Baha’i shrines chosen as World Heritage sites

David — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:11:35 -0600

The Shrine of Baha’u’llah near Acre, north of Haifa – the holiest spot on earth for members of the Baha’i Faith – also is part of the World Heritage designation.

Bahá'í World News:

QUEBEC CITY — A United Nations committee meeting here has determined that two Bahá’í shrines in Israel possess “outstanding universal value” and should be considered as part of the cultural heritage of humanity.

The decision today by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee means that the two most sacred sites for Bahá'ís – the resting places of the founders of their religion – join a list of internationally recognized sites like the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, and Stonehenge.

Baha’is commemorate martyrdom of the Bab

David — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:14:47 -0600

The Shrine of the Bab illuminated at night

Bahá'í World News:

HAIFA, Israel — This week Baha’is mark the 158th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Bab, one of the two central figures in the founding of their religion.

On 9 July 1850, at noon, the Bab was put to death by firing squad in the public square of Tabriz, Iran.

Six years earlier, He had declared that He was a messenger of God whose mission was to prepare the way for the imminent arrival of the Promised One of all religions who would come to establish a new age of peace and prosperity in the world. In 1863, Baha’u’llah announced publicly that He was that Promised One.

Maxwell school closes on a high note

David — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:53:03 -0600

Front of Maxwell campus.

Canadian Bahá'í News:

Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, 5 July 2008 (CBNS) — Maxwell International School’s emphasis on holistic education and the transformative power of the arts have been a presence in Cowichan Valley for 20 years. With the school’s closing at the end of June, many in the Valley expressed praise for its long record of achievement and contribution to the area.

A local newspaper, the Cowichan Pictorial, wrote in a 29 June article, “Cowichan Valley as a whole, is really going to miss it.”

Schools reject enrollment papers of Baha'i children

David — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:53:32 -0600

Daily News Egypt:

CAIRO: Local schools are denying Bahais the right to enroll their children, five months after an Egyptian court recognized the right of members of the minority religion to leave the religious affiliation field on birth certificates and ID cards blank.

Nobel laureates call for release of Iranian Baha’i prisoners

David — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:02:20 -0600

Bahá'í World News:

NEW YORK — Six Nobel Peace Prize laureates have issued a statement calling on the Iranian government to free immediately seven prominent Iranian Baha’is imprisoned in Tehran.

The six Nobel winners, under the banner of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, called on the Iranian government to guarantee the safety of the Baha’is –- being held in Evin Prison with no formal charges and no access to lawyers -- and to grant them an unconditional release.

Resolution At US Congress Harshly Critical of Human Rights Situation in Egypt

David — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:01:33 -0600

Baha'i Faith in Egypt & Iran:

The US Congress will be voting soon on resolution H. Res. 1303 calling on the Egyptian Government to respect human rights and freedoms of religion and expression in Egypt.

The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Frank Wolf [R-VA] and cosponsored by several other congressmen, was submitted to the US House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs on June 24, 2008.

Ontario Legislature adds Baha’i text to set of new opening prayers

David — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:34:29 -0600

The Ontario Legislature building, where new prayers will now be said. [Photo by wyliepoon]

Canadian Bahá'í News:

Toronto, Ontario, 19 June 2008 (CBNS) — In a move towards greater religious inclusivity, Ontario legislators voted late last week to supplement the daily recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in the Ontario Legislature with prayers from several other major religious traditions, including a Baha’i prayer.

Seven jailed Iranian Baha’is make brief contact with families

David — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:31:13 -0600

Bahá'í World News:

NEW YORK — Seven prominent Baha’is imprisoned in Iran have each been allowed a brief phone call to their families, the Baha’i International Community has learned.

The calls were the first contact with the jailed Baha’is since six of them were arrested on 14 May in pre-dawn raids at their homes in Tehran. The seventh was arrested in March in the city of Mashhad.

U.S. Bahá’í UN representative receives Friendship Award

David — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:13:55 -0600

U.S. Bahá'í:

June 16, 2008 - 11:35am

U.S. Bahá’í UN representative Jeffery Huffines received a Friendship Award for his work “promoting cultural understanding throughout the world and at the UN Headquarters” and for serving as a “positive, guiding force” to all.

The award was given at the United Cultures Peace Festival & Concert on June 12 and presented by His Excellence Gabor Brodi, the Hungarian Ambassador to the UN. Mr. Huffines has served as the U.S. Bahá'í UN representative since 1996.

Egypt: More Court Delays...No IDs...No Birth Certificates Yet!

Bilo — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:04:18 -0600

Pre-2004 ID card with "other" on it

Baha'i Faith in Egypt & Iran:

Today, a Cairo court (Administrative Court, First Degree, District-7) heard a challenge to the court ruling of 29 January 2008 allowing the Baha'is of Egypt to obtain ID cards and birth certificate with dashes "--" or "other" entered for religious classification in these documents.

Recent posts

Baha’i shrines chosen as World Heritage sites

Baha’is commemorate martyrdom of the Bab

Maxwell school closes on a high note

Schools reject enrollment papers of Baha'i children

Nobel laureates call for release of Iranian Baha’i prisoners

Resolution At US Congress Harshly Critical of Human Rights Situation in Egypt

Ontario Legislature adds Baha’i text to set of new opening prayers

Seven jailed Iranian Baha’is make brief contact with families

U.S. Bahá’í UN representative receives Friendship Award

Egypt: More Court Delays...No IDs...No Birth Certificates Yet!