Sisters to see “Gossip Free Zones” in other schools

Anisa and Saba Hajizadeh. © Anisa HajizadehAjax, Ontario, 2 March 2012 (CBNS) — Though some consider gossip a normal fact of life, two sisters have become advocates to free communities from it, particularly where gossip can do the worst damage, in schools.

Anisa and Saba Hajizadeh of Ajax, Ontario have grown up participating in programs to establish schools that are free of harmful gossip, bullying, discrimination, and marginalization of students.

Canadian Senators condemn the Iranian regime for its egregious abuse of human rights

The Senate of Canada. © Library of ParliamentOttawa, Ontario, 27 February 2012 (CBNS)— Continuous human rights abuses in Iran have urged another series of debates in the Senate of Canada. The latest inquiry was initiated by Senator Frum on 7 February 2012, followed by two sessions on 15 and 16 February 2012. Reference to Bahá'í prisoners of conscience was made by Senators Ataullahjan, Finley, Mockler, MacDonald, Dallaire and Chaput.

Iran Jails Bahá’í Educators, Calling Their Canadian Degrees Illegal

This article first appeared in the February 2012 edition of the CAUT Bulletin, which is widely circulated and read by professors across Canada. The lead to the article was mentioned on the front page of the publication and the article had excellent placement on page two. The bulletin is published by the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). CAUT has more than 66,000 members from the academic community.

By Deborah K. van den Hoonaard, Pierre-Yves Mocquais, Niky Kamran, Redwan Moqbel, Claire Lapointe, David R. Smith, Will C. van den Hoonaard, Lisa Dufraimont, Lyse Langlois, Albert M. Berghuis, W. Andy Knight and Michael Power

The seven imprisoned Baha'i educators are (top row, left to right): Mahmoud Badavam, Ramin Zibaie, Riaz Sobhani, Farhad Sedghi; (bottom row, left to right) Noushin Khadem, Kamran Mortezaie, and Vahid Mahmoudi. © BWNSOttawa, Ontario, 24 February 2012 (CBNS)— For more than a decade Canadian universities and professors have played a quiet but essential role in providing graduate education to Bahá’í students banned from university in Iran because of their religion. Now, the Iranian government is declaring their Canadian degrees “illegal.” They are also imprisoning Bahá’í faculty and staff involved with a community initiative known as the Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), set up in 1987 after the Iranian government fired all Bahá’í professors and expelled Bahá’í students from post-secondary institutions.

Education Under Fire: Canadian Premiere

Concordia University students, faculty and campus club members launching the Education Under Fire campaign. © Shahab Akhound Montreal, Quebec, 14 February 2012 (CBNS)— The film Education Under Fire premiered recently at Concordia University. Students, faculty and several campus clubs came together to engage in conversations and action to support Iranian students denied access to higher education based on ideological or religious reasons. The audience viewed the powerful 30-minute documentary, and participated in an engaging discussion with a cross-section of students about follow-up action they could take on campus and beyond.

Minister Baird visits the Bahá’í World Centre

Minister Baird at the Bahá'í World Centre. ©Department of Foreign Affairs of Canada
Haifa, Israel, 6 February 2012 (CBNS) — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird visited the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa.

Minister Baird has spoken up many times for the Bahá’í community around the world, including while addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York.