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[ 31 Articles ] |
• 'Idál 1 Bahá 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Arba'ā' 4 Rajab A.H. 1439
• Wednesday 21 March A.D. 2018
• Yom Reviʻi 5 Nissan A.M. 5778 |
The design for the national Bahá'í House of Worship of Papua New Guinea (PNG) was unveiled. Originally from New Zealand, Rodney Hancock—one of two individuals who brought the Bahá'í Faith to PNG in the 1950s—was asked to unveil the temple design before the audience of over 300 visitors. The architectural team—composed of indigenous architect from PNG Henry Lape and Saeed Granfar—also addressed the audience. They explained that the "search for a universal theme" for the temple was "a profound challenge in a country with more than 700 distinct cultural groups. The central edifice of the House of Worship will have a seating capacity of 350. [BWNS1246, EMTV.com 3 April, 2018] |
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• Istijlál 2 Bahá 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 5 Rajab A.H. 1439
• Thursday 22 March A.D. 2018
• Yom Chamishi 6 Nissan A.M. 5778 |
Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badreddin Al-Houthi, the Secretary-General of Yemen's Shia political party Anṣár Allah, accused Bahá'ís of seeking to create disunity among Muslims. It was reported that the Houthis have 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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• Jamál 12 Bahá 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 15 Rajab A.H. 1439
• Sunday 1 April A.D. 2018
• Yom Rishon 16 Nissan A.M. 5778 |
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 Anṣáruallah, 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 marks a clear call for a sectarian war against minorities and specifically the Bahá'í's and parallels the already ongoing systematic attack against Bahá'ís including arbitrary arrests, persecution, and torture. This marks a new stage in Houthi persecution, until now they had exercised a degree of "political dissimulation" to conceal their direct involvement, however, since al-Houthi's public speech, Houthis are now openly spearheading as well as escalating the systematic persecution of Bahá'ís. [Iran Press Watch 1 April, 2018] |
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• 'Idál 15 Bahá 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Arba'ā' 18 Rajab A.H. 1439
• Wednesday 4 April A.D. 2018
• Yom Reviʻi 19 Nissan A.M. 5778 |
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, BWNS1248, BWNS1249] |
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• Istijlál 4 Jalál 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 26 Rajab A.H. 1439
• Thursday 12 April A.D. 2018
• Yom Chamishi 27 Nissan A.M. 5778 |
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]
- From the film website...."The primary purpose of the documentary project, An American Story: Race Amity and The Other Tradition, is to impact the public discourse on race. To move the discourse from the "blame/grievance/rejection" cycle to a view from a different lens, the lens of "amity/collaboration/access and equity."
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• Jamál 7 Jalál 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 29 Rajab A.H. 1439
• Sunday 15 April A.D. 2018
• Yom Rishon 30 Nissan A.M. 5778 |
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 incorporates 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 woman to design a Bahá'í House of Worship. [BWNS1252] |
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• Jamál 14 Jalál 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 6 Sha'bān A.H. 1439
• Sunday 22 April A.D. 2018
• Yom Rishon 7 Iyar A.M. 5778 |
The announcement of the retirement of Universal House of Justice members Mr. Gustavo Correa, 70, and Dr. Firaydoun Javaheri, 72. Mr. Correa is 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] |
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• Istiqlál 19 Jalál 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 11 Sha'bān A.H. 1439
• Friday 27 April A.D. 2018
• Yom Shishi 12 Iyar A.M. 5778 |
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 provides an illustration of the Bahá'í community's ongoing process of learning and action in the field of social and economic development. [BWNS1255] |
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• Kamál 3 Jamál 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Ithnayn 14 Sha'bān A.H. 1439
• Monday 30 April A.D. 2018
• Yom Sheni 15 Iyar A.M. 5778 |
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]
The Twelfth International Bahá'í Convention was held from the 29th of April until the 2nd of May. In the election of the Universal House of Justice over 1,300 ballots were cast by representatives of 160 national communities. [BWNS1256, BWNS1257, BWNS1259, BWNS1261]
The film A Widening Embrace was screened at the Convention, enriching the consultations of the delegates. Many of the themes discussed over the days of the Convention were highlighted in the practical examples presented in the documentary. The 77-minute film, which was commissioned by the Universal House of Justice, was made available in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, and Persian. [BWNS1260] |
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• 175 B.E. (post International Bahá'í
Convention)
• A.H. 1439
• A.D. 2018
• A.M. 5778 |
Some 80 members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors met for a conference at the Baha'i World Centre following the 12th International Bahá'í Convention. On that occasion, the Counsellors were able to reflect on major developments in Baha'i communities around the world. In order to share their experiences some of their stories were recorded and made available via podcasts. The Counsellors discuss 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]
Counsellors in Africa , Alain Pierre Djoulde, Clément Thyrrell Feizouré, Maina Mkandawire, and Judicaël Mokolédiscuss discussed endeavours in the field of education in that continent. [BWNS1269]
The podcasts can be found here or on SoundCloud. |
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• Istiqlál 18 Núr 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 8 Shawwāl A.H. 1439
• Friday 22 June A.D. 2018
• Yom Shishi 9 Tammuz A.M. 5778 |
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 Baha'i House of Worship in Agua Azul, Colombia. This marks the near-completion of the world's second local House of Worship. [BWNS1268] |
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• Istiqlál 18 Núr 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 8 Shawwāl A.H. 1439
• Friday 22 June A.D. 2018
• Yom Shishi 9 Tammuz A.M. 5778 |
The dedication of the second local Baha'i House of Worship in the world in Norte del Cauca, Colombia. (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."
- In the Ridván Message of 2012 the Universal House of Justice announced that national Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs would to be raised up in two countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Papua New Guinea and that the first local Houses of Worship were to be built in Battambang, Cambodia; Bihar Sharif, India; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Norte del Cauca, Colombia; and Tanna, Vanuatu. This is the second of those local Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs to have been completed. [Ridván 2012 Message]
- See the message from the Universal House of Justice dated 1 August, 2014 where they point out the "the dynamic interaction between worship and endeavours to uplift the spiritual, social, and material conditions of society" and recall the contruction of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs in Turkistan and in America.
- The local Baha'i House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia, includes a budding native forest, called the Bosque Nativo, that aims to restore the region's indigenous plants. This video in Spanish describes the Bosque Nativo's features.
- The Universal House of Justice was represented by Mrs. Carmen Elisa de Sadeghian who read a letter addressed to the attendees. "This House of Worship stands now as a symbol of the beauty inherent in the noble people of this region and its design evokes the generosity of their land," states the letter, dated 22 July 2018. Also in attendance were Mr. Gustavo Correa and Dr. Farzam Arbab, two former members of the Universal House of Justice, as well as the mayors of four neighbouring towns. [BWNS1275]
- A musical group sang and dancers performed a piece titled "The Soul of Norte del Cauca," about the arrival of the Bahá'í Faith to the region and how Bahá'u'lláh's teachings are given expression in the hopes and aspirations of the people. The group also performed a song called "La Cumbia del Jardinero" which is available on SoundCloud.
Quick Facts
Location: Aqua Azul, Notre del Cauca, Columbia
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.
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• Jamál 2 `Izzat 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 28 Dhū al-Ḥijjah
A.H. 1439
• Sunday 9 September A.D. 2018
• Yom Rishon 29 Elul A.M. 5778 |
Ētahi Karakia Baha'i (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 comes amid broader efforts to revive the Maori language. Dr. Roa, who has been at the forefront of these efforts, says that Maori speakers are a declining share of New Zealand's population. Maori people make up only 15 percent of the population, and only a fifth of them can have a conversation in Maori, he notes.
Providing access to prayers in Maori was a key motivation for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of New Zealand when it undertook the process in 2004. A small team of Bahá'ís worked with Dr. Roa, who has translated other spiritual texts into the Maori language, including the Bible and the Quran. The 14-year translation project began first with The Hidden Words, Bahá'u'lláh's preeminent ethical work, and then Baha'u'llah and the New Era, an introduction to the Faith.
Bahá'í writings have been translated into some 800 languages to date. [BWNS1287; Raglan23 18SEP2018] |
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• Jalál 8 `Izzat 175 B.E.
• Yawm as-Sabt 4 Muḥarram A.H. 1440
• Saturday 15 September A.D. 2018
• Yom Shabbat 6 Tishri A.M. 5779 |
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi authorities held a court hearing that targeted some 20 Baha'is, most in absentia, with a string of baseless charges which include espionage and apostasy. The charges were primarily made against individuals who held administrative roles in the Baha'i community but extend to other Yemeni Baha'is including a teenage girl. In a subsequent hearing on September 29, the judge 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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• Istiqlál 14 `Izzat 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 10 Muḥarram A.H. 1440
• Friday 21 September A.D. 2018
• Yom Rishon 12 Tishri A.M. 5779 |
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:
Nurturing younger generations
Exploring the empowerment of junior youth
Communities learning to advance together |
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• Jalál 3 Mas̲h̲íyyat 175 B.E.
• Yawm as-Sabt 18 Muḥarram A.H. 1440
• Saturday 29 September A.D. 2018
• Yom Shabbat 20 Tishri A.M. 5779 |
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 Baha'is 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 Baha'i community. The judge also ordered that all of the properties belonging to the Baha'is indicted be frozen until the court verdict is 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.
The actions undertaken by the Houthis were condemned in two recent United Nations resolutions, one of which called for the immediate release of all Baha'is detained in Yemen due to their religious beliefs and to cease any harassment they are subjected to. [Iran Press Watch 4 October, 2018] |
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• Mas̲h̲íyyat / `Ilm 175 B.E.
• Muḥarram / Ṣafar A.H. 1440
• October A.D. 2018
• Tishri / Cheshvan A.M. 5779 |
The publication of Man of the Trees: Richard St. Barbe Baker, the First Global Conservationist. by Paul Hanley. [BWNS1292]
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• Mas̲h̲íyyat / `Ilm 175 B.E.
• Muḥarram / Ṣafar A.H. 1440
• October A.D. 2018
• Tishri / Cheshvan A.M. 5779 |
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.
Among the languages into which the Kitab-i-Aqdas has been translated, in addition to English, are Albanian, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Marathi, Norwegian, Oriya, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. [BWNS1294; BWNS646] |
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• 'Idál 9 `Ilm 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Arba'ā' 13 Ṣafar A.H. 1440
• Wednesday 24 October A.D. 2018
• Yom Reviʻi 15 Cheshvan A.M. 5779 |
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 Baha'is 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]
Subsequently, a group of progressive Muslims strongly condemned the "desecration and excavation of the grave of a Baha'i compatriot." In their statement the "systematic and deeply rooted denial of Bahá'í citizens' rights" was denounced, and the violation of their citizenship rights was called a "hateful" act, "born of ignorant prejudice." The signatories of the statement called for an open investigation and prosecution of perpetrators and facilitators. The message can be seen at Iran Press Watch19731. |
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• 'Idál 4 Qudrat 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Arba'ā' 27 Ṣafar A.H. 1440
• Wednesday 7 November A.D. 2018
• Yom Reviʻi 29 Cheshvan A.M. 5779 |
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:
- Bani Dugal: "The Equality of Women and Men: Divine Imperative for an Age of Transition."
- Hugh Locke: "Half the Sky, Half the Land: The Role of Women Farmers in Transforming Agriculture,"
- Payam Akhavan: "Equality and Justice, Global Perspectives" and "Countering War, Hate, and Violence Assembly."
- Emily Wright: "Making Interreligious Chaplaincy Education Meaningfully Inclusive" and "A New Cup of Grace—A Ukulele Opera
- Hooshmand Badee: "Interfaith Peacemaking Perspectives from Across the World."
- Nader Saiedi: Presenting the new documentary film The Gate: Dawn of the Bahá'í Faith.
- Paul Hanley: "Man of the Trees: Richard St. Barbe Baker, the First Global Environmentalist."
- JoAnn Borovicka: "Amazing Faiths! An Interactive Workshop on Interfaith Dialogue."
- Robert Atkinson: "New Thoughts in Interfaith Spirituality."
- Robert Stockman: "The Characteristics of Bahá'í Interfaith Dialogue." Candace Hill: "From S̲h̲íráz to Chicago: Bahá'í Women of the East and the West"
- Edward Price: "The Divine Curriculum: Understanding the Báb, Divine Educator for the Modern Era."
- Sovaida Maani Ewing: "Achieving World Peace: Bahá'í and Catholic Teachings."
- Jean Muza: "Bahá'í Civic Engagement: How to Maneuver in America's Divisive Political Landscape."
- Robert Atkinson: "The Golden Rule as the Basis for a Global Justice System: An Interfaith Perspective with a Call to Action."
- Edward Price: "The Divine Curriculum Concept as a Framework for Interfaith Inclusion and Love." [CBN-Preparation; CBN-Inclusion; CBN-Films]
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• Istiqlál 6 Qudrat 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 29 Ṣafar A.H. 1440
• Friday 9 November A.D. 2018
• Yom Shishi 1 Kislev A.M. 5779 |
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.
- In addition a new fund, the Bahá'í Development Fund, was inaugurated which will be supported by the Universal House of Justice, individuals and institutions. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 9 November, 2018]
- Three days later the Universal House of Justice announced the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors for the Baha'i International Development Organization for the five-year term beginning 26 November 2018: Elisa Caney, Maame Brodwemaba Nketsiah, Lori McLaughlin Noguchi, Sina Rahmanian, and George Soraya.
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• Istijlál 12 Qudrat 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 6 Rabī' al-awwal
A.H. 1440
• Thursday 15 November A.D. 2018
• Yom Chamishi 7 Kislev A.M. 5779 |
The passing of Shapoor Monadjem, (b. 3 October, 1933, S̲h̲íráz, 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) and a Deputy Trustee of Ḥuqúqu'lláh. [BWNS1296; Bahaikipedia] |
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• Kamál 16 / Istijlál 19 Qudrat 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Ithnayn 10 / Yawm al-Khamīs 13
Rabī' al-awwal A.H. 1440
• Monday 19 / Thursday 22 November
A.D. 2018
• Yom Sheni 11 / Yom Chamishi 14 Kislev
A.M. 5779 |
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] |
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• Qawl / S̲h̲araf 175 B.E.
• Rabī' al-awwal / Rabī' ath-thānī A.H. 1440
• December A.D. 2018
• Kislev / Tevet A.M. 5779 |
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 is no religion above Islam since the Iraqi Constitution set the tenets of Islam as a source of law. He said that as Iraqi society is Muslim, it is not possible to ignore the tenets of Islam in legislation.
Zuhairi's statement angered representatives of civil society and the delegations of organizations that presented parallel reports to the government's report in which they outlined the Iraqi government's and the Kurdistan Regional Government's violations of the rights of minorities. His statements raised concerns for the Bahá'ís and indicated that the Iraqi government cannot solve the conflict between respecting human rights called for in its constitution and the Islamic principles that are a key source of legislation. [Al-Monitor 11 December, 2018] |
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• Istijlál 9 Masá'il 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 11 Rabī' ath-thānī
A.H. 1440
• 20 December A.D. 2018
• Yom Chamishi 12 Tevet A.M. 5779 |
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. [BWNS] |
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• Fidál 9 Sharaf 175 B.E.
• Yawm ath-Thulāthā' 1 Jumādá al-ūlá
A.H. 1440
• Tuesday 8 January A.D. 2019
• Yom Shlishi 2 Shevat A.M. 5779 |
Imprisoned Hamed bin Haydara, 55, who had been sentenced to death, appeared in court in Sanaa for an unexpected hearing. Mr Haydara had been in Houthi detention in central Sanaa since December 2013. UN human rights representatives have called for the rebels to overturn his death sentence.
In addition to Mr Haydara, five other Baha'is were held by the rebels in Sanaa, two of whom had been hidden since last April, They were Waleed Ayyash, 51, and Wael Al Al Ariki, 41, a human-rights activist, Sheikh Akram Ayyas, 37, had been in Houthi detention since October 2017, Badea Senai, 66, who was an urban planning adviser for the government, had been in prison since May 2017 and Qwan Mohammad Qadri, 45, who was arrested by the Houthis in August 2016. He is of Iranian descent and was an employee of the British Council in Yemen.
Under a prisoner exchange deal agreed at UN-led peace talks in Sweden in December, the government has repeatedly requested the release of all Bahá'í detainees held by the Houthi rebels. Each side submitted 8,000 names of Yemeni people they believe to be detained, dead or missing for the other side to locate and release as a confidence-building measure but the Iran-backed rebels have not responded to the government's request on the Bahá'í detainees. [The National 13JAN2019] |
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• Istiqlál 19 Sharaf 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 11 Jumādá al-ūlá
A.H. 1440
• Friday 18 January A.D. 2019
• Yom Shishi 12 Shevat A.M. 5779 |
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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• Jalál 15 Sulṭán 175 B.E.
• Yawm as-Sabt 26 Jumādá al-ūlá
A.H. 1440
• Saturday 2 February A.D. 2019
• Yom Shabbat 27 Shevat A.M. 5779 |
Hamed Bin Hayadara, who was facing a death sentence, appeared in a Sana'a court where he was facing charges of "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] |
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• Fidál 18 Sulṭán 175 B.E.
• Yawm ath-Thulāthā' 29 Jumādá al-ūlá
A.H. 1440
• Tuesday 5 February A.D. 2019
• Yom Shlishi 30 Shevat A.M. 5779 |
The announcement of the publication of The Call of the Divine Beloved by the . The book contains revised translations of The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys as well as five newly published selections from Baha'u'llah'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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• Istijlál 1 Mulk 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 1 Jumādá al-ākhirah
A.H. 1440
• Thursday 7 February A.D. 2019
• Yom Chamishi 2 Adar Beit A.M. 5779 |
An estimated 5,760 members of the Baha'i Faith have 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] |
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• Istijlál 3 Ayyám-i-Há 175 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 22 Jumādá al-ākhirah
A.H. 1440
• Thursday 28 February A.D. 2019
• Yom Chamishi 23 Adar Beit A.M. 5779 |
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 on the Bahá'í Reference Library with a plan to produce printed editions. |
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