UK RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL FOR RELEASE OF BAHÁ’Í LEADERS IN IRAN

It's being widely reported in the religious media today that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster and the Chief Rabbi are amongst the British religious leaders who have called for the release of the seven Bahá'í leaders currently serving prison sentences in Iran.

In a recently issued statement, the religious leaders say they view the imprisonment of Iran’s Bahá'í leaders as a gross violation of the fundamental human right to freedom of religion. They urge governments to call on the Iranian authorities to review the decision to imprison the Baha’i leaders and to cease harassing the Bahá'í community.

“We are deeply touched by the sympathy and solidarity expressed by the UK’s significant religious leaders for our beleaguered brethren in Iran,” said Dr Kishan Manocha, the UK Bahá'í community’s Secretary of External Affairs. “Bahá'ís across the UK, especially those with family members in Iran, will be encouraged and empowered by this statement.” The text of the statement is as follows:

“We have been informed that following two years of arrest during which the international community has pressed the Iranian authorities to follow humanitarian and legal norms, seven leaders of the Bahá’í community in Iran have each been sentenced to twenty years imprisonment for reasons which in the view of all independent observers are solely based on their faith. These sentences form part of a wider picture over many years of severe harassment of the Bahá’í community

We view this act as a gross violation of the fundamental human right to freedom of religion and call on the Iranian government to fulfil their obligations under article 18 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights to review the case and to ensure that the treatment of these “prisoners” accords with justice and due process as defined in the Iranian constitution and law.

We call upon all governments and people of good will to call upon the the Iranian authorities to review this decision and to cease harassment of the Bahá’í community.

We extend our sympathies to the Bahá’í community at this difficult time and hope that the widespread and growing international concern over this matter will cause the Iranian authorities to correct this flagrant injustice.”

The statement is signed by the following religious luminaries:

• The Most Revd Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
• The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster
• Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks
• Jay Lakhani, Hindu Academy
• Arjan Vekaria JP, President, Hindu Forum of Britain
• Dr Indarjit Singh CBE, Network of Sikh Organisations
• Dr Natubhai Shah MBBS PhD, Network of Jain Organisations, Council of Dharmic Faiths
• Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Chair, Religions for Peace UK.

PUTTING CITY ON CULTURAL MAP

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Putting city on cultural map

On Sunday, Hindus all over the world marked the festival of Holi with great enthusiasm and pomp.

In the UK many celebrations have been held including in Leicester.

Holi marks the end of winter and the start of spring and the vibrancy and energy that the new season brings. With the weather we have had this year I am sure that most of us would agree that spring cannot come soon enough.

It also marks the victory of good over evil and affirms the importance of having faith in the almighty.

One celebration at Spinney Hill Park was organised by Shree Hindu Mandir in St Barnabas Road and I had the honour of being invited by the Mandir.

Among the dignitaries present (including local councillors) was the Temporary Chief Constable of Leicestershire Chris Eyre. He performed the puja (ceremony) marking the start of the festivities and was given the honour of lighting the Holi bonfire.

As is traditional during the Holi festival, coloured powder is thrown over each other as part of the celebrations and, indeed, the chief constable's face was coloured a clear shade of red at the end of the ceremony!

Leicester is and should rightly be proud of its reputation as a one of the most diverse and multicultural cities in the UK and one of the important aspects of maintaining this reputation is the way all religious and cultural festivals are celebrated as part of the city's festival calendar. The Holi festival demonstrated this very clearly.

I am sure that very few Holi festivals in the UK were able to provide devotees with an opportunity to cover the local police chief's face with coloured powder or indeed had them partake in the ceremonies.

It was truly a memorable and enjoyable event and again put Leicester on the map nationally.

Jit Jethwa, vice-president, East of England, Hindu Forum of Britain