This week’s Reporting Religion on the BBC World Service (25 May 2008) includes an interview with a UK Bahá’í whose cousin is one of the Bahá’í leaders recently arrested in Iran.

On Reporting Religion this week we examine what life is like in Iran if you follow the Baha’i faith. We hear from one woman whose cousin is in jail because she’s a Baha’i. Plus we hear from the BBC’s Religious Affairs Correspondent, Frances Harrison, who explains why Iran takes such a strict stance on Baha’is.

The interview is right at the beginning of the programme. Visit the site and listen soon. Once next week’s programme has been broadcast, this week’s one will be removed.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Iran, arrests, BBC World Service, Reporting Religion, Frances Harrison

It turns out that the families of the six Bahá’í leaders arrested in Tehran on 14 May have not been able to find out where they are.

At first we were under the impression that they had been taken to Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, but it seems this is not the case.

Relatives of the six have made repeated attempts to locate them, but officials have either been evasive or have told conflicting stories. As far as anyone can tell, the six have not had access to legal advice and no formal charges have been laid against them.

Nor has there been any explanation about what the Iranian government spokesman who baselessly claimed that the Bahá’ís had been arrested on national security grounds meant by what he said.

As you can imagine, Bahá’ís across the world will now be even more anxious about the safety and health of the Friends in Iran.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Iran, human rights, Evin prison, incommunicado

The newly elected National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the UK met last night to elect its officers, as follows:

• Chair: Dr Shirin Tahzib
• Vice Chair: Dr Vafa Ram
• Secretary: Dr Kishan Manocha
• Secretary for External Affairs: Mr Rob Weinberg
• Treasurer: Mr Patrick O’Mara

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, National Spiritual Assembly, UK