MANUKAU counsellor Aryana Khadem is helping organise a concert and information evening on Saturday to raise awareness of the victimisation of the Baha’is in Iran. Mrs Khadem, who works with migrant women, is herself an immigrant from Iran. She left her homeland more than 20 years ago, following the disappearance of her father and the execution of her mother for being members of the Baha’i Faith, Iran’s largest religious minority. Her father was never found. The concert MC is Chief Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan.

The choir sings outside of the Baha'i House of Worship

Close to 200 talented voices from throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Africa will sing works from Baha'i scriptures and those of other religions in the second annual Baha'i choral music concert at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at the Baha'i House of Worship for the North American Continent.

After the concert in the auditorium lasting approximately 45 minutes, the choir will assemble outside on the steps of the temple -- weather permitting -- to perform rousing gospel music, traditional songs and other multicultural music. The outdoor portion will last about 20 minutes. Both parts of the concert are sung a cappella, and are free and open to the public.

More than 200 people from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Africa will sing scriptural music in a festival May 15-18 at the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette.

The singers also will present a concert at 12:30 p.m. May 18 inside the 1,200-seat House of Worship, at Linden Avenue and Sheridan Road. The choir will then sing outside, weather permitting, on the House of Worship stairs at about 1:30 p.m. The concerts, performed without instrumental accompaniment, are free and open to the public.