Category: Bahai

  • European Lawmakers Condemn Escalating Persecution of Bahá’í Women in Iran

    BRUSSELS – In an unprecedented display of solidarity, 125 Members of the European Parliament and national parliaments across Europe have endorsed a statement by United Nations Special Rapporteurs and experts, condemning the escalating persecution of Bahá’í women in Iran. This marks a significant step in holding the Iranian government accountable for its systematic targeting of religious and gender minorities.

    The United Nations press release published on December 23, 2024, highlights the increasing discrimination faced by Bahá’í women, who endure persecution both for their faith and their gender. The UN experts described this escalation as particularly alarming given the broader crackdown on women’s rights in Iran.

    “In the larger context of the targeting of women in Iran and the challenges with gender equality, this dramatic rise in persecution against Bahá’í women is an alarming escalation,” the UN experts stated.

    European Parliament Urges Immediate Action

    The European parliamentarians echoed the concerns of the UN, issuing a statement emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

    “We echo the statement of UN Rapporteurs and Experts who have expressed ‘serious concern at what appears to be an increase in systematic targeting of Iranian women belonging to the Bahá’í religious minority throughout the country,’” they declared.

    This statement aligns with recent European Parliament resolutions that condemn Iran’s systematic persecution of the Bahá’í community. The urgency resolution passed on January 23, 2025, follows an earlier resolution in November 2024 that referenced a 1991 memorandum signed by Iran’s Supreme Leader outlining measures to “block the progress and development” of Bahá’ís in the country.

    The Reality of Bahá’í Women’s Persecution

    According to the UN experts, Bahá’í women are primary targets of state-sanctioned repression, enduring arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, home raids, property confiscation, and restrictions on education. The persecution intensified significantly following the nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Jina Amini in late 2022. Currently, two-thirds of all Bahá’ís targeted in Iran are women.

    The increasing hostility towards Bahá’ís coincides with Iran’s broader efforts to criminalize dissent among women. In recent months, Iranian women have faced harsher penalties for defying morality laws, with some at risk of the death penalty for refusing to comply with hijab mandates.

    Global Calls for Accountability

    Rachel Bayani, Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the European institutions in Brussels, praised the growing international support.

    “The solidarity of these MEPs and MPs follows a similar initiative just six months ago—demonstrating that concern for Bahá’ís in Iran and Bahá’í women is rising as the Iranian government increases its persecution of these innocent people,” Bayani said (bic.org).

    Additionally, Human Rights Watch has classified the Iranian government’s actions against Bahá’ís as the crime against humanity of persecution, highlighting in its report The Boot on My Neck that discriminatory policies and laws are used to systematically marginalize the Bahá’í community.

    As the international community increases its scrutiny, pressure is mounting on Iranian authorities to cease their persecution of the Bahá’í minority. Yet, for the Bahá’í women in Iran—who face oppression on multiple fronts—justice remains elusive.

    “The only way forward is to end the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran—and to respect the rights of all Iranians of every background,” Bayani added.

  • The Bahá’í World: A Revival of Vision and Unity in a New Era

    The Bahá’í World Resumes Historic Series with New Volume Highlighting Global Spiritual and Social Progress

    A treasured chronicle of spiritual and social evolution has been revitalized with the release of the 35th volume of The Bahá’í World. This historic publication weaves a narrative of millions of people worldwide working together to advance the spiritual and social well-being of their communities.

    The Universal House of Justice, the global governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, highlighted the significance of the volume in a message to all Bahá’í National Spiritual Assemblies. They wrote, “…this new volume presents the growing experience of the Bahá’í community as an example of the potentialities within the human race to overcome conflict and division, to create new patterns of thought and human interaction, and to lay the foundations of a world that embodies the principle of the oneness of humankind.”

    Spanning 455 pages, the volume delves into pivotal themes, including the evolving patterns of thought and action inspired by Bahá’í principles, innovative approaches to spiritual and material education, and the development of an administrative system aimed at fostering global unity. Lavishly illustrated with photographs and artwork from around the world, it reflects the Bahá’í conviction that humanity is one family.

    A Legacy Resumed

    First launched in 1926 by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, The Bahá’í World was envisioned as a comprehensive record of the Bahá’í community’s progress and contributions to society. This latest volume, covering the period from 2006 to 2021, resumes that legacy after a pause in print publications. It offers insights into a transformative era for the global Bahá’í community, characterized by initiatives inspired by the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh to promote unity and uplift society.

    Capturing a Period of Growth and Innovation

    The 35th volume sheds light on a remarkable time in the development of the Bahá’í Faith, during which countless individuals were motivated to serve their fellow human beings. The stories and reflections in this edition underscore humanity’s capacity to overcome divisions and embrace new paradigms of cooperation and harmony.

    The publication chronicles not only the progress of the Bahá’í community but also its influence on broader societal trends, showcasing contributions to education, environmental stewardship, and the pursuit of justice. It serves as both a source of inspiration and a record of how Bahá’í principles are being translated into tangible action worldwide.

    Modern Relevance and Timeless Purpose

    Although many of the functions once served by The Bahá’í World have been integrated into digital platforms and other publications—such as Bahai.org, the Bahá’í World News Service, and For the Betterment of the World—this latest print volume carries forward the tradition of preserving a historical record. The revival of this format ensures that significant developments and ideas continue to be accessible for reflection and study.

    The cloth-bound volume will soon be available through the United States Bahá’í Distribution Service, offering readers a chance to explore its rich content firsthand.

    This latest publication stands as a testament to the enduring vision of the Bahá’í community to foster global unity and progress, inviting readers to join in contemplating the spiritual and social potential of humanity.

  • Spain says YES to Bahai marriage

    In an important step towards promoting religious inclusion and diversity in Spain, the first legally and civilly recognised Bahá’í marriage in the country has taken place. This significant milestone came after the Bahá’í Community of Spain obtained recognition as a religious denomination with Notorious Roots, a procedural path in which they have pioneered, allowing a couple to marry through the Bahá’í ceremony without the need for an additional civil act.

    “Having the status of Notorious Roots automatically allows religious communities to give civil validity to marriages celebrated under their doctrine,” explains Ms Clarisa Nieva, representative of the Bahá’í Community of Spain. “This step not only saves time and paperwork for believers, avoiding the need to celebrate both a Bahá’í wedding and a civil wedding for their marriage to be valid in Spain, but also highlights the spiritual and legal significance of their beliefs”.

    A Simple but Solemn Process

    The Bahá’í wedding ceremony is noted for its simplicity and solemnity. During the ceremony, the couple commit themselves to each other by saying: “We will all, indeed, abide by the will of God“, before at least two witnesses approved by the local Bahá’í Governing Body. Members of this community, when it comes to their weddings, have a great deal of choice in additional details such as readings, music and decorations, which are decided by the bride and groom.

    Nura and Gonzalo, the pioneering couple to use this approval, say that they completed the initial procedures in the same way as any other resident in Spain, either by going to the Civil Registry or to a notary. “In our case, we went to the Civil Registry of Valladolid,” they say, “the important thing when starting the process was to mention that we wanted to celebrate a Bahá’í religious wedding, for which we attached the necessary endorsements that accredit our religion to access this new procedure,” they added.

    A Step Towards Inclusion

    From the Bahá’í Community, Clarisa Nieva expresses her gratitude for this move towards diversity: “From our religious community we are grateful that civil procedures are being opened up to the diversity of beliefs and practices existing in our society”. But she warns of the challenge involved: “It is not an easy path for both sides; both the public administration and the religious communities must build bridges of communication and flexibility in the implementation of these procedures“.

    With no “Minister of Worship” per se in the Bahá’í Faith to officiate at the ceremony, Nievas explains that they had to appoint “Delegates with marriage registration capacity” from their communities, so that they could register Bahá’í marriages with the Spanish Civil Registry, thus showing a commendable ability to make reasonable accommodations.

    “We are very happy to be the first beneficiaries of this procedure that allows us to make known the importance of marriage in the Bahá’í teachings,” conclude the couple, who already have their family book. “ This union is not just between two people, but between two families. Marriage is considered a strength for the well-being of the community and society of which we are part .”

    (…)These two brilliant stars are married in your love, together in the service of your Sacred Threshold, united in the attention of your Cause. Make this marriage like a thread of light from your abundant grace (…).

    Abdu’l-Bahá

    Its origins, and the impact of the Bahá’í Faith in Spain

    The Bahá’í Faith, a religion with more than eight million followers worldwide, focuses on the unity of humanity and contributing to the common good through service activities. They strive to apply the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh (their founder) to their individual and collective lives in order to contribute to the improvement of their environments. It is also noteworthy that the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) , who defend the rights of their followers, in addition to making numerous contributions of knowledge and projects for development and governance, has consultative status with the United Nations, where they are always very active. Most of the community activities focus on promoting the spiritual education of children, youth and families to serve society and contribute to the common good .

    The Baha’i, with a history of almost 80 years in Spain, began with Virginia Orbison in 1946 , managing to register for the first time in 1968 , and have obtained the status of Notorious Rootedness in 2023 (BOE No. 230-Sec.III) , which represents not only a recognition of their social and educational contribution, but also a sign of stability.

    The community has more than 5,000 members and is present in 15 Autonomous Communities of Spain, with 108 registered entities and 17 places of worship promoting spiritual education and service to society. This recognition of Bahá’í marriage represents a further step towards its integration into Spanish society, celebrating its diversity and bringing a new meaning to religious coexistence in the country.