http://www.voicesdivine.com Bahai audio books & podcast recordings of writings, prayers, news, & community messages for lovers of Bahaullah Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:38:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Bahai audio books & podcast recordings of writings, prayers, news, & community messages for lovers of Bahaullah VoicesDivine no © 2008-2010 VoicesDivine.com and others VoicesDivine.com Baha'i Podcasts https://www.voicesdivine.com/main/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://www.voicesdivine.com http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/media-portrayal-women-focus-panel/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/media-portrayal-women-focus-panel/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:45:26 +0000 Leanne Eleff http://www.voicesdivine.com/?p=1067 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/media-portrayal-women-focus-panel/feed/ 0 advertising,baha'i faith,Baha'i World News Service,Baroness Gould of Potternewton,business,cars,communication,girls,Jan Floyd-Douglass,Joyce Gould,marketing,sarah kasule When Jan Floyd-Douglass decided to buy a new car, she bypassed suitable models from eight different manufacturers – and then wrote to tell them why. "I love your car but I didn't buy it because I don't like your advertisements because they demean women, This is a recording from VoicesDivine.com.  To see our other podcasts and our terms of use, go to www.voicesdivine.com.  The following is Leanne Eleff reading from the Baha'i World News Service. NEW YORK — When Jan Floyd-Douglass decided to buy a new car, she bypassed suitable models from eight different manufacturers – and then wrote to tell them why. "I love your car but I didn't buy it because I don't like your advertisements because they demean women," wrote Ms. Floyd-Douglass, who is on the board of the Women's National Commission in the United Kingdom. She told the story during a panel discussion titled "Portrayal or Betrayal: How the Media Depicts Women and Girls" held at the UN offices of the Baha'i International Community. The event was planned in conjunction with the annual session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which began on 1 March. Along with the other panelists, she noted that sexualized images of women in advertising are so commonplace as to seem innocuous. "My message is, if we don't actually do anything about this, we are complicit in it," said Ms. Floyd-Douglass. Also on the panel was Sarah Kasule, director of the Mother's Union for Uganda, who said that the way women are portrayed in the African media can be equally negative. "They are depicted as symbols of sex. Or as something to do with making men comfortable, or giving care," she said. This trend in the media is a result of both individual choices and institutional forces, added Dr. Michael Karlberg, who is an associate professor in the department of communications at Western Washington University. "On one hand," he said, "people everywhere are choosing to consume media that feeds base appetites that we have inherited from our animal nature. On the other hand, media institutions have been constructed in ways that purposefully stimulate, reinforce, and exploit these base appetites." The result is a "feedback cycle" that has created a media environment that is "unjust, unhealthy, and unsustainable," observed Dr. Karlberg. He said any effort to address the problem must consider the structure of media institutions. "The assumption is that the media is just another commodity. But the media is not just another commodity. It is a process that facilitates democratic deliberations. It is a process that creates culture." Part of the problem, he said, is that the media's real product is not content but the delivery of an audience to advertisers. The result is that the media strives to manufacture audiences in the cheapest way possible, through a "high-sex, high-violence, high-conflict content. It doesn't take talent or research or investigative journalism. Yet it stimulates the appetites, much the same way that a high-salt, high-sugar, and high-fat junk food diet does." The discussion, held on 3 March, was moderated by Baroness Joyce Gould, chair of the UK Women's National Commission. She said recent studies show that images demeaning to women are increasingly used in the mass media and have an unhealthy impact on the psychological development of both girls and boys. "For girls, it is about being told they need to be more attractive to men. And for boys, it is about looking upon girls as sexual objects," said Baroness Gould. Dr. Karlberg spoke of efforts the Baha'i community is making to try to counter the ill effects of exposure to such images in the media by offering moral education for children and young people. "Baha'is, like people everywhere, are struggling to raise and educate children," he said. "They are trying to do this in a way that cultivates their inherent nobility, that releases their spiritual potential, and that helps them recognize the deep sources of purpose, meaning, and happiness in life. "It is clear that such spiritual education can be a very important factor in making children less susceptible to messages in their media environment. VoicesDivine no 5:08 http://www.voicesdivine.com/messages/10-january-2010-believers-cradle-faith/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/messages/10-january-2010-believers-cradle-faith/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:43:16 +0000 John Iron http://www.voicesdivine.com/?p=1016 http://www.voicesdivine.com/messages/10-january-2010-believers-cradle-faith/feed/ 0 Bahai, Baha'i, Bahá'í, Universal House of Justice, UHJ, Iran, Yaran, trial, Ashura, believers, cradle of the faith, persecution, faith, "...those whose inner vision is dimmed by the veils of religious prejudice have conspired to create false accusations so as to provide justification to the Iranian people for their acts of oppression against you..." A message from the Universal House of Justice to the Believers in the Cradle of the Faith, 10 January 2010.  Read by John Iron for VoicesDivine.com Dearly loved Friends, As the date set for the trial of the former members of the Yaran approaches, certain officials have made statements over the past few days claiming that the motive for the arrest of ten friends on 3 January 2010 lay not in their membership in the Baha'i community but in their involvement in organizing the events that occurred on the day of 'Ashura.  The people of Iran--indeed, the people of the world and the community of nations--are familiar with the principles of the Baha'i Faith, the conduct of its adherents, and the history of its development; they know therefore that such a claim is baseless.  All fair-minded people would attest that Baha'is, wherever they reside, labour shoulder to shoulder with their compatriots for the progress and prosperity of their nation.  Baha'is are known to rely on the framework of the law in defence of their own rights as well as those of others.  They aspire to the virtues of truthfulness and honesty, eschew violence and conflict, and avoid all manner of partisan politics.  Yet, regrettably, those whose inner vision is dimmed by the veils of religious prejudice have conspired to create false accusations so as to provide justification to the Iranian people for their acts of oppression against you, seemingly unaware that such actions ultimately vitiate the perpetrator's credibility.  We take comfort in knowing that you are cognizant of the operation of divine forces.  You realize that within His grasp are held the reins of all things.  You call on the spiritual powers born of such understanding to transcend enmity and oppression.  Staunch and immovable, you have won the admiration of the world as you have continued to discharge your duties with consummate wisdom.  Our hearts overflow with love and admiration for each and every one of you.  We raise our hands in supplication to Almighty God, beseeching Him to safeguard you and to aid you in promoting the interests of the Cause and in serving your fellow countrymen. [signed:  The Universal House of Justice] VoicesDivine no 2:49 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/world-reacts-trial-seven-bahai-leaders/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/world-reacts-trial-seven-bahai-leaders/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:08 +0000 Hans http://www.voicesdivine.com/?p=923 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/world-reacts-trial-seven-bahai-leaders/feed/ 1 Bahai, Baha'i, trial, Iran, Yaran, Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mr. Vahid Tizfahm Iran's decision to begin the trial yesterday of seven Baha'i leaders has triggered a strong international reaction, including a call by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi for their immediate release and ultimate acquittal. This is a recording from VoicesDivine.com. To see our other podcasts and our terms of use, go to www.voicesdivine.com (http://www.voicesdivine.com). This is John Iron (http://johniron.com) reading from the Baha'i World News Service (http://news.bahai.org). 13 January 2010,  GENEVA, Switzerland – Iran's decision to begin the trial yesterday of seven Baha'i leaders has triggered a strong international reaction, including a call by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi for their immediate release and ultimate acquittal. "If justice is to be carried out and an impartial judge should investigate the charges leveled against my clients, no other verdict can be reached save that of acquittal," said Mrs. Ebadi, in comments posted on WashingtonTV, a Web-based news service in the United States. Mrs. Ebadi, who is one of the lawyers for the seven, said she had carefully read the dossier of charges against them and "found in it no cause or evidence to sustain the criminal charges upheld by the prosecutor." Others also expressed concerns about the fairness of the trial, calling for it to be open and held in accordance with international legal standards. Governments and prominent individuals in the European Union, the United States, Brazil, India, and Canada issued strong statements of concern. The European Union statement came yesterday, echoing an earlier call for international observers to be allowed in the trial of the seven Baha'is. "The EU recalls that freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a fundamental and undeniable right which shall be guaranteed in every circumstance," the statement said. "The EU calls for a just, fair and open trial respecting all international standards and obligations. ..." In Brazil yesterday, Luiz Couto, the president of the Human Rights Commission of the Federal Chamber of Deputies, said in a letter to the Iranian ambassador to Brazil that it appears the "trial is not transparent and public," and that any closed trial would violate the right to a full and fair defense. "We consider the freedom of religion and belief – that of Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Baha'is, and all other religious expressions – a fundamental human right for democracy, both in the east and west," said Congressman Couto. On Monday, the United States Department of State condemned Iran's decision to move ahead with the trial. "Authorities have detained these persons for more than 20 months, without making public any evidence against them and giving them little access to legal counsel," said Philip J. Crowley, assistant secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State. "These persons are entitled to due process." In India, prominent Indians called upon the government to take up the issue of the Baha'i persecution with Tehran. "Our country has a long record of pluralism and tolerance and must speak out," said Maja Daruwala, director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, according to The Hindu newspaper on Saturday. In Canada, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon issued a statement on Friday expressing deep concern about the ongoing detention of the seven Baha'i leaders. "It is deplorable that these individuals were detained on the sole basis of their faith and have been denied a fair trial," said Mr. Cannon. Leading human rights barrister Cherie Blair in an interview today with the BBC World Service called for the release of "this group of people who live a religion which preaches peace and did nothing whatsoever to deserve this trial." In the WashingtonTV interview, Mrs. Ebadi, who is currently outside Iran, also offered a glimpse of what happened yesterday inside Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, where the "first session" of the trial was held. She said only two lawyers of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, which she established, were able to be present in the court. And that in spite of a request for an open hearing, the court was closed. VoicesDivine no 6:42 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/trial-seven-bahai-leaders-under-way-tehran/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/trial-seven-bahai-leaders-under-way-tehran/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:29:43 +0000 John Iron http://www.voicesdivine.com/?p=897 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/trial-seven-bahai-leaders-under-way-tehran/feed/ 0 Bahai, Baha'i, trial, Iran, Yaran, Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mr. Vahid Tizfahm John Iron reads: "The trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial is marked by numerous violations of legal due process..." The trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial is marked by numerous violations of legal due process. VoicesDivine no 2:58 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/745-trial-looms/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/745-trial-looms/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:19:34 +0000 John Iron http://www.voicesdivine.com/?p=838 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/745-trial-looms/feed/ 0 arrest,arrested,Baha'i,Baha'i World News Service,Baha’i International Community,BWNS,Evin Prison,human rights,Iran,leaders,Leva Khanjani,Mr. Afif Naeimi Recent developments in Iran have raised grave concern about the ultimate fate of the seven Baha'i leaders who are scheduled to go on trial next Tuesday. This is a recording from VoicesDivine.com (http://www.voicesdivine.com).  To see our other podcasts and our terms of use, go to www.voicesdivine.com (http://www.voicesdivine.com).  This is John Iron (http://johniron.com) reading from the Baha'i World N... VoicesDivine no 6:01 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/713_one_year_new_accusation/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/713_one_year_new_accusation/#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 18:19:35 +0000 Leanne Eleff http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=358 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/713_one_year_new_accusation/feed/ 0 arrested,Baha'i,Baha'i World News Service,Durban,human rights,Iran,Mr. Afif Naeimi,Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli,Mr. Hassan Haddad,Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani,Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,Mr. Saeid Rezaie The seven Baha'i leaders currently imprisoned in Iran are facing the anniversary of their arrest this Thursday, along with new and extremely grave accusations, after spending a year in jail without formal charges or access to their lawyer, Shirin Ebadi. 12 May 2009, NEW YORK, N.Y., U.S.A. (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=40.759741,-73.972321&spn=0.453007,0.601501&t=k&z=11) - The seven Baha'i leaders currently imprisoned in Iran are facing the anniversary of their arrest this Thursday, along with new and extremely grave accusations, after spending a year in jail without formal charges or access to their lawyer, Shirin Ebadi. "Despite their obvious innocence and the call by many for their immediate release, these seven men and women have been in legal limbo for a year now, against all international human rights standards," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "Moreover, their families have recently been told of a possible new charge - 'the spreading of corruption on earth,' which goes by the term 'Mofsede fel-Arz' in Persian and carries the threat of death under the penal code of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said Ms. Dugal. "The sequence of events surrounding their detention exposes a shameless travesty of justice. Notwithstanding their having been subjected to intensive interrogations, it took a full seven months before they were given even a single pretext for their detention. On February 10, 2009, the Iranian Student News Agency quoted Tehran deputy prosecutor Hassan Haddad as having said that the investigation of these individuals was complete and that 'the case will be sent to the revolutionary court next week' and that these Baha'is are accused of 'espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.' The international protest expressed by governments and civil society was immediate and widespread, causing the Iranian authorities to review their approach. "Now a new wrongful accusation reportedly has been added some three months after the investigation was supposed to have concluded. The charge of being spreaders of corruption was used against the Baha'is who were executed in the years immediately following the Islamic revolution. That it may now be resorted to in this case is a further demonstration that the authorities have no basis for any allegation against these seven individuals, other than blatant religious persecution. This action against the Baha'i leadership reflects the government's sharply increased persecution of the entire Iranian Baha'i community of more than 300,000 members. "The upcoming anniversary of their arrest offers an important milestone and we ask that the international community re-state once again in the strongest terms its demand for their immediate release, or, at least, for a fair and open trial that meets international standards of justice," said Ms. Dugal. Ms. Dugal also noted that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has frequently emphasized the importance of "justice and human dignity" and "the establishment of a just world system," such as when he addressed the UN Durban Review Conference in Geneva (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=46.212031,6.139126&spn=0.103464,0.150375&t=k&z=13)last month. "How can the calls of the Iranian leadership for justice in the international sphere be taken seriously if they do not grant justice to their own citizens? In Iran, by all accounts universally agreed upon human rights are routinely ignored, not only for Baha'is but also for women, journalists, and others who only seek dignity and justice," she said. The seven are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All but one of the group were arrested on 14 May 2008 at their homes in Tehran VoicesDivine no 4:34 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/712_australian_assembly_75/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/712_australian_assembly_75/#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 18:19:05 +0000 Leanne Eleff http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=351 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/712_australian_assembly_75/feed/ 0 Australia,Australian Prime Minister,Baha'i,Dr. Peter Khan,Iran,Member of Parliament,Mr. Kevin Rudd,Mr. Laurie Ferguson,National Spiritual Assembly,persecution,Sydney Prime Minister Kevin Rudd congratulated Australian Bahá’ís on the 75th anniversary of their National Spiritual Assembly at an event in Sydney. Participants remembered the Baha'is in Iran, who would be marking the same anniversary if not for the decad... 8 May 2009, SYDNEY, Australia (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&ie=UTF8&cd=2&geocode=FZfEcwQdjwVZ-g&split=0&num=10&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=-33.77715,151.196938&spn=0.240283,0.300751&t=k&z=12) - A congratulatory message from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was read to Australian Bahá'ís as they celebrated the 75th anniversary of their National Spiritual Assembly at an event in Sydney. Participants remembered the Bahá'ís in Iran, who would be marking the same anniversary if not for the decades of persecution in that country. Both Iran and Australia elected their first national Bahá'í governing councils in 1934. In Sydney, more than 2,500 people turned out on 25 April for a special anniversary event at the Sydney Convention Centre, followed the next day by a reception on the grounds of the Bahá'í House of Worship.A spokesperson for the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia said at the reception that the Iranian Assembly was dissolved in 1983. This occurred after the Iranian Prosecutor General called for the dismantling of the Bahá'í administrative structure. Persecution of the Iranian Bahá'ís had intensified in the years immediately following the Islamic Revolution in 1979. During that time all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran were abducted and disappeared without a trace, assumed to have been killed. Individuals subsequently elected to the same Assembly were then executed along with scores of other Bahá'ís. About 40 Bahá'ís are currently in prison in Iran because of their religion, including seven men and women who had a leadership role in helping see to the needs of the 300,000-member Bahá'í community there. Delegates to the annual Bahá'í convention in Australia referred to Iran in a message: "We grieve for the 30 years lost to the Bahá'í administration in Iran and salute those who gave their lives as a result of their service to that institution as well as the selfless dedication of the Iranian friends throughout their long oppression." Prime minister sends greetings Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd sent a message for the anniversary event, read by Member of Parliament Laurie Ferguson. In his own address, Mr. Ferguson complimented the Australian Bahá'í community: "Your organization is in the forefront of tolerance, debate, and rationality." He said he was particularly concerned by the persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran. Also speaking at the reception was Dr. Peter Khan, a member of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá'í Faith. Dr. Khan said that since its establishment in 1934, the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia had dedicated itself to fulfilling the central mission of the Bahá'í Faith - to be a source of harmony, unity, and understanding among diverse people. The National Spiritual Assembly of Australia is one of 180 such Bahá'í governing councils in the world. In virtually all countries, elections are held annually during the festival of Ridvan, which runs from 21 April to 2 May. Some 90 delegates from throughout Australia attended their national convention - held at the Sydney Bahá'í Centre from 24-26 April - and voted in the election for the National Assembly. All Baha'i elections are by secret ballot, without nominations or campaigning. Australia and New Zealand originally had a joint National Spiritual Assembly, but growth in the number of the Bahá'ís in both countries led to New Zealand forming its own governing body in 1957. The Bahá'í Faith was established in Australia in 1920. VoicesDivine no 5:00 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/711_nunavut_art_project/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/711_nunavut_art_project/#comments Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:19:37 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=339 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/711_nunavut_art_project/feed/ 0 Arctic Youth Art Initiative,art,Baffin Island,Baha'i,Canada,Caring Canadian Awards,Children,Iqaluit,Ms. Beth McKenty,Nanavut,painting,suicide Beth McKenty moved to Iqaluit in northeast Canada in 1999 to fulfill a pledge, made 45 years earlier, to devote part of her life to reducing youth suicide. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090426-BWNS-711_nunavut_art_project-150.jpg)26 April 2009, IQALUIT, NUNAVUT, Canada (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=63.749478,-68.521214&spn=0.016533,0.065746&t=h&z=15) - Beth McKenty moved to sparsely populated northeast Canada - to Iqaluit on Baffin Island - in 1999 to fulfill a pledge, made 45 years earlier, to devote part of her life to reducing youth suicide. Within two weeks of arriving she had begun a project to help children build self-esteem by exploring their creativity. The Arctic Youth Art Initiative has since grown to involve hundreds of children. Ms. McKenty's efforts were acknowledged this month when she was one of 75 individuals from across Canada named as recipients of the Caring Canadian Awards for 2009. Created in 1996 by the Canadian Governor General, the award is presented to individuals and groups whose unpaid, voluntary contributions over a number of years provide extraordinary help or care to people in their community.It has been a long and often surprising road for Ms. McKenty from her birthplace of Snowflake, Manitoba (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=49.047756,-98.659716&spn=0.011842,0.018797&t=k&z=16), to Iqaluit, population 7,200 and the capital of the Nunavut territory. In addition to several decades in Wisconsin, where she worked as a freelance journalist and raised a family, she has lived in Japan, China, and Russia, and she has taught at the Navajo College at Tsaile, Arizona (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=36.293665,-109.216869&spn=0.014147,0.018797&t=k&z=16), in the United States. "I started out on a farm in Manitoba, one of seven children," she said. "My father was from pioneer stock and a veteran who served at Vimy Ridge. My mother, a nurse, was an Icelandic immigrant. We grew up in a home with an openness to the whole world. "In 1954, my younger brother took his own life. One way I dealt with the anguish was to make a promise to myself that some day, somehow, I would do something to help reduce youth suicide." It was the day of her brother's funeral that she first heard of the Bahá'í Faith. As she learned of Bahá'u'lláh's world-embracing principle of unity, she felt it matched the values she had grown up with. A life of Bahá'í activity has followed. "I was so busy and the years went by, but my plan always included fulfilling my promise to my brother," she said. "Then in 1999, two things happened simultaneously. I read that the rate of youth suicide in newly formed Nunavut was seven times the Canadian average. Around the same time, I attended the Bahá'í National Convention in Montreal where I learned of opportunities for service in the Arctic. Here was my chance." By October, she had moved into Bahá'í House in Iqaluit, located on the Arctic tundra not too far south of the Arctic circle. 'I came with a purpose' "I came with a purpose but didn't have a method," she said. "Earlier, I had had my own artist's studio for two years and had brought my paints with me to Iqaluit. Two weeks after getting there, I heard some strange sounds and discovered two boys trying to throw stones over the house, but missing. I opened the door and asked if they'd like to come in for hot chocolate. "Since I'd been painting, I asked them if they would like to paint, too. I explained that with red, yellow, and blue they could mix any color except white. They were shy but accepted. I was astounded at what they could paint. Their work was so northern. The wonderful heritage of the Inuit was evident in these children. They returned later with one or two friends. That's how this project began. "I never really instructed these children. I just facilitated by providing a space and good quality materials. In addition to the painting, the children enjoy games, VoicesDivine no 7:52 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/710-ridvan_message_uk/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/710-ridvan_message_uk/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:19:15 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=334 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/710-ridvan_message_uk/feed/ 0 Baha'i,British Prime Minister,Conservative Party,Foreign Office Minister,House of Commons,Iran,Liberal Democrat Party,Mr. Bill Rammell,Mr. Gordon Brown,persecution,religious tolerance,Ridvan British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a message to UK Baha'is to mark Ridvan, the most important Baha'i festival, expressing "respect and admiration". (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090424-BWNS-710-Ridvan_message_UK-150.jpg)2009 April 24, LONDON, UK (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=51.480528,-0.177155&spn=0.751769,2.114868&t=k&z=10) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a message to UK Baha'is to mark Ridvan, the most important Bahá'í festival. In it he 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." In the letter, which was addressed to the annual reception hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Bahá'ís, Mr. Brown welcomed the Bahá'ís' "participation in public life" and described as "tragic" the prejudice and discrimination faced by some Bahá'ís in the world.His sentiments were echoed by leaders of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, and the archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England, all of whom also sent messages to the reception. "The Bahá'í emphasis on equality, unity, social justice, and human rights does credit to your faith," wrote David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party. Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, called Ridvan "a time to acknowledge and reflect on the valuable social and cultural contribution made by the thousands of Bahá'ís living in the UK." "The Bahá'í community," he said, "can be very proud of its active role in promoting religious tolerance, peace and unity across the world." The prime minister's message pointedly addressed the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran: "At the forefront of all of our minds this Ridvan is the fate of the seven Bahá'í leaders awaiting trial in Iran. 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." A message written on behalf of the archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, said he 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 Bahá'ís as peaceful people and loyal citizens of their countries." The prime minister's letter was read by Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell, who attended the reception along with 80 other guests, including leading figures from nongovernmental organizations and different religious communities. The event was held on the terrace of the House of Commons on 22 April. The 12-day Festival of Ridvan marks the anniversary of the announcement in 1863 by Baha'u'llah that He is God's Messenger for this age, the latest in a line of divine teachers that includes Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, and others. To see the original article and images at the Bahá'í World News service go to http://news.bahai.org/story/710 (http://news.bahai.org/story/710) VoicesDivine no 3:42 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/709-buenos_aires_70_years/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/709-buenos_aires_70_years/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:09:37 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=329 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/709-buenos_aires_70_years/feed/ 0 Argentina,Baha'i,Bahia,Brazil,Buenos Aires,election,Local Spiritual Assembly,Mr. Behrooz Khomassi,Ms. Martha Root,Ms. May Maxwell,South America This is the 70th year the Buenos Aires Baha'is elect their Local Spiritual Assembly – one of the two oldest of the now 600 Baha'i councils in South Americ (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090424-BWNS-709-buenos_aires_70_years-150.jpg)2009 April 24, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=BUENOS+AIRES&z=4) -This week, for the 70th year, the Baha'is of Buenos Aires gathered to elect their local Spiritual Assembly - one of the two oldest of what are now 600 such Baha'i governing councils throughout South America. A special program featuring historical photographs was presented at the annual meeting of the Buenos Aires' Baha'is on April 20th, said Behrooz Khomassi, who has researched local Baha'i history and helped prepare the program."The first assembly of Buenos Aires was elected on the 10th of May in 1940," he said. Published documents from the period list Buenos Aires and Bahia, Brazil, as being the first two Baha'i assemblies in South America. Both cities were visited in 1919 by the famed Baha'i travel teacher Martha Root, known for her journeys around the world to present the Baha'i message to royalty, government officials, civic leaders, newspaper editors, and the public at large. In 1940, another prominent Baha'i, May Maxwell, also came to Buenos Aires, but she died within three days of her arrival on February 27th. Mr. Khomassi said her passing served as a catalyst for Baha'i activity in the city - two months later its first Spiritual Assembly was formed. Worldwide, elections for local Baha'i assemblies are held annually at the beginning of the Festival of Ridvan, which goes from April 21st to May 2nd and marks the anniversary of Bahá'u'lláh's declaration in 1863 that He was a new messenger of God. There are thousands of localities around the globe that hold such elections. Also during Ridvan, virtually every national Baha'i community holds a convention where delegates elect their National Spiritual Assembly. Some 180 such elections will be held this year. Assemblies at both the national and local level have nine members, and all Baha'is aged 21 or over who live in the jurisdiction are eligible for election. To see the original article and images at the Baha'i World News service go to http://news.bahai.org/story/709 (http://news.bahai.org/story/709) VoicesDivine no 2:46 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/bahais-and-rights-groups-ajmadinejad-must-address-discrimination/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/bahais-and-rights-groups-ajmadinejad-must-address-discrimination/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:29:03 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=320 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/bahais-and-rights-groups-ajmadinejad-must-address-discrimination/feed/ 0 Baha'i,Durban II,Durban Review Conference,Federation of Human Rights,FIDH,Iran,Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights,LDDHI,Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,President,UN,United Nations The Baha'i International Community and two human rights organizations in call on Iranian President Ahmadinejad to address discrimination in his own country. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090419-BWNS-708-Durban-II-Statement-150.jpg) 2009 April 19, GENEVA, Switzerland (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6&ll=46.230916,6.129684&spn=0.100935,0.264359&t=k&z=13) - The Baha'i International Community (http://bic.org/) joined two human rights organizations in calling on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to address discrimination in his own country when he speaks this week at the conference known as Durban II. The statement was issued as a joint news release by the Baha'i International Community (http://bic.org/), the Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LDDHI), and the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) (http://www.fidh.org/). In addition to calling on the Iranian president to address discrimination against ethnic minorities, women, and religious minorities, the three organizations also ask him to redress the problem of incitement to hatred. "Of particular concern is the manner in which the government-controlled news media has vilified adherents of the Baha'i Faith," the statement said, citing the hundreds of articles, radio and television programs, Internet postings, and pamphlets containing hate speech that have been disseminated in Iran in recent years. The Durban Review Conference (http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/index.shtml) is being held under the auspices of the United Nations (http://www.un.org). The purpose is to evaluate progress towards the goals set by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in 2001. The following is the news release issued by the three organizations (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090419-BWNS-708-Durban-II-Statement.pdf): Baha'i Internation Community United Nations Office (http://bic.org)Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LDDHI) International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) (http://www.fidh.org/) For Immediate Release President Ahmadinejad must redress grave discrimination in Iran GENEVA, 19 April 2009 - If he desires to lend genuine support to the Durban process, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should address the severe forms of discrimination faced by minority groups in his own country when he speaks at the Durban Review Conference here this week, said the Baha'i International Community (BIC), the Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LDDHI) and the [International Federation for Human Rights] Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) today. "By coming to the Durban Review Conference, President Ahmadinejad signals a commitment to the conference's goals of eliminating all forms of discrimination and intolerance," said Diane Ala'i, the BIC's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. "His first move on returning home, then, should be to address the severe discrimination and persecution that have flourished under his tenure." Karim Lahidji of LDDHI said: "Human rights have sharply deteriorated in Iran under the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, as well as against women, are of grave concern. Our hope is that governments, the news media, and other Durban Review Conference participants will hold President Ahmadinejad accountable on these points." The BIC, LDDHI, and FIDH called particularly on President Ahmadinejad to redress: Discrimination against ethnic minorities Repression against activists belonging to ethnic minorities is rising dramatically in Iran. Kurds and other groups are accused of terrorism, attacks on national security or treason, without concrete evidence. The authorities do not seem to make a distinction between peaceful advocacy for the rights of minorities and terrorist attacks by armed groups. Over the past year, John Iron no 6:45 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/egypt-officially-changes-rules-for-id-cards/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/egypt-officially-changes-rules-for-id-cards/#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:19:09 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=314 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/egypt-officially-changes-rules-for-id-cards/feed/ 0 Baha'i,Baha’i International Community,Egypt,Egyptian,Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights,Egyptian Supreme Administrative Court,EIPR,government,ID Cards,Ministry of Interior,Ms. Bani Dugal,United Nations Egypt's Ministry of Interior has published a decree allowing individuals to obtain government documents without identifying their religious affiliation. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090417-BWNS-707-Egypt-ID-Cards-150.jpg) 2009 April 17, CAIRO, Egypt (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&ll=30.057506,31.227264&spn=0.235346,0.273972&z=12&msid=107001268033865952759.000467d7fa436430d35d6) - Egypt's Ministry of Interior this week published a decree that allows individuals to obtain government documents without identifying themselves as belonging to a particular religion. The decree is the result of a recent Egyptian Supreme Administrative Court ruling - in a case involving Baha'is - that on government ID cards and other documents, individuals may put a dash in the field denoting religious affiliation. "We are very pleased that the Egyptian government has moved to officially change the regulation that prevented Baha'is and others from realizing their rights of citizenship," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. The computerization of ID cards introduced by the government had locked out all religious classifications except Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.  This had meant that Baha'is were unable to get documents essential to day-to-day life. The decree was signed by General Habib al-Adly, Egypt's Interior Minister, and dated 19 March 2009, and was published on 14 April in the official gazette.  According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), which represented Baha'is in many of the recent court cases concerning religious affiliation on government documents, the decree amends the Implementing Statutes of Egypt's Civil Status Law of 1994.  It specifically instructs officials to place a dash (--) before the line reserved for religion in the official documents of citizens who can show that they, or their ancestors, were followers of a religious belief other than the three recognized by the state. To see the original article at the Baha'i World News Service (http://news.bahai.org) go to http://news.bahai.org/story/707. (http://news.bahai.org/story/707) Photo by Hans Zinsli (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanszinsli/2444822869/) (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/cc/cc-by-nc-nd-80x15.png) VoicesDivine no http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/canadas-parliament-condemns-persecution-of-bahais-in-iran/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/canadas-parliament-condemns-persecution-of-bahais-in-iran/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:19:19 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=289 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/canadas-parliament-condemns-persecution-of-bahais-in-iran/feed/ 0 Baha'i,Canada,condemn,Evin Prison,House of Commons,human rights,Iran,motion,Parliament,persecution,spies,Yaran Canada's House of Commons unanimously adopted a strongly worded motion condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran and calling for release of Baha'i leaders. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090402-BWNS-706-Canadian-Parliament-150.jpg) 2009 April 2, OTTAWA, Canada (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.424442,-75.699277&spn=0.004925,0.011373&t=h&z=17) - Canada's House of Commons has unanimously adopted a strongly worded motion condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran and calling on the Iranian government to release Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Tehran. The motion, which was approved on 30 March, stated that the accusations against the Baha'is - espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic republic - are charges "frequently used by Iranian authorities to target human rights defenders and religious minorities, and there is nothing in the history or teachings of the Baha'i community to lend any credence to such charges." The motion was addressed in a debate on the floor of the House of Commons which lasted some 90 minutes. Members of Parliament from all four of Canada's political parties spoke of the long history of persecution suffered by Iran's Baha'is and the current "campaign of hatred and incitement" against the Baha'i community there, noting that these current attacks "constitute a number of warning signs that often foreshadow widespread ethnic, racial or religious cleansing." Decrying the "persistent and pervasive" violation of the human rights not only of Iran's Baha'i but of all Iranian citizens who have suffered repression at the hands of extremist elements in that country, members of Parliament also expressed deep admiration for Iran's people and "the enormous contribution" that Iran's "great civilization" has made to humankind. The resolution concludes: "Therefore, be it resolved that this House condemns the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i minority of Iran and calls upon the government of Iran to reconsider its charges against the members of the Friends in Iran, and release them immediately or failing this, that it proceed to trial without further delay, ensuring that the proceedings are open and fair and are conducted in the presence of international observers." Seven of the Baha'is imprisoned in Tehran had comprised an ad hoc group called the "Friends in Iran" that tended to the minimum needs of the 300,000-member Baha'i community in Iran. The seven were rounded up a year ago and have been detained ever since, without access to legal counsel. Accusations against them were only recently announced, but no hearing or trial has yet been held. More than 30 Baha'is are currently jailed in Iran because of their religion. The following is the wording of the full motion adopted by the Canadian House of Commons: "Whereas, the House of Commons recognizes that on 14 May 2008, six members of an informal group known as the Friends in Iran tommunity in Iran were arrested and taken to the political prisoners section of Evin prison in Tehran, where the seventh member was already being held, following her arrest in Mashhad in March 2008. "And whereas, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in October 2005, uncovered a confidential letter from the Command headquarters of the Armed Forces of Iran ordering the identification and monitoring of all Baha'is and their activities. "And whereas, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief stated on March 20, 2006, that she 'also expresses her concern that the information gathered as a result of such monitoring will be used as a basis for the increased persecution of and discrimination against, members of the Baha'i Faith, in violation of international standards ... The Special Rapporteur is concerned that this latest development indicates that the situation with regard to religious minorities in Iran is, in fact, deteriorating.' "And whereas, the Baha'i community of Canada is gravely concerned for the safety of these seven Baha'is, who have been held without formal charges, John Iron no 6:33 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/web-site-offers-information-for-visiting-bahai-gardens-shrines/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/web-site-offers-information-for-visiting-bahai-gardens-shrines/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:19:28 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=242 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/web-site-offers-information-for-visiting-bahai-gardens-shrines/feed/ 0 Acre,Akka,Akko,Báb,Baha'i,Bahá'u'lláh,Bahji,gardens,Haifa,Israel,shrine,UNESCO A new Web site with information for visiting the Baha'i shrines and gardens in Haifa and Acre was introduced today by the Baha'i International Community. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090319-BWNS-705-150.jpg) 2009 March 19, HAIFA, Israel (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=2&ll=32.813346,34.986874&spn=0.008575,0.016522&t=h&z=17) - A new Web site with information for visiting the Baha'i shrines and gardens in Haifa (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=2&ll=32.813346,34.986874&spn=0.008575,0.016522&t=h&z=17) and Acre (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=2&t=h&ll=32.944041,35.092328&spn=0.008562,0.016522&z=17) was introduced today by the Baha'i International Community. The Web site gives details about tours, hours, and the gardens themselves, as well as information about visiting the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh in Acre and the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa. The shrines are the resting places of the founders of the Baha'i Faith. Letting people know what to expect when they visit the properties is a major aim of the Web site, said Albert Lincoln, secretary general of the Baha'i International Community. The site gives maps and suggestions for visitors, answers frequently asked questions, and also notes when people might find the gardens closed, such as on Baha'i holy days. The launch of the Web site - called "The Baha'i Gardens" - coincides with an expanded array of public tours. Half a million people come to the properties each year, making them among the most visited sites in the eastern Mediterranean region. Last year the shrines and gardens were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list as having "outstanding universal value" for humanity. A major impetus for creating the Web site was to make visitor information available in the local languages, Mr. Lincoln said. In addition to English, the site already offers Hebrew, and Arabic will be added as soon as possible. Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel. Public tours have changed in that people may check the Web site for the hours of the main "Panorama Tour" and the languages in which it is offered. Reservations are no longer required. More specialized tours are available for groups, depending on their interests. Such tours must be arranged ahead of time. "Organized groups often want a more in-depth experience," Mr. Lincoln said. "They want to learn more, in addition to visiting the gardens." Besides providing practical details for visitors, the new Web site includes information about the Baha'i Faith and also such resource material as extracts from an architectural study of the Baha'i properties in Acre and Haifa. The address of the new Web site is www.ganbahai.org.il. (http://www.ganbahai.org.il/en/) VoicesDivine no http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/naw-ruz-this-year-marks-centenary-of-entombment-of-the-bab/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/naw-ruz-this-year-marks-centenary-of-entombment-of-the-bab/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:19:12 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=300 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/naw-ruz-this-year-marks-centenary-of-entombment-of-the-bab/feed/ 0 100 years,anniversary,Báb,Baha'i,Haifa,interment,Israel,Mount Carmel,Naw Ruz,New Year,shrine On March 21st, Baha'is mark Naw-Ruz, their new year, and this year also the 100th anniversary of the interment of the remains of the Báb on Mount Carmel. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/news/20090318-BWNS-704-NawRuz-Centenary-Bab-150.jpg) 2009 March 18, HAIFA, Israel (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107001268033865952759.0004614f3a50c3f77ea73&ll=32.814609,34.987206&spn=0.008323,0.016522&t=h&z=17) - On March 21, Baha'is around the world will mark Naw-Ruz - their new year - a date that this year coincides with the 100th anniversary of the interment of the remains of the Báb on Mount Carmel. On Naw-Ruz in 1909, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, then the head of the Baha'i Faith, laid to rest the mortal remains of the Báb. 'Abdu'l-Bahá personally placed the precious trust in its place in a building he had had constructed on Mount Carmel in Haifa. The original structure was later surrounded by a formal colonnade and crowned with a golden dome to make it a fitting burial site for the Báb, the first of two Messengers of God associated with the Baha'i Faith. Both lived in the 19th century, with the Báb's mission being to announce the imminent coming of Bahá'u'lláh, considered by Baha'is the long-awaited promised one of all religions. The Báb was executed in the public square in Tabriz, Persia (now Iran), in 1850, and His remains were hidden in that country for nearly 50 years until being secretly brought to the Holy Land and hidden another decade before being laid to their final rest. Bahá'u'lláh was also from Persia but was banished from His native land and eventually exiled to the Acre-Haifa area. Before His passing in 1892, Bahá'u'lláh gave instructions to 'Abdu'l-Bahá to have the remains of the Báb brought from Persia and interred at a specific site on Mount Carmel. 'Abdu'l-Bahá thus arranged for the purchase of the land; the building of an adequate structure for the interment; and a road to the site on what at that time was still a rough, undeveloped mountainside. The Baha'is of Rangoon, Burma, sent a sarcophagus to use for the entombment. The circumstances of that significant event 100 years ago are described in the Baha'i history "God Passes By": "'Abdu'l-Bahá had the marble sarcophagus transported with great labor to the vault prepared for it, and in the evening, by the light of a single lamp, he laid within it, with his own hands - in the presence of believers from the East and from the West and in circumstances at once solemn and moving - the wooden casket containing the sacred remains of the Báb. ..." Please visit the Baha'i World News Service (http://news.bahai.org/story/704) to see the original article and pictures of this and other Baha'i stories. John Iron no 3:23 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/attendance-nears-50000-people-at-conferences/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/attendance-nears-50000-people-at-conferences/#comments Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:59:19 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=75 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/attendance-nears-50000-people-at-conferences/feed/ 0 In Mexico, the prayers were in Spanish, Mayan and Nahuatl. Across North America, in Toronto, they were in English, French, and the Northern Tutchone language. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/687_00.jpg)GUADALAJARA, Mexico (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=GUADALAJARA,+Mexico&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=52.418008,59.238281&ie=UTF8&ll=18.312811,-104.765625&spn=31.388122,29.619141&t=h&z=5) - In Mexico, the prayers were in Spanish, Mayan and Nahuatl. Across North America, in Toronto, they were in English, French, and the Northern Tutchone language. But the spirit was the same - members of the Baha'i Faith coming together in regional conferences to celebrate past achievements and to plan for upcoming activities. The gatherings last weekend in Guadalajara and Toronto were part of the series of 41 conferences in cities around the world convened by the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha'i Faith. Young people join for a presentation at the conference in Toronto, which with 4,000 people was one of the largest gatherings in the current series.Enlarge images The conferences began on 1 November and will finish on 1 March. Nearly 50,000 people have participated in the 27 gatherings to date. Some 4,000 attended the Toronto conference, which attracted people from throughout eastern Canada, including Nunavut, and from Bermuda. In Mexico, 600 people - from Baja California in the northwest to Chiapas and Quintana Roo in the southeast - participated. "This was a small conference compared to some in other countries," said one of the Mexican attendees, "but its heart and spirit were enormous - enough to cover a country as big as Mexico." Next weekend there will be gatherings in Vancouver, Canada; Managua, Nicaragua; and Lae, Papua New Guinea. (Correction: On 14 January 2009. a correction was made in the name of one of the languages given in the first paragraph.) VoicesDivine no http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/restoration-work-begins-on-shrine-of-the-bab/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/restoration-work-begins-on-shrine-of-the-bab/#comments Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:19:29 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=7 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/restoration-work-begins-on-shrine-of-the-bab/feed/ 0 Báb, Bab, Baha'i, Bahai, Bahá'í, gardens, Haifa, Israel, Mount Carmel, restoration, renovation, shrine, temple, UNESCO Work has begun on a four-year restoration project on the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, one of the holiest sites in the Baha'i world and Haifa's best-known landmark. The Shrine of the Báb stands at the center of the Baha'i gardens, This is a recording from VoicesDivine.com. To see our full range of podcasts and our terms of use, go to www.voicesdivine.com. This is John Iron reading from the Baha'i World News Service. 28 December, 2008 - HAIFA, Israel - Work has begun on a four-year restoration project on the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, one of the holiest sites in the Baha'i world and Haifa's best-known landmark. The Shrine of the Báb stands at the center of the Baha'i gardens, on the side of Mount Carmel overlooking Haifa Bay and the Mediterranean Sea. The gardens and shrine are among the most visited sites in Israel. The domed structure was completed 55 years ago and now requires restoration and updating, including structural reinforcement against earthquakes, restoration of stonework, replacement of iron decorative elements with stainless steel, upgrading of the electrical system, and refurbishment of the dome with new tiles. There will be no change in the design, use or general appearance of the building. The work will be undertaken in such a way to keep the shrine open to both Baha'i pilgrims and the general public throughout most of the project, except during summer months. Starting in May or June of 2009, the structure will be covered with scaffolding and canvas sheeting for about two years. The project will cost approximately US$6 million, with funds coming entirely from the voluntary contributions of the Baha'is of the world. The shrine is the burial place of the Bab, revered by Baha'is as a Messenger of God and one of the Central Figures of the Baha'i Faith. The Bab was executed in 1850 in the public square in Tabriz, Iran, and His remains later brought to Haifa, where they were laid to rest in the present location in 1909. The original building covering the tomb was a one-story rectangle. The domed superstructure - made of granite and marble quarried in Italy, with gilded roof tiles from the Netherlands - was added later and was completed in 1953. The burial place of the Báb, and that of Bahá'u'lláh near Acre, north of Haifa, are considered by Baha'is to be the most sacred places on earth.  Earlier this year, the two shrines and their surrounding gardens were chosen by UNESCO as World Heritage sites (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1220/) - part of the cultural heritage of humanity. To read the article with accompanying photo goto news.bahai.org/story/684. For more Baha'i audio including recordings of the writings, prayers, news, and community messages of the Baha'i Faith, go to www.voicesdivine.com (http://www.voicesdivine.com). VoicesDivine no 2:41 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/un-general-assembly-concerned-about-human-rights-in-iran/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/un-general-assembly-concerned-about-human-rights-in-iran/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:19:08 +0000 John Iron http://news.voicesdivine.com/?p=40 http://www.voicesdivine.com/news/un-general-assembly-concerned-about-human-rights-in-iran/feed/ 0 arrest,arrested,Baha'i,community,general assembly,human rights,Iran,leaders,prison,United Nations The United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution expressing “deep concern at serious human rights violations” in Iran. (http://news.voicesdivine.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/unseal.jpg) 2008 December 18, UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution expressing “deep concern at serious human rights violations” in Iran. The resolution, which passed by a vote of 69 to 54, specifically criticized Iran’s use of torture, the high incidence of executions, the “violent repression” of women, and “increasing discrimination” against Bahá’ís, Christians, Jews, Sufis, Sunni Muslims, and other minorities. “Iran should reflect upon and glean from this vote that, sadly, countries from Finland to Fiji are more concerned about the rights of ordinary Iranian citizens than the Iranian government itself,” said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. “The General Assembly is the world’s most representative body, and the fact that this represents the 21st such resolution expressing concern over human rights in Iran since 1985 should leave no doubt that this is not about ‘politicization,’ as the Iranian government likes to say, but a genuine concern for universally acknowledged rights. “Regretfully, despite outcries like this and the recent report of the UN secretary general, the human rights situation in Iran grows worse each day. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful that expressions of concern like this will cause Iranian leaders to rethink their stance on human rights in respect for the rights that have been so widely accepted by other nations,” she said. Ms. Dugal also noted that Iran comes up for Universal Periodic Review in the Human Rights Council in 2010. Iran should take note of the international community’s concern and make all efforts to improve its deplorable human rights record. Today’s resolution was put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by more than 40 other countries. It also specifically takes note of the recent report by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, issued in October, which also expressed concern about human rights in Iran, and calls on Iran to address the “substantive concerns” voiced therein. In that report, Mr. Ban said “there are a number of serious impediments to the full protection of human rights” in Iran. It likewise expressed concerns over torture, executions, the rights of women, and discrimination against minorities. [To read the full report, go to: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/63/459] The resolution asks the secretary general to prepare an update on Iran’s progress over the coming year. It also calls on Iran to “end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views” and to “uphold due process of law rights and to end impunity for human rights violations.” The resolution takes particular note of attacks on Bahá’ís, noting “increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Bahá’ís, preventing members of the Bahá’í Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically, and the arrest and detention of seven Bahá’í leaders without charge or access to legal representation.” Ms. Dugal noted that there are at least 20 Bahá’ís currently in jail, including the national Bahá’í leadership of seven members who were arrested last March and May and are being held in Evin prison without charges. More than 100 others have been arrested and released on bail over the last four years as part of a stepped-up government effort at persecution. John Iron no 4:12 http://www.voicesdivine.com/writings/abdul-baha-at-st-johns-westminster/ http://www.voicesdivine.com/writings/abdul-baha-at-st-johns-westminster/#comments Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:27:43 +0000 John Iron http://writings.voicesdivine.com/?p=7 http://www.voicesdivine.com/writings/abdul-baha-at-st-johns-westminster/feed/ 0 Bahai, Baha'i, Bahá'í, Abdul, Baha, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Westminster, London, God, divine, mirror, prohpet Audio: "...If we claim that the sun is seen in the mirror, we do not mean that the sun itself has descended from the holy heights of his heaven and entered into the mirror! This is impossible. The Divine Nature is seen in the Manifestations and its Lig... St. John’s Westminster: Introduction On September 17th, 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the request of the venerable Archdeacon of Westminster addressed the congregation of Saint John the Divine after evening service. With a few warm words characteristic of his whole... VoicesDivine no 5:55