{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-archive-page-jsx","path":"/archive/56/","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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A bus carrying 14 Baha’is from the Guajira crashed on the first leg of their long trip, yet only one of them had to return home.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The series of 41 conferences being held in cities around the world continues to be historic for the Baha’i Faith, not only for the number of participants (over 12,000 and counting) but also for people’s determination to overcome obstacles to get to the gatherings.\n\nThe first conferences, which were in Africa, brought stories of people traveling a hundred kilometers or more on foot – a reflection of their eagerness to accept an invitation from the Universal House of Justice and meet with representatives of the supreme elected body of their religion. Meeting Baha’is from outside their locality, in some cases for the first time, was also a big motivation.\n\nConferences this past weekend brought more tales of sacrifice, determination and attempts to resolve travel problems – sometimes unsuccessfully.\n\nAmong the most moving stories was that of the indigenous people of the Colombian Guajira, the arid peninsula at the northernmost tip of South America.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The minute the Baha’is there received the letter from the Universal House of Justice calling them to a conference in Quito, Ecuador, they organized themselves into committees to see how many people they could help make the trip. Finances were only part of the problem. One of the most important committees was the document committee, charged with the daunting task of helping people get national ID cards, passports, and vaccinations in the space of three short weeks.\n\nOne rural youth began raising money by taking on as many odd jobs as he could find. He walked all the way to the nearest city to get his vaccination only to be told to return another day, which he did. But in the end he couldn’t go – he is under-age and crossing the border to Ecuador requires written consent from his father, who lives in Venezuela and couldn’t be reached in time. The young man joyfully contributed his hard-earned cash – the equivalent of about US$8 – to help others make the trip.\n\nOn the day of departure, 14 Baha’is from the area had managed to get their documents in order and raised or borrowed the minimum funds for a trip to Ecuador. They boarded buses in their regional capital of Riohacha at 4 p.m. the Tuesday before the conference, giving them the three days they needed to reach Quito.\n\nThirteen hours out of Riohacha, the bus collided head-on with a truck, killing the driver’s assistant, breaking the leg of one of the Baha’is, and virtually destroying the bus. The passengers were taken to the nearest hospital. Among the Baha’i group, it was determined that the one man who was seriously hurt would have to return home but the others, once they were patched up, could continue on.\n\nNow out of money, which had been spent to deal with the accident, the group proceeded, stopping off in the Cali area to join up with other Baha’is – and try to clean their blood-stained clothes before heading out on the final 18-hour leg of their journey.\n\nIn Quito, other stories were not as dramatic but still inspiring. A young woman, age 17, upon learning that she wouldn’t be able to travel without getting an ID document from the government, persevered until she reached the governor of her region. He was so impressed by her diligence and desire to take part in the event that he personally granted her the document.\n\nConferences this past weekend, in addition to Quito, included New Delhi and Kolkata in India, and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.\n\nFor people traveling from Bangladesh to Kolkata there were severe challenges with documentation. Getting passports rapidly was difficult – the conference was announced on 20 October, leaving barely a month – but current conditions at the border between Bangladesh and India apparently have affected the visa process. About 200 Baha’is in Bangladesh did their best to get the papers they needed, with many of them waiting in line for up to three days at the Indian consulate to apply for a visa. All but 30 were turned away and thus could not go to Kolkata.\n\nReports on individual conferences: https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758724-67301.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Two friends from the Guajira peninsula look relaxed in Quito after weeks of hurried preparations, followed by a three-day bus ride that was interrupted by a serious accident."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758723-67302.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela were represented at the regional conference in Quito. Many of the 1,150 participants undertook long bus rides through the Andes Mountains to reach the gathering."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758722-67303.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The 1,500 people who made it to Kolkata, India, for the conference in that city were treated to a fireworks display on the first night of the event. Some 30 Baha’is from Bangladesh had waited up to three days in line at a consulate to get the necessary visa."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758722-67304.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dr. Zena Sahidi, right, is one of 30 people who managed to make the trip from Bangladesh to Kolkata, India. Another 170 Bangladeshis were thwarted in their efforts to get a visa to cross the border and thus were not able to attend. Also pictured are Sarbani Ganguli and Sanchita Ganguli from the state of West Bengal (Kolkata is the capital)."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758724-67305.jpg"},"imageDescription":"At the conference in Lubumbashi, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lushiku Lushiku recounted how he took time off from his teaching job, borrowed money for traveling, and set off from his village on a three-day trip on a “disorderly bicycle” to get to a regional capital where he could catch a flight."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758723-67306.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In New Delhi, a mother holds her sleepy daughter during conference proceedings. The New Delhi gathering, with 2,800 participants, was the largest of the first 10 regional gatherings."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"41 Conferences"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Reports, photos, and video clips from the regional conferences of the Five Year Plan](https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related content"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":669,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":668,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":665,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":670,"evergreenUrl":"un-rejection-iranian-no-action-motion-is-victory-human-rights-say-baha-is","title":"UN rejection of Iranian ‘no-action motion’ is victory for human rights, say Baha’is","description":"The Baha’i International Community praised the United Nations General Assembly for today rejecting a so-called “no-action motion” on human rights...","date":"2008-11-21","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 Baha’i International Community praised the United Nations General Assembly for today rejecting a so-called “no-action motion” on human rights in Iran.\n\nSuch a motion, if it had passed, would have used procedural rules to set aside a resolution that is sharply critical of the Islamic Republic of Iran over its use of torture, the high incidence of executions, the “violent repression” of women, and “increasing discrimination” against Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Sufis, and Sunni Muslims, among other minorities.\n\nThat resolution subsequently passed the Assembly’s Third Committee, by a vote of 70 to 51 with 60 abstentions, in a second vote today. The resolution will now be sent for final approval by the full Assembly in mid-December.\n\n“This motion allowed governments an easy way to evade their responsibility to protect international human rights, and by rejecting it they have cleared the way for a thorough investigation of human rights abuses in Iran,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the BIC to the United Nations.\n\n“The UN General Assembly therefore deserves praise for rejecting the motion, which was sponsored by Iran in an obvious effort to evade international condemnation for its worsening human rights record.\n\n“Our hope is that such no-action motions, which essentially use a procedural ploy to avoid a legitimate discussion of human rights issues, will now become a thing of the past. If so, this represents a victory for the rights of people everywhere,” said Ms. Dugal.\n\nA no-action motion is a procedure that prevents member states at the UN from even debating a particular resolution. It is being increasingly used to allow countries to avoid having to take a position on politically sensitive issues, such as human rights, and so to escape scrutiny, Ms. Dugal said.\n\n“Using procedural motions in this way gives unscrupulous countries the chance to turn a blind eye to the oppressive actions of a member state, all the while pretending that they care about human rights. The international community should no longer stand for this.\n\n“If it had passed, it would have been an affront to those Iranians, particularly inside their homeland, who have so bravely spoken out against the abuses of their government. Increasingly, Iranian lawyers and human rights activists have sought to uphold due process and defend the rights of their fellow citizens, often at considerable risk,” said Ms. Dugal.\n\nFailure of the motion, by a vote of 81 to 71 with 28 abstentions, cleared the way for the Assembly’s Third Committee, which oversees human rights issues, to consider the actual resolution on Iran’s human rights situation. That vote came minutes later.\n\nThe resolution was put forward by Canada and, before the vote, had the sponsorship of more than 40 countries. It expresses “deep concern at the ongoing systematic violation of human rights” in Iran, noting especially recent “confirmed instances” of torture, public executions, and the “violent repression” of groups such as “women exercising their right of peaceful assembly.”\n\nThe resolution also calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to “address the substantive concerns” on human rights that were highlighted in a recent report by the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.\n\nIssued in October, Mr. Ban’s report said “there are a number of serious impediments to the full protection of human rights” in Iran. It likewise expressed concerns over torture, executions, the rights of women, and discrimination against minorities. (To read the full report, go to: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/63/459.)\n\nThe resolution calls on Iran to “end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views” and to “uphold due process of law rights and to end impunity for human rights violations.”\n\nThe resolution takes particular note of attacks on Baha’is, noting “increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Baha’is, preventing members of the Baha’i Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically, and the arrest and detention of seven Baha’i leaders without charge or access to legal representation.”\n\nMs. Dugal noted that there are at least 20 Baha’is currently in jail, including the national Baha’i leadership of seven members who were arrested last March and May and are being held in Evin prison without charges. More than 100 more have been arrested and released on bail over the last four years as part of a stepped-up government effort at persecution."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":669,"evergreenUrl":"baha-is-gather-in-drc-despite-war-other-challenges","title":"Baha’is gather in DRC despite war, other challenges","description":"A war close at hand and myriad financial and security challenges did not stop nearly 800 people from reaching a historic Baha' conference in...","date":"2008-11-18","customDateline":null,"city":"UVIRA","country":"Democratic Republic of the Congo","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1548398714-66900.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1548398714-66900.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Baha’i conference in Uvira attracted nearly 800 people, some from the war zone to the north and even a few from Rwanda and Burundi.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"A war close at hand and myriad financial and security challenges did not stop nearly 800 people from reaching a historic Baha’i conference in Uvira.\n\nMost of the participants came from the DRC, but 13 were from Burundi and four from Rwanda.\n\n“Although all our belongings were taken from us on the way here, we made it to the conference,” said Francois Njiangani, who lives in the province west of Uvira.\n\nTwenty-one people arrived from North Kivu province – a site of the current unrest. Uvira, in South Kivu province, is roughly 200 kilometers from Goma, the capital of North Kivu.\n\nMr. Njiangani indicated that the current insecurity did not deter him from his Baha’i activities, saying he would return home and rededicate himself to community-building efforts, which he termed “a way out, a help for the whole of humanity.”\n\nNgoy Kalonda of North Kivu said being at the conference created hope and motivated her to continue Baha’i activities in her community, too.\n\nA security officer from the Uvira area – previously unfamiliar with Baha’i teachings – appeared at some of the sessions and afterward stated that he thought the conference came exactly “at the right time, in the right place.”"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"He said if Baha’is are able to put into practice their teachings of peace and unity – and spread their message on all continents – the world will be transformed.\n\nThe conference was one of three held on 15-16 November – the others were in Bangalore, India, and Bangui, Central African Republic – that are part of a series of 41 Baha’i gatherings being held around the world in a four-month span.\n\nThe purpose of the conferences is for Baha’is to discuss developments in their core activities at the neighborhood level, and also to make plans for the coming months.\n\n“It almost felt like the heat of the joy and enthusiasm of the participants was competing with the burning heat of the African sun,” said one participant at Uvira, attempting to explain the mood.\n\nThe conference was such a beacon of hope that one man walked 300 kilometers from his home in Lulenge province.\n\nSimilar stories were reported at the conference in the Central African Republic, where more than 40 people walked between 50 and 100 kilometers – or farther – to reach the gathering, the first Baha’i event of its type ever held in the country. Some 800 people came for the conference, a number which stretched the capacity of the venue. The conference was held in the Parliament building in the capital city – the largest hall that organizers could find to accommodate the expected crowd.\n\nNearly twice that number – some 1,500 people – attended the conference in Bangalore, which included participants from India as well as Sri Lanka and the Andaman Islands.\n\nMany were excited that the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha’i Faith, had convened the conferences and was sending an individual message to each gathering.\n\nThe unprecedented conferences come half-way through a five-year effort by Baha’is to decentralize their activities and organize devotional meetings, study circles, and classes for children and youth at the neighborhood level.\n\nReports on individual conferences: https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1548398711-669012.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Uvira is only about 200 kilometers south of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province where much of the current unrest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is centered."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1548398721-669020.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The conference in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, also attracted about 800 people. It was held in the Parliament building."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1548398718-66903.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Bangalore, India, was the site of third Baha’i conference held the weekend of 15-16 November. They are part of a series of 41 gatherings being held from November to February."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"41 Conferences"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Reports, photos, and video clips from the regional conferences of the Five Year Plan](https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related content"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":668,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":665,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":668,"evergreenUrl":"big-turnout-regional-bahai-conferences","title":"Big turnout for regional Baha’i conferences","description":"More than a thousand Baha’is from nearly a dozen countries came together for a regional conference that turned out to be the largest Baha’i gathering...","date":"2008-11-11","customDateline":null,"city":"JOHANNESBURG","country":"SOUTH AFRICA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758688-66800jburgconf8.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_VideoRecord","videoUrl":"","videoStyle":"large-right","videoDescription":"Video: Friends from across southern Africa gathered in Johannesburg for a conference where enthusiasm often erupted into spontaneous song."}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"More than a thousand Baha’is from nearly a dozen countries came together for a regional conference that turned out to be the largest Baha’i gathering ever held in South Africa.\n\nA simultaneous conference this past weekend in Nakuru, Kenya, also drew more than a thousand participants.\n\nAfter only the second weekend of a four-month series of 41 conferences to be held around the world, organizers are finding that interest in the gatherings is so high that they are having to regroup and adjust plans to accommodate larger numbers of people.\n\nIn Johannesburg, planners originally estimated that about 500 people would come, according to a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of South Africa. They revised expectations to 800, but when more than 1,000 people appeared, preparations fell short.\n\n“We have run out of everything – except spirit and commitment,” one of the organizers reported within hours of the start of the conference.\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":1},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The convening of 41 two-day conferences was announced on 20 October in a letter to the Baha’is of the world from the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha’i Faith.\n\nThe purpose of the gatherings, the letter said, is for Baha’is to celebrate recent achievements in grassroots community-building and to plan their next steps in organizing core activities in their home areas.\n\nThe first of the 41 conferences was convened on 1 November in Lusaka, Zambia, and coming this week are gatherings in Bangalore, India; Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Bangui, Central African Republic.\n\nIn Johannesburg, a mere two weeks ago the National Baha’i Assembly announced details of that conference and urged Baha’is from all around southern Africa to come, calling it a “thrilling opportunity to gather together to consult. ...”\n\nPeople from Angola, Botswana, La Reunion, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, and Swaziland responded.\n\n“The conference is stunning,” one of the organizers reported by noon the first day. “Some of the very veteran Baha’is were tearfully jubilant at the sight of so many friends from so many places. It was encouraging and inspiring from the moment the conference registration opened.”\n\nWell over half the participants at Nakuru were from Kenya, but there also were 200 people from Uganda, 100 from Tanzania, 42 from Ethiopia, four from Mozambique, and three from southern Sudan.\n\n“The spirit of the conference was very high as most participants had never attended any international conference,” said the initial report from the gathering."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758679-66801nakuru.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Some 1,200 people came to Nakuru, Kenya, during the second of 18 consecutive weekends of Baha’i regional conferences around the world. Nakuru is one of 41 cities and towns that will host a gathering."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758678-66802jburgcouncellorlutchmaya.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In Johannesburg, Counsellor Eddy Lutchmaya leads a workshop to study messages from the Universal House of Justice."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758678-66803jburgconf9.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Two drummers get into the spirit at the Johannesburg conference."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758678-66804nakuru1010774.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A young man addresses the Baha’is gathered in Nakuru, a city of 300,000 people northwest of Nairobi, Kenya."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758679-66805nakuru.jpg"},"imageDescription":"At the conference in Nakuru, friends from Ethiopia join together in a dance."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related coverage"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Reports and photographs from the 41 conferences](https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related content"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":665,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":667,"evergreenUrl":"baha-is-mark-birth-baha-u-llah","title":"Baha’is mark the Birth of Baha’u’llah","description":"The Baha’i center in Seoul was the site of a special program – one of thousands around the world – marking the 191st anniversary of the birth...","date":"2008-11-11","customDateline":null,"city":"SEOUL","country":"SOUTH KOREA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504408-66700sk1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504408-66700sk1.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Baha’is and their guests gather in the Baha’i center in Seoul, South Korea, on the evening of 11 November to celebrate the Birth of Baha’u’llah.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":" The Baha’i center in Seoul was the site of a special program – one of thousands around the world – marking the 191st anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, which occurred on 12 November 1817 in Tehran, Iran.\n\nThe anniversary is one of nine holy days during the year on which Baha’is suspend work.\n\nActivities were planned in cities, towns, and villages around the globe, including at Baha’i Houses of Worship, at national and local Baha’i centers, at public facilities, and in private homes.\n\nIn Seoul, Baha’is treated their guests to dinner, music, readings, and a special presentation for the holy day."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Considered by His followers to be a Manifestation of God in a line of divine teachers that includes Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Krishna, Buddha and others, Baha’u’llah attracted thousands of followers before His passing in 1892, in Acre in what is now Israel.\n\nToday the Baha’i Faith is established in virtually every country and has about 5 million adherents."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504408-66701sk2.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In Seoul, music, food, and a special presentation were part of the holy day commemoration."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504411-66702brisbane.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In Brisbane, Australia, Baha’is and their friends meet for the celebration of the Birth of Baha’u’llah. Similar gatherings were held in thousands of localities the world over."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":666,"evergreenUrl":"photograph-collection-posted-web-site","title":"Photograph collection posted to Web site","description":"A collection of 500 photographs of Baha’i activities around the world is now available for viewing and downloading on the official Baha’i Web...","date":"2008-11-07","customDateline":null,"city":"HAIFA","country":"ISRAEL","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504354-66600col.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504354-66600col.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Photographs in the new Web presentation include this of children in Colombia. MORE PHOTOS »","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"A collection of 500 photographs of Baha’i activities around the world is now available for viewing and downloading on the official Baha’i Web site.\n\nThe link to the specific Web section, titled “Attaining the dynamics of growth: Images from five continents,” is www.bahai.org/attaining/.\n\nThe photographs, commissioned by the Baha’i World Centre, were among thousands done as part of a project leading up to the International Baha’i Convention, held last spring in Haifa. Delegates from almost every country in the world participated in the convention, making it a showcase for the diversity of the human family.\n\nThe images show Baha’is in their home communities participating in the core activities of study circles, children’s classes, junior youth activities, and devotional gatherings. A separate section is devoted to social and economic development."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The photographs are of Baha’is and their friends in cities, towns, and villages in 18 different countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Malaysia, Malawi, Mongolia, Nepal, Panama, Sarawak, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Zambia."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504362-66601malawi.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mulanje, Malawi"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504355-66602mongolia.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Khuvsgul, Mongolia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504371-66603bol.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Tarabuco, Bolivia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504359-66604indonesia.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Biharsharif, India"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504356-66605malaysia.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504354-66606col.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Norte del Cauca, Colombia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504364-66607mongolia.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504363-66608ken7010.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Tiriki West, Kenya"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504364-66609canada.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Toronto, Ontario, Canada"}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":665,"evergreenUrl":"zambia-gathering-is-first-series-41-conferences","title":"Zambia gathering is first in series of 41 conferences","description":"Some 750 Baha’is from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe gathered in Lusaka last weekend for the first of 41 regional Baha’i conferences scheduled...","date":"2008-11-04","customDateline":null,"city":"LUSAKA","country":"ZAMBIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504336-66500lusakaconf009.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504336-66500lusakaconf009.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The first of 41 regional Baha’i conferences to be held around the globe between now and 1 March drew 750 Baha’is from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. It was held on 1-2 November in Lusaka. The next conferences will be a week later in Nakuru, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Some 750 Baha’is from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe gathered in Lusaka last weekend for the first of 41 regional Baha’i conferences scheduled over the next four months in cities around the globe.\n\nThe unprecedented series of gatherings comes at the midway point of a five-year effort by Baha’is to decentralize many of their activities and organize study circles, devotional meetings, and classes for children and young people at the neighborhood level.\n\n“I feel that the conference was exactly what we needed to inspire, encourage and boost our spirit…,” said Musonda Kapusa of Lusaka.\n\nParticipants came from all nine provinces of Zambia and from neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe. Five traditional African chiefs, all Baha’is and supporters of the Baha’i work in their areas, were among those who attended.\n\nThe 41 conferences – in cities from Abidjan to Yaounde, reaching geographically from Vancouver to Sao Paulo to London to Johannesburg to Ulaanbaatar to Auckland – are being held in response to a call by the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that heads the Baha’i Faith.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"In a letter to the Baha’is of the world announcing the conferences, the House of Justice indicated that the purpose of the gatherings was to celebrate achievements in grassroots community-building, and to discuss the lessons learned and deliberate on how to involve more people in a particular approach to improving the societies they live in – an approach that combines spiritual development with community service.\n\nEfforts by Baha’is at the neighborhood level should continue, “no matter how severe the crises engulfing the world around them,” the House of Justice said in its letter.\n\n“Financial structures once thought to be impregnable have tottered and world leaders have shown their inability to devise more than temporary solutions, a failing to which they increasingly confess,” the letter said. “Whatever expedient measures are adopted, confidence has been shaken and a sense of security lost.”\n\nThe long-held Baha’i belief that material and spiritual civilization must advance together, undoubtedly has been reinforced by the world situation, the letter said.\n\nPeople at the conference in Lusaka – 550 from Zambia, 80 from Zimbabwe, and 120 from Malawi – heard a special message addressed to them from the Universal House of Justice and also consulted on the earlier letter, dated 20 October and already translated into some of the languages of the attendees – Tonga, Lunda, Bemba, Chewa, and Shona.\n\nThe focus of the gathering then shifted to planning for upcoming activities, as “men, women and even the children pondered and made heartfelt pledges to serve their neighbors and friends, and work together to improve their communities purely for the love of God,” said a news release from the Baha’is of Zambia.\n\n“Everyone is worried about what to do because the world is changing for the worse, but the answer is in the teachings of God if only we can apply them to our daily lives,” one participant said.\n\nAmong those attending the Lusaka conference were four counselors, individuals with special responsibilities in the Baha’i community: two from southern Africa, Maina Mkandawire of Malawi and Garth Pollock of Zambia, and two who attended as representatives of the Universal House of Justice, Uransaikhan Baatar of Mongolia and Stephen Birkland of the United States, both of whom currently serve at the Baha’i World Center.\n\nNearly a dozen choirs from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe were on hand to provide music and add to the spirit of the gathering.\n\n“It was such a big and wonderful gathering,” said Heighten Ngangula of Zambia. \"I never attended (anything like this) since I became a Baha’i.”"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504335-66501lusakaco.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Sehla Masunda, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Zimbabwe, was one of 80 Baha’is from her country to attend the conference in Lusaka."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504335-66502lusakaconf005.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Uransaikhan Baatar addresses the Lusaka gathering. She and Stephen Birkland, both members of the International Teaching Centre, attended as representatives of the Universal House of Justice."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504335-66503lusakaconf018.jpg"},"imageDescription":"More than 10 choirs from three countries joined in to add to the spirit of the two-day regional Baha’i conference in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504335-66504lusakaconf0210.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Followers of Baha’u’llah from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe were the first of thousands from around the world who will attend one of 41 regional conferences over a four-month period. Gatherings have been planned on every continent."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504336-66505lusakaconf0320.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The 750 participants in the Lusaka conference broke into smaller groups for consultation and reflection, assessing community-building efforts in their own towns and making plans for future action."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504335-66506lusakaconf019.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Five African chiefs were in attendance, including Senior Chief Sailunga, left, of Zambia. All five of the chiefs are Baha'is."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504335-66507lusakaconf0200.jpg"},"imageDescription":"“I feel that the conference was exactly what we needed to inspire, encourage, and boost our spirit,” said Musonda Kapusa of Lusaka, who attended the gathering in Zambia."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"41 Conferences"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Reports, photos, and video clips from the regional conferences of the Five Year Plan](https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/)","relatedLinkDescription":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":664,"evergreenUrl":"ugandan-project-doesn-t-stop-literacy","title":"Ugandan project doesn’t stop at literacy","description":"Being literate means being able to read useful information – that's why the first unit in the UPLIFT literacy program tells how to treat malaria....","date":"2008-11-02","customDateline":null,"city":"NEBBI DISTRICT","country":"UGANDA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504318-66400upliftcomp.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504318-66400upliftcomp.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Alisa Poli, left, learned to read at age 63. Patrick Uwachgiu, 25, of the village of Panyabongo, and Terence Jacan, 42, of Pamitu, are volunteer mentors in the UPLIFT program.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Being literate means being able to read useful information – that's why the first unit in the UPLIFT literacy program tells how to treat malaria.\n\nLater units deal with farming methods, nutrition, hygiene and safety, making compost, environmental challenges, and so on.\n\n\"When I compare my condition and that of my friends who have not attended UPLIFT courses, I can see a big difference,\" says villager Alisa Poli, speaking in Alur, the main language in this part of Uganda.\n\nEarlier this year – at the age of 63 – she began the UPLIFT program and already can read.\n\nThe “T” in UPLIFT stands for transformation, a concept at the heart of the program, says program director Hizzaya Hissani. The full name of the initiative is the Uganda Program of Literacy for Transformation.\n\n“UPLIFT uses literacy as a vehicle for social and economic transformation,” explains Dr. Hissani, who with five fellow Baha’is began the program in 2001.\n\nSince that time, more than 6,700 local residents have completed the literacy training, and – with new support from the Norwegian and Ugandan governments – UPLIFT has committed to training 4,000 more people by the end of 2009.\n\n**What participants learn**\n\nThose who have been through the course – UPLIFT uses the term “learners” – tend to talk about its holistic nature rather than the isolated skill of reading.\n\n“My attitude about things has changed a lot,” says Kulastika Okwong, a 61-year-old mother of seven who has completed the UPLIFT training. “I was really ignorant. I didn’t know how to treat malaria, and I didn’t know how to make compost…. We lived day-to-day. We ate all the food I produced, and we had no savings.”\n\nMrs. Okwong, whose husband is one of 10 field coordinators for UPLIFT, says she used to feel like a “dependent” person; since going through the training she feels more independent.\n\n“I used to go to witch doctors when someone was sick, but now I try medicine made of neem leaves. If that doesn’t work, we go to the health center,” she says. “I used to think that school meetings were a waste of time, but now I see they are important. Reading books is important, too.”\n\nFor the past year she has worked as a community health assistant, appointed by the government. She is one of about 10 former UPLIFT participants who have been asked to do this type of work.\n\n“If it was not for UPLIFT, I wouldn’t have been appointed,” she says.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Mrs. Okwong and her family live in Ogido, one of 73 villages in the Nebbi District where UPLIFT is active.\n\nThe Nebbi District – population 500,000 – is one of the poorest areas of Uganda, located in the northwest section of the country, far from the capital of Kampala and the international airport at Entebbe. Subsistence agriculture and fishing form the basis of the local economy.\n\nThe district is divided into 19 subcounties, and UPLIFT is active in 11 of them.\n\nDr. Hissani, who is originally from neighboring Kenya, first visited the West Nile region of Uganda in 1999.\n\n“I was shocked to find that 12 people had recently died of malaria,” he recounts. “On further investigation, I found that these people were illiterate and that there was gross land mismanagement in their farming operations.”\n\nHe consulted with several Baha’i friends in Uganda who worked in development and they came up with the idea of the UPLIFT program.\n\n**How the program works**\n\nDr. Hissani, who has a doctorate in the field of functional literacy, worked out a curriculum that speeds literacy by having students learn certain key words, then break them down into syllables and use those syllables to form new words.\n\nLearning to read with texts that discuss malaria and farming methods – subjects of immediate importance to the lives of the participants – helps motivate the students and makes the program more useful to them.\n\n“The approach is to look at the needs of the community as a whole and to relate the content of the program to the lives of the learners,” Dr. Hissani said.\n\nEach class is led by a trained mentor, who in turn reports to a coordinator. UPLIFT currently has about 100 active mentors, all volunteers, and 10 coordinators who receive small salaries. The program used to average about 45 people to a class, but with the expansion made possible by a grant from the Norwegian government, and in-kind support from the Ugandan government, the classes now average around 70 people.\n\nLearners attend class – often in the open air, often sitting on mats – twice a week for a year (except during harvest season). The experience of UPLIFT has been that about 90 percent of the participants become functionally literate with the year.\n\nSo far the program has operated in the Alur language, but Dr. Hissani says they have begun field-testing an English version. English and Swahili are the official languages of Uganda but many other languages are spoken locally.\n\nOne key element of the program has turned out to be the response from women in the Nebbi District – so far more than 80 percent of UPLIFT participants have been female.\n\n(Mrs. Okwong points out that as a child, her brothers were sent to school but she was obligated to stay home and cook and do domestic work. She says she always was looking for the opportunity to learn to read and write.)\n\nAnother key to the success of the program is the acceptance of people from different faiths – not just Baha’is but Christians, Muslims and others are among the mentors and the learners. One of the activities now associated with UPLIFT is interfaith devotional programs where participants read passages from different faith traditions.\n\n**Results**\n\nOpio Hannington, a local official in the Panyango subcounty in the Nebbi District, said his office has been working with UPLIFT for four years and that he is highly encouraged by results.\n\n“UPLIFT has created a sense of unity, awareness to demand services, and cooperation,” he said. “It has brought collaboration … and understanding.”\n\nHassan Ringtho, chairperson of the local government in Paidha subcounty, said UPLIFT has been particularly effective with older people.\n\n“Before, old people thought that they could not learn,” he said, “But now they believe they can learn…. Now they feel they have the ability to change their way of life.”\n\nHe stressed the point that attitudes can change.\n\n“If one used to spend the whole day drinking, and now he drinks for only one hour, hasn’t the attitude changed?” he asked. “People follow models and examples. UPLIFT officials are the models and examples.”\n\nAlfred Okwai, one of the UPLIFT coordinators, said the program specifically tries to train mentors to be role models to the community.\n\n“Most of our mentors are positively different from others who did not attend the course,” he noted.\n\nMrs. Poli, the 63-year-old who recently learned to read through the UPLIFT program, recounts many ways her life has changed.\n\n“Before, I could not bother with cleanliness at home,” she says. “Now, after realizing that hygiene is the basis for health, I have built a pit latrine, a kitchen, a drying rack, even an animal shelter.”\n\nShe says she also has joined a small “savings group” initiated by some UPLIFT learners so that she could begin saving money."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504318-66401dr-hissani.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Hizzaya Hissani, UPLIFT program director, uses a bicycle to travel from village to village to monitor the program and consult with participants."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504317-66402locmap.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Nebbi District, far from the capital of Kampala, is one of the poorest areas in Uganda."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504318-66403writtingsample1.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A villager named Arombo Libati, who has just learned to write, sends a note of greeting to the teacher. The original letter is in the Alur language. Part of the translation reads: \"I love adult literacy program very much. It helps me to keep cleanliness in my home and prevention of malaria.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504319-66404alisapoli3makingneemtea.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mrs. Poli says she not only learned to read through UPLIFT but also adopted new practices at home, including building a pit latrine and an animal shelter."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504318-66405honhassanringtho2.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Hassan Ringtho, chairperson of the local government in Paidha subcounty, said UPLIFT has been particularly effective in educating older people and changing attitudes."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504318-66406kulastikaokwong2.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Kulastika Okwong, 61, says UPLIFT has changed the way she looks at health care: “I used to go to witch doctors when someone was sick, but now I try medicine made of neem leaves. If that doesn’t work, we go to the health center.”"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504318-66407onegiuothindhaoreste1.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Onegiun Oreste, 56, who is Catholic, is a volunteer mentor for UPLIFT. He says people have learned attitudes and techniques that promote development, and that the interfaith nature of the program is particularly significant. He recounts seeing one learner proudly show her family that she could now read the Bible."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504318-66408uplift3.jpg"},"imageDescription":"UPLIFT is active in 11 of the 19 subcounties that form the Nebbi District in the West Nile region of Uganda."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504318-66409uplift1.jpg"},"imageDescription":"More than 6,700 people have completed the UPLIFT training course, and another 4,000 will finish by the end of next year."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":663,"evergreenUrl":"un-convenes-global-forum-faith-groups","title":"UN convenes Global Forum of faith groups","description":"The Baha’i International Community was among the religious groups and nongovernmental organizations that participated in a two-day Global Forum...","date":"2008-10-30","customDateline":null,"city":"ISTANBUL","country":"TURKEY","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504306-66300fulyainistanbul.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504306-66300fulyainistanbul.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Fulya Vekiloglu, second from right, represented the Baha’i International Community at the Global Forum of Faith-based Organizations, held this month in Istanbul. The photograph is of the closing ceremony.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Baha’i International Community was among the religious groups and nongovernmental organizations that participated in a two-day Global Forum of Faith-based Organizations, convened by the United Nations Population Fund.\n\nThe gathering, held in Istanbul on 20-21 October, addressed population and development issues related to HIV-AIDS, reproductive health, gender equality, and violence against women.\n\nFulya Vekiloglu, who specializes in women’s issues and serves as a representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, attended.\n\nIn an intervention during a panel discussion on “Violence against Women and Women’s Empowerment,” she stressed the need for attitude change and how faith-based organizations have a unique role in this regard. She also read a short Bahá'í prayer at the closing ceremony of the Global Forum."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":662,"evergreenUrl":"baha-is-observe-international-day-eradication-poverty","title":"Baha’is observe International Day for Eradication of Poverty","description":"Asked to open a United Nations meeting on poverty, Kevin Locke recited an “eagle” prayer in his native Lakota Sioux dialect. “The eagle is a...","date":"2008-10-26","customDateline":null,"city":"UNITED NATIONS","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504294-66200kevinlocke.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504294-66200kevinlocke.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Kevin Locke plays flute at a UN roundtable on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. He opened the roundtable with a prayer recited in his native Lakota Sioux dialect. The event was at the United Nations in New York on 17 October 2008.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Asked to open a United Nations meeting on poverty, Kevin Locke recited an “eagle” prayer in his native Lakota Sioux dialect.\n\n“The eagle is a symbol of the ascendant nature of the human spirit, of the innate capacity of the human spirit to rise to nobility,” explained Mr. Locke at a UN roundtable to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The event was held 17 October.\n\n“The eagle is compelled to fly upward,” he said. “The eagle sees the light of the new day and in its joy calls out, ‘I am the first to fly with the new day.’”\n\nAnd then, referring to global efforts to eliminate poverty, Mr. Locke said, “We are all striving to escape the darkness.”\n\nHis contribution to the UN roundtable was one of a number of efforts that Baha’is around the world undertook in support of the poverty-awareness day, established by the UN in 1993.\n\n-- In Uganda, the Baha’i community organized two events, a press conference to present a statement on poverty eradication and a special service at the Baha’i House of Worship in Kampala. Also, a Baha’i representative participated in a nationally televised program about poverty.\n\n-- In Australia, Baha’is co-sponsored a panel discussion titled “Eradicating Poverty: Educating Girls.” Representatives from government and academia offered comments, as did two young girls aged 7 and 11. UNIFEM Australia (the UN Fund for Women) was co-sponsor of the event, which was also supported by AusAID, the Australian government’s aid agency.\n\n-- In Germany, a “poverty tool kit” was created for use by local Baha’i communities in observing the day. The kit contained a PowerPoint presentation, documents offering Baha’i perspectives on poverty eradication, and selections from the Baha’i holy writings on the importance of eliminating extremes of wealth and poverty.\n\n-- In Argentina, Baha’is in Buenos Aires planned an extensive program featuring devotions, a talk on “the spiritual solution to the economic problems,” and several artistic presentations, including a play about two young people from different social and economic backgrounds.\n\nOther events featuring Baha’i participation were planned in El Salvador, Kenya, Mauritius, and the United States.\n\nMr. Locke, a Baha’i who is well-known as a Native American flutist and hoop dancer, was invited by the Baha’i International Community to the UN roundtable in part because he is from the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota, one of the poorest areas of the United States.\n\nTahirih Naylor, a representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, also addressed the roundtable, which was titled “Turning rhetoric into action -- building effective partnership to combat poverty and exclusion.” The event brought together more than two dozen government representatives, UN officials, activists, and representatives of nongovernmental organizations.\n\nMs. Naylor spoke as chair of the NGO Committee for Social Development, stressing the importance of bringing new voices into the discussion on how to end poverty.\n\n“We have to see this as a learning process,” she said. “Some say we already know all this…. But to really engage in looking at what true participation is, we have to listen and to have an attitude of learning as we approach the development of these programs and policies.”\n\nBaha’i communities around the world in recent years have instituted both short- and long-term development projects, ranging from grassroots activities in villages to integrated agencies serving a wide range of needs in a given region.\n\n“(Poverty Eradication) Day is an opportunity to recognize existing efforts, renew commitments, and set new goals,” said Ms. Naylor. “Baha’i communities around the world seek to contribute their perspectives and lessons learned in their work at the local and national levels towards this aim in their commemorations.”"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":661,"evergreenUrl":"iranian-report-confirms-innocence-shiraz-bahais","title":"Iranian report confirms innocence of Shiraz Baha'is","description":"An Iranian inspector who examined the 2006 arrests of a group of young Baha’is in Shiraz, Iran, filed a confidential report dated June 2008 confirming...","date":"2008-10-24","customDateline":false,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504278-66100shirazthree.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504278-66100shirazthree.jpg"},"imageDescription":"An Iranian inspector who investigated the case of three young Baha'is imprisoned in Shiraz has reported that their supposed 'subversive' activities were strictly humanitarian in nature. The three are Haleh Rouhi, Sasan Taqva, and Raha Sabet.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"An Iranian inspector who examined the 2006 arrests of a group of young Baha’is in Shiraz, Iran, filed a confidential report dated June 2008 confirming what Baha’is have said all along: that their activities were strictly humanitarian in nature and did not involve the “illegal” teaching of the Baha’i Faith.\n\nThe report – signed  by Vali Rustami, inspector and legal advisor of the Office of the Representative of the Supreme Leader for the province of Fars – was  published by the Human Rights Activists of Iran on 23 October. The report was addressed to the representative of the Supreme Leader in the province and states that it was done at his request.\n\nThree of the 54 Baha’is who were arrested were later sentenced to four-year prison terms and are still incarcerated in Shiraz.\n\nThe report states that not only was there no mention of religion in their activities, but that youths who attended the classes told him they wanted to continue. “They stated ‘We … truthfully learned a lot from this group and would like them to come back to us again,’” the investigator said in his report.\n\nA Baha’i spokeswoman said the report underscores the injustice perpetrated against the Baha’is.\n\n“It is a manifest injustice that the young Baha’is of Shiraz continue to remain in prison when even an internal investigation has essentially proved their innocence, even under the twisted terms that define criminality in Iran,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations. “The government’s lies are indefensible,” she added.\n\nThe arrests in May 2006 garnered international news media attention and prompted expressions of concern by many governments.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The group, composed of 54 young Baha’is and a number of Muslim friends, had been engaged since 2004 in a series of humanitarian projects to promote literacy and moral empowerment among underprivileged youth in and around Shiraz, mostly through small-group classes organized on Friday mornings in poor neighborhoods.\n\nMembers of the group were rounded up by government agents on 19 May 2006. While their Muslim colleagues and one Baha’i among them were released immediately, 53 Baha’is were held for periods ranging from several days to more than a month.\n\nThen, in mid 2007, they were convicted on spurious charges, apparently relating to accusations that they had been engaged in the “indirect teaching” of the Baha’i Faith, considered illegal in Iran despite international laws upholding freedom of religion. Later, in January 2008, while speaking to journalists about the imprisonment of three of the group, a government spokesman said they had been engaged in anti-government \"propaganda.”\n\nHowever, the confidential report, issued 16 June 2008 and addressed to the “representative of the Supreme Leader in the province (of Fars) and the Imam Jum’ih of Shiraz,” states that all of those interviewed for his investigation indicated there was no mention of the Baha’i Faith during the classes – essentially contradicting the government’s claim.\n\nThe investigator states, for example, that he interviewed local young people who participated in classes led by the Baha’is, as well as a retired police colonel, and all stated that the classes were strictly educational in nature.\n\n“‘From the beginning of their activities…, these individuals held these charitable, humanitarian classes once a week, helping junior youth and youth,’” the report says, quoting a retired police colonel by the name of Jeddi. “‘The activities of these classes were writing, drawing, and teaching hygiene and moral values, and there was no mention of religious or political matters. There was never any mention or any statement regarding Bahaism.’”\n\nInspector Rustami also said he interviewed eight of the young people who participated in the classes. “They stated that this group had been involved in activities such as teaching moral education, drawing, calligraphy, social skills, and that there had been no discussion concerning politics, or discussions which were against religious, legal and cultural standards.”\n\nThe three Baha’is in prison are Haleh Rouhi, Raha Sabet, and Sasan Taqva. Last January, Amnesty International issued an action alert on their behalf, suggesting they were prisoners of conscience, held solely for their religious beliefs.\n\nMs. Dugal said the arrests and imprisonment of the Baha’is have always been wrongful, since in any event international law protects the right to “teach” one’s religion.\n\n“However, in this case, no such ‘teaching’ was done,” she said. “The Baha’is and their Muslim colleagues were solely engaged in a humanitarian effort to serve poor children and young people in their region through free classes in literacy, hygiene, and the promotion of good moral values.\n\n“For this effort, three Baha’is are being held in prison, which, in light of this new report, has become a matter of unconscionable cruelty, One of the individuals imprisoned went for a time without proper medical treatment for an injury to his leg, suffered after an automobile accident.\n\n“Our hope now is that with the public release of this report, the Iranian government will release the three and exonerate them and the other 50 people.”\n\n“Further,” said Ms. Dugal, “we would expect the Iranian government to end its long-running campaign to blacken the name of Iranian Baha’is through similar false charges – and to release others that have been similarly accused, such as the seven Baha’i leaders currently being held in Evin prison.”\n\n(To visit the Web site of Human Rights Activists of Iran, which has the original document in Persian, go to: http://hrairan.org/Archive_87/1135.html)\n\n*Editor's note: Details were added to the second paragraph of this article on 26 October 2008 to reflect more fully the identifying information on the inspector's report.*"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504279-66101documents.jpg"},"imageDescription":"This report dated 16 June 2008 says that three young Baha'is who are still in prison in Shiraz were involved only in nonreligious educational activities. They were convicted of engaging in subversive anti-government \"propaganda.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504279-66102screenshot.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The confidential report came to light on 23 October 2008 when it was published on the Web site of the Human Rights Activists of Iran."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Supporting documents"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Inspector’s report dated 16 June 2008"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Document 1: English translation](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/661_01_InspectorsReport16june08_en.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 40KB) "},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related information"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Other BWNS articles about Iran](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_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Persian"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Read this story in Persian](http://news.persian-bahai.org/story/36)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent articles about Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":657,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":632,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":660,"evergreenUrl":"un-report-cites-iranian-government-s-violations-against-baha-is","title":"UN report cites Iranian government’s violations against Baha’is","description":"U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his concern over human rights violations in Iran against Baha'is, other minorities, women and...","date":"2008-10-22","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":"U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his concern over human rights violations in Iran against Baha'is, other minorities, women and juveniles.\n\nIn a 20-page document released on Monday, Mr. Ban responded to a request from the General Assembly last December for a “comprehensive report” on the human rights situation in Iran.\n\nWhile noting some positive achievements, Mr. Ban stated that although Iran’s constitution guarantees a wide range of fundamental freedoms, “in practice there are a number of serious impediments to the full protection of human rights.”\n\nHis report expressed concern about the use of torture, a “high incidence of executions,” and “an increase in rights violations targeting women, university students, teachers, workers and other activist groups.”\n\nThe report devoted nearly a full page to the situation of Iran’s 300,000-member Baha’i community, which is that country’s largest religious minority. The report points out that Article 14 of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran stipulates “protection for non-Muslims.”\n\nYet, “reports continue to be received about members of the Baha’i community being subjected to arbitrary detention, false imprisonment, confiscation and destruction of property, denial of employment and government benefits, and denial of access to higher education,” Mr. Ban’s report said.\n\n“A significant increase has been reported in violence targeting Baha’is and their homes, shops, farms and cemeteries throughout the country. There have also been several cases involving torture or ill-treatment in custody.”\n\nMr. Ban expressed concern over the harassment of Baha'i schoolchildren and the arrest of seven Baha'i leaders earlier this year.\n\n“While the secretary general’s report recognizes some advances that Iran may have made, it points out that the government of that country has committed many clear and egregious violations of human rights against Baha'is and others,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.\n\n“It is important to note that the report comes directly from a request last year by the General Assembly in its resolution on Iran, demonstrating once again the critical role of the international community in bringing human rights violations to light,” Ms. Dugal said.\n\n“We hope that the General Assembly will pass a resolution again this year to put pressure on Iran to meet its commitments to international standards,” she said.\n\nTo read the full report: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/63/459"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Related information"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Other BWNS articles about Iran](http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"\t[History of persecution of Baha'is in Iran – 1844 to present: A short summary](http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Persian"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Read this story in Persian](http://news.persian-bahai.org/story/35)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Recent articles about Iran"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":657,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":650,"relatedStoryCaption":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedArticleRecord","storyNumber":648,"relatedStoryCaption":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":659,"evergreenUrl":"bahais-mark-birth-bab","title":"Baha'is to mark Birth of the Bab","description":"Baha'is around the world will observe a holy day - the Birth of the Bab - on 20 October. One of nine holy days on which Baha'is suspend work,...","date":"2008-10-17","customDateline":null,"city":"HAIFA","country":"ISRAEL","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504260-65900prayersatshrine.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504260-65900prayersatshrine.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, where His mortal remains are entombed, is surrounded by gardens where people often stop for prayer and meditation.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Baha'is around the world will observe a holy day - the Birth of the Bab - on 20 October.\n\nOne of nine holy days on which Baha'is suspend work, the date marks the anniversary of the birth - in 1819 in Shiraz, Iran - of Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad, known to history as the Bab.\n\nIn 1844, the Bab announced that He was the Promised One foretold in the great religions and that His mission was to alert people to the imminent coming of an even greater Divine Messenger, namely Baha'u'llah. Baha'is consider both the Bab and Baha'u'llah to be Messengers of God.\n\nThe Bab, who was a descendent of the prophet Muhammad through both His father and mother, attracted tens of thousands of followers in His native land. In 1850, by order of the government, He was executed in the public square of Tabriz, in northern Iran.\n\nHis remains were later brought to Haifa and entombed on Mount Carmel. His shrine, with its golden dome, is the most famous landmark of Haifa.\n\nThere is no prescribed ceremony or service for celebrating the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab. Baha'is often plan devotional meetings or musical programs and gather for activities and fellowship."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":658,"evergreenUrl":"blog-action-day-creates-unity-social-action-says-organizer","title":"Blog Action Day creates unity for social action, says organizer","description":"Bloggers everywhere – including people who write some of the most subscribed-to blogs in the world – will discuss the subject of poverty during...","date":"2008-10-13","customDateline":null,"city":"SYDNEY","country":"AUSTRALIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504241-65800blogactiondayorgscreenshot.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504241-65800blogactiondayorgscreenshot.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Blog Action Day home page on the Web.","imageStyle":"canvas-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Bloggers everywhere – including people who write some of the most subscribed-to blogs in the world – will discuss the subject of poverty during the second annual Blog Action Day, set for 15 October.\n\nSo far more than 8,000 bloggers with an estimated 10 million readers have committed to the project, and – if last year’s Blog Action Day is an indication – the numbers could increase significantly by the end of the designated day. TechCrunch, LifeHacker, ReadWriteWeb, and ProBlogger are among the well-known blogs that have signed on.\n\nOne of the main organizers, Collis Ta’eed, says the concept of Blog Action Day fits well with his Baha’i beliefs and his understanding of Baha’i teachings about social action.\n\n“Our idea is to give bloggers a platform and enable them to take a day out of their schedule to do something socially positive,” said Mr. Ta’eed, an Australian who works internationally as a professional Web designer.\n\n“It puts Baha’i principles into action in the sense that people should get outside themselves and do something for the greater community,” he continued. “The Baha’i Faith puts a big responsibility on the individual to take action.”\n\nThe Internet in general, and blogging specifically, offer a unique way of communicating, and Blog Action Day plugs into that, said Mr. Ta’eed.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"One quarter of the world’s top 100 blogs (as listed by Technorati) have signed up to participate, he said.\n\nThe idea of Blog Action Day is for blog publishers to view a critical social issue from their own perspective, and do it all at once, in effect generating a multi-faceted global discussion on a specific topic.\n\n“If your blog normally deals with finance, then you would discuss poverty from that angle,” Mr. Ta’eed said. “If your blog normally deals with technology, you would discuss it from that angle.”\n\nHe said that bloggers wanting to support the project can go to www.blogactionday.org and register, and anyone can check the same Web site for other avenues of participation, including calling in to a 12-hour radio talk-a-thon on BlogTalkRadio.\n\nThe event is not-for-profit, and there are no fees. Persons wanting to make a monetary contribution – and one of the suggestions to bloggers is to donate the day’s income – should do so to a charity of their choice or to an official Blog Action Day charity listed on the Web site, Mr. Ta’eed said.\n\nLeo Babauta, author of the hugely popular ZenHabits blog and another of the organizers of Blog Action Day, said the project brings together thousands of conversations happening on different blogs.\n\n“It forms a huge conversation about one important topic, and in changing the conversation, we change people’s thinking and their actions,” said Mr. Babauta, who is not a Baha’i.\n\nHe said he always hopes that his blogging work will engage people in dialogue and change lives “at least a little.” Blog Action Day is the “ultimate extension of that hope,” he said.\n\n“When Collis (Ta’eed) asked me to help him start it up in 2007, I jumped at the opportunity,” he said. “This is what blogging should be.”\n\nLast year’s Blog Action Day focused on the subject of the environment. More than 20,000 bloggers participated, offering input from thousands of unique perspectives, Mr. Ta’eed said. The project keys into the “unity in diversity” often discussed by Baha’is, he noted.\n\nA passage from the Baha’i writings also helped guide him, he said.\n\n“The quotation says the ‘honor and distinction of the individual’ consists of him being a source of social good,” Mr. Ta’eed said.\n\nThe idea of Blog Action day is “to empower all the thousands of bloggers to do just that,” he said."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504242-65801cyanandcollis.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Collis and Cyan Ta’eed are two of the principal organizers of Blog Action Day. ‘Our idea is to give bloggers a platform and enable them to take a day out of their schedule to do something socially positive,’ Mr. Ta’eed said."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504242-65802leopose.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Leo Babauta, author of the top 100 blog ZenHabits, says Blog Action Day 'forms a huge conversation about one important topic.' He adds, 'This is what blogging should be.' (Photo by David Castro/Guahan Magazine)"}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":657,"evergreenUrl":"iran-s-new-school-year-again-excludes-baha-is","title":"Iran’s new school year again excludes Baha’is","description":"As the new academic year got under way, young Baha'is in Iran again found the door to higher education closed. Although in its public stance...","date":"2008-10-03","customDateline":false,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504220-65700documents.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504220-65700documents.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Baha’is who have sought redress from the courts over “incomplete files” or unjustified dismissal from university have been met with decisions with blanket statements like “the grievance is not recognized” and “the complaint is rejected.” Both documents here conclude with the statement, “This court order is final.”","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"As the new academic year got under way, young Baha'is in Iran again found the door to higher education closed.\n\nAlthough in its public stance the Iranian government maintains that Baha'is are free to attend university, reports over the past few weeks indicate that the policy of preventing Baha'is from obtaining higher education remains in effect.\n\nBaha'i students attempting to gain admittance to universities and other institutions this fall found that their entrance examination results were frozen and their files listed as “incomplete” on the Web site of the national testing organization.\n\nBaha’is who had successfully enrolled in universities in previous years continue to be expelled.\n\nAnd those who have sought redress through the courts have been disappointed, their cases rejected.\n\n“As has been the case for the last four years, the Iranian government continues to use a series of devious ploys to prevent young Iranian Baha’is from receiving higher education,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.\n\n“The effect of the government’s policies is to close the doors of universities to Baha’is, despite Iran’s supposed commitment to international laws upholding the right to education.\n\n“Our plea to the international community, and especially to professors, administrators and students everywhere, is that they raise their voices on behalf of Iranian Baha’i students,” said Ms. Dugal.\n\nAccording to reports from Iran, the principal method this year by which authorities are preventing Baha’is from enrolling in university is by blocking their examination results and declaring their files “incomplete.”\n\nThe tactic was used last year, too, but this year it became evident that many of the Baha’i students had been identified earlier in the application process. When they tried to log on to the national university examination Web site, rather than seeing their exam results, they got a Web page with the words “Error – incomplete file.” (See screen shot in [Persian](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/01_webpage_fa.pdf), and [English translation](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/01_webpage_en.pdf).)\n\nThe Web page to which they were automatically directed had a URL (Internet address) ending with the words “error_bah” – an apparent reference to the fact that their files were declared in “error” because they were Baha’is. (The complete address was http://82.99.202.139/karsarasari/87/index.php?msg=error_bah)\n\nThe error message is displayed despite the fact that Baha’i students had dutifully filled out all required information and successfully sat for the examination.\n\nLast year, for the 2007-2008 academic year, of the more than 1,000 Baha’i students who sat for and satisfactorily completed the entrance examination, nearly 800 were excluded because of \"incomplete files.\"\n\nWithout complete files, enrollment in all public and most private universities in Iran is impossible.\n\nStudents who have contested the fact that their files were improperly listed as incomplete have so far met a deaf ear in Iranian courts.\n\nIn a ruling last April in Branch 1 of the Court of Administrative Justice, a Baha’i student who filed a grievance against the national Education Measurement and Evaluation Organization (EMEO) had his case dismissed.\n\n“In light of the fact that the (EMEO) does not recognize the plaintiff as having fulfilled the requirements, the plaintiff’s case has no merit and is thus dismissed,” the court ruled. (See court document in [Persian](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/02_courtSeekingFiles_fa.pdf), and [English translation](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/02_courtSeekingFiles_en.pdf).)\n\nThe same court rejected the claim of another Baha’i university student who had been expelled because of his religious belief and had approached the court seeking readmission.\n\nIn rejecting that case, the court made a reference to the 1991 Golpaygani memorandum which outlines a broad plan to block the “progress and development” of the entire Iranian Baha’i community, including by expelling Baha’i university students.\n\nThe court wrote, “Considering that the plaintiff meets the criteria as defined by the (1991 Golgaypani memorandum) ratified by the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution and is thus considered to have failed and has no valid argument to prove that there has been a violation of the guidelines in order to justify his claim, his grievance is not recognized.” (See court document in [Persian](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/03_courtReadmission_fa.pdf), and [English translation](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/03_courtReadmission_en.pdf).)\n\nRecent reports also indicate that Baha’is who are enrolled in universities – and there are now very few such Baha’is – continue to be expelled as their religious beliefs become known.\n\nIn August, for example, a student at Fazilat University was just three weeks from graduation when she was brought before authorities; when she refused to recant her faith, she was dismissed from the university.\n\nDespite a record of deceitful dealings by the government, there is increasing evidence of support for Bahá'í students by many Iranians, both inside and outside of Iran.\n\nNotable among them was an article by Ahmad Batebi, a prominent human rights activist now in exile. That article, “The Bahá’ís and Higher Education in Iran,” published 2 September 2008 in Rooz Online, protests the denial to Bahá’ís of access to higher education and the persecution of the Bahá’ís of Iran generally. (See article in [English](http://www.iranian.com/main/2008/freedom-all) and [Persian](http://www.roozonline.com/archives/2008/09/post_8980.php).)"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Supporting documents"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Screen shot of text from “Error” Web page blocking exam scores of Baha’i students"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Document 1: Persian original](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/01_webpage_fa.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 274KB) "},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Document 1: English translation](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/01_webpage_en.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 121KB) "},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Court document dismissing claim of Baha’i seeking his exam scores"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Document 2: Persian original](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/02_courtSeekingFiles_fa.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 42KB) "},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Document 2: English translation](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/02_courtSeekingFiles_en.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 77KB) "},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Court document dismissing claim of Baha’i seeking readmission to university"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Document 3: Persian original](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/03_courtReadmission_fa.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 49KB) "},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedPdfRecord","relatedPdfText":"[Document 3: English translation](http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/03_courtReadmission_en.pdf)","relatedPdfDescription":"(Adobe Acrobat 78KB) "},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedFieldHeaderRecord","relatedHeaderText":"Background"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Iran Update](https://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update.html)","relatedLinkDescription":""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_RelatedLinkRecord","relatedLinkText":"[Other BWNS articles about Iran](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":""}],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[{"tagName":"defence"}],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":656,"evergreenUrl":"praying-sick-can-science-prove-it-helps","title":"Praying for the sick – can science prove it helps?","description":"Proving scientifically that it helps to pray for a sick person is an elusive proposition, says Dr. Taeed Quddusi, one of the speakers at the...","date":"2008-10-01","customDateline":null,"city":"SAN DIEGO","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504205-65600taeed.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543504205-65600taeed.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Taeed Quddusi, a resident physician in Winnipeg, Canada, says it will be difficult – probably impossible – to scientifically prove the effectiveness of prayers said for healing.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Proving scientifically that it helps to pray for a sick person is an elusive proposition, says Dr. Taeed Quddusi, one of the speakers at the 32nd annual conference of the North American Association for Baha’i Studies.\n\nThe first problem, he said, is designing an experiment, given that we are not sure of the desired result of a prayer.\n\n“Is the point of prayer to prolong life?” he said during an interview after the conference.\n\nHe proceeded to answer, based on his understanding of the Baha’i teachings: “The point of our existence on this planet isn’t simply a longer life. The point of our existence is to know God, to worship God, to serve God.”\n\nWhat about cases in which prolonging life would mean condemning a person to additional suffering, he asked. Then what is the desired result of the prayer?\n\nAnd if we are not sure what effect we are seeking when we pray, how can a scientist assess the success of a prayer?\n\n“We don’t really know what we are measuring,” Dr. Quddusi said.\n\n“The Effects of Prayer on Healing and Recovery: A Review of the Literature” was the title of his presentation at one of the break-out sessions of the four-day Association for Baha’i Studies conference, which wound up on 1 September in San Diego. (See [article](/story/655).)\n\nDr. Quddusi, in his third year as a resident surgeon in otolaryngology at the University of Manitoba in Canada, says his review of the literature showed that studies of the efficacy of prayer have come up with mixed results.\n\nBut “meta-analysis” – where results are aggregated – shows no measurable effect, he states.\n\nDoes this mean prayer doesn’t work?\n\nNo, he says, because, in addition to the problem of determining what to measure, there are many factors that confuse the issue – factors that don’t necessarily lend themselves to scientific analysis. For example:\n\n-- Does the fervency of the prayer matter? If so, how do you measure it?\n\n-- Does the number of people praying for a sick person make a difference?\n\n-- What about the worthiness of the “recipient” of the prayers? And what role does divine forgiveness play?\n\n-- Should you take into account the seriousness of the illness?\n\n-- Does the professed religion of the people involved, or absence of religion, influence the outcome?\n\n-- Is it possible to have a true control group, given that people are always praying for other people, and the grace of God is constant and limitless?\n\nIn his presentation, Dr. Quddusi quoted a number of passages from the Baha’i writings indicating that prayer is essential but also that the effects of prayer are not always obvious.\n\n**Baha’i teachings about prayer**\n\nHe said the Baha’i writings include the following: “Worship thou God in such wise that if thy worship lead thee to the fire, no alteration in thine adoration would be produced, and so likewise if thy recompense should be paradise.”\n\nBaha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith who is considered by His followers to be a Messenger of God, instructs people to resort to “competent physicians” in times of sickness, but He also reveals prayers containing supplications for healing.\n\nSome of the prayers for healing were described in the following way by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, the son of Baha’u’llah and appointed interpreter of His teachings: “The prayers which were revealed to ask for healing apply both to physical and spiritual healing. Recite them, then, to heal both the soul and the body. If healing is right for the patient, it will certainly be granted; but for some ailing persons, healing would only be the cause of other ills, and therefore wisdom doth not permit an affirmative answer to the prayer.”\n\nDr. Quddusi also read this quotation from ‘Abdu’l-Baha: “Ask whatsoever thou wishest of Him alone…. With a look He granteth a hundred thousand hopes, with a glance He healeth a hundred thousand incurable ills, with a nod He layeth balm on every wound.”\n\n‘Abdu’l-Baha talks specifically about prayer and healing in this passage read by Dr. Quddusi: “Disease is of two kinds: material and spiritual. Take for instance, a cut hand; if you pray for the cut to be healed and do not stop its bleeding, you will not do much good; a material remedy is needed.”\n\nAnd more: “Illness caused by physical accident should be treated with medical remedies; those which are due to spiritual causes disappear through spiritual means…. Both kinds of remedies should be considered. Moreover, they are not contradictory, and thou shouldst accept the physical remedies as coming from the mercy and favor of God, who hath revealed and made manifest medical science so that His servants may profit from this kind of treatment also. Thou shouldst give equal attention to spiritual treatments, for they produce marvelous effects.”\n\nIn another quotation read by Dr. Quddusi, ‘Abdu’l-Baha describes specifically how a prayer for the sick might work:\n\n“(Spiritual healing) results from the entire concentration of the mind of a strong person upon a sick person, when the latter expects with all his concentrated faith that a cure will be effected from the spiritual power of the strong person, to such an extent that there will be a cordial connection between the strong person and the invalid. The strong person makes every effort to cure the sick patient, and the sick patient is then sure of receiving a cure….\n\n“But all this has effect only to a certain extent, and that not always. For if someone is afflicted with a very violent disease, or is wounded, these means will not remove the disease nor close and heal the wound.”\n\n**Scientific research**\n\nDr. Quddusi said he would be eager to see a study based on the description from ‘Abdu’l-Baha about how prayer can work. But the doctor pointed out that even in the unlikely event one could design an appropriate experiment (“How do you find someone who is ‘spiritually strong’?” he asked), it would be difficult to prove anything, given that ‘Abdu’l-Baha himself said the prayers would have an effect “only to a certain extent, and that not always.”\n\nSo far, Dr. Quddusi said, scientific research on the efficacy of prayers for healing has been in situations completely different from that described by ‘Abdu’l-Baha.\n\nFor example, in some studies, patients in a specific coronary care unit in the United States were assessed for how well they fared after heart surgery. In each study, half the patients were randomly selected to have a person or persons unknown to them say prayers for their recovery. The patients were not told if they were among those being prayed for.\n\nDr. Quddusi said that in general, no measurable effects of prayer were found, a result he does not find surprising given the circumstances.\n\nIn fact, at one point in his presentation, he posed the question of whether God would turn away from His intended purpose because of a human’s expressing their desires.\n\nHe quoted from a study by Dr. Edward C. Halperin, a researcher at Duke University: “One would have difficulty accepting the concept of a God who preferentially heals people who, in a clinical trial, are selected to be prayed for by strangers rather than healing those randomly assigned to receive no prayer. God should not be conceived of as so capricious.”\n\nAnd from a study by L. Roberts et al: “An omnipotent God may be noncompliant with the limitations of a randomized controlled trial, (resulting in) contamination of both control and intervention group….”\n\nDr. Quddusi also posed whether intercessory prayers were a form of “testing God,” and quoted from the Bible: “It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”; Luke 4:12. (Earlier in the presentation, he had quoted another verse: “Ask and ye shall receive”; John 16:24.)\n\nIn his talk, he even offered two quotations from scientists about whether prayers for healing could be harmful:\n\n-- “Religious people who become upset by the belief that God has abandoned them or who become dependent on their faith, rather than their medical treatment, for recovery may inadvertently subvert the success of their recovery.” – Lynda Powell et al, in American Psychologist.\n\n--  “Are the prayers reaching a Higher Power that might, upon having Its attention called to a nonbeliever, actually respond to the request unfavorably?” – Dr. Julie Goldstein.\n\nDr. Quddusi concluded his presentation by stating that he did not believe scientific research into the efficacy of prayer was blasphemous, as some people have suggested.\n\nBut he acknowledged later that he was doubtful that science will ever be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of prayer in promoting healing.\n\nDoes that matter?\n\n“No, I guess not,” he admits. “But it would be cool to prove it.”"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":655,"evergreenUrl":"baha-i-studies-conference-attracts-1-400-people-from-23-countries","title":"Baha’i Studies conference attracts 1,400 people from 23 countries","description":"The 32nd annual conference of the North American Association for Baha’i Studies drew some 1,400 people from 23 countries - the largest-ever representation...","date":"2008-10-01","customDateline":null,"city":"SAN DIEGO","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503999-65500.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503999-65500.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Participants at the 32nd annual conference of the North American Association for Baha’i Studies meet in a break-out sesssion. The conference was held in San Diego.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The 32nd annual conference of the North American Association for Baha’i Studies drew some 1,400 people from 23 countries - the largest-ever representation from outside the United States and Canada.\n\nThe gathering, held this year in San Diego, had as its theme “Religion and Social Cohesion.” The four-day conference concluded on 1 September.\n\nThe presenter of the 26th Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture was Hushmand Fatheazam, former member of the Universal House of Justice, who offered “Some Observations on the Scope and Value of Baha’i Scholarship.”\n\nThe speaker for the opening plenary was Paul Lample, member of the Universal House of Justice, who spoke on “Learning and the Unfoldment of the Baha’i Community.”\n\nIn the past decade, Baha’is around the world have focused on how to develop a “culture of learning,” a concept that was central to Mr. Lample’s talk.\n\n“The culture of learning that is emerging is characterized by dialogue rather than debate, by constructive experience at the grassroots level rather than elaborate planning from the top, by systematization rather than freneticism, by reflective refinement rather than derogatory criticism,” he said.\n\nMr. Lample elaborated several times on the well-known Baha’i belief that science and religion are not in conflict.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"“The Baha’i teachings,” he said at one point, “offer an approach to reality that encompasses a scientific worldview but is more comprehensive, addressing a wider range of questions that are essential to human progress.”\n\n(A copy of Mr. Lample’s speech is available at http://www.bahai-studies.ca/conferences.php.)\n\nMr. Fatheazam shared personal stories and insights drawn from his decades of Baha’i service, including 40 years as one of the nine elected members of the Universal House of Justice.\n\nWhile underlining the vital contributions of Baha’i scholarship to the development of the Baha’i Faith and the progress of society, he cautioned against the temptations of intellectual pride that scholars from all traditions have historically been susceptible to, and urged Baha'is to pursue paths of scholarship with the utmost humility.\n\nMr. Fatheazam promoted scholarship as the continued independent search for truth incumbent upon all human beings. He highlighted the importance of this role by emphasizing the two identities of the Baha’i Faith, one as a religion, described through the analogy of the tree, and one as a limitless reality, described through the analogy of light.\n\nOthers who addressed the conference during plenary sessions, and their topics, included:\n\n-- Joy DeGruy, “Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome.”\n\n-- Robert Rosenfeld, “Creating a Mosaic: A Journey to Social Cohesion.”\n\n-- Ismael Velasco, “Achieving Reconciliation in a Conflicting World.”\n\n-- Mary Darling and Clark Donnelly, who talked about their television series “Little Mosque on the Prairie,” broadcast in more than 80 countries.\n\n-- Mojgan Sami, “From Counting to Contributing: Moving from Participation to Partnership in the Advancement of Civilization.”\n\n-- Nazanin Zargarpour, chairing a panel of young scholars who addressed “Scholarship, Practice, and the Five Year Plan.” Panelists included Ashkan Monfared, Eric Harper, Kamal Sinclair, and Jenny Wilson.\n\nDozens of other speakers gave presentations in the break-out sessions. (See [article](/story/656) about prayer and healing.)\n\nMore information about this and past ABS conferences is available on the [ABS Web site](http://www.bahai-studies.ca)."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503996-65501fatheazam.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Hushmand Fatheazam, former member of the Universal House of Justice, presents the 26th Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture at the conference of the North American Association for Baha’i Studies."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503995-65502lample.jpg"},"imageDescription":"‘Learning and the Unfoldment of the Baha’i Community’ was the topic of the opening plenary address, given by Paul Lample, member of the Universal House of Justice."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503994-65503jbanderik.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Eric Dozier and JB Eckl perform at the conference of the North American Association for Baha’i Studies, which concluded on 1 September 2008 in San Diego."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":654,"evergreenUrl":"melburnians-turn-soul-food-nourishment","title":"Melburnians turn to ‘Soul Food’ for nourishment","description":"Melbourne stands out as a multicultural metropolis – Malaysian restaurants, Japanese paper shops, music venues with bands from Senegal to Indonesia,...","date":"2008-09-28","customDateline":null,"city":"MELBOURNE","country":"AUSTRALIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503948-65400sf7.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503948-65400sf7.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The monthly Soul Food gathering in Melbourne is entering its fourth year and averages well over a hundred attendees of various backgrounds and religions.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Melbourne stands out as a multicultural metropolis – Malaysian restaurants, Japanese paper shops, music venues with bands from Senegal to Indonesia, all within strolling distance of one another. Not surprising, then, that Melburnians have adopted a Baha’i devotional meeting with a difference.\n\nCalled “Soul Food,” the gathering – held once a month in a theater at the imposing State Library of Victoria – combines readings from the world’s great faiths with reflections from leading philosophers, interspersed with live and recorded music by some of Melbourne’s most noted performers.\n\nThe program, which this year marks its third anniversary, at one point was listed at No.10 among “20 things to do in Melbourne,” published by the city’s main newspaper.\n\nThe readings and music are augmented by photographs and videos that illustrate particular themes – generosity, the equality of men and women, purity of heart, unconditional love – all set against a candle-lit background.\n\n\"It has been a great success, with participants coming from all backgrounds and walks of life, some even traveling from outside Melbourne to attend,” says Monib Mahdavi, who with his friend Nima Ferdowsi established the event, based on a similar one in Adelaide in South Australia.\n\n“(Soul Food) has clearly shown that there are many people in the community who share our vision and are seeking opportunities to explore their spiritual development,” Mr. Mahdavi says.\n\nThe event quickly built a following, with average attendance around 120 people, he says.\n\nKristian Hetyey, who was brought up Catholic and now is investigating other religions, is a regular at the gathering.\n\n“It helps me reflect on the month, I guess it’s that internal reflection where you just think about things,” he says. “Sometimes in life it’s easy to just keep plowing through the challenges of every day, but this removes you from the everyday; it questions our existence, it prompts you in a way that provides insight and wisdom.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"“Obviously it draws on all religions throughout history, and some of the most amazing concepts that the world has ever known, so from that point of view it’s a great combination of things which I haven’t found anywhere else,” he says.\n\n“It’s only about an hour, but it can be really powerful,” he continues. “Essentially it’s building unity in our society, which most religions don’t do.”\n\nMelbourne is the second largest city in Australia, with a population of well over 3 million in the metropolitan area.\n\nThe Soul Food gathering is the first Sunday of each month, at 10:30 a.m. On 7 September, the theme of the morning was “Prison of Self.”\n\nPlaying live music was Bob Sedergreen, winner of a jazz award as Australia’s best keyboardist.\n\nQuotations, complemented by videos and photographs projected on a screen, came from Confucius, Albert Einstein, Khalil Gibran, James Joyce, St. Teresa of Avila, and Oscar Wilde.\n\nThe religious readings came from the Baha’i writings, an indigenous American elder, Hindu scripture, Islam, the Bible, and Zen Buddhism.\n\n“I feel blissful when sitting in the room, listening to the music and quotations and watching the always appropriately selected pictures,” said Monica Subai, who attends regularly.\n\n**The music**\n\n“I am always amazed how carefully and lovingly the program is put together,” said Ms. Subai, who is not a member of the Baha’i community. “It is very powerful with its message about world peace, humanity, and everything else that is offered to the audience. And the live music is really a treat.”\n\nRuth Roshan books the musicians.\n\n“I try to have a great diversity of instruments and styles,” she says, “and I’m very keen on high-quality performances.\n\n“And, of course, it has to suit the reverence and atmosphere of Soul Food. In the Baha’i teachings, music is a ladder for the soul, and utilizing performance helps people open up,” she says.\n\nMost of the performers are not Baha’is, she notes, and many are well-known in Melbourne.\n\n“Because Soul Food is such a service for people to sit down and think and reflect, (the musicians) are very happy to perform, and they get such great feedback from the people who attend,” she says.\n\nMr. Ferdowsi, one of the founders, says the performances sometimes go beyond music.\n\n“We’ve also featured dancers, and we have had people in the past do tai chi moves to the music,” he says. “All of these performances are respectful to the writings, and bring out the spirit of what’s being read.”\n\n“Soul Food is a simple concept but a unique one, which allows people to enjoy inspiring writings without feeling like they have to make an immediate commitment.”\n\n“Also,” he adds, “the music is absolutely beautiful.”\n\n(Article for Baha’i World News Service by Corinne Podger, with additional material from Australian Baha’i News.)"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503950-65401sf2.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Some of the musicians who perform at Soul Food are well-known locally, and a diversity of instruments and styles is presented."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503949-65402sf1copy0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Soul Food is held in a theater at the State Library of Victoria, an imposing building in the heart of Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503950-65403sf5.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The music must suit the reverence and atmosphere of Soul Food, say organizers. ‘In the Baha’is teachings, music is a ladder for the soul,’ says one."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503947-65404sf6.jpg"},"imageDescription":"‘Relax in a tranquil environment and reflect on inspiring themes,’ says the invitation to Soul Food in Melbourne. Similar gatherings, also called Soul Food, are held in Adelaide and Perth."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503949-65405sf4.jpg"},"imageDescription":"People who come to Soul Food often stay after the program for informal conversation."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503948-65406sf8.jpg"},"imageDescription":"In Melbourne, Soul Food is held the first Sunday of each month, at 10:30 a.m."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503950-65407sf9.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Nima Ferdowsi, left, a dentist, and Monib Mahdavi, a graphic designer, are the main organizers of Soul Food in Melbourne."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":653,"evergreenUrl":"youth-program-tough-town-offers-key-ingredient-hope","title":"Youth program in tough town offers key ingredient – hope","description":"Alberto Liccardi, 12, lives in the southern Italian city of Portici and says he has some advice for friends that hang out in the streets. “Instead...","date":"2008-09-15","customDateline":false,"city":"PORTICI","country":"ITALY","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1548074921-65300portici-526.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_VideoRecord","videoUrl":"https://player.vimeo.com/video/199821398","videoStyle":"large-right","videoDescription":"Video: Alberto Liccardi, 12, center, says he would like to tell other young people that there are better things to do than hanging out in the street. These youngsters are at the Baha’i class in Portici, Italy."}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Alberto Liccardi, 12, lives in the southern Italian city of Portici and says he has some advice for friends that hang out in the streets.\n\n“Instead of doing nothing in the middle of the road, come to the Baha’i Center. It is better for you,” he offers.\n\nAlberto is one of a handful of youth in Portici, a city of 60,000 just southeast of Naples, who have signed up for a Baha’i program for young teens that operates around Italy and elsewhere.\n\nThere are about 25 such youth groups in Italy with more than 130 participants. Three-fourths of the youngsters come from outside the Baha’i community.\n\nDesigned for youths aged 11 to 14, the program aims to help participants understand their spiritual nature, respect themselves and others, and be of service to the society around them.\n\nYes, say organizers, the program may help keep kids off the streets where they can get into trouble, but the goals are loftier than that.\n\nThrough discussion, service projects, the study of certain texts, games, and music, the youth gain an understanding of their nobility as human beings, said Antonella Demonte, the Baha’i in charge of the program in Italy.\n\nThis in turn helps the youngsters resist negative peer pressure and can offer hope and a pattern for a life of service to others, she said.\n\nThis is especially important where unemployment, crime, teen pregnancy, and other problems contribute to hopelessness among youth, she said.\n\n“Also, Portici is densely populated and faces economic problems – it is a challenging place to live,” she continued.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":1},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Like Alberto, Anna Deluca is only 12, but she is old enough to see what goes on among many of her peers.\n\n“They live in a bad situation,” she says. “They are always on the street, they fight, they smoke…. They live like they were already adults.… At 12 years old they already go dance in other cities, in discos.”\n\nAnna joined the Baha’i program last year, and she talks about responsibility and respect – two key themes of the curriculum.\n\n“Kids don’t have a sense of responsibility for their actions,” she says, “and they don’t respect anybody.”\n\nIn Portici, organizers of what Baha’is call the “junior youth” program – in Italian, Attivita’ per giovanissimi – this month are starting their new year and, like last year, expect at least a dozen youngsters to sign up.\n\nIrene Cuce, a 21-year-old Baha’i student at Universita di Verona, spent six months in Portici volunteering with the program. She describes it as a project that helps youth learn about their own spiritual attributes through discussion and by providing service to their communities.\n\n“We can see the results from the program,” she says. “The youngsters feel more comfortable. They feel they can be something in their lives. They have respect for each other now – you can see it in the way they talk with each other.”\n\nCiro Cangiano, 16, spent three years in the program and agrees that it helps young teenagers develop new values.\n\n“I discovered qualities I didn’t know I had,” he says, “like patience, like wanting to help others.”\n\nConcetta Rosetti, whose 12-year-old daughter, Carla, participates in the Baha’i program, seems equally enthusiastic.\n\n“I think my daughter has become more helpful compared to before. And she has always been insecure, but since she has been going to the Baha’i Center she has become more open to others, and more self-confident,” says Mrs. Rosetti.\n\nShe hopes that what her daughter learns in the program will help her make her way in the world.\n\n“There are difficulties to find jobs, and unfortunately Portici doesn’t offer great opportunities for the future of our children,” she says.\n\nIvana Carluccio, 32, a Baha’i in Portici, strongly supports the program, which she says addresses the causes of despair by focusing on the positive spiritual qualities in each person and the talents one has to help others.\n\n“When you work for this project, you realize that you are doing it because it’s the only solution, the only practical way to really help these youth,” Ms. Carluccio said.\n\nRaffaele Olivieri started in the program two years ago and indicates that things have changed for him: “I think this project gives the youth the possibility to have a more positive vision of their future and as a result the possibility of changing society.”\n\n**About the program**\n\nGroups are generally small – six to 12  youngsters – to provide ample opportunity for each person to participate, especially in discussion. In Portici, the 12 youths who joined last year were divided into two smaller groups for their classes, which met every Wednesday at the Baha’i Center.\n\nEach group is led by a trained animator, who often is just a few years older than the class members. The relationship between the animator and the participants is key, notes Caroline Custer, a Baha’i who is familiar with the program.\n\n“A special kind of relationship is established,” she says, “which stems from the way animators understand the unique potentialities and capacities of the youth.”\n\n“Also, the atmosphere of the meetings is unique,” she continues. “It is not like a class in school, yet it is not like an informal gathering of friends. The meetings are joyous but at the same time serious.\n\n“Another beautiful aspect of the program is the way material, intellectual, and spiritual excellence are all presented as important aims and are integrated in the junior youth activities.”"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503922-65301portici457.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Through discussion, service projects, the arts, and games, the classes in Portici help young people learn respect for themselves and others and how to serve the community."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503918-65302anna.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Anna Deluca, 12, says many of the youth in Portici “live in a bad situation. They are always on the street, they fight, they smoke.” Those going to Baha’i class are looking for something different, she says."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503917-65303raffaeleliccardi.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Raffaele Liccardi, 14, says of the program in Portici: “These classes let me discover new qualities and talents (in myself), and I feel more open because I have met new people.”"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543503917-65304portici490.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Youngsters in the Portici “junior youth” class, ages 11 to 14, combine class time with service projects and other activities. This month, the program starts up again for the year."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":652,"evergreenUrl":"a-musical-life-that-goes-on","title":"A musical life that goes on and on","description":"Composer Russell Garcia is 92 years old and still making music. Not only that, he’s touring internationally. This week, in the town of Ried in...","date":"2008-08-29","customDateline":null,"city":"RIED","country":"AUSTRIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758632-65200russ.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758632-65200russ.jpg"},"imageDescription":"As an encore, Mr. Garcia invited the audience to sing with the choir Beethoven's \"Ode To Joy\" in English and German.","imageStyle":"large-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Composer Russell Garcia is 92 years old and still making music. Not only that, he’s touring internationally.\n\nThis week, in the town of Ried in northern Austria, in front of an audience of 200 people, he conducted a local orchestra and choir in a work that he and his wife created.\n\nTitled “A Path to Peace,” the piece was inspired by the Baha’i writings and includes original music by Mr. Garcia and lyrics by his 77-year-old wife, Gina Mauriello Garcia. Photographs and quotations projected above the stage illustrate conditions in the world that prevent peace, as well as ideas and principles that would promote peace.\n\n“My wife and I wrote this show because we thought there was a great need for people to understand these issues,” said Mr. Garcia, who in the 1950s and ‘60s was a composer, arranger, and conductor in Hollywood.\n\nHe worked at MGM, Universal Studios, and NBC Studios, including for the TV shows “Rawhide” and “Laredo”; composed the score for the 1960 cult classic “The Time Machine”; and arranged and conducted the album “Porgy & Bess” featuring Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong,\n\n“He’s made music for many people like Marlon Brando, Sophia Loren and Charlie Chaplin,” said Faramarz Farid, a Baha’i in Austria who helped organize this week’s concert. “To have him here is really exciting. It is also important for people to understand the message in his show.”\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"“Everyone knows that peace is important, but many people don’t know how to find it,” Dr. Farid said. “As Baha’is we believe we have the solution, and that is what this show is about.... Baha’u’llah shows us how to find peace.”\n\nNear the beginning of the half-hour piece comes a quote from Albert Einstein: “War is dual suicide, nobody wins a war.” Then come Baha’i passages taken from “The Promise of World Peace,” a 1985 message to the world written by the Universal House of Justice.\n\nMr. Garcia said he and his wife looked for nine major principles from the message and incorporated them in the work. Principles that promote peace include the equality of men and women, universal education, and the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty.\n\n“It’s very peaceful music,” said Arnold Renhardt, the director of the 17-person choir that performed at the concert. “I also think it has an important message. It shows that if people want, they can live together in peace.”\n\nGottfried Tischler, who teaches Catholic theology at a public school in Ried and is not a Baha’i, was asked to read some of the quotations for the performance and said he was pleased to do so.\n\n“I think it is particularly important to offer people such events,” he said, “even if you risk having just 10 people who actually take up on this message. They will all benefit from it and then they can act as multipliers, taking the message to others.”\n\nMr. Tischler noted that he was impressed with the mixed audience.\n\n“I saw people that I thought would never go to such a concert,” he said, adding that he would remember for a long time a song called \"Glory in that you love all people.”\n\nHe also said he thought all the listeners would take something home from the performance, whether it be an idea or an image – “especially the one sentence at the beginning of the show: ‘Peace or annihilation – YOU have the CHOICE.’”\n\nMr. Tischler’s wife, Agnes, commented that the music made a deep impression on her but “the words were very important, too.”\n\n“I think it was very important for people to take these words home with them,” she said.\n\nRussell and Gina Garcia became Baha’is in 1955 and since then have worked to promote the teachings of Baha’u’llah. Both originally from the United States, they moved to New Zealand in 1969.\n\n“We’ve dedicated our lives to trying to build a better world,” said Mr. Garcia “I’m still receiving so many different offers that I have to turn down work.”"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758632-65201closeup.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mr. Garcia says he's never worked a day in his life. He says he just writes music and people pay him for it."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758632-65202gina.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Gina Mauriello Garcia, an accomplished author and artist, was also the lyricist for the music presented that evening."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543758632-65203scene.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mr. Garcia says he still tours around 4 months every year."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null}],"lang":"en","language":"en","location":"/archive/56/"}},"staticQueryHashes":["2762707590"]}