- Afghanistan (1)
- Arabic (23)
- Arson (11)
- Baha'i Faith (84)
- Bahrain (2)
- Campaigns (10)
- Children's Rights (18)
- Comics (9)
- Court cases (18)
- Egypt (84)
More Categories
- March 2010 (2)
- February 2010 (3)
- January 2010 (9)
- December 2009 (2)
- November 2009 (2)
- October 2009 (4)
- September 2009 (12)
- August 2009 (8)
- July 2009 (7)
- June 2009 (7)
- May 2009 (9)
- April 2009 (9)
- March 2009 (21)
- February 2009 (42)
More Archives

7 May, 2009

61

A Report on the First Nationwide Forum on the Right to Education

The Committee on the Right to Education for the Baha’is, founded by the legendary Human Rights Activists in Iran, held 2 simultaneous forums in Tehran and Shiraz. Below is their report:

This unprecedented forum was held today in Tehran. The pictures of student prisoners on display punctuated the importance of this meeting.

The meeting was chaired by Niloufar Mehrabi, who opened the session with remarks on the right to education and the importance of its implementation.

The first speaker, Mr. Abolfazl Abedini, the head of public relations of the Association, recounted the executive activities of the Association and the various functions of its committees. He specifically named publication of books, monthly newsletters, educational workshops, legal support for victims of violation of human rights, and an international presence and reporting on the issue of human rights as the most prominent activities of the Association. He also mentioned the burden of costs that has been imposed on the Association for its activities and noted that the resilience of the Association despite the costs demonstrates its resolve and commitment to the rule of law.

The second speaker, Mr. Hessam Missaghi, a member of the Committee on the Right to Education for the Bahá’ís, introduced his Committee, its history, and its mission statement. He stated that one of the missions of the committee is consolidating its activities in addressing the deprivation of large numbers of Bahá’í young men and women from the right to education. Mr. Missaghi further elucidated the need for unity amongst various student organizations and noted that the Committee he represents serves as a bridge between students whose right to education has been violated and human rights organizations. Another mission of the Committee, he continued, is collection of statistics on the students who are currently deprived of their right to higher education.

Mr. Missaghi, who has been deprived of higher education, requested other activists in the forum to continue to write articles on this matter and assist the committee with their active reporting and follow-up.

The next speaker was Dr. Nemat Ahmadi, attorney and university professor, who received an ovation from the crowd upon standing at the podium. Dr. Ahmadi began his remarks with an expression of disappointment as an educator to learn that there are students, who, on the basis of their religious affiliation, are deprived of access to education. He further continued that such course of action is in stark contrast to the Iranian Constitution. He noted that Article 9 of the Iranian Civil Law clearly states that the International Covenants to which Iran is a signatory must be observed. He also noted the third chapter of the Constitution with Articles 15 through 43 that point to individual rights and liberties and consider the right to education as universal. He recounted his memories that as a student he had been involved in significant activism and since the university was considered as an independent entity, his activities never led to his suspension or violation of his rights as a student.

He quoted an Islamic tradition stating, “Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.” He interpreted this statement that anyone who desires to obtain an education has the right to do so.

He continued that even if the authorities who deny the right to education believe that their subjects are “infidels,” according to Islam, there is distinction between “infidels by birth” and “infidels by will.” As such, people who are born into families who may be considered as “infidels” may not carry the burden of sin. As an example, he stated that if he were born in a different country, he may well be a follower of a different religion. This, he said, cannot be grounds for denying anyone their right to education.

Dr. Ahmadi considered this matter very simple within the framework of Islamic beliefs and stated that any country has certain obligations to its citizens that must be honored. This human rights activist closed his speech with the hope of a future in which no one would be deprived of education on the basis of his or her beliefs. He speech roused the audience to cheers.

The chairwoman, Ms. Mehrabi, then invited Salman Sima, a student activist from Azad University, to take the podium.

At the outset, Salman Sima expressed his astonishment at the numbers of students who are denied their right to education on the basis of their beliefs. In his belief, deprivation from education is equivalent to execution or denial of life. This student activist recounted the trend of deprivation at Azad University dating back six years and stated that many students had been suspended. He also quoted the Constitution and international covenants and noted that the right to education is inalienable. He also noted that the passing of the bill on affirmative action on the basis of gender is another example of deprivation from education. He concluded his speech stating, “The right to education for a student is as the right to life for a human.”

Next, Holaku Rahmanian, a student deprived of education on the basis of his belief in the Bahá’í Faith and despite his extraordinary performance in the national entrance examination, was invited to the podium. He recited the letters recounting his difficulties in obtaining admission into any university and noted the obstables that led to his eventual denial of admission. He stated that the authorities told him that his religion was the reason for this denial.

The editor-in-chief of the Association, Behzad Mehrani, took the microphone next at the request of the chairwoman. He began is speech noting his sense of relief that unlike the past decades when the right to life for the Bahá’ís was in question, the discourse is now focused on their right to education. This activist performed a cursory review of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights as a feature of the modern world. He characterizes the modern human as one with wisdom and freedom of choice and the traditional human as one who is bound by customs. He noted that in the modern world, a human is respected solely on the basis of being a human. He concluded by stating that no power should have the permission to deny anyone the right to education.

The next speaker was Saghar Miri, a student deprived of education. She reviewed the historic background of the Bahá’ís denial of education after the Islamic revolution and then reviewed the events in 2007 that led to a few admissions for Bahá’í students. As one of these students, she had been admitted into the Bachelor’s degree program in English interpretation at Shahr-e-Noor University. Howeverm after three months of enrollment, she was denied the right to continue her education. She expressed her gratitude to the association for its efforts in reclaiming the right to education.

The next speaker was Mr. Towfigh, a university professor, who rejected the notion that anyone should have his civil rights in jeopardy on the basis of affiliation with a philosophy or an unrecognized religion. He reviewed the articles of law that support his statements. He also noted that even within Islamic jurisprudence the right to education is considered inalienable and the act of silencing of beliefs itself constitutes deprivation from education. He expressed the need to revise the current policies and procedures for admissions offices that lead to deprivation of education for students as they are in contrast with the Constitution.

The last speaker of the forum was Mehdi Khodai, a student activist in charge of the Student Affairs Division of the Association. He recited the Association’s closing statement and concluded by saying, “We hope that this forum will open the door for future forums and the expansion of its focus to defending human rights of all Iranian citizens.”

Mehdi Khodai continued, “The Association of the Human Rights Activists in Iran expresses its grave concern regarding the authorities’ use of invented laws and policies that are contrary to the Constitution and international covenants to which the Islamic Republic is a signatory. The Association is hopeful that such gross violations of human rights will cease in the future and that all groups and ethnicities will enjoy all their inalienable human rights.”

At the conclusion of the forum, a book entitled “An Introduction to Removal of All Types of Discrimination Against Women” was distributed amongst the audience.

null

61

Education, Human Rights, Iran, Positive Developments

Khalil A. Khavari

10 May, 2009

This conference is heartening indeed. It goes to show the indomitable spirit of the Iranians who are devoted to the principles of human rights which include the right to education. As one of the distinguished speakers pointed out, Islamic scripture clearly recommends education: seek education from the cradle to the grave. This is more of a command rather than an option.
Baha’is try to do just that. Get an education to serve with greater skills and competencies in this day and age that education has become the indispensable instrument of progress. And Iran can ill afford to arbitrarily deprive its young from acquisition of knowledge.
I salute the participants of this conference. I admire their courage to gather and defend the precious universal right to education.

7 May, 2009

61

10 March, 2010

Interview With a Baha’i Education Right Activist in Iran

18 September, 2008

Four Baha’i youth struggle for their right to education

24 March, 2009

Annual report on discrimination against Baha’i students

Khalil A. Khavari

inizidebpaple

Persecution of Baha'is since 1979

Creative media for Baha'i Rights

Mapping the intensifying wave of raids and arrests

Join our network.