http://www.voicesdivine.com Bahai audio books & podcast recordings of writings, prayers, news, & community messages for lovers of Bahaullah Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:38:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Bahai audio books & podcast recordings of writings, prayers, news, & community messages for lovers of Bahaullah VoicesDivine no © 2008-2010 VoicesDivine.com and others VoicesDivine.com Baha'i Podcasts https://www.voicesdivine.com/main/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://www.voicesdivine.com http://www.voicesdivine.com/messages/10-january-2010-believers-cradle-faith/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/messages/10-january-2010-believers-cradle-faith/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:43:16 +0000 John Iron http://www.voicesdivine.com/?p=1016 http://www.voicesdivine.com/messages/10-january-2010-believers-cradle-faith/feed/ 0 Bahai, Baha'i, Bahá'í, Universal House of Justice, UHJ, Iran, Yaran, trial, Ashura, believers, cradle of the faith, persecution, faith, "...those whose inner vision is dimmed by the veils of religious prejudice have conspired to create false accusations so as to provide justification to the Iranian people for their acts of oppression against you..." A message from the Universal House of Justice to the Believers in the Cradle of the Faith, 10 January 2010.  Read by John Iron for VoicesDivine.com Dearly loved Friends, As the date set for the trial of the former members of the Yaran approaches, certain officials have made statements over the past few days claiming that the motive for the arrest of ten friends on 3 January 2010 lay not in their membership in the Baha'i community but in their involvement in organizing the events that occurred on the day of 'Ashura.  The people of Iran--indeed, the people of the world and the community of nations--are familiar with the principles of the Baha'i Faith, the conduct of its adherents, and the history of its development; they know therefore that such a claim is baseless.  All fair-minded people would attest that Baha'is, wherever they reside, labour shoulder to shoulder with their compatriots for the progress and prosperity of their nation.  Baha'is are known to rely on the framework of the law in defence of their own rights as well as those of others.  They aspire to the virtues of truthfulness and honesty, eschew violence and conflict, and avoid all manner of partisan politics.  Yet, regrettably, those whose inner vision is dimmed by the veils of religious prejudice have conspired to create false accusations so as to provide justification to the Iranian people for their acts of oppression against you, seemingly unaware that such actions ultimately vitiate the perpetrator's credibility.  We take comfort in knowing that you are cognizant of the operation of divine forces.  You realize that within His grasp are held the reins of all things.  You call on the spiritual powers born of such understanding to transcend enmity and oppression.  Staunch and immovable, you have won the admiration of the world as you have continued to discharge your duties with consummate wisdom.  Our hearts overflow with love and admiration for each and every one of you.  We raise our hands in supplication to Almighty God, beseeching Him to safeguard you and to aid you in promoting the interests of the Cause and in serving your fellow countrymen. [signed:  The Universal House of Justice] VoicesDivine no 2:49 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/world-reacts-trial-seven-bahai-leaders/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/world-reacts-trial-seven-bahai-leaders/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:08 +0000 Hans http://www.voicesdivine.com/?p=923 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/world-reacts-trial-seven-bahai-leaders/feed/ 1 Bahai, Baha'i, trial, Iran, Yaran, Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mr. Vahid Tizfahm Iran's decision to begin the trial yesterday of seven Baha'i leaders has triggered a strong international reaction, including a call by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi for their immediate release and ultimate acquittal. This is a recording from VoicesDivine.com. To see our other podcasts and our terms of use, go to www.voicesdivine.com (http://www.voicesdivine.com). This is John Iron (http://johniron.com) reading from the Baha'i World News Service (http://news.bahai.org). 13 January 2010,  GENEVA, Switzerland – Iran's decision to begin the trial yesterday of seven Baha'i leaders has triggered a strong international reaction, including a call by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi for their immediate release and ultimate acquittal. "If justice is to be carried out and an impartial judge should investigate the charges leveled against my clients, no other verdict can be reached save that of acquittal," said Mrs. Ebadi, in comments posted on WashingtonTV, a Web-based news service in the United States. Mrs. Ebadi, who is one of the lawyers for the seven, said she had carefully read the dossier of charges against them and "found in it no cause or evidence to sustain the criminal charges upheld by the prosecutor." Others also expressed concerns about the fairness of the trial, calling for it to be open and held in accordance with international legal standards. Governments and prominent individuals in the European Union, the United States, Brazil, India, and Canada issued strong statements of concern. The European Union statement came yesterday, echoing an earlier call for international observers to be allowed in the trial of the seven Baha'is. "The EU recalls that freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a fundamental and undeniable right which shall be guaranteed in every circumstance," the statement said. "The EU calls for a just, fair and open trial respecting all international standards and obligations. ..." In Brazil yesterday, Luiz Couto, the president of the Human Rights Commission of the Federal Chamber of Deputies, said in a letter to the Iranian ambassador to Brazil that it appears the "trial is not transparent and public," and that any closed trial would violate the right to a full and fair defense. "We consider the freedom of religion and belief – that of Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Baha'is, and all other religious expressions – a fundamental human right for democracy, both in the east and west," said Congressman Couto. On Monday, the United States Department of State condemned Iran's decision to move ahead with the trial. "Authorities have detained these persons for more than 20 months, without making public any evidence against them and giving them little access to legal counsel," said Philip J. Crowley, assistant secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State. "These persons are entitled to due process." In India, prominent Indians called upon the government to take up the issue of the Baha'i persecution with Tehran. "Our country has a long record of pluralism and tolerance and must speak out," said Maja Daruwala, director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, according to The Hindu newspaper on Saturday. In Canada, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon issued a statement on Friday expressing deep concern about the ongoing detention of the seven Baha'i leaders. "It is deplorable that these individuals were detained on the sole basis of their faith and have been denied a fair trial," said Mr. Cannon. Leading human rights barrister Cherie Blair in an interview today with the BBC World Service called for the release of "this group of people who live a religion which preaches peace and did nothing whatsoever to deserve this trial." In the WashingtonTV interview, Mrs. Ebadi, who is currently outside Iran, also offered a glimpse of what happened yesterday inside Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, where the "first session" of the trial was held. She said only two lawyers of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, which she established, were able to be present in the court. And that in spite of a request for an open hearing, the court was closed. VoicesDivine no 6:42 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/trial-seven-bahai-leaders-under-way-tehran/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/trial-seven-bahai-leaders-under-way-tehran/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:29:43 +0000 John Iron http://www.voicesdivine.com/?p=897 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/trial-seven-bahai-leaders-under-way-tehran/feed/ 0 Bahai, Baha'i, trial, Iran, Yaran, Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mr. Vahid Tizfahm John Iron reads: "The trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial is marked by numerous violations of legal due process..." The trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial is marked by numerous violations of legal due process. VoicesDivine no 2:58 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/745-trial-looms/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/745-trial-looms/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:19:34 +0000 John Iron http://www.voicesdivine.com/?p=838 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/745-trial-looms/feed/ 0 arrest,arrested,Baha'i,Baha'i World News Service,Baha’i International Community,BWNS,Evin Prison,human rights,Iran,leaders,Leva Khanjani,Mr. Afif Naeimi Recent developments in Iran have raised grave concern about the ultimate fate of the seven Baha'i leaders who are scheduled to go on trial next Tuesday. This is a recording from VoicesDivine.com (http://www.voicesdivine.com).  To see our other podcasts and our terms of use, go to www.voicesdivine.com (http://www.voicesdivine.com).  This is John Iron (http://johniron.com) reading from the Baha'i World N... VoicesDivine no 6:01 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/713_one_year_new_accusation/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/713_one_year_new_accusation/#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 18:19:35 +0000 Leanne Eleff http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=358 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/713_one_year_new_accusation/feed/ 0 arrested,Baha'i,Baha'i World News Service,Durban,human rights,Iran,Mr. Afif Naeimi,Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli,Mr. Hassan Haddad,Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani,Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,Mr. Saeid Rezaie The seven Baha'i leaders currently imprisoned in Iran are facing the anniversary of their arrest this Thursday, along with new and extremely grave accusations, after spending a year in jail without formal charges or access to their lawyer, Shirin Ebadi. 12 May 2009, NEW YORK, N.Y., U.S.A. (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=40.759741,-73.972321&spn=0.453007,0.601501&t=k&z=11) - The seven Baha'i leaders currently imprisoned in Iran are facing the anniversary of their arrest this Thursday, along with new and extremely grave accusations, after spending a year in jail without formal charges or access to their lawyer, Shirin Ebadi. "Despite their obvious innocence and the call by many for their immediate release, these seven men and women have been in legal limbo for a year now, against all international human rights standards," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "Moreover, their families have recently been told of a possible new charge - 'the spreading of corruption on earth,' which goes by the term 'Mofsede fel-Arz' in Persian and carries the threat of death under the penal code of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said Ms. Dugal. "The sequence of events surrounding their detention exposes a shameless travesty of justice. Notwithstanding their having been subjected to intensive interrogations, it took a full seven months before they were given even a single pretext for their detention. On February 10, 2009, the Iranian Student News Agency quoted Tehran deputy prosecutor Hassan Haddad as having said that the investigation of these individuals was complete and that 'the case will be sent to the revolutionary court next week' and that these Baha'is are accused of 'espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.' The international protest expressed by governments and civil society was immediate and widespread, causing the Iranian authorities to review their approach. "Now a new wrongful accusation reportedly has been added some three months after the investigation was supposed to have concluded. The charge of being spreaders of corruption was used against the Baha'is who were executed in the years immediately following the Islamic revolution. That it may now be resorted to in this case is a further demonstration that the authorities have no basis for any allegation against these seven individuals, other than blatant religious persecution. This action against the Baha'i leadership reflects the government's sharply increased persecution of the entire Iranian Baha'i community of more than 300,000 members. "The upcoming anniversary of their arrest offers an important milestone and we ask that the international community re-state once again in the strongest terms its demand for their immediate release, or, at least, for a fair and open trial that meets international standards of justice," said Ms. Dugal. Ms. Dugal also noted that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has frequently emphasized the importance of "justice and human dignity" and "the establishment of a just world system," such as when he addressed the UN Durban Review Conference in Geneva (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=46.212031,6.139126&spn=0.103464,0.150375&t=k&z=13)last month. "How can the calls of the Iranian leadership for justice in the international sphere be taken seriously if they do not grant justice to their own citizens? In Iran, by all accounts universally agreed upon human rights are routinely ignored, not only for Baha'is but also for women, journalists, and others who only seek dignity and justice," she said. The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran VoicesDivine no 4:34 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/712_australian_assembly_75/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/712_australian_assembly_75/#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 18:19:05 +0000 Leanne Eleff http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=351 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/712_australian_assembly_75/feed/ 0 Australia,Australian Prime Minister,Baha'i,Dr. Peter Khan,Iran,Member of Parliament,Mr. Kevin Rudd,Mr. Laurie Ferguson,National Spiritual Assembly,persecution,Sydney Prime Minister Kevin Rudd congratulated Australian Bahá’ís on the 75th anniversary of their National Spiritual Assembly at an event in Sydney. Participants remembered the Baha'is in Iran, who would be marking the same anniversary if not for the decad... 8 May 2009, SYDNEY, Australia (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&ie=UTF8&cd=2&geocode=FZfEcwQdjwVZ-g&split=0&num=10&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=-33.77715,151.196938&spn=0.240283,0.300751&t=k&z=12) - A congratulatory message from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was read to Australian Bahá'ís as they celebrated the 75th anniversary of their National Spiritual Assembly at an event in Sydney. Participants remembered the Bahá'ís in Iran, who would be marking the same anniversary if not for the decades of persecution in that country. Both Iran and Australia elected their first national Bahá'í governing councils in 1934. In Sydney, more than 2,500 people turned out on 25 April for a special anniversary event at the Sydney Convention Centre, followed the next day by a reception on the grounds of the Bahá'í House of Worship.A spokesperson for the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia said at the reception that the Iranian Assembly was dissolved in 1983. This occurred after the Iranian Prosecutor General called for the dismantling of the Bahá'í administrative structure. Persecution of the Iranian Bahá'ís had intensified in the years immediately following the Islamic Revolution in 1979. During that time all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran were abducted and disappeared without a trace, assumed to have been killed. Individuals subsequently elected to the same Assembly were then executed along with scores of other Bahá'ís. About 40 Bahá'ís are currently in prison in Iran because of their religion, including seven men and women who had a leadership role in helping see to the needs of the 300,000-member Bahá'í community there. Delegates to the annual Bahá'í convention in Australia referred to Iran in a message: "We grieve for the 30 years lost to the Bahá'í administration in Iran and salute those who gave their lives as a result of their service to that institution as well as the selfless dedication of the Iranian friends throughout their long oppression." Prime minister sends greetings Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd sent a message for the anniversary event, read by Member of Parliament Laurie Ferguson. In his own address, Mr. Ferguson complimented the Australian Bahá'í community: "Your organization is in the forefront of tolerance, debate, and rationality." He said he was particularly concerned by the persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran. Also speaking at the reception was Dr. Peter Khan, a member of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá'í Faith. Dr. Khan said that since its establishment in 1934, the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia had dedicated itself to fulfilling the central mission of the Bahá'í Faith - to be a source of harmony, unity, and understanding among diverse people. The National Spiritual Assembly of Australia is one of 180 such Bahá'í governing councils in the world. In virtually all countries, elections are held annually during the festival of Ridvan, which runs from 21 April to 2 May. Some 90 delegates from throughout Australia attended their national convention - held at the Sydney Bahá'í Centre from 24-26 April - and voted in the election for the National Assembly. All Baha'i elections are by secret ballot, without nominations or campaigning. Australia and New Zealand originally had a joint National Spiritual Assembly, but growth in the number of the Bahá'ís in both countries led to New Zealand forming its own governing body in 1957. The Bahá'í Faith was established in Australia in 1920. VoicesDivine no 5:00 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/710-ridvan_message_uk/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/710-ridvan_message_uk/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:19:15 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=334 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/710-ridvan_message_uk/feed/ 0 Baha'i,British Prime Minister,Conservative Party,Foreign Office Minister,House of Commons,Iran,Liberal Democrat Party,Mr. Bill Rammell,Mr. Gordon Brown,persecution,religious tolerance,Ridvan British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a message to UK Baha'is to mark Ridvan, the most important Baha'i festival, expressing "respect and admiration". (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090424-BWNS-710-Ridvan_message_UK-150.jpg)2009 April 24, LONDON, UK (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=51.480528,-0.177155&spn=0.751769,2.114868&t=k&z=10) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a message to UK Baha'is to mark Ridvan, the most important Bahá'í festival. In it he expressed his "respect and admiration" for the British Bahá'í community which, he said, "makes a contribution to British life out of all proportion to its size." In the letter, which was addressed to the annual reception hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Bahá'ís, Mr. Brown welcomed the Bahá'ís' "participation in public life" and described as "tragic" the prejudice and discrimination faced by some Bahá'ís in the world.His sentiments were echoed by leaders of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, and the archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England, all of whom also sent messages to the reception. "The Bahá'í emphasis on equality, unity, social justice, and human rights does credit to your faith," wrote David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party. Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, called Ridvan "a time to acknowledge and reflect on the valuable social and cultural contribution made by the thousands of Bahá'ís living in the UK." "The Bahá'í community," he said, "can be very proud of its active role in promoting religious tolerance, peace and unity across the world." The prime minister's message pointedly addressed the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran: "At the forefront of all of our minds this Ridvan is the fate of the seven Bahá'í leaders awaiting trial in Iran. We have raised our concerns with the Iranian government and I urge the authorities to ensure that these individuals receive a fair trial and ask them to put an end to discrimination against the wider Bahá'í community within Iran." A message written on behalf of the archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, said he has "made clear to the Iranian authorities his profound disapproval of the way in which the leadership has been treated since their arrest and detention in harsh conditions and without charge last year. The charges now brought go against all the experience of Bahá'ís as peaceful people and loyal citizens of their countries." The prime minister's letter was read by Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell, who attended the reception along with 80 other guests, including leading figures from nongovernmental organizations and different religious communities. The event was held on the terrace of the House of Commons on 22 April. The 12-day Festival of Ridvan marks the anniversary of the announcement in 1863 by Baha'u'llah that He is God's Messenger for this age, the latest in a line of divine teachers that includes Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, and others. To see the original article and images at the Bahá'í World News service go to http://news.bahai.org/story/710 (http://news.bahai.org/story/710) VoicesDivine no 3:42 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/bahais-and-rights-groups-ajmadinejad-must-address-discrimination/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/bahais-and-rights-groups-ajmadinejad-must-address-discrimination/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:29:03 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=320 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/bahais-and-rights-groups-ajmadinejad-must-address-discrimination/feed/ 0 Baha'i,Durban II,Durban Review Conference,Federation of Human Rights,FIDH,Iran,Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights,LDDHI,Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,President,UN,United Nations The Baha'i International Community and two human rights organizations in call on Iranian President Ahmadinejad to address discrimination in his own country. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090419-BWNS-708-Durban-II-Statement-150.jpg) 2009 April 19, GENEVA, Switzerland (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=46.230916,6.129684&spn=0.100935,0.264359&t=k&z=13) - The Baha'i International Community (http://bic.org/) joined two human rights organizations in calling on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to address discrimination in his own country when he speaks this week at the conference known as Durban II. The statement was issued as a joint news release by the Baha'i International Community (http://bic.org/), the Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LDDHI), and the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) (http://www.fidh.org/). In addition to calling on the Iranian president to address discrimination against ethnic minorities, women, and religious minorities, the three organizations also ask him to redress the problem of incitement to hatred. "Of particular concern is the manner in which the government-controlled news media has vilified adherents of the Baha'i Faith," the statement said, citing the hundreds of articles, radio and television programs, Internet postings, and pamphlets containing hate speech that have been disseminated in Iran in recent years. The Durban Review Conference (http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/index.shtml) is being held under the auspices of the United Nations (http://www.un.org). The purpose is to evaluate progress towards the goals set by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in 2001. The following is the news release issued by the three organizations (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090419-BWNS-708-Durban-II-Statement.pdf): Baha'i Internation Community United Nations Office (http://bic.org)Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LDDHI) International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) (http://www.fidh.org/) For Immediate Release President Ahmadinejad must redress grave discrimination in Iran GENEVA, 19 April 2009 - If he desires to lend genuine support to the Durban process, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should address the severe forms of discrimination faced by minority groups in his own country when he speaks at the Durban Review Conference here this week, said the Baha'i International Community (BIC), the Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LDDHI) and the [International Federation for Human Rights] Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) today. "By coming to the Durban Review Conference, President Ahmadinejad signals a commitment to the conference's goals of eliminating all forms of discrimination and intolerance," said Diane Ala'i, the BIC's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. "His first move on returning home, then, should be to address the severe discrimination and persecution that have flourished under his tenure." Karim Lahidji of LDDHI said: "Human rights have sharply deteriorated in Iran under the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, as well as against women, are of grave concern. Our hope is that governments, the news media, and other Durban Review Conference participants will hold President Ahmadinejad accountable on these points." The BIC, LDDHI, and FIDH called particularly on President Ahmadinejad to redress: Discrimination against ethnic minorities Repression against activists belonging to ethnic minorities is rising dramatically in Iran. Kurds and other groups are accused of terrorism, attacks on national security or treason, without concrete evidence. The authorities do not seem to make a distinction between peaceful advocacy for the rights of minorities and terrorist attacks by armed groups. Over the past year, John Iron no 6:45 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/canadas-parliament-condemns-persecution-of-bahais-in-iran/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/canadas-parliament-condemns-persecution-of-bahais-in-iran/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:19:19 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=289 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/canadas-parliament-condemns-persecution-of-bahais-in-iran/feed/ 0 Baha'i,Canada,condemn,Evin Prison,House of Commons,human rights,Iran,motion,Parliament,persecution,spies,Yaran Canada's House of Commons unanimously adopted a strongly worded motion condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran and calling for release of Baha'i leaders. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090402-BWNS-706-Canadian-Parliament-150.jpg) 2009 April 2, OTTAWA, Canada (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.424442,-75.699277&spn=0.004925,0.011373&t=h&z=17) - Canada's House of Commons has unanimously adopted a strongly worded motion condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran and calling on the Iranian government to release Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Tehran. The motion, which was approved on 30 March, stated that the accusations against the Baha'is - espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic - are charges "frequently used by Iranian authorities to target human rights defenders and religious minorities, and there is nothing in the history or teachings of the Baha'i community to lend any credence to such charges." The motion was addressed in a debate on the floor of the House of Commons which lasted some 90 minutes. Members of Parliament from all four of Canada's political parties spoke of the long history of persecution suffered by Iran's Baha'is and the current "campaign of hatred and incitement" against the Baha'i community there, noting that these current attacks "constitute a number of warning signs that often foreshadow widespread ethnic, racial or religious cleansing." Decrying the "persistent and pervasive" violation of the human rights not only of Iran's Baha'i but of all Iranian citizens who have suffered repression at the hands of extremist elements in that country, members of Parliament also expressed deep admiration for Iran's people and "the enormous contribution" that Iran's "great civilization" has made to humankind. The resolution concludes: "Therefore, be it resolved that this House condemns the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i minority of Iran and calls upon the government of Iran to reconsider its charges against the members of the Friends in Iran, and release them immediately or failing this, that it proceed to trial without further delay, ensuring that the proceedings are open and fair and are conducted in the presence of international observers." Seven of the Baha'is imprisoned in Tehran had comprised an ad hoc group called the "Friends in Iran" that tended to the minimum needs of the 300,000-member Baha'i community in Iran. The seven were rounded up a year ago and have been detained ever since, without access to legal counsel. Accusations against them were only recently announced, but no hearing or trial has yet been held. More than 30 Baha'is are currently jailed in Iran because of their religion. The following is the wording of the full motion adopted by the Canadian House of Commons: "Whereas, the House of Commons recognizes that on 14 May 2008, six members of an informal group known as the Friends in Iran tommunity in Iran were arrested and taken to the political prisoners section of Evin prison in Tehran, where the seventh member was already being held, following her arrest in Mashhad in March 2008. "And whereas, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in October 2005, uncovered a confidential letter from the Command headquarters of the Armed Forces of Iran ordering the identification and monitoring of all Baha'is and their activities. "And whereas, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief stated on March 20, 2006, that she 'also expresses her concern that the information gathered as a result of such monitoring will be used as a basis for the increased persecution of and discrimination against, members of the Baha'i Faith, in violation of international standards ... The Special Rapporteur is concerned that this latest development indicates that the situation with regard to religious minorities in Iran is, in fact, deteriorating.' "And whereas, the Baha'i community of Canada is gravely concerned for the safety of these seven Baha'is, who have been held without formal charges, John Iron no 6:33 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/un-general-assembly-concerned-about-human-rights-in-iran/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/un-general-assembly-concerned-about-human-rights-in-iran/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:19:08 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=40 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/un-general-assembly-concerned-about-human-rights-in-iran/feed/ 0 arrest,arrested,Baha'i,community,general assembly,human rights,Iran,leaders,prison,United Nations The United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution expressing “deep concern at serious human rights violations” in Iran. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/unseal.jpg) 2008 December 18, UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution expressing “deep concern at serious human rights violations” in Iran. The resolution, which passed by a vote of 69 to 54, specifically criticized Iran’s use of torture, the high incidence of executions, the “violent repression” of women, and “increasing discrimination” against Bahá’ís, Christians, Jews, Sufis, Sunni Muslims, and other minorities. “Iran should reflect upon and glean from this vote that, sadly, countries from Finland to Fiji are more concerned about the rights of ordinary Iranian citizens than the Iranian government itself,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. “The General Assembly is the world’s most representative body, and the fact that this represents the 21st such resolution expressing concern over human rights in Iran since 1985 should leave no doubt that this is not about ‘politicization,’ as the Iranian government likes to say, but a genuine concern for universally acknowledged rights. “Regretfully, despite outcries like this and the recent report of the UN secretary general, the human rights situation in Iran grows worse each day. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful that expressions of concern like this will cause Iranian leaders to rethink their stance on human rights in respect for the rights that have been so widely accepted by other nations,” she said. Ms. Dugal also noted that Iran comes up for Universal Periodic Review in the Human Rights Council in 2010. Iran should take note of the international community’s concern and make all efforts to improve its deplorable human rights record. Today’s resolution was put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by more than 40 other countries. It also specifically takes note of the recent report by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, issued in October, which also expressed concern about human rights in Iran, and calls on Iran to address the “substantive concerns” voiced therein. In that report, Mr. Ban said “there are a number of serious impediments to the full protection of human rights” in Iran. It likewise expressed concerns over torture, executions, the rights of women, and discrimination against minorities. [To read the full report, go to: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/63/459] The resolution asks the secretary general to prepare an update on Iran’s progress over the coming year. It also calls on Iran to “end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views” and to “uphold due process of law rights and to end impunity for human rights violations.” The resolution takes particular note of attacks on Bahá’ís, noting “increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Bahá’ís, preventing members of the Bahá’í Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically, and the arrest and detention of seven Bahá’í leaders without charge or access to legal representation.” Ms. Dugal noted that there are at least 20 Bahá’ís currently in jail, including the national Bahá’í leadership of seven members who were arrested last March and May and are being held in Evin prison without charges. More than 100 others have been arrested and released on bail over the last four years as part of a stepped-up government effort at persecution. John Iron no 4:12 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/iranian-baha%e2%80%99i-leaders-being-held-incommunicado/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/iranian-baha%e2%80%99i-leaders-being-held-incommunicado/#comments Tue, 27 May 2008 17:19:20 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=210 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/iranian-baha%e2%80%99i-leaders-being-held-incommunicado/feed/ 0 arrest,arrested,Baha'i,Evin Prison,human rights,Iran,leaders,Ms. Bani Dugal,persecution,prison Six Baha'i leaders, arrested nearly two weeks ago, have no access to lawyers or relatives. The Baha'i Community is very concerned about their fate. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20080527-BWNS-635-150.jpg) 2008 May 27, NEW YORK, USA (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=+new+york&sll=40.742835,-73.955841&sspn=0.247371,0.528717&ie=UTF8&ll=40.737893,-73.918762&spn=0.494778,1.057434&t=h&z=11&iwloc=addr) - Six Baha'i leaders who were arrested nearly two weeks ago are being held incommunicado, without access to lawyers or relatives, and the Baha'i International Community is increasingly concerned about their fate. "Although initial reports indicated they were taken to Evin prison (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=evin+prison,+iran&sll=47.49569,19.046173&sspn=0.051554,0.076389&ie=UTF8&ll=35.796391,51.383336&spn=0.015873,0.019097&t=h&z=16), in fact we don't know where they are, and we are extremely concerned," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "What is clear is that none of their fundamental rights are being upheld. They have had no access to family members or counsel. We don't even know if they have been before a judge or whether they have been formally charged. "All we know is what a government spokesperson said last week, which is that they were arrested for ‘security reasons,' a charge that is utterly baseless. "We appeal to the international community, human rights groups, and people of conscience, as well as the news media, to continue their efforts to press the Iranian government so that the rights of these people as detainees be upheld and that they be allowed access to counsel and general communication with the outside -- as a minimum step," said Ms. Dugal. The six, all members of the national-level group that helped see to the minimum needs of Baha'is in Iran, were arrested on 14 May 2008 in an early morning sweep that is ominously similar to episodes in the 1980s when scores of Iranian Baha'i leaders were rounded up and killed. A seventh member of the national coordinating group was arrested in early March in Mashhad (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=mashad,+iran&sll=35.796391,51.383336&sspn=0.015873,0.019097&ie=UTF8&ll=33.082337,54.338379&spn=16.333172,19.555664&t=h&z=6&iwloc=addr)after being summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence office there. The whereabouts of none of the seven are known, said Ms. Dugal. "We understood that the six were taken to Evin prison -- the seventh remaining in Mashhad -- principally because some of the government agents who arrested the six on the 14th had documents indicating they would be taken to that notorious place," she said. "However, in light of the fact that relatives have made repeated attempts to learn more about the fate of the seven, and in all cases have been met with evasion and conflicting stories from government officials, we must now say that we don't know where they are -- and that our level of concern for their fate is at the highest," Ms. Dugal said. Arrested on 14 May were: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All live in Tehran. Arrested in Mashhad on 5 March was Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, who also resides in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was summoned to Mashhad by the Ministry of Intelligence, ostensibly on the grounds that she was required to answer questions related to the burial of an individual in the Baha'i cemetery in that city. Last week, Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham gave a press conference at which he acknowledged the arrest and imprisonment of the six. News reports quoted Mr. Elham as saying on 20 May that the six were arrested for "security issues" and not because of their religious beliefs. Those assertions -- the only public statement by the government about the arrests -- were immediately rebutted by Ms. Dugal. "The group of Baha'is arrested last week, like the thousands of Baha'is who since 1979 have been killed, John Iron no 4:37 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/international-community-rejects-iranian-allegations-on-recent-arrests/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/international-community-rejects-iranian-allegations-on-recent-arrests/#comments Wed, 21 May 2008 18:19:30 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=203 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/international-community-rejects-iranian-allegations-on-recent-arrests/feed/ 0 Bahai, Baha'i, Bahá'í, arrest, Iran, persecution, prison, spies, United Nations, Yaran, Zionist, Bani Dugal Allegations by Iran that six Baha’is were arrested last week “for security reasons and not for their faith” are utterly baseless and without documentation, said the Baha’i International Community today. This is a recording from VoicesDivine.com. To see our full range of podcasts and our terms of use, go to www.voicesdivine.com (http://www.voicesdivine.com/). This is John Iron (http://johniron.com/) reading from the Baha’i World News Service VoicesDivine no 6:25