From Bahá'í News UK and iranpresswatch.org respectively. Further news on the UK PM's statement is available here.
Bahar Tahzib, whose father was killed in Iran in the 1980s and whose uncle is currently imprisoned, speaks at the Ridvan reception.
Posted: 22 Apr 2009
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has described the prejudice and discrimination faced by Bahá'ís around the world as "tragic".
Mr Brown made his remarks in a special message sent to the UK Bahá'í community on the holiest day of the Bahá'í year. In a letter addressed to the annual reception hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Bahá'ís, Mr Brown expressed his "respect and admiration" for the British Bahá'í community which, he said, "makes a contribution to British life out of all proportion to its size."
"The principles of the Bahá'í Faith are rightly shared and appreciated by many in our different communities. It is therefore all the more tragic that Bahá'ís around the world face prejudice and discrimination," wrote Mr Brown.
"At the forefront of all of our minds this Ridvan is the fate of the seven Bahá'í leaders awaiting trial in Iran," the letter continued. "We have raised our concerns with the Iranian Government and I urge the authorities to ensure that these individuals receive a fair trial and ask them to put an end to discrimination against the wider Bahá'í community within Iran."
Mr Brown's message concluded, "I very much welcome your increased participation in public life and hope you will build on this in the future. I am sure this year's Festival of Ridván will give joy and inspiration to everyone attending and I would like to send my very best wishes to everyone in the British Bahá'í community for a happy Ridván."
Mr Brown's message was read by Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who joined some 80 other guests including leading figures from non-governmental organisations and the UK's religious communities. The uncertain situation faced by seven Bahá'í leaders who have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, without charges or access to legal counsel, since May last year was mentioned by all the speakers including Dr Kishan Manocha, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the UK, and Lembit Opik MP, Chair of the All-Party group. Mrs Bahar Tahzib, whose father was executed in Iran in the early 1980s for his Bahá'í beliefs and who is also a niece of one of those currently being held, addressed the gathering and spoke movingly about the strength her family members have demonstrated in the face of persecution.
The Prime Minister's sentiments were also echoed by the leaders of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, who also sent messages to the reception.
David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party wrote, "Ridván is an important time for reflection and celebration of the Bahá'í Faith. It is also a time to focus on the importance of community, including the wider Bahá'í community worldwide - some of whom may face persecution of their beliefs."
"The Bahá'í emphasis on equality, unity, social justice, and human rights does credit to your faith, and I would like to send my good wishes to you and your families at this time," said Mr Cameron.
"This festival is not only an opportunity to celebrate the Bahá'í religion and the principles of peace, social justice and equality which are at the heart of Bahá'í traditions," wrote Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrat party. "Ridván is also a time to acknowledge and reflect on the valuable social and cultural contribution made by the thousands of Baháis living in the UK."
"The Bahá'í community can be very proud of its active role in promoting religious tolerance, peace and unity across the world," said Mr Clegg.
In a message written on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, the leader of the Church of England expressed his solidarity with the Bahá'í leadership imprisoned in Iran. The message said that the Archbishop "has made clear to the Iranian authorities his profound disapproval of the way in which the leadership has been treated since their arrest and detention in harsh conditions and without charge last year. The charges now brought go against all the experience of Baha'is as peaceful people and loyal citizens of their countries."
The Archbishop assured those present at the parliamentary reception - "and especially those who have experienced persecution" - his warm greetings and his commitment to justice and to religious freedom for all.
The Ridván festival marks the first public announcement in 1863 by the Bahá'í Faith's Prophet-Founder Bahá'u'lláh of his mission.
Posted: 24 Apr 2009
Iran Press Watch has learned that an article was published earlier this week stating that the Spanish House of Representatives has asked the Spanish government to call for the release of the seven (7) Baha'i leaders [formerly known as the Yaran, or "Friends"] in Iran and to condemn the systematic persecution of the Baha'is. It also condemns the human rights violations committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
According to this report, this motion was introduced by a member of the conservative Popular Party, Juan Carlos Grau, within the Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee, and was unanimously approved by all parties represented in that Committee.
According to the article, Juan Carlos Grau stated that the 350,000 Baha'is living in Iran have been persecuted since the inception of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and that Asma Jahangir, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief since 2004 and a Pakistani Muslim woman, had already referred specifically in a press release dated 20 March, 2006, to this campaign of persecution confidentially ordered by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A similar motion was passed three years ago after the mass arrests in Shiraz, calling on the Spanish government to convey their concern to Iran over the recrudescence of the difficult situation of the Baha'is in the previous months. Grau said that their situation has worsened over the years, particularly with the arrest of the seven Baha'i leaders, who are being held with no regard for the minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners. He also mentioned the three charges against them, namely, espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic, and the fact that they have been denied access to legal counsel.
Iran Press Watch also wishes to note that this news was first published by an Arab-owned press agency, Emirates News Agency out of the UAE, even before the Spanish media! This demonstrates the tremendous repercussions of and interest in the trial of the Baha'i leaders in the Arab and Muslim world as well as across the globe. Iran Press Watch is pleased to point out that rather than editorialize with negative statements about the Baha'i Faith, as has often happened in other Arab press coverage of the Faith, the UAE article was factual reportage of the Spanish parliamentary action, which is a welcome approach.
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