{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-archive-page-jsx","path":"/archive/45/","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! Check your email to confirm your subscription.","subscribe_error":"Subscribe Error","subscribe_error_p1":"Sorry. An error has occurred with your subscription request to the Bahá’í World News Service. Please try again. If this problem persists, please use our [contact form](https://www.bahai.org/contact/).","subscribe_h1":"Stories via email","subscribe_h2":"Mobile app","subscribe_h3":"Updates via Twitter","subscribe_h4":"Podcast","subscribe_label_email":"Email","subscribe_label_email_fill":"Please enter a valid email address.","subscribe_label_first_name":"First name","subscribe_label_first_name_fill":"Please enter your first name.","subscribe_label_last_name":"Last name","subscribe_label_last_name_fill":"Please enter your last name.","subscribe_missing_fields":"Please fill in all required fields!","subscribe_p1":"Receive emails from the Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS) when new articles are published.","subscribe_p2":"Receive updates and notifications from the BWNS app.","subscribe_p3":"Follow the Bahá’í World News Service on Twitter for regular updates and stories.","subscribe_p4":"Subscribe to the BWNS podcast for additional audio content.","subscribe_success_h1":"You have been subscribed to Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","subscribe_success_p1":"Your email address has been added to our mailing list.","subscribe_success_p2":"Thanks for becoming a subscriber.","subscribe_to_bwns":"Subscribe to BWNS","subscribe_unknown_error":"Sorry, an unknown error has occurred. 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":45,"archiveTotalPages":80,"totalStories":1596,"archiveList":[{"storyNumber":894,"evergreenUrl":"in-morocco-symposium-explores-religion-spirituality-education","title":"In Morocco, symposium explores religion, spirituality and education","description":"What is spirituality? How can religious education encourage it? And what role do both religion and spirituality play in fostering human well-being?...","date":"2012-03-02","customDateline":null,"city":"MARRAKECH","country":"MOROCCO","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581398-89400.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581398-89400.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Discussions at the \"International Symposium on Religion, Spirituality, and Education for Human Flourishing\" focused on how young people can be better educated about religion and spirituality. The event – co-convened by the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations – was held in Marrakech, Morocco, 24-26 February 2012.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"What is spirituality? How can religious education encourage it? And what role do both religion and spirituality play in fostering human well-being?\n\nThose were among the questions considered by educators, academics and theologians from the world's religions – including the Baha'i Faith – at the \"International Symposium on Religion, Spirituality, and Education for Human Flourishing,\" held here 24-26 February.\n\nThe event – co-convened by the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace (GHFP) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations – encouraged discussion about how young people can be better educated about religion and spirituality, in order to address such present-day issues as economic injustice and environmental degradation.\n\n\"The world today is facing a series of unprecedented challenges,\" said Scherto Gill, secretary general of GHFP and convener of the symposium. \"At the same time, we are also faced with tremendous opportunities, where humans can unite and live together in global solidarity with each other, within a greater global community that works towards the common good.\"\n\nTo meet such challenges and maximize opportunities, she said, the world needs to redefine its concept of \"human flourishing\" away from a purely economic growth model to one that includes concepts of justice, spirituality and an understanding of wider community.\n\n\"Meaning, connectedness, and moral ethics are derived from the spiritual dimension of being human,\" said Dr. Gill. \"So there is a pressing need to educate in order to develop a deeper awareness of the spiritual dimensions of our lives.\"\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Participants described the symposium as thought-provoking and inspiring. Among them, Jocelyn Armstrong – a New Zealand-based educator – said it helped her to understand the importance of taking a holistic approach to religious education.\n\n\"You can discuss issues like honesty and integrity in the classroom, and then look at how religions encourage those virtues,\" she said, \"or how religions value the environment.\"\n\nDiane Evans, a chaplain at Hereford Sixth Form College in the United Kingdom, said correct knowledge is often lacking about religious beliefs. \"The more we can come together to talk about how to improve religious education, the more we can hopefully put into place programs that can eradicate a lot of the tensions,\" she said.\n\nThe deliberations were inspired by 20 papers submitted by the participants, including a working document from the Baha'i International Community (BIC) which explored how concepts of religion and \"human flourishing\" can be better integrated into education.\n\n\"This led to a discussion about the difference between religious education and spiritual education,\" said BIC representative, Ming Hwee Chong.\n\n\"It is only through education,\" he said, \"that the latent potential of every human being can develop, be expressed, and ultimately serve to benefit the individual and his or her community.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581398-89401.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Participants from the world's religions – including the Baha'i Faith – attended the \"International Symposium on Religion, Spirituality, and Education for Human Flourishing,\" held in Marrakech, 24-26 February 2012."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":889,"relatedStoryCaption":"Representatives of the UK Baha'i community join eight other religions at gathering for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":886,"relatedStoryCaption":"International extremes has become a threat to global stability."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":868,"relatedStoryCaption":"New network aims to assist world's holy places to become environmentally sustainable."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":893,"evergreenUrl":"amnesty-international-report-condemns-irans-human-rights-abuses","title":"Amnesty International report condemns Iran's human rights abuses","description":"The Baha'i International Community has noted with alarm a new Amnesty International report that highlights the widening crackdown on dissent...","date":"2012-03-02","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581381-89300.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581381-89300.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Amnesty International report, titled \"'We are ordered to crush you': Expanding repression of dissent in Iran.\" The document includes a number of detailed references to the situation of the country's Baha'i community.","imageStyle":"canvas-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Baha'i International Community has noted with alarm a new Amnesty International report that highlights the widening crackdown on dissent in Iran.\n\nThe document, titled *'We are ordered to crush you': Expanding Repression of Dissent in Iran*, cites a wave of recent arrests of lawyers, students, journalists, political activists, filmmakers, and religious and ethnic minorities.\n\n[Read the full report here.](http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/002/2012/en/2b228705-dfba-4408-a04b-8ab887988881/mde130022012en.pdf)\n\nWidespread restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly are described, as well as torture, other ill-treatment and poor conditions in detention.\n\nParticular concern is expressed at the high rate of public executions – around four times more in 2011 than in the previous year – and Iran's continuing execution of juvenile offenders, which is strictly prohibited under international law.\n\nThe Iranian authorities also see the internet and social media as a major threat, said Ann Harrison, Interim Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme. \"Anything from setting up a social group on the internet, forming or joining an NGO, or expressing your opposition to the status quo can land you in prison,\" she said.\n\nThe document reports an increase in the number and severity of attacks against Baha'is – attacks that have ranged from arrests to arson, and the publishing of slanderous articles in the press.\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"Non-Muslims, especially the Baha'i community, have been increasingly demonized by Iranian officials and in the Iranian state-controlled media,\" says the report. \"In 2011, repeated calls by the Supreme Leader and other authorities to combat 'false beliefs' – apparently an allusion to evangelical Christianity, Baha'ism and Sufism – appear to have led to an increase in religious persecution.\"\n\nWelcoming the report, Diane Ala'i – the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva – said, \"What it confirms is something Iranian Baha'is have known for years. Anyone who falls outside the government's very narrow concept of what is socially or politically acceptable is now an official pariah in Iran, and subject to severe consequences.\"\n\n**Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran**\n\n*A Special Section includes detailed information about [Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is](/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/). *\n\n*Another Special Report offers articles about the [seven Iranian Baha'i leaders](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/) – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *\n\n*The [Media Reports](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/media-reports.html) page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581381-89301.jpg"},"imageDescription":"These pages from the Amnesty International document depict some of the prisoners and detainees mentioned in the report. They include Rozita Vaseghi (picture 4), a Baha'i from Mashhad serving a 10-year jail term and banned from leaving Iran for a further 10 years; the seven former leaders of the Iranian Baha'i community (7), who are each imprisoned for 20 years; and human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani (12), who was arrested on 10 September 2011 and is now held in Tehran's Evin Prison pending completion of his trial."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Amnesty International report"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[‘We are ordered to crush you’: Expanding Repression of Dissent in Iran](http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/002/2012/en/2b228705-dfba-4408-a04b-8ab887988881/mde130022012en.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","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":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Iran-related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":890,"relatedStoryCaption":"Feature-length film examines the persecution of Iran's Baha'is."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":888,"relatedStoryCaption":"Recent events held in the United States, Bulgaria and Canada reflect ongoing global outcry."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":887,"relatedStoryCaption":"Members of Parliament urge Iranian counterparts to promote and protect fundamental human rights."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":892,"evergreenUrl":"anneliese-bopp-1921-2012","title":"Anneliese Bopp, 1921-2012","description":"Anneliese Bopp, former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away on 20 February at Bad Brückenau in Northern Bavaria,...","date":"2012-02-24","customDateline":null,"city":"HAIFA","country":"ISRAEL","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581364-89200.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581364-89200.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Miss Anneliese Bopp","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Anneliese Bopp, former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away on 20 February at Bad Brückenau in Northern Bavaria, Germany. She was 90 years old.\n\nThe Universal House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies on 21 February.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ManualContentRecord","inlineHtml":"<center>* * *</center>"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"We are deeply saddened at the passing of dearly loved Anneliese Bopp, tireless promoter of the Faith of Baha'u'llah. Born to a family closely connected with the earliest stirrings of the Cause in Germany, she was a steadfast handmaiden of the Blessed Beauty whose efforts over so many years did much to advance His Faith on the European continent. Among her innumerable contributions was an intimate involvement in the construction of the Mother Temple in Europe, completed while she served as Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany. In 1970 she was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe; nine years later she was called to serve as a Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, in which capacity she laboured, until 1988, with exemplary devotion.  Even in her life's twilight, Anneliese attentively followed developments in the Faith and vital matters pertaining to the progress of humankind. We remember with profound admiration her indomitable spirit, her clarity of thought, her disarming candour; we grieve the loss of one of the Faith's champions.\n\nTo her family, and to all who loved her, we extend our sympathy, assuring them of our heartfelt prayers in the Holy Shrines for her soul's joyful passage into the eternal realms.  We advise the holding of befitting memorial gatherings in her honour by the friends everywhere, including in all Houses of Worship.\n\nThe Universal House of Justice"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"In Memoriam"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":871,"relatedStoryCaption":"Former member of the Universal House of Justice passes away in Switzerland, aged 82."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":840,"relatedStoryCaption":"Former member of the Universal House of Justice was 74 years old."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":869,"relatedStoryCaption":"Russell Garcia - influential composer, arranger, and conductor."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":891,"evergreenUrl":"building-house-worship-chile-reaches-important-milestone","title":"Building of House of Worship in Chile reaches important milestone","description":"A significant milestone has been reached in the building of the Baha'i House of Worship here with the signing of contracts essential to the construction....","date":"2012-02-24","customDateline":false,"city":"SANTIAGO","country":"CHILE","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581311-89100.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581311-89100.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A computer-generated rendition of the Baha'i House of Worship under construction in Santiago, Chile, simulating how it will appear at dusk. When completed, it will be the last Baha'i Temple to be erected to serve an entire continent. These unique buildings are open to all people for prayer and meditation, regardless of religion or any other distinction. Image © Hariri Pontarini Architects.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"A significant milestone has been reached in the building of the Baha'i House of Worship here with the signing of contracts essential to the construction.\n\nThe innovative design for the Temple consists of nine translucent elements that rise from the ground – giving the impression of floating over a reflecting pool – and meet at a central oculus, 30 meters above.\n\nThe building's skeletal framework will support 500 tons of exterior and interior cladding. The outer surface will consist of 3000 square meters of panels made with an entirely new method of casting glass. 2000 square meters of robotically cut and carved translucent marble will create a luminous interior ceiling.\n\nAfter 10 months of tendering and negotiation, the contract for the superstructure and cladding was awarded on 16 February to Gartner Steel and Glass GmbH. Based in Germany, it is well-known for developing and constructing complex three-dimensional structures.\n\n\"We have reached a wonderful moment,\" said Siamak Hariri of the Canadian firm Hariri Pontarini Architects, \"the fulfillment of eight years of research, design development, engineering, the preparation of complete tender documents in both Spanish and English, inventing and casting the glass – all of this alongside finding and purchasing a marvelous site and preparing the necessary permits.\"\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"We had to prove to ourselves and the fabricators that constructing this building was not only achievable, but that it was achievable under very complex design constraints, budgetary limitations and severe seismic conditions,\" said Mr. Hariri.\n\nState-of-the-art computational modeling and analysis had to be used to enhance the resistance of the temple to severe earthquakes.\n\n\"The geometry and the curvature make this building very complex, each element acting together with the others,\" he said. \"Glass and stone are so brittle and the tolerances are so tight. All the joints are recessed which means the system has to be very stiff and completely water-tight. But the foundation has to deal with any rapid movements in the earth.\"\n\nAlong with the contract for the superstructure and cladding, other important contracts have also recently been signed. The construction of the foundation of the building and all concrete work was awarded on 30 January to Chilean contractor, Fernández Wood Constructora S.A. On 17 February, Paris-based EDM-Projets was signed to provide the interior cladding.\n\n\"This is really a significant milestone,\" said project manager, Saeid Samadi. \"It means we now have schedules from the contractors by which we can measure the progress of work and the estimated completion dates.\"\n\nExcavation and grading work for the House of Worship's foundation and plaza began in November 2010. Following early completion of that stage, work began on 9 February this year on the basement, service tunnel, main floor and mezzanine structure.\n\n\"Two things are very delicate about this next stage,\" said Mr. Samadi. \"Firstly, when we finish the columns of the basement, we are installing ten base isolators made in the San Francisco Bay Area, which will isolate the building itself from the foundation in case of seismic activity.\"\n\n\"Secondly, when we carry out the concrete work, steel parts made by the fabricators of the superstructure will be embedded in the concrete. This requires ultimate precision because the entire superstructure will sit on them.\"\n\nOne stage that is already completed is the building of all the essential facilities on the site for the construction team and workers. Other projects soon to commence include the creation of the temple's infrastructure and the landscaping of the site – including reflective pools, pathways, steps, fences and gates. Plans for a 1.1 kilometer alternative access road, an entry plaza and gate are also under way.\n\nSiamak Hariri attributes the progress made so far to \"an excellent team dynamic at play on the project.\"\n\n\"It's a wonderful process between our engineers, architects, managers, legal experts – all working together,\" he said.\n\nSaeid Samadi agrees. \"The one thing that makes this project stand out is the loving dedication of the many individuals working on it. We try to extend this spirit to everyone who works on this extraordinary structure.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581311-89101.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The beautiful location of the site of the Baha'i House of Worship for Chile, in the hills of Peñalolén, Santiago, at the foot of the Andes. In the foreground can be seen the excavation and grading work for the House of Worship's foundation and plaza which has been completed ahead of schedule."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581311-89102.jpg"},"imageDescription":"On 23 January 2012, the Baha'i House of Worship Project Team was joined at the Temple site by project consultants from Canada and Chile, as well as the contractors from Gartner Steel and Glass GmbH., and Fernández Wood Constructora S.A."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581319-89103.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A computer-generated model of the Baha'i House of Worship, under construction in Santiago, Chile. The design \"acknowledges blossom, fruit, vegetable and the human heart\" wrote the Canadian art critic, Gary Michael Dault, \"but rests somewhere between such readings, gathering them up and transforming them into an architectural scheme that is, simultaneously, both engagingly familiar and brilliantly original.\" Image © Hariri Pontarini Architects."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581312-89104.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A computer-generated sectional view of the Baha'i House of Worship, under construction in Santiago, Chile, showing the relationship between the building's superstructure and cladding. Image © Hariri Pontarini Architects."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581311-89105.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A computer-generated model of the Baha'i House of Worship, under construction in Santiago, Chile, showing the building's concrete and steel superstructure. Image © Hariri Pontarini Architects."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581311-89106.jpg"},"imageDescription":"On 9 February 2012, the Baha'i House of Worship team met at its site office with staff from Fernández Wood Constructora S.A. The meeting signaled the official start of the process of constructing the Temple's foundation and all concrete work."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581323-89107.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In the project office for the Baha'i House of Worship in Santiago, a framed photograph of the design for the new Temple is on display – bottom right – alongside images of the other Baha'i Temples around the world. \"Seeing these pictures really makes an impact on everyone we work with, who can see how significant this building is,\" said Project Manager, Saeid Samadi."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Baha'i Houses of Worship around the world"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":865,"relatedStoryCaption":"Delhi's Chief Minister praises temple's influence at its 25th anniversary celebrations."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":851,"relatedStoryCaption":"At golden jubilee, dignitaries note House of Worship's contribution to the life of the community."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":806,"relatedStoryCaption":"Chief Justice highlights Kampala House of Worship's impact on society."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"houses_of_worship"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":890,"evergreenUrl":"groundbreaking-documentary-exposes-century-old-iranian-taboo","title":"Groundbreaking documentary exposes century-old Iranian taboo","description":"A feature-length film that examines the persecution of Iran's Baha'is opens here this week, ahead of a program of screenings throughout the United...","date":"2012-02-21","customDateline":false,"city":"LOS ANGELES","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581284-89000.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581284-89000.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The publicity poster for \"Iranian Taboo.\" The film opens on Friday 24 February in Los Angeles and will be screened in the coming weeks in the Netherlands, in Canada, and around the United States.","imageStyle":"canvas-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"A feature-length film that examines the persecution of Iran's Baha'is opens here this week, ahead of a program of screenings throughout the United States and in other countries.\n\n*Iranian Taboo* is the work of celebrated Dutch-Iranian filmmaker Reza Allamehzadeh.\n\n\"In spite of the fact that I'm banned from entering my homeland, I managed to film deep inside Iran with the help of devoted friends who risked their lives to film the footage that I needed,\" said Mr. Allamehzadeh, who is not a Baha'i.\n\n\"I have made several challenging documentaries during my long career as a filmmaker – but none of them was as difficult to make as *Iranian Taboo*,\" he said.\n\nStarting inside Iran, the film follows the journey of a Baha'i woman and her 14-year old daughter who decide to sell all of their belongings and leave the country to take refuge in the West.\n\nIt also shows the efforts that the Iranian Baha'i community has made to educate its own young members who are barred from higher education and – for the first time – gives a voice to Baha'i landowners who have suffered prolonged persecution in the village of Ivel in the northern province of Mazandaran.\n\nMr. Allamehzadeh said he chose to call the film *Iranian Taboo* because he has found that even those Iranians who believe Baha'is should have their human rights remain silent on the matter.\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"I should have started making this movie sooner,\" said Mr. Allamehzadeh. \"While I was researching, I realized that all different sectors of society based on their gender, ethnicity, language and religion are under pressure, but Baha'is have the highest degree of deprivation – not even their dead are safe and their cemeteries are being attacked. Therefore, my view is to solely focus on the human rights aspect and I wanted to depict how much the rights of Baha'is are being violated.\"\n\n\"*Iranian Taboo* is the most personal documentary that I have ever made,\" he said.\n\nAnother breakthrough for the project was securing interviews with Iranian politicians, authors and academics who have rarely spoken publicly about Iran's \"Baha'i question.\" Among them, Abolhassan Banisadr – who served as the first president of Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.\n\nAlso speaking on camera, human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Shirin Ebadi, questions the barring of Baha'is from certain professions. \"To work...to make an honest living or to get a work permit, to open up a shoe repair shop or a restaurant, you don't have to be a Muslim,\" says Mrs. Ebadi. \"Where in Islam does it say that a shoemaker has to be Muslim?\"\n\n*Iranian Taboo* opens on Friday 24 February in Los Angeles and will be screened in the coming weeks in the Netherlands; in Montreal and Toronto in Canada; and – in the U.S.A. – in Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando, San Diego, San Fransisco and Washington D.C. Full screening details can be found at the film's [website.](http://www.iraniantaboo.com)\n\n**Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran**\n\n*A Special Section includes detailed information about [Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is](/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/). *\n\n*Another Special Report offers articles about the [seven Iranian Baha'i leaders](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/) – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *\n\n*The [Media Reports](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/media-reports.html) page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581282-89001.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dutch-Iranian filmmaker Reza Allamehzadeh, director of \"Iranian Taboo.\" He said, \"It is the most personal documentary I have ever made.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581282-89002.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In Paris, Reza Allamehzadeh – pictured right – interviewed former Iranian President Abolhassan Banisadr for the documentary film, \"Iranian Taboo.\" Mr. Allamehzadeh said, \"Organizing and obtaining access to the vast range of the interviewees in this film was another challenging point that I managed to overcome.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581282-89003.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Shirin Ebadi, appearing in the film, \"Iranian Taboo.\" Questioning the barring of Baha'is from certain professions in Iran, Mrs. Ebadi asks, \"Where in Islam does it say that a shoemaker has to be Muslim?\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581282-89004.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The renowned Iranian singer Dariush – pictured left – who has contributed his vocal talents to a new song written by Esfandiar Monfaredzadeh especially for the soundtrack of \"Iranian Taboo.\" The film's director Reza Allamehzadeh is shown right."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","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":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Iran-related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":887,"relatedStoryCaption":"Government and opposition MPs urge Iranian counterparts to promote fundamental rights of citizens."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":884,"relatedStoryCaption":"Renewed campaign under way to drive Iranian Baha'is to economic ruin."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":881,"relatedStoryCaption":"Authorities want to repossess cemetery even though Baha'is were granted the deeds."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":889,"evergreenUrl":"queen-launches-diamond-jubilee-year-with-multifaith-reception","title":"Queen launches Diamond Jubilee year with multifaith reception","description":"Representatives of the United Kingdom Baha'i community joined members of eight other religions at a special gathering to mark the Diamond Jubilee...","date":"2012-02-21","customDateline":false,"city":"LONDON","country":"ENGLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581267-88900.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581267-88900.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is met by a delegation of British Baha'is at a special multifaith gathering to mark her Diamond Jubilee. Invited to display a treasured object from their faith, the Baha'i community exhibited a robe of 'Abdu'l-Baha and a framed calligraphic rendering of words from His first ever public speech, given in London in 1911.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Representatives of the United Kingdom Baha'i community joined members of eight other religions at a special gathering to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.\n\nAt a reception held at Lambeth Palace – official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury – Baha'is, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs and Zoroastrians discussed their beliefs with the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, and showed them treasured objects from the various faiths.\n\nHighlighting the ongoing centenary commemorations of 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels to Egypt and the West, the Baha'i community displayed a robe that He had worn. Baha'i representative, Shirin Fozdar-Foroudi, described the simple robe as a reminder of the spirit of 'Abdu'l-Baha whose life of service was an example to all.\n\nThe exhibit also included a framed calligraphic rendering of words from 'Abdu'l-Baha's first ever public speech, delivered on 10 September 1911 at London's City Temple: \"The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion.\"\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Queen listened and carefully followed the text as the words were read by Dr. Fozdar-Foroudi.\n\nThe Baha'i delegation also consisted of Patrick O'Mara – Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, Nasrin O'Kane from Northern Ireland and Liam Stephens from the Isle of Skye.\n\n\"The Queen spoke to us of how widespread the Baha'i community appears to be,\" said Dr. Fozdar-Foroudi.\n\n\"We also took the opportunity to thank her and the Duke of Edinburgh for the services that they have rendered over the past 60 years in promoting the principles of unity, equality and justice among the diverse peoples of the Commonwealth,\" she said.\n\nThe reception held on 15 February was one of the Queen's first public engagements to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee year.\n\nAddressing the gathering, the Queen said, \"Faith plays a key role in the identity of millions of people, providing not only a system of belief but a sense of belonging.\"\n\n\"Our religions provide critical guidance for the way we live our lives and for the way in which we treat each other.\"\n\n\"It can act as a spur for social action. Indeed religious groups have a proud track record of helping those in the greatest need.\"\n\nThe Queen concluded by sending good wishes to each of the faith groups represented by the guests, \"in the hope that – with the assurance of the protection of our Established Church – you will continue to flourish and display strength and vision in your relations with each other and the rest of society.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581267-88901.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A robe worn by 'Abdu'l-Baha and a framed calligraphic rendering of words from His first ever public speech, delivered on 10 September 1911 at London's City Temple: \"The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion.\" The historic items were exhibited at a reception held at Lambeth Palace to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":854,"relatedStoryCaption":"Baha'is commemorate 100th anniversary of historic travels by reflecting on 'Abdu'l-Baha's unique character."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":792,"relatedStoryCaption":"Baha'is commemorate 100th anniversary of historic travels by reflecting on 'Abdu'l-Baha's unique character."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":543,"relatedStoryCaption":"His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II was one of the world's longest reigning monarchs."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":888,"evergreenUrl":"irans-human-rights-abuses-condemned-national-events","title":"Iran's human rights abuses condemned at national events","description":"Recent national-level events held in the United States, Bulgaria and Canada reflect the ongoing global outcry at the Iranian authorities' crackdown...","date":"2012-02-21","customDateline":false,"city":"WASHINGTON","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581240-88800.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581240-88800.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Representative Michael Grimm of New York speaking at a reception held on 15 February in the U.S. Capitol building to promote the passage of two Resolutions condemning Iran's human rights abuses. \"We must let the Iranian government know that we are not going to tolerate the unjust persecution of the Baha'is or of any religion or of any Iranian citizen,\" said Representative Grimm.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Recent national-level events held in the United States, Bulgaria and Canada reflect the ongoing global outcry at the Iranian authorities' crackdown on Baha'is.\n\nA reception in the U.S. Capitol building on 15 February brought together some 100 Congressional staff, US agency officials, and representatives of human rights and religious NGOs.\n\nThe gathering sought to promote the passage of House Resolution 134 and Senate resolution 80, which condemn the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community, including the 20-year imprisonment of seven Baha'i leaders. They also call for sanctions against Iranian officials who are \"directly responsible for egregious human rights violations in Iran, including against the Baha'i Community.\"\n\n\"We must let the Iranian government know that we are not going to tolerate the unjust persecution of the Baha'is or of any religion or of any Iranian citizen,\" Representative Michael Grimm of New York told the audience. \"It's time for us to speak out and to raise awareness.\"\n\nRepresentative Howard Berman of California – a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee – listed a series of abuses against Iranian Baha'is and asked, \"What kind of a sick regime treats citizens this way?\"\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Felice Gaer, a Commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, addressed Iran's systematic demonizing of Baha'is as part of an effort to \"make sure they don't exist anymore.\"\n\n\"We are talking about people who have been not just imprisoned but systematically turned into something not human,\" said Ms. Gaer. \"Why and how?  By denying them their existence, by denying them their basic rights, by denying them the right to education, the right to work, the right to marry, the right to bury the dead, the right to inherit, the right to be human and to live as human beings.\"\n\nMs. Gaer's remarks came two days after the Religious Freedom Caucus of the US House of Representatives hosted a briefing on human rights in Iran, which included discussion of a recent report by the Baha'i International Community, titled [*Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is*](https://news.bahai.org/story/861). The report examines how the Iranian government systematically uses state-controlled media to stir hatred against Baha'is. \n\n\n**Bulgarian conference**\n\nIn Sofia, Bulgaria, on 9 February, a conference on Iran's effort to bar young Baha'is from higher education drew participation from government officials, diplomats, academics and human rights groups.\n\nGeorgi Kalaydzhiev of the Bulgarian Prime Minister's office pledged the support of the Prime Minister in helping to defend Iranian Baha'is, saying, \"We are most willing to help in this cause for respect for human rights and freedom of all religious communities.\"\n\n\"In the past, we were also in a situation of suppression and now we see the results, the need for spiritual development...\" \" said Mr. Kalaydzhiev. \"That's why we feel most sincere compassion for the problems of the Baha'is in Iran.\"\n\n**Canadian Senate hearing**\n\nContinuing a hearing initiated late last year, a number of Canadian senators have also spoken out this month about prisoners unjustly held in Iran, including human rights lawyers and activists, journalists and Baha'is.\n\nOn 7 February, Salma Ataullahjan – a Muslim Senator – raised the case of one of the seven Baha'i leaders currently serving a 20-year jail term. \"I condemn the deplorable abuse of human rights of the Iranian regime and call for the immediate release of unlawfully held prisoner Behrouz Tavakkoli,\" said Senator Ataullahjan.\n\n[Senator Romeo Dallaire](/story/872), who in December 2011 said Iran's treatment of Baha'is had reached \"pre-genocidal conditions,\" also cited examples reported in *Inciting Hatred*.\n\n\"Together with demonizing images, this propaganda fuels intolerance in the most fundamentalist segments of Iranian society. Extremism exists,\" he said.\n\n**Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran**\n\n*A Special Section includes detailed information about [Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is](/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/). *\n\n*Another Special Report offers articles about the [seven Iranian Baha'i leaders](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/) – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *\n\n*The [Media Reports](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/media-reports.html) page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581238-88801.jpg"},"imageDescription":"At a receptionheld on 15 February in the U.S. Capitol building, Felice Gaer – a Commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom – addressed Iran's systematic demonizing of Baha'is. \"We are talking about people who have been not just imprisoned but systematically turned into something not human,\" said Ms. Gaer."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581238-88802.jpg"},"imageDescription":"On 16 February, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom hosted a meeting with relatives of Baha'i educators imprisoned in Iran. The Commissioner Chair, Leonard Leo, pictured, said the Commission would continue to monitor and draw attention to the plight of the Baha'i community."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581238-88803.jpg"},"imageDescription":"On 16 February, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom hosted a visit from several Baha'is to update the commission on the status of the Baha'i community in Iran. The Commission was able to hear reports from relatives of Baha'i educators imprisoned in Iran, and from a former student and a former teacher at the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581237-88804.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A conference held on 9 February in Sofia, Bulgaria, explored Iran's effort to bar young Baha'is from higher education. Georgi Kalaydzhiev of the Bulgarian Prime Minister's office, pictured left, pledged the support of the Prime Minister in helping to defend Iranian Baha'is."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","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":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Iran-related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":887,"relatedStoryCaption":"Members of Parliament urge their Iranian counterparts to promote and protect fundamental human rights."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":884,"relatedStoryCaption":"Renewed campaign under way to drive Iranian Baha'is to economic ruin."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":883,"relatedStoryCaption":"Sixty-eight prominent Romanians call upon the government of Iran to grant Baha'is their rights."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":887,"evergreenUrl":"australian-mps-call-upon-iran-protect-human-rights","title":"Australian MPs call upon Iran to protect human rights","description":"In a motion supported by both government and opposition MPs in Australia's House of Representatives, parliamentarians have urged their counterparts...","date":"2012-02-14","customDateline":false,"city":"CANBERRA","country":"AUSTRALIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581218-88700.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581218-88700.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The motion – debated by Australia's House of Representatives on 13 February 2012 – specifically called for an investigation into the denial of access to higher education for Baha'is and others in Iran, and a judicial review of the trials of the seven former Baha'i leaders, human rights defenders and lawyers.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"In a motion supported by both government and opposition MPs in Australia's House of Representatives, parliamentarians have urged their counterparts in Iran to promote and protect the fundamental human rights of Iranian citizens.\n\nIranian MPs are also called upon specifically to investigate the denial of access to higher education for student activists, Baha'is and others, and to seek a judicial review of the trials of the seven former Baha'i leaders, as well as human rights defenders and lawyers.\n\n[Read the motion and transcript of the debate here.](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/887_Australian_debate.pdf)\n\nOpening yesterday's debate, Melissa Parke – the MP for Fremantle – noted an increase in serious human rights violations in Iran since the subject was last debated in Australia's Federal Parliament on 15 November 2010.\n\n\"In 2011, Iran was cited repeatedly, including by the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the major international human rights NGOs for violating international human rights law,\" she said.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Ms. Parke noted eight areas – reported last September by Ban Ki-moon – in which the Iranian government is committing serious, systematic violations against the human rights of its own people, including the failure to protect freedom of religion.\n\n\"But the Iranian state has perhaps been most savage in its oppression of the Baha'is...In my experience, they are gentle and peace loving people, so it is difficult to understand the degree of hostility by the authorities in Iran towards them,\" said Ms. Parke.\n\nSeveral of the Baha'i prisoners have family members who are Australian citizens, she added, \"brother, sister, aunts, nephews and nieces – who wonder if they will ever see their loved ones again.\"\n\nWelcoming the motion and debate, Australian Baha'i Community spokesperson Natalie Mobini said, \"Our community has immediate relatives of some of those unjustly imprisoned and they will be heartened at this forthright motion from our nation's MPs.\"\n\nDuring the debate, the MP for Wills, Kelvin Thomson, noted a claim by an Iranian representative at the UN that the Baha'i organisation in Iran was political rather than religious, that it was illegal and that its organisation had been 'closed.'\n\n\"This quite blood-curdling response clearly displays a contempt for the basic concepts of freedom of speech and expression, including freedom of religious expression,\" Mr. Thomson said.\n\nKelly O'Dwyer, MP for Higgins said she stood together with somebody from the opposite side of the chamber in condemning Iran's human rights abuses.\n\n\"There must be no more serious and heinous act in this world than a government turning on its own people and committing violent atrocities on its own citizenry,\" said Ms. O'Dwyer.\n\n**Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran**\n\n*A Special Section includes detailed information about [Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is](/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/). *\n\n*Another Special Report offers articles about the [seven Iranian Baha'i leaders](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/) – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *\n\n*The [Media Reports](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/media-reports.html) page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581218-88701.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Melissa Parke – the Member of Parliament for Fremantle – who moved the motion debated by Australia's House of Representatives on 13 February 2012. Ms. Parke said it is \"difficult to understand the degree of hostility by the authorities in Iran\" towards Baha'is."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"House of Representatives debate"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"(Read transcript here)[http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/887_Australian_debate.pdf] (Adobe Acrobat 265KB) ","relatedPdfDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","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":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Latest Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":886,"relatedStoryCaption":"Latest Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":885,"relatedStoryCaption":"Ambitious project reaches fruition with publication."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":884,"relatedStoryCaption":"Renewed campaign under way to drive Iranian Baha'is to economic ruin."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":886,"evergreenUrl":"inequality-between-rich-poor-highlighted-un-panel","title":"Inequality between rich and poor highlighted by UN panel","description":"While the economic crisis has led many to focus on inequalities at the national level, the extremes between rich and poor internationally have...","date":"2012-02-06","customDateline":false,"city":"UNITED NATIONS","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581197-88600.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581197-88600.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ming Hwee Chong, pictured center, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, addresses a panel discussion held at the UN as part of this year's session of the Commission for Social Development. Pictured far left is Jomo Kwame Sundaram, UN Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"While the economic crisis has led many to focus on inequalities at the national level, the extremes between rich and poor internationally have also grown to become a threat to global stability.\n\nThat was among the themes raised by a panel here, held as part of this year's session of the UN Commission for Social Development, which runs until Friday.\n\nFocusing on the Commission's theme of poverty eradication, the discussion – organized by the Baha'i International Community and co-sponsored by ATD Fourth World – brought together top-level UN diplomats, officials from UN agencies, and representatives of non-governmental organizations.\n\nIn his remarks, Ambassador Jorge Valero – Permanent Representative for Venezuela to the UN and Chair of the Commission for Social Development – blamed growing inequality on the excesses of global capitalism.\n\n\"Inequality and poverty, climate change and the destruction of ecosystems are outstanding issues on the international agenda,\" said Ambassador Valero.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"These calamities can only be effectively addressed by attacking the structural causes that generate them: a consumerist, selfish and predatory global system that is based on the commodification of man and nature.\"\n\nJomo Kwame Sundaram, UN Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development, said that while the issue of inequality is often examined from the national viewpoint, two-thirds of global inequality stems from differences between countries.\n\nInternational differences are \"very, very stark,\" he said, noting that such inequalities have increased over the last three decades.\n\n\"The big promise of financial globalization was that if you ease restrictions, there will be a free flow of capital, and it will flow from rich to poor. This didn't happen. Capital flowed uphill, from the poor to the rich,\" said Dr. Sundaram.\n\nOther participants in the panel – held on Wednesday 1 February – included: Isabel Ortiz, Associate Director of Policy and Practice at UNICEF; Christine Bockstal, Chief of the Technical Cooperation and Country Operations Group for the Social Security Department of the International Labour Organization; and Sara Burke, a Senior Policy Analyst at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.\n\nDr. Ortiz reported that the top 20 percent of the world's population has more than 80 percent of the world's income – but the poorest 20 percent have less than one percent of the global income.\n\n\"National redistribution is not enough to address inequality,\" she said. \"There is a strong link between high income inequality and social unrest and economic instability.\"\n\nIn his remarks, Ming Hwee Chong of the Baha'i International Community (BIC) drew attention to recent remarks made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about income inequality at all levels increasing over the last 25 years, posing a serious barrier worldwide to poverty eradication and social integration.\n\nMr. Chong said it is time to ask some critical questions regarding the relationship between poverty eradication and the economic extremes that now exist in the world.\n\nIntroducing a BIC statement prepared for the Commission, Mr. Chong noted that relationships of dominance – one nation over another, one race over another, or one class or gender over another – contribute to inequitable access to resources and knowledge.\n\nThe statement also expresses concern that a \"materialistic worldview, which underpins much of modern economic thinking, reduces concepts of value, human purpose and human interactions to the self-interested pursuit of material wealth.\"\n\nMr. Chong said that – while much attention has been paid to the political, policy and transactional dimensions of the current crisis – the aim of the discussion was to collaborate on \"creating a space to dig deeper in order to bring to the surface some of the underlying assumptions that shape our economic and social reality.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581197-88601.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Among the top-level UN diplomats brought together for a discussion on Wednesday 1 February was Ambassador Jorge Valero, pictured left, Permanent Representative for Venezuela to the UN and Chair of the Commission for Social Development. Also present were Christine Bockstal, center, Chief of the Technical Cooperation and Country Operations Group for the Social Security Department of the International Labour Organization; and Sara Burke, right, Senior Policy Analyst at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Baha'i International Community statement"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Initial considerations regarding the elimination of the extremes of poverty and wealth](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/886_BIC_Statement.pdf) ","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 87KB)"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":829,"relatedStoryCaption":"Representatives of the Baha'i Faith join call for the G8 bloc of nations to take bold action on crises facing humanity."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":808,"relatedStoryCaption":"Initiatives to address poverty should give attention to strengthening the moral, ethical and spiritual capacities of individuals and communities."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":844,"relatedStoryCaption":"Increasing numbers of young people express their views about global problems."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":885,"evergreenUrl":"bahai-holy-writings-made-widely-available-korean-public-first-time","title":"Baha'i holy writings made widely available to Korean public for first time","description":"An ambitious project to translate a collection of Baha'u'llah's writings into Korean reaches fruition this month with the book's publication....","date":"2012-02-01","customDateline":false,"city":"SEOUL","country":"SOUTH KOREA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581181-88500.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581181-88500.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The new edition of \"Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah\", the first Baha'i literature in Korean to become widely available for a general audience.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"An ambitious project to translate a collection of Baha'u'llah's writings into Korean reaches fruition this month with the book's publication.\n\nThe volume, known in English as *Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah*, will be the first Baha'i book in Korean to be widely available from bookshops and online retailers.\n\n\"The main reason for publishing Baha'i literature in our language is to reach out to the whole of society with this new message for humanity,\" said Hee Jin Koo, a member of the task force overseeing the publication.\n\nFirst published in English in 1935, *Gleanings* is a well-loved anthology of some of the writings of Baha'u'llah, which were originally penned in Persian and Arabic. The selection includes extracts on such themes as the purpose of life, the unity of religion, and the spiritual requisites of peace and civilization.\n\nWork began on the new translation in 2003 when a small group began meeting to discuss a few paragraphs or pages each week.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"A particular challenge was the translation of certain religious terms,\" said So Jeong Park, who worked on the book. To find a standardized vocabulary, the task force drew on words commonly used in Korea's various religious traditions – including Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. For other terms, an original translation had to be devised.\n\nThe first draft was completed in late 2010, followed by a full year of rewriting and revisions.\n\nIn addition to the 410 pages of Baha'u'llah's text, the new edition includes a preface that introduces the history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith to a general audience. A lengthy glossary also explains terms found in its sacred writings.\n\n\"We hope these features will greatly increase the accessibility of the book,\" said Dr. Park.\n\nThe decision to make *Gleanings* available in major bookstores, through libraries and universities, and via online retailers, came late last year after the manuscript was finalized. Earlier translations of extracts from *Gleanings* were previously widely used by individuals and at Baha'i meetings but, until now, no Baha'i literature has been so accessible to the Korean public.\n\nIn particular, it is believed that publishing an electronic edition will have a great impact.\n\n\"It means everybody can download it onto their own gadget,\" said Hee Jin Koo, \"and they are the ones who will participate in distributing and disseminating it far and wide.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581182-88501.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Among the Baha'is overseeing the publication of \"Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah\" in Korean are, pictured from left to right, Won Pill Jung, So Jeong Park, Young Kyung Kim and Hee Jin Koo."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related Baha'i World News Service stories about publications"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":818,"relatedStoryCaption":"New book tells 'Abdu'l-Baha's story for the first time to a modern Arabic-speaking readership."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":783,"relatedStoryCaption":"Roman Catholic writer explores history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":646,"relatedStoryCaption":"300 attend launch of publication of most important Baha'i text."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":884,"evergreenUrl":"new-crackdown-highlights-campaign-block-progress-iranian-bahais","title":"New crackdown highlights campaign to block progress of Iranian Baha'is","description":"The Iranian government's systematic strategy to drive Baha'is to economic ruin shows no sign of abating. According to reports received by the...","date":"2012-01-26","customDateline":false,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581167-88400.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581167-88400.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A recent crackdown on Baha'i-owned businesses has been reported in the city of Kerman. The actions are part of a policy endorsed by Iran's Supreme Leader that explicitly aims to \"block\" the \"development of the Iranian Baha'i community.\"","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Iranian government's systematic strategy to drive Baha'is to economic ruin shows no sign of abating.\n\nAccording to reports received by the Baha'i International Community, a renewed campaign is under way in Kerman, the major city in south central Iran.\n\n\"We have learned that the Public Places Supervision Office is denying the renewal of licenses – and revoking some existing ones – for Baha'i-owned businesses in the city,\" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.\n\n\"A wide range of professions are being targeted – from computer sales and repair shops to real estate brokers. Baha'is involved in the sale of iron alloys, steel, or gold are losing their licenses, as are Baha'i-owned businesses relating to food products, and health and cosmetic services, such as opticians,\" she said.\n\nBaha'is in Kerman have also been told that they are not allowed to own a large number of shops on the same street.\n\n\"The authorities have even gone so far as to revoke the licenses of business partners of Baha'is, who are not themselves members of the Baha'i Faith,\" said Ms. Dugal.\n\nSince the 1979 Islamic Revolution, many thousands of Baha'is have lost their jobs or sources of livelihood. In 1993, the UN disclosed an [Iranian government memorandum](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/feature-articles/the-1991-memorandum-on-the-bahai-question) – endorsed by the country's Supreme Leader – that explicitly outlines a plan to \"block\" the \"development of the Iranian Baha'i community.\"\n\nIn addition to the barring of young Baha'is from higher education, said Ms. Dugal, it is clear that the authorities are continuing with a range of other actions to carry out this policy.\n\n\"We have received accounts of at least 60 incidents in the past five years, designed to curb the economic prospects of Baha'is,\" she reported.\n\nSome recent examples include:\n\n– From 2 to 12 January 2012, more than 70 percent of Baha'i-owned businesses in Sari and Ghaemshahr (Mazandaran province), and a number in Gorgan and Gonbad (Golestan province), were searched in order to find some excuse on which to threaten or arrest Baha'is. Authorities even searched the houses of Baha'is that are working from home, in some cases more than two years since they closed up their stores;\n\n– In July 2011, the Baha'i owner of a shop in Abadan received a notice from the Union for Retailers and Manufacturers of Jewelry, Watches and Glasses asking him to return his work license and liquidate his assets within 24 hours;\n\n– In June 2011, an optical shop was sealed on the pretext of transferring the license to a new location. The head of the Public Places Supervision Office indicated that the order to seal the shop was issued by the higher authorities.  The shop had been previously closed by the authorities in December 2008, along with four other Baha'i shops in Nazarabad. But after a legal battle, the owner managed to reopen in a new location, only to have it sealed again.\n\n–  After a wave of arson attacks on a dozen Baha'i-owned businesses in Rafsanjan, Iran, in late 2010, some 20 homes and businesses were sent a warning letter demanding that Baha'is sign an undertaking to \"refrain from forming contacts or friendships with Muslims\" and from \"using or hiring Muslim trainees.\"\n\n– In early 2009, in the city of Semnan, the association of Trade Unions passed a by-law stating that no Baha'i should receive a business license. Soon after, a number of Baha'i-owned businesses and shops throughout the city were subsequently sealed or shut down.\n\n– In an example of another kind of economic pressure, a Baha'i in Isfahan – shortly before being fired from his work – requested from the social security agency that he be allocated the amount that had been deducted from his wages for his pension. He received notice that his request was not being pursued as it was a \"non-issue,\" given the fact that the reason for his losing his job was his membership in \"the deviant Bahaist sect.\" The notice specified that he and another 14 individuals were fired based on the legal prohibition on their being hired in the first place, and thus their claims were of no account.\n\n\"International law firmly spells out the right of individuals to be free to work and earn a livelihood, without discrimination,\" said Ms. Dugal.\n\n\"Last month, the international community voted overwhelmingly at the UN to condemn Iran for its ongoing and recurring human rights violations. Surely it's time that Iran realizes that it can no longer get away with oppressing its citizens and thinking that no one will notice.\"\n\n**Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran**\n\n*A Special Section includes detailed information about [Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is](/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/). *\n\n*Another Special Report offers articles about the [seven Iranian Baha'i leaders](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/) – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing. *\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *\n\n*The [Media Reports](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/media-reports.html) page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","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":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Latest Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":883,"relatedStoryCaption":"Sixty-eight prominent Romanians call upon the government of Iran to grant Baha'is their rights."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":882,"relatedStoryCaption":"Proclamation condemns \"blatant policy of persecution.\""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":881,"relatedStoryCaption":"Authorities want to repossess cemetery even though Baha'is were granted the deeds."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":883,"evergreenUrl":"romanian-personalities-demand-human-rights-irans-bahais","title":"Romanian personalities demand human rights for Iran's Baha'is","description":"Almost 70 prominent Romanians are calling upon the government of Iran to grant Baha'is their fundamental human rights. Sixty-eight celebrated...","date":"2012-01-25","customDateline":false,"city":"BUCHAREST","country":"ROMANIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581150-88300.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581150-88300.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Three prominent Romanian personalities add their signatures to a petition calling upon the government of Iran to grant Baha'is their fundamental human rights. They are, from left to right, TV news presenter Andreea Berecleanu; musician Ovidiu Lipan Tandarica; and actress, Maia Morgenstern.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Almost 70 prominent Romanians are calling upon the government of Iran to grant Baha'is their fundamental human rights.\n\nSixty-eight celebrated figures – from the worlds of academia, arts, banking, business, media and medicine – have signed a petition, appealing to the Iranian authorities to cease its systematic campaign of persecution of the Baha'is, \"who seek only their rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the right to life, the right to liberty and security of person, the right to education and work, and the right to practice their religion...\"\n\nThe letter was instigated by Radu Gabrea, a renowned film director, along with Istvan Haller of Romania's National Council for Combating Discrimination.\n\nAmong the signatories are internationally-acclaimed actress Maia Morgenstern, best-known for her portrayal of Mary in *The Passion of the Christ*; television news presenter Andreea Berecleanu; well-known drummer Ovidiu Lipan Tândărică; and a former government minister, Ilie Serbănescu.\n\nThe petition highlights the case of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, as well as Iran's \"repeated attempts to hinder the progress of the Baha'i community's efforts to educate its young people,\" and a \"litany of other abuses and violations of their fundamental rights.\"\n\n\"We do not understand...why the Iranian state sanctions the incitement of hatred against the Baha'is in Iran, why it allows fire bombings and torchings of their places of business, and other forms of terrorization, that seek to drive them out of their towns and cities...\" the petition states.\n\n\"We do not understand why they are harassed when burying their dead, why Baha'i cemeteries are desecrated, why they are denied business licenses, why their businesses and properties are confiscated, and why the Baha'is are denied work and pensions.\"\n\nDella Marcus of the Romanian Baha'i community said it is unprecedented for such a large number of prominent people to speak up for the cause of the Baha'is in Iran.\n\n\"We pray that this petition will contribute to making it clear to the Iranian government that there are many around the world that do not accept their state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'is,\" said Ms. Marcus.\n\n**Further information**\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.*"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report)","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":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Latest Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":882,"relatedStoryCaption":"Proclamation condemns \"blatant policy of persecution.\""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":881,"relatedStoryCaption":"Authorities want to repossess cemetery even though Baha'is were granted the deeds."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":880,"relatedStoryCaption":"United Kingdom MPs focus on \"steep rise\" in Iran's persecution of minorities."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":882,"evergreenUrl":"slovakian-politicians-call-irans-persecution-bahais-chilling-abhorrent","title":"Slovakian politicians call Iran's persecution of Baha'is \"chilling\" and \"abhorrent\"","description":"Treatment of the Baha'is in Iran has \"escalated to an institutionalised and blatant policy of persecution,\" according to a proclamation issued...","date":"2012-01-20","customDateline":false,"city":"BRATISLAVA","country":"SLOVAKIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581127-88200.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581127-88200.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of the Slovak Republic met on 19 January to discuss a resolution condemning the Iranian regime's persecution of Baha'is. The Committee's chair, Dr. Frantisek Sebej, pictured center with red tie, said, \"Though I do not expect that the Iranian Government will stop the persecution of Baha'is, at least it will not dare to do more horrific things while thinking that no one is watching and nobody cares.\"","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Treatment of the Baha'is in Iran has \"escalated to an institutionalised and blatant policy of persecution,\" according to a proclamation issued by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Slovakian parliament.\n\nThe proclamation describes the Iranian government's incitement to hatred based on religion and belief as \"abhorrent.\" It also states that  the \"regime's endeavors to persecute Baha'is is chilling indeed,\" and demands an end to Iran's \"spiralling efforts to destroy the Iranian Baha'i community.\"\n\nBaha'is \"must be guaranteed their full and equal human rights\" and \"be allowed to contribute to the public life and development of Iran along with their fellow citizens,\" wrote the Foreign Affairs Committee.\n\n\"The fact that this Committee has taken on the situation of Baha'is in Iran is important for two reasons,\" said its chairman, Frantisek Sebej.\n\n\"One, because the democratic parliaments of the world must care about and deal with the denial of human rights of suppressed minorities in other parts of the world, at least for the reason that we are the luckier ones who live in a free world and have the obligation to care for others.\"\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"The second reason is that with such a resolution we can help the Baha'i community.\"\n\nNoting \"a sharp increase in the systematic, government-supported program to destroy the Baha'i community in Iran,\" the statement also describes the destruction of Baha'i holy sites and cemeteries as an \"atrocious blow to religious cultural heritage of significant value for humankind.\" It calls for the immediate release of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders and the Baha'i educators jailed for their association with the Baha'i Institute of Higher Education.\n\n\"At issue are denial of the right to life, liberty and security of person; violent attacks; arbitrary arrests and imprisonments; denial of access to education; confiscation and destruction of personal community property; and the denial of employment, pensions and other benefits,\" the proclamation says.\n\nThe Committee – which approved the proclamation at a meeting held yesterday in the building of the National Council of the Slovak Republic – also resolved to send the statement to senior figures in Iran, including President Ahmadinejad.\n\n\"Though I do not expect that the Iranian Government will stop the persecution of Baha'is,\" said Dr. Sebej, \"at least it will not dare to do more horrific things while thinking that no one is watching and nobody cares.\"\n\n**Further information**\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran.*"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581127-88201.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Members of the Slovak Republic's Foreign Affairs Committee studied the situation of the Baha'is of Iran at a hearing on 7 December 2011. Addressing the Committee, pictured center, is Andrea Polokova, a representative of the Baha'i community of Slovakia."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"The Baha'is of Iran"},{"__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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","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":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Latest Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":881,"relatedStoryCaption":"Authorities want to repossess cemetery even though Baha'is were granted the deeds."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":880,"relatedStoryCaption":"United Kingdom MPs focus on \"steep rise\" in Iran's persecution of minorities."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":879,"relatedStoryCaption":"Reynaldo Galindo Pohl passed away in El Salvador."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":881,"evergreenUrl":"even-death-irans-bahais-face-persecution","title":"Even in death, Iran's Baha'is face persecution","description":"Eighteen years ago, Baha'is in the Iranian city of Sanandaj were allocated a one-hectare parcel of barren land at the side of a road for use...","date":"2012-01-19","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581105-88100.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581105-88100.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In recent years, there have been dozens of incidents of vandalism, arson, or other problems related to Baha'i-owned cemeteries or efforts by Baha'is to bury their dead. Authorities are currently trying to confiscate and destroy the Baha'i cemetery in Sanandaj, some 400 kilometers west of Tehran.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Eighteen years ago, Baha'is in the Iranian city of Sanandaj were allocated a one-hectare parcel of barren land at the side of a road for use as a cemetery.\n\nThis rocky mountainside, devoid of vegetation, was hardly prime real estate but – after the first burial there in the autumn of 1993 – local Baha'is got together to landscape the site, dig out the rocks and replace the soil. They planted and watered by hand 250 cypress and fir saplings, contributed by the Office of Agriculture. They installed electricity and built a small room where bodies could be prepared for burial.\n\nAt every step of the way, proper permits were obtained. When the Baha'is wanted to dig a well, permission was sought and granted from the regional water board. At every expiry date, the permit was correctly renewed.\n\nImpressed by the transformation of the site, the Office of Natural Resources suggested that the Baha'is consider planting trees on public land adjacent to the cemetery, thereby expanding the green zone. As a result, the largely Sunni Muslim residents of Sanandaj came to respect the place as a symbol of the Baha'i community's peaceful presence in their city.\n\nBut now, the area's beauty and greenery appears to have instigated a change in official attitudes. Authorities want to repossess the cemetery, reasserting the state's claim on the land – even though Baha'is were once granted the deeds. An order for it to be confiscated, and the buildings and graves to be destroyed, will be heard in court at the end of this month.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Recent harassment of Baha'is in Sanandaj does not bode well for the verdict. On 19 December, Ministry of Intelligence agents carried out early morning raids on 12 Baha'i homes in the city. Baha'i books, pamphlets and photographs were confiscated, along with compact discs, audio cassettes, computers, mobile telephones, computer drives, and various personal documents.\n\n\"In the light of this upsurge of persecution of the Sanandaj Baha'i community, it looks like the fate of the cemetery has already been decided at the order of the Ministry of Intelligence,\" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.\n\nIn an announcement on 17 January, the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan called upon the authorities to practice “tolerance and acceptance of other beliefs.” It described the “new wave of pressure and restraints against the Baha’i community” as “inhumane and illegal actions…in violation of civil and political rights treaties and conventions.”\n\n**Disturbing the departed**\n\nUnder Iran's present regime, the case of Sanandaj is not unique. Since 2007, there have been more than 30 incidents of vandalism, arson, or other problems related to Baha'i-owned cemeteries or efforts by Baha'is to properly bury their dead.\n\n\"Not content with only persecuting the living, the Iranian authorities seek to disturb the peace of even those who have passed on,\" said Ms. Ala'i. \"This is the latest in a long string of attacks on Baha'i cemeteries and burial rites. All are in complete violation of international standards of human rights and any decent person's understanding of respect for the dead.\"\n\nAmong recent examples:\n\n– A newly established cemetery in Sangsar, Semnan Province, given to local Baha'is by the municipality, was vandalized by unknown intruders in March 2011. The graves were piled high with dirt, the trees were uprooted, and the two small rooms were destroyed.\n\n– In July 2010, graves in the Baha'i cemetery of Jiroft, Kerman Province, were destroyed by unknown intruders using bulldozers.\n\n– In late May 2010, the Baha'i cemetery in Mashhad was vandalized at night using a front-end loader and other heavy machinery. The cemetery's walls, the mortuary, and the place where prayers were recited were severely damaged.\n\nOther incidents have involved efforts by authorities to interfere with Baha'i burial rites.\n\nIn Tabriz, for example, Baha'is had been allowed access to the city's public cemetery for years. In August last year, the family of a recently deceased Baha'i woman was told that she would have to be interred with Muslim rites. The woman's remains had to be buried in a Baha'i cemetery in another town. A similar incident occurred last October when the body of a Baha'i man was taken from Tabriz to another Baha'i cemetery some 100 kilometers away and buried without his family being informed.\n\n\"Iranian officials in international fora consistently claim that Baha'is are not treated differently from others and are only 'punished' when they do something illegal,\" said Diane Ala'i. \"What precisely have these dead people done to deserve such treatment?\"\n\n\"The beautification of the cemetery in Sanandaj and its surroundings is evidence of the sincere and positive contribution Iranian Baha'is wish to make to their country. What is equally evident is that the authorities find such a thing impossible to accept.\"\n\n**Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran**\n\n*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about [Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is](/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/). It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *\n\n*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the [seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/) – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *\n\n*The [Media Reports](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/media-reports.html) page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581104-88101.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In another example of vandalism of Baha'i-owned cemeteries in Iran, gravestones near Najafabad were left in a heap by a bulldozer that destroyed the Baha'i burial ground in September 2007."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","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":"[The Baha'is of Semnan - Special Report](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/semnan/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Latest Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":880,"relatedStoryCaption":"United Kingdom MPs focus on \"steep rise\" in Iran's persecution of minorities."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":879,"relatedStoryCaption":"Reynaldo Galindo Pohl passed away in El Salvador."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":878,"relatedStoryCaption":"Canadians urged to call for an end to Iran's persecution of Baha'i educators and students."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":880,"evergreenUrl":"debate-highlights-dangerous-escalation-religious-persecution-iran","title":"Debate highlights dangerous escalation of religious persecution in Iran","description":"Members of Parliament here have sharply criticized Iran for its human rights violations, focusing especially on the \"steep rise\" in the persecution...","date":"2012-01-13","customDateline":false,"city":"LONDON","country":"ENGLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581086-88000.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581086-88000.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Members of the UK Parliament taking part in a debate on 11 January on Iran's human rights violations. Pictured from left to right: Alistair Burt, MP for North East Bedfordshire and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside; Andrew Selous, MP for South West Bedfordshire; and Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Members of Parliament here have sharply criticized Iran for its human rights violations, focusing especially on the \"steep rise\" in the persecution of religious minorities.\n\nIn a debate held at Westminster Hall on Wednesday 11 January, MPs highlighted the fact that virtually every religious minority in Iran is now facing oppression.\n\nSome 19 MPs, representing the UK's three major parties, participated in the debate.\n\n[Watch video coverage of the debate, here.](http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=9743)\n\n[Read a transcript of the debate, here.](http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2012-01-11a.109.1)\n\nIn the opening speech, Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside, described the persecution of Baha'is as \"pervasive and escalating dangerously.\"\n\n\"The repression takes a number of forms in an ongoing and systematic persecution,\" said Mrs. Ellman. \"It means arbitrary arrest and imprisonment and the denial of access to higher education and areas of employment. The homes and businesses of Baha'is have been subject to arson attacks, cemeteries have been destroyed, and children have been harassed.\"\n\nShe also expressed concern over the 20-year prison sentences being served by seven Baha'i leaders and Iran's continuing effort to bar young Baha'is from higher education.\n\nNoting remarks made recently by [Canadian Senator Romeo Dallaire](/story/872), Mrs. Ellman said that it \"is extremely important that the world does not wait until there is a genocide. It should heed warning and take further action to put pressure on the Government of Iran to stop what they are doing.\"\n\nParticipants also raised the issue of the increasing persecution of Christians in Iran. Andrew Selous, MP for South West Bedfordshire, reported that at least eight Christian leaders have been murdered since 1979, and expressed particular concern over the case of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was sentenced to death for apostasy in 2010 and has since been the focus of an international outcry.\n\nStewart Jackson, MP for Peterborough, spoke of \"regular raids on gatherings\" of Christians, \"harsh interrogations and torture...including demands for the recantation of faith and for information on the identities of fellow Christians; detention for long periods without charge and other violations of due process; convictions for ill-defined crimes or on falsified political charges; the economic targeting of the Christian community through the demand of exorbitant bail payments; and the threat of imminent execution of a house-church pastor.\"\n\nRegarding Iran's Jewish community, Martin Horwood, MP for Cheltenham, reported \"increasing evidence that anti-Semitism is growing there, and that the small Jewish community there is being blamed for the actions of the Israeli Government.\"\n\nAt the end of the debate, Alistair Burt, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said that while 2011 showed that demands for human dignity are irrepressible, Iran is moving in the opposite direction.\n\n\"Human rights are universal,\" said Mr. Burt, \"and Iran's failure to meet its obligations is punishing and stifling the fulfilment of the wishes and aspirations of millions of people.\"\n\nMr. Burt assured those present that the UK will continue to press other countries to support resolutions expressing concern over Iran's human rights record in the United Nations and at the Human Rights Council.\n\nDr. Kishan Manocha, Director of the Office of Public Affairs of the Baha'i Community of the United Kingdom, has welcomed the wide ranging discussion.\n\n\"The fact that such a good number of MPs, representing all parties, participated really reflects a high level of concern about Iran's human rights record, and especially its rising religious intolerance,\" said Dr. Manocha.\n\n\"We are, of course, pleased that Baha'is were prominently mentioned,\" Dr. Manocha added. \"But we are also happy that UK Parliamentarians are focusing on the problems faced by other religious minorities. We need to speak as one on the situation of religious intolerance in Iran.\"\n\n**Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran**\n\n*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about [Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is](/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/). It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links.  *\n\n*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the [seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/) – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *\n\n*The [Media Reports](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/media-reports.html) page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.*"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","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":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Latest Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":879,"relatedStoryCaption":"Reynaldo Galindo Pohl passed away in El Salvador."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":878,"relatedStoryCaption":"Canadians urged to call for an end to Iran's persecution of Baha'i educators and students."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":877,"relatedStoryCaption":"Condolences over the passing of Tunisian jurist Abdelfattah Amor."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":879,"evergreenUrl":"un-investigator-who-revealed-irans-bahai-question-memorandum-dies-aged-93","title":"UN investigator who revealed Iran's \"Baha'i Question\" memorandum dies aged 93","description":"Reynaldo Galindo Pohl, a noted legal scholar who uncovered significant evidence of human rights violations in Iran in the late 1980s and early...","date":"2012-01-10","customDateline":false,"city":"SAN SALVADOR","country":"EL SALVADOR","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581067-87900.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581067-87900.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Professor Reynaldo Galindo Pohl, 1918-2012. UN Photo by Yutaka Nagata.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Reynaldo Galindo Pohl, a noted legal scholar who uncovered significant evidence of human rights violations in Iran in the late 1980s and early 1990s, passed away here last Thursday.\n\nA prominent diplomat and professor of law, Prof. Galindo Pohl was well known internationally even before his 1987 appointment as the United Nations Commission on Human Rights' Special Representative on Iran. He had served as El Salvador's UN ambassador and was also – among other posts – the director of legal affairs for the Organization of American States.\n\nBut in the field of human rights, his eight years as Special Representative were particularly significant, principally for a series of reports that authoritatively documented the intense, often brutal, violations committed by Iran against its own citizens.\n\nIn 1990, for example, Prof. Galindo Pohl cited numerous interviews and documents to expose the Iranian government's extensive use of execution and torture, and lack of judicial safeguards.\n\n\"The Baha'i International Community wishes to express its deep condolences over the passing of Professor Galindo Pohl, whose impact and influence in the field of human rights will long be remembered,\" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.\n\n\"His tireless efforts to interview victims, their families, and others with direct or inside knowledge of the kinds of violations that the government hoped to keep secret became an essential feature of his reports to the UN Commission on Human Rights. These were critical in calling the world's attention to the brutality of the regime at the time,\" said Ms. Ala'i.\n\nProf. Galindo Pohl's 1993 report to the Commission was notable for its disclosure of the so-called [\"Baha'i Question\" memorandum](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/feature-articles/the-1991-memorandum-on-the-bahai-question), a previously secret 1991 letter – issued by the Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council – that established a national policy for dealing with Iran's Baha'is, setting limits on their educational, economic and cultural activities.\n\n\"The public release of this memorandum was extremely important,\" said Ms. Ala'i. \"It documented how the highest levels of the Iranian government had devised a plan to completely block the development of the Baha'i community in ways that would draw less attention than the executions and imprisonments carried out in the 1980s – but which would still eventually result in the end of the Baha'i community as a viable entity.\"\n\nProf. Galindo Pohl visited Iran three times during the course of his mandate and, on those visits, often boldly challenged Iranian authorities by conducting interviews in prison or with individuals that the government otherwise sought to prevent from meeting with him. He was also known to be scrupulously fair, reporting the extensive inquiries he made of Iranian officials – and also their responses.\n\nBorn 18 October 1918 in Sonsonate, El Salvador, Prof. Galindo Pohl was a graduate of the University of El Salvador, where he obtained a doctorate in law and social sciences. In 1950, he was elected President of the National Constitutional Assembly. He also served as Minister of Education from 1950 to 1956. From 1960 to 1964, he was a member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Original documents"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"1991 SRCC memorandum"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Persian original](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/575/5_TheISRCCdocument.pdf) (Adobe Acrobat 58KB)","relatedPdfDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[English translation](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/575/5_TheISRCCdocument_en.pdf) (Adobe Acrobat 21KB)","relatedPdfDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Human Rights in Iran"},{"__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":"[\"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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\"](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Latest Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":878,"relatedStoryCaption":"All Canadians urged to call for an end to Iran's persecution of Baha'i educators and students."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":877,"relatedStoryCaption":"Condolences over the passing of Tunisian jurist Abdelfattah Amor."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":876,"relatedStoryCaption":"Resolution expresses \"deep concern\" at human rights violations."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":878,"evergreenUrl":"canadian-university-presidents-speak-out-bahai-educators","title":"Canadian university presidents speak out for Baha'i educators","description":"Two pre-eminent university presidents are urging all of their fellow Canadians to join them in calling for an end to Iran's persecution of Baha'i...","date":"2012-01-09","customDateline":false,"city":"TORONTO","country":"CANADA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581042-87800.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581042-87800.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The two Canadian university presidents who are calling for an end to Iran's persecution of Baha'i educators and students. Allan Rock, left, is president of the University of Ottawa; Lloyd Axworthy, right, is president of the University of Winnipeg. UN photos by Mark Garten and Evan Schneider.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Two pre-eminent university presidents are urging all of their fellow Canadians to join them in calling for an end to Iran's persecution of Baha'i educators and students.\n\nThe appeal comes from Canada's former minister of foreign affairs and president of the University of Winnipeg, Lloyd Axworthy, and Allan Rock – who is president of the University of Ottawa and former Canadian ambassador to the UN.\n\nIn an article in the Canadian edition of *The Huffington Post*, they speak of how \"deeply troubled\" they are that Baha'is are denied access to higher education in Iran, and express concern that \"the brutal regime in Tehran has turned a deaf ear\" to calls to end the systematic persecution.\n\n[Read the article here.](http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/allan-rock/bahai-iran-politics_b_1186039.html)\n\n\"As Presidents of Canadian universities,\" they write, \"we attach enormous value to access by young people to the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in tomorrow's world. We regard education as the key to a better future for all peoples, and believe passionately that each person has the right to an education.\"\n\nTheir article particularly draws attention to the attack launched by Iranian authorities on an informal community initiative – known as the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) – which was set up to provide education for young Baha'is barred from university.\n\nAmong those arrested in May last year for their association with BIHE was Nooshin Khadem – an MBA graduate of Carleton University in Ottawa. She is now serving a four-year jail term. A married couple currently awaiting trial, Kamran Rahimian and Faran Hessami, completed their graduate studies in psychology counseling at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Education.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"They were charged with teaching without valid accreditation,\" the article states. \"The Iranian authorities confiscated their U of O degrees and then alleged that they had never earned them.\"\n\nPresidents Axworthy and Rock are encouraging \"all Canadians to add their voice in calling on the Iranian government unconditionally to drop all charges against educators, to halt all further aggression towards the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education and to allow the Baha'i access to education. The Baha'i of Iran must know that in resisting the cruel oppression of those who persecute them, they do not stand alone.\"\n\nThe article concludes with the two presidents stating that they are \"proud to join\" with a \"growing group of academics, university administrators and notable advocates for peace including Desmond Tutu, Romeo Dallaire and Jose Ramos-Horta\" who are \"condemning the Iranian regime's denial of the right to education.\"\n\n**Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran**\n\n*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about [Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is](/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/). It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *\n\n*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the [seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/) – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *\n\n*The [Media Reports](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/media-reports.html) page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581042-bihe7.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'i educators sentenced to four- and five-year jail terms are (top row, left to right): Mahmoud Badavam, Ramin Zibaie, Riaz Sobhani, Farhad Sedghi; (bottom row, left to right) Noushin Khadem, Kamran Mortezaie, and Vahid Mahmoudi. Ms. Khadem is an MBA graduate of Carleton University, Ottawa."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","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":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Access to higher education in Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":874,"relatedStoryCaption":"48 leaders of medical education in the USA join the worldwide protest against Iran’s persecution of Baha’i students and educators."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":873,"relatedStoryCaption":"Canada's first Muslim senator strongly criticizes Iran for its prosecution and imprisonment of Baha'i educators."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":864,"relatedStoryCaption":"The worldwide outcry at the persecution of Iranian Baha'i students and teachers continues to spread."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":877,"evergreenUrl":"bahai-international-community-mourns-passing-human-rights-expert","title":"Baha'i International Community mourns passing of human rights expert","description":"The Baha'i International Community has expressed its condolences over the passing of noted human rights lawyer and Tunisian jurist Abdelfattah...","date":"2012-01-08","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581025-87700.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581025-87700.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dr. Abdelfattah Amor, 1943-2012. Photo: FIDH.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Baha'i International Community has expressed its condolences over the passing of noted human rights lawyer and Tunisian jurist Abdelfattah Amor.\n\nProfessor Amor – who has died at the age of 68 after suffering a heart attack – was best known internationally for his 11 years of service as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, from 1993 to 2004.\n\n\"As the Special Rapporteur, Professor Amor was among the world's foremost defenders of the right to freedom of religion or belief,\" said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN in Geneva.\n\n\"He bravely spoke out on behalf of individuals and groups around the world who faced religious discrimination, regardless of the political consequences,\" she said.\n\nIn 1995, Dr. Amor visited Iran – among the few UN human rights investigators to do so – and subsequently issued a ground-breaking report that cataloged that country's widespread discrimination against religious minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.\n\nA Muslim, Dr. Amor boldly pointed out the degree to which Iran had failed to live up to international human rights standards regarding freedom of religion or belief.\n\n\"His report relied on detailed interviews and careful legal analysis and is still considered a milestone in human rights reporting today,\" said Ms. Alai.\n\nAmong other things, for example, Dr. Amor pointed out in 1996 that individuals have the freedom to \"have or adopt\" a new religion, as well as to retain their own religious belief, regardless of national laws that might say otherwise, such as is the case in Iran.\n\nIn another report issued in 1997, Dr. Amor made clear that governments are not to be the arbiters of what is legitimate religion, deserving of protection under human rights law. \"It is not the business of the State or any other group or community to act as the guardian of people's consciences and encourage, impose or censure any religious belief or conviction,\" he wrote, a statement that was seen as significant in the face of claims made by Iran about Baha'is.\n\n\"Our hearts go out to his family, to the Tunisian people, and to the human rights community everywhere, who are sure to mourn his sudden passing,\" said Ms. Ala'i.\n\nDr. Amor was born 4 March 1943 in Tunisia. After receiving a law degree in 1967, he undertook advanced legal studies in Paris. In his early career, he served as a university professor in Tunisia, serving, for example, from 1987 to 1993 as dean of the faculty of legal, political and social science at the University of Tunis.\n\nIn 1998, during his mandate as UN Special Rapporteur, he was elected to serve on the UN Human Rights Committee, where he continued to be a powerful advocate for the right to freedom of religion or belief. He was a member of the Committee at the time of his death.\n\nIn 2011, after the Tunisian Revolution, he was appointed as president of the National Commission for the Investigation of Corruption and Bribery under the regime of former Tunisian President Ben Ali.\n\nRead more about Dr. Amor's 1995 report, [here](http://www.onecountry.org/oc74/oc7409as.html)."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Human Rights in Iran"},{"__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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","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":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":876,"relatedStoryCaption":"UN General Assembly approves resolution expressing \"deep concern\" at human rights violations in Iran."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":875,"relatedStoryCaption":"Almost 180 legal professionals gather for conference on the Baha'i Faith and its laws."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":874,"relatedStoryCaption":"48 leaders of medical education in the USA join the worldwide protest against Iran's persecution of Baha’i students and educators."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":876,"evergreenUrl":"un-condemnation-iran-reflects-growing-intolerance-human-rights-violations","title":"UN condemnation of Iran reflects growing intolerance for human rights violations","description":"Reflecting the international community's increasing intolerance for human rights violations, the UN General Assembly today condemned Iran for...","date":"2011-12-19","customDateline":false,"city":"UNITED NATIONS","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581012-un.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581012-un.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The UN Headquarters buildings in New York City. The UN General Assembly today condemned Iran for oppressing its citizens. \"The Assembly's vote this year makes absolutely clear the international community's utter frustration with Iran's continuing oppression of its citizens,\" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. UN Photo/Mark Garten.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Reflecting the international community's increasing intolerance for human rights violations, the UN General Assembly today condemned Iran for oppressing its citizens.\n\nBy a vote of 89 to 30 with 64 abstentions, the Assembly approved a resolution that expressed \"deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations\" in the country.\n\nThe vote came after Iran attempted a \"no-action motion,\" aimed at blocking the resolution by calling for adjournment of the debate. The motion failed by a vote of 100 against, 35 in favor, with 42 abstentions.\n\nSuch resolutions on human rights in Iran have come before the Assembly virtually every year since 1992, and this year's measure – already approved by the General Assembly's Third Committee last month – passed by the widest margin yet seen.\n\n\"The Assembly's vote this year makes absolutely clear the international community's utter frustration with Iran's continuing oppression of its citizens,\" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.\n\n\"The wide margin of this year's vote also reflects the international community's impatience with the violation of human rights everywhere, and an increased willingness of a growing number of nations to speak out on behalf of human rights,\" she said.\n\nAnother factor in the large margin was the sense of frustration many nations felt over Iran's repeated refusal to cooperate with the UN in receiving special human rights investigators, said Ms. Dugal.\n\nShe noted that Iran has not yet allowed a visit to the country from Ahmed Shaheed, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.\n\n\"Since the appointment of Ahmed Shaheed, Iran has not welcomed him to the country and, in fact, has even questioned the legitimacy of his appointment,\" said Ms. Dugal.\n\nThis year's resolution expressed concern over a wide range of abuses in Iran, including \"a dramatic increase\" in executions, the use of torture, the systematic targeting of human rights defenders, pervasive violence against women, and continuing discrimination against minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.\n\nCo-sponsored by 42 countries, the resolution specifically lists some 16 areas of concern, also including the \"systematic and serious restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly\" and \"severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.\"\n\nAbout Baha'is, the resolution noted \"escalating attacks on Baha'is and their defenders.\" It reported \"a significant increase in the number of Baha'is arrested and detained\" and \"renewed measures to deny Baha'is employment in the public and private sectors.\"\n\n**Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran**\n\n*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Section which includes further articles and background information about [Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is](/human-rights/iran/education-special-report/). It contains news of latest developments, a summary of the situation, profiles of imprisoned Baha'i educators, feature articles, case studies and testimonials from students, resources and links. *\n\n*Another Special Report offers articles and background information about the [seven Iranian Baha'i leaders](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/) – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing – and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *\n\n*The [International Reaction](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html) page of the Baha'i World News service is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. *\n\n*The [Media Reports](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/media-reports.html) page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world. *"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"(UN General Assembly resolution)[http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/867_Iran_human_rights_situation.pdf] (Adobe Acrobat 46KB)","relatedPdfDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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":"[\"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is\" - Special Report](http://bic.org/resources/documents/inciting-hatred-book)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[BWNS Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","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":"[List of BWNS articles](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Iran-related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":874,"relatedStoryCaption":"Almost 50 leaders of medical education in the US join the worldwide protest against Iran's persecution of Baha’i educators."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":873,"relatedStoryCaption":"Canada's first Muslim senator strongly criticizes Iran for its prosecution and imprisonment of Baha'i educators."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":872,"relatedStoryCaption":"Former UN peacekeeper Romeo Dallaire says Iran's actions against Baha'is remind him of what he witnessed in Rwanda."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":875,"evergreenUrl":"bangladeshi-judges-lawyers-attend-unique-conference-bahai-law","title":"Bangladeshi judges and lawyers attend unique conference on Baha'i law","description":"Almost 180 legal professionals from around the country gathered here for a conference on the Baha'i Faith and the personal and family laws that...","date":"2011-12-18","customDateline":false,"city":"DHAKA","country":"BANGLADESH","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581001-87500.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543581001-87500.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Some of the speakers who addressed the conference on Baha'i law held at Bangladesh's Supreme Court on 3 December. Pictured, from left to right, are: Dr. Mizanur Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Human Rights Commission; Mr. S.N. Goswami, advocate; Mr. Justice Delwar Hossain; and Dr. Jena Shahidi, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Bangladesh.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Almost 180 legal professionals from around the country gathered here for a conference on the Baha'i Faith and the personal and family laws that apply to its members.\n\nHeld in the auditorium of the country's Supreme Court, the unprecedented event aimed to prepare advocates and judges who might be required to assist Baha'is with legal matters, such as marriage and inheritance.\n\nIn Bangladesh, there is a division between \"public\" and \"private\" – or \"personal\" – laws, with family affairs dealt with under religious practice. Some 90 percent of the country is Muslim, and Islamic personal and family laws are well understood.\n\n\"It is significant because if there is any problem among Baha'is, and they go to regular courts, the judges have to rule according to Baha'i personal law,\" said Jabbar Eidelkhani, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors who spoke at the conference.\n\n\"So the advocates and judges that attended this conference, as well as training sessions previously, will now know more about how such laws apply to Baha'is,\" he said.\n\nThe day-long conference, held on 3 December, was opened by Mizanur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh's Human Rights Commission.\n\n\"If religion is for ensuring human dignity then the Baha'i personal law is something which addresses that theme. In this respect it is not different than any other religion,\" said Dr. Rahman.\n\nAlso addressing the conference was Justice Delwar Hossain, who presented a keynote paper on the origin and background of Baha'i personal laws, and advocate Samarendra Nath Goswami, the event's main organizer, who discussed the significance of Baha'i laws to legal professionals. Mr. Goswami has previously conducted small training sessions on the subject.\n\nThere have been Baha'is in Bangladesh since the 1920s. The first local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Dhaka in 1952. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Bangladesh was established in 1972, shortly after the country declared its independence. There are an estimated 13,000 Baha'is currently living in the country."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Stories from the Baha'i World News Service archive"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":806,"relatedStoryCaption":"Chief Justice praises Baha'i temple's contribution to social transformation."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":774,"relatedStoryCaption":"President of Ireland Mary McAleese acknowledges universality of the Baha'i teachings."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":839,"relatedStoryCaption":"Associations call for examination into situation of human rights defenders and \"dissidents.\""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null}],"lang":"en","language":"en","location":"/archive/45/"}},"staticQueryHashes":["2762707590"]}