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| date | event | tags | firsts |
| 2018 20 Dec 201- |
The last imprisoned member of the former leadership body of the Bahá'í community in Iran was released from prison after serving a 10-year prison sentence. He was arrested on 14 May 2008 and charged with, among other false claims, espionage, propaganda against Iran, and the establishment of an illegal administration. Mr. Naeimi and the other six former members of the Yaran faced those charges more than a year after their arrest in a sham trial without any semblance of legal process. Authorities sentenced Mr. Naeimi and the other former members of the Yaran to 10 years in prison. While detained, Mr. Naeimi experienced severe health problems, often receiving inadequate treatment. Authorities made a cruel determination that the brief time Mr. Naeimi, a father of two from Tehran, spent in a hospital recovering would not be counted as part of his sentence. [BWNS1302] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Human rights; - Persecution; Human rights; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
| 2018 Dec 201- |
During a dialogue with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as it considered a report on measures taken to implement the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination the Iraqi Deputy Justice Minister, Hussein al-Zuhairi, said Bahaism is not a religion or faith. He further expressed the Iraqi government's commitment to legislation prohibiting the Bahá'í religion in 1970 and added that there was no religion above Islam since the Iraqi Constitution set the tenets of Islam as a source of law. He said that as Iraqi society was Muslim, it was not possible to ignore the tenets of Islam in legislation. |
Iran | |
| 2018 19 - 22 Nov 201- |
The second annual Arab Sustainable Development Week was held in Cairo from 19 to 22 November to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030. More than 120 diplomats, government officials, representatives of regional and international organizations, businesses, and academics attended the event. Speakers included Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, among a number of other leaders in the Arab region.
It was the first time the Bahá'í community had an official presence at a space convened by the Arab League, a regional organization of about 20 nations in North Africa and the Middle East. Bahá'í International Community representatives were Dr. Solomon Belay, from the BIC Addis Ababa office, Shahnaz Jaberi from BIC-Bahrain and Hatem El-Hady from BIC-Egypt. The BIC statement, Summoning Our Common Will: A Baha'i Contribution to the United Nations Global Development Agenda, was distributed at the event. [BWNS1299] |
Solomon Belay; Shahnaz Jaberi; Hatem El-Hady; Bahá'í International Community; Arab League; Sustainable development; Ahmed Aboul-Gheit; Mostafa Madbouly; - BIC statements; Cairo, Egypt; Egypt | first time the BIC had an official presence at a meeting convened by the Arab League. |
| 2018 15 Nov 201- |
The passing of Shapoor Monadjem, (b. 3 October, 1933, Shiraz, Iran) at his last pioneer post in Maringá, Brazil. He had been a member of the International Teaching Center, a pioneer and member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Brazil (1963-1983), a Continental Councillor (1983-1993) as well as a Deputy Trustee of Ḥuqúqu'lláh. [BWNS1296; Bahaipedia] | Shapoor Monadjem; International Teaching Centre; Counsellors; - In Memoriam; Maringá, Brazil; Brazil | |
| 2018 9 Nov 201- |
The Universal House of Justice announced that the Office of Social and Economic Development would be succeeded by the Bahá'í International Development Organization with a five-member board of directors to serve a five year term of service with appointment to be made on the Day of the Covenant.
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Social and economic development; Social action; Bahá'í International Development Organization; Funds; Bahá'í Development Fund; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); * Bahá'í World Centre; Office of Social and Economic Development (OSED) | |
| 2018 1 - 7 Nov 201- |
More than 7,500 people attended the Parliament of the World's Religions held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
This forum began in 1893 at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago as an effort to promote an emerging international movement devoted to promoting dialogue among religions. Since that time, it has been held in Cape Town (1999), Barcelona (2004), Melbourne (2009) and Salt Lake City (2015). [Website] Bahá'í presenters were:
During the conference the Hindu Swami Agnivesh said that instead of spending trillions of dollars on the war system, the peoples of the world need to unite and create a world parliament based on an Earth Constitution. He said that "without a world government, we cannot solve our major world problems." [History News Network 13 Feb 2022] |
Parliament of the World's Religions; Toronto, ON; Canada | |
| 2018 24 Oct 201- |
The body of a Bahá'í citizen, Shamsi Aghdasi Azamian, from Gilavand, a suburb of the city of Damavand was exhumed by unknown individuals several days after being buried in the Gilavand Bahá'í Cemetery and abandoned in the deserts of Jaban in the suburbs of that city. No individual or institution has accepted responsibility for this action, although security forces had told the Gilavand Bahá'ís earlier that they had no right to bury their deceased member in this place, and that they should perform burials only in Tehran. Her son refused to move the body but found that it had been taken to Tehran which is a distance of some two hours away. [Iran Press Watch 19720] |
Shamsi Aghdasi Azamian; - Persecution, denial of burial; Damavand, Iran; Iran | |
| 2018 11 Oct 201- |
Abdullah Al Olofi, member of the Bahá'í community in Yemen, was on his way to the market in Sana'a when suddenly he was surrounded by armed soldiers in a pick-up truck. He was blindfolded and taken away. [Counterpunch 9 November, 2018] | `Abdu'lláh Al Olofi; Persecution, Yemen; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
| 2018 Oct 201- |
The announcement of the translation and publication of the Kitab-i-Aqdas into the Philippines' second most widely spoken language, Cebuano. (Translation into Tagalog was completed in 2003.) This translation was done by Dr Gil Tabucanon and was completed after ten years of effort. Publication was done by the Philippines Baha'i Publishing Trust. |
* Translation; Cebuano language; Tagalog language; Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Manila, Philippines; Solano, Nueva Vizcaya; Philippines | first translation of the Kitab-i-Aqdas into Cebuano |
| 2018 Oct 201- |
The publication of Man of the Trees: Richard St. Barbe Baker, the First Global Conservationist. by Paul Hanley. It was published by the University of Regina Press.
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Richard St. Barbe Baker; Man of the Trees; Paul Hanley; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Regina, SK; Saskatchewan, Canada; Canada | |
| 2018 29 Sep 201- |
In the second court hearing presided over by judge Abdu Ismail Hassan Rajeh, three additional Bahá'ís were sentenced to death. Five of the indicted Bahá'ís were in attendance at the court where the judge requested the prosecutor to publish the names of 19 others indicted in a newspaper, further endangering the lives of the Yemeni Bahá'í community. The judge also ordered that all of the properties belonging to the Bahá'ís indicted be frozen until the court verdict was issued. He furthermore objected to a request by the lawyer for the five to be released on bail and deferred any such decision to the next hearing to be held in a month and ten days.
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United Nations; Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
| 2018 21 Sep 201- |
The Bahá'í World Centre announced the release of three short films that highlighted aspects of the community building endeavours of Bahá'ís and like-minded friends around the world. Totaling about 32 minutes, the new films covered three themes: nurturing younger generations, exploring the empowerment of junior youth, and communities learning to advance together.
The films complement the recently produced documentary film A Widening Embrace released in April. [BWNS1286]
The films can be downloaded using the link below: |
Widening Embrace, A (film); - Institute process; Childrens classes; Youth empowerment program; Ruhi Institute; - Film; - Documentaries; - Documentaries, BWC; * Bahá'í World Centre | |
| 2018 15 Sep 201- |
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi authorities held a court hearing that targeted some 20 or 24 Bahá'ís, most in absentia, with a string of baseless charges which included espionage and apostasy. The charges were primarily made against individuals who held administrative roles in the Bahá'í community but extended to other Yemeni Bahá'ís including a teenage girl. In a subsequent hearing on September 29, the judge asked the prosecutor to publish the names of the accused in a newspaper and ordered their properties frozen. The judge in the case was Abdu Ismail Hassan Rajeh, the same judge who presided over Mr. Haydara's in January of 2018.
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Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Court cases; Court cases; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Sanaa, Yemen; Yemen | |
| 2018 9 Sep 201- |
Ētahi Karakia Bahá'í (Book of Bahá'í Prayers) was launched at the Pūrekireki Marae in Pirongia to coincide with the beginning of Māori Language Week. For Dr. Tom Roa, professor of Maori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato, it was the fourth significant translation of canonical Bahá'í texts he and his team have undertaken. This endeavour came amid broader efforts to revive the Maori language. Dr. Roa, who has been at the forefront of these efforts, said that Maori speakers were a declining share of New Zealand's population. Maori people made up only 15 percent of the population, and only a fifth of them can have a conversation in Maori, he noted. |
Prayer; Maoris; * Translation; * Publications; Pirongia, New Zealand; New Zealand | |
| 2018 6 Sep 201- |
The passing of Lily Ayman (b. 17 May 1929 in Tehran) in Chicago. She was buried in the Oakwood cemetery near the resting place of Hand of the Cause Corrine True. She was a prominent Iranian educationalist who later became a Bahá'í in 1975 and left Iran with her family after the Revolution and finally settled in the USA where she become actively involved in various Bahá'í educational projects. See her "In Memoriam" published in Lights of Irfan, 20, 2019 p. 264-269.
She was considered the "Mother of Persian Textbooks" [Iran Wire 10 April 2013] |
- In Memoriam; Lily Ayman; Tehran, Iran; Iran; Chicago, IL; United States (USA) | |
| 2018 31 Aug 201- |
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival in the Holy Land the Bahá'í World News Service published a series of podcasts.
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Akka, Israel | |
| 2018 summer 201- |
Starting with the summer of 2018, Romania hosted the Seminars of the Institute for Global Prosperity Studies for Eastern European students. Young people from the following countries participated: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary. [Romanian Bahá'í website] | Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP); Romania | |
| 2018 22 Jul 201- |
The dedication of the second local Bahá'í House of Worship in the world in Norte del Cauca, Colombia. News of this project was announced in 2012 along with other projects in Battambang, Cambodia; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Bihar Sharif, India; and Tanna, Vanuatu.
(For information on the first local Mashriqu'l-Adhkár see here.)
The event marked the opening of a month-long inauguration period. In a series of weekly visits to the Temple, 1,500 people were expected to participate in a special program called "My First Visit to the Bahá'í House of Worship."
Specifics
Property acquired:December, 2013 Design unveiled: 13 September, 2014 Groundbreaking: 22 May, 2016 Construction Period: January 2017 to July 2018 Site Dedication: 22 July, 2018 Architect:Mr. Gutierrez Chacón Architectural firm:CUNA Engineering and Sustainable Architecture Seating: Dimensions:The Temple is 18 metres tall. Inside height is 15 metres. Cost: Dependencies: References: BWNS1020; BWNS1047; BWNS1109; BWNS1153; BWNS1168; BWNS1222; BWNS1240; BWNS1249; BWNS1268, BWNS1277. |
* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Quick facts; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Dedications; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia; Gutierrez Chacon | first...the dynamic interaction between worship and endeavours to uplift the spiritual, social, and material conditions of society |
| 2018 8 Jul 201- |
The opening of the play about Tahirih called Daughter of the Sun to an audience of 450 people at the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama. The dramatic presentation was produced by journalist Kamale Selim Muslimgizi and came at a time when the life of Tahirih was gaining renewed attention and interest in Azerbaijani society due, in part because a book on Tahirih's life and works that were translated and published in 2016 which catalyzed a growing interest among the people of Azerbaijan about the life of this iconic champion of women's emancipation.
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Tahirih (Qurratu'l-'Ayn, Zarrín-Táj); - Drama; - Plays; * Arts and crafts; Kamale Selim Muslimgizi; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bandar Anzali, Iran; Azerbaijan | |
| 2018 6 Jul 201- |
Mr. Javaid Rehman was appointed as the third Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran since re-establishment of the mandate. The former mandate holder, Ms. Asma Jahangir assumed the mandate from November 2016 until her sudden passing in February 2018. Mr. Rehman was a Professor of International Human Rights Law and Muslim Constitutionalism at Brunel University, London. Mr Rehman taught human rights law and Islamic law and continued to publish extensively in the subjects of international human rights law, Islamic law and constitutional practices of Muslim majority States. Several of his published works have been translated into various languages. Overview of the mandate The Human Rights Council Resolution 37/30 requested the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran to submit a report on the implementation of the mandate to the Human Rights Council at its fortieth session and to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session and calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, to permit access to visit the country, and to provide all information necessary to allow the fulfillment of the mandate. In the discharge of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur will: a) Monitor and investigate human rights violations, transmits urgent appeals and letters to Iran on alleged violations of human rights; b) Seek to undertake country visits to Iran and to the region and engage with relevant stakeholders; c) Submit reports to the General Assembly and Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and d) Engage publicly on issues of concern, including through press releases. [Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights] |
Javaid Rehman; United Nations; United Nations; Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran; New York City, NY | |
| 2018 22 Jun 201- |
Following the recitation of prayers, the carved teak Greatest Name symbol was raised 15 meters to be placed at the inner apex of the dome inside the local Bahá'í House of Worship in Agua Azul, Colombia. This marked the near-completion of the world's second local House of Worship. [BWNS1268] | Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia | |
| 2018 13 Jun 201- |
Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested on charges of collusion and propaganda against Iran's rulers.
[Al Jazeera]
On 29 August 2018, Sotoudeh began a hunger strike to protest her detention and government harassment of her family and friends. On 11 March 2019 Nasrin Sotoudeh was sentenced in two different trials to 38.5 years in prison and 148 lashes and was denied access to a copy of the verdict against her. She was only permitted to see the text of the sentence and to note the charges of which she was convicted. One of the charges against her was "membership in an illegal group", referring to her membership of Legam, a campaign to abolish the death penalty in Iran. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, and given the high number of charges against her, only the most severe punishment will be enforced. However, given the high number of charges against her, it is unclear how much of the sentence she will have to serve. [Front Line Defenders] On 27 July 2020, her husband, Reza Khandan, reported that his wife's bank accounts had been blocked by the Tehran Prosecutor's Office. Reza Khandan believed this to be the beginning of the seizure of the family's assets. On 10 August 2020, Nasrin Sotoudeh began a hunger strike to protest the continued imprisonment of human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience in Iran. In a letter outlining her reasons, she highlighted that COVID-19 has only served to exacerbate the already poor conditions for prisoners in Iran. In September she was hospitalised after her physical condition worsened following weeks of hunger strike. Her strike ended in late September after 46 days. On October 20, Sotoudeh was transferred from Evin Prison in Tehran to Qarchak, a women's prison outside the city that has been blacklisted under United Nations human rights sanctions. 7 November 2020. Sotoudeh was temporarily released from prison after concerns mounted over her deteriorating health. Her temporary release came weeks after she was moved to intensive care in a hospital in Tehran following a lengthy hunger strike. [Al Jazeera] 2 December 2020: Nasrin Sotoudeh was returned to Qarchak prison despite the fact that medical experts recommended the extension of her medical leave for a further two weeks. [Al Jazeera] Queen's University conferred an honorary doctorate of Law. Accepting it on her behalf was Irwin Cotler, Sotoudeh's international legal counsel and former Minister of Justice of Canada. [Queen's Gazeette 23 January 2021] |
* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Human rights; Nasrin Sotoudeh; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
| 2018 9 May 201- |
The premiere of the film The Gate: Dawn of the Bahá'í Faith in Los Angeles. The first ever documentary about the origins of the Bahá'í Faith.
On May 23rd, Bahá'í communities in multiple locations showed the film as part of their Holy Day observance. The film was directed by Bob Hercules, written by Ed Price, and the producers were Steve Sarowitz, Ed Price and Adam Mondschein. [Film Website]
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* Báb, The (chronology); Bábí history; - Documentaries; - Film; The Gate: Dawn of the Bahá'í Faith (film); Bob Hercules; * Persecution, Iran; Los Angeles, CA; United States (USA) | The first documentary about the origins of the Bahá’í Faith. |
| 2018 (post International Bahá'í Convention) 201- |
Some 80 members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors met for a conference at the Bahá'í World Centre following the 12th International Bahá'í Convention. On that occasion, the Counsellors were able to reflect on major developments in Bahá'í communities around the world. In order to share their experiences some of their stories were recorded and made available via podcasts. The Counsellors discussed the impact of spiritual and moral education programs offered by the Bahá'í community on youth and the communities in which they live, drawing on experiences in Cambodia, Kiribati, India, Norway, Spain, and Timor Leste (or East Timor). [BWNS1264]
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Counsellors; Conferences, Counsellors; - Institute process; Youth; Podcasts; Education; Conventions, International; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); * Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; Cambodia; Kiribati; India; Norway; Spain; Timor Leste, East Timor, | |
| 2018 30 Apr 201- |
The announcement of the election of the 12th Universal House of Justice. Those elected were Paul Lample, Chuungu Malitonga, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, Stephen Hall, Ayman Rouhani, Stephen Birkland, Juan Francisco Mora, and Praveen Mallik. [BWNS1258]
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Paul Lample; Chuungu Malitonga; Payman Mohajer; Shahriar Razavi; Stephen Hall; Ayman Rouhani; Stephen Birkland; Juan Francisco Mora; Praveen Mallik; Universal House of Justice, Election of; Universal House of Justice, Members of; Conventions, International; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Widening Embrace, A (film); - Documentaries; - Documentaries, BWC; - Institute process; Social action; Social and economic development; Farideh Baki-Nasseri; * Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel | |
| 2018 27 Apr 201- |
The publication of the booklet entitled For the Betterment of the World by the Office of Social and Economic Development to be made available to the more than 1,300 delegates at the International Bahá'í Convention. As with the editions published in 2003 and 2008, it provided an illustration of the Bahá'í community's ongoing process of learning and action in the field of social and economic development. [BWNS1255] | - Institute process; Social and economic development; Social action; For the Betterment of the World (document); - Basic timeline, Expanded; * Bahá'í World Centre | |
| 2018 23 Apr 201- |
Afif Naeimi, the seventh and last imprisoned member of the Yaran, returned to Rajaee Shahr Prison (also known as Gohardasht Prison) near Tehran at the end of his medical leave despite suffering from life-threatening ailments.
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Yaran; Rajai Shahr prison; Prisons; * Persecution, Iran; Karaj, Iran; Iran | |
| 2018 22 Apr 201- |
The announcement of the retirement of Universal House of Justice members Mr. Gustavo Correa, 70, and Dr. Firaydoun Javaheri, 72. Mr. Correa was from Colombia. He was elected to the House of Justice in 2008. Dr. Javaheri was born in Iran and spent much of his life in Africa—first in The Gambia and subsequently in Zambia. He was elected to the Universal House of Justice in 2003. [BWNS1253] | Gustavo Correa; Firaydoun Javaheri; Universal House of Justice, Members of; Retirements; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); * Bahá'í World Centre | |
| 2018 15 Apr 201- |
The design for the local Bahá'í House of Worship was unveiled at a gathering in Matunda Soy, Kenya attended by about 1,000 people. The temple will accommodate about 250 people and the design incorporated the diamond-shaped pattern, a motif commonly found in Kenyan culture. It will be built of construction materials found locally; the roof will be made of local state and the walls from from stone quarried nearby. The Temple's architect, Neda Samimi, was the first female architect whose design for a Baha'i House of Worship was selected. [BWNS1251]
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* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Matunda Soy, Kenya; Architecture; - Architects; Women; Firsts, other; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Matunda Soy, Kenya; Matunda Soy, Kenya; Kenya | first woman to design a Bahá'í House of Worship |
| 2018 12 Apr 201- |
The premiere of the documentary film, An American Story: Race Amity and The Other Tradition in a television broadcast on station WBGH, channel 2 in Boston, MA. [Trailer]
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Race; Unity; Race amity; Race unity; Racism; - Documentaries; Boston, MA; Massachusetts, USA; United States (USA) | |
| 2018 4 Apr 201- |
A major milestone in the construction of the local Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Agua Azul was reached. The crown on the topmost part of the roof was installed. [BWNS1020, BWNS1109, BWNS1168, BWNS1109, BWNS1248, BWNS1249] | Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia | |
| 2018 1 Apr 201- |
The launch of a fierce campaign of hatred against members of the Bahá'í Faith, as well as other against peaceful religious minorities was proclaimed by Houthi activist Ahmad Ayed Ahmed in a public Tweet. The campaign coincided with the threats made by the leader of Ansaruallah, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, against the Bahá'ís, Ahmadis, Christians and a number of Islamic sects during his Friday speech on the occasion of Rajab Friday. This marked a clear call for a sectarian war against minorities and specifically the Bahá'í's and parallelled the already ongoing systematic attack against Bahá'ís including arbitrary arrests, persecution, and torture. This indicated a new stage in Houthi persecution, until this time they had exercised a degree of "political dissimulation" to conceal their direct involvement, however, since al-Houthi's public speech, Houthis were openly spearheading as well as escalating the systematic persecution of Bahá'ís. [Iran Press Watch 1 April, 2018] | Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Yemen | |
| 2018 23 Mar 201- |
Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badreddin Al-Houthi, the Secretary-General of Yemen's Shia political party Ansar Allah, accused the Bahá'ís of seeking to create disunity among Muslims. In a televised speech broadcast to a wide audience within and outside of Yemen, he vehemently vilified and denounced the Bahá'í Faith, further intensifying the ongoing persecution of the Bahá'ís in that country. It was reported that the Houthis had also launched a social media campaign against Bahá'ís. "The Yemeni Initiative for Defending Bahá'í Rights", a human rights organization, said in a Facebook post that Al-Houthi's incitement coincided with incitements against Ahmadis, Christians, intellectuals, scientists, and activists, as well as "a number of Islamic doctrines." [Conatus News 28 March, 2018]
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Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Sayyid `Abdu'l-Malik Badreddin Al-Houthi; Yemen | |
| 2018 21 Mar 201- |
The design for the national Bahá'í House of Worship of Papua New Guinea (PNG) was unveiled.
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* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, National; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Port Moresby; Architecture; - Architects; Rodney Hancock; Henry Lape; Saeed Granfar; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Papua New Guinea | |
| 2018 19 Mar 201- |
The release of Mr. Vahid Tizfahm from the Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj after having completed his 10-year sentence. He was the sixth of the seven Bahá'í leaders to be released from prison. |
Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Human rights; Court cases; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
| 2018 16 Mar 201- |
Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, at 85 the oldest member of the Yaran to be imprisoned, was released after serving his 10-year sentence. [BWNS1244] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Court cases; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
| 2018 15 Mar 201- |
The Bahá'í cemetery in the city of Kerman was sealed by order of the Kerman judicial authorities and the burial of deceased Bahá'ís was prevented. [Iran Press Watch 19720] | - Persecution, denial of burial; Kerman, Iran; Iran | |
| 2018 12 Mar 201- |
The Bahá'í International Community in New York released the statement "Beyond Mere Economics: A Moral Inquiry into the Roots of Empowerment" to the 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (12 to 23 March 2018). [BWNS1243] | Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; * Publications; Women; Empowerment; Economics; United Nations; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
| 2018 22 Feb 201- |
A progress report on the construction of the Mashriqul-Adhkar in Norte del Cauca was made. The main structural components of the central building had been completed and work had begun on the finishing of the floor and the walls as well as the placement of the roof tiles. Construction had begun in a number of auxiliary buildings. [BWNS1240] | Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Norte del Cauca, Colombia; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Local; Agua Azul, Colombia; North Caucasus; Colombia | |
| 2018 20 Feb 201- |
Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, a former member of the Yaran, was transferred from Evin Prison to a hospital as per directions of the prison doctor after experiencing heart issues. He underwent surgery and, after spending a few days in the ICU, was transferred back to prison. Mr. Khanjani suffered from old age and multiple ailments. He had been in prison since May 18, 2008. Throughout his 10-year term he had not been allowed a single day of leave. Security and Judicial authorities did not even allow him to attend his wife's funeral. His sentence was completed on March 22. [Iran Press Watch 18815] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Court cases; Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
| 2018 18 Feb 201- |
In an open letter, twenty-five prominent international lawyers and human right activists appealed to Mohammad Javad Larijani, the Secretary-General of the High Council for Human Rights in Iran, to take steps to end the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran. In the letter they made reference to the new website, "Archives of the Bahá'í Persecution in Iran", stating that it "vividly demonstrates the depth and breadth of unjust, relentless, and systematic oppression against a religious minority". [BICNews10Feb2018] | Human rights; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Open letters; Websites; Internet; * Publications; Iran; - Worldwide | |
| 2018 16 Feb 201- |
The release of Saeid Rezaie, one of the seven members of the Yaran, the former leadership group of the Bahá'ís in Iran after completing his 10-year sentence. He was the fourth person from among the Yaran to be released. [BWNS1238] | Yaran; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Court cases; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
| 2018 Feb 201- |
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), an NGO working to promote the right to freedom of religion or belief of all and raising awareness about the persecution of Christians and other religious groups around the world, published a shocking report that revealed the influence of religious persecution on religious minority children. In its Faith and a Future report, CSW focused on the situation of religious minority children in educational settings in Burma, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan. The report scrutinized three common acts of persecution in the educational setting specifically bias, discrimination and abuse.
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* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Human rights; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution; Human rights; Faith and a Future (CSW); Iran | |
| 2018 29 Jan - 7 Feb 201- |
The 56th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development focused on strategies for eradicating poverty. It explored many dimensions of this complex and vexing issue, including the necessity of realizing the equality of women and men, the promise and potential pitfalls of technology, issues of disability and inclusion, as well as the special role of families, communities, and youth. The BIC prepared a statement for the Commission calling for a profound shift in thinking. Referring to the Commission's aim of "eradicating poverty to achieve sustainable development for all," the statement explains that it "is not simply a matter of expanding access to material resources, challenging as that can be. Rather, it is an endeavor of structural and social transformation on scales never attempted before. And the magnitude of that work calls for new ways of understanding individual human beings and society as a whole." The statement, Towards a Just Economic Order: Conceptual Foundations and Moral Prerequisites was made available on the BIC website. |
United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; - Statements; New York, USA; New York, USA | |
| 2018 25 Jan 201- |
By way of a contribution to the 7th Annual ECOSOC Youth Forum at the United Nations, the Bahá'í International Community presented a statement titled, Rising Generations: Weaving a New Tapestry of Community Life in which our current systems of governance, economics, health, and education, among others were discussed and thought given to what these systems would have to be like in the future. | Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
| 2018 25 Jan 201- |
Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Asma Jahangir, in her report, shared with that country on this date, listed the names of some 77 Bahá'ís imprisoned in that country.
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United Nations; Asma Jahangir; Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; New York City, NY | |
| 2018 25 Jan 201- |
The announcement of the opening of an educational centre at the Bahá'í Lotus Temple. The educational facility, which can accommodate hundreds, will be used to host camps, courses, and seminars for youth and young adults who are involved in efforts to improve their communities. With the opening of the new educational facility, many more will be able to attend these programs than was previously possible. |
Shaheen Javid; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Delhi; Lotus temple, New Delhi; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Statistics; Youth; New Delhi, India; India | |
| 2018 18 Jan 201- |
The publication of A Vision of Peace: Stories from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a brief history of the struggles and successes of the Bahá'í community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
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Community building; Congo, Democratic Republic of | |
| 2018 2 Jan 201- |
The Specialized Criminal Court of the Houthi militia in Yemen sentenced 52 year-old detainee Hammed bin Haidara to death on the basis of his Bahá'í beliefs, allegedly for collaborating with Israel and forging official documents. His execution was to be a public event. He had been tortured and ill-treated in custody since being incarcerated in December of 2013. The judgment issued by the Houthi-controlled Criminal Court in Sana'a also confiscated the funds of Hammed bin Haidara and shut all Bahá'í centres in the country. The persecution of Bahá'ís in the area controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia reflected the pattern of persecution in Iran. |
Persecution, Yemen; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Court cases; Court cases; Human rights; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Yemen | |
| 2018 (In the Year) 201- |
The publication of | ||
| 2018 Jan 201- |
Southern Yemeni separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates seized control of Aden. | Yemen, Recent history; Aden, Yemen; Yemen | |
| 2018 (In the year) 201- |
The Bahá'í International Community established a web site, Archives of Bahá'í Persecution in Iran to document the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran. Each document is available as a digital scan of the original and in a text-searchable format. In time, all materials will be available in both Persian and English. The site was established in response to rising interest both internationally and within Iran to understand the depth and breadth of this persecution. The documents shed light on the decades-long, systematic, and ongoing persecution of the Baha'is, instigated by the clergy and by the government.
Although most of the documents on this website are related to the decades following the Islamic revolution in 1979, there are many that date back a long time prior to the revolution. They cover a wide range of persecutions, including systematic discrimination, arrest and imprisonment, execution, economic oppression, exclusion from education, acts of destruction and violence, and incitement to hatred. Over time, the archive will contain thousands of documents, mostly text documents, but also audio and visual records, many of which were being made publicly available for the first time. One can subscribe to receive an email with weekly updates. On the 9th of May 2023 the Universal House of Justice wrote to all National Assemblies announcing that this resource had been made available. iiiii |
* Persecution, Iran; Bahá'í International Community; Iran | |
| 2018 (In the year) 201- |
The population of the Bahá'ís of the world was given as 8,327,581 or 0.10% of the population.
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