Bahá’ís launch new foundation to guide children’s moral education

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A new foundation – inspired by the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith (founded more than a century and a half ago) – is being launched on 23 May, one of the most significant days in the Bahá’í calendar.

23 May is the ‘Declaration of the Bab’ – it commemorates the day in 1844 when the Bab (the herald of the Bahá’í Faith) announced in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), that he was the herald of a new messenger of God. It is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended.

Managed by Tim Melville, who adopted the Bahá’í Faith when he was 15, the Anis Foundation is being launched to teach children moral education and a more spiritual way of living – to bind people and cultures together in their quest for a vision of humanity as one global family.

Tim, who is experienced in voluntary work with children and young people, sees a lot of children who have ‘lost their way’. He said: “Many of these children exhibit signs of a lack of moral education, which makes me very sad.”

More details can be found at http://www.anis.org.uk/

Call for action as Iranian Bahá’í leaders enter third year in prison

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As seven Baha’i leaders in Iran enter their third year in jail and new details emerge about the harsh conditions of their imprisonment, members of the Bahá’í community of West Berkshire have backed renewed calls for their immediate release.

The prisoners, former members of an informal group known as ‘Friends’, used to attend to the spiritual and social needs of Baha’is of Iran. They have been in Evin prison since their arrests in 2008. Three court appearances so far have taken place this year.

Shawn Khorassani, a West Berkshire based Bahá’í, echoed Bani Dugal (principal representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations) when he said: “These innocent Bahá’ís have now been locked up for two full years under conditions which clearly violate international standards. The West Berkshire Bahá’ís back the Bahá’í International Community in calling on the Iranian authorities to release them now. The dictates of justice demand no less.

“If their freedom is not immediately granted, at the very least they should be released on bail. Steps should be taken to ensure that their trial is expedited and conducted fairly, in accordance with international standards.”