Just a week ago, my father-in-law David Lewis’s funeral took place. He had been an NCO and sapper during the Second World War, spending time in North Africa and Italy. After the war he married, had two children, worked as an architect for Glamorgan County Council and subsequently for Hampshire County Council and lived an active life as a Baha’i, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and all-round  lovely man.

Alex Leith and his grandfather, David Lewis, in 2006

At the age of 87, his body suddenly gave out and he went from independent living to hospital to his death in a matter of a few weeks.

The funeral took place in Winchester (that’s the former capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, whose most famous monarch was King Alfred) in a delightful, peaceful chapel belonging to the excellent funeral directors, Richard Steel and Partners.

As you can see from these pictures, there’s a beautiful walled garden outside the chapel. David’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren took great delight in this place of peace and spiritual solace.

Simple service

Baha’i funeral services can be as simple or as elaborate as the family wishes. The essential part of any Baha’i funeral, however, is the recitation of the obligatory Prayer for the Dead.

At David’s funeral – attended by family, friends and his neighbours, all the prayers and readings from the Baha’i Holy Writings were recited by members of David’s family: his daughter, his son, his son-in-law, grandchildren. There were tears, of course, but the spirit was light, joyous, as was right for David, whose belief in God and in the life after death was unshakeable.

O my God! O Thou forgiver of sins, bestower of gifts, dispeller of afflictions!

Verily, I beseech Thee to forgive the sins of such as have abandoned the physical garment and have ascended to the spiritual world.

O my Lord! Purify them from trespasses, dispel their sorrows, and change their darkness into light. Cause them to enter the garden of happiness, cleanse them with the most pure water, and grant them to behold Thy splendours on the loftiest mount.

[A prayer by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, eldest Son of Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha'i Faith]

What kind of man was he?

David was one of the most loving and unassuming men I have ever met. The core of his being was his faith as a Baha’i. This letter from the Universal House of Justice, the Baha’i community’s world governing council, will give some sense of David’s character.

The Universal House of Justice was grieved to learn of the passing of dearly loved David Lewis, a devoted follower of Baha’u'llah. Over decades of tireless service to the Cause of God, including time spend as an Auxiliary Board member in the United Kingdom and as a pioneer to Malta, he demonstrated nobility of character and highly refined spiritual qualities. Of particular note is the responsibility he had for planning and supervising the erection of the monument at the Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi and his subsequent association with its preservation as well as the beautification of the surroundings. Kindly convey to his family and friends the loving sympathy of the House of Justice, assuring them of its prayers in the Holy Shrines for the progress of his illumined soul throughout the divine worlds.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, death, life after death, David Lewis, funeral, prayer, spirituality

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A well-focused debate on human rights in Iran took place in the UK Parliament’s Westminster Hall* yesterday morning.

The 90-minute debate, initiated by Lembit Opik MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha’is, opened the debate with a call to Iran to avoid a miscarriage of justice when the seven former members of the Yárán, the long-detained ad hoc coordinating group for the Baha’i community in Iran, are brought to trial early next week:

I come from the perspective of the problems faced by Iran’s Baha’i community, but I note also the plight of many other Iranian minority communities and the treatment of Iranian women. And who can ignore the Iranian state’s use of capital punishment? Few nations on earth execute people as often or for as many different reasons.

Nevertheless, I want to make it clear to this House and to the Iranian authorities that my objective is not to pillory that great nation. I do not conduct politics through confrontation or simplistic condemnation of individuals or Governments. Rather, my two goals are to resolve the pressing human rights issues facing the Baha’is in Iran and to prevent a dreadful miscarriage of justice in the days ahead.

Mr Opik called for a fair trial:

Naturally, the Baha’i international community is calling on the international community at large to request that the Iranian authorities ensure that the seven are either released or receive a fair and open public trial that will be held according to international standards.

Ministerial response

The debate ranged widely over the oppressive measures that Iran takes against religious and other minorities as well as against children and women.

As always in these debates, a government minister, in this case Ivan Lewis MP – Minister of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office – responded on behalf of the government:

I congratulate the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Lembit Öpik) on securing this Adjournment debate. I know that it is often said that he champions minority causes, but the House is a place in which such voices should be heard. The issue under debate is of particular importance. The hon. Gentleman specifically drew our attention to the plight of the Baha’i community in Iran. Its seven leaders go on trial this weekend. It is probably appropriate that all we do at this stage is demand maximum transparency and openness in the way in which that trial is conducted. The judicial process should be conducted along the lines of international best practice, and international observers should be allowed to witness every conceivable stage of those court proceedings. For reasons that I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand, it is probably best that I leave it at that. We will be keeping a close eye on proceedings to ensure that the leaders of the Baha’i community are treated appropriately and properly.

You can read the Hansard record of the debate here.

Prime Minister’s Questions

Earlier, on 1 July, Mr Opik had raised the situation of the former Baha’i leadership group in Prime Minister’s Questions:

Q7. [283125] Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire) (LD): As chair of the all-party Baha’i group, I have become deeply concerned about the seven Baha’i leaders in Iran facing trial by the revolutionary court on 11 July on serious but unsubstantiated charges, with no evidence being offered against them. Will the Prime Minister be willing to meet me and representatives of the Baha’i faith in Britain to underline his and, I hope, our collective support for the fundamental principles of fairness and tolerance in the treatment of these and all Baha’i in Iran?

The Prime Minister: The hon. Gentleman raises very difficult issues. I am sure that the whole House will share my deep disappointment at the recent behaviour of the Iranian regime: disappointment at the manner in which legitimate demonstrations have been suppressed; disappointment at the restrictions that he has mentioned on the freedoms of the Iranian people, with people due to stand before a closed court on 11 July; and disappointment that the Iranian Government have expelled two of our diplomats and detained several of our embassy staff. This action is unjustified and unacceptable. Some people in Iran are seeking to use Britain as an explanation for the legitimate Iranian voices calling for greater openness and democracy. However, we will continue, with our international partners, to raise our concerns with Iran, including on the issue that the hon. Gentleman raised.

*Westminster Hall debates

The following explanation of Westminster Hall debates comes from TheyWorkForYou.com.

In December 1999, a new meeting place was opened up for debates – Westminster Hall.

Westminster Hall sits alongside the main Chamber, and is aimed at fostering a new style of debate. Sessions are open to all MPs, who sit in a horseshoe arrangement which is meant to encourage constructive rather than confrontational debate

The meetings are presided over by a Deputy Speaker and there are no votes.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Iran, human rights, UK, House of Commons, Westminster Hall, Lembit Opik, Ivan Lewis

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Cherie Blair Pictures

Cherie Blair has published an excellent article in today’s Times about the persecution of the Baha’is and other religious minorities in Iran.

Shirin Ebadi defends the Baha’is

Cherie Blair praises the courage of Dr Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and, like Mrs Blair herself, a renowned human rights lawyer for taking on the defence of the seven former Baha’i leaders (known as the Yárán or the Friends), six of whom were arrested in May last year and the seventh of whom has been held in the notorious Evin prison since March last year.

It was typical of her bravery, and her belief in the importance of justice, that she announced she would defend the leaders of Iran’s Baha’i community who were arrested last year before the latest protests. The reaction of the authorities was also typical. Her offices were raided and shut down, angry mobs appeared outside her home and she, and her family, received renewed and serious threats to their safety.

This will have come as little surprise to Dr Ebadi. Not only is she regarded as a thorn in the side of the Iranian authorities, but the Baha’i community, the country’s largest religious minority, has also been the target for severe persecution for much of its history.

For more than 100 years, the followers of the Baha’i faith, a world religion that has its roots in Iran, have faced discrimination and persecution for having progressive ideals that place great emphasis on the unity of religion, the equality of the sexes and the right to education. Bahai’is have been prevented from following their faith, on penalty of imprisonment and even execution.

Baha’is face threats – and garner support

As Mrs Blair’s article points out, the former Baha’i leaders, who stepped down earlier this year as a gesture of goodwill to the authorities in Iran, have been publicly accused of…

…everything from “espionage for Israel” to “propaganda against the Islamic Republic”. Such charges carry very serious penalties in Iran, including the death penalty.

The most serious accusation against the Baha’is has been that they are “spreading corruption on earth”. If this accusation finds its way onto the charge sheet when the seven appear in court (probably on 11 or 13 July), they stand a very real risk of the death penalty if they are found guilty.

The conspiracy theorists within the Iranian regime, such as Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. put it about that the British Government supports the “wayward Baha’i sect”. And there were banners on show during the post-election demonstrations in Tehran claiming that “BBC” stands for “Baha’i Broadcasting Company”.

But there are also voices of support within Iran for the Baha’is.

From within Iran, too, students and academics, artists and poets, political and social progressives have also bravely spoken up for the beleaguered Baha’i community. They, in turn, are now feeling the brunt of the state’s anger.

And many governments and non-governmental organizations have publicly condemned the treatment not only of the seven, but of the whole Baha’i community in Iran.

Branch 28

It seems likely that the seven will be tried in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, the same branch that tried Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist who was arrested, tried and condemned to eight years imprisonment in Iran earlier this year. Trials in this branch take place behind closed doors, so no one can be sure of due process and a fair trial. Ms Saberi was released only after intense international pressure.

Call for a fair trial

Like a growing number of voices, Cherie Blair is calling for greater international pressure on Iran and a fair trial for the seven former leaders of the Baha’i community there:

We must urge the Iranian Government to give the leaders of the Baha’i community a fair trial and allow independent observers access to ensure this happens. We must also call on Iran to live up to its international obligations to protect all its citizens and allow them to hold and practise their religious beliefs without discrimination or fear.

Shirin Ebadi is a courageous woman and a brilliant advocate. But we cannot let her carry this burden on her own.

Martyrdom of the Bab

Today Baha’is around the world are observing one of their solemn Holy Days, the Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab, the Forerunner of Baha’u'llah, Founder of the Baha’i Faith. I know that we will all be praying for preservation of the seven Baha’is facing trial for their lives as well as for the entire persecuted Baha’i community in Iran.

Further reading

You can read more about the situation of the Baha’is in Iran here. And you can read Cherie Blair’s excellent article here.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Iran, human rights, Cherie Blair, The Times, Shirin Ebadi

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…I’m visiting the Baha’i community in this part of the world.

Where?

Got it yet?

62°00′N 06°47′W

Does that help?

More when I get home!

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Faroes, travel

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Some of Hatfield’s 35 Indian Baha’is and their friends

What an evening! More than 120 people – Baha’is and their friends from all over Hertfordshire – noisily celebrated the anniversary of the Declaration of the Bab with prayers, music, food and dancing in Hatfield’s Roe Hill Hall last night.

Declaration of the Bab

The Declaration of the Bab is one of nine holy days in the year on which Baha’is refrain from work. This particular holy day celebrates the day on which what would develop into the Baha’i community came into being. You can read the story here.

I been invited to open the meeting by saying who the Bab was and to tell a little of the story of the Declaration itself.

Music

And then music. Indian music. English music. Singing. Guitar.

Food and conversation

After the formal part of the programme, we had food. There’s always food at Baha’i gatherings!

Food, of course, provides an opportunity for conversation. I found myself deep in talk with Raja, a Hindu whose sister-in-law in Northern Ireland is a Baha’i. Raja is soon to retire. He spoke about his faith and about the void that might be in his life once he is no longer working. He found himself drawn by the community spirit at the celebration. “I feel at home here,” he said.

Dance

And finally Indian dancing to close the evening. A couple of video clips will give you a feel of the sheer joy and buzz of this dancing.

This was an extraordinarily uplifting and enjoyable evening. The spirit of unity and fellowship was palpable. The buzz was thrilling.

I don’t think I have ever experienced a Baha’i Holy Day celebration like it in all my Baha’i life of more than 40 years.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Bab, holy day, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Indian, dancing

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I meant to post some of these pics of the wonderful gardens at Coton Manor in Northamptonshire a while ago, but something went awry on my server and then I was too busy to post anything.

Anyway, a couple of weekends ago Mrs Barnabas and I stayed with our friends Howard and Liz from our days at Exeter University back in the wild 1960s.

One of our outings was to the 17th century Coton Manor, where the gardens are open to the public at certain times.

Here are Howard and Liz with Mrs Barnabas examining a circular bed near the house.

Shaded woodland garden

Gaudy flamingos

Magnificent bluebell woods at Coton Manor

Liz talking to Rodney the parrot – who ignored her entirely!

Technorati Tags: gardens, Coton Manor, Northamptonshire, woodland

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Who is “spreading corruption on earth”?

Come Thursday, six of the members of the ad hoc group that coordinated the life of the Baha’i community of Iran – the Yaran – will have been in jail for exactly a year. They are Mrs Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr Afif Naemi, Mr Saeid Rezaie, Mr Behrouz Tavakkoli and Mr Vahid Tizfam.

The seventh member, Mrs Mahvash Sabet, has been in jail since 5 March 2008.

All seven are in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison.

Legal limbo

For a whole year the authorities have not seen fit to treat these leading Baha’is with anything remotely like justice.

Why are they in jail? Because they are Baha’is

Have they been formally charged? No.

Why not? Well, what would they be charged with? They’ve committed no crimes.

Charging madness

They may not have been formally charged, but they have certainly been publicly accused of “espionage for Israel” (they communicated with the Baha’i World Centre, which has been located in what is now Israel since the late 1860s), of “insulting religious sanctities” (they are Baha’is), and of “membership in an illegal body” (they were members of the Yaran, a body about which the Iranian authorities have known for many many years).

It took seven months of intensive interrogations to get to this point.

The Yaran voluntarily gave up their coordinating role in the Baha’i community so that the Iranian government would not be able to hold anything against them.

Except one thing: they are Baha’is.

And now, a year after their original detention, the authorities have told their families that the seven may face the more sinister charge of Mofsede fel-Arz – “spreading corruption on earth”.

What is “spreading corruption on earth”?

It’s one of those charges that covers anything the the Iranian government doesn’t like. If they can’t get you for a sensible charge, they’ll sure get you for “spreading corruption on earth”.

Especially if you’re a Baha’i.

And these seven Baha’i leaders could face one of Iran’s choice ways of putting its citizens to death. After all, “spreading corruption on earth” was the charge used against the Baha’is who were executed in the years immediately after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

One thing this clearly demonstrates: the authorities have no basis other than blatant religious persecution for any allegation against these individuals.

Tip of the iceberg

The seven members of the Baha’i leadership are the tip of a large iceberg. There are  more than 300,000 Baha’is in Iran – the community is the largest non-Islamic religious minority in Iran – and they are all facing increased persecution by a government that claims to be a paragon of justice and human rights, but which routinely abuses the rights of women, children, journalists and others who seek dignity and justice.

Time for international action

I hope that the world’s governments will tell Iran in no uncertain terms what they think about this utter injustice. I hope that the world’s governments will demand the immediate release of Mrs Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr Afif Naemi, Mr Saeid Rezaie, Mrs Mahvash Sabet, Mr Behrouz Tavakkoli and Mr Vahid Tizfam. Or at least for a fair trial.

Read the full story here.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Iran, persecution, human rights, Evin, prison, corruption, Islam

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My friend Ineke Gijsbers, a Baha’i who lives in the north east of England, is in New York for the 17th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.

She’s there on behalf the national governing council of the UK Baha’i community and will be part of the international delegation representing the Baha’i International Community.

These UN meetings can be deeply confusing for the novice. I know. I attended the UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in Istanbul in 1996 and the five-year review of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (otherwise known as UNCED or the Rio conference) at the UN Headquarters in 1997. I spent two weeks in almost total confusion.

But Ineke is no novice.

She is blogging from the CSD on Fewness of Words, Abundance of Deeds. Go read!

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, UN, Sustainable Development, New York, Ineke Gijsbers

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Barnabas declaiming at Baha’i meeting in Westminster. Photo © 2009 Mark Bamford

Around 120 people sat through my talk at the Westminster Baha’i community’s public meeting for the Baha’i festival of Ridvan last night. The subject? Baha’u'llah, His Revelation and Mission.

Outline for my talk on Baha’u'llah – click on it to enlarge it

The programme also included prayers and readings in several languages and an audio-visual presentation of the Baha’i gardens and buildings in Haifa, Israel.

It was a wonderfully diverse gathering of Baha’is and their friends, young and old, different nationalities and ethnicities.

I enjoyed meeting up with a lot of old friends from my days as part of the Westminster Baha’i community. And, of course, it’s a great opportunity to make new friends.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Baha’u'llah, Ridvan, Westminster

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I was very happy to receive an email from Emily Lee Phillips the other day asking if I would permit her to put a link to Barnabas Quotidianus on her blog.

Would I permit? Well that was a no-brainer!

I rushed over to Emily’s blog, Leaves in the Wind, and found myself entranced by a fascinating and – I hope Emily won’t mind my saying this – wonderfully quirky life (although she claims not to be an unusual person)

Learning from experience – and the Baha’i teachings

Emily is a Baha’i in New Mexico Her mother and grandmother were Baha’is,  as is her daughter. This is what she says in introducing her blog:

Having lived most of her life with a distinct handicap, Emily believes that the insights people bring from unique experience add spice to the common perception of human experience. Emily has been guided by teachings of the Baha’i Faith all her life — especially the parts about all humanity coming from the same God, the same source, and about each individual needing to investigate truth without being pushed by any other person.

And

This site has links to spots in the mesh of the web where mental batteries can be charged, and more are added gradually.

Visit Emily’s world

So why not head on over and dip into Emily’s fascinating world as found on Leaves in the Wind.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, New Mexico, Leaves in the Wind, blog

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