{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-archive-page-jsx","path":"/archive/52/","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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If this problem persists, please use our [contact form](https://www.bahai.org/contact/).","subscribe_h1":"Stories via email","subscribe_h2":"Mobile app","subscribe_h3":"Updates via Twitter","subscribe_h4":"Podcast","subscribe_label_email":"Email","subscribe_label_email_fill":"Please enter a valid email address.","subscribe_label_first_name":"First name","subscribe_label_first_name_fill":"Please enter your first name.","subscribe_label_last_name":"Last name","subscribe_label_last_name_fill":"Please enter your last name.","subscribe_missing_fields":"Please fill in all required fields!","subscribe_p1":"Receive emails from the Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS) when new articles are published.","subscribe_p2":"Receive updates and notifications from the BWNS app.","subscribe_p3":"Follow the Bahá’í World News Service on Twitter for regular updates and stories.","subscribe_p4":"Subscribe to the BWNS podcast for additional audio content.","subscribe_success_h1":"You have been subscribed to Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","subscribe_success_p1":"Your email address has been added to our mailing list.","subscribe_success_p2":"Thanks for becoming a subscriber.","subscribe_to_bwns":"Subscribe to BWNS","subscribe_unknown_error":"Sorry, an unknown error has occurred. Please try again later.","subscribe_unsubscribe_bwns":"Unsubscribe from BWNS","subscribe_unsubscribe_error_client":"Something went wrong, please try again.","subscribe_unsubscribe_error_no_email":"We do not have this email in our database, please try again.","subscribe_unsubscribe_error_server":"Something went wrong on our server, please try again.","subscribe_unsubscribe_h1":"Unsubscribe - Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","subscribe_unsubscribe_success_h1":"You have been unsubscribed from the Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","subscribe_unsubscribe_success_p1":"Your email address has been removed from the mailing list.","subscribe_unsubscribe_success_p2":"Thanks for having been a subscriber.","subscribe_unsubscribe_success_p3":"(If you unsubscribed by accident and prefer to continue receiving emails from the Bahá’í World News Service, please [click here](./).)","tenth_international_bahai_convention":"Tenth International Bahá’í Convention","the_bahai_faith":"The Bahá’í Faith","thirteenth_international_bahai_convention":"Thirteenth International Bahá’í Convention","twelfth_international_bahai_convention":"Twelfth International Bahá’í Convention","united_nations":"United Nations","unsubscribe":"Unsubscribe","updated_content":"UPDATED CONTENT","updates_via_social_media":"Updates via social media","url_copied_to_clipboard":"URL copied to clipboard","video":"Video","view_all":"View all","view_all_articles":"View all articles","visit_page":"Visit page","watch_next":"Watch next","watch_video":"Watch video","what_bahais_believe":"What Bahá’ís Believe","what_bahais_do":"What Bahá’ís Do","texterify_timestamp":"2023-09-10T10:15:38Z"},"archivePageNumber":52,"archiveTotalPages":80,"totalStories":1596,"archiveList":[{"storyNumber":754,"evergreenUrl":"prestigious-exhibition-presents-new-garden","title":"Prestigious exhibition presents \"New Garden\"","description":"Traditional Pacific island bark cloth stenciled with designs depicting a vision of a \"New Garden\" was one of the artworks commissioned for a...","date":"2010-02-02","customDateline":false,"city":"BRISBANE","country":"AUSTRALIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759157-75400.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759157-75400.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Video: Three Baha’i artists, from Fiji and New Zealand, were commissioned to create these pieces for an exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery. The video shows them at work.","imageStyle":"full-width","imageLink":"https://vimeo.com/199822242"}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Traditional Pacific island bark cloth stenciled with designs depicting a vision of a \"New Garden\" was one of the artworks commissioned for a prestigious exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery.\n\nThe sixth Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art – APT6 – is now well into its four-month run and features works by some of the best-known artists of the Pacific region.\n\nProminent New Zealand artist Robin White was invited to participate, with organizers mentioning a possible collaboration with a tapa artist from Fiji. Eventually Mrs. White proposed that she work with two Fijians, Leba Toki and Bale Jione.\n\nAll three artists are Baha'is and used their vision of a future society to inspire their work.\n\n\"What we wanted to do was to present our vision of what Fiji could be – and what it will be,\" said Mrs. White.\n\nIn Fiji, she explained, almost all of the world's great religions are represented by a significant portion of the population – Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, and a small but growing Baha'i community.\n\n\"That makes it special,\" she said. \"Somehow we wanted to get that idea across.\"\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The tapa – or masi, as the Fijians call the craft of tapa and the plant from which it is made – is traditionally made for a wedding, and the artists indeed used that concept.\n\n\"The idea was not about a literal wedding between two individuals but rather the idea of a marriage of cultures – namely the indigenous and Indian cultures that constitute contemporary Fijian society – connected by bonds of love and respect,\" Mrs. White said.\n\nIn the end, many elements were incorporated into their tapa. For the main piece, a vision of the Shrine of the Bab in the Holy Land and its surrounding terraces was combined with images of importance to Fijians.\n\n**An unusual collaboration**\n\nFor Mrs. Toki, the mere act of a Fijian like herself collaborating with a New Zealander to create artwork on tapa was a breakthrough.\n\n\"I knew that only the Fijians can do the tapa,\" she said, remembering her skepticism when Mrs. White first contacted her for an earlier project. \"I was thinking, 'How can we work together?'\"\n\nFor Mrs. White, it was during her travels in the Pacific that she had gotten the idea of a collaboration. Already a well-known artist in other media, she had known about the tapa produced in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. But when she saw a particularly beautiful piece hanging in the transit lounge in the Nadi airport, she decided she must learn the technique for making it.\n\nIn Fiji, she met Mrs. Toki at a Baha'i gathering and later at the Toki residence noticed some beautiful tapa on the wall.\n\n\"Who did these?\" Mrs. White asked."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ManualContentRecord","inlineHtml":"
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Materials used to make the \"New Garden\" tapa

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The “canvas”:
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The bark cloth itself comes from the bast, or \"skin,\" of the paper mulberry. The outer bark is discarded, the hard inner stalk is used for firewood or staking plants in the garden, and the skin is dried and stored. When required for making masi, the dry strips are soaked in water and then beaten. The strips are overlaid as they are beaten, as in a felting process.

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The paint, or kesa:
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The inner skin of the dogo, or mangrove, provides the raw material for kesa, the liquid paint used for printing the patterns. A stone is used to pound pieces of dogo, which are then boiled to form the kesa.

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The pigment:
\n

The pigment for the paint consists of black soot and brown clay, or umea, that is dried and scraped to make a fine power. To produce the soot, a wick is prepared from scraps of bark cloth. This is dipped into kerosene and burned in an enclosed tin oven. The soot collects on the inside upper surface of the oven and is carefully removed and stored in a tin. The soot is mixed with the kesa and umea to make loloa – black paint.

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(Source: Robin White)

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\n
\n
"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"When she discovered that Mrs. Toki herself was the artist, an idea was born. At first Mrs. Toki was reluctant to work jointly – she had never heard of the type of tapa she did being created by anyone other than Fijians. But when she discovered that Mrs. White indeed was an artist, she was willing to give it a go. And when they began collaborating, she found the relationship rewarding.\n\n\"Working together is very powerful,\" Mrs. Toki says now. \"Different races, both giving ideas.\"\n\nShe said a pattern of consultation, action, and reflection - familiar to all three women through their Baha'i activities - became a key part of the creation of their artwork for the APT6 exhibition.\n\nThe trio completed their new work several months ago and traveled to Brisbane in early December for the opening of APT6 and to participate in stimulating conversations with other artists from throughout the Asian Pacific region.\n\nThe exhibition runs through 5 April."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ManualContentRecord","inlineHtml":"

\"Locator

"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"In Fiji, Mrs. Toki lives in Lautoka, known as Sugar City because of a large sugar mill located in the town. The idea of sugar became one of the starting points for the three artists as they developed concepts for their commissioned work.\n\n\"Sugar (became) a metaphor for the sweetening of relationships between people,\" Mrs. White said, explaining how their thinking progressed.\n\n\"The real Sugar City is the city of God,\" she continued.\n\nThis image led the artists to picture the Baha'i gardens and terraces on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel - gardens known for their beauty and perfection and thus symbolic of a transformed society, Mrs. White said.\n\n\"That seemed like a visual framework,\" she said.\n\nThe main tapa they made shows the Baha'i shrine on Mount Carmel with its terraced gardens. At the base is a sugar plantation. Taro – a food staple in the Pacific that is believed to be one of the earliest cultivated plants – is depicted as growing on the terraces.\n\nThat tapa is a large wall hanging, 12 by 8 feet, and is accompanied in the exhibition by a second piece for the floor. The artists also created other elements, including the garments for the \"wedding,\" that also will remain part of the collection at the Queensland Art Gallery.\n\nThey named the work \"New Garden\" – \"Teitei Vou\" in the Fijian language – words taken from the writings of Baha'u'llah.\n\n**The art of the tapa**\n\nMrs. White said the artistic decoration of bark cloth remains part of the culture in Fiji.\n\n\"Young girls in the Lau group of islands in Fiji, where Leba and Bale come from, all do this kind of tapa work,\" she explained, \"and some become skillful at doing specialized aspects of it such as designing and cutting stencils. In the village setting, the women all work together. If someone is getting married, the women get together to make the tapa.\"\n\n\"It's a sacred cloth,\" Mrs. White said. Traditionally it has been used for various occasions and now, with the European influence, is used even more extensively – for tablecloths and other items, for example.\n\nFor the artwork for APT6, Mrs. Jione acquired the raw material for making the tapa on her native island of Moce and took it to her current home in Suva, the capital of Fiji which is located on the island of Viti Levu.\n\nThere she and her husband worked together to beat it into sheets before taking it across the island to Lautoka where Mrs Toki lives. Mrs. White then joined them in Lautoka for a few months – Fiji is a four-hour flight from New Zealand – and the three artists worked together to make the designs and do the painting.\n\nMrs. Jione said the stenciling is much easier now than in the old days. Her grandmother, for example, used banana leaves for the stencils, but they were difficult to work with and not very durable. Now the artists use X-ray film, and the stencils can be used over and over.\n\n\"Because of film, many more people can do the painting,\" she said.\n\nIn the early stages of the APT6 project, Mrs. White spent time reading about Fiji as part of her preparation.\n\n\"I did a lot of research into the history,\" she said. She discovered how the Fiji of today is a result of indentured laborers being brought from India to work on the sugar plantations, and how Mahatma Gandhi supported efforts to bring the human trafficking to an end.\n\nIn recognition of this period of history and the suffering associated with it, the size of the main tapa - 12 by 8 feet - was made in the dimensions of the living quarters issued to the Indian laborers who were obliged to live three to a room.\n\n\"Everything in the artwork has significance,\" Mrs. White said.\n\n**More about the APT6 exhibition**\n\nThe Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art – now in its sixth edition – runs through early April in the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane. The exhibition includes 313 artworks by some 160 artists from 25 countries.\n\nThis year's show includes for the first time artists from North Korea, Iran, Turkey, Tibet, Cambodia, and Myanmar - a fact that Mrs. White finds significant. The presence of North Korean artists is particularly interesting, she said.\n\n\"To see their work included in the APT seems to me a very important thing,\" she noted.\n\nThe Triennial, she said, brings together artists from diverse backgrounds living in the world's largest land mass and scattered across the world's largest ocean.\n\n\"I am fascinated with how culture and belief informs their work,\" she said of the participating artists. Some of the pieces have a deeply spiritual aspect, she said, and some reflect social or political issues.\n\nShe noted that a work that is overtly Baha'i perhaps is more accepted and appreciated here than in many other venues.\n\nQueensland Art Gallery Director Tony Ellwood said collaboration among artists of different countries was a hallmark of the exhibition.\n\n\"Much of APT6 draws on the extensive network of relationships, within the region and beyond, that has always been integral to the Triennial's spirit,\" he said.\n\nIn addition to the tapa created by the three Baha'is of New Zealand and Fiji, some of the collaborative art projects in APT6 include \"The Mekong,\" a collection of works from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar, and \"Pacific Reggae,\" a selection of Pacific reggae music videos, concert clips, documentaries, and performances.\n\nFor information on APT6, go to [www.qag.qld.gov.au/apt6](http://www.qag.qld.gov.au/apt6)\n\nFor the page about the three tapa artists, go to http://qag.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/current/apt6/artists/robin_white,_bale_jione_-and-_leba_toki"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759168-754022235.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Fijian artists Leba Toki and Bale Jione flank Robin White as the trio poses during a break from their work on the exquisite bark-cloth art commissioned for the exhibition known as \"APT6.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759157-7540101img0178cropped.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Tapa artists Bale Jione and Robin White work on the intricate patterning for the bark cloth. The third artist, Leba Toki, was out of camera range here. (All photographs courtesy of Robin White)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759157-75403cuttingstencils.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Cutting stencils is easier now that tapa artists use durable X-ray film as the material. In earlier days, banana leaves were used."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759157-754042348.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The rag mats made by Indian women in Fiji and sold in local markets were the inspiration for two mats created to go on top of the masi floor-piece in the \"New Garden\" work."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759157-754052324cropped.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Bale Jione paints the pattern onto the bark cloth using the stencils that she and her collaborators made."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759157-75406p1000050.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The \"New Garden\" artwork is on display through early April at the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane, Australia."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759157-75407p1000137.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A wedding of cultures was the theme for the design of the bark-cloth art created by three Baha'i artists."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759157-75408p1000039.jpg"},"imageDescription":"This year's Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art for the first time includes pieces by artists from Iran, North Korea, Turkey, Tibet, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Here, Bale Jione and Leba Toki of Fiji view the work of prominent Iranian artist Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759157-75409img2374.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In August 2009, painter Robin White was among a group of her compatriots who were invested as dames and knights of the British Empire by virtue of having received the New Zealand Order of Merit. She is shown here with her husband, Michael Fudakowski, and their son, Conrad, following the award ceremony in Wellington."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"From the archives"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":711,"relatedStoryCaption":"The Arctic Youth Art Initiative has grown to involve hundreds of children."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":718,"relatedStoryCaption":"\"Material things that we desire are not usually a path to happiness.\""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":754,"relatedStoryCaption":"He speaks explicitly of the influence of spirituality on his work."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":753,"evergreenUrl":"bahais-condemn-lack-due-process-trial-iran","title":"Baha'is condemn lack of due process at trial in Iran","description":"The Baha'i International Community has issued a statement condemning the trial of 16 individuals in Iran yesterday as a \"violation of all internationally...","date":"2010-01-31","customDateline":null,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Baha'i International Community has issued a statement condemning the trial of 16 individuals in Iran yesterday as a \"violation of all internationally accepted standards of legal due process.\"\n\nThe statement highlights the lack of proper legal representation for the defendants and the use of unreliable \"confessions\" in the trial. One of the 16 on trial is a Baha'i.\n\n\"The use of coerced 'confessions' and the denial of adequate legal representation reflect the Iranian authorities' growing assault on human rights,\" said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.\n\n*The complete statement follows:*\n\nThe trial yesterday of 16 individuals in Iran, apparently accused of participating in the Ashura demonstrations on 27 December, stands in violation of all internationally accepted standards of legal due process.\n\nWhile facts are unavailable to the Baha'i International Community concerning 15 of the defendants in the court proceedings, it can confirm that one individual – identified only as \"P.F.\" in government reports – is a Baha'i.\n\nThe show trials in the aftermath of the June 2009 presidential election, at which defendants have been forced to read statements incriminating themselves, have completely discredited \"confessions,\" such as the one purportedly made by \"P.F.,\" both inside and outside of Iran. It is well known that such confessions are obtained while prisoners are under extreme duress, often after being exposed to such appalling tactics as food and sleep deprivation, fake executions, threats against their families, and worse. Rather than accepting responsibility for the turmoil in the country, the Iranian government organizes such show trials in order to lay the blame on innocent citizens and others.\n\nWhile it is claimed that the court proceedings are open, not even the families of the defendants are notified of the trial of their loved ones.\n\nThe person identified as P.F., along with nine other Baha'is who were arrested on 3 January in Tehran, has not been able to contact his family, has been denied access to a lawyer, and was not allowed to choose his own legal representation. The government-appointed lawyer who acted on behalf of P.F. did nothing more than to accept the \"confession\" of his client and make a pro forma request for leniency.\n\nThe Iranian government is well aware that it is a fundamental principle of the Baha'i Faith that its followers strictly refrain from involvement in any partisan political activity, whether local, national, or international. Consequently, the arrest of ten Baha'is on 3 January, a full week after the Ashura demonstrations, and the claims that Baha'is were behind the recent anti-government turmoil have come as a complete surprise to the Baha'i community. These fabricated accusations clearly appear to be not so much about some Baha'is participating in the Ashura demonstrations. They point instead to a scenario which has been concocted by the authorities to justify placing further restrictions on the activities of the Baha'i community. This is but the most recent tactic in the ongoing systematic campaign of persecution that seeks to eliminate the Baha'i community as a viable entity in that country.\n\nWe call on governments and fair-minded people throughout the world to join us and raise their voice to protest against the blatant violations of human rights in Iran, of which yesterday's trial is only the most recent example."}],"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":"[Profiles of the seven prisoners](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/yaran-profiles.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":"Previous articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":750,"relatedStoryCaption":"Attorneys have been notified that the trial will resume on 7 February."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":747,"relatedStoryCaption":"Iranian government makes claims against Baha'is arrested on 3 January."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":743,"relatedStoryCaption":"General Assembly condemns Iran for long list of human rights violations."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":752,"evergreenUrl":"young-people-aim-coherent-life-they-plan-their-future","title":"Young people aim for a \"coherent\" life as they plan their future","description":"Having a belief system is not so difficult, said 25-year-old Nava, participating in a recent university seminar in Honduras. The challenging...","date":"2010-01-28","customDateline":false,"city":"SANTA ROSA DE COPAN","country":"HONDURAS","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759129-75200hond5.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759129-75200hond5.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Sixty young people from throughout Central America took part in a 10-day seminar in Honduras designed to explore how their lives could be based on principles inspired by both science and religion. (Photograph by Andres Shahidinejad)","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Having a belief system is not so difficult, said 25-year-old Nava, participating in a recent university seminar in Honduras. The challenging part is building your life around your beliefs.\n\nMore than 1,500 young people addressed this challenge at recent Baha'i gatherings in five countries – Honduras, Italy, Australia, England, and the Philippines.\n\nThe youth are trying to examine their lives at a time when they have the opportunity to develop a lifestyle and career path that incorporate the values and activities which they believe can shape the kind of world they want to live in.\n\nNava Kavelin, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, helped facilitate sessions for some of the 60 university students from Central America who signed up for a 10-day seminar in Santa Rosa de Copan in early January.\n\nParticipants explored educational paths in light of their beliefs, said Ms. Kavelin. Among the professions they discussed was advertising.\n\n\"We looked at the mass media and the messages it communicates. We talked about how the media can paint people in a less-than-favorable light – yet as Baha'is we believe in promoting the nobility of man,\" Ms. Kavelin said.\n\n\"The question for university students becomes, how will I use my degree to promote the values I agree with – and to not promote values that I don't agree with.\"\n\nStudents of business and economics discussed how some business models are in agreement with their principles and some aren't, she said.\n\n\"The participants are learning to become owners of their own education rather than passive recipients, looking critically at how the classes they take can help them with their objectives,\" Ms. Kavelin said.\n\n**\"A coherent life\"**\n\nLuke Bolton, 22, of New York was one of 300 young people from 39 countries who attended the six-day conference in Italy, which was aimed at assisting participants to see all aspects of their life as complementary elements devoted to the service of humanity.\n\nSince Mr. Bolton's return home, he and colleagues at his office have discussed the subject of not compromising your principles while working at your job.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"One thing that resonates with people is living a coherent life,\" he says.\n\nSome of the participants at the conference, held in Verona in late December, talked about having useful skills and good jobs – but still feeling that their work is not related to the type of community-building activities that Baha'is believe are vital to grassroots change in the world.\n\nThose people, Mr. Bolton said, tended to feel that they need to devote more of their time to service to the community. Some discussed how they could use job skills – computer knowledge, for example – outside of work and apply it to service.\n\n**\"New vigor to the concept of service\"**\n\nService to humanity was at the crux of a message sent by the Universal House of Justice to the more than 800 Baha'i youth who gathered in early January at a conference in the Australian coastal city of Wollongong.\n\n\"Central to your role in the present day is to give new vigor to the concept of service – being devoted to high ideals far removed from purely selfish interests, oriented to advancement of society, and committed to the welfare of humanity,\" the House of Justice wrote to the youth.\n\nThe young people seem to be taking the guidance to heart.\n\n\"The conference helped me to raise my level of consciousness about the individual and society,\" Negin Sedaghat of Sydney said afterwards.\n\nThe presentations \"challenged the youth to move beyond their frivolous pursuits,\" said another young woman.\n\n\"We are not just here to engage in idle talk but to put everything into practice,\" commented a third.\n\n\"Greater coherence and a life of service,\" said Rewa Worley of Auckland, New Zealand, summing up the message he was taking home from the conference.\n\n**Building capacity among youth**\n\nA key feature of the conference in England, held at the University of Warwick in Coventry, was that the young people themselves were running it.\n\nBonnie Smith – who at only 16 is a veteran of dozens of Baha'i gatherings – said the difference was noticeable.\n\n\"Suddenly a lot of youth I had never seen before were giving talks and performances,\" she said. \"The idea was to give the youth skills that they could take home with them.\"\n\nAryan Ziaie, at age 20 one of the four main organizers, guessed that about a third of the 346 registered participants were presenters or performers or in some way contributed their skills to the event.\n\n\"The purpose of this conference was developing capacity,\" he said. \"It was run by the youth - people who hadn't done this before. It is a hallmark of the success of the conference.\"\n\nA first-year law student at the London School of Economics, Mr. Ziaie said a more typical conference might have two or three keynote speakers. This one had many.\n\nEven at his university, when he and his friends have serious discussions about social change, the assumption seems to be that only a handful of people will be the catalyst – \"top down,\" he said.\n\nThe mood at the conference was different, he said, with a \"grassroots sharing of experiences.\"\n\n\"You saw people pledging their future to learning about how to effect social transformation,\" he said. \"They are conscious of this, and they know where to look for the guidance.\"\n\nThe Baha'i youth seemed to have changed in the past year, he observed.\n\n\"You can tell by the level of conversations,\" he said. \"They share experiences so that they can further refine their activities. They plan, they act, they reflect – they have been brought up with this dynamic.\"\n\nHe said his own experience at the gathering was of less social chitchat and more time spent in focused discussion.\n\n\"The vision was clearer,\" he said."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759126-75201phil3.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In the Philippines, students discussed themes such as the coherence between material and spiritual civilization, and how language influences action. (Photograph by Klyne Ally Peralta)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759126-75202aus2.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Australian coastal city of Wollongong was the site of a national Baha’i youth conference in early January. Young people consulted on achieving coherence in their lives and how to devote themselves to service to humanity. (Photograph by Wafa Reyhani)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759129-75203hond.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua were represented among participants at the seminar in Honduras. (Photograph by Mahin Mobasher)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759126-752044warwick.jpg"},"imageDescription":"More than 340 young people at the conference in England pose in front of a fantasy map outside the venue at the University of Warwick. The gathering was planned in large measure by the youth themselves. (Photograph by Ronnie Yousefzadeh-Bindra)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759127-752055eng4.jpg"},"imageDescription":"One theme of consultation at the UK youth gathering was a message from the Universal House of Justice. The message referred to the earnestness, energy, and “intrepid determination” of the youth. (Photograph by Ronnie Yousefzadeh-Bindra)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759126-75206eng1.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Simon T. Munro and other musicians perform at a session of the youth conference in England."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759128-75207aus3.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Participation in the conference in Australia was measured in many ways, from formal sessions to informal artistic expression. (Photograph by Wafa Reyhani)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759126-75208ita4.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The largest Baha’i youth gathering held during the recent vacation break was in Australia, where some 830 young people attended a four-day conference in Wollongong. (Photograph by Wafa Reyhani)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759126-752099hond.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Central American seminar was held in the outskirts of Santa Rosa de Copan, in the mountains of western Honduras. (Photograph by Nava Kavelin)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759128-75210ita1.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In Verona, Italy, 300 young people from 39 countries gathered between Christmas and the new year for a conference with the theme “Living a Coherent Life.” (Photograph by Sina Taheri)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759127-75211ita3.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The aim of the conference in Italy was to assist participants to see all aspects of their life as complementary elements devoted to the service of humanity. (Photograph by Sina Taheri)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759126-75212phil1.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Students at the seminar in the Philippines gather to explore the elements of a discourse on social action. (Photograph by Anis Ragland)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543759131-75213phil.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Most of the young people at the gathering in the Philippines were in their late teens, but the 31 participants ranged in age from 16 to 27. (Photograph by Anis Ragland)"}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"From the archives"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":598,"relatedStoryCaption":"Troupe's technique combines drama and discussion as a means of communicating with youth."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":516,"relatedStoryCaption":"A program for young teens is designed to help them resist negative influences."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":486,"relatedStoryCaption":"That's the goal of a special children's class in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":751,"evergreenUrl":"detention-ten-bahais-leads-fears-other-prisoners","title":"Detention of ten Baha’is leads to fears for other prisoners","description":"Concern is growing over the lack of information about the status of 10 Baha'is who were arrested earlier this month in Iran. In addition to worry...","date":"2010-01-27","customDateline":false,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569726-75100detainees.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569726-75100detainees.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Committee of Human Rights Reporters has published these photographs and identified the individuals as among the 10 Baha’is, including two married couples, arrested on 3 January.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Concern is growing over the lack of information about the status of 10 Baha'is who were arrested earlier this month in Iran.\n\nIn addition to worry about their safety, there are fears that charges against these 10 will be used to create false evidence in court against the seven Baha'i leaders who have been held since 2008 and whose trial is set to resume on 7 February.\n\n\"Our concern is that in the absence of any evidence against the seven leaders, the authorities may be attempting to build a case by perhaps forcing these newly arrested Baha'is to 'confess' that they were involved in organizing December's Ashura demonstrations under orders from their 'leadership',\" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.\n\n\"Any such claim would be absurd, given that the seven leaders have been in prison for the last two years,\" she said.\n\nSince their arrest on 3 January, statements have been made in Iranian state-sanctioned media that the 10 possessed arms and ammunition in their homes as part of an anti-government plot related to the December demonstrations.\n\nThe 10 have virtually disappeared into Iran's detention system, said Ms. Dugal.\n\nWhile it is not known whether any of these 10 were in fact present at the Ashura demonstrations, any suggestion that they were central to the organization of these events or that they possessed arms to be used against the government is completely without foundation, she said.\n\n\"In the three weeks since these Baha'is were detained, their families have had no contact with them, aside from a brief telephone message to one family member on 11 January.\"\n\nWhile families have been unable to contact the 10, it has been learned that they have been transferred recently to Gohardasht prison in Karaj.\n\n\"A cell mate of some of the Baha'i prisoners was recently released, and this individual informed the families of this transfer,\" said Ms. Dugal. \"We don't know exactly what this means, but we do know that families tried to bring clothes and money to the prisoners. The money was accepted by authorities in Karaj, but not the clothing.\"\n\nThe 10 Baha'is who were arrested on 3 January are Mrs. Leva Khanjani, granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani, one of the seven Baha'i leaders, and her husband, Mr. Babak Mobasher; Mr. Artin Ghazanfari and his wife, Mrs. Jinous Sobhani, former secretary of Nobel laureate and human rights attorney Shirin Ebadi; Mr. Mehran Rowhani and Mr. Farid Rowhani, who are brothers; Mr Payam Fanaian; Mr. Nikav Hoveydaie; and Mr. Ebrahim Shadmehr and his son, Mr. Zavosh Shadmehr.\n\nOn 12 January, the formal arraignment of the seven leaders was held in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.\n\nAccording to accounts in government-sponsored news media, the seven have been charged with: espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and corruption on earth.\n\nIn court, the defendants explicitly denied all of these charges.\n\nMs. Dugal said the judge has reportedly indicated that the next session of the trial on 7 February will be open and the families will be permitted to attend. The first court appearance was closed to the public.\n\nThe seven \"leaders\" are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.\n\nThis group of seven and the 10 Baha'is arrested on 3 January are among hundreds of Baha'is who have been detained in the ongoing persecution of Baha'is - a systematic campaign that has increased in severity in the last few years."}],"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":"[Profiles of the seven prisoners](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/yaran-profiles.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":"Related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":750,"relatedStoryCaption":"Authorities notified lawyers of seven imprisoned Baha'is that the next trial session will be 7 February,"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":747,"relatedStoryCaption":"Arrested Baha'is did not have arms and ammunition in their homes, says spokeswoman."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":743,"relatedStoryCaption":"The strongly worded resolution condemns Iran for a long list of human rights violations."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":750,"evergreenUrl":"date-set-seven-bahai-leaders-next-court-session","title":"Date set for seven Baha'i leaders' next court session","description":"Iranian authorities have notified the lawyers of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders that the next session of their trial will be held on 7 February,...","date":"2010-01-20","customDateline":null,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Iranian authorities have notified the lawyers of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders that the next session of their trial will be held on 7 February, the Baha'i International Community learned today.\n\nAt their first court appearance, held 12 January in Tehran, the charges were read to the seven, who categorically denied the accusations.\n\n\"While we know little about what actually took place inside the court, we can now say for certain that these seven innocent Baha'is stood up and firmly rejected all of the charges against them,\" said Diane Ala'i of the Baha'i International Community.\n\n\"We can also say that, based on the international outcry that accompanied the first session of their trial, the world is watching this proceeding closely and that the Iranian government will be held accountable for any injustices,\" she said.\n\nThe charges against the seven, according to accounts in government-sponsored news media, were: espionage, \"propaganda activities against the Islamic order,\" the establishment of an \"illegal administration,\" cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and \"corruption on earth.\"\n\nThe seven defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.\n\nAll but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have been held in Tehran's Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there without formal charges or any access to lawyers."}],"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":"[Profiles of the seven prisoners](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/yaran-profiles.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":"Related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":748,"relatedStoryCaption":"Initial reports indicate that the trial was marked by numerous violations of legal due process."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":648,"relatedStoryCaption":"“We deny in the strongest possible terms ...\""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":635,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":749,"evergreenUrl":"world-reacts-trial-seven-bahai-leaders","title":"World reacts to the trial of the seven Baha'i leaders","description":"Iran's decision to begin the trial yesterday of seven Baha'i leaders has triggered a strong international reaction, including a call by Nobel...","date":"2010-01-13","customDateline":null,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Iran's decision to begin the trial yesterday of seven Baha'i leaders has triggered a strong international reaction, including a call by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi for their immediate release and ultimate acquittal.\n\n\"If justice is to be carried out and an impartial judge should investigate the charges leveled against my clients, no other verdict can be reached save that of acquittal,\" said Mrs. Ebadi, in comments posted on WashingtonTV, a Web-based news service in the United States.\n\nMrs. Ebadi, who is one of the lawyers for the seven, said she had carefully read the dossier of charges against them and \"found in it no cause or evidence to sustain the criminal charges upheld by the prosecutor.\"\n\nOthers also expressed concerns about the fairness of the trial, calling for it to be open and held in accordance with international legal standards. Governments and prominent individuals in the European Union, the United States, Brazil, India, and Canada issued strong statements of concern.\n\nThe European Union statement came yesterday, echoing an earlier call for international observers to be allowed in the trial of the seven Baha'is.\n\n\"The EU recalls that freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a fundamental and undeniable right which shall be guaranteed in every circumstance,\" the statement said. \"The EU calls for a just, fair and open trial respecting all international standards and obligations. ...\"\n\nIn Brazil yesterday, Luiz Couto, the president of the Human Rights Commission of the Federal Chamber of Deputies, said in a letter to the Iranian ambassador to Brazil that it appears the \"trial is not transparent and public,\" and that any closed trial would violate the right to a full and fair defense.\n\n\"We consider the freedom of religion and belief – that of Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Baha'is, and all other religious expressions – a fundamental human right for democracy, both in the east and west,\" said Congressman Couto.\n\nOn Monday, the United States Department of State condemned Iran's decision to move ahead with the trial.\n\n\"Authorities have detained these persons for more than 20 months, without making public any evidence against them and giving them little access to legal counsel,\" said Philip J. Crowley, assistant secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State. \"These persons are entitled to due process.\"\n\nIn India, prominent Indians called upon the government to take up the issue of the Baha'i persecution with Tehran. \"Our country has a long record of pluralism and tolerance and must speak out,\" said Maja Daruwala, director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, according to The Hindu newspaper on Saturday.\n\nIn Canada, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon issued a statement on Friday expressing deep concern about the ongoing detention of the seven Baha'i leaders. \"It is deplorable that these individuals were detained on the sole basis of their faith and have been denied a fair trial,\" said Mr. Cannon.\n\nLeading human rights barrister Cherie Blair in an interview today with the BBC World Service called for the release of \"this group of people who live a religion which preaches peace and did nothing whatsoever to deserve this trial.\"\n\nIn the WashingtonTV interview, Mrs. Ebadi, who is currently outside Iran, also offered a glimpse of what happened yesterday inside Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, where the \"first session\" of the trial was held.\n\nShe said only two lawyers of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, which she established, were able to be present in the court. And that in spite of a request for an open hearing, the court was closed.\n\nThe charges against the seven were reiterated yesterday in news accounts in government-sponsored news media. They were given as: espionage, \"propaganda activities against the Islamic order,\" the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, the sending of secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and \"corruption on earth.\"\n\nDiane Ala'i of the Baha'i International Community said the seven have consistently and categorically denied such accusations. \"We can be certain that they also did so in front of the judge yesterday,\" she said.\n\nThe seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.\n\nAll but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have been held in Tehran's Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there without formal charges or any access to lawyers.\n\nPrior to their arrest, the seven served as an appointed, ad hoc group known as the \"Friends.\" Their role, carried out with the government's knowledge, was to see to the minimum spiritual and material needs of Iran's Baha'i community, which has been without formal leadership since its elected governing bodies were disbanded in response to a government decree in 1983."}],"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":"[Profiles of the seven prisoners](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/yaran-profiles.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":"Related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":747,"relatedStoryCaption":"Iranian government makes claims against Baha'is arrested on 3 January."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":743,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":731,"relatedStoryCaption":"Best-selling author, Oscar-nominated actress among those speaking out."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":748,"evergreenUrl":"first-session-held-trial-bahai-leaders-iran","title":"First session held in trial of Baha'i leaders in Iran","description":"The trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial was marked by numerous violations of...","date":"2010-01-12","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569707-69400.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569707-69400.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'is who went on trial today were, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet. They were photographed several months before their arrest in 2008.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial was marked by numerous violations of legal due process.\n\nAfter about three hours, the hearing ended. Authorities indicated that today’s proceeding was merely the “first session,” and no date for future sessions was given.\n\n\"We understand that no observers were allowed in the court,\" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. \"We find this completely outrageous, given that these seven have been held purely because of their religious beliefs, in total contradiction to any human rights standards.\n\n\"We understand that even the lawyers had to argue their way inside the court – lawyers who in any case had virtually no access to the accused for nearly two years.\n\n\"At the same time, the prisoners' interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence and a film crew were seen going in, raising questions about the nature of the trial,\" she said.\n\nMs. Ala'i also noted that an Iranian Web site linked to state-run television posted a story Monday evening announcing that the trial had already begun and listing the same baseless accusations made in the past against the seven.\n\n\"In any event, all of these accounts point to a trial that is highly irregular, very similar to the show trials that have been held in Iran in recent months,\" she said.\n\nThe seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.\n\nAll but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008 while in Mashhad. They have been held in Tehran's Evin prison ever since, spending their first year there without formal charges or any access to lawyers.\n\n\"Whatever happens, it is clear that the trial of these seven innocent people represents the trial of an entire religious community, and is an attempt to further intimidate and ostracize all Iranian Baha'is simply because they hold a different religious viewpoint from those in power.\"\n\nNote: The headline and article were updated at 9 p.m. on 12 January 2010 (Geneva time)."}],"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":"Related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":747,"relatedStoryCaption":"Iranian government makes claims against Baha'is arrested on 3 January."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":743,"relatedStoryCaption":"General Assembly condemns Iran for long list of human rights violations."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":731,"relatedStoryCaption":"Best-selling author, Oscar-nominated actress among those speaking out."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":747,"evergreenUrl":"bahai-international-community-rejects-allegations-that-arrested-bahais-had-weapons-homes","title":"Baha'i International Community rejects allegations that arrested Baha'is had weapons in homes","description":"The Baha'i International Community today categorically rejected new allegations by the Iranian government that arms and ammunition were found...","date":"2010-01-09","customDateline":null,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Baha'i International Community today categorically rejected new allegations by the Iranian government that arms and ammunition were found in the homes of Baha'is who were arrested in Tehran last Sunday.\n\n\"This is nothing less than a blatant lie,\" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. \"Baha'is are by the most basic principles of their faith committed to absolute nonviolence, and any charge that there might have been weapons or 'live rounds' in their homes is simply and completely unbelievable.\n\n\"Without doubt, these are baseless fabrications devised by the government to further create an atmosphere of prejudice and hatred against the Iranian Baha'i community. For more than a century Baha'is have suffered all manner of persecution in Iran and have not resorted to armed violence, and everyone knows this. Unfortunately, the Iranian government is once again resorting to outright falsehoods to justify its nefarious intentions against the Baha'i community. It should know that these lies will have no credibility whatsoever.\n\n\"We are particularly concerned by the fact that these accusations come just days before the scheduled trial of seven Baha'i leaders, who have been locked up for nearly two years on equally unfounded charges,\" she said.\n\n\"All of these latest accusations are so far-fetched as to be ludicrous if they were not so obviously aimed at putting innocent lives at risk,\" she said. \"As we have said before, rather than accepting responsibility for the turmoil in the country, the Iranian government seeks to lay the blame on others, including foreign powers, international organizations and media outlets, students, women, and terrorists.\"\n\nOn Friday, several news agencies reported that Tehran's general prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, said the Baha'is who were arrested on Sunday \"were arrested because they played a role in organizing the Ashura protests and namely for having sent abroad pictures of the unrest.\"\n\n\"They were not arrested because they are Baha'is,\" said Mr. Dolatabadi, according to Agence France Presse. \"Arms and ammunition were seized in the homes of some of them.\"\n\nMs. Ala'i also rejected Mr. Dolatabadi's assertions that Baha'is were involved in the planning of the Ashura demonstrations, or in any violent or subversive activity related to the recent turmoil in Iran.\n\n\"For the past 30 years, Iranian Baha'is have been subjected to the worst forms of persecution, ranging from arbitrary execution to the exclusion of their children from school,\" said Ms. Ala'i. \"Yet they have responded only through means that are peaceful and legal.\"\n\nSeven Baha'is leaders are scheduled to go on trial on Tuesday on trumped-up charges of espionage, \"insulting religious sanctities,\" and \"propaganda\" against the government. They have been held in Evin prison since mid-2008. The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.\n\nOn Sunday, 13 Baha'is were arrested in early morning raids on their homes in Tehran. Three have been released but 10 remain detained at Evin prison.\n\nThey are: Leva Khanjani, granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani, and her husband, Babak Mobasher; Jinous Sobhani, former secretary of Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, and her husband Artin Ghazanfari; Mehran Rowhani and Farid Rowhani, who are brothers; Payam Fanaian; Nikav Hoveydaie; and Ebrahim Shadmehr and his son, Zavosh Shadmehr."}],"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":"Related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":745,"relatedStoryCaption":"Recent developments in Iran have raised grave concern about the fate of seven Baha'is scheduled to go on trial on 12 January."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":743,"relatedStoryCaption":"The UN General Assembly approves resolution condemning Iran for a long list of human rights violations."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":725,"relatedStoryCaption":"Judicial officials set trial date despite absence of lead lawyers, one of whom has been imprisoned."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":746,"evergreenUrl":"by-election-announced-two-members-universal-house-justice","title":"By-election announced for two members of Universal House of Justice","description":"The Universal House of Justice has announced that it has approved the requests of two of its members, Mr. Hooper Dunbar and Dr. Peter Khan, to...","date":"2010-01-06","customDateline":null,"city":"HAIFA","country":"ISRAEL","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Universal House of Justice has announced that it has approved the requests of two of its members, Mr. Hooper Dunbar and Dr. Peter Khan, to relinquish their positions owing to their advanced age and the heavy burden of work involved in membership.\n\nThe announcement came in a letter addressed to all National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i Faith around the world. In the letter, the House of Justice said the two men would continue to serve until completion of a by-election to replace them.\n\nThe nine members of each National Assembly serve as electors for the House of Justice, which is the head of the Baha'i Faith. The election will be conducted by mail, with results scheduled to be announced at Naw-Ruz, the Baha'i new year, on 21 March.\n\nThe regular election of the Universal House of Justice is every five years, when the members of the National Assemblies serve as delegates to the International Convention and vote for all nine members of the international governing body. The last election was in April 2008.\n\nDr. Khan was first elected to the House of Justice in 1987 and Mr. Dunbar in 1988."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related articles from the BWNS archive"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":629,"relatedStoryCaption":"Results of the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice are announced."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":627,"relatedStoryCaption":"Ceremony combines spiritual dignity with global diversity."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":626,"relatedStoryCaption":"Delegates stream to Bahji to help prepare themselves for electing the Universal House of Justice."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":745,"evergreenUrl":"trial-seven-bahai-leaders-iran-looms","title":"Trial of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran looms","description":"Recent developments in Iran have raised grave concern about the ultimate fate of the seven Baha'i leaders who are scheduled to go on trial next...","date":"2010-01-05","customDateline":false,"city":"GENEVA","country":"SWITZERLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569688-69400.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569688-69400.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The seven Baha'i \"leaders\" scheduled to go on trial on 12 January are, in front, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet. They were photographed several months before their arrest in the spring of 2008.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Recent developments in Iran have raised grave concern about the ultimate fate of the seven Baha'i leaders who are scheduled to go on trial next Tuesday.\n\n\"The Baha'i community in Iran has all too often been subjected to campaigns of vilification and false charges devised to deflect the attention of a disquieted population onto the Baha'is and away from those in power,\" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva. \"And now, in these days leading to the trial, there are signs that once again the Baha'is are being made scapegoats.\n\n\"Rather than accepting responsibility for the turmoil in the country, the Iranian government seeks to lay the blame on others, including foreign powers, international organizations and media outlets, students, women, and terrorists. Now the Baha'is have been added to this long list of alleged culprits,\" she said.\n\n\"Over the past several days, Iranian state-sponsored media have accused the Baha'is of being responsible for the unrest surrounding the holy day of Ashura,\" said Ms. Ala'i. \"This is clearly aimed at rousing public sentiment against the seven Baha'is being held in Evin prison. We are particularly concerned that the government, or ultraconservative elements within it, may use the turmoil in Iran as cover for extreme measures against these wrongly imprisoned individuals.\n\nThis concern deepened on Sunday, she said, when authorities rounded up 13 Baha'is from their homes in Tehran, took them to a detention center, and tried to get them to sign a document saying that they would not engage in any future demonstrations.\n\n\"Putting two and two together, the situation facing these Baha'i leaders is extremely ominous. We are deeply concerned for their safety.\n\n\"We expect their trial to be nothing but a show trial, with a predetermined outcome,\" she said.\n\n\"Should anything happen to any of these seven Baha'is before or after the trial, the Iranian government must be held responsible,\" said Ms. Ala'i. \"We ask that the international community indicate clearly to Iran that it will be watching and that it expects any trial to be public and held in accordance with internationally recognized principles of due process.\"\n\nThe seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. They were arrested in the spring of 2008 and have been held in Evin prison ever since.\n\nOfficial Iranian news accounts have said the seven are to be accused of \"espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic.\" All of the charges are utterly baseless, said Ms. Ala'i.\n\nTrial dates were previously announced for July, August, and October but were postponed each time. In December, lawyers were notified that 12 January had been set as a new date.\n\nMs. Ala'i noted that persecution of Baha'is in Iran had intensified steadily throughout 2009. Currently, some 48 Baha'is are imprisoned, and many others across the country have been subjected to home searches, confiscation of personal property, and revolving-door arrests. Since last March, some 60 Baha'is have been arrested and imprisoned for periods ranging from overnight to several months.\n\nAn anti-Baha'i campaign in the news media campaign has also continued, she said, culminating in the absurd accusations last week that Baha'is were involved in provoking the recent civil unrest on the Ashura holy day on 27 December.\n\nThe semiofficial Fars News Agency, for example, reported the next day that Ne'mattollah Bavand, described as an \"expert\" in political affairs, said \"Bahaism under the leadership of Zionism is behind the latest crisis and unrest.\"\n\nMs. Ala'i said these statements have raised concern among the Baha'is that there may be a coordinated effort to introduce these false accusations at the upcoming trial.\n\nAmong the 13 arrested on 3 January were relatives of two of the imprisoned leaders, including Negar Sabet, daughter of Mahvash Sabet; Leva Khanjani, granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani; and her husband, Babak Mobasher. Others arrested were Jinous Sobhani, former secretary of Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, and her husband Artin Ghazanfari; Mehran Rowhani and Farid Rowhani, who are brothers; Nasim Beiglari; Payam Fanaian; Nikav Hoveydaie and his wife, Mona Misaghi; and Ebrahim Shadmehr and his son, Zavosh Shadmehr."}],"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":"Related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":738,"relatedStoryCaption":"\"The international community will not turn a blind eye,\" says Baha'i spokeswoman."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":725,"relatedStoryCaption":"No access to lawyers, no bail, and minimum contact with families are among problems cited."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":695,"relatedStoryCaption":"Biographies of members of former \"Friends\" group, who have been jailed nearly two years."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":743,"evergreenUrl":"un-gives-final-approval-resolution-criticizing-rights-violations-iran","title":"UN gives final approval to resolution criticizing rights violations in Iran","description":"The United Nations General Assembly gave its final stamp of approval today to a strongly worded resolution condemning Iran for a long list of...","date":"2009-12-18","customDateline":false,"city":"UNITED NATIONS","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The United Nations General Assembly gave its final stamp of approval today to a strongly worded resolution condemning Iran for a long list of human rights violations.\n\nBy a vote of 74 to 49, with 59 abstentions, the General Assembly confirmed an earlier vote by its Third Committee in November on a resolution that expresses \"deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran.\"\n\nBani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said the resolution sends a stern message to Iran.\n\n\"Day by day, human rights continue to deteriorate in Iran,\" said Ms. Dugal. \"This vote matters very much because the General Assembly has now fully, clearly, and powerfully expressed itself over Iran's flagrant abuse of human rights.\n\n\"Our hope is that the government will heed this call and begin to respect the universally recognized rights of its citizens.\n\n\"As a first step to that, Iran could allow independent UN special rapporteurs into their country, as called for by the resolution,\" she said.\n\nThe list of violations outlined this year was among the most extensive in some 25 years of UN resolutions on human rights in Iran.\n\nSpecifically, the resolution expresses concern about oppressive measures taken after the June presidential election, the use of torture, the repeated abuse of legal rights, the violent repression of women, and \"increasing discrimination\" against minority groups, including \"Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and their defenders.\"\n\nIt makes extensive mention of the persecution of Baha'is, expressing concern over \"attacks on Baha'is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha'is, preventing members of the Baha'i Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically.\"\n\nThe resolution also expresses concern over the continued detention of seven Baha'i leaders who were arrested in March and May 2008, stating they have faced \"serious charges without adequate or timely access to legal representation.\"\n\nMs. Dugal noted that attorneys for the seven were recently informed their trial has now been set for 12 January 2010. Two earlier trial dates for the seven had been set but were postponed for various reasons.\n\n\"This year's resolution points out the degree to which Iran has abused the legal process and denied many of their citizens the right to a fair trial.\n\n\"We therefore remain gravely concerned about the likely trial of these seven innocent Baha'is, who have been wrongly accused and improperly held. The charges against them are utterly baseless, and they should be released immediately,\" said Ms. Dugal."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"UN resolution"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Human rights in Iran](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/iu_UN_Resolution_Nov_2009.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 42KB)"},{"__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":"Earlier articles about Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":738,"relatedStoryCaption":"The resolution passed by a vote of 74 to 48 in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":732,"relatedStoryCaption":"Persecution of minorities in Iran is among the violations cited."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":740,"relatedStoryCaption":"Youth from a drama troupe join with local dignitaries to address themes of exclusion and prejudice."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":742,"evergreenUrl":"climate-ethics-is-talking-point-copenhagen-conference","title":"Climate ethics is talking point at Copenhagen conference","description":"Acceptance of the ethical dimension of climate change has risen to a new level of importance in discussions at the UN Climate Change Conference...","date":"2009-12-17","customDateline":false,"city":"COPENHAGEN","country":"DENMARK","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569661-74200dsc00916.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569661-74200dsc00916.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In India, in a gesture of hope for progress at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, environmental activists released 2,000 eco-friendly lanterns into the evening sky above the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi. Representatives of different faith communities participated in the ceremony, which was organized by Greenpeace. The event in New Delhi was held on 10 December.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Acceptance of the ethical dimension of climate change has risen to a new level of importance in discussions at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, say members of the Baha'i delegation.\n\n\"It is no longer just a small group that is talking about the moral and ethical dimensions of the issue – these ideas are becoming part of the discourse at Copenhagen,\" said Duncan Hanks, executive director of the Canadian Baha'i International Development Agency.\n\n\"We hear it from people at the podium, in discussions in the hallways, and we see it on banners saying things like 'Climate justice now,'\" he said.\n\nPeter Adriance, another member of the Baha'i delegation, said the focus on ethics and justice has also helped bring about a realization on the part of many at Copenhagen that climate change must be considered beyond the bounds of domestic politics.\n\n\"The local and national and the international are very much linked on the climate issue,\" he said. \"If a representative of a country says 'I am not going to take measures to reduce carbon emissions because it is going to hurt the economy,' more and more people are asking the logical question: 'Then, does that mean you don't have obligations outside your border?' So the whole discourse on climate ethics is calling attention to the international obligations that nations have towards each other.\"\n\nThe UN conference aims to strike a new international agreement to reduce global emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Such a pact would succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.\n\nIn addition to government leaders and negotiators from 192 countries, the conference has drawn participants from international agencies, the news media, and a diverse sampling of other organizations, ranging from environmental groups to corporations.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The delegation of the Baha'i International Community, registered with the United Nations as an international nongovernmental organization, comprises some 20 people.\n\nTahirih Naylor, a Baha'i representative to the UN, said many of the difficulties encountered during the conference have served to highlight the need for international cooperation to protect the environment.\n\n\"Tackling climate change requires concern for the welfare of all humanity over self-interested nationalism,\" she said. \"The findings of science should not be distorted to serve political ends. Whatever disagreements there may be on the causes of climate change, it is clear that protecting our environment should be viewed not only in technical and economic terms, but also as a moral and ethical challenge for the whole world.\"\n\nShe agreed that statements by government leaders, civil society representatives, and others have begun increasingly to make reference to the importance of justice and morality in dealing with the issues of environmental protection.\n\nAt a press conference last week on the Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change, held as part of the Copenhagen event, Ms. Naylor said that it is \"critical for the religions to come together around this issue, to call for action from the leaders of the world, and also to take action within our own communities.\"\n\n\"We feel that climate change is challenging humanity to rise to the next level of our collective maturity, a maturity which calls us to accept our fundamental unity, the fact that we are all one people living on one finite planet, that we are all brothers and sisters,\" she said.\n\n\"We recognize that the quest for climate justice is not a competition for limited resources,\" she said, \"but part of an unfolding process toward greater degrees of unity among nations. ...\"\n\nAt the Copenhagen summit, scheduled to end Friday, the Baha'i International Community sponsored or participated in a number of events that focused on the subject of climate ethics.\n\nThese events included:\n\n-- A panel discussion on \"The Role of Religion in Combating Climate Change,\" held at the Copenhagen Baha'i Center on 8 December and featuring Bent Melchior, former chief rabbi of the Jewish Community in Denmark; Ole Birch, vicar and chairman of the Climate Group of the National Council of Churches in Denmark; and Mr. Adriance of the Baha'i International Community.\n\n-- A press conference on the Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change, held 9 December in the main conference media area, which expressed the united views of diverse faith communities on the importance of taking action on climate change. Ms. Naylor was among the participants.\n\n-- A press conference on \"Climate Ethics\" held by the Collaborative Program on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change, moderated by Mr. Adriance. Baha'i delegates contributed to the drafting of the statement issued by the group.\n\n-- A panel discussion on \"The Moral and Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change,\" held at the Klimaforum09 on 12 December and featuring Don Brown, associate professor of environmental ethics, science, and law at Pennsylvania State University; Philo Morris, representative of the Medical Mission Sisters from India; and Dr. Arthur Dahl, a Baha'i who is a former official with the UN Environment Programme.\n\n-- A preconference event, the Climate Sustainability Platform, held 3-6 December at the Climate Expo in Copenhagen, organized by Uchita de Zoysa of Sri Lanka. Four members of the Baha'i-inspired International Environment Forum participated: Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, Victoria Thoresen, Onno Vinkhuyzen, and Dr. Dahl."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569663-74201press-conference.jpg"},"imageDescription":"At a press conference on the Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change, Baha’i representative Tahirih Naylor, left, said that climate change is “challenging humanity to rise to the next level of our collective maturity.”"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569662-74202dsc05648.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Representatives of different religious communities spoke at a press conference on the Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change. It was part of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, being held from 7 to 18 December in the Danish capital."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Previous articles on climate change"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":736,"relatedStoryCaption":"Religious leaders gather at historic Windsor Castle for consultations."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":735,"relatedStoryCaption":"Baha'i International Community has become a partner in a UN-sponsored program."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":728,"relatedStoryCaption":"Association of Baha'i Studies holds 33rd annual conference."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":741,"evergreenUrl":"appeal-tolerance-parliament-worlds-religions","title":"Appeal for tolerance at Parliament of the World's Religions","description":"How can interfaith dialogue and religious freedom flourish when one religion declares that another is not a religion? Are tolerance and cooperation...","date":"2009-12-11","customDateline":false,"city":"MELBOURNE","country":"AUSTRALIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569627-74100091203bahaipwr1396.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569627-74100091203bahaipwr1396.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dr. Natalie Mobini of the Australian Baha’i community speaks about religious tolerance at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne. The session was devoted to religious conflict and persecution in Myanmar, Thailand, and Iran. At left is Dr. Helen James of the Australian National University, who also spoke.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"How can interfaith dialogue and religious freedom flourish when one religion declares that another is not a religion? Are tolerance and cooperation only possible among people who share the same doctrinal view of the world?\n\nThese questions were posed by a representative of the Australian Baha'i community at one of the sessions at the Parliament of the World's Religions, which has come to an end after a week of speeches, panel discussions, devotional programs, and artistic presentations.\n\nDr. Natalie Mobini made her remarks during a 30-minute presentation on the fifth day of the parliament, within a session on religious conflict and persecution that focused on Myanmar, Thailand, and Iran.\n\nReflecting on the origins of the interfaith movement – in particular the first Parliament of Religions in 1893 – Dr. Mobini related how its principal organizer believed that it had \"emancipated the world from bigotry.\"\n\n\"The interfaith movement has continued to be inspired by the vision of a world in which the followers of different faiths are able not merely to engage with one another in a spirit of tolerance and respect but also to collaborate in contributing to the advancement of society,\" she said\n\n\"At the same time, the havoc that religious intolerance is continuing to wreak in our world now poses a more serious threat to humanity's progress and well-being than at any previous time in history.\"\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Dr. Mobini explored how the interfaith movement might encourage mutual respect and cooperation among the followers of all religions and beliefs. She asked how dialogue can occur when one religion attempts to delegitimize another because of underlying theological differences.\n\nIn the case of Iran, the results of such an attitude have included the imprisonment of the Baha'i community's leaders, the desecration of its cemeteries, and the destruction of its holy places.\n\nReferring to the Islamic government of Iran denying that the Baha'i Faith is a religion, Dr. Mobini asked, \"Is this not the same as the past, when Christianity claimed that Islam is not a true religion?\"\n\n\"And when the machinery of the state is used for the purpose of eliminating that religion, the challenge moves into sharper focus,\" she said.\n\nThe lives lost during the crusades highlighted the prejudice that colored the attitudes of Christians towards Muslims in past centuries because Christianity did not recognize Islam as a \"divine\" religion, she noted.\n\n\"Christians today have, however, been able to transcend that intolerance without compromising their own theological beliefs and engage in interreligious dialogue with Muslims with an open-minded spirit. The world needs to learn from this.\"\n\nDr. Mobini cited examples of Islamic and other religious leaders who have held respectful dialogue and collaborated with others in spite of theological differences.\n\n\"Should not everyone seek to find within the particular framework of his or her beliefs how to set aside exclusionist claims in order to collaborate with followers of religions whose beliefs are different?\" she asked.\n\nIn the case of Iran, the Baha'i Faith does not need to be recognized as \"divine\" in origin, said Dr. Mobini, \"but simply asks that the fact of its existence be accepted and the rights of its followers upheld.\"\n\nResponding to a question from the audience about what action individuals can take to combat such instances of human rights abuses, she replied that the support of the interfaith movement was appreciated. She said that the transformation of attitudes begins at the grass roots and urged individuals to take the spirit of the parliament back to their communities.\n\nMore than 5,000 people from some 80 countries attended the parliament, which ran from December 3 to 9. Some 70 members of the Baha'i community played an active role in the proceedings, including participating in panel discussions with members of other religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam as well as indigenous faiths and traditions.\n\n\"It is evident that growing numbers of people are coming to realize that the truth underlying all religions is in its essence one,\" Dr. Mobini said.\n\n\"This is the challenge of all of us here and to all who desire to overcome religious intolerance and hatred: how to live up to a 'golden rule' that is at the heart of each of the world's religions; urging us to treat the followers of other faiths as we ourselves would wish to be treated.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569615-74101091203bahaipwr121.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Gary Sterling sings a passage from the writings of Baha’u’llah at the opening ceremony of the parliament. (BWNS photographs by Rachael Dere)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569618-74102091203bahaipwr102.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dr. Marjorie Tidman of Australia reads from the Baha’i writings at the opening ceremony of the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569616-74103091203bahaipwr067.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Different religious traditions were represented in the artistic presentations at the parliament."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569625-74104091203bahaipwr1370.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dr. A.K. Merchant, right, of India, gave a joint program with Professor Brian Lepard, left, of the United States. They presented a Baha'i perspective on the need for spiritual motivation in social and economic development."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569621-74105091203bahaipwr041.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Parliament of the World’s Religions drew more than 5,000 participants. It is now held every five years in the modern continuation of an event first held in 1893."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569621-74106091203bahaipwr798.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Moojan Momen, center, and Wendi Momen, right, of the United Kingdom, presented a session on structures needed to establish peace, social cohesion, and justice. Arini Beaumaris, left, of the Australian Baha’i community, also spoke at the parliament."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569613-74107091203bahaipwr1289.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Shadi Toloui-Wallace, right, and her mother, Shidan, performed at the sacred music concert held during the Parliament of the World’s Religions. The duo are from the Baha’i community of Australia."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent interfaith reports"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":739,"relatedStoryCaption":"Baha'is from five continents make presentations at Melbourne event."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":736,"relatedStoryCaption":"Religious leaders gather at historic Windsor Castle."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":663,"relatedStoryCaption":"In Istanbul, religious representatives discuss population and development issues."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"Discourse"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":740,"evergreenUrl":"human-rights-day-germany-puts-spotlight-iran","title":"Human Rights Day in Germany puts spotlight on Iran","description":"Youth from a drama troupe joined with local dignitaries this week to address themes of exclusion and prejudice as they commemorated Human Rights...","date":"2009-12-09","customDateline":false,"city":"LANGENHAIN","country":"GERMANY","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569594-74000peoplestheater.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569594-74000peoplestheater.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A member of the People’s Theater gestures as the group performs for Human Rights Day at the National Baha’i Center in Germany. The troupe often gives presentations for young people, demonstrating ways to cope with conflict in schools.","imageStyle":"canvas-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Youth from a drama troupe joined with local dignitaries this week to address themes of exclusion and prejudice as they commemorated Human Rights Day with the Baha'i community of Germany.\n\nThe program took place at the Baha'i National Center, on the grounds of the European Baha'i House of Worship, with more than 200 people in attendance.\n\nThe performance by the People's Theater, a youth project in the city of Offenbach, took a look at relationships between native Germans and immigrants, while other parts of the program focused on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran, especially a group of some 50 young people in Shiraz who are being punished for organizing activities for underprivileged children. Three of the Shiraz group are serving four-year prison sentences.\n\n\"I find it deeply shocking that the Baha'i youth in Shiraz engage in social activities in the same way as we do in Offenbach, but with one difference – whereas here in Germany our efforts are rewarded with prizes, the Baha'i youth in Shiraz must pay for their services to Iranian society with prison sentences and other coercive measures,\" said Peggy Habermann, coordinator of the People's Theater.\n\nKamal Sido, head of the Near East division of the Society for Threatened Peoples, attended the gathering and offered words of support for those persecuted in Iran.\n\nThe chairwoman of the Green Party in the German federal state of Hesse, Kordula Schulze-Asche, expressed indignation over the human rights violations perpetrated in Iran, as did Gisela Stang, mayor of Hofheim, which encompasses Langenhain."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Messages were read from two members of the German Federal Parliament, Erika Steinbach of the Christian Democratic Union and Omid Nouripour of the Green Party.\n\nIngo Hofmann, representing the Baha'i community of Germany, presented an overview of the current situation of the Baha'is in Iran. In Shiraz, he said, Haleh Rouhi, Raha Sabet, and Sasan Taqva, had organized, with permission from authorities, an educational program for underprivileged children. They were later accused of having propagated the Baha'i Faith, even though a report commissioned by the government concluded that their activities were strictly humanitarian. The three were sentenced to prison terms.\n\nBefore performing \"Souls of Shiraz,\" a piece composed for the occasion, musician Anke Keitel spoke of the invisible ties she feels with those imprisoned in Iran.\n\n\"Haleh, Raha, and Sasan believe just like me in the universality of human rights. They strive to foster the well-being of humanity, just as I do. And they are just as young as I am,\" she said.\n\nHuman Rights Day is celebrated annually around the world and marks the anniversary of the adoption – on 10 December 1948 – by the United Nations General Assembly of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569594-74001hall.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Over 200 people attended the Human Rights Day program at the Baha'i National Center in Germany on 6 December 2009. The building is near the European Baha’i House of Worship."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569594-74002kamalsido.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ingo Hofmann, representing the German Baha'i community, thanks Kamal Sido of the Society for Threatened Peoples for his comments."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569594-74003ankekeitel.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Before performing her song “Souls of Shiraz,” composed especially for the Human Rights program, musician Anke Keitel explains the ties she feels with the young people of Iran."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569594-74004schulzeasche.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Kordula Schulze-Asche, chairwoman of the Green Party in the German federal state of Hesse, voiced concern over human rights violations in Iran. “The Baha'i House of Worship is itself an architectural monument to human rights, since different religions come into contact here,” she said."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569594-74005ingohofmann.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The situation of the Baha’i religious minority in Iran is outlined by Ingo Hofmann."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Previous articles from Germany"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":598,"relatedStoryCaption":"Troupe combines drama and discussion in outreach to youth."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":524,"relatedStoryCaption":"A Baha'i memorial removed by the Nazis is restored by municipal authorities."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":693,"relatedStoryCaption":"Frankfurt hosts conference half a century after earlier international gathering."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":739,"evergreenUrl":"parliament-worlds-religions-under-way-melbourne","title":"Parliament of the World's Religions under way in Melbourne","description":"Baha'is from five continents are making presentations at the Parliament of the World's Religions – an event now held every five years in the...","date":"2009-12-04","customDateline":null,"city":"MELBOURNE","country":"AUSTRALIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569584-73900photos.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569584-73900photos.jpg"},"imageDescription":"International Baha'i presenters at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne include, from left, Lucretia Warren of Botswana, Lakota hoop dancer Kevin Locke, and Brian Lepard of the United States.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Baha'is from five continents are making presentations at the Parliament of the World's Religions – an event now held every five years in the modern continuation of an initiative begun more than a century ago.\n\nThe seven-day parliament, which opened on 3 December in Melbourne, is expected to draw as many as 8,000 individuals from virtually every world religion and faith group. Among those expected to participate are such international figures as the Dalai Lama and theologian Hans Kung.\n\nIt was at the inaugural Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in 1893, that the Baha'i Faith received one of its first public mentions in the West.\n\n\"That earlier gathering, which in some respects represents the beginning of the interfaith movement, created hope for a new spirit of unity among the religions,\" said Natalie Mobini, spokeswoman for the Australian Baha'i community.\n\n\"The main organizer said later that it had emancipated the world from bigotry,\" she said. \"At first, there indeed were signs of change. But it is apparent that we have a great deal more work to do to achieve our common aim of establishing brotherhood and peace.\n\n\"The belief that all the major religions come from God and are part of His plan for humanity is central to the Baha'i Faith,\" she continued. \"Thus the work to strengthen ties among the different religions is an arena of activity that we feel passionately about.\"\n\nMore than 70 Baha'is are attending the Melbourne event, participating at virtually every level of the parliament – from panel discussions on climate change and interfaith relations to artistic presentations to hosting a devotional gathering.\n\nAmong the Baha'i participants are:\n\n– Professor Brian Lepard, a human rights specialist from the University of Nebraska in the United States, who is examining from a Baha'i perspective the concept of the right to development. Dr. A. K. Merchant, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India, will speak at the same session.\n\n– Lucretia Warren, a Baha'i from Botswana and a speaker at the past two parliaments, who is participating in a session on \"Interfaith and the Future of Africa.\"\n\n– Native American Kevin Locke, a well-known performer of the Lakota hoop dance, who is leading a session titled \"There are no back row seats in the Hoop of Life.\"\n\n– British authors Moojan Momen and Wendi Momen, who are presenting a panel discussion on \"Building Peace in the Pursuit of Justice: A Baha'i Approach.\"\n\n– Australian Baha'i Arini Beaumaris, who will speak on \"Spirituality and Women's Leadership.\"\n\n– Recording artists Shadi and Shidan Toloui-Wallace, who will perform during the concert of sacred music scheduled for the evening of 6 December.\n\nBaha'is also are making presentations on environmental topics, consistent with the overall theme of the parliament, \"Make a world of difference: Hearing each other, healing the earth.\"\n\n\"The healing of the physical planet ... requires that we address spiritual principles,\" Dr. Mobini added.\n\nBaha'is of Australia are hosting a spiritual observance open to all participants at the parliament; an evening of music, drama, and dance featuring national and international artists; and presentations on topics ranging from the journey of the soul to the role of women in interfaith work.\n\nThe modern Parliament of World Religions began in 1993 in Chicago on the centenary of the original event. It is now held every five years. In 1999 it took place in Cape Town, South Africa, and in 2004 in Barcelona, Spain.\n\nInformation about the parliament is available at http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":738,"evergreenUrl":"un-resolution-iran-sends-powerful-message-human-rights","title":"UN resolution on Iran sends powerful message on human rights","description":"The approval today of a strongly worded resolution on human rights in Iran sends a powerful signal to the Iranian government that the world is...","date":"2009-11-20","customDateline":null,"city":"UNITED NATIONS","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The approval today of a strongly worded resolution on human rights in Iran sends a powerful signal to the Iranian government that the world is gravely concerned about how Iran treats its citizens, said the Baha'i International Community.\n\nThe resolution, approved by a vote of 74 to 48 by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, expressed \"deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran.\" The list of violations included oppressive measures taken after the June presidential election and \"increasing discrimination\" against minority groups, including Baha'is.\n\n\"This year's resolution – which is among the most forcefully worded in more than 25 years of resolutions on Iran – sends a potent message to the government there, stating vigorously that the international community will not turn a blind eye to human rights violations,\" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.\n\n\"The General Assembly identifies numerous violations, including the use of torture, the repeated abuse of legal rights, the violent repression of women, and the ongoing discrimination against minorities, including Baha'is, who are Iran's largest religious minority and are persecuted solely because of their religious belief,\" she said.\n\nThe resolution also expresses concern over the treatment of \"Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and their defenders.\"\n\n\"The resolution also sharply condemns Iran's severe curbs on freedom of expression and its use of violence to silence dissent after the presidential election in June,\" said Ms. Dugal. \"We can only hope that, given the severity of the resolution's expression, Iran will at long last heed the international community's recommendations and change its ways.\"\n\nThe resolution, which was put forward by Canada and cosponsored by 42 other countries, calls on Iran to better cooperate with UN human rights monitors, such as by allowing them to make visits to Iran, and asks the UN secretary general to report back next year on Iran's progress at fulfilling its human rights obligations.\n\nNoting the turmoil that followed the presidential elections, the resolution devoted eight paragraphs to express \"particular concern\" about oppressive measures used by the government to suppress dissent. It noted specifically the persecution of journalists, human rights defenders, students and \"others exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and association.\"\n\nIt also noted the \"use of violence\" against \"Iranian citizens engaged in the peaceful exercise of freedom of association, also resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.\" And it criticized the holding of \"mass trials and denying defendants access to adequate legal representation.\"\n\nIt makes extensive mention of the persecution of Baha'is, expressing concern over \"attacks on Baha'is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha'is, preventing members of the Baha'i Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically.\"\n\nThe resolution also notes the continued detention of seven Baha'i leaders who were arrested in March and May 2008, stating they have faced \"serious charges without adequate or timely access to legal representation.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"UN resolution"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Human rights in Iran](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/iu_UN_Resolution_Nov_2009.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 42KB)"},{"__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":"Earlier articles about Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":725,"relatedStoryCaption":"Further, efforts to have the accused released on bail have not succeeded."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":717,"relatedStoryCaption":"“We believe they are being detained solely because of their faith.”"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":702,"relatedStoryCaption":"\"It is our hope that, for the sanctity of Islam and the honor of Iran, the judiciary will be fair in its judgment.\""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":737,"evergreenUrl":"bahais-celebrate-birth-bahaullah","title":"Baha'is celebrate the Birth of Baha'u'llah","description":"On 12 November, Baha'is around the globe will celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. Gatherings...","date":"2009-11-11","customDateline":null,"city":"BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE","country":"","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569566-737008127tehran.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569566-737008127tehran.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Tehran, the city where Baha'u'llah was born in 1817. This photograph was taken around 1930. (Photo copyright Baha'i International Community)","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"On 12 November, Baha'is around the globe will celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith.\n\nGatherings are held in thousands of localities – in homes, at public facilities, at local and national Baha'i centers, and at Baha'i Houses of Worship.\n\nBaha'is invite their friends and the public to join them in offering prayers and celebrating with special programs, artistic performances, and refreshments.\n\nThe date is one of nine holy days during the year when Baha'is suspend work.\n\nBaha'u'llah was born in 1817 into a noble family in Tehran, the capital of Persia.\n\nIn 1853, He was exiled from His native land to Baghdad, where in 1863 He announced that He was the bearer of a new revelation from God that would bring unity to the peoples of the world. He was later exiled to Acre, in present-day Israel, where He passed away in 1892."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":586,"relatedStoryCaption":"Images show places and artifacts associated with founder of Baha'i Faith."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":336,"relatedStoryCaption":"Historic barracks in Acre undergo restoration."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":636,"relatedStoryCaption":"A thousand followers gather at His burial site."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":736,"evergreenUrl":"worlds-major-religions-present-action-plans-environment","title":"World’s major religions present action plans on environment","description":"Leaders representing the world's major religions, including the Baha'i Faith, gathered yesterday at historic Windsor Castle to formally launch...","date":"2009-11-04","customDateline":false,"city":"WINDSOR","country":"ENGLAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569288-73600arc7.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569288-73600arc7.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The procession of delegates enters Windsor Castle for the gathering hosted by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and the UN Development Programme. (Photos courtesy of ARC/Richard Stonehouse)","imageStyle":"canvas-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Leaders representing the world's major religions, including the Baha'i Faith, gathered yesterday at historic Windsor Castle to formally launch a series of action plans involving their communities in a long-term effort to protect the environment.\n\nThey were joined by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in a celebratory meeting that emphasized the role religion can play to inspire grassroots change and make \"peace with the planet.\"\n\n\"I have long believed that when governments and civil society work toward a common goal, transformational change is possible,\" said Mr. Ban. \"Faiths and religions are a central part of that equation.\n\n\"Indeed, the world's faith communities occupy a unique position in discussions on the fate of our planet and the accelerating impacts of climate change,\" he said.\n\nThe three-day event – which ended at noon today – was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), which was founded in 1995 by Prince Philip.\n\nThe core session of the gathering was yesterday's meeting at Windsor Castle, where representatives of each religious group presented a seven-year plan designed to promote \"generational change\" in attitudes towards the environment.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Thirty-one plans were presented, reflecting representation by virtually all of the world's independent religions: the Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism, and Sikhism.\n\nIn general, the plans sought to offer concrete, practical steps for action.\n\nThe Muslim plan, for example, calls for the establishment of an umbrella organization, Muslim Associations for Climate Change Action (MACCA), that will represent Islamic nations and faith communities from around the world. It also calls for an Islamic environmental labeling system, a \"Green Hajj\" so that within 10 years the traditional Islamic pilgrimage will be recognized as environmentally friendly, and the construction of a model \"green mosque\" to showcase best practices in heating, light, and design.\n\nThe Sikh plan urges all Sikh gurdwaras – temples – to recycle, compost, use green energy, use eco-stoves, start rainwater harvesting, purchase reusable plates and cups.\n\nRepresentatives of the Baha'i Faith presented a plan that focuses on using a system of regional training institutes to encourage within the worldwide Baha'i community \"acts of service related to environmental sustainability.\"\n\n\"Baha'is believe that religious belief and spirituality lie at the foundation of human motivation and behavior,\" said Tahirih Naylor, a Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations who was one of two Baha'i delegates to the Windsor event.\n\n\"We believe that efforts to change harmful human behavior – such as those actions that contribute to global warming or environmental degradation – can be greatly facilitated by processes that lead to a better understanding of our own relationship to God, and of humanity's relationship with nature. It is from such understanding that action naturally arises.\"\n\nThe approximately 200 representatives from religious communities, environmental groups, and international agencies who gathered in Windsor also met in a series of plenary sessions and workshops at the Harte and Garter Hotel to discuss how they can reach a new level of collaboration in the face of global warming, water shortages, deforestation, and other environmental threats.\n\n\"Climate change is complex, and dealing with it requires us to change at many levels,\" said Olav Kjorven, assistant secretary general of the United Nations and director of the Bureau of Development Policy at the UN Development Programme. \"It requires a change of ethos. Religions have an unparalleled ability to reach out to people at the grassroots and to touch hearts and minds. Religious institutions are the third largest actors in international markets. Environmentally friendly purchasing decisions by them would have a huge impact across the world.\"\n\nTony Juniper, special adviser to the Prince of Wales' Rainforests Project and former executive director of the Friends of the Earth, likewise emphasized the important role that religions can play.\n\n\"Scientific rationalism gave rise to good science, which in turn gave rise to strong political arguments for cleaning up the environment,\" Mr. Juniper said.\n\n\"As a result, governments dealt with acid rain and other environmental threats. But these changes were only superficial,\" he said.\n\n\"Purely scientific rationalism cannot change our fundamental understanding of who we are and how we should live. Religion and science must work together to bring about a fundamental transformation in our relationship to the world. This kind of change needs a spiritual foundation,\" he said."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569289-73601arc2.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Baha'i delegates Arthur Lyon Dahl and Tahirih Naylor receive certificates at the Windsor Castle gathering. They are pictured with Prince Philip, founder of ARC; Martin Palmer of ARC; and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569287-73602arc8.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The procession passes by the UN flag at left and a number of religious symbols, including a Baha'i symbol at right."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569289-73603arc3.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Duke of Edinburgh and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon both addressed the gathering at Windsor Castle."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569286-73604arc5.jpg"},"imageDescription":"An Indian dancer performs during a series of presentations titled \"Hearing the Voices of Creation.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543569286-73605arc4.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Representatives of all the participating religions received certificates from Prince Philip and Ban Ki-moon. Shown here are Japanese Shinto priests."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related documents"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Baha’i Seven Year Plan of Action on Climate Change](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/736_bahai_7_year_climate_change_plan.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 40KB)"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[ARC: Faith commitments to protect the planet](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/736_windsor_commitments.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 1MB)"}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":735,"evergreenUrl":"bahais-join-global-plan-generational-change-climate-change","title":"Baha'is join global plan for \"generational change\" on climate change","description":"The Baha'i International Community today announced that it has become a partner in a United Nations-sponsored program to promote \"generational...","date":"2009-10-27","customDateline":null,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Baha'i International Community today announced that it has become a partner in a United Nations-sponsored program to promote \"generational change\" to address climate change and environmental sustainability.\n\nThe program, which is co-sponsored by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to promote lifestyle changes that will help slow global warming and other environmental problems during a seven-year period from 2010 to 2017.\n\n\"We are very pleased to join with other world religions and with the United Nations in this inspiring initiative to promote lasting change in the way people interact with the environment,\" said Tahirih Naylor, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.\n\n\"The significance of this effort is the manner in which it capitalizes on the strengths of faith communities – such as their strong grassroots network and the transformative power of religious belief – to address environmental problems at their foundation, which is human behavior.\n\n\"One of the long-term goals of the Baha'i Faith is to promote the positive transformation of individuals and communities, and to this end we already sponsor thousands of study circles, children's classes, devotional gatherings, and youth groups in more than 180 countries.\n\n\"We look forward to learning more about the efforts of other faith communities and are confident that we can make a useful contribution to this exciting program,\" she said.\n\nMs. Naylor will join representatives of the world's other religions next week at Windsor Castle when the ARC/UNDP program is formally launched. The event, scheduled for 2-4 November, will feature a keynote speech by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and will be hosted by HRH The Prince Philip.\n\nMore than 200 faith and secular leaders are expected to be present, and many faith groups will announce commitments to practical initiatives, like the Baha'i plan, to meet global environmental challenges. Joining Ms. Naylor as a Baha'i representative to the event will be Arthur Lyon Dahl, a former deputy assistant executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, an author, and a well-known specialist on coral reefs and biodiversity.\n\nMs. Naylor noted that the BIC has been a member of ARC since its founding, and has consistently sought to support its program of interfaith conservation efforts.\n\n\"The worldwide Baha'i community has long been involved in promoting sustainable development and in creating small-scale projects that include environmental conservation,\" she said. \"And so this initiative is especially exciting because of the way it concretely addresses the underlying attitudes and values that are at the root of many of humanity's environmental problems.\"\n\nSpecifically, said Ms. Naylor, Baha'is around the world will be encouraged to explore the relationship of humans to the environment as articulated in the Baha'i sacred writings and to take action at the individual and community level.\n\n\"In our experience, connecting the hearts of people to sacred writings is the best way to provide the motivation for social change and action,\" she said. \"As well, Baha'is will be encouraged to engage in acts of service related to environmental sustainability.\"\n\nAt the present time, Ms. Naylor said, many thousands of Baha'is in virtually every country are engaged in a coherent framework of action that promotes the spiritual development of the individual and channels the collective energies of its members towards service to humanity.\n\nThese activities include the systematic study of the Baha'i writings in small groups in order to build capacity for service; devotional gatherings aimed at connecting the hearts of participants with the Creator; neighborhood children's classes that offer lessons aimed at laying the foundations of a noble and upright character; and groups that strive to assist young teens to navigate a crucial stage of their lives and become empowered to direct their energies toward the advancement of civilization.\n\nThe Baha'i International Community is an international nongovernmental organization that represents the worldwide Baha'i community, which has some five million members in 100,000 localities spread through virtually every country. Its members come from nearly every ethnic group, culture, profession, and social or economic background.\n\nARC is a secular body that helps the major religions of the world to develop their own environmental programs, based on their own core teachings, beliefs and practices. It was founded in 1995 by Prince Philip. Its members include 11 major world religions."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Previous articles on climate change"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":729,"relatedStoryCaption":"World leaders must look at moral aspect, says IPCC head"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":728,"relatedStoryCaption":"Spiritual beliefs affect attitude toward climate change, say conference speakers"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":714,"relatedStoryCaption":"Young people are key part of delegation"}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":734,"evergreenUrl":"trial-seven-bahais-delayed-no-new-date-set","title":"Trial of seven Baha'is delayed, no new date set","description":"Although the trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran for more than 17 months was scheduled for today, when attorneys and families arrived...","date":"2009-10-18","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":"Although the trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran for more than 17 months was scheduled for today, when attorneys and families arrived at the court offices in Tehran they were told it would not take place. No new trial date was given.\n\n\"The time has come for these seven innocent people to be immediately released on bail,\" said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.\n\n\"The seven, whose only 'crime' is their religious belief, are once again in legal limbo, held with no idea of the legal process ahead of them. The whole charade cries out for an end to their unlawful detention,\" she said.\n\nThe seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.\n\nOfficial Iranian news accounts have said the seven are to be accused of \"espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic.\" They have also been charged with \"spreading corruption on earth.\"\n\nLast week, it appeared likely that the trial would indeed be postponed again, since attorneys for the seven had not yet received the proper writ of notification.\n\n\"The fact that their attorneys did not receive proper notification and that there is no new date for the trial is just one among many gross violations of Iran's own legal procedures, not to mention the violations of due process recognized by international law, that have marked this case from the beginning,\" said Ms. Ala'i."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related articles"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":733,"relatedStoryCaption":"Required legal notification has not been given."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":732,"relatedStoryCaption":"Secretary general expresses strong criticism."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":731,"relatedStoryCaption":"Author and actress among those who speak out."}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null}],"lang":"en","language":"en","location":"/archive/52/"}},"staticQueryHashes":["2762707590"]}