Author: Staff Writer

Source: Bahá’í World News Service

http://news.bahai.org/story/713

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...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Bahá’í World News Service

http://news.bahai.org/story/712

A congratulatory message from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was read to Australian Baha’is as they celebrated 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 decades of persecution in that country.

Both Iran and Australia...

Author: David Conard

Source: Lake Zurich Courier

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/lakezurich/news/1546375,lake-zurich-lalehzarippl-042709-s1.article

Elahe Lalehzari may be organizing a very small congregation, but she hopes it will grow. After all, her religion accepts people no matter which prophet they pray to.

Lalehzari is a Bahai, a faith with five million members worldwide, and the 11-year Hawthorn...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Bahá’í World News Service

http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/710

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a message to UK Baha'is to mark Ridvan, the most important Baha'i festival. In it he expressed his "respect and admiration" for the British Baha'i 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...

Author: Peggy Fletcher Stack

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_12209648

Jordan Dez loved worshipping at her big, white-steepled Connecticut church. She felt embraced by the liberal United Church of Christ congregation of her youth. It felt natural and right and fit in with her sense of God's love. She was baptized at 13 because, as she says, everyone around was a Christian.

That was her religious cocoon.

Yet, like...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Edmond Sun

http://www.edmondsun.com/local/local_story_113232800.html

Edmond along with all Oklahoma City Metro Baha’i communities from April 21 to May 2 are celebrating Ridvan, considered the holiest period of the Baha’i calendar, which commemorates the Baha’i founder’s public declaration in 1863 of his mission as God’s messenger for today.

Baha’i communities across...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Bahá’í World News Service

http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/708

The Baha’i International Community 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, the Iranian League...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Bahá’í World News Service

http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/707

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...

Author: John Darling

Source: Mail Tribune

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090409/NEWS/904090321

Leaders of several faiths are gathering Saturday in Medford to protest the persecution of members of the Bahai Faith under the Iranian government and to show support for a resolution by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., calling for the release of prisoners being held in Iraq for their faith.

The...

Author: Noha El-Hennawy

Source: The Los Angeles Times

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2009/04/egypt-bahais-under-attack.html

The homes of some members of Egypt's Bahai minority came under violent attack by Muslims this week in a rural area in southern Egypt.

The attacks erupted in the village of al-Shuraniya in the upper Egyptian province of Sohag where Muslim residents gathered outside the...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: News24

http://www.news24.com/News24/Archive/0,,2-1659_1028476,00.html

As the bright sun dimmed on Tuesday over Haifas Mount Carmel, hundreds of white lights were illuminated along the mountains cascading western cliff throwing tiny shadows over the majestic terraced gardens of the Bahai faith.

Three thousand Bahais descended on this coastal city from as far afoot as Uganda, Samoa and Australia to...

Author: Mark E. Rondeau

Source: The Bennington Banner

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_12053134

Local Baha'i are speaking out to draw attention to the plight of seven members of their faith in Iran who have been arrested and are reportedly charged with spying for Israel.

Arrested in Iran

The seven, five men and two women, were serving as ad hoc administrators for the Baha'i faith at the national level in Iran.

This faith has...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Bahá’í World News Service

http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/706

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...

Author: Jennifer Johnson

Source: Park Ridge Herald-Advocate

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/parkridge/news/1493805,pr-bahai-032409-s1.article

As the calendar declared March 20 to be the start of a new season, local followers of the Baha'i faith also welcomed in a new year.

Gathering at the iconic Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette for songs and prayer on March 21, Baha'is celebrated Naw-Ruz, an ancient new year...

Author: Theodora Aggeles

Source: St. Petersburg Times

http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/article985793.ece

After sundown Friday, the Baha'is celebrated the start of the New Year, and the end of a 19-day fast. But this year, the time of celebration and happiness is bittersweet.

On Sunday, Baha'is in Pinellas County will open their doors for a special spiritual gathering to pray for seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran, and everyone...