Canadian Bahá’í News Service | Bahá’í Community of Canada

Radio Attracted by Montreal Youth, a Peace Message Competition, and a Celebration of Intercalary Days

One of the children who wrote a Peace Message to the Children of the World at Montreal’s Salon du livre.Montreal, Quebec, 6 March 2009 (CBNS) — Every year the Baha’i Community of Montreal participates in the “Salon du livre”, a book exposition that attracts thousands of people to La Place Bonaventure in downtown Montreal. This past November, the Salon du livre Committee decided to invite the children and junior youth who came by the Baha’i booth to take part in a writing competition on the subject of ‘Peace’. They didn’t expect that as many as 266 young people would respond to the challenge. It was decided to invite all participants in the competition to the Bahá’í community’s Intercalary Days Celebration and offer prizes to those who wrote the best Peace Message to the children of the world.

Parliamentary Committee Demands Release of Imprisoned Baha’is

Tri-City prayer gatheringToronto, Ontario, 27 February 2009 (CBNS) — The Canadian Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Human Rights has adopted a strongly worded motion demanding the immediate release of the seven Baha’i leaders held now for more than nine months without formal charges and no access to lawyers. The motion was adopted on 24 February; and in a public session on Thursday 26 February, the committee voted to send the motion to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Appearing before the committee on Thursday were the Baha’i Community of Canada’s Director of Governmental Relations, Susanne Tamas, and McGill Law Professor, Payam Akhavan.

European Union expresses “deep concern” over seven Baha'i prisoners

Geneva, Switzerland, 18 February 2009 — The European Union yesterday issued a statement expressing its “deep concern” over Iran’s plans to bring seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders to trial for espionage and other charges soon. The Bahá’í International Community has called for their immediate release, maintaining their innocence and characterizing the regime’s claims as an “escalation of its systematic crackdown on the Baha’is.”

The EU statement coincided with increasingly sharp anti-Baha'i rhetoric from Iranian officials, who said a trial for the seven might come within a week.

Governments Denounce Charges against Baha'is as Iranian Intellectuals Voice Concern

Canadian Communities Gather for Prayer as Concerns Deepen over Fate of Baha'is in Iran

Toronto, Ontario, 17 February 2009 (CBNS) — Baha’i communities across Canada are gathering for prayers this week for the safety of Baha’is in Iran after learning last Wednesday that seven members of the committee that managed the affairs of Iran’s largest religious minority, the Baha’i community, are being brought before the Iranian Revolutionary Court on charges of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the system.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs and MPs speak out against treatment of Iran's Baha'is

Toronto, Ontario, 17 February 2009 (CBNS) — In the wake of the announcement out of Iran that the seven Baha'i members of the coordinating group that leads the Baha'i Community of Iran are being put on trial this week (see our previous story and read about it on the Baha'i World News Service) the Baha'is of Canada have been gratified by the positive support they are receiving from the Canadian Government, its Department of Foreign Affairs, and Members of Parliament across the country. There was also an article posted on the websites of the CanWest newspaper chain on 11 February, and a further article published in the Ottawa Citizen among other papers.

Canadian Relatives of Iran’s Baha’is Worried

Toronto, Ontario, 12 February 2009 (CBNS) — Canadian relatives of some of the 40 Iranian Baha'is now in prison for their beliefs have more reason to fear today as news comes out of Iran that seven Baha’i leaders are to be put on trial for “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic.” The reports cite Tehran’s deputy public prosecutor Hassan Haddad that the seven Baha'i leaders, imprisoned since last spring, have had their case referred to the Revolutionary Court. This step appears to mark a new and dangerous phase in Iran’s ongoing persecution of Baha’is.