One of the most exciting moments during the recent International Bahá’í Convention was the reading of the Ridván message that the Universal House of Justice addresses every year to the Bahá’ís of the World. This year’s message is a particularly clear explanation of what the Bahá’í community all round the world is doing to respond to the deepest spiritual and moral needs of the world’s peoples.

This message is both inspiring and chastening. Inspiring because it describes exactly what Bahá’ís in every continent are doing - this was born out by the experiences shared by delegates during the consultation periods - and shows how much more we can do. Chastening because it warns us that the capacity that the Bahá’í community is building now will be tested to the very limits by a world in disarray.

And then the Universal House of Justice reminds us, in the penultimate paragraph, of the vital need for individual and institutional rectitude of conduct.

Only if you demonstrate the rectitude of conduct to which the writings of the Faith call every soul will you be able to struggle against the myriad forms of corruption, overt and subtle, eating at the vitals of society. Only if you perceive honour and nobility in every human being–this independent of wealth or poverty–will you be able to champion the cause of justice. And to the extent that administrative processes of your institutions are governed by the principles of Baha’i consultation will the great masses of humanity be able to take refuge in the Baha’i community.

So, here it is. It is well worth reading this majestic and insightful message very carefully. I make no apologies for the length of this post.

Ridvan 2008

To the Baha’is of the World

Dearly loved Friends,

Thousands upon thousands, embracing the diversity of the entire human family, are engaged in systematic study of the Creative Word in an environment that is at once serious and uplifting. As they strive to apply through a process of action, reflection and consultation the insights thus gained, they see their capacity to serve the Cause rise to new levels. Responding to the inmost longing of every heart to commune with its Maker, they carry out acts of collective worship in diverse settings, uniting with others in prayer, awakening spiritual susceptibilities, and shaping a pattern of life distinguished for its devotional character. As they call on one another in their homes and pay visits to families, friends and acquaintances, they enter into purposeful discussion on themes of spiritual import, deepen their knowledge of the Faith, share Baha’u'llah’s message, and welcome increasing numbers to join them in a mighty spiritual enterprise. Aware of the aspirations of the children of the world and their need for spiritual education, they extend their efforts widely to involve ever-growing contingents of participants in classes that become centres of attraction for the young and strengthen the roots of the Faith in society. They assist junior youth to navigate through a crucial stage of their lives and to become empowered to direct their energies toward the advancement of civilization. And with the advantage of a greater abundance of human resources, an increasing number of them are able to express their faith through a rising tide of endeavours that address the needs of humanity in both their spiritual and material dimensions. Such is the panorama before us as we pause this Ridvan to observe the progress of the worldwide Baha’i community.

On several occasions we have indicated that the aim of the series of global Plans that will carry the Baha’i world to the celebration of the centenary of the Faith’s Formative Age in 2021 will be achieved through marked progress in the activity and development of the individual believer, of the

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The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has posted a story about yesterday’s arrests of the leading members of the Iranian Bahá’í community.

While the detainees have all been regularly summoned, detained, and interrogated as individuals, this is the first time they have been seized as a group. The entire leadership body of the Baha’is in Iran is thus in detention.

“We are deeply concerned that the detention without charge of the entire Baha’i leadership is consistent with a pattern of violent and illegal persecution of Baha’is in Iran,” the Campaign stated. “The persecution of religious minorities will bring neither internal stability nor international security to Iran.”

The Campaign is very concerned for the safety of Mahvash Sabet:

The seventh member of the leadership body, Mahvash Sabet, has been in incommunicado detention since 5 March. According to information received by the Campaign, her family has only been allowed to see her for a moment when Intelligence Ministry agents brought her to a public place where a family member was able to recognize her. Other than this brief encounter, her family has had no contact with her, nor any telephone calls.

“There is cause to fear for the health and safety of Mahvash Sabet, whose incommunicado detention amounts to a form of torture, and of her colleagues as well,” the Campaign said.

Read the whole story here.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Iran, arrests, human rights

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All seven Bahá’ís who form a group that sees to the needs of the Bahá’í community of Iran have been arrested, six of them in early-morning raids on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran. They are, seated from left, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie, and, standing, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet.

The Bahá’í World News Service has just published its story about the arrest yesterday (14 May) of six of the seven members of the Friends in Iran, the informal national group that coordinates Bahá’í activities in Iran in the absence of the long banned formal Bahá’í administration.

The story quotes Bani Dugal, the Bahá’í International Community’s principal representative to the UN:

“We protest in the strongest terms the arrests of our fellow Bahá’ís in Iran. Their only crime is their practice of the Bahá’í Faith.

“Especially disturbing is how this latest sweep recalls the wholesale arrest or abduction of the members of two national Iranian Bahá’í governing councils in the early 1980s - which led to the disappearance or execution of 17 individuals.”

“The early morning raids on the homes of these prominent Bahá’ís were well coordinated, and it is clear they represent a high-level effort to strike again at the Bahá’ís and to intimidate the Iranian Bahá’í community at large.”

I have to say this whole thing is deeply worrying and makes me feel sick at heart. The Iranian authorities are persecuting the Iranian Bahá’ís systematically and constantly. And the tide of persecution is definitely rising. Iran has an appalling human rights record, not just against Bahá’ís, but there is a particular hatred of the Bahá’í community. Put all these things together, add on the arrest of the Bahá’í leadership - it makes me fear for what may happen next.

You can read more about the history of the persecutions of the Bahá’ís in Iran here. And you can read here about the calls by Amnesty International and the US State Department for the release of Bahá’ís who were arrested and imprisoned in Shiraz last year.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Iran, arrests, persecution, human rights

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