Human rights

GENEVA, 31 October 2014, (BWNS) — Iran's response during a major review of its human rights record today failed to adequately address repeated calls by other governments here for greater respect for religious freedom and an end to discrimination against religious minorities, including Baha'is.

"Sadly, what we saw at today's Human Rights Council session was an attempt to gloss over the issue of religious discrimination, repeatedly cited as a concern by other governments," said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.

(From left to right) Rita Izsak, the United Nations Independent Expert on minority issues; Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran; Heiner Bielefeldt, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. © UN Photos/Jean-Marc Ferre and Paulo Filgueiras Geneva, 4 September 2014 (BWNS) — Three high-level United Nations human rights experts today called on Iran to halt the ongoing destruction of a historic Baha’i cemetery in Shiraz, Iran, saying the action is an “unacceptable” violation of freedom of religion.

Plans to build a sports and cultural complex over a Baha’i cemetery have resumed with concrete being poured into the site where the graves of Baha’is were excavated in order to lay the building foundation. Demolition of the cemetery, which began in late April, had temporarily stopped after the international media reported on the desecration and other governments expressed concern. © Baha'i International Community Toronto, Ontario, 11 August 2014 (CBNS) — “Paralyzed and devastated” were the two emotions most keenly felt by Sasha Eskandarian, member of the Baha’i Faith and resident of Mississauga, upon learning that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have resumed their demolition of a historic Baha’i cemetery in her home town of Shiraz, Iran. “All my relatives are from Shiraz, both of my parents and close friends. All of my deceased relatives and even my younger brother, who died before I was born, are buried there.”

A large photo of the seven former Baha'i leaders signed by influential Iranian personalities, human rights activists, journalists, and a prominent religious leader gathered this week in Tehran to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the imprisonment of the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders. More details on the gathering here.
© Baha'i International Community Toronto, Ontario, 16 May 2014 (CBNS) — “May Allah preserve, protect and bless Ayatollah Masoumi-Tehrani all his days” is not a sentiment one expects to hear from a Christian cleric in Canada about a Muslim cleric living in Iran. Yet those are the words recently written by University of Winnipeg Professor James Christie, an ordained minister. He refers to a gesture of reconciliation by the Ayatollah that he feels reflects a sentiment more and more common among religious leaders around the world, one that may overcome some of the damage done to religion by extremism and prejudice.

Ambassador Andrew Bennett. © DFATD Ottawa, Ontario, 14 May 2014 (CBNS) — Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, today issued the following statement:

“A year after President Hassan Rouhani’s electoral campaign promises of equal rights for all Iranians, regardless of ethnicity and religion, the situation for Iran’s minority communities has not improved. Indeed, since President Rouhani’s election, we have seen an increase in detentions and executions of Iranians because of their faith.