Australian Baha’i Report/Volume 19/Issue 2/Text

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Bahá’ís from throughout Australia elected the

Faith’s national governing body, the National Spiritual Assembly, on 25 April 2015.

Those elected were David Chittleborough, Jonathan Hancock, Anton Jones, Fiona McDonald, Saloomeh Mohebbaty, Fariborz Moshirian, Shahram Noorgostar, Vahid Saberi, and Bijan Samali.

Subsequently, the Assembly voted Dr Vahid Saberi as chairperson, Mr Shahram Noorgostar as secretary, Mr Jonathan Hancock as treasurer, and Mrs Fiona McDonald as vice-chairperson.

The election by 95 delegates was the central feature of the National Bahá’í Convention held from 24 to 26 April at the Sydney Bahá’í Centre in Silverwater.

There was an unusual occurrence when there was a tie for the 9th and 10th position. It was resolved according to Bahá'í electoral procedure by the delegates choosing between the two via secret ballot.

The Faith has no clergy but is governed by elected councils. Rules against nomination or campaigning aim at a bias-free ballot in which voters make their own decisions without pressure from others. All Bahá’ís in Australia over the age of 21, men and women, are eligible

to be elected to the nine-member Assembly.

The Bahá'í writings specifically encourage the election -- with due regard for factors such asage distribution, diversity, and gender -- ofindividuals with recognised ability, mature experience, a well-trained mind, unquestioned loyalty and selfless devotion.

After participating in the election, the convention delegates, representing electoral units in all parts of Australia, continued to discuss issues of concern to the Australian Bahá'í Community.

They used a special discussion method called consultation, a consensus-seeking style that avoids the personal and focusses on the topics themselves.

Among the discussion topics were how Bahá'ís can more effectively work with other Australians to positively transform the neighbourhoods in which they live.

The convention took place during the twelve- day Ridván Festival, in which Bahá'íscelebrate events associated with the announcement by Bahá'u'lláh of His mission.

On Anzac Day, the delegates observed a minute's silence.

Delegates' reaction, p.2

� An appreciation of the special election anddiscussion methods was clearly a highlight for many delegates at the national convention of the Australian Bahá'í Community.

More than 90 delegates gathered in Sydney from 24-27 April to elect the nine-member national Bahá'í governing body and to discuss issues of importance to the community across Australia.

A first-time delegate, Martha Gouniai, 26, an environmental policy consultant from Campbelltown, Sydney, summed up what others remarked upon:

“In stark contrast to the very competitiveand highly adversarial nature of many other election procedures, the delegates came together in a spirit of love, trust anddetachment to elect those who will best combine to assist and guide the communityin this arena of service,” Ms Gouniai said.

Expressing similar sentiments was Darwin lawyer and researcher, Penny Taylor, 39: “The lack of self interest in the consultation, election process and acceptance of positions of leadership, following the election, is a unique experience I have not had in any other institution or community.”

Election

The election process referred to by those two delegates is one in which there are no nominations or campaigning. Delegates make their choices based on defined criteria such as selfless devotion and a well-trained mind. All adult Bahá'ís are eligible--nominations and campaigning play no part in the election. Votes are cast by secret ballot.

As Perth chiropractor, Jay Thomas, 40, put it, in contrast to individualistic motivation, the Bahá'í election procedure helped ensure there were “no vested interests, no ego andno partisanship” in an election for positionsinvolving unremunerated service carried outin spare time.

Consensus

Ms Taylor also elaborated on the consensus-seeking discussion process called consultation, in which guidelines rule against personal criticism or strident attacks on views put forward.

“Consultation at National Convention is a truly uplifting and inspiring process,” MsTaylor said.

"People speak with such humility andinsight on topics big and small - offeringtheir understanding, experience andknowledge as a contribution to the buildingof collective knowledge in order to uncover the best way forward rather than as an actof self-promotion.”

Swinburne University mathematics professor Billy Todd, 54, remarked on “the expression of frank points of view with love and humility for the betterment of not just our own Bahá'í community, but also the whole of humanity.

“The stark contrast of this, compared with contemporary political and business discourse, is both refreshing and astounding,” Professor Todd said.

Consultation

The delegates brought different topics to the convention for consultation.

For example, Sydney telecommunicationsspecialist Farin Sanaei, 49, wanted to discusshow Bahá'ís could find ways to engage in uplifting, distinctive conversations.

Other topics were community buildingprocesses, indigenous relationships, and thesystematic use of statistical data tounderstand the dynamics behind trends invarious activities.

Waldo Lillo-Diaz, a 54-year-old builder and a delegate from Melville in Western Australia, summed up what his colleagues hoped to bring away from the Convention.

Waldo Lillo-Diaz

Mr Diaz said the delegates wanted to obtain a national perspective of the activities being conducted by the Bahá'ís in communities throughout Australia.

That perspective, he said would be "onethat could give an edifying glimpse of the efforts by our fellow Bahá'ís which could in turn stir all of us into intensifying our labour for the Faith”.

� A bank of red and yellow roses greeted guests arriving at a reception at the Canberra Bahá'í Centre to mark the Festival of Ridván.

And when the guests later departed, they each took with them a rose as a fragrant memento of the holiest of Bahá'í festivals.

The holy day commemorates a period in 1863 when Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, resided in a Baghdad garden where he announced his revelation, and requested that roses from that place be delivered to friends throughout the city.

Among those attending the event on 30 April were ACT Senator Zed Seselja, representing the Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott, and the Federal Member for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann

MP, representing the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten.

Senator Seselja read a message from the Prime Minister, and Ms Brodtmann read one from the Leader of the Opposition (see messages this page).

Others present included members of the diplomatic corps, public servants, representatives of faith communities, and members of civil society organisations.

Among those representing the Australian Bahá'í Community were the acting national secretary, Anton Jones, and external affairs director, Natalie Mobini.

(Left to right): Anton Jones, Gai Brodtmann MP, Natalie Mobini and Senator Zed Seselja

Message from the Prime Minister, the Hon. Tony Abbott MP

I am pleased to provide this message for everyone celebrating Ridván this year.

Ridván is an important time for Bahá’ís. It marks the commemoration of the Prophet Bahá'u'lláh and His declaration of the sacred mission. This is an opportunity for Bahá’ís across Australia and the world to come together and celebrate the bonds of culture,

community and identity.

We are a nation made up of many diverse communities that have come from all parts of the world and now call Australia home. The variety and vibrancy of our Australia is enriched by communities such as yours. For over twenty years I’ve lived on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. The Bahá’i Temple at Ingleside is a landmark that reminds

us of the freedom that we all share.

On this occasion, we acknowledge the contributions Australian Bahá’ís make to our nation and I pay tribute to your commitment to peace, cooperation and understanding. We should celebrate the contribution that every community makes to our country. It is because of communities such as yours

that Australia is seen as a beacon of hope and optimism for people right around the world. I wish everyone a happy and memorable Ridván Festival.

Message from the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Bill Shorten MP

It is with great pleasure that I send my warmest wishes to everyone celebrating the Festival of Ridván.

Throughout Australia and around the world, millions of people will come together in a spirit of giving and renewed hope to reflect on Bahá'u'lláh's timeless teachings.

The Australian identity is immeasurably enriched by the vision and values that are at the heart of the Bahá'í faith, including the equality of all people, the diversity we cherish in our society and the compassion we owe one another.

We are grateful to the Bahá'í community who give life to these values reminding us that these shared principles are not only at the core of Bahá'u'lláh's message; they are central to who we are as Australians.

The celebration of Ridván serves to underline that the beauty of Australia remains in our multicultural composition and our right to religious freedom which is intrinsic to our national history and character.

As we salute the ethos and traditions of the Bahá'í faith, let us reaffirm our hope that this year’s festivities will usher in a spirit of reconciliation and peace, particularly for those who continue to experience oppression and persecution.

� Mehrzad Mumtahan holding a photo of Saeid Rezaie Photo: Fiona + Bobby Photography

A heart-shaped installation at the Bahá'í Temple in Sydney attracted widespread media and public attention in May 2015.

The purpose of the installation was to give loving support to seven wrongly imprisoned Bahá'í leaders in Iran.

Prime time television news coverage on the ABC in Sydney and SBS nationwide of the installation and a special Temple service brought home the message as displayed onthe installation: “Free Bahá'í leaders”.

May 14 marked the seventh anniversary of the imprisonment of the leaders, who are serving a 20 year sentence, the longest given to any prisoner of conscience in Iran, and one condemned by the United Nations, the Australian Parliament and many governments worldwide.

Prayer gathering held in Claremont WA

During the following two weeks media reports across Australia carried stories bearing the same call.

Members of the public joined Bahá'ís at the site of the installation where they took “selfie” photographs and uploaded them via social media. The installation, which had been put in place on 9 May, had its display period extended to 24 May due to popular demand.

A spectacular video of the installation that was made using a camera mounted on a drone was seen throughout the world via social media.

Inspiration

The installation director, Sydney artistMehrzad Mumtahan, is the nephew of one of the jailed leaders, Saeid Rezaie. He workedwith fellow Bahá'í artist Monir Rowshan to produce an accompanying display.

Inspiration for the giant heart, which was comprised of 1000 individual images of the seven, came from two lines in a poem by another of the leaders, Mahvash Sabet, 62, who wrote:

“If I’m in this prison now, it’s only because I’ve committed the crime of love again.”*

Australian Bahá'í Community spokespersonVenus Khalessi said the Temple was the idealsite for the installation.

“The heart represents love -- our love and support for the seven leaders -- and their love for the community they served,” Mrs Khalessi said.

“The Temple represents the intertwinedconcepts of worship and community service, and the Bahá'í leaders encapsulate these values in their own lives,”Mrs Khalessi said.

From 14-21 May, in cities and towns throughout Australia, Bahá'í communities hosted hundreds of devotional gatherings attended by civic leaders and friends from other faith communities.

In Adelaide, a big devotional meeting held at the Bahá'í Centre of Learning included participation by inter-faith representatives and State MP Jing Lee MLC, who posted information and photographs from the event to her Facebook page afterwards.

� Aerial view of the installation in front of the Bahá'í TemplePhoto: Qi-Jie Oh, Nonagon Productions The seven Bahá'ís several months before their arrest in 2008 Aerial view of the installation in front of the Bahá'í TemplePhoto: Qi-Jie Oh, Nonagon Productions The seven Bahá'ís several months before their arrest in 2008 In other parts of Australia, Federal MPs alsoposted messages of support on social media.

Each day was dedicated to a different leader. The Australian national Bahá'í website published individual profiles, most of them seen through the eyes of an Australian family member. The stories were shared via social media.

The leaders are: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm.

After a special public service at the Temple on Sunday 17 May, visitors inspected a poignant display of handicrafts produced by the leaders in their cells despite the severe restrictions placed upon them, and viewed posters and videos about the seven.

Connection with Australia

Australia has a direct connection with most of the seven through close relatives who are Australian citizens. The Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and her predecessor

Bob Carr have called for the release of the leaders. A House of Representatives bipartisan motion recently called for an end to the persecution of Iranian Bahá'ís.

The seven were members of a group which, with the long-time tacit consent of the Iranian authorities, looked after the needs, such as weddings and funerals, of the 300,000 members of the Bahá'í community, the biggest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran.

Government agents rounded up the leaders in dawn raids on their homes, a tactic of intimidation imposed on a group that is entirely non-political and pledged to obedience to the law.

After two years of waiting, a sham trial in 2010 ended in the imposition of 20-year sentences.

• “Turmoil” from Prison Poems by Mahvash

Sabet, George Ronald, 2013, pp 38-9. To watch the video dedicated to the leaders, visit:

https://vimeo.com/128436370

� (Left to right): Imam Hassan Elsetohy, Rev Myung Hwa Park, Rabbi Ralph Genende, Mr Julian Leeser,

Dr Natalie Mobini, His Grace Haigazoun Najarian, Most Rev Christopher Prowse, His Grace Bishop Daniel. Photo: Australian Catholic University

A Bahá'í representative, Natalie Mobini, read a passage from the sacred writings of Bahá'u'lláh at the inaugural Federal Parliamentary prayer breakfast in Canberra on 17 June.

Dr Mobini was one of seven faith representatives invited to read a prayer or sacred text as part of the program for the event, which was organised by the Australian Catholic University.

The extract she presented began:

“Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbour, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech…”

The other faith leaders who delivered prayers or readings on leadership, governance, and service were Imam Hassan Elsetohy (Islam); Rev Myung Hwa Park (Uniting Church in Australia); Rabbi Ralph Genende (Judaism); His Grace Haigazoun Najarian (Armenian Apostolic); Most Rev Christopher Prowse (Roman Catholic), and His Grace Bishop Daniel (Coptic Orthodox).

More than 200 political, faith and community leaders attended the breakfast, which was held at Old Parliament House in the presence of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott praised the workthat faith leaders do for the common goodand said that it was valuable to have a faith to provide support through difficult times.

“Faith matters, and these days it is more important than ever that we have faith,” Mr Abbott said.

“Faith doesn’t make us good but, by God, it makes us better. There is a judge over us who is greater than those who are sitting in judgment of us today.”

The Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, said the congregation of faiths was a celebration of the unity of modern, multicultural Australia.

“We worship many faiths – but as Australians we all share a common belief: the belief that everyone is welcome and everyone is equal,” Mr Shorten said.

Representatives of Queensland religious communities, including the Bahá'í Faith, attended a roundtable meeting of religious representatives in Brisbane on 25 June to discuss a special taskforce report on domestic and family violence.

The meeting was attended by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the State MP for Brisbane Central, Grace Grace MP, public servants, and the faith members.

Chaired by the Director-General of the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, Michael Hogan, the meeting addressed the report, “Not Now, Not Ever”, which was produced by a

taskforce headed by Dame Quentin Bryce, the former Governor-General of Australia.

The main questions on the agenda were: “Do you know of ideas that are already driving change, and what barriers exist to cultural change?”

The religious representatives addressed those questions and discussed services they provided and how they could be improved, and other general matters relating to the topic.

Attending separate meetings to discuss thereport have been lawyers, health workers, indigenous women, business and communityleaders, and people in regional areas.

� Prayers from eight religious traditions were read at a multi-faith gathering attended by the Dalai Lama at the Cathedral of St Stephen in Brisbane on 11 June 2015.

Representing the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia, JanetKhan recited a prayer by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1892-1921.

Sentiments in the prayer read by Dr Khan were highly relevant to the theme of the gathering, world peace. [See text of prayer below]

The author of three Bahá'í books, Dr Khan is a member of the international advisory board for the University of Maryland’s Bahá'í Chair for World Peace.

Others at the Brisbane gathering who recited prayers were representatives of the Theravada Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Mahayana Buddhist, Islamic, Sikh and Christian traditions.

The religious representatives, including Dr Khan, joined in a procession with the Dalai Lama at the beginning and conclusion of the event, which was attended byQueensland Governor Paul de Jersey.

The Dalai Lama addressed the capacity gathering for some 15 minutes, noting

Faith representatives at Multi-Faith event.The Dalai Lama is second, left, in back row. Dr Janet Khan is two rows directly in front of him. Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey is at centre in front row

that the key to building peace and compassion was developing inner- strength and trust.

"Trust is the basis of friendship, and trust comes if we show others genuine love," he said.

Others to address the gathering were the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane, the Most Rev. Mark Coleridge, the Imam at Kuraby Mosque, Associate Professor Mohammad Abdalla, and the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Monsignor Peter Meneely.

Prayer for unity from the Bahá'í writings

O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the

same household. In Thy Holy Presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy Tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy Table of Bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy Providence.

O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed

each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the Ocean of Thy Mercy. O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony.

O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind. O God! Establish the Most Great Peace. Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together. O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the Light

of Thy Guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy Word, and shelter us all in the Stronghold of Thy

Providence. Thou art the Mighty and Powerful, Thou art the Forgiving and Thou art the One Who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind.

~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1844-1921)

� Australian Bahá'ís have spoken out against a new wave of official attacks in Iran that has seen the closure of businesses run by their friends and family. The Bahá'ís are appealing for justice after Iranian government agents sealed shops whose owners, according to Bahá'í religious practice, had temporarily closed them in observance of holy days in April and May. The authorities have threatened to shut the shops permanently if Bahá'ís do not sign a pledge that they would limit closures to national holidays, a requirement which is against the laws of Iran itself and violates international human rights norms. Bahá'ís view the closures and threats as part of an ongoing systematic persecution that includes jailing of Bahá'ís, bans on attending university, desecration of cemeteries, hate campaigns in state-controlled media, phone threats and assaults. Breaching human rights Dubbo businessman Nasser Sedghi, who is originally from Iran, said this latest economic attack is blatant religious persecution. “This illegal act brings shame to Iran in the international community” Mr Sedghi said. “My father-in-law’s business is one of many that have been sealed” he said. “Bahá'ís have very few options to earn an income because they are banned from the public service, and have been sacked from the private sector as a result of pressure from the authorities. “I own a computer business in Dubbo. If I were in Iran, I would be banned from doing that, or even from selling jewellery, photographic equipment or food, just because I am a Bahá'í. It is so unjust.” Attacks Aghdas Hakimian, of Melbourne, said that on a Bahá'í holy day in May, her sister-inlaw closed her small shop where she sold hosiery. The authorities have since sealed it, leaving the family with no way to earn money. Another Australian Bahá'í, Adelaide dentist Roshanak Amrein, who grew up in Iran, said at least eight of her friends in her home town of Rafsanjan have had their shops sealed up by government agents. “Many Bahá'í shops have also previously been the target of arsonists after official media hate campaigns,” Dr Amrein said. Australian Bahá'í Community spokesperson Natalie Mobini said Mr Sedghi, Mrs Hakimian and Dr Amrein are just three of many Bahá'ís in Australia who have become alarmed at these latest attacks on family and friends. “We are grateful to the Australian Federal Parliament and the current and former Australian foreign ministers for calling for an end to the persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran," Dr Mobini said. “Unfortunately the Iranian authorities continue to flout the repeated calls of the international community to stop their attacks on the Bahá'ís, a law-abiding and non-political community and the biggest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran." Mr Nasser Sedghi in his Dubbo business premises �