Chronology: Date 2008

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

World Canada
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Date 2008, ascending — sort latest first

date	event	tags	firsts
2008 (In the year) 200-	The publication of The Pen of Glory, a compilation of some Writings of Bahá'u'lláh by the Bahá'i Publishing Trust in Wilmette. A new printing was released 1 May 2017. The Tablets included were: Gems of Divine Mysteries, Tablet to Manikchi Sahib, Tablet to Mirza Abd'l-Fadl in response to questions of Manikchi Sahib, Tablet of the Seven Questions (Lawh-i-Haft Pursish), as well as two other tablets, The Beginning of All Utterance is the Praise of God and The Begining of Every Account is the Name of God. [Bahá'í Bookstore] Pen of Glory in Word format.	* Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; - Pen of Glory (book); Javahirul-Asrar (Gems of Divine Mysteries); - Tabernacle of Unity (book)
2008 29 Jan 200-	In Egypt a victory for religious freedom, a lower administrative court ruled in favour of two lawsuits that sought to resolve the government's contradictory policy on religious affiliation and identification papers. The Court of Administrative Justice in Cairo upheld arguments made in two cases concerning Bahá'ís who had sought to restore their full citizenship rights by asking that they be allowed to leave the religious affiliation field blank on official documents. A lower court again ruled in their favour. Two Muslim lawyers filed an appeal. [BWNS600]	Persecution, Egypt; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Cairo, Egypt; Egypt
2008 14 Feb 200-	The publication of a new statement from the Bahá'í International Community entitled Eradicating Poverty: Moving Forward as One. The paper calls for a coherent, principle-based approach to the eradication of global poverty and was presented to the 46th Commission on Social Development. [One Country] In English. In Farsi Also presented to the Commission was the statement Full Employment and Decent Work.	Wealth and poverty; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; - Statements; * Publications; New York, USA; United States (USA)
2008 25 Feb - 7 Mar 200-	The 52nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. [UN Women] The Bahá'í International Community presented Mobilizing Institutional, Legal and Cultural Resources to Achieve Gender Equality. Baha'i International Community Representative, Ms. Bani Dugal was elected to serve as the President of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief in New York. During the 52nd Commission on Status of Women. [BIC History 2008]	United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; Women; Bani Dugal; Commission on the Status of Women (CSW); - BIC statements; New York City, NY
2008 5 Mar 200-	Mahvash Sabet – a schoolteacher and mother of two and a member of the national-level administrative group for Iran, the Yaran – was arrested after having been summoned to Mashhad to discuss some matters regarding a Bahá'í burial. She subsequently spent 175 days in solitary confinement. On the 26th of May she was moved to Evin prison in Tehran. [BWNS Special Report] This arrest marked a new wave of persecution of the Bahá'í Faith in Iran. See Iran Press Watch 10561 for the background story to her arrest.	Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Evin Prison; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Mahvash Sabet; Mashhad, Iran; Iran
2008 20 - 21 Mar 200-	The re-formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of Vietnam took place after a lapse of some 33 years. Joan Lincoln was the special emissary of the Universal House of Justice at their National Convention. A number of people attending the activities had joined the Bahá'í Faith in the 1950s and 1960s and had remained firm in the Faith despite the years of restrictions on certain activities. A major step towards official recognition of the Faith had been taken a year previously when authorities issued a certificate recognizing Bahá'í activities. The Bahá'í Faith had been established in Vietnam in 1954. In 1957 Bahá'ís they joined with a number of other countries in southeast Asia to form a Regional Spiritual Assembly, and in 1964 the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Vietnam had been formed. [BWNS617; BWNS647; One Country]	Persecution, Vietnam; - Persecution; - Persecution, Bans; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); National Spiritual Assembly, re-formation; Conventions, National; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Vietnam
2008 Apr 200-	The publication of Attaining the Dynamics of Growth: Glimpses from Five Continents by International Teaching Centre. The Universal House of Justice asked the International Teaching Centre to choose one example from each continent of an intensive programme of growth and prepare a document to demonstrate at once the diversity of conditions in which the believers everywhere were labouring and the coherent vision that united them as they advanced the process of entry by troops. The document consisted of five case studies and a closing analysis.	- Institute process; Growth; Attaining the Dynamics of Growth; Visuals; - Documentaries, BWC; - Documentaries; - International Teaching Centre, Publications; - Bahá'í World Centre; London, England; United Kingdom; North Caucasus; Colombia; Bihar Sharif, India; India; Kenya; Kiribati
2008 23 Apr 200-	The retirement of Universal House of Justice members Mr. Hartmut Grossmann and Mr. Glenford E. Mitchell. Mr. Grossmann had served from 2003 and Mr. Mitchell had first been elected in 1982. [BWNS622]	Hartmut Grossmann; Glenford Mitchell; Universal House of Justice, Members of; Retirements; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre
2008 Apr 200-	The publication of For the Betterment of the World: The Worldwide Bahá'í Community's Approach to Social and Economic Development by Office of Social and Economic Development. It contained essays, photographs, and overviews of local projects around the world illustrating how Bahá'í principles of social and economic development were being carried out in practice. See 2018-04-27 for an updated version.	- Institute process; Social and economic development; Social action; For the Betterment of the World (document); - Bahá'í World Centre
2008 30 Apr 200-	The election of the Universal House of Justice at the 10th International Bahá'í Convention. It was attended by more than 1,000 delegates from 153 countries. Those elected were Farzam Arbab, (an Iranian-born physicist who specialized in development in Colombia), Kiser Barnes, (an African-American law professor), Peter Khan, (an Australian-born electrical engineer of South Asian descent), Hooper Dunbar, (an accomplished painter and former Hollywood actor who spent many years in Nicaragua), Firaydoun Javaheri, (an agronomist who worked some 27 years in Africa), Paul Lample, (an American educator), Payman Mohajer, (a doctor of homoeopathic medicine and a psychologist), and Gustavo Correa, (a former mathematics professor). [BWNS629, BWNS631, BWNS627, BWNS628, BWNS626, BWNS624]	Conventions, International; Universal House of Justice, Election of; Universal House of Justice, Members of; Farzam Arbab; Kiser Barnes; Peter Khan; Hooper Dunbar; Firaydoun Javaheri; Paul Lample; Payman Mohajer; Shahriar Razavi; Gustavo Correa; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
2008 1 May 200-	The publication of Iranian Bahá'is from Jewish Background: A Portrait of an emerging Bahá'í Community by Arsalan Geula. The book was independently published. This book presents a look at the history of early Iranian Bahá'ís who recognized the promised Messiah and the resulting effects on their lives—including severe hardships and stunning achievements. The gradual emergence of a Bahá'í identity among believers of Jewish background is explained. It shows the organic growth of faith and identity—a process that all new adherents to the Faith undergo.	Jews
2008 12 May 200-	After several years of negotiations, agreement was reached with the Israeli government for the acquisition of a rectangular plot of land 90,000 square metres in area, located between Bahjí and the main road. This land was being used by the government. This acquisition opened the way to further beautification of the environs of the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, the Qiblih of the people of Bahá, described by 'Abdu'l-Bahá as the "luminous Shrine" and "the place around which circumambulate the Concourse on high". The property in the possession of the Faith had been further augmented by the conclusion, after negotiations which extended over some twenty years, of a land exchange with the Israel Land Administration, by which a portion of the land bequeathed to the Faith in the Ein Sara neighbourhood of Nahariya, north of 'Akká, had been exchanged for an additional 100,000 square metres to the east of the Mansion of Bahjí, an area of about 32,000 square metres adjoining the island at the Riḍván Garden and the caravanserai adjacent to the Mansion of Mazra'ih. They reported that discussions were continuing with the authorities for a further exchange, using more of the Ein Sara land to acquire additional property in close proximity to the Bahá'í Holy Places in the 'Akká area required to protect the sanctity and tranquillity of these places in the face of the rapid urbanization of the region. It was also announced that work had been completed on the restoration of the Junayn Gardens, a small farmhouse and orchard north of Bahjí visited occasionally by Bahá'u'lláh, which was subsequently donated to the Faith. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 12 May, 2008]	Junayn gardens (Israel); Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); House of Bahá'u'lláh (Mazraih); House of Bahá'u'lláh (Bahji); Ridván garden (Akká); Purchases and exchanges; Caravanserai (caravansary); - Restoration and renovation; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; Haifa, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Ein Sara, Israel; Nahariya, Israel; Akka, Israel; Mazraih, Israel; Bahji, Israel; Israel
2008 14 May 200-	Iranian Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri issued a fatwa stating that, since (Bahá'ís) were the citizens of Iran, they had the rights of a citizen and the right to live in the country. Furthermore, they must benefit from the Islamic compassion which is stressed in Quran and by the religious authorities. [The National (UAE)] Statement: English Translation	Fatwa; Human rights; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri; - Ayatollahs; Iran
2008 14 May 200-	The six men and a women, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. and Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, all members of the national-level group that helped see to the minimum needs of Bahá'ís in Iran, were arrested in their homes in Tehran. Mrs. Kamalabadi, Mr. Khanjani, and Mr. Tavakkoli had been arrested previously and then released after periods ranging from five days to four months. [BWNS632, Report]	Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran
2008 200-	The arrest of the Bahá'í leadership took place in the context of a severely and rapidly escalating systemic campaign of attacks against the Bahá'í community that included the creation and circulation of lists of Bahá'ís with instructions that the activities of the members of the community be secretly monitored; dawn raids on Bahá'í homes and the confiscation of personal property; a dramatic increase over the previous two months in the number of Bahá'ís arrested; daily incitement to hatred of the Bahá'ís in all forms of government-sponsored mass media; the holding of anti-Bahá'í symposia and seminars organized by clerics and followed by orchestrated attacks on Bahá'í homes and properties in the cities and towns where such events were held; destruction of Bahá'í cemeteries throughout the country and demolition of Bahá'í holy places and shrines; acts of arson against Bahá'í homes and properties; debarring of Bahá'ís from access to higher education and, increasingly, vilification of Bahá'í children in their classrooms by their teachers; the designation of numerous occupations and businesses from which Bahá'ís were debarred; refusal to extend bank loans to Bahá'ís; sealing Bahá'í shops; refusing to issue or renew business licenses to Bahá'ís; harassment of landlords of Bahá'í business premises to get them to evict their tenants; and threats against Muslims who associated with Bahá'ís. [Iran Press Watch 1109]	Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Human rights; - Persecution; Human rights; Iran
2006 Jun 200-	In a show of solidarity for the imprisoned Yaran, an open letter was sent from a number of members of the judiciary, human rights organizations and other notables in India. [Iran Press Watch 1624]	Yaran; - Persecution, Human rights; * Persecution, Iran; Human rights; Iran; India
2008 3 Jun 200-	Mrs. Mahvash Sabet and Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi were permitted to make short phone calls to their families. Later it was confirmed that Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm also have made brief phone calls to their families. [BIC Report]	Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Tehran, Iran; Iran
2008 20 Jun 200-	Four Bahá'ís were arrested in Sana'a on the accusation of proselytizing. The three Bahá'is of Iranian origin who were arrested are Mr. Zia'u'llah Pourahmari, Mr. Keyvan Qadari, and Mr. Mr. Behrooz Rohani . A fourth Bahá'i, Mr. Sayfi Ibrahim Sayfi, was also arrested and faced the possibility of deportation to Iraq. The Bahá'is had been persecuted on account of their faith prior to the armed conflict under the regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. [BWNS651; Amnesty International 12 September 2008]	Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen
2008 July 200-	The publication of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book, in Norwegian for the first time, bringing to about 30 the number of different language editions of the work. [BWNS646]	Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); * Translation; * Publications; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Norway
2008 8 Jul 200-	The Shrine of the Báb and the Resting Place of Baháu'lláh, together with their surrounding gardens, associated buildings and monuments, were chosen as UNESCO World Heritage sites. [BWNS642, BWNS643, UNESCO site]	UNESCO; UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Haifa, Israel; Israel; Akka, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre
2008 14 Jul 200-	The Bahá'í Community of Vietnam was signed by the Government Committee for Religious Affairs to recognize the organization. [Bahá'í Religion in Community Education in Vietnam by Vu Van Chung] The Bahá'í Faith was established in the country in 1954, and the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Vietnam was elected 10 years later. In the mid-1970s, formal activities of the community were suspended. [BWNS647]	Recognition (legal); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Vietnam
2008 27 Jul 200-	The results of the nationwide university entrance examination were made available on the National Organization for Educational Assessment in Iran. Most of the Bahá'í applicants found that they were rejected and received an "incomplete file" message. For the 2007-2008 academic year some 800 of 1000 Bahá'í students were rejected in the same manner. [Iranian, BWNS657]	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Iran
2008 Sep 200-	After enduring 3.5 months of solitary confinement, the imprisoned members of the Yaran were transferred to a regular prison cell where they could interact with other prisoners, still at the notorious Evin Prison . A month later, they were separated from other prisoners; the five men were kept in one cell and the two women in another, isolated from others. Their status was still noted as "temporary detention". [Iran Press Watch 1505]	Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; Evin Prison; Tehran, Iran; Iran
2008 01 Sep 200-	The publication of The Bahá'í Question: Cultural Cleansing in Iran by the Bahá'í International Community. It was made available in English and in Spanish.	Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; New York City, NY
2008 27 - 28 Sep 200-	The Bahá'í Cemetery of Isfahan, known as Gulestan-e Javid [Eternal Garden], was attacked by a certain group and some 2,500 trees and an irrigation system were destroyed. Windows of a hall at the end of the cemetery were broken and the walls were blackened by incendiary materials. [Iran Press Watch 35; Iran Press Watch 48] See youtube video.	- Persecution, denial of burial; Isfahan, Iran; Iran
2008 31 Oct 200-	The Universal House of Justice sent a message of encouragement to the besieged Bahá'í Community of Iran. In the message they noted that: "a growing portion of the populace praises your courage, audacity, patience and steadfastness before the rising tide of tribulations." They praised "the resolve shown by the vast majority of believers, preferring to live with hardship than to seek refuge in other countries," (something which has been)..."seen by many as a sign of their love for their homeland, has earned great respect." They dispelled the notion of Bahá'ís being agents of the state of Israel. They reiterated that the Bahá'ís have no feelings of malevolence against Islam. On the contrary, Bahá'u'lláh has shown reverence for both Muhammad and Imam Ali, even revealing a tablet of visitation for him. They encouraged the continued unity of the community and faith in the constructive powers of the Faith and on an individual level, "a virtuous life and a goodly behaviour". "...the light of truth will dispel the darkness of deceit".	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; - Bahá'í World Centre; Iran
2008 Nov 200-	Ameed Saadat sat Iran's 2008 national university entrance examination. He passed was accepted to study hotel management at Goldasht College in Kelardasht, Mazandaran, and began his studies. The college's registration form required students to identify their religion. Ameed, being honest had identified himself as a Bahá'í. The day before his first-term examinations were to begin the college director told Ameed that he was being expelled and would therefore not be allowed to sit the examinations. The following day, 26 students refused to take the end-of-term exam in protest against Ameed's expulsion. [Iran Press Watch]	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution; Human rights; Higher education; Kelardasht, Iran; Mazandaran, Iran; Iran
2008 1 - 2 Nov 200-	The first of 41 Regional Conferences held over a four month period to mark the mid-point of the Five Year Plan was held in Lusaka, Zambia. [Lusaka, BWNS642] "The Universal House of Justice, in a letter dated 20 October 2008, announced the convocation of a series of 41 regional conferences over a four-month period. The letter – which marked the midway point of a five-year effort to expand activities at the grassroots level – indicated that the purpose of the conferences is to celebrate achievements during the first half of the Five Year Plan and to deliberate on the next phase." [Bahá'í Community News]	- Conferences, Regional; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Lusaka, Zambia; Zambia
2008 8 – 9 Nov 200-	Regional Conferences were held in Nakuru, Kenya and Johannesburg, South Africa. [BWNS668] Nakuru. [Bahá'í Community News] Johannesbury. [Bahá'í Community News]	- Conferences, Regional; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Nakuru, Kenya; Kenya; Johannesburg, South Africa; South Africa
2008 15 – 16 Nov 200-	Regional Conferences were held in Bangui, Central African Republic, Bangalore, India and Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo, [BWNS669]	- Conferences, Regional; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bangui, Central African Republic; Central African Republic; Bangalore, India; India; Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Congo, Democratic Republic of
2008 22 – 23 Nov 200-	Regional Conferences were held in Quito, Ecuador, New Delhi, India, Kolkata, India, and Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [BWNS673]	- Conferences, Regional; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Quito, Ecuador; Ecuador; New Delhi, India; India; Kolkata, India; Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo; Congo, Democratic Republic of
2008 29 – 30 Nov 200-	Regional Conferences were held in Antofagasta, Chile, Manila, Philippines and Yaoundé, Cameroon. [BWNS675]	- Conferences, Regional; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Antofagasta, Chile; Chile; Manila, Philippines; Philippines; Yaoundé, Cameroon; Cameroon
2008 6 – 7 Dec 200-	Regional Conferences were held in Portland, United States, Chicago, United States, Atlanta, United States and Almaty, Kazakhstan. [ Portand, Chicago, Atlanta, Almaty]	- Conferences, Regional; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Portland, OR; United States (USA); Chicago, IL; United States (USA); Atlanta, GA; United States (USA); Almaty, Kazakhstan; Kazakhstan
2008 13 – 14 Dec 200-	Regional Conferences were held in Stamford, CT, Dallas, TX and Los Angeles, CA. [BWNS677]	- Conferences, Regional; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Stamford, CT; United States (USA); Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, CA
2008 20 – 21 Dec 200-	Regional Conferences were held in Kuching, Malaysia and São Paulo, Brazil. [BWNS683]	- Conferences, Regional; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Kuching, Malaysia; Malaysia; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Brazil
2008 27 – 28 Dec 200-	Regional Conference were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This conference represented the half-way point in the series of 41 conferences between November 1st and March 1st. [BWNS685]	- Conferences, Regional; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Malaysia


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