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25,000 marchers took part in Rio's Religious Freedom Walk on 18 September 2011. Brazilian Baha'is are seen here carrying a banner which reads, "Peace, Respect and Unity of Peoples." 1,000 yellow vests bearing the slogan, "Today, we are followers of all religions" were distributed and worn by people of all faiths at the rally. Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—20 September 2011—The ongoing persecution of Iran's Baha'i community featured prominently as 25,000 people from Brazil's diverse traditions marched to defend the right to religious freedom and call for justice.
Established in 2008 by Rio's Committee for Combating Religious Intolerance (CCIR), the Religious Freedom Walk initially aimed to call attention to the prejudice faced in Brazil by followers of traditional Afro-Brazilian religions. Since then, the march has become an annual event, growing from 2,000 participants at the first rally to this year's record figure.
Yesterday, Afro-Brazilian... Read more . . . |
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Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Geneva—16 September 2011—
As a number of Baha'is in Iran await trial for providing higher education to youth barred from university, the Baha'i International Community has been distressed to learn of the arrest of a lawyer who was preparing to defend them.
Abdolfattah Soltani – a senior member of the legal team representing the prisoners – was arrested last Saturday. Mr. Soltani was a co-founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center along with four other lawyers including Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi. The Tehran-based Center was shut down in a... |
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Workshop participants discuss values underlying sustainable consumption and production at the DPI/NGO Conference in Bonn, Germany. Subject: Social and Sustainable Development
Bonn, Germany—5 September 2011—The Baha'i International Community’s 10-member delegation took part in the 64th Annual UN DPI/NGO conference, which focused on Sustainable Societies, Responsive Citizens (Bonn, Germany, 3-5 September). Delegates came from seven countries and were led by May Akale and Ming H. Chong (Baha'i International Community's Representatives to the United Nations).
The Community's involvement at the Conference was multi-faceted and included a ... Read more . . . |
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The 16 Baha'is initially detained after Iranian authorities raided around 30 homes associated with staff and faculty of the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education, in May this year. Most recent information indicates that 11 remain in prison. Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
New York—27 August 2011—In an open letter to Iran's minister for higher education, the Baha'i International Community is calling for an end to "the unjust and oppressive practices" that bar Baha'is and other young Iranians from university.
"This letter affirms every person's duty to acquire knowledge so that they can contribute their talents and skills to the betterment of society," said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
"To actively deprive any youth of education is reprehensible and against all legal, religious, moral, and humanitarian standards. No... Read more . . . |
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Three recent reports published by major human rights organizations that highlight Iran's treatment of its Baha'i citizens. The reports have been issued by the International Federation for Human Rights (top left), Amnesty International (bottom left) and Minority Rights Group International (right). Geneva—23 August 2011—Iran's treatment of its Baha'i citizens has been identified as a major area of concern in three important new surveys carried out by international human rights organizations.
The reports have recently been issued by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Minority Rights Group International (MRG) and Amnesty International.
The highlighting of the situation of Iranian Baha'is within the broader framework of international human rights violations has been welcomed by the Baha'i International Community.
"Each of these reports surveys a major issue area – minorities, women... Read more . . . |
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Subject: Persecution of the Baha'i Community
Geneva—10 August 2011—
In an outrageous new incident of religious discrimination, authorities in the city of Tabriz, Iran, have refused to allow Baha'is to bury a relative in accordance with Baha'i law – and instead have promised to entomb the deceased woman without a coffin under Muslim rites.
"To anyone who understands the culture of the Middle East, the idea that the government would force a family to bury their loved one according to the rites of another religion is beyond the pale," said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community... |
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Subject: Social and Sustainable Development
United Nations—5 August 2011—
The images, broadcast around the globe by CNN and other major news networks, were compelling in their pageantry: some 1,000 religious leaders, representing every major world religion and resplendent in an array of saffron robes, purple vestments, white turbans and black cassocks, were gathered together in the stately General Assembly building of the United Nations.
Yet more significant than the imagery of the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, held 28-31 August 2000 at the UN and at the Waldorf-... |
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The United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Youth opened on 25 July with a moment of silence for the victims of the recent bombing and gun attacks in Norway. Representatives from 400 youth groups attended the meeting to discuss a wide range of issues of concern to the younger generation, including jobs, poverty and sustainable development. UN Photo by Eskinder Debebe. Subject: Social and Sustainable Development
United Nations—1 August 2011—Increasing numbers of young people are expressing their views about global problems – and how to solve them – in a wide range of settings.
That was among the insights that emerged at a workshop for young people held here titled, "Our Voices, Our Aspirations: A Youth Dialogue on Sustainable Development."
The meeting was organized on Tuesday 26 July at the United Nations offices of the Baha'i International Community, as a side event to this week's UN High-level Meeting on Youth.
Representatives from 400 youth groups joined ambassadors, NGOs and UN officials for the two-day UN meeting, held... Read more . . . |
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Luxembourg's Minister of Finance, Luc Frieden, addressing a celebration marking National Day at the Baha'i Centre in Luxembourg City. Subject: Social and Sustainable Development
Luxembourg City—22 July 2011—The Luxembourg Baha'i community's involvement in society has been praised by a high-ranking government minister on a special visit to the national Baha'i centre.
Minister of Finance Luc Frieden made his remarks at a celebration marking National Day, the official birthday of His Royal Highness Henri, Grand-Duke of Luxembourg.
Citing the importance of the values of tolerance and unity, the minister expressed the government's gratitude to the Baha'is for their commitment to the life of the country.
"The value of a religious community, or any other organization, should be a reflection of the... Read more . . . |
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Oral statement by Simin Fahandej Subject: Social and Sustainable Development
10 July 2011—The Baha'i International Community delivered an oral statement at the ECOSOC High Level Segment (HLS) held on 4-8 July in Geneva. This year, the HLS focused on the Annual Ministerial Review theme of "Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to education" to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Read the statement here. |
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