Showing posts with label Human Rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Human Rights. Show all posts

Sunday, October 2, 2011

An Appeal for Education

Below is an appeal from Rainn Wilson (from The Office) regarding the attack on the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE). Please watch the video and share it with everyone.


Rainn Wilson BIHE Video Appeal from Education Under Fire on Vimeo.

No one deserves to be denied an education. Students denied an education in Iran deserve their human rights to be recognized. The Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education is now illegal in Iran. The one hope Bahá'í students had to gain a higher education has now been taken away. Society's quintessential rights are under attack. An attack upon human rights somewhere will always be an attack on human rights everywhere.

Everyone has the right to an education.

We cannot remain silent

People are standing up for human rights. Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President (of East Timor) José Ramos-Horta, have written an open letter about these abuses addressed to the International Academic Community. Everyone can participate. To take action, please click on this: TAKE ACTION


President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta Defends the BIHE and the Baha’is in Iran from Education Under Fire on Vimeo.

A Warning From The Past


When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

- Martin Niemöller


Other groups of people are now being targeted by the Iranian government. From political opposition to oppressing people who simply practice other religions, innocent people are now becoming victims of government sponsored persecution. If the Bahá'ís are never guaranteed their rights, the people of Iran will never be guaranteed their rights. It is clearly seen today in documented events as shown in the following websites:

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Education For All

The importance of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights


     Human rights are taken for granted by many individuals. The right to equality before the law, to a fair trial, to religion, and thought are all human rights. Human rights, as it is currently known worldwide, became established in 1948. The United Nations can be given credit for the creation of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This simple document has enabled people to have a chance to gain the opportunities that have never been offered to them. The end to slavery, genocide, or any other kind of oppression upon any person(s) - that is the purpose of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.


For more information:  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (from the United Nations website)

                    In 30 Words - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Amnesty International video)


Denied Education


     Sadly, human rights are not enjoyed by everyone. Below is a video that will explain what is happening right now to the Bahá'ís in Iran.



Education Under Fire Trailer (3 min) from Education Under Fire on Vimeo.




For more informaiton: Education Under Fire
     Justice is important. The Bahá'ís in Iran don't have it. Unfounded defamatory speech against the Bahá'ís in Iran is supported by the Iranian Government. Bahá'ís are barred basic rights of citizenship like higher education. The constitutional protections in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran guarantees to every Iranian citizen rights which the Bahá'ís don't have. Educational programs set up to teach Bahá'í students have been targeted in raids. Arrests and convictions have been made solely on the basis of religion, and about 97 Iranian Bahá'ís are currently in prison today. Over 400 arrests have been made since August 2004, and many Bahá'ís are under unwarranted government surveilance. Bahá'í businesses are being looted among other acts without any government investigations to bring justice, and some businesses are even confiscated. Also, business licenses and jobs are denied to Bahá'ís. All of these facts don't amount to the number of Bahá'ís that lost their lives solely on the basis of belief. More facts about the injustices are being uncovered thanks to the efforts of people who won't stay silent as fellow human beings are persecuted.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees Bahá'ís the human rights that others have taken away from them.
The Bahá'í Martyrs is a video that will show what has been happening to the Bahá'ís since the faith's inception. (Viewer discretion is advised.)
Conclusion

We cannot stay silent.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Human Rights


In different places around the world, there are many different levels of human rights. Some places are better off then others. We should all look out for our fellow brothers and sisters around the world. Many people mistreated for their race, color, religion or culture. Human rights are rights and freedoms to which every human being is entitled to. "Bahá'u'lláh teaches that an equal standard of human rights must be recognized and adopted. In the estimation of God all men are equal; there is no distinction or preferment for any soul in the dominion of His justice and equity." - Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - 'Abdu'l-Baha Section, pp. 240-241

Here's a video on Bahá'í Human Rights.


The Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuJ_x_EpKyc