World dignitaries opened international conference on ‘Religion in Modern World’ in Tehran on Monday.The two-day conference will address the issue of how religious and political leaders can cooperate to promote peace by protecting human rights, moral and religious values, diversity and coexistence in pluralistic, modern societies.
It might read like an excerpt out of an article from The Onion, but in truth it’s a genuine report on an event that is actually taking place in Iran at the moment.
The ‘Religion in the Modern World’ conference was organized by the ‘Foundation for Dialogue among Civilizations’, which was founded by Khatami – Iran’s former president, and its partner organizations ‘Club de Madrid’ and the ‘Oslo Center for peace and human rights’.
The list of participants at the conference includes Kofi Annan (former UN Secretary-General), Romano Prodi (former Italian president), Kejll Magne Bondevik (former Norwegian prime minister), Mary Robinson (former Irish president) and Federico Mayor (former UNESCO general director).
Participants were quick to denounce “religious extremism”, terms such as “axis of evil” and “Israel should be wiped off the map” and “opportunistic politicians who make extremist speeches to get elected”, but have any taken a firm stance against Iran’s persecution of its largest religious minority – the Baha’is? Have any questioned the current “Apostasy Bill” that places even more severe restrictions on religious freedom in Iran? Have any denounced the arrests and intimidation of Christians and Baha’is in Iran? Would any have the courage to speak out for the 7 Baha’i leaders who have been arrested without trial for months? Will any demand that Baha’i students be allowed their right to education?
We realize the importance of dialogue at a time when many champion the theory of “Clash of Civilizations”, but does dialogue entail turning a blind eye to the large, gaping wound under the pretence of “unity” and “peace”?
Ahmadinejad can make claims that “Iran is a big family and a big nation and religious minorities are regarded as inseparable parts of this big and unified family,” but the country’s record speaks otherwise. There are many countries – both within the region and out – that present better paradigms for tolerance, respect and integration and we are outraged that Iran should be chosen as a destination.
In our outrage, we created a short video that expresses our amazement at Iran being chosen to host the conference.
(MNBR would like to thank Marco Oliveira for helping us with the script)
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GJay
21 October, 2008
Dear Friends,
May be its not all that ironic, as we know through history that the Massengers of God have always chosen to come to the darkest of the peoples on Earth at Their time. To show the power of the Word of God, as Baha-u-llah nad the Bab did for the time of this end. So it will seem good to start a candle at the darkest pit to show to the world that the light works
I will hail with best regrads who are standing up inspite of Iran’s Government to do the right thing, and will pray that the rest of the country sees the light as well.
El
22 October, 2008
Congrats on your great efforts. I would love to see the short video that was put together but unfortunately only about 2-5seconds of it is viewable. Please help.
Thank you.
Kawthar
23 October, 2008
El,
I checked and several others have confirmed to me that the video is working. Perhaps you’re experiencing problems with your connection?
Charles
23 October, 2008
The Iranian Government appears to be gambling that those attending would rather demonstrate their mutual respect and regard for eachother’s traditions of Faith than insult their hosts hospitality by raising the matter of the persecution of religious minorities, and if the matter is not brought up, then they can argue that the persecution of the Baha’is and others was not raised when those attending had the ostensible and formal opportunity to do so, can thus reject claims of persecution and proceed as before, but this time with a degree of respectability that such a silence grants.
I genuinely wish to be completely wrong about this out of respect for the Iranian government, the moral courage of those attending, and the interests of the Baha’is and other religious minorities in Iran.
Setareh
27 October, 2008
The purpose of such gatherings should not be eating, sight seeing and being nice to each other or their host for that matter. Not raising the issues of extreme abuse of human rights against Bahai’s and well documentd their systematic oppression only demonstrates complacency and lip service on the part of any member organisation who attended and at least did not make a reference to this matter.
Taraneh
30 October, 2008
Can we contact the attending dignitaries and ask them if they had the courage to bring up the matter of Baha’i persecution in Iran during the conference in Iran?
I can not believe that such people as Kofi Annan and Mary Robinson are not aware of the plight of Baha’is.