National News of the Baha'is of India

http://news.bahai.org/story/878

January 10, 2012, (New Delhi, source: BWNS) – Two pre-eminent university presidents are urging all of their fellow Canadians to join them in calling for an end to Iran's persecution of Baha'i educators and students.

The appeal comes from Canada's former minister of foreign affairs and president of the University of Winnipeg, Lloyd Axworthy, and Allan Rock – who is president of the University of Ottawa and former Canadian ambassador to the UN.

In an article in the Canadian edition of The Huffington Post, they speak of how "deeply troubled" they are that Baha'is are denied access to higher education in Iran, and express concern that "the brutal regime in Tehran has turned a deaf ear" to calls to end the systematic persecution.

Read the article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/allan-rock/bahai-iran-politics_b_1186039.html

9 January 2012 (New Delhi, source: BWNS) – The Baha'i International Community has expressed its condolences over the passing of noted human rights lawyer and Tunisian jurist Abdelfattah Amor.

Professor Amor – who has died at the age of 68 after suffering a heart attack – was best known internationally for his 11 years of service as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, from 1993 to 2004.

"As the Special Rapporteur, Professor Amor was among the world's foremost defenders of the right to freedom of religion or belief," said Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN in Geneva.

"He bravely spoke out on behalf of individuals and groups around the world who faced religious discrimination, regardless of the political consequences," she said.