{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-archive-page-jsx","path":"/archive/50/","result":{"pageContext":{"strings":{"about":"About","additional_articles":"Additional Articles","administration":"Administration","africa":"Africa","all_bahaiorg_sites":"All Bahai.org Sites","all_sites":"All sites","all_sites_arising_serve":"Arising to Serve","all_sites_arising_serve_caption":"A film recounting highlights of the 41 regional Bahá’í conferences called by the Universal House of Justice in 2008","all_sites_bahai_org":"The official website of the worldwide Bahá’í community","all_sites_bahai_org_library":"Bahá’í Reference Library","all_sites_bahai_org_library_caption":"The authoritative online source of Bahá’í writings","all_sites_bahaullah_org":"The Life of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_bahaullah_org_caption":"A photographic narrative of the life of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_bic":"Bahá’í International Community Representative Offices","all_sites_bic_caption":"The official website of the Bahá’í International Community’s Representative Offices. The site contains news and information about recent activity and provides access to BIC statements, reports, and other publications","all_sites_bicentenary":"Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_bicentenary_bab":"Bicentenary of the Birth of The Báb","all_sites_bicentenary_caption":"The official international website for the bicentenary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_frontiers_learning":"Frontiers of Learning","all_sites_frontiers_learning_caption":"This film captures the insights and experiences of people from four communities across the world whose efforts to build vibrant communities are at the frontiers of learning","all_sites_light_to_the_world":"Light to the World","all_sites_light_to_the_world_caption":"A feature film about the life and teachings of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_media_bank":"Bahá’í Media Bank","all_sites_media_bank_caption":"Photographs available for downloading","all_sites_national_communities":"National Bahá’í Communities","all_sites_national_communities_caption":"A page containing links to the websites of many national Bahá’í communities from around the world","all_sites_news_bahai_org_caption":"The official news website of the worldwide Bahá’í community","all_sites_title":"Official Bahá’í Sites","all_sites_universalhouseofjustice_org":"The Universal House of Justice","all_sites_universalhouseofjustice_org_caption":"Information about the Universal House of Justice and selected statements and letters","all_sites_widening_embrace":"A Widening Embrace","all_sites_widening_embrace_caption":"A documentary film about the community-building efforts of the Bahá’í world","americas":"Americas","android":"Android","archive_results_to_of_a":"Results","archive_results_to_of_b":"to","archive_results_to_of_c":"of","asia":"Asia","back_to_story":"Back to Story","bahai_international_community":"Bahá'í International Community","bahai_media_bank":"Bahá’í Media Bank","bahai_reference_library":"Bahá’í Reference Library","bahai_world_centre":"Bahá’í World Centre","bahai_world_news_service":"Bahá’í World News Service","bahai_world_news_service_bwns":"Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","bahaiorg_home":"Bahai.org Home","bahais_semnan":"The Bahá’ís of Semnan","battambang_cambodia_house_worship":"House of Worship in Battambang, Cambodia","battambang_cambodia_temple":"Battambang, Cambodia Temple Inauguration","before_downloading_terms":"Before downloading please refer to the [Terms of use](/legal/).","bic_un_office":"Bahá’í International Community\nUN Office","brief_history":"Brief history","bwns_noTranslation":"BWNS","cdn_documentlibrary_path":"http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/","cdn_images_path":"//bwns.imgix.net/","chile_house_worship":"Chile House of Worship","chile_temple":"Chile Temple Inauguration","close":"Close","closed_doors_denial_education_iran":"Closed Doors: Denial of Education in Iran","comma":",","comprehensive_report":"Comprehensive report","contact":"Contact","contact_h1":"Contacting the Bahá’í World News Service","contact_h2":"Contacting Bahá’í institutions","contact_h3":"Reporting technical problems","contact_information":"Contact Information","contact_p1":"General inquiries about BWNS can be directed to [news@bahai.org](mailto:news@bahai.org). Information regarding news and media contacts is available in the [Media Information](/media-information/) section.","contact_p2":"The Bahá’í Faith is established in more than 100,000 localities in virtually every country and territory around the world. At the national level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are guided by National Spiritual Assemblies, and a list of websites for many national Bahá’í communities can be found at the [National Communities page](https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/) on Bahai.org.","contact_p3":"To report a technical problem with this site, please send a detailed description and screenshot of the issue, along with the address of the page where it occurred, to [webmaster@bahai.org](mailto:webmaster@bahai.org). Please note that this email address exists to receive reports of technical problems with the site and it is not possible to respond to other queries through this facility.","copy_link":"Copy Link","did_not_match_any_documents_showing_results_for":"did not match any documents. Showing results for","did_you_mean":"Did you mean:","download":"Download","download_highest_resolution":"Download highest resolution","email":"Email","email_address":"Email Address","enlarge":"Enlarge","error_page":"Error Occurred","error_page_p1":"Sorry. An error has occurred with your request. It would help us if you let us know what you were trying to do when this error occurred by using our [contact form](https://www.bahai.org/contact/).","europe":"Europe","featured_stories":"Featured stories","featured_videos":"Featured videos","follow_updates_via_instagram_twitter":"Follow the Bahá’í World News Service on Twitter and Instagram for regular updates and stories","from_bwns_archive":"From the Bahá’í World News Service archive","get_notified_stories":"Get notified of stories","highest_resolution":"Highest resolution","historical_photographs":"Historical photographs","homepage_feature_audio_h2":"Recent podcast episodes","homepage_feature_audio_h3":"Audio versions of stories","homepage_feature_audio_p1":"Selected audio content from around the globe","homepage_feature_h1":"Subscribe to BWNS Updates","houses_worship":"Houses of Worship","human_rights_iran":"Human Rights in Iran","images":"images","ios":"iOS","iran_news_stories":"Iran News Stories","key_terms_facts":"Key terms and facts","latest_headlines":"Latest headlines","latest_video_category":"Latest","legal":"Legal","legal_h1":"Privacy","legal_h2":"Terms of Use","legal_information":"Legal Information","legal_li_1":"They must at all times be attributed to the Bahá’í World News Service.","legal_li_2":"Photographs and stories cannot be used in any way (including, without limitation, suggesting an association with or endorsement of any product, service, opinion or cause) that conflicts with the intent and premise of the original source.","legal_li_3":"Photographs may be edited for size only. Captions must remain with the photographs at all times.","legal_li_4":"The Bahá’í World News Service will not be responsible to any person or organization for any liability for any direct, incidental,  consequential, indirect, or punitive damages that may result from any access to or use of the stories and/or photographs on our site.","legal_li_5":"Although this blanket permission to reproduce BWNS material is given freely such that no special permission is required, the Bahá’í World News Service retains full copyright protection for its stories and photographs under all applicable national and international laws.","legal_p1_1":"On this Web site we try to ensure your privacy. We collect only personal information provided by you on a voluntary basis, in order to respond to your queries and to send you any additional information and material that you request.","legal_p1_2":"Visitors to this Web site are not tracked, except to produce aggregate statistical data that does not identify individual users. Where we must use cookies to provide essential functionality, these are not used to track your use of the site or to store personally-identifiable information. Steps have been taken to ensure that all information collected from you will remain secure, free from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. Please keep in mind that if you leave this site via a link, the other site may have a different policy regarding privacy.","legal_p1_3a":"We occasionally update this privacy policy and encourage you to review it periodically. If you wish to correct your personal information, or have questions regarding this policy, please send an email message to","legal_p1_3b":"or call the Bahá’í World News Service at +972 (4) 835-8412, between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. GMT +2, Sunday through Thursday.","legal_p2_1":"All stories and photographs produced by the Bahá’í World News Service may be freely reprinted, e-mailed, posted to the World Wide Web and otherwise reproduced by any individual or organization, subject to the following restrictions:","legal_p2_2":"The Bahá’í World News Service is an agency of the Bahá’í International Community, a nongovernmental organization that represents and encompasses the five million members of the Bahá’í Faith.","links_other_websites":"Links to other Web sites","listen":"Listen","listen_bwns":"Listen to BWNS","load_more_results":"Load more results","media_bank":"Media Bank","media_information":"Media Information","media_information_about_bwns":"About BWNS","media_information_administration_h2":"International","media_information_administration_h3":"National","media_information_administration_h4":"Local","media_information_administration_p1":"The Bahá’í Faith is administered by a series of elected bodies at the local, national, and international levels. There is no class of ecclesiastics or clergy.","media_information_administration_p2":"The Universal House of Justice is the international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith. It is the supreme administrative body ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in His book of laws. The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years at the International Bahá’í Convention, where members of the National Spiritual Assemblies (see below) around the world serve as delegates. The Universal House of Justice was first elected in 1963. Its permanent seat is on Mount Carmel in Haifa.","media_information_administration_p3":"At the national level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the National Spiritual Assembly, a nine-member elected council responsible for guiding, co-ordinating, and stimulating the activities of Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual members of the Bahá’í community within a given country. The responsibilities of a National Spiritual Assembly include channelling the community’s financial resources, fostering the growth and vibrancy of the national Bahá’í community, supervising the affairs of the community including its social and economic development activities and its properties, overseeing relations with government, resolving questions from individuals and Local Spiritual Assemblies, and strengthening the participation of the Bahá’í community in the life of society at the national level.","media_information_administration_p4":"At the local level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the Local Spiritual Assembly. Each Local Assembly consists of nine members who are chosen in annual elections. As with all other elected Bahá’í institutions, the Assembly functions as a body and makes decisions through consultation. The responsibilities of the Local Spiritual Assembly include promoting the spiritual education of children and young people, strengthening the spiritual and social fabric of Bahá’í community life, assessing and utilizing the community’s resources, and ensuring that the energies and talents of community members contribute towards progress.","media_information_administration_p5":"In addition, the Bahá’í Faith has **counsellors**, appointed to five-year terms by the Universal House of Justice, who serve as advisers in countries and regions around the world. Currently there are 90 such counsellors assigned to specific countries or regions, and an additional nine counsellors who constitute the membership of the International Teaching Centre at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa.","media_information_administration_p6":"The Bahá’í International Community is a non-governmental organization that represents the worldwide Bahá’í community. It has been registered with the United Nations (UN) as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_a":"the Seat of the Universal House of Justice,","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_b":"the International Teaching Centre,","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_c":"the Centre for the Study of the Texts,","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_d":"the International Archives Building.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p1":"The spiritual and administrative center of the Bahá’í Faith is permanently established in the Acre-Haifa area of northern Israel, following the explicit instructions of Bahá’u’lláh.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p2":"The burial place, or shrine, of Bahá’u’lláh near Acre and that of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa are the holiest spots on earth for Bahá’ís. Other sites associated with the life of Bahá’u’lláh as well as the burial site of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are revered by Bahá’ís as holy places.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p3":"The shrines are the object of pilgrimage for thousands of Bahá’ís each year.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p4":"The administrative offices are positioned in an Arc across Mount Carmel in Haifa and include:","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p5":"Also in Haifa are the Bahá’í International Community’s Secretariat and Office of Public Information.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p6":"The Bahá’í World Centre is known for the gardens surrounding the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh near Acre, and also for the gardens and terraces surrounding the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p7":"At this time the Shrine of the Báb is open to the public.","media_information_brief_history_p1":"The Bahá’í Faith traces its origin to 1844 and the announcement by a young man, Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad, in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), that He had been sent by God to prepare humanity for a new age and the imminent appearance of another Messenger even greater than Himself.","media_information_brief_history_p10":"During the 40 years of His exile, Bahá’u’lláh revealed a series of books, tablets, and letters that today form the core of the **holy writings of the Bahá’í Faith**. Comprising the equivalent of some 100 volumes, the writings of Bahá’u’lláh describe the nature of God and the purpose of human existence, give new religious laws, and outline a vision for creating a peaceful and prosperous global society.","media_information_brief_history_p11":"In His will, Bahá’u’lláh named His eldest son, ‘Abbás Effendi (1844-1921), as the head of the Bahá’í Faith and authorized interpreter of His teachings. ‘Abbás Effendi, known to Bahá’ís as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (“Servant of Bahá”), became well-known in the Haifa/Acre area for his charitable works, and he also traveled through Europe and North America to encourage nascent Bahá’í communities and to proclaim Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings to the general public. The writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are considered part of the sacred scriptures of the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_brief_history_p12":"‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed away in 1921. In his will he had designated his grandson **Shoghi Effendi** (1897-1957) as his successor, with the title of **Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith**. During the ministry of Shoghi Effendi, the religion spread around the world, and its local and national administrative institutions were established. With the passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, the line of hereditary leaders of the Bahá’í Faith came to an end.","media_information_brief_history_p13":"Following provisions established by Bahá’u’lláh, in 1963 the **Universal House of Justice** was elected to direct the affairs of the worldwide Bahá’í community. The nine members of the Universal House of Justice are elected every five years by the members of the Bahá’í national administrative bodies around the world.","media_information_brief_history_p2":"Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad took the title of the **Báb** (meaning “Gate” in Arabic) and said the one whose coming He foretold would be the universal Manifestation of God sent to inaugurate an age of peace and enlightenment as promised in all the world’s religions.","media_information_brief_history_p3":"The Báb’s teachings, which spread rapidly, were viewed as heretical by the clergy and government of Persia. More than 20,000 of His followers, known as Bábís, perished in a series of massacres throughout the country.","media_information_brief_history_p4":"The Báb Himself was publicly executed in the city of Tabriz on 9 July 1850.","media_information_brief_history_p5":"Bahá’ís consider the Báb to be both an independent Messenger of God and the forerunner of **Bahá’u’lláh** (“the Glory of God” in Arabic), who is the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_brief_history_p6":"Bahá’u’lláh, whose name was Mírzá Husayn ‘Alí, was born into a noble family in Tehran on 12 November 1817. In His mid-20s, He declined a life of privilege and became one of the leading disciples of the Báb.","media_information_brief_history_p7":"In 1852, in the course of the persecution of the Bábís, He was arrested, beaten, and thrown into an infamous dungeon in Tehran. After four months, He was released and banished from His native land – the beginning of 40 years of exile and imprisonment.","media_information_brief_history_p8":"He was first sent to Baghdad, where He and His companions stayed for 10 years. In 1863, on the eve of His further banishment to what is now Turkey and then to the Holy Land, Bahá’u’lláh announced that He was the Universal Messenger of God foretold by the Báb.","media_information_brief_history_p9":"In 1868, Bahá’u’lláh arrived in the Holy Land with about 70 family members and followers, sentenced by the Ottoman authorities to perpetual confinement in the penal colony of Acre. The order of confinement was never lifted, but because of the growing recognition of His outstanding character, He eventually was able to move outside the walls of the prison city. He lived His final years at a country home called Bahjí, where He passed away in 1892. He was interred there, and His shrine is the holiest place on earth for Bahá’ís.","media_information_description":"Contacts, facts, style guide,\ngeneral information, and photos","media_information_h1":"National and local","media_information_h2":"International","media_information_h2_a":"Bahá’í World News Service","media_information_h2_b":"Bahá’í International Community","media_information_h2_c":"Bahá’í International Community - United Nations Offices:","media_information_h2_e":"For languages other than English:","media_information_houses_worship_li_1":"Wilmette, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1953.","media_information_houses_worship_li_2":"Kampala, Uganda. Opened in 1961.","media_information_houses_worship_li_3":"Sydney, Australia. Opened in 1961.","media_information_houses_worship_li_4":"Frankfurt, Germany. Opened in 1964.","media_information_houses_worship_li_5":"Panama City, Panama. Opened in 1972.","media_information_houses_worship_li_6":"Apia, Samoa. Opened in 1984.","media_information_houses_worship_li_7":"New Delhi, India. Opened in 1986.","media_information_houses_worship_li_8":"Santiago, Chile. Opened in 2016.","media_information_houses_worship_li_9":"Battambang, Cambodia. Opened in 2017.","media_information_houses_worship_li_10":"Norte del Cauca, Colombia. Opened in 2018.","media_information_houses_worship_li_11":"Matunda Soy, Kenya. Opened in 2021.","media_information_houses_worship_li_12":"Tanna, Vanuatu. Opened in 2021.","media_information_houses_worship_li_13":"Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Opened in 2023.","media_information_houses_worship_li_14":"Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Opened in 2024.","media_information_houses_worship_p1":"Bahá’u’lláh designated Bahá’í Houses of Worship as spiritual gathering places for prayer and meditation around which will cluster social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific institutions. Eight continental, two national, and four local Bahá’í Houses of Worship have been built.","media_information_houses_worship_p2":"The physical structure of a House of Worship comprises a central building—a House of Worship—along with several dependencies. While the House of Worship forms the focal point of worship in a geographical area, its purpose is not solely to provide a place for prayer. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained that, through the provision of education, healthcare and other services it is also to support the social and economic progress of the community and afford shelter, relief and assistance to those in need. In this connection, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá anticipated that subsidiary branches—such as a hospital, school, university, dispensary, and hospice—would gradually be added to a House of Worship. Bahá’u’lláh refers to the House of Worship as a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, Arabic for “dawning place of the mention of God.”","media_information_houses_worship_p3":"Bahá’í Houses of Worship are located in:","media_information_houses_worship_p4":"Plans are underway to build a national House of Worship in Brazil, Canada, and Malawi. A local House of Worship is also being constructed in Batouri, Cameroon; Bihar Sharif, India; Kanchanpur, Nepal; and Mwinilunga, Zambia. At the local level, meetings for worship are held regularly in Bahá’í centers and in the homes of believers all over the world.","media_information_key_terms_facts_h1":"Name of the religion and of the organization – the Bahá’í Faith","media_information_key_terms_facts_h2":"Founder of the Bahá’í Faith – Bahá’u’lláh","media_information_key_terms_facts_h3":"Year of founding – 1844","media_information_key_terms_facts_h4":"Head of the religion – the Universal House of Justice","media_information_key_terms_facts_h5":"Number of Bahá’ís – more than 5 million","media_information_key_terms_facts_h6":"Description of the religion and key beliefs","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_a":"the unity of the races and elimination of prejudice,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_b":"the equality of women and men,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_c":"universal education,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_d":"the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_e":"a spiritual solution to economic problems,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_f":"establishment of a universal auxiliary language,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_g":"the harmony of science and religion,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_h":"the independent investigation of truth,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_i":"the creation of a world commonwealth of nations that will keep the peace through collective security.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p1_a":"The Bahá’í Faith is an independent world religion.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p1_b":"A member is called a Bahá’í (plural: Bahá’ís). It is also correct to say that someone is a “member of the Bahá’í Faith,” a “follower of the Bahá’í Faith,” a “follower of Bahá’u’lláh,” or a member of the Bahá’í community of a given locality.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p1_c":"The term “Bahá’í International Community” refers to the non-governmental organization that represents the worldwide Bahá’í community. It has been registered with the United Nations (UN) as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p2":"Bahá’ís consider Bahá’u’lláh to be the most recent in a line of great religious teachers, or Messengers of God, that includes Abraham, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Krishna, Muhammad, Moses, Zoroaster, and others. Bahá’u’lláh—the name is Arabic for “Glory of God”—was born in 1817 in Tehran, Iran, and passed away in 1892 in Acre, Israel. The coming of Bahá’u’lláh was announced by the Báb (Arabic for “Gate”), also considered by Bahá’ís to be a divine Messenger.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p3":"There are a number of important dates in the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith, but the first announcement by the Báb of the new religion came in 1844.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p4":"The Universal House of Justice is the international governing council of the Bahá’í community, an elected body of nine men. Its seat is at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Around the world, in almost all countries, a National Spiritual Assembly oversees the affairs of the Bahá’í Faith in that country, and Local Spiritual Assemblies oversee local affairs.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p6_a":"The Bahá’í Faith is an independent, monotheistic religion established in virtually every country of the world. Bahá’ís believe that the world’s major religions represent unfolding chapters in God’s teachings for humankind, and that the writings of Bahá’u’lláh represent God’s guidance for this age.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p6_b":"Bahá’u’lláh’s central teaching is the unity of humanity under one God.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p6_c":"Among the many Bahá’í principles are the following:","media_information_key_terms_facts_p7":"For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org).","media_information_li_a_1":"Phone (office): +972 (4) 835-8412","media_information_li_a_2":"E-mail, for news inquiries: [news@bahai.org](mailto:news@bahai.org)","media_information_li_b_1":"Mr. Saleem Vaillaincourt (London)","media_information_li_b_2":"Senior information officer","media_information_li_b_3":"Phone (office): +1 (212) 803-2544","media_information_li_b_4":"E-mail: [media@bic.org](mailto:media@bic.org)","media_information_li_c_1":"Ms. Bani Dugal (New York)","media_information_li_c_2":"Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations","media_information_li_c_3":"Bahá’í International Community","media_information_li_c_4":"Phone: +1 (212) 803-2500","media_information_li_c_5":"After-hours phone: +1 (914) 329-3020","media_information_li_c_6":"E-mail: [uno-nyc@bic.org](mailto:uno-nyc@bic.org)","media_information_li_d_1":"Ms. Simin Fahandej (Geneva)","media_information_li_d_2":"Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations","media_information_li_d_3":"Bahá’í International Community","media_information_li_d_4":"Phone: +41 (27) 798-5400","media_information_li_d_5":"After-hours phone: +41 (78) 880-0759","media_information_li_d_6":"E-mail: [geneva@bic.org](mailto:geneva@bic.org)","media_information_li_e_1":"Persian – Simin Fahandej, +41 (27) 798-5400","media_information_li_e_2":"French – Rachel Bayani, +32 (475) 750394","media_information_li_e_3":"To arrange other languages +972 (4) 835-8412","media_information_media_contacts":"Media Contacts","media_information_p1":"Editors, journalists, and other media professionals are encouraged to contact the National Office of the Bahá’ís of their own country. See [National Communities](https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/).","media_information_p2":"BWNS reports on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","media_information_p3":"Information about the Bahá’í Faith is available at [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org/)","media_information_p_native":"The website for BWNS is located at [news.bahai.org](https://news.bahai.org/)","media_information_photographs_p1":"To arrange for photographs, you are encouraged to contact the office of the National Spiritual Assembly of the  Bahá’ís of your country. See [National Communities](https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/).","media_information_photographs_p2":"For more information, or for international photographs, contact the Bahá’í World Centre:","media_information_photographs_p3":"Phone: +972 (4) 835-8412  \n            E-mail: [news@bahai.org](mailto:news@bahai.org)","media_information_photographs_p4":"Photographs here may be downloaded and published, with photo credit given to the Bahá’í World Centre. [Terms of use](https://news.bahai.org/legal/).","media_information_photographs_p5":"Additional photos are available through the [Bahá’í Media Bank](https://media.bahai.org/). Images attached to articles in the [Bahá’í World News Service](https://news.bahai.org/) main site may also be downloaded.","media_information_photographs_p6":"Photographs of Bahá’ís imprisoned in Iran are available in the [Iran Update](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html) section of this Web site.","media_information_sidecontent_h1":"Bahá’ís in Iran","media_information_sidecontent_li":"Updates, background, photos","media_information_statistics_p1":"There are more than 5 million Bahá’ís in the world.","media_information_statistics_p2":"The Bahá’í Faith is established in virtually every country and in many dependent territories and overseas departments of countries. Bahá’ís reside in well over 100,000 localities. About 2,100 indigenous tribes, races, and ethnic groups are represented in the Bahá’í community.","media_information_statistics_p3":"There are currently 188 councils at the national level that oversee the work of communities. A network of over 300 training institutes, offering formal programs of Bahá’í education, span the globe.","media_information_statistics_p4":"Of the several thousand Bahá’í efforts in social and economic development, more than 900 are large-scale, sustained projects, including more than 600 schools and over 70 development agencies.","media_information_statistics_p5":"There are currently 14 Bahá’í Houses of Worship – in Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Germany, India, Kenya, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Uganda, the United States, and Vanuatu. Plans are underway to build a national House of Worship in Brazil, Canada, and Malawi. Local Houses of Worship are also being constructed in Batouri, Cameroon; Bihar Sharif, India; Kanchanpur, Nepal; and Mwinilunga, Zambia. At the local level, meetings for worship are held regularly in Bahá’í centers and in the homes of believers all over the world.","media_information_statistics_p6":"The Bahá’í International Community has been registered with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York.","media_information_statistics_p7":"Bahá’í writings and other literature have been translated into more than 800 languages.","media_information_statistics_p8":"Each year, around one million people visit the Bahá’í Shrine, terraces, and gardens on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.","media_information_statistics_p9":"In Iran, where the Bahá’í Faith originated, there are now about 300,000 Bahá’ís, constituting the largest religious minority in that country.","media_information_style_guide_h1":"Pronunciation guide","media_information_style_guide_h2":"Style guide and glossary","media_information_style_guide_p1":"**Bahá’í:**   Ba-HIGH  \n            **Bahá’u’lláh:**   Ba-ha-ul-LAH  \n            **Báb:**   Bahb (Bob)  \n            **‘Abdu’l-Bahá:**   Abdul ba-HAH  \n            **Naw-Rúz:**   Naw Rooz  \n            **Ridván:**   REZ-vahn","media_information_style_guide_p2_1":"**‘Abdu’l-Bahá** (1844-1921) – The son of Bahá’u’lláh who was the head of the Bahá’í Faith from 1892 to 1921. Bahá’u’lláh in His will had designated ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá occupies a special station as the authoritative interpreter of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and as the perfect example of how a Bahá’í should live. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá traveled widely through Europe and North America from 1911-1913, explaining his Father’s teachings in talks, interviews, and addresses at universities, churches, temples, synagogues, and missions for the poor. (Bahá’ís capitalize pronouns—for example, “He”—that refers to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá out of respect for his special station. Such pronouns are not capitalized in this guide in deference to international journalistic style and also to avoid confusion with Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb, who are considered to be divine Prophets.) For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_10":"**Bahá’í Faith** – The correct term for the religion is the Bahá’í Faith. It is an independent, monotheistic religion established in virtually every country of the world. It is not a sect of another religion. In a list of major religions, it would look like this: Hinduism, Zoroastrianism,  Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_style_guide_p2_11":"**Bahá’í International Community** – The Bahá’í International Community is a non-governmental organization that represents the worldwide Bahá’í community. It has been registered with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York. For more information, see [bic.org](https://www.bic.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_12":"**Bahá’í World Centre** – The spiritual and administrative center of the Bahá’í Faith, comprising the holy places in the Haifa/Acre area in northern Israel and the Arc of administrative buildings on Mount Carmel in Haifa. The Bahá’í World Centre itself uses the spelling “Centre”; elsewhere both “Centre” and “Center” are used, depending on the custom of the country.","media_information_style_guide_p2_13":"**Bahá’u’lláh** – The founder of the Bahá’í Faith, who lived from 1817 to 1892, considered by Bahá’ís to be the most recent divine Messenger, or Manifestation of God, in a line of great religious figures that includes Abraham, Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Moses, Muhammad, Zoroaster, the Báb, and others. Bahá’u’lláh was born in Tehran in present-day Iran, and passed away near Acre, in what is now Israel. “Bahá’u’lláh” is a title that means the “Glory of God” in Arabic; His name was Mírzá Husayn-‘Alí. His writings, which would equal about a hundred volumes, form the basis of the Bahá’í teachings. For more information, see [Bahai.org](http://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_14":"**Bahjí** – The place near Acre where the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh (His burial place) is located, as well as the mansion that was His last residence and surrounding gardens. It is a place of pilgrimage for Bahá’ís. The word “Bahjí” is Arabic for “delight.”","media_information_style_guide_p2_15":"**children’s classes** – Classes in moral education, open to all, that are provided for children, operated at the community level by the Bahá’í training institute.","media_information_style_guide_p2_16":"**Convention** – See [International Bahá’í Convention](#internationalbahaiconvention) and [National Bahá’í Convention](#nationalbahaicconvention).","media_information_style_guide_p2_18":"**counsellor** – An adviser appointed by the Universal House of Justice who serves in a particular geographic area or at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa. At present, there are 90 counsellors assigned to specific countries or regions, and nine counsellors who form the membership of the International Teaching Centre at the  Bahá’í World Centre. Appointments are for five years.","media_information_style_guide_p2_19":"**devotional meetings** – Gatherings, often in people’s homes, for prayers and to read the sacred writings of the Bahá’í Faith and other religions. Usually undertaken as an individual initiative.","media_information_style_guide_p2_2":"**accent marks** – Bahá’í, Bahá’u’lláh, and other names are written with accent marks, but many publications and websites do not have the facility for using such marks.","media_information_style_guide_p2_20":"**fast, the** – A period during which Bahá’ís abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sundown during the Bahá’í month of ‘Alá’, from 2 March to 20 March. Bahá’u’lláh enjoined His followers to pray and fast during this period. The sick, the traveler, and pregnant women, among others, are exempt.","media_information_style_guide_p2_21":"**feast** – See [Nineteen Day Feast](#nineteendayfeast).","media_information_style_guide_p2_22":"**Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith** – See [Shoghi Effendi](#shoghieffendi).","media_information_style_guide_p2_23":"**Haifa** – The city in northern Israel that, along with nearby Acre, is the location of the Bahá’í World Centre. The international administrative buildings of the Bahá’í Faith (including the Seat of the Universal House of Justice), the Shrine of the Báb, and surrounding terraces and gardens are all located on Mount Carmel in the heart of Haifa.","media_information_style_guide_p2_24":"**Holy days** – Eleven days that commemorate significant Bahá’í anniversaries. The nine holy days on which work is suspended are the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the Birth of the Báb, Declaration of the Báb, Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, Martyrdom of the Báb, Naw-Rúz, Ridván (a 12-day festival, of which the first, ninth and 12th days are holy days). The other two holy days are the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. *See names of individual holy days.*","media_information_style_guide_p2_25":"**Holy Land** – The area associated with present-day Israel, which is holy to a number of religions, including to Bahá’ís. The resting places of Bahá’u’lláh near Acre and of the Báb in Haifa are, to Bahá’ís, the holiest spots on earth.","media_information_style_guide_p2_26":"**International Archives Building** – One of the buildings at the Bahá’í World Centre on Mount Carmel in Haifa. The repository of many sacred relics of the Bahá’í Faith, it is visited by thousands of Bahá’í pilgrims each year.","media_information_style_guide_p2_27":"**International Bahá’í Convention** – A gathering every five years of delegates from around the world to consult on the affairs of the Bahá’í Faith and elect the members of the Universal House of Justice. Members of the National Spiritual Assemblies serve as delegates.","media_information_style_guide_p2_28":"**International Teaching Centre** – One of the institutions at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa. The International Teaching Centre has nine members, all counsellors appointed by the Universal House of Justice. Appointments are for five years.","media_information_style_guide_p2_29":"**Local Spiritual Assembly** – At the local level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the Local Spiritual Assembly. Each Local Assembly consists of nine members who are chosen in annual elections. As with all other elected Bahá’í institutions, the Assembly functions as a body and makes decisions through consultation. The responsibilities of the Local Spiritual Assembly include promoting the spiritual education of children and young people, strengthening the spiritual and social fabric of Bahá’í community life, assessing and utilizing the community’s resources, and ensuring that the energies and talents of community members contribute towards progress.","media_information_style_guide_p2_3":"**Acre**– English rendering of the name of the city north of Haifa where Bahá’u’lláh was exiled in 1868. He lived in or near the city until His passing in 1892. Bahá’ís often use the Arabic name, ‘Akká, which was the name in general use during the time of Bahá’u’lláh. In Hebrew the name is Akko.","media_information_style_guide_p2_30":"**Mount Carmel** – In Haifa, Israel, site of the Bahá’í World Centre, including several Bahá’í holy places, the most important of which is the Shrine of the Báb, and the buildings housing the administrative offices of the Bahá’í World Centre.","media_information_style_guide_p2_31":"**National Bahá’í Convention** – In each country, the annual gathering of elected delegates to discuss the affairs of the Bahá’í Faith in their jurisdiction and to elect the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.","media_information_style_guide_p2_32":"**National Spiritual Assembly** – At the national level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the National Spiritual Assembly, a nine-member elected council responsible for guiding, co-ordinating, and stimulating the activities of Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual members of the Bahá’í community within a given country. The responsibilities of a National Spiritual Assembly include channelling the community’s financial resources, fostering the growth and vibrancy of the national Bahá’í community, supervising the affairs of the community including its social and economic development activities and its properties, overseeing relations with government, resolving questions from individuals and Local Spiritual Assemblies, and strengthening the participation of the Bahá’í community in the life of society at the national level.","media_information_style_guide_p2_33":"**Nineteen Day Feast** – An administrative gathering at the local level. The term refers to a spiritual “feast” of prayers,  consultation and fellowship. It is held every 19 days, on the first day of each Bahá’í month.","media_information_style_guide_p2_34":"**pilgrimage** – Each year thousands of Bahá’ís undertake pilgrimage, during which they forge a profound and lasting connection with the spiritual and administrative centre of their Faith, located in the Haifa-Acre area of what is now northern Israel. Bahá’í pilgrims pray and meditate at the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh and the Shrine of the Báb, as well as in the beautiful gardens that surround them. They also draw inspiration from the time spent at various historical sites associated with the lives of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi, as well as from visits to the edifices dedicated to the worldwide administration of the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_style_guide_p2_35":"**progressive revelation** – The central belief that Manifestations of God have successively provided the guidance necessary for humanity’s social and spiritual evolution.","media_information_style_guide_p2_36":"**Regional Bahá’í Council** – In some countries, the National Spiritual Assembly assigns certain of its functions to Regional Bahá’í Councils, which serve a designated geographical area within the land in question. The responsibilities of a Regional Council may include carrying out policies of the National Spiritual Assembly, supervising progress of particular plans and projects, and taking steps to stimulate and coordinate the growth of the Bahá’í community within the region.","media_information_style_guide_p2_37":"**Shoghi Effendi** (1897-1957) – The head of the Bahá’í Faith from 1921 to 1957. His title is Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith. He is the grandson of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the great-grandson of Bahá’u’lláh. For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_38":"**Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh** – The resting place of the mortal remains of Bahá’u’lláh, located near the city of Acre in what is now Israel. The shrine is the holiest spot on earth to Bahá’ís and a place of pilgrimage.","media_information_style_guide_p2_39":"**Shrine of the Báb** – The resting place of the mortal remains of the Báb, located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. It is a sacred site to Bahá’ís and a place of pilgrimage.","media_information_style_guide_p2_4":"**‘Akká, Akko** – See entry above for “[Acre](#acre)”.","media_information_style_guide_p2_40":"**study circles** – A study circle is one of the principal elements of the process of distance education offered by the [Bahá’í training institute](https://www.bahai.org/action/response-call-bahaullah/training-institute). It is a small group that meets regularly to study the institute course materials.","media_information_style_guide_p2_41":"**Universal House of Justice** – The international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith. It is the supreme administrative body ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in His book of laws. The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years at the International Bahá’í Convention, where members of the National Spiritual Assemblies around the world serve as delegates. The Universal House of Justice was first elected in 1963. Its permanent seat is on Mount Carmel in Haifa.","media_information_style_guide_p2_5":"**Arc** – An area on Mount Carmel in Haifa, shaped like an arc, where the major international administrative buildings of the Bahá’í Faith, including the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, are situated.","media_information_style_guide_p2_6":"**Báb** – The title, meaning “Gate,” assumed by Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad, the Founder of the Bábí Faith and the Forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh. Considered by Bahá’ís to be one of the twin Manifestations of God associated with the Bahá’í Faith. Born on 20 October 1819, the Báb proclaimed Himself to be the Promised One of Islam and said His mission was to announce the imminent coming of another Messenger even greater than Himself, namely Bahá’u’lláh. Because of these claims, the Báb was executed by firing squad in the public square in Tabriz on 9 July 1850. His remains were hidden in Iran for many years before being taken to Haifa/Acre in 1899 and buried on Mount Carmel in 1909. For more information, see [Bahai.org](http://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_7":"**Bábí Faith** – The religion founded by the Báb. After 1863 and the announcement by Bahá’u’lláh that He was the Messenger whose coming had been foretold by the Báb, the Bahá’í Faith gradually became established and most followers of the Báb began to call themselves Bahá’ís.","media_information_style_guide_p2_8":"**Badí‘ calendar** – The Bahá’í calendar, consisting of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of intercalary days known as Ayyám-i-Há. The number of these intercalary days varies according to the timing of the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere in successive years. The first day of the year corresponds to the spring equinox. The Bahá’í era (B.E.) begins with 1844, the year of the Báb’s declaration. For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org/action/devotional-life/calendar).","media_information_style_guide_p2_9":"**Bahá’í** – (1) A noun referring to a member of the Bahá’í Faith. The plural is Bahá’ís. (2) An adjective describing a person, place, or thing related to the Bahá’í Faith. Examples: a Bahá’í book, the Bahá’í community, a Bahá’í holy day, a Bahá’í holy place.","media_reports":"Media Reports","menu":"Menu","meta_description_bwns":"The Bahá’í World News Service - BWNS - The official news source of the worldwide Bahá’í community, reports on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","minutes_short":"min","mobile_app":"Mobile app","national_bahai_communities":"National Bahá’í Communities","news_email":"news@bahai.org","news_service_home":"BWNS Home","no_matches_for":"No matches for","no_results_for":"No results for","number_of":"of","oceania":"Oceania","official_news_site":"Official news source of the worldwide Bahá’í community","one_country":"One Country","other_bahai_sites":"Other Bahá’í Sites","other_sites":"Other sites","other_stories":"Other Stories","overview_section":"Overview of this Section","page_link":"Page link","photographs":"Photographs","photographs_download":"Photographs for download","podcast":"Podcast","podcast_available":"Podcast available","podcast_description_bwns":"Reporting on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","podcast_p1":"The Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS) podcast reports on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","podcast_subscribe":"Subscribe to the BWNS podcast for additional audio content.","print":"Print","privacy":"Privacy","recent_articles":"Recent Articles","recent_headlines":"Recent headlines","recent_media_reports":"Recent media reports","recieve_stories_email":"Receive stories via email","related_stories":"Related Stories","results":"Results","return_top":"Return to top","rss":"RSS","search":"Search","search_bahai_reference_library":"Search the Bahá’í Reference Library","search_bahaiorg":"Search Bahai.org","search_news_service":"Search the News Service","section_shrine_of_abdulbaha_description":"Read reports on the progress","section_shrine_of_abdulbaha_title":"Coverage of Construction Work of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá","see_all":"See All","seven_bahais_leaders":"The Seven Bahá’í Leaders","share":"Share","share_this_article":"Share this article","share_this_page":"Share this page","show_more":"Show more","sign_up":"Sign Up","slideshow":"Slideshow","social_media_name_instagram":"Instagram","social_media_name_instagram_account":"bahaiworldnewsservice","social_media_name_twitter":"Twitter","social_media_name_twitter_account":"bahainews","special_reports":"SPECIAL REPORTS","special_reports_shrine_construction":"Coverage of construction work for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá","statistics":"Statistics","story_archive":"Story Archive","style_glossary_pronunciation_guide":"Style guide, glossary and pronunciation guide","subscribe":"Subscribe","subscribe-confirmation-message":"Thank you for your interest in Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","subscribe-souble-optin-email":"You will receive an email shortly, asking you to confirm your subscription.","subscribe_bot_submission":"This doesn't look like a human submission.","subscribe_check_email":"Please check your email to confirm your subscription!","subscribe_email_exists":"This email already exists! 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They are peace-loving and obedient to the law of their land and have worked for the betterment of Iranian society.\"\n\nThe letter, dated 31 August, was sent by Maja Daruwala, the Director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, to the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to India.\n\n\"India and Iran have had historic ties of language, poetry, architecture, music and religion,\" the letter said. \"In the name of these ancient ties that bind our two nations, we call on the Government of Iran to act according to the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which it has ratified. These provisions mandate the upholding of the principles of justice and freedom - principles cherished by all great religions of the world and all nations.\"\n\n\"In speaking up for these seven Baha'i leaders we are therefore also standing up for the 300,000 Iranian Baha'is, who constitute that country's largest religious minority, whose lives have been blighted and whose progress has been crippled by the injustices that have so systematically and remorselessly been visited upon them,\" they wrote.\n\n**Medical Professionals for Human Rights in Iran**\n\nIn **Austria**, a group called Medical Professionals for Human Rights in Iran have also issued an open letter, addressed to Iran's Head of Judiciary, Sadeq Larijani.\n\nThe letter - signed by Dr. Ali Gushih, Professor Dr. Sirus Mirza'i and Professor Dr. Mihrdad Baghistaniyan - calls for the \"seven leaders of the Baha'i community in Iran\" to be released as soon as possible.\n\nAmong other requests, the letter asks that the human rights of all Iranian citizens be respected and for a stop to arbitrary arrests and raids on people's homes.\n\n**Day of action in Berlin**\n\nThe sentencing of the seven was also protested at a large gathering held on 12 September in Berlin, **Germany**, which included participation by some 400 people, including numerous human rights advocates.\n\nIn front of the city's historic Brandenburg Gate, Markus Loning, Human Rights Commissioner of the Federal Government of Germany, stressed that the continuous flouting of human rights in Iran cannot be tolerated: \"We will not tolerate how in Iran, with its civilization and culture, human rights are still disregarded and trampled upon.\"\n\nClaudia Roth, chair of Germany's Green Party, called the arrest and conviction of the seven Baha'is, \"an act of sheer arbitrariness and nothing else\".\n\nFreedom of faith and religion are not acts of \"mercy of those in power\" or \"governmental clemency\", said Ms. Roth, but a \"cornerstone of the human rights conventions of the present.\"\n\nFrauke Seidensticker, deputy director of the German Institute for Human Rights, stressed the obligation of the Iranian government to honor its commitments to article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  \"The Baha'i community is distinguished by speaking out for the human rights not only of its own members but also for others whose human rights are violated. Therefore they deserve our solidarity and our deepest respect,\" she said.\n\nAnother of the speakers, Mehran Barati - an Iranian politician living in Berlin - said that the seven Baha'i prisoners deserved the gratitude of the people of Iran.\n\n\"...the people of Iran should thank and appreciate these brave and courageous individuals who steadfastly stood firm for their beliefs and their faith,\" Mr. Barati said in a [television interview](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGWDmClECDA) after the event.\n\nThe day of action, organised by the human rights network United4Iran, included the display of messages of solidarity, spelled out in one meter high letters.\n\n**Other action**\n\nSheikh Abderrahman Agdaou of **El Salvador**'s Muslim community has also spoken up for the seven prisoners. In a message posted on 9 August on a personal, online social network page, Sheikh Abderrahman wrote of his hope that the seven would be freed, and that the Iranian authorities would be illumined \"so that these persons may live free as God created them.\"\n\nIn **Australia**, the Australian Partnership of Religious Organizations (APRO) added its support to \"deep concern\" already expressed by the Australian government at the sentencing of the Baha'i leaders.\n\n\"We call on the Iranian government to respect and protect the right of all Iranians, including Baha'is and other religious minorities, to profess and practise the religion of their choice,\" APRO wrote on 8 September.\n\nThere has also been extensive press coverage of the sentence around the world.\n\nAn opinion piece published on 29 August in the European edition of the *Wall Street Journal*, titled \"Why Iran's Bahai Matter\", said: \"For more than three decades, the Bahai have formed the ground zero for repression in Iran. Rights groups say there is no evidence for the charges against the Bahai leaders, though Tehran's accusations should tell you all you need to know about who they are. The followers of this 19th-century religion hold unity among peoples as their main tenet. That, combined with their spiritual base in Israel, has made them the heretics that ayatollahs love to hate.\"\n\nAn [article by American journalist Roxana Saberi](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/27/AR2010082704485.html) - who was charged and imprisoned after allegations of espionage in Iran - praised the courage and spirit of the two women among the jailed Baha'i leaders. Ms. Saberi shared a cell with Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi in Tehran's Evin Prison early last year.\n\n\"I came to see them as my sisters, women whose only crimes were to peacefully practice their religion and resist pressure from their captors to compromise their principles,\" wrote Ms. Saberi.\n\n\"They felt it their duty to serve not only Bahais but all Iranians...,\" wrote Ms. Saberi in *The Washington Post* on 28 August . \"I know that despite what they have been through and what lies ahead, these women feel no hatred in their hearts. When I struggled not to despise my interrogators and the judge, Mahvash and Fariba told me they do not hate anyone, not even their captors.\"\n\nThe seven Baha'i leaders - Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - denied all the allegations made against them which included espionage, propaganda against the Islamic republic and the establishment of an illegal administration.\n\nThey are now incarcerated in Gohardasht prison in Karaj, some 20 kilometers west of Tehran.\n\nThe governments of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America, as well as the European Union and the President of the European Parliament, earlier condemned the harsh sentences received by the seven.\n\nGroups focused specifically on human rights have also launched letter-writing campaigns encouraging supporters to call for justice. See [https://news.bahai.org/story/787](/story/787), [https://news.bahai.org/story/788](/story/788) and [https://news.bahai.org/story/790](/story/790).\n\n**Special Report - \"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\"**\n\n*The Baha'i World News Service has published a [Special Report](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/) which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *\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. 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":"[\"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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Baha'i World News Stories from Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":793,"relatedStoryCaption":"20-year prison sentences reportedly reduced following appeal."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":789,"relatedStoryCaption":"Widespread injustice condemned."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":790,"relatedStoryCaption":"Increasing numbers of governments and supporters raise their voices against jail terms."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":793,"evergreenUrl":"prison-sentences-irans-bahai-leaders-reportedly-reduced-10-years","title":"Prison sentences for Iran's Baha'i leaders reportedly reduced to 10 years","description":"The 20-year prison sentences received by Iran's seven Baha'i leaders have reportedly been reduced. The Baha'i International Community has learned...","date":"2010-09-16","customDateline":false,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543572283-63201img93671.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543572283-63201img93671.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'i prisoners, photographed several months before their arrest, are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The 20-year prison sentences received by Iran's seven Baha'i leaders have reportedly been reduced.\n\nThe Baha'i International Community has learned that the lawyers representing the seven were informed orally yesterday that the 20-year jail terms have now been changed to 10 years.\n\nThe seven - Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - were all members of a national-level group that, with the Iranian government's knowledge, helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community.\n\nThe trial of the seven consisted of six brief court appearances which began on 12 January this year after they had been incarcerated without charge for 20 months. They were allowed barely one hour's access to their legal counsel during that time. The trial ended on 14 June.\n\nThe defendants were accused of propaganda activities against the Islamic order and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges were completely and categorically denied.\n\nThe seven were moved from Evin Prison after receiving their sentence to Gohardasht prison in Karaj.\n\nReports of the 20-year sentence provoked a chorus of condemnation from governments around the world - including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.A. The European Union and the President of the European Parliament also joined the protest, along with numerous human rights organizations, other groups and countless individuals.\n\n**Special Report - \"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\"**\n\n*The Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them. It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community. *\n\n*The Special Report can be read [here](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/). *"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Baha'i World News Stories from Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":789,"relatedStoryCaption":"Widespread injustice condemned."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":790,"relatedStoryCaption":"Increasing numbers of governments and supporters raise their voices against jail terms."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":788,"relatedStoryCaption":"More international reaction."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":792,"evergreenUrl":"100-years-ago-historic-journeys-transformed-fledgling-faith","title":"100 years ago, historic journeys transformed a fledgling faith","description":"One hundred years ago, 'Abdu'l-Baha, the eldest son of Baha'u'llah and His appointed successor as head of the Baha'i Faith, embarked on a series...","date":"2010-08-30","customDateline":false,"city":"HAIFA","country":"ISRAEL","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543572239-79000.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543572239-79000.jpg"},"imageDescription":"'Abdu'l-Baha glimpsed on board the S.S. Celtic as He sailed away from New York City bound for Liverpool, England, 5 December 1912. His parting words expressed the wish \"that the East and West may embrace each other in love and deal with one another in sympathy and affection. Until man reaches this high station, the world of humanity shall not find rest...\"","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"One hundred years ago, 'Abdu'l-Baha, the eldest son of Baha'u'llah and His appointed successor as head of the Baha'i Faith, embarked on a series of journeys which, over the course of three years, took Him from the Holy Land to the Nile delta, from the Pacific coast of North America to the banks of the River Danube.\n\nDespite His advanced age, 'Abdu'l-Baha set out in August 1910 to present Baha'u'llah's teachings about the dawning of a new age of peace and unity, to high and low alike. These historic journeys launched a fledgling faith on its way to becoming a world religion.\n\n\"He was sixty-six years old,\" the Universal House of Justice has written in a special message, dated 29 August, to mark the centenary, \"an exile since childhood, with no formal schooling, a prisoner for forty years, in failing health, and unfamiliar with Western customs and languages. Yet He arose, without thought of comfort, undeterred by the risks involved...\"\n\n\"With the inauguration of 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels to the West, the Cause of Baha'u'llah, hemmed in for more than half a century by the hosts of enmity and oppression, burst its restraints.\"\n\n**Breakthrough into new cultures**\n\nFollowing the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, when all political and religious prisoners of the Ottoman Empire – including 'Abdu'l-Baha and His family – were set free, He began to plan sharing, in person, the Baha'i teachings with the world beyond the Middle East. Two years later He left the confines of the Holy Land, heading first to Egypt where he stayed for one year.\n\nThen, in August 1911, 'Abdu'l-Baha set sail for Europe, spending a month in London and two months in Paris. After returning to Egypt for the winter, He set off again in March 1912 for an eight-month long tour of North America, followed by second visits to London and Paris, as well as journeys to Austria, Germany, Hungary and Scotland.\n\n\"From the time of Baha'u'llah's passing, the Baha'i Faith's spread to North America and Europe had been a very significant development,\" says Moojan Momen, an historian based in the United Kingdom, \"but these communities were rather few in number.\"\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"So 'Abdu'l-Baha's visits not only saw Him generally proclaiming the Baha'i teachings further afield, but also consolidating the religion's breakthrough into new cultures.\"\n\nAt 'Abdu'l-Baha's first ever public talk – given at the City Temple church in London on 10 September 1911 – 'Abdu'l-Baha told the congregation, \"The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion.\"\n\n\"Over and over again, He stressed the need for understanding between people, for bringing religions together, for world peace,\" explains Paris-based writer Jan Jasion, who is researching 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels in Europe. \"He wanted to bring people closer to God and for them to understand the reality of religion and rid themselves of superstitions.\"\n\n'Abdu'l-Baha was also able to participate comfortably in discourses about themes that lay outside of the Middle Eastern experience. \"For example, the great dangers of racism;\" notes Firuz Kazemzadeh, emeritus professor of history at Yale University, \"the relationship between capital and labour, and the conflict between worker and employer; the impending Great War; and federalism as a solution to the problems among the States.\"\n\nFor three years, 'Abdu'l-Baha tirelessly addressed thousands of people – including clergymen, journalists, academics, diplomats,  philosophers, suffragettes, and social reformers. He also – perhaps most importantly for Him – met with, and attended to the needs of, the poor.\n\nAmong those deeply impressed by Him was Dr. David Starr Jordan, the American scientist and university administrator, who famously said, \"'Abdu'l-Baha will surely unite the East and the West, for He walks the mystical path with practical feet.\"\n\nDr. T. K. Cheyne of Oxford, the celebrated theologian, spoke of 'Abdu'l-Baha as the \"Ambassador to Humanity.\"\n\n\"What is striking is that, while 'Abdu'l-Baha had a great deal of praise for progressive thinkers, He was also very clear-eyed and uncompromising in His assessment of the ways in which they fell short of their own ideals,\" says Kenneth E. Bowers, the current Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. \"He challenged people to rise above their own understanding of reality, to a higher level of realisation – a spiritual level as well as the social.\"\n\nThere were other aspects of 'Abdu'l-Baha's personality that further delighted those He met, says Mr. Bowers.\n\n\"He carried Himself remarkably well in cultures that were entirely alien to Him. I think one of the things we should remember about Him – and which we sometimes forget as a characteristic of a 'spiritual' figure – is that He was someone who was extremely witty and charming.\"\n\n**\"A major religious event\"**\n\nBy the time 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels came to an end, the nascent Baha'i community had received a wider vision of their Faith, and citizens of nine countries, on three continents, had been informed of the Baha'i teachings for the first time.\n\n\"At the beginning of 'Abdu'l-Baha's ministry, the Baha'i Faith was a fairly obscure religious movement. There was very little accurate information about it anywhere,\" says Moojan Momen. \"By the end of His life, not just in Europe and North America but all over the world - in Asia, the Pacific, Australia, South Africa, South America - large numbers of people knew about the Faith and had a positive impression of it.\"\n\n\"His travels were certainly a major religious event of the 20th century,\" says Dr. Momen. \"They had much the same sort of effect as St. Paul's journeys which had a sizable impact on the spread of Christianity.\"\n\nKenneth E. Bowers believes it is impossible to conceive of today's American Baha'i community, for example, without taking 'Abdul-Baha's visit into account. \"Through His life and words, He was the personification of Baha'u'llah's teachings. He inspired the first handful of Baha'is not only to spread their Faith but, just as importantly, withstand all sorts of tests. In a very tactful, loving and wise way, He set the example to be followed.\"\n\nAs a result of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journeys, the Baha'i community began to propagate His ideas further and these became reinforced in the general population. \"This is where the real impact of His visits lies - in the capacity of the community He raised to continue what He taught them after all these years,\" says Firuz Kazemzadeh.\n\nIn its letter, the Universal House of Justice invites today's worldwide Baha'i community to reflect not only upon what 'Abdu'l-Baha achieved and set in motion, but on the work still left to do.\n\nHis words and actions during His travels, the Universal House of Justice writes, offer \"an abundance of inspiration and manifold insights\" for meeting the challenges of the present day."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543572238-79001.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The City Temple, London, where 'Abdu'l-Baha gave His first ever public talk on 10 September 1911. \"The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion,\" He told the congregation."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543572243-79002.jpg"},"imageDescription":"'Abdu'l-Baha's first visit to England in September 1911 included a weekend stay in the city of Bristol where He met Baha'is and their friends. \"What struck some of those present was his extremely natural and simple behaviour,\" wrote an observer, \"and the pleasant sense of humour, which his long imprisonment and awful trials had not succeeded in destroying.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543572243-79003.jpg"},"imageDescription":"'Abdu'l-Baha, formally photographed at the famous Taponnier studio in Paris. He told one meeting in the French capital, \"In this room today are members of many races...brothers and sisters meeting in friendship and harmony! Let this gathering be a foreshadowing of what will, in very truth, take place in this world, when every child of God realizes that they are leaves of one tree, flowers of one garden, drops in one ocean, and sons and daughters of one Father, whose name is love!\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543572246-79004.jpg"},"imageDescription":"'Abdu'l-Baha and His entourage beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris, in 1912. \"I in the East, and you in the West, let us try with heart and soul that unity may dwell in the world,\" He told His French audience, \"that all the people may become one people, and that the whole surface of the earth may be like one country.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543572239-79005.jpg"},"imageDescription":"'Abdu'l-Baha with friends in Lincoln Park, Chicago in 1912. This city was particularly dear to Him, He told His followers, because it was where the first Baha'i centre had been established on the American continent."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543572237-79006.jpg"},"imageDescription":"'Abdu'l-Baha's second visit to mainland Europe in 1913 included a stay in Germany. He is depicted here at a large gathering in Esslingen. \"I was young when I was put into prison and my hair was white when the prison doors opened...\" He told Baha'is in Stuttgart. \"Now I am here in order to be united with you, in order to meet you. My purpose is that perchance you may illumine the world of humanity; that all men may be united in perfect love and friendship...\""}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Baha'i history on the Baha'i World News Service"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":704,"relatedStoryCaption":"March 2009 marked 100th anniversary of the Bab's interment in the Holy Land."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":769,"relatedStoryCaption":"Assemblies elected for 50th time."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":586,"relatedStoryCaption":"New Web site features photographs that tell the life story of Baha'u'llah."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":791,"evergreenUrl":"un-panel-criticizes-irans-repression-minorities","title":"UN panel criticizes Iran’s repression of minorities","description":"A United Nations panel of experts has expressed concern over Iran’s continued repression of ethnic and religious minorities, including members...","date":"2010-08-30","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"A United Nations panel of experts has expressed concern over Iran’s continued repression of ethnic and religious minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith.\n\nIn conclusions issued last Friday, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) questioned why Iranian minorities – such as Arabs, Azeris, Balochis, Kurds and Baha'is – are so poorly represented in Iran’s public life.\n\nThe Baha'i International Community has welcomed the panel’s findings that categorize Iran’s persecution of Baha'is as a matter of discrimination based on race, ethnicity or religion.\n\n“This finding is important because it represents the opinion of a body of international experts on discrimination – including many from countries that are friendly to Iran,” said Diane Ala’i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.\n\n“As such, their criticism of Iran, even if couched in somewhat mild diplomatic language, represents further evidence that the world community will not turn a blind eye to Iran’s ongoing persecution of Baha'is – which are that country’s largest non-Muslim religious minority – nor, for that matter, to the violation of the human rights of any of that nation’s citizens,” said Ms. Ala’i.\n\n**Committee’s concern**\n\nIn its conclusions about Baha’is and other minority groups, CERD urged Iran to “carry out a study of members of all such communities that would enable the State party to identify their particular needs and draw up effective plans of action, programmes and public policies to combat racial discrimination and disadvantage relating to all areas of the public life of these communities.”\n\nThe recommendation followed a series of exchanges on 4-5 August with an Iranian delegation that came before the Committee to defend their human rights record.\n\nCommittee members appeared quite skeptical about Iran’s efforts to meet the mandates of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which the Committee monitors, including a number of members from countries that have generally friendly relations with Iran, such as Brazil, India, and Turkey.\n\n**Reports from human rights groups**\n\n\n\n\n\nAlternative reports submitted by human rights groups were more critical, noting that Baha'is have since 2005 faced an upsurge in arbitrary arrests and detentions, the demolition of properties, and the denial of rights to education, employment, and social participation.\n\n“Since the beginning of 2010, numerous Baha’is have been sentenced to imprisonment,” said the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI), and Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) in a joint report.\n\nAmnesty International noted that “derogatory articles and other media pieces” frequently appear in state-run media. “Such practices are of particular concern in relation to the Baha'i community.”\n\nThis is not the first time that the Committee has spoken out about Iran’s treatment of Baha'is. In similar concluding observations issued in 2003, the Committee noted with concern “the reported discrimination faced by certain minorities, including the Baha’is, who are deprived of certain rights” which “appear to be discriminatory on both ethnic and religious grounds.”\n\nThe Committee in 2003 went on to recommend that Iran “ensure that all persons enjoy their right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, without any discrimination based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin,” and also that Iran allow “students of different origins to register in universities without being compelled to state their religion.”\n\nMs. Ala’i noted that although the Committee’s primary concern is racial discrimination, that mandate is broadly interpreted by the United Nations as including all forms of discrimination, including religious discrimination.\n\n“Members of the Baha'i Faith come from various ethnic backgrounds, but the fact that this committee has identified the intense religious discrimination against the Iranian Baha'i community as something it must look into shows from yet another angle how deep the oppression of Baha'is and other minorities is today in Iran,” said Diane Ala’i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.\n\n“The intense questioning during the dialogue session with Iran, moreover, clearly displayed the skepticism with which the international community views Iran’s efforts to defend what is otherwise indefensible in terms of human rights violation,” she said."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent articles on Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":789,"relatedStoryCaption":"Widespread injustice condemned."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":787,"relatedStoryCaption":"Governments and human rights organizations condemn jail terms for Baha'i leaders."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":788,"relatedStoryCaption":"More international reaction."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":790,"evergreenUrl":"global-support-intensifies-irans-seven-bahai-leaders","title":"Global support intensifies for Iran's seven Baha'i leaders","description":"An increasing number of governments, human rights groups and prominent individuals are raising their voices against the harsh prison sentences...","date":"2010-08-26","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759625-790yaran.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759625-790yaran.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A design created by the Human Rights Activists News Agency features a photograph taken of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders before they were arrested. Around it are the faces of some of the HRANA campaign's supporters, accompanied by the slogan, \"We are Yaran!\" - \"We are Friends!\"","imageStyle":"canvas-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"An increasing number of governments, human rights groups and prominent individuals are raising their voices against the harsh prison sentences handed down earlier this month to Iran's seven Baha'i leaders.\n\nAs lawyers for the prisoners prepare to appeal against the 20-year jail terms, the government of [New Zealand](http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/mccully+condemns+sentences+bah%c3%a1039%c3%ad+leadership) has voiced its concern that the trial \"was conducted in a manner that was neither fair nor transparent.\"\n\n\"New Zealand is dismayed that Iran has failed to uphold its international human rights commitments, and its own due legal processes in this case,\" said Foreign Minister Murray McCully.\n\n\"The sentences appear to be based wholly on the fact that these people are members of a minority religious group,\" said Mr. McCully, in a statement issued on 20 August.\n\n\"New Zealand calls on the Government of Iran to protect the fundamental rights of all its citizens, and to end its ongoing and systematic persecution of the Baha'i,\" he said.\n\nThe governments of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States of America, as well as the European Union and the President of the European Parliament, have already condemned the sentencing of the seven. See [https://news.bahai.org/story/787](/story/787) and [https://news.bahai.org/story/788](/story/788).\n\nIn the wake of calls from numerous international organizations for the prisoners to be released, groups focused specifically on human rights abuses in Iran - such as the Human Rights Activists News Agency and United4Iran - as well as Amnesty International, have now launched letter-writing campaigns encouraging supporters to call for justice for the seven. Prominent individuals, including British barrister Cherie Blair, have also been raising their voices in support of the Baha'i leaders.\n\n[Minority Rights Group International](http://www.minorityrights.org/10197/minorities-in-the-news/mrg-concerned-by-reports-of-lengthy-jail-sentences-for-iranian-baha-leaders.html) (MRG) – which campaigns on behalf of disadvantaged minorities and indigenous peoples – has expressed its deep concern over the lengthy sentences.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"Given that independent observers were not allowed to attend the trial, and the history of persecution that the Baha'i community has faced in Iran, the outcome will do nothing to encourage faith in the Iranian justice system,' said Carl Soderbergh, MRG's Director of Policy and Communications.\n\n\"MRG calls on Iran to quash the convictions and release the defendants immediately,\" Mr. Soderbergh added.\n\n**Human rights campaigns**\n\nBefore their arrest in 2008, the seven prisoners were all members of a national-level group known as the \"Yaran\" – or \"Friends\" – that helped to see to the minimum needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community.\n\nAmong the human rights groups now calling for justice, the [Human Rights Activists News Agency](http://www.en-hrana.com/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=2&Itemid=17) (HRANA) is asking people throughout the world to join a \"We are Yaran\" campaign of letter writing.\n\nThe HRANA draft letter states: \"There is no evidence in support of the charges leveled against these Baha'is, and the ultimate judgment of imprisonment is unjust and insupportable.\"\n\n[United4Iran](http://united4iran.com/2010/08/take-action-send-e-letters-in-support-of-irans-7-bahai-leaders/#comments) – a non-partisan global network promoting fundamental human and civil rights in Iran – is requesting that visitors to its website call attention to the plight of the prisoners, by sending email letters to world leaders and Iranian officials.\n\nConsidering the advanced ages of several of the Baha'i leaders, says the group, \"the IRI (Islamic Republic of Iran) has effectively dealt life sentences.\"\n\nA spokesperson for United4Iran said that, as of Wednesday, more than 1100 messages had been sent via the website link.\n\nIn the United States, [Amnesty International](http://www.amnestyusa.org/all-countries/iran/seven-bahai-leaders-given-harsh-prison-sentence/page.do?id=1221024) is urging its members to write to the head of Iran's judiciary to protest the trial and sentencing.\n\n**Individual voices**\n\nNoted British barrister Cherie Blair called the legal proceedings against the seven a \"sham trial\" in an article published on Wednesday by [The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/aug/25/iran-bahai-community-sham-trial) newspaper in the UK.\n\n\"During two years of incarceration, lawyers working with [Nobel laureate Shirin] Ebadi were granted less than two hours with their clients,\" wrote Ms. Blair. \"They had only a few hours to examine the case files, comprising hundreds of pages. In the little time they were granted, they discovered the files were compiled by officials from the ministry of intelligence, despite Iranian law stipulating that such agents 'should not be entrusted with the investigation ... of the accused.'\n\n\"The catch-all charge of espionage exposes the reality behind the regime's cruel behaviour. Over the years, Baha'is have found themselves accused of being tools of Russian imperialism, British colonialism, American expansionism and most recently Zionism.\n\n\"But when we learn that Baha'is accused of spying for Israel are offered exoneration and the restoration of all the rights of citizenship if they will simply recant their faith, we can see such charges are totally baseless.\n\n\"The desecration of Baha'i cemeteries, the demolition of shrines and confiscation of Baha'i property are unlikely punishments for a band of spies.\n\n\"The truth behind this sentence is that it is an attempt to decapitate Iran's 300,000 strong Baha'i community. As members of Iran's biggest religious minority, they have suffered decades of discrimination, harassment and appalling treatment. Most recently, 50 Baha'i homes were razed in northern Iran, and we know of at least 47 other Baha'is currently imprisoned,\" wrote Ms. Blair.\n\nThe leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, the Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, today called the 20-year jail terms for the Baha'i leaders \"a most appalling transgression of justice and at heart a gross violation of the human right of freedom of belief.\"\n\n\"I unite myself in prayer for those of the Baha'i Faith who are suffering at this present time in Iran and also to the many other peoples of goodwill who are suffering for their faiths in other parts of the world,\" said Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien.\n\nIn a video statement posted on [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mrldA95spQ), the actor and comedian Omid Djalili said he was \"very upset\" by news of the prison sentences.\n\n\"The Baha'i Faith is a peaceful religion with a world embracing vision of unity for all people, of all faiths. It is a staunch defender of human rights. So the fact that these seven are held in prison as if they are perpetrators of the most heinous crimes is just ridiculous,\" said Mr. Djalili, whose clip received more than 8,000 views in its first few days.\n\n**\"International outcry will continue\"**\n\nThe prisoners - Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - denied all the allegations made against them which included espionage, propaganda against the Islamic republic and the establishment of an illegal administration. They are now incarcerated in Gohardasht prison in Karaj, some 20 kilometers west of Tehran.\n\n\"By all accounts, the charges against them were utterly baseless, and the trial itself was nothing but a charade,\" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.\n\n\"For as long as they are held in prison, this international outcry will continue,\" she said.\n\n*A Baha'i World News Service Special Report containing articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha’i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment and trial, and the allegations made against them - can be read at: [https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/).*\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. 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/6348/1543759625-790yaranjustice.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Artwork questioning the sentencing of the seven Baha'i leaders is displayed on the campaign page of the United4Iran website."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Stories about the sentencing of Iran's seven Baha'i leaders"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":789,"relatedStoryCaption":"Widespread injustice condemned."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":787,"relatedStoryCaption":"Governments and human rights organizations condemn jail terms for Baha'i leaders."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":788,"relatedStoryCaption":"More international reaction."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":789,"evergreenUrl":"harsh-sentences-are-judgment-against-an-entire-religious-community","title":"Harsh sentences are a judgment against an entire religious community","description":"The harsh prison sentences handed down to seven Iranian Baha'i leaders who are absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing is a judgment against an...","date":"2010-08-15","customDateline":null,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759454-78900copy2.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759454-78900copy2.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The incarceration of the seven Baha'i leaders is the latest development in a deliberate policy of the Iranian government to suffocate the Baha'i community. Systematic plans were drawn up in 1991 - at the request of the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the then President Rafsanjani - and set out in a memorandum approved and signed by Ayatollah Khamenei.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The harsh prison sentences handed down to seven Iranian Baha'i leaders who are absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing is a judgment against an entire religious community, the Baha'i International Community said today.\n\nNobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, whose Defenders of Human Rights Center represented the Baha'i defendants, said she was \"stunned\" by the reported 20-year jail terms.\n\n\"I have read their case file page by page and did not find anything proving the accusations, nor did I find any document that could prove the claims of the prosecutor,\" said Mrs. Ebadi in a television interview, broadcast on 8 August by the Persian-language service of the BBC.\n\nThe flagrantly unjust sentence has provoked vehement protest from governments throughout the world - including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S.A. The European Union and the President of the European Parliament have also joined the chorus of condemnation, along with numerous human rights organizations - including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and FIDH - as well as other groups, and countless individuals. Read international reaction [here](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/international-reaction.html).\n\n\"The trumped-up charges, and the total lack of any credible evidence against these seven prisoners, reflects the false accusations and misinformation that Iran's regime has used to vilify and defame a peaceful, religious community for an entire generation,\" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.\n\nMs. Dugal noted that the seven have reportedly been transferred to Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, a facility about 20 kilometers west of Tehran. \"The reason for the move is not yet known and it is too early to assess the implications for the prisoners,\" she said. \"It does, however, clearly impose an added burden to their families, who now have to travel outside Tehran to visit their loved ones.\"\n\nThe seven - Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm - were all members of a national-level group that, with the government's knowledge, helped see to the minimum spiritual needs of Iran's Baha'i community.\n\n\"That these manifestly innocent people should each be jailed for 20 years after a sham trial is utterly reprehensible,\" said Ms. Dugal. \"We ask the Iranian government: Does such a callous disregard for justice contribute to the advancement of Iranian society? Or does it, rather, further diminish your credibility among your own people and among the nations of the world?\"\n\nMs. Dugal said the Baha'i International Community condemns the widespread injustice perpetrated by the Iranian authorities against others throughout Iran, whether religious minorities, journalists, academics, civil society activists, women's rights defenders, or others.\n\n**A catalogue of abuses**\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Even before the sentences were pronounced, the arrest, detention and trial of the seven leaders was a two-year long catalogue of abuses and illegal actions, both under international law and Iranian statutes.\n\n\"Iranian law requires that detainees be quickly and formally charged with crimes. The seven Baha'is were held at least nine months before any word of the charges against them were uttered by officials, and even then it was at a press conference, not in a court setting,\" said Ms. Dugal.\n\n\"For a long time, the seven were also denied access to lawyers. When they were allowed contact, it lasted barely an hour before their so-called trial began,\" she said.\n\n\"Detainees who have been charged also have the right to seek bail and to be released pending trial. The seven have continually been denied bail, despite numerous requests.\"\n\n\"These are black and white concerns, not subject to interpretation,\" she said.\n\n**Systematic persecution**\n\nSince 1979, Iran's 300,000-strong  Baha'i community has endured a government-sponsored, systematic campaign of religious persecution. In its early stages, more than 200 Baha'is were killed and at least 1,000 were imprisoned, solely because of their religious beliefs.\n\nIn the early 1990s, the government shifted its focus to social, economic and cultural restrictions aimed at slowly suffocating the community and its development. Measures included depriving Baha'is of their livelihood, destroying their cultural heritage, and barring their young people from higher education.\n\nSince 2005, there has been a resurgence of more extreme forms of persecution, with increasing arrests, harassment, violence, and arson attacks on Baha'i homes and businesses.\n\nThis systematic campaign of attacks has included:\n\n* the creation and circulation of lists of Baha'is with instructions that the activities of the members of the community be secretly monitored;\n* dawn raids on Baha'i homes and the confiscation of personal property;\n* summary arrest and interrogation of Baha'is throughout the nation;\n* daily incitement to hatred of the Baha'is in all forms of government-sponsored mass media;\n* the holding of anti-Baha'i symposia and seminars organized by clerics followed by orchestrated attacks on Baha'i homes and properties in the cities and towns where such events are held;\n* destruction of Baha'i cemeteries across the country;\n* demolition of Baha'i Holy Places and Shrines;\n* acts of arson against Baha'i homes and properties;\n* denying Baha'is access to higher education;\n* vilification of Baha'i children in their classrooms by their teachers;\n* the designation of numerous occupations and businesses from which Baha'is are debarred;\n* refusal to extend bank loans to Baha'is;\n* the sealing of Baha'i shops;\n* refusal to issue or renew business licenses to Baha'is;\n* harassment of landlords of Baha'i business tenants to force their eviction.\n\nSpecific examples of persecution in recent weeks include:\n\n* homes belonging to some 50 Baha'i families in the remote northern village of Ivel being demolished as part of a long-running campaign to expel them from the region;\n* the intelligence service that has an office in every university and governmental organization in Iran instructing university officials at Shaheed Beheshti University not to have any business dealings with companies owned by Baha'is;\n* two Baha'i-owned optical shops in Tehran receiving warning letters from the Opticians' Trade Union to close down, after similar shops in Khomein and Rafsanjan were forced to close;\n* an anti-Baha'i tract, titled Supporters of Satan, being widely distributed in the city of Kerman. The tract purveys misrepresentations of Baha'i history, including falsely asserting that the Baha'i Faith was a creation of the British;\n* truckloads of construction refuse and soil being dumped on graves in the Baha'i cemetery of Boroujerd. Buildings in the Baha'i cemetery in Mashhad - including the place where the prayers were recited - were severely damaged by heavy machinery.\n\nCurrently, including the seven leaders, some 50 Iranian Baha'is are in prison, some of them incarcerated for months at a time in solitary confinement cells, designed only for temporary detention.\n\n\"The pattern is clear: the Iranian government is systematically persecuting Baha'is for no reason other than their religious beliefs,\" said Ms. Dugal.\n\n\"The government knows that the Baha'i teachings advocate non-violence and non-involvement in politics. Yet this campaign is rigorously pursued with one aim in sight - the eradication of the Baha'i community as a viable entity in Iran,\" she said.\n\n\"In this light, the imprisonment of the seven must be seen as an attempt to decapitate a community's leadership, and strike a devastating blow to Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority.\"\n\n**Special Report - \"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders\"**\n\nThe Baha'i World News Service has published a Special Report which includes articles and background information about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders - their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing - and the allegations made against them.  It also offers further resources about the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community.\n\nThe Special Report can be read at: [https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/](/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/)."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759461-72500yaranwithspouses.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Tehran are pictured together with their spouses, before their arrest in 2008."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759454-78902.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The arrest of the seven Baha'i leaders in March and May 2008 was ominously reminiscent of episodes in the early 1980s when Iranian authorities rounded up and killed Baha'i leaders. In August 1980, for example, the entire membership of the national governing council, shown here, was abducted and disappeared without a trace."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759460-78903.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ten Baha'i women, aged between 17 and 57, were hanged in Shiraz on 18 June 1983, convicted of teaching classes to Baha'i children. The youngest was Mona Mahmudnizhad, a 17-year-old schoolgirl who because of her youth and conspicuous innocence became a symbol for the entire group. All of the women had been interrogated and tortured in the months leading up to their execution."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759454-78904.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The House of the Bab in Shiraz, Iran, one of the most holy sites in the Baha'i world, was destroyed by Revolutionary Guardsmen in 1979 and later razed by the government."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759454-78905.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Interior of the house of Mirza Abbas Nuri, the father of Baha'u'llah. This architectural landmark in Tehran, acclaimed as an outstanding example of period architecture, was demolished by authorities in June 2004."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759454-78906.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Gravestones in the Baha'i cemetery near Najafabad were left in a heap by a bulldozer that destroyed the burial ground in September 2007."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759454-78908.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In May 2007, the home of a Baha'i in the village of Ivel was burned by unknown arsonists. In June 2010, homes belonging to some 50 Baha'i families were demolished in the same village."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759454-78909.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A Baha'i family in Fars province narrowly escaped injury in June 2008 when an arsonist poured gasoline and caused an explosion and fire that destroyed a hut near where the family was sleeping outside their home."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Stories about the sentencing of Iran's seven Baha'i leaders"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":786,"relatedStoryCaption":"Lawyers told that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received prison terms of 20 years."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":787,"relatedStoryCaption":"Governments and human rights organizations condemn jail terms for Baha'i leaders."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":788,"relatedStoryCaption":"More international reaction"}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":788,"evergreenUrl":"usa-joins-netherlands-uk-european-union-chorus-condemnation-prison-sentences","title":"U.S.A. joins Netherlands, U.K. and European Union in chorus of condemnation at prison sentences","description":"The United States of America has said it \"strongly condemns\" the sentencing of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders to 20 years imprisonment. U.S. Secretary...","date":"2010-08-13","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571256-78800.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571256-78800.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Statements from the U.S.A., Netherlands, U.K. and the European Union all express strong concern at reports that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received prison sentences of 20 years.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The [**United States of America**](http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/08/145953.htm) has said it \"strongly condemns\" the sentencing of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders to 20 years imprisonment.\n\nU.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the act as a \"violation of Iran's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.\"\n\nIn a statement dated 12 August, Secretary Clinton said that the United States is \"deeply concerned with the Iranian government's continued persecution of Baha'is and other religious minority communities in Iran.\"\n\n\"Freedom of religion is the birthright of people of all faiths and beliefs in all places,\" she said.\n\n\"The United States is committed to defending religious freedom around the world, and we have not forgotten the Baha'i community in Iran.\"\n\n\"We will continue to speak out against injustice and call on the Iranian government to respect the fundamental rights of all its citizens in accordance with its international obligations,\" said Secretary Clinton.\n\nThe statement from the United States came as reports reached the Baha'i International Community that the seven Baha'i leaders have been transferred from Tehran's Evin Prison, where they had been incarcerated for more than two years.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"They have been taken to Gohardasht Prison - also known as Rajaishahr Prison - in Karaj, some 20 kilometers west of the Iranian capital.\n\n**Other support**\n\nSupport for the prisoners has also been expressed by the [**European Union**](http://www.europa-eu-un.org/articles/en/article_10020_en.htm), in a statement made by Baroness Catherine Ashton, the E.U.'s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.\n\n\"The European Union expresses its serious concern about the sentencing of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran to 20 years imprisonment and calls for their immediate release,\" the declaration said.\n\n\"The verdict appears to be based on the defendants belonging to a religious minority and the judicial process was seriously flawed, respecting neither Iran's international commitments under the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) nor its national legislation regarding fair trial rights.\"\n\n\"The EU recalls that freedom of thought, conscience and religion are fundamental rights\n\nwhich must be guaranteed under all circumstances according to article 18 of the ICCPR\n\nwhich the Islamic Republic of Iran has signed up to and ratified.\"\n\n\"The EU calls on Iran to put an end to the persecution of the Baha'i community,\" said Baroness Ashton.\n\nIn the [**United Kingdom**](http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=22683999&t=Latest+news), Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was \"appalled\" to hear of the prison sentences, describing them as a \"shocking example of the Iranian state's continued discrimination against the Baha'is.\"\n\n\"It is completely unacceptable,\" said Mr. Hague in a statement released on Wednesday.\n\n\"The Iranian judiciary has repeatedly failed to allay international and domestic concerns that these seven men and women are guilty of anything other than practicing their faith. It is clear that from arrest to sentencing, the Iranian authorities did not follow even their own due process, let alone the international standards to which Iran is committed. The accused were denied proper access to lawyers, and there is evidence that the trial was neither fair nor transparent.\"\n\n\"I call on the Iranian authorities urgently to consider any appeal against this decision, and to cease the harassment of the Baha'i community. I further call on the Iranian Government to ensure that the rights of all individuals are fully protected, without discrimination, and that it fulfils its obligations to its own citizens as set out in the Iranian constitution,\" said Mr. Hague.\n\nThe [**Netherlands**](http://www.minbuza.nl/nl/Actueel/Nieuwsberichten/2010/08/Nederland_bezorgd_over_lot_Baha%E2%80%99i_leiders_Iran)' Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Verhagen, expressed his country's concern at \"the poor execution of the judicial process in the case of the seven Baha'i leaders\" and its fears that the arrest and sentence is \"based solely on discrimination of religious belief.\"\n\n\"That these people seem to be condemned because of their faith is shocking,\" said Mr. Verhagen.\n\n\"I urge the Iranian authorities to abide by their international human rights obligations. The Baha'i leaders have a right to a fair trial and they must be released as soon as possible.\"\n\nAustralia, Canada, France, Germany and the President of the European Parliament earlier expressed strong statements of concern at news that Iran's seven Baha'i leaders have each received prison sentences of 20 years, as [reported by the Baha'i World News Service on 11 August](/story/786).\n\n**Human rights organizations**\n\nHuman rights organizations - including Amnesty International, FIDH and Human Rights Watch - have issued calls for the prisoners to be released, for the judgment to be annulled, and for Iran to demonstrate that the trial was fair and in accordance with international standards.\n\n\"This is an outrageous miscarriage of justice and one more example of how the Iranian regime is a gross violator of human rights and religious freedoms,\" said Leonard Leo, chair of the [**U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom**](http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3159&Itemid=1). \"The prosecutions and sentences are, pure and simple, politically and religiously motivated acts, and the Commission calls for the unconditional release of these seven individuals.\"\n\nDiane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva said the actions of the Iranian authorities, against individuals who are innocent of any crime, represent an \"outrageous travesty of justice that defies adequate description.\"\n\n\"At every stage of the case - from their illegal detention and the brutal conditions of their confinement, through the trial, and now to a completely unlawful imprisonment - not even the most basic and fundamental norms of justice were respected.\"\n\n\"We welcome the message coming loud and clear from governments and human rights organizations throughout the world. It is time for Iran to right the wrongs it has done.\"\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. 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/6348/1543571256-63201img93671.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'i prisoners, photographed several months before their arrest, are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent articles on Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":786,"relatedStoryCaption":"Lawyers told that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received prison terms of 20 years."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":787,"relatedStoryCaption":"Governments and human rights organizations condemn jail terms for Baha'i leaders."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":782,"relatedStoryCaption":"How Baha'i villagers in northern Iran contributed to the social and economic life of their region, despite decades of persecution."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":787,"evergreenUrl":"international-outcry-prison-sentences-iranian-bahai-leaders","title":"International outcry at prison sentences for Iranian Baha'i leaders","description":"Reports that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received prison sentences of 20 years have been met with condemnation from governments and...","date":"2010-08-11","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571242-78700.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571242-78700.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Governments and human rights organizations around the world have expressed strong concern at reports that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received prison sentences of 20 years.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Reports that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received prison sentences of 20 years have been met with condemnation from governments and human rights organizations around the world.\n\nAustralia, Canada, France, Germany – and the President of the European Parliament – have all expressed strong statements of concern.\n\nThey are calling for the prisoners to be released on bail, for an annulment of the judgment, and for Iran to demonstrate that the trial was fair and in accordance with international standards.\n\n**Canada**'s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, said that his country was \"deeply disturbed\" by the sentences that were \"passed without either written judgments or due process.\" He urged Iran to grant bail to the prisoners.\n\n**Germany** described the outcome of the trial as a \"massive setback for all those who engage themselves for the promotion of human dignity and human rights in Iran.\"\n\nMarkus Loning, commissioner for human rights and humanitarian aid at Germany's Foreign Office, said Iran must annul the judgment and \"provide a fair and transparent court procedure.\"\n\n\"There are major doubts as to the compliance with the basic legal rights during the judicial proceedings,\" he said.\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"**France** expressed its \"consternation\" at the 20-year jail term.\n\nAt a press briefing, Christine Fages, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, stated that Iranian authorities should stop persecuting Baha'is and other religious minorities and \"respect the freedom of religion and conscience as defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran has freely signed up.\"\n\n**Australia** has also shared its deep concern at the sentences. \"We continue to call on Iran to ensure that all trials are fair and transparent and are conducted in accordance with Iran's international obligations,\" said a spokesman for the Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.\n\nIn a statement issued today, the **President of the European Parliament** – Jerzy Buzek – called the sentences \"a shocking signal and an immense disappointment for all who have hoped for an improvement of the human rights situation in Iran.\"\n\n\"Iran has committed itself to international standards and I underline that this includes also the respect and protection of religious freedom,\" he said.\n\nInternational human rights organizations have additionally joined the chorus of protest against the reported prison sentences.\n\nThe **International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran** said the sentencing of the Baha'i leaders was \"politically motivated, discriminatory, unjust, and illegal under Iranian and international law.\"\n\n\"They have been sentenced for being Baha'is, nothing else, and their incarceration thus expresses a policy of oppression of the Baha'i Faith and its members,\" said Aaron Rhodes, spokesperson for the Campaign.\n\n**Amnesty International** described the Baha'i leaders as \"prisoners of conscience jailed solely on account of their beliefs or peaceful activities on behalf of the persecuted Baha'i minority.\"\n\n\"The seven were held for months without charge before being subjected to a parody of a trial. They must be immediately released,\" said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa deputy director.\n\nIn a statement, the **International Federation for Human Rights** (FIDH) and the **Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights** (LDDHI) asked for the Iranian government to \"act in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as international human rights instruments ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran.\"\n\n**Human Rights Watch** demanded the Iranian judiciary to release the seven immediately \"given that no evidence appears to have ever been presented against them, and they have not been given a fair and public trial.\"\n\n\"For more than two years now the Iranian authorities have utterly failed to provide the slightest shred of evidence indicating any basis for detaining these seven Baha'i leaders, let alone sentencing them to 20 years in prison,\" said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East division at Human Rights Watch.\n\nIran should take concrete steps that show it is committed to protecting the fundamental rights of Baha'is, said Mr. Stork\n\n\"The immediate and unconditional release of the seven Baha'i leaders would be a good start,\" he said.\n\nDiane Ala'i, Baha'i representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the Baha'i International Community deeply appreciates the committed support offered so far by governments and human rights organizations.\n\n\"These statements demonstrate that increasing numbers of people of all races and religions throughout the world want to see justice done in Iran – not just for the Baha'is but all of its citizens who face gross human rights violations,\" said Ms. Ala'i.\n\n\"For how much longer will the Iranian authorities remain oblivious to these upraised voices?\" she said."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571241-63201img93671.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'i prisoners, photographed several months before their arrest, are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Iran-related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":786,"relatedStoryCaption":"Lawyers told that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received prison terms of 20 years."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":782,"relatedStoryCaption":"How Baha'i villagers in northern Iran contributed to the social and economic life of their region, despite decades of persecution."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":783,"relatedStoryCaption":"One of the first major Spanish works about Iran's Baha'i community."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":786,"evergreenUrl":"reports-say-irans-bahai-leaders-sentenced","title":"Reports say Iran's Baha'i leaders \"sentenced\"","description":"The Baha'i International Community has received reports indicating that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received jail sentences of 20...","date":"2010-08-08","customDateline":false,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571229-63201img93671.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571229-63201img93671.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'i prisoners, photographed several months before their arrest, are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Baha'i International Community has received reports indicating that seven Iranian Baha'i leaders have each received jail sentences of 20 years.\n\nThe two women and five men have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 – six of them on 14 May and one of them two months earlier.\n\n\"If this news proves to be accurate, it represents a deeply shocking outcome to the case of these innocent and harmless people,\" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.\n\n\"We understand that they have been informed of this sentence and that their lawyers are in the process of launching an appeal,\" said Ms. Dugal.\n\nThe prisoners – Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm – were all members of a national-level group that helped see to the minimum needs of Iran's 300,000-strong Baha'i community, the country's largest non-Muslim religious minority.\n\nThe trial of the seven consisted of six brief court appearances which began on 12 January this year after they had been incarcerated without charge for 20 months, during which time they were allowed barely one hour's access to their legal counsel. The trial ended on 14 June.\n\nThe defendants were accused of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations. All the charges are completely and categorically denied."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Iran-related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":782,"relatedStoryCaption":"How Baha'i villagers in northern Iran contributed to the social and economic life of their region, despite decades of persecution."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":780,"relatedStoryCaption":"50 Baha'i homes razed in systematic effort to expel Baha'is from rural area."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":783,"relatedStoryCaption":"One of the first major Spanish works about the genesis of Iran's Baha'i community."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":785,"evergreenUrl":"online-conference-offers-new-experience-world-citizenship","title":"Online conference offers new experience of world citizenship","description":"For the 20 people gathered at Guitty Milani's home, the path to world peace begins with small actions. \"When we talk about making the world better...","date":"2010-08-08","customDateline":null,"city":"BRASÍLIA","country":"BRAZIL","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759404-78500.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759404-78500.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Guests at a home in Brasilia view an online presentation by Tahirih Naylor, a Baha'i International Community Representative to the United Nations, as part of the World E-Conference on Culture of Peace and Sustainability.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"For the 20 people gathered at Guitty Milani's home, the path to world peace begins with small actions.\n\n\"When we talk about making the world better and transforming it, people normally don't know what to do. But the important thing is that if each one does a share, the result is really big and can really change the human mind,\" said Geraldo Faria, a systems analyst.\n\nThe discussion here on Tuesday 3 August was just one element of a global \"e-conference\" that is likely to have spawned many more such meetings internationally.\n\nThe World E-Conference on Culture of Peace and Sustainability, from 2-6 August, was conceived around a [website](http://www.peaceglobalnet.org/econference.htm), which features speeches by prominent experts on peace and sustainability, including the Dalai Lama and fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate Adolfo Perez Esquivel, along with author Hazel Henderson.\n\n\"We are trying an experiment with global cooperation, seeking to connect both individuals and organizations with large networks, so that we can develop a new experience of global citizenship and global governance,\" said Carlos Emediato, coordinator of the conference and founding member of Globalnet, a Brazilian-based international network of organizations dedicated to the promotion of a culture of peace.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"This means focusing on some very concrete problems in the world and seeing how local communities can cooperate to help solve these problems,\" he said.\n\nTahirih Naylor, a Baha'i International Community Representative to the United Nations, was featured as a keynote speaker in the e-conference. Her talk, titled \"Significance and Opportunity,\" discussed in broad terms the challenges facing humanity as it moves towards global civilization.\n\n\"Having passed through the stages of our collective infancy and childhood, we find ourselves, as humanity, in a turbulent transitional period, approaching our full physical capacity, but not yet informed by the wisdom and judgment that comes from maturity,\" said Ms. Naylor.\n\nBy embracing humanity's inherent \"spiritual qualities,\" we can overcome the traits of \"ego, greed, apathy and violence\" that stand in the way of creating a new global culture of cooperation, she said.\n\nThe Baha'i community of Brazil was actively involved in the event's organization. Iradj Roberto Eghrari, a Baha'i serving on the conference's executive committee, said the idea to hold an online event, with local satellite meetings, came about primarily as a cost-saving measure.\n\n\"We wanted to hold a global conference to mark the end of the UN International Decade for the Culture of Peace,\" said Mr. Eghrari. \"But the costs were too high. So we decided that instead of spending money on one big conference, we should spend that towards the betterment of society itself, and then have an e-conference so that everyone can have discussions about their experiences and ideas locally but in a shared way globally.\"\n\nAt least three other discussion programs – in the cities of Canoas, Belo Horizonte and Manaus – were held and others were expected to be organized spontaneously as people became inspired by the website.\n\nAt the gathering in Brasilia, 12-year-old Jade Lima, certainly got the point: \"To change the world, it's necessary to start from an attitude of love,\" she said. \"It's like planting a tree. Small attitudes can change the world.\"\n\nThe conference site also showcased a number of videos depicting how communities around the world are striving to put new values into action. Individuals and groups were encouraged to download or stream the presentations and discuss them. They could then post their thoughts on a conference blog. The content will remain available online for a few days after the conference ends.\n\nPresentations submitted by the Baha'i International Community to the World Conference on Culture of Peace and Sustainability included short films highlighting the work of educational initiatives at the local level. One profiles the Cambodian Organization for Research, Development and Education – CORDE – where young people learn English, take classes related to moral education, and assume responsibility for educating the next generation of children. Others feature Baha'i-inspired endeavors such as a literacy project in Guyana, an educational initiative in Honduras, and the programs of  Fundación para la Aplicación y Enseñanza de las Ciencias – FUNDAEC – which, for more than three decades, has empowered young people in Colombia to arise in service to society.\n\nOther international partners sponsoring the conference included the Global Ecovillage Network, Green Cross International, the International Festival of Peace, the Playing for Change Foundation, the World Cafe Foundation, and the World Peace Prayer Society.\n\nNational level partners included: Asociacion Educar (Argentina), Associacao Palas Athena (Brazil), Bioneers (USA), the Dhammakaya Foundation (Thailand), the Institute for Planetary Synthesis (Switzerland), the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (South Africa), Mil Milenios de Paz (Argentina), Resurgence Magazine (UK), the Tamera Community (Portugal), UNIPAZ - Hollistic International University (Brazil),and  the Women World Summit Foundation (Switzerland)."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759404-78501.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The World E-Conference on Culture of Peace and Sustainability offered an online mix of keynote talks by prominent thinkers, exploratory films, and artistic expression."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759404-78502.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Geraldo Faria, a systems analyst, participates in a discussion in Brasilia as part of the World E-Conference on Culture of Peace and Sustainability. \"When we talk about making the world better and transforming it, people normally don't know what to do,\" he said. \"But the important thing is that if each one does a share, the result is really big and can really change the human mind.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759404-78503.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Baha'i-inspired educational initiatives in Cambodia are among the projects presented in short films being streamed on the website of the World E-Conference on Culture of Peace and Sustainability."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":769,"relatedStoryCaption":"21 Baha'i Assemblies elected for 50th time."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":772,"relatedStoryCaption":"Baha'is sponsor discussion at UN Commission."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":781,"relatedStoryCaption":"Innovative vocal work by Norwegian composer, Lasse Thoresen, wins prestigious music prize."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":784,"evergreenUrl":"detention-extended-seven-iranian-bahai-leaders","title":"Detention extended for seven Iranian Baha'i leaders","description":"The imprisonment of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran has been extended for a further two months, the Baha'i International Community has learned....","date":"2010-08-05","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571117-63201img93671.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571117-63201img93671.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'i prisoners, photographed several months before their arrest, are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The imprisonment of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran has been extended for a further two months, the Baha'i International Community has learned.\n\nThe trial of the seven concluded on 14 June. No verdict has yet been given.\n\n\"These innocent Baha'is have now been held for more than two years under a series of successive orders for their 'temporary' detention, which by law must not exceed two months,\" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.\n\nOn 24 July, two days after the most recent two-month prison term concluded, the defense attorneys for the seven once again issued a formal request that the prisoners be released on bail, as permitted under Iranian law.\n\nSince then, the judge presiding over the case has told the prisoners that their detention had once again been extended for two months.\n\nThe attorneys have now submitted a written objection to the extension, said Ms. Alai.\n\n\"There is no legal basis whatsoever to refuse the request that the defendants be released on bail,\" she said.\n\nThe seven prisoners are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. They categorically deny charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and \"corruption on earth,\" among other allegations.\n\nBefore their incarceration, the seven attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community, which numbers more than 300,000. They have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 – six of them on 14 May and one of them two months earlier.\n\nTheir trial consisted of six brief court appearances which began on 12 January after they had been imprisoned without charge for 20 months, during which time they were allowed barely one hour's access to their legal counsel.\n\n\"That these people – held purely for their religious beliefs – have now entered the third year of their so-called 'temporary' incarceration under such inhumane conditions constitutes a deplorable violation of their human rights,\" said Ms. Ala'i.\n\n\"The Iranian government must know that its actions are under close international scrutiny and that it is held wholly responsible for this terrible injustice,\" she said. \"Once again, we call upon the authorities in Iran to take immediate action to release them.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent articles on Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":783,"relatedStoryCaption":"New book charts the genesis and persecution of Iran's Baha'i community."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":782,"relatedStoryCaption":"The story of an Iranian village where, despite persecution, Baha'is remain committed to social transformation."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":777,"relatedStoryCaption":"Worldwide rallies call for human rights in Iran."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":783,"evergreenUrl":"spanish-author-discovers-bridge-between-east-west","title":"Spanish author discovers \"bridge between East and West\"","description":"When author Rafael Cerrato decided to pay a short visit to the north of Israel in 2006, little did he suspect that it would give rise to a new...","date":"2010-08-03","customDateline":false,"city":"MADRID","country":"SPAIN","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759373-78300.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759373-78300.jpg"},"imageDescription":"\"Desde el corazon de Iran - Los baha'is: La esperanza oprimida\" is one of the first major works written in Spanish about the genesis and persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran.","imageStyle":"canvas-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"When author Rafael Cerrato decided to pay a short visit to the north of Israel in 2006, little did he suspect that it would give rise to a new book.\n\nPassing through the city of Haifa, he was deeply impressed by the buildings and gardens of the Baha'i World Centre, situated on the slopes of Mount Carmel.\n\n\"I was amazed,\" said Mr. Cerrato. \"I immediately thought I had to discover what lay behind that beauty.\"\n\nReturning to Spain, the author – who is Roman Catholic and has written extensively about religion – started looking into the history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith and was fascinated by what he found out.\n\n\"I discovered that the long-awaited bridge between East and West – which many politicians and intellectuals have tried to create with the Alliance of Civilizations and such – already exists,\" he said.\n\n\"Without losing any of the principles of previous religions, the Baha'i social teachings have it all – the need for supranational bodies, the equality between men and women,\n\nuniversal education... I believe in these principles and they attract me – so I have no problem in broadcasting them.\"\n\nDuring his research, Mr. Cerrato also became impressed by \"the great faith and steadfastness\" that the Baha'i community of Iran shows in the face of opposition.\n\nHe decided to write a book charting the story of the Baha'i Faith, with an emphasis on the severe oppression its members have experienced at the instigation of the authorities in Iran – the land of the Faith's birth – since its inception in the middle of the 19th century.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The book, titled *Desde el corazon de Iran – Los baha'is: La esperanza oprimida* (*From the Heart of Iran – The Baha'is: Oppressed Hope*), has recently been published by Erasmus Ediciones. It is one of the first major works written in Spanish about the genesis and  persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran.\n\nMr. Cerrato's book has been described in one review as a \"deftly handled, well-documented and panoramic journey.\"\n\nThe reviewer, Enrique Cordoba – a columnist for *El Nuevo Herald* – wrote, \"I celebrate that Cerrato has published this book...for those who want to inform themselves of a doctrine that should be studied.\"\n\nMiami-based radio journalist Ninoska Perez Castellon wrote that it is \"a necessary book... It's a call to the world to ensure that the abuses against the Baha'i community in Iran are not left to fall into obscurity.\"\n\n\"It is because of the integrity of writers like Rafael Cerrato that we can become deeply familiar with a subject that should be on the front page of newspapers,\" she wrote.\n\nBorn in Cordoba in 1951, Mr. Cerrato studied economics in Malaga before devoting his energy to exploring what he describes as the \"great truths not recorded in history but that are key to understanding our present.\"\n\nReligion plays a major role in that understanding.\n\n\"I have always thought man is a 'religious animal' – even more than the political animal that many philosophers have defined,\" said Mr. Cerrato. \"Without religion, social phenomena or the evolution of the world cannot be understood.\"\n\nIn his 2005 work, *Letter to Fernando Sanchez Drago*, he drew comparisons between the founders of Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. The following year, *Lepanto, the Unfinished Battle* explored the history of the West's relationship with Islam.\n\n\"Religion should be a force for good and a unifying element,\" he said. \"But, unfortunately, it is the cause of many problems. The origin of these problems is not religion itself...They are mainly caused by the distortion men make of its content and message.\"\n\nMr. Cerrato has lived for 10 years outside of Barcelona, close to the popular pilgrimage destination of Montserrat, from which he derives his own spiritual inspiration.\n\nHe is also passionate about traveling and immersing himself in the world's diverse cultures. After carrying out numerous speaking engagements and book signings in Spain, he will be visiting the United States next month to speak about *From the Heart of Iran* at the prestigious *Books and Books* store in Miami, Florida.\n\n\"I consider Miami to be the gate to America for the Spanish-speaking culture,\" he said.\n\nGilbert Grasselly – a professional translator based in Hollywood, Florida – agrees. \"There's a very large Spanish-speaking population here in Miami Dade County. It's an important point for Hispanics.\"\n\nMr. Grasselly has been asked to translate *From the Heart of Iran* into English.\n\n\"He's calling the public's attention to what's happening,\" said Mr. Grasselly. \"It touched me when I read these histories. It's very moving.\"\n\nMr. Cerrato hopes that his book will inform Spanish-speaking readers both about the the situation the Baha'is face in Iran, and the values for which they are prepared to suffer.\n\n\"I hope it will open the eyes of leaders, journalists, and intellectuals who read it – if they do – about the plans and actions of the present government in Iran.\"\n\n\"And at the same time, I hope they see that, through the Baha'i Faith, many constructive processes of dialogue can be opened between East and West.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759373-78301.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Rafael Cerrato, author of \"Desde el corazon de Iran\", discusses his book during a presentation in Saragossa, Spain. To his left is Carmen Pueyo, a member of the Spanish Baha'i community."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759373-78302.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Rafael Cerrato, author of \"Desde el corazon de Iran\". \"I hope it will open the eyes of leaders, journalists, and intellectuals who read it - if they do - about the plans and actions of the present government in Iran,\" says Mr. Cerrato."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"From the Baha'i World News Service archive"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":782,"relatedStoryCaption":"The story of an Iranian village where, despite persecution, Baha'is remain committed to social transformation."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":768,"relatedStoryCaption":"Extensive renovation project underway."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":576,"relatedStoryCaption":"Canadian author encourages proactive individual response to problem-solving."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":782,"evergreenUrl":"the-bahais-ivel-undaunted-spirit","title":"The Baha'is of Ivel: Undaunted spirit","description":"Following the demolition of Baha'i homes in the Iranian village of Ivel – reported last week – there is another story that must also be told:...","date":"2010-07-11","customDateline":null,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571045-78200.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571045-78200.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The village of Ivel, Mazandaran, has been home to a farming community for centuries, and Baha'is for over 160 years.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Following the demolition of Baha'i homes in the Iranian village of Ivel – [reported last week](/story/780) – there is another story that must also be told: that of sympathetic villagers who have commiserated with their Baha'i neighbors over the injustices they have been forced to endure.\n\nIt is also the story of an undaunted spirit and a commitment to social good that continues to enable the Baha'is to transcend their prolonged persecution and be active participants in the social and economic development of their village.\n\n**Service and persecution**\n\nIn its earliest days, Ivel was the summer residence for sheep farmers from the surrounding region of Mazandaran. There have been Baha'is in the village for more than a century and a half. Indeed, since the years immediately following the establishment of their Faith in mid-19th century Iran, the Baha'is have comprised about half of Ivel's total population. All the while, they have lived side by side with their Muslim neighbors in comparative harmony.\n\nUnfortunately, however, outside elements strongly inimical to the Faith have periodically sought to stir up the local population against the Baha'i community, resulting in intermittent persecution – ranging from life-threatening to less harsh forms of harassment.\n\nIn 1941, for example, lives were imperiled when gangs from outside roused local citizens to attack the Baha'is. The Baha'is were arrested, severely beaten and subjected to extortion; their houses and belongings were plundered. Finally, they were banished to a village seven kilometers away. When the situation eased some months later, the Baha'is returned to their homes and farms.\n\nThe lengths to which those holding enmity towards the Baha'is would go are perhaps best summed up in an incident that occurred in the mid-1950s when a member of the newly-established \"Hojjatieh\" society arrived in Ivel. Hojjatieh – a semi-clandestine traditionalist Shia organization – was founded on the premise that the most immediate threat to Islam was the \"heresy\" of the Baha'i Faith, which had to be eliminated.\n\nWhen this individual proved unsuccessful in his attempts to drive a wedge between the Muslims and the Baha'is, he endeavoured to prevent their cows from grazing in the same pasture, on the basis that the Baha'i cows were \"unclean\".\n\nFor a few days, the cattle belonging to the Baha'is were confined to their barns while those of the Muslims went to graze. The Baha'is repeatedly referred the matter to the village head, appealing for compassion to be shown to the animals. Consequently, a decision was made to have the cows enter the pasture from opposite sides, so as to respect the decree. This did not accord with the natural instincts of the livestock, who continued to graze together.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"**Contribution to social progress**\n\nThroughout the years, notwithstanding the efforts to repress them, the Baha'is have actively contributed to the betterment of life in their village. In addition to the role they played in the area's agriculture, they established a school at which local children, regardless of their religion, were educated. By 1946, when the Iranian government had begun to organize rural schools and assumed responsibility for the one in the village, Ivel's school extended to six elementary level classes in which some 120 pupils from Ivel and seven other nearby villages were receiving general education.\n\nIn 1961, in another example of service to their community, the Baha'is completed a bath house for use by the villagers, which included modifications to the local reservoir and the introduction of modernizations to improve the facility's levels of hygiene and the general health of the people.\n\n**Escalation of attacks**\n\nFollowing Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979, the situation for Baha'is in Ivel deteriorated. Land was confiscated and attempts to regain it proved unsuccessful. Baha'is were denied access to health clinics and other institutions that they themselves had helped establish. Muslim children were encouraged by their teacher to harm their Baha'i classmates. When parents protested, the teacher found other means to persecute his Baha'i pupils, including failing them in their exams.\n\nIn June 1983, the Baha'is were forced out of their homes and transported by bus to the nearest major city, Sari. When they arrived, the authorities made them go back. Returning to Ivel, they were locked into a local mosque. More than 130 of them – including children and the elderly – were held captive for three days without food and water. When pressure to make them recant their faith failed, they were allowed to return home. However, that same night, they were attacked by villagers. A few were taken off by the mob, others were injured, and more were forced to hide in a nearby forest.\n\nSince that time, many of the Ivel Baha'is have resided nearby and return to the village only in the summer to plant and harvest their crops and tend to their properties. According to Natoli Derakhshan, a Baha'i from Ivel who was interviewed recently by the Persian-language Radio Farda, \"Each time or each year when they wanted to go there they had to obtain permits from the Justice Administration to be allowed to stay in their own homes for two or three days.\"\n\nIn the past three years, the Baha'i International Community has monitored an increase in efforts to put pressure on the Baha'is of Ivel to leave the region altogether. \"Their empty homes have been burned, Baha'is have been subjected to verbal and physical attacks, and the 100-year old Baha'i cemetery was confiscated and sold for conversion into residential property,\" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.\n\n\"Numerous complaints have been filed at all levels but, in general, the Baha'is are only met with indifference. The authorities say that there's little they can do in the face of the opposition Baha'is face from the local residents,\" she said. \"In every case, knowledge of the demolitions or the motive behind them was denied by local government officials.\"\n\n\"What we are witnessing in Ivel, and the surrounding region of Mazandaran, is part of a wider campaign to humiliate and dishearten all the Baha'is and prevent them from practicing their faith in any way whatsoever,\" said Ms. Ala'i. \"The government has certainly demonstrated thus far that if it is not behind it, it is either unwilling to stop it or incapable of doing so.\"\n\nIn recent weeks when Mr. Derakhshan heard stories about the imminent destruction of the Baha'i homes in the village, he went with other Baha'is to various officials to find out if the rumors were true. \"We were told not to worry and that there was not such a possibility; we believed them,\" he told Radio Farda.\n\n\"We do not know and cannot say that it was ordered by someone,\" he said. \"All we know is that unfortunately everything has been completely destroyed.\"\n\n**Local and international support**\n\nThere are, however, many villagers in Ivel who are deeply troubled by these developments. In an interview with the Rooz Online website, Mr. Derakhshan paid tribute to those who have expressed dismay and concern at the ill-treatment of their Baha'i neighbors: \"These days many of our Muslim folks sat together with us with tearful eyes, and apologized to us, and held our hands!  We are thankful to them all.\"\n\nThe news from Ivel has also received widespread attention from further afield – in the world's news media and online news services, including a host of Persian language outlets.\n\nAmong the English language reports, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty ran a story on 29 June with the headline, \"[Baha'i Houses Demolished In Iran](http://www.rferl.org/content/Bahai_Houses_Demolished_In_Iran/2086363.html).\" It also carried video of the incident which had been obtained by Human Rights Activists of Iran.\n\nAlso on 29 June, the National Review Online published an article under the headline \"Regime Razes Bahai Homes in Iran.\"\n\nA feature on the BBC website, titled \"[Iran's Bahai community fear rise in persecution](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10494631.stm)\", began: \"First there are the images of wooden beams on fire. Then buildings come into view, some without windows and doors, others reduced to rubble. The shaky mobile phone footage posted on YouTube by Iranian human rights activists shows scenes of destruction filmed secretly from inside a car...The reports from Ivel residents say that by June 22, almost 50 houses belonging to Bahais had been flattened.\"\n\n\"Several of these websites have offered places for comments by readers,\" said Ms. Alai. \"After enduring so much persecution for so long, we are certain that the Baha'is of Ivel appreciate the support of people from all over the world – including many sympathetic Iranian citizens – who have taken the time to express their outrage over this latest incident.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571045-78201.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The home of Mr. Abdolbaghi Rouhani – a Baha'i from Ivel – after it was set on fire by unknown arsonists in May 2007."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571044-78202map.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ivel is a remote village in the province of Mazandaran in northern Iran, about 90 kilometers from the city of Sari."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571044-78203.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The remains of the home of Mr. Ata'u'llah Movaffaghi and the late Seyyed Mahdi Sadeghi after being torched in May 2007."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571049-78204.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The home of Mr. Abdolbaghi Rouhani - a Baha'i from Ivel - after it was set on fire by unknown arsonists in May 2007."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent articles on Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":780,"relatedStoryCaption":"50 homes razed in effort to expel Baha'is from rural area."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":778,"relatedStoryCaption":"Trial seems to have come to a conclusion after three days of court hearings."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":777,"relatedStoryCaption":"Strong statements from EU and Canada."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":781,"evergreenUrl":"new-music-embraces-diversity-cultures","title":"New music embraces diversity of cultures","description":"Since his breakthrough as a composer more than 30 years ago, Lasse Thoresen has been searching for a musical language that brings the world's...","date":"2010-07-07","customDateline":null,"city":"OSLO","country":"NORWAY","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571025-78101thoresenlasse.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571025-78101thoresenlasse.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Norwegian composer, Lasse Thoresen, whose piece, Opus 42, has won a prestigious music award. Photo: Musikkinformasjonssenteret MIC/Lisbeth Risnes.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Since his breakthrough as a composer more than 30 years ago, Lasse Thoresen has been searching for a musical language that brings the world's diverse cultures together.\n\nNow, one of his innovative vocal works is being acclaimed for the similarities it draws between ancient and modern, as well as Scandinavian folk music and sounds more associated with the Middle East. The piece, titled *Opus 42*, has won a prestigious music award.\n\nThe Nordic Council Music Prize was searching for a work \"in which all involved play their own part.\" Facing competition from 12 other composers, Professor Thoresen was delighted to win the 350,000 Denmark Kroner (US$56,000) prize.\n\n\"This strikingly beautiful piece reveals the common denominators in ancient and ultra-modern sounds, drawing our attention to the similarities between Scandinavian folk traditions and the music we might find in, say, the Middle East or India,\" wrote the Adjudication Committee for the Prize, which includes members from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.\n\n\"It represents a renewal not just of Nordic vocal music, but of score-based vocal music in general,\" the Committee said.\n\n\"There are scales very similar in Scandinavian folk music to things you can find in the East,\" said Professor Thoresen. \"Neither of them elaborate harmony in a very developed way as was done in western classical music.\"\n\n*Opus 42* also incorporates the traditional overtone singing of Mongolia, in which the singer manipulates the resonances created as the air travels from the lungs to the mouth and nose.\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"That takes a few years to learn,\" said the composer. \"For singers to do that, they must have quite a new oral training. So as a part of this project, a system of training was developed to master these techniques.\"\n\n\"I think it is important to regard cultural differences as a resource and not as a threat,\" he said. \"Even if you cannot escape from your own cultural conditioning, in some ways you can embrace other cultural sensibilities and reflect them in your own cultural context and produce an example of fruitful coexistence of cultural differences.\"\n\n*Opus 42* is a collection of four vocal pieces, titled \"Sun Prayer,\" \"Funeral Psalm,\" \"Heavenly Father,\" and \"Dual Doodles.\" The first was commissioned by the Bergen International Festival, the other three by the Osa Festival, which brings together Norwegian folk and classical musicians. The work has been performed by a Norwegian vocal ensemble, Nordic Voices, which the composer believes to be the only group in the world that can cope with the demands he places on his performers.\n\nReceiving the Nordic Prize is already opening doors for the composer. There are new collaborations being planned with music festivals and some television work.\n\n\"Concert organizations are always very prudent in actually performing contemporary music. They think it is too narrow and the audience will flee from the hall if they play it!\" said Professor Thoresen. \"So it helps if the composer  they are programming is recognized and has a name.\"\n\nBorn in Oslo in 1949, Lasse Thoresen has loved music ever since he can remember. He began taking piano lessons at age seven; by 15 he was an accompanist for his school's choir; and at 16 he had composed his first piece. In 1971, he joined the Baha'i Faith.\n\nAs his career progressed, he took a position as a professor at the Norwegian State Academy for Music. In May 2001, his oratorio *Terraces of Light* was performed on the occasion of the inauguration of the spectacular garden terraces around the Baha'i Holy Places on Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.\n\nProfessor Thoresen is now working on a major work for the Latvian Radio Choir – one of the most acclaimed choirs in the world – and will also spend more than a year composing a concerto for viola which will be premiered in 2012.\n\nClick [here](http://pfformula.ipapercms.dk/NLH/NordiskMusikpris2010/) for a video interview and extracts of the music."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571026-78100nordicvoices.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The vocal ensemble, Nordic Voices, believed by the composer Lasse Thoresen to be the only group in the world that can cope with the demands he places on his performers. Photo: Guri Dahl."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Arts coverage from around the world"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":754,"relatedStoryCaption":"Traditional Pacific island bark cloth commissioned for an exhibition in Queensland."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":718,"relatedStoryCaption":"Singer Tierney Sutton lines up jazz standards with the writings of the Baha'i Faith."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":711,"relatedStoryCaption":"On Baffin Island in Canada, Beth McKenty helps children build self-esteem by exploring their creativity."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":780,"evergreenUrl":"homes-demolished-campaign-drive-bahais-out-iranian-village","title":"Homes demolished in campaign to drive Baha'is out of Iranian village","description":"Homes belonging to some 50 Baha'i families in a remote village in northern Iran have been demolished as part of a long-running campaign to expel...","date":"2010-06-28","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570997-78000screencaps-small.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570997-78000screencaps-small.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Images taken from a video, shot on a mobile telephone in the village of Ivel, show fiercely burning fires and several Baha'i-owned properties reduced to rubble.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Homes belonging to some 50 Baha'i families in a remote village in northern Iran have been demolished as part of a long-running campaign to expel them from the region.\n\nThe action occurred in Ivel, Mazandaran, when inhabitants – incited by elements inimical to the Baha'i community – blocked normal access to the village, while allowing trucks and at least four front-end loaders to begin leveling the houses.\n\nAmateur video, shot on mobile telephones and posted by Iranian human rights activists on the Internet, showed what appeared to be several buildings reduced to rubble as well as fiercely burning fires.\n\nThe demolitions are the latest development in an ongoing, officially-sanctioned program in the area which has targeted every activity of the Baha'is.\n\n\"They're being forbidden to associate with Muslims, or even offer service to their friends and neighbours,\" said Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.\n\n\"Even the smallest acts of good will – such as taking flowers to someone who's sick in hospital or donating gifts to an orphanage – these are being seen as actions against the regime.\"\n\nMost of the Baha'i homes in Ivel have been unoccupied since their residents fled after previous incidents of violence or as a result of official displacement. In 2007, for example, six of their houses were torched.\n\n\"Baha'is have lived in this area for more than 100 years and it once had a large community,\" said Ms. Ala'i. \"But in 1983, a few years after the Iranian revolution, at least 30 families from this and neighboring villages were put on buses and expelled.\n\n\"Since then, they have tried to seek legal redress to no avail, while returning in the summer to harvest their crops,\" she said.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The day after the demolitions took place, a Baha'i man who visited the site with his family to harvest his produce was beaten and insulted by other residents. In the past, those who are trying to drive the Baha'is out have set upon them when they tried to enter the neighborhood to rebuild or renovate their properties.\n\nPersistent government attacks on Baha'is in all the mass media – along with inaction by local officials to protect them – have continued to incite hatred against the Baha'is in the region and throughout Iran, said Ms. Alai.\n\n\"This latest action shows the degree to which the authorities have completely failed to live up to their responsibilities to protect the Baha'is and their religious freedom,\" she said.\n\nMembers of the Baha'i community have made repeated complaints both before and after the latest incident to local government officials, including to the provincial governor in Sari. In every case, knowledge of the demolitions or the motive behind them was denied.\n\nWhile reports about the latest action began appearing on various Persian-language websites last Friday, the Baha'i International Community was only able to confirm details of the incident today. Latest reports indicate that 90 percent of the Baha'i homes have now been demolished.\n\nOn 28 June, the Persian-language radio station, Radio Farda, broadcast an interview with Mr. Derakhshan, one of the Baha'is whose property was destroyed in the village of Ivel.\n\nExcepts from the interview are transcribed below:\n\n**Mr. Derakhshan:** We had heard some rumours about the destruction of the village and the burning of homes of the Baha'is but did not believe that such a thing could happen. However, we went to the offices of the governor general, the governor and the deputy governor in that district and informed them that this was what [the villagers] had said they were planning to do, and asked whether it was true. We were told not to worry and that there was not such a possibility; we believed them.  However, when Mr. Mahmoud Piri and his family were going to [their home] in Ivel, as soon as they arrived in the village he was severely beaten and verbally insulted.  He was told that he should not be there.  At that point he noticed that they were destroying his home.\n\n**Radio Farda: Who were the people who beat and verbally abused Mr. Piri?**\n\n**Mr. Derakhshan:** The local residents - because they had told him that he should immediately leave the area and that he was not to get close...for 48 hours. Unfortunately, with the help of the local residents, they destroyed 50 houses, using four bulldozers. It is shocking to see 50 houses demolished and burned in one instant.\n\n**Radio Farda: What is happening to the residents of these homes and what happened to their belongings?**\n\n**Mr. Derakhshan:** Every house we go to, we hear their lamentations. I should mention that these friends were not living there. During the first few years after the revolution, on [28 June 1983], these people were expelled from their homes. They [the residents of the village] told them that they had to convert to Islam; they were imprisoned in a mosque, threatened and beaten with shovels and axes.  They were then thrown out of the village.\n\nSince those events, these Baha'is go to the village once a year for two to three days to harvest their crops. Of course they have to obtain a permit from the officials to be able to go there and stay in their own homes for a few days and cultivate their lands, even though most of their lands were confiscated.\n\n**Radio Farda: You mean that the owners of these homes and farms were made to obtain permits in order to be allowed to go to their own homes?**\n\n**Mr. Derakhshan:** Precisely. Each time or each year when they wanted to go there they had to obtain permits from the Justice Administration to be allowed to stay in their own homes for two or three days. We complained to a number of authorities concerning this issue and we were treated unkindly. When we went to the office of the deputy governor and told them that they were destroying our homes, we were told that the letters of complaint that we had written were considered to be in opposition to the regime. They even threatened to arrest us. We told them, \"Our homes are being demolished right this minute. We are Baha'is and your fellow-citizens. We are not your enemies. We are not from Israel, England or America. By God, we are Iranian citizens. What should we do?  God is our witness, we do not know what to do. Please help us.\"\n\n**Radio Farda: Are the people who are involved in these activities the local residents or some government officials? **\n\n**Mr. Derakhshan:** What do you think? How could 50 homes - each having a wood storage area and a place for keeping animals - be demolished without prior arrangements? We informed [the authorities] before and during the demolition. What do you think the answer is? Besides all our friends [the Baha'i residents of the village] also informed the authorities, but unfortunately nothing was done to prevent this event.\n\n**Radio Farda: Do you think that the bulldozers were probably brought by the order of the governor or the deputy governor?**\n\n**Mr. Derakhshan:** We do not know and cannot say that it was ordered by someone. All we know is that unfortunately everything has been completely destroyed. It should be mentioned that when we visited the office of the governor general, we told his deputy that there was a possibility that such an incident may occur. His response amazed us; he said, \"The governor general is like a physician in any society, if he feels that there is a malignant tumour in the body of the society he tries to remove it.\"  I now ask you a question, \"How could the Baha'i farmers in the village of Ivel be considered as that malignant tumour?\"\n\nThis transcript was added on 29 June 2010 to the original Baha'i World News Service report published on 28 June."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570998-78001ivalmapiran.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ivel is a remote village in the province of Mazandaran in northern Iran, about 90 kilometres from the city of Sari."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543571004-78003burnthome3.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The remains of a Baha'i home, torched in May 2007, in the village of Ivel."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570998-78002burnthome.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In May 2007, the home of a Baha'i in the village of Ivel was set ablaze by unknown arsonists."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":779,"relatedStoryCaption":"G8 leaders urged to act by religious representatives at Winnipeg summit."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":778,"relatedStoryCaption":"Court hearings conclude after three successive sessions."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":774,"relatedStoryCaption":"Mary McAleese praises universality of Baha'i teachings."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":779,"evergreenUrl":"religious-leaders-call-action-environment-poverty-peace","title":"Religious leaders call for action on the environment, poverty and peace","description":"World leaders meeting in Canada have been urged to take \"inspired leadership and action\" to halt poverty, protect the environment, and end violent...","date":"2010-06-24","customDateline":false,"city":"WINNIPEG","country":"CANADA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570946-77901g8susietamas.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570946-77901g8susietamas.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Susanne Tamas, centre, a delegate from the Canadian Baha'i community, participates in the World Religions Summit 2010. To her left is Rabbi Adam Scheier of the Canadian Jewish Congress, and right, Commissioner William W. Francis, Territorial Commander for the Salvation Army for Canada and Bermuda. Photograph by Louis Brunet.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"World leaders meeting in Canada have been urged to take \"inspired leadership and action\" to halt poverty, protect the environment, and end violent conflict.\n\nThe challenge was made in a statement drafted by representatives of the world's religions, who gathered at the University of Winnipeg in advance of this week's G8 and G20 summits in Toronto.\n\n\"Acknowledging our common humanity and embracing the imperative to treat all persons with dignity, we affirm that no one person is more or less valuable than another,\" said the statement.\n\n\"We urge the political leaders to consider first the vulnerable among us, particularly our children, and to work together to address the dehumanizing scourge of poverty and injustice, and practice and promote care for our common environment, the Earth,\" the statement said.\n\nThe World Religions Summit 2010 was the sixth in a series of interfaith gatherings associated with the annual G8 meetings. It brought together more than 80 participants from all of the world's major faiths including, for the first time, representatives of the Baha'i community.\n\nReligious leaders from more than 20 countries attended, including each of the G8 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.\n\nThe Reverend Dr. James Christie, secretary general of the Summit, said the meeting and its output was directed principally at the leaders of the so-called \"Group of 8\" countries because they represent the nations that have the most power to effect change in the world.\n\n\"The reality is that these nations have the money, they have the clout, and they make a difference,\" said Dr. Christie.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Some participants said it was also important for the religious communities themselves to redouble their own efforts to address the three main topics of their discussions – poverty, the environment, and peace.\n\n\"We are living in a very critical period in history,\" said His Holiness Aram I, of the Armenian Orthodox Church. \"I believe what is important for us is building community. It is not just living side-by-side, coexisting peacefully. It is a question of building integrated communities, communities of integrated diversity, accepting and respecting the others, but living together.\"\n\n\"We have to tell the G8 and the world that we religions not only speak together but that we are working together to build communities of integrated dialogue,\" he said.\n\n**Baha'i participation**\n\nAmong the Baha'i representatives at the Summit was Susanne Tamas of Canada, who was joined by Baha'is from five other countries - France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.\n\n\"We believe that spiritual principles need to be brought into the discussion of such challenges as poverty, the environment, and peace and security,\" said Ms. Tamas. \"We want to create a space where the political leaders can reflect and make decisions for the long term, and for the common good, rather than on short-term, national concerns.\"\n\n\"We're also here to learn – because these issues are complex and we need to learn what other faiths are saying about them,\" she said.\n\nAs a prelude to the Summit, the Baha'i community of Canada sponsored a seminar on human rights and religious freedom. The day-long event – held in Winnipeg on Monday, 21 June – brought together four human rights experts from different religious backgrounds who concluded that the right to freedom of religion must be upheld to ensure that its influence on society is progressive and positive.\n\n**\"Courageous and concrete\" actions**\n\nThe statement, issued after three days of deliberation at the World Religions Summit 2010, called upon political leaders to take \"courageous and concrete\" actions.\n\nRegarding poverty, it said more than a billion people are \"chronically hungry\" and that women, children and indigenous peoples are among those most affected.\n\n\"The magnitude of poverty would be overwhelming were it not for the knowledge that this global inequity can be transformed into a shared life of human flourishing for all. Together, we have the capacity and the global resources to end extreme poverty and its impacts,\" the statement said.\n\nOn the subject of the environment, the statement noted that all faith traditions \"call us to careful stewardship of the Earth.\" It warned of the effects of climate change and said \"bold action is needed now.\"\n\nGovernments were also called upon to halt the nuclear arms race, and to make new investments to create a \"culture of peace.\"\n\nThe Summit condemned religiously-motivated terrorism and extremism with the faith leaders committing themselves \"to stop the teaching and justification of the use of violence between and among our faith communities.\"\n\nThe statement was presented to Steven Fletcher, Canada's Minister of State for Democratic Reform. Mr. Fletcher promised to deliver it to the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, for presentation to the G8 leaders.\n\nRead the Statement from the World Religions Summit 2010, [here](http://www.faithchallengeg8.com/pdfs/World%20Religions%20Summit%202010%20Statement%20-%20Final.doc)."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570948-77902g8generaldallaire.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The 2010 World Religions Summit was addressed by Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire, Canadian senator and former Force Commander of UNAMIR, the United Nations peacekeeping force for Rwanda between 1993 and 1994. Photograph by Louis Brunet."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570946-77903g8hamiltonandswamis.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Delegates to the 2010 World Religions Summit attended from more than 20 countries. Seated left to right are: the Rev. Dr. Karen A. Hamilton, general secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches; H.H. Swami Paramatmananda Saraswati and Swami Avdheshanand Giri, of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha. Photograph by Louis Brunet."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570953-77904g8kenbowers.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Kenneth E. Bowers, Secretary-General of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, centre, was among the Baha’i delegates to the World Religion Summit, the first G8-related interfaith Summit in which Baha'is have participated. Photograph by Louis Brunet."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570946-77905g8gerrygall.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Gerald Gall, Professor of Law at the University of Alberta, spoke at a seminar on human rights and religious freedom, held in Winnipeg. The seminar on 21 June was organized by the Canadian Baha’i community as a prelude to the World Religions Summit 2010. Professor Gall told the gathering that religion remains a vital force in defining the landscape of modern society – and a potent force for peace and well-being."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570945-77906g8panel.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A day-long seminar in Winnipeg, sponsored by the Baha'i community of Canada, featured international experts in human rights from four different faith backgrounds. Pictured, from left to right, Dr. Mishkat al Moumin, Professor Payam Akhavan, Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham, and Professor Gerald Gall."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570946-77907g8moumin.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Former environment minister of Iraq, Mishkat Al Moumin – now director of the Washington-based Women and Environment Organization – addressed a seminar on human rights and religious freedom, sponsored by the Canadian Baha’i community, held in Winnipeg on Monday, 21 June. It is often environmental problems – such as a basic lack of a water or hygiene – that drive people to violence, and not necessarily religious belief, Dr. Al Moumin told the gathering."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570946-77908g8ahkavan.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Payam Akhavan, Professor of International Law at McGill University in Montreal, spoke to the seminar about the need to build a community of belief that “transcends our apparent differences.” Such a path can be found by upholding genuine religious freedom, which entails a search for the truth and the freedom to explore that truth, said Professor Akhavan."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"From the Baha'i World News Service archive"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":772,"relatedStoryCaption":"Discussion held for UN Commission on Sustainable Development."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":742,"relatedStoryCaption":"Ethical dimension of climate change rises to new level of importance."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":729,"relatedStoryCaption":"Nobel Prize-winner addresses meeting at Baha'i offices."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":778,"evergreenUrl":"trial-seven-iranian-bahai-leaders-appears-have-ended","title":"Trial of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders appears to have ended","description":"The trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran seems to have come to a conclusion after three days of successive...","date":"2010-06-14","customDateline":false,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570932-63201img93671.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570932-63201img93671.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'i prisoners, photographed several months before their arrest, are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran seems to have come to a conclusion after three days of successive court hearings.\n\nThe seven appeared in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on the morning of Saturday, 12 June and returned to Evin Prison shortly after noon.\n\nThe Court was reconvened the next day, as well as this morning.\n\n\"We can confirm that a court session was held today in Tehran,\" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, \"and it seems from what we have heard that the trial itself has now concluded. But we have no further information at this time.\"\n\nThe defendants are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm.\n\nBefore their imprisonment, they attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community, which numbers more than 300,000. They have been held in Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 - six of them on 14 May and one of them two months earlier.\n\nTheir trial began on 12 January this year after they had been incarcerated without charge in Evin prison for 20 months. At the first hearing, the seven categorically denied charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and \"corruption on earth,\" among other allegations.\n\nA second appearance on 7 February was concerned mainly with procedural issues. The third session on 12 April, which was purportedly a closed hearing, was adjourned after the seven - with the agreement of their attorneys - refused to be party to the proceedings because of the presence of nonjudicial personnel.\n\n[Read profiles of the seven Baha'i leaders](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/yaran-profiles.html)"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent articles on Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":777,"relatedStoryCaption":"Campaigners take to the streets in 80 cities."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":776,"relatedStoryCaption":"Concerns expressed in Delhi and at session of UN Human Rights Council."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":771,"relatedStoryCaption":"New details emerge about harsh prison conditions, prompting calls for release."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":777,"evergreenUrl":"ongoing-trial-irans-bahai-leaders-highlighted-global-day-action","title":"Ongoing trial of Iran's Baha'i leaders highlighted on global day of action","description":"On a global day of action highlighting human rights abuses in Iran, the European Union and the Prime Minister of Canada issued strong statements...","date":"2010-06-13","customDateline":false,"city":"BRUSSELS","country":"BELGIUM","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570905-469270401538368c06b2b.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570905-469270401538368c06b2b.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In Berlin, Germany, a replica prison cell was erected at the city's historic Brandenburg Gate, to draw attention to the case of Iran's imprisoned Baha'i leaders.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"On a global day of action highlighting human rights abuses in Iran, the European Union and the Prime Minister of Canada issued strong statements calling for Iran to respect international law.\n\nIn a declaration made on behalf of the European Union, its High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, said, \"We call on Iran to respect fair trial rights as enshrined in article 14 of the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights). Discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities and women are other areas of concern.\"\n\n\"We are disturbed by serious reports of ill-treatment and torture of those detained and imprisoned as well as allegations of forced confessions,\" the EU declaration said. \"The EU will be closely monitoring the ongoing trial of Baha'i leaders in this regard.\"\n\n\"We take this opportunity to reassure the people of Iran that they have not been forgotten: the EU will continue to speak out and to call on the Iranian authorities to respect the rights of their citizens in accordance with the international obligations to which they have committed under the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and other human rights treaties,\" the statement concluded.\n\nThe EU declaration was issued on Saturday, 12 June – the same day that the seven Baha'i leaders returned to court in Tehran for the start of the fourth session of their trial, which continues today.\n\n**Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada**\n\nThe Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, also urged Iran to respect the rights of its Baha'i community and \"cease persecuting it, discriminating against it and detaining its members.\"\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"We note the trial of the seven leaders of the Baha'i community was to take place today,\" said Mr. Harper in a statement marking the one year anniversary of Iran's 2009 presidential election, \"and we call on the Iranian regime to ensure that due process is respected.\"\n\n\"Iran has made absolutely no progress in the last year toward addressing the legitimate aspirations of its people.  In fact, its regime has been even more repressive.  Iran's continued, blatant disregard for the rights of its citizens must end,\" he said.\n\nCalling upon Iran to uphold its human rights commitments, the Prime Minister urged the Iranian government \"to respect diverse social and political groups and their freedom of expression, and to engage these groups in a constructive dialogue that will serve to strengthen the rich fabric of the Iranian nation.\"\n\n**United Kingdom appeal**\n\nIn London, the government of the United Kingdom also issued a statement saying, \"This trial comes at a time when we are remembering the human rights abuses surrounding the elections in Iran a year ago.\"\n\n\"I call on the Iranian Government to ensure, without delay, that the rights of these individuals are fully protected,\" said the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, Alistair Burt on Friday, 11 June, \"that they are given due legal process, including being released on bail and given a fair and transparent trial, in accordance with international standards.\"\n\nThe minister also called on the Iranian government \"to cease the harassment of, and to also respect the rights, of many members of minority groups who continue to face arrest and lengthy prison sentences, often on vaguely worded charges of acting against national security.\"\n\n**Worldwide day of action**\n\nIn more than 80 cities around the world, people took to the streets yesterday to call for an end to human rights abuses in Iran. In South Africa, buses are carrying images of Iranian prisoners of conscience as part of the campaign, organised by human rights group United4Iran.\n\n\"This is not about party-politics or calls for punitive action,\" said one campaigner in Johannesburg, \"this is a principled call to respect the human rights of every person.\"\n\nIn Berlin, Germany, a group erected a replica prison cell at the city's historic Brandenburg Gate. A display depicting the seven Baha'i leaders read, \"Ideals cannot be locked up. But people with ideals can be. In Iran, these people need your help.\"\n\n\"For more than two years the seven Baha'i leaders have been under arrest without justification,\" said a supporter. \"They are imprisoned only because they are Baha'is. Today it is the Baha'is. Tomorrow it could happen to the Sunnis, Jews, Christians or other minorities.\"\n\n\"I hope we are sending a powerful signal of solidarity to the people in Iran,\" said another. \"The Iranian people should know that our thoughts are with them.\"\n\nIn Brazil, campaigners carrying masks depicting Iran's seven Baha'i leaders gathered in front of the Brazilian National Congress last Wednesday to call for their release.\n\nCongressman Mr. Luiz Couto - a former President of the Commission of Human Rights and Minorities - told the gathering that a person's faith is an intrinsic human right, necessary for the development of an individual and his contribution to society.\n\nReferring to the situation of the Baha'is in Iran at a Plenary Session of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies, another congressman, Deputy Paulo Delgado, said that human rights policies in the democratic world are \"inescapable and do not admit exceptions.\" Mr. Delgado expressed his hope that the international community realizes that the \"anguish and suffering of a religious minority\" is something that \"can happen to any of us.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570906-4690116625f5f7867bd8b.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In Brazil, human rights campaigners carrying masks depicting Iran's seven Baha'i leaders gathered in front of the Brazilian National Congress, Brasilia."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570906-4690116609dd9d449a8ab.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Brazilian Congressman Luiz Couto addresses human rights campaigners in Brasilia, carrying masks depicting the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570906-4693083145da7f763c64b.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In Berlin, Germany, human rights campaigners of varied ages and backgrounds call for freedom for Iran's political prisoners."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570907-469393325544a7e8fcd8b.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The slogan \"Human rights for Iran\" is displayed in large letters by campaigners gathered at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570905-indiavideocomp.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Images of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders featured prominently in the United4Iran march through the streets of New Delhi. Photographs taken from video footage."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570906-london-2.jpg"},"imageDescription":"One of United4Iran's mobile billboards has been launched in London, England. It features the image of the seven Baha'i leaders and the slogan, \"Unjustly jailed for their religion\"."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent Baha'i World News Service stories"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":776,"relatedStoryCaption":"Voices are raised worldwide for Iran's Baha'i leaders to be freed."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":774,"relatedStoryCaption":"President Mary McAleese praised the contribution Baha'is make to Irish society."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":772,"relatedStoryCaption":"Alternatives to consumerism under scrutiny."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":776,"evergreenUrl":"global-call-release-iranian-bahai-leaders-trial-session-looms","title":"Global call for release of Iranian Baha'i leaders as trial session looms","description":"On the eve of the fourth court hearing for Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, voices are being raised around the world for them to be freed....","date":"2010-06-11","customDateline":false,"city":"NEW DELHI","country":"INDIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570884-indiavideocomp.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570884-indiavideocomp.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Images of the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders featured prominently in the United4Iran march through the streets of New Delhi. Photographs taken from video footage.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"On the eve of the fourth court hearing for Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders, voices are being raised around the world for them to be freed.\n\nThe Roman Catholic Archbishop of  Delhi has addressed Iran's Supreme Leader calling for the release of the seven, \"or at the very least for them to be released on bail and await a fair and open trial in accordance with the international standards of jurisprudence.\"\n\n\"In the court sessions held so far, no evidence of wrongdoing has been presented, as their lawyers have confirmed,\" Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao wrote in a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dated 5 June 2010.\n\nYesterday, the social activist and spiritual leader, Swami Agnivesh, led a peaceful procession through the streets of New Delhi to Hyderabad House, a government-owned venue used for major events and press conferences.\n\nCampaigners – many of them wearing masks – carried banners and placards depicting the seven Baha'i leaders, as well as images of other prisoners currently being held.\n\nSwami Agnivesh told the gathering that humanity demands love and respect for all and should allow people of different belief systems and ideologies to co-exist in peace and solidarity, reported *The Hindu* newspaper.\n\n**Global initiative**\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The march in New Delhi was a prelude to tomorrow's global day of action, which demands an end to human rights abuses in Iran, and marks the one-year anniversary of last year's contested presidential election.\n\nThe initiative - coordinated by United4Iran - is being cosponsored by numerous organizations including Amnesty International and the Baha'i International Community.\n\nProminent nongovernmental organizations are joining with a wide range of local, student and Internet-based groups to host simultaneous events in cities and on campuses around the globe. The campaign website can be visited [here](http://12june.org/).\n\nIn the United Kingdom, a mobile billboard depicting the seven Baha'i leaders has been launched in London in order to bring attention to their plight.\n\nMeanwhile, in the United States, Representative Frank R. Wolf, yesterday submitted a statement to the Congressional Record calling for renewed support for the seven.\n\n\"The world cannot turn a blind eye to this regime's brutal repression of its own people,\" said Mr Wolf.\n\n\"We must continue to advocate for due process and a fair trial for these seven Baha'i leaders and for basic rights for the community as a whole which according to the recently released report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, \"has long been subject to particularly severe religious violations in Iran.\"\" he said.\n\n**UN Human Rights Council**\n\nConcerns have also been expressed this week in a debate at the 14th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The situation of  Iran's persecuted Baha'i community was raised on Tuesday, 8 June, on behalf of the European Union by Spain. It was also mentioned in contributions made by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States of America.\n\n\"We fear that the already poor human rights situation in Iran will continue to deteriorate if the international community does not continue to call the Iranian government to account for its actions,\" said the Canadian representative.\n\nIn addition to endorsing the statement of Spain, seven member states of the European Union specifically mentioned their own concerns about the persecution of  Baha'is.\n\nAustria reported how it \"remains gravely concerned about the discrimination and harassment of religious minorities, in particular members of the Baha'i and the trial against seven of their leaders, which we follow very closely.\"\n\nThe trial of the seven Baha'i leaders began on 12 January after they had been incarcerated without charge in Tehran's Evin prison for 20 months. At the first hearing, held in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, the Baha'is categorically denied charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and \"corruption on earth,\" among other allegations.\n\nThe seven defendants are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. Before their imprisonment, they attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community, which numbers more than 300,000.\n\nThere are currently some 41 Baha'is in detention in various cities in Iran."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570886-london-2.jpg"},"imageDescription":"One of United4Iran's mobile billboards has been launched in London, England. It features the image of the seven Baha'i leaders and the slogan, \"Unjustly jailed for their religion\"."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570885-london-1.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The mobile billboard depicting the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders is driven through Trafalgar Square in London, England."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":775,"relatedStoryCaption":"Trial coincides with first anniversary of Iran's presidential election."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":773,"relatedStoryCaption":"Global day of action for human rights in Iran is called for 12 June."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":771,"relatedStoryCaption":"New details emerge about harsh prison conditions, prompting calls for release."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":775,"evergreenUrl":"fourth-court-date-imprisoned-bahai-leaders-set-12-june","title":"Fourth court date for imprisoned Baha’i leaders set for 12 June","description":"The seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran are scheduled to make their fourth court appearance on 12 June, the Baha'i...","date":"2010-06-01","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570854-63201img93671.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543570854-63201img93671.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'i prisoners, photographed several months before their arrest, are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran are scheduled to make their fourth court appearance on 12 June, the Baha'i International Community has learned.\n\nThe date coincides with the first anniversary of last year's contested presidential election in Iran, as well as a global day of action aimed at calling attention to human rights abuses in that country.\n\nThe trial of the seven began on 12 January after they had been incarcerated without charge in Tehran's Evin prison for 20 months.\n\nAt the first hearing, held in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, the Baha'is categorically denied charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and \"corruption on earth,\" among other allegations.\n\nA second appearance on 7 February was concerned mainly with procedural issues.\n\nThe third session on 12 April, which was purportedly a closed hearing, was adjourned after the seven – with the agreement of their attorneys – refused to be party to the proceedings because of the presence of nonjudicial personnel.\n\n\"To have spectators, including a film crew, in a supposedly closed hearing while denying entry to the defendants' families was unacceptable,\" said Diane Ala'i, Baha'i representative to the United Nations in Geneva. \"There would be no objection if the trial were to be open and conducted in accordance with international standards.\"\n\n\"In the court sessions held so far, no evidence of wrongdoing has been presented. As their lawyers have confirmed, the defendants are completely innocent and are being persecuted solely for their religious belief,\" Ms. Ala'i said.\n\n\"The Iranian government should know that its actions against these innocent citizens are under scrutiny throughout the world,\" she said.\n\n\"Once again we call for their immediate release. Failing that, the seven should – at the very least – be released on bail pending a fair trial.\"\n\nThe seven defendants are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. Before their imprisonment, they attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community, which numbers more than 300,000. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 and the others on 14 May 2008.\n\nThere are currently some 38 Baha'is in detention in various cities in Iran."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Further information"},{"__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_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Photos](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent articles on Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":773,"relatedStoryCaption":"A global day of action for human rights is called for Saturday, 12 June."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":771,"relatedStoryCaption":"New details about harsh prison conditions emerge, prompting calls for release."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":757,"relatedStoryCaption":"Countries voice strong concern at UN Human Rights Council over Iran's human rights record."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null}],"lang":"en","language":"en","location":"/archive/50/"}},"staticQueryHashes":["2762707590"]}