue of gender equality, academics, and school teachers.
“The challenges women face within the family have become a most pressing issue during the pandemic in many societies. In some cases, education has come to an end for many girls. There are a lot of child marriages taking place because families see no other path for their daughters during this crisis. At the same time there are many organizations that are trying to reach out and help out,” says Carmel Tripathi of the Indian Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs.
“We felt it was timely,” she continues, “to create a space for various segments of society to explore together the kinds of changes that the family as an institution must undergo.”  Panelists at the seminar. Top: Carmel Tripathi of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs; Anshu Gupta, founder of the relief organization Goonj; Anuja Agrawal, a professor of sociology at the University of Delhi. Bottom: Murari Jha, educator in Delhi government schools; Stuti Narain Kacker, former chairperson of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights.This gathering is among numerous other efforts of the Indian Bahá’í community over the past decades to contribute to the discourse in society on gender equality.
Anshu Gupta, a panelist at the gathering and founder of the relief organization Goonj, spoke about the effects of culture and tradition on the family environment, asking: “What is tradition? It is something you keep following. To stop taboos, we have to talk about them … in a common language. So we create dialogue and stop claiming that we have to do certain things because it is tradition.”
Commenting on the significance of the meeting, Ms. Tripathi explains that people often hold back from a deeper exploration of the role of family in contributing to gender equality. “There is a tendency to think of the family as something isolated from society and very private. In reality this should be discussed openly because this is where patterns of thought and behavior that are associated with being a man or women are learned and practiced.”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. The paper prepared for the discussion by the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs highlights the need for consultation as the basis for decision-making within a family. “The capacity to consult in a loving, considerate and yet frank manner in arriving at collective decisions is an art whose value humanity is only beginning to appreciate.”In a paper prepared for the discussion and distributed to participants at the gathering, the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs highlighted several themes, including “Sharing the functions of nurturance and care-giving” and “Consultation as the basis for decision-making.”
The paper reads in part: “If decision making in a family is not to be an outcome of arbitrary and dictatorial authority, members of the family will need to learn to communicate with each other with respect and openness drawing on a whole range of qualities such as love, humility, tact, empathy, courtesy and moderation. The capacity to consult in a loving, considerate and yet frank manner in arriving at collective decisions is an art whose value humanity is only beginning to appreciate.”
Murari Jha, a panelist and an educator in Delhi government schools, spoke about the need for greater rigor when analyzing social progress, stating: “We need to be vigilant of misunderstandings. When you look at what was mentioned in the seminar paper about decision making within the family, the real measure of gender-equal practices is who is making the decisions, such as whether and whom to marry. If we are not allowing our daughters, our sisters… to be part of important decisions, then the act of sending them to school is not really the symbol that we are practicing equality.”  Nilakshi Rajkhowa of the Office of Public Affairs says that “Bahá’í community building endeavors encourage families to plan and consult together when they undertake initiatives. … Prayer also plays an important role in creating a unified spirit.”Nilakshi Rajkhowa of the Office of Public Affairs highlights other concepts from the paper, such as the need for families to develop an outward orientation while serving the needs of society.
“Bahá’í community building endeavors encourage families to plan and consult together when they undertake initiatives. As a result, often, profound discussions can happen in homes in which other families join in as they assist with activities. Prayer also plays an important role in creating a unified spirit. Communities in which families work together in this way develop the capacity to look at the issues affecting their lives and to address them without waiting for someone from outside to give aid and support.
“What we are observing is that by consciously learning to apply the Bahá’í principles of unity, consultation and equality between women and men, structures within families begin to change where no members dominate others.”
A recording of the seminar is available online.",NEW DELHI,,India
1475,2020-12-21,"[1416, 1447, 1385]",Clinic in the DRC promotes discourse on health,"CHANJAVU, Democratic Republic Of The Congo  — When faced with an increased incidence of waterborne diseases, a health center in the village of Chanjavu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, took a novel approach to addressing the issue by promoting a local discourse on health.
“For efforts to be sustainable, we knew that many people had to be involved in the conversation about health, including causes of illnesses” says Alexis Powe Kindi, a clinician who has been supporting the health center established by Bahá’ís in the South Kivu region of the country.
“The management committee of the health center,” he continues, “consulted with the village chief and the Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly to identify people who could be trained to promote a discourse on health at the local level.” Thirteen people were trained last year as health educators, each of whom has been creating discussion spaces for large groupings of families to consult together on health-related issues.  A health center established in the village of Chanjavu by the Bahá’ís of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The head nurse (center) is now assisting to train health educators who have been creating discussion spaces for large groupings of families to consult together on health-related issues.Elizabeth Balibuno, one of the health educators trained by the clinic, describes the effects of these conversations on the well-being of the village. “We all see the changes. The riverbanks are being kept clean, which has improved water quality and led to a reduction in cases of waterborne diseases since June.”
As more people participate in the discussion spaces—while maintaining safety measures put in place by the government—other collective initiatives in the village of Chanjavu are emerging. For example, scores of people recently came together to improve a three-kilometer stretch of road used by an ambulance from a nearby hospital.
Health educators have also been instrumental in raising awareness about the coronavirus, including by facilitating meetings where critical information is shared.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. Community members in Chanjavu are trained as health educators.Mr. Powe comments on the growing capacity of the community to consult on health-related matters: “The structure of family groups and health educators is stimulating a local discourse about health among a growing number of inhabitants of the village. The community has found that the most potent tool for improving its overall health includes not only access to certain medicines or technologies, but also the ability to read its own reality and consult as a community in order to enact solutions.”
Leon Karma, chief of the village, reflects on these developments, stating: “These efforts are creating a new consciousness about health. Indeed, we want the number of health educators to increase.”  A health educator is seen here teaching community members to make a nutritional flour mix.Joséphine Tshiova Tshibonga, another health educator trained by the clinic, explains how patterns of community life—such as reflecting, praying, consulting, and acting together—fostered over the decades through educational efforts of the Bahá’ís of the region have enhanced these health-related initiatives.
“When we gather, we look at certain themes such as understanding the causes and symptoms of illness and child nutrition. These gatherings have also become a space where we pray together and reflect about broader societal issues, including the equality of women and men.”
Further commenting on the broader effects of community-building efforts in Chanjavu, Mashiyyat Bulonda Roussa, a member of the Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly, states: “I see that unity and collaboration are evident in our community of Chanjavu. We meet and gather together, we work together without religious or tribal prejudice, and we are also in collaboration with the chief of our locality. By being united the community has been able to take charge of its own well-being.”",CHANJAVU,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1476,2020-12-24,"[1381, 1410, 1456]",“We must learn to live as one”: Ten years on since Tunisia’s revolution,"TUNIS, Tunisia — This month marks ten years since the series of events that set off revolutionary change in Tunisia. As Tunisians reflect on what has transpired since then, conversations nationwide are focused on the country’s future. As a contribution to these discussions, the Bahá’ís of the country recently hosted a gathering, coinciding with UN Human Rights Day, to explore new conceptions of citizenship.
“When our society rapidly underwent dramatic change in 2011, the population did not have experience in dealing with the emerging reality,” says Mohamed ben Mousa of the Tunisian Bahá’í community’s Office of External Affairs. “The country has had to learn about a new level of responsibility and engagement. Unity is essential in this process—solidarity and empathy have to be built across the whole population. Although progress has been made, this is not yet a reality, and many people feel a sense of dislocation.”
The gathering brought together distinguished guests including Member of Parliament Jamila Ksiksi, Omar Fassatoui from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as academics and representatives of religious communities. In addition to participants who attended in person—while maintaining safety measures put in place by the government—thousands more were connected to the discussions through a live stream of the event.  The gathering brought together distinguished guests including Member of Parliament Jamila Ksiksi and Omar Fassatoui from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as academics and representatives of religious communities.There was consensus among the gathering’s participants on the importance of promoting coexistence, if all Tunisians are to contribute to their collective future.
Jamila Ksiksi, MP, said at the meeting, “The world—not just Tunisia—is experiencing an escalation of discrimination. The goal is to learn to accept diversity and live it together. Legislation exists, what is needed is implementation. To do this, we need a joint effort of both state institutions and civil society. The Tunisian constitution includes diversity. Our challenge would be to enshrine this in our daily reality.”
Mr. Ben Moussa expanded on this idea and explained that addressing prejudice and discrimination will require a new mindset about notions of citizenship. “Although as Tunisians we are all proud that diverse groups exist side by side, discrimination is still a part of our reality. If people are not troubled by discrimination, how can our society achieve greater change?
“We must learn to truly live as one, see each other as one. Society is as one body. If one part is suffering or in need, then every other part must come together to help.”  Mr. Fassatoui spoke about institutional efforts underway that seek to promote coexistence, particularly among children from an early age. “Tunisia has ratified all of the international conventions related to human rights and religious freedoms. As part of this, the country is on a path to ensure that religious diversity is taught in schools.”
Other participants at the gathering offered further comments about the importance of education, including Daniel Cohen, a prominent Jewish Rabbi. “School is where children come to know one another and can learn about other religions. This is where they first learn to live together.”
Conversations at the gathering also touched on notions of cooperation in different religious traditions. Speaking about this theme, Karim Chniba, an Imam representing the country’s Sunni community, said “In Islam, it is unacceptable that we do to others what we would not have done to ourselves. There is no basis for discriminating between people because of their faith or beliefs.”  In addition to participants who attended the gathering in person—while maintaining safety measures put in place by the government—thousands more were connected to the discussions through a live stream of the event.Mr. Ben Moussa of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs further explained that new notions of citizenship must be based on inclusivity and not exclusivity, stating: “Societies have historically been built hierarchically: believer and nonbeliever, free person and slave, man and women. As a result, many segments of society have not been able to contribute to public life. In such an environment, a society is not able to reach its potential.
The conception of citizenship needed for this time would have at its heart the spiritual principles of equality and justice.”",TUNIS,,Tunisia
1477,2020-12-30,[],2020 in photos: A year of solidarity and intense endeavor,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — As a most challenging year comes to a close, the Bahá’í World News Service provides a collection of photographs from stories over the past 12 months on developments in the global Bahá’í community.
What can be seen through these and countless other efforts in societies around the globe is the expression of an essential truth: that the human family is one.Before the pandemicVolunteers from the village of Namawanga, Kenya, and the surrounding area joined together to undertake the construction of an 800-square-meter educational facility for their village.At a “cultural café” in Sousse, Tunisia, organized by the country’s Bahá’í community, religious and civil society leaders were brought together to exchange ideas and explore insights about the advancement of women in the country.A seminar series in Canada examined the important role of religion in the process of immigration to and settlement in the country.A gathering co-hosted by the Bahá’í community of Australia brought together journalists and other social actors to explore how the media can play a constructive role in society.Thirty village chiefs, or pradhans, gathered at a conference organized by the Bahá’í community of India in the village of Gapchariyapur, Uttar Pradesh, for a constructive discussion on their shared responsibility for the prosperity and the spiritual well-being of their people. The 30 pradhans represent some 380 villages in the region, comprising a total of 950 villages and around 1 million people.At a conference in Kakenge, Central Kasai, the Bahá’ís of the Democratic Republic of the Congo brought together some 60 village and tribal chiefs—many of whom were on opposing sides of armed conflict only a year ago—to explore paths towards a society characterized by principles such as harmony, justice, and prosperity.Chief Nkayi Matala of the Lushiku village (right) and Chief Mbindi Godée of the Ndenga Mongo village at a conference in Kakenge, Central Kasai, held by the Bahá’ís of the DRC. They described the gathering as “a remarkable step forward that opens up many new possibilities for realizing the unity of peoples and the prosperity of our communities.”The Brussels office of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) at a European Parliament panel discussion in January. The Brussels office led a discussion on how institutions and civil society actors can develop language that at once respects diversity and fosters shared identity.The public health crisis emergesAs outbreaks of COVID-19 began to disrupt life in country after country, Bahá’í communities found creative means to continue to serve their societies while maintaining safety measures put in place by their governments. Seen here are families in Italy praying and creating messages of hope for their fellow citizens.The Bahá’ís of Nepal had taken early action in March to update their fellow citizens on preventive health measures while taking care to keep a safe distance and use protective gear as needed.As the health crisis continued, Bahá’í communities and institutions began coordinating an organized response. In India, Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assemblies in various parts of the country have been distributing food and other necessities to citizens whose economic situation has become precarious.In one village in India, a construction company owned by local Baha’is used its trucks and other resources to bring food to 2,500 distressed households across 50 remote villages during the health crisis.Children participating in moral education classes offered by the Bahá’ís of Luxembourg made cards and drawings to bring joy to health workers and others carrying out essential services during the health crisis.Young people across the United States who have been engaged in Bahá’í community-building efforts swiftly responded to a host of needs arising in their communities. Seen here, a family in Rockwall, Texas, prepared masks for their neighbors.Friendships built through the English Corner program in Vancouver, Canada—a Bahá’í-inspired initiative for English learners—became a source of support in difficult times.People of all ages, especially youth, have found ways to uplift the spirits of their fellow citizens through music, podcasts, paintings and drawings, theatre, puppet shows, poetry, and digital designs. Such works have focused on revealing the beauty that exists in the world and conveying new perspectives on current circumstances.Acts of devotion and generosity have come into greater focus in humanity’s collective life this year. In places where Bahá’í Houses of Worship stand, live broadcasts of devotional programs and online gatherings for collective prayer—such as the one pictured here from the House of Worship in Australia—have brought many people together, allaying anxieties and inspiring hope.The House of Worship in Santiago, Chile, has continued to serve as a source of hope, offering online devotional programs. Seen here are volunteers who have been tending to the Temple site since its doors closed to public visitors according to public safety measures put in place by the government.A group of youth in Soweto, South Africa, who have been participating in Bahá’í community-building endeavors seen here praying together.In April amid the pandemic, when Cyclone Harold struck the northern islands of Vanuatu the degree of unity and collective action fostered through the educational activities of the Bahá’í community enabled many people to respond swiftly and to begin rebuilding and replanting.FUNDAEC, a Bahá’í-inspired organization in Colombia, recognizing that the pandemic would have long-term ramifications, looked at how it could be of practical service to society at a time of dire need. Since March, it has assisted over 2,000 people across the country to become engaged in over 1,000 agricultural initiatives.Pictured here is the construction of a “food tower” at the training center of the Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation for Science and Education, a Bahá’í-inspired organization in Uganda whose programs have continued to raise capacity in specific areas of community development during the pandemic.Teachers at a Bahá’í-inspired community school in Langathel, Manipur, India, distribute schoolwork to parents to carry out with their children at home as a precautionary measure during the health crisis. Bahá’í-inspired community schools in places with limited web accessibility have found creative ways of adapting to present circumstances and serving their students’ educational needs.Despite the challenges facing all educational institutions, Nur University in Bolivia adapted quickly, ensuring that all of its students were closely engaged and not left to themselves. A unique feature of the university’s approach is that it promotes service to society as a critical element in one’s life. Pictured here is a student preparing an educational video on health and safety for distribution among students and the local community.To assist university students in navigating questions about the direction in which the world is headed and their place in it, the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP) has been creating spaces, largely online, for young people to come together in focused discussions.In the days after an explosion that rocked Beirut in August, a group of youth engaged in Bahá’í community-building efforts quickly met to make plans for assisting with relief and recovery. They created a volunteer network called the “Helping Hub” to coordinate the actions of people around them.Radio stations operated by Bahá’í communities in several countries, including Radyo Bahá’í in the Philippines, have found a renewed purpose during the pandemic, acting as a source of critical information and an anchor of community life when other forms of interaction have been limited.Chile Bahá’í Radio based in Labranza, Chile, has been in close dialogue, especially during the pandemic, with surrounding indigenous communities to ensure that programs speak to their needs and aspirations. Prayers in the indigenous Mapuche language are a part of regular broadcasts of Chile Bahá’í Radio.A public statement released in June by the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of the United States on racial prejudice and spiritual principles essential for progress toward peace has stimulated critical reflection across the country.Parent University, a Bahá’í-inspired organization with decades-long experience of promoting racial equality in Savannah, Georgia, worked this year to build bridges between community members and representatives of local government, including by hosting constructive online discussion spaces to explore issues of equality and justice.A reception held at Parliament House in Canberra in November marked the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh and centenary of the Bahá’í community in Australia. In a message for the reception, Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated: “People of the Bahá’í Faith contribute to our social good through the values of equality, truth and respect. These values mirror our national commitment to a rich and diverse multicultural, multi-faith society.”The BIC launched a statement entitled “A Governance Befitting: Humanity and the Path Toward a Just Global Order” on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, inviting UN officials, ambassadors of member states, non-governmental organizations, and other social actors to explore themes concerning humanity’s movement toward universal peace.Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-BaháThe beginning of this year saw the first steps being taken to prepare the site and lay the groundwork for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Coinciding with the start of construction, the mayor of ‘Akká and representatives of the city’s religious communities gathered to honor ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at a special ceremony.Work on the construction of the Shrine has progressed this year with the approval of local authorities at each stage. By April work on the foundations was giving shape to an imprint of the design’s elegant geometry (top left). The foundations have now been completed, allowing the first vertical elements of the edifice to rise.Progress of new Bahá’í Houses of WorshipThe design for the local Bahá’í House of Worship to be built in Bihar Sharif was unveiled in April. Drawing on patterns found in the Madhubani folk art of Bihar and the region’s long architectural heritage, the temple’s design features a repeating pattern of arches.The design for the national Bahá’í House of Worship to be built in the DRC was also unveiled this year. The design is inspired by traditional artworks and structures as well as natural features of the country. The House of Worship will embody the vibrant devotional spirit that has been fostered over the decades by the country's Bahá’ís.Construction of the national Bahá’í House of Worship in the DRC was inaugurated in October with a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of the future temple in the presence of officials, religious leaders, and traditional chiefs.Within two months of the groundbreaking for the national Bahá’í House of Worship in the DRC, excavation was completed for the main ring of the edifice’s foundations.Prior to the pandemic, people of all ages were regularly gathering on the grounds of the local Bahá’í House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya, to pray together and offer assistance with various aspects of the site’s upkeep.Construction of the local House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya, is now at an advanced stage of completion. Work on the roof and decoration of doorways and external walls is underway. A reception center and other ancillary buildings on the site are also nearing completion.A virtual rendering of the design for the national Bahá’í House of Worship of Papua New Guinea (left) compared with recent progress on the structure (right).Since the foundations of the House of Worship in Papua New Guinea were completed last December, work has progressed on an intricate steel structure for the central edifice that traces the unique weaving pattern of the exterior.
A companion article to this photo essay provides an overview of stories on developments in the global Bahá’í community this year.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1478,2020-12-31,"[1477, 1380]",2020 in review: A year without precedent,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The Bahá’í World News Service looks back on a year like no other, providing an overview of the stories it has covered on developments in the global Bahá’í community that have strengthened resilience and offered hope in a time of great need.Responding to the pandemic
When the pandemic first hit, acts of solidarity throughout the world showed humanity how it could rally around an issue to alleviate suffering. The months since March have demonstrated more clearly than ever that every human being can become a protagonist of change. As people took action, a sense of collective purpose motivated yet more people to do whatever they could to be of service to their fellow citizens—creating a virtuous circle and giving rise to an unprecedented level of collective action.  Youth in Sierra Leone have created a film that helps educate their community about preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).In March, the News Service reported on the initial response of Bahá’í communities to the crisis as they quickly and creatively adapted to new forms of interaction suited to public health requirements and found ways to be of service to their societies.
In a suburb of New York City, a group of youth engaged in Bahá’í community-building efforts turned their attention to pressing needs arising from school closures.  Left: Children in Berlin, Germany, who participate in Baha’i education classes, have made drawings on the theme of hope for the residents of a home for the elderly. Right: Children in New Zealand painting at home.Children in Luxembourg participating in moral education classes made cards to bring joy to health workers and others carrying out essential services, while children in Berlin, Germany, created drawings on the theme of hope for the residents of a home for the elderly. In Slovenia, the Bahá’ís of Bašelj connected food delivery services catering to restaurants to also deliver to homes. That month also saw Bahá’ís around the world marking Naw-Rúz—their new year and the first day of spring—by strengthening bonds of friendship and conveying messages of hope.  Bahá’í communities in New Zealand are offering moral education classes online for children.By April, as the spread of the coronavirus had become more apparent, the efforts of Bahá’í communities further intensified. In Canada, participants of a Bahá’í-inspired program for English learners found support in one another through difficult times. In Tunisia, the Bahá’ís of the country joined with diverse religious groups to call for both science and religion to guide an effective response. In the DRC, community ties enabled thousands of people to be kept informed of accurate information and advice, including on what crops to plant to ensure food security. In Kiyunga, Uganda, radio broadcasts prompted conversations across households on the importance of prayer as a source of strength. Bahá’í radio stations elsewhere found a renewed purpose, acting as a source of critical information and an anchor of community life to those living in rural areas.  To respond to the great need for personal protective equipment, Local Spiritual Assemblies in India have been collaborating with tailors to make and distribute face masks.Efforts that month swelled where Bahá’í Local and National Spiritual Assemblies channeled the energy and assistance of very many people into action, disseminated critical information and other resources to where it was most needed, and assisted vulnerable populations to access government services.
In the months since April, it has become ever more clear that service to society and collective worship are essential elements in the life of a community that remains hopeful and perseveres in the face of a crisis. In Romania, participants in devotional gatherings open to all are finding their hearts to be “beating as one”. In South Africa, Bahá’í healthcare professionals, seeing potential in every human being to serve their society, have been drawing on the strength of the community to provide support to those recovering from the coronavirus.
In all places, youth have moved to the forefront of the grassroots response to the crisis. In Sierra Leone, young people created a film on preventive health measures, while in Italy youth explored profound themes related to social transformation in a series of short videos. Amid the pandemic and in the aftermath of the Beirut explosion, youth in the city drew on capacities they had gained in Bahá’í community-building efforts to create a disaster recovery network.
Over this period, the arts have played an important role in casting a light on themes that are captivating the public consciousness. Meanwhile, the Bahá’í World publication has released a series of articles on themes related to the global health crisis and major issues facing societies as they look ahead.Pursuing long-term social and economic development endeavors
In addition to reporting on grassroots Bahá’í social and economic initiatives in response to the pandemic, the News Service also covered more complex projects and efforts by Bahá’í-inspired organizations as they adapted to circumstances arising from the health crisis.  Participants in a Bahá’í-inspired educational program called Preparation for Social Action in Vanuatu are taking steps to maintain food supplies for their fellow citizens.The News Service reported on examples of initiatives to improve food security. In Vanuatu, participants in a Bahá’í-inspired educational program called Preparation for Social Action have been taking steps to not only maintain food supplies for their fellow citizens, but also to encourage others in their country to do the same. In Nepal, with many migrant workers returning home amid the pandemic, a Baha’i Local Spiritual Assembly took steps to enhance the community’s capacity to produce its own food.
In Colombia, FUNDAEC—a Baha’i-inspired organization based in Cali—turned its attention to supporting local food production initiatives, while fostering appreciation toward the land and the environment in communities throughout the country.  Teachers at the Riḍván School in El Salvador have been offering classes online and through other means, including at a safe distance in neighborhood streets where families have limited or no internet access.Some of the efforts covered in the area of education include the following: In Bolivia, a Bahá’í-inspired university has been supporting staff and students through challenging times and has given thoughtful consideration to identifying technologies suitable for present circumstances. In the Central African Republic, Indonesia and India—among other places—Bahá’í-inspired community schools have found creative ways of adapting, gaining insight into the role of teachers in times of crises. In the United States, constructive conversations among individuals, officials, and the police on racial equality have helped to create shared purpose among different segments of society toward improving systems of public safety.Participating in the discourses of society
This past year, the News Service covered a variety of stories on the efforts of the Bahá’í community to contribute to social discourses.  In September, the Bahá’í International Community released a statement titled “A Governance Befitting: Humanity and the Path Toward a Just Global Order,” marking the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.The Bahá’í International Community participated in forums on the importance of language in fostering a shared identity, agriculture, peace, and the role of international structures on a path to a just global order.
National Bahá’í communities have contributed to discourses on the environment, family life, the equality of women and men, and the role of religion in society.In Jordan and other countries, Bahá’í communities have been creating spaces for journalists and different social actors to explore how the media can play a constructive role in society. In Indonesia, a series of seminars has tapped into a strong desire among officials, academics, and others to explore fundamental principles of a more peaceful society. In Canada and Austria, a podcast series and video blog respectively have been drawing insights from religion to provide new perspectives on issues of national concern. Participants of roundtable discussions in Kazakhstan and the Kurdistan region of Iraq have been exploring how spiritual principles that have drawn people together in this time can help shape public life in the future. In Chile, the Bahá’í community has been creating spaces alongside the constitutional process to examine with their fellow citizens the foundations for a materially and spiritually prosperous society.  The Bahá’ís of Jordan have been hosting roundtable discussions with journalists on how the media can be a source of hope for society.National conversations about peace and coexistence gained momentum over the past year. At a moment when racial and other forms of prejudice came to the forefront of public consciousness in the United States and across the world, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of that country released a statement that spurred vital conversations about a path forward. In the Netherlands, the anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets to the Hague prompted reflection on progress toward world peace. In Tunisia,  roundtable discussions examined how peaceful coexistence would only be possible with the full participation of women.
This year, among the conferences organized by the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, College Park, was a gathering on the need to address moral dimensions of climate change. The Bahá’í Chair for Studies in Development at Devi Ahilya University, Indore, invited economists and academics to examine how new conceptions of human nature can enhance long-term approaches to urban development in light of the health crisis.  In Australia, a two-year process of gatherings among diverse segments of society culminated in the release of Creating an Inclusive Narrative, a publication that offers insights on forging a common identity.In Australia, a two-year process of gatherings among diverse segments of society culminated in the release of Creating an Inclusive Narrative, a publication that offers insights on forging a common identity. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo and India, remarkable gatherings brought together chiefs to examine how to transcend traditional barriers and prejudices that keep people apart as they build toward lasting peace.
In Papua New Guinea, the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of the country issued a statement in July on the equality of women and men, speaking to a global concern that has been exacerbated during the pandemic.
The Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity has been promoting gatherings for university students in which young people explore together questions concerning social change.Persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran and Yemen
At a time when the international community has been battling a global health crisis, the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran and Yemen has not relented.
A United Nations resolution, passed earlier this month by the General Assembly, condemned Iran’s ongoing violations of human rights, including those of the country’s Bahá’í community. This year Iranian authorities have escalated their persecution of the Bahá’ís through scores of baseless arrests, denial of the most basic civil rights, and restrictions in applying for a new national identification card. These actions have placed great pressures on individuals and families already facing a health crisis.  Six Bahá’ís in Yemen were released from years of wrongful detainment this year.In Yemen, a court upheld a religiously-motivated death sentence against a Bahá’í earlier this year. Although he and five other Bahá’ís were later released from their wrongful detainment, the Bahá’í International Community remains gravely concerned and has called for the safeguarding of the rights of all Bahá’ís in Yemen to live according to their beliefs without risk of persecution.Bahá’í Houses of Worship
The News Service covered stories this past year on how Bahá’í Houses of Worship have adapted to the pandemic while infusing wider segments of society with the spirit of collective worship and service. Stories also reported on advancements in the construction of Houses of Worship in Kenya and Papua New Guinea.  Design for the dome of the House of Worship in Bihar Sharif, India.In places where Bahá’í Houses of Worship stand, new approaches are being taken to infuse wider segments of society with the spirit these structures embody.
Design concepts were announced for the local temple in Bihar Sharif, India, and the national House of Worship for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project in the DRC forged ahead, with a groundbreaking ceremony and the start of construction.  In Matunda Soy, Kenya, construction of the local House of Worship is now at an advanced stage of completion.Construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The beginning of this year saw the first steps being taken to prepare the site and lay the groundwork for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Coinciding with the start of construction, the mayor of ‘Akká and representatives of the city’s religious communities gathered to honor ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at a special ceremony.  Progress on the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá continued to be made with the approval of local authorities at each stage.Although certain operations had necessarily slowed or stopped when the pandemic hit, progress continued to be made with the approval of local authorities at each stage. By April work on the foundations was giving shape to an imprint of the design’s elegant geometry. In September the foundations were completed. By November, the first vertical elements were being raised.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1479,2021-01-07,[],Building a common vision in Vanuatu for moral education,"PORT VILA, Vanuatu — As Vanuatu celebrates its 40 years of independence and looks to the future, a national conversation about the direction of the education of children and youth is gaining momentum.
To contribute to these discussions, the Bahá’ís of the country recently brought together representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Education, village chiefs, and different social actors to reflect together on the role of moral education in society.
Gregoire Nimbtik, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office, expressed the sentiments of other participants, saying: “We wish to have a society where happiness is sustainable, where there is no disunity, where everyone lives in a peaceful environment, and where everyone cares for each other. The question is how can we build the capacity of our young ones and enable them to build this kind of society? Education has a vital role in this regard.”  Many activities in Vanuatu have been permitted by the government, including in-person gatherings, as the country has remained largely free of the coronavirus. The Bahá’ís of Vanuatu recently brought together representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Education, village chiefs, and different social actors to reflect together on the role of moral education in society.This question has been at the heart of Bahá’í educational efforts in Vanuatu for decades, including literacy programs, formal schools, and initiatives at the grassroots that develop the capacity of children and youth to serve society.
Henry Tamashiro, a member of the Bahá’í community of Port Villa and one of the organizers of the event, says, “In discussions with village chiefs and community members about the challenges facing our country, we all arrive at one question: How can the moral character of the individual be elevated?
“Gatherings like this allow diverse segments of society to talk about a missing part of the educational system: what the traditional leaders call the education of the heart, educators call moral education, and faith communities refer to as spiritual education.”
Chief Ken Hivo of Freshwota, one of the largest localities in the Port Vila area, said at the meeting, “Moral education is of the utmost importance. Our present education system is often seen as no more than an instrument to prepare our children for employment and is focused on the education of the mind. But pure hearts are needed for an effectively functioning community. Spiritual principles need to guide a person. Societies that are governed solely by materialistic principles will only deteriorate further and further. But many of our social issues will disappear if spiritual principles also govern our communities.”
Andrea Hinge of the University of the South Pacific echoed this thought, stating: “This means having teachers who are not focused only on helping a child pass an exam, but also on teaching students about how to live with others in society.”  Many activities in Vanuatu have been permitted by the government, including in-person gatherings, as the country has remained largely free of the coronavirus. A forum in Namasmetene, Tanna, organized by the Bahá’í community where leaders and community members, including youth, discussed themes related to the material and spiritual progress of their community.Representatives of the Bahá’í community at the gathering explained that when children learn about the concept of selfless service early on, they are able to make meaningful contributions to social progress from a young age. Among the many examples provided were efforts of youth engaged in Bahá’í educational initiatives who are managing conservation areas in the forests around their villages in order to preserve native species.
Looking to future gatherings, Mr. Tamashiro says that “This dialogue is opening a new door. Participants came to this meeting somewhat downhearted about the condition of society, but when they saw that they are not alone in their desire to address the challenges facing young people and that there is an effective path forward, everyone became very hopeful.”",PORT VILA,,Vanuatu
1480,2021-01-13,"[1459, 1322, 1095]",Resilience in Honduras in the face of disaster ,"SIGUATEPEQUE, Honduras  — When the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Honduras created an emergency committee early in the pandemic, it set in motion a process that would prove essential months later in its response to the devastating impact of hurricanes Eta and Iota.
In November, when news broke of the approaching category 4 Hurricane Eta, the emergency committee made efforts to raise awareness about the impending disaster. Gloria Perdú, member of the committee, says, “It had been many years since the country was struck by a storm this powerful, and most people were not expecting such devastation. The network we had established earlier in the year allowed us to alert people to the precautions they should take before the storm.”  The network established by the emergency committee has been instrumental in channeling people and resources to areas of need.Hurricane Eta made landfall off the coast of Nicaragua on 3 November before moving through Honduras. This was followed by Iota, a category 5 hurricane, just two weeks later, leaving a level of destruction in the region not seen in recent history. Heavy rains caused widespread flooding, while communications, power, and roads were compromised in many areas.
The National Assembly—seeing the immense power of a devotional spirit in creating a spiritual environment and feelings of solidarity during a crises—called on the emergency committee to assist with promoting nationwide prayers.
“At a dark time, the prayer campaign was an act of hope,” says Andrea Castiblanco, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly and of the emergency committee. “Though you are frightened, you know—even in the midst of the storm with communications down—that you are joined in a profoundly sacred act by others across the country. And when praying, you derive inspiration from the knowledge that you can take unified action together afterwards.”  Hurricanes Eta and Iota are among the most severe storms to strike Central America in the past 20 years. Heavy rains caused widespread flooding, while communications, power, and roads were compromised in many areas.Ms. Perdú explains how the committee has been able to mobilize many people to action. “We looked to local Bahá’í communities across the country that, for decades, have been learning about building capacity in growing numbers of people to contribute to the progress of their society.
“This allowed the emergency committee to rapidly establish a network comprising people and institutions that have organizational skills and a desire to bring people together in harmony and unity.”
Ms. Perdu continues to explain how the network was instrumental in channeling people and resources to areas of need. “Families in less-affected areas, for example, donated any supplies or clothing they could, which were distributed to other areas. The spirit of unity and selfless service with which people have responded has brought tremendous hope in this time of great difficulty.”
Central to the emergency committee’s approach has been its ability to foster capacity in local communities to take the lead in their own response, recovery, and development efforts.  Volunteers coordinated by the emergency committee transport donated mattresses for families in the hard-hit city of San Pedro Sula, where many people have lost their homes.A young person from the local Bahá’í community of San Pedro Sula says, “I feel that this is a time to reflect on what is truly important. We’re rebuilding our houses and helping our neighbors rebuild theirs. People are awakening to how much we all must support one another. This is the moment to unite and build something new, not just materially but also spiritually.”
In the weeks since the storms, the committee has turned its attention to long-term needs. Mrs. Castiblanco states: “Many people have been without employment since the start of the pandemic, or had small businesses like baking sweetbread, selling clothes, or hairdressing but lost all of their goods and equipment in the storms. We are looking at establishing a seed fund to help people buy the materials they need to restart their businesses.”",SIGUATEPEQUE,,Honduras
1481,2021-01-17,[],The Bahá’í World Publication sees new enhancements and essays,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The release of new essays today on The Baha’i World online publication is complemented by recent developments on the website.
The website, launched in May 2019, has been expanded to include a library of works from The Bahá’í World volumes as well as a “Special Collections” section that brings together a thematically-curated selection of articles.
Among the newly published articles on the site is “A New Cycle of Human Power,” which brings to light the little-known encounters of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with influential “modernist” writers and artists. The essay explores the impact of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on a number of individuals who were at the cultural vanguard of a society undergoing rapid, radical change.  The Bahá’í World website has been expanded to include a “Special Collections” section that brings together a thematically-curated selection of articles.Another new article, “The Bahá’í Response to Racial Injustice and Pursuit of Racial Unity: Part 1 (1912-1996),” is the first of a two-part series on the American Bahá’í community’s historical efforts to address racial injustice which has afflicted the United States since its founding. Part 2 of the article, to be published at a later date, will look at the past twenty-five years and the evolving capacity of the Bahá’í community to contribute to racial justice and unity.
Since its launch in May 2019, The Bahá’í World online has sought to make available a selection of thoughtful essays and long-form articles on a range of themes concerned with social progress, conveying advancements in Bahá’í thought and action and reflecting the Faith’s purpose in the world. Other articles in the past year have explored community, economic justice, existential stress, migration, and governance.
The Bahá’í World volumes were established under the direction of Shoghi Effendi shortly after the start of his ministry as Guardian in 1921. The first volume was released in 1926 under the title The Bahá’í Yearbook.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1482,2021-01-22,"[1469, 1439, 1307]",“Gathering under the ‘tent of unity’”: Interfaith in PNG finds new path,"PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea  — Under a tent in the peaceful environs of a nature park in Port Moresby, leaders and representatives of the diverse religious communities of Papua New Guinea (PNG) achieved on Monday what they had long hoped for: to gather in unity around what binds them all together.
The interfaith gathering marked World Religion Day and was a joint effort among many faith communities in the country. The idea for the event was suggested by the Bahá’ís of PNG last month, which struck a chord with the country’s religious leaders.
Gezina Volmer, Director of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of the country says, “The intention for World Religion Day was to create a space in which we could focus on the sharing of holy writings around the one point that all agree on—the golden rule of treating others as one would wish to be treated—and by doing so, highlight that the purpose of religion is to foster love and harmony. Despite the initial trepidation, this focus allowed everyone to feel quite comfortable in participating.”Preparing for the occasion and building consensus
Ms. Volmer explains that preparatory meetings were necessary in the lead-up to the occasion in order to build consensus.
“The very first meeting was simply about bringing people together,” says Ms. Volmer. “It wasn’t more complicated than that. Because, if we don’t know how to come together, then this is the first step.”  In-person gatherings were held according to safety measures required by the government. Since the event, government mandates now require the wearing of masks. Gezina Volmer, Director of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of the country, explains that preparatory meetings in the lead up to World Religion Day were necessary in order to build consensus among faith communities. “The very first meeting was simply about bringing people together,” says Ms. Volmer. “It wasn’t more complicated than that. Because, if we don’t know how to come together, then this is the first step.”Ms. Volmer continues to explain how the preparatory meetings strengthened bonds of friendship by allowing participants to contribute to some aspect of the program and to be of service to each other. “It was a collective effort”, she says. “There was a lot of joy. We all worked shoulder-to-shoulder.”
As friendships grew stronger, the warm and welcoming environment attracted new participants each week. Ms. Volmer says, “When a new person joined, we would pause to make sure they would be brought up to speed. Everyone embraced new representatives as they got on board.”
A first-of-its-kind gathering
Imam Busaeri Ismaeel Adekunle, head of the Islamic Society of Papua New Guinea, says “As everyone expressed that day, this was a unique occasion and a first in our country.”
Commenting on the atmosphere of the World Religion Day gathering, Zha Agabe-Granfar of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs says, “This was a gathering under the ‘tent of unity,’ as everyone listened to each other in an atmosphere of love, respect, and tolerance.”
After weeks of collaboration, the event Monday was an expression of what the religious communities had achieved together. In a peaceful setting in Port Moresby, holy texts from different religions were recited in several languages. When a representative of the Jewish community was unable to attend, a member of another faith who was fluent in Hebrew stepped forward to ensure scriptures of the Jewish faith would be heard.  In-person gatherings were held according to safety measures required by the government. Since the event, government mandates now require the wearing of masks. The interfaith gathering marked World Religion Day and was a joint effort among many faith communities in the country. Imam Busaeri Ismaeel Adekunle (back row, 2nd from left), head of the Islamic Society of Papua New Guinea, says “As everyone expressed that day, this was a unique occasion and a first in our country.” (Credit: Roan Paul)Cardinal Sir John Ribat, Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese in Port Moresby, who collaborated with the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs in organizing the World Religion Day event, offers his observations about the occasion, stating:
“Everyone was sharing the same message [of love]  but from a different perspective. What does this mean? For me, the way I understand it is that with love one does not hold anything against another. It’s really the giving of one’s self fully for the good of the other. That it is about sacrificing for the other.
“We are all happy with how things turned out.”
The event was covered by a national newspaper and several online publications, as well as broadcast live on radio.
Walking together on a new path
The participants of the gathering, seeing new possibilities for further collaboration, have already planned to meet next week to reflect on future progress. Ms. Volmer says, “All of those involved have seen this as a precursor to a more profound dialogue on the role of religion in society.
“The reason for this is that in our society religion is an important part of the life of every individual, every family, and even institutions. Yet, people sometimes find it difficult to relate to one another because of the differences in their religious beliefs and practices. As a nation, we talk about being one, but how can we come together as one? The process leading up to World Religion Day and the event itself have given us a powerful example of how this is possible.”  In-person gatherings were held according to safety measures required by the government. Since the event, government mandates now require the wearing of masks. The participants of the gathering, seeing new possibilities for further collaboration, plan to continue to meet and reflect on future progress. Ms. Volmer of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs says, “All of those involved have seen this as a precursor to a more profound dialogue on the role of religion in society.” (Credit: Roan Paul)Imam Ismaeel explains that the faith leaders hope that the mode of interaction among them in these gatherings will inspire the members of their communities to act in the same way. “[The event] has come and gone,” he continues, “and now we are going to the next stage. The going is good now.”
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of PNG sees a new path emerging before the faith communities of the country. Confucius Ikoirere, Secretary of the National Assembly, says, “The greater degrees of unity achieved among the religious leaders over the past month represents greater degrees of unity among entire religious communities, and signifies, however imperceptible it may be now, greater unity in our country.”
Ms. Agabe-Granfar says that the connection among those who have walked together through this process is profound. “Just months ago, many religious leaders and representatives barely knew or had yet to meet each other prior to this process. But as is common in Melanesian culture, once we know and understand each other, all arms are wide open.”",PORT MORESBY,,Papua New Guinea
1483,2021-01-26,[1467],Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Concrete bases for garden berms completed,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The concrete bases that will support the two garden berms on either side of the central plaza for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are now complete. The structural reinforcement and formwork for one of the walls enclosing the south plaza are also taking shape.
The selection of photos below provides a view into the work currently underway.An aerial view shows recent progress in the construction work for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The site for the Shrine is located near the Riḍván Garden, which is visible in the foreground.In the central plaza area, the concrete planters that will hold soil and irrigation for gardens have been completed.The formwork has been laid for the concrete floor of the central plaza.The architect’s design on the left shows the central structure and surrounding plaza. Current progress on the plaza floor can be seen on the right, where preparations are underway to raise the walls that will enclose this area on two sides.Special steel formwork has been made to give these walls their folded shape, which will blend with the intricate trellis overhead.The structural reinforcement and formwork for one of the walls enclosing the south plaza are being assembled.A short wall that connects with the base of the berms is being built, which will form a drainage channel for the gardens and support the inner edge of a path that will encircle the Shrine.At the north end of the site, beyond the encircling path, a further concrete base that will support terraced planters has been prepared.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1484,2021-01-31,"[1385, 1389, 1442]",Chiefs’ gathering in Chad opens new horizons,"BARO, Chad — In the Guéra region of Chad, some 30 traditional chiefs from the area gathered in the village of Baro to discuss the future of their people. This was one of a dozen such conferences that have been held over the past two years throughout the country by the Bahá’í community in collaboration with traditional leaders.
“Many chiefs have expressed a desire to learn more about the Bahá’í community-building activities that are bringing people in their villages together to address different social issues,” explains Prime Tchompaare, a member of the Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly of Chad.  The head chief of the Baro area (left) and other dignitaries address the gathering of traditional chiefs.The conference itself provided an example of how spiritual principles are essential to discussions on progress. One of the participating chiefs stated: “Unity, religious harmony, love, service to society—the idea of looking at these themes as the starting point for finding solutions to our challenges really allows us to see things we could not see before.”
Another participant described the significance of the conference, stating: “Although we have always led our communities based on our cultural heritage, this unique gathering is allowing us to reflect very deeply on our role in advocating unity and peace and to reflect on the education of our children. These kinds of spaces can help us to be at the vanguard of addressing the aspirations of our community.”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. Bahá’í educational programs in Chad build bonds of friendship and capacity for service to society.The consultations at the conference allowed the chiefs to examine many different societal issues, while drawing in part from the experience of the Bahá’ís of Chad in their community-building efforts.
The moral education of children and youth was one of the themes they explored. At the gathering, Mr. Tchompaare highlighted aspects of the Bahá’í educational programs that develop capacities for service, stating: “Through this process, youth develop the ability to reflect together on the needs of their communities, they join others in serving their locality, and they see new possibilities. They want to stay longer in their communities in order to contribute to long-term prosperity.”
One of the chiefs at the conference observed that this educational process holds great potential, especially for young people, stating: “It can assist in addressing many of the ills we suffer, such as tensions between generations as well as rural exodus. As chiefs, we have long had the custom of gathering young people to teach them our traditions and religious teachings. Now we are thinking about how this custom can be adapted to further help children develop what they need for current times and embrace the world with greater openness, while remaining connected to their heritage.”  Photographs taken before the current health crisis.  Pictured here are participants in community-building initiatives of the Bahá’ís of Chad.The evolution of culture was another theme the chiefs discussed at the gathering. Discussions highlighted the need for a deeper examination of some customary practices that may act as barriers to greater participation of women in community affairs.
Another area of great interest to the chiefs was approaches conducive to solving disagreements among people. “In our villages, there is frequent tension between crop farmers and livestock breeders over land,” said one of the chiefs.
“I believe this can only be resolved,” he continued, “through the kind of consultation, tolerance, and prayerful atmosphere that we see in this gathering. The idea of fostering the devotional life of a community, involving all inhabitants, is very inspiring. It attracts the hearts and can provide a path toward greater harmony.”
At the conclusion of the gathering, the chiefs made plans to hold similar meetings of their own in their respective localities, exploring the same themes with community members.",BARO,,Chad
1485,2021-02-03,"[1461, 1314, 1354]",“Glimpses into the Spirit of Gender Equality”: BIC releases new film,"BIC New York — A feature-length film on gender equality produced by the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) premiered today at a virtual screening before a gathering of UN officials, ambassadors of member states, non-governmental organizations, and other civil society actors.
“The film examines advances in the area of equality of women and men at the level of the grassroots and their connection with the conversations that have been unfolding at the UN, drawing on examples inspired by Bahá’í community-building efforts in different countries around the world,” says Saphira Rameshfar, Representative of the BIC.
The BIC film marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action that resulted from the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 and reflects on advances made toward the goals for gender equality articulated in the declaration.  The BIC film looks at advances in the area of gender equality in diverse communities around the world.A central theme of the film is the Bahá’í principle of equality between women and men. “The soul, the essence of what makes human beings human, is neither male nor female,” says Ms. Rameshfar. “The search for meaning, for purpose, for community and the capacity to love and to persevere are not dependent on gender. This is a principle with profound implications for the organization of every aspect of human society.”  Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the BIC (left), and BIC Representative Saphira Rameshfar (right) with Mary Power, who, as the Principal Representative of the BIC in 1995, chaired a major forum of nongovernmental organizations at the Fourth World Conference on Women.Commenting on the film, Bani Dugal, the BIC’s Principal Representative to the United Nations, says, “Since the Beijing Declaration in 1995, much has been learned about the enabling conditions that foster gender equality.
“Whatever setbacks and obstacles may appear over the next 25 years, the awakening in humanity’s consciousness to the truth that women and men are equal will never be lost.”
The BIC has made available a specially dedicated web page featuring the full film and additional clips of interviews as a resource to stimulate thoughtful discussion on the themes highlighted in Glimpses into the Spirit of Gender Equality. Subtitled versions of the film will soon be available in Arabic, French, Mandarin, Persian, Russian, and Spanish.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1486,2021-02-10,"[1445, 1444, 1442]",“Participation is the key”: Bahá’í Chair tackles food security,"INDORE, India — The Bahá’í Chair for Studies in Development at Devi Ahilya University, Indore, recently held a seminar on food security and nutrition, an issue that has come to the fore across diverse social discourses globally and in India during the pandemic.
“This seminar aims to bring academics and practitioners together, in an atmosphere that does not reinforce divisions of ‘us’ and ‘them,’ so that participants can examine some of the underlying causes of food insecurity and malnutrition,” says Arash Fazli, Assistant Professor and Head of the Bahá’í Chair.
This is the most recent in a series of gatherings the Chair has organized on issues related to urban migration, education, and gender equality that have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Among the topics discussed by participants was the impact of agricultural policies and market forces on agrobiodiversity. Attendees noted that a major challenge caused by policies that promote monocropping is that farmers tend to focus on cash crops to the exclusion of edible plants that provide a rich source of nutrients and have been part of a region’s diet. As a result, foods that are locally grown have become expensive and less accessible for the masses.  Participants at a seminar on food security and nutrition held recently by the Bahá’í Chair for Studies in Development at Devi Ahilya University, Indore. Left to right, top row: Arash Fazli, Assistant Professor and Head of the Bahá’í Chair; Dipa Sinha, a professor at Ambedkar University, Delhi; Vandana Prasad of the Public Health Research Network. Bottom row: Richa Kumar, professor of sociology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; Rohini Mukherjee of Naandi foundation.Speaking about the limitations of a purely centralized approach to agricultural policies, Vandana Prasad of the Public Health Research Network said: “Are we… [dictating] what every single village is going to eat? Participatory work is a starting point for all programs and policies, which means not setting things in stone at a central level. … Decentralization is the key.”
Richa Kumar, a professor of sociology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, highlighted that the participation of local communities should extend to knowledge generation. “What you will produce and consume in Bikaner,” she said, “is very different from what you will produce and consume in Bengal. You need to empower, build capacity at the local level to do the research to support the farmers…”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. Participants in the seminar noted that a major challenge caused by policies that promote monocropping is that farmers tend to focus on cash crops to the exclusion of edible plants that provide a rich source of nutrients and have been part of a region’s diet.Beyond economic factors and the need for decentralization of decision-making, participants looked at links between gender disparities and the causes of hunger and malnutrition. A paper prepared by the Chair and discussed at the gathering says in part: “Women face disparities in the form of educational neglect, lack of reproductive choice and inadequate nutrition from childhood which perpetuates an intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. … Under-nourished women, in all likelihood, become under-nourished mothers.”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. The Bahá’í community of India has been involved for years in efforts to develop local agriculture as a means for addressing social and economic challenges. Seen here, participants of the Bahá’í-inspired Preparation for Social Action Program in India study techniques for local agriculture.Rohini Mukherjee of Naandi foundation said, “There are many surveys, including our own, that have shown that the more years of schooling a mother has, the less likely her child is to be malnourished.”
Addressing the challenges women face in accessing education, however, would not on its own resolve the issue of malnutrition, noted participants. Dipa Sinha, a professor at Ambedkar University, Delhi, stated: “Malnutrition is multidimensional and there are so many factors that go into it—the role of gender, women’s empowerment, education, and livelihood.”
“In these seminars we try to explore the fundamentals, which at their heart are moral issues,” says Dr. Fazli. “Such discussions are often neglected or deemed too idealistic because of a lack of recognition that the underlying nature of society is spiritual, a reality that is true for all human beings and gives local communities and individuals capacity to handle their affairs.”",INDORE,,India
1487,2021-02-12,"[1235, 1485, 1461]",New statement by BIC underscores moral dimensions of technology,"BIC NEW YORK — A new statement by the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) on the role of digital technologies in the advancement of civilization has been presented to the 59th session of the UN Commission for Social Development, which concludes 17 February.
“Humanity is in a period of unprecedented transition,” reads the BIC statement, titled Reflections of Our Values: Digital Technologies and a Just Transition. “Possibilities are opening for marked social change to redefine collective values and underlying assumptions. This is especially evident in the realm of digital technologies.”  Reflections of Our Values: Digital Technologies and a Just Transition highlights that “Possibilities are opening for marked social change to redefine collective values and underlying assumptions. This is especially evident in the realm of digital technologies.”The statement highlights the growing consensus that digital technologies are not implicitly neutral, as has become clearer in recent years. “Technological innovation,” it reads, “much like the prevalent development paradigm, is deeply influenced by materialistic underpinnings.”
The statement was at the heart of discussions on Wednesday at an online side event during the Commission, co-hosted by the BIC together with the government of the United Arab Emirates and the NGO Committee for Social Development.
Titled “Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Dimensions of the Virtual World,” the event drew more than 100 diplomats, policy makers and civil society actors who explored a range of ethical questions such as how artificial intelligence (AI) can address the needs of diverse local communities, and how innovation and regulation can work hand in hand to  advance the common good.  Soraya Bagheri, BIC representative and moderator of the event, said, “Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence hold great potential to channel the human spirit to address humanity’s most pressing challenges.”
Speaking of the moral implications of technology, Ms. Bagheri continued, “One challenge we are facing today is that the speed of technological progress has outpaced the ability to reflect.” She highlighted further the need for greater participation of the human family in critical questions concerning humanity’s future, such as how AI and other digital technologies are developed.  The statement was at the heart of discussions on Wednesday at an online side event during the Commission, co-hosted by the BIC together with the government of the United Arab Emirates and the NGO Committee for Social Development, titled “Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Dimensions of the Virtual World.”Another panelist, Hamad Khatir, Director of International Partnership with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of the Interior, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Inclusivity is a must in designing any software. … The risk of AI being designed only to serve a certain part of the world or part of society is a real possibility… that needs to be clearly assessed against criteria that place human progress at the center of all our goals.”  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. The BIC has contributed to the Commission for Social Development for years through statements and participation in the annual sessions.Eline Chivot, Senior Adviser on Digital Policy for the European People’s Party, commented on the need for common principles in this area, stating: “[principles] give flexibility to apply a code that we can all agree on and we collectively adhere to. A sort of moral compass.”
Drawing on the concepts from the BIC statement, Douglas Allen, a professor at the University of Denver and member of the Bahá’í community, spoke about how a just digital future would allow the benefits of productivity and technology to be widely shared, greatly contributing to eliminating extremes of poverty and wealth and “the perception of a zero-sum world.”
A recording of the side event can be found here.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1488,2021-02-13,"[1468, 1433, 1384]",“We stand with the Bahá’ís of Iran”: Former Canadian Prime Minister and judges condemn persecution of Bahá’ís ,"BIC GENEVA — Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is among a group of more than 50 high-ranking legal professionals in Canada who have written an open letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Chief Justice, Ebrahim Raisi, expressing deep concern regarding “new and intense violations” of the human rights of Iran’s Bahá’í community.
The letter—whose signatories include former justice ministers and judges of the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as prominent legal academics and practicing lawyers—condemns a recent court ruling to confiscate Bahá’í properties in Ivel, a village in northern Iran.
“We know the Bahá’í Faith to stand for values of peace, justice, and unity,” the letter states, “values which have been under sustained attack by the Iranian authorities for decades. Violations of the human rights of Iran’s Bahá'ís have already been decried by the Canadian government, the United Nations and numerous human rights organizations. Today, as members of the Canadian legal profession who believe in the rule of law, we too stand with the Bahá’ís of Iran and call upon you, as the head of the Iranian judiciary, to address this new abuse inflicted upon the Bahá’ís of Ivel.”  Over many years, Bahá’í-owned properties in Ivel, Iran, have been attacked and unjustly confiscated, displacing dozens of families and leaving them economically impoverished. These images show a home that was burned in 2007.The unprecedented outpouring of support comes after Bahá’í-owned properties have been unjustly confiscated by Iranian authorities in Ivel, displacing dozens of families and leaving them economically impoverished.
Numerous official documents unmistakably reveal religious prejudice as the sole motive behind the confiscations. Some records show, for instance, that Bahá’ís were told that if they converted to Islam, their properties would be returned.
“The 2020 rulings now establish a dangerous constitutional precedent of judicially sanctioned confiscation that nullifies legitimate property interests based only on the owners’ religious affiliation, thus departing not only from international human rights standards but also from the text and intent of the Iranian constitution itself,” the letter to Chief Justice Raisi states.
Religious discrimination against the Bahá’í community, it further states, “can provide solid grounds for prosecution of Iran’s authorities before international criminal courts and other international institutions.”  Numerous official documents unmistakably reveal religious prejudice as the sole motive behind the confiscations.Despite repeated attempts by the Bahá’ís in Ivel to appeal for their rights, their lawyers were given no opportunity to see court documents to prepare a defense or to present any arguments.
The situation in Ivel, the letter says, is an “alarming new chapter” in the persecution of a Bahá’í community that dates to the mid-1800s and was once a “thriving and peaceful multi-generational community… of farmers and small business owners.” Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Bahá’ís in Ivel have been “forced from their homes, imprisoned, harassed, and their property torched and demolished.” In 2010, homes belonging to 50 Bahá’í families in Ivel were demolished as part of long-running campaign to expel them from the region.
Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, says, “This letter from prominent legal figures demonstrates that the cruel treatment meted out to the Bahá’ís by the Iranian authorities has not gone unnoticed by the international community. It has, instead, served to galvanize public conscience around the world.”
The history of land confiscation and mass displacement of Bahá'ís in Iran is detailed in a special section of the website of the Canadian Bahá’í community’s Office of Public Affairs.",BIC GENEVA,,
1489,2021-02-15,[1483],Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: First steps taken to raise walls of central plaza,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — As construction of the floor for the central plaza of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá nears completion, preparations are underway to build the more complex geometric elements of surrounding walls.
This and other recent developments on the site are featured in the images that follow.Panels for the custom-made formwork that will shape the walls have now been delivered to the site.The formwork that will act as a mold for the plaza walls is assembled for the first time.The gap between the steel panels will be filled with concrete to form a single wall segment.This mold will be used to build ten identical segments of the walls that will surround the central plaza, whose geometric pattern is visible in the design rendering to the left.Top: View from the central plaza area toward the south plaza. Bottom: The curved portal wall that will enclose the south plaza takes shape.Another view of the southeast curved portal wall that will enclose the south plaza.Formwork is also being assembled for the curved portal wall along the north end of the east garden berm.Two utility rooms that will be concealed under the garden berms are being built adjacent to the central plaza.In one of the final stages of preparation for the floor of the central plaza, formwork is put in place for paths among the planters that will hold soil and irrigation for the gardens.With the paths laid out, the geometric pattern of these gardens becomes visible.An encircling path is being built on which visitors will be able to circumambulate the Shrine.A view of the site from the west (left). The wall visible in the foreground marks the line where the slope of the garden berms will meet the encircling path, as seen in the design rendering (right).",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1490,2021-02-18,"[1488, 1468, 1433]",“An extraordinary wave of support”: Calls in unison for Iran to end persecution of Bahá’ís,"BIC GENEVA — Leading Muslims, government officials, and parliamentarians around the world have joined a growing outcry at the unjust confiscation of properties owned by Bahá’ís in the Iranian farming village of Ivel. The ruling to allow Iranian authorities to confiscate the properties, clearly motivated by religious prejudice, was recently upheld in an appeals court and has left dozens of families internally displaced and economically impoverished.
The American Islamic Congress, the Canadian Council of Imams, Chair of the Virtues Ethics Foundation and one of the leading Islamic scholars in the United Kingdom Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, the All India Tanzeem Falahul Muslemin, and the All India Saifi Association have all issued statements in support of the Bahá’ís in Ivel, expressing grave concern about the confiscation of the properties.
“We are calling for the Higher court in Mazandaran and all responsible personnel to take action and to help the Baha’i community in Ivel get back their properties,” reads the statement from the American Islamic Congress. Echoing these sentiments, the Canadian Council of Imams writes, “We are deeply concerned by the ruling issued by an Iranian Court to confiscate the properties of 27 Bahá’ís in the farming village of Ivel.”  A statement of the Canadian Council of Imams in support of the Bahá’ís in Ivel.Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra from the United Kingdom called on Iran’s Chief Justice, Ebrahim Raisi, “to address this injustice,” adding that “Islam does not permit a government to confiscate land from citizens just because they follow a different religion.”
Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) to the United Nations in Geneva, says, “The sight of Muslim leaders around the world coming to the aid of their Bahá’í friends in Iran in an extraordinary wave of support is a powerful signal to the Islamic Republic that their co-religionists around the world condemn their actions.
“Statements of support from leading Muslims for the Bahá’ís in Ivel, who have lived there for more than 150 years with their Muslim neighbors, show that the Iranian government’s invocation of Islamic law is a thin veil covering its persecution of the Bahá’ís.”  A message posted on Twitter by Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau.In a further sign of international support for the Bahá’ís in Iran, government officials around the world have condemned the Iranian court decision. The Canadian Foreign Minister, Marc Garneau, says his government is “concerned” by the ruling, urging Iran to “eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief.” The call has been echoed by officials in Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, Brazil, the United States, the European Parliament and the United Nations. In Sweden, 12 members of parliament and other elected representatives have strongly called on Iran to return the lands of the Bahá’ís of Ivel.  A message posted on Twitter by Jos Douma, the Netherlands’ Special Envoy for Religion or Belief.“Stop confiscating Baha'i properties in the village of Ivel,” states Jos Douma, the Netherlands’ Special Envoy for Religion or Belief. “And—at last—recognize Baha'i[s] as a religious community.” The German Federal Government Commissioner for Global Freedom of Religion, Markus Grübel, also called for Iran to recognize the Bahá’ís as a religious community in the country and to end the “discrimination and persecution of Bahá’í communities.”
South Africa’s Legal Resources Centre, an organization known for its human rights work during apartheid, has also issued a letter condemning the property confiscations.  A ruling to allow Iranian authorities to confiscate properties belonging to Bahá’ís in the village of Ivel, clearly motivated by religious prejudice, was recently upheld in an appeals court and has left dozens of families internally displaced and economically impoverished.“The world is watching and is appalled by the Iranian government’s blatant injustices towards the Bahá’í community,” says Ms. Ala’i of the BIC. “The innocence of the Bahá’ís is more evident than ever to the international community and Iran is being held accountable for the gross injustices it has inflicted on the Bahá’í community in Iran. The government must take the necessary steps to not only return the lands to the Bahá’ís in Ivel but to end the systematic persecution of the Bahá’ís throughout the entire country once and for all.”
The history of land confiscation and mass displacement of Bahá'ís in Iran is detailed in a special section of the website of the Canadian Bahá’í community’s Office of Public Affairs.",BIC GENEVA,,
1491,2021-02-21,"[1421, 1460, 1473]",Ground broken for first local Bahá’í temple in India,"HARGAWAN, India — Ground was broken today for the first local Bahá’í House of Worship in India—an edifice from which will emanate the spirit of worship and service that has been fostered over decades in the local area, known as Bihar Sharif. The groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction of this edifice, which is among the seven Bahá’í temples announced in 2012.
The ceremony brought together local dignitaries, representatives of the Bahá’í community, and residents of the area. The occasion began with prayers and deep prajwalan—the Indian custom of lighting a lamp to signify the attainment of knowledge, purity, and connection with the divine. Children and youth played a special role in the program, contributing to the devotional atmosphere through songs and musical drama.  The groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction of the local House of Worship in Bihar Sharif, India, brought together local dignitaries, representatives of the Bahá’í community and residents of the area.In his comments at the ceremony, Amod Kumar, the head of the Panchayat (a local civic body) of Hargawan, Bihar Sharif, spoke about his hopes for the temple. “Today our society is divided by caste, religion, and generation. The Bahá’í teachings have contributed to unifying people here, especially children and young people participating in the Bahá’í community’s moral education programs. Now this area has received the House of Worship as a divine gift, and it is hoped that the community here will benefit from this gift and continue to achieve progress and prosperity.”  Amritha Ballal, one of the founding partners of SpaceMatters, the architecture firm that designed the House of Worship, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony.Naznene Rowhani, Secretary of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of India said, “Unity and harmony in our diverse society has been expressed through India’s proud Vedic tradition of vasudhaiva kutumbakam—the world is one family. … [The temple] will be a shining symbol of vasudhaiva kutumbakam in action—where everybody, regardless of community, caste, color, or creed will be welcome to commune with their Creator. This tradition is affirmed and manifested in Bahá’u’lláh’s words ‘Regard ye not one other as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch. So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.’”  Children and youth played a special role in the program, contributing to the devotional atmosphere through songs and musical drama.The groundbreaking ceremony culminated with the placing of soil collected from villages across the state of Bihar at the temple site. This gesture was evocative of the connection between the thousands of residents of these villages and the House of Worship.
“When hundreds of people—young and old, women and men, farmers, laborers, students, doctors, businessmen—eventually gather together daily in the House of Worship and turn to the Almighty, this will further strengthen the bonds of unity that have formed in this community,” said Rahul Kumar, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia.  A scale model of the design for the temple and surrounding facilities was presented at the groundbreaking.In her remarks at the ceremony, Ms. Rowhani explained how the Temple will belong to all people of Bihar Sharif. “It is the fervent hope of the Bahá’í community of India that this beautiful edifice will be a place where humanity will enter and find harmony, peace, and spirituality.”
The groundbreaking comes after the unveiling of the design for the House of Worship, which took place last April.",HARGAWAN,,India
1492,2021-02-26,"[1490, 1488, 1468]","Farmers, agricultural scientists, policy makers address Iran’s Chief Justice and Minister of Agriculture","SYDNEY — Farmers as well as agricultural scientists and policy makers from Australia, Africa and North America have joined the global outcry at the unjust confiscation of lands belonging to Bahá’í farmers in Iran, as the Iranian authorities face mounting criticism over the widespread and systematic persecution of the country’s Bahá’ís.
In an open letter to Iran’s Chief Justice Ebrahim Raisi and acting Minister of Agriculture Abbas Keshavarz, figures in the field of agriculture from several countries across the world—including Canada, Ethiopia, Mali, and the United States—say they are speaking out because they “are concerned about the plight of smallholder farmers throughout the world who often face injustice from arbitrary authority.  In an open letter to Iran’s Chief Justice Ebrahim Raisi and acting Minister of Agriculture Abbas Keshavarz, figures in the field of agriculture from several countries across the world—including Canada, Ethiopia, Mali, and the United States—say they are speaking out because they “are concerned about the plight of smallholder farmers throughout the world who often face injustice from arbitrary authority.“These recent land seizures take place within the context of escalating raids on Bahá’í owned homes and businesses in Iran,” they say, expressing their alarm at the latest stage in the ongoing persecution of the Bahá’ís of Ivel who have been displaced and economically impoverished by Iranian authorities solely because of their religious beliefs.
The open letter states: “We understand that Bahá’í families have farmed land in Ivel for over 150 years and that these families have been constructive members of the local community, by, for instance, starting a school for children of all faiths and by carrying out measures to improve the hygiene and health of all community members.
“Despite their contributions to the community,” the letter continues, “they have faced a series of persecutions throughout the years, characterized by mass expulsion and displacement, and the demolition, bulldozing and confiscation of their homes.”
The signatories call on Chief Justice Raisi and Minister of Agriculture Keshavarz to end the persecution of Bahá’ís, saying, “We write as fellow agriculturists to bring attention to this instance of persecution and urge the Iranian authorities to overturn their decision with regard to the farmers of Ivel.”Meanwhile in Australia, a moving video message released on behalf of members of the country’s farming community draws attention to the plight of Bahá’í families in the Iranian village of Ivel.
“Farming is a difficult job at the best of times,” says Claire Booth, a farmer from New South Wales, in the video message. “It’s not made any easier by the frequency of floods, droughts, fires, climate change, and most recently, the impacts of the pandemic.”
The video message describes the role of a supportive government in assisting its farming communities, drawing a sharp contrast with Iran’s harsh treatment of the country’s “peaceful Bahá’í community.”
“We stand in solidarity with our farming brothers and sisters in this country,” the farmers say, “and call on the Iranian government and judiciary to return the land and properties to their rightful owners—Bahá’í farmers in Ivel.”",SYDNEY,,Australia
1493,2021-02-28,"[1473, 1434]",Foundation laid for House of Worship in DRC as Kenya temple nears completion,"KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo  — Recent weeks have seen steady progress in the construction of the two Bahá’í Houses of Worship in Africa.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, just eight weeks after the excavation for the foundations of the House of Worship were completed, the reinforced concrete slab that will form the floor of the central edifice has been finished. Work on additional buildings on the site is steadily advancing.
Meanwhile, over 3,000 kilometers away, the local House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya, is entering the final stages of construction. The exterior of the temple is nearly complete, as are auxiliary structures on the grounds. Residents of the area are assisting to prepare the gardens around the temple, carrying out tasks with reverence as they regularly gather on the grounds for prayers.
The progress in the construction of both temples over the past few months is explored in the selection of images below.Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the CongoA moisture barrier is laid across the entire floor area of the temple in preparation for building the reinforced concrete floor slab. Encircling the foundations, earthworks are being prepared for the ground immediately outside the central area.The staff who have been working on the construction of the temple gathered Thursday on the newly completed floor slab to mark this key milestone in the project.A visitors’ center is also being built near the entrance to the site of the House of Worship in Kinshasa.Foundations for the visitors’ center have been built around trees already present on the site, preserving them to beautify the courtyard.Floor slabs for the visitors’ center are now being poured.Elsewhere on the site, several existing buildings are being renovated. One building, pictured here, is being used as a construction office. In the future, these buildings will be used as educational facilities and as offices for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Matunda Soy, KenyaAs the exterior of the local Bahá’í House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya, nears completion, the elegant form of the temple’s design is becoming visible. The design is inspired by huts that are traditional to the region. Exposed roof beams highlight the nine sides of the edifice.Skylights have been installed on all nine sides of the roof of the temple, and roof tiles are being placed, creating a diamond motif familiar to Kenyan culture.The interior and exterior of the temple’s nine doorways are being decorated with wood and paster. The latticework around each door is being prepared at a workshop in the Matunda Soy area and is made from mvule, a wood native to eastern Africa.Construction of the reception center and other facilities on the site are nearly complete, and they will soon be prepared to welcome visitors to the temple site.The main gate to the temple grounds nears completion.Local residents have played an important role in assisting with various tasks on the site, including with preparations for gardens that will surround the temple.The residents of Matunda Soy, a farming community with generations of experience tending the land, have taken to the task of beautifying and maintaining the temple grounds with enthusiasm.",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1494,2021-03-04,"[1186, 1471, 1427]",Bahá’í Feast recognized as part of Singapore’s cultural heritage,"SINGAPORE — Singapore’s National Heritage Board (NHB) has added the Bahá’í Nineteen Day Feast to its intangible cultural heritage list following a national mandate to document and preserve the diverse cultural expressions of the island nation.
The Bahá’í Feast refers to a spiritual “feast” of prayers, consultation, and fellowship and is held once every 19 days by Bahá’í communities throughout the world.
“The Feast serves as the bedrock of Bahá’í community life,” says Meiping Chang of Singapore’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs. “Its inclusion on the heritage list is a recognition of the Bahá’í community as an integral part of Singaporean society.”  “The Nineteen Day Feast helps us to keep connected to something beyond ourselves, but has required creativity during this time,” says Peta Yang, a member of Singapore’s Bahá’í community.Ms. Chang explains how at the Feast, Bahá’ís come together to consult on how they can better serve their society. “It is a space where the relationships between members of the community and institutions, such as the Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly, are strengthened.”
Peta Yang, a member of Singapore’s Bahá’í community, states: “Consultations at these gatherings allow people to reflect together on their experience in community-building efforts. People of all ages explore how they can support one another. The rich discussions often lead to ideas for further practical action.”  An online gathering for a recent Nineteen Day Feast in Singapore. Peta Yang, a member of the country’s Bahá’í community, says that the Feast has played an important role during the pandemic. “These regular gatherings are a powerful remedy for isolation.”Dr. Yang continues to explain the important role of the Feast during the pandemic. “These regular gatherings are a powerful remedy for isolation,” she says. “The Nineteen Day Feast helps people to keep connected to something beyond themselves, and creativity during this time has allowed this feeling to intensify. Many are making a special effort to include poems, stories, songs, and other art forms to contribute to a vibrant atmosphere.
“If we want to build the world anew, spiritual foundations marked by devotion and consultation need to be laid among individuals, the community, and institutions. With our interactions limited by the pandemic, we’ve seen more than ever that the Feast is a point where these elements all come together.”  Families in Singapore mark a recent Feast in their homes before joining others online or in small gatherings while maintaining safety measures put in place by the government.",SINGAPORE,,Singapore
1495,2021-03-05,"[1492, 1490, 1488]",#ItsTheirLand: Unprecedented reaction makes voice of persecuted Bahá’ís in an Iranian village global,"BIC GENEVA — A global campaign in support of the persecuted Bahá’ís in Iran has generated an unprecedented outpouring of solidarity from officials at the United Nations and the European Union, statesmen, government officials, religious figures including Muslim leaders, lawyers, prominent human rights advocates, farmers’ associations, actors, and other prominent figures.
Campaign supporters called for an end to the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran and particularly for the return of ancestral lands belonging to the Bahá’ís in Ivel, a village in northern Iran, which were illegally confiscated by the Iranian government solely because of the landowners’ religious beliefs.
The wave of concern—outstanding in its diversity and geographic spread—reflects an ongoing outcry from the international community over the human rights abuses Iranian Bahá’ís have suffered for decades.
“In the past week, the voices of the Bahá’ís in a small village in Iran became global, thanks to the extraordinary support offered by governments, organizations, prominent figures, groups, and thousands of sincere individuals around the world,” said Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations in Geneva. “This exceptional support not only condemns Iran’s actions but shows the long-suffering Bahá’ís in Iran that the international community stands with them.”The campaign comes after Iranian courts ruled to confiscate Bahá’í-owned properties in Ivel, leaving dozens of families internally displaced and economically impoverished. The Bahá’ís are Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority and have been the target of 42 years of state-sanctioned systematic persecution—documented extensively by the United Nations.
Ahmed Shaheed, the UN’s Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief, said he stood in solidarity with the Bahá’ís in Iran “who are facing systemic persecution [and] egregious rights violations.”
A webinar was held at the European Parliament on the situation in Ivel with participation from European Union officials and a former UN Special Rapporteur, Miloon Kothari. Additionally, the Chair of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Iran, Cornelia Ernst, called the Bahá’ís a “particularly vulnerable community” and condemned the Iranian government’s “disastrous policies towards the Bahá’ís.”
Brian Mulroney, a former Canadian prime minister, signed a high-profile open letter by more than 50 judges, lawyers, and former attorneys-general, addressed to Iran’s chief justice, Ebrahim Raisi. The letter stated that the court ruling departs “not only from international human rights standards but also from the text and intent of the Iranian constitution itself.” The open letter was widely publicized, including by The Globe and Mail newspaper and the CBC.Global food systems and agricultural experts, including officials at the UN Development Programme, the World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, business figures, and academics at universities around the world, signed an open letter describing the Bahá’ís in Ivel as “hard-working, low-income agricultural workers with no other assets and means of earning a livelihood aside from their homes and farmlands” and expressing “alarm” at the confiscation of their properties.
The call was underpinned by a moving video message of solidarity on behalf of the farming community in Australia which called on the Iranian government and judiciary to “return the land and properties to their rightful owners: Bahá’í farmers in Ivel.”
Canadian Members of Parliament also added their voices to the campaign in a video in which they called on Iran to “return the properties of Bahá’ís and respect their human rights as citizens of Iran.”
The foreign ministers of Canada and Sweden, Marc Garneau and Ann Linde, each made statements on the situation in Ivel, expressing alarm at the ongoing discrimination and seizure of properties owned by Bahá’ís. Other government officials and parliamentarians from Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States also denounced the Ivel confiscations, urging Iran to stop persecuting the Bahá’ís.
Officials of two governments called for the recognition of the Bahá’í community in Iran. “Stop confiscating Bahá’í properties in the village of Ivel,” stated Jos Douma, the Netherlands’ Special Envoy for Religion or Belief. “And—at last—recognize Bahá’í[s] as a religious community.” The German Federal Government Commissioner for Global Freedom of Religion, Markus Grübel, also called for Iran to recognize the Bahá’ís and to end the “discrimination and persecution of Bahá’í communities.”
The US statement, issued by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, condemned the “alarming escalation” of the Iranian government’s “measures targeting Bahá’ís in Iran on the basis of their faith.”Muslim leaders around the world also joined the campaign, calling on Iran “to address this injustice,” adding, “Islam does not permit a government to confiscate land from citizens just because they follow a different religion.”
The statements, coming from Muslim leaders in India (the All India Tanzeem Falahul Muslimeen and the All India Safi Association), the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, sent a powerful signal to Iran’s government that, contrary to its claims, their co-religionists do not see their actions as consistent with Islamic law.
In addition to this, fourteen prominent Iranian religious scholars issued a collective statement to “urgently request” that Iran’s government “end the brutal confiscation of Bahá’í property throughout the country” and to address the “persecution, animosity, and insults” suffered by the Bahá’ís. A prominent op-ed article was also published in The Wall Street Journal by Reza Afshari, an expert on human rights in Iran.Civil society organizations in the United States, including the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, the Anti-Defamation League Task Force on Middle East Minorities, United for Iran, the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran, Freedom House, the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute, and others, signed yet another open letter addressed to the two judges who made the ruling, Mr. Hasan Babaie and Mr. Sadegh Savadkouhi.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the Raoul Wallenberg Center, Brazil’s National Council of Churches, South Africa’s Legal Resources Centre, and Germany’s International Society for Human Rights were also among the many faith and civil society groups that stood in solidarity with the Bahá’ís in Ivel.
Thousands of members of parliaments, human rights activists, actors, and ordinary citizens also joined a Twitter storm sharing articles and messages of solidarity about the land seizures in Ivel with the hashtag #ItsTheirLand. The social media push saw 35,000 tweets reaching some 52 million people around the world, at one point trending in Australia. The equivalent hashtag also trended in Persian-language Twitter.Prominent Iranian academics, authors, activists, actors, and artists outside Iran, including Masih Alinejad, Max Amini, Nazanin Boniadi, Nina Ansary, Abbas Milani, Sina Valiollah, Omid Djalili, Maziar Bahari, Ladan Boroumand, and others, also joined the Twitter storm, as did the American actors Rainn Wilson, Justin Baldoni and Eva LaRue and the British novelist and comedian, David Baddiel.
“The show of support for the Bahá’ís in Ivel demonstrates that the Iranian government's religious motivation for the persecution of the Bahá’ís has been exposed to the world. Iran’s treatment of its Bahá’í community is, more than ever, condemned by a growing chorus of governments, civil society groups, and individuals, not only in the international community but by Iranians themselves,” stated Ms. Ala’i.
“The freedom to believe is a fundamental right that cannot be taken away from any individual by a government. The world is watching Iran and demands that the government bring to an end the utterly baseless persecution of innocent Bahá’ís for their beliefs.”",BIC GENEVA,,
1496,2021-03-09,"[1463, 1462, 1427]",Broadcast in Chile sparks dialogue on service and prayer,"SANTIAGO, Chile — An audience of some 50,000 across Chile tuned in last week to watch a program that offered perspectives of the country’s Bahá’í community on how people can remain hopeful and respond constructively to the health crisis.
The 40-minute program was broadcast online by EMOL TV—one of Chile’s leading news outlets—in collaboration with the Chilean Association for Interreligious Dialogue (ADIR). The program is part of a series that began in April 2020 as the pandemic hit and provides the country’s faith communities an opportunity to offer messages of hope.
“Through this and an earlier broadcast last August,” says Luis Sandoval of Chile’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs, “the Bahá’í community has tried to impart the same spirit that people feel when they pray together, whether in their homes, online with friends and neighbors, or with their compatriots under the roof of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Santiago.”
Omar Cortes of ADIR says, “In their contributions, the Bahá’í community has always left a very positive impression on the editors and audience of EMOL TV. This last broadcast by the Bahá’í community was appreciated for its attentive reflections, touching on the health and social crisis with wisdom.”  Top-left and right photographs taken before the current health crisis. The most recent program, which has stimulated dialogue on spiritual themes among the many viewers, featured reflections from people across the country who are engaged in Bahá’í community-building endeavors.The most recent program, which has stimulated dialogue on spiritual themes among the many viewers, featured reflections from people across the country who are engaged in Bahá’í community-building endeavors.
Appearing in the broadcast, Veronica Oré, director of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Santiago, commented on the budding cooperation and mutual support among citizens, saying, “Rather than looking with sadness and hopelessness at what is happening, we can see a great opportunity emerging to better understand what it means for all segments of humanity to act as one.”
“The world is but one country,” she adds, referring to a well-known teaching of Bahá’u’lláh which continues, stating: “and mankind its citizens.”  Luis Sandoval of Chile’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs says that in the broadcast, “the Bahá’í community has tried to impart the same spirit that people feel when they pray together, whether in their homes, online with friends and neighbors, or with their compatriots under the roof of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Santiago.”Another speaker, a young person from Santiago, called on her fellow youth to arise and support one another, whether friends or strangers, in a unified response to the needs of society. Others shared insights from conversations in spaces created by the Office of External Affairs in which participants explore issues such as the extremes of wealth and poverty, equality between men and women, the protection of nature, and the economy.
Speaking about the series of broadcasts, Mr. Cortes of ADIR says, “We are grateful to EMOL TV because, as a secular media organization, it dared to venture into this type of broadcast.”
Mr. Sandoval comments further on the important role of the media in fostering a public dialogue on religion’s capacity to inspire hope. “Transmitting a potent message related to the reality of the country and the principles that show new ways of living, of organizing ourselves, and of relating to each other can contribute to the transformation of society for the welfare of all.”",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1497,2021-03-14,[1489],Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Completion of floor slab for main edifice marks major milestone,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has passed a significant milestone this week with the pouring of the concrete floor slab for the main edifice and the surrounding plaza. After many stages of preparation, the floor of the central area is among the first parts of the project to reach its final form as some of the walls enclosing the north and south plazas are nearing completion.
These and other recent developments on the site are featured in the images that follow.Concrete was poured across an area of 2,000 square meters, creating a platform that will be paved with local stone and reach a final floor height of about 3.5 meters above the original ground level of the site.The concrete surface of the floor slab is smoothed after pouring.Views of the central plaza area before (top) and after (bottom) this week’s work.Once the concrete of the plaza floor sets, the construction of the folding walls around the plaza and the pillars of the main edifice can proceed.Pictured (center) is the purpose-made formwork that will used as a mold for the eight pillars of the main edifice, each of which will stand at 11 meters.Work continues to advance on the portal walls enclosing the north and south plazas, as well as the pillars that will support the floor of the north plaza (foreground).Formwork is being raised for the portal wall on the west side of the north plaza.The portal wall on the east side of the north plaza is nearing completion.Pictured here are two views of work on the east portal wall of the south plaza. The wall was built up in several layers, and its sloped upper edge is now being completed.In a view of the site from the west, progress on a path encircling the Shrine can be seen in the foreground.With the foundations and central floor slab completed and the portal walls nearing completion, the Shrine and its associated structures will begin to take form before long.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1498,2021-03-19,"[1494, 1200, 1200]",ABC casts light on Bahá’í community-building efforts in Sydney neighborhood,"SYDNEY — The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has cast a light on the transformative effect of Bahá’í community-building activities on the lives of young people in Mount Druitt, a neighborhood in Sydney. In an article titled “The struggle for their streets,” the ABC describes how Bahá’í educational initiatives in Mount Druitt are “empowering young people to be the change they want to see in the community.”
The article highlights the vibrant community life that is taking shape through gatherings for prayer, discussion, and music, which has recently given rise to an initiative, titled “Manifold”, to produce songs that express the youth’s highest aspirations for their society.  In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. The vibrant community life in Mount Druitt has recently given rise to an initiative, titled “Manifold”, to produce songs that express the youth’s highest aspirations for their society.Speaking with the Bahá’í World News Service, Siobhan Marin, the journalist who wrote the article, shares her motivation for covering the story: “It’s always a joy to travel to different parts of Sydney and to meet communities who aren’t often represented in the news with the aim of sharing their story.”
Ms. Marin explains that this neighbourhood had recently been negatively portrayed in the media, and her hope is to offer something different. “I was interested in how the local community, particularly youth, are using music and social activities to change the narrative.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. The article highlights the vibrant community life that is taking shape in Mount Druitt through gatherings for prayer, discussion, and music.“It struck me that the members of Manifold, and others in the community, are not only demonstrating a more positive pathway to youth—one that doesn’t involve drugs, alcohol or violence—they’re also highlighting the goodness that already exists in the area. It was heartwarming to hear about efforts to help younger generations flourish.”
She adds: “And, from the sounds of it, these efforts are not only benefiting kids in the community, they’re also strengthening social cohesion and a sense of pride and respect for the area—amongst the older generations, too.”
The article may be read on the ABC website.",SYDNEY,,Australia
1499,2021-03-25,"[1485, 1314, 1474]",Pandemic highlights women’s role in leadership,"BIC NEW YORK  — As the world undergoes profound change, the pandemic has clearly revealed the indispensable role of women leaders and the need for models of leadership to be reconceptualized. These ideas are at the heart of the Bahá’í International Community’s (BIC) contribution to the 65th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which includes a statement titled Leadership for a Culture of Equality, in Times of Peril and Peace.
“In nations where women have contributed more prominently to leadership in their society at whatever level, a degree of stability has been seen across a variety of short-term indicators, including public health and economic security,” says Saphira Rameshfar, Representative of the BIC.
“It has never been so clear how much humanity benefits when women’s leadership is embraced and promoted at every level of society, whether in the family or the village, the community or local government, the corporation or the nation.”  Forty-nine delegates representing the BIC joined more than 25,000 representatives of governments and non-governmental organizations at this year’s CSW, which was held online.In its statement to the Commission, the BIC highlights several characteristics and capacities for effective leadership, including “the ability to harmonize different voices and foster a sense of common endeavor.”
At an online discussion centered on the BIC statement during CSW, Charlotte Bunch of the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University said, “I think that the model that [the BIC] put forward is really important. We need to understand that a model of equality… isn't about making women equally dominant over other people to make them leaders…”  Ambassadors of several UN member states have responded to the BIC’s recently released film Glimpses into the Spirit of Gender Equality. Ambassadors who spoke at a screening during CSW are pictured here, clockwise from top-left: Ambassador Francisco Duarte Lopes of Portugal, Ambassador Israel Choko Davies of Liberia, Ambassador Christoph Heusgen of Germany, and Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo of the Republic of the Philippines.At another discussion space attended by ambassadors of several UN member states, participants viewed the recently released film Glimpses into the Spirit of Gender Equality. In response to the film, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Liberia to the UN, Ambassador Israel Choko Davies, said: “You see how actions in a given community can cultivate positive changes in the behavior of others.
“We see how happy a family becomes when a husband and wife exhibit mutual respect for one another and see themselves as equals. You learn of the positive role and the importance of spirituality in achieving gender equality. You realize the important role a family can play in promoting gender equality.”
Ambassador Davies quoted the film saying, “The capacity to love, to create, to persevere, has no gender”  Pictured here is the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing. This year’s CSW, which is being held online, is the largest gathering since the Beijing conference involving governments and civil society organizations in advancing the discourse on gender equality.Forty-nine delegates representing the BIC joined more than 25,000 representatives of governments and non-governmental organizations at this year’s CSW which was held online—the largest gathering since the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing involving governments and civil society organizations in advancing the discourse on gender equality.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1500,2021-04-01,"[1470, 1471, 1472, 1444]",Migration: Broadening the horizons in Slovakia,"BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — A small but growing conversation about human nature and capacity is taking root in Slovakia, challenging common notions about migration and minorities, as well as fostering greater participation and mutual support. Over the last several years, the Bahá’í community of Slovakia has been contributing to discussions on these issues and creating spaces in which thinking about migration can advance.
“A common assumption in many societies is that migrants are a burden for a country to bear,” says Venus Jahanpour of Slovakia’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.“It’s understandable that people who arrive in a new land may require support with settling and tending to various needs, especially if they are fleeing conflict and oppression,” says Mrs. Jahanpour. “But there is more to their lives.
“With a different view of human nature—that human beings can show great capacity for selfless service and generosity—people are able to transcend notions of identity that create divisions between them and see each other as a fellow being.”  Venus Jahanpour of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs (upper right) and other participants at a recent conference on civic engagement organized by the Human Rights League of Slovakia. Over the last several years, the Bahá’í community of Slovakia has been contributing to discussions and creating spaces in which thinking about migration can advance.The Office has found that conversations with this as a starting point have illuminated various aspects of the issue and strengthened cooperation and collaboration among social actors such as government, human-rights organizations, and religious communities.
At a recent conference on civic engagement organized by the Human Rights League of Slovakia, Mrs. Jahanpour described the implications of these ideas for good governance. “When people arrive in a country, they are full of hope and come in anticipation of a better life. They have fresh perspectives and a strong desire to contribute to the advancement of their new home, but they need to be engaged as equals as early as possible. There is an important window early on where spaces need to be created for discussion and mutual learning among those newly arrived and their fellow compatriots.”  Photographs taken before the current health crisis. In exploring questions around fostering greater participation and mutual support among migrants and minorities, the Bahá’ís of Slovakia are drawing on their experience in working with people of diverse backgrounds in community-building efforts.In her comments shared with the Bahá’í World News Service about the empowerment of individuals and communities, Alena Holka Chudzik—the moderator of the conference and representative of the Center for Research on Ethnicity and Culture—points to the experience of the Bahá’í community, stating: “Through their strong involvement in local communities, Bahá’ís play a crucial role in engaging very diverse people in local activities, interactions, and relationships… The sense of social responsibility we have noticed in the Bahá’ís can be a great driver of the inclusion of migrants.
“I feel that their focus on what unites us as human beings is what creates a unique space for inclusion of migrants... The idea that each individual matters and has a great potential to make a difference is something that should be more present in the debate on migration and inclusion of migrants.”Monika Kuchtova, member of Slovakia’s Bahá’í community adds, “There is a tendency to divide people into categories such as ‘native’ and ‘foreigner,’ ‘majority’ and ‘minority.’ But when people come together to examine the root cause of prejudice and explore ways to serve their society, these divisions fall away and we become one people. Like a garden, we come to see the beauty in our diversity.”",BRATISLAVA,,Slovakia
1501,2021-04-08,"[1281, 816, 797, 336]",House of ‘Abbúd: Holy place restoration completed,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — A two-year long project that strengthened seismic resistance of the House of ‘Abbúd while restoring parts of the building that had deteriorated over time has concluded. This undertaking was an extension of the conservation work carried out by Shoghi Effendi in the early 1950s, when he prepared the sacred site for pilgrimage.
As exiles and under house arrest, Bahá’u’lláh and His family arrived at this building in 1871 and lived in extremely cramped conditions. At one point more than 13 people were living in one room.
It was at this sacred site that, in 1873, Bahá’u’lláh revealed His Most Holy Book—the Kitáb-i-Aqdas—which outlines the essential laws and principles of His Faith, lays the groundwork for Bahá’í institutions, and is referred to in the Bahá’í writings as the “charter of the future world civilization.”The restoration of the House of ‘Abbúd aims to preserve “the building in a befitting condition for centuries to come”, wrote the Universal House of Justice in a letter to Bahá’í National Spiritual Assemblies on Friday.
Different aspects of the restoration and conservation work can be seen in the images that follow.A historic (left) and current (right) view of the east façade of the house. This is the part of the house first occupied by Bahá’u’lláh and his family—known as the House of ‘Údí K̲h̲ammár—with the room (at upper-left) where Bahá’u’lláh revealed the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book of the Bahá’í Faith.In the room where Bahá’u’lláh revealed the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, conservation was carried out for the wooden wall panels, many of which had become warped or discolored. Each one was straightened, reinforced, and re-stained.A set of sofas from the house were restored to their original appearance. The upholstery pattern was recreated from a few photographs and used by a textile producer to replicate the fabric.One of the rooms features a beautifully patterned ceiling and an intricate frieze painted on zinc panels. Conservators documented the frieze pattern, repaired the panels, and restored the paintings—a remarkable conservation of artwork from the Ottoman era.A restored ceiling in the House of ‘Abbúd.Detail from the restored frieze in the House of ‘Abbúd.Ceiling patterns in another room of the house which had become concealed over time have been restored.A closeup view of the restored ceiling of one of the rooms in the House of ‘AbbúdA major aspect of the restoration of the House of ‘Abbúd was replastering some 5,000 square meters of internal and external walls. Lime-based plaster, recommended by conservation experts for use in rehabilitation of historical buildings, was applied. The new plaster and paint will prevent the buildup of moisture inside the walls.Repairs were made to wooden roof beams throughout the building and reinforced in some places with stainless steel.Traditional glass-blowing techniques were used to produce the windowpanes.The marble columns and capitals of the colonnade overlooking the Mediterranean Sea that had become degraded were replaced with identical replicas.An example of restored stonework in the building.Once the easing of public health restrictions allows, the doors of the House of ‘Abbúd will once again open to receive pilgrims.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1502,2021-04-14,"[1480, 1459, 1189]",Youth initiative in Cambodia reduces soil erosion during floods ,"OKCHEAY, Cambodia — In 2019, a group of young adolescents in the Cambodian village of Okcheay set out to plant trees along a patch of road to improve air quality and provide shelter from the heat. At the time, they could not have anticipated that this section of the road would be protected from severe erosion during the floods which came a year later.
Although modest in its impact, the project and how it can continue to be supported was recently discussed among local leaders of neighboring villages.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. In 2019, a group of young adolescents in the Cambodian village of Okcheay set out to plant trees along a patch of road to improve air quality and provide shelter from the heat.“If these youth hadn’t started their project, we might have lost the whole road. If we help them continue their efforts, we could see a big difference for future floods,” said the leader of Okcheay village, Chhert Say, at the meeting.
The youth were inspired to undertake the initiative through their participation in Bahá’í educational programs that develop capacities for service to society. Phoeurb, an older youth who works with the group, describes an important aspect of these educational programs, saying: “These youth have been developing an essential capacity—to describe the social reality of their village and identify needs that they could address.”  “If these youth hadn’t started their project, we might have lost the whole road. If we help them continue their efforts, we could see a big difference for future floods,” said the leader of Okcheay village, Say Chhert.One of the young members of the group explains the thinking behind the project. “It gets hot during the summer, and there was no shade for people who walk on the road, so we decided to plant trees.”
“Trees also produce flowers and fruit,” adds another youth, “which makes our village more beautiful.”
Local leaders and community members, including other youth in the village, enthusiastically supported the project from the outset, giving advice on selecting the most suitable species and helping to plant the trees.Mr. Say shares his observations about the group, saying: “This shows the importance of the Bahá’í activities, because the young people of our village are using their time after they come back from school to discuss meaningful topics and to be of service to the village.”
At their most recent meeting this week the youth reflected on how they can continue their efforts. “Our hearts are full of happiness,” said one young person, “when we see all the people in the village happy. We see how we can do our part to make a new civilization.”",OKCHEAY,,Cambodia
1503,2021-04-22,"[1417, 1329, 1037]",Bahai.org: International website sees major redesign on 25th year since launch,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The newly redesigned website of the worldwide Bahá’í community at www.bahai.org has launched, representing the latest in a series of developments since the site was first created in 1996.
The extensive revamp provides an enhanced visual experience and additional features that aim to make the site’s some 140 articles more easily accessible.  Updates to the site include a new section titled “Featured Videos” that brings together a curated selection of content drawn from the Bahai.org family of websites.Updates to the site include two new sections—“Featured Articles” and “Featured Videos”—that bring together a curated selection of content drawn from the Bahai.org family of websites and new videos on the Bahá’í community’s involvement in the life of society, its efforts to promote the social and material well-being of people of all walks of life, and the integration of service and worship in Bahá’í community life.  Some 140 articles on the website are arranged in collections on a wide range of topics in two main sections—“What Bahá’ís Believe” and “What Bahá’ís Do.”The new version of the site opens the way for further additions planned for the coming months and years, which will explore the development of the global Bahá’í community and the experience of those throughout the world who, inspired by the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, are striving to contribute to the betterment of society.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1504,2021-04-27,"[1470, 1466, 1498]",“100 years of fostering unity”: Conversations on social cohesion move across Australia as centenary draws to close,"SYDNEY — In the span of just a few months, Creating an Inclusive Narrative—a publication of the Australian Bahá’í community released last November—has stimulated profound discussions among government officials, social actors, journalists, faith communities and others in gatherings across states and territories in the country.
A recent discussion was held at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Sydney, coming at an important time for the Australian Bahá’í community when it is marking the closing of the centenary year of its establishment in the country. “The centenary of the Bahá’í community represents a hundred years of learning about fostering unity in diversity,” says Venus Khalessi of the country’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.
In remarks on behalf of the Prime Minister of Australia, Member of Parliament Jason Falinski spoke at the gathering, stating: “Safeguarding our cohesion is not just a matter for government. It is something that belongs to all of us. … Bahá’í Australians have made a significant contribution to building our multicultural nation and inclusive national identity.”  In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. A recent gathering at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Sydney among government officials, social actors, journalists, faith communities to explore ideas presented in the publication Creating an Inclusive Narrative.“Faith has the capacity to be a powerful uniting force,” Mr. Falinksi continued, “bringing people together in a spirit of belonging and harmony. … It is a source of comfort, of solace, and of resilience for so many Australians.”
The Bahá’í community’s journey over the last century is the story of faith as a powerful impulse for greater unity, explained Fiona Scott, a member of the country’s Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly. Speaking about the first group of Bahá’ís who arrived on Australia’s shores, Dr. Scott described how they “were fueled by the vision of a world at peace, a world that values and harmonizes the diversity of the human race.
“They would not have dreamt that a hundred years later the Australian Bahá’í community would comprise well over 80 ethnic and racial groups in more than 417 localities around this nation.”  In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. Jing Lee (left), the assistant minister to the premier of the state of South Australia, speaks with representatives of the Bahá’í community at a gathering in Adelaide, South Australia.At a gathering in the state of South Australia, Jing Lee, the assistant minister to the premier of South Australia, referred to the recently published Creating an inclusive Narrative, stating: “The values of the Bahá’í Faith connect individuals, the community, and even institutions. I’m an individual standing here, but I also come from a community and an institution—this Parliament House, our democratic system.”
What the publication shows, Mrs. Lee continued, is “how all those things come together to promote oneness in humanity, that men and women are equal, that we all have a joint responsibility… to a collaborative framework. This particular publication challenges us, collectively with all the research behind it, to think a little bit further… and not just talk about it, but work towards common goals.”  In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. A discussion in the Australian Capital Territory in which participants explored how to build a more cohesive society.Philippa Rowland, president of the Multifaith Association of South Australia, said that “the publication … manages to combine individual perspectives within the larger picture of how our [society] operates. More importantly, it draws a practical arc from learning where we have come, to understanding our present situation and having the collective courage to imagine that we can bring into being a better future for all.
“This dialogue on how we can create an inclusive narrative,” she continued, “is at the heart of an important journey that speaks strongly to interfaith harmony and peaceful mutually rewarding coexistence in a multicultural society.”",SYDNEY,,Australia
1505,2021-04-30,"[1309, 1148, 1283]",New volume of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings released,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — A volume of newly translated tablets penned by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been released online and in print.
Light of the World comprises a selection of seventy-six tablets, from among thousands penned by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in which aspects of the life of Bahá’u’lláh and the purpose of His Faith are recounted. “Who better to tell us about Bahá’u’lláh,” the preface of the new volume states, “than His most cherished Son, Who shared, as His closest associate, His life of exile, imprisonment, and persecution?”
The passing of Bahá’u’lláh on 29 May 1892, after a ministry spanning four decades of exile from His native Iran, left the Bahá’í community grief-stricken. In its hour of need, the community turned to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—Bahá’u’lláh’s appointed successor—for solace and guidance.
Many of the tablets in the new volume are from that time of bereavement, while others were written in later years when Bahá’ís found themselves suffering persecution and hardship. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá called on Bahá’ís to reflect on the life of Bahá’u’lláh and His response to times of tribulation as a source of inspiration in their efforts to serve humanity, even when under the most difficult circumstances.
The release of this volume comes at a special period of reflection on the lives of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith. Over the last five years, the Bahá’í world has marked the bicentenaries of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh and the Birth of the Báb and now prepares to commemorate the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing later this year.
Light of the World is available on the Bahá’í Reference Library; the book can be ordered through the United States Bahá’í Publishing Trust.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1506,2021-05-01,"[1256, 1166, 820]",Croatia’s First Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly established in landmark election,"ZAGREB, Croatia — The Bahá’ís of Croatia have reached a historic milestone with the election of the country’s first Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly.
The nineteen delegates who had gathered at the convention held in Zagreb—while maintaining safety measures put in place by the government—cast their ballots last Saturday in a spiritual and joyful atmosphere. People across the country also joined the convention through online programs dedicated to prayer and uplifting music.  A delegate at the Croatian Bahá’í community’s first national convention casts her ballot.The formation of the National Spiritual Assembly is the culmination of developments since 1928, when Martha Root—a notable early Bahá’í—introduced the Bahá’í teachings to people in the former Yugoslavia. Although initially few in number—at times down to a single person—the Bahá’ís in Croatia promoted Bahá’u’lláh’s message of unity and peace over the ensuing decades, including periods of great restrictions and war, until 1992 when it became possible to elect the first Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly in Zagreb. Other Local Assemblies were eventually formed elsewhere in the country.  Photographs taken before the current health crisis. Over the decades, including through turbulent times in the country’s history, Croatian Bahá’ís have fostered love and harmony among their compatriots and focused on community-building activities that seek to raise capacity for service to society.In the years since, including through turbulent times in the country’s history, Croatian Bahá’ís have fostered love and harmony among their compatriots and focused on community-building activities that seek to raise capacity for service to society.
The Universal House of Justice was represented by Andrej Donoval, member of the International Teaching Centre. Mr. Donoval addressed the convention, reading a message of the House of Justice in which these efforts are referred to as “a reflection of the qualities of the Croatian people who, throughout their history, have demonstrated great warm-heartedness, courage, and zeal.”
Maja Prezel, one of the members of the newly formed National Spiritual Assembly, describes the significance of this unique moment, saying, “The establishment of the National Assembly comes at a pivotal time, when the need for greater societal unity, for fellowship and love, and for selfless service to one’s society is becoming clearer and clearer. These are the qualities that will build our society’s resilience to face future crises, and they are qualities that a National Spiritual Assembly serves to promote in society.”  The participants of the Croatian Bahá’í community’s first national convention gather with the members of the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly.",ZAGREB,,Croatia
1507,2021-05-07,"[1506, 1480, 1459]","Amid devastating cyclone, first National Spiritual Assembly elected in Timor-Leste","DILI, Timor-leste — Crisis and victory go hand in hand, says a member of the newly established National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Timor-Leste referring to the historic elections that took place last Friday amid tireless efforts to respond to the devastating floods in the country.Given prevailing conditions, delegates voted remotely. “We feel so privileged to have a National Spiritual Assembly in Timor-Leste,” says Graciana da Costa Herculano Boavida, a member of the Assembly.
In a message to the Bahá’ís of Timor-Leste, the Universal House of Justice wrote: “The establishment of the National Assembly will enable your community to contribute with increasing effectiveness to the spiritual and material well-being of your society…”
The Bahá’ís of the country trace their roots to 1954, when three Bahá’ís from Australia and Portugal arrived in Dili. A short few years later, in 1958, the first Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly was established in Dili. Although some Bahá’ís from other countries continued to arrive through to the mid-70s, the Bahá’í-community only re-emerged in 1999 with community-building efforts gaining momentum in 2011.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. In recent years, efforts by the Bahá’í community of Timor-Leste to establish community-building activities in a growing number of cities and villages have paved the way for establishing the National Spiritual Assembly.The Timorese Bahá’ís were anticipating the National Assembly’s election last month, when the country was struck by Cyclone Seroja. Severe floods began on 4 April, bringing tragic loss of life across the country from landslides and mosquito-borne diseases.
“It is out of the heart of a disaster that this institution emerges,” says Vahideh Hosseini, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly.  “These have been trying weeks, but everyone is striving to do what they can to assist, especially the youth.”  “Bahá’í institutions and local officials have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with people on the ground,” says Madalena Maria Barros, a member of the National Assembly. Many officials have helped deliver supplies in person.A key aspect of the response was the creation of a five-member task force by the Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly of Dili to coordinate efforts. The task force has facilitated the distribution of some 1,400 packages of food, mosquito nets, and other essentials that have assisted more than 7,000 people across 13 villages and neighbourhoods. The task force also arranged for a boat to be built so that help could reach people where roads were cut off.
“Bahá’í institutions and local officials have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with people on the ground,” says Madalena Maria Barros, another member of the National Assembly. “I went with the xefe (chief) of my village to visit the home of an elderly woman who had lost everything in the flood and was ill with fever. The xefe, who was deeply moved by the woman’s condition, wrapped her in a blanket and cooked for her with supplies we had brought.”  Relief efforts carried out according to safety measures required by the government. The task force has facilitated the distribution of some 1,400 packages of food, mosquito nets, and other essentials that have assisted more than 7,000 people.Alberto dos Reis Mendonca, a Bahá’í in the hard-hit Masin-Lidun neighborhood of Dili, says, “Bahá’í activities in our neighborhood began just six months, and in that short time we’ve learned much about how to serve together as one.
“Every day we act and reflect, and then plan for the next day. A few days after the flood, more support was reaching the area and people had rice, oil, and other supplies. So we said now we need protein and vegetables to be healthy, and we reached out to organizations who could provide mung beans and other vegetables for us to distribute.”  Efforts of the Bahá’í community to distribute essential supplies have reached 13 villages and neighborhoods, including in hard-to-reach areas.Commenting on the devotional spirit that has sustained people throughout these efforts, Marcos da Costa Dias, a member of the National Assembly who lives in Masin-Lidun, states: “We pray early each morning and feel united, at peace, and enter a prayerful state which lasts throughout the daily work of relief and recovery.”
Reflecting on the past month, Mrs. Herculano Boavida says, “In our response to this crisis we look to the example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—that everywhere he went, he always found ways to help people in difficulty. The same spirit of service is felt now by the National Spiritual Assembly.”",DILI,,Timor-leste
1508,2021-05-10,"[1481, 1450, 1329]",New essays in The Bahá’í World highlight uniqueness of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s message in the West; survey agricultural achievements in Africa,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The online publication The Bahá’í World has released two new articles.
“Reading Reality in Times of Crisis: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Great War” looks at how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s analysis of the crises of His time was profoundly distinct from contemporaneous “progressive” movements and thinkers. The author describes how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s warnings about the causes of war could not be understood by societies immersed in paradigms of thought totally different from the ones He presented.
Published as part of a series honoring the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing, “Reading Reality in Times of Crisis” joins another recently released article titled “The Cause of Universal Peace: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Enduring Impact.” This latter article looks at the circumstances around ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s participation in the 1912 Lake Mohonk Arbitration Conference and the urgency and timeliness of His message over the subsequent decades. The article also reviews efforts of the Bahá’í community to promote world peace in the decades that followed.
Also newly-published, “Paying Special Regard to Agriculture: Collective Action-Research in Africa” focuses on Bahá’í social action efforts in the field of agriculture in Africa, surveying developments across the continent and focusing on several specific examples in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Bahá’í World website presents a collection of essays and articles that explore themes of relevance to the progress and well-being of humanity, highlight advancements in the worldwide Bahá’í community at the levels of thought and action, and reflect on the dynamic history of the Bahá’í Faith.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1509,2021-05-13,[1497],Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: First columns of main edifice raised,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The first two columns of the main edifice of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l Bahá have been raised. Each now stands 11 meters above the central plaza floor.
Eight columns will eventually be built, forming part of the walls of the main edifice and supporting the trellis that will span the central plaza.
To the west of the main edifice, the first three segments of the folding walls that will surround the central plaza have been built. A total of ten identical segments are being constructed one by one.
The gallery of images below shows the progress of work on the columns and plaza walls along with some of the other developments on the site.The first completed column is seen in the right image. To the left is work on the second column, which was completed last week.The steel formwork, seen in yellow, is assembled in place. Concrete is then poured and is allowed to set. The formwork is finally taken apart and reused for the next segment.The folding walls will later be clad with stone.The four portal walls enclosing the north and south plazas have been completed, as seen in this view from the south.Planters of various shapes are being built for the gardens that will beautify the north plaza.The current progress on the north plaza is seen on the right next to the design rendering on the left.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1510,2021-05-20,"[1429, 1472]",Podcast series in Ireland invites grassroots conversation,"DUBLIN — Comhrá, meaning ‘conversation’ in Irish, is a recently launched podcast by the Bahá’ís of Ireland that provides a window into uplifting discussions among friends on themes central to the life of society.“We want to engage in social discourses at a level that is not usually seen, and to hear from people who are not always heard,” says Patricia Rainsford of the Irish Bahá’í community’s Office of External Affairs.“There is a place for high-level discussions of policy, but the conversations in this podcast look at an essential component of social change that is found at the grassroots—addressing ideas that listeners might see reflected in their own lives.”  “We want to engage in social discourses at a level that is not usually seen, and to hear from people who are not always heard,” says Patricia Rainsford of the Irish Bahá’í community’s Office of External Affairs about the podcast.In one episode, sociologist Iarfhlaith Watson and his friend and colleague Brendan McNamara discuss the role of identity in contributing to greater unity in a diverse society. “The Bahá’í Faith teaches about the oneness of humanity,” says Dr. Watson.“What we need to understand,” he continues, “is how a sense of identity that brings people together can be maintained while overcoming the tendencies to exclude others. … Maybe people in their local community will realize that if it’s not happening globally, then in our own locality we have to work together to create a better sense of community. From those grassroots will grow local, national, and then finally international cooperation.”In another episode, Frank Kennedy, a Bahá’í from the city of Waterford, speaks about an initiative to create a supportive space for newly arrived migrants to Ireland.In this conversation, Mr. Kennedy describes how people of diverse faiths engaged in the initiative were able to overcome their differences by focusing on the principles of forgiveness, love and hope that are common to all religions.  Comhrá, meaning friendly conversation in Irish, is a podcast by the Bahá’ís of Ireland providing a window into grassroots responses to issues facing society.Speaking about the future of the podcast, Ms. Rainsford states: “The pandemic and circumstances outside our control can leave each of us feeling powerless and hopeless. The idea of the opening series, called Sparks of Hope, is that positive acts are hopeful, no matter how tiny—like sparks that have the potential to light up a dark and difficult time.”Published today, the latest episode titled “Everyone’s here for a reason” explores issues of disability and inclusion. Upcoming conversations of the podcast will look at a constructive conception of justice in responses to racial prejudice and violence.",DUBLIN,,Ireland
1511,2021-05-24,"[1275, 1190, 1491, 1373]",Kenya: First Local Bahá’í temple in Africa opens its doors,"MATUNDA, Kenya — A luminous presence in Matunda Soy, Kenya, the first local Bahá’í House of Worship in the continent of Africa was dedicated at an opening ceremony Sunday morning.
The chorus of “Make my prayer, O my Lord, a fountain of living waters” sung by a local choir resonated deeply within the people who had gathered at the dedication ceremony, and represented thousands of people nearby and across Kenya celebrating a momentous step in the spiritual journey of their people.
The House of Worship—referred to in the Bahá’í writings as a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, meaning “Dawning-place of the Praise of God”—has a unique reality. It stands at the heart of the community, is open to all peoples, and is a place where prayer and contemplation inspire service to society.  An aerial view of the local Bahá’í House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya.Sunday’s opening ceremony included remarks from Townshend Lihanda, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa whom the Universal House of Justice named as its representative to the event. Mr. Lihanda read a letter of the House of Justice addressed to the gathering, which stated: “…at a time when the world is caught in the midst of uncertainty, the efforts of the friends throughout Matunda Soy and beyond have culminated in the raising of this beacon of hope, a cause for jubilation and great joy.”
The Universal House of Justice stated that the completion of the project in just three years and under difficult circumstances “is a testament to the vitality, resourcefulness, and determination of the Kenyan people.”  A night view of the local Bahá’í House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya. The House of Worship has a unique reality. It stands at the heart of the community, is open to all peoples, and is a place where prayer and contemplation inspire service to society.Others in attendance included government officials, village and district chiefs, local dignitaries, representatives of local and national Bahá’í institutions, the architect and other representatives of the construction team.
Mourice Mukopi, the chief of the group of villages where the temple is located, said, “The most important thing about the Bahá’í temple is that it welcomes everyone from different religions to come and worship.”  The dedication ceremony included performances by local choirs from Matunda Soy.In  speaking with the Bahá’í World News Service, residents of the area have echoed these sentiments. “The people of Matunda Soy see the House of Worship as a sign of unity,” says Andrew Juma.
Elder Khaemba, another member of the local community, states: “The differences that existed before are over, since people of all faiths come together in prayer at the temple.”
A village elder, Justus Wafula, states: “The House of Worship is a space where the negative forces of society have no place. When we go to the temple, we know that we are on the right path. We know that we are home.”  Some one hundred participants attended the dedication ceremony, while thousands of people nearby and across Kenya celebrated a momentous step in the spiritual journey of their people.The sense of home created by the appearance of the temple is reminiscent of the traditional huts of the region, explains Neda Samimi, the House of Worship’s architect. “A place of worship is a place where your soul belongs, where you should feel comfortable whatever your religion and be able to connect and commune with your Creator.”
Mrs. Samimi describes how the process of raising the temple was unifying.
“Everyone who has been involved in the project has been very conscious that this structure is dedicated to the promotion of oneness and the praise of God. All our work has been carried out through consultation, and our meetings would begin with prayers from diverse faiths.”  A sacred Bahá’í symbol known as the Greatest Name has been placed at the apex of the dome. The Greatest Name is a calligraphic representation of the invocation “O Glory of the All-Glorious.”Construction came to a close this month with two significant events. A sacred Bahá’í symbol known as the Greatest Name was raised to the apex of the dome.
Then, on Saturday, a small ornamental case containing dust from one of the Holy Shrines at the Bahá’í World Centre was placed within the structure of the House of Worship, symbolizing the profound connection between the temple and the spiritual center of the Bahá’í Faith.
John Madahani, a member of the Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly of Matunda, explains how Bahá’í community life in the region has evolved since its origins in the 1970s. “In the past, only a few Bahá’ís would gather in their homes for prayers. Now more than 300 families regularly hold devotional gatherings, praying with their neighbors, welcoming all without asking what religion one is from.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. Residents of Matunda Soy gathered at the groundbreaking ceremony for the temple construction project in March 2019.“And when we started the practice of gathering on the temple grounds early in the morning before construction began, we saw how powerful it was for all members of the community to have such a moment together before going about their daily tasks. Otherwise we would never see workers and farmers, youth and parents together at once.”
Bernard Liyosi, another member of the Local Assembly, says, “The House of Worship brings us closer to God through both worship and service. We receive energy from gathering at the temple, energy that we channel into building stronger communities.”  Attendees of the opening ceremony approaching the House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya",MATUNDA,,Kenya
1512,2021-06-01,"[1480, 1484, 1435]",“Endurance through cycles of war”: A resilient community fosters hope in the C.A.R.,"BANGUI, Central African Republic — A years-long armed conflict in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) has disrupted life across the country and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
In the midst of this crisis, the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly has guided the Bahá’ís of the country in their efforts to contribute to social progress, most recently drawing on a network of people engaged in community-building activities to channel assistance where it is most needed.
Speaking with the News Service, Hélène Pathé, member of the National Spiritual Assembly, describes the context in which such initiatives are under way in parts of the country: “The country has faced serious challenges. There are places where people have been severely affected and have had to flee, abandoning their homes and losing their means of making a living. This is the condition in many regions.”  Relief efforts carried out according to safety measures required by the government. Members of the emergency committee and of a Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly work together in coordinating the distribution of relief packages among village residents.Despite these conditions, the Bahá’ís in these areas have helped to foster resilience and a vibrant community life that has endured through cycles of war. For decades, regular gatherings for prayer have been strengthening bonds of friendship, and Bahá’í educational programs have been developing in children and youth a deep appreciation for the unity of all peoples, races, and religions.
During times of intense conflict, when entire populations have had to abandon their villages, teachers from community schools established with the support of a Bahá’í-inspired organization have sought ways to re-establish programs in temporary locations, explains Mrs. Pathé.  Photographs taken before the current health crisis. Teachers from community schools established with the support of a Bahá’í-inspired organization have sought ways to re-establish programs in temporary locations during times of intense conflict.As part of its efforts to further enhance its capacity for responding to crises, the National Spiritual Assembly formed an emergency committee in March. The members of the committee, including Mrs. Pathé, quickly got to work. Within a few weeks they had assembled a team and headed to identified areas to help in person.
Over three days, they drove hundreds of kilometers from Bangui, the capital, to the town of Bambari, stopping in four other towns along the way to provide essentials, such as medicine for water-borne illness, to people who had returned from taking refuge in forest areas. Travel to these communities has been permitted under government health restrictions owing to exceptions for humanitarian efforts.  Young people from Bangui prepare to travel with members of the emergency committee established by the National Spiritual Assembly.The emergency committee has worked closely with Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assemblies in coordinating the distribution of relief packages among village residents. “We had prepared as well as we could ahead of time with the information we could get,” says Mrs. Pathé, “but as soon as we arrived in a town, we sat down with the members of the Local Assembly, prayed together, and consulted about the needs, which they knew intimately.”
Young people have been at the forefront of these efforts, says Mrs. Pathé. “The youth were ready to spring into action as soon as the committee called on the community for support. They view this work as an extension of serving their neighborhoods: a contribution to the material and spiritual progress of society.
“They could see how this act of travelling for days to deliver a few necessities to people by hand was not just about addressing an immediate need. Meeting and speaking with people who had been cut off for so long also brought encouragement and helped build ties of unity as all saw that they are not alone in their challenges—like one family, there are others across the country who care for them and walk with them.”  A view of the river near Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. A years-long armed conflict in the country has disrupted life and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.Two months since its formation, the committee is already thinking about how to address long-term needs, including through projects for local food production.
With the experience it has gained, the committee is now expanding its efforts by contacting many more Bahá’í Local Assemblies throughout the country.
“In these relief efforts, we often call to mind ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who was always attentive to those in need and ever ready to respond,” says Mrs. Pathé. “He never hesitated to offer help. The National Spiritual Assembly hopes and wishes to do the same for the people of our country. What grieves us as a national body is that we can’t cover the whole country. Our efforts so far are only a small start, and we are learning little by little how to reach everyone.”",BANGUI,,Central African Republic
1513,2021-06-08,"[1442, 1486, 1445]","Shift in agricultural systems necessary for sustainability, says BIC","BIC BRUSSELS — Each year, tens of thousands of people from Africa travel to Europe to work alongside a declining national agricultural workforce on farms in EU member states in an industry that is increasingly becoming dependent on migrant seasonal workers.
When the pandemic disrupted international travel in April 2020, the spring harvest throughout Europe was thrown into jeopardy, revealing the extent of the EU’s reliance on seasonal workers and their difficult living conditions. Additionally, the pandemic has brought renewed attention to economic crises, the loss of land by farmers, and other factors that are driving people to leave rural areas in Africa.
“The way that agricultural affairs are organized is not sustainable or equitable, be it in Europe, Africa, or anywhere else in the world. There are fundamental questions that need to be closely examined in the light of principles such as the oneness of humanity,” said Rachel Bayani of the Brussels Office of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) at an online seminar held by the Office last Wednesday.
The gathering is part of a seminar series, co-hosted by the Brussels Office and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which brings together policymakers, academics, and civil society organizations from Europe and Africa to explore the relationship between agriculture, rural sustainability, and migration, particularly in the context of partnerships between the two regions.  Panelists of the most recent seminar in a series held by BIC Brussels and the FAO. The seminar focused on the viability of the EU’s agricultural sector and the need for rethinking production systems.Rodrigo de Lapuerta, Director at the Liaison Office in Brussels of the FAO, spoke about the novel approach of the seminars: “FAO estimates that 80% of all moves involve rural areas. Migration and rural transformation, with the sustainability of agri-food systems, are totally interrelated. However, I do not think these two issues have often been treated jointly.”
Attendees at the gatherings have highlighted different aspects of the links between migration and agriculture. “Many factors influence why and how people migrate from rural areas... [but] it is essential that this migration is done out of choice, rather than necessity,” said Mr. Ola Henrickson, Regional Director at the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
A particular focus of the most recent seminar was on the viability of EU’s agricultural sector and the need for rethinking production systems.
“We have to remember that our food security depends on the respect of our agri-food workers’ rights,” said Maximo Torero Cullen, the FAO’s Chief Economist, at a recent gathering. “The pandemic has shown us how indispensable migrants are… but it has also rightfully put the spotlight on the poor working and living conditions in the [agricultural] sector and the invisibility of these workers.”  Dr. Torero Cullen and other participants emphasized that policies of African and European states and regional bodies aimed at building sustainable food and agriculture systems need to put at the center the interests, safety, and well-being of agricultural workers.
“Many EU Member States frame their seasonal worker schemes primarily in terms of meeting labor-market needs at home,” said Camille Le Coz of the Migration Policy Institute of Europe. But she highlighted that some countries are looking at other approaches, including framing migration policies around “co-development”—creating arrangements that are beneficial to the sending and receiving countries as well as the workers themselves.
Reflecting on the gathering, Mrs. Bayani states: “Our current economic and agricultural systems and their implications for migration, the environment, nutrition, and livelihoods need to be closely examined. The Bahá’í teachings offer insights that can be helpful in this conversation: that the question of economics should begin with the farmer, because the farmer ‘is the first active agent in human society.’ This idea can allow us to explore possibilities for different ways to look at production systems.”  Images of agricultural initiatives of the Bahá’í community in (clockwise from left) Colombia, Uganda, and Nepal to strengthen local agriculture.She continues: “The issues discussed at these seminars reflect only some of the profound questions before humanity. The Bahá’í teachings envisage that every element of society, including economic relations, will have to undergo a profound transformation in the light of the essential principle of the oneness of humanity.”
Future seminars over the coming months will continue to look at agriculture and migration, focusing on topics such as education and the future of villages.",BIC BRUSSELS,,
1514,2021-06-16,"[1436, 1448, 1470]",A path toward a unified America,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — One hundred years ago, in May, the first race amity conference in the United States was held in Washington, D.C., by the American Bahá’í community, a defining moment on the path toward racial unity in the country.
The description on the program read, in part: “Half a century ago in America slavery was abolished. Now there has arisen need for another great effort in order that prejudice may be overcome. Correction of the present wrong requires no army, for the field of action is the hearts of our citizens.”
To mark the centenary of that historic gathering, the U.S. Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs brought together academics, civil society leaders, and other social actors for a three-day online symposium titled Advancing Together: Forging a Path Toward a Just, Inclusive and Unified Society.  Panelists of a three-day online symposium  held by the U.S. Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs titled Advancing Together: Forging a Path Toward a Just, Inclusive and Unified Society.“For those of us gathered here today, we are conscious that we are engaged in a process aimed at profound organic change in the very structure of society,” said P.J. Andrews of the Office at the gathering.
“The change required to create justice in the country,” he continued, “is not only social and economic but moral and spiritual.”
The latest episode of the Bahá’í World News Service podcast provides highlights from the symposium at which panelists discussed topics including the role of language in fostering a sense of shared identity, the relationship between truth and justice, and the need to address systemic changes in efforts toward social justice.  The discussions at the symposium looked at experiences of the U.S. Bahá’í community in fostering collaboration and strong bonds of friendship among people of diverse backgrounds in neighborhoods across the country. Some of these efforts are pictured here.Woven throughout the conversations at the gathering was the spiritual principle of the essential oneness of humanity. Drawing on the Bahá’í teachings, May Lample, also of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs, stated: “Any movement that seeks to eradicate all forms of racism from our society has to be predicated on a notion that all human beings are in their essence the same, that they are deserving of dignity, that they possess unique skills and abilities, and that they are worthy of safety and security.
“And without an understanding of our oneness and interconnectedness our differences appear too vast, rather than adding necessary and valuable complexity and beauty to our lives.”
This symposium was part of an ongoing contribution of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs in the United States to the discourse on race unity. Recordings of discussions at the symposium can be viewed here.",WASHINGTON,D.C.,United States
1515,2021-06-22,"[1175, 1373, 1414]",Temple arrival marks a new dawn in the heart of the Pacific,"LENAKEL, Vanuatu — A boat carrying a long-awaited cargo set sail from Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, to the remote island of Tanna a few days ago. By the time it had reached the island, over 250 people had gathered in great anticipation for its cargo: the main components of the local Bahá’í House of Worship to be built in the town of Lenakel.
“We are so happy for this moment,” said Joseph Tuaka, a member of the Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly of a nearby town, after the boat arrived. “There is a traditional belief that one day the people of Tanna will pray together in one house. That day is now come.”
Nalau Manakel, a member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Vanuatu, stated: “Many traditional songs and stories of the people of Tanna speak of a new way of living, when all enmity will be gone, and peace and harmony will come. The emergence of a Bahá’í temple in our community points to a great change that is taking place on this island spiritually and materially.”  In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. Top left: Tanna residents hold a devotional program marking the arrival of the components of the local Bahá’í House of Worship on the island. Top right: The boat’s crew prepares to disembark after arriving at Tanna. Bottom: While the crew waits for a change of tide to be able to unload, residents welcome them ashore and place floral laurels around their necks in a customary sign of appreciation.Speaking further about the significance of the House of Worship, Disline Iapum, the director of the temple, said: “We see the temple as a place of spiritual refuge, where we will come together to pray and draw inspiration for service to our community, in times of happiness or of crisis.”
Since the groundbreaking for the House of Worship in November 2019, many people have been coming together at the temple site to pray and offer assistance with various aspects of the project.
Some have been weaving bamboo to make the cladding for one of the surrounding auxiliary structures. Some are preparing an amphitheater for large community gatherings on a terraced slope that looks out over the Pacific Ocean. Some have been assisting with upkeep of the grounds, preventing the site from getting overgrown with the area’s lush vegetation.  The central edifice of the temple has a distinctive design, with wooden walls and a thatched roof modeled after Vanuatu’s traditional architecture, supported by a hidden steel structure. The various parts of the structure were manufactured across the islands of Vanuatu and overseas, and were prepared for assembly in the capital, Port Vila, before being transported to Tanna.“Youth, mothers, fathers, chiefs, everyone,” said Mr. Manakel, “they come with their tools and help. And you can see in their faces that they are doing it all with joy. They know that they are contributing to something that will be of great significance to future generations.”
Since the material for the central edifice arrived in Tanna, the main steel structure has been raised on the temple site in the town of Lenakel. A glass oculus at the apex of the structure, which will pour light into the House of Worship, was the first piece to be put in position using a temporary central column. The nine wings of the roof, shaped like the deep valleys that mark the terrain of the volcanic island, were then assembled around it one by one.  The nine wings of the roof, shaped like the deep valleys that mark the terrain of the volcanic island, were assembled around the oculus one by one.Reflecting on the future, Mr. Manakel says, “The Pacific Ocean is very special. There are currently only a few Bahá’í temples in the world, and several of them have been raised or are being built on the shores of the Pacific. We hope that one day many more villages and towns across all oceans and continents will feel the joy we felt when we saw the temple arrive—like seeing a light of hope shine out from the midmost heart of the ocean.”",LENAKEL,,Vanuatu
1516,2021-06-29,"[1482, 1429, 1388]",New Canadian parliamentary caucus looks at religion’s role in society,"OTTAWA, Canada — In a rare dialogue about the role of faith in governance, Canadian parliamentarians and representatives of the country’s religious communities recently held the inaugural meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Interfaith Caucus—a new space to explore how principles and insights from religion can contribute to thinking about the challenges facing the country.
“I believe that religion defines who we are and what we value, and that democracy, which is a vehicle by which we inform change, is often guided by these values,” said Mobina Jaffer, a member of the Canadian Senate.
The recently formed all-party caucus is open to members of Canada’s elected House of Commons and appointed Senate and is organized with the support of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation (CIC), of which the Bahá’í Community of Canada is a member.  Participants and organizers of the recent online meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Interfaith Caucus.“The pandemic has produced new kinds of dialogue between government and religious communities,” said Geoffrey Cameron of the Canadian Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs. “It has made leaders more conscious of the important role religion continues to play in inspiring people to serve their society.”  In December, a diverse group of religious leaders across Canada, including members of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly and Local Spiritual Assemblies, met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to talk about the contribution of faith communities in the context of the pandemic. (Photo credit: Adam Scotti)Stockwell Day, former MP and cabinet minister, spoke about the power of religion to bring comfort and hope, especially in times of crisis. “The very notion of religion in our society gives us a sense that there is restraint on a leader, and that there should be some sense of humility at the possibility that there is a bigger force out there than himself or herself, or the group to which they associate.”
He continued: “If individuals have a sense of religion—that there is something greater than ourselves—that brings a sense of solace.
“And so we imagine this spread over millions of citizens within a political setting, a significant portion of whom believe there is actually a power of God out there, [who] are living with a greater sense of respect and, we would hope, love for one another.”
Participants emphasized that beyond personal inspiration, religion can make important contributions to the policymaking process.  Photographs taken before the current health crisis. Over the past few years, the Canadian Bahá’í community has been involved in organizing numerous conferences and other spaces to discuss the place of religion in public life and religion’s contribution to the betterment of society. Shown here is a yearly conference called Our Whole Society.Member of Parliament Garnett Genuis said, “There are two concepts that are of supreme importance in religion: one is love and another is truth. And those two concepts have to go together. If you have love but no sense of truth, then … you’re not understanding what is really going on or what someone’s real needs are. And if you have a sense of the pursuit of truth, but no love in the process, that’s also clearly deficient… Love means being willing to confront serious injustice.”Speaking with the News Service about the future of the all-party interfaith caucus, Dr. Cameron of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs states: “There is a need to foster new relationships among policymakers and faith communities and to frame conversations such that people can collectively advance in their thinking by exploring productive lines of inquiry, rather than framing every issue as a binary choice.”
“Underlying the contributions of the Office to the discourse on the role of religion in society,” he continued, “is the Bahá’í principle of the essential oneness of humanity. This caucus, although in its very early stages, is an expression of that principle and an example of greater societal unity.”",OTTAWA,,Canada
1517,2021-07-06,[1509],Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Pillars of main edifice completed,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Many of the distinctive architectural features of the design of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are becoming visible as work progresses.
The eight pillars of the central edifice have now been completed. The folding walls on the west side of the central plaza are also complete and are being joined with one of the portal walls of the south plaza.
At the same time, preparations are beginning for the work of building an intricate trellis across the central plaza.
Progress on these elements is featured in the gallery of images below.This panoramic image shows six of the eight pillars that are a key structural element of the main edifice before all were completed.The eight pillars of the main edifice are now complete, and scaffolding is being set up in the space between the pillars and the completed folding walls for work on the trellis that will span the central plaza.A semi-circle of folding walls now encloses one side of the central plaza. The second set of folding walls is now being built, mirroring the first on the opposite side of the plaza.The completed set of folding walls are being joined with one of the portal walls of the south plaza. Also visible on the left of this image are the foundations constructed for the path encircling the Shrine. The space between the path and the walls will eventually be filled with a sloping garden berm.Progress on garden planters in the north plaza area is seen here. The space between the two sets of completed planters shows where the encircling path will pass through the north plaza.An aerial view from the northwest looking toward the Riḍván Garden.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1518,2021-07-12,"[1430, 1362, 1378]",“The problem of prejudice”: University course on peace leaves lasting impact on students,"COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, United States — Each academic year, the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland offers a unique course that assists students to identify root causes of societal challenges in the light of spiritual principles, such as the elimination of all forms of prejudice, the equality of women and men, and consultation.
“Throughout college I took 35 classes, but this is the only one that changed the fundamentals of how I look at the world,” says Emily Gorey, a former student of the class.
“It was here that I learned how different the world looks outside of Howard County, Maryland, where I grew up. I learned how quietly inequality is ingrained into our systems, thoughts, and environments. I saw the power of empathy take hold in myself and others.
“I have been given the tools to do my small part in helping my fellow human beings,” says Ms. Gorey, adding that she now looks at how her career in marketing can serve to amplify “voices that promote the placement of people and the planet over profits.”
Hoda Mahmoudi, holder of the Chair, speaks about the motivation for the course: “The Bahá’í writings make clear that prejudice is among the greatest barriers to creating a more just and peaceful society. Unless generation after generation of young people are raised to work consciously to overcome all forms of prejudice, it will be difficult to have significant transformation in any part of the social order.”
“This is what the Bahá’í community has been trying to do all along, and this class has the same aim.”  “Throughout college I took 35 classes, but this is the only one that changed the fundamentals of how I look at the world,” says Emily Gorey, a former student of a course titled “The Problem of Prejudice” that is offered by the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace.Another former student, Ashli Taylor, observes how the course helps participants to understand the application of moral principles to their own social reality. “The class looks at a big abstract idea like peace and creates concrete ways for us to think about how we can tangibly create peace in ourselves, in our community, and in our society.”
She continues: “In the times we’re going through now, I’ve been hearing from students how they’re taking those really hard and really intimate discussions that we’ve had in class and initiating constructive conversations around racism with their friends and families.”
The course, titled “The Problem of Prejudice,” stimulates profound discussion on five themes central to the Chair’s examination of the discourse on peace: structural racism and the root causes of prejudice, human nature, empowerment of women and peace, global governance and leadership, and overcoming challenges in the globalization of the environment.
The course also covers scholarly research on these themes and asks students to write weekly reflections as they strive to understand deeply the nature of social problems.
Dr. Mahmoudi explains that at the end of each semester students gain a heightened consciousness of the oneness of humanity. “People often focus on a single issue and do not see the relationship between different social problems and how they relate to peace.
“By making these connections and thinking about the causes of social issues in the light of moral principles, students come away from the course with a greater concern not just for the well-being of one segment of society but for all.”",COLLEGE PARK,MARYLAND,United States
1519,2021-07-13,"[1495, 1490, 1433]","“This must stop”: Anti-Bahá’í propaganda intensifies in Iran, evokes global outcry","BIC GENEVA — In recent months, the Iranian government’s decades-long campaign of hate speech and propaganda against the Bahá’ís in Iran has reached new levels, increasing in both sophistication and scale. The unfolding strategy to demonize the Bahá’í community is reflected in a growing and coordinated network of hundreds of websites, Instagram accounts, Telegram channels, and Clubhouse rooms.
“History is replete with the victims of grievous crimes incited by hate speech,” says Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) to the United Nations in Geneva. “We are concerned that the increasing spread of disinformation targeting the Bahá’ís may signal a severe increase in the persecution meted out against them.”Government officials, human rights activists, religious figures, and other prominent people are raising alarm about the intensification of the state-sponsored anti-Bahá’í propaganda, as history shows that flagrant violations of human rights often take place in a climate of hate and disinformation.
Canadian Member of Parliament Kerry Diotte states: “I wanted to join the chorus of many people in the world who are concerned about the persecution of people of the Bahá’í Faith in Iran. Religious freedom is one of the most basic elements of civilization. This religious persecution of the Bahá’í must stop.”  A message posted on Twitter by Canadian Member of Parliament Kerry Diotte.The CIJA, which represents hundreds of thousands of Jewish Canadians across Canada, issued a statement expressing grave concern about the latest developments in Iran. “As Jews, we understand the deadly consequences of a relentless repetition of falsehoods and myths against an entire community. Left unchecked, the Iranian regime’s indoctrination will instill a belief that Bahá’ís are outsiders in their own land, who deserve to be discriminated against and even subjected to violence.
“This must stop. Canada must play a role in holding Iran to account for the countless human rights violations it commits against the Bahá’ís with impunity.”
In the United States, a congressional human rights commission has invited a representative of the Bahá’í community to testify about the status of the Bahá’ís in Iran at a hearing today.
Nadine Maenza, Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), says, “We are dismayed by news that Iran has expanded anti-Bahá’í incitement in state-sponsored media. Iran must guarantee Bahá’ís and other religious minorities in Iran freedom of religion or belief.”  A message posted on Twitter by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).Rev. Dr. Patrick McInerney, director of the Catholic Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations in Sydney, Australia, says, “I deplore the recent escalation of hate speech and incitement to hatred against Bahá’ís and their religion in Iran. Don’t let history repeat itself. Stop hate propaganda against the Bahá’ís. In place of hate, let there be respect, compassion, and love.”
Spreading falsehoods has been a central weapon in the Iranian government’s assault against the Bahá’ís since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The goal is to demonize the Bahá’ís and to try to provoke public hatred for the community, thus justifying crimes against them, a very common tactic used by oppressive governments throughout history.
Despite this vile and ongoing campaign, the Bahá’ís in Iran have neither the right to legally appeal against these statements nor are they permitted to respond and present their own case to their fellow citizens in any of the country’s media, all of which are government controlled.  A new microsite of The Bahá’ís of Iran website has been set up to provide credible information from independent sources in an effort to respond to baseless accusations and misinformation produced by the machinery of propaganda targeting the Bahá’ís.A new microsite of The Bahá’ís of Iran website called Raasti (Truth) has been set up to provide accurate information, including from independent sources, in an effort to respond to baseless accusations and misinformation produced by the machinery of propaganda targeting the Bahá’ís in Iran.
A video released yesterday by the BIC calls on people to join the global outcry over the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran, launching the hashtag #StopHatePropaganda on Twitter.",BIC GENEVA,,
1520,2021-07-22,"[1516, 1482, 1381]","“A significant experience in our country”: Faith leaders in the UAE foster coexistence, build unified vision","ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — A unique forum initiated by the Bahá’ís of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is allowing religious leaders of the country to go beyond building mutual respect to fostering coexistence and unity of vision on questions of common concern.
The forum was established at the outset of the pandemic as a space for representatives of the diverse religious communities of the UAE to pray for the well-being of the people of their country, but quickly evolved to become a means for religious leaders to explore the role of religion in contributing to the material and spiritual progress of society in tangible terms.
“What has made these gatherings remarkable is that participants consult together about how they can stimulate further discussions within their faith communities to build unity of thought and to support collective endeavors that contribute to the betterment of our society,” says Roeia Thabet, representative of the Bahá’ís of the country.
She continues: “We also explore profound concepts and themes related to social transformation and reflect on how religion can inspire action among larger groups of people.”  The national conversation on coexistence has gained significant prominence in recent years, not only in the UAE but in the whole Arab region. An officially sponsored book titled Celebrating Tolerance: Religious Diversity in the United Arab Emirates was published in 2019 to mark the “Year of Tolerance”. This compendium contains experiences from diverse religious communities in the UAE and their contributions to peaceful coexistence in Emirati society.At a recent gathering focused on the Bahá’í principle of the equality of women and men, a participant stated: “All of us, as religious leaders, have a significant role in shaping the culture of true understanding of equality between men and women.”
In a paper prepared for the discussion and distributed to participants, the Bahá’ís of the UAE highlighted that equality between women and men is an aspect of human reality and not just a condition to be achieved for the common good.
The paper reads in part: “The search for meaning, for purpose, for community; the capacity to love, to create, to persevere, has no gender. Such an assertion has profound implications for the organization of every aspect of human society. That which makes human beings human—their inherent dignity and nobility—is neither male nor female.”
This and other themes examined over the past year are part of an overarching conversation on coexistence in Emirati society, a discourse that has gained significant prominence in recent years not only in the UAE but in the whole Arab region.  Representatives of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Bahá’í communities of the UAE to explore profound concepts and themes related to social transformation, such as the equality of women and men.“This group has raised the bar on coexistence and tolerance by bringing everyone of different religions together and commencing valuable discussions,” says Ashis Barua, representative of the country’s Buddhist community. Referring to the unified spirit of the gatherings, Mr. Barua continues: “It is truly rare… in our lifetime.”
Dr. Thabet of the Bahá’í community describes the strong bonds of friendship that have been fostered among the participants: “We have become much closer through these gatherings, sitting together for hours with real focus on how to foster greater coexistence in society and promote the welfare of communities. This kind of dialogue among leaders of different faiths is a significant experience in our country.”",ABU DHABI,,United Arab Emirates
1521,2021-07-29,"[1493, 1515, 1511]",“It is appearing before our eyes”: Emerging DRC temple inspires growing numbers to action,"KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — Just months after the completion of the foundations of the Bahá’í House of Worship in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), striking structural elements that make up the lower portion of the central edifice are coming into view.
The rapid progress being made on the construction of the temple has gone hand in hand with greater action aimed at the material and spiritual progress of society.
“The House of Worship is appearing before our very eyes” says Lavoisier Mutombo Tshiongo, the secretary of the country’s Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly.
He continues: “At the same time, we are seeing an intensification of action inspired by what the temple represents. Everything is increasing, from devotional gatherings, educational efforts, and other initiatives taken by families and youth, such as cleaning rivers and water sources, to formal activities in the areas of food security and agriculture, education, health and empowerment of women.”Mr. Tshiongo attributes the increasing pace of activity to a growing appreciation of the relationship between worship of God and service to humanity that is being cultivated through conversations about the national House of Worship, which is situated on the outskirts of Kinshasa.
Anis, a youth from the Bahá’í community of Lubumbashi, reflects on the relationship between service and worship, stating: “When people visit the House of Worship to pray, even though it is still under construction, they leave having become more clear about the actions they wish to take, because immersing yourself in prayer and meditation creates a sense of spirituality. In those moments, we see what is important in life—to become a source of social good and be of help to our fellow citizens.”The effects of the emerging House of Worship have been felt not only by area residents who have been able to visit the site, but also by people much further away.
Mr. Tshiongo explains that the National Spiritual Assembly has been stimulating many discussions about the House of Worship—referred to in the Bahá’í writings as a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, meaning “Dawning-place of the Praise of God”—through a series of gatherings across the DRC, conducted in compliance with government safety measures.
Speaking at a recent gathering in Baraka, South Kivu, Chief M’muwa Lwe’ya Aolōélwa II described how Bahá’í temples call to mind memories of the lubunga—a space dedicated to prayer and discussion on community matters among village elders.
“The lubunga, which has nearly disappeared from modern life, provides space for village elders to pray to God and ask for guidance as they assist with community matters. Today, we are learning about the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár—a center where all men, women, and children can gather as one and connect with their Creator.”
Progress on the construction work is featured in the gallery of images below.Since the temple’s foundations were completed in February, workers have been raising the concrete structural elements that make up the lower portion of the edifice and will support the steel superstructure of the dome and surrounding canopies.The upper gallery level has been built, supported by nine struts that will also serve as staircases. The dome will be anchored at nine points around the gallery.The struts will direct the weight of the dome outward into the foundations, leaving the entire lower floor of the temple free of support columns.Two ring beams have been built, one above the gallery and the other above the temple’s outer wall. At the center of this image is a space in the outer wall that will be one of the nine doorways into the temple.Last week, the innermost of the two ring beams was completed. At 8 meters above the ground, the concrete portion of the structure has now reached its full height. More than 90 percent of the concrete for the edifice has been poured, opening the way for the steel superstructure to be erected.Work on the grounds and auxiliary structures around the temple continues. Here, gardeners plant a lawn near the rising temple.The walls and roof of the future visitors’ center have been completed.In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. Area residents have been visiting the site and engaging in conversations about the House of Worship and the relationship between worship of God and service to humanity.In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. Residents of Kinshasa have been volunteering on the temple site, assisting with many aspects of the project.In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. Gatherings across the DRC have been stimulating many discussions about the House of Worship, which stands at the heart of the community, is open to all peoples, and is a place where prayer and contemplation inspire service to society.",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1522,2021-08-03,"[1448, 1347, 1440]",Insightful and thought-provoking: ABS conference casts light on wide array of social themes,"OTTAWA, Canada — The 45th annual conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS), held last week, brought together over 2,500 people to reflect on their efforts to contribute to a wide variety of areas of thought and discourse.
As was the case last year, the conference, which is usually held at a physical venue, had transferred online because of the pandemic. Julia Berger, the secretary of the Association’s executive committee explains how the ABS took great care in organizing the program to ensure greater participation in sessions.
“Despite some challenges and limitations from not being able to gather in person, the conference featured thought-provoking and lively discussions.
“Many sessions were held in two parts, with the first featuring pre-recorded presentations made available in advance and the second as live sessions during the conference itself, allowing more time for rich discussions.”  The conference, which is usually held at a physical venue, had transferred online because of the pandemic. The ABS took great care in organizing the program to ensure greater participation in sessions.The 9-day conference took place at a time when the global Bahá’í community has been preparing to commemorate the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing later this year. Titled “In the Footsteps of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá: Contributing to the Discourses of Our Time,” the conference program drew inspiration from His life and work as a champion of social justice and upholder of the principle of the oneness of humanity.  The conference program drew inspiration from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life and work as a champion of social justice and upholder of the principle of the oneness of humanity. His application of Bahá’í principles to contemporary issues and problems of the age informed discussions as attendees consulted on a wide variety of themes.Participants called to mind ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s unifying approach to contributing to the intellectual and moral life of society. His application of Bahá’í principles to contemporary issues and problems of the age informed discussions as attendees consulted on a wide variety of themes, including the role of journalism in contributing to social progress, the power of film in helping people to overcome prejudices, contemporary efforts to create just and sustainable food systems, and the dual knowledge systems of science and religion as being necessary for the advancement of civilization.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. A session at a previous ABS conference.One of the sessions brought together attendees and the directors of the Center on Modernity in Transition (COMIT) to discuss the Center’s experience with interdisciplinary research on the intellectual foundations of modern society and their possible transformation. The Center’s work is animated by the idea of modernity as an age of transition toward a future world civilization—one characterized by unprecedented levels of peace, justice, and material and spiritual prosperity.
Speaking about the future of the conferences, Dr. Berger states: “Our hope for the evolution of the conference is that it becomes a punctuation point along a process of learning so that each year participants can explore in-depth Bahá’í teachings, correlate them with perspectives across diverse fields of knowledge, and attempt to apply them to humanity’s current issues and challenges.”
Recordings of selected conference sessions are available online at the ABS website.",OTTAWA,,Canada
1523,2021-08-10,"[1474, 1499]",Examining interplay of culture and gender equality in Turkey,"ISTANBUL, Turkey — How does culture shape perceptions of women? Which elements of culture contribute to achieving gender equality and which ones act as obstacles?
“We have been getting together to look at these questions for the last several months with many different people—officials, academics, organizations of civil society, artists, writers, young people, women and men,” says a novelist from Istanbul and one of the participants of a series of roundtable discussions organized by Turkey’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.
In the discourse on gender equality in Turkey, there are few discussion spaces offering an opportunity to explore the question of culture. On the basis of this observation, the Office initiated this series of roundtables that touch on relevant themes, including education, the arts, and family life.
“The vital principle of equality between women and men as the basis for social transformation is at the heart of these conversations,” says Suzan Karaman of the Office of External Affairs.
Ms. Karaman explains that the roundtables have offered a rare opportunity for a cross-section of people concerned with the issue to come together to examine the reality of their society and analyze the operation of social forces.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. The Bahá’í community of Turkey has been engaging diverse members of society in community building efforts and educational endeavors that enable a profound exploration of the principle of equality between women and men.At a recent gathering on the theme of education, a representative of an organization focused on the empowerment of women commented on the need to examine every aspect of education. Citing textbooks as an example of how people’s views on gender roles can be formed, she stated: “Even illustrations in a math textbook can influence patterns of thought when they reinforce stereotypes, depicting women only in certain roles.”
Another attendee, the head of the Sociology of Religion Department at a major university in the country, expanded further stating: “Transformation in culture does not mean disrupting cultural diversity or the positive aspects of culture, but rather changing the patriarchal traditions, stereotypes and gender roles that have been passed down through generations that can be obstacles to achieving equality.”
Participants observed that although education is often seen as means for economic mobility and greater job opportunities, there is a need for a kind of education that spiritually and morally empowers people to seek greater degrees of unity and to work toward social change.
“Equality is one of the most important issues of our society,” said a local official and participant of the roundtables.
She continues: “It is also one of the most neglected and violated values of the human family throughout history. Although there is a long way to go, every effort which contributes on the journey towards equality is like an act of worship and therefore praiseworthy. The key is promoting a deeper understanding of this value in society and to reaching people from all walks of life by working together.”
In comments shared with the News Service, an author describes the unifying atmosphere of the gatherings: “We rush to our to computers from different parts of Turkey to learn from each other—we talk, we listen, we ask, and we understand. Though we are all different in some ways, we have come to love and trust one another. This opportunity has created greater understanding and unity. It has brought joy to our souls and hearts in this difficult world.”",ISTANBUL,,Turkey
1524,2021-08-15,"[1469, 1482, 1515]",Papua New Guinea: House of Worship superstructure completed,"PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — A significant milestone has been reached with the completion of the complex steel structure of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
This latest development comes after hundreds of steel components were individually positioned and linked with nine steel meshes to complete the dome structure, on which the oculus support frame was raised.
The site of the House of Worship, which has been under the ownership and care of the Bahá’ís of PNG since the 1990s, has already begun to receive groups of visitors eager to learn about the significance of the temple and the innovative approaches being taken for its construction, such as the intricate steel structure for the central edifice.
Recent visitors have included members of the PNG Institute of Architects and journalists from different media outlets including one of the country’s major national broadcaster, EMTV.
“We see this project every time we drive by. It’s filled everyone with so much intrigue,” said Jordan Tegabwasa, President of the PNG Institute of Architects during his visit to the site.
Gezina Volmer of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs explains how the House of Worship stands as a symbol of unity. “When its doors open, all will be welcome—regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity or faith.  The House of Worship will be a peaceful place of reverence to pray, connect with our Creator, and reflect on how to be of service to society.”
Progress on the construction work is featured in the gallery of images below.A group of journalists from different media outlets visit the site of the Bahá’í House of Worship and learn about the significance of the temple as a symbol unity.Workers position the steel elements of the structure with great precision while a surveyor provides directions from ground level.Construction workers raise the first of nine prefabricated units of the dome into position.Before being raised into place at the apex of the dome, the oculus support frame is first pre-assembled at ground level.Steel mesh components of the compression ring come together at the apex of the dome of the House of Worship.Concrete is poured to reinforce the ground in preparation for construction of the stairs leading to the main entry canopy of the Temple. Lower picture shows one of nine sets of stairs.Workers unload a shipment of recycled timber that will line the underside of each entry canopy and continue throughout the interior walls of the central edifice.The completed dome and canopy structures are now ready for exterior cladding to be installed.With the completion of the steel superstructure, the emerging form of the House of Worship can be seen from all directions as one approaches the Waigani area of Port Moresby.",PORT MORESBY,,Papua New Guinea
1525,2021-08-18,"[1513, 1444, 1320]",BIC Brussels: Fostering unity and belonging,"BIC BRUSSELS — During the pandemic, people throughout the world have seen how an outpouring of kindness and generosity among neighbors can turn strangers into friends in a near instant.
By lending a helping hand and working alongside each other, people have experienced moments of connection to something greater than themselves. As media reports confirmed that theirs was not an isolated experience, many people have felt a strong sense of belonging, not only to their neighborhood and nation, but to the human family.
These observations by the Brussels Office of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) and insights it has drawn from Bahá’í community-building efforts formed a basis for discussions being held by the BIC titled “Co-creating Neighbourhoods for Encounter and Belonging.”
Rachel Bayani of the Brussels Office states: “There are a growing number of neighborhoods throughout the world where residents, engaged in Bahá’í educational processes aimed at building capacity for service to society, are able to find points of unity around which they can coalesce and initiate projects of common purpose.”
She continues: “These experiences are showing that a sense of oneness and belonging grows when social spaces are created for people to discuss needs and undertake activities for social action that focus on some aspect of the well-being of their communities, such as the education of young people, the quality of the physical environment, or the improvement of nutrition and health.”
The launch event for the series was co-hosted with the Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup of the European Parliament and the Alliance4Europe, drawing over 100 participants. The gatherings have included European Union and municipal officials, urban planners, academics, and social actors.  A recent gathering of the Brussels Office of the Bahá’í International Community in which European Union and municipal officials, urban planners, academics, and social actors explored the role of urban development in fostering social change in highly diverse neighborhoods.At the launch event, the then lord mayor of Dublin, Hazel Chu, highlighted the complexities of issues related to urban development. Among these is the economic disparities between neighborhoods and the different perceptions of people in them, a problem that the pandemic has only exacerbated.
“This is not just [relevant] to Dublin,” she said, “I looked at stats of other cities, and what you will find is that the affluent neighborhoods get more affluent, and the ones that are poor economically get left behind. Facilities do not go into the places where people think, ‘oh, they wouldn't take care of it, or that they shouldn’t have it.’”
The role of urban design in creating inclusive public spaces in neighborhoods has also been a topic of great interest in the gatherings.
Juliette Jestin of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) stated: “The principle of inclusion should be interwoven into [a neighborhood’s] very structure from very early stages. … Rather than designing for the lowest common denominator, the most effective spaces actually leverage the inputs of those who use it.”
Another participant, Talia Melic, a Bahá’í from France and researcher in urban geography, proposed that a lack of social spaces open to all people of a neighborhood where they can consult on issues facing their community can impede people’s ability to act on their sense of justice and collective responsibility.
“One of the great injustices of separation in a neighborhood,” explains Mrs. Melic, “is that many people are not even aware of the inequality that exist in their own block and of the conditions of the lives of the neighbors in the next flat. Because there are few to no social spaces in which diverse people can come together.
“Ultimately, togetherness in diversity is not an end in itself… but a means to working for the transformation of a community that can reflect the capacities and richness that different individuals bring.”",BIC BRUSSELS,,
1526,2021-08-21,"[1519, 1495, 1490]",“Exceptional solidarity”: #StopHatePropaganda reaches 88 million in support of Iran’s Bahá’ís,"BIC NEW YORK — The #StopHatePropaganda campaign calling on Iran’s government to end more than 40 years of government-sponsored hate speech against the country’s Bahá’ís has drawn unprecedented support from a global coalition of government officials, leaders of thought, civil society organizations, activists, religious leaders, artists, prominent Iranians, and many others, reaching over 88 million people as it trended around the world.
The Bahá’í International Community (BIC) tracked more than 42,000 posts on online platforms calling on Iran to end the persecution of the country’s Bahá’ís.
“We were moved to see this campaign reach breakthrough levels of support,” said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the BIC to the United Nations. “The international community has long recognized that the Bahá’ís in Iran are an innocent community that is scapegoated and persecuted by the Iranian government for its own purposes. Today the world has stood up against this injustice.”Among those who led the campaign on social media were celebrity actors and comedians Rainn Wilson, Justin Baldoni, Maz Jobrani, Penn Badgley, and Max Amini in the United States, the UK’s soccer legend Gary Lineker, as well as the actors and comedians Omid Djalili, David Baddiel, Rob Brydon, David Walliams, Shappi Khorsandi, and Janey Godley, former Australian soccer player Craig Foster, the Australian hip hop artist Maya Jupiter, and parliamentarians including Australian Senator Janet Rice, MP Kevin Andrews, the Mayor of Dubbo Stephen Lawrence, the UK members of parliament Jess Philips and Alistair Carmichael, the Canadian MPs Judy Sgro, Kerry Diotte and Cathay Wagantall, and hundreds of other civil society leaders and public figures in dozens of countries who were among those leading the campaign on social media.  Writing in Newsweek, a former Canadian minister of justice and attorney general, Irwin Cotler, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for the freedom of religion and belief, Ahmed Shaheed, and the Director of Policy and Projects at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre, Brandon Silver, criticized the “apartheid-like system of unjust imprisonments and dispossession of [Bahá’ís] in Iran … Hate tears at the seams of society, and is a catalyst for crisis and conflict, a natural progression toward mass atrocity.”
United States Senator Ben Cardin said, “I am very concerned about a recent rise of hate propaganda directed by government-run media platforms against the Bahá’í community of Iran,” adding that a Senate resolution had been passed condemning “the Iranian government’s state-sponsored persecution of its Bahá’í minority.”The Member of European Parliament, Cornelia Ernst, who serves as Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Iran, said the Bahá’ís in Iran are “oppressed and harassed from cradle to grave … in all areas of life.”
India’s Colonel Dr. Divakaran Padma Kumar Pillay, a decorated former Army officer, said that his country had the “largest population of Bahá’ís in the world” and that he “[urged] the Iranian authorities and the people of Iran … to stop the hate speech and false propaganda against the Bahá’í community.”
A Brazilian Member of Parliament, Erika Kokay, said on Twitter that Iran’s government “must guarantee” human rights. “Crimes against humanity start with words,” she added, “and we cannot let history repeat itself with the Bahá’ís.  Growing support for the rights of the Bahá’ís within Iran and in the Iranian diaspora was also a distinctive feature of the campaign. Activists and media personalities—including one highly visible human rights worker currently in Iran, Narges Mohammadi—helped to spread the campaign among Persian speakers online.
Other supporters in the Iranian diaspora included activists Masih Alinejad, Ladan Boroumand, and Azadeh Pourzand, actor Mahnaz Afshar, broadcaster Sina Valiollah, academics including Abbas Milani and Ammar Maleki, and the journalist Golnaz Esfandiari.
The Stanford historian Professor Abbas Milani welcomed the fact that the campaign has contributed to the fall of the “terrible wall of silence” regarding the historic injustice and violence suffered by the Bahá’ís in Iran.  The BIC recently launched the campaign “#StopHatePropaganda” following an increase in the scale and sophistication of anti-Bahá’í propaganda in Iran.
Examples of official and semi-official hate speech flagged included a coordinated network of hundreds of websites and social media accounts with content such as “Bahá’ís are unclean and enemies of your religion,” “Associating with Bahá’ís is banned,” “Purchasing any goods from a Bahá’í store is forbidden,” and “The modern ‘Human Rights’ is a big lie.” Millions of Iranians have been reached by such propaganda which has also included doctored and painful images of Bahá’ís and the founders of the Faith.  “We are grateful for the exceptional solidarity that the world has shown for the Bahá’ís in Iran,” said Ms. Dugal, Principal Representative of the BIC to the United Nations. “And by supporting the #StopHatePropaganda campaign this array of luminaries and activists have said, in a single voice, that Iran’s government must stop spreading hatred against the Bahá’ís and all other minorities in their country and start respecting the rights of all its citizens.”
The persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran is widely documented in the website, Archives of Persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1527,2021-08-24,"[1498, 1426, 1263]",A movement of youth in New Zealand inspires socially conscious music,"AUCKLAND, New Zealand — In the Manurewa neighborhood of Auckland, New Zealand, some youth are turning to music to cast light on issues that have come to the fore during the pandemic, while providing a positive outlook based on their experiences in Bahá’í community-building efforts.
“Music is a really big part of young people’s lives here in our neighborhood,” says Jeffrey Sabour, one of the facilitators of the community-building activities. “Over 1,000 people in Manurewa are a part of this movement that contributes to social change, so we began by asking ‘how can we extend insights from these efforts to even more people through music?’ And ‘how can we write about profound ideas in a way where people can relate to the story of the song?’”
In a song titled “We Are All Connected,” the youth call attention to how the pandemic has highlighted the human capacity for recognizing oneness. The song uses the metaphor of the human body to describe the interdependence of humanity, with a line that reads: “Every man for himself is the assumption, but a cell on its own cannot function.”
Manurewa Arts Project · We Are All Connected - Manurewa Arts ProjectFia Sakopo, another youth from Manurewa, explains that service to society has been the underlying theme in all the songs, stating: “Accepting the oneness and interconnectedness of humankind requires a profound change in our thinking. But noble thoughts in themselves aren’t enough.
“They need to be translated into action. Selfless service to our fellow human beings is a natural expression of the belief in the oneness of humanity. This truth has to be constantly shown through deeds.”  Photographs taken before the current health crisis. Participants in educational initiatives offered by the Bahá’ís of Manurewa learning about unity and co-operation through a group activity.Jeffrey describes how these songs are intended to inspire action by relating spiritual concepts to issues facing their own social reality, providing a refreshing contrast to a sea of music marketed to youth that tends to convey a tone of hopelessness and focusses on, for example, heartbreak or the pursuit of material satisfactions.“The youth of Manurewa engaged in this process are very conscious of the challenges of their society, and they want to impart the same sense of hope they have cultivated in their community-building activities through songs that deal with themes such as collective solidarity, the pursuit of knowledge and education, and the material and spiritual dimensions of true prosperity.”  Photographs taken before the current health crisis. A group of youth from Manurewa and other parts of New Zealand at a youth conference in Auckland moments before a group photo was taken. The conference provided participants with an opportunity to consult about the needs of their communities and to make plans of action for the betterment of their society.Fia elaborates further, describing the approach to creating these songs: “Many people from the neighborhood are exploring these and many other concepts together as they take action. Along the way, we ask questions to draw out insights, then have more discussions, and eventually try to come up with a song that speaks to people’s concerns.
“When people hear these songs, they hear their voice in them.”
Music created as part of the “Manurewa Arts Project” can be found here.",AUCKLAND,,New Zealand
1528,2021-08-27,"[1456, 1318, 1318]",“Through the lens of human dignity”: BIC looks at media’s role in fostering unity,"BIC NEW YORK — A group of journalists recently were brought together by the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) to explore how the work of media organizations and practitioners can lead to constructive or divisive outcomes, and to consider the role media can play in contributing to the progress of society.
In the opening remarks, Saleem Vaillancourt, the moderator of the event, stated: “The stories we tell shape the world we live in.
“The media can contribute to creating consensus, building unity, generating knowledge and shared understandings, and in doing so, it can help people find lasting and effective solutions to the problems they face.”
Mr. Vaillancourt quoted a passage from the Bahá’í writings about the function of media in the advancement of civilization: “The pages of swiftly-appearing newspapers… reflect the deeds and the pursuits of diverse peoples. … They are a mirror endowed with hearing, sight and speech. This is an amazing and potent phenomenon. However, it behooveth the writers thereof to be purged from the promptings of evil passions and desires and to be attired with the raiment of justice and equity.”  Four of the participants in the discussion titled “The Media, the Narrative, the People & their Leaders” organized by the BIC. Clockwise:  Saleem Vaillancourt, a representative of BIC; Temily Tianmay, an academic and journalist from Malaysia; Nwandi Lawson, a former journalist with CNN; and Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist for The Atlantic magazine.Participants examined these concepts in the context of different social settings. Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist for The Atlantic magazine, explained how journalism that highlights communities’ attempts to overcome challenges can “help people see and visualize and imagine another way of interacting.
“When people feel there is no hope,” she continued, “they can give up or become cynical. … If you do good journalism around attempts to solve problems, people are much more engaged than by problem journalism alone,” referring to forms of journalism that discuss problems without exploring solutions.
“The solution in the story doesn’t need to have worked,” Ms. Ripley added. “Just the community trying to solve its own problem shows agency. And that engages people across all sorts of demographics.”
The care with which people are viewed and depicted in news stories was explored by Temily Tianmay, an academic and journalist from Malaysia. The evolution of the media, she argued, lies in the ability of journalists and news outlets to promote human dignity.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. The focus of discussion held by Bahá’í Office of External Affairs in Australia has been on how the media can contribute to greater social cohesion.“The lens of human dignity allows us to build unity in new ways,” she said. “If we view every individual as a dignified being and a source of insight—how will we treat not only our sources, but also other journalists who may approach their work very differently from ourselves?”
The role of journalists as protagonists in the betterment of society and the degree to which they are embedded and active in the communities on which they report was also discussed during the gathering.
Nwandi Lawson, a former journalist with CNN, stated: “We have to recognize that [journalists] are social actors. We are part of our society. We have an obligation to search out the truth.”
The discussion, titled “The Media, the Narrative, the People & their Leaders,” was organized by the BIC in light of growing interest about how to release motivation for significant social change—an area of conversation that is also being fostered by Bahá’í Offices of External Affairs in different countries around the world.  Photograph taken before the current health crisis. In Jordan, the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs has been examining the role of journalists in promoting justice.The Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs in the United States has been promoting discussions on how the media can assist a society to transcend polarization on societal issues. Offices in India and the United Kingdom have been stimulating conversations on how the media can cast light on the power of religion to contribute to social progress and, at the same time, constructively report on how religion itself can become more effective at achieving its highest aims. In Jordan, the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs has been examining the role of journalists in promoting justice, and in Australia, the focus has been on how the media can contribute to greater social cohesion.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1529,2021-08-31,"[1523, 1381, 1233]",‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s call for advancement of women inspires DRC conference,"BARAKA, The Democratic Republic Of The Congo  — Over 2,000 women, men, youth, and children from Baraka and the surrounding area recently gathered to explore insights about the advancement of women gained through decades-long efforts of the Bahá’ís of the region aimed at social progress.
The four-day gathering was held in honor of the forthcoming centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing and included officials, a traditional chief of the region, religious leaders, and people of diverse faiths.In comments shared with the News Service, the vice-mayor of Baraka, Emerite Tabisha, states: “Without women, peace cannot be achieved—neither in the family nor in the community, it is impossible. I was therefore moved by the gathering and had never before heard such profound discussions that regard the participation of women as essential in community-building efforts.”
Discussions drew inspiration from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life and work in which He placed great emphasis on the advancement of women, likening the equality of women and men to “the two wings on which the bird of humankind is able to soar…” and highlighting the role of women in promoting a culture of peace.  In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. Participants of the conference arriving from different villages surrounding Baraka.Over the days of the gathering, participants from dozens of villages and neighborhoods explored the relationship between the advancement of women and the building of a prosperous and peaceful society, while planning for an intensification of activities of social action.
Christine Rusia Kiza, a member of the women’s committee of the Bahá’ís of Baraka which organized the conference, states: “The conference stands as a testament to the commitment of the institutions and agencies of the Bahá’ís of Baraka to the spiritual principles of the oneness of humanity and the equality of women and men.”She continues to describe the unifying approach to the gathering, stating: “Many women and men offered thoughtful talks on gender equality and service to society. Young participants also contributed their perspectives and greatly enhanced the vibrancy and joyful spirit of the gathering. Local choirs from diverse faith communities added to the spiritual atmosphere with songs composed specifically on the discussion themes.”
Vice-mayor Tabisha expressed her appreciation for the gathering, stating: “I am very involved in the women's movement, and still learned many lessons from the conversations.
She adds: “Had the Bahá’í principles promoting peace and the status of the woman been integrated sooner in the moral life of our society we would have already achieved full equality.”  In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. The members of the Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly visiting the vice-mayor of Baraka, Emerite Tabisha (standing third from right).",BARAKA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1530,2021-09-05,"[1515, 1373, 1414]",“United in its embrace”: Chiefs in Vanuatu reflect on temple’s unifying role,"TANNA, Vanuatu — Chiefs and local leaders recently spoke with the News Service about their mounting anticipation for the completion of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Tanna, Vanuatu, conveying feelings of joy and a strong sense of hope for the unifying role of the temple in their society.
“Let it construct another temple in your heart,” said Chief Sam Suli Usamoli from Bethel village, West Tanna, in his comments about the House of Worship.
“Upon its completion, we should enter the House of Worship and let the words chanted within it sink deep into our hearts. … Then will conflicting views be greatly reduced as people of diverse beliefs come together with unity of thought to consult about their future.”  Following the completion of the steel structure, the roof and ceiling timber framing were installed, providing additional strength to the central edifice and the framework for its stainless steel roof. Next, a series of timber battens were installed on top of the folding roof to prepare the central edifice for its ‘natengora’ thatch roofing, made from the leaves of a locally available palm tree.Other comments described how the temple fulfils certain local traditions that point to a day when people will experience greater togetherness.
“The arrival of the temple and the impact it has already had on the island affirm the Tannese tradition that our people, like separate canes, will one day be bound together into one bundle,” said Chief Tom Wapin from Imafin village, North Tanna.
“You can break one cane, but you cannot break a bundle,” he said.
Other comments focussed on the significance of the House of Worship—referred to in the Bahá’í writings as a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, meaning “Dawning-place of the Praise of God”—as a sacred space open to all, a place where prayer and contemplation inspire service to society.  An aerial view of the temple structure at night.“Seeing that diverse groups of people are already praying and serving together gives me hope that people of different faiths will walk as one, and a better life will come,” said Hellen Wap, representative of a local church.
She adds: “When I hear about the Bahá’í concept of unity in diversity it is like a bright glowing light, to which each person will add their own light.”
Chief Lawhva Kowiewi Tabe of the Lowinio tribe, West Tanna, echoed these sentiments, stating: “As chiefs, we strive to assist our people with difficult issues, and the House of Worship will assist us in this. I am extremely happy that all of us chiefs in Tanna will be united in its embrace and even more inspired to serve our society.”  In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. A desire among growing numbers of people to contribute to a culture of peace has found expression through Bahá’í community-building activities, including activities for social action.Referring to the growing consciousness of the principle of the oneness of humanity, Nalau Manakel, member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Vanuatu, stated: “Ever since the unveiling of the temple’s design in 2017, we have been seeing more and more people who wish to pray together in spaces dedicated to collective worship.”
Joe Nambuan, a local leader from West North Tanna, adds: “Diverse people are beginning to pray together in a way previously unseen. … The Bahá’í House of Worship is a peace maker. It will assist communities to establish and maintain unity.”  In-person gatherings held according to safety measures required by the government. Young people engaged in Bahá’í educational initiatives that build capacity for service to society.Elody Nalawas, member of a Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly in Tanna, elaborates further, explaining how the desire to contribute to a culture of peace is also being fostered through Bahá’í educational programs that build capacity for service to society.
“People of all backgrounds, inspired by the temple, express the wish to serve their communities but ask ‘how shall we do it?’
“By participating in Bahá’í educational initiatives, they develop their capacity to contribute to, for example, the moral education of youth and children. Many are undertaking activities for social action, such as agricultural initiatives concerned with food security. Such efforts allow different people to come together, consult, and work collectively to address different social issues in their communities.”
With steady progress in the construction of the local House of Worship, recent milestones include the completion of the steel structure of the central edifice, its roof, and installation of the ceiling timber framing. Interior clad ceiling panels have also begun to be set in place.  An aerial view of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Tanna.",TANNA,,Vanuatu
1531,2021-09-10,[1517],"Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Plaza walls completed, trellis construction begins","BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Work on the plaza walls of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been completed, marking a new stage of the construction, and the complex process of building the intricate trellis that will span the central plaza has begun.
Once finished, the trellis will connect the main edifice to the surrounding berms. The current stage of the process includes placing the first of many precisely prepared blocks of expanded polystyrene that will make up the formwork for the trellis.
As the project presses on, Bahá’í communities around the world are preparing to commemorate the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing in November and reflecting on His extraordinary qualities of character and exemplary life of service to humanity.
Recent developments on the site are featured in the images that follow.This image shows the last stages of the construction of the segments connecting the walls of the central plaza to the north and south portal walls.A close-up view of the wall segments at an earlier stage connecting the walls of the central, north, and south plazas.Seen here are the completed walls on the east and west sides of the Shrine, which now stretch continuously from one end of site to the other.Workers are preparing blocks of expanded polystyrene in precise shapes and sizes to create the formwork for the intricate design of the trellis.Once prepared, each block is then meticulously placed on platforms over the central plaza.This aerial view shows the emerging pattern of trellis and skylights that will stretch out from the main edifice.Elsewhere on the site, work on the path encircling the Shrine is progressing with two-thirds of its concrete base already completed.In the south plaza, construction of garden paths and planters has begun.Before the concrete base of the south plaza can be built, “void former” blocks need to be fitted to separate the concrete platform from the soil.Work has also progressed on the cascading planters in the north plaza.An aerial view of the site from the northeast.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1532,2021-09-14,"[1525, 1471, 1018]",Malaysia: Promoting unity in a land of great diversity,"KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — In Malaysia, where cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity are cherished ideals, the national conversation about how to foster greater social cohesion has increasingly become focused on the responsibilities of social institutions and government, especially during the pandemic. There has, however, been far less discussion on how all segments of society can contribute to building unity.
This observation by the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of Malaysia is the motivation behind a discussion series titled “Protagonists of Unity” that is bringing together academics, civil society organizations, and representatives of the country’s faith communities to explore the deeper implications of unity and the principle of the oneness of humanity.
“We have to acknowledge that unity must become a pursuit for all and that everyone can contribute to the progress of our country,” said Vidyakaran Subramaniam of the Office of External Affairs.
He adds: “Individuals, communities, and social institutions each have a role to play, and building unity depends on how well these three protagonists of change work together toward this aim.”  Founders and directors of different organizations reflecting on the role of civil society organizations in fostering unity at a discussion series held by the Malaysian Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.At a recent gathering on the role of dialogue in building a more cohesive society, participants examined the Bahá’í principle of consultation. “Many conversations in the public sphere often take the form of a debate—different groups present their views, and these views are assumed to be in conflict with each other. This form of interaction does little to build consensus and promote unity,” said Dylane Ho, another member of the Office of External Affairs.
“In order to build common understanding,” she continued, “trust is needed. Trust is built when a safe discussion space is created, one that is imbued with a sense of respect for all and where people speak with courtesy and listen to others in a posture of humility with an open mind. When we approach conversations this way, people from diverse backgrounds with seemingly different objectives are able to find points of common agreement and transcend differences.”
Attendees at another gathering, which largely included founders and directors of different organizations, reflected on the role of civil society organizations in contributing to greater unity.  One of the aims of the educational initiatives of the Bahá’ís of Malaysia is to build capacity for service to society and to foster greater degrees of unity among diverse groups of people.A common theme that emerged was the need for the conviction in the nobility of human beings. Norani Abu Bakar, founder of Blue Ribbon Global, stated: “We have to remember that each person has a great deal to offer. We have to trust that there is goodness in everyone. When we believe in this, we can overcome many fears and barriers to unity, especially the fear of others.”
Other discussions in the series have examined the need to reconceptualize the institution of the family based on the principle of equality between women and men, specifically looking at collective decision-making.
“The way we learn to resolve conflict starts within the family,” said Anjli Doshi, Former Deputy Director General (Policy) of the National Population and Family Development Board.
Dr. Doshi continued to explain how the ability to resolve conflict, when nurtured within the family, can find expression through efforts directed toward the common good. “We need to see everyone as a human being and help each other, and not only be concerned with the well-being of the people of our own ethnicity,” she said.
Future gatherings will look at the roles of the media and religion in fostering unity. Once the series concludes, the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs aims to distill the insights and experiences from the discussions into a publication as a contribution to the discourse on societal unity.",KUALA LUMPUR,,Malaysia
1533,2021-09-17,"[1510, 1472, 1276]",Newly launched “Discourse TV” in Azerbaijan explores pressing social issues,"BAKU, Azerbaijan — A new video discussion program that explores issues of national concern in Azerbaijan has been launched by the country’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.
Ramazan Asgarli of the Office explains that the program, titled “Discourse TV” is being released on social media platforms as part of the Azerbaijani Bahá’í community’s efforts to contribute to the prevalent discourses of the country.
“Over the years, we have noticed that there are few social spaces that consistently address a topic over an extended period of time. That is why we decided to create a discussion program that keeps revisiting a set of topics, such as the equality of men and women, the role of moral education in building capacity for service to society, the role of the media in society, and harmony between science and religion,” he says.  A recent program exploring the Bahá’í principle of the equality of women and men.Mr. Asgarli continues to explain that social media was selected as the outlet for the video program because many people in Azerbaijan engage in the exchange of ideas online, but these exchanges are fragmented, making it difficult to see the evolution of thought on any given topic.
He adds: “By creating this program, we hope to provide a discussion space for different social actors to delve deeper into issues, so that over time people can see how thinking is expanding.”
In a recent program on the Bahá’í principle of the equality of women and men, Adile Nazar, a poet, expressed her appreciation for the initiative, stating: “Promoting the discourse on equality in online spaces will contribute greatly to strengthening understanding of this important principle. As an admirer of Tahirih (an important figure in early Bahá’í history), the teachings she stood for need to be talked about more and more.”  A behind-the-scenes look at the production of a recent episode of “Discourse TV,” an initiative of the Azerbaijani Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.Fuad Mammadov, president of the National Association of Culture and a guest on an episode on the harmony between science and religion, stated: “This initiative is an important contribution to our society.
“Conversations on these topics are often explored only at the academic level,” continued Dr. Mammadov, “but this program will help to include many more people in these discussions.”
Looking to the future of the program, Mr. Asgarli explains that the Office of External Affairs hopes that this initiative can challenge bleak assumptions about human nature that deny the human capacity for transcending aggression and conflict.
He states: “Many of the messages propagated on the media are designed to appeal to the lower nature of human beings. We hope that the conversations on this program can highlight people’s spiritual nature, and, by doing so, inspire action for the betterment of our society.”
Programs of “Discourse TV” can be viewed on this YouTube channel.",BAKU,,Azerbaijan
1534,2021-09-21,"[1502, 1224, 970]",Youth: River cleanup in Brazil promotes environmental stewardship,"SÃO SEBASTIÃO, Brazil — When a group of youth in São Sebastião, Brazil, in August were exploring how they could clean up a local river littered with trash, they had yet bigger questions in mind.
“If we clean the river, how can we prevent the trash from returning?” asked one of the young people from the Vila do Boa neighborhood.
To answer this question, the youth turned to insights they have been gaining through their participation in Bahá’í educational programs that develop their capacity to analyze social reality, identify the needs of their communities, and serve their society.
“We need to raise awareness of the protection of the environment alongside the cleanup,” said one of the youth from the group.  Different groups of youth from Vila do Boa participating in Bahá’í educational programs that develop their capacity to analyze social reality, identify the needs of their communities, and undertake activities for social action.As conversations among the youth unfolded, they arrived at the conclusion that a newsletter could be an effective way to raise consciousness about the environment and share more broadly insights from local efforts to contribute to the wellbeing of their neighborhood.
Titled Vila do Boa—Só Notícia Boa (meaning Good Village—Good News Only), the name of the newsletter is a play on the term ""boa"", which translates to ""good"".
“There is only bad news in the newspapers, violence and sad things, so the idea came to share positive and good news, providing hope to neighbors and inviting them to participate,” said Marlene, the facilitator of the group, in an interview with the News Service.
Still more challenging questions followed as plans for the cleanup began to take shape. “How will we collect so much trash? And, how will we carry everything, like discarded TV sets and furniture, to the main road for removal?” asked the youth early on.
It did not take long, however, before the youth received an answer to their questions. A municipal official, after hearing about the project from one of the mothers of the youth at an event about water access, offered to meet with the young people to learn more about their initiative.  Youth and the facilitator of their group (left) visiting the office of a municipal official (second from left) to describe the aims of the educational programs offered by the Bahá’ís of Vila do Boa and to share their vision for the improvement of the environment of their neighborhood.The official, inspired by his meeting with the youth, immediately arranged for trucks and workers to assist, and provided the youth with several sign boards that were painted and posted near the river, encouraging people to keep the area free of litter.
In the meantime, the first newsletter was made and delivered to over 120 families in the area. Nicole, one of the youth in the neighborhood, summed up the experience of the conversations with the families, stating: “If we plant good seeds, good things will grow from them.”
On the day of the cleanup, the commitment of the youth to support the initiative inspired the municipal workers to expand their efforts beyond the river to other parts of the neighborhood, resulting in the removal of 12 tons of trash.  Inspired by the commitment of the youth and others who had shown up to support the initiative, Municipal workers expanded their efforts to clean up the area beyond the river to other parts of the neighborhood, resulting in the removal of 12 tons of trash.“It was hard to work in the heat while wearing a mask, but the project created stronger friendships in our neighborhood,” said Esdras, a youth from Vila do Boa.
Gabriel, another young person, described how the Bahá’í educational programs that gave rise to this project have inspired many youth to be of service to their neighborhood over the years. “More and more youth are coming to learn about how they can participate and finding a greater sense of purpose by helping their community. This is how we’re building our lives, through friendship, service, and unity.”
Liese von Czékus Cavalcanti, member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Brazil, elaborates further, describing how these efforts have opened the possibility for closer collaboration between area residents and the municipality to address the different needs of the community and have fostered a collective will for action among neighbors.
“Social transformation requires building unity among individuals, communities, and institutions. The power to effect lasting change is not in opposition and war. It is in unity. This is the power of transformation.”  Youth across Brazil who are engaged in Bahá’í educational programs undertaking different activities of social action for the well-being of their communities.",SÃO SEBASTIÃO,,Brazil
1535,2021-09-24,"[1444, 1320, 1486]",New study explores the application of spiritual principles to community life,"INDORE, India — A new research paper jointly released by the Bahá’í Chair for Studies in Development at Devi Ahilya University in Indore, India, and the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP) explores how communities draw on principles, such as the oneness of humankind and humanity’s interconnectedness with nature, in their efforts to contribute toward the common good.
The paper, titled Hope and Resilience: The Application of Spiritual Principles to Community Life, focuses on the creation of strong networks of social support in the management of water-related challenges within the context of urban informal settlements and is part of a series of research publications by ISGP called Occasional Papers on Insights from Practice.
This series of publications examines patterns that emerge as groups, communities, and organizations strive to apply unifying and constructive principles to their everyday lives and activities in their efforts to address the challenges they face and contribute to social progress.
“One of the things that we see today is that many people are deeply committed to spiritual convictions, and that their convictions are a powerful source of motivation for them to lead virtuous lives and to contribute to the betterment of their communities,” says Arash Fazli, Assistant Professor and Head of the Baha’i Chair.
He adds: “This idea is not sufficiently acknowledged in academic literature on development, and, therefore, many social and economic development efforts are not able to draw on these sources of motivation.”
The paper elaborates further, reading in part: “There is growing recognition among many researchers and planners that failure to account for the spiritual, cultural, and religious aspects of human life and society will impede the realization of collective wellbeing and the prosperity of humankind.”
The collaboration between the Chair and ISGP is part of each of their efforts to contribute to the discourse on development.
The Baha’i Chair was established nearly 30 years ago to promote interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the field of development from a perspective that regards human prosperity as an outcome of both material and spiritual progress.
Founded in 1999, ISGP is a non-profit research and educational organization inspired by the Baha’i teachings. One of the purposes of ISGP is to explore, with others, the complementary roles that science and religion—as evolving systems of knowledge and practice—can play in the advancement of civilization, engaging in research on issues relevant to the life of humanity.
The paper is available on the website of ISGP.",INDORE,,India
1536,2021-09-28,"[1294, 1287, 885]",The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: Bahá’í Most Holy Book published in Icelandic,"REYKJAVIK, Iceland — The Kitáb-i-Aqdas has been published in Icelandic for the first time, making available to an entire population Bahá’u’lláh’s Most Holy Book.
“This is the fulfillment of a long-held wish of the Bahá’ís of Iceland,” says Halldór Thorgeirsson, a member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Iceland. “This is a tremendous achievement, which comes at a moment of significant importance—the year leading up to the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing.”
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas is Bahá’u’lláh’s book of laws, first penned in Arabic in about 1873 while He was still imprisoned within the city of ‘Akká.
The Universal House of Justice has written in the introduction to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas: “Of the more than one hundred volumes comprising the sacred Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas is of unique importance. ‘To build anew the whole world’ is the claim and challenge of His Message, and the Kitáb-i-Aqdas is the Charter of the future world civilization that Bahá’u’lláh has come to raise up.”
The first authorized translation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas was published in English in 1992, the year that marked the centenary of the passing of Bahá’u’lláh, followed by translations in other languages over the past three decades.
Geoffrey Pettypiece, who typeset the text and helped prepare the volume for publication, explains how the effort to produce the Icelandic translation was a significant undertaking requiring a dedicated team a year and a half to complete the work.
“Few things are as important to Icelanders as our language,” he says. “This translation maintains accuracy of meaning while utilizing the elements of poetry, such as rhythm and metaphor.”
Edvard Jónsson, the lead translator of the project, reflects on the significance of the new publication, stating: “The writings of Bahá’u’lláh offer humanity a new kind of language—a language that gives insight into spiritual reality.
“There is a profound effect on the heart when the Word of God is available in one’s native tongue. It is like being drawn into an ocean, filled with new forms of expression and concepts. There has not been anything like it in Icelandic literature throughout the ages.”",REYKJAVIK,,Iceland
1537,2021-10-01,"[1513, 1430, 1371]","BIC Addis Ababa: Climate action requires insights of science and religion, says BIC","ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The Addis Ababa Office of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) recently brought together scientists, representatives of faith communities, and civil society organizations to explore how the insights of science and religion can inform discussions about climate change.
“Ultimately, at the heart of the environmental crisis is a spiritual crisis,” says Solomon Belay of the Addis Ababa Office.
Dr. Belay continues to explain that despite the increasing focus on the discourse about the environment, particularly in the lead-up to the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference—also known as COP 26—in November, there are few discussion spaces that are specifically looking at how both science and religion can guide an effective response to the environmental crisis.  Panelists at the gathering, titled “The nexus between climate change, faith, and science”, which was co-hosted by Addis Ababa Office of the Bahá’í International Community.He adds: “We are all custodians of the environment, every person, institution, and nation. The scale of the problem requires united action that is informed by the best available scientific evidence and grounded in spiritual principles, such as justice and the oneness of humankind.”
The gathering is part of the efforts of the Addis Ababa Office to contribute to the discourse on the environment and was co-hosted with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the United Religions Initiative (URI).
Panelists discussed how solutions to the environmental crisis cannot be found solely in any one system of society. “Science by itself is not enough, nor are economic solutions alone sufficient,” said Francesca de Gasparis, member of the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), at the gathering.
“Faith has a very important role to play,” she continued, “because it is the connection to hearts and minds and has the power to inspire constructive action.”  Solomon Belay of the BIC Addis Ababa Office (second from left) with representatives of religious and civil society organizations at an event on World Environment Day in June.Atieno Mboya, a representative of the Addis Ababa Office, described how religion can be a force for creating new patterns of individual and collective life, stating: “One of the challenges of the extremes of wealth and poverty is that those suffering the most from the impact of climate change are also the ones suffering from the inequitable distribution of resources.”
She continued: “Our economic models need to be revisited in light of spiritual principles offered by religion, such as the oneness of humanity, to ensure the wellbeing of the planet and all people.”
Arthur Dahl, an environmental scientist and president of the International Environment Forum, highlighted the Bahá’í principle of the harmony of science and religion as essential to discussions on climate justice and social progress. “The deepening environmental crisis is being driven by a growing consumer culture and a narrow view for short-term material gain.”
“The preservation of the environment requires not only new technologies,” he continued, “but also a new consciousness about ourselves and our place in the world. This is what we’re up against, a complete reconceptualization of our relationship with nature and the relationships that sustain society.”
Following this gathering, titled “The nexus between climate change, faith, and science,” the Addis Ababa Office plans to continue exploring related themes with diverse social actors, scientists, and faith communities—particularly in relation to issues, such as agriculture, rural sustainability, and migration, within the social reality of African countries.",ADDIS ABABA,,Ethiopia
1538,2021-10-05,"[1513, 1486, 1445]",Agriculture: BIC underscores role of farmers in policymaking,"BIC GENEVA — How is it that despite sufficient quantities of food being produced to feed the entire global population each year, food systems fall short of providing food security for all of humanity?
To examine this question, the Geneva Office of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) hosted a discussion during the United Nations global Food Systems Summit—the first major food summit since 1996 aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The event specifically looked at the need to put farmers at the heart of discussions on food production and included the Deputy to the UN Special Envoy for the UN Food Systems Summit, the Secretary of the Committee on World Food Security, the Director for Knowledge Management and Learning at CARE International, representatives from the United Nations Development Programme, as well as Bahá’í-inspired organizations with related experience.
“Growing evidence suggests that improvements in rural productive sectors depend heavily on farmers and people engaged in local agriculture—something that has become ever more apparent during the pandemic,” said Simin Fahandej, a representative of the Geneva Office, at the gathering.  Participants of the BIC gathering included the Deputy to the UN Special Envoy for the UN Food Systems Summit, the Secretary of the Committee on World Food Security, the Director for Knowledge Management and Learning at CARE International, representatives from the United Nations Development Programme, as well as Bahá’í-inspired organizations with related experience.She added: “Yet, their voice and experience are largely missing from high-level conversations on food systems and policy-making processes.
“The bulk of decisions on agricultural policy and food security are typically made far from the rural settings and local realities that shape how policies will be implemented in practice.”
Drawing on the Bahá’í teachings, Ms. Fahandej continued to explain that, in order to achieve change, new conceptions of the role of farmers in society are needed. “Imagine what new possibilities can emerge if we embrace farmers as ‘the first active agent in human society’ and allow questions regarding the economic development of communities to begin with the farmer?”
On this basis, panelists explored how knowledge generated at the local level about food production by farmers and communities can inform international policies on food and agriculture.
Ever Rivera, a representative of the Bahá’í-inspired organization FUNDAEC with extensive experience in the fields of education and agriculture, described how narrow and limited conceptions need to be replaced with a more profound understanding of human nature that sees the nobility of every human being and protects each one against prejudice and paternalism.  People engaged in different agricultural initiatives of Bahá’í communities in different countries.Mr. Rivera elaborated further, describing FUNDAEC’s approach to developing capacity in people to contribute to the well-being of their societies, particularly in supporting initiatives aimed at food self-sufficiency.
“FUNDAEC promotes approaches that draw on the profound traditional knowledge of farmers and on the best practices of modern science, enabling farmers to enhance food production processes and to develop community structures and new systems that support collective well-being.
“These include the establishment of small groups of farmers who collaborate and support one another, the development of a village storehouse accessible to all, and changes in agricultural practices and in the distribution of produce to eliminate unnecessary intermediaries in bringing agricultural products to market.”
Discussions at the gathering also addressed the harmful impact of certain major challenges of environmental degradation, such as soil erosion, large-scale deforestation, and water shortages. Dr. Martin Frick, the Deputy to the Special Envoy for the UN Food Systems Summit, stated that “all of these wrongs can be righted, with no other means more effective than through food systems. And you will only achieve that by addressing issues of human dignity… and power imbalances.”
The Geneva Office of the BIC plans to release a statement on themes related to agriculture and food security as it continues to hold gatherings exploring these issues.",BIC GENEVA,,
1539,2021-10-08,"[1528, 1420, 1318]",Kazakhstan: Journalists explore media’s role in promoting societal unity,"NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan — Concerned with the societal challenges that have become ever more apparent during the pandemic, an increasing number of journalists in Kazakhstan are asking searching questions about how the media can contribute to social progress.
In response to this growing interest, the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of that country has been bringing together journalists for profound discussions on the ethical and moral dimensions of journalism within the broader context of creating a more cohesive society.
“How do we see our society? If we want to see it unified, then let us envision media’s role as a constructive force with the ability to contribute to unity,” says Lyazzat Yangaliyeva, the Director of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs.  Attendees of various gatherings of journalists and other social actors hosted by the Office of External Affairs.She added: “Journalists can contribute greatly to the transformation of society, but a new conception of human nature is needed—one that sees the nobility of every human being.”
Participants at the gathering examined how a tendency to overlook or dismiss the spiritual nature of human beings can lead to the commonly held view that people favor sensationalism over accuracy, a view that places responsibility for what is published on audiences rather than producers.
Ilyas Nugumanov, a blogger, challenged this view, speaking about the need for reporting that is grounded in moral principles: “In my experience, many people are drawn to posts that are based on unifying ideas and are more responsive to them than to divisive or emotive stories.
“People are attracted to stories that inspire them to rise above their differences and to love one another.”  A recent discussion about the ethical and moral dimensions of journalism.Attendees also noted that questions about human nature are bound up with spiritual principles that guide journalists in their own personal lives.
“To be a journalist requires constant work on oneself, to be more ethical, to be kinder, to combat prejudice, and to be more respectful toward the people and issues we are covering,” said Danel Khojaeva, editor of the media publication The Steppe.
“This is a question of our common humanity,” she continued, “Being a better journalist is simply to be a better human being.”
The Office of External Affairs has been producing podcast episodes of these discussions, which can be found in the Russian language on this YouTube channel.",NUR-SULTAN,,Kazakhstan
1540,2021-10-12,"[1533, 1462, 1456]",Jordan: Radio series on a coherent life inspires hope and action,"AMMAN, Jordan — When at the start of the pandemic the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of Jordan initiated a discussion series among journalists and social actors about the media as a force for progress, the participants had not anticipated that an outcome of their conversations would be a new radio show providing a public forum for the exploration of how to lead a coherent life and be a source of social good.
The eight-week series of shows, which has now concluded, was produced by Radio Al-Balad in collaboration with the Office of External Affairs.
“We sought to bring hope and faith at a time when the global health crisis has intensified psychological pressures,” says Taghreed Al-Doghmi, an anchor at Radio Al-Balad.
“The show provided listeners from many different backgrounds an opportunity to reflect on the harmony between the spiritual and material dimensions of human life and to feel that, no matter how difficult things are at the present time, there is hope for the future.”  A weekly radio show on leading a coherent life emerged from a discussion series initiated by the Bahá’ís of Jordan among journalists and social actors exploring themes related to material and spiritual prosperity.The radio program, titled “Body and Soul,” reached a wide audience and was well received, stimulating thoughtful conversations among listeners.
“This show helps you explore profound concepts and high aspirations that are largely absent from radio programs,” said a listener during a call-in segment of the program.
“It has the potential to produce a moment of collective societal awareness,” she continued, “and helps us to ponder on important principles for our lives, such as serving the common good, justice, and compassion.”
Tahani Ruhi of the Office of External Affairs attributes the uplifting and captivating atmosphere of the radio show to the many insightful conversations among the members of the Office and journalists that led up to the broadcasts, as well as the strong bonds of friendship that formed among them.  One of many discussions among journalists, social actors, and the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs in Jordan on how the media can promote the oneness of humankind.“We all became good friends over the course of the last year,” she says. “This gave the show its friendly and inviting spirit. The program was a reflection of the process that led to it.”
Mrs. Ruhi continues, explaining that the topics for the show were inspired by the themes that had been examined at earlier discussion gatherings, including the role of religion and media in fostering hope; overcoming divisiveness and promoting togetherness on social media; the importance of collective prayer among diverse people in creating solidarity; the concept of selflessness when serving society; the role of youth in serving their communities during the pandemic; and, the place of the arts in society.
Given the overwhelmingly positive response to the program, Radio Al-Balad and the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs are now preparing a new series titled “The Cycle of Life,” which will explore the higher purpose of life from childhood through adulthood.",AMMAN,,Jordan
1541,2021-10-16,"[1544, 1426, 1529]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: Artistic works mark historic occasion,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Preparations for worldwide commemorations of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing in November are giving rise to an outpouring of artistic expressions inspired by His life and work as a herald of peace, a champion of social justice, and upholder of the principle of the oneness of humanity.
Through music, animation, painting, theatre, storytelling, poetry, and other art forms, people in virtually every part of the world are exploring spiritual concepts addressed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His talks and writings on such themes as the elimination of prejudice, the equality of women and men, universal peace, and selfless service to humanity.
The following is but a sampling of the countless artistic works that are being created throughout the world in honor of a figure with a distinct station.An artist from Ethiopia created these two collages from intricate paper cutouts of different colors based on the design concept of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (left) and the Shrine of the Báb (right).This painting by an artist from Canada depicts a view of ‘Akká, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá lived for four decades. He arrived in that city as a prisoner and an exile alongside His Father, Bahá’u’lláh. Despite the many tragedies and adversities He suffered there, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made ‘Akká His home and dedicated Himself to serving the people of that city, especially its poor. In time, He came to be known and revered throughout the region.

This song was created by a musician from Cameroon who has put to music a prayer composed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The prayer reads, in part, “O Thou forgiving Lord! Thou art the shelter of all these Thy servants. Thou knowest the secrets and art aware of all things. We are all helpless, and Thou art the Mighty, the Omnipotent.”In His writings, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has made reference to the important role of the indigenous peoples of the world in contributing to the advancement of civilization. This piece by an indigenous artist from the United States brings together traditional indigenous art and the Baháʼí ringstone symbol, which symbolizes the relationship between humanity and God through His Manifestations.Participants of Bahá’í community-building activities in Stavanger, Norway, have been exploring different aspects of the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá through the arts. They are seen here making a paper tree for an upcoming play.After reflecting on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s promotion of the Bahá’í principle of universal education, an artist from the United Kingdom created this triptych inspired by the following passage quoted from the Bahá’í writings: “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures…”

This recording of a choir in Samoa features quotations from Bahá’u’lláh’s Hidden Words: 
O SON OF MAN! Deny not My servant should he ask anything from thee, for his face is My face; be then abashed before Me.
O SON OF LIGHT! Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of the essence of My command, therefore turn unto it.
O SON OF MAN! Put thy hand into My bosom, that I may rise above thee, radiant and resplendent.
O SON OF MAN! The temple of being is My throne; cleanse it of all things, that there I may be established and there I may abide.In Switzerland, participants of Bahá’í community-building activities drew on their diverse cultural backgrounds to create this quilt featuring metaphors inspired by the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The quilt was gifted to their local community center.These two ceramic compositions were made by an artist in Kazakhstan depicting imagery from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on universal peace.



The Nyota Ya Alfajiri Choir (Morning Star Choir), comprising youth in Kakuma, northern Kenya, has composed this song about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His unique station in Bahá’í history.An artist from Kazakhstan created this pen drawing after reflecting on imagery from this prayer composed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.In the Netherlands, a stamp has been designed for the centenary that features a view of the design concept of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.Musicians from different countries collaborated on a song, titled “Be the Light,” which was inspired by the following quotation from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings: “Divine education is that of the Kingdom of God: it consists in acquiring divine perfections, and this is true education.”An artist in Singapore created this painting after reflecting on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s resilience and perseverance in the face of the great difficulties He endured during His lifetime.



An animation titled “Through Their Eyes,” produced in the United States, presents commentary from notable historical figures who were admirers of the Bahá’í Faith, including Leo Tolstoy, Kahlil Gibran, and Yone Noguchi.



In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, several musicians have recorded a song about the extraordinary qualities of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s character and His service to humanity.An artist from Romania created this illustration of the room in the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá in ‘Akká where a series of table talks were given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá between 1904 and 1906 in response to questions posed by Laura Dreyfus-Barney, an American Bahá’í resident in Paris. The transcriptions of the talks were later published as the book Some Answered Questions.A group of children in Australia created these origami pieces after reading a story about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in which He sells an expensive coat that He had received in order to buy more coats for those in need.An artist from Canada has prepared paper cards, each containing a prayer composed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The prayer cards are illuminated by paintings of flowers inspired by the imagery of the natural world found in these prayers, including the following: “They have bloomed like sweet blossoms and are filled with joy like the laughing rose. Wherefore, O Thou loving Provider, graciously assist these holy souls by Thy heavenly grace which is vouchsafed from Thy Kingdom…”An artist in Tunisia created these watercolor paintings based on the design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.This painting by an artist in India evokes profound metaphors from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings on the equality of women and men.



This song was created by a group of musicians in Singapore who put to music passages from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.Participants of Bahá’í community-building activities in South Africa created these artistic pieces, which were inspire by stories from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life on the themes of selfless service to humanity and love.



The Bahá’í community of Colombia has produced four songs about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s call for selfless service to humanity.



This is one of several videos in which children and youth in Colombia share stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s service to humanity.



An animation from Armenia puts to music the following prayer composed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “O God, guide me, protect me, make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.”An artist in Canada has produced a series of illustrations of significant places associated with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The top-left image depicts the design concept of His Shrine, the top-right image is of the Mansion of Bahjí, and the bottom image is of the House of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Haifa.Different artists in Iran created these calligraphic works inspired by prayers and writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.



This animation is one of several that have been created in Iran, incorporating passages from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá about the spiritual dimension of life.



Youth from Timor-Leste have composed this song about selfless service to humanity.



This is one of several songs created by musicians in Iran about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The songs address themes such as joy and spiritual upliftment, nearness to God, and peace.This abstract painting from the Netherlands was inspired by a hopeful vision of the future as found in the Bahá'í teachings.A musician in Macau has released this song about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s unique station in Bahá’í history.A musician from Ireland and a composer from Singapore have produced an album that sets passages from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to music. The album cover has been created by an artist in Spain.This illustration is part of a set of pen drawings by an artist from Chile that depict places associated with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This drawing is of the entrance to the Maxwell residence in Montreal, Canada, where He gave talks to public audiences during his ten-day visit to that city in 1912. His talks on themes such as the oneness of religion, the elimination of prejudice, and economic inequality were widely covered by English- and French-language newspapers.



This animated video created by the Bahá’í community of Italy puts to music a prayer composed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which reads, in part, “O God! Educate these children. These children are the plants of Thine orchard, the flowers of Thy meadow, the roses of Thy garden.”This art exhibit in Germany invites reflection on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words of love, unity, and harmony. Framed quotations from His writings are set among artworks they have inspired.



In this video, members of India’s Bahá’í community share stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s love for all people.



In this video, participants of community-building activities in a neighborhood of Brisbane, Australia, perform songs about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.This painting by an artist in Peru uses light as a metaphor for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s call for unity.



This is a recording of songs performed at a gathering in the Klostergården neighborhood of Lund, Sweden, by participants engaged in community-building activities.

This song, titled “Storm,” was composed by people across the United States and touches on various themes, including navigating the challenging times that humanity is facing through service to society.This digital artwork, created by an artist in the United States, is inspired by the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the equality of women and men, in which He likens humanity to a bird with two wings.These cards were prepared by an artist in Fukushima, Japan, featuring passages from a series of public talks given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris on different themes, such as the role of religion in promoting unity and the true purpose of life.Participants in community-building activities in South Africa have created clay cutouts of various shapes and sizes that will be arranged together to form a nine-pointed star, a symbol of the Bahá’í Faith. The number nine represents unity and perfection.



Musicians in Baku, Azerbaijan, have written this song about service to society with lyrics in Azerbaijani, Turkish, Russian, Persian, and English. This song is also inspired by the historic ties of the city of Baku with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The early development of the Bahá’í community of Baku was fostered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.An artist from the United Kingdom created these paintings after reflecting on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s statement “The more often the captain of a ship is in the tempest and difficult sailing the greater his knowledge becomes.”



While in lockdown, a family in Romania recorded a dramatic presentation of key events from the first days of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Europe in 1911. The play, featured in this video, depicts some of the people who met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá recalling the transformative effect that these encounters had on them.After reflecting on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s love for the indigenous peoples of the world and on the passage from the Bahá’í writings which states that all people are “the flowers of one garden,” an indigenous artist in Canada collaborated with a seamstress and dozens of other people to create embroidery featuring traditional indigenous beadwork.These illustrations for children by an artist in Spain explore concepts from the Bahá’í teachings about education, drawing on the following statement from Bahá’u’lláh: “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.”



This video features a choir from Goodenough Island, Papua New Guinea, performing songs about the Bahá’í House of Worship that is currently being constructed in Port Moresby.This mandala was embroidered by a Bolivian artist who was inspired by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s immense love for all of humanity.



A mezzo-soprano and tenor duo in Russia put to music, in an operatic style, a prayer composed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The prayer reads, “O God, guide me, protect me, make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.”This pen drawing by an artist from New Zealand is among several others that will be included in an upcoming publication, titled “Meditations on Some Answered Questions,” in honor of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing.More songs produced in honor of the centenary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá can be found on this playlist.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1542,2021-10-19,"[1529, 1523, 1474]","Gender equality: Change begins in the family, say Bahá’ís of South Africa","JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The pandemic has awakened many societies to the possibilities for progress when people, inspired by noble ideals, come together to address inequities, such as racial divides, economic hardship, access to education and healthcare, and the rights of marginalized populations.
At the same time, the global health crisis has compounded many existing problems, chief among them violence against women, described by the United Nations as the “shadow pandemic.” In South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa drew national attention to that issue in an open letter just weeks after the first nationwide lockdown in March 2020.
As part of its efforts to contribute to this national conversation, the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of South Africa is highlighting the role of the family in promoting gender equality through a series of discussions with government officials, civil society actors, and academics.
“The equality of women and men is not only an ideal to be realized in society, it is a truth about human nature. As members of the human race we all have a shared identity, a soul which has no gender,” said Mlingane Poswayo of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs at a gathering held last week.
He continued: “The family provides a powerful environment in which consciousness of this truth can be raised and put into action. Therefore, moral education about the equality of women and men from an early age within the family and community is essential.”  The Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of South Africa is bringing together government officials, civil society actors, and academics to explore the Bahá’í principle of the equality of women and men.Bapaletswe Diphoko, founder of Courageous Act Foundation, emphasized the need for moral education, stating: “There is no universal approach to educating young people about gender equality. We therefore rely on culture and social norms to guide us, some of which are outdated.”
Highlighting the importance of cultural change, Tlale Nathane, an academic and social worker, stated: “In the past, women were referred to as inkosikazi, which is a term of respect (in Zulu), and played an important role in the family and community, in leadership and decision making. However, certain attitudes and practices have emerged that have eroded women’s place in society.”
She continued: “I want to see progress in South African families on the basis of the equality of women and men.”Reflecting on the discussions, Shemona Moonilal, a member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa, shares a hopeful outlook based on experiences in Bahá’í educational programs. “In these programs, young girls and boys learn together about spiritual qualities and principles which provide them with opportunities, from the earliest years of their lives, to see each other as equals and to foster a culture of collaboration.”
She adds: “The attitudes and perspectives nurtured in these initiatives also develop in them the capacity for service to society. Young women and men learn to consult together, make decisions, and take unified action for the spiritual and material well-being of their communities.
“What we see is that as more young people participate in this process in neighborhoods and localities throughout the country, expressions of the equality of women and men are becoming more pronounced and the spiritual ties that bind families are becoming stronger.”
The Office of External Affairs plans to hold additional discussions on issues such as the role of men and boys in promoting gender equality.",JOHANNESBURG,,South Africa
1543,2021-10-22,"[1508, 1329, 1541]",Bahá’í World Publication: New essays honoring life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá focus on peace and higher education,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The online publication The Bahá’í World has released two new articles.
“‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Champion of Universal Peace,” explores how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá advanced the cause of peace not only through His engagement with leading thinkers of His time but also through a plan for the spiritualization of the planet.
Another new article, titled “‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Bahá’í Students,” looks at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s contributions to the discourse on education in the Middle East and His guidance of Bahá’í students at the American University of Beirut.
These new articles are part of a series honoring the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing, which will be commemorated by Bahá’í communities worldwide next month.
The Bahá’í World website presents a collection of essays and articles that explore themes of relevance to the progress and well-being of humanity, highlight advancements in the worldwide Bahá’í community at the levels of thought and action, and reflect on the dynamic history of the Bahá’í Faith.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1544,2021-10-29,"[1541, 1536, 1289]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: Publications recall life of extraordinary figure,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Countless people and communities throughout the world are profoundly reflecting on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life of service to humanity as they prepare to commemorate the centenary of His passing this November.
In doing so, they have been inspired to produce a vast number of new publications of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings and talks on themes relevant to the well-being and progress of humanity, including the equality of women and men, the elimination of racial prejudice, the harmony of science and religion, the oneness of religion, and universal peace. Recent weeks have also seen publications of prayers that He composed, historical accounts of His life, and articles about efforts of Bahá’í communities around the world, especially during this special period, to contribute to social transformation.
The above collage provides only a glimpse of the vast number of publications that have been created in recent weeks and months in countries throughout the world to mark this historic occasion.
In Romania, a new translation of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament has been made available. In Indonesia, a prayer book illuminated with paintings of flowers has been published in Bahasa. In Egypt, Haiti, Rwanda, and Turkey, new publications present stories of the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
In Japan, a new collection of essays explores ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s vision of the spiritual future of that country. In Bermuda, Jordan, and the Netherlands, newspaper articles have looked at the contributions of these Bahá’í communities to their societies.
In Brazil, Canada, Oman, Peru, the United Kingdom, and the United States, storybooks for children have been published that acquaint young people with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s extraordinary character and His service to humanity.
Recent months have also seen new selections of the Bahá’í writings made available for the first time in languages including Armenian, Greek, Hindi and 13 other languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent, Italian, Japanese, Kazakh,  Kurdish (both Kurmanji and Sorani), Mongolian, Nepali, Spanish, Tetum, and Tshiluba, to name a few.
New translations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s prayers and talks have also been made into indigenous languages. A booklet of stories about His life has been created in Chilunda and was shared widely among the Lunda people, whose population spans areas of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. In Brazil, a booklet of prayers and writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been produced in Dzubukuá, spoken among the Karirí-Xocó, as part of efforts to revitalize that endangered language. This same booklet will also be made available in Yatê, the language spoken by the Fulniô people of Brazil. In South Africa, stories from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life have been translated into Sepedi and Zulu.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1545,2021-11-03,"[1544, 1541, 1539]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: Films and media productions honor herald of peace,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Recent stories of the News Service have reported on a surge in artistic works and publications in the lead up to worldwide commemorations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing later this month.
As efforts to mark this historic occasion have continued to intensify, this period has also seen the release of many films and documentaries, TV and radio programs, podcasts, and websites that cast light on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life of unremitting service to humanity.
Films and documentaries
Below are some of the films and documentaries that have been produced in honor of this occasion.
In this short film from Bahrain, stories from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are narrated while an artist illustrates parts of the story through sand painting. This film was recorded live at a national event on coexistence, which was held by the Bahá’ís of that country in to mark the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing.

In the United States, a film explores the impact that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words had on the discourse on race in that country. It particularly looks at how His ideas have contributed to the race amity movement. A significant contribution of the Bahá’í community to that movement was a conference it held at the request of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá one hundred years ago last May. In a message to the conference, He stated:
“Say to this convention that never since the beginning of time has one more important been held. This convention stands for the oneness of humanity; it will become the cause of the enlightenment of America. It will, if wisely managed and continued, check the deadly struggle between these races which otherwise will inevitably break out.”A series of short films made in the United Kingdom explores issues of equality between women and men, hope for the future, and the role of young people in contributing to social progress. In each video, children recount different talks given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London during His tour of Europe and North America from 1911 to 1913. Some of these short films are set in places that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited or gave public talks.
In one of His talks while in London, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was asked, “By what process will [peace] on earth be established? Will it come at once after a universal declaration of the Truth?” He responded:
“No, it will come about gradually. A plant that grows too quickly lasts but a short time. … If a family lives in unison, great results are obtained. Widen the circle; when a city lives in intimate accord greater results will follow, and a continent that is fully united will likewise unite all other continents. Then will be the time of the greatest results, for all the inhabitants of the earth belong to one native land.”A behind-the-scenes look at a film being produced in Kyrgyzstan in which people of all ages speak about the impact of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s words on their lives.

This short documentary produced in Turkey provides a brief historical account of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life and explores how His example of selfless service to humanity continues to inspire people, young and old, to action.A film being produced by Bahá’ís from Iran looks at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s tireless efforts to promote spiritual principles, such as unity, oneness, and justice, and His call to all the peoples of the world to apply these principles to humanity’s social progress.

During His ten-day visit to Montreal, Canada, in 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stayed in the home of May and William Sutherland Maxwell for four days where He gave three talks to public audiences on the themes of spiritual education and the human soul. This film recounts the story of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to that city and explains the significance of this home.This documentary produced in the United States explores ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s contributions to the contemporary issues of His time that persist today, such as structural inequities, racial prejudice, and the extremes of wealth and poverty.A series of stories told by different people in Delhi, India, recall moments from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life.TV broadcasts, podcasts, and radio programs
Recent weeks have seen many programs on different broadcast mediums honoring this historic occasion, including the following sampling.
In Mali, representatives of the Bahá’í community gave a nationally televised press conference about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s work as a herald of peace and the efforts of the Malian Bahá’í community to contribute to the well-being of their society. In his opening remarks, the Secretary of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of that country spoke about the important role of religion in contributing to social transformation, quoting the following well-known passage from the Bahá’í writings: 
“Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Daystar of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”In the United Kingdom, an upcoming TV program on the BBC will be tracing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s steps on His visit to London, going to places where He gave public talks, such as the City Temple and the Church of St. John the Divine. (Photo credit: Wei-I Chen)

Inspired by a passage from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which likens women and men to the wings of a bird, the Bahá’ís of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) co-produced a nationally televised program on gender equality.
A series of radio programs in Jamaica have been presenting stories from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, sharing passages from His writings, and exploring the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith.  A soon to be released nine-part podcast series produced in the United States, titled “Ambassador to Humanity,” will look at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s contributions to the prevalent discourses of His time. This series will feature accounts of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s life written by His contemporaries and will include interviews with historians.Two audiobooks of stories for children about moral and spiritual themes have been released in the United Kingdom in honor of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing. These stories describe how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá always sacrificed His own comfort to serve others, promoting love and oneness.
A podcast series being produced in Canada draws on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings and talks on concepts such as equality and justice to explore issues of national concern. The first episode on dialogue and consultation was recently released.A group of friends and neighbors in Switzerland has produced a podcast, titled “Uplifting Conversations,” in which they discuss themes from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talks, such as the harmony between the spiritual and material dimensions of human life and humanity’s need for spiritual, moral, and material education.

In this video released online, a Bahá’í from Yemen chants a prayer composed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.In Oman, a series of video recordings present stories and songs about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life and readings of quotations from His writings.A series of stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá recorded in Kazakhstan aim to inspire in children the desire to serve humanity.This podcast produced by the Bahá’ís of Brazil features stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Episodes are released every nineteen days, each exploring a different spiritual principle.In this podcast from India, stories are shared about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that were previously not available in Hindi and Bengali.A series of podcasts recounting stories from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been created in the Netherlands.
A recent broadcast on national radio in Bahrain honoring the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing invited listeners to “reflect on His great and lofty service to humankind and His efforts to promote love, peace, and oneness throughout the East and the West more than a century ago.”
The announcement continued: “Bahrain is the land of peaceful coexistence among people of all religions, embracing Shia and Sunni Muslims, Bahá’ís, Jews, Christians, and all others.”A radio station operated by the Bahá’ís of the Philippines has been producing programs featuring stories about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá accompanied by songs that put His writings to music. Coloring sheets illustrating the stories have been produced for children to fill while listening to the program.A local radio station in South Africa recently aired an interview with a member of that country’s Bahá’í community about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s contributions toward the betterment of society.In honor of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing, a radio station in Brazil has broadcast a program about the history of the Bahá’í Faith and its teachings about the oneness of religion, among other themes.In Jordan, a short film is being made about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s critical actions to ease suffering during World War I. The film focuses on a visit He made in July 1917 to a farm in the village of ‘Adasíyyih to secure wheat and barley for the famine-stricken ‘Akká-Haifa area.Newly launched websites and microsites
Many Bahá’í communities throughout the world have launched websites, microsites, or new sections on existing national websites to mark the centenary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.A recently launched website in Australia includes a selection of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings and features artistic expressions created in recent weeks by people across that country.The Bahá’ís of France will soon release a microsite about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His visit to Paris in 1911. This site will feature excerpts from His writings, including several quotations about the spiritual future of Paris.
A compilation of talks given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His stay in that city can be found in a book titled Paris Talks.This microsite launched by the Bahá’ís of Canada features articles about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Montreal where His talks were attended by thousands of people from diverse faith communities. The site also makes available prayers composed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, digital booklets of stories for children, and other reading materials.This newly launched website by the Austrian Bahá’í community presents a rich selection of audio-visual materials about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s historic visit to Vienna in 1913, where He met with many people and groups, including the theosophical society.A website titled “Elevate,” produced by the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom, makes available a series of digital booklets of quotations from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings on such themes as service to society, compassion and forgiveness, and the oneness of humanity. These booklets also include questions for group discussion.The Bahá’ís of Turkey have created a microsite containing stories from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and a selection of His works, including talks, prayers, and writings on different spiritual principles.A new section on the national website of the Bahá’ís of Congo explores the unique station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and provides several articles about the efforts of the Bahá’ís of that country to contribute to social transformation.A new section on the national website of the Bahá’ís of the United States features daily posts about how people across that country are marking this occasion.A newly launched website by the Bahá’ís of New Zealand brings together digital booklets, videos, articles, and other materials on the life and work of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The website also shares efforts underway across that country to commemorate this occasion.The Bahá’í community of Spain has produced this new website, featuring articles and other materials that explore ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s efforts toward social progress. This website will soon feature songs that mark the occasion of the centenary of His passing.The national website of the Bahá’ís of Bolivia has a new section featuring stories from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and articles about the different ways that people in that country are undertaking social action in honor of the centenary of His passing.This newly created section of the national website of the Bahá’ís of Russia features a selection of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings and several articles about the history of the Bahá’í Faith.The Bahá’í community of the DRC has created a new section on its national website, which provides news of how Bahá’ís throughout the vast country are marking this occasion.A new section dedicated to the centenary commemoration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing has been added to the national website of the Bahá’ís of Argentina, featuring a selection of prayers and writings by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and a brief history of His life.A new website on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been launched by the Bahá’ís of Italy.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1546,2021-11-05,"[1545, 1520, 1007]",Bahrain: National gathering on coexistence honors ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,"MANAMA, Bahrain — Representing King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa on Saturday expressed his appreciation for a reception held by the Bahá’ís of that country to mark the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing.
“We thank the [Bahá’ís] for bringing us together, alongside our Bahá’í brothers and sisters in all different parts of the world, to celebrate a unique and significant figure Who called for peace and dedicated His life and all His efforts to serving humanity,” said Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence.  Representing King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, is seen here giving his remarks at a gathering on Saturday to mark the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing.The event, which was covered by the official state news agency and other major national news outlets, brought together government officials, academics, journalists, and religious leaders to reflect on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life and His efforts to promote peace and unity.
Abdulnabi Al-Shoala, Chairman of the Board of the Dar Al-Bilad newspaper, stated: “This gathering represents an acknowledgement of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ideas, achievements, and actions, which were all based on the foundations of equality between women and men, love, and coexistence among all people.  Pictured here are representatives of the Bahá’ís of Bahrain, Nuha Karmustaji (left) and Badie Jaberi (center), and Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.“His was a life epitomizing respect and acceptance of all religions, the oneness of God, and the unity of all humankind under one faith,” continued Mr. Al-Shoala, “This was His vision, and this is what everyone dreams of.”
Another attendee, Fawaz Alshurooqi, the Media Director at the Ministry of Education, spoke about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s message as “one that every soul on the planet should support.
“It is a call for unity… and solidarity to solve the challenges and problems of the world. His ideas were ahead of His time.”  An exhibit presented participants with a history of the Bahá’í Faith, descriptions of the contributions ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made to social progress, and His writings on peace and the oneness of humankind.Many participants spoke about the transformative power of principles expounded by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. “This evening we are commemorating the centenary of the passing of a well-known figure throughout the world,” said Sharaf Al-Mezaal, an Assistant Professor at the Bahrain University.
She added: “We in Bahrain, as a united people, welcome and even rejoice in His example. He endeavored to promote coexistence and the principle of universal peace throughout the world.”
Dr. Al-Mezaal continued, saying that the more people who embody these principles, “the more peace and unity will spread in Bahrain.”In recent years, the topic of peaceful coexistence has come to the forefront of public consciousness in Bahrain. Badie Jaberi, a representative of the Bahá’í community, spoke about the efforts of the Bahá’ís of Bahrain to contribute to this discourse, particularly religion’s role in fostering social harmony.
“The diversity that we see before us now is the most wonderful reflection of what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá exemplified, that religion should be the cause of love and unity among people and enable them to transcend their differences,” said Dr. Jaberi.
“When religion promotes uprightness, mercy, and forgiveness, there exists a common foundation on which believers of all religions can live and serve society side-by-side.”  This booklet (available in Arabic and in English), prepared for the gathering and distributed to attendees, features a brief history of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life and a selection of His writings. The booklet also contains accounts of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s extraordinary character written by His contemporaries from the East and West, including Imam Sheikh Muhammad Abdo, Prince Muhammad Ali Tawfiq, Sheikh Ali Youssef, Ameer Al-Bayan Prince Shakib Arslan, Ameen Al-Rihani, Kahlil Gibran, Auguste-Henri Forel, and Leo Tolstoy, among others.",MANAMA,,Bahrain
1547,2021-11-08,"[1501, 797, 1340]",Mansion of Mazra‘ih: Conservation work on Holy Place continues apace,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The project to preserve the Bahá’í pilgrimage site known as the Mansion of Mazra‘ih is now showing significant progress. Most notably, Bahá’u’lláh’s room has now been prepared for visitors.
This Holy Place has been described by the Universal House of Justice in a letter to all Bahá’í National Spiritual Assemblies on Monday as “that serene and sacred spot, the first residence of Bahá’u’lláh after nine years’ confinement within the walls of the prison-city of ‘Akká.”
Bahá’u’lláh and members of His family took up residence at Mazra‘ih in early June 1877, where He received visitors and penned many tablets.
Conservation work, which began over a year ago, has also been carried out on the courtyard and its walls, portions of the aqueduct that run through the site, the stables, and other structural elements near the Mansion and elsewhere on the site.
The Universal House of Justice further states: “In the coming years, conservation work will be carried out on the other rooms of the Mansion, and the surrounding area will be landscaped to provide a large, open space for visitors to walk around and enjoy, intending to capture the tranquil spirit of this blessed spot.”
Different aspects of the conservation work can be seen in the video above and the images that follow.An interior view of the room of Bahá’u’lláh.The removal of layers of paint and plaster from the walls revealed intricate Ottoman-era paintings.A close-up view of the traditional floral paintings that had been plastered over many years ago, which have now been restored by conservators.Traditional glass-blowing techniques were used to recreate the windowpanes of Bahá’u’lláh’s room.These are among the windows through which Bahá’u’lláh looked out over the orchards, hills, and sea.An external wall of the Mansion, adjacent to the room of Bahá’u’lláh, has been returned to its original position and an opening that had been sealed off has been restored. On the left is a photograph taken before the restoration and on the right is a current view of the same part of the house.Removal of paint and plaster from the external walls of the room of Bahá’u’lláh revealed outlines of the original windows, which had been filled in with masonry. Seen here are views of part of the room’s eastern façade at different stages of the work to restore the windows.In the courtyard adjacent to the house, the pathway has been repaved and the walls have undergone various stages of repair, reinforcing their core and reapplying the plaster.During the process of restoring the courtyard walls, several carvings dating to the mid-1700s were treated and are now clearly visible. Pictured here is one such carving depicting a sailing ship typical of the kind that would have passed through the waters of ‘Akká at that time.At the end of the courtyard, excavation work has revealed stairs leading down to the kitchen which, in keeping with practice at the time, was outside. A wooden roof was also built for the kitchen.In the stables, a wooden roof has been built, the walls have been reinforced, and the flooring has been restored.A portion of an aqueduct that passes through the site has now been restored.
The aqueduct was in disrepair at the time of Bahá’u’lláh, but was rebuilt and made operational at His suggestion in response to an offer of service by the Governor of ‘Akká.Another view of a portion of the restored aqueduct that runs through Mazra‘ih.A well, unique in the region for its large size and masonry construction, was uncovered north of the building.Close to the well is a large irrigation pool, the walls and floor of which have now been restored and reinforced.After nine years of confinement in the prison city of ‘Akká, it was in these surroundings that Bahá’u’lláh first set His eyes on the beauty and verdure of the countryside.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1548,2021-11-12,[],COP26: BIC delegation offers principles and proposals for climate action,"GLASGOW, United Kingdom — Over the last two weeks, representatives of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) have been participating in discussions at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, highlighting the need for rethinking the relationship between society and the natural world.
“Humanity is at a pivotal moment when it must recognize its essential oneness—that we all share the same atmosphere and that cooperation among all nations is needed in order to address the pressing, existential questions that we will face in the coming decades,” says Daniel Perell, a representative from the New York Office of the BIC at the conference.
Mr. Perell was joined in the BIC delegation to the conference by Serik Tokbolat from Kazakhstan, Peter Aburi from Kenya, and Maja Groff from the Netherlands.  Representatives of the BIC (bottom left) at COP26. (Credit: Kiara Worth)In their contributions to discussions, the BIC representatives offered a number of concrete proposals. “There is a need for a mechanism to coordinate aspects of humanity’s relationship with the natural world,” said Mr. Perell.
“Such a mechanism could, for example, serve to mobilize financial resources around environmental goals, and oversee their distribution. It could support national governments in transitioning away from environmentally harmful policies to establishing more sustainable alternatives.”
Mr. Perell continued, explaining that while this is just one possible way of organizing efforts, the important thing is to ensure that consensus is followed through to implementation and that any approach or mechanism to address climate change is viewed holistically. He stated: “Ultimately, disparate environmental governing bodies and treaties, if brought together under one umbrella, would ensure greater coherence in governance systems that oversee climate change.”  Maja Groff (right) at a discussion held by the International Environment Forum, a Bahá’í-inspired organization. (Credit: Sean Miller)The twelve-day conference concludes on Friday and has brought together more than 120 world leaders, as well as numerous civil society organizations, journalists and media outlets, businesses, and climate activists in Glasgow, Scotland, to examine global efforts addressing climate change.
In their contributions to discussions, the BIC representatives explored moral questions related to consumption and excessive materialism that are associated with the exploitation and degradation of the environment.“Development is often measured in terms of expanding the ability to acquire material goods. Notions of what constitutes progress must be urgently re-examined before climate change leads to irreversible consequences,” said Dr. Tokbolat.
Mr. Aburi expanded further, stating: “Movement in this direction will require economic arrangements to be disciplined according to lofty ideals and the common good.”Other themes highlighted by the BIC delegates at different forums included the role of international structures in addressing environmental challenges, which the BIC has explored in its statement “A Governance Befitting: Humanity and the Path Toward a Just Global Order.”
At a discussion held by the International Environment Forum, a Bahá’í-inspired organization, Ms. Groff explained how greater collaboration and the sharing of knowledge among countries can significantly contribute to climate action. “We have a suggestion for a global climate policy clearinghouse so that states can share experiences, learn from best practices, and really accelerate the implementation of climate policies,” she said.  Daniel Perell (second from left) at a discussion held by the World Wildlife Fund.The BIC representatives also noted the important role that individuals can play in addressing climate change.
“The pandemic has shown us the power of local action by individuals. We have seen a real galvanizing force toward the common good among families, friends, and neighbors,” said Mr. Perell at a discussion held by the World Wildlife Fund.
He added: “This is a source of hope from which we can draw lessons and apply them to discussions in these forums as we collectively confront the multiple challenges that humanity is facing.”",GLASGOW,,United Kingdom
1549,2021-11-12,"[1530, 1373, 1511]",Vanuatu: Anticipation builds as temple inauguration draws near,"TANNA, Vanuatu — Anticipation for Saturday morning’s opening of the local Bahá’í House of Worship in Vanuatu is building. Over the past week, growing numbers of people from across the country have been arriving at the site of the temple on the island of Tanna in advance of the dedication ceremony, which begins at 9:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, 10:00 p.m. GMT on Friday.
“We are indescribably joyful! Everyone, young and old, has come to do what they can to assist with preparations for the opening ceremony,” says Simone, one of the attendees from Port Vila.
She continues: “The House of Worship has already inspired many people to be of service to their society, even though its doors have yet to open.”
Another attendee, Bertha from the island of Ifira, who arrived earlier this week describes the significance of Saturday’s dedication ceremony, recalling the efforts of earlier generations that have led to this moment.
“I have travelled here with my children, who see themselves as part of the same efforts initiated by their grandparents and great-grandparents to promote peace and unity, who were themselves among the first Bahá’ís in this land.”",TANNA,,Vanuatu
1550,2021-11-14,"[1549, 1530, 1511]",Vanuatu: First local Bahá’í temple in the Pacific opens its doors,"LENAKEL, Vanuatu — Some 3,000 people from across Vanuatu, in some cases as entire villages, gathered in Lenakel on the island of Tanna for the dedication ceremony of the first local Bahá’í House of Worship in the Pacific on Saturday.
The opening program included remarks by Henry Tamashiro whom the Universal House of Justice had named as its representative to the event. Mr. Tamashiro read a letter of the House of Justice addressed to the gathering, which stated: “This sacred edifice shines out as a beacon of light. May it become a centre from which spiritual forces radiate, may it diffuse the illumination of the Lord, and like unto the resplendent rays of dawn, may it brighten the horizon before you.”  In attendance at the ceremony were Prime Minister Bob Loughman (bottom left image foreground) and other government officials, representatives from the Malvatumauri National Councils of Chiefs and the Nikoletan Council of Chiefs, members of diverse faith communities, and representatives of local and national Bahá’í institutions.Also in attendance were Prime Minister Bob Loughman and other government officials, representatives from the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs and the Nikoletan Council of Chiefs, members of diverse faith communities, and representatives of local and national Bahá’í institutions.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Prime Minister Loughman drew on the imagery of the banyan tree, which holds cultural significance in Vanuatu, to describe the temple as a force for unity and peace. “Birds of all kinds, of all colors, come to the banyan tree, eat its fruits, and take shelter under its shade.  In the same way, this House of Worship is open to people of all religions, beliefs, and backgrounds. All are welcome to benefit from it.
“I encourage the people of Tanna and Vanuatu, the youth, the chiefs, everyone, to visit the House of Worship,” he said.  The opening program included remarks by Henry Tamashiro whom the Universal House of Justice named as its representative to the event.  Mr. Tamashiro read a letter of the House of Justice addressed to the gathering, which states: “This sacred edifice shines out as a beacon of light. May it become a centre from which spiritual forces radiate, may it diffuse the illumination of the Lord, and like unto the resplendent rays of dawn, may it brighten the horizon before you.”These sentiments were echoed by the Mayor of Lenakel, Nakou Samuel: “I want us to prepare ourselves for this House of Worship, which is a place of prayer and service.
“This temple will serve everyone. It will serve you no matter what faith you are from. This is your house. It is a house for Tafea (the province where Tanna is located) and for all of Vanuatu.”  People from all across Vanuatu arrived for the inauguration ceremony of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Tanna.Throughout the program, expressions of hope for the future were interwoven with acknowledgements of the services of past generations. The emergence of the House of Worship was linked in this way to the efforts of the very first Bahá’ís in this land who accepted the Faith in the early 1950s.  Participants gathered in small groups inside the temple for a devotional program.Today, over 5,000 people in Tanna are participating in Bahá’í community-building activities, with youth at the forefront.
Serah, a young person from Tanna, stated: “We must render service to our society in a spirit of selflessness and with prayerful devotion. This is the idea that this House of Worship has rooted deeply in our hearts.”
She added: “We’re so encouraged by this dedication ceremony that we’re eager to return to our communities and put these ideas into action.”  Over 5,000 people in Tanna are participating in Bahá’í community-building activities with youth at the forefront.The temple, which was recently completed, reflects aspects of Ni-Vanuatu culture and tradition. Nalau Manakel, a member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Vanuatu, stated: “The shape of the House of Worship itself is reminiscent of a volcano, and the nine wings of the roof represent the land and valleys, and the riverbeds that run between them.
“Other elements of the roof also reflect the feather worn by the head chiefs of tribes, and the dancing sticks used by toka dancers, which point to the apex of the temple’s dome as a sign of respect.”  A sacred Bahá’í symbol known as the Greatest Name, a calligraphic representation of the invocation “O Glory of the All-Glorious”, has been placed at the apex of the dome.Reflecting on the occasion, Mr. Tamashiro, representative of the Universal House of Justice, expanded on the concept of the House of Worship itself, stating: “Like moths to a flame, we are drawn to this temple.
“It beckons us all to gather and commune with the Source of our being, to draw inspiration, and to contribute to the spiritual and material betterment of our communities.”  Some 3,000 people of diverse faiths and backgrounds gathered at the dedication ceremony of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Tanna on Saturday.",LENAKEL,,Vanuatu
1551,2021-11-18,"[1545, 1354, 1208]",“Exemplar”: New film explores ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s profound effect on people past and present,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Exemplar, a film commissioned by the Universal House of Justice to mark the centenary commemoration of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, was released today on Bahai.org.
The film follows the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the profound effect He had on people both past and present. A sense of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s unique function as a shelter, a shield, and a stronghold for all humanity is captured in vignettes of some of the people whose lives were transformed through their association with Him.
Exemplar will be screened next week at a gathering at the Bahá’í World Centre to commemorate this historic occasion with representatives of national and regional Bahá’í institutions from around the world.
The 55-minute film is available in Arabic, English, French, Persian, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. The film can also be viewed on YouTube.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1552,2021-11-20,"[1551, 1383, 1365]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: Remembering His life in the Holy Land,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Amid preparations throughout the world for the commemoration of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing, several events held recently in Haifa and ‘Akká have welcomed municipal officials and area residents to mark the occasion at historic sites associated with Him.
In Haifa, the mayor of the city, Einat Kalisch-Rotem, and other municipal officials, members of diverse faith communities, and other residents of the city honored the centenary at a historic building near ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s residence on Haparsim Street in a spirit of fellowship and unity reminiscent of the gatherings He Himself would hold with people of all backgrounds.In ‘Akká, a public reception at the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá lived and received countless guests from 1896 to 1910, allowed people from around the country to learn about His life and His service to the inhabitants of ‘Akká through an exhibition and a guided visit of the site. A short distance away in Bahjí, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had rented a residence for Bahá’u’lláh and His family in 1879, a special program brought together the mayor of ‘Akká, Shimon Lankri, and other government officials, various community and religious leaders—Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze—academics, and civil society representatives to hear stories from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, where many of those gathered also shared their perspectives on His impact on the people of the region.
Sheikh Samir Assi, the Imam of the historic Al-Jazzár Mosque in ‘Akká and an attendee at the gathering in Bahjí, shared his reflections about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “What I witnessed in this elevating event deserves to last forever. This gathering highlighted the power of love and selfless service. May God bless the soul of ‘Abbás Effendi whose message serves as a beacon for humanity.”
Below is a selection of images from these events.The mayor of Haifa (left), Einat Kalisch-Rotem, spoke at the reception at 10 Haparsim Street. The building at this location was constructed under the direction of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to function as a pilgrim house.The reception also included members of diverse faith communities and area residents, where all gathered in a spirit of fellowship and harmony.The program included stories from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life, musical performances, and remarks by a number of speakers.Visitors at the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá viewed an exhibit about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the construction of His Shrine in ‘Akká.During the time He lived in the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá regularly received visitors from all segments of society and from all faiths and backgrounds. Pictured on the left is the tent of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá pitched in the courtyard of the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá, c. 1907.At the gathering in Bahjí, the mayor of ‘Akká, Shimon Lankri, addressed the diverse group of guests, saying that although Bahá’u’lláh and His family arrived in ‘Akká as exiles and prisoners, their contributions to the well-being of the city continue to be felt.A diverse group of attendees were welcomed by representatives of the Bahá’í International Community at the reception honoring the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His lasting impact on the region.A panel exhibit about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the construction of His Shrine was displayed at the event. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit the surrounding gardens at Bahjí.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1553,2021-11-22,"[1552, 1551, 1545]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: Representatives from around the world arrive,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Representatives of Bahá’í communities from nations and regions around the world have arrived in Haifa for a historic gathering at the Bahá’í World Centre to commemorate the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Events this week will culminate in an observance in the early hours of Saturday marking the night, 100 years ago, when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed away.
The gathering, representing a cross-section of humanity, is a reflection of the following words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.”
The images below capture a few moments from the arrival of representatives from around the world and interactions among them over the last few days.With their hearts and thoughts turned toward ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the representatives have arrived in the Holy Land from every corner of the world to honor Him in the very land where He passed away.Participants arriving at the Pilgrim Reception Centre in Haifa, located in the vicinity of the Shrine of the Báb.Attendees arriving in Bahjí, the site of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh.Upon their arrival at the visitor’s center in Bahjí, participants attend an orientation program that provides them with information about the days ahead.In an atmosphere of love, unity, and devotion, attendees have been preparing themselves spiritually for their first visit to the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh.A group of participants approaching the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, the holiest spot on earth for Bahá’ís.Attendees have been visiting this sacred site in groups since their arrival in the Holy Land.Attendees outside the Haifa Pilgrim House prepare for their first visit to the Shrine of the Báb. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá hosted many gatherings with pilgrims and members of the local community in this building.Two participants viewing a diagram (close-up on the right) depicting the arrangement of the rooms and doors to the Shrine of the Báb.Participants approaching the Shrine of the Báb, which was constructed under ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s direction and supervision. It is at this sacred spot where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s earthly remains were interred upon His passing.A group of participants in the gardens surrounding the Shrine of the Báb.Participants visiting the Shrine of the Báb in the evening.Participants are spending quiet moments in the environs of the Shrine of the Báb, reflecting on the significance of the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His call for universal peace.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1554,2021-11-23,"[1553, 1545, 1550]",Houses of Worship: Preparations under way for centenary commemorations,"WILMETTE, United States — Preparations are under way at Bahá’í Houses of Worship around the world to commemorate the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing with special programs, exhibits, artistic presentations, and discussions on the temple grounds, exploring themes related to His life of service to humanity and His efforts to promote universal peace.
These temples have stood at the heart of their communities as beacons of hope, inspiring people to prayer and service, especially during the pandemic.
Among the Bahá’í temples around the world, the House of Worship in Wilmette, United States, has a unique connection to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—He was directly involved in its planning and placed its cornerstone during His historic sojourn in North America in 1912.
In a message that marked the hundred-year anniversary of that momentous day, the Universal House of Justice wrote:
“‘Abdu’l-Bahá, standing before an audience several hundred strong, lifted a workman’s axe and pierced the turf covering the Temple site at Grosse Pointe, north of Chicago. Those invited to break the ground with Him on that spring day came from diverse backgrounds—Norwegian, Indian, French, Japanese, Persian, indigenous American, to name but a few. It was as if the House of Worship, yet unbuilt, was fulfilling the wishes of the Master, expressed on the eve of the ceremony, for every such edifice: ‘that humanity might find a place of meeting’ and ‘that the proclamation of the oneness of mankind shall go forth from its open courts of holiness’.”
The following is a collection of images of Bahá’í temples and their distinctive designs, as well as an overview of plans for centenary commemorations at these places of worship and service.
Apia, SamoaIn preparation for the centenary, people of all ages have been gathering on the temple grounds to hear stories about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The program commemorating the centenary will include devotions, traditional songs, and artistic presentations by youth.
Battambang, CambodiaOver the coming days, local leaders and residents will be attending devotional gatherings held at this House of Worship. Many more centenary gatherings will also be held in Bahá’í communities throughout the surrounding area.
Frankfurt, GermanyPlans at this House of Worship include prayer gatherings and presentations about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s contributions to social progress. On the night of the ascension, youth will share stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life related to the themes of selfless service and love, and the following day, a children’s program will include craft lantern-making.
Kampala, UgandaA program to honor ‘Abdu’l-Bahá will take place later this week, bringing together people from Kampala and the surrounding area to pray and reflect on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings on themes such as the equality of women and men, peace, and nearness to God.
Matunda Soy, KenyaChiefs, local officials, village elders, members of different faith communities, and other area residents will be participating in a series of commemoration events at the local Bahá’í House of Worship in Matunda Soy. These events will culminate in a gathering on Saturday which will include a special performance by a local choir.
New Delhi, IndiaResidents of the neighborhoods surrounding this House of Worship, popularly referred to as the “Lotus Temple” because of its design inspired by a lotus flower, are gathering at the temple site for guided tours. Each tour includes a screening of Exemplar—the recently released film about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—a viewing of an exhibit on His life, and a devotional program featuring prayers, music, and readings of quotations from the Bahá’í writings.
Norte del Cauca, ColombiaMayors and city council members of nearby municipalities and other area residents will gather for a special program at this House of Worship to mark the centenary later this week.
Panama City, PanamaOver the coming days, special programs arranged by local Bahá’í institutions will be held at the site of this House of Worship. The program will include prayers put to music by children, stories told by youth, and talks on themes addressed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, such as the oneness of religion.
Santiago, ChileGuided visits are planned for the coming days, which will allow visitors, including many who are participating in Bahá’í community-building activities, to learn more about the life and work of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The temple choir has prepared new compositions that set to music passages from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament. These compositions will be presented as part of centenary programs throughout the week.
Sydney, AustraliaSeveral gatherings marking the centenary are planned for this week, including gatherings for prayer, a special program for children and parents to hear stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s love for all people, and discussions on the theme of service to society.
Tanna, VanuatuThis recently inaugurated House of Worship, the first local Bahá’í temple in the Pacific, will mark the centenary with a devotional program. Attendees will include traditional chiefs, members of diverse faith communities, youth, and children.
Wilmette, United StatesArea residents will have the opportunity to attend devotional gatherings in the temple’s main hall and view an exhibit of archival items associated with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The exhibit will also include various items associated with early American Bahá’ís whose lives He touched.",WILMETTE,,United States
1555,2021-11-24,"[1553, 1544, 1340]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: Representatives prepare themselves in spiritual atmosphere,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — With group after group of representatives from Bahá’í communities around the world visiting Bahá’í Holy Places related to the lives of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá over the past two days, the spiritual atmosphere of the centenary gathering has heightened, setting the stage for the start of the formal program on Thursday.
The images below show visits of representatives to the prison where Bahá’u’lláh and His family were incarcerated; the House of ‘Abbúd in ‘Akká, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá lived for over twenty years; ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s house in Haifa, where He passed away; and the International Bahá’í Archives.Participants arrive at the house of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Haifa where He resided in the last years of His life, before passing away here in the early hours of 28 November 1921.A group of participants approaching the entrance to the house of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.Attendees have the opportunity to spend quiet moments in prayer and contemplation in the serene environs of the gardens at this Holy Place.A group of participants pause to reflect just before their visit to the International Bahá’í Archives, which contains artefacts and relics associated directly with the lives of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith.Participants visiting the Archives building.In a spirit of reverence, participants approach the entrance to the Archives building.Attendees approaching the citadel where Bahá’u’lláh and His family were imprisoned for over two years following their arrival in ‘Akká in August 1868. During this time, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá cared for the sick and took responsibility for the welfare of their companions. The top image provides a historic view of the prison in 1907.Groups of participants enter the area of the prison where Bahá’u’lláh and the other exiles were confined.Participants gather and offer prayers at the spot where Mírzá Mihdí, one of Bahá’u’lláh’s sons, fell through a skylight on the roof and passed away.In this collage, the left and top right images show the cell where Bahá’u’lláh was confined.Participants visiting the House of ‘Abbúd, where Bahá’u’lláh and His family lived as exiles and under house arrest in extremely cramped conditions after their arrival at this location in 1871.Participants at the House of ‘Abbúd.Attendees returning to the courtyard of the House of ‘Abbúd as their visit comes to an end.On the left is a historic view of the House of ‘Abbúd (c.1920s). On the right is a view of participants arriving at the house.Among the Holy Places visited by participants is the Mansion of Bahjí, located next to the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá rented this house in September 1879 as a residence for His Father and other members of their family. Bahá’u’lláh would watch from the balcony to see His dearly loved son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, arriving from ‘Akká.Participants at the Monument Gardens in Haifa, which house the resting places of Navváb (the wife of Bahá’u’lláh), Mírzá Mihdí (the younger son of Bahá’u’lláh), Bahíyyih Khánum (the daughter of Bahá’u’lláh, left), and Munírih Khánum (the wife of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, right).Participants visit the resting place of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, the wife of Shoghi Effendi.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1556,2021-11-25,"[1555, 1553, 1541]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: Formal program begins after days of spiritual preparation,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — With great anticipation and reverence, participants from around the world assembled this morning at the concourse of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice for the start of the formal program.
A message of the Universal House of Justice addressed to the gathering was read by one of its members. The message reads, in part: “In these uncertain times, the friends turn with hope and longing to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, that ‘shelter for all mankind’, ‘a shield unto all who are in heaven and on earth’, beseeching His assistance from the realms above as they endeavour to follow His example in the path of service.”
The program included a keynote address by a member of the International Teaching Centre, prayers in different languages, musical performances honoring this historic moment, and a screening of a short film about the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
The images below show some of the moments from today’s program.Participants walking through the Monument Gardens toward the concourse of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, where the program was held.Pictured here are participants walking past the Centre for the Study of the Texts, on their way to the formal program.Another group of attendees from this morning.Attendees include people from many different countries throughout the world.Another image of participants, moments before the start of the today’s program.An aerial view of participants arriving at the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.Participants assembled on the steps of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice prior to entering the concourse for the start of the program.Another view of attendees in front of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.A group of attendees from different countries waiting with anticipation for the start of the program.Participants entering the Seat of the Universal House of Justice after the doors to the concourse were opened.Participants welcomed into the concourse of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.Inside the concourse hall, moments before the program began.Another view of the concourse before the start of the program.Participants take their seats and prepare for the start of the program.Another view of the concourse hall.The program included prayers chanted and read in different languages.The devotional program contributed to the spiritual atmosphere of the gathering.The program included remarks by a member of the International Teaching Centre, Muna Tehrani. Mrs. Tehrani stated: “Those of us gathered here are representing millions more from all corners of the world who are turning their gaze to this sacred mountain to commemorate ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ascension and to pay tribute to Him.”A message of the Universal House of Justice addressed to the gathering was read by one of its members. The message states, in part: “In these uncertain times, the friends turn with hope and longing to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, that ‘shelter for all mankind’, ‘a shield unto all who are in heaven and on earth’, beseeching His assistance from the realms above as they endeavour to follow His example in the path of service.”The keynote address was given by a member of the International Teaching Centre, Gloria Javid. Mrs. Javid spoke about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s sacrificial and selfless nature. She ended her address with a quote from a message of the Universal House of Justice, which reads in part: “…see no strangers but regard all as members of one family…”Some participants taking notes as they listen to the keynote address.Participants listening intently to the keynote address.Simultaneous translation of the program was available in seven languages.The program included musical interludes reflective of different cultures around the world. Seen here is a participant from Chile playing an instrumental guitar piece.Participants viewing a short film about the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which will soon be released on the News Service.The program closed with passages from the Baha’i writings put to music, sung by choirs at the Baha’i World Centre. The choir in this picture sung two passages in Bislama and Fijian, including the following excerpt from the writings of Baha’u’llah:
“This is the Day in which God’s most excellent favors have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace hath been infused into all created things. It is incumbent upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile their differences, and, with perfect unity and peace, abide beneath the shadow of the Tree of His care and loving-kindness.”Another choir sung Bahá’í writings in French and Swahili, including the following quotation: “O friend! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love, and from the nightingale of affection and desire loosen not thy hold.”The program was closed with a prayer recited in Spanish.Some representatives at the gathering have been wearing traditional dress, celebrating the diversity of humanity.Participants leaving the Seat of the Universal House of Justice following the close of the morning’s program.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1557,2021-11-26,"[1556, 1531]",Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Short documentary on the construction project released,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — A short documentary about the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, commissioned by the Universal House of Justice for the occasion of the centenary, was released today.
This 15-minute documentary, which was screened at the centenary gathering at the Bahá’í World Centre yesterday, explores aspects of the design and construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and features interviews with people directly involved in the project.
The film can be viewed above and on YouTube.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1558,2021-11-27,"[1556, 1552, 1369]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: Solemn event sparks profound reflection on exemplary life,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — In the early hours of Saturday, 27 November, attendees of the centenary gathering assembled in the courtyard of the Haifa Pilgrim House in a solemn and reverent atmosphere to mark the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
The program, held just steps away from the Shrine of the Báb where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s earthly remains were interred upon His passing, stimulated deep reflection among participants on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s exemplary life of service to humanity.
A tribute written by the Universal House of Justice for the occasion was read by one of its members. The tribute states, in part: “No clearer demonstration could be imagined of how He embodied the forces of unity than the sight of His funeral, at which a vast crowd of mourners from every creed in this land came together to grieve their common loss.”
The tribute continues: “The universality of His love produced a community that, even at that time, could justly claim to be a cross-section of society.  His love revived, nurtured, inspired; it banished estrangement and welcomed all to the banquet table of the Lord.”
The images below provide a view of the evening’s program.Participants assembled in the courtyard of the Haifa Pilgrim House moments before the start of the program.Participants meditating and reflecting on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as they wait for the start of the evening’s program.Another view of attendees in moments of prayer and reflection.A tribute written by the Universal House of Justice for the occasion was read by one of its members. The tribute states, in part: “The universality of His love produced a community that, even at that time, could justly claim to be a cross-section of society.  His love revived, nurtured, inspired; it banished estrangement and welcomed all to the banquet table of the Lord.”The program included prayers and passages from the Bahá’í writings spoken in a number of languages including Arabic, English, French, and Hindi.Prayers and writings from the Bahá’í teachings were also read in Persian, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese.Participants circumambulating the Shrine of the Báb.Attendees circumambulating the Shrine of the Báb.Another view of participants in the gardens of the Shrine of the Báb.A view of Mount Carmel in Haifa with the Shrine of the Báb, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s earthly remains were interred upon His passing.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1559,2021-11-28,"[1558, 1551, 1541]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: Participants energized for return home as gathering concludes,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Representatives of Bahá’í communities throughout the world came together in the concourse of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice for a spiritually charged closing of the centenary gathering on Saturday, galvanized by a week immersed in reflection on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s exemplary life.
The closing session included addresses delivered by members of the International Teaching Centre, prayers chanted and spoken in different languages, a musical interlude, and Bahá’í writings sung by a choir.
The images below capture some moments from the closing session and activities of the preceding days.A choir sings passages from the Bahá’í writings at the closing session of the centenary gathering.A member of the International Teaching Centre, Antonella Demonte, addressing the gathering. Mrs. Demonte spoke about the development of Bahá’í institutions since ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing.A member of the International Teaching Centre, Holly Woodard, delivering an address to the gathering. Dr. Woodard spoke about the development of the global Bahá’í community in recent decades.A member of the International Teaching Centre, Rachel Ndegwa, addressing the attendees at the closing session. Mrs. Ndegwa shared reflections on the gathering.Attendees viewing Exemplar at a screening in the concourse of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.Attendees on the final day of the program.Participants from different countries on the steps of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.Participants in the concourse of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.Attendees on a path near the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.Another group of participants on the final day of the program.Attendees from different countries, together at the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.Participants gathered for a group photo near the entrance to the concourse of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.Attendees visiting an exhibit about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s contributions to the development of the Bahá’í community and His service to society. The exhibit also contained artefacts associated with His life.Participants leaving the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1560,2021-11-30,"[1554, 1558, 1369]",Houses of Worship: Bahá’í temples become focal points of commemorations,"APIA, Samoa — Just after midnight on Saturday in Samoa, the Bahá’í House of Worship in Apia became the first site among the Bahá’í temples in the world where the centenary was commemorated.
Over the next 19 hours, Houses of Worship in Tanna, Vanuatu; Sydney, Australia; Battambang, Cambodia; New Delhi, India; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Kampala, Uganda; Frankfurt, Germany; Santiago, Chile; Norte del Cauca, Colombia; Panama City, Panama; and Wilmette, United States, became focal points of commemorations, bringing diverse people together for profound reflection on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life.
The collection of images below offers a glimpse of the centenary commemorations held at Bahá’í temples around the world.
Apia, SamoaStories about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were shared by people of all ages.Earlier in the day, a devotional program was held in the temple.
Tanna, VanuatuAn interior view of the recently inaugurated House of Worship in Tanna, Vanuatu, during the centenary commemoration.Attendees arriving for a program held at the temple the morning following the commemoration.The program was attended by government officials, representatives of national and local councils of chief, and members of civil society organizations.Government officials, chiefs, and members of the Bahá’í community at the centenary program.
Sydney, AustraliaThe House of Worship in Sydney, Australia on the night of the commemoration.Prayers and passages from the Bahá’í writings were read during the commemoration program.A special program was held at the House of Worship for children, which included children sharing stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life.The temple choir during the centenary program.
Battambang, CambodiaArea residents arriving at the House of Worship in Battambang for the afternoon centenary program.A devotional program at the House of Worship in Battambang.Participants at the evening program.
New Delhi, IndiaA night view of the House of Worship, known as the “Lotus Temple” because of its design inspired by a lotus flower.The centenary program at the New Delhi House of Worship included devotions and readings of passages from the Bahá’í writings.A choir performs as part of the formal commemoration program.A view of participants on a guided tour of the temple site, which includes an exhibit about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Matunda Soy, KenyaBahá’í writings were then read during a devotional program inside the temple.The commemoration events also included musical performances by young people.
Kampala, UgandaResidents of Kampala arriving at the House of Worship for the commemoration program.A view of attendees assembled inside the temple for the devotional program.Following the devotional program, a gathering was held on the temple grounds where young people shared stories about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Frankfurt, GermanyAn aerial view of the House of Worship in Frankfurt at night.The formal centenary program was held inside the House of Worship.A special program for children included artistic activities, such as making lanterns.
Santiago, ChileThe House of Worship in Santiago, Chile, at the foothills of the Andes mountains.The centenary program included prayers and readings of writings from the Bahá’í Faith.The temple choir in Chile chanting passages of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá put to music, composed for the occasion of the centenary.Visitors during a guided visit of the temple site, which includes an exhibit about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life.
Norte del Cauca, ColombiaA night view of the local Bahá’í House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia.An interior view of temple during the devotional program of the evening.Children and youth carrying out acts of service on the temple grounds in honor of the centenary, tending to the gardens surrounding the House of Worship.In the weeks leading up to the commemoration, youth had been gathering at the House of Worship to study the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and reflect on His life of service to humanity.
Panama City, PanamaParticipants arriving at the House of Worship in Panama for the centenary program.The program included prayers and talks about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life and work.Attendees viewing a presentation about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in an ancillary building of the temple.
Wilmette, United StatesAn exterior view of the House of Worship in Wilmette, United States, as attendees arrive for the daytime commemoration program.An interior view of the House of Worship in Wilmette and a choir performing at the evening program.An exhibit about the temple’s connection to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was presented. The cornerstone of the temple, placed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His historic sojourn in North America in 1912, can be seen in these images.",APIA,,Samoa
1561,2021-12-03,"[1558, 1560, 1551]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: A look at worldwide commemorations,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — As centenary commemorations encircled the globe on Saturday, thoughts and hearts worldwide converged on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. People in country after country, as though by a continuous thread, were connected in their love and immeasurable admiration for one Whom they turn to as the perfect example of love for humankind and of selfless service to society.
Countless people from diverse backgrounds and faiths in every land have been reflecting on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words and hearing stories from His life, contemplating the implications of His call for universal peace for their own lives.
As gatherings being held in honor of this historic occasion continue, the images below provide a tiny glimpse of the unnumbered endeavors across and within the countries of the world over the past week.Screenings of Exemplar, a film commissioned by the Universal House of Justice to mark the centenary commemoration of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in Algeria.Many centenary gatherings were held across Australia. Pictured here are just a few of the events that took place honoring ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.An article in a newspaper in Australia about a local centenary gathering.An exhibition about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Bahrain, which includes artwork inspired by His writings.An outdoor screening of Exemplar in Bahrain.A children’s festival held in honor of the centenary in Bahrain.Artistic works created in Bolivia in honor of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. On the right is a painting created by children in a local community reflecting the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá about the oneness of humanity, likening all people to “the leaves of one tree.” On the left is an embroidery based on the design of the trellis of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which is currently under construction.Participants at a gathering in Brazil reading passages about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and creating music inspired by their discussions.Screenings of Exemplar in different places throughout Brazil.Children and youth participating in a centenary program in Burkina Faso.Seen here is a centenary gathering in Burundi.Gatherings across Cambodia commemorating the centenary.Journalists from nearly 40 media outlets gathered at a press conference held by the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs in Cameroon on the occasion of the centenary.A news article about the centenary, published online by one of the media outlets in attendance at the press conference hosted by the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs in Cameroon.Government officials and religious leaders attending a reception hosted by the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Canada at the former home of May and William Sutherland Maxwell, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stayed for four days during His visit to Montreal, Canada.Seen here are images from various centenary gatherings across Canada, which included musical performances and arts activities for children based on themes addressed in ʻAbdu’l-Bahá’s writings, such as the oneness of humanity.An exhibit in Canada on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, His unique station in religious history, and how His ideas have contributed to the advancement of civilization.Groups of people visiting a panel exhibit in the Canary Islands about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, His service to humanity, and His ceaseless efforts to promote the oneness of mankind.An outdoor screening of Exemplar on the grounds of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Santiago, Chile. The House of Worship can be seen in the background of the photo on the left.Seen here are centenary gatherings across Chile.Centenary gatherings across Colombia included screenings of Exemplar, discussion gatherings, and devotional programs.Seen here are participants at a centenary gathering in Costa Rica.In Croatia, a group of friends inspired by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s spirit of generosity have been creating dolls that will be gifted to children at a nearby orphanage.In Croatia, a public commemoration included a short introduction on the life and significance of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, a devotional program with prayers and writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and songs performed by children.In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the centenary has been honored with a number of conferences on the theme of the equality of women and men, a topic addressed at length by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His talks and writings. Discussions at these gatherings have looked at the central role of the education of children in contributing to social progress.Attendees at a centenary program in Lubumbashi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Seen here are traditional chiefs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at two different gatherings commemorating the centenary. Other gatherings of chiefs also took place in other parts of the country.Seen here is one of several TV broadcasts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo about centenary gatherings in the country.A neighborhood commemoration gathering in Ecuador.A short video featuring Egyptian Bahá’ís travelling to locations visited by ʻAbdu’l-Bahá in that country, telling stories about His time at these places.A TV interview with a member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Ethiopia about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example of ceaseless service to humanity.Poems composed in Finnish that were inspired by reflections on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.A gathering held in France to commemorate the centenary.Pictured here are a few of the many centenary commemorations held across Germany. Children and youth played a prominent role in these gatherings, in which artistic presentations were made and talks given about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life. At the Bahá’í House of Worship near Frankfurt, area residents gathered around a bonfire to share stories about Him.The mayor of Essen, Germany, speaking at a centenary gathering in that city.At another commemoration in Germany, musical pieces were performed, and attendees visited a nearby exhibit about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.Screening of Exemplar in Greece.Participants in the Bahá’í community-building activities in Galatsi, Greece, planting trees in collaboration with a local environmental organization.A group of friends in Greenland at a centenary gathering watching Exemplar.A sculpture made by an artist in Guam, Mariana Islands, inspired by the following passage from a talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “The reality of man is his thought.”Seen here are attendees at a centenary gathering in Guam, Mariana Islands.Children and youth at a gathering honoring the centenary held in Guinea-Bissau.The President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, receiving a book about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from members of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of that country.(Left) A devotional centenary gathering in Hong Kong at which children shared stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. (Right) A screening of Exemplar.On the left is an image of an invitation shared at a university in Hong Kong welcoming students to a screening of Exemplar. Following the screening, attendees discussed ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life of selfless service to humanity.Seen here are just a few of the centenary gatherings held in Hong Kong.Centenary gatherings in Manipur and Trimbakeshwar in India. The gathering in Trimbakeshwar spanned three days, bringing many families in the village together to commemorate the historic occasion.A representative of a regional Bahá’í institution in India is welcomed home upon his return from the centenary gathering held in the Holy Land. The entire village assembled the next day to hear about the inspiring experience of the historic gathering.Seen here are a few of the very many other centenary commemoration gatherings that were held across India.Children and youth in Indonesia watch Exemplar.Youth at a centenary gathering in Indonesia. The program included stories about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and musical performances.Many discussion gatherings about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life of service and screenings of Exemplar were held throughout Indonesia.A group of friends in Tralee, Ireland, at the “Garden of Contemplation,” which was created in honor of the bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh in 2017.A centenary gathering in Mantua, Italy, brought together government officials, the Bishop of Mantua, representatives of the region’s interfaith council, and journalists.One of many centenary commemorations held in Jamaica.In Japan, a group of friends gathered to plant trees in honor of the centenary.A screening of Exemplar and a devotional program marking the centenary in a village in Jordan that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited on a number of occasions.At another of the many gatherings in Jordan, Exemplar was screened, a special children’s program was held, and a gallery of images of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life were placed on display for viewing.At a gathering in Kazakhstan, participants heard stories from the lives of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith.In honor of the centenary, an artist in Kazakhstan has prepared illustrations inspired from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life.Participants of Bahá’í community-building activities in a neighborhood in Mexico commemorating the centenary.Seen here are gatherings in Mongolia of people sharing stories about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.An article about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Bahá’í Faith published in a local newspaper in Mongolia.Different centenary gatherings of youth in Mongolia, including screenings of the film Exemplar.This oil painting by an artist in Morocco depicts the design concept of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (bottom left), the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh (top left), and the Shrine of the Báb (top right).An article about the significance of the historic occasion of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing published in a newspaper in Nepal.People of all ages, backgrounds, and religions attending a centenary gathering in a prominent church in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The program included musical performances, prayers, stories, and an exhibit about the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.One of many centenary commemorations held in the Netherlands.A centenary gathering in Utrecht, Netherlands.Neighborhood centenary gatherings in Nicaragua.A centenary gathering in Daga, Papua New Guinea.An article published in a South African newspaper for the occasion of the centenary.Seen here is a centenary gathering in South Korea held over video conferencing.A centenary gathering in Spain included talks on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and a performance by a local choir.Participants at a gathering in Spain, where prayers and writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were put to music.People of all ages and backgrounds gathered at a commemoration event in Sweden. The program included music sung by children, devotions in different languages, art activities on the theme of generosity, and a screening of Exemplar.A commemoration gathering in Switzerland.A commemoration program in Taiwan included a screening of Exemplar, inspiring profound conversations on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s work as a champion of universal peace, the equality of women and men, and the elimination of prejudice.In Tajikistan, commemoration gatherings included devotions, conversations about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life of service, and screenings of Exemplar.In Thailand, young people played a prominent role in preparations for the centenary gatherings.In Timor-Leste, a centenary commemoration included artistic performances by children sharing stories from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá inspired by His writings, including the following quotation: “In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than the power of love.” A book of stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in English and Tetum was also published and shared with children at different centenary gatherings.Participants at gatherings in Tunisia (bottom and top-right). A group of young friends created a drawing inspired by the qualities and attributes of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá such His humility and selflessness (top-left).A screening of Exemplar in Tunisia. Participants discussed ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s exemplary life after the screening (top).Screenings of Exemplar in different communities throughout Tunisia.As part of centenary commemorations and in keeping with local custom when a loved one passes away, a group of friends in Turkey prepared traditional pastries for their neighbors.Musicians in Turkey recording musical pieces for centenary commemorations.Journalists in Uganda covering the centenary commemorations. Pictured above are members of the Bahá’í community speaking with reporters about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.An exhibition at a community library in the United Kingdom on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s historic visit to that community.

In the United Kingdom, a TV program aired on the BBC retraces ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s steps on His trip to London, visiting sites where He gave public talks, such as the City Temple and the Church of St. John the Divine.Seen here are a few of the very many centenary commemorations held across the United States.Residents of a neighborhood in Minneapolis, United States, painting a mural about the beauty in the diversity of the community. The following passage from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh is written across the centre of the mural: “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.”Pictured here are a few other gatherings in the United States.Centenary gatherings in Uzbekistan included screenings of Exemplar and children and youth chanting prayers and writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Seen bottom-right is a gathering featuring a musical performance.Seen here is the airing of a radio program in Venezuela about the personage of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.In Venezuela, prayers composed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have been translated into Papiamento. Other published materials include a song about Him in that language.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1564,2021-12-09,"[1561, 1558, 1552]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: National commemorations honor herald of peace,"KINSHASA, The Democratic Republic Of The Congo  — Alongside the countless centenary commemorations in localities worldwide, national gatherings in countries across the globe have been bringing together government officials, leaders of diverse faith communities, academics, journalists, and civil-society representatives to explore some of the universal principles embodied by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Provided below are highlights from a small sampling of the many national commemorations held in recent days.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo
A national centenary commemoration held in Kinshasa by the Bahá’ís of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) featured talks and presentations on the theme of social cohesion. A panel discussion on this topic, facilitated by the country’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs, explored principles such as the unity of humankind.In the top-left image is Alex Kabeya, a member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of the DRC with other guests. The gathering included a delegation of 10 traditional chiefs (two of whom are pictured bottom-left). A choral group from Kinshasa (bottom-right) performed songs about the life and teachings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.Pictured here are some of the panelists of the discussion on social cohesion. Left to right: Prince Evariste Bekanga, Secretary-General of the National Alliance of Traditional Authorities of the Congo; Christelle Vuanga, Member of the Parliament of the DRC and chair of the parliamentary commission for human rights; Abbot Donatien Nshole, Secretary-General of the Catholic National Episcopal Conference of the Congo.
Finland
As part of centenary commemorations in Finland, a seminar titled “Who is responsible for peace?” focused on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings about the oneness of humankind and universal peace. The program was attended by over 100 people and was streamed live to audiences across the country.Seen in the top image of this collage are the panelists at the seminar: Safa Hovinen, a member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Finland; Maryan Abdulkarim, prominent national journalist; Kamran Namdar, professor of education at Mälardalen University in Sweden; Miriam Attias, community mediator and leader of the depolarize.fi project.
India
A symposium titled “Religion, Peace, and the End of Otherness” was held by the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs in India, highlighting religion’s role in establishing peace and overcoming prejudice. Participants included a member of parliament, a former government official, and academics.The bottom-left image shows panelists Geeta Gandhi Kingdon of the Institute of Education at University College, London (left), and Kabir Saxena of the Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre, New Delhi (right).
The bottom-right image shows (left to right): Nilakshi Rajkhowa of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs and Panelists Amar Patnaik, Member of Parliament; Arash Fazli of the Bahá’í Chair for Studies in Development at Devi Ahilya University, Indore; Bindu Puri, professor of Philosophy at Jawaharlal Nehru University; Col. Dr. D. P. K. Pillay, Research Fellow, Manohar Parikkar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.
Kazakhstan
Two receptions in Kazakhstan—one in Nur-Sultan and another in Almaty—on the theme of coexistence were attended by government officials, religious scholars, journalists, artists, and representatives of diverse faith communities.Attendees at the reception in Almaty included representatives of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan (center image, right), the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, the Krishna Consciousness Society (right image), and several other faith communities.The reception in Nur-Sultan included a screening of the film Exemplar. Following the screening, Dina Oraz, a poet, stated: “‘Abdu’l-Bahá upheld the principle of unity and equality between all men and women. He did not divide people. He taught them to respect each other and challenged prejudices. He was an example for others through his words and actions.”
Kenya
Attendees of the commemoration in Nairobi, Kenya, held by the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of that country, included members of diverse faith communities. The main theme of discussion was on the role of religion in contributing to social harmony.
One of the attendees, Sr. Euphresia Mutsotso, a Catholic nun who attended the event, stated: “I am honored to celebrate the legacy of Abdu’l-Bahá who made sure that people’s dignity was enhanced, and that humanity was held as one.”In the top-right and bottom left images, members of the Muslim, Christian, and Hindu communities are seen viewing an exhibit about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In the bottom-right image, Rev. Fr. Joseph Mutie of the Orthodox Church, Chair of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, is seen addressing the gathering.
Kiribati
The national commemoration in Kiribati focused on the role of young people in social transformation.
Among the attendees was President Taneti Mamau of Kiribati, who expressed his appreciation for Bahá’í educational initiatives that build the capacity of young people to serve their society.In this collage, President Taneti Mamau of Kiribati is seen delivering a talk at the gathering (bottom-right).
Luxembourg
The Bahá’ís of Luxembourg created an exhibit titled “The Perfect Example,” retracing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life and exploring how the country’s Bahá’í community is striving to apply through community-building activities the principles He exemplified.Attendees at the exhibit included government officials, representatives of faith communities and other prominent people.
The Netherlands
The Bahá’í community of the Netherlands held an online gathering commemorating the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and highlighting His call for equality and justice. The gathering brought to together over 40 people, including government officials, representatives of faith communities, academics, and civil-society organizations.
Breakout sessions allowed participants to explore topics including harmony, elimination of extremism and polarization, and new conceptions of economic life.
One of the panelists, Rabbi Albert Ringer of the Liberal Jewish Community of Rotterdam, said: “Harmony is an important concept in virtually all monotheistic religions. When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá speaks of harmony, diversity is a central concept. For Him, that diversity was not so much a form of chaos, but rather the potential source of great beauty.”The image above shows some participants of the online seminar, including the panelists (top row, left to right): the moderator Karlijn van der Voort of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs, Rabbi Albert Ringer of the Liberal Jewish Community of Rotterdam, Bob de Wit of Nyenrode Business University, and Liam Stephens of VU University, Amsterdam.
Peru
The Bahá’í Office of External Affairs in Peru held an online seminar exploring aspects of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talks and writings on the themes of racial prejudice and the equality of women and men.
Participants looked at these themes in the context of the pandemic and the significant role of religion in enabling people to transcend their differences, especially in times of crises.Pictured here are participants of the online seminar, including (top row, left to right): Ambassador Juan Alvarez Vita, a former Peruvian diplomat; Laura Vargas, Executive Secretary of the Interreligious Council of Peru; Amin Egea, representing the Bahá’í community of Peru; and Nancy Tolentino, former vice-minister for women and vulnerable populations.
Singapore
A gathering held by the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs in Singapore brought together diverse social actors including government officials, academics, and members of different faith communities for roundtable conversations exploring how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá promoted the oneness of humanity through His actions.In this collage, the top-left image shows Meiping Chang of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs speaking at the gathering. In the bottom-right image, a youth presents a poetic reading. Diverse social actors can be seen in the bottom-left image.
South Africa
In South Africa, the commemoration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing focused on the themes of the role of religion in society, particularly in promoting the equality of women and men.
The gathering included representatives of government, faith communities, civil society, and industry. Kgothatso Ntlengetwa, a consultant for the country’s industrial sector, stated: “I was touched by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words that the education of girls is of paramount importance, for the mother is the first educator of the child.”Pictured here are attendees at the gathering. In the top-right image are Father Christophe Boyer of the Catholic community (left) and Shemona Moonilal, a member of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs (right). In the lower-left image are Joshua Masha, a member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa and Rev. Thandiwe Ntlengetwa.
Sweden
A seminar to mark the centenary held at the Swedish Parliament by the country’s Bahá’í community brought parliamentarians, representatives of faith communities, and other social actors together to explore ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s contributions to thinking on governance.
An interfaith panel moderated by Member of Swedish Parliament Thomas Hammarberg examined how the principle of the oneness of humanity can be the basis of new systems of governance.The top-left image above shows the panel discussion. From to right: Chitra Paul, Hindu Forum Sweden; Shahram Mansoory, Swedish Bahá’í Community; Ute Steyer, The Official Council of Swedish Jewish Communities; Peter Lööv Roos, Church of Sweden; Anas Deneche, Islamic Cooperation Council; and the moderator, Member of Parliament Thomas Hammarberg.
In the bottom-right image, Augusto Lopez-Claros, executive director of the Global Governance Forum, can be seen giving keynote remarks at the gathering.
The bottom-left image shows members of parliament Diana Laitinen Carlsson (left) and Mattias Vepsä (right).
United Arab Emirates
At Expo 2020, a major international exhibition being held this year in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the country’s Bahá’í community brought together representatives of several faith communities for a panel discussion titled “Exploring the role of faith-based communities in promoting tolerance and coexistence.”
The discussion addressed themes of harmony and collaboration among people of all faiths, which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá promoted throughout His life.The top image above shows the panelists (left to right): Surender Singh Kandhari, chairman of Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, Dubai; Mr. Ross Kriel, a representative of the Jewish community in Dubai; Pandit Sahitya Chaturvedi, representative of the Hindu Community at Shri Krishna Temple; Ashis Kumar Barua, a senior member of the Buddhist Welfare Society, UAE; Bishop Paul Hinder, the Catholic Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia; and the moderator, Roeia Thabet of the UAE Bahá’í community.
The bottom images show a youth workshop at Expo 2020 that was held by the Bahá’í community in parallel with the panel discussion on the role of youth in contributing to social transformation.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Bahá’í Faith marked the centenary with a reception at Portcullis House next to the Houses of Parliament in London. The gathering was attended by more than 80 guests, including members of parliament and representatives of religious communities and non-governmental organizations.
Minister for Faith Kemi Badenoch, one of the attendees, stated: “Today’s reception is to commemorate the centenary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who, like His father, Bahá’u’lláh, devoted His time and efforts to promoting peace and unity. His life helped to pave the way to the vibrant Bahá’í community we have today in this country… And it’s a community that makes an important contribution to public life… always with the aim of demonstrating a moral commitment to society.”In the top-left image above, Shirin Fozdar-Foroudi of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of the UK (left) speaks with Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, MP, and Ruth Jones, MP.
The top-right image shows Kemi Badenoch, Minister for Faith, speaking at the gathering.
The bottom-right image shows two members of the UK Bahá’í community with Jim Shannon, MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion of Belief (rear-left), Martin Vickers, MP (center), and Fiona Bruce, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (front-right).
In the bottom-left image the Rev. Dr. Reynaldo F. Leão-Neto of the Methodist Church speaks with a member of the UK Bahá’í community.The reception included presentations by youth engaged in Bahá’í community-building activities about their efforts to serve their society (top-left), musical interludes (top-right), and a talk by Shirin Fozdar-Foroudi, member of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of the UK (bottom).",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1565,2021-12-10,"[1559, 1557, 1551]",Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing: Short documentary on centenary commemoration in the Holy Land released,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — A short documentary about the recent gathering held at the Bahá’í World Centre to commemorate the centenary of the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was released today.
This 13-minute documentary highlights moments from the spiritually charged centenary gathering, which was attended by representatives of Bahá’í communities from nations and regions around the world.
The film can be viewed above and on YouTube.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1566,2021-12-14,"[1536, 1294, 1544]",Papua New Guinea: Bahá’í Most Holy Book published in Tok Pisin,"PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh’s Most Holy Book, has been translated into Tok Pisin, the most widely spoken of the hundreds of languages in Papua New Guinea.
“This is a wonderful development, which provides many people with access to the transformative words of Bahá’u’lláh in their own tongue,” says Confucius Ikoirere, Secretary of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Papua New Guinea.
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas is Bahá’u’lláh’s book of laws, first penned in Arabic in about 1873 while He was still imprisoned within the city of ‘Akká. The first authorized translation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas was published in English in 1992, the year that marked the centenary of the passing of Bahá’u’lláh, followed by translations in other languages over the past three decades.
Mr. Ikoirere, recalling that significant year, states: “The Kitáb-i-Aqdas was treated with great reverence and respect upon its release in English. Special structures were built in many communities throughout the country to house copies of this precious book.”
Marsha Milani, who led the translation effort, describes the undertaking to make Bahá’u’lláh’s Kitáb-i-Aqdas available in Tok Pisin: “After years of experience in translating many other of His writings into this language, it only then became possible for work to begin on the Most Holy Book.”
She continues: “Tok Pisin speakers from different regions of the country were closely involved in the process, as there are considerable differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar from region to region.”
Mr. Ikoirere explains that a meticulous refinement and review process, which began in 2017, has ensured that the Tok Pisin translation sounds familiar to all speakers of this language.
“The Word of God has limitless potency. It has the power to transform,” continues Mr. Ikoirere. “I think there will be significant effects on the lives of the people in Papua New Guinea and the communities that they live in.”",PORT MORESBY,,Papua New Guinea
1567,2021-12-15,"[1564, 1561, 1523]",Turkey: Mayor of Edirne marks centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing,"EDIRNE, Turkey — On the occasion of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing, the Mayor of Edirne, Recep Gürkan, and a representative of the Bahá’í community, Şemsettin Öztürk, recently met to discuss the significance of that city in Bahá’í history and its connection to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and a small band of believers lived in Edirne, known at that time as Adrianople, as exiles for over four years before being banished to ‘Akká.
Mr. Gürkan recently released a message to mark the centenary. The message reads, in part: “I respectfully commemorate the centenary of the passing of His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá… Who also once lived in our city Edirne. … The existence of your community in Edirne, where various cultures and faiths have been living together for hundreds of years, adds to the city’s cultural richness and fills us with happiness.”The mayor’s message continues: “We are inviting all the Bahá’ís throughout the world to visit the Bahá’í Holy Places in Edirne, and consequently our city. It is our belief that as cultural envoys of Edirne, the Bahá’ís of the world will offer their contributions directed at promoting our city. We extend our warm greetings from Edirne, which bears the footsteps of His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, on the centenary of His passing.”  A number of signs labelled “Bahá’í House” mark the location of a house in Edirne where Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and their families lived as exiles.",EDIRNE,,Turkey
1568,2021-12-17,"[1469, 1519, 1495]",BIC New York: UN Calls on Iran to end religious discrimination ,"BIC NEW YORK — The United Nations General Assembly has called on the Iranian government to end its discrimination of minorities in Iran, including of the Bahá’í community, Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority. The vote confirms a Third Committee resolution passed in November.
The resolution, endorsed by the General Assembly’s 76th session and introduced by Canada and 47 co-sponsors from all regions, passed by 78 votes in favor, with 31 against and 69 abstentions.
“The international community has, yet again, used its highest forum to call on the Islamic Republic to abide by its human rights commitments and to respect the rights of the Bahá’ís,” said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations. “We are grateful for this constant support—and we hope the Iranian government will heed this call.”
Resolutions on Iran’s human rights situation have been tabled and approved since the early 1980s—making it one of the UN’s most enduring and troubling human rights concerns. The Bahá’ís face harassment and intimidation, arbitrary detention in violation of due process, incitement to hatred in the media and from the pulpit, denial of business licenses and livelihoods, denial of access to higher education and confiscations of property.
One of the latest incidents, in the village of Kata, saw thirteen irrigated farmlands belonging to Bahá’ís listed for public auction without their permission. The auction came during a serious water shortage in Iran, which may have been a pretext by authorities who for years have tried to expropriate Bahá’í-owned assets.
Numerous other instances of persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran—a constant since the 1979 Islamic Revolution—have also been reported over recent months. Lands belonging to Bahá’ís in Semnan, Roshankouh, and Ivel have been confiscated; hate propaganda articles have increased; new evidence has emerged of the religious prejudice motivating Iran’s policy of banning Bahá’ís from higher education; and official documents have come to light that detail measures ordered by security services to suppress the Bahá’í community.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1569,2021-12-19,"[1557, 1223]",Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Plans for marble presented at press conference in Italy,"MILAN, Italy — Journalists from over 55 media outlets across Italy attended a press conference in Milan on Thursday to learn about the preparation of the marble that will clad the underside of the trellis, the central plaza of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the eight columns of the main edifice.
“The design is a work of art. This structure takes on a particularly significant meaning because it is for the resting place of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” said Silvio Xompero, president of Margraf, the Italian marble company that also cut and chiseled the marble for the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the International Bahá’í Archives building, the terraces in the Bahá’í Gardens in Haifa, and the Bahá’í Houses of Worship in India and Samoa.
Reflecting on the relationship between architecture and sacred spaces, Mr. Xompero further described how the trellis and skylights are designed to evoke spiritual feelings. “Once completed, every person visiting the Shrine will be able to look up from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s resting place, peer into the sky, and feel a connection between heaven and earth. It will be marvelous.”  Hossein Amanat, who was selected by the Universal House of Justice as the architect for the project, spoke about the design of the Shrine and its surrounding environs: “Every part of the Shrine, including the avenues and spaces in the gardens, has been designed to facilitate meditation.”Other attendees at the press conference included Hossein Amanat, who was selected by the Universal House of Justice as the architect for the project, Sohrab Youssefian, liaison between the project and Margraf, and two members of Italy’s Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly.
“Every part of the Shrine, including the avenues and spaces in the gardens, has been designed to facilitate meditation,” said Mr. Amanat.
Describing the impact of the project on those involved in the stonework, Mr. Amanat stated: “The very atmosphere in the factory seems different. The workers have treated this project as something sacred, working with reverence and dignity.”
Mr. Youssefian spoke further about the sacred nature of the project: “The Shrine evokes the concept of the sacred for every visitor.
“Since the end of the Second World War, the Bahá’í community has had a very special relationship with Margraf. We have always understood each other. With their talent, they have transformed marble into something ethereal, worthy of the sacred.”  Journalists from over 55 media outlets across Italy attended the press conference in Milan and had the opportunity to learn about and the sacred nature of the project and the complexities of its construction.Alessandro Peotta, head of the Margraf Technical Office, echoed these sentiments, stating: “What was once a sculptor’s workspace has become an artist’s workshop.”
Mr. Peotta likened this project to earlier ones when the company had to devise new techniques. “In the Chiampo valley, memories of the construction of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice still evoke amazement,” he said.
“The inhabitants of the valley have many stories about that special period. Just as new techniques were devised 40 years ago, the same is happening again today.”
The fabrication of the marble has required newly developed machinery that can cut the stone directly from 3D models with extreme precision—a requirement of the project given the curved surfaces of the domed trellis.",MILAN,,Italy
1570,2021-12-24,[],Bahá’í Media Bank: Photo of opening pages of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament published,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — An image of the opening pages of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament—a document written in three parts between 1901 and 1908—has been published for the first time and is being made available on the Bahá’í Media Bank.
This and the addition of four newly colorized images of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have been timed to coincide with the period of the centenary of His passing.
The Bahá’í Media Bank, created in 2006, is a repository of visual resources for communities worldwide, publishers, journalists, videographers, and students, among others.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1571,2021-12-30,"[1559, 1091, 804, 418]",Counsellors’ conference begins,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors commenced this morning.
The gathering of the senior officers of the Bahá’í Faith began with the reading of a major message from the Universal House of Justice addressed to the conference. The message highlights the priorities before the worldwide Bahá’í community in its efforts to foster social transformation and provides insights for the community’s future development.
In the opening lines of its message, the House of Justice calls to mind one of Bahá’u’lláh’s statements about the purpose for which all human beings have been created: “that they may work for the betterment of the world and live together in concord and harmony.”
The message states: “Building a society that consciously pursues this collective purpose is the work of not only this generation, but of many generations to come.”  The International Teaching Centre BuildingDescribing the attitude of Bahá’ís toward the collective enterprise in which they are engaged, the message explains that they recognize how “true religion” can “transform hearts and overcome distrust,” and so, “with confidence in what the future holds, they labor to cultivate the conditions in which progress can occur.”
In their deliberations on the message of the House of Justice, the Counsellors will reflect on how the society-building power of the Bahá’í teachings can enable humanity’s movement toward a more peaceful world in the coming decades.
Every five years, the Universal House of Justice appoints a total of 90 Counsellors around the world, who organize their work through five Continental Boards.
The Counsellors work to support elected Bahá’í Spiritual Assemblies by promoting learning within the Bahá’í community and stimulating the development of a vibrant pattern of community life. In the institution of the Counsellors, the Bahá’í community has a system through which the lessons learned in the remotest spots on the globe can benefit the worldwide Bahá’í community in its efforts to apply the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1572,2021-12-31,"[1478, 1561, 1558]",2021 in review: A momentous year,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — As 2021 comes to a close, the Bahá’í World News Service looks back on a momentous year that included marking of the occasion of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing.
The images below show only a tiny fraction of the unnumbered efforts undertaken by people and communities throughout the world who have been inspired by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example of love for humankind and of selfless service to society.
Pursuing social and economic development endeavors
This year, the News Service reported on various examples of advances in Bahá’í social and economic development endeavors.An emergency committee established by the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Honduras early in the pandemic has been able to adapt to assist with new crises.Despite ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic, the Bahá’ís of the country have been contributing to social progress, most recently forming an emergency committee to provide relief for fellow citizens.In an article titled “The struggle for their streets,” the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) highlighted the vibrant community life that is taking shape in a Sydney neighborhood through gatherings for prayer, discussion, and music, which has given rise to an initiative that produces songs expressing the youth’s highest aspirations for their society.In Cambodia, the efforts of young adolescents to improve air quality and provide shelter from the heat had the added benefit of preventing a patch of road from eroding when floods hit.In New Zealand, youth engaged in Bahá’í community-building efforts have been inspiring their peers with music that responds to social issues that have been heightened during the pandemic.In Brazil, a group of youth participating in Bahá’í community-building efforts drew on government support to remove 12 tons of trash from the area around a local river.
Participating in the discourses of society
This past year, the News Service covered a variety of stories on the efforts of the Bahá’í International Community and national Bahá’í communities worldwide to contribute to societal discourses.At the 65th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the contributions by the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) focused on the need for models of leadership to be reconceptualized and included a statement titled Leadership for a Culture of Equality, in Times of Peril and Peace.A BIC film, titled “Glimpses into the Spirit of Gender Equality,” marked the 25th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action that resulted from the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The film reflects on advances made toward the goals for gender equality articulated in the declaration.The BIC Brussels Office and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization initiated a seminar series to examine the relationship between agriculture, rural sustainability, and migration.A BIC statement to the 59th session of the UN Commission for Social Development underscored the moral dimensions of technology.A gathering held by the BIC Brussels Office prompted discussion among municipal leaders and policymakers on the role of urban development in fostering social change in highly diverse neighborhoods.A discussion, titled “The Media, the Narrative, the People & their Leaders,” organized by the BIC, brought together journalists to explore how news media can build unity as part of the BIC’s wider efforts to contribute to the discourse on the role of media in society.The BIC Addis Ababa Office brought together scientists and faith leaders to examine how science and religion can guide an effective response to the environmental crisis.Representatives of the Bahá’í International Community participated in discussions at the COP26 climate summit, exploring the moral dimensions of climate action.The Bahá’ís of Vanuatu brought together representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Education, village chiefs, and different social actors to reflect together on the role of moral education in society.Over 2,000 women, men, youth, and children from Baraka, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the surrounding area gathered to explore insights about the advancement of women gained through the decades-long efforts of the Bahá’ís of the region aimed at social progress.In the Guéra region of Chad, some 30 traditional chiefs from the area gathered in the village of Baro to discuss the future of their people.A national gathering on coexistence held by the Bahá’ís of Bahrain brought together Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, representing the king of Bahrain, and other prominent people to reflect on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s call for peace.Members of Canada’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs at the inauguration of the all-party interfaith caucus for a rare dialogue about the role of faith in governance.A unique forum initiated by the Bahá’ís of the United Arab Emirates has been bringing together religious leaders for profound discussions about the role of religion in society.In Papua New Guinea, an event marking World Religion Day brought together faith communities for a first-of-its-kind gathering to pave a path for greater harmony in their society.The centenary of the first race amity conference held by the American Bahá’í community was marked by a three-day symposium exploring racial unity and social change.A course offered by the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland has been exploring societal issues in the light of moral principles, such as the elimination of prejudice.In Australia, the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs has been stimulating profound discussions among government officials, social actors, journalists, faith communities, and others in gatherings across states and territories in the country.The Bahá’ís of Malaysia have been fostering constructive dialogue among a cross-section of their society about how all people can contribute to greater social cohesion.The Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of Kazakhstan has been bringing together journalists for profound discussions on the ethical and moral dimensions of journalism within the broader context of creating a more cohesive society.In Slovakia, the Bahá’ís of that country have been exploring new conceptions of human nature, challenging common notions about migration and fostering greater participation of migrants in the life of society.A new research paper jointly released by the Bahá’í Chair for Studies in Development at Devi Ahilya University in Indore, India, and the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP) explores how communities draw on principles, such as the oneness of humankind and humanity’s interconnectedness with nature, in their efforts to contribute toward the common good.The Bahá’í Nineteen Day Feast—regular gatherings dedicated to prayer, consultation, and fellowship—was added to Singapore’s intangible cultural heritage list, stimulating thinking in the country about consultation as a means for achieving greater unity among diverse groups of people.The Bahá’ís of Azerbaijan launched “Discourse TV,” a video program featuring profound conversations on topics such as the equality of women and men and the role of media in society.A program prepared by the Bahá’ís of Chile and broadcast on a national media network offered perspectives on how people can remain hopeful and respond constructively to the health crisis.A discussion series among journalists initiated by the Bahá’ís of Jordan inspired a new radio show that provides a public forum for the exploration of how to lead a coherent life and how to be a source of social good.A podcast by the Bahá’ís of Ireland titled Comhrá—meaning friendly conversation in Irish—has been providing a window into grassroots responses to issues facing society.The annual conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, held this year in Ottawa, Canada, brought together over 2,500 people to reflect on their efforts to contribute to a wide variety of areas of thought and discourse.
Establishment of new Bahá’í National Spiritual Assemblies
This year saw the election of two new National Spiritual Assemblies.At its first ever national convention, held in Zagreb, the Bahá’í community of Croatia elected the country’s Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly.The historic election of the first Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Timor-Leste took place amid tireless efforts to respond to the devastating floods in the country.
Persecution of the Bahá’ís in IranAs the persecution of the Bahá’ís of Iran continued, an extraordinary wave of support for them followed, evoking a global outcry from government officials, leaders of thought, civil society organizations, activists, religious leaders, artists, prominent Iranians, and many others. One notable instance was the response of government officials, prominent figures, and many people around the world to an effort drawing attention to the Iranian government’s decades-long campaign of hate speech and propaganda against Iranian Bahá’ís.
Publications online and in print
The past year saw the release of many publications in honor of the centenary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.A volume of newly translated tablets penned by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was released, recounting aspects of the life of Bahá’u’lláh, the tribulations He endured, and the purpose of His Faith.The Kitáb-i-Aqdas was published in Icelandic and Tok Pisin for the first time.New essays honoring the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were released by the Bahá’í World publication.Bahai.org saw a major redesign on the 25th year since its launch.Countless people and communities around the world created a vast number of publications inspired by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life of service to humanity.
Bahá’í Houses of Worship
The News Service reported on progress in the construction of Houses of Worship in several countries this past year and covered stories on how these temples have been infusing their communities with the spirit of service and worship.The opening of a local temple in Matunda Soy, Kenya—the first of its kind in the continent of Africa—was celebrated by thousands of people nearby and across that country as a momentous step in the spiritual journey of their people.A dedication ceremony for the opening of the House of Worship in Vanuatu included Prime Minister Bob Loughman and other government officials, traditional chiefs, and some 3,000 attendees.A significant milestone was reached with the completion of the superstructure of the House of Worship in Papua New Guinea.A historic groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction for the first local Bahá’í House of Worship in India.The emerging temple in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been inspiring growing numbers of people to action, contributing to the material and spiritual progress of their society.
Construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
This year saw many advances in the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, including the completion of the plaza walls and the start of work on the trellis.These snapshots from the past year show aspects of the progress on the construction of the Shrine.Journalists across Italy attended a press conference in Milan to learn about the preparation of the marble that will clad the underside of the trellis of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the eight columns of the main edifice.
Restoration of Bahá'í Holy Places
Restoration and conservation work was carried out on the Mansion of Mazra'ih and the House of ‘Abbúd.The project to preserve the Mansion of Mazra‘ih saw significant progress, most notably with conservation work being carried out on Bahá’u’lláh’s room.A two-year-long restoration project on the House of ‘Abbúd concluded, strengthening its seismic resistance while restoring parts of the building that had deteriorated over time.
Commemoration of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing
The centenary gave rise to countless endeavors throughout the world that inspired hope and offered a vision of a more peaceful world.Exemplar, a film commissioned by the Universal House of Justice for the occasion, was released.Global preparations for the commemoration of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing gave rise to an outpouring of artistic expressions inspired by His life and work.Preparations for the centenary also led to a surge in films, podcasts, and other media productions that cast light on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life of unremitting service to humanity.Several events held in Haifa and ‘Akká welcomed municipal officials and area residents to mark the centenary at historic sites associated with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.Representatives of Bahá’í communities from nations and regions around the world arrived in Haifa for a historic gathering at the Bahá’í World Centre to commemorate the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.In the early hours of Saturday, 27 November, attendees of the centenary gathering assembled in the courtyard of the Haifa Pilgrim House, adjacent to the Shrine of the Báb, in a solemn and reverent atmosphere to mark the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.National Bahá’í communities around the world brought together diverse social actors to explore some of the universal principles embodied by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.On 27 November, centenary gatherings encircled the globe, inspiring countless people to consider the implications of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s call for universal peace for their lives.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1573,2022-01-04,"[1571, 1264, 1092]",Counsellors look ahead as conference concludes ,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, which commenced on Thursday, came to a conclusion today with the reading of a message of the Universal House of Justice addressed to the Bahá’ís of the world.
The message states: “The global challenges now facing humanity are a severe test of its willingness to put aside short-term self-interest and come to terms with this stark spiritual and moral reality: there is but one, interconnected human family and it shares one precious homeland.”
The discussions of the Counsellors over the past six days explored how the worldwide Bahá’í community can intensify its efforts to contribute to social progress predicated on the spiritual principle of oneness.  The Counsellors spending time in the environs of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh in quiet contemplation.In their analysis, the Counsellors concluded that achieving this aim is dependent on significantly extending the reach of Bahá’í educational programs that build capacity for service, at the heart of which is faith in the ability of a population to become the protagonists of its own development.
Following the closing of the conference, the Counsellors visited the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh in procession to pray for the well-being of humanity and to spiritually prepare themselves for the consultations that will follow among geographic groups over the coming days.
The great majority of the Counsellors were present in the Holy Land, while some who could not travel joined remotely. The consultations were translated into 6 languages simultaneously throughout the meeting.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1574,2022-01-05,"[1551, 1571, 1260]",“Glimpses of a Hundred Years of Endeavour”: New film looks at journey of global Bahá’í community,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Glimpses of a Hundred Years of Endeavour, a film commissioned by the Universal House of Justice, was released today on Bahai.org.
The film provides insight into a hundred years of endeavor and learning since the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921, carried out by a burgeoning Bahá’í community, and outlines the journey that has led to the community’s current efforts to contribute to the emergence of a world organized around the principle of the oneness of humanity.
The 66-minute film is available in Arabic, English, French, Persian, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. The film can also be viewed on YouTube.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1575,2022-01-09,"[1571, 1573]",Counsellors’ return marks start of new journey for Bahá’í world,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The consultations of the Boards of Counsellors that had begun immediately after their conference have today concluded, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the development of the global Bahá’í community.
The consultations of the past few days were enriched by the wealth of insights that emerged from a global perspective uniquely available to the conference of the Counsellors held from 30 December 2021 to 4 January 2022.
The focus of the Counsellors’ discussions over the past few days has been on promoting within each continent the unified, systematic endeavors of Bahá’í communities at the local, regional, and national level. These endeavors involve educational programs that build capacity for community-building, as well as social action and participation in societal discourses.
The Counsellors, spiritually uplifted by visits to the Holy Shrines and Holy places, enlightened by the guidance of the Universal House of Justice, and illuminated by the insights gained from their colleagues, are now departing the Holy Land, ready to radiate the absorbed spiritual energy and insights back to the Bahá’í world in the lead up to thousands of global conferences that will be held in the coming weeks and months.
The House of Justice has stated that these conferences will enable communities “to examine anew the possibilities before them to release the society-building powers of the Faith” in their efforts to put into action “Bahá’u’lláh’s universal summons to work for the betterment of the world.”  Aerial photo of the Counsellors on the steps of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1576,2022-01-13,"[1552, 1367, 1564]",Officials and other dignitaries in Holy Land honor ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — A reception held in Haifa last week brought together government officials, diplomats, civil society leaders and leaders of Faith communities—Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze—to mark the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing and to honor His enduring legacy in the Holy Land and beyond.
President of Israel Isaac Herzog addressed the gathering in a video message, stating: “‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life story reflected His message of kindness, compassion, and the unending drive toward moral perfection—for us as individuals and for humanity as a collective.
“‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s call to see what unites rather than what divides, His profound belief in our common humanity, and His vision of peace on earth continues to reverberate from His mortal resting place right here in the Holy Land.”  Leaders of faith communities—Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze—participated in the gathering.The president continued: “On this centenary of His passing, may ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s memory be a blessing to us all, and may the wisdom of His teachings bring comfort and inspiration to a world in need of healing and help move humanity closer to a vision of unity and peace.”
Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem, who attended the reception, spoke about the city’s historical connection to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Dr. Kalisch-Rotem also expressed her deep appreciation of the Bahá’í World Centre and her eager anticipation for the return of pilgrims and visitors to the area.  Mayor of Haifa Einat Kalisch-Rotem spoke at the gathering about the city’s connection to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.Other attendees, conveying their gratitude for the event, stated that this and other such gatherings held by the Bahá’í World Centre have served as a beacon of hope and allowed people to transcend their differences.
Guests had the opportunity to view an exhibit about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and to watch a short film titled Shelter for All Mankind that highlights aspects of His life of service in the Holy Land, where He was known to local residents as ‘Abbás Effendi.  Guests had the opportunity to view an exhibit about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s contributions to the development of the Bahá’í community and His tireless efforts to promote the oneness of humanity.“‘Abbás Effendi was a truly unique individual,” said David Rutstein, Secretary-General of the Bahá’í International Community. “Bahá’u’lláh referred to Him in many ways, just a few of which were ‘The Master,’ and ‘the Mystery of God.’ But ‘Abbás Effendi took the sole title of ‘‘Abdu’l-Bahá’—the servant of the Glory.
“Indeed, His life remains an example of servitude, still inspiring humanity over 100 years after His passing,” said Dr. Rutstein.
These sentiments were reflected in the diversity of cultures and regions of the world represented at the gathering by the members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors who had travelled to Haifa from all parts of the world for a special conference.  Attendees at the gathering included diplomatic staff representing many different countries, seen here with some of the members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors.Yair Lapid, Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, in a video message, stated: “Thank you for making Israel a more diverse, spiritually richer, and more beautiful place. Thank you for sharing with us your culture and Faith and for showing the world another angle of this special land.”",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1577,2022-01-19,"[1476, 1381, 1546]",“This homeland shelters all”: Bahá’ís mark 100 year history in Tunisia,"TUNIS, Tunisia — The Bahá’ís of Tunisia are marking a century since ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent an Egyptian Bahá’í named Sheikh Muḥyí’d-Dín Sabrí to Tunisia with a message of peace and unity.
In what turned out to be a pivotal moment in the history of the Bahá’ís of that country, Sheikh Muḥyí’d-Dín Sabrí encountered a group of young people in the main boulevard of Tunis who became inspired by the Bahá’í Faith’s vision of a peaceful world founded on spiritual principles, such as humanity’s essential oneness. Shortly thereafter, these youth fully embraced the Bahá’í teachings, dedicating their lives to serving their society.  Pictured above are some of the young people who embraced the Bahá’í teachings shortly after their encounter with Sheikh Muḥyí’d-Dín Sabrí (top-left) at the main boulevard in Tunis seen in these images.One hundred years on, the Bahá’ís of Tunisia are pursuing that same vision, most recently holding a discussion panel on peaceful coexistence on that same boulevard where people go for friendly conversations with others just as people did then.
The gathering was held by the country’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs, bringing together some 50 journalists, academics, religious leaders, and civil society representatives to explore in particular how societies can overcome violence.
Mohamed Ben Moussa of the Office of External Affairs explains that the issue of violence in contemporary society has to be addressed in many different contexts on the path of social progress, including in the context of the family, education, media, and sports.
“It’s important to identify the root causes of violence,” he says. Reflecting on this idea, Mr. Ben Moussa explains that confronting violence begins at the level of thought.  Members of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of Tunisia participating in various forums on different societal discourses, including equality between women and men, social justice, and coexistence.Drawing on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings, he states: “When a thought of war comes, we have to oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love.”
This topic in particular was of great interest among journalists at the gathering, who discussed the impact of media on peoples’ perceptions of their society. Rim Ben Khalife, a journalist at the gathering, spoke of the vital role of media in promoting a culture of coexistence and acceptance of differences. “The media, in a frenetic search for larger audiences and under financial pressures, can sometimes lose sight of its social and cultural role in increasing awareness and consciousness, and can itself sometimes become an inciter of violence.”  Pictured here is one of many devotional gatherings held in Tunisia that enrich the spiritual life of communities throughout that country.Ms. Ben Khalife spoke further about the desire of growing numbers of journalists to overcome these challenges and foster a media environment that inspires professionals in that field and society in general to become more accepting of differences.
Afifa Bousarirah bin Hussein, a member of the Bahá’í community of Tunisia, echoed this sentiment, stating: “In order to not only transcend our differences but to build a peaceful society, we have to devote ourselves to the principle of unity in diversity. This homeland shelters all.”
The gathering, attended by some 20 journalists, was covered in major newspapers in Tunisia and included a screening of two short films exploring the Bahá’í community’s contributions to greater coexistence in that country over the last 100 years.",TUNIS,,Tunisia
1578,2022-01-22,"[1532, 1507, 1480]",Spirit of service inspires immediate response to floods in Malaysia ,"SHAH ALAM, Malaysia — When heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in different regions of  Malaysia last month, the spirit of service and collective action that had been fostered through Bahá’í community-building activities in and near affected areas was immediately channeled toward relief efforts.
A message from the Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia called on Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assemblies in that country to follow ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example, “remembering His all-embracing love for people of all nations, races, and beliefs,” and to “respond to the crying needs of... [their] fellow countrymen at this hour of need.”  The response efforts of local Bahá’í communities involved many people of all ages coordinating their actions to provide shelter and to distribute supplies, including materials for school children.Local Spiritual Assemblies moved to action, using Bahá’í centers as hubs for the collection and distribution of food, clothing, cleaning materials, and other essentials, while families throughout Malaysia opened their homes as shelters. In many instances, entire families and groups of people travelled long distances to affected areas to assist.
Among the first to respond were youth participating in community-building endeavors. Yamla Sathiyaseelan, a coordinator of Bahá’í educational programs in the city of Shah Alam, describes the experience of a group of young people near the Sri Muda neighborhood: “As soon as floodwaters had receded, groups of youth in the surrounding neighborhoods decided to take action.  Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in different regions of Malaysia last month.“Several youth groups in different neighborhoods quickly connected with one another to coordinate their efforts. After consulting with Bahá’í institutions, some of these youth arrived in Sri Muda to assist different families.”
One of the youth involved in the effort describes how the act of service by a few people can inspire yet more people to action, saying: “Our numbers were small, and we were very tired after the first day.
“That night, we sent out messages to people we knew, searching for more volunteers. More people came to help the next day, which allowed us to split up into a few different teams for cooking and packing meals, for distribution, and to assist families with cleaning their homes.”  Seen here are youth from different neighborhoods in the city of Shah Alam assisting with cleanup efforts after floodwaters had receded.The spiritual principle of consultation was key to the relief efforts in Bahá’í communities throughout Malaysia.
Mirshal Lourdusamy, a member of a local Bahá’í institution in Shah Alam, says: “The culture of consultation that has emerged from the community-building process is what helped us to plan and act immediately and to collaborate with organizations of civil society. Conversations were also initiated with different faith communities to combine strengths in the relief efforts.”  In many instances, entire families and groups of people quickly travelled long distances to affected areas to assist, working long hours into the night.Ms. Lourdusamy explains, ""Many people now see themselves as part of an extended family, and not just as strangers, friends, or acquaintances who happen to live next to one another.”
A member of the Local Assembly of Shah Alam, Lourdusamy Packiasamy, reflecting on recent efforts, states: “This disaster has shown us that when individuals, the community, and institutions work harmoniously together, their power to contribute to the well-being of their society is greatly multiplied.”",SHAH ALAM,,Malaysia
1579,2022-01-26,"[1521, 1438, 1560]",DRC: Superstructure of temple nears completion,"KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — The steel superstructure for the 26-meter-high dome of the national Bahá’í House of Worship in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is nearing completion, marking a significant advance in the construction work.
Houses of Worship are described in the Bahá’í teachings as vital institutions that exemplify in tangible form the integration of worship and service. This reality is becoming ever more apparent in the DRC, both at the site of the temple and throughout that vast country.
Progress on the construction work and glimmerings of the emerging temple’s effect on the spiritual life of surrounding communities is provided in the gallery of images below.Soon after the concrete structure of the ground floor and gallery level of the temple was completed (top), the structural steel elements needed for the dome superstructure arrived at the site (bottom).Workers assembled the steel elements on the ground into large segments of the superstructure, which were then lifted into place. Shown here is the installation of the first segment.The dome structure was raised in three main phases, each comprising a ring of nine segments. This structure rests on the gallery level, anchored to the nine concrete struts that also serve as stairs from the ground floor.A top-down view of the temple as the superstructure was being raised.Seen here are the beams at the apex of the dome—some 30 meters above ground level—being installed. Remaining elements to complete the structure are now being added.The outer walls of the temple’s ground level have also been built. They have been assembled from cinderblocks designed to create a tranquil atmosphere within the temple by allowing air to flow through while damping outside noise.Work on the gardens and paths surrounding the central edifice has included construction of a fountain, a stream, and a reflecting pool along the approach to the temple.Views of the reflecting pool and stream.Construction of a visitors’ center at the entrance of the site was recently completed.Pictured above is a covered outdoor gathering space next to the visitors’ center that will accommodate large groups of people and provide facilities for community activities.In other developments at the temple site, a newly launched internship program has been providing young people from different parts of the country with the opportunity to develop their professional skills in fields such as project management, design, accounting, construction, and landscaping, while encouraging them to apply these skills in service to their communities.
Divine, one of the youth participating in the initiative says, “Women do not have as many opportunities in fields such as architecture, logistics, planning, and construction. This program is marvelous because it provides women with an opportunity to advance in these fields while serving alongside their fellow citizens.
“When people serve together, they learn to support and assist one another. As the temple promotes the principles of service and worship in our society, of putting others before oneself, the very character of the country will change.”The two-month program includes classes facilitated by experienced professionals on and off site, and also includes study sessions in which participants discuss the needs of their communities and how they can be of service to their society.Seen here is a group of young people enrolled in the program converting a free-standing room on the site into a house.Before-and-after views of some of the auxiliary structures on the temple site that the youth renovated. Some former participants of the program have, after their return home, identified community spaces in need of repair and renovation, and are collaborating with other young people to pass on what they have learned through the program.Regular gatherings for prayer are taking place at the temple site, drawing together people of diverse backgrounds and faiths.People in communities throughout the DRC, inspired by the vision of Bahá’í Houses of Worship—referred to in the Bahá’í writings as a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, meaning “Dawning-place of the Praise of God”—are intensifying their activities toward the common good.",KINSHASA,,Democratic Republic of the Congo
1580,2022-01-30,"[1543, 1329, 1514]",Bahá’í World Publication: New article highlights efforts for racial justice in US,"BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The latest article published on The Bahá’í World website examines the American Bahá’í community’s efforts to counter the effects of racism.
“The Bahá’í Response to Racial Injustice and Pursuit of Racial Unity: Part 2” is the second of two articles on race in America.  Together, parts 1 and 2 survey over a century of Bahá’í efforts in the US to counter racial injustice and work for race unity against a backdrop of racial strife and tension in the country.
Part 2 looks at the period between 1996 and 2021 during which the worldwide Bahá’í community was set on a path of greater systematization of its endeavors to serve humanity, guided by the Universal House of Justice.
During that 25-year period, in areas “where developments had gone the furthest,” explain the authors, “the American Bahá’í community could see new models of community life emerging and glimpses of transformation at the grassroots. These lessons offered hope for genuine advancement in the community’s pursuit of race unity at the local and national levels.”
The Bahá’í World website presents a collection of essays and articles that explore themes of relevance to the progress and well-being of humanity, highlight advancements in the worldwide Bahá’í community at the levels of thought and action, and reflect on the dynamic history of the Bahá’í Faith.",BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE,,
1581,2022-02-02,"[1545, 1510, 1142]",United Kingdom: New podcast explores relationship between religion and media,"LONDON — A new podcast series, “In Good Faith,” exploring the relationship between religion and the media has been launched by the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs in the United Kingdom.
This podcast is part of the Office’s long-standing efforts to contribute to the discourse on the role of media in society. In recent years, the Office has brought together journalists, representatives of civil society, and leaders of faith communities to ask searching questions, such as how the media shapes public dialogue.  In recent years, the Office has brought together many journalists, representatives of civil society, and leaders of faith communities to ask searching questions such as how the media shapes public dialogue.“We’re finding that more and more journalists and media practitioners are interested in thoughtful discussions on how the relationship between religion and the media can evolve in a constructive way,” says Sophie Gregory of the Office of Public Affairs.
The first episode in the series explores the representation of religion in the media, bringing together Rizwana Hamid, Director of the Muslim Council of Britain’s Centre for Media Monitoring, and Rosie Dawson, a freelance religion journalist and former producer for BBC Radio.
Ms. Dawson states: “In order to have a more rounded representation of religion, there needs to be some sort of restraint on sensationalist news reporting, which sees things as black and white. … That is the most important change that could happen, I would imagine.”  The first episode in the “In Good Faith” podcast series brings together members of the Office of Public Affairs with Rizwana Hamid (bottom-right), Director of the Muslim Council of Britain’s Centre for Media Monitoring, and Rosie Dawson (bottom-left), a freelance religion journalist and former producer for BBC Radio.She argues that part of the challenge is that news coverage of people acting for the common good rarely reveals the source of motivation: their religious convictions. “You wouldn’t necessarily see it. … People don’t put up their hand to say ‘I’m doing this because I’m a Christian, or a Muslim.’ It’s just part of who they are.”
Ms. Gregory, reflecting on the future of the podcast, states: “We hope that ‘In Good Faith’ can stimulate deeper reflection on religion’s constructive powers for the betterment of society and the important role the media can play in channeling that power to promote harmony among people.”
The first episode of the podcast is available here.",LONDON,,United Kingdom
1582,2022-02-09,"[1496, 1444, 1320]",Chile House of Worship: How to foster prosperous cities,"SANTIAGO, Chile  — How can spiritual principles such as justice and oneness guide the development of cities, and how can large urban centers promote the participation of their citizens in decision-making processes?
These were some of the questions explored by civil society leaders, representatives of the Bahá’í community of Chile, and members of the public at a panel discussion titled “From social injustice and segregation to a new model of human-centered cities.” The event took place at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Santiago.
“To move toward a society that cares for the welfare of all requires a reconceptualization of prosperity—one that promotes harmony between the material and spiritual dimensions of human life,” said Veronica Oré, director of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Santiago, in her opening remarks.  Civil society leaders and representatives of the Bahá’ís of Chile exploring spiritual principles that can guide the development of cities for the well-being of all.The event was organized as part of “Open House Santiago,” a week-long city-wide initiative that stimulated public discussion at numerous venues on how environmental and urban design, architecture, and engineering can contribute to the quality of life of that city’s citizens.
Participants highlighted how the Bahá’í principle of consultation can enhance the effectiveness of public forums that attempt to address growing social disparities, such as in access to public services and education.
“Many conflicts in neighborhoods arise from the implementation of policies that do not take into account the views of local residents,” stated Danae Mlynarz, Director of the Latin American Center for Rural Development.  The discussion was hosted on the grounds of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Santiago, Chile.She added: “How many times have people been invited to join a public discussion only to learn that key decisions have already been made, and the meeting was held to simply validate the decisions taken by others who are distant from the local reality?”
Luis Sandoval of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs spoke about the role the House of Worship has played over the past several years in creating inclusive discussion spaces, bringing together government officials, leaders of faith communities, and thousands of the country’s citizens to consult together on the topic of social cohesion.  After the discussion, participants attended a devotional program held inside the temple.“The temple and its environs have become a center of attraction for all people who long to work for the renewal of their society. When people come here, they are uplifted by the temple’s spiritual atmosphere. They have the opportunity to consult with people from diverse backgrounds whom they would not have otherwise met,” he said.
Mr. Sandoval explained that the House of Worship holds tremendous potential for contributing to the transformation of Chilean society. “Visitors receive inspiration from reflecting on the principles of service and worship promoted by the temple—principles that resonate with the aspirations of the Chilean people.”
A recording of the discussion in Spanish is available here on the official YouTube channel of the Bahá’ís of Chile.",SANTIAGO,,Chile
1583,2022-02-16,"[1499, 1485, 1474]",BIC New York: Equality of women and men necessary for response to climate crises,"BIC NEW YORK  — A new statement by the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) proposes that the principle of equality of women and men will need to be intentionally woven into the processes of governance for fostering resilience in the face of the climate crisis.
“There have been many moments during the pandemic and in the wake of recent climate-induced disasters when humanity has shown its ability to come together. What these moments have shown is how essential a culture of equality is to an effective response,” says Saphira Rameshfar, a representative of the BIC.  The BIC statement provides some examples of the efforts of the global Bahá’í community to breaking down barriers to women’s participation in community and life and responses to crises. The BIC states: “Through moral educational programs, attitudes of unity and fellowship are instilled from a young age so that participants come to view each other as valued allies working for the well-being of their communities.”The statement is part of the contribution of the BIC to the 66th session of the United Nations’ (UN) Commission on the Status of Women, which will be held in March. The Commission is the UN’s principal annual global forum for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. It promotes women’s rights and shapes global standards for equality.
Titled “The Heart of Resilience: The Climate Crisis as a Catalyst for a Culture of Equality,” the BIC statement highlights the need for greater participation of women in the processes of governance, economics, education, and society, and explores how, amid mounting climate risks, “it is becoming clearer how much humanity benefits when women’s leadership is embraced and promoted at every level of society...”  Shown here are different forums hosted by Bahá’í communities around the world addressing the principles of consultation and gender equality.The statement reads, in part: “Recognition that a multiplicity of perspectives is a prerequisite for effective investigation into the challenges of society will need to characterize every deliberative setting. This would form part of the work of transforming spaces historically dominated by men into inclusive environments where all feel empowered to engage, and where men, motivated by a spirit of understanding, learn to genuinely consult and act in concert with women.”
It is precisely in times of turbulence, the BIC states, when profound opportunities exist to redefine collective values by re-examining the assumptions that underlie them.",BIC NEW YORK,,
1584,2022-02-22,"[1577, 1520, 1381]",“United in our diversity”: Tunisian faith communities sign coexistence pact,"TUNIS, Tunisia — At a recent press conference in Tunis, Tunisia, the faith communities of that country signed a jointly prepared “National Pact for Coexistence,” expressing their commitment to nurturing a more peaceful society.
“This initiative is a powerful sign of solidarity,” says Mohamad Ben Moussa of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs. “The pact shows that we are united in our diversity and presents a refreshing view of our society, one that acknowledges a growing consciousness of our essential oneness.”
The press conference, which was also attended by a representative of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and civil society organizations, received wide media coverage in Tunisia and elsewhere in the Arab region. The event was arranged by the interfaith organization Attalaki, meaning “a gathering.”  Pictured here is an image of the “National Pact for Coexistence,” signed by representatives of Tunisia’s faith communities, including Mohamed Ridha Belhassine of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of that country.The agreement, coauthored by representatives of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Bahá’í communities, articulates a set of shared values for the promotion of social harmony and is the culmination of close collaboration among religious and civil society leaders over the past several years.
One of the issues addressed by the pact is the vital role of women in the transformation of society.
Drawing on the Bahá’í principle of the equality of women and men, Mr. Ben Moussa states: “An important dimension of coexistence and a requirement for achieving a more peaceful society is the full participation of women in all spheres of life. We cannot achieve peace if half the population of our society is not recognized as equal to the other half.”
He adds: “This initiative places this essential truth foremost in our consciousness.”  The press conference for the signing of the pact received wide media coverage in Tunisia and elsewhere in the Arab region.The agreement also highlights the need for an end to rhetoric that incites hatred and casts segments of society as “the other,” and calls for enhancements to the country’s educational curriculum in order that young people may develop a greater appreciation for the diversity of Tunisian society.
The spokesperson for the interfaith initiative, Imam al-Khatib Karim Shaniba, stated that the pact aims to promote constructive societal patterns that are accepting of all religions and is a response to the voices that depict religions as being in conflict with each other. “Religious diversity enriches our society and provides wide scope for cooperation and coexistence,” he said at the press conference.  The Bahá’ís of Tunisia have been contributing to the discourse on coexistence, holding discussion forums on related issues such as the equality of women and men.Since the pandemic began, faith communities in Tunisia have been seeking opportunities to address their fellow citizens with one voice. In April 2020, the Bahá’ís of that country, as part of their ongoing participation in the discourse on coexistence, joined with other religious communities and civil society organizations to deliver a message of hope and assurance to their society, calling for both science and religion to guide an effective response to the health crisis.",TUNIS,,Tunisia
1585,2022-03-04,"[1487, 1548, 1525]",BIC: Re-envisioning the future of work,"BIC NEW YORK — The unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic have led many people throughout the world to reflect deeply on how they live and work. This has brought into sharper focus questions about the nature and purpose of work in a post-COVID world, prompting many discussions at the national and international levels on issues related to workplace culture.
“We need to rethink the purpose of work, which over the last few years has come to be seen by many people as being more than about acquiring material means or maximizing profits,” said Liliane Nkunzimana, a representative of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC), in her opening remarks at a discussion forum titled “A Future that Works: Consulting Across Generations to Build Prosperity.”  Participants of the BIC discussion forum included: Stefano Guerra (top-middle), an attaché of the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations; Erica Dhar (top-right), Director of Global Alliances for AARP International and member of the NGO Committee on Ageing at the UN; policymakers, and representatives of the BIC.The online event, which was jointly hosted by the New York Office of the BIC and the NGO Committee on Ageing during the 60th session of the United Nations’ Commission for Social Development, provided a unique forum for a discussion on principles around which work will need to be re-envisioned.
“Many conversations about the future of work are often focused on the impact of technology on work environments. Far less attention is given to identifying and applying values and principles that can enable new possibilities, principles such as unity, justice, collaboration, selflessness, and consultation,” said Ms. Nkunzimana.  A recording of this event can be viewed here.The application of such principles, however, is complex. In one of its previous statements, the BIC has noted that embracing these values would challenge widely-held assumptions underpinning current economic models—for example, that competition drives progress and that human beings perform best when promoting their own self-interests rather than working toward the common good.
Despite the various obstacles in re-envisioning the future of work, participants noted that the generosity and cooperation shown by many people, especially young people, in their personal and professional lives in response to COVID recovery efforts has provided new insights into human nature and a hopeful outlook.
The BIC plans to continue this conversation through a series of monthly forums on youth and social transformation. A recording of this event can be viewed here.",BIC NEW YORK,,