Ten days after leaders of the Baha’i community in Iran were arrested because of their religious beliefs, Baha'i delegates from across Canada gathered in Toronto for the Canadian Baha'i Convention, May 23 to 25, and elected the governing council of their community, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada.

Those elected were Karen McKye, Judy Filson, Borna Noureddin, Fariborz Sahba, Mark Wedge, Gordon Naylor, Enayat Rawhani, Susie Tamas, and Todd Smith.

Members of the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly of the United States

In prayerful silence, 171 delegates at the 100th U.S. Bahá’í National Convention elected the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly, which, in lieu of clergy, governs the 160,000 members of the Faith in this country.

The election took place on May 24 at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Ill. Bahá’í delegates in virtually every country of the world gathered on or near that day to elect their own National Spiritual Assemblies.

The members of the Universal House of Justice are, from left to right, Farzam Arbab, Kiser Barnes, Peter Khan, Hooper Dunbar, Firaydoun Javaheri, Paul Lample, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, and Gustavo Correa.

HAIFA, Israel — The results of the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the governing body of the Baha’i Faith, have been announced.

Delegates to the Tenth International Baha’i Convention cast ballots yesterday for membership in the council that serves as the head of the religion.

Those elected are Farzam Arbab, Kiser Barnes, Peter Khan, Hooper Dunbar, Firaydoun Javaheri, Paul Lample, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, and Gustavo Correa.

Delegates representing the Baha'is of the world cast their ballots for the nine members of the Universal House of Justice.

HAIFA, Israel — In a ceremony that combined spiritual dignity with global diversity, a thousand Bahá’ís from 153 countries cast ballots today in an election to choose the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith.

For nearly three hours, delegates to the 10th International Bahá’í Convention filed decorously, one by one, onto a majestically adorned stage, each dropping a ballot into a simple wooden box.

The Seat of the Universal House of Justice on Mount Carmel in Haifa

The members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada, the community’s national governing body, travel today to the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel to participate in the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i world community.

Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo register on 26 April for the International Baha'i Convention in Haifa, Israel.

HAIFA, Israel — A thousand delegates from 153 countries have arrived – from the southern tip of Africa, to Siberia, to the Americas, to remote Pacific islands – to participate in the 10th International Bahá’í Convention.

On Tuesday, 29 April, they will gather to elect the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, a task that delegates view as both a sacred duty and a supreme privilege.

Delegates from the Cham minority communities prepare for balloting at the first Baha'i National Convention in Vietnam in 33 years.

The Baha'is of Vietnam have reached a historic milestone with the election - for the first time in many years - of a national Baha'i administrative body in that nation.

The Baha'i Faith is established in virtually every country of the world, and in most nations the Baha'is each year elect a National Spiritual Assembly of nine individuals to administer their affairs and guide the community.