Tag: Bahai Faith

A very special gathering at the Bahá’í Training Centre in Bicester!

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Friends gathered and enjoyed an incredible weekend. Here are some reflections from the organisers:

Dearest friends,

Warmest love and thanks to those who attended the Thames Valley Building Vibrant Communities festival, last weekend at the BTC.  It was wonderful to see so many faces there. For those who were not able to join on this occasion, below is an attempt to share the flavour of the weekend.  

Over 125 people attended the festival.  The number of attendees included 16 children, 12 junior youth and 10 youth.

The main purpose of the festival was to create a space where the friends of the Faith, our neighbours, workmates, acquaintances, … can experience the love and unity in the Bahá’í community, through singing, dancing, artistic activities such as (flower arranging, festive card making, crocheting and painting, poetry workshop, Walks through nature; all these activities had relevant quotes from the Writings to give opportunity for elevated conversations)  relevant discourses of society (Immigration, mental health, status of women, building a new World Civilization)  and of course delicious food and BBQ.  Many of those present, both registered Bahá’ís and their friends, were involved in service of some kind, whether running the artistic activities or the discussion sessions, moving tables and chairs or helping in the kitchen, serving food or making tea and coffee. 

We have already received many heartwarming comments and some were asking when the next festival will be! 

New Year, new call for Iran to release Baha’is

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The United States Congress called on Iran to release Baha’is imprisoned solely for their religious beliefs in a resolution passed on 1 January 2013, expressing its condemnation of Iran’s “state-sponsored persecution” of Baha’is.

“The [Iranian] regime has sought to make life as a Baha’i in Iran simply unlivable,” said Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in a statement before the vote. “This resolution draws attention to their plight, and calls on the Iranian regime to end its campaign of abuse against the Baha’i.”

The bill took note of Iran’s wrongful imprisonment of seven former Baha’i leaders, each currently serving 20-year prison terms. It also condemned the unjust arrest and incarceration of Baha’i educators and administrators of an informal community effort to provide for Baha’i youth otherwise excluded from higher education.

Read more.