{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-archive-page-jsx","path":"/archive/41/","result":{"pageContext":{"strings":{"about":"About","additional_articles":"Additional Articles","administration":"Administration","africa":"Africa","all_bahaiorg_sites":"All Bahai.org Sites","all_sites":"All sites","all_sites_arising_serve":"Arising to Serve","all_sites_arising_serve_caption":"A film recounting highlights of the 41 regional Bahá’í conferences called by the Universal House of Justice in 2008","all_sites_bahai_org":"The official website of the worldwide Bahá’í community","all_sites_bahai_org_library":"Bahá’í Reference Library","all_sites_bahai_org_library_caption":"The authoritative online source of Bahá’í writings","all_sites_bahaullah_org":"The Life of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_bahaullah_org_caption":"A photographic narrative of the life of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_bic":"Bahá’í International Community Representative Offices","all_sites_bic_caption":"The official website of the Bahá’í International Community’s Representative Offices. The site contains news and information about recent activity and provides access to BIC statements, reports, and other publications","all_sites_bicentenary":"Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_bicentenary_bab":"Bicentenary of the Birth of The Báb","all_sites_bicentenary_caption":"The official international website for the bicentenary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_frontiers_learning":"Frontiers of Learning","all_sites_frontiers_learning_caption":"This film captures the insights and experiences of people from four communities across the world whose efforts to build vibrant communities are at the frontiers of learning","all_sites_light_to_the_world":"Light to the World","all_sites_light_to_the_world_caption":"A feature film about the life and teachings of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_media_bank":"Bahá’í Media Bank","all_sites_media_bank_caption":"Photographs available for downloading","all_sites_national_communities":"National Bahá’í Communities","all_sites_national_communities_caption":"A page containing links to the websites of many national Bahá’í communities from around the world","all_sites_news_bahai_org_caption":"The official news website of the worldwide Bahá’í community","all_sites_title":"Official Bahá’í Sites","all_sites_universalhouseofjustice_org":"The Universal House of Justice","all_sites_universalhouseofjustice_org_caption":"Information about the Universal House of Justice and selected statements and letters","all_sites_widening_embrace":"A Widening Embrace","all_sites_widening_embrace_caption":"A documentary film about the community-building efforts of the Bahá’í world","americas":"Americas","android":"Android","archive_results_to_of_a":"Results","archive_results_to_of_b":"to","archive_results_to_of_c":"of","asia":"Asia","back_to_story":"Back to Story","bahai_international_community":"Bahá'í International Community","bahai_media_bank":"Bahá’í Media Bank","bahai_reference_library":"Bahá’í Reference Library","bahai_world_centre":"Bahá’í World Centre","bahai_world_news_service":"Bahá’í World News Service","bahai_world_news_service_bwns":"Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","bahaiorg_home":"Bahai.org Home","bahais_semnan":"The Bahá’ís of Semnan","battambang_cambodia_house_worship":"House of Worship in Battambang, Cambodia","battambang_cambodia_temple":"Battambang, Cambodia Temple Inauguration","before_downloading_terms":"Before downloading please refer to the [Terms of use](/legal/).","bic_un_office":"Bahá’í International Community\nUN Office","brief_history":"Brief history","bwns_noTranslation":"BWNS","cdn_documentlibrary_path":"http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/","cdn_images_path":"//bwns.imgix.net/","chile_house_worship":"Chile House of Worship","chile_temple":"Chile Temple Inauguration","close":"Close","closed_doors_denial_education_iran":"Closed Doors: Denial of Education in Iran","comma":",","comprehensive_report":"Comprehensive report","contact":"Contact","contact_h1":"Contacting the Bahá’í World News Service","contact_h2":"Contacting Bahá’í institutions","contact_h3":"Reporting technical problems","contact_information":"Contact Information","contact_p1":"General inquiries about BWNS can be directed to [news@bahai.org](mailto:news@bahai.org). Information regarding news and media contacts is available in the [Media Information](/media-information/) section.","contact_p2":"The Bahá’í Faith is established in more than 100,000 localities in virtually every country and territory around the world. At the national level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are guided by National Spiritual Assemblies, and a list of websites for many national Bahá’í communities can be found at the [National Communities page](https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/) on Bahai.org.","contact_p3":"To report a technical problem with this site, please send a detailed description and screenshot of the issue, along with the address of the page where it occurred, to [webmaster@bahai.org](mailto:webmaster@bahai.org). Please note that this email address exists to receive reports of technical problems with the site and it is not possible to respond to other queries through this facility.","copy_link":"Copy Link","did_not_match_any_documents_showing_results_for":"did not match any documents. Showing results for","did_you_mean":"Did you mean:","download":"Download","download_highest_resolution":"Download highest resolution","email":"Email","email_address":"Email Address","enlarge":"Enlarge","error_page":"Error Occurred","error_page_p1":"Sorry. An error has occurred with your request. It would help us if you let us know what you were trying to do when this error occurred by using our [contact form](https://www.bahai.org/contact/).","europe":"Europe","featured_stories":"Featured stories","featured_videos":"Featured videos","follow_updates_via_instagram_twitter":"Follow the Bahá’í World News Service on Twitter and Instagram for regular updates and stories","from_bwns_archive":"From the Bahá’í World News Service archive","get_notified_stories":"Get notified of stories","highest_resolution":"Highest resolution","historical_photographs":"Historical photographs","homepage_feature_audio_h2":"Recent podcast episodes","homepage_feature_audio_h3":"Audio versions of stories","homepage_feature_audio_p1":"Selected audio content from around the globe","homepage_feature_h1":"Subscribe to BWNS Updates","houses_worship":"Houses of Worship","human_rights_iran":"Human Rights in Iran","images":"images","ios":"iOS","iran_news_stories":"Iran News Stories","key_terms_facts":"Key terms and facts","latest_headlines":"Latest headlines","latest_video_category":"Latest","legal":"Legal","legal_h1":"Privacy","legal_h2":"Terms of Use","legal_information":"Legal Information","legal_li_1":"They must at all times be attributed to the Bahá’í World News Service.","legal_li_2":"Photographs and stories cannot be used in any way (including, without limitation, suggesting an association with or endorsement of any product, service, opinion or cause) that conflicts with the intent and premise of the original source.","legal_li_3":"Photographs may be edited for size only. Captions must remain with the photographs at all times.","legal_li_4":"The Bahá’í World News Service will not be responsible to any person or organization for any liability for any direct, incidental,  consequential, indirect, or punitive damages that may result from any access to or use of the stories and/or photographs on our site.","legal_li_5":"Although this blanket permission to reproduce BWNS material is given freely such that no special permission is required, the Bahá’í World News Service retains full copyright protection for its stories and photographs under all applicable national and international laws.","legal_p1_1":"On this Web site we try to ensure your privacy. We collect only personal information provided by you on a voluntary basis, in order to respond to your queries and to send you any additional information and material that you request.","legal_p1_2":"Visitors to this Web site are not tracked, except to produce aggregate statistical data that does not identify individual users. Where we must use cookies to provide essential functionality, these are not used to track your use of the site or to store personally-identifiable information. Steps have been taken to ensure that all information collected from you will remain secure, free from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. Please keep in mind that if you leave this site via a link, the other site may have a different policy regarding privacy.","legal_p1_3a":"We occasionally update this privacy policy and encourage you to review it periodically. If you wish to correct your personal information, or have questions regarding this policy, please send an email message to","legal_p1_3b":"or call the Bahá’í World News Service at +972 (4) 835-8412, between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. GMT +2, Sunday through Thursday.","legal_p2_1":"All stories and photographs produced by the Bahá’í World News Service may be freely reprinted, e-mailed, posted to the World Wide Web and otherwise reproduced by any individual or organization, subject to the following restrictions:","legal_p2_2":"The Bahá’í World News Service is an agency of the Bahá’í International Community, a nongovernmental organization that represents and encompasses the five million members of the Bahá’í Faith.","links_other_websites":"Links to other Web sites","listen":"Listen","listen_bwns":"Listen to BWNS","load_more_results":"Load more results","media_bank":"Media Bank","media_information":"Media Information","media_information_about_bwns":"About BWNS","media_information_administration_h2":"International","media_information_administration_h3":"National","media_information_administration_h4":"Local","media_information_administration_p1":"The Bahá’í Faith is administered by a series of elected bodies at the local, national, and international levels. There is no class of ecclesiastics or clergy.","media_information_administration_p2":"The Universal House of Justice is the international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith. It is the supreme administrative body ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in His book of laws. The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years at the International Bahá’í Convention, where members of the National Spiritual Assemblies (see below) around the world serve as delegates. The Universal House of Justice was first elected in 1963. Its permanent seat is on Mount Carmel in Haifa.","media_information_administration_p3":"At the national level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the National Spiritual Assembly, a nine-member elected council responsible for guiding, co-ordinating, and stimulating the activities of Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual members of the Bahá’í community within a given country. The responsibilities of a National Spiritual Assembly include channelling the community’s financial resources, fostering the growth and vibrancy of the national Bahá’í community, supervising the affairs of the community including its social and economic development activities and its properties, overseeing relations with government, resolving questions from individuals and Local Spiritual Assemblies, and strengthening the participation of the Bahá’í community in the life of society at the national level.","media_information_administration_p4":"At the local level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the Local Spiritual Assembly. Each Local Assembly consists of nine members who are chosen in annual elections. As with all other elected Bahá’í institutions, the Assembly functions as a body and makes decisions through consultation. The responsibilities of the Local Spiritual Assembly include promoting the spiritual education of children and young people, strengthening the spiritual and social fabric of Bahá’í community life, assessing and utilizing the community’s resources, and ensuring that the energies and talents of community members contribute towards progress.","media_information_administration_p5":"In addition, the Bahá’í Faith has **counsellors**, appointed to five-year terms by the Universal House of Justice, who serve as advisers in countries and regions around the world. Currently there are 90 such counsellors assigned to specific countries or regions, and an additional nine counsellors who constitute the membership of the International Teaching Centre at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa.","media_information_administration_p6":"The Bahá’í International Community is a non-governmental organization that represents the worldwide Bahá’í community. It has been registered with the United Nations (UN) as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_a":"the Seat of the Universal House of Justice,","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_b":"the International Teaching Centre,","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_c":"the Centre for the Study of the Texts,","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_d":"the International Archives Building.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p1":"The spiritual and administrative center of the Bahá’í Faith is permanently established in the Acre-Haifa area of northern Israel, following the explicit instructions of Bahá’u’lláh.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p2":"The burial place, or shrine, of Bahá’u’lláh near Acre and that of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa are the holiest spots on earth for Bahá’ís. Other sites associated with the life of Bahá’u’lláh as well as the burial site of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are revered by Bahá’ís as holy places.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p3":"The shrines are the object of pilgrimage for thousands of Bahá’ís each year.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p4":"The administrative offices are positioned in an Arc across Mount Carmel in Haifa and include:","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p5":"Also in Haifa are the Bahá’í International Community’s Secretariat and Office of Public Information.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p6":"The Bahá’í World Centre is known for the gardens surrounding the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh near Acre, and also for the gardens and terraces surrounding the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p7":"At this time the Shrine of the Báb is open to the public.","media_information_brief_history_p1":"The Bahá’í Faith traces its origin to 1844 and the announcement by a young man, Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad, in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), that He had been sent by God to prepare humanity for a new age and the imminent appearance of another Messenger even greater than Himself.","media_information_brief_history_p10":"During the 40 years of His exile, Bahá’u’lláh revealed a series of books, tablets, and letters that today form the core of the **holy writings of the Bahá’í Faith**. Comprising the equivalent of some 100 volumes, the writings of Bahá’u’lláh describe the nature of God and the purpose of human existence, give new religious laws, and outline a vision for creating a peaceful and prosperous global society.","media_information_brief_history_p11":"In His will, Bahá’u’lláh named His eldest son, ‘Abbás Effendi (1844-1921), as the head of the Bahá’í Faith and authorized interpreter of His teachings. ‘Abbás Effendi, known to Bahá’ís as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (“Servant of Bahá”), became well-known in the Haifa/Acre area for his charitable works, and he also traveled through Europe and North America to encourage nascent Bahá’í communities and to proclaim Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings to the general public. The writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are considered part of the sacred scriptures of the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_brief_history_p12":"‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed away in 1921. In his will he had designated his grandson **Shoghi Effendi** (1897-1957) as his successor, with the title of **Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith**. During the ministry of Shoghi Effendi, the religion spread around the world, and its local and national administrative institutions were established. With the passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, the line of hereditary leaders of the Bahá’í Faith came to an end.","media_information_brief_history_p13":"Following provisions established by Bahá’u’lláh, in 1963 the **Universal House of Justice** was elected to direct the affairs of the worldwide Bahá’í community. The nine members of the Universal House of Justice are elected every five years by the members of the Bahá’í national administrative bodies around the world.","media_information_brief_history_p2":"Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad took the title of the **Báb** (meaning “Gate” in Arabic) and said the one whose coming He foretold would be the universal Manifestation of God sent to inaugurate an age of peace and enlightenment as promised in all the world’s religions.","media_information_brief_history_p3":"The Báb’s teachings, which spread rapidly, were viewed as heretical by the clergy and government of Persia. More than 20,000 of His followers, known as Bábís, perished in a series of massacres throughout the country.","media_information_brief_history_p4":"The Báb Himself was publicly executed in the city of Tabriz on 9 July 1850.","media_information_brief_history_p5":"Bahá’ís consider the Báb to be both an independent Messenger of God and the forerunner of **Bahá’u’lláh** (“the Glory of God” in Arabic), who is the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_brief_history_p6":"Bahá’u’lláh, whose name was Mírzá Husayn ‘Alí, was born into a noble family in Tehran on 12 November 1817. In His mid-20s, He declined a life of privilege and became one of the leading disciples of the Báb.","media_information_brief_history_p7":"In 1852, in the course of the persecution of the Bábís, He was arrested, beaten, and thrown into an infamous dungeon in Tehran. After four months, He was released and banished from His native land – the beginning of 40 years of exile and imprisonment.","media_information_brief_history_p8":"He was first sent to Baghdad, where He and His companions stayed for 10 years. In 1863, on the eve of His further banishment to what is now Turkey and then to the Holy Land, Bahá’u’lláh announced that He was the Universal Messenger of God foretold by the Báb.","media_information_brief_history_p9":"In 1868, Bahá’u’lláh arrived in the Holy Land with about 70 family members and followers, sentenced by the Ottoman authorities to perpetual confinement in the penal colony of Acre. The order of confinement was never lifted, but because of the growing recognition of His outstanding character, He eventually was able to move outside the walls of the prison city. He lived His final years at a country home called Bahjí, where He passed away in 1892. He was interred there, and His shrine is the holiest place on earth for Bahá’ís.","media_information_description":"Contacts, facts, style guide,\ngeneral information, and photos","media_information_h1":"National and local","media_information_h2":"International","media_information_h2_a":"Bahá’í World News Service","media_information_h2_b":"Bahá’í International Community","media_information_h2_c":"Bahá’í International Community - United Nations Offices:","media_information_h2_e":"For languages other than English:","media_information_houses_worship_li_1":"Wilmette, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1953.","media_information_houses_worship_li_2":"Kampala, Uganda. Opened in 1961.","media_information_houses_worship_li_3":"Sydney, Australia. Opened in 1961.","media_information_houses_worship_li_4":"Frankfurt, Germany. Opened in 1964.","media_information_houses_worship_li_5":"Panama City, Panama. Opened in 1972.","media_information_houses_worship_li_6":"Apia, Samoa. Opened in 1984.","media_information_houses_worship_li_7":"New Delhi, India. Opened in 1986.","media_information_houses_worship_li_8":"Santiago, Chile. Opened in 2016.","media_information_houses_worship_li_9":"Battambang, Cambodia. Opened in 2017.","media_information_houses_worship_li_10":"Norte del Cauca, Colombia. Opened in 2018.","media_information_houses_worship_li_11":"Matunda Soy, Kenya. Opened in 2021.","media_information_houses_worship_li_12":"Tanna, Vanuatu. Opened in 2021.","media_information_houses_worship_li_13":"Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Opened in 2023.","media_information_houses_worship_li_14":"Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Opened in 2024.","media_information_houses_worship_p1":"Bahá’u’lláh designated Bahá’í Houses of Worship as spiritual gathering places for prayer and meditation around which will cluster social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific institutions. Eight continental, two national, and four local Bahá’í Houses of Worship have been built.","media_information_houses_worship_p2":"The physical structure of a House of Worship comprises a central building—a House of Worship—along with several dependencies. While the House of Worship forms the focal point of worship in a geographical area, its purpose is not solely to provide a place for prayer. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained that, through the provision of education, healthcare and other services it is also to support the social and economic progress of the community and afford shelter, relief and assistance to those in need. In this connection, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá anticipated that subsidiary branches—such as a hospital, school, university, dispensary, and hospice—would gradually be added to a House of Worship. Bahá’u’lláh refers to the House of Worship as a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, Arabic for “dawning place of the mention of God.”","media_information_houses_worship_p3":"Bahá’í Houses of Worship are located in:","media_information_houses_worship_p4":"Plans are underway to build a national House of Worship in Brazil, Canada, and Malawi. A local House of Worship is also being constructed in Batouri, Cameroon; Bihar Sharif, India; Kanchanpur, Nepal; and Mwinilunga, Zambia. At the local level, meetings for worship are held regularly in Bahá’í centers and in the homes of believers all over the world.","media_information_key_terms_facts_h1":"Name of the religion and of the organization – the Bahá’í Faith","media_information_key_terms_facts_h2":"Founder of the Bahá’í Faith – Bahá’u’lláh","media_information_key_terms_facts_h3":"Year of founding – 1844","media_information_key_terms_facts_h4":"Head of the religion – the Universal House of Justice","media_information_key_terms_facts_h5":"Number of Bahá’ís – more than 5 million","media_information_key_terms_facts_h6":"Description of the religion and key beliefs","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_a":"the unity of the races and elimination of prejudice,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_b":"the equality of women and men,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_c":"universal education,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_d":"the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_e":"a spiritual solution to economic problems,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_f":"establishment of a universal auxiliary language,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_g":"the harmony of science and religion,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_h":"the independent investigation of truth,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_i":"the creation of a world commonwealth of nations that will keep the peace through collective security.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p1_a":"The Bahá’í Faith is an independent world religion.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p1_b":"A member is called a Bahá’í (plural: Bahá’ís). It is also correct to say that someone is a “member of the Bahá’í Faith,” a “follower of the Bahá’í Faith,” a “follower of Bahá’u’lláh,” or a member of the Bahá’í community of a given locality.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p1_c":"The term “Bahá’í International Community” refers to the non-governmental organization that represents the worldwide Bahá’í community. It has been registered with the United Nations (UN) as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p2":"Bahá’ís consider Bahá’u’lláh to be the most recent in a line of great religious teachers, or Messengers of God, that includes Abraham, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Krishna, Muhammad, Moses, Zoroaster, and others. Bahá’u’lláh—the name is Arabic for “Glory of God”—was born in 1817 in Tehran, Iran, and passed away in 1892 in Acre, Israel. The coming of Bahá’u’lláh was announced by the Báb (Arabic for “Gate”), also considered by Bahá’ís to be a divine Messenger.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p3":"There are a number of important dates in the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith, but the first announcement by the Báb of the new religion came in 1844.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p4":"The Universal House of Justice is the international governing council of the Bahá’í community, an elected body of nine men. Its seat is at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Around the world, in almost all countries, a National Spiritual Assembly oversees the affairs of the Bahá’í Faith in that country, and Local Spiritual Assemblies oversee local affairs.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p6_a":"The Bahá’í Faith is an independent, monotheistic religion established in virtually every country of the world. Bahá’ís believe that the world’s major religions represent unfolding chapters in God’s teachings for humankind, and that the writings of Bahá’u’lláh represent God’s guidance for this age.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p6_b":"Bahá’u’lláh’s central teaching is the unity of humanity under one God.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p6_c":"Among the many Bahá’í principles are the following:","media_information_key_terms_facts_p7":"For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org).","media_information_li_a_1":"Phone (office): +972 (4) 835-8412","media_information_li_a_2":"E-mail, for news inquiries: [news@bahai.org](mailto:news@bahai.org)","media_information_li_b_1":"Mr. Saleem Vaillaincourt (London)","media_information_li_b_2":"Senior information officer","media_information_li_b_3":"Phone (office): +1 (212) 803-2544","media_information_li_b_4":"E-mail: [media@bic.org](mailto:media@bic.org)","media_information_li_c_1":"Ms. Bani Dugal (New York)","media_information_li_c_2":"Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations","media_information_li_c_3":"Bahá’í International Community","media_information_li_c_4":"Phone: +1 (212) 803-2500","media_information_li_c_5":"After-hours phone: +1 (914) 329-3020","media_information_li_c_6":"E-mail: [uno-nyc@bic.org](mailto:uno-nyc@bic.org)","media_information_li_d_1":"Ms. Simin Fahandej (Geneva)","media_information_li_d_2":"Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations","media_information_li_d_3":"Bahá’í International Community","media_information_li_d_4":"Phone: +41 (27) 798-5400","media_information_li_d_5":"After-hours phone: +41 (78) 880-0759","media_information_li_d_6":"E-mail: [geneva@bic.org](mailto:geneva@bic.org)","media_information_li_e_1":"Persian – Simin Fahandej, +41 (27) 798-5400","media_information_li_e_2":"French – Rachel Bayani, +32 (475) 750394","media_information_li_e_3":"To arrange other languages +972 (4) 835-8412","media_information_media_contacts":"Media Contacts","media_information_p1":"Editors, journalists, and other media professionals are encouraged to contact the National Office of the Bahá’ís of their own country. See [National Communities](https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/).","media_information_p2":"BWNS reports on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","media_information_p3":"Information about the Bahá’í Faith is available at [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org/)","media_information_p_native":"The website for BWNS is located at [news.bahai.org](https://news.bahai.org/)","media_information_photographs_p1":"To arrange for photographs, you are encouraged to contact the office of the National Spiritual Assembly of the  Bahá’ís of your country. See [National Communities](https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/).","media_information_photographs_p2":"For more information, or for international photographs, contact the Bahá’í World Centre:","media_information_photographs_p3":"Phone: +972 (4) 835-8412  \n            E-mail: [news@bahai.org](mailto:news@bahai.org)","media_information_photographs_p4":"Photographs here may be downloaded and published, with photo credit given to the Bahá’í World Centre. [Terms of use](https://news.bahai.org/legal/).","media_information_photographs_p5":"Additional photos are available through the [Bahá’í Media Bank](https://media.bahai.org/). Images attached to articles in the [Bahá’í World News Service](https://news.bahai.org/) main site may also be downloaded.","media_information_photographs_p6":"Photographs of Bahá’ís imprisoned in Iran are available in the [Iran Update](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html) section of this Web site.","media_information_sidecontent_h1":"Bahá’ís in Iran","media_information_sidecontent_li":"Updates, background, photos","media_information_statistics_p1":"There are more than 5 million Bahá’ís in the world.","media_information_statistics_p2":"The Bahá’í Faith is established in virtually every country and in many dependent territories and overseas departments of countries. Bahá’ís reside in well over 100,000 localities. About 2,100 indigenous tribes, races, and ethnic groups are represented in the Bahá’í community.","media_information_statistics_p3":"There are currently 188 councils at the national level that oversee the work of communities. A network of over 300 training institutes, offering formal programs of Bahá’í education, span the globe.","media_information_statistics_p4":"Of the several thousand Bahá’í efforts in social and economic development, more than 900 are large-scale, sustained projects, including more than 600 schools and over 70 development agencies.","media_information_statistics_p5":"There are currently 14 Bahá’í Houses of Worship – in Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Germany, India, Kenya, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Uganda, the United States, and Vanuatu. Plans are underway to build a national House of Worship in Brazil, Canada, and Malawi. Local Houses of Worship are also being constructed in Batouri, Cameroon; Bihar Sharif, India; Kanchanpur, Nepal; and Mwinilunga, Zambia. At the local level, meetings for worship are held regularly in Bahá’í centers and in the homes of believers all over the world.","media_information_statistics_p6":"The Bahá’í International Community has been registered with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York.","media_information_statistics_p7":"Bahá’í writings and other literature have been translated into more than 800 languages.","media_information_statistics_p8":"Each year, around one million people visit the Bahá’í Shrine, terraces, and gardens on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.","media_information_statistics_p9":"In Iran, where the Bahá’í Faith originated, there are now about 300,000 Bahá’ís, constituting the largest religious minority in that country.","media_information_style_guide_h1":"Pronunciation guide","media_information_style_guide_h2":"Style guide and glossary","media_information_style_guide_p1":"**Bahá’í:**   Ba-HIGH  \n            **Bahá’u’lláh:**   Ba-ha-ul-LAH  \n            **Báb:**   Bahb (Bob)  \n            **‘Abdu’l-Bahá:**   Abdul ba-HAH  \n            **Naw-Rúz:**   Naw Rooz  \n            **Ridván:**   REZ-vahn","media_information_style_guide_p2_1":"**‘Abdu’l-Bahá** (1844-1921) – The son of Bahá’u’lláh who was the head of the Bahá’í Faith from 1892 to 1921. Bahá’u’lláh in His will had designated ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá occupies a special station as the authoritative interpreter of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and as the perfect example of how a Bahá’í should live. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá traveled widely through Europe and North America from 1911-1913, explaining his Father’s teachings in talks, interviews, and addresses at universities, churches, temples, synagogues, and missions for the poor. (Bahá’ís capitalize pronouns—for example, “He”—that refers to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá out of respect for his special station. Such pronouns are not capitalized in this guide in deference to international journalistic style and also to avoid confusion with Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb, who are considered to be divine Prophets.) For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_10":"**Bahá’í Faith** – The correct term for the religion is the Bahá’í Faith. It is an independent, monotheistic religion established in virtually every country of the world. It is not a sect of another religion. In a list of major religions, it would look like this: Hinduism, Zoroastrianism,  Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_style_guide_p2_11":"**Bahá’í International Community** – The Bahá’í International Community is a non-governmental organization that represents the worldwide Bahá’í community. It has been registered with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York. For more information, see [bic.org](https://www.bic.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_12":"**Bahá’í World Centre** – The spiritual and administrative center of the Bahá’í Faith, comprising the holy places in the Haifa/Acre area in northern Israel and the Arc of administrative buildings on Mount Carmel in Haifa. The Bahá’í World Centre itself uses the spelling “Centre”; elsewhere both “Centre” and “Center” are used, depending on the custom of the country.","media_information_style_guide_p2_13":"**Bahá’u’lláh** – The founder of the Bahá’í Faith, who lived from 1817 to 1892, considered by Bahá’ís to be the most recent divine Messenger, or Manifestation of God, in a line of great religious figures that includes Abraham, Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Moses, Muhammad, Zoroaster, the Báb, and others. Bahá’u’lláh was born in Tehran in present-day Iran, and passed away near Acre, in what is now Israel. “Bahá’u’lláh” is a title that means the “Glory of God” in Arabic; His name was Mírzá Husayn-‘Alí. His writings, which would equal about a hundred volumes, form the basis of the Bahá’í teachings. For more information, see [Bahai.org](http://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_14":"**Bahjí** – The place near Acre where the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh (His burial place) is located, as well as the mansion that was His last residence and surrounding gardens. It is a place of pilgrimage for Bahá’ís. The word “Bahjí” is Arabic for “delight.”","media_information_style_guide_p2_15":"**children’s classes** – Classes in moral education, open to all, that are provided for children, operated at the community level by the Bahá’í training institute.","media_information_style_guide_p2_16":"**Convention** – See [International Bahá’í Convention](#internationalbahaiconvention) and [National Bahá’í Convention](#nationalbahaicconvention).","media_information_style_guide_p2_18":"**counsellor** – An adviser appointed by the Universal House of Justice who serves in a particular geographic area or at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa. At present, there are 90 counsellors assigned to specific countries or regions, and nine counsellors who form the membership of the International Teaching Centre at the  Bahá’í World Centre. Appointments are for five years.","media_information_style_guide_p2_19":"**devotional meetings** – Gatherings, often in people’s homes, for prayers and to read the sacred writings of the Bahá’í Faith and other religions. Usually undertaken as an individual initiative.","media_information_style_guide_p2_2":"**accent marks** – Bahá’í, Bahá’u’lláh, and other names are written with accent marks, but many publications and websites do not have the facility for using such marks.","media_information_style_guide_p2_20":"**fast, the** – A period during which Bahá’ís abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sundown during the Bahá’í month of ‘Alá’, from 2 March to 20 March. Bahá’u’lláh enjoined His followers to pray and fast during this period. The sick, the traveler, and pregnant women, among others, are exempt.","media_information_style_guide_p2_21":"**feast** – See [Nineteen Day Feast](#nineteendayfeast).","media_information_style_guide_p2_22":"**Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith** – See [Shoghi Effendi](#shoghieffendi).","media_information_style_guide_p2_23":"**Haifa** – The city in northern Israel that, along with nearby Acre, is the location of the Bahá’í World Centre. The international administrative buildings of the Bahá’í Faith (including the Seat of the Universal House of Justice), the Shrine of the Báb, and surrounding terraces and gardens are all located on Mount Carmel in the heart of Haifa.","media_information_style_guide_p2_24":"**Holy days** – Eleven days that commemorate significant Bahá’í anniversaries. The nine holy days on which work is suspended are the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the Birth of the Báb, Declaration of the Báb, Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, Martyrdom of the Báb, Naw-Rúz, Ridván (a 12-day festival, of which the first, ninth and 12th days are holy days). The other two holy days are the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. *See names of individual holy days.*","media_information_style_guide_p2_25":"**Holy Land** – The area associated with present-day Israel, which is holy to a number of religions, including to Bahá’ís. The resting places of Bahá’u’lláh near Acre and of the Báb in Haifa are, to Bahá’ís, the holiest spots on earth.","media_information_style_guide_p2_26":"**International Archives Building** – One of the buildings at the Bahá’í World Centre on Mount Carmel in Haifa. The repository of many sacred relics of the Bahá’í Faith, it is visited by thousands of Bahá’í pilgrims each year.","media_information_style_guide_p2_27":"**International Bahá’í Convention** – A gathering every five years of delegates from around the world to consult on the affairs of the Bahá’í Faith and elect the members of the Universal House of Justice. Members of the National Spiritual Assemblies serve as delegates.","media_information_style_guide_p2_28":"**International Teaching Centre** – One of the institutions at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa. The International Teaching Centre has nine members, all counsellors appointed by the Universal House of Justice. Appointments are for five years.","media_information_style_guide_p2_29":"**Local Spiritual Assembly** – At the local level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the Local Spiritual Assembly. Each Local Assembly consists of nine members who are chosen in annual elections. As with all other elected Bahá’í institutions, the Assembly functions as a body and makes decisions through consultation. The responsibilities of the Local Spiritual Assembly include promoting the spiritual education of children and young people, strengthening the spiritual and social fabric of Bahá’í community life, assessing and utilizing the community’s resources, and ensuring that the energies and talents of community members contribute towards progress.","media_information_style_guide_p2_3":"**Acre**– English rendering of the name of the city north of Haifa where Bahá’u’lláh was exiled in 1868. He lived in or near the city until His passing in 1892. Bahá’ís often use the Arabic name, ‘Akká, which was the name in general use during the time of Bahá’u’lláh. In Hebrew the name is Akko.","media_information_style_guide_p2_30":"**Mount Carmel** – In Haifa, Israel, site of the Bahá’í World Centre, including several Bahá’í holy places, the most important of which is the Shrine of the Báb, and the buildings housing the administrative offices of the Bahá’í World Centre.","media_information_style_guide_p2_31":"**National Bahá’í Convention** – In each country, the annual gathering of elected delegates to discuss the affairs of the Bahá’í Faith in their jurisdiction and to elect the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.","media_information_style_guide_p2_32":"**National Spiritual Assembly** – At the national level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the National Spiritual Assembly, a nine-member elected council responsible for guiding, co-ordinating, and stimulating the activities of Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual members of the Bahá’í community within a given country. The responsibilities of a National Spiritual Assembly include channelling the community’s financial resources, fostering the growth and vibrancy of the national Bahá’í community, supervising the affairs of the community including its social and economic development activities and its properties, overseeing relations with government, resolving questions from individuals and Local Spiritual Assemblies, and strengthening the participation of the Bahá’í community in the life of society at the national level.","media_information_style_guide_p2_33":"**Nineteen Day Feast** – An administrative gathering at the local level. The term refers to a spiritual “feast” of prayers,  consultation and fellowship. It is held every 19 days, on the first day of each Bahá’í month.","media_information_style_guide_p2_34":"**pilgrimage** – Each year thousands of Bahá’ís undertake pilgrimage, during which they forge a profound and lasting connection with the spiritual and administrative centre of their Faith, located in the Haifa-Acre area of what is now northern Israel. Bahá’í pilgrims pray and meditate at the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh and the Shrine of the Báb, as well as in the beautiful gardens that surround them. They also draw inspiration from the time spent at various historical sites associated with the lives of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi, as well as from visits to the edifices dedicated to the worldwide administration of the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_style_guide_p2_35":"**progressive revelation** – The central belief that Manifestations of God have successively provided the guidance necessary for humanity’s social and spiritual evolution.","media_information_style_guide_p2_36":"**Regional Bahá’í Council** – In some countries, the National Spiritual Assembly assigns certain of its functions to Regional Bahá’í Councils, which serve a designated geographical area within the land in question. The responsibilities of a Regional Council may include carrying out policies of the National Spiritual Assembly, supervising progress of particular plans and projects, and taking steps to stimulate and coordinate the growth of the Bahá’í community within the region.","media_information_style_guide_p2_37":"**Shoghi Effendi** (1897-1957) – The head of the Bahá’í Faith from 1921 to 1957. His title is Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith. He is the grandson of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the great-grandson of Bahá’u’lláh. For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_38":"**Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh** – The resting place of the mortal remains of Bahá’u’lláh, located near the city of Acre in what is now Israel. The shrine is the holiest spot on earth to Bahá’ís and a place of pilgrimage.","media_information_style_guide_p2_39":"**Shrine of the Báb** – The resting place of the mortal remains of the Báb, located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. It is a sacred site to Bahá’ís and a place of pilgrimage.","media_information_style_guide_p2_4":"**‘Akká, Akko** – See entry above for “[Acre](#acre)”.","media_information_style_guide_p2_40":"**study circles** – A study circle is one of the principal elements of the process of distance education offered by the [Bahá’í training institute](https://www.bahai.org/action/response-call-bahaullah/training-institute). It is a small group that meets regularly to study the institute course materials.","media_information_style_guide_p2_41":"**Universal House of Justice** – The international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith. It is the supreme administrative body ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in His book of laws. The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years at the International Bahá’í Convention, where members of the National Spiritual Assemblies around the world serve as delegates. The Universal House of Justice was first elected in 1963. Its permanent seat is on Mount Carmel in Haifa.","media_information_style_guide_p2_5":"**Arc** – An area on Mount Carmel in Haifa, shaped like an arc, where the major international administrative buildings of the Bahá’í Faith, including the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, are situated.","media_information_style_guide_p2_6":"**Báb** – The title, meaning “Gate,” assumed by Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad, the Founder of the Bábí Faith and the Forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh. Considered by Bahá’ís to be one of the twin Manifestations of God associated with the Bahá’í Faith. Born on 20 October 1819, the Báb proclaimed Himself to be the Promised One of Islam and said His mission was to announce the imminent coming of another Messenger even greater than Himself, namely Bahá’u’lláh. Because of these claims, the Báb was executed by firing squad in the public square in Tabriz on 9 July 1850. His remains were hidden in Iran for many years before being taken to Haifa/Acre in 1899 and buried on Mount Carmel in 1909. For more information, see [Bahai.org](http://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_7":"**Bábí Faith** – The religion founded by the Báb. After 1863 and the announcement by Bahá’u’lláh that He was the Messenger whose coming had been foretold by the Báb, the Bahá’í Faith gradually became established and most followers of the Báb began to call themselves Bahá’ís.","media_information_style_guide_p2_8":"**Badí‘ calendar** – The Bahá’í calendar, consisting of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of intercalary days known as Ayyám-i-Há. The number of these intercalary days varies according to the timing of the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere in successive years. The first day of the year corresponds to the spring equinox. The Bahá’í era (B.E.) begins with 1844, the year of the Báb’s declaration. For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org/action/devotional-life/calendar).","media_information_style_guide_p2_9":"**Bahá’í** – (1) A noun referring to a member of the Bahá’í Faith. The plural is Bahá’ís. (2) An adjective describing a person, place, or thing related to the Bahá’í Faith. Examples: a Bahá’í book, the Bahá’í community, a Bahá’í holy day, a Bahá’í holy place.","media_reports":"Media Reports","menu":"Menu","meta_description_bwns":"The Bahá’í World News Service - BWNS - The official news source of the worldwide Bahá’í community, reports on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","minutes_short":"min","mobile_app":"Mobile app","national_bahai_communities":"National Bahá’í Communities","news_email":"news@bahai.org","news_service_home":"BWNS Home","no_matches_for":"No matches for","no_results_for":"No results for","number_of":"of","oceania":"Oceania","official_news_site":"Official news source of the worldwide Bahá’í community","one_country":"One Country","other_bahai_sites":"Other Bahá’í Sites","other_sites":"Other sites","other_stories":"Other Stories","overview_section":"Overview of this Section","page_link":"Page link","photographs":"Photographs","photographs_download":"Photographs for download","podcast":"Podcast","podcast_available":"Podcast available","podcast_description_bwns":"Reporting on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","podcast_p1":"The Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS) podcast reports on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","podcast_subscribe":"Subscribe to the BWNS podcast for additional audio content.","print":"Print","privacy":"Privacy","recent_articles":"Recent Articles","recent_headlines":"Recent headlines","recent_media_reports":"Recent media reports","recieve_stories_email":"Receive stories via email","related_stories":"Related Stories","results":"Results","return_top":"Return to top","rss":"RSS","search":"Search","search_bahai_reference_library":"Search the Bahá’í Reference Library","search_bahaiorg":"Search Bahai.org","search_news_service":"Search the News Service","section_shrine_of_abdulbaha_description":"Read reports on the progress","section_shrine_of_abdulbaha_title":"Coverage of Construction Work of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá","see_all":"See All","seven_bahais_leaders":"The Seven Bahá’í Leaders","share":"Share","share_this_article":"Share this article","share_this_page":"Share this page","show_more":"Show more","sign_up":"Sign Up","slideshow":"Slideshow","social_media_name_instagram":"Instagram","social_media_name_instagram_account":"bahaiworldnewsservice","social_media_name_twitter":"Twitter","social_media_name_twitter_account":"bahainews","special_reports":"SPECIAL REPORTS","special_reports_shrine_construction":"Coverage of construction work for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá","statistics":"Statistics","story_archive":"Story Archive","style_glossary_pronunciation_guide":"Style guide, glossary and pronunciation guide","subscribe":"Subscribe","subscribe-confirmation-message":"Thank you for your interest in Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","subscribe-souble-optin-email":"You will receive an email shortly, asking you to confirm your subscription.","subscribe_bot_submission":"This doesn't look like a human submission.","subscribe_check_email":"Please check your email to confirm your subscription!","subscribe_email_exists":"This email already exists! 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Please try again later.","subscribe_unsubscribe_bwns":"Unsubscribe from BWNS","subscribe_unsubscribe_error_client":"Something went wrong, please try again.","subscribe_unsubscribe_error_no_email":"We do not have this email in our database, please try again.","subscribe_unsubscribe_error_server":"Something went wrong on our server, please try again.","subscribe_unsubscribe_h1":"Unsubscribe - Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","subscribe_unsubscribe_success_h1":"You have been unsubscribed from the Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","subscribe_unsubscribe_success_p1":"Your email address has been removed from the mailing list.","subscribe_unsubscribe_success_p2":"Thanks for having been a subscriber.","subscribe_unsubscribe_success_p3":"(If you unsubscribed by accident and prefer to continue receiving emails from the Bahá’í World News Service, please [click here](./).)","tenth_international_bahai_convention":"Tenth International Bahá’í Convention","the_bahai_faith":"The Bahá’í Faith","thirteenth_international_bahai_convention":"Thirteenth International Bahá’í Convention","twelfth_international_bahai_convention":"Twelfth International Bahá’í Convention","united_nations":"United Nations","unsubscribe":"Unsubscribe","updated_content":"UPDATED CONTENT","updates_via_social_media":"Updates via social media","url_copied_to_clipboard":"URL copied to clipboard","video":"Video","view_all":"View all","view_all_articles":"View all articles","visit_page":"Visit page","watch_next":"Watch next","watch_video":"Watch video","what_bahais_believe":"What Bahá’ís Believe","what_bahais_do":"What Bahá’ís Do","texterify_timestamp":"2023-09-10T10:15:38Z"},"archivePageNumber":41,"archiveTotalPages":80,"totalStories":1596,"archiveList":[{"storyNumber":974,"evergreenUrl":"un-calls-iran-live-up-its-human-rights-promises","title":"UN calls on Iran to live up to its human rights promises","description":"Today's vote expressing concern over Iran's continued human rights violations demonstrates that the international community will not be swayed...","date":"2013-11-19","customDateline":null,"city":"UNITED NATIONS","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\n\"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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\n\"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.\"\n\nBy 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.\"\n\nAmong 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.\n\nWhile 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.\n\nThe 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.\"\n\nAnd 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.\"\n\n\"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.\n\nShe noted that more than 100 Baha'is are currently in prison, held solely for their religious beliefs.\n\n\"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.\n\nMs. 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.\"\n\nThe 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."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":973,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":972,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":971,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":973,"evergreenUrl":"bahais-iran-told-leave-town-face-knife-attacks-after-raids-14-homes","title":"Baha'is in Iran told to leave town or face knife attacks after raids on 14 homes","description":"Following raids on 14 Baha'i homes in the Iranian city of Abadeh last month, government agents summoned the occupants for questioning and urged...","date":"2013-11-11","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583870-97303raidabadeh.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583870-97303raidabadeh.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Iranian government agents confiscated photographs, Baha’i books, CDs, and computers during a raid on 14 homes in Abadeh, Iran, on 13 October 2013. Shown here are broken picture frames in a Baha’i home after the raid.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\n\"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.\n\nAccording 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.\n\nDuring 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.\"\n\nMs. 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.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"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.\n\n\"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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nThe 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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nAgents 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.\"\n\n\"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.\"\n\nMs. 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.\n\nAbadeh 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.\n\nIn 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.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583870-97304raidabadeh.jpg"},"imageDescription":"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."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583870-97302raidabadeh.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Agents also closed a small workshop that had been operated by a Baha’i, placing seals on the doors that declared it shut down in the name of the local prosecutor’s office."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583870-97301raidabadeh.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A close-up of the seal placed on the door of a workshop in Abadeh, which says: “This shop has been shut down by warrant of the general and revolutionary prosecutor of the city.”"}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community\"](https://news.bahai.org/story/942)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is\" - Special Section](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\" - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":972,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":971,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":967,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":972,"evergreenUrl":"new-video-documents-iranian-governments-sponsored-violence-against-its-own-bahai-citizens","title":"New video documents Iranian government's sponsored violence against its own Baha'i citizens","description":"Parva Rahmanian and her family used to run a flower shop in Iran – until the government revoked their business license. The reason given was...","date":"2013-10-28","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583850-972naimsobhani.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583850-972naimsobhani.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Naim Sobhani, one of the people interviewed in the video.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Parva Rahmanian and her family used to run a flower shop in Iran – until the government revoked their business license.\n\nThe 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.\n\n\"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.\n\nMs. 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.\n\nThe new production, which is available in [English](http://youtu.be/f2mJ6gJ5X2Q) and [Persian](http://youtu.be/k65kF1Mh4MY), 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.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"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.\n\nNaim Sobhani, for example, describes what it was like as a child growing up in Iran and having to face vilification from teachers.\n\n\" '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.\n\nAlso featured are several human rights activists.\n\nMahnaz 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.\n\n\"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.\n\n\"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.\n\nKarim 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.\"\n\nThe original  [report](http://www.bic.org/violence-with-impunity) 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.\n\nFrom 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."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583850-972parvarahmanian.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Parva Rahmanian, one of the people interviewed in the video."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583851-94201violencecover0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Violence with Impunity"}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community\"](https://news.bahai.org/story/942)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is\" - Special Section](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\" - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":942,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":971,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":967,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":971,"evergreenUrl":"despite-promises-iran-continues-violate-human-rights-says-un-report","title":"Despite promises, Iran continues to violate human rights, says UN report","description":"Despite recent signals by Iran that it intends to improve on its human rights record, there has been little evidence of change, according to...","date":"2013-10-23","customDateline":false,"city":"UNITED NATIONS","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583834-89700smaller.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583834-89700smaller.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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](http://shaheedoniran.org/english/dr-shaheeds-work/latest-reports/october-2013-report-of-the-special-rapporteur-on-the-situation-of-human-rights-in-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-2/) issued yesterday by the UN's expert on human rights in that country.\n\n\"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.\n\nAmong 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.\n\nHe 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.\"\n\nHis 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.\n\n\"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.\n\nBani 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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nMs. 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.\"\n\nShe 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.'\n\n•  If this is so, how is it that the barrage of [hate-filled incitement](http://www.bic.org/inciting-hatred-irans-media-campaign-demonize-bahais) against the Baha'is continues unabated in the state-controlled media, and has indeed intensified in recent weeks?\n\n•  If this is so, how is that ordinary Baha'is face constant cruel harassment in earning a basic livelihood and [official government documents](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/TheBahaiQuestion.pdf) explicitly prohibit Baha'is from engaging in dozens of professions while in practice they are debarred from many more.\n\n•  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?\n\n•  If this is so, what is the explanation for an [official edict to 81 universities](/story/575) 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?\n\n•  If this is so, how is it that even the courageous lawyers who defend the Baha'is against injustice are themselves thrown into prison?\n\n•   And if this is so, why would the country's [Supreme Leader issue a fatwa](http://news.yahoo.com/top-iran-leader-issues-edict-bahai-faith-074159464.html) declaring Baha'is as \"unclean\" and call for them to be systematically identified and socially ostracized?\n\nThese 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.\"\n\n\"How long\" asked Ms. Dugal \"will the Iranian government persist in its duplicity?\"\n\nFor more information, go to: http://www.bic.org/media/media-information"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community\"](https://news.bahai.org/story/942)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is\" - Special Section](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\" - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Other Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":946,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":927,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":928,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":970,"evergreenUrl":"youth-arise-serve-conferences-draw-close","title":"Youth arise to serve as conferences draw to a close","description":"Since early July, tens of thousands of young people from communities spanning the entire globe have responded to the call of the Universal House...","date":"2013-10-02","customDateline":null,"city":"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE","country":"","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-970000.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-970000.jpg"},"imageDescription":"San Salvador, El Salvador","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nThe 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.\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"As 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](/community-news/youth-conferences/video.html) now featured on [the official website](/community-news/youth-conferences/). The page includes insights shared by one of the participants about the vision of civilization building at the heart of this undertaking."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97001.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Patna, India"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97002.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Apia, Samoa"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97003.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Auckland, New Zealand"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97004.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Kadugannawa, Sri Lanka"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583792-970050.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Lima, Peru"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583793-97006.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Nadi, Fiji"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583792-97007.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Battambang, Cambodia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97008.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97009.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Oakland , United States"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97010.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Tirana, Albania"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583797-97011.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Chibombo, Zambia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583792-97012.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Brasilia, Brazil"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583798-97013.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Brisbane, Australia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97014.jpg"},"imageDescription":"London (Warwick), United Kingdom"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583792-97015.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Chisinau, Moldova"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583794-97016.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583797-97017.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Almaty, Kazakhstan"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97018.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Frankfurt, Germany"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583792-97019.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Helsinki, Finland"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97020.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Kigoma, Tanzania"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583797-97021.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Lubumbashi , Democratic Republic of the Congo"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97022.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mwinilunga, Zambia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97023.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Port Dickson, Malaysia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583792-97024.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Port-Vila, Vanuatu"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583792-97025.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Seberang Peria (Sungai Siput), Malaysia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583797-97026.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Sapele, Nigeria"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583791-97027.jpg"},"imageDescription":"South Tarawa, Kiribati"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583792-97028.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia"}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"114 Youth Conferences"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Reports and photos from the 114 youth conferences](https://news.bahai.org/community-news/youth-conferences/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Other Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":966,"relatedStoryCaption":"Information indicates involvement of fanatical elements within city authorities."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":963,"relatedStoryCaption":"Committee highlights systematic discrimination by government."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":"Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ManualContentRecord","inlineHtml":"<div><img src=\"/chrome/img/rhtcol-map.png?40ce22e7\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-left: -15px;\" width=\"159\" height=\"65\" /></div>\n<h5>114 Youth Conferences</h5>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"/community-news/youth-conferences/\">Reports and photos from<br />the 114 youth conferences</a></li>\n</ul>\n<div class=\"related-stories sidecontentdotted\">\n<h5>Other Stories</h5>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"/story/966/\">Murder of Mr. Ataollah Rezvani was religiously motivated</a>\n<p class=\"small\">Information indicates involvement of fanatical elements within city authorities.</p>\n</li>\n<li><a href=\"/story/963/\">ILO expresses concern over economic repression of Iranian Baha&rsquo;is</a>\n<p class=\"small\">Committee highlights systematic discrimination by government.</p>\n</li>\n<li><a href=\"/story/945/\">Persecution of Baha'is in Iran extends across all stages of life</a>\n<p class=\"small\">Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</div>"}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":969,"evergreenUrl":"dr-joshua-lincoln-appointed-secretary-general-bahai-international-community","title":"Dr. Joshua Lincoln appointed as Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community","description":"The Baha'i International Community is pleased to announce the appointment of Joshua Lincoln as its new Secretary-General, effective today. The...","date":"2013-10-01","customDateline":false,"city":"HAIFA","country":"ISRAEL","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583202-969000.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583202-969000.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dr. Joshua Lincoln","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Baha'i International Community is pleased to announce the appointment of Joshua Lincoln as its new Secretary-General, effective today.\n\nThe 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.\n\nDr. 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.\n\nDr. 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.\n\nBorn in the United States and raised in central Africa, he is married and has two children."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Other Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":966,"relatedStoryCaption":"Information indicates involvement of fanatical elements within city authorities."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":963,"relatedStoryCaption":"Committee highlights systematic discrimination by government."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":"Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":968,"evergreenUrl":"the-secretary-general-bahai-international-community-dr-albert-lincoln-steps-down-after-nineteen-years","title":"The Secretary-General of the Baha'i International Community, Dr. Albert Lincoln, steps down after nineteen years","description":"The Baha'i International Community announces that its Secretary-General, Dr. Albert Lincoln, is stepping down today after nineteen years of service...","date":"2013-09-30","customDateline":null,"city":"HAIFA","country":"ISRAEL","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583189-96800.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583189-96800.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dr. Albert Lincoln","imageStyle":"canvas-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nBefore 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.\n\nDr. 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."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Other Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":966,"relatedStoryCaption":"Information indicates involvement of fanatical elements within city authorities."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":963,"relatedStoryCaption":"Committee highlights systematic discrimination by government."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":"Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":967,"evergreenUrl":"president-rouhanis-un-speech-question-human-rights-iran","title":"President Rouhani's UN speech and the question of human rights in Iran","description":"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...","date":"2013-09-25","customDateline":false,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nThe 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.\n\n\"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.\n\n\"A first step would be to revoke the provisions of the 1991 [secret memorandum](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/feature-articles/the-1991-memorandum-on-the-bahai-question) 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.\n\n\"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.\n\n\"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.\n\nFor more details about the persecution of Baha'is in Iran, go to: http://www.bic.org/persecution-bahai-community\n\nTo 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"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community\"](https://news.bahai.org/story/942)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is\" - Special Section](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\" - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":966,"relatedStoryCaption":"Information indicates involvement of fanatical elements within city authorities."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":963,"relatedStoryCaption":"Committee highlights systematic discrimination by government."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":"Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":966,"evergreenUrl":"murder-mr-ataollah-rezvani-was-religiously-motivated","title":"Murder of Mr. Ataollah Rezvani was religiously motivated","description":"From the available information it is now clear that the murder in Iran of Mr. Ataollah Rezvani was religiously motivated. It is understood that...","date":"2013-08-27","customDateline":false,"city":"BIC NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583170-96500rezvani.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583170-96500rezvani.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mr. Ataollah Rezvani","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"From the available information it is now clear that the murder in Iran of Mr. Ataollah Rezvani was religiously motivated.\n\nIt 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.\n\nMr. 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."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community\"](https://news.bahai.org/story/942)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is\" - Special Section](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\" - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":965,"relatedStoryCaption":"Information indicates involvement of fanatical elements within city authorities."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":963,"relatedStoryCaption":"Committee highlights systematic discrimination by government."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":"Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":965,"evergreenUrl":"reports-killing-an-iranian-bahai-received","title":"Reports of the killing of an Iranian Baha'i received","description":"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...","date":"2013-08-26","customDateline":null,"city":"BIC NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583161-96500rezvani.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583161-96500rezvani.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mr. Ataollah Rezvani.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nFurther details of Mr. Rezvani's death are not yet available, but will be reported as soon as they are confirmed."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":963,"relatedStoryCaption":"Committee highlights systematic discrimination by government."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":955,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":964,"evergreenUrl":"hushmand-fatheazam-1924-2013","title":"Hushmand Fatheazam, 1924-2013","description":"Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam, former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away yesterday in Vancouver, Canada. He was 89 years old. The...","date":"2013-08-14","customDateline":null,"city":"HAIFA","country":"ISRAEL","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583146-96400fatheazam0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583146-96400fatheazam0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam.","imageStyle":"canvas-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam, former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away yesterday in Vancouver, Canada.  He was 89 years old.\n\nThe Universal House of Justice has sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies:\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ManualContentRecord","inlineHtml":"<center>* * *</center>"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nWe 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.\n\nThe Universal House of Justice"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related stories from the Baha'i World News Service"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":206,"relatedStoryCaption":"Mr. Ali Nakhjavani and Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam leave Haifa after decades of service at the Baha'i World Centre."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":655,"relatedStoryCaption":"Gathering explores theme of \"Religion and Social Cohesion.\""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":871,"relatedStoryCaption":"Former member of the Universal House of Justice passed away, aged 82."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":963,"evergreenUrl":"ilo-expresses-concern-over-economic-repression-iranian-bahais","title":"ILO expresses concern over economic repression of Iranian Baha’is","description":"The International Labor Organization (ILO) has expressed \"deep concern\" over continuing economic and educational discrimination against Baha'is...","date":"2013-08-01","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The International Labor Organization (ILO) has expressed \"deep concern\" over continuing economic and educational discrimination against Baha'is in Iran.\n\nIn 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.\n\n\"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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\n\"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.\"\n\nMs. 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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nDiscrimination 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.\n\n\"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](/story/575) issued by the government.\n\nThe 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.\"\n\nThe 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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nThe 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.\n\nEmployer 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.\"\n\nSeveral governments, including the European Union and Canada, were also quoted in the report.\n\nThe government representative from Canada, for example, said religious minorities faced persistent and pervasive discrimination.\n\n\"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."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community\"](https://news.bahai.org/story/942)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is\" - Special Section](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\" - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":960,"relatedStoryCaption":"Five-year anniversary of arrest and incarceration of Iranian Baha'i leaders marked by events, statements"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":955,"relatedStoryCaption":"Annual report documents deteriorating human rights situation."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":"Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":962,"evergreenUrl":"conferences-youth-striving-serve-their-communities-begin","title":"Conferences for youth striving to serve their communities begin","description":"Youth striving to contribute to the well-being of their communities have begun gathering in a series of conferences called for by the Universal...","date":"2013-07-09","customDateline":null,"city":"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE","country":"","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583112-96200.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583112-96200.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Participants gather outside of the conference venue in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nAmong 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.\n\nIn 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.\"\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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](/community-news/youth-conferences/)."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583112-96205.jpg"},"imageDescription":"At each of the conferences, participants planned how best to serve their communities upon their return home."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583112-96202.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Participants discuss the materials in Montreal, Canada."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583112-96203.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A devotional program in Cali, Colombia."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583112-96204.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A view of the participants gathered in San Jose, Costa Rica."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543583112-96201.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Youth study the conference agenda in San Jose, Costa Rica."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ManualContentRecord","inlineHtml":"<div><img src=\"/chrome/img/rhtcol-map.png?40ce22e7\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-left: -15px;\" width=\"159\" height=\"65\" /></div>\n<h5>114 Youth Conferences</h5>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"/community-news/youth-conferences/\">Reports and photos from<br />the 114 youth conferences</a></li>\n</ul>\n<div class=\"related-stories sidecontentdotted\">\n<h5>Other stories</h5>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"/story/961/\">Sacred site in Baghdad destroyed</a>\n<p class=\"small\">Former house of the founder of the Baha'i Faith demolished.</p>\n</li>\n<li><a href=\"/story/960/\">\"Five Years Too Many\" campaign leads to global outpouring of support</a>\n<p class=\"small\">Situation of imprisoned Baha'i leaders in Iran highlighted.</p>\n</li>\n<li><a href=\"/story/701/\">Historic 18-week conference series comes to an end</a>\n<p class=\"small\">41 international gatherings called by the Universal House of Justice finish.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</div>"}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":961,"evergreenUrl":"sacred-site-baghdad-destroyed","title":"Sacred site in Baghdad destroyed","description":"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...","date":"2013-06-28","customDateline":false,"city":"BIC NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nBani 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.\"\n\n\"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.\n\n\"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.\n\nThe 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."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":960,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":958,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":957,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":960,"evergreenUrl":"five-years-too-many-campaign-leads-global-outpouring-support","title":"\"Five Years Too Many\" campaign leads to global outpouring of support","description":"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...","date":"2013-06-13","customDateline":false,"city":"BIC GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582967-96001.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582967-96001.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In India, a number of prominent individuals signed a letter calling for the immediate release of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders. They included L.K. Advani, chairman of the Bharatiya Janata Party, center, and former Indian Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, right. At left is Mrs Zena Sorabjee.","imageStyle":"canvas-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nStatements 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.\n\n\"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.\n\n\"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.\n\nAs 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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nOn 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.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nAnd 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.\n\n\"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.\n\nOther significant responses during the final days of the campaign included:\n\n● 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.\n\n● 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.\"\n\n● 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.\n\n● 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.\"\n\nThe 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](/story/956).\n\nAmong the most notable expressions of concern was a [joint press release](/story/957) 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.\n\nSix 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.\n\nSince 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.\n\nFurther details can be found at the campaign website, located at: http://www.bic.org/fiveyears."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582967-96002.jpg"},"imageDescription":"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."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582967-96003.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Tomi Reichental, at right, standing, speaks at the Five Years Too Many event in Ireland on 15 May. On the left is Brendan McNamara of the Irish Baha'i community."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582967-96004.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Participants in Uganda's Five Years Too Many conference viewing photographs of the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders. The event, held on 15 May 2013 in Kampala, featured a call by the Inter-religious Council of Uganda for Iran to respect the rights of religious minorities."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community\"](https://news.bahai.org/story/942)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is\" - Special Section](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\" - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":955,"relatedStoryCaption":"Annual report documents deteriorating human rights situation."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":956,"relatedStoryCaption":"Campaign marks five-year anniversary of arrest and incarceration of Iranian Baha'i leaders"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":"Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":959,"evergreenUrl":"new-video-house-worship-chile-released","title":"New video for House of Worship in Chile released","description":"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....","date":"2013-06-12","customDateline":false,"city":"SANTIAGO","country":"CHILE","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582954-95901.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582954-95901.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The vision underlying the construction of the House of Worship - that worship of God and selfless service to humanity are essential and inseparable aspects of life - also finds expression in community building activities around the construction site. These include activities for children, young people and adults intended to direct their energies in service to humanity.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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](http://templo.bahai.cl/en/medios/videos/).\n\nTitled \"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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nIt 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.\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nConstruction 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."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582954-95902.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A group consults in the vicinity of the construction site for the House of Worship for the South American continent."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582954-95903.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Workers carry forward construction on the House of Worship for the South American continent in this photo from March 2013."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":940,"relatedStoryCaption":"Construction progresses to major concrete work."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":806,"relatedStoryCaption":"Chief Justice praises Baha'i temple's role in Ugandan society."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":865,"relatedStoryCaption":"Delhi's Chief Minister praises temple's influence at its 25th anniversary celebrations."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"houses_of_worship"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":958,"evergreenUrl":"iranian-bahais-face-widespread-entrenched-discrimination-says-un-committee","title":"Iranian Baha'is face \"widespread and entrenched\" discrimination says UN Committee","description":"Yesterday the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights issued a series of pointed recommendations to the Iranian government – recommendations...","date":"2013-05-23","customDateline":null,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nThe 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.\"\n\nDiane 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.\"\n\nShe 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.\n\n\"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.\n\nIn 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.\"\n\nThe 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."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community\"](https://news.bahai.org/story/942)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is\" - Special Section](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\" - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Iran-related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":955,"relatedStoryCaption":"Human Rights Council votes to continue investigation."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":946,"relatedStoryCaption":"Officials issue press release."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":957,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":957,"evergreenUrl":"four-top-un-human-rights-experts-call-immediate-release-seven-imprisoned-iranian-bahai-leaders","title":"Four top UN human rights experts call for immediate release of seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders","description":"Four high-level United Nations human rights experts today called on Iran to immediately release the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders. In a press...","date":"2013-05-13","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Four high-level United Nations human rights experts today called on Iran to immediately release the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders.\n\nIn 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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nJoining 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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nMs. 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.\"\n\nDr. Bielefeldt said \"Iran must ensure that Baha'is and other unrecognized minority faiths can practice their beliefs without hindrance and fear.\"\n\nDiane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the statements send an \"unequivocal\" message to Iran.\n\n\"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.\n\n\"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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nSix 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.\n\nAt 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.\n\nIn 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."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community\"](https://news.bahai.org/story/942)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is\" - Special Section](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\" - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Iran-related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":955,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":946,"relatedStoryCaption":"Human Rights Council votes to continue investigation."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":"Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":956,"evergreenUrl":"five-years-too-many-campaign-gathers-momentum","title":"\"Five Years Too Many\" campaign gathers momentum","description":"Throughout the world people are raising their voices in a global campaign to free the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders. The \"Five Years...","date":"2013-05-12","customDateline":false,"city":"BIC NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582920-95600.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582920-95600.jpg"},"imageDescription":"At a seminar in London on 9 May, Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, left, and Nazila Ghanea, a lecturer in international human rights law at the University of Oxford, were featured speakers.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Throughout the world people are raising their voices in a global campaign to free the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders.\n\nThe \"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.\n\n\"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.\n\nAmong the highlights of the response so far have been:\n\n• [A call for the immediate release](http://www.bic.org/fiveyears/2013/05/06/australias-foreign-minister-calls-for-immediate-release-of-the-seven-bahai-leaders/) of the seven issued by Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr.\n\n• [An Op-ed article](http://bahainews.ca/en/node/831) 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.\n\n• [An artistic installation](http://www.bic.org/fiveyears/2013/05/08/a-line-in-the-sands-of-rio/) 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.\"\n\n• [A legal seminar](http://www.bic.org/fiveyears/2013/05/10/in-london-a-seminar-on-access-to-justice-in-iran/) 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.\n\nSix 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.\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\nMany 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.\n\nAt 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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nThe campaign runs until 15 May. Further information can be found at http://www.bic.org/fiveyears"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582919-95601.jpg"},"imageDescription":"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."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582920-95602.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, participants in the Five Years Too Many campaign lined up on Copacabana Beach on Sunday, 5 May 2013, behind a mural created by noted Brazilian artist, Siron Franco."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Violence with Impunity: Acts of aggression against Iran's Baha'i community\"](https://news.bahai.org/story/942)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is\" - Special Section](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\" - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Iran-related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":955,"relatedStoryCaption":"Annual report documents deteriorating human rights situation."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":946,"relatedStoryCaption":"Human Rights Council votes to continue investigation."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":"Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":955,"evergreenUrl":"bahais-face-particularly-severe-violations-amid-deteriorating-religious-freedom-iran-says-us","title":"Baha'is face particularly severe violations amid deteriorating religious freedom in Iran, says US","description":"In its annual report on international religious freedom, the United States said religious freedom in Iran has continued to deteriorate over the...","date":"2013-05-06","customDateline":false,"city":"WASHINGTON","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582905-95500.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543582905-95500.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Recently the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released its 2013 Annual Report, which highlighted human rights violations in a number of countries around the world.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"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.\n\n\"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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nThe 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.\n\nThis year's report devoted nearly two pages to the situation of the Baha'i community of Iran.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nIt 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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nThe 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.\"\n\nIt 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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nThe 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.'\"\n\n\"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.\n\nThe full report can be read at http://www.uscirf.gov/"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Iran-related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":954,"relatedStoryCaption":"Baha'i International Community draws attention to imprisoned Baha'i leaders."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":946,"relatedStoryCaption":"Human Rights Council votes to continue investigation."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":945,"relatedStoryCaption":"Special Rapporteur addresses state-sponsored persecution at side event."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null}],"lang":"en","language":"en","location":"/archive/41/"}},"staticQueryHashes":["2762707590"]}