National News of the Baha'is of India

UN monitor highlights failure of Iran's justice system

http://news.bahai.org.

14 March 2012 (New Delhi, source: BWNS) – The United Nations investigator into human rights in Iran has sharply criticized the country's system of justice and human rights record.

UN Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed told a meeting of the Human Rights Council here that he had received testimony from more than 141 witnesses which highlighted "multifarious and systematic deficits in the Government's capacity to ensure respect for human rights."

And in his formal written report to the Council, Dr. Shaheed focused to an extent not previously seen in UN investigations of Iran on the overall failure of the country's justice system. Violations of due process were chronic, he said, and "vaguely defined security provisions" are applied in ways that "unduly limit freedom of expression, association and assembly."

Slovak politicians call Iran's persecution of Baha'is "chilling" and "abhorrent"

http://news.bahai.org/story/882

(New Delhi, source: BWNS) – 20 January 2012 - Treatment of the Baha'is in Iran has "escalated to an institutionalised and blatant policy of persecution," according to a proclamation issued by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Slovakian parliament.

The proclamation describes the Iranian government's incitement to hatred based on religion and belief as "abhorrent." It also states that the "regime's endeavors to persecute Baha'is is chilling indeed," and demands an end to Iran's "spiralling efforts to destroy the Iranian Baha'i community."

Baha'is "must be guaranteed their full and equal human rights" and "be allowed to contribute to the public life and development of Iran along with their fellow citizens," wrote the Foreign Affairs Committee. "The fact that this Committee has taken on the situation of Baha'is in Iran is important for two reasons," said its chairman, Frantisek Sebej.

Canadian university presidents speak out for Baha'i educators

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

Baha'i International Community mourns passing of human rights expert

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.

UN condemnation of Iran reflects growing intolerance for human rights violations

http://news.bahai.org/story/876

UNITED NATIONS, 19 December 2011 (BWNS) – Reflecting the international community's increasing intolerance for human rights violations, the UN General Assembly today condemned Iran for oppressing its citizens.

By a vote of 89 to 30 with 64 abstentions, the Assembly approved a resolution that expressed "deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations" in the country.

The vote came after Iran attempted a "no-action motion," aimed at blocking the resolution by calling for adjournment of the debate. The motion failed by a vote of 100 against, 35 in favor, with 42 abstentions.

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