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[ 39 Articles ] |
• 'Idál 12 Jalál 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Arba'ā' 22 Rajab A.H. 1438
• Wednesday 19 April A.D. 2017
• Yom Reviʻi 23 Nissan A.M. 5777 |
Houthi-Saleh political security officers arrested Walid Ayyash, Mahmood Humaid, and Badi'u'llah Sanai, all members of the Bahá'í community, at a check point near the city border of Hudiedah. Sanai was released one week later, but was rearrested in May. All three remain detained, their whereabouts unknown. [UN News Centre 22 May 2017]
In total over 25 Bahá'ís, including many prominent members of the Bahá'í community who assist with organization of community affairs at the national level were arrested around the time. In October it was reported that eight Bahá'ís were still detained but the place of detention was not known. [BWNS1215] |
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• Fidál 18 Jalál 174 B.E.
• Yawm ath-Thulāthā' 28 Rajab A.H. 1438
• Tuesday 25 April A.D. 2017
• Yom Shlishi 29 Nissan A.M.. 5777 |
The formation of the human rights organization, "The Yemeni Initiative for Defending Bahá'í Rights". [facebook page] |
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• Istiqlál 2 Jamál 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 1 Sha'bān A.H. 1438
• Friday 28 April A.D. 2017
• Yom Shishi 2 Iyar A.M.. 5777 |
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. |
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• Jamál 4 Jamál 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 3 Sha'bān A.H. 1438
• Sunday 30 April A.D. 2017
• Yom Rishon 4 Iyar A.M.. 5777 |
In his address to the Canadian National Convention on behalf of the Board of Trustees of Huqúqu'lláh for Canada, Dr A-M Ghadirian states that there are 1,115 Representatives and Deputy Trustees worldwide in 31 National and Regional Boards of Trustees. |
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• Istiqlál 9 Jamál 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 8 Sha'bān A.H. 1438
• Friday 5 May A.D. 2017
• Yom Shishi 9 Iyar A.M.5777 |
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] |
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• Istiqlál 16 Jamál 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 15 Sha'bān A.H. 1438
• Friday 12 May A.D. 2017
• Yom Shishi 16 Iyar A.M.. 5777 |
The Bahá'í International Community launches 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. The theme of the campaign, "Not Another Year," is intended to raise awareness about the seven women and men unjustly arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for their religious beliefs. This sentence was reduced to 10 years in 2015 after the overdue application of a new Iranian Penal Code. [BWNS1167]
- The official video of the Bahá'í International Community to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of seven Iranian Bahá'í leaders - Not Another Year.
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• Kamál 19 Jamál174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Ithnayn 18 Sha'bān A.H. 1438
• Monday 15 May A.D. 2017
• Yom Sheni 19 Iyar A.M.. 5777 |
Hundreds of Yemenis gathered in front of the Criminal Prosecution building in the capital city of Sanaa. 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 Maṭṭar.
What brought the tribes out was the arrest of Sheikh Walid Saleh Ayyash, who has the distinction of being both a prominent tribal figure and one of the 2,000 or so Yemenis who practice the Bahá'í faith. It was Ayyash's faith that led to his arrest on April 19, as he was driving from the city of Ibb to the port of Hudaydah. Along with another Bahá'í who was in the car, Ayyash was arrested by Houthi forces and transferred to the Hudaydah prison. A statement by the tribal leaders calls Ayash "a distinguished personality among the Arab tribes … well-known for his integrity and wisdom, for his love, loyalty and devotion to his country, for his tolerance and respect for the government and the law." The leaders had previously met with Khalid Al-Mawari, the Houthi government's Chief of Special Criminal Prosecution. He had promised them that Ayyash would be transferred to Sanaa. When that failed to happen, they organized the demonstration. [TRACKPERSIA 25 Aug 2017] |
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• Jamál 15 Núr 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 23 Ramaḍān A.H. 1438
• Sunday 18 June A.D. 2017
• Yom Rishon 24 Sivan A.M.. 5777 |
The plan for the design of the Local Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in Tanna was announced. Ashkan Mostaghim of Mostaghim & Associates, a firm from Sydney, Australia, has been chosen as the Temple's architect. His design was on the shortlist for the Continental Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in Santiago. [BWNS1175] |
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• Ráḥmat / Kalimát 174 B.E.
• Shawwāl / Dhū al-Qa'dah A.H. 1438
• July A.D. 2017
• Tammuz / Av A.M.. 5777 |
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. The two brothers immediately admitted to have been motivated by religious hatred. The older brother was sentenced to just 11 years in prison and two years away from home. The court justified the sentence by stating that according to the Islamic penal code, the accused and the victim are not equal for the general purpose of retributive justice. This astonishing provision clearly and deliberately deprives non-Muslims of the legal right to seek justice on equal-footing with the country's Muslim majority.
The younger man was sentenced to half of his brother's sentence for aiding in the murder. [BWNS1182] |
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• Istiqlál 7 Asmá' 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 2 Dhū al-Ḥijjah A.H. 1438
• Friday 25 August A.D. 2017
• Yom Shishi 3 Elul A.M.. 5777 |
The announcement of the opening of the new Pilgrim Reception Centre. The three-story stone structure, which is located immediately to the west of the Shrine of the Bab, was opened in time to receive the season's first pilgrim group in October, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah. [BWNS1188] |
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• Istiqlál 14 / Jalál 15 Asmá' 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 9 Dhū al-Ḥijjah /
Yawm as-Sabt 10 Dhū al-Ḥijjah A.H. 1438
• Friday 1 / Saturday 2 September
A.D. 2017
• Yom Shishi 10 Elul / Yom Shabbat 11 Elul
A.M.. 5777 |
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.
The Mashriqu'l-Adhkar was designed by Phnom Penh-based architect Tang Sochet Vitou. It is situated on a 9 hectare property of which 1.5 hectares is used for the temple, an administrative building as well as gardens and ponds. The temple is a frequent topic of conversation among the local population. Even before its completion, it has galvanized action towards the betterment of the community and brought neighbours together. it will help provide for the spiritual needs of Cambodia's growing Bahá'í community which, according to the Ministry of Cult and Religion's most recent annual report, numbers about 12,000 although some adherents say the figure may now be closer to 20,000. Bahá'í communities were first recorded in the kingdom in the 1920s and since 1992 they have grown steadily with the help of aid workers and Asian immigrants.
In a letter dated 18 December 2014, the Universal House of Justice explained that a Bahá'í House of Worship is a "collective centre of society to promote cordial affection" and "stands as a universal place of worship open to all the inhabitants of a locality irrespective of their religious affiliation, background, ethnicity, or gender and a haven for the deepest contemplation on spiritual reality and foundational questions of life, including individual and collective responsibility for the betterment of society."
The dedication was marked by a two-day conference bringing together over 2,500 people from Battambang and every other region of Cambodia. A number of Cambodian dignitaries attended along with representatives of Bahá'í communities in Southeast Asia. The Universal House of Justice was represented by Ms. Sokuntheary Reth who serves on the Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia. [BWNS1185, BWNS1187, BWNS1189, BWNS1190 (slide show), BWNS1191 (video), BWNS1192]
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• Fidál 13 `Izzat 174 B.E.
• Yawm ath-Thulāthā' 27 Dhū al-Ḥijjah
A.H. 1438
• Tuesday 19 September A.D. 2017
• Yom Shlishi 28 Elul A.M. 5777 |
The release of Mahvash Sabet, one of the seven members of the former leadership group of the Bahá'ís in Iran known as the Yaran, after 10 years of confinement in Iran's notorious Evin and Raja'i Shahr prisons. She was arrested in March 2008 and is now 64 years old. Mrs. Sabet distinguished herself by the loving care and kindness she extended to her fellow prisoners. As has occurred with prisoners of conscience, writers, thought-leaders, and poets who have been wrongly imprisoned throughout history, the power of Mrs. Sabet's ideas and beliefs was only amplified by her persecution. The plight of its author attracted attention to this deeply moving collection of poetry, inspiring PEN International to feature Mrs. Sabet in a campaign to defend persecuted writers. Her poems also inspired a musical composition by award-winning composer Lasse Thoresen, performed at an international music festival in Oslo earlier this year. [BWNS1198]
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• Istijlál 3 Mas̲h̲íyyat 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 7 Muḥarram A.H. 1439
• Thursday 28 September A.D. 2017
• Yom Chamishi 8 Tishri A.M. 5778 |
The Universal House of Justice announced that a section of the Bahai.org website, created in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and Persian, had been activated. This portal will be used to share news of the commemmoration of the Twin Holy Days throughout the world.
Included on that portal was the Message from the Universal House of Justice date October 2017 regarding the celebration of the Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh. |
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• Asmá' / Mas̲h̲íyyat 174 B.E.
• Dhū al-Ḥijjah A.H. 1438 / Muḥarram
A.H. 1439
• September A.D. 2017
• Elul A.M. 5777 / Tishri A.M. 5778 |
Arrests of Bahá'ís in Yemen has drawn 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 is the principal human rights body at the UN and is composed of 47 members who are elected by the General Assembly based on equitable geographic distribution.
At the time of the resolution there were seven Bahá'ís in prison in Yemen, most of whom are held in undisclosed locations and one of which has been detained for nearly four years due to repeatedly postponed court-hearings. Arrest warrants had been issued for over a dozen others, while a number of families had been forced to leave their homes. Developments in Yemen indicated that the authorities' prosecution of individuals had broadened in scope to be against the Bahá'í community in general and that efforts were being made to turn public opinion against all of the Bahá'ís under the premise that they are secretly plotting to stir unrest in Yemen.
The resolution establishes a Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts tasked with monitoring and reporting on the situation on human rights in Yemen. It is also mandated to carry out a comprehensive examination of all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights in the country. [BIC News 3 October 2017, UN Human Rights Council - 36th Session, Agenda Item 10] |
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• 'Idál 4 `Ilm 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Arba'ā' 27 Muḥarram A.H. 1439
• Wednesday 18 October A.D. 2017
• Yom Reviʻi 28 Tishri A.M. 5778 |
The release of the film "Light to the World". The 51 minute film tells the story of Baha'u'llah's remarkable life and the impact of His teachings on communities around the world. [BWNS1208] |
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• 'Idál 4 / Jamál 8 `Ilm 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Arba'ā' 27 Muḥarram /
Yawm al-Aḥad 1 Ṣafar A.H. 1439
• Wednesday 18 / Sunday 22 October
A.D. 2017
• Yom Reviʻi 28 Tishri / Yom Rishon 2
Cheshvan A.M. 5778 |
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 Bahá'ís 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 S̲h̲íráz, Marvdasht, Gorgan, and Gonbad. [BWNS1215] |
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• Istiqlál 6 / Jamál 8 `Ilm 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 29 Muḥarram /
Yawm al-Aḥad 1 Ṣafar A.H. 1439
• Friday 20 / Sunday 22 October A.D. 2017
• Yom Shishi 30 Tishri / Yom Rishon 2
Cheshvan A.M. 5778 |
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]
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• Jamál 8 `Ilm 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 1 Ṣafar A.H. 1439
• Sunday 22 October A.D. 2017
• Yom Rishon 2 Cheshvan A.M. 5778 |
The bicentenary of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh is commemorated around the world. A multi-lingual web page is implemented to track the celebrations. [BWNS1212] |
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• Jamál 8 `Ilm 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 1 Ṣafar A.H. 1439
• Sunday 22 October A.D. 2017
• Yom Rishon 2 Cheshvan A.M. 5778 |
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 Baha'u'llah. 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.
This event proved unequivocally the extent of Iran's role in the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Yemen, especially in Sana'a, which is under the control of Iranian-backed militias. Similar attacks occurred in Iran during the period of celebration of the bicentennial of the birth of Bahá'úlláh. [BWNS1215] |
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• mid `Ilm 174 B.E.
• early Ṣafar A.H. 1439
• near the end of October
A.D. 2017
• early Cheshvan A.M. 5778 |
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. Mrs. Kamalabadi had graduated from high school with honours but was barred from attending university because of her Faith. In her mid-30s, she embarked on an eight-year period of informal study and ultimately received an advanced degree in developmental psychology from the Bahá'í Institute of Higher Education (BIHE), an alternative institution established by the Bahá'í community of Iran to provide higher education for its young people. She worked as a developmental psychologist before her arrest and imprisonment. She is also married with three children. Along with the deprivations of imprisonment itself (she had spent 2 1/2 years of the 10-year sentence in solitary confinement), Mrs. Kamalabadi was also deprived of irreplaceable family moments, including the birth of her first grandchild and the weddings of her daughters. She was 55 years old upon her release. [BWNS1217]
- See Huffington Post for an article entitled "Iran's Bahá'í Problem" by Payam Akhavan about the visit of Ms. Faezeh Hashemi, the well-known daughter of former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who made a visit to her home while she was on leave from prison.
- Ms Hashemi, herself a former MP, was heavily criticized after she met with Ms Kamalabadi. See the article in The Guardian for details.
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• Jalál 2 Qudrat 174 B.E.
• Yawm as-Sabt 14 Muḥarram A.H. 1439
• Saturday 4 November A.D. 2017
• Yom Shabbat 15 Cheshvan A.M. 5778 |
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] |
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• Kamál 4 Qudrat / Kamál 5 Sulṭán
174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Ithnayn 16 Ṣafar /
Yawm al-Ithnayn 5 Ṣafar A.H. 1439
• Monday 6 November A.D. 2017 /
Monday 22 January A.D. 2018
• Yom Sheni 17 Cheshvan /
Yom Sheni 6 Shevat A.M. 5778 |
An exhibition of Baha'u'llah's writings opened at the John Addis Gallery in the British Museum. One of the central themes was the power of the Word, which refers to divine revelation, a concept fundamental to the origins of all the world's great faiths. The exhibition showed original handwriting of Baha'u'llah, as well as other archival items associated with His life such as His reed pens and examples of "revelation writing" by His scribe as he tried keep up with Bahá'u'lláh's dictation. The exhibition, timed to commemorate the period of celebration of the 200th anniversary of His birth, was open to the public until the 22nd of January. [BWNS1220]
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• Istijlál 14 Qudrat 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 26 Ṣafar A.H. 1439
• Thursday 16 November A.D. 2017
• Yom Chamishi 27 Cheshvan A.M. 5778 |
Progress report on the construction of the local Bahá'í House of Worship in Norte del Cauca. [BWNS1222]
- See BWNS1047 for information on the reforestation project in the vicinity of the Temple.
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• Istiqlál 15 Qudrat 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 27 Ṣafar A.H. 1439
• Friday 17 November A.D. 2017
• Yom Shishi 28 Cheshvan A.M. 5778 |
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. The Third Committee of the General Assembly approved a five-page resolution expressing concern over illegal practices ranging from torture, poor prison conditions, arbitrary detention, and curbs on freedom of religion or belief to state-endorsed discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities as well as women. The resolution expressed specific concern over Iran's treatment of members of the Bahá'í Faith and highlighted the economic and educational discrimination against them and called on Iran to release the more than 90 Bahá'ís who were unjustly held in Iranian prisons. The resolution follows a strongly worded document from the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Asma Jahangir. Her 23-page report, released earlier this session, catalogued a broad range of rights violations by Iran. [BWNS1221] |
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• Istijlál 9 Qawl 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 11 Rabī' al-awwal
A.H. 1439
• Thursday 30 November A.D. 2017
• Yom Chamishi 12 Kislev A.M. 5778 |
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. This is considered the most prominent ceremony where Bahá'ís officially announced themselves for the first time in 47 years, as the Baathist Revolutionary Command Council issued Decree No. 105 in 1970 to ban Bahá'í activities. As a consequence, Bahá'í administrative institutions in Iraq were dissolved and any activity where Bahá'ís declared their religious identity was punishable by imprisonment. During the proceedings they asked for support to rescind the law on prohibiting Bahá'í activity, which is still in effect despite the fact that the law contradicts the 2005 constitution, which guarantees freedom of belief to all citizens. Millions of Bahá'ís around the world celebrated the honorary bicentennial of the birth of Baha'u'llah on Oct. 21-22. Bahá'ís in Baghdad celebrated after one month of postponements given the security difficulties and challenges surrounding the ceremony. [Al-Monitor.com] |
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• Istiqlál 10 Qawl 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 12 Rabī' al-awwal
A.H. 1439
• Friday 1 December A.D. 2017
• Yom Shishi 13 Kislev A.M. 5778 |
The International Board of Trustees of Huqúqu'lláh announced the appointment of the new Board of Trustees of Huqúqu'lláh to serve in Canada, Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Those appointed to the three-year term were: Mr. Bahram Gustaspi, Mr. John MacLeod, Mr. Bruce Moore, Mrs. Donna Seyed Mahmoud and Dr. Faran Vafaie. The primary function of a Board of Trustees is to educate the friends on the spiritual significance of the mighty law of Ḥuqúqu'lláh, enabling them to better appreciate that obedience to this law is "bound to attract divine confirmations, heavenly blessings and incalculable favours, and to promote the manifold interests of the International Bahá'í Community". [Letter from the NSA to the Bahá'ís of Canada 7 December 2017] |
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• Jamál 12 Qawl 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 14 Rabī' al-awwal
A.H. 1439
• Sunday 3 December A.D. 2017
• Yom Rishon 15 Kislev A.M. 5778 |
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 appears that he had switched sides to join the Saudi-led coalition. [New York Times headline Monday, December 4, 2017 10:10 AM EST] |
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• Fidál 14 Qawl 174 B.E.
• Yawm ath-Thulāthā' 16 Rabī' al-awwal
A.H. 1439
• Tuesday 5 December A.D. 2017
• Yom Shlishi 17 Kislev A.M. 5778 |
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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• Jamál 7 Masá'il 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 28 Rabī' al-awwal
A.H. 1439
• Sunday 17 December A.D. 2017
• Yom Rishon 29 Kislev A.M. 5778 |
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]
He was the son of Hand of the Cause of God Hermann Grossmann (1899-1968). He was predeceased by his wife Ursula. [BWNS622; Bahá'í Chronicles] |
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• Fidál 4 S̲h̲araf 174 B.E.
• Yawm ath-Thulāthā' 14 Rabī' ath-thānī
A.H. 1439
• Tuesday 2 January A.D. 2018
• Yom Shlishi 15 Tevet A.M. 5778 |
The Specialized Criminal Court of the Houthi militia in Yemen have sentenced detainee Hammed bin Haidara to death on the backdrop of his Bahá'í beliefs. 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.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) estimated that the number of Bahá'ís in Yemen was about 2,000 people in several Yemeni provinces. [Al Arabiya English 3 January, 2018, BIC 5 January, 2018, Amnesty International 28 April, 2017, Defending Bahá'í Rights facebook page]
- "The Yemini Initiative for Defending Bahá'í Rights", a activist group launched in April of 2017, has gained tens of thousands of followers. Prominent media groups in the Arab world have publicized the case. In addition to Mr bin Haidara there were six other Bahá'ís in prison in Sana'a. [BWNS1232]
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• Istijlál 1 Sulṭán 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 1 Jumādá al-ūlá
A.H. 1439
• Thursday 18 January A.D. 2018
• Yom Chamishi 2 Shevat A.M. 5778 |
In response to growing interest in the persecution of the Bahá'ís of Iran, a website was launched by the Bahá'í International Community providing a glimpse into several decades of discriminatory treatment against the Bahá'ís in that country. The website, named Archives of Bahá'í Persecution in Iran, made available, for the first time, thousands of official documents, reports, testimonials, and audio-visual material, revealing documentary evidence of years of relentless oppression. |
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• Sulṭán / Ayyám-i-Há 174 B.E.
• Jumādá al-ūlá / Jumādá al-ākhirah
A.H. 1439
• February A.D. 2018
• Shevat / Adar A.M. 5778 |
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 focuses on the situation of religious minority children in educational settings in Burma, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan. The report scrutinizes three common acts of persecution in the educational setting specifically bias, discrimination and abuse. In Iran, bias can be seen across various educational materials in the country. School textbooks are focused on the Shi'a Muslim perspective and are silent on any other religions. This has an adverse effect on religious minorities. Children belonging to the Bahá'í religion are denied access to schools and often access to higher education. Bahá'í children that are lucky to be enrolled in schools are not free to learn or partake in their religious belief. According to the CSW report, a memorandum from the Iran government stated that Bahá'í children 'should be enrolled in schools which have a strong and imposing religious [Shi'a] ideology.' The situation for children partaking in higher education is no better. According to Article 3 of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council's student qualification regulations (1991), students are to be expelled if they are found to be Bahá'í. Only Muslim or students belonging to recognized religions are allowed to take the national enrolment exam. The report further alleges that some Bahá'í children have been subjected to physical abuse at schools. [Iran Press Watch 18838] |
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• Istiqlál 16 Sulṭán 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 16 Jumādá al-ūlá
A.H. 1439
• Friday 2 February A.D. 2018
• Yom Shishi 17 Shevat A.M. 5778 |
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 suffers from old age and multiple ailments. He has been in prison since May 18, 2008. Throughout his 10-year term he has 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 will be completed on March 22 of this year. [Iran Press Watch 18815] |
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• Istiqlál 11 Mulk 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 30 Jumādá al-ūlá
A.H. 1439
• Friday 16 February A.D. 2018
• Yom Shishi 1 Adar A.M. 5778 |
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] |
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• Jamál 13 Mulk 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 2 Jumādá al-ākhirah
A.H. 1439
• Sunday 18 February A.D. 2018
• Yom Rishon 3 Adar A.M. 5778 |
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 make 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] |
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• Istijlál 17 Mulk 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 6 Jumādá al-ākhirah
A.H. 1439
• Thursday 22 February A.D. 2018
• Yom Chamishi 7 Adar A.M. 5778 |
A progress report on the construction of the Mashriqul-Adhkar in Norte del Cauca was made. The main structural components of the central building have been completed and work has begun on the finishing of the floor and the walls as well as the placement of the roof tiles. Construction has begun in a number of auxiliary buildings. [BWNS1240] |
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• Kamál 11 `Alá' 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Ithnayn 24 Jumādá al-ākhirah
A.H. 1439
• Monday 12 March A.D. 2018
• Yom Sheni 25 Adar A.M. 5778 |
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] |
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• Istiqlál 15 `Alá' 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 28 Jumādá al-ākhirah
A.H. 1439
• Friday 16 March A.D. 2018
• Yom Shishi 29 Adar A.M. 5778 |
Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, at 85 the oldest member of the Yaran to be imprisoned, was released after serving his 10-year sentence. [BWNS1244] |
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• Kamál 18 `Alá' 174 B.E.
• Yawm al-Ithnayn 2 Rajab A.H. 1439
• Monday 19 March A.D. 2018
• Yom Sheni 3 Nissan A.M. 5778 |
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.
At this time the 10 year term of the remaining prisoner, Mr Afif Naeimi, had two months yet to serve. Due to a serious illness he was released to the custody of his family while receiving medical treatment under the proviso that he would return to prison when deemed medically fit. [BWNS1245, Iran Press Watch, 29 March, 2018, Iran Press Watch 30 March, 2018]
- According to BIC, there were 97 Bahá'ís in prison as of 1 March. [Middle East Eye Tuesday 20 March 2018 12:39 UTC]
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