Persecution

Dr. Blockley speaking at the premiere of the “Education Under Fire” film at Carleton University.
© Louis Brunet Toronto, Ontario, 1 June 2012 (CBNS) — In an article recently published in “Embassy: Canada’s Foreign Policy Newsweekly”, Roger Blockley—former Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at Carleton University—appeals to the academic community to speak up against the denial of access to education for the Baha’is in Iran.

Minister Baird meets with (L to R) Corinne Box, Susanne Tamás and Gerald Filson of the Canadian Baha'i Community. © Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada Ottawa, Ontario, 15 May 2012 (CBNS) — As seven Baha’i leaders begin their fifth year of incarceration, arrested and sentenced solely because of their religious faith, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baird, and the Canadian House of Commons marked the anniversary with strong condemnation of the Iranian regime. The seven leaders face another 16 years of imprisonment.

The seven Baha’i prisoners – photographed several months before their arrest – are (front) Behrouz Tavakkoli and Saeid Rezaie; and (standing) Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet. © Baha’i World News Service New York, United States, 31 March 2012 (BWNS) — Sunday 1 April marks 10,000 days that Iran's seven former Baha’i leaders have spent in prison between them – a period throughout which they have been deprived of the rights accorded to prisoners under Iran's own laws and regulations.

Academic community and general public at the premiere of the “Education Under Fire” film at the University of British Columbia. Toronto, Ontario, 28 March 2012 (CBNS) — Since its premiere in Canada on 20 January 2012, the Education Under Fire campaign has been launched in seventeen universities and communities from Burnaby, British Columbia to Fredericton, New Brunswick. Planning for the campaign is underway in more than twenty other universities and communities.

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 Baha’i prisoners of conscience was made by Senators Ataullahjan, Finley, Mockler, MacDonald, Dallaire and Chaput.