(Excerpt from a letter from the National Spiritual Assembly, 10 May 2010):
We hope that the collective effect of our prayers and activities undertaken for His love in the name of our Iranian brothers and sisters may be accepted by the Blessed Beauty, and that He may hasten the emancipation of His lovers in the Cradle of the Faith.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
BAHÁ'ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES
Kenneth E. Bowers
Secretary-General
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
BAHÁ'ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES
Kenneth E. Bowers
Secretary-General
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Subject: Call for May 14 Prayer Gatherings on Second Anniversary of Imprisonment of Yárán
May 10, 2010
To the American Bahá'í community
Dearly loved Friends,
As we celebrate the magnificent victories won by the worldwide Bahá'í community this past Ridván, our hearts are ever with those dearly cherished friends, the seven Iranian Bahá'í leaders formerly known as the Yárán. Their continued steadfastness has, no doubt, released mighty spiritual forces into the world.
This Friday, May 14, 2010, will mark the second anniversary of the imprisonment of these seven believers on baseless charges, at least two of which carry the death penalty. Although three hearings have been held since January 2010, no evidence has been presented against the Yárán and the Bahá'í International Community continues to categorically deny all charges against them. No date has been set for their trial to resume.
Currently, the five men and two women are confined to two small cells in Tehran's Evin prison, without beds or bedding. They have neither fresh air nor sunlight in their cramped cells. They are permitted outside for only two hours each week, and their circumstances have, quite understandably, had a harmful effect on their health. Contact with their loved ones is limited to telephone communications lasting not more than 10 minutes each week. Only rarely have they been permitted to meet with their families in person. The vast majority of such visits are conducted behind a glass barrier, thus depriving them of the comforting embrace of their spouses and children.
The Universal House of Justice has called upon the Bahá'ís of the world to organize special prayer meetings around May 14 for "the indomitable followers of Bahá'u'lláh in Iran, indeed, for all the people in that blessed land who are similarly subject to oppression, that the Hand of Divine Providence may grant them relief from their long ordeal." We hope that the friends throughout the United States will arise to this call.
The friends should be assured that, guided by the Universal House of Justice, our National Spiritual Assembly and our sister National Spiritual Assemblies are working with governments, organizations of civil society, and the communications media to do everything possible to defend the Iranian Bahá'ís.
We hope that the collective effect of our prayers and activities undertaken for His love in the name of our Iranian brothers and sisters may be accepted by the Blessed Beauty, and that He may hasten the emancipation of His lovers in the Cradle of the Faith.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
BAHÁ'ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES
Kenneth E. Bowers
Secretary-General
May 10, 2010
To the American Bahá'í community
Dearly loved Friends,
As we celebrate the magnificent victories won by the worldwide Bahá'í community this past Ridván, our hearts are ever with those dearly cherished friends, the seven Iranian Bahá'í leaders formerly known as the Yárán. Their continued steadfastness has, no doubt, released mighty spiritual forces into the world.
This Friday, May 14, 2010, will mark the second anniversary of the imprisonment of these seven believers on baseless charges, at least two of which carry the death penalty. Although three hearings have been held since January 2010, no evidence has been presented against the Yárán and the Bahá'í International Community continues to categorically deny all charges against them. No date has been set for their trial to resume.
Currently, the five men and two women are confined to two small cells in Tehran's Evin prison, without beds or bedding. They have neither fresh air nor sunlight in their cramped cells. They are permitted outside for only two hours each week, and their circumstances have, quite understandably, had a harmful effect on their health. Contact with their loved ones is limited to telephone communications lasting not more than 10 minutes each week. Only rarely have they been permitted to meet with their families in person. The vast majority of such visits are conducted behind a glass barrier, thus depriving them of the comforting embrace of their spouses and children.
The Universal House of Justice has called upon the Bahá'ís of the world to organize special prayer meetings around May 14 for "the indomitable followers of Bahá'u'lláh in Iran, indeed, for all the people in that blessed land who are similarly subject to oppression, that the Hand of Divine Providence may grant them relief from their long ordeal." We hope that the friends throughout the United States will arise to this call.
The friends should be assured that, guided by the Universal House of Justice, our National Spiritual Assembly and our sister National Spiritual Assemblies are working with governments, organizations of civil society, and the communications media to do everything possible to defend the Iranian Bahá'ís.
We hope that the collective effect of our prayers and activities undertaken for His love in the name of our Iranian brothers and sisters may be accepted by the Blessed Beauty, and that He may hasten the emancipation of His lovers in the Cradle of the Faith.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
BAHÁ'ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES
Kenneth E. Bowers
Secretary-General
