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ALERT: 7 Bahá’ís in Iran facing 20 years in prison
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The seven, known as the the "Yaran" – or "Friends" – were arrested in 2008, all members of a national-level group that helped to see to the minimum needs of Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i community. Their trial consisted of six brief court appearances between 12 January and 14 June; during which time they were allowed only 1 hours access to their lawyer[1]. Originally sentenced to 20 years in prison, it was reduced briefly to 10; as of 30 March 2011 it remains 20 years.
- Background, International support
Updates:
- 15 February 2011 Concern following a transfer to "more brutal sections of the prison complex".
- 9 March 2011 Human rights groups renew support for Iran's seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders.
- 30 March 2011 Original 20-year sentences have been reinstated following a brief reduction to 10.
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The Hands of the Cause of God were a select group of Bahá’ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá’í Faith on the international level. In all there were fifty Hands of the Cause, four named by Bahá’u’lláh, four by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi (including ten posthumously). The title is no longer given out, and there are no longer any living Hands of the Cause, the last surviving Hand being Dr. 'Alí-Muhammad Varqá. The work of the Hands of the Cause is now carried out by the Continental Board of Counsellors and the Auxiliary Boards. The most complete list of the Hands available is from "The Bahá’í World: Vol XIV". The Universal House of Justice has confirmed that this list may not be complete, and that a study of the letters and archives may reveal others named to this station.
Today's featured individual
Varqá was an eminent follower of Bahá’u’lláh and was referred to by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as a Hand of the Cause of God and identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’u’lláh wrote a tablet addressed to Varqá regarding the high station of the King and Beloved of Martyrs. "His executioner, Hajibu'd Dawlih, was particularly enraged with his prisoners, and brought out Varqá and Rúhu'lláh into an inner room. Varqá's calm reply to questioning further maddened his captors. The executioner plunged a dagger into the chest of Varqá saying 'How are you?' to which Varqá repllied 'Feeling better than you'. Hajibu'd Dawlih then asked him which should die first, him or his son Rúhu'lláh, to which Varqá replied 'It is the same to me.'"
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O FRIEND! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love, and from the nightingale of affection and desire loosen not thy hold. Treasure the companionship of the righteous and eschew all fellowship with the ungodly.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Hidden Words
In Release the Sun William Sears describes the Millennial fervor that gripped many people around the world in the early nineteenth century. While Christians anticipated the return of Jesus Christ, a wave of expectation swept through Islam that the "Lord of the Age" would soon appear.
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