World Canada | |||
date | event | tags | firsts |
2011 11 Dec 201- |
The announcement by the Universal House of Justice of the creation of "an International Advisory Board to assist the Ruhi Institute in overseeing its system for the preparation, production, and distribution of materials, the content and structure of which now draw extensively on Bahá'í experience worldwide in applying the teachings and principles of the Faith to the life of humanity. As it gradually takes up its work, the Board will be able to respond to related issues and follow the development of supplementary materials that are aligned with the direction set by the global Plans". [December 11, 2011] | Ruhi Institute; - Institute process; * Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel | |
2011 1 Dec 201- |
The head of state of the Republic of Palau, President Johnson Toribiong, paid an official visit to the Bahá'í World Centre. [BWNS870] | - Presidents; Prominent visitors; Johnson Toribiong; Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); * Bahá'í World Centre; Palau | |
2011 1 Dec 201- |
The passing of former Universal House of Justice member Mr. Ian C. Semple (b. 2 December 1928 in New Barnet, Hertfordshire) in Switzerland. He served as a member of the Universal House of Justice from its inception in 1963 until his retirement in 2005. [BWNS871]
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Ian Semple; Universal House of Justice, Members of; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Switzerland | |
2011 16 Nov 201- |
The release of the documentary film Iranian Taboo about the persecution of Baháʼís in Iran. It was written and directed by Reza Allamehzadeh and produced by Mansour Taeed and Bijan Shahmoradi. It is in Farsi with English subtitles.
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- Film; Iranian Taboo; Reza Allamehzadeh; Mansour Taeed; Bijan Shahmoradi; Netherlands | |
2011 1 Nov 201- |
The film Education Under Fire by Jeffrey Kaufman and co-sponsored by Amnesty International, profiles the persecution on the Bahá'ís of Iran, with a special focus on growth, struggle, and inspiring spirit of the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education. | - Film; Education Under Fire; Amnesty International; Jeffrey Kaufman; New York, USA; United States (USA); Iran | |
2011 21 Oct 201- |
The release of the report entitled Inciting Hatred by the Bahá'í International Community which summarized each of the 400-plus documents or articles that were collected during the period of this survey, from 17 December 2009 to 16 May 2011 to prove that the Iranian regime has a systematic programme to demonize the Bahá'í community in the eyes of their compatriots. The report says in part "Despite this prolonged and systematic attack on its integrity and values, Iran's Bahá'í community is not dispirited, demoralized or downtrodden. Nor have they risen up to counter-attack their oppressors with force or any trace of bitterness. Rather they have calmly stated their case and called for their fundamental human rights with dignity and courtesy, winning the admiration of their compatriots, observers and, in some cases, even those who are obligated to oppress them under government policy." |
United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; New York City, NY | |
2011 24 Sep 201- |
The arrest of Abdolfattah Soltani, a senior member of the legal team (4 lawyers) representing a number of Bahá'ís in Iran awaiting trial for providing higher education to youth barred from university. Soltani is a co-founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, along with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi and others. The Tehran-based Centre was shut down in a police raid in December 2008. [BWNS849]
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Abdolfattah Soltani; Lawyers; Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE); - Persecution; Human rights; Education; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Yaran; - Persecution, Education; Iran | |
2011 11 Sep 201- |
A follow-up conference dubbed "Durban III" took place in New York City. It was boycotted by Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, United States and the Czech Republic, along with Austria, Bulgaria, France, and the United Kingdom.
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United Nations; Racism; Discrimination; Bahá'í International Community; UNESCO; New York, USA; New York, USA | |
2011 27 – 28 Aug 201- |
The Bahá'ís of Geneva commemorated the 100th anniversary of the start of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journeys to the West. [BWNS854] | `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Centenaries; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Geneva, Switzerland; Switzerland | |
2011 Aug 201- |
As of this time the Bahá'í community of Tabriz had been prohibited from burying their dead in that city and the bodies were being transferred by intelligence officers to the city of Miandoab, in West Azerbaijan province some 175km away. [Iran Press Watch 19720] | - Persecution, denial of burial; Tabríz, Iran; Miandoab, Iran; Iran | |
2011 15 Jul 201- |
The passing of former Universal House of Justice member Dr. Peter J. Khan (b. 2 November, 1936 in New South Wales) in Brisbane, Australia. He was buried in the Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane. Dr Khan served as a member of the Universal House of Justice from 1987 until April 2010. [BWNS840, BWNS841]
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Peter Khan; Universal House of Justice; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); * Bahá'í World Centre | |
2011 6 Jul 201- |
Mahvash Sabet and human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh as well as other victims of human right abuses in Iran were featured on a series of special postage stamps issued in the Netherlands. Nasrin Sotoudeh was a prominent lawyer who has represented numerous victims of human rights abuses, including prisoners sentenced to death for crimes committed when they were minors. In January of 2011, authorities sentenced her to 11 years in prison for charges that include "activities against national security" and "propaganda against the regime." Additionally, she has been barred from practicing law and from leaving Iran for 20 years. [BWNS838] | Mahvash Sabet; Nasrin Sotoudeh; Yaran; Netherlands | |
2011 18 Jun 201- |
Representatives from government, religious communities and civil society organizations were among the 800 human rights supporters who gathered to call upon Iran to cease its persecution of Bahá'ís and other religious minorities. Almost 8,000 images depicting the faces of Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders (Yaran) were on display on the Copacabana beach, corresponding to the number of days of detention the seven had suffered after three years in prison. [BWNS834]
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Yaran; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Brazil | |
2011 30 May 201- |
The passing of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Gayle Wollson (b. 2 June 1913 Crookston MN) in Wilmette, IL. She was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery and Crematorium, Skokie, Illinois [Find a grave]
Born in the USA to Muslim, Arab-speaking parents of Syrian origin she learned of the Faith through her father. Mr Abas had been introduced to the Bahá'í Faith by a Syrian friend. As a youth she taught children's classes and was one of the very first youth travelling teachers in the US accompanying Marguerite Reimer (later Sears) and Mable Ives.
She was appointed to the Auxillary Board and served for 14 years in Ecuador. In 1961 sh was elected to the National Assembly.
From 1970 she served for five years at the World Centre where she did translation work.
'Future generations will extol your labours, follow in your footsteps, and derive inspiration from your pioneer activities.' Shoghi Effendi to Gayle Woolson in Costa Rica, 1942
[KoG224-225]
In 1971 her book, Divine Symphony was published by the Bahá'í Publishing Trust of New Delhi. The book was reprinted in 1976 and 1977. [Collins7.2771; p156]
For her biography see The Art of Empowering Others – A Biography of Knight of Baha'u'llah Gayle Woolson by Juliet Gentzkow and published by George Ronald. |
In Memoriam; Gayle Woolson; Knight of Bahá'u'lláh; Crookston, MN; Minnesota, USA; United States (USA); Wilmette, IL; Illinois, USA; United States (USA) | |
2011 29 May 201- |
The inauguration of the UNESCO Square for Tolerance and Peace, situated at the point where Haifa's historic German Templar colony met the terraced gardens of the Shrine of the Báb. [BWNS828]
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UNESCO for Tolerance and Peace Square; UNESCO; Tolerance; Peace; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Haifa, Israel; Israel | |
2011 20 May 201- |
Fariba Kamalabadi and Mahvash Sabet were returned to Evin Prison in Tehran. They had spent a brief time in the appalling conditions at Qarchak prison, (from 3 May) some 45 kilometers from Tehran. [BIC Evin; BWNS826]
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Yaran; Evin Prison; Gohardasht prison; Qarchak prison; Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Prisons; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2011 3 May 201- |
After conviction, the two women of the Yaran were transferred from Evin Prison to the even more notorious Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj, near Tehran. In that prison, Fariba Kamalabadi, Mahvash Sabet, and a number of political prisoners were locked up in the communal ward with hundreds of ordinary female prisoners — inmates incarcerated for crimes not linked to politics. When authorities closed the women's ward of that prison, the prisoners were all transferred to Gharchak Prison in Varamin near Tehran, where the conditions were even worse than those at Rajaei Shahr Prison. [IranWire4985; BWNS821] | Yaran; Mahvash Sabet; Fariba Kamalabadi; Rajai Shahr prison; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Karaj, Iran; Varamin, Iran | |
2011 May 201- |
Some 39 homes of Bahá'ís associated with the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) were raided in a coordinated attack. Educator Kamran Mortezaie served a five-year jail term. Mahmoud Badavam, Noushin Khadem, Farhad Sedghi, Riaz Sobhani and Ramin Zibaie were each sentenced to four year prison terms. The judgments against them cast their activities in support of BIHE as crimes and as "evidence" of their purported aim to subvert the state. Two psychology teachers, Faran Hesami and her husband Kamran Rahimian, were also sentenced to four years in prison. Another BIHE administrator Vahid Mahmoudi was released on 8 January 2012 after his five-year sentence was reportedly suspended. [BWNS910] | Persecution, Iran; Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE); - Persecution, Education; Iran | |
2011 Ridván 201- |
The Preparation for Social Action programme was implemented under the Five Year Plan. The programme drew on the learning of three decades of experience of FUNDAEC (Fundación para la Aplicación y Enseñanza de las Ciencias), in Columbia. It was an approach to social and economic development that addressed both the material and the spiritual dimensions of human existence. The programme aimed at assisting youth to understand certain concepts, learn a range of relevant facts, and acquire certain qualities, attitudes and skills that would enable them to promote the well-being of their people in fields as diverse as health, education, the environment, secondary production and community organization. |
Five Year Plan (2011-2016); - Teaching Plans; Preparation for Social Action; * Bahá'í World Centre; Cameroon; Colombia; Costa Rica; India; Kenya; Papua New Guinea; Uganda; Zambia | |
2011 Ridván 201- |
Burundi elected its first National Spiritual Assembly in 17 years. Civil war and unrest during recent decades made it difficult for the Bahá'í community to administer its affairs. [BWNS816, BWNS822] | National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Re-election; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Burundi | |
2011 - 2016 201- |
The launch of the Third Five Year Plan (2011-2016).
- To raise the number of clusters with a Programme of Growth from 1,500 to 5,000 -The institutions will mature their own dynamic process. -The individuals will spare no effort to increase participation. Habits of thought will evolve to reduce dichotomies and learn process. -With the maturity of the institutions, cooperation and reciprocity will increase among the three protagonists. - will be continued expansion of the programs of intensive growth as well as material development. - centennial of the writing of the Tablets of the Divine Plan will be commemorated. - National Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs to be constructed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Papua New Guinea - Local Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs planned for clusters. The first five were to be in Battambang, Cambodia; Matunda Soy, in Kenya; in Bihar Sharif, India; Norte del Cauca, in Colombia; and in Tanna, Vanuatu. |
Five Year Plan (2011-2016); - Teaching Plans; - Institute process; Programmes of growth; * Bahá'í World Centre | |
2011 Apr 201- |
After more than two years of extensive restoration work the Shrine of the Báb was complete. The project required the restoration and conservation of the interior and exterior of the original 1909 structure, as well as measures to strengthen the Shrine against seismic forces. An entirely new retrofit design – combining concrete, steel and carbon fibre wrap technology was needed for the whole building, from its foundation and original masonry to its octagon, drum and dome. More than 120 rock anchors were fixed into the mountain behind newly fortified retaining walls. [BWNS816; 12 April 2011] | Báb, Shrine of; Restoration; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); * Bahá'í World Centre; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; * Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; Mount Carmel | |
2011 9 Apr 201- |
The debut of the film A Deeper Calling: Reflections on the transformative power of Prayer. This film was created for the 2022 World Conference in Brisbane, Australia (8-10 April, 2022), and was one of hundreds of global conferences taking place after being called for by the Universal House of Justice. It is is a short film which shares the stories of five youth from Inala, a small neighbourhood in Brisbane, Australia. It explores what each of these young people have learnt about the power of prayer through their involvement in the Ruhi Institute Process and Baha'i community life. | - Film; Ruhi Institute; - Institute process; Ruhi Institute; Brisbane, Australia; Australia | |
2011 Apr 201- |
In an open letter to their fellow citizens, the Bahá'ís of Egypt offered some advice regarding the future of their nation. [BWNS817] | Open letters; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Egypt | |
2011 30 Mar 201- |
Six months after Iran's Appeal Court reduced their sentences from 20 to 10 years, the seven Bahá'í leaders were told that the Appeals Court sentence was recognized as being in contrast with the law and that their original 20-year sentences had been reinstated. [BWNS814] | Yaran; Court cases; Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2011 24 Mar 201- |
The UN Human Rights Council voted to create a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran. [Iran Press Watch 7657] | Yaran; Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Human rights; United Nations; UNHCR; Special Rapporteur; Iran | |
2011 21 Mar 201- |
The launch of "Half Light Media". The mandate of this not-for-profit entity was to serve the Bahá'í Faith through the arts and various avenues of media. Founder Naysan Naraqi was assisted by fellow board members Collis Ta'eed and Fuad Ta'eed and scores of collaborators. |
Internet; Social media; Naysan Naraqi; Collis Taeed; Fuad Taeed; Rainn Wilson | |
2011 10 Mar 201- |
The passing of Mrs. Ashraf Khanjani, wife of imprisoned Jamaloddin Khanjani at the age of 81 In Tehran. The couple had been married for more than 50 years. Mr. Khanjani, 77, who was serving a ten-year jail term at Iran's notorious Gohardasht prison, was not granted leave to attend his wife's funeral which was held the next day in Tehran. It attracted between 8,000 and 10,000 mourners from all walks of life. Ministry of Intelligence officers were also reportedly present, filming the proceedings. |
Yaran; Ashraf Khanjani; Jamaloddin Khanjani; In Memoriam; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tehran, Iran; Iran | |
2011 Mar 201- |
In March 2011, the UN Human Rights Council re-established the mandate of Special Rapporteur to Iran, which they had terminated in 2002, under the title "Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran". The Commission had stopped appointing investigators for Iran in an effort to encourage a dialogue with the country on human rights. Then, in 2005, the Commission was disbanded in favour of a new entity, the Human Rights Council, which, for a variety of reasons, was considerably more reluctant to criticize individual countries. Human rights activists believed the moral authority behind having such a UN-appointed special rapporteur was a critical step in bringing to light the severity of rights violations in Iran. [One Country]
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Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran; Ahmed Shaheed; United Nations; United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; New York City, NY | |
2011 12 Feb 201- |
Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi were transferred to the notorious Section 200 of Gohardasht Prison. The circumstances of the move raised concerns that it may have been orchestrated as a means of creating an insecure environment that threatens their lives. |
Fariba Kamalabadi; Mahvash Sabet; Gohardasht prison; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Yaran; Mashhad, Iran; Iran | |
2011 22 Feb - 4 Mar 201- |
The 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York. [UN Women; One Country].
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Bahá'í International Community; United Nations; Commission on the Status of Women; - BIC statements; New York, USA; United States (USA) | |
2011 25 Jan 201- |
January 25th marked the beginning of the revolution in Egypt where millions of protesters from all socio-economic and religious backgrounds demanded the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The security of the Bahá'ís during this period of unrest remained an issue. In February 2011, Bahá'í homes in Shouraneya were again set on fire, with some reports alleging the involvement of state security officers in the attack. Salafi leaders (an ultra-conservative reform branch within Sunni Islam) also continued to agitate against Bahá'ís as a threat to national stability. | Persecution, Egypt; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Shouraneya, Egypt; Egypt | |
2011 1 Jan 201- |
The publication of Abraham One God Three Wives Five Religions by Frances Worthington. It was published by the US Bahá'í Publishing Trust.
A groundbreaking examination of Abraham, one of the most beloved and significant religious figures in history. Author Frances Worthington researches the three wives/concubines (Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah) of Abraham, and traces their lineage to five different religions - Christianity, Judaism, Islam, the Bábi Faith, and the Bahá'í Faith. Examining the scripture and traditions of these five "Abrahamic" faiths, this complex story also draws heavily from a rich variety of historical sources that provide a fascinating backdrop. |
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2011 (In the year) 201- |
Hundreds were killed in a crackdown on mass protests that called for fall of President Saleh and an end to corruption and repression and accountability for human rights violations. The longtime authoritarian president, Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced to resign and signed a power-transfer deal to hand over power to his deputy Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. The new president Hadi struggled to deal with a variety of problems, including attacks by al-Qaeda, a separatist movement in the south, the continuing loyalty of many military officers to Mr Saleh, as well as corruption, unemployment and food insecurity. | Yemen, Recent history; Yemen |
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