World Canada | |||
date | event | tags | firsts |
2019 (In the year) 201- |
Bahá'í Communities in a number of countries experienced persecution during 2019:
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* Persecution, Iran; Persecution, Egypt; Persecution, Brunei; Persecution, Eritrea; Egypt; Brunei; Iran; Eritrea | |
2019 19 Dec 201- |
The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated for sanctions, two judges presiding over branches of the Iranian regime's Revolutionary Court who, for years, had punished Iranian citizens and dual-nationals for exercising their freedoms of expression or assembly. In many cases, these judges sentenced political prisoners to death. Through their respective branches of the Revolutionary Courts, Abolghassem Salavati and Mohammad Moghisseh oversaw the Iranian regime's miscarriage of justice in show trials in which journalists, attorneys, political activists, and members of Iran's ethnic and religious minority groups were penalized for exercising their freedom of expression and assembly and sentenced to lengthy prison terms, lashes, and even execution.
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Abolghassem Salavati; Mohammad Moghisseh; * Persecution, Iran; Washington, DC, USA; United States (USA); Iran | |
2019 24 Nov 201- |
Progress Report on the construction of the national Bahá'í House of Worship for Papua New Guinea the first Mashriqul-Adhkár to be designated as a national Temple.
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Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Port Moresby; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, National; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Architecture; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Papua New Guinea | |
2019 17 Nov 201- |
About 2,000 people were joined by representatives of the national government and members of the National Spiritual Assembly for the groundbreaking ceremony at the Temple site at Lenakel, on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu. A traditional wooden spade called a kakel was used to turn the soil symbolizing the start of construction on the local Bahá'í House of Worship. Local chiefs had presented the kakel to the Bahá'í community in a customary ceremony the day before to honour the eight tribes of Tanna that together offered the land for the Temple. [BWNS1373]
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Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Vanuatu; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Architecture; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Lenakel, Vanuatu; Vanuatu | |
2019 29 Oct 201- |
The commemoration of the bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb gave rise to an outpouring of artistic expressions from people on every continent, a sure reminder of the profound influence that the life and mission of the Báb continues to have, and will increasingly exert, on artistic expression worldwide. This includes the following Bahá'í World articles:
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* Báb, The (chronology); - Bahá'í World volumes | |
2019 29 Oct 201- |
The British Library published a blog to commemorate the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb. It is a commentary on the Star Tablet of the Báb or the Haykal. | British Museum and British Library; * Báb, Writings of; Talismans; Haykal and daira; Exhibitions of Bahá'í manuscripts and relics; Moojan Momen; Haykal (Star Tablet of the Báb); London, England; United Kingdom | |
29 Oct 201- |
Bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb The Bahá'í world commemorated the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Báb. The bicentenary website chronicled just some of the thousands of celebrations. |
Twin Holy days; Holy days; Báb, Birth of; Centenaries; Dawn of the Light (film); Internet; - Basic timeline, Expanded | |
2019 22 Oct 201- |
The Bahá'í World News Service provided an update on the progress of the construction of the local Bahá'í House of Worship in Matunda, Kenya. Located just west of the town of Matunda, the site of the Bahá'í Temple is in a region that is home to some of Kenya's earliest Bahá'í communities, where patterns of worship and service to humanity have been fostered over decades.
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Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Matunda Soy, Kenya; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Kenya | |
2019 11 Oct 201- |
'Ali Nakhjavani, (b. 19 September, 1919 in Baku, Azerbaijan) former member of the Universal House of Justice (1963-2003), passed away in Molsheim, Alsace, France. He was 100 years old. The Universal House of Justice requested all National Assemblies that memorial services be held for him. [BWNS1361]
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`Alí Nakhjavání; - In Memoriam; American University of Beirut; Enoch Olinga; Violette Nakhjavani; International Bahá'í Council; Auxiliary board members; Bandar Anzali, Iran; Azerbaijan; Beirut, Lebanon; Lebanon; Molsheim, France; France | |
2019 2 Oct 201- |
The British Library marked the bicentenary of the birth of the Báb with various initiatives alongside the launch of a new website, Discovering Sacred Texts. With the launch of this website there were companion exhibitions which featured examples of the Faith's original texts.
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Annabel Knight; Omid Djalili; Moojan Momen; Exhibitions of Bahá'í manuscripts and relics; British Museum and British Library; London, England; United Kingdom | |
2019 1 Oct 201- |
The Bahá'í International Community announced the appointment of Dr. David Rutstein as its new Secretary-General. He succeeded Dr. Joshua Lincoln who had been serving in this capacity since 2013. The role of the Secretary-General is to act on behalf of the Universal House of Justice in the conduct of its external affairs, including its relations with Israel. [BWNS1357] | David Rutstein; Joshua Lincoln; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC Secretary-Generals; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 1 Oct 201- |
The publication of the message from the Universal House of Justice marking the bicentenial of birth of the Báb.
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Twin Holy days; Holy days; Báb, Birth of; Centenaries; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 26 Sep 201- |
By a resolution of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations the international community condemned the Houthi persecution of Bahá'ís on the basis of their religion or belief. This resolution passed just two weeks after the prosecutors in a Houthi-controlled appeals court in Sana'a, Yemen who defended a previous death sentence of a Bahá'í on the basis of his beliefs, argued for the expulsion of all Bahá'ís from the country and the confiscation of their properties. [BIC News 30 September, 2019] | Hamed bin Haydara; Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Court cases; United Nations; Human Rights Council; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2019 20 Sep 201- |
The film Dawn of the Light, a feature film commissioned by the Universal House of Justice for the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Báb, was released on the bicentenary website. It was made available in nine languages.
[BWNS1354]
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- Film; Dawn of the Light (film); Twin Holy days; Báb, Birth of; Centenaries; - Documentaries; - Documentaries, BWC; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 19 Sep 201- |
The Universal House of Justice released the design concept for the Shrine of 'Abdu'l-Bahá by Hossein Amanat to all National Spiritual Assemblies. "'Abdu'l-Baha had expressed His wish regarding where He should be buried," explains Mr. Amanat, a distinguished Iranian-Canadian architect. "He had said to an early believer that if something should happen to Him and He should pass away, 'Abdu'l-Baha wanted to be buried under the sands between Haifa and Akka, which He described as the pathway trodden by the loved ones and the pilgrims." [BWNS1353] |
`Abdu'l-Bahá, Shrine of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Ascension of; Hossein Amanat (Husayn Amanat); - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Basic timeline, Expanded; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 17 Sep 201- |
The prosecutor in Mr. Haydara's appeal not only restated its support of the lower court decision to execute Mr. Haydara but also called to "immediately deport… all who are considered Bahá'ís" and to "ban their entry" into Yemen, significantly escalating the scope of the judicial prosecution far beyond the mandate of the appeal. In its written statement, the prosecution further requested the court to adopt any additional measures to discourage Bahá'í beliefs and their expression in the country. At a court hearing on 1 October 2019, the judge called for the listing of the assets of Mr. Haydara and of the Bahá'í National Assembly in advance of their seizure. [BIC News 10 October, 2019] | Hamed bin Haydara; - Persecution, Court cases; Persecution, Yemen; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2019 10 Sep 201- |
In the 42nd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council, the International Bahá'í Community presented an Oral Statement addressing the High Commissioner report on Yemen.
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Persecution, Yemen; Bahá'í International Community; New York City, NY; Yemen | |
2019 6 Sep 201- |
The Universal House of Justice announced the launch of a new website to provide information about the events held to commemorate the Twin Holy Days. The site was revealed over an eight week period and was made available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. It provided live streaming during the hours that the Bahá'í communities around the world commemorated the Birth of the Báb and the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh on the 29th and 30th of October. [BWNS1350] | Twin Holy days; Holy days; Báb, Birth of; Centenaries; Websites; Internet; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 30 Aug 201- |
The passing of Dr Udo Schaefer (b. October 19, 1926 in Heidelberg, Germany). He enrolled as a Bahá'í in 1948 and became one of the most important contemporary theologians of the Bahá'í Faith, well known for his scholarship and his defence of the Faith. He came from a family of musicians and his early studies were in in that field but he changed streams and became a lawyer. [FaceBook]
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- In Memoriam; Udo Schaefer; Heidelberg, Germany; Germany | |
2019 16 Aug 201- |
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on minority issues and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief sent a message to the Government of Qatar. The letter brought forth allegations concerning the discriminatory treatment of the Bahá'í religious minority in Qatar, specifically involving deportations, blacklisting, the inability to build a cemetery, and issues with personal legal status. The Special Rapporteur's letter also discussed the restrictions on the construction of a Bahá'í cemetery on land that was granted by the Municipality of Doha. This cemetery has been an ongoing issue since 2009, when authorities broke into the cemetery, exhumed the remains, and relocated them on the instructions of the Doha Municipality. This caused many families emotional stress and has led to the inability to identify some remains. Later that year, the Minister of the Municipality did eventually apologize and stated that new land would be allocated. In 2010 and 2015 new locations were identified and budgets were allocated, however despite regular follow up from the Bahá'í community, there has been no construction and no progress made. Additionally, the Allegation Letter addressed the difficulties the Bahá'í community faces in upholding their personal legal status. Qatari authorities do not recognize Bahá'í documents like marriage licenses, divorces, or inheritance papers unless they have been attested to or obtained abroad. This requires extensive and expensive travel that delays and complicates legal obligations. An attempt has been made by the Bahá'í community to have the Ministry of Justice accept and authenticate Bahá'í documents, however the Minister has not decided on the matter. The government of Qatar did not respond to the Special Rapporteur's letter. [ Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain website] |
Persecution, Qatar; Qatar | |
2019 8 - 11 Aug 201- |
The 43rd Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá'í Studies–North America was held in the Westin Hotel in Ottawa, Canada. The four day conference was attended by some 1,400 persons. [BWNS1347]
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Association for Bahá'í Studies (North America); Bahá'í Studies, Associations for; Ottawa, ON; Ontario, Canada; Canada | |
2019 Aug 201- |
Religions for Peace is the world's largest inter-religious coalition. Their mandate is to work to transform violent conflict, advance human development, promote just and harmonious societies. It is comprised of a world council of religious leaders and bodies from over 125 countries.
Its organization, built over its 50-year history, comprises of six regional Interreligious Councils and is built on the principle of religious representation that reflects the fabric of religious demography.
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Bahá'í International Community; Bani Dugal; Religions for Peace; Azza Karam; Lindau, Germany; Germany; Interfaith dialogue | |
2019 26 Jul 201- |
In a message from the secretariat of the Universal House of Justice to selected National Assemblies it was announced that a new portal had been opened on the pilgrimage website (pilgrimage.bahai.org) that would allow Bahá'ís to submit, track and update pilgrimage and visit requests directly. [CBN Vol 32 No 3 Fall 2019 p6] | Pilgrimage; Internet; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 20 Jul 201- |
The social media platform Twitter suspended several accounts linked to Iranian state media—including the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Mehr, and Young Journalists Club (YJC), which was run by the state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)—over their coordinated and targeted harassment of Bahá'ís. It was estimated that since 2014 more than 26,000 pieces of anti-Bahá'í media have appeared on official or semi-official Iranian television channels. [Aljazeera 21 July 2019] | * Persecution, Iran; Twitter; Iran | |
2019 Jun 201- |
More than 30 representatives from Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Germany, India, Panama, Samoa, Uganda, and the United States gathered for the consultations at the Bahá'í World Centre to explore what is being learned about every one of the Houses of Worship. The consultations touched on a range of topics, from practical requirements of managing a Temple to its profound spiritual and social impacts on surrounding populations. [BWNS1334]
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* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 18 Jun 201- |
About 8,000 people attended the European Development Days conference in Brussels. It was co-organized by World Vision International, ACT Alliance, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Brot für die Welt, EU-CORD Network, and the Bahá'í International Community. The Bahá'í International Community moderated one of the EDD panel discussions called What's religion got to do with it?
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Bahá'í International Community; - Conferences; Brussels, Belgium; Belgium | |
2019 23 May 201- |
The Baha'i World publication website was launched online this date.
See 1996-07-01 |
- Bahá'í World volumes; bahai.org; Websites; Internet; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 19 May 201- |
The Universal House of Justice announced the appointment of the members of the International Board of Trustees of Ḥuqúqu'lláh for a five-year term to commence on the anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb, 24 May 2019.
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Huqúqu'lláh; Huququllah, Trustees of; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 7 May 201- |
In a letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies, the House of Justice announced the appointment of Hossein Amanat as the architect chosen for the design of the Shrine of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. The distinguished Iranian-Canadian architect is best known for his designs of three of the buildings of the Arc on Mount Carmel in Haifa as well as the Azadi Tower in Tehran.
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`Abdu'l-Bahá, Shrine of; Hossein Amanat (Husayn Amanat); - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 28 Apr 201- |
The passing of Don Otto Rogers (b. 1935 in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan) a former member of the International Teaching Centre, in Picton, Ontario. He was buried in the Rose Cemetery in Waupoos, Ontario.
His publications:
A publications about his work.
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Don Rogers; Otto Rogers; Counsellors; - In Memoriam; Auxiliary board members; Kerrobert, SK; Milford, ON; Ontario, Canada; Waupoos, ON | |
2019 Ridván 201- |
In its Ridván Message the Universal House of Justice announced the intention of constructing a Shrine for 'Abdu'l-Bahá near the Ridván Garden on the crescent traced between the Holy Shrines in 'Akká and Haifa. The day after His passing in Haifa on 28 November 1921, 'Abdu'l-Bahá's remains were placed in a vault within the sacred Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel, a temporary arrangement until such time that a separate shrine would be erected in His honor.
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`Abdu'l-Bahá, Shrine of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Ascension of; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 6 - 7 Apr 201- |
The Heroes Teaching Conference was an historic gathering of over 1,000 Baha'i adults, youth, junior youth and children, as well as some of their like-minded friends from all over Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales, Australia. It was organised by the Regional Bahá'í Council and Board of Counsellors, the program aimed to help its participants find their place in service to Bahá'u'lláh and humanity, by drawing on the heroism of the past, inspiring them to arise, through humble service, and become heroes of the Faith for this age. [Conference Website] | Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences; Regional Bahá'í Councils; Brisbane, Australia; Australia | |
2019 23 Mar 201- |
A gathering of about 1,200 people attended the groundbreaking of the first local Bahá'í House of Worship in Africa located about 4 kilometers west of the town of Matunda in the Matunda Soy district of Kenya.
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Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Matunda Soy, Kenya; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Kenya | first local Baha’i House of Worship in Africa |
2019 28 Feb 201- |
Faruq Izadinia, Bahá'í scholar and translator, wrote an Open Letter after his court hearing in Tehran in which he described the process of his trial and the details of the court session. [Open Letter]
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* Persecution, Iran; Faruq Izadinia; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2019 28 Feb 201- |
The Universal House of Justice announced the publication of a compilation of extracts on prayer and devotional life drawn from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá and from the letters of the Guardian and the House of Justice that had been prepared by the Research Department at its request. It was made available on the Bahá'í Reference Library with a plan to produce printed editions. | Prayer; Meditation; - Compilations; * Publications; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 2 Feb 201- |
Hamed Bin Hayadara, who was facing a death sentence, appeared in a Sana'a court where he was charged with "foreign espionage" and "abandonment of religion". The judge adjourned the session until 12 March. He was among the six Bahá'ís detained in Sana'a. [SBSWorldNews] | Hamed bin Haydara; - Persecution, Court cases; Persecution, Yemen; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2019 7 Feb 201- |
An estimated 5,760 members of the Bahá'í Faith had been charged (and some even executed) for 'membership of a sect' in Iran between 1979 and 2009 according to a report by press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders. The Paris-based watchdog based their report on leaked digital files. [i24NEWS 7 February, 2019] | * Persecution, Iran; Iran | |
2019 5 Feb 201- |
The announcement of the publication of The Call of the Divine Beloved by the Bahá'í World Centre. The book contained revised translations of The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys as well as five newly published selections from Bahá'u'lláh's writings, including Rashḥ-i-'Amá (The Clouds of the Realms Above). This tablet is considered to be among the first if not the first revealed by Bahá'u'lláh after being apprised that He was to be the Manifestation of God.
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- Call of the Divine Beloved (book); Haft Vadi (Seven Valleys); Chahar Vadi (Four Valleys); Rashh-i-Ama (Sprinkling from the Cloud of Unknowing); * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; * Publications; * Translation; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Mysticism; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2019 18 Jan 201- |
On this, the 100th anniversary of the commencement of the Paris Peace Conference, the Universal House of Justice released a message regarding World Peace.
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Universal House of Justice, Letters and messages; Paris Peace Conference (1919); - International peace conferences; Promise of World Peace (statement); Peace; World peace; - Bahá'í World Centre; The Hague, Netherlands; Netherlands | |
2019 08 Jan 201- |
Imprisoned Bahá'í Hamed bin Haydara, 55, who had been sentenced to death, appeared in court in Sana'a for an unexpected hearing. Mr Haydara had been in Houthi detention in central Sana'a since December 2013. UN human rights representatives called for the rebels to overturn his death sentence. |
Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; - Persecution, Court cases; Hamed bin Haydara; Yemen | |
2019 (In the year) 201- |
During the year, Edward Manasyan, a prominent member of the Bahá'í community, continued to face charges of facilitating illegal migration to the country by advising Iranians wishing to settle in Armenia.
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Persecution, Armenia; Armenia | |
2018 20 Dec 201- |
The last imprisoned member of the former leadership body of the Bahá'í community in Iran was released from prison after serving a 10-year prison sentence. He was arrested on 14 May 2008 and charged with, among other false claims, espionage, propaganda against Iran, and the establishment of an illegal administration. Mr. Naeimi and the other six former members of the Yaran faced those charges more than a year after their arrest in a sham trial without any semblance of legal process. Authorities sentenced Mr. Naeimi and the other former members of the Yaran to 10 years in prison. While detained, Mr. Naeimi experienced severe health problems, often receiving inadequate treatment. Authorities made a cruel determination that the brief time Mr. Naeimi, a father of two from Tehran, spent in a hospital recovering would not be counted as part of his sentence. [BWNS1302] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Human rights; - Persecution; Human rights; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2018 Dec 201- |
During a dialogue with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as it considered a report on measures taken to implement the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination the Iraqi Deputy Justice Minister, Hussein al-Zuhairi, said Bahaism is not a religion or faith. He further expressed the Iraqi government's commitment to legislation prohibiting the Bahá'í religion in 1970 and added that there was no religion above Islam since the Iraqi Constitution set the tenets of Islam as a source of law. He said that as Iraqi society was Muslim, it was not possible to ignore the tenets of Islam in legislation. |
Iran | |
2018 19 - 22 Nov 201- |
The second annual Arab Sustainable Development Week was held in Cairo from 19 to 22 November to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030. More than 120 diplomats, government officials, representatives of regional and international organizations, businesses, and academics attended the event. Speakers included Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, among a number of other leaders in the Arab region.
It was the first time the Bahá'í community had an official presence at a space convened by the Arab League, a regional organization of about 20 nations in North Africa and the Middle East. Bahá'í International Community representatives were Dr. Solomon Belay, from the BIC Addis Ababa office, Shahnaz Jaberi from BIC-Bahrain and Hatem El-Hady from BIC-Egypt. The BIC statement, Summoning Our Common Will: A Baha'i Contribution to the United Nations Global Development Agenda, was distributed at the event. [BWNS1299] |
Solomon Belay; Shahnaz Jaberi; Hatem El-Hady; Bahá'í International Community; Arab League; Sustainable development; Ahmed Aboul-Gheit; Mostafa Madbouly; - BIC statements; Cairo, Egypt; Egypt | first time the BIC had an official presence at a meeting convened by the Arab League. |
2018 15 Nov 201- |
The passing of Shapoor Monadjem, (b. 3 October, 1933, Shiraz, Iran) at his last pioneer post in Maringá, Brazil. He had been a member of the International Teaching Center, a pioneer and member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Brazil (1963-1983), a Continental Councillor (1983-1993) as well as a Deputy Trustee of Ḥuqúqu'lláh. [BWNS1296; Bahaipedia] | Shapoor Monadjem; International Teaching Centre; Counsellors; - In Memoriam; Maringá, Brazil; Brazil | |
2018 9 Nov 201- |
The Universal House of Justice announced that the Office of Social and Economic Development would be succeeded by the Bahá'í International Development Organization with a five-member board of directors to serve a five year term of service with appointment to be made on the Day of the Covenant.
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Social and economic development; Social action; Bahá'í International Development Organization; Funds; Bahá'í Development Fund; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre; Office of Social and Economic Development (OSED) | |
2018 1 - 7 Nov 201- |
More than 7,500 people attended the Parliament of the World's Religions held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
This forum began in 1893 at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago as an effort to promote an emerging international movement devoted to promoting dialogue among religions. Since that time, it has been held in Cape Town (1999), Barcelona (2004), Melbourne (2009) and Salt Lake City (2015). [Website] Bahá'í presenters were:
During the conference the Hindu Swami Agnivesh said that instead of spending trillions of dollars on the war system, the peoples of the world need to unite and create a world parliament based on an Earth Constitution. He said that "without a world government, we cannot solve our major world problems." [History News Network 13 Feb 2022] |
Parliament of the World's Religions; Toronto, ON; Canada | |
2018 24 Oct 201- |
The body of a Bahá'í citizen, Shamsi Aghdasi Azamian, from Gilavand, a suburb of the city of Damavand was exhumed by unknown individuals several days after being buried in the Gilavand Bahá'í Cemetery and abandoned in the deserts of Jaban in the suburbs of that city. No individual or institution has accepted responsibility for this action, although security forces had told the Gilavand Bahá'ís earlier that they had no right to bury their deceased member in this place, and that they should perform burials only in Tehran. Her son refused to move the body but found that it had been taken to Tehran which is a distance of some two hours away. [Iran Press Watch 19720] |
Shamsi Aghdasi Azamian; - Persecution, denial of burial; Damavand, Iran; Iran | |
2018 11 Oct 201- |
Abdullah Al Olofi, member of the Bahá'í community in Yemen, was on his way to the market in Sana'a when suddenly he was surrounded by armed soldiers in a pick-up truck. He was blindfolded and taken away. [Counterpunch 9 November, 2018] | `Abdu'lláh Al Olofi; Persecution, Yemen; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2018 Oct 201- |
The announcement of the translation and publication of the Kitab-i-Aqdas into the Philippines' second most widely spoken language, Cebuano. (Translation into Tagalog was completed in 2003.) This translation was done by Dr Gil Tabucanon and was completed after ten years of effort. Publication was done by the Philippines Baha'i Publishing Trust. |
* Translation; Cebuano language; Tagalog language; Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Manila, Philippines; Solano, Nueva Vizcaya; Philippines | first translation of the Kitab-i-Aqdas into Cebuano |
2018 Oct 201- |
The publication of Man of the Trees: Richard St. Barbe Baker, the First Global Conservationist. by Paul Hanley. It was published by the University of Regina Press.
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Richard St. Barbe Baker; Man of the Trees; Paul Hanley; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Regina, SK; Saskatchewan, Canada; Canada | |
2018 29 Sep 201- |
In the second court hearing presided over by judge Abdu Ismail Hassan Rajeh, three additional Bahá'ís were sentenced to death. Five of the indicted Bahá'ís were in attendance at the court where the judge requested the prosecutor to publish the names of 19 others indicted in a newspaper, further endangering the lives of the Yemeni Bahá'í community. The judge also ordered that all of the properties belonging to the Bahá'ís indicted be frozen until the court verdict was issued. He furthermore objected to a request by the lawyer for the five to be released on bail and deferred any such decision to the next hearing to be held in a month and ten days.
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United Nations; Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2018 21 Sep 201- |
The Bahá'í World Centre announced the release of three short films that highlighted aspects of the community building endeavours of Bahá'ís and like-minded friends around the world. Totaling about 32 minutes, the new films covered three themes: nurturing younger generations, exploring the empowerment of junior youth, and communities learning to advance together.
The films complement the recently produced documentary film A Widening Embrace released in April. [BWNS1286]
The films can be downloaded using the link below: |
Widening Embrace, A (film); - Institute process; Childrens classes; Youth empowerment program; Ruhi Institute; - Film; - Documentaries; - Documentaries, BWC; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2018 15 Sep 201- |
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi authorities held a court hearing that targeted some 20 or 24 Bahá'ís, most in absentia, with a string of baseless charges which included espionage and apostasy. The charges were primarily made against individuals who held administrative roles in the Bahá'í community but extended to other Yemeni Bahá'ís including a teenage girl. In a subsequent hearing on September 29, the judge asked the prosecutor to publish the names of the accused in a newspaper and ordered their properties frozen. The judge in the case was Abdu Ismail Hassan Rajeh, the same judge who presided over Mr. Haydara's in January of 2018.
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Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Court cases; Court cases; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2018 9 Sep 201- |
Ētahi Karakia Bahá'í (Book of Bahá'í Prayers) was launched at the Pūrekireki Marae in Pirongia to coincide with the beginning of Māori Language Week. For Dr. Tom Roa, professor of Maori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato, it was the fourth significant translation of canonical Bahá'í texts he and his team have undertaken. This endeavour came amid broader efforts to revive the Maori language. Dr. Roa, who has been at the forefront of these efforts, said that Maori speakers were a declining share of New Zealand's population. Maori people made up only 15 percent of the population, and only a fifth of them can have a conversation in Maori, he noted. |
Prayer; Maoris; * Translation; * Publications; Pirongia, New Zealand; New Zealand | |
2018 6 Sep 201- |
The passing of Lily Ayman (b. 17 May 1929 in Tehran) in Chicago. She was buried in the Oakwood cemetery near the resting place of Hand of the Cause Corrine True. She was a prominent Iranian educationalist who later became a Bahá'í in 1975 and left Iran with her family after the Revolution and finally settled in the USA where she become actively involved in various Bahá'í educational projects. See her "In Memoriam" published in Lights of Irfan, 20, 2019 p. 264-269.
She was considered the "Mother of Persian Textbooks" [Iran Wire 10 April 2013] |
- In Memoriam; Lily Ayman; Tehran, Iran; Iran; Chicago, IL; United States (USA) | |
2018 31 Aug 201- |
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival in the Holy Land the Bahá'í World News Service published a series of podcasts.
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Akka, Israel | |
2018 summer 201- |
Starting with the summer of 2018, Romania hosted the Seminars of the Institute for Global Prosperity Studies for Eastern European students. Young people from the following countries participated: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary. [Romanian Bahá'í website] | Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP); Romania | |
2018 22 Jul 201- |
The dedication of the second local Bahá'í House of Worship in the world in Norte del Cauca, Colombia. News of this project was announced in 2012 along with other projects in Battambang, Cambodia; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Bihar Sharif, India; and Tanna, Vanuatu.
(For information on the first local Mashriqu'l-Adhkár see here.)
The event marked the opening of a month-long inauguration period. In a series of weekly visits to the Temple, 1,500 people were expected to participate in a special program called "My First Visit to the Bahá'í House of Worship."
Specifics
Property acquired:December, 2013 Design unveiled: 13 September, 2014 Groundbreaking: 22 May, 2016 Construction Period: January 2017 to July 2018 Site Dedication: 22 July, 2018 Architect:Mr. Gutierrez Chacón Architectural firm:CUNA Engineering and Sustainable Architecture Seating: Dimensions:The Temple is 18 metres tall. Inside height is 15 metres. Cost: Dependencies: References: BWNS1020; BWNS1047; BWNS1109; BWNS1153; BWNS1168; BWNS1222; BWNS1240; BWNS1249; BWNS1268, BWNS1277. |
* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Quick facts; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Dedications; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia; Gutierrez Chacon | first...the dynamic interaction between worship and endeavours to uplift the spiritual, social, and material conditions of society |
2018 8 Jul 201- |
The opening of the play about Tahirih called Daughter of the Sun to an audience of 450 people at the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama. The dramatic presentation was produced by journalist Kamale Selim Muslimgizi and came at a time when the life of Tahirih was gaining renewed attention and interest in Azerbaijani society due, in part because a book on Tahirih's life and works that were translated and published in 2016 which catalyzed a growing interest among the people of Azerbaijan about the life of this iconic champion of women's emancipation.
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Tahirih (Qurratu'l-'Ayn, Zarrín-Táj); - Drama; - Plays; * Arts and crafts; Kamale Selim Muslimgizi; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bandar Anzali, Iran; Azerbaijan | |
2018 6 Jul 201- |
Mr. Javaid Rehman was appointed as the third Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran since re-establishment of the mandate. The former mandate holder, Ms. Asma Jahangir assumed the mandate from November 2016 until her sudden passing in February 2018. Mr. Rehman was a Professor of International Human Rights Law and Muslim Constitutionalism at Brunel University, London. Mr Rehman taught human rights law and Islamic law and continued to publish extensively in the subjects of international human rights law, Islamic law and constitutional practices of Muslim majority States. Several of his published works have been translated into various languages. Overview of the mandate The Human Rights Council Resolution 37/30 requested the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran to submit a report on the implementation of the mandate to the Human Rights Council at its fortieth session and to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session and calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, to permit access to visit the country, and to provide all information necessary to allow the fulfillment of the mandate. In the discharge of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur will: a) Monitor and investigate human rights violations, transmits urgent appeals and letters to Iran on alleged violations of human rights; b) Seek to undertake country visits to Iran and to the region and engage with relevant stakeholders; c) Submit reports to the General Assembly and Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and d) Engage publicly on issues of concern, including through press releases. [Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights] |
Javaid Rehman; United Nations; United Nations; Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran; New York City, NY | |
2018 22 Jun 201- |
Following the recitation of prayers, the carved teak Greatest Name symbol was raised 15 meters to be placed at the inner apex of the dome inside the local Bahá'í House of Worship in Agua Azul, Colombia. This marked the near-completion of the world's second local House of Worship. [BWNS1268] | Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia | |
2018 13 Jun 201- |
Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested on charges of collusion and propaganda against Iran's rulers.
[Al Jazeera]
On 29 August 2018, Sotoudeh began a hunger strike to protest her detention and government harassment of her family and friends. On 11 March 2019 Nasrin Sotoudeh was sentenced in two different trials to 38.5 years in prison and 148 lashes and was denied access to a copy of the verdict against her. She was only permitted to see the text of the sentence and to note the charges of which she was convicted. One of the charges against her was "membership in an illegal group", referring to her membership of Legam, a campaign to abolish the death penalty in Iran. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, and given the high number of charges against her, only the most severe punishment will be enforced. However, given the high number of charges against her, it is unclear how much of the sentence she will have to serve. [Front Line Defenders] On 27 July 2020, her husband, Reza Khandan, reported that his wife's bank accounts had been blocked by the Tehran Prosecutor's Office. Reza Khandan believed this to be the beginning of the seizure of the family's assets. On 10 August 2020, Nasrin Sotoudeh began a hunger strike to protest the continued imprisonment of human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience in Iran. In a letter outlining her reasons, she highlighted that COVID-19 has only served to exacerbate the already poor conditions for prisoners in Iran. In September she was hospitalised after her physical condition worsened following weeks of hunger strike. Her strike ended in late September after 46 days. On October 20, Sotoudeh was transferred from Evin Prison in Tehran to Qarchak, a women's prison outside the city that has been blacklisted under United Nations human rights sanctions. 7 November 2020. Sotoudeh was temporarily released from prison after concerns mounted over her deteriorating health. Her temporary release came weeks after she was moved to intensive care in a hospital in Tehran following a lengthy hunger strike. [Al Jazeera] 2 December 2020: Nasrin Sotoudeh was returned to Qarchak prison despite the fact that medical experts recommended the extension of her medical leave for a further two weeks. [Al Jazeera] Queen's University conferred an honorary doctorate of Law. Accepting it on her behalf was Irwin Cotler, Sotoudeh's international legal counsel and former Minister of Justice of Canada. [Queen's Gazeette 23 January 2021] |
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Human rights; Nasrin Sotoudeh; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2018 9 May 201- |
The premiere of the film The Gate: Dawn of the Bahá'í Faith in Los Angeles. The first ever documentary about the origins of the Bahá'í Faith.
On May 23rd, Bahá'í communities in multiple locations showed the film as part of their Holy Day observance. The film was directed by Bob Hercules, written by Ed Price, and the producers were Steve Sarowitz, Ed Price and Adam Mondschein. [Film Website]
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* Báb, The (chronology); Bábí history; - Documentaries; - Film; The Gate: Dawn of the Bahá'í Faith (film); Bob Hercules; * Persecution, Iran; Los Angeles, CA; United States (USA) | The first documentary about the origins of the Bahá’í Faith. |
2018 (post International Bahá'í Convention) 201- |
Some 80 members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors met for a conference at the Bahá'í World Centre following the 12th International Bahá'í Convention. On that occasion, the Counsellors were able to reflect on major developments in Bahá'í communities around the world. In order to share their experiences some of their stories were recorded and made available via podcasts. The Counsellors discussed the impact of spiritual and moral education programs offered by the Bahá'í community on youth and the communities in which they live, drawing on experiences in Cambodia, Kiribati, India, Norway, Spain, and Timor Leste (or East Timor). [BWNS1264]
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Counsellors; Conferences, Counsellors; - Institute process; Youth; Podcasts; Education; Conventions, International; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; Cambodia; Kiribati; India; Norway; Spain; Timor Leste, East Timor, | |
2018 30 Apr 201- |
The announcement of the election of the 12th Universal House of Justice. Those elected were Paul Lample, Chuungu Malitonga, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, Stephen Hall, Ayman Rouhani, Stephen Birkland, Juan Francisco Mora, and Praveen Mallik. [BWNS1258]
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Paul Lample; Chuungu Malitonga; Payman Mohajer; Shahriar Razavi; Stephen Hall; Ayman Rouhani; Stephen Birkland; Juan Francisco Mora; Praveen Mallik; Universal House of Justice, Election of; Universal House of Justice, Members of; Conventions, International; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Widening Embrace, A (film); - Documentaries; - Documentaries, BWC; - Institute process; Social action; Social and economic development; Farideh Baki-Nasseri; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel | |
2018 27 Apr 201- |
The publication of the booklet entitled For the Betterment of the World by the Office of Social and Economic Development to be made available to the more than 1,300 delegates at the International Bahá'í Convention. As with the editions published in 2003 and 2008, it provided an illustration of the Bahá'í community's ongoing process of learning and action in the field of social and economic development. [BWNS1255] | - Institute process; Social and economic development; Social action; For the Betterment of the World (document); - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2018 23 Apr 201- |
Afif Naeimi, the seventh and last imprisoned member of the Yaran, returned to Rajaee Shahr Prison (also known as Gohardasht Prison) near Tehran at the end of his medical leave despite suffering from life-threatening ailments.
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Yaran; Rajai Shahr prison; Prisons; * Persecution, Iran; Karaj, Iran; Iran | |
2018 22 Apr 201- |
The announcement of the retirement of Universal House of Justice members Mr. Gustavo Correa, 70, and Dr. Firaydoun Javaheri, 72. Mr. Correa was from Colombia. He was elected to the House of Justice in 2008. Dr. Javaheri was born in Iran and spent much of his life in Africa—first in The Gambia and subsequently in Zambia. He was elected to the Universal House of Justice in 2003. [BWNS1253] | Gustavo Correa; Firaydoun Javaheri; Universal House of Justice, Members of; Retirements; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2018 15 Apr 201- |
The design for the local Bahá'í House of Worship was unveiled at a gathering in Matunda Soy, Kenya attended by about 1,000 people. The temple will accommodate about 250 people and the design incorporated the diamond-shaped pattern, a motif commonly found in Kenyan culture. It will be built of construction materials found locally; the roof will be made of local state and the walls from from stone quarried nearby. The Temple's architect, Neda Samimi, was the first female architect whose design for a Baha'i House of Worship was selected. [BWNS1251]
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* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Matunda Soy, Kenya; Architecture; - Architects; Women; Firsts, other; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Matunda Soy, Kenya; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Kenya | first woman to design a Bahá'í House of Worship |
2018 12 Apr 201- |
The premiere of the documentary film, An American Story: Race Amity and The Other Tradition in a television broadcast on station WBGH, channel 2 in Boston, MA. [Trailer]
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Race; Unity; Race amity; Race unity; Racism; - Documentaries; Boston, MA; Massachusetts, USA; United States (USA) | |
2018 4 Apr 201- |
A major milestone in the construction of the local Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Agua Azul was reached. The crown on the topmost part of the roof was installed. [BWNS1020, BWNS1109, BWNS1168, BWNS1109, BWNS1248, BWNS1249] | Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia | |
2018 1 Apr 201- |
The launch of a fierce campaign of hatred against members of the Bahá'í Faith, as well as other against peaceful religious minorities was proclaimed by Houthi activist Ahmad Ayed Ahmed in a public Tweet. The campaign coincided with the threats made by the leader of Ansaruallah, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, against the Bahá'ís, Ahmadis, Christians and a number of Islamic sects during his Friday speech on the occasion of Rajab Friday. This marked a clear call for a sectarian war against minorities and specifically the Bahá'í's and parallelled the already ongoing systematic attack against Bahá'ís including arbitrary arrests, persecution, and torture. This indicated a new stage in Houthi persecution, until this time they had exercised a degree of "political dissimulation" to conceal their direct involvement, however, since al-Houthi's public speech, Houthis were openly spearheading as well as escalating the systematic persecution of Bahá'ís. [Iran Press Watch 1 April, 2018] | Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Yemen | |
2018 23 Mar 201- |
Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badreddin Al-Houthi, the Secretary-General of Yemen's Shia political party Ansar Allah, accused the Bahá'ís of seeking to create disunity among Muslims. In a televised speech broadcast to a wide audience within and outside of Yemen, he vehemently vilified and denounced the Bahá'í Faith, further intensifying the ongoing persecution of the Bahá'ís in that country. It was reported that the Houthis had also launched a social media campaign against Bahá'ís. "The Yemeni Initiative for Defending Bahá'í Rights", a human rights organization, said in a Facebook post that Al-Houthi's incitement coincided with incitements against Ahmadis, Christians, intellectuals, scientists, and activists, as well as "a number of Islamic doctrines." [Conatus News 28 March, 2018]
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Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Sayyid `Abdu'l-Malik Badreddin Al-Houthi; Yemen | |
2018 21 Mar 201- |
The design for the national Bahá'í House of Worship of Papua New Guinea (PNG) was unveiled.
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* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, National; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Port Moresby; Architecture; - Architects; Rodney Hancock; Henry Lape; Saeed Granfar; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Papua New Guinea | |
2018 19 Mar 201- |
The release of Mr. Vahid Tizfahm from the Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj after having completed his 10-year sentence. He was the sixth of the seven Bahá'í leaders to be released from prison. |
Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Human rights; Court cases; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2018 16 Mar 201- |
Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, at 85 the oldest member of the Yaran to be imprisoned, was released after serving his 10-year sentence. [BWNS1244] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Court cases; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2018 15 Mar 201- |
The Bahá'í cemetery in the city of Kerman was sealed by order of the Kerman judicial authorities and the burial of deceased Bahá'ís was prevented. [Iran Press Watch 19720] | - Persecution, denial of burial; Kerman, Iran; Iran | |
2018 12 Mar 201- |
The Bahá'í International Community in New York released the statement "Beyond Mere Economics: A Moral Inquiry into the Roots of Empowerment" to the 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (12 to 23 March 2018). [BWNS1243] | Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; * Publications; Women; Empowerment; Economics; United Nations; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
2018 22 Feb 201- |
A progress report on the construction of the Mashriqul-Adhkar in Norte del Cauca was made. The main structural components of the central building had been completed and work had begun on the finishing of the floor and the walls as well as the placement of the roof tiles. Construction had begun in a number of auxiliary buildings. [BWNS1240] | Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia | |
2018 20 Feb 201- |
Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, a former member of the Yaran, was transferred from Evin Prison to a hospital as per directions of the prison doctor after experiencing heart issues. He underwent surgery and, after spending a few days in the ICU, was transferred back to prison. Mr. Khanjani suffered from old age and multiple ailments. He had been in prison since May 18, 2008. Throughout his 10-year term he had not been allowed a single day of leave. Security and Judicial authorities did not even allow him to attend his wife's funeral. His sentence was completed on March 22. [Iran Press Watch 18815] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Court cases; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2018 18 Feb 201- |
In an open letter, twenty-five prominent international lawyers and human right activists appealed to Mohammad Javad Larijani, the Secretary-General of the High Council for Human Rights in Iran, to take steps to end the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran. In the letter they made reference to the new website, "Archives of the Bahá'í Persecution in Iran", stating that it "vividly demonstrates the depth and breadth of unjust, relentless, and systematic oppression against a religious minority". [BICNews10Feb2018] | Human rights; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Open letters; Websites; Internet; * Publications; Iran; - Worldwide | |
2018 16 Feb 201- |
The release of Saeid Rezaie, one of the seven members of the Yaran, the former leadership group of the Bahá'ís in Iran after completing his 10-year sentence. He was the fourth person from among the Yaran to be released. [BWNS1238] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Court cases; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2018 Feb 201- |
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), an NGO working to promote the right to freedom of religion or belief of all and raising awareness about the persecution of Christians and other religious groups around the world, published a shocking report that revealed the influence of religious persecution on religious minority children. In its Faith and a Future report, CSW focused on the situation of religious minority children in educational settings in Burma, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan. The report scrutinized three common acts of persecution in the educational setting specifically bias, discrimination and abuse.
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* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Human rights; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution; Human rights; Faith and a Future (CSW); Iran | |
2018 29 Jan - 7 Feb 201- |
The 56th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development focused on strategies for eradicating poverty. It explored many dimensions of this complex and vexing issue, including the necessity of realizing the equality of women and men, the promise and potential pitfalls of technology, issues of disability and inclusion, as well as the special role of families, communities, and youth. The BIC prepared a statement for the Commission calling for a profound shift in thinking. Referring to the Commission's aim of "eradicating poverty to achieve sustainable development for all," the statement explains that it "is not simply a matter of expanding access to material resources, challenging as that can be. Rather, it is an endeavor of structural and social transformation on scales never attempted before. And the magnitude of that work calls for new ways of understanding individual human beings and society as a whole." The statement, Towards a Just Economic Order: Conceptual Foundations and Moral Prerequisites was made available on the BIC website. |
United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; - Statements; New York, USA; New York, USA | |
2018 25 Jan 201- |
By way of a contribution to the 7th Annual ECOSOC Youth Forum at the United Nations, the Bahá'í International Community presented a statement titled, Rising Generations: Weaving a New Tapestry of Community Life in which our current systems of governance, economics, health, and education, among others were discussed and thought given to what these systems would have to be like in the future. | Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
2018 25 Jan 201- |
Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Asma Jahangir, in her report, shared with that country on this date, listed the names of some 77 Bahá'ís imprisoned in that country.
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United Nations; Asma Jahangir; Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; New York City, NY | |
2018 25 Jan 201- |
The announcement of the opening of an educational centre at the Bahá'í Lotus Temple. The educational facility, which can accommodate hundreds, will be used to host camps, courses, and seminars for youth and young adults who are involved in efforts to improve their communities. With the opening of the new educational facility, many more will be able to attend these programs than was previously possible. |
Shaheen Javid; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Delhi; Lotus temple, New Delhi; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Statistics; Youth; New Delhi, India; India | |
2018 18 Jan 201- |
The publication of A Vision of Peace: Stories from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a brief history of the struggles and successes of the Bahá'í community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
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Community building; Congo, Democratic Republic of | |
2018 2 Jan 201- |
The Specialized Criminal Court of the Houthi militia in Yemen sentenced 52 year-old detainee Hammed bin Haidara to death on the basis of his Bahá'í beliefs, allegedly for collaborating with Israel and forging official documents. His execution was to be a public event. He had been tortured and ill-treated in custody since being incarcerated in December of 2013. The judgment issued by the Houthi-controlled Criminal Court in Sana'a also confiscated the funds of Hammed bin Haidara and shut all Bahá'í centres in the country. The persecution of Bahá'ís in the area controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia reflected the pattern of persecution in Iran. |
Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Court cases; Court cases; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Yemen | |
2018 (In the Year) 201- |
The publication of | ||
2018 Jan 201- |
Southern Yemeni separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates seized control of Aden. | Yemen, Recent history; Aden, Yemen; Yemen | |
2018 (In the year) 201- |
The Bahá'í International Community established a web site, Archives of Bahá'í Persecution in Iran to document the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran. Each document is available as a digital scan of the original and in a text-searchable format. In time, all materials will be available in both Persian and English. The site was established in response to rising interest both internationally and within Iran to understand the depth and breadth of this persecution. The documents shed light on the decades-long, systematic, and ongoing persecution of the Baha'is, instigated by the clergy and by the government.
Although most of the documents on this website are related to the decades following the Islamic revolution in 1979, there are many that date back a long time prior to the revolution. They cover a wide range of persecutions, including systematic discrimination, arrest and imprisonment, execution, economic oppression, exclusion from education, acts of destruction and violence, and incitement to hatred. Over time, the archive will contain thousands of documents, mostly text documents, but also audio and visual records, many of which were being made publicly available for the first time. One can subscribe to receive an email with weekly updates. On the 9th of May 2023 the Universal House of Justice wrote to all National Assemblies announcing that this resource had been made available. iiiii |
* Persecution, Iran; Bahá'í International Community; Iran | |
2018 (In the year) 201- |
The population of the Bahá'ís of the world was given as 8,327,581 or 0.10% of the population.
|
Statistics | |
2017 17 Dec 201- |
The announcement by the Universal House of Justice of the passing of former House member Mr. Hartmut Grossmann. "...he poured out his life in uninterrupted service to the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh, as a teacher, pioneer, and member of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Germany (1963-1969) and Finland (1977-1980), the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe, (1980-1988) the International Teaching Centre (1988-2003) and, ultimately, of the Universal House of Justice (2003-2008)." [BWNS1228] |
Hartmut Grossmann; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Germany | |
2017 5 Dec 201- |
The release of Behrooz Tavakkoli, 66, from prison after serving a 10-year term. He was the third member of the Yaran to be released. [Iran Press Watch18533; Iran Press Watch18536; BWNS1225]
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Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Court cases; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2017 3 Dec 201- |
Ali Abdullah Saleh, the ousted strongman who once governed Yemen and then conspired with Iranian-backed rebels to claw his way back to power, was killed after a bomb blew up his family's compound in the capital, Sana'a. After fighting along side the Iran-backed Houthis for two years it appeared that he had switched sides to join the Saudi-led coalition. [New York Times headline Monday, December 4, 2017 10:10 AM EST] | Yemen, Recent history; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2017 30 Nov 201- |
Bahá'ís celebrated the bicentennial of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh in a ceremony in Baghdad attended by representatives from the Iraqi parliament, the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR), the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, civil society as well as media activists.
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Bahá'u'lláh, Birth of; Twin Holy days; Holy days; Centenaries; Websites; Persecution, Iraq; - Persecution, Bans; - Persecution; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq | |
2017 17 Nov 201- |
A committee of the United Nations General Assembly condemned Iran by a vote of 83 to 30 with 68 abstentions for its continuing violations of human rights, the 30th such resolution since 1985.
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United Nations; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
2017 15 Nov 201- |
Progress report on the construction of the local Bahá'í House of Worship in Norte del Cauca.
[BWNS1222]
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Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; Environment; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); North Caucasus; Colombia | |
2017 6 Nov - 22 Jan 201- |
An exhibition of Bahá'u'lláh's writings opened at the John Addis Gallery in the British Museum.
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British Museum and British Library; Exhibitions of Bahá'í manuscripts and relics; Relics; * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Exhibitions; Reed pens; Reed; - Calligraphy; Revelation writing; Kalimat-i-Maknunih (Hidden Words); Bahá'u'lláh, Pen portraits of; Pen portraits; E. G. Browne; Gifts; London, England; United Kingdom; Hidden Words | |
2017 4 Nov 201- |
Three young Iranians who complained to state officials after being denied university entrance for being followers of the Bahá'í Faith have each been sentenced to five years in prison. Rouhieh Safajoo (21), Sarmad Shadabi (22), and Tara Houshmand (21) were convicted of the charges of "membership in the anti-state Bahá'í cult" and "publishing falsehoods." [IFMAT 14NOV17] | * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2017 near the end of Oct 201- |
Fariba Kamalabadi, a member of the former leadership group of the Bahá'ís called the "Yaran", concluded her ten-year prison sentence. She was the second individual from among the former Yaran to be released. She, along with five others, were arrested on the 14th of May, 2008.
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Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE); Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; - Persecution, Education; Court cases; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2017 22 Oct 201- |
Yemeni security forces raided a Bahá'í gathering in Sana'a opening fire on the small group of people assembled to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh. The attack occurred in the family home of prominent tribal leader Walid Ayyash, who had been abducted in April and whose whereabouts were unknown. The attackers were reportedly in four cars and an armored vehicle which they used to break down the front door of the house. They arrested Mr. Ayyash's brother, Akram Ayyash. |
Persecution, Yemen; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Bahá'u'lláh, Birth of; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Walid Ayyash; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen; Iran | |
2017 22 Oct 201- |
The bicentenary of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh was commemorated around the world. A multi-lingual web page was implemented to track the celebrations. [BWNS1212] | Bahá'u'lláh, Birth of; Twin Holy days; Holy days; * Bahaullah (chronology); Centenaries; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2017 20 - 22 Oct 201- |
Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh
From the time of the setting of the sun on October 21st in Kiribati, an island republic in the Central Pacific just west of the International Date Line, until sunset in Hawaii on the 22nd of October, 72 hours later, celebrations were held in thousands of localities throughout the world commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh. Coverage on the bicentenary website began soon after 8:00 GMT on 20 October and concluded at 4:00 GMT on 23 October documenting some of the thousands of celebrations. [BWNS1201, BWNS1203, BWNS1205, BWNS1206, BWNS1207, BWNS1208, BWNS1209, BWNS1210, BWNS1211, BWNS1221, BWNS1213, BWNS1214, BWNS1216, BWNS1218] |
Bahá'u'lláh, Birth of; Twin Holy days; Holy days; Centenaries; Websites; Internet; * Publications; Stamps (philately); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Worldwide | |
2017 18 - 22 Oct 201- |
The Iranian Bahá'í community was targeted during the bicentenary period. Between 18 and 21 October, some 19 individuals were arrested in Kermanshah, Tehran, and Birjand, and the homes 25 Baha'is were raided. Twenty-six Bahá'í-owned shops around the country were sealed off by authorities because the owners observed the Holy Day on 21 October. These closures occurred in Shiraz, Marvdasht, Gorgan, and Gonbad. [BWNS1215] | * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Bahá'u'lláh, Birth of; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Iran; Kirmánsháh, Iran; Tehran, Iran; Bírjand, Iran; Shíráz, Iran; Marvdasht, Iran; Gorgan, Iran; Gonbad, Iran | |
2017 18 Oct 201- |
The release of the film Light to the World. The 51 minute film recounted the story of Bahá'u'lláh's remarkable life and the impact of His teachings on communities around the world. [BWNS1208] | Light to the World (film); - Film; - Documentaries; - Documentaries, BWC; * Bahaullah (chronology); - Institute process; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Basic timeline, Expanded; Centenaries; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2017 Sep 201- |
Arrests of Bahá'ís in Yemen drew international censure which led to a United Nations resolution, titled "Human Rights, Technical Assistance and Capacity-building in Yemen". It was introduced by Egypt on behalf of the Arab Group and supported by the entire UN Human Rights Council—calling for the immediate release of all Bahá'í detainees. The Council was the principal human rights body at the UN and was composed of 47 members who are elected by the General Assembly based on equitable geographic distribution. |
Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; United Nations; Human rights; Geneva, Switzerland; Switzerland; Yemen | |
2017 28 Sep 201- |
The Universal House of Justice announced the launch of a new website, created in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and Persian. This portal will be used to share news of the commemoration of the Twin Holy Days throughout the world. |
Bahá'u'lláh, Birth of; Centenaries; Twin Holy days; Holy days; Websites; Internet; * Publications; * Translation; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2017 19 Sep 201- |
Mahvash Sabet, one of the seven members of the former leadership group of the Bahá'ís in Iran known as the Yaran, was released after 10 years of confinement in Iran's notorious Evin and Raja'i Shahr prisons.
|
Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Court cases; Human rights; Evin Prison; Rajai Shahr prison; Prisons; - Poetry; Lasse Thoresen; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Karaj, Iran; Iran | |
2017 18 Sep 201- |
The release of the film entitled World Peace - A Bahai Vision.
|
- Documentaries; Los Altos, CA; United States (USA) | |
2017 1 - 2 Sep 201- |
The opening of Cambodia's first "Local House of Worship" in Battambang, just over two years after the design of the building was unveiled in July 2015. News of this project was announced in 2012 along with other projects in Bihar Sharif, India; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Norte del Cauca, Colombia; and Tanna, Vanuatu.
Specifics
Design unveiled:July 2015 Groundbreaking ceremony: 14 November, 2015 Construction Period:January 2016 to September 2017 Site Dedication: 1 September, 2017 Architect: Tang Sochet Vitou Architectural firm: Architecture Design Intelligence (ADI) Seating: Dimensions: Inside height 11.8m Cost: Dependencies: References: [BWNS906, BWNS1062, BWNS1082, BWNS1100, BWNS1120, BWNS1137, BWNS1157, BWNS1185, BWNS1187, BWNS1189, BWNS1190 (slide show), BWNS1191 (video), BWNS1192] |
* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Battambang, Cambodia; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; Architecture; - Architects; Tang Sochet Vitou; - Basic timeline, Expanded; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Quick facts; Dedications; Firsts, other; Gardens; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Battambang, Cambodia; Cambodia | first Local Mashriqu’l-Adhkar in the world. |
2017 Sep 201- |
The statement and compilation titled The Institution of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár was released by the Bahá'í World Centre.
See also the message of 2014 to the Bahá'ís of Iran on the subject of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, prayer, and devotional meetings. |
* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Prayer; Devotional gatherings; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2017 25 Aug 201- |
The announcement of the opening of the new Pilgrim Reception Centre.
|
Pilgrimage; Pilgrim Reception Centre (Haifa); Pilgrim Houses; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; Pilgrims; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel | |
2017 1 Aug 201- |
The release of the film The Cost of Discrimination> by Arash Azizi and Maziar Bahari which compared the social costs of discrimination in present day Iran to South Africa under the apartheid regime where, like in Iran, the Dutch Reform Church used their Holy Texts to justify the suppressive measures taken against people of "non-European" origin. | - Film; - Documentaries; Cost of Discrimination (film); Arash Azizi; Maziar Bahári; Race; Apartheid; Discrimination; - Christianity; - Islam; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; South Africa; Iran | |
2017 Jul 201- |
The men who admitted to stabbing and killing Farhang Amiri, a 63-year-old father of four children, in September 2016 in Yazd on the street outside his home in public view were sentenced by a court in Yazd.
|
Farhang Amiri; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution, Court cases; Court cases; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Yazd, Iran; Iran | |
2017 18 Jun 201- |
The plan for the design of the local Mashriqul-Adhkár in Tanna, Vanuatu was announced. Ashkan Mostaghim of Mostaghim & Associates, a firm from Sydney, Australia, was chosen as the Temple's architect. His design was on the shortlist for the Continental Mashriqul-Adhkár in Santiago. [BWNS1175]
|
Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Vanuatu; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Architecture; - Architects; Ashkan Mostaghim; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tanna, Vanuatu; Vanuatu | |
2017 Jun 201- |
The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative was launched as an international, multi-faith alliance that works to bring moral urgency and faith-based leadership to global efforts to end tropical deforestation. They provide a platform for religious leaders to work hand-in-hand with indigenous peoples, governments, civil society organizations and businesses on actions that protect rainforests and safeguard the indigenous peoples that serve as their guardians.
The initiative was launched in June of 2017 at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway in a first-of-its-kind summit of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and Taoist religious leaders, climate scientists, rainforest experts and indigenous peoples' representatives from Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Meso-America and Peru. |
Environment; Parliament of the World's Religions; Oslo, Norway; Norway | |
2017 Jun - Nov 201- |
In Yemen an outbreak of cholera killed 2.100 and affected almost 900,000 others. | Yemen, Recent history; Cholera; Yemen | |
2017 15 May 201- |
Hundreds of Yemenis gathered in front of the Criminal Prosecution building in the capital city of Sana'a. They were denouncing the arrest of Yemeni citizens of the Bahá'í faith and calling for their release. The demonstrations were not led by the usual human rights crew but by tribal leaders of some of the most influential tribes in the country, prominently that of the Bani Mattar.
|
Sheikh Walid Saleh Ayyash; Khalid Al-Mawari; Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2017 12 May 201- |
The Bahá'í International Community launched a global campaign calling for the immediate release of the seven Iranian Bahá'í leaders, unjustly imprisoned for nine years as of the 14th of May.
|
Yaran; Court cases; Human rights; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; Iran | |
2017 5 May 201- |
The film Changing the World, One Wall at a Time was premiered in Harlem on the 5th of May and in Los Angeles on the 5th of June. The film evolved from shorter videos that were posted from the "Education is not a Crime" campaign and was made by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Maziar Baharie. [BWNS1173]
|
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution; - Documentaries; Education is not a Crime (campaign); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Changing the World, One Wall at a Time (film); Harlem, NY; New York, USA; Los Angeles, CA; California, USA; United States (USA) | |
2017 May 201- |
The International Teaching Centre published The Five Year Plan 2011-2016: Summary of Achievements and Learning that had been prepared under their supervision. It elaborated on the accomplishments of the Five Year Plan under the headings: Advancing the Process of Entry by Troops, Social Action, Participating in the Discourses of Society, and Developments at the Bahá'í World Centre. | Five Year Plan; - Teaching Plans; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2017 28 Apr 201- |
Amnesty International sent a Joint Public Statement to the Huthi-Saleh authorities in Yemen calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Hamid Haydara. The document can be downloaded from the Amnesty International site. | Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Amnesty International; Yemen | |
2017 25 Apr 201- |
The formation of the human rights organization, "The Yemeni Initiative for Defending Bahá'í Rights". [Facebook page] | Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Yemen | |
2017 19 Apr 201- |
Houthi-Saleh political security officers arrested Walid Ayyash, Mahmood Humaid, and Badi'u'llah Sanai, all members of the Bahá'í community, at a checkpoint near the city border of Hudiedah. Sanai was released one week later, but was re-arrested in May. All three remain detained, their whereabouts unknown. [UN News Centre 22 May 2017]
|
Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Yemen | |
2017 3 Mar 201- |
The publication of Toward Prosperity The Role of Women and Men in Building a Flourishing World Civilization, the Bahá'í International Community's contribution to the 61st United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 13 to 24 March 2017 as a follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and to the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century". [BIC Statements] | Toward Prosperity; New York, USA; New York, USA | |
2017 23 Feb 201- |
Plans for the construction of the local Bahá'í House of Worship in Agua Azul, a village in Norte del Cauca, Colombia, reached an important milestone. Construction officially began in January after building contracts were formalized with a local firm in the region.
[BWNS1153]
|
Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia | |
2017 15 Feb 201- |
The Bahá'í International Community announced the launch of a website for the Bahá'ís of Iran at Bahaisofiran.org. "Although the official website of the worldwide Bahá'í community had recently been made available in Persian and a number of other languages, the new "Baha'is of Iran" website was the first website of the Bahá'í community of Iran. This development was especially important at a time when a large volume of anti-Bahá'í propaganda had proliferated in that country. Since 2013 alone, more than 20,000 such pieces had been disseminated in Iran's media." [BWNS1152, The Baha'i Question Revisited]
|
Websites; Internet; * Publications; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; Iran | |
2017 18 Jan 201- |
The announcement of the publication of Days of Remembrance: Selections from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh for Bahá'í Holy Days by the Bahá'í World Centre. It is also made available in electonic format from Bahá'í Reference Library at Days of Remembrance: Selections from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh for Baha'i Holy Days. [BWNS1148] | - Days of Remembrance (book); Holy days; * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; * Publications; * Translation; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2017 7 Jan 201- |
The body of Ahmad Fanaiyan was found with numerous burns all over his body in Semnan, Semnan Province. He was a respected and elderly man. [Persian-Bahá'í1147 | * Persecution, Iran; Ahmad Fanaiyan; Semnan, Iran; Iran | |
2017 Jan 201- |
The publication of Training Institutes: Attaining a Higher Level of Functioning by the International Teaching Centre. This comprehensive document prepared by the International Teaching Centre in January 2017 provides an in depth analysis of the guidance about the main sequence of courses, the junior youth spiritual empowerment program, the program for the spiritual education of children and the processes involved in developing institutional capacity. | Training Institutes; - Institute process; * Publications; - International Teaching Centre, Publications; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2016 27 Nov 201- |
In Yemen, Nadim al-Sakkaf and his brother Nader, who were detained from August 10th, were unexpectedly released from prison in Sana'a. Their release, it was believed, was in no small part due to the relentless advocacy of their wives Ruhiyeh al-Sakkaf and Nafheh al-Sakkaf. Their friend Kaiwan Mohamed Ali Qadri, who was arrested in the same raid, remained in custody. [Religion News Service 20161129] |
Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2016 25 Nov 201- |
In a message addressed to the Bahá'ís of the World on of the Day of the Covenant, the Universal House of Justice marked the beginning of a new five-year term of service for the Auxiliary Board Members and announced an augmentation in the number of members by 144 bringing the total to 1,134 members distributed evenly between the Propagation and the Protection Boards.
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Auxiliary board members; Assistants; Statistics; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2016 24 Nov 201- |
From her cell in Evin prison, In a open letter to her six-month old granddaughter, Bajar, Fariba Kamalabadi one of the members of the imprisoned Yaran of Iran, wrote about the suffering of the Bahá'í citizens and of her dreams for humanity. [Iran Press Watch 16140] | Yaran; Evin Prison; Prisons; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2016 26 Oct 201- |
The report from the offices of the Bahá'í International Community entitled The Bahá'í Question Revisited: Persecution and Resilience in Iran was formally released.
|
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Bahá'í International Community; Human rights; United Nations; - BIC statements; Iran; New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
2016 13 - 16 Oct 201- |
The public dedication of the Mother Temple of South America in Santiago, Chile. The opening ceremonies were attended by over 5,000 people from 110 countries. Live video coverage of the public opening ceremony was provided on the Bahá'í World News Service website for approximately 90 minutes and the video recording has been made available at that website.
Specifics
Foundation Stone: Construction Period: 2013 – October 2016 Site Dedication:13-16 October 2016 Architect: Siamak Hariri Landscape Architect: Juan Grimm Seating: Dimensions:2,415 square-metre (26,000 square-feet) Cost: approximately $30m Dependencies: References: BWNS800, BWNS921, BWNS940, BWNS959, BWNS982, BWNS1123, BWNS1125, BWNS1055, BWNS1199 |
Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Santiago; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Mother Temples; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Quick facts; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Siamak Hariri; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; Architecture; Awards; - Architects; Juan Grimm; Counsellors; Marble; Gardens; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Dedications; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Santiago, Chile; Chile | |
2016 11 Oct 201- |
The final newsreel on the construction of the Bahá'í House of Worship for South America was released as the time for the highly-anticipated dedication of the Temple approached. The video highlighted major developments over the previous year and the growing connection of the community to the Temple and the activities of service and worship that it inspired. [Video; Architect Siamak Hariri] | Siamak Hariri; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Santiago; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; Architecture; Santiago, Chile; Chile | |
2016 Oct 201- |
An airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition hit a crowded funeral in Sana'a killing 140 mourners and injuring another 500. | Yemen, Recent history; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2016 26 Sep 201- |
The murder of Farhang Amiri in Yazd. [BWNS1133; Archives of Bahá'í Persecution in Iran]
|
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Farhang Amiri; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Hurmuzak, Yazd; Yazd, Iran; Iran | |
2016 16 Sep 201- |
For a progress report on the construction of the Local House of Worship in Battanbang, Cambodia see BWNS1120
|
Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Battambang, Cambodia; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Battambang, Cambodia; Cambodia | |
2016 6 Sep 201- |
In a letter the BIC called on Iranian President Rouhani to end systematic economic oppression. The letter signed by Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Bahá'í International Community to the United Nations, drew attention to the stark contradiction between statements espoused by the Iranian government regarding economic justice, equality for all and reducing unemployment on one hand, and the unrelenting efforts to impoverish a section of its own citizens on the other. | Bani Dugal Gujral; Bahá'í International Community; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
2016 10 Aug 201- |
Armed officers, masked in balaclavas from Yemen's National Security Bureau (NSB) intelligence agency, which worked hand in hand with the armed Houthi authorities, (also knowns as Ansar Allah) stormed a Bahá'í youth educational workshop in Sana'a. The event was part of a nine day, cross country moral and educational program for Bahá'í youth organized by the Bahá'í -run Nida Foundation for Development. Sixty-five people were arrested including 14 women and six people under 18 without an arrest warrant. Half were Bahá'ís and, at the time of this writing, it was believed some fourteen remained in prison, including young mothers. Further arrests were carried out later and within a week all but 10 of those who had been incarcerated had been released.
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Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Youth; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2016 4 Aug 201- |
In a letter to National Spiritual Assemblies, communities were encouraged to establish electoral units on the basis of the cluster. The population of the country is divided by the number of National Convention delegates allowed by the Universal House of Justice to determine the number of electors per delegate. [4 August 2016]
|
Elections; Conventions, National; Clusters; Electoral unit system; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2016 14 Jul 201- |
The Ghorveh Bahá'í cemetery, in the province of Kurdistan, was destroyed by government agents. [Iran Press Watch 19720] | - Persecution, denial of burial; Ghorveh, Kurdistan; Kurdistan; Iran | |
2016 6 Jun 201- |
The publication of Lady Blomfield: Her Life and Times by Robert Weinberg. It was published by George Ronald Publishers.
Robert Weinberg's detailed research has yielded a fascinating insight into the life of Lady Blomfield, her family and her circle, and into the life of Àbdu'l-Bahá as it touched the lives of the British Bahá'ís. Punctuated by glimpses into London society and the rapidly developing Bahá'í community, Weinberg's book provides compelling grounds for Lady Blomfield's inclusion in the 'galaxy of unforgettable women' who 'became the principal exponents of the Bahá'í message on both sides of the Atlantic'. |
Oxford, England; United Kingdom | |
2016 23 - 24 May 201- |
The first World Humanitarian Summit was held in Istanbul, Turkey. The summit, organized by the United Nations, called on government leaders as well as those from business, aid agencies, civil society and faith-based organizations to consult on the question of disaster relief.
|
United Nations Summits; United Nations conferences; - Conferences; Calamities and catastrophes; Charity and relief work; Capacity building; Social and economic development; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; - Statements; * Publications; Istanbul, Turkey; Turkey | |
2016 22 May 201- |
Some 700 people gathered on the temple land in the small village of Agua Azul, in the municipality of Villa Rica near Norte del Cauca, Colombia to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the first local Bahá'í House of Worship.
[BWNS1109]
|
- Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia | first local House of Worship in Colombia, first local Mashriqu’l-Adhkar in Columbia |
2016 13 May 201- |
Fariba Kamalabadi, while on a five-day furlough from Evin Prison, met with former Tehran MP Faezeh Hashemi. It was the first temporary leave she had been granted during her eight years of imprisonment.
|
Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Evin Prison; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2016 12 May 201- |
In commemoration of the incarceration of the Yaran in Iran in 2008 the International Bahá'í Community (BIC) released a video entitled Enough! Release the Baha'i Seven Now. | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Bahá'í International Community; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2016 7 May 201- |
The passing of Jenabe Esslemont Caldwell, 89 in Wailuku, Hawaii. (b. August 7, 1926 in Butte, Montana). He and his wife Elaine were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for pioneering to the Aleutian Islands in July, 1953 where they started a king crab and salmon cannery. They sponsored the Bahá'í singing group Windflower that toured Europe, including the United Kingdom, in the 1980s. He was the author of the books: The Story of the Báb & Bahá'u'lláh, From Night to Knight, Follow the Instructions and Reflections. He is well-known for his mass teaching successes. [Bahaipedia] | Jenabe Caldwell; Elaine Caldwell; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Windflower (group); Mass teaching; Butte, MT; Montana, USA; Aleutian Islands, AK; Wailuku, HI; Hawaii, USA | |
2016 29 Apr 201- |
In observance of the eighth anniversary of the arrest and incarceration of seven Iranian Bahá'í leaders, the Bahá'í International Community was launched a global campaign calling for their immediate release.
Taking the theme "Enough! Release the Bahá'í Seven," the campaign emphasized the fact that, under Iran's own national penal code, the seven were now overdue for conditional release.
[Enough!]
|
Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2016 25 Apr 201- |
The passing of former member of the International Teaching Centre, Joy Stevenson (b. 1919) in Queanbeyan, Australia. She made a distinctive contribution to the advancement of Bahá'í communities in Australasia as a Counsellor and an Auxiliary Board member and as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia. [BWNS1103]
|
- In Memoriam; Joy Stevenson; International Teaching Centre, Members of; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Auxiliary board members; Queanbeyan, New South Wales; Australia | |
2016 25 Apr 201- |
Mr. Hamed Bin Haydara, who had been imprisoned without trial since December 2013, was again brought to court for a hearing but the trial was again postponed, this time to 1 August 2017. Reports indicate that he had been sent to solitary confinement in the National Security Prison on the orders of Mr. Rajeh Zayed, the prosecutor who had caused the delays which have kept him in jail for more than three years and who had been largely responsible for the arrest and persecution of Bahá'ís in Yemen. Mr. Rajeh Zayed had stated that he planned to delay Mr. Hamed Bin Haydara's court hearings and treatment until he "dies in jail." He was suffering from serious health conditions that required proper medical attention. He stood accused of 'compromising the independence of the Republic of Yemen', including spreading the Bahá'í faith in the Republic of Yemen as well as "apostasy" (He has been a Bahá'í from birth.) and "insulting Islam" . [BIC 30 Apr 2017; BWNS1285] | Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Court cases; Human rights; Yemen | |
2016 Ridván 201- |
The launch of the Fourth Five Year Plan (2016-2021).
Other messages related to the Plan are:
|
Five Year Plan (2016-2021); - Teaching Plans; - Institute process; Statistics; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2011 - 2016 (The Five Year Plan) 201- |
The annual number of seminars for undergraduate students offered by the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity rose from 21 at the start of the Plan to 39. More than 4,000 youth in more than 60 countries were served. |
Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP); Statistics; Australia; - Europe; Latin America; Southeast Asia; South Asia; North America | |
2016 Apr 201- |
In Yemen th UN-sponsored peace talks began between the government on one side and the Houthis and form President Saleh's General People's Congress (GPC) on the other. | Yemen, Recent history; President Saleh; Yemen | |
2016 8 Mar 201- |
The earthworks for the Local Bahá'í House of Worship in Battambang, Cambodia was completed. [BWNS1100]
|
Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Battambang, Cambodia; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Battambang, Cambodia; Cambodia | |
1979 - 2016 201- |
The Islamic Republic of Iran has been responsible for the deaths of at least 225 Bahá'ís since its establishment, as documented by the House of Anti-Bahá'í Documents Iran Open Data research shows.
Statistical research on documented reports available on the website "House of Anti-Baha'i Documents" shows that after the Iranian Revolution, 158 Baha'is have been executed by firing squads or hanged on court orders. Twelve individuals have lost their lives in prison due after being tortured. Another 16 individuals disappeared after being threatened by members of the religious establishment or government agents, and 39 individuals were killed with the support of religious and political government entities. |
* Persecution, Iran; Iran | |
2016 (In the year) 201- |
Asma Jilani Jahangir was selected as the Special Rapporteur in 2016. She was a human rights lawyer of Pakistani origin and a former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan. She suffered from cardiac arrest in Lahore on 11 February 2018 and later died at the hospital. [Wikipedia] | United Nations; Asma Jahangir; Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran; Bahá'í International Community; New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
2016 201- |
The conflict in Yemen continued to rage throughout the year. UN-sponsored peace talks began in Kuwait in April but broke down in early August. On 8 October, a Saudi Arabia-led coalition killed more than 100 people attending a funeral gathering in Sana'a and injured more than 500 others – one of the largest death tolls in any single incident since the start of the coalition's bombing campaign. | Yemen, Recent history; Yemen | |
2015 21 Dec 201- |
Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani, a senior Muslim cleric in Iran, had courageously called on his nation's people to uphold a higher standard of justice and dignity for all of their countrymen and women. In an article on his website, he dedicated a new piece of calligraphy—a passage from the writings of Bahá'u'lláh—to the Bahá'ís who were arrested on baseless charges in November 2015. [BWNS1089, BWNS987] | Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani; - Ayatollahs; - Calligraphy; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Iran | |
2015 15 Nov 201- |
The arrest and disappearance of Navid Aqdasi, a cousin of 'Ata'ollah Rezvani who was murdered on the 24th of August, 2013. Mr Aqdasi had been demanding justice for his cousin. [175YP322n3] | Ataollah Rezvani; * Persecution, Iran; Navid Aqdasi; Bandar Abbas, Iran; Iran | |
2015 15 Nov 201- |
The groundbreaking ceremony of the first local Bahá'í House of Worship in Battambang, Cambodia was attended by some 200 community members.
The event coincided with the commemoration of the Twin Holy Birthdays—the Birth of the Báb and the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh. [BWNS1082]
|
* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Battambang, Cambodia; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Battambang, Cambodia; Cambodia | first local house of worship in Cambodia |
2015 6 Nov 201- |
The première of Mercy's Blessing, a film by May Taherzadeh in Lilongwe, Malawi. To date it has won 12 film awards and has been distributed for use in 115 countries. [Official Web Site]
|
Mercys Blessing (film); - Film; - Documentaries; * Arts and crafts; Awards; May Taherzadeh; Inspire Courage for Change Foundation; TED Talk; Lilongwe, Malawi | |
2015 30 Oct 201- |
The cemetery of the 20,000 strong Bahá'í community of Rajasthan, located in Jaipur, was violently attacked and vandalised by a vigilante group of 50 to 60 persons allegedly led by the local right wing political party. They damaged a building that was under construction and threatened the caretaker physical harm. [The Wire 01/11/2015] | Persecution, India; - Persecution, Destruction; - Persecution; Cemeteries and graves; Jaipur, India; Rajasthan, India; India | |
2015 27 Oct 201- |
The Universal House of Justice announced the appoint of the Counsellors (81) who will serve for the next five years. [Bahá'í Canada October 2015] | Counsellors | |
2015 15 - 19 Oct 201- |
The sixth Parliament called upon the world to Reclaim the Heart of Our Humanity and took place in Salt Lake City, Utah. There were 9,806 attendees, performers, and volunteers from 75 countries, 30 major religions and 548 sub-traditions participated in the Parliament. [Salt Lake City 2015] | Parliament of the World's Religions; Salt Lake City, UT; United States (USA) | |
2015 1 Oct 201- |
2015 saw an unprecedented number of refugees to Europe fleeing the conflict in the Middle East, particularly from Syria. In response for their request for guildance, the Universal House of Justice in its message to the National Spiritual Assemblies, defined the principles to assist the Bahá'í communities through the social changes that must need follow such a migration. It stated that the Bahá'í community had insufficient resources at this stage of development for a response at the institutional level however the situation presented an opportunity for some individual believers to become involved to lend humanitarian assistance. | Universal House of Justice; Refugees; - Europe; Syria | |
2015 25 Sep 201- |
The UN further defined its Sustainable Development goals at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit,
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
|
Sustainable development; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; - Statements; New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
2015 8 - 9 Sep 201- |
The Baha'i International Community and representatives of 23 other major religious traditions offered to the United Nations ideas and action plans in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — called Agenda 2030, the UN's primary development agenda for the next 15 years. Referred to as "the Bristol Commitments", contributions from the various religious groups were presented and discussed at a two-day event, titled "Faith in the Future", in Bristol, UK. The event was co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC). Daniel Perell, a representative of the BIC to the UN, spoke about the transformational power of religion, which can tap human motivation at the deepest levels. [BWNS 1067] |
Bahá'í International Community; United Nations; Faith in the Future (conference); Daniel Perell; - BIC statements; Bristol, England | |
2015 Sep 201- |
President Hadi returned to Aden after Saudi-backed government forces recaptured the port city from Houthi forces. | Yemen, Recent history; Hadi; Aden, Yemen; Yemen | |
2015 Sep 201- |
As of this date the Bahá'í community in the United States had about 175,000 Bahá'ís (less than one percent of the nation's population), residing in more than 9,000 localities. The makeup of the Faith's adherents was very diverse. The largest communities were in California, Georgia, Illinois, South Carolina, and Texas. There were Bahá'í communities in every state. (From 'Information about the Bahá'í Faith for Funeral Directors', a document available at US National website)[ Bahá'í Historical Facts MARCH 4, 2018] | Statistics; United States (USA) | |
2015 26 Aug 201- |
See Iran Press Watch for an article entitled Shi'ite Clerics and The "Problem" of Baha'ism for an insight into the basis for criticism of the Bahá'í Faith by the clergy. The writer, Maryam Dadgar, speculates what Iran would have been like today if not for their intervention. | * Persecution, Iran; Maryam Dadgar; Iran | |
2015 24 Jul 201- |
The Qom Seminary* announced the planning of classes called "Understanding Baha'ism" and "Understanding Ahl-e Haqq". These classes, which presented a one-sided view of religious minorities, had the sole purpose of destroying the Bahá'í Faith and the Ahl-e Haqq**.
*The Qom Seminary is the largest seminary, or traditional Islamic school of higher learning, established in 1922 by Grand Ayatollah Abdul-Karim Ha'eri Yazdi in Qom. [Wikipedia] |
Opposition; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; Qom, Iran; Iran | |
2015 17 July 201- |
Some 300 people attended the unveiling of the design of the first local Bahá'í House of Worship in Battambang, Cambodia
[BWNS1062]
|
Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Battambang, Cambodia; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Architecture; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Battambang, Cambodia; Cambodia | first local house of worship in Cambodia |
2015 14 May 201- |
A global campaign called "Seven Days in Remembrance of Seven Years in Prison for the Seven Bahá'í Leaders" to call attention to the long and unjust imprisonment of seven Iranian Bahá'í leaders was launched on the seventh anniversary of their arrest. Each day of the week-long campaign, starting 14 May 2015, was dedicated to one member of the seven: Mahvash Sabet, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm. [7 Days] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Bahá'í International Community; Tehran, Iran; Iran; New York, USA; United States (USA); - Worldwide | |
2015 22 Apr 201- |
Pressures on Jamaleddin Khanjani's family had increased since his arrest in 2008. Their country home in Semnan was demolished by Security Forces. The family had been given 48 hours to evacuate the house and even though they had succeeded in obtaining a ruling from the Supreme Court to stop the demolition, the home was destroyed. Authorities objected to a house that had been built with a City permit 18 years previously claiming that the owner of this property is unknown and the deed was not acceptable. The farmland, where the house was situated, had belonged to the family for more than 200 years. |
Jamaloddin Khanjani; - Persecution; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; Semnan, Iran; Iran | |
2015 (Ridván) 201- |
In its Ridván Message the Universal House of Justice announced the establishment of the Office for the Development of Administrative Systems to assist National Assemblies to build up their administrative capacity. [Ridván 2015] | Office for the Development of Administrative Systems; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2015 21 Mar 201- |
The implementation of the Badí' Calendar on the first day of the tenth Váhid of the first Kull-i-Shay' of the Bahá'í Era. "Báb introduced the calendar and its broad pattern of periods and cycles, months and days. Bahá'u'lláh provided essential clarifications and additions. Aspects were elucidated by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and arrangements for its adoption in the West were put in place at the direction of Shoghi Effendi, as described in the volumes of The Bahá'í World. Still, ambiguities surrounding some Islamic and Gregorian dates, as well as difficulties in the correlation of historical observances and astronomical events with explicit statements in the Text, left certain issues unresolved. When responding to questions concerning the calendar, both 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi left these matters to the Universal House of Justice. Of its many features, three required clarification for the calendar's uniform application: the means for the determination of Naw-Rúz, the accommodation of the lunar character of the Twin Holy Birthdays within the solar year, and the fixing of the dates of the Holy Days within the Badí' calendar." [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 10 July, 2014] (notes below extracted from the message) The Festival of Naw-Rúz: The birthplace of the Abhá Beauty, will be the spot on the earth that will serve as the standard for determining, by means of astronomical computations from reliable sources, the moment of the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere and thereby the day of Naw-Rúz for the Bahá'í world. The Festivals of the Twin Birthdays: They will now be observed on the first and the second day following the occurrence of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz. This will result in the observance of the Twin Birthdays moving, year to year, within the months of Mashíyyat, 'Ilm, and Qudrat of the Badí' calendar, or from mid-October to mid-November according to the Gregorian calendar. The dates of the Holy Days are: Naw-Rúz, 1 Bahá; the Festival of Riḍván, 13 Jalál to 5 Jamál; the Declaration of the Báb, 8 'Aẓamat; the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, 13 'Aẓamat; the Martyrdom of the Báb, 17 Raḥmat; the Day of the Covenant, 4 Qawl; and the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 6 Qawl. These dates have been fixed within the solar calendar in accordance with explicit statements of Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 10 July, 2014] |
- Badi calendar; Bahá'u'lláh, Birth of; Báb, Birth of; Naw-Ruz; Holy days; Twin Holy days; - Gradual implementation of laws; Laws; - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Bahá'í World Centre | first use of the Badí calendar |
2015 Mar 201- |
Clashes escalated between pro and anti-Huthis allied with security forces loyal to Mr Saleh, who was thought to have backed his erstwhile enemies in a bid to regain power. Southerners took to arms and formed resistance to further advance their cause for independence by fighting in order to defend their territory from northern control and a coup of the legitimate government. President Hadi was forced to flee to Saudi Arabia in March. He appealed to Gulf and Arab states to intervene militarily.
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Yemen, Recent history; `Alí `Abdu'lláh Saleh; Sanaa, Yemen; Aden, Yemen; Yemen | |
2015 27 Feb 201- |
The premiere of the film To Light a Candle by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker and journalist, Maziar Mahari. The gala in Los Angeles was part of a campaign called "Education is Not a Crime", started in 2014, to highlight the plight of Bahá'í students in Iran and their recourse to the denial of education, the Bahá'í Institute of Higher Education. The film was also screened in some 300 locations around the world. [BWNS1041, BWNS1025]
|
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution; - Documentaries; Education is not a Crime (campaign); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE); Los Angeles, CA; United States (USA) | |
2015 12 Feb 201- |
The official opening of the new location of the Afnan Library Trust at Sandy, close to Cambridge. The Afnan Library Trust was established in 1985 to manage the collection bequeathed by Hasan Balyuzi when he passed away in 1980. It consists of some 10,000 books, as well as a vast quantity of manuscripts, original letters, maps, documents, periodicals, and unpublished items – some of them dating back to the nineteenth century. [BWNS1040]
|
Afnan Library; Afnan; Hasan Balyuzi; Libraries; Archives; Bahá'í studies; Scholarship; Muvaqqarid-Dawlih; Khadijih Bagum (wife of the Báb); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Sandy, England; Cambridge, England; United Kingdom | |
2105 Feb 201- |
In Yemen, Houthis appointed a presidential council to replace President Hadi who fled to Aden. | Adbrabbuh Mansour Hadi; Yemen, Recent history; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen; Aden, Yemen | |
2015 20 Jan 201- |
The website of the worldwide Bahá'í community at www.bahai.org was launched in a new version, representing the latest stage in the development of an official presence on the Web that extended back to 1996. [BWNS1037] | bahai.org; Websites; Internet; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2015 8 Jan 201- |
The first trial hearing of Hamed bin Haydara was held. Legal and human rights NGOs witnessed tampering and interference on the part of the prosecution. The prosecutor, Rajeh Zayed, threatened to detain and execute Bahá'ís. More were arrested. [Defending Bahá'í Rights Facebook page]
The Specialized Criminal Prosecution of Yemen indicted Mr. Hamid Kamali (also known as Hamed Kamal bin-Haydara) for "compromising the independence of the Republic of Yemen", reportedly in relation to his work for the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing institution of the Bahá'ís based in Israel. Mr. Kamali was also accused of spreading the Bahá'í faith in the Republic of Yemen. On 8 March 2015, at his first hearing, Mr. Kamali denied all charges against him and his case was adjourned to 4 April 2015, and subsequently to 8 November 2015. At that hearing, the judge allegedly rejected evidence of torture that Mr. Kamali had been subjected to while he was under the jurisdiction of the National Security Agency. However, following the request of his lawyer, Mr. Kamali was released on bail on medical grounds. On 12 February 2016, Mr. Kamali appeared in a closed hearing where the General Prosecutor pursued the maximum punishment for the charges brought against him, namely execution and asset forfeiture. The next court hearing was set for 3 April 2016. [OHCHR Report] |
Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Court cases; Hamed bin Haydara; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2014 12 Nov 201- |
Message from the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated 12 November 2014: We are pleased to announce the news of the purchase of a major property adjacent to the main terrace of the Shrine of the Báb. The building, a three-storey stone structure just west of the Shrine, stands on over 2,600 square metres of land. Inquiries were made almost sixty years ago at the direction of the beloved Guardian regarding its purchase, but owing to limited resources the matter could not be pursued. The property was acquired at that time by the city of Haifa and served as a school until it ceased operations a few years ago. The Bahá'í world will rejoice to know that this property, so close to the sacred precincts, which the Guardian had hoped to acquire, is now in the Faith's possession. | Purchases and exchanges; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2014 Nov 201- |
Fariba Kamalabadi, after having her fourth request to join her daughter Taraneh for her wedding denied, wrote her a letter from Evin Prison. [Iran Press Watch]
|
Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Evin Prison; Prisons; Human rights; Taraneh Kamalabadi; Fariba Kamalabadi; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2014 3 Oct 201- |
Hamed bin Haydara had been held at an undisclosed location since his arrest by National Security Forces on the 3rd of December, 2013. During this time he was held in prolonged solitary confinement, severely tortured and electrocuted, and forced to sign documents while blindfolded. In September of 2014 NGOs discovered where he was being detained so the National Security was forced to relocate him to the Criminal Investigation Detention Centre in the Central Prison in Sana'a. [Defending Bahá'í Rights> facebook page] | Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Hamed bin Haydara; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2014 21 Sep 201- |
The Houthi movement, which championed Yemen's Zaidi Shia Muslim minority and had fought a series of rebellions against Mr Saleh during his tenure as president in the previous decade, took advantage of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's weakness by taking control of their northern heartland of Saada province and neighbouring areas overthrowing the internationally-recognised government.
By February 2015 the group had dissolved parliament and announced plans for a transitional government.
|
Yemen, Recent history; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2014 16 Sep 201- |
Subsequent to his arrest on the 15th of October, 2014, Mr. Kamali was interrogated by the lead judge on his case in connection with the charges against him in the presence of his attorney, who, despite objections raised, was not allowed to speak. Concerns are raised in relation to the independence of the members of the judiciary and their reported discriminatory and intolerant speech towards religious minorities. [OHCR Report] | Persecution, Yemen; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2014 14 Sep 201- |
Some 500 people attend the unveiling of the design of the first local Bahá'í House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia
[BWNS1020]
|
Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Architecture; - Architects; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia | first local Baha’i House of Worship in Colombia |
2014 8 Sep 201- |
Ayatollah Hamid Masoumi Tehrani presented an illuminated calligraphic work of the words of Bahá'u'lláh to the Bahá'ís of the world. [BWNS1017; One Country 23.2] | Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani; - Ayatollahs; - Calligraphy; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Iran | |
2014 Sep 201- |
The exclusion of Shadan Shirazi, an exemplary student who placed exceptionally well in the college entrance exams administered to students throughout Iran. The Iranian government deployed new tactics in their treatment of Bahá'í students to deny them access to higher education without raising the concern of the international community. The new procedure entailed identifying Bahá'í university applicants and then calling them in so they could quietly be confirmed as ineligible under the government's unjust policies and then be sent away without any documentation or proof that it was done because they were Bahá'ís that they were prevented from enrolling. [BWNS1021] | * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Iran | |
2014 8 Aug 201- |
The official ban on the Bahá'í Faith in Indonesia was lifted. [The Jakarta Post August 8, 2014] | Persecution, Indonesia; - Persecution, Bans; - Persecution; Jakarta, Indonesia; Indonesia | |
2014 1 Aug 201- |
"The erection of the continental House of Worship for South America was moving towards its completion in Chile. The steel-frame superstructure had been almost entirely installed, the placement of the interior translucent stone panels was under way, and the landscaping and the construction of auxiliary facilities were progressing according to schedule. The friends in Santiago, supported by others from throughout the Americas, had been diligently striving to prepare the surrounding population for the emergence of the House of Worship; increasing numbers were participating in the community-building endeavours, and a stream of visitors were being welcomed to the Temple site for prayer and discussion on the practical and spiritual dimensions of the enterprise. Measures were being put in place in Chile in anticipation of the many demands that were sure to arise once the Temple had been inaugurated in 2016." [Message from The Universal House of Justice dated 1 August, 2014 to the Bahá'ís of the World] | Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Santiago; Santiago, Chile; Chile | |
2014 6 Jun 201- |
At her request, the Universal House of Justice sent a message to Her Excellency Ms. Dilma Rousseff, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil on the occasion of the World Cup of football. [BWNS] | Sports; Dilma Rousseff; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Brazil | |
2014 28 May 201- |
In the presidential election in Egypt, former Egyptian defence minister Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was elected with 97% of the vote according to government sources. The subsequent 2014 Constitution of the Sisi government, while guaranteeing the 'inviolable' right of freedom of religion, extended this only to Islam, Christianity and Judaism – meaning that Bahá'i were still prohibited from many basic freedoms, such as practicing their religious laws and constructing places of worship. Though Bahá'í representatives lobbied during the constitutional drafting processes to expand religious freedoms to their community, this did not occur. |
Opposition; Persecution, Egypt; - Persecution; Human rights; History (general); Constitutions (general); Egypt | |
2014 9 May 201- |
Vahid Tizfahm, a former member of the imprisoned Yaran, wrote to his son, Samim, in which he recounted the imprisonment and martyrdom of his own father when he was yet a child. For the full text of the letter see Iran Press Watch10181. | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; Vahid Tizfahm; Gohardasht, Iran; Iran | |
2014 8 May 201- |
Despite a worldwide outcry, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards continued destroying an historic Bahá'í cemetery in Shiraz. Between 2005 and 2012 some 42 Bahá'í-owned cemeteries were desecrated in a similar fashion. [BWNS993, BWNS1016; One Country] | Cemeteries and graves; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Destruction; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Shíráz, Iran; Iran | |
2014 7 May 201- |
The imprisoned Yaran addressed a letter to Mohammad Javad Larijani, the head of Human Rights Division of the Judiciary Branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding his claim that "No one is in prison for being a Bahá'í and if Bahá'í s do not commit illegal acts their citizenship rights will be protected". They reiterated some of the acts of oppression and discrimination, security force encounters and human rights violations imposed on the Bahá'í citizens and have asked the officials to change their view toward citizens and minorities. The full text of the letter can be viewed at Iran Press Watch 9946 |
Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; Mohammad Javad Larijani; Iran | |
2014 21 Apr 201- |
The release of the film Samoa: Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow on the sixtieth anniversary of the Faith in that country. The film was directed and produced by Ken Zemke, edited and written by Tara Jabbari, and narrated by Fuma Tuiletufuga.
|
- Documentaries; Samoa | |
2014 Apr 201- |
In Shiraz, the Revolutionary Guard began excavation of some 200 square meters of the Bahá'í cemetery. The site, which had been in use since the 1920s, had been confiscated by the government in 1983 and the Revolutionary Guard had taken ownership of the site some three years earlier with plans to build a cultural and sports centre. It is the site of the remains of the ten Bahá'í of Shiraz who were hanged in 1983 for the crimes of being Zionists and teaching children's classes. [BWNS993, BWNS994] | Cemeteries and graves; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Destruction; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Shíráz, Iran; Iran | |
2014 13 Mar 201- |
From Rejai Shahr Prison Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli wrote a letter to his first grandchild who had just been born three days prior in Canada. The letter can be found at Iran Press Watch 9766. | Behrouz Tavakkoli; Yaran; Rajai Shahr prison | |
2014 Mar 201- |
The Bahá'í cemetery in Ahwaz was closed and the alley leading to it was blocked by heavy cement blocks. No organization has accepted responsibility for this action. [Iran Press Watch 19720] | - Persecution, denial of burial; Ahvaz, Iran; Iran | |
2014 (In the year) 201- |
The publication of the new, extensively retranslated edition, of Some Answered Questions. It is a collection of transcriptions of table talks given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in 'Akká between 1904 and 1906 in response to questions posed by Laura Dreyfus-Barney. It was first published in 1908. In the Foreword to this edition the Universal House of Justice explained:
|
Some Answered Questions (book); Laura Clifford Barney; * Publications; * Translation; Evolution; * Science; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2014 (In the year) 201- |
The release of the film To Light a Candle produced by Maziar Bahari which exposed the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran through the story of Keyvan Rahimian and his family as well as through the creation of the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE).
On the 18th of July 2023 security forces arrested Keyvan Rahimian in Tehran and transferred him to Evin Prison. He has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activism. Notably, he also serves as a lecturer at an online university affiliated with the Bahá'í community. [IranWire 19 July 2012] |
- Film; To Light a Candle (film); Maziar Bahári; * Persecution, Iran; Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE); Candles; Iran | |
2014 (In the year) 201- |
The Baha'i International Community opened a Regional Office in Jakarta. The Office engaged inter-governmental associations such as ASEAN as well as various governmental agencies, civil society organizations and research institutes in the region with a view to convening gatherings, creating spaces devoted to collective inquiry, and meaningful discussion of contemporary issues in the region of Southeast Asia.
|
Bahá'í International Community; Jakarta, Indonesia; Indonesia | |
2014 (In the year) 201- |
An office of the Bahá'i International Community was opened in Addis Ababa to work in collaboration with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental agencies operating on the African stage. The office maintained strong ties with the African Union, which traced its roots to Addis Ababa in 1963. At the 50th anniversary of that founding, African leaders commissioned Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. This document painted a vivid picture of where Africans would like to see their continent in 50 years' time.
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Bahá'í International Community; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ethiopia | |
2013 12 Dec 201- |
After confirmation of a court order in Sanandaj and confiscation of the land belonging to the Bahá'ís which had been used as a cemetery, the site was demolished by a bulldozer. [Iran Press Watch 19720] | - Persecution, denial of burial; Sanandaj, Iran; Iran | |
2013 3 Dec 201- |
Mr. Hamed Kamal Muhammad bin Haydara (sometimes referred to in the media as "Hamed Merza Kamali Serostani ") was snatched by security forces from his workplace, at Balhaf gas terminal in the southern province of Shabwa in south Yemen. It was suggested that he was arrested on the orders of Mr. Khaled al-Mawari, the Chief Prosecutor who was involved in the unwarranted arrest and detention of another member of the Yemeni Bahá'í community. He was detained at the National Security Prison in Sana'a. Mr. Kamali has allegedly been subjected to forty-five days of "electric torture", severe beatings and starvation in detention. [Arab News 20 November 2020; OHCHR Report]
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Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
2013 Dec 201- |
The imprisoned members of the Yaran sent a letter addressed to Iranian President, Dr. Hassan Rouhani in response to the invitation that President Rouhani extended to the citizens of Iran to comment on the draft Charter of Citizens' Rights on the president's website.
|
Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; Hassan Rouhani; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2013 Nov 201- |
The announcement by the Universal House of Justice of the retirement of Dr. Farzam Arbab and Mr. Kiser Barnes. Mr. Arbab was first elected in 1993 and Mr. Barnes was elected in 2000. [BWNS948] | Farzam Arbab; Kiser Barnes; Retirements; Universal House of Justice, Members of; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2013 28 Oct 201- |
The release of the video Violence with Impunity: Acts of Aggression Against Iran's Bahá'í Community based on the report of the same name. [BWNS972]
|
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Justice; Bahá'í International Community; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Film; Violence with Impunity | |
2013 1 Oct 201- |
The Bahá'í International Community announced the appointment of Joshua Lincoln as its new Secretary-General. This announcement followed the announcement of the retirement of Mr. Albert Lincoln who had served as Secretary-General for 19 years. [BWNS968, BWNS969] | Bahá'í International Community; Joshua Lincoln; Bahá'í International Community, Secretaries-General; Albert Lincoln; Retirements; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel | |
2013 26 Sep 201- |
The publication of Leaves of Twin Divine Trees - An In-depth Study of the Lives of Women Closely Related to the Bab and Baha'u'llah by Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani and published by George Ronald.
Over two and half decades she worked to gather all the known information about the women whose lives were intertwined with those of the Manifestations of God for this age, mothers, wives, sisters, daughters. Looking beyond published sources, she was given permission by the Universal House of Justice to consult original documents in the Bahá'í International Archives and to make provisional translations of more than 50 Tablets, letters, memoirs and papers not previously published in English, many never before published in any language. |
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2013 20 Sep 201- |
Deloria Bighorn, chairperson of the National Spiritual Bahá'ís of Canada, presented, on behalf of the Bahá'í Community of Canada, a submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission at the BC National Event held in Vancouver from September 18th to the 21st. The formal presentation followed a panel organized by the Canadian Bahá'í Community and Reconciliation Canada. The previous week 250 people listened to Chief Doug White, Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, and Dr. Paulette Regan from the Commission discussing the challenge of reconciliation. [T&R website, CBN 24 September, CBN 9 February, 2018, BWNS1248]
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Native Americans; - Indigenous people; Reconciliation; Human rights; - Documentaries; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Film; The Path Home (film); Vancouver, BC; Canada | |
2013 31 Aug 201- |
The release of Luminous Journey: 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America - 1912 produced by Anne and Tim Perry. The feature-length documentary film chroniclied 'Abdu'l-Bahá's 1912 journey through the United States and Canada. It was some five years in the making. [Part 1; Part 2]
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Luminous Journey (film); - Film | |
2013 24 Aug 201- |
Mr. Ataollah Rezvani, a well-known Bahá'í in the city of Bandar Abbas disappeared and the next day the Criminal Investigation Office of that city informed the family that his body had been found in his car outside the city. The report of the forensic physician determined the cause of death to be "a hard trauma on the brain tissues, due to being hit with some penetrating object, such as (a bullet)" and ruled it as a suicide. Strong evidence exists to indicate that it was not. [Archives of Bahá'í Persecution in Iran]
It is of note that a few years before his murder, the Friday prayer Imam had incited the local population against the Bahá'ís, referring to them as un-Islamic. He further called on the people of the city to rise up against the Bahá'í community. [BWNS987; BWNS1031; Message from the Universal House of Justice 27 August 2013; Iran Press Watch 27 August 2013; Iran Press Watch 9306; Iran Press Watch 16 September 2013] The assassins were never identified. The murder was not reported in the Iranian newspapers and did not raise any protest except among prisoners of conscience at Rejaee prison who condemned the assassination in a statement and demanded justice. [Iran Press Watch 1 September 2013; 175YP266-267] |
Ataollah Rezvani; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bandar Abbas, Iran; Iran | |
2013 13 Aug 201- |
The passing of former Universal House of Justice member Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam in Vancouver, Canada. He served on the Universal House of Justice for forty years since 1963. [BWNS964]
|
Hushmand Fatheazam; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Vancouver, BC; Canada | |
2013 28 July 201- |
The passing of Amin Banani (b. 23 September 1926 in Tehran) in Santa Monica. He was survived by his wife Sheila Wolcott (m. 1951)and daughters Sussane and Laila. Find a grave.
|
- In Memoriam; Amin Banani; Sheila Wolcott; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Santa Monica, CA; United States (USA) | |
2013 24 Jul 201- |
The Universal House of Justice addressed a message the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada regarding the Association for Bahá'í Studies. The Universal House of Justice reiterated a number of issues that the Association had addressed since its inception in 1975...
-an appreciation for the importance of personal study of the Revelation, -correlating the teachings with contemporary thought, -defending the Cause, -encouraging young believers in their academic pursuits, -attracting the interest and involvement of non-Bahá'í academics to the extent possible, a -providing a forum for Bahá'í academics to collaborate with one another, thereby helping to raise capacity among those who participate within a wide range of disciplines and, particularly, in specific fields associated more directly with the study of the Faith, such as history, the study of religion, and translation. ...and provided guidance for an evolving conceptual framework. |
Bahá'í Studies, Associations for; Association for Bahá'í Studies (North America); Canada; United States (USA); North America | |
2013 15 Jul 201- |
Iranian filmmaker and blogger as well as a former Islamist hardliner who has become an outspoken critic of the government, Mohammad Nourizad, kissed the feet of 4 year old Artin whose parents had been arrested for participation in the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education. [Wikipedia entry; Faith and a Future p38-39]
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Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE); * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution; Human rights; Education; Mohammad Nourizad; Iran | |
2013 Jul – Oct 201- |
The holding of 114 Youth Conferences around the world at the request of the Universal House of Justice. The purpose of the gatherings were to explore such themes as the characteristics inherent to the period of youth, the historical contribution of young people to the transformation of society, the responsibilities of the present generation of youth, the society-building power of the Bahá'í Teachings, and the importance of faith and tenacity to a life of service. [List of places and dates for Youth Conferences]
|
Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Youth; - Conferences, International; Youth; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Worldwide | |
2013 27 Jun 201- |
In a message from the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies it advised of the news of the destruction of the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad. (Bayt-i-A'zam) [Message of 27 Jun 2013; Message of 17 July, 2013]Grieve not, O House of God, if the veil of thy sanctity be rent asunder by the infidels.[GWB114] In truth, I declare, it shall be so abased in the days to come as to cause tears to flow from every discerning eye...And in the fullness of time, shall the Lord by the power of truth exalt it in the eyes of all the world, cause it to become the mighty standard of His domination, the shrine round which shall circle the concourse of the faithful.[BA99-100; BWNS961] Within its walls the "Most Great House of God," His "Footstool" and the "Throne of His Glory," "the Cynosure of an adoring world," the "Lamp of Salvation between earth and heaven," the "Sign of His remembrance to all who are in heaven and on earth," enshrining the "Jewel whose glory hath irradiated all creation," the "Standard" of His Kingdom, the "Shrine round which will circle the concourse of the faithful" was irrevocably founded and permanently consecrated. Upon it, by virtue of its sanctity as Bahá'u'lláh's "Most Holy Habitation" and "Seat of His transcendent glory," was conferred the honor of being regarded as a center of pilgrimage second to none except the city of 'Akká, His "Most Great Prison," in whose immediate vicinity His holy Sepulcher, the Qiblih of the Bahá'í world, is enshrined. |
House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq | |
2013 24 - 26 Jun 201- |
Contrary to the constitution which established the government's commitment to assuring and maintaining the sanctity of holy shrines and religious sites and guaranteeing the free practice of rituals. In addition the penal code that criminalized disrupting or impeding religious ceremonies and desecrating religious buildings, and specified that it applied to religious minorities. In Iraq followers of all religious groups and sects were free in the practice of religious rites and in the management of religious endowments, their affairs, and their religious institutions. And contrary to the plans of the Department of Antiquities who had declared it a heritage site in a decree by the Iraqi Culture Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi not two years earlier, the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád was razed to make way for the construction of a husseniya or Shiite congregation hall. [Message from the Universal House of Justice date 17 July 2013, SETPE1p170; Al-Monitor 11 December, 2018] |
House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq | |
2013 14 May 201- |
The Bahá'í International Community launched the Five Years Too Many campaign to protest the 20-year prison sentences given to the Bahá'í leaders in Iran, the longest sentence given to prisoners of conscience under the current regime. The harshness of the sentences reflected the Government's resolve to completely oppress the Iranian Bahá'í community, which faced a systematic, "cradle-to-grave" persecution that was among the most serious examples of state-sponsored religious persecution in the world. [Five Years Too Many, BWNS954] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Bahá'í International Community; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - BIC statements; Tehran, Iran; Iran; - Worldwide | |
2013 29 Apr – 2 May 201- |
The 11th International Bahá'í Convention in Haifa and the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Convention in 1963 at which the first Universal House of Justice was elected. Those elected were Paul Lample, Firaydoun Javaheri, Payman Mohajer, Gustavo Correa, Shahriar Razavi, Stephen Birkland, Stephen Hall, Chuungu Malitonga, and Ayman Rouhani. [BWNS950, BWNS951, BWNS953]
|
Universal House of Justice, Election of; Elections; Universal House of Justice, Members of; Conventions, International; Paul Lample; Firaydoun Javaheri; Payman Mohajer; Gustavo Correa; Shahriar Razavi; Stephen Birkland; Stephen Hall; Chuungu Malitonga; Ayman Rouhani; Anniversaries and jubilees; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel | |
2013 Ridván 201- |
"In Santiago, Chile, where the Mother Temple of South America was being erected, the building work continued apace. The concrete construction of the foundations, basement, and service tunnel was completed, as were the columns that will bear the superstructure. The anticipation associated with this project was growing..."[Riḍván 2013 To the Bahá'ís of the World ] | Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Santiago; Santiago, Chile; Chile | |
2013 Ridván 201- |
The announcement by the Universal House of Justice in the Ridván Message of the creation of the Office of Public Discourse. [Ridván 2013]
|
Office of Public Discourse; Public discourse; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel | |
2013 11 Apr – 5 Dec 201- |
The commemoration of the centenary of the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to North America. [BWNS918] | Centenaries; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Wilmette, IL; United States (USA) | |
2013 April 201- |
The publication of Insights from the Frontiers of Learning by the International Teaching Centre.
At this point there were more than 3,600 clusters where the friends were striving to establish new programmes of growth or to advance existing ones. An analysis of developments in some 200 of the most advanced of these clusters—particularly the strongest 20—suggested effective strategies for growth and demonstrated the efficacy of pursuing lines of action in a coherent manner. This publication offered a close examination of the pattern of action characteristic of the clusters at the forefront of learning. |
- International Teaching Centre, Publications; * Publications; Insights from the Frontiers of Learning; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2013 5 Mar 201- |
The passing of Mas'ud Khamsi, former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre in Lima, Peru. [BWNS943; In Memoriam:
Mas'úd Khamsí (1922-2013), Spiritual Father of Peru, Mentor and Counselor
by Boris Handal translated by Samuel Duboisme]
|
Masud Khamsi; Baqirof-Khamsi (Sadat-i-Khams); Counsellors; International Teaching Centre, Members of; - In Memoriam; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Lima, Peru; Peru | |
2013 Mar 201- |
The publication of the report entitled Violence with Impunity: Acts of Aggression Against Iran's Bahá'í Community published by the Bahá'í International Community. The report documents a rising tide of violence directed against the Iranian Bahá'í community - and the degree to which attackers enjoy complete impunity from prosecution or punishment.
|
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Justice; Bahá'í International Community; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - BIC statements | |
2013 (In the year) 201- |
The publication of the article George Ronald: A Bibliographic Historyby Jan T Jason. The article lists their publications from the founding in 1950 until 2012. | - Publishing; Oxford, England; United Kingdom | |
2013 - 2017 201- |
In 2013 the United Kingdom Bahá'ís undertook a multi-year project to restore and improve the Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi. It was carried out in three phases, the restoration of the area immediately around the Resting Place, the arboricultural aspects of the property and the construction of a permanent Reception Area and office for the custodian. [Reference website no longer available.]
Here you will find information on The Guardian's Resting Place and directions to the Southgate Cemetery. |
Shoghi Effendi, Resting place of (London); United Kingdom | |
2013 (In the Year) 201- |
The Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity initiated a line of action conceived as "areas of inquiry". Through this initiative the Institute aimed to develop capacity to describe and examine, in the light of the Revelation, social phenomena that were pressing and crucial to the life of humanity. Working with collaborators such topics as the global movement of populations, peace and justice in societies in transition, and the role of religion in migration. [The Five Year Plan 2011-2016: Summary of Achievements and Learning pg113] | Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP) | |
2012 Dec (mid) 201- |
Sangesar's old Bahá'í cemetery was thoroughly covered in soil and rubble by bulldozers and trucks and all the graves were covered by dirt and rocks so that no more graves could be seen. [Iran Press Watch 19720] | - Persecution, denial of burial; Sangesar, Iran; Iran | |
2012 26 Nov 201- |
The Universal House of Justice shared, in a message to all National Assemblies, a statement prepared by the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Bahá'í World Centre, a statement on the subject of and with the title of, Social Action. The statement offered a brief overview of the involvement of the Bahá'í community in the area of social and economic development, placing it in the context of current activity at the level of the cluster. In this connection, the House of Justice requested the Bahá'í Community to make clear that the distribution of the document should not be seen as a call for widespread action in this area; it was intended as an instrument to further raise consciousness about the nature of social action and some of the methods it employed. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 26 November, 2012] | - Institute process; Social action; Social and economic development; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2012 15 Nov 201- |
In contribution to the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women the Bahá'í International Community issued a statement entitled Towards the Eradication of Violence Against Women and Girls.
|
Bahá'í International Community; Equality; Women; - Statements; New York, USA; New York City, NY | |
2012 29 Oct 201- |
The Bahá'í International Community published a special report on The Baha'is of Semnan: A Case Study in Religious Hatred. (Video) This video report highlighted the effect on one community of the Iranian government's methodical and organized campaign to incite hatred against the Bahá'ís and eliminate them as a viable social entity.
|
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; Semnan, Iran; Iran | |
2012 Jul 201- |
The Bahá'í Chair for World Peace was assumed by Professor Hoda Mahmoudi who previously headed a research department at the Bahá'í World Center in Israel. [Bio Professor Hoda Mahmoudi]
She studied structural racism and root causes of prejudice, equality of women as a prerequisite to peace, human nature, global governance, and globalization and the environment. Professor Mahmoudi collaborated with a wide range of scholars, researchers, and practitioners to advance interdisciplinary analysis and open discourse on global peace. Before joining the University of Maryland faculty, Professor Mahmoudi served as the coordinator of the Research Department at the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Prior to that, Dr. Mahmoudi was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northeastern Illinois University, where she was also a faculty member in the Department of Sociology. Professor Mahmoudi's books include: A World Without War: 'Abdu'l-Baha and the Discourse for Global Peace, co-authored with Dr. Janet Khan; Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Human Rights. |
Hoda Mahmoudi; Bahá'í Chair for World Peace; University of Maryland; Maryland, USA; United States (USA) | |
2012 19 Jun 201- |
Over 100 people gathered to mark the re-dedication of the "Peace Monument," which contains soil brought from nearly 150 countries and is a symbolic representation of the oneness of humanity and the global cooperation needed to achieve lasting peace. The monument was built by the Bahá'í International Community and the Bahá'í Community of Brazil in 1992 for the 1992 Earth Summit. Members of the Baha'i International Community's delegation attending were: Duncan Hanks, Daniel Perell, May Akale, Ming Hwee Chong, Peter Adriance. [One Country; BIC HIstory 2012] | United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; Peace Monument; Duncan Hanks; Daniel Perell; May Akale; Ming Hwee Chong; Peter Adriance; Earth Summit; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Brazil | |
2012 Jun 201- |
After the January 25th revolution against Mubarak and a period of rule by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the Muslim Brotherhood took power in Egypt through a series of popular elections with Egyptians electing Islamist Mohamed Morsi to the presidency in June 2012.
On 3 July 2013, Morsi was deposed by a coup d'état led by the minister of defense General Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The situation of Egypt's Bahá'í community remained uncertain. The prescriptions of the 1960 Presidential Decree, despite the revolution, had yet to be annulled. This meant that despite the 2009 lifting of the restrictions on identification documents, the Bahá'í Faith still had not received actual recognition as a religion and Bahá'í were frequently subjected to public vilification. It was a period of extreme unrest. It is estimated that between Sisi's overthrow of Morsi and the 2014 presidential elections, an estimated 20,000 activists and dissidents were arrested by the police under the interim government. El-Sisi went on to become Egypt's president by popular election in 2014. |
Persecution, Egypt; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; History (general); Egypt | |
2012 11 May 201- |
The Universal House of Justice sent a message to the Bahá'ís of Iran near the four-year anniversary of the illegal arrest and imprisonment of the former members of the Yárán and the more recent injustice meted out against the co-workers of the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE). [BWNS823, Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 11 May, 2012, In Farsi] | Yaran; Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE); * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Universal House of Justice; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Persecution; - Persecution, Education; Iran | |
2012 21 Apr 201- |
Plans were announced that the Universal House of Justice was entering into consultations with respective National Spiritual Assemblies regarding the erection of the first local Houses of Worship in each of the following clusters: Battambang, Cambodia; Bihar Sharif, India; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Norte del Cauca, Colombia; and Tanna, Vanuatu.
|
* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Battambang, Cambodia; Cambodia; Bihar Sharif, India; India; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Kenya; North Caucasus; Colombia; Tanna, Vanuatu; Vanuatu; Temples Fund; Office of Temples and Sites | First local Mashriqul-Adhkar |
2012 21 Apr 201- |
Plans were announced for the building of the first two national Mashriqul-Adhkárs that were to be raised up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Papua New Guinea. [Riḍván 2012 To the Bahá'ís of the World; BWNS906] | Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Port Moresby; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, National; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Kinshasa; - Bahá'í World Centre; Congo, Democratic Republic of; Papua New Guinea | first national Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs |
2012 24 Feb 201- |
The inaugural screening of Iranian Taboo by Dutch-Iranian filmmaker Reza Allamehzadeh in Los Angeles. [Iranian Taboo, BWNS890] | * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; - Documentaries; Iranian Taboo (film); Reza Allamehzadeh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Los Angeles, CA; United States (USA) | |
2012 20 Feb 201- |
The passing of Anneliese Bopp, former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre at Bad Bruckenau, Northern Bavaria, Germany. [BWNS892]
|
Anneliese Bopp; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; International Teaching Centre; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bad Bruckenau, Germany; Germany | |
2012 15 Feb 201- |
Queen Elizabeth II launched the Diamond Jubilee of her reign with a multifaith reception at Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Highlighting the ongoing centenary commemorations of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's travels to Egypt and the West, the Bahá'í community displayed a robe that He had worn. The exhibit also included a framed calligraphic rendering of words from 'Abdu'l-Bahá's first ever public speech, delivered on 10 September 1911 at London's City Temple: "The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion."
The Bahá'í delegation was lead by Shirin Fozdar-Foroudi and also consisted of Patrick O'Mara – Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United Kingdom, Nasrin O'Kane from Northern Ireland and Liam Stephens from the Isle of Skye. [BWNS889] |
Queen Elizabeth II; Shirin Fozdar-Foroudi; Patrick O'Mara; Nasrin OKane; Liam Stephens; London, England; United Kingdom | |
2012 1 Feb 201- |
The announcement of the publication of Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh in Korean. [BWNS885] | Korean language; - Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh; * Translation; * Publications; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Korea | |
2012 Feb 201- |
Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi was elected as president initiating a two-year transitional period. However, government forces continued to commit human rights violations, including unlawful killings and enforced disappearances, against supporters of secession in south and a conflict with the Huthi armed group in north was renewed. | Yemen, Recent history; Yemen | |
2012 (In the year) 201- |
The release of the film, The Gardener by Mohsen Makhmalbaf in Farsi with English subtitles. | The Gardener (film); Mohsen Makhmalbaf; - Film | |
2012 (In the year) 201- |
Stanford University's Bahá'í Collection was the first university-based collection of its kind in the United States and is a premier research resource of all topics Bahá'í related.
|
Stanford University; Universities; Libraries; Nasrollah Maghzi; Hourolain Maghzi; Dan Jordan; Arden Lee; Jack Lee; United States (USA) | the first university-based collection of Baha'i resources of its kind in the United States |
2012 (In the Year) 201- |
The Office of Temples and Sites was established at the Bahá'í World Centre. The purpose of the office was to coordinate initial preparations for the temple builds with the respective National Spiritual Assemblies. |
* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, National; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Architecture; Beauty; Economics; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Ishqabad; - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel | |
2011 11 Dec 201- |
The announcement by the Universal House of Justice of the creation of "an International Advisory Board to assist the Ruhi Institute in overseeing its system for the preparation, production, and distribution of materials, the content and structure of which now draw extensively on Bahá'í experience worldwide in applying the teachings and principles of the Faith to the life of humanity. As it gradually takes up its work, the Board will be able to respond to related issues and follow the development of supplementary materials that are aligned with the direction set by the global Plans". [December 11, 2011] | Ruhi Institute; - Institute process; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel | |
2011 1 Dec 201- |
The head of state of the Republic of Palau, President Johnson Toribiong, paid an official visit to the Bahá'í World Centre. [BWNS870] | - Presidents; Prominent visitors; Johnson Toribiong; - Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre; Palau | |
2011 1 Dec 201- |
The passing of former Universal House of Justice member Mr. Ian C. Semple (b. 2 December 1928 in New Barnet, Hertfordshire) in Switzerland. He served as a member of the Universal House of Justice from its inception in 1963 until his retirement in 2005. [BWNS871]
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Ian Semple; Universal House of Justice, Members of; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Switzerland | |
2011 16 Nov 201- |
The release of the documentary film Iranian Taboo about the persecution of Baháʼís in Iran. It was written and directed by Reza Allamehzadeh and produced by Mansour Taeed and Bijan Shahmoradi. It is in Farsi with English subtitles.
|
- Film; Iranian Taboo (film); Reza Allamehzadeh; Mansour Taeed; Bijan Shahmoradi; Netherlands | |
2011 1 Nov 201- |
The film Education Under Fire by Jeffrey Kaufman and co-sponsored by Amnesty International, profiles the persecution on the Bahá'ís of Iran, with a special focus on growth, struggle, and inspiring spirit of the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education. | - Film; Education Under Fire (film); Amnesty International; Jeffrey Kaufman; New York, USA; United States (USA); Iran | |
2011 21 Oct 201- |
The release of the report entitled Inciting Hatred by the Bahá'í International Community which summarized each of the 400-plus documents or articles that were collected during the period of this survey, from 17 December 2009 to 16 May 2011 to prove that the Iranian regime has a systematic programme to demonize the Bahá'í community in the eyes of their compatriots. The report says in part "Despite this prolonged and systematic attack on its integrity and values, Iran's Bahá'í community is not dispirited, demoralized or downtrodden. Nor have they risen up to counter-attack their oppressors with force or any trace of bitterness. Rather they have calmly stated their case and called for their fundamental human rights with dignity and courtesy, winning the admiration of their compatriots, observers and, in some cases, even those who are obligated to oppress them under government policy." |
United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; New York City, NY | |
2011 24 Sep 201- |
The arrest of Abdolfattah Soltani, a senior member of the legal team (4 lawyers) representing a number of Bahá'ís in Iran awaiting trial for providing higher education to youth barred from university. Soltani is a co-founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, along with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi and others. The Tehran-based Centre was shut down in a police raid in December 2008. [BWNS849]
|
Abdolfattah Soltani; Lawyers; Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE); - Persecution; Human rights; Education; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Yaran; - Persecution, Education; Iran | |
2011 11 Sep 201- |
A follow-up conference dubbed "Durban III" took place in New York City. It was boycotted by Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, United States and the Czech Republic, along with Austria, Bulgaria, France, and the United Kingdom.
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United Nations; Racism; Discrimination; Bahá'í International Community; UNESCO; New York, USA; New York, USA | |
2011 27 – 28 Aug 201- |
The Bahá'ís of Geneva commemorated the 100th anniversary of the start of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journeys to the West. [BWNS854] | `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Centenaries; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Geneva, Switzerland; Switzerland | |
2011 Aug 201- |
As of this time the Bahá'í community of Tabriz had been prohibited from burying their dead in that city and the bodies were being transferred by intelligence officers to the city of Miandoab, in West Azerbaijan province some 175km away. [Iran Press Watch 19720] | - Persecution, denial of burial; Tabríz, Iran; Miandoab, Iran; Iran | |
2011 15 Jul 201- |
The passing of former Universal House of Justice member Dr. Peter J. Khan (b. 2 November, 1936 in New South Wales) in Brisbane, Australia. He was buried in the Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane. Dr Khan served as a member of the Universal House of Justice from 1987 until April 2010. [BWNS840, BWNS841]
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Peter Khan; Universal House of Justice; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2011 6 Jul 201- |
Mahvash Sabet and human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh as well as other victims of human right abuses in Iran were featured on a series of special postage stamps issued in the Netherlands. Nasrin Sotoudeh was a prominent lawyer who has represented numerous victims of human rights abuses, including prisoners sentenced to death for crimes committed when they were minors. In January of 2011, authorities sentenced her to 11 years in prison for charges that include "activities against national security" and "propaganda against the regime." Additionally, she has been barred from practicing law and from leaving Iran for 20 years. [BWNS838] | Mahvash Sabet; Nasrin Sotoudeh; Yaran; Netherlands | |
2011 18 Jun 201- |
Representatives from government, religious communities and civil society organizations were among the 800 human rights supporters who gathered to call upon Iran to cease its persecution of Bahá'ís and other religious minorities. Almost 8,000 images depicting the faces of Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders (Yaran) were on display on the Copacabana beach, corresponding to the number of days of detention the seven had suffered after three years in prison. [BWNS834]
|
Yaran; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Brazil | |
2011 30 May 201- |
The passing of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Gayle Wollson (b. 2 June 1913 Crookston MN) in Wilmette, IL. She was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery and Crematorium, Skokie, Illinois [Find a grave]
Born in the USA to Muslim, Arab-speaking parents of Syrian origin she learned of the Faith through her father. Mr Abas had been introduced to the Bahá'í Faith by a Syrian friend. As a youth she taught children's classes and was one of the very first youth travelling teachers in the US accompanying Marguerite Reimer (later Sears) and Mable Ives.
She was appointed to the Auxillary Board and served for 14 years in Ecuador. In 1961 sh was elected to the National Assembly.
From 1970 she served for five years at the World Centre where she did translation work.
'Future generations will extol your labours, follow in your footsteps, and derive inspiration from your pioneer activities.' Shoghi Effendi to Gayle Woolson in Costa Rica, 1942
[KoG224-225]
In 1971 her book, Divine Symphony was published by the Bahá'í Publishing Trust of New Delhi. The book was reprinted in 1976 and 1977. [Collins7.2771; p156]
For her biography see The Art of Empowering Others – A Biography of Knight of Baha'u'llah Gayle Woolson by Juliet Gentzkow and published by George Ronald. |
- In Memoriam; Gayle Woolson; Crookston, MN; Minnesota, USA; United States (USA); Wilmette, IL; Illinois, USA; United States (USA); - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh | |
2011 29 May 201- |
The inauguration of the UNESCO Square for Tolerance and Peace, situated at the point where Haifa's historic German Templar colony met the terraced gardens of the Shrine of the Báb. [BWNS828]
|
UNESCO for Tolerance and Peace Square (Haifa); UNESCO; Tolerance; Peace; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Haifa, Israel; Israel | |
2011 20 May 201- |
Fariba Kamalabadi and Mahvash Sabet were returned to Evin Prison in Tehran. They had spent a brief time in the appalling conditions at Qarchak prison, (from 3 May) some 45 kilometers from Tehran. [BIC Evin; BWNS826]
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Yaran; Evin Prison; Gohardasht prison; Qarchak prison; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Prisons; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2011 3 May 201- |
After conviction, the two women of the Yaran were transferred from Evin Prison to the even more notorious Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj, near Tehran. In that prison, Fariba Kamalabadi, Mahvash Sabet, and a number of political prisoners were locked up in the communal ward with hundreds of ordinary female prisoners — inmates incarcerated for crimes not linked to politics. When authorities closed the women's ward of that prison, the prisoners were all transferred to Gharchak Prison in Varamin near Tehran, where the conditions were even worse than those at Rajaei Shahr Prison. [IranWire4985; BWNS821] | Yaran; Mahvash Sabet; Fariba Kamalabadi; Rajai Shahr prison; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Karaj, Iran; Varamin, Iran | |
2011 May 201- |
Some 39 homes of Bahá'ís associated with the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) were raided in a coordinated attack. Educator Kamran Mortezaie served a five-year jail term. Mahmoud Badavam, Noushin Khadem, Farhad Sedghi, Riaz Sobhani and Ramin Zibaie were each sentenced to four year prison terms. The judgments against them cast their activities in support of BIHE as crimes and as "evidence" of their purported aim to subvert the state. Two psychology teachers, Faran Hesami and her husband Kamran Rahimian, were also sentenced to four years in prison. Another BIHE administrator Vahid Mahmoudi was released on 8 January 2012 after his five-year sentence was reportedly suspended. [BWNS910] | * Persecution, Iran; Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE); - Persecution, Education; Iran | |
2011 Ridván 201- |
The Preparation for Social Action programme was implemented under the Five Year Plan. The programme drew on the learning of three decades of experience of FUNDAEC (Fundación para la Aplicación y Enseñanza de las Ciencias), in Columbia. It was an approach to social and economic development that addressed both the material and the spiritual dimensions of human existence. The programme aimed at assisting youth to understand certain concepts, learn a range of relevant facts, and acquire certain qualities, attitudes and skills that would enable them to promote the well-being of their people in fields as diverse as health, education, the environment, secondary production and community organization. |
Five Year Plan (2011-2016); - Teaching Plans; Preparation for Social Action (PSA); - Bahá'í World Centre; Cameroon; Colombia; Costa Rica; India; Kenya; Papua New Guinea; Uganda; Zambia | |
2011 Ridván 201- |
Burundi elected its first National Spiritual Assembly in 17 years. Civil war and unrest during recent decades made it difficult for the Bahá'í community to administer its affairs. [BWNS816, BWNS822] | National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Re-election; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Burundi | |
2011 - 2016 201- |
The launch of the Third Five Year Plan (2011-2016).
- To raise the number of clusters with a Programme of Growth from 1,500 to 5,000 -The institutions will mature their own dynamic process. -The individuals will spare no effort to increase participation. Habits of thought will evolve to reduce dichotomies and learn process. -With the maturity of the institutions, cooperation and reciprocity will increase among the three protagonists. - will be continued expansion of the programs of intensive growth as well as material development. - centennial of the writing of the Tablets of the Divine Plan will be commemorated. - National Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs to be constructed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Papua New Guinea - Local Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs planned for clusters. The first five were to be in Battambang, Cambodia; Matunda Soy, in Kenya; in Bihar Sharif, India; Norte del Cauca, in Colombia; and in Tanna, Vanuatu. |
Five Year Plan (2011-2016); - Teaching Plans; - Institute process; Programmes of growth; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2011 Apr 201- |
After more than two years of extensive restoration work the Shrine of the Báb was complete. The project required the restoration and conservation of the interior and exterior of the original 1909 structure, as well as measures to strengthen the Shrine against seismic forces. An entirely new retrofit design – combining concrete, steel and carbon fibre wrap technology was needed for the whole building, from its foundation and original masonry to its octagon, drum and dome. More than 120 rock anchors were fixed into the mountain behind newly fortified retaining walls. [BWNS816; 12 April 2011] | Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); - Restoration and renovation; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; Mount Carmel | |
2011 9 Apr 201- |
The debut of the film A Deeper Calling: Reflections on the transformative power of Prayer. This film was created for the 2022 World Conference in Brisbane, Australia (8-10 April, 2022), and was one of hundreds of global conferences taking place after being called for by the Universal House of Justice. It is is a short film which shares the stories of five youth from Inala, a small neighbourhood in Brisbane, Australia. It explores what each of these young people have learnt about the power of prayer through their involvement in the Ruhi Institute Process and Baha'i community life. | - Film; Ruhi Institute; - Institute process; Ruhi Institute; Brisbane, Australia; Australia | |
2011 Apr 201- |
In an open letter to their fellow citizens, the Bahá'ís of Egypt offered some advice regarding the future of their nation. [BWNS817] | Open letters; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Egypt | |
2011 30 Mar 201- |
Six months after Iran's Appeal Court reduced their sentences from 20 to 10 years, the seven Bahá'í leaders were told that the Appeals Court sentence was recognized as being in contrast with the law and that their original 20-year sentences had been reinstated. [BWNS814] | Yaran; Court cases; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2011 24 Mar 201- |
The UN Human Rights Council voted to create a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran. [Iran Press Watch 7657] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Human rights; United Nations; UNHCR; Special Rapporteur; Iran | |
2011 21 Mar 201- |
The launch of "Half Light Media". The mandate of this not-for-profit entity was to serve the Bahá'í Faith through the arts and various avenues of media. Founder Naysan Naraqi was assisted by fellow board members Collis Ta'eed and Fuad Ta'eed and scores of collaborators. |
Internet; Social media; Naysan Naraqi; Collis Taeed; Fuad Taeed; Rainn Wilson | |
2011 10 Mar 201- |
The passing of Mrs. Ashraf Khanjani, wife of imprisoned Jamaloddin Khanjani at the age of 81 In Tehran. The couple had been married for more than 50 years. Mr. Khanjani, 77, who was serving a ten-year jail term at Iran's notorious Gohardasht prison, was not granted leave to attend his wife's funeral which was held the next day in Tehran. It attracted between 8,000 and 10,000 mourners from all walks of life. Ministry of Intelligence officers were also reportedly present, filming the proceedings. |
Yaran; Ashraf Khanjani; Jamaloddin Khanjani; - In Memoriam; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2011 Mar 201- |
In March 2011, the UN Human Rights Council re-established the mandate of Special Rapporteur to Iran, which they had terminated in 2002, under the title "Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran". The Commission had stopped appointing investigators for Iran in an effort to encourage a dialogue with the country on human rights. Then, in 2005, the Commission was disbanded in favour of a new entity, the Human Rights Council, which, for a variety of reasons, was considerably more reluctant to criticize individual countries. Human rights activists believed the moral authority behind having such a UN-appointed special rapporteur was a critical step in bringing to light the severity of rights violations in Iran. [One Country]
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Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran; Ahmed Shaheed; United Nations; United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; New York City, NY | |
2011 12 Feb 201- |
Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi were transferred to the notorious Section 200 of Gohardasht Prison. The circumstances of the move raised concerns that it may have been orchestrated as a means of creating an insecure environment that threatens their lives. |
Fariba Kamalabadi; Mahvash Sabet; Gohardasht prison; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Yaran; Mashhad, Iran; Iran | |
2011 22 Feb - 4 Mar 201- |
The 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York. [UN Women; One Country].
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Bahá'í International Community; United Nations; Commission on the Status of Women (CSW); - BIC statements; New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
2011 25 Jan 201- |
January 25th marked the beginning of the revolution in Egypt where millions of protesters from all socio-economic and religious backgrounds demanded the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The security of the Bahá'ís during this period of unrest remained an issue. In February 2011, Bahá'í homes in Shouraneya were again set on fire, with some reports alleging the involvement of state security officers in the attack. Salafi leaders (an ultra-conservative reform branch within Sunni Islam) also continued to agitate against Bahá'ís as a threat to national stability. | Persecution, Egypt; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Shouraneya, Egypt; Egypt | |
2011 1 Jan 201- |
The publication of Abraham One God Three Wives Five Religions by Frances Worthington. It was published by the US Bahá'í Publishing Trust.
A groundbreaking examination of Abraham, one of the most beloved and significant religious figures in history. Author Frances Worthington researches the three wives/concubines (Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah) of Abraham, and traces their lineage to five different religions - Christianity, Judaism, Islam, the Bábi Faith, and the Bahá'í Faith. Examining the scripture and traditions of these five "Abrahamic" faiths, this complex story also draws heavily from a rich variety of historical sources that provide a fascinating backdrop. |
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2011 (In the year) 201- |
Hundreds were killed in a crackdown on mass protests that called for fall of President Saleh and an end to corruption and repression and accountability for human rights violations. The longtime authoritarian president, Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced to resign and signed a power-transfer deal to hand over power to his deputy Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. The new president Hadi struggled to deal with a variety of problems, including attacks by al-Qaeda, a separatist movement in the south, the continuing loyalty of many military officers to Mr Saleh, as well as corruption, unemployment and food insecurity. | Yemen, Recent history; Yemen | |
2010 28 Dec – 1 Jan 201- |
The conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors was held at the World Centre attended by 79 of the world's 81 Counsellors, from some 58 countries. [BWNS804]
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Counsellors; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Counsellors; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Regional Council; - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2010 7 Dec 201- |
In an open letter to Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq Larijani, the Head of the Judiciary, the Bahá'í International Community today contrasted the country's persecution of Bahá'ís with Iran's own call for Muslim minorities to be treated fairly in other countries. [BWNS801]
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Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq Larijani; Open letters; Bahá'í International Community; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - BIC statements; Iran | |
2010 28 Nov 201- |
Excavation work began on the new Bahá'í House of Worship for the South American continent, at a location in the hills of Peñalolén, a "commune" within metropolitan Santiago, at the foot of the Andes. [BWNS800] | Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Santiago; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Santiago, Chile; Chile; Peñalolén, Chile | |
2010 29 Oct 201- |
After three years the restoration, work was completed on the Ridván Garden some two kilometers southeast of the old city of Acre. The work included the restoration of a circulating water system that recreated the island as well as an Ottoman flour mill that was in use during the time of Bahá'u'lláh. That site, designated by Him as "Our Verdant Isle", was once again open to pilgrims, who will have the opportunity to experience the tranquillity of the surroundings that greeted the Blessed Beauty when He visited it at the termination of His nine-year confinement within the walls of the prison-city of 'Akká. [BWNS797; 29 October 2010] | Ridván garden (Akká); - Restoration and renovation; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Bahá'í World Centre; Akka, Israel; Bahji, Israel; Haifa, Israel | |
2010 Sep 201- |
Following the reduction of his sentence, Vahid Tizfahm was transferred to Rajai-Shahr prison, where he remained until his release. Rajai-Shahr is located in the Alborz Province, and was at the time a maximum-security prison, a place for the "dangerous" individuals. According to Iran's Department of Prisons, Security and Corrections' Regulations, and based on the principle of Segregation of Crimes, Tizfahm's transfer to Rajai-Shahr was not legal. [Iran Press Watch 29 March, 2018] | Yaran; Vahid Tizfahm; Rajai Shahr prison; Prisons; * Persecution, Iran; Karaj, Iran; Iran | |
2010 15 Sep 201- |
In the face of the chorus of condemnation from governments and human rights organizations around the world for the 20-year sentence for the seven Bahá'í leaders, the Appeals court reduced the sentences from 20 to 10 years by removing charges such as "Espionage and Collaboration with Israel". This information was verbally released to Ms. Sabet's lawyer. [BWNS793, BIC Report]
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Yaran; Court cases; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2010 4 Sep 201- |
A prominent human rights lawyer in Iran, Nasrin Sotoudeh, was detained by the authorities on charges of "acting against national security," "assembly and collusion to disrupt security," and "cooperation with the Defenders for Human Rights Center." Ms Sotoudeh has represented Iranian opposition activists and politicians, as well a prisoners sentenced to death for crimes committed when they were under the age of 18. She was taken to Tehran's Evin prison was being held in solitary confinement. She launched a hunger strike at the end of September to protest being denied visits and phone calls from her family. Her family convinced her to end the hunger strike on the 23rd of October. This was one of two hunger strikes she staged during her first term in prison. The other was to protest against the conditions in Evin. [Web Citation]
In January 2011, Iranian authorities sentenced Sotoudeh to 11 years in prison, in addition to barring her from practicing law and from leaving the country for 20 years. Later that year, an appeals court reduced her sentence to six years and her practice ban to ten years in August of 2014. [Wikipedia] Sotoudeh was released on 18 September 2013 along with ten other political prisoners, days before an address by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to the United Nations. The Iranian authorities have given no reason for her release and no indication of whether it is unconditional. [Amnesty International] |
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Human rights; Nasrin Sotoudeh; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2010 8 Aug 201- |
The sentence of 20 years in prison was announced for members of the "Yaran-i-Iran" or "Friends of Iran" in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Moqayesseh (or Moghiseh)*. The charges were several: "espionage", "collaborating with enemy states", "insulting the sacred", "propaganda against the state" and "forming an illegal group". The prominent civil and human rights lawyer who defended them was Mr Abdolfattah Soltani. He would later serve a 13-year sentence in the Evin Prison for engaging in his profession. Another member of their legal defense team was the attorney Hadi Esmailzadeh who died in 2016 while serving a 4-year prison term for defending human rights cases. After the sentencing the seven Bahá'í leaders were sent to Raja'i prison in the city of Karaj (Gohardasht) , about 50 kilometers west of Tehran. [BWNS789]
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Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Court cases; Evin Prison; Gohardasht prison; Abdolfattah Soltani; Hadi Esmailzadeh; Moghiseh; Human rights; Prisons; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Mashhad, Iran; Iran | |
2010 24 Jul 201- |
The imprisonment of seven Bahá'í leaders in Iran was extended for a further two months after the lawyers made a request for bail. At this point they had been held for more than two years under a series of successive orders for their 'temporary' detention, which by law, must not exceed two months. The trial of the seven consisted of six brief court appearances and began on 12 January after they had been imprisoned without charge for 20 months. During this period they were allowed barely one hour's access to their legal counsel. The trial concluded on 14 June. [BIC Report] | Yaran; Court cases; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Human rights; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2010 2 Jul 201- |
The UN General Assembly voted unanimously to create UN Women, (General Assembly resolution 64/289) a new entity merging the four UN offices focusing on gender equality: the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues, and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. Following the passage of the resolution, the Bahá'í International Community, as one of the core NGOs leading the campaign for the new gender entity, received congratulatory notes from NGOs and women around the world expressing their appreciation and support for its role in the four-year campaign. [BIC History; UN Women]
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United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; UN Women; Commission on the Status of Women (CSW); - BIC statements; New York City, NY; United States (USA) | |
2010 Jun (late) 201- |
Homes belonging to some 50 Bahá'í families in the remote village of Ivel in northern Iran have been demolished as part of a long-running campaign to expel them from the region. The demolitions were the latest development in an ongoing, officially-sanctioned program in the area which has targeted every activity of the Bahá'ís.
Most of the Baha'i homes in Ivel have been unoccupied since their residents fled after previous incidents of violence or as a result of official displacement. In 2007, for example, six of their houses were torched. in 1983, a few years after the Iranian revolution, at least 30 families from this and neighboring villages were put on buses and expelled. Persistent government attacks on Baha'is in all the mass media – along with inaction by local officials to protect them – have continued to incite hatred against the Bahá'ís in the region and throughout Iran. [BWNS780; BWNS782; Iran Press Watch 6202] |
* Persecution, Iran; Ivel, Mazandaran; Mazandaran, Iran; Iran | |
2010 12 Jun 201- |
The seven Bahá'í leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran made their fourth court appearance. [BIC Report] | Yaran; Court cases; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Human rights; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2010 10 May 201- |
New information was obtained regarding the conditions in which the seven Bahá'í prisoners were being held-two small rancid-smelling cells. They had not been given beds or bedding. There was no natural light in their cells so when the light was turned off during the day they are held in darkness. [Video "The Story of the Bahá'í Seven" 13 May 2016 BIC] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2010 May 201- |
The publication of Rethinking Prosperity: Forging Alternatives to a Culture of Consumerism," for the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. The statement can be read at BIC10-0503. [BWNS770] | Sustainable development; Prosperity; Consumerism; Materialism; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; - Statements; * Publications; United Nations; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
2010 30 Apr 201- |
The visit of the President of the Republic of Ireland, Mary McAleese, to the World Centre. [BWNS774] | - Presidents; Prominent visitors; Mary McAleese; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre; Ireland; Haifa, Israel | |
2010 27 Apr 201- |
The passing of Dr Nossrat Peseschkian (b. 18 June, 1933 in Iran d. 27 April, 2010 in Wiesbaden, Germany). He came to Germany in 1954 for his studies in medicine at the universities of Freiburg, Frankfurt am Main and Mainz. After his medical specialization and his dissertation, he had his postgraduate training in psychotherapy in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the United States. Prof. Peseschkian was the founder and leading figure in the growth and development of Positive Psychotherapy for almost 40 years. As an international lecturer, he had traveled to 67 countries worldwide. A global network of over 100 local, regional and national centres of Positive Psychotherapy has been established in 33 countries to date. Among his works is the book "Oriental Stories as Tools in Psychotherapy: The Merchant and the Parrot", which included short stories from Persia and other countries that can be used in psychotherapy. [Wikipedia]
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Nossrat Peseschkian; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Psychology; Stories; Family; Cultural diversity; Parrots (metaphor); Iran; Wiesbaden, Germany; Germany | |
2010 22 Apr 201- |
Earth Day Network launched https://www.earthday.org/billion-acts-green-reduce-ecological-footprint/"> A Billion Acts of Green and The Canopy Project. Earth Day 2010 engaged 75,000 global partners in 192 countries. [Earth Day website] | Earth Day | |
2010 12 Apr 201- |
The seven imprisoned Iranian Bahá'í leaders arrived at the court for their third appearance and their families were not allowed to enter, signalling a closed hearing. Inside the courtroom, however, the prisoners saw numerous officials and interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence – along with a film crew which had already set up cameras. Concerned over the presence of non-judicial personnel in a supposedly closed hearing, the Bahá'ís – with the agreement of their attorneys – declined to be party to the proceedings. The judge adjourned the session and did not announce a date for continuing the trial. [BWNS767] | Yaran; Court cases; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2010 20 Mar 201- |
The Universal House of Justice announced the retirement of Mr. Peter Khan (member since 1987) and Mr. Hooper Dunbar (member since 1988). [BWNS763]
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Peter Khan; Hooper Dunbar; Universal House of Justice, Members of; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre | |
2010 7 Feb 201- |
Seven imprisoned Bahá'í leaders appeared in court for a second session of their trial. The session was once again closed and family members were not permitted in the courtroom. The hearing lasted just over one hour but did not go beyond procedural issues. No date was given for any future sessions. [BWNS756] | Yaran; Court cases; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2010 1 Feb 201- |
On February 1st, 2010, Iran's Channel 3 began to air a series named "Saalhaaye Mashrooteh," which could roughly be translated as "The Years Leading to the Persian Constitutional Revolution [of 1905-1911]." The series begins with the significant historical events that lead up to the Constitutional Revolution, beginning with the ascension of the Qajar ruler Nasiri'd-Din Shah to the throne in 1848. In the process, two of the Central Figures of the Bahá'í Faith, the Báb (1819-1850) and Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), are also inserted in the series not to offer authentic history but to bolster age-old anti-Bahá'í conspiracy theories regarding the genesis and development of the Bábi and Bahá'í religions. This short essay will address some of the historical inaccuracies present in the series, so readers can assess whether this is an attempt at portraying accurate history or simply another premeditated attack on the Bahá'í Faith.
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Adib Masumian; * Persecution, Iran; Iran | |
2010 12 Jan – 14 Jun 201- |
The trial of Iran's seven Bahá'í leaders, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm began in Tehran. The seven were charged with "espionage", "propaganda activities against the Islamic order", "the establishment of an illegal administration", "cooperation with Israel", "sending secret documents outside the country", "acting against the security of the country", and "corruption on earth". [BWNS748, BWNS778]
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Yaran; Court cases; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2010 In the Year) 201- |
The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) provided data from the World Christian Database (2010) regarding the distribution of the Bahá'í population throughout the world. Nations (population 200,000+) with the highest percentage of their population Bahá'ís: 1) Belize, 7,742 adherents indicating 2.5% of the population. 2) Bolivia, 215,359 adherents indicating 2.2% of the population. 3) Zambia, 231,112 adherents indicating 1.8% of the population. Nations (population 200,000+) with the highest number of Bahá'ís: 1) India, 1,897,651 believers (0.2% of the population). 2) United States, 512,864 believers (0.2% of the population). 3) Kenya, 422,782 believers (0.1% of the population). For the full dataset go to the ARDA website. [ARDA] |
Statistics |
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