The Baha’i Community

Tehran, IRAN
16 December 2009

Attorneys have received word that the trial of seven Bahá’ís imprisoned since the spring of 2008 has been scheduled for 12 January. Two previous dates had been announced, but the trial was postponed each time.

Attorneys associated with the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran – co-founded by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi – are representing the Bahá’ís. The lawyers themselves have been harassed, including Mrs. Ebadi, who has been forced to remain outside Iran for an extended period, and Abdolfattah Soltani, who was detained for a time in the aftermath of the June national elections.

see entire text here

For the latest information about the Festival to take place on February 13, 2010, click here

18 October 2009
GENEVA — Although the trial of seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran for more than 17 months was scheduled for today, when attorneys and families arrived at the court offices in Tehran they were told it would not take place. No new trial date was given.

“The time has come for these seven innocent people to be immediately released on bail,” said Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva.

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CORVALLIS, OR - Aug. 22, 2009
The Annual Race Unity Picnic was held in Avery Park with over 100 participants. The joyously diverse program included the Unity Choir, a latin altiplano musical duo and the Hispanic Children Dancers. It was a wonderful moment to share diverse colors and music as well as to renew friendships, reflecting the oneness of humankind. See the pictures here.

PHILOMATH, OR
20 Aug. 2009
During six days and five nights, youth between the ages of 11 and 14 gathered with their older youth animators to participate in a summer community building activity based on prayer, singing, deepening on spiritual themes, personal reflection and community service. The curriculum was based on new materials recently published by the Ruhi Institute called “Spirit of Faith”. Camping out on the “Siegel ranch” in Wren, just outside Philomath, the 25 youth had daily activities starting with a 6:30am wake-up and prayers at 7am to calisthenics and yoga, breakfast, spiritual dialog, assisting with a children day camp in Philomath with lunch, personal reflection and meditation time, sports, memorization activities, art, science, new songs and chanting prayers, dinner, story telling and lights out at 10pm (well, except for the night walk under the most beautifully clear evening when we saw the Milky Way in all its splendor!).

The sixth and last day ended with a family Bar-B-Q where the youth had a chance to share what they had been doing with their parents, and we all appreciated the amazing joy of the youth and the capacity-building activity that enriched their lives. Truly this was community-building at its best.

See the photo gallery by clicking here

August 17, 2009
GENEVA — The trial of seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran has been postponed until October 18, 2009, the Baha’i International Community learned today.

According to Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva, following a request for postponement of the trial from Mr. Hadi Elsmaielzadeh and Ms. Mahnaz Parakand — attorneys from the Defenders of Human Rights Center who are representing the seven Baha’is — the court has decided to delay the hearing for two months.

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August 12, ,2009
GENEVA — In yet another example of the denial to Baha’is in Iran of their rights to justice, including due process, judicial officials have reportedly set next Tuesday as the trial date for seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders – despite the fact that the lead lawyers registered with the court to represent them are either in prison or outside the country.

Further, efforts to have the accused released on bail have not succeeded. The investigation against them was concluded months ago but they remain incarcerated, without access to their legal counsel and with only the barest minimum contact with their families – contact that did not begin until some five months’ after their arrest, when they were finally taken out of solitary confinement.

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WREN, BENTON COUNTY - 16July2009

This past Saturday, our cluster marked the 4th anniversary since the launch on July 9th, 2005, of the first Cluster Reflection Meeting to quickly advance the awareness of the teachings of Bahá’u'lláh throughout Benton and Linn Counties. At this four year mark, we noted the advance of individuals through the courses of the training institute (see Study Circles) which in turn provides the impulse for the multiplication of core activities and an “increasingly direct approach to sharing Bahá’u’lláh’s Message.” We celebrated the goals won and reflected on the advances achieved during this past 3-month period. We studied guidance, discussed new goals, planned, and pledged actions for this new cycle.

The following goals were set for Cycle 17 (11 July – 9 October)

1. Establish a new children’s class in Corvallis
2. Engage 10 new people in the study of the book “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit”
3. Establish 3 new junior youth groups
4. Achieve 60 friends attending devotions during planning and expansion phases
5. Receive five new people who have accepted the Message of Bahá’u'lláh!

Additionally, individuals and teaching teams made pledges spanning a variety of endeavors that include:
· Setting home visit goals, working on ways to teach receptive coworkers, and making connections between friends we have in common
· Initiating new core activities and increasing participation in those already established
· Offers to tutor “intensive” study circles (many hours in a few days) and start a study of the book “Teaching the Bahá’í Faith” in August
· Visiting parents of junior youth group and children class participants
· Explore direct teaching in parks and presentations about the Bahá’í Faith

Everyone is invited to join in collective prayer and action during the upcoming expansion phase to support each other in the “sweetness” of sharing the message of Bahá’u'lláh with others:

· Saturday and Sunday, 18 & 19 July, 9 a.m. at the home of Nourieh and Iraj Motazedian
· Monday through Friday, 20-25 July, 7:30 a.m. at the home of Adel Faridani and Lorri Hendon
· Saturday and Sunday, 26 & 27 July, 9 a.m. at the home of Deborah Hobbs

For the photographic essay of the event, click here

Tehran, Iran - June 30, 2009
The trial of seven Iranian Baha’i leaders, arrested in the spring of 2008, is scheduled to be held at Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court on July 11, 2009. American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi was recently convicted of espionage in Branch 28 of this Court and sentenced to eight years imprisonment. She was eventually released, but only after an international outcry at the clear politicization of the case and manifestly unjust legal procedures.

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For a recent heart-warming message sent from the world governing body of the Bahá’í world to the Bahá’ís of Iran, click
here

FOR A JULY 13TH UPDATE CLICK HERE

Promoting the arts to uplift the human spirit and build community is an activity of increasing interest of the Bahá’ís both in Benton County, Oregon as well as worldwide. The third annual “Gift of the Spirit” arts festival, organized by the Bahá’ís of Benton County, is currently being planned for February 13, 2010, from 11am to 9pm. The location of the festival is the Benton County Public Library in Corvallis, Oregon (645 NW Monroe Avenue). See map below.

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Get your projects ready! Submissions accepted January 1–31, 2010. All forms of art are encouraged, including: crafts, fine arts, performance art, poetry… Download the appropriate submission form below.

For Visual Arts Submission Form click here.
For Performing Arts Submission Form click here.

For the PROGRAM SCHEDULE click here.

For questions or for more information contact the planning committee at 541-745-6810.

Check out the picture gallery from the May 2008 Festival here.